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 46
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 46
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LAWRENCE LINNEMEIER. What the village of Preble means to the people of the surrounding community is largely a measure of the service rendered by Lawrence Linnemeier as the proprietor of the leading general store of that town. Mr. Linnemeier is a live and progressive young business man, keeps a first class stock of general merchandise, including groceries, meats and dry goods, and has every department kept up to date in every particular. He takes orders by telephone, and makes regular deliveries by automobile in every direction, being the originator of this system in this community. He has shown ability to buy carefully, to look after his trade as a matter of service and fair dealing, and he is an asset to the community and has a large success ahead of him.
Mr. Linnemeier was born in Preble Township of Adams County, December 22, 1893, son of H. D. and Katherine (Beinz) Linnemeier. His father was born in Germany but was brought to this country when about seven weeks of age. His mother is a native of Van Wert County, Ohio, and is still living. H. D. Linnemeier who died May 26, 1915, was well known in Adams County. At one time he followed the business and was considered an expert in the drilling of wells. Later for ten years he was connected with the Preble Telephone Company, was the first operator in charge of the local switchboard and did some of the pioneer work in introducing the telephone into popular favor and usage in this part of Adams County. He was also for several successive years assessor of the township and was an active member of the Lutheran Church. He and his wife had children named Martha, Rudolph, Freder- ick, Otto and Oscar, twins, and Lawrence.
Lawrence Linnemeier was educated in the parochial schools of Preble Township, attending those schools for seven years. He and his parents have always been active members of the Lutheran Church and after his education was completed in the Lutheran parochial schools he attended the public schools two years. Mr. Linnemeier has cast his vote as a democrat since coming to his majority. In 1909, when only sixteen years of age, he went to work in a general store, afterwards followed other lines of employment, and finally joined in partnership with his brother in operating a general store at Preble, and in 1915 bought the interests of his brother and has since been sole proprietor.
On November 25, 1915, Mr. Linnemeier married Luetta Koldeway, daughter of Frederick and Amelia Koldeway of Adams County. Mrs. Linnemeier has two sisters and one brother named Frieda, Martha and Gerhart. The only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Linnemeier, Mar- guerite, died in infancy.
JOHN J. SUTTON. Wells County was just beginning to emerge from the wilderness when the Sutton family established their first home here. Some of the woods had been leveled, land broken up and in cultivation before Mr. John J. Sutton was born, and practically his entire lifetime of three-quarters of a century has been lived in this county.
Mr. Sutton was born in Nottingham Township of Wells County June 11, 1843, but his work and interests for the greater part of his life have
MR. AND MRS. JOHN J. SUTTON
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been in Liberty Township, where he is now a successful farmer, owning 150 acres in section 35.
He is a son of Amos and Elsie (Jones) Sutton. His father was a son of Amos Sutton, Sr., a native of New York State, who in very early pioneer times moved to Randolph County, Indiana, and spent his life there. Amos, Jr., grew up in Randolph County, married in Ken- tucky, and soon afterward invaded the wilds of Wells County, where he located about 1835, more than fourscore years ago. He first entered forty acres of wild land in Nottingham Township, but some years later sold that and moved to Liberty Township, where he and his wife spent their last years. He worked in Cincinnati, Ohio, to pay his taxes. Mr. and Mrs. Sutton were the parents of a large family of twelve children, John J. being the only survivor.
As a boy John J. Sutton attended the public schools of his native county, and was eighteen years of age when the war broke out. He soon afterward enlisted in Company H of the 48th Indiana Infantry, and saw an active service of about eight months. He received his honorable dis- charge in Louisville, Kentucky.
Mr. Sutton married Louisa Lee, daughter of Alexander Lee, a for- mer county commissioner of Wells County. They had eight children, seven of who are still living. Mr. Sutton is an honored member of Lew Daily Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in politics votes with the democrats. Mrs. Sutton belongs to the Women's Relief Corps.
EDWARD GALLMEYER. Industriously engaged in the prosecution of a calling upon which not only our country, but the world largely depends, Edward Gallmeyer, of Adams County, is meeting with signal success as an agriculturist, his well improved and highly productive farm being among the best in Preble Township. A son of F. W. and Wilhelmina Gallmeyer, he was born, March 13, 1868, in Preble Town- ship, on the farm which he now owns and occupies. The land was bought from the government by his grandfather Gallmeyer, who came from Germany to the United States with his family in 1844, and set- tled in Adams County.
A boy when brought to Indiana by his parents, F. W. Gallmeyer assisted his father in redeeming a portion of the homestead from the forest, and also worked to some extent at the carpenter's trade. In 1858 he received from his father, for the small consideration of $300, a deed to the home farm, on which he subsequently lived and labored until his death, July 2, 1888. His wife, who came to this country from Ger- many with her parents in the fall of 1858, survived him many years, dying February 5, 1905, and leaving the following named children : Conrad D., Edward, Minnie, Fred, Lizzie, Martin and Ernest. Both parents were members of the German Lutheran Church, in which the father served as an elder. The father was active in public affairs, hav- ing served for two years as township assessor; for four years as justice of the peace; and having filled various other offices, including that of constable, township trustee and magistrate.
Edward Gallmeyer was educated in the public schools, and while assisting his father became familiar with the many branches of agri- culture. Assuming possession of the home farm on April 1, 1903, he has since devoted his time and energies to general farming, an occupa- tion which he has found both pleasant and profitable. This farm, in the improvement of which he assisted, is all cleared with the exception of a strip of timber lying along the bank of the creek, and is furnished with a substantial set of buildings, and all the machinery necessary for successfully carrying on his work.
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Mr. Gallmeyer married, May 1, 1898, Elizabeth Zwick, one of the three daughters of Charles and Minnie Zwick, of Adams County. the others being Sophia and Minnie. Mr. and Mrs. Gallmeyer have two children, Edwin and Edna. Mrs. Gallmeyer was born, November 22, 1868, in Preble Township, where her parents located on coming to Indiana from Germany. Both she and her husband are valued mem- bers of the German Lutheran Church, in which he has held various offices, for the past two years having served as trustee. For nine years Mr. Gallmeyer has been township assessor, and is now secretary of the Friedheim & Poc Telephone Company.
JOHN G. HOFFMAN. Representative of the business men of Adams County, John G. Hoffman is actively identified with the promotion of the agricultural and financial affairs of Northeastern Indiana, being a successful farmer, and a prominent banker of Preble. A native of Adams County, he was born, December 19, 1864, in Preble Township, a son of Jacob and Margaret Hoffman, the former of whom was born in Massilon, Ohio, while the latter was born, in 1834, in Zweibrike, Germany, and came with her parents to America in 1849.
Coming from Ohio to Indiana soon after his marriage, Jacob Hoff- man bought 160 acres of land in Adams County, and by energetic and persistent labor cleared and improved a good homestead. He subsequently bought two other farms of eighty acres each, and began their improvement. He died while yet in manhood's prime, his death occurring in September, 1877. His widow outlived him many years, dying February 29, 1908, at an advanced age. She reared four chil- dren, Daniel; Elizabeth, living in Nebraska; Mary, also a resident of Nebraska ; and John G.
When ready to assume the responsibilities of life, John G. Hoffman purchased eighty acres of his father's estate, and began farming on his own account in Preble Township. IIe cleared thirty acres of it, and has since, by added improvements, each year increased its value. On March 1, 1913, he bought eighty acres of his brother's estate, and has cleared and improved ten acres of that, placing the land in a productive condition. In addition to superintending his farms, Mr. Hoffman, with characteristic enterprise and foresight, engaged in the banking business, organizing, January 7. 1915, in Preble, the bank of which he has since been president, it being capitalized at $25,000, with re- sources amounting to $130,000. Mr. Hoffman is likewise engaged in the general insurance business, being agent for the Preble Township Fire Insurance Company.
On May 5, 1889, Mr. Hoffman was united in marriage with Sophia Breiner, a daughter of John and Rebecca Breiner, of Adams County, and a sister, Mrs. Kate Schoenstedt, wife of Henry Schoenstedt, of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman have six children, namely: Clara, wife of Louis Koldewey, of Union Township. Adams County; Charles; Louis; Oscar ; Ella; and Selma.
HENRY FREDERICK LINN. Possessing not only much mechanical genius and ability, but undoubted business tact and judgment, Henry F. Linn, of Adams County, has achieved marked success as a contractor and builder, and acquired a place of prominence among the highly esteemed and respected citizens of Decatur, his home city. A son of the late Solomon Linn, he was born, September 14, 1863. in Sandusky County, Ohio, on both sides of the house coming from Pennsylvania Dutch stock.
Born in Pennsylvania in 1835, Solomon Linn migrated to Ohio when
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young, locating first in Medina County, and later in Sandusky County, where he followed carpentry several years. Soon after the close of the war, he came with his family to Adams County, Indiana, settling in Decatur, where he became actively identified with the industrial in- terests of the city as a carpenter. He did much building in the city limits, among other things having assisted in the building of the Evangelical Church, of which he and his wife were charter members. A man of strong individuality, he became active in the democratic ranks, and served ably as a member of the city council for one term. Fraternally he belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He outlived the allotted three score and ten years of man's life, dying, in 1913, at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary A. Miller, was born in Pennsylvania, and died in De- catur, a few months after he did. aged seventy-five years. Their union was blessed by the birth of eight children, as follows: Henry F .; Sadie, wife of A. S. Elsey, of Ossian, Wells County; Frank W., killed in an auto accident in Chicago; Elizabeth, wife of E. B. Kenn, living in Van Buren, Indiana; Charles E., of Clyde Park, Montana; Wall E., of Bakersfield, California; Edward W., died when but twenty-four years old ; and Clyde D., engaged in business with his brother, Henry, as foreman.
But a small child when brought by his parents to Decatur, Henry F. Linn obtained a practical education in the city schools, and having as a hoy exhibited great dexterity in the use of tools began quite young to assist his father in the carpenter's shop. Growing up in the trade, he was associated with his father in the erection of many buildings, among which is the Central School Building. A skilful and thorough workman, exhibiting much wisdom and excellent judgment in the execution of his plans, Mr. Linn has gained an enviable reputation as a contractor and builder, and is kept busy at all times. By means of thrift and industry, Mr. Linn has accumulated a fair share of this world's goods, having a fine property in the city, including the large, double stucco house, at the corner of First and Rugg streets, which he has just completed.
Mr. Linn married Miss Anora Lower, who was born in Union Town- ship and is a sister of William B. Lower. Mr. and Mrs. Linn have three children, namely: Joseph, living in Decatur; William, who was grad- uated from the Decatur High School with the class of 1916, is in the employ of Vance & Hite Clothing Store; and Lawrence, attending the high school. Mrs. Linn is a member of the Evangelical Church, in which she is an active worker. A democrat in politics, Mr. Linn has rendered the city excellent service as a member of the city council, and takes great interest in public affairs. Fraternally he is a member of Decatur Lodge No. 65, Knights of Pythias, of which he became a member in 1884. and Mrs. Linn is a member of the Pythian Sisters.
WILL HAMMELL is one of the younger members of the bar of Adams County but was soon called from the walks of private practice to the duties of the responsible office of clerk of the Adams Circuit Court. He is one of the most popular officials in the courthouse of Decatur, and has justified the choice of the people many times by the efficiency and care with which he performs his work.
Mr. Hammell graduated from the high school of Decatur with the class of 1908, and after that diligently applied himself to the study of law in the office of Judge David E. Smith. He worked at his law books four years and on December 24, 1910, was admitted to the bar. He then took up active practice.
PRIVATA LIBRARY OF GEO. J. TRIROLET.
BLUFFTON. IND. PLEASE RETURN PROMPTLE ₹.
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In the democratic primaries of 1913 Mr. Hammell's name went be- fore the people of the county as candidate for the nomination for clerk of the Adams County Circuit Court of the Twenty-sixth Judicial Circuit. He had two opponents, and after his nomination he had no difficulty in getting elected in the fall of 1914. He began his official duties on Jan- uary 1, 1916. One of Mr. Hammell's opponents at the primaries was John T. Kelley, from the south part of the county. Mr. Hammell has not shown any narrow partisanship and has looked to the needs of the office and the efficiency of the local government, and his broadmindedness in this respect was well illustrated when he appointed Mr. Kelley as his deputy, making that appointment without any solicitation and merely for the purpose of giving honor where honor was due. Both Mr. Kelley and Mr. Hammell are very active and prominent democrats in the county.
Will Hammell was born in Washington Township of Adams County February 9, 1887. He still makes his home at the old residence near the City of Decatur where he grew up and where he attended the public schools. He took up the study of law at the age of twenty years and had entered upon his duties in one of the most responsible offices in the county government before he was thirty.
He is a son of Cyrus R. and Sarah (Baker) Hammell. His father was born in Ohio and his mother in Adams County, Indiana, and they were married in Whitley County, Indiana. Soon after their marriage they came to Adams County, where the father was engaged in the saw- mill business until his death on May 20, 1917, at the age of seventy-six years, nineteen days. In politics he was a republican. His widow is still living at the age of sixty-two. She is active in the Presbyterian Church as was her husband. They had a family of eleven children, one of whom died in infancy, and of the five daughters and five sons two of the latter are married. One sister, Miss Fay, is assisting her brother in the office of clerk of the Circuit Court. Mr. Hammell is an active member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Loyal Order of Moose at Decatur, and has joined both of these organizations since his election to office. He is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.
WILLIAM FRAZIER has been a resident of Adams County for over thirty-five years, and for the past three years has had his home in De- catur, where he is giving his entire time and attention to his duties as county assessor. He was elected to this office on the democratic ticket in the fall of 1914. In 1910 he was appointed a drainage commissioner, for two years, being appointed by the board of county commissioners. He did some good work with the drainage commission, and during his term they had some very important work on hand in laying out and adjusting assessments for the beneficaries of improvements.
Mr. Frazier came to Decatur from Blue Creek Township of Adams County, where he had previously served as township assessor and as member of the township advisory board. He went to Blue Creek Town- ship in 1882, and for many years was a practical farmer and dairyman there. He was a comparatively poor man when he entered that section, acquired forty acres of land in the midst of the heavy timber, cleared it up, and his character as a hard working and prospering farmer was what gave him the confidence of his fellow citizens and has kept him much in public affairs in recent years. He improved his farm with substantial buildings, and developed his business chiefly along dairying lines, and made large quantities of butter which always commanded the highest prices at the Decatur markets. He was also a successful poultry raiser.
Mr. Frazier came to Adams County from a farm eight miles from
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Circleville in Fairfield County, Ohio, where he was born August 13, 1851. He grew up and received his education there and by experience acquired the faculty of good judgment that has enabled him to make a substantial success in life.
His parents were Jacob and Martha (Winstead) Frazier, both natives of Pennsylvania. They came with their respective parents to Ohio, the Fraziers locating in Fairfield County and the Winsteads in Pickaway County. Martha Winstead's parents spent the rest of their lives on a farm in that county and were active members of the Zion Lutheran Church. The paternal grandparents lived out their lives in Clear Creek Township of Fairfield County, and both died when past eighty years of age. They were members of the English Lutheran Church. Both the Fraziers and Winsteads were democrats from the time of Andrew Jack- son. Jacob Frazier was born in Pennsylvania about 1805, grew up as a farmer boy in Fairfield County, and was working as a farm hand in Pickaway County where he met and married his wife. Later he re- turned to Clear Creek Township in Fairfield County, and was an active farmer there until his death in 1886 at the age of eighty-two. His wife died five years later when not quite eighty. They had for many years been active members of the English Lutheran Church. In their family were eight children, six of whom married, four sons and two daughters. William Frazier's brother George still lives on a farm in Clear Creek Township of Fairfield and is married and has a family. Another brother, Jacob F., is an electric foundryman at Columbus, Ohio, where he has been located for the past twelve years, and has a wife but no children. Noah H., the other living brother, is a farmer in Pickaway County and has a family.
William Frazier married in 1874 in his native county Miss Louisa Wolfe, who was born in Clear Creek Township of that county on March 6, 1854. She was a daughter of John and Catherine (Spangler) Wolfe, both natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers in Fairfield County, Ohio, where they were married. They accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Frazier to Adams County in 1882, bought a home in Blue Creek Township, and made a good farm of it. John Wolfe died there at the age of sixty-six and his wife at the age of seventy-eight. They were members of the English Lutheran Church and in polities he was a democrat. Their family consisted of three sons and four daughters, and all the sons and two of the daughters are living, married and have families of their own.
Mr. and Mrs. Frazier had four children : Cora married Arthur Stove and they live on a farm in Van Wert County, Ohio; their children are Roy, Ralph, and Pearl, all now students in the public schools. The daughter, Flora, who died January 22, 1900, married Professor Frank Porter, a well known educator who is now principal of the Decatur High School. She left a daughter, Opal Leah, who has been reared in the home of her Grandfather Frazier and is now a student in the city high school. Katie B., the third child, lives at home and keeps house for her father. William H., the youngest, is a carpenter by trade and is still unmarried, living with his father. Mr. Frazier's family are active mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN MOSURE was inducted into the office of auditor of Adams County January 1, 1917. His administration during the first year has been a most gratifying personal achievement. and has fully justified the con- fidence of his supporters at the election. He has kept the machinery of office moving smoothly and has done much to improve the general financial credit of the county government.
Mr. Mosure was nominated for office in the spring primaries of 1916,
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was elected in November and at the time of his election was a resident of French Township. Mr. Mosure was born in Wells County, Indiana, September 21, 1865. He grew up at Vera Cruz in his native county, and from early boyhood was familiar with and had much practical experi- ence in his father's blacksmith shop. He learned the trade and followed it actively for eighteen years, chiefly at Vera Cruz in Wells County. He owned a shop there, but in the fall of 1900, on election day, removed to French Township in Adams County and bought forty acres of land. To this he added twenty-four acres, and brought all of it under thorough cultivation. It was from the business of a practical farmer that he was called to his present duties as county auditor. Mr. Mosure still owns his farm. In 1909 he was elected trustee of French Township, and filled that office with credit for six years, the efficiency he exercised as trustee making the groundwork of confidence on which the people chose him to a county position.
His parents were Jonathan and Catherine (Krill) Mosure, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania. When quite small they were taken to Indiana, Jonathan Mosure to Adams County and Catherine Krill to Wells County. They were married in Wells County and Jona- than followed his trade as a blacksmith for many years. He conducted a shop at Bluffton and following the Civil war he removed to Vera Cruz and with his brother, David, entered business under the name Mosure Brothers, manufacturing buggies, carriages and other vehicles. That they put good workmanship and good materials into their output is evident by the fact that some of their vehicles are still doing service. Jonathan Mosure retired from business some years ago and passed away in May, 1913, at the age of seventy-six. His widow is still living at the old home aged seventy-six. They were active members of the Chris- tian Church and he was a lifelong democrat and in early life quite prom- inent in party affairs.
John Mosure married in Adams County Miss Idell Yarger, a Wells County girl, who was born in that county May 8, 1870. She was reared and educated in the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Mosure have a family of four children. Osa, born in 1892, was educated at Vera Cruz and is the wife of Nathaniel Meshberger and has one son, Harold. Harley, born in 1893, is fireman of the waterworks plant at Bluffton and married Nellie Flowers. Cleo, aged twenty-one, is the wife of Norman Statler of Kirkland Township and has a daughter, Dorothy L. David H., who was born in May, 1897, and lives in Bluffton, married Mabel Deitrich and has a daughter, Cecil M. Mr. John Mosure has been a democrat all his life. On March 5, 1892, he was initiated into the Lodge of Odd Fellows at Bluffton, and has completed twenty-five years of faithful fel- lowship with that order. He is a past noble grand and has been a dele- gate to state lodge. He and has wife are members of the Rebekahs.
DENNIS ALBERSON. It is not unusual to find the vocations of farming and merchandising closely allied, especially in the smaller communities of the Middle West, where the principal general store is often presided over and owned by men who have spent a great part of their lives in agriculture and often are still farming. In the distriet where the farm- ers rely largely upon the village stores for their supplies and a market place for their goods. this forms a happy medium of trade. The store proprietor, having been himself an agriculturist, ean more readily make agreeable transactions and arrangements for fair dealing with his breth- ren of the soil. In this connection mention should be made of Dennis Alberson, who is merchandising at Petroleum and who is also a farmer of Wells County with valuable holdings in Nottingham Township.
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