USA > Indiana > Grant County > Biographical memoirs of Grant County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography with portraits of many national characters and well-known residents of Grant County, Indiana. > Part 61
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On the night of December 1, 1897, the property was destroyed by fire. However, while the loss to each was in excess of five hundred dollars, nothing daunted, they at once rebuilt and enlarged the plant. Ever since the capacity of the mill has been crowd- ed to the utmost, the experienced manage- ment making it one of the most important industries of Sweetser.
May 5, 1890, the union of Mr. Ancil and Miss Emma E. Fansler, daughter of William and Sarah Fansler, was solemnized .- This lady was born in the state of Missouri,
and received the advantages of a common- school education, being at the time of mar- riage one of the most popular young ladies of the entire community.
The Ancil family consists of James Earl, Claude, Ruth and Catherine. While Mr. Ancil has not been offensive in his expres- sions politically, nor ever an aspirant to pub- lic favor, he has most consistently adhered to the principles of the Democratic party. Having full faith in those great basic prin- ciples that guarantee the greatest personal liberty and individual freedom, he sees in their persistent adherence the perpetuity of the best of America's institutions. Wide awake to every interest of his home com- munity, he lends a hearty support to every enterprise that has for its object the ad- vancement and improvement of the town. Mr. Ancil is a genial, companionable gen- tlemen, whose hosts of friends attest the estimation in which he is held.
JAMES K. POLK GARDNER.
Among those successful business men of Van Buren township, Grant county, Indi- ana, who are to the "manor born," is James K. Polk Gardner. He resides on the same farm where he was born October 3, 1843, having, with the exception of four years, lived on this farm all his life.
His parents were George and Margaret (Wilkin) Gardner, both of whom were na- tives of Highland county, Ohio, where they were married, and from where they came to Grant county in 1840. Some time pre- viously he had visited Indiana, securing the present tract of land from the government. He erected a hewed log house, which re-
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mained the home until the present house was built. At the time of his coming this was indeed a wilderness, covered with a heavy growth of timber and pestilential swamps. Wild animals roamed the forests, our subject having vivid recollection of the necessity of keeping their few sheep in pens every night to avoid their destruction by the wolves. He recalls that one night, when this precaution was not observed, several of the best sheep were killed by those miscre- ants. Neighbors were few and far between, it being at least two miles to the nearest. It required the hardiest kind of a nature, backed by indomitable perseverance, for a young couple to attempt the making of a home under such adverse circumstances, but with a determination born of necessity they set themselves untiringly at work to ame- liorate their condition. During his life time he succeeded in making a most excellent farm, owning at the time of his death one hundred and seventy-five acres of the choic- est land in Van Buren township. By dint of the severest labor he succeeded in drain- ing the farm by the use of a system of timber ditches, so that it was unexcelled in its productiveness. He was one of those sinewy, vigorous men, whose capacity for the hardest of work seemed never to be reached. He was seconded by a most suita- ble companion, whose devotion to the fam- ily and ambition to attain a comfortable home emphasized his efforts and encouraged him in every undertaking. His death oc- curred at the age of sixty, while she, who was deserving of no less credit than him- self. survived him about ten years, having attained the proverbial "three-score and ten." They were the parents of ten children, all but one of whom still survive. The eldest,
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Leah, married Robert Marr and died in Huntington county in middle life. Three of the daughters reside in Van Buren town- ship, Susanna being the wife of Samuel Saxen, Elizabeth being Mrs. Albert John- son, and Sarah the widow of George Brad- ford.
"Polk" Gardner was married soon after attaining his majority to Miss Susan John- son, daughter of Elias Johnson, of Van Bu- ren township. Receiving seven hundred dollars from his father, he invested in forty acres of land, which is now comprised in the home of Oscar Landess. During the next four years he converted this tract from its wild condition into a tillable farm, when, selling, he purchased eighty acres adjoin- ing his father's farm. Upon the settlement of his father's estate he received twenty acres, later purchasing, as circumstances would permit, the interests of the other heirs. His mother, desiring to leave the home place, sold her share to him for eight- een hundred dollars, and, having by this time determined to secure all of the old homestead, he continued, over a period of twenty years, to buy other shares until he found himself the proud possessor of all of the original home. By adding still other land, he is now the owner of three hundred and eighteen acres, making what is conceded by competent judges to be the best farm in Grant county. Four residences, two of which were built by himself, are situated upon the farm and are occupied by his own sons and son-in-law, who, under his super- vision, conduct the operations of the farm. The amount of work necessary to place this farm in its present highly productive con- dition is beyond all computation. However, the greater part of an industrious life has
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been devoted to the almost incessant im- proving of this farm. The old timber clitches, laid by himself and father, have been replaced by tiling, and this system of drainage extended to all essential parts of the estate. The principal feature of his ope- rations has been the production of great numbers of hogs annually. Lying in the Indiana oil field, considerable effort and ex- pense have been laid on this farm to test its productiveness in that respect, the result being that twelve wells are in active pro- duction, the royalty from them adding ma- terially to the income of the proprietor.
In the Gardner family are four children, of whom the eldest, Levi, died at the age of thirty. He had married Miss Alice But- man, leaving at his death two children, George and Frank. The elder of these is in the home of his grandparents, while the younger is cared for by his uncle Robert. It has been the principle of Mr. Gardner to encourage all his children to remain on the farm, and this was done by the eldest, who had ever remained in close association with his father. The second son, Robert, mar- ried Miss Flora Richardson and resides in the house erected by his grandfather. Har- vey Delmond, whose wife was Ary Wig- gin, has three children, Laura, Leslie and Cassie. The only daughter, Dora, is the wife of Robert Losure, whose family are Hazel, Guy Russel and Virgil. Mr. Gard- ner is a life-long Democrat.
JACOB WISE.
Grant county, Indiana, is noted for its many handsome suburban homes and well- kept farms, and the first impression gained
by the casual observer is that the rural ele- ment is composed of an intelligent, progres- sive class of people who take a pride in their occupation and derive pleasure as well as profit from their labor. One of. the hand- somest and most imposing homes consists of an attractive residence near the pike, with neatly trimmed lawns, substantial, roomy barns and well-cultivated fields. This is the property of Jacob Wise and represents the accumulations of industry and well-directed energy. He is a highly respected citizen of Jefferson township, and has been a resident of the county since his youth. He was born in Center county, Pennsylvania. February 15. 1833, and is a son of Daniel and Cath- erine (Bickel) Wise.
Daniel Wise was also a native of the Keystone state, born August 30, 1805. The family are of German lineage, and Father Wise was well educated in both the German and English languages. He learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, and being of a thrifty, industrious nature, added to this the vocation of farming. In 1848 he re- moved with his family to Indiana, making the trip in a two-horse wagon across the state of Ohio. The subject of this biog- raphy made the entire trip on foot, and at the time was a lad of fifteen. Stopping in Jefferson township, this county, Mr. Wise purchased a quarter-section of land in the wilds of the Indiana forests. No improve- ments had been attempted on this land far- ther than to put up a rude log cabin, trees had not even been cleared for a dooryard. As was to be expected, wild animals were plentiful and often came close to the little frontier home. Deer was not an article of rarity in those days, as venison often formed part of the pioneer's meal. Undismayed by
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the task before them, work was at once be- gun clearing off timber and getting ground ready for cultivation. Improvements were yearly made and soon began to show signs of civilization. The railroads of the state were conspicuous by their absence, Marion was struggling for an existence among the brush and trees, and Upland was unthought of. His wife had been Miss Catherine Bickel, a native of Center county, Pennsyl- vania, and was born November 8, 1809. One daughter and four sons were born to them, two only of whom are living, namely : Jacob and Henry, the latter of whom is a successful farmer of Mill township. It ap- pears strange that the people of greatest longevity were those who were exposed to the hardships and privations of pioneer life, yet such is the case, and we find Daniel Wise and his wife were no exception to this rule. For upwards of sixty-six years were they permitted to travel together the pathway of life, each striving to lighten the burden of the other until almost a century had passed over their heads. On April 8, 1895, when bud and blossom had been telling of a won- drous resurrection, this kindly old gentle- man of ninety winters passed calmly into the spirit land, leaving many true friends to mourn him. The aged wife was not long in following that beloved husband, and on May 6, 1897, she, too, entered the Celestial City. She had almost reached her eighty- eighth mile-stone in life. They were both members of the German Lutheran church and had led godly lives. Mr. Wise was a Jackson Democrat.
Jacob Wise, as has been stated, was fif- teen at the time of his advent in this state, and his first school here was in a log build- ing 16x18, constructed in a manner peculiar
to those days, with puncheon floor, clapboard roof, seats of split saplings with wooden pegs for legs, but minus a back. They were fur- nished with quill pens and practiced their writing lessons on a desk constructed from a wide board which rested on pegs driven into the walls. Unlike many of the early school houses, this building was so fortunate as to have a wood stove to furnish the heat. Ile remained at home until twenty-three and then started for himself, but his filial affection has never waned and his parents were taken to his home and tenderly cared for during their declining years. He had been reared to the life of a farmer, but in- dustry and perseverance formed his stock in trade when he began an independent life. His first property was eighty acres of heavi- ly timbered land of which he took possession August 6, 1856, and on which there was no clearing large enough in which to erect his modest little cabin, trees and brush having to be cut away for that purpose. Pike roads were unknown, and the grain had to be hauled by team to Wabash. Huntington and LaGro. Mr. Wise has reason to feel gratified with his success. He owns two hundred acres of fertile, productive land and is also interested in the gas business, which has grown to such proportions as to have be- come one of the leading enterprises of In- diana.
On the 13th of March, 1856, was sol- emnized the marriage of Jacob Wise and Miss Elizabeth Marine. Their family con- sisted of nine children, eight of whom are living and held in the greatest admiration and respect, their neighbors having only praise for them. Samuel, the eldest of the family, is a mechanic and has an inetresting family. He resides in Jefferson township,
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as does all the family with one exception. Mary Jane, the second child, is the wife of Jesse Stanley, a prosperous farmer. Solo- mon is a tiller of the soil and is well-to-do. Daniel is another prominent farmer of the vicinity. Frank is unmarried and resides with his parents, taking charge of the farm. Lydia is the wife of George Himelick. El- mer farms in Monroe township, and Alice, the youngest of the family, lives at home, She is a student and will graduate with the class of 1901. It will be seen that the chil- dren have been satisfied with the life to which they have been raised, and have, without exception, chosen the country as their home. Wisdom on the part of the parents is required to instill such content of the home life and its surroundings in the hearts of the children that they do not care to try their fortunes in new fields of labor, and happy, indeed are the father and mother whose children settle down near the parental roof and lead lives of usefulness and honor, as have those of our subject. Mrs. Wise is a native of Wayne county, In- diana, where she was born January 15, 1836. She is a daughter of Asa and Lydia (Huff) Marine, well-known and estimable residents of this township. She was one of a family of thirteen children, four of whom still live, viz .: Jonathan; Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Wise; Daniel; and Sallie, wife of H. Kizer, a resident of Anderson, Indiana. Both brothers are prosperous farmers of this township. Mrs. Wise has lived here since a child of four years, and has many interest- ing memories of the early days. Deer were 10 uncommon sight, large droves of them roaming the country and forming a fruitful source of income to the hunter, as both pelt and meat commanded a good price in the
markets. An old battle ground lay in the vicinity of her home and has been visited by her many a time, the bleached and whit- ened bones of the Indian warriors which lay scattered about giving to it a grewsome appearance. Now the deer and the red man are but memories, and the dense trees and underbrush through which they wended their way have given place to tasty, pleas- ant homes, well-cultivated fields and thriv- ing cities and hamlets. Toward this trans- formation Mr. and Mrs. Wise have contrib- uted a commendable share, and encourage by example and influence the younger ele- ment to still greater advancement. They are earnest Christian people, and have as- sisted four denominations to erect houses of worship. The Jefferson Christian church building fund received a liberal expression of his good will in generous contribution, while the beautiful cemetery owes its exist- ence largely to his influence and zeal. They are citizens of prominence, whose neighbors speak of them with admiration and affec- tion, and who merit the high esteem which is accorded them. Mr. Wise is a Demo- crat in politics, but has never taken an active part in political affairs, as his time has been fully given to private business.
GEORGE L. SIMON, D. V. S.
George L. Simon, of Marion, Indiana, is a native of Perry township, Allen county, Indiana, was born October 4, 1866, and is a son of Solomon and Mary A. (Rhodes) Simon, natives of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, and Raleigh, North Carolina, but who were married at Spencer, DeKalb county, Indi- ana, in 1847.
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BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
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Solomon Simon has been a farmer all his life, and he and his wife are now living on their six-hundred-acre farm near Fort Wayne, Indiana, where the son, George L., was born. To Solomon and his wife have been born a family of six sons and two daughters, in the following order: Joseph H., a farmer north of Fort Wayne; Charles, who died in infancy; Mrs. Marietta Yar- gan, who lives in Fort Wayne; James L., a farmer ; George L., of Marion; Ella May, a music teacher in Fort Wayne; Benjamin A. and Perry B., twins, living on farms in Allen county.
George L. Simon was reared on his fa- ther's farm until eighteen years of age, and the succeeding three years were spent at school in Fort Wayne, his vacations being passed as a clerk in his brother-in-law's store. He received a professional educa- cation in the Chicago Veterinary College, and graduated with the degree of Doctor of Comparative Medicine in 1892. Dr. Si- mon then entered upon his professional work as a veterinary surgeon at AAvilla, Noble county, Indiana, and was so employed until October, 1894, when he came to Ma- rion. In February, 1895, he bought an in- terest in a livery stock on Fourth street, which he lost by fire March 17. 1895.
Dr. Simon next engaged in the livery business in the Spencer House barns for two years, when he removed to No. 409-411 Branson street, his present location, where he conducts a general livery and boarding stable, but his professional work is his prin- cipal occupation. He has hospital accom- modations for thirty-five horses, and is do- ing a veterinary business that nets him from five thousand to six thousand dollars an- nually, being regarded as the most skillful
and experienced veterinary surgeon in Ma- rion or Grant county
May 10, 1894, Dr. George L. Simon mar- ried Miss Cora D. Dunten, a native of Huntertown, Allen county, Indiana, and a daughter of Newton and Martha A. Dun- ten, the former a retired farmer. Mrs. Si- mon was educated in her native town, also attended the schools of Fort Wayne, and is consequently a, well-informed lady. They attend the Methodist Episcopal church. The Doctor is a member of the M. W. of .\., and politically is a Republican.
SAMUEL BECHTEL (DECEASED).
The subject of this memoir, late of Sweetser, Grant county, Indiana, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, October 20. 1837. He was the son of Jacob and Rebecca (Stapleton) Bechtel, he a native of Penn- sylvania, his paternal ancestors being of the old Pennsylvania Dutch origin. Samuel's mother died when he was but four years old, his father later marrying Mrs. Harriet Middlesworth, the mother of Joseph Mid- (lesworth, of Grant county. She survived several years, dying at about the age of fifty- eight.
When Samuel was but a boy in his teens he came with his parents to Grant county, Indiana. They settled on a farm near Jalapa now owned by Constantine Ren- barger, and there the father died at the age of fifty-seven, during the Civil war.
Samuel remained at home until the out- break of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in Company H. Eighth Indiana Regiment, which regiment was one of the first called
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for three years service. His principal serv- ice during those years was in the western army, which operated in Missouri and Ar- kansas, and he was a participant in that memorable battle of Pea Ridge in 1862, and also fought at Magnolia Hill. He remained with the Eighth Indiana Regiment until after the seige of Vicksburg, when he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, with which he served until his discharge in 1864. At Raymond, Mississippi, he was captured by the enemy, but soon after pa- roled and later discharged.
Owing to the exposure incident to a soldier's life he contracted a severe lung trouble, which necessitated his being sent home on a furlough. He remained there but a short time, and then, though still with- out the power of speech and his general health much impaired, he returned to the army and was detailed for service as nurse in the field hospital, to which duty he by his home training was well adapted. He was also very popular as a cook, being con- stantly solicited by his comrades to act as such.
Mr. Bechtel's health was in a very per- carious condition for more than a year, by which time he had recovered somewhat, but during the remainder of his life, he was subject to severe hemorrhages, making him unfit for heavy work.
The government, recognizing his noble efforts in the behalf of his country, accorded him a pension of twelve dollars per month. Politically, Mr. Bechtel on entering the army was a sound Democrat, but the unjust stand that some of his party's leaders took in re- gard to the freedom of the slaves caused him to change his views and he returned a stanch
Republican, holding thereafter tenaciously to the principles of that party.
Within a month after his return from the war he was united in marriage to Miss Julia E. York, who was born and reared in Grant county, Indiana, being the daughter of Alfred York, who died April 15, 1900, aged ninety years.
With his bride he settled on a small farm of forty acres near the old home place. After living there six years they removed to their present one-hundred-and-thirty-acre farm, two miles north of Sweetser. This involved them considerably, but having re- ceived five hundred dollars from their fa- ther's estates and having five hundred dol- lars back pension they were enabled to make satisfactory progress.
When Mr. Bechtel purchased this tract of land part of it was in a wild, uncultivated condition, being covered with timber and of a flat, marshy soil. The outlook was very discouraging, but our subject realized that with unflagging perseverance it could be converted into a good state of cultivation. Many long hours were spent in the removing of the vast growth of timber, and in lay- ing a system of tiling for the purpose of drainage, as the surface was covered with ponds. But at last his efforts were richly rewarded, as what seemed an insurmount- able undertaking was accomplished. These laborious efforts had finally produced a val- uable farm, whose soil was of the richest in the vicinity. He devoted his time to what is known as mixed farming, raising the va- rious grains, grasses and stock, using the products thereof to feed his own stock in preference to putting it on the market.
He erected a very comfortable house on
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this place, where they lived until the fall of 1895, when they removed to the village of Sweetser, having there built their present home. Although Mr. Bechtel resided in town he ever continued to oversee the farm, giving it almost daily visits and advising as to any improvement.
There were eight children by this union, six of whom still survive, viz .: Ida, wife of Daniel Winger, of Richland township; Dora, wife of Lemuel Propps, who lives near the old homestead; Frank E., who is operating the old home place; Charles, who has been a teacher for some years in Pleas- ant township, and is highly appreciated as a proficient and successful educator ; John. aged twenty-one, and Anna, aged sixteen, attending the public schools.
Mr. Bechtel ever took a keen interest in educational matters, sparing neither pains nor expense in giving his children the best advantages. He was of a jovial nature, de- lighting in nothing better than in surround- ing himself with his young friends and re- counting most entertaingly his experiences during the Rebellion. He was a member of G. A. R. Post No. 344, and a devout mem- ber of the M. E. church, was a loyal citi- zen and had many friends who lamented his demise, which occurred December 9. 1899.
CLARKSON D. OVERMAN.
Clarkson D. Overman, postmaster at Fairmount. Grant county, Indiana, is a na- tive of this county and was born April I. 1851. a son of John and An (McCracken) Overman, the former of whom was born in Randolph, Indiana, in 1814, was a farmer
and died in 1874; Mrs. Ann (McCracken) Overman was a native of North Carolina and died in 1865, at the age of forty-five years. The children born to John and Ann Overman comprised four sons and one daughter, of whom Clarkson D. is the young- est. The remaining four were named as fol- lows: Anderson, who was a farmer in this county and died at the age of forty-seven ; David is a contractor and farmer in Center township; Rachel died in infancy; Daniel is a grocer in Marion, Indiana, and the fifth is the gentleman whose name opens this sketch.
Clarkson D. Overman was primarily ed- ucated in the Marion city common schools, then took the normal course, and for many years was employed as a teacher-mostly in the schools of Grant county. He has been a member of the school board and has held various minor town offices, and was ap- pointed postmaster October 1, 1897, and was commissioned January 10, 1898. Fairmount is but a third-class office yet pays a yearly salary to the postmaster of about sixteen hundred dollars.
Clarkson D. Overman was united in mar- riage in Marion, in 1873, with Miss Isabelle Wright, a native of Grant county, Indiana, and a daughter of Joan and Melinda (El- liott) Wright, the former of whom was a native of Tennessee and the latter of In- diana, but both now deceased. One child only blessed this marriage and is named Lin- nie, who is now the wife of Frederick D. Oakley. the popular agent for the "Big Four" Railway Company at Fairmount.
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