Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 315-318.

ELI C. BIERIE.

Versatility is said to be one of the first requisities [sic] of genius. Many a man has been considered versatile in one or more callings and hence laid claim to be considered a genius. The genius of Napoleon is generally conceded. He was versatile, but his versatility was almost wholly confined to planning military movements, the winning of the battles and the subjugation of those rulers who incurred his displeasure or did not readily yield obedience to his dictation. Phillips says of Napoleon, "He was through all his vicissitudes the same indomitable, inflexible self—the man without a model and without a shadow." Of Oliver Goldsmith, the poet, historian and dramatist, Dr. Johnson said: "He left no species of literature untouched and touched nothing that he did not adorn." There is no doubt that he was a genius, whose versatility was amply demonstrated.

But true genius, indeed a better and more unquestionable type of genius, may be and often is displayed in the humbler walks of life. The man who can turn his hand to almost any calling may be a genius, but of this class the man who makes a success of all things to which he turns his hand is the real genius. Such a man is the subject of this sketch, Eli C. Bierie, an honored and well respected citizen of Bluffton, Indiana. Though still comparatively young, during his brief business career he has engaged in something like a dozen different lines of business. He has also been a farmer, meat dealer, general merchant, postmaster, notary public, undertaker and minister. In each and all of these various lines those who know him best will testify that he not only acquitted himself most creditably, but that in the pursuit of each he demonstrated a familiarity with the requirements that would require years of patient study from most men to acquire conception of. Success in any calling is to make it remunerative. Measured by this standard, the success of Mr. Bierie in every line of business he has thus far undertaken is beyond cavil or dispute.

Eli C. Bierie was born in Nottingham township, Wells County, Indiana, June 28, 1867. He is the son of Christian and Anna (Sutter) Bierie. Christian Bierie was born June 25, 1820, in Switzerland, and died November 10, 1899, near Domestic, Indiana, at the advanced age of seventy-nine years, four months and ten days. Mr. Bierie came to this country when but four years of age, his parents settling in Wayne county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, and was married at the age of twenty-eight years to Anna Sutter. About this time he removed to Indiana and settled in Adams county. Later he removed to Wells County, where he was among the early settlers of the county. Seventeen years ago Mr. Bierie's companion was taken from him by death, after having brought up a family of fifteen children, six of whom have since died. Nine children remain, four daughters and five sons. They are John, Anna, Abraham, Mary, Emanuel, Sarah, Susanna, Eli C. and Jacob. John resides on the old home place; Mary is the wife of Marion Shinn; Emanuel lives in Nottingham township, Wells county; Sarah is the wife of Earnest Heche, a carpenter and joiner at Bluffton; Susanna is the wife of Fred Blocher and Jacob resides in Nottingham township. All are prosperous and well-to-do citizens who are highly respected for their worth and integrity. There also survive twenty-one grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

The opportunities for acquiring an education were not as plentiful away back in the 'seventies here in Indiana as they are today. Eli C. Bierie attended the district schools of his township year after year until he was sixteen, that comprising the full extent of the education he received. At that time his services upon the farm were very much in demand. Reluctantly he relinquished his books and turned to the multiplicity of duties always waiting the busy hand of the industrious agriculturist. For the next four years he devoted his entire time to the work of the farm, pursuing his labors with that penetration, intelligence and good judgment that has characterized his work in all the various callings he has undertaken to pursue.

October 28, 1887, Mr. Bierie was married to Miss Elizabeth Beeler, the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Ashbaucher) Beeler and born April 30. 1870. The mother of Mrs. Bierie is dead, but her father still lives, one of the respected patriarchs of Harrison township. Soon after their marriage Mr. Bierie and his bride settled in Linn Grove, where for two years he very successfully conducted a meat market. Considering the place too circumscribed and his business not sufficiently abundant in opportunities, the family moved to Domestic where Mr. Bierie opened up a general store. In connection therewith he became postmaster, was appointed notary public, engaged in conveying, drafting contracts, writing oil leases and such other work as is usually done in that particular line. Besides this, he was the undertaker of the locality.

From away back in ante bellum days Wells County has been considered hopelessly Democratic. The result of each successive election was considered fully and completely determined when the Democratic county convention had expressed its choice of candidates. Occasionally strifes, dissensions and soreness in the ranks of the opposition inspired a little hope in the breasts of the Republicans that they might elect at least a part of their county ticket, but the result was always the same—solidly Democratic. In 1898, in casting about for some one to lead the forelorn [sic] hope of the Republicans as a candidate for county treasurer, the eyes of the party leaders were at once centered upon Eli C. Bierie, and after some persuasion he was induced to accept the nomination. The canvass that followed was warm, even to the boiling point, but it resulted in the triumphant election of Mr. Bierie, the first Republican ever elected to that office in that county. His administration of the office, like all of his other undertakings, was all that could be desired. Having disposed of his mercantile business on becoming a county official, he invested his funds in a well improved farm of one hundred acres of fine land, all under cultivation except a sugar orchard of twelve acres that is so well cared for and managed that it is a delight to look upon.

At the end of his term, when relieved of the cares, responsibilities and confinement of official life, he felt the necessity of outdoor exercise, hence he engaged for a time as a traveling salesman for Cline & Zimmer, extensive implement dealers of Bluffton. In this vocation, also, success crowned his efforts, but being quite domestic in his tastes the days and nights spent away from home and family became very distasteful to him. After one season he gave up the business and moved his family to the farm, where they have taken up their abode and give attention to the rearing of pure bred stock. Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs are favorites with him. At present it is his intention to take up the undertaking business at his farm.

Mr. and Mrs. Bierie are the parents of three bright, interesting little daughters: Orilla Pearl was born April 28, 1888, Glenna Leona, April 18, 1890, and Florence Alice, February 9, 1893. The family is connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which denomination Mr. Bierie was the local minister at Bluffton, but is now a member of Salem Evangelical church. He is also a member of the board of directors of the State Sunday School Association, and district president of the association for the counties of Wells, Adams, Huntington and Allen. He is an active member of Lodge No. 683, I. O. O. F., of Linn Grove, a member of Encampment No. 114, of Bluffton and a zealous Knight of Pythias of the same place. He and his wife are members of the Rebekahs and she belongs to the Rathbone Sisters, of Bluffton. From 1900 to 1902 Mr. Bierie was president of the Wells County Sunday School Association.

From the foregoing it may readily be inferred that Eli C. Bierie is one of those who has lived and is living a life that may well be characterized as strenuous. The ardor with which he enters upon all of his undertakings bespeaks for each of them most gratifying success. Always ardent, never half hearted, when he once decides upon the course to be pursued, there is no letting up or slowing down until the design has been fully and completely accomplished. The story of his life is a lesson to the youth of the land, a practical illustration of what may be accomplished by pluck, perseverance and energy, when properly directed and controlled by intelligent discernment.

In connection with this sketch the following extract referring to the life and death of Mrs. Elizabeth Beeler will be of undoubted interest:

Mrs. Elizabeth Beeler, nee Ashbaucher, wife of Daniel Beeler, died at their home two and one-half miles south of Vera Cruz. For almost seven months she had suffered severely and during that time underwent an operation for an abscess, but found little relief. Her demise was due to a complication of diseases which finally developed into dropsy.

Mrs. Beeler was born near Berne, Switzerland, October 18, 1842, and in 1855, when thirteen years old, came with her parents to America. They first settled in Wayne county, Ohio, and moved to Adams county, Indiana, in 1866. In 1868 she was united in marriage to Daniel Beeler and lived on their farm, near Kreps, until her death. To this union were born seven daughters and one son, Mesdames Minerva Studabaker, Ida Studabaker, Elizabeth Bierie, Mary Boyd, and Nancy Hoffman, Misses Emma and Lillie Beeler, and Edward Beeler, all of whom, with the husband, remain to mourn her departure. The Ashbaucher brothers of this city are brothers of the deceased. She leaves six brothers, three sisters, nine grandchildren and a large number of relatives and friends. Her father and mother have preceded her to the spirit land. When but a girl she united with the Reformed church in Wayne county, Ohio, and later transferred her membership to the First Reformed church of Vera Cruz, and remained a faithful member until her death. She loved her church as she loved her home.

Mrs. Beeler endured her long sickness with great patience and fortitude and was never heard to complain during her most intense suffering. A short time before her death she called her family to her side and bade each good-bye, imprinting the kiss of love and affection of a wife and mother on the lips of each. The children were asked to take good care of their father and live right se that they might meet her in the heavenly world. Soon afterward she sank into unconsciousness and peacefully passed to her rest in heaven. As a neighbor she was beloved by all who knew her, being at all times in perfect peace and harmony with them. No one knew her but to love her and she loved her family as her own life.