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 31
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 31
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
The Decatur Produce Company was organized and incorporated in 1905. It is a highly successful business and one of the factors in secur- ing a prompt and equitable distribution of farm and dairy products between the producer and consumer. The business has enjoyed a steady growth and prosperity, and it now has a large plant 80x100 feet, sit- uated with access both to the Erie and Clover Leaf railway tracks. The plant is well adapted for its purposes, one part being for general storage and handling and another equipped with refrigeration facilities. This is perhaps the chief medium in Adams County through which the butter, eggs and poultry raised in the surrounding districts are con- centrated and sent to market. The company ships these products every- where, though New York is the main market. On the average they send out about two carload of eggs every week and a carload of poultry. The entire management and direction of the business is through Mr. Moltz, secretary and treasurer of the company. The other two officers, W. B. Frisinger, president, lives at Rockford, Ohio, while the vice president, J. L. Mosur, is also a non-resident.
Mr. Moltz is also a factor in the same line of business at Bluffton, where he is .president of the Berling & Moltz Company, which operates a large warehouse and plant handling produce. The business at Bluff- ton has been in existence for about ten years.
Harry R. Moltz was born in Van Wert County, Ohio, in 1866, and received most of his early training in the schools at Van Wert, Fulton County, Ohio. When he was quite a young man in 1891 he came to Decatur, and here for twenty-one years was prominently engaged in the dry goods business, most of the time as president of the Kuebler- Moltz Company, now the Kuebler Company.
Mr. Moltz is a son of George W. and Mary (Hull) Moltz, both natives of Pennsylvania and married at Republic, Ohio. After their marriage they settled at Van Wert, where the father spent his active life as a dry goods merchant. He died at the age of seventy-eight and his wife passed away in Van Wert in 1868 when in the prime of life. They were active members of the Lutheran Church.
Harry L. Moltz married at Decatur Anna Dailey, who was reared and educated here, where her parents were well known residents for many years and her mother is still living. Mrs. Moltz is active in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Moltz is affiliated with the Suh- ordinate and Encampment degrees of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is also a Blue Lodge Mason and a member of the Con- Vol. II-14
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sistory at Fort Wayne. Politically he is identified with the republican party.
JOHN W. COLLINS. Farming and stoekraising have proved profitable industries as they have been carried on by John W. Collins, who is one of the substantial men of Wells County, who owns many acres of fertile land here, all of which has been acquired through his own industry and good judgment. Mr. Collins was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, May 10, 1854. His parents were Noah S. and Sarah (Cox) Collins. The father was born in Ross County, Ohio, July 24, 1823, and the mother in the same county and state, October 17, 1823.
After their marriage, Noah S. Collins and his wife moved to Picka way County, Ohio, and still later to Madison County in the same state, and there Mr. Collins died in May, 1876, and his widow in November, 1907. They were most worthy people and were faithful members of the United Brethren Church. Of their eight children but two survive, John W. and R. F., the latter being a resident of Fayette County, Ohio.
John W. Collins obtained his education in the public schools in Ohio and remained with his parents until he was twenty years old and then came to Indiana. He soon found that the farmers here had great need of strong. industrious, willing young men and without difficulty found employment and through prudence and continued industry for a num- ber of years, finally found himself in a position to invest in land and he continued to invest until at the present day he owns 100 acres of some of the best farm land in Harrison Township, which is his home farm, and 160 acres situated in Nottingham Township, Wells County. He has made many substantial improvements and all his land is exceedingly val- uable. General farming and stockraising have engaged his attention and he has been so successful that he is considered one of the best judges of stock in this section.
Mr. Collins has been twice married. His first wife, who was Maggie Tuttle, was born in Wells County, Indiana, and died here July 29, 1879. She was the mother of two children, both of whom are deceased. Mr. Collins was married July 14, 1881, to Miss Emma Howard. She was born in Jackson County, Ohio, December 4, 1855, and was about ten years old when her parents brought her to Wells County and she attended the public sehools in Harrison Township. To Mr. and Mrs. Collins the following children have been born: Bessie, who resides with her parents : Leroy, who assists his father, is a graduate of the business college at Bluffton; Minnie A., who is the wife of Roy Hendricks, a farmer in Adams County, Indiana ; Lloyd, who is a farmer on his father's land in Nottingham Township; and Howard, who was a farmer in Harrison Township, died in October, 1917. Mr. Collins has seventeen grand- children.
Mr. Collins comes of an old demoeratie family and all his life has given his political support to this organization but has never desired public office.
DANIEL T. BRINNEMAN. There are turning points in every man's life called opportunity. Taken advantage of they mean ultimate success. The career of Daniel T. Brinneman is a striking illustration of the latter statement. Diligent and ever alert for his chanee of advancement. he has progressed steadily until he is recognized today as one of the prom- inent citizens of Bluffton, where he is president and treasurer of the Bluffton Improvement Company and the present efficient incumbent of the office of county recorder of Wells County. He is held in high esteem by his fellow men, who honor him for his native ability and for his fair and straightforward career.
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The founder of the Brinneman family in Wells County, Indiana, was Melakiah Brinneman, a native of the State of Pennsylvania, whence he emigrated to the Hoosier state. Ilis son, Cornelius, was born in section 16 Chester Township, Wells County, and there grew to maturity and was educated. He married Maria A. Bruce and to them were born five children, two of whom died in infancy; the others, living in 1917, are: Charles W. A., a resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Bertha M., now a resident of California; and Daniel T., of this review. Mrs. Maria A. Brinneman passed away July 20, 1916.
Daniel Theron Brinneman was born on a farm in Chester Township, Wells County, the date of his nativity being October 10, 1876. He lived in the vicinity of his birth until 1887, in which year the family home was established in the City of Indianapolis, where he attended school until he was twelve years old. At that tender age he began to make his own living, working at different things for several years. Ile also provided for his widowed mother and among other things he learned in the capital city was the barber's trade. In 1895 he returned to Wells County and located in Bluffton, where he worked in different barber shops until 1906, in which year he purchased a shop and operated the same for about one year. Disposing of his shop in 1907, he went to Michigan for the improvement of his health and remained in that state for four months. He then returned to Bluffton, hought another barber shop and conducted it for nearly a year. In 1909 he engaged in the real estate business, in partnership with the late John W. Tribolet and after the latter's death took over the entire business. Three years from that time he purchased the Wandell Barber Shop, which he conducted for six months, eventually selling the same. In the spring of 1914 he was nominated on the democratic ticket for the office of county recorder. He was nominated by 1,259 votes, and he assumed office January 1, 1916. Ile is a conscientious worker and has proved himself well fitted for the responsible position he holds. In 1917 he organized the Bluffton Im- provement Company for the purpose of buying, improving and selling real estate, and of this concern he is president and treasurer. Mrs Brinneman is vice president and Mary Crum secretary.
September 12, 1911, Mr. Brinneman married Miss Elva Randall, a daughter of Franklin Randall, a prominent farmer in Lancaster Town- ship, Wells County. Mrs. Brinneman is a graduate of the Craigville High School and of the Bluffton Business College. Two children are the result of this union : IIelen, aged six, and Franklin, aged three.
Mr. Brinneman is a member of Bluffton Lodge No. 92, Knights of Pythias and of Minnetonka Tribe No. 82, Improved Order of Red Men. Ilis interest in political questions is deep and sincere and he gives an earnest support to democratie principles, believing that the platform of that party contains the best elements of good government. Mr. Brinneman is absolutely a self-made man and for that reason his success in life is the more gratifying to contemplate.
T. FRANK BROWN. One of the best improved farms in Chester Town- ship, Wells County, is that owned by T. Frank Brown, a representative citizen and successful farmer and stockman. Mr. Brown was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, July 6, 1852, and is a son of William and Har- riet (Johnson ) Brown.
William Brown was born in 1812, in Guernsey County, Ohio, where his parents had settled when they came from Ireland. IIe was married in Muskingum County, Ohio, to Harriet Johnson, who was born October 3. 1817, in Maryland, but grew to womanhood in Muskingum County. They became the parents of fourteen children, eleven of whom grew
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to maturity, but T. Frank Brown is the only one living in Indiana. Both parents were members of the Presbyterian Church. The old farm in Guernsey County consisted of 400 acres, and William Brown also car- ried on a tanning business. He was a man of sterling character and superior judgment, was stanch in his support of the republican party and was frequently elected to responsible public offices. He was town- ship trustee and school director and for nine years was a county com- missioner. His death occurred July 1, 1890.
T. Frank Brown attended the country schools in Guernsey County during the winter seasons until he was eighteen years old and remained at home assisting his father until 1879. In August of that year he came to Wells County, Indiana, and located on the farm he now owns in Chester Township, purchasing the same before he was married, on Feb- ruary 11, 1880, to Rose M. Sehriber, who died September 7, 1896. She also was a native of Guernsey County. Ohio, born March 27, 1860, and was educated at the Cambridge High School. They had three children : William M., who was born December 4, 1880, died December 13, 1888; Arthur S., who was born June 4, 1884, is a graduate of the Liberty Center High School; and Cecile R., who was born May 17, 1891. This yonng lady was educated very carefully. At the age of eleven years she became a pupil in the Immaculate Conception Academy, at Oldenburg, Indiana, and remained there until she had completed the academic course and was graduated in 1910. She is a member of Crescent Chapter No. 48, Order of the Eastern Star, at Bluffton, Indiana. Arthur S. is a member of Bluffton Lodge No. 145, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Bluffton Lodge No. 796, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Brown owns 191 acres in Chester Township and carries on large farming and stoek operations here. In 1914 he completed the erection of one of the finest residences in the township if not in the county, its composition being of veneered brick and stucco, that presents a hand- some exterior, while every modern comfort and convenience has been added to its interior equipment. Its surroundings are equally attractive.
In polities Mr. Brown is a republican but has never been very active in campaign work and has never desired politieal preferment for him- self. He is always ready, however, to co-operate with others in move- ments that will benefit this section and is a strong advocate of good roads. He is a member of Bluffton Lodge No. 145, Free and Accepted Masons, and of the Elks, No. 796, Bluffton.
JOHN O. KUNKEL, now a resident of Chester Township in Wells County, is member of that old and prominent Kunkel family which has been identified with this county from pioneer times and its activities and influence as good citizens have been widespread.
Mr. Kunkel was born on a farm in Lancaster Township of Wells County December 23. 1852. He is a son of Michael and Mary A. (Klein- kneight ) Kunkel. Michael Kunkel was born in York County, Pennsyl- vania, September 16, 1816, son of Michael and Catherine (Senee) Kun- kel. The grandfather removed from Pennsylvania to Crawford County, Ohio, where he developed a farm in the wilderness and lived there until his death. Michael Kunkel, Jr., married for his first wife Julia Mason, who died about 1847. the mother of five children. One of these children, Samuel Kunkel. a half brother of John O .. is distinguished as the founder and originator of the Town of Toesin in Wells County. He owned the land and in 1882 had a portion of it surveyed into lots and that was the beginning of the village. For his second wife Michael Kunkel married Mary A. Kleinkneight, and soon afterward they came with their family to Adams County, Indiana, settling on a farm near Decatur and two
WILLIAM A. HIGHI
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years later removed to Lancaster Township of Wells County. Michael Kunkel was a practical farmer in that section until 1883, when he removed to Bluffton in order to give his children the advantages of the higher schools there. IIe died at Bluffton in May, 1886. By his second marriage there were seven children: Martha A., who died in infancy ; Jolın O .; Lydia Matilda, wife of T. M. Souder; Rebecca A., who mar- ried Henry M. Masterson; Dora A., who died at the age of three years; T. II. Kunkel, also deceased; and William A., of Bluffton.
John O. Kunkel was reared on the old farm and acquired a substan- tial education considering the time and facilities in which he spent his youth. On November 11, 1876, he married Miss Melissa M. Blue, mem- ber of an old and prominent family of this county. She was born in Lancaster Township January 16, 1854, and was educated in the common schools and a select school at Murray and for a time before her marriage was a successful teacher. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Kunkel farmed the old homestead two years, and he then engaged in the general merchandise business at Toesin nine years, and altogether was in mer- chandising about fifteen years in the county. He then resumed farming in Lancaster Township, but after five years sold his place there and moved to Chester Township, where he now owns and occupies a well developed farm of 100 acres. Mr. Kunkel is a democrat in politics and is affiliated with Toesin Lodge No. 486, Knights of Pythias.
He and his wife are the parents of six children: Fred, of Chester Township; Mary, wife of Earl French, now principal of schools at Wil- low Lake, South Dakota; Reuben, who takes an active part in the man- agement of the home farm: Elzy, a resident of Kansas; Eva, a teacher in the district schools; and Claudine, a graduate of the common schools and now a student at Bluffton.
WILLIAM A. HIGH, a resident of Bluffton many years, is identified with Wells County through many individual associations and also by the relationship of his family who were pioneers in Wells County.
Mr. High is in fact a native of Wells County, having been born on a farm in Lancaster Township near Toesin March 7, 1862. He is a son of Charles S. and Lydia J. (Kleinknecht) High. His grandparents were Joseph and Mary (Dare) High. Joseph High was born in New Jersey December 18, 1794, grew to maturity there. Mary Dare also spent her early life in New Jersey and they were married on November 3, 1816. After living several years in New Jersey they started westward and reaching Franklin County, Indiana, settled near College Corners. This was their home until the fall of 1840, when with covered wagons and teams they journeyed through a partial wilderness to Wells County and located in the woods in Lancaster Township. Joseph High was a pioneer in New Jersey which he had helped to defend and protect during the War of 1812. Ile had an honorable discharge from the United States service and furthermore had a land grant which permitted him to enter eighty acres of land. He not only availed himself of that privilege but entered another eighty acres adjoining, giving him a quarter section at the locality known as Pugney. Having secured that land he cleared away some of the trees and built his cabin home and in that environ- ment he reared his five sons and two daughters. These children were : Ruth, who became the wife of Hiram Trullender: Ezekiel, who married Emily Dailey; Enoch, who married Elizabeth Dailey: Charles S. ; Ephraim, who married Elizabeth Shadey; Ann, who hecame the wife of Samuel Knight ; Benjamin, who married Mary Sparks. All these children are now deceased.
Charles S. High was born in Franklin County, Indiana, April 2,
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1830, and was about ten years of age when his parents moved to Lan- easter Township of Wells County. Young as he was he was able to assist his father in the work of elearing away the timber and bringing the fields to cultivation. At the same time he was availing himself of the meager privileges of the school, attending to his educational neces- sities in the old log schoolhouse of Lancaster Township, later having the better advantages of the schools of Bluffton. Ile wisely improved these opportunities, and for a number of years was a recognized teacher. fle taught in the district schools in Wells County for a number of years. The practical work of farming was never quite to his taste but he delighted in any occupation that had a mechanical turn, and he was thus connected with several of the older sawmills of the county.
After his marriage in 1854 he located on a farm in Lancaster Town- ship, and applied himself with vigor and determination to the business of making as well as carrying on a farm. He did a great deal of ditch- ing and clearing in order to put the land into shape. Later he sold that farm and bought another in section 2 of Lancaster Township, where he lived until the fall of 1882. He then moved into Bluffton, and employed himself at different lines of occupation there the rest of his active life. Charles S. High died November 26, 1907. He had many warm friends throughout Wells County, people who esteemed him for his good mind and his general worth. Ile always kept himself well informed and was able to discuss intelligently affairs of history and current problems. Politically he voted as a democrat and did much for the party cause, though never was a seeker for public office. During the Civil war he volunteered, going to Wabash, Indiana, where he sought enlistment in the One Hundred and First Indiana Infantry. However, the quota was filled up and there being no room for him he was honorably discharged.
Charles S. High and Lydia J. Kleinknecht were married on June 1, 1854. She was the daughter of John M. and Anna (Isenhardt) Klein- kneeht, both natives of Germany. It chanced that they came from the fatherland to the United States on the same ship. It was a voyage that took three months and by the time the boat landed its passengers at Baltimore they were well acquainted and this acquaintance ripened rap- idly until they married. After their marriage they settled in Reading, Pennsylvania, later moved to Crawford County, Ohio, where the father followed his trade, and in 1848 came to Jefferson Township of Wells County, Indiana, locating on a farm just north of where the village of Toesin now stands. John M. Kleinknecht worked as a mechanic and also farmed. He was a devout Christian and organized the first United Brethren Church in his locality, the outcome of which is the prosperous church at Toesin. He was elass leader and had much to do with church activities all his life. In the Kleinknecht family were the following children : Jacob and Peter, twins, the former of whom married Betsey Miller and the latter Mrs. Cowden ; John, who married Mary Wilkins; Mary A., who married Michael Kunkel; William, who married Amrett Richey ; Lydia J., who married Charles S. High.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. High had five children: Robert H., born August 5, 1855, married Alice Dalzell and lived in Sullivan County, Missouri; Mary E., born October 28, 1857, died February 18, 1873; Naney M., born December 2, 1859. became the wife of Theodore Blosser and died November 28. 1915; William A., born March 7, 1862; and Cal- vin T., born October 6, 1866, and died November 24, 1879.
William A. High grew up on his father's farm in Lancaster Town- ship, and his first school advantages were supplied by the district schools. Ile also attended the Wells County Normal and the Bluffton High School and in 1883 at the age of twenty-one began teaching. ITis first term was
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at Eagleville. After several terms of teaching he entered the University at Valparaiso, Indiana, where he graduated with the degree Bachelor of Seience in August, 1885. With this superior equipment he returned to Wells County and after another brief service as teacher was appointed surveyor for the county. Ile also was an instructor in the Bluffton High School and was then successively superintendent of the schools at Bun- ker Hill, Lowell and Warren, Indiana. Mr. High also filled a position four years in the auditors' office of Huntington County, Indiana. In 1911 he returned to Bluffton where he has sinee had his home, and where he owns a comfortable residence and other property.
March 7, 1888, Mr. Iligh married Martha J. Goshorn. She was born in Jefferson Township of Wells County November 26, 1864, daughter of William M. and Fannie A. (Ogden) Goshorn. Her father was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, January 27, 1832, and died March 7, 1909, on his farm in Jefferson Township. William M. Goshorn was the youngest of the eleven children of George and Nancy A. (Calhoun) Goshorn. He received his early education in the schools of Trumbull County, Ohio, and in 1849 the Goshorn family removed to Wells County, Indiana, loeating in Jefferson Township. In that one locality William M. Goshorn spent the rest of the days of his life as a practical farmer. On November 10, 1853, he married Fannie A. Ogden, who was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania. December 22, 1833, and was brought by her parents to Jefferson Township of Wells County in 1839. She was old enough then to appreciate the wildness of the pioneer surround- ings and here she lived nntil her death on April 24, 1896, more than fifty years later. In the Goshorn family were the following children : Agnes M., wife of B. F. Fusselman, of Philadelphia ; John V., who lives at Ossian, Indiana, married Catherine Woodward; Samuel A., who died at the age of fourteen; Mary J., who became the wife of William A. Woodward who is now deceased ; Martha J., wife of William A. High.
Mrs. High was educated in distriet schools, in the Ossian High School, and before her marriage did considerable teaching both in the distriet schools and as a primary teacher at Bluffton. The children younger than Mrs. High in the Goshorn family were: George, deceased; Wil- liam D., who lives on the old farm in Jefferson Township and married Martha Hoopengardner : Fannie E., wife of E. S. Cotton of Fort Wayne ; and Charles F., who married Effie MeCorkle, lives in Delphos, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. High have had an interesting family of young people, five in number. The oldest, Harold G., born October 2, 1889, graduated from the Huntington High School, spent one year in the State Univer- sity, and on April 15, 1915, married Gertrude LaPointe. They now live in New York City. Howard C., the second son, was born July 20, 1892, is a graduate of the Huntington High School and on October 1, 1911, married Hazel I. Menish and they have one child. Howard C., Jr., born January 27, 1914, the only grandchild of Mr. and Mrs. High. Harry B., the third son. was born February 20, 1898, and died September 3, 1898. William A. High, Jr., born March 26, 1903, is now a student in the Bluffton Iligh School. One child died in infaney. Mr. and Mrs. High and family are members of the Presbyterian Church. Fraternally he is affiliated with Bluffton Lodge No. 145. Free and Accepted Masons, Bluff- ton Chapter No. 95, Royal Arch Masons, Bluffton Council No. 63, Royal and Seleet Masters. The sons Harold and Howard are also affiliated with the Masonic Lodge. Mr. and Mrs. High are members of Crescent Chapter No. 48, Order of the Eastern Star, and he is a past chancellor of Bluffton Lodge No. 92, Knights of Pythias. Politieally he is a repub- lican.
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