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 22
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 22
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His great-grandfather, Samuel J. Riddile, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania. in 1800, a son of Samuel and Martha (Johnson) Riddile and a grandson of David Riddile who was of Seotch descent.
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Samuel Riddile moved to Mahoning County, Ohio, in 1807, and became prominent as the owner of a saw and grist mill, a carding mill, and also operated a distillery for a time. It was in that county that Samuel J. Riddile grew to manhood, and in 1824 he married Miss Matilda Taylor, who was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 1800, daughter of George and Betsy Taylor, of Irish ancestry. The Taylor family had moved to Portage County, Ohio, in 1804. After his marriage Samuel J. Riddile settled on a farm near his father's home, but in 1840 came to Wells County, Indiana, and bought 160 acres of wild land near Bluff- ton. He developed and improved that place and lived there until his death in 1855. At the time of his death he was and had been for a number of years an elder in the Presbyterian Church. His wife died in 1850.
Samuel L. Riddile, grandfather of Forrest Riddile, was one of a family of five children, and was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, March 12, 1827. He was thirteen years of age when his parents came to Wells County, and he was old enough to take an active part in the clearing of the woods and the development of a pioneer farm. His education was largely acquired in a subscription school held in a log cabin. After reaching manhood he was given eighty acres of the old homestead by his father, and he proceeded industriously with the clearing away of the woods and the making of a good farm. This place was in Harrison Township, but in 1864 he sold it and bought 160 acres in section 12 of Rock Creek Township. In 1886 he removed to Bluffton. He was an active democrat, filled the office of township trustee and was also a county commissioner. He and his wife were stanch members of the Presbyterian Church. Samuel L. Riddile married March 10, 1857, Miss Mary A. Van Emon, who was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1837, and was brought to Wells County by her parents in 1847. The children of Samuel L. Riddile and wife were three in number, the only son being James Theodore.
James Theodore Riddile, father of Forrest, was for many years identified with the farming activities of Wells County, assisted his father in clearing some of the land, and lived in Rock Creek Township until his death on February 17, 1900. He married Lizzie King, also a native of Wells County, and she is still living. There were only two children, Mary, deceased, and Forrest.
Forrest Riddile was born on the old homestead in Rock Creek Town- ship October 29, 1893. He acquired a good education in the public schools of Bluffton and also took a course in the Agricultural School at Winona, Indiana. Mr. Riddile is now owner of ninety-two acres of land and his mother owns a place of forty-seven acres. All of this is under his personal direction, and either as an agriculturist or as a public spirited citizen he has done credit to a family that has been for so long identified with this county. He is a republican voter and a member of the Reformed Church.
Mr. Riddile married Miss Bertha Viola Schwartz, daughter of Oscar and Annie Schwartz of Rock Creek Township. Three children have been horn to their marriage: Lloyd S., Alice Evangeline and Martha Mary. Mrs. Riddile has brothers and sisters named David, Otis, Sela and Ida, all unmarried.
MRS. SUSANNAH SNYDER. It is a wonderful thing to have lived to be ninety-two years old and such has been the experience of Mrs. Susannah Snyder, who has been a resident of Lancaster Township and on the same farm, for the past fifty-seven years. Mrs. Snyder is one of the best
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known women in this part of Wells County and has family and friends who love and esteem her.
Mrs. Snyder was born in Greene County, Ohio, September 21, 1826. Iler father was named John W. Wolf and he was twice married, first to Mary Hawker and second to Rebecca Swadner. The children of his first marriage were: Israel, Andrew, Catherine, Abraham, Susannah, George, Mary, Louise and Malinda. Those of the second marriage were: William, Benjamin, John M., Edward, Martha and Elizabeth. The par- ents of Mrs. Snyder were born in Pennsylvania and moved to Green County, Ohio, before the War of 1812. The father died June 21, 1877.
Mrs. Snyder was reared in Ohio and was married there September 23, 1852, to John Frederick Snyder, who was born in Germany June 24, 1816, and died April 21. 1877, in Wells County, Indiana. He came here in 1861 with his family. They had 133 acres of very valuable land which is now owned by the son, Walter D., who lives with his mother, and carries on general farming and stockraising and is counted one of the good farmers of the township.
Mrs. Snyder has three children : Charles Allen, a practicing physi- cian of Dubuque, Iowa, for 31 years, married Hattie Richards, of Farley, Iowa; Alice Augusta, who married Newton Hannah, of Wells County, died December 2, 1897; and Walter D., who is nmmarried. Walter D. Snyder is one of the staunch democrats of this section of the county but has never been willing to serve in any political office. He belongs to the Order of the Moose and is identified with Lodge No. 242 at Bluffton, Indiana.
Although it was not a pioneer period when Mrs. Snyder came to Wells County, conditions of living were very different from now and many of the comforts she enjoys were not even thought of at that time. Her farm also was largely unimproved land and there was much hard work to be done by the whole family before its present fine condition was even approached. For one of her years Mrs. Snyder is very active and keeps interested in all that goes on about her and loves to have her many friends visit her. She has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for many years.
WILLIAM I. CLINGENPEEL. Indiana people have great reason to be proud of their fine gravel roads, in the making of which many thousands of dollars have been expended, and their care and supervision requires the services of dependable, experienced men. Such a man is found in William I. Clingenpeel, who, for the past eight years has been the effi- cient superintendent of twenty-five miles of gravel roads. Mr. Clingen- peel is also a large fruit grower in Jackson Township, Wells County.
William J. Clingenpeel was born in Wayne Township, Huntington County, Indiana, February 17, 1856. His parents were Jacob F. and Lavina (Batson) Clingenpeel. His father was born in Germany and in boyhood came to the United States. He grew to manhood in Pennsyl- vania and then came to Indiana, settling on land twelve miles west of Warren, on which he resided until 1856, when he moved to Jackson Township, in Wells County. One year later he removed to Wabash County, Indiana, where he made his home for seven years and then re- turned to Huntington County. About nine months later his wife died and he returned then to Wells County and lived with his son, William I. Clingenpeel, but finally died in Huntington County. He was the father of seven children and three of these survive, namely: Abraham, who lives in Pulaski County, Indiana : Willard, who resides in Hunting- ton County ; and William I., of Wells County.
William 1. Clingenpeel was eleven years old when his beloved mother
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died and her departure was a sad blow to the whole family. Ilis father, as noted above, returned with him to Wells County but the boy had his own way to make in the world, his father not being able to assist him. Therefore he had but meager educational advantages and for a number of years led a very toilsome life. Ile made friends, however, through his integrity and cheerful industry, and by the time he was twenty-six years old was in comfortable enough financial circumstanees as to enable him to marry. On February 25, 1882, he was united with Miss Anna E. Me Elhaney, who was born in Liberty Township, Wells County, May 17, 1860. After marriage they settled 216 miles distant from her father's farm and Mr. Clingenpeel has devoted himself mainly to the growing of fruit and has been very successful. A large part of his time, however, is taken up by the duties of his public office.
Mr. and Mrs. Clingenpeel have two children, namely : Mertie P., who is the wife of Lloyd Stroup, of Salamonie Township, Huntington County, Indiana ; and Alma, who is the wife of Benjamin E. Huffman, a farmer of the above township. Both daughters were given educational oppor- tunities and were reared to be capable and frugal housekeepers by a careful mother. Mr. and Mrs. Clingenpeel are among the valued mem- bers of the United Brethren Church at Mount Zion, Indiana, and both by precept and example are good influences in their community. Mr. Clingenpeel has always been identified with the democratic party since he cast his first vote.
BRUCE W. SHOEMAKER, one of the most progressive and successful agriculturists of Wells County, is the owner of a handsome farm of 240 acres in Lancaster Township. His methods of farm management show sound judgment, combined with deep scientific knowledge of his voca- tion, and the results of his labors demonstrate the fact that high class farming as an occupation may be made profitable as well as pleasant. He has spent nearly all his life sinee infaney in Wells County and during that time has firmly established himself in the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.
He is a son of a Wells County pioneer, the late John Shoemaker. John Shoemaker was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, October 22, 1819. His grandfather, John, was a native of England. The parents of the Wells County pioneer were William and Betsey ( Weleer) Shoe- maker, the former a native of Maryland and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, daughter of John Weleer, of German aneestry. John Shoemaker when a child and after his mother's death went to the home of his grandparents and lived with them until he was nineteen. He had to content himself with a limited amount of schooling. While learning the blacksmith's trade he served an apprenticeship of two years, his wages being only $2.50 a month. After a year of work as a journeyman he set up a shop in Mahoning County, Ohio, and followed his trade there for twelve years.
John Shoemaker came to Wells County in 1854. During the next ten years he was known as one of the reliable and industrious blacksmiths of Bluffton, and while at his trade gradually accumulated the capital which enabled him to fulfill his desires and become a farmer. In 1864 he moved to a tract of 200 aeres of unimproved land in seetions 5 and 8 of Harrison Township, and his labors gradually transformed that land into one of the best farms according to the standards of earlier years. The farm has special interest because the first tile factory in Wells County was established on part of the land in 1868. It was continued in operation until 1884, and during those years most of the tile used for drainage in Wells and adjoining counties was made in that factory.
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John Shoemaker exemplified a sturdy character both as a farmer, business man and citizen, was a stanch supporter of the republican party, and he and his wife were devout members of the Christian Church. He married, March 17, 1842, Rachel Johnson, who was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, April 8, 1825, daughter of John and Catherine (Kline) Johnson, both natives of Pennsylvania, her father of English and her mother of German ancestry. When Mrs. John Shoemaker was ten years of age her parents moved to Ohio. Ten children were born to John Shoe- maker and wife, and the eight who reached mature years were Warren K., Bruce W., John J., Taylor F., Jane, Harriet, Ella and Lizzie.
Bruce W. Shoemaker was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, October 23, 1852, but has no memory of his birthplace, since when he was two years of age the family came to Wells County. He spent part of his boyhood in Bluffton, but his chief memories center around the old homestead in Harrison Township. There he grew to manhood, finished his education in the local schools and for the past forty years has been one of the active farmers of his community. Mr. Shoemaker is a republi- can in politics.
September 7, 1880, he married Anna F. Quick, daughter of John and Annie E. (Beeler) Quick. Mrs. Shoemaker has two sisters: Julia E., wife of Robert Reynolds, and Emma R., who married Stout Patterson and lives at Seattle, Washington. She also has a half sister, living at Bluffton and half brothers named James R. and John W., the latter a bookkeeper for the Gulf Refining Company and living at Port Arthur, Texas.
Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker have a family of four capable sons, John W., Harry E., Raymond B. and Ernest H. Only one is married, John W., whose wife was Jeanette Sherlock, of Port Arthur, Texas. The son Harry's career has been followed with special interest and is a matter of pride to all Wells County people. He graduated from the Annapolis Naval Academy in 1905, and now ranks as a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy. The son Raymond is a teacher in the manual training school at Gary, Indiana. These sons were all well educated, and Mr. Bruce Shoemaker himself is a man of more than average educa- tion and attainments, having spent three years in the University of Indiana at Bloomington before taking up his steady work as a farmer.
GEORGE F. McFARREN. Any number of successful business men in Wells County and elsewhere have frequently taken the opportunity to express their gratitude for the business training and association they had with the late George F. MeFarren, whose name stands out as one of the most conspicuous merchants, business men and citizens who honored Bluffton with their presence and activity.
George F. McFarren was born in Salamonie Township of Hunting- ton County, Indiana, May 30, 1844, and in the maturity of years and performance died at Bluffton June 8, 1913. He was a son of Jacob and Rachel McFarren, who were pioneer farmers and citizens of Huntington County. Jacob McFarren enjoyed a good deal of prosperity for his time and period, and his son owed much to him for the early influences that surrounded his life. The father saw to it that the boy had ample opportunities to secure an education.
With his boyhood days spent on the farm in Huntington County George F. MeFarren accompanied his parents in the '50s to Wells County, and as strength permitted he took an increasing share of the responsibilities on the farm, attending district school regularly every winter. He made such good use of his opportunities in this way that he became a teacher and for several years taught, and might have had a
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brilliant eareer in that profession had he ehosen it permanently. He was especially profieient in mathematies and in his time was regarded with hardly a peer in that subject in Wells County.
To secure a better eommereial training he entered the Iron City Com- mereial School at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, taking the regular course in bookkeeping. In 1866 returning to Bluffton he was offered the posi- tion of deputy auditor and filled that place with marked ability. Later he engaged in the groeery business and was soon enjoying a trade far beyond his most ardent expectations.
In 1880 Mr. MeFarren bought an old property at the northeast eor- ner of Main Street and Market Street in Bluffton, tore down the old building, and replaced it with a substantial brick structure which is still standing and is still one of the best business buildings in the eity. Here he opened the general elothing business with which he was actively eonneeted until his death. He was the type of business man who figures everything out accurately before venturing and pursued his object with such energy that he made his plans as nearly perfeet as is ever possible in human affairs. At the organization of the Wells County Bank he was one of its promoters and remained on the board of directors until his death. He also invested heavily in the oil districts of Adams and Wells counties, and that investment was another proof of his foresight and good judgment.
Those who were long and elosely associated with him will reeall his readiness to support and promote any just and honorable eause for the benefit of the community. But his usefulness as a eitizen went beyond this point and he was equally aggressive in combating anything which he believed would result in harm to the eity or county. He was a very active member and liberal supporter of the Baptist Church. Honest toil, perfect integrity of character, and shrewd and accurate business judg- ment were the factors chiefly responsible for George F. MeFarren's high position in business and eivie affairs at Bluffton.
He was twiee married. December 25, 1866, Martha J. Miller beeame his wife. She died June 14, 1874, leaving one daughter, W. M., who was born May 9, 1869, graduated from the Bluffton High School in 1886 and is now the wife of Will S. Smith of Bluffton. On December 28, 1875, Mr. MeFarren married Martha J. Bennett. She was born in Bluffton December 1, 1849, a daughter of R. C. and Harriet Bennett, one of the oldest and most prominent families of Wells County. By this marriage George F. MeFarren had two sons: Harry A., born April 2, 1877, and Earl R., born May 15, 1884.
Earl R. MeFarren, who inherits mueh of the business ability of his honored father, is one of the live and enterprising merchants of Bluff- ton. He was born at the northeast corner of Main and Market streets in Bluffton May 15, 1884. In his native city he spent his early life, attended the Bluffton High School and for three years was in the Howe Military Sehool at Howe, Indiana, where in addition to literary studies he ac- quired much knowledge of military technique. He was also a student at Franklin College, Franklin, Indiana. Mr. MeFarren served a thorough business apprenticeship under his father and is now proprietor of the MeFarren shoe store and is also owner of the Home Ice Plant. He has a half interest in the five and ten eent store at Greenfield, Indiana.
April 27, 1904, Mr. McFarren married Miss Mary E. Hanna, who was born and reared in Boone County, Indiana, eoming to Wells County with her mother who was a sister of Mr. John A. Morris. Mr. and Mrs. McFarren have two children: George F., born December 3, 1908; and Mary J., born January 26, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. MeFarren are aetive members and supporters of the Baptist Church. He is affiliated with
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Bluffton Lodge No. 145, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, with the Royal Arch Chapter, with Council No. 63, Royal and Select Masters, Commandery No. 38, Knights Templar, being a thirty-second degree Mason and member of Mizpah Shrine, Fort Wayne. He is also identi- fied with the Scottish Rite at Fort Wayne. With the Knights of Pythias he is affiliated in Bluffton Lodge No. 92. Mr. MeFarran is a democrat, though polities makes a slight demand upon his time and aside from his business he gives his chief support to the broader movements which rep- resent the welfare of the community.
WILLIAM L. JONES. Among the highly respected members of the agricultural fraternity in Chester Township none stands higher in public esteem than William L. Jones. With the exception of several short periods he has made his home here all his life and his name is inseparably connected with its agricultural interests, for he has made farming his life work, and today is the owner of a property consisting of eighty acres, his home being located on Poneto Rural Route No. 1.
Mr. Jones was born on a farm in Jackson County, Ohio, May 14, 1853, and is a son of Robert F. and Lavina (Tripp) Jones, who were both born and reared in Ohio and there married. After the birth of three of their children, they came to Wells County, in September, 1853, and settled on the farm which is now owned by their son William L. They were honest and honorable people who won the confidence and respect of the people of their neighborhood, large of heart and generous of hand. Both rounded out well filled lives amid the surroundings of an agricultural atmosphere, and here passed away. Mr. Jones the elder was somewhat active in local politics, although principally as a supporter of others and seldom as a candidate. However, he served acceptably for three years in the capacity of township assessor. He belonged to the Masonic Lodge. Of the eight children born to him and Mrs. Jones, four are now living: James A., a resident of Illinois; William L .; Theodore, whose home is in the state of Washington; and Oliver, who lives in Alaska.
William L. Jones was still a babe in arms when brought by his parents to Wells County, and his earliest recollections are connected with the home farm and the primitive conditions which still existed. During his boyhood he assisted in the cultivation of the family acres and in the meantime secured his education by attending the district school in the neighborhood of the Jones place. Upon several occasions he went away from home to work, but dutifully sent his wages to his parents, and it was not until he was twenty-one years old that he had money of his own to spend as he wished. Farming up to and after that time was his prin- cipal occupation, but he also worked for a short period in a sawmill at Bluffton and put in quite a good deal of time as a ditch contractor, of both of which employments he made a success. He was careful with his earnings, saving them thriftily, and when his parents died he bought the home place, taking over by purchase the interests of the other heirs to the estate. At the present time he is the owner of eighty acres of well- cultivated and productive land, lying in section 5, Chester Township, where he had modern improvements and good buildings. He has made a decided success of his operations as a general farmer, being thoroughly informed as to every department of his vocation, while in the estimation of the community he has shown his worth and usefulness as a public- spirited citizen. Personally he is big-hearted and generous and willing to help worthy movements. Fraternally, Mr. Jones is identified with Mount Zion Lodge No. 684, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past noble grand, and a member of the Grand Lodge of the
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state. He is a demoerat and has always been active in local affairs, al- though he has not eared for office. Mr. Jones is unmarried.
WILLIAM F. NEWHARD. The work and activities of the Newhard family especially identify them with that seetion of Wells County in and around Uniondale, a village in Union Township which largely owes its primary business enterprise and upbuilding to the Newhards. Wil- liam F. Newhard himself was in business there for a number of years, but subsequently took up farming in Rock Creek Township, where he still has his home.
Mr. Newhard was born in Ohio and was a small chikl when his parents came to Wells County in 1859. His grandparents, Samuel anl Eliza- beth (Weaver) Newhard, were natives of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. William J. Newhard, father of William F., was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and in 1837 removed with his parents and other children to Mahoning County, Ohio, where his mother died. William J. Newhard was the only one of his parents' family to come to Indiana. On Decem- ber 15, 1853, he married Mary A. Ashburn, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Hart) Ashburn. She died August 18, 1874, the mother of seven children, the first three born in Ohio. Their names were Sarah E., Henry N., William F., Emma E., Samuel W., Ida B. and Oscar O. In 1875 William J. Newhard married Miss Eliza Crum, of Mahoning County.
On coming to Wells County in 1859 William J. Newhard located in Union Township and bought a tract of land which was absolutely un- cleared with the exeeption of ten acres. The first improvement was a small eabin, and that structure stood for many years, being cherished because of its early associations. In course of time he acquired a farm of over 200 aeres. When Uniondale was platted in 1883 he was the first to loeate in the village and engage in business as a grain buyer. He built his home in Uniondale in 1884, leaving two of his sons in charge of the farm. He was also associated with Henry W. Lipkey in the general merchandise business, which was the first general store in Union- dale. The grain business grew and flourished, and largely through the enterprise of the Newhards and their associates Uniondale beeame one of the chief centers for the grain market in Wells County. A post office was established at Uniondale in Mareh, 1886, largely through the influence of William J. Newhard, and he became deputy to Henry W. Lipkey, who was appointed the first postmaster. William J. Newhard was also eleeted justiee of the peace of Union Township in 1877, and filled that offiee four years.
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