Biographies

DeKalb County, Indiana

   Charles C. Souder, whose farm home is two miles north of Butler, has
been industriously engaged in agriculture in DeKalb County for over twenty
years.  He is a son of George B. Souder, a well known retired farmer
living in Troy Township.

   George B. Souder was born in Perry County, Pennsylvania, June 30, 1846,
son of John and Rachel A. (Billow) Souder and a grandson of Martin Souder.
Martin was a native of Germany, came to the United States when a boy,
settling in Perry County, Pennsylvania, and married and reared his family
there.  His children were Henry, John, Katie, Rebecca and Sarah.  John
Souder's wife, Rachel A. Billow, was a daughter of George Billow, also a
native of Germany.  George Billow while a soldier was taken prisoner and
with six companions was shut up in a barn preliminary to being hanged.
The prisoners escaped, and he soon afterward came to the United States,
settling in Perry County, Pennsylvania, where he married Susanna
Ensminger. For a number of years they conducted a popular place of
entertainment known as the Billow's Tavern.  After his death his widow
moved to Shelby, Ohio, where she died. In the Billows family were children
named David, Adam, George, Susan, Sarah and Rachel.  John and Rachel
Souder moved for Perry County, Pennsylvania, to Richland County, Ohio,
where they spent their last years. Their children were: Jane, wife of
George Blatman, of California; George B.; Hannah, wife of Amos Snyder, of
Butler, Indiana; Rachel, wife of Will Sheley, of Brownstown, Indiana.
   George B. Souder was fourteen years old when he accompanied his parents
to Richland County, Ohio, and he acquired most of his education in a German
school in Pennsylvania.  On February 27, 1868, he married Sarah Melissa
Adams, who was born in Crawford County, Ohio, January 15, 1848, and was
reared near Shelby. After his marriage George B. Souder rented his
father's farm five years and in 1873 came to DeKalb County and bought
eighty acres in Franklin Township.  He lived there until 1878, when be
bought his present home.  He is a republican in politics and has filled
the office of supervisor.  Of his six children five are living: Charles C,
of Franklin; George M., and Ernest C., also the same township; Jessie M.,
who is the wife of Charles A. Dohner, of Troy Township; and Harry L, also
a resident of Troy Township on his father's farm.
   Charles C. Souder was born near Shelby, Ohio, October 18, 1871, and was
a year old when his parents moved to DeKalb County.  He grew up on the home
farm, attended the local schools, and in March, 1896, married Catherine
Coll.  She was born in Troy Township.  They have one child, Ora L., who
was born June 23, 1898, and is a graduate of the Butler High School and
took a business course at South Bend.
   Mr. Souder is a stockholder in the Artic Co-operative Livestock
Shipping Association, and conducts his general farming and stock raising
operation on a place of eighty acres.  He is a republican and is affiliated
with Butler Lodge No. 283 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com

http://www.rootsweb.com/~indekalb/dcibp/dcbio/1920/souder-charles.c.txt

Biography of George B. Souder, page 811. History of De Kalb County, Indiana. Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

George B. Souder, farmer and stock-raiser, section 19, Troy Township, was born in Perry County, Ohio, June 30, 1846, a son of John Souder, of Richland County, Ohio. His parents moved to Richland County in 1859, and there he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the common schools. He was reared a farmer, and since attaining manhood has given his attention to agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. He came to De Kalb County in the spring of 1874 and settled on section 24, Franklin township, and in the spring of 1879 moved across the line into Troy Township. He owns 160 acres of valuable land, and his residence and farm buildings are among the best in the county. He pays special attention to raising Durham cattle and Clydesdale horses, and much credit is due him for his effort to improve the stock of horses in the county. His horse Cap is five years old, a son of the celebrated Buck Allen and weighs 1,600 pounds. He is one of the finest horses in the county. Mr. Souder was the first man to introduce drain tiling to his neighborhood. He is an enterprising, progressive citizen and assists any project and adopts any improvements that promises benefit to his county. He was married Feb. 27, 1868, to Sarah M. Adams, daughter of Andrew Adams, of Richland County, Ohio. To them have been born six children, five of whom are living---Charles M., George M., Ernest C., Jessie M. and Harry L.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~indekalb/dcibp/dcbio/1885/souder-george.b.txt

From the 1885 History of Steuben County, Indiana pages 629 - 630

        George A. Souder was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, Sept. 28, 1828,
and when a small child removed with his parents, William and Nancy (Stevens)
Souder, to Crawford County, Ohio, where his mother died in 1841, aged forty
years.  His father died at the residence of a son-in-law, H.K. Barr, in 1876,
aged seventy-seven years.  The family consisted of four children -- Amos and
Mrs. Almeda Barr, of Otsego Township; Alexander, in Iowa, and our subject.
George A. Souder was married in Crawford County, Ohio, July 13, 1856 to Mary
Coberly, a native of that county, born July 27, 1833.  In February, 1858, they
came to Steuben County and settled in Salem Township, buying eighty acres of
land, upon which they lived till 1863, when they sold it and bought the farm
of forty acres where they now live, on section 36, York Township.  To them
have been born four children, but one of whom is living -- Nellie, who was
born July 21, 1874.  Maggie died at the age of seventeen years and Paul and
Clement in infancy.  Mr. Souder is a valued and respected citizen, honorable
and upright, making and keeping his word in business transactions as good as
his bond.

Submitted by: Mindee Gleason
E-mail: bgleason@gte.net

http://www.rootsweb.com/~insteube/scibp/scbio/souder-george.txt

WILLIAM B. CAUBLE, a native of the county in which he now resides, and a
well-to-do farmer of Pierce Township, was born September 12, 1830, the
second child of Peter and Margaret (Brown) Cauble. Peter Cauble was a
native of the Old North State, where his birth occurred in about the year
1797. He came to Washington County when it was yet a new and wild country,
and during the war of 1812 served as a teamster. He acted as Justice of the
Peace for many years, was a member of the Christian Church, and his wife, to
whom he was married in 1826, belonged to the Presbyterian Church. With the
exception of two years spent in Nebraska, William B. has always resided in
his native county. His early life was passed on this father's farm and
attending the district schools; and when man grown, learned the carpenter's
trade. He has worked hard, and by diligence and economy has secured a good
farm of 425 acres. In 1869 he was united in matrimony with Miss Margaret E.
Souder, daughter of Frederick and Polly (Click) Souder, and by her is the
father of three children, named, Franklin P., Thomas T. and Peter F. Mr.
Cauble is a Democrat, and is one of Pierce Township's best citizens.
 

PAGE 894

NELSON JOHNSON, a native of the township and county in which he now resides,
was born October 9, 1824, the third in a family of seven children, born to
RANSOM and BARBARA (WRIGHT) JOHNSON, also natives of this county, whose
parents were among the very earliest settlers of this locality. The parents
of Mr. Johnson died in his early youth, in consequence of which he was
raised a bound boy, by his uncle, JOHN H. JOHNSON. The educational
advantages of that early day were very limited, but by strict industry and
devotion to study, he was enabled to qualify himself for a teacher.
December 20, 1845, his marriage with SARAH SOUDER was solemnized, and to
their union were born the following children: RANSOM, GEORGE W., MARY J.
and ADELIA A. The occupation of Mr. Johnson has been principally farming,
in which pursuit he has been very successful, now owning 214 acres of mostly
well improved land. He is a Democrat and has served the people of his
township as Justice of the Peace for the past twenty-four years; is the
present incumbent for the ensuing four years, and was Township Trustee under
the old statute. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.

PAGE 898

CHRISTOPHER SOUDER, a native of this county, was born February 19, 1834, the
oldest of five children born to John and Mary (Morris) Souder. His father,
a native of Tennessee, was born December 15, 1808, came to Indiana the same
year it became a State, where he and wife were married in about the year
1831. Mrs. Souder was born in the Old North State November 12, 1811, and in
the year 1819 came with her parents to Indiana. The subject of this sketch
received but limited educational advantages in youth, and until the age of
twenty-seven years remained at home assisting his parents. March 11, 1861,
he wedded Mary J. Tash, by whom he became the father of five children, of
whom only one--Dawson E.--is now living, aged thirteen years. Mr. Souder's
principal occupation has been that of farming, and by diligence he has
earned 210 acres of land, a portion of which is situated in Clark County.
He is a Democrat, and he and wife belong to the Christian Church.

POLK TWP., WASHINGTON CO., IN.
PAGE 911

HENRY PLOTT, a prominent citizen of Polk Township,is a native of Virginia,
where he was born September 21, 1832, being the oldest in a family of eleven
children born to Simon and Rebecca (Link) Plott, who were also natives of
Virginia, and came to this State about the year 1835, and settled in the
vicinity of the present abode of our subject. Henry remained at home and
assisted his parents on the farm until he attained the age of twenty years.
He received what was for those days a common school education. November 20,
1854, his marriage with Sarah E. Motsinger was solemnized, and to their
union seven children have been born, of which these five are now living:
Rebecca M., now Mrs. Albert Souders; Chloe A., wife of Nelson L. Sonders;
Ada M., consort of Columbus Wyatt; Oscar M. and Eddie S. Our subject's
occupation has always been farming, and he has been quite successful. He
now owns 200 acres of improved land. In politics he is a Democrat, and he
takes an interest in the political affairs of the community in which he lives.

HOWARD TWP., WASHINGTON CO., IN.
PAGE 927

FREDERICK SOUDER, an old and prominent citizen of Jackson Township, was born
in Washington County, October 22, 1818, being the youngest of a family of
seven children born to Frederick and Mary (Kesner) Souder. The father was a
native of Virginia, from which State he removed to Pennsylvania, and about
the year 1808 came to Indiana settling in Polk Township, Washington County.
The mother was a native of Pennsylvania, but in her childhood moved to
Virginia. She immigrated to Indiana with her father in 1808. The subject
of this sketch had rather limited advantages for schooling owing to the poor
log schoolhouses of his day, and the want of public money. By energy,
however, he succeeded in securing a fair practical education. He remained
with his parents until he attained his majority. In 1839 his marriage with
Mary M. Click was solemnized, and to this union have been born four
children, three of whom are now living: Sarah J., Margaret E., Mary
A.(dead), and L. D. Mr. Souder is not a member of any church organization,
but contributes liberally to the support of church and charitable causes.
In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and takes a live interest in political
questions of the day. By occupation he is a farmer and stock-raiser, also
has been interested in a saw-mill. He is one of the prominent an honorable
citizens.

This information was contributed by a kind soul on the internet.

"Evening News-Banner" of Bluffton, Indiana (April 28, 1931)

Thomas M. Souder Dies Early Today - Retired Liveryman dies after long illness and funeral Thursday.

Thomas M. Souder, 78, retired liveryman and lifelong resident of Wells county passed away at 6:15 this morning at his home at 217 East Arnold street following an illness of fourteen months of infirmities.

He was born in Lancaster township, July 5, 1852, a son of Robert and Elizabeth Watson Souder, and was 78 years, 9 months and 20 days of age at the time of his death. Previous to his retirement from active business Mr. Souder conducted a livery barn for many years on North Main street.

His marriage to Matilda Kunkel took place in Lancaster township on November 14, 1872. She passed away on January 19, 1929.

The following children survive: George Souder, Lancaster township; Robert Souder, Mrs. Minnie Waugh and Hugh Souder, all of Bluffton. One brother and four sisters are deceased.

Mr. Souder was a member of the First Baptist church and the Red Men's lodge.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the home at 217 East Arnold street in charge of Dr. H. N. Spear. Burial will be at Fairview cemetery.

"Bluffton News-Banner" of Bluffton, Indiana (09-16-1950)

George T. Souder Succumbs at Home

George T. Souder, 76, of Lancaster township, died at 1 a.m. this morning in his home. He had been ill for approximately three years and death was attributed to complications.

Souder was born July 5, 1874 in Lancaster township to Thomas M. and Matilda Kunkel Souder. His marriage to Pearl Bender, who survives him, took place on Feb. 20, 1896 in Lancaster township. He was a farmer by occupation, and a lifetime resident of Wells county.

Surviving him in addition to his wife are four sons, Homer Souder, Craigville R. R. 1, Herman Souder, Bluffton, Brooks Souder, Bluffton R. R. 4, and Robert Souder, Columbia City; a foster son, George McClean, Dunkirk; two brothers, Hugh Souder, Bluffton, and Robert K. Souder, Stockton Calif.; six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

The body was removed to the Thoma funeral home where it will remain until time for the services.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon in the Lancaster United Brethren church, of which Mr. Souder was a member. Rev. W. L. Eiler will officiate. Burial will be in the Murray cemetery.

Wells County obituaries were provided by Wendy Hendricks at blackink@adamswells.com.