USA > Indiana > Huntington County > History of Huntington County, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana > Part 50
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MAURICE L. SPENCER, attorney, was born in the City of Richmond, this State, March 6, 1843. He was the son of William
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L. and Hannah (Lancaster) Spencer, both natives of Harford County, Md., of English descent. While our subject was yet a child, in February, 1844, his parents came to this county and located in Dallas Township, where Maurice spent his early life working upon a farm. At the age of seventeen he took up the vocation of a teacher and for a number of years thereafter he was engaged in teaching and going to school. During his career as a teacher he devoted his leisure time to the study of law. In June, 1871, he was elected to the office of County Super- intendent and was re elected in June, 1873, but in the spring of 1874 he resigned the office. In October, 1876, he was admitted to the Bar, since which he has been actively and successfully engaged in the practice of law. December 24, 1867, he married Almira Best, who died October 15, 1873. On the 5th of March, 1878, he was married to Blanche Brookover, by whom he has two children: Herbert B. and Mary E., both living. By virtue of his birth Mr. Spencer is a member of the Quaker Church. Politically he is a Republican.
JOHN P. STOFFEL, proprietor of a meat market on North Jefferson Street, is a native of Germany and was born October 18, 1842. He was the son of Peter and Margaret (Feitd) Stoffel. In 1867 he emigrated to America and reached Huntington on the 6th day of November of that year. He first found employment in a tannery. After working for other parties for ten years he had saved sufficient money to engage in that business for him- self. He gave his attention to that about five years. In August, 1885, he opened up a meat market and has given his attention to that ever since. May 3, 1867, he married Margaret Ludwig by whom he has twelve children: Maggie, John, Annie, Henry, Eliz- abeth, Charles, Jacob, George, William, Lee, Mary and Hermon, all of whom are living. Mr. Stoffel is a member of the Catholic Church, and a Democrat.
JOHN STRODEL, a dry goods merchant of the city of Hunt- ington, is a native Bavaria, Germany, where he was born March 29, 1850. When he was five years old his parents came to Amer- ica, and reached Huntington in April, 1855. During his early life he assisted his father at the butcher's trade. In the fall of 1864, at the age of fourteen, he went into the employ of Townley, DeWald, Bond & Co., of Fort Wayne, for whom he clerked in a dry goods store, six years. By the end of that time, he had, in addition to a knowledge of a good trade, $350.00 in money, and had purchased with his earnings, a lot for his father, which cost $180.00. He then returned to Huntington, and, in connection with father, engaged in the dry goods business. A few months later the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Strodel again became a clerk. That was for Allison, Gifford & Co., of this city. Six months later he became a member of the firm of Crabbs, Strodel & Co. He did a successful business with this
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firm for two years. The failure of Mr. Crabbs in the commiss- ion business, at Toledo, embarrassed this firm to such an extent that an assignment became necessary. The entire stock was dis- posed of and the creditors were paid in full. In the fall of 1884 he sought a situation in this city as German clerk, but without success. This was in September of 1874. October 1, of that year, he was employed by A. S. Purviance. Thirty days later he was pro- moted to a clerkship for the firm of A. S. Purviance & Bro. He was thus employed five years, at which time he was entrusted with the responsible position of foreman. In July, 1880, Mr. Purviance sold out to H. H. Arnold, our subject retaining the position of foreman. In November, 1880, he sought from Mr. Arnold a leave of absence, with a view to engage in business for himself. He retained his position until February 15, 1881. On the 12th day of March following, he engaged in business for himself. He has occupied his present business room since 1883. Ae was married July 15, 1870, to Sophia W. Wuersten, who was born in the city of Fort Wayne, July 3, 1853, being the daughter of Jacob and Louisa Catharine (Miller) Wuersten, the former of whom was born in Prussia, and the latter was born in Wuertem- berg, Germany. Mr. Strodel is the father of four children: John C., born January 23, 1871; the next was a son, born Septem- ber 18, 1873, died in infancy, unnamed; then Julius H., born July 22, 1875, died November 15, 1879, and Martin F., born December 4, 1877. Our subject and his entire family are members of the German Lutheran Church, U. A. C. Mr. Strodel has been honored with an official position in that church for fifteen years. Politi- cally, Mr. Strodel is a Democrat. He has been Councilman in this city two terms, and he is now serving his third term as a mem- ber of the Board of Health.
DAVID STULTS, a worthy and honored citizen of Hunting- ton Township, was born in Stark County, Ohio, March 10, 1817, being the fifth son born to John H. and Catharine Ann (Smith) Stults. He was reared up on his father's farm in his native county. He remained at home until the time of his marriage, which oc- curred October 1, 1846. The lady that became his wife was Mary Lichtwalter, who also was a native of Stark County, Ohio, born July 23, 1826. She was the daughter of Michael and Mary Lichtwalter, both natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Stults located upon a farm of his own (which also was situated in Stark County, Ohio), and there he and his wife continued to reside until the union was broken by the latter's death, which occurred April 20, 1852. On the 12th of February, 1854, he was married to Margaret Overholt. She was born in Holmes County, Ohio, November 12, 1832, being the daughter of Joseph and Barbara (Cline) Overholt, with whom she went to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, while yet a young child, and when she was seven years old went with them to Stark County, Ohio, where she lived with her parents at the time of
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her marriage. In the spring of 1858, Mr. and Mrs. Stults came to this county and settled where they now reside, in Section 3, Huntington Township. The life occupation of Mr. Stults has been farming, in which he has been very successful. He and his first wife had born to them three children: John E., William P. and Mary C., of whom only the last is living. He and his pres- ent wife are the parents of nine children, as follows: Joseph ()., Uriah H., Charles F., Cyrus D., Jemima B., Elmer E., Ida M., Laura L. and Alice J. Of these Joseph O. and Jemima B. are deceased. Our subject and his wife are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Stults formerly affiliated with the Whig party, casting his first presidential vote for Gen. Harrison, in 1840. Since 1856 he has ardently supported the prin- ciples of the Republican party. He has been an industrious farmer, and though he began life poor, through industry and economy he has accumulated considerable property. After pro- viding each of his eight children with a good home, he has a handsome farm of 160 acres left for himself, where he and his wife are spending the decline of life in a quiet, happy way.
JOSEPH STULTS, than whom probably no one in Hunting- ton County, is more favorably or popularly known, was born in Stark County, Ohio, November 7, 1821. He was the son of Har- man and Catharine Stults, a more extended mention of whom appears elsewhere in this work. He received in the schools of the day the rudiments of an education, but the advantages were poor, consequently it was not his privilege to receive what could be considered even a finished common school education. This lack of early training has been somewhat mitigated, however, and from reading, observation and experience, he has acquired a good practical education. At twenty-one years of age, or in 1842, he was married to Harriet Guest, who was born in Stark County, Ohio, July 17, 1823. She was the daughter of Pitney and Catharine (Miller) Guest, both of whom were natives of New Jersey, of English descent. Her father, Rev. Pitney Guest, was a minister in the Baptist Church. For six years following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Stults resided in Ohio, but in October, 1848, they came to this State and located upon a tract of woods land in Whitley County. The land was cleared by Mr. Stults and in the course of a few years it was developed into a good farm. They continued to reside there until in November, 1863, when they removed to this county and located upon the farm they now occupy. Mr. Stults has frequently embarked in mercantile enterprises and for a period of over forty years he has served the public more or less in the capacity of an auctioneer. Some idea of the magnitude of his service in this direction, may be obtained from the following facts gathered from an article published more than a year ago, in one of the Huntington papers: Total number of sales, 1,500: of which 1,040 were cried during the past twenty years, or an av-
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erage of fifty-two per year. The sales would average $600 each, making an aggregate of $624,000.00 worth of property. Within the past eight years he has sold over 800 buggies and carriages, aggregating $6,000.00 or $75.00 each. At one sale in less than three hours, he sold fifty-two buggies and carriages at an average of $85.00 each, or a total of $4,420.00. His greatest sale in a single day, is $6,000 worth of property. The attendance would average 250 or a total of 260,000 people. The distance he has traveled would average twelve miles to each sale, or a total of 12,480 miles. During the year 1885, he cried sixty-five sales. The best of feeling always prevailed. There was but a single case of litigation and that was the fault of the purchaser. Mr. Stults will long be remembered by the posterity of this county as the Veteran Auctioneer. He and wife are the parents of nine children - six sons and three daughters - all of whom are liv- ing. Their names in the order of their ages are as follows: George W., born February 6, 1843; Elizabeth C., born March 8, 1845; Mary A., born June 3, 1847; Jacob P., born September 20, 1849; William W., born November 30, 1851; Ellen J., born April 18, 1854; Joseph E., born December 20, 1856; Harman M., born December 19. 1859, and Charles E., born April 19, 1862. The old- est, George W. Stults, is an attorney-at-law, in Huntington. The two sons, Joseph E. and Charles E., are at present practicing medicine in the city of Ft. Wayne. The husband of Ellen J. - Monroe W. Webster - is also a physician, and is located at South Whitley. Mr. and Mrs. Stults are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. The former is a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge and a Republican in politics. In 1880 he was elected to the office of Treasurer of Huntington County, and served one term. He and wife are highly esteemed by all who know them.
WILLIAM STULTS, an old and honored resident of Hunt- ington Township, was born in Stark County, Ohio, February 27, 1826. He was the youngest of ten children, eight sons and two daughters, born to John H. and Catharine Ann (Smith) Stults, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter a native of Bedford County, Pa., both of German descent. Our subject spent his boyhood and youth in his native county, working upon a farm in summer and attending the district school in winter. At the age of twenty he took up the avocation of a teacher, and this furnished his winter's employment for a period of sixteen years, or until 1864. In the meantime, in the spring of 1848, he came to this State and located in Washington Township, Whitley Co., and during the following year he taught the first term of school that was ever taught in that township. He continued to reside upon a farm in Whitley County, until the fall of 1853, when he came to Huntington County and settled upon a farm in Clear Creek Township, and in the spring of 1874 he removed to his present home in Section 10, Huntington Township. In 1869, in connec- tion with farming, he engaged in buying and selling stock, and
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thus continued until about 1878, since which time he has acted to a considerable extent in the capacity of a contractor. He has, however, attended to the management of his farm also. He was married October 23, 1853, to Ellen Jane Best, a native of Bracken County, Ky., born August 8, 1834, being the daughter of James C. and Jane (Doke) Best, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively, the former of Irish, and the latter of Dutch descent. Mr. Stults lost his first wife February 18, 1864, and on the 10th day of January, 1869, he was united in marriage to Rebecca F. Campbell who was born in Huntington, July 14, 1848, being the daughter of Joseph and Judith Campbell, both natives of Ohio. The first marriage of Mr. Stults resulted in the birth of two chil- dren: Emma J. and Augusta E., the latter of whom died in infancy. He and his present wife are the parents of four chil- dren: Ernest W., Cora E., Francis I. and Austin W., all of whom are living. Our subject and his wife are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. Politically, the former is an ardent Re- publican.
MARION B. STULTS, one of the prominent and reliable furniture dealers of this city, and the senior member of the firm of M. B. Stults & Bro., was born in Clear Creek Township, this county, May 13, 1855, being the eldest child of Jacob and Mar- garet (Best) Stults, old residents of this county. He remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-four, where, after he became old enough, he assisted to clear and cultivate the farm. He attended the district school, in which he received a good com- ' mon school education. At the age of eighteen he took up the avocation of a teacher and was thus successfully engaged for six years. In the meantime he had fitted himself for this work by attending the normal school at Valparaiso six terms. In June, 1879, he was elected to the office of County Superintendent and served in a very creditable manner one term. In the spring of 1882 he engaged in selling agricultural implements. To this his attention was directed one summer. In November, 1882, he engaged in the furniture business in connection with John F. Fulton - the firm name being Fulton & Stults. In May, 1883, the name was changed to M. B. Stults & Co., Mr. Fulton retiring. He has recently formed a partnership with his brother, S. P. Stults, the firm name being M. B. Stults & Bro. December 25, 1878, he was married to Lydia O. Mishler, third daughter of Jacob and Sarah Mishler, of this city. She, also, was born in Clear Creek Township, this county, August 28, 1857. This marriage has resulted in the birth of two children: Clarence E. and Flora May. The former died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Stults are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The former is a member of the K. of P. Lodge, and a Republican in politics.
SHERMAN P. STULTS, the junior member of the firm of M. B. Stults & Bro., furniture dealers of this city, was born in
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Clear Creek Township, this county, December 28, 1861. He is the second son of Jacob and Harriet (Kennedy) Stults, now of Clear Creek Township. Our subject spent his boyhood and youth working upon his father's farm. During that time he at- tended the district school, in which, by the time he was nine- teen years of age he had obtained sufficient education to teach school. After teaching one term he entered the normal school at Valparaiso, where he attended two terms. He then taught another term of school after which he located upon a farm in Clear Creek Township. There he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until in January, 1885, at which time he came to the City of Huntington and took an interest in the large furniture establishment owned by M. B. Stults & Co. He now has a half interest in that establishment. They have a large and com- modious store-room well stocked and are doing a good business. May 9, 1883, our subject was married to Katie R. Mishler, daugh- ter of Jacob and Sarah (Shock) Mishler, of this city. She was born October 6, 1864, and died January 9, 1885. Mr. Stults is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the K. of P. Lodge.
WILLIAM G. SUTTON, deceased, was born in Greene County, Ohio, August 8, 1807. When but a lad his parents moved to Mad- ison County, in the same State, but a little later returned to Greene County. Here, in 1826, he was married to Eliza Jane Pendry, with whom he lived happily until her death. To them nine children were born, four of whom, Christopher, Jeniah, Wil- liam W. and Albert, are yet living. In 1836 he moved to Hunt- ington, then a few straggling houses, and in the same year he purchased and moved to a farm in Huntington Town- ship, where he spent the remainder of his life. In 1850 his first wife died, and in 1851 he married Abigail Edith Patterson, of Greene County, Ohio, who continues to reside upon the farm. From a wilderness he helped to make a garden, and from a mere trading post, he helped to build a flourishing little city. For nearly half a century he labored to advance the condition of Huntington County, and the interests of her people. He was a vigorous, positive man, stern by nature but with a heart of whose tenderness many were made to know. He never held but one office of any importance, that being Township Trustee, which he held four terms, being elected first in 1849. He never identified himself with any church, but his life was none the less upright and honorable. About the 1st of November, 1SS4, Mr. Sutton had his left foot tramped upon while in the act of unhar- nessing a horse, and, curiously enough, the wound sustained by this incident resulted in his death, February 24, 1885. No pioneer of this county deserves to be held in more grateful remembrance than William G. Sutton.
BEZALEEL TRACY, a carpenter of Huntington, and one of her worthy and honored citizens, was born in Wayne County,
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Ohio, March 24, 1816. He was the sixth in a family of eight children - six sons and two daughters -born to Bezaleel and Mary (First) Tracy, the former a native of Maryland, of English descent, and the latter a native of Fayette County, Pa., of German descent. Our subject spent his boy hood and early youth working upon a farm in his native county. At the age of eighteen he entered upon an apprenticeship with a view to learn the trade of a cabinet maker and carpenter. During the course of his ap- prenticeship he accompanied his brother to whom he had been apprenticed, to Alligan County, Mich. That in 1834. At the end of two and one-half years he had finished the trade, and in the fall of 1836, he returned to Wayne County, Ohio. There he worked at his trade until the year 1843, when he came to this State and located upon a tract of land that he had entered in Whitley County, in the spring of 1837. In the meantime, be- fore leaving Ohio, he was married on the 14th day of December, 1841, to Maria Merriman, also a native of Wayne County, Ohio, born March 25, 1823. She was the sixth in a family of ten chil- dren, three sons and seven daughters, born to Micaiah and Anna (McCoy) Merriman, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former of English and the latter of Scotch descent. On locating in Whitley County, Mr. Tracy immediately set about clearing a farm out of the woods. To do this, occasioned for him a great deal of hard work. He chopped, grubbed, burned brush, rolled logs, split rails, and, in fact, did all kinds of hard work which the development of a new country necessitates. The course of improvement went on, and in a few years the forest was converted into a good farm. In September, 1860, he and his wife left the scene of their labors and came to Huntington, residents of which they have been ever since. Since locating here, Mr. Tracy has devoted his attention to the carpenter's trade. He and wife are both members of the Baptist Church.
WILLIAM H. TRAMMEL, attorney-at-law, was born in Wayne County, this State, June 12, 1835. He was the second son born to James A. and Mary Ann (Wagner) Trammel, natives of Georgia and Ohio, respectively, the former of Scotch, and the latter of German descent. When William was yet a young child, his parents moved over into Preble County, Ohio. In 1843, the family returned to this State and located in Randolph, where they resided upon a farm until 1856. In April, of that year, our subject came to this county and located in the woods of Jefferson Township, whence his parents had settled in February, pre- viously. There William pursued the avocation of a farmer and school teacher until 1860, when he located in Warren and en- gaged in merchandising. In February, 1861, he came to the City of Huntington, having received the appointment of Deputy Sheriff. In the following October he volunteered in Company H, Forty-Seventh Indiana Regiment, from which he received an honorable discharge June 4, 1862. He participated in the engage-
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ment at Island No. 10. On leaving . the army he returned to Huntington and engaged in buying grain. He thus continued until February, 1863, at which time he entered upon the study of law. In February, 1864, he entered upon the practice of his pro- fession. This has received his undivided attention ever since except one year, during which he was engaged in the retail business. He was married January 22, 1867, to Laura F. Coff- roth, a native of Franklin County, Pa., and daughter of Will- iam and Elizabeth (Wood) Coffroth. She was a grandchild of ex-Gov. Wood, of Virginia. Politicully our subject is a Re- publican. In 1863, he received the appointment of Township Trustee, and discharged the duties of the office for seven months. He has also been honored by the position of Deputy Internal Revenue Collector. In 1872, he was a delegate to the National Republican Convention at Philadelphia.
JOHN UFHEIL, of Huntington, is a native of Germany, and was born May 26, 1838, being the second in a family of eleven children, born to John and Johanna (Bechdold) Ufheil, with whom he came to America in 1847, and to this county in 1852. John spent his youth working upon his father's farm four miles west of Huntington. When he became of age he turned his attention to the carpenter's trade. This was learned in due time, and to it his undivided attention has been directed ever since. He continued to make his home at his father's until he reached the age of twenty-five, when on the 23d day of Novem- ber, 1866, he was married to Margarethe Schafer, also a native of Germany. She was born December 25, 1841, being the daugh- ter of Lawrence and Catharine E. (Kauf) Schafer, with whom she came to America and to the village of Huntington, in the spring of 1857. Since his marriage Mr. Ufheil has been a resi- dent of Huntington. He and wife have had born to them eight children: Ann Elizabeth, Mary Louisa, Catharine Frances, John Henry, Edward Stephen and Magdalena (twins), Joseph, and a daughter that died in infancy, unnamed. Joseph and Magda- lena also died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Ufheil are members of the Catholic Church.
HENRY UFHEIL, of Huntington, was born in Baden, Ger- many, July 16, 1837. He was the oldest of eleven children born to John and Johanna (Bechdold) Ufheil. It is noteworthy that ten of these children have lived to be grown, and all are married but one. Henry came with his parents to America when he was but ten years of age. The family first settled in Stark County, Ohio. When he was fifteen years old -or in 1852 - they came to this county and located in the woods of Huntington Town- ship. There Henry assisted his father to clear and cultivate the farm. At the age of twenty he began to learn the carpenter's trade. This was finished in due time and to it his entire atten- tion has been devoted ever since. He has been a contracting
yours July le Briant
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carpenter since the age of twenty-two. He was married No- vember 24, 1863, to Elizabeth Gelzleichter, a native of Prussia, born February 4, 1843. She was the daughter of John and Eliza- beth (Weisgerber) Gelzleichter, with whom she came to America in 1853. They located upon a farm in Whitley County, where they resided when Elizabeth was married. Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Ufheil located in Huntington, a resident of which he has been ever since. He and wife have had born to them ten children: John R., Stephen W., Mary E., Frank J., Peter, Cecelia C., Ida M., Clara H. and two daughters that died in infancy, unnamed. The oldest, John R., was born Novem- ber 18, 1864, attended the Catholic School in this city during his early youth, and at the age of seventeen learned the carpenter's trade. His character was irreproachable, his friends many, and he had a prospect for a bright career, but on the 28th day of February, 1886, just as he was entering manhood, the hand of death stole upon him and took him from among the living. Mr. and Mrs. Ufheil are members of the Catholic Church. Politi- cally the former is a Democrat. He has served as Councilman in the First Ward four years, and as such discharged the duties of the office in a creditable manner.
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