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 41
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Cruz, and remained a faithful member until her death. She loved her church as she loved her home.
Mrs. Beeler endured her long sickness with great patience and fortitude and was never heard to complain during her most intense suffering. A short time before her death she called her family to her side and bade each good-bye, imprinting the kiss of love and affection of a wife and mother on the lips of each. The children were asked to take good care of their father and live right so that they might meet her in the heavenly world. Soon afterward she sank into unconsciousness and peacefully passed to her rest in heaven. As a neighbor she was beloved by all who knew her, being at all times in perfect peace and harmony with them. No one knew her but to love her and she loved her family as her own life.
PETER SCHOTT.
The war of the Rebellion left its impress deep and lasting upon the life of many a youth who, when it broke out, was yet in his teens. The call to arms found tens of thousands only too ready to respond. For the first time in their lives they found them- selves no longer restrained by parental con- trol. Rigid military discipline held them in check to some extent, but it did not prevent many from contracting dissolute and profli- gate habits, of which some have not been able to divest themselves even unto this day. Few, indeed, were as fortunate in this as Peter Schott, now of Domestic, Indiana, who entered the service when only nineteen years of age and who followed the fortunes of war until peace once more reigned throughout the land.
George and Margaretta (Bowman) Schott were the parents of Peter Schott, the subject of this sketch. They were natives of Byron, Germany, but emigrated to America
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early in life and located in New York city, where they were married. Soon after they moved to Logan county, Ohio, where their children were born and where they con- tinued to reside until they took up their permanent residence in Lorain county. Sep- tember 20, 1844, the eyes of Peter Schott first looked upon the light of day. At the new home of his parents in Lorain county he grew to manhood, attending the public schools of the locality and acquiring a fair education in all of the common school branches then taught. In December, 1863, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volun- teers, and served faithfully until the close of the rebellion. Occasional attacks of in- flammatory rheumatism, which come around with recurring frequence as age advances, are the only ill-effects he experiences of the service he rendered his country during the days of her peril, when her destiny was poised, as it were, in a balance.
For the first three years after leaving the United States service Peter Schott occupied himself with the usual labors on the father's farm. Then, in company with his brother George, who had been a soldier in the same regiment, he located on a tract of land in the dense woods of Wells county, each taking eighty of the one hundred and sixty acres comprising the tract. While George attend- ed to the clearing, improving and cultivating of the land, Peter devoted himself to car- pentering and building, a calling in which he had become skilled during and after the war, his earnings furnishing the brothers with the means necessary to procure pro- visions and other supplies. By this arrange- ment the land was gradually cleared, ditch- ed, fenced and greatly enhanced in value.
October 25, 1868, Peter Schott was united in marriage to Martha Watson, who was born April 25, 1847. She is the daugh- ter of John M. and Eleanor (Winfield) Watson. They are natives of Ohio, but moved to Wells county, Indiana, when their daughter Martha was only a year old, settling upon a farm on which their son John now resides. Eleven children were born to John M. and Eleanor Watson, viz: Mary J., William, Lawrence, Mark, Sarah E., Martha Ann, John R., Thomas, George, Amanda, Elizabeth and John. Of these, Mary J., William, Sarah E., John R. and Thomas are dead.
At the time of their marriage only about twelve acres of the eighty-acre tract of land which they owned was cleared. A log cabin, eighteen by twenty-four feet, was built, a' short distance south of the one owned by his brother George. Here the young peo- ple took up their abode and here they ex- perienced all of the trials and hardships, mingled with the joys and happiness that comes into the lives of all youthful pioneers. About this time the brothers began to re- alize the possibilities for profit there might be in a good saw-mill, well operated. The shameful waste of fine timber, which was daily being consumed by fire in the clearings, first diverted their attention in this direc- tion and soon they interested their brother John in the matter. They pooled their is- sues with the result that within a short time they were operating a mill of good capacity and realizing their most sanguine expecta- tions as to the matter of profit. Soon after- ward Peter and George purchased the inter- est of John in the mill and continued to oper- ate it until about a year ago, when they sus- pended operations, though they are still the
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owners of the machinery. While engaged in operating the mill Peter was obliged to keep hired help on the farm, but in due time the necessity for that was obviated, as his son had grown and was able to conduct the affairs of the farm far more satisfactorily than it ever was done by hired help.
Of the original eighty acres in the farm all is now cleared land with the exception of about ten acres. Upon this tract there are now ten producing oil wells; eight were drilled by Mr. Schott and his sons, so that they control the entire output, from which they realize five hundred dollars per month. At one time the income from them ran up- wards of seven hundred dollars per month. With such an income, to say nothing of that which is realized from several other lines of business in which Mr. Schott is engaged, it would appear that he ought to experience but little difficulty in "keeping the wolf from the door."
In 1882 Mr. Schott erected a large and commodious barn upon his farm, which is well adapted to the line of farming in which he is engaged, general stock raising. A splendid home was erected on the farm in 1889, much of the work on both house and barn being done by Mr. Schott himself. He is the father of two children, John, born July 13, 1871, who is married to Sarah Terrell, lives on his father's farm and is di- rectly interested in all the business affairs ; Amanda E., who was born May 8, 1875. But two grandchildren, Nattla Lurene and Mildred Inez, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schott.
Although never aspiring to political preferment, Mr. Schott takes much interest in politics. He is a loyal Republican-one of those who believes in proving his loyalty
by his activity when the campaign is on. His first vote was cast in 1864, while he was at the front helping to suppress the rebel- lion. Naturally he is very proud of that vote, for it was given for the great emanci- pator, Abraham Lincoln. From that time to the present he has never wavered in the faith. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, his post being at Geneva. He has frequently served his party as delegate to various conventions, always considering time and money well spent when it is devoted to Republican success. He and his wife are members of the Chris- tian church and are very popular and highly respected in all religious circles.
FERDINAND BEBERSTEIN.
Of all the emigrants who reach the United States from the countries of Europe none show a greater aptitude in adapting themselves to our peculiar institutions than those who come from Switzerland. Having themselves lived in a country where one citizen is as good as another if he behaves himself as well, they almost immediately understand our political methods and cus- toms and appreciate the advantages which are offered by our laws. The result is that they are at once contented and straightway proceed to make the most of their new sur- roundings. After their home is established and they have attained some degree of com- fort, they look around and soon take a warm degree of interest in our form of govern- ment, in our schools, in our churches, in the affairs of our county administration, and so forth. People who come from some mon-
MRS. FERDINAND BEBERSTEIN.
FERDINAND BEBERSTEIN.
WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA.
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archy require a considerable time to adjust their old ideas to the new conditions. Not so with emigrants from Switzerland, as was shown by the parents of the subject when they came here. They at once understood our form of government and at once were acting in conjunction with all our customs and laws.
Ferdinand Beberstein is the son of Benedict Beberstein, who, with his wife, was born in Switzerland. In 1834 the father came to this country and at once bought a piece of land in Wayne county, af- ter which he returned to his native land and brought back his wife and children. He was an active and energetic man of sterling honesty, and soon acquired a splendid reputation because of his many fine qualities. He remained upon the original farm in Wayne county until his death. He was a member of the German Reformed church, in which faith he died. He was twice married. His first wife, who died in the old country, bore him two chil- dren, who both died young. For his sec- ond companion he chose Miss Rosanna Rit- ter, a native of Germany, and to this union there were born children as follows: Julia, Jacob, Ferdinand, Alexander, David, Rosanna, Louisa, May A., Lena, William, Philip and Emanuel. Of these, five are still living ; David died in the service of his coun- try in the war of the Rebellion, and Alexan- der is buried in California.
Ferdinand Beberstein was reared upon his father's farm, but was so situated that he was deprived of the advantages of school- ing, so that at the time he attained his ma- jority he was comparatively ignorant of book learning. However, he has always been a keen observer of men and things and
this, coupled with a naturally sharp intellect, has enabled him to acquire a fair knowledge of business methods and current events. At the age of twenty-one years he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he became very proficient. He came to Wells county, remaining here until 1854, when he returned to Wayne county and was married, remaining in that county two years. His financial condition was at that time at a low ebb and in 1857 he returned to Vera Cruz, this county, and resumed work at the trade of carpenter. He built quite a number of residences in this section and was also en- gaged to some extent as a painter. By strict application to his business, wise judgment in conducting his affairs and rigid economy he was enabled to get ahead in the world so that in 1864 he was enabled to purchase a half interest in a saw-mill. He conducted this business for thirty-three years and was so successful that he was enabled to pur- chase a one-hundred-and-sixty-acre farm. In 1897 the saw-mill was destroyed by fire and Mr. Beberstein thereafter devoted his atten- tion to his farming interests. He is up-to- date in his methods and is winning an envi- able reputation as a successful and enter- prising farmer.
On the 8th of April, 1855, Mr. Beber- stein was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Lydia Stoker and to them have been born the following children : William, born July 13, 1857, is a millwright and is em- ployed in a factory in Michigan; Lena, born March 27, 1860, is the wife of Peter Neis- wander, of this county; Louisa is deceased ; Frances, born December 6, 1864, is un- married; John, born April 28, 1866, mar- ried Blanch Laptad, of Kansas, and is em- ployed as a stationary engineer by the
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Koran-Krup Company, at Battle Creek, Michigan; Edward, born May 6, 1867, is a carpenter residing at Berne, Minnesota; Cal- vin, born March 6, 1870, is deceased ; Duleg, born October 9, 1875, is the wife of Frank Muesbaum, a barber at Lynn Grove.
Politically Mr. Beberstein is a Democrat and is one of the leaders of his party in this section of the county. He is an indefati- gable worker in the interest of the party, but has never asked for public office, content to do his part as a private citizen. Religiously he and his family are members of the Ger- man Reformed church, of which he has been a trustee for a number of years. They are active workers in the Sunday school and take a keen interest in advancing all departments of the church. Mr. Beberstein has always been an honorable, upright man, industrious, temperate, economical, and in every way ex- emplary in his daily life and conduct. He has performed well his part as a factor of the body politic and no one questions his stand- ing as one of the leading farmers and enter- prising citizens of the township in which he lives.
THEODORE TAYLOR.
Theodore Taylor, farmer and stock raiser and a representative citizen of Wells county, was born July 3, 1859, on the farm in Nottingham township which he now owns. His parents, Theodore and Hannah (Silvers) Taylor, were natives of Ohio, the former the son of Joseph and Beulah Tay- lor, whose respective families were among the early settlers of that state. Theodore Taylor, Sr., moved to Indiana about the year 1849 and lived in Jay county until he could
build a cabin on the land which he had pre- viously purchased in the county of Wells. This land was covered with a dense forest growth at the time and much hard labor was required to reduce it to a state of tillage. The original dwelling occupied by the fam- ily was a log cabin about eighteen by twenty- six feet in size, supplied with a few articles of furniture such as the pioneers of the early times used. Mr. Taylor cleared the greater part of his land and in the course of a few years became one of the most prosperous farmers of Nottingham township. He was a gentleman of intelligence and sterling worth and in a quiet and unobtrusive way did much to promote the material, social and moral welfare of the community in which he lived. His death occurred in November,' 1879, his wife dying in the year 1888. Theodore and Hannah Taylor had seven children, namely: William H., deceased; Beulah, deceased; Joseph C., deceased ; Sarah, wife of John Shoemaker, of Adams county, this state; Arbella, wife of Daniel Shoemaker, of the same county; Theodore, of this review, and Robert Y., a farmer and stock raiser of Wells county.
Theodore Taylor, the direct subject of this sketch, was reared on the home place in Nottingham township and until about eigh- teen years old divided his time between working on the farm and attending the dis- trict schools. He remained with his father until the latter's death, after which he rented the farm, his sister Arbella becoming his housekeeper and his brother Robert boarding with him. In this way the three lived until 1881, on September 18 of which year the subject took to himself a wife in the person of Miss Clara A. Gensel, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, August 14, 1862,
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the daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Schoch) Gensel. The year following his marriage Mr. Taylor rented the home place and at the expiration of that time bought the other heirs' interests in eighty acres of the farm, going in debt for the entire amount of the purchase price. This heavy obligation resting upon him proved an incentive to greater effort and he labored with might and main until it was discharged, meanwhile clearing and draining his land until in point of productiveness and value it compared fa- vorably with any like area in the township. Nearly all of his farm was cleared from the green by his own hands, in addition to which labor he has also made quite a number of good improvements, his buildings of all kinds, fences, indeed the general appearance of the place, indicating the presence of a man who has followed agricultural pur- suits with the greatest possible success. Like the majority of progressive farmers, Mr. Taylor devoted much attention to the raising of live stock, especially shorthorn cattle, a fine breed of hogs and Shropshire sheep, his success in this industry being commen- surate with that achieved by tilling the soil. He is also in receipt of a liberal income from the four producing oil wells on his place, which, with that derived from other sources, has made him one of the financially strong men of his community. He possesses good business qualifications and has had consider- able dealings with his fellow-men, all of which have been characterized by an integ- rity and high sense of personal honor that have won for him the confidence of all with whom he has come in contact. Mr. Taylor's political views are in harmony with the Re- publican party, in which he has been an ac- tive worker ever since old enough to cast
a ballot. He has served a number of times as delegate to county and other conventions and in his own township is looked upon as a safe and conservative leader when cam- paigns are in progress. In matters religious the Christian (or Disciple) church repre- sents his creed. For some years he has been a member of the congregation meeting at Domestic, being one of the trustees of the church as well as one of its leaders in good works. His wife and their oldest children also belong to the same religious body, which fact demonstrates the interest he has taken in bringing up his family in the way they should go.
Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are the parents of eight children : Oliver C., born August 20, 1882, is a student in the high school, but de- votes the time when not at his studies to work in the oil fields; Ora E. was born May 15, 1885; Oscar, April 20, 1887; Cora A., August 9, 1889; Robert F., November 6, 1891 ; Eva B., July 28, 1893 ; Fern, Novem- ber 13, 1897, and Victor was born on the 2nd day of April, 1900.
Samuel and Catherine (Schoch) Gensel, the parents of Mrs. Taylor, were married in Ohio and a few years thereafter moved to Wells county, Indiana, settling in the town- ship of Harrison about the year 1860. Af- ter spending twenty years there they went to Champaign county, Illinois, in which state their deaths subsequently occurred, Mrs. Gensel January 25, 1894, and Mr. Gensel August 30, 1901. They had six children, all living at this time, whose names are Mrs. Margaret J. Connet ; Zacharias; Evaline, wife of John Coffum; Mrs. Clara Taylor ; Martha E., who married Fred Survey and Chas. F., who wedded Mattie McFarland. Mr. Taylor possesses an old parchment deed,
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bearing the signature of President Martin Van Buren and dated November 10, 1840, which bore title to land transferred to Joseph Taylor, the subject's grandfather.
MARK WATSON.
It must be very gratifying to a man who has advanced beyond the meridian of a well spent life to look back and contemplate the good work which, by patient industry and unremitting toil, he has accomplished. The men who, "back in the 'sixties," in the bloom of youth, settled in the dense forests of In- diana, are now on the shady side of life. Many of them still live on the farms which by their labors have taken the place of the forests. Much of the work which the change.necessitated was performed by their own hands. They have not made as much stir, strife or tumult in the world as some others, but the world is far better for their modest efforts than it is for the blatant zeal of some who believe themselves entitled to the laurel wreath of fame.
Mark Watson, the subject of this sketch, is one of those who devoted his early man- hood to the subjugation of an Indiana forest, with a degree of success that must be very pleasing to his mature years. He was born in Warren county, Ohio, December 26, 1843, the son of John M. Watson, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to America, with his parents, in the early part of the last cen- tury. The family settled in Virginia, where they remained until John grew to manhood, when they moved to Warren county, Ohio, where John married Miss Ellen Winfield, who had been born and reared in that
county. Having become well skilled in iron and steel working, he opened a shop for the manufacture of articles in that line and prospered from the very first, at times ship- ping his wares in car-load lots. In April, 1851, he closed out his business and with the proceeds moved his family to Nottingham township, Wells county, Indiana, where he purchased a farm, the one on which John Hecker now resides. Here he lived for four years, when he moved to the one now owned by his son, John Watson, where he remained until his death, his beloved wife having pre- ceded him through the portal of eternity.
John M. and Ellen (Winfield) Watson were the parents of twelve children, six of whom are yet living. During his lifetime he accumulated considerable property and at his death left quite a valuable estate, owning some four hundred acres of valuable land, all in one body. Had he lived in times like these, that afford so much better opportuni- ties for the display and operation of such talents as he was known to have possessed, there is no doubt that he would have left the impress of his abilities upon the state, per- haps on the nation. As it was he passed away respected and beloved for the many virtues of head and heart with which he was endowed.
The education of Mark Watson was neither as elaborate or complete as he would like to have had it. The best of the public schools of those days could stand no com- parison with the worst of the present. The terms were brief, usually two or three months in the year, and were open only dur- ing the months of most severe winter weath- er. Under those circumstances the student life of Mark Watson may readily be under- stood to have been brief. However, possess-
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ed of good memory, an abundance of native wit and a fund of good, sound common- sense, he managed to acquire enough learn- ing, not wholly from books, to subserve every purpose. With the exception of one year spent in the army, during the war, the first twenty-five years of Mark's life were placed at the disposal of his father and most industriously employed in the strenuous la- bors of that day on the farm. His military career was only one year's duration, but dur- ing that period the youthful soldier saw more real service than some who had been in the ranks from the beginning to the close of the war. He was with Sherman on the fa- mous march to the sea and was in the thick of the fighting in front of Atlanta. At dif- ferent times his clothing was shot through, but he seeming to bear a charmed life, es- caping without a scratch. The closest call he had was during a warm engagement when a rebel bullet passed so near his head, just above his left ear, as to give him a part of a very artistic hair-cut. The force of the bullet was sufficient to knock him down and James Hunter, a comrade, who was doing some splendid fighting near by, cried out, "God, Watson, are you dead?" Finding himself uninjured, he soon arose, resumed his place in the ranks and continued until the battle was won. He was mustered out in September, 1865, and returning home re- sumed work on his father's farm, where he remained until the fall of 1869.
Mark Watson was married to Matilda Dunwiddie on the Ist day of September, 1868. She was a native of Warren county, Ohio, where she was born October 25, 1844, and was the daughter of Peter and Eunice (Haines) Dunwiddie, also natives of Ohio. They settled in Wells county, Indiana, about
1858, where they lived, honored and re- spected by all who knew them, until their deaths, which occurred a number of years ago. Mrs. Watson, their daughter, died June 13, 1896, after having lived the life of a devoted, faithful wife and mother for a period of eighteen years.
One year after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Watson took up their abode upon a tract of forty acres of land, thirty acres of which was woods that had been recently pur- chased by the husband and on which he had erected a log cabin, fourteen by twenty-eight feet. This, with two colts, one cow, twenty young hogs and a limited supply of the rudest kind of household furniture, consti- tuted the entire worldly possessions of the young couple. From this humble beginning they continued to increase their possessions year by year until today Mr. Watson finds himself the owner of one of the most pro- ductive and best improved farms in eastern Indiana. Stockraising is the particular species of farming to which he devotes his time. A delightful home, commodious barn and substantial outbuildings add to the com- fort, convenience and value of the premises. The loss of his beloved wife, six years ago, is the great sorrow of Mr. Watson's life.
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Luella, who remains at home, skillfully managing the household affairs of her father, and George W., who also re- mains at home, assisting his father in all necessary farm work. He is a car- penter and builder and devotes much of his time to work in the oil fields. Mr. Watson is a member of John Por- ter Post No. 83, G. A. R., of Geneva, and is an ardent Republican in politics, but sufficiently liberal to prefer the man to the
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