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 65
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John H. was reared upon the home farm and in his youth was given the advantages of a good common school education. Upon attaining his maturity he was united in mar- riage with Martha Welcheimer, a union which was blessed by the birth of two sons. The eldest, Charles C., was born August 30, 1865, and attended the common schools of his neighborhood, after which he graduated from the Bluffton high school in the class of
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1884. Entering DePauw University, he took a thorough course in pharmacy and is now one of the leading druggists of Bluff- ton. He was granted a license to teach and taught two terms of school in this county. He was united in marriage with Miss Stella Mullen, of Valley Mills, Indiana.
Lewis E. Deam, the immediate subject, was born June 20, 1867, and spent his boy- hood days upon the paternal homestead. He attended the common schools and the graded schools at Bluffton, and upon the completion of his education chose farming as his life occupation. That this was a wise choice is evidenced by the pronounced suc- cess which has accompanied his subsequent operations. He is thoroughly up-to-date in his methods and has kept his property up to the highest standard of excellence, having now one of the best and most highly im- proved farms in Harrison township. -
In August, 1892, Mr. Deam was married to 'Miss Clara A. Sawyer, the daughter of John A. Sawyer, a farmer and stone-mason. She is a native of the township in which she now resides, her birth dating from July 27, 1873, and she received the advantages of a good common school education. Their mar- riage has been blessed with one daughter, Leota L., born December 28, 1896. Mr. Deam and his wife belong to the Six Mile Christian church and are useful and influen- tial members of the organization. In polit- ical matters the subject is affiliated with the Democratic party and takes an intelligent interest in the trend of public events, though never taking an active part in the campaign work of his party.
Mr. Deam has met with flattering success as a farmer and raiser of live stock. In his business relations he keeps in accord with
the ethics of life, and the correctness of his motives has never been questioned by those with whom he has had any dealing. Person- ally he stands high among his neighbors and fellow citizens and no one has more warm friends or fewer enemies than has he. Emi- nently warm hearted and generous, he dis- charges alll his duties with fidelity and zeal, and to the best of his ability lives up to his highest conception of what constitutes true manhood.
D. W. ABBOTT.
In these days of strenuous exertion one often hears the ministry spoken of as "a lazy man's job." While there is a vast difference of opinion on this subject at the present time, there was, in the history of Indiana, a time when the ministry requir- ed, if not much learning, certainly more in the way of health, physical endurance and strength of purpose, body and mind than any of the learned professions. Ref- erence is made to the time when the "circuit rider" was the popular preacher in Indiana. Rugged in nature and often un- couth in manner, he it was who ad- ministered consolation to the sick and hope to the dying. His circuit comprised a number of local congregations, each separated many miles from the others, the distance being generally covered by the minister on the back of a horse rarely noted for the smoothness of his gait. The circuit had to be ridden in all kinds of weather, so that the bodily soundness of the minister was a necessary accompani- ment to the soundness of his doctrine. One of these early ministers was Daniel
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William Abbott, the subject of this sketch, who was born in Shelby county, Ohio, Sep- tember 19, 1841, the son of William H. Abbott, who was born in the Lehigh valley, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1818. His mother was Susannah Woodring, a native of Fairfield county, Ohio. William H. Abbott was a man of remarkable abil- ity. Even before he had attained his ma- jority he was elected supervisor of Dins- more township, Shelby county, and dis- charged the duties of the office very satis- factorily to his constituents. He was a man whose advantages for education had been limited, but he was sagacious, intel- ligent, observant, and by home study he so improved his mind that many of those with far better advantages were by no means his equal either in learning or abil- ity. He was only seven years of age when the family moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio and located in Dinsmore township, on a piece of government land. Very soon after the organization of the Republican party William H. Abbott became a warm advocate of the principles of that party and he never afterward wavered in the faith. The violation of the Missouri Compromise and the Kansas-Nebraska trouble deter- mined him in his choice. He and his wife were both members of the German Re- form church of Dinsmore township and among the most regular attendants there- of. Their home was about eight miles from the church, with the roads of those early days scarcely ever in an inviting con- dition, yet they rarely missed a service though frequently it took them all day to make the trip and return home.
The grandfather of the subject of this sketch was also named William Abbott.
At his home in Pennsylvania, on the banks of the Lehigh river, he was one of the pioneer tavern-keepers of the latter part of the eighteenth century. He was a man of wide acquaintance and unbounded hos- pitality. He had faith in God and the promise that he would provide. Truly, therefore, did he lend to the Lord by un- grudgingly giving to the poor. The chil- dren of William H. and Susannah (Wood- ring) Abbott were six in number, four girls and two boys. Catherine is the widow of the late Robert Botkin, of Ada, Ohio; Sarah is the wife of Rev. David Morgan, of Macy, Indiana; Daniel W. is the subject of this sketch; Eli is a teacher and farmer of Maplewood, Ohio; Mary Jane, deceased wife of Robert Turner ; Margaret, wife of Demus Swim, of Bot- kin, Ohio. All those living are prosperous and well-to-do people of standing and worth in the respective communities where they reside.
The early years of Daniel W. Abbott were spent on the farm. He received the benefits of a common school education, ap- plying himself assiduously to his studies with a view to qualifying himself for a teacher. He applied for and received a certificate to teach, but the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion greatly altered his plans. He was destined to carry a musket instead of wielding a birch and the prospective teacher was evolved into the soldier. August 13, 1862, at Sidney, Shelby county, Ohio, he enlisted as a pri- vate in Company H, Ninety-ninth Ohio Volunteers, and continued in the service under Capt. Wyman, until discharged for disability. Returning to his home in Ohio about the time the draft was in progress,
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he was declared subject to it and although desiring the privilege' of re-enlisting, it was denied him for some cause. He was enrolled in Company K, Twenty-ninth Ohio Regiment, and served until the close of the war.
December 31, 1863, Daniel W. Abbott was united in marriage to Jane Lambert, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Lam- bert, of Shelby county, Ohio. On the re- turn of Mr. Abbott from the war, at the close of hostilities, he turned his attention to farming, which he continued success- fully and with profit until 1872, when he entered the ministry of the United Breth- ren church, where he was granted a quar- terly conference license to preach. In 1872 he was appointed by Rev. William Bay, to fill a vacancy that occurred on the Pleas- ant circuit and in 1873, upon the recom- mendation of Rev. William Bay, presiding elder of the West district, and Rev. J. L. Luttrel, presiding elder of the East dis- trict, where Mr. Abbott held his member- ship, he was received into the annual con- ference and was given his first charge, the Wabash circuit in Jay county, Indiana. Five years after his entrance into ministry he completed his studies and was regularly ordained as an elder in the church. For the next seventeen years he was almost continuously engaged in the work of the gospel. December 15, 1900, on account of failing health, he was obliged to retire from the work. During active service in the ministry he had charge of various cir- cuits both in Indiana and Ohio and in every instance his ministry was blessed by the accomplishment of much good. In most instances when a change was made his people were very reluctant to part from him and on many occasions he was dele-
gated to hold quarterly conference for the presiding elder.
Mr. and Mrs. Abbott are the parents of eight children, six sons and two daugh- ters: Alfred Sherman resides in Craig- ville; Elmer lives in Lancaster township; Emma Ellen is the wife of Charles Warth- man, of Lancaster township; Rosa Arretta is the wife of Amos Hetrick, Jr., and also resides in Lancaster township; Nelson Wallace; Arthur Newton, of Bluffton; Merritt Calvin, of Craigville, and Edgar Clark, still living at home. About 1890 Mr. Abbott engaged in the mercantile business in Craigville, though he continu- ed his chosen calling, allowing his sons to look after the store. His popularity and fair dealing soon established for him good trade and he continued in the mercantile business, being fairly prosperous, until two years ago, when he sold the store and turned the business over to his son, Alfred S. Abbott. In every undertaking of his life Mr. Abbott has been quite successful. He is the owner of several acres of land in Wells county, is possessed of an elegant home in Craigville and a number of profit- able investments add materially to his yearly income. In politics he is a Republi- can and, although liberal and conservative in his views, is, nevertheless, very firm in his convictions. He likes to do good for the sake of that which is good, is kind and gentle in disposition, and charitable al- most to a fault. He loves his home and family, his friends and neighbors, and is never happier than when he is benefitting others, even at an outlay of time, trouble or money to himself. There is no kinder father, more loving husband or better citi- zen than Rev. Daniel W. Abbott, the name of whose friends is legion.
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SIMON B. BICKEL.
Among the well known citizens of Harri- son township, Wells county, Indiana, is Simon B. Bickel, who was born in Darke county, Ohio, June 27, 1848, and is a son of John and Margaret (Moyer) Bickel, the for- mer a native of Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, and the latter of Butler county, Ohio. John Bickel was reared to farming in his na- tive county, receiving the education usually imparted to farmer's lads. From Pennsyl- vania he removed to Butler county, Ohio, with his parents, and was there married to Miss Moyer. He later moved to Darke county, Ohio, where he purchased a tract of five hundred acres of land and for some years was engaged in agricultural pursuits, but later in life conducted a hotel at Hill Grove, Ohio, where his wife passed away, at the age of seventy-five years, and where his own death occurred when he had reached the good old age of eighty-eight. Mr. Bickel was a member of the Masonic fraternity and his earthly possessions were quite extensive, he being considered one of the wealthiest men in his part of Ohio. To John Bickel and wife was born a family of eight boys and four girls, viz: Lewis, deceased, John W., Su- san, deceased, Henry, Mary Catherine, Simon B. and Alexander (twins), Franklin, William, Minurva J., deceased, and Harri- Son1.
Simon B. Bickel was reared to farming on the family homestead, receiving in the meantime a district school education. On February 23, 1871, he married, in Darke county, Ohio, Miss Sarah J. Dougherty, the accomplished daughter of William and Mar- garet (Studabaker) Dougherty, and sister of Hugh Dougherty, president of the Studa-
baker Bank. In March, 1875, Mr. Bickel brought his young family from Ohio to Wells county, Indiana, and here agriculture and stock raising have since occupied his attention, in both of which he has met with abundant success in the townships of Lan- caster and Harrison.
The children born to Simon B. and Sarah J. (Dougherty) Bickel are numbered four, Hugh D., Margaret E., deceased, Bessie E. and Gertrude E. Of these, Hugh married Carrie Swisher ; Bessie is the wife of Charles Porter, and Gertrude is still single; she was graduated from the Bluffton high school and also from the Huntington Business College, of Huntington, Indiana.
Mr. Bickel is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in which he holds an insurance policy on his life for two thousand dollars, believing in the wisdom of making ample provisions for his family at a minimum cost. Mr. and Mrs. Bickel are de- voted members of Six Mile Christian church, to the maintenance of which they are liberal contributors and in the promulgation of whose doctrines they feel an earnest interest. In 1902 Mr. Bickel represented his congre- gation as a delegate to the Eel River con- ference at Goshen, and is at all times ready to devote his time and means to the promo- tion of the welfare of the Six Mile church in particular, as well as that of the church in general. The political creed of Mr. Bickel is to be found in the platform of the Demo- cratic party, and he is as active and as en- ergetic in caring for and promoting its in- terests as he is in advancing to a prosper- ous consummation every thing he under- takes.
Mr. Bickel's farm is situated in sec- tions 2 and II, Harrison township, Wells
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county, and on this place are several sand and gravel pits, from which has been dug the material necessary for the use of the city of Bluffton for the past twenty years, and since he settled here, in 1892, he has sold the product of his pits to the amount of sixteen thousand dollars. Mr. Bickel cannot and does not complain of the man- ner in which Dame Fortune has treated him since he has been a resident of Wells county, but he must be awarded the credit of having to a great extent been the directing genius which pointed out to the gentle goddess the course she should take in seeking the road to ultimate success.
JOHN A. MILLER.
The man who was in the business of raising stock at the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion was in a position to realize handsomely upon his possessions. An immense army had to be raised, equip- ped and supplied. Beef, pork and mutton were in such demand that the animals out of which to convert the meat at once enhanced greatly in value. Horses and mules, too, were necessary and their value appreciated with a rapidity that furnished a most agreeable surprise to the owners. The father of John A. Miller, the subject of this sketch, was at that time an exten- sive farmer and a large stock raiser. He was already wealthy when the war broke out, but the advancement of prices then added greatly to his possessions.
John A. Miller was born in Darke county, Ohio, August 15, 1836, the son of Daniel and Elenore (Graves) Miller. His father was an Ohioian by birth, but his
grandfather was a native of Germany. Daniel Miller was only a boy when his par- ents moved to Darke county, Ohio, taking the lad with them. There he grew to man- hood, married, and was preparing to en- joy domestic life when his wife died, leav- ing him childless. Miss Elenore Graves was his second wife. The family moved from Darke county to Adams county and in about 1838 moved to Wells county, In- diana, entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land, built a home and proceeded to carve a farm out of the trackless wilderness. To this farm piece after piece was added until it became a tract of eight hundred acres. Seven children were born to Daniel and Elenore Miller, of whom John A. was the oldest. He was only two years old when his par- ents moved to Wells county, and has since made this county his home. His father died in 1864, a rich man, his estate being valued at more than thirty thousand dol- lars. He was shot by a horse thief while trying to arrest the latter, and died about six hours later from the effects of the wound.
The education of John A. Miller was received in the district school of Wells county. He attended regularly when there was school during the winter months, was studious and attentive and profited by the instruction received. When not in school he worked on the farm for his father until he was twenty-two years old, when he be- gan dealing in stock on his own account. To this branch of business he took very kindly, learned early to form a correct es- timate of an animal or number of animals and was always prepared to accept or re- fuse any proposition that might be made by a prospective seller, without bringing
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to his assistance the use of scales. While yet a young man, he was one of the lead- ing stock buyers and shippers of Bluffton, and it is needless to say that under those circumstances he accumulated money rap- idly.
In 1867 Mr. Miller was united in mar- riage to Miss Sarah Martin, daughter of Josephus Martin, a native of Adams coun- ty, Indiana. To this union were born eight sons, six of whom are living. They are Frank, Robert, John, Josephus, Rufus and Harry. All of the boys have received good liberal educations, though Robert and Harry have taken especially to books and learning, attending school in Indianapolis. At the time of his marriage Mr. Miller was possessed of but little property. He bought a quarter section of land and kept adding to it until he is now the owner of a farm of four hundred acres, estimated to be worth twenty-one thousand dollars, his entire estate footing up more than twenty-three thousand dollars.
Personally Mr. Miller is an honest, candid man. What he has to say is always said with the most commendable frank- ness, pretences and subterfuges being to him most odious. He makes money eas- ily and rapidly and is liberal and generous with it. His home is one of the most hospit- able places in the county, and no man ever leaves his threshold hungry or in want. He is a member of Lodge No. 114, I. O. O. F., at Bluffton. In politics he has always been an unswerving Republican, but in local affairs he always recognizes the man above the party. Throughout the county his acquaintance is quite extensive, his honesty, candor and fairness in all his dealings having established for him a pop-
ularity throughout the county that few possess. He is a model man in every re- lation of life, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.
JOHN R. DITZLER.
The biographies of enterprising men, especially of good men, are instructive as guides and incentives to others. The examples they furnish of patient purpose and steadfast integrity strongly illustrate what it is in the power of each to accom- plish. Some men belong to no exclusive ciass in life; apparently insurmountable obstacles have in many instances awaken- ed their dormant faculties and served as a stimulus to carry them to ultimate suc- cess. The instances of success in the face of adverse fate would seem almost to justi- fy the conclusion that self-reliance, with a half chance, can accomplish any reason- able object. The gentleman whose life history is herewith outlined is a man who has lived to good purpose and achieved a much greater degree of success than falls to the lot of the average individual. By a straightforward and commendable course he has made his way to a respect- able position in the world, winning the hearty admiration of the people of his county and earning a reputation as an en- terprising, progressive man of affairs which the public has not been slow to rec- ognize and appreciate.
John R. Ditzler, the present superin- tendent of the Wells county infirmary, was born in Galion, Crawford county, Ohio, October 9, 1853, and is the son of
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George and Elizabeth (Saurbaugh) Ditz- ler. The Ditzler family is from Reading, Pennsylvania, and there George Ditzler was reared. Upon attaining maturity he learned the trade of a carpenter and also carried on farming. He was married in liis native state and afterward moved to Crawford county, Ohio. He had run a grist-mill in Pennsylvania, but upon his removal to Ohio he sold the mill and at Galion he was engaged in farming and also worked at the carpenter's trade. In 1863 he emigrated to Rock Creek township, Wells county, Indiana, bought a farm and made that his home during the remainder of his life, dying May 6, 1892. He was the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land and on this he made most of the im- provements and achieved an enviable rep- utation as a progressive and successful agriculturist. He was the father of the fol- lowing children: George married Lillie Teeple and now resides near Markle. Indi- ana; Frank married Lula Sechler, daughter of Benjamin Sechler ; Susana is a resident of this county, and the wife of Henry Biggans ; Mary, now Mrs. Samuel Schoch; Sarah is the wife of Jacob Alshouse; Belinda is the wife of Lemuel Lyons ; Elizabeth is the wife of John Haiflich, and Alice is the wife of John Taylor.
John R. Ditzler was reared upon the home farm and was early inured to the toil and incessant labor incident to the life of the average farmer. He was given the advantage of such educational facilities as were afforded in the common schools of the neighborhood. Upon attaining his maturity he was married and at once com- menced to farm for himself, which occu- pation he followed until his appointment
as superintendent of the New Lancaster and Markle gravel road, a position which he very satisfactorily filled for twelve years. At that time the state law was changed so that the county was divided into three districts and in the spring of 1895 he was appointed to the oversight of one district, filling this position for about eighteen months. His performance of the duties of these positions was eminently satisfactory and reflected great credit upon him. So strongly did he intrench himself in the confidence of the people that, in 1898, he was appointed by the county commissioners to the responsible position of superintendent of the Wells county infirmary, being chosen over thir- ty-five other applicants for the position. So wise and discriminating has been his management of the institution that he has been successively reappointed to succeed himself and is still occupying the position. He is good natured, kind hearted and sympathetic and accomplished much to- wards the alleviation of the condition of the inmates of the institution over which he presides, and by his sound judgment, wise discrimination and careful economy has kept the expense account down to the minimum, at the same time taking proper care that the inmates are properly pro- vided for in all their requirements.
John R. Ditzler was united in marriage September 14, 1873, with Miss Malinda Brickley, daughter of Alfred Brickley, ex- trustee of Rock Creek township. This union has been a most happy and congen- ial one and has been blessed by the birth of the following children : Etta is the wife of John A. Miller ; John C. married Miss Mary Hawkins and resides in Rock Creek
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township, this county; Nora and Pearl are unmarried and still have their home under the paternal roof. Besides these children Mr. and Mrs. Ditzler are rearing an or- phan child, Inez Guardhnour, and are giv- ing to her the same loving care and atten- tion they gave to their own children.
Politically Mr. Ditzler has always affil- iated with the Democratic party and has been an active and influential worker in the interest of the party. Religiously he and his wife are faithful and consistent members of the Lutheran church, of which he has served as elder. Mr. Ditzler's char- acter is endowed with many noble quali- ties that contribute so much to his em- inent usefulness and the esteem in which he is held by the citizens of Wells county. His kindliness of heart, his unvaried cheer- ful disposition, his wisdom as a counsel- lor and advisor among his neighbors and friends and his modest, unassuming man- ner in every relation of life are among the most distinguished characteristics which have attracted to him the many warm friends whom he prizes so highly and whose warm personal regard he will al- ways retain.
C. L. BLUE, M. D.
In the present essentially utilitarian age the life of every successful man is a lesson which, told in contemporary narra- tive, is productive of great good in shap- ing the destiny of others. There is, there- fore, a sense of satisfaction and impor- tance in presenting, even in brief resume, the life and achievements of such men, and
in preparing the following history of the scholarly young physician of whom this sketch is written, it is with the hope that it may not only prove interesting and in- structive, but that it may also serve as an incentive to those who contemplate mak- ing the profession of medicine their life work.
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