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 46
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A purchase of twenty acres of land was made by Mr. Rinear in 1874, adjoining his place on the north. In 1878 Liberty Cen- ter got a railroad, and the same year he laid out the east half of Liberty Center. He is today the oldest continuous citizen of the town. He served as justice of the peace for twelve years from 1873 and, during that time, did more business than had been done in the office by all of his predecessors com- bined, including the marriage of one hun- dred and four happy couples. In 1877 he engaged in the mercantile business at Liberty Center, was appointed postmaster and served
three years. He continued in the mercan- tile business until 1882, meanwhile looking after his agricultural interests. He is now the owner of three hundred and twenty-five acres of land, one mile east of Liberty Cen- ter, all in one body, well improved and under good cultivaion, as fine a farm as can be found in Wells county. Besides he has thirty-five acres of his old home place in town and resides on lot I of the original plat of the town. His home is a most com- fortable and commodious one, where he is most happy in his domestic relations, and where hospitality abounds and love and af- fection reigns supreme.
In 1894, at the session of the Demo- cratic joint senatorial convention of Wells and Huntington counties, John W. Rinear received the nomination and after a spirited canvass was elected by a large majority. He served on the committees for corpora- tions, railroads, public health and natural gas in the session of 1895. In 1897 he was accorded a place on the committees on finance, benevolent institutions, banks, mili- tary affairs, county and township business, railroads and city of Indianapolis. He was appointed by the judge of the circuit court, in June, 1899, a member of the county coun- cil for district No. 3, and in 1900 he was elected councilman at large by a popular ma- jority of nearly one thousand one hundred. At the election of 1902 he was re-elected by a large majority for four years. He has served as president of the board ever since it was organized, being again elected for the ensuing four years. In 1887 he was com- missioned by the governor a notary public and served in that capacity eight years. In every public position he has been called to fill he has been faithful and trustworthy. Even
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his enemies, and there are few without them, political or otherwise, have never ventured even to insinuate that he has ever in the least betrayed any confidence, public or pri- vate, that had been reposed in him. At the present time Hon. John W. Rinear is devot- ing himself almost exclusively to the man- agement of his agricultural interests. On his three-hundred-acre farm he raises astonish- ingly large crops of grain and the farm is well stocked with Poland China hogs, a general class of cattle and all necessary horses. He raises, buys, fattens and puts on the market each year quite an amount of stock and the returns from his agricultural operations have been gratifyingly profitable. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church, contributing liberally to its support and that of every worthy object. He is a member of Lew Daily Post No. 33, G. A. R., at Bluffton and Lodge No. 747, I. O. O. F., at Liberty Center, of which he is a charter member. That he is a good, even a model, citizen, at home and abroad, is best attested by the esteem in which he is held wherever he is known. Such a hold as he has upon the affections of the people of his own and adjoining counties can never be se- cured but by the most worthy.
G. W. G. MILLER.
George W. G. Miller was born June 18, 1857, in Chester township, Wells county, Indiana. He is a son of Henry G. Miller, a native of Germany, and Franciena (Mor- ris) Miller, a native of the state of Pennsyl- vania. Henry came to America when a boy, running away to evade serving in the stand-
ing army of his native country, which is, by law, required of every citizen in Ger- many. After his arrival in this country, he located in Muncie, Indiana, where he re- mained for two years, working in a dis- tillery. He then went to Montpelier, Indi- ana, where he went to work in a flouring- mill, and was there for about four years, then came to Wells county, and built another mill and commenced grinding wheat. He continued in this business a few years, when he bought the farm where George W. G. Miller now lives. Removing to this farm he remained there until his death, his wife, Francenia, also dying on this farm. Henry G. was the father of ten children, six of whom are yet living : Nancy J. was the wife of John Jellison and is now deceased; Sarah M. was the wife of William Walker, and is also deceased; Hannah E., deceased, was the wife of P. C. Shadle; Amanda M., the wife of William Miller; Mary Ann, the wife of Jesse Miller ; Jonathan married first a Miss Julian and, second, a Miss Strupe; Char- lotta married Eli Carney ; Ellen, the wife of Levi Markey, deceased; George W. G., who now lives on the home place, and Rosa F., wife of John Bennett.
George was a pupil at district school No. 3, in Chester township, Wells county, until he was about nineteen years old, after which he remained at home with his father until he was of age. Soon after this he was mar- ried and built his first house within forty feet of his birth place on the old homestead. He still lives on a part of the old place, fifty acres of which he owns. On January 6, 1878, he was married to Florence Raymond, a daughter of Henry and Candis (Rogers) Raymond, both of whom are deceased. George W. and wife are the parents of five
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children : Henry G., born October 30, 1879, married Ida Pearson; Andrew M., born March 13, 1882, at home with his parents ; Newton B., born March 17, 1885; Lucretia B., born October 6, 1889; and Merla R., born March 13, 1892.
Mr. Miller is a general farmer, devoting himself to the cultivation of his farm and raising of stock. He and his family are con- nected with the Christian church, of which he has served as deacon for the past five years. In politics he has always been a Re- publican, until within the last two years, since which time he has advocated the Pro- hibition cause. G. W. Miller belongs to the younger class of that large army of bright, energetic and go-ahead sons of the soil, whose influence will so largely predominate in the future advancement and material pros- perity of the country. He is the son of a sire who, in his young manhood, felt im- pelled, by a spirit of independence, to flee from the tyranny imposed by the military proclivities of his native land to the free- dom of action vouchsafed under the waving folds of Old Glory. Animated by the same spirit of independence and love of freedom which caused the father to seek a home and larger liberty in the new world for himself and descendants, the son will, in the active performance of all the duties imposed upon a good citizen and neighbor, demonstrate his appreciation of the aspirations of his pa- ternal ancestor. He is in the prime of life, and with the ambition to better his environ- ments in life, which is the birthright of every American citizen, supplemented by the love of family and the high esteem and respect in which he is held in the community, will inspire him to many years of future useful- ness in life. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are godly
people and it has been their aim to rear their children in the nurture and the admiration of the Lord. Their three sons are earnest devotees of the religion of the lowly Nazar- ine.
JOHN G. DETTINGER.
Many a man is unfortunate in having become skilled in a calling for which he never afterwards had any use. Years of time and unlimited patience have been ex- pended to acquire a thorough knowledge of business, only to find, when it has been se- cured, that a machine has been invented which does the work better and many times faster than it can be done by hand. In such an emergency all that is left to the unlucky artisan is to turn his talent to something else in the hope of not being forestalled in that also. It often happens that what the poor victim of fate looked upon as real mis- fortune later proved to be only a blessing in disguise. It proved so with John G. Dettinger, the subject of this sketch. In early life he learned the business of a nailer, or manufacturer of nails (by hand). At the time it was a most flourishing and re- munerative calling. Within a few years after he became thoroughly skilled in the business, machinery so completely super- seded hand work and nails became so in- ordinately cheap that no one but a crank or imbecile would think of having nails made by hand. The result was that John G. Dettinger, skilled nailer, found himself out of a job. He came to America, turned farmer in the woods of Ohio and Indiana and now in his declining years finds himself one hundred fold better off than he would
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have been if the business of making nails by hand had not completely collapsed.
John G. Dettinger was born in Wurtem- berg, Germany, July 4, 1830. His parents were Samuel and Rosa (Frank) Dettinger, natives of that country. Samuel Dettinger was well educated and a skilled mechanic, the manufacturer of nails by hand. It was good business, in which there was at that time unlimited employment. The family was not rich, but in very comfortable cir- cumstances. They were members of the German Lutheran church and were the par- ents of eight children, four of whom are liv- ing, three in the fatherland and one, John G., here. Both parents are dead, their en- tire life having been passed in their native land.
The benefit of a fair, common school edu- cation was accorded to John G. Dettinger. He attended school until he was fourteen years of age, and then went into the shop and worked with his father until he had learned the trade. At twenty-one he was forced into the military service of the coun- try and required to serve for a period of six years. On being discharged he hastened across the waters to America, landing in New York July 1, 1857. Ten days after he landed he went over into the state of New Jersey and was united in marriage to Miss Mary Kile-rather a brief courtship, it might be thought, but not nearly so brief as on its face it seems. Miss Kile was a pass- enger on the same ship coming across the Atlantic and, as the voyage in those days was of many weeks' duration, there was ample time for getting acquainted and com- ing to an understanding. When the first flood of connubial happiness had subsided, the first thought of the young people was to
seek remunerative employment. Making nails by hand had then ceased to be a calling in New York and vicinity, so Mr. Dettinger turned his attention to something else. He had some money and so wisely determined to go west. They located in Ohio, where they remained until 1886, when they moved to French township, Adams county, Indiana. He invested in a farm of fifty acres which he cultivated for some time, when he added, by purchase, forty acres more, which gave him a very desirable farm of ninety acres. Through his experience in Ohio and In- diana, Mr. Dettinger became a very expert farmer. He was always favored by good crops, because he always saw that plowing, planting and cultivating was well done. No year was permitted to elapse without lay- ing aside a little from the receipts of the farm. These sums, as soon as they had as- sumed sufficient proportions, were always judiciously invested, generally in property that afforded an income, investments which have all turned out well. In 1897 he sold his farm at a very gratifying figure and moved his family to Vera Cruz, being now retired from active labor. He has real es- tate and other property from which he de- rives a comfortable income, enough to sup- ply his own wants and those dependent upon him.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dettinger fourteen children have been born, of whom twelve are living, viz: Maggie, Eliza, Christina, John, Jacob, Charles, Caroline, Samuel, Mary, Rosa, Wilson and Emma. Maggie is the wife of W. D. Markley and Eliza is the wife of John Lobsiger. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, regular attendants upon its services and con- tribute liberally to the support of religion
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and charity. In politics Mr. Dettinger is a Democrat, but has the wisdom to know that most of the time spent in politics is time wasted. He is a man of very wide acquaint- ance, genial, liberal and companionable. Among people of his own nationality es- pecially he wields a wide influence and al- ways for good. Any way that his life may be looked upon, financially, socially or do- mestically, it must be pronounced a success. He has reared a large family of bright, in- telligent, moral sons and daughters who are a credit to their parentage and to the com- munity in which they live. Had the busi- ness of making nails by hand continued to flourish, it is quite likely that Mr. Dettinger would have stayed at his forge and anvil and never have accomplished the tenth part of what he has. The total collapse of that busi- ness proved in the end indeed a blessing in disguise.
WILLIAM McDOWELL.
Among what may be termed the early settlers of Wells county, Indiana, are the McDowell family, who came from Mercer county, Ohio, about 1837 and settled on the banks of the Wabash river two miles from Bluffton, where the father had al- ready purchased and partially cleared a tract of land, on which he passed the re- mainder of his life, owning at the time of his death four hundred and twenty acres. Abraham McDowell, the pioneer alluded to above and the father of William, whose name opens the biographical notice, mar- ried Mary Higgins, who bore him eight children, of whom William of this sketch is the only survivor. One son, John, mar-
ried Catherine Blue, a sister of Hon. M. C. Blue, and went to live in Missouri, where he passed the remainder of his days. John, David and James, three of the eight children alluded to above, served in the Civil war and proved themselves worthy of the family name and the glorious cause in which they served.
William McDowell was reared upon the home farm and thoroughly learned his calling or vocation, through the instruc- tion of his father, whom he faithfully as- sisted until his majority had been attained. His educaton was but limited, yet suf- ficient for all the purposes of a rural life and a successful career as a farmer. In due course of time Mr. McDowell suc- ceeded by inheritance to eighty acres of the home farm, to which, through his in- dustry, he has since added forty acres, and thus is the owner of a compact farm of one hundred and twenty acres.
Mr. McDowell was united in marriage October II, 1866, in Wells county, with Miss Margaret Miller, daughter of Field- ing Miller, a native of Perry county, Ohio. This union has been crowned by the birth of one daughter, Alice, who is now the wife of H. E. Shoemaker, of Bluffton.
Religiously Mr. McDowell is not a member of any particular denomination, but is a liberal contributor to the mainten- ance of all the churches of his neighbor- hood. Politically, he is one of the stanch- est Democrats in Wells county and an ar- dent worker for the advancement of his party's interests at the polls as well as the promulgation of its principles throughout the state, county and township. As a farm- er he is one of the most skillful and suc- cessful in Harrison township, and as a
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WILLIAM McDOWELL AND FAMILY.
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citizen he is substantial, reliable and use- ful, is widely known as an honorable man and one ready at all times to contribute of his means to the promotion of all projects designed for the advancement of the wel- fare of his fellow citizens. His farm is one of the best kept and neatest in Harrison township, being well drained and cultivat- ed and improved with every modern con- venience. His dwelling is an ornament to the neighborhood, and his farm buildings are equally creditable. Mr. McDowell conducts general farming and raises all the cereals usual to the section of the coun- try in which he lives, besides large quan- tities of hay, which he feeds in a great measure to his live stock, which he raises in large numbers. Some of his animals are of choice grades, which he fattens and ships to the various markets, excepting, of course, those requisite for home use. Although his chief object in carrying on farming is for profit, yet he takes great pride in the vocation and loves it for its own sake, feeling it to be the most honor- able and independent of all industries, as well as the fundamental calling of man, and it is a matter of gratifying commenda- tion that he may be classed as among those who stand at its head.
ADAM ARNOLD.
There were very few white people in Wells county previous to 1830. Then they slowly drifted in from the settlements in Ohio and other parts of the country where government land could no longer be found to settle upon. By 1845 much of the land
was taken, but the country was still wild and little improved. In 1844 the progenitor of the Arnold family came and made settle- ment upon a quarter section in Harrison township.
Adam Arnold, the subject of this sketch, was born in Harrison township, Wells county, April 1, 1852. His father was Moses Arnold, who in the early 'forties lo- cated upon one hundred and sixty acres of land in the woods of Wells county. He came from Miami county, Ohio, where he was born, his parents being Jacob and Clo- tilda Arnold. When he first located in Wells county Moses Arnold was a young man of twenty-four years, married only a short time, and had come out into the wilderness to establish a home and make his fortune. Eagerly he set about the undertaking, work- ing early and late in clearing and improv- ing his land. The hardships of pioneer life, however, were not easily endured and his young wife sickened and died, leaving four little children to his care. To remain long a widower under those circumstances would have been cruel to his helpless offspring, so, after waiting a suitable period of time, he chose a wife from the daughters of his neighbors and was united in marriage to Miss Mary N. Bartelmy, daughter of John Bartelmy, a native of Pennsylvania who had located in Wells county early in its settle- ment. To Moses and Clotilda Arnold twelve children were born, of whom Adam, the subject of this sketch, is the oldest. They are Adam, of whom more will be said here- after; Ellen, deceased; Sarah, deceased ; Elijah and Eli, twins, of whom the latter is dead ; the former married Clara Shock and they reside in Michigan; Henry married Carrie Sweney; Edward, deceased; Clotilda,
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deceased; George married Ida Souch; Jen- nie is the wife of Albert Lenning; Ida is the wife of Charles Ealey; Allen married Sarah Beeler.
The original quarter section of land lo- cated upon by Moses Arnold was cleared and improved by him and his children and was held and resided upon by him until his death, which occurred February 8, 1897. He was a man of much firmness and determina- tion, yet neither aggressive nor unkindly in disposition. He loved his family and re- spected his neighbors and acquaintances. Few men have passed away in his section of the country esteemed more highly. or who were more deeply mourned. In politics he was a Democrat and although not a bitter partisan, never neglected an opportunity to vote his sentiments. He died as he had lived, at peace with all the world and per- fectly resigned to abide by the will of the Superior Power.
Adam Arnold, the subject of this sketch, was reared upon the farm and learned early the details of the work to be done. When little more than a child he swung an ax with the energy of a man. He chopped clown trees, trimmed them, measured and sawed the logs, dug roots, burned brush, and split rails under his father's direction with far more assiduity than many hired hands. In the winter he attended the district school and was as faithful in his studies as in the clearing of the field. The result was that before he had attained his majority he had acquired a fair knowledge of the common school branches. When twenty-one years of age he began working in the timber for wages and followed that calling during the winter months for a number of years, the other months of the year being employed as
a farm hand. His first agricultural labors on his own account was on his father's farm, which he rented. In his customary careful, methodical manner, he plowed and planted and reaped. With such success was his efforts attended that within a short time he determined to establish a home of his own. On December 24, 1876, he was united in marriage to Miss Julia Lanning, who was a native of Harrison township, born March 2, 1853. Her parents were Johiel and Susan Lanning, both old resi- dents of Wells county. She was a young lady of good education, fair attainments and amiable disposition. He continued to rent the old home place after marriage and pros- pered. At his father's death and when the estate was divided, he added to his share by purchase until he now owns sixty and three- quarter acres of the original farm. To Adam and Julia Arnold eight children have been born, viz: Theodore, born September 3, 1877, married Zetta M. Masterson; Des- sie Belle, born in 1879, deceased; Lulu May, born December 9, 1880; Samuel E., born November 1, 1882; Margaret E., born July 14, 1884; Myrtle, born February 16, 1888; Zina M., born May 7, 1889; Millie M., born June 12, 1891; Luster H., born January I, 1895. Mrs. Arnold and members of the family belong to the Six Mile Christian church and are liberal supporters of that re- ligious denomination.
In politics Mr. Arnold is a Democrat, but never has felt that he is either cut out or constructed on the lines of a politician. He has, therefore, neither aspired to nor held office, nor does he care to seek place at the hands of any party. He has no quar- rel with people who have taste or inclination in that direction, but political pie is neither
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palatable nor nutritious to him. In their section of the country Mr. and Mrs. Arnold and their children are well known and highly esteemed. Mr. Arnold has in his possession an old parchment deed dated November 2, 1837, and signed by President Martin Van Buren.
DANIEL SILLS.
Daniel Sills was born on the farm where he now lives, April 20, 1843. He is a son of Daniel Sills, a native of Pennsyl- vania, born November 12, 1804, who died September 4, 1873, and the latter was a son of Joseph Sills, a native of Germany. The mother of Daniel Sills, Jr., was Mary (Blackford) Sills, born November 9, 1806, a daughter of John Blackford. Blackford county, Indiana, received its name from its original settlers, the ancestors of Mary (Blackford) Sills. Daniel, Sr., was mar- ried to Mary Blackford June 22, 1826, and settled in Ohio, later coming to Indiana, and on March 1, 1842, moved onto the farm now occupied by Daniel Sills, Jr. The sen- ior Sills devoted the greater portion of his life to farming and hunting, he and his sons clearing the farm where the subject resides. Daniel, Sr., was the father of ten children, five of whom are living : Elizabeth, born May I, 1827; Katherine, born No- vember 9, 1828, deceased ; Sarah, born April 18, 1831; Margaret, born November 21, 1827, deceased; Joseph, born February 24, 1833, deceased; Michael, born July 15, 1838; Daniel, born April 20, 1843; James, born February 20, 1845; John, born June 5, 1847, deceased, and an infant, deceased.
Daniel, Jr., attended school at the Helm
Corner school house in Chester township until he attained the age of twenty years. The longest term of school in those times was three months, and he did not get to go more than half of that time at any one term. He remained with his father, who claimed his wages until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1865 he went to Iowa and remained there that year. Excepting this one year spent in the west, he remained working in the home neighborhood, making his home with his parents until he was about twenty- five years old. He was married February 13, 1868, to Mary C. Dick, who was born September 8, 1845, and died September 13, 1898. She was the daughter of Uriah Dick, a resident of Blackford county, Indiana, and a native of Virginia. After his mar- riage, Daniel Sills and wife settled two and one-half miles south of Montpelier, Indiana, where they lived for a period of eighteen months, then moving onto the farm where he is now living. He has remained on this farm continually since that time, it having virtually been his home ever since he was born, excepting the first eighteen months of his married life. He has been all his life what may be termed a general stock farmer. He has also owned and run a threshing ma- chine in season for thirty-five years and has done some saw-milling. He is the owner of three hundred and fifty acres of land, eighty- eight of which are in the home place and the remainder in Blackford county, Indi- ana. He received six hundred dollars from his father as a start in life. He is the father of fourteen children, all of whom are living, as follows: Alvina, born January 29, 1869; Letta F., March 7, 1870; Rosa L. B., December 29, 1871 ; Uriah D., January 27, 1873; Jennie M., April 27, 1874; Wes-
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