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 37
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 37
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civic affairs he has always been a supporter of beneficial and worth-while movements.
ISAAC BARLETT. One of the great industries to which the world looks for food products, none are more important than those connected with the raising of fine stock, and the breeding of hogs has been de- veloped into a business that commands the scientific attention of many men of sound practical sense and wise forethought. Hog products have become almost necessities of life, and while they may well be classed with the luxuries in times of peace, they are indispensable in the feeding of an army in times of war. Perhaps there is no more experienced and expert breeder of hogs in the whole State of Indiana than Isaac Bar- lett, who is one of Rock Creek Township's leading farmers and stockmen.
Isaac Barlett has lived in Wells County since he was ten years old and his fellow citizens would like to claim him as a native, but the fact is that he was born in Pennsylvania December 20, 1865. His parents were Ephraim and Catherine (Staver) Barlett, both of whom died in Pennsylvania, in 1873 and 1874 respectively. Isaac was the oldest born of their two sons, Jacob, the youngest, also a resident of Adams County.
Left an orphan before he was ten years old, Isaac Barlett had fewer advantages in his boyhood than might otherwise have been his. He came to Wells County and to the home of his uncle, Joseph Lewellan, where he grew to manhood while giving his uncle assistance on his farm, after which, for six years he worked by the month as a general farm laborer. In the meanwhile through prudence and self denial he had accumulated sufficient capital to purchase his present farm of eighty acres, in Rock Creek Township. At that time it was what is called stump land, the timber having been cut, and it required years of hard work before Mr. Barlett felt satisfied with the profits of his farming operations. In the meantime he embarked in the stock breeding business which he has de- veloped into a large industry and his operations have resulted in so much success that his reputation along this line is thoroughly established. He makes a specialty of the Chester White variety and for some years has exhibited fine specimens at different county fairs and stock shows, and at the recent stock exposition held at Bluffton, won eight prizes.
Mr. Barlett was married first on June 20, 1889, to Miss Catherine Bickel, who was a daughter of G. S. Bickel. She had one daughter, Lena K., who died in infancy. His second marriage was to Miss Mary M. Ernest, who is a daughter of John O. Ernest, and they have two children, Pearl and Ethel. Mr. Barlett and family are active members of the German Reformed Church. They are kind, hospitable people and have a wide acquaintance and many friends in this neighborhood. Mr. Barlett casts his vote with the democratic party. He has built up a very important business here from small beginnings and he deserves much credit for raising the stock standard in Rock Creek Township.
JOHN A. MORRISON, M. D. While most of his professional work was done at Montpelier in Blackford County, Doctor Morrison was widely known in Wells County by residence and active citizenship, and made his home here on a farm during his declining years. His death, which occurred July 11, 1911, was widely and sincerely mourned by a large host of friends and acquaintances all over this section of Indiana.
He represented some of the old and prominent family stock of North- eastern Indiana. His father Leander Morrison was a native of Bourbon County. Kentucky, son of Andrew Morrison, who came from his native Scotland to America in young manhood. Andrew Morrison moved from Pennsylvania to Kentucky. Leander Morrison was edneated in the pub-
MR. AND MRS. ISAAC BARLETT AND FAMILY
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Jie schools and when a young man went with his father to Preble County, Ohio, where he followed farming until 1834. In that year he removed to Huntington County, Indiana, entering a tract of Government land in both Huntington and in Wells counties. The same year, 1834, he married Miss Matilda Jones, daughter of Samuel Jones, also a native of Scotland. Samuel Jones had settled in Huntington County, Indiana, in 1833, and acquired the land on which he later laid out the village of Warren. Leander Morrison spent many useful years as a farmer iw Huntington County and in the early days served as land agent and was also a magistrate and county commissioner. In politics he was a whig and subsequently a republican. He died February 14, 1881, survived by his widow. They were the parents of seven children: Calvin, who died while a Union soldier; Nancy: Martha; Sarah; Samuel L .; John A .; and Lewis.
Dr. John A. Morrison was born on his father's farm in Salamonie Township of Huntington County, Indiana, April 26, 1850. His early environment and his chief discipline was that of an Indiana farm of fifty or sixty years ago. His education was the product of the local dis- triet schools, the Bluffton city schools and the Roanoke Academy. In 1872 he took up the study of medicine with Drs. Mason and Ransom at Hartford City, attended lectures of the Cincinnati College of Medi- cine and Surgery during 1873-74, and in 1875 was granted his diploma by that institution. The next year he practiced at Mount Zion in Wells County, and then at Liberty Center in Wells County until June, 1884. On giving up his practice that year he went east and spent several months attending courses and clinics in the Long Island Hospital Med- ical College of New York, and then resumed practice at Montpelier in Blackford County, where he sustained a fine reputation and splendid record as a physician and surgeon for eighteen years. He was an active and prominent member of the Blackford County Medical Society. After having been in practice steadily for about thirty years Doctor Morrison retired and four years before his death located on his farm in Jackson Township of Wells County. He was fond of the country and of agri- cultural activities, and took a great deal of pride in his fine farm of 226 acres. A large source of profit and revenue came from twenty-six active oil wells on the farm and the farm still is a producer in the oil helt of Wells County. Doctor Morrison was a man who commanded utmost respect and enjoyed the esteem and admiration of a host of friends. Politically he was a republican.
On July 2, 1876, he married Miss Sarah C. Spake, who was born in Liberty Township of Wells County December 14, 1857, daughter of John and Mary (First) Spake. Her father was born in Guernsey County, Ohio. About 1885 Mr. and Mrs. Spake removed to Kansas City, where they spent their last years. They had four children: Sarah C .; Anna G., who has never married : J. P., a resident of Kansas City, mar- ried Miss Lina Barickson, and Mary B., wife of H. B. Van Horn, of Kansas City. Mr. and Mrs. Spake also adopted a daughter by the name Esther A. Parker, who married Isaac Neff. of Mount Zion, Indiana, and is now deceased.
Mrs. Sarah C. Morrison was reared in Liberty Township, was edu- cated in the district schools, and as the wife of Doctor Morrison became the mother of three sons. The oldest, Alva R .. lives on the Morrison farm in Wells County and married Ethel Dairy. The second son, also living on the Morrison farm, has been an accomplished penman and for- merly tanght penmanship. He married Nettie Reynolds. The youngest son, Merl Minton, graduated from the Montpelier High School on July 11, 1911, and is also at home with his mother.
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WILLIAM F. STEPLER. Occupying a position of prominence not only among the leading citizens of French Township, but among the sub- stantial agriculturists of his community, William F. Stepler is an up- to-date farmer in every respect, his farm being well kept and well managed. and his stock and machinery being of first-class description. A native of Adams County, he was born, March 31, 1876, on the farm where he is now living, a son of John Stepler.
Born and educated in Germany, John Stepler came to the United States at the age of nineteen years, locating first in Ohio. Coming from there to Indiana, he bought land in French Township, and on the farm which he cleared and improved was busily employed during his re- maining years. He married Mrs. Elizabeth (Shifferley) Zaugg, who was born in Wayne County, Ohio. She was the widow of Daniel Zaugg, who died in early life, leaving her with three children, Phillip, Lucy and Emma. By her marriage with John Stepler she had six children, as follows: Mary, wife of William Heineking; John, who died in 1900; William F .; Sarah E .; Daniel S., engaged in farming in Monroe Town- ship; and Otto, deceased.
A life-long resident of French Township, William F. Stepler ac- quired his education in the district schools, and as a young man be- came actively employed in developing the resources which have made it among the best agricultural regions to be found in this section of Indiana. Mr. Stepler has placed his eighty acres of land under good cultivation, and in addition to carrying on general farming has gained a wide reputation as a successful stock breeder and raiser, having a fine sire at head of his fine herd of short horned cattle, and a valuable bunch of Duroc hogs, his favorite breed. Mr. Stepler has other in- terests aside from farming, being a stockholder in the Home Store at Monroe, and also in a threshing outfit. Politically Mr. Stepler is a firm supporter of the principles advanced by the democratie party. Religiously he is an active member of the Reformed Church, which he lias served as treasurer since 1906.
ABRAHAM EGLY. One farm in Hartford Township of Adams County has been the home of the Egly family for over half a century and has responded to the diligence and practiced husbandry of members of the family with so many successive crops as to provide the means of livelihood for practically two generations.
Abraham Egly was born on that old homestead and has lived there nearly all the days of his life. His birth occurred February 7, 1862. His parents were Henry and Catherine (Goldsmith) Egly, and they acquired that tract of 162 acres in the midst of the wilderness on section 13 of Hartford Township and were the means and . instru- mentality in its original development. Henry Egly was born in Ger- many and his wife in Alsace and the latter came to the United States with her parents at the age of seven and he was also a boy when he came. Their respective families settled in Butler County, Ohio, where Henry and Catherine grew up and where they married. On coming to Indiana they located in Hartford Township of Adams County and bought the land on which their son Abraham now lives. It was then all in the woods, and their first habitation was a log cabin. Henry Egly lived here, industrious, prosperous and honored until his death in 1890. His widow died February 27, 1905. They were members of the De- fenseless Mennonite Church, and Henry Egly was long prominent in that denomination and served as a bishop. He was a very sturdy and upright character. He reaped abundant harvests from his farm of 162 acres, and besides supporting and caring for his own father and
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his wife's mother in their age he and his wife reared a family of eight children, six sons and two daughters. Seven of these are still living : Jacob, of Fort Wayne; Henry J. of Phoenix, Arizona; Samuel, of Geneva, Indiana; Joseph of Phoenix, Arizona; Abraham; Christ G. of Fort Wayne; Catherine, wife of David Claudon of Meadow, Illinois.
Joseph Egly was one of the organizers and largely the builder and the preacher of the Missionary Church organized in French Township August 27, 1898.
Abraham Egly grew up on the old homestead, attended the com- mon schools, and the fields in which he learned his first practical les- sons of agriculture as a boy are those which he still tends as a source of livelihood in his mature years. He has done much to improve and increase the value of the fine farm which he acquired from his father.
September 23, 1883, Mr. Egly married Leah Stucky. She was born November 20, 1862, in French Township of Adams County, daugh- ter of Christian Stueky, a native of Alsace, Germany, who came to the United States with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Egly are the parents of six children : Simon, who is married and lives in Fort Wayne; Jesse, married and living at Pontiac, Illinois ; Amanda, wife of John C. Hershey, a resident of Hartford Township; Harvey, who is married and lives in Berne, Indiana; Christian, a graduate of the common sehools, married Ellen B. French, daughter of J. D. French, and lives in Nottingham Township of Wells County ; and Valentine A., a graduate of the com- mon schools and now a student in the high school of Hartford Town- ship. The family are active members of the Missionary Church near their home and Mr. Egly is now the church trustee, is also choir leader, and for eight or nine years was superintendent of the Sunday school. Politieally he is affiliated with the republican party.
ANDREW WOLPERT has lived all his productive years and most of those since early childhood in Adams County, and his interests in farming and as a public spirited citizen of Root Township have made him well known and highly esteemed in that community.
He was born in Seneca County, Ohio, January 11, 1874, a son of Joseph and Theresa Wolpert, both of whom were natives of Germany. His mother came to the United States when she was one year old. The parents were married in Seneca County, Ohio, were farmers there, and in 1881 came to Adams County, Indiana, and secured a tract of com- paratively wild land in Root Township. Their labors, together with those of their children, have been responsible for making this one of the best farms in the township, and it is now the home and is owned by Andrew Wolpert. It has been in the possession of the Wolpert family since 1882. It is well improved with good buildings and is productive of every crop that grows in this vicinity. Joseph Wolpert did not long survive his coming to Adams County, since he passed away April 5, 1882. His widow survived him many years, keeping her children to- gether and rearing them on the old farm. Her death occurred February 14, 1907. Her children were : Elizabeth, Mary, Rosa, Andrew, Josephine, Anna, Joseph, Sophia and Catherine.
Andrew Wolpert was edneated in parochial schools of Decatur and his own children are now attending the same source of education. After he had grown to manhood he bought the farm from his father's estate and is now carefully cultivating its 120 acres.
October 4, 1905, he married Miss Margaret Kortenber, daughter of Hlerman and Mary Kortenber, of Decatur. Her mother is still living at Decatur and her father died September 18, 1905. Her father was born in Germany and came to the United States at the age of seventeen,
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and her mother is a native of Indiana. Mrs. Wolpert's brothers and sisters are named : Bernard. deceased ; Elizabeth, Frances, Clara, Lewis, William, Joseph and Clement. The five children of Mr. and Mrs. Wol- pert are Lawrence, Herman, Frances, Frederick and Mary E. In politics Mr. Wolpert favors the democratic party, and he and his family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.
FRED BULTEMEIER. From the earliest times to the present the name Bultemeier has been spoken in Adams County with that respect due to a family of more than ordinary intelligence, business ability, energy and resourcefulness, resulting in extensive ownership of fine farms, good homes and people who are ready to respond to the call of publie spirit whenever the interest of the community is at stake.
A member of this fine family and one of the best known citizens of Root Township is Mr. Fred Bultemeier, who was born in that township March 13, 1861. He is a son of Conrad and Louisa (Miland) Bultemeier. His parents were both born in Prussia, Germany, and after their mar- riage came to the United States and settled in Preble Township of Adams County, Indiana. Two years later they moved to Root Township, and there laid the foundation of a substantial property which is still largely in the hands of their children. Conrad Bultemeier before locating in Root Township had worked on the Wabash and Erie Canal. He was a careful and frugal man, saved his money and used it to gain his first hold in Root Township. From time to time he added to his original purchases and at the time of his death, which occurred January 28, 1896, was the owner of 700 acres, constituting a splendid estate, which was divided among his children. His wife died in July, 1884. They were highly respected residents of Root Township, active members of the Lutheran Church, and became the parents of children named Louis, Charles E., Ferdinand, Fred, Wilhelmina, Louise and Lizetta.
While Fred Bultemeier grew up in a substantial home and with good advantages, he was early taught the value of industry and honest toil as a means of making his way in life. He received a public school educa- tion in his native township, and in 1886 he inherited from his father the homestead farm which he now occupies. It consists of 198 very fertile and well improved acres, and the fields show careful management, while the buildings are of a most attractive nature. All of it is in cultivation with the exception of about fifteen or eighteen acres of native timber. Mr. Bultemeier himself was born in a log house, but his own children have grown up in one of the most commodious homes of Root Township. Quite recently he bought another farm almost adjoining the old one, known as the Charles Dirkson place, comprising 130 acres. This farm is now occupied by his married danghter, Mrs. Ida Aumann.
On May 27. 1886, Mr. Bultemeier married Annie Schroeder, daughter of IIenry and Annie Schroeder, of Allen County, Indiana. A large and happy family of children have grown up on the old farm of Mr. and Mrs. Bultemeier. Their names are Martha, Ida, Annie, Louise, Sophia, Marie, Martin, Henry and Emma. Martha is the wife of Adolph Scham- erloh, of Adams County; Ida is the wife of Martin Aumann: Annie married Lawrenee Heckman, of Adams County; and Sophia is the wife of Edwin Schamerloh, of Adams County. These children have all had good advantages in the public schools and some of them have attended high school. Mrs. Bultemeier's brother and sister are Henry, who mar- ried Annie Drorege, of Adams County, and Sophia, wife of Fred Drorege, of Allen County. Mr. and Mrs. Bultemeier are active members of the Lutheran Church, as were their respective parents, and in polities he is a democrat.
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CONRAD GALLMEIER. Three-quarters of a century constitutes a long life. And when it is filled with honorable activity, usefulness to himself, family and community, such a record is one that properly finds a place in any publication of this kind.
That in brief is the record of Mr. Conrad Gallmeier, of Root Town- ship. He was born in Westphalia, Germany, December 19, 1842, a son of Ernst and Elizabeth Gallmeier. He lived in Germany until he was twenty-three years of age. He had the usual thorough education of the German schools, and after coming to America he attended for a brief term or two the public schools of Root Township. He arrived in this country September 18, 1865, only a few months after the close of the Civil war. Coming to Adams County, Indiana, he worked for others for a time but in 1867 was in a position to make his first purchase of land, comprising forty acres. In 1877 this was followed by a similar purchase, another forty acres was added to his domain in 1896, and thus at the present time he is proprietor of a fine farm of 120 acres, nearly all of which represents in its improvements his individual work and good management. Mr. Gallmeier has two brothers, William and Frederick, now living in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Both his parents died in Germany in the fall of 1877.
On November 16, 1871, Mr. Gallmeier married Elizabeth Ulman, daughter of William and Mary Ulman, of Adams County. Her parents came from Germany in 1838 and were among the early pioneers of Adams County, where they bought and improved ninety-two acres, secur- ing title direct from the government. Mrs. Gallmeier's father died in June, 1871, and her mother in May, 1894. The other children in the Ulman family were William, Lizetta, Augusta and Amelia.
Mr. and Mrs. Gallmeier have three daughters, all now married. Emma is the wife of Martin Gerke, of Root Township; Louise married Theodore Hobrock, of Root Township; and Mary is the wife of William Hobrock.
Mr. Gallmeier has a splendid farm, with excellent buildings, his fields produce in abundance every crop suited to this soil and climate, and practically all is in cultivation except eight acres of native timber. He and his wife are active members of the German Lutheran Church, and both the families have long held to that religious faith. Mr. Gall- meier has been the recipient of many tokens of esteem and respect on the part of his fellow citizens, and for five or six years was township supervisor, and in his church has filled most of the offices, including trustee.
S. D. HENRY. As chief engineer for the Indiana Pipe Line Company, S. D. Henry, of Preble, Adams County, holds a position of responsibility, and is ably fulfilling the duties devolving upon him in that capacity. He was born, September 4, 1864, in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, and came with his parents to Indiana in boyhood.
His father, William Henry, migrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and after living in that state for a time pushed on westward to Indiana. Settling in Wabash County. he settled on 160 acres of land that was still in its virginal wildness, and by dint of hard lahor cleared and improved a farm. He served as a soldier in the Civil war, and is now a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and takes great interest in its affairs. He is a democrat in politics. He married, in Pennsylvania, Sarah Stifler, a native of that state. She was an active member of the United Brethren Church, with which she united when young. She died in 1897, leaving nine children, S. D., David. Frank, Ezra, Loren, Burt, Minnie, Jennie, and Voria.
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S. D. Henry first attended school in Ohio, later completing his early studies in the publie schools of Indiana. In 1888, he entered the employ of the Indiana Pipe Line Company as a day laborer, and subsequently worked his way upward, becoming first a fireman, and later an engineer. Proving himself eminently intelligent and competent wherever placed, Mr. Henry was made chief engineer of the power plant, and is filling the position to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.
Mr. Henry married, February 5, 1885, Alice E. Crill, a daughter of James and Sarah Crill. Five children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Henry, namely : Bruce married Mand Lemming of Crown Point and is in the grocery business and postmaster at Laketon; Bessie, wife of Chauncey Gushard, of Wabash County, Indiana; Arlie, a soldier in the United States army, now located at Camp Stanley, Texas, married Rose Fassan; Cleo, wife of Harry Uleh, chemist, formerly of Laketon, now located on a farm in Michigan; and Juanita, wife of Prof. Glenn Marshall, residing at Fort Madison, Iowa.
Politically Mr. Henry invariably supports the principles of the demo- cratie party. Fraternally he belongs to Demming Lodge No. 88, Aneient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, North Manchester, Indiana; to Laketon Camp, Knights of the Maceabees, and to Decatur Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Henry also belongs to Decatur Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star: and is a member of the Ladies of the Maeea- bees.
JONAS NEUENSCHWANDER. For many years prominently associated with the administration of the public affairs of Adams County, Jonas Neuenschwander, ex-county treasurer, and ex-township trustee, per- formed the duties devolving upon him in those positions with exceeding fidelity and effieieney, and now as one of the leading agriculturists of this section of the state is meeting with signal success, his home farm being one of the most attractive and desirable in French Township. A native of French Township, he was born, January 15, 1860, son of Christian and Barbara (Garber) Neuenschwander, natives of Berne, Switzerland.
Brought up on the home farm in French Township, Adams County, Jonas Neuenschwander assisted in the care of the farm as a boy, and in the distriet schools acquired a good education, obtaining an excellent knowledge of both English and German. IIe subsequently served an apprenticeship of two years at the carpenter's trade, and was after- ward variously employed, for awhile having an outfit, and doing much of the neighborhood threshing. Possessing excellent business qualifiea- tions, he was chosen by his fellow citizens as trustee of French Township, and served most acceptably for seven years and three months. In No- vember. 1896, he was elected county treasurer of Adams County, and served four years in that eapaeity until January, 1902, administering the affairs of his office with marked ability. Since assuming possession of his farm of 120 aeres in French Township, Mr. Neuenschwander has placed the larger part of it under a high state of culture, and added improvements of an excellent eliaraeter, his fine estate, with its sub- stantial buildings, giving ample evidence to the passer-by of his skill and ability as a practical agrieulturist and rural householder.
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