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 40
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of Hocking county. At the time they lo- cated in Wells county, Indiana, Bluffton contained one or two houses only, and Mr. Burgess maintained himself and family as a professional deer hunter. To Mr. and Mrs. Burgess were born ten children, viz: Mary, Gabe, Richard (deceased), John (de- ceased), Philemon, Mark, Emanuel, George, Lavina and Louisa (now Mrs. Nutter). To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Nutter have been born seven children, viz : Charles, deceased; Stella M., married to Allen Spoeheger, and now residing in Harrison township; Brenton F., at home; Bertram, deceased ; Gardner, deceased; Alva H. and Luta V. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Reiffsburg and Mr. Nutter is a member of Lodge No. 752, I. O. O. F., at Poneto, in which he was initiated in 1873. He has filled all the chairs of his lodge and has twice represent- ed it in the grand lodge. In politics Mr. Nutter is a Democrat and takes an active part in the work of his party locally, and in society circles he and wife stand very high.
JOHN A. ALSPACH.
John A. Alspach first saw the light of day in Jackson township, Wells county, Indiana, March 10, 1869. He is a son of Daniel Alspach, a native of Perry county, Ohio, who came to Wells county with his parents, Amos and Elizabeth Alspach, na- tives of Ohio, when he was twenty-one years of age. Amos, the grandfather of the sub- ject, is still living at the ripe old age of eighty-five years. Daniel Alspach died May 2, 1893. His wife, Henrietta, a daughter
of Reason and Catherine Bevington, natives of Ohio, was born in Wells county and is still living. Daniel Alspach was the father of four children, all of whom are living : John A., subject of this sketch; Asa B., an oil pumper in Jackson township; Orval, an oil pumper in Blackford county ; Daniel A., at home.
John A. Alspach attended the public schools in Jackson township until he was fifteen and remained with his father until he was twenty-one years of age. April 18, 1888, he was married to Sarah E. Jones, born in 1870, a daughter of Isaac and Sallie Jones, both of whom are yet living. After his marriage the subject settled on the Abi- gail Shadle farm in Chester township where he remained for one season, then locating on Daniel Jones' farm in Jackson town- ship, on which he remained for two years. He then moved on to Jane Bevington's farm in Jackson township which he cultivated for two years, when he removed to his mother's farm, remaining there until April, 1900. He then gave up farming and began as a pumper for the Ohio Oil Company on the G. Ter- hune lease. He is the father of five children, four of whom are still living : Delphos E., born May 2, 1890, died December 29, 1890; Fred H., born December 29, 1896; Ray- mond E., born January 3, 1898; Mabel D., born June 19, 1899, and Nelson D., born November 7, 1891.
Politically Mr. Alspach is an ardent Re- publican, and during the campaign times, like a war horse, he "sniffs the battle from afar" and when the contest rages he is in his element and by his efforts for the success of his party does honor to his early teaching.
The subject has the proud honor of being the son of a veteran of the Civil war,
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his father, Daniel Alspach, having enlisted soon after the beginning of hostilities in that splendid fighting regiment, the Forty-sev- enth Indiana, and was connected with it all through its glorious history of fifty-two months of arduous service for our country. Like thousands of others, he contracted dis- abilities in the service and his constitution was shattered, from the effects of which he died of consumption. John A. Alspach is a representative of the class which consti- tutes the bone and sinew of the country. Educated in the common schools and inherit- ing from a patriotic sire a hardy constitution and an innate love of his country's institu- tions, he has the brawn and muscle to wrest a livelihood either as a cultivator of the soil or as a member of the great army of work- ers in the industries of the country, coupled with the mental capacity and inclination to a participation in the political activities which shape and determine our civic status in the sisterhood of states.
LOUIS G. LANCASTER.
Weak and futile is the effort of parents of foreign birth to keep their children as zealously German, Scandinavian, Bohemian, Italian or other nationality as they them- selves are. The first generation that comes across the water herd to themselves and may influence to some extent the first generation born in America, but even the first genera- tion is as intensely American as the Daugh- ters of the Revolution. The average citi- zen of the United States, tracing back his family history, is surprised to discover how much German, Irish, Scotch. English and
other blood it takes to make one good American. Louis G. Lancaster, the subject of this sketch, is just such an American. He is a resident of Keystone, Chester town- ship, Wells county, Indiana, and in that township he was born on October 28, 1863, the son of Nathan and Mary (Starr) Lan- caster.
The paternal grandparents of Louis G. Lancaster were John and Ruth (Shields) Lancaster. She was of Irish parentage and was born in Virginia. He was born near Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, and was of English-Scotch ancestry, being, it is said, a descendant of the house of Lancaster which figured so prominently in English history, particularly during the wars of the Roses. In 1833 John and Ruth Lancaster settled in Grant county, Indiana, about where the soldiers' home is now located, the following year went to housekeeping, and in 1836 moved to a point near where Van Buren now stands. In the fall of 1837 they settled in Wells county, purchasing the land which is now owned and occupied by Nathan Lancaster, father of the subject. In 1890 John and Ruth Lancaster moved to Hart- ford City, and there resided until his death, June 29, 1900. His widow still lives, at the age of eighty-seven years, making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Miranda Cox. The subject had, a few years ago, his four grand- parents all living, the youngest of them being eighty-four years of age.
Benjamin and Matilda (Popejoy) Starr, the maternal grandparents of Louis G. Lancaster, were Virginians by birth, but were among the earliest settlers of Wells county. He was born December 27, 1814, and died January 20, 1899; his wife was born December 6, 1814, and died July 29,
MRS. LOUIS LANCASTER
LOUIS LANCASTER.
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1898. From a very small beginning they were quite prosperous and successful. The best years of their lives were spent in Wells county and there they remained until their deaths.
Nathan Lancaster, father of Louis G., was born in Van Buren township, Grant county, Indiana, October 25, 1836, and grew to manhood in Wells county. De- cember 18, 1862, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Starr, a native of Wells county, born February 5, 1837. Their home was on a tract of land, eighty acres, which he purchased of his father, and they cleared it, improved it and made a farm of it, and this has been the home place ever since. They are now owners of five hundred and ninety acres of land, all in Chester township, of which two hundred and forty acres consti- tute the home place. To Nathan and Mary ( Starr) Lancaster seven children were born, viz: Louis G., the subject of this sketch ; Harvey B. received a liberal education and followed teaching for two years ; Jennie L., wife of George A. Mason, a lawyer of Mont- pelier, Indiana, taught school a number of terms early in life; John E. died at the age of twenty-six years; Matilda E. died at the age of seven years; an infant died unnamed soon after birth; Orley L., who still makes his home with his parents, is a teacher of much success and considerable prominence.
Louis G. Lancaster grew to manhood in Chester township, Wells county, attended the public schools until he was eighteen years of age and profited well by his oppor- tunities. He attended the normal four terms and studied under the instruction of Pro- fessors P. A. Allen, W. H. Ernst and Samuel McCrea. He began teaching at the age of eighteen and continued as an edu-
cator for eight years. All those years he was devoting what time he could spare from his duties in the school room to the assist- ance of his father on the farm. On July 3, 1887, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah S. Williams, who was born March 4. 1864. She was a daughter of Andrew B. and Mary (Bugh) Williams, both natives of Ohio, and early settlers of Blackford county, Indiana. The mother, who was born September 24, 1834. died November 29, 1874, when Mary, the daughter and wife of the subject, was only ten years of age, the father, who was born October 6, 1822, dying on the 8th of October, 1881. They were the parents of ten children, viz: Henry, de- ceased ; Joseph resides in Blackford county ; Oliver is a resident of Blackford county ; Jennie, wife of Scott Swartz, of Newton, Kansas : Sarah, wife of the subject ; Andrew B., a resident of Chester township: Mary, the wife of Charles McGeath: Emma, de- ceased : James, deceased.
After marriage the young couple went to housekeeping on his father's home place. but remained there only one year. They then took up their abode at Montpelier. where he engaged in teaching, but subse- quently they moved to their present home. When this land was purchased by them it was wild, heavily timbered and wholly un- improved, but it is all cleared now, except- ing ten acres which is reserved for timber. On it Mr. Lancaster has dug all necessary ditches, built fences and the place is splen- didly cultivated. There are four producing oil wells on the place, yielding about a tank a month.
Mr. and Mrs. Louis G. Lancaster are the parents of four children, viz: Mary Pearl, born April 6, 1889: Grace, born November
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15, 1892 ; and infant daughter who died un- named; an infant son, born May 20, 1902. The parents are members of the Friends church of Keystone, Indiana, and are active in church as well as in all other works. He is a member of and has filled all the chairs in Lodge No. 410, I. O. O. F., at Montpelier, having joined the order in 1883. In politics he is a Republican and is always sufficiently interested in the success of his party to take part in the campaigns as they come around. He has served as delegate in many conven- tions, county, district and state, and has sel- dom failed to make his influence felt upon the proceedings. In 1900 he was commis- sioned a census taker and discharged the duties of the office with promptness and ef- ficiency.
General farming and stock raising is the business which Mr. Lancaster follows. He always aims to keep sufficient stock on his premises to consume the crops, Poland China hogs, Shropshire sheep and shorthorn cattle being the breeds he prefers on his place. His personal property, at a fair valu- ation, amounts to not less than twelve hundred dollars. He is a man of bright in- tellect, acknowledged ability and, being still young in years, gives promise of a future of which his relatives and friends will be proud.
DAVID OCHSENRIDER.
One of the thriving native-born farmers and successful educators of Wells county, Indiana, is David Ochsenrider, who is just entering upon the prime of life. He was born November 15, 1854, on the farm which he now owns and occupies in Nottingham
township, a son of Elias and Mary A. (Britegam) Ochsenrider, the former of whom was born in Berks county, Pennsyl- vania, December 14, 1825, and the latter also a native of the Keystone state.
When Elias Ochsenrider was still a young man he sought a home further west, locating in Fairfield county, Ohio, where he met and married Miss Britegam. He was engaged in farming until about 1846, when he came to Indiana and bought eighty acres of land from the McClish Brothers in Not- tingham township, Wells county. Three houses had already been erected on this land, one of which was utilized as a school house, but there had been but three acres cleared off ; however, Elias and his sons cleared up the whole place, with the exception of six acres on which a grove was left standing. On this new farm Mrs. Mary A. Ochsenrider passed the remainder of her life, and there Elias still resides at the age of seventy-seven years and is being filially cared for by his son David.
To Elias and Mary A. Ochsenrider were born nine children, namely : John H., a resi- dent of Nottingham township; William, living in Tazewell county, Illinois; Sarah A., deceased wife of Thomas Lyons, of Kansas; Jacob, in Bluffton, Wells county, Indiana; David; Abraham, of Grant county, Indiana ; Emma, who was married to Joseph Reaser, but is now deceased; Lavina, who died at the age of twelve years, and a daugh- ter who died in infancy.
David Ochsenrider was educated in the district schools of Nottingham township, Wells county, primarily, and attended them until he was eighteen years of age, and then attended for two terms in the public schools of Bluffton. He then attended a normal
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school taught by Prof. Goodwin, a Baptist clergyman and the county superintendent of education, after which he taught two con- secutive terms at the home school in Not- tingham township, and the next year served as school trustee and while acting as trustee taught in Harrison township. During the summer months Mr. Ochsenrider worked on the farm, except for two summers, which he spent in Poneto, conducting an ice cream parlor and a barber shop. In the spring of 1894 he taught his last term of school, and since then has devoted his time to farming and threshing.
Mr. Ochsenrider was married April 28, 1875, to Miss Sarah M. Foust, a native of Madison county, Indiana, born May 25, 1856, and a daughter of Israel and Eliza- beth Foust, natives of Pennsylvania. After marriage Mr. Ochsenrider settled on the old home place, on which he has since lived with the exception of the two years spent in Poneto. To Mr. and Mrs. Ochsenrider have been born eleven children, to-wit : Elias, who married Lillie Leist and now , resides in Montpelier, Indiana; William, who mar- ried Theress M. Kreps and resides on D. Ochsenrider's farm; Mary, deceased ; Martha, at home; Clara, also at home and a teacher in Nottingham township; Johnnie, deceased ; Levia, at home, as are also Lillie, Sherman, Dessie and Flossie.
Mr. Ochsenrider is a member of Lodge No. 752, I. O. O. F., of Poneto, and in poli- tics is a Democrat. He has been honored by his party by being elected constable; next, trustee of Nottingham township; in 1898 he was appointed truant officer for one term, and was then elected county commissioner from district No. 3, for a term of three years, and has always been very popular with his
party and with his people in general. As a commissioner he at present is exercising his influence with the board to induce it to erect an orphans' home for the county.
ELI C. BIERIE.
Versatility is said to be one of the first requisities of genius. Many a man has been considered versatile in one or more callings and hence laid claim to be considered a genius. The genius of Napoleon is gener- ally conceded. He was versatile, but his ver- satility was almost wholly confined to plan- ning military movements, the winning of the battles and the subjugation of those rul- ers who incurred his displeasure or did not readily yield obedience to his dictation. Phillips says of Napoleon, "He was through all his vicissitudes the same indomitable, in- flexible self-the man without a model and without a shadow." Of Oliver Goldsmith, the poet, historian and dramatist, Dr. John- son said : "He left no species of literature untouched and touched nothing that he did not adorn." There is no doubt that he was a genius, whose versatility was amply de- monstrated.
But true genius, indeed a better and more unquestionable type of genius, may be and often is displayed in the humbler walks of life. The man who can turn his hand to almost any calling may be a genius, but of this class the man who makes a success of all things to which he turns his hand is the real genius. Such a man is the subject of this sketch, Eli C. Bierie, an honored and well respected citizen of Bluffton, Indiana. Though still comparatively young, during
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his brief business career he has engaged in something like a dozen different lines of business. He has also been a farmer, meat dealer, general merchant, postmaster, no- tary public, undertaker and minister. In each and all of these various lines those who know him best will testify that he not only acquitted himself most creditably, but that in the pursuit of each he demonstrated a fa- miliarity with the requirements that would require years of patient study from most men to acquire conception of. Success in any calling is to make it remunerative. Measured by this standard, the success of Mr. Bierie in every line of business he has thus far undertaken is beyond cavil or dis- pute.
Eli C. Bierie was born in Nottingham township, Wells county, Indiana, June 28, 1867. He is the son of Christian and Anna (Sutter) Bierie. Christian Bierie was born June 25, 1820, in Switzerland, and died November 10, 1899, near Domestic, Indiana, at the advanced age of seventy-nine years, four months and ten days. Mr. Bierie came to this country when but four years of age, his parents settling in Wayne county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, and was mar- ried at the age of twenty-eight years to Anna Sutter. About this time he removed to In- diana and settled in Adams county. Later he removed to Wells county, where he was among the early settlers of the county. Sev- enteen years ago Mr. Bierie's companion was taken from him by death, after having brought up a family of fifteen children, six of whom have since died. Nine children remain, four daughters and five sons. They are John, Anna, Abraham, Mary, Emanuel, Sarah, Susanna, Eli C. and Jacob. John re- sides on the old home place: Mary is the
wife of Marion Shinn; Emanuel lives in Nottingham township, Wells county; Sarah is the wife of Earnest Heche, a carpenter and joiner at Bluffton; Susanna is the wife of Fred Blocher and Jacob resides in Not- tingham township. All are prosperous and well-to-do citizens who are highly respected for their worth and integrity. There also survive twenty-one grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
The opportunities for acquiring an edu- cation were not as plentiful away back in the 'seventies here in Indiana as they are today. Eli C. Bierie attended the district schools of his township year after year until he was sixteen, that comprising the full ex- tent of the education he received. At that time his services upon the farm were very much in demand. Reluctantly he relin- quished his books and turned to the mul- tiplicity of duties always waiting the busy hand of the industrious agriculturist. For the next four years he devoted his entire time to the work of the farm, pursuing his labors with that penetration, intelligence and good judgment that has characterized his work in all the various callings he has undertaken to pursue.
October 28, 1887, Mr. Bierie was mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth Beeler, the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth ( Ashbaucher) Beeler 'and born April 30, 1870. The mother of Mrs. Bierie is dead, but her father still lives, one of the respected patriarchs of Har- rison township. Soon after their marriage Mr. Bierie and his bride settled in Linn Grove, where for two years he very suc- cessfully conducted a meat market. Con- sidering the place too circumscribed and his business not sufficiently abundant in oppor- tunities, the family moved to Domestic
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where Mr. Bierie opened up a general, store. In connection therewith he became post- master, was appointed notary public, en- gaged in conveying, drafting contracts, writ- ing oil leases and such other work as is usually done in that particular line. Besides this, he was the undertaker of the locality.
From away back in ante bellum days Wells county has been considered hopeless- ly Democratic. The result of each success- ive election was considered fully and com- pletely determined when the Democratic county convention had expressed its choice of candidates. Occasionally strifes, dissen- sions and soreness in the ranks of the op- position inspired a little hope in the breasts of the Republicans that they might elect at least a part of their county ticket, but the result was always the same-solidly. Demo- cratic. In 1898, in casting about for some one to lead the forelorn hope of the Republi- cans as a candidate for county treasurer, the eyes of the party leaders were at once centered upon Eli C. Bierie, and after some persuasion he was induced to accept the nomination. The canvass that followed was warm, even to the boiling point, but it re- sulted in the triumphant election of Mr. Bierie, the first Republican ever elected to that office in that county. His administra- tion of the office, like all of his other under- takings, was all that could be desired. Hav- ing disposed of his mercantile business on becoming a county official, he invested his funds in a well improved farm of one hundred acres of fine land, all under culti- vation except a sugar orchard of twelve acres that is so well cared for and managed that it is a delight to look upon.
At the end of his term, when relieved of the cares, responsibilities and confinement of
official life, he felt the necessity of outdoor exercise, hence he engaged for a time as a traveling salesman for Cline & Zimmer, ex- tensive implement dealers of Bluffton. In this vocation, also, success crowned his ef- forts, but being quite domestic in his tastes the days and nights spent away from home and family became very distasteful to him. After one season he gave up the business and moved his family to the farm, where they have taken up their abode and give at- tention to the rearing of pure bred stock. Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs are favorites with him. At present it is his in- tention to take up the undertaking business at his farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Bierie are the parents of three bright, interesting little daughters : Orilla Pearl was born April 28, 1888; Glen- na Leona, April 18, 1890, and Florence Alice, February 9, 1893. The family is connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which denomination Mr. Bierie was the local minister at Bluffton, but is now a member of Salem Evangelical church. He is also a member of the board of directors of the State Sunday School As- sociation, and district president of the asso- ciation for the counties of Wells, Adams, Huntington and Allen. He is an active member of Lodge No. 683, I. O. O. F., of Linn Grove, a member of Encampment No. II4, of Bluffton and a zealous Knight of Pythias of the same place. He and his wife are members of the Rebekahs and she belongs to the Rathbone Sisters, of Bluffton. From 1900 to 1902 Mr. Bierie was presi- dent of the Wells County Sunday School As- sociation.
From the foregoing it may readily be inferred that Eli C. Bierie is one of those
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who has lived and is living a life that may well be characterized as strenuous. The ar- dor with which he enters upon all of his undertakings bespeaks for each of them most gratifying success. Always ardent, never half hearted, when he once decides up- on the course to be pursued, there is no let- ting up or slowing down until the design has been fully and completely accomplished. The story of his life is a lesson to the youth of the land, a practical illustration of what may be accomplished by pluck, perseverance and energy, when properly directed and controlled by intelligent discernment.
In connection with this sketch the fol- lowing extract referring to the life and death of Mrs. Elizabeth Beeler will be of undoubt- ed interest :
Mrs. Elizabeth Beeler, nee Ashbaucher, wife of Daniel Beeler, died at their home two and one-half miles south of Vera Cruz. For almost seven months she had suffered severely and during that time underwent an operation for an abscess, but found little relief. Her demise was due to a com- plication of diseases which finally developed into dropsy.
Mrs. Beeler was born near Berne, Switzerland, October 18, 1842, and in 1855, when thirteen years old, came with her parents to America. They first settled in Wayne county, Ohio, and moved to Adams county, Indiana, in 1866. In 1868 she was united in marriage to Daniel Beeler and lived on their farm, near Kreps, until her death. To this union were born seven daughters and one son, Mesdames Minerva Studabaker, Ida Studa- baker, Elizabeth Bierie, Mary Boyd, and Nancy Huffman, Misses Emma and Lillie Beeler, and Edward Beeler, all of whom, with the husband, remain to mourn her departure. The Ashbaucher brothers of this city are brothers of the de- ceased. She leaves six brothers, three sisters, nine grandchildren and a large number of rela- tives and friends. Her father and mother have preceded her to the spirit land. When but a girl she united with the Reformed church in Wayne county, Ohio, and later transferred her membership to the First Reformed church of Vera
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