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 63
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 63
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children, all living except one: Emma, Eva D., Dailey, Esaies, Ben- jamin O., James, who died in infancy, Charles J., Harry O., Mary A., Harland H., Clyde C., Fred C. and Clara A.
Benjamin O. Jones spent his early life on his father's farm in Van Wert County, Ohio. He attended the district schools and the high school at Wren in that county, and he found ample employment for his energies at home until 1906. In that year, with the modest capital of $300, he started South and for three years was engaged in the lumber business. He bought a half section of timber land in Alabama. On returning North he started a lumber yard at Cayuga, Indiana, but after two years and eight months he came to Geneva in December, 1911, and bought his present business. His trade has grown rapidly and he now has one of the substantial concerns that make up the business prosperity of Geneva. Mr. Jones is also a stockholder in the Bank of Wren, Ohio.
In September. 1908, he married Esther A. Morgan, of Van Wert, Ohio. They had three children, Dailey M. and Henry J., still in the home circle, and Mary A., who died January 10, 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Geneva and he is one of the church trustees. Politically he is a republican.
DANIEL PONTIUS. Having lived in Adams County practically all his life, a period of sixty-five years, Daniel Pontius has not failed to uphold the standards of conduct and thrifty enterprise which have al- ways been associated with the Pontius family record here, and has in fact been a man of substance and influence in his community throughout the greater part of his life. Mr. Pontius is now retired, living in Geneva and among other interests has been a director of the Bank of Geneva since it was organized. The officers of the Bank of Geneva are Charles Porter, president ; A. G. Briggs, vice president, and John Miller, cashier. Mr. Pontius is also a stockholder in the Bank of Linn Grove. He still owns the old farm of eighty acres and has a good town home at Geneva.
The older generation of the Pontius family lived in Pennsylvania. The great-grandfather of Daniel was named John. The grandparents were John and Julia A. (Critz) Pontius, both natives of Ohio. John Pontius came from Pickaway County, Ohio, to Adams County, Indiana, in 1854, settling in Hartford Township on section 25. John Pontius was a man of considerable means for those days and he bought some 640 acres of land, mostly in Hartford Township. He and his wife had fifteen children, and it was probably for the purpose of providing for their needs that he acquired such extensive holdings of Adams County real estate. Many of the children located here and from them have come the various branches of the Pontius family who are so well known in this section of Indiana. Grandfather John Pontius and his wife died at their old home in Hartford Township within the same month, he on the last day and she on the first day of March, 1859. They were then fifty-four and fifty-three years of age, respectively.
George Pontius, a son of John and Julia Pontius and father of Daniel Pontius, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, February 23, 1827, and was the first of his father's family to locate in Hartford Township. He grew up in a time when schools were rather neglected and he had but a limited education, though hy study at home he acquired much knowledge that fitted him for all the duties and responsibilities of life. On May 13, 1850, George Pontius married Miss Emily Shoemaker, and soon after their marriage they came from Ohio to Adams County, In- diana, and settled on land given him by his father, the northwest quarter of section 26 in Hartford Township. This quarter section was at that
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time without a single improvement and had a heavy growth of timber. The first house constructed by George Pontius was made of hewed logs, 18 by 28 feet, and there he lived until 1871 when this humble struc- ture was replaced by a large and commodious residence of brick, costing $4,000, and at that time regarded as one of the finest homes in the town- ship. His general improvements and farm facilities were equally as good as his home, and all of it reflected the management of a thoroughly progressive farmer. He built a large barn only two years after com- pleting his home. George Pontius provided liberally for his children. When he first came to Adams County he had accepted wages of 50 cents a day to take part in chopping wood and clearing land. It is a grateful fact to record that his many later years were crowded with comforts and with the esteem and affection of a large circle of friends and ac- quaintances. He was a leading democrat, and in 1886 was elected county commissioner of Adams County. He and his wife were leading mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The wife of George Pontius, Emily Shoemaker, was born in Fair- field County, Ohio, January 12, 1832, daughter of Daniel and Sophia (Marks) Shoemaker, the latter dying a few days after the birth of her daughter, Emily. Daniel Shoemaker afterwards married Elizabeth Baker, who died in September, 1885. Daniel Shoemaker removed to Indiana with his family about 1855, first locating in Hartford Township of Adams County and three years later at Newville or Vera Cruz in Wells County, where he owned a farm, sawmill and grist mill, and com- bined the operation of mill and farm until his death in 1857.
George Pontius and wife were the parents of ten children: Mary Jane, Daniel, Sylvester, Clinton, Albert, Edward, Charles, Osaetta, George F. and John. Those still living are Daniel, Clinton, Albert, Charles, Osaetta and Frank.
Daniel Pontius was born in Hartford Township of Adams County November 26, 1852, just two years after his parents came to the county. The farm which was his birthplace and his grandfather's old home is owned by him and in that environment he grew up to the age of twenty-one, getting his education in the local public schools. On leav- ing home he rented a farm of his grandfather, and soon afterward on January 1, 1874, married Lucy Callahan. She was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, March 18, 1851, and came to Adams County, Indiana, at the age of seventeen. In February following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Pontius settled on the farm which they still own and which they occupied and from whose bountiful acres they made a substantial living until 1912. Since then they have lived in Geneva.
Mr. and Mrs. Pontius have two sons. Homer is married and is a farmer on 100 acres of land. Vernon is also married and lives at Geneva. Mr. Pontius is a democrat in politics and is a citizen whose helpfulness and public spirit can always be depended upon.
E. C. ARNOLD. The solid character of the leading business houses of Geneva, Indiana, is well represented by the Farmers & Merchants State Bank, a financial institution ably financed and officered, that commands the confidence and enjoys the hearty support of the residents of Adams County. Since its organization in 1910, E. C. Arnold has been cashier, coming to this city with banking experience gained at another point.
E. C. Arnold was born in Pendleton County, Kentucky, October 3, 1882. He is of old Kentucky ancestry and his parents, Marson and Senora ( Booher) Arnold, are among the most highly respected residents of Covington, Kentucky, at the present time. They are members of the Baptist Church.
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The first nineteen years of E. C. Arnold's life were passed in his native county and during that time he secured a public school educa- tion, completing his high school course at Falmouth. In preparation for a business career, he then went to Covington and entered a commer- cial school, from which he was subsequently graduated. Before enter- ing upon what he has made his life work, he became a school teacher and is able to look back over his work in that profession, covering a year and a half, with considerable satisfaction, as he was quite success- ful and during that time made many warm friends whose interest in him continues to this day. Mr. Arnold then became connected with a banking institution at Morgan, Kentucky, and continued there until 1909. He came to Geneva, Indiana, in 1910. Here Mr. Arnold became one of the organizers of the Farmers & Merchants State Bank, of which he was made first cashier and has continued in that relation ever since. Courteous and obliging at all times, Mr. Arnold is a very popular bank official and his attitude has made many friends for the institution.
Mr. Arnold was married in 1909, to Miss Martha Howe, and they have one son, Charles, who was born in 1911. Mr. Arnold was reared in the Baptist Church and still maintains his interest in this religious organization and gives generous support to its many benevolent agencies. In politics he has always been identified with the democratic party and entirely from principle, because he has no political ambition for himself. In fraternal life he is an active Mason, belonging to Geneva Lodge No. 621, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Geneva, of which he is present master, and to the chapter at Decatur, Indiana. Mr. Arnold has large and valuable agricultural interests and in Steuben County alone owns 480 acres of rich farm land.
ANDREW G. BRIGGS has been in business at Geneva for a longer period than any other individual merchant, and has been one of the stimulating factors in the commercial and civic life of that community. Much of his time and effort have been devoted to banking. He organized the Bank of Geneva, was its president eighteen years and vice president three years.
He represents an old and patriotic American family. His great- grandfather fought as a soldier in the Revolutionary war for inde- pendence and was also in the War of 1812. The grandfather, Andrew Briggs, was born in Maryland in 1786, and at the age of seven years his parents removed to Muskingum County. Ohio. At one time Andrew Briggs was engaged in business as a merchant at Rockville, Ohio, but afterward removed to Hancock County of that state, where he was a practical farmer until his death in February. 1863, at the age of seventy- seven. He was twice married. His first wife, Ellen Linn, a native of Ohio. was the mother of two sons and two daughters. His second wife was Sarah Finley, also a native of Ohio, where she died in 1845, the mother of four sons and four daughters.
The late William H. H. Briggs, father of the Geneva banker, is well remembered as a useful citizen and working member of that community, where he died March 12. 1912. He was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, October 15, 1836, and while he had a farm rearing and training he began learning the carpenter's trade at the age of nineteen and made that his staple vocation throughout his active career. During his early manhood, on September 5. 1864. he enlisted in the Union army. but at the end of sixty days was discharged for disability. In 1871 he removed with his family to Adams County. Indiana. and for many years was one of the reliable carpenters and builders at Geneva. Ile was a member of John P. Porter Post No. 83, Grand Army of the
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Republic. On April 20, 1859, he married Catherine Harmel. She was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, April 2, 1838, and died July 1, 1884. They had a family of five sons and one daughter, named Andrew G., Albertus T., William, Ellen, Charles J. and John E. Albertus became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Andrew G. Briggs was born at his father's home in Hancock County, Ohio, January 31, 1860, and was eleven years of age when his parents moved to Wabash Township, Adams County, in the spring of 1871. Part of his common schooling was acquired here, and he also attended high school at Celina, Ohio. At the age of fifteen he went to work as a clerk in the dry goods store of E. C. Kern and afterward clerked in a general store at Celina, Ohio, until February, 1882. At that date he bought the stock of hardware at Geneva from George W. Donart, and since then for a period of thirty-five years has sold hardware to a large and substantial trade. Mr. Briggs began his business career with about $2,000 in capital and has been steadily improving his opportunities and extending his interests. Besides owning bank stock in Linn Grove and Geneva he is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Celina, Ohio, which was organized in 1900. He also owns a fine farm of 240 acres in Wabash Township and has some land interests in Ari- zona. He owns business property at Geneva, and was one of the men who advocated the building of the B. G. & C. Traction line and was vice president of the company. In politics Mr. Briggs is a demo- crat, and is affiliated with Geneva Lodge No. 634, Knights of Pythias.
November 27, 1883, he married Miss Margaret R. Day, who was born at Celina, Ohio, October 3, 1864, daughter of James and Fannie M. (Small) Day. Her father was born in Hancock County, Ohio, Febru- ary 10, 1840, and her mother in Ashland County, Ohio, December 26, 1846. James Day was a prominent Ohio attorney and at one time filled the office of common pleas judge. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs have two sons, James D. and Richard A. James is a graduate of the high school of Celina, Ohio, is unmarried and is now assistant cashier of the Bank of Geneva. Richard is a graduate of the Geneva High School, spent two years at Purdue University, and is also employed by his father in the store.
SAMUEL H. TEEPLE. The business prosperity of the pleasant town of Geneva, Indiana, has been built up by such sound and reliable husi- ness men as Samuel H. Teeple, formerly postmaster, and an active and progressive citizen for many years.
Samuel H. Teeple was born in St. Mary's Township, Adams County, Indiana, July 19, 1857. His parents were James B. and Mary (Smith) Teeple, the former of whom was born in Fayette County, Ohio, and was yet young when he came to Indiana. The latter was also born in Ohio and was brought to Indiana in infancy. They grew up in the same neighborhood and married and a family of nine children was born to them, the survivors in 1917 being the following: Isaac, who is vice president of the Farmers & Merchants State Bank at Geneva; Samuel H., who was a member of the first board of directors of the above bank: Sarah, who is the widow of Alfred Ayers, lives in Monroe Township. Adams County ; and Catherine, who is the wife of John L. Case of Van Wert, Ohio.
The district schools in St. Mary's Township afforded Samuel H. Teeple and his brother and sisters their educational training. Their father was always interested in the schools as he was in other up- lifting agencies, and brought up his children in the Christian Church. He followed farming as a vocation and also worked at the carpenter
DR. THOMAS MORRIS
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trade and was a highly respected resident of St. Mary's Township all his mature life. He was a republican in his political views and at one time served in the office of township assessor.
Until he was thirty-five years old, Samuel H. Teeple confined his attention rather closely to farm pursuits. He came then to Geneva and for five years bought and shipped hay from this point, afterward being connected with other business lines and entering somewhat more actively into the political field, in which he has been a factor in the county since he was seventeen years old. For five years Mr. Teeple was interested in a sawmill and then turned his attention to merchandising and for five years more conducted a clothing and shoe business and then was appointed postmaster of Geneva, by former President Theodore Roose- velt. He served with complete efficiency in this office for four years. As an earnest citizen, Mr. Teeple has taken a deep interest in many worthy enterprises here and has given substantial support to many. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers & Merchants State Bank, and, as mentioned above, was one of the first board of directors.
Mr. Teeple was married in early manhood to Miss Cora A. McCollum, who died October 29, 1910. survived by two sons: Jesse F., who is a salesman for the Holland Shoe Company; and James M., who is in the dry cleaning and pressing business at Cambridge City, Indiana. Mr. Teeple was married second, in 1912, to Miss Ida May Case, who was born and reared in Van Wert County, Ohio.
In addition to some improved property at Geneva, Mr. Teeple owns an exceedingly fine farm of 125 acres and has interests in both Jeffer- son and Wabash counties. He is an active member in the United Brethren Church, being one of the first of his name to sever relations with the Christian Church body, but in both organizations he has been sincere and helpful and enjoys the esteem and confidence of every one.
GEORGE B. MORRIS, M. D. For nearly thirty-five years the name Morris has had an association with the medical profession in Wells County, and the service rendered by the late Dr. Thomas Morris and by his son Dr. George B. Morris has been of a quality that deserves every appreciation and tribute than can be paid to the hard working and conscientions physician.
The late Dr. Thomas Morris, who died April 17. 1917, was born on a farm in Bracken County, Kentucky, August 6, 1848, a son of John P. and Mary Ann (MeClennahan) Morris. John P. Morris' maternal grandfather, Captain Philip Buckner, was born in England in 1747, came to America in early manhood, and married in 1772 Miss Daniels of Virginia. He gave his personal service and his means to the colonies during the Revolution and for supplies furnished to the Continental Army he received at the close of the war land warrants with which he selected lands in Kentucky and Ohio. As a pioneer in the then Far West he brought his family and negroes down the Ohio River on flat- boats, and subsequently organized a large colony of families in Virginia to establish homes at Angusta in Bracken County. He was thus founder of that old Kentucky town. He erected the first dwelling on his land in 1797 and donated large tracts to the Town of Augusta and was the leading spirit in that community for many years. He was the first representative of the county in the State Legislature and helped frame the first constitution of the state. His death occurred in Bracken County October 24, 1820. It is said that in advanced years he retired to a place fourteen miles in the wilderness in order that he might follow without let or hindrance his favorite sport of hunting. Vol. II-28
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The paternal grandfather of Dr. Thomas Morris was Dickinson Morris, who married a daughter of Captain Buckner. Dickinson Morris was the first sheriff of Bracken County, had charge of the survey of the larger portion of the lands of that county and was a prominent farmer there. His oldest son B. S. Morris became a distinguished lawyer and removed to Chicago, where his name appears in all the chronicles of that city as the second mayor of the city and also as a judge of the Circuit Court. John P. Morris, father of Dr. Thomas Morris, was a Bracken County farmer for many years. He died in October, 1895, at the age of eighty-three, and his home had been continuously on one farm for sixty years. His wife, a native of Virginia and brought to Kentucky when a child, died at the old homestead Angust 5, 1868, at the age of fifty-two. Two of their sons became residents of Wells County, Dr. Thomas and his brother Samuel B.
The late Dr. Morris had as his early environment the old homestead in Bracken County, was educated in public schools, and in 1869, when about twenty-one years of age, came to Wells County, Indiana, to visit relatives. He was employed for about two years as a teacher in district schools and liked the country so well that he determined to become a permanent resident. He had studied medicine in Kentucky and con- tinued his reading with his brother Dr. George P. Morris in Grant County, Indiana. In 1879 he entered Fort Wayne Medical College, graduated M. D. in 1881, and first practiced at Roll in Blackford County, Indiana, but in 1884 located at Mount Zion in Wells County, where for over thirty years he looked after a great volume of country practice and a growing accumulation of business interests. Dr. Thomas Morris did pioneer work in the medical profession, and rode and drove about the county long before the era of good roads, telephones or automobiles. He was prominent in the County Medical Society. He was equally pros- pered in his business affairs and became a large land owner in Wells County, some of his land having productive oil wells. He was a democrat in national affairs, served three years as postmaster of Mount Zion during the Cleveland administration, and was a charter member of Mount Zion Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and filled all the chairs in the local order and was also a member of the Grand Lodge. He and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. On May 11, 1875, Dr. Thomas Morris married Miss Sarah A. Lee, who was born in Wells County, Indiana, and is still living there. Her parents were Jonathan R. and Susanah (Banter) Lee. Mrs. Morris was only eighteen years of age at the time of her marriage. She was the mother of four children. Two died in infancy; Oscar E., the older, is a practical farmer near Mount Zion, where he married Maud Huffman.
Dr. George B. Morris was born on his father's farm in Jackson Township of Wells County November 13, 1879. He grew up at Mount Zion, attended the public schools there, also the Central Normal School at Danville, Indiana, and for five years was a successful teacher in Wells County. He then entered the Indiana Medical College of Indiana- polis from which he was graduated M. D. in 1906. Dr. Morris also had the advantages of special work in Rush Medical College at Chicago and for several months was in the Harvard University Medical Depart- ment at Boston. In 1906, the year he graduated, he began practice at Poneto and in 1912 removed to Petroleum, and enjoyed a large profes- sional business both in the town and in the country, and with the aid of an automobile rendered a service to patients many miles away as quickly as his father in earlier times could have done in the case of a patient in the same village. Doctor Morris entered the National army May 1. 1918, with the rank of first lieutenant in the Medical Reserve Corps and is
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stationed at Camp Greenleaf, Chickamauga Park, Georgia, for instruc- tion and here he is doing service for his country.
Dr. Morris married in 1900 Miss Rosa Wallace. She was born in Rock Creek Township, but was reared in Liberty Township of Wells County. They have three children: Maxwell Lillian is a graduate of the common schools and did two years' work in high school and is now the wife of Milo B. Linsey living near Geneva, Indiana, and has entered Depauw University. Fred P. is now a student in Petroleum High School, and Martha Rose is still in the grade schools.
Dr. and Mrs. Morris are members of the United Brethren Church and in politics he is a democrat. He is a member in good standing of the County and State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association.
LUTHER E. CARTER, proprietor of the leading dry goods business at Geneva, is a young man but with an extensive experience in merehandis- ing, and has been in business either as clerk or an independent merchant since early boyhood.
Mr. Carter was born in Randolph County, Indiana, October 1, 1882, a son of John W. and Carrie Elizabeth Carter, and a grandson of Elihu Carter. Elihn Carter was a native of Mercer County, Ohio, and on coming to Indiana located in Miami County at Peru, where he was prominent as a minister of the Quaker Church. John W. Carter spent most of his boyhood at Peru, Indiana, and from there removed to Ran- dolph County, where he married and became a farmer, a very suceess- ful one. He is now living retired at Lynn. Ile has always been active in the Friends Church. He and his wife have three children, Fred E., a graduate of the Cleveland Bible School and now a minister of the Friends Church at Newberg, Oregon; Maude E. is the wife of Wayne Smock, a farmer near Lynn, Indiana; and Luther E.
Luther E. Carter's early recollections are chiefly of the old farm in Randolph County. While there he attended the neighboring district schools, graduating from the Lynn High School. Ilis experience in a hnsiness way hegan with a elerkship of two years in the Boston Store at Winchester, Indiana, after which he clerked in another store at Lynn for about two years. He then utilized his experience and training to engage in business for himself at Ridgeville for a short time, at Win- chester five years, and in 1909 he removed to Geneva and opened his store as a dry goods merehant. He has studied the needs and condi- tions of the local community and has been very successful in his efforts to supply good and reliable merehandise and extend his trade over a large community.
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