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 23
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L. L. DeHaven was married in 1890 to Miss Minnie J. Liest, a native of Wells county, and this union has been blessed with two children, Bessie and Frank. Mr. and Mrs. DeHaven are members of the Presby- terian church, and Mr. DeHaven is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 92 and also of the order of American Me- chanics No. 5, a beneficial organization. In politics Mr. DeHaven is a Democrat, but has never been an office seeker. He is a very gentlemanly young man and visitors to the
water works invariably depart highly pleased with his treatment of them.
Walter B. DeHaven, superintendent of the Bluffton water-works and the father of Lew L. DeHaven, was born in Summit county, Ohio, May 28, 1843, and is a son of Nathaniel DeHaven, a native of Pennsyl- vania, who came to Bluffton in 1854, where he had a shingle and lath factory, and where he died in 1872 in his eighty-fifth year, the father of fourteen children, of whom seven still survive. Walter B. grew to manhood in Bluffton, here learned the profession of engineer, and has been a foreman or has al- ways held some equally responsible position, being recognized as one of the best in- formed machinists in Wells county. When the water-works were established in Bluffton in 1886 Walter B. was selected on account of his superior ability to fill the position of superintendent and his son, Lew L., was ap- pointed his assistant. So satisfactorily have been their services that they have been re- tained ever since with occasional increase of compensation for their invaluable services as the plant became more and more re- munerative. Walter B. DeHaven was first united in marriage, in 1864, with Miss Dor- othy Pleasinger, sister of J. B. Pleasinger, ex-sheriff of Wells county, and this union has been blessed by the birth of nine chil- dren. Mrs. Dorothy DeHaven was called away in the faith of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. DeHaven chose for his second wife Lavina Elwell, a native of Bluffton, who died in 1895. In politics Mr. DeHaven is a Democrat and has served as a member of the city council of Bluffton for four years, but has never been ambitious as to holding office. He is a member of Bluff- ton Lodge No. 145, F. & A. M., and is a
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quiet, unassuming gentleman, a good neigh- bor, and is highly respected and well known throughout Wells county.
GEORGE TURNER.
The subject of this sketch, who was born January 22, 1858, is a son of James Tur- ner, a native of Greene county, Ohio, and Mary (Arnold) Turner, a native of Darke county, the same state, and was born in Jackson township, Wells county, on the farm on which he now resides. James, the father, was a son of Jonathan and Polly Turner, natives of Ohio, the latter a daugh- ter of Samuel B. and Mary Arnold, and of Irish descent, while her husband's ancestors were English. They both died in Wells county. James Turner came with his par- ents to Wells county in an early day and settled in Chester township on the farm now owned by Simeon Crosby, where they re- sided until they died. Jonathan Turner was the father of five children, two of which are yet living : James, deceased, father of the subject; George, deceased; Catherine, deceased, who was the wife of Jesse Thom- as, of Chester Center, Wells county ; Mar- gerie, the wife of Isaac Gray, now a resi- dent of the state of New York; Tilda, the wife of Milton Shields. James Turner, the father of the subject, was married to Mary Arnold and settled on a farm in Chester township and began as a farmer, but after two years they removed to Montpelier, In- diana, where he learned the blacksmithing trade. Grandfather Arnold, who was of German descent, was born in New York state, while his wife, who was of English
descent, was a native of Maryland. After working at his trade for about twelve years he traded a horse for forty acres of land in the woods and returned to Wells county. Here he followed farming until his death, which occurred in September, 1880, on the farm where his widow yet lives. James Turner was the father of five children, two of whom are yet living, the subject and twin sister, Barbara. Mary E. died in early child- hood; Susanna, deceased, was the wife of I. N. Perry, and Eli, who died at the age of two years.
The subject attended the public schools of Montpelier and Jackson township, Wells county, until he was seventeen years old, after which he remained with and worked for his father until he was twenty-one years of age. He then got married and com- menced work on the home place, his father furnishing seed, teams and implements, giv- ing George one-third of the crops. He farmed' in this way for about six years, when he bought the stock and implements, after, which he received two-thirds of the products of the farm, and thus continued to work until his father's death. He now owns an eighty-acre farm of fine land (the old home place), about sixty of which is in a high state of cultivation.
Mr. Turner is one of the lucky ones who have struck oil. His farm, being in the "belt," now contains ten producing wells, from which he derives a profit of about one hundred and forty dollars per month, and this number will be increased by three or four additional wells when his farm is fully developed in that line. He now has one well to each five acres. He has devoted his whole life to farming and breeding of fine stock, as his well cultivated farm and herds
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of Poland China hogs, Durham cattle and Shropshire sheep attest.
The subject of this sketch has been twice married, his first wife being Eva Krise, a daughter of Isaac and Janie Krise, who died after two years of married life, leaving a son, Charles Albert, six months old. This son married Miss Pearl Booher and is now an oil worker in Grant county. For his second wife Mr. Turner married Sarah J. Saxon, a daughter of James and Sarepta (Boyles) Saxon. To this union ten chil- dren were born, nine of whom are now liv- ing: Eva E. married Frederick Ice and is the mother of one child, Carrie; James H., an oil worker; Mary M., at home; Emma I., at home; Margaret ; Francis M., at home; Sarah M., at home; George W., deceased ; Harmon, at home, and John D. As an instance of the success attending a definite purpose and well directed efforts in life, the subject of this sketch is a living example. He is a worthy descendant of one of the hardy pioneers who pushed on to aid in reclaiming the wilderness and found a home in the west. He has lived to see and enjoy the full fruition of the labors and hopes of the early settlers and he received as the reward of his own labor a well mer- ited prosperity. He is now in the posses- sion of a pleasant home, a competency for his declining years, surrounded by sons and daughters whose future achievements shall add honor to his name. His wife is a mem- ber of the Disciples church and he contrib- utes liberally of his means to the cause. Politically the subject is a Democrat, which ticket he has voted since his majority .with the exception of the first, which he cast for James A. Garfield for President. He is a close reader and takes some interest in the
party campaigns, but devotes his time prin- cipally to his farming interests.
WILLIAM COLBERT.
William Colbert, born October 2, 1849, on the farm where he now lives, is a son of George Colbert, a native of Ohio, and Mrs. Elizabeth King (Collins) Colbert, also a na- tive of Ohio. George married a Miss Chap- man in Ohio, and in an early day came to Jackson township, Wells county, Indiana, and settled on the farm where the subject of this sketch now lives. The land at that time was all in woods, but he afterward cleared it up. He remained on this farm until his death and was buried on the place, as was his first wife also. He married Mrs. Elizabeth Col- lins for his second wife and to this union were born six children, four of whom are yet alive: William; Isaiah, a twin, died when about three years of age ; Isaac, now a resident of Huntington county, Indiana ; George, now residing in the state of Cali- fornia ; Nancy J., deceased, and Lucinda, the wife of Samuel Haines. William at- tended the public schools in Jackson town- ship until he was about eighteen years of age. Then remaining with his father until he was twenty-one, he began cropping on the home farm, and so continued until his father made a division of his land. About 1867 William Colbert was married to Miss Amanda Miller, a daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Jones) Miller, both natives of Wells county, Indiana, where they were married and settled on the farm now owned by Nancy Miller and her second husband, James Hutson. Joseph Miller, who died
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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM COLBERT.
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when Amanda was a small child, was the father of seven children, four of whom are yet living : Mary E., deceased; Isaac, de- ceased; Rebecca, the wife of Elijah Morri- son; Amanda, wife of William Colbert; Samuel, now a resident of Warren, Indiana; Josephine, deceased; and Delilah, wife of Samuel Huffman, of Jackson township.
After his marriage William Colbert moved into the house with his father and after one year he built a house on his fath- er's farm and moved into it, remaining there for four years. His father, becoming dis- satisfied at this time, wanted William to move back on the home farm, which he did and cared for his father until the latter's death; he has since remained on the same farm. He now owns seventy-one acres of fine land, on which there are two producing oil wells; the lease on his farm for develop- ment in that line is just beginning,however. He has devoted his whole time to farming interests and is also a general stock farmer, usually breeding Poland China hogs and shorthorn cattle.
Mr. Colbert's family consists of four children : Mamie J. is the wife of Louis Minnich, a resident of Jackson township, Wells county, and they have one child, Park F .; Cora A. married H. J. Roby, a farmer of Jackson township, Wells county, Indiana, and they have two children, Beryl O. and Hazel; Daniel L., who married Clara Beard, is an oil pumper and lives on a part of the old homestead; Joseph C., an oil pumper, is at home.
Mr. Colbert and wife were formerly members of the Christian church, but the congregation to which they belonged is now disbanded. He has always been a Democrat and has been somewhat active in politics.
William Colbert is an enterprising, ener- getic citizen, fully alive to the questions of the day, with an inclination to the perform- ance of his civic duties from conscientious motives and a due regard to the rights of others, and himself and family are held in high esteem in the community in which they live.
SAMUEL C. KNOTT.
Samuel C. Knott was born June 25. 1845, in Delaware county, Indiana, the son of James and Susan ( Moffett) Knott. His father was a native of Guilford county, North Carolina, born November 22, 1808, and married Susan Moffett November 22, 1831, on his twenty-third birthday. Susan was born October 8, 1813, and had come to Fayette county, Indiana, in an early day with her parents, James and Mary Moffett. There James Knott married her and they settled down to farming in Fayette county for a short time and then came to Delaware county, Indiana, and settled on land in the woods. Susan died when the subject was seventeen months old. She and her hus- band were making a visit in Fayette county, Indiana, when she was taken sick and died November 19, 1846, being buried in that county. James, the father of Samuel, mar- ried Charity Vanmetre, his second wife, in 1850, and spent the remainder of his life in Delaware county, Indiana. His wife died October 6, 1857, and his death ensued June 6, 1863. To his first union six chil- dren were born, four of whom are yet liv- ing: Mary Emma, born April 12, 1833, died about August, 1875; William P., born November 25, 1834, now a resident of
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Blountsville, Henry county, Indiana; John W., born July 12, 1836, now a resident of Jackson township, Wells county, Indiana ; Martha, born December 25, 1838, died about 1889; Minerva J., born November 16, 1848, the wife of John S. Barr, a res- ident of Blountsville, Henry county, Indi- ana, and Samuel C., residing in Jackson township. To the second marriage one child was born, Margaret J., born April 4, 1855, and died January 23, 1884.
Samuel C. Knott was educated in Del- aware county, attending the district schools of that county until he was seventeen years of age, and then remained with his father for one year longer, or until he was eigh- teen. He then left home and began work- ing by the month in a tan yard in Sulphur Springs, Henry county, Indiana, where he remained for five or six months and then went to Connersville, Indiana, and worked in a tan yard for John L. Gilchrist for about one year. He then came back to Delaware county and worked by the month on a farm for about one year, after which he came to Wells county, Indiana, and worked for his brother a while and also by the day in the fall of 1865. September 2 of that year he was married to Clorinda Bevington, a daughter of R. A. and Catherine (Shadle) Bevington (for whose history see sketch of O. B. Bevington).
After his marriage Samuel and wife set- tled on a part of R. A. Bevington's farm for a short time and then moved to Warren, where they remained for a number of years. He was engaged in working at the carpen- ter's trade, a business which he followed. ex- clusively for twenty-eight years, working in Warren, Hartford City and Cambridge City. He also contracted in Wells county
awhile and then in the cities of Bluffton, Ft. Wayne, Summitville and Montpelier, Indi- ana. March 1, 1898, he settled on the farm where they now live. He now has fifty- five and a half acres of land, with five pro- ducing oil wells on the farm, which yield him a profit of fifty dollars per month. He is now a general stock farmer, but has spent the greater portion of his life as a carpen- ter, only devoting a few of his later years to the interests of the farm. He is the father of seven children, six of whom are still living: Olive L., born March 2, 1867, married T. F. Ochiltree, an oil pumper in Blackford county, and they have four chil- dren, Ruby, Ethel, Charles and Mildred ; Catherine L. was born July 20, 1869, mar- ried L. C. Johnson, now a resident of Washington, D. C., and they have two chil- dren, Zeffie, deceased, and Blanche, born January 28, 1871, who married H. S. By- all, a resident of Jackson township, Wells county, Indiana; they have three children, Samuel, deceased, Robert and Vernon; Harry was born September 30, 1874, died July 28, 1875; O. E., in the state of New Jersey, a teacher and a graduate in Vorhis Business College; J. C. was born August I, 1880, and is a barber in Marion, Indiana; Pearl, born April 23, 1884, single and at home with parents. Mrs. Knott and the children are connected with the Church of Christ and are exemplary members of that denomination. Samuel Knott is, as he' ex- presses it, a thorough Democrat and during campaign times does active party work. He has served as constable of Chester township and is now filling a position as one of the road overseers of Jackson township. He is an active, every-day citizen, a native of the Hoosier state, where he has lived all his
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life. Like the majority of boys born on farms in the country, after obtaining the rudiments of an education in the common schools, he launched out into the world to carve out his own "niche" and became the architect of his own fortunes. With that adaptability which seems inherent in the youth of our land to turn a hand to almost any kind of work, he, after working for short periods of time at various pursuits, married, at the age of about twenty years, and settled down to the work of a carpenter and contractor, which business he actively followed for a period of twenty-eight years, extending his operations' over a territory embracing several counties, cities, towns and neighborhoods. After engaging exclu- sively in this business for so long a period of time he, like many mechanics born in the country, yielded to his bucolic instincts and love of early associations, and in 1898 pur- chased a nice little farm of fifty odd acres. It has on it a number of oil wells, which yield him a nice little income, which he is supplementing by indulging his proclivities for fine stock, in the breeding of both hogs and cattle of the better grades. In this man- ner he has settled down to enjoy life, and, possessing the esteem of all his neighbors, his remaining years promise to pass in cheerful contentment.
DAVID EICHHORN.
For a number of years a representative farmer of Lancaster township, where he still has valuable possessions, but of late connected with the industrial interests of Bluffton, the subject of this sketch is en-
titled to much more than passing notice in the biographical review of Wells county's progressive men. As may be inferred from the name. Mr. Eichhorn is of German line- age. His father, Philip Eichhorn, was born in the Fatherland, and when a youth came to the United States, the family settling in Crawford county, Ohio. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Margaret Hass- ler, was also of German birth and her ar- rival in America was contemporary with that of her future husband. After their marriage the parents settled on a farm in Crawford county, and continued to reside there until the year 1864, when they moved to Wells county, Indiana, locating in Rock Creek township, where Philip Eichhorn be- came the owner of a large and valuable tract of land, numbering about eight hundred acres. He was a man of great energy and thrift, provided liberally for his family and at his death, which occurred not long after his arrival left a large estate much of which is still in possession of his descend- ants. The property was divided among the children, viz: Frederick, William, John, Daniel, Elizabeth, Mary, David, Margaret and Philip.
David Eichhorn, whose name introduces this article, was born in Crawford county, Ohio, September 11, 1852. When about eleven years old he was brought to Indiana and from that time to the present his life has been very closely interwoven with the growth and development of Wells county. Blessed with excellent parentage and reared according to the democracy of the farm, he early developed strength of char- acter and definiteness of purpose, which served well as a foundation for the success- ful career which he has since led as an enter-
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prising farmer and business man and intel- ligent, broad minded member of the body politic. The public schools afforded him the means of a fair education, but by far the greater part of his knowledge is of that practical kind obtained by coming in contact with the world in the stern school of experi- ence. Until twenty-one years of age Mr. Eichhorn remained on the farm with his mother, whose interests he looked after as became a true and faithful son. On attain- ing his majority he began working for him- self and four years later was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary E. Griffin, the ceremony being solemnized on the 6th day of August, 1876. Mrs. Eichhorn was born in Wells county, her parents having been among the early and well known pioneers of this part of the state.
Immediately following his marriage, Mr. Eichhorn moved to a quarter section of land in the county of Wells, which he still owns and on which he lived and pros- pered until October, 1901, when he turned the place over to the hands of others and moved to Bluffton, with the object in view of spending the remainder of his life in re- tirement. Mr. Eichhorn's career as an ag- riculturist was fortunate in every respect, as is attested by the ample competence ac- quired during the years of his active labor. He became one of the leading farmers of the county, also took high rank as a business man, while his standing as a citizen was sec- ond to that of no other man in the township of his residence. Shortly after moving to Bluffton he became associated with N. E. Stafford and G. A. Harnish in the manu- facture of flour, the partnership thus con- stituted being still in existence. This firm has completely rebuilt and remodeled the
Wabash River Mill, furnished it with machinery for the manufacture of flour by the latest improved process and under the personal supervision of Mr. Stafford, a practical miller of many years' experience. the enterprise has become one of the city's most important industries. Mr. Eichhorn has long been interested in the progress of his adopted county, and his attitude to- wards all movements having for their ob- ject its material advancement has been that of a wide awake, enterprising and thor- oughly public spirited man. He has served his township in various official capacities, but has never been an office seeker, although for many years one of the leading Demo- crats of his part of the county. Believing the principles of Democracy to be for the best interests of the people, and having an abiding faith in the dignity of the party's mission, he has been active in supporting same, devoting much of his time to the cause in local, state and national contests. For some time he was a member of the township council and for a period of four years served as assessor, discharging the duties of both positions in a manner highly creditable to himself and satisfactory to the public.
Mr. Eichhorn holds fraternal relations with the Knights of Pythias, belonging to the lodge at Uniondale, which he has served in important official positions, besides rep- resenting it in the grand lodge of Indiana. He is an earnest believer in revealed relig- ion, and, like all true disciples, makes his daily life correspond with his profession. Reared according to the strict teachings of the German Reformed church, his early re- ligious instructions had a potent power in shaping his conduct, as is evident from the
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correct deportment and symmetrically de- veloped Christian character which has been manifest in all his relations with his fellow men. He has held office of deacon in the local church with which he is identified, his family also belonging to the German Re- formed communion.
Mr. and Mrs. Eichhorn are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows : Ira T., born September 27, 1877, is unmar- ried and still a member of the home circle; Stella P., born June 18, 1880, is the wife of John H. Lesh; Orville D., whose birth oc- curred on the 27th of May, 1882, has never left the parental roof; Elva M., wife of T. P. Paxson, was born August 31, 1885; Floa L. was born November 29, 1891, and Celia on the 27th day of October, 1893. Mr. Eichhorn is peculiarly blessed in his household and has so deported himself as to be a worthy example to his children. His life forcibly illustrates what can be accom- plished by concentration of purpose and in- domitable perseverance, directed and con- trolled by correct moral and religious prin- ciples. He is a fine representative of suc- cessful manhood, and possesses a character marked by integrity, true benevolence and a high sense of personal honor.
HENRY SCHAFFTER.
Notwithstanding the fact that the re- public of Switzerland is one of the smallest countries of the world, it has sent a large number of emigrants to the United States during the years that have elapsed since in- dependence was secured. The people of that country, appreciating the blessings of
liberty, of which they had a strong example in their own land, were not slow to recog- nize the possibilities that opened out in splendid perspective before all who ventured across the Atlantic and settled down to the pursuit of happiness and a competence. They have here become among the most in- telligent, patriotic, industrious and upright of our great and wonderful cosmopolitan population.
Henry Schaffter was born in Switzer- land May 12, 1818, and is the son of John H. Schaffter, also a native of that country. The father was an expert watchmaker and had a splendid reputation as a competent workman. He engaged in military service and was about to come to America to help fight for liberty and independence with Gen- eral Lafayette, in which war two of his brothers died. When the war closed he was sent to Spain and served twenty-four years under the French republic and the first em- pire, until the battle of Eiloo. He held rank as a commissioned officer, winning a high reputation as an able and gallant officer and was three times wounded. He was the father of four children, of whom the sub- ject is the only one now living.
Henry Schaffter remained under the par- ental roof until he was sixteen years old, in the meantime attending the common schools and acquiring a fair education. Upon leaving school he was apprenticed to learn the trade of cabinetmaker, at which he served two years. Upon the completion of his apprenticeship he worked for a time as a machinist, but afterward went to Ger- many and France and worked at the trade of cabinetmaking. In 1850, realizing that in America lay larger opportunities for a man of energy and ambition, he came to the
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