USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware county, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 18
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postmaster general, which he accepted, but resigned in 1881, since when he has resided at the east.
Adam Wolfe, late prominent merchant of Muncie, Ind., was born in Washington county, Pa., December 9, 1807 His paternal grandfather came from Germany before the American Rev- olution and settled in Little York, Pa., where he married, and afterward moved to Wash- ington county, that state. The father of Adam Wolfe was John Wolfe, and his mother was Catherine Devore. Adam Wolfe was the seventh of eleven children, all of whom reached adult age and reared large families. During his infancy his parents moved to Coshocton county, Ohio. His time was most- ly employed on the farm until he attained his majority, at which time his father died. In 1829 he engaged in the mercantile business at New Guilford, Coshocton county, where he remained until May, 1830, at which time, owing to his partner's dishonesty, he was obliged to abandon the mercantile trade, hav- ing lost the greater part of his capital. Sub- sequently he embarked in the goods business in the town of Westfield, where he remained until 1841, at which time he went into the pork packing business. He soon lost all he had accumulated and became heavily involved in debt. From 1842 to 1855. he engaged in the manufacture and sale of fanning mills in connection with the mercantile business, and during this period amassed a large fortune. In 1855 Mr. Wolfe moved to Muncie, Ind., in which state he had previously opened three stores, and for some time thereafter was engaged in the banking business in Marion and Columbia City. Prosperity attended his enterprises, and besides two banks he became the owner of five stores, one in each of the counties of Delaware, Madison, Grant, Hunt- ington and Blackford.
Politically Mr. Wolfe was a democrat and
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cast his first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson. His large business prevented his engaging actively in politics, and, though often urged, he always refused to accept office. Mr. Wolfe was married, April 26, 1832, to Miss Elizabeth Elliott, daughter of Samuel Elliott of New York, by which union he had seven children, of whom the following are now liv- ing : Sabina W. Willson, of Marion, Ind., and Clara E. Bell, of Ft. Wayne, Ind.
Mr. Wolfe was steadily engaged in business for over half of a century, and the large for- tune he accumulated proved him to be pos- sessed of superior ability. He gained his wealth honorably and used it worthily, and he was a liberal contributor to both public and private charities and assisted in building schools, colleges and churches. He had many admirable traits of character, being so kind, forbearing and conscientious that his home life was always peaceful, and his relations with others were never known to be broken by a quarrel. It is said that he had no enemy, and the entire community regarded him as an excellent man and a model merchant. His death occurred March 20, 1892.
EORGE W. BROOKS, proprietor of of Brooks' creamery, was born in Cumberland county, N. J., Septem- ber, II, 1850, a son of Lewis M. and Rachael (Wilson) Brooks, natives of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, respectively. He was reared in Chester county, Pa., and was educated in the excellent public schools of his district, later serving a three years' apprentice- ship to the trade of miller. In 1872, Mr. Brooks came west and located in Delaware county, Ind., engaging in farming on what is now known as the Galliher addition, two years later purchasing a farm in Hamilton
township and living upon the same until 1886, when he moved into the city of Muncie. In June, 1887, he established his present pros- perous creamery business, success having attended it from the beginning. Now the out- put is as much as 150,000 pounds of butter yearly, the most of which goes to supply the home market, the excellence of the product causing its ready sale. Politically Mr. Brooks is a republican; he also is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Order of Red Men. In : 1880, he married Miss Naomi Moore, the daughter of Aaron Moore, of Hamilton town- ship, but she was removed by death, January 10, 1885, leaving one daughter, Mary Ernes- tine. Mr. Brooks is a member of Grace Methodist Episcopal church of Hamilton town- ship, and is considered one of the best and most prosperous citizens of the community.
ILLIAM BROTHERTON, deceased lawyer of Muncie, was born near Winchester, Va., October 3, 1826. His father, John Brotherton, was a native of Yorkshire, England, and after coming to America, engaged in farming. His mother, whose maiden name was Mary P. Hodge, was born in Virginia. They removed in 1835 to Greene, county, Ohio, when their son William was nine years of age. His early education was largely obtained by earnest study at home, al- though good use was also made of the meager advantages afforded by a country school. In 1849, he gratified his long cherished desire to study law, by becoming a student in the office of Judge Moses Barlow, of Xenia, Ohio, and in 1851, was admitted to the bar. Selecting Muncie, Ind , as the field of his future efforts, Mr. Brotherton at once removed thither, and commenced the practice of law. With limited pecuniary means, without influence, and an
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entire stranger in the place, he entered upon the toilsome way for legal distinction. He gradually gained a lucrative practice, and also interested himself in politics, in which his abilities soon obtained general recognition. In 1852, only one year after his arrival in Muncie, he was elected district attorney of the common pleas court for the counties of Dela- ware, Grant, and Blackford, served two years, and in 1855 was elected prosecuting attorney of the Seventh judicial circuit.
The republican party had just begun the struggle for supremacy, and on that ticket, in 1858, Mr. Brotherton was elected to a seat in the legislature as representative from Dela- ware county. The nomination was accepted only by the urgent solicitation of friends. At the close of the term, in accordance with a resolution expressed at his election, he resumed the duties of his profession, and never after- ward permitted himself to be made a candi- date for any political office. In 1853 he mar- ried Miss Martha Richardson, of Centerville, Ind. They have three children, Lillie B., wife of W. H. Halliday, of Columbus, Ohio; Wm. R., attorney of Muncie, and Mamie M. Mr. Brotherton's great independence of spirit, of which his life was a constant illustration, is shown particularly in the fact that when he was prosecuting attorney, and his duties requiring him to travel over the country, he refused the gift of a horse, proffered by his parents. He was a man of liberal religious opinions, and broad views, of a generous, sym- pathetic, and retiring disposition, and very humorous, which latter feature made him very companionable. In his domestic relations he was one of the most amiable of men, his home being the scene of perfect harmony. He was one of the ablest lawyers and most highly respected citizens of Delaware county. He continued in the practice of his profession until his death, which occurred July 11, 1888.
William R. Brotherton, son of William Broth- erton, spoken of above, was born in Muncie, Ind., July 28, 1858, graduated from the high school of Muncie in 1878, studied law with his father and was his able office assistant. In 1888 he was admitted to the bar, since which date he has conducted his deceased father's legal business with the most satisfactory results.
R EV. ABRAHAM BUCKLES, late of Muncie, was born in Ohio, August 26, 1799, and died at his home, near Muncie, Ind., October 9, 1878, in the eightieth year of his age. His father, John Buckles, was a native of Virginia, to which his grandfather, Robert Buckles, emi- grated from England before the Revolution, and settled at a place afterward known as Bucklestown. Abraham was married, Sep- tember 3, 1818, to Elizabeth Shanks, a lady of German and Welsh descent. After the marriage he removed to Springfield, Ohio, and thence to Miami county in that state. In 1829 he was ordained minister of the Baptist church. In October, 1833, he removed, with his family, to Delaware county, Ind., and settled on a farm near Muncie, where he re- sided till the close of his life. Soon after his arrival in that neighborhood he organized the Muncie Baptist church, and served as its pas- tor forty-five years without other reward than a consciousness of the faithful discharge of duty. In the early part of his life Mr. Buck- les held various political offices, and in 1839 was elected to a seat in the general assembly from Delaware county, a position which he filled with honor. Mr. Buckles had five chil- dren: Hon. Joseph S. (see sketch); Thomas N., now in California ; John S., deceased, formerly an able lawyer in Geneseo, Ill ; Mary (Mrs. Goble); and Ellen (Mrs. Campbell), who died a few years ago.
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3 UDGE JOSEPH S. BUCKLES, of Muncie, was born near Springfield, Ohio, July 29, 1819, a son of Rev. Abraham and Elizabeth (Shanks) Buckles. His mother was Elizabeth Shanks, whose parents were Joseph and Eleanor (Clawson) Shanks, respectively of Scotch and German descent. Joseph Buckles lived till he was fourteen years old in Miami county, Ohio, to which his father had removed several years before; and then, in 1833, went to Mun- cie. This has ever since been his home, ex- cept during a period of nine months spent in Blackford county. Much of his time was necessarily employed in the work on the farm and little could be devoted to school; but while he did attend he studied most diligently. Such was his thirst for knowledge that when obliged to labor all day he pursued his studies at night by the light of an open fire-place. In this manner, aided to some extent by pri- vate instruction, Mr. Buckles acquired pro- ficiency in the common branches and some ac- quaintance with general history. He now be- gan, at the age of nineteen, the labors of a district school teacher. While thus engaged, in 1838 he was urged by Mr. Kennedy, then member of congress from this district, to com- mence the study of law. This he did in Mr. Kennedy's office and was admitted to practice in the circuit court in 1841, and in the state, supreme, and the federal courts in September, 1850. After practicing about five years, Mr. Buckles was elected prosecuting attorney for the Sixth circuit. At the close of the term of two years he was chosen state senator from the district composed of the counties of Grant and Delaware; and while in the senate was chosen chairman of the judiciary committee. In 1857, at the expiration of his term, he re- turned, and devoted his time to his clients un- til 1858, when he was elected judge of the Seventh judicial circuit. In this position he
remained twelve years, and then resumed practice in the state and federal courts. Dur- ing the campaign of 1872 Judge Buckles served as a senatorial elector, and canvassed the greater part of the state. Prior to 1880 he was a free-soil democrat; but then deemed it his duty to support President Lincoln's admin- istration, and has ever been strongly attached to the republican party.
Judge Buckles also took a prominent part in the organization of the United party in the state of Indiana during the war. As already stated he resumed the practice of his profes- sion at the expiration of his official term in 1870 and was actively engaged in the courts of Delaware and other counties in eastern Indiana until 1886, when he practically retired from business life. In the latter year he was elected to the state legislature, in which he served one term, and while a member of that body served on the agriculture and finance committees. In the development of the great gas fields of Indiana, Judge Buckles has acted a very important part. He is a stockholder and president of the York Prairie Manufactur- ing company and is also a member of the Cit- izens' Enterprise company of Muncie. Judge Buckles was one of the originators of the Lafayette, Muncie & Bloomington railroad, and is its attorney and a member of its board of managers; he was also instrumental in the construction of the Fort Wayne & Southern railway, and became the treasurer and general financial agent of the company. He married, January 27, 1842, Catharine H. Williams. She was born in Ohio, and was a daughter of Abel and Rebecca Williams, the former of whom is of Scotch descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Buckles were born eight children, four of whom are living: Elizabeth, wife of Captain A. K. Lindsey, of Kansas; Rebecca, now Mrs. J. W. McCrea; Josie, wife of William E. Yost, of Muncie; and Cora, wife of William
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McVay, who resides in Sterling, Kan. Mrs. Buckles died September, 1888, and in Decem- ber of the following year the judge was united in marriage with Miss Louisa S. Schroerlucke, of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Judge Buckle's farm contains 680 acres of choice land, with good buildings. For twenty years he has been successful in politics, and one of the leading lawyers in that part of the state in which he resides. The circuit in which he administered the duties of judge embraced five of the most populous counties. He is a man whose mind is controlled by a motive power that does not require the advan- tage of wealth and influence to attain success, but steadily and surely advances. Judge Buckle's example should encourage every as- piring youth to feel that, however dark the future may appear, perseverance, with a con- scientious regard for truth, will win a just reward. He has never deviated from that rigid rule of honor that ought to actuate and govern a true man.
S AMUEL O. BUDD, senior member of the famous dental firm of Budd & Son, Muncie, Ind., is a native of West- chester county, N. Y., and was born November 23, 1829. His parents, John P., and Hebe (Sands) Budd, were also natives of New York state, the former of whom was of Scotch and French extraction and the latter of English parentage. To John P. and Hebe there were but two children born-Susan and Samuel O. The family came to Union county, Ind., in 1836, and settled near Fairfield, where Samuel O. was reared on a farm until twenty years of age. In April, 1853, they came to Muncie, but in the meantime Samuel O. had learned both the carpenter's trade and gun- smithing, and on arriving in Muncie opened a
gunsmith shop and carried on the business until 1860. He then began the study of dentistry with Drs. Riley & McCormick, and in a short time, under their preceptorship, he became a proficient in the art. In 1861 he opened a dentist's office, but still continued doing odd jobs at gunsmithing. By 1863 his fame as a dentist had become established, and from that time on he has devoted his entire attention to the science. He has been a hard student and is thoroughly posted in his profession, has made an excellent reputation and enjoys a lucrative practice.
Dr. Budd was married, in 1853, to Miss Indiana Allen, daughter of John Allen, a pioneer of Franklin county, Ind .; this lady was born November 1, 1834, and has become the mother of five children, viz: Ada S. A., now Mrs. Edwin Ellis; Chester Allen, who entered into business with his father July 15, 1879; Rose; wife of William S. Stewart; Mary, deceased, and John M. The doctor and his amiable wife are members of the Universalist church being charter members of their church society. In his earlier days the doctor was a republican in politics, but in 1884 he became a prohibitionist and now is one of the stanchest advocates of that cause. He is a royal arch Mason, and as a member of society he and family enjoy the sincere respect of their neighbors, and as professional men he and his son hold positions among the foremost dentists of Muncie.
a HESTER ALLEN BUDD, of the firm of Budd & Son, the famous dental surgeons of Muncie, Ind., is a native of the city and was born March 13, 1857, and of whom further mention of his parentage has been made above. Chester A. has passed his whole business career in Mun-
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cie and all of his social career. From her high school he graduated in June, 1875, fol- lowing which date he entered the Ohio college of Dental Surgery at Cincinnati, and after graduating in 1879 returned to Muncie and en- gaged in practice with his father, and from that date on has filled a foremost position in the profession in all its various branches, pros- thetic and theoretical. He was most happily married, September 18, 1879, to Miss Fran- ces L. Corbly, who was born in Mount Wash- ington, Hamilton county, Ohio, December 20, 1854, a daughter of William and Louise (Den- ham) Corbly, a most respectable family now residing in Muncie, having come to the state in 1874. Seven children have been born to bless this union and are named Alma S., William O., Ada May, Chester F., Bessie E., Frank W. and Allen M. Mr. Budd is a mem- ber of Muncie lodge, No. 74, I. O. O. F., and the Muncie encampment, No. 30. In politics he is a republican, and with his wife he is a member of the Universalist church.
R OBERT A. BUNCH, M. D., one of the most successful physicians and surgeons of Muncie, was born Octo- ber 28, 1852, in the town of Portland, Jay county, Ind. Paternally he descended from French ancestry, and on the mother's side traces the history of his family back to Ireland. His grandfather, William Bunch, left France in an early day, emigrating to the United States and settling in North Carolina. He served with distinction in the war of 1812, and many years ago moved to Indiana, set- tling in the town of Portland, thence later moved to Plymouth, Marshall county, where his death occurred at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. The doctor's maternal grandfather was born in Ireland, from which
country he emigrated to Virginia, and after residing in that state a number of years became a resident of Ohio. Ishmael Bunch, the doc- tor's father, was born in North Carolina and came to Indiana at the age of thirty, settling west of Portland, in Jay county, where he en- gaged in farming and stock raising. He mar- ried, at the age of thirty-five, Miss Margaret Bishop of Greene county, Ohio, by whom he had five children, namely, Dixon M., Robert A., Nathan E., John A. and Elizabeth N. Of these, Robert A., Nathan E. and John A. are living at this time. Ishmael Bunch died on the 25th day of February, 1865, at his home in Jay county, after an illness of almost two years.
Dr. Bunch attended the public schools of Portland until his fifteenth year, and then en- tered Liber college, Jay county, which he attended five terms, supplementing his educa- tion in that institution by a course in the Northern Indiana Normal school at Valparaiso. He early signified his intention of becoming a physician, and after finishing his literary course he began reading medicine in the office of Gillam & Allen of Portland, under whose instruction he continued for some time, and then began the practice of his profession at DeSoto, a small village in Delaware county. With a laudable desire to increase his profes- sional knowledge, Dr. Bunch entered the Eclectic Medical institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, in which he completed the prescribed course, graduating in June, 1881. He continued the practice at the town of DeSoto for a number of years, and then sought a wider field in Muncie, moving to the latter city in 1889, where he has since established a large and growing practice and earned the reputation of one of the most successful physicians in Dela- ware county. So extensive has his practice become that he has found it necessary to em- ploy an assistant, and his professional business
R. A. BUNCH, M. D.
MRS. R. A. BUNCH.
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at this time is perhaps larger than that of any other medical man in Muncie. Dr. Bunch combines, with a thorough knowledge of his profession, the sympathizing nature and tender touch of the true healer; and he has earned the reputation of the poor man's friend, never turning any one away on account of inability to remunerate him for services rendered. He has good business tact, and his careful judg- ment, diligence, and faithful application to his profession, have secured him not only a very large and lucrative practice, but have made him exceedingly popular with all classes of people with whom he has had professional or other relations. He is a man of good pres- ence and dignified bearing, benevolent in all the term implies, and is certainly entitled to prominent mention among the representative men of Delaware county. Dr. Bunch was married April 20, 1877, to Miss Mary A. Bair, and his home has been brightened by four interesting children : Bessie G., Rollie H., Freddie L., and Morrell McK., all living.
ON. JOHN W. BURSON was born August 21, 1820, at the Burson homestead in Springfield township, Bucks county, Pa., within five miles of the town Bursonville. His parents were Dr. Edward and Jemima (Stroud) Burson, who removed from Bursonville to Stroudsburg, Pa., and subsequently to Wilmington, Ohio. His father was an able physician, practiced both in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and died at Waynesville, Ohio, in 1852. His mother died at Richmond, Ind., in 1863. His paternal grandparents were David and Lydia (Will- iams) Burson. Lydia Williams was one of a numerous family who settled near the Dela- ware river, above Bristol, and not far from Irvina. Dr. Burson's father was a native of Wales and settled in America about the mid-
dle of the eighteenth century. The maternal grandparents were Col. Jacob and Elizabeth (McDowell) Stroud. Jacob was the founder of Stroudsburg, now a flourishing and beauti- ful village situated above the Delaware Gap. In the campaign of the English against the French, Col. Stroud, although a young officer, served on the staff of Gen. Wolfe, and was present at the death of his general at the storming of Quebec.
In the year of 1837, Mr. Burson accompanied his father's family to Clinton county, Ohio, where for seven years his time was employed in superintending a farm near Wilmington Subsequently he learned the carpenter's trade, and worked in Ohio and afterward at LaPorte, Ind. Returning from the latter city to Ohio, he was engaged in mercantile pursuits with the means saved from his earnings as a me- chanic. He possessed the qualties of a suc- cessful business man, more as the endowment of nature than the result of education, and, in 1848, at the age of twenty-eight years, he was elected teller of the Eaton branch of the old State Bank of Ohio, where he remained for about four years. It was during this period that he formed the acquaintance of his devoted wife, Mary E. Wilson, to whom he was united in marriage February 19, 1851.
In 1853, he left the Eaton branch bank, and with John Hunt founded the Cambridge City bank, at Cambridge City, Ind. In the great financial crisis of a few years later, this was one of the few banks that withstood the shock. In 1856, he came to Muncie and formed the Muncie branch of the State Bank of Indiana, with a capital of $100,000, which was soon increased to $150,000. In 1865, this bank was reorganized under the national bank act, with a capital of $200,000, and a surplus sum of $100, 000, and Mr. Burson was its cashier. In 1871, the capital increased to $300,000, the surplus remaining as before.
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For a number of years Mr. Burson was a di- rector of the "Bee Line" railway, and a di- rector of the Lafayette, Muncie & Blooming- ton railway at the time of his decease. In politics he was a republican, and served as a member of the state central committee from this district from 1868 to the time of his de- mise. Once only did he permit himself to be- come a candidate for office. This was in 1870, when he was elected state senator from the districts composed of the counties of Delaware and Madison.
After an illness of three weeks, Mr. Burson passed peacefully away on September 21, 1872. The obsequies took place on the 24th, and a special train draped in mourning carried the Masonic order of neighboring cities, together with a large number of friends, to mourn the loss of the deceased. Business was suspended in Muncie, and the entire county was in mourning. The funeral services were conducted according to the rites of the Mason- ic order, and the corpse was in charge of the Muncie commandery, No. 18, of which he was a member. Raper commandery, and the members of the Scottish Rite order, from Indi- anapolis, were also in attendance. Among the distinguished visitors who came to mingle their tears with those of the bereaved family, was ex-Gov. Oliver P. Morton, between whom and Mr. Burson a strong personal friendship had existed for many years. Dur- ing that terrible period embraced between the years of 1861 and 1865, Gov. Morton had no firmer friend, no truer ally, and none to whom he could look with more positive assurance of encouragement and assistance, than Mr. Bur- son. Nothing was thought too extravagant, when represented as a need of the nation's defender; no journey was too tedious or too dangerous for him to undertake, and what- ever sum of money was asked by "the war governor" of Indiana to further his plans or
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