USA > Indiana > Wabash County > History of Wabash County, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 14
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Mr. Lynn's beloved wife and helpmeet played well her part all her days, bearing her full share in the development of the community, uncomplainingly and cheerfully. She reared her family of ten children as best she might, teaching them all she knew of books, and by example and precept instilling into their young minds and hearts those principles of honor and uprightness that had marked her own and her husband's lives, and rearing them in a reverence of God that helped to make of each of them useful and valuable citizens.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Lynn were of the Methodist faith, but in later life, in order to be convenient to a house of worship, they united with the Presbyterian church, and continued among its members to the end of their days. Mr. Lynn was one of those delightfully old fashioned men, whose like one never sees today, and he was always a power for good in his community. He was a man of fine character, honest from principle, and generous in thought, word and deed, with a high sense of honor and a just regard always for the rights and privileges of others. He was ever a neighborly neighbor, and an honest, God-fearing man.
Of the ten children of Mr. and Mrs. Lynn, six are now living, and five of them are living in Wabash county homes.
Of these children, Frank Lynn was born in the log cabin home of the family on October 12, 1844. He had but few opportunities for edu- cation, but was one with a natural gift for learning, and was always a great reader and a keen observer, thus adding much to the meager train- ing afforded to him in boyhood. He was reared on the home farm, and when yet a boy he began to launch out independently, starting as a cattle buyer in a small way. Later he went into the work extensively, and for nearly forty-four years he followed that business. During his activities in that enterprise, he visited not only every nook and cranny of his native county, but of Grant, Huntington and Miami counties as well. During these years he lived on the old farm and carried on activ- ities as a farmer, and to the present day he is in charge of the opera- tions on his farm lands, comprising 172 acres. He has long had a wide acquaintance in the county, and it has been said of him that he could call more people in Wabash county by their Christian names than could any other individual in the county. He still has an enormous ac- quaintance, and has long been prominent here.
Mr. Lynn is a republican, and he has held certain public offices, among them being treasurer of Wabash county, in which he served four years and four months. He was elected to that office in 1894, and since that time has maintained his residence in this city.
On January 30, 1886, Mr. Lynn was married to Miss Margaret Hittle, a daughter of John and Adeline (Kendall) Hittle. She was. born in Liberty township, on August 2, 1848, and to them have been born three children. Oliver, the eldest born, died in early manhood; Lou Anne married Elias Scott and became the mother of three children : Oliver Lynn Scott, Kittie Bernice and Mary Adeline, deceased. After
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the death of Mr. Scott on August 27, 1903, Mrs. Scott married Dr. N. T. Hale and lives in Eustis, Nebraska. Ella, the third child of Mr. and Mrs. Lynn, resides at home.
The family are members of the Presbyterian church, and are active in the various branches of the good works of that organization.
JOHN HITTLE. Sixteen years have passed since John Hittle passed from earthly life to his reward, but his genial personality is well remem- bered in and about Wabash today. He was, undoubtedly, one of the best known men in Wabash county for a great many years, and he was one who enjoyed the kindly regard and esteem of all. He was a native son of the state, born in Rush county, Indiana, in 1823, and he was a son of Isaac and Margaret Ilittle.
John Hittle came of farming people, and he was reared on a farm, learning the trade of a blacksmith when a young man, and for many years carrying on that occupation. IIe married Adeline Kendall on December 4, 1842, when he was scarce twenty years of age, and three years later came to Wabash county, locating eight miles southeast of Wabash on the LaFontaine pike. There he erected a shop and followed blacksmithing and farming during the greater part of his life, while for twenty years he kept the toll gate on the LaFontaine pike. There he came into contact with the rank and file of the citizenship of the county, and made acquaintance with all in the genial and kindly manner that was characteristic of him and pleasing to the public.
Both Mr. Hittle and his wife were devout Baptists, and like many another old pioneer, he was noted all his days for his uprightness of character, for his many neighborly qualities and for the universal esteem in which he and his faithful wife were ever held.
To them were born six children, all of whom died in infancy except- ing one daughter,-Margaret, the wife of Frank Lynn, of Wabash. Mr. Hittle died on March 9, 1897, having outlived his wife by a number of years. She died on April 17, 1881, and like her beloved partner in life, she is still mourned by the many people hereabout that knew her.
JESS BRAXTON HIGGINS, M. D. One of the leading physicians of Wabash county is Dr. Higgins of Lagro. He has practiced medicine in this county for the past eight years, and his qualifications and experi- ence has been such as to give him a well deserved leadership in the medi- cal fraternity of this locality. Dr. Higgins is a son of a former prom- inent physician of Miami county, and represents the third generation of the family residence in this section of the state.
The founder of the name in Indiana was Jess Higgins, who was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1806, and was of English extrac- tion. On December 27, 1841, he married Ann M. Rodebaugh, who was born at Albany, New York. In 1846 Jess Higgins and wife came to Indiana and became early residents of the city of Peru. He was a miller by trade, and his first occupation was the management of the old Peru Mills. Subsequently he was a real estate dealer, and from 1858
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to 1860 served as deputy treasurer of Miami county. He had a prom- inent place in local affairs, served as mayor of Peru, and held various other positions of trust and responsibility. His death occurred Janu- ary 17, 1879. He and his wife had five children. The late Dr. Carter B. Higgins, father of the Lagro physician, was born in Preble county, Ohio, December 15, 1843, and was the oldest child of his parents. He lived in Miami county from the time he was three years of age, and his education at the Peru high school was supplemented by study in Earlham College at Richmond, and when eighteen years old took up the study of medicine in the offices of Drs. Constant and Walker at Peru. In October, 1865, he became a student in the Rush Medical College at Chicago, and was graduated Doctor of Medicine in 1866. His first practice was at Peru in association with Dr. Walker, under whom he had previously studied. Their relationship continued until 1869, when Dr. Higgins moved to Rochester, Indiana, but soon afterwards returned to Peru, and was in active practice there until his death in 1894. He was regarded as one of the ablest men in his profession in Miami county. He served as secretary of the Miami County Medical Society, was hon- ored with the office of treasurer in the State Medical Society, and be- longed to the American Medical Association. For some years he was surgeon in charge to the Wabash Railway Hospital at Peru. On January 22, 1868, Dr. Higgins married Sarah E. Jay, of Miami county, a daughter of Thomas Jay. After the death of her husband Mrs. Higgins lived with her son Dr. Higgins of Lagro, and her death on December 26, 1911, was the result of an accident which befell her while she was driving across the railway tracks on her way home. There were three children in the family : Clara, Dr. Jess B., and Alice. The late Dr. Higgins was a member of the Masonic order, and was held in high esteem in his com- munity in every relation, either as a physician or as a citizen.
Dr. Jess Braxton Higgins was born February 24, 1878, at Peru in Miami county. He grew up in that county, attended the public schools at Peru, and for five years was a student in the Howe Military Academy in Howe, Indiana. Following the example of his honored father, he determined upon medicine as his vocation, and entered the Fort Wayne College of Medicine, and at the end of four years, in 1901, received his degree from that school. His practice was begun at Lagro in the same year, but at the end of three years he moved back to his home town of Peru, and remained in practice there five years. Dr. Higgins in 1909 again located at Lagro, and has since built up a large and prosperous business. His office and residence are near the St. Patrick's Catholic church, of which he is a member.
On September 9, 1903, Dr. Higgins married Miss Elizabeth O'Rourke, a daughter of Patrick and Mary O'Rourke, both now deceased and form- erly well known farming people of Lagro township.
REV. CHARLES LITTLE, D. D., LL. D. The old aphorism which tells us that gentle words and kind deeds live forever is one which not only inspirits the mind with its beauty, but its truth is brought home to us
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so often and so forcibly that at times it renders comfort that we do not feel. All men who have been so abundantly endowed with that most precious of human attributes-love for their fellowmen-are fully reim- bursed for their self-sacrifice, their generosity and their benevolence; for their submissiveness and obedience to the mandates of the Deity. This truism has been abundantly exemplified during the lifetime of the Rev. Charles Little. At the time of this writing (1914), for forty-two years pastor of the Presbyterian church at Wabash, he has accomplished incon- ceivable good and lightened numerous burdens worldly and spiritual, and has been content to reap the harvest of brotherly love, rather than hoard sordid accumulations.
Dr. Little was born in Granville, Ohio, December 1, 1845, a son of Rev. Jacob and Ann (Thompson) Little, natives, respectively, of New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. He grew up amid Christian surround- ings, and received his early scholastic training in the public and private schools of his native town, this being supplemented by a brief course at Dennison University. Following this he took the complete course of four years at Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio, and after teaching school for two years in the public institutions of that city, took a three years' theological course in Lane Theological Seminary, Cincinnati, where he was graduated in May, 1872. In the fall of that year, Mr. Little was called to the pastorate of the Presbyterian church at Wabash, and has since been continuously retained in this position.
On April 14, 1879, Mr. Little was united in marriage with Miss Annie L. Thurston, daughter of the late W. K. Thurston of Wabash, and to this union there have been born the following children: George T., a resident of New York City; Robert, a minister of the Presbyterian faith holding a pastorate at Newcastle, Pennsylvania; and Mary T., who is residing at home with her parents. For thirty-five years Mr. Little had been state clerk of the Presbytery of Muncie, and for twenty years had held a like position in the Synod of Indiana, resigning these positions in 1910. In that year he was elected moderator of the Presbyterian Gen- eral Assembly, in the United States of America, at Atlantic City, New Jersey, having also served one year in the capacity of moderator of the Synod of Indiana. He has borne his preferment well, and has earned the love and respect everywhere of those with whom he has come in contact. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Western College of Oxford, Ohio.
GEORGE NORMAN KING, whose name and life were for years identi- fied with public and private interests of Wabash, was born near Akron, Summit county, Ohio, December 20, 1833. He was brought to Wabash county, Indiana, by his parents, Peter and Elizabeth (Byers) King, in 1841, the family settling one and one-half miles south of the city on a farm. In 1855, having grown up to agricultural pursuits and secured his education in the Wabash county district schools, he came to the city of Wabash, and, with Messrs. Bruner, Haas and King, engaged in the hardware business. This firm was succeeded by Bruner & King in 1858,
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and five years later by King & McNamee, which continued until 1876, when Mr. King retired from the firm and with J. W. Busick and Thomas McNamee organized the Wabash County Bank. He was the first vice- president of this concern, and continued to be connected therewith until the time of his death.
Such, in outline, is a review of the career of a man who impressed his personality forcibly upon the community in which he lived and labored so long. Coming to Wabash a poor country youth with the sole assets of a determined spirit and a willingness to work, characteristics which were to be found in many of his fellow pioneers in the commercial world of Wabash county, his career was no rose-strewn path. Each step that he advanced meant the overcoming of obstacles, yet his make-up was such that he was able to cope with the fierce competition that marked the growth and development of this section, and to emerge triumphant from the struggle. Among his business associates he was known as a man in whom could be placed the utmost confidence and who had all the essential qualities for leadership. He had a commendable faith in his own abilities, yet he was quick to recognize another's worth and to give credit where credit was due. No important movement calculated to further the advancement of the community was considered complete until it had secured his support and cooperation, and rare it was that he withheld his support from progressive measures of any kind. He was interested in public affairs, but only insofar as they affected the interests of his community, for he was never a politician. He was very fond of travel, and in 1874 made an extended trip to California, this being followed, in 1878, by a four-months' tour of Europe. On February 6, 1897, when occurred his death, there closed a life which woven into the warp and wool of Wabash county's citizenship made its texture firmer, stronger and brighter.
George N. King married Maria M. Maloney, a native of Dublin, Ireland. She came to Wabash county, Indiana, as a child with her par- ents. Mr. King is survived by his widow and two children, Mrs. Nellie Snavelly and George Lincoln King, of Los Angeles, California.
WILL KNOWLES SNAVELLY. High on the roll of Wabash county's native sons who have achieved distinction in the legal profession is found the name of Will Knowles Snavelly, who, at the time of his death, June 11, 1904, was serving as chief clerk in the United States Marshal's office at Indianapolis, although his home was in Wabash. He was born in the latter city, October 31, 1851, a son of A. B. Snavelly, and when a young man entered the county clerk's office as a deputy, serving as such from 1877 to 1894, under different clerks. During this time he had devoted himself to the study of law, and in 1894 was admitted to the bar, his subsequent large practice being principally built up by his work in the probate court. For some time he had acted in the capacity of chief clerk in the United States Marshal's office at India- napolis, under H. C. Pettit, and was so employed when claimed by death. On January 22, 1889, Mr. Snavelly was married to Miss Nellie King,
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daughter of George Norman King, and to this union there was born one daughter, Phoebe Snavelly, May 1, 1892.
JACOB HEGEL. One of the truly strong men of his community and times was the late Jacob Hegel, who died in August, 1910. An early settler of Lagro township, he advanced from the position of day laborer to one of independence and influence. He contrived to prosper, always by industry, frugality and honesty, and left a name which deserves last- ing memory among his descendants. Wabash county had no more ster- ling type of the German-American citizen than Jacob Hegel.
He was born April 3, 1826, in the town of Wittenberg, Prussia. His father, Christopher Hegel, was born in the same village about 1786, and as a young man sold goods over a large territory from a pack carried on his back, and from that modest start built up a large trade and event- ually became one of the most prosperous men in his home community. He possessed a good education and had a remarkable memory, and died at the age of seventy-seven years. He lived in the time of Napoleon and often told his children stories of the great Emperor, whose face and figure and whose feats he well remembered. Christopher Hegel mar- ried Catherine Hummel, who was born in Wittenberg in 1788 and died in 1846. They were devout members of the Lutheran church, and were of a class of people in the middle rank, enjoying the respect and confidence of those above them and exercising an influence for good among all their friends and neighbors.
The youngest of the family and the last surviving of eleven children, Jacob Hegel, received an excellent education as a young man in prepa- ration for life. His father was a strict disciplinarian and kept all the children at their studies or some useful occupation. When he was eigh- teen Jacob entered the agricultural college at Wittenberg, an experi- mental school founded and conducted under the auspices of the King of Prussia. At the end of two years he received his diploma, and almost immediately was appointed to take charge of the estate belonging to Duke Norman. In that capacity he had a large corps of subordinates working under him, and successfully managed the estate for two years. That was during the revolution of 1848, and he had some exciting ex- periences. At one time it was reported that the rebels were crossing the Rhine with the intention of burning the ducal buildings and destroy- ing all the property they could find. The duke was at that time con- fined in his bed as a result of an accident and was consequently unable to marshal his forces and prepare for resistance. The chief responsi- bility thus devolved upon Jacob Hegel, who at once took command and directed that a couch should be prepared, on which the duke was carried to a nearby village and placed in safety. Then returning to the castle he hid the silver and other articles of family value under the floor, and by his promptness and vigilance saved all the property and earned the lasting gratitude of the duke.
Early in 1849 Jacob Hegel resigned his position in Germany and set out for America. On his way he passed through the city of Strass-
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burg, went across France, and sailed from Havre on a sailing vessel which was forty-four days between Havre and New York city. He did not remain in New York, and was soon in Philadelphia, and from there went to Pittsburg. It indicates the state of railroad transportation at the time that for several miles after leaving Philadelphia the car on which he rode was pulled by horse power, and he also rode a portion of the distance over the old canal across the mountains, the canal boats being operated by horses on the towpath. He visited Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there took a boat up the tributary river to Dayton, and finally located in Preble county, Ohio. There he found work on a farm at ten dollars a month, followed his employment during the summer, and in the fall of 1849 came to Wabash county. Thereafter until his death, a period of nearly sixty years, he continued to be identified by residence with this county. While he possessed an excellent education and con- siderable business experience and training, he had many handicaps to overcome, and one was his lack of knowledge of the English language, which he mastered after coming to Wabash county. His employment at monthly wages continued until 1853, when he bought eighty acres of raw woodland. This he began to clear, and each season saw his fields being extended and the area of the wilderness diminished. In the course of time he became one of the substantial farmers of Lagro township, and practically witnessed every phase of the development of that section from its primitive condition. During the first years of his residence there, modern pike highways were unknown, and railroads either steam or electric were still in the distance of progress. The farmers grew their crops more for home consumption than for market, since it was a heavy and costly undertaking to carry produce to the restricted centers of trade. By hard work Jacob Hegel accumulated a place of about one hundred and sixty acres, all of it well improved farm land measuring up to the high standards of Lagro township, and his comforts and methods of living increased with his prosperity. The first home in which he lived was a log cabin, and its original frame work was from time to time remodelled and improved and eventually became a comfort- able modern dwelling.
Jacob Hegel was twice married. In 1853 he married Miss Eliza Bender, and they started together to win their portion of independence as farmers of Wabash county. To their marriage were born two chil- dren. Mary, now Mrs. Andrew Werst; and Tena. The mother of these children died March 15, 1863, and the 29th of the following December he married Miss Mary Bitzer. She was born in Lagro township Decem- ber 20, 1842, and her parents came from Wittenberg, Germany, her father at the age of twenty-one and her mother when thirteen, and were married in this country. Her father died in 1881 at the age of seventy, and her mother lived to be more than eighty years of age. Mrs. Hegel, while American born, had a fluent command of both the German and English languages. To their marriage were born seven children: John; William; Lydia, widow of Samuel Bechtold; Charles F .; Reuben A .; Harry H .; and Loretta.
Mr. and Mrs. Hegel were both strong and active members of the
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Evangelical Association, which erected two church edifices in Lagro township, one in 1864 and the second in 1893. Mr. Hegel and wife con- tributed liberally to the construction of each church. He served as chairman of the board of trustees when the church was built and con- tinued in that office for many years. He also was Sunday school super- intendent. In politics a non-partisan, he believed it was one's duty to support good men regardless of party ties. His opinion was that a truly good man would not hurt the interests entrusted to his charge, no matter what his party affiliations might be.
CHARLES F. HEGEL. A substantial German-American stock estab- lished in Wabash county more than sixty years ago by the late Jacob Hegel is now represented by one of Lagro's most prominent business. Charles F. Hegel, who is president of the Citizens State Bank, is presi- dent and treasurer of the Lagro Hardware Company, Inc., and owner of a valuable farm of one hundred acres northwest of Columbia City.
Charles F. Hegel was born on his father's farm in Lagro township, four and a half miles northeast of Lagro, in January, 1875. The first twenty-one years of his life were spent in the community where he was born, and while he attended district schools he also had his full share of duties at home, and idleness was never conspicuous at any point of his career. From the district schools he also entered and took a course in the Normal College at Terre Haute. His business career has been one of constant progress. Two years were spent in the city of Wabash employed in the coating department of a paper mill; he then clerked at Lagro in the hardware store of Todd & Son about four years, and at the end of that time, having a thorough business training, he and Leon- ard M. Tyner bought the stock from the Todds. As Hegel and Tyner they did business for nine years, and in August, 1913, sold out to Wil- liam Raupfer of Columbia city. Six days after this sale was effected, the Lagro Hardware Company was organized, and then bought the stock of goods from Mr. Raupfer. In 1913 the Lagro Press had this to say about the new business: "The Lagro Hardware Company is the title of Lagro's new business firm and is composed of Messrs. D. W. Gillespie, Chas. Hegel, Roy Pinkerton and Chas. Fall. These gentlemen on last Friday purchased the entire stock of the Hegel & Tyner firm, lately purchased by W. E. Raupfer of Columbia city. Every member of the new firm are men well known in the community, and we can feel justly proud that they will carry on the business established years ago by Hegel & Tyner. The old firm did the largest implement business in this section of the country, and it is the intention of the new firm to branch out and work for a larger business, and as every one is a hustler, there is no reason why they cannot accomplish much. Messrs. Pinkerton and Fall will locate here as soon as they can secure houses, and will jump right into the harness. Chas. Hegel has been appointed manager, and with the assistance of the other members of the firm will soon establish a business second to none in the county."
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