USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 109
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Of the many who have figured in the common life of Brandywine and Sugar Creek townships and contributed to the general good of that section of
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the county during the past thirty years, there probably is not another whose name is more closely linked with the moral and educational progress of that community than is that of William A. Wood. The fortunes and the mis- fortunes of the Civil War period were largely responsible for the transplanting of the Wood family' from the hills which their ancestors loved back in Vir- ginia. to a free and loyal state, where the crack of the slave-driver's whip was unheard. The Rev. Wythael A. Wood loved justice, freedom and liberty and was foresighted enough to forsee his loved state overrun and made desolate by the victorious armies of the North. In the early sixties, when he and his brother, Milton, were conscripted to serve in the Confederate army, he recog- nized that the time for action had arrived and, sacrificing what was left of home and belongings in the seceding state, hastened with his family to Ohio, and then in the autumn of 1862, to Indiana and established a permanent home in this county. Though a man of limited schooling, the Rev. Wythael .A. Wood was a great student and a man of recognized ability, an able logician, of marked likes and dislikes, true to convictions and strong in argument up- holding the same. A preacher in the Missionary Baptist church until his declining health compelled a cessation of his activities in that direction, he exerted a marked influence upon the life of his community. His wife was a quiet and unassuming woman, though possessed of a strong and compre- hensive mind, and was a home lover in all that that phrase can imply. They were the parents of seven children, those besides the subject of this bio- graphical review being as follow : Mary F., who married Samuel Tully and died at her home in Marion, this state, several years ago; Jane E., who mar- ried William Barnett and died in West Virginia : Mariah, the youngest daugh- ter, a girl of extraordinary mind, a successful teacher at the age of sixteen, who married Noble Warrum, but gave up a life of usefulness at the age of forty-two years, leaving three sous-Noble, Jr., who is now the postmaster at Salt Lake City, Utah; Henry, a well-known attorney-at-law, of Indian- apolis, and Mack, the present sheriff of Hancock county-Milton C., a pros- perous retired farmer of this county, now living at Greenfield ; John H., a fruit and grain grower, of California, and Mahlon, who departed this life at the age of twelve years.
William .1. Wood's youth was spent in the hills of native Virginia and there, in a primitive log school house, he received the rudiments of the broad learning that later was to make him a distinct figure in the educational life of this county. An instinctive student, encouraged from earliest youth by his broad-minded parents, he pursued his studies, practically unaided by any organized system, and in the autunm of 1863, in Indiana, he began teaching
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school, a calling which he pursued until the spring of 1898, many years after taking up his residence in Hancock county, when he "went into politics" and for thirteen years remained retired from the teaching profession : to be called back to his favorite occupation or profession, which he served, at an increased salary, for two years, at the end of which time he permanently retired from liis long service as a teacher, which to him ever was a labor of love, for his heart was in the work. It is believed that Mr. Wood enjoys the honor of being able to greet more persons in this county who at one time or another were pupils in his school than any other teacher who ever worked in the schools of Hancock county. It was in the fall of 1868 that he was given charge of the schools at New Palestine, and he taught in that town, with review terms, select schools and the like, twenty-three terms. He also worked one year in a normal school at Southport, in the neighboring county of Marion, and for one year conducted a normal school, in association with Professor Sims, in the West building at Greenfield. Mr. Wood declares that he has loved teaching above any of his other occupations and admits that one of the most flattering experiences of his life was when, after spending one year on the farm, he was called back to his old school at New Palestine at an increased salary.
During his long service as a teacher. Mr. Wood was not unmindful of the substantial things of life and was meantime pursuing his agricultural labors very successfully. He also was giving much attention to the political affairs of the county and in addition to his long service as clerk of the Han- cock circuit court, served three successive terms as assessor of Sugar Creek township. Mr. Wood's public life, while clerk of the court, was, like his private life, above criticism, and there are many who still declare that the people of Hancock county were fortunate in their selection of him to that responsible office at that time. In 1910 Mr. Wood built a nice cottage on his estate in Brandywine township and there, surrounded by nature and in the full enjoyment of all the comforts of a happy home, he and his good wife are spending their declining years in perfect contentment. No family in that township has ever stood more firmly committed to all measures looking to the general welfare of the community than theirs and they have often been called in council in matters affecting the welfare of school and church, the private affairs of the people and the affairs of the community at large.
It was back in the carly seventies that William AA. Wood, to use his own phrase, "made the hit of his life," when he chose the hand and won the heart of Mary Anderson, a most estimable young woman, then living in New Palestine, Indiana, who has ever since shared his fortunes and who has
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proved a most competent and valuable helpmeet in all his undertakings. Mary E. Anderson was born in the city of Cincinnati, December 28, 1852, daughter of 11. P. and Sarah A. Anderson, who moved to this county in the sixties; consequently her youthful schooling was an admixture of the "Buckeye" and the "Hoosier" methods. She became a school teacher in this county and was teaching the primary school at New Palestine when her acquaintance with Mr. Wood began. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood five children have been born. namely: Charles H .. traveling salesman, who has a nice and commodious home and one son, who is in commercial school: Harry, who is successfully cultivating his fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres: Moses C., who spent more than sixteen years in the county clerk's office, twelve years as deputy in that office and four years as clerk, to which office he was elected. and who now is profitably engaged in farming, in which undertaking he is ably assisted by his wife, who was Effie Jeffries and to whom one son has been born: Nellie, who married John AA. Cottey, a farmer, and has two chilchen. Harold and Geneva, who are now in high school; and Mabel, a graduate of the Greenfield high school, formerly deputy county clerk, who married A. F. Moulden and has four children, Joseph, Wallace. Mary Alice and Sue. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are adherents of the Missionary Baptist church and Mr. Wood is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
BEN STRICKLAND.
Probably no one connected with the printing and publishing business in Greenfield during the last score of years has been more widely known than Ben Strickland, for many years a resident of this city, but who is now as- sistant clerk to the Indiana state printing board and to the state board of elec- tion commissioners, whose offices are in the state house at Indianapolis. Mr. Strickland was born at Centerville. Wayne county. Indiana, on October 17. 1859. and is the son of Richard J. and Ann E. ( Hamlyn) Strickland. Richard 1. Strickland was a well-known newspaper man, publishing the Chronicle at Centerville for a number of years, but in 1873 he moved to Greenfieldl and es- tablished the Jeffersonian. In his father's office at Centerville, and, later, in the office of the Jeffersonian. Ben Strickland devoted himself to the "art preservative," and then, desiring to see the country, he started out as a journey- man printer, traveling west as far as Denver and as far south as New Orleans. In 1883 he returned to Greenfieldl and about two years later went to New
HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
Albany, where he remained for ten years. In 1895 he returned to his old home town of Centerville and published a special souvenir historical edition. called The Old Settler, relating to the pioneers of Wayne county. Later. he moved to Greenfield and opened a job-printing shop in the Randall block. Subse- quently he bought the Greenfield Globe ( weekly) and after conducting that paper alone for a year. sold a half interest in it to N. R. Spencer, in partner- ship with whom he later bought the Greenfield Evening Star ( daily). A third interest in the business was subsequently sold to E. E. Davis. They published these papers for several years, after which the plant was moved to Cumberland, Marion county. Mr. Strickland remained in Cumberland for some time, but in 1910 was appointed assistant clerk of the state printing board, the duties of this office carrying the same relation to the state board of election commissioners, and in which position he is still serving. Politically, he is a Democrat and has always taken an active interest in political affairs.
On March 25, 1884, Ben Strickland was united in marriage to Alice Hancock, who was born in Floyd county, this state, member of one of the old families of that county. To this union two children were born. Jennie, the wife of Charles Eakin, who is engaged in the printing business at Louisville, Kentucky, and William B., who is engaged in the insurance business at New Albany, Indiana. The mother of these children died when they were still quite small and, on March 4, 1896, Mr. Strickland was married to Eumnice Lineback, of Greenfield. To this union have been born five children, Hester, Grace, Caleb. Morgan and Ellabelle. Mr. Strickland is a member of the Greenfield lodge of the Improved Order of Red Men and of the International Typographical Union. He and his family are very comfortably situated in Irvington, the beautiful eastern suburb of Indianapolis.
HENRY OSTERMEYER.
llenry Ostermeyer, one of the substantial citizens of Sugar Creek town- ship. Hancock county, Indiana, and owner of two hundred and seventy-five acres of land in said township, first saw the light of day at the home of his father, about one-half miles west of New Palestine, January 24. 1855, son of Charles and Catherine ( Stumpf ) Ostermeyer.
Charles Ostermeyer was born in Germany în 1826 and while still a youth, mastered the secrets of the tailor's trade. When sixteen years of age. in company with his parents, three brothers and two sisters, he set out for
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America. They were seven weeks in making the voyage, and landing at the port of New York, came directly to Indiana. They first settled in Marion county, near Five Points, where the elder Ostermeyer purchased eighty acres of land, where he passed the remainder of his life. Charles Ostermeyer found employment in Indianapolis at his trade soon after reaching this state and when twenty-four years of age was married to Catherine Stumpf, also a native of Germany, whose people had come to this country about the same time the Ostermeyers did and located where the immediate subject of this sketch now lives.
After marriage, Charles Ostermeyer gave up his trade and located on the old Stumpf home, west of New Palestine. His wife inherited a portion of this farm of eighty acres and Charles Ostermeyer purchased the balance from the other heirs. The land at that time was not very valuable, there were only fifteen acres under the plow, virgin forest still covered the greater portion and also most of the land was under water the greater portion of the year. Charles Ostermeyer cleared all but ten acres, drained the land and thus rescued from the grip of the wilderness some exceedingly fertile land. He later purchased seventy-eight acres in Buck Creek township. His death occurred at his home in Sugar Creek township on August 15. 1887. when in the sixty-fourth year of his age, and his wife survived him only a year.
Henry Ostermeyer is one of a family of five, namely: Charlie, Henry Conrad, Kate and Annie, the latter being the only one deceased. Henry was born on the old family homestead, where he passed his boyhood, attending the German school of the Old Hickory church and later for a short time, the public schools of New Palestine. He remained at home as his father's assistant until twenty-eight years of age, at which time he was married and in company with his brother, rented the old home and other land. Upon the death of his parents, Henry purchased the interests of the other heirs, paying seventy dollars per acre, there being seventy-five acres in that tract, which is one of the handsomest homes in the county. He also owns one hundred and six acres in section 36, of Sugar Creek township, sixty-five acres in section 31 and another tract of twenty-eight and one-half acres in the same section. Together with his son Henry, Mr. Ostermeyer manages his entire holdings. They plant a considerable acreage to corn and small grains, and feed on an average of fifty head of Poland China hogs per annum. They have fifteen head of cattle, mostly Shorthorn, and eight head of high grade Norman horses for use in the work of the farm. Mr. Ostermeyer has been one of the county's most successful threshermen for thirty years.
Henry Ostermeyer has been twice married. His first wife, Emma
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Murnan, daughter of Michael Murnan, died ten years after marriage. leaving four children: Carrie, wife of Guy Scotten; Emma, wife of George Oster- meyer; Henry, who married Mary Smith, and one child who died in infancy. Mr. Ostermeyer's second wife was Mrs. L. O. ( Ross) Russell, who had one child. Morton Russell, by her first marriage. there being no issue to her second union.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Ostermeyer are devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church and in politics he gives his support to the Democratic party. He served as district supervisor for about twelve years and in other ways has given evidence of his interest in community affairs. He ranks with the fore- most citizens of his township in all that makes for manhood at its highest and best. Mr. and Mrs. Ostermeyer give of their earthly possession to the support of the church and other benevolent societies. They have adopted a little girl, Fern Armour Ostermeyer, now fourteen years old, taking her into their home on the death of her mother.
CLAUDE PAULLUS WILSON, D. V. S.
Dr. Claude Paullus Wilson, a well-known veterinary surgeon at Green- field, this county, and who is identified with several important interests in and about that city, is a native of Ohio, born in Preble county, that state. October 24. 1868, son of Gilbert and Sarah ( Danner) Wilson, the former of Irish parentage and the latter of Dutch descent, both also born in Preble county. Gilbert Wilson was reared a farmer and farmed in his native county until 1875. After the death of his wife in September. 1875, he moved to Indiana, settling in Hendricks county. To this union were born two sons. William D., who died on July 9. 1913. in Greenfield, Indiana, while home on a visit. having been engaged in the real-estate business in Spokane, Wash- ington, several years before his death, and the subject of this sketch. Gilbert Wilson married a second time and he and his wife are now living at Browns- burg, this state.
Claude P. Wilson was not quite seven years oldl when his mother died and he was taken in charge by his aunt. Mrs. Mary Paullus, wife of Capt. M. L. Paullus, of Greenfield, who reared him. From childhood he was greatly interested in horses and upon completing his schooling in the Greenfield schools began to travel with race horses about the central circuit. Incidentally he learned the harness-making trade and was thus engaged until he was
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twenty-three years old, when he entered the Indianapolis Veterinary College. from which he was graduated in 1895. He opened an office in Greenfield for practice, but in 1896 went to Pendleton, where he practiced for ten months. at the end of which time he returned to Greenfield and ever since has made his home there and has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profes- sion. Doctor Wilson also is engaged in the livery business, in connection with which he operates a delivery system in the city of Greenfield. He also for some time operated a harness shop, having bought out the manufacturer from whom he learned the trade as a boy. He is likewise connected with the Ham- ilton Chemical Company, located at Noblesville, and is vice-president and general manager of the Hancock Fertilizer Company, which has a reduction plant at Greenfield. Doctor Wilson is a Democrat and takes an earnest in- terest in political affairs, but has never been an aspirant for public office.
On November 8, 1893. Dr. Clande P. Wilson was united in marriage to Clara Gephart, who was born at Greenfield in 1871. daughter of Andrew and Emaline (Slifer) Gephart, natives of this county, the former of whom was a well-known wagon-maker at Greenfield, and to this union two children have been born, Mary and Lucile, the latter of whom died when three years old. Doctor and Mrs. Wilson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The Doctor is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the In -- proved Order of Red Men and takes a warm interest in the affairs of these orders.
OBED J. COFFIN.
Obed J. Coffin, a well-known and progressive farmer of Blue River town- ship. this county, former trustee of that township and for nineteen years one of the best-known and most popular school teachers in that part of the county. is a native son of Hancock county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Blue River township, just south of the site of his present home, September 16, 1869, son of Ammiel and Mary J. ( New ) Coffin, prom- ment members of the Quaker community thereabout, who are still living on the old home place established by Ammiel Coffin's father, Elihu Coffin, in 1856.
Ammiel Coffin was born on June 12, 1843. near the village of Manilla, in Rush county, this state, and was about thirteen years of age when his par- ents moved to this county and settled in the Quaker settlement in Blue River township, both being earnest members of the Friends church. There were
(71)
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· nine children in the family of Elihu Coffin, five sons and four daughters, Ezekiel, Ammiel, Henry, Francis, Leander. Irene, Norsica, Phoebe and Lu- zena, all whom are still living save Henry, Leander and Irene. Ammiel Coffin grew to manhood on the home farm and did well his part in assisting to de- velop the same from its primitive state to a well-cultivated tract. On June 30, 1867, he married Mary J. New, who was born on November 17, 1837, daughter of James P. and Sarah (Sample) New, who were the parents of nine children, seven of whom grew to maturity, John, George, Mary J., Sarah Ellen, Cyntha, America and Florence, all of whom are still living save John. After his marriage Ammiel Coffin established her home in Blue River town- ship and has lived there ever since. He has a well-kept place of eighty-eight acres and a very comfortable home. he and his family being quite well situ- ated. He and his wife are life-long members of the Friends church and helped in the work of dedicating the church in their neighborhood fifty years ago. Mr. Coffin is a Republican and has always been a vigorous supporter of the principles of his party. To him and his wife were born but two children. the subject of this sketch having a younger sister, Icydore, who married Elwood Jessup and also lives in Blue River township.
Obed J. Coffin received his elementary education in the Jessup district school, his first teacher being Elmira Farron and his last. Mattie Clark, both of whom are still living. He is an apt student and early secured a license to teach school. While engaged in teaching he extended his educational ad- vantages by attendance at the State Normal School at Terre Haute, the Cen- tral Normal at Danville, in which latter he took the commercial and teachers' courses, there receiving his diploma, and at Spiceland. For nineteen years Mr. Coffin was engaged in teaching in his home township, but his work was not confined to any one school therein. It was his custom to ride to and from his schools on horseback and he estimates that he has thus traveled something like four thousand miles horseback. Mr. Coffin is a Republican and in 1908 was elected trustee of Blue River township, serving in that capacity for six years, during which time one of his notable official works was the consum- mation of the system of consolidated school in his jurisdiction. In the mean- time he continued his farming operations and has developed and is the owner of a fine farm in his home township. not far from his father's place.
It was on January 6, 1891, that Obed J. Coffin was united in marriage to Clara C. Wiggins, who was born in Center township, this county, daughter of Lawson and Margaret ( Coble) Wiggins, and to that union two children were born, daughters both, Florence M., born on June 29, 1904, and Ruth, September 6. 1906, both of whom now are in school. The mother of these
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children died on February 25, 1912. She was a member of the Friends church. as is Mr. Coffin, and was devoted to good works in her neighborhood. Mr. Coffin is a York Rite Mason, a member of the blue lodge at Greenfieldl, and is a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine, a member of Murat Temple, Indianapolis. Ile also is a member of the Greenfield lodge of the Knights of Pythias and in the affairs of all of these organizations takes a warm interest.
WALTER H. WELBORN.
One of the best-known citizens of Brown township, Hancock county, In- diana, is Walter H. Welborn, the genial merchant and postmaster of Willow Branch. Walter Welborn is well-known throughout Hancock county and in addition to his business connections mentioned above, is also the secretary of the Willow Branch Independent Telephone Company. . \ progressive and up- right man, he is held in high esteem by a large number of personal and busi- ness acquaintances.
Walter H. Welborn was born in the township where he now resides on July 11, 1877, a son of Alonzo Welborn, who was born in Henry county, this state, January 10, 1850. Alonzo Welborn was reared and educated in Henry and Hancock counties where for many years he has engaged in farming. Alonzo Welborn married Minerva E. Trees, who was born in the town of Warring- ton, this county, April 29. 1855. She was educated in the schools of her native town and died at an early age. January 8, 1882, leaving Walter H., the in- mediate subject of this sketch, her only child.
Walter H. Welborn first attended the schools of Warrington and later the district schools of Brown and Jackson townships. He fitted homself for teaching, being thus engaged for eight years, and teaching at Warrington. Wilkinson and Willow Branch, as well as two district schools. In 1903 he quit teaching and became a rural mail carrier, carrying out of Wilkinson, and to this occupation he gave the five following years. In 1908 or 1900, he moved to Willow Branch and forming a partnership with Oren Record, en- tered into a general store business. This partnership continued until the fall of 1911, when the firm dissolved, Mr. Record taking over the hardware part of the business and Mr. Welborn continuing in the general mercantile line. Besides his store, he runs two merchandise wagons in the vicinity of Willow Branch. He is genial and sincere in his manner and as a merchant is ad- mirably equipped by nature to succeed. On March 27, 1911, Mr. Welborn
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was appointed postmaster at Willow Branch, having passed the civil service examination previously.
Walter H. Welborn was married on December 31. 1899, to Mand Stickler, born in Brown township, Hancock county, on July 28. 1882, the only child of Sanford and Josephine ( Record ) Stickler, farmers of this county. The mother died when Maud was a child of about one year. Mr. and Mrs. Welborn have two children. Lundy E. is attending the Wilkinson high school and Vivian is in school at Willow Branch. Mr. Welborn and family are mem- bers of the Christian church at Wilkinson, of which he is a deacon and other- wise an active member. Politically, he chooses to vote independently. but on national issues, leans most strongly toward the Republican platform. Mr. Welborn is a high type of citizen, faithful to all the issues of life. and emi- nently deserving of the esteem in which he is universally held.
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