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 25
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 25
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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
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Lemuel Bachelor
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
and Mrs. Bachelor are both members of the Baptist church, and politically he affiliates with the Democratic party, being true to his Jeffersonian ancestry. In 1865 the parents of Mr. Bachelor came to Wells County to live with him, where the father passed the remain- der of his days; the mother afterward re- turned to Ohio and died at the home of her daughter Rhoda. In addition to serving as treasurer of his county two terms he was justice of the peace for twelve years and township trustee two years of Jackson Town- ship. Mr. Bachelor's enterprise and fore- thought has always been a marked character- istic of his life. A notable incident was his vote in 1872 to aid the Toledo, Thorntown & St. Louis Railroad, when the question was sub- mitted to a vote of the county, he being the only man in his township who had the courage to stand alone and vote his convic- tions, believing then as now that the general good of the people should be the object in all publie questions, and now those who were opposed to the measure admit the wisdom of his course, as the result of the agitation of that enterprise finally resulted in the con- struetion of the present Toledo, St. Lonis & Kansas City Railroad.
BRAHAM W. JOHNSON, of Harrison Township, was born in the township of Darlington, Beaver County, Pennsyl- vania, July 14, 1814, son of Robert and Susan (Bradfield) Johnson. The father was a son of Abraham Johnson, of Scotch and Irish an- eestry; his wife was formerly Rachel MeCammou, a native of Ireland and of Scotch deseent. The mother of our subject was a daughter of Edward Bradfield, who was born in Wales, and immigrated to this country
when twenty years of age, settling in Phil- adelphia, where he followed shoemaking. HIe married Mary Booth, of Norfolk, Vir- ginia, and of English ancestry. Robert John- son was born and reared in Washington County, Pennsylvania. Ile removed to Bea- ver County, where he learned the shoema- ker's trade with Edward Bradfield, and married his daughter in New Lisbon, Ohio. Ile worked at his trade in Beaver County until 1847, when he came to this county to make his home, and died at the advanced age of' eighty-five years. His wife died ten years previous, at the age of seventy-five years. Our subject was reared on a farm, receiving a limited edneation in the sub- scription schools of the early day. He re- mained with his parents until he reached his majority, and September 24, 1837, entered 160 acres of land in Harrison Township. Ile then went to Huntington County, re- maining one year, then returned to Wells County and began to clear and improve his farm. There were but few settlers on the Wabash River at that time. Ile was mar- ried May 7, 1840, to Miss Jane S., daughter of Daniel and Sarah Henderson, who was born in Fayette County, Ohio. Her parents removed from Virginia to Ohio in an early day. She came to this county in 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have had ten children, all of whom are living --- Isaac N., Rebecca J., Catherine E., Harriet A., Mary M., Louis M., John W., Maggie B., Walter B. and Ros- eoe C. Isaac N. was wounded while serving his country during the late war, which dis- abled him for life. In 1840 he sold his farm and removed to Bluffton, where he lived ten years, then purchased his present farm in Harrison Township, which contains 110 acres of land, situated one mile west of Bluffton. Mr. Johnson has served as constable and as deputy sheriff for many years. In 1850 he
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HISTORY OF WELLS COUNTY.
was appointed appraiser of real estate. He and his wife are active members of the Bap- tist church, and he is a Republican in polities.
M RS. CATHERINE MILLER, the first white woman who settled in Wells County, was born in Wythe County, Virginia, June 10, 1801. Novem- ber 10, 1832, she and her husband, Henry Miller, settled on the farm where they lived until her death. From the time of her ar- rival here until the 4th of June following she saw but one white woman. Mr. and Mrs. Miller lived fifty-four years without a death occurring .in their house; then, August 1, 1877, she died. At that time all her ten children were living except the youngest son, who died in Andersonville prison.
EANDER E. MADDOX, M. D., of Keystone, was born in Chester Town- ship, this county, May 11, 1851, son of Wesley II. and' Eliza Ann (Grove) Maddox. Ilis father was born in Highland County, Ohio, of English descent, and his mother was born in Fairfield County, same State, her parents being early settlers in that county. Both came to Indiana with their parents when young, the parents of the father settling in Harrison Township, Blackford County, and those of the mother, in Harrison Town- ship, Wells County. Both families found their land covered with a heavy growth of timber, and both started to make clearings and erect necessary buildings. Wesley II. bought land in Chester Township, section 36, abont 1845 or 1846, and in 1849 he was married. . lle is still a resident of the town- ship, but his wife died May 9, 1874. Lean-
der E. was reared in Chester Township, and has always made that township his home with the exception of six years' residence in Newville. Ile commeneed his education in the common school at the Maddux school- house, section 36, Chester Township, and at the age of fifteen years commeneed attending the school of Professor J. S. MeCleary, where he studied three or four terms. Ile then went to Liber College, Jay County, and attended there two years. In 1871 he com- meneed the study of medicine with Dr. Doster, of Poneto, and attended the medical department of the Michigan State University, at Ann Arbor, 1873-'74-'75, graduating the last Wednesday of March, 1875. He then went to Vera Cruz and commeneed the prac- tiee of his profession. In 1881 he settled in Keystone, where he has since practiced, and he is the only physician in Chester Township. Hle was married August 20, 1871, to Miss Mary E. Newman, a native of Huntington County, this State, and danghter of John and Lydia Newman. They have two children- Myrtie and Katie. Politically the doctor is a Republican. IIe is a member of Bluffton Lodge, No. 142, A. F. & A. M. His mother was the first school-teacher in Chester Town- ship, and the first lady teacher in Wells County.
DNAII HALL, one of the earliest and most prominent settlers of Wells County, was born in Wallingford, Con- neeticut, December 13, 1809. ITis early life was spent in the Eastern and Southern States, being for several years in the employ of an Eastern clock manufactory. July 27, 1836, he married Miss Abigail Blatchley, moved the same year to Ohio, and in May, 1837, to Wells County, where he passed the remain-
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der of his life. Ile was the first treasurer of this county, and continued in that office twelve years. Discharging the duties of that position in pioneer times, he made his return to Indianapolis on horseback, having often to swim the streams, and generally requiring a week or ten days to make the trip. ITis oxen were sometimes employed by the neigh- bors in taking their grists through woods and marshes all the way to Greenville, Ohio, a distance of about fifty miles, to be ground. That was then the nearest mill to this county. The same oxen drew the logs for the building on the site of Bluffton-the tavern kept by Almon Case. Mr. Hall was generally occu- pied upon his farm, and was for a time en- gaged in mercantile pursuits. He was a social, genial man, and in almost any com- pany he was the " noblest Roman of them all." IJe died February 28, 1872, leaving a wife and two children. The widow still sur- vives, residing in Bluffton, a venerable land- mark of early days, and now in her seventy- eighth year. The children are-Rena, the wife of John Bayha, a real estate broker in Kansas City, Missouri, and Adnah, a resident of BInffton.
FILLIAM CRAIG, of Ossian, was born in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, near Glasgow, Scotland, February 11, 1824, a son of William and Jennette (Robin- son) Craig, who immigrated to America in 1828, and settled at Troy, New York, where they remained four years, then removed to London, Ontario, in 1832. The Craigs made a permanent location in this township July 12, 1838, where the parents remained until death. Their three eldest children that still survive are residents of this connty. Mr. Craig well remembers the first train of cars
that ever passed over a line of road in Mich- igan. The date was July 4, 1838. The train left Detroit and stopped at Ypsilanti, that being the terminus of what is now the Michi- gan Central. The farm upon which the Craig family settled is now owned by Warren Mills. The father erected the second log cabin in Jefferson Township in the autumn of 1837. Robert Craig, a brother of our subject, eame with his wife the same year, and the brothers entered adjoining traets. The cabin of Robert being first completed for oeenpaney, made his the first actual settlement in the township. Ile removed with his family to Illinois a few years later. The father was the first natural- ized citizen of Jefferson Township, and was one of the best known men in the county. ITis death occurred in 1863, and his wife survived him eight years. They were the parents of five children-William, Jennette, Lucy (deceased), Robert (deceased), and David. Jennette is the widow of Dr. Will- iam Johnston; David is a farmer, married Miss Eliza Salter, and they reside near Os- sian; they have one daughter - Maggie, wife of Harry Deam, of Bluffton, whose grand- father, John Deam, was one of the first set- tlers of the county. Our subjeet married Margaret, daughter of Robert and Mary A. (Stont) MeConnell, natives of New Jersey, in which State Mrs. Craig was born October 4, 1827. Their marriage occurred April 11, 1850, at the home of the bride's parents, in Jefferson Township. The young couple began domestie life upon a farm, and have followed that occupation to some extent. Mr. Craig has also been a merchant of Ossian, but now lives a retired life in the village of Ossian, hav- ing sufficient means to render him independent. They have four children-Robert J., who has attained the age of twenty-one; Walter M., who married Anna Hatfield; Frank M. and Jennie. The latter is a graduate of the Os_
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sian High School, and is now a teacher in the primary department of that school. The first election held in the township was at the house of William Craig. Samuel Saul Weston was elected justice of the peace, and J. R. Zepever, township clerk. Robert Burns, the poet, was a near neighbor of Mr. Craig's grand- parents, and Mr. Craig was born in the same neighborhood, and was familiar with the country which formed the topies of his famous poems.
OIIN SHOEMAKER, farmer, section 5, Harrison Township, was born in Colum- biana County, Ohio, October 22, 1819, son of William and Betsey (Welker) Shoe- maker, the former a native of Maryland and a son of John Shoemaker, who was born in England, and the latter a daughter of John Welker, who was born in Pennsylvania of German ancestry. When our subjeet was a child his mother died, and he went to live with his grandparents, with whom he resided until he was nineteen years of age. lle then went to learn the blacksmith's trade, and received $2.50 per month for his time for two years. Ile then worked as journey . man for one year, after which he engaged in business for himself at Frederick, Mahoning County, Ohio, and followed his trade success- fully for twelve years. In 1854 he came to Wells County and worked at his trade in Bluffton. He remained there until 1864, when he moved to his present farm of 200 acres of unimproved land on seetions 5 and 8, Harrison Township. Hle now has one of the best improved farms in the county. His resi- dence and farm buildings are large and com- modious. In 1868 the first tile factory in the county was started on his farm, which was operated until 1884, manufacturing large
quantities from which Wells and adjoining counties received their supply for several years. Mr. Shoemaker was married March 17, 1812, to Miss Rachel, daughter of John and Catherine (Kline) Johnson, natives of Pennsylvania, the former of English, and the latter of German ancestry. Mrs. Shoemaker was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, April S, 1825, and removed with her par- ents to Ohio when ten years of age. In 1864 Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker settled upon their farm, and by hard labor and good man- agement have acquired a large property. They have had ten children, eight of whom are living-Warren K., Bruce W., John J., Taylor F., Jane, Harriet, Ella Lizzie. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker are members of the Christian church, and politically Mr. Shoe- maker is a Republican.
ATHAN CORY, farmer, Nottingham Township, was born in Henry County, Indiana, November 11, 1831, son of Daniel and Mary (Howard) Cory, the former a native of Ross County, Ohio, and the latter of Virginia. Joseph Cory was born in Wales, and at an early day came to America and located in Kentneky. Afterward re- moved to Ohio, where he reared his family and died at an advanced age. His son, Nathan Cory, was born June 24, 1776, and married Sarah Wright. Both died near Frankfort, Ross County, Ohio. They had a family of twelve children, of whom Daniel was the eleventh. Daniel Cory was married to Mary Iloward in Ross County, and abont 1825 they removed to Henry County, Indiana, being early settlers of that county. The father died there in 1873, and the mother in August, 1872. Nathan was reared to farm life in his native county, and was married
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there, August 14, 1551, to Miss Elizabeth Hoover, a native of Bedford County, Penn- sylvania, and daughter of George P. and Barbara Hoover. Iler father was born in Bedford County, and her mother in Hunting- ton County, same State. They removed to Henry County, Indiana, in 1841, where her father died June 21, 1879, and her mother, June 25, 1878; the former was born June 29, 1810, and the latter. September 1, 1811. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cory remained in Henry County until 1855, when they decided to remove to Kansas. Taking with them what household effects were neces- sary, they started with wagon and team, camping out at night, and after a journey of four weeks, reached Jefferson County, Kansas. The next season they removed to Lyon County, where Mr. Cory had taken up 160 acres of land. This was all wild prairie and the country was new. Indians were far more plenty than stock, and the nearest neighbor was four miles distant. It was 110 miles to a mill, and consequently very little milling was done. Mr. Cory purchased eighty aeres of timber, and remained on his land during the exciting scenes of 1856-'57, known as the Kansas and Missouri trouble. Then the civil war broke out, with all its horrors, and February 14, 1864, while the family was absent from home, the house was burned and nearly all its contents were consumed by the flames. It was supposed to have been the work of Indians. In 1865 he exchanged his farm for the one he now ocenpies in Notting- ham Township, and returned to Henry County. Four years later he came to this eounty, where he has since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Cory have had nine children, of whom one, Elva L., is deceased. Those living are -- John Milton, who resides in Lane County, Kansas; Mary Samantha, who married George Kirkwood; Joseph Henry, now a
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resident of Jay County; Barbara Leanna, wife of Amos MeDaniel, residing in Notting- ham Township; Elsie Jane, who married William Barnes and resides in Jay County; Elza N., Susie E., and Michael Sylvester. Mrs. Cory is a member of the German Baptist church. In politics Mr. Cory is a Democrat, and has served his township in various capac- ities. During the time of General Price's raid, Mr. Cory was called out for thirty days service, and with about 30,000 men from Kansas, they met Price at Mound City, and took 500 prisoners in a corn-field. When he returned home he was again ealled out to protect the settlement from the Indians, who had broken in during their absenee and had killed fourteen men, women and children, and was ont about one week.
ILLIAM THOMAS TOY SWAIM is a native of Wells County, Indiana, born near Ossian, April 1, 1861, a son of William and Hannah (Toy) Swaim. They were the parents of five children, four sons and one daughter, our subjeet being the youngest. The father was killed at the battle of Champion Hills, Mississippi, May 16, 1863, while serving as Lientenant-Colonel of the Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry. The subject of this sketch was reared at Ossian, where he attended the graded school, con- pleting his edmention at Fort Wayne College, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Ile was then in the fall of 1881 engaged to teach in the graded school at Bluffton, and taught one school year. In the fall of 1882 he entered the law department of the Michigan State Univers- ity at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and graduated from that institution in the elass of 1884 with the degree of B. L. He then returned to Bluffton and became associated with his
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brother David in the practice of law, thus forming the present law firm of Swaim & Swaim. In polities Mr. Swaim casts his suffrage with the Republican party. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Bluffton, and a highly respected citizen of Wells County.
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HIOMAS LITTLE WISNER, a promi- hent and influential citizen of Wells County, is a native of Lycoming Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, born near Ilughsville, De- eember 20, 1816. In his eighth year he was taken by his parents to Wayne County, Ohio, they settling on a farm near Wooster. His father being a carpenter, he was reared to that trade, at which he worked until 1847. Ile was married May 4, 1841, to Mary M. Sharp, who is of Irish ancestry, and was born and reared on the same farm in Wayne County, Ohio, where she lived till her mar- riage. Of the six children born to this union only two are living-Horace L., fore- man in the Banner printing office at Bluff- ton, and Arline, wife of Hon. J. H. C. Smith, State Senator and attorney at law at Bluff- ton. Helen died in 1846, aged over two years; Albert Howard died at the age of fourteen months; Ella died aged eight years, and James S. died in September, 1870, in his twenty-ninth year. In 1847 Mr. Wisner eame to Bluffton, Wells County, Indiana, where he was engaged in contracting and building until December, 1855. Ile was then appointed deputy clerk of the Cirenit Court of Wells County by George McDowell, under whom he served four years. In 1859 he was elected elerk of the Circuit Court of Wells County, and re-elected in 1863, serving eight years. In 1867 he was made deputy clerk of the Circuit Court by his snecessor, Dr.
James R. Mccleery, and served under him until April, 1874, when he was appointed by the board of county commissioners to fill the vacaney in that office caused by the death of Dr. MeCleery, and was also commissioned by Governor Thomas A. Hendricks, serving as clerk of the Cirenit Court until the follow- ing November. From the fall of 1880 until 1882 he served as deputy elerk under W. J. Craig, having been in the clerk's office either as principal or deputy for over twenty-one years. Mr. Wisner served as deputy county treasurer under County Treasurer Lemnel Bachelor from September, 1875, until De- eember, 1878, and served in the same capacity under his successor, Lawson Popejoy, from December, 1878, until June, 1879, since which time he has been variously engaged. He is a Master and Royal Areh Mason, being a member of the lodge and chapter at Bluff- ton, and has served his lodge as worshipful master for six years. He is a charter mem- ber of his chapter, being its first high priest, which position he has filled for five years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wisner have reached a good old age, and are enjoying that rest which is the reward of a well-spent life. They are members of the Baptist church at Bluffton, of which he has been a deacon for years.
ENRY MILLER was born in Carter County, Tennessee, March 2, 1802, a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Miller) Miller, and died at his residence in Lancaster Township June 25, 1832, aged eighty years, three months and twenty-three days. In priority of settlement he was the oldest set- tler of Wells County at the time of his death. He made his home near where Murray now stands, November 10, 1832, having been pre- ceded by only a few men, viz: Mr. Noreross ,
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Philip Shadle
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Dr. Knox and Robert Harvey. Here he pur- chased the land on which he lived almost fifty years. Ile was united in marriage in Union County, Indiana, April 15, 1823, to Catherine Seek, who was born in Tennessee June 10, 1801, and died August 1, 1877. To them were born ten children-John, a resident of Kansas; Mrs. Melinda Frybuek, of Michigan; Mrs. Matilda Matthews, of Bluffton; Daniel, living in Illinois; Simon, of Wells County, Indiana; Mrs. Elizabeth Harvey, living at Murray; Henry and Adam, living in Kansas; William, deceased; Mrs. Catherine Weaver, of Lancaster Township. Four of the sons, Adam, William, Simon and Daniel, served as soldiers during the war of the Rebellion, and William died in Ander- sonville prison. Mr. Miller was an enter- prising and public-spirited citizen of Wells County, and was always active in anything having for its object the advancement of his township or county, building churches and school-houses, roads and bridges. Few men have been more favorably known for gener- ous, kindly hospitality. He was not wealthy, but always had plenty and to spare to those less fortunate. Ile practiced the Christian virtues of love and charity toward all, and was beloved and esteemed by all who knew him.
DE HILIP SHADLE, an active and enter- prising farmer of Chester Township, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Leb- anon County, April 14, 1825. His parents, Philip and Mary (McGlade) Shadle, were natives of the same State, the father born in Center County, the mother having been bronght from Ireland to Dauphin County by her parents when two years old. They . were married in Dauphin County, and subse-
quently removed to Lebanon County, where they made their home for thirty-five years. They then removed to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1936, and one year later removed to Holines County, Ohio, where they resided from the spring of 1838 until the fall of 1847. The father then traded his Ohio property for 110 acres of wild land in Wells County, Indiana, to . which place he removed. Procuring a cabin to move in he went to hewing logs for a hewed log house, he being a carpenter by trade, this being the first house of the kind built in that section of the county. Philip Shadle, the subject of this sketch, grew to manhood in Wayne and Holmes counties, Ohio, and was married in Wayne County, Ohio, August 7, 1845, to Miss Margaret Donnelly, a native of Dauphin County, Penn- sylvania, a danghter of John and Fannie (Singer) Donnelly, who were also natives of the State of Pennsylvania. They left their native State for Wayne County, Ohio, about 1835, and in 1830 removed to Holmes Con- ty, where they lived until their death. Mr. and Mrs. Shadle have had fifteen children born to them, of whom twelve yet survive- Mary Jane, wife of Winfield Venham; Zilla, wife of J. M. Venham, now living in Sacra- mento Valley, California; William; Newton; Lusetta, wife of Jolin Godfrey; Reason A., Ellen, Samuel, John, Eli, Oscar and Ada. Those deceased are-Chambers, Lissa and Philip. Mr. Shadle came to Wells County with his family the year following his father's settlement in the county, and located on a tract of fifty-five aeres of the old homestead. The first year he made his home with his parents, and the following year put up an addition to the old house. Ilis mother died in January, 1855, his father surviving until 1874. He followed carpentering the greater part of his life, our subject attending to the duties of the farm. Mr. Shadle has
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always been an industrious citizen, and sinee coming to the county has cleared much land, and is now the owner of 183 acres, of which 150 acres is eleared, and this, with the ex- ception of about twenty-five aeres, has been done by himself with the assistance of his sons. Mr. and Mrs. Shadle are members of the United Presbyterian church at Warren. Mr. Shadle has always taken an active in- terest in the public affairs of his township or county, and has served his township efficiently as trustee in all six years, filling that position when considerable tact was required to bring the finanees of the township to a proper eon- dition. In polities he is a Republican, and for a number of years was chairman of the Re- publican committee in Chester Township. lle is a prominent and influential man in Chester Township, and during his long resi- denee in the county has gained the confidence and respect of all who know him.
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