Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 435-437.

JOHN E. STURGIS.

The gentlemen to a brief review of whose life and characteristics the reader's attention is herewith directed is among the foremost business men of Bluffton and has by his enterprise and progressive methods contributed in a material way to the industrial and commercial advancement of the city and county. He has in the course of an honorable career been most successful in the business affairs with which he has been identified, and is well deserving of mention in a book of this character.

John E. Sturgis is a native of Ohio, having first seen the light of day in Wayne county, that state, on the 22d day of May, 1844. His father, Thomas Sturgis, was born near Lough Neagh, county Armagh, Ireland, December 25, 1802, and was a son of Rev. William and Elizabeth (Gratz) Sturgis. In 1812 William Sturgis and family emigrated to America, landing at New York city on the 25th day of June of that year. Shortly afterwards they removed to Pennsylvania and settled at Shippensburg, where the father died soon afterward, leaving a widow and eight small children to mourn his loss. Thomas Sturgis, the father of the subject, when about eighteen years of age, began learning the hatter's trade, which he completed and followed for a number of years. He was married in Pennsylvania, August 5, 1826, to Elizabeth Brasier, who was born at Chambersburg, that state, and was a daughter of Rev. Jacob Brasier, a United Brethren minister. In 1834 Thomas Sturgis and family moved to Dalton, Ohio, where he followed his trade until 1853, in which year he moved to Wells County, Indiana, and purchased a partially improved farm in Lancaster township. On this place he settled and was there engaged in farming until his death, which occurred March 24, 1882. His demise was preceded but a short time by that of his wife, hers occurring on February 5, 1882, after a happy wedded life of over fifty-five years. They left ten children, fifty-one grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Both had lived long and useful Christian lives and were among the highly respected citizens of the county. Mr. Sturgis was a man of strong convictions and took great interest in the political issues of the day. He was a firm believer in the principles of the Democratic party and cast his first presidential ballot for Andrew Jackson in 1824. In 1840, during the exciting contest between Van Buren and Harrison, rather than lose his vote, as was threatened, he, with his brother Joseph, walked twenty-five miles to New Philadelphia the evening before the election, secured their papers and returned home the next morning prepared for business at the polls. He was the father of eleven children of whom one died in infancy, the others all growing to maturity. They were all well educated and became useful and respected members of society. Of the ten children who gained their majority, brief mention is made as follows: Charlotte, deceased, was the wife of W. T. White, of Bluffton; William is a resident of Missouri: Joseph resides on the old homestead in Dalton, Wayne county, Ohio; Elizabeth is the wife of John Whitaker and resides in Wells county; Elmer Y. is a resident of Bluffton; Lemuel D. also resides in Wells county; Catherine is the wife of Jonathan Markley and lives in this county; Thomas J. is a successful dentist of Bluffton; John E. is the subject of this review and Mary is the wife of Andrew Shoemaker, of Geneva, Adams county, Indiana.

John E. Sturgis came to Wells County with his parents, being at the time but nine years old, and has practically made this his home ever since. In 1861, when the somber cloud of war hung over the country and the President called for volunteers to assist in the suppression of the rebellion, young Sturgis, though but a little past seventeen years of age, was among the first to tender his services to his country, enlisting in October, 1861, in Company H. Forty-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. S. J. Keller, of Bluffton, and Col. James R. Slack, of Huntington. This company was organized at Huntington and immediately went to Indianapolis, where, in December, 1861, it was sworn into service and soon afterward went to the front. They were first sent to Camp Wickliff, Kentucky, and their first engagement of any note was at Island No. 10, on the Missouri river. Mr. Sturgis had a part in all the engagements in which his regiment participated, and was neither sick, wounded nor taken prisoner, being always ready for duty. They who are familiar with the history of the Rebellion know what the Forty-seventh Indiana went through and can see readily that young Sturgis performed his full share in the defense of his country's flag in her hour of peril. He was fearless and brave and served gallantly until the close of the struggle, receiving an honorable discharge in December, 1865.

Upon quitting the army Mr. Sturgis returned to Wells County and in the following spring he entered the Eastman Business College, at Chicago, where he pursued the regular course, after which he again returned to Bluffton. In 1867 he went to Mendon, Mercer county, Ohio, and, in company with Dr. Daniel B. Roether, engaged in the drug business. In October of the same year he returned to Bluffton and was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Emeline E. Sanderson, who was born at Carlisle, Ohio, June 25, 1847, the daughter of Lemuel and Lucinda (Kinert) Sanderson. In 1868 Mr. Sturgis disposed of his drug business at Mendon, Ohio, and removed to Bluffton, where he engaged as clerk in the drug store of Stockton & Johnson, with whom he remained until 1872, in which year he opened up a drug store on his own account in Bluffton, conducting this successfully until 1886, at which time he was elected to the position of treasurer of Wells County. Disposing of his business, he took charge of the office, the duties of which he faithfully and efficiently performed for four years. At the close of his term of office, Mr. Sturgis again established himself in the drug business, in which he has since continued. He also served as city treasurer of Bluffton from 1877 to 1885, filling this position also with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. In his political views Mr. Sturgis is a staunch Democrat and takes an active interest in the success of his party. In matters religious he and his wife subscribe to the Presbyterian faith, to the support of which he contributes liberally of his means and in the local congregation of which he is one of the trustees. He is also a worthy member of Lodge No. 147, I. O. O. F., Bluffton.

To Mr. and Mrs. Sturgis have been born three children, Nina L., Estella E. and Ruby. Nina is unmarried and still makes her home under the parental roof; Estella is the wife of M. A. Stout, a prominent business man of Bluffton, and Ruby married Dr. Homer Robinson, one of Bluffton's most skilled and successful dentists. The Sturgis family was established in Wells County many years ago and has always been looked upon as one of the most enterprising and respected families in the county. The members of the family may look back with just pride to their ancestors, knowing that thus far no member of the family has been connected with any dishonorable transaction by which the family 'scutcheon might be marred.