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 51
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
Mr. Todd united with the Methodist Episcopal church when a mere youth and re- mained a loyal and devoted member of the same until called from the church militant to the church triumphant. For thirty years he held various official positions in the local congregation to which he belonged, notably among which were those of steward, trustee and Sunday school superintendent. He was a member of the Northern Indiana lay con- ference in the years of 1876 and 1880, and in 1884 served as a lay delegate to the gen- eral conference which convened at Philadel- phia in May of that year. Until physical dis- ability overtook him he was one of the main stays and active in the Bluffton church and contributed liberally of his means to its financial support.
In his fraternal relations, Mr. Todd had a state reputation. He was made a Mason in Ossian Lodge No. 297 and for a period of four years served as worshipful master of the lodge at Bluffton. In 1884 he was high priest of Bluffton Royal Arch Masons, in ad- dition to which important office he was also elected eminent commander of Bluffton Commandery, Knights Templar, when that body was chartered in this city. In the order of the Eastern Star, he was worthy patron of Crescent Chapter and in the state organ- ization served as grand lecturer, grand as- sociate patron and grand patron. In the grand lodge of Indiana Masons he passed the different chairs and in 1890 was honored by being elected grand master, the duties of which exalted station he discharged for one year. Mr. Todd was a charter member of Lew Dailey Post, G. A. R., at Bluffton, which he represented in 1891 in the grand encampment at Detroit. As a member of the committee appointed by the Grand Army of the Republic he aided in revising the his- tory of the late Civil war as outlined in the text books now used in the public schools, in this capacity rendering valuable service to the youth of the land in acquainting them with the underlying causes and wonderful results of that greatest of all rebellions against constituted authority. For five years Mr. Todd was quartermaster of the Fourth Regiment in the old Indiana National Guard and for some time served as a member of Governor Chase's staff with the rank of lieu- tenant colonel. His name adorns the char- ters of the Knights of Honor and the Tribe of Ben Hur in Bluffton and he filled the of- fice of past dictator in the former organiza- tion. Mr. Todd was ever a friend and liber- al patron of public improvements and aided
395
WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA.
with his influence and means every enter- prise having for its object the material ad- vancement of Bluffton and Wells county. He was largely influential in securing the requisite encouragement and aid in building the Ft. Wayne, Cincinnati & Louisville and the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City Rail- roads through the county of Wells, in ad- dition to which his alert and progressive spirit proved a potent factor in promoting various local interests and manifold indus- tries. In every relation of life he was an enterprising, progressive, manly man, whose prominent aim was to do the right as he saw and understood the right. Of dignified but pleasant presence, he was easily ap- proachable by the humblest of his fellows, and thousands the county over can tell of his many acts of kindness, of the cheery grasp of the hand, the pleasant greeting, of some aid or favor when most needed, of friendly advice that set their footsteps aright or of the words of cheer or comfort extend- . ed when the soul was bowed down in deep- est sorrow. His was not only a useful life, but a full life, replete with all that was cal- culated to elevate and ennoble humanity, and he was easily the peer of any of his fellows in the essential elements of true, virile man- hood and upright Christian citizenship. He adorned every station to which he was called and through many future generations his name and fame will be cherished by the peo- ple of his city and county as a jurist of pre-eminent ability, as an official whom no bribes could corrupt nor the tongue of flat- tery swerve from the path of duty, as a Christian without pretense and as 1 man who, seeing and understanding the right, strove by all means within his power to do the same as he would answer to his con- science and to his God.
The sickness which finally terminated in the death of Mr. Todd was of long duration, but he endured his suffering's with heroic fortitude and sublime resignation. In hope of regaining his health, he sought medical aid at the sanitarium at Battle Creek, Michi- gan, and again at West Baden Springs, In- diana, but without avail, and it was only by the exercise of his indomitable will he was enabled to baffle the fell destroyer during the last twelve months of his life. He was anx- ious and determined to live and did not give up the struggle until within a few days before the end came. On the street at various times in pleasant weather he maintained the cheery disposition which was always one of his pronounced characteristics and in spite of his sufferings kept in close touch with the trend of events and gave personal attention to his business affairs until the summons came and he yielded up his great but gentle spirit to the God who gave it. He departed this life on a beautiful Sunday in the most beautiful month of the year, May 13, 1900, dying as he had lived, a Christian, firm in the faith of the Redeemer and with a knowl- edge that his departure was only a transition from pain and suffering to a realm of eternal peace and triumph. When court was called the following Monday the bar of which he had long been an honored and distinguished member passed appropriate resolutions, con- taining complimentary references to his character and standing as a lawyer. Eliminating the greater part of the bio- graphical mention, the resolutions adopted by the bar were as follows :
Jacob J. Todd was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1843, and died at Bluffton, Indiana, May 13, 1900, aged fifty-seven years, two months and one day. In early childhood he re- moved with his parents to Jefferson township,
396
WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA.
Wells county, Indiana, where he lived upon a farm until after he attained his majority. In early man- hood he taught country schools, but came to Bluff- ton in 1865, and became a student of the law. He entered upon the practice of his chosen profes- sion in 1866 and continued a member of the bar thirty-four years. During all this time he en- joyed a large and lucrative practice. He became quite familiar with statutory law and devoted himself very largely to probate practice, collections and general office work. In all these specialties of his profession he excelled. In the history of the bar, no more reliable, trustworthy and competent attorney in this line of labor ever practiced in Bluffton. He was an ideal husband and father and alive to the wants and necessities of the community and an active, untiring supporter of every enterprise calculated to promote the best in- terests of the city and county. For more than a third of a century Bluffton has been his home. Here he has lived honored and respected as few men have ever been by his townsmen; here he died at one o'clock, on Sunday, May 13, 1900, mourned by all his neighbors. The private character and life of Jacob J. Todd were without stain and above reproach. He was a man of deep religious convic- tions, devotedly attached to his church, but he was too liberal to be a bigot, and too just to be in- tolerant. He was a man of excellent social quali- ties, and his courtesy and kindness were unfailing. When such a man dies it is appropriate to mourn.
Resolved, That we deplore the death of Jacob J. Todd because of his great worth as a man, a cit- izen and a brother.
Resolved, That we present to the family of the departed our sincere sympathy and condolence in their bereavement.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread on record in the order book of the Wells circuit court.
JOHN K. RINEHART. J. S. DAILEY. LEVI MOCK.
The following are the resolutions adopt- ed by the official board of the Methodist Episcopal church of Bluffton, with which Mr. Todd had long been prominently identi- fied.
We, the members of the official board of the Bluffton Methodist Episcopal church, feel most keenly the great loss we have sustained in the
death of our Brother Jacob J. Todd. We find it difficult to realize that he is no more one of our number. He has been a member of this city for the past thirty-three years, and in that long period of usefulness his life has been before us as an open book. We can recall his many and valued qualities as a member of this board. Prominent among these was his intense loyalty to every interest of the church he loved so well. He was one prominent among us who held up the hands of the pastor and helped to lighten his burdens. As an evidence of this loyalty, every pastor who has ever served the Bluffton church has always felt the fullest freedom in partaking of the hospi- tality of Brother Todd's home. He. possessed qualities which made him peculiarly valuable as a member of this board. How often has he infused his hopefulness and courage into our hearts and led us to look upon the bright side when we have been disposed to regard the future as dark and un- certain. 1
Our Brother Todd took a broad and practical view of the work of the church, and his highest wish was that Zion should prosper in every line. He always lent a willing and helpful hand to every enterprise of the church. He was always jealous for the good name of the church, and did his part toward bringing all the work up to his high ideal.
We shall miss his counsel and his help. In fact his death inflicts an irreparable loss upon the church and upon this board. We shall use due diligence in seeing to it that the influence of his life of devotion to a cause we all so much love shall not be lost upon us, but shall be treasured by us as one of the choicest memories of our service in the cause of the Master.
P. A. ALLEN. JAMES P. HALE. D. H. SWAIM.
The funeral of Mr. Todd, conducted after the beautiful and sublime ceremonies of the Masonic fraternity, was attended by a large concourse of his sorrowing fellow citizens of Bluffton and Wells county, while many friends and admirers from a distance were present to pay the last sad tribute of respect to his memory. The Warren, Ossian and Decatur Masonic lodges were present in a body, while notice was received that representatives of the lodges from
397
WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA.
Hartford City, Ft. Wayne, Montpelier and Huntington were in attendance. Grand Master William Geake, of Ft. Wayne; Deputy Grand Master O. E. Halloway, Knightstown; Senior Grand Warden O. W. Brownback, of Pendleton; Grand Secretary Wm. H. Smythe, Indianapolis, and Past Masters Edward O'Rourke, of Ft. Wayne, and Calvin W. Prather were present and had the ceremonies in charge. The pall bearers were as follows: W. H. Bassett, J. S. Dailey, J. P. Hale, W. L. Kiger, J. K. Rinehart, L. B. Stevens, D. H. Swaim and J. W. Tribolet.
GEORGE L. SAUNDERS.
What a strange fascination the business of newspaper publishing has for all persons who have ever become skilled in the calling. Men have followed it for years, cried out in anguish at the incessant grind, yearned for an opportunity to let go, even at a sacrifice, and when it came and they let go, reveled in their coveted liberty for only a few short weeks, when they were just as insistent in their desire to get back into the harness as they had been in the first place to get un- hitched. An old newspaper man who had followed the calling for more than fifty years prayed to be relieved of the tread-mill work that he had followed nearly all his life. His prayer was answered. He sold out at a figure that rendered him independent and then declared his intention of taking a good, long, well-earned rest. In less than six months he was pleading for the privilege of buying his old plant back again at an ad- vance, and when it was denied him he went
into an adjoining county and bought another plant. In describing his feelings, he said, "A man suffers the pains of purgatory in the business, but he suffers the tortures of hell when out of it." That is not the experi- ence of one or a dozen, but of the many who have ever become wedded to the tripod.
The subject of this sketch, George L. Saunders, of Bluffton, is still comparatively young. He was born September 1, 1866, in Muncie, Indiana, and hence is but little more than thirty-six years old. Neverthe- less, ten years ago he was afflicted with the newspaper fever and only secured permanent relief by buying an interest in the Bluffton Banner.
William and Ellen Saunders were the parents of George L. Saunders. At the time of the birth of the latter they resided in Muncie, where they remained until 1868, when they removed to Green, Jay county, re- maining there until 1876, when the family moved to Portland, where the father still re- sides. There were five children in the fam- ily, but two of them, both girls, with their mother, are dead. In the common schools of Portland George L. Saunders received his education. In securing it he had the wis- dom to subordinate the ornamental to the useful. Realizing that his time in the school room must necessarily be brief, he endeavored to secure all the valuable knowl- edge he could in that time. On leaving school. he entered the office of the Portland Sun, for the purpose of learning the print- ing business. The paper was then edited by B. S. Gray, son of Hon. Isaac P. Gray, an ex-governor of Indiana and United States minister to Mexico under President Cleve- land. In this office Mr. Saunders continued until he became a skilled printer and news-
398
WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA.
1
paper man of recognized ability. In 1886 Mı. Gray retired from the publication of the Sun and upon his recommendation George L. Saunders secured a position in the government printing office at Washington. Il speaks well for the native ability and apti- tude of Mr. Saunders that after so brief a time in a country printing office he was able to secure and hold for more than eight years, and until it was voluntarily surrendered, a position in an establishment of such magni- tude as that of the government printing of- fice. On resigning his governmental posi- tion, in 1894, he returned to Portland and purchased a half interest in the Sun office, in which he had secured his knowledge of the printing business. His business partner was W. W. Timmonds, and for four years, or until 1898, this association continued. The Sun has always been a handsome, read- able and interesting publication, but during this period it was especially welcome in the homes of its patrons. Upon dissolution of the partnership Mr. Saunders disposed of his interests to his partner and retired from the publication. At the time of his retire- ment from the Portland Sun, Mr. Saunders had been connected with the printing busi- ness for nearly twenty years. To say that he was greatly relieved on getting out and that he enjoyed for a time his freedom, ex- presses it only mildly. Like other publish- ers, he had wearied of the incessant, eternal grinding. Liberty was sweet and enjoyable, but it did not remain so. He engaged in different pursuits, in which he met with suc- cess and prospered, but there was that con- stant, unaccountable desire, that unreason- able yearning for the odor of the printing office. Forgetting that he had nothing to do with the news, except read what others published, he often caught himself outlining
matters which came under his observation and which deserved to be written up. He had the newspaper faculty and not to exercise it was painful to him. The result was in- evitable. In January, 1902, he purchased an interest in the Bluffton Daily and Weekly Banner, a publication that has been regular- ly conducted for more than half a century. From its earliest infancy, in 1850, it has been recognized as one of the leading Demo- cratic newspapers in eastern Indiana and at different times its publishers have been some of the foremost men of the state. To write its history would be like writing the history of the Democratic party of the state. It is a splendid, prosperous publication with hosts of friends throughout the northern and eastern part of Indiana.
On October 10, 1889, George L. Saun- ders was united in marriage to Miss Belle Evans, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. J. J. Evans, of Winchester, Indiana. She is a lady of refinement, many accomplishments and good education, being a graduate of the Winchester high school. To them have been born three daughters, one only of whom is living, the others having died in infancy. In their domestic relations Mr. and Mrs. Saun- ders are most happy, their home being a model American home. With a prosperous, perhaps a brilliant, business career before him, there is no reason why it should not continue to be all that it is at present.
CHARLES M. MILLER.
Charles M. Miller was born on a farm in the vicinity of the village of Murray, Wells county, Indiana, on the 20th of May, 1851, being the sixth in order of birth of the ten
399
WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA.
children of Jacob and Mary A. (Sutton) Miller, the family comprising five sons and five daughters, of whom four of the sons and five of the daughters are living at the present time. Jacob Miller was born in Pennsylvania, of stanch German ancestry, the name having been identified with the annals of the Keystone state from an early epoch in its history. He became one of the pioneers of Wells county, Indiana, whither he came as a young man in the year 1837. In his native state he had learned the trade of millwright, and to this he devoted his attention until after his marriage, when he took up his abode on a quarter section of land in Lancaster township, this county, ef- fectually reclaiming the same and developing a valuable farm, upon which he continued to reside for many years, the old homestead being the birthplace of all his children. In his declining days Jacob Miller retired from the farm and passed the golden evening of his life in the home of his eldest daughter, where he received that deep filial solicitude which was so justly due him. Here he died at the age of eighty-two years. The mother of the subject was a woman of noble and gracious attributes. She was a daughter of Rev. Elijah Sutton, a pioneer clergyman of the Baptist church in this section of the Union, and who is said to have preached the first sermon ever delivered in Wells county. His descendants assembled each year in re- union on the old homestead farm, one and one-half miles north of Murray, this county, the twenty-fourth annual reunion having been held in the month of June, 1902.
Charles M. Miller, whose name initiates this review, received his preliminary educa- tional training in the common schools of the village of Murray and continued to as-
sist in the work of the old home farm until he had attained the age of about seventeen years. During the ensuing four years he devoted his attention, through the winter months, to teaching in the district schools of Lancaster township, while through the re- sults of such effort he was in the interim en- abled to defray his expenses while continuing his personal study in the graded schools of Bluffton. In the spring of 1873 he entered into a partnership association with James Sewell and opened a general store at Mur- ray, the enterprise being conducted under the firm name of Miller & Sewell until the autumn following, when the junior mem ber was succeeded by L. F. Shreve, and the business was continued successfully under the title of Miller & Shreve, until April, 1879, when Mr. Miller sold his interest to his partner and removed to Bluffton, where he accepted a clerkship in the dry goods establishment of H. C. Arnold, with whom he remained consecutively until January. 1883, when he effected in this city the pur- chase of the stock and business of Killer- man Brothers and established himself in the grocery and queensware business, which he continued until his election to public office. Ever according a stanch allegiance to the Democratic party, Mr. Miller became an active and efficient worker in its ranks with- in a short time after taking up his resi- dence in Bluffton, and his zeal in the cause, as well as his unmistakable eligibility, re- ceived recognition of definite and gratifying order when he was made the nominee of his party for the office of county auditor, to which he was elected by a satisfactory and flattering majority in November, 1886. After his election he disposed of his gro- cery business and in the interim of a year
400
1
WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA.
which elapsed before his induction into of- fice he devoted his attention to buying grain for H. C. Arnold. In November, 1887, Mr. Miller entered upon the discharge of his du- ties as auditor, and served in this capacity for the ensuing four years. The import- ant work of constructing the fine new court house was consummated during his regime.
With the discovery of natural gas in In- diana Mr. Miller became financially and ac- tively interested in the development of the gas fields, and thus was led to later identify himself with the concomitant industry of developing the oil wells of the state. He was one of the original members of the di- rectorate of the Bluffton Light & Fuel Com- pany and for two years was secretary of the company. In 1893 he had engaged in the drug business in Bluffton, but in 1896 he disposed of this enterprise to devote his en- tire attention to his oil interests, which had greatly increased in scope and importance. Since the year last mentioned he has operat- ed extensively in the oil fields of the state, both' individually and as an interested principal in various corporations, and his energy, discrimination and administrative ability have been the potent factors in in- suring him a high degree of success in this important field of productive enterprise. He was actively concerned in the organization of the Midway Oil Company, his interests in which he subsequently sold at a good profit, and he is now actively identified with a number of fine properties and the exploiting of new prospects of distinctive promise.
On the 27th of September, 1877, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Liz- zie L. Burgan, daughter of George F. Bur- gan, now deceased, one of the first settlers of
Bluffton and one of its most honored pio- neers. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have three children, namely: Guy B., who was born July 18, 1878, is a traveling salesman for a wholesale drug house in Kansas City, Missouri; Dwight C., born April 29, 1887, and Edith, born January 28, 1891, remain at the parental home, which is recognized as a center of gracious hospitality. Fraternally Mr. Miller is identified with the time-honor- ed order of Freemasons, in which he takes a lively interest, being fully appreciative of the noble teachings and beneficent values of the fraternity.
J. H. HENLINE.
This gentleman, although reared to agri- cultural pursuits, is now one of the most active and prosperous business men in the town of Ossian, Jefferson township, Wells county, Indiana. He is a native of the county and was born in Lancaster township, November II, 1859, a son of Tobias and Rebecca (Kreigh) Henline, natives of Penn- sylvania and of German descent. Both the Henline and the Kreigh families, on leaving the Keystone state, first located in Ohio, from which state the Henlines came to Wells county, Indiana, in 1845, and the Kreighs shortly afterward, probably about 1847.
Tobias Henline and Rebecca Kreigh were married in 1857 and made their home on the old farm in Lancaster township, where Tobias passed his life. He is de- ceased, but his wife has been spared and now lives in Tocsin, Wells county. . Of their family of seven boys and three girls, five
J. H. HENLINE.
40I
WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA.
sons and three daughters still survive, and all have been reared .in the faith of the Presbyterian church, of which the mother is still a devoted member and not only be- lieves in and faithfully follows its teachings, but contributes liberally of her income to its support.
J. H. Henline passed his boyhood days on the homestead and assisted on the farm as farmers' lads do, but during the inclement weather attended school at Eagleville, where he acquired a good English education. He was but a lad when his father died, but he possessed a great deal of energy and pluck and vigorously attended to his farm duties until he attained his majority when he pur- chased a threshing machine and entered up- on the activities of life on his own account, and, as the sequel will show, made a gratify- ing success. For four years this thresher afforded him profitable and certain employ- ment each harvest, but being naturally a man of enterprise and business ability, he sought a more permanent line of business and estab- lished a tile factory in Jefferson township, which he conducted with unvarying success for five years, when he sold out to John Beck, Jr. He afterward opened a new fac- tory, covering eleven thousand five hundred and fifty-five square feet of ground, equipp- ed with a forty-horse-power engine and boiler, and was engaged in manufacturing tile, sawing lumber and making shingles, and also having a fully equipped planing mill and cider mill. September 1, 1894, the entire plant was completely destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of over six thousand dollars, leaving Mr. Henline three thousand dollars worse off than nothing. He had many friends, however, and they did not de- sert him, so that through their assistance he
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.