USA > Indiana > Miami County > History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 29
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In addition to his interest in this thriving business, Mr. Richer shows his continued allegiance to the great basic industry under the influence of which he was reared, as he is the owner of a fine landed estate of about four hundred acres in his native county. Of this valu- able farming land one hundred and sixty acres are in Peru township, and he gives a general supervision to his farming interests, besides which he is the owner of valuable realty in Peru, including his attract- ive residence property.
Mr. Richer is a broad-gauged and progressive citizen and a repre- sentative business man of his native county, and here his circle of friends may consistently be said to coincide with that of his acquaint- ances, so that he is not like the prophet of old, and without honor in
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his own country. He is liberal and public-spirited and is cver ready to lend his influence and his tangible co-operation in the furtherance of measures and enterprises projected for the general good of the com- munity. While imbued with naught of ambition for political office, Mr. Richer is well fortified as to his opinions concerning governmental and economic measures and accords a stanch allegiance to the Repub- lican party. Both he and his wife arc zealous members of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and are active and liberal supporters of the work of the church of this denomination in their home city.
On the 22nd of June, 1877, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Richer to Miss Susan Casper, who was born near Canton, Ohio, and who is the daughter of the late George Casper, a sterling pioneer of Stark county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Richer have three children-Anise, who is the wife of Willis G. Tobey, of Peru; Ada, who married John W. Bossard, associated with the lumber and manufacturing interests of Eisaman & Richer, as previously stated; and Miriam, who is a mem- ber of the Class of 1915'in Chicago University, Chicago, Illinois. The daughters have all been most popular factors in the social activities of Peru, and the home life of the family has altogether been one of the most idcal associations.
JOHN W. VOLPERT. Holding prestige in business circles because of his connection with an old established firm organized in 1886, of Peru, Indiana, and in public life on account of signal services, catching some of the notable criminals throughout the country, he has rendered his community and the state in positions of trust and responsibility, John W. Volpert is recognized as one of the representative men of Miami county and the state of Indiana.
He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, May the 21st, 1864, and is the son of Casper and Christene (Sharp) Volpert (deceased), who were the parents of six sons and two daughters. Casper Volpert was born in Berlin, Germany, February 2nd, 1822, and as a young man came to the United States, locating first at New Albany, Indiana, and subsequently moved to the city of Louisville, Kentucky, where he be- came a stone mason and a contractor, built many of the streets in that city, and was widely and favorably known. In 1860 he opened a dry goods store. In 1861, leaving his business to his wife and children, he joined the Kentucky troops, where he served in the Civil war. In 1865 he took up contracting, street building, etc., in the city of Louisville. In 1891 he came to Peru, with his wife, to retire and make his home with his son. They were members of the Roman Catholic church. In 1844 Mr. Volpert was married at New Albany, Indiana, to Christenc Sharp, who was born in Berne, Germany, December 13, 1831, and came with her mother to America in 1838, to New Albany, Indiana, and whom he knew in the old country. She died at Peru, Indiana, January 1st, 1894, at the age of 63 ycars. Mr. Volpert died May 8th, 1907. To them were born eight children, of which seven survive them. They are Michael Volpert, Bloomington ; Frank Volpert, Seattle, Washington ; Barbara Volpert, of Louisville, Kentucky; Joseph, and Mrs. Michael Fahcy, also of Louisville, Kentucky; John W. and Andrew of Peru, Indiana.
John W. Volpert was rcared in the city of Louisville, and was educated in Saint Anthony's Roman Catholic school. At the age of twelve he was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith trade, his father be- coming his bondsman for $1,000 for the guarantec of the boy complet- ing his apprenticeship. He was paid one dollar a week during the first year and one dollar and a half during the second year and two dollars
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a week during the final year. At the end of that time, having thoroughly mastered the chosen calling, he became head blacksmith and tool sharp- ener, and horseshoer for the contractors, Coleman & Davis, of Bards- town, Kentucky, from Livingston, Kentucky, to Jellico, Tennessee, on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, known as the Knoxville branch. This work lasted three years and upon its completion he was given the task of taking the live stock and implements back to Louisville, later requiring a full year to dispose of the commissary of the company with which Mr. Volpert was connected in disposing of goods. During this time he was interpreter for the Swiss colony, of which many ar- rived from Switzerland, and assisted in organizing a colony at Alta- mont, Pinehill and East Bernstadt, Kentucky. Later he returned to Louisville and then took a position with W. B. Belknap Company at Salem, Indiana, blacksmithing, sharpening tools and horseshocing. From there he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked at the horseshoers' trade for three years.
A short time after he became a news "butcher" on the railroad running from Cincinnati to Indianapolis, and the latter city to Parkersburg, West Virginia. Mr. Volpert saw an advertisement in the Cincinnati Inquirer and answered it, came to Peru, March 29th, 1886, and here he entered in the blacksmith business with V. R. Hays, with whom he co-operated for twenty-one years. As a Democrat, Mr. Volpert was elected as city councilman in 1900, served as a member thereof for two years, in which body he was chairman of the street com- mittee, while Broadway was newly paved with brick. In 1889 Mr. Volpert was the founder and organizer of the Master Horseshoer Pro- tective Association of Indiana and in 1900 he was the organizer of the Miami County Horse Thief Detective Association, and later organized the various counties with associations. Cass, Howard, Marion and Wabash counties have various organizations, and other detective associations in Miami county.
These associations have done a vast amount of good in this com- munity, and throughout the country, too numerous to mention. In 1900 he organized the Erie Township Fox Drive Association, which is known throughout the country and usually draws a crowd of 5,000 people or more. It was the sport of northern Indiana, of which these chases are given annually. In 1896 he organized a military or- ganization known as the Volpert Zouaves. They were known through- out the state as a fancy drill company, and won many prizes; also had the honor of escorting Governor Matthews and Governor Mount at different times. After holding a position as captain of this company for two years, he was succeeded by John R. Huber. In 1902 he was elected brigadier general of the Uniform Rank of the Catholic Knights of America, under Major General Leo J. Kadeski, of St. Louis, and later held the position for two years under Major General John W. Nordhouse. In 1905 he organized the State Police, Sheriffs, Marshals and Detectives Association, which had its first meeting in Peru, and over three hundred officials attended from all the state, and which is today known as the National Sheriffs Association. Mr. Volpert was also vice president of the Peru Commercial Club.
On November 25th, 1887, Mr. Volpert was married to Mary A. Spitznagel, who was born at Logansport in 1886, and was the daughter of John A. and Gertrude Spitznagel, Mr. Spitznagel being in the wagon manufacturing business in Peru for many years. To Mr. and Mrs. Volpert were born ten children, of whom all survive. £ They are : William John, Francis Casper, , Anna Mary, Lucille Alice, Loretta Clotilda, Fedilis Michael, Clement Edward, Clarence Reuben, Herman Vol. II-13
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Cornelius Joseph, and Mary Agnes Frances. Lucille Alice is a member of the Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary of the Woods, Terre Haute, Indiana, her name in religion being Sister Rose Gertrude. William J. married Miss Adeline Schmool on January 10, 1911.
In 1906 Mr. Volpert was elected sheriff of Miami county, and in 1908 he was re-elected. During those four years he made a record for himself and was known as the best sheriff throughout the country. He has run down criminals, horse thieves, check forgers and chicken thieves, petit and grand larceny, of all kinds. Mr. Volpert was known throughout the country as a criminal catcher, and for thirteen years he has held the position as president of the detective association. Mr. Volpert was president of the Diamond Anniversary of Peru, which was celebrated in 1909.
Mr. Volpert belongs to many social and benevolent organizations and was chairman of the button committee of the National Horse Thief Detective Association. Mr. Volpert belongs to the Knights of Colum- bus, the Catholic Knights of America, Independent Order of Foresters, Peru Maennerchor, German Aid Society, Social Friendship Association, Moose, Horse Thief Detective Association, National Sheriffs Associa- tion, State Police and Detective Association, and Horseshoers Asso- ciation. He is a member and treasurer of The Shoot Course of Lectures. In 1898 he was elected colonel of the Indiana Zouaves under Maj .- Gen. Wertz, the present mayor of Crawfordsville. Mr. Volpert has, while sheriff, been in business under the name of Toepher and Volpert, horse- shoeing and blacksmithing, his partner being George Toepher.
A son, William J. Volpert, took Mr. Volpert's interest while he was sheriff, for a term of four years, and at present Mr. Volpert is engaged in the shop. During the recent flood Mr. Volpert was the first one reported drowned and was also the first one to cross the Wabash river during its height, going to South Peru to assist with his boat, as the South Side had not heard from Peru for three days, and it was a glad surprise to see him, many rushing to him and asking how friends and relatives were.
Miami county has had no more able, efficient, or fearless sheriff, and the universal esteem in which he is held by all whom know him gives ample evidence of his popularity in all sections.
WILLIAM H. GUSTIN. Established in the real estate, loan and in- surance business in the city of Peru, Mr. Gustin has gained secure place as one of the reliable and progressive business men, and liberal and public-spirited citizens of his native county. Further interest attaches to his career by reason of the fact that he is a member of one of the honored pioneer families of this county, within whose borders his parents established their home more than sixty years ago.
William Horace Gustin was born on the home farm in Pipe Creek township, this county, on the 28th of December, 1856, and is one of the four surviving members of a family of ten children. He is a son of John B. and Elizabeth (Dearth) Gustin, both of whom were born and reared in Ohio, in which state their marriage was solemnized. John B. Gustin continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits in his native state until about 1849, when he removed with his family to Indiana and numbered himself among the pioneers of Miami county. He purchased eighty acres of land, in the midst of the forest, and on a clearing made by him he erected his modest log house, which con- stituted the original domicile of the family and which was the abode of comfort and happiness, notwithstanding the primitive conditions of the day and the trials and labors to be endured. In the clearing of his land
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Mr. Gustin availed himself of a yoke of oxen, and his implements were of the rudimentary type common to the pioneer days. He eventually sold his original farm and removed to a smaller tract of land, but later he purchased a farm of one hundred acres, where he continued to reside until his death, in 1887, at the age of sixty-two years. His widow, who has been a devoted companion and helpmeet, survived him by a quarter of a century and was summoned to the life eternal on the 4th of June, 1912. The life of John B. Gustin was unmarked by dramatic incidents, but was one of earnest and consecutive application in connection with the great basic art of agriculture, and as a sincere, earnest and righteous man he merited and received the implicit con- fidence and esteem of his fellow-men. He gained independence and prosperity through well-ordered industry, was kindly and considerate to all, and had abiding faith in the intrinsic worth of his fellow-men until the same was abused in individual instances. Without enmity or intolerance, he lived a simple and earnest life and he left the priceless heritage of a good name. Both he and his wife were zealous and con- sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The boyhood and youth of William H. Gustin were compassed by the influences and labors of the pioneer farm and he thus early learned the dignity and value of honest toil and endeavor, the while he duly profited by the educational advantages afforded in the district schools. For several years, after leaving the parental roof, he found employment at farm work, and later assumed a position as clerk in a restaurant in Peru. Later he conducted a livery business at Danville, Illinois, for a period of about three years, at the expiration of which he returned to Peru. Here he shortly afterward engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business, to which he has since continued to give his atten- tion and in which he has built up a prosperous enterprise. Through his real estate operations he has done much to further civic and indus- trial progress in his native county, and his fairness and integrity in all of the relations of life have gained and retained to him the confi- dence and good will of those with whom he has come in contact in business and social associations. He is one of the alert and progressive citizens of Peru and takes a lively interest in all that tends to advance the welfare of the community. He is the owner of an appreciable amount of real estate in his home city and county and, though he has manifested no predilection for public office, he has been an active and effective worker in the ranks of the Republican party, in which he has served as chairman of the county central committee of Miami county, a position of which he is the incumbent at the time of this writing, in 1913. Notwithstanding the Democratic victory in the national election of 1912 and the defection of Republicans who entered the ranks of the new-born Progressive party, Mr. Gustin retains abiding faith in the basic principles of the "grand old party," with which he has long been aligned, and believes that its star is destined again to come into ascend- ancy. He is affiliated with the lodge and encampment bodies of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, as well as with the local organiza- tions of the Knights of the Modern Maccabees and the Loyal Order of Moose. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian church in their home city.
On the 14th of October, 1890, Mr. Gustin was united in marriage to Miss Fannie B. Lamme, of Peru, who was at that time a successful and popular teacher in the public schools of the city of Indianapolis and who is a most popular factor in the representative social activities of her home city. The one child of this union is Elba Gertrude, who remains at the parental home.
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EUGENE M. CLARK. Business methods applied to farming have seldom failed to pay large dividends. Mr. Eugene M. Clark of Pipe Creek township is one of the business farmers of his community, and is proprietor and manager of a farm which well illustrated modern farm- ing methods in this section of Miami county. Mr. Clark is a thrifty, prosperous citizen, and is one of the men who give character to the farming communities of this county.
Eugene M. Clark was born in Clay township, Miami county, March 5, 1867. He belongs to one of the old families, his paternal grandfather, Thomas Clark, an Englishman by birth, having come to this county in 1845 from Ohio, and in Clay township entering a tract of land direct from the government ownership. All this land had to be cleared of a heavy growth of timber, which covered practically every acre of it, and in the midst of the first clearing made among the trees was erected the first family habitation, a house of logs. He somewhat later put up the first frame house in that vicinity, and his neighbors were very skeptical about claiming that it would never stand up.
The parents of Mr. Eugene Clark are George W. and Hannah (Herrell) Clark, the mother being a daughter of Isaac Herrell. George W. Clark who is still living at the age of seventy years, while his wife passed away about a year ago, was born in Ohio in 1843, and was con- sequently two years of age when the family moved to Miami county. He remained on the old home farm after the death of his father, and has followed a prosperous career of farming in this county.
Eugene M. Clark was at home until he was twenty-four years of age, and attended the public schools of this county, and passed the first school examination held in the township. He learned the arts of farming on his father's place, and for a time was engaged in working other land which he rented nearby. Subsequently with the accumulation of his thrift, he bought eightly acres south of Bunker Hill, where he lived for about eleven years. He later bought the farm which he now owns in Pipe Creek township. At that time the place was improved with a house and an old barn, but he was practically renovated the entire estab -· lishment, and among other improvements has erected a fine new barn and other buildings. He has also replaced all the fences about the fields. The Clark farm contains eighty acres, and since locating here Mr. Clark has cleared off and placed in cultivation the twelve acres which formerly were in timber, so that the entire acreage is now subject to cultivation. He has made a business of general farming, but at the present time is specializing in the raising of Duroc Jersey hogs.
In 1891 Mr. Clark married Miss Louiese J. Haggerty, whose people came to Miami county from Ohio. The six children born to their mar- riage are named as follows: Agnes May; Donna Alma; George Loren ; Bessie Lucile; Vera Alice, who died when two years of age; and Hallie I. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have taken much pains with the training and education of their children, have supplied them with good home advan- tage, and given them the privileges of the Miami county schools. Mr. Clark and family worship in the Methodist Church and he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, Castle Hall No. 299 at Bunker Hill and the Mongosha Tribe of Red Men No. 267. In politics he is a Republican. His father was a member of the Quaker religion. The pretty homestead of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Clark is known as "Ingleside."
DR. JOHN H. SOMMER, V. S. As the owner and operator of one of the prosperous farms in Perry township, Miami county, Indiana, Dr. John H. Sommer holds an influential place in the community. He has always been a farmer, having been reared on a farm and trained for an
PUGSLEY
"MAPLE LAWN STOCK FARM" RESIDENCE OF DR. AND MRS. JOHN H. SOMMER
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agricultural life as well as a skillful veterinary surgeon. He comes of German ancestry on both sides of the family and the honesty and industry of his ancestral race have been inherited by him. He is a well known and popular man in this community, but has little time to spare for anything but the work of his farm, although he is interested in every movement that has the advancement of the community as its object.
Dr. Sommer is the son of John G. Sommer, and the grandson of John Frederick Sommer. Both his grandfather and father were born in Germany. John G. Sommer came to the United States as a young man, and in Portage county, Ohio, mnet and married Lucinda Glass, a daughter of Peter Glass. They later came to Indiana to live and here in Allen county, near Fort Wayne, on the 2nd of February, 1858, J. H. Sommer was born.
It was in Perry township, in the town of Gilead that Dr. Sommer received his education. He received a fair education there and has since further extended his knowledge by taking correspondence courses. In 1879 he-came with his father to a farm a half mile west of Gilead in Perry township, and here the two men set to work to improve and clear the farm, which contained eighty-four acres. The buildings that stood on the farm at that time are still standing, but Mr. Sommer and his father did much work in making improvements. They dug many rods of ditching and built a great deal of fencing, and here John G. Sommer lived until the time of his death. His widow is still living aged 76 and makes her home on this farm.
Dr. J. H. Sommer made his home on the old farm, aiding his father with the work, until he married. He then rented a farm for a few years, at the end of which time he bought his present farm. This consists of 156 acres, and although the present buildings were all on the place when Mr. Sommer purchased it, there was no ditching and fencing as there is now. In addition to improving the property in this way he has also cleared quite a bit of the land himself. He does general farming.
John G. Sommer was a member of the Lutheran church, but his son belongs to no church though he is a firm believer in religion and attends various churches in the neighborhood.
Dr. Sommer married March 1, 1882, Miss Hattie E. Engelhardt, a daughter of John Engelhardt and Eva (Spangler) Engelhardt. Her parents came from Germany, and they first located in Portage county, Ohio, where Mrs. Sommer was born. Her father was a member of the German Catholic church and died in 1887. Her mother is still living and makes her home in Perry township. Dr. and Mrs. Sommer have two sons. The eldest, Charles Franklin, was born on the 12th of April, 1885. John Frederick, the younger son, was born on the 15th of August, 1887.
Charles F. received his diploma from the public school in 1891, and then was a student four years in the Gilead High School. In addition he took a course of instruction in the School of Correspondence at Washington, D. C. He graduated from the Rochester High School at Rochester, Ind., in 1905. He is one of the efficient teachers in the Gilead High School, at present. He wedded Miss Alma A. Barber April 2, 1905, and they have one son, Claude LeRoy. Mr. Sommer is a member of the Gilead Masonic order and his wife is a member of the Eastern Star.
John Frederick received his diploma from the public schools and was a student in the Gilead High School and then took a full course in banking and bookkeeping in the Huntington Business College, and was bookkeeper for the American Can Co. of Chicago. In 1909 and 1910 he was a student at the Valparaiso University. He also took a special
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Frank Isler received only such educational advantages as were com- mon to the country youth of his time and locality, and he married at the age of twenty-five, soon thereafter renting a farm in Deer Creek town- ship. He lived there for two years, and then, convinced of the desir- ability and productiveness of the place, purchased it. It was a small place, only twenty acres going to make up its breadth at the time, but Mr. Isler soon added ten acres, later taking on another tract of sixty acres, and some four years later adding another ten acres to his hold- ings, until he had an acreage of one hundred acres at his command. The first purchase had a log house upon it, and there they lived for twelve years, but in 1904 he built a fine two story house for the accommodation of his growing family. He also built a capacious barn, 36x70 feet, and has made many another improvement in the place. Six hundred rods of tiling drain the place to a nicety, and five hundred rods of ungraceful and ineffectual rail fencing were replaced with modern wire fencing. The family continued there until November, 1911, when they moved to Bunker Hill. There they bought a lot in a desirable location and built their present comfortable and capacious home. It has nine rooms in all and is regarded as the most modern home in Bunker Hill, boasting as it does, electric lights, furnace heat, perfect water supply, capacious cement basement, etc., and the family derive much comfort from all these conveniences, many of which were not available to them in their days upon the old place in Pipe Creek township.
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