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 25
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 25
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Brought up and educated in Bluffton, John F. Hartle left school when young to work in his father's grocery, and when familiar with the bsi- ness was admitted to partnership, continuing for seven years as junior member of the firm of M. T. Ilartle & Son. Selling out his interests, Mr. Hartle was for ten years salesman for George F. MeFarren. Going to Andrews, Indiana, Mr. Hartle purchased a stock of clothing, and was there engaged in business for about seven months. Disposing of that stock, he embarked in the shoe business with George D. Snyder, with whom he was associated for two years under the firm name of Snyder & Hartle. Dividing the stock, Mr. Hartle sold his share to George II. Amram, and then went to Plymouth, Indiana, where he bought ont a general stock of dry goods and shoes. Closing out all of the dry goods, he converted the business into an exclusive shoe store, which he man- aged successfully for ten years.
Selling out his shoe store, Mr. Hartle purchased a 5 and 10 cent store at Owosso, Michigan, and conducted it for three years, returning then to Bluffton, Indiana.
Mr. Hartle married, November 25, 1883, Emma Kratner, a native of Fort Wayne. Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Hartle are members of the Baptist Church. Politically Mr. Hartle is a republican. Fraternally he belongs to Bluffton Lodge No. 145, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons: to Bluffton Chapter No. 95, Royal Arch Masons; to Bluffton Council No. 63, Royal and Select Masters; to Bluffton Commandery No. 38. Knights Templar; and to Bluffton Lodge No. 92, Knights of Pythias. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hartle are active members of the Order of the Eastern Star.
JOHN R. HARVEY. One of the old and prominent families of Lan- caster Township, Wells County, bears the name of Harvey and a worthy representative of the same is found in John R. Harvey, who is the owner of the old homestead of 102 aeres which has been in the family since 1831. one of the finest estates in this section of the county.
John R. Harvey was born on his present farm in 1867, and is the second youngest of five sons born to his parents who were JJacob R. and Elizabeth (Miller) Harvey. Ilis father was also born in Indiana and through purchase from the other heirs, acquired the old Harvey home- stead, on which he spent seventy-two years, his death occurring here April 22, 1906. He was one of the township's most respected citizens. In 1854 he was married to Elizabeth Miller, who died November 10.
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1898. Her parents were pioneer settlers on the Wabash near the old Town of Murray, and she was the first white child born in the county. Their children were: Henry McClelland, William S., Jacob E., John R. and Charles E.
John R. Harvey remained at home and assisted his father and ob- tained his education in the country and the Bluffton schools. At the death of his father he inherited the old homestead and prizes very highly the old parchment certificate issued his grandfather by the gov- ernment, which is numbered 951 and is dated September 2, 1831, and signed by Andrew Jackson, President of the United States. This is one of the family's most carefully preserved archives. Since coming into possession of the old farm Mr. Harvey has made improvements as he has found desirable and is credited with being one of the best farmers in Lancaster Township. He devotes considerable attention to breeding Shorthorn cattle and has been very successful in this industry.
Mr. Ilarvey was married March 18, 1889, to Miss Catherine Eversole, who is a daughter of Jacob and Susan (Miller) Eversole, who had other children, as follows: William II., who married Lucinda Freds; Ellen, married C. B. Bulger, and both are deceased ; Jacob M. ; Charles T., who married Anna Myers: Clarette, who is the wife of Dr. T. C. Robinson ; Wilson S., who married Maggie Motz; Louise J., who is the wife of W E. Stafford ; Franklin P .: Jefferson ; and Laura, who is deceased. Mr. and Mrs Harvey have two children, a daughter and a son : Minnie, who is seventeen years old and a student in the high school at Bluffton; and Henry, who is eleven years old, is yet in the grade sehools. Mr. Harvey and family attend the Christian Church at Murray and are well known there. In politics he votes with the republican party. Ile is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and attends the lodge of the same at Bluffton.
HERMAN F. LESH. At this juncture in a volume devoted to the careers of representative citizens of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana, it is a pleasure to insert a brief history of Herman F. Lesh, who is loyal and public-spirited in civie life and who is possessed of initiative and a knack for hard work in any line of enterprise to which he applies him- self. During the greater part of his active career thus far he has been engaged in teaching school, but since 1915 he has been the efficient in- quinhent of the office of clerk in the Wells Circuit Court.
Mr. Lesh was born on his father's farm, half a mile south of Rock Creek Center, in Rock Creek Township, Wells County, Indiana, May 29, 1878. He is a son of Isaac and Samantha (Cover) Lesh, the former of whom died in September, 1914, and the latter of whom is still living, her home being on the old farm in Rock Creek Township. Isaac Lesh was born in Center County, Pennsylvania, December 6, 1832, and Mrs. Lesh is a native of Berks County. Pennsylvania. where her birth of- curred on the 16th of March, 1839. They came to Wells County, Indiana, on horseback in the year 1848 and were married at Bluffton December 24, 1857. They immediately located on the farm on which Mrs. Lesh still lives and the same originally comprised forty acres and Inter fifty- six acres. Mr. and Mrs. Lesh were members of the German Reformed Church. St. Pauls, Rock Creek Township. Ile was a quiet, unassum- ing man, a good provider for his family, and charitable to those in need. Concerning the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lesh the following brief data are here incorporated : Lucy A. is deceased ; Wilson C. is a progressive farmer in Rock Creek Township: Harry P. is a contractor in Bluffton; Clara A. is the wife of Amos J. Gearhart, of St. Mary's, Ohio; William L. resides in Uniondale, Indiana; Harriet S. is the wife
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of S. J. Hantz, of Rock Creek Township; Herman F .; and Milo J., who is a farmer in Harrison Township, Wells County.
Herman F. Lesh was reared to maturity under the invigorating dis- cipline of the old homestead farm. After completing the curriculum of the neighboring district schools, he was matriculated as a student in the Central Normal School, at Danville, Indiana, and he began his career as a teacher in the winter of 1898-99. He continned in pedagogical work until 1915. For six terms he taught in Rock Creek Township, for three terms in Harrison Township, one year in the department school at
Bluffton and two years in the Poneto School. His work as an educator was thorough and exact and was ever characterized by a conscientious devotion to duty. In 1915, when Mr. Lesh was elected clerk of the Wells Circuit Court, he gave up teaching and he is now devoting all his time and energy to the various responsibilities connected with that im- portant office. He is the owner of a finely improved farm of forty-three acres four miles south of Bluffton, on the Penville Pike.
June 15, 1905, Mr. Lesh married Miss Eva M. MeFee, a daughter of Samnel and Mary A. MeFee, of Bluffton. Mr. and Mrs. Lesh have two children : Mary Jane, born May 20, 1913; and Francis, born January 9, 1916. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and in a fraternal way Mr. Lesh is a valned and appreciative member of Bluffton Lodge No. 114, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and Bluffton Lodge No. 92, Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Lesh is a member of the Rebekahs, in which she is past noble grand. In polities Mr. Lesh is a stalwart democrat.
BENJAMIN J. KING. Representing one of the first families established in the wilderness of Liberty Township of Wells County, Benjamin J. King was himself born here in a time only partially removed from the pioneer era, and has employed the greater part of his three score and ten years with the occupations and interests of a farmer in his native township.
He is a son of the late G. H. King, who deserves more than passing mention in the record of Wells County because of his varied activities and his early settlement. Gabriel H. King was born in an interesting and richly historie section of North Carolina, Stokes County, May 3, 1822, son of Johnson and Margaret (Stanley) King. About 1830 when he was eight years of age his parents came westward and established homes in Delaware County, Indiana, securing land from the govern- ment. But the parents did not survive their removal to the West, and in the following year both of them died within a month. They left six children, Gabriel being the youngest.
In the fall of 1837, when he was fifteen years old, Gabriel King and his older brother Johnson came to Wells County, where Johnson King entered eighty acres of land in sections 21 and 22 of Liberty Township. The Kings were the first family in the township, and theirs was the third cabin erected west of Liberty Center. At first they had no habita- tion at all and their goods were unloaded from their wagons under an oak tree. Johnson King died in Wells County in 1843. Gabriel II. King on reaching manhood bought eighty acres of heavily timbered land in section 27 of Liberty Township, and he was industriously engaged in its clearing and cultivation until 1857. In that year he sold his farm and bought eighty acres of improved land in the same township, on which he condneted farming until 1865. That year on selling his farm he bought a tract of land upon which he erected a sawmill, and there- after made both farming and lumbering his joint occupation until 1879. Gabriel H. King removed to Liberty Center in 1879, conducted a store
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for a time, but in 1882 turned this business over to his youngest son and then erected the first flouring inill at Liberty Center. The mill was improved with a complete roller process in 1887, and for over thirty years its wheels have turned and it has produced a large share of the high grade products used for bread and feed in this part of the county. The mill is still in operation.
While busied with many private affairs, Gabriel King always re- sponded to the cause for helpfulness in the community. He was prom- inent as a leader in the local democratic party and filled the office of township clerk seven years, magistrate four years, county commissioner three years, township trustee twelve years, besides other local offices. Ile was county commissioner of Wells County when the Court House was erected. He was a devout member of the Christian Church.
On February 25, 1841, Gabriel II. King married Miss Susan Menden- hall, daughter of Benjamin and Margery Mendenhall. She was born in Miami County, Ohio, and came to Wells County in 1839. Mr. and Mrs. King had twelve children, five of whom are still living, Benjamin J., Willard B., John H., Henry A. and Emily, wife of Adam Foust.
Benjamin J. King was born August 27, 1848, grew up on his father's farm in Liberty Township, and sinee leaving the local public schools has been industriously engaged with farming and also with milling. He still owns a good farm of eighty acres and has one of the good homes in that locality.
December 24, 1868. Mr. King married Jane MeNatt, who was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, and came to Wells County in the fall of 1863. Of their five children three are still living: Anna, wife of Arthur Thomas: William, who married Rosa Brieker; and Ethel, wife of Albert Sills. The King family are members of the Baptist Church at Liberty Center and in politics Mr. King votes as a democrat.
A. P. ADDINGTON has been a resident of Wells County thirty-one years and has attained success completely through his individual ability and sturdy enterprise. Mr. Addington has a fine farm and is known all over Wells County for his work as a road builder and contractor. Ilis farm is 21% miles southwest of Bluffton.
Mr. Addington was born in Scott County, Virginia, September 7, 1857, a son of Henry E. and Elizabeth W. (Gulley) Addington. Ilis parents were born, reared and married in Scott County and spent their lives there. The father died a number of years ago and the mother is still living. A. P. Addington grew up on a farm, attended the common schools of Virginia and at the age of twenty-one started out for himself to make a living as a farmer. On November 18, 1879, he married Miss Sarah E. Derting, who was born in the same county and state.
In 1886, still poor in purse, but with great anticipation for the future Mr. and Mrs. Addington came to Wells County, Indiana, and established their home a mile and a half west of where they now live in Liberty Township. Mr. Addington acquired 160 acres there, and continued to progress and prosper as a farmer on that place for sixteen years. In 1894 he bought his present farm of 120 aeres in Harrison Township. Mr. and Mrs. Addington have seven children: Perry, Carson Nannie, Eliza- beth, Homer, Belle and Dennis.
A number of years ago Mr. Addington acquired his first experience in building streets and gravel roads and his business in that connection has mounted steadily in importance and size of contraets. Ile built the improved highways of Spring and Wayne streets in Bluffton, and alto- gether has laid and constructed about forty miles of gravel roads in Wells County and adjoining counties. Mr. Addington is also one of the
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stockholders of the Farmers Co-operative Elevator of Poneto, the man- ager of which is William Smith. Mr. Addington is an active democrat and has been prominent in local affairs in his township and county. He is affiliated with Bluffton Lodge No. 145, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Bluffton Chapter No. 95, Royal Areh Masons, and is also a mem- ber of Lodge No. 796, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of Bluffton.
PERRY E. GILBERT. Uniondale is one of the young towns of the state of Indiana that has made progress within the last decade, and largely contributory to this has been the substantial interest shown by one of her prominent and representative men, Perry E. Gilbert. Mr. Gilbert's property investments are extensive in Wells County and important at Uniondale, where his official connection with some of the leading enter- prises add greatly to their strength and to the standing of Uniondale as a business center.
Perry E. Gilbert was born in Rock Creek Township, Wells County, Indiana, Mareh 3, 1860, and is a son of Martin and Lydia (Houtz) Gil- bert. His father was born in Ohio December 27, 1818, and died in Wells County, Indiana, June 26, 1883. His mother was born in Pennsylvania August 30, 1824, and died in Indiana, January 29, 1911. They were the parents of fourteen children and the family record is as follows: Emanuel B., born November 21, 1841, died December 25, 1902: Amanda J., born August 27, 1843; Christina, born July 11, 1845; Philip, born February 11, 1847, died September 26, 1916; Adeline, born November 15, 1849, died September 30, 1917; William, born July 6, 1851, died November 30, 1880; Elizabeth, born October 6, 1853, died March 4, 1917 : Sarah, born September 26, 1855; Isaiah, born November 24, 1857, died March 26. 1905 : Perry E .; Eliza E., born September 1, 1862; Louisa, born August 15, 1865 ; Martin, born August 27, 1869: and Lewis Erwin, born December 14, 1872, died December 25, 1888. The parents of the above family established their home in Rock Creek Township, Wells County, at a time when pioneer conditions prevailed. They endured the usual hardships incident to that period but survived them and lived to enjoy ease and comfort in their later years. They reared their large family carefully and through precept and example taught them the value of industry and thrift and brought them under the influence of the teach- ings of the Lutheran Church. They were people widely known and universally respected.
Perry E. Gilbert had the educational advantages provided by the district schools and gave his father assistance on the home farm of 120 aeres until he reached manhood. In 1885 he settled on a farm of fifty acres and in 1889 purchased 104 aeres, in 1895 adding an additional eighty acres and in 1911 bought sixty aeres more and at present owns 294 aeres in Wells County. He is one of the prosperous farmers and in addition does a very large business in the purchase and sale of stock, in which he has been extensively engaged for the past fifteen years.
On October 10, 1915, Mr. Gilbert eame to Uniondale and has resided here ever since. In 1916 he ereeted the fine briek building on Main Street, which is known as the Gilbert Block, a business structure that would be ereditable in a much larger place, and this is but one of the evidences of his business enterprise. This block at present is oeenpied by the Uniondale Harness Company and by a confectionery and a grocery store and the Ray L. Tutt store. Such property as this is not very likely to lack good tenants. Mr. Gilbert is vice president of the Uniondale State Bank and is also on the directing board of the Uniondale Lumber Company.
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Mr. Gilbert was married January 25, 1885, to Miss Ellen Valentine, who is a daughter of John and Mary Valentine, well known people in Wells County whose other children were: George, who is deceased; Emma, who is the wife of George Masterson; and Elizabeth, who is the wife of John Miller, of Wells County. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert have four children, namely : Harry H., who lives in Rock Creek Township, mar- ried Gertrude Schoonover; Ella G., who is the wife of Dwight Lesh, of Rock Creek Township ; Howard D., who is a farmer in Rock Creek Town- ship, married Masyl Houtz; and Herman L., who resides at home.
Mr. Gilbert is a prominent factor in democratic cireles in Wells County, and at times he has served in responsible official capacities. He was on the Board of County Commissioners of Wells County from 1907 until 1913, during which period some very weighty measures of public importance came before the board and were efficiently and economieally settled, Mr. Gilbert rendering good service because of his honest con- victions and practical ideas. With his family he belongs to the Lutheran Church.
WILLIAM II. WEINLAND. The Weinland family has been a prominent one in Wells County over thirty-five years, and it was here that William H. Weinland grew to manhood and since then has gained a place among the substantial farmers of Liberty Township. His home and farm are on the Salamonie Pike 51% miles south of Bluffton.
Mr. Weinland was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, three miles southeast of Dayton, on June 2, 1873. His parents were John and Margaret A. (Dougherty) Weinland. Of their children five are still living. William H. Weinland was about seven years of age when his parents moved to Wells County, Indiana, and here he attended the dis- triet schools of Liberty Township. As a youth he worked hard to get a start in life, and has succeeded in acquiring a good farm of eighty aeres in seetion 36 of Liberty Township and in addition to its profitable man- agement is one of the stockholders of the Bank of Poneto. He and his family are also prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of that village and he is one of its official board. Politieally Mr. Wein- Iand is a republiean and is affiliated with Bluffton Lodge No. 145, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
On May 22, 1895, he married Miss Winona Gavin. Mrs. Weinland is a native of Wells County and of a very old and prominent family here. They have four children: Iantha, who is a graduate of the common sehools and is now in the sophomore class of the Bluffton High School, and Robert, Kenneth and Grace.
Mrs. Weinland is a daughter of Robert F, and Martha ( MeFarren) Gavin. Robert F. Gavin was born in the City of Galway, Ireland, De- cember 11, 1838, a son of George and Mary (Benton) Gavin, the former of Kings County and the latter of Queens County, Ireland, in the Prov- ince of Leinster. George Gavin was a son of James and Mary ( Benton) Gavin. Mary Benton's father was Henry Benton, for many years con- nected with the Customs Department in Ireland. George Gavin and Mary Benton married February 23, 1838, in the Cathedral of the City of Galway. For the next ten years he was connected with the Royal Irish Constabulary, but in 1848 the family came to the United States, landing in New York City, and a short time later going to Ross County, Ohio. Here George Gavin engaged in farming until 1854, when he removed to Wells County. Indiana. and lived on a rented farm until 1857. when he came to Liberty Township and bought eighty aeres in the midst of the heavy woods. He had only five or six hundred dollars when he arrived in this county, but in later years came to be regarded as one of the most
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substantial and prosperous farmers of Liberty Township, with a fine place of 210 acres. He died December 11, 1882. George and Mary Gavin had seven children : Robert F., Mary A., Sarah, who married Harrison Snow, Henrietta, James B., Henry J. and Elizabeth.
Robert F. Gavin, father of Mrs. Weinland, early showed an ambition to secure an education, and in 1859 was successfully qualified to teach school. He continued as a teacher until 1871, and afterwards engaged in farming and other lines of business which made him one of the well known men of Wells County. Mareh 4, 1866, he married Martha McFar- ren, daughter of Jacob and Rachel (Foust) MeFarren, the former a native of Pennsylvania. Jacob McFarren and wife were married March 4, 1841. The following children were born to Robert F. Gavin and wife: George, deceased; Rachel A .; Mary I., deceased; John F .; Winona, wife of William H. Weinland; Benton W. and Austin S.
EDWARD L. HUFFMAN is one of the progressive farmers and stock raisers of Wells County. A number of years ago he came to his present farm as a renter, and from the fruits of his industry paid for and is now proprietor of the Riverside Stock Farm, located five miles east of Bluffton on Rural Route No. 6. Mr. Huffman owns 208 acres, highly developed and improved, and for a number of years has been using the land and its resources for breeding and raising high grades of livestock. He has concentrated his chief effort on hogs, and every year he has about 400 head on his farm, and is one of the leaders of Wells County in the hog market.
Mr. Huffman was born on a farm in Hartford Township of Adams County, Indiana, July 3, 1869, a son of John and Mary J. (Runyan) Huffman. His father was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, and his mother in Hartford Township of Adams County. John Huffman came to Adams County when seven years of age, grew up there, acquired a common school education and for several terms was a teacher, though his chief vocation throughout life was farming. He and his wife had five children, and three are still living: Iantha, who graduated from the Linn Grove High School and from the scientific and classical courses of Valparaiso University and is now the wife of Dr. H. H. Mather of Chicago; Nora, a graduate of the Linn Grove High School, took the scientific course of Valparaiso University, and was formerly active as a teacher but is now living at the old farm with her mother; and Edward L.
Edward L. Huffman acquired his early education while a farmer boy in Hartford Township and is also a graduate of the Linn Grove High School. He took advanced work in Normal and scientific courses and. had a very successful career as a teacher. Altogether he put in eleven years at Linn Grove as teacher and assistant principal in the Linn Grove High School.
While teaching he was also engaged in farming and has given a close study to agriculture and stock husbandry for a number of years. In 1901 he removed to Wells County, and became a renter on the farm which he has owned since 1907. Mr. Huffman married Miss Minnie Studa- baker, youngest daughter of Mrs. A. T. Studabaker. They have four children : Waldo, a student in the Bluffton High School: Dale, who is in the Newville common schools; Madeline, now six years of age; and Max Edward. The family are members of the Six Mile Christian Church, and Mr. Huffman is church treasurer. He is affiliated with Linn Grove Lodge No. 683, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past noble grand, and both he and his wife are active in the Rebekah Lodge at Linn Grove. Politically he is a democrat and while a worker for the
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MR. AND MRS. EDWARD L. HUFFMAN
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party in earlier years has been content merely to express a preference through his individual vote.
JOHN M. MILLER. One of the old and important families of Wells County, Indiana, bears the name of Miller. It has always been a more or less agricultural family and has always been one that has represented good citizenship, temperance and morality. In the passing away of John A. Miller, on January 21, 1917, Wells County lost a most worthy man and the family the last of the old generation. He was the owner of valuable property, leaving an estate that was valued at $50,000, there being 320 acres in his farm. This property is now ably managed by his son, John M. Miller, who is the administrator of the estate.
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