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 47
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ley H., November 16, 1875; Addie D., Sep- tember 6, 1878; Charles C., March 18, 1880; Elijah B., November 15, 1881; Bertha M., June 30, 1883 ; Sue O., June 26, 1885 ; Eva A., August 13, 1887; Mary C., March 18, 1890, and Daniel N., March 18, 1893.
In his political views the subject has al- ways subscribed to the doctrines of the Democratic party ; he believes, however, in a man voting his sentiments regardless of party dictation. Mary C. (Dick) Sills, his wife, after having been a true and faithful helpmate to her husband for thirty-one years, passed to her reward September 13, 1898, mourned by her husband and chil- dren. Daniel Sills is one in whom the love of family, friends and country is largely de- veloped. He has never had a desire to roam the wide world o'er, but has found content- ment in the bosom of his family and his friends in the locality of his nativity. He is an industrious and exemplary citizen, who has found his highest happiness in the per- formance of his civic duties to the com- munity in which he has lived, in providing for his family and securing a competency to meet the contingencies of the inevitable "rainy day."
JOSEPH STAHL.
A native of Bluffton, Wells county, In- diana, Joseph Stahl was born September 4, 1856, and is a son of Jacob and Mary J. (Grove) Stahl, of whom further mention will at once be made, both being now de- ceased. Jacob Stahl, Sr., a native of Bedford, Pennsylvania, was a son of Abram and Re- becca Stahl, who were also born in the Key-
stone state. Jacob was but twelve years of age when brought to Wells county, In- diana, by his parents, who settled on a farm in Nottingham township, and on that farm Jacob grew to manhood. He there mar- ried Miss Grove, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, and with her parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Grove, came to Wells county, Indiana, when she was but six years of age, about 1839, the family settling in Harrison township. At his marriage Jacob Stahl lo- cated in Bluffton, where he followed his trade as a carpenter for eight years, and then came to Liberty township and settled on the farm which his son, Joseph, now owns and occupies, and where he erected one of the first frame houses in the township. This farm had been entered from the gov- ernment by Abram Stahl, his father, and when Jacob, Sr., settled on it it was one stretch of timber land, but Jacob succeeded in clearing it up and in converting it into one of the pleasantest homesteads in the town- ship at that early day. Here he and wife passed the remainder of life, Jacob, who was born March 20, 1825, dying May 20, 1893, and Mary J., who was born May 12, 1835, dying April 9, 1898. They were the 'parents of two children, Charles and Joseph.
The younger of these two, Joseph Stahl, is the gentleman whose name opens this biography. He was educated preliminarily in the public school of Liberty township, which he attended until he was eighteen years of age, and then passed one term in the Bluffton high school. At the age of nineteen years, Joseph received a portion of his one-third interest in the estate, and at once invested it in a forty-acre tract of land, but continued to make his home with his father, receiving one-third of the prod-
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ucts of the farm for his services until his marriage, when about twenty-two years old, and of which event farther mention will be made. He then erected a dwelling on his own land, but continued to work for his father until the latter's death; from first to last he worked on the one-third principle for about twenty years. Since the mother's death the property has been equally divided between Joseph and his brother Charles, putting the latter in possession of one hun- dred and fifty acres, one hundred and twenty of the old home place and thirty-eight acres in Chester township. Mr. Stahl is a general farmer and a breeder of live stock, and one of the most successful agriculturists of his age in the township.
November 28, 1878, Joseph Stahl mar- ried Miss Mary Snow, who was born Janu- ary 24, 1860, and is a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Booth) Snow. To this bliss- ful union have been born two children, namely: Edith, married to Herbert Smith and now living on Joseph Stahl's farm, as- sisting in its cultivation during the sun- mer seasons and teaching school during the winters; Homer Augustus, the younger of the two, is also a teacher and has his resi- dence on the home place. Further informa- tion in relation to the Snow family may be gleaned from the biographical record of George Snow on another page of this vol- ume.
Joseph Stahl, since he has been entitled to the exercise of his franchise, has voted with the Democratic party, and his first of- ficial position under the auspices of that or- ganization was as superintendent of gravel roads for two years, having charge of seventy-three linear miles. In 1900 he was elected to the commissionership of the sec-
ond district of his county. He has never been without ample means, having always been wise enough to add to his possession through his industry and careful manage- ment and is today recognized as one of the most substantial and useful citizens of Lib- erty township. He is always ready to aid financially in promoting such improvements as may be of permanent benefit to his fel- low citizens, and there is certainly not a more respected family in Liberty township than that of Joseph Stahl.
JOHN LOBSIGER.
The steady, plodding, persistent boy is the one who almost invariably makes the best success in life. The eager, dashing, brilliant lad may accomplish much by a single bold stroke, but there is too much of chance in such ventures. It is the youth who makes each period of time speak for itself and all of them to speak well in his behalf, who always has most to show for the days, weeks and months that have elapsed. John Lobsiger, of Harrison township, Wells county, the subject of this sketch, is steady, plodding and persistent. He has been twenty-nine years in America and has some- thing of value to show for each year.
July 30, 1861, John Lobsiger was born in Switzerland, the son of John and Eliza- beth (Waible) Lobsiger. They and their ancestors, for many generations, were na- tives of that oldest republic on earth. In his native land, John, the father of the sub- jcct, was a laborer, who by hard work es- tablished himself in comfortable circum- stances and, as is generally the case, just
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about the time he began to be prepared to en- joy life, died. His widow mourned her loss for a suitable period and cared for her little son, John, the subject, then consoled herself by accepting a second husband. In 1873 she came to America, bringing with her her little son, and settled near Vera Cruz, Wells county. Here the lad, although but twelve years old, began working by the month as a farm hand. In 1878 he entered the em- ployment of John L. Steiner and after work- ing for him by the month for a year, al- though then but eighteen years of age, he rented the farm, and did so well with it that it was leased to him year after year for eighteen years. In 1885 he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Dettinger, a young lady of Van Wert county, Ohio, who was born July 4, 1861, but had moved with her parents to Wells county in 1873, where she resided up to the time of her marriage. In his wedded state, as during single bless- edness, John continued frugal and provi- dent, gradually increasing his yearly income and year by year adding to his material possessions. He and his wife are the par- ents of four children, viz : Rosa, born April 10, 1887 : Harry, born April 30, 1889 : Rob- ert L., born October 6, 1890; Martin, born April 4, 1892. The children are all intel- ligent, apt in their studies at school, and give promise of being useful, worthy citi- zens.
In politics Mr. Lobsiger is a Democrat, a firm believer in the tenets of that political creed and during each and every campaign exerts himself for the advancement of the cause. He has never sought office for him- self and desires no official position at the hands of his party, but generally there is some man upon his party ticket to whom his
special zeal is accorded and even if there should not be, he is none the less interested in the result. He has been a resident of Vera Cruz since 1896, is a member of the lodge of Knights of Fidelity and is generally regarded as a worthy and estimable citizen. He is a man of kind disposition and gener- ous impulses, a faithful husband, kind father, a true and sincere friend. He is still, comparatively speaking, a young man, and those who know him best predict for him a most brilliant future. Mild mannered, calm and dispassionate, no judge ever set upon the bench who considers every ques- tion which arises with more cool delibera- tion than he does. Every feature of a propo- sition is looked at before he decides and when he does decide he is always true to his convictions. It is through the injection of such blood that the American is beginning to dominate the earth.
JOHN B. FUNK.
This popular young druggist at Liberty Center, Wells county, Indiana, is a native of Wayne county, Ohio, where he was born June II, 1862, a son of Absalom and Anna (Bower) Funk, the former of whom was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, and a son of Benjamin Funk, and the latter, also a native of the Keystone state, a daughter of Jacob Bower. From Pennsyl- vania Absalom Funk was taken to Ohio, where he grew to manhood and married Miss Bower. He there followed farming and milling until November, 1866, when he came to Liberty township, Wells county, Indiana, and purchased three hundred and
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twenty acres of woodland, on which, in 1867, he erected a saw-mill, which, in 1868, was destroyed by fire. Within two years, however, Mr. Funk had another mill run- ning, and continued to operate it until 1874, when he removed to Lancaster township, Wells county, and engaged in farming and the nursery business. His death, which oc- curred July 9. 1875, was caused by exposure while at work in his nursery, the shock of the fatality being a severe one to his family and numerous friends. The children born to Absalom and Anna Funk were eight in num- ber, and in order of birth were named as fol- lows : Mary, who died in infancy, in Ohio; W. H., now in Bluffton, Wells county ; Mar- tin, a miller in Liberty Center ; Benjamin F., a farmer in Wayne county, Ohio ; Jacob A., a resident of Rock Creek township, Wells county, Indiana ; Susan M., wife of Dr. Gar- rett, of Liberty Center; John B., whose name opens this biographical sketch, and Rachel M., wife of William Bowman. Absalom Funk was a Republican in politics and while living in Ohio served as a justice of the peace under the auspices of his party ; his widow is now seventy-seven years old and is still quite active.
John B. Funk attended the public schools of Liberty township until twelve years of age and then entered the Bluffton city schools, in which his education was com- pleted in its literary elements, and he next attended the normal school one term, to be the better prepared for the profession of teaching. The winter following his gradu- ation from this institution Mr. Funk taught school, and the following July (1883) he was engaged by Dr. F. W. Garrett and Dr. Morrison as a clerk in their drug store. Within a short time thereafter Mr. Funk
purchased Dr. Morrison's interest in the stock, later bought one-half of the building, and finally, in 1888, purchased Dr. Garrett's interest and for a short time conducted the business alone. Mr. Funk's next partner in business was J. W. Rinear, father-in-law of Mr. Funk, who bought a one-half interest. This partnership was maintained for two years, when Mr. Rinear sold out to Dr. Ed- win Rinear in 1892, but a year later Mr. Funk bought out the Doctor and has since had sole control of the business, of which he has made a thorough success. In 1895 Mr. Funk purchased a forty-acre tract of land in section 16, Liberty township, Wells county, to which, in 1901, he added thirty- two acres adjoining, and also purchased a one-and-three-quarter-acre lot, on which stood a barn. He rents out this land, but reserves the right of raising some stock for his own use.
John B. Funk's marriage was solemnized April 2, 1885, with Miss Hannah S. Rinear, who was born December 28, 1866, and is a daughter of Senator J. W. and Sarah Rinear, Mrs. Funk being the first white child born in Liberty Center. At their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Funk went to house- keeping in their present handsome dwelling in Liberty Center and here they have been blessed with three children, namely : John A. J., born May 22, 1886, now in his second year in the high school, having attended one term at the Marion Normal School; Mabel, born December 13, 1888, and now in her eighth year at school; and Charles Rinear. born February 2, 1892, in the fifth grade at school.
Mrs. Funk is an active worker in the Baptist church and Mr. Funk is a member of Liberty Center Lodge No. 747, I. O. O.
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F .; he is also a member of the Bluffton En- campment No. 14I. He has passed the chairs in the camp, to attend which cere- mony he was compelled to travel eight miles. It may also be added that Mr. and Mrs. Funk are members of Rebekah Lodge No. 83 of Bluffton, in which lodge Mrs. Funk is particularly active.
In politics Mr. Funk is a warm Republi- can, and in 1889 was appointed postmaster of Liberty Center, a position he held for four years and two months to the entire satisfac- tion of the people and the postoffice depart- ment, the result being that he was retained by his successor, H. J. Johnson, as deputy, for another term of four years ; he was then again commissioned postmaster of Liberty Center and still holds that responsible office, a continuous term of fourteen years in all, as either principal or deputy. It was through his strenuous efforts that the office at Liberty Center has been made a money order office. Mr. Funk has also been suc- cessful in his efforts to establish the rural postal route connected with Liberty Center. He has held a notary public's commission for four years, and in serving the interests of his party has been a delegate to numer- ous county and congressional conventions, in which his voice was always heard in the best interests of his party.
WILLIAM LIPKEY.
Prominent among the leading citizens of Union township, Wells county, Indi- ana, stands William Lipkey, who was born in Brooke county, Virginia (now West Virginia), May 26, 1822, a son of Charles
and Margaret (Crow) Lipkey, of remote. German descent and of ante-Revolution- ary citizenship. Charles Lipkey, father of William and a soldier of the war of 1812, was the only son in a family of six children born to Henry and Mary A. Lipkey, the former of whom was the first of the fam- ily to come from Germany to America. Henry Lipkey was but sixteen years old when he arrived in the colonies, but at once espoused the cause of freedom and served as a private soldier in the army of the patriots until the glorious end had been achieved. To Charles and Margaret (Crow) Lipkey were born three sons and three daughters, viz: Philip and Charles, deceased; Margaret, now deceased, was the wife of Edward Meacham, and left two sons; Elizabeth was the wife of George Clemmens; Rachel died unmarried; Wil- liam is the subject proper of this sketch. In September, 1822, Charles Lipkey moved from Brooke county, Virginia, to Trumbull county, Ohio, where young Wil- liam was reared on his father's farm, and where he acquired as fair an education as that early day afforded. At the proper age he went out to work by the month and found employment at various occupations until he had amassed a small sum of cash, and then started out on foot for the West. When he reached Wells county, Indiana, he entered the land on a part of which he still resides. He continued to add to his original tract until he became the owner of one hundred and eighty acres of well- improved property in Union township, and has here made his home continuously since 1856. He is today one of the most honored of the township's citizens, having devoted his best energies to the development
WILLIAM LIPKEY.
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WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA.
of the resources of the country and the pros- perity of the community in which he has lived for more than half a century.
Mr. Lipkey has ever been among the foremost in advocating public improve- ments and was one of the first to agitate the project and petition for the building of the road that runs east and west through the center of Union township, from the Indianapolis pike to the George Glass farm, which petition was granted in March, 1849, the line being surveyed by the then county surveyor, George Mann. Mr. Lipkey has always interested himself in these affairs and his judgment is implic- itly relied upon by his fellow citizens who time and again have selected him as admin- istrator of very important estates.
February 1, 1854, William Lipkey was joined in marriage with Miss Belinda Lew- is, daughter of Wheeler and Abiah Lewis, of Connecticut. Although no offspring has blessed this union, Mr. and Mrs. Lip- key's hearts warm toward the orphan and they have reared, or partly reared, six children, born to others, viz: Margaret Lipkey, who at the age of two years, was taken to their home, but who, at the age of fourteen was most untimely called away; Jennie Dick, at the age of fourteen, won the affection of Mr. and Mrs. Lipkey, and by them was reared until her marriage to Thomas Lepper ; she died at twenty-nine years of age; James Lipkey was but ten years old when in the fall of 1865 he found a place in the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. Lipkey ; he is still an inmate of the old homestead, operating the farm, and is married to Martha J. Longshore; they have two chil- dren, Jesse W. and Hattie A., and lost one, William H., in infancy; Frances McDer-
mott was taken by Mr. and Mrs. Lipkey in the fall of 1866, when she was about four years old, and is now the wife of Ira Longshore; Annie Fry was next adopted, at fourteen, but she, too, passed away aged twenty-one, and Frank McMullen lived with Mr. and Mrs. Lipkey six years, from the age of ten. To each of these children who were married Mr. Lipkey do- nated sufficient means for a start in life, and there probably exists nowhere in the township or county a similar instance of munificence.
Mr. and Mrs. Lipkey united with the Methodist Episcopal church in Decem- ber, 1856, and have ever been earnest and active in their work for this denomination. They are liberal contributors financially toward its maintenance and rejoice in its prosperity and the spread of its teachings. Mr. Lipkey has been officially connected with the church as trustee since 1861 and class leader for forty-two years thus show- ing the sincerity of his faith and the kind- ness of his heart in acts innumerable. He has been a member of the quarterly con- ference since 1856, and for several years has served as Sunday school superintend- ent. Fraternally he is a member of Os- sian Lodge No. 297, F. & A. M., and po- litically he is one of the leading and most substantial Republicans of Union town- ship and Wells county. Mrs. Lipkey, it is sad to add, was for many years an invalid, and Mr. Lipkey, with his usual patience and charity of disposition, cared for her until she passed into the silent land, No- vember 7, 1886.
Mr. Lipkey in his youth did not have the opportunity of obtaining a very com- plete education, the ordinary grade of
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arithmetic being the highest study in the school curriculum in his day and neighbor- hood. The school house was of the com- mon type of the period, with slab benches, greased-paper windows and other rude ac- commodations. During his long life Mr. Lipkey has contributed toward the erec- tion of eight church buildings, seven in Wells county and one in Allen county, and has in many other ways exhibited a lively interest in the welfare of those about him.
PROF. ARTHUR R. HUYETTE.
A gentleman of ripe scholarship and marked executive ability, whose life is being consecrated to the cause of humanity, in one of the most exacting of professions, it is eminently proper in this connection to revert briefly to the life career of Prof. A. R. Huyette, the efficient and popular prin- cipal of the Keystone high school. Prof. Huyette has become one of the leading edu- cators in the county of Wells and in addition to his work here his labors have won him wide publicity in other parts of the state where his talents as a teacher have been exercised. As the name indicates, the Huyette family is of French origin, the sub- ject on the maternal side inheriting the blood of a long line of Irish ancestry also. Joseph R. Huyette. the Professor's father, was born in Pennsylvania July 24, 1838, and when a young man was married, in that state, to Miss Louisa Gray, whose birth oc- curred on the 18th day of January, 1841. Mr. and Mrs. Huyette remained in their na- tive commonwealth until the fall of 1861, when they disposed of their interests there
and moved to Huntington county, Indiana, settling in the township of Huntington where they lived the ensuing two years. At the expiration of that time they changed their abode to Clear Creek township, in the same county, and still live there, Mr. Huy- ette following the pursuit of agriculture as a vocation. Joseph R. and Louisa Huyette are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows : Anna, wife of James B. De Armitt, ex-superintendent of the Hunting- ton county schools; Juniata, the wife of E. E. Dinius, a farmer of Huntington county, is a graduate of the State Normal School at Terre Haute and for a number of years prior to her marriage was considered one of the successful teachers of the Hunting- ton city schools; Fanny, the third of the family, married William F. Rice and still resides in the county of Huntington, her husband being a prosperous farmer of Union township; Arthur R., of this review, is the fourth in order of succession, and after him comes Jessie A., who achieved considerable distinction as a teacher, having taught for some years in the district schools and now holds an important position in the city schools of Huntington; she was graduated from the Huntington high school and pre- pared herself for her chosen calling in the State Normal School åt Terre Haute; Wal- ter G., the youngest of the children, lives at home and assists his father in cultivating the farm.
Prof. Arthur R. Huyette is a native of Huntington county, Indiana, and dates his birth from the 3rd day of November, 1871. When old enough he became a pupil of the district school not far from his home and after completing the prescribed course, en- tered the Clear Creek township high school.
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His was essentially a studious nature and he early decided that there was open before him a field of great usefulness in the teacher's profession. Accordingly he began prepar- ing himself for his chosen work by a thor- ough course of intellectual and professional training. Leaving the township high school, he attended the spring term of the State Normal and the following winter ( 1890-91) taught successfully in his own native county. He divided his time between teaching of winter seasons and attending the spring terms of the State Normal until 1893, when he entered that institution with the object in view of continuing his studies, uninter- rupted, until completing the full course. He was graduated two years later with an hon- orable record and in the fall and winter of 1895-6 taught a term in Huntington city schools, being elected the following year principal of the graded schools of Bristol, Indiana. After filling that position two years Professor Huyette had charge of liter- ature and mathematics in the Huntington Business and Normal University, but in a short time resigned the place to accept the principalship of the Keystone high school, entering upon his duties in the latter ca- pacity in the fall of 1898. He has held his present position for five years, during which time the school under his charge has made rapid advancement, ranking with the most efficient high schools of northern Indiana in its course of study and thoroughness of in- struction. As a teacher Prof. Huyette has few equals in the county of Wells and his name is widely and favorably known in edu- cational circles throughout the northern part of the state. He is a fine scholar, a polished gentleman and possesses the necessary traits of character to insure success in the noble
calling to which he proposes to consecrate his life and energies. A close and critical student, he keeps close touch with the trend of modern educational thought and his laud- able ambition has ever been to make him- self an efficient teacher and stand in the front rank of his profession. To this end he main- tains a lively interest in his studies, which he prosecutes in addition to his regular du- ties in the school room, being at this time a senior in the work of the Indiana Uni- versity, from which institution his degree will soon be forthcoming.
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