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 69
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 69
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Mr. Teeple was born in Van Wert County, Ohio, July 7, 1869, but in 1875, at the age of six years, his parents came to Decatur, where his life since then has been spent. He is a son of Thomas H. and Delana (Springer) Teeple, both natives of Lancaster County, Ohio. They married in Van Wert County, and for over forty years have lived in Adams County, Indiana. His father was for many years a railway employee, also for a time was in the draying business, and though now seventy years of age is still sprightly and active and is doing good serv- ice as a crossing watchman for the Erie Railway at Decatur. His wife died about ten years ago, when sixty years of age. They were Evangelical Church people, and in politics the father is a republican, principles which he probably inherited as a result of his service as a soldier of the Union army. He was in the One Hundred and Sixty- ninth Indiana Infantry, was in many battles, had many narrow escapes, was once slightly wounded but was never absent from duty or roll call on account of injury or sickness. He and his wife had eleven chil- dren, and David F. and three sisters are still living, all married.
In Decatur David F. Teeple married Agnes Reardon. She was born in Van Wert County about seven years after her husband, but grew up and was educated in Decatur. Her parents died in this city many years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Teeple had thirteen children, one of whom died in infancy. They are Louisa, David, Naomi, Marcella, Leo, Aurena, Letitia, Josephine, Lorena, Helen, Franklin, Edward Anthony and Anthony Edward, twins. The only one married is Louisa, wife of Martin Braton, of Decatur, and they have a son, Robert. The son David drives a truck for his father. Naomi is a student in the eighth grade, Marcella in the seventh grade, Leo in the fifth grade, and Aurena in the third grade. The family are all active members of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Mr. Teeple is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, and he and his wife are members of the Catholic Benevolent League of Indiana. Politically Mr. Teeple is a republican.
MICHAEL MILLER, representing a family of long residence in Adams County, was formerly actively engaged in farming, but for the past fifteen years has been one of the leading road and street contractors in this section of Indiana.
Fifteen years ago he built his first road by contract in Washington Township. It was a three mile stretch of macadam turnpike. A lit- tle later he constructed another three miles of the same material a short distance from Decatur. Since then he has taken many contracts, rep- resenting improvements of many thousands of dollars, and has built roads and streets both in and out of Decatur. In 1914 he built the street, including curbs and sidewalks, on Tarva Street in Decatur. He also curbed Russell and Oak streets, and put down a mile of side- walk and curbing on Third Street.
Mr. Miller was born in Huron County, Ohio, August 17, 1856, and was eight months old when his parents removed from that county to Adams County, Indiana, settling in Washington Township, where Michael Miller grew up and received his early education. He is a son
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of Mathias and Barbara (Ilaine) Miller, both of whom were born in Germany. The father was born about 1820, and was of a Catholic fam- ily. They came to the United States when young people, and the father made several trips back and forth to Germany. On his last trip to this country his young bride accompanied him, and they married in New York City. About their first location after marriage was in Decatur, Indiana, but a few years later they moved to Huron County, Ohio. Returning to Adams County in 1857, they bought a tract of wooded land in section 22 of Washington Township, and they put up with the simple comforts of a log cabin home for a number of years. The farm is still owned by the family and represents a high degree of develop- ment since the Millers first took possession sixty-seven years ago.
Mathias Miller was a veteran of the Union army. In 1862 he joined Company K of the Eighty-ninth Indiana Infantry. He was one of 300 that were recruited in and around Decatur at that time. He saw two years and nine months of active service and finally in the battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, was shot, the ball passing below the upper rib and out through the shoulder blade. It was a wound that inca- pacitated him for further duty and he was finally discharged. He recovered his health and strength, and became a very energetic and prosperous farmer in Adams County. He lived there to the fullness of years and died at the age of eighty-three, his wife passing away at seventy-seven. They were active members and supporters of St. Mary's Catholic Church at Decatur. Mathias Miller was a war repub- lican but finally joined the democratic party.
Mr. Michael Miller was one of a family of seven children. His sister Mary died at the age of seventeen and his sister Barbara at twen- ty-one. Five of the family are still living, all married.
In Washington Township Michael Miller married Miss Mary Gass, only living child of John P. Gass. John P. Gass, who died in Wash- ington Township at the age of eighty-two, was an Adams County pio- neer. He was born in France November 24, 1813, a son of Henry and Catherine Gass. In 1828 the family came to America, landing in New York City, and for about nine years lived in Oswego County, New York, and spent a similar period in Wayne County, Ohio. In Wayne County John P. Gass married in April, 1846, Miss Catherine Moine. After the birth of their first child, Eugene, the Gass family in 1847 came to Adams County and settled in the woods of section 33, Wash- ington Township John P. Gass built a log cabin there and moved his family into the house before it had windows or doors. His first crop was five acres of wheat, but in the course of time he had most of his land cleared and was reckoned as one of the most prosperous and sub- stantial farmers of the township. The old Gass farm comprised 200 acres. His wife died there on Jannary 12, 1883. John P. Gass was a democrat and he and his wife were pioneer members of St. Mary's Catholic Church. John P. Gass when he came to Adams County had only a team, wagon and $20 in money, but long before his death his hard work and good management had enabled him to accumulate a good estate and he was also honored with the confidence of his fellow citizens, serving as road supervisor and in various positions of trust and responsibility.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller became the parents of three children. One son died in infancy. Bertha E. married Tony Hackman and died at the age of twenty-four years and three months. Christian A. died at the age of fourteen. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of St. Mary's Cath- olie Church and he is a fourth degree Knight of Columbus.
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ANDREW M. HENRY. The heaviest burdens of the world's work are carried by a number of individuals whose chief distinction rests in the fact that they have been conscientious, industrious and faithful work- ers at a given task through a long period of years. No man in Adams County deserves greater credit on this score than Andrew M. Henry, a veteran railroad man who has probably constructed, repaired and maintained more railroad tracks in this county than any other indi- vidual. He is at present roadmaster for the Fort Wayne and Deca- tur Traction Company.
Mr. Henry was born at the old Quaker Town of Salem, Ohio, March 13, 1856, but when he was six months of age his parents moved to Allen County, Indiana. He grew up on a scarcely developed farm in the wilderness of that section, got his education in the local schools, and at Sheldon, Indiana, learned the trade of blacksmith and horse shoer. For four years he followed this as a journeyman occupation at Hoagland in Allen County, and was a blacksmith seven years before he took up railroad service. He began railroading with the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railway Company about the time that road was constructed. For several years he worked under a foreman, and was then made section foreman and for twenty-six years held that office with headquarters at Hoagland. As the roadbed was new Mr. Henry had heavy responsibilities, but he kept the track in good condition, the grades true, and looked after all the endless detail of the work until he had his section as highly developed and in as perfect a condition as any part of the entire system. Mr. Henry left the Grand Rapids and Indiana after more than a quarter of a century of faithful service to become roadmaster for the Fort Wayne and Decatur Traction Com- pany at the time the roadbed was constructed. He helped build it thir- teen years ago and has since been employed in keeping the property in first class condition, and his superior officers recognize and have com- plimented him many times upon the thoroughness of his work and his service.
Mr. Henry is a son of David Henry, who was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and there married Mary Beckley, of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. When they came to Allen County, Indiana, he acquired a tract of wild land of 400 acres. Their purchase repre- sented the second transfer of this land from the time it left the United States Government. David Henry with the aid of his wife and stal- wart sons improved this into a good farm. He and his wife had three children who were born in Pennsylvania: William, deceased ; John, who served as a soldier in the Civil war; and Abraham, who died in infancy. The children born to the parents in Ohio were: Samuel, Aaron and Andrew. William and John both lived to be seventy-three years of age, were married and had children. The other three are all married and all of them are successful farmers except Andrew.
At Hoagland, Indiana, Andrew M. Henry married Malaney C. Har- rod, daughter of Joseph Harrod, now deceased. Her parents were na- tives of Ohio and for many years were farming people in Allen County, Indiana. Mrs. Henry was born on a farm three miles north of Hoag- land July 3, 1853, and grew up there and lived in that community until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Henry are active members of the Methodist Church. Though not a farmer, he still owns eighty acres of the old family homestead in Allen County, a portion of the 400 acres which his father bought more than half a century ago. Mr. and Mrs. Henry are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and in polities he is a republican.
Their only son, Enos A., has made a brilliant record as an engineer.
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He was born at Hoagland, Indiana, November 8, 1884, and was edu- cated in the engineering department of the Ohio Northern University at Ada. After graduating he was put on the engineering staff of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railway Company and subsequently served with various other railroads. He was employed in railroad engineering in North Carolina and was also city engineer at Newbern, North Car- olina. From there he went to Georgia and is now connected with the Southern Engineering Company of Augusta. He married in North Carolina Beulah Simpson, and they have a son, Andrew Max.
MRS. EDITH ( SPRUNGER) LEHMANN. A woman of much force of character, generous and hospitable, Mrs. Edith (Sprunger) Lehmann has spent her entire life in Monroe Township, Adams County, where her birth occurred July 9, 1864, and enjoys to the utmost the esteem and confidence of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
Her father, Daniel Sprunger, a native of Switzerland, was a son of John and Barbara Sprunger, who lived and died in the country of their birth. Coming to the United States when young, he spent a few years in Wayne County, Ohio, remaining there until after his marriage. He subsequently came with his family to Adams County, Indiana, and having purchased 160 acres of land in Monroe Township immediately began the pioneer labor of clearing a homestead from the wilderness. Working energetically, he spent many of the best years of his life in redeeming from its primitive wildness a portion of this beautiful country, uprooting the trees, plowing the sod and helping to make a broad track for the advance of civilization. He subsequently sold eighty acres of his farm, but retained the remainder of his estate, and there resided until his death, December 25, 1916. He married Barbara Leh- mann, who was born in Wayne County, Ohio, and died on the home farm in Monroe Township August 1, 1872.
Mrs. Edith Lehmann, the special subject of this sketch, was edu- cated in the district schools, and under her mother's wise instruction became accomplished in the domestic arts. On October 24, 1883, she was united in marriage with Judith Lehmann, a son of Abraham and Barbara (Zuercher) Lehmann. Twelve children blessed their union, namely : Levi, born August 8, 1884; Amelia, born November 19, 1885; Omer, born August 20, 1888, married Celestine Depp. of Adams County, on May 18, 1913; Caroline, born December 4, 1889; Alice, born August 1, 1893, married October 17. 1915; Leo Lehmann. of Adams County ; Elizabeth, born April 12, 1895 ;. Gertrude, born December 7, 1896, married, November 29, 1917. Clinton Soldner, of Adams County ; Albert, deceased, was born March 18, 1899; Wesley, born December 18, 1900; Laura Anna, born February 8, 1902; and Horace David, born January 2, 1910. Mrs. Lehmann is an active and consistent member of the Mennonite Church.
ALPHONS C. KOHNE. No more honored nor respected citizen might be pointed out in Adams County than Alphons C. Kohne, a retired farmer now living at Decatur. Mr. Kohne has spent many years in this county, has prospered as a farmer, has been a capable business man, a straightforward citizen and has gained a reputation for wis- dom and public spirited efforts among the community which has so long known him.
Mr. Kohne was born in Washington Township of Adams County May 19, 1855. He is a son of Arthur and Elizabeth (Kiaphke) Kohne, both natives of Hanover, Germany, and of Catholic ancestry. Their parents spent all their lives in the old country. Arthur Kohne was born
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in 1806 and came to Indiana in pioneer times. He located on a new farm in the woods of Washington Township and brought to that wil- derness home the bride of his first marriage. Her maiden name was Wilhelmina Dirk, and she died a few years after their marriage. She was a sister of Henry Dirk, with whom Arthur Kohne had come to Adams County in the early '30s. He married his second wife in New York City. With her he turned his attention to the business of mak- ing a home among the woods of Washington Township and erected a log cabin in section 8, on the forty acres which comprised his first farm. He cleared up this land, increased it by subsequent purchases, and in the course of time had a farm of 240 acres which would bear favorable comparison with any similar size place in the entire county. He was one of the capable farmers of his day and a man whose char- acter was above reproach. He died October 27, 1882, at the age of seventy-six. His wife, who was born in 1822, died in 1867, aged forty-five. Their names are especially associated with St. Mary's Catholic Church at Decatur, and they were among the first members and had much to do with the building and keeping up of the organiza- tion in its early days. Arthur Kohne and John Closs walked the en- tire distance to Cincinnati in order to collect money to enable the congregation to complete the first log church edifice. Both parents remained devout communicants of this church all the rest of their days. Arthur Kohne was also a trustee of his township at a time when the township affairs were entrusted to a board of three trustees. One of his associates in that office was Mr. Rider. Politically he was a democrat. He and his wife had four children : Mary, Bernard J., Anna and Alphons C.
Alphons C. Kohne grew up on the old farm, attended the coun- try schools, and on reaching manhood launched into the business of farming, which he followed steadily until he retired. In his native township Mr. Kohne married Mary H. Geels. She was born in Hol- land October 12, 1865, and at the age of six years came to the United States and to Allen County, Indiana, with her parents, George and Henrietta Geels. Her parents afterwards moved to Adams County, where her mother died in middle life. Her father finally went to live with his sons in the State of Arkansas and died there at the age of seventy-four. The Geels family were all Catholics. Mrs. Kohne was the only daughter, her five brothers all growing to manhood and all married and have children.
Mr. Kohne has taken more or less active part in democratie politics in Adams County. He is a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and he and his family are all worshippers in St. Mary's Catholic Church. Concerning his children the following record is made : Ida I., the oldest, married Charles Cole, a hardware merchant at Hamilton, Indiana, where he is in business with his father; they have two sons, James and Roger. Bertha, the second daughter, was educated in the local parochial schools and is a graduate in music from Holy Cross Academy at Fort Wayne. She lives at home and is a teacher in Decatur. Estella is now known as Sister Frances Clare, a Sister of St. Agnes, and has charge of some branch of hospital service at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Agnes is a graduate of St. Mary's parochial school at Decatur and of the Sacred Heart Convent and is an accomplished musician, but is now employed as clerk in a drug store. Raymond B. is a graduate of the local parochial schools and afterward was in business at Decatur with Horace Gallow, a druggist, until called into the National army. He is now stationed at Camp Shelby, at Hat- tiesburg, Mississippi. Ambrose after finishing the parochial schools en-
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tered St. Joseph's College near Rensselaer, Indiana, where he is still pursuing his studies. Gerald, the youngest of the family, is still a schoolboy in St. Mary's parochial school.
HENRY KRICK. A prominent, prosperous, and well-to-do citizen of Decatur, Henry Krick, who was for many years president of the De- catur Tile Company, is now living retired from active pursuits, having by means of persevering industry and good management acquired a handsome competency. A son of John Kriek, Jr., he was born Octo- ber 24, 1845, in Berks County, Pennsylvania, coming from thrifty Ger- man ancestry.
The immigrant ancestor of the family to which he belongs came from Germany to America in 1731 and settled near Reading, Penn- sylvania, where he acquired title to 400 acres of land, on which he was engaged in farming until his death. He reared a family of thirteen children, most of whom lived and died in that locality, and there, in Berks County, many of his descendants are living, one of whom owns and occupies 160 acres of the original Krick homestead. The Kriek family is well known there as industrious and prosperous peo- ple and prominent in business circles.
John Krick. Sr., Mr. Krick's grandfather, was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and spent his seventy-seven years of early life on the home farm. He and his good wife were active members of the German Reformed Church.
John Kriek, Jr., one of a family of nine children, was born at Sinking Spring, Berks County, in 1812, and was there engaged in farming and stock raising during his life, dying in 1880. He was a democrat in politics, and a member of the German Reformed Church, to which his family also belonged. He married Elizabeth Schleter, who was born and reared in Berks County, as were her parents, John and Mary (Jackson) Schleter. Of their union five sons and two daugh- ters were born, four of whom are now living, and are married and have families.
Leaving school at the age of thirteen years, Henry Krick subse- quently assisted his father on the home farm for about six years. Starting westward then, with the hope of bettering his fortunes he arrived at Decatur, Indiana, January 16, 1865. The place was then small, with but few industries established. He had previously learned the tinner's trade, but finding no opportunity then to follow it he was engaged for two years in sawing wood with a buck saw. He after- wards worked for two and a half years at his trade, receiving $80 a year and his board. Mr. Krick then became agent for a hardware and implement store, and for a number of years carried on a good business among the farming population, selling goods in the country.
Enterprising and resourceful, Mr. Krick embarked in a business new in the county, being the first one in the locality to buy and ship eggs and farm produce to the city markets. With the limited capital of $85 he bought a horse and wagon, running in debt for them $20, plus the cost of his first shipment of eggs. From 1879 until 1894 he traveled the roads, many of which in those days were nearly impassable, but, however rough or muddy, he never gave up, pulling himself and load through in some way. From 1878 until 1882 he served as sheriff of Adams County, being the youngest man at that time ever elected to that office.
In the meantime Mr. Krick established a brick kiln, and in 1882 embarked in the manufacture of brick, and for ten years manufactured all the bricks used in the erection of public buildings in the city
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with the exception of the Decatur courthouse, and also shipped bricks to various places for making sidewalks. In 1892 Mr. John Tyndall, our associate editor, and a Mr. Meyer began making tile at the old briek plant, and in 1898 the business was incorporated, with Mr. Krick as president ; John Tyndall, secretary and treasurer, and George M. Krick, manager. An extensive and profitable business was soon established, the plant being strictly up-to-date in its equipment and the machinery used being of the most modern and approved style. Since retiring from active pursuits Mr. Krick has been enjoying the fruits of his many years of toil at his pleasant home at 405 Mereer Avenue.
Mr. Krick is a prominent member of the democratic party, and for two years, from 1899 until 1891, represented Adams County in the State Legislature. He was one of the organizers of the Decatur Gas Company, in which he is a director. He is also an extensive land- holder, owning two farms, of 160 acres each, in Washington Township ; 895 acres in the Louisiana State and Grower's Association, and 200 acres elsewhere. He is a strong temperance man, and did much toward making Decatur dry territory.
Mr. Krick married, in Adams County, Sarah Mangold, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1854, and in 1862 came with her par- ents, Ephraim and Mary (Slayback) Mangold, to Indiana, settling on a farm in Preble Township, where she was reared and educated. Mrs. Kriek has been for many years an active worker in religious and chari- table undertakings. For the past seven years she has been a member of the Adams County Children's Charities; she is a valued member of the Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church; and is likewise an active member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Decatur.
Mr. and Mrs. Krick have a large family of children, as follows: Nellie M., wife of Prof. John R. Parrish, principal of the Fort Wayne schools, has two children, John R. and Marian; Frank, who farms and works in the factory, married Eva Elsa, and they have three chil- dren, Pauline, Robert and Joseph; George MI., manager of the tile factory, married Mary Klinehitz, and they have one son, Arthur W .; Desire, wife of Lewis Dolch of Toledo, Ohio, has one child, Ruth Vir- ginia; Augnes of Gary, Indiana, is in the office of Mayor Ross John- son ; Josephine, who is a graduate nurse from the Lakeside Hospital, is now superintendent of a hospital in Kendallville, Indiana; Virgil, superintendent of a tile factory in Auburn, Iowa, married Merle Leon- ard, and they have two daughters, Barbara and Talisa; and Walter, a graduate of the Decatur High School, is now continuing his studies in the agricultural department of Purdue University. The family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Kriek is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
FRED V. MILLS. Closely identified with the advancement of the mercantile interests of Adams County, Fred V. Mills of Decatur has met with highly satisfactory success as a grocer, and won a position of note among the leading business men of his community. A native of Ohio, he was born one mile west of Bladensburg, Knox County, August 17, 1866.
Isaac N. Mills, father of the subject of this sketch, was also born a mile west of Bladensburg, Ohio, and there spent his eighty-five years of early life, having been prosperously engaged in farming. He mar- ried Ophelia Sims, who was born July 27, 1827, in Saint Clairsville. Belmont County, Ohio. She outlived him, dying May 13, 1916, on the old home farm. Both she and her husband were members of the Pres-
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