Shelby  County,  Indiana
Biographies

Weldon  E.  Howery

Weldon  E.  Howrey

          Weldon E. Howrey, a farmer of Manchester township, Dearborn county, Indiana, was born in the same township where he now resides, August 23, 1859, a son of  Daniel and Elizabeth (Gass) Howrey.  Daniel Howrey was born in Germany [see note], August 17, 1827, and was brought to this country by his parents when a small boy.  They came directly to this section and settled on a farm near Hogan Hill in Manchester township, and in the early schools of that district Daniel received his education.  He worked with his father on the family homestead, for the land had to be put into proper condition for cultivation, and the removal of the forests meant an immense amount of labor.  He remained with his father until the time of his marriage to Elizabeth Gass, January 3, 1850, when he started out in life for himself by renting a farm north of Hogan Hill, near his parents, which land he afterward purchased.
          After farming near Hogan Hill for a few years, Daniel Howrey disposed of his holdings there and moved to Douglas county, Illinois, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and continued to live there until the death of his wife.  He then sold out and went to Oregon, where he made his home until the time of his death, about thirty years later. He never remarried, and the last three months of his life he lived with Ezra Dixon, an old-time friend, dying in that home on March 24, 1901.  He was a man who was universally liked and respected, and was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church.  In politics he was a Democrat, although never taking any particular interest in political matters.
          Elizabeth (Gass) Howrey, mother of the immediate subject of this sketch, and wife of Daniel Howrey, was a daughter of Anthony Gass, and was born in Manchester township, March 23, 1830.  She received her education in the early schools of her home district and remained with her parents until the time of her marriage.  Both her parents were born in Germany and directly after their marriage they immigrated to America.  They came directly to this township, and here passed the remainder of their lives. There were five children in their family, the eldest of whom was Joseph, Elizabeth was the second child in order of birth.  Then followed Muzella (Mrs. Wilson), late of Ripley county, and Mary and Martha, who died young. Joseph is still living in Louisville, Kentucky, where he is a cigar-maker.
          Weldon E. Howrey is the third child of his parents, there being four children in the family.  The eldest is  Henry E., who died young. Martha A. is the wife of Mr. Langley, a retired farmer of Illinois.  She is the mother of five children, Otto, (deceased), Oller, Cora, Nellie and Albert. Marion E. is in the tile business in Fountain county, in this state. He has been twice married, his first wife being Mary being Mary Cox, by whom he had one child, Clarence E. His second wife was Anne Cuppy, and there are no children to this marriage.
          When quite a young boy, Weldon E. Howrey went with his parents to Douglas county, Illinois, and was but seven years old at the time of the death of his mother. After his father sold out and started west, Weldon was sent back to this county and was taken into the home of Andrew Sims, where he lived for about two and one-half years. He then made his home with William Morton, at Manchester, for a short time and for the following eight years lived with W. Rumsey and worked for him on his farm. His first independent business venture was the rental of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which he tended for a year previous to the time of his marriage, November 10, 1881, to Anna I. Walser. They first went to housekeeping in Manchester and then for one year lived on the Ellis farm of eighty acres, and then for the following three years they lived on the Rumsey farm of one hundred and forty acres. Their next move was to Union Ridge, this county, where they rented and farmed a tract of fifty acres, remaining there two years. From Union Ridge they went to near Kyle Station, where they lived for a number of years on a farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres and then in 1901 they again moved to Manchester, purchasing a farm containing eighty acres.  The place was at that time in a badly run-down condition and they have made considerable improvement in it.  There was on the farm an old brick dwelling which subject has remodeled and made a fine modern home out of it. The land, too, has been put in excellent condition and altogether the farm is one of the most up-to-date in the community.
          Anna Walser was born in Manchester township, a daughter of  Benjamin P. and Amanda (Jackson) Walser. She was educated in the common schools of that township and remained under the parental roof until the time of her marriage. Benjamin P. Walser, her father, was a son of James and  Mary (Bailey) Walser, and was born in Manchester township on April 21, 1835.  His education was rather limited, owing to the restricted opportunities of that day in this section, and from early boyhood he assisted his father in clearing and farming the home place.  He remained at home until the time of his marriage to Amanda Jackson, May 15, 1856, and shortly afterward they started to housekeeping on the farm which he rented near his father’s home. They remained there but a short time when he purchased one hundred acres near Kyle, this township, and later added a tract of seventy acres. Benjamin Walser’s first wife did not live very long, passing away on May 22, 1865.  In the nine years of their married life she bore him five children as follows: Charles, who married  Lora Tibbetts, is deputy auditor of Dearborn county, and the parents of three children, Frances, Robert and Herbert, the latter deceased. Mary became the wife of a Mr. Rumsey and is the mother of three children, Florence (Mrs. Cross), Walter and Lucile (Mrs. Welsh). John is a farmer of Manchester township. Anna is the wife of the subject of this biography. Americus D., the youngest child of the family, married Ida Andrews and lives in Lawrenceburg, where he is connected with the United States revenue service.  He is the father of two children,  Hobart and Howard.  Benjamin Walser later remarried, his second wife being Anna Marie Case, with whom he was united in marriage on September 27, 1866, and by whom he became the father of one child, Nancy (Mrs. Schooley). Benjamin Walser was a prominent man in this community in his day, being considered among the most influential citizens of his time. He was a strong advocate of the principles of the Republican party and for one term served as county commissioner.
          To Weldon E. Howery and wife have been born four children:  Mollie, wife of  Roy Fansler, a railroader living in Shelby county, this state, and mother of one child,  Weldon Wesley;  Hazel G., the youngest of the family, died on February 10, 1914, age twenty years; Ernest W. remains at home with the parents; Hattie, the eldest of the family, is the wife of Thomas Edwards, a section foreman on the Big Four railroad, resides at Indianapolis, and is the mother of three children, Estelle,  Floyd W. and  Imogene.
          Mr. Howrey is considered one of the best citizens of this township, who is always ready to advance the public interests whenever possible. For four years he served as township trustee, being elected on the Democratic ticket, and is counted among the active workers of that party in this section.  He holds his fraternal affiliation with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a past grand of that order.  He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and in the workings of both orders he takes a deep and intelligent interest.  In every phase of life he is eminently deserving of the high esteem in which he is held by all who know him.
History of Dearborn County, Indiana, compliments of Ron

NOTE: The following caveat was included by Judie Cale Nelson.
"There is one big discrepancy and that is that Daniel Howery was not born in Germany, but Manchester, Dearborn, IN. Elizabeth and Joseph Gass were born in Louisiana, not IN. There are some minor things that are in conflict but nothing major. These errors probably occured because Weldon E. Howery went to live in various homes at the age of 7 when his mother died. It doesn't appear that his father ever returned."

Biography Index       Main Page

For current email addresses of researchers listed above, use the Surname Index