From "Biographical Memoirs of Wells County Indiana," Logansport, IN, B. F. Bown, 1903, pp. 340-342.

William L. Engle.

A stranger traveling through Wells County, noting how largely the people are interested in the oil business and the number of producing wells to be encountered in any direction he might turn, would naturally suppose that it is through them that it received its name of Wells County. Such, however, is not the case. Wells County acquired its title long before any of its inhabitants ever thought of becoming oil producers. Nevertheless, the industry has added much to the wealth, comfort and happiness of the locality. One of the first to engage in the production if oil in Wells County was William L. Engle, of Geneva, Indiana, the subject of this sketch.

He was born in Nottingham township, Wells County,
September 19, 1860. His father was Isaac Engle, a native of Warren county Ohio. His grandparents were William and Lutitia Engle, natives of New Jersey, who, early in the last century moved to Rudolph county, Indiana. At this time Isaac Engle, father of William, was a child of some eight years. The family resided in Indiana only about six years, when they again moved, this time locating in Warren county, Ohio. About this time he attained his majority, Isaac Engle was united in marriage to Anna Hopkins, a native of Jay county, Indiana, and daughter if Hezekiah Hopkins. They went to Randolph county, Indiana, and, after a residence there of two years, moved to Wells County, where they purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in the woods. A log cabin was their first home and clearing and cultivation of the land was their life-work. Here they continued to reside up to the time of their deaths.

Mrs. Engle died March 7, 1891, and her husband survived her some five years, dying September 20, 1896. They were the parents of thirteen children, seven of whom are living. The dead are Prudence, Emma, Hannah, Charles, Amanda, and Richard; the living, William L., R. M., James A., Martha A., Daniel, Joseph C., and Arthur.

William L. Engle attended the public schools of his native township until he was twenty years of age. He then took a course at the normal school at Bluffton and later attended school at Valparaiso. Having laid a good foundation by procuring a good liberal education, he sought and readily procured a license to engage in the profession on teaching. The next four years, he spent in the schoolrooms of the township of his birth engaged as an instructor. In his calling he was eminently successful, but soon found that the compensation was by no means commensurate with the care, labor, and responsibility required.

On September 28, 1883, William L. Engle was united in marriage to Mary A. Hilton, also a native of Nottingham township and daughter of Daniel Hilton. Immediately thereafter he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of choice land, much of it cleared, and some of it under cultivation. Upon this he erected a comfortable home, a commodious barn and substantial outbuildings and began to devote himself to the calling of a husbandman and breeder of fine stock. Prospecting for oil about this time became fashionable, Mr. Engle was not long in catching the fever, in which he was abundantly favored by fortune.

Well after well was sunk upon his premises, until at this time he has eight splendid producers and is now making arrangements for drilling a number of others. His income from this source was as such as to justify him in getting out of the stock business, and he now breeds Shropshire sheep exclusively, his oil interests not admitting of his doing more. In the fall of 1891 he invested in a fine stock of thoroughbred Shropshire sheep and it is his purpose to engage quite extensively in the breeding of these animals already having met success. Within a short time he hopes to be able to supply any reasonable demand which may be made upon him for choice specimens of these animals. To this business, as to every other in which he engaged, Mr. Engle has given much patient study and there is little doubt that he will be successful in this as he has been in each of the others.

February 9, 1896, Mr. Engle married his second wife Effie J. Judy, a native of Adams county, Indiana. He and his wife are members of The Church of Christ, in which Mr. Engle is and has been for four years an elder. In politics he has always been a Republican, but is especially zealous on behalf of his party during political campaigns. His career is ample evidence that, despite all we hear abut trusts, there are still many avenues to fame and fortune open to the poor, but ambitious, persevering and worthy youths of the land.

[poster is not related to this family and does not have additional information]