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 67
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 67
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Edwin M. Ray was the oldest of three children. Ilis brother H. P. Ray is connected with the Findlay Creamery Company at Findlay, Ohio, and is unmarried. His sister Ida B. is the wife of George H. Long- with, a grocer at Portland, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Longwith have four children, Mary, Guy, Ruth and Gordon. Mary is now training for the nursing profession in a sanitarium at Marion, Ohio, and Guy is a teacher in North Dakota.
Edwin M. Ray married in his native township Miss Anna L. Mullin. She was born in Licking County, Ohio, in 1871, but grew up and re- ceived her education in Adams County. She is a daughter of Jehu and Gertrude (Sibley) Mullin, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of New York State. Her parents married in Ohio and in 1884 removed to Monroe Township of Adams County, where they conducted a farm for a number of years, but spent their last days at Gas City, Indiana. where her father died November 5, 1917, and her mother on November 25, 1914. Jehu Mullin was a veteran of the Civil war, serving over two years, much of the time under the famous General Sheridan. He was twice wounded and during the Shenandoah Valley campaign was wounded and narrowly eseaped capture. Jehu Mullin's mother is still living at Gas City, now past the age of ninety-three.
Mr. and Mrs. Ray have one daughter, Gertrude Bernice. She was born October 22, 1896, graduated from the Berne High School in 1914. attended Earlham College for two years, and is now doing some very capable and efficient work as domestic science teacher in the public schools of Monroe. Mr. Ray and family are all members of the Evan- gelieal Church at Monroe, and he is elass leader and financial secretary
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of his church. Politically he is a prohibitionist, and his grandfather was one of the pioneer members of that party in Adams County.
ABRAHAM J. MOSER. The best measure that can be applied to the value of any business or individual is the degree of service rendered. From that point of view one of the most valuable citizens of Adams County for a long period of years has been Abraham J. Moser. Mr. Moser had by inheritance a certain inclination and ability at mechanics and machinery. He applied it early in life and gradually the demands upon him were more than could be supplied by his own work. He finally opened a shop at Berne and there for many years has conducted the chief business of its kind in that section of Adams County and is now president of the A. J. Moser & Company, performing a wide range of service, heating, plumbing, general machinery work and repair, and also automobile dealers and garage proprietors.
Mr. Moser represents one of the original Swiss colonies in Adams County, and his own birth occurred in French Township November 27, 1858. Ile spent his early life on a farm and acquired his early education in the district schools. At the age of nineteen he left home and for a number of years did work as an operator of threshing outfits. He grad- ually developed his skill to a point where he was almost constantly em- ployed as an engine machinist, and his services were called to look after broken down engines all over this part of the state. He was kept exceedingly busy and found it difficult to perform a maximum amount of work since so much of his time was used up in traveling about from place to place. In order to conduct his business more efficiently he therefore moved to Berne, and opened a shop to which much of the work requiring his attention could be brought. He also hired help, and for one year rented his quarters, and then constructed a shop of his own, a building 70 by 40 feet on Main Street. Here for the last ten years he has done a large and flourishing business in the various lines in which he is expert, as a general machinist, heating and plumbing operator, and has in re- cent years gradually adapted his business to the needs of the automobile industry. The business was incorporated in 1904, Mr. Moser as president, and is now operating with $30.000 capital.
Mr. Moser's grandfather Peter and the father Jacob G. Moser were both natives of Switzerland. Jacob was born in 1833. and when about three years of age Peter Moser brought his family to America. Leaving Switzerland, they embarked on a sailing vessel at Havre, France, and after a voyage of thirty-six days landed in New York. Thence the jour- ney westward was made up the Hudson River, over the Erie Canal to Buffalo, by lake boat to Cleveland, and down one of the Ohio canals to Wayne County. A year later a sturdy pair of oxen drew a wagon loaded with the goods and family of the Mosers through the woods and over the rough trails and roads to Adams County. Their destination was a tract of Government land, heavily wooded, and without an aere in cul- tivation. Peter Moser spent some time in picking out his farm and selected the highest land he could find in order that his house and fields might be out of the water which at that time covered a large part of the county many months of the year. To this day the site of the farm is known as Moser Hill in section 21 of French Township. After arriving in the county the family spent three weeks camping under a big oak tree until their first log cabin could be completed. Gradually their labor transformed their surroundings into a farm and a good home and Peter lived there, reared his family, and late in life sold out and moved to Monroe Township, locating near Berne, where he and his wife both died when past seventy years of age.
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Jacob G. Moser grew up on the old homestead in French Township and subsequently became its owner. He continued the improvement and cultivation where his father had left off and he was one of the substan- tial men of that locality. He died at the age of seventy-two. In that township he married Elizabeth Straub, who was also a native of Switzer- land and about three years her husband's junior. She was a small child when her parents joined a colony bound for America, and this family also located in French Township of Adams County, where Mrs. Jacob Moser was reared and educated. She died at the age of fifty-two. She became the mother of a large family of children, seven sons and four daughters, two of whom died in childhood, while all the others grew up and married and had families of their own. Eight of them are still living.
Abraham J. Moser married at Berne Miss Barbara Lehman. She was born in Adams County in 1860 and is member of that prominent Lehman family which has done so much for the upbuilding of the country around Berne, and which at one time owned the land on which the village was founded. Mr. and Mrs. Moser are the parents of three children : Palmer, sixteen years old and a student in the Berne High School; Mil- lard, who is in the grade schools; and Marcella, now six years of age. The family are all members of the Mennonite Church and Mr. Moser is a democrat in politics.
FRANK HELLER. Success has amply attended the efforts of Frank Heller, who has devoted himself with diligence and energy to the farm- ing business nearly all his life. He is a representative of the progressive type of farming, and today is cultivating and handling the resources of the soil of a farm on which he was born. This farm is in Hartford Township, on Rural Ronte No. 1 out of Berne.
Mr. Heller was born there April 6, 1873, a son of George and Eliza (Gentis) Heller and a grandson of Levi and Catherine (Krebs) Heller. This is one of the oldest names in Adams County. His grandparents came here in 1839, locating in Nottingham Township, where for years they had the environment and the experiences of pioneers. George Hel- ler was born in Clarke County, Ohio, on August 28, 1835, and was a small child when brought to Indiana. After reaching maturity he moved to Hartford Township, aud in 1892 went to the Village of Berne, where he lived for a number of years, but finally returned to the vicinity of Linn Grove. George and Eliza Heller had a family of eight children, four of whom are still living. Jane is the widow of David Moesch- berger ; Mary is the wife of Benjamin Moeschberger of Hartford Town- ship ; and Emma is the wife of Harry Graham of Huntington County, Indiana.
Mr. Frank Heller's earlier and later associations have all been cen- tered around the farm of eighty acres on which he was born and which he now owns. As a boy he attended the Linn Grove public schools and also had one term in a commercial course at Valparaiso College. He was one of the early stockholders of the Bank of Linn Grove, and for one year was cashier of that institution. Mr. Heller is doing well as a farmer and has reason to be well satisfied with his crops and with his equipment of livestock and other facilities with which he has surrounded himself.
In 1892 he married Miss Polina Gilgen, a native of Wells County, where in Harrison Township she grew up and attended the local schools. They have four children: Walter, who is now superintendent of the France Stone Company at Middle Point, Ohio, one of the largest plants of its kind in the United States; Reuben unmarried and still at home; Volney and Olga, both school children. The family are members of the
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Evangelical Association at Linn Grove. Mr. Heller is a Modern Wood- men of America and in polities is a democrat.
RALPH W. HAIFLEY. An enterprising, industrious young man, full of vim and push, Ralph W. Haifley of Craigville, Wells County, well-known as a successful contractor, has started out in life with fair prospects for a most prosperous future, his energy, ability, and good business taet bid- ding fair to place him ere long among the prominent men of his eom- munity. A native of Wells County, he was born in Rock Creek Town- ship, Indiana, April 10, 1887, a son of Eli C. Ilaifley.
Martin Haifley, his paternal grandfather, came from Pennsylvania to Indiana in pioneer days, and was the first settler of Wells County. He located at what is now Bluffton, and in addition to becoming owner of much town property was proprietor of Kennegy Island. He was identi- fied with the business interests of the plaee as a hardware merchant, and as a preacher in the Methodist Church looked after the spiritual welfare of the community. The land which he possessed was purchased by him from the Government.
Eli C. Haifley was brought up and educated in Wells County, of which he is still a resident, his home being north of Bluffton. His wife, whose maiden name was Emma Gettle, was born in Bluffton, Indiana, where her parents located on coming to this state from Pennsylvania. Six children were born of their union, as follows: William, Samuel, Charles, Ralph W., Rosa, and Anna.
Having acquired a practical knowledge of books in the publie schools of Bluffton, Ralph W. Haifley was for a time variously employed, and in whatever pursuit he embarked was successful. For several years he has been actively engaged as a eontraetor, at the present time, in 1917, being actively associated with the drainage contracting business. In this branch of industry, Mr. Haifley has filled many large contracts in a highly satisfactory manner, his work being in every way acceptable and commendable.
Mr. Haifley married Cora Frugher, a daughter of William and Sarah Frugher, their marriage having been solemnized November 23, 1913. Three children have blessed their union, Irene, Joy, Justin, May, and William Eli. In his political affiliations Mr. Haifley is a stanch democrat.
BENJAMIN J. WAGGONER has spent his active career as a general agri- eulturist and stock farmer in Root Township. His farm home, one of the best in that community, is endeared to him and other members of the family by many associations extending back into pioneer days. Ife suc- ceeded his father in the ownership of the farm, and it is land which was at one time owned by his maternal grandfather Benjamin Rice and by his great-grandfather Pillars, who acquired it direct from the Gov- ernment.
Benjamin J. Waggoner was born at Monmouth in Adams County July 7, 1871, son of D. C. and Elizabeth C. (Rice) Waggoner. His father was for fourteen years proprietor of a general store in the Village of Mon- mouth, and on giving up the mereantile business returned to the farm. He was a man held in the highest respect for his many estimable quali- ties, was thorough in business, careful and methodieal in the management of all his affairs, and all his neighbors and acquaintances were kindly dis- posed toward him.
His wife, Elizabeth C. Rice, was a daughter of Benjamin Riee, who was born in Virginia November 17, 1817, son of Sampson and Elizabeth Ferguson Rice, who were also natives of Virginia. From Virginia the
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Rice family moved to Carroll County, Ohio, abont 1827, and in 1836 when Benjamin was nineteen years of age they eame among the first settlers of Adams County, Indiana. They arrived in this eounty on Christmas Day of that year. Two years later, on September 6, 1838, Benjamin Riee married Elizabeth Pillars, who was born April 18, 1817, and died April 23, 1846. Mrs. Elizabeth Waggoner was one of the four children of this marriage.
D. C. and Elizabeth Waggoner had five children : John C., unmarried and living in Chicago; William A., a single man living in Pennsylvania ; Jessie, wife of Ed Luthman of Sturgeon Bay, Michigan; Molly, wife of Adam Brown of Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Benjamin J.
On March 25, 1894, Benjamin J. Waggoner married Phoebe Martin, member of an old and prominent family of Adams County and daughter of Josephus and Elizabeth Martin. Her father, Josephus Martin, was born in Hampshire, Virginia, September 30, 1803. His parents were natives of the same state and his grandfather had settled there about the time of the Revolution. From Virginia the Waggoner family removed to Warren County, Ohio, Josephus accompanying them, and while liv- ing there on March 25, 1830, he married Catherine Summerfelt. She died in 1844 and in 1845 Josephus Martin married Elizabeth Deffen- hangh. Mrs. Waggoner's mother was born in Maryland in 1828. Mrs. Waggoner was the youngest of her father's twelve children. Her brother, Q. A. Martin, now deceased, was for a number of years proprietor of a general store at Geneva in Adams County and he left two sons and a daughter, and the daughter and her son now continue a general mer- eantile establishment at Geneva. Her brother Morton is still living on the old homestead in Hartford Township. Her sister Ellen married Daniel Pontins of Adams County, and has two children, Lizzie and Wesley Sherman. Her sister Emma married Adam Schaupp and lives at Pasadena, California, mother of Vera and Harold Schaupp. Her brother Morton married Bertha MeCollen and has five children, Robert, Catherine, Lulu, Mildred and Thomas.
Mr. and Mrs. Waggoner have three children, named Harry, Jessie and Ralph.
CORNELIUS SCHAEFER has been a resident of Adams County thirty years, grew to manhood here, and has always eommended himself to the confidenee of his fellow eitizens by his industry, integrity and ability in whatever position he has held. He is now rural earrier on Route No. 1 out of Geneva.
Mr. Schaefer was born in Darke County, Ohio, October 31, 1882, son of Gottlieb W. and Sarah E. (Stager) Schaefer, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. They married in Darke County, lived on a farm there until 1889, and then removed to Adams County, Indiana, and were substantial and well known farming people here until 1917, when they retired and moved to a town home in Geneva. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the father is treas- urer of the Masonie Lodge at Geneva. In politics he is a republican. There were two children, Barbara Ann and Cornelius. The daughter is the wife of Fred Hale and lives in Oklahoma.
Cornelius Schaefer was reared on a farm in Wabash Township, had his education in the common schools there and in 1900 graduated from the Geneva Iligh School. For about twelve years after leaving school Mr. Schaefer worked in the oil fields around Geneva, and is a practical oil man in every detail of experience. A few years ago he took the examination for civil service and stood highest among twenty-four appli-
GEORGE INEICHEN
MRS. GEORGE INEICHEN
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cants. Since May, 1916, he has been every day in the week on his route as a mail earrier.
Mr. Schaefer married Lola J. Ford of Adams County, Indiana. They have one child, Virginia C., now eight years of age and attending sehool at Geneva. Mrs. Schaefer is a member of the United Brethren Church.
Mr. Schaefer is present secretary of Geneva Lodge No. 621, Aneient Free and Accepted Masons. He has also served as keeper of records and seals in the Loeal Knights of Pythias Lodge. Politically he is inde- pendent. Mr. Schaefer and wife own one of the comfortable homes of Geneva.
GEORGE INEICHEN. It is probable that every stoek man of this eoun- try who is handler or admirer of the Red Polled eattle knows by repu- tation at least the firm George Ineichen & Son of Geneva, Indiana. As a breeder and raiser of this fine stoek Mr. Ineichen has a reputation far beyond the limits of Adams County. The "Cosy Ell Farm" is a model place of its kind and adaptation to the uses of modern stoek raising and was the result of an exceptional degree of enterprise on the part of the firm George Ineichen & Son.
It can confidently be elaimed for this firm that they are the most extensive breeders of Red Polled eattle in Indiana, and they have an in- ternational record. Their herd was declared the champion herd at the Chicago International Stock Show four years in sneeession, a distinetion that no other herd enjoys in America. Their stock is shown in all the principal eities of the United States and never have they made an exhibit in which they have not won several first prize ribbons, medals and other honors. The Cosy Ell Farm is situated three and a quarter miles east of Geneva in Wabash township.
George Ineichen, senior member of the firm, was born in Ottawa County, Ohio, March 13, 1864, of Swiss parentage. He was one of the twelve children of Joseph A. and Jeneta Ana (Zurgirch) Ineichen. His parents eame together from Switzerland to America in 1852, and set- tled in Ottawa County, Ohio, near Port Clinton. They reared their family in that locality until 1865, when they moved to Mereer County, Ohio. It was in Mercer County that George Ineichen grew to man- hood and he acquired the rudiments of his edueation in the little briek schoolhouse which stands at the southeast corner of Mereer County Infirmary Farm. Of other edueation he boasts of none exeept what he has got and is still getting in the sehool of experience. Industry and ability have enabled him to take advantage of the better opportuni- ties presented by life.
The years 1883-86, inclusive, he spent in Kansas, Colorado and the Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. On returning to Ohio he worked on a farm two years. Coneluding that it was not well for man to be alone, he sneceeded in persuading Miss Katherine D. Puthoff to be of the same faith and companionship with him. They were married in Octo- ber, 1888. After their marriage an inventory was struek and Mr. Ineiehen found his possessions to consist of a horse and buggy and $84, while his wife had 37 cents. Renting a farm of eighty aeres in Mereer County they attended farm sales and acquired another horse, wagon, plow, harrow, euphoard, table and stove, and by spring their debts had mounted upward to about four hundred dollars. By hard work and frugal business practiee the accounts were strikingly reversed at the end of seven years. They were then possessed of a good renter's outfit of farm machinery, horses, eattle, poultry, a fine herd of thoroughbred swine, together with $700. The money they invested as their first pay- ment on the old Moeser farm of eighty acres east of Celina, Ohio.
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Two years later they sold it at a small profit and bought eighty acres three miles east of Wabash, Ohio. Three years of farm improvement on this place again induced some others to offer the Ineichens a re- mummerative price, and their next move was to Jay County, Indiana, where they improved two farms before coming to their present place in Adams County, which has been their home since 1907.
Mr. Ineichen has built six houses and eight barns, besides construct- ing many minor farm buildings. These structures have been erected on the several different farms above noted. He has always performed the chief mechanical labor himself. In explaining the reason for this Mr. Ineichen says that the first two houses he built were the product of his individual labor because he was too poor to hire a skilled ear- penter. Experience and practice make perfect, and since his pros- perity has enabled him to hire labor he has not had the patience to superintend the mechanical skill afforded and has preferred to do all his own building. The structures on the present Cosy Ell Farm speak for themselves as to the thoroughness of the architectural, designing and mechanical skill of Ineichen and sons.
Mr. and Mrs. Ineichen are the parents of three sons and two daugh- ters. Frank J., the oldest, is a graduate of the common schools, and is a successful farmer, looking after 120 acres across the road from his father's place. He has also done much as a stock breeder. He still lives at home and is the present chancellor commander of Geneva Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and is also a Mason.
Harvey S. Ineichen, the second son, and junior member of the firm, has probably gone farther than any of his brothers or even his father in the matter of progressive stock farming, and is a recognized expert in the breeding and handling of cattle and an authority on all points of excellence, especially in the Red Polled cattle. He is a graduate of the common schools and still lives on the old homestead. He is a past chancellor commander of Geneva Lodge, Knights of Pythias. Harvey Ineichen married Nellie Kerr of Jefferson Township, daughter of. William Kerr. She was born in Jefferson Township, was educated in the public schools and is also a graduate in music.
Albert H., the third son, married Clara Lybarger and lives on a farm in Mercer County, Ohio. The two daughters are Jeannette and Mary, the former still at home. Mary is the wife of Ralph Pontius and lives at Hartford, Indiana. Mr. Pontius is a teacher.
In polities Mr. Ineichen is a democrat and has always affiliated with that party. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and a Mason, including the Royal Arch Chapter, and is past master of the Patrons of Husbandry.
AUGUST GALLMEIER. Among the prosperous farmers of Adams County is August Gallmeier, who is actively engaged in his free and independent occupation in Preble Township, where he materially assists in maintain- ing the reputation of this part of Indiana as a superior agricultural and stock raising region. He was born in Preble Township, March 9, 1871, and has spent his life in this vicinity.
Mr. Gallmeier's parents, Conrad and Wilhelmina Gallmeier, were both born in Germany, and both came when children with their parents to the United States. After their marriage, they bought from the Gov- ernment eighty acres of land in Preble Township, and there cleared and improved a valuable homestead. The father, who was held in high re- spect as a man and a citizen, died October 12, 1875, while yet in man- hood's prime. He was a faithful member of the German Lutheran Church, which he served as a trustee for a number of years, and to which
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his wife also belonged. She died in December, 1905. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: Fred; Charles; William; August ; Henry, deceased ; Louise; and Sophia.
Brought up and educated in Preble Township, August Gallmeier was early initiated into the mysteries of farming, which he early selected for an occupation. Having profited by his early knowledge and experi- ence while employed by others, Mr. Gallmeier has met with unquestioned success in his undertakings. The greater part of his farm of eighty acres is under a good state of culture, and its improvements, including a com- modious and conveniently arranged residence, are of a good, practical, and substantial character.
On October 14, 1897, Mr. Gallmeier was united in marriage with Louise Berning, a daughter of Ferdinand and Sophia Berning, who were born and reared in Adams County, Indiana, as were their children, eleven in number, as follows: Minnie, Henry, Louise, Mary, Amelia, Sophia, Christina, Charles, Annie, Flora, and Pauline. Five children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Galhmeier, namely : Rosa, deceased ; Freeda ; Martin ; Otto, deceased ; and Velma, deceased. In his political affiliations, Mr. Gallmeier is a democrat, and religiously he and his fam- ily are members of the German Lutheran Church.
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