USA > Indiana > Blackford County > Biographical memoirs of Blackford County, Ind. : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography embellished with portraits of many well known residents of Blackford County, Indiana > Part 45
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and from which he was graduated on the 28th day of April, 1900. In the meantime he had opened an office in the town of Ar- cadia, Hamilton county, this state, where he practiced his profession one year, keeping up his studies at the same time and making sub- stantial progress in his chosen calling. After graduating he sold his office and business in Arcadia and came to Hartford City where he opened an office in the Sage block and at once resumed the practice with most satis- factory results.
Dr. Miller is young in years, but is a master of his profession and has already carned the reputation of a skillful operator in every department of dentistry. His office is supplied with all modern appliances and the satisfactory nature of his work, together with his genial and winning personality, have been the means of attracting to him a large and lucra e share of public patron- age. Dr. Millet s habits are unexceptionable and the pluck and determination which are among his chief characteristics fill him with the hope and confidence of abundant suc- cess in the future. His religious creed is represented by the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he has belonged for a num- ber of years, and since locating in Hartford City he has been active in all good work of the congregation with which he is identified.
WEILER BROTHERS.
A. Weiler & Brothers, proprietors of the large and well-known department store, lo- cated opposite the county court house, on the north side of the public square, Hartford City, Indiana, is composed of Abe, Adolph R. and Meyer M. Weiler.
Abe Weiler, senior member of the Grin, was born in Germany, February 24, 1847. He was educated in the common schools of his native country, coming to America at the age of sixteen. He located in Union City, Indiana, connecting himself with R. Kirch- baum in the dry goods and clothing business. Ile worked in this capacity for seven years. In 1870 he bought the interest of David May, of the firm theu known as Kirchbaum & May, Hartford City, Indiana. Coming then to Hartford City, they established a business under the firm name of Kirch- baum & Weiler. In 1888 Mr. Weiler moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. The inter- est of Mr. Kirchbaum was then purchased by the Weiler Brothers and the business is now known under that name. When they first came to Hartford City they occupied a building on the east side of the public square, where they did business from 1878 until 1896. Their business became so great that they did not have room for their im- mense stock. In that year they took a long lease of William B. Cooley to build a large brick building, 100x120 feet and three stories high. They now carry a stock of goods valued at one hundred and twenty- five thousand dollars. This stock is to be in- creased the coming year, necessitating the use of the entire building for the store and ware rooms.
Weiler Brothers are also interested in a store at Portland, Indiana, known as Weiler Brothers, and one at Farmland, known as Weiler Brothers & Lumpkin.
Adolph R., the second brother, is a son of Isaac and Rosina ( Kern) Weiler, and was born in Germany, April 13, 1864. Ile, too, was educated in the common schools of Ger- many, coming to the United States at the age of sixteen. At the age of twenty-four
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he became interested in the mercantile busi- ness with his brothers, which connection still exists. Adolph was married, December 31, 1894, to Blanche, daughter of Samuel and Gertrude (Kalın). Kahn, of Indianapolis, Indiana. To them have been born two chil- dren : Amy, born July 13, 1896, and Rosina, born May 3, 1900.
Meyer M. Weiler, the third member of the firm of A. Weiler & Brothers, was also born in Germany, April 14, 1861. He came ' to the United States at the age of twenty- two years. When he first arrived in this country he clerked in the store known then as Weiler Brothers, Farmland, Indiana, but for the last ten years has been associated with and is now a member of the firm of A. Weiler & Brothers. Meyer Weiler is one of the best liked and most sociable fellows one meets with and has frien by the hun- dred.
The Weiler brothers, by their genial manner, whole heartedness, energy, tact and close attention to the details of their business, have built up an enormous trade. It ex- ceeds that of any other dry-goods store in the state, outside of the larger cities. A survey of their store in Hartford City dis- closes the fact that it alone is the largest department store in this section of the state. One can go there and furnish his house com- plete and supply the wardrobe of his entire family without passing from the building. The third floor of the building is used for a store room for the goods sold in the vari- ous departments. This comprises hardware, furniture, ladies' and gents' furnis' 'ng's, carpets, millinery, dry goods, crockery, glassware, china, boots and shoes-in fact everything desirable in these lines. The second floor is one large room, divided into sections, one for the sale of carpets and rugs,
another for furniture, another for draperies, and one for mirrors and glassware The first floor is composed of five departments, clothing, dry goods, boots and shoes, mil- linery and ladies' furnishings, men's furnish- ings, fine china and glassware. The success of these men is an example of what you men can accompli- Dy patience, industry an good habits.
HENRY WILLER.
The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch is a skillful tailor of Hartford City and a gallant ex-soldier of the war of the Rebellion. Mr. Willer is a native of Germany and belongs to that large and in- dustrious class of people which the Father- land has contributed to the United States, a class to which we are largely indebted for much of the material and moral stamina of the body politic. His birth occurred on the 15th day of January, 1834, and sixteen years later, hoping to better his condition in a coun- try abounding in greater opportunities he came to the United States, locating in Cincin- nati, where he served as an apprentice at the tailor's trade. After becoming proficient in his chosen calling and working at it for some time in Cincinnati, Mr. Willer went else- where, but until the breaking out of the Civil war he was mostly employed in that city. In April, 1861, he responded to the country's call for volunteers by joining a company, which for some reason was not called to the front. With a determination not to be thwarted he made a second and more successful attempt in June of the same year, enlisting on the rith day of that month in Company II, Twenty-eighth Ohio Infan-
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try, with which be served for a period of three years and three months in the Army of the Potomac. Mr. Willer was with his com- mand throughout all its varied experiences in the castern campaigns, taking a gallant part from the first battle at Bull Run until his discharge, in October, 1865, in all twen- ty-five battles, the majority of which have gone into history as among the . ost bloody and hotly contested engagements of that great struggle. He received a scalp wound at South Mountain and was twice made pris- One . escaping both times and being as many timecaptured. Mr. Willer's military ex- perience while fighting for the country of his adoption is replete with rugged, toilsome duty gallantly and uncomplainingly per- formed, and his record is one of which any loyal defender of the flag might feel de- servedly proud.
After iis discharge Mr. Willer resumed his trade and has ever since followed it for a livelihood. He worked at different places until 1882, when he moved from Union City to Hartford City, and here he has since made his home, spending a part of the interim in the employ of other parties and part in business for himself. At present he is the proprietor of a successful establishment and employs a number of hands, and by keeping himself fully abreast of the times and study- ing carefully the wishes of his customers in the matter of first-class and artistic wearing apparel, has obtained a large share of pub- lic patronage. Mr. Willer is a master of his trade, always aiming to please, and by fair dealing has never been without a large number of well-paying customers.
In April, 1861, the same month of his first enlistment, he entered into the marriage relation, at Cincinnati, with Hannah, daugh- ter of William and Elizabeth Horst, of that
city, and is now the father of five children, namely : Henrietta, deceased ; Frank, Amelia, Lului and : illah.
In his twenty-first year Mr. Willer joined the Odd Fellows fraternity at Cincinnati and has ever since been an active and enthusiastic worker in the order; in 1896 he became a member of Blackford Lodge, No. 166, F. & A. M., and in his life always endeavors to exemplify the teachings of that ancient and honorable craft. In religion he is a Luther- an, as is also his wife, both belonging to the congregation worshiping in Hartford City. The parents of Mr. Willer were Henry and Ange (Tissing) Willer, both natives of Ger- many where their lives were passed and where the ancestors of the family for many generations have lived.
JOHN A. NEWBAUER.
The gentleman whose career is herewithi briefly presented is essentially a business mani and as such ranks with the most energetic and progressive in Hartford City. He was born October 17, 1847, in Darke county, Ohio, and is the son of Jacob and Eliza- beth Newbauer, the family name of the moth- er being Lorenz. He was reared and edu- cated in his native county and state and while young laid broad and deep the founda- tion of a strong, manly character which re- sulted in a subsequent career of great activ- ity and usefulness.
In 1873 he became a resident of Black- ford county, Indiana, opening that year a meat market in Hartford City which he suc- cessfully conducted until 1887. At the lat- ter date he erected the building he now oc- cupies and began handling lime, cement,
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building material of all kinds, implements, etc., and continued the same by himself until 1893, in May of which year he disposed of a two-thirds interest in the business to Messrs. Moon & Temple, with whom he re- mained in partnership until purchasing the entire stock, in 1898, since which time he has been sole proprietor. In the meantime, 1892, Mr. Newbauer became cashier of the Blackford County Bank, the duties of which position he discharged for five years, at the expiration of which time he was elected vice- · president, a place he now fills.
Mr. Newbauer was married, December 24, 1875, to Miss Elizabeth Bolner, who has borne him five children, namely : Altha, George II., Robert, Eva and Hazel.
Mr. Newbauer became a member of Blackford County Lodge, No. 262, I. O. O. F., on the 25th of January, 1874, and since that time has filled all the chairs and during the last fifteen years has held the responsi- ble position of financial secretary. He was a prime mover in the organization of the can- ton at Hartford City and in 1893 joined the I. O. R. M., in which he has also been called to fill important offices besides becoming a member of the Great Council at Indianap- olis.
In addition to his other business inter- prises Mr. Newbauer is interested in the People's Gas Company, of which he was one of the original organizers in 1891, and at the present time he holds the office of treas- un.r. For four years he has been trustee and secretary of the Hartford City I. O. O. F. Cemetery Association, and for a number of terms he looked after the city's interest as a member of the common council. He was also township trustee for seven years, be- sides which his name has been identified with a number of other projects and move-
ments having for their object the material prosperity of both city and county. In all his business transactions Mr. Newbaner has shown himself to be a man of sagacity and discreetness of judgment, of serupulous in- tegrity and gentlemanly demeanor. Al- though called at different times to positions of honor and trust, he has never sought pub - lic distinction, these places coming to him in recognition of his business ability and trust- worthiness as an intelligent and progres iv: man of affairs. Honest and upright in all his dealings. he enjoys the friendship and good will (. all with whom he has ever been associated and to say that in every relation of life he enjoys the confidence and esteem ( the public is to publish a truth univers. recognized.
CLARK STEWART.
The name of Clark Stewart is familiar to every man, woman and child in Hart- ford City and throughout the county. No inan is better known or highly appreciated. A representative citizen, interested in every movement having for its object the public welfare, a gallant soldier of the great Civil war, in which he shed his blood in defense of the nation's honor, a neighbor whose friends are legion, he is in every respect a man of unimpeachable character and fully merits the esteem in which he has so long been held by the people of Blackford county.
Mr. Stewart's paternal ancestors were residents of Virginia in the time of the colonies, and as early as 1812 his great- grandfather, James Stewart, emigrated from the state to Ohio, where many descendants still live. Maternally he is also descended from an old Virginia family of Scotch-Irish
black stewart
Alice Stewart
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lineage, which, according to the best in- formation 'tainable, was represented in this country p. : to the war of independence. Eli Stewart, the subject's father, a native of Ohio, married Sarah Dubois, of that state, and reared a family of eight children, whose names are as follows: Helen, deceased : Jacob R., deceased ; Priscilla; Clark: Cal- vin, deceased; Martha Jane; Sarah Malissa; and James, deceased.
Clark Stewart was born in Clinton coun- ty, Ohio, June 11, 1836, and there lived until his sixteenth year. In company with his parents he came to Blackford county, Indiana, in 1852, and during his youth and early manhood attended the district schools, in which he laid the foundation for the practical training he has since received in the rugged school of experience. Reared to the honorable pursuit of agriculture, he se- lected that useful calling for his life work and followed the same with gratifying suc- cess until 1870, when he retired from the farm and removed to Hartford City. Since that date he has devoted his attention largely to buying and shipping all kinds of live stock. principally for the Chicago, Pittsburg and Talo markets. This business has prove very remunerative and from it alone he has acquired a handsome competence, sufficient indeed to enable him to pass the remaining years of life in case and com- fort did he so choose to apply it. Mr. Stewart owns, in Licking township, two hundred and eleven acres of well improved Jand. Besides this he has town property, two residences and outlying lots, and two and a half acres of suburban property. In politics he is a Republican.
When the dark clouds of rebellion hoy- ered over the nation, threatening the dis- 22
ruption of the union, Mr. Stewart nobly re- sponded to the country's call and freely of- fered himself a sacrifice, if need be, upon the altar of duty. He enky ed September 1, 1861, in Company I, Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and after being mustered in at An- derson at once accompanied his command to the front, and within a few months after bidding good bye to home and friends be- gan experiencing all the vicissitudes and horrors of warfare. Ilis regiment formed part of Grant's army at Vicksburg and he participated in all the battles of that cam- paign until receiving a serious wound at Champion Hills, which incapacitated him for further active service. While in the heat of battle, on the 16th day of May, 1863, he was shot through the right shoulder, a most painful and dangerous wound, the full im- port of which he at once realized. Weak from loss of blood and suffering agonies, he was not able to leave the field, but re- mained there with hundreds of others as badly off as himself until relief came two days later. When removed he was well nigh exhausted from pain and hunger, and for two weeks thereafter his only means of sustenance were a small bit of meat and an insignificant piece of cornbread. When taken from his painful position he was placed with many other wounded men in a hastily constructed shed, but twelve feet wide, in which he lay closely packed between two comrades, both of whom soon died from the effects of their wounds, thus leaving him with corpses for his bed fellows. Seeing that one of these poor fellows a short time before dying was too sick to eat Mr. Stewart asked him for his rations, which were freely given. With the strength derived from the food he was enabled to rally somewhat, but the lack of water with which to cleanse his
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wound, now inflamed and festering, made his situation almost intolerable. To add to his suffering's swarms of flies now made their appearance, and alighting upon the burning flesh produced torture which no longue finds language to describe. IIe would lie and chase away the flies hour after hour with his uninjured arm until, weary and worn out with the exertion, nature compelled him to sleep. On awakening he would find the wound completely filled with the pests and not unfrequently did he remove hun- dreds of fly blows, some already alive, and thus saved his shoulder from gangrene. The condition of his clothing at this time was most deplorable, not having changed them for a number of weeks and having no clean ones to put on. . By promise of liberal pay he at last induced a negro woman to wash his shirt and other scanty articles of raiment. Painfully divesting himself of his only gar- ments he gave them into the hands of the woman and for a long time thercafter lay almost naked awaiting their return, but wait- ing in vain. Whether or not the clothes were sold or thrown away Mr. Stewart has never been able to learn, but of one thing he is sure-that is that the poor, ragged gar- ments were never returned to their suffer- ing owner. In due time Mr. Stewart was removed, with other wounded, to Memphis, thence, one month later, to Evansville, Indi- ana, where he received hospital treament. While in the latter place the long dreaded gangrene at last set in and it was thought for some time that the arm could not pos- sibly be saved. The only reason the sur- geon had for not removing it was the fear that the patient could not survive the opera- tion, a most fortunate circumstance indeed, for in the course of time Mr. Stewart rallied and finally recovered with two arms. He
has never recovered entirely the use of the wounded shoulder, the arm being still stiff and at times exceedingly painful. Mr. Stewart's army experience was one of mani- fold suffering and torture, yet he bore it bravely and unflinchingly. thus proving to the world that he "is of the stuff of which heroes are made." He deserves well of his country for which he sacrificed so much, and craven indeed is he who would with- hold from such a veteran the meed of praise his due or the little pension he so richly de- serves.
After his discharge on account of dis- ability, in 1864, Mr. Stewart returned home and when sufficiently recovered resumed the peaceful pursuits of civil life, which he has since carried on. On the 23d of November, 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Alice Andriews, daughter of samuel and Rachael (Mansfield ) Andriews, who bore him the following children : Nettie A., born in 1866, died in the year 1883; Frank, born in 1868; Che y and Clarence, twins, born in 1870, the former dying in 1874. Mrs. Stewart died October 19, 1899, and her re- mains rest in the I. O. O. F. cemetery. She was a life-long member of the church, wor- shiping at the Christian church of Hartford City. She was one of the five who were instrumental in getting the Christian church organized and located here, and such was her devotion to the work that she rarely missed a service.
Mr. Stewart was elected to the city coun- cil in 1894, re-elected in 1896, and served the people acceptably as a member of that body. He is a Mason of high standing, be- longing to Lodge No. 106, in which he has filled various official stations, being treasurer of the same at this writing.
Mr. Stewart is a man of determined
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purpose and has reached his present standing in life without assistance, impelled by an in- nate force that no discouragement could damper nor obstacle however formidable could resist. He is for the most part self educated, but in general information and the ability to apply the same is superior to many who have been trained by qualified in- structors. Through great industry, good judgment and wise forethought he has ac- cumulated a liberal share of this world's goods, which he has used for his family, besides placing himself in a condition of in- dependence for the years yet remaining him. He is a gentleman of fine social qui lities, genial and affable, and is highly esteemed for his 1 .. anly bearing and sterling integrity. As stated in the beginning of this article, few are as well known, and to say that his pop- ularity is unbounded in Hartford City and Blackford county is only giving utterance to a truth of which every one is cognizant. Though maimed somewhat by the trying ordeal through which he passed while de- fending the old flag, he still possesses in a marked degree the use of his physical and mental powers and bids fair t. live many years among the people he loves so well and by whom he is so highly honored and es- teemed. Ilis life has indeed been fruitful of great good to the community and the future awaits him with bounteous rewards.
ISAIAH JONES HOWARD.
The subject of this sketch, a retired farmer and well-known minister of the Ger- man Baptist church, is a native of Ross county, Ohio, born December 1, 1836, and is a son of John and Margaret (Jones ) Howard,
both parents being of Virginia birth. Reared to agricultural pursuits, Mr. Howard early learned to appreciate the true dignity of that honorable calling and in such schools as the country afforded he pursued his studies dur- ing the years of youth and early manhood. Possessing a studious mind, he continued his literary pursuits long after leaving school, devoting all his leisure to books, chiefly of a religious character, having in view the en- tering of the ministry of the German Baptist church, to which both himself and family belonged. In due time he engaged in farm- ing for himself, in addition to which he also worked at the carpenter's trade, continuing both in his native state until 1865, when he became a resident of Delaware county, In- diana. Hle purchased land in Washington township, that county, and shortly after re- moving thereto began preaching and organ- ized a congregation and took charge of the Summit church, German Baptist, of which he has been the able and efficient pastor for a period of thirty-five years. As a minister and spiritual guide to his people Rev. How- ard has won a permanent abiding place in the affections of the people to whom he has unselfishly devoted his time and best ener- gies. During his long and faithful pastor- ate he has received many souls into the King- dom, officiated at weddings, administered consolation to the sick and dying, performed the last sad rites at the open grave and by the exercise of the many other duties per- taining to his holy office has so endeared himself to his congregation that it would be a difficult task to find a successor to the place he so ably fills. In the Master's works his efforts have been untiring and whether as an able expounder of the Word in the pulpit r ministering to the spiritual necessities of his people in a more private way, his pres-
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ence is always a benediction and his whole life has been fraught with duty faithfully and uncomplainingly performed.
In September, 1896, Rev. Howard re- moved to Hartford City, where he has since lived a life of retirement from physical Jabor, but is by no means inactive so far as the work of his sacred office as minister is con- cerned. He still exercises pastoral control over his old congregation, besides attending the principal gatherings of his church in this state and elsewhere, taking part in all their deliberations and affording them the benefits of his long and varied experience, which has great weight with his brethren and is usually heeded. His services are in frequent de- mand at funerals, which he never refuses to attend, and the benediction of his presence at the bedside of suffering, where much of his most effective religious work has been performed, makes frequent demands upon time which for one of his years might be profitably spent by his own fireside. These calls to the Master's service he never allows to remain unheeded, and l: that Master who always went about doing good, so his life has been a willing and cheerful sacri- fice upon the altar of duty.
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