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 72
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 72
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Obviously Mr. Reppert is a man of many parts and of highly special- ized training along varied lines. His knowledge is not confined to live- stock alone or to commercial values, but involves a great amount of familiarity with human nature. He is also a linguist, and has a speak- ing fluency with German, French and even with the Spanish tongue.
Mr. Reppert confesses to an age of forty years but would not impress one as more than thirty. This is due to a complete conservation of every physical power of his body and mind. He has avoided any habit that would interfere with his perfect physical robustness, and whilo he weighs over 200 pounds he has not a single pound of superfluous flesh and is one of the finest specimens of manhood that one could meet in a day's travel. With a wit equal to every emergency, and with a mind of wonderful fertility and invention, Mr. Reppert combines a strong, musical and pleasing voice, and apart from his business effi- cieney he is a welcome addition to any social gathering.
Mr. Reppert was born in a log house in Preble Township of Adams County, but was reared and educated in French Township of that coun- ty. His father, Fred Reppert, Sr., was born near Heidelberg, Germany, seventy-six years ago and was four or five years of age when he came with his father, also named Fred, to this country. They made the journey in an old fashioned sailing vessel, which took many weeks in crossing the ocean, and from New York they came direct to Preble Township of Adams County. The grandfather located on a tract of raw land, cleared it up and developed a good farm, and the grandpar- ents spent all their lives there. They were nearly 100 years old when they died. Fred Reppert, Sr., grew up there on a farm, and entered the auctioneering profession at the age of twenty spending practically his entire active career in that line though he always had a farm. Dur- ing the Civil war he enlisted in Company K of the Eighty-ninth Indi- ana Volunteer Infantry and was in active service in many campaigns, but escaped all injury. He married Louise Sellemeyer, of Adams County, and for a number of years they have lived at Vera Cruz in Wells County and are still enjoying fine health and an ample prosper- ity. They are active members of the German Reformed Church, as were their parents.
Fred Reppert, Jr., a number of years ago recognized the value of real estate as an investment. Near Decatur he bought 200 acres of the finest farming land in the county. This is known as the Bellmont Stock Farm, and is one of the model places of the entire county. Its improvements represent a large amount of money, and the buildings are unexcelled for substantial character and convenience. Nothing is left undone that will add to the value and attractiveness of this farm. The farm manager has a home that many city people would envy and the tenants are all housed with every degree of comfort.
Mr. Reppert is also engaged in the lumber business at Decatur in association with his father-in-law, Mathias Kirsch. They conduct a large retail yard, handling all kinds of lumber and building supplies and materals. Mr. Reppert as another interest owns and operates a 500 acre cotton plantation in Louisiana, and for years has grown great quantities of the finest staple cotton.
Ilis own residence is one of the most complete modern homes in De- catur. located at 520 North Second Street, and perhaps the choicest residential section of town. He built there an artistic home, of hrown stucco exterior, containing a dozen rooms, and with every facility that modern life demands.
September 15, 1901, Mr. Reppert married in Adams County Miss Adella Kirsch. She was born in Bellmont, Illinois, in 1881, but was
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reared and educated in Decatur, a daughter of Mr. Mathias Kirsch, a prominent Decatur business man whose career is recited on other pages. Mr. and Mrs. Reppert have two children: Eleanor, born Sep- tember 12, 1904, and is now a student in high school, and Rowland Leroy, born December 22, 1914. The family are members of the Ger- man Reformed Church and politically Mr. Reppert is a democrat.
JOHN W. SHAFER, a resident of Adams County over thirty-five years, grew to manhood here, and has given a good account of his years in his chosen work of farming. He owns one of the good farms in Union Township, located nine miles northeast of Decatur and on Rural Route No. 3.
He is a son of the late George Shafer, who died in January, 1909, and whose name is held in high honor because of his service as a soldier in the Union army. George Shafer was born in Crawford County, Ohio, October 17, 1843, son of Philip and Mary Magdalene (Lebo) Shafer, both the Shafers and Lebos being of German ancestry. Philip Shafer was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1805, and was a pio- neer settler in Crawford County, Ohio, going there in 1834. He en- tered land from the Government, and after improving it sold out in 1845 and moved to Illinois for 11% years. He then returned to Craw- ford County and lived there until his death, July 2, 1883. His wife was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, October 1, 1803. and died in Crawford County October 2, 1873. They were members of the Lutheran Church and active Christians. They had a family of nine children. Another son, John, was in the One Hundred and Twenty- third Ohio Infantry and was probably killed in action a day or two before the surrender of Lee.
George Shafer grew up in his native county and was a youth not yet nineteen when, on August 18, 1862, he enlisted in Company H of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio Infantry. He served suc- cessively under Colonel Milroy, General Sigel, General Hunter and General Sheridan. He was in the Eighth Army Corps, and was in active service in West Virginia and Virginia. September 3, 1864, he was wounded by a minie ball which shattered his right arm and at the same instant was shot through hoth thighs. He lay on the battle-field from Saturday evening until Monday evening, forty-eight hours. He was finally picked up and taken to the hospital at Winchester, where his arm was amputated, and then remained in the general hospital at Frederick, Maryland, until honorably discharged in January, 1865. After he returned home he spent a year recuperating. and then went to work on his father's farm. After his marriage he lived in a place of his own, also managed his father's farm, bought a forty acre place in Sandusky County, Ohio, in 1874, and after selling out came to sec- tion 5 of Union Township in Adams County in April. 1882. He was one of the honored residents of this county the rest of his life.
February 25, 1868. Mr. George Shafer married Sarah E. Wert, who was born in Crawford County, Ohio, June 6, 1843, and died in Adams County, Indiana in February, 1901. She was a daughter of Adam and Mary (McManus) Wert. Her father was born in Cum- berland County, Pennsylvania, June 5, 1817, and went with his parents to Crawford County, Ohio, at the age of nine years. He died in that county December 6, 1884. His wife was born in Crawford County Jan- uary 13, 1822. Mrs. George Shafer was the second in a family of eleven children. She was a granddaughter of JJoseph and Barbara (Kitch) Wert, both natives of Pennsylvania, and was a maternal granddaughter of James and Sarah ( Walter) MeManus, also natives of Pennsylvania
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and all of them early settlers in Crawford Connty, Ohio. Some of her ancestors were soldiers in the Revolutionary war.
Mr. and Mrs. George Shafer had six children: Mary A., born November 14, 1868, wife of W. W. Mumma; Rosa E., born July 27, 1871, wife of Thomas Griffith; John W .; Franklin J., born January 18, 1875, died in 1882; William W., born October 4, 1878, a resident of Union Township; and Charles E., born February 23, 1885, also of Un- ion Township.
Mr. John W. Shafer was born near Bucyrus, Ohio, June 20, 1873, and was nine years old when his parents came to Adams County. Ile received most of his education in Union Township, and was at home with his parents up to the age of twenty-one.
In 1895 he married Miss Edith Wherry. She was born in Union Township, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Wherry. After com- pleting her education Mrs. Shafer was bookkeeper for the firm of Bax- ter & Friedline at Bluffton until some time before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Shafer have three children: Lele, a graduate of the common schools and wife of Edgar Gerber; Joseph R., a graduate of the Mon- roeville High School; and George K., who is now in the third year of high school.
The Shafer family are active members of the United Brethren Church at East Liberty, and he is serving as one of the church trustees. He is a democrat in politics, but has seldom participated actively, though he is a thinking and observing citizen and endeavors to fulfill all his responsibilities as a member of the community. Mr. Shafer and wife have one of the good farms of Union Township, comprising eighty acres.
JAMES A. HENDRICKS. Adams County takes a just pride in its pub- lic highways, and never more than at present when the care and super- intendency of these arteries of traffic have been under the direction of James A. Hendricks. Mr. Hendricks was appointed to his office by the board of county commissioners January 1, 1914. But he has had more or less active connection with the highways for a number of years. Altogether his supervision extends to about 600 miles of roads in Adams County. Mr. Hendricks was elected a county commissioner and filled that office from 1910 until he resigned to take the superin- tendency of the improved highways. In this office he has proceeded with his business on a methodical plan, and has had the county divided into twelve road districts, over each of which he has an assistant superintendent.
Prior to coming to Decatur Mr. Hendricks was for many years in the employ of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railway Company at Mon- roe in Adams County. He was a faithful operator and agent for that road twenty-five years. When he left the railway company he was given a clean bill of health and was known as a man who could al- ways be trusted with carrying out an order down to the last detail.
Mr. Hendricks was born in Washington Township of Adams County December 11, 1863. He grew up there and received a common school education, and after going to work for the railroad he carried his text books along and continued his studies until he was well versed in the ordinary lines of learning and by increased experience has become thoroughly posted on many subjects. Mr. Hendricks was only a small boy when he stood on a box in order to sell railroad tickets in the station where his father was agent.
His father, Basil Hendricks, was a son of John and Mrs. (Custer) Hendricks, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. They were married in Ohio and took up farming in Harrison
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County of that state, where they spent their last years. They were members of the Methodist Protestant Church and the grandfather, John, was a democrat. Basil Hendricks was born in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1818 and died at his home in Adams County, Indiana, Sep- tember 21, 1888. He first married in Ohio a Miss Cutchall, and in 1848 they came to Adams County, Indiana, being pioneers. They se- eured a tract of land in the wilds of Washington Township, built a log cabin home, and his first wife died in that old home when in middle life. Her five children were Jane, Oliver, Addie, John W. and Jacob. All of these married except Jane, who is still living in Decatur at the age of seventy-four.
Basil Hendricks first came to Adams County on horseback, carry- ing $600 in gold in his saddle bags. With this money he made his first purchase of land. After the death of his first wife he married Mrs. Mary (Coffman) Hower. Her first husband was Martin Hower, and the two children of that union, Sarah and Rebecca, married brothers, George and Daniel Roop. The second wife of Basil Hendricks died at Monroe in 1908, at the age of seventy-six. She and her husband for a number of years were actively identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically he was a rock-ribbed democrat. Basil Hendricks was the first railroad agent of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad at Monroe, having been commissioned to that office in 1871. He filled it practically all the rest of his life, and at the same time conducted his farm and a store. He was at one time candidate for the office of county commissioner. Basil and Mary Hendricks had the following children : Hattie, widow of Lacy Sells, a farmer of Monroe, where she is still living. Her family consisted of five sons and daughters, four of whom are living and all married. The second child, David, was a farmer, is now deceased, being survived by his widow. The third is
Mr. James A. Hendricks. Minnie married Cranson Albaugh, and they live in Dennison, Ohio. Ella died after her marriage to L. A. Graham, and her children are Gladys, Harold and Gretchen.
James A. Hendricks married Elizabeth Thompson, a daughter of Howard W. Thompson. She was born in Harrison County, Ohio, May 2. 1867, and at the age of two years was brought to Adams County by her parents, who settled in Washington Township, where she grew up. Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks have three sons. Clyde W. graduated from the Decatur High School in 1913 and is both a teacher and telegraph operator, at the present time being principal of the Monroe High School. He married Anna Smith of Monroe and a graduate of the Monroe High School. They have a son, Richard W. Howard Gale, the second child, was born January 27, 1899, graduated in 1916 from the Monroe High School, and is now assisting his father at home as engineer on the road roller. MeGee, the youngest child, was born May 15, 1905, and is still carrying on his studies. The family are active members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Hendricks is affiliated with Lodge No. 571, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; with Chapter No. 112. Royal Arch Masons; with Lodge No. 65 of the Knights of Pythias, and with Lodge No. 993 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Hendricks is now serving his third term as highway superin- tendent of turn pikes of Adams County. He purchased the home farm from the heirs, containing 140 acres, and is living on one corner of the property. He has a tenant on the farm.
EDWARD X. EHINGER. The name Edward X. Ehinger is one that appears and reappears frequently in connection with the modern busi- ness activities of Decatur and also in connection with its civic and
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benevolent institutions. Mr. Ehinger has spent much of his life either as a merchant or banker, and is now cashier of the old Adams County Bank, a position he has held for ten years.
Prior to that he was connected with the bank about thirty years ago as bookkeeper and assistant cashier. It is one of his characteris- ties to assume all the responsibilities connected with any work which he undertakes, and he applied himself so completely to the tasks then assigned him that his health gave way and he had to recuperate by a somewhat extended stay of about four months in California. He was there during the summer of 1891, living at different places. On re- turning to Decatur he became associated with his brother Charles Peter Ehinger and a brother-in-law, Mr. J. H. Meyer, in the clothing business. This firm finally sold their store. Both Mr. Meyer and Charles Peter Ehinger have died within the last year. Both were well known merchants of Decatur, and Charles P. Ehinger was for a num- ber of years connected with the clothing company of John Niblick.
In 1894 Edward X. Ehinger became associated with the First Na- tional Bank of Decatur, which was then practically under the same administration as it is today. For twenty years Mr. Ehinger was cashier of the First Natinal Bank, as told in the record of that institn- tion found elsewhere in this work. He came from the First National to his present position with the old Adams County Bank.
Mr. Ehinger has been a director of the Citizens Telephone Com- pany for a number of years and has been quite active in the upbuilding of that local concern. He was one of the organizers and a member of the first board of the local library and has been connected with it ever since. He was a member of the building committee which erected the present Decatur Public Library, and for a number of years has been treasurer of the board. Decatur now has one of the handsomest library buildings in the state, located on Third Street.
Mr. Ehinger was born in Columbia City, Whitley County, Indiana, February 22, 1861. Several years later his parents removed to Jef- ferson County, where he spent a considerable portion of his hoyhood and where he attended the parochial schools. From there the fam- ily came to Decatur, and here as a small boy he found employment in stores and laid the foundation of his business career. When only fif- teen years of age he was appointed deputy postmaster, and held that position for 712 years during the administrations of J. A. Blossom, B. W. Schulty and Shaffer Peterson. Though very young for such re- sponsibilities Mr. Ehinger proved his ability and diligence and put forth efforts that won the confidence of his superiors and the commen- dation of all patrons of the postoffice. Mr. Ehinger was possessed of a splendid physical constitution, and was very athletic in his earlier years. It has been his aggressiveness and persistence and untiring in- dustry that have accomplished his successful business career.
Mr. Ehinger is of old German ancestry. His parents were Florian and Elizabeth (Schmidt) Ehinger. His father was born in one of the German countries along the Rhine and his mother near the French border. Florian Ehinger came to the United States with his parents and located near New Haven in Allen County, Indiana. The mother was only seven years of age when her people came to Adams County, locating near Decatur. Florian Ehinger and wife were married at Fort Wayne, then located at Columbia City and finally came to De- catur. Florian Ehinger was a tailor by trade, and for many years was in the clothing and merchant tailoring business. He died at De- catur in 1876. His widow is still living at the age of seventy-seven. Ile was a democrat and both were confirmed in the Catholic Church.
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Edward X. Ehinger married at Decatur Miss Catherine E. Bremer- kamp. She was born and reared and educated in Adams County and before her marriage was employed as a clerk. Her parents were J. H. and Magdalena Bremerkamp, both natives of Germany and early set- tlers in Adams County, where her father was a pioneer merchant of Decatur. They were members of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Ehinger have six children. Thomas, the oldest, is married and lives at Decatur and has two daughters, Margaret E. and Virginia R. Edna E. is the wife of William II. Berling, of Decatur, and they have a son, William E. Joseph J. was educated for the priesthood in the Passionist Order and is now known as Rev. Father Vincent, living at Cincinnati. IIenry H. is a clothing merchant at Decatur and is unmarried. Leo E. is now at Camp Harrison, Indiana, as corporal of Company A, Fifteenth Regiment. Elma J. is still carrying on her studies in the local high school and during vacations works in the bank with her father. The family are all active mem- bers of St. Mary's Catholic Church, which Mr. Ehinger serves as treasurer and trustee.
MARTIN J. MYLOTT continuously since 1890 has been superintend- ent of the light and water department of the City of Decatur. To him more than any other individual belongs the credit for the efficiency of that department of the public service. And the people generally have learned to appreciate his work and have come to understand the advantage to a community of concentrating definite responsibilities upon one man through a long period of years. Mr. Mylott is a master of every detail connected with the operation of the lighting and water system, and his long experience enables him to render a service in which the community has found perfect satisfaction. He was first ap- pointed by the city council on November 16, 1890, and there has never been an occasion for a reappointment or any disturbance of his re- sponsibilities.
Mr. Mylott brought to his present position more than a quarter of a century ago a thorough knowledge and experience as a machinist and mechanical and electrical engineer. He had studied the theoretical branches of his profession in Notre Dame University at South Bend, Indiana. For eighteen months he was connected with the Fort Wayne Electric Works, and then when the City of Decatur took over the light and water plant he was called to the office of superintendent at the beginning.
Mr. Mylott was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, January 10, 1876. A few months after his birth his mother carried him in her arms over the grounds of the great Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, but so far as he knows the magnificent exhibits left no definite impression on his infant mind. When he was five years of age his parents, Thomas and Margaret (Niblock) Mylott, came to Decatur in 1881. His parents ents are still living in Decatur, and both are natives of Ireland. His father was born in County Mayo October 19, 1846, and his mother near Belfast May 21, 1846. They came to America when single and both represent a long line of Irish Catholic ancestry. They married in Youngstown, Ohio, November 19, 1874. The father was a steel worker, and at Youngstown was employed as a base roller in the Brown- Bonnell Steel Mills. Later he moved to Huntington, Indiana, work- ing in a flax mill, and after six months came to Decatur, where he established a flax factory. This was not altogether a success, since he could not induce or educate the farmers to appreciate the advantages of the flax mill. and he finally gave up its operation. For the past
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thirty-four years continuously he has been in the employ of the Erie Railway Company in charge of its local waterworks. Thus both father and son have that enviable distinction which goes with long continued service in one position. Too much eredit cannot be given to such men, who perform a service which is indispensable to the welfare of the world. Both parents are still living at Decatur, both active members of St. Mary's Catholic Church, and of their eleven children nine grew up. one son dying in infancy and a daughter, Genevieve, in childhood. Of the nine living children seven are sons.
Martin J. Mylott, the oldest of the family, married at Decatur Mary Fullenkamp. She was born at Decatur April 15. 1879, grew up here and attended the parochial schools. Her parents, Jacob and Mary (Klachake) Fullenkamp, were also natives of Indiana, were married in Adams County, and spent many years in the county and at Deca- tur. Her father, who died in 1901, at the age of sixty, was a dry goods merchant. He voted as a democrat. Mrs. Mylott's mother is still living at the age of seventy-three and a devout worshiper in St. Mary's Catholic Church. The Fullenkamps had a large family, eight of whom are still living and six married. On son, Herbert, is now a soldier in the American army, being in an officers training camp at Fort Thomas, Kentucky.
Mr. and Mrs. Mylott are the parents of four children: Margaret, born July 26. 1904; Gerald, born December 12, 1905: Jerome, born March 4, 1907, and Frederick, born September 19, 1910. The older children are students in the parochial schools. All the family are mem- bers of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Mr. Mylott has been prominent in the Knights of Columbus. He holds the fourth degree in that order and has served as grand knight and in other offices.
CHARLES J. JONES trustee of Blue Creek Township of Adams County, is not less a business man than a farmer. He possesses the judgment and the energy to make farming pay and to give value to land, and though he has not the benefit of as many years of experi- ence as some of his fellow citizens his career has been one of substan- tial achievement.
Mr. Jones' election as trustee of the township was in the nature of a personal triumph. He has always been a straightforward republican in his political views, while Blue Creek Township has a majority of democrats conservatively estimated at about sixty. Mr. Jones was elected trustee by a margin of nineteen votes, and nothing more clearly indicates his standing and esteem in the community.
Mr. Jones was born in Van Wert County, Ohio, April 30, 1880, son of Benjamin and Mary (Dailey) Jones, the former a native of Penn- sylvania and the latter of Indiana. The mother is still living in Van Wert County. Ohio. Benjamin Jones was a Union soldier of the Civil war. enlisting with the Forty-seventh Indiana Infantry and serv- ing to the end of hostilities, though he was twice shot during his serv- ice. After the war he located in Van Wert County. married, settled down as a farmer, and there spent his active years. He was a member of the Grange and a republican in polities. Of the thirteen children born to him and his wife twelve are still living.
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