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 29
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 29
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Mr. Ludwig affords one of the very fine examples of the self-made man, having secured enough of this world's goods to secure against the inconveniences of penury, all of which he has accomplished through hard and honest toil, wringing from the soil the reward due those who apply themselves as have Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig. Mrs. Ludwig is affili- ated with the Reformed Church, being a member of the St. Paul's ('on- gregation, of Rock Creek Township. In polities Mr. Ludwig has been rather independent in his voting. though inclining to the republican party in national affairs.
SAMUEL E. HITCHCOCK. A prominent insurance man of the firm Hitcheock & Fellers, Samuel E. Hitcheoek was born in Butler County, Ohio, November 19, 1862, and he is a son of Henry L. and Ann ( Wil- cox) Hitcheoek. The parents were both born in the Buckeye state, the father in Miami County and the mother in Butler County. They were married in Ohio and moved thenee to Clinton County, Indiana, where he was engaged in farming operations for a time. Samuel Hitchcock. grandfather, was a graduate of William and Mary College, and was an eminent physician and surgeon, being associated with the United States Government for a number of years. The Hiteheock family was founded in Scotland and the progenitor of the name in America eame
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hither in the old Colonial days; representatives of the name served in the War of the Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock, parents, are both deceased.
Samuel E. Hitchcock lived in Ohio until his twelfth year and then resided with his parents on their farm in Clinton County, Indiana, until his majority. His distriet school education was supplemented with - a course of study in the American Normal School, at Logansport, Indi- ana, and for two years he was a student in the State Normal School of Indiana. He began his life work as a teacher and after teaching in the common schools for a time was principal at Binghurst, Indiana, for three years. In 1892 he was appointed principal of the Central School in Bluffton and after one year in that position he was head of the science department in the high school for two years. He then entered upon the study of law, passed the state examinations successfully, and was ad- mitted to the Indiana bar. He was engaged in the practice of law at the outbreak of the. Spanish-American war, in which he served as regi- mental commissary sergeant on the staff of Colonel Gunders. He went with his regiment to Cuba and on his return to Bluffton he passed the civil service examination and for the five succeeding years was a local mail carrier. As lawyer and mail carrier he was interested in the insur- ance business and in 1905, in partnership with Walter L. Fellers, he took over the old Greek agency and they began a thriving business under the firm name of Hitchcock & Fellers. They handle all kinds of insurance and have the largest concern of its kind in the state for the size of the town.
In 1893, while a teacher, being desirous of procuring a library for Bluffton, Mr. Hitehcock devised all kinds of means to raise the necessary funds, among other things giving amateur plays. Books were purchased and the library was installed in the high school building, Mr. Hitchcock having been instrumental in getting a tax levy to pay the upkeep. He was the first treasurer of the library board and in 1904, with the finan- cial assistance of Andrew Carnegie, who contributed $13,000 for the pur- pose, a splendid new library was erected. Mr. Hiteheock was a member of the building committee and for years was president of the library board. Securing this fine library for Bluffton was a splendid accomplish- ment and while it was not a one-man affair, still the eity owes much to Mr. Hitchcock for his great enthusiasm and untiring efforts. Without his persistency and determination it is doubtful if Bluffton would have secured a library at the early day it did.
Mr. Hitchcock is one of the directors of the Wells County Bank, of the Union Savings & Trust Company and of the Bliss Hotel Company. He is a valued member of Bluffton Lodge No. 145, Ancient Free and Ae- eepted Masons, in which he is past ntaster: of Bluffton Chapter No. 95, Royal Arch Masons, in which he is past high priest ; Bluffton Council No. 63, Royal & Select Masters, in which he is past illustrious master; and Bluffton Commandery No. 38, Knights Templar, in which he is past eminent commander. He is likewise affiliated with the Scottish Rite branch of Masonry and he is a member of the Ancient Arabie Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Fort Wayne. In addition to Masonry he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias. In polities Mr. Hitchcock is a republican.
December 30, 1891, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hitchcock to. Miss Emma Tressing, a native of Ohio. They have one daughter, Helen, born September 14, 1898. Helen Hitcheoek was graduated in the Bluff- ton High School as a member of the class of 1916 and she is now a sophomore in Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.
The IIitcheoek family are members of the Presbyterian Church, in
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WAS FORMED, 1795. LOUGHGALL.
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GEO. O. PENCE AND FAMILY
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which he served on the board of trustees. Mr. Hitchcock is a man of broad human sympathy and great benevolence. Charity in its widest and best sense is practiced by him and his kindness has made smooth the way of many a weary traveler on life's journey. In his private life he is distinguished by all that marks. the true gentleman. His is a noble character-one that subordinates personal ambition to public good and seeks rather the benefit of others than the aggrandizement of self. En- dowed by nature with high intellectual qualities, to which have been added the discipline and embellishments of culture, his is a most attrac- tive personality.
GEORGE O. PENCE has spent his entire life within the limits of Har- rison Township, Wells County, and represents a family that has been identified with this section of the state fully seventy years. He is still giving his energies to productive farming and has one of the fine farms in Harrison Township in section 35.
He was born on section 23 of the same township February 5, 1851, a son of Peter and Sarah J. (Sloan) Pence. Peter Pence was born in Hock- ing County, Ohio, on July 15, 1817, a son of John Pence. John Pence was a Virginian who located in Hocking County, Ohio, as early as 1798, four years before Ohio was admitted to the Union. He spent his industrious life in that section, and was the father of a large family, among them being Hannah, Eliza. Rebecca, Jane, William, Sarah, Peter, John and Gashum. Of these Rebecca was the first white child born in Hocking County, Ohio.
Peter Pence grew to maturity on the old homestead in Hocking County, and married there Sarah J. Sloan. She was born in County Armagh, Ireland, July 4, 1818, and was brought to America by her father when eight years of age, they also locating in Hoeking County, Ohio. The Sloan family had lived for generations in County Armagh, Ireland, where a large stone house was handed down from generation to generation by successive members of the family. It was in this home that the first Orange Lodge was organized in Longhall, Ireland, and the great-grandfather of George O. Pence presided over that meeting. Out of that organization arose active hostilities, resulting in a battle between the Orangemen and the Catholics, and the driving of a large part of the Catholic population from that county.
While they lived in Hoeking County, Ohio, five children were born to Peter Pence and wife. On May 15, 1847, they arrived with their family in Wells County, Indiana, and settled on eighty acres of land in section 23 bought in 1842. and subsequently acquired another eighty acres. Mr. Pence was a prosperous old time settler here and in polities was a republican. He died December 18, 1898. His wife passed away in 1891. She was a very active member of the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church. They had ten children : Lucinda, John II., Ascher. Ellen. Phoebe. Gashum, Peter. Jr .. Sarah J., Mary E. and George O. Of these three are still living. Ellen is the wife of Emanuel Griffin of Oklahoma. Mary E. is the wife of John MeKeen of Bluffton, Indiana.
George O. Pence grew up on his father's farm and acquired a dis- triet school education. He lived at home until he was twenty-one and on April 12, 1874. he married Miss Emma C. Myers. She was born Sep- tember 9, 1853, in Harrison Township and has spent practically all of her life there, having been educated in the district schools. She is a daugh- ter of David Myers.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Pence engaged in farming for thirty-five years, being on a farm in section 23 from which they moved
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to Travisville where they lived five years. Their efforts were prospered and in 1917 they moved to their present fine farm of eighty aeres in section 35. Harrison Township, and they own and operate eighty acres in section 7 and have twenty aeres in Nottingham Township.
Of their children the oldest, Samuel O., was commissary sergeant in the Spanish-American war, now engaged in his trade as a millwright at Seattle, Washington. John S. is a carpenter and lives at Warren, Indi- ana. Lewis A. conduets a farm near Myers Chapel Church. Effie P. is the wife of Job Watson, living near La Fontaine, Indiana. Otto F. is now in the service of the new National Army. Urban M., the youngest, is also enrolled for service in the National Army.
Mr. Pence is a member of Bluffton Lodge No. 114 Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in politics is a republican.
WHARTON W. ROGERS. Wells County, Indiana, figures as one of the most attractive, progressive and prosperous divisions of the state, justly claiming a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which is certain to conserve conseentive development and marked advancement in the material upbuilding of this section. The county has been and is signally favored in the class of men who have contributed to its develop- ment along industrial and financial lines and in the latter connection the subject of this review demands recognition as he has been actively engaged in banking operations during practically the entire period of his career thus far. He is eashier of the Studabaker Bank at Bluffton and he is well known as a man whose business methods demonstrate the power of activity and honesty in the business world.
Wharton W. Rogers, a native son of Bluffton, Indiana, was born June 13, 1885, and he is a son of Philo and Maria (Prillaman) Rogers. The parents were born and reared in Wells County, Indiana, and the father is now deceased, having passed away in 1906. As a boy, Philo Rogers was bound out as an apprentice to Amos Curry to learn the dry goods business and he was afterward associated with Mr. Curry for years. first in the banking business and later in a hardware enterprise. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Regers : Lizzie M., a graduate of the Bluffton High School, is the wife of Dr. L. W. Dailey of Bluffton ; and Wharton W., whose name forms the eaption for this article.
After his graduation in the Bluffton High School, as a member of the class of 1903, Wharton W. Rogers was matriculated as a student in Purdue University, which excellent institution he attended for two years. lle then located in the city of Indianapolis, remaining there for six months, at the end of which he returned to Bluffton and entered the Studabaker Bank as bookkeeper. Diligent application to the work in hand shortly gained him the position of assistant cashier, and in October, 1912, he became cashier of the bank, which position he has filled with marked efficiency to the present time, in 1918. IIe is a stockholder in the Studabaker Bank and in the Bliss Hotel Company, of which latter concern he is secretary. He is likewise secretary of the Fairview Ceme- tery Association and treasurer of the Wells County Red Cross Associ- ation. Mr. Rogers is a republican in politics, warmly advocating the party principles and serving as the present treasurer of the Wells County Central Committee. Ile is a thirty-second degree Mason, a Knights Templar and a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. ITis religious faith eo- incides with the teachings of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of whose official board he is secretary.
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In 1906 Mr. Rogers was united in the holy bonds of wedlock to Miss Maggie Walmer, who was graduated in the Bluffton High School and attended De Pauw University. One son was born to this union : Robert W., whose nativity occurred in May, 1908. Mrs. Rogers died November 4, 1910, and for a second wife Mr. Rogers married Lucile Lock, a daugh- ter of Del Loek, of Bluffton. She was graduated in the Glendale, Ohio, College. They have one son, Wharton L., born March 18, 1917.
DANIEL SPRANG is one of the veteran business men of Decatur, has lived here nearly forty years, and has spent his life since childhood in Northeastern Indiana. ITis name for years was associated with merehan- dising at Decatur, but latterly he has been engaged in manufacturing, being interested in the manufacturing of slack barrel stoek in different parts of the country.
The Sprang name is of Swiss origin. The grandfather Christian Sprang was born in Alsace Lorraine. He served as a soldier under the great Napoleon in the climax of that soldier's career, from 1812 to 1815. He was onee slightly wounded. He married a girl from Alsace Lorraine and settled down to farming. All their children were born in the old country, named Frederiek, Jacob, Godfrey, Sarah and Christian, Jr. While most of these children were still young the family in 1822 embarked on a sailing vessel at Havre, France, and after a voyage of several weeks landed in New York City. From there they went on west to Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio, where Christian Sprang, Sr., resumed his work as a farmer. Ile was one of the pioneers of that section and he lived to see his family well provided with the comforts of life. His wife died in Wayne County and some years later he passed away at the home of his son Christian in Ashland County, Ohio, at the age of eighty-seven. He was a Lutheran and reared his family in the same faith, and after coming to America he became a voter of the democratic party. All his sons and daughters grew up, married in Ohio, and all except Christian spent their last years in that state.
Christian Sprang, Jr., was born in Alsace Lorraine in 1816 and was six years of age when he came to this country. In Ashland County he married Sarah Hanver. She was born in the same year and in the same province of France, and she came with her parents to America also in the same year though on a separate vessel. The Hanvers located in Ashland County, Ohio, where she grew up and remained until after her marriage. Christian Sprang and wife after their marriage settled down on a farm near Mohicanville in Ashland County and all their children were born in that locality. The record of these two children is as follows: Fred, who died leaving a family ; Magdalena, who married Frederick ILyde and died in Allen County, Indiana, leaving children ; Jacob, who is a retired farmer in the State of Kansas and has a family of three daughters and one son ; Philip, who died in Allen County leaving two children : Godfrey, a resident of Michigan is father of one daughter; Sarah, who lives in Defianee County, Ohio, widow of John Kuhn and mother of two sons and one daughter; Daniel, who is next to the youngest of the family; and Simon P., a farmer in Allen County, who is married and has children.
Mr. Daniel Sprang was born in Ashland County, Ohio, August 22, 1854. When he was twelve years of age the family left the scenes of his birth and moved to Allen County, Indiana, loeating near Poe postoffice. The land which they acquired had been only partially improved, and it remained for the energies of Christian Sprang and his sons to put it into a productive state of cultivation and a home of modest comforts. This old farm is now owned by two grandsons of Christian Sprang. Christian Sprang died in Allen County in 1875 when nearly fifty-nine years of age,
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and his widow died later at the home of her daughter in Defiance County, Ohio, at the age of eighty-seven. She was an active member of the Evan- gelical Church.
Daniel Sprang finished his education in Allen County, had a high school course, and having wisely improved his early opportunities he qualified as a teacher and followed that vocation for four years. While living in Allen County he married for his first wife Alice Lichtenwalter. She was born in that county in 1857. She died at her home in Decatur May 2, 1895. She was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Sprang's only child was Ella, who graduated from the city high school of Decatur, and was for several years a music teacher. She was twice married, her first husband being Harry Bell, and by that union there is a daughter, Margaret, now the wife of Willard Rohrer, living in Michigan. For her second husband she married C. B. Wilcox. Mrs. Wilcox died June 20, 1916.
For his present wife Mr. Sprang married Miss Lucy J. Vail. She was born in Ossian, Wells County, Indiana, May 2, 1864, and is member of the well known Vail family elsewhere referred to in this publication. She was well educated, and for eighteen years was one of the best known teachers in Adams and Wells counties.
When Mr. Daniel Sprang came to Decatur in 1879 he entered the dry goods business in partnership with Mr. Edington. In 1882 he and Charles F. True bought Mr. Edington's interest, and together they conducted a high class store on Second Street in Decatur until 1899. Failing health compelled Mr. Sprang to retire from this business at the time and he then sold ont to Mr. True. After a year of rest and recuperation he put some of his capital into business with Mr. A. T. Vail, and they took up the manufacture of barrel stock, at first at Markel, Indiana. Later they conducted plants at Warren and Bloomfield, Ohio, at Linesville, Penn- sylvania, but at present they conduct their plant and find their princi- pal supply of raw material in Arkansas and Missouri. Mr. Vail is the active manager of the business and remains on the ground, while Mr. Sprang still keeps his home at Decatur.
Mr. Sprang is one of the older members of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Decatur. He has various local interests and is one of the men most frequently called upon for cooperation with worthy public enterprises. He has served as noble grand of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, as district deputy, has filled various chairs in the Masonic Lodge and Royal Arch Chapter, and is a member of Mizpah Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Fort Wayne. He and his wife are active in the Methodist Episcopal Church and he has been treasurer of the church since 1889 and many years a trustee.
WILLIAM B. LITTLE. From pioneer times to the present hardly any family in Wells County has been better known and more prominent than the Littles. William B. Little has spent nearly all his life of sev- enty-five years in this county and much of his experience has connected him with county affairs, so that there is probably no man in the entire county better posted on the official records and county business in gen- eral. Mr. Little is a former county assessor, and whether an official or in a private capacity has been one of the citizens chiefly influential in making Bluffton and the county measure up to the best ideals and progress.
Mr. Little was born in Monroe County, New York, April 16, 1842, a son of Horace W. and Susan (Burtis) Little. His father was born and reared in the same county and state, while his mother was a native of Dutchess County, New York. Grandfather Elijah Little was a native
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of Massachusetts, went to Monroe County, New York, when a young man, married there, and about 1860 came out to Wells County, Indiana, where some years before he had acquired more than 1,000 acres of land in sections 29 and 32, range 13, and also eighty aeres in section 30. Horace W. Little had come to Wells County, Indiana, in 1845, building a cabin on the north half of section 32. Ile lived here only a short time, and then returned to New York, but in 1856 came again to Wells County. Then in 1863 he went back to New York State, where he spent his last years. By his first wife there were two children, William B. and Elijah II. The latter was born in 1844 and died in 1878.
William B. Little was educated largely in the public schools of New York State. Ile married there October 23, 1871, Dora C. Ellis. In 1875 Mr. Little came to Indiana and located on the family farm in Wells County. During his early life he had some experience as a teacher. From the time he removed to Bluffton in 1892 Mr. Little had much to do with the surveyor's office at the courthouse, and one of the main quali- fications which entitled him to the confidence of the citizens in his elec- tion to the office of county assessor in the fall of 1910 was his thorough familiarity with every branch of the public records. He entered upon the duties of that office January 1, 1911. For six years Mr. Little was a member of the city council. That was a period of Bluffton's greatest advancement and growth. During that time much street paving was laid and five miles of sewerage was eonstructed. Mr. Little had active superintendence of the sanitary sewerage section.
Mr. Little has one son, DeForest Little, who was born October 30, 1878. He is a graduate of the Bluffton High School and is now deputy postmaster at Bluffton. Mr. William Little is affiliated with Bluffton Lodge No. 145. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and has always been interested in local polities as a democrat. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted May 3, 1864, in the navy, and serving until the close of the war. He has membership in Lew Daily Post of the Grand Army of the Republic.
I. A. MERRIMAN has had a long and active career in business affairs at Bluffton, and is now engaged in the real estate and loan business, with a large clientage among those people who appreciate his trnst- worthy judgment and thoroughly reliable business principles.
Mr. Merriman represents one of the old and prominent families of Wells County. His grandfather William B. Merriman was born in Wayne County, Ohio, November 22, 1816, a son of Elijah and Mary (McCoy) Merriman. The parents of William B. had come from Fayette County, Pennsylvania, to Ohio just nine days before William was born. William B. Merriman first acquired an interest in Wells County in 1844 when he bought eighty aeres and in 1851 he beeame a permanent resi- dent in section 21 of Lancaster Township. He was a skillful carpenter and followed his trade throughout Wells County for a period of over thirty years. He made his home in Laneaster Township until 1900, when he removed to Bluffton, where both he and his wife died in advanced years. William B. Merriman married November 12, 1838, Elizabeth Knight, who was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 16, 1820. William B. Merriman was an active democrat and cast his first presidential vote for Martin Van Buren in 1836. He and his wife had six children, and five of them are still living: Mrs. Lncinda Dailey, widow of S. M. Dailey, living in Missouri ; Mary Ann, widow of Sutton Patte; Ezra D .; L. Mason, who lives in Arkansas; and William H., of Bluffton.
Ezra D. Merriman, father of the Bluffton business man, was born
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in Wayne County, Ohio, and was reared on the old farm in Lancaster Township. He lived at home until he was twenty-five years of age, when he married Sarah Kirkendall of Whitley County, Indiana. After a brief residenee in Bluffton they removed to a farm in Lancaster Town- ship and that was their home until the death of the mother on Deeem- ber 12, 1889. She had three children : W. II. Merriman, a grocery mer- chant at Bluffton ; I. A. Merriman ; and Don K., who died at the age of two years.
I. A. Merriman was reared on a farm until he was twenty years of age, and received his early education in distriet schools and had one term in the Bluffton High School. At the age of sixteen he began work- ing for himself on a farm, but when twenty-one he came to Bluffton and engaged in the restaurant business. He conducted a restaurant and bakery at Bluffton for a period of twenty years. Since then he has been in the real estate and loan business.
June 19, 1898, he married Miss Ida B. Miller, daughter of Renhen Miller. Mrs. Merriman was born in Wells County and was educated in the public schools. They have two bright and interesting children : Jen- nie B., the older, was born September 21, 1900, graduated from the Bluff- ton High School in 1917, and is now a student in the Woman's College at Oxford, Ohio. The other child, Lester M., was born April 5, 1902, completed the course of the common schools in 1917. The family are active members of the Baptist Church in which Mr. Merriman is a trustee and assistant superintendent of the Sunday school. The daughter is a finished musician for one of her years, and plays the pipe organ in the church. The boy is also well known in local musical eireles as a singer. Mr. Merriman is a democrat hut has never sought office of any kind and is entirely devoted to his business, his family and his church.
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