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 21
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 21
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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
HARLES SCOTTON, county commis- sioner of Wells County, residing on " section 31, Laneaster Township, dates his birth in Wayne County, Ohio, near Woos- ter, October 31, 1841. His parents, John and Dina (Jellings) Seotton, were born and reared in Coventry, England, and were the parents of fourteen children of whom seven yet survive-John J., of Huntington County, Indiana; Mrs. Ann Corlew, also living in Inntington County; Mrs. Dina Carl, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Edwin, living in Kansas; Mrs. Elizabeth Sehnatterly, of Kansas; Charles, the subject of this sketeli, and Mrs. Mary J. Ware, of Wells County. The parents immi- grated to the United States in 1832, and
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after living one year in Buffalo, New York, they in 1833 removed to Wayne County, Ohio, where they made their home until coming to Wells County, Indiana, in 1842. They settled in Rock Creek Township, where they built their pioneer home in the dense wilderness, and there our subject was reared, his youth being spent in farm labor and in attending the schools of the county. On reaching years of manhood he engaged in farming in Huntington County, where he remained two years. He then returned to Wells County and settled in Lancaster Town- ship, where he has since made his home. June 4, 1863, Mr. Scotton was married to Miss Julia Davis, a daughter of William P. and Lucinda (Richey) Davis, pioneers of Lancaster Township, they having settled near the present site of New Lancaster in 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Scottou have four children living-Emma, wife of II. B. Nelson, a drug- gist of Bluffton, Indiana; Florence, Harry and George Nelson. Edwin, the fourth child, died September 1, 1878, in his third year. Both Mr. and Mrs. Scotton are men- bers of the Baptist church. Mr. Seotton in his political views is a Democrat, and is prominent in the councils of his party. Ile served as township trustee from 1882 until 1886 inelusive, and in the latter year was elected county commissioner for a term of four years. Ilis father, John Scotton, was a shoemaker by trade, which he followed in connection with farming. Ile died at his home in Rock Creek Township in 1854, aged fitty-nine years. In 1856 his widow married William MeBride. Mr. MeBride had been previously married, and by his first wife had the following children-Warren, Frank, Samuel and John, and Mrs. Barbara Ellen Readling, who is now deceased. Mr. Me- Bride died in 1870. His widow, the mother of our subject, survived until 1875, when
she died at the home of a married daughter at Fort Wayne, at the age of seventy-two years. She had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for thirty-five years, and was a consistent Christian, esteemed by all who knew her.
.ILLIAM F. BARCHIMAN, farmer, Chester Township, was born in En- zerne County, Pennsylvania, June 20, 1821, son of Frederick and Ragena (Shlagel) Barchman. ITis parents were also natives of Pennsylvania, and of German an- cestry. Ilis mother's grandparents were from Germany, and her mother was born on the ocean. The parents became acquainted in Luzerne County, and were married in North- ampton County, the mother's birthplace. They first settled in Luzerne County, and afterward removed to Butler County when William F. was in his third year. They bought land in Butler County, and added to it from time to time until they had 140 acres in one traet and fifteen acres in another. The country was then very wild, and their ex- perienees were not always pleasant. The father died January 22, 1858, and in June of the same year William F. sold the place and came to Indiana, locating on 160 acres of land he had previously purchased in Chester Township. His mother eame the same sea- son, but went back to Pennsylvania again. Two years later she returned to Indiana and made her home with William F. for about twelve years. October 22, 1875, her elothing caught fire and she was fatally burned, living only forty-one hours. She was taken back to Butler County for burial. When our subjeet came to liis present home it was entirely new; not a stick had been ent. Although he sold one farm of eighty acres, he still has 175
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Truly yours Levi Mock
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aeres of excellent land, of which over ninety aeres are cleared. It is tile-drained, and cannot be excelled in Wells County. Politi- cally Mr. Barehman affiliates with the Re- publican party.
ON. LEVI MOCK, a member of the firm of Dailey, Mock & Simmons, at- torneys at law, is a native of the State of Indiana, born in Randolph County April 20, 1540. lle was reared in his native coan- ty on the home farm, and received his educa- tion in the higher schools of the adjoining counties. He was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting in August, 1862, in Company E, Eighty-fourth Indiana Infantry, receiving an honorable discharge the follow- ing April. He commenced reading law un- der the preceptorship of his uncle, Hon. Enos L. Watson, at Winchester, Indiana, in 1866. In July, 1568, he located at Bluffton, Wells County, where he has since made his home. In March, 1869, he engaged in the practice of law alone, and October 1, 1870, he became associated with Joseph S. Dailey, this being probably the oldest law firm in the State of Indiana. In 1886 Abram Sim- mons was admitted as a partner, when the firm became known as Dailey, Mock & Sim- mons. Mr. Mock was united in marriage November 19, 1871, to Rebecca C. Patterson, daughter of Samuel Patterson, and to this union have been born three children-John, aged fourteen years; George, aged twelve, and Charles, aged ten years. In March, 1869, Mr. Mock was elected mayor of Bluff- ton, was re-elected to the same office every year until 1876, serving in that capacity al- together eight years. In 1879 and 1880 he was president of the Wells County Agrienlt- ural Society. In 1852 he was elected on
the Democratic ticket to represent the coun- ties of Adams, Jay and Wells in the Indiana State Legislature, and in 1854 was re-elected as a Representative from Wells and Blackford counties, and in 1856 was again elected to represent Wells County. He is a member of the present Legislature, serving on the com- mittees on federal relations, organization of courts, mileage and accounts, and dikes and drains. In all the above official relations he has given entire satisfaction, always serving to the best interests of his township or coun- ty. Mr. Mock is a man of great physical strength, and stands six feet six inches high. His father, Emsley Mock, was also a man of great size, being six feet tive and a half inchies in height. Ile has a pleasant, unas- suming, affable manner that makes everyone feel at ease in his presence. Ile is very fond of the chase, and for a number of years was a leader of the Bluffton Hunting Club, and made several excursions to distant points, where he exhibited marked skill as a hunts- man. In 1882 he killed a buck, the hide of which he had tanned and made into a pair of boots, which he has worn most of the time since, including his attendance at three ses- sions of the Legislature in 1883, 1885 and 1887. In his religious views Mr. Mock is a Universalist.
TILLIAAM WOLF, who is one of the active and enterprising agriculturists of Rock Creek Township, was born in Stark County, Ohio, the date of his birth being June 17, 1832. His parents, Daniel and Sarah (IIellea) Wolf, were born in the State of Maryland, of Irish and German an- cestry respectively. They were married in Maryland, and subsequently removed to Stark County, among the carly settlers of that
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HISTORY OF WELLS COUNTY.
county. William Wolf was reared on a farm in his native county, remaining there until 1853, when he came to Indiana with his parents and settled in Markle, Huntington County. Ile was married July 20, 1854, to Miss Mary L. Baker, a daughter of Christo- pher Baker, and to this union were born nine children-Susannah (deceased), John (de- ceased), Sarah E., wife of Jeremiah Platt, Harriet, Margaret, wife of Newton Taylor, William F., Daniel C., Channey, M. and Henry A. Mr. Wolf resided in Markle until two years after his marriage, where he was engaged in working at the cooper's trade. In March, 1859, he removed with his family to the Baker homestead on section 10, Roek Creek Township, which he now owns and occupies, engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf are mem- bers of the Lutheran church. Politically he affiliates with the Democratie party.
ONALDSON WILSON, of Uniondale, was born- in Union Township, this county, in 1851, son of John I. and Margaret (Harris) Wilson, natives of Wash- ington County, Pennsylvania. The parents were married in that State, and soon after removed to Trumbull County, Ohio, where their children, James, Thomas W., George, Martha J., Albert and Margaret, were born. They owned a small farm in the country. September 25, 1849, they came West, and Mr. Wilson purchased 200 acres of land in Union Township, this county. This pur- chase and the removal of his family to the new country consumed the most of his money, and although he owned plenty of land, it was in a primitive state, and he had no produce to sell even if there had been a market for it. The immense forest of trees
covered the ground, and it took years of toil to make it productive. The first log cabin stood where the old orchard, planted by John Wilson, still remains, and where their last two children, Donaldson and Mary A., were born. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were for many years members of the first Presbyterian church organized in that part of the county, and when they left it it was only to join that church at Murray, as it was more convenient. lle was not a politician in any sense, but was always happier when employed on his farm and at home with his family. Their children were well educated, and George was engaged in teaching many years, having attended the academy at Murray. Thomas, now a lawyer at Fort Wayne, graduated at that eity, and afterward taught school until he began thie study of law. Albert also taught school in Jefferson Township. Mr. Wilson died March 15, 1874, and Mrs. Wilson nineteen days afterward. They died as they had lived, de- vout Christians, who had lived exemplary lives and reared a family who do them honor. Thomas married Elizabeth E. Davis; George married Sarah Harter; Martha married Rob- inson Hatfield; Albert married Mary J. Fleming; Mary is the wife of William J. Wasson, and Donaldson married Drusilla E., daughter of Aaron and Sarah B. Fleming, of Laneaster Township, the ceremony being per- formed June 11, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Don- aldson Wilson first lived on the home farm, and two years later Mr. Wilson purchased his present farm. To them have been born three children-Margaret B., on the old homestead, and William A. and Kittie J. on their present farm. Their eldest child, Mar- garet, is deceased. Mr. Wilson is one of the few early settlers of the county who escaped most of the hardships of pioneer life. The rough work was mostly completed before he was old enough to give material assistance.
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Ilis brother George was the only son engaged in the service during the war. Hle was a member of Company A, Thirty-fourth Indi- ana Infantry, and he died soon after his dis- charge, of disease contracted while in the service.
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EORGE F. DICKASON, farmer, Nott- ingham Township, was born in Clarke Conty, Ohio, April 11, 1831, son of John W. and Naney (Stanley) Dickason. Ile lived in his native county until he was seventeen years of age, following farming principally. In 1848 the family removed to Nottingham Township, this county, where the father purchased a farm not far from where he now resides. The mother died in this county March 25, 1881. George F. made his home with his parents until his marriage, although he worked out by the month on the farm. In 1856 he had aeemmu- lated enough to buy eighty aeres of land where he now resides. This land was at that time covered with a heavy growth of timber, and an ax had never marred one of the trees. The roads that now pass by his house on the north and east had been blazed when the township was surveyed, but nothing had been done toward making roads for travel. Ilis first work was to clear out some of the brush on the line of the road, to pay his road tax. Mr. Dickason has cleared fully sixty acres of his land almost entirely with his own hands. March 26, 1857, he was married to Miss Caroline IIondyshell, a native of Clarke County, and a daughter of George and Susan (Gentis) Houdyshell, also natives of Ohio, the former of Hocking County, and the latter of Clarke County. They removed to Indiana in 1838, landing a mile and three-quarters southwest of Vera Cruz, this county, and the
next day he had to go two and a half miles for water. While he was absent his wife was cooking meat, and five wolves, attracted by the odor of the meat, set up a howl out- side which was continued until chased away by the father when he returned with the water. That year Mr. Hloudyshell went back to Springfield, Ohio, to mill, taking a wagon for transportation. The Indians often came and looked in the windows at night. The father died in this eounty December 23, 1883, and the mother, July 12, 1881, in Shawnee County, where they were living at that time. Mr. and Mrs. Dickason were the parents of six children, one, John Franklin, being deceased. Those living are-Mahala, Eveline, wife of Andrew Klinger, of War- ren, Huntington County; Aggie C., wife of Henry Klinger; Susan Isadora, wife of Julian Adzett; Mary Aldine and Hezekiah. Both parents are members of the Protestant Meth- odist church, and in politics he is a Green- backer.
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IIRISTOPHER BAKER, one of the old and honored pioneers of Wells County, who is now deceased, was a native of Baden, Germany, born in the year 1804, a son of William and Barbara Baker. When he was sixteen years of age his father died, after which he served an apprenticeship at the tailor's trade. He then served two years in the army, when he was discharged on furnishing a substitute. IIe was united in marriage in 1827, to Miss Elizabeth, a daughter of Philip M. Zimmerman, of Baden, Germany. They remained in their native country until 1835, when they set sail for America, and after a voyage of eight weeks landed at Baltimore, Maryland. He followed his trade at Baltimore for five years, when he
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removed with his family near the Pennsyl- vania State line, sixty-four miles from the eity of Baltimore, where he followed his trade during the winter months, and in the summers worked as a laborer for three and a half years. He then removed to Crawford County, Ohio, where he made his home until coming to Wells County, Indiana, September 21, 1851. Ile then purchased 182 acres of unimproved land on section 6, Rock Creek Township, and after clearing and improving thirty aeres he traded his land for the farm on section 9, Rock Creek Township, which is now owned and occupied by his son-in-law, William Wolf, where he spent the remainder of his life. IIe died June 20, 1880, his death being a source of universal regret throughout the township where he had made his home for so many years. His wife died February 5, 1877, at the age of seventy-eight years. Both were earnest members of the Lutheran church. In his political views he was a Democrat. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Baker three are deceased-Frederick, Philip and Annie. The only surviving member of the family is Mary L., now the wife of William Wolf.
ON. NEWTON BURWELL, although contemplating a change of residence to some point in the far West, deserves none the less a notice in a work of this kind, as the traces of his work as a reformer in this county are too conspicuous to be ignored. lle was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, Au- gust 1, 1836, son of James and Sarah (Nor- man) Burwell. ITis father, who was a cooper by trade, moved with the family to this county in 1847, arriving at Bluffton February 7. Ilere he followed his trade, and for a time was in the employ of the firm of Studabaker
& Co. in the warehouse business. Young Newton attended the Bluffton schools; then, in 1856 -'57, attended the State University at Bloomington, where, in March, 1858, he graduated in the law department. Returning home, he commenced, during the following month, the practice of law alone. About ten or eleven years afterward he admitted James S. Wisner as partner, but after two years this relation was dissolved, and Mr. Burwell conducted his business alone for a time. From 1872 to 1874 he had Mr. A. N. Martin as a partner. About this time the great tidal wave, known as the " temperance crusade," began to roll in every direction, until it struck Bluffton, bearing Mr. Burwell upon its crest. A temperance meeting was ap- pointed at the Methodist church, which Mr. Burwell was persuaded to attend. Being known as a public speaker, and the occa- sion being such as to touch delicately upon personal habits and public relations, he trem- bled lest he be called upon to speak, and his wife also trembled for him. Sure enough he was called upon, and he took the pulpit, and he surprised the audience, as well as himself, by the inspiration with which he favored the temperance reform. Heart and soul he entered the movement, carrying ont his convictions in an honest and earnest en- deavor to secure temperance legislation, and "temperance execution" of the laws. Henee, of course, he had some political opposition. In April, 1876, Mr. Burwell moved to Fort Wayne, where for nearly two years he was engaged in the practice of his profession. Ile was then induced to enter the itineracy of the Methodist Episcopal church, where he served three years, from April, 1878, to April, 1881, on HIuntertown circuit, Kendallville station and Ossian cireuit, this county, in the North Indiana Conference. Returning to Bluffton he re-engaged, in 1883, in the
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practice of law, which he has since continued. In his public relations he has served the pro- ple of his county faithfully. In 1858, in his youngest days as a practitioner of law, he was elected prosecuting attorney of the com- mon Pleas Court for the counties of Hunting- ton and Wells, but resigned before the close of his first term; served one term as mayor of Binffton; was trustee of the corporation of Bluffton, and member of the school board; was elected a member of the Legislature in 1864, as a Democrat, when his party was in a hopeless minority, representing the coun- ties of Wells and Blackford. Afterward, while he was again a member of the school board, he was active in forwarding the eree- tion of the present school building, and in- trodueed the graded system. Ile also took an active interest in the building of the Fort Wayne, Cincinnati & Louisville Railroad, when the people of this county took $100,000 stock in the enterprise, by sustaining the commissioners in making the appropriation. January 31, 1861, is the date of Mr. Bur- well's marriage to Miss Josephine, daughter of Adnah and Abigail (Blatchley) Ilall. (A sketch of her father is given elsewhere in this work.) The children of Mr. and Mrs. Burwell are-Anna, who died at the age of six or seven months; Rena, born January 25, 1864, now teaching school in Wichita, Kansas; Alfred Conwell, born February 11, 1866, now attorney at law in Wichita, Kan- sas, (was admitted to the bar before he was twenty-one years of age); James Burton, born October 14, 1868, now a teacher at Rapid City, among the Black Hills of Dakota; Louise, born December 23, 1872; Walter, who died when about ten months old; Norman Blatchley, born in Fort Wayne August 31, 1876, (their " Centennial boy "); Bessie, born also in Fort Wayne, in July, 1878, and Mary, born in Bluffton in Septem- 43
ber, 1881. Mrs. Burwell has also been a prominent worker in the temperance canse, and is an exemplary member of society.
ALTER T. PERRY, farmer, Chester Township, was born in Washington County, Ohio, December 17, 1845, son of Thomas and Matilda Perry. When he was in his fifth year his parents removed to Blackford County, this State, and one year later, came to Wells County, where the father purchased land in Chester Township. Walter has always made his home in this county ever since his arrival here. Ile has owned his present farm of eighty acres since 1879, but resided on it some time previous to his purchase. He was married March 16, 1868, to Miss Anna E. Brannmin, a native of Fayette County, and daughter of Samnel and Nancy (Ball) Brannum, the former a native of Ken- tucky, and the latter of Windsor County, Vermont. They were married in Missouri, and removed to Wells County in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Perry are the parents of five children -Arthur W., Russey T., Lillie V., Rosa A. and Nellie E. When a few days over eighteen years of age, Mr. Perry enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Thirtieth Indiana In- fantry, and joined his regiment at Kokomo. From there he went to Lonisville, thenee to Nashville, where they were assigned to the Twenty-third Army Corps, under Major- General Schofield. Ilis first engagement was at Buzzard's Roost; after that he partici- pated in the battles of Resaca, Pumpkin Vine Creek, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Decatur, siege and captpre of Atlanta, Pine Mountain, battle of Nashville, December 15 and 16, 1864, and Kinston, North Caro- lina. He also participated in the heavy battle at Franklin, Tennessee, in which battle
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HISTORY OF WELLS COUNTY.
his regiment was not engaged. lle accom- panied Sherman in his march through the Carolinas, being in Washington about two weeks before joining the army in North Carolina. He was discharged at Charlotte, North Carolina, December 2, 1565, and re- turned by rail to Indianapolis, thenee home. Mrs. Perry's youngest brother, Joseph Bran- num, born in 1841, enlisted in 1861, a mem- ber of the Forty-seventh Indiana Zouaves. Ile was severely wounded at the battle of Champion Hills, below. Vicksburg, was taken prisoner by the rebels and paroled, was brought away under a flag of truee, was sent to hospital at Memphis, Tennessee, and died June 24, 1863, aged twenty-one years and five months.
M AJOR PETER STUDABAKER, an active and influential citizen of Wells County, a member of the banking firm of John Studabaker & Co., and an ex- tensive farmer, is a native of the State of Ohio, born in Darke County, February 26, 1833. Ilis parents, Abraham and Elizabeth (Hard- man) Studabaker, were among the first settlers of Darke County. Major Studabaker was reared and edneated in his native county at the common schools until attaining the age of fourteen years, when he came to Bluffton and entered the store of his brother, John Studabaker (to whom he is indebted for his early business education), as elerk, and con- tinned so until 1851, when, at only eighteen years of age, he was taken into partnership with his brother in the dry goods business. Ile was united in marriage, October 28, 1852, to Sarah Morgan, daughter of John Morgan, an extensive miller from Lancaster, Ohio. They have five living children, three sons and twodaughters. George W., the eklest, was
married to Olive Kemp in 1876, and lives on a farm near Bluffton, and is employed as . paying teller in the Exchange Bank. James M. was married to Emina Ervin in 1881, and resides in Bluffton and is a dealer in jewelry. Anna E. was maried to John HI. Thornburg, a druggist of Farmland, Indiana, in 1882, and resides there. Alice was married in 1887, to Charles E. Lacey, a young attorney and member of the firm of Wilson, Todd & Lacey, and resides in Bluffton. Hugh D., the . youngest, is at home, and looks after the farm and stock. David, a bright boy of eleven years, was accidentally drowned in the Wa- bash River June 10, 1868. In 1857 Mr. Studabaker retired from the dry goods busi- ness and engaged in farming and stock-raising and buying and shipping to Eastern markets. In 1858, then but twenty-five years of age, he was elected treasurer of Wells County, and in 1860 was re-elected to the same office. When the Rebellion of 1861 broke ont he took an active part in raising volunteers for the Union army. In 1862 he enlisted as private, while yet county treasurer, and An- gust 15, 1862, was commissioned Captain of Company B, One Hundred and First Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was immediately sent to the front with the regiment, and on June 1, 1863, was eominis- sioned Major of his regiment. The regiment saw mneh active service and was in most of the battles under General Thomas in the Fourteenth Army Corps, and in the battle of Chickamauga was the last to leave the battle- field. Ile was with Sherman in the Atlanta campaign and marched with him to the sea at Savannah, thenee through the Carolinas to Goldsborongh, thenee to Raleigh, North Caro- lina, and after the surrender of John-ton's army marched to Washington, D. C., via Richmond, West Virginia, and was in the grand reunion at Washington in May, 1865. From thence
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