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 52
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was able to start up again, though on a smaller scale. But misfortune still clung to him, as in the following January he was se- verely injured in his saw-mill, suffering a broken leg and other injuries.
March 14, 1881, J. H. Henline was hap- pily united in marriage with Miss Rosa D. Wagner, a native of Jefferson township and of German descent. This union has been favored with three children, namely : Martin S., born December 9, 1882, is a practical en- gineer in Wells county, is still unmarried and makes his home under the parental roof; Lester R., who was born July 14, 1887, has been well educated for a lad of his age, and Floyd, who was born January 16, 1889.
Beside the tile factory above alluded to, Mr. Henline also conducted a portable saw- mill and a fully equipped saw and grist-mill, for about six years. In May, 1901, he locat- ed in Ossian, where he now owns a number of town lots and is doing a general mercan- tile business. Although Mr. Henline has met with several reverses, he is naturally a money maker and is very persistent in what- ever he undertakes, being now in comfort- able circumstances.
Mr. and Mrs. Henline are members of the Evangelical church, in which he has been a class leader for over three years, and was a Sunday school teacher for several years, and of the same church Mrs. Henline is a steward and the Sunday school superin- tendent. In politics Mr. Henline is a Demo- crat, as were his ancestors as far back as his recollection extends, but, as far as he is per- sonally concerned, he cares but little for po- litical work. He has a pleasant home in Ossian, where he carries on a general trade in agricultural implements, and also owns
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five acres of quite valuable land in Jefferson township. The Henline family is one of the most respected in the town of Ossian and the township of Jefferson, and Mr. Henline is well known in the business circles of the county as a man of the strictest integrity.
ABNER S. ELZEY.
Few young men in Wells county and the town of Ossian, Indiana, have become so prominently identified with the business interests of the community in which he lives as has Abner S. Elzey, who was born in Adams county, Indiana, October 3, 1868, a son of Elisha and Rebekah ( Pausle) Elzey. The Elzey family came from Maryland to Ohio and are of Scotch-Irish descent, and after some years' residence in the Buckeye state, the father moved to Adams county, Indiana, located on a farm north of De- catur, where he passed his life in moderate circumstances, and was highly respected by his neighbors as a quiet, unassuming gen- tleman. To him and wife were born seven children,of whom A. S. Elzey is the only survivor.
Abner S. Elzey was, as far as his tender years permitted, instructed in the noble pur- suit of agriculture on the old homestead and also attended the district school until he was eight years of age, when he was taken by his father to Decatur, where he attended the common schools, and, being quick at acquir- ing knowledge, improved himself as far as his advantages would permit. But his thirst for knowledge was insatiable and he de- voted his time and means to a large extent to the accumulation of books, soon possess-
ing himself of a large and valuable library, made up of standard works on many branch- es of human knowledge. But a desire to make money early became paramount with Mr. Elzey, not for the sake of gold itself, but for the advantage it would afford him in doing good to others and in amplifying his power to carry out this laudable object. Therefore, while still young, and his mother having passed away, Mr. Elzey left the pa- ternal roof and formed a partnership with another young man in Decatur, and soon proved to the world that, although but fif- teen years of age, he had a knowledge of business far superior to that possessed by most lads of his own age. A favorable op- portunity presenting itself, Mr. Elzey withdrew from the partnership he had formed and entered the employ of Shaffer & Brother. In 1892 Mr. Elzey was sent by his employers to Ossian with a stock of hardware well adapted to the wants of a rural community and an agricultural popula- tion, and within a year built up a very pros- perous trade. With his usual foresight, Mr. Elzey perceived his opportunity and formed a partnership with John Rex, and together they purchased the stock. Some time later Mr. Elzey bought out Mr. Rex, and con- tinued the business solely on his own ac- count, adding materially to his stock in trade, but later engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, which he found to be better adapted to his inclinations and more remunerative.
Mr. Elzey is a public spirited gentleman as well as an enterprising citizen. He has made three additions to the town of Ossian and has built two business blocks, as well as remodeled others, and, taken altogether, his push and enterprise have been most
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commendable. Too much credit can hardly be awarded him for the great progress Os- sian has made under his auspices. In 1901 Mr. Elzey erected his present two-story and basement brick warehouse and salesroom in which he carries the best assorted stock of furniture, buggies and undertakers' ma- terials to be found in Wells county. His funeral cars are of the latest design and are fully up to date, and besides the two he owns in Ossian he holds an interest in six others at different towns in the country. By his courtesy and unvarying affability, which al- ways mark the true business man, Mr. Elzey has secured a permanent trade that in itself assures him a competency.
Abner S. Elzey was united in marriage with Miss Siddie E. Linn. This lady was born in Indianapolis in 1866, and is the daughter of Solomon Linn, a prominent and wealthy contractor and builder, now resid- ing in Decatur, Indiana. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Elzey took place in Decatur, August 27, 1889, and this union has been blessed with two children, viz: Ilow Ruth, born December 27, 1894, and Dale Edmond, born July 27, 1896, and it may be added that Mr. Elzey attributes much of his success in business and all of his domestic happiness to the influence of his amiable and accom- plished wife. Mr. Elzey and his family are members of the Evangelical church, in which they are true and earnest workers and to the support of which they are liberal contributors. Fraternally Mr. Elzey is a Knight of Pythias, of which he is the pres- ent efficient prelate. In politics he is a Re- publican, but is too wise a man to sacrifice his business interests in the vain pursuit of office. He has passed much of his life in acts that were sure to accrue to the benefit of
his neighbors and of the community in which he has passed so many years of his useful life.
MAHLON I. PAXSON.
In the general conduct of life, as well as in specific vocations, intelligence, energy and honorable motives are essential to the high- est success. With the two former qualities, a man may succeed in a certain sense, but that life is not a full or complete one into which the moral element does not enter as a controlling factor. The career of Mahlon I. Paxson, of Lancaster township, one of the largest land owners and most successful farmers of Wells county, is a forcible il- lustration of this fact, and it is a pleasant duty on the part of the publishers to present a brief review of his life and achievements. It is not known who was the founder of the Paxson family in America, but it is a well authenticated fact that the name was fa- miliar in various parts of Virginia at a very early period in the history of that common- wealth. Joseph Paxson, the subject's grand- father, was born in that state, but in early life was taken by his parents to Ohio where he married, subsequently moving to Indiana and entering land in Penn township, Jay county. He was one of the earliest settlers in the township of Penn, settling there in the year 1836. He cleared and developed a good farm there and died on the same a number of years ago at about the age of seventy-two. Among the children of Joseph and Martha Paxson was a son by the name of Joshua, whose birth occurred in Colum- biana county, Ohio, about the year 1820.
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When a youth in his teens he accompanied his parents to Jay county where he subse- quently married Mary Irey, daughter of Phineas Irey, one of the pioneers of Jay county and later a resident of the county of Wabash. After his marriage Joshua Pax- son settled on a farm in Penn township and in due time became a successful agriculturist and substantial citizen. He was an honest, hard working man and belonged to that large and eminently respectable class of yeomanry who in a quiet way add to the sta- bility and moral tone of the community. He lived a useful but uneventful life and finished his earthly course in November, 1878, his wife surviving until the year 1891. Eight children were born to Joshua and Mary Paxson, the subject of this sketch be- ing the second in order of birth; the names of the others are Martha, wife of Morris Thompson; Philip, a resident of Pennville, Jay county ; Eli lives at Winona, this state; David, the next in order of birth, was last heard of in Missouri and it is not known whether he is now living or dead; the old- est and youngest members of the family died in infancy unnamed.
Mahlon I. Paxson was born in Penn township, Jay county, Indiana, November II, 1842. To him was accorded the privilege of growing to manhood on a farm, from whence has sprung not only the moral bone and sinew of the body politic, but also the majority of leaders in our industrial life and many men of eminence in the affairs of state. Inheriting a robust constitution and superb health, young Mahlon grew up a finely de- veloped lad and, being the oldest son, upon his shoulders early fell a large share of the family support. By reason of his services being required on the farm he had little op-
portunity of acquiring an education, the sum total of his schooling consisting of only four or five terms and that before he had reached the age of seventeen. This deficiency he has largely made up in after years by read- ing and observation, while his contact with the world in various business capacities has given him a wide practical knowledge of much greater value than the learning ordi- narily derived from books.
Mr. Paxson was a young man of nine- teen when the great Civil war broke out and, like thousands of other patriotic sons of the north, he tendered his services to the gov- ernment in the hour of its greatest need. On the 30th day of July, 1862, he was mustered into the service as a member of Company F, Seventy-fifth Regiment Indi- ana Infantry, and from that time until his discharge, in June, 1865, he did his duty as a brave and loyal soldier on a number of bloody battle fields. He first met the enemy at Hoover's Gap, Kentucky, and later was with General Thomas in the various cam- paigns which that intrepid commander con- ducted, participating in many engagements, notably among which was the terrible battle of Chickamauga, where so many brave men laid down their lives in defence of the Union. During Mr. Paxson's military ex- perience he was never in the hospital a day as a patient and, being ever ready for duty, he earned the good will of his officers and ; comrades. After his discharge he returned home and on February 27 of the following year was united in marriage with Miss Ma- tilda E. Keese, of Penn township, daughter of Stephen and Sarah Keese, who moved to Jay county, from Vermont, as early as 1838. Meantime Mr. Paxson had come into possession of a small farm of sixty acres
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which he purchased with money saved while in the army, and to this place he moved his bride and set up his first domestic establish- ment. Within a short time he exchanged this farm for eighty acres of woodland on which he built a modest log dwelling, six- teen by eighteen feet in dimensions, and shortly after installing his wife therein he put up a blacksmith shop which proved a great benefit to the farmers of the vicinity. When not engaged in clearing his land he worked in the shop and soon had more than he could do, his earnings from this source constituting by far the larger part of his in- come. After clearing and reducing to culti- vation about fifty acres of his land, Mr. Paxson again made a good trade, exchang- ing the place for one hundred acres in Not- tingham township, Wells county, to which he moved about the year 1883. On Febru- ary 2, 1876, prior to moving to Wells county, he suffered a grievous bereavement in the loss of his wife, who died after bear- ing him four children, namely; Florence, now Mrs. David Kelly; Nathan, deceased ; Nealy P., wife of George Lanning, of Kansas, and Adrian, who died in infancy. Later, on the 13th of October, 1878, Mr. Paxson chose a second wife in the person of Mrs. Rebecca Paxson, widow of the late Miles Paxson, of Jay county, and daughter of Isaac and Rebecca Walker, who were among the early settlers of that part of the state.
Mr. Paxson's original farm in Notting- ham township lies about one mile and a half southwest of the village of Petroleum and for many years was locally known as the Robert Smith place. He made many im- provements on this farm, including among others one of the largest barns in the town-
ship and a beautiful two-story modern dwelling costing twenty-five hundred dol- lars. He brought the land to a high state of cultivation and by his energy, foresight and successful management added continually to his possessions until within a comparatively few years he was numbered among the wealthiest men in his part of the county. In 1896 he purchased a fine residence in Bluffton, to which place he removed the same year, but after a short time there he returned to the country, subsequently trad- ing his city property for a farm in the town- ship of Lancaster. In 1898 he moved to the latter place and has since made it his home, although still retaining possession of his farm in Nottingham township.
Mr. Paxson has been exceedingly for- tunate in his farming interests and business affairs, as witness the fact of his owning at this time seven hundred and fifty-two acres of valuable land, three hundred and twenty-four acres of which are in Lancaster township, one hundred in Nottingham, one hundred, and sixty-eight in Jay county and one hundred and sixty in Stafford county, Kansas, and also six valuable lots in Penn- ville, Jay county. He is now looking after his large landed and agricultural interests, but does little manual labor himself, devot- ing considerable of his time to the raising of fine live stock in which his success has been most encouraging. He is a large breeder of Galloway cattle, of which he now has one hundred and twenty-three head, several of them thoroughbreds, while his herd of Jerseys cannot be excelled by any like num- ber of animals in this part of the state. He also buys and ships stock quite extensively and in this, as in his other business affairs, realizes handsome profits from his efforts.
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Mr. Paxson is a man of expedients, re- sorting to many different enterprises to in- crease his fortune. He owns a fine thresh- ing outfit, which yields him a liberal profit on the investment, and also operates a shred- der at certain seasons of the year. He still keeps his blacksmith shop open, doing all of his work and as much for his neighbors as the capacity of his establishment will ad- mit. Mr. Paxson never addresses himself to an undertaking without careful consider- ing the consequences, but once engaged never stops short of successful completion. Thrown upon his own resources at an age when most boys are still under their father's care, he has made his way in the world un- aided and is indebted to nobody but himself for the large fortune which he now com- mands. He is probably as good a specimen as can be found of the extraordinary up- lifting and rebuilding process which Ameri- can institutions seem so well calculated to foster in the case of clever young men who in the midst of humble circumstances are not afraid to dare and do. There have been many hard knocks and rough experiences in his career, but from the beginning he has been controlled by those high, manly princi- ples which, while according to every one his just dues, holds on to the right regard- less of consequences and in the end seldon if ever fails to reach the goal of success.
Mr. Paxson is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Bluffton and is also identified with the Improved Order of Red Men, joining the latter organiza- tion at Keystone. In matters political he is absolutely independent, giving his alle- giance to the party whose principles in his judgment work for the best interest of the people. He supported the Greenback party
while it was in existence and later became a Populist, but in local affairs he is free, vot- ing for the man regardless of his political affiliation.
By his second marriage Mr. Paxson is the father of four children, namely : Telfer, who married Miss Elva Eihorn and lives on the farm in Nottingham township; Sherman married Clara Gregg, and lives on a part of his father's farm in Lancaster township; Orval, also a member of the home circle, and Ernest, who was accidentally shot and killed at the age of eleven years. Mrs. Pax- son has been a member of the United Brethren church ever since her childhood and is one of the active members in the con- gregation to which she now belongs. Mr. Paxson is not identified with any religious organization, but appreciating the value of the church to a community, gives liberally of his means to its support. His hand is ever open to a friend in need and his gener- ous hospitality is free to all who claim it. He is indeed one of the county's most ener- getic and enterprising men and his right to be classed with its representative citizens is cheerfully conceded by the public.
THOMAS M. WASSON.
A man whose days have been devoted to honorable endeavor and who has attained a high degree of success in life, it is peculiarly appropriate that attention be directed to one who has long been identified with the ma- terial and educational interests of Wells county. Thomas M. Wasson is a worthy representative of one of the oldest families in this part of the state and the township
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in which he lives can boast of few older citizens in point of continuous residence. On the Ioth day of January, 1845, his birth occurred in the township of Lancaster and from that date to the present time, a period of nearly fifty-eight years, his career has been very closely interwoven with the his- tory of this particular section of the county. His parents were George and Sarah (Ash) Wasson, who came to Wells county as early as the year 1841 and settled in Lancaster township, where they spent the remainder of their days. Thomas M. grew up in a comparatively new and undeveloped country and easily recalls the early days when the land was covered with a virgin forest into which but few pioneers had penetrated. An eye witness of the remarkable transforma- tion which has taken place between that period and the present, he is perhaps as well or better acquainted with the growth of the country and its advancement along all lines of development than any other man 'now liv- ing. Not only has he witnessed the many radical changes which have taken place with- in the last half century, but in many ways he has contributed to bring them about, hav- ing been an influential factor in the country's progress since old enough to exercise the functions and duties of citizenship. Reared on a farm at a time when hard work was the common lot of all, it is not strange that he early developed a capacity for labor of which boys of the present day have little or no conception and that he also learned while still a mere lad to rely upon himself in the great battle of life, proving the sound physical and mental make-up of a boy who knew how to take advantage of every op- portunity for his improvement. When old enough, he entered such schools as his neigh .. borhood afforded and such was his progress
that in a few years he stood at the head of all his classes and as a general thing greatly distanced the boys of his own age in study. In the summer time he helped run the farm and otherwise looked after the interests of his widowed mother, proving a full hand at all kinds of manual labor long before reach- ing his majority.
The fall of 1868 marked the beginning of Mr. Wasson's long and useful career as a teacher in the public schools of Wells county. He had taught a term that year and the following summer attended a nor- mal school with the object in view of prepar- ing himself for greater efficiency in this no- ble field of endeavor. He continued educa- tional work without interruption until the year 1876, meanwhile establishing much more than local repute as a capable instruc- tor and efficient disciplinarian. Many of the boys and girls who received from him their first insight into the mysteries of learn- ing are now among the substantial men and women of this and other states, but they still retain fond remembrances of their teacher and think of him as one of their warmest friends and greatest benefactors. In 1876 Mr. Wasson abandoned teaching for a time and turned his attention to the im- provement of his farm. On the Ist day of August, 1877, he took to himself a wife and helpmate in the person of Miss Angie Vail, a native of Allen county, Indiana, and daughter of Thomas and Martha Vail, who moved to this state in an early day from Ohio. Originally the Vails settled in Allen county, but later changed their abode to the county of Wells, locating near the vil- lage of Ossian, where the father's death sub- sequently occurred, the mother being still in the land of the living.
Immediately following his marriage, Mr.
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Wasson moved to his present farm in Lan- caster township and began a systematic course of improvement, which in due time resulted in one of the most valuable and at- tractive homes in this section of the country. He cleared much of his land and by a suc- cessful system of drainage added greatly to its productive capacity as well as to its value in a financial point of view. He labored con- tinuously with success and profit for seven years, when an event occurred which not only interfered very materially with his plans, but for a time broke up his home and caused him the deepest sorrow a devoted husband can know. This was the death of his faithful and loving wife, which occurred on the 8th day of February, 1885, after she had presented him two sons, Clifton, born in April, 1882, now a resident of the city of South Bend, and Clem V., whose birth took place on the 16th of December, 1884, and who still lives on the home place.
Breaking up housekeeping after the death of his companion, Mr. Wasson rented his land and again entered the educational field, in which he continued until his second marriage in 1891. On November 5, of that year, was solemnized the ceremony which bound him in the bonds of wedlock with Louisa Gephart, who was born in Allen county in the year 1855, her parents, George and Louisa Gephart, having long been resi- dents of this state. This marriage wit- nessed the termination of Mr. Wasson's ca- reer as a teacher and since 1891 he has de- voted his attention exclusively to the pur- suit of agriculture. He owns a fine farm of one hundred acres, of which seventy-five are in cultivation, and everything on the place, notably the well cultivated field, tile drainage, etc., bespeak the presence of a
man of progressive ideas who has indeed elevated husbandry to the dignity of a sci- ence. Mr. Wasson has made a careful study of soils and understands thoroughly their adaptability to the different crops raised in this latitude. He seldom fails to reap boun- tiful harvests and from the sale of the fine cattle and hogs which he raises he receives a liberal share of his yearly income.
Mr. Wasson is a gentleman of much more than ordinary mental capacity and by keep- ing himself in close touch with the times on all the great questions before the public, has become to a large degree a leader of thought in his community. He is progressive in all the term implies, assists to the extent of his ability every measure for the material and moral advancement of his kind, and for a number of years past his activity in religious work has done much to build up the cause of Christianity in the locality where he re- sides. He is one of the pillars of the Chris- ian Union church in Lancaster township, holding at this time the office of trustee, be- sides being one of the most efficient teach- ers in the Sunday school connected with the congregation. Mrs. Wasson is also a mem- ber of the same body of worshipers and, like her husband, is deeply interested in re- ligious work both in her own community and elsewhere. Politically Mr. Wasson is a staunch Democrat, but he is not narrow in his views, according to everybody the same right of opinion which he claims for him- self. He served four years as precinct com- mitteeman and upon a number of occasions has represented his township in county and other conventions. He has never been an aspirant for public office, the only office he ever held being that of assessor, the duties of which he discharged in an able and busi-
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