F. D. WILLIAM GERKE, farmer, residing on section 10, Root Township, is a native of Hanover, Germany, his parents Herman and Agnes (Myer) Gerke, being native of the same country, the father born September 16, 1802, and the mother January 1, 1805. They were reared and married in Hanover, Germany, and to them were born seven children - Frederick, F. D. William (our subject), Louisa, Louis, Sophia, Hermann and Minna, three born in Germany and four in Adams County, Indiana. In 1836 the family came to America, landing in New York, going thence to Cincinnati, Ohio, where they remained with friends a short time. In February, 1837, they left Cincinnati for Decatur, Adams County, Indiana, making the journey by team, stopping a day or two at Decatur, when they came to their present farm, which was then occupied by the father's brother, Diedrich Gerke, who had come to America two years previous. The family made their home with Diedrich Gerke until the father had a small log cabin erected . This cabin contained but one room, and was only used for a sleeping room, the family living out of doors, where they also did their cooking the first summer. In the fall of the same year the father erected a hewed-log house, which was occupied by the family until 1854, when their present fine frame residence was built, which is now occupied by the subject of this sketch. The father died in this house October 3, 1864, and is buried in Lutheran cemetery. The mother survived until July 31, 1881, and died at the home of her son Frederick Gerke, in Fort Wayne, while on a visit to her children, and is buried in the Concordia Lutheran cemetery at Fort Wayne. They were Lutherans in their religious faith, their children being reared in the same faith. F. D. William Gerke, whose name heads this sketch, was but three years of age when brought by his parents to Adams County, and here he grew to manhood on the home farm, and in his youth learned lessons of persevering industry which have been of great benefit in fitting him for the duties of life. He was married May 1, 1862, to Miss Louisa W. K. Johnson, who was born in Allen County, Indiana, October 24, 1840, a daughter of John and Johanna (Piesano) Johnson, natives of Oldenburg, Germany, the father born October 28, 1812, and the mother in April, 1814. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gerke, of whom seven are living - Sophie M., Caroline M., Frederick C., Harmon F., Louisa M., Henry J. and Carl L. J. H. Louis died aged four weeks, Eliza E. died aged two years and seven months and William J. died at the age of eight weeks. In August, 1882, Mr. Gerke and his eldest daughter sailed for Germany to visit his old home, landing at Bremen, going and returning on the steamer Rhine. The weather being fine they had a most enjoyable time, returning to their home in Adams County after an absence of two months. Mr. and Mrs. Gerke relate many interesting incidents of their early pioneer life. When Mr. Gerke's parents were clearing their farm in Preble Township they went out one evening to stir up the fires, and hearing the owls hoot they mimicked them. The owls hearing them flew over their heads, which so scared them that they ran to the house, not knowing what they were. One day Mrs. Gerke's father went to Fort Wayne to buy groceries and found the store filled with Indians. Her father being in a hurry and seeing a bundle on the counter, pushed it aside, when the bundle proved to be a pappoose and began to cry. The Indians then pitched into the father, and would have killed him if an Indian to whom he had given a chew of tobacco had not stepped forward and saved his life. Another time the father of Mrs. Gerke was working on the Maumee Canal when a fearful rainstorm came. The mother and children were much frightened and commenced praying for their father to come home, and in the midst of the storm while they were still crying and praying the father came. Soon after the Gerke family settled in the county the father went to mill with an ox team to Fort Wayne, a distance of twenty-one miles, expecting to be gone from home three days. On the evening of the third day the father had not come; the children commenced crying, never expecting to see him again, but about 11 o'clock in the evening he arrived, causing much rejoicing in the family. One night the father went out of doors soon after the children had gone to bed, and saw a bear near the house, but did not tell of this indicent until a long time afterward, fearing that it would frighten the children. Mr. Gerke has made farming the principal avocation of his life, and has met with excellent success in his farming operations, and is now the owner of a fine property. Besides his home farm in Root Township, where he has 240 acres he has 117 acres of land in Maumee Township, Allen County. The grandparents of our subject, Henry and Julia (Colkmeyer) Gerke, were born in Germany, the grandfather living in that country until his death. The grandmother came to America and died in Adams County, Indiana, where she is buried in the Lutheran cemetery. John Johnson, the father of Mrs. Gerke, learned the baker's trade in his native country, but did not follow it after coming to America. He came to this country in 1837, and worked for a time on the Maumee Canal. He was married at Fort Wayne in 1838, to Johanna Piesano. To them were born eight children, as follows - Johanna, Louisa, Sophia, John, Elizabeth, Henry (died in 1849), Henry (died in 1875, aged twenty-five years) and Lisette (died aged four years). When Mrs. Gerke was five years old her parents came to Adams County, Indiana, and after living in Preble Township six years moved to Root Township, where they still reside, the father being now seventy-four years of age. Both are Lutherans, althought Mrs. Johnson was reared in the Catholic faith.

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


JOSEPH BREMERCAMP was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 31, 1845, and was the eldest of two sons of Harmon and Mary (Heideman) Bremercamp. When three years of age, in 1848, his parents moved to Decatur, Indiana, where he was reared , obtaining his education in the public schools. When fifteen years of age he went into the office of the Decatur Eagle to learn the printer's trade, at which he worked two years. In 1863 he enlisted in the Union army as a bugler in Company C, Eleventh Indiana Cavalry, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out October, 1865. He was in the engagement at Nashville, and was at Huntsvile when Wheeler made his raid on that city. After his discharge he remained in Decatur two years, and in 1867 enlisted in the United States Army as a private, a member of Company K, Twelfth United States Infantry, and served three years, being discharged at the expiration of his term of service. From 1870 until 1875 he worked in Indianapolis and Anderson, Indiana, and Omaha, Nebraska, at his trade, at the latter place being foreman in the office of the Omaha Bee two years, and also interested in the Omaha daily Union. In 1875 he returned to Decatur and worked in the Free Press office until 1878, when he again enlisted and was assigned to Company B, Sixth United States Infantry, and served until the expiration of his term of service in 1883. While in the army he was on duty at Washington, D.C., Charleston, South Carolina, Savannah, Georgia, Omaha, Nebraska, Angel Island, California, Fort Abe Lincoln, Dakota, White River, Colorado, Fort Hall, Idaho and Salt Lake, Utah. He was one of the guards that accompanied the surveyors on the extension of the Northern Pacific Railroad from Bismarck, Dakota to Miles City, Montana. After his discharge he returned again to Decatur, and has since in the saloon business. He was married October 2, 1883, to Miss Mary Hart, a daughter of Jacob S. Hart, of Decatur. They have had two children - Major Jack Carland and Edna M. Mr. Bremercamp is a comrade of Sam Henry Post, No. 63, G. A. R.

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


WILLIAM R. MEEKS, proprietor of the "Meek" saw-mill and member of the firm of Watson & Meeks, grocers at Geneva, was born November 13, 1834, in Champaign County, Ohio. His father was born in Monongalia County, West Virginia, and his mother in Harrison County, same State. They were married in Virginia and soon after that event removed to Ohio, settling in Champaign County, where the father followed farming. In 1843 they removed to Allen County, Indiana, settling in Monroe Township, where there were not more than a dozen settlers. They lived there until the death of the father, which occurred in November, 1880. The mother still resides there. William R. grew to manhood in Allen County, and received a common-school education. He remained at home on the farm until of age, then went to Marion County, Illinois, where he bought land and engaged in farming. July 22, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Fortieth Illinois Infantry, and went south with his regiment. He participated in the battle of Shiloh, the siege of Vicksburg, the second battle of Jackson, Mississippi, siege of Nashville, Kenesaw Mountain, besides other battles and skirmishes. He received a gun-shot wound in the knee, from the effects of which he was discharged, and now draws a pension. He received his final discharge July 18, 1865, and returned to his home in Illinois, where he lived until 1866, then engaged in the oil barrel stave business in Monroeville, Allen County, Indiana. He lived there until he came to Geneva, in 1873, and engaged in his present business. He was married April 2, 1867, to Laura A. Robbins, born in Kosciusko County, this State, June 14, 1850. Her father was a native of Massachusetts and her mother of Ohio. The parents were married in Cleveland, and went from Ohio to Indiana, where the father entered land, and where they lived until their decease. They reared a family of ten children, seven sons and three daughters. Five of the sons were soldiers in the late war, and all but one were killed. Mr. and Mrs. Meeks are member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have had seven children, five of whom are living - Lou Anna, Allen L., Laura B., deceased, Bessie, Gracie, William C. and John B. Mr. Meeks is a member of John P. Porter Post, No. 83, G. A. R. He is strictly a temperance man, using neither liquor or tobacco.

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


HERMAN HENRY BREMERKAMP, a member of the firm of Bremerkamp & Van Camp, proprietors of the Fornax Roller Flouring Mills, Decatur, Indiana, is a native of Decatur born December 30, 1852. He is the only son of John Henry and Magdalena (Hartman) Bremerkamp, early settlers of Decatur. He attended the public schools until 1865, when he was sent to St. Vinautis College, in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, his parents intending him to graduate from that institution. However his father died in 1868, and he was obliged to return home to assist his mother in the care of the mercantile business left by his father. He remained with his mother as clerk and manager until 1875, and in the meantime also engaged in business for himself, buying and shipping butter, eggs and produce. In 1875 he engaged in the grain business, and in 1879, with others, organized the Citizen's Bank, which was discontinued in 1880. In 1883 he again took the management of his mother's large mercantile interests, which he still continues. In 1886 he purchased the Fornax Mills, having owned a small interest in them since 1880. During the summer he remodeled it and made it a roller mill, and the same year became associated with Anson Van Camp, forming the present firm. In politics Mr. Bremerkamp is a Democrat. In 1879 he was elected city treasurer of Decatur, an office he has since held by re-election. January 9, 1879, he as married in St. Mary's Catholic Church to Barbara Klueber, daughter of Sebastian and Barbara Klueber, of Fort Wayne, Fathers Venhoff and Nuesbaum officiating. At the same time his sister Magdalena was married to Ulrich Dinninger, of Fort Wayne. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bremerkamp are members of St. Mary's Church. They have had four children; but three are living - Anselm Anthony, Otto and Reyman. A daughter, Addie, died aged nine months.

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


DEMAS M. WOODRUFF, deceased, was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, March 11, 1820, a son of Joshua Woodruff, a native of Maine, of English descent. He was reared in his native county, and was there married February 25, 1844, to Maria Mitchell, a native of the same county, born February 26, 1824. October 23, 1863, he moved to Adams County, Indiana, and bought 120 acre of land in St. Mary's Township. A few weeks later he returned to Pennsylvania to settle up his business interests there, and when on his way home was killed in a railroad collision at New Brighton, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff had a family of seven children; five are living - Thomas M., born May 20, 1845; Reuben M., born February 8, 1847; Lucy J., born March 23, 1849; Violetta J., born July 14, 1855, died June 28, 1857; Mary V., born February 25, 1857; Andrew J., born July 14, 1859; Samuel M., born April 8, 1861 and died Frebruary 17, 1873. In politics Mr. Woodruff was a Democrat. Mrs. Woodruff is a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Mitchell) Mitchell, her father born in New Jersey and her mother in Greene County, Pennsylvania. Her father was killed in a sugar camp by the falling of a tree, January 10, 1827, and June 20, 1830, her mother married Abner Tharp. She had a family of ten children, six by her first marriage, and four by second. Mrs. Woodruff is a member of the Christian church, in which she is a faithful and earnest worker.

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


FREDERICK F. FRECH, farmer, section 10, Union Township, came to this county November 20, 1871, and settled on his present farm, having purchased it in August, 1873 when it was in a wild state. Mr. Frech was born in Rhine, Bavaria, Germany, December 14, 1836, and came to America in August, 1838, with his parents and one other child. They landed in New York, and proceeded at once to Fairfield, Ohio, where they settled. The father being a minister of the Evangelical Association, they necessarily moved often. When he was fourteen years old his father purchased forty acres of land in Hancock County, Ohio. In the spring of 1863 our subject enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Ohio Infantry. The regiment enlisted for 100 days, but was out four months. He was stationed at the Point of Rocks, at Turkey Bend, on James River. Here he was under fire for the first time. Some of his companions were killed and some wounded. The regiment was discharged, and Mr. Frech was afterward drafted in the fall of 1863, in the call for 300,000 men. He was placed in Company A, Forty-seventh Ohio Infantry, and joined the regiment at Marietta, Georgia, near Atlanta. The regiment had veteranized, and was attached to the Second Brigade, Second Division, Fifteenth Army Corps. Mr. Frech was in all the engagements of his regiment. He went with Sherman to the sea, was in the charge of Fort McAllister and the battle of Bentonville, North Carolina, that being the last battle of Sherman's army. He then marched to Washington and participated in the grand review. He was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, and returned to his home. He then learned the carpenter's trade and worked for $1 per day the first summer. He worked at his trade until he came to Adams County, since which time he has been engaged in farming. He was married December 3, 1867 to Miss Mary A. Graham, who was born in Hancock County, Ohio, in August, 1839, where she was reared and married. Her father, George W. Graham, was born in Madison County, of Scotch ancestry, and was about four years older than his wife. He died in Hancock County. The mother Catherine (Crabel) Graham, was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1818, and is still living in Hancock County. Mr. Frech's father, Frederick Frech, was born in Germany, November 29, 1809, where he was reared and married. He came to America in 1839, and died in Hancock County, November 3, 1885, upon the farm where he first settled. His mother, Elizabeth (Schaff) Frech, was born in Wagenheim, Germany, June 14, 1815, and is still living on the old homestead in Hancock County. The father was a circuit rider for twenty-five years, having been converted in Fairfield, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Frech have two children living and three deceased - Nellie, born February 16, 1873, and Frocia Alice, born March 4, 1879. The deceased are - Catherine E., died in the fall of 1870, at the age of ten weeks; Frederick G., born February 25, 1875, died July 9, 1882, by accidental drowning in his father's cistern. Mr. Frech's grandfather, Casper Frech, was born and died in Germany. His great-grandfather was a noted fresco painter, and in his day assisted in painting cathedrals. Mr. Frech was elected township trustee in the spring of 1886, and has served as justice of the peace for four years, being elected in 1880. Both himself and wife are members of the Evangelical Association. Politically he is a Republican and a true loyal citizen of the United States.

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


JOSEPHUS MARTIN, farmer, section 24, Hartford Township is one of the old pioneers of Adams County, and was born in Hampshire County, Virginia, September 30, 1803. His parents were also natives of Virginia, his grandfather having settled there about the time of the Revolutionary war. They were of German origin. The family removed to Warren County, Ohio, whre the parents died. Josephus went with his parents to Ohio, and remained at home until twenty-eight years of age, when he was married, March 25, 1830, to Catherine Summerfelt, born in New Jersey July 7, 1814. They had six children - Sarah, Rosetta, Ellen C., Morton J., Emma D. and Phebe C. Mrs. Martin died January 19, 1844, and January 27, 1845 Mr. Martin was married to Elizabeth Deffenbaugh, daughter of John Deffenbaugh, of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are the parents of eleven children.

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


ELIAS BARKLEY was born in Ashland County, Ohio, July 20, 1831, a son of Jacob and Harriet (Daugherty) Barkley, natives of Pennsylvania, the former born September 1, 1805, and the latter January 24, 1806. In 1849 the family came to Adams County, Indiana and entered eighty acres of Government land, at the same time buying eighty acres in Union Township, and here the father died September 2, 1879. His paternal grandparents, Jacob and Rosanna Barkley, were also natives of Pennsylvania, and died in Wayne County, Ohio. Mr. Barkley was married October 16, 1856, to Mary Clem, a native of Champaign County, Ohio, born April 7, 1836, daughter of Noah and Magdelene (Ridenour) Clem, natives of Shennandoah County, Virginia, the former born September 27, 1810, and the latter in 1811. The mother died September 27, 1885, and the father is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Barkley have had seven children - Jeremiah, born July 26, 1857; John A., August 2, 1859; Joseph, January 11, 1861; Elizabeth A., January 15, 1868; William Penn, February 2, 1870; Mary T., born March 1, 1872, died October 31, 1879, and David J., born August 14, 1876.

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


JAMES B. SNOW, deceased, was a prominent farmer of Wabash Township. He was born in Pennsylvania, February 9, 1818, and came to Jay County, in 1837, with his parents, from Sandusky, Ohio. He remained at home until he reached his majority, then went to Texas, going on foot and by water. While is Texas he followed school-teaching. Although he received nothing by a common-school education, by hard study he obtained sufficient to enable him to teach school. He returned to Indiana, via Pennsylvania, and taught school in Westmoreland County. He then returned to Jay County, and entered the office of his brother, Barton B. Snow, M.D., at New Corydon, with whom he studied medicine. He afterward attend Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, graduating in 1858. He practiced his profession at Ridgeville and Deerfield, in Randolph County, then came to Adams County and practiced near Buena Vista on e year. In 1865 he purchased the farm on section 29, Wabash Township, on which he lived until his death, which occurred December 11, 1876. He was twice married. His first wife was Eliza J. Lyon, whom he married August 2, 1857, died May 1, 1864. They had three children, one of whom, Vernon, is now living. He married his second wife, Lavinia Zimmerman, December 8, 1864. By this marriage there was one child. Mrs. Snow was a member of the Lutheran Reformed church. She died Feruary 14, 1868.

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


JOHN DEFFENBAUGH, deceased, was born in Alleghany County, Maryland, in 1787, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a saddler by trade, at which he worked in Maryland. He was married in his native county, to Miss Ellen Martin, also a native of Maryland. They immigrated to Indiana in the spring of 1837, settling in Hartford Township, this county. He lived upon that farm until his death in 1863. Mrs. Deffenbaugh died September 19, 1870. They had five children - Theodore, now deceased, Elizabeth, Mary F., also deceased, John L. and Aurilla. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. John L. Deffenbaugh, a son of the preceding, was born in Maryland, October 9, 1833. When four years of age he came to Adams County with his parents, where he grew to manhood in Hartford Township, and received a common-school education. He remained at home until his marriage, October 16, 1861, to Eliza M. Dorr, a native of Carroll County, Ohio, born October 4, 1847. Her parents were Payton and Elizabeth (Fish) Dorr, natives of Ohio, who immigrated to Root Township, this county, in 1858, and one year later removed to West Liberty, Jay County, where the father died. The mother again married, her second husband being Uriah Green. They removed to Berne, thence to Geneva, whre the mother still resides. By her first marriage there were nine children - Eliza M., George W. (deceased) Adeline, Amanda (deceased), Lizzie L., Mary A., Clara Delphine and Ruth Ella. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. After his marriage Mr. Deffenbaugh followed farming until May 8, 1864, when he enlisted in Company E, Thirty-ninth Indiana Infantry, serving until October 9, 1864, when his term of enlistment expired and he was discharged. He then returned to Adams County, where he has followed farming ever since. Their children are - James F., Rosa (deceased), Lotta (deceased), and Lizziell. Mr. Deffenbaugh is a member of John P. Porter Post, No. 83, G. A. R.

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


JOHN HENRY BREMERKAMP, deceased, was born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1801. In his youth he learned the tailor's trade, and worked as a journeyman in his native country until 1845, when he came to the United States, and located at Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1849 he moved to Decatur, Indiana, where he worked at his trade, and at the same time conducted a mercantile business until 1851, when he abandoned his trade and gave his entire attention to his other business until his death, which occurred November 11, 1868. He was one of the original members of St. Mary's Catholic Church, and was for several years one of it's trustees. He was married April 15, 1851, to Mrs. Magdalena (Hartman) Klaphake, daughter of Henry and Josephine (Steinway) Hartman, and widow of Gerhard Klaphake, who was born in Hanover, Germany, December 17, 1822, and when thirteen years of age accompanied her parents to the United States, they locating in New York City. February 13, 1841, she married Gerhard Klaphake, and in 1843 accompanied him to Decatur, Indiana, where he worked at the shoemaker's trade until his death in 1847. To this marriage were born four children, two of whom died in infancy. Two are living, both being residents of Decatur - Joseph and Mary, wife of Jacob Fullenkamp. To Mr. and Mrs. Bremerkamp were born three children - Henry, Magdalena, wife of Ulrich Dininger, and Catherine, wife of Edward Ehinger. After the death of her husband Mrs. Bremerkamp took charge of his mercantile interests, and has since conducted the business in her own name. She is a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

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


JOSEPH W. SMITH, farmer, is a native of St. Mary's Township, this county, born December 7, 1843, a son of Zachariah and Susanna (McClellan) Smith, who were of German and Irish descent. His parents settled in Adams County in a very early day, his father being the first sheriff of the county. Joseph has in his possession deeds signed by Andrew Jackson. His father was drowned while attempting to cross the St. Mary's River, and his mother is still living. Joseph remained at home with his mother until 1862, when he enlisted in defense of his country, and was assigned to Company I, Eighty-ninth Indiana Infantry. His regiment was captured by General Bragg at Munfordville, Kentucky, and after their parole participated in the Red River expedition and the Missouri and Tupelo expedition, and were then ordered to Nashville, where they fought two days, and at one time took more prisoners than there were soldiers in their regiment. Mr. Smith participated in many severe battles and skirmishes, the more important being as follows: Munfordville, Kentucky, September 14, 1862; Fort DeRussey, Louisiana, March 14, 1864; Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, April 9, 1864; Marksville Prairie, Louisiana, May 16, 1864; Yellow Bayou, Louisiana, May 18, 1864; Tupelo, Mississippi, July 14, 1864; Nashville, Tennessee, October 15 and 16, 1864; Fort Blakely, Alabama, April 9, 1865. He was honorably discharged July 19, 1865. In February , 1866, he was married to Catherine Gulick, and to them were born five children - Annis, born May 22, 1867; Marietta, born August 28, 1868; Samuel W., July 17, 1870; Amos Z., January 4, 1872; William H., October 23, 1874. Mrs. Smith died in November, 1874, and April 17, 1876, Mr. Smith married Adeline Britton. They have had four children - Albert, Born May 25, 1867; Willie F., July 3, 1869; Ora and Cora (twins), August 12, 1871. Cora died October 12, 1871 and Ora August 2, 1872.

Birth dates, etc. of children are entered as they were in the book/

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


Deb Murray