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 19
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 19
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Mr. MeGeath was married to Miss Matilda J. Starr, a daughter of Benjamin and Matilda (Popejoy) Starr. The father of Mrs. McGeath was born in Virginia and the mother in Ohio. They were married in Wells County, Indiana, and settled on the farm now occupied by E. N. Cassell. Mr. and Mrs. MeGeath have four children, namely : Levi E., in Oklahoma, who married Lillie Haven; Iva A., who married Bertha Harris, also lives in Oklahoma : Retta E., who is the wife of Guy Harris; and Rosetta, who is the wife of Robert Groves of Oklahoma. There are nine grandchildren in the family. In polities Mr. MeGeath has always been identified with the republican party. The family belongs to the Metho list Episcopal Church.
SEPHUS MILLER of Harrison Township, Wells County, represents the third generation of the Miller family in Wells County, where it was established about eighty years ago. The interests and the activities of the family have run along the same line. Stock farming has been their chief forte. As judges of livestock and experts in handling all branches of animal husbandry the Millers have made a record hardly surpassed by that of any other one family. The Millers have bred and raised, dealt in and shipped horses, mules, cattle and hogs, and it is to the latter branch that Sephns Miller gives his chief attention and is widely known all over Northeastern Indiana on account of his herd of pure blooded big type Poland China hogs.
The founder of the family in this county was Daniel Miller, a native of Ohio, while his father before him was a native of Germany. When Daniel Miller was a small boy his parents removed to Darke County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and married. His first wife died soon after- wards childless. Ile then married Miss Eleanor Graves. From Darke County he came to Adams County, Indiana, and about 1838 moved to Wells County, where he entered 160 acres of Government land. On this he built a home typical of other homes of that time, and proceeded with the industry and enterprise that were vital parts of his character to establish himself permanently not only as a farmer but as a factor in the business life of the community. His means and his affairs grew until at one time he owned about eight hundred acres of land. He was one of the largest farmers and one of the largest stock raisers. His
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affairs were greatly prospered during the war times which put a premium upon the products of the farm as the people of this generation can thoroughly appreciate. Daniel Miller was in the high tide of his ae- tivity when in 1864, while attempting to arrest a horse thief, he was shot and died from the wound about six hours later. Ile and his wife had seven children.
The oldest of these children was the late John A. Miller, who was born in Darke County, Ohio, August 15, 1836, and was an infant when brought to Wells County. Ile had the advantages of the district schools during the winter months and as a boy he showed a disposition to learn and master the practical business of farming and stock raising. At the age of twenty-two he began dealing in stock on his own account, and with growing experience his judgment became so well defined that many regarded him as almost infallible in his estimate of any matter con- nected with livestock, whether from the producing standpoint or in transactions of trade. He became well known in different stock markets of the country, and was always a man of the strietest honor and in- tegrity. While he inherited some property as well as other valuable qualities from his father, he began life little beyond the stage of a poor man, and it was his own efforts that made him one of the prosperous citizens of Wells County. He acquired a large farm of 400 aeres or more, and while he was always noted as a good money maker, he was also known for his liberality and generosity with his means and with his influence toward any enterprise that demanded his co-operation. His home was one of the most hospitable places in the entire county. He was broad and liberal in his principles and policies, supported men and measures that appealed to him in local polities, but in national affairs was a republican. He was affiliated with Lodge No. 114 of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows at Bluffton.
In 1867 John A. Miller married Miss Sarah Martin, daughter of Josephus Martin. She was born in Adams County and was educated there. They reared six children, Frank, Robert, John, Sephus, Rufus and Harry.
Sephus Miller was born on his father's farm in Harrison Township May 12, 1876. He grew up at home, attended the district schools, and his enterprise and self reliance were on a par with those of his father and grandfather. At the age of sixteen he started out to make his own living. He worked in different lines and finally acquired a modest capital of his own, sufficient to justify him in marrying and starting a home.
On September 26, 1899, he married Miss Glenna Bears of Adams County, Indiana. She was born in that county March 29, 1882, and was educated in the common schools. After his marriage Mr. Miller bought the farm where he now lives. He was unable to pay for it at once, but his industry together with the capable co-operation of his wife, has not only enabled him to release the farm from debt, but put many extensive improvements upon it. He has done much ditehing and drain- ing, has cleared away some of the brush and timber, and altogether has one of the fine farms of Harrison Township. About 1905 Mr. Miller started to specialize in the breeding of high grade hogs. For a number of years he has conducted private sales where his animals command the highest prices, and he now has about fifty of the big type Poland China hogs in his herd. The herd is headed by Big Leo No. 98825 and Orange Kid No. 103701.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller have one daughter, Mary M., born January 13, 1901. She has finished the work of the common schools and is now in the third year of the Bluffton High School. The family are members of
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the Six Mile Christian Church, and Mr. Miller is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias at Bluffton and in polities is a republican.
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JOHN A. MORRIS has spent his active business life largely in Bluffton and to the present generation of citizens at least he needs no introduction, since his business position is one of unassailable advantage and integ- rity and he is widely known all over this section of Indiana. Mr. Morris is president of the John A. Morris Company and is vice president of the Morris Company, operating a chain of eighteen five and ten cent stores, in many Indiana towns.
Mr. Morris was born in Rush County, Indiana, March 25, 1856, a son of Daniel and Mary (Lockridge) Morris. His mother was a native of Kentucky, coming to Rush County, Indiana, at the age of twelve years. His father was born near Indianapolis, Indiana, grew up there, went to Rush County where he married, and then settled on a farm 31/2 miles north of Rushville at a place called Six Points. He lived there the life of a farmer on land which he entered from the Gov- ernment, and his death occurred in 1858 when his son John was two years of age. He was an active member of the Baptist Church. His widow survived him to the age of seventy-eight and passed away at Lebanon, Indiana. She married a second husband and John A. Morris went with her to live in Boone County, Indiana, and a few years later went to Lebanon.
After the family went to Lebanon John A. Morris began making his own way in the world, and was employed as a clerk in local stores for some years. He distinguished himself by his commercial knowledge and ability even at an early age, and gradually acquired the capital and influence which enabled him to start a commercial career of his own.
On November 10, 1874, while at Lebanon he married Mary E. Powell. She was born on a farm five miles east of Lebanon, and grew up prae- ticed in the duties of home and educated in the local schools. Mr. and Mrs. Morris had four children, George S. Morris, whose career as an active Bluffton business man is told on other pages; Flo, wife of Harry McFarren of Bluffton; Elizabeth, wife of C. B. Larrimer of Bluffton; and William D. of Greensburg, Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. Morris are active members of the Baptist Church at Bluffton and he is chairman of its finance committee and one of the most liberal supporters of the church and its various causes. He is affiliated with Bluffton Lodge No. 145, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is also a member of the Royal Arch Chapter, the Council of the Knights Templar Commandery at Bluffton, and is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner. He also belongs to Bluffton Lodge No. 796 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Morris has always taken an active and intelligent interest in public affairs, and has done much to promote worthy movements and in- stitutions in the city where his business career has been spent. Besides his store he is a stockholder in the Studabaker Bank, in the W. B. Brown Company and the H. C. Bays Company. Politically Mr. Morris is a pronounced democrat, and has long been an active and influential figure in the party though not an office seeker. He was a member of the city council eight years, and he made that office an opportunity for doing much well considered and substantial improvement in the municipal affairs. Mr. Morris is a big hearted liberal citizen and one of the most useful members of the community. He is now practically retired from active business and he and his wife spend much of their time in their cottage at Lake George. They have a beautiful home at 427 West Wiley Avenue in Bluffton.
JOHN A. MORRIS
MARY E. MORRIS
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THOMAS C. GULDIN, now serving his second term as surveyor of Wells County, has worked hard for every honor and snecess that has come to him. As a boy he was contributing to the support of the family by the time he was fifteen, and with himself to look after he managed to acquire a liberal education through his own earnings and for a long period of years was one of the most successful teachers in this part of Indiana.
Mr. Guldin was born on a farm in old Berks County, Pennsylvania, March 23, 1872. His parents, Jeremiah and Amelia (Lamm) Guldin, spent all their lives in that section of Pennsylvania, so rich in history. Until he was fifteen Thomas C. Guldin grew up on the home farm in Berks County and had his early advantages in the common schools. In 1887 he came to Wells County, Indiana, where he found employment with his uncle at monthly wages on a farm in Laneaster Township. He worked on the farm steadily throughout the summer months and at- tended the local distriet school during the winter. He also put in three years of work in Rock Creek Township on a farm. During a couple of years Mr. Guldin sent part of his wages back home to his parents. He made the best possible use of his opportunities to secure an education, and by attending the county normal seeured his first license to teach. During the winter of 1891-92 he taught a district school in Wells County and continued the vocation of an educator for nineteen years. His teaching was done in the intervals of other work and of study in advanced courses at different schools. He attended Valparaiso University for a time and has two years of eredits with the State Normal School of Indiana. In 1900-02 Mr. Guldin was principal of the Newville School and was again with that school from 1908 to 1910. In 1903-04 Mr. Guldin was deputy county surveyor of Wells County.
In 1914 he was nominated for the office of county surveyor, begin- ning his official term January 1, 1915. In 1916 he was re-elected. Mr. Guldin is a practical civil engineer, and has handled the duties of his office with complete satisfaction to all concerned.
In August, 1900, he married Miss Della D. Ormsby, who was horn in Union Township of Wells County, daughter of the late Oliver Ormsby. Mr. and Mrs. Guldin have one son, Wendell A., born September 6, 1909, and they also have an adopted daughter, Martha J., born May 24, 1917. The family are members of the Reformed Church, Mr. Guldin being one of the elders and very active in church matters. He has been superin- tendent of the Sunday school since 1911. In polities he is a dem- ocrat. Mr. Guldin is past chancellor of Bluffton Lodge No. 92, Knights of Pythias, and a member of the Grand Lodge, and is also affiliated with Bluffton Lodge No. 114, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Bluff- ton Lodge No. 145, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
JAMES M. MANN has been one of the leading factors in the business and eivie affairs of Poneto in Wells County for a number of years. He has spent practically all his life in Wells County, and his family are identified with the county by many ties and associations extending baek into pioneer days.
His father was the late Henry A. Mann, who was born in Monroe County, West Virginia, July 8, 1828. The great-grandfather Jacob Mann was a native of Germany and founded a family in Virginia in colonial times. The grandfather Michael Mann was born in Virginia August 12, 1795. The mother of Henry A. Mann was Cynthia Walker, who was born in Virginia January 5, 1797. Michael and Cynthia were married March 14, 1816, and then located on a farm in Virginia, Michael being both a farmer and a blacksmith. In 1833 they came to Vol. 11-9
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Henry County, Indiana, and entered land from the government. On this old homestead Cynthia Mann died September 30, 1871. Michael married a second wife and his death occurred at Rensselaer, Indiana, December 21, 1889. His children were: Clayton W., born June 29, 1819; Jacob C., born July 20, 1821; Marinda, born July 5, 1823; Leroy, born March 7, 1826; Henry A., born July 8, 1828; Christopher D., born December 11, 1830, and Lucinda C., born October 6, 1833.
Henry A. Mann grew up on his father's farm in Indiana, attended the district schools and also Franklin College, and at the age of twenty- one started out to make his own way in the world. On January 3, 1856, he married Martha Allen, daughter of William and Sarah (Prather) Allen. William Allen was born in North Carolina September 7, 1798, and his wife was born October 8, 1806. William Allen was a son of Reuben Allen. William and wife were married in Wayne County, Indiana, October 19, 1826, and some years later they moved to Madison County, Indiana, and made that their home the rest of their days. William Allen and wife had eight children: James, born July 30, 1827, and died February 15, 1893; Thomas C., born September 10, 1829, died November 11, 1854; Martha, born October 16, 1831; W. A., born in March, 1834, became a physician and surgeon; Jonathan P., born August 12, 1837, died January 5, 1862, while a soldier in the Union army; Benjamin F., born February 6, 1840, became a dentist; Mary E., born November 16, 1842, died September 19, 1845; and Rachel, born December 15, 1846.
Henry A. Mann after his marriage located on a farm in Henry County, renting land for three years, and in 1860 came to Nottingham Township in Wells County and bought the hundred acres which he improved from a virtual wilderness into a splendid farm. That was his home seventeen years and altogether he owned 180 acres and was a stockholder in the Poneto Elevator. Henry A. Mann and wife had two children : Emma, born August 16, 1857, and died September 2, 1859, and James M. Henry A. Mann enlisted October 16, 1864, in Company K of the Fifty-third Indiana Infantry and saw some active service towards the close of the rebellion. He was a republican in politics.
James M. Mann was born in Madison County, Indiana, near Pendle- ton, April 15, 1860, and was six weeks of age when his parents moved to Wells County, arriving May 29, 1860. They located in Nottingham Township where he grew to manhood and where he acquired his early education in the common schools.
On December 25, Christmas Day, 1879, Mr. Mann married Miss Sarah Stahl. She was born in Harrison Township, of Wells County, daughter of William and Anna (DeWitt) Stahl. William Stahl came to Wells County in 1838 and entered government land in Harrison Township. His father acquired altogether 800 acres of which Wm. Stahl got 160 acres, at this time completely covered with heavy timber, and he saw most of that improved and in cultivation. His own home was on one of the quarter sections, and was one of the best improved in the township. William Stahl and the father of James M. Mann both died on the same day, their funerals were preached the same day and they were buried in the same cemetery. Mrs. Mann was one of eight children, five of whom are still living: Sarah, Mrs. Mann ; Ellen, wife of Jonathan G. Miller: Josephine, wife of Lewis George; Susan, widow of Daniel Rush, and Hester A., wife of Joseph C. Huffman.
Mr. and Mrs. Mann have one child, Lillie, who graduated from the common schools and is now the wife of Frank Ifer. They now live on a farm in Chester Township and are the parents of two sons, Dowell, aged seven, and Reginald, aged six. Mr. and Mrs. Mann are active
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members of the Baptist Church and he is one of its trustees and super- intendent of its Sunday School. Politically he is active as a democrat. In April, 1904, Mr. Mann removed to Poneto and was a stockholder and manager of the Poneto Elevator until 1911. He owns and still gives his supervision to a fine farm of 205 acres in that vicinity.
E. A. SHADLE. One of the prosperous farmers and well known men of Wells County, whose valuable property is situated in Chester Township, belongs to an old and respected family of this section. He was born on a farm in Chester township, Wells County, October 11, 1867, and is a son of Philip and Margaret Donnelly Shadle.
Philip Shadle, who is one of Chester Township's venerable and most esteemed residents, was born in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, April 14, 1820, a son of Philip and Mary (McGlade) Shadle. The father was born in Pennsylvania but the mother was a native of Ireland and had been brought to America and to Pennsylvania when two years old and was reared in Dauphin County. The parents of Philip Shadle moved to Lebanon County and made their home there for thirty-five years, then moved to Wayne County and later to Holmes County, Ohio. From there in 1847 they came to Wells County, Indiana, where Mr. Shadle put up a primitive log cabin but soon after replaced it with a hewed log structure which was one of the first of its kind in this part of the county.
Philip Shadle reached manhood while the family home was in Ohio and was married in Wayne County to Margaret Donnelly, who was a daughter of John and Fannie (Swiger) Donnelly, who had moved from Pennsylvania to Wayne County in 1835 and to Holmes County in 1850. In the year following the removal of his father's family to Wells County, Philip Shadle and his family came and during the first year all lived together and then Philip, being a carpenter, built an addition to the hewed log house and the family was then more comfortably settled. His mother died in 1855 and his father in 1874. During his active years Mr. Shadle was a very industrious man and in addition to working as a carpenter cleared and improved more than 150 acres of land. He has always been a republican in politics and still takes much interest in matters relating to that organization and to public affairs in general, being a very remarkable man.
To Philip Shadle and his wife fifteen children were born and named as follows: Mary J., who married Winfield Venham; Zillah, who mar- ried J. M. Venham; William A .; Newton; James N .; Lucetta, who mar- ried John Godfrey ; and Reason A., Ellen, Samuel, John, Eli A., Oscar M., Ada Chambers, Lissa and Philip. The mother of this family died in 1917, when aged eighty-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Shadle were among the organizers of the United Presbyterian Church at Warren, Indiana, and always faithful members.
Eli A. Shadle remained at home until his marriage and obtained his education in the Chester Township schools. He has always been a farmer and a successful one and gives considerable attention to raising good stock. He owns eighty acres of excellent, well cared for land. He is one of the stockholders in the elevator at Poneto and is counted a man of fine business judgment.
Mr. Shadle was married September 9, 1895, to Miss Emma Alspach of this township. Politically he is a republican.
JOHN LESLIE REDDING, M. D. Devoting his native talents and abil- ities to one of the most useful, and at the same time one of the most exacting, of all professions, John L. Redding, M. D., of Bluffton, holds a noteworthy position among the skillful and successful physicians and
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surgeons of Wells County. A son of Rufus Redding, he was born October 23, 1876, on a farm in Salamonie Township, about ten miles west of Bluffton.
His paternal grandfather, John Redding, was born, reared and married in Wilkes County, North Carolina, of which his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Nicholson, was also a native. He was of patriotic stock, his ancestors having fought bravely in the Revolutionary army. In 1853 he came with his wife and children to Huntington County, Indiana, and having bought a tract of wild land, improved, with true pioneer courage, the farm in Rock Creek Township on which he spent his remaining years, both he and his wife living to be quite old.
Born in Wilkes County, North Carolina, July 20, 1849, Rufus Red- . ding was a small child when brought by his parents to Rock Creek Township, Huntington County. He grew to manhood on the parental homestead, gleaning his elementary education during the winter terms of the district school, and later advancing his studies at Roanoke Academy and at a private normal school in Markle, Indiana. Seenring a teacher's license when but eighteen years old, he tanght school in Huntington County, in both Salamonie and Rock Creek townships, continuing even after his marriage as a teacher during the winter seasons, having charge of his father-in-law's farm during the summer, he having married when young. Two years after his marriage he bought ninety-two acres of land in Salamonie Township, going in debt for it to a considerable extent. Industrious and thrifty, he labored intelligently, and in due course of time paid off all of his indebtedness and bought other land, becoming owner of 194 acres, a part of it being in Salamonie Township and a part in Rock Creek Township. Having accumulated a competency, he is now living retired in Warren, Indiana. Both are members of the Warren Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a republican in politics, and served one term as township trustee of Salamonie Township.
Rufus Redding married, August 9, 1870, Louisa Foreman. She was born in Clinton County, Ohio, and as a girl was brought by her parents, Obadiah and Sarah ( Hamilton) Foreman, to Huntington County, Indiana, where she completed her early education, having had Mr. Red- ding, her future husband, as a teacher. Five children were born of their union, as follows: Ellis Linden, who graduated from the com- mercial department of the Marion Normal College, is now living in Marion, Indiana ; Cora L., wife of Harvey Brown; John Leslie, the sub- ject of this sketch; Rufus Marion, and Olive E.
Having laid a substantial foundation for his future education in the district schools of Salamonie Township, John L. Redding attended the Marion Normal College two years, and the Valparaiso University a part of two seasons, and the Indiana University one year, taking the classical course. He then entered the medical department of the Indiana University, and after taking the full course of four years was gradnated with the degree of M. D. Dr. Redding immediately located at Rockford, Wells County, where he continued as a physician and surgeon for thirteen years, meeting with signal success from the start. In 1917 he removed to Bluffton, where he has already gained prestige in his profession and is rapidly building up an extensive patronage.
Dr. Redding married, in August, 1903, Annie Roberts, a daughter of John and Mary J. Roberts. The Doctor and Mrs. Redding have two children, John R., a pupil in the Bluffton High School, and Robert L. The Doctor is identified with the agricultural affairs of Wells County to some extent, having a farm in Rock Creek Township. He is a mem- ber of the county and state medical societies, and of the American Medical association. In politics he is a steadfast republican. Fra-
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ternally the Doctor belongs to Markle Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; to Salamonie Lodge No. 392, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and to Rockford Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men.
DAVID GERBER. Special interest attaches to the career of this well known and highly esteemed citizen of Decatur, since he is a native of Adams County, and represents some of the sterling Swiss stock that settled here in pioneer times and has himself been prominently con- eerned with civie and business activities for many years. He is a former county elerk, but is most widely known because of his operations as a livestock man and in the handling of horses and also as operator of stone quarries.
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