Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, John Fletcher Snow, B. F. Bowen,
Indianapolis, IN, 1907, (image 453)
Adam J Bienz, who owns one hundred acres of choice land in section 8, in Union township, Adams county, Indiana, which he maintains at the highest standard of excellence, is a native of Willshire township, Van Wert county, Ohio , where he was born on October 26, 1859. His parents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Pfleger) Bienz, the father a native of Germany , and the mother of Ohio . They are still residents of Van Wert county and are the parents of eight children: Louis, Margaret, George, Adam J., Frederick, Mary, Ann and Emma.
The subject of this sketch, who was the fourth child in order of birth, was reared on his father's farm in Ohio, where he made his home until his marriage, after which he worked on his father's farm on shares for three years. At the age of eighteen he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, which he followed for several years. Carpentering and farming have been his principal occupations throughout life. Eventually, in 1S92, he moved from Van Wert county, Ohio, to Adams county, Indiana, and located on the farm which he now occupies. He has erected a number of neat and substantial buildings and has otherwise improved
the place so that it is now considered one of the choice farms of the locality.
Mr. Bienz has been married three times.
His first wife was Pauline German, by whom he had one child, Minnie. This wife died in Willshire township, Van Wert county, Ohio, at the age of twenty-seven, and Mr. Bienz subsequently married Christina Reinking, the daughter of Ferdinand Reinking. To this marriage was also born one child, Paula. Mrs.
Christina Bienz died at the age of thirty-one, and on May 14, 1900, Mr. Bienz married Miss Matilda Bleeke, a native of Union township, who was born on May 29, 1874, and was the daughter of Christian and Mary (Rupp) Bleeke. Her parents are both now deceased, the father dying at the age of seventy-eight and the mother at sixty-five years old. They were the parents of ten children, of whom Mrs. Bienz was the ninth child in order of birth. To the subject and his wife have been born three children: Erwin C. F., Amalie A. E., and Martin G. The entire family are members of the Emanual Lutheran church.

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