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 34
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 34
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Mr. and Mrs. Cook have reared a family of eapable sons and daugh- ters. The oldest is William F., now forty-seven, who has never married and is still at home with his parents. Ida is the wife of Lemuel Fisher of Paw Paw, Michigan, a farmer there, and their children are Naomi, frene, Erwin, Forest and Trulu. The son Charles A. lives on and oceu- pies the old homestead farm. By his marriage to Cora Faust he has two children, Dorothy and Donald. Aurora C. is the wife of Harlow Mann, a farmer in Root Township, and their children are Florence, Mildred now deceased. Leroy, Carl, Clifford, Louise and Woodrow Wil- son. The son David G. is a farmer in the State of Colorado and by his marriage to Mary Mumma of Decatur he has two children, Arthur and Charlotte B. Edith is the wife of John Singleton, an auctioneer living at Albion, Indiana, and their children are Hubert, Erma, Arthur, Lelah and Phylius Faye.
Mr. and Mrs. Cook have found many interests in life in addition to their farm and their family. They are very prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mrs. Cook being active in the Aid So- ciety. the Home and Foreign Missions and is also identified with the Red Cross. Mr. Cook in polities supports the prohibition cause and his wife is one of the prominent workers in the Woman's Christian Tem- perance Union.
IlENRY II. HUFF. A prominent and prosperous eitizen of Wells County. and one of the foremost agriculturists of Jackson Township, Henry H. Huff holds a position of note among the sturdy, energetic and successful farmers who have a thorough knowledge of the vocation they are following, and are carrying it on with both profit and pleasure Ilis valuable farm is well ditched, and with its substantial improve- ments is recognized as one of the most attractive and desirable estates in the township. A son of John Huff, he was born February 13, 1858, in Grant County, Indiana.
Born and reared in Guernsey County, Ohio. John Huff came to Indi- ana when young, locating in Grant County. When ready to begin life for himself he bought land in Van Buren Township, and was there employed in general farming throughout his remaining years. He married Mary Zuck, who was born in Pennsylvania and is now living in Grant County, Indiana. Eleven children were born into their household. as follows: Elizabeth, wife of Noah Penee; William, deceased, served
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one or more terms as trustee of Van Buren Township; Hiram A. of Landersville, Indiana ; Sarah, wife of William Sala, of Dundee, Indiana ; Henry II., of whom we write; Mary J., wife of Henry Losure of Van Buren ; John M., a barber at Marion, Indiana; Emma, wife of Robert Pilkington of Van Buren; Charles C., now teaching in Van Buren, has tanght school for thirty-four years, and is widely known as an educator ; Etta, widow of David Cronin; and Homer, a former resident of Okla- homa, but now in Iowa.
Until seven years old, Henry H. Huff lived on the home farm, lying two miles west and one mile south of Van Buren, but he after- ward lived in the vicinity of Landersville, and was educated in the dis- triet schools. At the age of twenty-one years he began the struggle of life on his own account as a farmer in Van Buren Township, where he continued for twenty-four years. Coming then to Jackson Township, Wells County, Mr. Huff bought his present farm of 160 acres, and in the substantial improvements that he has since made takes much pride. His land is under a high state of culture, and owing to the sound judg- ment and persistent energy with which he has managed it is now one of the most valuable and desirable pieces of property in the neighborhood, his buildings being of a substantial character, and his residence the finest in its appointments of any in the township.
On May 28, 1883, Mr. Huff married Eura E. Love, a native of Washington Township, Grant County, Indiana. Of the seven children born of their union, five are living, namely: Ned L., a graduate of the Van Buren High School, and of the Marion Normal College, married Goldia Bugh, and is now on the home farm; Jessie, a graduate of the Van Buren High School, is wife of Henry Jones; Dema a graduate of the high school and of Muncie Normal College, and a former high school teacher, married Robert Lambert, superintendent of the public sehools in Reynolds, Indiana; Pauline and Chester, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Huff are members of the Church of Christ, at Warren. In his political relations, Mr. Huff is a democrat, and while in Van Buren served as justice of the peace. Fraternally he is a member of Van Buren Lodge No. 633, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Marion Lodge, Knights of the Maccabees.
JOHN W. BANTER. One of the many energetic and progressive men actively engaged in cultivating the rich and fertile soil of Wells County, John W. Banter has brought to his independent calling an excellent knowledge of agriculture, sound judgment. and good business methods, and is meeting with well deserved success in his labors. A son of the late Joseph Banter, he was born in Jackson Township, Wells County, on the farm which he now owns and occupies, it being located on the northeast quarter of the west half of section 30, the date of his birth being April 18, 1863.
Joseph Banter was born and reared in Pennsylvania, and as a young man eame to Wells County, Indiana, settling in section 30, Jaek- son Township, where he followed general farming until his death. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Almira Jeffery, ten children were born, four of whom are living: George of Mendon, Ohio: Mary, wife of F. B. Knight ; John W., with whom this sketch is chiefly con- eerned ; and Dudley of Grant Conty, Indiana.
As a boy John W. Banter attended the district schools, and under his father's instructions became familiar with the different branches of agriculture. Since assuming possession of the home estate he has managed it with the same vigorous ability and varied skill that charac-
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terized his father, and by adding to the improvements previously in- augurated has materially increased its value.
Mr. Banter married Lillie A. Herring. She was born in 1866, in Ada, Ohio, and as a girl came with her parents to Wells County, Indi- ana, where she was bred, educated and married. Mr. and Mrs. Banter have ten children, namely : Samuel F., who is married, is engaged in farming in Grant County, Indiana ; Harley, also married, is a farmer in Jackson Township; Walter, single, lives at home, and has charge of the farm; Roy, employed in the oil fields of Oklahoma: Mary, wife of C. C. Cloud of Illinois; Elsie, a graduate of the Van Buren High School, is in Oklahoma; Zada, who is a graduate of the Van Buren High School ; Oscar, a schoolboy ; and Jay and Jason, twins. Politically Mr. Banter is a firm advocate of the principles of the democratic party, and religiously both he and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church.
MILTON E. HOWER. One of the leading merchants of Decatur, prominent in social and fraternal circles, Milton E. Hower, proprietor of the "Home of Quality Groceries," is located on West Monroe Street, near the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad Station, where he has one of the finest and most modernly equipped business houses in Adams County. He erected his commodious and conveniently arranged build- ing in 1910, on a block 186 feet deep, it being twenty-five feet by eighty feet, with a large and well-equipped basement, into which all stock sup- plies are taken by a conveyor from the street, and kept in storage until needed on the shelves. Here he has installed a 500-gallon gasoline tank underground, with a eurb attachment for filling, and every room and hall in the building is lighted by electricity, nothing in the furnishing of the place being omitted that would add to its utility. A son of Adam Hower, he was born in Peterson, Adams County, December 31, 1871, of early pioneer stock.
Mr. Hower's paternal grandfather, Andrew Hower, was born and bred in Pennsylvania, and as a young man ventured as far west as Ohio. In the early '40s, he came to Adams County, Indiana, locating on a traet of heavily timbered land in Kirkland Township. In com- mon with the other pioneers of that day, he labored with unceasing toil to improve a homestead, at the same time being an important factor in developing the resources of the county. Wild turkey, deer and other game were abundant, helping supply the family larder, and the women of the household did their full share of pioneer work, raising the sheep, and carding, spinning and weaving into eloth the wool obtained, and by their own hands fashioned the clothes worn by the family, includ- ing the adults as well as the children. On the farm which he had cleared, Andrew Hower and his wife, formerly a Miss Buroaker, spent the remainder of their lives, his death occurring when he was but sixty years old, and hers several years later. They were God-fearing peo- ple, liberal and open-hearted, and ever ready to lend aid to the poor and needy. They reared five children, as follows: Noah, now living, is married and has a family ; John, died, leaving four children; Elizabeth Ann, widow of John Sovine, lives in Wells County and has sons and daughters; Adam, mentioned below; and Henry, who died in the west, leaving a family.
Adam Hower was born in December, 1838, in Ashley County, Ohio, but grew to manhood in Kirkland Township, where he assisted in the pioneer task of redeeming a farm from the wilderness. He bought land in Washington Township later in life, and on his well-improved farm of forty aeres he lived until 1913 when he moved to St. Mary's
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Township. Ile is now almest four score years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Alcena Steele, was born in Washington Township in 1842, being the youngest of a family of children born to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Steele, thrifty and active pioneers of that town- ship, who there spent their last days, Mr. Steele dying at the age of eighty-seven years, while she attained the venerable age of ninety-four years. Nearly all of their children grew up and married, and several of their sons served in the Civil war, two being killed on the field of battle.
Acquiring a good education when young, practically in the schools of Pleasant Mills, Milton E. Hower entered upon a professional career at the age of twenty years as a teacher in Distriet No. 6, Washington Township, and for eight years taught in the country schools. Subse- quently he taught in Decatur for two years, being principal of the West Ward School one year, and of the South Ward School the same length of time. Abandoning the teacher's desk, Mr. Hower embarked in the grocery business in 1899, locating in Decatur, where he is still in active business, his present fine store building being the second one that he has occupied in the city, the other one having been located on different corners of Seventh and Monroe streets.
Mr. Hower has been twice married. He married first Mary E. Stevens, an orphan, born and educated in Adams County. She died in Deeatur, in 1902, aged thirty-two years. Two children were born of their union, namely: Frech C., now in the store with his father, mar- ried in August, 1917, Ercie Butler, who was born in Tipton County, Indiana, twenty-one years ago, but was bred and educated in Decatur ; the other child died in inf iney. Mr. Hower married second, in Deeatur, Maud A. Scott. She was born in August, 1881, in Mount Etna, Indiana, a daughter of David E. Scott, a prominent politician of Huntington County. Of this marriage, four daughters have been born, namely : Marcella A., Geraldine E., B. Isabelle, and Eleanor Catherine. MIr. Hower and his family are Methodists in religion, and active in church work. Fraternally Mr. Hower is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Lova! Order of Moose.
JOSHUA R. PARRISH. Distinguished not only for the pioneer an- cestry from which he is descended. and for his work as one of the earlier educators of Adams County, but for his splendid record as a brave and gallant soldier in the Civil war, Joshua R. Parrish of Decatur, a retired farmer, well deserves honorable mention in a work of this character, and it gives us pleasure to plaee herein a brief sketch of his life. A native of Ohio, he was born, Angust 13, 1835, in Tusearawas County, a son of John Parrish.
His paternal grandfather, Joshna Parrish, was born and bred in Belmont County, Ohio, and was there united in marriage with Sarah * Rulin. Subsequently removing to Tusearawas County, he took up a tract of land that was still in its virginal wildness, and on the farm that he eleared he and his wife spent their remaining days, both. living to be upwards of three score years of age. At their deaths, their bodies were first interred in the family plot on the home farm, but were sub- sequently removed to the little cemetery in the churchyard, both hav- ing been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In polities he was affiliated with the old whig party.
John Parrish was born in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1813, and as child was taken to Tusearawas County, where he was edneated and married. A tiller of the soil, he carried on farming in his native state during the earlier years of his life. Abont 1850, accompanied by his
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wife and seven children, he came to Adams County, Indiana, locating in Washington Township. Buying land from the Government, he soon made an opening in which he ereeted a log cabin for himself and family. All of this part of the county was then a comparative wilder- ness, the pioneer settlers subsisting principally on the wild game that everywhere abounded, and on the seant revenue they received from the blaek salts they made from the ashes obtained from the timber burned when elearing up their homesteads, and putting the land in a productive condition. Ile improved a good farm, and continued his residence upon it until his death, at the age of seventy-nine years. lle was a public- spirited citizen, interested in publie matters, and after the formation of the know-nothing party beeame identified with the democratic party. Hle married Margaret Johnson, who was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, a daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Arehbold) Johnson, who came from Ohio to Adams County, Indiana, with their children, and spent their first years on a farm in Washington Township. They were the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters. Two of the children were born in Adams County ; seven grew to years of maturity, and were married; and two sons and two daughters are still living.
The eldest child of the parental household, Joshua R. Parrish, was a youth of fifteen years when he came with the family to Washington Township. He completed his early education after eoming here, and at the age of twenty-two years entered upon a professional career, taking charge of a public school in Kirkland Township, and subsequently teaching in the same sehool building until 1862.
In August of that year, his patriotic ardor being aroused. Mr. Par- rish, leaving his wife and seven months old boy, Jay Newton, enlisted in Company HI. Eighty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. under com- mand of Col. C. D. Murray, and was immediately ordered to the front. At Munfordville, Kentucky, he first met the enemy in battle, and his regiment, with three others, was foreed to surrender, but on certain con- ditions were allowed to move back to a river under guard. Governor Morton then furloughed Mr. Parrish and his comrades home for a period of twenty days. Being in the meantime exchanged. he was then sent south, and took part in many important engagements. On April 9, 1864, at Pleasant Hill. Louisiana, Mr. Parrish received what was re- garded as a mortal wound, a minnie ball passing through his groin, and lodging in his baek. He was left to die on the field of battle, but hav- ing fortunately been found by his two brothers. Joseph L. and Abner S., who were members of the same regiment and company, he was rolled into an ambulance, and carried thirty miles to a hospital. where, four days later, the bullet was removed, and he began to recuperate, the operation by which it was removed having been performed in New Orleans. When fully recovered from his serious operation. Mr. Par- rish rejoined his command and at the battle of Nashville, Tennessee, helped defeat General Hood. On July 28. 1865. he was honorably dis- charged from the service, with a record for bravery of which he may well be proud.
Returning home, Mr. Parrish began farming on his little estate of forty acres, and sinee then has cleared the timber from 240 acres of land, and sold it at a profit. For the past seventeen years he has lived retired from business cares in Deeatur. having a pleasant home at No. 607 West Jefferson Street. Ile is a steadfast adherent of the demo- cratie party, and for twenty-three years he served faithfully and effi- eiently as township assessor.
Mr. Parrish married, in Adams County. Indiana, Deborah Russell, who was born in Washington Township, February 9, 1839, and died at
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her home in Decatur, October 19, 1917. Her father, William Russell, was accidentally killed at the early age of twenty-five years, when out hunting, having been mistaken for a deer by another hunter, who fired the shot that made his death instantaneous. The following children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Parrish, namely : Jay Newton, who died in 1913, leaving a widow and two children ; Ada K., wife of Charles Paling, who occupies the old Paling homestead, has one son and two daughters; Mary A., wife of Emerson Beavers, in furniture busi- ness at Decatur, has two children, a son and a daughter; John R., prin- cipal of the North Ward School, is married, and has a son and a daugh- ter; Anna, deceased, was the wife of the late Leo Annan; Marion F., living with his father, married Addie Yocum, and they have two chil- dren, Richard K. and Miles. Mr. Parrish is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which Mrs. Parrish also belonged, and he is a member and past commander of the Samuel Henry Post No. 63, Grand Army of the Republic, which he served for many years as chaplain.
CARRY R. RUNKLE's home is one of the best improved farms in Jack- son Township of Wells County. It is situated in section 23, and in that locality he has lived practically all his life and has given to farming the same intelligent management which manufacturers give to their factory and merchants to their stores.
Mr. Runkle was born in Jackson Township, September 8, 1868, a son of Peter and Mary M. (Bevington) Runkle, both natives of Ohio and of a prominent family of old time residents in Wells County. There were three children : Carry R., Charles S., now deceased, and Essie E., wife of C. E. Proper.
Carry R. Runkle was reared on the old homestead in Jackson Town- ship, attended the district schools, and learned and practiced the les- sons of agriculture under his father's direction until his marriage to Miss Maggie M. Mock, daughter of John Mock. Four children were born to them and three are still living: Clayton E., a graduate of the com- mon schools, who married Lulu Kilander: Hazel, who is a graduate of the common schools and wife of Charles Hide, who was born on the old Hide farm in Wells County : Paul F., a graduate of the common schools, married Viola Gilbert.
Mr. Runkle has a farm of 130 acres and has kept up its reputation for good crops and good livestock of all kinds. He and his family are members of the Church of Christ at Perry Creek Center, and he has always been active in church matters. He is affiliated with Montpelier Lodge No. 188, Knights of Pythias, and is an influential republican, having served as precinct committeeman of Jackson Township.
HERBERT F. SMITHI. Distinguished not only as a native born citizen of Liberty Township, and as one of its trustees, but for the important part he has played in developing and advancing the highest and best interests of this section of Wells County. Herbert F. Smith is eminently deserving of honorable mention in a work of this character. A son of the late Eli Smith, he was born November 11, 1872, in Liberty Town- ship, about a mile north of his present home.
Born and reared in Pennsylvania, Eli Smith came to Indiana when young, and after being variously employed settled permanently on a farm in Liberty Township. He was a natural mechanie, expert in the use of tools, and acquired local fame not only as an agriculturist, but for his dexterity in using the broad ax. He married Emma Reiseau, a native of Indiana, and they became the parents of four children, namely :
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Bina, wife of J. W. Jackson of Liberty Township; Herbert F., with whom this sketch is chiefly concerned; Charles W., of Bluffton, a painter and decorator; and Bertha J., wife of Oden Hughes of Belle- fontaine, Ohio.
Having laid a substantial foundation for his future education in the schools of his native township, Herbert F. Smith continued his studies in the State Normal School. Entering upon a professional career at the age of eighteen years, he taught school for one term in Nottingham Township, and later taught five years in Liberty Town- ship, for two years serving as principal of the Poneto schools, as an educator meeting with flattering success. Turning his attention then to agriculture, Mr. Smith located on his present place in Liberty Town- ship, and has since carried on general farming with highly satisfactory results. He makes a specialty of raising fancy White Wyandotte chick- ens, and as a poultry raiser is eminently successful. He is a stockholder in the Farmers State Bank, which is one of the leading financial insti- tutions of the kind in the county.
Mr. Smith married. April 28, 1900, Edith Stahl and into their at- tractive home two children have been born, namely: Joseph E., born February 28, 1908; and Stahl R., who died in infancy. Politically Mr. Smith is a straightforward democrat, active in public affairs, having served two terms as county commissioner, and having been elected town- ship trustee in 1914 for a term of four years. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of Liberty Center Lodge No. 747, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows; and both he and Mrs. Smith are members of the Daughters of Rebekah.
JAMES B. GRIFFITH. Not every family in Wells County can claim the distinction of living on land that has never been out of the family since it was secured from the Government, three generations ago, but such claim may be made by James B. Griffith, who is one of the rep- resentative citizens and public officials of Jackson Township. He owns the old home of his pioneer grandfather, John Griffith, who came here in early times with his four sons. The name suggests a Welsh origin, but as far back as Mr. Griffith traces it reaches only to Ohio, and it was from the great Western Reserve that John Griffith and his boys came into what was then practically a wilderness. Here the family took root and has prospered.
On the farm he now owns in Jackson Township, Wells County, James B. Griffith was born. July 5, 1855. His parents were Eli and Mary J. (Burkett) Griffith. His father was born in Perry County, Ohio, and his mother in Pennsylvania. After coming to Jackson Town- ship, they spent the rest of their lives here. They had a family of eleven children and nine of these reached maturity and three yet survive, namely : A. P. Griffith, who lives at Van Buren, Indiana; Catherine, who is the widow of John W. Palmer of Jackson Township; and James B.
James B. Griffith obtained his education in the district schools and remained with his parents and was a good son in their declining years. He has been a farmer all his life and hy carefully looking after his farm industries, has become a man of ample means. He has eighty acres of finely developed land which he devotes to general farm production, and in times of national distress, as a loyal and patriotic citizen, neglects no means whereby he can make his products still larger in amount.
Mr. Griffith was married March 12. 1885. to Miss Etta B. Stallard,
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who was born and educated in Wells County. They have a family of eight children, as follows: Georgia is the wife of Ira Kaines: Chauncy is married and lives in Kansas; Ethel, who is a graduate of Warren High School, is the wife of Richard Tucker and lives in Oklahoma; Hazel, who is a graduate of the high school department of the Marion Normal School, is a successful and popular teacher; Ammon lives in Kansas; Ernest makes his home in Oklahoma; Fern is a graduate of the Warren Iligh School; and Merlin K. attends the local schools.
In polities Mr. Griffith is a sound democrat and exerts considerable influence in party affairs in this section. He has been elected to dif- ferent local offices and in 1909 was elected trustee of Jackson Town- ship and served continuously on the board until 1915, during a very important period of improvement in the township. He is looked upon as one of the township's most dependable men.
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