The book "History of Northeast Indiana, LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and
DeKalb Counties" by the Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago and New York
1920
p. 329
"Willard C. Dewire, though a native of Kansas, has been
identified with the farming interests of Richland Township in Steuben
County since a youn man, and in association with his son carries on a
very extensive and prosperous business in feeding and shipping
livestock. Mr. Dewire makes his home at Edon, Ohio, his son living on
the farm, and together they co-operate in a business that has grown up
year by year under the constant supervision of Mr. Dewire.
He was born in Allen County, Kansas, June 5, 1869, son of
Monterville D. and Lizzie (Harris) Dewire. His parents were both born
in Washington County, Pennsylvania. Monterville was only nine years old
when his father died. Lizzie Harris was well educated and was an
instructor in a girl's seminary at California, Pennsylvania.
Monterville Dewire before going into the army spelled his name Dwyer.
On the army rolls it was written Dewire and the family has continued
that orthography ever since. Monterville Dewire was a member of Company
A of the One Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Infantry, and was with
every engagement of his regiment and was in the war three years and
seven months. Later he moved to Missouri, spent one years in that
state, and for sixteen years lived as a farmer in Allen County, Kansas.
On returning East he located in Williams County, Ohio, living at Edon
four years. In 1886 he bought a 160-acre farm in section 29 of Richland
Township, Steuben County, added twenty acres to that, but about 1911
returned to Edon, where he is still living. His wife died in 1901. They
were the parents of five children: Milton, a physician and a graduate
of Rush Medical College of Chicago, now practicing at Sharon,
Wisconsin; Willard C.; Elgy, a farmer in Williams County, Ohio; Lula,
wife of Harvey Omstead, of Otsego Township, Steuben County; and Lela,
wife of Leo Morley.
Willard C. Dewire acquired his early education in the schools of
Allen County, Kansas, and was about seventeen years old when his father
located in Steuben County. Soon afterward he began farming in Richland
Township, and in 1895 bought seventy acres included in his present
landed possessions. He increased his holdings until he has 180 acres in
sections 32 and 33, while he and his son Montie own another farm of 173
acres. They use this land for general farming purposes, and pasture and
feed a large amount of livestock every year. The son took first premium
on a carload of fat lambs at the Buffalo Fat Stock Show, and their long
experience and study enable them to make the most out of any given
condition affecting the growing and fattening of stock for market.
Their building improvements on the farm are of the very best.
In 1913 Mr. Dewire moved to Edon, leaving his son on the farm.
Mr. Dewire married Myrtie Robinett, daughter of Thomas Robinett, and
member of a well-known family of Steuben County, elsewhere noted. Their
only child is their son Montie, who married Ethel Ingram and has two
children, Myra and Marie. Mr. Dewire is affiliated with the Knights of
Pythias, being a charter member of Edon Lodge No. 644. His son has a
technical as well as practical training for his business as a farmer
and stock feeder, having taken two short courses in agriculture and
stock husbandry at the Wisconsin State University and one short course
at Purdue University."
Submitted by: Theresa
WOARTF@aol.com