From "Standard History of Adams & Wells Counties, Indiana," Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1918, pp. 476-7.

GRANT PYLE. Diligent and ever alert for his chance of advancement, Grant PYLE has progressed steadily along the road to success until he is recognized today as one of the foremost business men of Bluffton. Here he is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens, who honor him for his ability and for his fair and straightforward career. He is district manager of the Farmers National Life Insurance Company, his headquarters being at Bluffton.

Grant PYLE was born on a farm in Rock Creek Township, Wells County, the date of his nativity being July 3, 1867. He is a son of Robert and Mary A. (Clinger) PYLE, the former of whom was born near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 23, 1831, and the latter in Ohio, September 10, 1836. Mrs. Pyle accompanied her parents from the Buckeye State to Jay County, Indiana, and there was solemnized her marriage. In 1863 Mr. and Mrs. Pyle located on a farm in section 27 of Rock Creek Township, Wells County, and part of their land now forms the Town of Rockford. They cleared and improved their homestead and continued to reside thereon until 1912, when they retired from active work and settled in the city of Bluffton. Here he died February 22, 1915, and she was summoned to eternal rest July 16, 1917. They were both devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and helped organize the church of that denomination at Rockford. After their arrival in Bluffton they affiliated with the First Methodist Episcopal Church, where they gained many warm friends, by whom their demise is uniformly mourned. Politically Mr. Pyle was a stalwart republican. Mr. and Mrs. Pyle became the parents of two sons and three daughters: Emma is the wife of W. A. Redding of Muncie, Indiana; Grant is the immediate subject of this review; Huldah M. married G. B. Johnson, of Bluffton; Melissa A. is the wife of Robert Dickey, of Rock Creek Township; and C. P.

Grant PYLE passed his boyhood and youth on tie old homestead farm in Roek Creek Township, attending the public schools during the winter months and working on the farm during the spring and summer. He remained at home with his parents until he had reached his majority. His preliminary educational training was supplemented by a course of two years in the Methodist Episcopal College at Fort Wayne, Indiana, now Taylor University at Upland, Indiana. He initiated his business career as a traveling salesman for the St. Louis Range Company, covering Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. Two years later he severed his connection with that concern and entered the employ of the Alpaugh-Dover Company, of Chicago, as superintendent of agencies, his territory being the eastern and New England states and Kentucky. He was with the latter company for three years, during part of which time he traveled as far west as Oklahoma and Wisconsin. He then engaged as salesman for the W. H. Hood Company and the Tobacco Company of Fort Wayne, remaining with those firms for seven years. April 16, 1914, he engaged in the life insurance business as district manager of the Farmers National Life Insurance Company, his territory comprising the counties of Wells, Adams, Blackford, Jay, Randolph and Delaware. His main office is in Bluffton and he stands in the front rank as an enterprising insurance writer. Mr. Pyle is a member of Bluffton Lodge No. 145, Free and Accepted Masons, in which he is past master; Bluffton Chapter No. 95, Royal Arch Masons; Bluffton Council No. 63; and Bluffton Commandery No. 38, Knights Templars. He is likewise affiliated with Bluffton Lodge No. 114, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having been a member of that organization since July 4, 1892. He is an enthusiastic republican and is an active politician. He was nominated for the office of county recorder in 1894, and came within 200 votes of being elected. He is a stockholder in the Alpaugh-Dover Company and the Farmers National Life Insurance Company, both of Chicago.

In the year 1893 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Pyle to Miss Ida M. Cassell, who was born in Darke County, Ohio, January 1, 1873, and who was educated in the public schools of her native place. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pyle: Edna, Russell, Naomi, Mildred, Harved [sic], Kenneth and Merriam. Russell, second oldest child, is a graduate of the Bluffton High School and is now a successful teacher in Wells County. The entire family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to whose good works they are liberal contributors.

[poster is not related to this family and has no further information]