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 17
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Josiah Feeder
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crat, fraternally a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and in matters of re- ligion an earnest and devout worker in the Baptist church. He lived a long and use- ful life and entered into rest on the 7th day of April, 1900, at the age of seventy-five. Five children were born to John G. and Lydia (Weaver) Feeser, namely : John H., Josiah, Morris, Alfred and Laura, all liv- ing, the father being the first of the family to be called to the other life.
Josiah Feeser was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, on the 23rd day of December, 1855. He received his educa- tional training in the public schools of Springfield, Ohio, and Bluffton, Indiana, and at the early age of twelve entered his father's shop for the purpose of learning blacksmithing. Naturally skilled in the use of tools, he soon became an efficient work- man and for a number of years was his father's able assistant, later, as already stated, becoming a partner in the business. In 1880 he was united in marriage to Miss Josie Kretner, of Ft. Wayne, daughter of Joseph Kretner, and one year later became a member of the firm of Feeser & Son, which relationship continued until the father's death in 1900.
Since the latter year Mr. Feeser has been sole proprietor of the establishment and has more than doubled its capacity. He employs a large number of skillful work- men, does all kinds of blacksmithing, manu- factures wagons, carriages, buggies and other vehicles, besides carrying on an ex- tensive repair shop which has proven one of the most remunerative departments of his large and constantly increasing business. Familiar with every detail of his establish- ment and possessing executive ability of
high order, Mr. Feeser has never met with a reverse of fortune. His career has been most satisfactory from a financial point of view, his business at this time being confined to Bluffton and adjacent country, although many of his vehicles are shipped to other cities in Indiana and adjoining states.
Mr. Feeser's record as a business man is without a blemish, while his sterling worth as a neighbor and citizen has won for him a host of friends and given him a position among the leading men of his adopted city. Primarily interested in his own affairs, he has not been neglectful of his duties to the public, consequently his name is identified with all commendable enterprises for the general good of the community. He is an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having been honored with im- portant official positions in both subordinate lodge and encampment. He is also a lead- ing worker in the Pythian brotherhood and Improved Order of Red Men, belonging to the Uniform Rank in the former and fill- ing important stations in both organizations. Mr. Feeser is not only a devout believer in revealed religion, but exemplifies his faith in his daily walk and conversation. He holds membership in the Baptist church of Bluffton, as does also his wife, and is one of the pillars of the congregation, using his influence and expending his means liberally for its support. In his political views he is a pronounced Democrat and has long been an aggressive worker in the party. In 1896 he was one of six candidates for the office of county recorder, but failed of election by only eighty-one votes, running far in ad- vance of the rest of his ticket.
All of Mr. Feeser's business life has been spent in Bluffton and his personal history
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presents no pages blotted by unworthy ac- tions. Few men here are as well and favor- ably known and none enjoy higher standing as a generous, obliging and self sacrificing friend. His hand is ever open to accommo- date the needy and no worthy object has ever appealed to him in vain for material assist- ance. To know him is to honor him, the large share of public esteem which he com- mands attesting his value to the community. Mr. and Mrs. Feeser have a beautiful home supplied with many of the conveniences and comforts of life, and their domestic relations are indeed most pleasant and agreeable. They are the parents of three children, whose names are Jasper, Jesse and Nina.
ISAAC NEWTON HATFIELD, M. D ..
The subject of this sketch has attained an enviable position in the medical world. gaining distinguished repute which comes only through ability and skill, the legitimate reward of faithful and persistent effort. Progressive in the broadest sense of the term, he keeps abreast the times in all mat- ters pertaining to his noble calling and his advanced methods and thorough under- standing have brought him not only eni- ment professional success but liberal finan- cial rewards as well. Dr. Isaac Newton Hatfield is a lineal descendant of John Hat- field, a noted banker and business man of England who figured prominently in the commercial and financial affairs of the East Indies about the middle of the eighteenth century. For particulars concerning the Hatfield genealogy the reader is respectfully referred to the sketch of James Clement
Hatfield, in which the family history is given at some length. Adam Hatfield, son of the above John, came to America about the year 1772 and settled in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, subsequently moving to Cincinnati, Ohio, where his death oc- curred. Among his children was a son by the name of Joseph who as early as 1839 came to Wells county, Indiana, and located in Jefferson township where he cleared a farm and became a leading man of affairs. This was his home until his death, June 29, 1876, at the age of eighty-five years. He was twice married. By his first wife, Phebe Peppard, he had nine children : Margaret, Isaac, Elizabeth, Robert, Mary, Rebecca, John, David and Phoebe. By his second wife, Mary A. Marshall, he had two sons, Gilmore and Robison. The son John mar- ried Ann Harter and to this couple was born, on the 18th day of August, 1856, the subject of this biography.
Isaac Newton Hatfield first saw the light of day in what is now Union township and received his early training in close touch with nature on his father's farm. During the summer months his employments were such as are common to country boys and after the harvests were gathered and the work of the year done he attended the public school in the neighborhood. To these early years, under the tutelage of parents whose ambition was to engraft upon the minds of the children such principles as would insure honor and usefulness, the Doctor is largely indebted for that integrity of character and well defined purpose that have pre-eminent- ly distinguished him in his life work. After finishing the common school course he en- tered the graded school of Bluffton where he pursued his studies with great assiduity,
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obtaining a knowledge of some of the high- er branches of learning. Actuated by a laudable desire to add to his educational dis- cipline, he subsequently became a student of the Northern Indiana Normal Univers- ity of Valparaiso and after spending two years in that institution entered Hanover College where he prosecuted his intellectual work about the same length of time. By reason of ill health he was obliged to quit his studies before completing the prescribed course, after which he traveled quite ex- tensively throughout the west with the ob- ject in view of recuperating his physical energies. In this way he not only satisfied his desire for seeing something of the vast extent of our country and learning of its wonderful resources, but added largely to his experience and increased those powers of mind which have since been often drawn upon in the requirements of the profession in which he has achieved such signal hon- ors. While acquiring his literary education the Doctor taught two terms of school in his native county and had he seen fit to con- tinue in that useful work he doubtless would have become distinguished as an educator. But there comes a time in every young man's life when the desire for a permanent calling rises superior to every other consideration and to this the subject was no exception. Having selected medicine as the profession best suited to his taste, he at once addressed himself to a preparatory course of discipline, after which, in 1881, he entered the medical department of the Iowa University, at Iowa City. He prosecuted his studies and investi- gations in that institution until completing the course in 1884, meantime during the summer of the previous years doing special work in the College of Physicians and Sur-
geons at Chicago. Immediately after gradu- ating, Dr. Hatfield began the practice of his profession at Osakee, Jefferson county, Kansas, but after a residence of two and a half years at that place he was led to seek another location on account of his health, which had broken down under the unfavor- able influence of the climate and stress of professional duty. In 1887 he returned to his native county and opened an office at Bluffton, where he has since remained, meantime building up the large and lucra- tive practice which he now commands.
Dr. Hatfield brought to his calling a mind well trained by severe intellectual and professional discipline and with an ambition to excel has steadily advanced until he is now easily the peer of any man in a city noted for the high order of its medical tal- ent. He has ever been a student and so ab- sorbing is his industry that he knows not what it is to eat the bread of idleness. In him are combined the essential qualities and characteristics of the ideal family physician, the kindly presence, the gentle touch; the courteous demeanor, which at once enlists the sympathy both of patient and friends and without which the most skillful treat- ment ofttimes proves unavailing. Equally proficient in medicine and surgery, his suc- cess in many critical cases and delicate opera- tions early brought him prominently to the notice of the public and now in addition to his home practice, which includes a wide range, he is frequently called to distant places to treat diseases which baffle the skill of the ordinary physician. In order the more thoroughly to acquaint himself in the latest discoveries in medicinal science and to become familiar with the most approved methods of modern practice, Dr. Hatfield,
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in the year 1892-3, took a post-graduate course in the Polyclinic College, Chicago, where, under the direction of some of the most distinguished professors of the land, he fitted himself for still greater usefulness as a healer of humanity. While in Kansas he was a member of the medical association of that state and since locating at Bluffton he has been identified with the Wells County Medical Society and the Medical Society of Indiana, having served as presi- dent of the former.
While a student in the Iowa University Dr. Hatfield became acquainted with a young lady of culture and refinement by the name of Cora B. Watson, between whom and himself a warm attachment soon sprang up, which, ripening into love, eventually led to marriage. The ceremony which made the two husband and wife was solemnized on the 4th day of June, 1884, and the union has been blessed with one child, a daugh- ter, Miss Nina, whose birth occurred Sep- tember 10, 1887. . Mrs. Hatfield was born at West Liberty, Iowa, and is the daughter of Albert Watson, an enterprising and suc- cessful farmer of that state.
While interested in all movements for the public good and taking a pardonable pride in the growth and welfare of Bluff- ton and Wells county, the Doctor has little time to devote to affairs outside his own profession. He is an exceedingly busy man, consequently has entertained no ambi- tion for political distinction nor has he ever been an aspirant for office of any kind. In politics he is a Republican, but beyond vot- ing for his party nominees he has little to do with the distraction of partisan strife. As stated in a preceding paragraph, the Doc- tor's financial success has been commensur-
ate with his professional advancement and he is now in independent circumstances. He has a comfortable and attractive home on West Cherry street, where, after the busy cares of the day are over, he finds in an al- most ideal domestic circle that rest and re- creation which only a busy, energetic man of his mental and social character knows so well how to appreciate and enjoy. In addition to the members of his immediate household Dr. Hatfield has opened his home to his wife's nephew, an orphan boy, whom he is rearing and educating with the same attention he would bestow upon a child of his own. Religiously the Doctor and fam- ily are Presbyterians; socially they are fa- vorites in the best society circles of the city. The foregoing is but a feeble attempt to out- line the career of this intelligent, broad minded and pre-eminently honorable man. Belonging to one of the oldest, best known and most respectable families of Wells county, his course in life has been such as to add to its honorable reputation and doubt- less he will leave to his descendants the same spotless name for which his ancestors were distinguished. He is now in the prime of manhood, physically and intellectually, with many years of usefulness yet before him, and it is a compliment worthily bestowed to state that there are few who can compete with him in all that goes to make up the pol- ished, courteous and praiseworthy gentle- men.
SYLVESTER LOUNSBURY.
Sylvester Lounsbury was born March 6, 1844, in Jackson township, Wells county, Indiana, in sight of the place where he now
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lives. His parents, Smith Lounsbury, born in 1801, and Jeannett (Tomlinson) Louns- bury, born in 1804, were natives of the state of Connecticut. After Smith's marriage he first settled in Connecticut, engaged in farm work, remaining there until the year 1831, when he emigrated with his family to Co- shocton county, Ohio, where he remained about two years. At that time, about 1833. he removed to Marion, Grant county, Indi- ana, when one or two log cabins constituted all there was of the now bustling and im- portant city on the banks of the Mississin- ewa. About 1840 he moved onto the Sali- monie river in Wells county, and here en- tered at one time about four hundred acres of land in the woods. There were no roads at this time, but bridle paths led from Marion to his new possessions. In going to and returning from Ft. Wayne, Indiana, where the land office was then located, he would lie down and sleep in the woods be- side the path when and wherever night would overtake him. Smith Lounsbury was the father of seven children, three of whom are yet living: Jane, born in Connecticut February 16, 1825, deceased; Truman, born in Connecticut, January 9, 1828, deceased ; Nathan, born in Connecticut July 8, 1830, deceased; Hannah, born in Ohio October 5, 1832; Matilda, born in Marion, Indiana, July 22, 1835, deceased; Henrietta, born November 3, 1837, on Sugar creek in Grant county, widow of J. I. McGrew, Montpe- lier, Indiana, who is now deceased; Sylves- ter, the subject, born on Salimonie river in Wells county.
The subject attended the district schools of Jackson township until he was twelve years of age. While he did not attend school after that early age, yet he is self-
educated to an extent sufficient to enable him to attend to all kinds of business. He has been a commissioner of Wells county and is now serving as a justice of the peace and finds no difficulty in transacting the business appertaining to those positions. The elder Lounsbury died when the sub- ject was but a child, and when the latter was seventeen years of age he assumed the man- agement of the farm, remaining home, car- ing for and supporting his mother. He con- tinued thus until he was about twenty years old, when he decided to do for himself, and went into Delaware county, working by the day and month three years in that and Henry county, spending also some time in this manner in Michigan. After working five years in this way, he returned home to again care for his mother and was with her until her death. The last two years of her life she was continually in a very poor state of health and the subject believes he spent five hundred nights during that time at her bedside, working on the farm during the daytime.
Sylvester Lounsbury was married March 10, 1877, to Mahala Matlack, who was born November 14, 1856, in Preble county, Ohio. She was a daughter of Wil- liam and Catherine (Stambach) Matlack, William being a native of Pennsylvania and Catherine of Ohio. William was married and first settled in Ohio, but about the year 1857 they removed to Huntington county, Indiana, purchasing the old McFarren farm, on which they lived the remainder of their lives. William Matlack was the father of four children, , all of whom are living: David T., farmer in Liberty town- ship, Wells county, married Mary E. Prid- dy and is the father of two sons, George A.
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and Edward ; Mary J. is the wife of Thomas Mounsey, a farmer of Liberty township, and is the mother of three children, Mahala, Debbie and Elna; Martha, wife of Thomas Weekly, a resident of Wells county, was first married to Palmer McKee, and is the mother of four children, David, Ida, Wil- liam and Mattie; Mahala, the wife of, the subject. Mrs. Lounsbury was but a child when brought to Huntington county by her parents, and she was here reared, re- ceiving her education in the common schools. She is a lady of most pleasing ad- dress, of an affectionate nature, and has been a true and loving wife and mother. By her untiring efforts she has assisted largely in the erection of their cosy and comfort- able home. After his marriage the subject settled on the farm he now occupies. He had at that time one hundred and twenty acres of land, on which he has since made many improvements and to which he has added by purchase two tracts of fifty-three acres and eighty acres respectively, and he now has a fine farm of two hundred and fifty-three acres in Wells county. He now has fourteen producing oil wells, which are probably yielding from sixty to sixty-five barrels of oil per day.
The subject devotes the greater part of his time to farming and especially to stock- raising. He has handled some western horses and has been greatly interested in cattle, especially of the shorthorn variety. Of sheep he prefers the Shropshire breed. The subject is the father of eight children : Wells, born July 25, 1884, at home; Vaughn, born January 5, 1888, at home; Ralph, born May 15, 1886; Cletus, born February 16, 1890; Fern, born November 30, 1891; Earl, born February 5, 1893;
Jeanette, born May 3, 1894; Winnie, born May 10, 1897.
Mr. Lounsbury has always acted with the Democratic party and is a firm be- liever in the principles of that organization. He was elected, by his party about 1880, as one of the commissioners of Wells county, and served for three years, his colleagues being Studabaker and John Sowards, who died soon after the subject became a mem- ber of the board, Ephraim Middaugh being appointed to the vacancy for the unexpired term. The first official business transacted after the subject became a member of the board was the letting of the contract for the Wells county jail. The first gravel roads in the county were built during his term of office. At about the same time the iron bridges in the county were also built, the old wooden bridges going down at that time and iron ones being generally substi- tuted, the board advertising at one time for bids on as many as ten iron bridges for crossing streams in different parts of the county, but the board from some cause failed to receive a single bid on these bridges. The subject, as he says, "took the ox by the horns," contracted for the stone and hired men to build the bridges. Mr. Lounsbury was appointed and afterward elected assessor and land appraiser for Jack- son township, in which capacity he served for three years. . Since November, 1901, he has been serving as justice of the peace of his township.
It has been the lot of the subject of this sketch to live at a period of our national history which has enabled him to see many of the transitions of the country from that of the possession of simply the utilitarian necessities of a new country and a border
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civilization to that of the luxuries and cul- ture which are the sequence of older and longer settled communities. His labors and experiences have partaken of the nature both of the pioneer and the recipients of the fruits of a yet earlier race of empire build- ers. Armed with the mental equipment se- cured in the common school, supported by the scant facilities of his early youth, he entered and bravely faced the battles of life. De- prived in childhood of a father's love and protection, he devoted years of his youth and young manhood to the filial care and support of his widowed mother. In the race of life, which his friends hope may not close for many years, his native ability, sup- plemented by his self improvement and uni- ted with his strength of character, has en- abled him to win a competence and serve with honor in the several offices to which the esteem and confidence of his party friends has successively called him. He is a successful farmer and business man, a good citizen and neighbor and worthy of the high estimation in which he is held.
Mr. and Mrs. Lounsbury have in their possession several relics of "ye olden days," among which are two double coverlets, and a counterpane woven or made by Mrs. Lounsbury's mother. They also have copies of the oldest almanacs extant, one, published in 1816, having been published by Cotton and called "New Virginia Alma- nack;" also an almanac of 1805, and a Bible printed about 1800.
MRS. ELIZABETH GEHRETT.
Among the more prominent, refined and noble ladies of Bluffton and Wells county,
Indiana, is Mrs. Elizabeth Gehrett, who was born about fifty-two years ago in Medina county, Ohio, a daughter of David and Christina (Shaffer) Keller, natives of Ger- many. David and Christina Keller were both children when brought to America by their respective parents, who settled in Me- dina county, Ohio, in close proximity to each other, and there the two children. grew to maturity together and in due time were united in marriage. David Keller engaged largely in farming and stock raising in Medina county, Ohio, was a quiet and un- assuming gentleman, was held in the high- est esteem by his neighbors, and passed the remainder of his life on his farm.
To David and Christina Keller were born eight children, of whom six are still living, two of the daughters being married to well-to-do farmers in Nottingham town- ship, Wells county. Elizabeth, one of these six survivors, was reared on the home farm and in her girlhood days was familiar with the duties pertaining to a rural home. Dur- ing the proper seasons of the year she was sent to the district school and, being bright and apt, easily acquired the knowledge with which her mind is so well stored today ; later on she attended the normal school and was trained to the technicalities of teaching.
On coming from her native state to Wells county, Indiana, to visit an elder sister in Nottingham township, Elizabeth Keller was employed for several terms as a school teacher and while thus engaged she formed the acquaintance of Henry S. Gehrett, a native of the township and a son of Amos Gehrett. This acquaintanceship ripened into a warmer feeling and September 20, 1868, Henry S. Gehrett and Elizabeth Keller were joined in the holy bonds of matrimony.
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Henry S. Gehrett was born in 1846 and was reared to farming and stock raising, but in early life he was given ample oppor- tunity to attend the district schools during the winter seasons and thus secured a very fair education. On reaching his majority he engaged in agriculture on his own ac- count and farmed on a very extensive scale and also raised great numbers of cattle and other live stock. He was a man of true worth and honesty and was ever recognized as one of the best citizens of Wells county.
In 1889 Henry S. Gehrett withdrew from farming and took up his residence in Bluffton and engaged in the livery business, in which he continued the remainder of his life, dying March 31, 1894. Although not a member of any church, Mr. Gehrett was a liberal contributor to all the congregations in his neighborhood and was himself a strictly moral man, being guided in all his acts by the sublime lesson inculcated by the Master in his Sermon on the Mount and familiarly designated as the Golden Rule. In politics Mr. Gehrett was a Democrat and was active in the interests of his party, but preferred to devote his attention to his pri- vate affairs and the interests of his family.
To Henry S. and Elizabeth (Shaffer) Gehrett were born three children, viz : Sarah A., deceased; Amos S. and Hugh L., also deceased. The departure of these chil- dren leaves Mrs. Gehrett somewhat forlorn in the decline of life, but she possesses ex- cellent business qualifications and ably manages her farm of two hundred and forty acres, eighty acres of which reach the in- corporated town of Bluffton and one hun- dred and sixty acres a little further away in Nottingham township. The residence of Mrs. Gehrett, however, is on East Market
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