F.W. GALLMEYER, farmer, resides on section 9, Preble Township, where he owns eighty acres of land; he also owns twenty acres on the line adjoining the eighty. He was born in Westphalia, Germany, October 4, 1832, where he lived until 1845, when his parents (mother and step-father) and four sisters came to America, settling in Preble Township, where the step-father still resides. His father died in Germany when F. W. was eight years old. The mother then married Conrad Scheuman. She died in November, 1875, leaving six children, althongh she had had nine children. His own father was born in 1800 and died in 1840. The step-father was also born in 1800. The family took a sailing vessel at Bremen and were on the ocean thirteen weeks, landing in New York City. Our subject was educated partly in Germany and partly in Preble Township. He learned the carpenter's trade in this country, which he followed about eight years. In 1858 he went to Germany to visit his friends and to secure the inheritance which his father left at death. While there he was married, in November, 1858, to Miss Willielmina Boese, who was born in Westphalia, Germany, in 1841, and was reared and married there. They came to America soon after their marriage and settled upon their present farm, commencing domestic life in a hewed-log cabin in the woods. He cleared up his farm, which is now mostly improved. Mrs. Gallmeyer's parents were Fredricka and Conrad Boese. Her father died in Germany. Her mother came to America in 1859, with three children, and three had preceded her to this country. She is living with her son, Willlam. Mr. and Mrs. Gallmeyer have had fifteen children, ten of whom are living, and all are single except the eldest. Their names are - Conrad, Wilhelmina, Eliza, Ernest, William, Edward, Fredrick, Martin, Christian and Anna. The deceased are - Frederick, Louisa, Mary, William and Wilhelmina. Mr. Gallmeyer was elected township trustee in 1868, and served until 1878, when he had an interregnum of four years, then served four years more. He served four years as justice of the peace, two years as assessor and two years as constable. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted in Company D, Fifty-first Indiana Infantry, and was discharged in August, 1865. He was in several skirmishes, but no regular fought battle. Since his discharge he has followed farming.

Biographical and Historical Record - Adams and Wells Co. Indiana Lewis Publishing Co. Chicago, IL 1887


SYLVESTER SPANGLER, contractor and builder, and an active and enterprising citizen of Decatur, is a native of Crawford County, Ohio, born near Massillon, February 19, 1842, a son of Michael and Dorothy (Keese) Spangler. When an infant, in 1843, his parents came to Adams County, Indiana, and here he was reared to the avocation of a farmer on his father's farm. On reaching manhood he learned the carpenter's trade at Fort Wayne. In the fall of 1863 he enlisted in the Union Army as a private in Company I, Fifty-first Indiana Infantry, to serve one year. He served his country thirteen months, when he was discharged at New Orleans. He participated in tile engagements at Franklin and Nashville beside several skirmishes, and during his term of service was not off duty a day on account of sickness or wounds. After his discharge he returned to Adams County and worked at carpentering at Decatur and vicinity. He was married at Decatur in 1865, to Julia Gillig, daughter of Francis J. and Theresa (Spuler) Gillig. She was born, reared and educated at Decatur, and before her marriage taught school in Adams County. Mr. and Mrs. Spangler are the parents of two children - Ella and Della, both of whom are students at the Decatur High School. In 1868 Mr. Spangler engaged in contracting and building, which he has since followed, and has erected many of the brick business blocks on Main street, beside many of the substantial residences at Decatur. In politics Mr. Spangler is a Democrat. He served four years as village trustee of Decatur, and since its organization as a city he has been councilman five years. He is a comrade of Sam Henry Post, No.63, G. A. R. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Decatur. Michael Spangler, the father of our subject, was a native of Ohio, born January 12, 1812, and was of German descent. He was a farmer by avocation, and on coming to Adams County he settled on a tract of wild land in Preble Township,which he improved and lived on about twenty-four years. He then sold his land in Preble Township and removed to a farm in Allen County near Williamsport, where he died September 8, 1877. The mother of our subject was born in Stuttgart, Germany, February 16, 1811. When twelve years of age she was brought by her parents to America, they locating at Liverpool, Ohio, where she lived till her marriage. She died on the farm near Williamsport, Allen County, October 3, 1869. She was a member of the Evangelical church. Mr. Spangler was a member of the United Brethren church. Eight of the ten children born to them grew to maturity, of whom seven are yet living, one living in Nebraska, and the remaining six being residents of Indiana.

Biographical and Historical Record - Adams and Wells Co. Indiana Lewis Publishing Co. Chicago, IL 1887


AMOS GULICK, one of the old and respected pioneers of Adams County, is a native of New Hampshire County, Virginia, born in the year 1824, a son of Elisha and Elizabeth Gulick, the father born June 29, 1784, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and the mother born January 22, 1787, of German origin. His first ancestors on coming to America settled in the State of New Jersey, and later removed to Londoun County, Virginia, thence to Hampshire County, of the same State, in 1794. The grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, enlisting when seventeen years of age. The father of our subject was drafted in the war of 1812, but the war being then about over, he did not render any service. He was married in Hampshire County to Elizabeth Shaffer, and to them were born eleven children - Mary, born December 18, 1806, died September 26, 1826; John, born November 29, 1808, married Ellen Shepherd; Elizabeth, born November 2, 1810, married Williaim Shrock; Hannah, born September 8, 1812, married Ardalis Carter; Evalina, born November 14, 1814, married David Major, and died August 19, 1845; Sarah, born March 10, 1817, died June 13, 1820; Harriet, born October 4, 1819, married Joshua Major; Elisha, born January 16, 1822, married Mahala Archabold; Amos, born February 29, 1824, the subject of this sketch; Anna, born April 9, 1826, died September 9, 1845, and Catherine, born May 24, 1828, married Daniel Lee. In 1836 the parents removed to Franklin County, Ohio, where two daughters, Elizabeth and Hannah, had preceded them. Both parents are deceased, the father dying May 30, 1879, and the mother April 22, 1858. Amos Gulick, our subject, was married January 1, 1846, to Elizabeth Acker, who was born September 4, 1828, her antecedents being Dutch on her father's side, and Yankee on her mother's side. Of the seven children born to this union only four are living - Samuel, born May 7, 1848, married Emma Baxter, May 1, 1871; Rosetta, born March 3, 1855, married William Teeple, December 16, 1877; Iva Ann, born April 15, 1864, and Amos Wilson, born December 25, 1866, are living at home. Catherine Elizabeth was born November 11, 1846, married Joseph Smith, February 18, 1866, and died October 31, 1874; Eldora, born December 21, 1858, and died April 30, 1866, and James William, born September 13, 1850, died July 21, 1857. Six years previous to his marriage Mr. Gulick visited St. Mary's Township, Adams County, where he had a deed of fifty-two acres of wild land, his wife also owning forty acres. He disposed of his land and he and his wife settled on her forty-acre tract, on which he cut the first tree, and improved it from its wild state, changing it into productive fields. He resided on this farm about eighteen years, when he removed with his family to his present homestead, which consists of 188 acres of choice land, located about three-quarters of a mile north of St. Mary's River near the village of Pleasant Mills. Mr. Gulick and family have experienced many of the hardships and privations, as well as the pleasures of pioneer life, coming to the county when settlers were few and wild animals numerous. Game was then in abundance. Their grist was taken either to Willshire or Fort Wayne, some twenty-six miles distant, and occasionally corn was ground by hand. Buckwheat was frequently ground in the same manner, and a half bushel ground in a hand-mill was considered a good day's work. Occasionally a tin punched full of holes, so that one surface would be very rough, would be used to grate the corn by hand. Log-rolling and house-raising were frequent occurrences among the early settlers, and everybody considered it not only a duty but a pleasure to attend these gatherings. Sociability and hospitality were everywhere to be found, and although deprived of many of the so-called modern conveniences, there were nevertheless many pleasant features to the pioneer's life. Mr. Gulick and all but two members of his family are members of the old school Baptist church, and highly respected members of society.

Biographical and Historical Record - Adams and Wells Co. Indiana Lewis Publishing Co. Chicago, IL 1887


JOHN McCONNELL, deceased, was born in Butler County, Ohio, January 20, 1819, where he lived until ten years of age, when his mother removed to Darke County, his father having died a few years previous to their removal. His mother hired him out to drive oxen on a brick yard, for 6 1/4 cents a day, in order to teach him habits of industry. His parents were Jesse and Eliza (Mills) McConnell. His father, Jesse McConnell, was born in the County Antrim, Ireland, removing to Butler County, Ohio, in 1817. He died in 1825, leaving a wife and three children, of whom John was the oldest. One child died in infancy, and Sarah, the other child, married Samuel Davis, and died in June, 1884. The mother was born in Pennsylvania in 1793, and was taken by her parents to Ohio in 1802, where she lived until her marriage. She was three times married and outlived all her husbands. She died at Troy, Ohio, March 9, 1872, aged seventy-nine years. John, the subject of this sketch, drove oxen on a brick yard two summers, then learned the blacksmith trade of Henry Dillon, commencing at tbe age of seventeen years, at $3 per month. He served three years, having been bound out by his mother. While he was learning his trade his mother again married and was again a widow. John returned home to assist his mother, and did not complete his trade. He came to Monroe Township, this county, and settled on Thompson's prairie in 1840. He secured 160 acres of land, part by entry and part by purchase July 10, 1845, he was married to Lucinda McDermeit, born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, September 28, 1822, and was reared in Greene County, that State. She came to Monroe Township, Adams County, in 1838. where she lived until her marriage. They lived in that township until 1850, then moved to Decatur, Mr. McConnell having been elected auditor the fall before. He served in that capacity nine years. He had previously served as county commissioner three years, from 1844 to 1847, and as clerk of the court four years. He was a township trustee at the time of his death, which occurred January 28, 1875. He died of typhoid pneumonia. He was elected to the Legislature in the fall of 1872, and served in the special and regular sessions with satisfaction to his constituents. He was a self-made man, having received but three months' schooling. He was a man that was loyal to his convictions, true to his family and faithful to the Democratic party. He was buried at Decatur, under the rituals of the Odd Fellows. He left an untarnished name and an unspotted character as a legacy to his children. Mr. and Mrs. McConnell had six children - Mark M., born April 23, 1846; Margaret M., born August 8, 1847, married John Blood, and died July 28, 1880; Joseph L., born February 13, 1849; George W., born June 24, 1851; Mary, born December 8, 1854, died August 24, 1855; Frank, born January 29, 1859, is living at home with his mother.

Biographical and Historical Record - Adams and Wells Co. Indiana Lewis Publishing Co. Chicago, IL 1887


PHILEMON N. COLLINS, deceased, who was one of the prominent citizens of Adams County, was born in Richland County, Ohio, November 20, 1820, a son of Zenas and Catherine (Sites) Collins. The father was a native of Virginia, and the mother was born in Maryland. They subsequently went to Missouri, where both died. Philemon grew to manhood in Ohio, receiving an academic education. At the age of seventeen years he commenced teaching school, which he followed for nine terms. His father gave him eighty acres of land located on section 20, Wabash Township, Adams County, which he began improving in 1844. He was married March 9, 1848, to Miss Eliza J. McDonald, who was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, November 16, 1826, her parents, A. R. and Jane (Matchet) McDonald, being natives of the State of Pennsylvania. In 1831 the parents of Mrs. Collins removed to Columbiana County, Ohio, and later removed to Hamilton County, Ohio. In 1845 they located in Wayne County, Indiana, and three years following came to Adams County, settling in Wabash Township. In the fall of 1855 they came to Lagrange County, where the father died in the fall of 1875. He had been twice married. His first wife; the mother of Mrs. Collins, died in 1834, and by her he had six children, two sons and four daughters. Mr. McDonald was again married in 1836 to Elizabeth J. Anglemyer, and to this union were born thirteen children. The father was a shoemaker by trade, which he followed in connection with farming. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. To Mr. and Mrs. Collins eleven children were born, and of this number only one is living, a daughter named Geneva B., who is now the wife of L. C. Messner. After this marriage Mr. Collins engaged in farming. He was engaged as civil engineer and county surveyor for nine years. He was station agent at Ceylon, Adams County, for five years. He and B. B. Snow were proprietors of the town site of Ceylon, a part of the town being located on part of his land. He also represented his county in the Legislature for three terms, serving with credit to himself and to the best interests of the county. He was very successful in his farming operations and at his death left about 600 acres, 400 acres being in one body, his original purchase being eighty acres. He took an active part in the political affairs of his county, being formerly a Whig, but later affiliated with the Democratic party. During his residence in the county he won the confidence and esteem of all who knew him, and his death, which occurred October 31, 1878, was a source of universal regret. His widow still resides at Ceylon. She united with the Christian church May 14, 1876, and April 5, 1885, she became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Biographical and Historical Record - Adams and Wells Co. Indiana Lewis Publishing Co. Chicago, IL 1887


HENRY P. MERRIMAN, of Monroe, and justice of the peace of Monroe Township, was born in Blue Creek Township, Adams County, Indiana, September 28, 1853, a son of John and Mary Jane (Ray) Merriman, natives of Steubenville, Ohio, the father born July 17, 1816, and the mother February 25, 1828. The father had been twice married, the mother of our subject being his second wife, by whom he had eight children, seven sons and one daughter. By his first marriage he had two children, both now deceased. For many years the father ran a distillery at Steubenville. He came to Adams County, Indiana, in 1848, and entered land on section 7 of Blue Creek Township, where he resided until his death January 7, 1879. He was a prominent man in his township, of which he was trusee, and for twelve years held the office of justice of the peace. Mrs. Merriman is now living at Salem, Blue Creek Township. She belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, Mr. Merriman having been a member of the same church till his death. Henry P. Merriman, the subject of this sketch, was reared on the home farm, receiving a fair common-school education in the schools of his neighborhood. When nineteen years old he taught school for two terms, after which he was engaged in farming until 1878. He was married January 27, 1876, to Mary C. Edwards, a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, born March 6, 1853. Her parents, Lewis and Elizabeth (Wilson) Edwards, were natives of Ohio. They came to Adams County, Indiana, in 1865, and settled in Blue Creek Township, where they still reside, engaged in farming. Both are members of the United Brethren church. They are the parents of ten children, three sons and seven daughters. To Mr. and Mrs. Merriman have been born five children -eonard L., Dora L., Ann I., Gertrude C. and Margaret M. In 1878 Mr. Merriman came to Monroe, Adams County, and was engaged in railroading for eighteen months. He then entered the general mercantile establishment of Hocker & Hendricks, where he was employed as clerk until the firm dissolved partnership. He then formed a partnership with Mr. Hocker, with whom he was associated in the mercantile business until January, 1886, when owing to his inflammatory rheumatism he disposed of his interest in the business to Mr. Hocker, and visited Kansas Hot Springs in Arkansas, returning to Monroe July 19 of the same year. In 1881 he was appointed justice of the peace, and elected in 1882, and in the spring of 1886 was re-elected, and as far as his health will permit devotes his time to his office. Both Mr. and Mrs. Merriman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Merriman is a member of St. Mary's Lodge, No. 167, I. O. O. F., of Decatur, having joined that lodge September 7, 1885.

Biographical and Historical Record - Adams and Wells Co. Indiana Lewis Publishing Co. Chicago, IL 1887


BENJAMIN HOUK, farmer, resides on section 5, Root Township, where he owns 160 acres of land. He also owns 147 acres elsewhere, making 307 acres in all. He came to this county in 1843, and settled on the same farm where he now lives. He hired ten acres cut, and built his log cabin, in which he lived until he built his present house, the front of the log house being a part of the new one. Mr. Houk was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, May 28, 1821, and when he was fourteen years of age his parents removed to Stark County, Obio, where they lived twenty years. He was married November 29, 1849, to Miss Sarah Mock, who was bom in Stark County, Ohio, June 1, 1825, and was reared principally in Stark County. Her father, Samuel Mock, was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, June 6, 1787, and removed to Stark County in 1819. He died February 10, 1871. He experienced religion in an early day and exemplified it during a long life. The mother, Rachel S. (Geisaman) Mock, was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, where she was reared and married. Soon after her marriage she removed to Stark County, where she died at the age of seventy-three years. Mr. Houk's father, Samuel Houk, was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in 1775, and died in Lebanon County in 1830, aged fifty-five years. His mother, Catherine (Sprecher) Houk, was also born in Dauphin County, in 1781, and died in Stark County, Ohio, in 1867, aged eighty-six years. Both parents had been members of the Lutheran church for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Houk experienced all the trials and privations of pioneer life. They have had four children - Martha Alice, born January 26, 1851, died at the age of two months; Addison N., born August 22, 1857;. John C., born May 30, 1859; Ida Belle, born April 15, 1863, is the wife of William Youse. Mr. Houk's grandparents, Phillip and Catherine Houk, were natives of Pennsylvania, and died in that State. Mrs. Houk's grandfather, Peter Mock, was born in Germany and died in Maryland. Her maternal grandfather died in Pennsylvania.

Biographical and Historical Record - Adams and Wells Co. Indiana Lewis Publishing Co. Chicago, IL 1887


AUGUSTUS SCHLEGEL, blacksmith and horse-shoer, Decatur, Indiana, was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, March 4, 1850, a son of Beneville and Ella Amanda (Welder) Schlegel, natives of Pennsylvania, of German parentage. In 1862, when twelve years of age, he accompanied his parents to Adams County, Indiana, and has since lived in Decatur. When sixteen years of age he began working for his father, who was a blacksmith, and for seven years worked in the same shop. In 1873 he opened a shop of his own, and soon after became associated with Collins Bushnell, the firm of Bushnell & Schlegel doing business until 1885, he having been alone since then. He is the champion horse-shoer in the State, his average being 163 shoes in eleven hours in a recent contest, doing all the work, driving, clinching and finishing. Mr. Schlegel was married March 3, 1875, to Mary Isabell Grim, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Elsey) Grim, old settlers of Adams County. Mr. and Mrs. Schiegel have two children - Lawrence Columbia and Cora Pearl. Mr. Scillegel is a member of Kekionga Lodge, No.65, K. of P.

Biographical and Historical Record - Adams and Wells Co. Indiana Lewis Publishing Co. Chicago, IL 1887


LEWIS LONG, one of the prominent citizens of Adams County, engaged in farming on section 16, Wabash Township, is a native of Indiana, born in Union County in 1831, his parents, Robert and Mary (Kyle) Long, being natives of the State of Pennsylvania, the father born in 1787, and the mother in 1790. The paternal grandparents of our subject settled in Ohio about the beginning of the nineteenth century, and in 1816 immigrated to Union County, Indiana, settling in Union Township, where the father died July 8, 1855. The mother died in Ohio, February 3, 1871. They were the parents of ten children, six sons and four daughters. They were members of the Presbyterian church. The father followed the cabinet-maker's trade in early life, but later engaged in agricultural pursuits, entering 160 acres of land in Union County. The family was of Scotch-Irish origin. Lewis Long, whose name heads this sketch, grew to manhood in Union County, remaining on the home farm till attaining the age of twenty-two years, and in his youth received a common-school education. On leaving the home farm he began working at the carpenter's trade, which he followed till October, 1862, when he settled on his present farm, which had been previously purchased by his father. May 29, 1862, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Blair, a native of Ireland, born in 1841, coming to America with a brother and sister. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Long - Charles (deceased), George, William, Eva, Russell, Leonidas, Daisy and Leila. Mr. Long is a thorough, practical farmer, and by his good management he has accumulated his present fine farm, which consists of 222 acres of valuable land. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party. He is at present serving as justice of the peace, which office he has filled acceptably since October, 1880.

Biographical and Historical Record - Adams and Wells Co. Indiana Lewis Publishing Co. Chicago, IL 1887


PHILLIP HENDRICKS, farmer, section 27, Washington Township, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, April 8, 1839, son of Emanuel and Eliza Hendricks, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. The parents were early settlers of Harrison County, where they passed the later years of their life. The father had been twice married, and had twelve children, of whom the following survive - Susanna, Eli, Phillip, Martha, Alfred, Jonas and Ruth. Mr. Heudricks passed his early life in Ohio, and received a common-school education. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Ohio Infantry, and became a part of the army operating in Virginia, Maryland and the Shenandoah Valley. He was honorably discharged in September, 1863, and returned home. He was married April 22, 1862, to Susan Manbeck, born February 18, 1845, in Carroll County, Ohio, a daughter of Peter and Margaret Manbeck, natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers of Carroll County. Of their nine children, eight survive - William D., Emanuel N., Lawrence M., Laura E., Lucy A. M., Murtie V., Ida M. and Grover C. T. Artie is deceased. Mr. Hendricks removed from Ohio to Adams County in 1864, locating upon his present farm in Washington Township. He owns 155 acres of well-improved land. He is a Democrat in politics and affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal church; is also a member of the Grand Army post at Decatur. He has been a successful farmer, and is universally respected in his community.

Biographical and Historical Record - Adams and Wells Co. Indiana Lewis Publishing Co. Chicago, IL 1887


AUGUSTUS GEORGE HOLLOWAY, M.D., Decatur, Indiana, was born in Marion, Marion County, Ohio, August 21, 1829, a son of George and Elizabeth (Gooding) Holloway, his father a native of Massachusetts, and his mother of New York, both being of English ancestry. His father was an eminent physician of Marion, where he practiced about fifty years, locating there in 1820. He died in 1874, aged eighty-four-years, his wife dying at the age of eighty-five years. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom lived till maturity, our subject being the fifth. A. G. Holloway was reared in Marion, Ohio, where he had good educational advantages, and when sixteen years of age began to teach school. When eighteen years old he learned the printer's trade, and then taught and worked at his trade alternately, until twenty-four years old, when, having determined to enter the medical profession, he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. J. C. Norton, at Marion, with whom he remained about two years, when, Dr. Norton dying, he continued his studies with Dr. Robert L. Sweeney. He took a course of lectures at the Cleveland Medical College, and began his practice in 1854, which he continued at different points in Ohio until 1864, when he was examined by the State Board of Medical Examiners and appointed Assistant Surgeon of the One Hundred and Fifty-first Ohio Infantry, and served until the discharge of the regiment the following fall. In the spring of 1865 he volunteered as a private in the One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Ohio Infantry, but was appointed acting Assistant Surgeon, and served as such until his regiment was discharged at the close of the war. After the war he practiced in different localities in Ohio and Indiana until 1877, when he located at Decatur. In 1882 he took a course of lectures at the Chicago Medical College. He was married in 1855 to Miss Louise Kennedy, daughter of John and Maria (Larimer) Kennedy. She is also a physician, and in the winter of 1885-'86 took a course of leetures at the College of Physicians and Sturgeons, Keokuk, Iowa, and in the winter of 1886-'87 graduated at the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis. Dr. and Mrs. Holloway have three children - Addie, wife of Charles Hoxie, of Toledo, Ohio; George, of Cleveland, Ohio; and Bertha, wife of Willard E. Winch, of the firm of Winch & Sons, of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Mrs. Holloway is a member of the Disciples church, and is an earnest worker in her church and for the temperance cause. Dr. Holloway is a member of Sam Henry Post, No.63, G. A. R.

Biographical and Historical Record - Adams and Wells Co. Indiana Lewis Publishing Co. Chicago, IL 1887


Deb Murray