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 96
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114
brewer which he pursued for forty years. In 1880 he sold his brewery interests and became a heavy stock-holder in a plant de- voted to the manufacture of porcelain ware in Rehau, Germany, to which he has since given his attention.
John N. C. Woelfel, of this sketch, was born in Rehau, Germany, February 28, 1867. He was graduated from the common schools with high honors and later in 1886 was graduated in the study of chemistry. He then went to Vienna and on his return to Germany one year later was drafted in the German army and served as a soldier two years, when he was discharged at Strass- buerg. Soon after being discharged from the army, he left his native land, embarked for the United States and landed in New York November, 1891. From New York he went to Morris, Illinois, and thence to Chicago, where he served the Monarch Brewing Company and subsequently the Schoenhofen Brewery. He attended the United States Brewers' Academy, New York city, and was graduated therefrom. In 1894 after leaving school he went to Lo- gansport, Indiana, and served as superinten- dent of the Columbia Brewing Company until 1897. He then came to Marion, was one the organizers of the Indiana Brewing Association and was chosen its secretary and general manager. This corporation was organized with a capital stock of'one lıun- dred thousand dollars, which in September, 1900, was increased to two hundred thou- sand dollars. They employ from fifty to sixty men and their plant, which is valued at three hundred and fifty thousand dollars, has a capacity of one hundred and fifty thou- sand barrels annually. The officers are : James S. Corbett, president ; John N. C.
746
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
WVoelfel, secretary and general manager, and Thomas Mahaffey, treasurer, and their en- terprise has proved of much value to their adopted city.
Mr. Woelfel was married in November, 1898, to Louisa, daughter of Henry Ludwig, of Louisville, Kentucky. One child was born unto this couple but died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Woelfel are members of the Lu- theran church and Mr. Woelfel is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent Protective Order Elks.
JOHN M. WISE.
John M. Wise, born May 10, 1854, died August 13, 1900, was a well-known business man, being identified with natural gas inter- ests at Marion for several years. His father, John Wise, was a native of Pennsylvania, but came to Indiana and took up his resi- dence in Grant county when he was yet a young man. Here he married Mary Ma- rine, a native of Grant county, and subse- quently in 1869, engaged in the milling business on the site now occupied by Gas City and conducted the enterprise until the mill was destroyed by fire. John Wise died at the age of seventy-six years and his wife who survived him passed on at the advanced age of four score years. They were the parents of two sons, viz. : David, died at the age of eighteen and John M. whose name introduces this notice.
John M. Wise when a boy worked in the mill with his father and as he grew to manhood engaged in the manufacture of hoops. In 1887, soon after the discovery of natural gas at Marion, he erected a plant in the city for the purpose of supplying the ; of the same state.
citizens with this new fuel, which he soon enlarged and devoted his time and energy thereto for four years. In 1891 he organ- ized the Wise Gas Company, extended the pipes to South Marion and soon reduced the price of gas to the consumer. In No- vember, 1897, he sold to the Mississinewa Gas Company, one of the considerations being that he and family are to receive gas free as long as the supply lasts.
In 1900 he retired from active pursuits and his death followed a few months later. He was only in middle age when death over- took him, but his life was a busy one and the community in which his life was passed is better on account of his having lived therein.
Mr. Wise was married at the age of twenty years to Miss Maggie Oliver and she proved a loving helpmate for eleven years when death claimed her. She bore one child who died at the age of four years.
His second wife was Jane Nelson. She died after four years of married life leaving one child, Muriel, now nine years of age.
The third marriage of Mr. Wise took place January 25, 1900, when Miss Laura Baldwin became his wife. She was born in Wabash county, Indiana.
LEWIS S. WRIGHT.
Lewis S. Wright, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser in Sims township, Grant county, Indiana, is a native of the county in which he now lives, and was born Septem- ber 28, 1866. He is a son of George and Sarah Jane (Miller) Wright. His father was a native of Randolph county, Indiana, and his mother was born in Henry county
747
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
Our subject was educated in the public schools. He was reared on a farm and on attaining man's estate, he identified himself with the calling of his father, and has fol- lowed agricultural pursuits as a business all his life, and for a number of years has been employed in a glass factory in Swayzee.
On the 27th of March, 1888, he wedded Miss Rozetta D. Pierce, daughter of Jesse and Sarah (Slusher) Pierce. She is a na- tie of Wayne county, Indiana. The parental family of Mrs. Wright comprised eleven children of whom she was the youngest. The names are as follows : Mary E., wife of Isaac Hadley, was born August 28, 1848; Martha M., born January 2, 1851, is now Mrs. B. F. Smith; George H., was born August 8, 1853, he married Anna McCor- kle; James A. L., was born June 29, 1856, and married Catherine Roberts; Anuel M., born December 12, 1858, died February 8. 1860; Atlanta, was born November 26, 1860, she is now Mrs. Jacob Beker; Thomas T., was born November 28, 1863, married Vera Belle Martin; Anna L., now Mrs. Sam- uel Grindle, was born May 31, 1867, and Rozetta D. (Mrs. Lewis S. Wright of this sketch) was born November 12, 1868.
The family of Mrs. Wright were very early settlers of Wayne county, Indiana, coming there from Virginia where they first located on arriving in America. Her father was born in Wayne county, March 19, 1822, and died January 18, 1872. He was a mechanic, devoting his mature years to the milling business, first owning and operat- ing a saw mill but later engaged in the flour- ing mill industry in West Liberty, Howard county. He was married first September 16, 1840. They had four children : Aman- da, Mrs. William Ogle; Josias J., married
Nancy Cox, he died and his brother James Riley married his widow; Hannah was also twice married, first to Randolph Harvey and second to Valentine Fritz. Father's second wife, Sarah Slusher, was the mother of Mrs. Wright. They were married May 16, 1847.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wright, one of whom is deceased. Ertle was born August 29, 1888; Audry was born November 5, 1890; Virgil, born April 8, 1893; Donice A., born March 16, 1896, and died ten days later. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are members of the Method- ist Episcopal church. Mr. Wright is a Re- publican in politics.
ZACHARY TAYLOR FRIERMOOD.
Zacharay Taylor Friermood, our subject, is named after old "Rough and Ready" the hero of the Mexican war and who took his seat as president of the United States March 5, 1849, an unusual circumstance, as March 4 is the prescribed day, but that year the 4th fell on Sunday.
Zachary T. Friermood had his nativity in Clarke county, Ohio, September 14, 1848, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Baker) Friermood, who, when he was but two years old, brought him to Sims, Indiana, where he attended the public schools until seventeen. His start in business life was as a farmer, a calling he followed about ten consecutive years. He then engaged in making tile for several years, also in carpenter work, and was a tilemaker, brickmaker, carpenter, and merchant combined, selling dry goods among other merchandise. He was one of the originators of the Sims Natural Light, Gas & Fuel Company, assisted in drilling its first
748
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
well, and in 1888 was elected its secretary, an office he still fills in a most satisfactory manner. He was also one of the organizers of the Sims Eagle Bottle Company, of which he is secretary and treasurer, and owns, be- sides, a farm of one hundred acres, which he personally superintends.
In his fraternal relations, Mr. Friermood became a member of Lodge No. 480, 1. O. O. F., at Miertown, Indiana, in 1872, acted as conductor for several years, and was one of its directors. He held his membership in this lodge until it was disbanded in 1880. and its members all transferred to the Dea- con lodge, at Converse.
Matthias Friermood, great-great-grand- father of Zachary T. Friermood, came from Germany to America over a hundred years ago, and located in Pennsylvania, where he married Martha Hill and thence re- moved to Clarke county, Ohio. He had seven children born to him, among whom was Matthias ( second), great-grandfa- ther of Zacharay T. Friermood, who be- came the father of three children : Reuben, George and a girl. Of these Reuben mar- ried Mary Keiser, who bore him ten chil- dren, viz. : Jacob, John, George, Reuben. William, Lizzie, Catherine, Jane, Mary and Martha.
Of the family of ten last mentioned. Lizzie was married to Silas Baker; Cather- ine was Mrs. William Michael ; Jane was the wife of Frank Golding: Mary was married to Lewis M. Pence, and Martha to Eli Guard: Jacob, 'father of Zachary T., mar- ried Elizabeth Baker in 1838, and to this union were born ten children also: Susan. married to John Mpale: Ezra K. : Sara E .. who became the wife of Elijah Maple : Zachary T., William E., who died in 1878,
John T., Mary deceased; Corintha, de- ceased; Luticia, married to Isaac M. Am- mon, and Jacob L. William E. married Nancy A. Hayden, and he and wife are both deceased; Ezra K. married Calverna E. Thomas; John T. married Eliza A. Curlis, and Jacob L. married Annie Lightfoot.
Michael Shanahan, father of Mrs. Z. T. Friermood, was born in the parish of Charlie, county Cork, Ireland, came to America when a young man and settled in a log house where Wabash, Indiana, is lo- cated, and was at one time timekeeper over canal laborers. He married Liddie Ozen- baugh in 1834, and to this marriage were born thirteen children, viz. : John, who died in the Civil war; Mary, first the wife of Eli Note. and now of William Cover ; Ellen, de- ceased wife of Andrew Pence; Henry, de- ceased; Nicholas died 'in the Civil war; James is on the old homestead and is niar- ried to Nancy Burricker; Biddie is Mrs. Isaiah Pence; Catherine; William: Sarah, deceased wife of Isaac Burricker ; Elizabeth now Mrs. Allen Pence; and two infants, David and Andrew, who died in war times. The maternal ancestor of Mrs. Z. T. Frier- mood came from Pennsylvania. Her father died in 1882, and her mother in 1890. Jacob Friermood died June 9, 1898, but had lost his wife May 11. 1883.
Zachary T. Friermood enlisted in Jan- uary, 1865, in Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-third I. V. I., and was assigned to a detached corps, that was engaged in 4guerrilla fighting and in running down bush- whackers and was mustered out in December of the same year. November 7. 1867, he married Kate (or Catherine) Shanahan, but to this marriage no children have been born.
749
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
ISAAC M. AMMON.
Isaac M. Ammon, alluded to in a forego- ing paragraph, a son of George W. and Susan (Pence) Ammon, was born in Sims township, Grant county, Indiana, Septen- ber 24, 1857, and was educated in the public schools. At the age of eighteen years he engaged in farming on his own account. and this vocation he has since followed with gratifying success. In March, 1900, he re- tired to Converse, in Miami county, but still superintends his farming interests. He is, however, nearer his lodge, Deacon, No. 320, I. O. O. F., of Converse, of which he is an ardent and influential member.
George W. Ammon, father of Isaac M .. came from his native state of Virginia and settled in Sims township, Grant county, In- diana, over fifty years ago. He reared a family of nine children, viz .: Elizabeth Jane, married to M. Maple; Phebe A., wife of Solomon Maple: George W .; Sarah C .. wife of Milton West; Mary married to D. O. C. Marine; Adolphus L., Isaac M. and Wiliam H.
November 11, 1882, Isaac M. Ammon married Luticia Friermood, daughter of Ja- cob and Elizabeth (Baker) Friermood, by which marriage one child has been born- Dee Walter. September 24, 1884.
ANDREW Y. STOUT.
Andrew Y. Stout, of Upland, Jefferson township, Grant county, Indiana, possesses the confidence and esteem of the people of Grant county in a remarkable degree and his life is well worthy of emulation by the young
men of the rising generation. Starting in life with no capital but a sturdy heart, hands that were willing to take hold of any duty, and a determination to succeed, he has won his way, unaided, to a most enviable position and Grant county may well be proud to class him among her most prominent and success- ful sons.
Mr. Stout is one of a family of six chil- dren and was born May 31, 1855, in this county. His early life was spent on a farn! and devoted to agricultural work while the spare moments were given to obtaining a good education. He finished the public schools and spent five years in the Normal school of Marion. Reaching the age of nineteen he determined to cut loose from the farm and to that end turned his attention to teaching for which he had fitted himself. Twenty-four years of his life have been given to that work and his record as a suc- cessful instructor is second to none in this section of the state. His natural endow- ments of head and heart enabled him to win the regard and respect of the most per- verse, while his superior methods soon caused him to be ranked among the most able educators. In 1893 he took charge of the graded schools of Upland, having three assistants under him, and so marked was the success with which the schools were conducted that he was retained during the years 1894 and 1895, the first principal to remain three years.
Mr. Stout has been quite successful in the real estate business and is also largely interested in the insurance business, in which he has had coniderable experience. He rep- resents several of the old, well established, re- liable companies, among them the Hartford; ford; The Home of New York; Scottish
750
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
& National; Western, of Toronto, Canada : and the Union Central Life. His territory covers Monroe and Jefferson townships and also extends into Blackford county. His remarkable ability and strict integrity has enabled him to do a steadily increasing bus- iness which fact is fully appreciated by the companies for whom he labors. His entire life has been passed within the confines of Monroe township and his home for some seven years has been in the pleasant village of Upland, and wherever known he is uni- versally loved and respected.
The union of Andrew Y. Stout and Miss Emma S. Wilson was celebrated Septem- ber 17, 1881, and has been blessed by the birth of three daughters. But one of these, Elsie E., is living. She is in the Fourth grade at school and, like her father, a bright student. Mrs. Stout is a daughter of James M. and Martha (Renbarger ) Wilson, and is also a native of Grant county, and was born June 23, 1859. She attended the com- mon schools and grew to be a woman of pleasing personality. She is welcomed with pleasure in all social circles and is an earnest worker in the W. C. T. U. She is a member of the "Molly Stark" Council, No. 10, Daughters of America, and both she and her husband are honored members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Up- land.
In politics Mr. Stout is a stalwart Re- publican. His first vote was cast for R. B. Hayes, and he has been a firm adherent of that party ever since. He heartily en- xlorses the Mckinley administration, and one of the most pleasant memories is the inauguration of President Mckinley as pres. ident, at which function he was present. His popularity has caused him to be repeatedly
called on to serve his party in various capaci- ties. In 1898 he was elected to the board ot education, a position he yet holds with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constitu- ency. He was chosen as census enumera- tor of Monroe township, and has frequent- ly been delegate to county, state, judicial and congressional conventions. He is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 482, at Upland, and also a member of Jefferson Council, No. 13. Jun- ior Order of American Mechanics.
JOHN MARTIN WINGER.
John Martin Winger, of Pleasant town- ship, Grant county, Indiana, was born in Wabash county, June 16, 1850, his parents. being Joseph and Mary (McDermond) Winger, both of whom were born in Roan- oke county, Virginia. As a young mar- ried couple they came to Indiana in 1849, settled about eight years later in Pleasant township, Grant county, the permanent home being on Cart creek, where the father lived and died. Mrs. Mary Winger died in Wabash county when John was but six years old, leaving three children: Sarah Ellen, who became the wife of Aaron Moss, and, dying at the age of thirty-six, left four children; Madison David Winger died at fourteen. Some time after her death, the father married Miss Elizabeth Showal- ter who is still living at the old homestead.
Joseph Winger was one of the well and favorably known citizens of the county, hav- ing taken rather an active part in all that pertained to the general welfare and growth of the community in which he lived. He
75 #
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
was an unassuming man, free from the de- fects of overbearing self-consciousness so often seen, and possessed of many of the admirable traits that endeared him to all with whom he had either business or social erlations. April 6, 1895, he answered the summons that called him to everlasting light and with a peace of mind that comes only to those whose lives have been free from taint, he passed to the Great Here- after, being then but seventeen days less than seventy years of age.
The old home is now being conducted by his son Joseph, who resides with his mother. The traveler, who passes north from the village of Sweetser has his admira- tion drawn to a nicely located farm some three miles out, and is told that this is the farm made and operated for so many years by one of the ablest men who has ever lived in the community. The old double two- story brick residence stands as a mute elo- quent witness of the industry of its builder, and emphasizes all that may be said of the energy and ambition of its late proprietor. This old homestead is known far and near for the open-hearted hospitality with which all who entered its portals were regaled.
John M., having an ambition to be some- thing, took advantage of all the schools of his boyhood and at the age of nineteen became competent to take charge of a school in Wa- bash county, where he taught two terms. Then thinking that the west might offer more acceptable openings, he went to Bates county, Missouri, where he taught one sea- son, after which he visited Kansas and Ne- braska, spending about one year in that section of the country. He returned' and taught the home school; when he once more started for the west, this time going to the
extreme of the country, not bringing up till he had reached the state of Oregon, expect- ing to make his permanent home on the Pacific slope. He again entered the school- room, teaching for two terms, when he vis- ited all of the more important places of that section, including California, Nevada and Washington, and becoming very much at- tached to that part of the United States.
Returning to the old home in 1876 Mr. Winger in renewing an attachment that had existed from childhood's years, found it ad- visable to remain, and on the 18th of Jan- uary, 1877, was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Smith, daughter of John and Elizabeth Jane (Dawson) Smith. Her father had come from Darke county, Ohio, and had there married the daughter of Thomas and Tabitha Dawson. After marriage Mr. Win- ger decided to engage in farming, and se- sured the tract of land that is comprised in his present farm near his father's old home. He went in debt about one thousand two hundred dollars in buying one hundred acres, there being but a small clearing and a small shell of a house. The land lay off the head of Pipe creek, which had not as yet been opened up as a general drain, so that much of the tract was partially covered with water, some of it being little better than swamp. For half a mile, at certain sea- sons,it was necessary to walk on logs in order to pass over the land at all. It seemed an almost impossible task to attempt to make a farm under the conditions, but with a de- termination born of necessity, he began the task and by working nearly day and night, he finally had the satisfaction of knowing himself the owner of one of the best farms of the neighborhood. Pipe creek being opened Mr. Winger began to lay tile and has
752
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
put in upwards of one thousand six hundred rods. It is laid in a most careful and sys- tematic manner, being but eight rods apart over much of the tract; and, while the ex- pense has been heavy, the result has even surpassed his fondest anticipations, the crops grown being of the greatest in the commu- nity. The contrast of the present condition with what it was when he began, affords the owner room for great self-congratulation what was swamp and pond being trans- formed in the course of a few years into one of the most productive and valuable farms of the township.
Nine children have graced the union of Mr. and Mrs. Winger, namely : Otho ; Bertie, who died an infant; Lizzie, Ethel, Oscar, Cora, John Lawrence and Mary Florence, twins, and Mabel.
It is but justice to make some special mention of the eldest of these children- Otho. At seventeen he began to teach in Indian Village, where he remained for three terms. He became interested in the work of the church, being but eighteen when elect- ed a deacon and one year later made a min- ister. He is now a student in the German Baptist College at Manchester, where he is securing all the benefits that the institution can confer. He has constantly preached during the collegiate course, and being a fine speaker is in demand in the church, es- pecially at the old home, where he is best known. He is a promising young man and one in whom a commendable pride is taken by all his former friends. The Cart Creek church, where no other minister is received with greater cordiality, was located orig- inally on land donated by his grandfather. and for forty years the family have been prominent in its affairs. For nearly twenty
years, Mr. and Mrs. Winger have been iden- tified with the church, in which he takes a leading part. He holds earnest relations with the Democratic party, believing that the perpetuity of the free institutions of our country are best subserved by close ad- herence to the fundamental principles pro- mulgated by Jefferson.
WILLIAM S. RESONER, M. D.
William S. Resoner. M. D., the well- known and popular young physician and surgeon of Point Isabel, Green township, Grant county, Indiana, was born in Sul- phur Springs, Henry county, Indiana, June 9. 1864, and educated in the common schools. His parents are William Martin and Cath- erine (Resoner) Resoner, the former of whom was also a physician, under whom William S. took a preparatory course of in- structions, and then in 1888 entered the med- ical college of Denver, Colorado, remained one year, and then took a course of study in the medical college at Portland, Oregon. then a course at the Polyclinic College in Chicago, from which he was graduated April I. 1898, and also attended the Curtis Phy- sio Medical School at Marion, from which he was graduated February 10, 1891.
William S. Resoner was united in mar- riage November 15, 1892, with Miss Min- nie H. Davis, daughter of Joseph and Eliza- beth Davis, and this union has been favored with one child. Hazel, born December 31. 1894. William M. Resoner, father of Dr. Resoner, came from Coshocton county, Ohio, about 1824, and settled in Blackford county, Indiana, with his step-father. John Jen- ning, and lived there until his marriage. He
753
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
studied medicine under a Dr. Pugh, but. his wife dying about this time he removed to Henry county, and taught school; while there engaged he met Miss Resoner, who became his second wife. William S. Re- sioner's step-grandfather went to Califor- nia in 1853 and has never been heard of since, and it is thought that he was killed, as he was a reckless man; the grandmother of Mr. Resoner was eighty-one years old when she died and had been blind for ten years, and was further afflicted with deaf- ness.
The parents of Dr. Resoner had ten children, viz. : Garrett, of Pueblo, Colorado; Emma Z. (Mrs. Dr. J. T. Anderson), of Swayzee; Mollie (Mrs. William Bendow). of Anderson; also John, a twin of Emma, who died in infancy; Sarah died when five years old; the five not named died in in- fancy.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.