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 67
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CHRIST STOGDILL. .
One of the leading young farmers of Harrison township, Wells county, Indi- ana, and one of the most successful, is Christ Stogdill, who was born in Mahon- ing county, Ohio, August 25, 1845, and is a son of Anthony and Catherine Stogdill. The ancestors of these parents were farm- ing people as far back as can be traced and this calling is still the favorite pursuit of the surviving descendants. Anthony Stog- dill removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio with his family and first located in Ma- honing county, where he resided some time, but in September, 1850, he moved to Adams county, Indiana, where his death occurred in 1860. He was a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church of his neighborhood and was prominently identified also with the Democratic party, and under its auspices served as trustee for a number of years and also as a justice of the peace. His in- dustrial efforts were largely devoted to the raising of stock, from which he re- alized handsome results, having become one of the principal breeders in Adams county.
Christ Stogdill, the subject of this sketch, is the only surviving member of his father's family. He was reared on a farm and naturally enough chose agricul- ture for his life vocation. He had, how- ever, received a good common school edu- cation and in his early days had become competent to teach, a profession he fol- lowed for some time before he settled down to farming. He maintained his resi- dence as a renter on the old homestead until 1898, when he purchased a part of
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the place and continued to rent the re- maining part until later in the same year.
Mr. Stogdill married, January 1, 1869, Miss Mary Crist, who was born in Wells county, October 5, 1847, and a daughter of Leonard and Barbara Crist, of Wells county. Mr. Crist was an excellent busi- ness man, and was one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of his county. Mr. Stogdill sold his farm in Adams county in 1898 and purchased the old Hopkins farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Harrison township, Wells county, and is now recognized as one of the best agriculturists in the neighborhood. To Mr. and Mrs. Stogdill have been born eight children, as follows: William F., born September 28, 1869, died September 27, 1875; Ulala, born August II, 1871, died January 20, 1903; Elizabeth, born March 19, 1873; William F., born Decem- ber 7, 1874; Victor, born October 26, 1877; Clarence, born September 17, 1879; Bertie, born August 8, 1881, died June 24, 1900, and Mary Viola, born July 8, 1884.
Fraternally Mr. Stogdill stands high as a Mason, holding membership in Bluffton Lodge. Politically he is a Democrat, with which party he is prominently identified. He is a most useful and public-spirited citi- zen and is ready at all times to contribute his full quota of cash to the maintenance of the public works in the township, and the introduction of others when their ne- cessity becomes apparent. Since his resi- dence in Wells county, Mr. Stogdill has, established a fine reputation as a citizen and Harrison township is all the better off by his residence here. Although still a young man, he has shown an adaptability to his calling that has surprised many old-
er farmers and his views on agricultural matters are greatly respected wherever expressed.
MRS. JACOB B. MARKLEY.
Wholly devoted to home and domestic duties, doing through all the best years of her life the sacred work that comes within her sphere, there is not much to record concerning the life of the average woman. And yet what station so dignified, what relation so loving and endearing, what office so holy, tender and ennobling as those of the home-making wife and mother? A celebrated writer has said that the future destiny of a nation depend- ed upon its wives and mothers. In a biographical. compendium such as this, woman should have no insignificant repre- sentation. As man's equal in many re- spects, and even his superior in the gentle, tender and loving amenities of life, she ful- ly merits a much larger notice than she or- dinarily receives. The foregoing was sug- gested after a perusal of the leading facts in the career of the worthy and respected lady whose name forms the caption to this article, a lady who has done well her part and whose career has been a simple, but beautiful poem of rugged, toilsome duty faithfully and uncomplainingly performed as maiden, wife and mother.
Mrs. Martha Markley, widow of the late Jacob B. Markley, is a daughter of Samuel and Susan (Jackson) Wallace, and was born in Rock Creek township, this county, on the 12th of April, 1852. Samuel Wallace was a native of Ireland and in that country was reared and educated. He
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remained there until he was twenty-eight years old, when, in 1833, he came to America, where he believed better oppor- tunities existed. He landed in Philadel- phia, where he worked as a laborer for a short time, and about 1837 came to Wells county and entered a tract of land in Rock Creek township. The land was wild and unimproved, but he was strong, ener- getic and ambitious and in course of time succeeded in creating for himself a com- fortable home and a valuable farm. He was united in marrige, in 1840, with Miss Susan Jackson, a native of North Caro- lina, but whose parents were among the first settlers in Liberty township, this county. To them were born thirteen chil- dren, as follows: Fannie, Rachael, Anna, James, David, Elizabeth, Catherine, Mar- tha, Mary, Thomas, Matthew, Finley, and one that died in infancy unnamed. Samuel Wallace was a firm and uncompromising Republican in politics and in religious be- lief was a Presbyterian.
Martha Wallace was early taught the lessons of successful housekeeping, grow- ing into a well developed and graceful womanhood, and was given the advant- ages of as good an education as the schools of that day afforded. On the 24th of April, 1872, she was united in marriage with Jacob B. Markley, who was a resi- dent of Harrison township, though born in Ohio and coming to Wells county in 1864. To this union were born the follow- ing children: Arthur Wallace married Anna Markley and resides in Lancaster township; Bessie Florence, who was edu- cated in the Northern Indiana Normal School and subsequently taught four terms. She be- came the wife of Archie Norton and re-
sides in Winters, Michigan; Lora Jane at- › tended the normal schools at Danville and Valparaiso and then taught three terms of school at Newville, Indiana; she was married April 1, 1902, to Arlie Thomp- son and now resides in Ft. Wayne, Indi- ana; Carl Boyd; Ruth Agnes. Mr. Markley was a stanch Republican and took a keen interest in the trend of passing events. He was a man of more than or- dinary energy, sound judgment and su- perior business abilities, and as a farmer took high rank, being regarded as an up- to-date agriculturist, a man of broad in- telligence and a leader in enterprises for the general prosperity of the community.
Since her husband's death Mrs. Mark- ley has manifested business abilities of a high order in the management of the es- tate. She is of a sincerely religious na- ture, belonging, with her children, to the Presbyterian church, and her life has abounded in good works in the church and among the deserving poor in the world outside. She is held in the highest es- teem and numbers warm-hearted friends by the score in the community where she has spent so many years. She has ex- perienced many of life's vicissitudes, and sorrows, but she has also enjoyed many of its triumphs and is now surrounded by those who have long known and re- spected her.
EDWIN R. DAVIS.
One of the most prominent young na- tive-born farmers of Harrison township, Wells county, Indiana, is Edwin R. Davis, who had his nativity October 14, 1854, on
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the farm of his parents, Josiah and Har- riet (Grove) Davis. Josiah Davis was born in Hocking county, Ohio, July 12, 1825, acquired more than a usually good common school education in his native county, and there was reared to farming and followed the vocation there until about 1852, when he came to Wells county, Indiana, and purchased a tract of land in Harrison township, where he pass- ed the remainder of his life, dying in 1886, his widow being still a resident on the original purchase. Mr. Davis was a de- vout and consistent member of the United Brethren church, and in politics was a stanch Republican, although he never had any desire for office holding. To Josiah and Harriet (Grove) Davis were born two sons and two daughters, and of these four children three still survive, namely : Edwin R., in whose interest this biographical notice is chiefly prepared; Emma A., wife of Lewis Cobbum; Henry S., who is married to Grace Wolf and resides in Chester township, Wells county. .
Edwin R. Davis was reared on the par- ental farm in Harrison township, was edu- cated in the common schools of his district and was thoroughly disciplined in the vo- cation of agriculture. He continued to live on the old homestead until his mar- riage, which took place January 16, 1879, to Miss Sarah E. King, daughter of George W. and Catherine King and born December 24, 1860. This union had been crowned by the birth of four daughters, namely: Wyomah, who was born Decem- ber II, 1880, was graduated from the com- mon school of Harrison township in 1895 and later attended the Angola Normal School, and then taught in Wells county
for four terms; Winnonah, who was born January 16, 1882, graduated from the com- mon schools in 1896, attended the Angola Normal School six terms and has been teaching in Wells county four terins ; Net- tie, who was born April 26, 1886, was graduated from the common schools in 1902, and is now a student at the Poneto high school. Mrs. Davis and her daugh- ters are members of the Methodist Episco- pal church at Poneto, to the support of which they are most liberal contributors, and quite active in its work for the general good.
In politics Mr. Davis is a Republican in his proclivities, but is not offensively partisan. He is, nevertheless, well and favorably known in Harrison township and other parts of Wells county, and doubtless would make a good race were he ever to become a candidate for public position. He is highly esteemed for his many personal qualities, and in the social circles of Harrison township he and his wife maintain exalted positions and are highly esteemed by all who know them.
LEWIS M. JOHNSON.
Of the many influential families of Wells county, few have resided there longer, made a deeper or more lasting im- pression on the history of the county or wielded more influence for good than has the Johnson family of Harrison township. It is now more than sixty-five years since the progenitors of the family came to Wells county. On the 24th day of Sep- tember, 1837, Abraham W. Johnson lo-
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cated in the upper valley of the Wabash, entering one hundred and sixty acres of government land. He was then twenty- three years old, having been born in Darl- ington township, Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania, July 14, 1814. Settlers in this 'lo- cality were not numerous and if the land he selected was not all that he could de- sire, it must have been his own fault, for he had many thousands of acres to select from. For one year thereafter he vibrated between his claim and Huntington, the nearest approach to a town in that part of Indiana. After clearing and improving his claim for two or more years, he, on the 7th of May, 1840, was married to Miss Jennie S. Henderson, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Henderson, who were natives of Fayette county, Ohio. One of the chil- dren born to this union was Lewis M. Johnson. Abraham Johnson, the great- grandfather of Lewis, was Scotch-Irish, as was his wife. Rachael McCammon. Their son, Robert Johnson, was born and reared in Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, but was married in Beaver county to the daughter of Edward Bradford, a native of Wales, and Mary Bartly, of Eng- lish parentage, who was born in Norfolk, Virginia. Robert resided in that county until 1847 when he came to Wells county that he might be near his son. Here he resided, surrounded by his children and children's children, until death, in the eighty-sixth year of his age, having sur- vived his companion about ten years. To Abraham W. Johnson and wife ten chil- dren were born, viz: Isaac N., Rebecca J., Catherine E., Harriet A., Mary M., Lewis M., John W., Maggie B., Walter B. and Roscoe C. Isaac entered the
service of his country during the Civil war and participated in many of the hottest en- gagements, receiving a wound that has rendered him a criple for life.
In 1840 the Johnson family moved to Bluffton, but three years later secured a tract of one hundred and ten acres just outside the city limits. In 1850 Abraham IV. Johnson was appointed real estate ap- praiser for the county, serving as such with fidelity and honor. For many years Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were consistent members of the Baptist church, remaining true to the faith until the close of life. He died July 6, 1899, and his wife July 25, I900.
Lewis M. Johnson is the second son and tenth child of Abraham W. and Jen- nie Bradford Johnson and was born Janu- ary 30, 1858. He was reared upon the old farm and was trained in the honorable calling of an agriculturist. At an early age, in addition to doing much of the work on the farm, he worked for neigh- bors, often using his father's team. On April 10, 1883, he was united in marriage to Miss Rachael Shimp, a native of Ohio. She died of consumption September 10, 1890, and he then married Miss Dora Ratliff on September 17, 1893. She also died from the same disease May 24, 1895, and July 13, 1896, Mr. Johnson married his present wife, her name being Nancy . E. Summers, of Jefferson township, this county, who was born April 14, 1867, and the daughter of Joseph and Victoria Sum- mers. One child was born to this union, Garth A., born July 9, 1899, and died September 12th of the same year.
Starting in life poor and depending chiefly upon his own exertions for ad-
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vancement, with limited opportunities, Mr. Johnson has achieved well merited success, being the owner of ninety-four acres of good land adjoining the city limits of Bluff- ton, as well as several valuable residence properties in the city, all of which ma- terially contribute toward a handsome in- come. He is a member of Lodge No. 92, K. P., of Bluffton, and politically he is a Republican. His genial personality has won and retained for him a host of warm and true friends.
W. K. SHOEMAKER.
This ex-soldier of the Civil war and a prosperous farmer of Harrison township, Wells county, Indiana, was born in Mahon- ing county, Ohio, December 20, 1842, and is of English extraction. When twelve years old, he was brought by his parents, John and Rachael Shoemaker, to Wells county He attended schools in Bluffton until the family removed to a farm near town, when, being then sixteen years old, he was set to work clearing and doing such other work as he was capable of. February 1, 1865, he en- listed in Capt. B. F. Wiley's company, One Hundred and Fifty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out with his reg- iment in September, 1865, when he returned home and resumed work on his father's farm, until April, 1873, when he settled upon his present farm, which now contains two hundred and seventeen acres. It is well improved with commodious and substantial buildings, well adapted to the intended pur- pose.
Mr. Shoemaker has been twice married,
the first time, April 2, 1868, to Mrs. Lydia A. (Ewing) Heckathorn. Her son was reared by Mr. Shoemaker and, adopting his name, grew to manhood as D. E. Shoe- maker, and is now master engineer for the American Strawboard Company at Ander- son, Indiana. Mrs. Shoemaker died July 24, 1885, and his second marriage occurred April 19, 1888, when Mrs. Jane (Pence) Higgins, a daughter of James and Lydia (Chalfant) Higgins, became his wife. This marriage has been crowned with two chil- dren, Lizzie H. and George W. The great- grandfather of Mr. Shoemaker came from England to Maryland, where his grandfather was born, while his father was born in Ohio.
Mr. Shoemaker, in his political affilia- tions, has ever been a Republican, and has never hesitated to advocate the principles of his party on suitable occasions. He believes in the all-comprehensive mercy of the Deity "who doeth all things well," and is a man of energy, thrift and enterprise, enjoying the respect and confidence of all who know him.
GEORGE LEIST.
George Leist, who stands among the up-to-date farmers of Wells county, is a native son of the Hoosier state, having been born in Harrison township on the 2d of February, 1843. His parents, Henry G. and Leah (Loy) Leist, were natives of Pickaway county, Ohio, and were there married. In 1842 they came to Wells county and entered a tract of land near Reiffsburg, the place on which Reuben Stout now resides. The land was at that time covered with a heavy growth of
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timber, which he succeeded in clearing away and creating for his family a com- fortable home. He and his wife resided on this place until their deaths and during their long residence there they retained the warm friendship and regard of a large circle of friends. Politically he was affiliat- ed with the Democratic party. His re- ligious creed was that of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a loyal and consistent member. He was the father of six children, Jacob, Sarah, Eliza- beth, Catherine, Mary, deceased, and George.
George Leist was reared upon the par- ental homestead and in the subscription schools of the neighborhood attained his education. He bore his full share in the cultivation of the farm and remained at home until he was thirty-seven years old, farming for his father as well as on his own land. In 1893 he bought the farm west of Bluffton, on which he now resides, and has since been solely engaged in its cultivation.
On the IIth of March, 1880, Mr. Leist was united in marriage with Miss Susan Myers, the daughter of Michael Myers, and to their union have come six children, Lulu, Arlia, John, Gracie, Laura and Clara, deceased. In political matters Mr. Leist's vote and influence are cast in favor of the Democratic party, though he does not seek official distinction. He is a man of pleasing presence, genial in man- ner and conversation and his social quali- ties as well as his sterling characteristics have made him popular with a large class of citizens. Mr. Leist is a reader and thinker, is well informed on general topics and spares no pains to keep himself in
touch with the trend of modern thought. A close observer of current events, he has well defined opinions upon political, economic, sociological and kindred sub- jects. He is an honest, straightforward and conscientious man in all his dealings, and it is with pleasure that this brief synopsis of his life and tribue to his worth as a fac- tor in his community is given a place in this volume.
JOHN N. NEFF.
This prosperous farmer and stock raiser, with his residence in Harrison township, Wells county, Indiana, was born in Athens county, Ohio, January 29, 1858, and when six years of age was brought by his parents, Levi and Rebecca (Goodspeed) Neff, to the township and county in which he still has his home. Mr. Neff is one of the most exten- sive farmers and successful stock raisers of his day, and his earliest ambition, to become a first-class agriculturist and to own one of the best farms in the county, has been fully realized. He was educated in the common schools of Wells county, and Harrison town- ship has always been his abiding place. Mr. Neff started in his business career by pur- chasing a forty-acre tract of land with money he had saved from his earnings at ditching, but by careful and prudent investment and wise and judicious management, as well as untiring industry, is now the owner of a good farm, improved with fine buildings, un- excelled by any others in the county in ap- pearance, convenience of construction and substantiality.
In politics Mr. Neff has always affiliated
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with the Democratic party, with which he actively co-operates on all occasions. Al- though he has ever held himself aloof from office seeking, against his own wishes he was elected by a large majority to the office of trustee of his home township in 1890, and filled the position for five years, to the satis- faction of all parties concerned. A number of fine improvements were made during his term as trustee, introducing modern methods in handling all matters pertaining to the of- fice. As trustee Mr. Neff was a firm up- holder of good roads and substantial school houses, a number of which stand to his credit.
Fraternally Mr. Neff is a member of Bluffton Lodge No. 92, Knights of Pythias. Religiously he is a Methodist and for many years has been a trustee in his church and has been very ardent in the promotion of its interest. He contributes freely in a finan- cial way to its support, lives strictly in ac- cordance with its teachings, and his neigh- bors all know him to be kind and benevolent, as well as public spirited and ready at all times to do anything in his power to help along such enterprises as will redound to- ward the betterment of the community.
John N. Neff has been twice married, his first wife, whom he married February 27, 1884, being Miss Louisa Shoemaker, who was born April 14, 1861. She bore him one son, Samuel, born July 23, 1887, but was herself most untimely called away Septem- ber 9, 1887. Samuel is an exceptionally bright and kind lad and a great aid to his father. Although but fifteen years of age, any person seeing him going over his own farm of eighty acres, in which he takes pride, would imagine him to be an agricul- turist of vast experience, and with a little more instruction from his father there can
be no doubt that Samuel will make as good a husbandman as John N. himself. The second marriage of Mr. Neff was with Rachael E. Linn and took place July 20, 1889. This union has been crowned with five children, viz : Edson, born June 2, 1890; Cora, born January 7, 1892; Vesta, born March 31, 1895; Evart, born August 18, 1897, and Frank, born July 10, 1899. The home of Mr. Neff is delightfully happy, as Mrs. Neff is a most excellent housekeeper and Mr. Neff a liberal and cheerful provider. The children are among the most respected residents of the township and county. Mr. Neff is noted for his promptitude in business engagements, and his bare word is as good with those who have dealings with him as his note. His greatest interest in his farm- ing operations is centered in breeding Ches- ter White hogs.
BENJAMIN P. SMITH.
The present trustee of Harrison town- ship, Wells county, Indiana, and one of the most popular and able of the town- ship's officials is Benjamin P. Smith, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, Octo- ber 25, 1839, and is a son of Simon B. and Martha A. (Hoskinson) Smith. Si- mon B. Smith was a native of Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, and came west with his mother and step-father, who lo- cated in Ohio. He then came to Wells county, Indiana, and purchased a tract of land in section 31, upon which he settled if: 1844. This tract was covered with hard timber and comprised a quarter section, which he developed into a first class farm
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and resided upon until his death, which occurred in 1888, his wife surviving until 1891. In politics Mr. Smith was a Demo- crat and for many years served as a jus- tice of the peace. He was a shrewd busi- ness man and by trade was a blacksmith, a vocation he followed in conjunction with farming, being well-to-do at the time of his death, which took place in the faith of the United Brethren church, of which he was an ardent and active member. The children born to Simon B. and Martha A. Smith were ten in number and were named in order of birth as follows: Sarah, de- ceased; Benjamin P., whose name opens this biographical notice; Michael, who is farming in Jennings county, Indiana ; William, deceased; Phebe, wife of John McKim; Louisa, married to William Metty, an old soldier residing in Kane, Pennsylvania; Freddie, deceased; and Minerva, Elzina and Simon, also deceased.
Benjamin P. Smith was nearly five years of age when brought to Wells county, arriving here October 18, 1844. He was reared on his father's farm and was also employed considerably in lum- bering, receiving in the meantime a dis -- trict school education, which was aug- mented by an attendance at a subscription school. After attaining his majority, he rented his father's and his father-in-law's farms, having married, in 1870, Miss Eliza Davenport, a sister of Dr. E. P. Daven- port and born in Wells county in 1851, of English and Dutch descent. Miss Daven- port was a highly educated young lady and for four terms taught in graded school with eminent success in this town- ship and at other places. To the happy union of Mr. and Mrs. B. P. Smith have
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