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 47
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 47
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Mr. Alberson was born on a farm in Nottingham Township of Wells County September 27, 1864, son of Charles and Mary A. (Brown) Alberson, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Ran- dolph County, Indiana. Charles Alberson at the age of two years was brought by his parents to Adams County, Indiana, where he was edu- cated, reared, grew to manhood and married. For several years he lived on a farm near Geneva, but in 1856 moved to Wells County and bought eighty aeres in Nottingham Township. That was his home until his death and his wife also spent her last years there. They were faithful members of the Christian Church, earnest, devout and industrious peo- ple, who won the respect and estcem of their neighbors and acquaint- anees and stood high in the general estimation of their community. Charles Alberson was a republican. Of the ten children in the family nine reached maturity and are still living : Joshua, a resident of Notting- ham Township: Elizabeth, widow of Winfield S. Settle: Philip B., a farmer and stock raiser in Nottingham Township; Catherine, wife of Warren Walser. of Montpelier, Indiana; Nancy, widow of James N. Tinsley. of Bridgeport. Illinois: Samuel, engaged in farming in Mis- souri ; Julia, wife of Robert Gilby, of Michigan; Jacob, who lives at Geneva ; and Dennis.
Dennis Alherson was reared on the home farm in Wells County, attended distriet schools, but at the age of thirteen, owing to the death of his father, he had to start working and making a serions contribution to the upkeep of the family. Consequently the success he has achieved has been the result of his own efforts. All that he owns today he ean eredit to his business ability, industry and perseverance. On reaching his majority he had but little capital, yet three years later at twenty- four, on March 7, 1889, he founded a home of his own by his marriage to Lavinia Laine. They started housekeeping on a farm in the vicinity of Montpelier and made that place their home for five years. Mrs. Alberson died there, the mother of two sons: William C., the older son, born February 9, 1890. is a graduate of the common schools and by his marriage to Ruthella Carter, has three children : Audrey. Madonna and Eloise. J. E. Alberson, the younger son, born July 17, 1892, also had a public school education and married Denaner Evans, and has two chil- dren : Edward and Herbert.
Mr. Alberson continued as a practical farmer until 1895 when he engaged in the livery business at Montpelier in partnership with W. H. Settle for three years. In 1898 he enlisted for service in the Spanish- American war in Company F of the One Hundred and Sixtieth Indiana Infantry. He was with his eommand for one year and during the pre- liminary training was in camp at Chattanooga, at Lexington, Kentucky, Columbus, Georgia. Charleston, South Carolina. Ile and his comrades then took transport to Matanzas, Cuba, and he was on the island in service for three months. He received his honorable discharge at Savan- nah. Georgia.
Following that war Mr. Alberson spent a few months at Montpelier, returned to Wells County. and in 1909 went to Southeastern Missouri where he bought a farm. His son cleared and improved this land. After six months in that state Mr. Alberson engaged in the real estate business for two years, and on returning to Indiana worked for the Standard Oil Company two years. In 1911 he and his son William bought a store at Phoenix and besides running this mereantile establishment until 1914 also sold Missouri lands. In 1914 Mr. Alberson bought the store at Petroleum. At that time he formed the firm of Alberson & Son. This concern now owns the store and also considerable farm and town prop- erty, father and sons being partners in all their undertakings. They
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bear excellent reputations in this locality and are known as public-spir- ited and worth while citizens, supporters of education, religion and charity and promoters of movements for the furtherance of the public welfare. They are republicans in politics, but have taken no particu- larly active part in public affairs save as private citizens.
THOMAS F. GROVE. Success is determined by one's ability to recog- nize opportunity and to pursue this with a resolute, unflagging energy. It results from continued labor and the man who thus accomplishes his purpose usually becomes an important factor in business or agricultural circles of the community with which he is connected. Through such means Thomas F. Grove has attained a leading place among the repre- sentative agriculturists of Chester Township, and his well spent and honorable life has been rewarded by the accumulation of a good prop- erty, lying on Poneto Rural Route No. 1.
Mr. Grove is a native son of Wells County, Indiana, and was born on a farm in Harrison Township, December 28, 1873, being a son of Joshua S. and Lydia (Balur) Grove, the former a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, and the latter also born in the Buckeye State. Both Joshua and Lydia Grove were young people when brought by their parents to Indiana, the families settling not far from each other in Wells County, south of Bluffton and near Poneto, where the young peo- ple met. The grandparents passed the remaining years of their lives on their respective farms, reaching advanced years and rounding out careers of honor and usefulness. Joshua S. Grove was a lifelong farmer and the developer of a goodly share of property. He passed his life within the limits of Wells County from his boyhood, and during the later years of his life lived on the farm that is now occupied by his son in Chester Township, where he died November 17, 1899, Mrs. Grove passing away April 15, 1916. Mr. Grove was a democrat in politics, was active in the ranks of his party, and a man of some importance and influence in his community, serving in the capacity of county commis- sioner from 1895 to 1898. He was a devout Christian and a member of the United Brethren Church, to which Mrs. Grove, who died April 15, 1916, also belonged. They were the parents of ten children, of whom three are now living: Lollie, who is the wife of George W. Carnes, a minister of the Methodist Church; Merton A., a resident of Poneto; and Thomas F.
Thomas F. Grove took his studies at the district school in the viein- ity of his father's farm and was reared to the pursuits of agriculture, in which he has always been engaged. At the time of his father's death, he became the manager of the property, which he operated for his mother until the latter's death, when he became the owner by inheritance and by purchase from the other heirs. He had made numerous improve- ments on this land, which now presents a prosperous and up-to-date appearance, reflecting the spirit and enterprise of its owner. He is a democrat in his political views, and was for some years identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In 1896 Mr. Grove was married to Stella Campbell, daughter of Rob- ert Campbell, of Liberty Center, and they have two children : Ralph C. and Ruby M .. the former a graduate of the graded schools, has spent one year in the Bluffton High School; and the latter is now attending the graded schools.
WALDO E. SMITH, M. D. Among the younger members of the med- ical profession in Adams County no one is spoken of with higher appre- ciation of his ability than Dr. Waldo E. Smith, of Decatur.
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Doctor Smith is a graduate of the medical department of the Ohio State University at Columbus, getting his M. D. degree in 1906. Thus for more than ten years he has given his time and efforts to a general practice as a physician and surgeon at Decatur, and a splendid patronage has been accorded him from all over the county. Doctor Smith has his offiees in his home, which is a beautiful brown stucco house, one of the most attractive residences of the city. He has taken an active part in the work of the County and State Medical societies, and has served as president and secretary of the County Society.
Doctor Smith was born near Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, December 30, 1871. He grew up there, attended the public schools, grad- nated from the Ohio Northern University in 1896, and had one year of teaching experience in his native county. In June, 1896, he came to Decatur, Indiana, and taught township schools four years and for a time was principal of the Pleasant Mills school before taking up the study of medicine.
Doctor Smith is a son of Jasper and Flora (Case) Smith. Jasper's brother Clinton Smith was for many years a successful physician in Fay- ette County, Ohio. Jasper Smith and wife were both born in Franklin County, Ohio, where the family were among the earliest pioneers. One of Doctor Smith's ancestors, Peter Willington, is eredited with having erected the second house in Franklin County. That old home stood on the banks of the Scioto River and was in good state of preservation until 1916. Peter Willington was one of the men who witnessed the execution of the Indian Leatherlips by order of the famous Tecumseh. Leatherlips was chief of the Wyandotte tribe and was executed on a charge of witch- craft preferred by Tecumseh, more for the purpose of getting rid of that influential leader than on any real ground to support the charge. Jasper Smith was a grandson of David Smith, son of Nelson Smith. David Smith was granted a license as teacher in 1801 in Franklin County, and was thus enrolled among the serviceable eitizens before Ohio became a state. He and his son Nelson spent most of their lives as farmers in Franklin County.
The Case family, in Doctor Smith's maternal ancestry, were New England people. They were members of a large colony that moved to Ohio 120 years ago and laid out the town of Worthington near Columbus. Of their lands they set aside a half section to be used for educational pur- poses, and this land was included in the corporation of the village. Doc- tor Smith's mother was a daughter of Alvin Case and a granddaughter of Orlando Case. Both were farmers and merchants and many others of the family were mechanics. A high degree of inventive skill has always characterized the varied members of the Case family. They discovered and developed the process of "ease hardening of steel." One of the Cases also invented the process of roller manufacturing of corn meal now universally used.
After the marriage of Jasper Case he spent his life on or near the old homestead in Franklin County, where he died in 1907 at the age of sev- enty-four. The widowed mother is still living at the age of seventy-five in Perry Township of Franklin County, and is still in vigorous health. Eight of her brothers and sisters are still living, all married and have chil- dren of their own. The average age of these people is about seventy. Doctor Smith's mother was fifth in a family of ten children. The greater number of the Case family were adherents of the Methodist Church. The Smiths as a rule have been republicans in politics. Doctor Smith was the second son and third child in a family of ten children, eight of whom are still living.
Jasper Smith was a fighting soldier of the Union during the Civil war. Vol. II-21
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He first enlisted in the Forty-sixth Ohio Infantry and was in service until the battle of Shiloh, where he was taken ill and sent home on a furlough. When sufficiently recovered he rejoined the One Hundred and Seventy- sixth Ohio Infantry and was in service until the close of the war. During his first enlistment he was orderly sergeant and during the second was quartermaster sergeant.
Doctor Smith married at Decatur Miss Martha D. Cline. She was born in Union Township of Adams County October 13, 1870, and was well reared and educated and before her marriage was a teacher. They have three children : Lucile O., Genevieve I. and Lowell C. Lucile grad- uated from the Decatur High School in 1915 and is now teaching her third consecutive term. Genevieve is a senior in the local high school and was born September 12, 1900. Lowell is in the seventh grade of the local schools. Doctor and Mrs. Smith are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is an independent republican and is affiliated with the Modern Wood- men of America.
HENRY SCHULTE. As an active member of the well-known firm of Holthouse, Schulte & Company, Henry Schulte, of Decatur, is closely identified with the advancement of the mercantile interests of Adams County, and holds a position of note among the leading business men of his community, being recognized by his associates as a man of integrity and worth. A native of Germany, he was born in Hanover, January 18, 1869, and there spent his early life.
His father, Frederick Schulte, was born in Hunteberg, Germany, which was likewise the birthplace of his wife, whose maiden name was Louisa Snieder. A farmer by occupation, he was employed as a tiller of the soil in the fatherland until after the death of his wife, in 1881. In 1882, accompanied by his three children, Henry, Lena and Mary, and a step- daughter, he sailed from Bremen on the good ship Elbe, in which he crossed the ocean, landing in New York. Making his way from there to Indiana, he located on a farm in Adams County, where he carried on gen- eral farming for many years. Now, at the age of seventy-four years, he is living retired from active labor, making his home with his son Henry, in Decatur. He is a stanch democrat in politics, and a member of the Lutheran Church, to which his children also belong.
A lad of twelve years when he came to Indiana with his father, Henry Schulte completed his studies in the public schools, and as a young man became a clerk in the store of John Eiting & Co., in Decatur. In 1889 Mr. Schulte accepted a position with Peter Holthouse, the leading mer- chant tailor of Decatur, and proved himself so efficient in a business way that in 1893 he was admitted to the firm as a partner. In 1901, the firm name became Holthouse, Schulte & Company, and the business was greatly enlarged, both in stock and in volume. In February, 1910, the business was incorporated under the same name, with a capital of $10,000, Peter Holthouse being made president, W. P. Schrock, secretary, and Mr. Schulte, treasurer. Mr. Holthouse died in November, 1912, and a short time afterward Harry Helm purchased the Holthouse interest in the husiness. In 1916, Mr. Schrock sold his interest in the firm, and assumed the management of the A. J. Smith Company's affairs. The firm of Holt- house, Schulte & Company is one of the best known clothing firms in the county, and is carrying on an extensive business, the large and finely- equipped building it occupies, at the corner of Second and Monroe streets, being well stocked with the latest and most approved styles of gentle- men's clothing and haberdashery. As merchant tailors, the firm endeavors to cater to the tastes and needs of all classes of people, and is extensively patronized in the city and the surrounding country.
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Mr. Schulte married, in 1895, Emma Starost, who was born in Ohio, of German ancestry, but was brought up in Decatur, where her parents both died. Mr. and Mrs. Schulte have one child, Fred, born in 1906, now attending the parochial school. Mr. Schulte was confirmed in the Lutheran Church, and Mrs. Schulte in the Roman Catholic Church.
SAMUEL E. HITE. Conspicuous among the active and successful business men who are so ably conducting the mercantile affairs of Adams County is Samuel E. Hite, a well-known groceryman of Decatur, head of the firm of Hite & Andrews, who are located at the corner of Pater- son and Winchester streets. The business was established by Mr. Ilite in 1900, in a store standing opposite the Erie Depot, and was conducted by him, personally, for seventeen years. Beginning on a small scale, with a limited stock of groceries, Mr. Hite enlarged his operations from time to time, adding each season to his stock a more extensive list of goods, continuing alone until January, 1917.
In January, 1917, Mr. Ilite admitted to partnership Morton E. Andrews, who had full charge of the establishment from March 5, of that year, until September 3, 1917, since which time Messrs. Hite and Andrews have conducted the business together, under the firm name of Hite & Andrews. A full line of groceries are carried, the stock being replenished very frequently in order to meet the demands of the large trade which has been built up in Adams and surrounding counties.
Mr. Hite possesses excellent business and financial ability, and has led a husy and active life, being identified with various business organi- zations. He is a stockholder in the old Adams County Bank; is a stock- holder, and a director, in the Citizens Telephone Company ; he has stock in the W. H. Hood Company, which has its main house at Portland, Indi- ana, and branch houses in both Union City and Richmond, this state. He is likewise interested in the Packard Piano Company, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and in the Lincoln Life Insurance Company, of the same city. He has acquired good property in Decatur, owning and occupying a pleasant home on South Third Street, and also owning other residential property.
Mr. Hite married, in Decatur, Phebe Yager, who was born and edu- cated in Decatur, a daughter of Jacob Yager, a citizen of prominence, and an ex-county commissioner. Mr. and Mrs. Hite have two children, Anna Pauline and Charles E., both of whom are attending the public schools of Decatur. Politically Mr. Hite is a firm supporter of the prin- ciples of the republican party. Religiously he and his wife are con- sistent members of the Baptist Church. Fraternally he is a member, and past chancellor, of Decatur Lodge, Knights of Pythias, which he represented in 1917, in the Grand Lodge, at Indianapolis.
NIMROD MCCULLOUGH of St. Mary's Township is the type of sturdy and intelligent farmer citizen who now more than at any other time in history has a recognized value and indispensability in the scheme of things. Mr. MeCullough has spent many long years of earnest work, has utilized the benefits of experience and directed his tasks by intelli- gence as well as hard work, and is now one of the men in comfortable circumstances in Adams County. His farm is a mile southeast of Pleas- ant Mills.
Mr. McCullough was born in Hancock County, Ohio, January 15, 1868, a son of Davis and Anna (Murphy) Mccullough. The father was born in Knox County, Ohio, in 1834. The grandfather. William Mc- Cullough, was a Pennsylvanian, married in that state, and on moving to Knox County settled on a farm where he spent the rest of his years.
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His children were James, Benjamin, Samuel, Davis, Thomas and Eliza- beth.
Davis Mccullough grew up on the old farm in Knox County, Ohio, was educated in the common schools, and after his marriage to Anna Murphy lived in Hancock County until 1869, when the family moved to Adams County, Indiana, locating near Decatur. In 1876 they estab- lished a new home near Pleasant Mills, and in that locality Davis Mc- Cullough spent his last years. His widow is still living. There were ten children, eight of whom are living at present : Ella, wife of Frank Winans of Decatur; Catherine, wife of Lewis Hammond; Naomi, wife of Lewis Reiker; Nimrod; Jeanette, wife of Lee Conklin of Greentown, Indiana; Anna, wife of Gideon Burnette; Mina, wife of William Herst ; and James, who lives near Monroe, Indiana.
The early years of Nimrod MeCullough were spent on a farm in Adams County, and his advantages were those of the district schools. He remained at home to the age of twenty-one. On December 24, 1891. he married Mary G. Smith, daughter of William and Mary C. (Fordice) Smith, both natives of Adams County, Indiana. Her father grew up in this county and in the spring of 1864 enlisted in Company G of the Forty-seventh Indiana Infantry and saw active service as a soldier until the end of the war. He was a prominent republican and for six years served as trustee of St. Mary's Township. Mrs. MeCullough was one of three children, the other two dying in infancy. She grew up on the farm where she now lives and was educated both in the schools at Pleas- ant Mills and in the Methodist College at Fort Wayne. Mrs. McCullough has a notable record as a teacher and hundreds of men and women acknowledge their gratitude to her for the worthy influences that sur- rounded their early lives. She began teaching in 1888 and altogether has taught twenty-four terms. She still has charge of the home school in District No. 6, St. Mary's Township. Mrs. McCullough is the mother of five children, and has given much of her time to their rearing and training. William, the oldest, is a graduate of the common schools and married Hazel Campbell; Charles also graduated from the common schools and the Decatur High School and married Thelma Patterson. Amy, when she graduated from the common schools at the age of four- teen had the highest grade of any pupil in the county. Benjamin and Nimrod, Jr., are still students in the common schools. The family are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Pleasant Mills, and Mr. MeCullough votes as a republican. The country home of the MeCulloughs comprises a farm of sixty-five acres, well cultivated, in a high state of improvement, and with all the comforts that go with rural life in these modern times.
O. J. SUMAN. This is a brief outline of the family and career of a man who has distinctively made good in the agricultural life of Adams County. Mr. Suman lives on his fine farm in St. Mary's Township, on Route No. 1 from Pleasant Mills. His work and his farm speak for themselves as evidence of his good management and ability. Most of his prosperity he has acquired by his own efforts. Mr. Suman has al- ways been an industrious worker and in later years his increased ex- perience and intelligence have brought bigger results with less manual toil.
Mr. Suman was born in Darke County, Ohio, March 27, 1861, son of George and Susanna (Longman) Suman. George Suman was born in Frederick County, Maryland, December 11, 1822, and died July 28, 1893. He married in his native county October 13. 1842, Miss Susanna Longman, who was born in the same locality. In 1853 they came west
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to Darke County, Ohio, and in the fall of 1886 moved to Indiana, locat- ing near Portland. George Suman and wife became the parents of fourteen children, nine sons and five daughters: Jacob, deceased ; Cath- erine, wife of Jacob Whittaker; Jane, wife of William Reichard; Susan, who died at the age of two years; Emanuel and Josiah, twins, both still living, the former at Portland, Indiana, and the latter at North English, Iowa; George, Jr., who is a graduate of the Northern Indiana University at Valparaiso in both the scientific and classical courses and is now a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Wesley of Chicago; Isaiah and David, both deceased; O. J .; Martha, wife of Charles Brown, both de- ceased ; Florence, widow of Lyman Allen of Kansas City, Kansas; and Dawson of Decatur.
Mr. O. J. Suman grew up on the farm and had only the advantages of the common schools to fit him for his career. He lived at home until twenty-one and on March 27, 1883, married Miss Drusilla Brown. Mrs. Suman was born in Miami County, Ohio, November 21, 1865, daughter of L. D. and Phoebe ( Hayworth ) Brown. Her father was born in Mi- ami County, October 8, 1839, and married Phoebe Hayworth on October 11, 1857. They settled on a farm in Miami County, but in 1878 moved to Darke County and from there in 1900 came to Pleasant Mills in Adams County, Indiana. L. D. Brown is still a resident of Pleasant Mills and is in the grocery business. For forty years he was a minister of the New Light Church. Politically he is a democrat. Of the eight children born to L. D. Brown and wife three are still living: Mrs. Drusilla Su- man ; Ollie, wife of George Mann of Darke County; and Ora A., who married Verne Watson of Forty Wayne, Indiana. Drusilla Brown grew up in Darke County, was educated in the public schools and married there. In 1888 Mr. and Mrs. Suman moved from Darke County to Adams County, Indiana, and has since lived in section 29 of St. Mary's Township. Mr. Suman has a forty-acre farm and is also one of the leading citizens of St. Mary's Township. Ile was elected and served six years as township trustee.
Mr. and Mrs. Suman had only one child, a daughter, who died February 24, 1892. Without children of their own they have made their home a refuge for a number of young people and in the kindness of their hearts have reared and adopted three children, and at different times have had altogether eleven children under their care and direction. Their three adopted children were named Ilarry, Zona and Mary Su- man, all of whom are graduated from the common schools. Harry Su- man married Bessie Drummond of Decatur; Zona became the wife of Floyd Acker of Decatur ; and Mary is the wife of Russell Wells of Blue Creek Township. Mr. Suman is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Decatur and in polities is a republican.
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