Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 493-494.

WILLIAM EHRET.

To the pioneer let us offer due credit, especially to the pioneer farmer, who cleared the wilderness and suffered the many privations of frontier life. The subject of this sketch is one of these, having come to this country with his parents when a babe, helping to clear his father's land when a young man and assisting in the growth of the community until interrupted by the call of his country, which he faithfully served for three years. Having discharged his duty as a soldier, he again took up the laborious work of developing his community and how well he has fulfilled his charge let this sketch proclaim. William Ehret was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March 30, 1826. His parents were Simon and Catherine (Miller) Ehret, and sprang from a sturdy race of ancestors whose strength and courage have been transmitted to the present generation. Simon Ehret was born, reared and married in Germany, where he served his apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade. He came to America in 1829 and joined the German community at Zoar, Tuscarawas county, Ohio. He remained there, working at his trade nine years, going next to Chillicothe, Ohio, where for five years he worked at the anvil. He then returned to Bolivar, but later moved to Canal Fulton, Ohio. In the spring of 1848 he brought his family to Wells county and purchased eighty acres of land in section 23, Jefferson township, where he established a rude home in the woods. As the country was new the Ehrets were obliged, until their own cabin could be erected, to move into the house of a neighbor, Jake Burns, where they remained for five weeks. He had decided to ply his trade even in the wilderness and for that purpose erected a shop, working as a smith while William, his son, did the clearing.

William Ehret was then twenty-two years old and was a man of rugged appearance. He was a rail splitter of no mean repute and held his own at the log railings in the neighborhood. He continued to work on his father's farm until 1857, when he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Niblick, of Adams county, and established a home of his own. His wife was ten years his junior having been born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, in 1836. At the age of nine months she was brought to Adams county by her parents, Robert and Syden Niblick.

While Mr. Ehret was thus getting a start in life our country was tottering between freedom and slavery, and imbued with patriotism, he felt that he was needed in the defense of Old Glory, and, leaving his young wife and four children, he offered his services and enlisted in Company G. One Hundred and First Indiana Regiment, under Captain Trusedale, being mustered into service at Indianapolis, in August, 1862. He served three years and was mustered out in July, 1865. The regiment left for the South soon after its organization and was soon in active service, the first engagement being at the battle of Perryville, Kentucky. He also participated in battles at Hartsville, Milton, Hoover's Gap, Tullahoma, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, Graysville, Ringgold, Tunnel Hill, Rocky Face Ridge, Dalton, Resaca, Adairsville, Cassville, Aukworth, Picket Mills, New Hope Church, Big Shanty. Culp's Farm, Lost Mountain, Pine Mountain, Marietta, Kenesaw Mountain, Smyrna, Peach Tree Creek, Chattahoochee River, Atlanta, Ezra Church, Utoy Creek and Jonesboro. He was in Sherman's march to the sea, at Savannah, Ebenezer Church, Barnwell Court House, through the Carolinas, Fayetteville, Averysboro, Bentonville and Smithfield. During his service Mr. Ehret was confined in the hospital two nights and a day, besides being obliged to spend a short time in the convalescent camp. He had many narrow escapes, and for his services receives a pension of twelve dollars per month. After an absence of three years from his family he returned home and resumed life on the farm, where he has continued to reside. He has become a farmer and stock raiser of some note. He is a lover of fine stock and in his county is an authority on good horses, having bred several fine animals which took premiums at the county fairs held in Wells and adjoining counties. In politics he has always voted with the Democratic party and in his younger days was an active and ardent worker in his party. As a member of the Grand Army of the Republic he is popular with his comrades in the William Swaim Post at Ossian, Indiana.

Mr. and Mrs. Ehret are highly respected in Jefferson township, where they have spent all their married life. They are the parents of fourteen children, eight of whom are living. They are good neighbors, excellent citizens and are held in high esteem by all who know them. They are Presbyterians in faith, being members of the church at Elhanan, and are much respected by their associates. Mr. Ehret is a whole-souled, genial man and is so known far and wide in Wells county, while his wife also has the love and respect of all.