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 23
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 23
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William F. Newhard, who was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, was brought to Wells County in childhood, grew up on his father's farm, and contented himself with the advantages of the common schools. In 1884 he beeame associated with his father in the grain business at Union- dale, but in Mareh, 1890, he located on his present farm of forty-eight aeres in Rock Creek Township, and this has sinee been his home and the principal eenter of his activities. He has good land, improved with good buildings, and the farm means all the more to him beeanse he personally cleared the land, which was formerly in the dense woods. Mr. Newhard is an active member of the demoeratie party.
On December 2, 1883, he married Miss Emma Celestia Young, daughter of Adam and Mary A. (Strauss) Young, of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Newhard's brothers and sisters are Isabel, Monroe, John A., Amelia and Mary A., the last three being deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Newhard's family comprises eight children. Charles C., the oldest, has twice married, his first wife being Maud Elberson and
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his second Lena Mooney. Bessie L. is the wife of Charles Schoeff. Orie D. married Elsie Fuhrman. Minnie F. is the wife of C. M. Underhill. Clyde C. married Tessie Hoffacker. Naomi married Gilbert Jarrett. The two younger children, still single, are Cletus Ray and Valeria.
WILLIAM A. ECKHART. Noteworthy among the active and self-re- liant farmers of Wells County is William A. Eckhart, who is pleasantly located in Liberty Township, where he has been engaged in his useful calling for many years. He was born November 7, 1851, in Hocking County, Ohio, which was also the birthplace of his parents, Grafton D. and Priscilla (Mathias) Eckhart. His grandfather, Anthony Eckhart, was born in the same county, of German ancestry, and as a young man served in the War of 1812.
Born, reared, and married in Hocking County, Ohio, Grafton D. Eckhart remained there until 1880, when he came with his wife to Wells County, Indiana, locating near Liberty Center, where both spent their remaining years. He was a true and loyal citizen, and during the Mexi- can war served as a soldier. They had several children, of whom the following named are living : William A., with whom this sketch is chiefly concerned : Margaret, wife of Patrick Curran, of Liberty Township; Ellen, wife of Albert J. Johnson, who lives at Linn Grove, Adams County ; and Jacob Eckhart, of Liberty Township.
William A. Eckhart grew to man's estate on the home farm in Hock- ing County, Ohio, and under his father's judicious training acquired a practical knowledge of farming. Coming to Wells County, Indiana, in the very early part of 1876, he soon married, and immediately settled on the property where he has since lived. The eighty acres of land that he bought was still in its pristine wilderness, but being industrious and energetic, he succeeded well in his task of clearing a homestead from the wilderness, his estate, with its substantial improvements, giving ample evidence to the passer-by of his thrift and skill as a general farmer and stock-raiser.
Mr. Eckhart married, April 22, 1876, Clara Fry. She was born in Lockville, Ohio, and as a girl came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James H. Fry. to Wells County, where she has since lived. Nine children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Eckhart, namely: Grafton A .; Edna, wife of Dal Glass; Josie M., wife of Alva Jones; Augusta, living at home; Frank, of Akron, Ohio: Mary J .; Augustus; Judson; and Wil- liam O. In politics, Mr. Eckhart affiliates with the democratic party. As a successful agriculturist, a trustworthy citizen, and a man of strict integrity, he has the respect and esteem of his neighbors and friends.
D. C. HUFFMAN, M. D. A thoroughly trained, resourceful and skill- ful physician and surgeon, Doctor Huffman has practiced his profession in Wells County for many years and is now located at Poneto.
Born in Clark County, Ohio, October 29, 1855, a son of Jacob and Sarah (Tennant) Huffman, the former a native of Clark County, Ohio, and the latter of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The grandfather, Jacob Huffman, was one of the pioneers who cleared away the wilder- ness of Clark County, Ohio.
Doctor Huffman was well educated during his youth and entered practice after a thorough schooling in medical institutions of learning. In 1885 he came to Wells County, first locating at Mount Zion, where he practiced seven years, and after that was in practice at Craigsville from 1892 until 1910. For the past seven years he has enjoyed a large prac- tice and clientage at Poneto. He is a member of the Wells County
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Medical Society and has done all he could to advance the standards of the medical profession.
In Clark County, Ohio, Doctor Huffman married Miss Annie Lan- daker. They have three children. The oldest, Werden, is a graduate of the State University of Indiana, was for several years a science teacher in the Hartford City schools and is now in the chemical de- partment of the General Motor Works at Detroit, Michigan. The second child, Pansy, is a graduate of the Craigsville High School and is now the wife of W. P. Kelander, who is connected with the Hupp Motor Works at Detroit. Gideon Huffman, the youngest child, is a graduate pharmacist and is now manager of the Rose City Pharmacy at New- castle, Indiana. Doctor Huffman is a democrat in politics.
JOHN R. WINTERS. One of the best known and highly regarded citi- zens of Wells County is John R. Winters, who at different times has been interested in business affairs at Bluffton, but is now absorbed in the management of a fine farm in Harrison Township, adjoining the cor- poration limits of Bluffton on the south, embracing 185 acres.
His birth occurred in the City of Bluffton August 9, 1858, and he represents a well known pioneer name. His parents were William R. and Sarah ( Evans) Winters. William R. Winters was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, near Wintersville, April 3, 1817, his parents having moved from Ohio to Pennsylvania early in the last century. Sarah Evans, mother of Jolm R. Winters, was born in Miami County, Ohio, April 12, 1827, a daughter of Thomas and Mrs. ( Hughes) Evans. Her parents were both born and reared in London, England, and on coming to the United States landed in Philadelphia and later moved to Ohio, when that state was one vast wilderness.
William R. Winters made his pioneer advent to the Town of Bluffton in the spring of 1841. In early life he had learned the trade of plas- terer but on coming to Bluffton he established a nursery where the Fair- view Cemetery now is. It is said that he made the start of his nursery business from seeds which he carried with him in a knapsack, and after- wards set out a big orchard. Later he and B. F. Wiley were engaged in the grocery business at Bluffton. They sold their store during the war. Along about that time he bought the old Winters farm, where his son John R. now lives, and in August, 1865, he occupied that place and spent the rest of his days there. He was quite well to do, had excellent business judgment and everything he undertook seemed to prosper. At different times he had owned large tracts of land. For one year he pur- sued the study of medicine but abandoned the idea of a professional career. He was born and reared a Presbyterian, and assisted in build- ing the old Presbyterian Church at Bluffton. Politically he was a stanch republican and at one time was a trustee of Harrison Township and also served as a member of the Board of Review. He and his wife were mar- ried in Lancaster Township of Wells County, and they became the parents of ten children, four of whom lived to maturity. The mother, who was a very liberal supporter of the Presbyterian Church, died June 12, 1913. The living children are : John R .; Rena J .; Nora ; and Cora L.
John R. Winters was about six years of age when his parents moved out to the farm, but he secured his education in the public schools of Bluffton and left school to take up farming. Later for eight years he was a partner in the Beehive Store of Bluffton, and since leaving com- mercial affairs has given his best efforts to the management of his fine farm.
In November, 1904, Mr. Winters married Miss May Clover. She was born in Pennsylvania and was educated at Geneva, Pennsylvania. Her
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father R. B. Clover was a prominent figure in the Clover Leaf Railway Company for many years. Mrs. Winters is very active in the Presby- terian Church, being a deaconess, and took much part in local social affairs. Mr. Winters is affiliated with Bluffton Lodge No. 92, Knights of Pythias, and has always done what he could to support and upbuild the strength of the republican party in this county, having served as committeeman from his precinct for many years and as a delegate to State and Congressional conventions. Mr. Winters was one of the orig- inal members of the Bluffton Commercial Club. He is also affiliated with Bluffton Lodge No. 796, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Winters has gained an enviable reputation in business circles of Wells County and is generally credited with being that type of man whose spoken word is as good as a bond.
CHARLES E. HARVEY, SR. There are many industries and occupa- tions that are of great importance to the human race, but none are so vital as those included under the name of general farming. The time has come when the farmer in civilized lands must feed the world and many of the most efficient farmers of Wells County are wide awake to their opportunities and responsibilities. A well known example is found in Charles E. Harvey, who belongs to one of the solid old families of the county and is the owner of valuable land in Lancaster Township.
Charles E. Harvey was born in Wells County, Indiana, November 5, 1871. His parents were Jacob R. and Elizabeth (Miller) Harvey, both natives of Indiana, the latter being the first white child born in Wells County, where her parents were early pioneers. The mother of Mr. Har- vey died November 10, 1898. Her marriage to Jacob R. Harvey took place in 1854, and they had five children, namely : Henry McClelland, William S., Jacob E., John R. and Charles E. The father died April 26, 1904. He was one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of Lancaster Township and owned the old Harvey homestead, which he had purchased from the other heirs and lived on the same for seventy- two years.
Charles E. Harvey grew to manhood on the old homestead and obtained his education in the district schools. He took possession of his present farm in Lancaster Township in April, 1896. It was already improved with substantial buildings but Mr. Harvey has made many additional improvements, such as a progressive farmer always takes interest in, and the property has yearly increased in value. He carries on the usual farm activities with the knowledge brought by experience and has 107 acres of finely cultivated land. He makes a specialty of breeding Durham cattle and one of the interesting exhibits of his farm is his large herd of these beautiful animals.
Mr. Harvey was married October 6, 1894, to Miss Arrilla Hege, who is a daughter of Amos and Mary Hege, old residents of Wells County. They have one son, Harry Wells, born October 16, 1895, who has been well educated and is his father's right hand man.
In his political views Mr. Harvey has always been a republican and has worked unselfishly for his party's success, never being willing to accept any political honors for himself. He is a hearty advocate for good roads and lends his influence in support of worthy enterprises that he recognizes will be helpful for this section. He and family are church- going people and for many years he has been a member of the Knights of Pythias, belonging to Lodge No. 92 at Bluffton, Indiana.
CHARLES HOFFACKER. While Rock Creek Township certainly offers many examples of the natural fertility of the soil, there is a large amount
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of credit due to those who have so well developed its possibilities and now own these productive farms, and one of these is Charles Hoffacker, a well known and highly respected resident of this part of Wells County. Charles Hoffacker was born in Carroll County, Maryland, January 28, 1874. Ilis parents are Elijah F. and Joanna ( Hare) Hoffacker, who were also born there and still are living on the old homestead. Of their children, Charles is the eldest, the others being: Mary, who is the wife of John Fowble; William F., who married Ada Raver; Carrie, who is the wife of William Boyer; and Cora, Elmer and John.
After completing the usual period of school attendance in Carroll County, Charles Hoffacker assisted his father on the home place as long as he was needed and then started out for himself. He came to Wells County, Indiana, and when he settled on his present farm he immedi- ately began making improvements. The land had been cleared but little attempt at improving had been made, and the substantial farm buildings now standing were all put up by Mr. Hoffacker. He has 135 acres and makes the entire farm give a good account of itself, his careful methods making every acre productive. He carries on a general farming line and grows grain, potatoes and fruit, and also raises some excellent cattle and stock.
Mr. Hoffacker married Miss Winnie Eichhorn, who is a daughter of Philip and Ellen Eichhorn, farming people of Rock Creek Township. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffaeker are members of the Lutheran Church. They have a wide eirele of friends and find pleasure in often entertaining them in their hospitable home. Mr. Hoffacker votes with the democratic party.
AARON L. MUSSELMAN is perhaps best known over Wells County for his successful work as an educator and only recently he gave up the work of the schoolroom to begin his banking career as cashier of the Farmers State Bank at Poneto. Ile came into this bank on July 9, 1917, and besides his official position is also one of its stockholders. The other officers are J. W. Cook, president, and W. J. Popejoy, vice president. Mr. Musselman has the active exeentive details of the institution and his personal popularity has meant much to its continned prosperity.
Mr. Musselman has spent most of his life in Wells County but was born at Noblesville, Indiana, November 18, 1884. a son of D. II. and Mary J. ( Kelly ) Musselman. His parents removed to Wells County in 1895, and he grew up on a farm and acquired most of his higher eduea- tion through his own earnings and efforts. He attended high school at Liberty Center, Indiana, and also attended institutions at Marion, Hunt- ington and Indianapolis, taking commercial work in the latter two cities. He taught for a time in a district school. in Liberty Township. was principal of the Poneto graded schools five years. and came to enjoy a high standing and popularity in the ranks of local educators.
In 1910 Mr. Musselman married Miss Edna MeCleery, who was born in Wells County, danghter of William MeCleery. They have three young children, Dayton, Ruby and Dorothy. Mr. Musselman is affiliated with Bluffton Lodge No. 92. Knights of Pythias, and is present vice chanrel- lor. In matters of polities he casts his vote as a democrat.
JOHN W. CLOWSER has been numbered among the progressive men of Lancaster Township for the past thirty years, conduets a well appointed farm near Craigville, and under all the changing conditions of a farmer's life, in bad seasons and good, and in eras of low prices and high, has so managed his affairs as to reach a position of independence, which he now enjoys.
Mr. Clowser was born in Wells County September 10, 1863, a son of
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John and Sarah (Schoch) Clowser. who were of Pennsylvania Dutch stock. John Clowser was reared and educated in Wells County and at the beginning of his career took up farming. He located on his present place of eighty acres in 1887, and has since busied himself with general crops and stock raising. He is a democrat in politics.
In April, 1887, he married Ida Ritchey, daughter of Adam and Amanda Ritchey, who were Pennsylvanians. Mrs. Clowser's brothers and sisters are: Annie, wife of Edward Dailey ; Mack, who married S. Kleinknight : John : and Alice. who married Kurt Shady.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Clowser are: Adelia. who married Arley Brezendine; Loyd. who married Velma Bryan; Fay and May, twins, the former the wife of George Harris and the latter of Lantz Wasson ; Merle, unmarried: Anise, wife of Clarence Fosnaugh; and Marie, wife of Reuben Wynn.
FRED BIBERSTINE. Whether in war or in peace fortunate is the man who owns a good farm in Wells County and possesses the ability and energy to cultivate it and handle its resources to the best advantage. Among the men who have enacted this successful role is Mr. Fred Biber- stine of Harrison Township.
The Biberstine farm of 1191% acres is a splendid business of itself, and Mr. Biberstine is an agriculturist who knows how to get the most out of it and at the same time conserve the fertility of the soil for future years. His home is in section 19 of Harrison Township, 516 miles south- east of Bluffton, from which city he gets the daily mail over Rural Route No. 6.
Mr. Biberstine was born at Vera Cruz. Indiana, October 20, 1875, a son of Emanuel and Albertine (Bovine) Biberstine. His father was a native of Ohio and his mother was born in Wells County, Indiana, in 1850 and is now living at Vera Cruz. The father died in May, 1911. He was quite active and influential in democratie politics and a man of sturdy industry who provided well for his large family of children. There were nine of them and seven are still living.
Fred Biberstine lived at Vera Cruz until 1882 when his parents moved to a farm in Harrison Township, and in that vicinity he attended the district schools. At the age of twenty-one he began working for himself and later married Miss Mary Bart. Mrs. Biberstine was reared in Allen County, Indiana. After their marriage they lived for a time in Vera Cruz, then on a farm, and about 1902 came to their present place of residence. Mr. and Mrs. Biberstine have two children : Viola. a graduate of the common schools and of the Bluffton High School; and Andrew, who has completed the work of the commou schools and is now in the second year of the Bluffton High School. All the family are active members of the Six Mile Christian Church. Mr. Biberstine is a democrat and is affiliated with the Bluffton Lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose.
WILLIAM SMELTZER. Among the prosperous farmers of Rock Creek Township. Wells County, may be found many natives of Pennsylvania, which, in itself, is a surety of good citizenship and usually of good farm- ing. One of these is William Smeltzer, whose well improved farm shows that he has had farm experience and that he takes a home-owner's pride in his property.
William Smeltzer was born not many miles from Harrisburg. in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, January 23, 1872. His parents were David and Margaret Smeltzer. His mother died in 1874, when he was two years old, and her burial was in the cemetery at Union Deposit,
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Dauphin County. His father was married three times. His second marriage was to Amanda Page and his third marriage was to Sarah Wirt. His children were: William, Robert, Minnie, Samuel, John, Anne, Harry, Margaret, Charles, Sadie, Roy and Ruth.
William Smeltzer obtained his edueation in the publie sehools of his native state. In 1890 he came to Indiana and in 1898 he settled on his present farm which contains eighty aeres. Mr. Smeltzer found his land needing ditching and he has put down considerable tile and in other ways has done a large amount of improving. He has erected substantial and comfortable farm buildings, makes use of modern machinery and follows the modern methods that the intelligent and wide awake farmer of today adopts. He raises the usual products of this seetion and raises enough stoek for his own use. He is an industrious, hard working man, with very sensible ideas on all subjects and has made a profitable feature of his work the breeding of Shorthorn cattle.
Mr. Smeltzer was married March 27, 1895, to Miss Laura Ellingham, who is a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Braner) Ellingham, and they have three children, two daughters and one son, Edna, Lola and Earl. The eldest daughter is the wife of Calvin MeAfee, a son of Peter Me Afee, a well known resident of Rock Creek Township.
CHARLES T. KLINGEL. It was only after forty years of thorough going activity as a farmer and stock man and participation in all those affairs which were part of his community life that Charles T. Klingel retired from the more active eares of business and is now living in Lib- erty Center, with all the comforts that his worthy and well spent years have so fully justified.
Mr. Klingel belongs to an old time family of Northeastern Indiana. He was born on a farm a mile north and three-quarters of a mile west of Liberty Center September 13, 1854, a son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Jett) Klingel. His father, Jonathan Klingel, was long a prominent citizen of Wells County. He was born in Stark County, Ohio, Septem- ber 24, 1816, son of George and Jane ( Allman) Klingel, natives of Penn- sylvania and pioneers of Stark County. He spent his early life on a farm and had for his education only such advantages as were supplied by the early subscription schools. In 1850 he came to Indiana, settling in Huntington County, where on October 20, 1850, he married Miss Elizabeth Jett. She was born in Braeken County, Kentucky, May 17, 1835, daughter of Daniel and Matilda (Hanson) Jett, and she came to Indiana when about fifteen years of age. After three years in Hunt- ington County Jonathan Klingel removed to Wells County and located on a farm in Liberty Township. Here he developed 160 aeres and was prospered until the end of his days. He had a varied experience in poli- ties, beginning to vote as a whig, afterward joining the republican party and ending up as a demoerat. Ilis wife was an active member of the Baptist Church. They had three children: Jane J., wife of A. J. John- son ; Charles T .: and Rosa Bell, wife of Roy Anderson, of Bluffton.
Charles T. Klingel grew up on the old homestead in Liberty Town- ship, attended the district sehools, and in November. 1877, at the age of twenty-three, married Miss Ann Wyatt, a native of Huntington County, Indiana. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Klingel located on a farm and began that industrious career which in subsequent years has made them independent, prosperous and highly esteemed people of the county. Mr. Klingel cultivated 100 acres of land for many years, and in 1914 he turned over its management to younger men and moved to Liberty Cen- ter, where he now enjoys the comforts of one of the most modern homes of the village.
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He and his wife have three living children. Jennie is the widow of Johnson Ware and lives at home. Minnie is the wife of Bert Hogan, a traveling salesman. Mollie married Cleveland Luce and they live at Fort Benton, Montana. The family are members of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Klingel has always supported the democratic ticket in polities.
B. F. MILLER. Although a comparatively new-comer in the farming community of Wells County, B. F. Miller, of Liberty Township, is a man of keen foresight and good business capacity, and in the manage- ment of his farm shows excellent judgment, each season adding materi- ally to the improvements previously inaugurated. A son of John A. and Sarah (Martin) Miller, he was born in Harrison Township, Wells County, April 22, 1870. His paternal grandfather, Daniel Miller, came from Ohio to Indiana in 1839, bringing with him his wife and children. Locating in Wells County, he entered from the Government 640 acres . of land lying southeast of Bluffton, and began the improvement of a homestead, living there until, while trying to arrest a horse thief, he was shot, and died six hours later from the wound inflicted.
John A. Miller was born in Darke County, Ohio, August 15. 1836, and at the age of three years was brought by his parents to Wells County, Indiana. Following in the footsteps of his ancestors, he became a farmer. Purchasing 160 acres of land in Harrison Township, he carried on gen- eral farming with good results, and also did a remunerative business in buying and shipping cattle. He lived to a ripe old age, passing away, on his home farm, January 23, 1917. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Martin, was born in Adams County, Indiana, August 25. 1842, and died in Harrison Township, Wells County, February 28, 1915. Of the eight children born of their union, six are living. as follows: B. F., of this sketch ; Robert H .; John M., a farmer in Harrison Township ; Josephus, of the same township; Rufus, a resident of Jewel County, Kansas; and Harry, a commercial salesman, living in Illinois.
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