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 6
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 6
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
In the summer of 1899 Doctor Severin came to Bluffton, but in Janu- ary following moved to Preble, Indiana. In March, 1901, he returned to Bluffton and has since carried on his professional work in the city and surrounding country. He served as city and county health officer for about nine years, and is a member in good standing of both the county and state medical societies.
In June, 1903, he married Miss Carrie Plessinger. She is a graduate of the Bluffton High School, and both are working members of the Bap- tist Church. Doctor Severin has been superintendent of its Sunday school for the past two years. They have two children : Martha C., born in 1908; and Mary J., born in 1912. Doctor Severin is a republican and quite active in party affairs. Fraternally he is affiliated with Bluff- ton Lodge No. 145, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, with Lodge No. 796. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and with the Knights of the Maccabees.
Mrs. Severin is a daughter of Col. James B. and Martha (Kellogg) Plessinger. Her father was long one of the most prominent citizens of Wells County and deserves an individual record at this point. He was born in Greenville, Ohio, September 7, 1837, a son of John and Eliza- beth (Thompson) Plessinger. the former a native of Pennsylvania and of German parentage, and the latter a native of Chillicothe, Ohio, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. The Plessingers were pioneers in Wells County, locating at Bluffton in 1842. where John Plessinger died in 1875 and and his wife in June, 1879. James B. Plessinger was one of a family of six children. He left the public schools at the age of fourteen, worked as clerk in a local store for six years, and in 1861 left his place behind the counter and enlisted in the Union army as a musician. He was
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assigned to duty in Company A of the Forty-seventh Indiana Infantry and during his service of two years was promoted to principal musician of the regiment. He saw much active service, especially during the great campaigns for the opening of the Mississippi River. While on duty he was taken ill and after several months in a hospital was dis- charged March 10, 1863. He returned to Bluffton, resumed work with his old employer, but in January, 1865, engaged in the grocery business. In 1876 he was called from his private business to the office of sheriff, having been elected on the democratic ticket. He was re-elected in 1878. He was a prominent Odd Fellow, filled the principal offices in both the subordinate and encampment degrees and represented both in the state lodges. He was a commander of Lewis Daily Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. Bluffton remembers him as one of the most active organizers of the Bluffton Fire Department in 1879, and for seven years he was chief engineer of the department. Colonel Plessinger died while temporarily a resident at Decatur, Indiana. On May 13. 1864, he married Martha Kellogg, daughter of Nelson and Rachel (Wiley) Kel- logg. She is still living, and has the distinction of being the oldest resi- dent of Bluffton, where she was born and where her entire life has been spent.
EDWIN S. WALMER. The men who succeed in any enterprise in life, the generals who win their spurs on the field of battle, the financiers who amass wealth-are the men who have confidence in themselves and the courage of their convictions. There is a time in every man's life when he reaches the conclusion that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide and that though the world is full of good, no good thing comes to him without self-reliance and the power to gain results. The man who trusts himself and who plans well his part on the stage of life is a success. A strong and sterling character is like an acrostic-read it forward or backward or across-it still spells the same thing. The business career of Edwin S. Walmer, one of the foremost dry-goods merchants of Bluff- ton, is an ample illustration of what persistency and determination, coupled with ambition and the ability to work. can accomplish.
A native of the City of Bluffton, Edwin S. Walmer was born Novem- ber 5, 1868, and he is a son of Henry S. and Catherine (Krill) Walmer. both natives of Lehanon, Pennsylvania. The father was a shoemaker by trade and he came to Wells County, Indiana, about 1848, entering the employ of Matthew Winters as foreman in his shoe shop. Subse- quently he purchased this shop, employing as many as six operators, and later he owned a shop on East Market Street. April 1, 1880. he dis- posed of his shoe shop and located on a farm, part of which is now within the corporate limits of Bluffton. He continued to live on the farm and devoted his attention to diversified agriculture until his demise, June 6. 1900. Ile was a republican in politics and while he did not par- ticipate actively in local affairs still he manifested a deep and sincere interest in all matters projected for the good of the general welfare. Mrs. Walmer was summoned to the life eternal in 1901. She and her husband were the parents of ten children, eight of whom are living, in 1917, as follows: Amanda is the wife of W. T. Shaffer, of Muncie. Indi- ana : Catherine is the wife of D. M. Karns, of BIffton ; Jennie married H. E. Rowley. of Anderson, Indiana : D. A. Walmer resides in Bluffton ; Ella is the wife of G. T. Hartley, of Muncie : Clara is the wife of II. L. Troutman, of Indianapolis, Indiana : William II. is a farmer in Harrison Township, Wells County; Edwin S .: Barbara was the wife of A. J. Tribolet at the time of her death in 1914; and Sarah died at the age of ten years.
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Edwin S. Walmer was a lad of eleven years of age when his parents located on the farm. He attended the public schools of the locality and at the age of thirteen years entered the Bluffton High School, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1886. This elass consisted of thirty-four pupils, the largest graduating class until 1910. August 1, 1886, he accepted a position with D. A. Walmer & Company of Mont- pelier, Indiana, at $6 per week. Out of his salary he saved $50 during the first year. He remained with that firm for four years, at the end of which he engaged in the livery business, selling out his share in that enterprise to his partner at the end of six months. Returning to Bluff- ton, he obtained a position with the Leader store and remained in the employ of that concern for sixteen years, during ten of which he was salesman and manager. He then entered into a partnership alliance with S. Bender, under the firm name of Bender & Walmer, dry-goods merchants, and a short time afterward this concern took over the eloth- ing firm of Smith & Barr, and the name was changed to Bender, Wal- mer & Barr. This company was continued for five years but August 27. 1907, Mr. Walmer disposed of his interest to Bender & Barr for the tidy sum of $26,000. March 5, 1908, he purchased a two-thirds interest in the People's Store (E. S. Walmer & Company), his partner in this enterprise being J. R. Bishop. In 1913 a third partner, W. C. MeBride, was admitted and the store was run under this triple alliance, as it were, until August, 1916, when MIr. MeBride retired, and in the following month Mr. Walmer also took over the share owned by Mr. Bishop. The People's Store is one of the largest and finest concerns of its kind in Wells County and has a very extensive patronage. Mr. Walmer was interested in the Bluffton Steam Laundry and ran the same for two vears. He also has extensive real estate interests in Bluffton and he is a stockholder in the Studabaker Bank and in the Union Savings & Trust Company, in the latter of which he is a member of the board of directors.
July 13, 1892, Mr. Walmer married Miss Isea Wentz, a daughter of W. H. and Owega (White) Wentz. Mrs. Walmer was born in Mont- pelier, Indiana. September 23, 1870, and she was educated in the Bluff- ton publie and high schools. One son has been born to this union, namely, Hillard W .. the date of whose nativity is August 30, 1897. He was graduated in the Bluffton High School and for a year and a half was a student in the Indiana State University. He then entered Marion Institute, at Marion, Alabama. and after four months there passed the examination and is now midshipman of the United States Army at the Annapolis Naval Academy.
Mr. Walmer is a valued and appreciative member of Bluffton Lodge No. 796, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and in polities he is a stalwart republican. Mr. Walmer is a man of fine mentality and broad human sympathy. He thoroughly enjoys home life and takes great pleasure in the society of his family and friends. He is always courtecus. kindly and affable and those who know him personally accord him the highest esteem. His life has been exemplary in all respects and he supports those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of the highest commendation.
CHARLES W. DECKER, a former county survevor of Wells County. has been active in the automobile business at Bluffton since retiring from office. Mr. Decker is a native of Wells County and represents one of the old and prominent families here.
His grandfather, Isaac Decker was born in Berks County, Pennsyl- vania, in 1820, son of Christin and Elizabeth ( Albert) Decker, natives
.
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of the same state. When a young man he went to Fairfield County, Ohio, where he married Miss Langle, then removed to Jay County, Indi- ana, and on his return to Fairfield County his wife died. In Montgom- ery County, Ohio, he married Miss Elizabeth Houser, daughter of Henry Houser. Following that he was again in Jay County, Indiana, but fail- ing health sent him back to Montgomery County, Ohio, and in 1853 he came to Rock Creek Township of Wells County, where his father had previously bought land. Still later he removed to Huntington Connty, where he cleared np a wild tract of 160 acres, but after eighteen months returned to his father's farm in Wells County. Only nine acres of that land had been cleared from the sovereign wilderness and it was the scene of his prosperous activities as a farmer until his death in 1868. at the age of forty-eight. His wife survived him until 1872. They had ten children. Isaac Decker was an early demoerat in politics.
His son Edward Decker, father of Charles W. Decker, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, July 19, 1846, and was seven years of age when his parents came to Wells County, where he lived ever afterwards save for the brief time spent in Huntington County. He was educated in the district schools of Rock Creek Township, and after his father's death bought the old Decker farm and became one of the well-to-do and influential agriculturists of the county. He lived a long and useful life, terminated by his death at the age of seventy in December, 1916. He died in Hope Hospital at Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1869 he married Miss Rebecca L. Houtz, daughter of John Houtz, of Rock Creek Town- ship. They were the parents of seven sons and two daughters, including Charles W., John F., Rufus L., Otto R., Devilla N., Orpha, Jesse and Lydia E. The latter is now the wife of William Hoover of Huntington County, Indiana. Edward Decker was an active member of the Emmanuel Reformed Church of Rock Creek Township.
Mr. Charles W. Decker was born on his father's farm in Rock Creek Township March 5, 1877, and in that locality, endeared to the family by so many associations, he grew to manhood. He was educated in the district schools and in Valparaiso Normal, and for three years was a teacher in Rock Creek Township. Of his six brothers four also taught in the same schools. At the age of eighteen Mr. Decker removed to Bluffton and became deputy surveyor of Wells County, but resigned that position to complete his education. In November, 1910, he was elected county surveyor and filled that office with great eredit and effi- cieney a full term of four years, completing his work on December 31, 1914. The following year he took the local agency of the Overland auto- mobile, and has done much to distribute that deservedly popular and high class car.
August 13. 1899, Mr. Decker married Lillie M. MeAfee, daughter of John MeAfee, of Rock Creek Township. The MeAfees are another old and well known family of Wells County. Mrs. Decker is a graduate of the common schools of Rock Creek Township, having attended the same school as her husband and in the same grade. They have three chil- dren : Verdi, who graduated from the Bluffton High School in 1917; Ruth, aged six years ; and Charles W., Jr., now two years old. Mrs. Decker is a member of the Lutheran Church at St. Paul, while her daughter is active in the Reformed Church. Mr. Decker has followed the political faith of his ancestors and is a sturdy democrat. He is now serving his second term as treasurer of the Bluffton School Board, and other interests require considerable of his time. He is secretary and general manager of the Bluffton Free Street Fair and is a stockholder in the Banner Publishing Company.
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FRED J. TANGEMAN. The history of a nation is nothing more than a history of the individuals comprising it, and as they are characterized by loftier or lower ideals, actuated by the spirit of ambition or indiffer- enee, so it is with a state, county or town. Success along any line of endeavor would never be properly appreciated if it came with a single effort and nnaccompanied by some hardships, for it is the knocks and bruises in life that makes suceess taste so sweet. The failures accentuate the sneeesses, thus making recollection of the former as dear as those of the latter for having been the stepping-stones to achievement. The career of Fred J. Tangeman, secretary and treasurer of the Union Savings & Trust Company at Bluffton, but accentuates the fact that success is bound to come to those who join brains with ambition and are willing to work.
A native of the Buckeye State of the Union, Mr. Tangeman was born in Mereer County, Ohio, near Coldwater, August 12, 1869, and he is a son of Benjamin and Mary (Albers) Tangeman, both of whom were born in Mercer County, Ohio, where she died in 1874. The father was identified with farming and contraet and building operations for a number of years and he is now living in retirement in Coldwater, Ohio. He was twiee married and the maiden name of his second wife is Kall- meyer.
Fred J. Tangeman was five years of age when he was bereft of his mother and about that time his father located in the Town of Coldwater, where he married again. Mr. Tangeman was cared for by his step- mother and he attended the publie sehools until he reached his twelfth year. He then entered upon an apprenticeship to learn the trade of eigar-maker. The man under whose tutelage he acquired that art located in Bluffton, Indiana, in 1883, and two years later Mr. Tangeman also eame here. He followed his trade in this eity until 1897, when he went to Bedford, Indiana, there spending four months, and thence went to Portland, this state. He remained in the latter place for seven months, and was there at the time of the outbreak of the Spanish-Ameriean war. He manifested his patriotism by enlistment in Company E, 160th Indi- ana Volunteer Infantry, in which he was promoted from private to eor- poral, to sergeant, to commissary sergeant and finally to lieutenant, February 22. 1899, at which time the regiment was ordered to Matan- zas, Cuba. The men were mustered out of service April 26, 1899, at Savannah, Georgia. Mr. Tangeman then returned to Bluffton and here followed his trade until the fall of 1899, when he bought the S. P. Raush eigar store and engaged in business on his own aceonnt. He conducted this store until September, 1902, when he was elected eity treasurer, in which office he served with marked efficiency until September, 1906. In July of that year the Union Savings & Trust Company was organized and Mr. Tangeman was elected its secretary and treasurer. L. C. Daven- port was elected president and served as such and as a member of the bank's board of directors until his death in 1917, and W. A. Kunkel was chosen vice president. In 1917 the board of this substantial financial institution comprises the following prominent citizens: D. A. Walmer, Ezra Levenson, W. L. Keiger, S. E. Hiteheock, H. R. Swisher and E. S. Walmer.
In January, 1901, Mr. Tangeman was united in marriage to Miss Jane Osborne, a native of Rush County, Indiana. Mrs. Tangeman was orphaned when a mere child and she was reared in the home of an unele. She attended the public schools.
Mr. and Mrs. Tangeman have one son, Frederick O., whose birth' occurred October 29. 1906, and who is now a pupil in the grades. They are communicants of the Catholic Church.
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Mr. Tangeman is a prominent fraternity man, having the following connections : Past exalted ruler in Bluffton Lodge No. 796, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and represented the same in the Supreme Lodge at Denver in 1914; is past chancellor in Bluffton Lodge No. 92, Knights of Pythias, and during a furlough while serving in the army he attended the Grand Lodge of Indiana at Indianapolis, being the only soldier present ; he is one of the trustees of Bluffton Lodge, Loyal Order of Moose; and is clerk of Bluffton Lodge No. 11367, Modern Woodmen of America, of which he is one of the charter members. In politics he is a democrat, and he served on the city school board for three years, two years as secretary and one year as treasurer. It is self-evident from the foregoing data that Mr. Tangeman is a prominent and influential citizen in Bluffton. Shrewd and enterprising in business, he possesses the initiative that helps one to forge ahead. His loyal support of every measure tending to improve the general welfare and his willingness to serve in any capacity that is required of him by the community or state makes him specially valuable as a loyal and patriotic citizen.
HARRY R. SWISHER. The career of Harry R. Swisher is a noble illustration of what independence, self-faith and persistency can ac- complish in America. Mr. Swisher is a self-made man in the most significant sense of the word for no one helped him in a financial way and he is self educated. As a young man he was strong, vigorous and self-reliant. He trusted in his own ability and did things single handed and alone. Today he stands supreme as a successful business man and a loyal and public spirited citizen. Most of his attention has been de- voted to the lumber business and at the present time he is treasurer and general manager of the F. L. Mercer Lumber Company, at Bluffton, Indiana.
Harry R. Swisher was born in Union City, Ohio, July 21, 1863, a son of Alex and Ibbie (Wiley) Swisher. The mother was born in Ran- dolph County, Indiana. in 1843, and she was summoned to the life eternal in Union City, Ohio, in April, 1917. Alex Swisher is a native of Darke County, Ohio, and in his youth he learned the trade of miller. He located in Union City, Ohio, as a young man, and there was pro- prietor of a mill, which he leased, during the greater part of his active business career. He is now living retired in that city, where was solem- nized his marriage and where his wife is buried. There were three chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Swisher.
After a somewhat limited education in the public schools of Ran- dolph County, Indiana, Harry R. Swisher entered the employ of the Witheam Anderson Lumber Company, in Union City and he was with that concern until his fifteenth year. He then became a clerk in a shoe store and continued as such for a period of fifteen years, during which time he also learned the trade of painter. In 1893 he engaged in the lumber business at Swayzee, Indiana, and after remaining in that city for three years disposed of his vard to the Grant Lumber Company. Then entering the employ of the Winters Lumber Company at Elwood, Indiana, he remained there for a year and a half. In February. 1898, he came to Bluffton and purchased the E. H. Montgomery Lumber Com- pany, and there he has since maintained his home and business head- quarters. He is now treasurer and general manager of the F. L. Mercer Lumber Company, the other officers of which are W. II. Campbell, president. and W. S. Brannum, secretary.
May 16, 1889, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Swisher to Miss Winnie I. Smith, a native of Union City, Indiana, where she was graduated in the high school. Mr. and Mrs. Swisher have three chil-
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dren, coneerning whom the following brief data are here incorporated : Fred S. a graduate of the Bluffton High School, and who was a student in the Indiana University for one year. He is general manager of the HI. A. Bennett Heading Company, at Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He married Catherine Bennett, a daughter of Il. A. Bennett. Nellie Marie, after com- pleting the prescribed course in the Bluffton High School, attended Oberlin University, Wisconsin Normal at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and she devoted some time to the study of music. George A. is a graduate of the Bluffton High School and for two years was a student in Purdne University. He is now connected with the IT. A. Bennett Heading Com- pany at Portland, Arkansas.
Fraternally Mr. Swisher affiliates with Bluffton Lodge No. 145, Free and Accepted Masons ; Bluffton Chapter No. 95, Royal Arch Masons ; Bluffton Council No. 63, Royal and Select Masters; Bluffton Command- ery Knights Templar No. 38; and Mizpah Temple at Fort Wayne, Ancient Arabie Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He has achieved the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite branch of Masonry, and with his wife and daughter he is a member of the Order of the East- ern Star. He is likewise a member of Union City Lodge No. 152. In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is past grand. and of Randolph Encampment No. 87 of that order. He is past exalted ruler in Bluffton Lodge No. 796, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a republican in his political convictions and has served as a mem- ber of the county executive committee of that party. Mr. Swisher is a man of splendid executive ability, of unquestioned integrity and he com- mands the confidence and esteem of his fellow men in every walk of life. In religious matters he and his family are members of the Baptist Church.
WALTER L. HADLEY is one of the leading veterinary surgeons of Adams and Wells counties, and has been in active practice at Bluffton for the past five years.
He was born in Hendricks County, Indiana, February 23, 1875, son of John B. and Martha J. (Richardson ) Hadley. He was a small child when his father died and his mother afterwards married again and the family removed to Clinton County, Indiana. In that county Walter L. Hadley grew up on a farm in Forest Township, getting his edneation in the district schools and in the Forest High School. After leaving high school he worked on the farm, and then followed his inclination and talent to make a profession of veterinary surgery. He graduated from the Indiana Veterinary College in 1912. and since June of that year has been in active practice at Bluffton.
Doctor Hadley had two brothers, one of whom is a doctor of medicine at Frankfort. Indiana. A half brother, Dr. II. N. Oliphant, is a physi- cian at the National Military IIome of Marion, Indiana. Another half brother, Herman E. Oliphant, is a professor in the law department of the I'niversity of Chicago and is now in the service of the United States Government at Washington looking after certain phases of foreign and domestie commerce. Still another brother, John T., graduated from the Moody Bible School in 1917 and is an evangelistie singer.
Doctor Hadley married Josephine Sunier of Bluffton, daughter of Jesse Sunier of this eity. Doctor Hadley is a democrat in politics.
DAL WANDEL is a citizen too well known in Wells County to require any extensive introduction. People know him especially through his service as a former clerk of the Wells Circuit Court. At the present time he is proprietor of the Central Grocery at Bluffton.
Mr. Wandel was born January 1, 1869, in the State of Illinois, but
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when a year old his parents returned to Bluffton and here practically all his life has been spent. He was given the Christian name of Adalgo, but by that name he would hardly be known, since everyone speaks of him as "Dal" Wandel. He was reared in Bluffton and was educated in the grammar and high schools of that city.
Mr. Wandel is a son of J. W. and Littia (White) Wandel. His grandfather, John Wandel, was a pioneer citizen of Wells County, a resident of the Village of Zanesville, and served as the county treasurer from 1855 to 1859, dying during his second term in the office. J. W. Wandel was a gallant soldier of the Union army, being a member of Company I of the 22nd Indiana Infantry. He served all through the war and was with Sherman's army in its march from Atlanta to the sea.
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