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 14
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
full force every working day in the year, are not sufficient to fill the large number of or- ders which are constantly coming in.
Mr. Sixbey has done much to promote the business and industrial growth of Bluff- ton by giving employment to a large force of laborers, all of whom spend their money in the city. The relations between himself and his employes have always been mutually pleasant and agreeable and such a condition of affairs as a strike or lockout has never been known or even contemplated in his es- tablishments. He is a natural leader and, pos- sessing executive abilities of a high order, manages his factories with consummate skill, winning the esteem of all in his employ as well as of those with whom he transacts busi- ness. He is widely known in commercial circles throughout the United States, enjoys unexceptional standing with the leading business agencies of the country and the re- markable advancement made since inaugur- ating his enterprises in Bluffton may be taken as an earnest of a still larger and more prosperous career in the future. Mr. Six- bey is one of the leading citizens and pro- gressive men of Wells county and occupies a conspicuous place in the estimation of his fellow townsmen. He takes an active interest in whatever tends to advance the ma- terial growth of the city, supports with a liberal hand all worthy, enterprises having for their object the social and moral wel- fare of the community and his influence, always strong, has ever been exerted on the right side of all local issues. In politics he is a Republican, but the urgent nature of his business affairs has prevented him taking a very lively interest in party matters. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and his name also appears as a charter mem- ber of the Elks' lodge in Bluffton.
II5
WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA.
Mr. Sixbey has been twice married. While living in Ft. Wayne he married Miss Edmee Miller, daughter of James Miller, of that city, a union blessed with five chil- dren, one son and four daughters. Some time after the death of the above wife Mr. Sixbey was united in marriage to Miss Anna Spake, of Bluffton.
Mr. Sixbey's career has been one of great activity, in the main attended by remarkable business advancement and financial pros- perity. He is essentially progressive in all he undertakes and, endowed with the power and tact to mould circumstances to suit his purpose, his success in overriding adverse conditions and mounting to his present high and honorable station in the world of affairs is such as few attain. Of strong convictions, positive character and incorruptible integ- rity, he is classed with the most intelligent and energetic of Bluffton's representative men and holds a warm place in the hearts of his fellow citizens.
HON. M. W. WALBERT.
The student, possessed of the energy and wit to put the knowledge acquired by study to good use, need never have fears of failure. Knowledge secured by study is a good deal like money won by labor. Both are species of capital, which if judiciously invested must inevitably bring results. Some students are mere dreamers who have no further use for their knowledge once they have been thrilled by the pleasure of getting it. The miser with his gold, who has no further use for it outside of the pleasure of getting and having it, is very much like such a student with his knowledge. It is
very rarely that one hears of the failure of a person possessed of judgment, energy and a taste for study. Success is the rule of people of that bend of mind, failure the ex- ception.
A very striking illustration of this is given in the case of Hon. M. W. Walbert, of Bluffton. Beginning in very humble circumstances, the first years of his boyhood spent in the labors of the shop and the fac- tory, with little time even for a superficial knowledge of books, he nevertheless not only mastered the calling of a cooper, but fitted himself by his studies for the pro- fession of law and later was honored by his fellow citizens by being elevated to the po- sition of mayor of the city of Bluffton. His story reads not a little like that of the re- nowned Dick Whittington, who, through the instrumentality of his cat, became lord mayor of London.
Hon. M. W. Walbert, the son of George and Mary Wetzel Walbert, was born Febru- ary 2, 1860, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It is asserted that the blood of the famous Indian fighters, the Wetzels, flowed in the veins of his mother, but of that Mr. Wal- bert is too democratic to make any boast. From the time he was six years of age un- til he attained the age of thirteen he at- tended the common school, becoming very proficient in all the common school branch- es. When not' in school, late and early each day, he assisted his father in his cooper shop. Such was the knowledge of the busi- ness and such skill in the mechanical details of the craft had he acquired that at the age of fourteen years he won first prize at a county fair for the best specimen of cooper- age there exhibited. His competitors were men well along in years, who had spent
II6
WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA.
most of their lives at the business. Every moment of his leisure time was devoted to reading, particularly in the line of history, ancient and modern, of which he was pas- sionately fond. Very often he trespassed upon the hours that should have been al- lotted to sleep to indulge his passion for books. It was through the fruits of his own industry that he was enabled in 1884 and 1885 to attend Franklin College, which gave him the opportunity of rounding out an education that might have been by many others considered already sufficient. He taught school one term and then, under di- rection of Hon. J. H. C. Smith, began the study of law. His studious habits, persist- ent application and retentive memory made this task, so discouragingly difficult to oth- ers, comparatively light for him. The in- tricacies of Blackstone, Kent, Greenfield and Story he mastered within a brief period of years and soon after passed examination, was admitted to the bar and regularly li- censed to practice. A partnership was then entered into with his preceptor, Hon. J. H. C. Smith, at Bluffton, which continued until 1891. The 'firm was recognized as one of the ablest at the bar in that part of the state, had no lack of clients and met with the most gratifying success in every particular.
In 1889 Mr. Walbert was elected mayor of Bluffton. He served the city in that ca- pacity until 1894, giving to the people an administration that will be long remember- ed for the improvements that were made. During this time the high school, a magnifi- cent structure, was erected, the city water works were altered, improved and extended and the principle of municipal ownership was advanced by the city purchasing the electric light plant. Many other good
works and reforms were either entered upon or consummated during his administra- tion. During his term of office he sat as examining magistrate in three murder cases and in all species of litigation that came before him he showed that he was not only well versed in the law, but possessed a high order of judicial talent. He was mayor of Bluffton for a period of five years and four months.
In politics Mr. Walbert is an active, zealous, conscientious Democrat. He is an orator of acknowledged ability and his services are always in demand on the stump during political campaigns. He has a mem- ory that may always be relied upon and is not excelled by any one in quoting from memory facts, figures, dates or any kind of statistics. He has never sought for or as- pired to office. Such public place as he has been elected to and filled has come to him wholly unsolicited.
It has been said that "the law is a jeal- ous mistress," a statement which doubtless is true in the case of most of those who yearn for the smile of fame and fortune through her. Mr. Walbert, however, seems to be a law unto himself. He has stolen enough time from this jealous mistress to dally most successfully with literature. He is the author of a work on the national bank- ing system that is pronounced, by persons competent to judge, a most valuable work, not only on the particular system of which it treats, but also upon the general subject of finance. It has been highly compli- mented by the press generally and the book reviews have accorded it no little praise. The readiness and elegance with which he expressed himself on paper has cultivated in him a liking for newspaper work, so in mo-
II7
WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA.
ments of relaxation from labors in the law he indulges his taste for literature by the production of an article on some subject familiar to him, for either the local or met- ropolitan press. On relinquishing the of- fice of mayor he again resumed the practice of law, entering into partnership with J. K. Rinehart, of Bluffton. At present he is holding the office of justice of the peace, having been elected thereto in 1900, and is discharging the duties of the office in a sat- isfactory and creditable manner.
June 24, 1891, Hon. M. W. Walbert was united in marriage to Miss Emma Da- vis, an accomplished lady of pleasing man- ners and high attainment. She is a graduate of the Bluffton high school and was a teacher of recognized ability. She is the daughter of Milton Davis, a prominent cit- izen of Wells county. They are the parents of two children, one of whom died in in- fancy; the other, Doratha, was born July 26, 1892. Having been a hard worker him- self all his life, Mr. Walbert deeply sympa- thizes with the cause of labor, is a member of the Federation and never lets an oppor- tunity escape unimproved whereby he can benefit the cause or anyone engaged in it.
The star of the subject of this sketch is still in the ascendancy. Although having in years passed the meridian of life, in phys- ical and mental vigor he is still in his prime. The ardor of youth still characterizes his every movement and his life, as years ago when working at the cooper's bench in his father's shop. Personally he is honest, frank and candid, a man who appreciates and values a friend. He enjoys the high respect and warm admiration of the people of the city for which he did so much as its chief executive.
THOMAS C. CLOUD.
Thomas C. Cloud first saw the light April 7, 1823, in Clinton county, Ohio. He is the son of Joseph and Nancy Cloud, na- tives of Pennsylvania, the former a son of Thomas Cloud. Joseph and Nancy Cloud, after their marriage, settled in Clinton county, Ohio. He was a stone dresser and mason and worked in Cincinnati, Ohio, when it gave but small promise of the popu- lous city of today. They moved from Ohio to Rush county, Indiana, about 1828, and were there for about two years, when Joseph died, leaving a widow and nine children : Betsie, deceased ; Peggie, deceased ; John F., deceased; Sallie, deceased, was the wife of William Duckwall; Prudie, now a resident of Ohio: Thomas; Pricilla, a resident of Frankfort, Indiana; Keziah, deceased, and Nancy, now a resident of Warren, this state.
After the death of her husband Nancy Cloud removed her family to Grant county, Indiana, about the year 1841, her . son, Thomas, who now acted as head of the fam- ily, having previously gone there and helped to build a cabin. They were there about thirteen years when they sold their place for five hundred dollars and came to Wells county and bought the farm where Thomas now lives, paying the same amount for forty acres of land on which there had never been an ax. This made it necessary to rent land on the river front until they could get some cleared. During the first three years Thomas Cloud cleared thirty acres and at- tended to his crops besides. He finally cleared up ninety acres on the farm, which had grown to a hundred and twenty acres. February 20, 1850, Thomas Cloud was mar-
II8
WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA.
ried to Rebecca A. Jones, a daughter of Daniel and Susie Jones, natives of Pennsyl- vania. Thomas and Rebecca A. Cloud are the parents of seven children, three of whom are yet living : Isaac, born January 20, 1851, died July 8, 1874; Sarah D., born February 19, 1852, married John E. Dillman, Decem- ber 30, 1877 ; they are now keeping house for the wife's father. John Dillman is the father of nine children, seven of whom are still living, Charlie, deceased, Homer, Josie, Mary, George, deceased, Almeda, Thomas, Vergie and Hazel. Susan, the third child of Thomas and Rebecca Cloud, was born June 13. 1854, is the wife of Eli Rea, of McNatts, Indiana, and they are the parents of one child, Nellie A. Nancy was born August 8, 1856, is the wife of Calvin Alspach, and the mother of seven children : Laura, Daniel, Amos, Charlie, Clinton, Lucy and George, deceased. Daniel W. was born May 15, 1858, and died October 7, 1873, Delilah J. was born September 12, 1860, and died May 25, 1864; Joseph L. was born March 23, 1864, died October 8, 1888, his death being caused by a fall from a horse; he married Rosa Minnich and a daughter, Josie, was born after his death.
The subject has worked at the carpen- ยท ter's trade at times, but has devoted most of his life to farming, though he has not done active farm work for eleven years. He has also been a general stock raiser, rather preferring hogs as a specialty. Re- becca A. Cloud, his wife, died January I, 1900, and in the fall of 1902 his daughter, Sarah Dillman, moved into his home to care for her father in his old age. In the spring of 1900 Mr. Cloud suffered a stroke of paralysis which confined him to his bed for some time, but after a few weeks he was
able to arise from his bed and is now able to walk about the yard of his home and other short distances. He and wife were consistent members of the Methodist Protes- tant church and he loves the Christian church. While he was in active life he al- ways manifested a lively interest in every- thing which had for its object the promotion or advancement of the class to which he be- longed. With this idea in view, he took an active part in the early Grange movement inaugurated by the farmers of the country. In politics Mr. Cloud has always been a Democrat. In character, as exemplified in his life, Thomas C. Cloud has set an ex- ample which is worthy of all commendation, and the success which has attended his la- bors and the estimation in which he is held in the closing years of a long and well spent life should prove an incentive to the youth of the land. Forced by the death of his father to assume the responsibilities of life at an early age; he proved himself a strong reed, upon which his widowed mother with her large and fatherless family were able to lean. With filial care devoting himself to the general welfare of the family, he thus laid the foundation of his own fortunes and assured himself of a competency for his own old age. The success which has crowned the labors and life of Father Cloud proves that environment alone does not determine results ; that "Honor and fame from no con- ditions rise ; but in acting well your part, therein the honor lies."
JAMES PERDUE.
James Perdue was born in Delaware county, Indiana, February 28, 1834. His
119
WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA.
father was James Perdue, Sr., a native of North Carolina, and who was a son of John Perdue, also a native of the same state. James Perdue, Sr., married Mary Price, who was likewise a native of North Caro- lina, a daughter of Ellen (Lowery) Price, the wedding taking place in North Carolina. The births of both parents took place on the site of the battle of Guilford Court House, North Carolina, where the British were commanded by Lord Cornwallis and the Americans by General Greene. James Per- due, Sr., settled down to farming, but later came to Indiana, stopping a while in Wayne county, about 1830, and then came to Del- aware county where he died, in November, 1833, before James, Jr., was born. While in Delaware county he farmed and taught school. James, Jr., has the instrument of writing, in his father's hand, that the latter made of the section of land set apart for the purpose of the school fund in the township where he settled. James, Sr., was the father of four children, of whom two are yet liv- ing : John, deceased; Emily J .; William, now residing in Warren, Indiana, and James. Mary, the widow of James Sr., married Francis McNairy in Delaware county and they later moved to Fayette county, Indiana, when James, Jr., was about ten years old, and the latter grew to man- hood in that county. He was educated in the public schools until he was about twenty years of age. The last term of school he attended was taught by a Presbyterian min- ister, who preached in the Ebenezer meet- ing house and taught a select term of school in an old log church. He had worked there during the summer, by the month, and boarded with the same man for whom he worked, attending the school during the
following winter. He remained there the next summer, and in the fall returned to Delaware county and worked by the month for his stepfather, remaining with him that fall. He remained in Delaware county dur- ing the winter and worked until harvest the next summer. September 2, 1855, the sub- ject of this sketch was married to Mary Wall, a resident of Delaware county, Indi- ana, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Christian and Hannah (Moss) Wall. The parents of Mary removed to Delaware county in an early day, settling on the land before there was any house on it and when it was all in woods. The father improvised a sort of shelter tent with brush, in which he kept his family until he could build a house. Christian Wall was the father of six children : Amanda, deceased; Alexander, deceased; John, deceased; Margaret, de- ceased; David, probably dead, went to California and not heard from, and Mary, who married James Perdue, was born May 8, 1830. After his marriage James Perdue and wife settled in Fay- ette county, Indiana, where they re- mained for two years, when they removed back to Delaware county and farmed in that county from 1857 until the former date in- clusive. They came to Jackson township, Wells county, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Per- due had six children, three sons and three daughters, all deceased but two. Francis M. has two children, Frederick and Carl P .; Walter L. was born August 23, 1861, and died September 13, 1862; William R. was born December 17, 1862, and died August 19, 1882; Mary L. was born March 8, 1865, and died December 23, 1873 ; Olive, born November 7, 1866, died September 13, 1867; Hettie, born November 15, 1870,
1
I20
WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA.
married Darwin Lee, now a resident of Jackson township, Wells county, Indiana. They have two children, Jay and Burle. James Perdue and his wife are members of the Christian church at Perry Creek. He was an elder of the church in Delaware county for several years, also of the church at Dillman, Indiana, until it was disbanded several years ago.
Mr. Perdue is a member of Lodge No. 392, I. O. O. F., of Warren, Indiana, and has passed the chairs twice ; he has been sec- retary and representative to the grand lodge, and was also deputy grand master under D. B. Shideler. Mr. Perdue was for- merly a Democrat, voting for Buchanan and Douglas, but since that time he has been a Republican. He has never missed an op- portunity to vote since he was old enough and has been active in politics. He served as assessor five times in his native township in Delaware county and was at one time a candidate for treasurer of Wells county, Indiana.
James Perdue has lived in this state all his life, a period of more than two-thirds of a century. He has been a citizen of three counties of Indiana and has been a witness of and aided in their development. While his life has not been essentially that of the original pioneers of the state, he has been conversant with most of the changes through which they passed, and the im- proved methods which have been adopted, both in work and manner of living. He has witnessed the development of the state of his nativity from a semi-border common- wealth until it occupies today a position mid- way in the great chain of highly cultivated agricultural domains which constitute the integral divisions of our wonderful coun-
try. He has acted well his part in life, seek- ing to improve his own environments and in the performance of his duties as a good cit- izen and neighbor has added to the general welfare of the communities in which he has lived.
HENRY H. HUNSICKER.
It is with marked satisfaction that the biographer adverts to the life of one who has attained success in any vocation requiring definiteness of purpose and determined ac- tion. Such a life, whether it be one of calm, consecutive endeavor or of sudden meteoric accomplishments, must abound in both lesson and incentive and prove a guide to young men whose fortunes and destinies are still matters for the future to determine. The subject of this sketch is distinctively one of the representative business men of Bluffton. For a number of years he directed his efforts toward the goal of success and by patient continuance in well doing succeeded at last in overcoming the many obstacles by which his pathway was beset.
Henry H. Hunsicker is a native of Seneca county, Ohio, where he was born on the 22d day of January, 1860. His father, G. C. Hunsicker, was a native of Pennsyl- vania and a descendant of one of the old families of that commonwealth. When a young man he went to Ohio, settling in the county of Seneca, where he met and married Catherine Heiser, who had come to this country some years previously from Ger- many. About the year 1866 Mr. Hunsicker moved his family to Allen county, Indiana, locating at Monroeville, in which town the subject of this sketch spent the years of his
Mr. Ed. Mr. Heury Stricken
I2I
WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA.
early youth. Henry H. Hunsicker was a lad of six when his parents became resi- dents of the Hoosier state. After acquiring a fair education in the public schools, he began working in a factory at Monroeville and from the time of securing employment until reaching the age of eighteen all of his wages were turned over to his parents. Dur- ing the three years preceding his majority he retained half of his earnings for his own use, the other half being generously con- tributed to the support of the family, the father's circumstances being such as to make this addition to the general fund very accept- able.
When twenty-one Mr. Hunsicker went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he soon found employment at good wages in a heading factory and later worked as a wood turner. In the fall of 1882 he came to Bluffton, In- diana, and accepted a position with a wood- working firm, continuing as head sawyer until the spring of 1885. Meantime, July I, 1884, he was united in marriage to Miss Susanna Johnston, daughter of John and Catherine (Porter) Johnston. who were among the early settlers' of Wells county. Mr. Johnston was one of the leading farm- ers of Harrison township for a number of years, and later became a prominent resident of Bluffton. Mrs. Hunsicker was born in the above township in February, 1863, and is one of five children, the names of the other living members of the family being Maggie, now Mrs. John Crosbie, and J. R. Johnston, the present sheriff of Wells county.
In 1885 Mr. Hunsicker purchased drays and engaged in the transfer business, which he followed about two years. Disposing of his outfit, he worked for a short time in the
factory where he had formerly been em- ployed. In 1887 he embarked in the grocery business in partnership with B. Bowman for a short time, afterward with A. Watson for about a year, then a few months with John Burgan, and for twelve years by him- self. August 6, 1901, Mr. Hunsicker sold his grocery business and purchased the over- all factory of which he has since been pro- prietor. Mr. Hunsicker's present enterprise has grown into one of the most important and successful manufacturing concerns in the city of Bluffton. Under his manage- ment its capacity has been greatly enlarged to meet the demands of the trade, and upon an average of from twenty-eight to thirty- five hands are given employment every work- ing day of the year. The weekly pay roll amounts to about one hundred and sixty dol- lars, exclusive of the salary of the two sales- men who represent the factory in the states of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan. The output is about two hundred and fifty dozen every week, which finds ready sale, and such is the demand for these articles that it will soon become necessary to in- crease the productive capacity of the fac- tory and add to the force of operators. What success has come to Mr. Hunsicker, and it is by no means small, has been the re- sult of his own efforts, supplemented by a judgment and business capacity of a very high order. He inherited no wealth and began the struggle of life with no financial aid and little assistance from influential friends. The only heritage that came to him was a sound constitution, an active mind, a thorough brand of American pluck and grit, and an intelligent comprehension of the way in which to put these to the best uses. With an inborn industry and a
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.