USA > Indiana > Wells County > Biographical memoirs of Wells County, Indiana : embracing a comprehensive compendium of local biography, memoirs of representative men and women of the county whose works of merit have made their names imperishable, and special articles by Hugh Dougherty [et al.] > Part 12
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The domestic chapter in the history of Judge Dailey has been one of ideal charac- ter, and it would be impertinence to more than lift the veil from the sacred precincts where much of his inspiration, courage and confidence have been born of the grateful influences supplied by the gracious 'woman- hood of his wife and the love and respect of his devoted children. to whom he has ac- corded the best possible educational advan- tages, finding ample recompense in the worthiness and usefulness of his children. On the 15th of March, 1870, Judge Dailey was united in marriage to Miss Emma Gute- lius, of Bluffton, who is of French extrac- tion in the agnatic line, which traces back to a distinguished surgeon in the French
army. She was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, being a daughter of John P. and Hen- rietta Gutelius. Judge and Mrs. Dailey are the parents of four children, namely : Frank C., who was admitted to the bar of the state and is now associated with his father in practice, as previously noted ; Lewis W., who was graduated in the Indi- anapolis Dental Collège in 1884, and who is now established in an excellent practice of his profession in Bluffton; Charles Gut- elius, who is incumbent of the position of principal of the Bluffton high school, and Blanche, who is studying at home.
JOHN STUDABAKER.
It is pleasing indulgence to write the bi- ography of a man who has been so promi- nently identified with the material activities of the nation as has John Studabaker, who stands conspicuously forward as one of the pioneers of Indiana and one whose connec- tion with the growth and substantial up- building of the thriving little city of Bluff- ton has been of such intimate nature and ex- tended over the course of many years. The name of John Studabaker, wherever known, passes current as a synonym for all that is upright and honorable. He came from Greenville, Ohio, to Bluffton in the year 1838, and here engaged in the mercantile business. Since that early date he has been a prominent figure in the county and city and for many years had a personal acquain- tance with nearly every adult person in the county. Mr. Studabaker is a native of Darke county, Ohio, where he was born on the 15th of August, 1817, being the son of Abraham and Mary (Townsend) Studa-
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baker. The conditions of place and period were such as to afford him but limited ad- vantages in the way of securing an educa- tion, since in that early day there were but few schools of any importance throughout what is now the great state of Ohio. The old log school house, with its puncheon floor and slab seats, figured as the seat of learn- ing in the locality of his birth, and it may be said that in these rude school houses have been "graduated" some of the best and strongest men of the nation. The boyhood days of the subject were passed upon the parental farmstead, and when a young man he went to Greenville, Ohio, where he en- gaged as a clerk in the dry goods establish- ment of Henry Arnold, thus gaining his initial experience in practical business af- fairs and incidentally laying the foundation for his future success.
Mr. Studabaker came to Wells county a single man, but he realized the truth of the scriptural injunction, that it is not well for man to be alone, and he accordingly re- turned to Darke county, Ohio, and there, on the 7th day of July, 1839, was united in marriage to Rebecca Angel, daughter of David Angel, one of the leading citizens of that county. With his bride he returned to Bluffton, making his wedding tour on horse back. Of the ten children born to this union only four are now living: Mary Jane, the eldest daughter, was married to Dwight Klinck, in 1863, and to them were born four children. While crossing the Atlantic ocean, in 1875, Mr. Klinck was drowned and in August, 1876, his widow became the wife of Jacob J. Todd, 'a prom- inent attorney of Bluffton. By this union two children were born. The third daugh- ter of the subject, Jeanette, became the wife
of F. T. Waring and her death occurred in 1874. She left two children, who were entrusted to the care of her youngest sister, Martha, who, in 1875, also married F. T. Waring. The eldest son, David E. Studa- baker, is a prominent business man resid- ing in Bluffton. John A., the youngest son, married Edna Angel, of Dayton, Ohio, and has one child.
Upon coming to Bluffton Mr. Studa- baker began his mercantile operations in a log cabin north of the public square. At that time the Indians were still largely in evidence and were numbered among his best customers. For many years he trans- ported his stock of goods from Cincinnati by means of wagons, fifteen to twenty days being required to make the round trip. During this time he was agent for the American Fur Company and bought all kinds of furs, having control of the counties of Adams, Jay, Wells and Blackford, and conducting extensive and profitable' opera- tions in this line of industry which had so important bearing upon the commercial and material progress of the little pioneer com- munities. The country increased rapidly in population, and in 1844 Mr. Studabaker found his previously adequate accommo- dations were not sufficient to meet the exi- gencies of his business, and he accordingly erected a two-story frame building in which to continue his mercantile enterprise, con- tinuing to utilize these quarters until 1852, when he erected a brick building on the same site where he reared his original cabin.
In 1856 Mr. Studabaker disposed of his dry goods business and instituted banking operations, under the name of the Exchange Bank. In 1863 this institution was merged
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into the First National Bank, with the sub- ject as president. In 1868 the First Nation- al was discontinued, whereupon Mr. Studa- baker associated himself with his brother, Peter, and his nephew, Hugh Dougherty, in the organization of the Exchange Bank of John Studabaker & Company. This in- stitution is still in operation under the name of The Studabaker Bank, and is the lead- ing bank of Wells county, having a distinc- tive hold upon public favor and confidence.
In connection with his banking business Mr. Studabaker has continued in the grain and produce business on an extensive scale. From time to time he has invested his means in farm land, and today he is the owner of several fine farms, together with a large amount of town property, both improved and unimproved. He has made two or three additions to the city of Bluffton and has given much time and financial encour- agement to public improvement. In an early day he was interested with others in the Bluffton and Fort Wayne plank road, and in 1851 was largely concerned with the putting through of the Fort Wayne & South- ern Railroad, which was graded through Wells county, but which, by reason of the stringency of the money market, was not completed for a long term of years. In 1869 the project was revived and largely through the energy and well directed efforts of the subject the road was finally completed and put into active operation.
In his political proclivities Mr. Studa- baker was originally an advocate of the principles of the Whig party, which cause he supported until the organization of the Republican party, when he identified him- self with the latter, continuing his allegi- ance until the year 1876, when he espoused
the principles of the Greenback party, in which connection he was twice on its state ticket, also becoming a candidate for con- gress. His party being in the minority, he suffered defeat on each occasion. During his entire life he has been an earnest advo- cate of temperance, and believing that no restriction of practical order could be ap- plied to the doing away of the obnoxious liquor traffic through the medium of the two dominant national parties, he placed himself stanchly in line as a supporter of the Prohibition party, identified himself there- with in 1884 and casting his vote for St. John for President.
In 1843 Mr. Studabaker became a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church and his daily life has shown that his faith is one of earnestness and sincerity-a faith that makes faithful. In the spread of the gospel he has contributed liberally of his means, and he aided to a conspicuous extent in the erection of the fine edifice of the Methodist church at Bluffton, the ground upon which the church is built being contributed by him. In his younger days he was an active worker in the Sunday school, but within late years he has felt that his advanced age has inca- pacitated him for activity in that branch of the Lord's work.
Mrs. Studabaker has been for more than half a century a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She is also an active worker in the cause of the Wo- man's Christian Temperance Union, and is a valuable helpmeet to her husband in his labor of love for humanity in fighting that great curse-the saloon evil.
This review of the life of the honored subject is necessarily general in its char- acter. To enter fully into the interesting
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details of his life, touching the struggles of his early manhood and successes of later days, would require almost a volume in it- self. Enough has been submitted, how- ever, to prove that he is entitled to a place in the front ranks of the brave, determined, energetic and self-made men of Indiana, those who by pluck, enterprise and 'un- swerving honor have wrought from the wil- derness a state second to none in the grand constellation comprising the Union, and the name of this patriarchal citizen will be re- vered in Bluffton for all time to come.
PHILO ROGERS.
The gentleman to a brief review of whose life and characteristics the reader's attention is herewith directed is among the foremost business men of Wells county and has by his enterprise and progressive meth- ods contributed in a material way to the in- dustrial and commercial advancement of the city and county. He has in the course of an honorable career been most success- ful in the business enterprises with which he has been and is now connected, and is well deserving of mention in a volume of this character.
Philo Rogers was born in Huntington county, Indiana, on the 3Ist of March, 1850, and is the son of Nathan W. and Jane (Sparks) Rogers. The Rogers fam- ily is from Ohio, where the subject's father was a mail carrier in an early day, his route lying between Greenville, Ohio, and Hunt- ington, Indiana. The subject's maternal an- cestors were from Virginia, but came to Indiana and settled in Rock Creek township,
Wells county, of which section they were pioneers. When the subject was but four months old his mother was removed by death. At a very early age he was bound out to Amos Curry, the well-known mer- chant and banker of this county. In his youth he was given the advantages of a common school education, and as he was energetic and ambitious he took advantage of all the opportunities that came his way of adding to his store of knowledge, at length becoming a thoroughly well in- formed man. Mr. Rogers remained with Mr. Curry and when the latter went into the dry goods business in 1862 he remained with him as clerk, also working at times upon the farm. In 1865 Mr. Curry sold his store at Markel and came to Bluffton, where he engaged as a farmer, merchant and banker. By close association with his employer, a man of broad experience and splendid business qualifications, young Rogers acquired splendid ideas as to up-to- date business methods and became in due time 'a valuable employee. In 1872 he was admitted into a partnership with Mr. Curry in the dry goods business, an arrangement which continued until 1876, at which time he entered the bank in the capacity of cash- ier. He remained in this position two years and then returned to his former business. In 1880 he went into business for himself in partnership with Henry Deam, but at the end of two years he assumed full control of the business until 1886. S. Bender then became a partner in the business, an ar- rangement which. continued for four years, at the end of which time Mr. Rogers went into the hardware business and is at the present time associated with Amos Cole. They carry a large and well-assorted stock
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of shelf and heavy hardware and all kinds of agricultural implements, are both pleas- ant and agreeable in manner, accommodat- ing and courteous, and have built up a flat- tering patronage, their customers coming from distant points in this and adjoining counties.
In 1872 Mr. Rogers was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Mariah Prillaman, the daughter of Lewis Prilla- man, and to them have been born three chil- dren, Lizzie, the wife of Dr. L. W. Dailey, Wharton W., a graduate of the Bluffton high school; and Jessie, now deceased. Mrs. Rogers is a kind and pleasant lady, pos- sessed of those womanly graces which are so certain to win and retain friends, and she numbers her friends by the score. Politi- cally Mr. Rogers is a firm and uncom- promising Republican and takes a promi- nent part in advancing the interests of his party in Wells county. He is well read and watches closely the trend of passing events. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding membership in the subordinate lodge at Bluffton. The family are members of the Baptist church and are faithful and consistent in the per- formance of their religious duties. The subject is a very public spirited citizen and has been foremost in every enterprise for ad- vancing the prosperity of his community, contributing liberally from his means and exercising his personal influence with others, and his name is a synonym for all that is good and true wherever it is known.
Mrs. Rogers' father, Lewis Prillaman, was born in Miami county, Ohio, March 26, 1825, and was the oldest son of nine children born to William and Sarah Prilla- man, both natives of Virginia, and the grandson of Christopher Prillaman. The
latter was of German extraction, and his wife, whose maiden name was Obadiah Winter, was a native of New Jersey and of English parentage. William Prillaman moved with his family to Wells county May 14, 1838, and located in section 12, Harri- son township. 'He was a prominent and well known citizen and to marked extent held the confidence of the people. He served acceptably in the important office of county commissioner, and in the winter of 1842-3 represented his county in the state legislature. He started in Wells county without means, but by the exercise of sound judgment, wise discrimination and economy became a well-to-do man. He and his wife were faithful and consistent members of the Christian church, whose simple doctrines they exemplified in their daily lives. He died March 16, 1855, and his wife died April 8, 1873. Lewis Prillaman was a lad of but thirteen years when brought by his parents to Wells county, but even at that early age nobly performed his part in clear- ing up land and working it fit for cultiva- tion. His educational privileges were lim- ited, but he was of a studious disposition and ambitious, and all his leisure time was assiduously devoted to the acquiring of knowledge. In 1845 he was granted license to teach and taught school in this county for twelve dollars per month. He married Miss Maria Studabaker, the daughter of William Studabaker, and in 1853 he pur- chased his father's farm, to which he after- ward gave his attention. He and his wife became the parents of eleven children, Mrs. Rogers being the only child living of the first marriage. Mr. Prillaman was a mem- ber of the Christian church and was one of the substantial and highly esteemed resi- dents of his county.
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HON. GEORGE E. FULTON.
The family of which the subject of this review is an honorable representative has long been identified with the history of northeastern Indiana and in each succeed- ing generation it has furnished the business and professional world with men of eminent ability and sterling worth. Prominent among these is Hon. George E. Fulton, whose position as a distinguished physician and surgeon rests upon an assured founda- tion and whose career as a legislator is cred- itable alike to himself and to the county honored by his citizenship. The Doctor is proud to claim the county of Wells as his, native home, having spent the greater part of his life and achieved his professional suc- cess within its borders. His father, John Fulton, and his mother, who bore the maid- en name of Sarah Egbert, were born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, the former a son of James Fulton, of whose family history a more complete account will be found elsewhere in these pages. The subject was born in the town of Ossian on the 8th day of October, 1855, and at the age of three years lost his father, the mother dying when he was a lad of eight. The sev- ering of family ties by the ruthless hand of death caused the youth to find a home with relatives who took him to Illinois and later to Iowa, in which state his early educational discipline was acquired. After completing the common school course he pursued his studies for some time in the Sioux City high school, after which he spent several years steamboating on the Missouri . and Mississippi rivers, finally stopping at the city of New Orleans, where for a period of three years he served in the capacity of hotel clerk. After these varied experiences it be-
came necessary for him to make choice of some profession or vocation for a life work. His tastes and inclinations leading him to decide upon medicine, he took a prelimi- nary course of reading under the direction of competent instructors and then entered Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he graduated with an honorable record in the year 1878. Receiving his de- gree, Dr. Fulton returned to his native city and entering the office of his brother, J. C. Fulton, at Murray, was soon in the enjoy- ment of a lucrative practice, which contin- ued unabated until his removal to a large and more inviting field at Bluffton four years later. During the last twenty years he has maintained an office in the latter place, building up an extensive business, second to that of no other medical man in this part of the state, and continually adding to his reputation as an eminent physician and surgeon. Dr. Fulton stands admittedly in the front ranks of Wells county's distin- guished professional men, possessing a thoroughly disciplined mind and keeping in close touch with the trend of modern thought relating to the noble calling to which his life and energies have been de- voted. He has ever maintained his high standing, never descending beneath the dig- nity of his profession nor compromising his usefulness by countenancing any but noble and legitimate practice. The apparent ease with which he has mounted to his present commanding position in the healing art marks him as the possessor of talents be- yond the majority of his professional brethren and, being a close and critical stu- dent, he experiences no difficulty in sustain- ing the high reputation which his profes- sional abilities and marked success have earned for him.
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While primarily interested in his life work, Dr. Fulton has not been unmindful of the duties which every citizen owes to the public. He has ever taken an active part in promoting the material welfare of his city and county, aiding with his influence and means all enterprises with that object in view. In politics he is pronounced in his allegiance to the Democratic party and for a number of years has been one of its recog- nized leaders in this section of the state. He has never been an aspirant for official hon- ors, but in 1888, at the earnest solicitation of many friends, he permitted his name to be placed on the ticket as a candidate for representative to the lower house of the general assembly. He was easily elected and his career as a lawmaker proved emi- nently satisfactory to his constituency re- gardless of party affiliation, resulting in his re-election in 1890. While a member of the legislature he served on some of the most important committees, took not only an active but influential part in the general deliberations of the body, his ability as a public speaker always commanding the most respectful attention from both sides of the house. He introduced a number of bills which became laws, beside being instrumen- tal in bringing about much important legis- lation which has had a beneficial influence upon the state in many ways. Dr. Fulton is an accomplished campaigner, contribut- ing greatly to the success of the cause on the hustings as well as by judicious advice in party councils: While deeply interested in public matters in general, he does not let these things interfere with the success- ful prosecution of his professional duties. He holds himself in readiness to answer the numerous calls for services at all hours and
rarely does he permit the matter of remun- eration to prevent him from alleviating suf- fering, be the patient ever so poor or hum- ble. Some years ago he served as health officer to Wells county and for the city of Bluffton for six years. He is a member of the county and state medical societies, hav- ing served as president and secretary of the former, and not infrequently has he read before these bodies carefully prepared papers evincing ripe scholarship, critical analysis and original and profound investi- gation. For a period of twelve years he has been holding the position of surgeon for the Clover Leaf Railroad, during which time he has performed many delicate operations and saved lives which but for his skill would have been lost. Fraternally the Doctor is a member of the Pythian order and relig- iously subscribes to the Presbyterian creed. Believing that religion is largely a matter of the conscience, he is tolerant in his opin- ion, believing all churches to be great moral and spiritual forces calculated to save men from their sins and win them to a high life here and an infinitely better and grander state of existence hereafter. Dr. Fulton was married in 1881 to Miss Mary Mosy, who departed this life on the 20th day of June, 1892, the mother of two children, Anna and Jane, the latter dying January 16, 1892. The Doctor's present wife, whom he married in 1894, was formerly Miss Elizabeth Muth.
HON. LEVI MOCK.
Among Indiana's distinguished sons and leading men of affairs the name of Hon. Levi Mock, of Bluffton, has long been pre- eminent. Of commanding intellectual
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ability and eminent professional attain- ments, he has been a forceful factor in the legal circles of the state, while as a direc- tor of thought and moulder of opinion he is duly recognized and appreciated by his fel- low citizens of Bluffton and Wells county. Paternally Mr. Mock is descended from German ancestry and inherits in a marked degree the sturdy characteristics and ster- ling qualities for which that nationality is distinguished among the peoples of the world. His great-grandfather, Devaulter Mock, was a native of the Fatherland, came to America in the time of the colonies and settled in North Carolina, where he'reared a family and lived the life of an honest, in- dustrious and, to a considerable extent, a successful tiller of the soil. Among his children was a son by the name of Daniel, whose birth occurred in North Carolina, and whose marriage was also solemnized in that state. Shortly after taking to himself a wife Daniel Mock moved to Ohio, thence a little later migrated to what is now Ran- dolph county, Indiana, but at that time the western verge of civilization, settling in the beautiful valley of the Mississinnewa, where he afterwards entered lands and de- veloped a farm and became one of the most enterprising and progressive men of the community which he assisted to establish. It is a well authenticated fact that Mr. Mock was the third white man to locate a home within the present limits of Randolph county, and the part he took in the early growth and development of the country en- titles him to specific mention as one of its most aggressive pioneers. Physically he was almost a giant and moved among his fellows as one born to command. Five feet ten inches in height and measuring forty-
five inches around the chest and correspond- ingly strong, he was a remarkable speci- men of symmetrically developed manhood, being as honest and honorable in his deal- ings and as unsullied in character as his bodily powers were vigorous. Possessing excellent judgment and strict integrity, he became useful to the early settlers in the ad- justment of their business affairs and his advice was eagerly sought and acted upon in matters of more than ordinary moment involving a knowledge of law. Daniel Mock was three times married and had children by each wife, the majority of whom grew to mature years and became useful in their various spheres of life. En- joying superb health, he lived to a good old age in possession of his physical and mental" faculties, having never lost a tooth nor at any time attempted to aid his eyesight by the use of glasses. He departed this life at the age of eighty-four, honored and es- teemed by all who knew him, leaving to his descendants the memory of a name untarn- ished by the slightest suspicion of anything savoring of dishonor.
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