John Brown was born in Van Wert county, Ohio , November 23, 1853. He spent his youth on his father's farm and assisted in the labors incident to the operation and management of the farm. In 1870 he came to Indiana and settled on one hundred and five acres of land, which he purchased in Wabash township, Adams county. This land under his management and development has come to be a very valuable tract, and is still the home property of Mr. Brown. He improved his land and soon had it at a very profitable stage of cultivation. In addition to general farming he devoted his attention to the raising of stock for shipment to the markets. This work he has continued and has built up a business in shipping cattle, hogs and sheep that is one of the largest and most important and profitable in northeastern Indiana . As time wore on Mr. Brown added to his real estate holdings in the township until he has today four hundred and fifty acres of fine land all in one piece. This is situated about one and one half miles from Geneva and is one of the best improved in the entire county. All the improvements on the land were put there by Mr. Brown. .A large part of his farm is under cultivation and the crops that are grown on the land are fed to the cattle and hogs that are raised. These grades of cattle and hogs are common grades, but under the experienced eye and management of Mr. Brown become excellent for marketing and are sold at the highest market prices in a number of localities. Mr. Brown sells all of his stock on foot and ships much of it to distant points. The estate owned by Mr. Brown is one of the finest in the county. He has erected a fine residence and large and commodious stock barns and sheds. The improvements that have been made are of the very best and in the operation of the farm the latest machinery and most improved and modem methods are employed. The place is well fenced and excellently drained.

March 31, 1876, Mr. Brown married Miss Nettie Martin, a daughter of William and Caroline (Fitzsimmons) Martin. Her parents were residents of Pennsylvania originally, but later came to Ohio and thence to Indiana . Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown. These children are: Nora, the wife of John Love, an oil man; Hattie, one of twins born, now the wife of Wesley Dunboodie, who is a farner employed by Mr. Brown; Emma C, Harry, one of the twins, and the husband of Blanche Michaels, and Harvey, still at home.

Mr. Brown is one of the most highly respected men of his community. He is interested in all movements for the improvement of the township and county and is a ready contributor to such movements. He is a Republican and votes with this party on all subjects. Although he has never aspired to or sought a public office, he served for five years as a township trustee. He is not a member of any lodge.

Submitted by: Margie Roop Pearce
Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, John Fletcher Snow, B. F. Bowen, Indianapolis, IN, 1907, (image 559)

Mr. Baumgartner's father died in 1885 and the same year his son was married to Miss Bertha L. Saurer, a daughter of John and Marian (Tschandrey) Saurer. His wife's parents came to this country from Switzerland and were among the older inhabitants of Adams county. Their farm was originally located in a wilderness and under their management and development became in time very valuable. Mr. and Mrs. Baumgartner became the parents of eight children. Four are still living: Homer H, Grover C., Lima E., and Carl. Those dead are : Elroy P., Mahala M., Howard and one that died unnamed in infancy.

Since he resumed his hardware business in 1888 it has prospered and developed until today it yields a handsome profit. The store building is admirably adapted to its purpose and a complete line of hardware and implements is carried. Mr. Baumgartner is an aggressive and wide-awake business man who appreciates the value of modern methods and conducts his business accordingly. He is a public-spirited citizen and a man who is interested in all movements for the improvement of Berne and Adams county. He takes a leading part in such matters and contributes his support to them generously. He is a Democrat in politics and is a staunch supporter of his party in his section of the state. He has never aspired to public office but works in harmony with the members of his party. He has accumulated considerable property and is interested in several enterprises. One of his most valued possessions is a summer home at Odin, near Petoskey , Michigan . It is at this place that Mr. Baumgartner spends his summers and he is a keen lover of out of door life and activities. He is an esteemed member of the Reformed church and contributes generously to its support.

Submitted by: Margie Roop Pearce
Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, John Fletcher Snow, B. F. Bowen, Indianapolis, IN, 1907, (image 563)

In the year 1859, Christian Burghalter was married. He chose for his wife Mary Hartman, a daughter of Michael Hartman, of Wayne county, Ohio . During the early days of her husband on his farm Mrs. Burghalter proved an able assistant and a faithful wife. The marriage has been blessed by eight children, six of whom are living. These children are: Emma, Amanda. Millie, Daniel, Sarah and Ida. Eli and Leda E. are dead.

As a farmer Mr. Burghalter has been a successful and progressive man. His original place was not large and was uninviting. However, he cleared it and got it under cultivation and he made his farming profitable. He added from time to time improvements and fenced his place. He laid tiling and ditched the land where draining was necessary and he erected suitable buildings. He was engaged in cheese making for four years, but he devoted the greater portion of his time and energies to his farm work and to the cultivation of the soil. He added other tracts to his original purchase and now owns four hundred acres of good land, three hundred of which are under cultivation. He finds profit in raising stock for the market and has a number of fine Holsteins and some excellent Poland China and Duroc hogs on his place. He employs modern methods in administering the affairs and business of his estate, and in other ways demonstrates the fact that he is a thoroughly wide-awake man. Some years ago he erected a fine brick residence and a large barn. These buildings are among the best and finest in the county. His prosperity today is in strange contrast with his needy condition when he came to Indiana . He delights in telling of his early days and of the time when he hauled his produce forty-eight miles to find a market for it in Fort Wayne.

Mr. Burghalter is a public-spirited man. He takes a keen interest in all matters pertaining to the betterment of the community and has been active in many movements looking toward this end. He is an advocate of good roads and was instrumental in securing the construction of some of the present county pikes. In politics he is a Democrat, but he is not an aggressive partisan. He has not aspired to public office, but served a number of years as a supervisor. He is a member of the Reformed church and gives [his denomination his support. He and his family are highly esteemed by all who know them, and his home is one of the centers of social interest and activity of the district in which it is situated.

Submitted by: Margie Roop Pearce
Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, John Fletcher Snow, B. F. Bowen, Indianapolis, IN, 1907, (image 565)

Levi was a member of a family of thirteen children, eight of whom are still living. As a boy and young man he worked on his father's farm and secured his early education in the winter term schools of his neighorhood. When he reached his majority he turned his back on the farm and began business as a clerk in a mercantile establishment in Berne . He was employed in this manner for some time and then severed his connection with the store and interested himself in the lumber business. He operated and managed a lumber business, including a saw and planing mill, for the succeeding five years. He built up a successful enterprise and a large business. After the close of the five years' period he disposed of his mill interests and engaged in the mercantile business. He purchased his present business and has conducted it since. He began his present business in 1992 and has developed it to its present satisfactory proportions. His store is one of the most attractive and best equipped in Berne and he commands a large trade. His methods are those of a wide-awake, progressive business man and he possesses a large share of business sagacity. His methods are such, that recommends him to his patrons and his store is a trading center for the entire section of the county.

Mr. Sprunger is interested in a number of industries of Berne . He is a stockholder and a director of the Bank of Berne, which institution his father founded. He is a director and stockholder in the Berne Lumber Company and is connected with the Berne Milling Company. He was the manager of this latter concern for five years and did much to place it on the firm footing it enjoys today. He is a public-spirited man and a valuable and useful citizen. He is a leader in municipal affairs and gives his hearty and generous support to all movements that are destined to elevate the general public. In politics he is a Democrat, but is in no sense a seeker of preferment or a partisan worker. He has served on the school board and is a patron and firm friend of education. With his famiiv he is a member of the Mennonite church and contributes to the support of this denomination.

In 1887 he was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Baumgartner, a daughter of Abraham and Caroline (Ellenberger) Baumgartner. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sprunger. These are Alina, Grover, Lydia , Harry and Leona.

Submitted by: Margie Roop Pearce
Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, John Fletcher Snow, B. F. Bowen, Indianapolis, IN, 1907, (image 567)

David Bixler lived on his father's farm during his youth and early manhood. His youth differed in no respect from that of the other boys of his community. He attended the schools of his neighborhood and secured as good an education as was possible under the conditions. At an early age he showed an aptitude for mechanics and began learning the watchmaker's and jeweler's trade under his relative. He made rapid progress and set up a small establishment at his father's home. He repaired the watches of the farmers of his neighborhood and as his fame as an accomplished workman grew he was patronized by many from a distance. He enlarged his little business and added a stock of jewelry to his equipment as a watchmaker. He continued to conduct his business at the home farm until 1880, when he removed to Berne and established himself in business there. His store was the first of its kind opened in Berne . Today it is one of the best equipped in the county. Mr. Bixler is a skilled optician, being a graduate, as well as a jeweler, and he enjoys a large and constantly increasing patronage. Of an inventive turn of mind, Mr. Bixler has invented and made a number of the more delicate tools he uses in his work. He has built two fine regulators and a balance that will respond to the two-hundredth part of a grain.

He has two sons, Frank and Noah, who are also of their father's inventive turn. The former of these is an assistant in his father's establishment and the other is studying the same trade. Mr. Bixler was married in 1875 to Miss Anna Luginbill, a daughter of Peter and Barbara (Steiner) Luginbill. Her parents were natives of Switzerland and came to Adams county at an early date. They settled on a farm and were successful tillers of the soil. Eight children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bixler. These children are: Clara H., the wife of Dr. Amos Reusser; Mary A., the wife of T. M. Huffman, connected with the telephone company; Franklin G., Noah A., a student at Toronto, Canada; Laura H., in Chicago; Emma M., Esther E. and Erwin D., at home.

Mr. Bixler is considered one of the best citizens of Berne . He is a thoroughly modern and progressive man. In the sense of possessing a competence he has proved a successful business man, but he has not neglected his civic duties in accumulating his possessions. He has always taken an active and aggressive part in municipal and county affairs, and served for fifteen years as treasurer of Berne . He is a Democrat in politics and is a staunch adherent of this party. He owns real estate in Berne, a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Lisbon , North Dakota , and is interested in several financial enterprises.

There is no family more highly esteemed than his own in the whole of Adams county. He has led an exemplary life and has contributed his full share to the happiness and welfare of his fellow men. He is a consistent member of the Mennonite church and with his family gives his support to the aims and ambitions of this denomination.

Submitted by: Margie Roop Pearce
Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, John Fletcher Snow, B. F. Bowen, Indianapolis, IN, 1907, (image 567)

Mr. Schug was married in 1890 to Miss Nanny Burghalter, daughter of Christopher and ___ Burghalter, who came to Carroll county, Indiana, at an early date, where they were early settlers. Mrs. Schug died about a year after her marriage, July 21, 1891. Mr. Schug married again to Miss Emma Frances Kelly, a daughter of Samuel F. and Elizabeth (Deo) Kelly. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schug: Velma T., Catherine E., Walter C. and an infant daughter.

If one characteristic rather than another might be said to be the keynote to a man's character in the case of Mr. Schug it would be his firm integrity and public spirit. He is an active promoter of the welfare of his native city and co-operates heartily in all movements looking toward the advancement of the city's interests. He has the esteem and confidence of all who know him and is reckoned among the most progressive men of his section of the state. In politics he is an adherent of the Democratic party, but is not a man who aspires to public office.

Submitted by: Margie Roop Pearce
Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, John Fletcher Snow, B. F. Bowen, Indianapolis, IN, 1907, (image 571)

Christian Egly was educated in the common schools of Hartford township, but his education ceased at the age of sixteen, when he went to work on a farm, at which labor he was engaged until 1898, when he came to Berne and engaged in his present business as a dealer in grain and hay. He is associated in business with C. A. Augsburger, but to the subject of this sketch is attributed the management of the business.

In 1886 Mr. Egly married Miss Ann a Schenbeck, daughter of Daniel and Ann a (Klopfenstein) Schenbeck, residents of Holmes county, Ohio . Her father was born in Holmes county, Ohio , and her mother's birth occurred February 12, 1834, in Germany . To the subject and his wife have been born three children, namely: Lillian M.. Henry D., who is attending school at Berne. Indiana, and Catherine A. Lillian M. took a four years' course at a college in Bluffton , Ohio , and later took a musical course at Findlay , Ohio . In politics Mr. Egly is a staunch Republican, though he has never held public office. Religiously he and his wife are members of the Mennonite church, of which they are faithful and active followers.

Submitted by: Margie Roop Pearce
Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, John Fletcher Snow, B. F. Bowen, Indianapolis, IN, 1907, (image 573)

Dr. Wilson spent his youth, and early manhood on his father's farms. He received a good education in the Ohio county schools and later supplemented this preliminary education with a classical course at Taylor University at Fort Wayne . He completed the course at this institution and was graduated "cum laude" with the class of 1884. By this time he had decided to adopt the medical profession for his life work and he entered the medical school at Fort Wayne after his graduation from Taylor University . He pursued his studies in this medical school and received his degree in four years. Following his graduation from the medical college he spent two years in post-graduate work and in hospitals. He was connected with the St. Joseph 's Hospital at Fort Wayne and was a student under Dr. C. B. Stemen, a celebrated surgeon of Fort Wayne . He established his first office after completing his hospital work in Scott, Van Wert county, Ohio , where his father was living. He practiced in Ohio until 1898, when he removed to Indiana and settled in Berne . He has built up a large practice and he has been successful in a number of very delicate and critical operations. His successes have gained a wide repute for him and he has become the leading surgeon of his vicinity.

In 1879 Dr. Wilson was married to Miss Elizabeth Eutsler. His wife died in 1886 and was survived by three children. These are: Edward, a farmer in Scott, Van Wert county, Ohio ; William, a railroad engineer, and Minnie, married and a resident of Scott, Van Wert county, Ohio . Two years after the death of his first wife Dr. Wilson married again. His wife this time was Miss Victoria Click. She died a few years after the marriage and bore her husband a daughter, Myrtle, a trained nurse, connected with the Cleveland , Ohio , City Hospital . Dr. Wilson was married for the third time in 1904 to Miss Flossie Dudgeon.

Dr. Wilson has been a busy man. His profession has demanded the major part of his time and attention, but he has found time for studying. He took up the law and completed its study and was admitted to practice in the Adams county courts. However, he has not practiced law. He is a man who keeps fully abreast with his profession. He is a member of and keeps in close touch with the national, state and county medical organizations. He reads extensively and is informed of all the progress, discoveries and developments of his profession. He is a broad-gauge man and is alive to the movements that are for the benefit of Berne . He is public spirited and a hearty colaborater with his fellow townsmen in all matters that are for the general good.

Submitted by: Margie Roop Pearce
Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, John Fletcher Snow, B. F. Bowen, Indianapolis, IN, 1907, (image 575)

In 1884 Mr. Schug married Ann a Striker, a daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Striker. Her father was born in Germany and her mother in Pennsylvania . Mr. and Mrs. Schug are the parents of four children. The children are: Otto F., who died July 8, 1907, being killed by a train, aged twenty-two years; Cora P., Jesse A., and Everett J.

Besides being one of the aggressive and substantial business men of Berne , Mr.Schug is one of the leading citizens. He has taken an active part in public affairs all his life and served as one of the earlier marshals of the town. He was a member of the town board for a period of five years and was twice a candidate for the office of county auditor. He was defeated but the majorities secured against him were not large. He is a Democrat and takes an active and intelligent interest in the affairs of his party in Adams county. He is a member of Berne Lodge, No. 398, Knights of Pythias. He owns considerable town property and lives in a comfortable home. He and his family are among the most highly respected people of the community.

Submitted by: Margie Roop Pearce
Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, John Fletcher Snow, B. F. Bowen, Indianapolis, IN, 1907, (image 577)

Dr. Franz assisted his father in the cheesemaking until he grew to manhood. He decided to take up the study of medicine, meaning to adopt it as a profession. November 14, 1887, he began his studies in the office of Dr. Peter A. Sprunger, one of the older physicians of Berne . Dr. Franz was associated with Dr. Sprunger until 1890, when his mother died. He then entered the Hahnemannain Medical College at Chicago and was graduated from this institution March 23, 1893. During his first summer vacation he assisted in the office of Dr. Sprunger and the second summer he was connected with the office of Dr. Neueuschwander. Following his graduation he returned to Berne and began the active practice of his profession. He was a successful practitioner from the start and has built up a fine and profitable practice. He is a man who believes in keeping clear of rust and in not permitting himself to drift or to fall behind the discoveries or advancement made in his profession. He is an earnest reader of professional literature and is a member of the state, county and national medical associations. He attends the annual conventions of his own school and is an important member of his associations.

The marriage of Dr. Franz and Miss Lea Neuenschwander occurred March 9, 1890. His wife is a daughter of Christian and Ann a (Lehman) Neuenschwander. Like her husband's parents, her own were natives of Switzerland and came to the United States about the middle of the last century. Nine children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Franz. These are all living at home and are: Ann a E., Franklin, Ernestine E., Elfriede E., Gerhard E., Irlene E., Ilma E., Agnes E. and Flora E.

Dr. Franz is a progressive citizen and takes an interest in the affairs of his adopted city. He is a leader in movements destined to promote the general good or to advance the interests of Berne . He is a member of the Mennonite church and with his family contributes to the support of this denomination. He cannot be said to be a public man. His profession keeps him busy, and he has not time to engage in politics. However, he is keenly alive to what is happening in county, state and national politics, and has well founded, accurate opinions on measures of this nature.

Submitted by: Margie Roop Pearce
Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, John Fletcher Snow, B. F. Bowen, Indianapolis, IN, 1907, (image 579)

Two years before his removal from Jay county to Adams county Mr. Macklin was married to Miss Mary Siberry, a daughter of John and Sarah (Anties) Siberry. His wife's parents were natives of Ohio and came to Jay county at an early date. Her father died in 1862, but her mother is still living at Bryant, Jay county, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Macklin have become the parents of eight children. These are: Bertha, the wife of Bertis Fifer, a farmer; Philip, Troy, Hazel, Haskel, Israel , deceased; Orena and Mark. Five of these children are living at their parents' home.

Mr. Macklin is one of the best known men in his township. He is a progressive farmer and believes in modern methods and modern machinery. He cultivates his farm in an approved manner and makes it a paying proposition. His crops are satisfactory, and he markets much of his crop each year at a profit. He raises Duroc hogs and his breed of these animals is one of the best in the county. He is a member of the Geneva Masonic lodge and is respected and esteemed. He is not a public man in the sense that he is a politician. However, as a Democrat he has well-grounded opinions on matters of genera! and local political interest.

The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Pleasant Grove church. He has served as trustee and assessor. He has five producing oil wells.

Submitted by: Margie Roop Pearce
Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, John Fletcher Snow, B. F. Bowen, Indianapolis, IN, 1907, (image 581)

Mr. J. A. Habegger was reared on his father's farm and was educated in the schools of Monroe township. He spent his time on the farm until he was grown and assisted in improving and cultivating the land. He continued to farm until 1901, when he engaged in the livery business at Berne . A good feeding barn had long been needed in Berne . The farmers and residents of the town realized this, but the attempts to conduct one had failed repeatedly until Mr. Habegger opened his present establishment under the firm name of J. A. Habegger & Company. From the beginning of the enterprise it was a financial success. The management and methods of Mr. Habegger were such that guaranteed the success of the business, and much of the credit for its success can be rightly given to him. The building which the business occupies is large and admirably adapted to the feeding and livery business. It is equipped in a most modern and convenient manner, and is one of the finest establishments of its kind in northeastern Indiana . Much of Mr. Habcgger's time is devoted to breeding fine horses. Some time ago he imported four Belgian stallions of a very fine strain and in addition he owns a highly bred Percheron Norman stallion.

The marriage of Mr. Habegger and Miss Lavina Neuenschwander, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Stauffer) Neuenschwander, was celebrated in 1896. His wife's parents were natives of Adams county, where their daughter was born. Mr. and Mrs. Habegger have an interesting family of six children. These children are: Clarence, Albert, Delia, Alma, Wilbert and Edison. His home is a fine cement block residence and is one of the handsomest and most attractive in Berne.

In politics Mr. Habegger is a Democrat, but he has never aspired to office or sought preferment at the hands of his party. He is a well-balanced and active business man and is generally esteemed. He and the members of his family' are communicants of the Mennonite church, to which they give their help and constant support. He owns about eight acres in his home place.

Submitted by: Margie Roop Pearce
Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, John Fletcher Snow, B. F. Bowen, Indianapolis, IN, 1907, (image 583)

In 1880 Mr. Snow married Miss Mary C. Vance, a daughter of Marshall and Arabella (Diffenbaugh) Vance. His wife's parents were among the early arrivals in Indiana . They came to this state from Ohio , where they were reared, and settled in Adams county on a farm still in the family's possession. Her mother's people were natives of Marvland and came west at a very early date in the last century. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Snow: Jessie, deceased ; Grace and Bertha. The latter children are living at home.

Mr. Snow has been an active and busy man all of his life. He has devoted the greater portion of his time and attention to the cultivation of his farm, but as an exemplary citizen he has taken a live interest in the affairs of the county. He co-operates with other residents of the county in all movements that have as their object the betterment of the county and his advice and counsel is frequently sought on matters of importance. He is a Republican so far as his political affiliations are concerned and supports this party in national questions. However, he reserves the right to vote independently on matters affecting the county and is to be found on the side of the candidate whom he considers best fitted for the office regardless of party lines. He is not a member of any fraternal organization. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and with his family gives his moral and financial support to this denomination. His home is one of the pleasantest in the county and his family is highly esteemed. In business he is looked upon as a successful man, and in 1900 he had his fortunes bettered by the finding of oil on his place. He now has four producing wells.

Submitted by: Margie Roop Pearce
Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, John Fletcher Snow, B. F. Bowen, Indianapolis, IN, 1907, (image 585)

Emil Franz received his early education in the schools of his native village in Switzerland. When he came with his parents to this country he studied the language and picked up a smattering of an English education. He was an industrious boy and assisted in the work of cheese making. He lived at his father's home until he grew to manhood. He was studious and conceived a liking for law, which profession he determined to make his life work. He read such law books as he could get and finally secured a broad and comprehensive knowledge of the law. He was variously employed in his early manhood and took an active part in politics. In 1894 he was elected town marshal and served in this capacity for four years. He discharged the duties of his office with ability and to the entire satisfaction of the public he served. He completed his preparatory law studies in 1900 and that year was admitted to practice in the Adams county courts. Following his admission to practice he established an office and has since devoted much of his time to his profession. In addition to his law business Mr. Franz conducted a fire insurance business until 1905. He was the local representative of a number of the older and more substantial companies, and made this branch of his business profitable. In the year mentioned he gave up his fire insurance work and engaged in life insurance work. He has also been a notary public for eight years and his practice is among the more prominent and profitable in the county.

In the course of his busy life he has found time to establish a home, and was married to Miss Katie Lehman, a daughter of Abraham and Mary A. (Sprunger) Lehman. His wife's parents formerly lived in Wayne county, Ohio , where the daughter was born, but they now reside in Adams county. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Franz: Bertha E., Rosa E., Elma E., Daniel E. and Viola E. The family are members of the Mennonite church and to this religious institution Mr. Franz gives his support. He is looked upon as a public-spirited man, and is an active worker in all things that have the betterment and uplifting of the community as an object.

Submitted by: Margie Roop Pearce
Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, John Fletcher Snow, B. F. Bowen, Indianapolis, IN, 1907, (image 587)

It will be seen that his son Reuben comes naturally by his desire to practice medicine. As a youth Reuben Sprunger attended the county schools and later spent one year in the Berne schools. By this time he had made up his mind to study veterinary surgery and so he journeyed to Toronto , Ontario , where he studied for a year. The following year he entered the veterinary college at Indianapolis and graduated from this institution in 1903. He returned to Berne and began the practice of his profession.

Dr. Sprunger was married to Miss Laura Fuhrman, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Beck) Fuhrman, February 24, 1906. He is a successful man and is one of a type of progressive business men who are a distinct benefit to a community. His practice is constantly increasing, and although he has been in business in Berne but a short time he has become the proprietor of a fine business. He is wide-awake to all matters that have a reasonable certainty of benefiting Berne and Adams county. He takes an active part in such projects and gives them his hearty cooperation. Politically he is a member of the Democratic party. He is an enthusiastic party worker. His religious affiliations are with the Evangelical church.

Submitted by: Margie Roop Pearce
Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, John Fletcher Snow, B. F. Bowen, Indianapolis, IN, 1907, (image 589)

It was on this farm that eight children born to the elder Schenks lived and were reared. Of this family six boys are living. Two daughters are deceased. Dr. C. H. Schenk was one of this family of children and received his early education in the schools of Jay county. He was an industrious youth and an apt student. He was also an able and earnest assistant to his father in cultivating the homestead. After he completed his course of study in the primary schools of Jay county he attended the Portland normal school. He was a close student and gained knowledge with ease and rapidity. After finishing his work in the normal school he decided to take up medicine as a profession. To this end he matriculated in the Physo Medical College at Indianapolis and studied at this institution for four years. He was graduated with the class of 1894 and returned to his home for a short time. He entered on the active practice of his profession at Oakville , Delaware county, where he remained for two years. Circumstances shaped themselves so that he made up his mind to give up his office in Oakville and to remove to Berne . He did this and formed a partnership for the practicing of medicine with Dr. W. F. Schenk. This arrangement lasted for about a year when Dr. W. F. Schenk was compelled to abandon his active work. Later, however, he established himself in practice at New Corydon, Indiana. With the withdrawal of Dr. W. F. Schenk from the partnership Dr. C. H. Schenk took over the entire business and has continued to practice in Berne . He now enjoys a fine practice and is considered one of the leading and able members of his profession in his section of the state. Dr. Schenk is a broad-gauge man in all respects. He as a public-spirited citizen and takes a live part in matters that affect the prosperity of Berne . He is a member of the Democratic party and an active worker. He has never asked for public office but has served as the health officer of Berne and as coroner of Adams county.

In 1895 Dr. Schenk was married to Miss Elizabeth C. Atkinson. His wife is a daughter cf J. R. and Margaret (Theurer) Atkinson. Her parents came to Indiana from Wayne county, Ohio , and are residents of Jay county. Dr. and Mrs. Schenk are the parents of one daughter, Agnes, attending the Berne schools. Dr. Schenk is a member of Geneva Lodge, No. 621. A. F. & A. M., and of the Berne Lodge, No. 398, Knights of Pythias, and is a keen sportsman. He spends a month or more of each year in the Michigan woods.

Submitted by: Margie Roop Pearce
Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, John Fletcher Snow, B. F. Bowen, Indianapolis, IN, 1907, (image 591)

Amos Hirschy grew up on his father's farm and attended the schools of the district, where he obtained his early education. When three years of age he passed through an illness which left him physically disabled for manual labor. He attended common schools and later entered the Tri-State Normal College at Angola and took a business course. He completed this course in 1890 and then engaged in commercial pursuits. He was assistant postmaster at Berne over two years, then took a position with the Bank of Berne, with which financial institution he was connected in various capacities for eleven years, finally serving as teller. His connection with the bank gave him a wide acquaintance throughout the county and he developed into one of the best known and most highly respected men of the county. His dealings with the customers of the bank were uniformly courteous and when he resigned his position to engage in other business his absence from the institution was regretted by many.

After severing his connection with the bank Mr. Hirschy engaged in the insurance business in Berne . He formed a partnership with Joseph D. Winteregg and established an office. This business he has built up from a modest beginning- until it is one of the largest and most substantial and profitable of its kind in northeastern Indiana . The partnership represents a number of the older and stronger insurance companies of the country, and the volume of business done annually is constantly increasing. The firm enjoys the confidence of the business men of Berne and the residents of the county, and a large part of the insurance business of the county is transacted through the offices of this concern.

Mr. Hirschy was united in marriage with Miss Emma Schenbeck in 1892. His wife is a daughter of John J. and Barbara Schenbeck. Her parents came to Indiana from Pennsylvania , where they were born, and settled on a farm in Wabash township within three and one-half miles of Berne . Three children have been bom to Mr. and Mrs. Hirschy. These are: Gertrude, Irvin Arbor and Willard S. The children are attending the Berne schools and live with their parents.

Mr. Hirschy is one of the most progressive citizens of Berne . He is a man who takes an active part in municipal affairs and is foremost in all movements looking toward the improvement of the community in which lie lives. He is a member of the Democratic party in his county and is an earnest party worker. He served seven years as town clerk of Berne and discharged the duties and responsibilities of his office in a manner that was highly satisfactory to his constituents, and demonstrated the wisdom of their course when they elected him to the office. He and the members of his family are supporters of the Mennonite church and are active in the work of this denomination in Adams county. His home is one of the most attractive in Berne , being thoroughly modern, and is one of the pleasantest in the town.

Submitted by: Margie Roop Pearce
Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, John Fletcher Snow, B. F. Bowen, Indianapolis, IN, 1907, (image 559)