Excerpt from Standard History of Adams and Wells Counties, Indiana, Vol. 1: An Authentic Narrative of the Past, With an Extended Survey of Modern Developments in the Progress of Town and Country Indiana has always stood for not only prosperity, but originality, whether considered from the standpoint of the commonwealth or the people. In politics it is often classed as doubtful, because its men and women are thinkers, as well as doers, and are not led against their wills. Especially is the northeastern part of Indiana typical of prosperity and energy, and Adams and Wells Counties are centers of "God's country," as the real Hoosier calls his home hunting grounds, his picturesque streams, his teeming fields and his hamlets, towns and cities. It is this diverse, useful and interesting country and people which this history, now finished, has endeavored to depict. The counties, which so worthily perpetuate the names of a great statesman and a gallant soldier and Indian fighter, have put forth gallant soldiers of the later days, successful business men, women of culture, and numerous characters of both sexes whose strength and activity have been given to social, moral and religious development. From the very outset, it was the earnest aim of editors and publishers to gather all material information bearing upon the multitude of topics which logically called for treatment and which the prospectus had promised. As a rule, the responses were prompt and hearty, although in scattered instances, and despite repeated requests, the facts obtained were not as full as desired. Without mentioning all who have thus promoted our enterprise, and co-operated in the lightening of our labors, the editors acknowledge their obligations to the advisory boards of both counties and to the editors of the newspapers, without exception. While it has been the constant aim of the editors to give all credit who have materially contributed to the upbuilding of any community or institution, the object has also been kept in mind of endeavoring to observe literary proportions in the amount of space accorded to the many topics considered. In the progress and completion of the work, we have endeavored to be impartial, as becomes all historians, whether writing of counties or of countries. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.