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 24
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 24
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B. F. Miller was educated in the rural schools, and on the home farm, where he lived until attaining his majority, acquired valuable experience in the science of agriculture. For seven years after his mar- riage he was employed at the rolling mills in Muneie, Indiana. and later worked at Hartford City, Indiana, for eighteen months. Turning his attention then to agricultural pursuits, Mr. Miller moved on to a farm in Jav County, Indiana, where he remained for some time. On April 30, 1917. he came with his family to Liberty Township, buying fifty acres. where he is now carrying on farming and stoek growing with excellent results.
Mr. Miller married, June 16, 1900. Miss Ada Cronin. a native of Adams County. Indiana. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller, namely : John ; Annie; Georgia, deceased : Robert : Harry ; Willie and Luther, and one died in infancy. Politically Mr. Miller is a firm advocate of the principles of the republican party.
ULYSSES HUNNICUTT. A man of good business eapacity, industrions and enterprising. Ulysses Hunnieutt is numbered among the prosperous agriculturists of Wells County. He was born May 25, 1862, in Jackson Township. Wells County, of English ancestry. his paternal grandfather having emigrated from England to the United States, settling in Indiana.
Mr. Hunnicutt's father. Chapell Hunnicutt, married when yeung, and settled on a farm near Hickory Grove, Jarkson Township, where he obtained a good start in life. Selling at an advantage, he bought land in Chester Township, not far from Mount Zion and there continued his agricultural work for a while. Subsequently disposing of that farm,
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he bought a tract of land in Liberty Township, Wells County, and on the farm that he improved spent the remainder of his days. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Robberts, fourteen children were born, five of whom are now, in 1917, living.
A lifelong resident of Wells County, Ulysses Hunnieutt acquired his early knowledge of books in the district schools, and on the home farm gained an insight into the various branches of agriculture and a prac- tical experience that has since been of much value to him. When ready to begin the battle of life on his own account, Mr. Hunnieutt purchased forty acres of land in Liberty Township, and immediately began its improvement. His labors have always proved remunerative, his land being in an excellent state of cultivation, the buildings in good repair, and the farm comfortably stocked. Mr. Hunnicutt has other interests aside from farming, carrying on quite an extensive business as a mover of houses and other buildings, a work for the purpose of which he has a complete outfit. In 1918 he sold his farm and moved to Bluffton.
Mr. Hunnieutt married, in 1884, Delila Freel, who was born in Hunt- ington, Indiana, and as a child of six years eame with her parents to Wells County, where she has since lived. Eleven children have been born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hunnicutt, nine of whom are liv- ing, namely : Delcie, wife of George Jackson, of Petroleum, Indiana : Mary, wife of Bert Davenport ; Nellie, wife of Frank Howard; Frank ; Edson, who married Ruth Allen, of Berne, Indiana; Earl; Hugh, a graduate of the Bluffton High School ; Ethel : and Ralph. One died in infancy and the other deceased child was Fredy. Politically Mr. IIunni- cutt is a consistent advocate of the principles of the republican party. Fraternally he is a member of Poneto Lodge No. 752, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
LEWIS E. ARNOLD. Some of the finest stock in Wells County are bred and raised on the Highway Stock Farm of Lewis E. Arnold, lo- cated 61% miles south of Bluffton.
Mr. Arnold's specialty is registered Jersey cattle. At the present writing he has a herd of about twenty-two headed by the noted Pogis Emperor William No. 148,707. This herd has been prize winners for a number of years. Mr. Arnold exhibited them at the Bluffton Street Fair in 1915 and 1916 and in 1915 his exhibits won five firsts and two seconds, and in 1916 six firsts and four seconds, besides two grand champions were among the trophies. In 1917 won six firsts, four seconds, two grand champions and first in herd. Besides these prize cattle Mr. Arnold handles thoroughbred Duroe hogs and much other high class livestock. The Highway Stock Farm contains 160 aeres.
Mr. Arnold is a native of Adams County, Indiana, where he was born September 23, 1860, a son of Angust and Augusta (Jahn) Arnold. His parents were both natives of Saxony, Germany. August Arnold was a tailor by trade and in 1850 brought his family to the United States, going from New York City to Wayne County, Ohio, and six months later coming to Wells County, Indiana, and settling at Vera Cruz, where he worked at his trade. In 1856 he bought forty acres of heavily tim- bered land in Kirkland Township of Adams County. The only improve- ment on the land was a log cabin with a elapboard roof and puncheon floor. This was the humble and somewhat straitened home of the Arnold family until a hewed log house eould be built. August Arnold died there in February, 1865, at the age of forty-five. His widow afterwards married Jacob Mosiman, and died in 1899. Five of the father's ehil- dren are still living: Frank, a farmer in Adams County ; Lena, widow Vol. II-11
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of Christ Ashbander; William C. of Liberty Center; Sarah, wife of Robert Case of Deeatur, Indiana; and Lewis E.
Lewis E. Arnold grew up on his father's farm in Adams County, but at the age of nine years was brought to Wells Connty and after getting his education in the common schools he went to work as a farm hand by the month. He also learned the carpenter's trade and followed it as a means of livelihood for a number of years.
In 1889 he married Miss Sarah E. Warner, who died November 5, 1893, without children. In March 23, 1895, he married Lydia Kirk- wood. Mrs. Arnold was born in Nottingham Township of Wells County, October 1, 1871, a daughter of George and Mary ( Warner) Kirkwood and a granddaughter of William Kirkwood, Sr., a notable pioneer of this section of Indiana concerning whom more information will be found in other paragraphs. Mrs. Arnold was reared in Nottingham Township and attended the public schools at Petroleum.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Arnold located at Ruth in Wells County, and he bought a store which he successfully conducted for ten years. He then traded this mercantile enterprise for a farm in Jennings County, Indiana, and lived on it nine years. Trading his farm for a store at Balbee, he was for a year both a merchant and a farmer and then sold his store for a farm near Portland. Later he acquired his present property, the Highway Stock Farm. In March, 1918, he moved to his present home, 11% miles west of Bluffton, known as the Jonas Bender farm, which he purchased in October, 1917.
Mr. and Mrs. Arnold have one son, George M., who was born Jan- uary 16, 1896. He attended the common schools, the Scipio, Indiana, High School, and graduated from the Petroleum High School. He is now located at Washington Court House, pursuing his business as a drafisman. He is affiliated with Petroleum Lodge No. 721, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a republican in politics.
Lewis E. Arnold and wife are both active members of the Rebekahs, in which she is past noble grand and is also a member of the Grand Lodge. His Odd Fellow membership is with Petroleum Lodge No. 721 and he is a member of the Encampment at Bluffton.
William Kirkwood, grandfather of Mrs. L. E. Arnold, was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1820, the youngest son of William and Sophia (Goshard) Kirkwood, and his grandfather was also named William. His father was a native of Dublin, Ireland. and was brought to America at the age of three years, settling in .Pennsyl- vania where he grew up and married. He lived on a farm in Pennsyl- vania until his death in 1823. His widow, Sophia, moved to Ross County, Ohio, with her family in 1834 and five years later settled in Fairfield County, where she died at the advanced age of ninety years.
Mr. William Kirkwood's early circumstances bordered on poverty and were a stimulus to active effort and enterprise at an early age. At the age of sixteen he began learning the tanner's trade in Ross County and worked in that line as a journeyman in Fairfield County four years. In 1843 he married Miss Susannah Gehrett, daughter of Henry and Susanna Gehrett, who came from Berks County, Pennsylvania. The children of their marriage were Henry, George, Samuel, Mary Ann, Sophia, John E., William, Susan and Cerilda.
About 1843 William Kirkwood engaged in business for himself in Fairfield County and was associated with his brother-in-law about seven years. In the fall of 1850 he brought his family to Wells County, lo- cating in Nottingham Township, where he bought eighty aeres of tim- bered land in section 14. While clearing up and developing his farm he continued work at his trade for about seven years. In the meantime
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he bought other tracts of wild land, and in the course of years had a large property and an ample competence for himself and family. Ile was one of the prominent democrats of the early days, and in 1852 was elected a county commissioner and later served two terms as township trustee. In 1874 he was again elected county commissioner and whether in private or in publie life he exemplified those virtues which at all times are the essentials of good citizenship.
WILLIAM OGLE. Among the men who have devoted their lives to the vocation of farming and have found health, prosperity and happiness therein, one of the best known in Wells County is William Ogle. Mr. Ogle has not lived his entire life in this county, for his operations have taken him over a wide range of territory, but he has spent enough of his career here to be familiar with its advancement and development and to have taken an active part in those things which have brought about progress and satisfying conditions in the agricultural class.
Mr. Ogle was born in Ohio, November 2, 1841, and is a son of Erastus and Charlotte (O'Neal) Ogle. His father, a native of Virginia, turned his face toward the West in young manhood, going to Ohio, where he married a native of that state. Not satisfied with conditions as he found them there, Erastus Ogle brought his family to Indiana in 1854, and settled in Wayne County and died in Rush County, where he had passed the closing years of his life on a farm. His widow subsequently moved to Henry County, where she passed away. Mr. Ogle was a democrat in politics, although not an active politician nor an office seeker. He and his wife were the parents of thirteen children, of whom five are living at this time: William, of this note; John H., who resides in Delaware County, Indiana; Margaret and Elizabeth, both residents of this state; and Martin.
William Ogle was thirteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Indiana, and in the public schools of Rush County com- pleted the education that he had commenced in his native state. Hle was married in Fayette County, to Savannah C. Kirkwood, and after mar- riage continued to reside in Indiana for three years, still carrying on agricultural pursuits. Mr. Ogle then recognized an opportunity which presented itself in Piatt County, Illinois, and, grasping it, went to that state, where during the next twenty years he accumulated a handsome property. However, he eventually returned to Indiana and located in Wells County, first on a property in Nottingham Township and finally on his present farm, located on Poneto Rural Route No. 1, eleven miles southwest of Bluffton, in Chester Township. He has developed a good property, his home is well equipped with all the latest improvements and conveniences, and because of his exeellent business management in for- mer years is now enabled to enjoy all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. His eighty acres all are under a high state of cultiva- tion and produce excellent erops. In polities Mr. Ogle is a demoerat, but has taken no active part. He is what the publie terms a self-made man, having made all that he has by hard work and careful management, being a man of exceptionally good judgment and close observation.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ogle there have been born eight sons, as follows: James K., Walter E., Homer E. and Charles M., who reside at home and assist their father in his agricultural work; and Harry, Oscar, William F. and Thermon I., deceased.
DORPHIS L. DRUM. An example of business enterprise that presages a very successful career is furnished by Dorphis L. Drum, one of the younger citizens of Wells County and representative of an old and hon-
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ored family in Laneaster Township. Mr. Drum is only twenty-two years of age but is already engaged in independent business as proprietor of a general store at Curryville in Laneaster Township. He bought this store from his father's estate on August 16, 1917. Here he handles a full line of goods, consisting of groceries, dry goods, hardware, boots and shoes, and automobile supplies. Mr. Drum is an aggressive business getter. He does not wait altogether for trade to come to him, but goes out after it. Ile has an automobile truek fitted up especially for his business and daily he loads it up with desirable merchandise and makes the rounds of the country distriet, buying and selling and trading. He has thus established himself as a commission and produce merchant and is building up a business which is not only profitable in itself but is giving him experience and an acquaintance which will avail him much in the future.
Mr. Drum was born at Curryville in Wells County March 27, 1895. He is a son of P. H. and Flora (Brentlinger) Drum. His paternal grand- parents were John P. and Franees (Hartman) Drum, from Perry County, Ohio, and were among the pioneers of Curryville, where the grandfather located on eighty acres of wild land and in course of time had it eleared up and improved as a good farm. He died in 1893.
P. H. Drum was born July 24, 1865, in Wells County. His wife was born December 24, 1870, in Ohio, and was brought to Indiana at the age of eleven years by her parents. P. H. Drum and wife had five ehil- dren, Dorphis L., Effie, Noble, Opal and Edna.
JAMES D. BABCOCK. The desirable awards attainable by a life of industry and continued effort are illustrated in the career of James D. Babeock, now one of the well-to-do agrieulturists of Nottingham Town- ship. Wells County. Few men have been in greater degree the archi- tects of their own fortunes. His life was eommeneed under eireum- stanees of poverty and he was foreed to become a wage earner at a time when he should have been attaining an education and enjoying the pastimes of youth, yet in spite of these handieaps he has made a position for himself among the men of means of his locality, and at the same time has held his fellow-citizens' respect and confidenee.
James D). Babeock was born at Delphi. Carroll County, Indiana, April 24, 1848, and is a son of Doctor Peleg and Malinda (MeCart) Babeoek, who came to Indiana after their marriage and first settled near Battle Ground. in Tippecanoe County, subsequently removing to Delphi. Dr. Peleg Babrock, who was a native of New York, was a graduate in medieine and followed his profession in Indiana in the country districts. No doubt his practice was not large and what there was profited him little. for the early settlers were not as a rule well supplied with money and the pioneer physician's work was largely a labor of love. At any rate, in spite of his professional and agricultural work, Doetor Babcock died a poor man, and when James D. Babeoek was eight years of age he was forced to start to make his own way in the world. Thus it was that his education was neglected. his attendance at school consisting of one term after he was eighteen years old. However, after his marriage, he learned much from his wife, and by reading, experience and observa- tion has become a well-informed man on many subjects. During the Civil war Mr. Babcock went to St. Joseph, Missouri, but subsequently returned to Indiana, where he was married to Viola Cox on December 6, 1871. At that time he started life as a farmer, and the years that fol- lowed were full of unceasing labor and hard work. As he was compelled to start without capital of any kind save his ambition and willingness to work, he hecame a renter of land, and it was not until he was forty-five
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years of age that he was able to become a land owner. He then bought land in Jasper County, sold it and purchased another tract of 207 acres. and then came to Rock Creek Township. Wells County, and bonght 220 aeres which he sold in 1910. He cultivated this land until coming to Nottingham Township, where he bought 275 acres which consisted of three farms with three sets of buildings. This is one of the linely-entti- vated properties of the township, and can boast of a good set of buildings, and improvements and equipments of the very latest kind. In addition to carrying on general farming, he engages in the stock business, buying cattle and hogs by the carload lot, and then feeding and shipping. In business circles he has an excellent reputation as a man of integrity, and as a citizen he has been a factor in the advancement of his community. While residing in Jasper County, Indiana, he filled the office of trustee of Marion Township very acceptably. Politically Mr. Babcock is a re- publican.
By his first wife, who died November 20, 1893, Mr. Babcock became the father of these children: Frank, of Nottingham Township: Ehner. in Hammond ; Thomas; Homer; George, who died Inne 11, 1917 : Mary, wife of Harley Lamson; Ruby, the wife of Robert Graham ; Elizabeth, the wife of Roe Yeoman ; and Anna M., the wife of Sam Scott, of Jasper County, Indiana. Mr. Babcock has sixteen grandchildren. March 15. 1911, he was united in marriage with Miss Eunice Adamson. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
CURTIS W. CLARK, Superintendent of the Bluffton Electric Light and Water Works of Bluffton. When a young man he took up electricity as a career and has acquired a thorough knowledge of the profession both from its technical and practical standpoint. He has long been connected with the operation of electrical industries in Indiana, both as a con- struction and operating official.
Mr. Clark was born in Gallia County, Ohio. October 26, 1878, a son of Samuel V. and Elizabeth ( Dickey ) Clark. His father was a farmer in Southern Ohio, and on the oldl homestead Curtis W. Clark spent his carly years and acquired his education in the country schools. His early education was limited to attendance during winter terms, while in the summer he assisted his father. The summer before and after he was twenty-one years of age he was employed as a lineman on the Wells- ton & Jackson Belt Railroad. Mr. Clark took up the technical study of Nestricity with the International Correspondence School of Serantall. Pennsylvania, and graduated in his course and received a certificate of proficiency in 1901. He has always been interested in the subject. pos- sesses much natural ability. and has two brothers who are electricians
After leaving the Bolt Railway Mr. Clark was in the employ of the Chapman Coal Company as electrician two years, and then came to Indi- ana. locating at Eaton, where he was electrical engineer with the Mult- eje. Hartford City & Fort Wayne Traction Company four years.
His home has been at Bluffton since July, 1906. He was superin- tendent and electrical engineer with the M. B. & E. Traction Company until January 1, 1911, and then entered the service of the city as super- intendent of the Electric Light & Water Company. Largely to Mr. Clark is dne the credit for bringing this plant to a state of high offi- ciency, and he has entire charge of all operating details. There is a thorough system of accounting by which it is possible to know at any time whether the system is earning of losing money, and Mr. Clark bas demonstrated his value to the city in many ways.
In August, 1901. he married Miss Bessie Smith, of Gallipolis, Ohio. Mrs. Clark was well educated in the public schools of Ohio. They have three children : Willard, born Jammary 19, 1905; Mary, born in dan-
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ary, 1908: and Robert, born December 24, 1916. The two alder children are both in the public schools of Bluffton. Mrs. Clark is an active mem ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Fraternally he is identified with Bluffton Lodge No. 92 of the Knights of Pythias, and in polities is a democrat, though merely as a voter, having never had fine to par- ticipate in partisan affairs.
Loris G. LANCASTER. All through Wells County there are evidences that agriculture has been brought to a high state and in Chester Town- ship in particular, are found as well developed farms as any in this part of Indiana. This indicates that there are practical and industrious farmers here and a fine example is found in Louis G. Lancaster, who is a member of an old Wells County family.
Louis G. Lancaster was born in Chester Township, Wells County, October 28, 1563, and is a son of Nathan and Mary ( Starry Lancaster. The father was born in Van Buren Township, Grant County, Indiana. October 25, 1836, and the mother in Wells County, Indiana. February 5, 1837. They were married in December, 1862. and the fol- lowing children were born to them: Lewis (., Harvey B., lennie L., wife of George A. Mason, John C., Matilda M. and an infant. all deceased, and Orley 1. The Lancasters have long been prosperous and important people in Chester Township and owners of large tracts of valuable land. They are members of the Society of Friends.
Lewis (. Lancaster obtained his education in the public schools, and later put this training to practical account in the educational field. Hle was eighteen years old when he taught his first term of seboel and con- finned to teach for eight years, finding the work congenial and perform- ing his duties so well that seemingly his life work lay in that direction. Mr. Lancaster, however, decided to become a farmer and for one year following his marriage resided on and operated the old Lancaster home place. He moved then to Montpelier and continued in business there until fall of 1859 when he moved on the farm that he has developed into a valuable property. Mr. Lancaster is an enterprising and well informed agricultureist and in carrying on his farm industries recognizes the value of first class farm machinery and the adoption of progressive scientific methods.
Mr. Lancaster was married JJuly 3, 1887, to Sarah S Williams, who is a daughter of Andrew and Mary (Bugh) Williams, natives of Ohio who were early settlers in Blackford County, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster have had four children : Mary Pearl, and Grace, and two who died in infancy.
Well known all over the county, Mr. Lancaster had tangible proof of the high esteem in which he is held on his personal record, when his political party put forward his nome for nomination for representative in the State Assembly, and in the primaries he ran far ahead of his party vote. In local matters he has always been active in promoting educational progress and in bringing about conditions of morality and weigl borly peare ard forbearance, indue al thereby somewhat, perhaps, by the religious faith he professes, for he is a sincere member of the Society of Friends.
AUSTIN OLIVER has been a practical railroad man for nearly a quar- ter of a century, and as freight and ticket agent of the Lake Erie & Western at Bluffton has discharged his duties with complete satisfaction not only to the railway company but to all citizens who have dealings threngh him with the raitre d.
Mr. Oliver was born in Hartford City. Indiana, Inly 26. 1874. a son of Jeremiah and Mary A. (Mills) Oliver. Both parents were bom
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filling numerous contracts. Coming to Wells County, Indiana, in 1860. he located in Bluffton, where as a contractor he erected various large buildings, including the Gardner, Ogden and Odd Fellows blocks: the Bliss Hotel: the Arnold Block; the Baptist and Methodist Episcopal Church edifices; the Curry and Deam residences, and many other build- ings of note. Subsequently in addition to his work as a contractor, he established a grocery in the west end of the city, and meeting with good results in its management afterwards transferred his stock to the "green front" store, at the corner of Washington and Main streets, where he built up a thriving trade. Retiring from business, he moved to Muncie, Indiana, and was there a resident until his death, July 17, 1897. lle was a member of Bluffton Lodge No. 145, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons.
The maiden name of the wife of Milton T. Hartle was Cynthia Tullis. She was born in Darke County, Ohio, and there lived until after her marriage. She survived her husband, dying, September 22, 1904, in Muneie, Indiana, aged sixty-three years. Eight children were born of their marriage, as follows: John F., of this sketch ; Anna: Jennie B., deceased ; Lizzie; Grant ; Ehmore, deceased: Calvin ; and Nona.
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