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 68
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 68
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GEORGE W. ZIMMERMAN. Some of the first clearings made in the wilderness of Washington Township of Adams County were effected by the exertions of the Zimmerman family. It is an honored pioneer name. As a family they have been exceedingly industrious, people of splendid business judgment and valuable to the local citizenship as homemakers and straightforward, honest citizens. One of the present representatives of the family still lives in Washington Township in the person of George W. Zimmerman, whose own career has been in keeping with the high standard set by his forefathers and who is one of the excellent agri- culturists of that district.
The Zimmermans as the name indicates are of German origin. The great-grandfather of George W. Zimmerman on coming to America settled in Virginia and spent the rest of his years near Harpers Ferry. He married and among his sons and daughters was Eli Zimmerman, who was born near Harpers Ferry and when a young man moved to Ohio. From there he came as a pioneer to Washington Township, settling in section 2, where he acquired a section of land and erected a log cabin shelter. It is said that his first erop was four acres of corn. His pos- sessions comprised some of the best black walnut timber land along St. Mary's River. Year by year by persevering industry he cleared his land until 400 acres were under the plow. Later he left his first home- stead and moved nearer Decatur, at a time when that town contained only three log houses. Here he made his home until his death on Oc- tober 29, 1878. He was one of the oldest pioneers and one of the most respected citizens of Adams County, and by his thrift and energy had accumulated property which made him regarded as one of the coun- ty's wealthy citizens. All that he had was the fruit of honorable deal- ing and strict integrity and the comforts of his later years merely re- paid the hardships and privations he had endured in early life. He was a member of the Masonic Fraternity and of the Presbyterian Church. His land accumulations at one time totaled more than 600 acres. Ile married in Adams County Polly Smith, a native of Fayette County, Ohio, and she died in Adams County March 24, 1871. They were the parents of eight children, all of whom grew up and married and had families of their own and all but one lived to mature years. The only one of these children now living is Washington Kerns of St. Mary's Township.
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The next generation of the family is represented by Eli Zimmerman, Jr., who was born on the old Zimmerman farm in Adams County, Oe- tober 23, 1842. This farm is now locally known as the Edward Ahr farm. His early life was spent in a rustic environment, and with only sueh advantages as were supplied by the schools of Washington Town- ship. Soon after he reached his majority and toward the close of the Civil war he went to the front with a Union regiment, but was never en- gaged in any important battles. After the war on January 7, 1867, he married Miss Melinda Draver, who was born in Pennsylvania and spent her early life and received her schooling at Reading. When a young woman she eame to Adams County, and after her marriage she and her husband started out as farmers and their mutual labors en- abled them to aceumulate a fine property in Washington Township, com- prising over 1,000 acres of land, some of the best soil in that vieinity. Eli Zimmerman had the same purposeful activity and energy that marked other members of the family and was a man of influence and substance. Politieally he was a demoerat. He died at the old farm February 10, 1894, at the age of fifty-one. His widow, who was born in 1848, is now living at Fort Wayne and still possesses all her active faculties. She is a member of the Baptist Church. Three children were born to their marriage, Zachariah dying in early childhood. The other two are Isaac W. and George W., the former was a native of Adams County, spent many years as a farmer here and died as a result of blood poisoning at Fort Wayne April 1, 1916. He left no surviving ehildren.
George W. Zimmerman was born at the old home of his father in Washington Township November 20, 1869. His early years were spent on the farm which he still owns and operates. This farm comprises 236 and a fraction of aeres, and it has undergone many improvements since Mr. Zimmerman began applying his strength and judgment to its culti- vation and management. Some years ago he crected a beautiful two- story modern ten-room house, which is one of the most complete and con- venient country residences in the entire eounty. While he has one of the large farms of the county, Mr. Zimmerman is a thoroughly intensive agrienlturist, and works and tends his erops with as mueh method and thoroughness as many who have much smaller holdings.
Mr. Zimmerman married Miss Jessie Burwell, who was born at Bluff- ton, Indiana, thirty-seven years ago and grew up and received her educa- tion in that eity. She is a member of one of the noted pioneer families of Wells County, the Burwells having located there fully seventy years ago. Her parents were George and Jane (Reed) Burwell, both natives of Ohio, but were married in Bluffton. Her father made a splendid reeord as a soldier of the Civil war. He went out with an Indiana regi- ment, saw service in many severe battles, and in one engagement was eap- turned and put in a Confederate prison. After many months of tortuons captivity he was released and eame home nearly starved. In one battle he had lost an eye, but in spite of these handieaps and misfortunes he lived a sueeessful and prosperous life and died in Wells County July 14, 1891, at the age of fifty-one. He was born in Mereer County, Ohio, in 1840, and his wife was born there August 19, 1840, and died at the home of Mrs. Zimmerman April 19, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Burwell were active Baptists and he was a democrat in polities. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman are also members of the Baptist Church and he keeps up the political affiliation of his forefathers. Fraternally he is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose.
PHILIP L. MACKLIN, a successful eivil engineer at Decatur, formerly a teacher, is perhaps most widely known over the county through his
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valuable public service rendered during a four years term as county surveyor.
Mr. Maeklin represents fine old pioneer stock of Eastern Indiana. He was born in Wabash Township of Adams County June 2, 1882, and grew up on his father's farm. He made the best of his advantages in school, and at the age of sixteen he gained his first experience in pub- lic life as deputy assessor of the township under his father. He served as deputy assessor two years under his father and four years under T. P. Hollingsworth. For five years of his early life he was a successful teacher, and taught his first school in District No. 5, known as the Fravel School. With this varied experience to his credit he came to Decatur and for 31. years was a member of the firm Vanee, Hite & Macklin. He was called from that business by his election in November, 1912, to the office of county surveyor. The next four years were a busy administration and he was regarded as one of the most competent. men who ever filled that office in Adams County. For the past six years Mr. Macklin has been more or less actively engaged in private practice as a civil engineer. He is one of the highly popular citizens of the county and since early manhood has been a leader in the democratic party.
The Macklins originally are of the so-called Pennsylvania Dutch. Ilis grandfather, Philip Macklin, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, about ninety years ago. Ile married Mahala Cole, also a native of Fair- field County. They were married in Jay County, Indiana, where their respective parents had settled in pioneer times. when all that section of country was a wilderness, the Macklins and Coles clearing up land from a forest condition. The Macklins were leaders among the Meth- odist Protestants of that community and the first schoolhouse and the first church in their neighborhood was built largely through their instrumentality. The church was built on the Macklin farm and the schoolhouse nearby. Both are known to this day as the Macklin Church and the Macklin Schoolhouse. One member of the family, Jacob Mack- lin, was for many years a preacher in the old Macklin Church. Grand- father Philip Macklin lived out his life in Jay County, where he died at the age of seventy-six and his wife at sixty-two. He was a trustee of the Methodist Protestant Church from the time of its organization and. in polities was a democrat. a brand of politics that has been kept pretty well in the family ever since.
The father of the former county surveyor was Philip A. Macklin, who was born in Jay County, Indiana, July 7, 1858. He married in that county May Sibarry, who was born there in March, 1861, in Bear Creek Township. She is of English ancestry. P. A. Macklin after his marriage bought a farm near the Macklin Church in Bear Creek Town- ship but two years later moved to Wabash Township of Adams County, where he bought the farm on which Philip L. Macklin was born. In 1886 the family bought a farm owned by a Mr. Stover. At that time its improvements consisted of a log cabin, and its development into a fine and productive homestead is largely due to the exertions of the Macklin family. It is still owned by the Macklin Estate. On the old farm the father died October 23, 1908. His widow is still living. mak- ing her home at Geneva. Indiana. The parents were always members of the Macklin Methodist Protestant Church. P. A. Macklin served four years as township trustee and was assessor six years, and in 1907 was candidate for county auditor.
P. L. Macklin was the oldest son and third child among ten chil- dren. Two of them died in infancy and one lost his life at the age of
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eleven years by being kicked by a colt. Seven of the family are still living, all of them married except two.
P. L. Macklin married at Decatur Miss Lola P. Jackson. She was born at Decatur in March, 1883, and is a graduate of the city high school and was a teacher for two years before her marriage. Her grand- father, D. O. Jackson, is a well remembered pioneer of Decatur, where he was a leader in establishing manufacturing interests. Her par- ents, Oliver and Laura (Bowers) Jackson, are both natives of Adams County and are still living where they began housekeeping at the time of their marriage. They are active in the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Jackson is a democrat.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Macklin comprise the following chil- dren : Oliver Wendell P., born May 28, 1905; Robert Israel, born Sep- tember 28, 1908; Mary A., born January 11, 1910; Ann E., born May 23, 1911; Ruth Isabel, born March 4, 1913; and Richard J., born July 27, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Macklin are active members of the Presby- terian Church. At the age of twenty-one he became identified with Masonry and is a member of the lodge and chapter at Decatur and is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Geneva and with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Decatur.
JOHN C. MORAN is one of the men who have contributed the re- sources of a fine mind and of an equally fine character to the prestige and activities of the Adams County bar. While he was making his maiden efforts as a lawyer he attracted the attention of older attorneys and has been steadily rising in esteem and in the extent and importance of the business entrusted to his care.
He was admitted to the bar in 1897, twenty-one years ago. Mr. Moran was educated in the public schools of Adams County, attended the Ohio Northern University at Ada, the Tri-State Normal School at Angola, Indiana, Valparaiso University and spent two terms in the Portland Normal School. At the age of nineteen he entered the role of teacher, teaching his first term in Mercer County, Ohio. He taught seven winter terms, four of them in the Cottonwood School of French Township, Adams County.
Even before coming to Adams County he had begun the study of law. privately, and after leaving the school room he entered the office of R. H. Hartford at Portland, and completed his reading there.
Mr. Moran opened his first office at Berne in Adams County in 1897 and got a good start as a lawyer while in that village. In 1900 he was elected to the office of prosecuting attorney, and by re-election filled the office three terms, six years. It is doubtful if that office ever had a better administration than in Mr. Moran's hands. Among other impor- tant cases which he prosecuted was one of the best remembered murder trials of the local courts. This was the Osborn Busenbark case, which occupied the attention of courts and jury for three weeks. One fea- ture of Mr. Moran's record in the prosecuting attorney office is that he never drew a defective affidavit or indictment throughout his three terms. A number of years ago he was admitted to practice in the State Supreme Court, and has carried a number of trials to that tribunal.
Mr. Moran is junior member of the firm Peterson & Moran. His law partner. Shafer Peterson, is the Nestor of the Adams County har, having been admitted to practice November 18, 1874. He has distinguished himself by capable service and is a man of recognized ability in the law and of most kindly generous nature. He read law with Judge Bobo and also his unele, R. S. Peterson, two years before admission. He had prior to that taught school. Shafer Peterson is a sou of Isaac Peterson
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and a grandson of William Peterson. Isaac Peterson was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1829, and was thirteen years of age when the family came to the wilderness of Adams County in 1842. William Peterson was one of the pioneers who cleared up new homes in this section of the country. Isaac Peterson followed farming, and was a successful stock raiser.
Mr. Moran has served as chairman of the County Democratie Com- mittee for two years, and has always taken an active and publie spirited part in politics and in local affairs.
Mr. Moran was born in Jefferson Township of Adams County, son of Thomas and Anna (Fahey) Moran. His parents were both na- tives of County Galway, Ireland, with a long line of Irish ancestors behind them, nearly all of them farmers by occupation. In 1865 Thomas Moran brought his family to America, just at the elose of the Civil war. The voyage was made over rough seas in a sailing vessel, and from Castle Garden they came on west to Preble County, Ohio, and not long afterwards settled in Jefferson Township of Adams County, In- diana. Most of the children were born in this county, John C. Moran being fourth among them. The other children were: Winifred, who died in 1896, the wife of Joseph Fosty; Mary, wife of P. K. Kinney ; Anna, widow of T. F. Golden ; James J .; Bridget, wife of James Kin- ney ; Margaret ; Patrick; and Marcus. Mr. Moran's mother died in 1889. His father is still living at the age of eighty-four, with home in Decatur, and bears the weight of years gracefully and is still vigorous in mind and body. All the family have been active in the Catholic Church.
John C. Moran married in Adams County Rose Yager, a native of the county. Her parents were German people who settled in Adams County in early days, and cleared up the land which they used as a farm. Her father, Charles Yager, died in the county when about fifty years of age and his widow is now living at three score in Berne. Both were members of the Protestant faith. Mr. and Mrs. Moran are active in St. Mary's Catholic Church, and have liberally supported the church and all its causes. He has served ten years as church trustee. Mr. Moran is a charter member of the Knights of Columbus and is affiliated with the Improved Order of Red Men and Lodge No. 993, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He and his wife have two children : Margaret, aged fourteen, attending the parochial schools, and Rich- ard, now seven years of age.
WILLIAM H. TIEMAN. In the county where he was born and reared and where the family has been represented from earliest pioneer times, William H. Tieman has made his own industry and enterprise count for success in the agricultural activities of Root Township, and every- where in that section his name is spoken with the respect it deserves.
Mr. Tieman was born in Root Township, December 2, 1860, a son of William and Angel (Schultz) Tieman. His parents were natives of the Kingdom of IIanover, Germany, and in 1839 came to America and lived for a short time in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A few years later they invaded the wilderness of Adams County, and the father acquired a small tract of forty acres of Government land in Root Township. They found it a difficult task to make the land supply them with all they needed in the way of provisions and shelter for their numerous household, but the father possessed the true German grit and persistence, and worked steadily until he had most of his land cleared and well improved before his death, which occurred in 1861, when his son William was only an infant. The family had lived for a number of
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years in a log cabin and the father had completed a new dwelling just before his death. The children were: Sophia, who married Lew Kel- dewey ; Louise, who became the wife of Henry Weitfeldt ; Margaret. who married Edward Ey; Henrietta, who became the wife of Henry Hese- meyer: Henry, now deceased : Frederick, who married Louise Rippe ; and William H.
The mother survived her husband more than thirty years and con- tinned to live on the old homestead until her death on February 13, 1895. Both parents now rest in St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery of Root Township. All the family connections have been members of that church.
William H. Tieman spent his boyhood at home with his mother, was educated in the parochial and public schools, and he bought his pres- ent farm in Mary, 1893, largely from the fruits of his own enterprise. Part of it has been cleared by his labors. All the improvements, a credit to the owner, were placed there by his own hands and one might travel far and not see a better farm than that of Mr. Tieman. He has two of the best barns in the township and also a commodious residence.
On April 21, 1887, six years before coming to his present home, Mr. Tieman married Miss Louise Gerke, of Root Township. Her brothers and sisters are: Annie, wife of Charles Phoeler; William, who married Henrietta Bohnke: Caroline, unmarried; Hugo, who married Ellanora Holle; and Ida, wife of Chris Swartz.
Mr. and Mrs. Tieman have four children, three sturdy sons and one daughter, Charles, Harold, Harvey and Ida. All have received the ad- vantages of the local public schools, while Harold spent one term in the high school at Decatur. He is now serving in United States army. All the sons are of military age and all have registered subject to draft for the United States army.
FRANK W. GORDON. Among the prominent and brilliant lawyers of Wells County none is more versatile, talented or well equipped for the work of his profession than Frank W. Gordon, who maintains his home and business headquarters at Bluffton. Throughout his career as an able attorney and well fortified counselor he has, by reason of unim- peachable conduct and close observance of the unwritten code of pro- fessional ethies, gained the admiration and respect of his fellow mem- bers of the bar, in addition to which he commands a high place in the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.
Frank W. Gordon was born in Rock Creek Township. Wells County, Indiana, August 21. 1876, and he is descended from a fine old Scottish ancestry. John Gordon, his father, was born in Scotland, and his educa- tion consisted of Bible study. At the tender age of ten years he began to work, and in his eighteenth year he immigrated to America. He was accompanied by his father, then eighty years of age, and the old gentleman died in Wells County four years later, aged eighty-four years. After his arrival in Wells County John Gordon was variousy occupied, working on a farm and later on the plank road constructed between Bluffton, Ft. Wayne Huntington and Warren. He saved as much money as possible and invested it in real estate, buying a fine farm in Rock Creek Township. He and his wife are both living. and they reside on this farm, where all their children were born and reared. Mrs. Gordon, whose maiden name was Catherine Brown, was born in the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, whence she came to Wells County with her mother at the age of three years. She grew to maturity here and was educated in the public schools. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon and besides Frank W. they are as
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follows: James F., William D., John O. and Robert S. are all farm- ers in Rock Creek Township; Nancy J. is the wife of Isaac W. Decker, of Rock Creek Township; Fannie E. married Aaron Edris, of Lan- caster Township; and Jennie is the wife of Robert L. Moore, of Rock Creek Township.
Frank W. Gordon passed his boyhood days on his father's farm, attended the district schools in the winter time and in summer assisted in the numerous duties connected with farm life. In 1894 he was matriculated as a student in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana, and he was graduated in that well-known institu- tion as a member of the class of 1898, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He then taught school for one year and in the fall of 1899 entered the state university, in the law department of which he was graduated in 1902, as a Bachelor of Law. He immediately began the practice of law as a member of a firm of Todd & Gordon and this mutually agreeable partnership alliance continued until September, 1907, when it was dissolved. Since that time Mr. Gordon has practiced law by himself and he is well known as a reliable and conscientious attorney. He represents a number of local corporations, among them heing W. B. Brown Company. Mr. Gordon is a member of the board of directors of the Public Drug Company, which has stores at Bluffton, Decatur and Huntington, and he is a stockholder in the following or- ganizations : The W. B. Brown Company, the Union Savings & Trust Company, and the Studebaker Grain & Seed Company.
November 8, 1903, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Gordon to Miss Josephine Mills, a daughter of L. C. Mills and a native of Wells County. Mrs. Gordon is a talented musician, being a graduate of the conservatory of music at Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
Mr. Gordon is a republican in politics, warmly advocating the party principles and he has been active in local and state politics. Ile has devoted himself assiduously to his profession, yet finds time to par- ticipate in the furtherance of all matters tending to promote the gen- eral welfare. In Masonie circles he is a member of Bluffton Lodge No. 145, Free and Accepted Masons; is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason; and is likewise affiliated with the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Ft. Wayne. As a man he is thoroughly conscientious, of undoubted integrity, affable and courteous in manner, and he has a host of friends and few, if any, enemies.
DAVID FRANKLIN TEEPLE. Statesmen and students of industry often refer to transportation as the greatest and most indispensable ele- ment of modern civilization, but too often the transportation system is made to include only that traffic borne on railroads or by water carriers. Not less vital to the efficiency and working of the general system is the traffic that goes on daily in the streets of cities and towns, and that could hardly be cut off with any less disastrous results than the stoppage of railroad communication. It is necessary to remember these points in estimating the extent of the services and appreciating the value of such a local business man as Mr. David Teeple of Decatur.
For over thirty years Mr. Teeple has been engaged in the draying and transfer business at Decatur. He has carried merchandise back and forth over the streets, from railroads to store, from house to house, and is in a position to appreciate the changes made in the local streets perhaps better than any other citizen. In early days he carted goods over streets paved principally with mud, though in places cob- blestones furnished something like reliable footing. At the present time his automobile trucks and horse vehicles traverse many blocks
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of fine pavement. He has a large amount of money invested in equip- ment. He has two automobile trucks, one 31% ton and the other two ton capacity, and also has three large horse trucks. He handles prac- tically all the service for the three railway companies. The only ex- ception to his continuous service of thirty years was one year when he turned his business over to another party. Mr. Teeple owns a large lot on North First Street and there he has his modern ten-room house, and also a large brick storage and horse barn.
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