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 17
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 17
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Mr. Sawyer married for his first wife Mary E. Strain. She was the mother of six children : Ora A., wife of Jesse Nusbaumer, and before her marriage she had graduated from the Petroleum High School and was a music teacher ; Raymond E. is a graduate of the Petroleum High School and married Goldie Carney of Jay County, Indiana: Edna M. is a graduate of the high school and now the wife of John Rix of Bluff- ton ; Esther M. has completed the high school work; Clara L. is member of the class of 1918 in the high school, and Mary E. is also in high school. The mother of these children died August 1, 1908. For his present wife Mr. Sawyer married Lida (Lockwood) Romey, widow of P. E. Romey. They are active members of the Airline Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically Mr. Sawyer is a democrat.
JACOB NOAH WOLFE. An extensive and profitable industry of Wells County, Indiana, is that carried on by Jacob N. Wolfe, who is pro- prietor of the celebrated Three-Mile Stock Farm, which is situated 21/3 miles east of Petroleum, Indiana. Mr. Wolfe is a noted breeder of Percheron horses, Shropshire sheep, Barred Rock chickens and Mam- moth brown turkeys, and in addition is one of the large farmers of this section.
Jacob N. Wolfe was born in Preble County, Ohio, September 23, 1844, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Shoup) Wolfe. His father
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was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, December 8, 1793, and his mother was born April 14, 1813, in Fredrick County, Maryland. They were married in Fredrick County in 1831 and then removed to Ohio, settling near Eaton, in Preble County, and remained there until 1853, when they moved to Jay County, Indiana. They located on a farm four miles east of Pennville and that remained their home during the rest of their lives. They were quiet, industrious, worthy people. Jacob N. Wolfe is of English descent and his grandfather's oldest brother, James Wolfe, was killed at the battle of Quebec, Canada.
Jacob N. Wolfe grew up on his father's farm and assisted from boy- hood and thus had excellent training in all branches of agriculture. He has been particularly successful in raising stock and for a number of years has given a great deal of attention to breeding fine Percheron horses and at the date of writing owns twenty head of pure bred reg- istered horses, which have been exhibited and have carried off many prizes. Some noteworthy animals have been bred on this stock farm, Gomaux and Ideal, registered 59,609 and 67,829, respectively, in par- ticular. Mr. Wolfe owns Rock Roy, French No. 98,800 and recorded No. 99,670.
Mr. Wolfe was married in Wells County, Indiana, to Miss Hannah L. Lacy, who died September 27, 1887. They had three children, but only one survives, Edward S., who was born July 20, 1867. He married Anna Settles and they live at Domestic, Indiana. June 12, 1888, Mr. Wolfe married Mary J. Reed, whose maiden name was Mary J. Weimer. Mrs. Wolfe died May 16, 1915.
In politics Mr. Wolfe is a stanch republican and has always been known as a good and reliable citizen. For many years he has been a member of the Order of Odd Fellows and belongs to Petroleum Lodge No. 721, of which he is past noble grand, and is also a member of the encampment at Bluffton.
ELI FRENCH. There are not many families entitled to honorable mention in this history because of earlier settlement in Wells County than the French family, for its founder came in 1835 and it has in- creased and prospered here ever since. The present head of the family still living on the old homestead, is Eli French, one of Nottingham Township's most highly respected citizens. He was born in his parents' cabin, on the banks of Six Mile Creek, in Harrison Township, February 12, 1854, and is a son of John G. and Lydia ( Wiest) French.
John G. French was born in Dearborn County, Indiana, November 27, 1824, and was a son of Joseph and Eliza (Beach) French. They were natives of Massachusetts who came to Wells County, Indiana, in 1835, when John G. was eleven years old. Here he grew to manhood and his first marriage took place on February 22, 1849, to Mary Ann Heller, who died December 25, 1849, leaving one child, Mary, who be- came the wife of George Mowery. On March 18, 1851, John G. French was married to Lydia Wiest and the following children were born to them : Amos. Eli, Henry, William; Elizabeth, who became the wife of John Gentis; John who lives in Michigan ; Hattie, who became the wife of Jethro Potter. John G. French died November 27, 1897, his wife having died October 18, 1895. Before his death Mr. French divided his land among his children, retaining only the homestead for himself. At one time he owned 500 acres or more. In many ways he was a remarkable man. He was endowed with stupendous physical strength and at the same time was gifted with a brilliant mind. For his own satisfaction he completed a course in law and was admitted to practice in the Wells Circuit Court. His retentive memory and his thorough good fellowship Vol. II-8
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rendered him a delightful companion, even in advanced years, and his reminiscences of pioneer days in this section were as interesting as any romance ever written. He had many friends for he never forgot a kindness and never failed to repay many fold. It is a privilege to thus recall one of the sturdy men of other days who was so long identified with Wells County and helped make its history.
Eli French assisted his father in boyhood and youth and attended school at Morris Chapel and remained at home until twenty-three years old, when he married. At that time Mr. French had but small capital but he bought eighty acres of land and in the course of time purchased an adjoining eighty acres, and also owns a part of the old John G. French farm. He carries on general farming and has always been con- sidered a farmer of good judgment and practical ideas.
Mr. French was married March 25, 1877, to Miss Eliza Risley, who was born in Harrison Township, Wells County, Indiana, and was reared and educated there. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. French, as follows: Jennie, who is the wife of Leroy Jacob, of Harrison Township; Carrie, who is the wife of Fred Bowman, of Nottingham ; Myrtle, who is the wife of Wilson Dunbar, of Linn Grove, Adams County, Indiana ; Emma, who is the wife of Levi Brown, of Fort Wayne; Harriet, who is the wife of Edward Coffman, living in California ; Anna, who is the wife of Guy Kindell, of Nottingham Township; Ica, who is the wife of William Grandlienard, of Adams County; Grace, who lives at home is a high school graduate; and Hazel, who is deceased.
Mr. French and family are active members of the Christian Church at Linn Grove. He is identified with the Lodge of Odd Fellows at Linn Grove, and is past noble grand of the lodge. He is a stanch democrat and a hearty supporter of party policies and candidates, but he has never been willing to serve in any publie office although exceedingly well qualified because of his sound judgment and his high personal character.
PETER FRANTZ. One of the well known men in Wells County is the venerable Peter Frantz, who a number of years ago gave up the heavier responsibilities of his farm but still lives in the home which has so many associations for him and his family, seven miles west of Bluffton. Mr. Frantz is over fourseore years of age, was a soldier of the Civil war on the Union side, and has grown old in the honor and esteem that are the results of good citizenship, hard work and conscientious performance of duty to his fellow men. One of the most noteworthy features of his family, betokening the vigor and sound stock, is the fact that he is the father ef nine children, has sixteen grandchildren and eleven great- grandchildren, and altogether there have been thirty-six births among his direct descendants and not a single death so far recorded.
Peter Frantz was born in Logan County, Ohio, February 27, 1836, a son of Jacob and Mary (Ebersole) Frantz. Jacob Frantz was a son of David and Elizabeth (Gaist) Frantz, and both were descended from Swiss ancestors who on coming to America located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, afterwards moved to Virginia and from there to Ohio. Peter Frantz was born after his father's death, and afterwards lived in the home of his maternal grandfather in Clark County, Ohio. At the age of fourteen he was thrown upon his own resources, and in 1853 he came to Wells County, Indiana. In 1854 he made permanent settlement here, and in 1858 acquired the farm where he now lives. On June 17, 1860, he married Mary J. First. Their lives ran side by side in mu- tual companionship and the bearing of their burdens and responsibilities until she passed away in July, 1915, fifty-five years after their marriage.
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On August 11, 1862, Peter Frantz enlisted in Company B of the One Hundred First Indiana Infantry, and was in active service until the close of the war. Ile went through many battles and campaigns without wounds, and for many years has taken an active interest in the Grand Army, as a member of Bluffton Post. ITe and his family are all members of the Friends Church, and in politics he has been a republican without aspiration for publie office. Peter Frantz by his industry at one time had accumulated 500 acres of land, but at the present time his home estate consists of 160 aeres. IIe eame to Wells County poor, made a generous prosperity for himself and family, and has lived throughout a life of admirable reetitude and of honor.
IIe is the father of nine children : Mary H., wife of Floyd Redding; Winfield B .; George T .; Jacob J .; John A .; Sarah A., wife of Rufus Stinson, Daniel C .; James M. and Charles S. These with their children and grandchildren constitute a family group of thirty-six, and with Mr. Peter Frantz represent four successive generations in Wells County still living.
One of the prominent members of the Frantz family still active as a farmer is Winfield B. Frantz, whose home is on route No. 1 in Liberty Township. He was born February 23. 1863, grew up on his father's home, and was early inured to the heavy discipline of farm life. Many summers as a boy he worked in the woods, hauling logs, and his eduea- tion was confined to the winter terms. On April 7, 1888, he married Miss Christina V. Sowle, who was born in Liberty Township October 20, 1867, a daughter of Joshua and Lucinda ( Leeper) Sowle. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Winfield Frantz located on the farm where they now live. They have two children: Glemmia, who is the wife of Max Sanders; Gerald J., the son, was educated in Warren, Indiana. Winfield Frantz is a republican in politics, and is making a success of his business as a practiel farmer, with eighty aeres of land under his ownership and control.
John A. Frantz, another son of the venerable Peter Frantz, also lives on Rural Route No. 1 in Liberty Township. He was born in that town- ship and has spent practically all his life there. He received a common school education, and in November, 1898, married Mollie Connor. They have one daughter, Mary, born in February, 1900, and now a graduate of the common sehools. John Frantz is a republican. His farm comprises eighty aeres in section 10, Liberty Township, and he has been duly pros- pered in all his labors and efforts. lle has the distinction of being the only owner in Wells County of a $2,000 Liberty Bond.
ABNER CHALFANT. There is hardly a better known name in Wells County than that of Chalfant. As a family they have lived here since pioneer times and their record through all the years shows them to have been hard and earnest workers, farmers, handling their business affairs with spirit and energy, and at the same time publie spirited in all their relationship with the larger movements of the community.
This worthy record has been upheld and continued by Mr. Abner Chalfant, a successful farmer now living in Bluffton and also a banker of Poneto. Mr. Chalfant was born on a farm in Harrison Township, on the southwest quarter of section 25 in that township June 11, 1859. He is a son of Reason and Catherine (Valentine) Chalfant. Reason C'hal- fant was a son of Chads and Nancy (Ferguson) Chalfant. Chads ('hal- fant, who was born at Chads Ford in Pennsylvania, moved in early life to Ohio, married in Perry County, and in 1837 came to Indiana and located in the wilderness of Wells County. He entered the southwest quarter of seetion 25 of Harrison Township, and thus acquired the land
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which later developed as a good farm was the scene of Abner Chalfant's birth and early rearing. Chads Chalfant was a man equal to all the emergencies and exigencies of pioneer life. He built a log cabin home and on his old farm he lived out the rest of his years. He died in Febru- ary, 1883. He and his wife had the following children: Reason, Robert, Elizabeth, Lydia, Mercey, Mary and Sarah.
After his marriage Reason Chalfant settled on the old homestead, and thus kept that land within the family ownership. He was an in- dustrious and capable farmer but otherwise was quiet and unassuming, and sought none of the honors of public life. He voted as a republican. His children were: Abner, William, now deceased, Robert D. and Clara, wife of Charles Gentes.
The early life of Abner Chalfant was spent on the old homestead, and he was a pupil in the district schools up to the age of seventeen. He made good use of his advantages while in school and soon after leaving was qualified to teach. This vocation he followed successfully until after his marriage. On September 30, 1883, Mr. Chalfant married Emma Schoch. She was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, December 1, 1858, daughter of B. W. and Elizabeth (Wann) Sehoch, who came to Wells County when Mrs. Chalfant was a girl. Mrs. Chalfant grew up here and received her education in the local schools.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Chalfant rented the old home- stead and in 1888 acquired it by purchase. There they lived and made the prosperity which enabled them in January, 1915, to move to the City of Bluffton, where they now enjoy the comforts of a good home. Mr. Chalfant still owns 200 acres of land in Harrison Township. He is also a stockholder and is president of the Bank of Poneto. This institu- tion when first established had the following officers: S. C. Shepherd, president; F. M. Buckner, vice president; Robert Lee, cashier. The directors at present are Abner Chalfant, F. M. Buckner, J. N. Neff, George Toms, Horatio Grove, A. S. Brown, and Frank Gavin, all well known and substantial men of Wells County.
Mr. and Mrs. Chalfant have three children. Pearl after finishing the work of the common school, attended school at Bluffton and Marion Normal. The son, Brent, is a practical farmer and married Ida M. Captain. Harry, also a farmer in Harrison Township, is a graduate of the common schools. He married Blanche Page. Mr. Abner Chalfant and family are members of the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church and he has taken much part in the work of that society. Politically he is a republican.
JOHN B. MILLER's career in Wells County has been such as to make him known as a business man, and while formerly engaged in farming he has for a number of years been a grain dealer and in that capacity has come in touch with a large number of the agricultural producers of this section. He is now head of a successful grain and elevator company at I'niondale in Roek Creek Township.
Mr. Miller was born in Rock Creek Township of this county October 30, 1871, a son of William and Susan ( Bender) Miller. This is a family that has been identified with Wells County for over sixty-five years. William Miller died in February, 1897, but his widow is still living.
William Miller was born in Maryland November 3, 1824, son of Frederiek and Susan (Paulus) Miller, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and of German ancestry. William Miller, who was the seventh son and eleventh ehild in a family of fourteen, was three years of age when his parents moved to Fairfield County, Ohio, and a number of years later the family went to Franklin County, where his father
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spent the rest of his life as a farmer. William Miller had only the advantages of the subscription schools tanght in a log cabin. Ile was about twenty-seven years of age when, in 1851, he came to Wells County. With his brother he bought a tract of 200 acres of heavily timbered land in Rock Creek Township. Possessed of energy and ambition to acquire homes of their own, they went steadily ahead with the clearing of this land and had much of it in cultivation before the Civil war broke out. During that war the brother died and the entire tract then came into the possession of William Miller. William Miller was also a brave soldier of the Union army, having enlisted August 15, 1861, in Com- pany B of the One Hundred and First Indiana Infantry. He was ont three years and had perhaps more than an average share of the experi- ences and hardships of soldier life. In the battle of Chickamauga Sep- tember 19, 1863, he was wounded in the left hip and was captured and kept prisoner for twelve days. He rejoined his regiment May 1, 1864, and after that was with the army until the close of the rebellion. After the war he took up the active enltivation of his farm in Rock Creek Township and the management of that land was the basis of his pros- perity. He was a democrat in politics before the war but afterward voted as a republican. He was elected township trustee in 1886. Both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church. On March 3, 1859, William Miller married Susan Bender, a native of Pennsylvania but reared in Wells County from the age of abont eleven years. Seven children were born to William Miller and wife: Franklin T., Barbara E., who married John Staver, William S., Lydia M., John B., Charles H., and Ada M.
John B. Miller thus grew up in one of the good rural homes of Wells County, had an education in the local schools, from which he graduated in 1887, and for the next five years was an earnest and hard working farmer.
Ilis business career began in 1892, at the age of twenty-one, when going to Bluffton he became associated with the Studabaker & Sons Grain and Seed Company. He became one of the trusted and efficient men of that organization and continued with it until July, 1914. For several years he had been manager of the Davison Elevator at Uniondale, which he bought in 1911. In January, 1915, he moved his home to Uniondale and bought the Newhard Elevator, then organizing what is now known as the Miller & Briekley Grain Company. He is president of this com- pany and his wife is vice president.
On November 27, 1896, Mr. Miller married Mary E. Ditzler, daugh- ter of John R. and Catherine B. (Brickley) Ditzler. The Ditzler fam- ily is an old and prominent one of Wells County, and her uncle, George C. Ditzler, was a prominent Inmberman who practically founded the village of Uniondale. Mrs. Miller's brothers and sisters are: John C., deceased ; Nora, wife of C. Meyers, of Fort Wayne; and Pearl, wife of Dr. Earl Higgins, of Wells County. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have a family of six children : Lela M., Mabeline, Naomi I., Mary L., Margaret Pan- line, and Robert J. Robert, the youngest, is now deceased. Lela, Mabel- ine and Naomi are all graduates of the BInffton High School and the other two daughters are attending the local public schools.
REV. WILLIAM H. DANIEL. A man of strong personality, deep con- secration, and extreme earnestness of purpose, the late Rev. William H. Daniel, of Decatur, Adams County, was for many years a recognized force in the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and was widely known throughout northern Indiana as an active and efficient worker in relig- ious and charitable undertakings. A son of Thomas Daniel, he was
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born, April 10, 1848, in Wayne County, Indiana, and died at his home, in Decatur, Indiana, February 5, 1908.
Hiram Daniel. his paternal grandfather, was born in Fairfax County, Virginia, being descended from a family of much prominence. About a century ago, he came with his wife to Indiana, settling as a pioneer in Wayne County. Buying a tract of land that wasstill in its virgin wilderness, he improved a good farm, and there both he and his faithful companion spent the remainder of their lives, his death occurring at the age of eighty-six years, and hers at the age of ninety years. They were active members of the Methodist Church, and reared their ten children in the same faith.
Thomas Daniel grew to manhood on the home farm, and soon after attaining his majority married Louise Edwards, whose parents had come from Virginia to Wayne County about the same time that the Daniel family did, and had converted a tract of heavily timbered land, lying in the vicinity of Richmond, into a productive homestead, on which they subsequently spent their remaining days. They were Qua- kers in religion, and like their neighbors, the Daniel family, were very successful in their agricultural labors. They reared a large family, sixteen children, and many of the descendants of both families are still living in Indiana, in Richmond, and in Anderson.
William II. Daniel received excellent educational advantages when young, and after his graduation from the Anderson High School attended the old Fort Wayne College. Having in early life manifested strong religious tendencies, he chose the ministry almost as a matter of course, and in 1872 was ordained as a minister of the gospel. The ensu- ing two years, Mr. Daniel had charge of the Leo circuit, in Allen County, after which he served for one year at Coesse, Whitley County, in both pastorates meeting with eminent snecess in his work. Remaining in that county, he then spent three years in Columbia City, from there going to Auburn, De Kalb County, and one year later to Peru. Miami County, where he served ably and satisfactorily as pastor for two years. From there Mr. Daniel went to Logansport for a term of three years, and from there to Union City for another three years of good work. He was then appointed pastor of Grace Church at Kokomo, Indiana, but on account of ill health was forced to give up preaching for awhile in Indiana. He subsequently accepted a position as pastor of Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota.
One year later, his health being much improved, Mr. Daniel accepted the pastorate of the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Richmond, Wayne County. where he remained five years, his long term of service bearing evidence of his pastoral ability and fidelity. In 1898 Mr. Daniel accepted the pastorate of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Decatur, and at the end of two years was made district superintendent of the Fort Wayne district, having in that capacity the charge of thirty- six churches. As superintendent, he performed all of the duties devoly- ing upon him ably and acceptably, but at the end of four years he was forced, on account of failing health, to give up the position. Being then superannuated, he settled in Decatur. where his death occurred a few years later, as previously noted.
Mr. Daniel married, at Fort Wayne, Indiana, soon after his gradna- tion from the university. Miss Emma L. Birch, who was born in Wells County, Indiana, in 1852, a danghter of Rev. William S. Birch, D. D. IIer grandfather, Benjamin Birch, came from Ohio to Indiana in pioneer days, settling in the northern part of the state, where he became promi- nent in local affairs. He was a contractor, and during the building of the Erie Canal had supervision of a part of the work. Rev. W. S. Birch
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was born in eastern Ohio, in 1824, and came with his parents to Indi- ana, where he was educated for the ministry. In 1848 he began his ministerial labors as a cirenit rider, having eight counties in his large circuit, and although Fort Wayne was the circuit center he lived in Wells County. He spent nearly half a century in Northern Indiana, and for twenty-two years served as district superintendent. For a num- ber of terms he was a trustee of De Pauw University, which conferred upon him the well-merited degree of Doctor of Divinity. He spent his last days in Kokomo, Indiana, his death occurring March 29, 1895, dur- ing his service as district superintendent. The maiden name of the wife of Rev. Mr. Birch was Cynthia Stevens. She was born in Ohio in 1826, and died, July 12, 1893, in Kokomo, Indiana.
Mrs. Daniel, who graduated from the classical department of the old Fort Wayne College with the class of 1872, is a woman of culture and ability, whom it is a pleasure to meet, either as a friend or co-worker. The daughter of a minister, and a minister's wife, having spent fifty- two years of her life in the parsonage of a pastor of the Methodist Epis- copal Conference of Northern Indiana, and each and every year since a girl has she spent in active work. She has been a teacher of vocal and instrumental music : she was made the secretary, in 1869, of the first foreign missionary society organized by the Methodist Episcopal Church in Indiana; she has been one of the foremost in supporting all local boards of charities and home missions, and in the work of the church conferences. Assisted in organizing the Northern Indiana Woman's Home Missions, which she served for twelve years as president, and of which she has been vice president for the past ten years. After the declaration of war by President Wilson, Mrs. Daniel was made one of the leaders of the Local Defense of Adams County, and has been one of the moving spirits in the good work being done by the organization.
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