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 8
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 8
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
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stenographer with the Marion and Bluffton Traction Company. He was with that company while the lines were being built and when the road began operation became auditor. He has gained a very thorough knowledge of the business and was promoted to his present position entirely on merit and efficiency.
April 19, 1908, Mr. Clark married Cleona Watkins. She was born and reared in Wells County, daughter of Joseph and Martha Watkins. She received most of her education in the schools of Adams County, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have three sons: Ralph W., aged seven ; James W., Jr., aged six ; and Joseph R., who was born in October, 1916. The family are active members of the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Clark is a deacon and an assistant superintendent of the Sunday school. Fraternally he is affiliated with Bluffton Lodge No. 145, Free and Accepted Masons, and has served as secretary of the lodge and is also a member of Bluffton Lodge No. 92. Knights of Pythias. Politi- cally he is quite active as a republican. Mr. and Mrs. Clark own a com- fortable home at the corner of Market and Morgan streets.
HENRY M. EDRIS about six years ago entered the real estate, insurance and farm loan business at Bluffton, and his dealings and transactions have been steadily growing in volume and importance until he now ranks among the leaders in this line in Wells County.
Mr. Edris represents an old family of Wells County, and was born on a farm in Rock ('reek Township in October, 1868. He is a son of HIenry and Emma ( Weber) Edris. Henry Edris was born in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, November 26, 1840, and died when about forty- seven years of age. llis parents were Leonard and Elizabeth (Spitler) Edris, both natives of Pennsylvania and of German stock. Henry Edris was an infant when his father died, and he grew up in the home of his mother and on January 12, 1863, married Miss Emma Weber. She was a daughter of Lawrence and Sarah ( Moyer) Weber, both natives of Berks County, Pennsylvania. In 1864 Mr. and Mrs. Henry Edris came to Wells County, Indiana, locating on a farm in section 30 of Rock Creek Township. Henry Edris cleared up his land and by industry and good management developed an excellent farm. Besides his 160 acres in Wells County he owned 80 acres in Rock Creek Township of Hunt- ington County. He and his wife were active members of the Emanuel Reformed Church in Rock Creek Township, which had been founded hy one of his wife's relatives. Politieally he was a democrat. Henry Edris and wife had eight children: Ella, wife of Calvin Smelser, of Rock Creek Township; Edward, who has one of the fine farms of Rock Creek Township; Henry M .; Aaron C., a farmer in Rock Creek Township : Elizabeth, wife of Max Shoenline. of Bluffton : Milton P., who owns and operates the old homestead in Rock Creek Township; Harry, who is connected with the Studebaker corporation in South Bend, Indiana ; Louis. of Mishawaka, Indiana.
Henry M. Edris grew up on his father's farm in Rock Creek Town- shin and had the benefit of the district schools, also the public schools of Bluffton and took a business course in Fort Wayne. Indiana. Beyond his education and good health he had no capital with which to begin life and he first commended himself to the business community in the capacity of a clerk. For sixteen years he was employed at Bluffton, and then abont 1912 entered the insurance business and has developed this line together with real estate and farm loans until his transactions cover practically all of Wells County.
Mr. Edris married Maggie Eichhorn, who was born in Rock Creek Township, a daughter of Daniel Eichhorn. They have three children.
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Henry E. is a graduate of the Bluffton High School, was employed in the Stndabaker corporation at Bluffton a year, but in May, 1917, enlisted in the army and is now in the coast artillery. The second child, Dorothy, graduated from the Bluffton High School in 1917, while Catherine is still in the public schools. The family are members of the Reformed Church and Mr. Edris is a democrat.
HARVEY LEONARE IVINS, chief engineer of the Bracy Pumping Sta- tion at Bluffton, is a veteran in the service of the oil pipe line, and has operated in the states of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, having been in the service for more than twenty-five years.
He was born in Kansas, September 29, 1874, a son of Amos and Emma (Arnold) Ivins. His father was a native of Indiana and his mother of Ohio. After their marriage they removed to Illinois, then to Kansas and finally came back to Wabash County, Indiana, and settled near Laketon. They had three sons, the other two being Edward and William.
Harvey L. Ivins grew up on a farm near Laketon, Indiana, attended the common schools there, but from the age of twelve was practically making his own living. He followed farm work for a time but at the age of fifteen found employment on a railroad section and soon after- ward went to work for the Indiana Pipe Line.
March 17, 1897, Mr. Ivins married Emma Lantzenheiser. She was reared in Wabash County and graduated from the common schools there. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ivins located in Wabash County and he also spent a brief time in North Dakota. In November, 1898, he resumed his work with the Pipe Line Company and was soon sent to Illinois, where he was an engineer for abont eighteen months. His next transfer took him to Perrysville, Ohio, where he was in the service of the Ohio Oil Company when its station was built at Perrys- ville. Fourteen months later he was transferred to Bluffton, in 1909, and has been chief engineer iu charge of the local pumping station.
Mr. and Mrs. Ivins have two sons, Harold and Arnold, the latter born in 1907. Harold has completed the course of the common schools. Mr. Ivins is affiliated with Bluffton Lodge No. 145, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and with the Modern Woodmen of America. In poli- ties, while his leaning is toward the democracy, he is largely independ- ent in casting his vote. He owns a comfortable home at the southwest corner of Ohio and Oak streets in Bluffton.
EDWIN R. KRIBBS. The late Edwin R. Kribbs was a well-known and highly prosperous farmer of Wells County, who contributed his full share toward advancing the agricultural prosperity of his community. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born, August 3, 1879, in Clarion County, which was the lifelong home of his parents, Phillip B. and Phalistna P. (Fulton) Kribhs.
Scholarly in his tastes and ambitions, Edwin R. Kribbs received excellent educational advantages in his native state, attending the Penn- sylvania State Normal Sehool, and Reed Institute. He subsequently taught sehool one term in Clarion County, and then, in 1899, came to Wells County, Indiana, and in addition to working for a while in the oil fields bought a half interest in a general store at Dillman. IIe con- tinued his residence in Dillman until 1915, when, with his family, he removed to his farm in section 7. Jackson Township, assuming posses- sion of the conveniently arranged and modernly equipped bungalow that he had just completed and where he died December 11, 1917. Mr. Kribbs had sixty-seven aeres of rich and fertile land, and in addition
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to carrying on general farming to advantage he made a specialty of breeding and raising Guernsey cattle.
On September 17, 1901, Mr. Kribbs was united in marriage with Ida May Lee, who was born in Jackson Township, Wells County, Indiana, May 4, 1885, a daughter of ex-County Commissioner, George W. Lee, and grand-daughter of Jonathan R. and Susanna (Banter) Lee.
Jonathan R. Lee, a native of Ohio, came with his parents to Wells County, Indiana, and having bought land in Jackson Township was there engaged in farming and stock raising during the remainder of his life. He was a democrat in politics and an active member of the Uni- yersalist Church. His wife, Susanna Banter, was born in Virginia, and died on the home farm in Jackson Township. Eight children were born of their marriage, as follows: William, deceased ; Elizabeth, wife of S. H. Palmer ; Margaret, widow of Phillip Elkins; Lucy J., wife of Mere- dith Capper, of Pulaski County, Indiana; John, of Jackson Township; George W., father of Mrs. Kribbs ; Sarah, widow of Dr. Thomas Morris, who moved from Indiana to Marylaud; and Mary, wife of George W. McFarland, of Marion, Indiana.
Boru and reared in Jackson Township, George W. Lee remained with his parents until attaining his majority. Soon after his marriage he settled in Dillman, where he has since carried on general farming with both profit and pleasure, at one time owning 235 acres of land in this part of the state. He resides in Van Buren, and his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Conwell, live on the home estate, which is in an excellent state of cultivation. Mr. Lee married Mary M. MeFarland, a native of Jackson Township, and to them six children have been born, namely : Florence, widow of James Compton, is a resident of Warren, Indiana ; Alice, wife of David Bradstreet, of Lander, Wyoming; Ida May, now Mrs. Kribbs; Nora H., wife of Guy Conwell; and two, who died in infancy, Sydney N. and Frederick. Mr. Lee is a prominent mem- ber of the democratic party, and has served one term as county com- missioner. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church, of which he has been a trustee.
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kribbs, namely: Lucille M., born April 18, 1902, is a student of the Warren High School; and Lillian Lavelle, born November 12, 1903, is a student in the Warren High School. Mrs. Kribbs is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Warren as was her husband. Fraternally Mr. Kribbs was a member, and past grand, of MeNatt Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Warren Encampment.
GEORGE W. NIBLICK is one of the members of the prominent Niblick family of Adams County whose activities have been transferred to Wells County, and who is now proprietor and manager of a fine farm in Lancaster Township, with daily mail delivery over rural route No. 5 out of Bluffton.
Mr. Niblick was born in Kirkland Township of Adams County Sep- tember 15, 1860. He is a son of Robert and Catherine (Hartman) Niblick and a grandson of James Niblick, the founder of the family in Adams County. The Niblicks were among the first dozen settlers in that county.
James Niblick was born in County Armagh, Ireland, in 1801 and was brought by his parents to America when two years of age. He grew up in Ohio, learned the cooper's trade, and in the fall of 1834 settled on section 6. Washington Township, in Adams County. For ten years after coming to Adams County he is said to have been the only cooper in the county. He subsequently sold his farm and moved to Decatur and later went out to Missouri where he died in the fall of 1869. He
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was twice married, his first wife being Anna Carter and his second wife Sarah A. Ball. There were eight children by cach union.
Robert Niblick, father of George W., was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, February 10, 1824, and was ten years of age when brought to Adams County. Ile received only such advantages as the subscription schools of that day afforded. After the death of his mother he was sent back to Ohio, but finally returned to Adams County and after his mar- riage located on a farm in Kirkland Township. This land was then heavily covered with timber and his first home was a log cabin, with greased paper for windows. After eleven years in that humble abode they built a fine brick residence which was one of the best in the town- ship. The brick and lime were burned on the Niblick farm. Robert Niblick became a prosperous farmer and large land owner, gave away much of his land to his children, and had a comfortable competence for his last years. He died January 15, 1900. Hle was a Union soldier, a member of Company E of the Twelfth Indiana Infantry and was with Sherman on the march to the sea and participated in the Grand Review at Washington. For many years he was affiliated with Grand Army Post No. 69 at Decatur. He held several local offices, and for a number of years after coming to Adams County was the only republican in his township. In 1864 only five republican votes were cast for Lincoln in the township. For a number of years the postoffice of Gath was kept in the Niblick home, and his wife had charge of the local mails. Robert Niblick married April 19, 1849, Catherine H. Hartman, who was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, March 22, 1830, a daughter of Philip and Susanna ( Hess) Hartman. The Hartman family came to Adams County in 1840 and were also pioneer residents of Kirkland Township. Robert Niblick and wife had ten children: James T .; Susan E .; Mary E., deceased ; Charles B .; Margaret, who married C. ('uran; George W .; Jennie; William J., deceased; Harvey P .; and Anna Belle. The mother of these children died November 15, 1899.
George W. Niblick grew up on his father's farm, attended the pub- lie schools of Kirkland Township, and since early manhood has been a hard working and industrions citizen, active as a farmer in Adams County, and on March 26, 1911, came to his present place in Wells County. He has his farm of eighty acres in first class condition, and is doing a good business as a general farmer and stock raiser. Mr. Niblick is a republican and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
On August 21, 1886, he married Miss Annie Lowdermilk, daughter of Alfred and Mary Jane (Cox) Lowdermilk, who came from North Carolina. Mrs. Niblick's brothers. and sisters are: David, who married Annie Michaels; Bert, who married Miss Stinson; Ella, who married William Kain ; and Maggie married Charles Curren.
Mr. and Mrs. Niblick are parents of the following children : Minerva J., who married John Sarfen, of Fort Wayne; Dorey T., who married Alice Liest : Sadie, who became the wife of George Lontzenhein ; Belle, wife of Daniel Foy; Edith, who married E. Rateliff; Rufus, unmarried ; and Milo, who married Mary Dedrick.
FAY W. CULLINS is one of the recent newcomers to Wells County, but his advent has a significance in agricultural and livestock circles, since he has established himself as a breeder and raiser of the highest grades of cattle and sheep, being proprietor of the Cullins Stock Farm, besides having a very modern dairy.
Mr. Cullins bought his farm of 112 acres on March 18, 1917. It is located 212 miles north of Bluffton and in situation and point of fer-
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tility is regarded as one of the finest farms in Lancaster Township. Mr. Cullins' program is the breeding of standard fullblood polled Durham, Shorthorn and Guernsey cattle and fullblood Shropshire sheep. He has much experience in animal husbandry and is competent to guide the operations of a stock farm and it is his intention to have the finest available stock that it is possible to produce. Such an enterprise means much at the present time and for the future of Wells County. Mr. Cul- lins has on his farm one of the largest and finest silos in Northern Indiana, 60 feet 8 inches high, and with a capacity sufficient to furnish silage to all the livestock on his farm.
Mr. Cullins was born in Greentown, Howard County, Indiana, May 8, 1889, a son of Cornelius J. and Martha E. ( Acord) Cullins. His father died July 22, 1910, and his mother is still living. Their children were: IToward C., Effie B., Earl W., Annie, deceased, and Fay W. Fay is the only member of the family who is married. Ile married April 3, 1915, Miss Cora Payton, daughter of James and Nancy Payton of Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Cullins has one sister, Ethel, wife of A. T. Shepard.
Mr. Cullins is a republican, a member of the Methodist Church, and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
GEORGE A. FISHER. The value of George A. Fisher's citizenship in Wells County is due to the faet that for over a quarter of a century he has occupied and diligently cultivated one of the good farms of Union Township, and with all the responsibilities of a home maker and family provider has exercised a wholesome influence in behalf of com- munity betterment and every movement that refleets the higher and better life of society.
This branch of the Fisher family has been known in Wells County ever since the pioneer period. The grandparents of George A. Fisher were Henry and Elizabeth (Crites) Fisher. Henry Fisher was born in Pennsylvania, his father having come to that state from Germany. Henry Fisher located in Ohio and beginning life with no capital but with unlimited energy, he attained what was considered a modest for- tune of those days. He and his wife reared a numerous family of chil- dren in comfortable circumstances and well fitted them for the re- sponsibilities of mature age.
The late Daniel Fisher was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, June 14, 1826, went through youth as a farm boy and wisely improved all the limited advantage of the local schools. At the age of twenty-one he began learning the cooper's trade, and after working at it for a year brought his modest capital to Wells County, Indiana, and located eighty acres of wooded land in Union Township. In 1850 he married Sophia A. Meyers and for seven years occupied the old farm in Union Township. The first wife died July 17, 1857, the mother of three children, Henry, Elizabeth and Margaret A. After her death Daniel Fisher returned to his father's old homestead in Ohio, where on March 25, 1859, he married Sarah J. Schull. In April, 1859, they returned to Wells County and kept their home on the original farm until 1862, when it was sold and Daniel Fisher bought 120 acres in another part of Union Township. Later he added another forty and made that one of the excellent farm homes of the county. Politically he was a republican and the claim was made for him a few years ago that he had probably cast more presi- dential votes in Wells County, at least in Union Township, than any other citizen. He had begun voting as a whig. He was one of the real pioneers of Union Township and his only neighbor when he first located there was Jesse Crites. Each of them owned a horse and wagon and when they went to mill they combined their horses, and one of them
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would drive the team while the other would go ahead with an ax to clear away the brush or other obstacles from the road. The second wife of Daniel Fisher died on August 25, 1890. She had been an invalid for twenty-four years. Both were active members of the Church of God. Nine children were born to the second marriage named Emmett, Matilda, Clara, George A., Elmer, Rachel, Burt and Della; Marietta died in in- fancy.
George A. Fisher was born on his father's farm in Union Township May 20, 1865. The circumstances and environment of his early youth were those of the average Indiana farm boy of that period, and he lived at home and bent himself steadily to the work of the home farm until twenty-one years of age, then worked at the carpenter's trade for eight- een years. He then settled on twenty acres of present farm of 120 acres where the substantial building improvements are a credit to his own industry and productive labors. He is still carrying on a business as a general farmer and stock raiser. Mr. Fisher like his father is devoted to the cause of the republican party.
On September 7, 1890, he married Miss Emma Motz, daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Motz. They have two sons, Lawrence and Donald. The adopted son, Harley Zion, was four years old when Mr. Fisher took him. He lived with the family till he reached manhood and is now work- ing on the Erie Railroad.
JOHN C. RABER. There may have been a time when farm life in Indiana was one of unending hardship but such is not the case at present especially in such sections as Rock Creek Township where intelligent and well informed people live, where expensive farm machinery is bought and where, in many cases, the pure, invigorating air of the country per- meates homes that have city conveniences. Farm industries will always be among the most important in the country but in modern days farm life need not necessarily be unusually laborious or isolated. Intelligent farmers like John C. Raber, who has been a resident of Wells County since boyhood, can easily realize the improved conditions that have been brought about through the enterprising efforts of such men as himself.
John C. Raber was born in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. October 16, 1849. His parents were Joseph and Elizabeth Raber, most estimable people, who came to Wells County with their children in March, 1861. The father's first purchase was eighty acres and later he bought an additional 160 acres. The land had been but slightly cleared and little improved and hard work awaited him, but with the help of his sons the clearing was accomplished and excellent improvements were made. The parents both died in Rock Creek Township, the father in 1887 and the mother in 1888. They had the following children: William, August, Maria, Lucinda, David, John C .. Eliza and Israel, there being three survivors : David, John C. and Eliza.
John C. Raber was twelve years old when he accompanied his parents to Wells County. He had attended school in Lebanon County and after- ward had some school opportunities in Rock Creek Township, which he made the most of and has always been considered a well informed man. He owns three farms, two comprising 120 acres and the home farm of 1591%, which he got from his father. He has successfully carried on a general farming line here and still takes general oversight although he has sturdy sons and sons-in-law to relieve him of hard work.
Mr. Raber was married February 21, 1878, to Miss Maria Lucabaugh, who is a daughter of Henry and Mary Lucabaugh, this being an old and substantial family of Wells County. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Raber: Louis; Charles, who is deceased ;
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Ada, who is the wife of Frank Hoffacker, of Rock Creek Township; Artie, who married Ernst McAfee, of Rock Creek Township; Henry, who married Eva McClure; Cora, who is the wife of A. Fishbaugh, of Rock Creek Township; Stella, who is the wife of W. Gordon; and Homer, who married Maud Gilbert. He has always taken an interest in school matters and has been one of the influential democrats of this section to work for school improvement. With his family Mr. Raber belongs to the German Reformed Church.
WILLIAM BUSHEE. While the tilling of the soil and the raising of stock are among the oldest industries in which man has engaged, they have not always been profitable to those who engaged in them. Old methods have given way to new, as conditions have changed, and the modern farmer is a much better informed man as to the possibilities of his land than was his grandfather or even his father. Not many of these opportunities are being lost by the farmers in Wells County, and in Jefferson Township are found agriculturists of most excellent judgment, business acumen and practical ideas, who have known how to turn these opportunities to good account and have become men of independent means thereby. One of these is William Bushee, who has spent his life here and is one of the representative men of Jefferson Township.
William Bushee was born March 23, 1851, in Allen County, just across the line, and is a son of Jacob and Ollie (Cave) Bushee, who were natives of Hocking County, Ohio. When William was a few months old they came to Wells County, Indiana. The father bought 240 acres of wild land and set about the work of clearing, cultivating and improving, a hard task in those days but one he finally accomplished with the help of his sons. His children were: Allen, Sarah E., William, Rhoda, James F. and Bathilda and Matilda, twins. The father died in 1899, the mother passing away August 25, 1896.
William Bushee attended the district schools and remained at home as his father's main helper until he was eighteen years of age and then started out for himself. His first farm contained thirty acres of wild land. After clearing twenty acres and fencing it he accepted a fair offer and sold and then purchased his present farm of fifty-one acres, which he has magnificently improved, but recently completing the building of a fine stucco dwelling house, which is equipped with modern comforts and conveniences and in appearance is a credit to the neighborhood. Mr. Bushee has been the owner of this farm for twenty-one years and through his good management has annually increased its value. He gives his attention to general farming and stock raising. Mr. Bushee helped clear eighty acres in Union Township and two eighty-acre farms in Jefferson Township and also cleared his farm where he now lives.
While not a politician in the general acceptance of the term, Mr. Bnshee is interested in political matters as becomes a good citizen. He votes with the republican party. In his father's family the religious home was the Presbyterian Church and he is a member of that body. Mr. Bushee has never married.
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