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 33
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 33
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In Angust, 1906, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Kain to Miss Bertha Hall, a daughter of Adnah and Jennie (Sloan) Hall. Mrs. Kain was born and reared in Bluffton, Indiana, and was edueated in the publie and high schools of this place. She is popular in the social life of her home community and she and her husband are devout members of the Presbyterian Church.
In a fraternal way Mr. Kain is affiliated with Bluffton Lodge No. 45, Free and Accepted Masons ; Bluffton Chapter No. 95, Royal Arch Ma- sons : Bluffton Lodge No. 96, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in which he is a charter member, and past exalted ruler; and with Bluff- ton Lodge No. 92, Knights of Pythias. A democrat in polities, he has valiantly supported all matters projected for the good of the general welfare and in every manner possible has proved himself a loyal and public-spirited eitizen. Ilis work as a county official has been thorough and exact and marked with efficieney in every respeet. Ile is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens, for his sterling integrity and straight- forward methods.
PERRY F. HUNT. A man of sterling worth and character, and an active and esteemed citizen of Bluffton, Perry F. Hunt has the distine- tion of being the second man elected to the mayorality of the city on the
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republican ticket. A native of Indiana, he was born, March 4, 1884, in Summitville, Madison County.
Mr. Hunt's father, Dr. Thomas M. Hunt, entered the medical pro- fession when young, and for many years was the leading physician of Dunkirk, Jay County, this state. Being forced on account of failing health to give up practice, he removed to Parker, Indiana, and there lived retired until his death. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary C. Painter, two children were born, as follows: Talmage D., superintendent of the construction department of the Great Northern Construction Company of Corning Arkansas; and Perry F.
Growing to manhood in Dunkirk, Perry F. Hunt acquired an ex- cellent education in the public schools. In 1909 he went to Summitville, but not finding congenial employment there he proceeded to Logansport, Indiana, where he remained busily employed for nearly two years. On August 1, 1910, Mr. Hunt located in Bluffton, and having accepted a position with the traction company assumed charge of the Bluffton run, and as a conductor proved himself both efficient and popular, being a favorite with the traveling public.
Although a stanch republican in his political affiliations, Mr. Hunt has never been an office seeker in the manner implied by the term. Ile did, however, accept the nomination for mayor of Bluffton tendered him by his party, and on November 6, 1917, had the honor of being elected to the responsible position by his fellow citizens, receiving a majority of twenty-five votes. Fraternally Mr. IIunt is a member of Bluffton Lodge No. 145, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; and of Bluffton Lodge No. 114, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Hunt was united in marriage, in January, 1905, with Anna B. Ford. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt are the parents of six children, namely : Bessie M., May B., Harry D., Robert F., Charles L., and Martha L. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. IFunt are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are rearing their children in the same faith.
HERMAN THOMA is a son of Henry Thoma, born in Ebersdorf, Ger- many, January 28, 1832. He passed his boyhood and youth on his father's farm, in the work and management of which he bore his part, and he was educated in the neighboring schools. In 1849, aged seventeen years. he decided to try his fortune in America and after bidding a fond farewell to relatives and friends he eame hither, landing in the port of New York June 7, 1849. Ile proceeded thence to Ohio and lo- eated at Findlay, where he entered upon an apprenticeship to learn the trade of cabinet-maker. Three years later, having become an adept in this line, he was enrolled as a student in the Presbyterian Academy, in Findlay, paying his school expenses by working at his trade eve- nings. In the spring of 1853 he was employed as a clerk in a grain ele- vator and later in the same year he eame to Bluffton. Here, in 1854. he entered into a partnership alliance with Jacob Tribolet and opened up a furniture establishment under the firm name of Thoma-Tribolet & Company. This mutually agreeable partnership lasted until 1861 when it was dissolved. For eight months after that Mr. Thoma elerked in the hardware store of Henry Cook. In 1862 he took over the Tribolet & Company store, of furniture and undertaking, as his own, Jaeoh Tribolet enlisting. This store is now run by Herman Thoma under the firm name of II. Thoma & Son. Henry Thoma was a shrewd business man and the marked success he attained was the result of his own enterprise and in- itiative. In politics he was a democrat and it is interesting to note that he was coroner of Wells County for several years. His fraternal con- nections were with Bluffton Lodge No. 145, Free and Accepted Masons,
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with Bluffton Chapter No. 95, Royal Arch Masons, and with Council No. 63. In Bluffton Lodge he served as treasurer for twenty-eight years.
In 1869 Henry Thoma was united in marriage to Miss Mathilda Deaver, a daughter of James Deaver. Herman, the only child of this union, was born June 16, 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Thoma were devout mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church and they were loyal and con- sistent workers in behalf of its welfare. Mr. Thoma was summoned to the life eternal January 14, 1913, and his cherished and devoted wife passed away August 27, 1899. They were both kindly and hospitable and were dearly beloved by their numerous friends and neighbors.
Ilerman Thoma, present coroner of Wells County, grew to maturity in his native town of Bluffton and was graduated in the local high school in 1892. He early familiarized himself with the business in his father's store and eventually became associated with the senior Mr. Thoma under the firm name of H. Thoma & Son. This business, now owned entirely by Herman Thoma, though still conducted as H. Thoma & Son, is a furniture and undertaking establishment of large proportions. The busi- ness is housed in attractive quarters and is one of the foremost concerns of its kind in the county. Although not a politician, Mr. Thoma is a firm believer in the principles of the democratic party and he has given efficient service as city councilman in 1901-03 and as coroner of Wells County for the past nine years, being the present incumbent of this of- fice. He is an active and enthusiastic Mason, being past master, past high priest, past illustrious master, and past eminent commander. He is one of the foremost members of Bluffton Lodge No. 145, Free and Accepted Masons, is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and like- wise a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He and his wife are active workers in the local lodge of the Eastern Star. Following in his father's footsteps, Mr. Thoma, in addi- tion to conducting the furniture and undertaking business initiated by his honored father, and serving as coroner as did his father before him, is likewise treasurer of Bluffton Lodge No. 145, Free and Accepted Masons.
January 31, 1900, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Thoma to Miss Emma Flora, a native of Wells County. To them have been born two children : William and Mary, both students in the Bluffton High School, where they stand high both in their studies and in the esteem of their classmates. The family are valued and appreciative members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Sunday school, to whose good works they are liberal contributors.
FRED H. HEUER. Most closely identified with the character and growth of any community are its commercial interests and the men who control their policies. These enterprises and their backers mold the life of the people, give direction to their efforts and crystallize the present and future possibilities of the locality into concrete form. The leading business men of a city are its greatest forces and benefactors, who bring progress and prosperity and whose directing guidance makes possible the establishment of good government and the founding of institutions for the benefit of the people. One of the leading establishments of a business character at Decatur. Indiana, is the enterprise known as the Holthouse Drug Company, an establishment which, founded in 1901, has grown and developed until it is looked upon by the people as a neces- sary adjunct to the city's commercial life. Much of the success that has been attained by this establishment may be accredited to its president, Fred II. Heuer, who not only directs the policies of this institution but
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is also widely and favorably known in the city as a public-spirited and progressive citizen.
Mr. Heuer was born on a farm in Root Township, Adams County, Indiana, January 8, 1875, a son of HIenry and Louisa (Christianer) Heuer. His father was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1844, and was six years of age when brought by his parents to the United States, the family first settling at Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Henry Heuer grew to young manhood. He then moved to a farm in Adams County, In- diana, and here was married to Louisa Christianer, who was born in this county, in 1847, daughter of German parents who had come to this country in 1838-40 and settled in Root Township, where they cleared up a good farm. Mr. Christianer, who lived to be seventy-nine years of age, was twice married and had children by each of his wives. Mrs. Henry Heuer died on the home farm in December. 1915, having survived only a short time after her husband's death in March of the same year. They were faithful members of the Lutheran Church, both in Germany and the United States, and Mr. Heuer was a democrat in his political adherence. Mr. and Mrs. Heuer were the parents of the following chil- dren : Sophia, who is unmarried; Fred H., of this notice; Herman, who is engaged in farming in Washington Township, Adams County, is married and has a son, Harry ; John, who lives on the old homestead in Root Township, is also married; Theodore, who is single and lives at the old home place; and Fredericka, who is the wife of Henry Franz, a carpenter of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is married and has two children, Frederick and an infant.
Fred H. Heuer was reared on the home farm and was given good educational advantages, attending the district schools and then being pre- pared for his chosen vocation of pharmacist. He became the proprietor of an establishment at Decatur, which he conducted with success until 1901, when he assisted in the organization of the Holthouse Drug Company, of which the first officials were: J. B. Holthouse, president; H. F. Cal- low, secretary, and Fred H. Heuer, treasurer. After several years Mr. Callow sold his interests and was succeeded in the secretarial office hy Mr. Heuer, and later L. H. Kleinhanz and Albert N. Sellemyer were ad- mitted to the company, the former becoming vice president and the latter secretary and treasurer. In the meantime, in February, 1915, Mr. Holt- house died, and Mr. Heuer was elected to the presidency, and the of- ficers still remain as above noted. Mr. Heuer is a registered pharmacist and accounted one of the live and progressive business men of his city. thoroughly familiar with his business and with other subjects, and of the highest integrity in his dealings. Mr. Kleinhanz, the vice president, who was secretary of the company for some years, is a native product of the County of Adams, a well educated man and a graduate pharmacist, who is also well and favorably known in business circles of Decatur. Albert N. Sellemyer, secretary and treasurer, was born in Adams County, where he was well educated. and while familiar with the business in general is more particularly interested in the musical department. He is himself well and prominently known as a local musician and for some years has been leader of the Decatur Band, considered one of the best musical organizations in northern Indiana. The 22 by 132 establish- ment of the Holthouse Drug Company, located at No. 167 North Second Street, has stock and equipment equalling those to be found in the best pharmacies of the large cities. In addition to carrying a complete line of the highest class goods in the way of drugs, druggists sundries, toilet articles, etc., the house also has standard paints and fine wall papers on hand, and a complete line of musical instruments, a specialty being made of Vietrolas and Edison talking machines.
Vol. II-15
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Mr. Heuer was married at Decatur, Indiana, in 1901, to Miss Bertha Sellemyer, who was born in this eity, where she was edueated in the public schools, a daughter of Fred and Elizabeth (Miller) Sellemyer, of American birth, who have lived in Adams County all their lives and whose parents came here during the '40s. Mr. and Mrs. Sellemyer are residents of Decatur, each being sixty-four years old, and are members of the Reformed Church and well known and highly esteemed people. Mrs. Heuer follows the faith of her parents, while Mr. Heuer is a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church. He is demoeratie in his political views, but is inclined to be independent in questions of loeal import.
DR. ROY ARCHBOLD, member of one of the oldest families of Adams County, has spent the best years of his life rendering skillful and capable serviee in the profession of dentistry. He was graduated from the dental department of the University of Michigan in 1898 and at once returned to Decatur, his old home, where he entered praetiee with Dr. A. L. De Vilbiss. Doctor DeVilbiss was one of the pioneer dentists of Deeatur and was in praetiee about twenty-five years until his death seventeen years ago. Doetor Arehbold sueeeeded to the business in 1900, and has from the start enjoyed a splendid praetice and a reputa- tion as one of the best men in his line in northeastern Indiana. His praetiee comes from all over Adams County ..
Dr. Arehbold is a member of the Indiana State Dental Association and served four years as its treasurer, and is also a member of the National Dental Association.
He was born in Adams County, April 23, 1876, and before beginning study for his profession completed his edueation in the Deeatur High School. His great-grandfather, Thomas Arehbold, was born in Ireland and served through seven different enlistments as a Revolutionary war soldier. Quite late in life in 1836 he removed from Ohio to Adams County, Indiana, and was one of the few Revolutionary veterans who spent any part of their lives in this eounty. He died here when seventy- eight years of age. Of his children Thomas, Jr., was born in Penn- sylvania, married there, moved to Ohio and in 1836 eame to Root Township of Adams County, and was one of the very first men to pene- trate that section of the wilderness and attempt its development. There were no towns of any size anywhere in northeastern Indiana and for several years he lived with comparatively few neighbors and subsisted largely on the game and natural products of the forest. He built a log cabin home, and went sturdily to work elearing up a farm until eventually he had 200 aeres. He and his wife died there when well ad- vanced in years. They were among the early members of the Methodist Church. Thomas Arehbold, Jr., was in addition to his work as a farmer a school teacher and a lay preaeher.
Of their children J. Thomas Arehbold III, father of Doetor Areh- bold. was born on the old Root Township farm Oetober 12, 1839, being one of a large family of children. His sisters, Mrs. Sarah Hower and Mrs. Rachel Mallonee, still live at Decatur. Thomas Arehbold IHI grew no on a farm and married there Angeline M. Fisher. She was born in Adams County February 16, 1848, her father, Thomas Fisher, and wife having come from Ohio to this eounty in early times. Thomas Fisher died at the age of thirty-five. Thomas Arehbold III a few years after his marriage removed to Deeatur, and for a number of years was connected with the Shaekley Wheel Company. Later he did contract work and died there October 5. 1904, when nearly sixty-five. Ile was a demoerat in polities and at one time was candidate for the office of sheriff. He was a member of the Masonie lodge and the Inde-
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pendent Order of Odd Fellows. His widow is still living in Decatur at the age of sixty-nine. She is an active Methodist as well as was her hus- band. Doctor Archbold was the older of two children. His only sister, Ada, died at the age of four years.
At Wauseon, Ohio, Doctor Archbold married Miss Nola Jenny Nach- trieb. She was born and reared and educated in Wauseon, and her par- ents now live in Toledo, Ohio. Doctor and Mrs. Archbold have two children, Richard Thomas, born December 25, 1901, now a junior in the high school class; and Josephine M., born July 24, 1911. Dr. Arch- bold is active in Masonry, being affiliated with the Scottish Rite bodies and the Mystic Shrine at Fort Wayne, and for many years was secre- tary of the local Royal Arch Chapter. He is also affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Sons of the American Revolu- tion, and his college fraternity is the Delta Sigma Delta.
CLAUDE E. PROPER. One of the fine farms of Jackson Township, Wells Connty, is that of Claude E. Proper, well situated and carefully cultivated and in every way a profitable property. Mr. Proper has been a resident of Jackson Township for almost two decades but has not confined his activities to tilling the soil. He is a raiser of much fine stock and also is known over the county as a successful oil producer.
Claude E. Proper was born in Pennsylvania, in September, 1870, and his father, Harvey Proper, still resides there. The public schools of Pennsylvania are noted for their excellence and Claude E. Proper had many educational advantages. After completing a course in both high and normal schools, he taught school for a year and then went into the oil business and learned the same from the bottom up, and more or less has been identified with this business, in different states and sec- tions, ever since.
There have been war-time conditions in the United States before the present World war, when young men have put aside their personal ambi- tions and promising business prospects to loyally take up arms for their country, and it was in 1898, at the beginning of the Spanish-American war that Claude E. Proper proved the quality of his patriotism. He enlisted as a private in Company K, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and before he was honorably discharged and mustered out in December, after a service of eight months, had experienced hardships and hazards in the Porto Rico campaign.
When his military service was ended, Mr. Proper returned to Penn- sylvania and from there went to the oil fields of West Virginia and in January, 1900, he came to Wells County, Indiana, and for a time was in the employ of the Ohio Oil Company. From there he went to the oil districts of Illinois and remained in that field for six years as a con- tractor and oil producer. He is one of the most experienced men in the business in Wells County. His farm contains 160 acres.
Mr. Proper was married in February, 1901, in Wells County, to Miss Essie Runkle, who was born in Jackson Township, Wells County, and has always lived here, the Runkles being an old settled family of this section. Mr. and Mrs. Proper have two children, Glenn and Madge, the former of whom is a student in the Montpelier High School.
Mr. Proper has always been a republican in his political affiliation. While never unduly active in politics, nevertheless as a man who has once been willing to fight for his country, he is deeply concerned in her welfare and has felt a responsibility of citizenship that has made him heartily support candidates for office who have been proved worthy.
EZEKIEL BOXELL. There are many fine farms in Jackson Township, Wells County, but few of them show evidences of better tillage or more
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careful and intelligent management than that owned by Ezekiel Boxell, one of the county's well known men. He was born in Van Buren Town- ship, Grant County, Indiana, January 1, 1864, and is a son of James and Naney (Jones) Boxell.
The Boxell is one of the old pioneer families of this section of Indiana. The grandfather, John Boxell, walked the entire distance from Pennsyl- vania to Grant County, Indiana, carrying with him his kit of shoe- maker's tools. Ile entered land in Van Buren Township and lived on the same during the rest of his life. James Boxell, father of Ezekiel, was born in Van Buren Township, Grant County, March 4, 1841, and still lives there. He was twiee married and fifteen children were born to his first union, nine of whom are living, and three to his second.
Ezekiel Boxell was reared on the home farm and attended the dis- trict schools. Until he was twenty-one years of age he remained on the home farm, without wages, and then started out for himself and worked for neighboring farmers for a stated sum. After his marriage he lived on the home farm for one year and then moved to Huntington County and rented a farm there for thirteen years and then bought his farm in Jackson Township and moved on it in 1901. He has over eighty-five acres here, well improved with substantial buildings, and also owns eighty aeres in Salamonie Township, Huntington County.
Mr. Boxell was married in 1887 to Miss Margaret Gephart, who was born in Preble County, Ohio, and was brought to Jackson Township, Wells County, by her parents when she was an infant of four months and has spent the greater part of her life here. Mr. and Mrs. Boxell have five children, namely: Jacob A., James E., Lewis E., Nova P., who is the wife of Clyde Riggs. and Charles E., all of whom have had educational opportunities and all are common sehool graduates with one exception. The sons give their father assistance in carrying on the farm industries and are fine, sturdy young men who reflect credit on their family and community.
In his political views Mr. Boxell is a demoerat and, withont desiring any political honors for himself, has always been a hearty and loyal supporter of his party's candidates. The entire family belongs to the Christian Church.
COAT COOK for many years was one of the most industrions and eapa- ble farmer citizens of Root Township. His life has been productive in many ways, and among the retired people of Decatur none enjoy greater esteem than Mr. and Mrs. Coat Cook. They have lived at Decatur sinee the spring of 1911.
Their farm in Root Township, which he still owns, was their home from 1881. It consists of 121 aeres of land, and most of the improve- ments were made by Mr. and Mrs. Cook, ineluding two substantial barns and a good house. It is some of the best land in the county. Mr. Cook also owns his good home in Decatur. He has been a resident of Adams County sinee 1852, settling at that time when a boy of eleven on a traet of wild land at the old community known as Cooktown, just west of Decatur. Mr. Cook was born in Medina County. Ohio, February 12, 1841, and is a son of German parents. Frederick and Margaret (Sehafer) Cook. Both parents were born in Germany. They came before their marriage to this country. Frederick Cook set out for America several years before Miss Schafer. He was ninety days in erossing the ocean by sailing vessel, and both he and his wife located at Cleveland, Ohio, where they married. They then settled in Medina County and went to work on a farm not far from Liverpool. About 1852 they came to what is now Washington Township of Adams County and their home became
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the center of the community which was named in their honor Cooktown. Frederick Cook died there at the age of seventy-seven and his wife at seventy-six. They were active members of the Evangelical Church and in polities he was a democrat. In their family were four sons and four daughters, all of whom grew up but one and all married but two. Mr. Coat Cook has two living sisters, Mrs. Anna Bailey of Wells County, mother of two sons, Charles and Medford ; and Mrs. Catherine Gross, of Quiney, Illinois, mother of one son and several daughters.
Mr. Coat Cook married in Decatur Mary Bartling. She was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, May 23, 1846, and when eight years of age her parents William and Christina ( Heitzman) Bartling moved to Dela- ware County, Ohio, and still later eame to Decatur, Indiana. Her parents were both natives of Germany and had come when young people to the United States. They met and married in Hamilton County. Wil- liam Bartling was a very skilled miller by trade and that occupation caused several changes of residence. From Decatur he moved to Mar- shall County, Indiana, where his wife died, and he spent his last days in Richmond, Indiana, where he died when quite an old man. He and his wife were active members of the United Brethren Church.
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