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 20
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 20
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Mr. Gerber's home is at 811 North Third Street in Decatur. He has a large stone quarry in the western part of Blue Creek Township and this industry alone employs ten men and furnishes a large part of the erushed stone and other material used in road construction and for other purposes in this section of Indiana. He operates a stone erusher and for the past five years his quarry has been one of the principal sourees of crushed stone for county roads.
For a much longer period, thirty-five years, Mr. Gerber has been a dealer in horses. He has bought horses locally and is widely known as an importer and exporter. For five years he was associated with Mr. J. M. Frisinger in the business of exporting American horses to the Ger- man trade. While sending American horses abroad they shipped baek to this country some of the fine Belgian and French thoroughbreds. Mr. Gerber has also built up a rather extensive business in breeding Belgian horses. At the present time he is owner of three of the best stallions of this stock in northeastern Indiana. The names of these pure bred horses are Piston Sehen, Haptal and Moniau de Bove. These horses weigh about two thousand pounds apiece, and they exemplify in themselves and in their progeny some of the finest characteristics of the Belgian and French stock. Mr. Gerber's horse business is con- centrated on his farm of 102 aeres in seetion 6 of Washington Township. This is one of the finer farms of Adams County. Ile has a large barn, forty by eighty feet, with numerous other outbuildings and a substantial eight room farm home.
Mr. David Gerber was born on a farm in section 6 of Wabash Town- ship, Adams County, March 1, 1861. In the locality of his birth he spent his early years, attending the country schools, and subsequently moved to Berne where for eleven years he had his headquarters as a stoek dealer and meat merchant. He has been a resident of Decatur for the past twenty-four years.
His parents, Christian and Elizabeth (Smutt) Gerber, were both natives of Canton Berne, Switzerland. His father was born in 1802 and his mother in 1826 and they and all their ancestors were of the Swiss Reformed Church. They married in Switzerland and all their children except David were born in the old country. In 1852 the little family embarked on a sailing vessel from Antwerp and forty-two days later arrived in New York City. Thence they pursued their westward journey by railroad to Cleveland, on to Fort Wayne by the Miami Canal, and on the banks of the Canal they loaded their simple posses- sions into a wagon drawn by ox teams and eame to what is now the Village of Berne when all that country was almost a total wilderness. The woods were filled with game when they arrived and they built their first homes in the woods. Here the father lived the industrious life of a farmer until his death in 1884. His widow survived him until 1914 and passed away at the age of eighty-eight.
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David Gerber, who is the only one of his parents' children born in this country, has a brother and sister still living. The brother John lives at Berne, is a retired farmer and has a family of children. Rosetta is the wife of William Spiker, also a retired farmer at Berne, and they have children.
David Gerber married in Berne Miss Sarah Moesehberger, who was born in French Township of Adams County October 24, 1862. She is a daughter of Jacob and Rosa (Reafe) Moeschberger, both natives of Switzerland, who came with their respective parents to the United States in the early '50s, crossing the ocean by sailing vessel. For a few years these families lived in Ohio and then removed to French Town- ship of Adams County, where Mrs. Gerber's grandparents spent their last years, after clearing up good farms. Jacob Moesehberger and wife were married in Deeatur and established their home on a farm in French Township. Mrs. Gerber was next to the youngest child and was eighteen months old when her mother died at the birth of her thirteenth child. Both the mother and infant died, the mother being only thirty-four years of age. She had been married at the age of eighteen. Of these eight sons and five daughters twelve grew to maturity, ten married and seven are still living. Mrs. Gerber is now the only daughter of the family surviving. Her father Jacob Moesehberger afterwards spent many years in California, but finally returned to Adams County and lived here the last few years of his life until his death in 1905 at the age of eighty-two. He was a democrat and he and his wife were Reformed Church people.
Mr. and Mrs. Gerber have three living children. One daughter Nettie, born at Berne in 1888, died in infancy. Tilman H., the oldest of the three living, is a successful farmer in Washington Township. He married Lydia Heckman of Preble Township and their family con- sists of Helen G., Carl D. and Mareella C. Edgar H., who was born in 1889, is like his brother well educated in the public schools and is now engaged in the grocery business in Decatur. He married Lela Sehafer of Union Township, Adams County. The daughter, Lulu E., born October 14, 1896, has finished her education in the Decatur High School, is pursuing work in music at Fort Wayne, and still is in the home circle. All the family are confirmed members of the Reformed Church. Mr. Gerber has been quite a prominent demoerat in Adams County and in 1902 was elected county clerk, an office he filled with credit and efficiency for four years.
ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH OF DECATUR. It is now eighty years since the first serviees of the Catholic Church were held in the pioneer village of Decatur. As recorded elsewhere, the town was laid out in 1836, and the first Catholic settlers eame in 1837, Henry Dirkes, Henry Minter, Joseph Smith, Anthony Kohne and Bernard IIolthans. At the time the town was platted Samuel L. Ruggs, one of its founders, donated mueh land for publie purposes, and gave lots for nearly all the churches, including one for the Catholie denomination. By 1838 there were sev; eral additions to the Catholic population and in the spring of that year Father Mueller came to celebrate the first mass at the home of George Fittieh. He was a missionary priest, and though with the rapid growth of Decatur many other Catholie families eame, the community was at- tended by missionaries for a number of years. The second priest at Decatur was Father Hamion. He officiated January 10, 1841, when the first Catholie marriage was solemnized between Timothy Coffee and Margaret Mueller. The first Catholic children baptized in the hamlet were Minnie Holthaus and Mary Closs.
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The third priest was Father Joseph Rudolph, who undertook the arduous task of raising funds to construct a house of worship. With the assistance of the local Catholics he raised a few hundred dollars for that purpose, but the building was deferred for several years. In 1842 ground was purchased for a Catholic cemetery in the southeastern part of the village.
The fifth priest at Decatur was Father E. M. Faller, who in 1846 began the erection of the first Catholic Church edifice. The timbers for that building were hauled through the deep mud with ox teams by members of the Spuller family. Up to that time mass had been cele- brated in the Fittich house, the Closs tavern and the old court house. The first church was plastered in 1847 and Father Faller paid $60 for the first church bell, bought at Cincinnati and shipped by canal to Fort Wayne. Father Faller increased the property of the church until it owned six lots, comprising a half block.
The first resident priest at Decatur was Father Schultes, who in 1852 erected the first priest's house. He remained until 1856 and was succeeded by numerous other priests who remained for varying in- tervals, seldom more than two years. Father John Wemhoff, who was local priest from 1865 until 1872, raised the money and supervised the laying of the foundation for the present brick church. This church was built and dedicated under Father S. Von Schwedler, who was local pastor from 1872 to 1877.
The priest who for the longest time presided over the destinies of St. Mary's congregation and is best remembered by the Catholic popu- lation of the county was Father H. Theodore Wilken, who came to Decatur in July, 1880, and performed his duties with continued zeal and efficiency until his death on October 20, 1913. One of his first labors was to erect a new brick schoolhouse, which was finished in 1881, and in 1885 he erected a new parsonage. This parsonage thirty years ago was ranked as the best building in the diocese of Fort Wayne. Father Wilken was especially zealous in the cause of education, and also did much to strengthen the influence of the Catholic Church all over Adams County. He was thoroughly beloved by his own parishoners, and came into close and intimate contact with people of all classes, and enjoyed their utmost respect.
The present pastor of St. Mary's Church is Rev. Julius A. Seimetz. He entered upon his duties as local pastor in February, 1914. He has continued the good work of his predecessor and now has a congregation of 300 families, nearly half of which come from the surrounding farm- ing districts. The parochial school has an enrollment of 270 pupils, presided over by eight teachers. The school, church and parish house are all substantial buildings, but the congregation is now planning to build a new and larger church.
Father Seimetz was born in Michigan City, Indiana, April 17, 1871, and lived there until he was eighteen years of age. He then entered the college at Rensselaer, Indiana, going into that institution when its doors were first opened to students. He took his classical course there, and studied theology in St. Francis Seminary at Milwaukee, graduating with the class of 1901. He was ordained June 21, 1901, at the cathedral at Fort Wayne by Rt. Rev. Herman Joseph Alerding. For a time he was assistant priest at Peru, Indiana, and then took his first regular pastorate at Reynolds, Indiana. He was there two years, and gave much vigor and vitality to that church, which was the only Catholic Church in White County and the center of all Catholic influences in that section of the state. From Reynolds Father Seimetz went to
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Lafayette, Indiana, where for six years he was superintendent in charge of the Boys Orphanage.
Father Seimetz is a son of John and Mary (Timm) Seimetz, both born in the Rhine provinces of Germany. They came to America when young people and were married at Michigan City, where all their chil- dren were born and reared. Father Seimetz has a nephew, son of one of his sisters, who is now building the first parish house at Gary, Indiana. Another nephew, Joseph Seimetz, is assistant in St. Joseph's Church at Logansport, Indiana. Both these nephews are promising young pastors. Father Seimetz' parents are both now deceased, hav- ing passed away in Michigan City, Indiana, where they were active members and supporters of the Catholic Church.
Father Seimetz' assistant is Rev. Anthony J. Kroeger. He was born at Mendota, Illinois, July 5, 1890, hut was reared and received his parochial school education at Aurora, Illinois. He took his classical, philosophical and theologieal courses in St. Meinrad Seminary in Indi- ana. graduating with the class of 1914. He was ordained June 27 of the same year at Fort Wayne by Bishop Alerding, and on the eighth of July arrived at Decatur to take up his work as assistant to Father Seimetz. He has won the confidence of the people and of his pastor, and is a hard-working, earnest and devoted young priest.
FRANK STAFFORD. The Stafford family has for many years been identified with the industrial and commercial interests of Bluffton. N. E. Stafford is proprietor of the Bluffton Milling Company, while Mr. Frank Stafford, his son, is one of the live coal and grain merchants, having a large and well equipped establishment in the western part of the city.
Frank Stafford was born in Murray, Indiana, June 7, 1879, a son of N. E. and Louisa J. ( Eversole) Stafford. His parents are still living in Bluffton. His father has served as trustee of Lancaster Township. At an early age he entered the milling business, selling his plant at Rich- mond. Indiana, in 1884, and then going into partnership with his cousin in the same business. After three years he went back to his old home town and conducted the mill there until 1903, when he bought the mill he now owns.
Frank Stafford was educated in the schools of his native town, also at Valparaiso and Marion, Indiana, and was a teacher in early life. having charge of some of the schools in Laneaster Township for four and a half years. He gave up school work in April, 1903, and coming to Bluffton assisted in rebuilding the mill and was associated with his father in business until March, 1910. He then bought the coal and grain business and is one of the leading dealers in grain, feed and coal. He also has a half interest in forty aeres of land in Lancaster Township.
June 28, 1911, Mr. Stafford married Miss Bessie Davis of Rensselaer, Jasper County, Indiana. She was born at Wolcott, White County, and was well educated in the common schools and also in the musical con- servatory of DePauw University. Mr. and Mrs. Stafford are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally he is affiliated with Bluffton Lodge No. 796 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and is past chancellor of Lodge No. 259, Knights of Pythias. Politically he is a democrat.
DAVID L. WILKINS is manager of the Boss Manufacturing Company at Bluffton. His experience from early boyhood has been chiefly in manufacturing lines, and with the present industry, and he has served
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in every capacity from a humble employe earning 50 cents a day to management of plants in different parts of Indiana and Ohio.
Mr. Wilkins was born July 23. 1887, in Lancaster Township, a quar- ter of a mile east of the City of Bluffton. He is a son of William T. and Clara B. (Gambel) Wilkins. His father was a native of Michigan and his mother of Huntington County, Indiana. They were married in Wells County, and his father has followed different lines of employment and is now living at Fort Wayne.
David L. Wilkins was one of six sons. He was reared in Lancaster Township and also in the City of Bluffton, and attended public schools in both places. As a young man he began working in the local glove factory and filled places in different departments at Bluffton until he was eighteen, when he was transferred to Van Wert, Ohio, for about seven months, then at Findlay for a short time, at Mansfield, Ohio, two and a half years, and at Columbus about one year. He then returned to Indiana and was at Fort Wayne from December, 1914, until July, 1915, when he was returned to Bluffton and made local manager of the plant.
August 5, 1909, Mr. Wilkins married Hannah J. Rempis. She was born in Allen County, Indiana, daughter of F. J. Rempis, and is a grad- uate of the German Lutheran parochial schools. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins have two children : David V., born in 1914, and William F., born August 9, 1917. Mr. Wilkins is a member of Bluffton Lodge No. 92, Knights of Pythias, and in polities is independent.
GABRIEL SHROCK was one of the fine upstanding citizens and pro- gressive farmers of Harrison Township for a long period of years, and some of his children still live in Wells County and exemplify the probity of character and the industry which made him a notable man in his time.
He was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1831, and died at his home in Harrison Township June 29, 1909. His parents were Samuel and Christina (Harbaugh) Schrock, both natives of Penn- sylvania and of German descent. Gabriel Schrock was a year old when his father died and after that he lived five years with his grandfather Harbaugh and then grew to his majority with an unele, William McBride. He accompanied the McBride family to Wells County on February 21, 1841. Gabriel Shrock had limited advantages in the way of schools, and at an early age began learning the trade of cabinet maker from his uncle. On reaching his majority he started out for himself with no capital, but being a skilled man at his trade, found plenty of work to do and was not long in getting a start.
On May 23, 1854, he married Miss E. B. Gottschalk, who was born November 10, 1835, and died December 11, 1909. Her father, Jacob Gottschalk, was a native of Germany but had come to America when Mrs. Shroek was about six years old. Mr. and Mrs. Shrock were mar- ried at Bluffton by Rev. Mr. Black and they remained in that city, where he was employed at journeyman work for a couple of years. On September 16, 1856, he established a business of his own and in 1873 changed his occupation to carpentry for the sake of his health. On September 7. 1881. Gabriel Shrock moved to his farm in Harrison Town- ship. He had previously bought the land, heavily covered with timber, and went industriously to work clearing it up and making it a highly cultivated and valuable homestead. For a number of years he owned and operated about 100 acres and was engaged in its tillage until his death. Gabriel Shrock was a democrat in polities and his wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Bluffton. Seven chil- dren were born to Gabriel and Mrs. Shrock, five of whom grew to maturity. Mary J. was educated in the Bluffton schools and at the
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age of fourteen began teaching and at one time was considered one of the best primary teachers in Indiana. She married John W. Owens, by whom she was the mother of one child, Mable, who married Seth Snider and lives in Lancaster Township. Mrs. Owens later became the wife of William Myers and is now deceased. The son George L. was educated in the public schools of Bluffton and is now married and in the grocery business at Hartford City, Indiana. Three children, Anna, J. A. Shrock and Belle, have never married and have always remained together. After the death of the parents they bought the old homestead but sold it in 1917 and then bought twenty-five acres in Harrison Township where they live with every comfort and convenience. J. A. Shrock was born in Bluffton and educated in the public schools there and is an active democrat. All the children were well educated and most of them were trained for work as teachers. Miss Belle Shrock has gained no small local reputation as a poultry raiser. They have a large flock of the single comb Brown Leghorn, and have besides much other good livestock. Miss Belle Shrock is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Bluffton.
JOHN WILEY. One of the many well-to-do and substantial agri- culturists of Wells County, John Wiley, of Liberty Township, has a fine farm of eighty acres, the greater part of which is under tillage and well supplied with comfortable and convenient farm buildings. A native of Indiana, he was born January 21, 1855, in Salmon Township, Huntington County, a son of Robert Wiley, coming from Virginian ancestry.
Robert Wiley was born in Virginia, where he lived until twelve years of age. He then accompanied his parents to Ohio, and a year later came with them to Jackson Township, Wells County, Indiana, where he grew to man's estate. Becoming a farmer from choice, he located first in Salmon Township, Huntington County, and after three years in that locality, came with his family to Liberty Township, Wells County, where he spent the remainder of his life. He married Sarah Jones, a native of Huntington County, and to them eleven children were born, of whom seven are living, as follows: Perry, of Adams County ; A. J .; Nancy, widow of L. D. Roush; Jane, wife of John Gor- don, of Rock Creek Township; Mary, wife of Nat Baston, of Texas, and Mahala, who is married and lives in Texas; and John.
John Wiley has lived in Liberty Township since a child of three years, and since attaining manhood has been identified with its agri- cultural interests. He has a well improved farm, to the management of which he has ever devoted his time and energies, carrying on general farming after the most approved modern methods.
Mr. Wiley married Miss Nancy J. Day, and to them six children have been born, four of whom are living, namely: Willie E., residing in Liberty Center; Nettie, wife of Charles Moon, lives in Illinois; Dora, and Earl. Politically Mr. Wiley is a firm supporter of the principles of the democratic party.
JAMES HESHER. For many years Wells County people have con- gratulated themselves that one of the county's most important institu- tions, the County Infirmary, has been under the management and direc- tion of the Hesher family. The present superintendent of the infirmary is Mr. James Hesher, and he succeeded his father Adam Hesher in that place. During both administrations the county farm has been conducted in an economical manner, has practically been self sustaining, and at
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the same time the inmates have received the best of eare and every appropriate provision for their comfort and welfare.
Mr. James Hesher was born on a farm in Lancaster Township half a mile north of Bluffton on the old Peter Studabaker farm July 10, 1884. His father, Adam Hesher, who is now living on a farm in Adamı- son Township, was born in Pike County, Ohio, June 21, 1855, a son of Frederick and Christina (Smith ) Hesher. His parents were both natives of Germany, came to the United States when young, were mar- ried in Pike County, Ohio, and later removed to Fayette county in that state, where Frederick Hesher died. His widow subsequently eame to Wells County, Indiana, and spent her last years. They were the parents of three sons: Fred Hesher, now in Illinois; Adam, and Abraham.
Adam Hesher was about seventeen years old when he eame to Wells County, and found employment with the old pioneer Peter Studabaker. He worked faithfully for Mr. Studabaker thirteen years, and sub- sequently became manager of the old Studabaker farm. In April, 1877, he married Miss Elizabeth Ratliff, who was born in Ohio and was brought to Wells County, Indiana, when a girl. Adam Hesher was appointed superintendent of the Wells County Infirmary and entered upon the duties of that office in May, 1911, serving until March, 1914. His value as superintendent was greatly enhanced by the active eo-opera- tion of his very efficient wife. For eighteen years Adam Hesher served as gravel road superintendent for Wells County. He is a prominent demoerat and a member of the American Meehanies Lodge. He and his wife had five children: David, who lives at Fort Wayne, Indiana; John, in the grocery business in Adams County; Frank, a farmer in Harrison Township; James, and Charles, a farmer in Harrison Town- ship.
James Hesher grew up on a farm in Laneaster Township, and most of his education was acquired in the old Toll Gate schoolhouse. Sehool- ing in winter and farming in summer made up his chief experiences until he was twenty-one, when he started out for himself and found employment at monthly wages on a farm. On February 19, 1906, he married Miss Jennie Lutz, who was born in Lancaster Township October 23, 1886, a daughter of Ephraim Lutz. Mrs. Hesher was edueated in the common schools of Lancaster Center. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hesher located on a farm in Lancaster Township and later lived in Roek Creek Township, and in January, 1914, he aeeepted appoint- ment to his present duties as superintendent of the Wells County Infirmary.
Mr. and Mrs. Hesher have two daughters: Carrie P., horn May 26, 1907, and Josephine, born April 19, 1912. Mrs. Hesher is a member of the Murray Christian Church. In politics he is a democrat who has been quite active sinee reaching manhood and has served as a member of the Central Committee from Hancock Township. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of Bluffton, and Mrs. Hesher is a member of the Maceabees.
JAMES LAWRENCE GOODIN. An industrious and enterprising young business man of Bluffton, James L. Goodin is eminently worthy of rep- resentation in a work of this eharaeter, not only as a native-born citizen of Wells County, but as the deseendant of one of its early settlers. A son of James D. Goodin, he was born on a farm at Five Points, Chester Township, September 25, 1885.
Samuel Goodin, his paternal grandfather, was born and reared in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and was of honored Welsh ancestry. He was taken by his parents to Perry County, Ohio, when a boy, but
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after his marriage settled in Morrow County, Ohio, where he resided until his death, April 24, 1854. He married, in 1835, Elizabeth Donald- son, who outlived him many years. In the spring of 1855, about one year after the death of her husband, Mrs. Elizabeth (Donaldson) Goodin migrated with her family to Allen County, Indiana. In February, 1858, she settled in Chester Township, Wells County, and was there a resident until her death, in 1880.
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