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 54
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fifth year, when he retired to the town of West Alexandria, where the remaining days of his life were spent. He was a man of many sterling qualities and marked char- acteristics, lived an honorable and upright life and against his career as a citizen and neighbor no breath of suspicion was ever known to have been cast. For many years he was an ardent politician and achieved considerable prominence in his neighborhood as a leader of the local Democracy. Like his father before him, he was reared in the Ger- man Reformed church and continued loyal to his faith, the teachings of which he ex- emplified in a life void of offense toward God and man.
Dr. Peter Drayer first saw the light of day in Montgomery county, Ohio, Decem- ber 5, 1840, and the years of his youth and early manhood were spent on the old home- stead. His preliminary education embraced a knowledge of the branches constituting at that time the curriculum of the common schools and later he supplemented the train- ing thus received by a four-years course in Oxford College, now Miami University. Having early in life definitely decided to de- vote himself to the medical profession and being well prepared for its study by reason of intellectual training, he entered, in 1862, the office of Dr. John Davis, a prominent physician of Dayton, under whose tutelage he continued for a period of three years, the meanwhile attending lectures at Cincin- nati and Columbus. In 1865 he was grad- uated from the Starling Medical College, of the latter city, and immediately thereafter entered upon the active duties of his calling at Lewisburg, Preble county, where he con- tinued about a year, building up a large and lucrative practice during that time. In 1866 he opened an office in Hartford City, where
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he has since continued in the practice, being at this time one of the best known and most eminently successful physicians of the place as far as practical results are concerned, and at the same time one of the oldest physi- cians of the place in point of residence.
Dr. Drayer was married, in Dayton, Ohio, to Miss Matilda Oklfather, daughter of Peter and Julia Ann ( Myers) Oldfather, of that place, and their union has resulted in the birth of the following children: Mary O., widow of Charles B. Edson, of Chicago, ' Illinois; Lewis Park, a physician practicing his profession in the city of Fort Wayne. Indiana ; Edith, wife of Prof. Albert Crowe, of the Fort Wayne high school; Julia Ann, student in Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; and George P., student in the Fort Wayne high school, where he is preparing himself for college.
Dr. Drayer is a Royal Arch Mason, a Republican in politics and the Presbyterian church represents his religious creed. Dur- ing his long period of residence in Hartford City his ! : actice has been extensive and his skill and learning in his profession have won for him recognition among the leading medi- cal men in this section of the state and a reputation much more than local with pa- tients who have profited by his services. He has always taken warm interest in the prog- ress of medical science, and by close and critical perusal of the best professional lit- erature keeps himself in touch with the latest discoveries and permits nothing of import- ance pertaining to his calling to escape his notice or investigation. In the practice the Doctor is much more than ordinarily skill- ful and his demeanor in the sick room is such as to beget immediate confidence on the part of patients, a potent factor in assisting to arrest and keep under control the many ills
to which poor humanity is heir. As a citi- zen the Doctor is progressive, fully in sym- pathy with any and all enterprises having for their object the material and moral advance- ment of society, and the city's welfare has ever been to him an object of great concern. Especially is he an enthusiastic friend of education, as will be seen by the advantages made possible for his children, all of whom have been encouraged to complete courses in the higher institutions of learning and pre- pare themselves for careers of usefulness. By nature Dr. Drayer is fortunately en- dowed with a strong and vigorous physique and by careful attention to the same he has been able to meet and discharge his many exacting duties with but little, if any, im- pairment of his bodily faculties. His per- sonal presence is agreeable and commanding and he moves among his fellows with a dig- nity that at once begets respect, and his man- ners are such as to win and retain the friend- ship of all with whom he comes in contact. Useful as a member of society, profession- ally with a record assured, and in every rela- tion of life a man of sterling worth and strict integrity, Dr. Drayer is certainly en- titled to the place he occupies in the con- fidence and esteem of the public.
CHARLES J. HURRLE.
Charles Joseph Hurrle, proprietor and manager of the Hurrle Glass Works of Hart- ford City, hails from the historic old land of Spain, where he was born on the 9th day of September. 1848, his native place being the city of Gojon. His parents were Joseph and Iquaxia (Lilenthal) Hurrle, he of Ger- man and she of Spanish birth. When two
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years of age Mr. Hurrle was taken by his parents to Germany, and in 1858 went to Italy, in which country he grew to maturity and there enjoyed exceptionally good educa- tional advantages, completing the high school course in the place where the family resided. Domodossola. In Haly he learned glass blowing and worked at the trade some years before coming to the United States, the meantime becoming an expert in his chosen calling and familiarizing himself with every detail of glass manufacture. In 1871 Mr. Ilurrle came to America, locating first at the town of Belle Vernon, Pennsyl- vania, where he worked for some time in a glass factory, and then went to Pittsburg, where he also found employment as a blower. From that place be removed to Quaker City, Ohio, where he became manager of a large glass plant, in which he also took stock. After doing a prosperous business until 1887 he engaged in the manufacture of glass upon a much more extensive scale in Toledo, where he erected a factory of his own, the meantime disposing of his interest in Quaker City. His Toledo venture proving pros- perous, Mr. Hurrle continued there until 1890, at which time, taking advantage of the encourage ; inducements afforded by the Indiana gas field, he sold his factory and removed to Dunkirk, this state, where he organized a stock company and erected a plant, which, under his successful manage- ment, was operated for a period of eight years. Disposing of his interests in this es- tablishment in 1898, he came to Hartford City and again organized a stock company, composed of some of the leading business men of the place, and in February of that year erected a large and substantial build- ing, supplied with the latest improved ap- pliances for the manufacture of window 25
glass. After operating the plant jointly for about two months Mr. Hurrle purchased the entire stock and has since been sole pro- prietor. The Hurrle Glass Works buikling is located at the end of Kickapoo street, just without the corporate limits, and is one of the leading manufacturing establishments of the city. The output is four thousand boxes per month, to pr ince which requires the work of sixty-two men. while frequently more than that number are employed to meet the demands of trade.
As stated in a previous paragraph, Mr. ITurrle is an expert glass man, to which may also be added exceptionally sound judgment and superior business ability, both of which have been displayed in the various .enter- prises with which he has been identified. In the management of the large concern of
hich he is now the head his success has been most encouraging and few manufacturers of the gas belt have a more extended reputa- tion or a more enviable standing in the busi- ness circles of the country. He has spared neither labor nor capital to make his works complete in all their parts, supplying all the latest improved devices, and the product of the factory has a reputation second to that of no other for its superior excellence. Per- sonally Mr. Hurrle is gentlemanly in his in- tercourse with his fellow men and the public, and his coming to Hartford City has been a valuable acquisition to the city's popula- tion. Although of foreign birth, he long since learned to appreciate the superiority of free institutions and is now in the true sense of the term a thoroughly loyal and true citi- zen of the United States. Fraternally he is a member of Lodge No. 338, K. of P., of Dunkirk, Indiana, and has recently become identified with the Masonic brotherhood. He gives assent to no creed or confession of
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faith, but in the matter of religion is liberal in all the word implies, being free to think for himself and formulate his own belief, and he accords the same privilege to others.
Mr. Hurrle and Miss Jennie E. Krepps were united in marriage at Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, not long after his location at that place, and his home has since become the abiding place of the following children : Etna E. Toyle, Ulric K., Thelma J. and Glyde C.
FRANK MCCLELLAN NELSON.
Frank McClellan Nelson, deputy sheriff of Blackford county, Indiana, was born in Grant county, same state, March 14, 1865, a son of James A. and Susannah (Timony ) Nelson.
James A. Nelson came from one of the Carolinas and was married in Grant county and there resided until 1876, when he came to Washington township, Blackford county, and bought a farm, but was not very for- tunate financially and now lives on the sub- ject's farm. To his marriage with Miss Timony there have been born three children, viz: Frank McClellan, the subject of this sketch; Ira P., principal of the high school at Montpelier; and Viola Alice, deceased. The family are Campbellites in religion, and the father is quite popular locally, being a great biblical student and expounder of the scriptures. In politics he is a Democrat.
Frank McClellan Nelson attended the Grant county common schools until sixteen years oldl. then worked out by the month at farm labor for six years. February 2, 1888, he married in this county and began house- keeping on a farm owned by William Kelly, in Washington township, which he rented.
for two years. He then moved upon his father-in-law's place, over which the latter yet has partial control, although Mrs. Nel- son's father has decided them forty acres. Mr. Nelson lived on this last mentioned farm until August 24, 1899, when he was selected as deputy sheriff. He then moved to Hart- ford City, where he has resided since Jan- uary, 1900. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Ailey Anna Kitterman, was born in Washington township, Blackford county, January 17, 1865, and is a daughter of Gabriel and Sarah ( Williams) Kitterman, the former of whom is an old pioneer and one of the most prominent of the township's citizens. To Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have been born two children-Lena F., deceased, and Sarah Lilly, and the family are held in great esteem on account of their many per- sonal merits.
Mr. Nelson is a Democrat and for eight years served as constable in Washington township, a training that well qualified him for his present office of deputy sheriff. He is very handy with tools and for two years sold and erected windmills and drilled wells in connection with farming.
GEORGE GADBURY.
George Gadbury, general manager of the Hartford City Flint Glass Works, is a na- tive of Blackford county, Indiana, and a son of Samuel and Julia Gadbury. He first saw the light of day in Hartford City on the 4th day of June, 1859, and his literary education embraced the studies comprising the public school curriculum. Until twenty years of age he assisted his father on the farm, at- tending school the meantime, and then be-
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gan life for himself as a grocery clerk, in which capacity he continued three years. Severing his connection with his employer, Mr. Gadbury decided to reside in the west. Accordingly about 1882 he went to Free- donia, Kansas, where for a period of twenty- two months he ran a bus and transfer line in connection with the hotel business, the ven- ture proving financially remunerative. After spending two years in the west a part of the time in Colorado, he went to Cincinnati and engaged as salesman with Robert Sellers & Company, wholesale dealers in hats, and con- tinued in the employ of that firm until 1890. In the latter year he became interested in the manufacture of glass at Dunkirk, Indi- ana, and after remaining at that place about eight years he came to Hartford City and in January, 1898, began building the Flint Glass Works, which have since become one of the leading enterprises of the kind in the gas belt.
In the organization of the Hartford City Flint Glass Company Mr. Gadbury was a leading spirit and to him is largely due much of the success which the enterprise has since attained. With the exception of a brief period of six weeks these works have been in active operation ever since erected, and the reputation the product has achieved in the markets of the world has brought the firm to the favorable notice of dealers throughout the United States and even be- yond the confines of this country. The com- · pany at the present time is composed of R. K. Williams, president; H. G. Page, vice- president; S. J. Farrell. treasurer; A. S. Lyle, secretary, and George Gadbury, su- perintendent and general manager.
As a business man Mr. Gadbury is care- ful, industrious and prudent and as super- intendent of the extensive enterprise with
which he is now connected displays fine exec- utive ability, keen discrimination and such thorough mastery of every detail as to mark him as a superior manager of large and re- sponsible trusts. He has been untiring in his efforts to develop the glass industry in this part of the state and the progress he has already made in this direction and the steady increase in the volume of business annually done through his instrumentality are cer- tainly encouraging auguries for the future. Decision, judgment and, as stated above, executive force, together with honesty, are among his most prominent characteristics, and' they have made and will continue to make him successful in all his undertakings. He shares with other popular and aggressive business men of the city a large share of public esteem and this he has eudeavored to repay by a zealous interest in whatever tends to promote the material prosperity of the town and moral advancement of society.
Mr. Gadbury was married. November 6, 1897, to Miss Kate W. Wells, daughter of Mc. and Mary Wells, and his home is made bright and cheerful by the presence therein of one child, Hazel D., whose advent into the world dates from the 13th day of August, 1898.
SAMUEL L. GADBURY.
The subject of this sketch, a retired farm- er and ex-sheriff of Blackford county, is the son of James A. and Isabelle ( Kellough,) Gadbury, and was born July 6, 1832, in Ross county, Ohio. In 1834, when but two years of age, he was brought by his parents to Blackford county and grew to manhood on the home farm in Lincoln township, a part of the place being now included in the county
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poor farm. He early became inured to hard labor and in the stern school of experience received the principal part of his education. Ilis opportunities for obtaining a knowledge of books were limited to a few months' at- tendance in a country school taught in the vicinity of his father's farm, but what he lacked in opportunity he made up in after years by close observation and contact with his fellow nien in the practical affairs of life. Ile chose agriculture as a vocation and until retiring from active labor pursued the same with such success that in due time he suc- ceeded in accumulating a comfortable com- petence, which placed himself and family in a position of independence. In 1868 he was elected sheriff of Blackford county, which position he filled to the satisfaction of the public for a period of four years, and then resumed farming until his retirement therefrom and removal to Hartford City in 1873.
In October, 1864, Mr. Gadbury enlisted in Company K, Fifty-first Indiana Infantry, with which he served until discharged, No- vember 17 of the following year, participat- ing meantime in the battle of Nashville and the various operations in the vicinity of that city during a very trying period of the war. After being mustered out of the army he returned home and ever since that time he has been actively interested in the develop- ment and welfare of the county.
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Mr. Gadbury has been three times mar- ried. His first wife, to whom he was united April 28, 1853, was Rebecca Hess, daugh- ter of Jacob and Catherine (Hess) Hess, who bore him two children : Sarah J., bon March 15, 1855, and Joseph, born on the 17th day of September, 1857, and dying six weeks later. The mother of these children was called to her final rest September 28
1857. and subsequently Mr. Gadbury cu- tered into the marriage relation with Julia, daughter of John and Lucy (Bell) Mar- shall, the issue of which was one child, a son, George Gadbury, of whom mention will be made in these pages. The Marshalls were among the carly pioneers of Black- ford county, settling here when there were but four families living within the present limits of the county.
Mr. Gadbury's lemschold was again visited by the death angel, who took there . from his companion, and later he married his present wife, Mary Jane Stahl, daughter of Jacob and Ellen (Reese) Stahl, a union blessed with four children, namely: Mary Ellen, born September 17, 1860; Charles, born May 6, 1862; Samuel Logan, born November 22, 1864; and twins, Leo and Lydia, the last named dying in infancy.
Mr. Cadbury is one of the representa- tive men of Hartford City, which he has seen grow from an insignificant hamlet to its present size and flourishing condition, and he has also been an eye witness of the many remarkable changes which have trans- formed Blackford county from its primitive state into one of the most enlightened sec- tions of the commonwealth. Nor has he been a witness only of the rapid strides of civilization in these parts, but in a quiet but active way has participated in bringing about results which to-day are the pride and boast of this intelligent and progressive commun- ity. A man of the people, he has ever been interested in their welfare and every enter- prise for the city's or county's good has found in him an earnest advocate and liberal patron. His religious belief is found in the Presbyterian church and for some years he has been an elder and trustee of the congre- gation worshipping in this place. Scru-
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pulously honest and upright in all his deal- ings and enjoying the friendship and good will of all with whom he associates, living up to his convictions of right as he sees the right, it is eminently fitting to class hit with the successful self-made men of the county of Blackford.
SAMUEL J. FARRELL.
Samuel J. Farrell, general assistant at the Citizens State Bank, was born in Henry county, March 27, 1868, and is a son of James and Martha Susan ( Moore) Farrell. James Farrell, the father, is a native of In- diana, the mother coming from Pennsyl- vania. They were married in Indiana and went to housekeeping in Henry county, Mr. Farrell having engaged in railroading. After a time he embarked in the mercantile busi- ness in Middleton, the same county. He also served as postmaster until the Cleveland administration.
To James and Martha Farrell have been born eight children, of whom four survive, amely: Lillie, wife of J. W. Hedrick, a retired farmer near Middleton, Indiana; J. W., a merchant at Middleton; Samuel J., our subject, and William C., also a merchant of Middleton. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically Mr. Farrell is a Republican. His son, J. W., was at one time clerk and treasurer of Middleton, serving in that capacity for sev- eral years.
It is with pleasure that we record the history of so enterprising a young man as Samuel J. Farrell, our subject. He received his education in the common schools of Hen- ry county. At the age of cighteen years he
began working, doing whatever he could final to do. In 1888 he began clerking. In a short time he was engaged as clerk, operator and general extra man in the office of the Panhandle Railroad at Middleton. He worked in this capacity antil 1800, when he came to Hartford City, in the service of W. 1. Van Cleve, a dry goods merchant of this place. Tere he remained for two years. On Christmas day, 1892. he began working for the Citizens State Bank as collector. Ho now has charge of the collections and is gen- eral assistant.
Ile married, June 10. 1895. Miss Lida Philabaum, who was born in this county and reared by Doctor Davidson, of this city.
Our subject is a Republican and received the nomination and was elected a member of the town council from the second ward in 1806. TIe served four years and was an efficient president of the town board two years, was nominated May 23, 1900, for recorder of Blackford county by a majority of one hundred and twelve votes.
Our subject is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. encampment, and is a Patriarch Mil- itant. His wife is an enthusiastic member of the order of the Eastern Star.
GEORGE WASHINGTON HUTCHIN- SON.
Prominently identified among the en- terprising business men of Blackford coun- ty and one of the leading citizens of Hartford City, is the subject of this memoir. G. W. Hutchinson was born in Union county, Ohio, March 11, 1848. Hle is the son of Stephen R. and Mary A. (Lock- wood) Hutchinson. Mr. Hutchinson's fa-
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ther was a native of Vermont and his mother of Union county, Ohio. The marriage of this venerable couple occurred in 1845, near Newton, Union county, Ohio. Eight chil- dren blessed this union, of whom four are still living : George W., the subject of this mention; Lorenzo A., engaged in the mant- facture of woolen goods at Mechanicsburg, Ohio; Elvare D., a dry goods clerk, resid- ing at Sullivan, Illinois; Hannah L., of North Lewisburg, Ohio; Willis and Ellis, twins, the former of whom is deceased; Loretta and Mary, both deceased.
Mr. Stephen Hutchinson was engaged in farming during the early years of his life and being possessed of an education superior to those times he, in conne con with his farm work, taught several terms of school while a resident of the Buckeye state. He decided in 1850 to try his fortunes in the far west, mov- ing to Iroquois county, Illinois. Not finding there what he wished for. Mr. Hutchinson and his family returned to their old home county, Union, where the family resided for one year, when they again sought a home in the west, this time moving to Marshall coun- ty. Iowa. In this county, at Johnson and Mahaska, they made their home until the fall of 1858, when finding the hardships and privations of the frontier life more than they could endure, they turned toward the old home state. On arriving at Fulton county, Illinois, they selected a place of resi- dence and there remained until 1860, when they returned to Union county, Ohio, where they remained until the spring of 1861, when they moved to Champaign county, Ohio, where they resided until Mr. Hutchinson's death. Stephen Hutchinson was a Demo- crat until the commencement of the war, voting for Douglas, and when that dread- ful crisis came and the Union was in danger
of disruption, the loyal hearts of this father and mother were deeply stirred and it was decided that the husband should go forth and do battle for the nation's honor, while the brave wife and mother would remain alone with her family at home. Mr. Hutch- inson enlisted, in 1862, in Company H. Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three wars, leaving home for the front Au- gust 2, 1862. The ambition of this gal- lant man was destined not to be realized, as he was wot aded two weeks later at Lex- ington, Kentucky, where he was also taken prisoner. He was paroled and started home, but on account of his wound and camp diar- rhicca, was taken to hospital, reaching Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and died there October 19. 1862, just about three months from the time he left home. His laudable ambition to pro- vide a comfortable home for his family was never to be realized by him, but he left in- stead a legacy consisting of a good name, and to the world the record of a good soldier, an example for others to follow, as he had been an honest, hard-working man, with upright Christian principles. The widow, being left alone in this cruel way, continued to live at North Lewisburg, Ohio, and some years later married Ancil Wheeler and the family removed to Richland county, Illinois, where they resided until her death, in 1878.
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