USA > Indiana > Adams County > Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : Containing portraits of all the Presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each : a condensed history of the state of Indiana : portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Adams and Wells counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the counties and their cities and villages, pt. 2 > Part 12
USA > Indiana > Wells County > Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : Containing portraits of all the Presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each : a condensed history of the state of Indiana : portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Adams and Wells counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the counties and their cities and villages, pt. 2 > Part 12
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
North & MeDowell's saw-mill, like the boy's jack-knife, has been kept new by al- ternate substitution of parts, and is now doing a prosperous business, near the crossing of the railroads. Engine, sixty-horse power. Employ nine hands in the mill and yard, and often ship as many as ten car-loads per week.
Montgomery's saw-mill is a few miles south of the preceding.
W. B. Nimmons, a few rods still farther south, where Market street crosses the rail- road, mannfactures staves and heading and ships them to New York. The mill was first built on the south side of Market street, for the manufacture of staves only, by several Ohio parties and Mr. Nimmons; since 1873 Mr. Nimmons has been sole proprietor. Fifty horse-power engine, and through the summer season as high as sixty men and boys are employed about the mill and yard.
Jere North, dealer in hard-wood lumber, on Washington street, near the railroad, has a neat two-story brick factory, employs ten to twenty hands, with a forty horse-power engine, and turns out hubs, spokes and lum- ber in all its branches. Building erected in 1870, by G. W. Breckenridge, of Fort Wayne. In 1876 he sold to J. North & Bro., and since 1884 the present proprietor has been alone in the management of the business.
The MeKendry Stave Company (C. War- ren and C. A. MeKendry) are manufacturers of and dealers in slack-barrel staves and head- ing, at the junetion of South street with the railroad. Mill was established in 1877 by J. E. and C. A. MeKendry (father and son), with a seventy-five horse-power engine. In June, 1884, C. Warner formed a partnership with C. A. MeKendry, and retained a part of the machinery, while the elder MeKendry took the remainder to Muneie. The works here have been enlarged from time to time, and the company employ about thirty-five hands on an average.
Frank Adams, in the same line of business, has recently (December, 1886,) started a mill a few rods farther south, with a forty horse- power engine, and employs about seven hands.
John Dougherty & Co. have their saw-mill at Keystone, and office on Market street near the railroad. They also have a hay-press in
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Bluffton, south of the MeKendry stave fac. tory, built in 1886, with a eapacity of twelve tons, or one ear-load, per day.
The Bluffton Shovel-handle Works is a neat little modern institution, erected by Theodore Horton in 1884, and managed by J. Il. Keyou, proprietor of the stock. Thirty-five horse-power engine. Near the crossing of the railroads. Products shipped to Oliver Ames & Sons, North Easton, Massachusetts.
George W. Grimes is the proprietor of a foundry and machine shop, on the south side of Washington street, near the railroad, where he mannfactures boilers, engines, mill ma- chinery, architectural iron work, etc. He also buys machinery to repair and sell again. Does repairing and makes light and heavy castings in iron and brass.
Henry Thoma, the longest in business at Bluffton, has been engaged in the furniture trade ever since 1854.
The " City Building," comprising the fire department, council-room, etc., is a fine two- story briek structure, erected in 1879. In the fire department are two chemical engines, two hose-carts and hook and ladder tackle, which, in connection with the Ilolly system of water works, constitute an efficient force in case of fire. There are twenty-five men regularly organized in the department, be- sides twenty-five volunteers, who are subject to call and serve without pay.
The city water-works were built during the summer of 1886, at a cost of $17,755, and commenced operation in September. Capacity, one million gallons every twenty- four hours. Pumping works station near the river and the eastern corporation line. Two and a fourth miles of water mains are laid, and thirty-three fire hydrants are in position. Water perfectly pure, coming from granitic rocks.
Washington Park is a pretty lot of ground
in the southeastern portion of the city, where improvements have been begun.
The iron bridge across the Wabash, on Main street, was erected in March, 1887, at a cost of $7,000, besides the masonry, 85,000. Bridge put up by the Indiana Bridge Com- pany of Muncie.
The first bridge at Bluffton was a stout frame, built near the dam; the second, also a frame, uncovered, was built on Main street; the third, a covered frame, was carried away in the winter of 1887; the present iron bridge is the fourth.
One boring for natural gas has been made at this point, to the depth of 1,200 feet, at a cost of $1,600, but with no success, as the well was probably sunk into a partition wall. This has been at the expense of a private company, of which L. A. Williamson is presi- dent and W. S. Silver, secretary. The enter- prise is abandoned only temporarily. Re- cently gas was struck at Hartford, only a few miles distant.
The telephone was established at Bluffton in 1882. James Sale was the first manager; for the last three years R. E. Fisher has been manager.
The first tavern in Bluffton, a log building kept by Almon Case, has already been men- tioned. The second was the Exchange Hotel, a frame building across the street east from the court-house, previously built for a resi- dence, where Mr. Case was also proprietor. It was built by Robert Collins Bennett in 1840, and it still stands, a striking illustra- tion of the architectural character of pioneer taverns. It was a noted stopping place in the days of stage coaches.
The next in age is the present Central House, kept by Moses Read, an accommo. dating landlord, who has been proprietor since 1885. The Oliver House, near the Presbyterian church, was opened September
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1, 1875, by a public entertainment, and is a good hotel. The Wilson House is near the postofliee.
But the newest and by far the largest, most modern and most sumptuously fur- nished hotel in Bluffton is the Bliss House, a square south of the business center. It was built by Jeffrey Bliss, at a cost of about $10.000, and opened in April, 1884, by James Humphrey, the present proprietor. James W. Runyan is clerk. Both these gentlemen are by every natural endowment well fitted for the places they occupy.
SCHOOLS.
The first school-honse in Bluffton was a log building on the land of William Studa- baker, the exact point being the northeast corner of the lot now occupied by the resi- dence of Henry Thoma. Asa Coho, a kind of preacher of the gospel, was the first teacher. At present there are two briek school-houses in Bluffton. The principal one in its ground plan is a kind of double cruei- form, is two stories high, and built and seated in modern style. In the building there are ten rooms and nine grades, and 550 pupils can be seated. The main building was erected in 1869, and an addition made to it in 1878. The cost of the building and furni- ture was $16,700. The other is a two-room building, erected in 1882, in the southeast- ern part of the eity, for the four primary grades, and is known as the Washington Park School. Total valuation of school prop- erty in Bluffton, 815,300; apparatus, $1,100; number of pupils enrolled, 704; average at- tendance, 620. P. A. Allen, superintendent.
CHURCHES.
Methodist Episcopal .- The first Method- ist sermon in Bluffton, as already mentioned, was preached by Rev. George W. Bowers,
underneath a spreading oak at the foot of Johnson street, about the year 1S38. Mr. Bowers is yet living, in an adjoining county. The Methodists afterward held meetings in va- rions places in Bluffton, until they erected a frame church at the intersection of Cherry and Williams streets, which they occupied until the present church was built. The latter is a commanding brick edifice, 45x80 feet, on the southwest corner of Washington and William streets, with spire 1263 feet high; cost, $12,000; built during the minis- try of Rev. P. Carlan, in 1871-'72, and dedi- cated by Bishop Bowinan October 13 of the latter year. Class-rooms are partitioned off, and the main audience room can be enlarged on occasion by throwing open the arched doors leading into them. Windows are of beautifully stained glass. The parsonage was built in 1882, at a cost of $2,250. It is a large, fine building, with ten rooms, lat- tieed porch, cellar, etc. The church has been supplied since its organization with the fol- lowing pastors: 1838-'39, George W. Bow- ers; 1839-'40, Seth Smith; 1840-'42, Joseph Oekerman; 1842-'43, IIenry 11. Badley; 1843-'45, George Guild; 1845-'46, James Sparr; 1846-'47, Ansel Beach; 1847- '48, J. C. Medsker; 1848-'49, William An- derson; 1849-'50, J. II. Payton; 1850-'51, William Blake; 1851-'52, W. S. Birch; 1852-'53, William D. Ilines; 1853-'54, M. Black and J. C. R. Layton: 1854-'55, O. P. Boyden; 1855-'57, F. A. Sale; 1857-'58, R. A. Newton; 1858-'59, J. II. Payton; 1859- -'61, E. S. Preston; 1861-'63, J. H. IIntehinson; 1863-'64, C. P. Wright; 1864- '65, E. E. Pearman; 1865-'67, J. P. Nash; 1867-'68, C. Disbro; 1868-'70, J. Greer; 1870-'71, R. Toby; 1871-'73, P. Carland; 1873-'74, William Wilson; 1874-'76, C. Martindale; 1876-'79, N. Gillam; 1879-'81, J. E. Ervin; 1881-'84, H. J. Meek; 1884-
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'86, II. J. Lacey; 1886, Milton Mahin, D). D., present pastor. At present there are 456 members with the following elass-leaders: J. V. Kenagy, J. W. Baker, Ed. Bartlemay, J. L. Ball, Matilda Thoma, Neva Thomas, Mary J. Todd, P. A. Allen. P. A. Allen is superintendent of the Sunday-school, which has an enrollment of 345 scholars, with an average attendance of abont 250. Besides, there are several other auxiliary societies, as the Young People's Union, the Wesleyans, the church social, etc., and about all the act- ive members of the church are organized into committees on the various local interests of the church. A small mannal is printed, giving all these partienlars.
The Prairie Methodist Episcopal Church, in Harrison Township, isa neat frame, 30 x 40 feet, and well seated. It was built in 1866, during the ministry of Rev. J. T. Nash, with a membership of thirty.
The Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church, also in Harrison Township, is a plain frame building, will seat 300 persons, and was ereeted in 1862.
The First Presbyterian Church of Bluff- ton was organized Angust 24, 1844, with twenty-two members, by John H. Russ, who had been appointed by the Presbytery of Miami for that purpose. Ruling elders, An- drew J. Riddle and Robert Marshall. Relig- ious services were held in the court-house, then a rude log structure. The pastors have been: John 11. Russ, August 24, 1844, to December, 1845; Andrew C. MeClelland, six months of 1847; Wilson M. Donaldson, October, 1848, to April, 1860; Richard M. Jackson, 1860-'65; Thomas Wallace, 1865- '70; Wilson M. Donaldson, 1870-'72; Jolm W. Drake, November, 1873, to April 19, 1875, when he suddenly died; Frederick Stovenour, 1875-'77; Norman Jones, 1878- '79; George G. Copeland, 1880-'83; Will-
iam F. Matthews, November, 1882, to May, 1885; George G. Mitchell, July, 1885, to September, 1886, since which time there has been a vacancy.
Present elders, James Crosbie, G. E. Ful- ton, G. E. Gardner and J. L. Myers. Trus- tees, James Crosbie, President; Thomas Sturgis, Treasurer; David T. Smith, Seere- tary; James W. Wilson, M. M. Justns and J. H. Orinsby.
First house of worship built in 1853-'54; parsonage, costing, with appurtenances, 81,500, built in 1875; and the present bean- tiful briek church was built in 1883-'84, at a cost of $13,000, including lot. Sunday- school ever since the year 1860, now aver- aging in attendance 249. The Ruth Sewing Society, composed of married ladies, are raising funds to pay the church debt. Since 1883 it has paid over 81,000. The Cheerful Work- ers, comprising young ladies, have also done their share.
During the forty-three years of this church's existence, 511 have been enrolled as members; there are now 199 members.
The Bluffton Baptist Church was organ- ized October 14, 1541. Constituent mem- bers - Fleming Johns, Elizabeth Jolins, Rebecca Stahl, Ilenry B. Elston, Martha Grimes. Ministers present-Robert Tisdale and Jesse Corn. Fleming Johns was elected deacon, and Rev. Robert Tisdale chosen pas- tor, who served as such until February, 1842. The first accessions were Caleb and Agnes Ayres, December, 1843. The records for several years give but a very incorrect his- tory of the workings of the church. Some time in 1844 Rev. Tisdale was again ehosen pastor, and served as such until some time in 1847, preaching one Sunday in each month. The meetings were held at private dwellings of the members, there not being even sehool- houses at convenient places. In August,
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HISTORY OF WELLS COUNTY.
1844, the church was received into the Sala- monie River Association. The first meeting held in Bluffton, as shown by the records, was in December, 1844.
Rev. J. B. Allen served as pastor from August, 1549, to March, 1852; number of members at that time, thirty-seven. Rev. Abel JJohnson served as pastor from March, 1852, to June, 1862; number at that time, sixty-nine. Rev. S. Goodin served as pastor from September, 1862, to September, 1863. Rev. W. W. Robison served from December, 1863, to December, 1874. From December, 1874, to December, 1875, the church was supplied by Revs. Clark and Virgil.
During the pastorates of Revs. Johnson, Goodin and Robison the church had preach- ing most of the time twice in each month.
In December, 1875, Rev. W. W. Robison was again chosen pastor, preaching every Sabbath. Served as such until December, 1876, at which time the number of members was about 100. January, 1877, Rev. J. II. Reider was chosen pastor, and continued as sneh until January, 1885. February, 1885, Rev. W. W. Tinker was chosen pastor. Pres- ent number of members, 350.
The church edifice is built of brick, 36x50 feet, and cost when completed in 1871 about $3,000.
The First Reformed Church, of Bluffton, was organized March 1, 1884, in the Univer- salist church. The congregation is a body politie, and corporated according to the pro- vision of the statutes of the State of Indiana. Rev. J. L. Bretz had been called as its mis- sion pastor prior to its organization and in- corporation. The board of elders at this time elected were Messrs. David M. Shelly and Joseph Herbert, with George A. Harnish and William II. Funk as deacons, and George A. Harnish, J. H. Houtz and William HI. Funk as the board of trustees. The former have
the spiritual oversight of the congregation, the latter the temporal or secular.
The society organized with twenty-five members. The congregation has its house of worship on the corner of Washington and Oak streets. The congregation being numeri- cally weak, it was deemed advisable to con- neet it with two country congregations, which together form a pastoral charge, and jointly own a desirable home or parsonage on West Wabash street, where its pastor resides as long as he continues their pastor.
The congregation at present numbers about fifty members. Rev. W. H. Xanders is its present pastor. Abraham Mast and David A. Shelby are ruling elders, and Ben. Asbam- her and Charles Kaltwasser are deacons.
Rev. J. L. Bretz served the congregation from January, 1883, to March, 1886 -- about three years and two months.
The present pastor, Rev. W. H. Xanders, assumed the duties on November 1, 1886. After the resignation of the Rev. J. L. Bretz, the Rev. A. L. Hessler supplied the congre- gation with preaching until it had a regular pastor settled over it. The present member- ship, although not large in numbers, is zeal- ous, and the prospect for greater prosperity is bright.
The First Christian Church, of Bluffton, was organized April 8, 1883, by Rev. W. D. Samuel, who was the first pastor. Rev. C. V. Strickland was pastor from August 1, 1883, to August 1, 1885, since which time Mr. Sammel has again had charge of the congre- gation. There are now about 160 members, with a Sunday-school of about 100 scholars; S. F. Ratliff, superintendent, who is also treasurer of the church. Frank Straw is clerk. The principal revivals have been in the winters of 1884 and 1886, when there were thirty accessions to the church, and in the winter of 1887, when there were twenty-
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one. The church edifice is a neat frame, 35 x 60 feet in dimensions, built in 1884, at the corner of Cherry and Morgan streets, at a cost of about $2,500.
The Six-Mile Christian Church, which meets about three miles above Bluffton (southeast), was organized September 2, 1838, by Elder Hallet Barber, and is consequently one of the oldest religious societies in Wells County. The first deacons were James and Anthony Atchison and James Bayman. David Whitman and 'Squire Thomas W. Van Ilorn were also members. Elder Bar- ber, who lived at Rockford, this county, died with the Asiatie cholera about 1850, and was buried in the Mossburg grave-yard. He was an industrions laborer in his Master's vine- yard, having in pioneer times to wade through swamps, swim rivers, travel unbroken roads, ete., to make thie rounds on his large eirenit.
Other early preachers at this point were Elders James Atchison, Elisha Ashley, John Robertson, Noah Michael, Henderson Graves and others.
The present membership is 140. Deacons -Abraham Studabaker, Lewis Prillaman and Jacob Smith. Sunday-school in the summer, with an average attendance of fifty-one last year. Henry Markley is superintendent.
Their first church was a log structure, abont a mile and a half south of the present building, on the southeast corner of 'Squire Van Horn's land, and was built about 1840. Their present house of worship is a frame building that will seat 300 persons, and was ereeted in 1859. Rev. Kendall West, a resi- dent, has been pastor of this church since August, 1885.
Universalist. -- The first Universalist preaching in Bluffton was by Revs. Jonathan Kidwell and MeCune, in 1843-'44; also among the pioneers were Revs. William J. Chaplin, Mr. Merrifield, H. B. Manford, Mr.
Curry and others. While Mr. MeCune was here he held a publie discussion on Univer- salism with Adam Hatfield, a Presbyterian layman, at Murray; and Mr. Chaplin held one at Bluffton, with Rev. Mr. Moss, of the Christian church. The newspaper debate between Wilson M. Bulger, Universalist, and Samuel Kenagy, Methodist, both laymen, is notieed on a previous page.
The first Universalist church society was organized August 9, 1855, with twenty-five members, by Rev. Chaplin; William Bulger was appointed elerk; Amos Townsend and James Dailey, wardens; Bowen Hale, Michael Karns and C. S. Burgan, trustees. In 1878 the church was revived under the ministra- tions of Rev. Marion Crosby, at which time their house of worship was erected, on Cherry Street, 32x45 feet in size, at a cost of about $2,000. It was dedicated May 16, 1880, by Rev. IL. W. Hanson, of Chicago, assisted by the pastor, Rev. William Tucker. Rev. L. J. Spencer was pastor from 1884 to September, 1855, and Rev. N. A. Saxton from that time to the present, being employed to preach every Sunday until March, 1888. This is evidence that the church is growing stronger, as preaching could be sustained before his time but twice a month, by Rev. Spencer, and before that only once a month, by Rev. Tucker. Present membership, fifty-five, Sunday-school attendance, abont ninety. I. II. Clifton, elerk of the church; trustees, Dr. C. T. Melsheimer, James P. Deam and Mary Oppenheim.
St. Joseph Catholic Church, a frame 30x50 feet, at the corner of Williams and Cherry streets, was dedicated by Bishop Dwenger, of Fort Wayne, in 1875. It cost about $1,500. The congregation was first organized about the same time, as a mission church, with abont five families. There are now about eighteen families, besides a few individuals.
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Father Ferdinand Koerdt, of - Bluffton Road," or Sheldon, Allen County, has been the priest since 1876. Preceding him there had been Revs. Wemhoff, Myers, Walters and Wilkins. Mass once a month; also catechetical instruction.
In connection with this church are four auxiliary societies; as, the St. Joseph Society, which has been in operation eight years, each member paying 25 cents a month, for school and other purposes; the Altar Society, consisting of women who pay $1.20 a year to keep up the altar; also in operation eight years; the Society of the Sacred Heart, started in 1883, consisting of boys; and the Society of the Infant Jesus, comprising all the youth and children who pay one cent a month for missionary purposes.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Bluffton Lodge, No. 145, F. & A. M., was organized under dispensation February 3, 1853, with A. W. Sanford, Worshipful Master; O. P. Gilham, Senior Warden; John Morgan, Junior Warden. The charter was granted May 25, following, when O. P. Gilham was installed as Worshipful Master: James R. Mccleery, Senior Warden, and John Mor- gan, Junior Warden. The masters who have since presided have been Amos Townsend, T. L. Wisner, Newton Burwell, J. Sharpe Wisner, J. J. Todd, Jere North, J. R. Ben- nett, C. Warner and J. W. Spake, the present Worshipful Master. Present membership, about 100. Present officers: J. W. Spake, Worshipful Master; William Beer, Senior Warden; C. M. Miller, Junior Warden; HE. Thoma, Treasurer; A. Townsend, Secretary; J. G. MeCleery, Senior Deacon, Ernst Wieck- ing, Junior Deaeon; S. M. Karns, Tyler.
Bluffton Chapter, No. 95, R. A. M., was instituted September 19, 1876; dispensa- tion granted the preceding day, appointing
T. L. Wisner, High Priest; W. B. Miller, King, and W. W. Angel, Scribe; charter dated October 19 following, naming as officers, T. L. Wisner, High Priest; W. B. Miller, King; W. W. Angel, Seribe, who served until December 29, same year, when the following were elected: T. L. Wisner, High Priest; D. E. Bulger, King; E. M. Cook, Scribe; Jere North, C. II .; J. J. Todd, P. S .; J. W. Zehrung, R. A. C .; W. J. Craig, M. 3d V .; W. W. Angel, M. 2d V .; G. T. Kocher, M. 1st V .; S. Oppenheim, Treas- urer; H. L. Wisner, Secretary; M. M. Bas- sett, Guard. T. L. Wisner was high priest until December, 1881; then Horace L. Wisner two years, J. J. Todd one year, J. P. Hale two years, and J. H. Clifton was elected December, 1886. Membership has increased from nine to fifty-five. Regular meetings Monday of or preceding each full moon.
Crescent Chapter, No. 18, 0. E. S., was organized Mareh 24, 1881, holding its first regular meeting four days afterward. The officers at that time were, Caroline Daven- port, Worthy Matron; . J. J. Todd, Worthy Patron; Mary E. Mason, Associate Matron; Flo Koher, Secretary; Georgia Karns, Treas- urer. Including these officers, the chapter then comprised thirty-three members; it now numbers ninety-five. Since the first men- tioned above, Mrs. Mary E. Mason, J. J. Todd and Delia W. Hale have served as worthy matrons, and Messrs. E. Y. Sturgis and Jere North as worthy patrons. The present officers are, Mrs. Maggie Wisner, Worthy Matron; P. A. Allen, Worthy Patron; Mrs. Mellie MeCleery, Associate Matron; Mrs. M.A. Horton, Secretary; Mrs. Charles S. Lacey, Treasurer. The chapter meets onee a month, and is in a very prosperous condition, both financially and socially.
Bluffton Assembly of Knights of Labor, No. 6,282, was organized April 14, 1886, in
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a rear room of the Centennial Block, with thirty-two charter members; W. P. McMahon, Master Workman; E. B. MeDowell, Worthy Foreman, and J. B. Poffenberger, Recording Secretary. Efforts had been previously made, but without success, in 1882 and 1884, to establish an assembly at Blutl'ton. The dif- fieulties to be encountered were peculiarly embarrassing. J. V. Hliler, of Fort Wayne, State organizer, was the presiding officer on the above occasion. The membership grow- ing, the assembly moved to a larger room in the Deam Block, and afterward to a still better place in the MeFarren Block. Present membership, 375, and rapidly increasing.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows .- The history of Odd Fellowship in Wells County dates back to October 6, 1852. Some time before Messrs E. K. Baseom, Adnah Hall, Charles Smith, Lew Allen Price and Charles T. Melsheimer, the only members of the order then known in the county, eon- ceived the idea that a lodge of the order would be of essential benefit to the advance- ment of hinman progress in this section of the State. With this view they sent their peti- tion to the Grand Lodge of the State of In- diana, then in session, July 21, 1852, at Indianapolis, praying for the charter of a lodge to be located at Bluffton, the county seat of Wells County. The charter was granted under the name of Bluffton Lodge, No. 114, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In accordance, the lodge was instituted Oc- tober 6, 1852, in the second story of what is now known as the Wood's building, situated on the northwest corner of inlot No. 56 (in original plat), of Bluffton, on East Market street. The installing officers were Depart- ment Deputy Grand Master O. F. Jeffords, assisted by Past Grand Harlow Wells, M. Henry, Lewis Lynn, George S. Carroll, N. Ellis, of Fort Wayne Lodge, No. 14, and A.
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