From "Biographical Memoirs of
Wells County,
Indiana," 1903, pp. 552-553.
WILLIAM
ELICK.
The
ELICK family of Union township are of
German descent and are among the most respected citizens of the township, in which they settled when William
ELICK was an infant. He was born in
Van Wert county,
Ohio, October 28, 1856, a son of Frederick and Mary (
Wetzel)
ELICK, the former of whom, when a small boy, was brought from Germany to
America by his parents, who ultimately settled in
Ohio, where Frederick was reared to manhood and was married. In 1856 Frederick brought his bride and infant son to Rock
Creek township,
Wells County, and there the father followed the calling of farmer and blacksmith until his death, which occurred when William was but a boy, while that of his mother occurred some fourteen years ago. They were the parents of sixteen children, of whom fourteen are still living.
William
ELICK was reared on his father's farm and was thoroughly trained in all the details of agricultural pursuits. He received a common school education and when twenty-one years old began working out by the month. He was industrious and economical and was united in marriage July 25, 1880, to Miss Elizabeth Rarar, who was born in Rock
Creek township, of
Pennsylvania parentage. This union has been crowned by the birth of three children, of whom two have been called away, the only survivor being Jennie Elsie, who was born in 1890.
At his marriage Mr. Elick rented a farm for a short time and then engaged in the manufacture of tile, near
Markle, a business he followed about eight years, when he resumed farming, in which he has met with the most flattering success.
Fraternally Mr. Elick is a charter member of the
Knights of Pythias lodge at
Markle, of which he is a past chancellor and which he has represented in the grand lodge of the order. In politics he is one of the substantial Democrats of Union township and under the auspices of his party has served his fellow citizens as justice of teh peace for six years. Very few of his decisions have ever been appealed from and when he pronounces judgment it is as a rule considered to be final. Although an unassuming and modest gentleman, who never thrusts himself forward or in any respect makes himself officious in the affiars of others, he has won the respect of all his neighbors, who have the most implicit confidence in his judgment and integrity.
From what has been already written concerning William
ELICK, the reader will readily infer that he is what is usually termed "a self-made man," and that he is the "architect of his own fortune." He was but in moderate circumstances at the time of his marriage, but he now stands among the well-to-do and influential residents of Union township, all he has being the result of his own honest labor and skillful management. He cannot be too highly complimented for the excellent manner in which he has played his part in life's drama nor congratulated too strongly upon the success which has attended him. Still upon the entrance of the prime of life, Mr. Elick gives promise of many years of usefulness among his friends and neighbors and with them of developing the resources and industries of Union township and
Wells County, being possessed of the courage and intelligence that fully fit him for this task.