ROBERT KLINE, farmer, resides on section 14, Root Township, where he owns 120 acres of land. He was born February 20, 1836, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and in the fall of 1838 was brought to this county by his parents, who settled upon the farm now owned and occupied by himself. His father resides with him. No improvemnents had been made upon the place. A log cabin had been erected, in the usual primitive style, puncheon floors and doors, clapboard roof; etc. In this cabin the father lived about two years, when he built a hewed log house, which is still standing and is used as a summer kitchen. The Piqua road and the Wayne trail were all the roads in the neighborhood. Robert was only two and a half years old when brought to this county, and here he has been reared to manhood, and here he was married. His father, Jacob Kline, was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1809, and when he was eleven years of age his parents removed to Wayne Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where he was reared to manhood. In 1833 he went to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, where he married Barbara Robinson, who was born in that county in 1807. Mrs. Kline died in Adams County, this State, June 30, 1873, and is buried in Alpha cemetery. She was a noble Christian woman, and in her death the community suffered a great loss. Her kind and affectionate disposition won for her the love and esteem of all who were so fortunate as to make her acquaintance. There were seven children in the father's family, five of whom are living. Two daughters died in childhood. The father is living on the old homestead. He says the first winter he came here he could not lose sight of his cabin without getting lost. The second year he killed a good many deer and wild game. The family were never without corn bread, but they had no wheat bread until the second year, when he raised six acres of wheat. The father entered 120 acres of land from the Government, but he had only money enough to pay for eighty acres; Joseph Lewis, an old neighbor, lent him money to pay for the additional forty. Although the Piqua Road was the only road in the county at that time, it was so cut up by ruts as to be almost impassable. Mr. Kline, Sr., helped to cut most of the roads in the vicinity. The family endured all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life, and have witnessed all the changes that have taken place in this now prosperous country. The children were - Catherine, who died at an early age; Robert, John, William, George, Jonas and Sarah, twins; Sarah died when but a few weeks old. March 9, 1856, Robert was united in marriage with Miss Eliza J. Mumma, who was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, October 4, 1835, and came to this county with her parents, John and Catherine (Snyder) Mumma, after she reached maturity. Her father was born in Westmoreland County, Penusylvania, and died in Adams County in 1878, at the age of sixty-eight years, eight months and nine days. He is buried in Pleasant Valley cemetery. The mother still survives, at the age of seventy-six years, and lives with her son, Solomon Mumma. Mr. and Mrs. Kline have two children. The eldest died at a very early age. Sarah Ellen, born June 10, 1859, is how the wife of Franklin Brokaw, and has one child - Vesta Albert, born December 26, 1884. They are living with Mr. Kline. Mr. Kline's grandfather, Jonas Kline, was born in Pennsylvania, and was nearly one hundred years old at his death. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His grandmother Kline weighed over 300 pounds, and died at the age of one hundred years.

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


DANIEL K. SHACKLEY, farmer, owns forty acres of land on section 19, Union Township. He was born in the town of Alfred, York County, Maine, March 22, 1843, and when nine years of age came with his parents, Joseph and Louisa (Emmons) Shackley, to Adams County, who settled on the farm were his brother Howard now lives. Both parents were born in York County and both are deceased. Daniel lived at home until 1861, then went to Boston, Massachusetts, where he engaged in teaming for his brother, Phineas Shackley (now deceased), with whom he remained until August 13, 1862, when he enlisted in the Fifth Battery Light Artillery of Massachusetts under Captain Charles E. Phillips. His first service was at Fort Corcoran, Virginia, and from there the Captain marched his company to Antietam, Maryland, although the battle had been fought before their arrival. He and four other recruits, one of whom was his brother Jonas, who now lives in Quincy, Masssachusetts, joined the battery and followed the Army of the Potomac. He was wounded at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, in the right lower arm below the elbow, the wound fracturing the bone. He went to Baltimore, thence to Philadelphia, and remained at Chestnut Hill Hospital five months. A part of is time he suffered from lung troubles. From this hospital he went to convalescent camp, at Alexandria, Virginia, and remained five weeks, when he was discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability, January 8, 1864. He then returned to Boston, Massachusetts, and engaged in teaming for different persons until 1869. In 1866 he was married to Miss Margaret Connor, who was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and was about the age of her husband. They had six children - Joseph, Mary C., who died at the age of eleven years; William; Martha, who died at the age of six years; Charles and Ellis G. He came back to Indiana in 1881 and commenced farming. November 6, 1884, Mr. Shackley was married to Miss Emily C. Mumma, who was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, February 29, 1844, and was about seven years old when her parents brought her to this county. Her father, John Mumma, was born in Pennsylvania January 7, 1810, died in September, 1877, and is buried in Pleasant Valley cemetery. The mother, Catherine (Snyder) Mumma, was born in Maryland, March 25, 1811, and is now living with her son, Solomon J. Mumma, of Root Township. There were four children in their family - Solomon J., Eliza J., wife of Robert Kline; Nancy F., wife of William Kline, and Mrs. Shackley who is the youngest. Mr. and Mrs. Shackley are members of the United Brethren church, and in politics Mr. Shackley was formerly a Democrat, but now a Republican.

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


EZRA LISTER, of Washington Township, is one of the oldest living pioneers of Adams County. He was born in Ross County, Ohio, January 15, 1825, son of Joshua and Lydia Lister, natives of Maryland. The father's ancestors were of German origin and the mother's of Irish. In 1828 the fanily immigrated to Adams County, settling two and a half miles north of Decatur, where they lived until 1830, then removed to Carroll County, Indiana, where the father died in September, 1831. One year later the family returned to Adams County, where our subject was reared to the scenes of pioneer life. The county at that time contained but few familes. He received a rudimentary education in the early pioneer schools, and has been a life-long farmer, enduring all the trials, hardships and privations of the early pioneer. He was married December 21, 1848, to Eliza J. Ball, a native of Indiana, and they had three children - Sarah F., wife of James M. Patterson, of Logansport, Indiana; Rachel S., wife of John Woods, also of Logansport. One child is deceased. Mr. Lister has been four times married. His present wife has one son, Thomas T. He has been a resident of Washington Township for many years, is a Democrat in politics, and an honest, representative pioneer.

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


DANIEL WELDY, an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of Kirkland Township, where he resides on section 1, is a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, now Hocking County, born near Lancaster October 3, 1822, a son of Peter and Susanna (Huddle) Weldy. The father was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, his ancestors coming from Switzerland, and the mother was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, a daughter of Daniel Huddle, who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Both Mr. and Mrs. Weldy came with their parents to Fairfield County, Ohio, their parents dying in that county. They were married in Fairfield County a short time before becoming of age, and to them were born fourteen children. The mother died in 1887, aged about thirty-eight years. She was a member of the Brethren in Christ church. Mr. Weldy was again married to Mrs. Catherine (Grim) Sheets. Mr. Weldy was reared a farmer, which he made the principal avocation of his life. He was born in 1795, and died in 1867. Daniel Weldy, whose name heads this sketch, was, like his father, reared to the avocation of a farmer, and in his youth received but limited educational advantages. He remained at home till fifteen years of age, when his mother died, and he was then practically thrown upon his own resources. He rented land from his uncle and raised and bought tobacco, which he shipped to Pittsburgh, and the first $1,200 he made he lost in tobacco in the Pittsburgh fire in 1844. He came to Adams County, Indiana, in the fall of 1845, and the following spring bought the farm where he has since lived, which then contained eighty acres. There was on his land a rude log cabin, 16 x 18 feet, with puncheon floor and mud chimney, in which he lived about eight years, when he erected a frame house and frame barn. He occupied his frame dwelling until 1870, when he erected his present fine brick residence at a cost of about $4,000. Mr. Weldy has been twice married. He was married October 13, 1846, to Miss Elizabeth Beery, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, February 27, 1823, and to this union were born eleven children - Chnstian N., Seth W., William B., Barbara S., Abraham (deceased), Sarah A., Mary E., Rachel, Ellen, Daniel, Jr., and Eli (deceased). Mrs. Weldy died December 8, 1879, and Mr. Weldy was again married August 22, 1880, to Mrs. Hester (Blosser) Beery, a native of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, born April 8, 1820. Mrs. Weldy was brought to Fairfield County, Ohio, by her parents when she was about ten years old. She was first married in Fairfield County, Ohio, to Eli Beery, who was born in that county June 27, 1818. To this union were born fourteen children - Melinda, Barbara, Mary M., Martin, Reuben, Sarah, Christian, John and Martha (twins), Franklin, Jonas, Daniel W., Lucinda and William J. Mr. Beery came to Adams County, Indiana, with Mr. Weldy, and settled on section 6, Washington Township, his 240 acre farm lying in Washington and Kirkland townships, where he resided till his death, January 27, 1880. He was one of the leading farmers in his township, and took a prominent part in public affairs. He was a member of the Brethren in Christ church, Mr. and Mrs. Weldy being members of the same church. Mr. Weldy, the subject of this sketch, began life a poor boy, but by his persevering industry and indomitable perseverance he has become one of the wealthy citizens of Adams County. He owned at one time over 900 acres of land, the most of which he has given to his children, but still retains 420 acres of choice land on which he resides. Mr. Weldy is also a shareholder in the Decatur National Bank. He has been identified with the growth and development of Adams County from its earliest years, and has witnessed the wilderness change into well-cultivated fields and thriving villages. In politics he was formerly a Whig, casting his first presidential vote for Henry Clay, and on the organization of the Republicans he voted for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and 1864, since which time he has cast his suffrage with th Democratic party. He served as township trustee nine consecutive years, and held the office of justice of the peace eleven years when he was again elected to the office of township trustee, when he served six consecutive years. He was then, in 1876, elected on the Democratic ticket county commissioner, which office he filled acceptably for six years. Mr. Weldy understands German and has been frequently engaged as interpreter by the courts. The brick of which Mr. Weldy's residence is built was burned on his own farm. Mr. Weldy is a member of the Odd Fellows order, belonging to St. Mary's Lodge, No.167, at Decatur, Indiana.

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


JOHN E. and MONROE ROSE, managers of the drug and grocery business of Hoffmann & Gottschalk, at Berne, are natives of Wells County, Indiana, born in Nottingham Township; the former March 1, 1858, and the latter January 29, 1861, and are sons of Peter and Mary (Gottschalk) Rose. The father was a farmer by occupation. He enlisted in Wells County during the war of the Rebellion, went South, and died in a hospital at Nashville,Tennessee. The mother was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, coming to America with her parents when but three years old, they settling in Wells County, Indiana, in an early day. The parents were married in Wells County, and to them were born five children, all sons but the youngest child. They were among the early settlers of Adams County, coming here when it was quite new, the land on which they settled being covered with a heavy a growth of timber. Here the father erected a humble log cabin with puncheon floor and a clapboard roof. He was a member of the Evangelical church. The mother of our subjects still resides on the old homestead. After her husband's death she subsequently married John Shigley, one of the prominent farmers of Nottingham Township, who had been previously married and had a family of several children. Both Mr. and Mrs. Shigley are church members, the former being a Dunkard, and the latter a member of the Evangelical Association. The brothers whose names head this sketch were reared to agricultural pursuits on their father's farm, and received their education in the common schools of their neighborhood. At the age of nineteen years John E. began working for himself, finding employment among the neighboring farmers until September 8, 1879, when he entered the store of Hoffman & Gottschalk. He was married April 4, 1886, to Miss Lizzie Bebout, who was born in Adams County, Indiana, January 16, 1868. In January, 1882, Monroe Rose engaged in his present occupation in the store of Hoffman & Gottschalk. This firm was established in 1873, their building being owned by Mr. Hoffman. They carry a well-selected stock valued at about $5,000, and do an extensive trade.

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


ANDREW J. BYRD, of Wabash Township, where he is engaged in farming on section 33, is a native of Fairfield Connty, Ohio, the date of his birth being February 24, 1834. His parents, Thomas and Mary (Bowers) Byrd, were natives of the State of Virginia. They removed to Fairfield County, Ohio, about 1818, being among the first settlers of that county. In 1858 they settled in Jay County, Indiana, remaining there until 1864, when they came with their family to Adams County, locating on the farm which is now occupied by the subject of this sketch. Here both died, the mother in1868, in her sixty-sixth year, and the father in 1878, aged seventy-eight years. The father was a miller by trade, but after coming to Adams County followed agricultural pursuits. Both were members of the Protestant Methodist church at the time of their death, but in early life belonged to the United Brethren church. Andrew J., our subject, grew to manhood on the home farm in Adams Connty, receiving but limited educational advantages. He has always followed the avocation of a farmer, and since fifteen years of age he has run a threshing machine with the exception of a few falls. He remained at home until thirty-two years of age, when he was married to Caroline Lehr. She was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, February 21, 1847, coming to Indiana with her parents when young. To this union were born four children-Mary Etta, Rufus M., James Wilkinson and Susan A. E. Mrs. Byrd died May 18, 1875. She was a member of the United Brethren church. Mr. Byrd is a member of the same denomination. In politics he is a Democrat, and has filled the office of assessor of his township to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. His farm contains forty acres of land, which is well improved and under good cultivation.

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


LHAMON HEDINGTON, farmer and stock-dealer, residing on section 32, Blue Creek Township, is a native of Adams County, Indiana, born in Monroe Township, April 2, 1846, a son of Labon Hedington. He grew to manhood on his father's farm in Monroe Township, his youth being spent in assisting his father with the work of the farm and in attending the schools of his district, where he obtained a common-school education. He was married August 1, 1867, to Mary Smith, who was born in Adams County, Indiana, July 2, 1848, a daughter of Morgan Smith, one of the pioneers of the county, who is now deceased. They are the parents of six children, whose names are - Carrie, Thomas, Rufus, Harry, Lucy and Homer. After his marriage Mr. Hedington settled on the farm where he now resides, which contains seventy-two acres of choice land. He has been engaged in buying and shipping stock for ten years, buying the first car-load that was shipped from Berne, for David Crabbs. Politically Mr. Hedington affiliates with the Democratic party. He was a candidate for sheriff in 1877, and came within fifty-four votes of being nominated. He is an active, public-spirited citizen, and in all enterprises for the advancement of his township or county he takes an active interest.

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


JOHN DEAM HALE, clerk of the circuit court of Adams County, was born in Bluffton, Wells County, Indiana, December 27, 1842. He lived in his native place till fourteen years of age, when his parents removed to a farm in the vicinity of Bluffton. He remained on the farm till attaining the age of eighteen years, receiving his education in the public schools of Bluffton and vicinity. August 15, 1862 he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and First Indiana Infantry, under Captain Peter Studabaker, his regiment being assigned first to Tyrrell's Brigade, Jackson's Division, Army of the Ohio, afterward to the Second Brigade, Third Division of the Fourteenth Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland. On the organization of his company he was chosen Corporal. He participated in all the battles of the Army of the Cumberland until November 25, 1863, when he was severely wounded at the battle of Missionary Ridge, the ball passing through his left side and perforating his left lung. He lay on the field on the summit of the ridge, about one-fourth of a mile north from Bragg's headquarters, from 4 P.M. until about 9 P.M., when he was found by comrades who were searching for the dead and wounded. He was then taken to the hospital at Chattanooga, where he lay unconscious for weeks, and remained there until about February 1. It having been reported that he was dead, his father went to Chattanooga, expecting to take the remains home, and then remained and nursed him in the hospital from January 15 until February 1, when he received a sixty days' furlough. After sufficiently recovering from his wound he rejoined his regiment at Marietta, Georgia, when he took part in the battle of Peach Tree Creek, siege of Atlanta, battle of Jonesboro, was with Sherman on his march to the sea and through the Carolinas, and also at the battle of Bentonville, and was at the grand review at Washington, D. C., at the close of the war. He received an honorable discharge at Indianapolis, June 24, 1865, by general order of the War Department and the close of the war. He then returned to his father's farm in Wells County, where he worked during the summers, and in the winter months taught school, until October, 1867, when he engaged in business at Bluffton. He was married September 8, 1869, at Camden, Schuyler County, Illinois, to Miss Caroline Holmes, who was born in Hartford Township, Adams County. In her sixth year she removed with her parents to Wells County, Indiana, and at the time of her marriage was a teacher at Camden, Schuyler County, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Hale are the parents of four children-Ethelyn, Olive Leone, Sarah Blanch and Genevieve, all living at home. In 1868 Mr. Hale engaged in the dry goods business at Bluffton, in company with A. Deam, with whom he was associated under the firm name of A. Deam & Co., until January, 1872, when he removed to Geneva, Adams County, and formed a partnership with his brother, S. W. Hale, with whom he has since been associated in the grain business under the firm name of S. W. Hale & Brother. March 1, 1872, he was appointed the first agent at Geneva, and served as station and express agent until May 1, 1876, when he resigned his position in favor of his brother, S. W. Hale. In 1882 he was elected clerk of the circuit court, being re-elected to the same office in 1886. He was one of the pioneers of Geneva, and to his efforts it owes much of its present prosperity. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hale are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Decatur. Mr. Hale is a son of Bowen and Mary Ann (Deam) Hale, who were among the earliest pioneers of Wells County, Indiana.

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


CHRISTIAN F. BLAKEY, a farmer residing on section 21, Union Township, owns 400 acres of land in Adams County. He came to the county November 27, 1840, with his parents, who settled on the farm now owned by our subject. His father, John H. Blakey, was born in Prussia, November 3, 1797, and died March 8, 1883. The mother, Christina (Schwer) Blakey, was also born in Prussia, May 11, 1798. She died March 6, 1869. In 1835 the mother came to America with six children, the father having preceded them in the fall of 1834. They landed in Baltimore, and went directly to West Virginia, where they met the father, who was working by the month among the farmers. Here the family lived two years, then removed to Cincinnati, where they lived three and a half years, where both old and young members of the family worked at any thing they could find to do. In the fall of 1838 the father came to Adams County, and after looking around, borrowed some purchase money from a friend and entered the north-west quarter of section 21, Union Township. Returning to Cincinnati, he remained there until the fall of 1840, when, with one horse and an ox team, accompanied by his family, he started to make a permanent home in Adams County. The roads were so muddy, and utterly impassable, that they were obliged to leave a portion of their household goods at New Bremen, Ohio. They improvised a cart upon which they packed the most necessary articles, and again started for their Indiana home, the mother and children walking. In this way they made about five miles a day, camping out at night, and landed in their new home the 27th day of November. They cut two crotchet poles, set them on the ground, connected them with a pole, and stretched the wagon cover over it. In this way they lived until they could coustruct a rough log house, moving into it the 24th day of the following December, without roof or floor. They lived in this house until 1852, when they built the house that Christian now occupies. They came to the county with only a few dollars, and, as has been stated, in debt for a portion of the purchase money of the land first entered. Christian found work on the Maumee and Erie Canal, where he in part supported the family and assisted in paying the borrowed money. Mr. Blakey was born in Prussia, May 7, 1821, and was fourteen years old when his parents came to America. He was married in 1849 to Miss Louisa Falsing, who was also born in Prussia, in 1833. She came to America in 1842, with her parents, Frederick and Louisa Falsing, who settled in Preble Township, this county. Mrs. Blakey died in 1856, and in 1858 Mr. Blakey married Mary A. Rupp, who was Born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in 1833, daughter of George and Amanda Rupp. By the first marriage there were three children Mary, Sophia and John H. By the second marriage were ten children, eight of whom are living - Eliza, Charles, Frederick , Martin, Theodore, Edward, Matilda and Otto. The deceased are - Christian and Christine, who died in infancy.

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


Deb Murray