HOSTETTER, David B. - Honorable - Putnam

The student interested in the history of Putnam County does not have to carry his investigations far into its annals before learning that David B. Hostetter has long been one of its most active and leading citizens in its ao-ricultural and stock-raising interests and that his labors have been a potent force in making this a rich agricultural region, for through, several decades he has carried on general farming, gradually improving his valuable place, and while he has prospered in this he has also found time and ample opportunity to assist in material and civic development of the County, and his cooperation has been of value for the general good, especially in political and church affairs. -being the present efficient and popular representative of his locality in the state Legislature.

Mr. Hostetter is the scion of an excellent and highly honored old family of Montgomery County, Indiana, where he was born on December 7, 1862. He is the son of Beniah and Lou A. (Mahorney) Hostetter, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Kentucky, each representing pioneer families of sterling worth. The father came to Indiana in 1831, the mother at a later date, the father having accompanied his parents to Montgomery County, the mother coming to the same County with her brother and sister. There the parents of David B. Hostetter grew to maturity and married in 1860, remaining in that County until Beniah Hostetter's death in 1870, when his wife went to live with her children, her death occurring in South Bend, Indiana, in March. 1909, at an advanced age. They were the parents of the following children: Mary, wife of S. D. Irvine, of Lebanon, Indiana; David B., of this review; William lives in Denver, Colorado: Rev. Henry B. is pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian church at South Bend, Indiana; Martha J. has remained single: B. S. lives in Denver. Colorado. David B. Hostetter was reared on the home farm where he began working when of proper age. attending the district schools during the winter months, later becoming a student of the Ladoga Normal School. He applied himself very assiduously to his text books and received a very serviceable education, which has since been greatly augmented by miscellaneous home reading and study and by general contact with the world. He then took charge of the home farm which he successfully conducted for a period of five years. The domestic chapter of Mr. Hostetter's life history began on October 17, 1888. when he married Hettie A. Harshbarger, a native of Montgomery County, Indiana, where her birth occurred on May 29, 1865. She is the daughter of Samuel Harshbarger, long a prominent citizen of that County where Mrs. Hostetter grew to maturity and was educated in the district schools, later attending the Western Seminary at Oxford, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hostetter moved to Franklin township early in their career and they have resided here ever since. They are the parents of six children living, named as follows: Howard H., born September 17, 1889, is a graduate of the Roachdale high school and is now a student in Wabash College: Stuart S., born December 31, 1890, is a sophomore at Wabash College: Sherman Ralph was born November 13, 1895: David H. was born October 16, 1898: Mary's birth occurred April 18, 1900; Curtis was born June 27, 1904. Mr. Hostetter is the owner of one of the model farms of Franklin township, consisting of two hundred and forty acres, which is well improved and well kept and which vields abundant crops under his efficient management. Some good livestock is also raised from year to year. He has a beautiful and cozy home, substantial outbuildings and everything about the place shows thrift and prosperity and indicates that a gentleman of excellent taste and good judgment has its management in hand. Mr. and Mrs. Hostetter are members of the Presbyterian church at Roachdale, Mr. Hostetter being one of the ruling elders and a liberal supporter of the same. Politically he is a loyal Democrat and he has long been active in party affairs and as a result of his services and his ability he has been called upon to serve in positions of public trust. For a period of over five years he was trustee of Franklin township and he was elected representative in the state Legislature in 1906. He made such a splendid record and was so conscientious and faithful in the discharge of his duties while an incumbent of that important office that he was re-elected to the same in 1908, being one of the "Temperance Democrats" of the notable session of 1909. He has made his influence for good felt in that body and he has looked as carefully after the interests of the people whom he represents as if he was managing his individual affairs, consequently he has won and retained the confidence and esteem of all classes. He has also taken a great interest in Presbyterian church work, and in 1907 he was one of the commissioners of the Indianapolis presbytery selected to represent the church in the general assembly. There are two elders and two members elected from each presbytery. Thus the honor conferred upon Mr. Hostetter was one greatly to be prized. Mr. Hostetter served as grand secretary of the National Horse Thief Association for a period of eight years and he very ably discharged the duties of the same, arousing much interest in the same, especially in the Central states. Mr. Hostetter occupies a conspicuous place among the leading men of Putnam County and enjoys the respect of all who know him. His record demonstrates that where there is an ambition to succeed and to be of service to one's fellow men. all obstacles may be overcome and much good eventually accomplished by courage and self-reliance, and his career, which has been somewhat strenuous, has been fraught with much good to his neighbors and constituents and his life work and his examples are cordially commended to the youth of the land whose destinies are yet matters for the future to determine.