From "Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana," 1903, pp. 115-117.
HON. M. W. WALBERT.
The student, possessed of the energy and wit to put the knowledge acquired by study to good use, need never have fears of failure. Knowledge secured by study is a good deal like money won by labor. Both are species of capital, which if judiciously invested must inevitably bring results. Some students are mere dreamers who have no further use for their knowledge once they have been thrilled by the pleasure of getting it. The miser with his gold, who has no further use for it outside of the pleasure of getting and having it, is very much like such a student with his knowledge. It is very rarely that one hears of the failure of a person possessed of judgment, energy and a taste for study. Success is the rule of people of that bend of mind, failure the exception.
A very striking illustration of this is given in the case of Hon. M. W. Walbert, of Bluffton. Beginning in very humble circumstances, the first years of his boyhood spent in the labors of the shop and the factory, with little time even for a superficial knowledge of books, he nevertheless not only mastered the calling of a cooper, but fitted himself by his studies for the profession of law and later was honored by his fellow citizens by being elevated to the position of mayor of the city of Bluffton. His story reads not a little like that of the renowned Dick Whittington, who, through the instrumentality of his cat, became lord mayor of London.
Hon. M. W. Walbert, the son of George and Mary Wetzel Walbert, was born February 2, 1860, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It is asserted that the blood of the famous Indian fighters, the Wetzels, flowed in the veins of his mother, but of that Mr. Walbert is too democratic to make any boast. From the time he was six years of age until he attained the age of thirteen he attended the common school, becoming very proficient in all the common school branches. When not in school, late and early each day, he assisted his father in his cooper shop. Such was the knowledge of the business and such skill in the mechanical details of the craft had he acquired that at the age of fourteen years he won first prize at a county fair for the best specimen of cooperage there exhibited. His competitors were men well along in years, who had spent most of their lives at the business. Every moment of his leisure time was devoted to reading, particularly in the line of history, ancient and modern, of which he was passionately fond. Very often he trespassed upon the hours that should have been allotted to sleep to indulge his passion for books. It was through the fruits of his own industry that he was enabled in 1884 and 1885 to attend Franklin College, which gave him the opportunity of rounding out an education that might have been by many others considered already sufficient. He taught school one term and then, under direction of Hon. J. H. C. Smith, began the study of law. His studious habits, persistent application and retentive memory made this task, so discouragingly difficult to others, comparatively light for him. The intricacies of Blackstone, Kent, Greenfield and Story he mastered within a brief period of years and soon after passed examination, was admitted to the bar and regularly licensed to practice. A partnership was then entered into with his preceptor, Hon. J. H. C. Smith, at Bluffton, which continued until 1891. The firm was recognized as one of the ablest at the bar in that part of the state, had no lack of clients and met with the most gratifying success in every particular.
In 1889 Mr. Walbert was elected mayor of Bluffton. He served the city in that capacity until 1894, giving to the people an administration that will be long remembered for the improvements that were made. During this time the high school, a magnificent structure, was erected, the city water works were altered, improved and extended and the principle of municipal ownership was advanced by the city purchasing the electric light plant. Many other good works and reforms were either entered upon or consummated during his administration. During his term of office he sat as examining magistrate in three murder cases and in all species of litigation that came before him he showed that he was not only well versed in the law, but possessed a high order of judicial talent. He was mayor of Bluffton for a period of five years and four months.
In politics Mr. Walbert is an active, zealous, conscientious Democrat. He is an orator of acknowledged ability and his services are always in demand on the stump during political campaigns. He has a memory that may always be relied upon and is not excelled by any one in quoting from memory facts, figures, dates or any kind of statistics. He has never sought for or aspired to office. Such public place as he has been elected to and filled has come to him wholly unsolicited.
It has been said that "the law is a jealous mistress," a statement which doubtless is true in the case of most of those who yearn for the smile of fame and fortune through her. Mr. Walbert, however, seems to be a law unto himself. He has stolen enough time from this jealous mistress to dally most successfully with literature. He is the author of a work on the national banking system that is pronounced, by persons competent to judge, a most valuable work, not only on the particular system of which it treats, but also upon the general subject of finance. It has been highly complimented by the press generally and the book reviews have accorded it no little praise. The readiness and elegance with which he expressed himself on paper has cultivated in him a liking for newspaper work, so in moments of relaxation from labors in the law he indulges his taste for literature by the production of an article on some subject familiar to him, for either the local or metropolitan press. On relinquishing the office of mayor he again resumed the practice of law, entering into partnership with J. K. Rinehart, of Bluffton. At present he is holding the office of justice of the peace, having been elected thereto in 1900, and is discharging the duties of the office in a satisfactory and creditable manner.
June 24, 1891, Hon. M. W. Walbert was united in marriage to Miss Emma Davis, an accomplished lady of pleasing manners and high attainment. She is a graduate of the Bluffton high school and was a teacher of recognized ability. She is the daughter of Milton Davis, a prominent citizen of Wells county. They are the parents of two children, one of whom died in infancy; the other, Doratha, was born July 26, 1892. Having been a hard worker himself all his life, Mr. Walbert deeply sympathizes with the cause of labor, is a member of the Federation and never lets an opportunity escape unimproved whereby he can benefit the cause or anyone engaged in it.
The star of the subject of this sketch is still in the ascendancy. Although having in years passed the meridian of life, in physical and mental vigor he is still in his prime. The ardor of youth still characterizes his every movement and his life, as years ago when working at the cooper's bench in his father's shop. Personally he is honest, frank and candid, a man who appreciates and values a friend. He enjoys the high respect and warm admiration of the people of the city for which he did so much as its chief executive.