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 65
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 65
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After his marriage Mr. Hoffman moved to Adams County, Indiana, and located on a farm in Kirkland Township. Less than ten years after his marriage he lost his good wife by death December 31, 1883. Their children were: Henry, who died in infancy; Mary, wife of Joseph L. Graber; Ida, unmarried and living at Cleveland, Ohio; Dora M., de- ceased ; Libbie and Lydia, twins, who died in infancy.
On December 13, 1885, Mr. Iloffman married for his present wife Catherine L. Hilgeman. Mrs. Hoffman was born at Magley, Adams County, Indiana, September 11, 1863, and was reared in Kirkland Township and educated both in German and English schools. Her parents were Henry and Wilhelmina (Lamert) Hilgeman, both natives of Hanover, Germany. Her father was born November 16, 1830, and her mother February 9, 1823. They came to this country when young people and were married at Magley in Adams County, Indiana, October 3, 1857. After their marriage they lived on a farm in Kirkland Town- ship the rest of their days. In the Hilgeman family were three children : Frederick, who married Sophia Kreutzman and died in 1895; Rachel who died at the age of five years; and Catherine, Mrs. Hoffman.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman continued to live on their farm in Kirkland Township until 1909, when they sold out and for eight months had their home in Decatur. They then bought their present place in St. Mary's Township, where Mr. Hoffman owns forty aeres and his wife twenty acres adjoining. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman's children are : Blanche, wife of Chester W. Shoaf: Jason. a graduate of Franklin College in Wiseonsin and now a minister of the Reformed Church located at Sher- wood, Oregon; James C., a graduate of the high school at Peterson
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and now located at Warren, Ohio; and Frances, who was educated in the public schools and lives at Decatur; Lillie, who died in infancy ; and Rachel Gladys, a graduate of the Decatur Iligh School. The family are active members of the Reformed Church of Decatur. Mr. Hoffman was organizer of St. Luke's Reformed Church in Kirkland Township and was one of its leading members, serving as deacon and treasurer. In polities he is a democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman are highly honored people and citizens of Adams County and have spent their most pro- ductive years in this community.
JOHN D. HALE. Numbered among the most highly esteemed and respected citizens of Decatur is John D. Hale, who for many years was a conspicuous figure in the business activities of Adams County, but now, having accomplished a satisfactory work, is living retired, en- joying a well-earned leisure. A native of Indiana, he was born, De- cember 27, 1842, in Bluffton, Wells County, of Welsh ancestry, his line of descent from the immigrant ancestor being thus traced, James Hale, John, Bowen, and John D.
James Hale came to the new world with the William Penn colony, and was given a grant of land lying within the limits of Maryland, where he and his wife subsequently lived and died. Their son, John Hale, was born and bred in Maryland, but early in life, accompanied by one of his brothers, migrated to Kentucky. He located in the vicinity of Frankfort, where he married Miss Sarah Bowen, and his descendants, and those of his brother are to be found still in that region, aud in Mason County, Kentucky, to which county he removed after his marriage to Sarah Bowen. He was a slaveholder, and a successful planter.
Being conscientiously opposed to the system of slavery he gave his slaves their freedom and paid them living wages while they remained with him and farmed in Mason County. After the death of his wife, he moved with his family to Greene County, Ohio, where he cleared and improved a homestead and established a dry goods and grocery store at the Village of Bellbrook. Later in life, during the '50s, he sold his farm and store to his third son, Silas Hale, and came to Indiana, and spent his last days in Whitley County, dying at the venerable age of ninety-six years. He was of Welsh ancestry, and was very liberal in his religious beliefs, being identified with the Universalist Church. In politics, he was a stanch supporter of the principles of the democratic party. Ile vol- unteered and served one year in the army during the War of 1812.
Bowen Hale, born July 4, 1801, in Mason County, Kentucky, was eighteen years of age when he moved with the family to Greene County, Ohio. Going to Dayton, Ohio, three years later. he learned the cabinet maker's trade. Subsequently going down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, he made the trip from Cincinnati to New Orleans and back. Coming to Wells County, Indiana, about 1833, he took up a claim near Murray, obtaining it from Orman Perrin, who had previously made a clearing on the place, and erected a rude log cabin. Soon after as- suming its possession, Bowen Hale married Sarah Black, whose death and that of her first-born child, occurred the following year. There having been no markets for supplies in that locality, he decided to open a general store in his log cabin, and with that idea in view went with teams to Dayton, Ohio, for a supply of merchandise. There being only six families of pioneers in that locality his principal customers were from a village of Miami Indians at or near Markle, Indiana.
While on his trip in quest of goods, Bowen Hale met, near Byron, Ohio, Miss Mary Ann Deam, and they were married at Dayton, Ohio. Sending his teams ahead, he and his bride journeyed on horseback to
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Wells County, Indiana, and began housekeeping at their new home in Bluffton, which was then a mere hamlet. The county was organized about that time, and he, being one of the best educated and prominent men of that sparsely settled region, was appointed to three of the most important offices, including those of county clerk, auditor and recorder. Retiring from mercantile pursuits in 1856, he bought land lying south- east of Bluffton, and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their days, her death occurring in 1875, and his in 1886, at the age of eighty-five years. She was brought up in the German Reformed Church, but later became a member of the Presbyterian Church at Bluffton, In- diana. He was a sound democrat in polities, and a most efficient office holder. Also serving as justice of the peace, and county commissioner which offices he held for many years.
John D. Hale received excellent educational advantages, and as a young man taught school several terms. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and First Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was made corporal of his company by his commander, Capt. Peter Studebaker. Going South with his company, he assisted in driving Gen. Kirby Smith and General Bragg and their forces back from Cincin- nati and Louisville, and was in the line of battle at Perrysville, Kentucky. Later he was with his command at Murfreesboro, and Stone River, but was not engaged in battle, being on a foraging expedition, but on one occasion at Vaughn's Hill near Milton, Tennessee, his regiment was surrounded by Morgan's raiders, and ordered to surrender. In- stead of complying with Morgan's command, however, the regiment with the Seventy-fifth Indiana, One Hundred and Twenty-third Ilinois and Nineteenth Indiana Battery, drove the marauders away.
Later, Mr. Hale, with his command, followed Bragg into Tennessee, going to Chickamauga and Chattanooga, in the latter place being for two days in the hottest part of the fight. Afterward, with the Army of the Cumberland, he assisted in driving the enemy over Missionary Ridge, but at that time he did not escape very easily, for, on November 25, 1863, at 4 o'clock P. M., Mr. Hale was shot, and left on the battle field for five hours. He was then first taken from the battle field to the hospital at Chattanooga, where the bullet which had passed through the left lobe of his lung was removed. Partially recovering from his wound, Mr. Hale, in February, 1864, was granted a furlough of ninety days, and returned to his home. Rejoining his regiment at Marietta. Georgia, at the expiration of his furlough, he took part in the battles of Peachtree Creek, Jamestown and the siege of Atlanta, and later not being able to march was detailed to take charge of the Brigade Ambulance and Hospital Corps, following Sherman in his famous march to the sea. Thence going North through the Carolinas and Virginia to Washington and participated in the Grand Review of the armies by President John- son and Generals Grant and Sherman. On June 26, 1865, Mr. Hale, with his regiment was sent to Louisville, Kentucky, and honorably dis- charged from the service.
For two years after the close of the war, Mr. Hale was engaged in his previous professional labors, as a school teacher being quite snecess- ful. From 1868 until 1872 he carried on a good business as a member of the mercantile firm of A. Deam & Company in Bluffton. Going then to the new Town of Geneva, Adams County, he became agent of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railway, and a grain dealer. In 1882 Mr. Hale was elected county clerk, and the following year settled in Decatur, where he then erected his present commodious home at No. 118 South Fifth Street. Ile served as county elerk for eight consecutive years, performing the duties devolving upon him in that capacity efficiently and expeditiously. In 1890 Mr. Ilale, with characteristic foresight,
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purchased a grain elevator on the Erie Railway, and when the Clover Leaf Railroad was put through Decatur he built an elevator on its track, and later established elevators at four Indiana towns, Monroe, Craigville, Curryville, and Peterson, all of which he managed success- fully and profitably until 1910, when he retired from active pursuits. He was one of the directors of the First National Bank of Decatur, which he assisted in organizing, and for five years he was an active member of the city council, having been elected on the democratic ticket.
Mr. Hale married, in Schuyler County, Illinois, Caroline Holmes, who was born in Hartford Township in Adams County, Indiana, May 12, 1847, and died at her home in Decatur August 25, 1917, honored and beloved by all who knew her. IIer father, Lemuel G. Holmes, was a pioneer of Adams County, buying land in Hartford Township which he traded for a farm in Wells County, and after farming for a time sold his land and engaged in the hotel business in Fort Wayne. He engaged in the dry goods trade in Bluffton; later he was a contractor on the Fort Wayne and Muncie Railway, and after that engaged in the monumental business at Portland, Indiana, where his death occurred at the age of three seore and ten years. His wife survived him a few years. Mrs. Hale was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which Mr. Hale belonged, and for many years was active in the work of the church and Sunday school.
Five children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. HIale, namely : Ethel, wife of Hon. David E. Smith, of Decatur, and has six children living ; Olive L., who married John Peterson, of Decatur, has three chil- dren, Lieut. Robert Hale of Company A, One Hundred and Thirty- ninth Battery, Dwight and Lois; Sarah, who married Hiram T. Gregg of Chicago, a brother of Rev. Edwin T. Gregg, a prominent Methodist Episcopal minister, died in the spring of 1917, leaving no children ; Geneva H., wife of Rev. Earl Parker, of Mishawaka, Indiana, pastor of the Memorial Church, has four children, Eloise, Caroline, Theodore, and Mary Elizabeth; and Lucille, wife of Edward Wilson, of Misha- waka, Indiana, has one child, Jane.
Mr. Hale is a member of the Grand Army of the Republie, in which he takes great interest. In 1883 he was commissioned lieutenant and quartermaster of the Third Regiment, Indiana Legion, was re-commis- sioned and served two years, in all five years. IIe is also a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, being past master of his lodge; and of the Improved Order of Red Men, in which he is past chief sachem.
WILSON H. LEE. One of the old and substantial business houses of Decatur, now operated as the Lee Hardware Company, had its origin in small beginnings. Mr. Lee has had a business experience with this concern that covers a quarter of a century and has been its official head since the spring of 1913. During this period wonderful progress has been made in this advance the business ability and acknowledged fore- sight of Mr. Lee have had a part.
Wilson H. Lee was born in St. Mary's Township, Adams County, Indiana, March 25, 1867. IIis parents were Daniel and Catherine (Gulie) Lee. Daniel Lee was born in Pennsylvania, March 9, 1818, and died on his farm in Indiana at the age of seventy-two years. His first wife died in Pennsylvania. In 1850 he came to Adams County, Indiana, and se- eured a tract of government land in St. Mary's Township, to which he added as his circumstances permitted until he owned 176 acres. At the time of his death this land was all cleared and good improvements had
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been placed on it. He was married in Adams County, his second wife, Catherine Gulic. She was born in 1823, in Virginia, and in 1849 ac- companied her people to St. Mary's Township, Adams County, and there her father lived to the unusual age of ninety-two years. Her death occurred at the age of seventy-six years. Both she and husband were members of the Christian Church. In politics Daniel Lee was a re- publican. They had the following children : Emma, who is the wife of William Ayers and they live at Willshire, Ohio, and have two chil- dren; Effie, who lives in Michigan; Wilson H .; Lucetta, deceased, who was the wife of Clayton Rolph, left a son and daughter ; Harvey, who lives at Fremont, Michigan, has three children.
Wilson H. Lee grew to manhood on his father's farm and obtained his education in the public schools. In 1892 he hecame a clerk in the hardware house of J. S. Bowers & Co. This business was founded in 1877 by J. S. Bowers, the name becoming J. S. Bowers & Co., as new capital came into the business and the name continued until 1904, when it was purchased by the firm of Laman & Lee, who conducted the busi- ness until 1912, when J. L. Laman died. The business was then incor- porated under the title of the Lee-Stultz Company, which, on April 2, 1913, was changed to the Lee Hardware Company. The present officials of the company are: Wilson H. Lee, president and general manager ; Peter Amsporg, vice president; Martin Miller, secretary; and Wilson H. Lee, treasurer. This house does an immense amount of business and has accommodations for one of the largest hardware stock in the state. The business is carried on in a commodious building on West Monroe Street, Decatur, and occupies three floors of a 'building with dimensions of 44 by 120 feet, and an adjacent warehouse with dimen- sions of 40 by 22 feet, the office rooms being in the rear of the main building. Their stock includes hardware of every description. Their farm implement stock is complete and even includes farm tractors of all kinds, including the Titan tractor. They also offer a full line of stoves, making something of a specialty of the Round Oak make. This company acts as agent for the Buick cars through the northern town- ships of the county. It is something of a privilege to be shown through so large, complete and well arranged establishment as this, and an in- teresting feature for the layman is the exhibit of special hardware and implements of simple but ingenious design of the use of which he may never have previously heard if not connected with a business in which hardware plays an important part.
Mr. Lee was married in Root Township, Adams County, to Miss Hala Laman, who was born in Ohio in 1870 and was brought by her parents to Root Township when young. They were David and Sarah Laman, natives of Ohio. David Laman was a farmer all his life until he moved to Decatur, after which he lived retired until his death when aged sev- enty years. Mrs. Laman survives and lives with her daughter, Mrs. J. S. Bowers. Mrs. Laman is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was her husband. They had two sons and two daughters. The former are deceased and both married daughters live at Decatur.
Mr. and Mrs. Lee are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which body Mr. Lee is an clder. He is a member of the fraternal order of Knights of Pythias. He has led too busy a life to accept political prefer- ment, but takes a good citizen's interest in all publie matters and votes with the republican party.
WILLIAM M. BLOCHER. Among the enterprising men who are care- fully looking after the commercial interests of Domestic, Indiana, is William M. Blocher, who conducts the leading mercantile establishment
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in the village. Mr. Blocher is highly thought of as a business man, be- ing honorable and upright in all his dealings, and as the main part of his business life has been spent here, his fellow eitizens know of his persevering efforts to get a footing, for he is a self-made man.
William M. Blocher was born in Nottingham Township. Wells- County, Indiana, April 15, 1866, and is a son of Michael and Hannah (Gisel) Blocher. Michael Blocher was born in Germany and was twenty years old when he emigrated to the United States and located near Decatur in Adams County, Indiana. He was married there and later moved to Wells County, Indiana, and died on a farm situated one mile north and a half mile east of Domestie. Of his five children three are living, namely : Charles, who is a farmer in Louisiana; and John and William M., who are both living in Nottingham Township, the former a farmer and the latter a merehant and blacksmith.
William M. Blocher was nine years old when his father died. Ile remained with his mother and worked on the farm in the summers and went to school in the winters, until he was fifteen years old and then started out for himself. He had a natural skill with tools and this gift he turned to account by learning the blacksmith trade and worked at the same for twelve years in Domestie, gradually aequiring the eapi- tal which enabled him to embark in the mercantile business. On oeea- sion he still works in his shop, hut devotes his time mainly to his store. He carries a large and carefully selected stock and does a very satisfying business.
Mr. Bloeher was married in 1900 to Miss Ella Burie, who is a daugh- ter of John Burie, and she was reared and edueated in Nottingham Township, Wells County. They have one daughter, Emma, who was born in 1907.
Mr. Bloeher lays no elaim to being a politician, but he is stanch in his adherence to the demoeratie party and gives hearty support to its candidates. He is a member of Linn Grove Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
MAYNARD A. FRISINGER. Clear-headed and far-seeing, and possess- ing much ability and good judgment, Maynard A. Frisinger of Deeatur holds a position of note among the successful business men of his com- munity, being associated with his father, a widely known horse breeder, and an extensive dealer in hay. A native of Adams County, he was horn, December 22, 1883, in St. Mary Township, a son of John M. and Mary J. ( Peterson) Frisinger.
Having completed his early education in the Deeatur High School, Mr. Frisinger was for four years a elerk in the Decatur postoffice. Then, in 1906, having rendered satisfactory service in that position, he was appointed, by President Roosevelt, postmaster at Decatur, and assumed the position on July 1, of that year. IIe had the distinction of being the youngest man ever appointed postmaster of a second elass postoffice in the state, if not in the country. As a postmaster, he was very success- ful and popular, serving acceptably until July 1, 1910. and in the time making many friends. Mr. Frisinger then spent two years on his father's stoek farm, being engaged in the raising of full blooded stock. Since March, 1913, he has resided in Decatur, being associated in busi- ness with his father, who built up a wide reputation as an importer of Norman, Percheron and Belgian horses, and is now carrying on a remunerative business as a dealer in hay.
Mr. Frisinger married, in St. Mary Township, Alma Dailey, who was born, May 10. 1887, in Adams County, and was brought up in St. Mary Township, and educated in the Decatur High School. Her father,
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James T. Dailey, Jr., was a son of James T. Dailey, Sr., whose father was drowned when coming across Baffins Bay, en route from Ireland to Ameriea.
James T. Dailey, Sr., married, in Ohio, Mary Johnson, a native of that state, and soon after that important event came with his bride to Adams County, Indiana, loeating in St. Mary Township, where he be- came an extensive landholder, and a most successful stock breeder, raiser, and dealer. He died on his home farm in April, 1863, and his widow survived him a number of years, passing away in 1884. She was the mother of eleven children, two of whom, James T., Jr., and Esaias, were posthumous children. Of her large family, four sons and three daughters are still living, all but one of them being married and having families. Mrs. Frisinger's parents, James T., Jr., and Hannah (Smith) Dailey, are living on their well improved and productive farm of 100 acres in St. Mary Township. Both are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They are the parents of two children, namely : Mrs. Frisinger ; and Bernice, wife of Simeon Burke of Decatur, who has one son, George Thomas Burke.
Mr. and Mrs. Frisinger have three children, namely : Margaret, born August 11. 1908: Robert, horn November 13, 1909; and Mary E., born October 2, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Frisinger belong to the Presby- terian Church. Politically Mr. Frisinger is a republican, and fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent and Proteetive Order of Elks.
FRED SCHAFER is one of the principal men who have made business history in Deeatur, and for forty years the Schafer business has been a landmark on Second Street and from a modest stoek and equipment it has grown until today the Schafer Hardware Company has the larg- est store and business of its kind in Northern Indiana, second in size to any in the state.
The Schafer Hardware Company was incorporated in 1912 with Mr. Fred Sehafer as president, Chalmer C. Schafer, his son, as vice president, and J. B. Miebers as secretary. All these men are sub- stantial and well known citizens of Decatur. The company is capitalized at $25,000. There is probably not a citizen of Adams County who is not familiar with the store. The building runs clear baek from Second Street to First Street and eovers about a half aere of land. One part is devoted entirely to farming implements of every kind and also to motor driven apparatus, including the Oakland automobile, for which the company has the Adams County ageney, and also for tractors of different kinds, huggies, the Turnbull wagons, threshing machines, and engines. They also have a complete shop for general repairs.
In the retail department there is two distinet divisions. One is largely used for harness and automobile accessories, while the other eon- tains a complete line of shelf hardware of every description, also stoves, tinware, paints, etc. The main building is 62 hy 132 feet. The firm carries a popular type of cream separator and has sold as many as a hundreds of them in a single year. Of agricultural machinery they handle the John Deere makes and also the MeCormiek and Deering harvesting machinery put out by the International Harvester Com- pany. It is by no means a local business in its scope and importanee. MInch of their trade comes from across the state line of Ohio.
Mr. Schafer first engaged in the hardware business at Deeatur in 1875. At that time he had limited eapital to embark in the enterprise and only gradually and by careful and systematie efforts built up the concern to its present high standard. Second Street has always been his home, but three times fire has been a visitor in the store. In 1914
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fire totally destroyed the large plant, and the company then erected the present three story brick building, which is as substantial as could be made and as nearly fireproof as possible.
At the beginning Mr. Fred Schafer had as a partner his brother Jacob R., who is now living retired at Dallas Texas. and has a large amount of money invested there in local real estate. The brothers were associated for sixteen years, after which Mr. Fred Schafer was in busi- ness on his own account before the corporation was organized. As a young man he had learned the trade of tinner in Decatur and subse- quently spent two years as a journeyman worker in the West. This was the experience with which he returned to Decatur and engaged in business for himself in 1875.
Mr. Schafer was born in Medina County, Ohio, in 1851, and was brought to Adams County, Indiana, when about three years of age. He is a son of Christian and Catherine (Ahr) Schafer. Both were born in Germany and came with their respective parents in sailing ves- sels across the Atlantic Ocean and first located in Medina County, Ohio. The parents of Christian Schafer spent their remaining years on a farm in that county. Both were members of the Evangelical Church. The grandparents Ahr subsequently moved to Indiana and died at South Bend. Christian Schafer after his marriage in Medina County lived on a farm until six children were born, and in 1855 brought his family to Adams County, Indiana, and bought a farm in Washington Township. This he later sold to the county commission- ers to be used for a county infirmary, and it is so used to the present time. This old farm is two and a half miles from Decatur. Christian Schafer and family then lived eight or ten years in Decatur and finally removed to South Bend, Indiana, where he died at the age of seventy- eight and his wife at eighty-four. After going to South Bend both be- came active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and died in that faith. Christian Schafer was a republican.
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