Kreider, John Laustin

Posted By: Wayne Humphrey
Date: 12 December 2001

Pages 766-767 - "History of Whitley County, Indiana" by S.P. Kaler and R.H. Maring (pub. 1907)
John Kreider was born in Darke county, Ohio, May 29, 1845, and hence was about nine years old when his parents came to Whitley county. Since then his life and work have been intimately connected with the material development of the community in which he was resided continuously for over fifty-one years. His schooling was that of the pioneer boy and while still a youth he was able to keep pace with full grown men in the work of clearing and cultivating the soil. He attended school in a little log building near the parental home and by diligent application obtained a fair education.
Several years before attaining his majority, he began working for himself as a hired hand at monthly wages and by carefully husbanding his earnings soon had a neat sum for future energies. For some time he lived with Abram Gable, one of the county's pioneers, and worked for him and others until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and fifty-second Regiment Indiana Infantry with which he served in the Army of the Potomac until honorably discharged in September, 1865. He participated in the battles of Harper's Ferry, Charlestown, Winchester and others, in all of which his conduct was that of a brave and fearless soldier who shirked no duty, however arduous or dangerous. At the expiration of his term of service, Mr. Kreider returned home and resumed his farm labors, which have placed him in easy circumstances.

March 17, 1867, he married Miss Huldah, daughter of Frederick and Catherine (Wysong) Wantz, natives respectively of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and Braddock county, Virginia. Frederick Wantz was born September 19, 1806, and came to Whitley county in 1844 and entered land in Cleveland township, of which he was one of the first settlers. The place on which he located was improved and on which he and his wife spent the remainder of their days, is now in possession of Mr. Kreider, who holds the original patent from the government bearing the signature of President Van Buren. Mr. Wantz died in 1880 and his wife in 1884, the latter being born June 16, 1803. Mr. and Mrs. Kreider have had eight children: Sarah E.; Fred, who married Amadda Layton and is engaged in farming in Cleveland township; Joseph J., who married Alma Huffman and resides in Washington township; Minnie, wife of Clyde Martz, who operates a part of the family homestead; John L., who married Effie Jenkins and is also interested in the cultivation of the home place; Eliza C., Izah and Loyd, still under the parental roof. Mr. Kreider owns two hundred and forty acres of fine land, of which one hundred and twenty are in cultivation, forty consisting of timber in its original state, not a tree of any size having been cut. Mr. Kreider devotes his attention to general farming and stock raising, in which his success has been gratifying. He has a commodious and comfortable residence, supplied with many modern conveniences, and the barn, fences and general appearance of the place indicate the presence of a practical and painstaking farmer. He co-operates with the Democratic party, but has never sought nor desired office, contenting himself with being an active worker in the ranks. He holds membership in Lodge No. 131, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Springfield Post, No. 195, Grand Army of the Republic, at South Whitley, and with his wife belongs to the United Brethren church.

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