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 76

Author: Dougherty, Hugh
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Logansport, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 732


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 76


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Jacob Haflich was a charter member of the Horeb Lutheran church and he. William WVert, Samuel Fafe, Samuel Haflich and John Working constituted the first congre- gation, of which Jacob was one of the first


elders. He was a Democrat in politics, was very popular with his party and under its auspices was elected to several positions of honor and trust, including that of township trustee, which office he held four years. To Jacob and Anna (Hoover) Haflich were born five children, viz: Charlotte, deceased ; John, deceased; Reuben, deceased; Samuel A., the gentleman whose name opens this sketch, and Mary A., wife of Jacob Farling.


Samuel A. Haflich was reared to agricul- tural pursuits on the old homestead, but in his boyhood days was permitted to attend the district school during the winter seasons. During the summers he continued to assist on the farm until he had attained the age of twenty-one years, after which he hired his time to Jacob Shiveley for eight months at the same class of work. He then worked for his uncle a while, then went to Michigan, where he went on the railroad for a short time as a brakeman, but returned to the old farm, on which he took a lease.


In 1874 Mr. Haflich was united in mar- riage with Miss Sarah A. Lesh, daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Erhart) Lesh. This young lady was born in Rock Creek town- ship, Wells county, in 1857, and was edu- cated in the common schools. This union resulted in the birth of four boys and two girls, as follows: Clara A., deceased ; Jacob H. was graduated from the Markle high school, and later took a commercial course at Indianapolis and subsequently became a teacher in the common schools of the coun- ty ; Clifford C. was graduated from the Mar- kle high school and also from the Hunting- ton school and Danville Commercial School; William A. has received a common school education ; Curtis E. and Cressie. The par- ents of this family are members of the Luth-


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eran church, and are among the most highly respected residents of the county. Ili poli- tics Mr. Haflich is a Democrat and is a faith- ful worker for his party, but has never sought any personal political preferment.


JONAS ELICK.


This native young farmer was born Sep- tember 29, 1854, and has made Rock Creek township, Wells county, his residence during his entire life. He is a son of Jacob and Mary C. (Hoke) Elick, who came here from Hocking county, Ohio, about the year 1850, and purchased the farm now owned by Wil- liam Haflich on the Bluffton and Markle road in Rock Creek township.


Jacob Elick and Mary C. (Hoke) Elick had born to them a family of nine children, of whom four are still living, namely: Jo- seph H., Jonas, Aaron S. and Mary C., the last named being the wife of Samuel H. Golden.


Jonas Elick was reared to agricultural pursuits and was given a good common school education. At the age of twenty years he rented the home farm, and on January 21, 1877, he married Miss Mary E. Preskey, who was born in Wayne county, Indiana, November 28, 1858, a daughter of Augustus Preskey, a native of Germany. To this union have been born nine children, namely : Clara A., born December 14, 1877; Charles F., born April 6, 1879; Nora E., born August 31, 1882; Dennis E., born December 18, 1884; Mervin O., born October 7, 1886; Lawrence M., born October 12, 1888; Bertha V., born September 5, 1890; Stella I., born September 13, 1892; and Vera P., born June 22, 1895.


Mr. and Mrs. Elick are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Sparks, of which church Mr. Elick is one of the trus- tees, and has also served as class leader and superintendent of the Sunday school. In the work of this congregation they take great interest and freely contribute financially to its maintenance. In politics Mr. Elick is a Democrat, but although faithful to the prin- ciples of his party, and using his influence whenever opportunity offers to promote its access to power, he never has sought an of- fice at the hands of his fellow townsmen nor interfered too officiously in the control of local affairs. From the farm which he now owns and occupies he has, through his skill and industry, acquired an ample reward and stands today among the foremost agricultur- ists of Wells county.


WILLIAM H. TAYLOR.


Among the most prosperous young farm- ers of Rock Creek township, Wells county, Indiana, is William H. Taylor, a native of Ohio, who was born November 28, 1850, and is a son of Isaac and Sarah A. (Cox)' Tay- lor, of English descent. William Taylor, grandfather of William H. Taylor, was but 18 years of age when he left England and landed in the United States after a six-weeks voyage, with but fifty cents, or its equiva- lent, in his pocket. He soon found employ- ment, however, but notwithstanding his good fortune he could not reconcile himself to the surrounding circumstances, become lonesome and longed to be home again. But lack of means prevented his return to his native land at that time and he sought a home in New Jersey, across the river from the mercantile


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metropolis of the Union. In New Jersey Mr. Taylor met and married Amy Lewellen, a native of the state, and for a livelihood for some time cut and marketed wood. but as the star of empire at that time had a strong ten- dency to "westward wend its way," Mr. Tay- lor was not slow to yield to its guiding in- fluence and by its ray was lighted as far as the state of Ohio, whence he came to Indi- ana several years later and about 1849 settled in Wells county, where his death took place when he was about ninety years old. Isaac Taylor, son of ,William and father of Wil- liam H. Taylor, was born, reared and mar- ried in Ohio and came to Indiana about 1851. He settled on the present farm in Rock Creek township, on which he passed the re- mainder of his life. Of his family of five sons and two daughters, three are still living, William H., whose name opens this record ; Ezra, who lives in Montpelier, Ohio, and Newton, who has his residence in Fort Wayne.


William H. Taylor was a mere babe when brought to Wells county, Indiana, and here he was reared in the swamp forests of the wilderness of Rock Creek township. When old enough he attended either the subscrip- tion or district schools of the neighborhood, at which he acquired a fair education, con- sidering the limited literary advantage of- fered by the pedagogues of the region. But he had a retentive memory, and, being apt at his lessons, succeeded better than the average boy. However, farm duties early called young Taylor away from school and in these, child as he was, he took a manly part. His father had died and his elder brothers were in the army, assisting in quelling the Rebel- lion, so that, until he was twenty-one years old, the lad continued to be the mother's sole aid and comfort.


On January 26, 1879, William H. Tay- lor was joined in marriage with Miss Martha J. Mullies, a native of North Carolina, who was born in Iridle county, that state, June 15, 1861, the daughter of William and Re- becca (Nicholson) Mullies, who moved to Indiana when Mrs. Taylor was about six years old. This union has been fruitful in the birth of six children, all still living, viz : Cora E., born March 19, 1880, married Cur- tis E. Wolfcale and lives in Wells county ; William I., who was born May 15, 1881, is unmarried and still has his home under the paternal roof; Nettie Pearl, born May 22, 1883; Chester E., born March 29, 1886; Maudie A., born October 25, 1887, and Charles M., born August 28, 1889.


The Taylor family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and donated to the congregation the ground on which the present church edifice has been erected. Of this church Mr. Taylor is one of the trustees and for several years was the sexton. In politics Mr. Taylor is a substantial Republi- can, is very popular with his party and the general public and has served his fellow townsmen as supervisor several terms to the great satisfaction of all concerned. ,


ELI HAFLICH.


The Haflich family, of Wells county, In- diana, is of German descent, but the progen- itors of Eli Haflich were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania, where Isaac Haf- lich, his father, was born and reared. Eli Haflich, now among the most prominent farmers of Rock Creek township, was born in Richland county, Ohio, December 25, 1840, and was brought by his parents, Isaac


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and Catherine ( Pletcher) Haflich, from Ohio to Indiana in the spring of 1848 and has made Wells county his home ever since. Isaac Haflich, on his arrival in Wells coun- ty, entered the tract of land now owned by Jacob Beil, which was then a mere wilder- ness. This tract he succeeded in clearing up and in converting into a profitable farm in due course of time, beginning, as a matter of course. in the usual pioneer way, by erecting a small log cabin for shelter and clearing a small field for the cultivation of corn, on which to subsist until better provisions could be secured. There were at that time but few people at Murray and a few at Markle, and the intercourse between these but at rare in- tervals. Nevertheless Isaac Haflich acquired one hundred and sixty acres of land and at the time of his death was a well-to-do man, the result of his own industry and good man- agement. He was a great hunter, and it was through this that he got his first financial start.


Eli Haflich was the seventh born in a family of twelve children, of whom there are only five now living, viz: William, Eli, A. J., John, and Barbara, wife of Alfred Breck- ley. At the early age of eight years, Eli Haflich was brought to Rock Creek town- ship, Wells county, and assisted his father in clearing up the land, but did not neglect attending the common school whenever he found an opportunity and thus secured a very fair education. Eli continued, until he at- tained his majority, to faithfully assist his father, and after becoming of age worked one year for him at the wages current at the time, and then, until his marriage, hired out to whomsoever needed his services.


In November, 1865, Eli Haflich was united in matrimony with Miss Catherine


Derr, whose parents came to Wells county, Indiana, from Richmond county, Ohio, about the year 1862. Mr. Haflich at the time of his marriage was comparatively poor and had but fifty cents in cash and a horse that cost him one hundred and forty dollars, but the animal soon died and he was left without either horse or cash. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of good land, near- ly all of which he has acquired through his indefatigable industry, which was shown even when a boy, by running a threshing ma- chine and later by raising hogs and cattle. In 1894 he erected his present fine brick resi- dence.


To the marriage of Eli Haflich and Cath- erine Derr have been born five children, viz : William A., Ervin L., Millie, Franklin and Jennie, all married with the exception of the youngest. Mrs. Haflich having been called away by death, Mr. Haflich married for his second helpmate Mrs. Lavina L. (Zink) Haflich, widow of John H. Haflich. Mr. Haflich is a devoted member of the Lutheran church, in which he has also served two years as superintendent of the Sunday school, during which period he has not missed a single Sabbath. In his political affinities, Mr. Haflich is a solid Democrat and has filled the office of township assessor eight years. He is one of the influential citizens of Wells county and is honored and respected throughout its length and breadth.


SAMUEL CAMPBELL.


One of the most respected residents of Wells county, Indiana, is Samuel Campbell, who was born in Summit county, Ohio,


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April 24, 1843, and is a son of Samuel and Eleanor (Kyser) Campbell, the former of whom lost his life in the late Civil war. The mother remarried, and settled in Union township, Huntington county. When four- teen years old, Samuel Campbell, the subject, started out in life for himself. He worked in a saw-mill, on a farm, or at whatever he could get to do and when the war began, he gallantly responded to his country's call to arms to aid in suppressing the rebellion. He enlisted in August, 1862, in Company G, One Hundred and First In- diana Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Truesdale, and was mustered into the Unit- ed States service at Indianapolis, whence the regiment was sent to the front, via Cincin- nati, in order to head off the contemplated attack by the rebel general Braxton Bragg on that commercial metropolis of the Buck- eye state. Crossing the river at Cincinnati, the regiment was ordered to Louisville, Ken- tucky, and so onward to Milton, Tennessee, where Mr. Campbell engaged in his first battle, following which came those of Mis- sionary Ridge, Tullahoma, Chickamauga, Chattanooga and several minor engagements in 1864. Mr. Campbell also followed the fortunes of his regiment through the mem- orable Atlanta campaign and was with Sher- man on his famous march to the sea, took part in the reduction of Savannah in De- cember, marched through the Carolinas and took part in all skirmishes and the battle of Bentonville, North Carolina, in March, 1865, and of Raleigh in April, 1865. As the war here closed, the One Hundred and First Indiana joined in the march to Wash- ington to take part in the grandest military pageant the world had witnessed, or proba- bly ever will again witness-that of the


Grand Review. After having shared in this historical event, in May, 1865, the One Hun- dred and First Indiana was mustered out of the service in June, 1865, and honorably dis- charged, and Mr. Campbell reached Markle, Indiana, in time to witness, if not participate, in the notable Fourth of July celebration that followed his return home. A recapitu- lation of the engagements in which the One Hundred and First Indiana took part will not here be out of order, although not in chron- ological precision : Hartsville, Milton, Hoo- ver's Gap, Tullahoma, Chickamauga, Chat- tanooga, Missionary Ridge, Graysville, Ringgold, Tunnel Hill, Rocky Face Ridge, Dalton, Resaca, Adairsville, Cassville, Ac- worth, Pickett's Mills, Culp's Farm, New Hope Church, Big Shanty, Lost Mountain, Smyrna, Peach Tree Creek, Chattahoochie River, Ezra Church, Atoxi Creek, Allatoona, Jonesboro, the last twenty-three being in- cluded in the Atlanta campaign. It is left to the reader to decide whether Mr. Campbell is entitled to the honorable name of "sol- dier" or not. For all this service to his coun- try, Mr. Campbel, besides the usual pay and rations he received while in the service, is now allowed a pension of ten dollars per month. On his return from the army, Mr. Campbell was again employed in a saw-mill and in this line of business he has been em- ployed for a number of years. He also learned the carpenter's trade, and has worked more or less at this business ever since.


In 1868 Mr. Campbell was united in marriage, in Murray, Wells county, with Mrs. Catherine (Maddux) Redding, daugh- ter of John Maddux and widow of W. L. Redding, and a highly cultivated lady. This union has been crowned by the birth of one child, Alice, who was born in 1870, was edu-


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cated in the common schools of Wells coun- ty, and is now the wife of Andrew Christ- more, farmer and holder of oil well interests.


Fraternally Mr. Campbell is a member of Post No. 560, Grand Army of the Repub- lic, at Markle, in which he has served as officer of the day and as adjutant one term, and it is not necessary to add that no one save an honorably discharged soldier (or seaman) from the military service of the United States can hold this position. The religious connection of the Campbell family is with the Lutheran church of Horeb, in which Mr. Campbell has served as deacon.


As a mere incident, or episode in the life of Mr. Campbell, it may be worthy of men- tion that about 1897, in company with Capt. D. L. Elliott, of Warren, Harman Allen, Christopher Lew, Nathan Luckey, J. J. Crev- iston and others, Mr. Campbell visited the scenes of their former military exploits, in- cluding Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. Their sensations on this visit may be more easily imagined than described.


CHARLES E. ROE.


Among the enterprising and progressive young men of Wells county, Indiana, is Charles E. Roe, who was born in Union township, May 27, 1872, a son of Jeremiah and Mary (Garnand) Roe, a biographical record of whom will be found on another page of this volume. Charles E. Roe attend- ed the common schools of Union township during the winter months of his minority and secured a good education, but during the summer months his services were utilized on the home farm, where he was thoroughly


trained in the pursuit of agriculture, his life- long calling. After attaining his majority he rented the homestead, which he conduct- ed until he was twenty-four years old. On January 5, 1895, he was united in marriage with Miss Jennie C. Haflich, a native of Wells county and born March 2, 1878, the daughter of John H. Haflich, and it may be here mentioned that biographical records of members of this highly respected family will be found in this work. To this union have been born two daughters and one son, name- ly: Cecil Dores, born January II, 1898; Grace Dexter, February 20, 1900, and Don- eil Russell, August 30, 1902.


In politics Mr. Roe is a Democrat, and takes an active interest in the success of his party, though he does not care for political honors in the way of office. His career as a farmer is another example of what a young man can accomplish by industry, frugality and skill. If to these be addded a steady aim at some particular object the missile will eventually be sure to reach its mark. If to this be added also integrity of purpose and honest endeavor, failure becomes an impos- sibility. Such indomitable industry has placed the subject among the foremost of his contemporaries, as his farm is acknowl- edged by his neighbors to be one of the best tilled in the township, taking into considera- tion its dimensions, the farm being well im- proved in all respects. Mr. Roe also gives some attention to the breeding of thorough- bred live stock. He is widely known throughout Wells county, owing in a large measure to his nativity, but still more to his many good qualities as a gentleman and a citizen, and the high esteem in which he and his amiable wife are held in the community is well deserved.


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HAMON ALLEN.


Hamon Allen is a native of Stark coun- ty, Ohio, and was born November 9, 1845, a son of Robert and Mary (Miller) Allen. He is one of the respected citizens of the county and is a man of honor and integrity. Although by trade he is a blacksmith, he en- gages also in agriculture. He has also served as a defender of his nation's flag in her hour of direct trouble, and of this epi- sode in his life further mention will be made.


Robert Allen, father of Hamon Allen, was also a blacksmith by trade. While still a young man he migrated from Pennsyl- vania to Ohio and there became acquainted with the Miller family, who were also na- tives of Pennsylvania and with whom he later became more closely allied. Mr. Allen remained in Ohio until 1846 when he sold his blacksmith shop and other possessions and came to Wells county, Indiana, and lo- cated in the town of Murray, where he erect- ed a shop and carried on his trade in con- nection with farming until about 1851, when he removed to Huntington county, and set- tled one mile west of Markle and later moved into the village. He was the first and only blacksmith and mechanic in the place at that time, and there he and his wife passed the remainder of their days. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Allen were born ten chil- dren, of whom five are still living, viz: Wil- liam, Levi, Hamon, Alfred and Etura, the last named being the wife of Leander Ubanks.


Hamon Allen was a mere babe when brought to Indiana by his parents. His father died in 1857 and his brother William succeeded to the charge of the homestead, as well as of the blacksmith shop, and Ha-


mon partially learned his trade under his brother, but had not finished a legitimate ap- prenticeship when the stern tocsin of war vibrated throughout the land and the terri- ble struggle for the predominance of free- dom or slavery began. Young Allen was decidedly in favor of the former and was, moreover, patriotic to the very core of his heart, and at once enlisted in the military service. In 1864, being then not nineteen years of age, he enlisted in Company D, Fif- ty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he took part in the battles of Nash- ville and Franklin, Tennessee, and also fol- lowed the rebel general Hood in his notor- ious flight. Although Mr. Allen passed through this campaign without a bodily wound, he was deprived of his hearing, in part compensation for which misfortune he now receives a pension of twenty dollars per month. From Tennessee Mr. Allen was sent with his regiment to Texas, where he served until honorably discharged in No- vember, 1865, some months after the war had been closed. On his return home he re- sumed work in the blacksmith shop and cared for his mother with filial tenderness until her death.


In 1868 Mr. Allen was united in mar- riage with Miss Laura A. Brickley, a daugh- ter of George and Bulinda (Wolfcale) Brickley. The young couple settled down to housekeeping in Markle, Huntington coun- ty, where Mr. Allen took charge of the blacksmith shop and conducted it until 1891, when he removed to his farm, one mile east of Markle, where he still follows his trade in conjunction with farming. To Mr. and Mrs. Allen have been born seven children, namely : Nettie M., wife of Charles Line; George F., who married a Miss Meadaugh ;


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Bertha, wife of George Brown, a resident of Rock Creek township; Lewis, Lawrence W., Grace O. and Ralph E., all four still at home. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Markle, and in politics Mr. Allen is a Democrat. No family in Wells county are more highly re- spected than that of Mr. Allen and he is himself regarded as one of its most honor- able citizens.


MRS. SARAH E. BROWN.


Prominent among the highly respected families of Wells county, Indiana, is that of Mrs. Sarah E. Brown. She is a daughter of John and Sarah (Dickerhoof) Werking,; who early came from Ohio and settled in Rock Creek township, where they afterwards resided until their deaths. Mrs. Brown was born on the homestead, where she still re- sides, July 16, 1858, her father having en- tered and settled on this tract of land in an early day, it then comprising eighty acres, unimproved. They were the parents of five children, of whom three still survive, name- ly: Mary E., who is the wife of Scott Bricker, of Bluffton; Emanuel, and Mrs. Brown. The latter was united in marriage, December 23, 1877, in Wells county, with David F. Brown. Mr. Brown was born in Pennsylvania, where his father, David Brown, was also born and where he died when David F. was a small child. Imme- diately after this bereavement the widow moved her family to Indiana and settled in Rock Creek township, Wells county, on a small farm, where David F. was reared to manhood. He was well educated and be- 38


came one of the leading politicians of Wells county, and at one time was a candidate for sheriff on the Democratic ticket.


After marriage David F. Brown and wife went to housekeeping on her father's farm, on which they lived about three years and then rented the Deam farm, one-half mile east of Bluffton, where they lived fif- teen years, then moved on the farm on which Mrs. Brown now resides. There Mr. Brown died April II, 1899. David F. and Sarah E. Brown were the parents of three children, namely : John H., born June 25, 1878, who is an exemplary young man, well educated and is managing the farm for his mother ; George F., born August 28, 1880, is mar- ried to Bertha Allen, and Jennie C., who was born January 10, 1883, has a good common school education and still makes her home with her mother. Mrs. Sarah E. Brown is a lady of refinement and gentility and stands high in the best circles of Wells county.


GEORGE W. EARL. 1


It is always pleasant and profitable to contemplate the career of a man who has made a success of life and won the honor and respect of his fellow citizens. Such is the record of the well-known farmer whose name holds this sketch, than whom a more whole- souled or popular man it would be difficult to find within the limits of the township where he has his home.


Charles Earl, one of the old settlers of Union township, was born to John and Mary (Earl) Earl in Holwin township, Trumbull county, Ohio, July 4, 1819. John Earl, the subject's grandfather, was a native of Eng-


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land, while his grandmother, Susanna Ray, was a native of Germany. Both the Earl and Ray families emigrated from their mother countries and settled in Pennsyl- vania, where John Earl and Susanna Ray fell in love and were married. It was here that John Earl, the father of Charles, spent his boyhood and here also that he married his second cousin, Mary Earl. Shortly after their marriage they emigrated to a farm in Trumbull county, Ohio, where they lived until their deaths. To their marriage six- teen children were born, eight sons and eight daughters, two of whom are living, William, of Markle, Indiana, who was the sixteenth child, and Charles.




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