Blackford County Biography Ref. Page

JAMES H. SEIBERLING. In the career of James H. Seiberling is exemplified in a marked degree the fact that merit wins recognition and that industry, perseverance and well-applied effort always bring just rewards, although some times they may seem delayed. As the president of the Indiana Rubber and Insulated Wire Company, he is one of the most forceful business figures in Grant county. He would have probably succeeded in any other field, for he possesses those qualities which make for success, but Jonesboro should feel grateful that he has centered his interests in this line and in this locality.

The Indiana Rubber and Insulated Wire Company was organized in 1890, with a capital stock of $200,000, as a corporation, and started the manufacture of insulated wire as its special feature, but three years later began also to make soft rubber goods. James H. Seiberling was the first president and has continued in that office to the present time. George Tate was the first vice-president, and was succeeded in 1898 by J. Frank Peterson as the holder of his stock, the latter being made a director at that time. He is a resident of Chicago. Nicholas Huber, of Akron, Ohio, became vice-president in 1809 and still retains that office. A. Frank Seiberling, a son of James H. Seiberling, became the first secretary and later superintendent and assistant treasurer, as well as a member of the board of directors. The first treasurer was Monroe Seiberling, a brother of James H. Seiberling, who continued to act in that capacity until his death in 1910, he being succeeded by S. H. Miller, a manufacturer of Doylestown, Ohio, who is also a member of the directing board. The present officers are as follows: James H. Seiberling, president and director; Nicholas Huber, vice-president and director; A. Frank Seiberling, superintendent, assistant treasurer and director; S. H. Miller, treasurer and director; R. W. Seiberling, son of James H. Seiberling, secretary and director; W. J. Richardson, timekeeper and director; J. Frank Peterson, member of the board of directors. This enterprise has grown to large proportions, and at this time gives employment to about 400 people, the business amounting to some million and a quarter dollars annually, or about one hundred thousand monthly. It has become one of the leading industries of this part of the state, and is known as one of the largest in its special line in the country. A part of the large plant is operated by steam and the rest by electricity. At this time the factory is turning out great numbers of automobile tires and inner tubes, over 1000 bicycle tires a day and a full line of rubber supplies, as well as a great amount of insulated wire. This latter was the only product of the business when it was organized and continued to be the main line of manufacture for three years, when the rubber goods were added.

The directing head of this company, James H. Seiberling, is known to practically every business man of Grant county. He is a man who, although deeply engrossed in the concerns of a large and growing industry, has found time to cultivate his social nature and to enjoy the pleasures of companionship with his fellow-men. Mr. Seiberling was born in Germany, and came to America in young manhood, locating at Linnville, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, where he spent the remainder of his life, passing away at an advanced age. Nathan Seiberling, father of James H. Seiberling, was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania about the year 1810, and grew up a farmer. He married a Pennsylvania girl and they began their married life on a farm in Lehigh county. Subsequently the father moved to Ohio and settled on a farm in Norton township, Summit county. The grandfather was a remarkable man in many ways, was alert and active to the last, and fully retained the possession of his faculties. He came to Summit county, Ohio, in his ninety-third year and died there. While a resident of Linnville he had served as postmaster for sixty-five years, and when he died was the oldest postmaster in the United States. Although a whig and a Republican, Mr. Seiberling was never opposed by the opposite party's candidates. From the time of the emigrant the family has been identified with the Lutheran church, and of this John Frederick Seiberling and his wife were both faithful members. Their children were: Joshua, Sarah, Nathan, Peter, John and William, and probably several other daughters. All of these grew to maturity, were married and had families.

Nathan Seiberling, the father of James H. Seiberling, was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, and there was married to Miss Catherine Peters, who was born about 1812 in that county. Shortly after their union, about 1830 the young couple traveled overland with teams across the mountains into Norton township, Summit county, Ohio, and there settled in the woods, the father building a little log cabin, in which James H. Seiberling was later born. After some years this cabin home was supplemented by a good frame house. Mr. Seiberling's first purchase amounted to 100 acres, but through energy, thrift, and perseverance he managed to accumulate a competency, and was known at one time as one of the large landholders of his county. The old homestead is now occupied by his youngest son, Gustavus. It was in the home they first settled that Nathan Seiberling and his wife died, the former in 1899, when five months less than eighty years of age, and the mother in 1894, at the age of eighty-three years. They were lifelong members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Seiberling was a Whig and later a Republican, and for several years acted in the capacity of justice of the peace and held various township offices, in all of which he demonstrated his ability, his faithfulness to duty and his good citizenship. There were thirteen children in the family of Nathan and Catherine Seiberling, the greater number of whom were married and had issue. The living, all at the head of families, are: James H., Charles G., Columbus, Milton, Gustavus and Sarah, a widow.

James H. Seiberling grew up on the home farm and was given only an ordinary education, as he was expected to assist his father in the work of the homestead, and continued to remain with him until he was twenty-five years of age. He was reared to habits of honesty and industry, and early learned the value of hard, persistent labor. When twenty-five years of age, Mr. Seiberling was married, and at that time, with his brother John embarked in the manufacture of farm implements, at Doylestown, near Akron, Ohio. This business was continued for some forty years, and in connection therewith the Seiberlings operated a foundry. This business is now conducted by S. H. Miller, who is also a member of the rubber and wire company, although James H. Seiberling has an extensive interest in the implement business still. He also is part owner of the plate glass works at Ottawa, Illinois. As a sturdy, enterprising and up-to-date citizen, Mr. Seiberling has accomplished an incomprehensible amount of good for Jonesboro. His aggressiveness, coupled with his energy and prolific mind; his honesty as an example and precept; his capability as a man of opinions, public and private, all have combined to entitle him to the appellation by which he is known�one of the worthy and valuable men of the county, in social, industrial and commercial circles.

Mr. Seiberling was married in Summit county, Ohio, to Miss Elizabeth Baughman, who was born in 1838, and there reared and educated, and still active and alert in spite of her age. She is a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Blocker) Baughman, natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers of Summit county, where they spent the remainder of their lives on a farm. They were faithful members of the Reformed church and widely known and highly respected in their community. Mr. and Mrs. Seiberling are the parents of the following children: Martha, who became the wife of J. W. Richards, a director of the rubber company, and died without issue; A. Frank, director and superintendent of the rubber works and a prominent business citizen of Jonesboro, who married in this city Angelina Cline, and has two children, Paul and Catherine, who are attending the public schools; Ollie, whose death occurred at the age of fifteen years; George, who died when eighteen month old; Allen B., who passed away at the age of four and one-half years; and Robert W., secretary of the rubber company and one of his city's progressive young men, who married Genevieve Linn and has one son, James Linn.

Mr. and Mrs. Seiberling and their children have continued in the family religious faith, belonging to the Lutheran church. A Republican in his political views, Mr. Seiberling cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has continued to support the Grand Old Party to the present time. He has long been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while his sons hold membership in the Masonic fraternity. The beautiful home of the Seiberlings a modern, brick structure, overlooks Jonesboro and the Mississinewa river, and is one of the finest residences in Grant county.

"BLACKFORD AND GRANT COUNTIES INDIANA, A CHRONICLE OF THEIR PEOPLE PAST AND PRESENT WITH FAMILY LINEAGE AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS"; Complied Under the Editorial Supervision of BENJAMIN G. SHINN; vol. II ; THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY; CHICAGO AND NEW YORK; 1914
Submitted by:Peggy Karol and Karen Overholt

WADE B. TEETER. The leading druggist of Upland, Mr. Teeter maintains a modern store, well stocked with pure drugs and with a large stock of druggists' sundries, at the corner of Main and Railroad streets. This store was opened in 1907 by Levi A. Teeter, father of Wade B., but the latter has been the regular pharmacist from the start. A short time before the store was established he graduated in the pharmacy department of Purdue University in 1907.

Wade B. Teeter was born at Pleasant Hill, Miami county, Ohio, September 14, 1882. The family moved to Grant county in 1890, lived for a time in Pleasant township, and later in Upland, where he graduated from the high school in l900. For several years Mr. Teeter alternated between attendance at school and college and teaching and other forms of employment which were in the nature of preliminary steps in his regular career. In 1904 he graduated from the Marion Normal College, having previously taught school for one year and then taught another year, after which he entered Purdue University and completed the course in pharmacy. Mr. Teeter is a member of the Grant County Pharmacy Association and of the National Retail Druggists Association. Mr. Teeter is of Pennsylvania Dutch stock. His grandfather, Jacob Teeter, was born in Pennsylvania, later moved to Pleasant Hill in Miami county, Ohio, where he was a successful merchant for some years. While there his son Levi A. was born January 11, 1847, and when a small boy lost his mother. Jacob Teeter married for his second wife a Miss Ward, and they continued to live in Miami county for many years, but Jacob died at his home in Dayton, Ohio, when eighty-seven years old. His widow, now about seventy years of age, lives in California. During the earlier generation the Teeters were all communicants of the Dunkard church.

Levi A. Teeter, who was one of the younger of his mother's children, was reared at Pleasant Hill, and from early boyhood gained a practical acquaintance with mercantile affairs under the eye of his father, a merchant at that place. He was given educational advantages that may properly be considered liberal, and after the common schools was a student in the Normal College at Lebanon, Ohio. For some years he taught school in Ohio, Indiana, and Nebraska. While teaching in Wabash county of this state he met Miss Ellen Bloomer, and their acquaintance ripened into marriage. After being married they lived three years in Ohio and then came to Grant county, where Mr. Teeter was engaged in farming in Pleasant township until 1890, and from that date until 1910 he was in business at Upland. In 1910 he returned to Ohio and located near Farmdale in Trumbull county, where he owns considerable property and is now living retired. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church, and he is a Republican in politics, and has had a long and busy and useful career. Levi Teeter and wife had the following children: Von E., who lives at home with his parents and is unmarried; Wade B.; J. Russell, who graduated from the Indianapolis Dental College in 1914; Clara, who was for a time a student in Depauw University and now lives at home; and Francis, who is in the public schools.

Mr. Wade B. Teeter was married in Grant county in Monroe township to Miss Mabel Mittank, who was born in Jefferson township in 1888. He parents are Mr. and Mrs. Amaria A. Mittank. Mrs. Teeter was graduated from the Matthews high school in the class of 1910. To their marriage has been born one child, Louine, on November 15, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Teeter are members of the Methodist church. In politics he is a Progressive, and is now serving his home locality as town clerk. Fraternally he is affiliated with Areana Lodge No. 427 of the Masonic Order, and belongs to the Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

JACOB WISE. The career of the late Jacob Wise was one not only of long years, but marked by eminent usefulness as a man and citizen, and in many ways he made his impress on the Grant County community, which was his home for about sixty years.

Jacob Wise was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, February 15, 1833, and died at his home in Jefferson township of Grant county, December 12, 1909, when seventy-six years of age. His parents, Daniel and Catherine (Beckles) Wise, were of Dutch ancestry, and both natives of Pennsylvania the former born August 30, 1805, and the latter in 1807. They were married in Center county. Daniel Wise was a skilled carpenter and cabinet maker, and he followed his trade for some years in Pennsylvania, though in later years he was chiefly a farmer. During their residence in Pennsylvania, four sons came into their home, and also a daughter, Ann Margaret, who was born and died in 1832. Then in 1848, the entire family set out for Indiana, placing all their earthly belongings in a small wagon, and making the entire journey across the country and camping at night by the wayside. On arriving in Grant county they spent a short time with a friend Isaac Roush in Mill township, and in the fall of the same year moved to Jefferson and acquired two hundred acres of land in section four. Only three acres of that tract was broken with the plow, and a log cabin was the home which first sheltered them in this county. After a number of years of hard labor and many difficulties the father prospered and came to be regarded as one of the most substantial citizens of his community. He was able to spend his later years in peace and comfort, and died in 1895, when ninety years of age. His widow passed away may 6, 1897, also ninety years old. They were both of the Lutheran faith, and were hard workers, kind neighbors, and in every respect good, thrifty people. Their children are given brief record as follows: John, born January 27, 1830, and died in Jefferson township, December 20, 1887, married Mary A. Marine, also now deceased, and their children were Samuel, who died at the age of twelve years, and Jonathan, who died after he was married. The second in the family is Jacob. Henry, born March 25, 1835,is a retired farmer of Gas City, and by his marriage to Maggie Simons, has several children. Samuel, born March 3, 1838, died unmarried, November 21, 1864.

Jacob Wise was fifteen years old when the family came to Grant county. He had an education perhaps of about the average amount and quality for the boys of his time, and had his share of pioneer labor in developing the estate in Grant county. In 1856 he was married, and he and his wife then located on eighty acres given them by his father-in-law, Asa Marine. To this their subsequent good management and industry added three hundred and twenty acres, and the entire place was improved with a fine set of farm buildings and was improved as a comfortable and profitable home.

In Jefferson township on March 13, 1856, Jacob Wise married Elizabeth Marine, who was born January 15, 1836, in Wayne county, Indiana. She belongs to the Marine family that has been so prominently identified with Grant county from the early days, and since the death of her husband she has continued to reside at the old homestead, where she owns two hundred acres of land. Though approaching the age of fourscore she is a hale and vigorous old lady, intelligent and well able to look after her business interests, and enjoys the esteem and admiration of a large circle of friends. Her parents were Asa and Lydia (Huff) Marine, both natives of South Carolina, and of Quaker stock. They came separately to Indiana, and were married in Wayne county, and from there moved to Grant county, where Asa Marine bought land on the Mississinewa and developed a home from the wilderness. His first wife died there in 1860 and he was again married and had three children by his second wife. The Marine family has many interesting connections and relations with Grant county history, and further information can be found touching its membership and activities under the name of Daniel Marine elsewhere in this volume.

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Wise became the parents of the following family of children: Samuel, who is sketched individually on other pages; Mary J., who was born October 13, 1858, is the wife of Jesse Stanley, a prominent farmer of Jefferson township, and they have several children; Solomon is a farmer in Jefferson township; Daniel lives on a farm in Jefferson township, and has a wife and children; Frank is living at home with his mother, is unmarried, and is considered one of the largest hog raisers and stock dealers in the county; Elmer, now married, lives at South Bend, Indiana, and has a daughter; Alice is the wife of Howard Simons, a farmer of Monroe township, and they have a son and daughter; Lydia, is the wife of George Himelick, a successful farmer in Jefferson township, and they have a family of eleven children.

JOSEPH MORROW, the elder, was born in the state of North Carolina, A.D. 1799, and when a lad was bought to Wayne county, Indiana, by his father, John Morrow.

He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and for a time was engaged therein, but subsequently became engaged in mercantile lines at Newport (now Fountain City), Wayne county, and while residing there served for a period as justice of the peace, and as member of the State Legislature from Wayne county.

In 1843 he came to Grant county and located on his farm, bordering on the Mississinewa river, a part of which is included in the site of Gas City. In the spring of 1851, having sold his farm, he moved to Jonesboro and for several years was engaged in the dry goods business at that place, but finally retired from business entirely on account of advancing age.

In politics Mr. Morrow was originally a Whig and later a Republican, and was always opposed to slavery. He served twice as a member of the state legislature for Grant county, the last time in the winter of 1850 and 51. At this session an attempt was made to detach a portion of Grant county and add it to Blackford county which Mr. Morrow successfully resisted. His death occurred in 1863.

By his first wife he had, while living in Wayne county, four children of whom Joseph, whose history follows, is the only survivor. His second marriage was to Mary Smith, the sister of his first wife, and by that union there was born, in Grant county, three children: Alcinda L., Andrew T. and Lavina J., of whom Andrew T. is now the only one living and now is a resident of Kansas and who was for many years a civil engineer in the United States service and for a time in the Argentine Republic, S. A., where his sister Alcinda L., who while young began her career as a teacher in Grant county, had been and was then engaged in teaching, having first acquired a proficient knowledge of the Spanish language and who recently died at Los Angeles, California, where she was highly respected as a teacher and for her charitable work. It is now proper as a conclusion to this historical sketch of Mr. Morrow's life to say that he was exceedingly conscientious in all his dealings with his fellowmen, and was highly circumspect in his demeanor, and always an unswerving advocate of what he believed to be correct principles of political and social life.

JOSEPH MORROW, JR., a pioneer of Grant county, whence he came in 1843, and an esteemed citizen of Marion, has been a witness and participant in the wonderful development of this section of the Hoosier state, and although now living a quiet life, retired from business activities, is still interested in the growth and progress of his community.

Mr. Morrow in his boyhood was denied many of the advantages considered necessary to the education of the youth of today, and his early training or knowledge was secured largely by dint of his own unaided exertion as opportunity was afforded him in connection with the school of hard work. His steadfast determination and industry have enabled him as will herein be further disclosed to make for himself an honorable place in life. He was born September 9, 1838, and was the son of Joseph and Letitia (Smith) Morrow.

He was four years of age when he was brought by his parents to Grant county, and here he received his education in private and public schools. After going to Jonesboro he clerked in the stores of his father and afterward, for several years, in those of other merchants; and subsequently for a time served as first assistant teacher in the graded school at that place.

In 1866, at the age of twenty-eight years, he was elected clerk of Grant county on the Republican ticket, and continued to serve in that office for four years, and following this was a member of the Grant county bar and thence devoted a portion of his time to the practice of probate law.

Later Mr. Morrow was connected with the North Indiana Conference, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as a minister, but withdrew from the conference at a session held in Ft. Wayne, in 1874. He had joined the church at the age of 18 years, at Jonesboro, and was soon made a local preacher and served as such for many years.

In 1898 Mr. Morrow removed to Traverse City, Michigan, where he resided for eight years, at the end of which time he again took up his residence in Marion, Grant county, and soon retired, on account of failing health, from all active secular pursuits.

On March 27, 1864, Mr. Marrow was married to Miss Mary A. Taylor, one of Grant county's school teachers. She was born in England, daughter of William and Mary Ann (Fitch) Taylor, where Mrs. Taylor died. Afterward, in 1849, Mr. Taylor with his children came to the United States and settled in Grant county, Indiana, where he became engaged in agricultural pursuits on a farm located between Jonesboro and Fairmount and there his death occurred about five years later.

Mrs. Morrow was the youngest of five children born to her parents, and is now of them the only survivor.

Her father's second marriage was to Rebecca Rich of Grant county, now deceased, by whom he had two children, Joseph, now also deceased; and Eli who lives in Kansas.

Mr. and Mrs. Morrow have three children, the eldest, Flora, Elma Baldwin, wife of Dr. M. F. Baldwin, of Marion; and Arthur J., now a member of the city council, of Marion, whose wife was Anna M., daughter of Augustine and Loretta Kem; and Alcinda Estella, wife of Thomas H. Sherman, a merchant of Traverse City, Michigan, where they now reside. Mr. Morrow's character is so well known and so fully to be inferred from the foregoing as to make particular reference to it here unnecessary.

Deb Murray