Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 424-425.
B. F. HOWER.
The largest general store in Lancaster township, Wells county, Indiana, is that owned and conducted by Benjamin Franklin Hower in Craigville, of which town he was formerly the postmaster. He was born in Kirkland township, Adams county, Indiana, May 6, 1859, a son of Joseph and Rachael (Proctor) Hower. Joseph Hower, the father, a native of Champaign county, Ohio, was born in 1836, was reared a farmer, married Rachael Proctor in the spring of 1858 and in the fall of the same year settled in Kirkland township, Adams county. There he purchased a farm, on which he resided until his death, which occurred in January, 1873, and was caused by that fell and insidious disorder, consumption. Notwithstanding the weakened condition of his system, brought on by this fatal disease, Joseph Hower bore its ravages with Christian resignation, and when he was called away the community sincerely mourned his loss, while to his family it was irreparable.
Benjamin F. Hower attended the district school of his native township until he reached the age of fourteen years, at which age he lost his father. Benjamin then undertook the management of the homestead for his mother and operated it in her interest until his marriage, which took place September 24, 1881, to Miss Susan Baum, a daughter of Benjamin and Susan Baum, of Adams county. Mr. Hower continued to reside on the old homestead for six years after his marriage, when in 1887 he removed to Craigville and embarked in his present business, which, considering the limited number of inhabitants in the township, has reached mammoth proportions. He has shown himself to be a shrewd business man, keeping in touch with the people and clearly anticipating their needs. His stock in trade is invariably well selected and equally well assorted, so that the most fastidious patron may be thoroughly satisfied. Mr. Hower is also an accomplished salesman, a qualification that seems to be natural to him, and affability and courtesy are equally innate. When he once meets with a patron he, through his straightforward dealing and avoidance of misrepresentations of any kind, secures him for all time, and this is the true secret of all successful merchandising.
The Hower family of children number seven, to-wit: Minnie Pearl, born June 18, 1882, and married to Martin Kaufman, of Lancaster township; Gertha M., born March 26, 1886; Sarah Elizabeth, born February 15, 1890; Ada Belle, born February 16, 1892, and died September 7, 1892; Hattie Mabel, born October 11, 1895; Raymond, born April 6, 1897, and Herbert, born July 4, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Hower and their children of suitable age are members of the C. U. church at Craigville, to the maintenance of which they are most liberal contributors financially, and in whose doctrines they are sincere believers, being desirous that others, outside its pale, shall be brought within the fold. In politics Mr. Hower is a stanch Democrat and in the interests of his party never fails to make any reasonable sacrifice of his time and labor. In partial recognition of his devotion to his principles and party, he was appointed, during President Cleveland's second administration, postmaster of Craigville and for four years filled the office with ability and to the entire satisfaction of the post office department at Washington and to the gratification of the public of Lancaster township.