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 74
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ROBERT M. HEDGES.
Among the early pioneers and highly re- spected citizens of Wells county, Indiana, is Robert M. Hedges, who was born in Fair- field county, Ohio, October 31, 1817. His parents, Elijah and Mary (Baxley) Hedges, were natives of Virginia, though the pro- genitor of the family originally came from
England. Elijah Hedges was a soldier of the war of the Revolution, serving in a Vir- ginia regiment. He was wounded in the serv- ice of the colonies and up to the time of his death received from his grateful country a pension of ninety-six dollars a year. His youth and early manhood were spent in Virginia. He was married there and had a family of three children before he moved to Ohio. It was during the administration of . President Madison. and only about ten years after Ohio had been admitted into the Union as a state, that Elijah Hedges moved his wife and three children to Fairfield county. Here Robert M. Hedges, the subject of this sketch, was born and reared. His father, the old Revolutionary hero, remained there until his death, which occurred many years ago. He was the father of ten children, four boys and six girls. One of the latter, Henrietta, is still living at Charleston, Illi- nois, at the age of ninety-three years.
Upon the farm where he was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, Robert M. Hedges grew to manhood. The opportunities for se- curing an education in those days were lim- ited. Very little printed matter found its way to the cabins in the woods, text books were few and expensive and public schools at that time were practically unknown. Nev- ertheless, the youth of the 'twenties found means of improving his mind.
On October 22, 1840, Mr. Hedges was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Kirk- wood, a native of Franklin county, Pennsyl- vania, and born March 28, 1823. They went to housekeeping on a rented farm and re- mained in their native place until 1846, when they moved to Indiana and located in Harri- son township, Wells county. Here he bought eighty acres of land, paying three hundred
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dollars and incurring an indebtedness of one hundred dollars. It was in the dense woods, but he built a home upon it and lived there for six years, at the end of which time he had thirty-five acres cleared and under cultiva- tion .. An opportunity offering, in 1852 he sold the place and invested the proceeds in one hundred and fourteen acres, which is a part of the one-hundred-and-ninety-four- acre farm which he now owns.
To Robert M. and Sophia (Kirk- wood) Hedges were born thirteen children, all of whom grew to maturity. All were liv- ing at the time of the death of their mother, in August. 1870, and were named as fol- lows: Mary J., wife of Alexander Lata- more, of Bluffton; Lucinda was the wife of Daniel Tuttle, but is now dead; Jonas T. is dead ; Rebecca is the wife of James B. Gavin, of Liberty township, Wells county; James K. married Eunice Neff and resides in Har- rison township; Elizabeth was the wife of Philip Ulmer, but is now dead; William re- sides in Whitley county, Indiana ; Julia is the wife of George Ulmer, superintendent of the Orphans' Home; Joseph resides in Oregon ; George resides in Kansas; Lewis resides in Pulaski county, Indiana; Samuel resides in Liberty township; John, the youngest child, resides on the old homestead.
In his life time Robert M. Hedges has made and accumulated much money. The years of the Civil war afforded many oppor- tunities for money-making and he had the ability and enterprise to embrace them as they came his way. He was three times married and is again a widower. Miss Martha Williamson was his second wife. No children were born to this union and her death occurred in 1877. His third wife was Mrs. Elizabeth Kendall, a widow whose hus-
band had been killed in the Civil war. She died in April, 1895, leaving him one child, a daughter, Alice, the child of his old age.
For upwards of half a century Robert M. Hedges has been a devout, active and attentive member of the Methodist Episco- pal church and is firm in the faith. For some years he occupied the position of steward. In politics he is a Democrat, having cast his first presidential vote for Martin Van Buren in 1840. Despite his loyalty and fidelity to the party, he never sought public position for himself, his interest in politics being only for what he considered the good of the commun- ity. In Wells county, where the greater part of his life has been spent, he is honored and respected by all who have had the pleasure of knowing him.
JOSEPH BURNS.
Rising above the heads of the masses there have always been in every community individuals who by reason of pronounced ability and force of character have com- manded the unbounded esteem of their fel- lowmen. Characterized by the two resplend- ant virtues that never fail, perseverance and a directing spirit, such men always make their presence felt, and the vigor of their strong personality serves as a stimulus and incen- tive to the young and rising generation. To this energetic and enterprising class the sub- ject of this sketch very properly belongs .. Enjoying distinctive prestige as a farmer and business man, he is also widely and fav- orably known as a director of enterprises and to a marked degree he has achieved re- pute as a moulder of public sentiment in the
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community of his residence. Joseph Burns, although of foreign birth, is a striking ex- ample of strong, virile American citizen- ship. He is in the true sense of the term a self-made man and his rise from very humble circumstances to his present position as a suc- cessful farmer and progressive man of affairs forcibly illustrates what can be accomplished by a well defined purpose in life when that purpose is directed and fostered by correct principles and manly conduct. Mr. Burns was born of Irish parentage, but first saw the light of day in England, to which country his father, Michael Burns, moved when a
young man. The subject's birth occurred in the city of Manchester on the 14th day of February, 1847, and about three years later he was brought to the United States, the family settling in Jay county, Indiana, in 1851. Poor in this world's goods and with- out the aid of influential friends, Michael Burns found no rosy pathway to fortune in the new world. Purchasing a small tract of wild land, he labored hard to improve the same, meanwhile earning a little money by ditching for other parties. He was a man of great industry, knew not the meaning of idleness and enjoyed but little leisure while preparing a home and laboring for the sup- port of those dependent upon him. Intelli- gent beyond the average, he devoted his evenings to reading and study and in this way became quite well informed on many subjects, especially those questions relating to politics and national legislature. By per- severing effort he eventually succeeded in rising superior to unfavorable environment, and in the course of years found himself the possessor of a comfortable competence. He developed a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he sub-
sequently sold for five thousand five hundred dollars, and purchased, in Oc- tober, 1866, an estate in Chester township, Wells county, where. he made his home the remainder of his life. Michael Burns be- came an influential man in his neighborhood and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He was a local politician of consider- able note and for many years his favor was courted by candidates of the Democratic party, as he exerted great influence among the voters of his township. A devout Cath- olic in religion, he expended his means lib- erally for the support of the church, he and James McCaffrey building the first house of worship in the town of Montpelier. Four children were born to Mr. Burns, the oldest of whom, John, a sergeant of Company F, One Hundred and Fortieth Infantry, in the Civil war, was wounded at the battle of Stone River and died from the effect of his injuries on the 8th of January, 1865. Mary, the sec- ond in order of birth, died while the family was enroute to the United States and was buried at sea; Emily died at Manchester, England, when an infant; Joseph, the sub- ject of this sketch, being the youngest of the family.
The early life of Joseph Burns was spent on the farm in Jay county and it is needless to state that fortune cast into his pathway no glittering crown. He grew up with a proper appreciation of the true nobil- ity of honest toil and from youth to manhood knew what it meant to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. Amid the bracing ait and vigorous outdoor exercises, he acquired strength of limb and independence of mind which served him well when he began the struggle of life in later years. Young Burns was born with a thirst for knowledge and at
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an early age mastered the mysteries of the fundamental branches by attending a school taught in a little log building, which stood fully three miles from his home. The way to this backwoods college led through a deep forest, and in order to reach it in time for the morning lessons the lad was obliged to get out of bed in the wee small hours and start on the long tramp before daylight. Not infrequently the deep snows proved a de- cided hindrance, to wade through which taxed the physical powers of the boy to their utmost capacity. Notwithstanding the daily walk of six miles and the indifferent char- acter of the teaching, young Burns made rapid advancement and before his eighteenth year he had gone as far as his instructor could take him, mastering all of the common branches, in several of which he became un- usually proficient. He has always been a great reader and today his knowledge takes in a wide range of subjects, those bearing upon the political and industrial history of our country being among the ones in which he is especially well informed. Like a dutiful son, he remained at home assisting with the labors of the farm until his twenty-second year when he left the parental roof to make his own way in the world. Although penniless at this time, he looked forward with hope and began lay- ing plans for future action. Thinking that a companion on life's journey would result to his advantage, Mr. Burns, on the 10th day of April, 1871, was united in mar- riage to Miss Ann McCaffrey, of Wells county, daughter of James McCaffrey, and shortly thereafter moved to a small tract of woodland which he purchased with the pros- pect of paying for the same at some future day. Poor in purse, but rich in love and de-
votion for each other and determined to make the most of their 'opportunities, the young couple set up their humble establish- ment and resolutely addressed themselves to the task of making a home and clearing it of debt. To narrate in detail how this was eventually acomplished, how they worked hard, denied themselves many privileges and made sacrifices which tried their souls as well as their bodies, would far transcend the limits of this article. Suffice it to say, how- ever, that by long continued toil and patient, persevering effort, the forest growth grad- ually disappeared before the sturdy strokes of Mr. Burns' ax until at length one of the finest and most valuable farms in Chester township rewarded the labors so heroically put forth. Mr. Burns cleared and developed with his own hands fully one hundred acres of land. His place is highly improved and well cultivated, containing substantial build- ings, fine fences and other accessories be- speaking the home of the intelligent and en- terprising husbandman. Situated in the richest of the Indiana oil fields, it would command a very high price if put on the mar- ket, and for agricultural purposes alone the place has been conservatively valued at one hundred dollars per acre. In addition to general farming and stock raising, Mr. Burns has made considerable money contracting for the construction of gravel roads and like work in this and other counties. He has already made over thirteen miles of public highway in the county of Wells alone, be- sides doing much street work in the city of Bluffton, realizing liberal returns from his contracts. For many years he has been a public auctioneer, his services in this capac- ity being in great demand throughout sev- eral northeastern counties.
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In politics Mr. Burns is a Democrat of the old school and as such has rendered his party great service in every campaign in the last quarter of a century. Not only is he an active worker in the ranks, but as a pub- lic speaker he possesses a power surpassed by few. Logical in presenting facts, he im- presses them by strong, well-put arguments and, rising at times to the heights of true eloquence, he seldom fails in convincing and always pleases and entertains his audiences. He is the soul of large hearted fellowship. Endowed with the natural wit and humor for which his nationality is especially dis- tinguished, he is the life of every social gathering graced by his presence and num- bers his warm friends by the score among all classes of people. As a neighbor he is ac- commodating at all times, generous to a fault and no worthy person or legitimate enter- prise ever appealed to him in vain. His hand is ever open to help the poor and distressed and his home is the abode of a generous hos- pitality which many of his friends delight to share. He was born within the pale of the Catholic church and has always been loyal to its precepts and liberal in the expen- diture of his means for its support. His wife and children also have been trained accord- ing to its teachings and are now among its zealous members in the county of Wells.
Mr. and Mrs. Burns are the parents of nine children : John, the oldest, born April 10, 1872, was graduated from the Bluffton high school, began teaching at the early age of sixteen years and followed educational work for a number of years in Wells county. Later he studied law, rose rapidly in the pro- fession and at this time is prosecuting attor- ney for the twenty-eighth judicial district, comprising the counties of Wells and Black-
ford; William, the second child, died when five years old ; James was born and reared in Chester township, this county, and is now a resident of Montpelier ; Tilden, the next in order of birth, lives at home and manages the farm; Joseph H. is a tool dresser in the oil fields of Indiana and has prospered in that kind of work ; the other members of the fam- ily, Millie, Elizabeth, Patrick G., Anna and Felix, are still with their parents.
ALBERT MEYER.
Notwithstanding the fact that the repub- lic of Switzerland is one of the smallest countries of the world, it has sent a large number of emigrants to the United States during the years that have elapsed since in- dependence was secured. The people of that country, appreciating the blessings of lib- erty, of which they had had a strong example in their own land, were not slow to recognize the possibilities that opened out in splendid perspective for all who located early in this country. Accordingly, large numbers of the hardy Swiss have crossed the Atlantic and created for themselves homes in the great middle west of the United States. And here their descendants have become among the most intelligent, patriotic, industrious and upright of our great and wonderful cosmo- politan population.
Peter Meyer, father of the subject, was born in Switzerland on the 22d of May, 1831. He came to the United States with his parents when about four years of age. They first located in Stark county, Ohio, where they lived about one year, then moved to Adams county, Indiana, and settled in
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French township. He remained on the farm with his father until reaching his majority, and at that age began learning the carpen- ter's trade. After finishing his trade he came to Vera Cruz, Wells county, and here was united in marriage with Miss Sauer, of that village. To this union was born one child, but the mother and child both died late in the 'fifties. In 1860 Peter Meyer chose for his second companion Miss Elizabeth Moser, likewise a native of Switzerland, born April 5, 1842. To this union were born eight chil- dren, namely : Albert, the subject of this sketch; Jonas; Sarah, wife of William Frau- higer; Bertha married Philip Frauhiger ; David, of Bluffton, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; Jacob, Elizabeth and Ida, the last two named still unmarried. Although Peter Meyer was a poor man when he attained his majority, he was industrious and economical and eventually became fairly well off as regards this world's goods. In 1860 he bought eighty acres of land in Wells county, which he succeeded in converting into a splendid farm. Altogether he has owned about four hundred acres of land, the larger part of which he has divided among his children as they have attained to ma- turity. In religion he is a member of the Re- form church and in politics has always been a Democrat.
Albert Meyer, the immediate subject of this sketch, as born in Harrison township, Wells county, Indiana, on the 5th of May, 1867. the third in order of birth, and the oldest son of the eight children born to his parents. He was reared upon the parental homestead in his native township and is in- debted to the common schools for his mental training. He remained at home until reach- ing his majority, assisting his father on the
farm, then started out in life for himself. He was steady and reliable in his work, and was economical in his habits and was thus en- abled to save some money. He was at length enabled to purchase an eighty-acre tract in section 19, Harrison township, which has since been his home and where he has suc- cessfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, combined with stock raising.
In November, 1890, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Schwartz, who was born in Vera Cruz, In- diana, though of German descent. She re- ceived a good common school education, is an intelligent and amiable woman and has in- deed proved to Mr. Meyer a helpmate in the truest sense of the word. Their union has been a most congenial and happy one and has resulted in the birth of the following chil- dren: Edward E., Levi, Pearl M., deceased, Fannie, Charles and Emma. In political views Mr. Meyer is a Democrat, manifesting an intelligent interest in the party of his choice and keeping well informed upon the issues of the day. He has never sought nor desired official sta- tion of any kind, preferring to de- vote his time and attention to his farming interests. There are no more progressive farmers in Wells county than Mr. Meyer and he has acquired a reputation as a farmer and stock raiser which is more than local. He is familiar with the latest methods of agricul- ture and in tilling his land he uses modern machinery and implements of the most ap- proved type. His place contains many val- uable improvements in the way of a resi- dence, barn and splendid outbuildings and he has spared no reasonable expense in sur- rounding himself with the comforts and con- veniences which make rural life attractive
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and desirable. His course through life has been prudent and upright and his example is worthy the emulation of all young men who desire to live so as to leave clear records behind them. While successful in the ac- cumulation of wealth, he is also rich in the possession of a reputation above reproach and a character which will bear the world's closest and strictest scrutiny. Respected as an upright, broad-minded, influential citizen, his name will long adorn the roster of Har- rison township's enterprising and represent- ative men.
DAVID MEYER.
One of the most prosperous young busi- ness men of Bluffton, Indiana, is David Meyer, a native of Wells county, born in Harrison township, January 17, 1872, and a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Moser) Meyer, of whom a more complete biography will be found on another page of this volume. To Peter Meyer and wife were born eight chil- dren, of whom David was the fifth in order of birth. Until seventeen years of age he attended the schools of his district and ac- quired a good education. After attaining his majority he went to work on a farm for his brother, Albert, with whom he remained one year, after which he worked a year for his father, and then entered a partnership with Daniel Gilliom in the drilling of wells. This partnership existed until May 25, 1898, when it was dissolved and Mr. Meyer entered a partnership with Jacob Klopfenstine in the harness business at Bluffton, and has prob- ably the best establishment devoted to this line of trade in the city, his business extend- ing throughout the counties of Wells and
Adams. Mr. Meyer erected his present brick business block in the fall of 1900 at a cost of five thousand two hundred dollars. It is situated on Main street, is twenty by one hundred and twenty feet in size, and is one of the handsomest business blocks in town.
June 15, 1899, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Engeler, daughter of Frederick and Rosanna (Beber- stein) Engeler. Mr. Engeler was a promin- ent business man of Vera Cruz, Indiana, and a justice of the peace for many years. Mrs. Meyer was born in Vera Cruz, this county, October 22, 1875, and was highly educated in that town. She is a member of the Pres- byterian church at Bluffton, is a refined and cultured lady and is highly respected by all who know her.
Mr. Meyer exhibited considerable wisdom when he selected his present line of business as his vocation, as his firm has almost an exclusive command of the harness trade over Wells and Adams counties, the only competi- tion, in fact, being through the agents of manufacturing companies that turn out and place upon the market machine-made prod- ucts, which, all the world knows, are never equal, either in finish, quality or material, to hand-made articles. That Mr. Meyer has made a success in his business is manifest from the high standing he occupies in com- mercial and trade circles, in which his integ- rity has never been called in question and in which his credit has never been impaired. The social position of Mr. Meyer and wife is in the best circles of Bluffton, and both are highly esteemed for their many personal ex- cellences of character. Few young men have attained a more exalted consideration by their fellow citizens than that reached by David Meyer. In his political affiliations he is a
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Democrat, and he always takes an interest in the success of his party, though he does not aspire to public office.
ALBERT OPPENHEIM.
This is the age of the man with initiative. There is room for him in every progressive business, however crowded it may be. He is worth far more than the expert who can only do what he is told. The man of ideas has a high value, but his relative importance is slight as compared with that of the man of initiative power or the ability to put his ideas into practical use. The strength of the man with initiative is that he knows how to enter upon a matter, how to make beginnings. His qualification is common sense to a far greater extent than genius and his potency is of un- mistakable order. One of the distinctively able, progressive and representative business men of the city of Bluffton is he whose name initiates this paragraph, and he has gained prestige through well directed endeavor, be- ing identified with industrial interests of wide scope and importance and holding at the present time the position of assistant general manager of the Empire & American Gly- cerine Company, which represents one of the leading industrial enterprises of Bluffton.
Albert Oppenheim comes of stanch Ger- man ancestry and is a native son of Wells county, Indiana, having been born in the city of Bluffton, on the 8th of October, 1855, and being a son of Sigmund and Mary J. (Ni- black) Oppenheim. Sigmund Oppenheim was born in the city of Mannheim, on the . river Rhine, Baden, Germany, the date of his nativity having been February 15, 1821. He was reared and educated in his native city,
where he continued to reside until 1848, when, as a young man of twenty-seven years, he emigrated to America, landing in New York city, where he remained for a short interval. At the time of the ever memorable gold excitement in California, in 1849, he joined the hegira to the Pacific coast, believ- ing an opportunity was presented for him to gain independence. He took passage on a boat from New York, making the voyage by way of the isthmus of Panama and ar- riving in due time in San Francisco, whence he made his way to the gold fields, where he was engaged in placer-mining about one year, being quite successful in his efforts. At the expiration of this period Mr. Oppenheim returned to the east and located in Somerset, Ohio, where he engaged in the mercantile business, continuing the enterprise for two years and thereafter being engaged in the same line of business in Mansfield, Ohio, un- til 1853, when he came to Bluffton. Here he established himself in business, opening a general merchandise store and eventually building up a large and representative trade. With this enterprise he continued to be ac- tively identified until 1876, when he retired from active business. He was a man of lofty integrity of character, was progressive and energetic as a business man and ever held the unequivocal confidence and esteem of all who knew him, and in his death, which oc- curred on the 8th of September, 1897, the community lost one of its honored and valued citizens and one of its pioneer business men. He was a Democrat in his political proclivi- ties, taking a lively and intelligent interest in the questions and issues of the hour and manifesting a public-spirited interest in all matters pertaining to the general welfare of his home, city and county.
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