William Wesley Wible
William Wesley Wible has been a farmer of Turman Township, Sullivan County, ever since he was old enough to perform the labors of such an occupation. He was born April 24, 1844, in the township in which he still resides, a son of John V. and Mary (Grigsby) Wible. The father was a native of Washington County, Indiana, born March 27, 1816, and he died April 22, 1879, in Turman Township. His wife (subject's mother) was born in Orange County, Indiana, January 15, 1821, and died March 24, 1894. They were married in Orange County in March of 1842, and went to Sullivan County in the same year. He settled first on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Turman Township which he had previously entered, in about 1840. To this he later added another eighty acre tract, making him an even two hundred acre farm. This truly worthy couple died on this place. He was by trade a carpenter, but never followed it after his marriage. Politically he was a Democrat, while both he and his wife were members of the Church of Christ. To them were born the following children:
One who died in infancy.
William W., the subject of this sketch.
Perlina, deceased.
Adam Walter, running a livery business at Sullivan.
Susan J., wife of Solomon J. Dix, of Nebraska.
Margaret A., deceased, who married W. W. Moore, also deceased.
Perlina, who married Return J. Turman, whose family sketch appears elsewhere within this work.
William Wesley Wible obtained his education in the Sullivan County district schools and was early taught the management of the farm. He continued to work for his father until twenty-three years of age and then started out for himself on his father's land. By persistency and good management he has secured for himself a fine home. His land consists of one hundred and four acres from out the old homestead, which has never been out of the family since first entered as government land by his father. At this date (1908) this farm is leased out, and Mr. Wible resides with his son Charles. Politically he is a supporter of the general principles of the Democratic party.
He was united in marriage January 15, 1867, to Adeline Davis, born in Turman Township November 23, 1841, and she died November 14, 1873. She was the daughter of Parmenas and Louisa (Harris) Davis. Four children were born of this union:
Olive, wife of J. J. Bragdon (see his sketch).
Charles L., residing in Turman Township, married Viola R. Thornberry, born in Turman Township and they have a son and daughter, Paul E. and Mary M.
Frank, residing in Sullivan, married Lulu Connor and has two children, Guy and Grace.
Julia A., who died in infancy.
Concerning the grandfather, Adam Wible, it should be added that he was born in Germany. He came to America aged fourteen years, and was one of the pioneers of Washington County, Indiana, where he improved a farm and there lived and died. He died in 1832. He was twice married and the father of nineteen children. His second wife, the grandmother of the subject, was before marriage Van Cleave. She died in 1836. The grandfather William Grigsby was a native of Virginia and was an early settler of Orange County, Indiana. His wife was before marriage Anna Cornwell, also a native of Virginia and both died in Orange County. Parmenas Davis was a native of South Carolina and one of the first settlers of Turman Township, where he improved a farm and upon which he lived and died. Parmenas Davis was a miller by trade.
Source: A History of Sullivan County, Indiana. Closing of the first century’s history of the county and showing the growth of its people, institutions, industries and wealth. Thomas J. Wolfe, Editor. The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909, page 375-376.