Source: Clarkson W. Weesner, History of Wabash County Indiana (1914), Vol. II, pp. 487-489.

SOLOMON SIGNS AND LEWIS SIGNS. There are many older residents of Wabash county who well recall the industrious citizen and kindly friend and neighbor, Solomon Signs, who came to Wabash county and settled on a farm in Pleasant township in 1848. When he was finally called from the scenes of earth he had reached the venerable age of eighty-four years, and in that time had watched the growth of the village of North Manchester for many years, and had always taken his share of community responsibility. The generation following him, his son Lewis Signs, has for many years been closely identified with commercial affairs of North Manchester, and is now well known as secretary and general manager of the Eel River Telephone Company. The late Solomon Signs was a native of the State of Pennsylvania, born in March, 1810. His boyhood days were spent at home assisting his father and in attending the district schools. When quite young in years he started out to earn his own way, and practically his entire career was devoted to farming and stock raising. He lived for a number of years in Ohio, where he married Miss Mary Ann Lawrence of that state. Their family of children are named as follows: David, deceased; Catherine, deceased; Peter; Mahlon, deceased; Wesley; Franklin, deceased; Lewis; Eudocia; and Myron, deceased. it was in the year 1848 that the family joined the pioneers of Wabash county, where the name has been prominently identified with public and private affairs of importance ever since. Solomon Signs established his home in Pleasant township, buying eighty acres of land, and later moving to a farm between Wabash and Roann. In the course of his active farming life he made one other change, when he bought a quarter section of land on the Wabash road, near North Manchester, and there continued his successful supervision of farm and stock until ready to retire from active cares of life. His death occurred in 1894, and his place thus left vacant is such as was filled by a good man and valuable citizen. His wife had preceded him in death, passing away in 1878. Both are buried in Roann. Although a republican in politics, Solomon Signs never held office, preferring to confine his attention to the inconspicuous duties which come to every man in private life, and give him full opportunity for unselfish deeds.

Lewis Signs, son of Solomon and Mary Ann (Lawrence) Signs, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, December 2, 1846. He was thus only two years of age when the family moved to Wabash county, and all his conscious years of youth and boyhood were spent in Pleasant township, where he attended the public schools, such as were maintained there during the fifties and early sixties, and was also a student of the high school at Silver Lake. His employment outside of school hours was furnished in abundance at the home farm, and having shown considerable aptitude as a student he spent the winter months of 1865-66-67-68 in teaching in Pleasant township and Steward township of Kosciusko county. In 1867 Mr. Signs identified himself with the little community of North Manchester. The first twelve years were spent as clerk in the general store of George Lawrence. Then for the succeeding twenty years he was a partner in the business. Having given a long and faithful service in merchandising annals to the people of that community for a period of thirty-one years, he disposed of his interests, and in 1898 entered upon his public duties as postmaster of the village. He resigned that office at the end of three years in order to accept the place of secretary and general manager for the Eel River Telephone Company. Under his energetic management this company has vastly increased and improved its service, and now furnishes the best of telephone facilities to a large and ever increasing patronage about North Manchester. Another business relation which did him great credit personally and is gratefully remembered by the people of this community, was his appointment as trustee in bankruptcy by the Creditors of the Bank of North Manchester, when it closed its doors in 1894. Due to his careful handling of the tangled skein of that business, all depositors were given a settlement of about eighty-five cents on the dollar.

As a republican in politics Mr. Signs has always taken an active interest in public affairs, but has thus far steadfastly refused any official honors. In 1876 he married Miss Maria Simpson, a daughter of Richard Simpson, of Wabash county. Their three children died unnamed in infancy. Mr. Signs is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, having his membership in the lodge at North Manchester.