Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 461-463.

JOHN REX.

Among the oldest living representatives of the pioneer period in Wells county is John Rex, who has been an honored resident of this part of the state for over fifty-one years. Like many of the first settlers of the county, he is of Ohio birth, his parents, William and Susan (Sluss) Rex, having moved to Stark county, that state, from Pennsylvania, early in the last century. Mr. Rex is of German descent and inherits many of the characteristics of an ancestry long noted for industry, thrift and a high sense of personal honor. He was born in Stark county on the 25th day of January, 1828, and at the age of sixteen accompanied his parents to the county of Seneca, where he grew to young manhood on a farm. The lack of proper school facilities prevented him from acquiring any educational training beyond a knowledge of the elementary branches, but a naturally bright mind and a desire for reading subsequently enabled him to make up for this deficiency. Young Rex assisted his father on the farm until reaching the years of manhood, when he severed home ties and engaged in farming upon his own responsibility. He began poor, but, with an inborn determination which hesitated at no obstacles, he resolutely faced the future, resolved to win success if it could be done by energy, hard work and well directed thrift. The better to enable him to fight this world's battles, he chose a companion and helpmeet in the person of Miss Abigail Love, of Tiffin, Ohio, to whom he was married April 12, 1849, and in September, 1850, reached Wells county, Indiana, settling on an eighty-acre tract of unimproved land in the township of Jefferson. He built a small log cabin and for several years experienced all the hardships and vicissitudes incident to life in the backwoods. Wild game of all kinds was plentiful and afforded the family an abundance of the choicest meats. Deer would frequently come close to the house and but little skill was required to kill one when it became necessary to replenish the larder. Wild turkeys were also numerous, while smaller game, such as ducks, rabbits, squirrels, pheasants, quail, etc., were hardly worth the ammunition. Mr. and Mrs. Rex worked early and late, in the woods, felling trees, burning logs, and doing the hundred and one other things to fit the land for tillage. In due time he had sixty acres in cultivation and later added to his original purchase until he owned a quarter section, one-half of which lay across the line in the county of Adams. By industry and good management he made other additions from time to time, finally becoming the owner of three hundred and twenty acres, all of which is admirably situated and adapted for successful farming. Of this land Mr. Rex cleared and developed something like one hundred and forty acres himself, a task of sufficient magnitude to test the strength and endurance of the most vigorous physique. In addition to cultivating the soil, he early turned his attention to the raising of live stock, and in this way realized more liberal returns than the income from his crops. Later he bought and shipped cattle for a time by the car load, which business also proved remunerative. As a farmer Mr. Rex always ranked with the first and as a business man he has few equals and no superiors among the agriculturists and stock dealers of Wells county. His judgment has seldom been at fault, and his fore-thought often enabled him to take advantage of circumstances which proved greatly to his financial advantage, without in the least compromising his honor or interfering in any way with the good of those with whom he dealt. In all of his transactions his course has been open and straightforward, and no shade of suspicion has ever attached to his good name.

In the year 1889 Mr. Rex left his farm and moved to the town of Ossian, where for one year he was associated with A. Moodward in the manufacture of flour. Shortly after remodeling the mill and installing the modern roller process, he purchased his partner's interest and continued the business as sole proprietor until Mellin Harsh became his associate in 1896. In January, 1903, he purchased his partner's interest, thus again becoming sole owner of the Rex Roller Mill, which has a capacity of sixty-five barrels of excellent flour. The mill is operated by an expert miller, a Mr. Kimbrook. Mr. Rex was also engaged in the hardware trade at Ossian for three years, with success and profit, selling his stock at the end of that time for the purpose of looking after his large agricultural and live stock interests. For the last year and a half he has been living in retirement, though still managing his business affairs, which, in addition to his farm of ninety acres, includes a large tile factory in west Ossian, operated by a skillful foreman, the demand exceeding the capacity.

Mr. Rex comes from an old Democratic family, but ever since old enough to cast a ballot he has been a pronounced Republican in his own political views. He has been active in the support of his principles and keeps himself informed upon the leading questions and issues of the day. He is never absent from an election when able to get to the polls and his influence has done much to strengthen the cause of the party in the township of his residence. In religion he subscribes to the United Brethren creed, of which body he has been an earnest and devoted member since early manhood. At this time he is steward and class leader of the Zion church, and for many years has been one of the substantial and liberal supporters of the congregation.

Mr. and Mrs. Rex are the parents of four children, namely: Wilson, deceased at twenty-three years; Israel, a farmer of Jefferson township; John W., dealer in live stock at Decatur, and Susie, who was the wife of Ed Numbers, of Texas, and died at the age of thirty-eight years. There are also twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Few men in Jefferson township are as well known as "Uncle Johnny Rex," the name by which he is familiarly called. As a neighbor he is the soul of liberality and good fellowship, and as a citizen no man in the county stands higher in the esteem of the public. All who know him honor him for his many estimable traits of character and his friendship is most prized by those who meet him in the social circle around his own hospitable fireside. He has lived to a noble purpose, has made the world better by his presence and his example has been the means of influencing many young men to choose a proper course of life and conduct.