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 40
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 40
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followed farming the remainder of his days. There were eight children, of whom four are living. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and died in 1850, aged fifty-eight years. Our subject was ten years of age when he came to Wells County. His youth was spent in assisting his father on the farm, and he remained with him until his death. De- cember 13, 1855, he was married to Miss Mahala Deam, daughter of John A. Deam, who came here from Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1839. To this union one child has been born -Alice Olive, wife of George Studabaker. Mr. Kemp resides on the old homestead where he was reared and where he has lived for forty-eight years. He has 162 acres. In politics he is a Democrat.
- OBERT D. FORNSHELL, general mer- chant, Dillman, and one of the self-made men of Jackson Township, was born in East Waterford, Mifflin County, Pennsyl- vania, December 26, 1818. Ilis parents, Joseph and Margery (Douglass) Fornshell, were also natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. They were reared and married in their native State, and about the year 1823 emigrated to Preble County, Ohio. The mother died in Highland County, Ohio, and the father's death occurred in Jay County, Indiana. They had a family of three children who grew to maturity. The father was a wheelwright by occupation, which he followed until his death. Ile was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The mother was a member of the Presby- terian church. Robert D. Forushell, the subject of this sketch, lived with his grand- parents in Pennsylvania until he was four- teen years of age. After their death lis father took him to his home in Preble County,
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Ohio, where he remained abont four years, and then went to live with an unele in High- land County, Ohio, with whom he lived until reaching his majority, when he began work- ing on the farm as a farm laborer. In 1842, being anxious to improve his mind and fit himself for business, he attended the common schools of his neighborhood, and later spent two terms at the academy in Hillsborongh, Ohio. October 5, 1844, he arrived in Van Buren Township, Grant County, Indiana, where he engaged in teaching school. He was married August 18, 1846, to Mary A. Pitcher, who was born in Morgan County, Pennsylvania, October 29, 1829. Eleven children were born to this union, whose names are-Amanda M., William (. (de- ceased), Arthur N., Franklin P., Mary M., James B., Joshua P., Edward M., Robert D., Ida A. and Lavannee C. Mr. Fornshell taught altogether twenty-three terms of school, mostly in Van Buren Township, fol- lowing that avocation during the winter months, and in the summer season followed farming. Ile bought a heavily-timbered farm in Van Buren Township, which he cleared and improved. For two years he was employed as clerk in the store of Robert Gilbert. In 1880 he engaged in the general mercantile business in the village of Van Buren, Grant County, Indiana, and in 1883 bought the store of Henry Templeton at Dill- man, Jackson Township, Wells County, where he still remains. Mr. Fornshell is a man of good business ability, and is meeting with success in his present enterprise, doing an annual business of several thousand dollars. While a resident of Van Buren Township, Grant County, Mr. Fornshell held the office of justice of the peace for twenty years. Mr. Fornshell began life in Van Buren entirely without means, having but $1.37, and from this small beginning he has by persevering
industry and good management become one of the prosperons citizens of Jackson Town- ship, being now the owner of a good busi- ness, a comfortable home and forty acres of choice land. Mr. Fornshell in his political views affiliates with the Democratic party, and has held several local offices. He has been a member of the Masonie fraternity since 1857, in which year he united with Grant Lodge at Marion, Grant County. He is now a member of King Lodge, No. 246, A. F. & A. M., at Warren, Huntington County, Indiana. He and his wife were formerly members of the Christian church.
TACOB SHOUP, of Zanesville, is one of the early settlers of Union Township, having settled there as early as 1847, while there was a great deal of land in the Indian reserve subject to entry. Ile was born near Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, son of John and Polly (Ack- erman) Slroup. The father was born in that county, and his father, Jacob Shoup, was one of the early settlers of that conntry, com- ing from Germany. John Shoup was the father of cleven children-William, Nathan- iel, Sophia A., Polly, Jacob and Sarah came to Indiana. The family moved to Tuseara- was Connty, Ohio, and in that State the remaining children died. Our subjeet was the first to emigrate to Indiana. Previous to his coming he was married to Miss Rachel Kain, and six of their children were born in that State -- Daniel, William, Mary, Sophia, and two that died in infaney. Jacob was not a poor man when he came to Wells County. Ilis first purchase of land was half of sec- tions 4 and 5, known as the Shoppine sec- tion. No roads were eut through the forests, and the new comers found their way to
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their lands by means of Indian trails. On the sections mentioned not a stick had been felled except by the Indians. Jacob built his first house one mile south of his present residence. This was not built, however, for several years after the family came, as they lived in an Indian cabin, part of which was a store-house in which . Shoppine " was the merchant. IIe, with ten others, was buried near the site of the old cabin, where they had lived so many years. The lands owned by Mr. Shoup were favorite hunting-grounds, and he was well acquainted with many of the Indians, especially "White Loon," who, during one of his sprees, told Mr. Shoup he fought against General Wayne, for whom he enter- tained the greatest aversion; and while he talked, tears rolled down his checks. Jacob has attended Indian dances near White Loon's cabin; during the day all would get drunk and lie asleep in the woods. Many tears were shed by these Indians when forced to leave the reservation, and some of the squaws carried away soil to be sprinkled on their graves. Jacob's sons aided him in clear- ing his land. Ilis house and barn were the largest in the township at the time they were built, and 100 men were present at the rais- ing. Settlers eame fast, and Jacob spent three weeks in helping to raise cabins in the neighborhood. Joseph and John Shoup were born in the Indian cabin, and Jacob, Jr., in the new house. In 1877 the mother died, and July 6, 1879, Mr. Shoup married Miss Mary Wilson, daughter of John and Phebe (Cor- rell) Wilson, who came from Coshocton County, Ohio, to Wells County in 1854. Mrs. Shoup's mother died when she was three weeks old, and her father afterward married Mary Bechtel. To the first marriage were born four children-Milton, Montra- ville, Franeis M. and Mary. The two eldest sons lost their lives in the service of their
country. Milton was wounded at the battle of Stone River, and died five days later. Montraville died from disease contracted in the army. Francis M. married Annie Thomas, and resides at Uniondale. Daniel Shoup was a member of the Seventy-fifth In- diana Infantry, of which he was Quarter- master's clerk and dispatch bearer. Ile married Angeline Seaman after his return from the army, whose death occurred later. She had three children, of whom Lottie and Clara Etta are living. Mary Shoup married Dan Keplinger; Sophia married Benjamin Clark; Joseph is the husband of Ida Keplin- ger; John married Margaret Fisher; William married Mary Bell; and Jacob is unmarried. To the second marriage of our subject one son, Edward, has been born, who is now seven years of age. Mr. Shoup has retired from active life and has a competeney for his old age.
ILLIAM B. NIMMONS, an active and enterprising business man, and proprietor of the Oil Barrel Heading and Stave Factory at Bluffton, is a native of New York State, born in the vieinity of Seneca Falls in 1836, a son of James and Elizabeth (McKim) Ninmous. They were the parents of eight children, five sons and three daughters, our subject being the eldest son. When he was fourteen years old his home was broken up by the death of his mother, and from that early age he was thrown upon his own resources. Hle then learned the cooper's trade with his uneles, B. F. and William MeKim, at Bellevne, Ohio, and after serving an apprenticeship of three years, began to receive wages. He worked as a journeyman cooper until becoming of age, when he accepted the position of fore-
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man in a barrel factory at Upper Sandusky, Ohio, where he was employed for one year, after which he accepted a similar position at Bellevue, Ohio. Mr. Nimmons was married at Bellevue in 1857 to Miss Mary A. Wright, a daughter of the late William Wright. Three children have been born to this union, all dying in infancy. During the latter part of 1861 Mr. Nimmons went to Saginaw, Michigan, where he was employed as super- intendent of the salt works of Flagner & York until 1866. Ile then went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was in the employ of the Standard Oil Company, as barrel inspector, until 1870. In that year he came to Bluff- ton, Wells County, Indiana, and engaged in the manufacture of staves and headings for oil barrels, being a member of the firm of Nimmons & Co. until 1882, since which time he has been sole proprietor. He is also operating a similiar factory at Celina, Ohio. Mr. Nimmons is a member of the Presby- terian church at Bluffton.
ON. JACOB HENRY CLAY SMITH, State Senator and attorney at law, re- siding in Bluffton, was born in Rock Creek Township, Wells County, Indiana, Au- gust 9, 1842. Ile was reared to the avoca- tion of a farmer, remaining on the home farm until nineteen years of age, receiving his early education in the district schools. Be- fore leaving home he taught one term of school, and in the spring of 1861 entered the Bluffton High School, which he attended for three years, and taught school during the winter months. In the spring of 1864 he engaged in the drug business with his broth- er, T. G. Smith, at Markle, Huntington County, Indiana. Retiring from the firm in the spring of 1865, he returned to Bluffton,
where he engaged in the book and stationery business until 1868, when he engaged in the confectionery business at Bluffton. The fol- lowing spring he added groceries to his con- fectionery business, which he followed until 1875. April 25, 1865, he was united in marriage at Bluffton to Miss Arlie L. Wisner, who was born, reared and educated at Bluff- ton, her parents, Thomas L. and Mary W. (Sharp) Wisner, being pioneers of Wells County. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two ehil- dren living-Willis S., who graduated from the Bluffton High School in the class of 1886, and is elerking in a drug store at Bluffton, and Merle W., aged three years. They also have an adopted son, a nephew, named Frank S. Smith, whom they have reared from in- faney. Ile is at present attending the high school at Bluffton. Three children are de- ceased-Lutie T., who died in September, 1867, aged one year, and Jennie and Harry (twins), both dying in infancy. In 1872 Mr. Smith was elected justice of the peace of Har- rison Township, and re-elected in 1876, hold- ing that office continuously for eight years. In 1878 he was admitted to the bar at Bluff- ton, sinee which time he has been engaged in the practice of law, and has succeeded in building up a good practice. In polities he affiliates with the Democratic party. In 1886 he was elected State Senator to represent the district composed of Huntington and Wells counties for a term of four years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the First Baptist Church of Bluffton, of which Mr. Smith is also a deacon. Also a member of Bluffton Lodge, No. 1838, K. of H. Mr. Smith is a son of Thomas T. and Catherine (Geary) Smith, natives of Ohio, the father of Irish and Scotch ancestry, and the mother of German. They were the parents of eleven children, all of whom are yet living-one a resident of St. Louis, one living in California,
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three in Texas and the rest in Indiana. The parents eame to Indiana in 1532, and settled at Fort Wayne, Allen County, removing to Wells County in 1836, when they located on Government land in Rock Creek Township. Here the father improved a farm on which he resided until 1864. Hle then sold his farm and purchased another in the vicinity of Bluffton, on which he and family resided ten years, and then moved into the city of Bluffton, where he died April 9, 1881, aged nearly eighty-one years. In politics he was formerly a Whig, but in later life affiliated with the Democratic party. He served as county commissioner, justice of the peace and township trustee several years. In his religious faith he was a Universalist. The mother of the subject of this sketeh was born at Lancaster, Ohio, April 4, 1812, and died at Bluffton, Indiana, December 7, 1882, aged nearly seventy-one years. In early life she joined the Presbyterian church and remained a member of the same nntil her death.
ILLIAM H. RUPRIGHT, farmer, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, January 19, 1849, son of John and Elizabeth (Dougherty) Rupright. The father and grandfather Rupright were born in Le- high County, Pennsylvania; the great-grand- father came from Germany. Only two sons were born in each generation. John Rup- right was four years of age when his father left Pennsylvania and settled in Trumbull County. They were among the first pioneers of the county, and the first location was made near Lordstown. George Rupright was a carpenter by trade and one of the first me- chanies in the neighborhood. John learned the trade of his father. George Rupright had two sons-John and William; the lat-
ter lives on the homestead. John Rupright was married in Trumbull County, and Will- iam II. was born in Lordstown before the fam- ily eame West. In the spring of 1852 his parents located in Preble Township, Adams County, purchasing eighty acres of land upon which no improvements had been made. He built a log cabin, 18 x 20 feet, and began the work of clearing up a farm and making a home for his wife and children. He also worked at his trade to some extent, and erected the first frame house built in the eastern part of Jefferson Township, for Jacob Summers. Mr. and Mrs. Rupright have had seven children, two sons and five dangh- ters- Mary A. is the wife of Alexander White, of Jefferson Township; Elizabeth became the wife of Samuel M. Kreigh, of the same town- ship; Susan married lohn Rex, of Ossian; Matilda J. married Felix J. Summers, of Jefferson Township; Ida A. is the wife of Sylvester Mills, of Lancaster Township, a native of Adams County; Granville married Miss Mary F. Short, of this county, and re- sides on the homestead, where the parents also reside, the father aged sixty-three and the mother sixty-one. All the children are well married and have homes and families. When sixteen years of age our subject en- listed in the late war, but was not accepted, and remained at home, engaged in farm work, which he continued as long as he remained under the parental roof. Ile married Miss Francina Archibald, daughter of Thomas and Phebe (Valentine) Archibald, who were pio- neers of this county. The young couple commenced housekeeping on a farm in Adams County. The first purchase of land was made in 1873, it being the farin upon which they now reside. Mr. Rnpright be- came a resident of Wells County in 1876, al- though he was reared from boyhood within a few rods of the line. Ile built his honse
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and barn the same year he moved into Jef- ferson Township. Soon after settling here Mr. Rupright became a member of the stock firm of A. Woodard & Co., which firm, for the past ten years, has done the largest stock business that has been done in the northern part of the county. In 1882 Mr. Rupright was nominated by the Democratic party for county commissioner, to which office he was elected and served four years. Ile is now serving his second term, and has given the greatest satisfaction. His father, for many years, served in an official capacity in Adams County; he was trustee eleven years, and county commissioner two terms. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Rupright, Gran- ville and Nellie were born in Adams County, and Charles H. and Lulu M. were born in Wells County.
JONATHAN KLINGEL, of Liberty Township, was born in Stark County, Ohio, December 24, 1816, son of George and Jane (Allinan) Klingel, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and were among the first settlers of Stark County. He was reared on a farm, and received his education in the early subscription schools. Ile remained with his parents until he attained his ma- jority, and in 1850 eame to Indiana, settling in Huntington County. Hle was married in that county October 20, 1850, to Miss Eliza- beth Jett, daughter of Daniel and Matilda (Hanson) Jett, who was born in Bracken County, Kentucky, May 7, 1835, and came to Indiana when about sixteen years of age. They settled upon a farm in Huntington County, where they lived three years, then removed to this county and located upon the present farm and built their residence in the timber. They now have 160 acres of well-
improved land, in a good state of cultivation. They are the parents of three children -- Jane J., wife of Adoniram Johnson, of Liberty Center; Charles T., and Rosa Bell, wife of William E. Luckey. Mrs. Klingel is a member of the Baptist church. Politically Mr. Klingel was formerly a Whig, and after- ward a Republican. Ile now affiliates with the Democratic party.
ANIEL F. MARKLEY, farmer, Harri- son Township, was born in Wells County, Indiana, August 22, 1854, son of Ga- briel Markley. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. Ile re- mained with his parents until he reached his majority, and December 31, 1874, he was married to Miss Jennie Ilale, a daughter of Bowen Hale. He resided with his father- in-law one year, then settled upon his present farm, which his father had previously pur- chased. He has 128 acres of well-improved land. They have had seven children, six of whom are living -- Alfred (deceased), Edith, Mary, Mertie, Hattie, Bowen and Archie. Politically Mr. Markley is a Republican.
ISAAC DECKER, one of the old pioneers of Wells County, who is now deceased, was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 1820, a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Albert) Decker, who were natives of the same State. IIe spent the early part of his life on a farm in his native county, and when a young man went to Fairfield County, Ohio, where he was married to a Miss Lan- gle, and to this union was born one danghter-Lueinda. After his marriage he immigrated to Jay County, Indiana, where
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he resided for a tine, when on account of the ill health of his wife he returned to Fairfield County, where his wife died. lle was again married in Montgomery County, Ohio, to Miss Elizabeth Houser, a daughter of Henry Houser. After his second marriage he returned to Jay County, Indiana, but his health failing he returned to Montgomery County, Ohio, where he made his home un- til 1853. Ile again returned to Indiana and settled on a farm in Rock Creek Town- ship, Wells County, which his father had previously bought, and after residing there a year and a half he removed to Huntington County, and settled on a heavily-timbered farm of 160 aeres which he had bought some time before. Ile cleared this farm and made improvements, residing on it eighteen months, when he returned to his father's farm in Wells County, which contained 160 acres. When he settled on this farm only nine acres had been eleared. Ile cleared and improved the remainder of the land, and here he fol- Jowed farming the rest of his life. He died in 1868, at the age of forty-eight years, his widow surviving until 1872, her death oceur- ring at the age of forty-seven years. They were the parents of ten children, five of whom still survive-Edward, Christena, Mary J., Maria R. and Isaae W. In his political views Mr. Decker was a Democrat. Ile was an active and publie spirited citi- zen, and was always interested in any enterprise which had for its object the ad- vancement of his township or county. Ed- ward Decker, the eldest son of Isaae Deeker, is one of the enterprising agrieulturists of Roek Creek Township, and a highly respected eitizen. He is a native of Ohio, born in Montgomery County, July 19, 1846. Ile was seven years old when his parents eame to Wells County, and here he was reared on the home farm, receiving his education in the
common schools. Ile resided with his parents until their death, when he sneceeded them in the old homestead, where he still follows agrienltural pursuits. He was married in 1869, to Miss Rebecca L., daughter of Jolin Ilontz, of Rock Creek Township. They are the parents of seven children -- Lydia E., Da- villa N., George E., Charles W., John F., Rufus L. and Otto R. Both Mr. and Mrs. Decker are members of the Reformed church. In politics Mr. Decker easts his suffrage with the Demoeratie party.
- AMES A. GAVIN, one of the progress- ive and enterprising farmers of Chester Township, is a native of Ireland, born in County Clare September 12, 1824, a son of James and Mary (Austin) Gavin, his father being a member of the constabulary in Ire- land. James A. received good edneational advantages in the schools of his native coun- try and became a teacher, which profession he followed almost five years in the national schools. After abandoning his profession he engaged in farming, but after spending a couple of years in agricultural pursuits in his native land, he decided to come to Amer- iea where his brothers had previously come. In 1851 he immigrated from Cloughgordon, County Tipperary, for the United States, and the same year he located in Ross County, Ohio, where he remained until 1854. Ile was married in the year 1854 to Miss Amanda Bryant, a native of Ross County, and a daughter of George and Rhoda (Bragg) Bryant. To this union five children were born, and of this number four are yet living -Mary Elizabeth, wife of John Neal, of Poneto, Indiana; Jane, wife of T. S. Elder; Sarah Ellen, wife of Jeremiah Galvin, and Margaret. A daughter, Emily, is deceased.
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HISTORY OF WELLS COUNTY.
Mr. Gavin removed from Ross to Wells County, Indiana, and located on a farm in Harrison Township, where he made his home from 1854 until 1865. Ile then removed to the farm in Chester Township, where he has since resided. Ilis land when he settled on it was in a state of nature, entirely unim- proved, but by persevering toil and industry he has cleared and improved eighty acres of his farm, which consists of 160 acres. In polities Mr. Gavin votes independent, but affiliates with the Democratic party. Ile has served Chester Township as trustee, and at one time was county surveyor of Wells County, he having learned surveying in Ire- land. He is a public-spirited citizen, and is always interested in any enterprise for the advancement of his township or county.
APTAIN SAMUEL J. KELLER, the -E oldest son of John and Rachel (Jamison) Keller, was born in Miami County, Ohio, December 10, 1825. Ilis father died when he was nine years old, and his mother subsequently married John Barr. In 1843 he came to Wells County, Indiana, with his inother and step-father and located in Laneaster Township, where his mother died in 1847. Samuel JJ. began to care for himself at an early age, and the lessons of industry and frugality learned in his youth have been of great and lasting benefit to him. He followed farming until he was eighteen years of age, when he learned the brickmaker's trade, at which he worked in Huntington, Indiana, until 1850. Ile was married at Bluffton, Indiana, March 14, 1852, to Miss Melvina E. Wolleat. Her parents, Michael and Adaline Wolleat, having been pioneer settlers in Wells County. Ifis children are seven-Samuel, Ella, wife of Frederick Mosinan, of Pleasant Lake, Indi-
ana, Catherine, Ada, Jane, Lydia and John. His wife, the mother of the above named children, died at Bluffton, Indiana. He came to Bluffton in 1850, where he became engaged in the manufacture of brick. In 1854 he moved to Rice County, Minnesota, and there engaged in making briek until 1858, when he returned to Bluffton and resumed brick-mak- ing mitil 1876. In the latter year he went with his family to San Jose, California, thence to Portland, Oregon, making a prospeeting tour of four years. In 1880 he again returned to Bluffton, where he still resides. lle has served his country in two wars. In the fall of 1847 he enlisted in the Mexican war as a private in Company K, Second Regiment of the regular United States army, to serve five years or during the war. While in said service he was principally on duty in the City of Mexico, and was discharged at the elose of the war at Paseagonla, Mississippi. In Angust, 1861, he was commissioned Captain by Gov- ernor O. P. Morton, and recruited Company II, Forty-seventh Regiment Indiana Volun- teers. Ile was with his company and regiment until he was finally discharged at Indian- apolis, Indiana, December 13, 1864, and participated in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, including New Mad- rid, Champion Hills, siege of Vicksburg, besides a large number of less important en- gagements, and he was with General Banks on his Red River expedition. In one of the skirmishes in that campaign he received a gun-shot wound which incapacitated him for duty for several weeks. In 1884 Captain Keller was commissioned postmaster at Bluff- ton, Indiana, by President Arthur, which offiee he held until 1886, when he resigned. lle is a member of Lew Daily Post, No. 33, G. A. R., of Bluffton, Indiana. Captain Keller is a Master Mason, and has for many years been a member of Bluffton Lodge, No.
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