John OESCH

29 JAN 1860 - 18 JAN 1940

• BIRTH: 29 JAN 1860, Huron, Ontario, Canada
• DEATH: 18 JAN 1940, Topeka, Lagrange, Indiana

• MARRIAGE: 18 DEC 1884, Topeka, Lagrange, Indiana

1.  Levi OESCH
2.  Lester OESCH
3. +Truman OESCH

INDEX

[N14883] Birth: Jan. 29, 1860
Death: Jan. 18, 1940
Topeka, Lagrange County, Indiana

Burial: Town Line Cemetery, Topeka, Lagrange County, Indiana

Bio of John Oesch:
HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA
John Oesch. On leaving home and venturing upon his own responsibilities John Oesch had about $300. His active career as a farmer, spent chiefly
in LaGrange County, has brought him much to satisfy his ambition, and he has no fear of the wolf at the door nor even of the tax collector. His farm in Eden Township is often called the home of the Percherons, and his breeding stock of those horses represent some of the finest in Indiana.

He was born in Huron County, Ontario, Canada, January 29, i860, a son of Daniel and Barbara
(Roth) Oesch, the former a native of Canada and the latter of Germany, but brought to Canada
by her parents when only seven years old. They were married in Waterloo County, Canada, and in 1869 moved to Hickory County, Missouri. They bought land, but after living there four years through some technicality lost title. Daniel Oesch then brought his family to Howard County, Indiana, locating and living near Kokomo for a year and a half. He next moved fifteen miles northeast of Fort Wayne and bought forty acres, where he spent the rest of his days. He died at the age of eighty-one. He and his family were Mennonites in religion and in politics after coming to the United States he was aligned with the democratic party. There are three living children: Christian, of Allen County, Indiana; Leah, wife of Joseph Delegrange, of Allen County; and John. John Oesch lived with his father during the different moves above recorded and acquired a common school education. On leaving home at the age of twenty-five he ossessed the modest fortune above noted. December 18, 1884, he married Mary A. Troyer. For a year he rented a farm and then bought thirty-four acres, across the road from where he lives today. He traded this thirty-four acres for seventy-five acres included in his present farm. He bought fifteen acres adjoining and also has eighty-two and a half acres in Newbury Township.

Mr. Oesch has been a horse breeder for thirty three years. He began with the Clyde horses,
changing to the Shire, and now for many years has been a specialist in the Percheron. In the
spring of igig he had six registered mares, three registered stallions and other young stock, giving him thirteen head of full bloods. He is regarded as one of the wealthy men of Eden Township. He is a stockholder in the State Bank of Topeka and also the Farmers State Bank of the same place. Mr. and Mrs. Oesch had fourteen children, one of whom died in infancy. Those still living are: Levi, Jennetta, Daniel, Amanda, William, Lester, Freeman, Artie, Erma, Chauncey, John and Tru-man. The family are members of the Mennonite Church. Mr. Oesch is a republican in political affiliation.