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 15
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 15
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
A short time after Mr. and Mrs. Blue had begun housekeeping, a Baptist minister named Joseph Meredith, came out from Bluffton and
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asked Mr. Blue if he did not want to be elected county surveyor. Mr. Blue answered the question in the affirmative, but his wife promptly said no. However, Mr. Blue and the visitor were in the majority and overruled her objections. The little log house of the Blue family con- tained only one room. Mr. Blue disliked to ask his guest to step out- side while he changed his elothes so taking his better garments under his arm he retired to the cornfield nearby and soon returned trans- formed into a candidate for publie favor. He borrowed a horse of a neighbor and started out with Mr. Meredith, who introduced him to the people and made a canvass for his election. The first point they stopped at was Rockford, after which they went through Bluffton and on to Newville. After this electioneering Mr. Blue returned home and at election day he was chosen by a large majority. That was in 1867. His commission as surveyor bore the signature of Governor Oliver P. Mor- ton. At that time the county was fast settling up and the demand for surveying was great. So he was during the first summer called into almost every section of the county and in that way during his four years of office became acquainted with practically every resident. Toward the elose of his four year term a friend from over in Jackson Township urged him to become a candidate for the office of county auditor. He was put on the democratic ticket of 1870, and was elected. thus stepping from one county office into the other. Mr. Blue has always felt ex- tremely grateful to the people of Wells County for the confidenee they manifested in his judgment and ability at different times, but it is the general opinion that he has given full value received for every honor bestowed upon him. He filled many minor offices, such as constable, assessor, notary public and finally was accorded two terms of member- ship in the State Legislature. Ile represented his county with distinction and was author of or instrumental in the passage of many valuable laws.
After retiring from his second term in the Legislature in 1895 Mr. Blue resolved fully never again to accept an office of any kind or to engage in political strife. He had learned that lesson which most men who are in publie affairs learn sooner or later that no one can be a sue- cessful politician and at all time do unto others as he would have them do unto him. He therefore settled down to the business of farming, and spent most of his time looking after his 400 acres of farm land, in handling the crops, raising stock and buying and shipping livestock. In 1910, when his youngest son married, the parents put him on the home place and then moved to Toesin, where it was their intention to give over their strenuous labors and take life leisurely. Soon after he re- tired Mrs. Blue was taken ill and was moved for treatment to the hos- pital at Fort Wayne, where the best medical skill was employed. Mr. Blue was informed that medieal science could not avail and he was advised to take Mrs. Blue baek home and employ a trained nurse and give her the best of care to make her comfortable. She passed away in February, 1912, in the blessed assurance of immortality and salvation through a Saviour's love. Thus a companionship of rare felicity and mutual benefit was ended which had begun forty-six years before. Since the death of his wife Mr. Blue has found solace in his children and in attending church at Emmaus Church almost every Sunday and acting as elass leader and teaching the Men's Bible Class. At one time Mr. Blue was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Bluffton.
Mr. Blue had a prominent part in establishing the town of his present residenee. In 1882 he surveyed the Village of Toesin, gave it its name, and made the application for a postoffice there. His farm lands are close to the village, and some years ago he laid out an addition to the town.
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Though it was written fourteen years ago, the sketch already re- ferred to contains a tribute to Mr. Blue which is still essentially true. "Hle has traveled much and read deeply, and is possessed of good mem- ory and a most commendable habit of observation which has stored his mind with facts ever convenient to be drawn upon. He is a fluent speaker, who on occasions rises even to cloquence. In private conversa- tion he is delightfully companionable, a man whom the most casual acquaintance would treat with deference, and whom the stranger would readily mark as a personage of deserved prominence."
JOHN KENNEDY. In every community situated in an agricultural section, may be found retired farmers, men whose active agricultural life is over but who retain a deep interest in the continued operation of their farms and from their long experience can give valuable advice to others. One of the well known retired farmers of Chester Township is John Kennedy, who also is an honored veteran of the great Civil war, and a valued member of Montpelier Post, Grand Army of the Republic.
John Kennedy was born in Ireland, March 1, 1836. His father, Jeremiah Kennedy, was twice married and his first and second wives were both natives of Ireland. His first wife died in Ireland and his second wife accompanied him to the United States in 1839. They stopped for a short time near Cincinnati, Ohio, and then came to Indiana and Jeremiah Kennedy bought eighty aeres of land in Chester Town- ship, Wells County, and during the rest of his life was engaged in clear- ing and improving it. In the course of time he became an American citizen and later identified himself with the democratic party. He was always a faithful member of the Roman Catholic Church. To his first marriage three sons and one daughter were born. Of this family of four. John Kennedy is the only survivor. Of the three children born to his second marriage but one survives, Winnie, who is the widow of William Fitzpatrick, residing near Poneto, Indiana.
John Kennedy was only three years old when the family came to the United States. He grew up on his father's farm, attending the district schools as opportunity offered. Like many another young man of that period, the outbreak of the Civil war eaused a great change to come into his life. but the country's military record shows that the farms con- tributed the bravest and most dependable soldiers of that long struggle. Mr. Kennedy enlisted in September, 1861, in Company A, Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and after serving for two years, he veteran- ized and remained in the service until the close of the war. Although he faced danger on every side and took part in many battles, Mr. Kennedy escaped siekness and wounds and was able to return practically un- harmed. He has taken much interest in the Grand Army Post at Mont- pelier ever since it was established.
Mr. Kennedy was married to Miss Lucinda Harris, who was born in Nottingham Township, Wells County, Indiana, October 24, 1845, a member of one of the old families of the county. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy settled on the farm in Chester Township on which they still live and for many years Mr. Kennedy condueted it with great success, and when he retired it was to leave it in the hands of his capable sons. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy have a home of great comfort, pleasantly situated on the farm of ninety acres. They have four chil- dren : Frank, Nettie, Laura and Arthur, all residing at home. The entire family belongs to the Roman Catholic Church at Montpelier. Mr. Kennedy has always taken an interest in public matters in the township and has given his political support to the candidates of the democratic party.
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SANFORD H. TEMPLIN. No man in Wells County stands higher in general esteem than does Sanford H. Templin, a substantial farmer of Nottingham Township, and a director of the Bank of Petroleum. Ilis life history presents mueh that is interesting and the perseverance and industry with which he overcame handicaps, indicate clearly very im- portant elements of his charaeter.
Sanford II. Templin was born October 11, 1845, in Henry County, Indiana. His parents were Terry and Rachel (Johnson) Templin. His father was born in Highland County, Ohio, a son of Robert and Eunice Templin, both born in Ohio but of English extraetion. When Terry Templin married Rachel Johnson, he married into a Welsh family and secured a most estimable wife. They settled on a farm in Ohio but in 1830 moved to Delaware County, Indiana, his parents accompanying him, and they all located in the same neighborhood, but Robert Templin and his wife died in old age in Howard County, Indiana.
For a number of years Terry Templin followed farming and then embarked in a manufacturing business, opening a small factory, foundry and shop at Blountsville, where he manufactured agricultural imple- ments and if he had possessed a larger working capital, would have been a successful business man. As it was, when his death occurred, January 23, 1855, he left his widow and the survivors of their family of thirteen children, with little means. The children of Terry Templin and wife were as follows: Sarah A., born February 23, 1829, deceased ; Naney J., born November 3, 1830, deceased ; Mary E., born December 5, 1832, de- ceased ; Lancey J., born December 20, 1834, deceased, was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; Eunice, born December 30, 1836, de- ceased ; Catherine, born March 5, 1838, wife of Ephraim Carey, of Dallas, Texas; Elizabeth, deceased, born May 24, 1843, was wife of Alexander Chalfant; Grace A., wife of William Falkner, of Nottingham, Township, Wells County ; Sanford H. ; Rachel L., born October 17, 1847, deceased; Charles E., born July 10, 1851 : Asenath A., born June 24, 1854, wife of F. M. Campbell, of Randolph County, Indiana and Letitia, deceased. The mother of the above family died April 17, 1884.
Sanford II. Templin attended school in both Henry and Delaware counties but his father died when he was ten years old and heavy respon- sibility fell on his young shoulders. He was naturally a cheerful and industrious boy and had no difficulty in securing work from the neighbor- ing farmers but when, in the natural course of events he found himself anxious to start a home of his own, he found that the support of his father's family had exhausted his earnings. He had chosen a noble woman, however, for his companion, one who showed confidenee in his ability and good judgment, and on February 4, 1865, the wedding of Sanford II. Templin and Judith M. Faulkner took place. She was born in Randolph County, Indiana, January 16, 1847, a daughter of Solomon and Ruth (Bales) Faulkner. Solomon Faulkner was born in Virginia, March 26, 1799, and his parents were David and Judith Faulkner, natives of Wales. In 1825 he married Ruth Bales, who was born August 26, 1808, a daughter of John and Lois Bales. In 1828 Mr. and Mrs. Faulkner settled on a farm in Randolph County, Indiana, and lived there during the rest of their lives. They had fourteen children, as follows: Isaiah M., born September 16, 1826, died August 27, 1895; Nathan, born November 29, 1827. died January 27, 1895: Jason and Jabert, twins, born November 22, 1829; Jabert died the same day but Jason lived until October 21, 1834; Mary, born January 15, 1832, is the widow of Jacob Booker : Rachel, born December 27, 1833, is the widow of Henry Hill; Jesse, born January 21, 1836; Phoebe J. and Betsey E., twins, born March 17, 1838, former is the wife of Aaron II. Pucket, the
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latter died December 7, 1882; John A., born November 29, 1841 ; William, born September 13, 1842, a resident of Wells County ; Lois A .. born May 25, 1844, is the wife of William Williams; Judith, who is the wife of Mr. Templin ; and Martha E., who was born June 2, 1849, died February 22, 1854.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Templin located near Windsor, in Randolph County, where Mr. Templin bought nine aeres and bound the agreement by paying a small sum and afterward by chopping cord wood paid the rest of the price, and spent two years seoring timber to be used in building bridges. As a wedding present the father of Mrs. Templin gave her a cow, three sheep and a half dozen chickens and the necessary household utensils. Not to be outdone by her husband in industry, during the first year on the farm, Mrs. Templin took 125 pounds of wool from her sheep, and with her own busy hands earded and spun it and turned it over to a weaver and it was made into eloth for the use of her family.
Mr. and Mrs. Templin remained on the farm he had secured through a trade with his brother for three years, and then traded his interest for a place of eighty aeres, thereby incurring an indebtedness of $400. He cleared and improved this land and did a large amount of ditching, and this work aided in making him an advocate of township draming and he was one of the chief promoters of the construction of the Wilson Creek diteh. As time went on he added to his holdings until now he has an exceedingly valuable farm of 160 aeres, the result of hard work and frugality. At the time of marriage he deelared he would always own a place of his own and never pay rent and he has brought this to pass through his good management.
Mr. and Mrs. Templin have had three children, namely : Letitia Jane, who was born November 8, 1865, died December 31, 1909, the wife of George Chenoweth : Carey, who was born November 27, 1867. is a farmer in Nottingham Township; and George, who was born March 20, 1870, married Ollie Settle, and they live in Nottingham Township. Mr. and Mrs. Templin have ten living grandehildren and two living great-grand- children. Mr. and Mrs. Templin have been active in the United Brethren Church to which all the family belong. Mr. Templin is influential in the republican party, has served as a member of the county central eom- mittee and has been a delegate to state conventions.
HENRY E. JOHNS is the present trustee of Nottingham Township and a citizen of high standing and of many business relationships with that section of Wells County. Mr Johns is a farmer and stockman and has spent practically all his life in this county.
He was born in Harrison Township near Vera Cruz July 5, 1870. a son of John S. and Trissa ( Haughton) Johns. His father was a native of Ohio and his mother of Adams County, Indiana. John S. Johns was brought to Wells County by his parents when he was two years of age. The grandparents located on a farm near Vera Cruz, taking up the land from the Government. and spent the rest of their days there. John S. Johns grew up in that locality when everything was comparatively new and rough. and after reaching his majority bought a farm nearby. He did business on an extensive seale as a trader in land. and owned real estate here and elsewhere. His death occurred in Arkansas, while his wife died in Harrison Township of Wells County. The father was a demo:rat. There were in the family four sons and five daughters. and five are still living : Lenora. a graduate of the common schools and now pursuing her profession as a graduate nurse at Bluffton: Alonzo, a farmer in Arkansas; Roswell, a farmer in Union Township of Wells
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County ; Cora, wife of J. D. Dyson of Nottingham Township, and Henry E.
Henry E. Johns lived on his father's farm until he was ten years of age, and after that was in the home of his uncle, George Sinnison, for whom he worked and as opportunity afforded attended the distriet schools of Adams County. At the age of seventeen he started out to make his own living, at first as a wage earner by the month and later for a time he drove a huckster wagon.
On September 17, 1893, Mr. Johns married Miss Clara King. Her parents, Adam and Elizabeth King, are both now deceased. Mrs. Johns received her early education in School District No. 3 of Nottingham Township. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Johns lived on the King farm a year, then for four years lived south of Reiffsburg, and then bought their present farm of a little more than sixty-one aeres and later acquired 140 aeres in section 8 of Nottingham Township. Mr. Johns has come to prosperity through the avenue of hard work and honest dealing, and is now enjoying a liberal prosperity. As a stockman he specializes somewhat in high grade Belgian horses and some of his ani- mals were awarded the first premium at the Bluffton Street Fair. He is also one of the directors of the Bank of Petroleum, of which Amos Williams is president, Samuel Warner, vice president, and Henry Shott, cashier. Mr. Johns is also a stockholder in the Poneto Farmers Elevator Company.
He has taken quite an active interest in democratie polities, but even more in the substantial welfare of his community, and it was a general recognition on the part of his fellow citizens of his qualifieations that caused him to be elected trustee of Nottingham Township. He has filled that office since January, 1915, and his administrative work in connee- tion with the public schools has been especially creditable.
Mrs. Johns is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Reiffs- burg. They have two sons. Raymond, a graduate of the common schools and the Petroleum High School, was a teacher for two years but is now a soldier in the National Army, having enlisted at Louisville, Kentucky. Fred F., born in April, 1898, has also finished the work of the Petroleum Iligh School.
WILLIAM A. LEE. To the present generation of Wells County at least William A. Lee is a citizen too well known to require any intro- duetion. He has been a resident of the county practically all his life. has been a farmer, educator, lawyer and deputy prosecutor and repre- sents one of the old and substantial names of this section of Indiana.
He was born in Nottingham Township August 20, 1855, a son of Alexander and Susanna (Tracy) Lee. His father was born in Virginia September 5, 1824, and the mother in Perry County, Ohio, in 1828. Alexander Lee settled in Wells County at an early day, and acquired a substantial property as a farmer and was also honored with the office of county commissioner and for many years was a leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Poneto. He was Sunday School superintendent there for over sixteen years. His death occurred in 1907 and his wife passed away in 1897. They had ten children. six of whom are still living.
William A. Lee spent his boyhood days on a farm. got his education in district schools, and attended the County Normal at Bluffton. When only seventeen he was granted his first license as a teacher, and he taught sehool in this county until 1882. While teaching he took up the study of law, and for a number of years he also filled the office of justice of the peace. He has been in active practice since 1898, and has filled the office of deputy prosecuting attorney since the elcetion of Aaron Waltz
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to the office of chief prosecutor. Mr. Lee also owns 100 acres of land constituting a good farm, and has many interests that identify him with the county of his nativity.
On December 29, 1880, he married Miss Emma R. McFarren, who was born in Wells County, youngest sister of the prominent Bluffton business man, George E. MeFarren. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have three chil- dren. Carl A., who acquired a good education in the common schools and in a commercial college, was a teacher but is now a practical farmer. He married Cecile Kiser. Grace S. was a teacher for a number of years and is now the wife of Levi J. Nutter. Ralph C. married Grace Fleming and lives in Nottingham Township. Mr. William A. Lee is an active democrat and has always been affiliated with that party in his political efforts.
THOMAS J. SETTLE. For forty-six years the name of Settle has been an honored one in Nottingham Township, Wells County, always repre- senting sturdy, honest and industrious people, good citizens and sup- porters of education and religion. It was founded by one of the finest men this section has ever known, the late Winfield S. Settle, who was the father of Thomas J. Settle, one of the township's prosperous farmers and respected men. The latter was born on his father's homestead in Nottingham Township, October 28, 1878, and is a son of Winfield S. and Elizabeth (Albertson) Settle.
Winfield Scott Settle was born in Rockingham County, North Caro- lina, November 20, 1841, and was a son of Josiah and Nancy A. (Graves) Settle, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. On the paternal side the ancestry was Scotch-Irish and on the maternal was German. In 1847 the grandparents of Thomas J. Settle moved to Ohio and settled in Butler County, where the grandfather died in 1869 and the grand- mother removed from there to Richmond, Indiana, in 1877 and died there. While still living in Butler County, Winfield S. Settle became a soldier in the Union Army, on January 26, 1864, enlisting for service in the Civil war in Company F. Eighty-fourth Indiana Infantry. Later he was transferred to the Fifty-seventh Regiment, the enlistment term of the Eighty-fourth having expired, and he remained in military serv- ice until the close of the war. He took part in many battles, these includ- ing Tunnel Hill. Resaca, Kingston, Pumpkin Vine Creek, Kenesaw Mountain, Neal Dow Church, Peach Tree Creek, Vining Station, and after a short furlough on account of siekness, he was with his regiment at Lookont Mountain and through the campaign in the southwest. He received his final discharge at Indianapolis, Indiana, having done his full duty as a soldier, and reached his home in Ohio in January, 1866.
In 1869 Mr. Settle came to Wells County, Indiana, securing a partly cleared farm in section 30. Nottingham Township, and he made this his home during the rest of his life. He developed a fine farm here through prudence and industry, and he became one of the leading citizens, a man whose honesty was never questioned and whose word at all times was as valuable as a legal document. In politics he was influential in the republican party and he was one of the most active and most liberal members in the United Brethren Church. He was married, April 24, 1869, to Elizabeth Albertson, who was born in Adams County, Indiana, a daughter of Charles and Mary Ann (Brown) Albertson, natives respectively of Randolph and Jay counties, Indiana. To Winfield S. Settle and his wife the following children were born: Anna, William II., Olive, Winfield A., Thomas J .. James E., Charles C., Walter B., Hazel, who is the wife of Hugh Gehrett, of Nottingham Township, and one deceased.
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Thomas J. Settle remained at home with his father until he was eighteen years of age, in the meanwhile attending school near the home farm during the winter seasons. About that time a new industry in this part of Indiana began to attraet industrious young men and Mr. Settle also went to work in the oil fields and continued to be employed there for twelve years, during the most of the time as an oil pumper. Since then Mr. Settle has been engaged in general farming on eighty aeres of the old homestead which he owns, and he also gives considerable atten- tion to breeding Chester White hogs, in which industry he has been very successful.
Mr. Settle was married August 20, 1904, to Miss Iva Shepherd, who was born and reared in Randolph County, Indiana. She is a daughter of Ezra and Mary (Study) Shepherd. Mr. and Mrs. Settle have had three children, the two survivors being: Lloyd A., who was born Decem- ber 25, 1907; and Riehard, who was born August 26, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Settle are members of the United Brethren Church at Phoenix, Indiana. In polities Mr. Settle is a republican from prineiple, never having any desire for publie office as a reward of his loyalty.
GEORGE TEMPLIN. Perhaps at no time in the country's history has every agricultural interest been of so much importance as at the present and it is the eapable, industrious farmer who has the opportunity of not only reaping just returns for his hard work, but of also demonstrat- ing a spirit of generous patriotism that entitles him to the gratitude of the rest of the country. One of the excellent farmers and representative citizens of Nottingham Township, Wells County, Indiana, is George Templin, whose carefully eultivated farm shows that good judgment regulates affairs here. Mr. Templin is a native of Indiana, born in Ran- dolph County, March 20, 1870. He is a son of S. H. and Judith M. (Faulkner) Templin.
The parents of Mr. Templin came to Wells County when he was one year old and he grew up on the farm on which his father still resides. He attended the distriet schools in early boyhood and later on, when his strength permitted, assisted on the farm through the summers and attended school in the winters. With his time thus pleasantly and use- fully divided he remained with his father until his marriage, when he began farming for himself on a tract of forty acres, on which he con- tinned for two years. At that time workers were in demand in the Blackford County oil fields, and as wages were high Mr. Templin went to work at Montpelier and continued conneeted with the oil industry for six years. when changed conditions came about and in 1902 he moved back to Wells County.
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