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Author: WellsVolunteer
Surnames: LIPKEY, CROW, MEACHAM, CLEMMENS, GLASS, MANN, LEWIS, DICK, LEPPER, MCDERMOTT, LONGSHORE, FRY, MCMULLEN
Classification: biography
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Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 368-370.
WILLIAM LIPKEY.
Prominent among the leading citizens of Union township, Wells county, Indiana, stands William Lipkey, who was born in Brooke county, Virginia (now West Virginia), May 26, 1822, a son of Charles and Margaret (Crow) Lipkey, of remote German descent and of ante-Revolutionary citizenship. Charles Lipkey, father of William and a soldier of the war of 1812, was the only son in a family of six children born to Henry and Mary A. Lipkey, the former of whom was the first of the family to come from Germany to America. Henry Lipkey was but sixteen years old when he arrived in the colonies, but at once espoused the cause of freedom and served as a private soldier in the army of the patriots until the glorious end had been achieved. To Charles and Margaret (Crow) Lipkey were born three sons and three daughters, viz: Philip and Charles, deceased; Margaret, now deceased, was the wife of Edward Meacham, and left two sons; Elizabeth was the wife of George Clemmens; Rachel died unmarried; Will!
iam is the subject proper of this sketch. In September, 1822, Charles Lipkey moved from Brooke county, Virginia, to Trumbull county, Ohio, where young William was reared on his father's farm, and where he acquired as fair an education as that early day afforded. At the proper age he went out to work by the month and found employment at various occupations until he had amassed a small sum of cash, and then started out on foot for the West. When he reached Wells county, Indiana, he entered the land on a part of which he still resides. He continued to add to his original tract until he became the owner of one hundred and eighty acres of well-improved property in Union township, and has here made his home continuously since 1856. He is today one of the most honored of the township's citizens, having devoted his best energies to the development of the resources of the country and the prosperity of the community in which he has lived for more than half a century.
Mr. Lipkey has ever been among the foremost in advocating public improvements and was one of the first to agitate the project and petition for the building of the road that runs east and west through the center of Union township, from the Indianapolis pike to the George Glass farm, which petition was granted in March, 1849, the line being surveyed by the then county surveyor, George Mann. Mr. Lipkey has always interested himself in these affairs and his judgment is implicitly relied upon by his fellow citizens who time and again have selected him as administrator of very important estates.
February 1, 1854, William Lipkey was joined in marriage with Miss Belinda Lewis, daughter of Wheeler and Abiah Lewis, of Connecticut. Although no offspring has blessed this union, Mr. and Mrs. Lipkey's hearts warm toward the orphan and they have reared, or partly reared, six children, born to others, viz: Margaret Lipkey, who at the age of two years, was taken to their home, but who, at the age of fourteen was most untimely called away; Jennie Dick, at the age of fourteen, won the affection of Mr. and Mrs. Lipkey, and by them was reared until her marriage to Thomas Lepper; she died at twenty-nine years of age; James Lipkey was but ten years old when in the fall of 1865 he found a place in the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. Lipkey; he is still an inmate of the old homestead, operating the farm, and is married to Martha J. Longshore; they have two children, Jesse W. and Hattie A., and lost one, William H., in infancy; Frances McDermott was taken by Mr. and Mrs. Lipkey in the fall of 1!
866, when she was about four years old, and is now the wife of Ira Longshore; Annie Fry was next adopted, at fourteen, but she, too, passed away aged twenty-one, and Frank McMullen lived with Mr. and Mrs. Lipkey six years, from the age of ten. To each of these children who were married Mr. Lipkey donated sufficient means for a start in life, and there probably exists nowhere in the township or county a similar instance of munificence.
Mr. and Mrs. Lipkey united with the Methodist Episcopal church in December, 1856, and have ever been earnest and active in their work for this denomination. They are liberal contributors financially toward its maintenance and rejoice in its prosperity and the spread of its teachings. Mr. Lipkey has been officially connected with the church as trustee since 1861 and class leader for forty-two years thus showing the sincerity of his faith and the kindness of his heart in acts innumerable. He has been a member of the quarterly conference since 1856, and for several years has served as Sunday school superintendent. Fraternally he is a member of Ossian Lodge No. 297, F. & A. M., and politically he is one of the leading and most substantial Republicans of Union township and Wells county. Mrs. Lipkey, it is sad to add, was for many years an invalid, and Mr. Lipkey, with his usual patience and charity of disposition, cared for her until she passed into the silent land, November 7, 1!
886.
Mr. Lipkey in his youth did not have the opportunity of obtaining a very complete education, the ordinary grade of arithmetic being the highest study in the school curriculum in his day and neighborhood. The school house was of the common type of the period, with slab benches, greased-paper windows and other rude accommodations. During his long life Mr. Lipkey has contributed toward the erection of eight church buildings, seven in Wells county and one in Allen county, and has in many other ways exhibited a lively interest in the welfare of those about him.
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Author: WellsVolunteer
Surnames: FUNK, BOWER, GARRETT, BOWMAN, MORRISON, RINEAR, JOHNSON
Classification: biography
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Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 366-368.
JOHN B. FUNK.
This popular young druggist at Liberty Center, Wells county, Indiana, is a native of Wayne county, Ohio, where he was born June 11, 1862, a son of Absalom and Anna (Bower) Funk, the former of whom was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and a son of Benjamin Funk, and the latter, also a native of the Keystone state, a daughter of Jacob Bower. From Pennsylvania Absalom Funk was taken to Ohio, where he grew to manhood and married Miss Bower. He there followed farming and milling until November, 1866, when he came to Liberty township, Wells county, Indiana, and purchased three hundred and twenty acres of woodland, on which, in 1867, he erected a saw-mill, which, in 1868, was destroyed by fire. Within two years, however Mr. Funk had another mill running, and continued to operate it until 1874, when he removed to Lancaster township, Wells county, and engaged in farming and the nursery business. His death, which occurred July 9, 1875, was caused by exposure while at wor!
k in his nursery, the shock of the fatality being a severe one to his family and numerous friends. The children born to Absalom and Anna Funk were eight in number, and in order of birth were named as follows: Mary, who died in infancy, in Ohio; W. H., now in Bluffton, Wells county; Martin, a miller in Liberty Center; Benjamin F., a farmer in Wayne county, Ohio; Jacob A., a resident of Rock Creek township, Wells county, Indiana; Susan M., wife of Dr. Garrett, of Liberty Center; John B., whose name opens this biographical sketch, and Rachel M., wife of William Bowman. Absalom Funk was a Republican in politics and while living in Ohio served as a justice of the peace under the auspices of his party; his widow is now seventy-seven years old and is still quite active.
John B. Funk attended the public schools of Liberty township until twelve years of age and then entered the Bluffton city schools, in which his education was completed in its literary elements, and he next attended the normal school one term, to be the better prepared for the profession of teaching. The winter following his graduation from this institution Mr. Funk taught school, and the following July (1883) he was engaged by Dr. F. W. Garrett and Dr. Morrison as a clerk in their drug store. Within a short time thereafter Mr. Funk purchased Dr. Morrison's interest in the stock, later bought one-half of the building, and finally, in 1888, purchased Dr. Garrett's interest and for a short time conducted the business alone. Mr. Funk's next partner in business was J. W. Rinear, father-in-law of Mr. Funk, who bought a one-half interest. This partnership was maintained for two years, when Mr. Rinear sold out to Dr. Edwin Rinear in 1892, but a year later Mr. Funk bought out the Doc!
tor and has since had sole control of the business, of which he has made a thorough success. In 1895 Mr. Funk purchased a forty-acre tract of land in section 16, Liberty township, Wells county, to which, in 1901, he added thirty-two acres adjoining, and also purchased a one-and-three-quarter-acre lot, on which stood a barn. He rents out this land, but reserves the right of raising some stock for his own use.
John B. Funk's marriage was solemnized April 2, 1885, with Miss Hannah S. Rinear, who was born December 28, 1866, and is a daughter of Senator J. W. and Sarah Rinear, Mrs. Funk being the first white child born in Liberty Center. At their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Funk went to housekeeping in their present handsome dwelling in Liberty Center and here they have been blessed with three children, namely John A. J., born May 22, 1886, now in his second year in the high school, having attended one term at the Marion Normal School; Mabel, born December 13, 1888, and now in her eighth year at school; and Charles Rinear, born February 2, 1892, in the fifth grade at school.
Mrs. Funk is an active worker in the Baptist church and Mr. Funk is a member of Liberty Center Lodge No. 747, I. O. O. F.; he is also a member of the Bluffton Encampment No. 141. He has passed the chairs in the camp, to attend which ceremony he was compelled to travel eight miles. It may also be added that Mr. and Mrs. Funk are members of Rebekah Lodge No. 83 of Bluffton, in which lodge Mrs. Funk is particularly active.
In politics Mr. Funk is a warm Republican, and in 1889 was appointed postmaster of Liberty Center, a position he held for four years and two months to the entire satisfaction of the people and the postoffice department, the result being that he was retained by his successor, H. J. Johnson, as deputy, for another term of four years; he was then again commissioned postmaster of Liberty Center and still holds that responsible office, a continuous term of fourteen years in all, as either principal or deputy. It was through his strenuous efforts that the office at Liberty Center has been made a money order office, Mr. Funk has also been successful in his efforts to establish the rural postal route connected with Liberty Center. He has held a notary public's commission for four years, and in serving the interests of his party has been a delegate to numerous county and congressional conventions, in which his voice was always heard in the best interests of his party.
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Author: WellsVolunteer
Surnames: LOBSIGER, WAIBLE, STEINER, DETTINGER
Classification: biography
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Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 365-366.
JOHN LOBSIGER.
The steady, plodding, persistent boy is the one who almost invariably makes the best success in life. The eager, dashing, brilliant lad may accomplish much by a single bold stroke, but there is too much of chance in such ventures. It is the youth who makes each period of time speak for itself and all of them to speak well in his behalf, who always has most to show for the days, weeks and months that have elapsed. John Lobsiger, of Harrison township, Wells county, the subject of this sketch, is steady, plodding and persistent. He has been twenty-nine years in America and has something of value to show for each year.
July 30, 1861, John Lobsiger was born in Switzerland, the son of John and Elizabeth (Waible) Lobsiger. They and their ancestors, for many generations, were natives of that oldest republic on earth. In his native land, John, the father of the subject, was a laborer, who by hard work established himself in comfortable circumstances and, as is generally the case, just about the time he began to be prepared to enjoy life, died. His widow mourned her loss for a suitable period and cared for her little, son, John, the subject, then consoled herself by accepting a second husband. In 1873 she came to America, bringing with her her little son, and settled near Vera Cruz, Wells county. Here the lad, although but twelve years old, began working by the month as a farm hand. In 1878 he entered the employment of John L. Steiner and after working for him by the month for a year, although then but eighteen years of age, he rented the farm, and did so well with it that it was leased to him y!
ear after year for eighteen years. In 1885 he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Dettinger, a young lady of Van Wert county, Ohio, who was born July 4, 1861, but had moved with her parents to Wells county in 1873, where she resided up to the time of her marriage. In his wedded state, as during single blessedness, John continued frugal and provident, gradually increasing his yearly income and year by year adding to his material possessions. He and his wife are the parents of four children, viz: Rosa, born April 10,1887; Harry, born April 30, 1889; Robert L., born October 6, 1890; Martin, born April 4, 1892. The children are all intelligent, apt in their studies at school, and give promise of being useful, worthy citizens.
In politics Mr. Lobsiger is a Democrat, a firm believer in the tenets of that political creed and during each and every campaign exerts himself for the advancement of the cause. He has never sought office for himself and desires no official position at the hands of his party, but generally there is some man upon his party ticket to whom his special zeal is accorded and even if there should not be, he is none the less interested in the result. He has been a resident of Vera Cruz since 1896, is a member of the lodge of Knights of Fidelity and is generally regarded as a worthy and estimable citizen He is a man of kind disposition and generous impulses, a faithful husband, kind father, a true and sincere friend. He is still, comparatively speaking, a young man, and those who know him best predict for him a most brilliant future. Mild mannered, calm and dispassionate, no judge ever set upon the bench who considers every question which arises with more cool deliberation than he do!
es. Every feature of a proposition is looked at before he decides and when he does decide he is always true to his convictions. It is through the injection of such blood that the American is beginning to dominate the earth.
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Author: WellsVolunteer
Surnames: STAHL, GROVE, SNOW, BOOTH, SMITH
Classification: biography
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Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 364-365.
JOSEPH STAHL.
A native of Bluffton, Wells county, Indiana, Joseph Stahl was born September 4, 1856, and is a son of Jacob and Mary J. (Grove) Stahl, of whom further mention will at once be made, both being now deceased. Jacob Stahl, Sr., a native of Bedford, Pennsylvania, was a son of Abram and Rebecca Stahl, who were also born in the Keystone state. Jacob was but twelve years of age when brought to Wells county, Indiana, by his parents, who settled on a farm in Nottingham township, and on that farm Jacob grew to manhood. He there married Miss Grove, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, and with her parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Grove, came to Wells county, Indiana, when she was but six years of age, about 1839, the family settling in Harrison township. At his marriage Jacob Stahl located in Bluffton, where he followed his trade as a carpenter for eight years, and then came to Liberty township and settled on the farm which his son, Joseph, now owns and occupies, and where he erected o!
ne of the first frame houses in the township. This farm had been entered from the government by Abram Stahl, his father, and when Jacob Sr. settled on it it was one stretch of timber land, but Jacob succeeded in clearing it up and in converting it into one of the pleasantest homesteads in the township at that early day. Here he and wife passed the remainder of life, Jacob, who was born March 20, 1825, dying May 20, 1893, and Mary J., who was born May 12, 1835, dying April 9, 1898. They were the parents of two children, Charles and Joseph.
The younger of these two, Joseph Stahl, is the gentleman whose name opens this biography. He was educated preliminarily in the public school of Liberty township, which he attended until he was eighteen years of age, and then passed one term in the Bluffton high school. At the age of nineteen years, Joseph received a portion of his one-third interest in the estate, and at once invested it in a forty-acre tract of land, but continued to make his home with his father, receiving one-third of the products of the farm for his services until his marriages when about twenty-two years old, and of which event farther mention will be made. He then erected a dwelling on his own land, but continued to work for his father until the latter's death; from first to last he worked on the one-third principle for about twenty years. Since the mother's death the property has been equally divided between Joseph and his brother Charles, putting the latter in possession of one hundred and fifty acre!
s, one hundred and twenty of the old home place and thirty-eight acres in Chester township. Mr. Stahl is a general farmer and a breeder of live stock, and one of the most successful agriculturists of his age in the township.
November 28, 1878, Joseph Stahl married Miss Mary Snow, who was born January 24, 1860, and is a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Booth) Snow. To this blissful union have been born two children, namely: Edith, married to Herbert Smith and now living on Joseph Stahl's farm, assisting in its cultivation during the summer seasons and teaching school during the winters; Homer Augustus, the younger of the two, is also a teacher and has his residence on the home place. Further information in relation to the Snow family may be gleaned from the biographical record of George Snow on another page of this volume.
Joseph Stahl, since he has been entitled to the exercise of his franchise, has voted with the Democratic party, and his first official position under the auspices of that organization was as superintendent of gravel roads for two years, having charge of seventy-three linear miles. In 1900 he was elected to the commissionership of the second district of his county. He has never been without ample means, having always been wise enough to add to his possession through his industry and careful management and is today recognized as one of the most substantial and useful citizens of Liberty township. He is always ready to aid financially in promoting such improvements as may be of permanent benefit to his fellow citizens, and there is certainly not a more respected family in Liberty township than that of Joseph Stahl.
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Author: WellsVolunteer
Surnames: SILLS, BLACKFORD, DICK
Classification: biography
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Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 363-364.
DANIEL SILLS.
Daniel Sills was born on the farm where he now lives, April 20, 1843. He is a son of Daniel Sills, a native of Pennsylvania, born November 12, 1804, who died September 4, 1873, and the latter was a son of Joseph Sills, a native of Germany. The mother of Daniel Sills, Jr., was Mary (Blackford) Sills, born November 9, 1806, a daughter of John Blackford. Blackford county, Indiana, received its name from its original settlers, the ancestors of Mary (Blackford) Sills. Daniel, Sr., was married to Mary Blackford June 22, 1826, and settled in Ohio, later coming to Indiana, and on March 1, 1842, moved onto the farm now occupied by Daniel Sills, Jr. The senior Sills devoted the greater portion of his life to farming and hunting he and his sons clearing the farm where the subject resides. Daniel, Sr., was the father of ten children, five of whom are living: Elizabeth, born May 1, 1827; Katherine, born November 9, 1828, deceased; Sarah, born April 18, 1831; Margaret, born November 21, 1!
827, deceased; Joseph, born February 24, 1833, deceased; Michael, born July 15, 1838; Daniel, born April 20, 1843; James, born February 20, 1845; John, born June 5, 1847, deceased, and an infant, deceased. Daniel, Jr., attended school at the Helm Corner school house in Chester township until he attained the age of twenty years. The longest term of school in those times was three months, and he did not get to go more than half of that time at any one term. He remained with his father, who claimed his wages until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1865 he went to Iowa and remained there that year. Excepting this one year spent in the west, he remained working in the home neighborhood, making his home with his parents until he was about twenty-five years old. He was married February 13, 1868, to Mary C. Dick, who was born September 8, 1845, and died September 13, 1898. She was the daughter of Uriah Dick, a resident of Blackford county, Indiana, and a native of Virginia. After !
his marriage, Daniel Sills and wife settled two and one-half miles sou
th of Montpelier, Indiana, where they lived for a period of eighteen months, then moving onto the farm where he is now living. He has remained on this farm continually since that time, it having virtually been his home ever since he was born, excepting the first eighteen months of his married life. He has been all his life what may be termed a general stock farmer. He has also owned and run a threshing machine in season for thirty-five years and has done some saw-milling. He is the owner of three hundred and fifty acres of land, eighty-eight of which are in the home place and the remainder in Blackford county, Indiana. He received six hundred dollars from his father as a start in life. He is the father of fourteen children, all of whom are living, as follows: Alvina, born January 29, 1869; Letta F., March 7, 1870; Rosa L. B., December 29, 1871; Uriah D., January 27, 1873; Jennie M., April 27, 1874; Wesley H., November 16, 1875; Addie D., September 6, 1878; Charles C., March !
18, 1880; Elijah B., November 15, 1881; Bertha M., June 30, 1883; Sue O., June 26, 1885; Eva A., August 13, 1887; Mary C., March 18, 1890, and Daniel N., March 18, 1893.
In his political views the subject has always subscribed to the doctrines of the Democratic party; he believes, however, in a man voting his sentiments regardless of party dictation. Mary C. (Dick) Sills, his wife, after having been a true and faithful helpmate to her husband for thirty-one years, passed to her reward September 13, 1898, mourned by her husband and children. Daniel Sills is one in whom the love of family, friends and country is largely developed. He has never had a desire to roam the wide world o'er, but has found contentment in the bosom of his family and his friends in the locality of his nativity. He is an industrious and exemplary citizen, who has found his highest happiness in the performance of his civic duties to the community in which he has lived, in providing for his family and securing a competency to meet the contingencies of the inevitable "rainy day."
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Author: WellsVolunteer
Surnames: ARNOLD, BARTELMY, SHOCK, SWENEY, SOUCH, LENNING, EALEY, BEELER, LANNING, MASTERSON
Classification: biography
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Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 361-363.
ADAM ARNOLD.
There were very few white people in Wells county previous to 1830. Then they slowly drifted in from the settlements in Ohio and other parts of the country where government land could no longer be found to settle upon. By 1845 much of the land was taken, but the country was still wild and little improved. In 1844 the progenitor of the Arnold family came and made settlement upon a quarter section in Harrison township.
Adam Arnold, the subject of this sketch, was born in Harrison township, Wells county, April 1, 1852. His father was Moses Arnold, who in the early 'forties located upon one hundred and sixty acres of land in the woods of Wells county. He came from Miami bounty, Ohio, where he was born, his parents being Jacob and Clotilda Arnold. When he first located in Wells county Moses Arnold was a young man of twenty-four years, married only a short time, and had come out into the wilderness to establish a home and make his fortune. Eagerly he set about the undertaking, working early and late in clearing and improving his land. The hardships of pioneer life, however, were not easily endured and his young wife sickened and died, leaving four little children to his care. To remain long a widower under those circumstances would have been cruel to his helpless offspring, so, after waiting a suitable period of time, he chose a wife from the daughters of his neighbors and was united in marria!
ge to Miss Mary N. Bartelmy, daughter of John Bartelmy, a native of Pennsylvania who had located in Wells county early in its settlement. To Moses and Clotilda Arnold twelve children were born, of whom Adam, the subject of this sketch, is the oldest. They are Adam, of whom more will be said hereafter; Ellen, deceased; Sarah, deceased; Elijah and Eli, twins, of whom the latter is dead; the former married Clara Shock and they reside in Michigan; Henry married Carrie Sweney; Edward, deceased; Clotilda, deceased; George married Ida Souch; Jennie is the wife of Albert Lenning; Ida is the wife of Charles Ealey; Allen married Sarah Beeler.
The original quarter section of land located upon by Moses Arnold was cleared and improved by him and his children and was held and resided upon by him until his death, which occurred February 8, 1897. He was a man of much firmness and determination, yet neither aggressive nor unkindly in disposition. He loved his family and respected his neighbors and acquaintances. Few men have passed away in his section of the country esteemed more highly or who were more deeply mourned. In politics he was a Democrat and although not a bitter partisan, never neglected an opportunity to vote his sentiments. He died as he had lived, at peace with all the world and perfectly resigned to abide by the will of the Superior Power.
Adam Arnold, the subject of this sketch, was reared upon the farm and learned early the details of the work to be done. When little more than a child he swung an ax with the energy of a man. He chopped down trees, trimmed them, measured and sawed the logs, dug roots, burned brush, and split rails under his father's direction with far more assiduity than many hired hands. In the winter he attended the district school and was as faithful in his studies as in the clearing of the field. The result was that before he had attained his majority he had acquired a fair knowledge of the common school branches. When twenty-one years of age he began working in the timber for wages and followed that calling during the winter months for a number of years, the other months of the year being employed as a farm hand. His first agricultural labors on his own account was on his father's farm, which he rented. In his customary careful, methodical manner, he plowed and planted and reaped. With s!
uch success was his efforts attended that within a short time he determined to establish a home of his own. On December 24, 1876, he was united in marriage to Miss Julia Lanning, who was a native of Harrison township, born March 2, 1853. Her parents were Johiel and Susan Lanning, both old residents of Wells county. She was a young lady of good education, fair attainments and amiable disposition. He continued to rent the old home place after marriage and prospered. At his father's death and when the estate was divided, he added to his share by purchase until he now owns sixty and three-quarter acres of the original farm. To Adam and Julia Arnold eight children have been born, viz: Theodore, born September 3, 1877, married Zetta M. Masterson; Dessie Belle, born in 1879, deceased; Lulu May, born December 9, 1880; Samuel E., born November 1, 1882; Margaret E., born July 14, 1884; Myrtle, born February 16, 1888; Zina M., born May 7, 1889; Millie M., born June 12, 1891; Luster H.!
, born January 1, 1895. Mrs. Arnold and members of the family belong t
o the Six Mile Christian church and are liberal supporters of that religious denomination.
In politics Mr. Arnold is a Democrat, but never has felt that he is either cut out or constructed on the lines of a politician. He has, therefore, neither aspired to nor held office, nor does he care to seek place at the hands of any party. He has no quarrel with people who have taste or inclination in that direction, but political pie is neither palatable nor nutritious to him. In their section of the country Mr. and Mrs. Arnold and their children are well known and highly esteemed. Mr. Arnold has in his possession an old parchment deed dated November 2, 1837, and signed by President Martin Van Buren.
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Author: karensv
Surnames: Chapman,Lightfoot
Classification: queries
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I hope someone can help.I need a marriage date for a John Lightfoot that married a Dessie.I need Dessie's last name. They lived in Jackson Township. Dessie has two sisters one was Ida Miller and Fern Oliver
Dessie passed May 24,1962. John Lightfoot her husband died Oct 29,1961 in Warren,Jackson Township. He had a daughter who married a Roscoe Chapman. I would like the date of Roscoe marriage and who he married.
I'd appreciate any help I can get.
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Author: squirt94
Surnames:
Classification: queries
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looking for information on John Rhoby or Roby who was married to Hannah Chesterson, from IN.
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Author: WellsVolunteer
Surnames: MCDOWELL, HIGGINS, BLUE, MILLER, SHOEMAKER
Classification: biography
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Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 360-361.
WILLIAM McDOWELL.
Among what may be termed the early settlers of Wells county, Indiana, are the McDowell family, who came from Mercer county, Ohio, about 1837 and settled on the banks of the Wabash river two miles from Bluffton, where the father had already purchased and partially cleared a tract of land, on which he passed the remainder of his life, owning at the time of his death four hundred and twenty acres Abraham McDowell, the pioneer alluded to above and the father of William, whose name opens the biographical notice, married Mary Higgins, who bore him eight children, of whom William of this sketch is the only survivor. One son, John, married Catherine Blue, a sister of Hon. M. C. Blue, and went to live in Missouri, where he passed the remainder of his days. John, David and James, three of the eight children alluded to above, served in the Civil war and proved themselves worthy of the family name and the glorious cause in which they served.
William McDowell was reared upon the home farm and thoroughly learned his calling or vocation, through the instruction of his father, whom he faithfully assisted until his majority had been attained. His educaton [sic] was but limited, yet sufficient for all the purposes of a rural life and a successful career as a farmer. In due course of time Mr. McDowell succeeded by inheritance to eighty acres of the home farm, to which, through his industry, he has since added forty acres, and thus is the owner of a compact farm of one hundred and twenty acres.
Mr. McDowell was united in marriage October 11, 1866, in Wells county, with Miss Margaret Miller, daughter of Fielding Miller, a native of Perry county, Ohio. This union has been crowned by the birth of one daughter, Alice, who is now the wife of H. E. Shoemaker, of Bluffton.
Religiously Mr. McDowell is not a member of any particular denomination, but is a liberal contributor to the maintenance of all the churches of his neighborhood. Politically, he is one of the stanchest Democrats in Wells county and an ardent worker for the advancement of his party's interests at the polls as well as the promulgation of its principles throughout the state, county and township. As a farmer he is one of the most skillful and successful in Harrison township, and as a citizen he is substantial, reliable and useful, is widely known as an honorable man and one ready at all times to contribute of his means to the promotion of all projects designed for the advancement of the welfare of his fellow citizens. His farm is one of the best kept and neatest in Harrison township, being well drained and cultivated and improved with every modern convenience. His dwelling is an ornament to the neighborhood, and his farm buildings are equally creditable. Mr. McDowell conducts ge!
neral farming and raises all the cereals usual to the section of the country in which he lives, besides large quantities of hay, which he feeds in a great measure to his live stock, which he raises in large numbers. Some of his animals are of choice grades, which he fattens and ships to the various markets, excepting, of course, those requisite for home use. Although his chief object in carrying on farming is for profit, yet he takes great pride in the vocation and loves it for its own sake, feeling it to be the most honorable and independent of all industries, as well as the fundamental calling of man, and it is a matter of gratifying commendation that he may be classed as among those who stand at its head.
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Author: WellsVolunteer
Surnames: DETTINGER, FRANK, KILE, MARKLEY, LOBSIGER
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Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 358-360.
JOHN G. DETTINGER.
Many a man is unfortunate in having become skilled in a calling for which he never afterwards had any use. Years of time and unlimited patience have been expended to acquire a thorough knowledge of business, only to find, when it has been secured, that a machine has been invented which does the work better and many times faster than it can be done by hand. In such an emergency all that is left to the unlucky artisan is to turn his talent to something else in the hope of not being forestalled in that also. It often happens that what the poor victim of fate looked upon as real misfortune later proved to be only a blessing in disguise. It proved so with John G. Dettinger, the subject of this sketch. In early life he learned the business of a nailer, or manufacturer of nails (by hand). At the time it was a most flourishing and remunerative calling. Within a few years after he became thoroughly skilled in the business, machinery so completely superseded hand work and nails became!
so inordinately cheap that no one but a crank or imbecile would think of having nails made by hand. The result was that John G. Dettinger, skilled nailer, found himself out of a job. He came to America, turned farmer in the woods of Ohio and Indiana and now in his declining years finds himself one hundred fold better off than he would have been if the business of making nails by hand had not completely collapsed.
John G. Dettinger was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, July 4, 1830. His parents were Samuel and Rosa (Frank) Dettinger, natives of that country. Samuel Dettinger was well educated and a skilled mechanic, the manufacturer of nails by hand. It was good business, in which there was at that time unlimited employment. The family was not rich, but in very comfortable circumstances. They were members of the German Lutheran church and were the parents of eight children, four of whom are living, three in the fatherland and one, John G., here. Both parents are dead, their entire life having been passed in their native land.
The benefit of a fair, common school education was accorded to John G. Dettinger. He attended school until he was fourteen years of age, and then went into the shop and worked with his father until he had learned the trade. At twenty-one he was forced into the military service of the country and required to serve for a period of six years. On being discharged he hastened across the waters to America, landing in New York July 1, 1857. Ten days after he landed he went over into the state of New Jersey and was united in marriage to Miss Mary Kile-rather a brief courtship, it might be thought, but not nearly so brief as on its face it seems. Miss Kile was a passenger on the same ship coming across the Atlantic and, as the voyage in those days was of many weeks' duration, there was ample time for getting acquainted and coming to an understanding. When the first flood of connubial happiness had subsided, the first thought of the young people was to seek remunerative employment. Ma!
king nails by hand had then ceased to be a calling in New York and vicinity, so Mr. Dettinger turned his attention to something else. He had some money and so wisely determined to go west. They located in Ohio, where they remained until 1886, when they moved to French township, Adams County, Indiana. He invested in a farm of fifty acres which he cultivated for some time, when he added, by purchase, forty acres more, which gave him a very desirable farm of ninety acres. Through his experience in Ohio and Indiana, Mr. Dettinger became a very expert farmer. He was always favored by good crops, because he always saw that plowing, planting and cultivating was well done. No year was permitted to elapse without laying aside a little from the receipts of the farm. These sums, as soon as they had assumed sufficient proportions, were always judiciously invested, generally in property that afforded an income, investments which have all turned out well. In 1897 he sold his farm at a ve!
ry gratifying figure and moved his family to Vera Cruz, being now reti
red from active labor. He has real estate and other property from which he derives a comfortable income, enough to supply his own wants and those dependent upon him.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dettinger fourteen children have been born, of whom twelve are living, viz: Maggie, Eliza, Christina, John, Jacob, Charles, Caroline, Samuel, Mary, Rosa, Wilson and Emma. Maggie is the wife of W. D. Markley and Eliza is the wife of John Lobsiger. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, regular attendants upon its services and contribute liberally to the support of religion and charity. In politics Mr. Dettinger is a Democrat, but has the wisdom to know that most of the time spent in politics is time wasted. He is a man of very wide acquaintance, genial, liberal and companionable. Among people of his own nationality especially he wields a wide influence and always for good. Any way that his life may be looked upon, financially, socially or domestically, it must be pronounced a success. He has reared a large family of bright, intelligent, moral sons and daughters who are a credit to their parentage and to the community in which they live. Had !
the business of making nails by hand continued to flourish, it is quite likely that Mr. Dettinger would have stayed at his forge and anvil and never have accomplished the tenth part of what he has. The total collapse of that business proved in the end indeed a blessing in disguise.
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Author: WellsVolunteer
Surnames: MILLER, MORRIS, JELLISON, WALKER, SHADLE, MILLER, JULIAN, STRUPKE, CARNEY, MARKEY, BENNETT, RAYMOND, ROGERS, PEARSON
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Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 357-358.
G. W. G. MILLER.
George W. G. Miller was born June 18, 1857, in Chester township, Wells county, Indiana. He is a son of Henry G. Miller, a native of Germany, and Franciena (Morris) Miller, a native of the state of Pennsylvania. Henry came to America when a boy, running away to evade serving in the standing army of his native country, which is, by law, required of every citizen in Germany. After his arrival in this country, he located in Muncie, Indiana, where he remained for two years, working in a distillery. He then went to Montpelier, Indiana, where he went to work in a flouring-mill, and was there for about four years, then came to Wells county, and built another mill and commenced grinding wheat. He continued in this business a few years, when he bought the farm where George W. G. Miller now lives. Removing to this farm he remained there until his death, his wife, Francenia, also dying on this farm. Henry G. was the father of ten children, six of whom are yet living: Nancy J. was the wi!
fe of John Jellison and is now deceased; Sarah M. was the wife of William Walker, and is also deceased; Hannah E., deceased, was the wife of P. C. Shadle; Amanda M., the wife of William Miller; Mary Ann, the wife of Jesse Miller; Jonathan married first a Miss Julian and, second, a Miss Strupe; Charlotta married Eli Carney; Ellen, the wife of Levi Markey, deceased; George W. G., who now lives on the home place, and Rosa F., wife of John Bennett.
George was a pupil at district school No. 3, in Chester township, Wells county, until he was about nineteen years old, after which he remained at home with his father until he was of age. Soon after this he was married and built his first house within forty feet of his birth place on the old homestead. He still lives on a part of the old place, fifty acres of which he owns. On January 6, 1878, he was married to Florence Raymond, a daughter of Henry and Candis (Rogers) Raymond, both of whom are deceased. George W. and wife are the parents of five children: Henry G., born October 30, 1879, married Ida Pearson; Andrew M., born March 13, 1887, at home with his parents; Newton B., born March 17, 1885; Lucretia B., born October 6, 1889; and Merla R., born March 13, 1892.
Mr. Miller is a general farmer, devoting himself to the cultivation of his farm and raising of stock. He and his family are connected with the Christian church, of which he has served as deacon for the past five years. In politics he has always been a Republican, until within the last two years, since which time he has advocated the Prohibition cause. G. W. Miller belongs to the younger class of that large army of bright, energetic and go-ahead sons of the soil, whose influence will so largely predominate in the future advancement and material prosperity of the country. He is the son of a sire who, in his young manhood, felt impelled, by a spirit of independence, to flee from the tyranny imposed by the military proclivities of his native land to the freedom of action vouchsafed under the waving folds of Old Glory. Animated by the same spirit of independence and love of freedom which caused the father to seek a home and larger liberty in the new world for himself and descenda!
nts, the son will, in the active performance of all the duties imposed upon a good citizen and neighbor, demonstrate his appreciation of the aspirations of his paternal ancestor. He is in the prime of life, and with the ambition to better his environments in life, which is the birthright of every American citizen, supplemented by the love of family and the high esteem and respect in which he is held in the community, will inspire him to many years of future usefulness in life. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are godly people and it has been their aim to rear their children in the nurture and the admiration of the Lord. Their three sons are earnest devotees of the religion of the lowly Nazarine.
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Author: WellsVolunteer
Surnames: KEEFER, DUBOISE, HUFFMAN, LIPES, CARPENTER, WILSON, RUPRIGHT, ROE, MORTON, GILCHRIST
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Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 352-354.
JAMES H. KEEFER.
This young, talented and energetic editor and proprietor of the Weekly News, published at Ossian, Indiana, was born in Maysville, Allen county, Indiana, February 11, 1869, and is descended from parents in whose veins the blood of the Pennsylvania Germans largely predominated. He secured the elements of an education in Maysville at the common schools and the completion of his studies was accomplished through self application to books, travel and close observation of men and things as they passed before his mental and physical vision. He was of an inventive turn of mind in his youthful days and a year of labor in a printing office taught him the details of the profession, although he had intended to follow an entirely different line of life work. At the age of twenty he entered into the wholesale butchering and meat business at Maysville, but in 1885 Swift & Company, of Chicago, had monopolized the trade by underselling the local dealers. Mr. Keefer then turned his genius to n!
ewspaper work and how well he succeeded will be found in a sketch of the Ossian News. The Ossian Weekly Telephone was founded by DuBoise & Huffman, but dragged along a sickly existence of a few weeks only, when a Mr. Lipes started a job-printing plant with a view of founding another journal, which never materialized. In December, 1890, Mr. Keefer secured a meager five-hundred-dollar equipment and began the issue of the Ossian News. The quarters were too small and in February, 1891, he moved his establishment into the north room of the Ossian House. His determination to win overcame the doubts and prejudices of those who had been "gold bricked" by the Weekly Telephone, and soon subscriptions began to come in, and advertising to boom. In April, 1891, seeking larger quarters, Mr. Keefer moved into the upstairs rooms of the old postoffice building, where he had his living rooms as well. The News remained there until increased prosperity induced the proprietor to build his prese!
nt office, to which he moved in April, 1893. The paper at the start wa
s a four-column quarto, but in three weeks its size was increased to a five-column quarto, two pages being printed at home, the rest being "ready-print" from the Fort Wayne Newspaper Union. This continued a year, when Mr. Keefer began to print four pages at home. January 1, 1898, the News changed dress to brevier and showed further improvements, making its appearance "pasted and trimmed" in its present neat and attractive form. Recently a large Jones-Gordon press and a serviceable low-power gas engine were added, the equipment costing about twenty-five hundred dollars. The job printing facilities of the plant are equal-indeed superior-to any other in the county. The News itself is a bright, tasty, readable weekly, a mirror which reflects the life of the community, its carefully prepared news columns being now considered authority on local matters. It finds its way into nearly every home in this section of Wells county and has become almost a household necessity. Its news and!
editorial articles are written in a crisp, catchy style, such talent as that of C. A. Carpenter adding zest and pith to its columns and making it the favorite paper in hundreds of families.
In December, 1902, The News added a zinc etching plant by which it is enabled to present to its readers a line of interesting cartoons that materially enhance the value of the paper both from a reading and an advertising standpoint. A 20th century souvenir volume of Ossian, with an edition of two thousand copies, was issued by the News and received encomiums of praise from leading editors throughout the country.
In 1902 James H. Keefer was chosen by the building committee of the new Presbyterian church to superintend the erection of the fine sixteen-thousand-dollar edifice and so satisfactory were his efforts that the building is without a peer when compared with other church edifices of the same cost. Following is a list of the members of this committee: L. F. Wilson, chairman, Jas. H. Keefer, W. H. Rupright, A. F. Roe, G. A. Morton, Rev. E. P. Gilchrist. Jas. H. Keefer was tacitly looked upon as a man whose critical powers would be of service and indeed he was of much valuable assistance, for the entire committee deferred frequently to his judgment in weighty matters.
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Author: WellsVolunteer
Surnames: AWKERMAN, OSENBAUGH, SHREINER, FUNKE, CROSS, BIRELEY, WINELAND
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Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 350-352.
JOSEPH AWKERMAN.
One of the bravest ex-soldiers of the Civil war and now a respected resident of Liberty Center, Wells county, Indiana, is Joseph Awkerman, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, October 1, 1839. His father, also named Joseph, was a native of Berne, Switzerland, came to America when still quite young, and married at a proper age Miss Mary Osenbaugh, a native of Northampton county, Pennsylvania. He was called away, however, when but twenty-eight years of age, leaving Joseph, the subject proper of this sketch, then but three months old, to the care of his mother, who died when the son was only three and a half years of age.
Joseph Awkerman, Sr., at the death of his mother was placed in the care of a so-called guardian, who never even furnished the child with a pair of shoes nor clothing enough to cover him decently. The case was so aggravated a one that the boy was persuaded to run away from his guardian by a friend who had secured a home for him, where his services were rewarded with good board and clothes and five dollars in cash per year, that is, the equivalent of five American dollars. He was an industrious and faithful lad, always found plenty of work to do, and as he grew older his pay was increased proportionately. The last year he worked in Switzerland he received twelve dollars per month, but the next year, when he demanded thirteen dollars, his demand was refused. About this time he was informed that there was a party being made up for migration to America and he decided to join it. In 1817 he landed in New York, but for some reason he and his fellow passengers were reshipped on the !
same vessel to Philadelphia, where he was landed with no funds whatever. A kind stranger, becoming aware of the fact, furnished the young Switzer with four dollars and with this sum the latter paid his passage to Pittsburg, near which city he secured work on a farm, and remained thereon for two years. From Pennsylvania Mr. Awkerman removed to Ohio and for a while worked on a farm in Columbiana county, and later in a grist-mill for the same employer. He had made up his mind to come further west, when a proposition was made to him to clear up a fifteen-acre tract, a certain quantity of land to be given him as pay for his labor. But he heard that land could be had from the government further west at a much lower figure, and he accordingly gathered together all his available means and went to Wayne county, Ohio, where he entered eighty acres in the forest. There Mr. Awkerman built a cabin in which he lived alone four years, and then, about 1827, married Mary Osenbaugh, a daught!
er of Henry Osenbaugh, of Pennsylvania.
Mary Osenbaugh was but fourteen years of age when her parents came from the east and first located in Fairfield county, Ohio, whence they removed to Wayne county, Ohio, where Henry Osenbaugh and wife passed the remainder of their days. After marriage Joseph and Mary (Osenbaugh) Awkerman settled on the farm he had entered, and there had eleven children born to them, namely: A daughter, who died in infancy; Sarah, who died when seven years old; Elizabeth, who died at three; Catherine, widow of David Shreiner, of Medina county, Ohio; Susanna, deceased wife of William H. Funk, of Bluffton, Indiana; John, of Medina county, Ohio; Anna, deceased; Joseph, whose name opens this biography; Lovina, deceased; Rachael, wife of Levi Cross, of Michigan; and Henry, who has his residence also in Medina county, Ohio. Joseph Awkerman, the father of the above enumerated children, passed away November 23, 1863, and the mother November 15, 1877.
Joseph Awkerman, of this sketch, attended the district schools in Wayne county, Ohio, until twenty-one years of age and then worked at carpentering until the summer of 1862, when he enlisted, August 9, in Company E, One Hundred and Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served three years. He never had a part in any very severe battle, but participated in many lively skirmishes and was in one siege of four days' duration. He was honorably mustered out June 30, 1865, and Mr. Awkerman stoutly maintains that his company never was conquered until it reached Todd's Barrack, at Columbus, Ohio, where it was completely routed by bed bugs and compelled to sleep in the yard.
When Mr. Awkerman reached his home, he found that his father had passed away, and his mother was just preparing for harvesting. Joseph therefore passed the remainder of the season in working for her and her neighbors, and the next year worked at his trade all summer. In the spring of 1867 he came to Liberty township, Wells county, Indiana, and in just two years and four days after arriving here purchased the farm of eighty acres on which he now lives and for which he paid nine hundred dollars, of which amount three hundred dollars was in cash; for the balance, he gave three notes, of two hundred dollars respectively, at twelve, twenty-four and thirty-six months, two of which notes he paid promptly when due, but the third he was thirty-three dollars short just at the time, but made it all right in a few days. After purchasing his farm, Mr. Awkerman continued to work at his trade in summer and in a saw-mill and at other kind of labor in winter, and thus was able to earn the me!
ans with which to pay for his farm, continuing to work in the same manner for ten years.
Mr. Awkerman was united in marriage, February 1, 1877, at St. Mary's, Ohio, with Miss Cynthia B. Bireley, who was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, April 8, 1837, a daughter of Lewis and Marv Bireley, the former of whom was born in Maryland, and the latter in Franklin county, Pennsylvania. Cynthia B., the daughter of this respected and honored couple, was but seven years of age when taken to Ohio by her parents, who settled in Miami county, where she grew to maturity. There were five children in the Bireley family, born in the following order; Elnora, now deceased; Rebecca; William, deceased; Susan, deceased, and Cynthia B., now Mrs. Awkerman. At his marriage, Mr. Awkerman began housekeeping in a log cabin, eighteen by twenty-four feet in dimension on the ground floor, with two rooms upstairs. They had made some bed clothing, on "the sly," and Mrs. Awkerman brought the bed, the chairs, a rocker, a cupboard, a table and several other little articles of household furnitur!
e. Mr. Awkerman had no team at that time, but in the following November bought two horses and a wagon and began farming, relinquishing carpenter work as much as possible. Two or three years after marriage, on one occasion, Mr. Awkerman found himself to be rather hard pressed for cash, but was told by his wife that it was absolutely necessary to have flour. The young husband was somewhat nonplussed, but put a bold face on and went to Poneta and secured some flour from John Penrod on credit, this being the only time in his life that he was really "hard up."
Mr. Awkerman continued farming until 1884, when he succumbed to ill health contracted in the army and was unable to do any work until the middle of October following. Up to this attack of sickness every thing on the farm had worked auspiciously, but he was compelled to rent his farm and retire to Poneto. His residence in the town had a continuance of three years, but in the second year of this period he secured, in recognition of his military service, a pension of sixteen dollars per month and back pay for eighteen months, and this sum put him out of debt, nor does he owe any man a dollar. In 1887 Mr. Awkerman returned to his farm, over which he still keeps supervision, but rents out the arable portion to John Wineland. The farm is improved with a handsome dwelling, a good barn, and one thousand one hundred and fifty rods of tiling, and with the exception of seven acres is all cleared off and under cultivation.
Mr. Awkerman is a member of the Dunkard church and Mrs. Awkerman is a member of the Methodist Protestant, and of the former he is a member of the building committee and a trustee. In politics Mr. Awkerman is a Republican, but was reared a Democrat, and the change was brought by the first slave he ever saw and who preached Democracy out of him. Mr. and Mrs. Awkerman are among the most respected of the residents of Liberty Center, and for his present elevated position Mr. Awkerman does not hesitate to award to his faithful helpmate a full share of praise and credit.
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Author: WellsVolunteer
Surnames: BOWMAN, SHICK, HOUSEHOULDER, CHERRY, FUNK, BOWER
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Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 348-350.
WILLIAM E. BOWMAN.
The average yearly accumulation of the American working man, in dollars and cents, is not large. The great majority find it impossible to make any saving whatever. There are, however, a few who manage to lay aside a little and by its assistance, after years of privation, self-denial and the fortunate investment of their hoardings, manage to secure a competency. Few are able to accomplish what William E. Bowman, the subject of this sketch, did in seven years. With his own labor and that of a team of horses on a rented farm, he managed to pay expenses and save, in a period of seven years, the sum of three thousand eight hundred dollars, an average saving of about five hundred and forty-three dollars a year. William E. Bowman was born November 22, 1861, in Stark county, Ohio. He is the son of Adam and Charlotte (Shick) Bowman, natives of Ohio, where they resided on a farm up to the time they moved to Elkhart county, Indiana. Later they moved into Harrison township, Wells count!
y, where they have resided ever since. They were the parents of ten children, all of whom are living, viz: Charles, a resident of Elkhart; Samuel, a resident of Elkhart; William E., the subject of this sketch; Anna, wife of Philip Househoulder, resides in Harrison township; John, a resident of Bluffton; Henry, a resident of Bluffton; Frank, a resident of Elkhart; Adam, a resident of Cass county, Michigan; Ida, wife of James Cherry, of Bluffton; Edward, a resident of Bluffton.
When William E. Bowman was old enough to attend school he was more fortunate than many who preceded him, in having good schools, comfortable school buildings, model text books and efficient teachers. He attended school in Harrison township each winter until he was eighteen years of age and profited by the instruction he received. He then began working for wages, making his home, however, with his parents. Up to the time of his marriage he worked by the day, week, month or job as he was able to secure employment. He was prudent and provident. He knew how he got his money and very little of it escaped from him without bringing him some returns. On the day of his marriage he was the owner of a good team of horses, a wagon and one hundred and ninety dollars in money.
On the 22nd day of March, 1889, he was united in marriage to Miss Rachael Funk, a daughter of Absalom and Margaret A. (Bower) Funk, well-to-do residents of Wells county. Immediately after marriage the young people took up their residence on the Funk farm, where they resided for six years. He worked with his team and at such jobs as he could procure, doing only enough farming to procure feed for his team. After trying this for six years he discovered that there was little in it more than a bare living. This determined him to change his policy. He rented the Sol DeLong farm in Harrison township and devoted himself assiduously to the management of that farm for seven years. At the end of that time he had saved enough money to justify him in purchasing an eighty-acre tract of land of his own. He selected a nice piece of land and bought it, paying three thousand eight hundred dollars cash for it, every dollar of which he accumulated during the seven years he had been living on re!
nted farm. March 1, 1901, he took up his residence on his new purchase and began improving the land. Since then he has ditched, fenced and cleared this land, making it a most valuable farm. He carries on general farming, raising grain, hay, vegetables and stock of all kinds. He gives his preference to shorthorn cattle, but considers the cross between the Poland China and Berkshire the most desirable in hogs. The greater part of his farm is now under cultivation. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowman four children have been born, Carrie, Cora, Hugh and Bert. Mrs. Bowman is a member of the German Reformed church, a regular attendant upon its services and a liberal contributor to its support. Mr. Bowman is a member of Washington Council No. 5, Order of United American Mechanics, of Bluffton, is an active member and much interested in the work. In politics he is a Republican, sufficiently liberal to accord to others the privilege he takes to himself, that of voting for whom he pleases. He and!
his brother-in-law, John Funk, have just returned from an extensive t
rip through the principal large cities of the east. where they saw much that was entertaining, instructive and amusing. They visited Atlantic City, Philadelphia, Jersey City, New York City, Brooklyn, Baltimore and Washington City, taking in all places of interest in each, returning by way of Cincinnati. The industry, prudence and thrift of Mr. Bowman is most commendable, all the more so because neither selfish nor parsimonious, but he wants to see proper, legitimate return for every dollar he expects. If all good citizens were equally careful in money matters, the latter days of many good men and women would not be, as they frequently are, embittered by poverty.
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Author: WellsVolunteer
Surnames: DUNWIDDIE, BETTS, HAINES, PONTIUS, WATSON, SKEELS, HEASTON, MARLIN, BIERRIE, BROWN
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Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 345-348.
WILLIAM DUNWIDDIE.
Few of the men who joined the army during the Civil war and remained out any length of time returned very much improved financially. The precarious existence of a soldier, with the chance staring him in the face of having even that existence cut short at any moment, is not calculated to develop principles of either prudence or economy. Who that is daily facing death in various forms cares to lay away money, that perchance, strangers may have the pleasure of spending? Hence the soldier spent while he had it to spend and was just as happy when "broke" as when he had abundance. A few there were, however, who held to a firm hope of being able to live another day and at another time when the devastation of war would no longer ravage the land. They practiced the virtues of peace amidst the dissolution of war, and while most of their comrades returned poor indeed, they had oftentimes more than enough to supply immediate necessities. William Dunwiddie, of Nottingham township, Wells !
county, Indiana, the subject of this sketch, was such a soldier. He spent much as the others did, but he managed to save enough to enable him to purchase forty acres of land on his return from the front.
William Dunwiddie was born in Warren county, Ohio, December 29, 1842. His paternal grandparents were John and Ruth (Betts) Dunwiddie, the former born in Delaware in 1781 and the latter in New Jersey in 1785. His father was Peter Dunwiddie, a native of Greene county, Ohio, born April 5, 1816. His wife, the mother of the subject, was Eunice Haines, a native of Warren county, born September 20, 1817. They were married September 1, 1836, and continued to reside in the county of their nativity until 1855, when they moved with their family to Wells county, Indiana. He was a minister of the gospel, but was much as those to whom he administered spiritual and religious consolation, having little more than enough to provide material sustenance for themselves. Thus he was obliged to occupy his time during the week on the farm preaching at least twice each Sunday. To them eleven children were born, viz: John H., born September 12, 1837, died May 26, 1843; Hannah G., born August 1, 1839,!
deceased; Brook C., born August 24, 1841, died November 5, 1872; William, the subject, who will hereafter be referred to more particularly; Matilda, born October 25, 1844, deceased; John, born April 25, 1846, deceased; Jacob, born September 23, 1847, deceased; Harrison B., born June 16, 1849, a resident of Reiffsburg; Mary E., born August 5, 1853, deceased; David, born March 25, 1855, died in infancy; Susan B., born November 23, 1857, wife of Sylvester Pontius; Brooks C. served four years during the war in Company E, Fortieth Indiana Regiment; John served two years in the same company and regiment, and William was out three years, three months and five days during the same eventful period. John Dunwiddie, their paternal grandfather, served in the United States army during the war of 1812. The parents of these children are both dead.
William Dunwiddie received his education partly in Warren county, Ohio, and partly in Benton county, Indiana, whither he had gone and where he resided a number of years previous to the Civil war. When but nineteen years of age, in the early part of the war, in Oxford, Benton county, Indiana, he enlisted in Company C, Ninety-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Few regiments participated in more of the important battles of the war than did the Ninety-ninth Indiana. With his regiment, the subject followed the flag in the following engagements: Vicksburg, Jackson, Mississippi, Mission Ridge, the Knoxville campaign, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, July 22 and 28, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station, Fort McAllister, Savannah, Columbia, Goldsboro and Raleigh. On the march to the sea William Dunwiddie was one of those detailed to do the foraging for the other members of the company. Food had to be gotten and it was at times so difficult to provide that his ingenui!
ty was often taxed to the utmost to find the supply of live stock, grain and provisions which the owners had hidden away. He was always so successful that his admiring comrades gave him a number of pet names which were neither euphonious nor pretty and which it is unnecessary to mention here. During the entire term of his service he was not off duty more than three weeks and that was on account of sickness. At the close of the war the regiment went to Washington City, where they took part in the grand review and where they were mustered out. The old flag they bore through many a battle was so torn and rent by shot and shell and soiled by the blood of its brave defenders that a new one was procurred in Washington on which was emblazoned a list of the battles in which the regiment took part, but when brought out it elicited no enthusiasm whatever, the boys preferring the old tattered banner they had followed so long and so faithfully. It was brought out amid the cheers of its!
defenders and it and the regiment formed a very conspicuous portion o
f that historic parade. During its time of service the regiment traveled thirty-three hundred and ninety-eight miles, which does not include the steps taken by the subject in his foraging expeditions. All this was accomplished on foot except a few hundred miles by rail and transport.
For two years after William Dunwiddie's return from the war he worked for his father, receiving as compensation only his board and clothes With what little he was able to save during the days of his soldiering he bought forty acres of land, the same on which his brother-in-law, Mark Watson, now resides. For a year he worked in a saw-mill in western Indiana, then returned to Wells county and began clearing his land. The last hundred dollars he owed on the place he paid out of his earnings in the saw-mill. September 3, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Watson, a native of Adams county, Indiana, born February 19, 1846. Her parents were John and Margaret Watson, natives of England and early settlers of Adams county, but both are now deceased. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Watson, viz: Sarah, deceased; Wesley died in the army during the Civil war; Mary J., wife of William Dunwiddie, the subject; Joseph, now a resident of Adams county; Phoebe C., wife of S. !
W. Skeels, now resides in Michigan; Ruth, wife of William Heaston, of Geneva.
At the time of the marriage, a log cabin and fifteen acres cleared were all the improvements that had been made on the forty acres which Mr. Dunwiddie owned. However, they took up their abode in the log cabin and cultivated and improved the place for one year, when they rented the Josephus Marlin farm in Adams county. They remained there only one year, when they returned to Wells county, bought the west eighty acres of the old homestead, and proceeded to build a house thereon. In the meantime he had sold the first forty acres he had purchased, to his brother-in-law, Mark Watson, who is yet the owner and occupant thereof. On the new tract he had purchased he was obliged to incur an indebtedness of sixteen hundred dollars. At the time it was bought the only improvements there were on the place was fifteen acres cleared. It is now all cleared but thirty acres, well ditched, fenced and provided with lasting and substantial improvements. He has purchased another eighty acres imme!
diately adjoining, which gives him one hundred and sixty acres of fine farming land in one compact body. On this land are six producing oil wells, from which he now realizes about eighteen dollars per month, though there was a time when much more was realized on the output.
To Mr. and Mrs. William Dunwiddie five children have been born, viz: Clara E., born in Adams county, January 24, 1871, wife of Jacob Bierrie; P. W., born in Wells county, September 27,1873, married Hattie Brown, has one son, Harry, and resides in Adams county; Margaret J., born in Wells county July 30, 1876, married Lawrence Watson and they are residents of Nottingham township; Ruth E., born in Wells county, August 8, 1879, resides with her parents; Benjamin H., born in Wells county, January 27, 1882, is at home with his parents. Each have received a good common school education. Clara is a graduate of the Geneva high school and taught a number of terms, until compelled by failing health to cease.
Mr. Dunwiddie has unlimited faith in the American hog. He believes that if properly handled it will pay more debts for its owner than any other animal. He asserts that its capabilities for swelling a bank account are unrivaled and devotes his entire time to farming and stock raising. With Poland China hogs, shorthorn cattle and a general class of sheep, his farm is constantly well stocked. All but two and a half years of his married life have been spent upon his present farm and his present prosperous condition indicates clearly the success he has attained.
The family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church, except the husband and father. While having no ill will whatever toward religion, he is not connected with any denomination. He is a member of John P. Porter Post No. 83, G. A. R., of Geneva. In politics he is a Republican, has always been an active worker in the party and is recognized as a man of standing and influence in his locality, being generally a delegate in the conventions of his party. From an exceedingly small beginning he has accomplished far more than many others with better opportunities, which speaks well for the native merit of the man.
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Author: WellsVolunteer
Surnames: RINEAR, GASKILL, MONTGOMERY, PARKER, SMITH, JOHNSON, FIRST, STONEBROOK, FRANTZ, TAYLOR, EWART, MELSHIEMER, FUNK
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Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 354-357.
JOHN W. RINEAR.
The versatile man is not proven by the many callings to which he turns his hand. He is rather proven to be versatile by the number of which he makes a success. Hon. John W. Rinear, of Liberty Center, Wells county, Indiana, the subject of this brief sketch, has undertaken many vocations, --which in itself does not prove him to be versatile. He has undertaken nothing in which he has not been eminently successful,-- that does. He has been a woodman, a farmer, a soldier, a dealer in real estate, a merchant, a member of the legislature and various other minor vocations, in all of which he acquitted himself not only with credit, but with marked honor.
John W. Rinear is a native of Ohio. He was born near Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, March 4, 1842, the son of Charles and Jane S. Rinear. The father was a native of New Jersey, born July 7, 1816; the mother a native of New York, born May 16, 1820. The parents of Charles were John and Rebecca (Gaskill) Rinear, both natives of New Jersey. Jane S. was the daughter of Silas and Esther (Montgomery) Parker, Silas being a native of Connecticut, a thoroughbred down-east Yankee, while Esther was a native of New York. Charles, the father of the subject, grew to manhood in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, having accompanied his parents to that commonwealth when he was only five years old. In this locality also the parents of Jane S. Parker had settled and engaged in farming. There they were married and resided until 1847, when they moved to Huntington county, Indiana, and seven years later to Liberty township, Wells county. That region was at that time dense woods, but there they purchased a tract !
of one hundred and twenty acres. Charles Rinear was at that time a large, powerful man, capable of doing much more work than the average man and rarely acknowledged a feeling of weariness. With little means other than their industry, they started in a log cabin and fought a winning fight against poverty and privation. Both the parents are now dead, the father dying December 26, 1887, at the age of seventy-one, and his faithful wife went to her reward April 6, 1894, aged seventy-four. At the time of their death they were possessed of the title to the land purchased by them when they first came to Wells county, besides much other valuable property. Their work was ended when they passed away and it was well done. He was a deacon of the Baptist church and served in that capacity for forty years. In politics he was a stanch Republican, but there must have been something radically wrong either with his teaching or the cause he espoused, for all of his sons are Democrats. Perhaps!
it was in the atmosphere, as Wells county is a little peculiar in tha
t particular. Charles and Jane S. Rinear were the parents of six children, five of whom are yet living. They are as follows: John W., the subject of this sketch; Elias M., who most efficiently served Wells county as commissioner; Emma S., wife of Eli Smith, of Liberty Center; Charles A. died at the age of twenty-four years; George F., a resident of Bluffton; Mary J., wife of H. J. Johnson, justice of the peace of Liberty township. Each received a good education and is comfortably settled in life.
John W. Rinear received his education in the common schools of Liberty township, which he attended until he was nineteen years old. Like many other youths of that period, his school days were prematurely abbreviated by the operation of the recruiting office. September 25, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteers. After fourteen months' service he was obliged to leave the ranks on account of disability by reason of a bullet wound received in the right arm at the mouth of White river, Arkansas. Those fourteen months, however, were a period of much activity. He was stationed for a time at New Madrid, Missouri, and at Riddles Point, Missouri. He took part in the siege of Fort Pillow and his was the first Federal regiment in Memphis after the naval battle. It was with much regret that he was obliged to leave the service at a time when he felt most deeply interested in the success of the Union cause. He received an honorable discharge at Memphis, Tennessee.
After returning from the war he was, on April 2, 1863, united in marriage to Miss Sarah C. First, a young lady of modesty and refinement and of an amiable disposition. She was born February 23, 1843, in Liberty township, Wells county, her parents being Jacob and Hannah (Stonebrook) First, natives of Pennsylvania. Her father was born March 5, 1811. He entered a tract of land in Liberty township, Wells county, in 1836 and took up his residence thereon in 1841. He resided upon this land until a few years ago, when he began making his home with his daughter, Mrs. John W. Rinear, wife of the subject of this sketch. He is now the only man in Liberty township who has retained his ownership of the land he originally secured from the government. He has at different times held every office in the gift of his township, except that of assessor, and filled each position creditably and well. Now, after a life of unremitting industry, in his ninety-second year, he is still hale and hearty.!
Jacob and Hannah First were the parents of eight children, viz: Israel, deceased; Solomon; Mary J., wife of Peter Frantz; George, deceased; Sarah C., wife of the subject; Salinda, wife of R. F. Taylor; Thomas and Caroline, who was the wife of Theodore Ewart, but has since died.
For three years after his marriage Mr. Rinear rented and lived upon the farm of Dr. Melshiemer in Liberty township. In the meantime, having saved some money, with it he purchased a tract of forty acres of land, which now forms a part of Liberty Center. The east half of the original plat of the town was laid out on this land by Mr. Rinear, and when purchased, this land was dense woods. With his own hands the new owner erected upon this place a cabin eighteen by twenty feet. At this time his worldly possessions consisted of a team of horses, a cow and a few shoats. For the greater part of the purchase price he went in debt, but each and every note was paid by, or before, the time it became due. With his own labor and that of his faithful wife they cleared this land and made of it a farm and a home. In 1866 Mr. Rinear came into possession of his present farm, and on the 28th day of December, 1866, his home was gladdened by the birth of a daughter, Hannah S., who was the first c!
hild born in Liberty Center. She is now the wife of John B. Funk, a prosperous druggist and postmaster of Liberty Center, who at the expiration of his present term will have served the government in that capacity twelve years. They are the parents of three children, viz: John A. J., sixteen years old, is in the second year of high school and attended the Marion Normal School last spring; Sarah A. M., thirteen years old, a student of common school in the eighth grade; Charles Rinear, ten years old, also attending school.
A purchase of twenty acres of land was made by Mr. Rinear in 1874, adjoining his place on the north. In 1878 Liberty Center got a railroad, and the same year he laid out the east half of Liberty Center. He is today the oldest continuous citizen of the town. He served as justice of the peace for twelve years from 1873 and, during that time did more business than had been done in the office by all of his predecessors combined, including the marriage of one hundred and four happy couples. In 1877 he engaged in the mercantile business at Liberty Center, was appointed postmaster and served three years. He continued in the mercantile business until 1882, meanwhile looking after his agricultural interests. He is now the owner of three hundred and twenty-five acres of land, one mile east of Liberty Center, all in one body, well improved and under good cultivaion [sic], as fine a farm as can be found in Wells county. Besides he has thirty-five acres of his old home place in town and!
resides on lot 1 of the original plat of the town. His home is a most comfortable and commodious one, where he is most happy in his domestic relations, and where hospitality abounds and love and affection reigns supreme.
In 1894, at the session of the Democratic joint senatorial convention of Wells and Huntington counties, John W. Rinear received the nomination and after a spirited canvass was elected by a large majority. He served on the committees for corporations, railroads, public health and natural gas in the session of 1895. In 1897 he was accorded a place on the committees on finance, benevolent institutions, banks, military affairs, county and township business, railroads and city of Indianapolis. He was appointed by the judge of the circuit court, in June, 1899, a member of the county council for district No. 3, and in 1900 he was elected councilman at large by a popular majority of nearly one thousand one hundred. At the election of 1902 he was re-elected by a large majority for four years. He has served as president of the board ever since it was organized, being again elected for the ensuing four years. In 1887 he was commissioned by the governor a notary public and served in th!
at capacity eight years. In every public position he has been called to fill he has been faithful and trustworthy. Even his enemies and there are few without them, political or otherwise, have never ventured even to insinuate that he has ever in the least betrayed any confidence, public or private, that had been reposed in him. At the present time Hon. John W. Rinear is devoting himself almost exclusively to the management of his agricultural interests. On his three-hundred-acre farm he raises astonishingly large crops of grain and the farm is well stocked with Poland China hogs, a general class of cattle and all necessary horses. He raises, buys, fattens and puts on the market each year quite an amount of stock and the returns from his agricultural operations have been gratifyingly profitable. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church, contributing liberally to its support and that of every worthy object. He is a member of Lew Daily Post No. 33, G. A. R., at Blufft!
on and Lodge No. 747, I. O. O. F., at Liberty Center, of which he is a
charter member. That he is a good, even a model, citizen, at home and abroad, is best attested by the esteem in which he is held wherever he is known. Such a hold as he has upon the affections of the people of his own and adjoining counties can never be secured but by the most worthy.
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Author: wellscc
Surnames: COONS, ALLISON, HALL, MELVILLE, GARDNER, MUMFORD, EIFER, LANNING
Classification: biography
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Biographical sketch extracted from:
Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. p. 778.
JOHN A. COONS, pastor of the Christian church at Nottingham, was born in Highland County, Ohio, October 6, 1836, son of Michael and Elizabeth (Allison) Coons, the former born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, and the latter in the State of Delaware. The parents were married in Highland County, Ohio, and October 4, 1837, they removed to Jay County, this State, where the father died December 4, 1865, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. The mother is still living, and is in her eighty-eighth year. John A. was reared to farm life in Jay County, and this occupation he followed until he entered the ministry. He was married in his native county August 14, 1856, to Miss Catherine Hall, a native of Union County, Ohio, and to this union have been born ten children, of whom two, William T. and Dora Melville, are deceased. Those living are-Isaac O.; Mary Rebecca, wife of John Gardner, Dennis, who resides in Blackford County; Laura Olive, wife of John Mumford, also residing in Blackford C!
ounty; Montille Orestus, Osro Nelson, Marvin Coons and Austin Decatur. Mrs. Coons died March 21, 1880, and then Mr. Coons decided to enter the ministry. He was first placed in charge of the congregation in Jackson Township, Blackford County, where he preached the gospel two years. He was then engaged at Silver Lake church, where he had charge two years. In December, 1885, he received his call to the Nottingham church, and besides attending to this charge, he is doing a great deal of missionary work around Wells, Randolph, Jay, Blackford, Delaware and other counties. Mr. Coons was married to his present wife July 31, 1886. She was formerly Mrs. Anna M. Eifer, whose first husband was Dr. P. J. Lanning. February 28, 1864, Mr. Coons enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, and was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, under General John A. Schofield, General Hovey being the first Division Commander, General Haskell th!
e second and General Ruger the last one. He was in the engagements at
Resaca, Marietta, siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro and the two days' fight at Nashville, which occurred December 15 and 16, 1864. His last engagement was at Kingston, North Carolina. They garrisoned Charlotte for seven months after the close of the war, and then returned home. He was discharged December 2, 1865. Mr. Coons was one of the charter members of Alexander Trimble Post, No. 213, Red Key, Indiana, and was the first chaplain of the post. He has held that office ever since its organization.
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Author: wellscc
Surnames: BECK, HALEY, FOREMAN, MILLER, BENNET, SNARR, BOWERS, TRACY, SPENCER, HAMILTON
Classification: biography
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Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 344-345.
JOHN M. BECK.
John M. Beck was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, May 17, 1839. His father, Mathias Beck, was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and the son of a furrier. He had received only a common German education, as his father was unable to give him the advantage of the higher training. Being a cripple, he was not compelled to serve in the army, as was his more able bodied associates, and was thus nurtured in a less hardy but purer atmosphere. He was married to Miss Rosanna Haley, and in order to secure a better home sold his possessions and came to America in 1830, settling in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he purchased a small farm. He remained in Pennsylvania eight years and then came to Indiana, settling at Fort Wayne. About 1841 he came to Wells county and bought two hundred and forty acres of land in the woods where he built one of the finest houses in this part of Wells county. This home, which was then considered little less than a mansion, was a large hewed!
-log house of three rooms below and one above. Mr. Beck was a man of energy and was among those to encourage improvements, lending his aid to all movements for the benefit of his community. He was a Democrat and a member of the German Lutheran church. He was the father of eight children, four of whom grew to maturity. John M.; and Anna M. wife of Henry Foreman, at one time a furrier of Adams county, but now a retired farmer, are the only ones living.
John M. Beck came with his parents to Wells county when he was two and one-half years old and has since spent his entire life in this section. He received a common education in the country schools and spent his hours out of school working for his father, whom he assisted until he was twenty-seven years old. In December, 1866, he married Miss Mary Miller, whose parents came from Stark county, Ohio, and established a home of his own. This lady died in 1874 and the following year he married Miss Melissa J. Bennet, of Washington county, Iowa. She was educated in the Washington Academy, had been a teacher in Iowa and also in Wells county. Mr. Beck worked his father's farm for some years and two years later bought the old homestead, containing one hundred and forty acres, in the northeast part of Wells county. Being a careful manager and a progressive farmer, he has made money, being now considered one of the successful farmers and stock raisers of the community. By his first wif!
e he was the father of four children, viz : William M., who married Miss M. N. Snarr, is a farmer in Jefferson township; Charles M., who married Miss Anna Bowers, is engaged in the hardware business at Fort Wayne; Rosa E. is the wife of Fred Tracy, of St. Joseph county, and Mary L. is the wife of M. E. Spencer, of Ossian. The present Mrs. Beck is the mother of two children, viz: Nora C. is the wife of Prof. I. C. Hamilton, a graduate of the State University at Bloomington and a student of the Chicago University, both having taught in the Wells county schools; Ira D. W., who is assisting his father on the farm.
The subject of this sketch was formerly a member of the Democratic party and in his younger days he was an active worker in its ranks, though he now holds warm sympathy for the principles of the Prohibition movement, which he supports with his ballot. He is one of the most progressive and influential farmers in Jefferson township and is known far and wide as an honest, upright, honorable citizen.
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