Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 586-587.

SAMUEL A. HAFLICH.

Among the conspicuous residents of Rock Creek township, Wells County, Indiana, is Samuel A. Haflich, of whose ancestors mention is made on another page of this volume. Samuel A. Haflich is a son of Jacob and Anna (Hoover) Haflich. Jacob Haflich was born in Pennsylvania, from which state he migrated to Ohio, where he married. Samuel A. Haflich was born in Rock Creek township, Wells County, Indiana, January 23, 1849, his parents having moved here some time previously. The father purchased one hundred and seventy-five acres of wild woodland, with but two houses between his place and Huntington. He had a capital of eighteen dollars in cash when he came here, but managed to build a log house, which answered his purpose until 1862, when he erected a fine brick dwelling and here reared his family, but in 1880 moved to Markle, where his death occurred.

Jacob Haflich was a charter member of the Horeb Lutheran church and he, William Wert, Samuel Fafe, Samuel Haflich and John Working constituted the first congregation, of which Jacob was one of the first elders. He was a Democrat in politics, was very popular with his party and under its auspices was elected to several positions of honor and trust, including that of township trustee, which office he held four years. To Jacob and Anna (Hoover) Haflich were born five children, viz: Charlotte, deceased; John, deceased; Reuben, deceased; Samuel A., the gentleman whose name opens this sketch, and Mary A., wife of Jacob Farling.

Samuel Haflich was reared to agricultural pursuits on the old homestead, but in his boyhood days was permitted to attend the district school during the winter seasons. During the summers he continued to assist on the farm until he had attained the age of twenty-one years, after which he hired his time to Jacob Shiveley for eight months at the same class of work. He then worked for his uncle a while, then went to Michigan, where he went on the railroad for a short time as a brakeman, but returned to the old farm, on which he took a lease.

In 1874 Mr. Haflich was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Lesh, daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Erhart) Lesh. This young lady was born in Rock Creek township, Wells County, in 1857, and was educated in the common schools This union resulted in the birth of four boys and two girls, as follows: Clara A., deceased; Jacob H. was graduated from the Markle high school, and later took a commercial course at Indianapolis and subsequently became a teacher in the common schools of the county; Clifford C. was graduated from the Markle high school and also from the Huntington school and Danville Commercial School; William A. has received a common school education; Curtis E. and Cressie. The parents of this family are members of the Lutheran church and are among the most highly respected residents of the county. In politics Mr. Haflich is a Democrat and is a faithful worker for his party, but has never sought any personal political preferment.