USA > Indiana > Adams County > Standard history of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : An authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume II > Part 13
USA > Indiana > Wells County > Standard history of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : An authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume II > Part 13
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Mr. Maddox was born on his present farm February 25, 1855, a son of Wesley H. and Eliza A. (Groves) Maddox. His grandparents were Michael and Franees (Williams) Maddox, natives of Virginia and of English and Scotch deseent. The Maddox ancestors came to America about the time of the Revolution. Michael Maddox married for his first wife in Virginia Miss Fraley, by whom he was the father of ten chil- dren, and altogether he had eighteen children by two wives. In 1795 he removed to Adams County, Ohio, and still later to Highland County, where he married Frances Williams. In the fall of 1839 he removed with his family to Blackford County, Indiana, settling two miles east of Montpelier. IIe entered a hundred sixty acres in Section 11 of Har- rison township of that county, eleared away a spot in the woods, built a log cabin, and remained a faithful worker and a public spirited resi- dent of that community until his death on September 10, 1845. Ile was a regular worshipper in the Methodist Episcopal faith. His widow moved out to Nebraska in 1866 and died in Richardson County of that state December 10, 1874. She was a very noble woman, deeply inclined to religious work, possessed a great deal of business-like and practical energy, and did well by all her children. These children, all of whom reached maturity, were Polly, Joseph C., Wesley H., William M., Wil- son MI., James J., Eliza A. and Sarah, all of whom are now deceased.
Wesley Harvey Maddox, father of Joseph C., was the founder of the family in Wells County and for many years one of its most highly esteemed citizens. He was horn in Highland County, Ohio, September 2, 1821, and in 1837 at the age of sixteen came to Indiana and joined a brother in Randolph County. A little later he moved to Blackford County, where his parents subsequently joined him, and he was with them until after his father's death. In 1842 he and a half brother bought a hundred sixty acres of land in Seetion 36 of Chester Township, Wells County. It is said that his half brother gave a horse in payment of his share. Wesley H. Maddox did not have a dollar of capital, and he paid for the land by the proceeds of his hunting ability. He caught many coons and killed numerous deer, and in the course of two years
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had his eighty aeres paid for. In 1845 he bought the eighty acres of his half brother. To pay for this he worked at wages of $10 a month or thereabouts for four years in Wayne, Fayette and Union counties. The first home on this farm was a log building 18 by 24 feet, erected by the first occupant, who had settled there in 1841.
After coming to Wells County, Wesley H. Maddox became ac- quainted with the Groves family, and on November 8, 1849, married Eliza Ann Groves, oldest child of Thomas and Ann ( Wilson) Groves. She was a native of Licking County, Ohio. Her parents came to Wells County, Indiana, in 1839, and it is said that they made their home under the wide spreading branches of an oak tree until their log cabin was completed. Thomas Groves, a son of Robert and Susanna Groves, was one of four brothers, Thomas, George, Joseph and Lewis, all of whom came to Wells county and settled near Poneto. Joseph Groves set aside a portion of his farm for a cemetery, and Susanna Groves, who died in 1840, was the first person buried there. Eliza A. Groves was teacher of the first school in Chester Township, and was a woman of much culture and thorough education. She died May 9, 1874. Wesley H. Maddox and wife settled on their farm two weeks after their mar- riage. Their land was in the midst of the heavy timber, only one acre had been cleared, and their joint possessions consisted of a bedstead, a few dishes, two cows and two colts. Mr. Maddox soon made a table out of black walnut, and that was one of his prized possessions for many years, and is now owned by Joseph C. G. Maddox. Wesley Maddox made a living from his farm and from his prowess as a hunter, and his property and prosperity increased until at one time he owned over 300 acres, with more than 200 acres in cultivation. Ile became a republican upon the organization of the party, and filled various places of trust, including that of township trustee. He and his wife had eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity : Leander E., who became a physician and married Mary E. Newman ; Frances A., who married George W. Leach, and she lost her life in the terrible Iroquois Theater fire in Chi- cago in 1903, her daughter, Estella, who was with her at the time, being one of the few who escaped; Joseph C. G., next in age; William M., who married Alice Tribell; Sarah E., wife of Amaziah Shields ; Wesley H., Jr., who married Lulu Shields: and Laura Belle, wife of John E. Markley.
Joseph C. G. Maddox grew up on the old homestead, acquired his early education in the district schools and at Bluffton, and qualifying as a teacher he spent the greater part of his time for fifteen years in that work.
On June 11, 1879, he married Miss Elizabeth O. Dawson, who was born in Nottingham Township of Wells County, and was educated in the common schools. She was only three years of age when her mother died, and her father was George Dawson. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Maddox began keeping house a half mile east of Keystone, but in 1884 he gave up teaching and has since devoted his entire atten- tion to looking after his well cultivated farm in Chester Township. He owns 240 acres, and in addition to building up this fine estate has ample provision for his children in the way of making a good home and giving them a liberal education. Mr. Maddox is a republican in politics and is always ready with his support for any movement that would benefit the community.
Mr. and Mrs. Maddox have three children, Hugh G., Chella D., and J. Glenn. The oldest, Hugh G., was educated in the common schools at Keystone, in the Montpelier High School, and took the law course at the State University, graduating LL. B. in 1908. He is now on the
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farm with his father. He married Carrie B. Steele of Bloomington, In- diana, and has one ehild, Geraldine, born May 3, 1908. Mrs. Hugh G. Maddox died February 25, 1918. Chella D., the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Maddox, is a graduate of the Keystone and Montpelier schools and was awarded the degree Master of Arts by the Indiana State Uni- versity. She is now the wife of Iloward W. Strait, and they live in Chester Township and have two bright young children, J. Lowell and Elizabeth. J. Glenn, the youngest child, is a graduate of the Keystone High School, and married Shirley A. Gaiser. Their two children are Gaiser and Eulonda.
CLEM ROOK. Among the numerous examples of successful farm en- terprise in Wells County one that deserves more than passing mention is the Elm Line Stock Farm, of which Clem Rook is proprietor. This farm is situated a mile south and a half mile west of Keystone on Rural Route No. 2. It is not one of the largest farms in the country, com- prising eighty aeres, but is undoubtedly one of the best managed and most productive for its size. Mr. Rook is a specialist in stock raising. The Elm Line Stoek Farm is every year gaining increased reputation as the home of some of the best grades of stoek in the county. Mr. Rook has a very fine herd of Duroe hogs, and his herd is headed by one of the best males of the class, of the Chief Defender strain. He has good grades of cattle and horses, and is also a breeder and faneier of the Single Comb Rhode Island Red poultry.
Mr. Rook has made a success in life by strenuous self-exertion. He was born in Blackford County, Indiana, July 9, 1881, son of Charles and Catherine (Markins) Rook. When he was seven years of age both his parents died and as an orphan boy he was reared in the home of an unele. While there he attended common schools only in the winter ses- sion and was employed in various tasks both while in school and especially during the summer seasons. At the age of sixteen he left his unele's home and went to work on his own resources. Two years he worked in the oil fields.
On December 24, 1904, Mr. Rook married Miss Laura Hiestand. She was born on a farm in Nottingham Township of Wells County, daughter of John and Nettie (Stephens) Hiestand. Her father was a native of Springfield and her mother of Adams County, Indiana. Both now reside in Adams County. Mr. and Mrs. Rook had very little capital when they married, and they began housekeeping at Dunkirk, Indiana, where he worked on a farm. Later he rented a place near Redkey, In- diana, and subsequently moved to the MeCaffery farm in Chester Town- ship of Wells County. Here they continued renting for eight years, but in the meantime after four years they were able to buy the farm that is now known as the Elm Line Stoek Farm. For several years Mr. Rook conducted both the rented place and his own land, and on Novem- ber 5, 1914, came to his present home. The land of Elm Line Stoek Farm was largely in the woods when he took possession, and its im- provements are evidence of his thrifty and industrious ownership.
Mr. and Mrs. Rook have one daughter, Dorothy, born September 17, 1905, and now a student in the Keystone school. The family are mem- bers of the Catholic Church at Montpelier and in politics Mr. Rook is a demoerat.
AMOS R. WILLIAMS took the lead in organizing the Bank of Petroleum and has been its president from the time it opened its doors for busi- ness on December 22, 1908. He has made this one of the sound and
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substantial banking institutions of Wells County, and his associates are all prominent men in this section.
Mr. Williams has for many years been one of the leading farmers of Nottingham Township, and his place of 200 acres has often been spoken of as a model of agricultural management and improvement.
Mr. Williams was born on a farm in Nottingham Township Decem- ber 1, 1849, a son of James S. and Harriet (Bolenger) Williams. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Ohio. James S. Williams accompanied his widow mother to Pickaway County, Ohio, when he was very young, and grew to manhood in circumstances that forced him at an early age to earn his own living. He married in Pick- away County, farmed there for two years afterwards, and in 1847 brought his family to Wells County, Indiana, settling in section 1 of Nottingham Township. He had no property at the time, but his wife inherited forty acres and through industry and good management James S. Williams earned the money to buy forty adjoining acres. All of that was in the woods, but he kept steadily at work until it was under cultivation, and in time he became one of the extensive land owners of the township, with over 300 acres under his control. He died at the old homestead September 14, 1901, and his widow passed away in 1906. He was active in the United Brethren Church and in politics was a republican. The children were named Martha, George, Amos R., Mary, Emma, Sarah, Frank, Ada and Ida, twins, Hiram, Thomas S., John, Alice and Amanda. Seven of these are still living.
Amos R. Williams grew up on the old home farm in Nottingham Township, and acquired his early education in the district schools. At the age of twenty-one he entered the lumber industry, acquiring a third interest in a sawmill with his brother, George, and with Henry Kirk- wood. In three or four years Amos R. Williams became sole proprietor of the mill, but a little later traded the milling property for eighty acres in section 9 of Nottingham Township. A small part of this had been cleared, and there were no other improvements beyond a small frame house and an old log barn. With the exception of two years spent in Bluffton for the purpose of recovering his health, Mr. Williams gave all the strength of his body and the intelligence of his mind to the im- provement and management of his farm, for many years, and few men of the county have been more prosperous as farmers. He erected a splendid barn in 1893 and in 1897 built one of the finest country homes of the county. Though now a resident of Petroleum, Mr. Williams still keeps in close touch with his varied farming interests.
On March 25, 1875, Mr. Williams married Miss Mary Kirkwood, danghter of William and Susan (Gehrett) Kirkwood, both natives of Ohio and early settlers of Wells County. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Williams, namely : Oliver J., born March 27, 1876, and died September 3, 1877; William A., born March 11, 1878; John F., born November 20, 1879, died August 2, 1880; Verne, born August 4. 1881; Pearl, born November 3, 1883: Delbert, born September 15, 1885; Clem. horn April 28, 1887; Samuel, horn September 11, 1889 ; and Anna, born September 3, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Williams gave their children the best of advantages in the local schools and most of them are established now in homes of their own. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is one of the church trustees. He has filled all the chairs in Lodge No. 752 of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows at Poneto, and in polities is a stanch republican.
JOHN C. DAWLEY. The successful farmer of today must be able to carry on his enterprise with close calculation and scientific manage-
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ment and because of their ability to do so, many of the agriculturists of Wells County have become practically independent. Among the prosperous agriculturists of Chester Township is John C. Dawley, whose richly cultivated farm of forty acres presents proof of careful tillage and judicious farm methods.
John C. Dawley may almost be called a native of Wells County, Indiana, as his entire life, with the exception of a few months in infancy, has been passed here. He was, however, born in Highland County, Ohio, June 11, 1851. His parents were William A. and Malinda ( Pan- nel) Dawley. His father was of New England ancestry and was born in Vermont, and his mother was a native of Ohio, in which state they were married in 1850. In December, 1851, they came to Wells County, Indiana, and settled in Nottingham Township and spent the rest of their lives here. They were most worthy people and consistent members of the Christian Church. They had five children born to them and three of these are living, namely: John C .; James F., who is a farmer in Jay County, Indiana; Amanda J., who is the wife of Jeremiah Smith, a farmer in Oklahoma.
John C. Dawley was reared in Nottingham Township. When old enough he started to go to school and well remembers the old school- house of logs located not far from his father's farm, a very different building from the one in which his own children were educated. He has been a farmer all his life and until he was twenty-one years old worked by the month at farm labor, and thus had good practical train- ing for the future when he had his own farm to manage.
Mr. Dawley was married to Miss Barbara Poulson, in Wells County, and they had three children: Martha J., who is the wife of William Keene of Chester Township; James H .; and Rosetta, who is the wife of Austin Lewis. The mother of these children died when they were young and Mr. Dawley's second marriage was to Miss Bashaba Jarrett. To this marriage the following children were born : John W .; Mary E., who is the wife of Lawrence Penrod ; and Flossie W. and M. W., both of whom live with their parents.
For many years Mr. Dawley has been prominent in republican polities in Wells County and has served with the utmost efficiency in public offices. For five years he was assessor of Chester township and otherwise has been capable in public matters. He is widely known and has a host of personal friends. This fact was proved when his party nominated him for the office of sheriff of Wells county and in the elec- tion he eut the normal democratic majority of 1,800 to 500 votes.
OLIVER F. TATE. One of the representative citizens and prosperous agriculturists of Wells County is Oliver F. Tate, whose valuable farm is situated on section 16. Chester Township. Mr. Tate was born on this place, October 20, 1858. His parents were John and Cynthia (Beason) Tate.
Many of the leading families of Indiana originated in Virginia and there John Tate, the father, was born in 1835 and came from there in early manhood to Wayne County, Indiana. Here he was married to Cynthia Beason, who was born in this county August 28, 1841. After marriage they moved to Wells County, and here John Tate, in 1857, hought forty acres of land located near Chester Center, in Chester Township. Ile immediately began to improve his property but his work was interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil war. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until incapacitated by wounds, at Helena, Arkansas, in 1863.
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There were two children in the family : Oliver F. and Jane, who is the widow of Charles Beavington of Warren, Indiana.
Oliver F. Tate had comparatively few advantages of any kind in boyhood, for life was hard on the pioneer farm while the father was away serving and suffering for his country. He went to school as op- portunity offered until he was thirteen years old, and then started out to face the world for himself. Ile fortunately found plenty of farmers willing to employ a strong, vigorons, industrious boy, and until he was twenty years old he worked in Wells County and then visited some of the western states. He remained away for about two years, but in his travels found no place that suited him better than the old home neigh- borhood, and came back and in the fall of 1883 settled on his present farm. He has 106 acres in Chester Township, all the result of his own industry, and has made improvements that render his property very valuable. He carries on a general farming line and raises some good stock.
Mr. Tate was married on November 9, 1882, to Miss Emma Helm, who was born, reared and educated in Randolph County, Indiana. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Tate settled first in Jackson Township, but sub- sequently moved to Chester Township. The following children have been born to them: Lnla, who is a graduate of the Keystone High School; John, who was graduated from the public schools and then entered the regular army of the United States, with rank of quarter- master-sergeant, and has served in the Philippine Islands and on the Mexican border, a young man well deserving the military honors that have come to him ; Benjamin, who is the home farmer, his father's right hand man; Edna, who has completed the common school course; and Hugh, who is a student in the Keystone High School.
Mr. Tate is an active and influential factor in county politics, a republican leader to some extent. He has served as school director and as deputy township assessor and also has been a delegate to both state and congressional conventions.
EDWARD S. WOLFE. A substantial farmer and breeder of high grade horses in Nottingham Township, Wells County, is Edward S. Wolfe, who devotes himself mainly to his agricultural interests at present, but for many years was identified with the oil industry in Indiana and Ohio. Few men know more thoroughly the past and present history of that natural product in relation to this section of the state.
Edward S. Wolfe was born in Jay County, Indiana, July 20, 1867. His parents were J. N. and Hannah L. (Lacy) Wolfe. Both parents were natives of Ohio and they were married in Wells County, Indiana, bnt located first in Jay County, from there coming to Wells County, when Edward S. was thirteen years old. He assisted his father and remained at home until he was about twenty-five years of age, in the meanwhile attending the district schools until about the age of nineteen.
After his marriage, in 1892, Mr. Wolfe rented the L. P. Walser farm near Domestic, which he operated for two years and then went to work in the oil fields and was connected with an outfit there until 1894, when he became foreman of the Dunmore Oil Company and con- tinued with that concern for three years. Mr. Wolfe by that time had learned much and had had valuable experience and decided to go into the business for himself. He purchased a string of tools and for the following eighteen years followed oil contracting both in Indiana and Ohio. In 1899 the Wolfe oil lease was opened and he and his father became producers and he operated the well until the oil was all pumped out. Since then Mr. Wolfe has been engaged as above mentioned, hav-
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ing a valuable farm of seventy-five acres near Domestie, and owning a one-half interest in the Three Mile Stock Farm, where a specialty is made of breeding thorough-bred Percheron horses.
Mr. Wolfe was married October 27, 1892, to Miss Anna Settle, the eldest daughter of Winfield S. and Elizabeth ( Albertson) Settle, a fam- ily of much importance in Nottingham township. Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe have had two children, the one survivor being Sadie, who was born August 20, 1893. She is the widow of Earl Barton and has one child, Frances L., who has passed her fifth birthday and is a precious treasure in the home of her grandparents.
In politics Mr. Wolfe is a republican, but his life has been so closely devoted to business that he has not had much opportunity, even if he had the inelination, to be very active in politics. Ile is not an indifferent citizen, however, being always interested in movements that will benefit his seetion, and has always been liberal in contributing to the cause of charity.
HOMER E. ROBISON, D. D. S. The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose snecess has been worthily achieved and whose prom- inence is not the less the result of an irreproachable life than of natural talents and acquired ability in the field of his chosen labor. Dr. Robison occupies a position of distinction as a representative of the dental pro- fession in Bluffton and the best evidence of his capability in the line of his chosen work is the large patronage which is accorded him. He is associated in practice with his father, an old and reliable dentist in this city, and the firm is known as Robison & Robison.
Dr. Homer E. Robison was born in Bluffton, Indiana, February 9, 1877, and he is a son of Dr. P. L. and Willametta ( Merriman) Robison, the former of whom was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and the latter in Whitley County, Indiana. The Robison family, origin- ally from Scotland, was founded in America in the old colonial era of our national history by John Robison, great-great-grandfather of Dr. Robison of this review. He came to this country and settled in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, where he married Barbara Dumbauld. He was a loyal and patriotic citizen and served throughout the period of the War of the Rev- olution. He and his wife were the parents of one son, John, whose birth occurred in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, October 30, 1785. In 1803 John Robison married Catherine Weimer and to them were born eight children, of whom William W. was the youngest son; he was born in 1824 and in 1847 married Sophia Eicher. To them were born four chil- dren, two of whom died in infancy. Concerning the other two, Catherine became the wife of William C. Williamson of Kanorado, Kansas, where she died September 22, 1917, and Peter Lohr is the father of Homer E.
William W. Robison purchased the old homestead in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and lived on it until 1859, when he sold it and came to Indiana, locating in Union Township, Adams County. He was engaged in farming operations for a time and then studied for the ministry and was ordained a Baptist preacher. He had charge of the Baptist Church at Bluffton for a period of thirteen years and went thence to Columbia City, where he remained three years. In March, 1880, he accepted a call to Auburn, Crawford County, Ohio, and there his cherished and devoted wife died April 13, 1881. He was summoned to eternal rest in 1898.
Dr. Peter Lohr Robison was six years of age when his parents located in the Hoosier State. He was educated in the publie schools of Adams County and Springfield Academy. In 1871 he engaged in the grocery business in Bluffton. Shortly afterward he went to Kenton, Ohio, and there studied dentistry. March 29, 1874, he returned to Bluffton, here
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initiating the work of his profession as a partner of Dr. Thomas Sturgis, under the firm name of Sturgis & Robison. Poor health, however, com- pelled him to discontinue his dental practice and thereafter he was engaged at different kinds of work until 1879. In that year he again entered upon the active practice of his profession as a member of the firm of Robison & Merriman. This alliance continned for two years and after that Dr. Robison practiced alone, until the year 1900. In the latter year he associated with himself his son, Dr. Homer E. Robison, whose name forms the caption for this review. Dr. Peter L. Robison is well known throughout Bluffton and Wells County as an exemplary citizen and as a strictly reliable and skillful dentist. He is a member, deacon and trustee of the Baptist Church and is chairman of the county Sunday School Committee. His political adherence is with the democratic party and he has long been active in local polities. For two terms he served with marked efficiency as city clerk of Bluffton and he is enthusiastic in his support of all matters projected for the good of the general welfare. May 18, 1875, Dr. Robison married Miss Willametta Merriman, a daugh- ter of Dr. Merriman, of South Whitley, Indiana. Dr. and Mrs. Robison have two children : Homer E. and Nellie, the latter of whom is the wife of Cairo Snider, of Marion, Indiana.
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