Skip to main content

Full text of "A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana"

See other formats 


This  is  a  digital  copy  of  a  book  that  was  preserved  for  generations  on  library  shelves  before  it  was  carefully  scanned  by  Google  as  part  of  a  project 
to  make  the  world's  books  discoverable  online. 

It  has  survived  long  enough  for  the  copyright  to  expire  and  the  book  to  enter  the  public  domain.  A  public  domain  book  is  one  that  was  never  subject 
to  copyright  or  whose  legal  copyright  term  has  expired.  Whether  a  book  is  in  the  public  domain  may  vary  country  to  country.  Public  domain  books 
are  our  gateways  to  the  past,  representing  a  wealth  of  history,  culture  and  knowledge  that's  often  difficult  to  discover. 

Marks,  notations  and  other  marginalia  present  in  the  original  volume  will  appear  in  this  file  -  a  reminder  of  this  book's  long  journey  from  the 
publisher  to  a  library  and  finally  to  you. 

Usage  guidelines 

Google  is  proud  to  partner  with  libraries  to  digitize  public  domain  materials  and  make  them  widely  accessible.  Public  domain  books  belong  to  the 
public  and  we  are  merely  their  custodians.  Nevertheless,  this  work  is  expensive,  so  in  order  to  keep  providing  this  resource,  we  have  taken  steps  to 
prevent  abuse  by  commercial  parties,  including  placing  technical  restrictions  on  automated  querying. 

We  also  ask  that  you: 

+  Make  non-commercial  use  of  the  files  We  designed  Google  Book  Search  for  use  by  individuals,  and  we  request  that  you  use  these  files  for 
personal,  non-commercial  purposes. 

+  Refrain  from  automated  querying  Do  not  send  automated  queries  of  any  sort  to  Google's  system:  If  you  are  conducting  research  on  machine 
translation,  optical  character  recognition  or  other  areas  where  access  to  a  large  amount  of  text  is  helpful,  please  contact  us.  We  encourage  the 
use  of  public  domain  materials  for  these  purposes  and  may  be  able  to  help. 

+  Maintain  attribution  The  Google  "watermark"  you  see  on  each  file  is  essential  for  informing  people  about  this  project  and  helping  them  find 
additional  materials  through  Google  Book  Search.  Please  do  not  remove  it. 

+  Keep  it  legal  Whatever  your  use,  remember  that  you  are  responsible  for  ensuring  that  what  you  are  doing  is  legal.  Do  not  assume  that  just 
because  we  believe  a  book  is  in  the  public  domain  for  users  in  the  United  States,  that  the  work  is  also  in  the  public  domain  for  users  in  other 
countries.  Whether  a  book  is  still  in  copyright  varies  from  country  to  country,  and  we  can't  offer  guidance  on  whether  any  specific  use  of 
any  specific  book  is  allowed.  Please  do  not  assume  that  a  book's  appearance  in  Google  Book  Search  means  it  can  be  used  in  any  manner 
anywhere  in  the  world.  Copyright  infringement  liability  can  be  quite  severe. 

About  Google  Book  Search 

Google's  mission  is  to  organize  the  world's  information  and  to  make  it  universally  accessible  and  useful.  Google  Book  Search  helps  readers 
discover  the  world's  books  while  helping  authors  and  publishers  reach  new  audiences.  You  can  search  through  the  full  text  of  this  book  on  the  web 


at|http  :  //books  .  google  .  com/ 


lii'iiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiHiiiNiiiiiiii 

3  3433  08182000  7 


^ 


'A 


if- 


r     0> 


i  1  V- 


1 


Digitized  by 


Google 


\  \3 


\ 


^  i    V 


v.. 


Digitrzed  byAjOOQlC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by 


Google 


"^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


A  HISTORY 


OF 


ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY 


INDIANA 


BY 

TIMOTHY  EDWARD  HOWARD 

PRF>>IDKNT  OK  THK  NORTHKRN  INDIANA  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


VOLUME  TWO 


THE  LEWIS  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

CHICAGO  NEW  YORK 

1907 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


FHSNEW  YORKl 

[PUBLIC  library! 

455472 

TILOtIi  FOWOATlOlia. 
I«  1909 


•     .        » 


Digitized  by 


Google 


I" 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY 


CHAPTER  XII. 


NOTRE  DAME  AND  ST.  MARY'S. 


I.     FATHER  SOBIN'S  PREDECESSORS. 

The  University  of  Notre  Dame,  and  St. 
Mary's  Academy,  aister  institutions  of  learn- 
ing, situated  in  Clay  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  were  both  founded  by  the  Very  Rev. 
Edward  Sorin;  the  university,  on  the  Lakes 
of  Notre  Dame,  November  26,  1842,  and  the 
academy,  on  the  banks  of  the  St.  Joseph  river, 
a  mile  to  the  west,  on  April  24,  1855. 

We  have  frequently  had  occasion,  in  the 
preceding  chapters,  to  refer  to  the  lakes  at 
Notre  Dame  and  to  the  missionaries  who 
visited  the  redmen  at  that  point,  at  Fort  St. 
Joseph's,  down  the  river,  at  Bertrand,  and  at 
other  missions  in  the  Parkovash.  Father 
Sorin  and  the  others  who  aided  him  in  laying 
the  foundations  of  the  university  and  the 
academy,  alwaj^  looked  upon  this  region  bla 
predestined  missionary  ground.  In  1879, 
when  a  great  disaster  visited  the  establish- 
ment which  he  had  spent  a  lifetime  in  per- 
fecting, the  following  words  of  encourage- 
ment were  written,  recalling  something  of 
these  old  chronicles  and  traditions: 

**We  are  living  on  historic,  nay,  on  holy 
ground.  Not  more  than  a  mile  from  Notre 
Dame,  now  over  two  hundred  years  ago,  the 
apostolic  Marquette  crossed  Portage  prairie 

Vol.  II— 1. 


from  the  Kankakee,  and  embarked  on  the  St. 
Joseph  on  that  last  sad  voyage  a  little  before 
his  death.  Near  to  this  place  La  Salle  wan- 
dered about  the  woods  seeking  to  return  to 
his  companions  on  the  St.  Joseph  river,  on 
that  night  of  which  Parkman  makes  mention 
when  the  intrepid  discoverer  lost  his  way  in 
the  forest. 

'*  After  a  time  we  have  indications,  more 
or  less  obscure,  of  the  presence  of  the  in- 
defatigable French  missionaries.  It  is  knowji 
that  the  venerable  Allouez  labored  in  this 
region,  and  even  on  the  shores  of  these  very 
lakes;  and  many  missionaries  of  whom  no 
record  remains  undoubtedly  spent  a  part  of 
their  time  on  these  grounds,  by  the  winding 
St.  Joseph  and  the  crystal  twin  lakes,  reclaim- 
ing the  rude  barbarians.  Down  the  river  a 
few  miles,  near  the  site  of  the  old  battle- 
ground, on  a  bluflf  overlooking  the  valley  and 
the  river,  stands  a  huge  wooden  cross  marking 
the  resting-place  of  one  of  those  saintly  men 
who  gave  up  his  life  for  the  red  man.  The 
labor  was  not  unblessed,  and  *St.  Mary  of 
the  Lake«'  (Ste.  Marie  des  Lacs),  the  title 
given  Notre  Dame  by  the  early  missionaries, 
became  the  center  of  a  Christian  wilderness, 
extending  over  a  large  part  of  northern  Iii-\ 
diana  and  southern  Michigan.    The  baptismal 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


604 


HISTORY   OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


registers  of  those  early  churches  are  still  pre- 
served at  Notre  Dame;  and  a  mile  southwest 
of  here  a  memorial  cross  has  been  erected  to 
commemorate  the  ancient  burial  ground  of 
the  Christian  Indians.  The  bodies  of  two  of 
the  latest  of  those  early  evangelists,  Father 
De  Seille  and  Father  Petit,  now  rest  in  the 
Church  of  Our  Lady,  of  the  Sacred  Heart. 
Father  De  SeJUe  died  here  alone  at  the  altar 
of  his  log  church,  where  he  had  dragged  him- 
self to  partake  of  the  divine  banquet  ere  his 
departure.  The  venerable  Father  Louis  Ney- 
ron,  still  living  here  (1879),  but  then  pastor 
at  New  Albany,  on  the  Ohio  river,  was  sent 
for  to  prepare  Father  De  Seille  for  death, 
and  started  immediately,  on  horseback;  but 
before  he  had  traversed  the  length  of  the 
state,  Father  De  Seille  lay  already  three  days 
dead.  Father  Petit  died  beyond  the  Missis- 
sippi, where  he  had  followed  his  *dear  In- 
dians,' on  their  removal  from  here  by  the 
government.  His  body  was  afterwards* 
brought  back  by  Father  Sorin  and  now  rests 
beside  that  of  Father  De  Seille,  his  prede- 
cessor, and  also  that  of  his  successor.  Father 
Francis  Cointet,  who,  except  Father  Sorin 
himself,  was  the  last  of  those  Indian  mis- 
sionaries. 

*'It  is  little  wonder,  therefore,  that  when 
Father  Stephen  Theodore  Badin,  *the  proto- 
priest  of  America,'  first  came  amongst  these 
Christian  Indiang  and  found  himself  upon 
the  banks  of  a  river  named  after  St.  Joseph, 
and  by  the  twin  lakes  of  St.  Mary  and  St. 
Joseph,  he  should  have  felt  inspired  to  secure 
the  beautiful  and  sacred  spot  *as  the  site  or 
a  future  Catholic  college,'  as  he  expressed  it. 

**It  would  seem,  indeed,  when  we  strive 
to  gather  up  the  scattered  threads  of  our  local 
history,  that  Notre  Dame  was  pointed  out 
from  the  beginning  by  the  hand  of  God  for 
great  things,  and  it  behooves  us  to  guard 
well  and  foster  the  sacred  inheritance  which 
has  been  left  to  us.  It  has  descended  to  us 
from  the  saints.  From  the  November  day, 
now  nearly  forty  years  ago,  when  Father 
Sorin    first   stood    upon   these    grounds    and 


looked  upon  the  snow-covered  landscape — an 
emblem  of  virginal  purity,  as  it  seemed  to 
him — even  to  the  present  hour,  there  have 
never  wanted  earnest  souls  who  have  looked 
upon  the  ground  as  the  consecrated  abode 
of  religion  and  learning." 

That  the  unheralded  labors  of  those  sim- 
ple and  self -forgetting  missionaries  were  re- 
warded by  a  blessed  harvest,  we  may  know 
from  the  fact  that  almost  all  the  Indians  of 
ijorthem  Indiana  became  devoted  believers  in 
Christ,  loving  as  their  teachers  and  fathers, 
the  faithful  priests  who  spent  their  lives  in 
the  obscurity  of  the  wilderness  that  they 
might  bring  Christianity  and  civilization  to 
the  children  of  the  forests. 

In  Nevin's  *' Black  Robes,  or  Sketches  of 
Missions  and  Ministers  in  the  Wilderness  and 
on  the  Border,"  it  is  said  that,  *'The  first 
attempt  at  the  erection  of  a  mission  in 
southern  Michigan,  according  to  the  testi- 
mony of  the  few  of  the  tribe  of  the  Potta- 
watomies  still  to  be  found  on  the  spot  was 
made,  perhaps,  as  early  as  1675.  The  suc- 
cessful achievement  of  the  project  was  accom- 
plished in  1680.  Father  AUouez,  in  that  year, 
attended  by  Dablon,  after  having  coasted 
Lake  Michigan  from  Green  bay,  entered  the 
St.  Joseph  river,  so  called  in  honor  of  the 
patron  saint  of  Canada,  and  making  advance 
against  its  tide,  proceeded,  until  some  twenty- 
five  miles  (fifty  by  the  river)  from  its  mouth, 
he  reached  the  locality  now  the  seat  of  the 
inviting  town  of  Niles.  About  half  a  mile 
up  stream  from  the  heart  of  the  town — a  nar- 
row belt  of  lowland  lying  between  it  and  the 
river — rises  a  semi-circular  bluflf,  at  the  bas»* 
of  which,  and  through  the  soil  of  the  marshy 
level  runs  a  brook  which  empties  its  slender 
contribution  of  supply  into  the  St.  Joseph. 
On  this  bluff,  up  till  within  twenty-five  years 
since,  if  not  now,  the  traces  were  plainly 
distinguLshable  of  a  fortification,  the  cross 
planted,  at  the  time  of  its  construction,  and 
still  to  be  seen,  in  the  rear  of  it,  indicating 
by  whom,  and  for  what  use  it  was  built.  " 
Here,  conveniently  established  between  an  en- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF. ST.   JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


605 


canipment  of  Miamis  on  one  side  of  the  river, 
and  three  several  settlements — one  at  Poka- 
gon,  a  second  on  the  shores  of  what  are  now 
known  as  the  Notre  Dame  lakes,  and  the 
third  and  principal  one,  close  by  the  fort  of 
the  Pottawatomies  on  the  other — Allouez  built 
a  chapel  and  near  by  a  log  oabin  for  his  own 
accommodation.  His  labors  were  carried  on 
successfully,  and  without  the  occurrence  of 
any  extraordinary  event  to  invest  them  with 
special  interest.  After  a  faithful  service  of 
several  years,  he  died  in  the  summer  of 
1689.  His  adies  repose  in  the  graveyard  of 
the  mission  at  Niles.  The  establishment  was 
kept  up,  part  of  the  time  under  the  ministry 
of  Chardon,  *a  man  wonderful  in  the  gift 
of  tongues,  speaking  fluently  nearly  all  of 
the  Indian  languages  of  the  Northwest,'  un- 
til 1759.  In  that  year  the  French  garrison 
at  Fort  St.  Joseph's  was  attacked  by  a  party 
of  English  soldiers,  the  engagement  resulting, 
after  a  fierce  contest,  in  the  defeat  of  the 
French.  The  survivors  of  the  garrison,  in- 
cluding the  priests,  were  carried  away  pris- 
oners to  Quebec.  The  mission,  thus  violently 
dissolved,  was  not  reorganized  for  nearly  a 
hundred  years.  In  1829,  Father  Stephen  T. 
Badin  came  to  the  vicinity,  to  revive  the  faith 
among  the  Pottawatomies,  built  a  chapel  on 
the  little  St.  Mary's  lake,  near  South  Bend, 
bought  a  section  of  land,  which,  conveyed  to 
the  bishop  of  Vincennes,  through  him  was 
dedicated  in  the  interests  of  education  to 
the  church,  and  is  now  the  seat  of  that  nota- 
ble institution  of  learning,  the  university  of 
Notre  Dame." 

During  the  sad  period  from  the  destruction 
of  the  missions,  in  1759,  until  the  arrival  of 
Father  Badin,  in  1829,  although  but  an  oc- 
casional missionary  visited  them,  neverthe- 
less the  poor  Indians  preserved  the  memory 
of  their  faithful  Black  Robes  and  their  belief 
in  the  Christian  religion.  The  chapels  of 
logs  and  the  various  articles  of  the  sacred 
service  of  the  church  were,  in  numerous 
places,  guarded  by  the  bereaved  Christians, 
and  often  and  often  they  made  touching  ap- 


peals for  priests  to  instruct  their  children  in 
the  faith  of  their  fathers. 

One  of  those  earnest  supplications  has 
been  preserved  to  us  in  the  words  of  the 
great  Pottawatomie  chief,  Pokagon,  ancestor 
of  the  present  chief,  Simon  Pokagon,  whose 
eloquent  speech  at  the  World's  Pair  in  Chi- 
cago in  1893  in  vindication  of  his  people  at- 
tracted so  wide  attention. 

In  1829  Pokagon,  at  the  head  of  a  deputa- 
tion of  Pottawatomies,  visited  Detroit,  then 
the  residence  of  the  distinguished  Father 
Gabriel  Richard,  vicar  general  of  the  bishop 
of  Cincinnati.  Father  Richard  had  then 
been  for  thirty-five  years  a  missionary  at  this 
point,  having  charge  of  the  missions  through- 
out Michigan  and  west  to  the  Mississippi 
river.  This  remarkable  man,  who  may  be 
considered  the  apostle  of  Michigan,  had  won 
the  love  and  respect  not  only  of  the  Indian 
and  French  Catholics  of  this  vast  region, 
but  was  looked  upon  by  all  the  people  as  a 
wise  and  patriotic  citizen,  the  mainstay  of 
civilization  in  the  new  territory,  then  recently 
acquired  by  the  Union  from  Great  Britain. 

Father  Richard  had  been  elected  to  con- 
gress in  1823,  being  perhaps  the  only  Cath- 
olic priest  that  was  ever  thus  honored  by  his 
fellow  citizens.  There  he  won  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  his  colleagues  and  of  the  other 
officials  of  the  government.  Henry  Clay  was 
his  particular  friend.  After  his  service  in 
congress  he  returned  to  his  mission  at  De- 
troit^ where  he  continued  his  labors  until  his 
death,  in  1832. 

Sec.  1. — ^Pokagon**. — Six  miles  north  of 
South  Bend  is  the  site  of  the  last  of  the 
Pottawatomie  villages.  It  was  the  home  for 
many  years  of  old  Chief  Pokagon,  and  the 
birthplace  of  the  present  chief,  Simon  Poka- 
gon, who  is  now  engaged  in  writing  his  fa- 
ther's biography.  There  is  nothing  about  the 
spot  to  indicate  that  it  was  ever  the  place  of 
human  habitation.  In  a  valley  running  back 
from  St.  Joseph  river  about  a  mile  to  the 

a.  From  "Maudlin,"  a  correspondent  of  the  In- 
dianapolis News. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


606 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


west,  at  the  head  of  a  rippling,  winding  little 
brook,  gurrounded  by  hills  and  on  two » sides 
by  heavy  oak  forests,  it  lies,  a  peaceful,  pic- 
turesque little  nook  of  farmland,  rarely  ever 
cultivated,  and  seldom  visited  except  by  the 
farmer's  boy  going  to  bring  home  the  cows 
grazing,  where  a  half  a  century  ago  the  wig- 
wams stood,  or  the  relic-hunter,  who  knows 
its  history.  It  is  hidden  from  the  highway, 
and  not  a  trace  of  the  old  town  is  left.  How 
old  it  was  no  one  now  living  can  tell.  The 
few  log  huts  occupied  by  Pokagon  and  his 
followers  with  their  families  looked  to  the 
settlers  who  first  saw  them  sixty-seven  years 
ago  as  about  ready  to  tumble  down,  and  they 
had  probably  been  built  seventy-five  or  a  hun- 
dred years  before.  Probably  an  Indian  vil- 
lage had  stood  around  the  bubbling  spring 
that  formed  the  source  of  the  little  brook  for 
many  generations.  The  numerous  relics  of 
stone  and  copper  found  in  the  vicinity  point 
to  this. 

Pokagon  was  a  pious  Indian.  On  one  of 
the  hills  overlooking  the  village  was  a  log 
chapel  where  he  and  his  followers  wor- 
shiped, according  to  the  rites  of  the  Catho- 
lic church,  taught  them  by  their  fathers. 
How  long  the  chapel  had  been  built  is  not 
known,  but  it  may  have  been  one  of  the 
missions  established  by  Father  Claude  Al- 
louez  more  than  two  hundred. years  ago,  he 
being,  the  pioneer  missionary  of  the  region, 
whose  ashes  are  reposing  somewhere  along 
the  St.  Joseph  river.  The  exact  spot  of  his 
burial  is  not  knowji.  In  1759  the  English 
drove  the  French  out  of  this  region,  and 
took  possession,  dise^olving  all  the  missions. 
They  were  not  re-established  for  nearly  a 
hundred  years  afterward,  but,  although  the 
Indians  were  deprived  of  the  care  and  in- 
struction of  the  priests,  they  did  not  forget 
the  forms  of  the  church.  In  the  latter  part 
of  the  twenties,  Pokagon  made  a  pilgrimage 
'to  Detroit  to  implore  the  church  authorities 
there  to  send  a  **black  robe''  (the  Indian 
name  for  a  priest)  among  his  people. 

His   speech   to  the   vicar   general   of   the 


bishop  of  Cincinnati,  Father  Gabriel  Richard, 
on  this  occasion,  is  on  record.  It  was  an 
earnest  and  eflPeetive  plea.  **I  implore  you,*' 
he  said,  **to  send  us  a  black  robe  to  instruct 
us  in  the  Word  of  God.  If  you  have  no  care 
for  us  old  men,  at  least  have  pity  on  our 
poor  children,  who  are  growing  up  in  ignor- 
ance and  vice.  We  still  preserve  the  man- 
ner of /prayer  as  taught  our  ancestors  by  the 
black  robe  who  formerly  resided  at  St.  Jo- 
seph. Morning  and  evening,  with  my  wife 
and  children,  we  pray  together  before  the 
crucifix  in  the  chapel.  Sunday  we  pray  to- 
gether oftener.  On  Fridays  we  fast  until 
evening,  men,  women  and  children,  according 
to  the  traditions  handed  down  to  us  by  our 
fathers,  for  we  ourselves  have  never  seen  a 
black  robe.  Listen  to  the  prayers  he  taught 
them,  and  see  if  I  have  learned  them 
correctly." 

Then  the  old  chief  fell  on  his  knees  and 
made  the  sign  of  the  cross  and  repeated  the 
prayers  of  the  church  with  the  Our  Father, 
the  Hail  Mary,  the  creed  and  the  ten  com- 
mandments in  the  Pottawatomie  tongue.  The 
result  of  this  plea  was  the  sending  to  this  re- 
gion of  Father  Stephen  Theodore  Badin,  the 
first  Catholic  priest  ordained  in  the  United 
Stat^,  who  oanae  here  in  1829,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  had  charge  of  all  the  missions  in 
northern  Indiana  and  southern  Michigan. 
He  established  a  mission  two  miles  north  of 
South  Bend  that  eventually  developed  into 
Notre  Dame  University.  He  was  the  reli- 
gious instructor  of  Pokagon  and  his  people 
during  the  remainder  of  their  sojourn  in 
the  old  village,  and  many  of  the  earlier 
settlers  heard  Father  Badin  preach  in  the  old 
log  church  on  the  hill.  The  church  itself 
has  long  since  disappeared,  but  its  founda- 
tions are  still  visible.  Down  the  valley  near 
the  river  was  the  old  Pokagon  town  burying 
ground,  and  the  old  cedar  cross,  with  its 
horizontal  arm  gone,  is  still  standing  in  a 
good  state  of  preservation.  It  was  there 
when  the  first  white  settlers  came  to  this 
region. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ST.   JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


607 


Pokagon  is  represented  by  some  historical 
writer's  as  the  leader  of  a  band  of  Potta- 
watomies  in  a  battle  with  the  Shawnees  in 
the  days  before  the  whites,  but  this  can  be 
classed  as  fiction,  as  Pokagon  was  wholly 
averse  to  war,  and  his  sole  purpose  was  to 
keep  his  people  from  fighting.  Again,  he  is 
said  to  have  been  at  the  massacre  of  Fort 
Dearborn  as  a  peacemaker,  and  to  have  been 
the  one  who  assisted  Captain  Heald  and  his 
wife  to  escape.  This  is  not  believed  to  have 
been  true  by  some  of  the  older  settlers,  who 
were  intimately  acquainted  with  him,  as  he 
was  never  heard  to  say  any  such  thing, 
though  he  said  he  used  all  his  efforts  to  keep 
the  Pottawatomies  in  this  region  from  being 
in  the  massacre;  and  went  himself  to  per- 
suade Topinabee  from  taking  part  in  the 
wars.  Pokagon  was,  no  doubt,  at  St.  Joseph 
with  Topinabee  when  the  massacre  occurred, 
and  was  one  of  those  who  assisted  Captain 
Heald  from  St.  Joseph  on  to  Detroit  and 
Mackinac. 

The  most  authentic  records  of  the  massacre 
give  the  credit  of  assisting  him  to  escape  to 
John  Baptiste  Chandonia,  a  nephew  of  To- 
pinabee, who  died  in  South  Bend  in  1837, 
and  was  buried  in  the  city  cemetery,  though 
his  grave  is  now  unmarked  and  unknown. 
Pokagon,  after  the  treaty  of  1833,  the  sign- 
ing of  which  almost  broke  his  heart,  as  it 
scattered  his  people  broadcast  over  the  land 
and  deprived  him  of  the  home  of. his  birth- 
place, remained  at  the  old  town  for  several 
years,  and  then  went  over  into  Cass  county, 
Michigan,  where  he  established  another  vil- 
lage, and  built  anoither  church.  He  died  a 
few  years  afterward  and  was  buried  under 
the  church,  which  is  located  on  the  banks 
of  a  picturesque  and  charming  little  lake. 

Sec.  2. — Stephen  Theodore  Badin. — It 
seems  fitting  that  these  missions,  destined  to 
prepare  the  way  for  this  great  Catholic  uni- 
versity, should  have  been  revived  by  the  re- 
nowned Stephen  Theodore  Badin.  Father 
Badin  was  ordained  at  Baltimore  May  23, 
1793,  by  Archbishop  Carroll,  being  the  first 


priest  ord'ained  within  the  United  States. 
Notre  Dame  thus  traces  her  spiritual  lineage, 
through  the  proto-priest  of  America,  to  the 
first  of  American  bishops  and  to  the  seat  of 
the  American  primacy  at  Baltimore  and  the 
original  Catholic  colony  of  Maryland.  Fa- 
ther Badin  re-established  the  mission  at  St. 
Mary  of  the  Lakes,  Ste.  Marie  des  Lacs,  as 
it  was  called,  building  the  little  log  chapel 
which  Father  Sorin  found  still  on  the  spot 
onj  his  arrival. 

So  pleased  was  Father  Badin  with  the 
beauty  of  the  location,  undoubtedly  also  in- 
fluenced by  a  divine  inspiration,  that  he  pur- 
chased from  the  United  States  government 
the  section  of  land  containing  the  two  little 
lakes  of  St.  Mary  and  St.  Joseph,  intending, 
as  he  said,  that  this  should  be  the  site  of  a 
great  university.  The  hand  of  Providence 
was  in  this.  The  work  of  the  holy  mission- 
aries, from  the  days  when  Marquette  and  La 
Salle  moved  upon  the  waters  of  the  St.  Joseph 
and  over  the  portage  from  the  Kankakee, 
was  to  be  continued.  Their  labors  were  to 
be  blessed,  not  only  in  the  multitude  of  In- 
dian souls  which  they  had  led  to  God,  but 
even  more,  in  the  untold  multitudes  who  have 
since  and  shaU  yet  go  hence  to  bless  the 
world  and  to  be  themselves  blessed  forever 
with  those  saintly  confessors  in  the  presence 
of  Him  who  is  Himself  the  reward  of  those 
who  toil  single-hearted  and  unknown,  but 
for  His  glory  and  the  welfare  of  their 
fellowmen. 

Under  Father  Badin,  and  under  his  suc- 
cessor, Father  Louis  DeSeille,  the  tsraintly 
Belgian  missionary,  who  succeeded  him,  about 
1832,  and  whose  heroic  death  at  the  altar 
we  have  related,  the  missions  flourished  won- 
derfully; or,  rather,  they  revived;  for,  as 
we  have  seen,  this  had  been  a  Christian  wil- 
derness a  hundred  and  fifty  years  previous 
to  this  time,  even  from  the  days  of  AUouez.^ 

Sec.  3. — The  Removal  op  the  Indians. — 

a.  See  "The  Removal  of  the  Pottawatomies,"  by 
the  Hon.  Daniel  McDonald,  Chapter  2,  Subdivision 
6,  of  this  Hlstonr. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


608 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


On  the  southern  shores  of  Lake  Michigan, 
and  to  the  east  and  west,  as  late  as  1835, 
multitudes  of  red  men,  many  of  them  sav- 
ages only  in  name,  who  had  accepted  Chris- 
tianity, and  the  civilization  which  grows  out 
of  it,  continued  to  dwell.  But  the  govern- 
ment had  determined  that  all  the  Indians, 
civilized  and  savage,  should  be  gathered  on 
a  territory  of  their  own,  to  the  west  of  the 
Mississippi.  By  the  end  of  1836,  some  by 
treaty  and  others  by  force,  had  abandoned 
the  hunting  grounds  so  dear  to  them,  and 
taken  up  their  abode  in  the  Indian  territory. 

The  Pottawatomies,  however,  still  lingered 
in  their  ancient  habitations.  Many  of  them, 
as  we  have  seen,  were  Christians:  they  were 
attached  to  the  soil  where  they  and  their 
fathers  had  heard  the  glad  tidings  of  salva- 
tion ;  and  they  trembled  at  the  prospect 
of  a  removal  to  a  distant  and  strange  land. 
But  therr  hopes  were  vain.  In  the  spring 
838  came  the  order  which  to  them  was  as 
a  decree  of  banishment  from  all  they  held 
dearest  in  life — their  home  and  their  re- 
ligion. This  last  misery,  however,  was  to  be 
spared  them.  They  had  for  their  priest  then 
Father  Benjamin  Mary  Petit,  the  youthful 
successor  of  Father  DeSeille;  and  he  de- 
termined to  accompany  **his  dear  Indians*' 
to  the  far  west. 

Father  Petit  was  a  young  lawyer  of 
Rennes,  France,  when,  in  1835,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-four  years,  he  felt  himself  called  to 
a  religious  life,  and  sailed  for  America, 
where  he  placed  himself  under  the  charge  of 
the  Right  Rev.  Gubriel  Brut6,  the  saintly 
.  bishop  of  Vincennes.  On  the  day  of  his  or- 
dination, October  14,  1837,  he  wrote  to  his 
mother:  **I  am  now  a  priest  .  .  .  My 
hand  is  now  consecrated  to  God.  .  .  . 
How  my  lips  trembled  this  morning  at  my 
first  mass.  .  .  .  Within  two  days  I  start 
hence  all  alone  on  a  journey  of  three  hun- 
dred miles — and  yet  not  alone,  for  I  shall 
journey  in  company  with  my  God,  whom  I 
shall  carry  on  my  bosom  day  and  night,  and 
shall  convey  with  me  the  instruments  of  the 


great  sacrifice,  halting  from  time  to  time  in 
the  depths  of  the  forest,  and  converting  the 
hut  of  some  poor  Catholic  into  the  palace  of 
the  King  of  Glory.  My  heart  is  so  light,  so 
happy,  so  contented,  that  I  am  a  wonder  to 
myself.  From  mass  to  mass,  to  go  forward 
even  to  heaven!  You  recollect  that  I  often 
said  that  I  was  bom  happy.  I  can  say  the 
same  still.  I  had  always  desired  a  mission 
amongst  the  savages;  there  is  but  one  such 
in  Indiana,  and  it  is  I  whom  the  Pottawato- 
mies will  call  their  'Father  Black  Robe.'  " 
And  well  did  this  young  priest  deserve  the 
appellation!  It  is  thus  he  described  his  first 
visit  to  his  beloved  Indians :*»  **I  remained 
three  weeks  among  them,  and  our  time  was 
spent  as  follows:  At  sunrise  the  first  peal 
was  rung;  then  might  you  see  the  savages 
moving  along  the  paths  of  the  forest  and  the 
borders  of  the  lakes.  When  they  were  as- 
sembled the  second  peal  was  rung.  The 
catechist  then,  in  an  animated  manner,  gave 
the  substance  of  the  sermon  preached  the 
evening  before;  a  chapter  of  the  catechism 
was  read  and  morning  prayers  were  recited. 
I  then  said  mass,  the  congregation  singing 
hymns  the  while ;  after  which  I  preached,  my 
sermon  being  translated  as  I  proceeded  by 
a  respectable  French  lady,  seventy-two  years 
old,  who  has  devoted  herself  to  the  missions 
in  the  capacity  of  interpreter.  The  sermon 
was  followed  by  an  Our  Father  and  a  Hail 
Mary;  after  which  the  congregation  sang  a 
hymn  to  Our  Lady  and  quietly  dispersed. 
The  next  thing  was  confessions,  which  lasted 
till  evening,  and  sometimes  were  resumed 
after  supper.  At  sunset  the  natives  again 
assembled  for  catechism,  followed  by  an  ex- 
hortation and  evening  prayers,  which  fin- 
ished with  a  hymn  to  Our  Lady.  I  then  gave 
them  my  benediction^ — the  benediction  of  poor 
Benjamin!      Many    practice    frequent    com- 

a.  This  was  at  Twin  Lakes,  MarshaU  County, 
a  little  south  of  Plymouth.  See  Mr.  McDonald's 
speech,  referred  to  in  the  preceding  note,  for  a  de- 
scription of  the  locality.  It  was  at  the  time  the 
chief  mission  to  the  Pottawatomies,  and  was  their 
principal  village. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


609 


munion.  I  baptized  eighteen  adults,  and 
blessed  nine  marriages.  ...  I  cannot 
tell  you  how  attached  they  became  to  jne 
during  my  short  stay  amongst  them.  *We 
were  orphans/  they  said  to  me,  *and,  as  it 
were,  in  darkness;  but  you  came  amongst  us, 
and  we  live.  You  afe  to  us  in  the  place  of 
our  father  who  is  dead;  we  will  do  nothing 
without  your  advice.'  *To  whom  shall  we 
go  when  you  have  left  us?'  exclaimed  an  old 
man.  *  While  you  are  with  us,  if  we  are  in 
sorrow,  we  come  to  you  and  are  comforted.' 
.  .  .  Could  you  have  witnessed  how,  with 
swelling  hearts,  they  knelt  down  in  silence 
around  me  to  receive  my  benediction  when  I 
was  departing,  you  would  understand  why, 
as  I  bade  them  farewell,  I  experienced  the 
same  feelings  as  when  I  left  Rennes.;  it 
seemed  as  though  I  were  once  more  leaving 
my  family." 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1838,  he 
again  writes:  **Here  I  am  in  the  midst  of 
my  Indians.  How  I  do  love  these  children 
of  mine,  and  what  pleasure  it  is  to  me  to 
find  myself  amongst  them !  There  are  now 
from  a  thousand  to  twelve  hundred  Chris- 
tians. I  was  asleep  on  my  mat  the  last  day 
of  the  year,  when  toward  midnight  I  was  sud- 
denly awakened  by  a  discharge  of  firearms. 
It  does  not  take  much  time  to  get*  up  when 
one  sleeps  in  one's  clothes  on  a  mat.  I  threw 
open  my  door,  and  in  an  instant  my  room 
was  filled  with  Indians,  men,  women  and 
children,  who  had  come  to  wish  me  a  happy 
new  year.  They  knelt  down  around  me  to 
ask  my  blessing;  and  then,  with  countenances 
beaming  with  smiles,  they  every  one  shook 
hands  with  me.  It  was  a  real  family  f^te. 
I  said  a  few  words  to  them  on  the  year  which 
was  past,  and  on  that  which  had  just  comr 
menced;  and  then  led  them  to  the  chapel, 
where  we  spent  a  short  time  in  prayer. 
.  .  .  I  love  them  dearly.  Could  you  see 
the  little  children,  when  I  enter  a  cabin, 
crowding  around  me  and  climbing  on  my 
knees — ^the  father  and  mother  making  the 
sign  of  the  cross  in  pious  recollection,  and 


then  coming,  with  a  confiding  smile  on  their 
faces,  to  shake  hands  with  me — ^you  could  not 
but  love  them  as  I  do.  In  the  evening  you 
might  see  them  stooping  over  the  fire  and 
singing  hymns  or  repeating  the  catechism. 
I  begin  to  speak  their  language  a  little,  and 
to  understand  what  they  say  to  me.  I  am 
really  too  happy;  do  not  wish  me  anything 
better." 

In  the  spring  he  was  able  to  take  up  his 
residence  among  his  people.  **I  have  a  vast 
dwelling,"  he  says,  ** built  of  entire  trees 
laid  one  upon  another;  in  more  than  one 
place  the  light  may  be  seen  through  the 
walk;  my  fire  place  is  large  enough  to  hold 
half  a  ton  of  coal;  the  floor  is  of  planks, 
which,  not  being  fastened  together,  shake  un- 
der the  feet  like  the  keys  of  a  piano  under 
the  fingers  of  the  musician.  At  night  I  have 
a  mat  laid  upon  it;  and  with  two  blankets, 
one  under,  the  other  over  me,  I  sleep  as  well 
as  if  I  lay  on  the  most  luxurious  bed  in  the 
world."  But  his  journeys  were  still  long 
and  fatiguing;  sometimes  he  had  forty  or 
sixty  miles  to  go  to  visit  the  sick.  **  Per- 
haps," says  he,  on  one  such  occasion,  with 
that  simplicity  so  characteristic  of  his  order, 
**you  look  upon  missionaries  as  saints;  but 
I  must  confess  that  during  all  that  time  I 
could  scarcely  say  one  prayer.  When  I  had 
done  hearing  confessions,  and  had  said  my 
office,  I  fell  asleep  on  my  mat.  However," 
he  adds,  **the  Master  to  whom  I  have  wholly 
devoted  myself  is  pleased  to  accept  the  labor 
of  each  day  as  a  continued  sacrifice;  and, 
when  offered  with  proper  motives,  such  labor 
is  an  unceasing  prayer." 

But  all  this  while  a  great  grief  lay  heavy 
at  his  heart.  His  Indians  were  to  be  taken 
from  him,  as  he  thought,  and  the  mission 
extirpated.  From  **  Pictures  of  Missionary 
Life,"  collected  chiefly  from  the  Annals  of 
the  Propagation  of  the  Faith,  and  published 
at  London,  in  1858,  by  Barnes  and  Lambert, 
we  condense  the  following  account  of  this 
eviction;    a  narrative  that  reminds  one  of 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


610 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


the  story  of  Ramooa  by  Mrs.  Helen  Hunt 
Jackson. 

The  government  had  given  orders  for  the 
removal  of  the  Pottawatomies,  and  seemed 
deaf  to  all  entreaties.  **I  shall  have  to  level 
the  altar  and  the  church  to  the  ground/' 
writes  the  fervent  apostle,  **  and  bury  the 
cross  which  overshadows  their  tombs,  to  save 
it  from  profanation.  And  these  Christian 
souls  will  pine  away,  deprived  of  those  sacra- 
ments which  they  approached  with  so  much 
fervor,  and  languishing  under  an  unknown 
sky,  where  I,  their  father,  shall  be  unable 
to  follow  them."  Fain  would  he  have  com- 
forted himself  with  the  hope  of  accompany- 
ing them  on  their  way ;  but  the  bishop,  fear- 
ful of  even  appearing  to  countenance  the 
cruel  measures  adopted  by  the  civil  power, 
withheld  his  consent. 

At  last  his  worst  fears  were  realized. 
Early  in  the  autumn  the  government  took 
possession  of  the  house  in  which  he  lodged, 
and  of  the  church  in  which  the  natives  were 
assembled  for  prayer.  Some  would  have  re- 
sisted, but  Father  Petit  exhorted  them  to 
submit.  He  said  his  last  mass^  and  then  the 
church  was  stripped'  and  left  desolate.  Many 
fled  to  the  woods,  others  crossed  over  into  the 
Canadian  territory;  one  band,  the  first  that 
had  embraced  the  faith,  bought  lands  and 
accepted  the  law  of  the  conqueror  rather 
than  be  forced  into  exile.  Once  more  the 
good  priest  gathered  his  flock  together;  it 
was  on  the  morning  of  their  departure:  he 
wept  as  he  addressed  them,  and  his  hearers 
wept  too;  they  sang  together  for  the  last 
time,  that  hymn  to  the  Virgin  Mother  which 
they  loved  so  well ;  but  their  voices  faltered, 
and  few  were  able  to  sing  it  to  the  end.  So 
they  parted,  and,  as  all  thought,  forever  in 
this  world. 

A  few  days  afterwards,  the  Indians,  not- 
withstanding their  peaceable  dispositions, 
were  made  prisoners  of  war;  they  were  as- 
sembled under  pretext  of  holding  a  confer- 
ence, and,  amidst  a  discharge  of  musketry, 
eight  hundred  of  them  were  put  under  ar- 


rest. They  now  unanimously  declared  that 
they  would  not  go  without  their  priest.  The 
government  invited  Father  Petit  to  accom- 
pany them,  but  he  could  do  nothing  without 
his  bishop's  consent;  and  the  order  was 
given  to  march  without  further  delay.  The 
Indians  were  driven  on  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet;  many  were  sick;  huddled  together 
in  transport  wagons,  numbers  died  of  heat 
and  thirst.  It  happened,  however,  that 
Bishop  Brute  was  to  consecrate  a  church  in 
a  neighboring  mission  on  the  9th  of  Septem- 
ber; and  on  the  7th  the  Indians  would  be 
encamped  within  a  mile  of  the  place.  Two 
days  before,  the  bishop  entered  Father 
Petit 's  room.  **He  lavished  on  me,*'  says  the 
latter,  **all  the  consolation  which  a  father 
could  bestow  upon  a  son;  for  myself  I  was 
as  a  man  who  stirs  not  under  a  weight  that 
threatens  to  crush  him.*'  Together  they  set 
out  for  Logansport,  and  on  their  way  learned 
of  the  sufferings  of  the  poor  Indians.  The 
news  was  like  a  dagger  in  the  heart  of  the 
young  priest;  but  to  his  delight,  the  sainted 
Brute  gave  him  permission  to  follow  the  emi- 
grants, on  condition  of  returning  as  soon 
as  he  was  summoned;  and  he  hastened  im- 
mediately to  his  post.  No  sooner  did  it  get 
abroad  that  the  priest  was  come  than  tiie 
whole  camp  was  in  motion ;  the  natives  flocked 
out  to  meet  him:  the  whites,  drawn  up  in 
file,  formed  a  lane  for  him  to  pass;  they 
were  astonished  at  the  enthusiasm  of  affec- 
tion with  which  he  was  received,  and  the 
influence  he  exercised  over  these  unmanage- 
able savages.  **This  man,*'  exclaimed  the 
officer  in  command,  **has  more  power  here 
than  I  have."  On  Sunday  Father  Petit  said 
mass  in  the  middle  of  the  camp  under  an 
awning  suspended  from  a  lofty  tree;  in  the 
afternoon  came  the  bishop;  the  Indians 
knelt  to  receive  his  blessing  as  he  passed  to 
the  tent;  they  then  arranged  themselves  in 
order,  and,  some  by  heart,  others  from  books, 
sang  vespers  in  their  native  tongue.  It  was 
a  sight  never  to  be  forgotten  by  those  who 
witnessed  it. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


611 


On   the  16th  the  faithful  pastor  rejoined 
his  flock.     He  found  them  moving  onwards, 
enveloped  in  clouds  of  dust,  and  surrounded 
by  the  soldiers  who  hurried  on  their  march. 
Behind    came    the    wagons,    in    which    were 
crowded  together  the  sick,  the  women     and 
the  children.    The  scene,  as  described  by  Fa- 
ther Petit,   was  one  of  the  most  mournful 
description;    the  children,  overcome  by  heat, 
were  reduced  to  a  wretched  state  of  languor 
and  exhaustion.     Some  new-born  infants  he 
baptized.    ** Happy  Christians,"  he  exclaims, 
**who  pass  in  peace  from  this  land  of  exile 
to   the    mansions   of   bliss!"     By   this   time 
General  Tipton,  the  oflBcer  in  command,  had 
begun   to   understand   something   of   Father 
Petit 's  worth,  and-  treated  him  with  marked 
respect.     The  chiefs,  who  had  hitherto  been 
treated  as   prisoners  of  war^  were  released 
at  the  priest's  request,  and  took  their  place 
with  the  rest  of  the  tribe.     First  went  the 
flag  of  the  United  States,  borne  by  a  dragoon ; 
after  which  came  the  baggage;   then  the  ve- 
hicle occupied  by  the  native  chiefs.      Next 
followed  the   main   body  of   the   emigrants, 
men,  women  arid  children,  mounted  on  horses, 
marching  in  file  after  Indian  fashion,  while 
all  along  the  flanks  of  the  multitude  might 
bo  seen  dragoons  ind  volunteers  urging  o/j 
unwilling  stragglers,  often  with  the  most  vio- 
lent words  and  gestures.     The  sick  were  ip 
their  wagons,   under  an   awning  of  canvas, 
which,   however,   far   from   protecting   them 
from   the  stifling  heat  and  dust,    only  de^ 
prived  them  of  air;   the  interior  was  like  an 
oven  and  many  consequently  died.    Six  miley 
fnMn  Danville  there  was  a  halt  for  two  days: 
and  each  morning  Father  Petit  said  mass  in 
the  midst  of  his  people;    he  gave  the  viati- 
cum to  the  dying  and  baptized  some.    **When 
we  quitted  the  spot,''  he  says,  **we  left  six 
graves  under  the  shadow  of  the  crogs."    Or- 
der had  been  so  thoroughly  restored  through 
the  presence  of  the  priest,  that  the  troogs 
now  retired,  and  Father  Petit  was  left  with 
the  civil  authorities  to  conduct  the  emigrants 
to  their  destination. 


We  will  not  pursue  the  pathetic  narrative 
over  the  vast  prairies  of  Illinois  and  Iowa. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  the  march  of  the  In- 
dians was  henceforth  as  a  Christian  pilgrim- 
age, except  when  they  stopped  for  an  hour 
to  bury  their  dead.  A  day's  journey  from 
the  Osage  river,  the  place  allotted  for  their 
settlement,  sixty  miles  beyond  the  western 
line  of  Missouri,  they  met  Father  Hoeken, 
of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  who  had  been  ap- 
pointed to  take  charge  of  the  Pottawatomies 
in  their  new  home.  Into  his  hands  Father 
Petit  resigned  his  charge,  and  turned  back 
to  retrace  his  way  to  his  bishop.  But  natui'e 
was  exhausted  and  his  task  being  accom- 
plished the  reaction  set  in  from  which  he  was 
not  to  recover.  He  had  fever  on  the  way 
out,  but  recovered  suflScieritly  to  proceed  with 
his  charge.  Now,  however,  he  grew  worse 
rapidly  and  could  come  no  further  than  St. 
Louis.  There,  notwithstanding  all  that  could 
be  done  for  him,  he  departed  to  receive  his 
reward.  On  the  10th  day  of  February,  1839, 
**with  a  smile  on  his  lips  and  his  eyes  on 
the  crucifix,"  he  went  to  **the  Master  to 
whom,"  as  he  himself  had  said,  **I  have 
wholly  devoted  myself";  to  that  Master  who 
has  said:  ** Greater  love  than  this  no  man 
hath,  that  a  man  lay  down  his  life  for  his 
friends."  He  had  died  for  his  dear  Christian 
Indians. 

We  need  not  wonder,  therefore,  that  Fa- 
ther Sorin,  burning  as  he  was  with  admira- 
tion for  the  heroic  martyr  missionary  who 
was  his  immediate  predecessor,  should  desire 
that  the  body  of  that  young  priest  should  be 
placed  at  rest  beneath  the  noble  church  built 
on  the  spot  made  holy  by  his  labors;  or  that 
Father  Sorin  should  himself,  in  1856,  have 
gone  to  St.  Louis  and  brought  the  sacred 
remains  to  Notre  Dame  and  laid  them  be- 
side those  of  Father  De  Seille.  Surely  those 
two  guardian  spirits,  with  the  numberless 
white  souls  led  by  them  to  Christ,  will  forever 
ask  the  same  blessed  Lord  to  continue  his 
blessing  upon  the  spot  made  by  them  and 
their   predecessors,   holy   ground. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


612 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


It  was  to  this  St.  Joseph  valley,  to  take 
up  the  work  of  Marquette,  Allouez,  Dablon, 
Chardon,  Badin,  DeSeille,  Petit,  and  other 
less  known  missionaries,  that  Father  Edward 
Sorin  came.  During  his  whole  life  in.  this 
rejsrion  he  felt  the  very  presence  of  these  his 
sainted  predecessors.  It  is  enough  to  say 
that  he  and  his  brethren  at  Notre  Dame  and 
his  spiritual  daughters  at  St.  Mary's  have 
proved  worthy  followers  of  the  holy  men 
who  had  gone  before. 

II.      THE   UNIVERSITY    OP    NOTRE   DAME.^ 

Sec.  1. — The  Congregation  of.  the  Holy 
Cross. — A  few  years  before  the  founding  of 
the  university,  there  had  been  formed  at  the 
city  of  Mans,  in  France,  a  religious  society, 
or  order,  named  The  Congregation  of  the 
Holy  Cross.  The  congregation  consisted,  at 
first,  of  three  societies.  The  Abb6  Moreau, 
a  canon  and  distinguished  preacher  attached 
to  the  cathedral  in  Mans,  had  formed  a  so- 
ciety of  priests  to  aid  him  in  preaching  re- 
treats to  the  people.  A  little  earlier,  a  good 
priest,  the  Rev.  James  Francis  Dujarie,  one 
of  the  survivors  of  the  French  revolution, 
had  formed  a  band  of  young  men  who  en- 
gaged in  the  work  of  teaching.  These  last 
were  united  in  a  community,  under  the  name 
of  The  Brothers  of  St.  Joseph.  Father 
Dujarie,  growing  old,  requested  the  young 
and  zealous  Abbe  Basil  Anthony  Moreau  to 
take  charge  also  of  this  religious  band.  Thus 
the  two  societies  came  to  be  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  one  head.  In  time  the  two  com- 
munities were  united  under  the  name  of  The 
Congregation  of  the  Holy  Cross,  retaining  the 
original  features  of  both  communities,  as 
preachers  of  the  gospel  and  teachers  of  youth, 
and  so  they  continue  to  this  day.  The  Col- 
lege of  the  Holy  Cross,  founded  by  the  Abb6 
Moreau  at  Mans,  the  original  mother-house  of 
the  congregation,  suggested  the  holy  name 
by  which  the  new  order  became  known  and 

a.  The  greater  part  of  this  chapter  is  taken 
from  the  Ck>lden  Jubilee  History  of  Notre  Dame, 
compiled  by  the  writer  in  1895. 


by  which  it  was  recognized  in  the  rules  and 
constitutions  approved  by  the  Holy  See. 

A  little  later,  September  29,  1841,  Father 
Moreau  organized  the  Sisters  of  the  Holy 
Cross.  This  society,  however,  although  con- 
tinuing under  the  direction  of  Father  Mo- 
reau, and  in  this  country  afterwards  under 
that  of  Father  Sorin,  was  never  united  to  the 
Congregation  of  the  Holy  Cross.  Yet  the 
sisters  are  engaged  in  the  same  great  work, 
the  teaching  of  the  young,  to  which  labor  they 
have  added  the  care  of  the  sick  and  dis- 
tressed, by  serving  in  hospitals  and  otherwise. 

Father  Sorin  became  one  of  the  earliest 
members  of  the  new  congregation.  But,  even 
while  he  was  yet  a  student  in  college,  he  had 
larger  mission  fields  in  mind  than  those  pri- 
ginally  contemplated  by  the  founders  of  the 
new  order.  He  had  listened  as  a  young  stu- 
dent to  the  sainted  Bishop  Brut^,  first  bishop 
of  Vincennes,  when  that  holy  man,  while  on 
a  visit  to  France,  made  a  strong  appeal  for 
helping  hands  to  come  to  his  aid  in  the  la- 
borious and  scattered  missions  of  Indiana. 
The  burning  words  of  the  aged  Brute  kindled 
the  fervor  of  the  youthful  Sorin.  The  dis- 
tant missions  of  Indiana  were  never  after- 
wards wholly  absent  from  the  mind  of  the 
ardent  student,  or  the  more  recollected 
thoughts  of  the  priest  of  the  Holy  Cross. 

Accordingly,  when  Bishop  Hailandiere,  the 
successor  of  Bishop  Brute,  made  special  ap- 
plication to  Father  Moreau  for  volunteers  to 
the  Indiana  missions,  Father  Sorin  at  once 
offered  himself  for  the  work.  With  him  vol- 
unteered four  professed  brothers  and  two 
novices.  Among-st  the  professed  brothers  was 
Brother  Vincent,  the  first  who  had  joined 
the  Brothers  of  St.  Joseph  when  that  society 
was  originally  formed.  He  lived  long,  an 
exemplary  religious,  and  the  patriarch  of  the 
order  at  Notre  Dame.  Years  after,  when 
bent  and  gray-bearded,  he  was  taken  on  a 
pilgrimage  by  Father  Sorin  to  the  Eternal 
City,  and  there  had  the  supreme  happiness 
of  an  interview  with  Pius  IX.  On  being  in- 
troduced to  the  Pope  as  the  patriarch  of  the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTOET  OP   ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


613 


Congregation  of  the  Holy  Cross,  the  venerable 
Pontiflf  would  not  suffer  the  equally  aged 
but  humble  brother  to  fall  at  his  feet,  but 
took  him  into  his  arms  and  embraced  him 
most  tenderly. 

Another  of  those  zealous  volunteers  was 
Brother  Lawrence,  who,  for  over  thirty  years, 
was  destined  to  be  the  efficient  head  of  the 
farm  establishment  and  business  affairs  at 
Notre  Dame.  He  was  a  most  excellent  busi- 
ness man,  as  well  as  a  faithful  religious.  His 
death,  in  1873,  was  regretted  by  the  public 
at  large,  and  was  mourned  by  Father  Sorin 
in  one  of  the  most  touching  circular  letters 
ever  issued  by  him  to  the  community. 

A  third  of  those  heroic  brothers  was 
Brother  Francis  Xavier,  who  lived  to  the 
golden  jubilee  of  the  founding  of  Notre 
Dame,  the  last  of  the  zealous  band  that 
crossed  the  Atlantic  with*  the  original  colony, 
and  for  many  years  the  only  living  one  of 
those  who  stood  together  on  St.  Mary's  lake 
on  that  cold  November  evening  in  1842,  and 
took  formal  possession  of  Notre  Dame  du  Lac. 
His  was  for  years  the  only  life  that  ran  back 
even  to  the  first  day  of  the  history  of  Notre 
Dame  and  of  the  Congregation  of  the  Holy 
Cross. 

The  little  band  of  seven  left  the  mother 
house  at  Mans,  August  5,  1841;  and  on  the 
8th  of  August  they  set  sail  from  Havre,  on 
the  packet  ship  Iowa,  **a  lai^e  vessel  and 
a  good  sailer,"  as  Father  Sorin  describes 
her. 

That  the  voyagers  were  poor  in  this  world's 
goods,  we  may  well  know  from  the  circum- 
stance that  they  came  as  steerage,  ngt  as 
cabin,  passengers.  In  writing  of  this  after- 
wards, Father  Sorin  said:  **I  came  in  1841, 
with  my  six  beloved  brothers  in  the  steer- 
age. We  expended  very  little  money.  In 
1846,  when  I  returned  with  seventeen  de- 
voted members,  in  the  steerage  as  before,  and 
in  the  emigrant  cars  from  New  York,  we 
again  spent  but  little,  and  felt  happy. 
Blessed  are  those  who  are  imbued  with  the 
spirit  of  poverty!" 


On  the  13th  day  of  September,  the  good 
ship,  with  its  precious  freight,  entered  the 
bay  of  New  York.  In  **The  Chronicles  of 
Notre  Dame  du  Lac,"  we  read  the  following 
account  of  this  entry  into  the  New  World 
of  the  voyagers  from  their  long  sea  journey : 

'*It  would  be  hardly  possible  to  describe 
the  sentiments  of  joy  of  the  pious  band  at 
sight  of  this  strange  land  which  they  had 
come  so  far  in  search  of,  through  so  many 
dangers  and  fatigues.  It  was  a  little  after 
sunset  when  Father  Sorin  set  foot  on  land 
with  a  few  of  the  passengers,  the  general 
landing  being  deferred  till  the  next  day.  One 
of  his  first  acts  on  this  soil  so  much  desired 
was  to  fall  prostrate  and  embrace  it,  as  a 
sign  of  adoption,  and  at  the  same  time  of 
profound  gratitude  to  Qod  for  the  blessings 
of  the  prosperous  voyage.  The  arrival  of 
the  new  missionaries  could  not  have-  taken 
place  at  .a  more  striking  and  propitious 
time.  It  was  the  eve  of  the  Exaltation  of 
the  Holy  Cross,  so  that  Father  Sorin  was  able 
to  celebrate  his  first  mass  in  America .  on 
the  day  of  the  feast.  This  happy  co- 
incidence was  of  a  kind  to  make  a  deep  im- 
pression on  the  heart  of  the  young  religious 
of  the  Holy  Cross,  who  himself  had  placed 
all  his  confidence  in  the  virtue  of  the  holy 
cross,  and  who  desired  rather  than  feared 
to  suffer  for  the  love  of  Christ.  He  there- 
fore accepted  the  presage  of  the  circumstance 
gladly,  by  which  heaven  seemed  to  tell  him, 
as  formerly  it  told  the  apostle,  that  in  this 
land  he  would  have  to  suffer.  Long  after- 
wards will  he  remember  that  it  was  in  the 
name  of  the  cross  that  he  took  possession, 
for  himself  and  for  his,  of  this  soil  of 
America. ' ' 

On  the  next  day,  September  14,  1841,  he 
wrote  to  Father  Moreau: 

** Beloved  Father: — Let  us  bless  God,  let 
us  bless  his  holy  mother;  we  have  arrived  in 
New  York  full  of  life,  health  and  joy!  Our 
good  brothers  have  not  yet  entered  the  city; 
they  were  obliged  to  pass  last  night  in  quar- 
antine.    But   our   good   God   permitted   me 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


614 


HISTORY  OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


to  land  yesterday  evening,  13th  of  Septem- 
ber, the  eve  of  the  Exaltation  of  the  Holy 
Cross.  With  what  happiness,  my  Father,  did 
I  salute  and  emibraee  this  dear  land  of 
America,  after  which  we  have  so  ardently 
sighed.  And  what  an  increase  of  consolation 
to  land  on  the  eve  of  so  beautiful  a  day!  It 
is  then  in  the  name  of  the  Holy  Cross,  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin,  and  St.  Joseph,  that  we  have 
taken  possession  of  it.  My  God,  what  a 
happy  coincidence!  What  joy  for  a  poor 
priest  of  the  Holy  Cross,  who  must  love  noth- 
ing more  in  the  world  than  the  cross,  to  be 
able  to  say  his  first  mass  in  America  on  the 
feast  of  the  exaltation  of  that  sacred  symbol ! 
What  a  delicious  day  it  is  here;  how  beauti- 
ful is  the  American  sky!  Ah,  yes,  my 
Father,  here  is  the  portion  of  my  inherit- 
ance; here  will  I  dwell  all  the  days  of  my 
life!''- 

Here  we  perceive  the  double  source  of 
Father  Serin's  success.  Here  was  united  the 
zeal  of  the  saint  with  the  fervor  of  the 
patriot,  the  devotion  of  Columbus  with  the 
unselfishness  of  Washington.  From  the 
moment  that  Father  Sorin  touched  American 
soil,  we  behold  in  his  soul  the  union,  thor- 
oughly and  completely,  of  the  most  uncompro- 
mising Catholicity  with  the  most  sturdy 
Americanism.  To  him  America  became  his 
country;  and  next  to  his  love  of  his  God  and 
his  faith,  was  his  unaffected  love  of  the 
American  people,  the  American  character  and 
American  insTtitutions. 

As  well  said  on  the  day  of  Father  Serin's 
golden  jubilee  of  the  priesthood,  in  1888,  by 
his  well-beloved  friend,  the  great  archbishop 
of  St.  Paul:  **From  the  moment  he  landed 
on  our  ^shores  he  ceased  to  be  a  foreigner. 
At  once  he  was  an  American,  heart  and  soul, 
as  one  to  the  manor  bom.  The  republic  of 
the  United  States  never  protected  a  more 
loyal  and  more  devoted  citizen.  He  under- 
stood and  appreciated  our  liberal  institu- 
tions; there  was  in  his  heart  no  lingering 
fondness  for  old  regimes,  or  worn-out 
legitimism.     For  him  the  government  chosen 


by  the  people,  as  Leo  XIII  repeatedly 
teaches,  was  the  legitimate  government;  and 
to  his  mind  the  people  had  well  chosen,  when 
they  resolved  to  govern  themselves.  He 
understood  and  appreciated  the  qualities  of 
mind  and  heart  of  the  American  people,  and, 
becoming  one  of  them,  spoke  to  them  and 
labored  for  them  from  their  plane  of  thought 
and  feeling;  and  he  was  understood  and  ap- 
preciated by  them.*^ 

The  venerable  Bishop  Duibois,  the  first 
bishop  of  New  York,  who  had  himself,  thirty- 
three  years  previously,  founded  Mt.  St. 
Mary's  College,  near  Emmetsburg,  in  Catholic 
Maryland,  was  still  living;  and  received  with 
all  affection  the  missionary  band,  destined 
by  Providence  to  become  the  founders  of  a 
great  university  in  the  west. 

After  a  rest  of  three  days,  they  proceeded 
on  their  journey  to  the  still  distant  Vin- 
cennes.  To  save  expense  as  on  shipboard, 
they  chose  the  more  economical,  though 
slower  route,  being  twenty-five  days  on  the 
road.  From  Albany  to  Buffalo  they  pro- 
ceeded by  the  Erie  canal;  thence  across  Lake 
Erie  to  Toledo;  thence  by  wagon  and  canal 
to  Fort  Wayne,  Logansport  and  Lafayette. 
Thence  they  took  their  final  passage  to  their 
destination  upon  the  Wabash;  that  noble 
river  upon  whose  bosom,  thirty  years  before, 
Tecumseh  and  his  companions  had  moved  in 
their  fleet  of  canoes,  when  that  great  Indian 
made  his  famous  visit  to  Governor  Harrison 
at  Vincennes. 

**At  length,''  continue  the  chronicles, 
from  which  we  have  already  quoted,  **  about 
sunrise  on  the  second  Sunday  of  October, 
they  beheld  the  tower  of  the  new  Cathedral 
of  Vincennes.  They  were  so  filled  with  joy 
that  they  seemed  to  forget  all  their  previoas 
fatigue  and  pains,  and  they  blessed  (Jod, 
who  had  at  length  granted  them  to  see  with 
their  own  eyes  that  city  of  which  they  had  so 
often  spoken  during  the  last  few  months." 

Bishop  Hailandi^re  had  several  places  in 
view  for  the  location  of  the  society.  One  of 
these  was  at  Francisville  on  the  Wabash,  a 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


615 


few  miles  from  Vincennes.  This  did  not  seem 
suitable;  and  the  next  day  after  their  ar- 
rival. Father  Sorin,  at  the  suggestion  of  the 
bishop,  started  with  a  priest  of  the  diocese, 
Father  -Delaune,  to  visit  St.  Peter's,  a  mis- 
sionary station  in  Daviess  county,  about 
twenty-seven  miles  east  of  Vincennes.  **It 
was  a  place  difficult  of  access,"  say  the 
chronicles,  **but  in  the  midst  of  several 
Catholic  parishes.  It  was  one  of  the  oldest 
missions  of  the  diocese.  Father  Sorin  arrived 
there  Tuesday  morning  about  nine  o'clock. 
St.  Peter's  had  a  little  frame  church  in  good 
repair ;  two  little  rooms  had  been  added  to  it, 
one  for  the  sacristy  and  one  for  the  priest." 
Other  small  buildings  were  for  a  kitchen  and 
for  a  school.  It  was  evident  that  this  was  the 
place  best  fitted  for  the  purposes  of  the  priest 
and  his  brothers,  and  that  here  they  could 
at  least  pass  the  winter;  and  so  the  location 
was  selected,  and  the  brothers  came  on  from 
Vincennes. 

There  were  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
good  land  at  St.  Peter's,  and  the  little  com- 
munity set  to  work  to  improve  it  and  to 
establish  themselves  firmly  as  a  religious 
house.  The  teacher  of  the  school,  a  Mr. 
Rother,  who  had  apparently  been  expecting 
them,  was  the  first  to  join  the  new  order. 
Others  followed,  and  within  a  year  eight 
members  were  added;  and,  in  all,  twelve  re- 
ceived fh^  habit  of  the  order  at  St.  Peter's. 

Notwithstanding  the  difficulty  experienced 
by  them  in  learning  the  English  language 
and  their  general  ignorance  of  the  ways  of 
the  country  in  which  they  found  themselves, 
the  newcomers  set  to  work  in  earnest,  win- 
ning the  good  will  of  their  neighbors  and 
prospering  even  more  than  they  had  antici- 
pated, so  that  before  the  end  of  their  first 
year  they  had  become  quite  attached  to  St. 
Peter's.  Then  they  began  to  make  prepara- 
tions for  the  building  of  a  college,  which  they 
looked  upon  as  necessary  for  the  progress  of 
the  great  work  they  had  in  view.  To  the 
surprise  ,of  the  community,  however,  they 
found  that  the  good  bishop  was  unwilling 


that  they  should  erect  a  college.  His  idea, 
apparently,  was  that  a  missionary  station  and 
primary  schools  should  be  the  only  estajb- 
lishments  conducted  by  Father  Sorin  and  his 
brothers.  In  great  trouble  of  mind  Father 
Sorin  went  to  Vincennes  to  try  to  win  the 
consent  of  the  bishop  to  the  cherished  en- 
terprise. But  the  bishop  was  unyielding. 
There  was  already  a  Catholic  college  at  Vin- 
cennes, and  he  considered  this  quite  as  many 
as  could  be  supported  in  the  vicinity.  Un- 
doubtedly the  bishop  was  right,  considering 
the  sparsely  settled  country,  and  particularly 
the  small  number  and  the  little  wealth  of 
the  Catholic  population.  Apparently  Father 
Sorin  himself  was  convinced;  for  when  the 
bishop  intimated  that  he  held  a  section  of 
land  on  the  St.  Joseph  river,  near  Lake 
Michigan,  which  he  was  willing  the  com- 
munity should  have  and  on  which  he  agreed 
that  they  might  build  a  college,  provided  they 
would  accomplish  that  task  within  two  years, 
it  appears  that  Father  Sorin  at  once  took 
to  the  idea.  •  He  returned,  therefore,  to  St. 
Peter's,  and  laid  the  proposition  before  his 
brethren.  For  days  the  community  wrestled 
with  the  grave  question  thus  presented.  They 
had  become  attached  to  St.  Peter's;  and  the  • 
idea  of  now  breaking  up  after  they  had  spent 
over  a  year  in  preparing  this  habitation  in 
the  wilderness  seemed  at  first  very  distress- 
ful. But  the  longer  they  considered  the  mat- 
ter the  more  desirable  seemed  the  project. 
The  name  of  St.  Joseph  was  a  powerful  at- 
traction. That  they  should  receive  a  section 
of  land  to  themselves  on  the  banks  of  that 
blessed  river,  even  though  it  was  an  uncleared 
forest;  that  they  should  be  free,  in  that 
northern  wilderness,  to  establish  their  beloved 
order  in  the  valley  of  the  St.  Joseph,  already 
blessed  by  the  labors  of  sainted  missionaries, 
seemed  an  indication  of  the  will  of  heaven. 
The  resolution  was,  therefore,  taken  that  the 
offer  of  the  bishop  should  be  accepted,  and 
that  a  part  of  the  colony  should  depart  at 
once  and  take  possession  of  their  new  home. 
On  November  15,  1842,  just  before  their 


Digitized  by 


Google 


616 


HISTORY  OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


departure,  Father  Sorin  received  a  letter 
from  Bishop  Hailandiere,  the  following  ex- 
tract from  which  will  show  hQW  scanty  were 
the  means  at  the  disposal  of  the  good  prelate 
and  how  tender  was  his  solicitude  for  the 
success  of  the  new  mission : 

'*Dear  Confrere :— Enclosed  find  the  $310 
you  ai^ed  of  me;  also  a  letter  of  credit  on 
Mr.  Coquillard  for  the  sum  of  $231,121/2.  I 
believe  it  is  what  he  still  owes  me.  .  .  . 
Do  not  forget  that  the  tax  for  this  year  on 
the  land  dn  Lac  (Notre  Dame  du  Lac)  has 
not  been  paid. 

**I  offer  you  my  wishes  for  your  success. 
May  the  angels  of  God  accompany  you  on 
your  way ;  and  may  Notre  Dame  dii  Lac  smile 
at  your  arrival  and  bless  you !  Oh !  may  the 
work  you  are  going  to  begin  make  saints! 
May  the  merit  of  the  fathers  who,  now  nearly 
two  ages  ago,  planted  the  cross  which  you 
will  find  there — may  those  of  Badin,  De  Seille, 
Petit  (our  dear  Benjamin)  serve  as  a  corner- 
stone for  the  edifice  that  your  piety  and  zeal 
prompt  you  to  build.  ...  My  hopes  are 
as  great  as  my  desires." 

Sec.  2. — At  Notre  Dame. — On  November 
16,  1842,  at  the  beginning  of  winter,  seven  of 
•the  brothers  set  out  with  their  superior  for 
the  St.  Joseph.  For  many  days  they 
struggled  on,  over  ice  and  snow  through  the 
interminable  forest,  some  on  horseback  and 
some  with  the  ox  team,  which  hauled  their 
modest  store  of  supplies.  **The  air  was 
piercing,  but  the  little  band  moved  forward 
straight  towards  the  north.''  At  length,  on 
the  26th  of  November,  they  had  the  happiness 
of  standing  on  the  ice-bound  shore  of  St. 
Mary's  lake,  and  of  looking  out  upon  the 
scene  of  their  new  labors. 

The  good  bishop's  solicitude  still  followed 
them,  and  he  writes  to  Father  Sorin : 

**My  dear  Confrere: — At  last  you  are  in 
South  Bend.  I  think  of  you  as  very  lonely, 
very  busy  and,  perhaps,  also  a  little 
frightened  at  your  undertaking.  But  the 
Lord,  I  doubt  not,  will  help  you ;  and,  indeed, 
the  past  ought  to  be  for  you  a  guarantee  for 


the  future Your  brothers  at  St. 

Peter's  are  well." 

In  February,  towards  the  end  of  winter, 
Brother  Vincent  came  on  with  the  remainder 
of  the  colony  at  St.  Peter's,  arriving  on  the 
Monday  preceding  Ash  Wednesday.  Severe 
as  was  the  weather,  it  was  easier  to  come 
then,  while  they  could  yet  travel  over  the  ' 
frozen  swamps  and  streams,  than  if  they 
should  wait  until  the  breaking  up  of  spring, 
when  the  morasses  would  be  nearly  impassa- 
ble. 

A  few  days  after  his  arrival.  Father  Sorin 
wrote  to  Father  Moreau  and  other  friends  in 
France  an  account  of  the  changed  situation 
of  the  little  colony.  From  these  letters  we 
make  some  extracts,  which  will  discover  at 
once  the  privations  and  the  aspirations  of 
this  heroic  band  of  missionaries: 

''  *Man  proposes,  but  God  disposes,'  says 
the  pious  old  adage;  and  I  never  realized  its 
truth  so  much  as  at  the  present  moment.  On 
arriving  at  St.  Peter's,  and  especially  on  be- 
holding the  warm  reception  extended  to  us — 
so  many  marks  of  kindness  and  affection 
shown  us  by  everyone,  not  only  Catholics, 
but  all,  without  distinction — I  believed  that 
it  was  there  (Jod  willed  that  we  should  fix 
our  abode,  that  that  spot  marked  the  portion 
of  the  vineyard  in  which  we  were  to  labor 
and  die.  With  this  conviction,  which  daily 
became  more  and  more  fixed  and  firm,  we  set 
actively  to  work,  and  soon  we  had  everything 
ready  to  build  at  the  approach  of  spring.  In 
a  word,  we  were,  as  they  say,  settled,  as  it 
seemed,  at  St.  Peter's.  Then,  when  we  least 
dreamed  of  it,  Providence  permitted  that  an 
offer  should  be  made  to  us  of  a  section  of 
excellent  land  in  the  county  of  St.  Joseph, 
on  the  banks  of  the  River  St.  Joseph,  and 
not  far  from  the  City  of  St.  Joseph,  form- 
ing a  delightful  solitude — about  twenty 
minutes'  ride  from  South  Bend — which  soli- 
tude, from  the  lake  which  it  encloses,  bears 
the  beautiful  name  of  Our  Lady  of  the  Lake. 
Besides,  it  is  the  center  of  the  Indian  mission, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


617 


the  mission  of  the  Badins,  the  De  Seilles  and 
the  Petits. 

'*Tell  me,  Father,  could  priests  of  Our 
Lady  of  the  Holy  Cross  and  brothers  of  St. 
Joseph  refuse  such  an  offer?  However,  I  did 
not  wish  to  precipitate  matters.  I  took  time 
to  pray  and  to  reflect.  Finally,  a  council  was 
held,  and  it  was  decided  that  we  should  ac- 
cept, gratefully,  the  generous  offer  of  our 
worthy  and  beloved  bishop,  and  that  we 
should  beg  St.  Peter  to  permit  us  to  go  to 
Our  Lady — to  the  land  of  her  holy  spouse, 
our  august  patron.  A  few  days  afterwards  I 
set  out,  with  seven  of  our  intrepid  religious, 
thofee  who  could  be  most  useful  in  arranging 
things  for  the  reception,  a  few  months  later, 
of  the  rest  of  our  household  and  of  the  de- 
sired colony  from  France. 

**We  started  on  the  16th  of  November,  and, 
indeed,  it  required  no  little  courage  to  under- 
take the  journey  at  such  a  season.  I  cannot 
but  admire  the  sentiments  with  which  it 
pleased  God  to  animate  our  little  band,  who 
had  more  than  one  hundred  miles  to  travel 
through  the  snow.  The  first  day  the  cold  was 
so  intense  that  we  could  advance  only  about 
five  miles.  The  weather  did  not  moderate 
for  a  moment;  each  morning  the  wind  seemed 
to  us  more  piercing  as  we  pushed  forward  on 
our  journey  due  north.  But  God  was  with 
us.  None  of  us  suffered  severely,  and,  at 
length,  on  the  eleventh  day  after  our  de- 
parture, five  of  us  arrived  at  South  Bend,  the 
three  others  being  obliged  to  travel  more 
slowly  with  the  ox  team  transporting  our 
effects. 

**Our  arrival  had  been  expected  and  much 
desired.  At  South  Bend  we  met  the  same 
cordial  reception  that  greeted  us,  fifteen 
months  before,  at  New  York.  A  few  hours 
afterwards  we  came  to  Notre  Dame  du  Lac, 
where  I  write  you  these  lines.  Everything 
was  frozen,  and  yet  it  all  appeared  so  beauti- 
ful. The  lake,  particularly,  with  its  mantle 
of  «now,  resplendent  in  its  whiteness,  was 
to  us  a  symbol  of  the  stainless  purity  of  our 
august  Lady,  whose  name  it  bears,  and  also  of 


the  purity  of  soul  which  should  characterize 
the  new  inhabitants  of  these  beautiful  shores. 
Our  lodgings  appeared  to  us — bs  indeed  they 
are — ^but  little  different  from  those  at  St. 
Peter's.  We  made  haste  to  inspect  all  the 
various  sites  on  the  banks  of  the  lake  which 
had  been  so  highly  praised.  Yes,  like  little 
children,  in  spite  of  the  cold,  we  went  from 
one  extremity  to  th6  other,  perfectly  •  en- 
chanted with  the  marvelous  beauties  of  our 
new  abode.  Oh !  may  this  new  Eden  be  ever 
the  home  of  innocence  and  virtue!  There, 
I  could  willingly  exclaim  with  the  prophet: 
Dominus  regit  me  .  .  .  super  aquam  re- 
fectiones  educavit  me !  Once  again  in  our  life 
we  felt  then  that  Providence  had  been  good 
to  us,  and  we  blessed  God  with  all  our  hearts. 
**We  found  the  house  too  small  to  accom- 
modate us  for  the  night;  and  as  the  weather 
was  becoming  colder,  we  made  all  haste  back 
to  the  first  lodgings  that  had  been  prepared 
for  us  in  the  village.  Next  day  it  did  not 
take  us  long  to  establish  ourselves  better  at 
Notre  Dame  du  Lac,  for  we  had  but  little  to 
arrange.  The  following  day — the  feast  of  St. 
Andrew  the  Apostle — I  said  my  first  mass  at 
Notre  Dame  where  Father  Petit  so  often  be- 
fore me  had  offered  the  Holy  Sacrifice  over 
the  tomb  of  the  saintly  Father  Du  Seille, 
whose  memory  is  still  fresh  and  revered 
throughout  the  land,  and  who,  visiting  for 
the  last  time  his  various  missions,  announced 
to  his  congregation  that  they  would  see  him 
no  more  in  this  world,  though  he  was  then 
still  young,  full  of  health  and  vigor,  and 
who,  a  few  days  after  his  return,  realizing 
that  he  was  dying,  and  having  no  priest  to 
assist  him,  dragged  himself  to  the  altar,  ad- 
ministered the  viaticum  to  himself,  then  de- 
scended the  steps  and  died.  His  body,  in 
accordance  with,  his  own  wish,  was  interred 
at  the  foot  of  the  altar.  I  have  already  met 
here  men  of  widely  different  views  on  re- 
ligion, but  with  all,  without  exception,  the 
memory  of  this  just  man  is  held  in  benedic- 
tion. I  cannot  express  how  happy  we  are  to 
possess  the  remains  of  this  saintly  mission- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


618 


HISTOET  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


ary!  The  death  of  Father  De  Seille  was  a 
great  loss  to  the  mission,  especially  on  ac- 
count of  the  Indians,  among  whom  he  had 
done  so  much  good.  His  place  could  be  sup- 
plied only  by  Father  Petit.  I  knew  Father 
i^etit.  the  worthy  apostle  of  the  Indians,  only 
through  chance  meetings  when  traveling. 
But  now,  as  I  possess  all  the  books  and  writ- 
ings which  he  left  to  the  mission — now,  that 
every  one  around  me  is  continually  speaking 
of  the  good  Father  Petit,  and  that  everything 
here,  from  the  altar  on  which  I  oflfer  the 
Holy  Sacrifice  to  the  very  table  on  which  I 
write  these  lines,  reminds  me  of  dear  Father 
Petit,  I  intend  to  mate  him  my  model,  and 
if  I  cannot  imitate  him,  I  shall,  at  least,  at 
a  later  date,  tell  you  of  what  he  has  done. 

**  While  on  this  subject  you  will  permit  me, 
dear  Father,  to  express  a  feeling  which  leaves 
me  no  rest.  It  is  simply  this:  Notre  Dame 
du  Lac  has  been  given  to  us  by  the  bishop 
only  on  condition  that  we  build  here  a  col- 
lege. As  there  is  no  other  within  five  hun- 
dred males,  this  undertaking  cannot  fail  of 
success,  provided  it  receive  assistance  from 
our  good  friends  in  France.  Soon  it  will  be 
greatly  developed,  being  evidently  the  most 
favorably  located  in  the  United  States.  This 
college  will  be  one  of  the  most  powerful 
means  of  doing  good  in  this  country.  And 
who  knows  but  Grod  has  prepared  for  us  here, 
as  at  St.  Peter's,  some  good  and  devoted 
novices?  Finally,  dear  Father,  you  may  well 
believe  that  this  branch  of  your  family  is 
destined  to  grow  and  extend  itself  under  the 
protection  of  Our  Lady  of  the  Lake  and  St. 
Joseph.  At  least  such  is  my  firm  conviction ; 
time  will  tell  whether  I  am  mistaken  or 
not." 

To  another  he  writes  about  the  same  time: 
**May  God  be  blessed  for  the  many  consola- 
tions He  has  given  me,  in  the  midst  of  my 
new  flocl^,  at  Notre  Dame  du  Lac,  where,  be- 
fore I  came,  there  had  been  no  pastor  except 
the  missionary  from  Chicago,  86  miles  from 
here.  I  have  not  yet  seen  my  poor  Indians; 
they  have  gone  hunting,  not  being  aware  of 


our  arrival Their  return  is  fixed 

for  th,e  6th  of  January,  and  then  I  shall 
undertake  to  give  them  a  retreat  with  the 

aid    of    an    interpreter I   am 

tempted  to  complain,  dear  friend,  that  Our 
Lord  sends  me  no  other  suffering  except  to 
see  my  dear  children  suffer  around  me,  with- 
out usually  the  power  to  assist  them.  Lately, 
one  of  our  good  brothers  had  his  foot  frozen, 
and  another  one  of  his  toes ;  and  I  had  just 
fifty  cents,  sufficient,  perhaps,  to  permit  me 
to  show  that  I  was  not  altogether  insensible 
to  their  sufferings.  But,  as  each  one  under- 
stands his  mission,  all  are  happy  and  con- 
tented. See  herein  what  grace  can  do!  We 
have  at  present  but  one  bed,  and  they  insist 
that  I  should  take  it.  They  themselves  sleep 
on  the  floor,  just  as  they  did  for  three  weeks 
at  St.  Peter's.  To-morrow  I  shall  give  up 
my  room  to  Brother  Marie,  to  be  used  for  his 
shop.  Assuredly,  we  are  far  from  complain- 
ing of  the  poverty  of  our  lodgings.  God 
knows  that  we  think  little  of  it,  and  if  we 
have  desired — as  we  do  indeed  desire — to 
build  a  large  and  more  convenient  house,  it 
is  solely  that  we  may  be  able  to  accomfylish 
some  of  the  immense  good  that  we  are  called 
upon  to  do.  Sometimes,  when  I  think  of  the 
good  that  can  be  done  throughout  this  coun- 
try had  we  a  college  conducted  according  to 
Catholic  principles,  my  desire  to  erect  such  a 
building  torments  me  and  disturbs  my  rest ; 
but,  at  other  times,  when  I  consider  that  we 
have  hardly  the  third  part  of  the  funds  neces- 
sary for  such  an  undertaking,  I  try  to  con- 
vince myself  that  God  does  not  will  it,  or 
else  that  He  has  reserved  for  Himself  to  sup- 
ply, in  His  own  good  time,  the  means  of 
building  the  college." 

This  was  surely  the  faith  and  resignation 
of  the  saints;  the  faith  that  would  move 
mountains,  and  the  resignation  that  could  say. 
Thy  will,  not  mine,  be  done! 

A  few  years  later,  in  writing  of  those  first 
impressions,  Father  Sorin  said:  ** Neverthe- 
less, this  first  arrival  on  the  spot,  now  called 
by  the  blessed  name  of  Notre  Dame  du  Lac, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


619 


however  severe  upon  human  delicacy,  made 
upon  the  newcomers  an  impression  which 
time  will  never  obliterate.  Wearied  though 
they  were,  and  intensely  cold  as  was  the  at- 
mosphere, they  would  not  retire  before  con- 
templating again  and  again,  and  from  every 
point  around  the  lakes,  the  new  scenery  now 
before  them.  A  deep  and  unspotted  cover- 
ing of  snow  was  then  spread  over  land  and 
water,  and  forcibly  brought  to  their  minds 
the  spotless  Virgin,  who  seemed  already  to 
have  taken  possession  of  these  premises,  and 
to  claim  the  homage,  not  alone  of  the  site 
itself,  but  also  of  every  human  soul  that 
should  ever  breathe  upon  it.  How  readily 
and  thankfully  this  auspicious  thought  was 
to  be  received  by  these  poor  missionaries." 

Sec.  3. — A  Hard  Winter. — The  winter  of 
1842-43  was  one  of  the  severest  in  our  his- 
tory. On  his  arrival,  on  the  afternoon  of 
November  26,  1842,  Father  Sorin  and  his 
little  band  found  the  lakes  already  frozen 
over,  while  a  mantle  of  snow  covered  the 
whole  region,  land  and  lake  alike.  It  was 
beautiful,  but  of  that  severe  beauty  which 
chastens  the  heart  and  exalts  the  imagination, 
rather  than  that  which  pleases  the  fancy  and 
intoxicates  the  senses.  In  an  old  record  of 
cold  winters  in  this  country,  which  dates  back 
to  1607,  that  winter  when  Notre  Dame  was 
founded  is  named  sa  one  of  the  coldest. 
Snow  was  fifteen  inches  deep  as  far  south  as 
Greorgia. 

But  there  was  work  to  be  done.  Since  the 
death  of  Father  Petit  there  had  been  no  mis- 
sionary stationed  here  and  the  remnant  of 
the  Indians,  about  two  hundred  in  niunber, 
with  the  scattered  white  Catholics,  needed 
and  received  the  first  attention.  On  the  re- 
turn of  the  Indians  from  their  annual  hunt, 
they  were  overjoyed  to  find  another  Black 
Robe  ready  to  receive  them  and  to  give  again 
to  them  and  to  their  children  the  consola- 
tions of  religion,  to  re-kindle  in  their  hearts 
the  faith  of  Marquette,  of  Allouez,  of  Badin, 
of  De  Seille,  and  of  Petit;  The  distinguished 
Italian  artist,  Luigi  Gregori,  who  long  resided 

Vol.   II— 2. 


at  Notre  Dame  and  of  whose  work  here  we 
shall  have  more  to  say  farther  on,  has  per- 
petuated in  a  beautiful  painting  the  first 
meeting  of  the  young  priest  with  his  forest 
children  near  the  little  log  chapel  beside  St. 
Mary  *s   lake. 

Even  to  the  present  day,  in  this  part  of 
Indiana  and  in  southern  Michigan,  descend- 
ants of  those  dusky  Indians  remain  with  us. 
Their  parish  here  has  been  the  neighboring 
one  of  St.  Joseph's  in  what  was  formerly 
Lowell,  but  now  a  part  of  the  city  of  South 
Bend.  In  this  little  church,  persons  whose 
heads  are  not  yet  silvered  have  often  seen  a 
living  exemplification  of  that  Universal 
Church,  which  knows  neither  race  nor  color, 
neither  rich  nor  poor,  neither  lofty  nor  lowly, 
but  only  our  common  humanity  as  brethren 
in  Christ.  Even  as  it  is  related  of  Chief  Jus- 
tice Taney,  who  was  often  seen  at  the  com- 
munion table,  kneeling,  as  it  might  chance, 
beside  some  poor  colored  Catholic  of  the  con- 
gregation; so  here,  at  the  altar  rail  of  St. 
Joseph's  knelt  as  equals,  as  Christians,  to 
receive  the  Bread  of  Life,  whites,  and  In- 
dians, and  negroes ;  children  of  New  .  and 
Old  England;  of  Virginia  and  France;  of 
Ireland  and  Germany;  of  Italy  and  Belgium. 
There,  at  least,  the  poor  Pottawatomie,  Chip- 
pewa, or  Miami,  the  meek  Ethiopian,  and  the 
ruling  Caucasian,  found  themselves  as 
brothers  in  the  one  Mother  Church. 

Next  to  the  spiritual  care  of  the  com- 
munity and  that  of  the  surrounding  region, 
it  became  necessary  to  prepare  for  the  clear- 
ing up  of  the  land  and  the  erection  of  neces- 
sary buildings.  Ten  acres  beside  the  lake 
had  been  cultivated  for  many  years,  but  suc- 
cessive crops  had  exhausted  the  light  soil. 
The  remainder  of  the  land  was  virgin  forest, 
with  the  exception  of  eighty  or  ninety  acres 
of  prairie  or  marsh  ground,  the  center  of 
which  was  occupied  by  the  two  charming 
sheets  of  water.  The  beds  of  these  lakes  were 
about  twenty-five  feet  deep.  The  banks  con- 
tained an  inexhaustible  supply  of  marl,  from 
which  lime  and  cement  of  the  best  quality  are 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


620 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


made.  The  soil  of  the  upland,  without  be- 
ing rich,  is  suitable  for  the  successful  culti- 
vation of  all  grains,  v^etables  and  fruits. 
It  is  a  sand  loam. 

The  buildings  already  on  the  ground  were 
the  log  cabin  erected  by  Father  Badin,  24x40 
feet,  the  ground  floor  of  which  answered  as 
a  room  for  the  priest,  and  the  story  above 
for  a  chapel.  In  addition  to  this  there  had 
been  added  a  few  years  previously  a  little 
frame  building  of  two  stories,  somewhat  more 
habitable,  in  which  resided  a  half-breed  In- 
dian with  his  family,  who  acted  as  interpreter 
when  necessary. 

There  were  at  that  time  around  this  poor 
little  sanctuary,  the  only  one  in  northern  In- 
diana, as  we  learn  from  the  **  Chronicles  of 
Notre  Dame,*'  about  twenty  Catholic  fami- 
lies scattered  within  a  radius  of  six  miles. 
A  mile  and  a  half  to  the  south  was  South 
Bend,  then  a  village  of  about  one  thousand 
inhabitants. 

This  town  was  so  named  from  its  situation 
at  the  south  bend  of  the  St.  Joseph  river,  a 
stream  which  rises  in  Michigan,  flows  to  the 
southwest,  and  then  returning  to  the  north, 
again  enters  the  state  of  Michigan  and 
empties  into  Lake  Michigan  at  old  Fort 
Miamis,  now  the  beautiful  city  of  St.  Joseph. 
Lake  Michigan  lies  northwest  of  Notre  Dame, 
and  about  thirty  miles  distant. 

The  former  boundary  line  between  Indiana 
and  Michigan,  as  originally  indicated  in  the 
ordinance  of  1787,  was  **an  east  and  west 
line  drawn  through  the  southerly  bend  or 
extreme  of  Lake  Michigan.''  This  line  runs 
several  miles  south  of  Notre  Dame  and  conse- 
quently this  territory,  including  the  whole  of 
the  St.  Joseph  river,  together  with  the  city 
of  South  Bend  and  the  other  flourishing 
towns  and  cities  upon  the  St.  Joseph,  was 
formerly  within  the  limits  of  the  present  state 
of  Michigan.  Following  the  same  line  to  the 
west  and  to  the  east,  Chicago  would  be  within 
the  limits  of  the  srtate  of  Wisconsin  and 
Toledo  within  those  of  Michigan.  After 
many   disputes,    amounting   at   one   time   to 


almost  open  war  between  Ohio  and  Michigan, 
the  rich  Upper  Peninsula  was  given  to  Michi- 
gan, and  the  southern  boundaries  were  fixed 
as  we  have  them  now,  leaving  Notre  Dame 
about  four  miles  south  of  the  Michigan  line. 

Above  South  Bend,  on  the  river,  were  the 
St.  Joseph  Iron  Works,  a  village  of  about  one 
thousand  inhabitants  now  the  city  of  Misha- 
waka.  The  name  of  Iron  Works  was  given  to 
the  place  on  account  of  the  industry  based 
upon  the  manufacture  of  iron  from  the  bog 
or  surface  ore  found  near  the  town;  and  it 
was  called  Mishawaka  from  the  great  rapids 
in  the  river,  which  gave  to  the  place  its  ex- 
cellent water  power.  Six  miles  below  Notre 
Dame,  also  upon  the  river,  and  within  the 
state  of  Michigan,  was  the  village  of  Ber- 
trand,  named  from  the  noted  French  trader. 
It  was  formerly  a  flourishing  place,  being  at 
the  junction  of  the  stage  line  to  Chicago  and 
the  St.  Joseph  river,  over  both  of  which  the 
commerce  of  this  region  was  to  a  lai^e  extent 
carried  before  the  Michigan  Central  railroad 
was  extended  throup^^  \iles,  and  the  Lake 
Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  through  South 
Bend.  But  Bertrand,  located  half  way  be- 
tween those  two  towns,  soon  languished  after 
their  growth  began,  until  now  the  town  has 
about  disappeared. 

The  only  Catholic  church  in  any  of  these 
towns  was  the  little  brick  one  still  standing 
on  the  site  of  Bertrand;  but  even  on  the 
arrival  of  Father  Sorin  the  Catholics  of  all 
the  surrounding  country  had  become  ac- 
customed to  look  upon  St.  Mary  of  the  Lakes, 
or  the  Lake  as  it  was  generally  called,  as 
the  center  of  Catholicity.  Here  accordingly 
they  came,  much  to  the  edification  of  the  new 
community,  to  make  the  retreat  of  the  jubilee 
during  that  first  winter.  The  cold  was  in- 
tense, yet  the  exercises  were  regularly  at- 
tended. 

For  two  years  there  had  been  only  rare  vis- 
its by  a  priest  from  Chicago.  The  Catholic 
religion  was  consequently  very  little  known 
in  all  this  part  of  the  diocese.  The  few  cere- 
monies that  could  be  carried  out,  being  nee- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


621 


essarily  devoid  of  all  solemnity,  could  have 
hardly  any  other  effect  in  the  eyes  of  the 
public  than  to  give  rise  to  injurious  and  sar- 
castic remarks  against  Catholicity.  At  Mish- 
awaka,  as  well  as  at  South  Bend  and  Niles, 
as  soon  as  it  was  known  that  Father  Sorin 
and  his  brothers  intended  to  build  a  college 
and  novitiate,  there  was  much  objection  and 
even  alarm  manifested.  The  number  of 
priests  was  exaggerated  from  one  to  twelve, 
and  the  seven  brothers  became  *Hwenty  monks 
out  at  the  Lake.'*  Moreover,  it  was  added 
that  the  Pope  of  Rome  had  already  sent 
Father  Sorin  ^0,000,  and  would  soon  send  an 
additional  $10,000  to  make  the  even  number. 
If  there  were  not  a  possible  element  of  dan- 
ger in  this  wild  talk  it  must  have  seemed 
rather  amusing  to  the  poor  priest  and  his 
shivering  brothers,  who  made  their  hard  beds 
on  the  bare  floor  where  the  bitter  snows  sifted 
in  upon  them  through  the  chinks  in  the  walls. 
There  was  indeed  nothing  very  encouraging 
in  this  reception.  From  a  human  standpoint 
it  might  have  appealed  wise  to  retreat;  but 
even  though  anticipating  yet  greater  opposi- 
tion in  the  times  to  come,  our  pious  cham- 
pions, who  had  already  learned  how  to  hope 
even  against  hope,  cheered  one  another  with 
the  expectation  of  a  future  more  meritorious 
and  more  glorious  for  their  holy  cause.  They 
placed  all  their  confidence  in  Heaven  and  let 
their  neighbors  talk,  believing  that  even  in 
this  life  the  time  would  come  when  their 
works  would  vindicate  them,  that,  too,  in  the 
eyes  of  those  who  now  looked  upon  them 
with  suspicion  and  distrust. 

Besides  Niles,  Bertrand,  South  Bend  and 
Mishawaka,  already  mentioned,  the  priest 
from  Notre  Dame  attended  many  missions  or 
scattered  families  for  a  great  distance  around, 
including  Goshen  to  the  east,  then  containing 
two  hundred  inhabitants,  Leesburg,  still  fur- 
ther east,  Plymouth  to  the  south,  Berrien  to 
the  north,  and,  still  further,  old  St.  Joseph  at 
the  mouth  of  the  river;  also  Constantine,  Paw- 
paw, and  other  localities  east  and  north,  in- 
cluding Kalamazoo,  then  a  place  of  twelve  or 


fifteen  hundred  inhabitants.  These  were  the 
missions  which  Father  Sorin,  and  afterwards 
Father  Francis  Cointet,  Father  Alexis  Grang- 
er and  other  priests  from  Notre  Dame  at- 
tended for  many  years. 

Sec.  4. — The  First  BuUiOiNQS. — The  total 
amount  of  money  to  the  credit  of  the  young 
community  on  their  arrival  at  Notre  Dame, 
including  money  collected  by  the  Bishop  and 
still  in  his  hands,  and  a  small  amount  sent 
from  Europe,  was  less  than  $1,500.  With 
this,  aided  by  their  own  labors  and  what  help 
they  might  obtain  from  the  people  of  the 
neighborhood,  they  made  their  plans  for  the 
college,  church  and  novitiate,  all  of  which 
seemed  absolutely  necessary,  even  for  the  pur- 
pose of  making  a  beginning. 

The  college  must  be  done,  in  order  to  hold 
the  land;  and  accordingly  that  was  first  con- 
sidered. The  plan  of  this  edifice  had  been 
prepared  at  St.  Peter's  before  leaving  their 
mission.  It  called  for  a  brick  building  in, 
the  shape  of  a  double  hammer,  or  letter  H, 
40x160  ft.,  and  four  and  a  half  stories  high. 
The  bishop's  architect,  who  had  made  the 
plans,  also  made  and  sent  in  his  bid  for  the 
work.  As  all  had  been  done  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  bishop  the  bid  was  accepted  with- 
out long  deliberation.  Sixty  thousand  feet 
of  lumber,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  thous- 
and brick  and  the  necessary  lime,  were  en- 
gaged for  the  following  spring. 

While  preparations  were  thus  made  to 
carry  out  the  contract  with  the  bishop  it  was 
felt  that  the  most  urgent  present  need  was 
the  building  of  a  church  large  enough  to  re- 
ceive the  people  and  the  community  itself, 
rdingly  an  appeal  was  made  early  in  De- 
cember, 1842,  to  assist  in  putting  up  a  log 
church  of  larger  dimensions  than  the  little 
one  heretofore  used.  The  people  could  not 
give  money,  but  they  gave  their  labor. 
Trees  were  cut  down,  and  logs  cut  and 
hauled  to  a  convenient  place,  higher  up  than 
the  old  chapel;  and  there  a  log  church  20x46 
was  erected.  It  to(A  two  hundred  dollars 
out  of  the  little  treasury  to  finish  this  wood- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


622 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


land  temple,  which  was  opened  for  divine 
service  on  St.  Joseph's  day,  March  19,  1843. 
The  remaining  members  of  the  community  at 
St.  Peter's,  under  the  lead  of  Brother  Vin- 
cent, had  arrived  before  this,  and  materiaUy 
aided  in  the  completion  of  the  new  church. 

Small  as  was  this  building,  it  was  found 
necessary  to  devote  it  to  still  another  use.  A 
second  story  was  carried  through  its  entire 
length  in  order  to  provide  a  residence  for  the 
sisters  who  were  expected  from  France  dur- 
ing the  following  summer.  The  upper  room 
in  the  old  log  cabin  that  had  been  used  as  a 
chapel  by  Father  Badin  and  the  other  early 
missionaries,  was  now  assigned  as  a  dormi- 
tory for  the  brothers;  while  next  to  the  new 
church  was  erected  an  addition  for  the 
priests.  Thus  before  the  end  of  the  first  win- 
ter sufficient  room  was  made  not  only  for 
the  present  colony,  but  also  for  the  new  colony 
that  was  expected  during  the  next  summer; 
and  there  was  also  provided  a  rude  but  suffi- 
cient church  for  the  people  who  would  at- 
tend from  the  surrounding  country.  The 
upper  story  of  the  new  building,  the  church 
proper,  was  indeed  modest  enough ;  a  moder- 
ately tall  man  would  touch  the  rafters  above 
with  his  head.  The  sacred  edifice  served  its 
purpose,  however,  and  became  as  dear  to  the 
little  community  as  if  it  were  built  of  pol- 
ished marble.  It  was  to  them  as  that  blessed 
upper  chamber  in  Jerusalem.  It  was  used  as 
a  church  until  1848;  and  was  accidentally 
burned  to  the  groimd  in  1856,  notwithstand- 
ing the  efforts  of  students,  professors,  broth- 
ers and  priests,  who  wished  to  preserve  it  as 
a  monument  of  the  past.  A  substantial  iron 
cross  now  marks  the  location  of  this  primi- 
tive log  church. 

The  end  of  the  winter  was  ardently  desired 
that  work  might  begin.  Unfortunately,  that 
year,  as  we  have  said,  the  winter  was  of  a 
length  and  severity  almost  hitherto  unheard 
of  in  the  United  States.  For  five  continuous 
months  the  snow  covered  the  ground ;  during 
which  time  there  was  not  an  intermission  of 
even  one  week  in  the  intense  cold.    The  con- 


sequence of  this  was  greatly  to  interfere  with 
the  success  of  the  enterprise,  the  whole  coun- 
try being  greatly  impoverished. 

In  addition,  when  the  expense  for  brick, 
lumber  and  lime,  together  with  the  daily  out- 
lay for  the  support  of  the  community  had 
been  met,  it  was  found  that  the  treasury  was 
exhausted.  Besides  this,  the  architect,  un- 
mindful of  his  promises  or  unable  to  fulfill 
them,  allowed  the  season  for  building  the  col- 
lege to  pass  by.  In  this  state  of  affairs,  the 
fear  of  not  being  able  to  do  anything  towards 
the  college  this  year,  and  the  consciousness  of 
many  other  urgent  needs,  caused  it  to  be  de- 
termined to  put  up  a  brick  building  of  some 
kind  that  might  serve  in  part  for  the  uses  of 
a  college,  cmd  also  for  a  bakery.  This  build- 
ing so  erected  is  the  present  square  brick 
building  at  the  edge  of  St.  Mary's  lake,  known 
as  the  Farm  House.  It  served  its  collegiate 
purposes  for  nearly  a  year,  for  here  the  first 
students  were  received  and  the  first  classes  or- 
ganized. It  may,  therefore,  although  at  first 
built  to  serve  a  temporary  purpose,  be  called 
the  original  college  building  of  Notre  Dame. 
The  first  student  was  the  same  boy  who  led  Fa- 
ther Sorin  through  the  woods  from  South 
Bend  to  the  lake,  November  26, 1842.  He  after- 
wards became  the  wealthy  wagon  maker  of 
South  Bend,  Alexis  Coquillard  the  Younger. 
He  was  a  distinguished  and  influential  man 
in  his  day;  but  perhaps  his  greatest  distinc- 
tion is  that  he  was  the  first  student  of  the 
university  of  Notre  Dame.  It  need  hardly  be 
said  that  he  always  continued  a  fast  friend 
of  Father  Sorin,  and  of  his  Alma  Mater. 

The  first  public  mention  we  find  of  the  in- 
stitution is  in  the  Metropolitan  Catholic  Al- 
manac for  this  year,  1843,  where  we  read  that 
a  school  for  young  men  had  lately  been  opened 
at  **Southbend,  near  Washington,  Ind.,  under 
the  direction  of  Rev.  E.  Sorin."  South  Bend 
had  not  then,  it  seems,  attained  to  the  dignity 
of  two  capital  letters  to  its  name ;  and  the  lo- 
cation of  Notre  Dame  was  so  little  known 
that  it  was  placed  near  '* Washington,  Ind." 
This  last  error  undoubtedly  came  from  con- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


623 


founding  Notre  Dame  with  St.  Peter's,  the 
first  home  of  the  Congregiation  of  the  Holy 
Cross;  St.  Peter's  having  been  located  not 
far  from  Washington,  the  county  seat  of 
Daviess  county.  **Mishiwakie"  is  mentioned 
in  the  same  abnanac  as  one  of  the  missions 
attended  by  Father  Sorin.  The  terms  per 
quarter  for  students  in  the  college,  for  tui- 
tion, board,  washing  and  mending,  are  stated 
to  be  eighteen  dollars. 

The  expected  colony  sailed  from  France  on 
June  6,  1843.  It  was  under  charge  of  the 
Rev.  Father  Francis  Cointet  (Quinty),  des- 
tined to  be  known  as  one  of  the  most  illus- 
trious members  of  the  Congregation  of  the 
Holy  Cross.  With  Father  Cointet  Were  Father 
Marivault,  Father  Gouesse,  one  brother  and 
four  sisters.  They  were  a  most  welcome  ad- 
dition to  the  young  community. 

It  is  related  that  Father  Cointet 's  atten- 
tion was  first  directed  to  the  Indian  mission 
by  accidenally  hearing  read  the  first  letter 
written  by  Father  Sorin  from  Notre  Dame  to 
his  superiors  in  France.  He  and  Father 
Sorin  had  been  intimate  friends  at  the  semi- 
nary where  they  both  studied,  and  now  on 
hearing  this  apostolic  letter  his  heart  was 
fired  with  religious  enthusiasm.  He  was  a 
most  valuable  acquisition  to  the  new  establish- 
ment, being  at  the  same  time  a  most  accom- 
plished scholar  and  a  devoted  priest ;  and  his 
time  was  almost  equally  divided  between  his 
classes  and  the  missions  of  the  surrounding 
country.  Whether  unfolding  the  beauties  of 
Greek  and  Latin  literature  in  the  college,  or 
enlightening  the  poor  Indian  in  his  wigwam 
or  the  railroad  laborer  in  his  cabin,  Father 
Cointet  was  ever  the  ardent,  active  priest, 
devoting  heart  and  soul  and  body  to  the  best 
service  of  his  fellow  men.  It  is  said,  as  an 
indication  of  the  poverty  and  simplicity  of 
those  days,  that  Father  Sorin  and  Father 
Cointet  for  a  long  time  had  but  one  hat  and 
one  pair  of  boots  between  them ;  so  that  when 
Father  Sorin  was  seen  with  the  hat  it  was 
known  that  Father  Cointet  was  in  the  col- 
lege; and  when  Father  Cointet  had  the  hat, 


starting  for  the  missions,  it  was  certain  that 
Father  Sorin  was  in  his  room.  This  good 
priest  died  of  the  cholera  visitation  at  Notre 
Dame,  in  1854;  and  his  body  rests  beside  those 
of  his  sainted  predecessors,  Father  De  Seille 
and  Father  Petit,  under  the  Church  of  the 
Sacred  Heart. 

Even  before  the  arrival  of  Father  Cointet 
with  the  new  colony,  as  we  have  seen,  the  idea 
of  beginning  the  second  brick  building  or 
college  proper  had  been  abandoned  for  that 
year.  Neither  the  time  nor  the  resources 
seemed  suflScient.  But,  quite  unexpectedly, 
on  August  24,  the  architect  arrived  from  Vin- 
cennes  with  two  workmen.  The  question  of 
expediency  was  then  earnestly  debated. 
Everyone  seemed  anxious  that  the  work 
should  begin.  Father  Marivault  offered  to 
draw  on  his  family  in  France  for  twelve  hun- 
dred dollars  due  him.  Mr.  Samuel  Byerley, 
then  a  merchant  in  South  Bend,  offered  a 
credit  for  two  thousand  dollars  on  his  store, 
besides  a  loan  of  five  hundred  dollars  in 
money. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Byerley  deserve  more 
than  a  casual  mention  in  this  history.  Mr. 
Byerley  had  been  a  wealthy  English  ship  mer- 
chant. His  sailing  vessels  had  traversed  all 
the  seas ;  and  he  himself  had  pursued  his  call- 
ing in  all  the  commercial  nations  of  the  globe, 
and  was  familiar  with  most  of  the  languages 
of  Europe.  Mrs.  Byerley  was  an  Italian 
lady,  a  native  of  Trieste,  and  a  most  superior 
woman  in  all  the  walks  of  life.  On  Father 
Sorin 's  arrival  in  New  York,  in  1841,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Byerley  resided  in  that  city,  and 
there  they  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  ad- 
venturous missionaries,  receiving  them  and  en- 
tertaining them  with  the  utmost  joy.  Mr.  By- 
erley at  that  time  had  recently  become  a  con- 
vert to  the  Catholic  church,  while  Mrs.  Byer- 
ley had  always  been  a  Catholic.  By  a  happy 
coincidence  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Byerley  now  found 
themselves  in  the  infant  town  of  South  Bend, 
and  consequently  close  neighbors  of  the  priest 
and  brothers  that  two  years  before  they  had 
welcomed  to  the  new  world.    Chiefly  in  conse- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


624 


HISTOEY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


quence  of  the  change,  about  this  time,  of  the 
commerce  of  the  seas  from  sailing  vessels  to 
steamboats,  Mr.  Byerley  had  disposed  of  his 
business  in  the  east,  and  brought  the  remains 
of  his  fortune  to  invest  in  this  new  country. 
They  became  the^  continued  and  life-long 
friends  and  assistants  of  the  community  of 
Notre  Dame,  and  no  names  are  treasured  with 
more  affection  than  theirs. 

Encouraged  by  such  friends,  the  resolution 
was  taken  to  go  on  with  the  college  building ; 
but  it  was  not  until  August  28,  1844,  the  feast 
of  St.  Augustine,  that  the  cornerstone  was 
laid.  From  that  until  December  20th,  the 
work  was  pushed  with  vigor  until  the  walls 
were  up  and  the  building  under  cover.  The 
season  favored  them,  November  and  Decem- 
ber being,  as  they  often  are,  in  this  region,  as 
balmy  as  May,  a  striking  contrast  with  the 
year  of  their  arrival. 

The  next  season  the  inside  work  was  com- 
pleted, some  of  the  rooms  being  occupied  early 
in  June,  1845.  The  building  thus  erected  was 
the  central  part  of  the  old  college  edifice ;  and 
was  four  artories  high,  eighty  feet  long  and 
thirty-six  feet  in  width.  It  was  the  middle 
part,  or  handle,  of  the  *  *  double  hammer, ' '  that 
being  as  much  of  the  architect's  plan  as  they 
could  then  undertake,  and  even  more  than, 
strictly  speaking,  the  poverty  of  the  commun- 
ity could  afford.  The  few  students  were  then 
removed  from  the  original  building  at  the 
lake ;  and  in  August  following  the  closing  ex- 
ercises of  the  first  year's  school  took  place. 

On  January  15,  1844,  a  charter  was  granted 
to  the  university  by  the  legislature  of  the 
state,  empowering  the  institution  to  confer  all 
the  degrees  in  literature,  science  and  the  arts, 
as  well  as  in  the  learned  professions.  This 
favor  was  due  to  the  spontaneous  kindness 
of  the  Hon.  John  Dougherty  Defrees,  then 
member  of  the  legislature  for  St.  Joseph 
county.  Even  before  the  waUs  of  the  first 
college  were  up  he  had  come  to  Father  Sorin 
and  suggested  the  charter  by  which  the  trus- 
tees of  the  new  institution  might  be  regularly 
and  legally  incorporated.    It  was  a  great  and 


important  privilege,  and  indeed  necessary  for 
the  legal  existence  of  the  university.  Thus 
the  legal  and  actual  existence  of  the  uni- 
versity dates  from  the  same  year,  1844.  Notre 
Dame  was  fairly  on  her  feet. 

The  joy  of , the  young  community  at  the  suc- 
cess of  their  undertaking  may  well  be  imag- 
ined. They  had  good  reason  to  believe  that 
their  work  was  under  the  direct  protection  of 
heaven.  The  surrounding  inhabitants,  many 
of  whom  had  at  first  looked  upon  them  with 
unkindly  eyes,  had  now  begun  to  turn  towards 
them  with  favor.  Their  heroic  lives  had  won 
the  sympathy  and  help  of  all  good  men.  It 
was  looked  upon  as  a  special  providence  that 
no  accident  had  occurred  to  any  one  during 
all  their  building  operations;  while  several 
times  they  seemed  to  have  escaped  miraculous- 
ly from  accidental  fires.  The  college  was  built 
to  be  heated  by  a  furnace,  but  this  proving 
unsatisfactory,  resort  was  had  to  wood  stoves 
which  continued  in  use  for  many  years  until 
the  introduction  of  heating  by  steam  pipes  in 
1863. 

The  utter  dependence  of  those  saintly 
founders  upon  the  protection  of  heaven,  and 
their  simple  and  unquestioning  faith,  are  il- 
lustrated by  the  circumstance  that  for  years 
they  were  unwilling  to  place  a  lightning  rod 
upon  their  buildings ;  and,  for  the  same  cause, 
it  was  not  until  1848  that  they  consented  to 
take  out  any  fire  insurance,  and  then  only  for 
three  thousand  dollars.  God  would  protect 
them,  they  said;  and  God  and  His  Blessed 
Mother  did  protect  them. 

It  is,  of  course,  clear  that  the  building 
erected  left  the  little  community  heavily  in 
debt.  Indeed,  this  remained  the  chronic  con- 
dition of  the  institution  for  years.  **0n  sev- 
eral occasions,''  as  said  by  Prof.  Edwards  in 
his  interesting  article  on  Father  Sorin,  writ- 
ten for  the  '* Catholic  Family  Annual''  for 
1895,  **  Notre  Dame  was  on  the  point  of  being 
sold  for  debt.  One  day  the  farm  horses  were 
taken  out  of  the  stables  and  sold  by  a  cred- 
itor. Another  time  there  was  not  a  morsel 
of  food  in  the  house.    The  unexpected  arrival 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.   JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


625 


of  a  gift  of  money  from  a  stranger  prevented 
the  students  from  going  to  bed  supperless." 

But  friends  seemed  to  arise  as  often  as 
troubles  appeared.  The  trials  of  the  feeble 
community  were  often  great,  but  they  were 
never  greater  than  could  be  borne.  Father 
Sorin  was  a  multitude  in  himself,  and  seemed 
as  if  inspired  to  meet  every  emergency.  He 
was  then  thirty  years  of  age,  having  been 
bom  at  Ahull6,  near  Laval,  France,  February 
6,  1814.  Those  who  knew  him  then,  and  for 
many  years  afterward,  have  difficulty  in  con- 
sidering him  the  same  man  as  the  venerable 
gray  haired  and  gray  bearded  patriarch  whom 
we  have  all  known  during  the  latter  years  of 
his  life,  and  since  he  has  been  weighed  down 
with  the  burdens  and  dignity  of  his  high  of- 
fice of  superior  general.  In  1844,  Father 
Sorin  was  not  only  youthful,  but  exceedingly 
quick,  supple  and  animated  in  appearance. 
He  was  then  a  well-knit,  tall,  spare,  young 
man,  straight  as  one  of  his  own  Indian  war- 
riors; with  long  black  hair,  trimmed  with 
his  own  scissors,  his  face  thin,  dark  and  clean 
shaven,  and  with  the  dark  piercing  eyes 
which  remained  unchanged  to  the  last. 

In  the  same  year,  1844,  was  completed  and 
blessed  the  well-beloved  chapel  of  the  No- 
vitiate, erected  upon  the  pretty  high  wooded 
ground  between  the  two  lakes,  known  then 
and  even  yet  as  *  *  The  Island. ' '  The  two  lakes 
were  originally  surveyed  as  one,  and  this  spot 
of  ground  was  at  first  a  veritable  island ;  but 
in  course  of  time  the  lake  was  lowered,  and 
the  waters  receding  from  the  central  parts, 
left  us  the  two  crystal  lakes  as  we  have  them 
at  this  day.  It  is  a  question  whether  this 
island  or  the  wooded  heights  to  the  right  and 
left,  bordering  each  of  the  lakes,  constitute 
the  most  picturesque  locality  about  Notre 
Dame.  But  it  is  to  the  island  that  the  prefer- 
ence is  usually  given,  due  in  part  no  doubt 
to  the  holy  memories  that  cluster  around  this 
sacred  spot. 

In  the  month  of  November,  1843,  while 
Father  Sorin  was  making  his  retreat  upon 
the   island,   he   found   the   place   admirably 


suited  for  a  novitiate  for  the  Brothers  of  the 
Holy  Cross,  and  as  there  remained  but  one 
year  more,  according  to  the  contract  of  dona- 
tion, to  build  the  novitiate  as  well  as  the 
college,  he  did  not  think  he  was  losing  his 
time  by  spending  his  leisure  hours  in  drawing 
up  the  plan  of  the  novitiate  as  it  was  after- 
wards carried  out.  The  cornerstone  of  the 
chapel  embraced  in  this  plan  was^  blessed  in 
May,  1844.  The  work  on  the  university,  how- 
ever, did  not  permit  the  continuance  of  that 
on  the  chapel  before  the  month  of  November, 
but  such  was  then  the  activity  of  the  work- 
men that  in  seven  and  a  half  days  the  walls 
of  the  chapel  wer^  up,  and  eight  days  more 
sufficed  to  build  those  of  the  novitiate. 

Both  chapel  and  novitiate  were  blessed  on 
the  feast  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  De- 
cember 8,  1844.  On  the  same  day,  the  Arch 
Confraternity,  the  most  ancient  religious  so- 
ciety at  Notre  Dame,  was  there  solemnly 
established. 

From  this  time  until  1848,  when  the  new 
church  was  dedicated,  this  little  sanctuary  be- 
came the  favorite  spot  of  the  whole  communi- 
ty. There  they  assembled  in  times  of 
distress  or  of  rejoicing ;  there  were  published 
the  general  prescriptions  or  regulations  in  re- 
gard to  the  common  welfare ;  there,  each  year, 
the  retreat  of  the  brothers  was  made,  and 
even  that  of  the  priests.  It  was  there,  too, 
that  the  pious  visitors  to  Notre  ^Dame  were 
in  preference  taken,  and  there  the  Bishops 
of  Detroit,  Milwaukee  and  Cincinnati  cele- 
brated holy  mass  to  the  great  edification  of 
the  community  and  also  to  their  own  great 
joy.  During  all  this  time  it  was  the  best 
thing  there  was  in  every  respect  in  and  about 
the  institution.  Mrs.  Byerley  had  furnished 
the  chapel  with  a  magnificent  carpet,  and 
Brother  Mary  had  ornamented  it  with  all  the 
resources  of  his  art.  It  was  indeed  the  con- 
stant object  of  the  religious  attention,  or,  let 
us  say,  of  the  entire  affections  of  the  com- 
munity. 

Sec.  5. — Early  College  Years. — Begin- 
ning with  September,  1844,  the  long  course 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


626 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


of  annual  classes  which  have  continued  to  this 
day  may  be  said  to  have  commenced.  Father 
Sorin  was  not  only  local  superior  of  the  com- 
munity, but  also  president  of  the  university, 
positions  which  he  held  without  interruption 
until  May,  1865.  The  first  vice-president  was 
the  saintly  and  most  venerated  Father  Alexis 
Granger,  who  had  arrived  from  France  dur- 
ing that  year,  and  who  had  charge  of  the 
classes  of  philosophy  and  theology.  Other 
members  of  this  early  faculty  were  Father 
Cointet,  instructor  in  the  ancient  languages 
and  literature ;  Father  Gouesse,  under  whom 
the  musical  department  took  form;  Brother 
Gatien,  professor  of  mathematics,  who  also 
had  charge  of  the  commercial  department. 
Soon  came  the  eloquent  and  polished  Father 
St.  Michael  E.  E.  Shawe,  the  promoter  of 
rhetoric  and  English  literature  and  the 
founder  of  the  literary  societies  at  Notre 
Dame ;  Gardner  Jones,  also  a  master  of  Eng- 
lish composition  and  an  orator  of  rare  power ; 
Denis  O'Leary,  an  all  around  scholar,  whose 
abilities  were  highly  appreciated  and  of  great 
value  to  the  rising  institution ;  Brother  Basil, 
Father  Shortis,  Professor  Girac,  Professor 
Bums  and  many  other  earnest  and  self-sacri- 
ficing scholars,  who  here  devoted  themselves 
with  slight,  or,  in  the  case  of  the  members 
of  the  community,  with  no  compensation,  but 
with  the  hope  of  aiding  in  building  up  here 
in  the  wilderness  a  home  of  science,  art  and 
religion. 

It  is  with  much  gratification  that  we  are 
abe  to  give  here  what  is  undoubtedly  the  first 
extended  notice  of  commencement  exer- 
cises at  Notre  Dame.  It  is  from  the  pen  of 
Mr.  M.  R.  Keegan,  who  was  for  many  years 
a  prolific  and  earnest  correspondent  of  eastern 
Catholic  papers,  particularly  of  the  New 
York  Freeman's  Journal,  for  which  he  wrote 
many  valuable  articles  over  the  signature  of 
** Columbus.'*  This  report,  simple  as  the  ex- 
ercises which  it  commemorates,  was  written 
at  Bertrand,  Michigan,  where  Mr.  Keegan 
then  resided.     It  is  dated  August  7,  1845, 


and  was  published  in  the  Philadelphia  Cath- 
olic Herald  of  August  28,  1845: 

**I  attended  the  public  distribution  of 
premiums  to  the  students  of  the  University 
of  Notre  Dame  du  Lac,  which  took  place  on 
the  first  of  this  month,  and,  being  the  first 
thing  of  the  kind  that  ever  took  place  in  this 
section  of  the  country,  the  numbers  who  at- 
tended the  navel  scene  were  large  and  respect- 
able. About  9  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the 
entire  vicinity  of  the  university  was  crowded 
with  all  kinds  of  traveling  vehicles;  while 
the  different  departments  of  the  university 
and  its  vicinity  were  scrutinized  and  exam- 
ined according  to  each  one's  taste.  The  dif- 
ferent apartments  of  the  university  were 
closely  examined  by  many  strangers  who  had 
never  before  visited  the  institution;  all  ex- 
pressing themselves  highly  pleased  with  every- 
thing they  saw,  especially  the  clean,  airy,  and 
spacious  dormitories  of  the  pupils.  Others 
ranged  along  the  shores  of  the  adjacent  lakes ; 
while  the  Catholic  portion,  especially  the  la- 
dies, might  be  seen  clustering  around  the 
chapel  on  the  island  dedicated  to  Our  Lady 
of  the  Lake,  and  entering,  as  it  were,  by 
stealth  (for  its  doors  are  not  open  to  the 
public),  to  oflPer  a  hasty  but  earnest  prayer 
for  the  conversion  of  sinners,  of  which  the 
good  Father  Marivault  was  sure  to  remind 
them.  But  the  greatest  rush  was  to  the  hall 
occupied  by  the  splendid  museum  lately  pur- 
chased by  the  institution  from  Dr.  Cavalli,  of 
Detroit,  who  had  been  collecting  it  at  great 
expense  for  many  years.  It  is  a  splendid 
collection  of  beasts,  birds,  fishes,  reptiles,  an- 
tiquities, etc.,  from  the  various  parts  of  the 
globe.  The  rapid  changes  undergone  by  the 
features  of  many  an  unsophisticated  child  of 
the  west,  while  scanning  the  big  black  bear, 
the  gaudy  and  magnificent  birds  of  paradise, 
the  austere  and  imperative  tribe  of  eagles, 
until  he  arrived  at  the  inexplicable  Chinese 
curiosities,  exhibited  the  admiration  and  in- 
terest they  felt  in  reviewing  the  valuable  col- 
lection. 

**A11  were  deeply  engaged,  and  apparently 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


627 


forgetting  what  had  brought  them  to  the  Lake, 
when  the  warlike  sounds  of  the  big  drum  of 
the   South  Bend  band  was  heard  booming 
through  the  woods.     Shortly  afterwards  the 
band  came  into  view,  drawn  by  four  horses, 
and  accompanied  by  a  number  of  ladies  and 
gentlemen.     On  their  arrival  the  music  hall 
was  thrown  open,  and  was  soon  crowded  to  a 
complete  jam.     How  many  remained  outside 
I  cannot  tell,  as  I  made  sure  to  be  among  the 
*  ios. '    As  soon  as  all  that  the  apartment  could 
contain    were    admitted,    the   students    com- 
menced a  play,  which  for  the  space  of  an 
hour  kept  the  audience  in  a  roar  of  laughter. 
After  this  the  great  work  of  the  day,  the 
distribution  of  premiums,  commenced.     This 
pleasing   task   was   performed  by   the   Rev. 
Father  Shawe,  of  Vincennes,  who  appeared 
several   times  to  be  much  interested   while 
bestowing  the  coveted  prize,  and  placing  the 
crown  of  distinction  on  the  brow  of  the  de- 
lighted and  victorious  student.     During  the 
distribution  many  incidents  occurred  which 
drew  forth  the  warm  applause  of  the  entire 
audience.     Out  of  many  I  will  relate  one: 
Among  those  who  received  the  greatest  num- 
ber of  crowns  and  premiums,  was  a  little 
fellow  named  Haquin,  about  twelve  years  of 
age,  from  your  good  city  of  Philadelphia.  His 
great  success  enlisted  the  entire  audience  in 
his  behalf ;  even  Father  Shawe  himself  could 
not  conceal  his  admiration  of  the  young  and 
promising   pupil.     The   boy's   dress,   though 
comfortable,  still  denoted  that  he  was  not 
amongst    the    favored    children    of    fortune. 
Feeling  a  more  than  ordinary  interest  in  the 
little  fellow,  I  ascertained  after  all  was  over, 
that  he  is  an  orphan  boy,  and  was  brought 
to  the  University  of  Notre  Dame  du  Lac  from 
St.  John's  Orphan  Asylum,  Philadelphia.  But 
here  he  stood,  equal,  aye,  superior  to  the  cher- 
ished sons  of  the  rich  and  well-to-do,  carry- 
ing away  the  marks  of  honor  and  distinction, 
which,  if  acquired  by  his  wealthy  competitors, 
would  occupy  such  conspicuous  places;    but 
he,  poor  fellow,  has  no  place  for  them  but  a 
small  wooden  box,  where  they  will  be  unseen 


and  uncared  for  by  all  save  himself.  But 
they  will  not  be  useless;  far  from  it!  They 
will  cheer  and  encourage  him  to  greater  ef- 
forts, and  remind  him  of  the  unceasing  care 
and  more  than  parental  kindness  which  God 
has  here  provided  for  him  in  the  place  of  his 
natural  parents.  I  select  this  from  many  sim- 
ilar examples  at  this  institution,  as  being  cal- 
culated to  give  a  better  idea  than  the  most 
general  description,  of  the  things  being  noise- 
lessly and  silently  done  at  the  University  of 
Notre  Dame  du  Lac.*' 

The  coming  of  the  band  from  South  Bend 
sounds  somewhat  strangely  to  those  who  have 
for  forty  years,  at  all  commencements  and 
on  all  public  occasions,  heard  the  well  prac- 
ticed bands  and  orchestras  by  the  trained 
students  of  the  university.  But  this  was  the 
first  commencement,  and  there  was  not  yet 
time  to  organize  that  musical  department 
which  has  always  been  so  notable  a  feature  of 
the  educational  facilities  of  Notre  Dame. 

Another  circumstance  related  by  Mr. 
Keegan  seems  even  still  more  incongruous 
with  what  we  have  known — the  crowns  of 
honor  given  to  the  successful  students. 
Crowns  seem  most  appropriate  honors  when 
bestowed  upon  young  ladies  in  white  on  their 
commencement  day ;  but  boys  have  not  since, 
as  we  believe,  received  such  honors.  Even 
the  premiums,  as  years  have  gone  on  and  the 
university  has  developed,  have  by  degrees 
been  discontinued,  except  for  the  younger 
students.  Medals  and  diplomas  are  the  hon- 
ors which  young  men  are  taught  to  strive  for ; 
even  as  soldiers  who  would  distinguish  them- 
selves for  valor  receive  commissions  of  promo- 
tion and  medals  from  their  approving  coun- 
try. 

One  matter,  however,  the  writer  does  refer 
to,  which  has  been  a  characteristic  of  Notre 
Dame  from  that  first  commencement,  even  to 
the  commencement,  fifty  years  later  in  this 
year  of  grace,  1895.  She  makes  no  distinc- 
tion amongst  her  students,  save  only  to  honor 
the  deserving.  The  poor  and  the  rich  are 
here   on   a   perfect   equality;    and   are   dis- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


628 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


tinguished  only  by  their  intellect  and  their 
virtue.  Indeed  their  Alma  Mater  takes 
special  delight  in  honoring  the  students  of 
modest  means  who  make  use  of  their  golden 
opportunity  to  cultivate  their  minds  and  their 
hearts,  and  thus  lift  themselves  to  the  plane 
of  a  noble  manhood.  Here  is  a  true  republic 
of  letters,  where  no  one  finds  any  royal  road 
to  learning;  but  where,  oftener  than  other- 
wise, the  poor  boy  passes  his  wealthier  fel- 
lows, receives  the  smiles  of  his  Alma  Mater, 
and  goes  forth  equipped  to  lead  in  the  battles 
of  life. 

This  feature  of  college  life,  Father  Sorin 
always  encouraged.  He  was  instinctively  a 
believer  in  republican  institutions,  and  w«s 
perfectly  at  home  in  these  tendencies  of  the 
American  character.  Another  cause  led  to 
the  same  result:  Father  Sorin  had  a  great 
admiration  for  talent.  He  sought  it  every- 
where, and  had  a  quick  power  to  discern  it 
wherever  it  was  to  be  found.  Hence,  the 
bright  student  was  always  a  favorite  with 
him.  To  the  clear  minded,  active  and  studious 
young  man,  he  always  found  himself  closely 
drawn,  and  such  a  one  knew  that  in  Father 
Sorin  he  had  an  appreciative  friend,  without 
regard  to  the  question  of  wealth  or  social 
standing.  Intellectual  young  men  have  there- 
fore always  devotedly  loved  Notre  Dame. 
They  knew  that  here,  at  least,  they  were  ap- 
preciated at  their  true  worth.' 

We  cannot  resist  giving  in  this  place  a 
glance  at  scenes  and  persons  at  Notre  Dame 
du  Lac,  as  they  appeared  to  another  eye  wit- 
ness, a  little  later,  in  the  year  1845-46. 
This  gentleman  describes  himself  as  at  that 
time  **a  wild  urchin  of  fifteen,'*  who  then 
put  in  his  first  apeparance  as  a  student  at 
Notre  Dame. 

Early  in  November,  1845,  he  left  Detroit, 
then  a  city  of  thirteen  thousand  inhabitants, 
for  South  Bend,  Indiana ;  and  after  a  weary 
day's  ride  over  the  miserable  strap  rail  that 
covered  the  Michigan  Central  railroad  tracks, 
reached  its  then  terminus,  at  Marshall.  A 
hundred  and  odd  miles  still  remained  to  be 


traveled  through  the  backwoods  of  southern 
Michigan  and  northern  Indiana,  which  was 
accomplished  within  twenty-four  hours,  by 
hard  driving  over  primitive  roads.  Along 
with  other  travelers,  driven  in  a  rude  con^ 
veyance,  he  reached  the  coUege  just  as  the 
bell  rang  out  a  merry  peal,  and  the  few  stu- 
dents gave  three  cheers  for  the  eclipse  of  the 
moon,  which  had  just  taken  place,  Wednes- 
day night,  November  11,  1845.  A  moment 
later,  all  were  in  the  college  parlor,  greeting 
the  arrival  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Henni,  then 
newly  appointed,  and  since  the  venerable 
archbishop  of  Milwaukee,  who,  unknown  to 
the  lad,  had  been  one  of  his  fellow  travelers. 
At  that  meeting,  also,  was  present  the  vener- 
able Father  Badin,  founder  of  the  Indian 
mission  at  Notre  Dame,  and  former  owner 
of  the  grounds,  who  was  then  for  a  time  sta- 
tioned at  the  college. 

Our  youthful  student  found  the  college  con- 
sisting of  a  four-story  building,  36x80,  with- 
out any  pretensions  to  architectural  beauty. 
It  was  surmounted  by  a  tower,  upon  which 
stood  an  iron  cross  18  feet  high.  In  the 
tower  was  a  fine  clock,  on  the  dial  of  which 
he  read  the  words,  tempus  fugit.  The  refec- 
tory was  in  care  of  Brother  Patrick;  it  con- 
tained a  reading  stand  and  tables,  with 
benches  for  the  accommodation  of  thirty  or 
forty  boys.  Next  to  it  was  the  kitchen  in 
charge,  very  appropriately,  of  a  Mr.  Coffee. 
The  study  room  was  furnished  in  the  most 
primitive  manner,  with  desks  about  twelve 
feet  long,  to  which  were  attached  seats  with- 
out backs.  Monks  could  not  wish  for  more 
penitential  stools.  They  were  evidently  mod- 
eled after  those  in  use  when  comfort  was  a 
secondary  consideration  to  those  in  quest  of 
knowledge. 

The  yard  in  front  of  the  college  contained 
about  half  an  acre,  with  here  and  there  a 
fine  oak,  while  thence  on  to  South  Bend  was 
a  dense  forest.  The  old  stage  roads  ran,  one 
a  few  rods  to  the  east  of  the  college,  and 
another,  the  most  traveled  (the  present  Niles 
road),  to  the  west,  at  the  foot  of  St.  Mary's 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


629 


lake.  The  front  yard  fence  was  flanked  by 
two  small  one-story  cottages,  one  occupied  by 
Mr.  Steber  as  a  little  furnishing  store;  the 
other  by  the  good  old  porter,  Brother  Cypri- 
an, who  was  the  shoemaker  of  the  community. 
At  the  rear  of  the  college,  to  the  east,  stood 
the  Manual  Labor  establishment,  having  a 
tailor  shop  under  care  of  Brother  Augustus, 
and  a  printing  office,  under  Brother  Joseph. 
I  remember  well  the  good  brother  and  his  two 
apprentices,  who  were  working  hard,  print- 
ing, in  a  most  wretched  manner,  **Mrs.  Her- 
bert and  the  Villagers.''  Still  a  little  further 
back,  stood  the  carpenter  shop,  a  log  building, 
under  Brother  William.  To  the  east  of  it 
stood  the  blacksmith  shop  and  the  gardener's 
house. 

To  the  right  of  you,  to  the  left  of  you,  in 
front  of  you,  and  behind  you,  reigned  the 
primeval  forest.  There  were  not  thirty  acres 
of  clearance  in  the  whole  section  of  land  be- 
longing to  the  college.  Lakes  St.  Joseph  and 
St.  Mary  were  there,  beautiful  as  now,  but 
with  direct  water  communication  between 
them.  On  the  island  was  being  completed  the 
Brothers'  Novitiate,  a  plain,  tastefully  de- 
signed, but  wretchedly  constructed  brick 
building.  Father  Weinzopflen,  a  worthy  Ger- 
man priest,  lived  on  the  island,  acting  as 
master  of  novices  and  as  confessor  to  the 
brothers  and  the  students.  I  recollect  him  as 
a  good,  holy  and  zealous  priest,  one  who  was 
truly  a  martyr  for  his  faith.  Down  by  St. 
Mary's  lake,  near  the  present  old  barn,  the 
first  part  of  which  was  then  building,  stood 
the  old  log  church,  half  of  which  was  occu- 
pied by  the  Sisters  of  the  Holy  Cross,  who 
were  daily  watching  the  completion  of  a  small 
brick  building  near  by,  which  early  the  next 
year  became  their  mother-house  at  Notre 
Dame. 

The  professors  were  Fathers  Sorin,  Grang- 
er, Cointet  and  Brother  Gatien,  assisted  by 
Messrs.  Dooner  and  Moses  L'Etourneau,  with 
old  Brothers  Francis  and  Stephen  as  prefects. 

Father  Sorin,  as  I  recollect  him,  was  then 
a  spare,  dark-complexioned  man,  active  as  a 


deer,  with  an  eye  that  searched  you  from  top 
to  bottom  at  a  glance.  He  was  an  excellent 
singer,  and  occasionally  would  play  a  bar  or 
two  on  the  clarionet,  whilst,  to  my  positive 
knowledge  and  experience,  he  was  a  first-class 
shot  at  marbles.  His  faith  knew  no  bounds; 
he  fully  believed  that  he  could  convert  all  the 
surrounding  people,  and  really  worked  in 
season  and  out  of  season  for  that  great  end. 

Father  Cointet  was  Father  Sorin 's  chief  as- 
sistant. I  remember  him  as  a  rosy-faced,  en- 
ergetic, humble  priest,  a  ripe  scholar,  and  a 
devoted  religious.  I  have  seldom,  if  ever,  met 
his  equal  in  those  qualities  which  should  be 
the  prominent  characteristics  of  a  missionary 
priest.  Father  Granger  had  arrived  the  May 
before  I  came,  and  all  that  I  now  remember 
of  him  is  his  sweet  smile,  and  also  that  his 
stock  of  English  comprised  little  more  than 
**yes!  yes,"  accompanied  by  a  gentle  nod. 
God  bless  him !  He  has  gained  many  to  God 
by  that  meek  **yes,"  and  that  sweet  smile. 
Brother  Gatien  was  a  genius,  an  incomprehen- 
sible Frenchman!  He  was  capable  of  doing 
anything  and  everything.  He  was  at  that 
early  day  the  intellectual  soul  of  the  institu- 
tion. Peace  to  his  ashes!  Mr.  Gouesse,  soon 
after  a  worthy  priest,  was  the  musician  of 
the  house,  and  did  his  best  to  form,  from  very 
poor  material,  a  band  of  music.  Moses 
L'Etourneau,  brother  of  Father  L'Etourneau, 
was  our  prefect,  a  most  diligent  disciplina- 
rian; and,  had  his  life  been  spared,  would 
have  been,  beyond  doubt,  foremost  in  the 
ranks  of  his  order  today.  Mr.  Dooner  taught 
English. 

The  preaching  was  done  for  us  by  the  first 
priest  ordained  in  the  United  States,  the  ven- 
erable Father  Stephen  Theodore  Badin,  who 
also  taught  the  Catholic  students  catechism 
twice  a  week.  Father  Badin  never  kept  any 
rule  save  his  own,  and,  hence,  was  not  a  little 
troublesome  to  the  community.  But  he  was 
venerated,  as  he  always  must  be,  as  the  first 
priest  ordained  by  Archbishop  Carroll,  the 
primal  Bishop  of  Baltimore,  and  organizer 
of  the  church  in  the  United  States ;  venerated 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


630 


HISTORY  OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


as  the  apostle  whose  field  of  labors  extended 
over  Kentucky  and  a  great  part  of  the  north- 
western territory;  and  specially  here  revered 
as  one  who  had  revived  the  missions  of  Al- 
louez,  and  whose  singular  prescience  had  led 
him  to  select  this  beautiful  spot  in  the  wilder- 
ness as  the  seat  of  a  great  Catholic  university. 
This  university  it  was  his  privilege  to  see 
founded;  and  he  was  even  permitted  to  aid 
in  advancing  its  early  growth.  Though  very 
old  when  I  knew  him,  Father  Badin  never 
missed  his  daily  meditations  and  spiritual 
readings ;  and  well  has  his  name  gone  down  to 
posterity  as  a  model  missionary.  He  was  bom 
at  Orleans,  France,  in  1768,  the  year  before 
Napoleon,  and  died  at  Cincinnati,  April  19, 
1853.  His  life  thus  covered  the  greatest  period 
in  modem  history ;  and  he  was  himself  one  of 
the  historical  characters  of  that  period. 

As  might  well  be  understood,  the  list  of 
students  for  several  years  continued  to  be  a 
small  one.  In  so  new  a  country  the  wonder 
is  that  a  college  could  be  supported  at  aU.  In 
fact,  for  a  time,  the  students  came  from  the 
east  rather  than  from  the  west,  from  the  older 
states  rather  than  from  the  new  ones,  of  which 
latter  Indiana  itself  was  one. 

The  first  catalogue,  as  near  as  can  be  deter- 
mined, was  issued  in  1848.  This  was  prints 
in  Detroit.  From  it  we  learn  that  in  that  year 
the  commencement  exercises  took  place  on  the 
fourth  day  of  July.  Among  the  premiums 
awarded  on  that  occasion  was  one  to  Thomas 
Lafontaine,  of  Huntington,  Indiana,  son  of 
the  chief  of  the  Miamis.  Students  are  named 
as  from  the  states  of  Indiana,  Michigan,  Mis- 
souri, New  York,  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania. 

At  the  commencement,  in  1849,  five  years 
after  receiving  her  charter,  Notre  Dame  grad- 
uated her  first  student,  as  Bachelor  of  Arts,  in 
the  person  of  Neal  H.  Gillespie.  Mr.  Gilles- 
pie, afterwards  the  accomplished  Father  Gil- 
lespie, continued  his  studies  in  Rome  where  he 
was  ordained  a  priest  in  1856,  after  which  he 
entered  the  community  of  Notre  Dame  where 
he  was  appointed  the  fourth  vice-president, 
succeeding  Father  Shortis,  who  had  received 


an  honorary  degree  with  him  in  1849.  Father 
Gillespie  became  an  ornament  to  the  faculty 
of  Notre  Dame;  his  fine  literary  tastes  made 
him  the  worthy  successor  of  Father  Shawe  in 
fostering  the  studies  of  belles  lettres,  rhetoric 
and  the  English  language  and  literature. 
Father  Gillespie  was  closely  connected  with 
many  of  the  most  distinguished  families  of  the 
republic,  being  a  first  cousin  of  James  Gilles- 
pie Blaine,  and  also  nearly  related  to  the 
Ewings  and  Shermans  of  Ohio.  When  Father 
Sorin  came  to  inaugurate  the  work  of  printing 
and  publishing  at  Notre  Dame,  he  leaned  with 
great  confidence  on  the  talents  of  Father  Gil- 
lespie. Notre  Dame  owes  very  much  to  her 
first  graduate. 

In  1850,  another  catalogue,  the  second  one, 
as  it  would  seem,  was  printed  in  South  Bend 
by  **S.  Colfax,''  as  appears  from  the  title 
page.  Mr.  Colfax  afterwards  became  a  dis- 
tinguished man  of  the  nation.  Congressman, 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and 
Vice-President  of  the  United  States.  Both 
before  and  after  his  great  career,  he  was  the 
fast  friend  of  Father  Sorin  and  of  Notre 
Dame,  counseling,  encouraging  and  sympa- 
thizing with  the  struggling  enterprise.  Often 
and  often,  his  clear  cut,  bright  and  crisp  little 
speeches  to  the  students,  left  an  impression 
for  good  and  fired  with  a  noble  ambition  the 
generous  young  men  that  listened  to  him.  In 
the  prospectus  printed  in  this  catalogue  by 
Mr.  Colfax,  dated  January  1,  1850,  we  find 
mention  made  of  the  Philharmonic  Society 
and  the  St.  Aloysius  Debating  Society,  associ- 
ations that  long  continued  to  gather  into  their 
folds  the  musical,  literary  and  dramatic 
genius  of  the  students  of  Notre  Dame.  Fifty- 
six  students  are  shown  in  this  catalogue,  be- 
sides thirteen  students  in  theology.  Notre 
Dame  was  advancing. 

In  1844,  at  the  same  time  that  the  college 
charter  was  obtained  from  the  Legislature 
through  the  friendly  offices  of  Mr.  Defrees, 
that  gentleman  also  obtained  a  charter  for  the 
Manual  Labor  School,  in  which  boys  are 
taught  useful  trades  and  at  the  same  time  re- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


631 


ceive  a  good  English  education.  In  con- 
nection with  this  school,  and  indeed  as  parts 
of  it,  were  erected  the  various  shops  needed 
in  the  work  of  the  community,  carpenter,  cabi- 
net, blacksmith,  shoemaker,  tailor,  etc.  Boys 
were  also  taught  bricklaying,  gardening  and 
farming,  until  the  hum  of  industry  was  heard 
on  every  side. 

We  have  seen  in  Mr.  Keegan  's  notice  of  the 
first  commencement  exercises  that  the  visitors 
came  through  the  woods  from  South  Bend, 
and  that  the  music  band  approaching  from 
the  town  on  that  day  was  heard  long  before 
it  could  be  seen  coming  through  the  forest. 
This  condition  was  rapidly  changed  from  year 
to  year  by  the  strong  arms  of  the  industrious 
Brothers  of  St.  Joseph,  until  the  trees,  even 
to  the  roots,  were  removed,  and  the  beautiful 
farm  as  we  have  it  now  was  lifted  to  the  sun- 
light. Only  on  the  island  and  on  the  margin 
of  the  lakes  were  the  native  groves  preserved,  / 
while,  as  if  to  make  up  in  some  measure  for 
the  despoiling  of  nature,  lines  of  maples,  ever- 
greens and  other  ornamental  trees,  were  plant- 
ed along  the  highways  and  through  the  beauti- 
ful parks  and  grounds  about  the  university. 
The  result  is  that  nowhere  perhaps  in  all  the 
country  is  there  a  more  lovely  approach  to 
noble  buildings  than  through  the  finely  shaded 
avenues  and  parks  of  Notre  Dame. 

Indeed,  as  has  been  well  said,  the  sense  of 
the  beautiful,  inspired  by  the  fair  surround- 
ings, has  had  no  little  to  do  with  the  success  of 
Notre  Dame  as  an  educational  institution. 
Milton  complains  that  Cambridge  has  no 
pleasant  walks  or  soft  shades,  suited  for  the 
haunts  of  the  muses,  but  the  future  poet  who 
calls  Notre  Dame  his  Alma  Mater  will  have 
no  such  complaint  to  make.  A  lovely  land- 
scape stretches  away  on  every  side  as  far  as 
the  eye  can  reach,  save  where  it  is  limited  by 
the  distant  hills  or  forests.  To  the  south,  not 
two  miles  off,  lies  the  now  pleasant  and  pros- 
perous city  of  South  Bend,  one  of  the  chief 
manufacturing  centers  of  the  country.  The 
high-wooded  banks  of  the  St.  Joseph,  one  mile 


to  the  west,  are  crowned  with  the  picturesque 
buildings  of  St.  Mary's  Academy. 

Between  the  academy  and  the  college  is  St. 
Mary's  lake,  while  to  the  north,  connected 
with  it,  is  St.  Joseph's.  In  the  meadow  be- 
tween the  lakes  rises  the  island,  wooded  to  the 
north,  and  with  a  sunny  vineyard  and  shade 
trees  on  the  south.  On  this  island  is  now  situ- 
ated the  professed  house  of  the  community,  on 
the  site  of  the  former  noviate,  and,  in  front, 
the  venerated  chapel  of  Our  Lady  of  the 
Angels,  or  the  Portiuncula,  modeled  after  the 
original  of  St.  Francis  in  Italy.  A  continuous 
native  grove  embraces  both  lakes,  with  the 
meadow  and  island  between.  Nestled  within 
this  grove,  on  the  banks  of  St.  Mary's  lake,  is 
St.  Aloysius'  noviate,  now  the  seminary,  well- 
beloved  of  many  a  zealous  priest  who  here  be- 
came learned  in  the  science  of  the  saints.  In 
the  rear  of  this  grove,  but  still  on  the  banks 
of  St.  Mary's  lake,  is  the  sylvan  cemetery  of 
the  community,  where  rest  from  their  labors 
those  who  have  toiled  even  to  the  close  of  day 
in  the  Master's  vineyard.  On  the  high  north- 
em  shore  of  St.  Joseph's  lake  rises  the  present 
stately  noviate,  the- old  missionary's  home. 

Perhaps  no  more  glorious  spectacle  could 
be  witnessed  than  the  solemn  annual  proces- 
sion through  these  grounds  on  the  feast  of 
Corpus  Christi.  As  the  reverend  line  of  priests 
and  people  wind  around  St.  Joseph's  lake, 
chanting  the  sacred  office  of  the  church,  it  is  a 
sight  to  give  joy  to  the  soul  of  the  Christian, 
and*  delight  to  the  eye  and  the  ear  of  the 
artist.  Quite  another  scene  is  presented  on 
Commencement  Day,  as  hundreds  gather  on 
the  banks  of  the  same  charming  lake  to  view 
the  spirited  contests  of  the  boat  clubs  over 
the  waters.  The  regattas  at  Notre  Dame  at- 
tract multitudes  of  visitors.  No  college  in  the 
land  has  a  finer  sheet  of  water  for  boating  and 
swimming  in  the  summer,  or  for  skating  in 
the  winter. 

But  it  is  not  only  on  the  great  days  of  the 
year,  but  at  all  times,  that  these  scenes  attract 
the  willing  steps  of  the  art-loving  and  the  re- 
ligious.   Softer  shades  or  more  inviting  walks. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


632 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


especially  than  those  bordering  on  St.  Joseph's 
lake,  neither  poet  nor  hermit  could  desire. 
Nor  is  it  only  these  retired  groves  and  lake- 
lets that  minister  to  the  love  of  the  fair  and 
the  good;  even  the  daily  recreation  grounds, 
the  college  parks,  the  gardens  and  the  outlying 
farm  itself,  are  arranged  and  cultivated  with 
an  eye  to  the  beautiful,  as  well  as  to  the  use- 
ful ;  and  it  has  become  a  current  observation 
on  the  part  of  strangers  that  there  are  no  finer 
grounds  anywhere  in  the  country  than  those 
of  Notre  Dame. 

The  period  of  success  which  set  in  with  the 
year  1845,  continued  uninterrupted  for  many 
years.  The  ground  was  cleared  and  beauti- 
fied. Needed  buildings  were  erected.  The 
members  of  the  community  grew  in  numbers 
and  efficiency.  The  students  increased  and 
improved  from  year  to  year.  The  country 
around  was  prospering.  South  Bend,  our 
near  neighbor,  passed  from  a  village  to  a 
town.  Across  Lake  Michigan,  Chicago  was  de- 
veloping into  a  great  city. 

In  1851,  the  Lake  Shore,  or,  as  it  was  then 
called,  the  Northern  Indiana  &  Southern 
Michigan,  railroad  was  completed  to  and 
through  South  Bend,  and  soon  reached  Chi- 
cago. This  was  a  matter  of  immense  interest 
to  the  growing  university.  Formerly  all 
traffic  was  by  the  river  from  Lake  Michigan, 
or  by  stage  and  wagon  road.  Now,  however, 
passenger  travel  and  the  sending  and  bring- 
ing of  produce  was  greatly  eased  and  acceler- 
ated. Students,  too,  were  enabled  to  come  in 
more  readily.  One  result  of  this  improvement 
in  our  communications  with  the  outside  world 
was  a  large  increase  in  students  from  the  west, 
particularly  from  Chicago,  from  which  place 
there  had  for  a  time  been  no  students. 

Since  that  time  other  steam  railroads  have 
added  to  our  facilities  of  communication  with 
the  outside  world,  until  today  there  enter  and 
depart  from  South  Bend  no  less  than  five 
trunk  lines — the  Lake  Shore,  the  Michigan 
Central,  the  Grand  Trunk,  the  Vandalia,  and 
the  Indiana,  Illinois  &  Iowa,  otherwise  known 
as  the  Three  I 's,  besides  others  of  lesser  note. 


In  1851  also,  Notre  Dame  was  given  a  post- 
office  of  her  own,  a  favor  due  to  the  kind  in- 
terposition of  Henry  Clay,  the  former  friend 
of  Father  Gabriel  Eiehard,  then  a  member  of 
the  United  States  senate,  and  who  had  become 
one  of  the  greatest  of  American  statesmen. 
Notre  Dame  loves  to  cherish  the  memory  of 
those  who  were  friends  to  her  in  the  hour  of 
need. 

In  1853,  so  prosperous  had  become  the  uni- 
versity, and  so  great  the  need  of  more  room, 
that  the  two  wings  originally  designed,  each 
forty  by  sixty  feet,  were  added  to  the  original 
central  building.  The  ** double  hammer,'*  as 
Father  Sorin  had  called  the  Vincennes  archi- 
tect's plan,  the  plan  first  designed  at  old  St. 
Peter's,  was  now  completed;  and  it  was  felt 
that  the  buildings  were  sufficiently  large  and 
commodious  to  last  for  a  generation. 

As  if  to  check  too  exultant  a  feeling  of  suc- 
cess on  the  part  of  the  industrious  and  indom- 
itable community  the  clouds  were  suffered  to 
lower  over  their  horizon,  and  a  fearful  inroad 
was  made  upon  the  health  and  even  the  lives 
of  the  inmates.  The  cholera,  as  stfCted  by 
Father  Gillespie,  in  the  book  of  the  **  silver 
jubilee"  had  ravaged  parts  of  the  United 
States,  but  the  danger  seemed  already  passed, 
when,  in  the  summer  of  1854,  many  of  the 
community  were  attacked.  Among  the  first 
taken  away  was  Father  Cointet.  His  health 
had  been  shaken  by  a  residence  in  New  Or- 
leans, where  obedience  had  placed  him  at  the 
head  of  an  orphan  asylum  conducted  by  the 
Congregation  of  the  Holy  Cross.  He  had  re- 
turned in  the  spring  of  1854,  and  his  attend- 
ance on  the  extensive  missions  around  Notre 
Dame  had  improved  his  general  health.  Still 
he  was  not  strong  enough  to  resist  the  attack 
of  the  disease,  and  in  the  month  of  August  he 
passed  from  his  labors,  regretted  by  all,  but 
by  none  so  much  as  by  his  close  friend  and  old 
companion,  the  founder  of  Notre  Dame.  His 
loss,  humanly  sp^eaking,  seemed  irreparable; 
and,  when  added  to  the  loss  of  Father  Curley, 
a  zealous  young  priest  ordained  the  year  be- 
fore, and  of  some  twenty  other  members  of 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


633 


the  community,  seemed  to  threaten  Notre 
Dame  with  utter  destruction. 

The  clouds  were  lowering  truly.  In  Sep- 
tember when  the  students  returned  the  pro- 
fessors were  not  yet  recovered  from  the  at- 
tack ;  for  though  over  twenty  members  of  the 
community  died,  yet  more,  we  might  say  all, 
had  been  taken  down  by  the  disease,  and  were 
still  suflFering  from  its  effects.  The  college 
had  been  a  hospital  for  the  sick — it  had  to  be 
renovated  from  top  to  bottom ;  the  work  usu- 
ally done  in  vacation  time  was  all  in  the  hands 
of  the  few  who  could  manage  to  crawl  around. 
It  was  indeed  a  severe  trial  to  this  heroic  little 
band,  even  more  trying  than  had  been  the 
poverty,  cold,  and  exposure  of  their  first  win- 
ter at  Notre  Dame  du  Lac. 

Another  source  of  anxiety  remained, 
though  for  years  efforts  had  been  made  to  re- 
move it.  We  refer  to  the  marshy  ground 
between  the  two  lakelets,  which,  in  the  opinion 
of  all,  was  the  cause  of  much  of  the  sickness. 
The  property  of  the  university  did  not  then 
extend  to  the  river ;  and  owing  to  a  misunder- 
standing with  the  owner  of  the  land  between 
the  lakes  and  the  river,  through  which  ran  the 
outlet  of  the  lakes,  the  low  ground  could  not 
be  drained.  To  these  troubles  we  must  add 
embarrassments  in  money  matters,  the  erec- 
tion of  new  buildings  having  entailed  a  debt 
which  might  have  been  easily  met  in  ordinary 
circumstances,  but  which  now  weighed  heavily 
on  the  weakened  commuilitv.  But  Father 
Sorin  never  lost  his  confidence  in  God,  never 
for  a  moment  doubted  the  protection  of  the 
Mother  of  the  Redeemer,  to  whom  he  had  on 
that  first  day  of  his  arrival  dedicated  these 
grounds,  the  institution  and  the  community 
of  the  Holy  Cross.  His  confidence  was  repaid. 
The  summer  of  1854  was  the  dark  hour  before 
the  dawn  of  a  new  and  more  flourishing  era 
for  Notre  Dame.  The  man  who  had  so  long 
refused  to  sell  the  land  between  the  lakes  and 
the  river,  or  to  allow  the  water  of  the  lakes 
to  be  lowered  through  the  ravine  entering  the 
river,  now  come  forward  and  offered  to  sell 
the  land  on  even  better  terms  than  had  been 


proposed  to  him.  The  land  was  bought  and 
the  lakes  lowered,  much  to  the  improvement 
of  the  health  and  beauty  of  the  establishment. 
Through  that  same  ravine,  and  all  the  way 
from  the  university  grounds  to  the  river  has 
been  since  constructed  a  trunk  sewer;  and 
since  that  time  Notre  Dame  has  been  one  of 
the  healthiest,  as  it  is  one  of  the  most  beauti- 
ful places  in  the  world. 

Another  advantage  obtained  from  this  pur- 
chase, but  not  appreciated  at  the  time,  was  the 
procurement  of  the  beautiful  high  grounds  on 
the  banks  of  the  St.  Joseph  where  St.  Mary's 
Academy  has  since  been  erected.  Kind  and 
liberal  friends  also  came  to  the  assistance  of 
the  chastened  congregation,  amongst  them  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Phelan,  of  Lancaster,  Ohio,  whose 
names  will  always  be  held  in  grateful  recol- 
lection as  two  of  the  most  generous  benefact- 
ors of  Notre  Dame.  The  dawn  of  a  brighter 
day  was  indeed  breaking. 

It  was  according  to  the  original  design  of 
Father  Sorin  that  a  house  for  the  Sisters  of 
the  Holy  Cross  should  be  established  in  con- 
nection with  the  university,  and  we  have  seen 
that  such  an  establishment  was  actually  be- 
gun. When,  however,  Father  Sorin,  in  com- 
pliance with  the  requests  of  many  parents, 
proposed  to  begin  at  Notre  Dame  an  academy 
for  the  education  of  young  ladies,  the  Bishop 
of  Vincennes  made  strenuous  objections ;  prin- 
cipally for  the  reason  that  the  Sisters  of  Prov- 
idence had  an  academy  at  Terre  Haute,  and 
that  there  would  not  be  room  for  another  in 
the  diocese.  Time  has  shown  that  this  appre- 
hension was  unfounded,  however  it  might  ap- 
pear at  that  day.  There  has  been  ample  room 
for  the  development  of  both  of  the  beautiful 
St.  Mary's,  that  of  the  Woods  and  that  at 
Notre  Dame. 

However,  yielding  to  the  wish  of  his  bishop, 
and  having  procured  permission  from  the 
Bishop  of  Detroit,  Father  Sorin  concluded  to 
fix  the  new  school  at  Bertrand  in  Michigan, 
six  miles  north  of  Notre  Dame,  where  an 
academy  building  was  completed  in  1846.  A 
little  later  Providence  sent  to  Father  Sorin  a 


Digitized  by 


Google 


634 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY 


pious  and  talented  young  lady,  who  was  des- 
tined to  be  to  the  Sisters  of  the  Holy  Cross 
almost  what  he  was  himself  to  the  congrega- 
tion of  priests  and  brothers.  Miss  Eliza  Maria 
Gillespie,  sister  of  Father  Gillespie,  had  left 
the  gay  life  of  Washington  City,  where  she 
had  reigned  as  a  queen,  in  the  family  of  her 
relative,  Thomas  Ewing,  then  Secretary  of 
State  under  the  elder  President  Harrison,  and, 
determining  to  lead  a  religious  life,  was  on 
her  way  to  enter  the  novitiate  of  the  Sisters 
of  Mercy  at  Chicago;  when  she  called  to  pay 
her  farewell  to  her  reverend  brother  at  Notre 
Dame.  Father  Sorin  became  at  once  con- 
vinced that  Miss  Gillespie  was  designed  by 
Providence  to  take  charge  of  his  young  com- 
munity at  Bertrand ;  and  she  was  also  hc*rself 
finally  convinced  that  this  was  the  will  of 
heaven.  She  was  accordingly  sent  to  France 
to  make  her  novitiate,  and  in  due  time  re- 
ceived the  veil  from  the  hands  of  Father  Mo- 
reau,  then  Superior  General  of  the  Order  of 
the  Holy  Cross.  After  which  she  returned, 
and  under  the  name  of  Mother  Angela,  be- 
came superior  of  the  infant  community, 
which  at  once  began  to  prosper  under  her 
direction. 

In  1855  the  objections  of  the  ordinary  of 
the  diocese  having  been  removed,  the  academy 
and  mother  house  of  the  order  was  transferred 
to  its  present  beautiful  location  on  the  high 
banks  of  the  St.  Joseph,  one  mile  from  Notre 
Dame.  St.  Mary's  Academy  has  greatly  pros- 
pered since  then,  many  parents  finding  it  con- 
venient to  send  their  sons  to  Notre  Dame,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  their  daughters  to  St. 
Mary's  Academy.  From  St.  Mary's,  as  well 
as  from  Notre  Dame,  other  schools  have  gone 
out  and  been  established  in  various  towns  and 
cities  throughout  the  land,  from  Baltimore 
and  Washington,  even  to  the  extreme  west  at 
Ogden  and  San  Francisco. 

From  the  first  there  have  been  bells  at  Notre 
Dame,  but  it  was  not  until  1856  that  the 
famous  chime  of  twenty-three  bells  arrived 
from  France  and  were  put  up  in  the  belfry 
of  the  church  and  attached  to  the  musical 


cylinder,  where  they  have  since  given  forth 
the  sweetest  melodies  of  Christian  music.  In 
November  of  that  year  the  bells  were  solemnly 
blessed  in.  the  presence  of  a  large  concourse 
of  people.  Eloquent  sermons  were  delivered 
on  the  occasion  by  Archbishop  Purcell  of  Cin- 
cinnati and  Bishop  Henni  of  Milwaukee. 

From  1856  until  the  erection  of  the  grand 
chimes  in  St.  Joseph's  Cathedral,  Buffalo, 
New  York,  these  chimes  at  Notre  Dame,  rang- 
ing in  weight  from  14  to  1,400  pounds,  and 
rung  by  clock  work,  were  the  finest  in  Amer- 
ica. The  ornamentation  on  the  bells  is  very 
elaborate,  and  finely  executed.  No  music  in 
the  world,  as  we  believe,  is  more  pleasing 
than  on  a  sweet  summer  evening,  after  all  the 
world  is  hushed  to  rest,  to  listen  to  the  melo- 
dy of  some  holy  song,  as  the  Ave  Maris 
Stella,  borne  from  these  bells  and  floating 
over  the  surface  of  the  two  beautiful  lakes 
that  rest  almost  beneath  the  walls  of  the 
church,  the  sound  thence  taken  up  in  echoes 
by  the  forests  fringing  their  borders,  and  car- 
ried for  miles  in  waves  of  harmony. 

The  position  of  the  chimes  in  the  new 
Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart  is  now  over  a 
hundred  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  earth. 
Beneath  it,  in  the  same  tower,  swings  the 
greatest,  as  it  is  the  deepest,  strongest  and 
sweetest  church  bell  in  the  United  States, 
tuned  to  sound  in  harmony  with,  and  as  a  part 
of  the  sweet  chimes  above.  This  glorious  bell 
weighs  15,400  pounds,  and  its  sonorous  voice 
has  been  heard  at  a  distance  of  twenty-five 
miles;  yet  its  sound,  even  under  the  church 
tower,  is  most  musical  to  the  ear,  sublime 
though  it  be  as  the  artillery  of  heaven. 

In  1857  a  great  joy  was  afforded  the  zeal- 
ous children  of  the  Congregation  of  the  Holy 
Cross,  whose  constitution  and  rules  then  re- 
ceived the  highest  sanction  of  the  church, 
being  approved  by  His  Holiness  Pope  Pius 
the  IX,  on  the  13th  of  May  in  that  year. 

On  September  22,  1857,  a  distinct  mark  of 
the  great  advance  of  the  church  in  the  state 
was  shown  by  the  erection  in  that  year  of  the 
northern  part  of  Indiana  into  a  separate  dio- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


635 


cese;  when  the  Rt.  Rev.  John  Henry  Luers 
was  made  first  bishop  of  Fort  Wayne.  Soon 
after  his  consecration,  the  new  bishop,  to  the 
great  delight  of  Notre  Dame  and  all  its  in- 
mates, paid  his  first  visit  to  the  University. 

Thus  was  the  cup  of  joy  full  again  to  over- 
flowing. Yet  Father  Sorin  and  his  co-workers 
looked  forward  to  still  greater  things.  The 
promise  of  a  glorious  future  seemed  to  be 
present  in  everything  that  was  undertaken. 

Sec.  6. — The  War  Period. — On  the  coming 
on  of  the  war  for  the  Union,  the  character  of 
the  growing  community  was  put  to  a  new  test. 
With  true  religion  and  a  correct  system  of 
education,  goes  also  love  of  country.  But  the 
sons  and  daughters  of  the  Holy  Cross  were 
equal  to  the  test. 

Even  on  his  first  arrival  in  America,  as  we 
have  already  seen,  Father  Sorin  was  pene- 
trated with  an  admiration  for  American  in- 
stitutions and  an  ardent  love  for  the  Ameri- 
can people.  It  became  a  part  of  his  daily  life. 
An  American  by  adoption,  he  became  one  in 
mind  and  heart,  insomuch  that  on  his  several 
visits  to  Europe,  such  was  his  known  predi- 
lection for  the  American  character  and  for 
American  ideas,  that  in  Paris  and  in  Rome, 
even  by  the  pope  himself,  he  was  distinctively 
styled  THE  American.    , 

Father  Sorin  not  only  gave  his  best  affec- 
tions to  his  adopted  country,  but  instilled  the 
same  into  the  hearts  of  his  associates.  Hence 
we  may  say  that  Notre  Dame  never  was  a  for- 
eign institution,  but  one  in  which  every  Amer- 
ican felt  himself  perfectly  at  home.  In  illus- 
tration of  this,  it  may  be  noted  that  of  his 
two  reverend  nephews  who  here  joined  the 
order,  one,  the  elder,  seeming  to  remain  too 
much  a  Frenchman  to  suit  the  taste  of  his 
uncle,  was,  though  otherwise  an  excellent 
priest,  sent  back  to  France.  **My  dear  son,'' 
said  he,  **  France  is  for  the  French,  America 
IS  for  Americans.  I  have  engaged  your  pas- 
sage for  Europe.''  He  would  not  keep  around 
him  any  one  who  did  not  share  his  predilec- 
tion for  the  American  people ;  that  was  a  here- 
sy which  he  could  not  forgive. 
Vol.  n— t. 


To  the  mind  of  Father  Sorin  the  American 
character  was  best  represented  in  Washing- 
ton, for  whom  he  always  manifested  a  great 
veneration.  Washington's  birthday  has 
always  been  a  gala  day  at  Notre  Dame,  even 
at  a  time  when  it  was  neglected  in  other 
places ;  and  the  name  of  Washington  Hall  will 
always  remind  us  of  that  pleasant  evening  in 
February,  now  many  years  ago,  when  this  fes- 
tive room  was  ^  named  and  appropriately 
dedicated  by  Father  Sorin,  and  when  it  was 
adorned  with  the  benevolent  portrait  of  the 
Father  of  his  Country. 

It  is  therefore  no  cause  of  surprise  that 
Notre  Dame  and  St.  Mary's  took  so  active  a 
part  in  the  war.  There  was  perhaps  not  a 
battle  field  during  the  four  years  of  that 
noble  strife  on  which  the  blood  of  students  of 
Notre  Dame  was  not  shed  for  the  Union  cause, 
which  they  felt  to  be  also  the  cause  of  liberty, 
equal  rights,  and  good  government. 

Numberless  sisters,  with  Father  Sorin 's 
blessing,  and  led  by  Mother  Angela  herself, 
left  the  quiet  shades  of  St.  Mary's,  and  gave 
themselves  to  toilsome  nights  and  days  in  the 
hospitals  of  the  south  and  the  west;  and  to 
this  day  many  a  veteran  recalls  with  moist- 
ened eyes  the  presence  of  those  angels  of 
mercy  who  were  to  him  in  place  of  mother, 
wife  or  sister,  and  to  whose  gentle  care  he 
owes  his  life. 

From  Notre  Dame  no  less  than  seven  priests 
went  as  chaplains  in  the  army.  Fathers  Wil- 
liam Corby,  Peter  P.  Cooney,  Joseph  C.  Car- 
rier, Paul  Gillen,  James  Dillon,  Joseph  Leve- 
que,  and  Father  Bourget.  Of  these  patriotic 
chaplains  of  the  Holy  Cross  the  last  three 
from  exposure  contracted  diseases  which  end- 
ed in  death. 

Father  Cooney,  long  venerable  in  years 
though  enfeebled  from  his  arduous  service 
had  in  course  of  preparation  during  his  later 
years,  a  work  upon  the  history  of  the  Catholic 
church  in  relation  to  the  war  for  the  Union, 
dealing  in  particular,  as  we  understand,  with 
his  personal  experience  in  the  armies  of  Rose- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


636 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


crans,  the  commander  whom  he  loved  and 
revered  above  all  others. 

Father  Carrier,  known  as  a  distinguished 
scientist,  and  for  some  time  before  his  death  a 
resident  at  St.  Laurent  College,  near  Mon- 
treal, delighted,  both  in  writing  and  in  con- 
versation, to  recall  his  experience  in  the 
armies  of  Grant  and  Sherman.  That  Father 
Carrier's  Americanism  was  of  the  intenser 
quality  may  be  inferred  from  the  following 
incident  which  he  relates  of  a  visit  made  by 
him,  soon  after  the  war,  to  Napoleon  III,  then 
in  the  splendor  of  his  power. 

*  *  On  my  arrival  at  the  entrance  to  the  pal- 
ace,'' says  Father  Carrier,  *'I  was  met  by  one 
of  the  guards  who  demanded  to  know  my  busi- 
ness. *I  wish  to  see  the  Emperor/  said  I. 
'Are  you  a  soldier  T  asked  the  guard.  *  Great- 
er than  that,'  I  responded.  *  Perhaps  you  are 
a  lieutenant  f  *  Greater  than  that,'  said  I. 
*Can  it  be  that  you  are  a  general?'  'Greater 
than  that ! '  said  I,  drawing  myself  up  to  my 
full  height.  'Are  you  a  prince?'  questioned 
the  guard.  'Greater  than  that,'  I  again  re- 
plied. 'Surely  you  are  not  a  king,'  said  the 
mystified  guardian  of  the  palace.  *Ah!  far 
greater  than  that,'  I  replied.  'Pray,  then, 
who  are  youT  asked  the  much  puzzled  man. 
Looking  him  in  the  face,  I  answered  with  all 
the  dignity  at  my  command,  'I  am  an  Ameri- 
can citizen ! '  It  is  needless  to  say  that  I  was 
soon  piloted  into  the  private  apartments  of 
his  majesty ;  and  that  later  on,  when  I  related 
the  joke  I  bad  played  on  the  guard,  the  Em- 
peror enjoyed  it  quite  as  much  as  I  did  my- 
self." 

Father  Corby  with  all  his  labors  found  time 
before  his  death  to  bring  out  hie  graphic  "Me- 
moirs of  Chaplain  Life,"  in  which  we  may 
trace  his  own,  and  also  Father  Gillen's  and 
Father  James  Dillon's  heroic  work  of  charity 
in  the  armies  of  the  Potomac,  under  McClel- 
lan,  Bumside,  Hooker,  Meade  and  Grant. 

One  scene,  at  least,  in  Father  Corby 's  chap- 
lain life  is  historical,  and  will  endure  in  the 
memory  of  men  so  long  as  the  history  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  is  read.    It  is  his  sub- 


lime act  of  giving  absolution  to  the  soldiers 
going  into  battle  on  the  field  of  Gettysburg. 
The  circumstances  are  told  to  us  as  follows  by 
General  St.  Clair  MulhoUand,  then  a  colonel 
in  the  famous  Irish  Brigade:  "Now  (as  the 
Third  Corps  is  being  pressed  back)  help  is 
called  for  and  Hancock  tells  Caldwell  to  have 
his  men  ready.  'Fall  in !'  and  the  men  run  to 
their  places.  'Take  arms!'  and  the  four  bri- 
gades of  Zook,  Cross,  Brook  and  Kelly  are 
ready  for  the  fray.  There  are  yet  a  few  min- 
utes to  spare  before  starting  and  the  time  is 
occupied  by  one  of  the  most  impressive  reli- 
gious ceremonies  I  have  ever  witnessed.  The 
Irish  Brigade,  which  had  been  formerly  com- 
manded by  General  Thomas  Francis  Meagher 
and  whose  green  flag  was  unfurled  in  every 
battle  in  which  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was 
engaged,  from  the  first  Bull  Run  to  Appo- 
mattox and  which  was  now  commanded  by 
Colonel  Patrick  Kelly  of  the  Eighty-eighth 
New  York,  formed  si  part  of  this  division. 
The  brigade  stood  in  column  of  regiments, 
closed  in  mass.  As  a  large  majority  of  its 
members  were  Catholics,  the  Chaplain  of  the 
Brigade,  the  Rev.  William  Corby,  proposed 
to  give  a  general  absolution  to  all  the  men 
before  going  into  the  fight.  While  this  is  cus- 
tomary in  the  armies  of  Catholic  countries  in 
Europe,  it  was  perhaps  the  first  time  it  was 
ever  witnessed  on  this  continent,  unless,  in- 
deed, the  grim  old  warrior,  Ponce  de  Leon, 
as  he  tramped  through  the  everglades  of  Flori- 
da, in  search  of  the  Fountain  of  Youth,  or 
De  Soto,  on  his  march  to  the  Mississippi,  in- 
dulged this  act  of  devotion.  Father  Corby 
stood  on  a  large  rock  in  front  of  the  brigade. 
Addressing  the  men,  he  explained  what  he 
was  about  to  do,  saying  that  each  one  could 
receive  the  benefit  of  the  absolution  by  mak- 
ing a  sincere  act  of  contrition  and  firmly  re- 
solving to  embrace  the  first  opportunity  of 
confessing  his  sins,  urging  them  to  do  their 
duty  and  reminding  them  of  the  high  and 
sacred  nature  of  their  trust  as  soldiers,  and 
the  noble  object  for  which  they  fought.  .  .  . 
The  brigade  was  standing  at  'order,  arms!' 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


637 


As  he  closed  his  address,  every  man,  Catholic 
and  non-Catholic  fell  on  his  knees  with  his 
head  bowed  down.  Then,  stretching  his  right 
hand  towards  the  brigade,  Pather  Corby  pro- 
nounced the  words  of  the  absolution. 

**The  scene  was  more  than  impressive;  it 
was  awe-inspiring.  Near  by  stood  a  brilliant 
throng  of  officers  who  had  gathered  to  witness 
this  very  unusual  occurrence  and  while  there 
was  profound  silence  in  the  ranks  of  the  Sec- 
ond Corps,  yet  over  to  the  left,  out  by  the 
peach  orchard  and  Little  Round  Top,  where 
Weed  and  Vincent  and  Hazlitt  were  dying, 
the  roar  of  the  battle  rose  and  swelled  and  re- 
echoed through  the  woods  making  music  more 
sublime  than  ever  sounded  through  Cathedral 
aisle.  The  act  seemed  to  be  in  harmony  with 
the  surroundings.  I  do  not  think  that  there 
was  a  man  in  the  brigade  who  did  riot  oflfer  up 
a  heart-felt  prayer.  Por  some  it  was  their 
last;  they  knelt  there  in  their  grave  clothes. 
In  less  than  half  an  hour  many  of  them  were 
numbered  with  the  dead  of  July  2.  Who  can 
doubt  that  their  prayers  were  good?  What 
was  wanting  in  the  eloquence  of  the  priest 
to  move  them  to  repentance  was  supplied  in 
the  incidents  of  the  fight.  That  heart  would 
be  incorrigible,  indeed,  which  the  scream  of 
a  Whitworth  bolt,  added  to  Pather  Corby's 
touching  appeal,  would  not  move  to  contri- 
tion."    • 

That  great  scene,  Pather  Corby  on  the  rock, 
with  his  hand  raised  above  the  kneeling  bri- 
gade, and  in  presence  of  General  Hancock 
and  the  officers  of  the  second  corps,  with  un- 
covered heads,  on  the  field  of  Gettysburg,  has 
already  attracted  the  attention  of  the  artist. 
There  is  perhaps  no  battle  scene  of  the  war 
l)etter  fitted  for  a  painting  in  which  the  moral 
sublime'  of  the  isoul  is  united  with  the  heroic 
grandeur  of  liie  battle  field.  In  1893,  Pather 
Corby  was '  decorated  by  the  State  of  New 
York' with  a  medal  of  honor,  as  a  **  Gettysburg 
Veteran."' 

Besides  these  chaplains  Who  went  directly 
from  Notre  T^ame,  many  others  who  knew  the 
university  as  their  Ahna  Mater,  found  their 


way  to  the  tented  fields  of  the  South  to  alle- 
viate the  spiritual  and  physical  wants  of  the 
soldiers  of  the  Republic.  Among  them  none 
was  more  worthy,  none  more  respected  at 
Notre  Dame  than  the  Rev.  Edmund  B.  Kil- 
roy,  of  Port  Samia,  (Canada.  It  was,  indeed, 
an  age  of  heroes. 

Military  exercises  had  ^ways  been  encour- 
aged by  Pather  Sorin,  in  part  for  the  excel- 
lent physical  training  and  gentlemanly  bear- 
ing and  manner  which  they  were  calculated 
to  impart  to  the  young  men.  In  the  spring 
of  1859,  William  P.  Lynch  was  a  student  at 
Notre  Dame.  He  was  a  skillful  tactician  who 
had  been  trained  to  an  enthusiastic  love  of 
military  affairs  under  Colonel  Elmer  Ells- 
worth, of  Zouave  fame  in  Chicago,  afterwards 
a  martyr  hero  of  the  war. 

Captain  Lynch,  as  he  soon  came  to  be  called, 
learning  of  Pather  Sorin 's  partiality  to  mili- 
tary companies,  soon  had  one  formed  among 
the  students  of  the  senior  department.  Prom 
their  captain's  memory  of  the  picturesque 
zouave  uniform,  or  perhaps  from  Pather  Sor- 
in's  admiration  of  Wiashington  and  the  sol- 
diers of  the  Revolution,  or  from  both  causes 
combined,  the  new  company  adopted  the  buff 
and  blue  uniform  of  the  Revolutionary  sol- 
diers, and  took  the  name  of  the  Continental 
Cadets.  A  company  was  also  formed  from 
the  junior  students,  and  these  were  called  the 
Washington  Cadets.  The  Continental  Cadets 
excited  a  genuine  interest  in  military  affairs, 
not  only  at  Notre  Dame,  but  also  in  South 
Bend  and  the  surrounding  country.  The  mili- 
tary was  an  unaccustomed  sight  in  those  days, 
many  persons  never  having  seen  a  company 
drill  or  march  in  serried  ranks  before.  Alas, 
the  sight  became  common  enough  very  soon. 
Almost  every  member  of  the  Continental 
Cadets  became  a  real  soldier  in  the  army,  and 
none  were  braver  men  or  truer  patriots.  Many 
of  them  became  distinguished;  many  more 
took  their  place  in  the  private  ranks,  content 
so  that  they  did  their  duty  well.  They  were 
of  the  unknown,  unheralded  heroes;  whether 
sick,  or  woiuided,  or  dead,  they  were  of  the 


Digitized  by 


Google 


638 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


mighty  majority  who  finally  restored  the 
union.  Captain  Lynch  himself  became 
Colonel  of  the  58th  Illinois  infantry,  and 
afterwards  a  Brigadier-General,  commanding 
a  division  in  the  southwest,  where  he  was 
fatally  wounded,  though  he  survived  a  few 
years.  Robert  W.  Healy,  a  noble  young  man, 
also  attained  the  rank  of  General,  and  was 
highly  appreciated  by  General  Grant  for  his 
great  services. 

Notre  Dame  is  honored  in  her  loyal  soldier 
students,  who  showed,  even  to  the  shedding  of 
their  blood,  how  deeply  inculcated  were  the 
lessons  of  patriotism  which  they  had  received 
from  their  Alma  Mater. 

One  result  of  the  war  was  the  great  influx 
of  students  from  the  border  states.  The  num- 
ber had  heretofore  slowly  but  steadily  in- 
creased, from  one  to  one  hundred  or  over. 
Father  Sorin  had  often  said  that  if  he  had 
two  hundred  students,  he  would  feel  that  the 
future  of  the  institution  was  assured.  But 
with  the  coming  on  of  the  war  the  two  hun- 
dred limit  was  soon  reached  and  passed. 

On  November  3,  1863,  there  was  rejoicing 
at  Notre  Dame.  In  the  evening  every  win- 
dow light  in  the  old  college  was  lit  with  its 
separate  candle;  there  being  neither  gas  nor 
electric  light  in  those  days.  The  enthusiastic 
youth,  John  R.  Dinnen,  and  his  numerous 
assistants  placed,  lit  and  guarded  the  candles. 
He  is  now  the  grave  and  Rev.  Father  Din- 
nen of  Lafayette,  Indiana.  In  Brother  Peter's 
garden,  in  front,  the  whole  community  gath- 
ered, and,  with  Father  Sorin  in  the  lead, 
broke  forth  into  the  triumphant  Magnificat. 
It  was  indeed  a  great  day,  for  two  hundred 
and  thirty  students  had  registered  at  Notre 
Dame. 

After  that  came  three,  four,  and  even  five 
hundred  students  who  pressed  for  admittance, 
until  every  inch  of  room  was  crowded  and  the 
halls  were  overflowing.  Even  Washington 
Hall  was  appropriated  to  college  uses.  It 
soon  became  apparent  that  the  enlai^ed  col- 
lege edifice  of  1853,  ample  as  it  then  seemed, 
was   altogether   inadequate   for  the   present 


needs.  Accordingly,  in  1865,  preparations 
were  made  to  take  down  that  building,  and 
erect  a  larger  and  more  modem  structure. 

Much  of  the  prosperity  of  the  time  was  also 
undoubtedly  due  to  the  presence  then  at  Notre 
Dame  of  a  man  of  uncommon  ability  and 
force  of  character.  Father  Patrick  Dillon,  a 
young  man  of  twenty-six,  became  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  university  in  1858,  and  retained 
that  office,  with  some  interv€ils,  until  1865. 
During  the  period  while  Father  Patrick  (as 
he  was  called,  to  distinguish  him  from  his 
brother.  Father  James  Dillon,  afterwards  a 
chaplain  in  the  army)  was  vice-president; 
and  during  the  year  or  more  thereafter,  when 
he  was  himself  president,  great  work  was 
done  at  Notre  Dame.  Father  Patric*  was  a 
man  of  the  greatest  executive  lability  and  of 
most  excellent  judgment;  and  Father  Sorin 
was  well  content  to  leave  the  charge  of  affairs 
in  the  hands  of  so  capable  a  lieutenant.  It 
was  the  period  when  Notre  Dame  passed  from 
the  time  of  inexperience,  and  trial,  and  youth- 
ful hope,  to  the  time  of  full  maturity  and 
vigor.  Not  only  were  students  increased  in 
number,  and  financial  matters  placed  on  a 
surer  footing;  but  views  for  the  conduct  of 
the  affairs  of  the  institution  were,  in  propor- 
tion, liberalized  and  enlarged,  and  the  univer- 
sity better  adapted  to  the  needs  of  the  coun- 
try. 

Father  Patrick,  greatly  aided  by  Professor 
Lucius  G.  Tong,  his  able  assistant,  and  who 
continued  the  work  after  his  untimely  death, 
enlarged  and  completed  the  development  of 
the  commercial  course  of  the  university. 
There  was  then  an  urgent  demand  manifested 
for  educated  young  men  in  commercial  pur- 
suits, and  Notre  Dame,  in  complying  with  this 
demand,  soon  began  to  send  out  these  gradu- 
ates in  large  numbers.  This  development  of 
the  commercial  course  was  of  the  utmost  value 
to  the  university  at  that  time ;  and  the  super- 
ior character  of  the  young  men  graduated  did 
very  much  to  make  the  institution  known,  and 
to  bring  in  a  high  class  of  students  also  for 
the  other  collegiate  courses. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP  ST,  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


Under  Father  Patrick,  and  for  similar  rea- 
sons, was  first  established  and  developed  the 
scientific  course  of  studies,  as  distinguished 
from  the  classical  course.  Before  this 'time 
the  sciences  were  taught  in  connection  with 
the  learned  languages,  and  degrees  were 
awarded  only  in  the  classical  course.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  degrees  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  and 
Master  of  Arts,  were  now,  therefore,  given  the 
degrees  of  Bachelor  of  Science  and  Master  of 
Science.  The  first  graduate  to  receive  the 
degree  of  B.  S.  was  Dr.  John  Cassidy,  now 
the  accomplished  physician,  of  South  Bend, 
who  took  his  degree  in  1865. 

In  this  connection  also  a  beginning  was 
made  in  the  study  of  Medicine  under  the  Rev. 
Father  Louis  Ne3nx)n,  then  a  resident  clergy- 
man, formerly  pastor  at  New  Albany,  Indi- 
ana. Father  Nejrron  had  been  a  skillful  and 
learned  physician  before  he  became  a  priest. 
He  was  a  surgeon  in  Napoleon's  army,  and 
participated  in  the  Russian  campaign,  and 
also  at  Waterloo  where  he  was  captured  by 
the  British. 

But  the  greatest  work  done  under  the  ad- 
ministration of  Father  Dillon,  considering  the 
wonderful  executive  ability  and  admirable 
business  talent  shown  by  him,  was  the  erec- 
tion of  the  new  college  building  in  1865.  In 
June  the  old  building  was  taken,  down  and  by 
September  the  new  one  was  ready  for  the 
students.  There  was  a  multitude  of  workmen 
during  the  summer,  and  the  work  done  was  a 
marvel,  in  excellence  no  less  than  in  quantity ; 
yet  everything  moved  like  clock-work  under 
direction  of  the  master  mind  in  charge. 

The  building  thus  erected  was  160  feet  in 
length,  80  feet  in  width,  and  six  stories  high, 
surmounted  by  «  colossal  statue  of  Notre 
Dame.  On  tiie  31st  of  May,  1866,  the  new 
edifice  was  dedicated  and  the  statue  blessed 
by  Archbishop  Spalding,  of  Baltimore,  as- 
sisted by  five  bishops  and  a  great  number  of 
priests,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  largest  con- 
course of  people  ever  gathered  at  Notre  Dame. 

Soon  after  the  dedication  of  the  new  Notre 
Dame,  Father  Dillon,  as  if  his  life  work  were 


done,  retired  from  the  presidency  of  the  Uni- 
versity which  he  had  so  greatly  honored,  and 
going  to  France  to  attend  a  general  Chapter 
of  the  Congregation,  was  afterwards  promoted 
to  the  position  of  Assistant  General.  He  re- 
mained in  France  for  two  years,  after  which 
he  returned  to  America,  filling  for  a  short 
time  the  position  of  pastor  of  St.  Patrick's 
Church  in  Chicago,  where  he  died  after  a 
short  illness,  November  15,  1868.  He  was  one 
of  the  great  men  of  Notre  Dame.. 

In  May,  1865,  Father  Sorin  carried  into 
effect  a  design  which  he  had  long  meditated, 
in  beginning  the  publication  of  a  periodical 
in  honor  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  Mother  of 
God.  As  with  many  of  his  other  enterprises, 
so  in  this;  numerous  persons,  even  friends 
and  sympathizers,  shook  their  heads  when  he 
commenced  the  undertaking.  The  newspaper, 
or  the  magazine,  they  said,  whichever  it  might 
be,  would  most  surely  be'  a  failure.  But 
Father  Sorin 's  faith  was  boundless.  It  was  of 
that  kind  which  removes  mountains.  Bound- 
less also  was  his  devotion  to  the  Blessed 
Mother  of  God.  To  her  special  protection  he 
implicitly  believed  were  due  all  the  great 
things  that  had  hitherto  been  done  in  this 
place  for  the  honor  of  God  and  the  good  of 
our  fellow  men. 

He  therefore  went  ahead  without  a  particle 
of  misgiving  as  to  the  result  of  his  venture. 
Yet  his  own  labor,  care  and  vigilance  in  the 
work  were  indefatigable.  He  was  a  firm  be- 
liever in  the  maxim  that  God  helps  those  that 
help  themselves.  It  had  never  been  his  habit 
to  fold  his  hands  and  leave  his  work  to  heaven. 
He  worked  himself,  and  God  with  him.  It 
was  a  favorite  saying  of  his  that  when  God 
had  great  things  to  do  he  raised  up  men  capa- 
ble of  doing  the  work. 

The  new  journal  was  named  the  Ave  Maria. 
The  first  two  numbers  were  published  in  Chi- 
cago, Father  Sorin  sending  Professor  Paul 
Broder,  a  distinguished  scholar  then  at  the 
university,  to  superintend  the  work.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  a  printing  press  with  mater- 
ial was  sent  up  here  and  Mr.  Alfred  Maurice 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


640 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Talley,  an  experienced  Chicago  printer,  put 
in  charge.  Father  Sorin  was  himself  at  first, 
and  for  a  long  time,  editor,  aided  by  Mother 
Angela,  of  St.  Mary's. 

The  event  has  justified  Father  Sorin 's 
faith,  devotion  and  indomitable  toil.  The 
**Ave  Maria'*  has  become  one  of  the  great 
religious  journals  of  the  worid,  circulating 
not  only  in  this  country,  but  in  every  comer 
of  the  globe  wherever  the  English  language 
is  spoken  by  devout  Catholics.  The  weekly 
circulation  has  long  passed  twenty  thousand. 

In  1866,  Father  Gillespie  returned  from 
France  where  he  had  been  for  three  years, 
and  soon  after  became  editor  of  the  **Ave 
Marie,"  which  place  he  continued  to  occupy 
until  his  lamented  and  untimely  death  in 
1874.  Soon  after  Father  Gillespie's  death 
the  conduct  of  the  **Ave  Maria"  fell  solely 
into  the  charge  of  the  present  efficient  editor, 
the  Bev.  Daniel  E.  Hudson,  under  whom  Our 
Lady's  journal  has  become  as  highly  literary 
and  beautiful  as  it  has  always  been  devotion- 
al and  religious.  Father  Hudson  came  to 
Notre  Dame  a  New  England  youth,  bathed  in 
the  culture  and  fine  literary  taste  of  Boston ; 
and  he  has  given  to  the  ''Ave  Maria"  the  ele- 
gance and  purity  of  diction  of  the  old  Atlan- 
tic Monthly.  The  **Ave  Maria"  has  been  in 
some  respects,  as  great  a  work  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  interests  of  religion  and  lit- 
erature, as  has  been  the  university  itself. 

Sec.  7. — A  Retrospect. — Success  had  thus 
crowned  in  a  wonderful  degree  the  work  of 
the  humble  but  earnest  toilers.  The  seed 
sown  in  1842  had.  ripened  into  a  most  bounti- 
ful harvest  in  1866. 

Such  had  Notre  Dame  become,  with  its  at- 
tractive scenery,  its  cultivated  acres,  its  pleas- 
ant grounds,  its  commodious  buildings,  its 
well-ordered  course  of  studies  and  its  con- 
scientious and  kindly  care  for  the  morals,  the 
health  and  the  intellectual  advancement  of  its 
numerous  body  of  students.  When  and  how 
had  this  been  donet  We  have  tried  to  tell. 
Not  in  one  year,  or  from  one  cause,  or  by  one 
man,  but,  under  God,  chiefly  by  one.    It  was 


under  Providence,  the  quiet,  steady  growth  of 
nearly  one  fourth  a  century,  based  at  once 
upon  the  experience  of  the  Christian  ages, 
and  upon  the  ready  tact  which  could  adapt 
that  experience  to  the  needs  of  a  new  and  rap- 
idly developing  country.  To  its  accomplish- 
ment many  minds  of  the  first  order,  many 
self-sacrificing  spirits,  had  devoted  their  best 
energies,  from  the  time  of  small  but  hopeful 
beginnings,  in  1842,  to  that  of  comparative 
vigor  and  maturity,  in  1866. 

Soon  after  this  time,  in  a  poetical  address  to 
Father  Sorin,  congratulating  him  and  his  as- 
sociates upon  the  assured  success  of  their 
labors,  the  following  thoughts,  in  illustration 
of  the  origin,  growth  and  prospects  of  the  uni- 
versity, were  indulged  in.  The  lines  were 
much  admired  by  the  late  Prof.  Joseph  Aloy- 
sius  Lyons,  and  chiefly  for  that  reascm,  and  on 
account  of  their  historical  suggestions,  they 
are  here  appended : 

NOTBE   DAME. 

As  our  Union  sprang  to  life 
From  riven  Europe's  flying  bands. 

Strong  wiUi  the  strife 
Of  those  old  lands, 

And  rich  with  culture  of  their  years, 

In  one  short  century 

A  nation  great  and  free, 
The  best  alone  her  peers: 

So  this  fair  pile 

Which  here  the  while 

Beneath  religious  smile 
Pale  learning  rears, 
By  exile  hands  from  many  lands. 
In  this  sweet  valley  on  the  virgin  earth. 
Her  total  time,  from  feeble  birth 

And  hopes  and  fears, 
To  full-grown  vigor,  beautiful  and  grand. 
Her  children's  pride,  the  blessing  of  the  land. 
Counts  scarce  one^f ourth  a  hundred  years. 

Old  England  points,  with  noble  pride. 
To  fanes  where  science,  art,  reside. 
As  well  doth  Spain  and  Germany, 
And  lovely  France  and  Italy, 
And  many  a  land  beside: 
These  are  the  fruits  of  centuries, 
Of  thought  and  toil  and  power's  decrees; 
Nor  ever  ill  their  glorious  fame  betide. 

And  in  our  favored  clime, 

The  sister  states 
Of  many  a  classic  hall  may  boast, 

Whose  open  gates 
Receive  the  earnest  youthful  host. 
Aglow  for  learning's  festivals: 
Free  classic  halls, 
As  rich  in  fruit  and  promise,  if  less  Itnown  to  time. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


64; 


But  generous  bequests 

And  state  endowments  nurtured  these. 
As  those  by  king's  bequests 

Were  formed,  and  by  the  rolling  centuries. 
What  shall  be  said 
If  learning's  fount  be  fed 
By  neither '  grateful  dew  of  years, 
Spring  floods  of  wealth,  nor  aught  power's  channel 
bears; 

But  in  the  desert  rise. 
Fed  by  the  friendly  skies, 
The  meed  of  prayer  and  toil 
To  cheer  the  arid  soil, — 
The  gift  of  faith,  the  pledge  of  love 
The  sign  of  blessing  from  above, 
Kind  Heaven's  approving  prize! 

O  happy  task,  beloved  of  heaven, 
To  thee  and  thy  companions  given, 
Prom  that  auspicious  evening  bright. 
When,   clothed   in   robes  of  snow,   baptismal 

white. 
This   virgin   forest  burst  upon  thy  raptured 
sight! 
Then  rose  thy  vow  to  heaven's  Queen 
That  she  would  bless  the  lovely  scene 
And  make  its  shades  her  dear  retreat. 
Religion's  home  and  learning's  seat 

And  since  that  hour 
The  special  power 
Of  Mary,  Queen, 
Is  felt  and  ,  seen. 
In  every  shield  from  harm. 
In  every  added  charm. 
That  marks  the  pleasing  progress  made 
From    forest    glade    to    culture's    classic 
shade. 

From  her  sweet  name,  the  land  and  lake. 
Well  pleased,  their  lovely  title  take. 
Hers  was  the  cot  beside  the  pool. 
Where  one  small  scholar  came  to  school. 
And  hers  the  present  structure  grand. 
Where  hundreds  crowd  from  all  the  land; 

Her  praise  so  long  the  soft  melodeon  sung. 

And  hers  is  from  the  mighty  organ  rung; 
Hers  is  the  magic  rhyme 
Of  sweetly  flowing  chime; 
And  hers  the  monster  bell's  sonorous  sound  sub- 
lime. 

Where  once  the  warrior  cry 

Made  horrid  discord  on  the  midnight  sky, 
There  songs  of  praise 
Meek  voices  raise. 

And  Christian  love  is  borne  on  high. 

Around  thee  stand 

A  levite  band 

Who  issue  forth  to  save  the  land. 

While  'neath  thy  care 

Blest  maidens  rear. 

In  all  sweet  grace. 

The  future  matrons  of  the  race. 

And  from  these  halls 

Their  country  calls. 

Each  rolling  year, 

Her  sons,  to  cheer 

Her  heart  again, 

And  give  the  nation  better  men. 


And  where  all  this  appears 
Scarce  more  than  one-score  years 
Saw  but  primeval  wilderness. 
The  home  of  beasts,  and  men  in  savage  dress. 
What  means  were  thine. 
This  gracious  change  divine. 
To  bring  o'er  nature's  rugged  shrine, 
Blest  Founder,  venerable,  wise,  benign? 
Those,  only  those, 
The  good  man  knows; 
Those,  only  those,      ^ 
That  God   bestows. 
His  blessings  rest  upon  thy  toil, 
His  saints  and  angels  guard  the  soil; 
And  thy  best  cheer  is  Mary's  smile. 
As  borne  on  breezes  free, 
By  hills  and  plains,  by  land  and  sea. 
Her  angel  Ave  floats  the  while, 
And  beareth  cuine  and  her  sweet  praise  o'er  many 
a  mile. 

Long  here  shall  science  dwell. 
Long  here  shall  heaven's  praises  swell. 
Still  honored  thou;  for  holy  writings  tell, 
God  giveth  more  to  those  that  use  their  talents 
well. 

When  little  time  and  less  of  gold 
Have  wrought  so  much  through  faith  and  love, 

What  may  we  trust  when  years  have  rolled. 
With  added  blessings  from  above? 

What  hope  the  ardent  toiler  cheers, 

What  mighty  hopes  the  future  bears! 

That  future  dawns,  all  lily,  rose  and  balm; 
Arise,  fair  Mother,  radiant  and  calm, 
'Tis  thine,  to  intone  the  grand,  triumphal  psalm, 
'Tis  thine,  'tis  thine,  to  bear  the  glorious  palm. 
And  call  the  nation  to  adore  the  Lamb, 
Thine,  only  thine,  beloved  Notre  Dame! 

Sec.  8. — The  Development  op  the  Univer- 
sity.— In  August,  1866,  Father  William  Cor- 
by became  president  of  the  university  and 
Father  Augustus  Lemonnier  vice-president. 
Both  of  the  new  officers  had  been  companions 
and  assistants  of  Father  Dillon.  Father  Le- 
monnier was  a  nephew  of  Father  Sorin  and 
was  first  made  prefect  of  discipline  at  Father 
Dillon's  special  request;  while  Father  Corby, 
formerly  also  prefect  of  discipline,  was  vice- 
president  and  director  of  studies  during  the 
presidency  of  Father  Dillon. 

If  the  presidency  of  Father  Sorin  was  a 
period  of  faith,  of  struggle,  and  finally  of  tri- 
lunph ;  and  that  of  Father  Dillon  one  of  great 
business  activity  and  material  prosperity,  the 
administration  of  Father  Corby  was  the  be- 
ginning of  a  time  of  earnest  devotion  to  learn- 
ing, during  which  the  standard  of  education 
at  Notre  Dame  was  substantially  elevated. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


642 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


During  this  period,  also,  the  societies  of  the 
univensity,  in  which  so  much  of  its  life  cen- 
ters, showed  a  marked  increase  of  activity. 
To  Father  Granger  the  religious  societies  owe 
everything.  He  was  their  founder,  and  not 
only  at  the  time  of  which  we  speak,  but  even 
to  the  end  of  his  blessed  course,  continued  to 
infuse  into  them  the  spirit  of  his  own  holy 
life.  The  literary  and  dramatic  societies  were 
during  the  same  period  almost  equally  indebt- 
ed to  Father  Gillespie,  Father  Lemonnier, 
and  Prof.  Joseph  A.  Lyons.  The  latter  was 
one  of  the  noblest  characters  ever  associated 
with  Notre  Dame.  Though  he  continued  to 
be  a  simple  layman  to  the  end  of  his  life,  no 
religious  was  ever  more  unselfishly  devoted 
or  more  useful  to  his  Alma  Mater. 

Others  who  aided  Father  Corby  in  the 
building  up  of  the  university  during  his  first 
presidency,  and  who  greatly  widened  the  in- 
fluence of  Notre  Dame  throughout  the  coun- 
try, were  Father  Joseph  C.  Carrier,  Father 
Thomas  L.  Vagnier,  Father  Michael  B.  Brown, 
Father  Timothy  Maher,  Father  Daniel  J. 
SpiUard,  Father  John  A.  O'Connell,  Father 
Edward  Lilly,  Father  William  Ruthman, 
Father  Peter  Lauth,  Father  Patrick  Condon, 
Father  John  M.  Toohey,  Father  John 
O'Keeflfe,  Brothei^  Phillip,  Brother  Francis 
De  Sales,  Brother  Basil,  Brother  Benjamin, 
Brother  Edward,  Brother  Leopold,  Brother 
Benoit,  Brother  Florentius,  Brother  Charles, 
Brother  Alban,  Brother  Celestine,  Brother 
Marcellinus,  Brother  Emmanuel,  Brother 
Albert,  Brother  Paul,  Professors  William 
Ivers,  Arthur  J.  Stace,  Lucius  G.  Tong,  Tim- 
othy E.  Howard,  Michael  A.  J.  Baasen, 
Michael  T.  Corby,  Edward  A.  McNally, 
Charles  J.  Lundy,  William  T.  Johnson,  and 
others  whose  names  will  recur  to  those 
familiar  with  college  life  during  the  later  six- 
ties and  earlier  seventies.  Silently  and  stead- 
ily those  earnest  and  learned  fathers,  brothers 
and  laymen  built  up  the  courses  of  study, 
and  enlarged  the  departments  of  learning  at 
Notre  Dame,  until  from  an  obscure  college  it 


began  to  be  recognized  as  a  promising  univer- 
sity. 

As  the  foundations  of  Notre  Dame  were  laid 
in  1842,  the  Silver  Jubilee  should  properly 
have*  been  celebrated  in  1867.  The  truth  is, 
however,  that  the  institution  then  scarcely 
felt  itself  suflSciently  upon  its  feet  to  begin 
the  celebration  of  its  past  career;  and  it  was 
not  until  two  years  later  that  this  jubilee  was 
resolved  upon.  Accordingly  the  date  of  the 
charter,  1844,  and  not  the  date  of  the  found- 
ing, was  fixed  upon  as  the  point  from  which 
the  silver  period  should  be  reckoned. 

Francis  C.  Bigelow,  a  graduate  of  1862, 
and  at  the  time  a  rising  lawyer  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  but  afterwards  a  valued  member  of  the 
order  of  the  Holy  Cross,  and  so  known  to  us 
as  Father  Bigelow,  was  the  first  to  suggest  the 
formation  of  a  society  of  the  Alumni  of  Notre 
Dame.  This  association  was  finally  perfected 
on  the  27th  day  of  June,  1868 ;  when  a  consti- 
tution and  by-laws  were  drawn  up,  and  the 
following  oflScers  selected : 

President,  Rev.  Neil  H.  Gillespie;  1st  Vice- 
President,  Francis  C.  Bigelow,  Dayton,  Ohio ; 
2d  Vice-President,  James  B.  Runnion,  Chi- 
cago ;  Treasurer,  Prof.  Joseph  A.  Lyons ;  Sec- 
retary, Prof.  Michael  T.  Corby;  Orator,  Rev. 
Edmund  B.  Balroy,  Port  Sarnia,  Ontario; 
Alternate  Orator,  James  O'Brien,  Galena, 
Illinois;  Poet,  Prof.  Timothy  E.  Howard; 
Alternate  Poet,  Prof.  Arthur  J.  Stace. 

In  April,  1869,  the  local  Alumni  Conunit- 
tee  resolved  that  a  Memorial  of  the  Silver 
Jubilee,  to  be  celebrated  in  June  following, 
should  be  prepared.  To  Father  Gillespie  was 
assigned  the  task  of  preparing  a  History  of 
Notre  Dame  for  this  Memorial.  Father  Brown 
was  appointed  to  write  brief  biographies  of 
the  members  of  the  Alumni  or  graduates  of 
the  classical  and  scientific  courses,  to  be  print- 
ed in  the  same  volume.  Prof.  Stace  was 
selected  to  prepare  for  the  book  sketches  of 
the  societies,  classes  and  amusements  of  the  in- 
stitution. Finally,  to  Prof.  Lyons  was  as- 
signed the  task  of  publishing  the  ambitious 
little  venture.    The  result  of  these  labors  was 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


643 


the  book  of  tho  Silver  Jubilee,  to  which  we 
have  been  no  little  indebted  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  present  undertaking. 

Alas,  not  one  of  those  genial  literary  lights 
who  brought  out  the  Silver  Jubilee  is  left  to 
aid  in  celebrating  this  golden  jubilee.  May 
they  look  down  with  kindly  sympathy  and  aid 
upon  the  labor  of  love  in  which  their  long- 
time friends  and  associates  are  engaged  in 
preparing  for  that  golden  jubilee  which  they 
all  hoped  to  see. 

It  need  hardy  be  said  that  the  jubilee  was 
observed  in  a  fitting  manner.  There  were  three 
preliminary  celebrations.  These  were  in  part 
in  recognition  of  the  honor  bestowed  on 
Father  Sorin  at  the  General  Chapter  of  the 
Congregation,  held  under  the  presidency  of 
Cardinal  Bamabo,  at  Rome,  during  the  sum- 
mer of  1868,  when  the  venerable  founder  of 
Notre  Dame  was  elevated  to  the  office  of  Su- 
perior General  of  the  Congregation  of  the 
Holy  Cross,  the  first  American  to  attain  to 
such  a  dignity  in  a  religious  order  of  the 
church. 

The  first  of  the  preliminary  celebrations 
was  that  of  the  patronal  feast  of  Father  Sorin, 
thereafter  usually  called  Father  General. 
This  was  on  October  13,  1868,  St.  Ediward's 
Day,  known  during  late  years  as  Founder's 
Day.  This  was  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Thespian  and  Philharmonic  societies.  It  was 
ushered  in  by  the  ringing  of  bells,  and  the 
stirring  music  of  the  university  comet  band ; 
and  consisted  of  a  drama,  orchestral  music, 
addresses  in  prose  and  verse  in  mimy  lan- 
guages and  in  songs  prepared  for  the  occa- 
sion. 

The  second  was  by  the  Silver  Jubilee  Club 
on  the  27th  of  April,  1869,  in  the  absence  of 
Father  Sorin  who  was  at  the  time  on  a  visit 
to  France.  It  was  a  musical,  allegorical  and 
humorous  entertainment,  prepared  chiefly  by 
Prof.  Stace,  who  was  gifted  with  rare  talent 
in  this  line.  The  Rev.  Father  Granger,  suc- 
cessor to  Father  Sorin,  as  provincial  of  the 
congregation  in  the  United  States,  presided 


on  this  occasion  with  that  modest  self-abnega- 
tion which  was  one  of  his  characteristics. 

The  third  preliminary  jubilee  celebration 
was  on  the  return  of  Father  Sorin  from 
France,  May  22,  1869.  The  comet  band, 
then  in  charge  of  the  enthusiastic  Prof.  John 
O'Neill,  leading  a  large  concourse  of  the 
equally  enthusiastic  inmates  of  Notre  Dame, 
met  Father  Sorin  at  the  railway  station  in 
South  Bend.  It  was  a  triumphal  procession 
to  the  university. .  How  different  from  the 
occasion  twenty-seven  years  before,  when 
Father  Sorin  with  his  five  brothers  were 
piloted  through  the  woods  from  the  village 
to  the  lake,  by  that  little  boy  who  was  after- 
wards the  first  student  of  Notre  Dame !  Mid 
the  ringing  of  the  great  bell  and  the  sweet 
chiming  of  the  small  ones,  the  procession  en- 
tered the  church,  where  a  solemn  Te  Deum 
was  sung.  In  the  evening  Washington  Hall 
was  again  the  scene  of  congratulations  and 
pleasant  entertainment.  On  account  of  the 
peculiar  splendor  of  the  occasion,  the  staid 
faculty  were  represented  on  the  platform,  in 
an  address  by  Prof.  Tong,  supported  on  either 
hand  by  Prof.  Lyons  and  Prof.  Ivors.  Father 
Sorin 's  acknowledgements,  in  response  to  all 
these  demonstrations,  were  most  felicitous. 

Two  other  celebrations  of  that  jubilee  year, 
that  by  Prof.  Lyons'  St.  Cecilians  in  Decem- 
ber and  that  of  Washington's  birthday,  under 
direction  of  Prof.  Corby,  while  given  at  the 
times  usual  every  year,  were  yet  characterized 
by  the  spirit  of  the  jubilee,  and  were  of  un- 
usual excellence. 

As  if  the  students'  delight  could  not  find 
vent  otherwise,  the  jubilee  was  not  made  alone 
in  honor  of  Father  Sorin,  but  special  ad- 
dresses and  other  honors  were  provided  for 
the  local  officers.  The  address  to  Rev.  Father 
Granger,  provincial,  was  by  Mr.  James  Cun- 
nea,  since  a  banker  of  Cleveland;  that  to 
Father  Corby,  president  and  local  superior, 
was  by  Dennis  A.  Clarke,  now  Father  Clarke, 
of  Columbus,  Ohio;  that  to  Father  Lemonnier, 
vice-president    and   director   of   studies,    by 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


644 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


James  A.  O'Reilly,  of  Pittsburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania; and  that  to  Father  Spillard,  prefect 
of  discipline,  by  William  A.  Walker. 

On  June  22,  solemn  high  mass  was  cele- 
brated by  Father  Sorin,  assisted  by  Father 
Kilroy  as  deacon  and  Father  Cooney  as  sub- 
deacon,  and  by  Father  Spillard  as  master  of 
ceremonies.  Reception  to  the  alumni,  ban- 
quet, songs  composed  for  the  occasion  by 
Father  Brown,  with  music  by  the  veteran 
Prof.  Girac,  and  sung  by  Prof.  Corby,  with 
speeches,  addresses  and  dramas,  followed  in 
profusion. 

The  sweet  voice  of  Vincent  Hackman,  of  St. 
Louis,  then  at  its  perfection,  is  remembered 
to  this  day.  There  was  also  a  song  by  another 
youth,  James  F.  Edwards,  now  the  erudite 
scholar,  Prof.  Edwards,  the  librarian  of  the 
university,  the  creator  of  Bishops'  Memorial 
Hall,  and  collector  of  the  Catholic  Archives 
of  the  United  States.  David  J.  Wile,  after- 
wards a  distinguished  attomey-at-law,  is  also 
remembered  for  his  brilliant  addresses  and 
his  fine  rendition  of  dramatic  characters  on 
those  jubilee  days,  the  preludes  to  the  eminent 
place  in  after  years  assumed  by  him  at  the 
bar. 

The  attendance  was  very  large,  especially 
of  the  old  students,  and  the  old-time  friends 
of  Notre  Dame.  Those  jubilee  days  showed 
how  warm  a  place  their  Alma  Mater  had  won 
in  the  hearts  of  those  who  knew  her  best, 
and  how  widespread  was  the  influence  which 
she  already  exerted. 

The  literary  instinct,  as  we  have  already 
intimated,  was  developed  early  at  Notre 
Dame.  This,  too,  was  in  great  measure  due 
to  Father  Sorin.  Although  he  came  to  In- 
diana with  but  slight  knowledge  of  the 
language  of  the  country,  yet  his  education 
was  a  superior  one,  and  nature  had  endowed 
him  with  a  fine  taste  in  literature,  and  the 
arts.  This  taste  he  had  highly  cultivated,  and 
he  was  always  quick  to  appreciate  and  ready 
to  praise  excellence  in  speech  and  composition. 
Indeed  he  became  himself  the  master  of  a 
forcible,  exact,  and  even  elegant  English  style. 


He  was,  therefore,  fitted  to  distinguish  the 
mastery  of  English  composition  at  the  begin- 
ning manifested  by  Father  Shawe  and  Gard- 
ner Jones,  and  afterwards  by  Father  Gillespie, 
and  by  his  brilliant  sister.  Mother  Angela. 
In  addition,  Father  Sorin 's  sympathies  with 
American  institutions  naturally  led  him  to 
desire  that  the  graduates  of  the  university 
should  be  proficient  in  the  use  of  the  language 
of  the  country,  thus  at  once  making  them 
proud  of  their  country  and  enabling  them  to 
become  leaders  in  its  service. 

Literature  and  oratory  were  accordingly 
cultivated  at  Notre  Dame  from  the  beginning. 
The  dramatic  societies  and  the  debating  clubs 
at  first  gave  vent  to  this  taste.  The  noble 
lines  of  Shakspeare,  of  Sheridan  and  of  Gold- 
smith, resounded  from  the  mimic  stage ;  while 
the  eloquence  of  Edmund  Burke,  Patrick 
Henry,  Daniel  0  'Connell  and  Daniel  Webster 
furnished  models  for  the  youthful  orators. 

In  time,  original  efforts  were  made,  and 
speeches,  addresses  and  poems  were  heard  in 
public  at  Notre  Dame,  which  gave  to  the 
visitors  but  a  slight  indication  of  the  laborious 
literary  toils  of  the  young  aspirants  for  fame. 
Finally,  in  the  literary  and  debating  societies 
fuller  and  freer  means  of  expression  were  de- 
manded. The  weekly  essays  in  the  classes  of 
grammar,  rhetoric  and  English  literature  but 
whetted  the  appetite  for  a  wider  and  more 
varied  audience  than  that  afforded  by  the 
class-room.  The  St.  Aloysius  Philodemic  So- 
ciety, the  St.  Edward  Literary  Society  and 
the  St.  Cecilia  Philomathean  Society  were  the 
chief  nurseries  of  these  embryo  authors  and 
oi*ators. 

The  earliest  formal  publication  containing 
selections  from  the  writings  of  the  students 
was  the  ** Progress,"  a  manuscript  paper.  Its 
origin  was  due  to  John  Collins,  Francis  C. 
Bigelow,  Ben.  B.  Barron  and  John  H.  Flem- 
ing, and  it  was  at  first  circulated  amongst  the 
more  appreciative  literary  denizens  of  the 
university.  An  earlier  manuscript  paper 
called  the  ** Notre  Dame  Literary  Gazette,'' 
through   a   prefect's  misunderstanding,   had 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


645 


been  summarily  destroyed;  and  for  this  rea- 
son chiefly  John  Collins  was  inspired  to  bring 
out  the  paper  permanently,  and  hence  the 
bold  name  of  **  Progress.  '  So  well  was  the 
**  Progress"  received,  however,  that  the 
faculty  appointed  an  evening  every  two  weeks 
when  the  little  paper  was  read  in  public  in 
the  senior  study  hall,  where  Brother  Benoit 
presided  with  so  much  decorum.  This  was  a 
great  step  in  advance,  and  the  reading  was 
looked  forward  to  as  the  finest  treat  imagin- 
able. The  manuscript  was  written  out  in  the 
elegant  penmanship  of  John  H.  Fleming, 
Horatio  Colvin,  George  P.  B.  Collins,  Lucius 
6.  Tong,  Orville  T.  Chamberlain  and  others, 
and  was  read  as  easily  as  print.  One  copy 
only  was  printed,  that  was  for  the  commence- 
ment of  1860,  when  it  was  read  by  James  B. 
Runnion,  one  of  its  chief  contributors,  and 
who  himself  became  afterwards  noted  as  an 
editor  and  dramatic  author. 

"When  Pather  Gillespie  was  sent  to  Prance 
in  1863,  the  ** Progress"  soon  languished,  its 
place  being  fitfully  taken  by  what  Prof.  Stace 
called  **such  surreptitious  publications  as  the 
*  Olympic  Gazette,'  the  'Weekly  Bee'  and 
others." 

In  1866  Pather  Gillespie  returned,  and 
there  is  no  doubt  that  his  return  awakened  a 
distinct  revival  in  literary  studies.  The 
**Ave  Maria"  had  already  been  established, 
and  a  printing  press  was  in  operation  at 
Notre  Dame.  The  war,  too,  was  over,  and 
college  life  had  settled  down  to  thoughts  of 
literature,  arts  and  science.  A  great  intellec- 
tual era  had  set  in.  The  time  was  therefore 
ripe  for  a  college  paper.  Pather  Corby,  the 
president,  gave  the  project  his  hearty  en- 
couragement, and  Pather  Lemonnier,  the  vice- 
president  and  director  of  studies,  took  an 
active  part  in  its  establishment.  After  some 
discussion  the  ** Scholastic  Year"  was  fixed 
upon  as  the  name  of  the  new  venture  the  idea 
being  that  the  paper  should  be  published  only 
during  the  scholastic  year,  or  from  September 
till  June  each  year. 

The  plan  of  organization  was  that  a  select 


corps  of  students,  under  supervision  of  Pather 
Gillespie,  should  prepare  the  matter.  Pather 
Gillespie  being  also  the  editor  of  the  **Ave 
Maria,"  the  plan  worked  as  well,  perhaps,  as 
any  that  could  be  devised.  The  first  number 
was  issued  September  7,  1867.  It  was  in  the 
beginning  little  more  than  a  fly  leaf  of  the 
**Ave  Maria,"  to  which  it  was  attached.  As 
stated  in  the  salutatory,  printed  in  the  first 
number,  it  was  intended  chiefly,  in  addition 
to  being  a  literary  medium  for  the  writings 
of  students,  **to  give  to  parents  frequent  ac- 
counts of  the  institution  in  which  they  had 
placed  their  children." 

In  March,  1868,  the  editorial  supervision 
fell  into  the  hands  of  Pather  Lemonnier,  as 
director  of  studies,  and  for  many  years  the 
director  of  studies  continued  to  be  the  nominal 
editor,  selecting  and  classifying  the  matter 
furnished  him  by  the  students.  The  original 
idea,  though,  of  an  editorial  corps  of  students, 
has  always  remained  a  constituent  part  of  the 
plan  of  organization.  Very  early,  however, 
contributions  were  offered  and  received  from 
the  whole  body  of  the  students,  each  one  being 
encouraged  and  urged  to  write  for  the  pages 
of  the  college  paper. 

Beginning  with  August,  1868,  the  **  Scholas- 
tic Year"  was  published  entirely  separate 
from  the  **Ave  Maria."  The  venture  had 
proved  a  success,  and  henceforth  the  little 
paper  was  felt  to  be  an  essential  part  and 
parcel  of  the  university.  In  1869,  the  name 
was  changed  by  Pather  Gillespie  to  the 
** Notre  Dame  Scholastic."  This  name,  in 
September,  1872,  was  modified  by  Pather 
Brown,  then  in  charge,  into  the  **  Scholastic, " 
simply.  But  three  years  later,  in  September, 
1875,  the  want  of  a  local  flavor  in  the  name 
was  perceived  amongst  the  exchanges,  and 
the  former  appellation  of  **  Notre  Dame 
Scholastic,"  was  restored.  This  has  con- 
tinued to  be  the  name  ever  since. 

Prom  the  beginning  the  editorial  supervi- 
sion has  been,  successively,  in  the  hands  of 
Pathers  N.  H.  Gillespie,  A.  Lemonnier,  M.  B. 
Brown,  P.  C.  Bigelow,  Bro.  Stanislaus,  James 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


646 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Rogers,  Thomas  McNamara,  John  A.  O'Con- 
nell,  W.  A.  Maloney  and  James  French  and 
their  successors,  and  to  the  guiding  genius  of 
those  gentle  spirits  the  very  high  rank  which 
the  paper  has^  attained  is  in  great  measure 
due.  While,  however,  the  work  was  thus 
supervised,  the  splendid  material  which  has 
for  so  many  years  filled  the  columns  of  this 
journal,  has  been  almost  exclusively  furnished 
by  the  literary  and  scientific  students  of  the 
university.  It  has  been  to  them  a  great  edu- 
cator, drawing  out  the  modest  talent  that 
might  not  otherwise  have  manifested  itself. 

As  indicating  the  rank  assigned  to  the 
** Scholastic"  by  its  contemporaries,  we  take 
the  following  from  the  **  Portfolio, '*  Wesleyan 
College,  Hamilton,  Ontario,  for  May,  1882, 
which,  though  foreign  in  nationality  and  op- 
posed in  religion,  could  thus  judge  fairly  of 
true  merit : 

**0f  the  'Notre  Dame  Scholastic,'  what 
shall  we  sayt  If  there  be  one  paper  devoted 
to  college  literature  that  pursues  the  even 
tenor  of  its  way,  heedless  alike  of  the  smiles 
or  frowns  of  its  contemporaries,  it  surely 
must  be  the  'Scholastic'  Published  under  a 
government  differing  in  many  particulars 
from  our  own,  and  the  organ  of  a  church  col- 
lege opposed  to  us  in  many  points,  it  cannot 
but  give  us  great  pleasure  to  find  such  patrio- 
tism and  loyalty  to  principles,  with  such  com- 
plete absence  of  bigotry  as  mark  each  issue 
of  the 'Scholastic'  .  .  .  Would  it  not  be 
well  to  inform  ourselves  better  as  to  what  the 
Roman  Catholic  church  has  done  and  is  still 
doing  for  civilization,  taking  notice  of  papers 
evincing  so  high  a  degree  of  culture  as  the 
'Scholastic,'  before  we  condemn  the  whole 
church  as  the  supporters  of  ignorance  and 
superstition?  May  the  future  of  our  friend 
be  even  brighter  than  the  past,  and  its  visits 
to  us  always  afford  as  much  satisfaction  as  at 
present!" 

So  excellent  had  become  the  literary  quality 
of  the  "Scholastic"  that  a  desire  was  mani- 
fested to  select  and  publish  in  more  perman- 
ent form  the  best  articles  appearing  in  prose 


and  verse,  together  with  calendars  and  other 
matters  usually  going  with  year  books. 

The  task  of  compilation  was  undertaken  by 
Professor  Lyons;  and  the  first  of  the  "Scho- 
lastic Annuals"  was  issued  for  the  year  1876. 
And  for  every  year  thereafter,  until  his 
lamented  death,  in  1888,  Professor  Lyons 
issued  the  priceless  annual.  It  forms  a 
treasure  of  good  things,  and  is  beyond  all 
value  to  those  who  knew  Notre  Dame  during 
the  thirteen  years  of  its  publication. 

This  was  but  one  of  the  many  works  pub- 
lished during  his  too-short  life  by  Professor 
Lyons.  He  had  a  genius  for  young  men, 
knew  their  needs  and  their  aspirations,  and 
had  an  uncommon  knowledge  of  the  means 
necessary  to  make  them  noble  men.  How 
many,  many  a  young  man  learned  from  him 
to  live  uprightly,  purely  and  grandly !  How 
attached  were  they  to  him  in  life,  and  how 
they  mourned  him  in  death! 

During  the  presidency  of  Father  Dillon,  as 
we  have  seen,  a  scientific  course  of  studies  was 
established,  and  students  began  to  be  gradu- 
ated in  this  course  as  well  as  in  the  classical. 
But  it  was  not  until  the  administration  of 
Father  Corby  and  that  of  Father  Lemonnier 
that  this  course  was  firmly  established. 

During  the  first  quarter  of  a  century  of 
its  existence,  the  curriculum  of  studies  of  the 
University  of  Notre  Dame  was  that  of  an 
ordinary  college,  with  a  single  faculty — ^that 
of  arts.  During  this  period  the  progress  of 
Notre  Dame,  as  an  educational  institution, 
while  necessarily  slow,  was  yet  healthful. 
Year  by  year,  her  sole  faculty  increased  in 
numbers  and  eflSciency,  so  that  in  1867,  and 
at  the  celebration  of  her  silver  jubilee,  she 
could  rightfully  claim  a  high  and  most  hcmor- 
able  rank  among  American  colleges,  but  noth- 
ing more.  That  year  witnessed  a  great 
awakening  and  a  generous  effort  towards 
higher  destinies.  The  work  of  a  real  univer- 
sity was  about  to  take  form,  not  at  once,  but 
gradually ;  the  elements  of  success  for  the  new 
departure  were  very  diligently  gathered  to- 
gether. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


647 


Able  professors,  both  lay  and  cleric,  were 
secured;  the  curriculum  of  studies  was 
thoroughly  revised  and  greatly  enlarged  and 
improved;  the  cabinet  of  physics  was  over- 
hauled, rearranged  and  much  increased  by 
the  purchase  of  new  instruments ;  the  library 
and  the  museum  were  considerably  augmented 
and  were  catalogued  and  moved  to  better 
quarters. 

These  important  departments  had  hereto- 
fore, of  necessity,  remained  almost  stationary, 
rather  through  want  of  funds,  however,  than 
from  inattention  or  indifference.  In  1860  the 
library  had  barely  contained  two  thousand 
volumes,  and  these  chiefly  in  French  and 
Latin,  and  of  little  use  to  students  or  profes- 
sors. The  museum  then  consisted  of  a  num- 
ber of  stuffed  animals  and  birds,  with  a  small 
collection  of  eggs,  chiefly  purchased  in  1856. 
Unfortunately,  for  want  of  space,  these  ob- 
jects of  natural  history  were  placed  in  an 
ill-lighted  upper  hall.  One  part  of  the  collec- 
tion was  of  great  value,  both  from  a  pecuniary 
and  a  scientific  point  of  view ;  that  was  the 
great  hei^barium  presented  to  the  university 
in  1855,  by  the  eminent  French  botanist,  De 
Cauvin. 

Yet,  when  we  consider  her  humble  begin- 
nings, bordering  on  absolute  destitution  of 
almost  everything  needful  for  success,  Notre 
Dame  had  made  strenuous  efforts,  and  not  in 
vain,  to  reach  the  higher  plane  to  which  she 
was  evidently  destined  under  Divine  Provi- 
dence. With  the  new  buildings  of  1865, 
much  better  accommodations  were  provided; 
and  with  these  material  improvements  a 
strong  impulse  for  a  higher  educational  life 
was  felt»  and  a  well  directed  determination 
was  manifested  on  the  part  of  the  college 
authorities  to  raise  the  standard  and  to  ex- 
pand the  circle  of  studies.  These  impulses 
and  efforts  soon  led  the  way  to  a  new  era  of 
university  life  and  action. 

Of  the  army  chaplains  who  went  to  the 
front  during  the  war,  for  the  Union,  three, 
as  we  have  seen.  Father  James  Dillon,  Father 
Leveque   and  Father  Bourget,   died   as   the 


result  of  their  toils  and  exposure  during  the 
service ;  two  others,  Father  Cooney  and  Father 
Gillen,  entered  on  the  labors  of  the  mission. 
The  remaining  two.  Father  Corby  and  Father 
Carrier,  drawn  by  the  original  bent  of  their 
minds  and  hearts,  returned  to  the  congenial 
pursuits  of  literature,  science  and  the  arts. 

Father  Corby  was  now  president  of  the  uni- 
versity, and  Father  Joseph  C.  Carrier  was  a 
member  of  the  faculty  and  of  the  Council  of 
Administration.  Both,  with  their  ardent  na- 
tures, cultured  minds  and  wide  experience, 
were  enthusiastic  for  the  future  of  education 
at  Notre  Dame.  As  preliminary  to  the  im- 
provements contemplated.  Father  Carrier  was, 
in  the  spring  of  1866,  sent  to  France  on  busi- 
ness for  the  university  and  for  the  Congrega- 
tion of  the  Holy  Cross.  He  was  commissioned 
to  procure,  amongst  other  things,  books  for 
the  library,  instruments  for  the  cabinet  of 
physics,  chemicals  for  the  laboratory,  and  ob- 
jects of  natural  history  for  the  museum.  Dur- 
ing the  seven  months  of  his  stay  in  Paris, 
Father  Carrier  was  not  a  day  idle  in  the  gay 
capital,  but  was  constantly  engaged  in  the 
furtherance  of  the  interests  entrusted  to  his 
care.  That  his  mission  was  successful  may  be 
known  from  the  fact  that  more  than  twenty 
large  boxes  were  forwarded  from  Paris  to 
Notre  Dame,  containing  a  multitude  of  ob- 
jects, mainly  for  use  in  the  university  and  in 
the  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart.  Among  the 
objects  so  sent  may  be  mentioned  the  fine  six- 
inch  telescope,  a  gift  from  Napoleon  III;  a 
collection  of  two  hundred  volumes  presented 
by  the  French  government;  and  numerous 
church  ornaments  and  sacred  vessels,  pre- 
sented by  the  emperor,  the  empress  and  the 
prince  imperial. 

On  his  return  to  Notre  Dame,  Father  Car- 
rier was  entrusted  with  the  task  of  putting 
the  scientific  course  of  studies  upon  a  satis- 
factory basis.  This  was  an  important  step 
towards  realizing  the  idea  of  a  university,  and 
henceforth  that  idea  was  never  lost  sight  of, 
until  finally  it  has  attained  its  present  de- 
velopment. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


648 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Father  Carrier  was  at  first  librarian,  cura- 
tor of  the  museum  and  professor  of  physics 
and  chemistry.  He  devoted  the  autumn  of 
1866  and  the  early  part  of  the  next  year  to 
re-arranging,  systematizing  and  classifying 
the  now  greatly  enlarged  library,  museum 
and  laboratory.  A  little  observatory  was 
erected,  and  the  large  telescope  found  a  place 
imder  its  revolving  dome.  At  the  beginning 
of  the  second  session  of  1866-7,  a  class  of 
botany  was  organized,  the  starting  of  the  class 
being  attended  with  much  enthusiasm.  A 
corps  of  four  or  five  competent  professors 
was  secured,  and  the  course  was  fully  under 
way  in  September,  1867,  the  general  direction 
of  the  classes  being  for  several  years  under 
Father  Carrier.  The  several  branches  of  the 
physical  and  natural  sciences,  physics,  chem- 
istry, zoology,  botany,  mineralogy,  geology, 
physiology,  and  comparative  anatomy,  were 
taught  with  success. 

After  a  year  or  two  Father  John  A.  Zahm, 
since  the  distinguished  scientist  and  author, 
whose  ** Sound  and  Music"  and  other  works 
have  attracted  world-wide  attention,  was  as- 
sistant director  and  able  professor  in  the 
course.  Other  professors  were  Fathers 
Thomas  L.  Vagnier,  Alexander  M.  Kirsch, 
Louis  Nfeyron,  Professors  Stace,  Baasen,  Ivers, 
Howard  and  others. 

In  order  to  enhance  the  efficiency  of  the 
scientific  course  of  studies,  and  to  foster  a 
more  intimate  bond  of  fellowship  amongst  its 
professors  and  students,  there  was  established, 
in  the  spring  of  1868,  the  United  Scientific 
Association,  at  whose  meetings  valuable  pa- 
pers were  read  by  both  teachers  and  pupils. 

The  little  botanical  garden,  to  the  west  of 
the  old  church,  laid  out  by  Father  Carrier  in 
the  spring  of  1867,  will  be  remembered  by 
many.  The  larger  garden  laid  out  by  him 
with  great  labor  and  success,  at  a  later  date, 
in  1872,  at  the  east  end  at  St.  Joseph's  lake, 
was  at  the  time  perhaps  the  most  complete 
botanical  garden  in  the  country.  Here  the 
student  of  plants  and  flowers  read  nature 
more  perfectly  than  in  any  book,  especially 


when  the  genial  and  devoted  master.  Father 
Carrier,  was  present  to  translate  for  his  pu- 
pils dame  nature's  obscurer  language. 

In  the  early  seventies,  a  thorough  course  of 
civil  engineering  was  established,  and  also  a 
partial  course  in  medicine.  The  departments 
thus  organized,  together  with  the  older  de- 
partments of  literature  and  the  arts,  and  the 
later  ones  of  applied  electricity,  of  biology 
and  mechanical  engineering,  have  continued 
to  prosper  ta  this  day,  and  the  scholars  there 
formed  have  everjrwhere  reflected  the  highest 
credit  on  their  Alma  Mater. 

Father  Carrier,  after  presiding  for  some 
time  over  educational  institutions  in  Texas 
and  at  Cincinnati,  has  now  for  many  years 
foimd  himself  at  St.  Laurent  college,  near 
Montreal,  where  he  retired  in  part  on  account 
of  ill  health  resulting  from  his  military  ser- 
vice, and  where  he  continues  as  at  Notre 
Dame,  the  devotee  of  scientific  pursuits.  For 
Notre  Dame,  he  did  indeed  a  great  work,  the 
fruits  of  which  we  have  long  been  reaping. 

In  1868,  under  the  presidency  of  Father 
Corby  also,  the  board  of  trustees  took  the 
first  steps  towards  organizing  a  law  school  at 
Notre  Dame.  In  January,  1869,  the  law  de- 
partment was  formally  established,  and  on 
February  1,  of  that  year,  classes  were  opened. 
The  classes  in  law  were  at  first  under  direc- 
tion of  Professor  Colovin,  a  progressive  and 
active  young  lawyer,  brother  of  Father  Colo- 
vin, afterwards  president  of  the  university. 
Other  teachers,  either  solely  or  in  part  in 
charge  of  the  law  classes  for  several  years 
thereafter,  were  Professor  Peter  Foote,  an 
attomey-at-law  from  Chicago;  Francis  C. 
Bigelow,  from  Dayton,  Ohio,  afterwards 
Father  Bigelow;  the  Hon.  Lucius  G.  Tong, 
already  named  as  connected  with  Father 
Patrick  Dillon  in  establishing  the  commercial 
department  of  the  university,  and  others. 

The  following  further  history  of  the  law 
department  of  Notre  Dame,  with  some*  intro- 
ductory' matter,  is  taken  from  a  New  York 
law  journal  :^ 

a.  Intercollegiate  Law  Journal,  New  York,  June 
and  July,  1892. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COXJNTY. 


649 


The  University  of  Notre  Dame  is  situated 
about  a  mile  north  of  the  corporate  limits  of 
South  Bend,  Indiana,  a  city  of  27,000  in- 
habitants. It  is  owned  and  conducted  by  a 
famous  religious  community  of  the  Catholic 
church,  known  as  the  Congregation  of  the 
Holy  Cross.  It  was  established  in  1842,  and 
chartered  in  1844.  While  Catholic  students 
are  in  the  majority,  yet  students  of  all  reli- 
gious denominations  attend.  However,  re- 
ligion is  never  made  the  subject  of  controver- 
sy, and  there  is  absolutely  no  friction  on 
account  of  it.  Freedom  of  opinion  in  that 
regard  is  respected  and  Secured  in  all  cases. 

The  building  comprising  the  university  pro- 
per, and  its  several  departments,  are  among 
•the  stateliest  and  most  attractive  in  the  West. 
The  chief  ones  are  ranged  in  the  form  of  a 
parallelogram  or  square.  They  are  the  uni- 
versity proper,  the  conservatory  of  music, 
exhibition  hall,  department  of  mechanical  en- 
gineering, observatory,  U.  S.  post  oflSce,  li- 
brary department  of  law,  and  the  church. 
Back  of  them  are  the  manual  labor  and  agri- 
cultural schools,  a  large  printing  oflSce  and 
bindery,  a  seminary  or  ecclesiastical  school,  a 
novitiate  and  normal  school,  and  an  infirmary 
or  hospital,  together  with  bath-houses,  gym- 
nasiums, etc. 

The  grounds  are  very  extensive  and  com- 
prise at  least  one  thousand  acres.  Just  north, 
and  in  the  rear  of  the  main  building,  is  one 
of  the  most  attractive  little  lakes,  in  the  state. 
It  is  about  a  mile  in  circumference,  and  the 
receding  shores  rise  to  a  considerable  length, 
and,Are  crowned  with  a  heavy  growth  of  tim- 
ber. The  lake  is  made  available  for  boating 
in  the  summer  and  skating  in  the  winter.  Be- 
sides, the  St.  Joseph  river,  skirting  the  uni- 
versity grounds,  is  less  than  a  mile  distant. 
The  outlying  grounds,  comprising  about  five 
hundred  acres,  are  under  cultivation.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  land  around  the  university  the 
corporation  owns,  in  the  adjoining  township, 
a  farm  of  three  thousand  acres.  This  is  used 
for  agricultural  and  grazing  purposes. 

The  students  board,  lodge,  and  have  their 
school  year  homes  at  the  university.  As  the 
law  students  enter  into  the  general  current 
of  collegiate  life  it  is  thought  advisable  to 
give  these  preliminary  facts  before  dealing 
especially  with  the  law  department. 

This  was  founded  in  1869  by  the  Very  Rev. 
William  Corby,  then  president  of  the  uni- 
versity. However,  after  the  fire  of  1879, 
which   destroyed   all  the   old  buildings,   the 


number  of  law  students  greatly  decreased. 
In  fact,  it  had  fallen  to  a  discouraging  mini- 
mum in  1883,  when  the  Eev.  Thos.  E.  Walsh, 
who  then  was  and  still  is  president  of  the  uni- 
versity, determined  to  reorganize  this  depart- 
ment. To  that  end  he  secured  the  services  of 
a  former  student  of  the  university  who  was 
actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in 
Chicago.  The  name  of  this  gentleman  was 
William  Hoynes,  LL.D.  Of  him,  when  about 
to  leave  that  city,  newspapers  published  per- 
sonal notices  highly  complimentary, — the  fol- 
lowing from  the  Chicago  Evening  Journal 
serving  as  an  example:  **Mr.  William 
Hoynes,  one  of  the  very  ablest  young  men  of 
the  Chicago  bar,  has  just  accepted  the  pro- 
fessor's chair  in  the  law  department  of  Notre 
Dame  University.  The  university  authorities 
are  to  be  congratulated  on  their  selection. 
Mr.  Hoynes  as  a  speaker,  writer,  thinker,  and 
lawyer,  has  no  superior  of  his  own  age  in  the 
Northwest.'' 

As  a  boy.  Col.  Hoynes  learned  the  printing 
trade  in  the  office  of  the  La  Crosse  (Wis.) 
Republican.  In  1862,  while  still  a  mere  boy, 
he  enlisted  in  the  20th  Wisconsin  Volunteers, 
and  went  to  the  front.  He  was  very  severely, 
and  it  was  feared  fatally,  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Prairie  Grove,  Ark.  .But  his  won- 
derful vitality  and  constitutional  vigor  en- 
abled him  to  rally  and  return  from  the  gather- 
ing shadows  of  the  dark  valley.  He  was 
wounded  again  later  in  the  war,  his  command 
being  then  in  Mississippi.  After  the  war  he 
returned  to  the  printing  trade,  and  worked 
at  the  *'case"  until  1868.  He  then  entered 
the  University  of  Notre  Dame  as  a  student. 
In  1872  he  received  the  honors  of  graduation. 
Afterwards  he  was  called  to  New  Brunswick, 
N.  J.,  to  take  charge  editorially  of  the  Daily 
Times.  His  services  as  editor  were  very  suc- 
cessful and  highly  valued,  but  his  desire  to 
perfect  himself  in  the  law  was  so  great  that 
he  resigned  his  position  with  that  object  in 
view,  and  returned  to  the  West  in  the  fall  of 
1874.  However,  before  getting  fairly  into 
practice,  he  again  did  editorial  work  on  lead- 
ing newspapers  in  Chicago,  Denver  and 
Peoria.  In  the  city  last  named  he  edited  the 
Daily  Transcript.  While  engaged  in  editorial 
work  he  was  wont  to  give  his  spare  time  to 
reading  law,  and  as  opportunity  offered  he 
tried  cases  in  court.  In  1876  he  recefived  the 
degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from  the  University 
of  Notre  Dame,  and  some  time  prior  thereto 
he  was  made  an  LL.B.  by  the  Univerisity'  df 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


650 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Michigan.  He  was  first  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  Michigan.  Afterwards  he  was  admitted  to 
practice  before  the  United  States  Supreme 
Ck)urt  and  also  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois. 

In  1881,  Col.  Hoynes  dropped  journalism 
altogether  and  turned  his  attention  exclu- 
sively to  the  law.  Prom  the  very  firsrt  ho  met 
with  success,  and  had  a  lucrative  practice 
when  called  to  take  the  chair  of  law  at  Notre 
Dame.  Thereafter  the  number  of  students 
steadily  increased.  It  now  averages  about 
thirty-five.  A  library  comprising  the  stand- 
ard text-books  and  reports  was  purchased. 
This  was  placed  in  the  moot  court  and  lecture 
room  so  as  to  be  accessible  to  the  students  at 
all  reasonable  hours.  The  course  of  study 
was  extended  to  three  years  for  those  attend- 
ing two  classes  a  day,  and  two  years  for  those 
taking  three  and  participating  regularly  in 
the  moot  court  work,  to  which  Wednesday  and 
Saturday  evenings,  or  about  four  hours  a 
week,  are  given.  The  methods  of  instruction 
adopted  may  be  called,  for  the  sake  of  brevity, 
the  eclectic  system. 

It  aims  to  combine  the  best  features  of  the 
distinctive  courses  of  other  law  schools,  to- 
gether with  such  additional  and  original 
means  of  imparting  legal  knowledge  as  to  the 
dean  may  seem  proper.  Two  lectures  are  de- 
livered daily,  copious  notes  of  the  same  being 
taken  by  the  students.  These  are  advised  to 
read  during  the  day  the  most  important  cases 
cited  in  the  notes.  Whatever  appears  from 
time  to  time  to  be  specially  difficult  to  re- 
member is  written  on  the  blackboard,  in  addi- 
tion to  being  stated  in  the  lecture,  and  stu- 
dents may  at  their  leisure  study  and  copy  it 
into  their  note-books.  Instructive  illustra- 
tions, or  actual  cases  briefly  stated,  are  given 
in  explanation  and  support  of  such  principles 
as  seem  at  all  obscure  to  learners.  The  lec- 
tures are  changed  year  by  year,  even  the 
latest  cases  being  cited  when  they  seem  to 
be  well  considered  and  likely  to  stand  the 
test  of  arguments  for  a  rehearing.  Text- 
books on  the  subjects  treated  by  the  lectures 
are  read  collaterally  by  the  students.  The 
notes  and  text-boote  are  thus  found  to  be 
reciprocally  aidful,  and  the  principles  stated 
in  them  are  as  firmly  fixed  in  the  mind  as 
may  reasonably  be  expected  in  the  case  of  be- 
ginners. Moreover,  Kent's  Commentaries, 
and  some  of  the  revised  editions  of  Blackstone 
are  read.  Written  examinations,  comprising 
on  an  average  about  five  questions  for  each 
day,  are  given  to  the  students  at  the  **quiz'' 


class,  which  meets  every  afternoon.     Atten- 
tion is  thus  drawn  to  the  most  difficult  points, 
and  distinctions  to  be  noted  in  each  branch 
of  the  law,  and  the  questions  and  answers 
bearing  upon  the  same  are  written  out  and 
handed  to  the  dean  the  following  week.    He 
examines  them,  or  has  them  examined,  mark- 
ing mistakes  of  all  kinds,  whether  in  law, 
orthography,  the  meaning  of  words  or  other- 
wise, and  the  papers  are  then  returned  to  the 
writers.    Moreover,  oral  examinations  are  heia 
daily  at '  *  quiz. ' '    Much  attention,  too,  is  given 
to  the  study  and  analysis  of  leading  cases. 
A  strong  case,   is,  as  it  were,  taken  apart, 
and  put  together,  and  considered  in  all  its 
elements  and  relations.    What  the  rule  would 
be  if  this  element  or  that  element  were  want- 
ing, etc.,  is  pointed  out,  and  the  reason  for 
the  doctrine  governing  it  as  a  harmonioud 
whole  stated.    This  exercise  is  made  very  in- 
teresting, instructive  and  profitable,  and  gives 
the  student  remarkable  facility  in  unraveling 
the  intricacies  of  hypothetical  cases,  and  stat- 
ing how  they  should  be  decided  under  the 
law.    Fortimately,  the  class  is  not  so  large  as 
to  prevent  this  kind  of  work,  and  moot  court 
practice  from  being  carried  on  successfully. 
Referring  more   particularly  to  moot   court 
work,  it  may  here  be  stated  that  to  it  much 
time,  thought  and  research  are  given.     We 
have  the  regular  moot  court,  a  court  of  chan- 
cery, and  a  justice's  court.    One  of  the  most 
advanced     students     in     the     post-graduate 
course  is  chosen  justice  of  the  latter  court. 
Assisting  him  are  a  clerk  and  constable.    Col. 
Hoynes,   or  Professor  Hubbard  presides   as 
chancellor  in  the  court  of  chancery,  and  judge 
of  the  moot  court.     The  court  of  chancery 
has  its  clerk,  master,  bailiff,  reporter,  etc., 
while  attached  to  the  moot  court  are  a  clerk, 
prosecuting  attorney  and  reporter,  as  well  as 
the  sheriff  and  coroner.     Statements  of  facts 
involving  disputed  questions  of  law  are  given 
by  the  dean  from  time  to  time  to  the  senior 
students    who    select    jimiors    as    assistants. 
Pleadings  are  filed  and  issue  is  joined  in 
praetically  the  same  manner  as  in  cases  of 
g^iuine  proceedings  in  court.    In  like  manner 
too,  juries  are  impaneled,  witnesses  examined, 
arguments  made,  and  instructions  given  to 
the  jury.     And  with  like  formality  the  ver- 
diet  is  returned  and  a  motion  made  for  a 
new  trial.    This  is  argued  in  from  three  dajrs 
to  a  week  afterwards,  and  granted  or  over- 
ruled.    Then  follow  the  steps  incident  to  an 
appeal.     Most  of  the  cases  involve  points  of 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


651 


law  exclosivelyy  and  are  heard  and  passed 
upon  by  the  court  without  the  intervention 
of  a  jury.  Moot  court  work  is  deemed  a 
highly  important  feature  of  the  system  of 
instruction  pursued  at  Notre  Dame. 

AU  law  students  entitled  to  the  standing 
of  juniors  in  any  of  the  collegiate  courses  are 
given  rooms  in  Sorin  Hall  without  extra 
charge,  and  those  pursuing  the  post  graduate 
course  are  supplied  with  rooms  in  the  same 
building  without  reference  to  the  test  pre- 
scribed for  under  graduates. 

The  post  graduate  course  is  for  one  year. 
Those  following  it  attend  lectures  on  the 
Roman  or  civil  law,  comparative  jurispru- 
dence, history,  and  philosophy  of  law,  rise 
and  development  of  institutions,  parliament- 
ary law,  etc.  Much  attention  is  also  given  to 
the  preparation  of  pleadings,  moot  court 
trials,  miscellaneous  work  of  a  law  office,  etc. 
By  way  of  showing  the  thoroughness  of  the 
work  tiius  done,  it  may  be  stated  that  the 
graduates,  in  many  instances,  open  offices  and 
put  out  their  ** shingles"  very,  soon  after 
leaving  here.  This  is  especially  true  of  those 
who  begin  practice  in  the  newer  states.  Pre- 
liminary work  in  a  law  office  is  often  found 
impracticable  in  such  cases. 

All  classes  in  the  collegiate  courses  are  open 
to  the  law  students  without  extra  charge.  In 
fact,  they  are  required  to  take  some  of  these 
classes,  as  logic  and  history,  in  order  to  pass 
an  examination  before  graduation.  -  It  is  op- 
tional with  them  to  take  elective  studies,  or, 
should  they  desire  to  become  candidates  for 
a  degree,  the  regular  studies  of  any  course 
they  may  select. 

The  cost  of  tuition,  board,  lodging,  washing, 
mending,  etc.,  is  $300  a  year.  The  scholastic 
week  begins  the  first  week  of  September  and 
closes  the  last  week  of  June.  At  least  ten 
or  twelve  hours  a  day  are  given  to  class  work 
and  study  in  all  the  departments.  I  know 
of  no  institution  anywhere  in  the  West  in 
which  students  do  harder  or  better  work.  A 
mile  distant  from  town  they  enjoy  immunity 
from  the  distractions  incident  to  town  life 
and  the  claims  of  society  upon  their  attention 
and  time.  They  may  work,  with  reasonable 
intermission  for  meals  and  recreation,  from 
six  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  half -past  nine 
at  night. 

Col.  Hoynes  is  dean  of  the  law  faculty. 
He  is  assisted  by  ,the  Hon.  Lucius  Hubbard 
of  South  Bend,  one  of  the  ablest  and  most 
widely  known  lawyers  in  Indiana.    Congress- 


man Abraham  Lincoln  Brick,  of  the  same 
place,  delivers  lectures  on  criminal  law  and 
criminal  pleadings. 

The  Hon.  John  Gibbons,  L.  L.  Mills,  Dr. 
Harold  N.  Moyer,  of  Chicago,  and  William 
P.  Breen  of  Port  Wayne,  are  also  named  in 
the  catalogue,  and  counted  upon  for  occa- 
sional lectures.  Col.  Hoynes  is  still  actively 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  profession,  but 
he  is  obliged  to  limit  himself  to  cases  of  more 
than  ordinary  moment,  and  to  the  Chicago 
courts.  His  work  at  Notre  Dame  is  extra- 
ordinary— ^probably  without  precedent  or 
parallel  anywhere.  It  is  not  at  all  unusual 
for  him  to  lecture  and  give  instructions  in 
the  class-room  three  or  four  hours  a  day, 
besides  preparing  statements  of  facts,  hearing 
and  deciding  most  moot  court  cases,  etc  Ab 
a  recognition  of  his  literary  work  and 
thorough  acquaintance  of  the  law  in  all  its 
branches,  he  received  in  1887  the  degree  of 
LL.D.  from  the  University  of  Notre  Dame. 

CoL  Hojrnes  is  too  busy  to  bestow  much 
attention  upon  politics,  although  he  was  the 
Republican  candidate  for  congress  in  this  (13) 
district  in  1888,  and  succeeded  in  reducing 
the  Demooratic  majority  given. for  his  com- 
petitor in  1884  about  1900.  Tte  district  has 
been  heavily  Democratic  for  several  y^ears,  but 
he  came  so  near  carrying  it  that  he  was  be- 
lieved to  be  elected  for  a  whole  week,  and 
his  name  was  at  the  time  published  in  the 
newspapers  as  among  the  elected.  It  is 
generally  conceded  that  he  would  have  been 
successful  had  he  worked  less  strenuously  for 
Harrison  and  Hovey,  and  more  particularly 
for  himself.  But  it  would  not  be  natural,  if 
even  possible,  for  him  to  do  so.  Selfishness 
would  indeed  be  an  incongruous  element  in 
a  nature  so  cordial,  kindly  and  sympathetic. 

At  the  close  of  the  first  presidency  of 
Father  Corby,  in  the  summer  of  1872,  there 
convened  at  Notre  Dame  an  assembly  which, 
from  its  unique  character,  merits  special  re- 
mark. Then  and  there,  for  the  first  time 
since  the  discovery  of  Columbus,  a  general 
chapter  of  a  religious  order  was  held  in  the 
New  World.  At  this  chapter,  by  virtue  of 
his  office  as  superior  general  of  the  Congrega- 
tion of  the  Holy  Cross,  Father  Sorin  presided. 
The  venerable  religious  had  now  become  patri- 
archal in  appearance,  and  quite  unlike  the 
black-hairedy  dark-faced,  lithe-bodied  young 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


652 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


priest  who  stood  upon  the  banks  of  the  frozen 
lake  and  looked  out  over  the  snowy  landscape 
in  1842.  The  snows  were  now  transferred  to 
his  noble  brow  and  to  his  flowing  beard,  both 
worthy  to  adorn  a  prophet's  head.  Only  the 
dark  eye  of  genius,  only  the  strong  mental 
grasp,  the  immortal  youthful  hope,  and  the 
childlike  faith,  marked  him  as  the  same  cour- 
ageous and  far-seeing  priest  that  had  planted 
the  cross  in  the  wilderness,  and  beside  the 
cross  built  up  this  dwelling  place  of  religion, 
art  and  science.  On  returning  from  the  third 
plenary  council  of  Baltimore,  Father  Sorin 
had  said  of  Archbishop  Spalding,  who  pre- 
sided there:  **He  is  not  only  the  head  of 
the  church  in  America  by  virtue  of  his  oflSce, 


REV.  EDWARD  SORIN, 
Founder  of  the  University  of  Notre  Dame. 

but  also  by  virtue  of  his  intellect  and  his 
noble  presence."  So  on  this  occasion  it  might 
be  said  of  Father  Sorin  himself :  He  presided 
not  only  by  reason  of  his  office,  but  also  by 
right  of  intellectual  supremacy  and  patri- 
archal bearing. 

At  this  chapter  were  present  delegates,  not 
only  from  the  United  States  and  the  Dominion 
of  Canada,  but  also  from  France,  Algiers,  the 
East  Indies,  and  even  from  Rome  itself, 
where  these  meetings  are  usually  held.  In 
this  instance  Rome  had  given  special  permis- 
sion to  hold  the  chapter  at  Notre  Dame,  as 
a  peculiar  mark  of  favor  to  the  United  States, 
and  as  a  compliment  to  Father  Sorin,  the 
only  American  general  of  a  religious  order. 

It  was  at  the  general  chapter  of  1872  that 
the  gifted  and  well-beloved  Father  Augustin 


Lemonnier  was  selected  as  president  and  lo- 
cal superior  of  Notre  Dame.  It  would  seem 
that  the  presidency  of  Father  Lemonnier  came 
to  add  grace  and  beauty  to  what  was  already 
so  laboriously  and  substantially  constructed. 
There  is  hardly  a  science  or  an.  art  in  which 
he  was  not  well  versed ;  and,  as  Johnson  said 
of  Goldsmith,  there  was  nothing  which  he 
touched  that  he  did  not  beautify.  Under  him 
all  the  sciences  and  the  arts  flourisned  as 
never  before;  and  Notre  Dame  became  in- 
deed a  university. 

One  of  the  most  signal  benefits  which 
Father  Lemonnier  conferred  upon  the  uni- 
versity was  the  establishment  of  a  students' 
circulating  library,  known  after  his  death  as 
the  Lemonnier  Library,  and  now,  under  the 
efficient  charge  of  his  bebved  friend,  Pro- 
fessor Edwards,  grown  into  the  fine  college 
library  which  is  so  great  a  credit  to  the  uni- 
versity. 

The  period  of  Father  Lemonnier 's  presi- 
dency was  but  two  years,  and  yet  to  many 
of  us  that  short  span  seems  like  a  golden  age, 
all  was  so  beautiful,  so  harmonious.  What 
a  pleasant  picture  arises  in  the  mind  at  the 
sound  of  his  name!  Even  the  word  was 
musical,  and  thus  emblematic  of  the  beautiful 
character  which  it  represented.  What  a 
gracious  presence,  what  kindness,  what  ease, 
what  exquisite  taste,  what  goodness!  In  him 
met  most  perfectly  the  priest,  the  scholar,  and 
the  gentleman.  But  he  was  even  more  than 
this:  he  was  an  artist  in  the  broadest  sense 
of  the  term,  having  a  true  appreciation  of 
music,  poetry,  landscape  gardening,  and  gen- 
eral scenic  efifect.  Molding  nature  with  the 
hand  of  art,  he  would  have  made  Notre  Dame 
as  charming  as  the  Pincian  gardens.  He 
was,  besides,  a  most  genial  companion,  pos- 
sessed of  a  delicate  and  ready  wit  and  a 
never-failing  fund  of  good  humor. 

His  active  life,  from  his  ordination  to  his 
death,  was  completely  identified  with  Notre 
Dame.  First  appointed  prefect  of  discipline 
at  the  special  instance  of  Father  Dillon,  and 
then  vice-president  by  Father  Corby,  he  had 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


653 


filled  every  position  up  to  that  of  president 
and  superior,  in  which  he  died. 

His  many-sided  sympathies  not  only  ex- 
plain his  popularity  with  all  classes  of  people, 
but  may  also  account  for  his  dramatic  taste, 
especially  his  admiration  for  Shakespeare; 
for,  like  Cardinal  Wiseman,  he  loved  and  ap- 
preciated the  great  bard,  and  himself  pos- 
sessed no  little  share  of  dramatic  genius.  It 
was,  however,  towards  the  pastoral  drama  that 
his  taste  was  drawn,  and  **  Twelfth  Night,  *' 
or  **As  You  Like  It,"  gave  him  far  more 
pleasure  than  **Lear"  or  ** Macbeth."  Inno- 
cence, gentleness,  and  purity  had  a  wonderful 
attraction  for  his  soul. 

To  this  wide  sympathy  with  others  we  may 
also  ascribe  his  marvellous  success  as  presi- 
dent. For  him  the  term  university  was  a 
word  of  marked  significance.  He  would  have 
all  departments  of  study  in  a  prosperous  con- 
dition, the  sciences,  the  arts,  the  languages, 
the  professions.  He  would  have  the  various 
societies  active  and  harmonious.  He  would 
have  oflScers  and  professors  working  together 
with  one  mind.  He  would  have  the  students 
contented  and  rapidly  advancing  in  all  knowl- 
edge. He  would  have  the  surroundings  as 
comfortable  and  beautiful  as  they  were  good 
and  useful.  Finally,  he  would  have  all  sancti- 
fied by  a  pervading  spirit  of  Christian  piety 
and  virtue.  To  say  that,  at  least  in  a  large 
measure,  he  succeeded  in  all  this,  is  to  name 
him  what  he  was  indeed,  a  model  president. 

Father  Lemonnier  and  Father  Gillespie, 
each  of  whom  had  done  so  much  for  litera- 
ture and  art  at  Notre  Dame,  died  within  a 
few  days  of  one  another,  the  first  October  29, 
and  the  last  November  12,  1874.  A  like  co- 
incidence had  marked  the  deaths  of  the  two 
Father  Dillons,  Father  Patrick  dying  Novem- 
ber 15,  and  Father  James  December  17,  1868. 
All  four  bright  men,  and  dying  in  the  bloom 
of  early  manhood. 

During  the  last  sickness  and  at  the  death 
of  Father  Lemonnier,  Father  Patrick  J.  Colo- 
vin  was  vice-president  and  director  of  studies ; 
and  after  Father  Lemonnier 's  death  remained 


as  acting  president  until  his  selection  as  presi- 
dent, which  office  he  held  until  1877. 

Father  Colovin  was  a  ripe  scholar,  and  a 
man  of  fine  presence.  Under  his  presidency 
the  work  so  well  commenced  under  Father 
Corby  and  Father  Lemonnier  was  carried  on 
with  success.  Father  Colovin  was  devoted  to 
solid  learning,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  the 
standard  of  the  higher  studies  was  sensibly 
raised  during  his  administration.  Notre  Dame 
moved  ahead  steadily  on  the  road  of  perma- 
nent prosperity.  Father  Colovin 's  occasional 
addresses  were  models  of  finished  oratory. 

During  this  time  the  Centennial  Exposition 
and  World's  Fair  was  held  in  Philadelphia; 
and  the  university  became  widely  known  from 
the  beautiful  altar  and  other  objects  of  re- 
ligious art  then  seen  at  the  exposition,  and 
which  now  adorn  the  Church  of  the  Sacred 
Heart. 

The  month  of  December,  1875,  was  noted 
for  the  thrilling  uncertainty  that  for  weeks 
hung  over  the  Atlantic  steamer  Amerique, 
upon  which  Father  Sorin  had  taken  passage 
for  France.  He  left  Notre  Dame  on  the 
evening  of  November  7th,  and  did  not  arrive 
at  Queenstown  until  December  18th  of  that 
year.  The  long  silence  caused  alarm  for  his 
safety  and  there  was  good  reason  for  the  fear, 
as  the  great  vessel  was  disabled  at  sea.  It 
was  the  most  perilous  of  the  nearly  fifty 
passages  made  across  the  ocean  by  Father 
Sorin  during  his  life.  On  his  safe  return  to 
Notre  Dame,  May  21,  1876,  all  was  welcome 
and  thanksgiving. 

February  26,  1876,  a  patriotic  number  of 
the  **  Scholastic '*  was  issued  containing  quite 
a  historical  account  of  matters  and  things 
connected  with  Notre  Dame.  From  this  very 
interesting  number  we  have  freely  drawn  in 
preparing  the  preceding  pages.  The  edition 
was  prepared  in  accordance  with  a  request 
from  the  Indiana  State  Board  of  Education, 
made  to  all  publications  in  the  State,  with  a 
view  to  furnish  statistical  and  historical  in- 
formation, in  connection  with  the  celebration 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


654 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence. 

Prom  the  very  beginning  great  attention 
has  been  given  at  Notre  Dame  to  manly  sports 
and  to  outdoor  and  indoor  amusements. 
Pather  Sorin  himself  in  the  early  days  joined 
in  the  recreations  of  his  young  friends,  never 
so  happy  as  when  throwing  aside  his  cares 
he  mingled  in  their  merry  sports.  In  the 
good  old  game  of  marbles  he  was,  as  we  have 
seen,  an  especial  expert,  as  in  the  early  spring 
days  many  a  boy  learned  to  his  cost. 

One  day  of  the  week,  formerly  Wednesday, 
but  of  late  years  Thursday,  was  devoted 
exclusively  to  physical  exercises.  In  the  early 
years,  students  took  prodigious  delight  in  long 
excursions  on  foot,  scouring  the  fields  and 
woods  far  and  wide.  Over  sandy  roads  and 
through  swampy  prairies  they  went  in  merry 
troops,  with  a  good  brother,  priest  or  profes- 
sor in  attendance.  A  favorite  mode  of  pass- 
ing the  day  was  to  start  out  immediately  after 
breakfast,  carrying  the  main  part  of  the  din- 
ner in  baskets  and  trusting  to  the  neighboring 
farmers  for  butter,  eggs  and  milk.  At  other 
times  they  would  give  notice  a  week  in  ad- 
vance, and  then  swoop  down  on  some  quiet 
farmhouse,  and  there  demolish  chickens,  hot 
pies  and  other  dainty  edibles,  which,  besides 
being  somewhat  more  toothsome  than  the  col- 
lege commons,  tasted  fifty  per  cent  better 
from  the  fact  that  they  had  to  be  paid  for. 

Again,  still  longer  excursions  were  taken, 
in  ** carry-alls"  and  other  hired  vehicles. 
This  was  particularly  true  in  winter,  when 
many  famous  sleighrides  were  taken. 

At  a  still  earlier  day,  when  several  of  the 
students  were  the  sons  of  civilized  Indian 
chiefs  or  other  distinguished  braves  among 
the  remnants  of  the  tribes  yet  left  in  northern 
Indiana  and  southern  Michigan,  even  finer 
sport  was  found  in  the  weekly  excursions. 
Bears,  wolves,  deer,  turkey,  'coons,  opossums, 
catamounts  and  prairie-hens  were  found  in 
the  pathless  woods  and  prairies;  while  the 
lakes  and  streams  were  covered  with  wild 
geese  and  other  aquatic  game. 


On  one  of  these  occasions  it  is  related  that 
the  boys  found  a  bear  in  a  bee  tree,  trying 
to  rob  the  honey.  The  Indian  boys  soon 
smoked  out  the  bear,  and  then  made  short 
work  of  him,  much  to  the  amazement  of  their 
white  companions.  They  managed  also  to  get 
the  honey  which  the  unfortunate  bear  had 
been  after. 

With  the  Indians  and  the  bears,  such  ex- 
citing excursions  came  to  an  end;  but  the 
charms  of  weekly  tramps  continue  even  to 
this  day.  They  are,  howeter,  of  necessity, 
now  confined  to  the  grounds  of  the  university, 
and  chiefly  by  the  margins  of  the  charming 
lakes.  In  winter  time,  also,  these  lakes  fur- 
nish exhilarating  skating;  while,  in  summer, 
St.  Joseph's  lake,  evening  after  evening,  is 
alive  with  the  merry  swimmers.  In  summer, 
too,  the  same  St.  Joseph's  sparkles  with  the 
merry  boatmen's  practice  over  the  silvery 
waves. 

Back  in  the  sixties  regularly  organized 
boating  clubs  were  first  established;  and,  year 
by  year,  the  exercises  and  rivalries  of  the  dif- 
ferent crews  became  of  greater  and  greater 
interest,  both  to  inmates  of  the  University  and 
to  visitors.  No  conmiencement  exercises  are 
now  considered  complete  without  the  regattas; 
to  witness  which,  hundreds  of  people  gather 
along  the  shores  of  the  lake,  all  intent  upon 
the  success  of  their  respective  friends  and 
eager  to  wear  the  colors  of  the  champions. 

The  earliest  record  we  have  of  a  race  is  of 
that  which  took  place  in  1870,  when  the 
** Santa  Maria"  won  the  cup.  In  after  years, 
we  read  of  victories  for  the  **Pinta,"  the 
** Minnehaha,"  the  ** Hiawatha,"  and  many 
others.  The  boats  used  upon  the  lakes  are 
equal  to  the  best  in  the  country. 

In  1877,  Pather  Colovin  and  Pather  Corby 
changed  places,  Pather  Colovin  taking  charge 
of  the  Watertown,  Wisconsin,  parish,  which 
Pather  Corby  had  conducted  with  signal  abil- 
ity for  five  years,  and  Pather  Corby  again 
becoming  president  of  Notre  Dame,  with 
Pather  Thomas  E.  Wabh  as  vice-president 
and  director  of  studies. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY    OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


655 


One  of  the  first  cares  of  the  new  adminis- 
traticm  was  to  extend  and  improve  the  facili- 
ties for  manly  exercises  for  the  students.  Im- 
proved walks  were  laid  out  for  use  in  wet 
weather.  The  noble  avenue  leading  from  the 
college,  lined  with  wide-spreading  maples,  was 
brought  to  an  even  grade  for  a  mile  and  a 
half  south,  into  the  city  limits,  and  then  finely 
graveled,  making  the  approach  to  the  build- 
ings one  of  the  finest  to  be  found  anywhere. 

Prom  the  first,  the  students  of  Notre  Dame 
had  been  separated  into  divisions,  according 
to  €ige.  Those  over  sixteen  were  called  seniors ; 
those  between  twelve  and  sixteen,  juniors;  and 
those  under  twelve,  minims.  The  seniors  have 
since  been  called  also  Brownsons,  in  honor 
of  the  great  philosopher;  and  the  juniors, 
Carrolls,  in  honor  of  the  first  archbishop  of 
Baltimore.  A  further  division  has  recently 
been  made,  according  to  which  those  pursuing 
the  higher  courses  of  study  are  called  Sorins, 
in  honor  of  the  founder  of  the  university. 

Each  of  the  original  three  divisions  has  a 
separate  study  room,  a  separate  dining  room, 
a  separate  dormitory,  and  a  separate  recrea- 
tion hall  and  play-ground.  The  Sorins,  how- 
ever, use  the  refectory  and  the  recreation  halls 
and  yards  of  the  seniors,  or  Brownsons. 

After  the  introduction  of  the  noble  game 
of  baseball  the  grounds  were  found  too  con- 
fined, and  a  large  campus  was  set  aside  for 
each  division,  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  acres 
being  now  devoted  to  this  purpose,  giving 
ample  room  for  extended  walks  and  for  all 
the  manly  sports,  including,  alas,  the  redoubt- 
able game  of  football.  It  must  be  said,  how- 
ever, that  this  last  game  has  not  been  played 
at  Notre  Dame  with  the  barbarous  accom- 
paniments found  in  too  many  schools  and  col- 
leges. As  in  everything  else,  so  in  her  games, 
Notre  Dame  seeks  to  present  the  best.  The 
strong  limbs,  ruddy  complexions  and  general 
good  health  of  her  students  give  evidence  that 
her  efforts  in  this  matter  have  not  been  with- 
out success. 

For  cold,  wet  and  stormy  weather,  all  ra- 


tional indoor  amusements  are  provided.  In 
addition  to  these  are  the  libraries,  reading 
rooms,  societies,  musical  and  dramatic  enter- 
tainments, with  frequent  lectures,  readings, 
concerts,  etc.  A  feature  of  all  these  amuse- 
ments and  entertainments,  and  even  of  the 
manly  sports,  is  that  care  is  taken  that  they 
serve  the  purposes  of  a  higher  education, 
whether  physical,  mental  or  moral.  Man's 
three-fold  nature  is  everywhere  and  in  every- 
thing recognized,  and  in  the  education 
given,  body,  mind  and  soul  are  always  kept 
in  view.  That  the  physical  man  should  grow 
in  strength,  grace  and  beauty;  his  intellect, 
in  knowledge  and  wisdom;  and  his  heart,  in 
virtue,  are  deemed  essential  towards  attain- 
ing a  complete  education. 

That  the  facilities  for  entertainments  of  a 
high  order  have  greatly  improved  at  Notre 
Dame  is  very  clear  to  those  who  can  remem- 
ber back  even  to  the  war  period.  Then  even 
the  dining  rooms  were  insufScient  to  accom- 
modate guests  at  commencement,  or  at  society 
reunions.  Many  a  time  in  the  olden  day,  the 
annual  banquets  were  taken  under  the  shades 
of  the  forest  trees  where  the  rustic  tables 
were  set  up  in  long  lines,  and  fortunate  was 
he  whose  chair  did  not  stand  in  the  fierce 
glare  of  the  sun  in  June.  But,  with  all  their 
drawbacks,  it  must  be  confessed  that  these 
woodland  feasts  had  something  of  the  charm 
which  the  banished  duke  found  in  the  forest 
at  Arden. 

On  one  or  two  occasions,  if  not  oftener,  a 
more  convenient  location  was  found,  and  the 
long  line  of  tables  was  laid  beneath  the  grape 
arbor,  thick  with  the  rich  leaves  of  early 
summer. 

With  Father  Sorin  and  the  other  devoted 
priests  and  brothers  thus  watching  over  and 
ministering  to  their  friends  feasting  under 
the  blue  vault  and  with  the  winds  of  heaven 
playing  about  them,  one  would  sometimes 
think  of  those  other  feasts,  taken  also  in  the 
open  air,  where  the  people  were  seated  upon 
the  ground,  '*for  there  was  much  grass  in  the 


Digitized  by 


Google 


656 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


place/'  and  where  the  blessed  Master  broke 
the  five  barley  loaves  and  divided  the  two 
fishes  among  the  multitude. 

So,  too,  in  those  days,  for  want  of  room 
under  any  roof,  the  oonmaencement  exercises 
were  often  held  in  the  open  air.  Well  is  it 
remembered  when  that  noble  man,  Father 
Patrick  Dillon,  in  1859,  had  the  fine  play  of 
Addison's  *'Cato,"  and  in  1860  Cardinal 
Wiseman's  ** Hidden  Gtem,"  enacted  under 
the  locust  trees,  which  then  grew  in  long  lines 
of  thick  shade,  just  east  of  the  present  Church 
of  the  Sacred  Heart,  and  between  that  and 
Brother  Peter's  garden.  With  canvas  awn- 
ings and  plank  platform  set  up  several  feet 
from  the  ground,  the  plays  were  enacted  with 
perhaps  as  great  success  and  with  as  much 
hearty  applause  as  ever  greeted  the  most  ac- 
complished experts  on  the  boards  of  Wash- 
ington Hall. 

But  all  this  is  changed,  as  by  the  magic  of 
Aladdin's  lamp.  Magnificent  dining  rooms 
may  accommodate  the  largest  gathering  of 
guests;  and  Washington  Hall  has  as  ample 
a  stage  platform  and  as  spacious  and  well 
seated  an  auditorium,  and  gallery,  as  any 
audience  could  desire.  From  much  privation 
and  suffering,  by  great  zeal,  labor  and  devo- 
tion, have  these  things  been  brought  about. 
Let  those  who  enjoy  the  present  blessings  not 
forget  through  how  much  self-denial,  and  for 
what  a  great  price  they  have  been  purchased. 

Sec.  9. — The  Fire. — The  new  life  inaug- 
urated with  the  building  of  the  college  of 
1865,  and  which  grew  broader  and  stronger 
as  the  years  advanced,  received  an  added  im- 
petus under  the  second  administration  of 
Father  Corby,  aided  as  he  was  now  b}'  the 
scholarly  Father  Walsh  as  director  of  studies. 
Father  Zahm  had  taken  charge  <rf  the  scien- 
tific department  on  the  retirement  of  Father 
Carrier;  and  well  did  he  bear  out  the  bril- 
liant promise  made  by  his  early  career.  The 
scientific  department  became  an  honor  to  the 
university.  The  other  departments  continued 
to  flourish  in  like  manner,  and  Notre  Dame 


appeared  to  have  taken  her  place  permanently 
as  one  of  the  great  seats  of  learning. 

Suddenly,  without  a  single  note  of  warn- 
ing, the  labors  of  many  gifted  and  holy  lives 
seemed  about  to  ,be  reduced  to  nothingness. 
On  Wednesday,  the  23rd  day  of  April,  1879, 
the  university,  with  priceless  treasures;  was 
burned  to  the  ground.  With  it,  so  intense 
and  destructive  was  the  fire,  nearly  every 
other  building  in  immediate  connection  with 
the  institution,  perished.  The  most  notable 
exceptions  were  the  beautiful  but  unfinished 
church  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  and  the  old  frame 
printing  oflSce  in  which  the  **Ave  Maria" 
and  the  ** Scholastic"  were  published. 

In  the  next  issue  of  the  latter  paper,  April 
'  26,  1879,  the  sad  event  was  described  as  fol- 
lows: 

**0n  fire,  in  flames,  in  ashes!  Such  is  the 
history  of  Our  Lady's  College  for  a  few  short 
hours,  beginning  at  about  eleven  o'clock  on 
Wednesday  morning,  April  23,  1879.  The 
tale  of  alarm,  of  hurried  help,  of  almost  super- 
human but  vain  labor  in  extinguishing  the 
raging  flames,  and  finally  of  saving  whatever 
of  value  that  could  be  snatched  from  the  fire, 
has  all  been  graphically  told  by  the  daily 
press  for  the  past  few  days,  and  we  have 
hardly  the  heart  to  go  over  the  dreadful  story. 
But  our  friends  have  a  right  to  hear  from  us 
through  our  own  little  paper,  and  so  they 
shall,  for,  thank  God,  our  printing  office  is  one 
of  the  precious  things  spared  by  the  devouring 
element. 

**The  origin  of  the  fire  is  simply  impossible 
to  ascertain.  Workmen  had  been  engaged  on 
the  roof  until  ten  o'clock,  and  on  coming  down 
had  locked  the  door  opening  from  the  dome. 
Whether  some  smouldering  ember  was  left  be- 
hind them  by  the  workmen,  whether  the  hot 
sun  inflamed  the  dry  timber  dust  on  the  roof, 
or  a  spark  from  the  chimney  of  the  steam- 
house  set  fire  to  it,  remains  a  matter  of  con- 
jecture. The  one  thing  certain  is,  that  the  ac- 
cident could  neither  have  been  foreseen  nor 
prevented. 

**The  fire  was  first  seen  from  tne  Minims' 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


657 


yard.  The  flames  were  on  the  roof,  near  the 
east  side  of  the  dome;  and  the  Minims'  shrill 
cry  of  'College  on  fire!'  was  soon  echoed  on 
every  side  by  brother,  priest,  student  and 
professor.  A  very  little  water  at  first  would 
have  been  sufficient  to  save  the  building ;  but 
before  water  could  be  carried  to  the  top  of 
the  sixth  story,  the  pitch  roof  was  already 
blazing,  and  nothing  less  than  a  deluge  from 
the  city  stand-pipe  could  have  subdued  those 
fierce  flames. 

**  Still,  with  a  hope  that  was  almost  without 
foundation,  an  unthinking  confidence  that  the 
beloved  edifice  could  not  thus  perish  before 
their  eyes,  long  lines  of  men  and  boys  were 
formed  all  the  way  up  the  stairways,  from 
story  to  story,  up  to  the  roof,  and  water  was 
thus  sent  up  from  hand  to  hand.  At  the 
same  time,  water  was  forced  up  the  pipes  by 
steam,  and  the  great  tanks  on  the  upper 
stories  were  rapidly  emptied  by  crowds  of 
workers.  But  they  contended  with  an  enemy 
that  could  not  be  subdued.  Those  in  the  long 
water  lines,  too,  became  over-anxious  to  rush, 
each  with  his  own  little  water  supply,  to  the 
fire.  Mr.  Bonney,  the  photographer  from  the 
city,  Professor  Ivers,  and  numerous  others, 
tried  in  vain  to  preserve  the  lines.  As  soon 
as  the  supports  of  the  dome  were  burned 
away,  and  the  massive  statue  fell  upon  the 
roof,  carrying  the  flames  into  the  dry  mansard 
wood  work,  even  the  most  hopeful  gave  way, 
and  water  was  brought  only  to  protect  those 
who  were  saving  the  libraries,  museums,  and 
furniture  of  the  various  departments. 

*'Most  heroically  was  this  labor  of  saving 
performed.  A  stripling  student  seemed  to  be 
endowed  with  the  courage  of  a  hero  and  the 
strength  of  a  giant.  Especially  did  the  gen- 
erous and  kindly-hearted  students  rush  into 
their  old  class-rooms  and  the  private  rooms 
of  Very  Rev.  Father  Corby,  Father  Walsh, 
Father  Kelly,  and  their  prefects  and  profes- 
sors, breaking  open  the  doors  when  necessary, 
and  carrying  away  to  places  of  safety  what- 
ever had  become  dear  to  them  by  ties  of  asso- 
ciation and  fond  recollection.    Many  a  priest 


and  professor  who  forgot  all  about  his  own 
private  affairs  in  laboring  for  the  general 
safety,  can  now  hardly  refrain  from  tears 
when  he  finds  that  all  his  little  articles  of 
value,  books,  pictures,  costly  instruments,  pri- 
vate papers  of  priceless  value,  and  even  heavy 
desks  and  book  cases,  have  been  securely,  and 
it  would  even  seem,  lovingly,  carried  to  places 
of  safety  by  the  warm-hearted  students.  They 
loved  Notre  Dame  as  their  second  home,  but 
never  loved  her  as  when  the  cruel  flames  were 
snatching  her  from  their  eyes  forever. 

**But  while  all  this  was  going  on,  help  was 
pourinsr  in  from  all  sides.  All  the  neighbors, 
for  miles  around,  were  bringing  water  or  try- 
ing to  save  some  articles.  As  soon  as  the 
fire  was  discovered,  telegram  after  telegram 
was  sent  to  the  city,  imploring  help,  and  ask- 
ing for  the  fire-engine.  As  soon  as  the  fij-emen 
could  gather  from  their  shops,  and  put  the 
engine  in  working  order,  it  was  carried  out. 
Mayor  Tong,  Councilman  Nevius,  Superin- 
tendent Abbott,  Chief  Brusie,  Assistant  Hull, 
and  numerous  firemen  and  citizens,  receive 
our  warmest  expressions  of  gratitude.  South 
Bend  displayed  a  most  grateful  sympathy  in 
our  affliction,  which  will  be  remembered  so 
long  as  Notre  Dame  and  her  sister  city  flour- 
ish side  by  side,  in  mutual  help  and  good 
will  towards  one  another.  The  engine  had 
not  been  used  before  for  two  years,  had  but 
recently  been  repaired,  and  it  was  not  known 
at  first  whether  it  would  work.  But  it  per- 
formed admirable  service ;  and  could  it  have 
been  here  in  the  beginning,  or  even  an  hour 
sooner,  it  would  have  saved  the  college.  Had 
it  been  here  half-an-hour  earlier,  it  would  have 
saved  the  infirmary  building,  the  St.  Francis 
Home  and  the  Music  Hall.  But  it  did  great 
good  as  it  was;  for,  by  checking  the  flames 
and  dashing  water  on  the  adjacent  buildings, 
it  saved  the  kitchen,  the  steam  house,  the 
printing  office,  and  also,  perhaps,  the  presby- 
tery, the  church,  and  other  buildings  in  the 
rear.  Had  the  flames  once  entered  the 
kitchen,  and  so  extended  to  the  western  build- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


658 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


ings,  it  is  hardly  probable  that  anything 
would  now  be  standing  at  Notre  Dame. 

*'It  seems  a  special  providence  that  there 
was  so  little  wind  stirring  to  carry  the  flames, 
and  that  what  air  there  was,  was  from  the 
southwest,  and  so  took  the  fire  from  the 
precious  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart.  It  was 
also  a  blessed  thing  that  the  fire  came  not 
in  the  night,  or  in  the  winter.  Early  as  it 
was  in  the  year,  the  day  was  as  warm  as  in 
June,  so  that  even  the  feeble  and  the  sick 
did  not  suffer  from  exposure.  The  hand  of 
Qod  was,  besides,  present  in  saving  everyone 
from  death,  or  even  severe  accident.  Two  of 
the  students,  P.  J.  Dougherty  and  Plorian 
Devoto,  staying  too  long  on  the  roof,  were 
intercepted  by  the  flames,  and  had  to  jump 
from  one  floor  to  another,  resulting  in  slight 
injury  to  the  former.  Mr.  Klingel,  a  mer- 
chant of  the  city,  carrying  out  furniture, 
barely  escaped  a  falling  wall,  and  was  for 
some  time  prostrated  by  the  heat.  Senator 
Leeper,  gathering  an  armful  of  valuable  books 
from  a  flaming  pile,  barely  escaped  a  burning 
cornice  falling  from  above.  A  Sister,  hasten- 
ing out  a  rear  door  of  the  college,  passed 
under  the  porch  just  as  it  fell  in.  These 
were  perhaps  the  narrowest  escapes.  The 
coolness  displayed  by  the  Sisters,  in  entering 
the  buildings  and  carrying  away  valuables, 
is  beyond  all  praise.  Had  they  been  per- 
mitted to  enter  the  college  at  first,  they  would 
have  saved  every  movable  article  uninjured, 
as  they  did  in  the  infirmary,  carrying  every- 
thing out  carefully  and  putting  it  in  a  place 
of  safety.  Pity  such  coolness  and  good  judg- 
ment was  not  shown  by  all.  Unfortunately, 
numbers  of  over-zealous  persons,  instead  of 
taking  what  they  could  and  carrying  it  out 
of  the  building,  tossed  ever)rthing  out  of  the 
windows,  breaking  whatever  could  be  broken, 
and  only  piling  other  things  up  below,  for 
the  fire  to  fall  upon  the  heap  and  destroy  it. 
The  most  valuable  books,  some  of  them  pre- 
cious tomes,  hundreds  of  years  old,  were  thus 
burned  on  the  ground  outside. 

*'0n   looking  about   after   the   fires   were 


brought  under  subjection,  we  find  the  great 
college  utterly  destroyed,  a  burned  fragment 
of  wall  standing  here  and  there.  The  in- 
firmary building,  containing,  besides,  the  gen- 
eral office  and  the  students'  office,  is  burned 
entirely  out,  though  the  blackened  walls  are 
still  standing.  The  music  hall,  with  the 
juniors'  play  room,  is  entirely  consumed — ^the 
south  wall  fallen  in.  All  the  students'  trunks, 
which  were  kept  in  this  building,  were  saved ; 
the  pianos,  however,  except  one,  were  lost. 
The  Minims'  Hall  is,  of  course,  utta-ly  gone. 
The  church,  the  presbytery,  science  hall  (the 
rear  of  the  old  church,  then  used  by  Father 
Zahm  for  that  purpose),  the  kitchen,  the 
steam-house,  and  the  printing  office  are  left, 
as  is  also  Wacdiington  Hall. 

**This  destruction  was  accomplished  in 
about  three  hours.  Soon  after,  at  three  o  'clock, 
Father  Corby  called  a  meeting  of  his  wisest 
assistants  and  advisers  about  him,  and  it  was 
here  determined  that  nothing  could  be  done 
but  bring  the  college  year  to  an  abrupt  close. 
It  was  not  without  a  pang  of  sorrow  that  this 
conclusion  was  arrived  at,  but,  on  looking 
around  them,  the  council  saw  that  this  course 
was  inevitable.  An  hour  later  the  students 
were  assembled  in  the  church,  the  only  build- 
ing where  they  could  be  received, .  and  the 
decision  was  communicated  to  them  by  Very 
Rev.  President  Corby.  To  all,  it  was  a  sor- 
rowful intelligence.  Almost  to  a  man,  they 
protested  their  willingness  to  remain  and  en- 
dure all  the  inconveniences  to  which  they 
knew  they  must  be  subjected.  It  was  only 
when  the  Very  Reverend  President  had  shown 
the  utter  impossibility  of  any  accommodations, 
and  when  he  promised  them  that  a  new  col- 
lege, more  excellent  than  the  one  burned  down 
that  day,  would  be  ready  to  receive  them  on 
the  first  Tuesday  of  September,  that  they 
could  bring  themselves  to  bid  adieu  to  Notre 
Dame.  Another  meeting  was  held  at  two 
o'clock  Thursday  afternoon,  at  which  degrees 
were  conferred  in  the  collegiate,  law  and  med- 
ical classes.  On  Friday  morning,  at  eight 
o'clock,  the  commercial  faculty  met  for  a  like 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


659 


purpose.  On  Monday,  at  eight  o'clock,  a  gen- 
eral council  will  be  held  to  shape  the  future 
action  of  the  university. 

**  Visitors  are  flocking  to  the  ruins  from 
every  side;  all,  without  exception,  bearing 
words  of  condolence,  which  are  most  sincerely 
appreciated.  Mr.  Bonney  has  taken  several 
photographic  views  of  the  scene  of  destruc- 
tion. Even  the  greatest  calamity  has  its  hu- 
morous features.  Mr.  Bonney  has  tried  for 
years  to  get  a  photograph  of  the  aged  Father 
Neyron,  who  was  a  surgeon  with  Napoleon  at 
Waterloo;  but  Father  Neyron  always  laugh- 
ingly refused.  Yesterday  Mr.  Bonney  got  his 
eye  upon  the  good-natured  veteran  when 
taking  a  view  of  the  ruins,  and  soon  shouted 
his  success,  which  was  the  first  intimation 
Father  Neyron  had  of  what  had  been  done. 
Prof.  Stace  being  asked  if  he  had  saved  any- 
thing, pointed  in  silence,  with  a  comical  smile, 
to  the  shirt  he  had  on  him. 

**  Wednesday  night  was  a  time  of  toil  and 
trouble.  The  secretary,  by  order  of  Very 
Rev.  President  Corby,  telegraphed  to  the 
parents  of  all  the  students,  while  the  latter 
were  gathered  into  Washington  Hall,  where 
they  slept  upon  the  ticks  and  bed  clothes 
that  had  been  saved.  The  fire  engine  had  been 
taken  back  to  the  city  in  the  evening,  but  the 
wind  veering  towards  the  south  in  the  night, 
threatened  a  new  fire  in  the  kitchen,  and  the 
engine  was  hastily  sent  for.  No  further  dam- 
age was  done,  however. 

**The  fire,  as  might  be  anticipated,  created 
intense  interost  among  the  thousand  of  friends 
of  Notre  Dame  in  Chicago  and  throughout 
the  country.  An  account  of  the  disaster  ap- 
peared at  three  o'clock  in  the  *  Evening  Jour- 
nal' of  Wednesday.  An  associated  press  dis- 
patch was  sent  to  all  the  papers  in  the  United 
States  entitled  to  receive  it.  Thursday  morn- 
ing's Chicago  'Times'  gave  over  a  column  of 
specials,  the  'Tribune'  and  'Inter  Ocean' 
nearly  as  many.  Long  specials  wero  also  sent 
by  request  to  the  New  York  'Herald,'  Cin- 
cinnati 'Enquirer,'  Indianapolis  'Journal' 
and  other  papers,  showing  how  widespread  is 


the  interest  taken  in  Notre  Dame's  disaster. 

"The  Chicago  'Tribune'  says  editorially: 
'Gteneral  rogret  and  sympathy  will  be  felt  for 
the  destruction  by  fire  of  the  University  of 
Notre  Dame,  at  South  Bend,  Ind.  The  insti- 
tution has  held  a  high  position  among  the 
educational  institutions  of  America,  and  its 
loss  is  a  genuine  catastrophe,  but  one,  we  are 
glad  to  say,  which  will  be  promptly  ropaired. 
The  loss  sustained  is  estimated  at  $200,000, 
and  the  insurance  about  $45,000;  but  there 
will  be  no  lack  of  funds  to  make  up  the  dif- 
ference, and  enable  the  prompt  rebuilding  of 
the  university.  Notre  Dame  will  be  herself 
again  within  a  few  months. '  Such  sentiments 
of  sympathy,  and  those  which  we  hero  re- 
ceived from  the  press  and  citizens  of  our  own 
city,  are  most  grateful  at  an  hour  like  this. 

"Yes,  Notre  Dame  will  be  herself  again  in 
a  few  months,  with  Ood's  help ;  and  with  the 
untiring  toil  of  her  children,  and  the  aid  of 
her  generous  friends  who  have  never  failed 
her  in  her  hour  of  need.  If  there  ever  was 
a  time  when  assistance  was  needed,  it  is  now. 
Notre  Dame  has  so  grown  into  the  life  of  the 
country  that  it  cannot  but  live  and  flourish, 
notwithstanding  the  fire.  Like  a  vigorous  tree 
which  has  been  burned  to  the  ground,  the  life 
is  yet  strong  in  the  heart  beneath,  and  a  new 
growth  will  spring  from  the  ashes  more  beau- 
tiful and  more  glorious  than  ever.  A  new 
building  better  suited  to  its  purposes,  and 
equally  substantial,  elegant  and  commodious, 
will  be  immediately  erected,  well  out  front 
of  the  old  site,  giving  more  room  and  separa- 
tion from  surrounding  structures.  This  build- 
ing will  be  ready  before  the  first  of  Septem- 
ber. 

"Now,  will  our  friends  help  us?  Will  those 
who  have  drawn  from  the  fountains  of  Notre 
Dame  for  the  past  twenty-five,  thirty,  thirty- 
five  years,  now  show  how  well  they  love  the 
mother  who  has  done  so  much  for  them  1  Will 
those  who  love  the  young,  and  who  desire  to 
see  them  brought  up  in  the  fear  and  love  of 
Ood,  help  us  in  the  great  work  we  have  to 
do  this  summer?    Will  those  who  seize  every 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


660 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


opportunity  to  do  that  which  is  most  pleasing 
to  Almighty  God,  see  in  this  disaster  a  call 
to  them  for  help?  Will  the  friends  of  Very 
Rev.  Father  Sorin,  who  has  not  even  yet,  per- 
haps, at  the  hour  at  which  we  write,  heard 
of  the  destruction  of  this  labor  of  his  life — 
for  he  left  last  Monday  morning,  in  the  bright- 
est spirits,  for  Europe — will  those  who  have 
seen  him  build  up  this  institution  in  the  wil- 
derness, now  come  to  aid  him  and  his  chil- 
dren in  its  restoration?  We  have  the  utmost 
confidence  in  the  goodness  of  God,  and  believe 
that  with  His  help,  our  own  hard  wonk,  and 
the  aid  of  our  friends,  we  shall  have  as  fine 
a  college  building,  full  of  students,  next  Sep- 
tember, as  that  which  we  lost  on  this  terrible 
23rd  of  April.'' 

Words  of  sympathy  and  offers  of  assist- 
ance poured  in  on  every  side.  The  people  of 
Notre  Dame  did  not  know  before  that  the  in- 
stitution had  so  endeared  itself  to  the  im- 
mediate community,  and  indeed  to  multitudes 
in  the  country  at  large. 

On  the  very  evening  when  the  article  above 
was  printed  in  the  ** Scholastic,"  a  public 
meeting  was  held  in  the  city  of  South  Bend, 
in  which  the  people,  without  regard  to  creed, 
gave  warmest  expression  of  sorrow  for  the 
loss  sustained  by  Notre  Dame. 

A^  this  meeting  Judge  T.  6.  Turner  read 
with  much  feeling  the  following  beautiful 
lines,  written  by  Thomas  A.  Daily,  a  former 
graduate  and  professor  of  the  university,  but 
then  editor  of  the  **  Daily  HeraW  of  South 
Bend.  The  poem  has  been  much  admired. 
It  is  said  to  have  been  written  only  on  the 
day  of  its  delivery,  a  burst  of  poetic  fervor 
by  the  young  poet,  who  felt  his  genius  stirred 
by  his  warm  sympathy  with  his  Alma  Mater : 

A  cloudless  sky,  a  sultry  day; 

A  wealth  of  sunshine  in  the  air. 

Young  spring  was  blooming  soft  and  fair. 
And  o*er  the  Earth  held  sovereign  sway. 

A  morning  bathed  in  dewey  tears, 

Upon  the  gently  swelling  hiHs 

Where  nature  once  again  fulfills 
The  promise  of  consistent  years. 


A  cry,  a  brief  electric  flash,— 

A  burst  of  awful  fear  leaped  out; 
A  moment  of  suspense  and  doubt — 

Ere  thousands  from  the  city  dash. 

And  to  the  college  force  their  way; 

For  "fire!   fire!"  was  the  cry. 

Fair  Notre  Dame  was  doomed  to  lie 
Prone  in  the  dust,  for  naught  can  stay. 

The  fiendish  progress  of  the  flames. 
That  roll  above  her  stately  dome — 
O'er  sacred  relic,  ancient  tome — 

The  treasured  love  of  deathless  names. 

O  Qod,  it  was  a  thrilling  sight. 

Where  rolled  the  fierce  fiames  to  the  sky. 
And  great,  brave  men  stood  helpless  by; 

Crushed  'neath  the  monster's  withering  blight 

The  sculptured  Virgin  mutely  blessed 

The  lurid  tongues  that  scorched  her  brow. 
As  holy  martyrs  erst  did  bow 

Beneath  the  torture's  final  test. 

The  crash  of  walls,  the  hissing  stream. 
Commingled  flames  and  blistering  heat. 
Wrought  out  a  picture  all  replete 

With  mad  destruction's  lurid  gleam. 

Can  nothing  quell  this  demon's  power? 

Can  naught  appease  his  fiery  wrath? 

Can  strength  of  man  impede  his  path. 
Or  stay  the  fiames  that  madly  lower? 

No  arm  was  potent  there  to  save; 

From  tower  and  dome  the  fiames  rolled  down. 
While  noble  firemen  from  the  town 

Fought  bravely  as  becomes  the  brave. 

Sorin,  thy  life  work  lies  a  glow 

Of  crumbled  clay  and  shapeless  dross. 
Thy  brethren  of  the  Holy  Cross 

Behold  their  labor  worthless  grow. 

Doomed,  doomed,  O  beauteous  Notre  Dame! 

Thy  massive  walls  are  crushed  and  low; 

Thy  stricken  children  here  bestow 
Their  tears  to  consecrate  thy  fame. 

The  stranger  turns  heartsick  to  see 
That  holocaust's  destructive  might; 
Thy  friends  are  gathered  here  tonight 

In  sympathy  and  love  for  thee. 

1^0 !   crushed  to  thy  foundatton  stone; 
From  out  those  ruins  comes  a  voice 
That  bids  thee  rise,  in  grief  rejoice, — 

In  woe  thou  weepest  not  alone. 

We  feel  thy  loss,  we  saw  thy  birth; 

Thy  classic  halls  once  more  shall  rise; 

Thy  dome  again  shall  pierce  the  skies, 
The  grandest  monument  of  earth. 

O  hospitable  Notre  Dame! 

Thy  walls  that  never  turned  away 

Unfed  the  poor — appeal  to-day 
To  Christian  hearts  of  every  name. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


661 


Gold  cannot  buy  all  thou  hast  lost! 

It  can  do  much — we  promise  more; 

We  pledge  thee  freely  of  our  store 
And  sympathy  of  priceless  cost. 

Thy  children  who  are  filling  now 

In  every  land  the  ranks  of  trade, 
Will  reach  to  thee  their  proffered  aid 

And  laurels  weave  around  thy  brow. 

Thy  deeds  of  love  have  made  thee  great; 
Have  won  thee  friends  in  distant  lands, 
Who'll  reach,  to  thy  distress,  full  hands. 

And  bounteous  gifts  from  every  state. 

Arise!  O  peerless  Notre  Dame! 

Forth  from  the  gloom  of  thy  despond, 
To  meet  the  coming  years  beyond, 

And  dedicate  anew  thy  aim. 

Thy  fame  is  ours;  our  strength  we  give; 

Sorin,  thy  Patriarch,  shall  not 

Gk>  to  his  grave  and  be  forgot; 
His  name  through  ages  yet  shall  live. 

To  realize  what  Notre  Dame  had  become, 
and  how  ^eat  was  the  loss  suffered  by  the 
fire,  we  reproduce,  with  a  few  minor  modi- 
fications, from  the  **  Catholic  Review '*  of  May 
3,  1879,  the  following  picture  of  what  he 
saw  two  days  before  the  catastrophe,  by  the 
accomplished  and  lamented  editor  of  that 
journal,  Patrick  V.  Hickey: 

*'  *  Under  God,  it  is  all  the  work  of  one 
man,  with  no  help  but  a  sublime  and  un- 
bounded confidence  in  the  Mother  of  dod, 
who  in  every  trial,  and  under  every  affliction, 
has  sustained  him.  Sometimes  human  aid 
would  seem  promised  to  him;  he  would  re- 
ceive the  assistance,  or  the  hope  of  the  as- 
sistance, of  some  brilliant  and  strong  man, 
and  almost  at  once  death  or  some  other  cause 
would  withdraw  this  support,  and  leave  him 
nothing  but  his  mainstay,  faith  in  our  Blessed 
Mother.  Her  work  in  the  success  of  this 
institution  is  of  marvelous  record. 

**  'Forty  years  ago,  when  Father  Greneral 
and  his  companions  succeeded  the  saintly  old 
missionaries  who  on  these  camping  grounds 
of  the  red  men  had  evangelized  the  poor  In- 
dians, Father  Sorin  and  his  assistant  priest 
were  so  poor  as  to  have  but  one  hat  between 
them,  so  that  when  one  was  seen  abroad  it 
was  known  that  the  other  must  be  at  home.' 

**The  speaker  was  the  Rev.  Daniel  E.  Hud- 


son, editor  of  the  *Ave  Maria,'  who  on  last 
Monday  afternoon  was  of  three  that  kindly 
undertook  to  make  the  visit  of  a  passing  trav- 
eler from  New  York  full  of  pleasant  mem- 
ories of  Notre  Dame.  We  were  standing  on 
the  roof  of  the  university  building,  under  the 
statue  of  Our  Lady.  We  had  reached  it  by 
noble  corridors  and  spacious  staircases, 
through  magnificent  halls,  which  contained, 
in  books,  in  manuscripts,  in  pictures,  in  sci- 
entific and  artistic  collections,  treasures  which 
no  money  could  replace.  We  were  looking 
out  over  the  beautiful  plains  of  Indiana,  that 
American  Lombardy  which  recalls  the  lines  of 
Shelley: 

Beneath   is  spread,  like  a  green  sea, 
The  waveless  plains  of  Lombardy, 

Bounded  by  the  vaporous  air, 
Islanded  by  cities  fair. 

**Far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  the  work  of 
Christian  civilization  could  be  traced;  flour- 
ishing cities  and  villages,  the  iron  roads  which 
knit  together  east  and  west,  factories  and 
farms,  everything  that  denotes  a  prosperous 
and  happy  people;  but,  in  all,  nothing  more 
striking,  nothing  more  beautiful,  nothing 
more  suggestive,  than  this  Catholic  city  of 
Notre  Dame;  for  it  is  not  less  than  a  city 
from  whose  center  we  surveyed  this  marvel- 
ous growth,  the  source  of  whose  prosperity 
and  strength  Father  Hudson  summed  up  in 
the  sentences  we  have  quoted. 

**  Notre  Dame,  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
brought  to  our  own  time  and  to  our  very 
doors,  a  chapter  of  the  history  of  the  church 
in  its  most  glorious  age.  If  any  reader  had 
never  heard  it  before,  the  lecture  of  Arch- 
bishop Vaughan  which  we  published  a  week 
or  two  since  must  have  familiarized  all  the 
readers  of  the  *  Catholic  Review'  with  the 
growth  of  great  cities  of  Europe  around  the 
monastery  of  the  Catholic  monk  and  the  ca- 
thedral of  the  Catholic  bishop.  Spending  the 
first  night  of  their  foundation  under  the  trees 
of  a  pathless  and  unknown  forest,  the  middle- 
age  founder  often  saw  before  his  death,  and 
his  children  surely  saw,  the  mustard-seed  de- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


662 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


veloped,  as  the  gospel  promised,  into  a  mighty 
tree  which  filled  all  the  earth. 

*'0n  the  prairies  of  Indiana,  this  Ameri- 
can age  has  seen  repeated  the  work  of  me- 
diaeval Europe,  by  a  congregation  of  priests 
almost  the  most  modem  in  the  church — ^whose 
growth,  however,  has  been  such  in  America 
that  we  retain  here  their  chief,  the  only  case, 
we  believe,  where  the  superior  general  of  a 
great  religious  order  resides  at  this  side  of 
the  Atlantic.  Prom  a  few  poor  French  priests, 
there  has  sprung  an  order,  whose  dead  on 
the  field  of  honor  are  already  not  few,  and 
who  besides  have  been  able  to  enrich  Ohio, 
Kentucky,  Texas,  Wisconsin,  Canada  and  re- 
moter regions  with  learned  teachers,  zealous 
mi£»ionaries,  and  practical  business  men, 
whose  work  in  making  good  citizens  and  de- 
voted lovers  of  our  American  institutions. 
Catholics  and  Protestants,  the  highest  no  less 
than  the  humblest  in  the  United  States,  thor- 
oughly appreciate.  In  this  single  establish- 
ment, the  original  two  (Father  Sorin  and 
Father  Cointet),  of  whom  one  survives,  have 
been  multiplied  to  thirty  fathers,  twelve  schol- 
astics, one  hundTcd  and  forty-one  professed 
lay  brothers,  sixty  novices,  and  twelve 
postulants. 

**We  cannot,  in  the  space  at  our  command, 
picture  for  our  readers  even  the  material 
beauties  which  can  be  seen  from  this  vantage 
point  on  the  roof  of  Notre  Dame.  Here  is 
the  Church  of  Our  Lady,  enriched  with  pic- 
tures, with  costly  frescoes,  with  shrines  and 
relics  of  the  saints,  with  an  altar  whose  priv- 
ileges are  greater,  we  are  told,  than  that  of 
any  other  altar,  save  one,  in  the  entire  world. 
A  volume  would  be  required  to  tell  the  beau- 
ties of  this  shrine.  Its  chime  of  bells  waft 
music  over  prairies;  and  for  miles  its  great 
bell,  the  largest  in  America,  is  heard  distinct 
and  beautiful. 

**  There  is  the  school  of  manual  art,  where 
the  young  gentlemen  who  are  to  be  the  legis- 
lators of  young  communities  can  learn  useful 
blacksmithing  and  carpentry.  There  are  mu- 
sic and  science  halls,  homes  for  the  aged,  an 


infirmary,  the  printing  oflSce  of  the  *Ave 
Maria,'  with  its  devoted  brothers  and  its  mild, 
studious  editor.  Then  a  great  boiler-house, 
kitchen  and  all  the  other  buildings  called  for 
by  nearly  four  hundred  students  and  pro- 
fessors. 

**Two  lakes,  surrounded  by  shady  walks, 
afford  opportunity  of  recreation  and  exercise, 
and  divide  the  novitiate  and  scholasticate 
from  the  university.  A  week  to  see  them,  and 
a  volume  to  describe  them,  would  be  needed 
to  tell  all  the  material  glories  of  Notre  Dame. 
What  it  has  accomplished  in  the  spiritual 
world,  if  told  before  the  judgment  day,  must 
be  recounted  by  other  hands.  Enough  it  Is 
to  know  that  in  the  atmosphere  of  Notre 
Dame  there  were  peace,  fervor,  discipline, 
and  piety,  so  that  even  the  transient  visitor 
could  not  fail  to  see  its  happiness.  There  was 
hope,  too,  for  on  this  Monday  morning,  when 
Father  Sorin  bade  farewell  to  his  boys,  on 
his  thirty-sixth  transatlantic  journey,  he  en- 
gaged them  all  in  a  canvass  to  double  their 
number  next  year. 

**  Whoever  leaves  Notre  Dame  hopes  to  see 
it  again.  Was  it  any  wonder  that  we  should 
promise  to  see  it  again  when  June  added  to 
it  the  only  glory  it  wanted  on  this  day, 
anticipating  summer  in  its  favor?  Was  it 
any  wonder  that,  hurrying  along  the  noisy 
highways  of  commerce,  we  looked  back  with 
affectionate  interest  to  this  pleasant  lakeside! 
What  then  was  our  sorrow  barely  two  days 
later,  to  read  in  the  railroad  cars  this  ap- 
palling record  of  ruin,  blotting  out  and  dark- 
ening one  of  the  brightest  spots  in  all 
America? 

**The  telegram  must  have  arrested  at  the 
steamer's  side  the  venerable  Father  Gteneral 
Sorin  and  brought  him  back  unexpectedly  to 
the  scene  of  the  disaster.  His  hair  is  whiter 
to-day  than  it  was  forty  years  ago,  when  he 
undertook  to  build  up  for  the  first  time  Notre 
Dame,  and  his  beard  is  that  of  the  patriarch ; 
but  his  bright  eye  is  as  bright  to-day  as  it 
was  then,  and  though  he  might  have  prayed 
that  this  great  affliction  should  be  spared  him. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


663 


he  will  take  up  his  cross  once  more,  *with  a 
sublime  and  unlimited  confidence  in  Our 
Lady/  and  long  before  another  May  comes 
around,  there  will  rise  from  the  ashes,  build- 
ings stronger,  fairer,  nobler,  than  even  those 
which  last  week  passed  away  in  a  breath  of 
flame." 

Mr.  Hickey's  prophecy  was  literally  ful- 
filled. Before  another  May  came  around 
there  rose  from  the  ashes  even  a  stronger, 
fairer,  nobler  Notre  Dame  than  that  which 
had  passed  away  in  the  fiames  of  that  April 
day.  Nay,  more,  Father  Corby's  inspired 
promise  to  the  students  that  the  new  building 
would  be  ready  for  them  on  the  opening  of 
classes  in  September  was  verified  as  the  Sep- 
tember days  appeared.  It  was  indeed  fortu- 
nate that  Father  Corby  was  then  at  the  head 
of  the  university.  He  had  with  him  the  ex- 
perience of  1865,  when,  as  Father  Patrick's 
assistant,  he  aided  in  erecting,  inside  of  the 
summer  vacation,  the  superb  edifice  which 
had  just  fallen  a  victim  to  the  fiames.  He 
felt  that  the  feat  could  be  repeated;  and 
under  direction  of  Father  Sorin,  and  with 
the  heroic  and  unselfish  aid  of  the  devoted 
fathers  and  brothers  of  the  Holy  Cross,  and 
the  noble  generosity  of  all  the  friends  of 
Notre  Dame,  the  great  work  was  done. 

So  well  indeed  was  it  done,  and  so  mag- 
nificent was  the  response  from  the  friends 
of  the  university  all  over  the  country,  that  it 
even  appeared  to  some  that  the  fire  came  as 
a  blessing  to  prove  how  loyal  to  one  another, 
and  how  brave  in  great  deeds,  were  the  com- 
munity of  the  Holy  Cross,  and  also  to  prove 
how  warm  was  the  place  which  the  old  insti- 
tution had  secured  in  the  hearts  of  the  peo- 
ple. It  is  worth  very  much  suffering  to  learn 
how  well  one  is  loved  by  Qod  and  by  his 
fellow  men. 

It  was  at  first  feared  that  the  disaster 
might  cause  a  fatal  shock  to  the  venerable 
Father  Sorin,  now  in  his  sixty-sixth  year. 
Accordingly  a  telegram  was  sent  to  friends 
near  Montreal,  where  he  was  visiting  on  his 
way  to  Europe,  asking  that  the  news  should 


be  kept  from  him  until  a  messenger  might 
reach  him.  This  was  done,  and  he  first 
learned  the  sad  news  from  the  messenger, 
with  whom  he  at  once  returned  to  Notre 
Dame.  Those  who  listened  to  him  on  his 
return,  when  he  spoke  to  the  assembled  com- 
munity from  the  altar  of  the  Church  of  the 
Sacred  Heart,  will  never  forget  the  holy 
heroism  of  his  words  and  appearance.  Far 
from  yielding  to  the  pressure  of  the  calamity, 
his  soul  seemed  to  rise  superior  to  all  the  af- 
fliction that  had  fallen  upon  him  and  upon 
the  community.  It  was  as  if  an  inspired 
prophet  of  old  stood  before  us;  and  every 
priest  and  brother  went  out  of  the  sacred 
edifice  strengthened  as  if  with  the  absolute 
assurance  of  help  from  heaven.  In  God  and 
his  Blessed  Mother  he  had  trusted  from  the 
beginning,  and  they  would  not  fail  him  and 
his  stricken  community  in  their  hour  of  need. 
Father  Sorin  for  the  time  seemed  to  have 
recovered  his  youth  again.  Uninterrupted 
activity,  and  a  vigilance  that  seized  upon 
every  source  of  aid,  returned  to  him  as  they 
had  been  with  him  when  he  laid  the  old 
foundations  in  the  days  of  his  youth.  But 
the  long  years  of  his  labors  were  not  in  vain. 
He  had,  chief  of  all,  gathered  about  him  that 
brave  community  of  priests  and  brothers  who 
now  took  upon  their  willing  shoulders  every 
ta^.  He  had,  besides,  so  conducted  the  uni- 
versity as  to  win  the  love  and  good  will  of 
the  American  people,  regardless  of  religious 
belief.  The  community  were  therefore 
united,  active  and  enthused  in  their  great 
work;  and  the  public  offered  all  sympathy, 
accommodation  and  substantial  assistance. 
The  consequence  was  that  much  nobler  plans 
were  prepared  for  the  new  buildings.  Here, 
too,  the  experience  of  the  past  was  of  great 
value;  the  new  structures  were  much  better 
adapted  to  the  needs  and  conveniences  of  a 
university.  The  new  Notre  Dame  was  indeed 
in  every  respect  superior  to  the  old;  and 
although  the  institution  was  exceedingly 
prosperous,  as  we  have  seen,  from  1865  to 
1879,  yet  so  much  has  the  superiority  been 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


664 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


since  the  latter  date  that  the  friends  of  Notre 
Dame  begin  to  look  upon  the  past  fifteen 
yeara  as  the  only  period  during  which  she 
has  taken  rank  as  a  true  university. 

In  1884,  Professor  Arthur  Joseph  Stace, 
the  genial,  accomplished  poet  and  essayist, 
aiiterwards,  by  appointment  of  the  President, 
a  scientific  expert  at  the  Paris  Exposition 
of  1889,  and  who  himself,  from  1860  until 
his  untimely  death,  in  1890,  did  so  much  for 
literature,  science  and  art  at  Notre  Dame, 
v;rote  for  ** Donahue's  Magazine''  a  graphic 
description  of  the  new  Notre  Dame.  The 
university  had  then  fully  recovered  from  the 
destructive  fire  of  1879;  Father  Sorin,  Fa- 
ther Granger  and  Father  Walsh  were  still 
with  us.  It  was,  indeed,  a  golden  age  in 
the  history  of  Alm«  Mater.  So  perfect  a  pic- 
ture is  Professor  Stace 's  article  of  what  the 
university  had  become  that,  at  the  risk  of 
some  repetition,  we  give  it  entire;  setting 
it  over  against  the  picture  of  the  former 
Notre  Dame,  before  given  from  the  brilliant 
pen  of  Mr.  Hickey: 

**0n  the  northern  verge  of  Indiana,  within 
five  miles  of  the  Michigan  line,  and  just  on 
edge  of  that  narrow  water-shed  which  slopes 
towards  the  Great  Lakes,  is  situated  an  in- 
stitution of  learning  which  is,  year  by  year, 
becoming  better  known,  not  only  throughout 
the  states  called  distinctively  *  western,'  but 
also  in  the  cultured  east  and  chivalrous  south, 
and  in  the  adjacent  lands  of  Mexico  and  Can- 
ada ;  young  men  from  all  quarters  thronging 
here  for  instruction.  This  is  the  University 
of  Notre  Dame. 

**  Three  successive  edifices  have  already 
borne  this  title.  The  first,  small  but  pictur- 
esque, was  thought  to  be  unsound  in  its  foun- 
dations, and  when  a  great  influx  of  students 
came,  instead  of  receiving  additions,  was 
pulled  down  to  make  room  for  a  larger  build- 
ing. After  the  work  of  destruction  had  been 
effected,  it  was  discovered  when  too  late 
that  the  maligned  foundation  had  been  per- 
fectly reliable.  The  second  college  was  a 
roomy,    square-built,    faetory-like    structure, 


with  a  mansard  roof,  and  it  took  fire  one 
warm  day  in  April,  during  the  prevalence  of 
a  southwest  gale,  here  the  most  violent  of  all 
the  sons  of  ^olus,  coldest  of  all  in  winter, 
hottest  of  all  in  summer,  and  a  dry,  healthy 
wind  at  every  season.  Urged  by  the  gale,  a 
column  of  flame  and  smoke  rose  in  the  air  to 
the  height  of  a  thousand  feet,  where  it  formed 
a  complete  arch,  bending  over  with  its  freight 
of  light  combustibles,  and  set  fire  to  a  forest 
a  mile  distant  on  the  northeast,  which  con- 
tinued to  bum  for  several  days  after.  Not 
only  the  main  building  was  destroyed  on  this 
occasion,  but  also  the  infirmary,  the  music 
hall  and  several  minor  structures  to  the  lee- 
ward. 

**A  calamity  such  as  this,  only  partially 
covered  by  insurance,  would  have  dismayed 
hearts  less  stout  than  those  at  Notre  Dame, 
into  which  it  rather  seemed  to  infu^  a  new 
life.  The  venerable  founder  of  the  institu- 
tion, Edward  Sorin,  whose  years  might  have 
fitly  invited  him  to  that  repose  which  a  life 
of  energy  and  usefulness  had  earned,  sprang 
at  once  into  renewed  vigor,  and  surprised  his 
friends  by  his  activity  and  self-devotion. 
The  work  of  rebuilding  was  at  once  begun. 
The  disaster  only  served  to  show  how  wide- 
spread throughout  America  was  the  venera- 
tion in  which  this  young  Alma  Mater  was 
already  held.  Substantial  sympathy  was  ex- 
pressed in  the  most  effective  shape,  and 
friendship  appeared  in  unexpected  forms  and 
localities.  A  plan  furnished  by  Edbrooke 
(since  architect  of  the  United  States  treas- 
ury) was  selected  from  among  thirty  others, 
and  the  present  structure  rose  rapidly  from 
the  ashes.  By  September  enough  of  it  was 
completed  to  accommodate  satisfactorily  the 
returning  throng  of  students,  whose  increased 
numbers  showed  a  generous  confidence  in 
Notre  Dame,  in  her  hour  of  adversity. 

**The  present  edifice  is  in  the  neogothic 
style,  and  consists  of  a  center  with  two  ample 
wings,  the  center  being  crowned  with  a  dome, 
and  having  a  front  extensdon,  giving  the  plan 
the  general  figure  of  the  letter  T,  which  is 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


66r> 


the  shape  taken  by  the  halls,  forming  the 
avenues  of  internal  communication  through 
the  various  stories  of  the  building,  except  thj,t 
where  the  stem  of  the  T  joins  the  oross-bar, 
there  is  an  open  rotunda  extending  through 
all  the  stories,  with  galleries  at  each,  up  to 
the  dome  itself.  On  entering  the  main  doors, 
the  visitor  finds  himself  surrounded  by  fres- 
coes illustrating  the  life  of  Columbus,  the 
work  of  Luigi  Gregori,  an  Italian  artist,  who 
has  been  occupied  for  many  years  past  in 
decorating  the  interiors  of  various  buildings 
here.  In  the  vestibule  the  life-size,  full- 
length  figures  of  Columbus  and  Queen  Isa- 
bella, from  authentic  portraits,  appear  on  the 
right  and  left — a  fitting  introduction  to  the 
grand  historic  series  which  is  to  follow,  and 
which  begins  in  the  hall  itself,  with  Columbus 
beg^ng  his  bread  at  the  door  of  the  mon- 
astery, whose  truly  noble  inmates  first  rec- 
ognize his  worth,  and  brought  his  project  be- 
fore the  notice  of  the  queen.  Opposite  we 
see  the  departure  of  the  caravels  on  their 
adventurous  ;journey,  with  Columbus  kneeling 
to  receive  the  blessing  of  the  friendly  monk 
to  whom  he  owed  so  much.  Next  to  this  is, 
perhaps,  the  most  striking  picture  of  the 
series,  though  one  of  the  smallest,  represent; 
ing  the  mutiny  at  sea,  in  which  the  crew  are 
threatening  the  life  of  the  great  discoverer. 
The  violence  of  the  mutineers  is  made  to  con- 
trast admirably  with  the  calm  confidence  of 
Columbus.  Opposite,  land  has  been  discov- 
ered, and  the  ring  leaders  of  the  mob  are 
on  their  knees  suing  for  pardon.  Next  a 
broad  space  is  devoted  to  the  scene  at  the 
landing,  where  the  hero  is  planting  the  cross 
on  the  shore,  surrounded  by  enthusiastic  com- 
rades and  awe-stricken  Indians.  On  the 
other  side  of  the  hall  is  the  largest- picture  of 
all,  showing  Columbus  on  his  triumphant  re- 
turn, presenting  the  aborigines  and  produc- 
tions of  the  new  world  to  Ferdinand  and  Isa- 
bella, enthroned  under  a  canopy  erected  in 
the  open  air,  and  surrounded  by  numerous 
court  officials,  and  an  apparently  unlimited 
throng  of  spectators.     After  this  transitory 


scene  of  splendor  we  see  another  proof  of 
fortune's  inconstancy:  Columbus  in  chains, 
the  victim  of  successful  treachery,  while  two 
Indians,  amazed  at  the  perfidy  of  the  white 
man,  appear  to  be  his  only  friends.  Last 
scene  of  all  we  have  his  death,  receiving  the 
blessings  of  religion,  his  chains  hanging  by 
his  bedside  above  the  chart  of  his  discoveries. 
With  these  last  two  paintings  on  either  hand, 
we  find  ourselves  at  the  rotunda,  on  whose 
paveinent  of  tiles  we  may  stand  and  gaze 
upwards  two  hundred  feet  into  the  concavity 
of  the  dome,  soon  to  be  decorated  with  ap- 
propriate designs  by  the  same  talented  artist. 
[Since  Professor  Stace  wrote  this  article  the 
inner  surface  of  the  dome  has  been  so  dec- 
orated by  the  hand  of  Qregori.  The  paintings 
were  completed  and  the  dome  opened  with 
appropriate  services  May  29,  1890.  Bishop 
Keane  was  present,  and  a  masterly  oration 
was  delivered  by  the  Hon.  William  J.  Ona- 
han,  of  Chicago.  The  figures  are  allegorical 
— Religion,  Philosophy,  Poetry,  Law,  Sci- 
ence.] 

**0n  the  righit-hand  side,  on  entering  the 
hall  through  which  we  have  passed,  is  the 
suite  of  apartments  occupied  by  President 
Walsh.  In  his  reception  room  are  to  be 
found  several  gems  of  art,  among  others,  a 
crucifixion,  undoubtedly  the  work  of  Van- 
dyke, and  a  Titian,  the  subject  being  the 
daughter  of  Herodias,  with  the  head  of  John 
the  Baptist.  On  the  left-hand  side  of  the  hall 
is  the  public  parlor,  often  literally  crowded, 
spacious  as  it  is,  with  visitors  on  exhibition 
nights  and  during  commencement  week.  The 
room  is  decorated  with  portraits,  chiefly  those 
of  former  presidents  of  the  university.  Op- 
posite to  the  end  of  the  hall,  across  the  ro- 
tunda, is  the  students'  office,  where  they  pro- 
cure their  stationery  and  books,  and  may  com- 
municate by  telephone  or  telegraph  with  dis- 
tant friends.  During  business  hours,  this 
room  is  seldom  without  its  throng.  From  the 
rotunda  to  the  east  and  west  extend  the  halls 
to  the  study-rooms,  with  recitation  rooms  on 
either   side,   airy   and  spacious,   well-lighted 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


666 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


and  warmed,  as  are  all  the  buildings,  by 
steam-heating  apparatus.  In  the  story  above 
are  more  recitation  rooms,  private  rooms  oc- 
cupied by  teachers  and  others,  two  large  dorm- 
itories over  the  study-rooms,  and  two  finely 
decorated  apartmenia  in  which  the  Columbian 
and  Cecilian  societies  respectively  hold  their 
meetings.  The  Columbian  room  is  painted  in 
fresco,  with  full-length  portraits  of  the  bene- 
factors of  the  university,  a  category  which 
includes  characters  as  incongruous  as  those 
of  Henry  Clay  and  the  late  Emperor  of  the 
French,  making  a  picturesque  ensemble.  On 
this  floor  there  is  also  a  museum  of  Indian 
relics  and  other  curiosities.  In  the  third 
story,  the  greater  part  of  the  front  extension 
is  occupied  by  a  spacious  hall,  devoted  to  the 
purpose  of  a  college  library.  Here,  besides 
the  usual  formidable  array  of  classics  and 
works  of  reference,  may  be  found  some  curi- 
ous old  volumes,  dated  from  the  century  in 
whicl^  printing  was  invented,  illuminated 
with  initial  letters  painted  by  hand  after  the 
printing  was  finished.  Quaint  modern  re- 
productions of  mediaeval  work  will  also  inter- 
est the  aesthete.  On  this  floor  and  the  next 
above  are  also  numerous  private  rooms  -and 
dormitories,  a  distinguishing  feature  of  the 
upper  floor  being  the  school  of  drawing ;  for 
the  art  of  drawing  makes  a  prominent  figure 
in  the  curriculum  of  the  scientific  course.  We 
may  now  ascend  to  the  roof,  if  you  have  any 
desire  to  obtain  an  extensive  view.  If  your 
nerves  are  steady,  we  may  even  scale  the 
dome  itself,  and  the  proepect  is  worth  the 
climb.  Northward  lie  the  green  hills  of  Michi- 
gan, with  the  St.  Joseph  river  winding  in  a 
deep  valley  among  them.  The  position  of  the 
city  of  Niles  may  be  made  out  by  the  white 
houses  of  its  suburbs  gleaming  through  the 
surrounding  shade  trees.  The  greater  part  of 
the  town  lies  hid  in  the  valley  of  the  river. 
Eastward,  stretch  extensive  woods,  above 
which  the  smoke  of  the  foundries  of  Elkhart 
may  be  seen  rising.  Southward,  the  view  is  ^ 
more  limited,  a  high  range  of  bluffs  beyond 
the  river  cutting  it  off,  and  causing  the  river 


itself  to  make  that  remarkable  deflection  from 
which  South  Bend  takes  its  name.  The  tips 
of  the  spires  of  Mishawaka  may  be  discovered 
by  one  who  knows  just  where  to  look  for 
them,  rising  above  the  woods  a  little  east  of 
south.  On  the  bluffs  above,  is  a  station 
erected  by  the  lake  coast  survey.  West  of 
south  lies  South  Bend,  mapped  out  beneath 
the  eye  of  the  spectator,  and  still  further  west 
stretch  the  Kankakee  marshes,  for  so  many 
years  the  paradise  of  the  fowler.  But  the 
prairie  chickens  and  ducks,  that  used  to 
abound  there,  have  been  thinned  out  by  the 
ruthlessness  of  hunters;  and  the  process  of 
drainage  and  fencing  has  robbed  the  region 
of  its  original  charm.  Northwest,  the  eye 
roves  over  the  rolls  of  Portage  Prairie — ^the 
old  *  portage'  of  the  Pottawatomie  Indians, 
over  which,  by  conveying  their  canoes  from 
the  waters  of  the  St.  Joseph  to  those  of  the 
Kankakee,  they  connected  the  navigation  of 
the  great  lakes  with  that  of  the  Mississippi. 
**From  these  views  of  the  distant  horizon 
let  us  turn  our  eyes  to  what  is  going  on  more 
immediately  beneath  us.  On  the  lake  to  the 
north  we  may  witness  the  boat  crews  training 
for  the  coming  regatta.  The  lake  itself  is  a 
l^eautiful  blue  sheet  of  water,  surrounded  by 
groves,  and  forms  a  most  attractive  feature 
in  the  college  grounds.  There  is  another  lake 
to  the  westward,  not  so  large,  and  surrounded 
by  beds  of  marl,  which  make  it,  perhaps, 
more  interesting  to  the  geologist,  though  less 
attractive  to  the  lover  of  scenery.  Southwest, 
on  the  broad  campus,  a  game  of  baseball,  if 
it  is  *rec'  day,  may  be  in  progress,  and 
from  your  elevated  position  you  may  com- 
mand a  view  of  all  the  details  of  that  at- 
tractive pastime.  To  the  south,  an  avenue 
of  maples -shades  the  thoroughfare  to  South 
Bend,  two  miles  distant;  and  Notre  Dame 
post  office  is  visible  on  the  skirts  of  a  pine 
grove.  Southwest  are  the  manual  labor 
schools,  conducted  by  the  same  religious  eom- 
munity  which  directs  the  exercises  of  the  col- 
lie itself.  Here  are  tailor  shops,  shoemaker 
shops,  carpenter  and  blacksmith  shops,  and 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


667 


an  extensive  farm  with  its  well-appointed 
bams  and  stables.  Still  nearer  to  the  south- 
west we  see  the  church,  and  this  is  worthy 
of  inspection  from  within.  In  the  west,  a 
mile  away,  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  is  St. 
Mary's  Academy,  an  institution  for  the  edu- 
cation of  young  ladies,  which  the  tourist  will 
find  well  deserving  of  a  separte  visit. 

"But  it  is  the  intellectual  aspect,  rather 
than  the  material — ^the  mental  landscape,  so 
to  speak — ^which  will  interest  the  visitor  to 
the  university  as  a  university;  and  here  he 
will  find  classic  taste  and  scientific  research — 
not  the  mere  memorizing  of  the  contents  of 
learned  tomes,  but  an  active  participation  in 
the  pursuits  and  aims  of  true  study.  The 
production  of  the  plays  of  Sophocles,  with 
all  their  appropriate  accessories  on  the  stage, 
by  the  Greek  students  of  this  university,  and 
still  more  the  intelligent  interest,  which  large 
audiences  have  unmistakably  manifested  in 
the  representation,  sufficiently  attest  the  pro- 
ficiency attained  here  in  a  living  language, 
which,  however  its  claims  to  notice  may  have 
been  lately  questioned  by  the  superficial  and 
soulless  utilitarian,  is  not  only  among  the 
most  perfect  and  beautiful  that  the  world  has 
ever  known,  but  is  especially  dear  to  Chris- 
tians, as  being  the  language  of  the  gospel. 
Moreover,  the  fact  of  Greek  being  a  living 
language  is  vividly  presented  to  the  mind  of 
the  student  by  the  exchange  of  the  produc- 
tions of  the  *Ave  Maria'  press  with  those  of 
modem  Greece,  which  arrive  by  every  mail 
from  the  Orient.  It  is  needless  to  speak  of 
the  perfection  attained  in  the  Latin  language 
in  an  institution  conducted  by  fathers  of  the 
Catholic  church,  among  whom  that  classic 
ton^e  has  never  been  allowed  to  die.  The 
poetry  in  hexameter  and  the  difficult  Hora- 
tian  measure  which  from  time  to  time  appear 
in  the  i)eriodicals  here  published,  bear  wit- 
ness that  Notre  Dame  forms  no  exception  to 
the  rule  in  this  respect.  Of  the  periodicals 
alluded  to,  the  *Ave  Maria'  is  the  most  ex- 
tensively circulated  Catholic  religious  paper 
in  the  United  States.    It  has  been  now  estab- 

Vol.  II— f 


lished  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and 
shows  no  signs  of  *a  decline  and  fall.'  On 
the  contrary,  each  year  finds  it  still  more 
widely  disseminated,  so  that  it  reaches  many 
thousands  of  hearths  and  homes,  where  its 
pages  are  the  delight  of  the  family  circle, 
and  the  antidote  to  the  pernicious  literature 
with  which  our  land  is  rife.  The  *  Notre 
Dame  Scholastic, '  issued  from  the  same  print- 
ing house,  takes  a  high  rank  among  college 
papers,  as  contemporaries  acknowledge,  and 
enables  the  youth  destined  for  the  vocation  of 
the  journalist — an  occupation  whose  standing 
in  the  social  sphere  is  daily  receiving  a 
higher  recognition^ — to  fit  himself  for  the  ex- 
ercise of  his  chosen  profession.  Other  vol- 
umes, from  time  to  time,  emanate  from  the 
same  source;  the  Antigone  of  Sophocles,  in 
Greek  and  English,  has  here  been  published; 
the  *  Household  Library  of  Catholic  Poets,' 
*Life  of  Joseph  Haydn,'  *  Crowned  with 
Stars'  and  other  works,  have  found  their  cir- 
cle of  readers.  The  dramas  suitable  for  per- 
formance of  schools  and  colleges  are  of  merit 
practically  recognized  by  their  frequent  rep- 
resentation in  the  institutions  for  which  they 
have  been  designed;  and  their  number  is 
daily  increasing. 

**Nor  is  science  neglected.  The  flora  and 
fauna  of  the  fertile  St.  Joseph  valley  give 
increasing  occupation  to  the  naturalist,  the 
fruits  of  whose  labors  are  preserved  in  the 
herbarium  and  museum.  The  geology  of  the 
Great  Lake  basin  and  the  multifarious  min- 
eral specimens  to  be  found  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, open  other  interesting  fields  of  science, 
which  have  been  duly  tilled,  and  the  philo- 
sophical apparatus  appears  to  have  gathered 
no  rust  or  dust  from  neglect.  The  courses 
of  law  and  civil  engineering  are  in  active 
operation,  and  that  of  medicine  might  be 
equally  flourishing,  were  it  not  that  the  in- 
vincible repugnance  which  a  dissecting  room 
excites  in  the  minds  of  those  who  have  no 
vocation  to  the  healing  art,  has  hitherto  mili- 
tated against  its  establishment  at  Notre 
Dame.      A  preparatory  course,  in  which  hu- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


668 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


man  and  comparative  anatomy  are  tauglit  by 
the  aid  of  carefully  prepared  skeletons,  has 
long  been  conducted  under  the  care  of  an  emi- 
nent and  experienced  practitioner.  A  commer- 
cial school  here  has  always  borne  a  good  repu- 
tation among  business  men,  so  that  its  grad- 
uates find  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  employ- 
ment, which  is  probably  the  best  test  of  its 
worth. 

**  The  Catholic  religion  is  professed  by  the 
teachers  and  ofl&cers  of  the  establishment,  but 
non-Catholics  have  always  availed  themselves, 
in  large  numbers,  of  the  educational  advan- 
tages here  offered.  The  Blessed  Mother,  who 
gives  her  name  to  the  university,  smiles  a 
welcome  to  all  from  her  exalted  position  on 
the  dome,  and  although  no  undue  efforts  are 
made  to  proselytize,  yet  the  truths  of  the 
most  ancient  form  of  Christianity  sink  deep 
into  many  an  ingenuous  heart.  The  sense  of 
honor  is  sedulously  cultivated  by  the  oflScers 
of  the  institution,  as  a  ground  of  moral  re- 
straint and  self-command  on  which  all  may 
meet  on  a  common  footing.  The  venerahle 
founder  of  the  house,  himself  a  model  of  the 
punctilious  courtesy  which  characterized  the 
anden  regime,  has  always  deemed  it  his  duty 
to  cultivate  the  manners,  no  less  than  the 
morals,  of  those  to  whom  he  stands  in  loco 
parentis;,  and  although  he  has  long  ago  re- 
signed the  presidency  into  younger  hands, 
his  gentle  influence  is  still  felt,  refining  and 
elevating  wherever  it  extends;  his  presence 
inspires  an  affectionate  reverence,  and  the 
memory  of  his  teachings  will  long  survive  his 
earthly  career.  Hence  the  absence  of  rude- 
ness has  always  been  a  marked  feature  at 
Notre  Dame.  The  disgraceful  practice  of 
*  hazing*  is  absolutely  unknown.  The  new- 
comer finds  himself  surrounded  at  once  by 
kindly  faces  and  hearts,  disposed  to  believe 
everything  good  of  him,  unless  his  own  deeds 
force  them  reluctantly  into  the  opposite  con- 
viction. The  students  are  divided  into  de- 
partments, not  according  to  the  course  of 
study  each  pursues,  but  according  to  the  more 
natural  distinction  of  age,  each  department 


having  its  own  campus  and  gymnasium,  its 
own  study-halls,  recreation  rooms,  and  dor- 
mitories. In  the  recitation  rooms,  however, 
distinctions  of  age  are  leveled,  and  merit 
alone  gives  the  pupil  his  standing.  The  prac- 
tice of  going  to  and  from  recitations  and 
other  college  exercises  in  silence  and  ranks, 
has  always  prevailed,  and  contributes  much 
to  the  reign  of  order.  In  the  classical  and 
scientific  courses,  the  highest  proficiency  is 
required  to  obtain  the  academic  degrees ;  the 
mere  fact  of  a  student  having  attended  class 
regularly  does  not  entitle  him  to  a  diploma; 
the  examination  to  be  passed  is  something 
more  than  a  mere  formality,  and  the  unpleas- 
ant process,  known  to  college  men  as  'pluck- 
ing,' takes  place  quite  often  enough  to  in- 
spire a  salutary  awe.  The  removal  of  dis- 
tracting influences,  has  also  been  found  to 
have  most  beneficial  results  in  promotincr 
attention  to  solid  work. 

**But  now  let  us  descend  from  the  roof  of 
the  ccrflege,  and  view  the  interior  of  the 
church,  as  already  suggested.  Exteriorly,  at 
least  in  its  present  state,  the  building  is  not 
specially  attractive.  [Since  Professor  Stace 
wrote,  the  towers  and  spires  of  the  Church  of 
the  Sacred  Heart  have  been  completed;  and 
much  of  the  exterior  want  of  attraction  here 
alluded  to  has  been  removed.]  Within,  how- 
ever, it  is  a  gem.  We  enter  the  front  porch 
beneath  the  massive  tower,  ^containing  a  fine 
chime  of  twenty-three  bells,  the  largest  of 
which,  weighing  seven  tons  and  a  half  and 
measuring  seven  feet,  holds  a  distinguished 
place  among  the  bells  of  the  United  States. 
Stained  glass  admits  all  the  light  that  enters 
the  sacred  edifice;  gorgeous  dyes  of  crim- 
son, scarlet,  blue  and  amber  revealing  the 
figures  of  those  apostles,,  martyrs  and  vir- 
gins whom  Christianity  reverences  as  its 
heroes.  One  large  window  displaj^  the  de- 
scent of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  the  apostles 
in  the  form  of  fiery  tongues.  The  figures 
are  mediaeval,  such  as  we  expect  in  stained 
glass,  but  without  that  restraint  of  artistic 
freedom  which  the  mediaeval  style  in  feeble 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


669 


hands  imposes.  Scarcely  dimmed  by  the 
bright  colors  in  the  windows,  are  the  frescoes 
and  other  paintings  which  cover  the  walls 
of  the  interior — representing  four  years' 
work  of  the  same  talented  artist  [Gregori], 
who  is  now  painting  the  interior  of  the  col- 
,l^e;  for  the  church  happily  escaped  the 
great  conflagration  of  1879.  These  paintings 
represent  the  pathetic  and  inspiring  scenes 
attending  the  birth  and  passion  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  Here,  we  see  the  *  Blessed 
among  women'  receiving  the  angelic  message; 
there  she  greets  her  cousin  Elizabeth;  anon 
the  cave  of  Bethlehem  with  the  adoring  shep- 
herds is  opened  to  our  view;  farther  on,  the 
three  wise  men  of  the  East  present  their  gifts 
of  gold,  frankincense  and  myrrh;  and  again 
the  Holy  Family  fly  into  Egypt  from  the 
wrath  of  Herod — the  series  coming  to  a  con- 
clusion with  that  memorable  scene  in  the  tem- 
ple, when  the  child  was  found  among  the 
doctors  of  the  law,  hearing  them  and  asking 
them  qu^ions. 

**The  scenes  of  the  passion  are  detailed 
even  more  minutely.  First  we  see  Pilate 
washing  his  hands,  having  impiously  pro- 
nounced the  condemnation;  then  the  cross 
is  laid  upon  the  shoulders  of  the  Victim,  and 
the  occasions  upon  which  He  is  said  to  have 
fallen  beneath  its  weight,  furnished  three 
other  subjects.  His  meeting  with  His  Blessed 
Mother  is  the  most  affecting  of  the  series. 
She  comes,  attended  by  Mary  Magdalen  and 
the  beloved  disciple  John,  and  even  the  brutal 
soldiers  make  way  for  her  approach,  as,  with 
blanched  face  and  bloodless  lips,  she  imprints 
the  last  kiss  on  the  divine  features.  In  an- 
other painting  Simon  of  Cyrene  is  compelled 
to  share  the  burden,  and  in  yet  another  the 
women  of  Jerusalem  oflfer  their  unavailing 
tears.  The  driving  of  the  nails  is  depicted 
in  colors  that  appall,  although  we  cannot  but 
feel  how  much  more  terrible  was  the  real 
scene.  The  death  on  the  cross,  the  descent 
therefrom,  and  the  entombment,  close  the 
series,  and  in  these  subjects  Gregori  has  had 
to  emulate  the  greatest  masters  of  the  art. 


By  the  contemplation  of  paintings  such  as 
these  the  gospel  truths' are  brought  home  to 
the  humblest  intelligence,  and  impress  the 
hardest  heart,  where  written  page  or  spoken 
homily  would  fail. 

**To  descant  upon  the  other  ornaments  of 
the  church — ^the  costly  altar,  bedecked  and 
surmounted  with  offerings  of  the  richest  and 
rarest,  the  painted  ceiling  whence  angels 
smile  amid  the  stars  of  a  serene  sky,  the 
moldings  and  pillars,  the  tones  of  the  mighty 
organ — would  exceed  the  limits  assigned  to 
this  sketch.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  Notre  Dame 
is  one  of  the  few  places  in  the  United  States 
where  the  majestic  ceremonial  of  the  Catholic 
church,  interesting  from  its  historic  associa- 
tions, even  to  those  whose  devotion  is  not 
thereby  attracted,  can  be  completely  per- 
formed in  all  its  splendor.  Those  who  have 
witnessed  the  procession  of  Corpus  Christi, 
as  it  winds  around  the  lake,  with  all  the  rich 
colors  doubled  by  reflection  in  the  placid 
waters,  with  the  song  of  hirdB  mingling  with 
melodly  of  hymns,  will  bear  us  out  in  this 
assertion. 

"Building  is  still  in  progress,  and  the  num- 
ber of  students  attending  seems  to  keep  pace 
with  the  increase  of  accommodations.  An 
edifice,  now  nearly  finished,  to  the  south  of 
the  Music  hall,  will  be  devoted  especially  to 
the  use  of  the  scientific  department.  The 
laboratory,  now  in  a  temporary  building,  will 
here  be  the  principal  feature.  Museums  of 
mineralogy  and  natural  hii^ory  will  occupy 
other  galleries,  and  a  large  hall  will  be  de- 
voted to  lectures — not  only  the  special  lectures 
of  the  scientific  course,  but  popular  lectures 
on  science,  such  as  the  commercial  students 
may  attend  with  advantage. 

[Science  hall  has  been  since  completed  and 
supplied  with  instruments,  appliances  and 
specimens,  which  make  it  one  of  the  finest 
schools  in  the  country  for  the  teaching  of  the 
physical  and  natural  sciences.  The  building 
itself  is  a  beautiful  specimen  of  Greek  archi- 
tecture. To  the  south  of  Science  Hall  is 
Mechanics'  Hall,  where  the  mechanic  arts  are 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


670 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


practically  applied  under  the  direction  of 
competent  instructors.  Still  further  south  is 
a  neat  astronomical  observatory.  This  series 
of  buildings  has  been  erected  chiefly  under 
supervision  of  Father  John  A.  Zahm,  so  well 
known  for  his  achievements  in  science  and 
his  various  learned  writings,  and  who  but  this 
year  (1895)  was  honored  by  the  propaganda 
at  Rome  with  the  degree  of  doctor  of  phil- 
osophy. Father  Zahm  is  ably  assisted  by  the 
Rev.  Alexander  M.  Kirsch,  Professor  McCue, 
Professor  O'Dea,  Rev.  James  Burns,  Rev. 
Joseph  Kirsch  and  others.] 

**The  description  of  the  various  buildings 
to  be  found  here,  devoted  to  special  objects, 
would  fatigue  the  reader,  though  of  interest 
to  the  observer.  A  visit  to  the  institution 
will  develop  matters  for  thought  upon  which 
we  have  not  even  touched,  and  the  visitor  may 
be  sure  of  a  warm  welcome  from  the  good 
fathers  who  direct  the  establishment,  and 
whose  hospitality  has  become  proverbial. 
During  the  summer  vacation,  especially, 
many  resort  hither  to  enjoy  the  pure  air, 
limpid  spring  water,  and  the  rural  scenery. 
It  is  accessible  by  three  [now  five]  railways — 
the  Lake  Shore,  the  Grand  Trunk,  the  Michi- 
gan Central  [since  also  the  Vandalia  and  the 
Three  I's].  The  best  time  to  see  the  place 
in  all  its  beauty  is  in  the  spring  or  early 
summer.  At  the  commencement  exercises  in 
June,  there  is  always  a  large  crowd  of  vis- 
itors ;  but  we  would  advise  such  of  our  read- 
ers as  have  an  eye  for  the  picturesque  to 
choose  a  time  when  there  is  less  to  distract 
the  mind  from  the  contemplation  of  nature, 
say  at  that  brief  but  blissful  season  charac- 
terized by  the  flowering  of  the  lilac;  when 
the  cooing  of  the  wild  dove  is  heard  at  the 
dawn  of  day,  and  the  plaintive  note  of  the 
whip-poor-will  at  its  decline,  ere  yet  the  song 
birds  have  lapsed  into  their  summer  silence. 
Then  is  the  time  to  see  Notre  Dame  in  per- 
fection." 

The  fine  descriptions  of  the  landscape  as 
seen  from  the  roofs  of  the  old  and  the  new 
Notre  Dame,  given   in  the  preceding  pages 


from  the  pens  of  Mr.  Hickey  and  Professor 

Stace,  make  it  pleasant  to  add  a  third  and 

reverse  picture — a  poet's  view  of  Notre  Dame, 

as  seen  at  St.  Mary's  from  the  heights  above 

the  banks  of  the  St.  Joseph  river,  a  mile  to 

the  west:* 

The  purple  air»  the  misty  hills; 

The  meadows,  green  with  hidden  rills; 

The  grove,  that  screens  from  curious  gaze 

Its  sacred,  meditative  ways; 

The  lake  beyond,  its  placid  eye 

Blue  as  the  arch  of  vernal  sky; 

The  dome,  and  diapel  spires,  that  claim 

Our  Lady's  favor,  with  her  name; 

How,  like  a  thought  of  peace,  the  whole 

Takes  calm  possession  of  the  soul! 

In  Professor  Stace 's  article  are  described 
the  many  fine  paintings  of  Luigi  Gregori, 
both  in  the  halls  and  dome  of  the  university 
and  in  the  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart.  The 
daily  contemplation  of  these  fine  paintings, 
of  the  beautiful  stained  glass  windows,  the 
choice  works  of  art  in  and  around  church  and 
college,  with  the  glorious  music  of  the.  organ 
and  the  bells,  and  not  forgetting  that  beau- 
teous landscape  of  which  Professor  Stace  also 
speaks,  constitutes  in  itself  an  ennobling  edu- 
cation. No  one  can  view  and  listen  to  those 
beautiful  things  day  after  day  without  hav- 
ing his  mind  and  his  soul  lifted  to  the  con- 
templation of  the  beautiful  and  the  good. 

Previous  to  the^ coming  of  Gregori  the  most 
eminent  artist  at  Notre  Dame  had  been  the 
elder  ProfesBor  Acfcerman,  who  was  espe- 
cially skilled  as  a  draughtsman,  as  those 
know  full  well  who  remember  the  classic 
architectural  drawing  that  adorned  the  refec- 
tory of  the  old  college  building  of  1853-65, 
particularly  the  noble  front  of  St.  Peter's 
at  Rome.  His  work  is  also  to  be  seen  on  the 
walls  of  the  present  refectories.  Another  of 
the  old  artists  was  Professor  Lewis,  who  was 
possessed  of  a  delicate  taste,  as  he  was  of  a 
congenial  and  kindly  nature.  Professor 
Francis  Xavier  Ackerman  is  their  worthy 
successor. 

Art  suffered  a  loss  in  the  early  and  tragic 
death  of  Mr.  Wood,  a  young  student  and  the 
most  promising  of  Gregori 's  pupils.     Many 

a.    By  Bliza  Allen  Starr. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


671 


of  his  portraits  and  landscapes  are  treasured 
at  Notre  Dame,  and  show  what  he  might 
have  become  had  his  life  been  spared.  May 
we  not  hope  that  the  daily  presence  before 
the  eyes  of  the  bright  youths  of  Notre  Dame 
of  so  many  fine  works  of  art  will  inspire 
some  choice  spirits  to  produce  paintings  that 
may  not  suffer  by  comparison  even  with  those 
of  Gregori. 

In  the  kindred  art  of  music  Notre  Dame 
has  always  excelled.    Indeed,  the  musical  de- 


Sec.  10. — The  PREsroENCY  of  the  Rev. 
Thomas  E.  Walsh. — To  preserve  some  unity 
of  subject  in  this  history,  we  have  anticipated 
part  of  the  events  that  occurred  during  the 
presidency  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  E.  Walsh, 
whose  term  of  office  began  in  1881.  Father 
W-alsh  has  been  vice-president  and  director 
of  studies  during  the  last  presidency  of 
Father  Corby,  from  1877  to  1881.  He  was 
barely  past  the  age  of  twenty-eight  when  he 
became  president,  but  he  was  even  then  a  ripe 


UNIVERSITY  OP  NOTRE?  DAME. 


partment  has  ever  been  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished of  the  university.  The  veterans 
of  this  department  were  Professor  Girac  and 
Brother  Basil,  the  former  gone  to  take  part 
in  the  melodies  of  heaven,  the  latter  still 
with  us  to  make  more  holy  and  beautiful  the 
world  in  which  he  yet  lives.  Father  Lilly, 
himself  a  child  of  a  family  of  musicians,  was 
most  precocious,  playing  upon  the  piano  when 
his  little  arms  could  scarcely  reach  over  the 
keys.  In  more  recent  times  Professor  Paul, 
and  numerous  other  musicians,  continued  the 
harmonious  line. 


scholar  and  a  man  of  mature  mind.  He  took 
charge  of  the  university  when  its  material 
wiants  had  been  fairly  well  supplied.  The 
disaster  of  1879  had  been,  in  large  measure, 
repaired,  and  looking  upon  the  new  Notre 
Dame,  we  might  even  then  well  believe  that 
the  apparent  calamity  was  a  blessing  in  dis- 
guise. Father  Walsh  seemed  to  believe  that 
his  special  mission  was  to  lift  the  courses  of 
studies  to  a  higher  plane  and  extend  them 
to  a  wider  scope,  than  any  to  which  they  had 
hitherto  attained.  Himself  a  finished  scholar 
and  a  man  of  superior  natural  endowments, 


Digitized  by 


Google 


672 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


he  felt  within  him  the  promptings  to  make 
Notre  Dame  equal  to  the  greatest  universi- 
ties of  the  land.  Father  Walsh's  own  char- 
acter was  one  of  great  evenness,  roundness 
and  fullness,  and  accordingly  he  strove  to 
advance  all  the  interests  of  the  university, 
without  sacrificing  any  one  interest  to  an- 
other. While  it  may  be  that  his  own  tastes 
in  literature  and  oratory  were  predonunant, 
yet  his  mind  was  so  broad,  his  sympathies  so 
wide,  and  his  judgment  so  correct,  that  evevy 
department  seemed  to  receive  his  equal  at- 
tention and  care. 

During  Father  Walsh's  presidency,  the  ex- 
treme wings  or  additions,  originally  designed 
for  the  new  college  building,  were  built,  and 
the  refectories  and  study  halls  were  accord- 
ingly enlarged,  greatly  adding  to  the  facili- 
ties of  the  university. 

In  the  year  1882,  St.  Bdtward's  Hall,  for 
the  use  of  the  Minim  department,  was 
erected.  The  minims  consist  of  young  stu- 
dents^ under  twelve  years  of  age.  These 
youths  have  always  been  tenderly  cared  for 
at  Notre  Dame.  They  are  under  the  special 
charge  of  the  Sisters  of  the  Holy  Cross,  and 
have  a  course  of  studies,  and  a  daily  life 
suited  especially  to  their  tender  years.  Ever 
since  the  erection  of  St.  Edfward's  Hall,  they 
have  had  all  the  facilities  that  could  be  de- 
sired for  their  training  and  instruction.  St. 
Edward's  park,  in  front  of  the  hall,  is  per- 
haps the  most  beautiful  little  garden  and 
pleasure  ground  anywhere  to  be  seen  about 
Notre  Dame.  It  is  a  gem  of  pleasant  walks 
and  beds  of  plants  and  flowers,  and  always 
attracts  the  admiration  of  visitors  at  Notre 
Dame.  The  minims  were  always  favorites  of 
Father  Sorin.  He  styled  them  his  ** Princes," 
and  whether  at  Notre  Dame,  upon  the  sea, 
at  Paris  or  at  Rome,  he  never  ceased  to  re- 
member them.  From  their  ranks  has  come 
many  a  bright  student  of  the  university. 

On  June  20,  1883,  the  comer  stone  of  Sci- 
ence Hall  was  laid  by  the  Right  Rev.  John 
A.  Watterson,  bishop  of  Columbus.  This 
building  was  constructed  as  a  necessary  part 


of  the  plan  in  developing  the  scientific  course 
of  the  university.  It  is  considered  by  many, 
in  the  severe  simplicity  of  its  Greek  archi- 
tecture, to  be  the  most  beautiful  of  all  the 
college  buildings.  The  comer  stone  itself  was 
an  object  of  particular  interest  from  the  cir- 
cumstance that  it  was  a  mineral  curiosity, 
being  a  beautiful  conglomerate,  containing 
lucid  and  colored  quartz  pebbles,  and  pro- 
cured in  northern  Michigan.  It  was  donated 
for  the  purpose  by  Dr.  John  Cassidy,  the 
first  graduate  of  the  scientific  course. 

Under  Father  Walsh's  presidency  were 
also  erected  Mechanics'  Hall,  or  Institute  of 
Technology,  and  the  astronomical  observatory. 

From  Bishop  Watterson 's  address  at  the 
laying  of  the  comer  stone  of  'Science  Hall, 
we  take  the  following,  which  indicates  the 
relations  of  the  sciences  to  other  studies  as 
understood  at  Notre  Dame: 

**We  lay  it  (the  comer  stone)  in  the 
shadow  of  yonder  church,  and  here  the  stu- 
dents of  Notre  Dame  can  have  the  opportuni- 
ties and  means  of  perfecting  themselves  in 
those  physical  studies,  which,  instead  of  be- 
ing opposed  to  religion,  are  auxiliaries  to  it, 
because  they  introduce  us  to  the  studies  by 
which  we  attain  our  destiny.  The  course  of 
an  education  in  a  Catholic  university  is  in- 
tended to  make  intellectual  and  moral  men, 
all  the  branches  conspiring  to  this  noble  aim. 
The  ancient  classics  of  Greece  and  Rome  tell 
the  student  of  the  necessity  of  a  revelation, 
and  history  teaches  of  the  doings  of  Almighty 
Gk>d  with  man,  proclaims  God's  goodness  and 
mercy  and  the  necessity  of  his  church.  Nat- 
ural philosophy  places  us  in  the  very  vestibule 
of  theology;  moral  philosophy  tells  us  of 
our  relations  with  our  fellow  men  and  our 
duties  in  the  various  walks  of  life.  Here- 
tofore the  natural  sciences  have  been  taught 
in  this  university,  but  now  they  are  to  be 
taught  with  greater  application  than  ever. 
Here  they  are  to  receive  diligent  attention, 
for  they  tell  us  of  the  goodness  and  great- 
ness of  God,  and  teach  us  that  everything 
should  lead  us  to  Gk>d.     Some  men  do  not 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


mSTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


673 


recognize  God  in  science,  because  they  do  not 
see  the  natural  sciences  as  God  intended.  He 
wishes  nature  to  lead  us  to  him,  and  if  sci- 
ences are  properly  studied  they  will  do  their 
own  towards  bringing  us  to  our  future 
happiness." 

The  dimensions  of  the  principal  buildings 
of  the  university,  thus  completed  under  di- 
rection of  Father  Walsh,  may  well  be  given 
here,  with  some  details  of  their  uses  and 
purposes. 

The  main  building  is  three  hundred  and 
twenty  feet  front  by  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
five  feet  in  depth.  The  material  of  which 
this,  as  well  as  all  the  other  buildings,  is 
constructed,  is  cream-colored,  sometimes 
called  Milwaukee  brick.  The  dome  of  the 
main  building  is  gilt,  with  pure  gold  leaf, 
and  is  surmounted  by  a  massive  statue  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin,  which  is  **  crowned  with 
stars''  of  electric  light,  a  most  beautiful  sight 
of  a  summer's  evening.  Father  Sorin  had 
resolved  that  this  crown  should  circle  the 
brow  of  his  Blessed  Lady,  even  before  mod- 
em science  had  yet  succeeded  in  dividing  the 
electric  fluid  for  this  purpose.  It  is  not  the 
only  time  when  the  ardent  founder's  genius 
seemed,  as  it  were,  to  leap  over  present  dif- 
ficulties and  to  anticipate  success  where 
others  could  see  only  disappointment.  The 
star-crowned  statue  on  the  dome  rises  two 
hundred  and  seven  feet  above  the  earth. 

The  Music  Hall,  or  Academy  of  Music,  as 
it  is  also  called,  which  contains  besides  music 
rooms  and  recreation  halls,  also  the  fine  ex- 
hibition room,  known  erstwhile  as  "Washing- 
ton Hall,  is  one  hundred  feet  front  by  one 
hundT«i  and  seventy  feet  deep,  and  a  little 
over  one  hundred  feet  in  height. 

On  the  evening  of  June  20,  1882,  the  ex- 
hibition hall,  as  rebuilt  after  the  fire,  was 
formally  opened  to  the  public.  It  was  de- 
scribed on  that  occasion  as  one  of  the  most 
attractive  rooms  to  give  a  public  entertain- 
ment in  to  be  seen  anywhere.  It  is  octagonal 
in  form,  and  the  acoustic  properties  are  un- 
usually good.     Three  electric  lamps  make  a 


noonday  radiance  in  every  part  of  the  audi- 
torium, stage  and  galleiy.  The  gallery,  which 
is  reserved  for  the  students  of  the  university, 
has  a  seating  capacity  of  500,  and  the  body 
of  the  hall,  the  tiers  of  seats  in  which  are 
arranged  in  horse-shoe  shape,  and  slope  down 
from  the  rear  to  the  stage,  will  accommodate 
about  700  people.  The  stage  is  ample  and 
commodious  in  its  appointments. 

It  was  mentioned  as  something  of  an  an- 
achronism that  the  hall  should  have  been 
**  opened  with  a  play  of  Sophocles  by  electric 
light."  The  play  was  the  Oedipus  Tyrannus, 
and  was  produced  by  the  Hellenists  in  the 
original  Greek,  under  direction  of  Father 
Stoflfel,  the  professor  of  the  Greek  language 
and  literature  in  the  university,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  a  large  and  intellectual  audience. 
The  ** South  Bend  Times"  had  this  to  say 
of  the  occasion:  ** Distinguished  people  from 
all  sections  of  the  country,  both  clergy  and 
laity,  greeted  the  Hellenists,  and  the  applause 
that  was  given  testified  the  appreciation  of 
the  audience.  This  is  the  first  time  that  a 
Greek  play  ever  was  produced  west  of  the 
Alleghanies.  The  costumes  were  designed  by 
Signer  Gregori,  the  renowned  artist.  The 
miisic  was  composed  expressly  for  the  occa- 
sion by  Mr.  Nobles,  one  of  the  professors  of 
music.  The  entertainment  commenced  at 
eight  o'clock,  and  occupied  an  hour  and  a 
half  in  its  presentation.  During  this  time, 
not  one  word  of  English  was  spoken  (the 
play  being  in  Greek),  but  the  audience  was 
so  interested  that  not  the  least  impatience 
was  shown.  The  singing  was  the  finest  ever 
heard  at  Notre  Dame,  particularly  the  duets 
and  the  grand  chorus."  The  production  of 
this  Greek  play  at  Notre  Dame  attracted 
wide  attention. 

The  dimensions  of  Sorin  Hall  are  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-four  feet  front  by  one  hun- 
dred and  twelve  feet  in  depth.  This  is  the 
residence  of  such  students  of  the  advanced 
classes  as  have  previously  given  entire  satis- 
faction as  to  industry  and  deportment.  They 
are  accorded  the  privilege  of  having  private 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


674 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


rooms,  and  this  without  additional  cost. 
This  innovation  in  the  traditionary  system 
of  government  in  Catholic  colleges,  although 
at  first  viewed  somewhat  unfavorably  by  the 
ultra-conservative,  has  stood  the  test  of  ex- 
perience, and  the  resulting  benefits  have  more 
than  justified  the  hopes  formed  when  the 
experiment  was  hazarded.  In  Sorin  Hall,  too, 
are  the  law  lecture  room,  court  rooms,  law 
library,  etc. 

On  the  first  floor  of  the  Music  Hall  are  the 
recreation  and  reading  rooms  of  the  students 
of  Brownson  Hall  and  Carroll  Hall.  These 
rooms  are  supplied  with  newspapers,  period- 
icals, games  of  all  kinds,  including  billiard 
tables.  The  dressing  rooms  of  the  bicycle  club 
and  of  the  athletic  association  are  also  on  this 
floor. 

Science  Hall  is  divided  into  two  depart- 
ments, and  is  supplied  with  all  the  agencies 
requisite  to  facilitate  the  acquisition  of  a 
complete  knowledge  of  the  sciences.  The  lab- 
oratories, lecture  rooms,  museums,  biological 
department,  engine  rooms,  etc.,  are  admirably 
arranged  for  the  convenience  of  students. 
This  hall  is  fully  equipped  with  all  the  neces- 
sary chemicals,  preparations,  specimens, 
charts,  tools,  instruments,  and  the  innumer- 
able accessories  of  a  great  school  of  science. 

Mechanics'  Hall,  the  Institute  of  Technol- 
ogy, is  a  large  and  commodious  building,  de- 
voted to  the  use  of  the  students  of  civil,  me- 
chanical and  electrical  engineering.  It  is  fully 
equipped  with  all  the  appliances  for  wood 
and  metal  working,  and  is  supplied  with  the 
most  approved  forms  of  forges  and  cupolas 
for  blacksmithing  and  foundry  work.  The 
rooms  for  mechanical  drawings,  and  the  lab- 
oratories for  special  experimental  work  in 
mechanical  engineering  were  especially  de- 
signed for  the  purpose  for  which  they  are 
used,  and  are  complete  in  all  their  appoint- 
ments. 

The  astronomical  observatory  consists  of  a 
main  part,  with  a  revolving  dome,  an  east 
wing  or  transit  room,  in  which  is  mounted 
the  transit  instrument,  and  a  north  wing  or 


computing  room,  which  contains  the  smaller 
instruments  and  the  works  of  reference  for 
the  use  of  observers. 

East  of  Music  Hall,  for  the  accommodation 
of  students  desiring  to  take  physical  exercise 
when  the  weather  is  unfavorable  for  out-door 
sports,  stands  the  students'  play-hall,  one 
hundred  and  sixty  feet  in  length  by  forty- 
five  feet  in  width  and  two  stories  high.  In 
addition,  there  is  fitted  up,  on  the  second 
floor  of  the  Institute  of  Technology,  a  thor- 
oughly equipped  gymnasium. 

The  infirmary,  for  the  comfort  and  care 
of  those  who  may  become  sick,  is  a  building 
two  hundred  feet  long  by  forty-five  feet  wide 
and  three  stories  high,  situated  to  the  east 
and  rear  of  the  main  building.  A  regular 
physician  is  in  daily  attendance,  while  the 
Sisters  of  the  Holy  Cross  minister  also  to  the 
wants  of  the  sick. 

It  would  take  too  much  space,  nor  is  it 
necessary,  to  notice  in  detail  the  various 
other  buildings  which  form  a  part  of  the  uni- 
versity. So  numerous  and  extensive  are  they, 
that  if  brought  together  they  would  cover 
eight  or  ten  acres  of  ground.  As  they  stand, 
they  give  to  the  visitor  the  idea  of  a  pretty 
rural  town. 

The  buildings  more  immediately  connected 
with  the  university  are  arranged  so  as  to 
form  a  harmonious  front.  The  main  build- 
ing, with  its  noble  dome,  occupies  the  cen- 
tral space;  to  the  right  front  is  the  Church 
of  the  Sacred  Heart,  and  to  the  right  front 
of  the  church  is  Sorin  Hall ;  to  the  left  front 
of  the  main  building  stands  Music  Hall,  to 
the  left  front  of  Music  Hall  is  Science  Hall, 
and  to  the  left  front  of  that  is  the  Institute 
of  Technology,  and  to  the  front  of  that  the 
astronomical  observatory.  All  these  build- 
ings, therefore,  present  a  united  grand  fixmt 
to  the  south,  extending  to  the  east  and  west 
with  a  combined  width  of  nearly  one  thousand 
feet.  Within  this  space,  in  the  embrace  as  it 
were  of  these  noble  edifices,  is  enclosed  a 
beautiful  courtyard,  a  garden  of  green  and 
shade  and  pleasant  walks.  It  is  all  most  beau- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


MAIN  BUILDING,  UNIVERSITY  OF  NOTRE  DAME. 


THE  GROTTO,  UNIVERSITY  OF  NOTRE  DAME. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


\ 


...  ..  -■'j 

■.■: "7 


li..  J 


Digitized  by 


Google 


mSTOBY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


677 


tiful;  fully  justifying  the  oft  repeated  ex- 
clamation,  ** Beauteous  Notre  Dame." 

As  indicating  the  impressions  made  by 
Notre  Dame  during  the  administration  of  Fa- 
ther Walsh  upon  a  wide-traveled  and  culti- 
vated gentleman,  but  one  who  had  no  sym- 
pathy with  the  religion  through  the  practice 
of  which  all  these  things  came,  we  give  the 
following  from  the  New  York  **  Christian 
Advocate,"  of  March  5,  1891,  an  organ  of 
the  Methodist  church,  by  its  editor,  the  Rev. 
J.  M.  Buckley,  D.D.: 

**The  ride  from  Chicago  to  South  Bend 
took  three  or  four  hours.  Here  Schuyler 
Colfax  lived  for  many  years ;  here  his  widow 
and  family  reside,  and  his  memory  is  hon- 
ored by  men  of  all  parties  and  creeds.  That 
evening,  through  the  kindness  of  my  host,  I 
met  at  dinner  many  of  the  most  distinguished 
citizens,  including  the  gentlemen  of  the  press, 
clergy  of  diflferent  denominations,  merchants 
and  manufacturers,  and  Rev.  Father  Walsh, 
president  of  the  University  of  Notre  Dame, 
the  famous  Catholic  institution  of  the  west, 
established  by  the  order  of  the  Holy  Cross — 
an  order  of  priests  and  brothers  devoted  pri- 
marily to  teaching.  Receiving  a  courteous 
invitation  from  the  president  to  visit  the  in- 
stitution the  next  day,  and  finding  that  Mr. 
Studebaker  would  be  able  to  accompany  me, 
I  accepted  it,  and  Father  Wialsh  expressed 
a  hope  that  we  would  come  to  dinner  and 
sit  with  the  boys,  as  he  expressed  it,  at 
*  Commons. ' 

**The  approach  to  the  university  is  grand; 
the  golden  dome  being  visible  for  many  miles, 
glistening  in  the  sunlight  like  the  dome  of 
the  Greek  churches  in  Moscow.  The  build- 
ings are  numerous  and  imposing.  The  walls 
of  the  reception  room  are  covered  by  por- 
traits of  the  former  presidents  of  the  insti- 
tution and  other  dignitaries. 

**It  was  an  interesting  spectacle  to  see  the 
boys  at  dinner.  There  are  five  hundred  stu- 
dents, a  very  vigorous  class  physically  and  in 
excellent  discipline.  I  was  interested  in  Fa- 
ther Walsh,  before  knowing  that   I   should 


meet  him,  by  a  standing  advertisement  in 
the  South  Bend  papers,  running  thus: 

**  *I  hereby  give  notice  that  I  will  prose- 
cute to  the  utmost  extent  of  the  law,  regard- 
less of  cost,  all  persons  guilty  of  selling  or 
giving  liquor  to  the  students  of  this  institu- 
tion, or  furnishing  it  to  them  in  any  way. 
'*  'Thomas  E.  WAiiSH,  President.' 

**The  institution  was  founded  in  1842  by 
Father  Sorin.  The  founder  is  still  living,  sev- 
enty-eight years  of  age,  and  is  general  of  the 
order  of  the  Holy  Cross  throughout  the 
world.  He  is  patriarchal  in  appearance, 
wearing  a  long  white  beard  and  mustache, 
having  a  dispensation  from  the  pope  allow- 
ing it.  To  him  I  was  introduced ;  he  blended 
with  the  dignity  of  his  office  the  fine  manner 
of  a  cultivated  Frenchman.  The  order  of  tiie 
Holy  Cross  consists  of  priests  and  lay  broth- 
ers, generally,  though  not  exclusively,  de- 
voted to  teaching.  The  church  is  one  of  the 
most  magnificent  in  this  country,  being  capa- 
ble of  seating  one  thousand  two  hundred. 
The  stained  glass  is  beautiful,  of  a  high  or- 
der, brought  from  Buroi)e.  The  altar,  which 
stood  for  three  hundred  years  in  Rome,  was 
purchased  and  imported  in  a  complete  state 
for  this  church.  I  do  not  think  there  is 
anything  superior  to  it,  excepting  the  cathe- 
dral in  New  York.  All  the  buildings  are 
large,  light  and  airy.     .     .     . 

**In  the  university  is  a  manual  training 
school,  where  machinery  and  many  other 
manufactured  articles  are  made.  This  insti- 
tution does  not  possess  one  dollar  of  endow- 
ment, but  it  is  supi>orted  by  the  amount  paid 
in  by  tuition  and  board,  which  is  about  three 
hundred  dollars  per  year.  .Everything  about 
it  is  very  pleasant  and  wholesome.  The  in- 
firmary is  the  best  and  neatest  I  have  seen. 

** Perhaps  some  one  may  say:  Here  is  an- 
other example  of  the  ingratiating  effect  upon 
the  most  decided  Protestants  of  the  skillful 
courtesies  of  Roman  Catholics.  Not  at  all; 
they  were  simply  gentlemen;  they  recog- 
nized my  Protestantism;  I  report  simply 
what  I  saw.     If  there  had  been  anything  to 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


678 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


criticise  it  would  have  been  criticised,  as 
anyone  knows  by  my  letters  from  abroad. 
Protestants  are  acbnitted  to  the  institution, 
but  in  all  cases  are  required  to  remain  at 
the  services,  of  which  rule  they  make  no 
secret.  It  is  a  Catholic  institution  to  train 
Catholic  young  men,  and  the  spirit  of  the 
institution  cannot  be  relaxed.  Their  con- 
sistency in  this  matter  I  admire." 

The  allusion  in  the  Rev.  Mr.  Buckley's 
letter  to  Father  "Walsh's  care  for  the  preser- 
vation of  the  students  from  the  evils  of  in- 
toxication, brings  to  mind  the  constant  care 
of  Father  "Walsh  for  the  moral  welfare  of 
the  young  men  of  Notre  Dame.  It  can 
hardly  be  said  that  his  solicitude  in  this  re- 
gard was  less  than  his  care  for  their  intel- 
lectual well  being.  Indeed,  as  said  before, 
the  aim  of  the  educators  of  this  institution 
has  always  been  to  secure  the  harmonious 
development  of  the  physical,  moral  and  in- 
tellectual nature  of  th(»e  committed  to  their 
training.  Only  by  such  harmonious  develop- 
ment of  the  whole  nature  of  man,  can  the 
best  educational  results  be  attained.  The 
total  abstinence  societies  at  Notre  Dame  have 
always  been  most  sedulously  cherished;  and 
this  was  particularly  the  case  under  Father 
Walsh,  who  was  himself  a  strict  abstainer 
from  all  intoxicating  beverages. 

So  well  known  and  admired  were  his  labors 
in  this  field,  that  Archbishop  Ireland,  Presi- 
dent Cleary,  and  other  leading  men  of  the 
Catholic  Total  Abstinence  Union  of  America 
determined  to  recognize  the  excellent  work 
done  in  this  line  by  convening  the  sixteenth 
annual  convention  of  the  Union  at  Notre 
Dame.  Accordingly  the  convention  was  held 
at  the  university  on  August  4  and  5,  1886, 
at  which  were  present  delegates  representing 
a  membership  of  50,000  in  all  parts  of  the 
land.  The  meeting  was  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful ever  held  by  the  organization.  One 
pleasant  result  of  this  convention  was  that 
numerous  leading  men,  lay  and  cleric,  espe- 
cially from  the  extreme  eastern  states,  came 
to  see  and  to  know  Notre  Dame  for  the  first 


time;  and  praises  of  what  they  saw  were 
echoed  in  hundreds  of  places  where  thereto- 
fore the  great  university  of  the  west  had  been 
but  a  name. 

Here  it  may  not  be  inappropriate  to  note 
that  Notre  Dame  has  during  her  history  been 
visited  by  a  multitude  of  distinguished  per- 
sons, who  came  to  see  the  beauty  of  the  place, 
and  to  honor  those  who  had  in  so  remarkable 
a  manner  built  up  an  institution  of  learning 
and  religion  in  what,  within  a  single  life- 
time, had  been  an  unbroken  wilderness. 

Besides  priests  innumerable,  and  reverend 
bishops  and  archbishops  from  all  parts  of  the 
Union,  from  Canada,  Mexico,  Europe  and 
Australia,  including  the  beloved  Cardinal 
Gibbons;  besides  governors.  United  States 
senators  and  congressmen  from  our  own  state ; 
many  eminent  persons  have  been  pleased  to 
turn  aside  on  their  journeys  through  the 
land,  or  even  to  come  on  purpose  from  dis- 
tant points  to  see  what  has  been  done  in  this 
chosen  spot. 

During  the  war  the  family  of  Greneral  Wil- 
liam Tecumseh  Sherman  for  a  long  time  re- 
sided with  us;  and  here  the  distinguished 
soldier  delighted  to  come  to  visit  his  beloved 
and  to  pass  pleasant  days  with  them  in  the 
quiet  of  these  classic  shades.  Here  was  in- 
terred the  body  of  the  general's  eldest  sou, 
Willy  Sherman;  and  here  long  lived  hLs 
second  son  Thomas,  now  the  eloquent  Jesuit 
priest. 

To  Notre  Dame,  in  1875,  came  the  Papal 
Ablegate,  Mgr.  Roncetti,  and  in  1886,  the 
Ablegate,  Mgr.  Straniero.  In  1893,  the 
Apostolic  Delegate,  Archbishop  SatoUi,  came 
to  see  Notre  Dame  and  its  venerable  founder. 

Others  that  have  taken  pleasure  in  viewing 
these  grounds  and  halls  of  learning,  were 
Chief  Justice  Chase,  in  1871;  James  G. 
Blaine,  and  Thomas  A.  Hendricks,  in  1884; 
Carl  Schurz,  in  1859 ;  the  historian  John  Gil- 
mary  Shea;  the  delegates  to  the  Pan-Ameri- 
can Congress,  in  1889;  the  orator  Daniel 
Dougherty,  in  1891;  and  many  others  whose 
names  might  be  given. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


679 


How  close  in  touch  with  public  affairs  and 
public  men,  and  how  warm  in  sympathy  with 
the  best  interests  of  the  nation,  has  always 
been  the  spirit  of  Notre  Dame,  may  be  il- 
lustrated by  a  letter  written  in  the  name  of 
the  university,  as  far  back  almost  as  the 
founding  of  the  institution,  by  the  eloquent 
professor,  Gardner  Jones,  whose  literary  ser- 
vices to  Notre  Dame  have  many  times  been 
referred  to  in  these  pages.  The  letter  was 
addressed  to  Henry  Clay,  to  whose  kindly 
and  active  interest  the  university  was  more 
than  once  indebted.  The  letter  is  as  fol- 
lows: 

''University  of  Notre  Dame  du  Lac, 
(Near  South  Bend,  Ind.,) 

March  14,  1850. 

**  Honorable  Sir: — The  president  ^and 
faculty  of  this  Catholic  institution,  all  un- 
known to  you  as  they  are,  cannot  resist  the 
impulse  created  by  the  recent  reading  of  your 
compromise  speech  in  the  college  refectory, 
to  address  you  a  brief  letter  of  thanks  for 
their  share  in  that  rich  treat.  Professing  a 
creed  widely  different  from  your  own,  and 
which  is  generally,  though  falsely,  supposed 
to  be  an ti- American,  and  hostile  to  civil  lib- 
erty, they  yet  partake  with  you  in  those  just, 
wise  and  moderate  views  which  you  advance 
in  the  noble  document  referred  to,  and  in  all 
that  patriotic  and  trembling  solicitude  for  the 
continuance  and  perpetuity  of  this  glorious 
Union,  whieh  you  so  laudably  manifest.  It 
would  be  dissimulation  in  those  who  address 
you  to  aflSrm  aught  else  than  that  they  seek 
the  edification  and  glory  of  the  kingdom  of 
their  Master  Christ,  before  all  other  earthly 
considerations;  but  besides  this  reigning  aim 
and  desire,  they  know  no  greater  love  and 
affection  than  that  they  bear  towards  the  con- 
stitution and  federal  government  of  these 
states.  With  the  integrity,  stability  and  un- 
checked progress  of  this  land  of  religious 
liberty,  they  see  identified  the  highest  interests 
of  the  church  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  highest 
hopes  of  humanity;  and,  greatly  as  they  ven- 
erate your  exalted   patriotism,    evinced   not 


only  now  in  this  painful  crisis,  but  also 
through  a  long  and  illustrious  life  of  unselfish 
and  unrequited  devotion  to  your  country, 
they  will  not  yield  to  you  in  the  alarm  they 
feel  in  view  of  the  dangers  now  threatening 
the  Union,  or  in  earnest  and  continual  sup- 
plication to  the  God  of  Nations,  that  he  will 
be  pleased,  for  his  church's  sake,  to  avert 
from  us  those  imminent  perils  which  now 
menace  us. 

**  While  you  are  assailed  by  the  violent  and 
insane  of  both  sections  of  the  Union,  we 
thought  it  might  be  agreeable  to  you  to  know 
that  in  a  secluded  religious  house,  whose  in- 
mates have  their  citizenship  and  conversation 
in  heaven,  who  commune  more  with  the 
mighty  past  than  the  present,  and  whose  in- 
visible companions  are  the  noble  army  of 
saints,  your  kindling  oratory  has  warmed  and 
cheered  many  a  heart  inflexible  and  altogether 
American. 

**In  behalf  of  the  president  and  faculty,  I 
have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  considera- 
tion, your  obedient  servant, 

Gardner  Jones. 

**Hon.  Henry  Clay,  Washington,  D.  C' 

As  a  further  indication  of  the  wide  sym- 
pathy of  Notre  Dame  for  intellectual  and 
moral  excellence  wherever  found,  it  is  pleas- 
ant here  to  note  the  establishment  during 
Father  Walsh's  presidency  of  the  unique  cus- 
tom of  conferring,  on  each  recurring  Laetare 
Sunday,  a  medal  upon  some  American  Cath- 
olic distinguished  in  literature,  science,  or 
art.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  this  is  an 
adaptation  to  the  domain  of  secular  knowl- 
edge of  what  papal  custom  has  from  time  im- 
memorial made  famous  in  the  sphere  of  reli- 
orion.  The  golden  rose  of  Laetare  Sunday  be- 
stowed by  the  pope  upon  some  Catholic  re- 
nowned for  services  in  the  cause  of  religion 
has  always  been  esteemed  by  the  recipient  as 
one  of  the  highest  of  earthly  favors,  and  has 
gained  from  the  world  at  large  the  most 
marked  applause.  The  university  of  Notre 
Dame  has  in  like  manner  won  great  honor 
by  the  selection  as  the  recipients  of  this  medal 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


680 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


of  Americans,  men  €Lnd  women,  who  by  their 
talents  and  virtues  have  added  lustre  to  the 
American  Catholic  name.  Such  recognition, 
too,  has  in  many  cases  been  peculiarly  fitting 
from  the  circumstances  that  the  recipients, 
from  their  modesty  and  retirement  of  life, 
have  been  content  to  lafior  on  in  doing  good, 
thinking  little  of  any  honor  or  appreciation 
that  might  be  bestowed  upon  their  labors,  pro- 
vided only  they  were  conscious  to  themselves 
of  performing  the  duty  that  God  set  before 
them.  While  such  persons  never  look  for 
honors,  it  is  nevertheless  pleasant  to  all  who 
appreciate  talent  aai  devotion  to  dirty,  to  see 
these  single  hearted. men  and  women  of  genius 
selected  for  deserved  if  unexpected  recogni- 
tion. The  good  done  by  the  giving  of  the 
Notre  I>ame  Laetare  medal  is  not  simply  in 
the  honor  done  to  the  worthy,  but  in  the  emu- 
lation aroused  in  youthful  genius,  and  in  the 
respect  inspired  in  the  minds  of  all  good  peo- 
ple for  unobtrusive  merit.  Honors  thus  worth- 
ily bestowed*  upon  talent  and  virtue  tend  to 
make  us  all  better  by  inspiring  in  us  a  love 
and  respect  for  what  is  good  and  great. 

The  bestowal  of  the  medal  is  usually  in- 
trusted to  some  distinguished  representative 
of  the  university,  and  it  is  given  with  such 
appropriate  ceremony,  and  in  the  presence  of 
such  dignitaries  as  may  add  emphasis  to  the 
honor  intended. 

The  custom  was  inaugurated  in  1883,  the 
medal  for  that  year  being  given  to  the  accom- 
plished historian,  John  Gilmary  Shea,  after 
Orestes  A.  Brownson,  undoubtedly  the  most 
distinguished  American  Catholic  layman  who 
has  given  his  genius  to  the  services  of  the 
church.  That  the  Laetare  medal  was  first 
given  to  so  eminent  a  man  has  added  lustre  to 
the  gift,  upon  whomsoever  it  may  at  any  time 
be  hereafter  bestowed.  In  1884  the  medal  was 
given  to  Mr.  Patrick  J.  Keely,  the  eminent 
church  architect ;  in  1886,  to  Miss  Eliza  Alleii 
Starr,  the  sweet  poet  and  writer  on  religious 
art;  in  1886,  to  General  John  Newton,  the 
soldier,  scientist  and  engineer;  in  1887,  to  one 
whose  modesty  would  not  suffer  him  to  accept. 


and  whose  name  cannot  therefore  be  given ;  in 
1888,  to  Patrick  V.  Hickey,  the  great  Catholic 
editor;  in  1889,  to  Anna  Hanson  Dorsey,  the 
author;  in  1890,  to  William  J.  Onahan,  the 
publicist  and  organizer  of  great  Catholic 
movements;  in  1891,  to  Daniel  Dougherty,  the 
orator;  in  1892,  to  Henry  F.  Brownson,  the 
editor  and  biographer  of  his  distinguished 
father,  Orestes  A.  Brownson ;  in  1893,  to  Pat- 
rick Donahue,  the  veteran  publisher;  in  1894, 
to  Augustin  Daly,  the  theatrical  manager;  in 
1895  to  General  William  Stark  Rosecrans;  in 

1896,  to  Mrs.  Anna  T.  Sadlier,  the  writer ;  in 

1897,  to  Thomas  Adldis  Emmet,  the  eminent 
physician  and  patriot;  in  1898,  to  Timothy 
Edward   Howard,    legislator   and  jurist;   in 

1899,  to  Mary  Gwendolin  Caldwell,  a  benefac- 
tor of  the  Catholic  University  of  America ;  in 

1900,  to  John  A.  Creighton,  the  philanthrop- 
ist; in  1901,  to  Bourke  Cockran,  the  orator 
and  statesman;  in  1902,  to  Dr.  John  B. 
Murphy,  the  noted  surgeon;  in  1903,  to 
Charles  J.  Bonaparte,  the  statesman ;  in  1904, 
to  Richard  C.  Kerens,  the  politician ;  in  1905, 
to  Thomas  B.  Fitzpatrick,  the  great  mer- 
chant; in  1906,  to  Francis  J.  Quinlan,  emi- 
nent in  many  respects;  in  1907,  to  Katherine 
Eleanor  Conway,  editor  and  poet. 

This  is  a  noble  list  of  names,  taken  from 
almost  every  walk  of  life;  and  does  equal 
honor  to  the  donors  and  to  the  recipients. 
May  the  list  continue  from  year  to  year,  the 
honor  still  accumulating  with  the  past  line  of 
glory  in  those  who  receive,  and  the  increasing 
glory  of  the  University  that  bestows,  the  gold- 
en medal  of  Laetare  Sunday. 

In  harmony  with  the  honor  which  Notre 
Dame  has  endeavored  to  confer  on  Catholic 
laymen  and  women  by  the  bestowal  of  the 
Laetare  medal,  may  be  here  noted  the  transfer 
to  her  sacred  precincts  of  the  body  of  the 
great  Dr.  Brownson,  without  question  the 
most  eminent  man,  outside  the  reverend 
clergy,  that  has  yet  been  produced  by  the 
American  church. 

On  June  17,  1886,  the  body  of  Dr.  Brown- 
son was  brought  from  Mt.  Elliott  cemetery  in 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


681 


Detroit,  in  charge  of  his  son,  Major  Henry  A. 
Bpownson,  and  was  solemnly  interred  beneath 
the  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart  at  Notre 
Dame.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  solemn  mass 
of  requiem,  the  venerable  Father  Sorin  as- 
cended the  altar  and  si)oke  for  a  short  time, 
alluding  to  his  long  and  intimate  friendship 
with  the  distinguished  dead,  telling  how  dur- 
ing life  the  lamented  Christian  hero  had  often 
expressed  his  desire  to  end  his  days  at  Notre 
Dame,  and  how  it  was  now  their  melancholy 
pleasure  to  receive  his  precious  remains,  to 
be  placed  beside  other  Christian  heroes  who 
had  labored  like  him,  though  in  other  spheres 
of  activity. 

The  body  of  the  great  philosopher  rests  be- 
side those  of  the  sainted  missionaries.  Fathers 
De  Seille,  Petit  aad  Cointet;  a  tablet  with  a 
suitable  inscription  marking  the  place  of  his 
honored  rest.  May  we  indulge  in  the  hope 
that  some  day  the  remains  of  the  venerable 
AUouez,  may  also  rest  beneath  the  Church  of 
the  Sacred  Heart  at  Notre  Dame?  Not  more 
worthy  of  honor  are  those  who  sleep  in  West- 
minster Abbey,  than  are  those  Christian 
heroes,  the  founders  and  supporters  of  the 
early  American  church. 

The  tendency  to  honor  the  distinguished 
dead,  to  mark  with  monuments  their  resting 
places,  and  to  gather  relics  which  may  remind 
us  of  their  noble  lives,  is  natural  to  superior 
minds,  and  serves  to  give  to  the  living  some- 
thing of  the  greatness  that  attaches  to  the  dead 
themselves.  By  honoring  them,  we  partake  in 
the  honor  which  is  given  them.  These  me- 
morials are  an  especial  incentive  to  generous 
minded  youths,  who  are  by  the  presence  of 
these  memorials  stirred  to  emulation  of  the 
great  dead. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  facile  pen 
of  P.  V.  Hickey,  the  late  accomplished  editor 
of  the  ** Catholic  Review,''  gives  us  a  graphic 
picture  of  sudi  a  memorial  collection  at  Notre 
Dame: 

**A  national  Pantheon  has  been  the  dream 
of  many  visionary  Americans.  A  much  more 
practical,  praiseworthy,  and  Christian  idea  is 


that  of  the  university  of  Notre  Dame,  In- 
diana, which  has  established  a  truly  historic 
and  suggestive  monument  to  our  illustrious 
dead  in  its  'Memorial  Hall  of  our  Bishops.' 
Not  many  are  aware  that  there  exists  at  Notre 
Dame  a  unique  collection  that  commends  it- 
self to  the  interest  of  all  who  love  and  vene- 
rate the  good  men  who  have  ruled  our  Amer- 
ican dioceses.  While  a  boy  at  college.  Profes- 
sor James  F.  Edwards  conceived  the  happy 
idea  of  erecting  a  national  monument  to  our 
prelates  in  the  form  of  a  Bishops'  Memorial 
Hall.  He  immediately  went  to  work,  and  after 
years  of  persistent  search,  he  has  brought  to- 
gether a  large  and  valuable  collection  of  life- 
size  paintings,  crayons,  engravings,  photo- 
graphs, rare  old  daguerrotypes,  miniatures  on 
ivory,  busts  and  casts  of  all  the  bishops  and 
archbishops  who  have  held  dioceses  within  the 
present  limits  of  the  United  States.  These 
have  been  placed  in  a  large  cruciform  gallery^ 
one  hundred  and  fifty-five  feet  in  length,  one 
hundred  and  twenty  at  the  arms,  and  a  uni- 
form width  of  sixteen  feet. 

**  Besides  the  portraits,  there  is  also  an  ex- 
tensive collection  of  autograph  letters  and 
original  documents  written  by  the  prelates; 
hound  books,  pamphlets  and  pastorals  pub- 
lished by  them;  manuscripts  relating  to  their 
histories,  and  printed  volumes  containing 
their  biographies.  In  large,  glass-covered 
cabinets  are  displayed  wonderful  collections 
of  mitres,  croziers,  episcopal  rings,  gold 
chains,  pectoral  crosses,  and  other  articles 
used  by  our  bishops,  archbishops  and  cardi- 
nals. 

*  *  This  is  the  first  attempt  ever  made  in  any 
country  to  illustrate  a  nation's  whole  episco- 
pacy by  a  monument  of  this  description. 
Many  persons  gave  willingly  of  their  treasures 
to  assist  in  building  this  monument  to  our 
loved  bishops.  They  deprived  themselves  of 
the  pleasure  of  having  relics  at  home  in  order 
to  secure  their  greater  safety  in  this  collection, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  increase  their  value 
by  making  them  parts  of  a  systematic  series. 
The  hundreds  of  tourists  and  others  who  visit 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


682 


HISTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COXJNTT. 


Notre  Dame  yearly  have  their  attention  drawn 
by  this  Memorial  Hall  to  the  great  work  done 
by  the  American  hierarchy,  and  a  desire  is  ex- 
cited to  know  more  of  the  life  and  work  of 
the  truly  apostolic  men  who  planted  and  fos- 
tered the  faith  in  our  midst. 

**It  is  the  great  desire  of  the  originator  of 
the  Bishops'  Memorial  Hall  to  make  it  as  com- 
plete and  as  national  as  possible.  Anyone 
who  may  have  in  his  possession  souvenirs  of 
our  deceased  prelates  in  the  form  of  articles 
illustrating  their  pontifical  dignity,  works 
published  by  them,  and  documents  or  old  let- 
ters in  tlieir  handwriting,  can  render  a  valu- 
able service  to  the  history  of  the  church  by 
depositing  them  in  the  Bishops'  Memorial 
Hall,  where  they  will  be  religiously  guarded 
for  posterity.  Attached  to  the  Bishops'  Me- 
morial Hall  is  a  large  ecclesiastical  museum 
containing  souvenirs  of  missionary  priests, 
Catholic  laymen  and  articles  illustrating  the 
different  religious  orders." 

Of  even  greater  importance,  from  a  his- 
torical point  of  view  at  least,  is  the  collection 
of  precious  manuscripts  made  and  yearly 
added  to  by  Professor  Edwards  in  connection 
with  the  Bishops'  Memorial  Hall. 

The  hierarchy  in  general  realize  the  vast- 
ness  of  the  collector's  labor  and  its  importance 
to  history.  Among  the  documents  in  this  col- 
lection may  be  seen  the  names  of  popes,  cardi- 
nals, archbishops,  bishops,  priests,  generals, 
lawyers,  doctors,  nuns  and  others;  documents 
from  the  Propaganda,  American  College  at 
Rome,  and  from  the  most  eminent  of  the 
clergy  of  the  United  States,  Canada,  Mexico, 
Cuba.  Some  of  the  documents  date  back  two 
or  three  centuries,  but  the  greater  number 
have  reference  to  the  early  history  of  the 
United  States,  and  the  missions  in  Indiana, 
Michigan,  Illinois,  Texas,  Kentucky,  Oregon, 
Colorado  and  other  Western  states  during  the 
past  fifty  or  sixty  years. 

The  collection  has  as  yet  not  been  fully  clas- 
sified and  is  consequently  not  accessible  for 
historical  studies,  except  for  inquiry  in  cer- 
tain specialties.     Of  the  historical  value  of 


even  what  has  been  already  collected  we  may 
judge  by  the  following  letter  addressed  to  the 
collector  by  the  late  eminent  historian,  John 
Gilmary  Shea : 

**My  Dear  Professor:  Your  wonderfully 
kind  loan  has  arrived  safely  and  is  a  deluge 
of  historical  material,  a  perfect  mine  of  facts, 
estimates  and  judgment.  Many  of  these  let- 
ters have  been  in  several  hands,  and  how  little 
they  have  made  of  them!  There  are  some 
where  every  line  is  a  volume  to  one  who  un- 
derstands. De  Courcy  had  some  of  them, 
Bishop  Bailey  had  them  for  years.  Archbishop 
Hughes  also  had  them.  I  recognize  by  Bishop 
Bailey's  endorsements  some  of  the  Brute 
papers  so  long  in  his  hands,  and  part  of  which 
perished  by  fire. 

**You  possess  in  what  you  have  gathered 
more  material  for  a  real  history  of  the  church 
in  this  country  during  the  present  century 
than  was  ever  dreamt  of.  Your  own  zeal  and 
labor  as  a  collector,  guided  by  intelligent  love 
of  church  and  country,  has  been  rewarded  by 
great  results.  Yet  I  hope  that  it  is  only  a 
beginning.  I  recognize  more  thoroughly  now 
what  you  have  done,  and  properly  supported, 
may  still  do.  You  have  created  a  new  line, 
and  your  zeal  has  saved  much  from  decay  and 
destruction." 

The  old  college  library,  then  consisting  of 
about  twenty  thousand  books,  was,  of  course, 
almost  completely  destroyed  by  the  fire  of 
1879.  These  books  had  been,  to  a  great  ex- 
tent, works  of  reference,  and  many  of  them  in 
the  French  and  Latin  languages.  In  1873, 
Father  Lemonnier,  then  president  of  the  uni- 
versity, conceived  the  plan  of  forming  a  cir- 
culating library  for  the  special  use  of  the 
students,  and  containing  works  of  more  gen- 
eral interest  and  use  in  the  daily  work  of  the 
university.  This  was  in  reality  the  founda- 
tion of  the  present  great  library.  In  1874, 
Professor  Edwards,  at  the  request  of  Father 
Lemonnier,  took  charge  of  this  library,  and 
has  ever  since  been  its  zealous  and  efikient  di- 
rector. On  the  death  of  Father  Lemonnier  his 
name,   at   the  request   of  the  students,   was 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


683 


given  to  the  library,  and  this  it  hai  since  re- 
tained. In  its  earlier  days  a  specialty  was 
made  of  the  English  classics,  and  before  the 
fire  an  unusually  complete  collection  of  these 
had  been  made.  By  1879  the  library  had  in- 
creased to  ten  thousand  volumes,  which,  with 
the  old  library,  were  nearly  all  consumed  by 
the  great  fire.  In  some  respects,  the  loss  was 
irreparable;  for,  besides  many  rare  books,  a 
number  of  autograph  letters  and  ancient 
manuscripts  were  lost.  But  with  the  same 
energy  and  zeal  that  made  possible  the  erec- 
tion of  the  new  Notre  Dame  over  the  ashes  of 
the  old  within  three  months,  the  librarian, 
aided  by  the  faculty  and  friends  of  the  uni- 
versity, at  once  set  about  repairing  the  loss; 
and  the  Lemonnier  Library  of  today  stands  a 
splendid  evidence  of  their  success. 

In  1882,  all  the  books  in  the  old  college 
library  that  had  been  saved  from  the  fire  were 
incorporated  in  the  Lemonnier  Library;  and, 
a  few  years  later,  through  the  efforts  of 
Father  Walsh,  a  permanent  annuity  was  se- 
cured from  the  board  of  trustees  and  placed 
at  the  -disposal  of  the  librarian  for  the  pur- 
chase of  books.  With  the  impetus  thus  given, 
the  library  has  developed  with  gratifying 
rapidity. 

The  library  at  present  occupies  the  whole 
of  the  third  floor  of  the  front  projection  of 
the  main  building.  The  room  is  a  magnificent 
gothic  apartment,  one  hundred  and  thirty  by 
fifty  feet,  and  exceedingly  well  lighted.  The 
arrangement  of  the  shelving  is  such  that  every 
book  is  in  reach  of  the  visitor  without  the  use 
of  a  ladder.  The  cases  are  built  against  the 
wall,  and  the  upper  tiers  are  mad^  accessible 
by  a  gallery  around  the  entire  hall.  At  pres- 
ent the  library  contains  about  fifty  thousand 
volumes.  The  Latin  classics  number  over  six 
hundred.  The  department  of  philosophy  con- 
tains the  complete  works  of  St.  Thomas  Aqui- 
nas and  many  of  the  writings  of  the  Fathers 
of  the  Church  in  the  original  Latin.  In  this 
department  there  are  about  five  thousand  vol- 
umes. The  department  of  biography  contains 
six  hundred  volumes;  English  and  American 


Vol.  n— 6. 


poetry,  seven  hundred  volumes;  essays  and 
treatises,  including  the  complete  works  of  St. 
Augustine,  five  hundred  volumes;  historical 
works,  between  three  thousand  and  four  thou- 
sand volumes,  embraeing  all  the  standard  his- 
tories and  also  a  number  of  supplemental 
works  on  historical  subjects.  There  are  up- 
wards of  three  thousand  bound  magazines  and 
one  thousand  volumes  of  bound  newspapers, 
with  thousands  of  pamphlets  and  magazines 
yet  unbound;  one  thousand  volumes  on  gen- 
eral and  American  literature;  two  thousand 
books  of  a  religious  character;  large  collec- 
tions of  scientific  works,  English  classics, 
selected  modern  novels;  all  the  standard 
cyclopedias  and  reference  books.  In  the 
French  language  are  about  ten  thousand  vol- 
umes, and  large  numbers  in  German,  Italian 
and  Spanish.  Numerous  curiosities  interest 
the  visitor  and  scholar,  among  them  many  old 
books,  including  a  translation  of  the  Bible  into 
German,  of  which  there  were  twenty  editions, 
the  one  here  having  been  printed  seven 
months  before  the  birth  of  Martin  Luther.  In 
the  care  and  growth  of  this  great  library  gen- 
erous praise  is  due  to  the  librarian,  who  has 
well  executed  the  trust  confided  to  him  by 
Father  Lemonnier;  as  well  as  to  Father 
Walsh  and  the  governing  council  of  the  uni- 
versity who  have  shown  their  enlightened  ap- 
preciation of  the  value  of  a  great  library  to 
the  university. 

We  have  noted  several  times  in  these  papers 
the  active  interest  taken  at  Notre  Dame  from 
the  beginning  in  the  study  of  the  English 
language  and  literat;Qre.  The  university  was 
fortunate  in  its  early  days  in  having  as  its 
professor  of  English  literature  the  eloquent 
and  erudite  Father  St.  Michael  E.  E.  Shawe, 
an  alumnus  of  St.  Mary's,  Oscott,  England. 
He  was  of  an  old  English  Catholic  family,  had 
been  a  brilliant  soldier  under  Wellington,  and 
then  becoming  a  heroic  priest,  came  to  In- 
diana at  the  call  of  the  saintly  Bishop  Brute, 
where  he  built  St.  Michael's  church  at  Madi- 
son, and  afterwards  engaged  in  the  Indian 
missions,  before  he  became  connected  with  the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


684 


HISTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


University  of  Notre  Dame.  Here  his  memory 
is  preserved  with  enthusiasm  as  one  who  gave 
to  the  university  its  first  tendency  towards 
that  high  literary  excellence  to  which  it  has 
attained. 

Succeeding  Father  Shawe  came  Professor 
Gardner  Jones,  a  journalist'  and  an  orator  of 
much  power.  In  his  hands  the  ponderous 
lectures  of  Blair  became  to  his  students  fasci- 
nating as  fairy  tales  to  children.  His  influ- 
ence upon  the  students  as  a  patriot  was  scarce- 
ly less  than  that  exerted  by  him  as  a  m'aster 
of  the  English  language  and  literature.  The 
glory  of  the  American  Union  and  the  excel- 
lence of  our  free  institutions  were  themes 
upon  which  Professor  Jones  never  tired.  He 
was  a  man  after  Father  Sorin's  heart,  a  fine 
type  of  the  American  literary  enthusiast,  an 
inspirer  of  those  who  love  the  English  lan- 
guage and  literature. 

These  men  were  the  founders.  After  them, 
and  perhaps  more  practical  than  either^ 
though  not  more  earnest  and  devoted,  came 
Father  Gillespie,  Professor  Stace  and  others, 
of  whom  we  have  already  written.  Later  came 
Charles  Warren  Stoddard,  the  master  of  pure, 
unaffected,  fascinating  English  prose.  Father 
Walsh  was  himself  the  master  of  a  beautiful 
and  forcible  English  style.  These  men,  with 
Father  Bigelow,  Father  Brown,  and  especially 
Father  O 'Council  and  Father  Hudson,  gave 
to  Notre  Dame  the  daily  habit  of  a  pure,  noble 
literary  style,  the  perfection  of  which  was  seen 
in  each  successive  number  of  the  ** Scholastic" 
and  the  **Ave  Maria." 

In  1887,  the  faculty  of  Notre  Dame  recog- 
nizing the  fact  that  the  exclusive  study  of 
the  ancient  languages  and  of  pure  science  is 
not  in  itself  sufficient  for  a  liberal  education, 
determined  to  institute  a  course  which  should 
provide  for  a  more  than  ordinarily  thorough 
acquaintance  with  the  English  language  and 
with  English  and  American  literature.  The 
course,  like  those  in  science  and  the  classics, 
extends  over  a  period  of  four  years ;  and  those 
who  have  completed  the  required  studies  re- 
ceive the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Letters.     A 


high  standard  is  kept  up  throughout  the 
course  in  all  the  English  branches;  and  the 
degree  will  be  conferred  on  no  one  who,  be- 
sides giving  evidence  of  proficiency  in  the 
classics  and  in  science,  does  not  also  show  his 
ability  to  apply  the  principles  of  composition, 
and  also  give  evidence  of  an  acquaintance  with 
the  writings  of  the  best  authors  in  English 
and  American  literature. 

The  preparatory  studies  for  this  course  are 
the  same  as  those  introductory  to  the  classical 
course,  except  that  Latin  or  Greek  may  be 
replaced  by  one  of  the  modem  languages. 
From  the  beginning  of  the  course  special  at- 
tention is  given  to  essay  writing^  each  essay 
being  read  and  criticised  in  its  author's  pres- 
ence. Facilities  for  a  training  in  journalism 
are  afforded  in  the  columns  of  the  **  Schol- 
astic," every  student  being  required,  after  the 
first  year,  to  contribute  to  the  college  paper  at 
least  two  articles  each  session.  Besides  requir- 
ing a  familiarity  with  the  masterpieces  of 
English  and  American  authors,  the  students 
are  encouraged  to  take  special  courses  of  read- 
ing, having  access  at  all  times  to  the  English 
and  American  classics  in  the  Leraonnier 
Library.  The  graduation  thesis,  finally,  must 
show,  besides  the  graces  of  style,  a  scholarly 
treatment  of  the  theme  selected. 

The  crown  to  the  good  work  of  the  Ui^iver- 
sity  in  this  regard,  and  one  of  the  chief  of  the 
great  services  rendered  by  Father  Walsh,  was 
the  engagement,  in  1888,  of  the  distinguished 
poet  and  brilliant  writer  of  prose,  Maurice 
Francis  Egan,  as  professor  of  English  Liter- 
ature. In  connection  with  this  happy  selec- 
tion it  was  said  at  the  time  by  the  **  Baltimore 
Catholic  Mirror*': 

**The  university  of  Notre  Dame  is  one  of 
the  most,  if  not  indeed  the  most,  progressive 
Catholic  educational  institution  in  America. 
Its  growth  within  the  last  decade  has  been 
marvelous.  Not  only  in  respect  to  the  number 
of  scholars  upon  its  rolls  is  this  true,  but 
chiefly  in  the  means  adopted  to  meet  the  re- 
quirements arising  from  this  increase.  The 
high  standard  of  studies  in  each  department 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


685 


of  the  university  has  been  steadfastly  main- 
tained, and  the  tendency  is  to  raise  it  still 
higher  by  the  introduction  of  the  newest  fea- 
tures of  the  best  educational  systems  of  the 
world.  Thoroughness  in  each  course  is  aimed 
at,  and  to  achieve  this,  approved  methods  are 
tried  and  new  names  added  to  its  already  bril- 
liant galaxy  of  educators. 

**The  latest  acquisition  which  the  faculty 
has  had  is  Mr.  Maurice  Francis  Egan  of  the 
New  York  *  Freeman's  Journal,'  who  becomes 
professor  of  English  literature  and  belles- 
lettres — a  position  which  has  been  specially 
created  for  him.  Too  much  cannot  be  said 
in  praise  of  the  honest  effort  which  this  move 
on  the  part  of  the  Notre  Dame  managers  indi- 
cates, to  secure  careful  teaching  in  this  branch 
of  polite  learning.  It  is  needless  here  to  en- 
large upon  the  many  qualifications  which  Mr. 
Egan  brings  to  the  position.  To  those  who  are 
familiar  with  the  best  Catholic  literature  of 
today,  Mr.  Egan's  name  is  a  household  word. 
His  productions  in  prose  and  verse  rank  with 
the  highest;  and  some  of  his  poems  have 
elicited  the  highest  encomiums  from  the  best 
minds  of  the  English-speaking  world.  In  ad- 
dition to  his  character  as  a  well-read  and  ac- 
complished worker  in  this  field,  Mr.  Egan  has 
acquired  a  wide  reputation  in  the  world  of 
lexers  for  the  intelligence,  discrimination,  and 
rare  analytic  power  evinced  in  his  critical 
writings. 

**His  cAreful  work  in  this  department,  which 
has  found  its  way  to  the  reading  public 
through  the  leading  magazines  and  in  a  vol- 
ume recently  issued,  has  attracted  the  most  fa- 
vorable attention.  Of  Mr.  Egan's  work  on  the 
'Freeman's  Journal'  it  is  scarcely  necessary 
to  speak.  The  prestige  which  James  A.  Mc- 
Master's  honest  and  fearless  course  won  for 
the  paper,  and  the  distinctive  character  which 
his  strong  individuality  impressed  upon  it, 
have  been  admirably  sustained  by  Mr.  Egan, 
who  was  for  many  years  associated  with  the 
brave  old  champion  of  Catholic  faith  and 
Catholic  thought.  The  university's  gain  is 
Catholic  journalism's  loss.    Notre  Dame  is  to 


be  congratulated  upon  its  efforts  to  provide 
for  the  careful  teaching  of  so  important  a 
branch  as  English  literature,  and  it  is  to  be 
especially  felicitated  upon  securing  the  serv- 
ices of  one  so  admirably  equipped  for  the  posi- 
tion upon  which  Mr.  Egan  will  enter  at  the 
beginning  of  the  scholastic  year." 

The  promise  indulged  in  when  Professor 
Egan  was  appointed  has  been  more  than  ful- 
filled. The  literary  character  of  Notre  Dame 
has  been  wonderfully  elevated.  Some  of  the 
brightest  young  writers  in  the  land  have 
added  luster  to  the  student  rolls  of  the  uni- 
versity. This  is  shown  not  only  in  the  pages 
of  the  ** Scholastic,"  which  has  taken  the  first 
place  amongst  the  college  journals  of  Amer- 
ica, but  also  in  various  journals  and  magazines 
in  the  country  to  which  our  students  have 
become  contributors.  With  Professor  Egan, 
the  literary  course  has  become  a  complete  suc- 
cess; and  not  only  are  the  young  men  who  go 
forth  from  these  halls  learned  in  the  arts  and 
sciences,  but  they  are  so  trained  in  the  easy, 
graceful  and  forceful  expression  of  thought 
that  they  are  able  ^  to  communicate  their  learn- 
ing to  others. 

Subsequently  Professor  Egan  became  at- 
tached to  the  Catholic  University,  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  where  he  maintained  his  high 
reputation.  He  became  a  close  literary  friend 
of  President  Roosevelt,  who  in  1907  appointed 
him  minister  to  Copenhagen. 

Sec.  11. — JuBHuBES. — The  year  1888  is  mem- 
orable in  the  history  of  Notre  Dame,  by  reason 
of  the  celebration  of  the  fiftieth  anniversary 
of  ordination  to  the  holy  priesthood  of  her 
venerable  founder.  Father  Sorin  was  bom, 
as  we  have  already  noted,  on  February  6, 
1814 ;  his  first  mass  was  said  on  June  9, 1838 ; 
his  founding  of  Notre  Dame  dates  from  No- 
vember 26,  1842 ;  he  became  Provincial  of  the 
Congregation  of  the  Holy  Cross  in  America 
on  August  15, 1865 ;  and  was  elected  Superior- 
General  of  the  Congregation  July  22,  1868. 
Now,  after  holding  his  last  high  oflSce  for 
twenty  years,  he  attained  that  honor  so  sel- 
dom reached  by  the  hard-working  priest,  the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


686 


HISTORY  OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


celebration  of  the  Golden  Jubilee  of  his  priest- 
hood. 

An  added,  saddening  recollection  is  pre- 
served of  this  honor,  as  it  was  destined  to  be 
the  last  public  manifestation  in  his  veneration 
during  his  life.  It  was  fondly  hoped  that  he 
should  live  until  1894,  when  he  might  unite  in 
the  Golden  Jubilee  of  the  charter  date  of  the 
university.  Some,  however,  of  the  wiser  ones 
were  anxious  that  the  Golden  Jubilee  of  the 
university  should  be  reckoned  from  the  date 
of  its  founding,  and  be  therefore  celebrated 
in  1892,  fearing  that  the  glorious  life  of  the 
founder  might  not  be  prolonged  beyond  that 
date.  Their  presentiments  were  well  founded ; 
he  died,  as  we  shall  see,  in  1893,  and  this  Gold- 
en Jubilee  of  his  priesthood  was  the  last  for 
him.  Perhaps  it  was  better  so.  Great  as  was 
the  founder,  the  priest  was  greater;  and  it 
was  as  a  priest  that  he  shone  for  the  last  time 
upon  the  vision  of  the  world  where  he  had 
served  his  God  and  his  fellow  men  so  well. 

The  first  celebration  was  private,  in  the 
presence  only  of  his  beloved  children  of  the 
Holy  Cross  and  of  the  Faculty  and  students 
of  the  university,  on  the  26th  and  27th  days 
of  May,  1888.  On  the  evening  of  the  26th 
there  was  an  appropriate  entertainment  in 
Washington  Hall,  consisting  of  music,  poems 
and  addresses,  prepared  expressly  for  the  oc- 
casion. At  the  close  of  this  entertainment, 
Father  Sorin  did  what  was  unusual  with  him 
— ascended  the  stage  to  address  the  assembled 
priests,  brothers  and  students,  instead  of  re- 
turning his  thanks  from  his  place  in  the 
audience,  as  he  had  been  accustomed.  His 
happy  response  was  taken  down  at  the  time; 
and,  both  on  account  of  its  sweet,  religious 
felicity,  and  also  by  reason  of  the  pathetic 
circumstance  that  it  proved  to  be  his  last  ex- 
tended public  utterance,  we  give  it  here  entire. 
The  aged  patriarch,  venerable  in  aspect  as  in 
years,  spoke  to  his  children  as  follows : 

**In  the  light  of  divine  faith  a  Golden 
Sacerdotal  Jubilee,  or  the  fiftieth  anniversary 
of  the  ordination  of  a  priest  to  the  sacred 
office  of  minister  of  the  Most  High,  to  which 


nothing  on  earth  can  compare  in  real  eleva- 
tion, is  assuredly  worthy  of  due  commemora- 
tion, not  alone  on  the  part  of  one  who  was 
raised  to  such  an  unparalleled  dignity,  but 
also  and  likewise  among  those  of  his  friends 
who  can  properly  appreciate  the  signal  bless- 
ing commemorated  in  this  telling  anniversary. 
Were  it  only  to  remind  him  of  the  eighteen 
thousand  holy  masses  offered  for  the  living 
and  the  dead,  since  the  day  he  was  first  al- 
lowed to  stand  before  the  altar  of  the  living 
God,  what  an  inspiring  cause  of  unbounded 
joy  and  gratitude  to  heaven  this  fact  alone 
would  reveal  to  faithful  souls! 

**In  the  sacred  ministry,  few,  comparative- 
ly, are  spared  full  fifty  years  to  discharge 
the  sublime  function  for  which  every  priest 
is  ordained.  Far  from  being  the  rule,  it  is,  I 
may  say,  a  rare  exception.  Indeed  I  consider 
it  for  myself  a  most  special  blessing,  for  which 
I  feel  the  more  grateful,  as  it  is  evidently  gra- 
tuitous and  unmerited. 

**But  my  joy  is  increased  beyond  expres- 
sion, when  I  see  how  heartily  you  share  in  it 
yourselves.  Your  filial  congratulations  never 
penetrated  my  inmost  soul  as  they  do  this 
evening.  Were  it  any  way  possible,  they 
would  undoubtedly  and  sensibly  increase  my 
esteem  and  my  love  for  such  a  noble  family, 
whose  every  feeling  seems  so  deeply  permeated 
with  a  perfect  appreciation  of  the  heavenly 
blessing  we  now  contemplate. 

**It  is  true,  you  are  not  the  first  to  manifest 
the  delight  of  your  hearts  on  the  occasion  of  a 
Sacerdotal  Golden  Jubilee.  This  very  year, 
1888,  has  witnessed,  all  over  the  globe,  on  the 
occasion  of  the  great  Jubilee  of  our  Holy 
Father,  Leo  XIII,  a  universal  acclamation  of 
loving  accents,  never  known  or  heard  of  be- 
fore. But,  eclipsing,  as  it  does,  all  the  mani- 
festations of  the  past,  this  marvelous  event 
does  not,  in  the  least,  weaken  or  impair  the 
merit  of  your  own  exhibition  of  happiness 
and  delight  on  this  commemoration — however 
insignificant,  comparatively,  may  be  the  poor 
individual  just  now  the  object  of  your  atten- 
tion.   You  join  with  me  in  thanking  God  for 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


mSTORT   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


687 


the  uncommon  and  gratuitous  gift  of  fifty 
years  he  has  mercifully  deigned  to  keep  me, 
unworthy  as  I  am,  in  his  sacred  ministry.  In- 
deed I  am  glad  to  see  my  ever  increasing  debt 
of  gratitude  divided  among  so  many  gener- 
ous souls.  What  a  relief  to  my  heart !  I  was 
not  ordained  a  priest  for  my  personal  benefit 
alone,  but  also  for  the  good  of  many  others. 
I  really  delight  in  seeing  the  same  so  beaiiti- 
fuUy  acknowledged  here  by  so  many  intelli- 
gent and  happy  countenances,  beaming  with 
the  best  aspirations  for  future  usefulness. 

**But  what  intensifies  still  more  my  grati- 
tude to  Grod  for  my  elevation  to  the  sacred 
priesthood  is  the  selection  by  God  himself  of 
the  rich  field  where  I  was  to  labor;  oh,  how 
often  it  has  filled  my  soul  with  joy!  It  is 
not  for  me  to  state  here  the  unspeakable  con- 
solations which  awaited  me  in  this  new  world, 
which  I  loved  so  dearly  long  before  I  landed 
upon  its  happy  shores ;  and,  above  all,  on  this 
glorious  domain  of  the  Queen  of  Heaven.  You 
have  yourselves  expressed  them  in  terms,  for 
which  I  would  try  to  thank  you  from  my 
heart,  were  it  not  for  the  delicacy  one  feels 
naturally,  when  he  sees  himself  the  direct 
object,  or  target,  of  undeserved  praises.  Allow 
me  then  to  declare  here  honestly  that  I  claim 
but  a  very  small  fraction  of  the  merits  you 
assign  me,  but  justly  return  it  all  to  the 
Blessed  Virgin  herself,  and  to  the  devotedness 
of  my  modest  and  faithful  co-laborers  in  the 
field  already  promising  such  an  abundant 
harvest  for  the  advance  of  science  and  the  sal- 
vation of  immortal  souls.'* 

In  the  evening,  after  supper,  a  gift  of  horses 
and  carriage  was  made  to  Father  Sorin  in  the 
name  of  the  students,  past  and  present,  and  of 
the  Faculty  of  the  university.  The  speech  of 
presentation,  a  most  felicitous  one,  was  made 
by  Professor  John  Gillespie  Ewing.  An  elec- 
tric illumination  of  the  buildings  and  errounds 
followed. 

The  next  day,  the  27th  of  May,  was  Sunday, 
and  Father  Sorin  himself  celebrated  solemn 
high  mass,  an  eloquent  sermon  being  preached 
by  Very  Eev.  Father  Corby.     The  day  was 


farther  commemorated  by  the  laying  of  the 
cornerstone  of  Sorin  Hall,  since  become  one 
of  the  most  interesting  and  useful  of  the  col- 
legiate edifices.  (This  fine  hall  was  completed 
during  that  season,  and  was  thrown  open  for 
use  on  New  Year's  day,  1889.)  A  public  ban- 
quet at  which  Father  Sorin  presided,  fol- 
lowed in  the  senior  refectory,  at  which  appro- 
priate responses  to  toasts  were  made  by 
Father  Zahm  (acting  president  of  the  univer- 
sity, in  the  absence  of  Father  Walsh,  then  in 
Europe),  Professor  Hoynes  and  Mr.  Brown- 
son,  of  the  class  of  1888.  In  the  afternoon  the 
rival  boat  crews  contended  for  honors  upon 
the  beautiful  St.  Joseph's  lake.  Afterwards 
there  was  a  competitive  drill  between  com- 
panies A  and  B,  Hoynes'  Light  Guards,  the 
excellent  military  organizations  formed  in  the 
junior  and  senior  departments  by  Colonel 
Hoynes.  Thus  closed  the  first,  or  private, 
festival  of  the  Sacerdotal  Golden  Jubilee  of 
Father  Sorin. 

Far  surpassing  all  celebrations  hitherto  at 
Notre  Dame,  was  the  public  celebration  of  the 
Golden  Jubilee  of  Father  Sorin 's  priesthood 
on  August  15, 1888;  The  weather  was  perfect ; 
the  attendance  of  cardinal,  archbishops,  bish- 
ops, clergy  and  other  friends  of  the  venerable 
founder  was  unprecedented ;  the  religious  ser- 
vices were  the  most  august  ever  witnessed  in 
the  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart ;  and  the  ser- 
mon of  Archbishop  Ireland  was  a  glorious 
fepitome  of  Father  Serin's  life  work,  the  build- 
ing the  university  and  the  establishment  of 
the  church  in  this  part  of  the  west,  with  the 
consequent  wide  influence  for  good  all  over 
the  land. 

The  most  striking  souvenir  of  the  day  was  a 
photograph  of  Father  Sorin  and  Cardinal 
Gibbons  with  the  archbishops  and  bishops  in 
attendance,  taken  out  in  front  of  the  college, 
the  main  college  building  and  the  Church  of 
the  Sacred  Heart  forming  a  framework  or 
background  for  the  picture.  Thos3  appearing 
in  the  picture  are:  Father  Sorin:  Cardinal 
Gibbons;  Archbishops  Ireland,  of  St.  Paul, 
and  Elder,  of  Cincinnati;  Bishops  Dwenger, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


688 


HISTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


of  Fort  Wayne;  Gilmour,  of  Cleveland;  Wat- 
terson,  of  Columbus;  Keane,  of  Richmond; 
Spalding,  of  Peoria ;  Ryan,  of  Alton ;  Ryan, 
of  Buffalo;  Burke,  of  Cheyenne;  Richter,  of 
Graad  Rapids;  Jansen,  of  Belleville;  and 
Phelan,  of  Pittsbui^. 

Speaking  of  the  gifts  received  by  Father 
Sorin  on  this  solemn  Jubilee  teast,  the  Catho- 
lic **  Telegraph"  of  Cincinnati  beautifully 
said :  *  *  But  richest  of  all  the  gifts  is  that  which 
Father  Sorin  has  himself  given  to  religion — 
his  own  life.  And  this  gift,  like  the  grain  of 
mustard,  has  grown,  flourished,  and  sent  forth 
leaf,  bud,  blossom,  and  fruit,  until  Notre 
Dame  today  is  among  the  fairest  of  all 
the  beautiful  gardens  planted  in  the 
wilderness  of  America.  It  is  to  men 
like  Father  Sorin  that  the  United  States 
owes  her  prosperity — ^men  who  have  toiled, 
suffered,  sacrificed  all  for  religion  and' the 
education  of  youth;  silently  but  surely 
they  do  their  work,  asking  no  reward  but  the 
salvation  of  souls,  and  the  approval  of  their 
Divine  Master.  Self  is  left  out  entirely,  and 
in  its  place  Jesus,  and  He  crucified,  reigns.  To 
pl€mt  the  cross,  to  instruct  the  ignorant,  to 
preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor,  these  have  been 
the  objects  of  such  men  as  Father  Sorin,  in 
this  country;  and  it  is  due  to  them  that  the 
forests  have  been  cut  down  to  make  place  for 
the  grains  and  fruits ;  for  city,  town,  and  vil- 
lage ;  for  the  church  and  schools ;  for  the  arts 
and  manufactures.  Everywhere  the  cross  was 
planted,  and  from  it  were  reflected  rich  bless- 
ings on  those  who  settled  under  its  shadow, 
and  looked  up  to  it  morning,  noon  and  even- 
ing. We  wish  Father  Sorin  many  years  of 
usefulness  in  the  beautiful  temple  he  has 
built.  The  priests  who  have  labored  with  him 
and  the  students  who  have  had  the  benefit  of 
his  counsel  and  example  will  speak  of  him  in 
tones  of  love  and  veneration  to  those  who  shall 
come  after  them.  Thus  the  good  he  has  done 
will  live  after  him,  and  serve  to  fructify  other 
wildernesses.  May  Gtod  reward  him  and  all  of 
the  pioneers  of  the  west — ^those  who  sleep,  and 
those  who  still  work  and  weep." 


A  picturesque  description  of  what  was  seen 
at  Notre  Dame  the  evening  of  the  14th,  and 
the  day  of  the  15th  of  August,  was  written  by 
Miss  Mary  J.  Onahan,  of  Chicago,  and  is  here 
given: 

**  There  have  been  many  red-letter  days  in 
the  history  of  Notre  Dame,  but  none  more 
memorable  than  the  Golden  Jubilee  of  the 
priest  who  founded  and  still  directs  it.  A 
great  day,  truly!  South  Bend,  as  well  as 
Notre  Dame,  was  in  its  gala  dress ;  no  cottage 
so  small  that  it  might  not  let  fly  its  flag,  and 
words  of  welcome  in  more  than  one  language 
greeted  the  guests  who  came  from  all  parts  to 
congratulate  the  hero  of  the  day. 

**The  stately  avenue  lined  with  trees  that 
leads  to  the  college  had  become  a  sort  of  Ap- 
pian  way ;  triumphal  arches  in  the  papal  and 
national  colors  stretched  over  the  roadway; 
lanterns  and  streamers  swayed  in  the  breeze, 
while  above  all  shone  the  gilded  dome  of  the 
university  like  a  miniature  St.  Peter's, 
crowned  by  the  figure  of  the  Madonna,  radi- 
ant in  the  sunshine. 

**The  train  bearing  Cardinal  Gibbons  was 
several  hours  late,  so  that  he  did  not  arrive 
until  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening;  but  the  de- 
lay was  in  one  respect  an  advantage.  The 
night  was  beautiful,  the  great  electric  lights 
encircling  the  figure  of  Our  Lady  on  the  dome 
seemed  like  a  rosary  of  stars  in  the  sky;  the 
myriad  lanterns  swinging  among  the  trees, 
the  expectant  throng  on  the  porches  and  the 
grounds,  the  sound  of  distant  music,  all 
formed  a  picture  which  had  about  it,  to  the 
imaginative,  something  of  the  gleam  of  fairy- 
land. There  were  false  alarms,  of  course — 
first  it  was  Archbishop  Ireland,  of  St.  Paul — 
again  it  was  the  genial  Bishop  Gilmour,  of 
Cleveland,  who  seemed  to  enjoy  the  mistake  of 
being  taken  for  the  cardinal,  but  who  was  evi- 
dently welcome  for  his  own  sake,  too,  judging 
from  the  round  of  applause  given  him.  But 
at  last  it  was  he.  The  lights  came  nearer;  it 
was  the  escort  of  his  Eminence. 

**  Along  the  great  avenue  of  trees  they 
came;  now  they  had  passed  under  the  last 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


fflSTORT   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


689 


arch,  the  air  was  soft  with  the  dear  old  Irish 
melodies.      First    was    the    band,    then    the 
Ancient  Order  of  Hiberians,  then  the  Polish 
Lancers,  reminding  one  of  the  knights  of  old 
returning  from  the  Crusades.    All  this  we  saw 
as  the  procession  wound  out  from  the  avenue, 
around  the  green  lawn  up  to  the  broad  steps 
of  the  college.    Everybody  was  watching  for 
the  Cardinal.    A  delicate,  gentle-faced  prelate 
came  up   the  steps,  of  mediiun  height,  but 
seeming  smaller,  clad  all  in  black,  save  for  the 
odd,  flat  little  scarlet  cap,  which  we  saw  as  he 
bowed  to  the  people.  It  was  Cardinal  Gibbons. 
He  looked  very  kind  and  humble,   pleased 
at  the   affection  shown  him,  but  evidently 
fatigued  from  his  journey.    His  face  lighted 
up  as  he  saw  the  many  bishops  awaiting  him ; 
he  embraced  Archbishop  Ireland  warmly  and 
the  others  who  were  near  him.    Then  came  a 
Latin  address  of  welcome,   read  by  Father 
Walsh,  the  President  of  the  University.    The 
Cardinal  listened  attentively,  and  at  its  con- 
clusion bowed  his  thanks  and  disappeared  to 
his  room.    Everything  was  over  for  the  night. 
**In  the  morning  of  the  feast  day  bright 
and  early,  Bishop  Dwenger  began  the  long 
ceremony  of  consecrating  the  church.      From 
five  until  eight  the  consecration  went  on  with 
closed  doors.    At  nine  o'clock  the  church  was 
opened,  and  the  people  thronged  to  assist  at 
the  Mass  said  by  the  Very  Eev.  Father  Sorin, 
to  the  hearing  of  which  the  Holy  Father  had 
attached  a  special  indulgence.    The  venerable 
priest  seemed  all  unconscious  of  the  signs  of 
festivity     and    rejoicing.      At    ten     o'clock 
every  one  went  back  for  the  solemn  celebra- 
tion of  the  day.    The  beautiful  gothic  church 
was  a  blaze  of  color  and  light,  streaming  out 
from   the   high  bronze   altar   and   the   rich 
stained  glass  of  the  windows,  from  the  faces 
of  the  angels  and  the  prophets  and  the  saints 
that  thronged  the  walls.    Flowers  everywhere, 
their  many  hues  scarce  richer  than  the  tints 
of  Oregon's  palette;  votive  lamps  swinging 
before  the  Tabernacle,  one  of  solid  gold  stud- 
ded with  gems,  the  great  gold  crown,  the  gift 
of  the  Empress  Eugenie,  the  cross  presented 


by  Napoleon  III.  It  was  almost  too  distract- 
ing, this  church  with  its  twelve  altars ;  archi- 
tecture vying  with  sculptor,  the  painter  scarce 
outdoing  the  goldsmith.  Meanwhile  the  cere- 
mony was  beginning. 

**In  the  sanctuary  were  the  Cardinal,  clad 
in  all  his  princely  robes.  Archbishops  Elder 
and  Ireland,  Bishops  Gilmour,  Keane,  Watter- 
son,  Spalding,  Dwenger,  Jansen,  Burke,  Ryan 
of  Buffalo,  Phelan,  Richter,  and  Ryan  of  Al- 
ton. Opposite  the  Cardinal  sat  Father  Sorin. 
In  the  chapel  back  of  the  main  altar  were  600 
sisters,  on  the  sides  the  brothers  and  guests, 
and  in  the  body  of  the  church  the  societies  and 
congregation.  Outside  the  altar  rail  were 
ranged  the  Polish  Lancers  with  drawn  swords, 
as  a  sort  of  military  guard,  their  scarlet  uni- 
form and  nodding  shakos  giving  a  dash  of 
color  to  the  whole  which  enraptures  the 
painter,  but  passes  beyond  the  penman. 

**The  music  was  Haydn's  Third  Mass,  Mr. 
Rohner  at  the  organ,  assisted  by  the  choir 
from  the  Jesuit  Church  of  Chicago,  and  the 
sweet-voiced  soprano,  Mrs.  Maguire.  The  Car- 
dinal pontificated,  and  after  the  gospel.  Arch- 
bishop  Ireland  ascended  the  pulpit  to  deliver 
the  sermon. 

**At  the  conclusion  of  the  sermon  the  car- 
dinal descended  from  his  throne,  and  the 
organ  sounded  the  solemn  tones  of  the  Credo, 
At  the  elevation  the  Polish  Lancers  presented 
arms.  The  High  Mass  over,  there  was  a  great 
banquet  which  was  served  without  wine.  The 
toasts  were:  *  Our  Holy  Father, '  responded  to 
by  Bishop  Dwenper;  *The  Hierarchy  of  the 
United  States,'  by  Archbishop  Elder;  and 
*The  Founder  of  Notre  Dame,'  by  Bishop  Gil- 
mour. In  the  afternoon  the  entire  University 
building  was  solemnly  blessed  by  Bishop  Wat- 
terson.  At  five  o'clock  Bishop  Spalding  de- 
livered a  speech  from  the  porch  of  the  college, 
in  his  usual  eloquent  manner.  He  spoke  of 
the  beauties  of  Notre  Dame ;  it  was-  a  place 
where  poets  could  dream,  where  philosophers 
could  hold  high  discourse.  He  spoke  of  its 
work,  which  lay  not  in  brick  and  mortar;  in 
colleges,  however  stately;  in  churches,  how- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


690 


mSTORT   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


ever  beautiful;  but  in  the  young  souls  that 
had  been  nurtured  within  its  walls.  This 
was  the  work — ^the  highest  work  of  man — to 
educate  to  perfection.  To  make  the  perfect 
man,  perfect  physically,  intellectually  and 
morally,  this  was  the  dream  of  the  greatest  in 
the*  world  from  the  days  of  Attica,  when 
Christianity  was  but  a  promise,  to  the  present, 
when  it  had  become  so  great  a  power  for  the 
elevation  and  enlightenment  of  man.  *Gk)d 
was  beauty  as  well  as  truth ;  man  was  like  him 
by  his  intellect  as  well  as  by  his  conscience. 
Add  the  influence  ot  Christianity  to  the  old 
love  of  knowledge  of  the  Greeks,  then  we  shall 
have  perfect  education.'  The  Bishop  was  at- 
tentively listened  to,  and  often  applauded,  as 
the  position  afforded  more  freedom  than  could 
be  taken  in  a  church.  The  reverend  clergy 
evidently  enjoyed  his  sallies  of  wit,  especially 
when  alluding  to  the  disposition  to  hero  wor- 
ship among  the  young,  he  said  that  to  a  boy 
even  a  tinsel  hero  was  to  be  revered;  'put  a 
bit  of  purple  on  a  man,  he  is  a  hero,'  said  he, 
this  with  a  gleam  of  saturnine  humor.  The 
theologj"  and  the  wit  were  especially  appre- 
ciated. 

**At  the  conclusion  of  Bishop  Spalding's 
remarks,  the  Cardinal  said  a  few  words  rela- 
tive to  the  subject  of  the  day.  His  manners 
were  simple  and  dignified,  his  voice  clear, 
though  not  loud.  Father  Sorin  had  been  com- 
pared to  Moses,  he  said ;  but  God  had  favored 
him  more  than  the  prophet  of  old,  for  to 
Moses,  it  had  been  given  only  to  look  over  into 
the  promised  land,  but  the  modem  Moses  had 
passed  within  its  bounds.  The  respect  and 
love  shown  the  Cardinal  by  the  people  was 
very  touching.  The  Cardinal  then  gave  the 
people  his  blessing,  after  which  was  solemn 
benediction  in  the  church. 

"In  the  evening  the  college  and  all  the 
buildings  of  the  university  were  illuminated 
by  electricity,  the  Chinese  lanterns  were  light- 
ed in  the  trees,  and  a  grand  display  of  fire- 
works took  place.  With  this  Father  Sorin 's 
jubilee  was  over." 

After  the  celebration  of  his  golden  jubilee, 


Father  Sorin  continued  quietly  to  attend  to 
his  great  cares  as  General  of  the  order.  In 
May,  1891,  he  went  again  to  Europe,  accom- 
panied by  Father  Zahm.  This  proved  to  be 
his  last  journey  over  the  wide  Atlantic  whose 
waves  had  borne  him  for  so  many  times  upon 
their  bosom.  He  had  visited  on  those  occa- 
sions chiefly  Paris  and  Rome,  in  the  work  for 
the  community.  But  he  had  also  visited  Bel- 
gium and  other  places  where  business  called, 
going  even  more  than  once  a  year  when  occa- 
sion required.  On  his  later  journeys  he  had 
been  accompanied,  as  on  his  last,  by  Father 
Zahm,  for  whom  he  had  a  particular  affection. 
The  most  notable  of  these  journeys  was  that 
made  by  him  to  the  Holy  Land,  where  he 
reverently  followed  the  steps  of  Our  Lord  in 
His  passion.  He  had  also  visited  Lourdes  and 
other  shrines  of  Our  Lady,  towards  whom  his 
devotion  was  so  tender. 

In  1892,  he  took  a  short  trip  to  the  Atlantic 
seacoast,  his  health  having  failed  sensibly. 
He  was  however,  able  to  return  in  time  to  pre- 
side at  the  General  Chapter  of  the  Congrega- 
tion of  the  Holy  Cross  which  opened  at  Notre 
Dame  on  August  15,  1892.  Fatigue  from  at- 
tendance at  the  meetings  of  the  Chapter  again 
brought  him  down,  and  he  was  seriously  un- 
well for  some  days,  after  which  he  rallied  and 
enjoyed  comparatively  good  health. 

On  the  27th  of  November,  1892,  there  was 
another  jubilee  celebration  at  Notre  Dame,  at 
which  Father  Sorin  was  able  to  be  present.  It 
was  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  founding 
of  Notre  Dame,  fifty  years  from  the  day  when 
Father  Sorin  and  his  Brothers  first  looked 
upon  snow-covered  St.  Mary's  Lake,  Novem- 
ber 26th,  1842.  An  eloquent  and  feeling  ad- 
dress was  made  to  the  venerable  founder  on 
the  part  of  the  students  by  Mr.  M.  A.  Quin- 
lan,  after  which  Father  Sorin 's  long-time 
friend,  Mr.  William  J.  Onahan,  of  Chicago, 
offered  his  felicitations  on  the  memorable  day. 

Father  Sorin,  though  feeble,  was  able  to  re- 
ply in  a  most  interesting  manner,  recalling 
vividly  the  first  days  and  the  marvelous 
growth  of  Notre  Dame;  and  closed,  as  ever 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


mSTOBT   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


691 


was  his  wont,  by  returning  aJl  the  honor  to 
God,  to  His  most  holy  Mother  and  to  his  co- 
laborers.  It  was  indeed  an  affecting  occasion. 
We  are  sorry  that  the  most  feeling  and  pa- 
thetic address  has  not  been  preserved. 

Solemn  High  Mass  was  celebrated  by  the 
Most  Rev.  Archbishop  Biordan,  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, a  former  and  well  beloved  student  of 
Notre  Dame.  The  sermon  on  the  occasion  was 
delivered  by  that  eloquent  priest,  the  Rev. 
Timothy  0 'Sullivan,  of  Cummings,  Illinois,  a 
former  student  and  professor  at  Notre  Dame. 
No  one  knows  better  the  history  of  the  early 
days  of  Notre  Dame  than  Father  Sullivan, 
and  his  discourse  on  this  occasion  was  not  only 
an  eloquent  sermon,  but  a  mine  of  historical 
value,  and  also  a  brilliant  defense  of  a  true 
Christian  education,  as  illustrated  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  University  and  its  founder. 

On  February  6,  1893,  Father  Sorin  entered 
upon  his  eightieth  year,  but  without  having 
fully  regained  his  health.  On  the  6th  day  of 
June  he  was  able  to  receive  the  Apostolic  dele- 
gate, Archbishop  SatoUi,  who  on  that  day  hon- 
ored Notre  Dame  with  his  presence,  on  his 
way  from  the  Columbian  Fair,  at  Chicago. 

It  was  indeed  a  touching  sight  to  witness 
the  meeting  of  these  two  men,  each  eminent, 
each  crowned  with  well-won  honors,  each  of 
originally  keen  mind;  but  one  old  in  years 
and  feeble  health,  the  other  in  the  full  rich 
bloom  of  his  manly  vigor.  One  standing  high 
in  the  immediate  favor  of  a  power  older  and 
mightier  than  any  dynasty ;  the  other  working 
in  a  land  remote  from  the  common  Master — 
has  been  the  spirit  and  guiding  genius  in  the 
founding  of  an  institution  which  is  an  honor 
to  himself  and  to  the  age  in  which  he  lives. 

But  the  shades  of  evening  were  gathering 
fast  about  the  venerable  patriarch,  darker, 
alas,  for  his  beloved  Notre  Dame  than  for  him. 
For  two  or  three  years  the  health  of  Father 
Thomas  E.  Walsh,  the  brilliant  and  successful 
president  of  the  University,  had  been  giving 
alarm  to  the  friends  of  the  institution.  A 
visit  to  France  seemed  to  restore  him  to  his 
old-time  vigor  for  a  time ;  but  it  was  but  for  a 


time.  In  the  spring  of  1893  he  took  a  trip  to 
Texas,  partly  on  business  for  the  order,  of 
which  he  was  also  Assistant  General,  and  part- 
ly for  his  health.  He  returned  no  better;  and 
those  who  saw  Father  Walsh  at  the  commence- 
ment in  June  knew  that  the  days  of  the  be- 
loved president  were  niunbered.  Patient  as  a 
sage  and  pleasant  as  a  child,  he  himself  re- 
marked quietly  to  his  friends  that  it  was  his 
last  commencement.  After  the  close  of  the 
session  he  went  to  Wisconsin  for  change,  and 
possible  relief.  Both  came  to  him;  but  they 
were  brought  by  the  blessed  Angel  of  Death. 

Father  Walsh  died  on  July  17th.  On  the 
26th  of  the  same  month  died  Father  Alexis 
Granger,  the  life-long  companion  of  Father 
Sorin,  vice-president  of  the  University  at  its 
founding,  when  Father  Sorin  was  first  presi- 
dent, and  for  all  his  life  here  the  saintly  pre- 
fect of  religion,  the  guide  of  souls  to  thous- 
ands. 

The  shades  were  indeed  darkening  about 
the  Founder  of  Notre  Dame.  The  brilliant 
young  president,  in  whom  so  many  hopes  were 
centered,  the  aged  saint,  his  life-long  com- 
panion, passed  away  together,  in  the  good 
providence  of  God. 

Quietly,  submissive  to  Almighty  God,  as  had 
been  his  habit  all  his  life.  Father  Sorin  bore 
the  great  losses  to  Notre  Dame  suffered  in  the 
deaths  of  Father  Granger  and  Father  Walsh. 
Father  Granger's  death  was- to  be  expected. 
But  the  saintly  founder  was  likewise  resigned 
to  Heaven 's  will  in  taking  also  the  noble  young 
life  of  Father  Walsh.  He  might  well,  indeed, 
feel  that  even  the  young  priest  had  filled  out 
a  glorious  life.  Though  but  forty  years  of  age 
at  his  death,  Father  Walsh  in  his  twelve 
years'  presidency  had  made  Notre  Dame  a 
grand  institution  of  learning;  and  Father 
Sorin  doubtless  believed  that  though  young  in 
years  Father  Walsh  had  rounded  out  a  great 
full  life's  work  in  that  brief  period. 

Father  Sorin  grew  feeble  as  the  weeks  went 
on,  until  the  last  day  of  October,  that  month 
in  which  St.  Edward's  feast  had  been  so  often 
celebrated  in  his  honor,  when  he  gently  passed 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


692 


HISTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


to  that  blessed  world  for  which  his  whole  life 
had  been  a  preparation,  and  where  so  many  of 
his  children  had  passed  before  him.  It  was  a 
blessed  death. 

The  funeral  of  Father  Sorin  was  conducted 
with  all  the  solemnity  and  reverence  due  to 
him.  Notre  Dame  spared  nothing  that  love 
could  suggest  to  do  honor  to  her  founder. 
Mass  was  celebrated  by  Bishop  Rademacher, 
of  Fort  Wayne,  and  the  funeral  sermon  was 
preached  by  the  Most  Rev.  Archbishop  Elder, 
of  Cincinnati.  The  interest  manifested  in  his 
death,  as  might  well  be  expected,  was  wide- 
spread. Telegrams  and  letters  of  condolence 
came  to  Father  Provincial  Corfcy,  and  other 
members  of  the  Congregation,  from  France 
and  Rome;  while  kindly  notices  from  the 
Catholic  and  secular  press  were  numberless. 

We  give  one  of  these  taken  from  the  Chi- 
cago **  Herald'': 

**A  wonderful  and  romantic  career  was 
that  of  Father  Sorin,  founder  of  Notre  Dame 
University,  who  died  Tuesday  last,  almost 
under  the  shadow  of  the  University,  and  on 
the  scene  of  noble  and  successful  endeavor  for 
humanity.  He  was  nearly  eighty  years  of  age. 
In  1841,  when  only  twenty-seven  years  old, 
he  came  from  France  to  this  country,  filled 
with  a  young  man's  uncalculating  zeal,  and 
established  a  mission  among  the  Indians  of 
Indiana.  .  .  .  Having  been  admonished 
to  establish  schools  wherever  opportunity  of- 
fered, he  set  out  upon  his  mission  and  arrived 
in  November,  1842,  on  the  borders  of  the  sheet 
of  water  known  as  St.  Mary's  Lake,  near  the 
site  of  the  present  city  of  South  Bend. 

**The  spot  at  which  he  halted  was  absolute 
waste,  the  only  building  in  sight  being  a  small 
log  hut.  His  earthly  belongings  at  the  time 
consisted  of  only  five  dollars  in  money;  but 
his  trust  in  the  beneficence  of  God  was  un- 
bounded, and  he  had  absolute  confidence  in 
his  own  energy  and  resolution.  He  took  pos- 
session of  the  hut,  setting  apart  one-haLf  of  it 
to  be  used  as  a  chapel,  and  reserving  the  other 
part  as  a  dwelling  place  for  himself  and  his 
companions.    On  these  meagre  foundations  he 


began  to  build  a  college,  and  two  years  later 
he  secured  a  charter  for  a  university  from 
the  State  of  Indiana.  From  that  moment  the 
University  of  Notre  Dame  grew  and  flourished 
under  his  intelligent  guidance  and  watchful 
care  until  it  became  what  it  is  today,  the  larg- 
est and  most  important  Roman  Catholic  edu- 
cational institution  in  the  United  States. 

*  *  Thus  more  than  fifty  years  of  his  life  were 
devoted  by  Father  Sorin  to  the  upbuilding  of 
this  institution.  Its  success  is  due  to  his  faith, 
labor,  enthusiasm  and  perseverance.  The 
thousands  of  men  whom  it  has  sent  into  the 
world  equipped  for  the  battle  of  life  drew 
their  inspiration  from  him  and  from  the  in- 
fluences with  which  he  surrounded  them.  He 
&aw  his  work  and  knew  that  it  was  good.  His 
great  undertaking  having  been  successfully 
accomplished,  death  came  to  him  like  a  wel- 
come, refreshing  sleep.  He  needs  no  tablet 
of  mai^ble  to  commemorate  his  virtues  and 
achievements.  The  University  of  Notre  Dame 
is  his  monument,  and,  while  its  influence  sur- 
vives, his  name  will  not  be  forgotten  among 
men." 

Father  Sorin 's  body  is  at  rest  between  those 
of  Father  Granger  and  Father  WalA,  in  the 
little  community  cemetery.  A  simple  iron 
cross,  with  his  name  and  date  of  death,  marks 
his  grave. 

On  the  deatii  of  Father  Sorin,  the  Very 
Rev.  William  Coiiby  continued  as  Provincial 
of  the  Congregation  of  the  Holy  Cross  in  the 
United  States,  a  position  which  he  held  to  the 
end  of  his  life.  The  poor  Detroit  boy,  strug- 
gling for  an  education,  tie  young  priest  him- 
self zealous  for  the  education  of  youth,  the 
brave  chaplain  of  the  armies  of  the  Potomac, 
the  veteran  priest  of  the  Holv  Cross,  who  with 
Father  Louis  L'Etourneau,  Father  Timothy 
Maher,  Brother  Francis  Xavier  and  Brother 
Augustus,  for  a  few  years  longer,  connected 
the  present  generation  with  those  heroic  men 
who  founded  this  university  in  the  wilderness. 
Of  these,  Father  L'Etourneau  and  Father 
Maher  yet  remain. 

In  accordance  with  the  expressed  wish  of 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


VERY  REV.  ANDREW  MORRISSEY. 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


HISTORY  OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


695 


Father  Walsh,  the  Rev.  Andrew  Morrissey 
was  named  to  succeed  him  in  the  presidency 
of  the  university.  No  appointment  could  have 
been  a  greater  pleasure  to  the  inmates  and 
friends  of  Notre  Dame.  Father  Morrissey  had 
been  at  Notre  Dame  since  the  twelfth  year  of 
his  age,  and  was  thoroughly  imbued  with  the 
spirit  of  its  venerable  founder,  no  less  than 
with  that  of  Father  Walsh,  his  enlightened 
and  most  able  predecessor ;  and  he  brought  to 
the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  high  office 
the  resources  of  a  rarely  gifted  mind,  com- 
bined with  an  intense  devotedness  and  zeal  in 
the  cause  of  education.  For  a  niunber  of  years 
during  the  presidency  of  Father  Walsh, 
Father  Morrissey  had  been  director  of  studies 
in  the  university;  and  so  became  thoroughly 
familiar  with  the  spirit  and  needs  of  the  insti- 
tution. To  his  natural  endowments  and  excel- 
lent training  as  a  scholar  and  teacher.  Father 
Morrissey  added  what  are  so  essential  to  the 
president  of  a  university,  those  social  and 
sympathetic  qualities,  and  that  urbane  pres- 
ence, which  draw  to  him  the  love  and  good 
will  of  all  persons  with  whom  he  comes  in 
contact.  His  powers  ^l8  an  orator  have  long 
distinguished  him  in  the  pulpit  and  on  the 
platform.  Father  Walsh  indeed  completed 
his  own  noble  presidency  by  naming  so  fit  a 
successor. 

Father  Morrissey  was  the  seventh  president 
of  Notre  Dame.  He  served  for  twelve  years, 
— as  long  a  time  as  Father  Walsh  had  been 
president.  He  was  then  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
John  Cavanaugh,  who  is  still  president.  This 
list  of  educators  is  as  follows : 

PREsmBNTS  OP  Notre  Dame. 

Father  Edward  Sorin,  Founder,  from  1842 
to  1865. 

Father  Patrick  Dillon,  from  1865  to  1866. 

Father  William  Corby,  from  1866  to  1872. 
^  Father  Augustus  Lemonnier,  from  1872  to 
1874. 

Father  Patrick  J.  Colovin,  from  1874  to 
1877. 

Father  William  Corby,  again,  from  1877 
to  1881. 


Father  Thomas  E.  Wafeh,  from  1881  to 
1893. 

Father  Andrew  Morrissey,  from  1893  to 
1905. 

Father  John  Cavanaugh,  from  1905  to 

Under  Father  Morrissey  *s  administration 
and  that  of  his  successor.  Father  John  Cavar 
naugh,  the  completion  of  the  work  laid  out 
by  their  predecessors  has  gone  forward. 
Washington  Hall  has  been  beautifully  fres- 
coed, according  to  the  original  design.  Meas- 
ures have  been  taken  to  revise  and  still  fur- 
ther improve  the  course  of  studies.  The  corps 
of  teachers  has  been  kept  up  to  the  high  stand- 
and  that  prevailed  during  Faither  Walsh's  ad- 
ministration. The  friends  of  Notre  Dame, 
everywhere,  are  gratified  to  find  that  the 
noble  work  here  inaugurated  shows  no  sign  of 
weakening;  but,  on  the  contrary,  in  every- 
thing are  shown  signs  of  advancement  towards 
the  highest  goal  of  excellence.  The  determina- 
tion was  never  stronger  to  keep  Our  Lady's 
College  in  the  place  to  which  she  has  attained, 
in  the  van  of  the  higher  educational  institu- 
tions of  the  land. 

In  the  autumn  of  1894  the  Very  Bev.  Gil- 
bert Francais,  chosen  Superior-General  of  the 
Congregation  of  the  Holy  Cross  to  succeed 
Father  Sorin,  came  to  visit  this  most  noted 
estaiblishment  under  his  charge;  and  here  he 
resided  up  to  the  time  of  the  golden  jubilee. 
The  Very  Reverend  Father  Superior-General 
was  for  a  long  time  before  his  elevation  to  his 
present  dignity  Superior  of  the  CoU^e  at 
NeuUy,  hear  Paris,  and  under  his  care  that 
institution  became  one  of  the  most  noted  seats 
of  learning  in  France.  It  was  a  gratification 
to  all  at  Notre  Dame  that  so  learned  and  ac- 
complished an  educator  had  been  placed  at  the 
head  of  the  congregation  where  he  would  be 
able  to  do  so  much  to  still  further  advance 
the  good  of  their  Alma  Mater.  On  the  sup- 
pression of  Christian  institutions  by  the 
French  government,  the  College  at  NeuUy  was 
closed,  and  the  Superior  General  removed 
to  Notre  Dame,  which  again  became  the 
mother  house  of  the  Congregation  of  the  Holy 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


696 


mSTORT   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Cross,  as  it  had  been  daring  Father  Sorin's 
administration. 

In  the  summer  of  1894,  Notre  Dame  was 
honored  by  the  presence  of  the  First  Ameri- 
can Eueharistic  Congress  within  our  walls.  To 
be  selected  as  the  place  where  so  great  a  work 
as  that  of  the  Eueharistic  Congress  was  inau- 
gurated is  indeed  a  mark  of  God's  blessing. 
Not  since  the  assembling  of  the  Third  Plenary 
Council  at  Baltimore  has  there  anywhere 
assembled  so  numerous-  and  distinguished  a 
body  of  Catholic  priests  and  prelates. 

It  is  needless  to  say  that,  notwithstanding 
the  year  1893  was  a  year  of  sorrow  with  us, . 
yet  Notre  Dame  could  not  fail  to  take  the 
keenest  interest  in  an  exhibition  so  dear  to  the 
Catholic  heart  as  the  four  hundreth  anniver- 
sary of  the  discovery  of  our  country  by  the 
great  navigator.  The  fine  Columbian  paint- 
ings on  the  walls  of  the  main  entrance  to  the 
university,  which  have  been  already  described, 
sufficiently  attesflt  this  interest. 

The  Notre  D«me  exhibit  at  the  Colum- 
bian Exposition  was  enclosed  in  four  de- 
partments centrally  located  in  the  Manu- 
factures and  Liberal  Arts  Building.  The 
first  booth  was  twenty  feet  square  and  con- 
tained Gregori's  life-size,  full  length  por- 
trait of  the  founder  of  the  university,  to- 
gether with  specimens  of  the  work  of  the 
pupils  of  Gregori  and  of  Prof.  Ackerman. 
Here  also  were  shown  a  map  of  the  grounds 
and  buildings  of  the  university,  made  by  the 
pupils  of  Professor  McCue  's  surveying  classes ; 
several  specimens  of  mechanical  engineerii^ 
work  ill  wood  and  iron;  blue  tints  from  the 
Institute  of  Technology;  one  hundred  and 
twenty  views  of  Notre  Dame  taken  by  Father 
Kirsdi's  class  in  photography;  a  complete  set, 
twenty-five  volumes,  of  the  ** Scholastic,'' 
illustrating  the  literary  work  of  the  students ; 
copies  of  various  books  written  and  published 
at  Notre  Dame ;  objects  of  historical  interest ; 
photographs  and  paintings,  including  an 
excellent  portrait  of  the  lamented  Father 
Walsh. 

In  the  second  booth,  also  twenty  feet  square, 


was  a  small  but  rich  selection  from  the  pre- 
cious historical  treasury  of  Bishops'  Memorial 
Hall.  Among  these  treasures  were  many  rare 
old  Bibles  published  in  the  German  language 
long  before  the  birth  of  Luther. 

In  the  third  booth  were  several  autograph 
letters  and  other  precious  manuscripts  from 
the  Catholic  American  Archives  collected  by 
Professor  Edwards. 

In  the  fourth  booth  were  numerous  precious 
articles,  mementos  of  early  bishops  and  other 
distinguished  historical  characters,  and  vari- 
ous other  articles  of  interest,  shown  in  glass 
cases,  including  precious  books,  intended  to 
represent  the  libraries  and  museums  at  Notre 
Dame. 

A  history  almost  as  full  as  that  of  the  uni- 
versity itself  might  be  written  of  the  various 
churches  erected  at  Notre  Dame,  culminating 
in  the  present  beautiful  edifice.  As  we  have 
seen,  Father  Sorin  found  here  the  small 
** upper  room"  of  the  little  log  house  built  on 
the  banks  of  St.  Mary's  Lake  by  the  poor 
Indians  for  the  use  of  their  revered  Black 
Robe,  the  proto-priest,  the  Rev.  Stephen  T. 
Badin,  in  1830.  In  1842-3,  Father  Sorin 
erected  that  other  log  structure,  a  little  higher 
up  from  the  lake,  in  whose  upper  chamber  the 
inmates  and  the  Catholics  of  the  mission  long 
continued  to  worship.  The  precious  relic, 
alas,  perished  by  fire  in  1852.  Before  this,  in 
1848,  the  first  brick  church  was  erected,  east 
of  the  lake,  and  just  in  the  rear  of  the  pres- 
ent church,  or  rather  upon  ground  now  occu- 
pied by  the  rear  of  the  present  church.  This 
church  of  1848  was  at  first  a  little  oblong 
building.  In  time  additions  were  made  to  it, 
including  wooden  towers,  in  which  was  placed 
the  exquisite  chime  of  bells  that  still  make 
music  for  Notre  Dame.  When  the  first  great 
organ  was  obtained,  an  extension  was  made  to 
the  rear  of  the  old  church  to  receive  it.  The 
church  so  completed  served  until  the  erection 
of  the  present  edifice. 

The  foundations  of  the  present  Church  of 
the  Sacred  Heart  were  begun  by  Father  Sorin 
on  the  8th  duy  of  December,  1868,  the  day  on 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


fflSTORT   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY- 


697 


which  the  Vatican  Council  was  opened  by 
Pius  IX.  It  was  also  the  twenty-fourth  anni- 
versary of  the  blessing  of  the  well  beloved 
"Chai)el  of  the  Novitiate/'  erected  upon  the 
"Island'*  in  1844,  and  so  long  the  center  of 
the  reUgioufl  devotion  of  the  poor  little  com- 
munity. It  was  on  the  same  day,  December  8, 
1844,  that  the  Arch  Confraternity  was 
solemnly  established  in  the  same  chapel,  the 
most  blessed  society  ever  established  at  Notre 
Dame. 

Slowly,  from  1868  until  Father  Sorin's 
Jubilee,  in  1888,  the  Church  of  the  Sacred 
Heart  went  on  to  completion,  year  by  year, 
until  its  solemn  consecration,  when  it  appeared 
to  the  world  as  perhaps  the  most  beautiful 
church  in  America.  We  need  not  here  again 
describe  it.  That  has  been  already  done  in 
these  pages,  in  the  article  by  Professpr  Stace, 
and  in  others. 

We  must,  however,  make  room  for  a  touch- 
ing oontrasrt  made  by  Father  Sorin  between 
the  former  times  and  the  present,  written  by 
him  at  a  time  when  he  was  considering  the 
question  as  to  when  the' new  church  should  be 
dedicated : 

**What  a  consolation  will  it  not  be  to  see 
the  dedication  of  a  temple  in  honor  of  our 
Blessed  Mother  on  a  spot  where  we  well 
remember  having  seen  with  our  own  eyes  the 
wigwams  and  the  fires  of  the  Pottawatomies  I 

** Truly  a  change  has  taken  place;  we  con- 
fess it  the  more  readily,  as  we  claim  no  praise 
but  return  all  glory  to  God,  to  whose  hand 
this  transformation  is  due.  Neither  should 
we  be  surprised  if  we  only  reflected  on  the 
saintly  memories  whose  extraordinary  virtues 
embalmed  the  very  air  of  Notre  Dame  when 
the  Congregation  of  the  Holy  Cross  took  pos- 
session of  her  lovely  domain.  Here  is  a  little 
galaxy  of  names  not  often  met  with  in  any 
place  not  celebrated:  The  venerable  proto- 
priest  of  America,  Father  Badin,  the  saintly 
De  Seille,  the  heroic  Benjamin  Petit,  suc- 
ceeded one  another  here.  Here  they  were 
visited  from  Bardstown  and  Vincennes  by  the 
immortal  bishops  Flaget  and  Brut6;  here  they 


prayed  together,  as  they  now  continue  to  do 
in  heaven,  for  blessings  on  a  spot  they  so 
dearly  loved.  Scarcely,  then,  we  say,  is  it  a 
wonder  to  find  it  blessed.  Saintly  souls,  men 
of  God,  have  passed  and  lived  here,  and  the 
precious  remains  of  two  of  them  speak  yet  in 
our  midst  the  eloquent  language  of  the  purest 
zeal  and  most  unbounded  charity  that  ever 
prompted  and  adorned  the  heart  of  the  Apos- 
tles of  Chrisf 

The  rear  end  of  the  old  church,  that  part 
formerly  containing  the  first  great  organ,  was 
suffered  to  stand  for  several  years,  and  was 
enclosed  and  used  by  Father  Zahm  as  the  first 
science  hall,  characteristic  of  the  reverend 
scientist  himself,  who  has  shown  us  how 
closely  related  are  science  and  religion,  both 
the  work  of  God  himself. 

In  time,  however,  the  whole  of  the  old 
church,  the  scene  of  so  many  sacred  rites  of 
religion,  so  many  pious  recollections,  so  many 
prayers  for  better  life,  was  all  taken  down,  to 
make  larger  room  for  the  new  church.  It  was 
with  some  sadness  that  the  older  inmates  of 
Notre  Dame  saw  this  ancient  landmark,  this 
place  of  sacred  memories,  removed.  To  them, 
at  least,  the  old  had  something  which  the  new 
could  not  supply.  Memory  of  the  rugged  past 
was  to  them  even  more  sweet  than  the  joy  of 
the  splendid  present. 

The  golden  jubilee  of  Notre  Dame  should, 
in  the  regular  order  of  things,  have  taken 
place  on  November  26,  1892,  fifty  years  after 
the  day  that  the  Very  Rev.  Edward  Sorin  and 
his  intrepid  brethren  first  stood  upon  the 
shores  of  St.  Mary's  lake.  On  that  day,  or 
rather  for  convenience,  on  the  next  day,  which 
was  Sunday,  there  was  a  simple  commemora- 
tion of  the  day  by  Father  Sorin  and  his 
friends;  but  his  condition  was  so  feeble  that 
there  was  no  attempt  at  a  public  demonstra- 
tion. After  Father  Serin's  death,  in  1893, 
there  was  a  movement  to  have  the  jubilee 
celebrated  in  1894,  on  the  anniversary  of  the 
charter  and  the  actual  opening  of  the  institu- 
tion, in  1844.  The  jubilee  was  not  actually 
celebrated  until  the  summer  of  1895.    For 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


698 


raSTORT   OP  ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


this  occasion  the  History  of  the  Golden  Jubi- 
lee was  prepared,  from  which  we  have  taken 
the  greater  part  of  the  foregoing  facts  in  rela- 
tion to  the  university.  During  the  twelve 
years  that  have  since  passed  th^  institution 
has  gone  on,  ** prospering  and  to  prosper.'' 
Perhaps  the  chief  feature  which  distinguishes 
these  years  from  the  period  immediately  pre- 
ceding is  the  attention  that  has  been  given  to 
athletics  and  to  public  debates.  In  both, 
Notre  Dame  has  admirably  held  her  own  with 
other  collegiate  institutions  in  Indiana  and  the 
neighboring  states. 

m.     ST.  Mary's  academy. 

Sec.  1. — Three  Reljoious  Societies. — On 
April  24th,  1855,  the  cornerstone  of  the  first 
building  for  St.  Mary's  Academy  was  blessed 
by  the  Very  Rev.  Edward  Sorin.  In  the  year 
1905,  in  commemoration  of  this  event,  there 
was  published  *'A  Story  of  Fifty  Years,'' 
being  a  golden  jubilee  history  of  St.  Mary's 
Academy  and  of  the  Congregation  of  the  Sis- 
ters of  the  Holy  Cross.  To  the  pages  of  that 
interesting  ** Story  of  Fifty  Years,"  we  are 
indebted  for  the  greater  part  of  this  sketch. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  Napoleonic  era 
there  was  a  marked  revival  of  religious  zeal 
in  France.  One  result  of  this  revival  was  the 
organization  of  various  confraternities  and 
societies  for  the  promotion  of  religious  instruc- 
tion among  the  people.  Three  of  such  com- 
munities have  become  of  special  interest  to  the 
people  of  St.  Joseph  county.  About  the  year 
1820,  a  few  young  men  desiring  to  devote  their 
lives  to  the  education  of  youth  began  to  seek 
the  guidance  of  the  Rev.  James  Francis  Du- 
jari6,  pastor  of  a  church  at  Ruill6  in  the  dio- 
cese of  Maus,  or  Le  Mans,  as  it  is  sometimes 
called.  This  society,  after  many  vicissitudes 
of  fortune,  was  finally  formed  into  a  commun- 
ity known  as  the  Brothers  of  St.  Joseph- 
Father  Dujari^  is  further  known  as'  the 
founder  of  the  Sisters  of  Providence,  whose 
principal  house  in  this  country  is  at  St. 
Mary's  of  the  Woods,  near  Terre  Haute.  On 
August  31,  1835,  by  reason  of  his  age  and 


feeble  health,  Father  Dujari6  surrendered  nis 
charge  of  the  Brothers  of  St.  Joseph  into  the 
hands  of  the  bishop  of  Mans,  with  the  request 
that  the  Bev.  Basil  Anthony  Moreau  be  sub- 
stituted in  his  place,  which  was  done.  During 
the  preceding  year  Father  Moreau,  with  the 
approval  of  the  bishop,  had  gathered  around 
him  a  company  of  young  priests,  to  aid  in  the 
preaching  of  missions  to  the  people.  In  1832, 
the  zealous  superior  had  received  a  gift  of 
property  at  a  place  called  Holy  Cross,  not  far 
from  the  city  of  Mans.  To  this  place  he  now 
took  his  two  societies,  which  were  there 
formed  into  one,  called,  from  the  name  of  the 
place,  **The  Association  of  Holy  Cross"  and 
there,  in  1836,  was  laid  the  foundation  of 
their  first  institution,  the  college  of  Holy 
Cross.  Up  to  this  time  neither  priests  nor 
brothers  had  taken  upon  themselves  any  but 
temporary  obligations ;  but,  in  the  same  year, 
1836,  one  of  the  brothers.  Brother  Andre, 
took  upon  himself  the  perpetual  vows  of  a 
religious.  In  1840,  on  the  morning  of  August 
15,  Father  Moreau  took  the  vows,  and  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  same'  day  four  other  priests, 
one  of  whom  was  the  Bev.  Edward  Sorin, 
joined  him  in  the  solemn  and  perpetual  obli- 
gations. The  Congregation  of  Holy  Cross,  con- 
sisting of  the  united  societies  of  priests  and 
brothers,  was  thus  established  on  a  permanent 
basis.** 

Soon  afterwards,  Father  Moreau  and  his 
priests  and  brothers  saw  the  need  of  a  com- 
munity of  sisters  to  aid  them  in  their  work; 
and  on  September  29,  1841,  the  first  members 
of  the  Sisters  of  Holy  Cross  were  received. 
To  Father  Moreau  it  now  seemed,  that  his 
religious  family  of  priests,  brothers,  and 
sisters  was  formed  on  the  model  of  the  holy 
family  of  Nazareth,  Jesus,  Mary  and  Joseph. 
The  priests  and  brothers  were  ultimately 
united  into  a  single  congregation;  but  the 
sisters,  although  associated  in  the  work  of  the 
priests  and  brothers,  have  remained  a  distinct 
society.     The  name  at  first  given  to  each  of 

o.  The  Brothers  of  Holy  Cross,  by  the  Rev. 
James  J.  Trahey. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


699 


the  societies,  as  we  have  seen,  was  the  Fathers, 
Brothj&rs  and  Sisters  of  Holy  Cross, — after 
Holy  Cross,  the  name  of  the  place  where  the 
first  house  was  located,  near  Mans.  Insensi- 
bly, in  the  beginning,  and  afterwards  in  a 
positive  and  formal  manner,  the  words  **the 
Holy  Cross'*  were  smbstituted  for  **Holy 
Cross."  Holy  Cross  was  simply  a  place,  the 
town  where  the  societies  originated ;  the  Holy 
Cross  was  the  sacred  instrument  of  redemp- 
tion. In  America,  particularly,  where  the  ob- 
scure hamlet  of  Holy  Cross  was  quite  un- 
known, and  where  the  work  of  the  zealous 
fathers,  brothers  and  sisters  was  so  well 
known  and  so  greatly  admired,  the  need  of 
the  broader  and  more  expressive  term  became 
evident.  Indeed  it  was  through  the  action  of 
Father  Sorin  himself  that  the  words  **the 
Holy  Cross"  took  the  place  of  **Holy  Cross," 
simply.  It  is  of  course  true  that  the  little 
town  of  Holy  Cross  itself  (Ste.  Croix,  in 
French),  like  many  other  towns  of  the  same 
name,  and  in  many  languages,  all  over  the 
world,  received  its  name  from  that  of  the  same 
holy  symbol ;  nevertheless  these  great  religious 
congregations,  which  originally  came  out  of 
the  little  town  of  Holy  Cross,  are  now  known 
by  the  more  sacred  name  of  the  Holy  Cross. 

Sec.  2. — The  Sisters  at  Notre  Dame,  Mish- 
AWAKA  AND  Bertrand. — After  the  priests 
and  brothers  had  been  established  on  the 
banks  of  St.  Mary's  lake,  at  Notre  Dame,  as 
related  in  sections  two,  three  and  four  of 
the  second  subdivision  of  this  chapter,  the 
need  of  the  sisters  became  more  apparent  from 
day  to  day.  As  stated  in  section  four  of  that 
subdivision,  the  first  building,  erected  in  the 
winter  of  1842-3,  was  a  log  church,  the  upper 
story  of  which  was  prepared  for  the  sisters, 
who  were  expected  from  France  the  next 
summer.  Four  sisters  left  France  on  June 
6,  1843,  and  on  their  arrival  found  their  home 
in  this  ** upper  room."  They  at  once  took 
charge  of  the  sacristy,  clothes-room,  laundry, 
and  dairy.  They  soon  gave  to  the  raw  sur- 
roundings an  'air  of  order  and  comparative 

comfort, — the  blessed  influence  of  woman  the 
Vol.  n— 7. 


world  over.  In  November  a  second  colony 
arrived;  so  that  the  close  of  the  year  1843 
found  the  Sisters  of  the  Holy  Cross  well 
established  in  their  backwoods  home  on  the 
banks  of  St.  Mary's  lake. 

Father  Sorin  soon  made  preparations  to 
establish  a  permanent  house  for  the  sisters 
at  Notre  Dame,  where  they  might  receive 
young  ladies  who  might  desire  to  join  the 
order  and  lead  a  religious  life.  The  Bishop 
of  Vincennes,  however,  opposed  the  project. 
The  Sisters  of  Providence,  founded  by  the 
Rev.  James  Francis  Dujari^,  were  now  estab- 
lished at  St.  Mary 's  of  the  Woods,  near  Terre 
Haute,  and  the  bishop  was  of  opinion  that 
one  congregation  of  women  was  enough  for 
the  diocese.  Father  Sorin 's  vision  was  broad- 
er, and  he  was  confident  that  there  was  ample 
room  for  both  communities.  But  he  submitted 
to  his  bishop  and  gave  up  for  the  present  the 
idea  of  establishing  a  novitiate  at  Notre  Dame 
for  the  sisters.  Among  the  missions  commit- 
ted to  the  care  of  the  congregation  of  the 
Holy  Cross  was  that  at  Bertrand,  only  six 
miles  from  Notrfe  Dame,  but  within  the  state 
of  Michigan,  and  consequently  within  the  dio- 
cese of  Detroit.  At  Bertrand,  therefore,  he 
made  up  his  mind  that  he  would  establish 
the  academy  and  convent.  Through  the  kind- 
ly aid  of  Archbishop  Purcell  of  Cincinnati, 
a  kindness  never  forgotten  at  Notre  Dame  or 
St.  Mary's,  he  finally  obtained  the  needed 
permission  of  the  Bishop  of  Detroit.  On  July 
16,  1844,  five  sisters  took  up  their  abode  at 
Bertrand,  in  a  house  secured  for  them  by 
Joseph  Bertrand,  after  whom  the  town  was 
named.  Many  devout  young  ladies  now 
joined  St.  Mary 's  at  Bertrand.  It  was  a  time 
of  hardship  for  those  devoted  sisters,  but  also 
a  time  of  joy ;  for  they  were  there  permitted 
to  do  the  work  for  which  they  believed  they 
were  intended  by  heaven.  In  an  early  chron- 
icle describing  this  first  mother  house  of  the 
Sisters  of  the  Holy  Cross,  are  the  simple 
words:  **In  front  of  the  house  there  were 
wild  roses  and  sweetbriar."  The  writer  of 
'*A  Story  of  Fifty  Years"  finds  these  wild 


Digitized  by 


Google 


700 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


roses  and  sweetbriar  to  have  been  emblemat- 
ical of  the  joys  and  sufferings  of  the  strug- 
gling community.  They  were  comforted  by 
the  weekly  visits  of  Father  Sorin,  who  always 
managed  to  find  time  to  visit  and  encourage 
them.  The  night  of  November  7,  1847,  itf  re- 
membered as  the  occasion  when  the  little  vil- 
lage church  was  broken  into,  and  the  sacred 
vessels  of  the  altar  carried  away  by  the  rob- 
bers. A  statue  brought  from  Prance  in  1845, 
and  still  preserved  at  St.  Mary's,  is  one  of 
the  precious  relics  of  those  old  days.  The 
story  is  also  told  that  a  little  log  chapel  built 
by  theproto-priest,  Pather  Badin,  was  moved 
from  its  place  and  attached  to  the  convent 
building  and  used  for  religious  exercises.  By 
permission  of  Bishop  Lefevre  of  Detroit,  this 
venerable  building  was  made  the  chapel  of 
the  convent.  With  the  growth  of  the  com- 
munity advanced  also  the  school,  or  academy, 
established  at  Bertrand.  By  the  year  1850, 
the  roll  of  pupils  showed  fifty  boarders,  and 
it  was  deemed  opportune  to  issue  a  prospectus 
setting  forth  the  advantages  of  St.  Mary's 
Academy  at  Bertrand  as  a  desirable  school 
for  the  education  of  young  ladies.  The  pros- 
pectus states,  amongst  other  things,  that  a 
daily  line  of  stages  from  Niles  to  South  Bend 
renders  the  academy  easy  of  access  from  all 
parts  of  the  country.  In  those  days,  to  come 
from  Chicago,  one  had  to  take  a  boat  across 
the  lake  to  St.  Joseph,  and  travel  from  there 
to  Bertrand  by  stage.  But  the  stage  by  land 
and  the  boat  by  lake  and  river  were,  in  truth, 
the  easiest  means  of  access  to  any  place "  in 
those  days.  In  1851  the  academy  received  a 
charter  from  the  state  of  Michigan. 

After  the  Right  Rev.  Maurice  de  St.  Palais 
became  bishop  of  Vincennes,  January  14, 
1849,  there  was  hope  that 'the  convent  and 
academy  might  be  located  nearer  to  Notre 
Dame,  as  had  been  the  original  design  of 
Pather  Sorin.  The  sisters  did,  indeed,  con- 
tinue to  conduct  domestic  affairs  at  **the 
lake,''  while  also  caring  for  their  primary  and 
industrial  school,  their  convent  and  academy, 
at  Bertrand,  and  their  Indian  school  across 


the  river,  at  Pokagon's  village,  and  Pather 
Sorin,  or  some  one  in  his  place,  did  continue 
to  come  down  from  Notre  Dame,  week  after 
week,  to  serve  as  chaplain  for  the  little  com- 
munity. But  it  was  realized  that  there  was 
in  this  too  great  a  waste  of  time  and  labor. 
An  attempt  was  made  to  establish  a  house 
at  Mishawaka,  a  town  nearer  than  Bertrand 
to  Notre  Dame,  but  although  a  building  was 
erected  and  a  school  opened  at  Mishawaka,  the 
location  does  not  seem  to  have  been  a  desirable 
one.  Yet  the  sisters  had  many  warm  friends 
in  Mishawaka,  and  in  the  reminiscences  of 
Mrs.  Van  Pelt  will  be  found  pleasant  refer- 
ences to  this  establishment  in  Mishawaka.** 

It  would  seem  that  yet  another  trial,  some 
greater  suffering,  were  needed,  before  the  des- 
tined locality  could  be  secured.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1854,  as  related  in  a  preceding  part 
of  this  chapter,^  the  cholera  visited  the  young 
communities  and  snatched  away  many  of  those 
who  were  so  sorely  needed.  One  cause,  no 
doubt,  of  this  sickness,  was  the  obstruction 
of  the  drainage  of  the  lakes  to  the  river.  The 
owner  of  the  lands  to  the  west,  reaching  to 
the  river  and  covering  the  outlet  from  the 
lakes,  had  all  along  refused  either  to  sell  the 
lands  or  to  allow  the  improvement  of  the 
drainage.  Now,  however,  his  heart  seems  to 
have  been  touched,  and  the  community  pur- 
chased the  lands  all  the  way  to  the  river  at  a 
very  reasonable  price.  Here  was  the  oppor- 
tunity long  sought;  the  waters  of  the  lakes 
were  lowered,  and  the  health  of  the  com- 
munity assured.  But  an  unlooked  for  treas- 
ure was  found  also.  A  reverend  father^ 
pointed  out  that  the  high  grounds  over  the 
river  were  admirably  suited  for  the  buildings 
and  grounds  of  St.  Mary's  Academy.  All 
seemed  in  good  time.  The  former  opposition 
to  the  change  had  long  since  ceased.  The 
severe  trials  at  Bertrand  were  to  be  but  mem- 
ories of  trials  that  were  past;  pleasant 
memories,  indeed,  like  those  of  which  Virgil 

a.  See  Chap.  10,  Reminiscences  by  Mrs.  Marion 
B.  Van  Pelt. 

b.  See  Sub.  2,  Sec.  5,  of  this  chapter. 

c.  The  Rev.  Alexis  Granger. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


701 


speaks,  because  they  were  of  sufferings  he- 
roically borne. 

While  the  community  was  yet  at  Bertrand, 
they  received  a  young  lady  postulant  who 
was  destined  to  take  so  important  a  part  in 
the  future  of  the  congregation  as  to  be  re- 
garded as  the  founder  of  the  new  St.  Mary's. 
Early  in  1853,  Mis&  Eliza  Gillespie,  first 
cousin  of  James  Gillespie  Blaine,  and  nearly 
related  also  to  the  Ewing  and  Sherman  fami- 
lies of  Ohio,  called  at  Notre  Dame  with  her 
mother,  on  a  visit  to  her  brother,  Neal  H. 
Gillespie,  afterwards  Father  Gillespie,  who 
was  then  a  student.  •  Miss  Gillespie  was  on  her 
way  to  Chicago  to  join  the  Sisters  of  Mercy. 
At  Father  Sorin's  invitation,  she  spent  a  few 
days  at  the  convent  in  Bertrand,  where  she 
was  so  much  drawn  to  the  heroic  life  there 
led  by  the  sisters  that  she  felt  herself  called 
to  be  a  Sispter  of  the  Holy  Gross,  and  so  signi- 
fied her  intention.  She  was  accordingly  re- 
ceived into  the  congregation  as  Sister  Mary 
of  St.  Angela,  and  sent  to  France  to  make 
her  novitiate.  On  her  return,  in  February, 
1854,  she  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  school 
at  Bertrand.  Under  the  name  of  Mother 
Angela  she  became  -a  great  religious  of  the 
Sisters  of  the  Holy  Cross. 

In  May,  1855,  the  frame  buildings  at  Mish- 
awaka  were  removed  to  the  new  site  of  the 
convent  and  academy,  on  the  banks  of  the  St. 
Joseph,  and  at  the  close  of  the  school  year 
at  Bertrand  the  same  course  was  taken  with 
the  buildings  at  that  point.  All  the  forces 
of  the  young  congregation  were  then  gathered 
on  the  banks  of  the  St.  Joseph,  and  on  August 
15,  1855,  Mother  Angela  was  given  charge  of 
the  new  St.  Mary's. 

Sec.  3. — ^The  Story  of  Bertrand. — With 
the  withdrawal  of  St.  Mary's  convent  and 
academy,  the  last  hope  of  Bertrand  passed 
away.  It  seems  therefore  fitting,  in  this  place, 
to  say  a  word,  as  if  by  way  of  farewell,  to 
the  good  old  town,  which,  though  not  within 
our  borders,  had  yet  so  many  historical  as- 
sociations with  the  county  of  St.  Joseph. 

The  following  is  the  su'bstance  of  a  histori- 


cal sketch,  published  a  few  years  ago,  on  the 
occasion  of  the  death  of  the  last  prominent 
survivor  of  the  once  ambitious  and  prosper- 
ous town  :* 

**The  death  of  'Squire  Higbee,  the  oldest 
resident  of  old  Bertrand  town  and  perhaps 
the  oldest  postmaster  in  the  United  States, 
has  served  to  direct  attention  to  the  deserted 
village.  The  inhabitants  of  this  once  thriving 
French  town  have  long  since  been  dust,  many 
of  its  streets  have  been  given  to  the  plow, 
houses  have  yielded  to  the  corroding  tooth  of 
time  or  been  hauled  to  other  sites.  In  the 
weather-beaten  houses  that  shelter  the  few 
simple  people  we  see  today  the  panorama  of 
an  earlier  civilization.  A  tumbling  church, 
guarded  on  all  sides  by  many  graves,  an  an- 
cient hostelry,  the  wing  of  an  old  convent,  the 
tottering  houses, — that  is  all  that  remains  of 
what  was  once  the  scene  of  life  and  human 
activity.  The  following  well  vouched-f or  facts 
were  related  by  the  oldest  inhabitant  of  the 
village,  Mr.  Higbee,  and  set  forth  in  brief  the 
history  of  old  Bertrajnd. 

*  *  In  1812  Joseph  Bertrand  established  a  trad- 
ing post  on  the  site  of  the  village  which  took 
his  name.  With  true  French  thrift,  Bertrand 
traded  everything  to  the  Indians  which  sav- 
age tastes  could  covet  and  received  from  them 
in  turn  the  commodities  of  which  they  had  a 
surfeit.  He  also  acquired  real  estate.  His 
first  coup  d'  etat  was,  however,  to  take  a  Pot- 
tawatomie woman  for  a  wife.  Mrs.  Bertrand, 
so  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  was  an  exem- 
plary woman,  but,  although  she  became  a  con- 
vert to  the  religion  of  the  black  robes,  she 
always  wore  her  native  dress  in  order,  it  is 
said,  to  retain  more  securely  her  rights  as  an 
heiress  of  the  soil. 

**The  St.  Joseph  river  was  not  always  the 
law-abiding  and  conservative  stream  which  we 
are  wont  to  consider  it,  for  Mr.  Higbee  has 
declared,  on  the  word  of  Joseph  Bertrand 
himself,  that  the  original  house  of  the  trader 

a.  From  F.  D.  C,  In  the  Gassopolis  Democrat, 
Michigan;  as  republished,  February  8,  1902,  In 
the  South  Bend  Times. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


702 


HISTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


stood  in  what  is  now  the  channel.  This  house 
was  made  of  logs,  brought  from  the  old  mis- 
sion church  at  Fort  St.  Joseph's,  ^  short  dis- 
tance below.  This  church  was  the  only  build- 
ing to  escape  injury  at  the  time  of  the  de- 
struction of  the  fort  by  the  Spaniards  in 
1781.  Bertrand  afterwards  lived  at  the  foot 
of  Main  street,  the  busiest  spot  in  town.  A 
large  tavern  for  the  needs  of  the  steamboat- 
ing  public  also  adorned  the  bank  and  seems 
to  have  been  a  creditable  and  somewhat  re- 
nowned hostelry.  When  the  town  went  into 
innocuous  desuetude,  an  attempt  was  made  to 
remove  the  tavern  to  Berrien  Springs.  It  was 
started  down  the  stream  in  sections  and  the 
major  part  arrived  in  safety.  This  tavern 
at  Berrien  Springs  became  known  as  the 
Oronoka  hotel. 

**At  last  the  time  came  when  the  relentless 
power  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  said  to  each  red 
dweller  of  the  Pare  aux  Vaches,  *Go  west, 
young  man. '  According  to  the  terms  of  the 
treaty  supplementary  to  the  Chicago  treaty 
of  1833,  the  Michigan  Pottawatomies  ex- 
changed their  lands  in  the  lower  peninsula 
for  broad  Kansas  acres  and  left  for  their  new 
home.  And  then  began  Bertrand 's  boom. 
The  Bertrand  association  was  organized  with 
Daniel  Guernsey  in  charge  and  a  town  lot 
was  given  to  every  citizen  who  agreed  to  im- 
prove it.  Nine  hundred  acres  of  land  were 
laid  out  with  wide  streets  intersecting  each 
other  at  regular  intervals.  In  1836  town  lots 
in  desirable  localities  brought  $200.  Shoppers 
from  Niles  went  on  horseback  to  buy  their 
supplies  at  the  well-stocked  shops  of  the  smart 
French  town.  People  came  up  the  river  and 
down  the  river  for  the  same  purpose.  The 
streets  swarmed  with  Indians,  traders,  cour- 
eurs  des  bois,  with  a  considerable  sprinkling 
of  citizens  who  spoke  United  States,  the  ver- 
nacular of  what  was  then  the  frontier. 

**  Business  blocks  arose  on  every  hand. 
There  were  nearly  as  many  of  what  Ameri- 
cans called  ^stores'  as  there  are  in  Niles  to- 
day. Other  taverns  sprang  up.  Mr.  Iligbee 
gave  a  grand  ball  to  his  guests  in  the  upper 


room  of  the  house  which  the  family  still  oc- 
cupies, and  paid  a  negro  cook  from  South 
,Bend  eleven  dollars  to  superintend  the  ban- 
queting annex.  The  belles  of  the  vicinity  had 
no  lack  of  the  finery  wherewith  to  convey 
dismay  to  each  others'  hearts  and  capture 
those  of  the  sturdy  young  settlers  with  whom 
they  danced  the  Virginia  reel  or  money  musk, 
for  there  were  seven  or  eight  stores  in  Ber- 
trand where  dry  goods  were  the  principal  sta- 
ple. 

*  *  Bertrand  was  the  mecca  of  many  on  pleas- 
ure bent,  and  the  tavern,  which  is  today  the 
chief  building  in  sight,  was  the  scene  of  much 
revelry.  Wedding  parties  from  South  Bend 
found  it  at  a  convenient  distance,  and  Mrs. 
Egbert,  of  South  Bend,  is  fond  of  relating 
that  she  went  to  Bertrand  on  her  bridal  tour. 
Schuyler  Colfax  accompanied  the  party. 

**But  amid  all  the  bustle  attendant  upon 
the  formation  and  management  of  the  grow- 
ing town,  the  needs  of  the  soul  were  not  for- 
gotten, and  almost  coincident  with  the  first 
symptoms  of  prosperity,  a  log  church  arose 
in  the  forest,  dedicated  to  the  good  Saint 
Joseph,  whose  name  has  ever,  within  the  mem- 
ory of  white  men,  had  so  large  a  share  in  the 
nomenclature  of  this  region.  In  1830,  Father 
Badin,  the  famous  missionary,  took  charge  of 
this  with  other  missions  in  Michigan  and  In- 
diana. 

*'In  1832,  Father  Louis  de  Seille  left  Bel- 
gium and  a  high  civilization  to  become  a  mis- 
sionary in  the  new  world.  He  was  young, 
gifted,  and  endowed  with  the  lofty  enthusiasm 
which  made  the  priest  a  conspicuous  figure  in 
the  development  of  New  Prance.  Indiana, 
Michigan  and  Illinois  comprised  his  spiritual 
domain,  and  the  five  Pottawatomie  villages 
near  the  Pare  aux  Vaches  were  the  subject  of 
his  special  care.  After  the  death  of  Father  de 
Seille  the  people  of  Bertrand  were  under  the 
spiritual  charge  of  Father  Benjamin  Petit, 
until  the  arrival  of  Father  Sorin  and  his  band 
of  consecrated  associates  in  1842. 

**In  1836  the  brick  church,  now  quietly 
dropping  to  pieces  amid  the  graves,  succeeded 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


ii  " 


i|mHs^^^^^^^H^^^^^^^^^Hh 


COLLEGIATE  HALL.  ST.  MARY'S  ACADEMY. 


ST.  MARY'S  ACADEMY,  SOUTH  BEND. 


CHURCH  OP  OUR  LADY  OP  LORETO,  ST.  MARY'S  ACADEMY,  SOUTH  BEND. 

GooQle 


Digitized  by  ^ 


>8i 


v>f 


n.--* 


Digitized  by 


Google 


fflSTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


705 


the  humble  log  building.  Its  erection  was 
largely  a  labor  of  love.  From  the  clay  banks 
near  by  came  the  material  for  the  outside 
walls.  The  woodwork  was  hewn  and  wrought 
after  the  solid  and  enduring  fashion  of  the 
period.  The  style  of  architecture  can  scarcely 
be  given  a  name,  but  there  was  a  shadow  of 
a  gothic  spirit  lurking  somewhere  in  the  mind 
of  the  designer,  and  the  windows,  six  below 
and  four  in  the  belfry,  have  pointed  arches. 
The  bell  tower  was  the  foundation  upon  which 
a  spire,  surmoimted  by  a  cross,  was  some  day 
to  rest.  But,  alas !  the  downfall  of  Bertrand 
began  too  soon.  There  was  never  a  spire, 
except  in  imagination.  There  was  a  bell,  how- 
ever, the  gift  of  Father  Sorin,  which  now 
reposes,  safe  from  rust  and  vandalism,  in  the 
museum  at  Notre  Dame.  In  due  time  the  in- 
terior received  gifts  for  its  adorning,  Mrs. 
Gen.  Sherman  furnishing  the  altar  candle- 
sticks and  various  other  articles  essential  in 
the  church  ofl5ces.  The  inscriptions  upon  the 
stations  of  the  cross  were  in  the  French 
language,  placed  upon  the  waUs  when  that 
was  the  vernacular  of  the  region. 

**The  first  trustees  of  St.  Joseph's  parish 
were  Joseph  Bertrand,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Ber- 
trand and  Edward  Anthony.  The  first  re- 
corded baptism  took  place  May  13,  1843. 
Priests  from  Notre  Dame  attended  to  the  par- 
ish duties  from  the  year  1842.  In  July,  1844, 
the  sisters  were  first  established  in  the  town, 
occupying  a  house  secured  for  them  by  Mr. 
Bertrand.  Their  chapel  was  blessed  in  June, 
1849,  and  in  January,  1851,  the  academy  was 
incorporated. 

**The  experiences  of  the  Sisters  of  the  Holy 
Cross  at  Bertrand  were  varied.  The  com- 
munity was  poor  and  frugality  the  rule.  It 
is  said  that  Father  Sorin  and  Father  Cointet 
had  but  one  hat  between  them,  and  so  never 
walked  out  together.  All  that  survives  of 
St.  Mary's  convent  and  academy  is  one  yellow 
brick  wing,  now  a  dwelling.  The  larger 
wooden  buildings  long  ago  crossed  the  Indiana 
line  and  after  serving  as  temporary  quarters 


at  the  new  St.  Mary's  yielded  to  the  'tooth 
of  time  and  refuse  of  oblivion.'  " 

Sec.  4. — ^At  the  New  St.  Mary's. — Twen- 
ty-five sisters  removed  from  Bertrand  to  St. 
Mary's  when  the  new  site  was  first  occupied, 
in  August,  1855.  While  at  Bertrand,  not- 
withstanding the  need  of  sisters  at  the  mother 
house,  to  carry  on  the  work  there  and  at 
Pokagon,  Notre  Dame  and  Mishawaka,  there 
was  yet  found  means  to  lay  the  foundations 
of  many  other  establishments.  Of  these  the 
only  ones  that  have  survived  are  the  schools 
at  South  Bend  (Lowell),  Laporte  and  Michi- 
gan City.  How  few  and  weak  as  compared 
with  the  academies,  schools  and  hospitals  since 
established  throughout  so  many  states  of  the 
Union!  Coming  into  Indiana,  a  new  charter 
was  necessary,  and  this  was  at  once  procured 
from  the  legislature  through  the  kind  oflSces 
of  the  Hon.  Thomas  S.  Stanfield,  who  re- 
mained until  his  death  the  steadfast  friend 
of  Notre  Dame  and  St.  Mary's. 

In  1859  the  beautiful  house  of  Loreto,  con- 
structed after  measurements  and  plans 
brought  from  Italy  by  Father  Gillespie,  was 
built  near  the  edge  of  the  fine  bluff  rising 
over  the  river  in  the  rear  of  the  convent  and 
academy.  The  institution  had  so  far  pros- 
pered by  the  year  1862,  that  in  that  year  the 
first  brick  building  was  constructed,  long 
known  as  the  main  building.  In  1865  the  hall 
was  built,  and  during  the  ten  years  then  com- 
pleted the  groimds  had  already  taken  upon 
them  that  beauty  and  grace  that  have  ever 
since  characterized  fair  St.  Mary's.  During 
the  same  period  the  commimity  more  than 
doubled  in  numbers. 

It  was  during  this  period  also,  in  the  year 
1857,  that  Notre  Dame  and  St.  Mary's  were 
made  happy  by  a  visit  from  the  Very  Rev. 
Basil  Anthony  Moreau,  founder  and  superior 
general  of  the  Congregation  of  the  Holy  Cross. 
The  impressions  made  upon  his  mind  by  the 
beauty  of  St.  Mary's  are  disclosed  in  the 
following  extract  from  a  letter  written  by 
him  on  shipboard,  while  on  his  return  to 
France : 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


706 


fflSTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


**The  benedictions  of  heaven/'  says  Father 
Moreau,  **are  too  abundant  not  to  acknowl- 
edge the  protection  of  the  august  Patroness 
of  the  society  of  the  Sisters,  and  to  honor 
whom  the  good  superior  of  the  academy  at 
St.  Mary's  [Mother  Angela]  prepared  a  beau- 
tiful ceremony,  the  remembrance  of  which  will 
never  leave  me.  It  was  on  the  evening  of 
September  the  eighth  that  I  was  witness  to 
a  majestic  procession  composed  of  all  the 
religious  and  the  stu.dents,  each  bearing  a  wax 
candle  like  a  starry  light;  numerous  arches 
ornamented  wit'h  taste  and  glittering  with 
lights  spanned  our  way,  and  at  the  end  of 
a  long  avenue,  on  a  little  mound  overhung 
by  a  tall  tree,  an  altar  had  been  erected  and 
decorated  to  receive  the  statue  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin,  which  was  carried  in  state  by  the 
white-veiled  young  girls.  While  the  proces- 
sion moved  through  the  dusk,  hymns  were 
chanted.  Prom  this  station  we  went  along 
a  path  lighted  by  tapers  to  a  beautiful  island, 
which  was  blessed  and  consecrated  to  the  im- 
maculate Virgin." 

What  processions  and  sacred  pageants  be- 
came in  later  years  at  St.  Mary's,  we  see  in 
these  lines  from  the  pen  of  the  sweet  poet, 
Eliza  Allen  Starr: 

**And  the  processions  at  St.  Mary's — those 
marking  the  Rogation  days.  Corpus  Christi, 
the  feast  of  Our  Lady  of  the  Sacred  Heart — 
so  unique  in  their  beauty,  so  unrivalled  in 
their  picturesque  surroundings !  Whatever 
might  be  their  grandeur  at  Notre  Dame,  there 
was  a  tranquillity  peculiar  to  St.  Mary's,  as 
the  procession  on  Rogation  days  passed  under 
the  old  blossoming  boughs  of  ^he  orchard,  on 
its  way  to  the  shrine  of  Our  Lady  of  Peace, 
in  the  freshness  of  the  spring  mornings;  or, 
for  Corpus  Christi,  or  Our  Lady  of  the  Sacred 
Heart,  just  at  the  close  of  the  day,  when  the 
candles  in  the  hands  of  the  sisters  and  pupils 
made  a  line  of  blessed  light  along  the  wind- 
ing banks  of  the  St.  Joseph  river,  pausing 
at  Our  Lady  of  Mount  Carmel ;  her  arbor 
overhanging  the  edge  of  the  wooded  bank, 
and  the  *coo'  of  the  mourning  doves  nested 


among  the  firs  coming  like  touches  of  pathos 
in  the  songs  of  praise;  then,  to  turn  into 
the  garden  walks  to  Trinity  Arbor,  overrun 
with  the  blossoming  trumpet-vines,  their  flow- 
ers darting  out  like  tongues  of  flame!  No 
pupil  at  St.  Mary's  can  ever  forget  those  pro- 
cessions, and  no  sister  will  ever  forget  how 
faithfully  the  beautiful  ceremonial  was  al- 
ways observed  and  forwarded  by  the  beloved 
founder  of  Notre  Dame  and  St.  Mary's.  In 
this  way  an  aesthetic  education,  in  its  most 
exalted  sense,  has  been  given  to  every  one 
so  happy  as  to  linger  among  those  delightful 
groves  and  shaded  ways." 

Indeed,  in.  all  lines  of  the  training  given' 
at  St.  Mary's  in  the  early  days,  is  seen  a  fore- 
cast of  the  years  to  come.  Mother  Angela 
was,  in  a  sense,  ahead  of  her  time  in  matters 
pertaining  to  the  education  of  young  women, 
and  long  before  the  days  of  **  higher  educa- 
tion," she  had  outlined  a  plan  of  studies  for 
St.  Mary's  teaching  body  that  had  as  an  end 
the  highest  and  best  in  mental  and  moral 
training.  To  the  first  ten  years  must  we 
trace  also  the  beginning  of  the  reputation  for 
excellence  in  the  art  of  music  which  St. 
Mary's  enjoys.  Even  in  the  Bertrand  days 
this  gift  of  music  was  manifest,  and  drew 
to  the  institution  numerous  pupils  who  in 
turn  made  the  musical  department  famous. 
The  records  of  those  early  days  are  most  in- 
teresting also  to  those  who  see  in  the  past 
the  promise  of  today,  and,  viewed  in  such  a 
light,  there  is  a  significance  in  reports  of 
commencement  exercises,  when,  in  drama- 
form,  arranged  especially  for  the  occasion, 
Fabiola,  Marie  Antoinette  and  Blanche  of 
Castile  won  laurels  for  the  fair  portrayers  of 
those  historical  characters. 

So  were  the  foundations  of  St.  Mary's  wise- 
ly laid,  under  the  wise,  kindly  and  firm  guid- 
ance of  Mother  Angela,  aided  as  she  was  at 
all  times  by  the  counsels  of  Father  Sorin. 
The  plans  having  been  perfected  and  the  sys- 
tem adopted,  it  was  but  a  matter  of  growth 
and  development  until  the  congregation  and 
the  academy  became  what  we  know  them  to- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


707 


day.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  St.  Mary's 
is  the  flower  and  glory  of  all  the  institutions 
in  the  west  for  the  education  of  young  women. 
Here  the  practical  and  substantial  in  educa- 
tion is  most  happily  combined  with  all  that 
is  fair  and  lovely,  and  the  maiden  goes  forth 
from  these  blessed  halls,  these  delightful  sur- 
roundings, trained  in  body  and  mind  and 
soul,  a  perfect  woman  as  God  designed  her 
to  be. 

Sec.  5. — In  the  War  fob  the  Union. — A 
distinguishing  feature  of  the  character  and 
policy  of  Notre  Dame  and  St.  Mary's  was  a 
disposition  at  all  times  to  adapt  their  con- 
duct to  their  surroundings  and  to  the  needs 
of  the  times.  We  have  seen,  in  the  history 
of  Notre  Dame,  how  strong  was  the  patriotic 
impulse  in  Father  Sorin.  America  was  his 
country,  and  in  the  training  of  the  student 
of  the  university  the  lessons  of  patriotism 
were  as  unceasingly  inculcated  as  were  those 
of  science,  literature  and  the  arts.  At  St. 
Mary's  the  love  of  country  was  equally  warm, 
as  indeed  it  must  be  when  we  consider  how 
close  were  the  ties  that  bound  Mother  Angela 
to  many  of  the  families  that  were  devoting 
their  talents  and  even  their  lives  to  the  cause 
of  the  Union.  But  the  love  of  country  was 
more  than  what  could  arise  from  ties  of  blood 
or  mere  human  interest  of  any  kind.  It  was 
a  great  principle.  In  every  well  ordered  hu- 
man soul,  in  every  institution  that  aims  to 
develop  all  that  is  best  in  human  thought  and 
conduct,  there  must  be  deeply  implanted  the 
love  of  Qod  and  the  love  of  country.  Re- 
ligion and  patriotism  must  form  the  ground- 
work of  character  in  every  well  educated  citi- 
zen, whether  man  or  woman. 

Accordingly,  in  the  first  year  of  the  war, 
to  the  sentiment  of  pity  for  the  suffering,  to 
the  charity  that  inflamed  the  heart  in  con- 
sidering' the  hapless  condition  of  the 
wounded,  sick  and  dying  soldiers,  was  also 
added  the  fervor  of  patriotism  for  the  coun- 
try that  was  passing  through  such  an  awful 
period  of  trial  and  danger.  And  when,  at 
the  suggestion  of  Gteneral  Lew  Wallace,  Gov- 


ernor Oliver  P.  Morton  requested  the  aid  of 
Sisters  of  the  Holy  Cross  in  the  southern 
hospitals,  the  timid  at  once  became  brave  and 
went  forth,  led  by  Mother  Angela,  to  take 
their  places  in  the  military  hospitals  at  Wash- 
ington, Memphis,  Paducah,  Louisville,  Cairo 
and  Mound  City,  as  well  as  on  the  hospital 
boats  that  bore  the  suffering  soldiers  from  the 
fields  of  strife  to  where  they  might  receive 
medical  attention  and  ttte  care  which  they 
needed.  The  first  band  arrived  at  Cairo  on 
October  24,  1861,  where  they  were  presented 
to  Grant,  before  proceeding  to  take  charge 
of  the  hospital  at  Paducah.  From  this  date 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  the  war  records 
show  that  nearly  fourscore  Sisters  of  the  Holy 
Cross  devoted  themselves  as  army  nurses  to 
the  care  of  the  stricken  soldiers.  The  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  has  recently  remem- 
bered with  bronze  medals  the  little  band  of 
survivors  of  those  heroic  nurses.  In  the 
peaceful  campus  before  the  doors  of  St. 
Mary's  Academy  are  placed  several  broken 
cannon  captured  from  the  Confederates  and 
presented  to  Mother  Angela  in  memory  of  the 
services  of  the  sisters.  It  was  her  intention 
to  have  this  broken  metal  cast  into  a  statue 
to  be  dedicated  to  Our  Lady  of  Peace.  Her 
death  came  before  the  beautiful  idea  could 
be  carried  into  execution ;  but  the  fragments 
of  those  old  guns  remain  as  reminders  at  the 
same  time  of  the  dreadful  civil  war  and  of 
the  heroism  of  the  good  women,  the  angels 
in  human  form,  who  strove  to  assuage  some 
of  its  horrors. 

Sec.  6. — Days  op  Peace  and  Growth. — 
The  formative  period,  the  time  of  struggle 
and  suffering,  closely  followed  as  it  was  by 
the  war  period,  has  been  succeeded  by  days 
of  peace,  growth  and  development.  Until  her 
death  in  1887,  Mother  Angela  continued  to 
take  part  in  this  happy  progress,  as  also  did 
Father  Sorin  until  his  death  six  years  later. 
In  the  providence  of  God,  the  institution 
to  which  they  had  given  so  much  of  their 
lives  was  secure  in  its  establishment  and  in 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


708 


HISTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


the  carrying  out  of  the  d-esigns  of  its  blessed 
founders. 

In  1869  the  Sisters  of  the  Holy  Cross  in 
America  were  recognized  at  Home  as  a  dis- 
tinct order,  with  St.  Mary's  as  the  mother 
house.  Father  Sorin  continued  for  a  time  as 
the  general  superior;  but  finally  the  congre- 
gation was  placed  under  care  of  the  bishop 
of  the  diocese. 

The  number  of  sisters  has  grown  to  about 
one  thousand,  who  have  charge  of  educational 
and  charitable  institutions  in  many  parts  of 
the  United  States,  all  subject  to  the  mother 
house  at  St.  Mary's.  Fifteen  of  these  insti- 
tutions are  in  Indiana;  included  with  them 
are  two  complete  modem  hospitals,  one  at 
South  Bend  and  one  at  Anderson.  There 
are  six  houses  in  Illinois,  among  them  St- 
Angela's  Academy  at  Morris.  Mount  Carmel 
Hospital,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  is  under  charge 
of  the  sisters.  In  the  east,  there  are  several 
schools  at  Baltimore,  an  orphsm  asylum  at 


Washington,  two  academies  and  several 
schools  in  Washington,  and  one  academy  at 
Alexandria;  three  schools  in  Pennsylvania; 
one  in  New  York,  two  schools  in  Texas,  one 
in  Iowa,  eight  institutions  in  Utah,  including 
an  academy  and  a  hospital  in  Salt  Lake  City 
and  an  academy  in  Ogden,  all  of  the  highest 
standards ;  an  academy,  school  and  a  hospital 
in  Idaho,  and  three  schools  in  Cidifomia. 

The  mother  house,  at  St.  Mary's,  has  de- 
veloped in  a  wonderful  manner,  and  now 
embraces  not  only  the  convent  and  academy, 
but  also  a  higher  or  collegiate  department,  in 
which  a  full  college  course  is  pursued,  such 
as  is  followed  only  in  the  highest  educational 
institutions  for  women. 

The  buildings  are  all  located  on  the  fine 
bluflf  overlooking  the  beautiful  St.  Joseph. 
They  comprise  the  chapel,  the  collegiate  hall, 
the  academy,  the  conservatory  of  music,  the 
gymnasium  and  the  infirmary. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


TEMPERANCE   AND   PROHIBITION. 


In  one  form  or  another,  there  has  been  in 
St.  Joseph  county  a  persistent  movement 
against  the  liquor  traffic,  ever  since  the  or- 
ganization of  the  county.  On  the  first  day 
of  January,  1832,  the  first  temperance  so- 
ciety was  organized  in  South  Bend.  Horatio 
Chapin  was  president  of  this  society.  In 
1834  a  similar  society  was  organized  in  Mish- 
awaka.  In  the  same  year  there  was  much 
feeling  caused  in  Mishawaka  by  the  estab- 
lidmient  of  a  saloon  just  outside  the  cor- 
poration limits,  by  one  Nichols. 

In  the  early  forties  this  opposition  to  the 
liquor  traffic  took  the  form  of  what  was  called 
the  Washingtonian)  Movement.  This  move- 
ment at  one  time  had  a  considerable  follow- 
ing, many  persons  throughout  the  county 
signing  the  pledge.  The  Washingtonians 
were  particularly  active  in  South  Bend  and 
Mishawaka.  Among  the  leaders  were :  Thom- 
as P.  and  William  P.  Bulla,  John  Brownfield, 
Schuyler  Colfax,  Johnson  Horrell,  James 
Davis  and  S.  P.  Hart.  A  Mr.  Littlejohn,  a 
somewhat  eccentric  character  of  the  day,  did 
very  much  to  keep  up  the  agitation. 

Later,  the  Sons  of  Temperance  were  or- 
ganized and  made  quite  a  stir  in  the  com- 
munity, and  they  also  secured  many  total 
abstinence  pledges. 

At  a  still  later  day  Mrs.  Emma  P.  MoUoy 
led  a  very  aggressive  temperance  movement. 
She  was  an  exceedingly  earnest  and  eloquent 
pleader  in  the  cause,  and  many  a^ormer 
heavy  drinker  took  the  little  blue  ribbon  from 


her  hands  and  proudly  wore  it  as  the  emblem 
of  a  renewed  life. 

It  was  about  the  year  1872  that  the  Cru- 
sade Movement  first  set  in,  and  in  time  spread 
like  wildfire  over  the  whole  country.  Messrs. 
Hughes  and  Ward  were  among  the  most  ac- 
tive and  successful  of  the  Crusaders. 

In  the  early  eighties  the  Prohibition  party 
movement  was  started,  and  has  continued, 
with  varying  interest,  to  the  present  day. 
Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  party  has 
never  been  able  to  elect  a  candidate,  except 
in  a  few  cases  with  the  aid  of  one  of  the 
great  political  parties ;  yet  a  Prohibition  tick- 
et has  been  put  forward  in  every  campaign, 
and  the  interest  has  never  abated.  In  this 
respect  the  party  has  frequently  been  com- 
pared to  the  Abolition  party,  and  the  Prohi- 
bitionists have  used  the  illustration  in  con- 
tending that  the  people  would  yet  rally  to 
their  standard,  as  they  did  in  the  end  to  that 
of  the  abolitionists.  Among  those  who  took 
part  in  the  early  prohibition  movement  were: 
Charles  L.  Murray,  Mason  N.  Walworth, 
Elisha  Sumption,  John  C.  Birdsell,  Almond 
Bugbee,  and,  later,  Noah  Shupert,  Orlando 
Wheelock,  William  D.  Bulla,  Abraham  Himt- 
singer,  P.  C.  and  P.  J.  Perkins,  Thomas  C. 
Barnes,  William  H.  Shontz,  Benjamin  P. 
West,  D.  W.  Reynolds,  William  Maurer,  Isaac 
N.  Scoffem,  Burton  R.  Thomas,  Charles  P. 
Holler  and  others.  Mr.  Birdsell  was  elected 
water  works  trustee  for  the  city  of  South 
Bend  in  1885,  And  served  for  three  years. 
His  election  resulted  from  his  own  eminent 


709 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


710 


HISTORY    OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


fitness  for  the  office,  and  from  his  endorse- 
ment by  the  Democratic  party.  Mr.  Holler 
is  perhaps  more  widely  known  than  any  other 
present  member  of  the  party,  for  the  reason 
that  he  is  an  eloquent  advocate  of  its  princi- 
ples and  has  received  many  of  its  nomina- 
tions for  political  office.  He  has  been  a  candi- 
date on  the  Prohibition  state  ticket  for  clerk 
of  the  supreme  court .  and  attorney  general, 
and  is  frequently  spoken  of  as  the  probable 
candidate  of  the  party  for  vice-president  of 
the  United  States  in  1908. 

Not  the  least  of  the  sources  from  which  a 
strong  temperance  sentiment  has  grown  dur- 
ing the  last  years  is  the  following  notice  in 
the  daily  press  of  South  Bend,  coming  from 
the  president  of  the  University  of  Notre 
Dame,  and  first  issued  by  the  distinguished 
Thomas  E.  Walsh:  **I  will  prosecute  to  the 
utmost  extent  of  the  law  all  persons  guilty 
of  selling  or  giving  liquor  to  the  students  of 
this  institution."  The  force  of  this  notice 
was  seen  in  the  fact  that  the  president  of  the 
university  did  prosecute,  and  it  soon  became 
apparent  that  the  notice  was  no  idle  threat. 
Father  Walsh  was  a  man  who  did  things,  not 
one  who  simply  threatened  to  do  them. 

The  organization  of  the  Woman's  Christian 
Temperance  Union  followed  as  a  result  of  the 
Crusade  Movement  of  1873.  Some  of  the 
leaders  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  were:  Mrs.  F. 
R.  Tutt,  Mrs.  Z.  M.  Doolittle,  Mrs.  Christian 
Foote,  Mrs.  Z.  M.  Johnson,  Mrs.  Martha  Al- 
ward,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Giddings,  Mrs.  Lydia  A. 
Chord,  Mrs.  Eliza  Murdock,  Mrs.  Mary  John- 
son, Mrs.  Julia  E.  Work,  Mrs.  Helen  Simkins, 
Mrs.  Lucy  Towle,  Mrs.  Sarah  Gaylor,  Mrs. 
H.  L.  Rowell.  Members  of  later  prominence 
are :  Mrs.  Mary  Andrews,  Mrs.  Ellen  Baxter, 
Mrs.  Mary  P.  Bugbee,  Mrs.  A.  W.  Lee,  Mrs. 
John  C.  Paxon,  Mrs.  S.  P.  Barker  and  others. 
Mrs.  Bugbee  gave  the  beautiful  fountain  in 


Leeper  Park,  to  be  cared  for  by  the  W.  C 
T.  U.  of  St.  Joseph  county,  in  memory  of 
her  husband,  Almond  Bugbee,  who  was  an 
honorary  member  of  the  society. 

Those  now  prominently  identified  with  the 
work  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  are :  Mrs.  Christian 
Fassnacht,  Mrs.  Alfaratta  Cotton,  Mrs.  F.  L. 
Axtell,  Mrs.  Kathryn  Wert  Holler  and  Mrs. 
Ethel  Baer.  Mrs.  Holler  has  filled  almost 
every  position  in  the  local  organization,  and 
has  for  many  years  been  state  superintendent 
of  the  department  of  Sabbath  observance  and 
also  associate  national  superintendent  of  the 
same  department.  There  are  now  in  the 
county  six  unions,  with  a  total  membership 
of  something  over  one  hundred.  Some  of  the 
visible  results  of  the  work  of  the  union  are 
the  founding  of  the  Children's  Orphans' 
Home,  at  Mishawaka,  in  1882,  of  which  men- 
tion has  already  been  made  in  connection 
with  that  institution ;  the  passage  of  the  cur- 
few ordinance  by  the  common  eoimcil  of  the 
city  of  South  Bend;  the  aid  given  for  many 
years  to  the  Hadley  School  for  Girls,  at 
Indianapolis;  and  also  the  furnishing  of  a 
room  at  the  Temperance  Hospital  in  Chicago. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1901  the  Pro- 
hibition Alliance  was  organized  in  South 
Bend,  as  an  auxiliary  to  the  naticmal  Prohibi- 
tion, party.  This  alliance  has  held  meetings 
regularly  every  two  weeks  since  that  time. 

The  work  of  the  Anti-Saloon  League  has 
been  very  effective  in  this  county.  This  or- 
ganization is  a  so-called  federation  of 
churches,  but  is  in  fact  a  general  movement 
on  the  part  of  the  people  at  large,  under 
the  leadership  of  a  state  executive  committee 
known  as  the  State  Anti-Saloon  League,  with 
headquarters  at  Indianapolis.  This  state 
league  is  itself  auxiliary  to  the  national 
league  of  the  same  name. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


MILITARY  HISTORY. 


St.  Joseph  county  had  the  military  spirit 
from  the  beginning.  Indeed  the  first  settlers 
oame  in  with  their  arms  in  readiness,  as  if 
prepared  to  meet  in  deadly  conflict  with  the 
wild  denizens  of  the  woods  and  the  prairi*  s, 
whether  man  or  beast.  As  we  have  se^oi, 
there  were  numerous  settlers  in  the  coa'xty 
before  the  Indian  title  to  the  soil,  in  our 
distinct  treaties,  was  finally  extinguished  and 
it  was  still  later  before  the  last  of  the  fotta- 
watomies  left  for  their  new  homes  beyo>  d  the 
Mississippi.  The  soldierly  instinct  was  im- 
planted in  the  heart  of  the  emigrant,  or  he 
would  not  have  left  his  safer  home  in  the 
south  and  the  east,  or  in  some  foreign  land, 
to  come  into  the  far  off  wilderness;  and  the 
same  spirit  was  nurtured  in  his  breast  in  his 
daily  life  after  coming  here.  Even  to  go  out 
to  clear  a  spot  of  ground  to  plant  his  first 
crop,  it  was  necessary  to  leave  wife  and  chil- 
dren in  the  little  log  house  where  he  must 
be  prepared  to  run  to  their  protection  at  the 
first  indication  of  danger.  Yet,  as  for  genu- 
ine war,  there  never  was  any  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  or  anywhere  near  it.  The  clash  of 
arms  never  resounded  in  any  part  of  the  St. 
Joseph  country  since  that  winter  day,  in 
1781,  when  the  Spaniards  from  St.  Louis  took 
and  destroyed  old  Fort  St.  Joseph's. 

I.      BLACK  HAWTJ. 

Sec.  1. — St.  Joseph  County  Troops  and 
Forts. — However,  in  the  year  1832,  our 
brave  ancestors  believed  for  a  time  that  they 
were  to  have  a  real  Indian  uprising.     Chief 


Black  Hawk  and  his  red  hordes  from  the 
northwest  were  to  come  upon  the  frontier  set- 
tlements and  spare  neither  man,  woman  nor 
child.  And  the  fear  was  real,  however 
unfounded  it  may  appear  today.  The  re- 
ports of  impending  destruction  crowded  upon 
one  another  with  the  coming  of  every  hunter 
and  traveler  from  the  west.  Even  the  gov- 
ernors of  the  states  became  alarmed  and  hur- 
riedly called  out  the  militia.  Abraham  Lin- 
coln in  this  way  became  a  captain,  and  cap- 
tains and  colonels  survived  the  threatened  war 
in  every  town  and  hamlet  throughout  the 
northwest.  In  St.  Joseph  county  we  have 
traditions  handed  down  of  no  less  than  three 
forts,  or  stockades,  conaitructed,  or  rather  be- 
gun, in  different  parts  of  the  county.  One 
of  those  fortifications  was  under  way  near 
the  site  of  our  present  stand  pipe ;  there  was 
another  undertaken  near  Mount  Pleasant,  on 
Portage  Prairie;  and  a  third  near  Hamilton, 
on  Terre  Coupee  Prairie.  Black  Hawk  was 
to  rush  down  upon  us  from  the  west ;  but  we 
were  to  be  ready  for  him,  with  one  fort  after 
another.  The  forts,  so  far  as  constructed, 
were  made  of  split  logs  standing  close  to- 
gether, on^  end  sunk  in  the  ground  and  the 
other  extending  far  enough  above  so  that  the 
top  would  be  far  higher  than  the  head  of 
any  Indian  who  might  try  to  look  over,  and 
thus  perhaps  spy  out  the  weakness  of  the 
defense,  or  maybe  leap  over  and  scalp  the 
men,  women  and  children  who  should  be  gath- 
ered inside.  Besides  the  forts  and  their  gar- 
risons, there  was  a  full  regiment  organized 


711 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


712 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


for  the  defense  of  the  settlements.  Lathrop 
Mmor  Taylor*  was  chosen  colonel,  and  Col. 
Taylor  he  remained  to  the  end  of  his  days. 
Francis  R.  Tutt  was  made  lieutenant  colonel, 
and  Dr.  Hardman,  major. 

While  the  fear  of  the  people  can  readily  be 
accounted  for,  and  was  indeed  natural  enough 
under  the  circumstances;  yet  never  was  a 
scare  story  woven  out  of  more  slender  cob- 
webs. The  white  man,  as  usual,  was  the 
aggressor.  Black  Hawk  and  his  people  were 
located  on  the  Wisconsin  side  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, where  they  had  planted  their  little  corn 
fields,  in  the  spring  of  1832.  It  was  their 
own  home,  where  their  children  had  been  born 
and  where  their  ancestors  were  buried.  They 
did  not  wish  to  leave  the  land  which  was  so 
dear  to  them;  and  so  when  they  received 
orders  to  cross  to  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
they  refused,  and  continued  to  cultivate  their 
patches 'of  com  ground.  Like  our  own  white 
settlers  in  the  valley  of  the  St.  Joseph  and 
the  Kankakee,  the  Indians  under  Black  Hawk 
took  up  their  arms  and  built  their  forts  to 
protect  their  homes.  Drake,  in  his  history 
of  the  North  American  Indians,  tells  us  the 
story  of  the  Black  Hawk  war  in  a  very  few 
words  :* 

Whites  attempted  to  drive  Indians  across 
the  Mississippi.  Black  Hawk  and  his  bands 
refused  to  give  up  their  villages  and  com 
grounds.  May  14,  1832,  a  force  under  Black 
Hawk  was  attacked  on  Sycamore  Creek,  near 
Rock  River,  Wisconsin.  The  whites  were 
defeated,  and  the  great  Black  Hawk  war  was 
on.  The  war  continued  until  August  27, 
when  the  Indians  having  been  beaten  Black 
Hawk' was  made  prisoner.  It  was  the  affair 
at  Sycamore  Creek  that  catised  alarm  all  over 
the  western  country. 

gee.  2. — Thomas  S.  Stanpielj)'s  Reminis- 
cences.— The  story  of  the  Black  Hawk  scare 
in  St.  Joseph  county,  half  humorous,  half 
serious,  was  never  better  told  than  by  Judge 
Stanfield;  nor  was  there  any  one  better  able 
than  he  to  tell  the  story,  from  personal  knowl- 

a.    Drake's  Indians  of  North  America,  Chapter  9. 


edge  of  the  circumstances.  Thomas  Stilwell 
Stanfield,  like  the  Defrees  family,  was  of  Ten- 
nessee and  Virginia  ancestry ;  and,  like  them, 
too,  he  came  to  us  from  Ohio,  where  he  was 
born,  in  Logan  county,  October  17,  1816.  He 
moved  ^4th  his  family  to  the  St.  Joseph  coun- 
try in  the  fall  of  1830.  During  the  next  April 
they  attempted  a  settlement  on  Harris  prairie ; 
but  not  having  means  sufficient  to  enter 
eighty  acres  of  land,  they  were  compelled,  in 
June,  1831,  to  come  on  to  South  Bend,  where 
Thomas  S.  Stanfield  was  destined  to  become 
one  of  the  most  eminent  of  our  citizens,  and 
where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death, 
September  12,  1885.  The  St.  Joseph  county 
Black  Hawk  story,  as  told  by  Judge  Stanfield, 
is  as  follows:* 

The  great  event  in  this  locality  in  1832,  was 
the  Black  Hawk  war.  One  morning  John  De- 
frees  came  into  our  house  and  told  us  that  the 
Indians  had  broken  out  into  open  hostility 
against  the  frontier  people  way  beyond  us. 
This  was  the  first  we  had  heard  of  it.  It  was 
not  long,  however,  before  fugitives  from  the 
west  came  dashing  through  pell-mell,  as  if 
they  expected  every  instant  to  hear  the  dread 
war-whoop  of  Black  Hawk  behind  them. 
Many  of  them  were  so  frightened  they  hardly 
took  time  to  take  up  their  women  and  children 
before  starting,  and  went  sailing  through 
South  Bend  without  stopping  to  inform  us  of 
our  danger.  Others  had  come  so  far  and  fast 
they  were  compelled  to  stop  and  feed  and  rest 
their  horses,  and  while  so  employed  embraced 
the  opportunity  to  circulate  the  most  frightful 
stories  of  savage  brutality  perpetrated  by 
Black  Hawk  and  his  followers  upon  the  unof- 
fending and  unprotected  inhabitants  just 
beyond  where  the  fugritives  came  from.  The 
continuance  of  this  flight  and  its  increase  in 
volume,  together  with  the  enlarged  area  of 
Indian  hostilities,  and  the  apprehension  that 
the  Pottawatomies,  who  then  more  than 
equalled  the  white  population  of  this  county, 
might  be  in  sympathy  with  the  warring  tribes 
under  Black  Hawk,  began  to  alarm  a  great 
many  people  in  our  locality,  especially  people 
not  familiar  with  frontier  life. 

Different  localities  immediately  organized, 
drilled  military  companies,  and  built  forts  for 

a.  Taken  from  Chapman's  History  of  St.  Joseph 
County,  1880,  p.  449. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


713 


their  protection.  The  people  on  Portage 
Prairie  and  vicinity  were  among  the  first  to 
built  a  block  house.  It  was  situated  on  old 
Daniel  Miller's  farm.  It  was  understood 
here,  in  South  Bend,  to  be  occupied  by  va  mili- 
tary force,  and  was  regarded  as  an  advance 
guard  that  would  have  to  be  overcome  before 
the  enemy  would  reach  us.  It  was  understood 
there  was  a  night  picket  guard  kept  up  around 
the  block  house,  so  that  we  need  not  appre- 
hend a  night  surprise  from  the  enemy.  Many 
people  reposed  in  confident  slumbers,  believ- 
ing that  the  lives  of  themselves  and  little  ones 
were  protected  by  the  watchful  diligence  of 
the  night  guard.  On  one  occasion  when  the 
excitement  was  up  to  the  highest  pitch,  the 
guard  was  set  at  proper  distance  and  duly 
cautioned  as  to  their  responsibilities,  and  what 
their  country  expected  of  them.  Among  the 
rest  was  an  old  fellow  who  had  lived  on  the 
frontier  all  his  life,  and  knew  about  what 
reliance  was  to  be  placed  in  such  rumors ;  and 
having  no  fear  of  the  Indians,  and  believing 
the  whole  thing  so  far  as  there  being  any  dan- 
ger to  the  people  of  this  part  of  the  country 
a  childish  fear  of  the  Indians,  with  such  feel- 
ings he  took  his  station  as  a  watchman  for  the 
night.  After  the  night  began  to  wear  away 
he  got  sleepy,  and  entertaining  the  opinion  he 
did  of  the  whole  performance,  it  was  an  easy 
matter  to  give  way  to  his  drowsy  feelings ;  so 
he  stood  his  gun  up  against  a  tree,  and  quietly 
laid  himself  down  and  went  to  sleep,  and  was 
soon  oblivious  to  all  danger  from  the  toma- 
hawk and  scalping-knife  of  the  redskins.  At 
the  proper  time  an  officer  in  charge  of  the 
picket-guard  passed  around  to  see  that  all 
were  in  the  strict  discharge  of  their  duty, 
when  to  his  great  astonishment  and  great  dis- 
gust he  found  this  man  not  only  asleep  on 
his  post,  but  actually  snoring  away  as  uncon- 
scious of  danger  as  if  Black  Hawk  and  his 
followers  were  in  a  similar  condition  in  the 
bottom  of  Lake  Michigan.  This  was  a  fearful 
breach  of  military  law,  a  reckless  disregard 
of  human  life,-  a  capital  offense.  Such  a  wil- 
ful disregard  of  duty  could  not  be  overlooked. 
It  must  be  punished,  or  all  military  subordina- 
tion would  be  at  an  end.  Without  enforcing 
strict -military  discipline  no  efficient  defense 
could  be  expected,  and  all  would  be  Inevitably 
test  With  aU  these  thoughts  flitting  through 
the  mind  of  the  officer,  he  indignantly  and  in 
no  gentle  manner  aroused  the  unconscious 
sleeper  into  a  realizing  sense  of  the  enormity 
of  his  crime,  and  in  an  unceremonious  manner 


marched  him  off  to  the  guard-house,  duly  ad- 
monishing him  of  his  impending  fate.  It  is 
easier  to  imagine  than  to  describe  what  must 
have  been  the  feelings  of  this  poor,  thought- 
less soldier  while  waiting  in  the  guard-house 
to  hear  his  doom  announced. 

When  the  officers  assembled  in  the  block 
house  in  the  morning,  his  case  was  reported 
in  all  its  naked  deformity.  They  all  felt  it 
was  a  grievous  thing  to  inflict  the  extreme 
penalty  of  the  law,  but  duty  was  their  impera- 
tive master,  and  they  were  not  the  men  to 
shirk  duty.  So  with  one  voice  it  was  declared 
that  the  delinquent  should  be  shot.  It  was 
a  painful  duty,  but  it  must  be  done.  Before 
this  resolution  could  be  carried  out,  it  occur- 
red to  some  of  them  that  it  was  unlawful  to 
put  a  man  to  death  without  a  trial — that  there 
must  be  a  judgment  or  sentence  pronounced 
by  a  competent  court,  or  the  taking  off  would 
be  murder.  Then  they  were  all  in  a  quandary. 
Who  were  to  compose  such  a  court?  How 
was  it  to  be  organized?  Did  it  have  a  jury! 
Were  they  to  be  selected  from  soldiers  or  citi- 
zens? Was  the  criminal  entitled  to  be  pres- 
ent by  himself  and  counsel?  Was  the  trial 
to  be  public  or  secret?  All  these  questions 
were  discussed.  They  searched  the  revised 
statutes  and  consulted  an  ex-justice  of  the 
peace,  but  no  light  was  thrown  on  the  vexed 
question.  It  had  never  been  revealed  to  them 
that  there  was  such  a  thing  as  a  written  mili- 
tary code,  and  they  were  all  left  in  the  dark 
and  perplexed  as  to  what  they  should  do,  and 
in  that  condition  of  mind  concluded  it  would 
be  best  to  let  the  poor  culprit  go  than  to  run 
the  risk  of  putting  a  man  to  death  without 
due  process  of  law.  So  the  victim  was  per- 
mitted to  enjoy  a  whole  hide  for  many  years 
afterwards,  and  to  die  a  natural  death.  I 
will  not  swear  this  story  is  all  true,  but  it 
is  in  substance  as  it  was  reported  at  the  time ; 
and  as  it  took  place  so  long  ago,  I  do  not 
believe  it  can  be  disproved,  and  therefore  I 
have  recorded  it  as  veritable  history.  My  own 
personal  observations  were  more  strictly  con- 
fined to  South  Bend  and  its  immediate  neigh- 
borhood. It  could  hardly  be  expected  that  one 
could  note  and  remember  all  the  military 
operations  in  a  distant  field  like  that  around 
the  block  house  on  Portage  Prairie,  and  recall 
them  after  the  lapse  of  forty-nine  years. 

Colonel  Hiram  Dayton  was  quite  a  noted 
man  of  that  period.    He  lived  where  Adam  S. 
Baker  now  resides.®    He  was  not  only  willing 
a.    On  South  Michigan  Street 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


714 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


to  sacrifice  all  his  wife's  relations  upon  the 
altar  of  his  country,  but  was  willing  to  sacri- 
fice himself.  In  our  present  peril  he  volun- 
teered to  lead  a  company  against  the  enemy. 
He  beat  up  for  volunteers,  and  the  fighting 
men  soon  flocked  to  his  standard.  A  company 
was  immediately  organized.  The  captain 
drilled  his  men  until  he  was  satisfied  with 
their  proficiency,  and  then  dismissed  them 
with  his  compliments  to  meet  again  at  one 
minute -s  call.  Hence  they  were  called  minute 
men.  Allow  me  to  whisper  in  your  ear  that 
I  was  one  of  that  Spartan  band.  Still  the 
people  were  not  satisfied  that  all  had  been 
done  for  their  protection  that  ought  to  be 
done.  No  one  doubted  the  courage  or  skill 
of  Captain  Dayton  and  his  company ;  but  not 
long  could  such  a  short  wall  of  flesh  stand 
against  the  concentrated  forces  of  the  enemy 
under  Black  Hawk.  It  was  a  question  of 
too  much  importance  to  be  postponed  or 
trifled  with.  A  large  majority  insisted  on 
building  a  fort.  They  said  other  exposed 
places  were  protecting  themselves  in  this  way, 
and  we  must  also.  So  it  was  agreed  on  all 
hands  that  a  fort  should  be  built.  At  first 
there  was  some  difficulty  about  its  location. 
But  after  consulting  the  best  military  experi- 
ence it  was  concluded  to  occupy  that  triangu- 
lar piece  of  ground  bounded  by  Jefferson 
street  on  the  south,  St.  Joseph  on  the  west  and 
Pearl*  on  the  northeast.  Some  objected  to 
this  location  because  they  said  the  Indians 
might  conceal  themselves  in  the  brush  un- 
der the  hill  just  above  where  Mues- 
sel's  old  brewery  now  stands,^  and  slip  up  at 
night  and  cut  off  the  picket-guard;  but  their 
criticisms  were  disregarded,  and  we  went  on 
with  the  construction  of  the  fort  in  good 
earnest  on  the  location  described.  The  ground 
was  to  be  enclosed  by  a  wall  of  timbers  made 
of  split  logs  or  puncheons,  to  be  set  in  the 
ground  three  feet  deep  and  rising  above  nine 
or  ten  feet.  This  wall  was  to  be  pierced  at 
proper  places  with  port-holes  to  fire  from.  I 
cannot  for  the  life  of  me  recall  the  name  of 
the  military  engineer  who  designed  the  fort. 
I  have  no  recollection  of  seeing  Captain  Day- 
ton there.  It  was  before  Lathrop  M.  Taylor 
had  been  elevated  to  the  colonelcy  of  the 
seventy-ninth  regiment,  or  Francis  R.  Tutt  to 
the  lieutenant  colonelcy  of  the  same ;  nor  had 
Dr.  Hardman  yet  become  major  of  that  regi- 

a.    Now   Vistula  Avenue. 

h.    The  bluff  over  the  waterworks,   where  the 
stand  pipe  is  erected. 


ment.  Indeed  it  is  very  doubtful  whether 
that  regiment  had  been  organized;  and  it  is 
certain  that  neither  Taylor,  Tutt  nor  Hard- 
man  had  then  risen  above  the  rank  of  pri- 
vate; so  that  there  is  no  certainty  that  the 
plan  of  the  fort  sprang  from  the  fertile  brain 
of  any  of  them.  It  is  feared  that  the  name 
of  the  designer  of  this  fort  will  forever  be 
lost  to  the  history  of  South  Bend. 

The  people  of  the  town  went  to  work  earn- 
estly to  build  the  fort,  according  to  the  plans 
and  specifications.  The  excitement  was  then 
up  to  fever  heat.  The  county  was  full  of  the 
wildest  and  most  improbable  stories  of  Indian 
atrocities,  and  yet  a  great  many  people  would 
believe  them  and  insist  that  the  Pottawato- 
mies  were  secretly  hostile  and  only  waiting  a 
favorable  opportunity  tx)  break  out  into  open 
warfare.  As  an  illustration  of  the  feeling 
then  existing,  I  remember  while  we  were  at 
work  on  the  fort,  a  Pottawatomie  came  saun- 
tering along  by  us,  looking  through  the  cracks 
between  the  puncheons,  arid  as  soon  as  it  was 
noticed,  it  was  earnestly  asserted  by  many 
that  he  was  a  spy,  and  ought  to  be  arrested 
and  shot  at  once.  One  man  was  particularly 
fierce  on  the  subject.  After  a  while  the  work 
on  the  fort  began  to  lag.  People  were  coming 
to  their  senses  and  regarded  the  danger  as 
much  farther  off  than  at  first  supposed,  and, 
besides,  the  United  States  government  was 
now  earnestly  engaged  in  suppressing  Black 
Hawk  and  his  hostile  tribes.  Still  there  was 
a  lurking  fear  in  the  minds  of  some,  and  it 
was  thought  best  to  send  out  a  party  of  our 
own  people  to  make  a  reconnoissance  sixty  or 
seventy  miles  west.  These  men  went  out  on 
the  expedition.  I  think  it  was  made  up  of 
Jonathan  A.  Liston,  Elisha  Egbert  and  Dr. 
Stoddard ;  but  I  am  not  certain  as  to  the  per- 
sons, though  I  saw  them  on  their  horses  as 
they  started  off. 

After  several  days'  absence  they  returned 
and  reported  to  the  people  in  front  of  John- 
son 's  tavern.*  Among  other  things  they  said 
they  had  been  sixty  or  seventy  miles  west  and 
had  made  diligent  inquiries  as  to  the  where- 
abouts of  Black  Hawk  and  his  warriors,  and 
they  felt  perfectly  sure  there  was  not  a  hos- 
tile Indian  within  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  of  us,  and  that  no  apprehension  need 
be  felt  of  any  danger  from  the  Pottawatomies ; 
that  the   chief,    Pokagon.    was    undoubtedly 

a.  Peter  Johnson's  tavern,  the  Michigan,  after- 
wards the  American,  at  the  southwest  corner  of 
Washington  and  Michigan  Streets. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


715 


friendly,  and  as  evidence  of  it  he  kept  the 
American  flag  flying  over  his  cabin,  and  that 
if  any  of  Yns  tribes  were  unfriendly  they 
would  remain  neutral.  At  the  announcement 
of  this  word  neutral  Joe  Hanby,  an  erratic 
kind  of  a  Pennsylvania  Dutchman  cried  out, 
"Tam  old  Neutral;  he  is  mit  Black  Hawk 
now!"  The  fears  of  the  people  were  well 
quieted  by  this  time,  and  they  raised  a  great 
laugh  at  Joe's  blimder.  This  was  the  end  of 
the  Black  Hawk  excitement  in  this  part  of  the 
country;  but  there  was  a  little  breeze  sprung 
up  in  South  Bend  a  short  time  afterward 
growing  out  of  it.  The  governor  of  this  state 
had  called  out  a  battalion  of  three  hundred 
cavalry,  and  started  them  under  command  of 
Col.  Rupel  to  the  front.  They  never  got 
nearer  than  one  hundred  miles  of  the  place 
where  their  services  were  needed,  and  while 
they  were  dallying  around  between  Lafayette 
and  Chicago,.  John  Defrees,**  without  expect- 
ing them  to  return  by  way  of  South  Bend, 
had  the  temerity  to  say  in  his  paper,  *'That 
it  was  not  to  he  expected  that  this  holiday 
battalion  would  ever  be  found  within  a  hun- 
dred miles  of  a  hostile  Indian,*'  and  other 
hostile  things  not  very  complimentary  to  their 
bravery  or  eflSciency.*  In  a  short  time  after- 
ward these  fellows  lit  down  on  us  suddenly 
as  if  they  had  dropped  out  of  the  sky.  They 
were  going  to  make  minee-meat  of  John  De- 
frees  right  off.  I  saw  a  company  overhaul 
and  surround  him  as  he  was  passing  along 
the  street.  Judging  from  the  threatening 
language  and  manner  of  his  captors,  I 
expected  to  see  him  depart  life  in  about  three 
seconds;  but  some  of  the  prominent  oflScers 
rushed  in  and  kept  the  furious  ones  at  bay. 
Notwithstanding  his  perilous  situation,  Mr. 
Defreea  stood  up  manfully  before  them  and 
insisted  upon  his  right  as  an  editor  of  a  news- 
paper to  criticise  the  conduct  of  this  bat- 
talion.*^ But  the  men  swore  if  they  were  not 
permitted  to  lynch  him,  his  press  and  type 
should  go  into  the  river.  The  printing  office 
was  in  the  second  story  of  a  hewed-log  house, 
accessible  only  by  an  outside  stairway.       A 

a.  John  Dougherty  Defrees,  editor  of  the  St 
Joseph  Beacon,  and  Indiana  and  Michigan  Intelli- 
gencer. He  was  bom  in  Tennessee,  of  French- 
Irish  ancestry. 

ft.  For  the  criticism  of  the  troops,  see  The 
Beacon  for  June  27,  1832. 

c.  For  some  correspondence  between  Mr. 
Defrees  and  the  officers  of  the  regiment,  and  the 
editor's  indignant  account  of  the  outrage,  see  The 
Beacon  for  July  4,  1832. 

Vol.    II — 8. 


squad  started  for  it,  but  in  the  meantime 
Captain  Anthony  Defrees  had  collected 
around  him,  in  the  printing  office,**  five  or  six 
men  all  well  armed.  As  soon  as  one  of  the' 
squad  put  his  foot  on  the  stairway,  the  cap- 
tain warned  him  that  if  he  came  any  further 
it  would  be  at  the  peril  of  his  life;  then  he 
would  back  out,  and  another  would  come  as  if 
he  intended  to  go  right  up,  but  as  soon  as  he 
saw  five  or  six  guns  leveled  at  him,  he  would 
suddenly  conclude  that  it  would  not  be  a 
healthy  undertaking  and  would  back  out. 
The  squad  would  leave  and  another  would 
come  more  determined  and  threatening  than 
thedr  predecessors,  but  as  soon  as  the  old 
captain^  and  his  men  would  level  their  guns 
on  them,  their  courage  would  ooze  out  and 
they  would  retire  in  good  order.  And  so  they 
kept  coming  and  going  for  three  or  four 
hours.  They  had  swords  and  pistols,  but  no 
guns,  and  they  knew  some  one  would  get  hurt 
before  they  could  get  Captain  Defrees  and 
his  men  out  of  that  hewed-log  house  and  con- 
sidering discretion  the  better  part  of  valor, 
marched  off  without  exterminating  John  D. 
Defrees  or  his  printing  office,  and  were  always 
afterw€irds  recognized  and  known  as  **the 
bloody  three  hundred." 

This  closes  the  history  of  our  connection 
with  the  Black  Hawk  war.  The  unrequited 
services  of  that  valiant  corps  under  Captain 
Dayton  is  but  another  instance  of  the  ingrati- 
tude of  a  republic. 

n.     OTHER  EARLY  WARS. 

There  were  no  white  inhabitants  in  this 
territory  during  the  periods  of  our  first  two 
wars,  the  Revolutionary  war  and  the  war  of 
1812,  both  with  Great  Britain.  Two  soldiers 
of  the  Revolutiop,  however,  lived  here  for 
some  time,  and  their  bodies  now  repose  in  the 
old  City  Cemetery;  they  were  Peter  Roof, 
senior,  and  Isaac  Ross.  Several  soldiers  of 
the  war  "of  1812,  likewise  resided  in  the  county 
many  of  them  amongst  our  prominent  early 
settlers.  Some  of  these  honored  soldiers  were : 
Thomas  J.  Allen,  John  B.  Ohandonai,  Daniel 

a.  The  "hewed-log  house"  in  which  The  Beacon 
was  then  pubUshed  was  on  the  southwest  corner 
of  St.  Joseph  street  and  Pearl  street,  now  Vistula 
avenue. 

ft.  Captain  Anthony  Defrees  was  an  uncle  of 
John  D.  and  Joseph  H.  Defrees,  and  it  was  on 
his  invitation  that  they  had  come  from  Piqua, 
Ohio,  to  South  Bend. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


716 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


Cottrell,  Ransom  Curtis,  Theophilus  Case, 
Archibald  Defrees,  Christopher  W.  Emerick, 
Daniel  Heck,  Christopher  Lenz,  Artemus 
Johnson,  Peter  Johnson,  John  Mack,  Senior, 
Jesse  K.  Platz,  Jehu  Meredith,  Peter  Roof, 
Junior,  Clayboume  Smith  and  John  Sample. 
John  B.  Chandonai  (the  name  was  locally  pro- 
nounced, sometimes  spelled,  *'Shadney''),  was 
a  half-breed  Indian,  and  was  a  trusted  scout 
employed  by  Generals  Lewis  Cass  and  William 
Henry  Harrison.  He  was  distinguished  for 
his  courage  and  his  shrewdness  and  quickness 
of  understanding.  Alexis  Coquillard,  as  we 
have  already  seen,  was  also  engaged  in  the 
service  of  General  Harrison's  army,  although 
he  was  not  an  enlisted  soldier,  being  indeed 
but  a  boy  at  the  time  of  the  war  of  1812.^ 

St.  Joseph  county  was  scarcely  better,  if 
as  well,  represented  in  the  Mexican  war.  The 
majority  of  the  inliabitants  were  Whigs ;  and 
there  were  besides  many  influential  citizens 
of  abolition  proclivities.  The  Mexican  war 
was  therefore  not  looked  upon  with  any  great 
degree  of  enthusiasm.  There  were  a  few  brave 
soldiers  from  the  county,  however,  among 
them:  Henry  J.  Blowney,  John  H.  Fisher, 
George  F.  Frank,  Hugh  L.  Hinds,  Edwin  T. 
Lucado,  John  Owen,  John  Pendl,  Moses  Pel- 
tier, John  B.  Raymond,  Albert  Steinbeck, 
William  S.  Saunders,  Eugene  N.  B.  Sweet- 
land  and  Frank  X.  Vilare.  Several  of  these 
were  afterwards  found  in  the  ranks  of  the 
Union  army,  the  most  distinguished  of  them 
being  Henry  J.  Blowney,  who  attained  the 
rank  of  major  in  the  Civil  war.  Major 
Blowney  likewise  had  a  distinction  of  quite 
another  kind.  He  was  a  sign  painter,  and  an 
artist  in  his  line;  and  among  the  men  for  a 
time  in  his  employment  was  the  Hoosier  Poet, 
James  Wliitcomb  Riley.  The  poet  has  often 
spoken  with  tenderest  recollections  of  Major 
Blowney  and  of  his  other  friends  while  he 
was  a  resident  of  South  Bend. 

III.      THE  W^VR  FOR  THE  UNION. 

Sec.  1. — Enlistments. — On  April  12,  1861, 
a.    See  CJhap.  4,  sub.  4,  sec.  1. 


Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon.  On  April  14, 
1861,  the  news  came  that  Major  Anderson  and 
the  garrison  were  compelled  to  surrender  the 
fort.  On  April  15,  1861,  President  Abraham 
Lincoln  issued  his  call  for  seventy-five  thou- 
sand .men  for  the  defence  of  the  Union,  to 
serve  for  three  months  unless  sooner  dis- 
charged. On  the  same  day,  April  15.  1861, 
Governor  Oliver  P.  Morton  sent  to  the  presi- 
dent the  following  dispatch:  **0n  behalf  of 
the  state  of  Indiana,  I  tender  to  you,  for  the 
defence  of  the  nation,  and  to  uphold  the  au- 
thority of  the  government,  ten  thousan  1 
men.'' 

On  Monday  evening,  April  15,  1861,  a  meet- 
ing was  held  in  the  old  court  house  in  South 
Bend.  Party  was  forgotten.  Democrats  ant! 
Republicans  stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  in  the 
packed  court  room.  Dr.  John  A.  Henricks 
was  made  president ;  Ariel  E.  Drapier,  of  the 
Forum,  and  Judge  John  D.  Robertson,  vice 
presidents,  and  E.  E.  Ames,  E.  R.  Pamum 
and  William  H.  Drapier,  secretaries.  Michael 
Boynes  played  the  national  airs,  which  they 
were  so  soon  to  play  in  the  field  at  the  heads 
of  regiments.  Speeches  were  made  by  Dr. 
Henricks,  Schuyler  Colfax,  Ariel  E.  Drapier, 
William  Miller,  William  G.  George,  Andrew 
Anderson,  William  F.  Lynch  and  others.  Cap- 
tain Lynch  was  then  a  professor  at  Notre 
Dame,  where  for  one  or  two  years  previous  he 
had  been  at  the  head  of  a  crack  college  mili- 
tary company,  the  Continental  Cadets,  uni- 
formed in  the  buff  and  blue  of  the  army  of 
the  Revolution,  and  drilled  in  the  tactics  of 
Ellsworth's  Zouaves.  None  of  those  present 
at  that  meeting,  except  Captain  Lynch  him- 
self, had  any  practical  knowledge  of  military 
affairs;  they  had  never  even  seen  a  military 
company,  except  the  Continentals  on  some 
holiday  as  they  had  marched  through  the 
streets  of  the  town,  or,  perhaps,  on  their  way 
to  the  railway  station  to  visit  Goshen  or  La- 
porte.  The  speech  of  Captain  Lynch  was  full 
of  a  fiery  patriotism  that  carried  the  audience 
with  his  enthusiasm.  The  brilliant  officer  soon 
after  returned  to  his  home  in  Illinois,  where 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY-  OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


717 


he  raised  the  Fifty-eighth  Illinois  volunteer 
infantry.  He  became  a  distinguished  soldier, 
attaining  to  the  rank  of  brigadier  general,  and 
for  a  time  commanded  a  division,  when  he  was 
disabled  by  a  gunshot  wound,  from  the  effects 
of  which  he  ultimately  died.  Nothing  in  his 
brilliant  career  did  him  more  credit  than  the 
eloquent  speech  he  made  in  that  patriotic 
meeting  in  our  old  court  house,  on  April  15, 
1861. 

On  the  same  evening  a  like  meeting  was 
held  at  Mishawaka,  at  which  George  Milbum 
presided.  Speeches  were  made  by  Mr.  Mil- 
burn  and  by  Messrs  Niles,  Merrifield,  Cowles, 
Hurlbut,  Butterworth,  Thomas,  Fuller,  Jud- 
son  and  Minzie.  Another  meeting  was  held  in 
South  Bend  on  Friday  evening,  April  19, 
1861,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  collect 
subscriptions  to  aid  in  forming  arid  equipping 
volunteer  companies  and  to  provide  for  the 
families  of  volunteers.  The  committee  was  as 
follows:  Greene  Township,  Jackson  Greene, 
Daniel  Greene,  Thomas  L.  HoUoway;  Clay, 
Thomas  P.  Bulla,  G.  E.  Benton  and  Jacob 
Eaton;  German,  John  F.  Ullery,  Reuben 
Dunn  and  A.  J.  Hatfield;  Olive,  Jeremiah  H. 
Service,  Thomas  J.  Garoutte  and  John  Rey- 
noldls;  Warren,  J.  E.  Mikesell,  (Joble  Brown 
and  William  Cram;  Liberty,  George  H.  Lor- 
ing,  C.  W.  N.  Stevens  and  Samuel  Loring; 
Union,  John  Jackson,  John  Moon  and  C.  J. 
Turner;  Center,  Edwin  Pickett,  David  R. 
Leeper  and  John  Rush.  A  disbursing  commit- 
tee, to  take  charge  of  the  contributions,  was 
also  appointed,  consisting  of  Isaac  Ford,  Elias 
V.  Clark,  Joseph  H.  Massey,  Samuel  L.  Cott- 
rell,  John  T.  Lindsey,  John  W.  Chess  and 
Caspar  Rochstroh.  In  harmony  with  these 
arrangements  was  the  organization  of  a 
Volunteer  Aid  Association,  effected  on  the  oc- 
casion of  the  first  meeting,  to  equip  the  com- 
pany that  was  to  be  formed,  and  to  support 
the  families  of  the  volunteers.  Thus  was  the 
spirit  of  organization  and  systematic  prep- 
aration for  the  great  conflict  manifested.  It 
was  the  instinctive  principle  of  American  self- 
government,  always  present  in  the  hearts  and 


minds  of  the  people,  ready  to  be  called  forth 
when  the  occasion  required. 

The  first  military  company  to  be  organized 
for  service  in  St.  Joseph  county  took  its  de- 
parture from  South  Bend  on  Friday,  April 
19,  1861,  four  days  after  the  president's  call, 
being  the  first  from  northern  Indiana.  The 
company  left  the  Lake  Shore  depot  for  In- 
dianapolis in  the  presence  of  a  multitude  of 
neighbors  and  relatives,  many  of  them  moth- 
ers, wives,  sisters  and  sweethearts.  Such 
scenes,  alas !  were  to  become  frequent  enough 
in  a  very  short  time ;  and  friends  and  relatives 
were  to  bid  adieu  to  dear  ones,  not  for  ''three 
months  unless  sooner  discharged, ' '  as  in  this 
case,  but  for  ** three  years  or  during  the  war.'' 
These  St.  Joseph  county  volunteers  became 
Company  I  of  the  Ninth  regiment,  Indiana 
infantry  volunteers,  three  months'  men.  The 
Ninth  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  serv- 
ice at  Indianapolis,  April  25,  1861,  under 
Colonel  Robert  H.  Milroy.  It  was  the  first 
regiment  to  leave  the  state,  departing  for 
West  Virginia  May  29,  1861,  and  arriving 
at  Grafton  on  the  first  of  June.  The  regiment 
was  attached  to  a  column  under  Col.  Kelley, 
sent  to  surprise  the  enemy  encamped  at  Phil- 
ippi,  on  June  3,  1861.  It  was  afterwards  as- 
signed to  General  Morris's  brigade,  and  took 
part  in  many  marches  and  skirmishes  and  in 
engagements  at  Laurel  HiU  and  Carrick's 
Ford.  The  regiment  returned  home  in  July 
and  was  discharged  at  Indianapolis  on  the 
termination  of  the  period  of  enlistment. 

The  company  which  thus  went  out  from  St. 
Joseph  county  and  returned  is  chiefly  noted 
for  the  heroic  death  of  one  of  its  members, 
John  Auten,  who  was  killed  in  a  scouting  ex- 
pedition on  the  afternoon  of  July  10,  1861, 
being  the  first  man  killed  from  St.  Joseph 
county.  He  was  in  the  22nd  year  of  his  age. 
He  was  not  detailed,  but  volunteered  of  his 
own  accord,  on  the  scouting  party,  which  was 
taken  from  another  company.  He  was  much 
beloved  by  his  comrades  and  by  those  who 
knew  him  as  a  worthy  farmer's  boy,  and  so 
his  body  was  sent  home  for  burial.    The  fn- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


718 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


neral  was  held  on  August  2,  1861,  in  the  very- 
court  room  where  he  had  enlisted  three 
months  before.  Not  less  than  five  thousand 
people  attended  the  services  and  followed  th« 
young  soldier's  body  to  its  last  resting  place 
in  the  city  cemetery.  He  was  our  first  martyr, 
and  his  name  is  proudly  borne  by  his  surviv- 
ing comrades  of  the  oldest  grand  army  post 
in  the  state,  Auten  Post  No.  8,  Department  of 
Indiana,  G.  A.  R. 

The  original  muster  roll  of  our  first  com- 
pany, Co.  I,  Ninth  Indiana,  three  months' 
men,  is  as  follows: 

Andrew  Anderson,  Captain. 

Henry  Lorlng,  First  Lieutenant. 

Henry  .J.  Blowney,  Second  Lieutenant 

Edward  P.  Chapin,  Sergeant 

James  Doolittle,  Sergeant 

Isaac  M.  Pettit  Sergeant 

John  Q.  Wheeler,  Sergeant 

Willis  H.  PetUt  Corporal. 

George  W.  Hollingshead,  Corporal. 

James  H.  M.  Jenkins,  Corporal. 

Nathan  Kreighbaum,  Corporal. 

Henry  L.  Badger,  Musician. 

Charles  S.  Morrow,  Musician. 


PRIVATES. 


Andrew  Adams 
Andrew  J.  Ames 
James  Anderson 
John  Auten 
John  A.  Beglen 
William  Bowes 
William  Bresee 
Henry  Brezee 
Alexis  Brown 
Miles  Bunker 
John  Carl 
Jay  S.  Carpenter 
MarUn  V.  B.  Casad 
Frank  W.  Childs 
WUliam  Cushan 
Amos  Dayhuff   ' 
Jacob  Dealman 
Charles  A.  Dewey 
John  W.  Duffleld 
Horace  B.  Fitch 
Absalom  Qibson 
William  B.  Qillman 
Peter  Qlassman 
Charles  Hadley 
Riley  Helsted 
Edwin  Ham 
Philip  Haupris 
Uriah  Huber 
Grin  C.  Hunter 
Charles  G.  Kelley 
Andrew  Korp 
George  W.  Lind 


Warren  Martin 
Sanford  B.  Matthews 
Joseph  F.  McCarthy 
William  M.  Merrifleld 
David  B.  Miller 
Jesse  Miller 
William  H.  H.  Miller 
Jofin  C.  Myers 
George  F.  Niles 
John  Nogle 
Seth  B.  Parks 
Lorenzo  Pierson 
Louis  0.  Peterman 
Charles  W.  Price 
Andrew    L.    Replogle 
Amos  Reynolds 
James  Sandilands 
Daniel  L.  Shank 
Samuel  Shepley 
Francis  M.  Sherman 
Peter  D.  Shoup 
Josiah  F.  Smyser 
Calvin  R.  Stillson 
James  H.  Sweet 
George  C.  Sweeney 
William  L.  TarbeU 
John  Taylor 
George  Utter 
Alfred  B.  Wade 
William  M.  Whitten 
Martin  J.  Whitman 
Robert  Young 


taken  to  reorganize  the  company  for  three 
years'  service.  By  that  time  it  had  become 
apparent  that  enlistment  in  the  army  was  to 
be  for  no  holiday  excursion ;  the  war  was  on 
in  dead  earnest.  While  the  enemy  had  learned 
that  one  **Reb'*  could  not  whip  five  ** Tanks," 
we  also  had  reached  the  conclusion  that  one 
**Yank"  was  no  match  for  two  *'Rebs  ''  It 
was  American  against  American,  and  the  Grod 
of  battles  alone  could  know  what  was  to  be  the 
outcome. 

The  following  was  the  muster  roll  for  the 
new  Co.  I,  enlisted  for  **  three  years  or  during 
the  war'*: 

James  Houghton,  Captain. 

Isaac  M.  Pettit,  First  Lieutenant 

William  Merrifleld,  Second  Lieutenant. 

James  Nutt,  Orderly  Sergeant 

Seth  B.  Parks,  Sergeant 

Frank  W.  Childs,  Sergeant 

Lewis  A.  Holliday,  Sergeant 

William   H.   Criswell,   Sergeant 

James  G.  Oliver,  Corporal. 

Francis  M.   Sherman,   Corporal. 

Jesse  Miller,  Corporal. 

Sylvester  Pettit,  Corporal. 

Robert  F.  Boyd,  Corporal. 

Sherman  B.  Stebbins,  Corporal. 

William  L.   Sherman,  Corporal. 

John  Mailer,  CorporaL 

George  L  Badger,  Musician. 

Isaac   Hooper,   Musician. 

William  Calwell,  Wagoner. 

PRIVATES. 


As  soon  as   Co.  I,  Ninth  reojiment,  three 
months'  service,  was  mustered  out,  steps  were 


Benjamin  Anderson 
WiUiam  F.  Avery 
Hanson  Beck 
Christopher  Bliss 
William  Bowney 
Thomas  Brown 
Norman  V.  Brower 
Henry  H.  Buck 
Ellis  Clark 
James  Clemments 
Isaiah  Copper 
Peter  Cottrell 
Clark  B.  Crook 
Amos  Dayhuff 
Darius  Dawley 
Jonas  C.  Dressier 
Norman  E.  Ellsworth 
William   W.    Giles 
Francis  M.  Gillman 
William  B.  Gillman 
Sylvester  Gordon 
Enunett  Ham 
Charles  E.  Hardy 
William  E.  Harrington 
William  Heckerthom 
David  G.  Heiss 
Samuel  Heiss 
John  N.  Holliday 


Riley  Halsted 
Grin  C.  Hunter 
Phineas  B.  Jennings 
John  P.  Knowlton 
Henry  M.  Kuney 
Charles  Leschoier 
Frederick  Leschoier 
James  T.  Marsh 
John  A.  Metzger 
Solomon  Michael 
Melville  Mosher 
Eli  O.  Newman 
John  H.  Nodurfth 
David  L.  Norwood 
Leveme  Packard 
Horace  Parks 
William  PetUt 
Henry  Perry 
Selah  Pickett 
Joseph  Pickett 
Charles  B.  Pidge 
Warren  C.  Pitman 
Moses  Powers 
Charles  O.  Pressey 
Samuel  H.  J.  Reid 
Stephen  Reed 
Joseph  Rogers 
Wallace  W.  Roper 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


fflSTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


719 


Henry  Swintz 
Leonard  H.  Taber 
Daniel  B.  Ungry 
August  Vanoverback 
Frank  Wlllard 
Joseph  S.  Wood 
John  Worle 


George  W.  Rosebaugb 
Harrison  Shearer 
Ira  Sherman 
Thomas   Slain 
Dayid  Slough 
Levi  P.  €lnure 
Peter  Stemburgh 
Almon  Stuart 

RECRUITS. 
Frank   M.   Andrews  John  A.  Long 

Henry  Baugh  Isaac  M.  Long 

Benjamin   Bonney  Amos  Reynolds 

Taylor  Orampton  Jacob  Slaughter 

EMwin  Ham  Winfleld  S.  Taber 

Henry  O.  Kreimer  Niles  Taber 

Josiah  F.  Dressier,  Substitute. 

The  Ninth  infantry  was  mustered  at  La- 
porte,  September  5,  1861.  On  December  12, 
1863,  at  Whiteside,  Tennessee,  the  members  re- 
enlisted  as  veterans.  The  regiment  was  final- 
ly mustered  out  in  Texas,  in  September,  1865, 
having  served  for  four  years  and  during  the 
war.  The  following  promotions  in  Co.  I  were 
made  during  the  term  of  service:  Isaac  M. 
Pettit,  from  first  lieutenant  to  captain ;  James 
Nutt,  from  orderly  sergeant  to  first  lieutenant, 
then  to  captain;  William  H.  Criswell,  from 
sergeant  to  second  lieutenaat,  then  to  first  lieu- 
tenant; Seth  B.  Parks,  from  sergeant  to  sec- 
ond lieutenant;  and  Frank  W.  Childs,  from 
sergeant  to  second  lieutenant.  The  company 
lost  three  officers  killed  in  battle  and  one  who 
died  of  wounds  received  in  battle;  likewise 
three  privates  killed  in  battle  and  fifteen  who 
died  of  wounds  or  from  disease.  The  regiment 
was  in  the  following  engagements.  Green 
Brier,  West  Virginia,  October  3,  1861 ;  Alle- 
gheny, December  13,  1861 ;  Shiloh,  Tennessee, 
April  7,  1862 ;  also  in  the  battles  of  PerryviUe, 
Danville  and  Wild  Cat  Mountain;  Murfrees- 
boro,  December  31, 1862,  and  January  1, 1863 ; 
Chiekamauga,  September  19  and  20,  1863; 
Lookout  Mountain,  November  24,  1863;  Mis- 
sionary Ridge,  November  25,  1863;  in  the 
numerous  battles  of  the  Atlanta  campaign 
and  in  the  pursuit  of  Hood's  army,  including 
the  engagements  at  Columbia  and  Franklin ; 
Nashville,  December  15, 1864 ;  closing  its  serv- 
ice in  Louisiana  and  Texas.  During  the 
service  the  regiment  was  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  Robert  H.  Milroy. 
St.  Joseph  county  had  one  company,  Co.  B, 


in   the   Fifteenth   infantry,   which,   like   the 

Ninth,   was   also   recruited  for  three   years. 

Those  who  enlisted  from  the  county  were  as 

follows : 

John  E.  George,  Adjutant 

Edwin  Nicar,  Adjutant. 

Alexander  Fowler,  Captain.  ■'^ 

John  H.  (Gardner,  Lieutenant 

Joseph  Haller,  Sergeant 

John  Owens,   Sergeant 

William  H.  Weed,  Sergeant 

William  A.  Pegg,  Sergeant ' 

Edwin  Tumock,  Corporal. 

Samuel   F.  Curtis,   Corporal. 

Scott  Whitman,  Corporal 

Noyes  Miliken,  Corporal. 

Henry  H.  Metcalf,  Corporal. 

Barclay  Klmhle,  Corporal. 

Patrick  Halligan,  Corporal. 

Edwin  Pursell,  Corporal. 

Henry  Johnson,  Musician. 

John  C.  Curtis,  Musician. 

George  Crakes,  Wagoner. 


PRIVATES. 


William  S.  Anderson 
John  F.  Baker 
Nelson  C.  Baker 
Frederick  Barnhart 
Frederick  Bedker 
Alexander  Bertram 
Victor  Bertram 
Charles  Brick 
Luther  Briggs 
George  Bucher 
Patrick  Burke 
Pierce  T.  Clarke 
Peter  A.  Clogher 
Bernard  Castelle 
Lemuel  Oox 
Henry  Cooper 
Nathan  Dayhuff 
Frank   Degraf 
Francis  Devoy 
William  EJ.  Doyle 
Walter  L.  Finch 
Cornelius  Fuller 
James  M.  Gardner 
John  Garraghty 
Daniel  A.  Goodin 
Thomas  Guy 
John  M.  Hague 
Thomas  Ham 
James  M.  Hamilton 
Edmund    Harris 
John   Hargis 
Martin  V.  Harris 
Michael  Hennessey 
James  Higgins 
William  Hight 
WiUiam   Hill 
Oliver  H    Hildebrand 
William  A.  Holland 
James  H.  Hoover 
Harrison  Huston 
Edwin   Huntsinger 


Alfred  A.  Keck 
Charles  M.  Knapp    «. 
Michael    Lendenherger 
Robert  L.  Logan 
Sheffield  Lucia 
Abijah  Macy 
Michael  McDonald 
Benjamin  F.  Markel 
Horace  Martin 
Jacob  Martin 
William  T.  Melvln 
Ludwig  Miller 
James  Norman 
William  H.  H.  Ogle 
John  Parks 
Abel  R.  Peck 
Charles  B.  Pegg 
Edward  Perrault 
Thomas  V.  Pierce 
William  V.  Replogle 
Evi  Rockwell 
Gilbert  Rhoads 
Salathiel  Ruley 
Joseph  Schutt 
Henry  Shearer 
Ferdinand  Smith 
John  Swaney 
James  Sweeney 
Jacob  Telford 
lirancis   L   Tlnsley 
Adolphus   Trueblood 
Hamarchs  Trueblood 
William  Trueblood 
John  Fo   Tutt 
Robert  E.   Tutt 
John  Van  Nest 
James   Van    Riper 
William  C.  Vamey 
William  Watklns 
George  White 
John  B.  Zimmerman 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


720 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


RECRUITS. 
Joseph  M.  Clark  Henry  W.  Martindale 

Anthony  Corcoran  Erastus  Munger 

John  Hague  Daniel  C.  Schenck 

MelTln  G.  Huey  William  H.  Thomas 

The  Fifteenth  infantry  was  originally  mus- 
tered at  Lafayette,  in  May,  1861,  in  the  three 
months*  service.  On  the  reorganization  for 
three  years,  it  was  mustered  at  the  same  place 
on  June  14,  1861,  with  Greorge  D.  Wagner  as 
colonel.  Company  B  lost  six  men  in  killed 
and  twelve  from  wounds  or  disease.  Captain 
Fowler  was  promoted  to  major  and  after- 
wards to  colonel  of  the  Ninety-ninth  regiment. 
John  E.  George  was  promoted  from  lieutenant 
to  captain.  Edwin  Nicar  was  promoted  from 
sergeant  to  second  lieutenant  and  then  to  first 
lieutenant  of  Company  A.  Joseph  Haller  was 
promoted  from  sergeant  to  second  lieutenant 
and  then  to  first  lieutenant.  Edwin  Turnock 
was  promoted  from  corporal  to  second  lieuten- 
ant and  then  to  captain. 

The  regiment  arrived  in  West  Virginia  in 
time  to  take  part  in  the  battle  of  Rich  Moun- 
tain, July  11,  1861.  It  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Green  Brier,  October  3,  1861.  In 
November,  1861,  the  regiment  was  sent  to  re- 
port to  General  Buell  at  Louisville.  It  was 
with  Buell's  army  in  the  second  day's  battle 
at  Shiloh.  The  regiment  was  at  Stone's  River 
under  Rosecrans  and  took  part  in  the  engage- 
ment at  Tullahoma  and  afterwards  in  the 
battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  where  it  lost  two 
hundred  and  two  out  of  three  hundred  and 
thirty-four  engaged.  It  afterwards  went  to 
the  relief  of  Burnside  at  Knoxville.  A  part 
of  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  at  Indian- 
apolis, June  14,  1864;  another  part  being  re- 
enlisted  veterans  and  recruits,  was  attached 
to  the  Seventeenth  Indiana  mounted  infantry, 
and  discharged  with  that  organization,  Au- 
gust 8,  1865. 

The  Twenty-ninth  infantry  went  out  under 
Colonel  John  F.  Miller  of  South  Bend,  who 
afterwards  became  a  distinguished  general, 
and  after  the  war  a  United  States  Senator. 
Enlistments  in  several  companies  of  this  regi- 


ment took  place  from  St.  Joseph  county  as 
follows : 

John  F.  Miller,  Colonel. 

Henry  J.  Blowney,  Major. 

James   B.   McCurdy,   Quartermaster. 

Joseph  C.  Reed,  Chaplain. 

Louis  Humphreys,  Surgeon. 

John  M.  Stover,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

Jacoh  R.  Brown,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

Frank  A.  Hardman,  Captain. 

John  C.  Myers,  Lieutenant. 

Henry  K  Hain,  Lieutenant 

COMPANY  C— PRIVATESS. 


Alfred  A.  Butler 
Ayers  Crouch 


David  W.  Croch 
Hiram  A.  Hall 


COMPANY  F. 
Isaac  B.  Goodrich,  Sergeant 

Timothy  Paige,  Sergeant 
OWvin  R.  Stillson,  Sergeant 
John  Taylor,  Sergeant 
Owen  M.  Eddy,  Sergeant 
Levi  H.  Sipes,  Corporal. 
Daniel  L.  Shanks,  Corporal. 
Alden  Whitney,  Corporal. 
John   Glass,   Corporal. 
Charles  W.  Schenck,  Corporal. 
Zachariah  Allcock,  Corporal. 
Robert  Shields,  Corporal. 
Charles  W.  Grofl,  Corporal. 
Homer  C.  Eller,  Musician. 
George  J.  Epps,  Musician. 
William  Lash,  Wagoner. 
PRIVATES. 
John  W.  Anderson  Eli  Mangus 

William  H.  Augustine        Simon  Manuel 
Antony  Aubert  Henry  Mapes 

Israel  Baker  Samuel  S.  Matlock 

Franklin  O.  Bentley  David  B.  Miller 

Samuel  Bowers  iiolomon  C.  Miller 

Caspar  Bowers  Daniel  R.  Morehouse 

Joseph  A.  Boquet  Warren  Munday 

Ashbel  M.  Brown  Henry  F.  Parks 

Louis  Brewer  John  Pofl 

William  H.  Brewer  William  Pratt 

Joseph  N.  Burdick  George  W.  Quigley 

Joseph  Burke  Turpen  Rentfrow 

Joseph  Candle  George  W.  Rizor 

Solomon  W.  Christy  Elam  Rice 

John  W.  Duffleld  Chrincyance  I.  Schenck 

William  H.  Dodd  Bernhard  Slgel 

Asa  Earls  Adam  W.  Shearer 

David  M.  Frame  William  M.  Shultz 

James  M.  Gillen  Abraham  S.  Schultz 

Rowen  Hagerty  Henry  C.  Sheddrick 

Fritz  Hardy  Jeremiah  D.  Snyder 

Jacob  Hardy  Frederick  Steiner 

Daniel  Judie  Andrew  Swinti 

John  W.  Kiner  Edward  Tipton 

Augustus  Lario  John  J.  Traub 

Augustus  A.  Lario  Albion  A.  Williams 

Augustus  Lioneous  Henry  S.  Williams 

Solomon   Mangus  Daniel  E.  Whiteman 

Ellas  Mangus  William  Wood 

Peter  Mangus  Nathan  York 

RECRUITS. 
Peter  Brewer  William  Black 

James  M.  Blyler  Virgil  Reynolds 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


721 


COMPANY  G. 

John  W.  Vanderhoof,  Sergeant 

Henry  A.  Adle,  Sergeant 

Aaron  H.  Miller,  Oorporal. 

Alfred  R.  Abbott  Musician. 

PRIVATES. 


Samuel  Tener 
B.  Wolverton 


James  Abbott 
Francis  Cunningham 
Jacob  Dougherty 
Jaoob  M.  Donaldson 
Wheeler  Gould 
Philip  HlckB 

CO.  H.- 
John Ault 
Chas.  D.  Allen 
Andrew  Adams 
Chas.  Buckley 
John  Becraft 
Jefferson  Oonover 
Wm.  Delaney 
Frederick  Flagel 
George  Francis 
Ezra  Green 
John  Green 
Alexander  Goodrich 
Parkinson  F.  George 
Edward  Harding 
Henry   Holwell 
Asa  Jones 
David  Keller 
Nelson  Laughton 
Lewis  Laughton 
Oscar  P.  Lef  evre 


Joseph  J.  Haskins 
Henry  Lapp 
Amos  H.  Roberts 
John  E.  Usher 
Seth  Vader 
John  A.  Ocker 

-RECRUITS. 

Isaac  Lenegar 
Ellas  Miller 
Owen  McLean 
Alonzo  Musson 
Jas.  P.  Mareen 
Jacob  W.  Miller 

A.  M.  McDonald 

B.  F.  Muttesbaugh 
Chas.  W.  Price 
Daniel  Porter 
David  M.  Rennoe 
Josiah  F.  Smyzer 
Daniel   Swygert 
Wm.  J.  Streable 
Louis  Senior 
George  Surdam 
Martin  Thornton 
Quigley  Thomas 
Anthony  Willis 
David  F.  Willard 


COMPANY  K. 
Philip  Ducomb,  Sergeant. 
John  R.  Moon,  Sergeant 

E.  Henderson,  Sergeant 
Daniel  T.  Welch,  Sergeant. 

Jos.  A.  Bunch,  Corporal. 
Jas.  M.  Ducomb,  Corporal. 

John  Sample,  Corporal. 
Andrew  Mountz,  Corporal. 

Jacob  Wynn,  Corporal. 
R.  J.  Henderson,  Corporal. 
Chas.  J.  Swezey,  Corporal. 

Henry  Perry,  Musician. 

Aurelius  Decamp,  Musicfan. 

Abner  Leonard,  Wagoner. 

PRIVATES. 


Luke  Aldrich 
Lorenzo  Annis 
Wm.  Annis 
Simon  Bailey 
John  L.  Bunch 
William  B.  Bumsides 
Tobias  Cole 
William  Cline 
Wilson  C.  Cotton 
John  Donahue 
John  M.  Elder 
Jasper  Fogus 
John  Hildebrand 
Hehry  C.  Hathaway 
Jesse  Hathaway 
John  W.  Hart 
D.  Henderson 
Paris  Henderson 


E.  Hildebrand 
John  Hughes 
Simon  S.  Huyler 
William  Jackson 
Philip  Kirkendall 
Nelson  King 
John  A.  Lamb 
Fred  Mangus 
John  Mangus 
Morgan  McGuire 
Eli  Mountz 
Zebadiah  Oliver 
Charles  Ream 
BenJ.  F.  Seybold 
Francis  M.  Smith 
BenJ.  F.  Steiner 
Henry  Tener 
Philip  Tener 


John  Wood 
John  C.  Wynn 

RECRUITS. 

Levi   Roberts 
Samuel  J.  Rose 
Benj.  Ritter 
Henry  Steiner 
Rezin  Watkins 
Samuel  T.  Whiteman 
Delos  Wood 
John  Willey 


Harrison  Beal 
Jas.  B.  Henry 
Hiram  E.  Jackson 
Henry  B.  Jay 
Henry  Murphy 
Daniel  Miller 
John  Ott 
Thomas  Parker 

Of  the  foregoing,  five  were  killed  in  battle, 
one  wa*s  drowned  in  the  Tennessee  river,  four 
died  at  Andersonville,  and  twenty-eight  died 
of  wounds  or  disease.  Among  the  dead  was 
Captain  Frank  A.  Hardman,  an  exceedingly 
brilliant  young  man,  a  son  of  Dr.  Hardman, 
so  often  mentioned  in  this  history.  John  J. 
Traub  was  promoted  from  the  ranks  to  sec- 
ond lieutenant;  Robert  Shields  from  corporal 
to  second  lieutenant  and  then  to  first  lieuten- 
ant ;  Alden  Whitney,  from  corporal  to  second 
lieutenant;  Calvin  R.  Stillson,  from  sergeant 
to  second  lieutenant;  Henry  E.  Hain,  from 
second  lieutenant  to  first  lieutenant;  John 
Taylor,  from  sergeant  to  first  lieutenant  and 
then  to  captain. 

The  Twenty-ninth  infantry  was  mustered 
into  service  at  Laporte,  August  27,  1861.  On 
October  9,  1861,  it  joined  Rousseau's  com- 
mand, in  Kentucky.  It  took  part  in  the 
movement  against  Bowling  Green,  in  Febru- 
ary, 1862.  In  March,  1862,  it  moved  with 
McCook's  division  from  Nashville  to  the  Ten- 
nessee river  and  took  part  in  the  second  day 's 
battle  at  Shiloh,  April  7,  1862.  It  was  pres- 
ent at  the  siege  of  Corinth;  was  with  Rose- 
crans  at  Murfreesboro  and  was  engaged  at 
Stone's  River,  December  31,  1862,  and  Janu- 
ary 1,  1863,  losing  in  that  battle  many  men 
and  officers.  It  was  with  Roseerans  on  the 
march  to  Chattanooga,  by  way  of  TuUahoma, 
and  lost  heavily  in  the  great  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga.  The  regiment  veteranized  at  Bridge- 
port, Alabama,  January  1,  1864.  After  re- 
turning from  veteran  furlough,  the  regiment 
w<as  at  Chattanooga,  Decatur,  Alabama,  again 
at  Chattanooga.  In  May,  1865,  it  was  in  a 
skirmish  at  Dalton,  Georgia ;  then  marched  to 


Digitized  by 


Google 


722 


HISTORY   OP  ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Marietta,  Georgia,  where  it  was  stationed  until 
October,  1865,  when  it  was  mustered  out. 

The  Forty-eighth  infantry  comes,  perhaps, 
as  near  to  the  hearts  of  the  people  of  St. 
Joseph  county  as  does  any  other  single  regi- 
ment, for  the  reason  that,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
Twenty-ninth,  the  colonel  commanding  was  a 
St.  Joseph  county  man,  but  still  more,  no 
doubt,  because  so  large  a  proportion  of  all  tha 
officers  and  men  were  from  the  county.  No 
less  than  three  full  companies,  B,  E  and  P, 
besides  members  of  other  companies,  were 
from  St.  Joseph  county,  and  their  record,  to- 
gether with  that  of  their  gallant  commander, 
Colonel  Norman  Eddy,  was  of  so  brilliant  a 
character  as  to  enshrine  their  name  and  fame 
in  the  hearts  of  all  the  people.  The  roster 
of  the  companies  is  as  follows: 

Norman  Eddy,  Colonel. 

Edward  P.  Stanfleld,  Adjutant. 

Levi  J.  Ham,  Surgeon. 

Sylvester  Laning,  Surgeon. 

W.  W.  Butterworth,  Asst  Surgeon. 

COMPANY  A. 

Abner  J.  Dean,  Captain. 

COMPANY  B. 

William  H.  Sutphin,  Captain. 

Asa  Knott,  Lieutenant 

George   H.    Loring,    Lieutenant. 

E.  Volney  Bingham,  Sergeant  Major. 

Thomas  J.  Collins,  Sergeant. 

Albert  D.  Jaquith,  Sergeant 

Abraham  Rhone,  Sergeant 

Jacob  Augustine,  Sergeant 

John  C.  Coulter,  Sergeant 

James  Nelson,  Corporal. 

Henry  S.  Nickals,  Corporal. 

Thos.  H.  Asbshire,  Corporal. 

John  Clark. 

Enoch  F.  Buckels. 

Clark  McBride,  Corporal. 

Daniel  Ruddlck,  Corporal. 

Wm.  S.  Saunders,  Musician. 

Ozias  W.  Wells,  Musician. 

William  Whitmore,  Wagoner. 

PRIVATES. 

Jerome  Adams 


William  Baxter 
Thomas   Biddle 
William  Barre 
Joseph  Bowen 
Isaiah  Bowers 
Abner  Bowen 
Benj.  F.  Brown 
Leonard  Behee 
Silas  Cushman 
Joseph  Carr 
Levi  Cathrell 
Sylvanus  Clay 


Philip  Crites 
Isaac  Classen 
Jonathan  Cripe 
William  W.  Caslet 
Martin  Duwit 
John  E.  Dunham 
Andrew  J.  Edward? 
Jos.  W.  Fowler 
John  Finch 
Amos  Fuller 
Lewis  Fl'ame 
Nely  Frame 
Wm.  H.  Felkner 


David  Frazer 
£klward  Qillen 
William  Gordon 
Harvey  Ganoung 
Amos  Heston 
John  Herchelrode 
John  Harriman 
Peter  J.  Howe 
John  Horn 
Jesse  Hunt 
Samuel  Hiley 
George  Hall 
John  Hay 
Joel  James 
John  L.  Jones 
Levi   Kelly 
John  Kline 
Mathias  Kolb 
Henry  Kizar 
Henry  Kullner 
Cornelius  B.  Liba 
Jos.  S.  Liggett 
Michael  Loy 
Miles  H.  Miller 
Maynard  Moyer 
William  McCullom 
Alonzo  Moore 
Lewis  Mongo 


George  Monroe 
James  McCormlck 
James  M.  Nihart 
Samuel  Pearson 
David  Reddick 
John  B.  Rays 
Jacob  Ritter 
Benj.  H.  Ross 
Jos.  M.  Ross 
Benjamin  Sheak 
Josiah  Saeger 
John  Sously 
Chas.  Shepherd 
Edward  Sheelmadine 
Paul   Straub 
Jonathan  Swathwood 
John  C.  Tashur 
Michael  Valentine 
Michael  Wheeler 
George  Wyckoff 
Worthy  Wyckenn 
Jas.  E.  Whitman 
Christ.  Webster 
Wm.  H.  Wells 
Peter  Wheeler 
Michael  WooUett 
John   Wiggins 
James  Ziegler 


REXJRUITS. 


Henry  N.  Biddle 
Simon  Z.  Bossier 
Luther  Bradley 
Geo.  W.  Brookney 
Sylvester  Blackman 
Franklin  Bruner 
Reuben  L.  Brower 
Thos.  C.  Busby 
B.  W.  Casteller 
Archibald    Caldwell 
Jno.  Clelland 
Samuel  B.  Collins 
James  Custer 
David  R.  Cripe 
Jas.  H.   Donaldson 
Simeon  Decamp 
Martin  Dewitt 
Chas.  D.  Davis 
Alex.  Ehnberlin 
J.   H.  Emberlin 
Wm.  Edgington 
Reuben  Elkins 
H.   Eaglebarger 
Wm.  Fifer 
John  Fabim 
Moses  Fisher 
John  W.  Gaddis 
Philip  Klickinger 
Hobert  Little 
Logan   A.   Layne 


Taylor  Lobdell 
George  S.  Morris 
Eli  W.  Miner 
John  Marolet 
Hart  E.  Pierson 
Albert  Perry 
Leonard  Z.  Preston 
Wm.  H.  Power 
John  Perrln 
Noah  Replogle 
John  M.  Reaves 
William  H.  Rupe 
John  Ranstead 
Riley  Reaves 
George  Roland 
Ephraim  Ramsby 
Wm.  W.,Russel 
Geo.  W.  Rldenour 
Daniel  Stuck 
Silas  L.  Slater 
John  Schwartz 
John  D.  Shafer 
Francis  W.  Scranton 
Franklin  J.  Saltsglver 
Thos.   Sallenberger 
Adolphus  W.  Whorwell 
Jacob  Weaver 
James   Winebreuer 
Ekioch  R.  Wiess 


COMPANY  B. 

Thomas  B.  Roberts,  Captfdn. 
David  F.  Spain,  Lieutenant 
George  W.  Hart,  Lieutenant 
William  B.  Spain,  Sergeant 

Chas.  G.  Kelley,  Sergeant. 
Daniel  B.  Stiner,  Sergeant 

Wm.  H.  Miller,  Sergeant. 

Edwin  F.  Pidge,  Sergeant 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


723 


John  A.  M.  LaPierre,  Corporal. 

John  E.  Alexander,  Corporal. 

Thos.  Simonton,  Corporal. 

John   Johnson,  Corporal. 

Silas   Jones^   Corporal. 

Wm.  Lfc  Tarbell,  Corporal. 

Samuel  M.  Shepley,  Corporal. 

John  Martin,  Corporal. 

Chas.  T.  Johnson,  Musician. 

Israel  Hogue,  Musician. 

Bphraim  O.  Tmeblood,   Wagoner. 

PRIVATBa 


Hugh  Pickerell 
Alexander  J.  Prebble 
Hector  Phillips 
John  Potts 
A.  M.  Robinson 
^Thomas  Rawson 
Daniel  H.  Slocum 


Chas.  W.  Saunders 
John  W.  Thompson 
Wm.  H.  Thompson 
John  W.  Wheeler 
Ira  A.  Wilson 
Jas.  B.  Whitlow 
Francis  M.  York 


Samuel  Amick 
Jos.   Archambeault 
Buzeb  Barnard 
Charles  Bertrand 
Edward  Becknell 
Ananias  Becknell 
William  Black     ' 
Andrew  J.  Blyler 
John  Blyler 
A.  F.  Bonebrake 
EMward  J.  Bresette 
Henry  Britton 
Jesse  Brown 
Henry  Burn 
Robert  B.  Copen 
Samuel  Casaday 
Wilson  Catey 
Theo  T.  Chandonia 
Samuel  Cottrell 
John  Lr.  Cottrell 
August   Ooquillard 
G.  W.  Coquillard 
Eidward  Cum 
Franklin  Darr 
G.  W.  E.  Doughty 
John  Drake 
Wm.  Dudley 
James  Ellis 
BenJ.  Frederick 
John  J.  Fritzer 
Nicholas  Fritzer 
William  Gephart 
William  Gibson 
Ezra  Gokey 
Henry  Grindle 
John  Hann 
James  Haight 
Alpheus  Haney 
Robert  Hunter 
Martin  Junnel 
Josiah  D.  Kollar 

RECRUITS. 
Levi  M.  Bowles  Samuel   M.   Hench 

James  Barton  Harty  N.  Hand 

Edward   Beckwell  A.  Kilpatrick 

Rolla  Butler  Wm.  P.  Lockhart 

Reuben  Brunson  William  R.  Lee 

Alvin  G.  Campbell  LJsle  L.  Levi 

Cyrus  Carr  Lemuel  Morse 

Wm.  Cousins  Daniel  Marts 

George  Dennison  James   Morrill 

Wm.  T.  Dunlap  John  McGraw 

John  D.  Dugan  Wm.  McGinnis 

R.  B.  Douglass  Chas.  H.  Miller 

John  I.  Eason  Alexander    Newhouse 

Amos  Forwood  Cyrus  dinger 

Simon  W.  Fox  George  S.  Phelps 


Reuben  Kitung 
Alexander  M.  Kimble 
Fred  T.  Kemble 
Elisha  Kerns 
Chas.  LaMountain 
Ebenezei-  Lorimer 
John  Lorimer 
James  Leech 
Benjamin  Myers 
Jos.  Matthews 
Thomas  Matlock 
Perry  McDonald 
Moses  Miller 
John  Neddo 
George  Omea 
Henry  Peffley 
Ellas  Palmer 
Geo.  W.  Peterman 
Leander  C.  Pray 
Peter  Rana 
E.  P.  Rakestraw 
Jasper  N.  Rockhill 
Joseph  W.  Replogle 
Wm.  F.  Rawell 
Jacob  Sipes 
Obadiah  B.  Slusser 
Oliver  E.  Slusser 
John  Shelmadine 
George  Sharp 
Frederick  Stiner 
Peter  S.  Stombaugh 
John  J.  Stockman 
John  J.  Stock 
Francis  D.  Tuttle 
John  Weiss 
John  White 
Levi  Wilkinson 
George  Watkins 
Jacob  Warner 
Charles  Zauger 


COMPANY  F. 

Barnett  Byrkit,  Captain. 

William  A.  Judkins,  Lieutenant 

Crawford  McDonald,  Lieutenant 

Newton  Bingham,  Sergeant 

Edwin  Ham,   Sergeant 

William  Caldwell,  Sergeant 

Amos  R,  Evans,  Sergeant 

Adelbert  Crampton,  Sergeant. 

Alfred  Curtis,  Corporal. 
John  L.  Robinson,  Corporal. 
Charles  Mason,  Corporal. 
Jacob  Keifer,  Corporal. 
Michael  Andrews,  Corporal. 
John    Sandals,   Corporal. 
Thomas  Crakes,  Corporal. 
James  Anderson,   Corporal. 
George  E.  Perry,  Musician. 
Barney  Uline,  Musician. 
Joseph  Myers,  Wagoner. 
PRIVATES. 
John  Albert  Thomas  Kirkwood 

Pratt  Alger  John   Kling 

George  Allison  Henry  Lahman 

Lewis  Andrews  Ovid  W.  Lampert 

Lewis  Babbit  Wm  F.  Leslie 

Constantine  Belter  Jos.  A.  Livenwood 

Matthew  Bowker  James  Lees 

Nathan  Boyce  John  G.  Lyttle 

Wm.  H.  Chapin  Casper  Mine 

John  Cline  Joel  Metcalf 

Henry  Cook  Jos.  D.  McAchren 

Josiah  Coghill  Edward  S.  McOarry 

Albert  Corn  Edmond  Michael 

William  Cushan  John  Michael 

Isaac  N..Deppen  Ephraim  Moore 

Chas.  A.  Dewey  David  Motls 

John  Doolittle  David  Myers 

Holden  A.  Doolittle  Henry  Layers 

Geo.  W.  Doolittle  Micajah  Owens 

James  Elder  Philip  Poorbaugh 

William  Finch  Samuel  Porter 

Horace  B.  Fitch  David  Riffle 

Geo.  A.  Garrison  George  C.  Ritchardt 

Wesley  Christ  Willard  Rockwell 

Andrew  Gonyer  Jas.  Albert  Roper 

Alexander  Grant  Chas.  E.  Ruple 

Jacob  Crop  Charles  Sebring 

Charles  Hadley  Stephen  F.  Sheldon 

Thomas  Hall  Patrick  Shields 

George  Hann  Albert  Shirley 

George  Haskell  Ernst  Schoulder 

Elam  W.  Heiss  Madison  R.  Smith 

Daniel  B.  Heiss  David  Sweitzer 

William  Heiner  Anderson  C.  Underwood 

Wm.  C.  Hopkins  Henry   H.   Underwood 

Hiram  H.  Hopkins  Burton  Vamey 

John  Hurley  James  Watkins 

Wm.  B.  Hurley  John  Wilhelm 

Wm.  Hutchinson  Madnel  Wisel 

Thomas  Johnson  Jonas  Williams 

John  A.  Kerns  Thomas  Wilson 


Digitized  by 


Google 


724 


mSTOEY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Samuel  Arnold 
Jas.  M.  Briggs 
Solomon  Baker 
Geo.  Bamtrager 
Horace  H.  Buck 
A.  H.  Carpenter 
David  CarithuB 
William  Gashaw 
Abram  Gary 
Emanuel  Deehyne 
John  D.  Eagle 
Warren  Puller 
Andrew  J.  Frank 
Chas.  G.  Gallagher 
Franklin  Grise 
John  M.  Guise 
Henry  Goldsberry 
Lewis  R.  Haswell 
William  Holloway, 
Wm.  H.  Judkins 
John  Kelly 
Albert  H.  Kassins 
P.  O.  Leavitt,  Jr. 


RECRUITS. 

A.  W.  Lcunport 
Frank  Milstead 
Henry  Pellett 
John  R.  Parrott 
Isaac  R.  Personett 
Levi  Robbins 
Joseph  W.  Reed 
Benjamin  Sheak 
BenJ.  D.  Squires 
Nelson  G.  Smith 
John  W.  Smith 
Henry  Smith 
John  M.  Snyder 
Henry  Stevens 
Edwin  Sauers 
Philip  Sedinger 
J.  Q.  A.  Sherman 
Charles  Simms 
Moses  J.  Sheldon 
Ephraim  Shirley 
Frank  Tupper 
J.  R.  Wedgeworth 
Wm.  H.  Wilson 


COMPANY  G. 

Newton  Bingham,  Captain. 

COMPANY  H. 

Henry  Milburn,  Captain. 

The  Forty-eighth  was  mustered  at  Goshen, 
December  6,  1861,  <and  left  for  Fort  Donelson. 
February  1,  1862,  where  it  arrived  on  the 
day  after  the  surrender,  and  then  moved  to 
Paducah  and  in  May  went  up  the  Tennessee 
to  engage  in  the  siege  of  Corinth.  It  was 
then  engaged  in  the  army  of  Rosecrans 
against  Price,  taking  part  in  the  battle  of 
luka,  September  19,  1862,  where  it  lost  one 
hundred  and  sixteen  men,  killed  and  wounded, 
out  of  four  hundred  and  twenty  engaged. 
The  regiment  was  also  in  the  second  battle  of 
Corinth,  under  Rosecrans,  October  3  and  4, 
losing  twenty-six,  killed  and  wounded.  In 
January,  1863,  after  numerous  marches,  the 
Forty-eighth  was  at  Memphis,  where  it  was 
assigned  to  the  first  brigade,  seventh  division, 
of  the  Seventeenith  Army  Corps.  It  was 
next  with  Grant,  in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg, 
where  it  took  part  in  the  engagements  at 
Forty  Hills,  Raymond,  Jackson,  Champion 
Hills  and  in  the  assault  on  Vicksburg,  May  22, 

1863,  where  the  regiment  lost  thirty-eight, 
killed  and  wounded.  After  the  surrender,  the 
Forty-eighth  returned  to  Memphis  and 
marched  across  the  country  to  Chattanooga, 
and  then  to  Iluntsville,  where,  in  Januar\% 

1864,  the   regiment  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran 


organization.  After  the  veteran  furlough,  the 
Forty-eighth  returned  to  iiuntsville  and  then 
joined  the  first  brigade,  third  division.  Fif- 
teenth Army  Corps,  marching  with  Sherman's 
army  from  Atlanta  to  Savannah,  thence 
through  the  Carolinas  to  Washington.  The 
regiment  was  mustered  out  at  Louisville  July 
15,  1865.  The  Forty-eighth  lost  in  battle  dur- 
ing  its  four  years'  service  two  hundred  and 
thirteen  men,  killed  and  wounded. 

The  following  promotions  took  place :  Thos. 
J.  Collins,  from  sergeant  to  first  lieutenant, 
then  to  captain;  Jacob  Augustine,  from  ser- 
geant to  first  lieutenant,  then  to  captain ;  Al- 
bert D.  Jaquith,  from  sergeant  to  second  lieu- 
tenant; Enoch  F.  Buckels  from  corporal  to 
second  lieutenant;  Da\dd  F.  Spain,  from  first 
lieutenant  to  captain;  George  W.  Hart,  from 
second  lieutenant  to  first  lieutenant,  then  to 
captain;  William  B.  Spain,  from  sergeant  to 
second  lieutenant,  then  to  first  lieutenant; 
William  H.  Miller,  from  sergeant  to  second 
lieutenant,  then  to  captain;  Oliver  E.  Slusser, 
from  private  to  second  lieutenant ;  John  A.  M. 
Lapierre,  from  corporal  to  first  lieutenant  and 
adjutant;  Charles  T.  Chandonai,  from  first 
lieutenant  to  captain;  (Jeorge  W.  Coquillard, 
from  private  to  first  lieutenant ;  Bamett  Byr- 
kett,  from  captain  to  major,  then  to  lieutenant 
colonel;  William  A.  Judkins,  from  first  lieu- 
tenant to  captain ;  Crawford  McDonald,  from 
second  lieutenant  to  first  lieutenant;  Barney 
Uline,  from  musician  to  first  lieutenant ;  Wil- 
liam Caldwell,  from  sergeant  to  second  lieu- 
tenant, then  to  captain;  Charles  Mason,  from 
corporal  to  second  lieutenant. 

The  Seventy-third  infantry  was  mustered 
into  the  service  at  South  Bend,  August  16. 
1862,  with  Gilbert  Hathaway  as  colonel.  Com- 
pany C  was  raised  in  this  county.  The  roster 
is  as  follows: 

Alfred  B.  Wade,  Adjutant 

Edward   Bacon,  Quartermaster. 

George  Guyon,  Chaplain. 

Seth  F.  Myers.  Surgeon. 

Charles  H.  Applegate,  Asst.  Surgeon. 

COMPANY  C. 

Charles  W.  Price,  Captain. 

John  A.  Richley,  Lieutenant 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


725 


John   O.    Greenawalt,   Lieutenant. 

Jamee  B.   Finley,   Sergeant: 

Ctaas.  W.  Clements,  Sergeant. 

Lorenzo  Pearson,  Sergeant 

John  M.  Pierce,  Sergeant. 

John  W.  Ruple,  Sergeant. 

John  A.  Romig,  Ck)rporal. 

John  W.   Teel,  CJorporal. 

Nathan  S.  Paurote,  CJorporal. 

Geo.  S.  Brown,  Corporal. 

Benjamin   B.   Cole,   Corporal. 

Wm.  Trueblood,  Corporal. 

A.  N.  Thomas,  Corporal. 

Howard  L.  Kendall,  Corporal. 

W.  E.  Gorsuch,  Musician. 

James  F.  Hall,  Musician. 

Gregory  H.  Cotton,  Wagoner. 


PRIVATES. 


Augustus  Annis 
Hiram  Babcock 
Albert  Ballou 
Orin  Ballou 
Samuel  T.  Barr 
Joseph  Biyins 
Wm.  H.  Brewer 
John  Brewer 
John  Brittenham 
Mahlon  Brown 
Nathaniel  Brown 
S.  J.  Brumfleld 
Milton  M.  Burke 
John  Clark 
Jas.  A.  Curtis 
Andrew  Davis 
Lerenzo  Dively 
Creorge  Dively 
James  R.  Eaton 
John  Petzer 
Newton  M.  Finch 
Abram  Finney 
13gl)ert  Finney 
Allen  Frame 
John  A.  Prazer 
Wm.  M.  Fulmer 
Michael  Gilvey 
Henry  Herring 
John  Henry 
William  H.  Huey 
Jacob  Hinebaugh 
Wm.  B.  Hoover 
Christian  Hosier 
David  M.  Houser 
John  Huber 
Christian  King 
Barton  H.  Jay 
Eph.  T.  Lane 
Louis  Larlo 
James  Ledwick 


Simon  Lembeck 
Joseph   Liggett 
Moses  Lonzo 
Jacob  Loy 
Guide  Madgeburg 
John  J.  Mapes 
Samuel  D.  Marter 
Ezra  Marter 
George  Mattes 
John  May 
J.  W.  McDaniel 
E.  K.  McGoggy 
Wm.   McGowan 
Jos.  P.  McLloyd 
Jeremiah   P.   Miller 
John  H.  Miller 
Wm.  H.  Moon 
Henry  C.  Morgan 
John  O'Conner 
Wm.  T.  Parrish 
George  Paul 
Hiram  Pearson 
John  V.  Quigley 
George  W.    Quigley 
Wm.  Roof 
Asbury  Rose 
Daniel  Schiller 
Tiras  Schreffler 
John  B.   Shultz 
John  T.  Slick 
Henry  C.  Steele 
Austin  Steele 
Frederick  Stone 
James  B.  Streets 
Conrad  Swank 
Moses  Teel 
John  M.  Thompson 
Melvin  P.  Turner 
R.  A.  Vangeisen 
Charles  Zu  Tavern 


RECRUITS. 
Nathaniel  Burden  Wm.  G.  Polk 

Woodford  Cothia  Levi  Roberts 

Thos.  M.  Hughly 

PRIVATES— IN  DIFFERENT  COMPANIES. 


Chas.  L.  Bulhand 
Timothy    Hagerty 
Abner  S.  Haskin 
Christian    Kilmer 
John  W.  Paxon 


Joseph  Robinson 
James  S.  Wigmore 
J.  B.  Wilkinson 
George  Westfall 
Otto  World 


On  October  1,  1862,  the  Seventy-third  was 
assigned  to  the  Twentieth  brigade,  Sixth  di- 
vision of  Buell's  army  and  joined  in  the  pur- 
suit of  Bragg.  On  November  7  the  regiment 
surprised  and  captured  Gallatin,  Tennessee. 
It  took  a  gallant  part  in  the  battle  of  Stone's 
River,  under  Rosecrans,  from  December  29, 

1862,  until  January  3,  1863.     On  April  10, 

1863,  the  regiment  was  mounted  and  joined 
Colonel  A.  D.  Streight's  famous  raid,  in  which 
the  Seventy-third  displayed  the  ^utmost  valor. 
On  May  the  second,  in  an  engagement  at 
Blount's  Farm,  Alabama,  the  brave  colonel, 
Gilbert  Hathaway,  fell  mortally  wounded.  On 
May  the  third  Colonel  Streight  was  forced  to 
surrender,  at  Cedar  Bluffs,  Alabama.  The 
men  were  forwarded  north  and  exchanged, 
but  the  greater  part  of  the  oflScers  were  kept 
in  prison  for  nearly  two  years.    On  March  28, 

1864,  Major  Wade,  having  been  released  from 
prison,  assumed  command  of  the  regiment. 
Prom  this  time  until  April,  1865,  the  Seventy- 
third  was  attached  to  the  first  brigade,  fourth 
division,  Twentieth  Army  Corps.  In  Septem- 
ber and  October,  1864,  the  regiment,  then 
under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Wade,  won  great 
renown  in  its  defense  of  Decatur,  Alabama, 
first  against  General  Buford  with  four  thou- 
sand men,  and  afterwards  against  Hood's 
whole  army  of  thirty-five  thousand  men.  The 
strength  of  the  garrison  while  resisting  Bu- 
ford was  but  five  hundred  men,  and  while 
withstanding  Hood's  army  was  but  five  thou- 
sand. Hood  raised  the  siege,  saying  it  would 
cost  more  to  take  the  place  than  it  was  worth. 
The  remainder  of  the  service  was  in  skirmish- 
ing and  guarding  railroad  communications. 
On  July  1,.  1865,  the  regiment  was  mustered 
( ut  >\t  Nashville. 

Of  the  members  of  Company  C  two  were 
killed  in  battle,  two  accidentally  killed,  one 
killed  in  military  prison,  while  twenty-one 
died  of  wounds  or  disease.  Alfred  B.  Wade 
was  promoted  from  adjutant  to  major,  then 
to  lieutenant  colonel  and  finally  to  colonel; 
John  A.  Eichley,  from  first  lieutenant  to  cap- 
tain ;  Alexander  N.  Thomas,  from  corporal  to 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


726 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


first   lieutenant,    and   John   Y.    Slick,    from 
private  to  second  lieutenant. 

The  Eighty-seventh  infantry  was  organized 
at  South  Bend,  August  28, 1862,  with  Kline  G. 
Shryock  as  colonel,  and  mustered  into  the  ser- 
vice at  Indianapolis  on  the  31st  of  the  same 
month.  Company  K  and  some  members  of 
other  companies  were  from  St.  Joseph  county. 
The  roster  of  those  from  this  county  is  as  fol- 


Joseph  R.  Albright,  Chaplain. 

Samuitl  Hlggeabotham,  Surgeon. 

COMPANY  K. 

John  Q.  Wheeler,  Captain: 

George  H.  Niles,  Lieutenant 

James  M.  Holliday,  Lieutenant. 

John  A.  BegUn,  Sergeant. 

John  W.  Boyd,  Sergeant 

Wm.  H.  Bulla,  Corporal. 

Chas.  B.  Tutt,  Corporal. 

Alonzo  S.  Williams,  Corporal. 

Francis  M.  Milliken,  Corporal. 

Chas.  E.  Hutaon,  Corporal. 

Daniel  Boston,  Corporal. 

William  Cobb,  Musician. 


PRIVATES. 


Luke  A.  Aldick 
Henry  J.  Ashley 
Edwin  A.  Bartlett 
Jacob  H.  Bell 
Phil.  Bradley 
John  Burgner 
Charles  Buyssee 
A.  J.  Chrisman 
Wm.  Currier 
Adam  Deelman 
Herman  Dirst 
Daniel  N.  Dressier 
John  A.  Ferris 
Peter  Fleming 
Bbert  Gay 
Wallace  S.  Ghrist 
Wm.  H.  Gordon 
H.  C.  Greenleaf 
Geo.  Guibert 
Henry  C.  Harris 
Henry  C.  Hays 
A.  Heckathorn 
Peter  Heminger 
Zebedee  James 
Ira  Jones 
John  Jones 


Irwin  H.  Kelsey 
Lawyous  Leslie 
Albert  R.  Leslie 
Chas.  W.  Long 
Geo.  E.  Long 
Geo.  H.  Martllng 
John  H.  Martin 
Wm.  H.  Maughermar 
John  G.  Maughermar 
John  A.   McMichael 
Loren  C.  Miller 
Edward  Molloy 
Jonas  Odell 
Nathan  F.  F.  Russ 
Benjamin  Schmidt 
Alexander  Spousler 
Geo.  S.  Stevens 
Jas.  A.  Stuckey 
John  Sumstaine 
Geo.  C  Sweeney 
Oscar  Terr  ill 
Asher  Turner 
Lewis  T.  Van  Nest 
Garrett  Van  Riper 
John  Van  Riper 
Bradford  Van  Riper 


Jacob  H.  Keifer 

RECRUITS. 
Gabriel  M.  Everhart  John   H.   Leslie 

Abraham  C.  Pyle 

Benjamin   F.   Hooten,   Musician. 
COMPANY  G. 
John  M.  Roof  T.  Montgomery 

Michael  Gilfoyle  Ephraim  Moffltt 

John  Garner  Amos  Rogers 

At  Louisville,  on  September  1.  1862.  the 
regiment  was  assigned  to  General  Burbridge's 


brigade,  aud  on  October  1  it  was  transferred 
to  the  third  brigade,  third  division  of  the 
Fourteenth  Army  Corps  and  took  part  in 
Buell's  campaign,  including  an  engagement  at 
Springfield,  October  6,  and  the  battle  of  Perry- 
ville,  October  8.  The  regiment  moved  from 
point  to  point  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  for 
several  months  after  this,  engaging  in  skir- 
mishes with  Forrest  and  other  commands.  On 
March  28,  1863,  Colonel  Shryock  resigned  and 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Newell  was  promoted  to 
his  place.  Colonel  Gleason  was  finally  brevet- 
ted  brigadier  general.  The  regiment  bore  a 
conspicuous  part  in  the  campaign  against 
Chattanooga,  and  suffered  very  severely  in  the 
great  battle  of  Chickamauga,  September  19 
and  20,  1863,  losing  forty  killed,  one  hundred 
and  forty-two  wounded  and  eight  missing. 
Afterwards  the  regiment  was  assigned  to  thp 
second  brigade,  third  division.  Fourteenth 
Army  Corps.  On  November  25th  the  ^gi- 
ment  was  on  the  front  line  storming  up  Mis- 
sionary Ridge,  and  there  lost  in  killed  and 
wounded  sixteen.  It  took  part  in  the  numer- 
ous engagements  of  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
In  a  charge  at  Utoy's  Creek,  before  Atlanta, 
on  August  4,  1864,  the  regiment  lost  seven- 
teen men  killed  and  wounded.  After  the 
capture  of  Atlanta  the  Eighty-seventh  joined 
with  its  corps  in  the  pursuit  of  Hood,  and 
then  turned  to  take  its  part  in  Sherman's 
march  to  the  sea,  nwirehing  into  Savannah  on 
January  30,  1865.  In  the  march  through  the 
Carolinas,  after  the  surrender  of  Johnston's 
army,  the  regiment  went  by  way  of  Richmond 
to  the  city  of  Washington,  where  it  partici- 
pated in  the  grand  review.  On  June  10,  1865. 
the  Eighty-seventh  was  mustered  out  and  re- 
turned to  Indianapolis. 

The  promotions  in  Company  K  were :  James 
M.  HoUiday,  from  second  lieutenant  to  cap- 
tain, and  Andrew  J.  Chrisman,  from  private 
to  first  lieutenant. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-eighth  in- 
fantry rendezvoused  at  Michigan  City  and 
was  mustered  into  the  service  March  18,  1864. 
Company  D  was  made  up  wholly  from  St. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


727 


Joseph  county,  and  there  were  St.   Joseph 

county  men  in  other  companies.    Those  in  the 

regiment  from  this  county  were : 

COBIPANY  D. 

John  M.  Pierce,  Captain. 

Solomon  H.  Fountain,  Lieutenant 

William  W.  Finch,  Lieutenant. 

Erastus  A.  Harris,  Sergeant. 

Geo.  O.  Finch,  Serjeant 

Zebedee  James,  Sergeant. 

John  L.  Cottrell,  Sergeant 

Jacob  Hbse,  Sergeant 

David  Wlttner,  Corporal 

Aquilla  B.  Krelder,  Corporal. 

WuL  B.  Green,  Corporal. 

Jacob  Hardy,  Corporal. 

James  T.  Marsh,  Corporal. 

Herbert  Waxham,  Corporal. 

Jesse  Hathaway,   Corporal. 

Jos.  R.  Emery,  Corporal. 

Martin  Kelley,  Wagoner. 

PRIVATES. 


Christian  Myers 
J.  C.  McEnderfer 
P.  A.  McEnderfer 
Warren  Munday 
Edward  McCloud 
Hiram  McAfee 


William  H.  Marshall 
Francis  M.  Neidlgh 
Wm.  Runnlon 
Wm.  F.  Smlser 
Levi  Stanbrough 
James  Thompson 


John  W.  Anderson 
John  Avery 
Wm.  H.  Avery 
Antonia  Aubert 
Chas.  H.  Ballinger 
Edward  Benway 
Xavler  Bodway 
Wm.  O.  Blyler 
William  Buchtel 
Jonathan  Buchtel 
Wm.  D.  Buchtel 
Geo.  W.  Bowen 
Daniel  W.  Baker 
E^nsley  Caudle 
Bishop  R.  C.  Ooho 
Sylvanus  Clay 
Francis  Donaghue 
Michael  J.  Ditch 
Eld  ward  Emery 
Zlmri  Finch 
Franklin  A.  Finch 
Peter  Fisher 
Wm.  A.  Frasler 
Jackson  Friar 
Albert  C.  Green 
Hugh  Gillen 
Samuel  Getting 
Daniel  Hathaway 
Peter  Hathaway 
Edward  Hughes 
Patrick  Hughes 
Simon  S.  Huyler 
Thomas  J.  Huyler 
C.  M.  Hanville 
John  Hemlnger 
James  M.  Hardy 
Emalej  H.  Hardly 
James  Hardy 
David  N.  Huey 
Spencer  Hagerty 
John  E.  Kelder 


Daniel  Kiser 
Augustus  A.  Lario 
A.  Lammadee 
George  Llphart 
Dennis  Lyons 
Wm.  Lichtenberger 
William  A.  Ligget 
John  A.  Long 
Isaac  Miller 
Chas.  McCann 
Casper  Mayer 
Arthur  J.  Matthews 
James  Moon 
Owen  McLear 
James  Mlnzey 
Isaiah  T.  Milner 
Caleb  Mangus 
Columbus  Neddo 
Patrick  Orange 
Alonzo  Oliver 
Henry  Owens 
M.  E.  O'Cbnnor 
John  O'Ragen 
Leonard  M.  Odiome 
Kane  Pilson 
(Jeorge  Price 
Mordecai  M.  Price 
John  Runnlon 
John  Ramsberger 
John  M.  Rowe 
John  I.  Smith 
James  Smith 
Valentine  Smeltz 
Daniel  Shearer 
H.  Snodgrass 
H.  H.  Stevens 
Joseph  Shlnewa 
John  Wier 
Emanuel  Wlllard 
Wm.  O.  WiUiamB 
Silas  Toung 


John  D.  Kllnk 

RECRUITS. 
Andrew  J.  Oilman  Wm.  H.  McDonald 

Albert  McFarland  Wm.  D.  Morgan 


OTHER  COMPANIES. 

Harris  Butler  Wm.  C.  Fluckey 

John  Gaa  Wm.  Lambert 

Jesse  Palmer  Robert  A.  Moon 

Washington  Ager  Geo.  W.  Mullen 

BenJ.  B.  Bowen  John  Wolf 
Henry  Cobb 

On  March  23,  1864,  the  re^ment  left  Mich- 
igan City  for  Nashville,  where  it  was  assi^ed 
to  the  first  brigade  of  the  division  commanded 
by  Greneral  Hovey,  afterwards  designated  as 
the  first  division  of  the  Twenty-third  Army 
Corps,  under  command  of  General  Schofield. 
The  corps  took  part  in  the  Atlanta  campaign, 
engaging  the  enemy  at  Resaca,  Dallas,  New 
Hope  Church,  Lost  Mountain,  Kenesaw  Moun- 
tain, Atlanta  and  Jonesboro.  On  June  6, 
1864,  Colonel  DeHart  being  disabled  from 
wounds,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Jasper  Packard 
assumed  command  of  the  regiment.  On  Octo- 
ber, the  third  the  twenty-third  corps  was  de- 
tached from  Sherman's  army  and  ordered  to 
report  to  General  Thomas  at  Chattanooga, 
whose  army  proceeded  to  thwart  Hood's  effort 
to  re-capture  Tennessee.  The  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-eighth  was  engaged  at  the  severe 
fight  at  Franklin,  where  Hood  received  his 
first  check.  On  December  15,  1864,  Thomas 
attacked  Hood  at  Nashville  and  totally  routed 
his  army.  On  January  5,  1865,  the  regiment 
having  joined  in  the  pursuit  of  Hood  as  far 
as  Columbia,  Tennessee,  marched  thence  to 
Clifton  on  the  Tennessee,  river,  and  proceeded 
by  boat  to  Cincinnati,  and  by  rail  to  Wash- 
ington. On  February  the  twentieth  it  em- 
barked by  steamer  for  Fort  Fisher,  but  landed 
at  Morehead  City,  North  Carolina,  and  went 
thence  by  rail  to  Newburn.  For  some  time 
thereafter  the  regiment  was  engaged  guarding 
railroads,  marching  and  skirmishing  constant- 
ly. On  April  29,  1865,  Colonel  DeHart  was 
mustered  out  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Pack- 
ard became  colonel.  He  was  afterwards 
brevetted  as  brigadier  general.  The  regiment 
was  not  mustered  out  until  1866.'   The  pro- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


728 


fflSTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


motions  in  Company  D  were :  John  M.  Pierce, 
from  captain  to  major;  Erastus  A.  Harris, 
from  sergeant  to  second  lieutenant,  then  to 
first  lieutenant;  George  0.  Pinch,  from  ser- 
geant to  second  lieutenant. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-eighth  in- 
fantry was  mustered  into  the  service  for  one 
hundred  days,  on  May  27, 1864,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  on  September  30,  1864.  James  H. 
Shannon  was  colonel.  Company  H  was  from 
St.  Joseph  county.  The  following  is  the 
roster : 

James  K.  Gore,  Captain. 

John  T.  KeUogg,  Lieutenant 

Jolm  H.  Quigg,  Lieutenant. 

PRIVATES. 


COMPANY  L 

Calvin  R.  Stillson,  Captain. 

Alexis  S.  Bertrand,  Lieutenant 

Henry  Smyser,  Lieutenant. 


PRIVATES. 


William  Austin 
George  Beeingor 
Martin  Beiger 
Harvey  Beal 
Frank  Bingham 
Abraham  Boys 
Alex  J.  Bodkin 
Jacob  Bowers 
James  C.  Boyd 
Colonel  Bond 
Harvey  Brower 
Almon  Brittell 
Willis  Carlton 
Christopher  CoUier 
Calvin  Crain 
Elmer  Crockett 
Wm.  S.  Leno 
James  Dixon 
Frank  R.  Eb^rhart 
Gabriel  Ernst 
Waverly  Ferris 
Finley  Farris 
Martin  Fulmer 
Lewis  Freeman 
Marion  Garrison 
Henry  Gilbert 
Michael  Grenert 
James  Harris 
Henry  Harris 
N.  Hollingshead 
John  Holston 
George  Hutchinson 
Albert  G.  Johnson 
Henry  King 
Eidward  Kurtz 
Eidwin  Laidlow 
Wm.  Leonard 


Thos.  B.  Loughman 
Chas.  Metzger 
Edward  Michael 
John  BiUbum 
Sylvester  McDonough 
Milo  Macumber 
Eidwin  Martin 
Geo.  F.  Niles 
Wm.  H.  Oliver 
Joseph  Onsalman 
Asahel  Peck 
Enos  F.  Pettit 
Braymond  Pickett 
Charles  Piatz 
Dasery  Rayniers 
Charles  Reynolds 
James  Riddle 
Samuel  C.  Roach 
John  Sandilands 
Daniel  Seifert 
William  Sherer 
Alfred  Seniard 
Brevet  Simanton 
Levi  Sibley 
Adam  Slough 
Levi  Slusser 
James  Spake 
E.  N.  B.  Sweetland 
Christ  Taylor 
Elliott  Tutt 
Roberts  Usher 
Samuel  H.  Vine 
Wm.  H.  Warren 
Jacob  Ward 
Jacob  Weber 
John  Weiss 
Joseph  Young 


The  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth  infantry 
was  organized  at  Indianapolis,  April  18, 
1865,  with  John  M.  Wilson  as  colonel.  Com- 
pany I  was  principally  from  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty, while  several  other  companies  had  St. 
Joseph  county  men  in  their  ranks.  Those 
from  this  countv  were: 


Mahlon  W.  Auten 
Andrew  Aspey 
James  Adams 
John  F.  Anderson 
William  Bassett 
Henry  Berg 
Wm.  C.  Blyler 
Chas.  H.  Bell 
Lewis  V.  Bailey 
Alexander  Bonday 
Alexander  J.   Bodkin 
Samuel  Byerly,  Jr. 
Jerry  W.  Chenay 
Joseph  Cotton 
John  Creed 
Theodore  Eppley 
Geo.  M.  Ebberson 
Frederick  Flagle 
Celestine  Galling 
Henry  C.  Hahn 
Peter  Hosier 
Wm.  J.  Harris 
Stephan  Hager 
Charles  Hall 
Gottfrey  Heinzman 
John  M.  Keiner 
Wm.  KoUar 
BenJ.  B.  Kimble 
Frederick  Laflore 
David  M.  Miller 
Albert  Meikel 
Chas.  L.  Metzger 
John  T.  Morgan 
Alfred  Metzger 
Stephen  Moore 
Thomas  Monhue 
Wayne  McMichael 
Peter  McManus 


Leonldas  Norris 
Henry  Nicholson 
Joseph  S.  Ordway 
Oliver  Ferry 
Charles  Ferry 
Henry  C.  Fenwell 
Wm.  H.  Fierce 
David  R.  Roof 
Henry  Rouch 
Salathiel  Reeves 
Jacob  Rinehart 
Wm.  A.  Robinson 
Alanson  Ross 
Josiah  F.  Smyser 
David  Stevens 
Robt  M.  Sample 
Chas.  A.  Simpson 
Daniel  Stonebille 
Frederick  Smith 
Ephraim  Schwin 
Chas.  C.  Staples 
Francis  Sauls 
John  W.  Treanor 
William  Turner 
Wm.  H.  Thomas 
Henry  H.  Varney 
Nathan  Vanderhoof 
John  H.  Woofter 
David  T.  Webb 
George  Webb 
Abraham  Webber 
Frank  Waner 
Simeon  Watklns 
Geo.  V.  Williams 
Samuel  G.  Welton 
Wm.  B.  Whitmore 
Nathan  Tingst 


COMPANY  G. 
John  Heckathorn  Adam  Slough 

Geo.  W.  Holmes  Michael  Slough 

John  Ketring 

COMPANY  H. 


Krandall  G.  Kidder 
Elijah  MUls 
James  Martin 
William  McGowan 
Thomas  Singleton 
Noah  Smith 
James  Six 
John  Taylor 
Jeremiah  Wood 


(Jeorge  A.  Anderson 
F.  J.  Beckwith 
Alfred  A.  Butler 
Peter  Cummins 
Robert  dark 
Wm.  W.  Evans 
George  Herrman 
Abraham  Heller 
Avllda  Hardy 
David  Haseldon 

The  following  were  the  promotions:  Alex- 
ander J.  Bodkin,  from  private  to  sergeant; 
David  M.  Miller,  from  private  to  sergeant; 
William  A.  Robinson,  from  private  to  ser- 
geant ;  Josiah  P.  Smyser,  from  private  to  ser- 
greant;  William  Turner,  from  private  to  ser- 
preant;  Andrew  Aspey,  from  private  to  cor- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP  ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


729 


poral;  John  T.  Morgan,  from  private  to  cor- 
poral; Peter  MeManus,  from  private  to  cor- 
poral; Joseph  S.  Ordway,  from  private  to 
corporal;  Daniel  Stonebill,  from  private  to 
corporal ;  Henry  Berg,  from  private  to  musi- 
cian; Greorge  V.  Williams,  from  private  to 
musician. 

The  Twelfth  cavalry  was  organized  at  Ken- 
dallville,  March  1,  1864,  with  Edward  Ander- 
son as  colonel.  Company  H  and  a  few  mem- 
bers of  other  companies  were  from  this  coun- 
ty. This  was  the  only  cavalry  organization  in 
which  St.  Joseph  county  was  represented.  The 
raster  is  as  follows : 

COMPANY  H. 

Amos  Dayhuff,  Captain. 

Joseph  Turnock,  Lieutenant. 

Henry  R.  Fields,  Lieutenant 

PRIVATES. 


David  Vaumerdstrand 
Lewis  Viney 
Delos  M.  Woodbury 
Alden  Whitney 
William  Wood 
John  Wood 


George  W.  Wright 
Solomon  S.  Woollet 
Lee  Watkins 
Jos.  Wilcoxson 
Reinhold  Zweite 


Wm.  Augustine 
David  Augustine 
Aaron  E.  Abdill 
Joseph  S.  Abdill 
BenJ.  J.  Bamhart 
Leander  N.  Ball 
Wilber  W.  Ball 
Hansom  M.  Beck 
David  Baker 
Strong  Beer 
Alexis  S.  Brown 
Erastus  Brown 
James  M.  Brown 
William  Crumb 
Luther  Curtis 
Andrew  Curtis 
Henry  Crocker 
Thomas  Claffy 
Daniel  H.  Cotton 
John  Clark 
Daniel  M.  Castellen 
Wm.  Carpent&r 
Andrew  J.  Caruthers 
Daniel  N.  Dressier 
Enoe  Durst 
Chas.  A.  Dewey 
Madison  Donaldson 
Philip  E.  Ditto 
Wm.  T.  Diltz 
William  P.  Ells 
Geo.  H.  Eddy 
Mozier  Frazier 
Oliver  R.  Pulmer 
Amos  Friend 
Wm.  L.  Green 
Chas.  B.  Graham 
James  W.  Goit 
John  Herman 
Peter  W.  Herman 
Reuben  Herman 
Noah  Hay 

Daniel   Hollingshead 
Wm.  Harlin 


Martin  Hillard 
Henry  Hausman 
Benj.  F.  Hague 
Seraphine  Krill 
Daniel  P.  Kelley 
Jos.  E.  Liggit 
Jos.  Kj,  Leggitt 
Frederick  Long 
Horton  McNabb 
Josiah  Morrow 
Marcus  L.  Miller 
Lewis  C.  McBride 
Adam  Maudlin 
Richard  Maxwell 
Jas.  F.  McDanlel 
Jacob  Martin 
George  W.  McQuiston 
Fred  D.  Metz 
John  Noel 
Robert  H.  Nler 
Jacob  B.  Ocker 
Jerome  Pippenger 
Alexander  Penrod 
Franklin  Patridge 
Malachi  Pool 
Wm.  M.  Reece 
Geo.   Rittig 
Edward  Reggion 
Martin  G.  Robinson 
Joseph  Schock 
Jacob  Summey 
Benjamin  Scholtz 
Nehemiah  Smith 
Jacob  Smith 
David  H.  Smith 
Martin  Swyhart 
Grin  J.  Simpson 
Jerome  Shamp 
Samuel  J.  Staffer 
John  Sheaks 
Sanford  Sheaks 
Chas.  Throckmorton 
John  Tank 


William  Harris 
George  W.  Mann 
Francis  Mitchell 


RECRUITS. 

Wm.  H.  B.  Turner 
Christian  Tank 
Emerson  Woodbury 
OTHER  COMPANIES. 
Edwin  Turnock,  oaptain. 
PRIVATES. 
Enoch  Lancaster  llobert  Vandoosen- 

Frederick  Newman  Daniel  Vandoosen 

But  six  companies  of  the  regiment  were 
mounted,  and  all  were  armed  as  infantry  until 
the  arrival  of  the  regiment  at  Louisville, 
where  cavalry  arms  were  issued  to  the  mount- 
ed companies.  One  of  the  mounted  companies 
was  Company  H.  The  companies  were  in 
camp  of  instruction  at  Nashville  for  three 
weeks  and  started  for  Huntsville,  Alabama, 
May  29,  1864.  The  duty  assigned  to  the 
Twelfth  was  the  protection  of  the  railroads 
against  bands  of  guerrillas  and  bushwhackers, 
with  whom  there  were  numerous  skirmishes. 
On  September  15,  1864,  the  regiment  reported 
to  Major-General  Milroy  at  Tullahoma  and 
was  assigned  to  the  defense  of  that  post. 
Three  of  the  mounted  companies — C,  D,  and 
H — took  part  in  the  defense  of  Huntsville 
against  Forrest,  October  1,  1864.  Upon  the 
evacuation  of  Tullahoma,  November  26,  1864, 
the  regiment  proceeded  to  Murfreesboro  and 
took  part  in  the  battles  of  Wilkinson's  Pike 
and  Overall's  Creek  and  in  other  skirmishes 
and  then  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Nash- 
ville, where  it  was  assigned  to  the  second 
brigade,  seventh  division,  cavalry  corps.  On 
February  11,  1865,  the  regiment  embarked  for 
New  Orleans,  but  subsequently  was  ordered 
to  disembark  at  Vicksburg  to  go  on  a  raid 
along  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  railroad.  This 
order  also  was  countermanded  and  the  regi- 
ment again  embarked  for  New  Orleans,  whence 
it  proceeded  to  Navy  Cove,  Mobile  Bay,  and 
reported  to  Major-General  Canby.  On  April 
17,  1865,  after  the  fall  of  Mobile,  the  regi- 
ment reported  to  General  Grierson,  and,  under 
command  of  Major  William  H.  Calkins,  took 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


730 


fflSTOKY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


.  part  in  the  raid  of  over  eight  hundred  miles 
through  Alabama,  Georgia  and  Mississippi, 
arriving  at  Columbus,  in  the  last  state,  May 
28,  1865.  The  regiment  was  thereafter  en- 
gaged at  and  around  Columbus,  Grenada, 
Austin  and  other  points  in  Mississippi,  until 
its  muster  out  at  Vicksburg  in  November, 
after  which  it  arrived  at  Indianapolis,  Novem- 
ber .16,  1865.  The  members  were  finally 
paid  and  received  their  discharges  November 
22,  1865. 

Five  members  of  Company  H  died  from 
wounds  and  six  from  disease.  The  promo- 
tions were:  Joseph  Tumock,  from  first  lieu- 
tenant to  captain ;  Henry  R.  Fields,  from  sec- 
ond   lieutenant    to    first    lieutenant;    Alden 

_ Whitney,  from  private  to  second  lieutenant; 
Daniel  N.  Dressier,  from  private  to  second 
lieutenant,  then  to  first  lieutenant;  Hansom 
M.  Beck,  from  private  to  second  lieutenant; 
William  Augustine,  from  private  to  sergeant ; 
Josiah  Morrow,  from  private  to  sergeant; 
William  M.  Reece,  from  private  to  sergeant; 
Daniel  M.  Castellen,  from  private  to  quarter- 
master sergeant;  John  Noel,  from  private  to 
commissary  sergeant;  Andrew  J.  Caruthers, 
from  private  to  bugler;  David  Augustine, 
from  private  to  corporal ;  David  Baker,  from 
private  to  corporal;  Daniel  H.  Cotton,  from 
private  to  corporal;  Peter  W.  Hermaij,  from 
private  to  corporal;  George  W.  Wright,  from 
private  to  corporal. 

The  Twenty-first  Battery,  light  artillery, 
was  principally  made  up  from  St.  Joseph  and 
Laporte  counties.  It  was  mustered  into  the 
service  at  Indianapolis,  September  9,  1862, 
with  William  W.  Andrew  as  captain.  Those 
who  enlisted  from  St.  Joseph  county  were  as 
follows : 

William  E.  Chess,  Second  Lieutenant 
Alfred  B.  Miller,  Quartermaster  Sergeant. 
SERGEANTS. 

Henry  C.  Balrd  Wm.  M.  Whitten 

Geo.  P.  Hicks 

CORPORAIiS. 
Joseph  Young  David  B.  Miller 

David  M.  Lobdell  Frank  Pennwell 

Wm.  H.  H.  Rltter  Lewis  Keller 

William  Gross 
George  P.  Corey,  Bugler. 


PRIVATES. 

Welchom  Bernhart  Martin  M.  Miller 

James  E.  Blake  Addison  McNabb 

Wesley  Barrett  Ezra  F.  McNabb 

BenJ.  Coonley  George  Meyer 

Jay  S.  Carpenter  John  J.  Meyer 

William  H.  Dodd  John  Mather 

Absalom  Gibson  Willard  Orvis 

Geo.  B.  Gibson  Simon  P.  Peffley 

James  H.  Green  Alexander  Peak 

Edward  M.  Green  Jeremiah  Ryan 

Wm.  S.  Hoover  Daniel  Roof 

Elijah  H.  Hartzell  David  M.  Ritter 

Hiram  E.  Hardman  Marcus  D.  Ritter 

Benj.  P.  Huff  Thos.  J.  Slick 

Wm.  H.  Huff  Peter  Schafer 

Aaron  HufT  Eugene  Siexas 

Edw.  P.  Holloway  John  H.  Shank 

John  A.  Heintzman  Chas.  J.  Taylor 

James  A.  Johnson  Ami  H.  Tarbell 

Henry  Johnson  John  Vandom 

Jos.  Keasey,  Jr.  Prosper  Wagoner 

Jas.  D.  Kent  Augustus  Wickely 

RECRUITS. 

S.  Brandenburg  Geo.  W.  Llnd 

John  Blyler  Geo.  McCrary 

Allen  Balin  Benjamin  Murphy 

Frederick  Bills  Jas.  T.  McCarty 

N.  J.  Bernhard  John  McCombe 

Jas.  E.  Busett  Lambert  McCombe 

W.  H.  n.  Bonebrake  Chas.  P.  Metcalf 

Franklin  Best  Charles  Maurer 

Wm.  G.  Cease  Geo.  W.  Orvls 

Samuel  Casteter  Peter  Osborne 

Richard  Cummings  William  Pool 

Geo.   A.   Dodd  Henry  Peters 

John  B.  Drury  Alvah  B.  Putnam 

Lewis  T.  Eads  Wm.  Phinney 

Patrick  J.  Gorman  Jacob  Reidlnger 

John    Hoose  Isaac  Runnion 

Wm.  C.  Heck  Alexander  Staples 

J.  W.  Ingersoll  Henry  Staples 

Samuel  Jennings  Mark  Sandmeir 

Jonathan  Knepp  Thomas  SoUenburger 

John  Kleindinst  Peter  Vogle 

Daniel  Kindlg  Henry  Woolman 

Cyrenius  Keller  Jesse  W.  Whiteman 

Jacob  Karcher  Thomas  J.  West 

Anthony  Lamarind  John  White 

The  Twenty-first  Battery  was  occupied  in 
Kentucky  opposinpr  Kirby  Smith  until  Febru- 
ary 2,  1863,  when  it  proceeded  to  Nashville 
and  Carthage,  Tenijessee.  It  took  part  in  an 
expedition  to  Rome,  Georgia,  where  there  were 
skirmishes  with  the  enemy,  March  19  and  20, 
1863,  after  which  it  returned  to  Carthagre  and 
engaged  in  many  other  expeditions  and  skir- 
mishes from  that  point.  On  June  3,  1863,  the 
battery  proceeded  to  join  Reynolds*  division 
of  Rosecrans'  army  at  Murfreesboro,  and  took 
part  in  the  campaign  against  Chattanooga 
and  also  participated  in  the  battle  of  Chieka- 
mauga   and   in   the   storming   of  Missionary 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


731 


Ridge.  During  the  summer  of  1864,  it  was 
engaged  at  different  points  against  Forrest, 
and  on  Hood's  advanee  moved  to  Nashville, 
where  it  rendered  effective  service  December 
15  and  16,  1864.  On  June  21,  1865,  the  bat- 
tery arrived  at  Indianapolis,  to  be  mustered 
out  of  service.  The  Twenty-first  Battery  went 
out  with  one  hundred  and  forty-one  men  and 
five  officers  and  received  sixty-nine  recruits. 
The  losses  were :  Killed  in  action,  two ;  died 
of  wounds,  one;  died  of  accidental  injury, 
two ;  died  of  disease,  twenty-one.  The  promo- 
tions were:  William  E.  Chess,  from  second 
lieutenant  to  first  lieutenant;  William  M. 
Whitten,  from  sergeant  to  second  lieutenant ; 
Alfred  B.  Miller,  from  quartermaster  sergeant 
to  second  lieutenant. 

There  were  numerous  others  soldiers  from 
St.  Joseph  county  in  other  Indiana  organ- 
izations, and  indeed  in  the  organizations  of 
other  states,  particularly  Ohio,  Michigan  and 
Illinois,  but  it  is  believed  that  the  foregoing 
lists  contain  the  names  of  those  that  belonged 
to  distinct  organizations  from  this  county. 
Several  soldiers  from  this  county  are  said  to 
have  been  in  the  Twenty-third  Indiana  in- 
fantry. There  were  also  during  the  period  of 
service  occasional  transfers  from  one  regiment 
to  another,  chiefly  in  cases  where  recruits  in  a 
regiment  were  required  to  serve  out  their  time 
after  the  rest  of  the  regiment  had  been  mus- 
tered out.  In  the  Fifteenth  infantry,  for  ex- 
ample, there  was  such  a  transfer  to  the  Seven- 
teenth mounted  infantry.  There  were  also 
transfers  to  the  Forty-eighth  from  the 
Twelfth,  Eighty-third,  Ninety-seventh,  Nine- 
ty-ninth, and  perhaps  also  other  like  trans- 
fers. In  this  way  discrepancies  in  the  state- 
ments as  to  membership  in  different  organ- 
izations may  in  many  cases  be  accounted  for. 

Sec.  2.  The  Roll  op  Honor. — The  follow- 
ing list  gives,  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained, 
the  names  odf  soldiers  of  all  wars,  from  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  to  the  war  with  Spain, 
whose  bodies  are  interred  in  St.  Joseph 
county  cemeteries,  and  also  soldiers  from  this 

Vol.  IT— » 


county  whose  bodies  are  buried  in  southern 


graves : 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR 
Peter  Roof,  Sr. 
Isaac  Robs. 
WAR  OP  1812. 


Artemus  Johnson 
Peter  Johnson 
John  Mack,  Sr. 
Jesse  K.  Platz 
Jehu  Meredith 
Peter  Roof,  Jr. 
Olayboume  Smith 
John  Sample 


Thomas  J.  Allen 
John  B.   Chandonia 
Daniel  Cottrell 
Ransom  Curtis 
Theophlus  Case 
Archibald  Defrees 
Christopher  Emerick 
Daniel  Heck 
Christopher  Lenz 

MEXICAN  WAR. 
Henry  J.  Blowney  John  Pendl 

John  H.  Fisher  John  B.  Raymond 

George  F.  Frank  William  S.  Saunders 

Hugh  L.   Hinds  Albert  Steinbeck 

Edwin  T.  Lucado  Eugene  N.  B.  Sweetland 

John  Owen  Frank  X.  Vilare 

Moses  Peltier 

WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


City 
John  Auten 
John  E.  Alexander 
Theodore  Allen 
Andrew  Aspy 
Wm.  Aerhart 
Allen  G.  Austin 
Chas.   H.   Applegate 
W.  S.  Anderson 
Alpheus  F.  Baer 
Nelson  C.  Baker 
Lewis  Barr 
Samuel  T.  Barr 
Wesley  Barrett 
Sanford  D.  Beals 
John  Becraft 
Daniel  Bedger 
Charles  L.  Brenhard 
Varnum  O.  Birdsell 
Henry  J.  Blowney 
Charles  Brehmer,  Sr. 
Peter  Brewer 
/Henry  Brown 
George  W.  Bucher 
William  H.  Bulla 
John  Bush 
Louis  Benz 
Charles   Buysse 
H.  W.  Bell 
Jesse  Bridgeman 
H.  H.  Buck 
A.  Byers 
H.  C.  Bond 
Samuel  V.  Black 
Orlando  Babcock 
Wyman  Baxter 
Charles   Brockway 
David  Brlggs 
H.  C.   Baird 
C.  C.  Brown 
R.  D.  Buchanan 
Jared  Berger 
Johnson  B.  Oole 


Cemetery. 

David  Cole 
Benjamin  Coonley 
James  K.  Custer 
Alonzo  B.  Clifford 
David  B.  Creviston 
Peter  Cimmerman 
Benjamin  Calloway 
Edward  Walter  Curtis 
Stephen  Davenport 
Daniel  Dayton 
William  A.  Dillon 
Stephen  D.  Dodds 
John  W.  Duffleld 
George  Dodd 
William  H.  Dodd 
William  A.  Duey 
William  Eaker 
Milton  G.  Ebberson 
Norman  Eddy 
James   Ellis 
John  Emberlin 
George  Embick 
John  Elbel 
LeRoy  Eastwood 
Thomas  Eller 
Joseph  Eaker 
Owen  M.  Eddy 
Lewis  Eller 
Alexander  Emberlin 
John  Felty 
Franklin  A.  Finch 
Henry  Fisher 
Samuel  L.  Fisher 
Joseph  W.  Fowler 
David  Frymire 
Samuel   Finch 
Frederick  Fazer 
Franklin  A.  Fisk 
Ananias  Forst 
Alonzo  J.  Foster 
John  R.  Gerhart 
William  G.  George 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


732 


HISTORY  OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


WiUlam  Gibson 
Alexander  B.  Goodrich 
James  S.  Greene 

D.  W.  Gardner 
Edward  D.  Geer 
Frederick  Goller 
Peter  Glassman 
Charles  Hadley 
Levi  J.  Ham 
George  H.  Hanson 
Josiah  W.  Hambleton 
Prank  A.  Hardman 
Jacob  Hardman 
Fazllo  A.  Harrington 
George  W.  Hart 
George  Hehr 
Andrew  Helnzman 
Samuel  Hlgginbotham 
W.  0.  Henry 

Wm.  Helm 
Theodore  Hull 
Ernest  Hoffman 
Absalom  Holman 
Israel  Hogue 
Edward  P.  HoUoway 
John  W.  Hoover 
Noah  H.  Howard 
William  Huey 
Louis  Humphreys 
Henry  Hollowell 
William  Heck 
James  Holland 
Henry  Herring 
Gotlieb  Hartman 
H.  A.  Harger 
Frederick  W.  Haase 
David  C.  Hogue 
Robert  Hardy 
William  Harlin 

E.  K.  Isenogle 
D.  A.  Ireland 

D.  Frank  Jaquith 
Henry  Johnson 
Joseph  Keasey 
Cyrenus  Keller 
George  T.  Keller 
James  Kimball 
Emanuel  Kinzey 
Henry  Kuney 
James  A.  Knevels 
Harry  J.  Kellogg 
Lewis  Keller 
Joseph  S.  Kenyon 
Benjamin  B.  Kimble 
William  Keasey 
John  M.  Koonsman 
Daniel  P.  Kelley 
Abram  Kintner 
James  D.  Kent 
Henry  Lantz 
Jefferson  Laughlin 
Albert  T.  Lee 
Henry  J.  Lengel 
Oassius  C.  Lewis 
John  Long 
Jasper  E.  Lewis 
Cyrus  Lantz 
Samuel  Lockhard 
August  Lamadee 


James  C.  Marvin 
T.  T.  MatUock 
George  W.  Miller 
Alex.  McCannon 
James  Minzey 
Benjamin  F.  Morrill 
John  T.  Morgan 
Samuel  Moritz 
Louis  McGill 
Charles  L.  Murray 
Samuel  Moore 
John  McBain 
George  H.  Murphy 
Jacob  W.   Miller 
Abner  Mitchell 
William  Mifflin 
Wm.  E.  Murray 
Daniel  W.  Miller 
Davi(}  B.  Miller 
A.  P.  Matthews 
Ezra  McNabb 
Ruel  Newton 
William  Nunnelly 
Joseph  S.  Ordway 
Victor  Ochee 
John  Owens 
Alexander  Peak 
Ira  Payne 
EJdward  J.  Perry 
Lewis  C.  Peterman 
William  Pool 
C.  W.  Price 
Jacob  Platz 
John  M.  Pierce 
David  M.  Pugh 
Henry  Palmer 
J.  M.  Parsons 
Moses  Pyke 
Charles  C.  Parker 
Eugene  E.  Payne 
John  Poff 
Harvey  W.  Perkins 
Elijah  Powell 
Thomas  B.  Roberts 
William  Rogers 
Jonathan  Runyan 
John  Robinson 
John  Richert 
Christ.  Rindlespacher 
Francis  C.  Roe 
John  Reed 
Ethan  S.  Reynolds 
Hanford  T.  Roberts 
Robert  Sample 
Daniel  C.  Schenck 
Henry  Schamel 
Oliver  Slusser 
John  N.  Shackelton 
Robert  D.  Shelpman 
Charles  Shetlock 
Frank  J.  Stimson 
Riley  Stillson 
Henry  Stites 
Francis  A.  Stover 
Henry  A.  Sweet 
William  Smith 
Isaac  Steeley 
Joseph  S.  Shirley 
John  K.  Seltzer 


John  Sample 
Henry  Shopbach 
Joseph  Smizer 
Edson  Spencer 
Clark  Skinner 
Charles  W.  Scott 
David  F.  Spain 
J.  M.  Smith 
M.  I.  Shaeffer 
John  D.  Stormer 
Henry  Swintz 
Joseph  W.  Taylor 
William  C.  Thayer 
Janes  Thomson 
Ephraim  C.  Trueblood 
Edward  Tumock 
Theodore  A.  Terrill 
David  Van  Horn 
Lewis  T.  Van  Nest 
David  Van  Ordstrand 


Alfred  B.  Wade 
Robert  Wade 
Edward  Walbum 
Charles  Walterhouse 
Mark  Whinery 
Daniel  Whitman 
Henry  Woolman 
John  Worley 
George  Williams 
Aaron  Walterhouse 
Orlando  S.  WitherUl 
Chester  Wardlaw 
John  G.  Wagner 
David  Witner 
Henry  H.  Ward 
Jacob  D.  Williams 
Samuel  U.  Waldo 
Scott  Whitman 
Joseph  Young 
Henry  Young 


SPANISH-AMERICAN  WAR,  1898. 


Albert  Frame 
Henry  Herring,  Jr. 
Harry  O.  Perkins 
John  bmith 
Clarence  A.  Wade 
Norman  Eddy  Weldon 
Rivervieto  Cemetery, 
Martin  Audleman 
Enoch  Buckels 
A.  M.  Bums 
Andrew  J.  Chrlsman 
George  DeLabar 
Jacob  Deviney 
John  G.  Given 

Bowman  Cemetery, 


Adolph  Hess 
Christopher  Maas 
John  McCombs 
Alf.  B.  Miller 
J.  F.  Morehouse 
Leonidas  Norris 
Michael  Pfeister 
Carl  Sherman 
J.  Edward  Skillman 
John  M.  Stettler 
Ami  H.  Tarbell 
Timothy  G.  Turner 
John  G.  Williamson 


Chas.   Bruce 
Benjamin  Duck 
Geo.  W.  Green 
Zack  Garrett 
Alpheus  B.  Haney 
James  W.  Hunt 
Henry  H.  Howard 
Francis  M.  Ives 
Hiram  E.  Jackson 
William  Kollar 
George  Liphart 
William  McBroom 
Jacob  L.  Mason 


Moses  Punches 
Wm.  Ragan 
Samuel  Robbins 
Adam  Scheerer 
Frederick  F.  Smith 
Daniel  Stonehill 
B.  F.  Smith 
Alexander  Scott 
Andrew  F.  Tipton 
Henry  Wenger 
John  Wentworth 
John  Winter 
John  Zumstine 


Hebrew  Cemetery, 
Abraham  Kahn  Michael  Levy 

Cedar  Orove, 


Joseph  Archambeault 
Zebulon  Barnard 
Herbert  Bernard 
Charles  Bertrand 
John  A.  Beglin 
Edward  Beyerley 
John  E.  Blaine 
Samuel  Beyerley 
Casper  Bowers 
Peter  Brothers 
Xavier  Boudry 
Zebedee  Barnard 
Moses  Betn 
Zebedee  Beaudway 
Frank  Coquillard 
Sylvanus  Clay 
Peter  Davis 


Peter  Donahue 
Michael  Dolan 
John  Decker 
Nick  Fritzer 
Michael  Graham 
John  Glenning 
CSarl   Haverly 
Thomas  M.  Howard 
Martin  Hllliard 
Thomas  Hoban 
John  Hughes 
Patrick  Hughes 
John  Jones 
Edward  Kennedy 
Daniel  P.  Kelley 
John  Le  Fevre 
Augustine  Lario 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


733 


Charles  Leschoir 
Denmis  Lyons 
Louis  Lario 
James  Long 
Patrick  McLaughlin 
David  Mofflt 
Stephen  Moore 
George  McCreary 
Henry  H.  Meeker 
Barney  Nelson 
Joseph  Omea 
Dennis   O'Malley 
John  O'Ragan 
Justin  OcHet 


Moses  Peltier 
John  Pendl 
Peter  E.  .Quinlan 
William  P.  ReyncUds 
Peter  Rane 
William  Ryan 
William  Riffle 
Wm.  Seifert 
James  Smith 
Francis  H.  Schmaltz 
John  Smithly 
John  W.  Treanor 
Francis  X.  Vllare 
Paul  Weigel 


Community  Cemetery  at  Notre  Dame. 


Rev.  William  Corby 
Rev.  Joseph  Leveque 
Rev.  P.  E.  Quillen 
Rev.  Joseph  C.  Carrier* 


Rev.  J.  P.  Bourget 
Rev.  James  Dillon 
Rev.  J.  M.  Biartin 
Rev.  Paul  Qillen 
Rev.  Peter  P.  Cooney 

Harris  Prairie  Cemetery 
Samuel  Pardee  Peter  Schafer 

Tutt  Cemetery, 
Lewis  Fulkerson  Elias  Lei^h 

Palmer  Prairie  Cemetery 
Jacob  B.  Metz  John  Reidenauer 

Qeorge  Reasor  Thomas  Robertson 

Van  Buakirk  Cemetery 

Elijah  James  Palmer 

XJllery  Cemetery, 
Asa  Jones  Henry  Wagner 

Albert  Steinbeck 

Mt.  Pleasant  Cemetery, 


William  R.  Ross 
John  B.  Roys 
A.  M.  Smith 
Clayboum  Smith 
John  I,  Smith 


Artemus  Johnson 
Samuel  W.  Holderman 
Christopher  Lenta 
MarUn  M.  Miller 
Mordecai  M.  Price 
John  Ritter 

Bweet  Cemetery, 
Prosper  M.  Wagener  David  R.  Cripe 

Dunkard  Cemetery, 
James  E.  Black  William  F.  Page 

John  QlasB 

St.  Joseph  County  Soldiers    in  Southern  Graves, 


Henry  J.  Ashley 
Edwin  A.  Bartlett 
Frederick  Bedger 
Benjamin  J.  Bowman 
Samuel  Bowers 
Robert  Boyd 
John  Brewer 
John  Brittenham 
Thomas  Brown 
James  E.  Blake 
Chas.  W.  Clemens 
Gregory  H.  Cotton 
Thos.   Claffey 
Herman  Durst 
John  Drake 
Wm.  P.  ElUs 
James  P.  Finley 
Wm.  Fulmer 
Wm.  C.  Fluckey 
Solomon  H.  Fountain 
Janies  L.  Gillen 
Albert  C.  Green 


Wm.  J.  Gibbons 
Geo.  B.  Gibson 
Edmund  Harris 
George  F.  Hicks 
James  Higgins 
Michael  Hennessey 
Alexander  Kimble 
Comrade  King 
Michael  Laudenberger 
Ephraim  T.  Lane 
Simeon  Linebeck 
Sheffield  Lucia 
George  Mayer 
Benjamin  Markel 
Benjamin  Murphy 
Frederick  D.  Metz 
Brastus  Munger 
Henry  Mapes 
John  J.  Mapes 
Wm.   H.  Maughermar 
Jacob  Martin 
John  Martin 


Elias  Miller 
Isaac  Miller 
Miles  H  Miller 
Caleb  Mangus 
Henry  Moon 
Michael  McDonald 
Horton  McNabb 
James  Norman 
Hiram  Pierson 
Geo.  Paul 
Stanton  Porter 
John  B.   Price 
John  V.  Quigley 
Joseph  Robinson 
Eli  Rockhill 
Martin  E.  Robinson 
Ashbury  Ritter 
Jasper  N.  Rockhill 
Lemuel    Roseberry 
Wm.  B.  Replogle 


John  Ryan 
Fred  Secor 
Daniel  L.  Shanks 
Frederick  Steiner 
Samuel  M.  Shepley 
Jas.  B.  Streets 
Joseph  Schutt 
Daniel  Shearer 
Joseph  Shinewa 
Daniel  B.  Steiner 
Jacob  Sipes 
George  Sharp 
James  M.  Slusser 
Moses  Teel 
John  M.  Thompson 
William  Trueblood 
Calvin  Watkins 
John  Weir 
Jesse  Whitman 
Michael  Woolett 


OLIVE  TOWNSHIP'S  SOLDIER  DEAD. 
Wab  op  1812. 
Olive  Chapel  Cemetery, 
Harry  Bennett  Dudley  Taylor 

Jacob  Culp  Robert  Vandusen 

Hamilton    Cemetery. 
John  Cooper  Joshua  Keene 

David  Dalrymple  John  Lane 

Gabriel  Druliner  Leonard  Rush 

Moses  Ivins  Jacob  White 

William  D.  Jones  Virgil  Reynolds 

New.  Carlisle  Cemetery. 
Ctoorge  Morris  Richard  Cranmer 

Maple  Orove  Cemetery. 
William  Knight  John  Ranger 

Indian  Wars. 
Hamilton   Cemetery, 
William  Burden  Elias  Eaton 

Samuel  Reynolds 


Fred  Druliner 


Revolutionary  Wab. 
Hamilton  Cemetery. 


James  Ranstead 
Rebellion. 
Cemetery, 
John  N.  Slane 
John  V.  Wrtght 
Andrew  Campbell 
Wm.  H.  Graves 
Enoch  Vandusen,  Jr. 
Enoch  Vandusen,  Sr. 
John  N.  Slane 
Daniel  Vandusen 


Wab  of  the 

Olive  Chapel 
Israel  Barker 
John  T.  Gulp 
William  L.  Campbell 
Forman  Fradenburg 
Benjamin  F.  Hooten 
Robert  C.  Hall 
John  F.  Lane 
Stephen  Pamell 
John  A.  Rank 

Hamilton  Cemetery. 
Llewellyn  Faurote  Lewis  Parker 

David  Elaton  Samuel  J.  Reid 

George  Luther  Lorenzo  Service 

John  McCurdy  Michael  Unruh 

New  Carlisle  Cemetery. 
Geo.  A.  Loomis  John  Shank 

John  Leyda  Isaac  A.  Wilder 

Jacob  Miller  Philip  Bruch 

John  Nickols  Henry  Dudley 

Chas.  L.  Buhland  Elias  R.  Brockway 

John  C.  Williams  Benj.  F.  Huff 


Digitized  by 


Google 


734 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


Henry  J.  Miller 
John  Batterson 
Lorenzo  Renfro 
William  H.  Deacon 


Wm.  T.  Flanegin 
John  C.  Coulter 
Obediah  Walker 
G^o.  N.  Stearns 
Joseph  Sutton 

Hudson  Cemetery. 
John  C.  Hale  Seymour  Sprague 

Alonzo  Thompson 

Maple  Orove  Cemetery. 
John  W.  Carrier  MaJ.  D.  Solloway 

Boot-Jack  Cemetery. 
Abraham  Shaw 

Terrill  and  Plainfield  Cemeteries. 
Irwin  Kelsey  Daniel  Burdick 

Ferrisville  Cemetery, 
Jonathan  Knepp  Samuel  Martel 

Loyous  Leslie  Peter  Schafer 

BURIED  IN  PBNN  TOWNSHIP  CEMETERIES. 

Roll  of  Honor  of  Houghton  Post  No.  128,  G.  A.  R., 

Department  of  Indiana. 


William  F.  Allen 
James  Anderson 
Frank  M.  Andrews 
William  Ansen 
Theodore  Allen 
John  W.  Aldrich 
Henry  Arthur 
George  Arthur 
Benj.  Anderson 
William  Bell 
Constantine  Beiter 
Daniel  U.  Baker 
Peter  Baulden 
Geo.  H.  Bloomer 
John  D.  Barber 
Henry  Baugh 
Benjamin   Bonney 
Robert  L.  Boyd 
Samuel  Boston 
Thomas  Brown 
Frederick  Bedker 
Col.  Newton  Bingham 
Orren  Bullow 
John  C.  Beglin 
Jacob  H.  Bell 
Geo.  H.  Beaslnger 
Frank  Bingham 
Benjamin  Barnhart 
Charles  Berger 
Henry  l!  Badger 
John  Bartell 
Abraham  Boys 
Nathan  Boys 
W.  W.  Butterwort!i 
John  Boner 
Hobart  Bennett 
Geo.  W.  Brown 
Jacob  Brown 
Strong  Beers 
David  Burrows 
O.  W.  Baker 
Bamett  Byrkit 
Charles  E.  Burt 
Capt.  Wm.  H.  Cresswell 
William  Currier 
James  Clements 
John  Cook 
Wm.  Chapin 


John  Cooper 
W.  O.  Oarlton 
Christian  Coppler 
Wm.  Creager 
Seth  Clark 
Solomon  Close 
Wm.  H.  Collins 
Geo.  Crakes 
J.  W.  Crane 
W.  0.  Clark 
Wm.  Cushaw 
A.  H.  Carpenter 
WnL  Caldwell,  Sr. 
Michael  Ditech 
Adam  Dellman 
Jacob  Dellman 
Darius  Dawley 
George  Doolittle 
John  Doolittle 
James  Dixon 
Peter  Elsie 
Jacob  Edinger 
Samuel  Ernsberger 
Allison  B.  Edwards 
George  Edinger 
C.  H.  Eberhart 
Seth  G.  Eggleston 
Albert  W.  Fenton 
Geo.  O.  Finch 
Geo.  E.  Fenton 
W.  A.  :^ralick 
Levi  Flory 
Martin  Fulmer 
Horace  B.  Fitch 
Samuel  Gardner 
F.  M.  Gllman 
W.  B.  Gilman 
Ebert  Gay 
George  Guibert 
Henry  C.  Greenleaf 
Adoniram  Gill 
Felix  Grundy 
George  Geyer 
W.  S.  Gardheffner 
M.   Grenert 
Henry  Gilbert 
Capt    Jas.    Houghton 
Jonas  Hoover 


William  Heiner 
Adam  Heckathorn 
Peter  Hemminger 
Capt.  J.  M.  Holliday 
Kile  Heman 
Frederick  Hetzell 
William  E.  Harrington 
David  G.  Helss 
Louis  A.  Holliday 
Edmond  Harris 
Charles  Hadley 
William  C.  Hopkins 
Hiram  Hopkins 
Elam  Heiss 
Spencer  Hagerty 
Charles  M.  Hanvil 
John  T.  Hemminger 
Henry  C.  Hager 
Robert  M.  Hall 
Levi  Hoke 
Solomon  Hagey 
Henry  Heiner 
Philip  Hagey 
Gottlieb  Hetzell 
William  Halpin 
E.  D.  Harmon 
Emmet  Ham 
Daniel  Hollingshead 
Thomas  Hemminger 
William  Holsinger 
Eldwin  Ham 

E,  F.  Howser 
Fred  Heiser 
P.  E.  Jennings 
Ira  Jones 
Peter  Jansen 
Daniel  Judie 
William  A.  Judkins 
Thomas  Kirkwood 
Henry  M.  Keeny 
John  Kamm 
George  Klotz 
John  E.  Keile 
John  D.  Klink 
Martin  B.  Kyle 
Levi  Kyle 

Henry   Lamer 
Frederick  Leschoir 
Thomas  S.  Long 
J.  M.  Long 
Charles  Long 
Frederick  Long 
William  T.  Leslie 
J.  M.  Manwaring 
Jesse   Miller 
David  Motts 
Edward  S.  McCurry 
William   W.   Manning 
Solomon  Michael 

F.  W.  Matthews 
Casper  nday 
John  Michael 
D.  Myers 
Henry  Myers 
Jacob  Motz 
Casper  Moyer 
DeWitte  C.  Morse 
Crawford  McDonald 
Richard  Maxwell 


James  McLane 
William  McQuUlen 
Wallace  Mcintosh 
Edwin  Michael 
J.  F.  McMichael 
W.  W.  Moore 
F.  B.  Mix 
Marion  McKnight 
James  Menzie 
M.  L.  Miller 
J.  P.  Mosher 
John  Marks 
L.  J.  Needham 
Michael  Nusbaum 

A.  C.  Norton 
Francis  A.  Norwood 
Alonzo  Oliver 
Jonas  Odell 

Lieut.  Seth  B.  Parks 
Capt.  J.  M.  Pettit 

B.  Pegg 
Selah  Pickett 
Robert  Parks 
L.  Plckard 
Henry  Perry 
Charles  O.  Pussey 
Henry  S.  Plumb 
George  A.  Potter 
William  Pettit 
Newman  Perkins 
Frederick  Powell 
Kane   Pillson 
George  Perry 
John  H.  Quigg 
Eli  Rockwell 
Charles  Ruple 
Charles  Reynolds 
Joseph  Rodgers 
George  W.  Rosenbaugh 
David  Riffle 

Wlllard  Rockwell 
Frederick  Rockstraw 
Albert  Ruple 
Lewis  Ray 
Wallace  W.  Roper 
L.   K.  Robinson 
William  Stolzenberger 
Levi  P.  Snuer 
Benjamin  Smith 
Sergt.  Elmer  Smith 
John  Sandels 
John  Sumpstine 
Albert  Shearly 
Harrison  Shearer 
Thomas  Slain 
Patrick  Shields 
David  Sweitzer 
Jacob  Shearer 
John  Steward 
Clark  C.  Stevens 
John   Sandilands 
O.  W.  Smith 
Lieut.  Anton   Sherman 
George  G.  Sweeney 
Joseph  Stonebrook 
Ellas  Shearer 
J.  W.  Seidel 
James  A.  Stuckey 
Henry  Seese 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


735 


Jacob  Slauterbeck 
Andrew  Swintz 
Valentine  Smelts 
John  Sudors 
L.  E.  Sibley 
James  Sandllands 
Winfleld  S.  Tabor 
James  Tharp 
John  Taylor 
D.  R.  Ungery 
John  Ungery 
William  C.  Vamey 
John  Van  Riper 
Bradford  Van  Riper 
Emannel  Weltzell 
Louis  B.  Wllklow 
Israel  H.  Wlckham 
Isaac  Whooper 
George  Westfall 

BURIED    IN    NORTH   UBBRTY   CEMETERY. 


Joseph  Woods 
J.  N.  Wlckham 
A.  S.  Williams 
Isaiah  Woodslde 
Evestus  Washburn 
Marcus  Washburn 
Richard  Wlnlngs 
John  Waldfogle 
Silas  Young 
Relnbolt  Zwlte 
Aaron  Zellers 
Richmond  Tuttle 
Frederick  Swartz 
John  Meader 
David  Griggs 
Abel  DoolltUe 
Daniel  Crull 
JAmes  Howard 


Albion  A.  Williams 
Henry  Qulgley 
Benjamin  Shultz 
Peter  Stombaugh 
Christian  Pulmer 
John  Craln 
Henry  Cruthers 
Joseph  Bowen 
Joseph  Oaudle 
John  Hlldebrand 
William  Shultz 
Zebedee  James 
Nehemlah  Smith 
Conrad  Swank 
William  Eells 


Jessie  Palmer 
Hiram  Rowan 
George  Lorlng 
Joseph  H.  Legett 
Charles  F.  Arnold 
William  Bloomfleld 
Benjamin  Ross 
Elijah  T.  Lee 
Jason  Hlldreth 
Ell  T.  Heater 
William  H.  Hostetler 
John  Heath 
Ferguson  Plance 
Dr.  John  Lorlng 
Jacob  Leltner 


SOLDIERS   BURIED   AT   WALKERTON   CEME- 
TERY. 
Wab  of  1812. 
Henry  Augustine 

Wab  of  the 
Alford  Abbott 
James  Curtis 
David  Crouch 
Joseph  McDonnell 
John  DeBoys 
John  Daugherty 
William  GorsUne 
Jodah  Gromons 
John  Canlda 
Dennlson  Pierce 
AmoB  Roberts 
John  Steele 
Daniel  Leeper 
Frank  Crouch 
William  H.  Long 
Richard  Golt 
H.  M.  Mlntle 
Benjamin  Miller 
John  Llndsey 
J.  M.  B.  Glbberson 

BURIED  IN  THE  LUTHERAN  CEMETERY. 
Henry  Clayton 

BURIED  IN  SUMPTION  PRAIRIE  CEMETERY. 
Michael    Valentine  Asa  Knott 

Michael  Loy  James  George 

Daniel  Rudduck  John  Antrim 

Frederick  Stelner  John  Woofter 


Rebellion.. 
Daniel  Rowell 
J.  L.  Beatty 
Isaac  Ealy 
Norman  Monroe 
Moses  Harschberger 
Philip   Weller 
George  E.   Warner 
H.  H.  Brown 
Enoch  Allen 
A.  Heller 
Levi  Grain 
Benton  Teapol 
Lewis  Rlnehart 
William  Teapol 
William  DeMyer 
Isaac  Pofflnbarger 
M.  R.  Burger 
J.  H.  Jackson 
John  McDanlel 


Andrew  H.  Rerrlck 
Samuel  Bare 
William  Fonts 
.George  Swygart 
William  Bowen 
John   Sousley 
William  Bassett 
Mahlon  Auten 


Thomas  W.  McDonald 
Joseph  C.  Ulery 
Daniel  Stevens 
William  Llstenberger 
Mahlon  Pearson 
Phillip  Rhone 
Calvin  Sullivan 
Jacob  Fritz 


BURIED   IN  PORTER  CEMETERY. 
Orris  J.  Simpson  Andrew   Allison 

John  N.  Long  James  Seward 

Leander  Wilder  -^ Brace  • 

Goodman  Truesdale 

BURIED  IN  THE  FAIR  CEMETERY. 
John  Gushwa  John  Wajmer 

Jonathan  Knepp  F.  D.  Tuttle 

John  Luke  Comrade  Hill 

BURIED  IN  THE  CRUMSTOWN  CEMETERY. 
John  M.  Guyse  James  M.  Neidhardt 

BURIED   AT  LAKEVILLE  CEMETERY. 
Capt.  Thos.  Henderson        Robt  Anderson  Moon 
Paris  Henderson  Robert  James 

Dayton  Henderson  Jacob  Wynn 

Ransom  Shamp  John  Riddle 

,  Robert  Anderson 

Sec.  3. — The  Grand  Army  op  the  Repub- 
lic.— The  association  of  the  soldiers  of  the 
Union  army  for  four  years,  on  the  march  and 
in  camp,  in  success  and  in  defeat,  in  battle  and 
in  prison,  in  health  and  in  sickness,  and  in  the 
final  victory  for  the  Union  and  the  constitu- 
tion, resulted  in  a  patriotic  affection,  which, 
after  the  return,  resulted  in  an  irresistible  de- 
sire to  meet  again,  to  ** touch  elbows,*'  as  of 
old.  The  meetings  were  at  first  simple  re- 
unions of  companies,  regiments,  brigades,  di- 
visions, and  array  corps.  After  a  time  many 
of  the  young  men  who  had  been  in  the  army 
together  left  home  and  comrades  to  seek  their 
fortunes  in  other  plaxies.  Thus  it  came  to 
pass,  particularly  in  the  west,  that  soldiers 
from  various  localities,  and  who  had  served 
in  different  organizations  during  the  war, 
found  themselves  living  together  in  the  same 
community,  and  the  desire  for  the  companion- 
ship of  comrades  of  the  war  gradually  took 
the  place  of  the  old  longing  for  reunions  in 
their  various  organizations.  That  he  was  a 
comrade  of  the  war  became  the  equivalent  of 
that  he  was  my  comrade  in  the  war.  The  sug- 
gestion, therefore,  of  a  social,  semi-military, 
organization,  in  which  local  unions  of  all  hon- 
orably discharged  soldiers  should  be  formed, 
became  at  once  popular.  Hence  the  origin  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  in  which 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


736 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


honorably  discharged  Union  soldiers  and  sail- 
ors of  all  organizations  meet  together  as  com- 
rades, in  local  posts,  in  department  encamp- 
ments and  in  the  grand  national  encampment. 
The  framer  of  the  original  constitution, 
rules  and  ritual  of  the  Grand  Army,  was 
Major  Benjamin  P.  Stephenson,  of  Illinois; 
but  the  actual  organization  was  eflPected  by 
General  Robert  S.  Foster  and  other  Indiana 
comrades.  In  July,  1866,  General  Foster,  hav- 
ing learned  that  Major  Stephenson  had  drawn 
up  a  constitution,  rules  and  ritual,  went  to 
Springfield,  Illinois,  and  received  from  him 
manuscript  copies  and  returning  to  Indiana 
began  the  organization.  Among  the  first  posts 
to  organize  was  Auten  Post,  in  South  Bend, 
for  many  years  the  only  post  in  northern  In- 


diana. This  post  has  another  distinctive 
honor.  It  is  the  only  post  in  Indiana  that 
has  continued  its  organization  from  the  be- 
ginning. For  several  years,  from  1871-2  until 
1879,  the  department  of  Indiana  and  all  its 
posts,  except  Auten  Post  alone,  abandoned 
their  organization;  Auten  Post  never  ceased 
to  meet,  elect  its  officers  and  observe  its  other 
duties  as  a  Grand  Army  post. 

On  August  31,  1906  Auten  Post  celebrated 
the  fortieth  anniversary  of  its  organization, 
in  the  presence  of  the  department  commander. 
Comrade  E.  R.  Brown,  and  a  large  assemblage 
of  comrades  and  citizens.  In  anticipation  of 
that  anniversary,  the  following  roster,  accom- 
panied by  a  brief  history  of  the  old  post,  was 
published : 


ROSTER. 
List  of  Officers,  Auten  Post  No.  8,  G.  A.  R.,  from  date  of  Organization. 


COMMANDER. 


1866  L.  Humphreys      • 
67 

68  Alex.  N.  Thomas   ♦ 
69 

70  Joseph  Turnock 

71  W.  B.  Gorsuch 

72  F.  J.  Goldman 

73  John  Worley        • 

74  J.  P.  Creed 
76 

76 

77  Louis  Humphreys  • 

78  Geo.  Pfleger 

79  Alfred  B.  Miller  • 

80  Edwin  Nicar 
81 

82 
83 

84  Elmer  Crockett 

85  Jasper  R  Lewis  • 

86  Handf  d  Roberts  • 

87  Jasper  E.  Lewis  • 

88  Cyrus  C.  Trump 

89  J.  H.  Loughman 

90  J.  M.  Pierce        < 

91  John  Finch 

92  Geo.  Coquillard 

93  John  S.  Steele 

94  Jasper  E.  Lewis  • 

95  J.  A.  M.  LaPIerre 

96  J.  G.  Greenawalt 

97  Jasper  B.  Lewis  • 

98  John  T.  Hall 

99  T.  B.  Howard 
1900  J.  M.  Dolph 

01  John  Hughes        < 

02  Joel  M.  Partridge 

03  John  Layton 

04  Wm.  A.  Liggett 

05  Dan'l  N.  Dressier 

06  Martin  L.  Steffey 

07  R.  W.  Donmoyer 
•Deceased. 


SENIOR  VICE   COM. 


Phlneas  Solomon 


T  E.  Howard 


T.  B.  Howard 


A.  M.  Burns 
Cyrus  C.  Trump 


J.  M.  Pierce 
W.  H.  H.  RItter 
Geo.  Coquillard 
John  S.  Steele 
Lemuel  Allen 
J.  A.  M.  LaPIerre 
Jno.  Caulfleld 
Joe  N.  Calvert 
Ro.  F.  Drullnger 
J.  M.  Dolph 
Henry  Schamel 
John  Layton 
J.  M.  Partridge 
F.  T.  Kemble 
R.  W.  Donmoyer 
D.  N.  Dressier 
Benj.  F.  Yerrick 


JUNIOB  VICE  COM. 


Hanford  Roberts 
Thos.  T.  Matlock 


H.  E.  Jackson 

J.  Waldschmldt 

John  S.  Steele 

Lemuel  Allen 

H.  B.  Hardy 

Joe.  N.  Calvert 
«< 

R.  F.  Drullnger 

John  T.  Hall 

R.  W.  Donmoyer 

W.  A.  Liggett 
« 

I.  McConnell 
R.  W.  Donmoyer 
L.  T.  Stover 
Daniel  Burton 
J.  S.  VanArsdale 


ADJUTANT 

quabterm'st'b 

W.  N.  Severance 

A.  B.  Wade      * 

M.  A.  Hawks 

J.  M.  Pierce 

W.  B.  Gorsuch 

W.  C.  Smith 

« 
« 

J.  H.  Shank     • 
« 

John  H.  Leslie 

« 

John  Worley              • 

W.  B.  Gorsuch 

J.  E.  Garle 

« 

John  Worley             ♦ 
« 

« 

« 
« 
« 

« 
J.  G.  Greenawalt 

« 

« 

Jasper  B.  Lewis         • 

u 

it 

u 

Henry  Bond               ♦ 

« 

W.  B.  Stover 

W.  B.  Gorsuch 

M 

John  T.  Kelley 

John  Roth 

Jasper  E.  Lewis        • 

« 

W.  G.  Denman 

« 

James  H.  Smith 

JAM  LaPIerre 

W.  H.  H.  RItter 

" 

James  H.  Smith 

« 

J.  A.  M.  LaPIerre 

W.  E.  Gorsuch 

C.  W.  Scott 

Jno.  Kleindinst 

W.  G.  Denman 

tt 

J.  T.  Kelley 

** 

D.  N.  Dressier 

« 

L.  A.  Hull 

tt 

John  T.  Hall 

tt 

D.  N.  Dressier 

H.  Schamel      • 

John  Layton 

Jno.  Kleindinst 
tt 

Joe  Burke 

" 

John  T.  Hall 

It 

John  Lasrton 

M.  L.  Webster 

J.  A.  M.  LaPIerre 

<• 

Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


737 


List  of  OfBcers,  Auten  Post  No.  8,  G.  A.  R.,  Contmned. 


CHAPLAIN 

OFFICBB  OF  DAY 

OFFICER  OF  OUABD 

SEB.  MAJOR 

QUABT.-SER. 

1^94  Martin  Beebe 

Joseph  Heiser 

Isr.  McConnell 

J.  li^.  VanArsdale 

F.  Bills 

95  B.  B.Row 

« 

J.  S.  VanArsdale 

John  Finch 

18^4 

96  J.  fi.  VanArsdale 

B.  B.  Row 

Fred  T.  Kemble 

H.  W.  Perkins           • 

M.  L.  Stefley 

97 

H.  B.  Hardy 

Lemuel  Allen 

W.  A.  Liggett 

1895-1904 

98  D.N.  Dressier 

John  Hughes* 

Wm.  H.  Dodd           • 

« 

SURGEON 

99 

<« 

Fred  T.  Kemble 

L.  D.  White 

Dan'lbayton  • 

1900  H.  R.  Backus 

(( 

« 

James  H.  Smith 

1866 

01 

Fred  T.  Kemble 

Frederick  Bills 

Joe  Burke 

J.  M.  Partridge 

02  D.  B.  Miller 

W.  A.  Uggett 

W.  W.  Hawkins 

1894-1901 

03 

(« 

" 

J.  M.  Dolph 

W.  H.  Rupe 

04 

W.  W.  Hawkins 

W.  L.  Hindman 

Henry  Heiser 

1902-l.x;4 

05  R.  D.  Utter 

W.  L.  Hindman 

H.  B.  Hardy 

u 

Dr.  Clark 

06  F.  Barnard 

H.  B.Hardy  and 
John  Hoose 

John  Hoose 
Edward  Emery 

John  Yant 

« 

Roster  Auten  Post  No.  8,  G.  A.  R. 


NAME 

Adelsperger,  Thos.  S 

AlUand,  B.  W 

Adams,  James 

Anderson,  W.  S 

Allen,  Lemuel 

Adelsperger,  G.  W 

Armstrong,  David  . . . 

Augustine,  W.  H 

Andreas,  W.  A 

Bernhard,  Jacob 

Ballenger,  Chas.  H.. 

Bernhard,    Fred 

Bills,   Frederick 

Burke,  Joseph 

Baird,  Henry  C 

Brewer,  Wm.  H 

Boyd,  Wm.  R 

Buckels,  Enoch  T 

Brown,  C.  C 

Ball,  Wilber 

Bernhard,  N.  J 

Buckley,  John 

Burton,  Daniel 

Barnes,  T.  C 

Brewer,  Qeo.  W 

Berger,   Jared 

Babcock,   Wm 

Brewer,    Louis 

Bunch,  A.  J , 

Bernhard,    George 

Clark,  Comrade  Dr. . , 

Creed,  J.  P % 

Crocker,  Henry 

Crane,  J.  D 

Cutshaw,  F.  B 

Coll.   Frank 

Clee,  Jacob  F 

Cullar,  Simon  B 

Donmoyer,  R.  W 

Dolph,  J.  M 

Deal,  Orange 

Drulinger,  R.  F 

Dribelbis,   Isaac  H... 

Dressier,  D.  N 

DuComb,  P.  P 

Deitrlch,  W.  B 


CO. 

ir 

D 
I 

B 
A 
A 

r 

F 
E 
D 
D 
B 


C 
A 
B 
F 
H 

E 
H 
C 
F 
A 
A 
F 
C 
E 

E 
H 
I 
I 
I 

H 
G 

E 


H 
E 
K 
K 
F 


ORGANIZATION 


89th  Indiana  Infantry. 

19th  Michigan      " 
155th  Indiana        ** 

15th  Indiana 
15l8t  Indiana 
164th  Ohio 

49th  Ohio 

29th  Indiana 

39th  Illinois 

26th  New  York    " 
128th  Indiana 

15th  Indiana 

21st  Indiana 

29th  Indiana 

21st  Indiana 

73rd  Indiana 
Union  D.  C.  Vol.  Infantry. 

48th  Indiana  Infantry 

9th        "  "        

12th       "         Cavalry 

21st       "  Battery 

160th  New  York  Infantry. . . 

24  th  Kentucky  Vol 

6th Minnesota  Infantry... 

29th  Indiana  "  ... 
1st  Pennsylvania  Cavalry. 
7th  Indiana  Cavalry 

29th  Indiana  Infantry 

9th        "  "         

26th  New  York    "         


Battery.. 
Infantry. 
Battery.. 
Infantry. 


126th  New  York  Infantry. 

12th  Indiana  Cavalry 

2nd  Michigan      "       

15th  Illinois    Infantry. . . 
29th  Indiana 

16th Indiana  Infantry... 
74th      " 


17th  Pennsylvania    Cavalry 

2ndS.   S.   27  Michigan   Infantry 

U.  S.  Signal  Corps 

9th  Indiana  Infantry 

63rd      "  "        

87th      "  "        

29th      "  "        

53rd      "  "         


ADDRESS 

South  Bend,  Ind. 
« 

Mishawaka,  Ind. 
South  Bend,  Ind. 


Walkerton,  Ind. 
South  Bend,  Ind. 


Lakeville,  Ind. 


South  Bend,  Ind. 
Lakeville,  Ind. 
South  Bend,  Ind. 


Lakeville,  Ind. 
South  Bend,  Ind. 


Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


738 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Roster  Auten  Post  No.  8,  G.  A.  R.,  Continued. 


NAME 

JDavls,  S.  B 

EJmery,  Edward... 

Bmsberger,   J 

Bnglteh,  W.  H... 

Bberly,   T 

Emery,   Joe 


Finney,  Egbert.. 
Frank,  Abner  B. 

Felty,   John* 

Fritzer,  John  J.. 

Fritz,  Jacob 

Fisher,   David... 
Flenn,  John  B. . 

Flagel,    Fred 

Fairchild,  G.  W. 


Greenawalt,  John  Q. 

Gillen,  Hugh 

Gottfried,  Jacob 

Gillman,  A.  J 

'Jillen,  Edward 

Gun  tee,  Jonah 


Huey,  M.  G 

Harlin,  Wm 

Hawkins,  Samuel 

Howard,  T.  B 

Helser,    Henry 

Heiser,    Joseph 

Heintzman,  A* 

Horner,  L 

Mull,  L.  A 

Hoose,  John 

Hoynes,  Wm... ...... 

Hendricks,  H 

Hardy,  H.  W.  G 

Hall,  J.  T 

Harman,  Jacob 

Hively^  John 

Hardy,  H.  B* 

Huff,  Wm.  H 

Heintz,  John 

Hindman,  Wm.  L 

Hawkins,  W.  W 

Herrlck,  B.  W 

Hart,  J.  K 

Ireland,  David  A*... 

Jaquith,  A.  D 

Johnston,  A.  W 

Tohnson,  Zack 

Tenning,    Samuel 

James,   Henry 

Kleindinst,    John 

Kent,  James  D* 

Kemble,  Barclay  I... 

Kentner,  A 

Kemble.  F.  T 

Key,   Simeon 

Leslie.  John  H 

L#avelle,  James 

Layton,  John 

Liggett,  William  A.. 
Lobdell,  David  M... 
Lapierre,  John  A.  M. 
Liphart,  George* 


00. 


"IT 
D 
K 
L 
C 
D 

0 
B 
B 
B 
B 
B 
K 
H 
A 


D 
H 
B 
B 
A 

B 
H 
F 

I 
D 
B 


A 
D 
D 

F 
K 
H 

a 

H 
I 
A 
C 
C 
B 
I 
A 

G 


B 
F 
B 
G 
K 
G 
C 
D 

B 
D 


OBOAinZATION 


ytn  Illinois   cavalry... 
128th  Indiana  Infantry.. 

2nd  Michigan    Cavalry. 

1st  Indiana 
156th Indiana  Infantry.. 
128th      "  "        .. 


73rd  Indiana  Infantry 

12th  IllinoiB    Cavalry 

173rd  Pennsylvania    Infantry. 

48th  Indiana 

71st 

nth       "  Oavalry 

147  th       "  Infantry 

29th       "  "         

42nd       "  "        


2nd  Iowa  Infantry. 
128th  Indiana 
48th       " 
63rd 
4dth 
74th 


15th  Indiana  Infantry 

12th       "         Cavalry 

8th  Michigan     "       

12th       **         Infantry 

9th  Indiana        "        

32nd      " 

21st  Indiana   Battery 

2nd  Battery  R.  C.  Michigan. . 
Quartermaster   Department 

21st  Indiana  Battery 

20th  Wisconsin    Infantry 

208th  Pennsylvania    "        

23rd  Indiana  "        

Gunboat  Forest  Miss.  Flotilla. 

16l8tOhio  National  Guard 

9th  Michigan    Cavalry 

155th  Indiana  Infantry 

21»t       "         Battery 

3rd  Michigan   Cavalry....... 

66th  Illinois    Infantry 

29th        "  "        

29th  Ohio  "        

102nd  U.  S.  Troop 

53rd  Ohio     Infantry 

48th  Indiana  Infantry 

49th  Illinois         "         

89th  Indiana   Infantry 

2l8t       "        Battery 

55th  Mass.    Infantry 

21st  Indiana   Battery 

21st        "  "       

15th       "         Infantry 

63rd       "  "        

48th        "  "         

29th        "  "         

87th       "  "         

26th  Michigan      "        

ibOth  New  York    "        

128th  Indiana        "        

21st  Indiana   Battery 

48th  Indiana  Infantry 

128th       "  *•         


ADDRESS 

bouth  Bend,  Ind. 

«< 

South  Bend,  Ind. 


Lafayette  Home,  Ind. 
South  Bend,  Ind. 


Washington,  D.  C. 
South  Bend,  Ind. 


Lakeville,  Ind. 
South  Bend,  Ind 


South  Bend,  Ind. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


739 


Roster  Auten  Post  No.  8,  G.  A.  R,  Continued. 


NAME 


Liamarand,  Joe 

McNabb.  Addison* 

McNabb,    Ezra    F 

McCartney,  J.  J 

McBiide,    George 

Mclnemy,  M 

McConnell,    Israel .... 

Morgan,  W.  B 

Morey,  George  P 

MoUer,   William 

Matthews,  J.  H 

MaUock,  Thos.  T* 

Miller,  David  B* 

Mot,  George  H...*.. . 

Manning,  Jacob  L 

Maughermar,  John  G. 

Maurer,  Charles 

Martin,  Horace 

Morse.  M.  M 

Morse,  W.  A 

Murphy,  Wm 

Malotte,  Johnson 

Nlcar,    Eldwin 

O'Donnell,  James 

Orvls,  Geo.  W 

Peffley,  Simon  P 

Parker,  H.  B 

Pealey,    Daniel 

Partridge,  J.  M 

Pavey,  Charles  H 

Potter,   Jerome 

Poyser,  John  W 

Row,  Emanuel  B 

Reeder,  George  W 

Roth,  John 

Runkle,  Charles  

Runyan,  N.  J 

Ragan,  W* 

Rupe,  W.  H * . 

Ruddick,  A.  J 

Ritter,  W.  H.  H 

Renno,   David 

Ross,  Silas 

Steele,  John  S 

Savadge,   James 

Stover,  William  B 

Swintz,  Henry* 

Smith,  James  H 

Souders,  G.  W 

Steffey,  M.  L» 

Seifert,  Wm* 

Seifert,   Daniel 

Stover,  Lewis  T 

Schamel,  Henry* 

Slick,  J.  Y 

Sherman,  Carlos* 

Shaffstal,  N 

Slough,  David 

Staples,  Alex 

Slick,  T.  J 

Teel,  John  W 

Trump,  Cyrus  C 

Tutt,  R.  B 

Tescher,  Frederick   .. 

Thompson,  A.  D 

Trittipo,  T.  S 


CO. 


H 
C 
B 
F 
K 
C 
B 
C 
B 
I 
F 
K 
K 

B 
F 
F 
A 
M 
B 
B 


B 
D 
K 
B 
B 
G 
C 
B 
F 
B 

K 
B 


H 
D 
K 
A 

I 
A 
B 
H 
F 
H 
B 
A 
C 
C 
D 

I 


C 
C 
B 
G 
D 
D 


OBGANIZATION 


156th  Illinois  ""        

2l8t  Indiana   Battery 

21st       "  "      

2nd  Vermont    Infantry 

87th  Ohio  "        

86th  Indiana  "        

4th  Pennsylvania    Cavalry. 

132nd  Illinois   Infantry 

136th  New  York    "         

58th  Indiana        "        

102nd  U.  S.  Colored  Troop. . . 

48th  Indiana  Infantry 


Battery. . 
Infantry. 


9th 

68th  Illinois 

20th  Ohio 

87th  Indiana 

21st 

15th 

63rd       • 

63rd 

26th 
1st  Michigan    Cavalry 

15th  Indiana  Infantry 

138th       "  "         

21st  Indiana   Battery 

21st        "  "      

169th  Ohio     Infantry 

58th     "  "         

150th     "  "        

184thNew  York  "        

16th  Ohio  "        

48th  Indiana      ''        

67th  Ohio  "         

107th  Pennsylvania  Infantry. . . 

87th  Indiana  Infantry 

36th   "      "    

2l8t        "         Battery 

29th       "         Infantry 

48th       "  "        

10th  Ohio  Battery 

21st  Indiana  "       

29th       "         Infantry 

54th  Ohio  "         

11th  Michigan    Cavalry 

12th         "         Infantry 

20th  Corps  Army  Cumberland. 

9th  Indiana  Infantry 

6th  Michigan      "        

47th  Illinois         "         

130th      "  "        

48th  Pennsylvania    Militia 

138th  Indiana  Infantry 

63rd       "  "        

116th  New  York    "        

73rd  Indiana        "        

15th   "      "    

155th   "      "    

9th   "      "    

21st        "         Battery 

21st       "  "      

73rd       "         Infantry 

2nd  Pennsylvania  Artillery... 

15th  Indiana  Infantry 

38th  Ohio  "        

22nd  Indiana        "        .... 

44th       "  "        


ADDBESS 

south  Bend,  Ind. 


Chicago,  111. 
South  Bend,  Ind. 


Chicago,  111. 
South  Bend,  Ind. 


South  Bend,  Ind. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


740 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


Roster  Auten  Post  No.  8,  G.  A.  R.,  G>ncluded. 


NAME 

00. 

ORGANIZATION 

ADDRESS 

Turner,  F.   H 

K 
A 
E 
B 
K 
B 
D 
C 
H 
B 
F 
I 

87th       "              **        

•• 

Taylor.  Charles 

21st       "         Battery 

•• 

Utter,  R.  D.,  chaplain 

VanArsdale,  J.  S 

150th       "         Infantry 

•• 

22nd      "         Battery 

(• 

Whiteman,  Sam'l  T 

29th       "         Infantry 

<• 

Whiteman,  J.  J 

23rd       "              "        

« 

Wegner,  Wm 

20th  Wisconsin     "        

<« 

Wllkeson,  Levi 

48th  Indiana        "                         ... 

I* 

Wiedman,  G.  F 

82nd  Ohio             "         

«. 

White,  L.  D 

17th  Michigan      "        

•• 

Webster,  M.   L 

33rd  Indiana        '*        

•• 

Wlbert,  D.  A 

38th  Ohio              "        

<< 

Whltmer,  Adam 

42nd  Indiana       "        

4( 

Waldschmidt,  Julius 

19th       "              "        

<« 

Yant,  John 

139th       "              "        

(« 

Yerrick.  Benjamin  F 

115th  Ohio              "         

« 

Our  Honored  Dead. 


NAME 

Alexander,  John. 7 
Briggs,  David  L.. 
Backus,  Harvey  R 

Bradley,  J.  C 

Burns,  Albert  M.. 

Baer,  A.  F 

Baxter,  Wyman... 

Bradford,  H.  I 

Bentz,    Louis 

Buysse,  Charles... 

Bond,    Henry 

Brock  way,  C.  T. . . 
Bedger,  Daniel.... 

Brewer,  Peter 

Brother,  Peter 

Black,  Samuel  S.. 

Busch,  John 

Bridgeman,  Jesse. 
Creviston,  D.  B... 
Christman,  A.  J.. 

Calloway,   B 

darter,  James 

ClifTord,  Alonzo  B 
Dayton  Daniel.... 
Dodd,  William  H. 

Dodds,  S.  D 

DiUon,  W.  A 

Duey,  William  A. 

Bdinger,  G.  W 

Frymire,  David... 

Fisk,  F.   A 

Faver,  Fritz 

Forst,  A 

(Jeorge,  W.  G 

Gerhart,  J.  R 

Grisvoi,  A 

Green,  G.  W 

Humphrey,   Louis. 

Hughes,  John 

Hoftman,  Ernest.. 
Herring,  Henry... 

Hoover,  J.  W 

Hoban,  T.  A 

Hogue,  D.  C 

Haase,  F.  W 

Holloway,  Ed.  P.. 
Hager,   Stephen . . . 


00. 


"IT 
I 
C 
F 

I 
D 
C 

I 

K 
F 

a 

B 
F 
G 
H 
K 
A 
K 
K 
E 
C 


B 
E 
H 
A 
G 
I 

H 
F 
G 
G 
G 
B 
H 
K 
B 
C 
M 
B 


ORGANIZATION 


48  Ind.  Inft 
1st  Ind.  Cav. 

12  Mich  Inft 

13  Ind.  Inft 

10  Wis.  Inft 
94  111.  Inft 
26  Ind.  Inft 
83  Ind.  Inft 
29  Ind.  Inft 
87  Ind.  Inft 
25  Mich.  Inft 

173  Pa.  Inft 
29  Ind.  Inft 
48  Ind.  Inft 
97  Pa.  Inft 
13  Ind.  Cav. 

28  U.  S.  Cav.  Troop. 
7  Pa.  Inft 

87  Ind.  Inft 
40  Ind.  Inft 
128  U.  S.  Cav. 
35  Ind.  Inft 

Sur.  9th  Cong.  Dist. 
21   Ind.   Battery. 
66  Ohio  Inft 
9  Ind.  Inft 

29  Ind.  Inft 

88  Ind  Inft 
128  Ind.  Inft 
82  Ohio  Inft 
48  Ind.  Inft 
32  Pa.  Inft 
Capt  A.  A.  Vol. 

11  Ind.  Inft 
140  N.  Y.  Inft 
21  Ohio  Inft 
29  Ind.  Inft 
29  Ind.  Inft 
140  N.  Y.  Inft. 
73  Ind.  Inft. 

4  Mich.  Inft 
44  111.  Inft 
Musician 
1  N.  Y.  Inft 
21  Ind.  Battery. 
155  Ind.  Inft 


NAME 

Co. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Hummel,  H 

P 
G 

Id  Ohio  Inft 

Hambleton,  L  W 

1  Cal.  Oav. 

Holland,  James 

D 

142  Ind.  Inft 

Hamilton,  A.  J 

K 

6th  Mich.  Inft 

Hubberd,  A.  J 

G 

40  Iowa  Inft 

Hess,  Ed.  C 

Pa.  Inft. 

Inman,  J.  N 

F 

25  Mich.  Inft 

Jones,    John 

K 

87  Ind.  Inft 

Jones,    Silas 

B 

48  Ind.  Inft 

Johnson,  N.  V 

H 

68  Ind.  Inft 

Keller,   Louis 

21st  Ind.  Battery. 

Knevels,  J.  A 

11  Mich.  Inft. 

Kimble,  B.  B 

I 

155  Ind.  Inft 

Kallar,    William.... 

I 

155  Ind.  Inft 

Kellogg,  H.  J 

A 

102  Ohio  Inft 

Keasey,  William.... 

C 

7th  Pa.  Inft 

Koonsman,  J.  M 

24th  Ind.  Battery. 

Kelley,  D.  P 

H 

12  Ind.  Cav. 

Lefever,  John 

F 

140  N.  Y.  Inft 

Long,  James 

F 

8th  Ind.  Inft 

Leslie,  Loyous 

K 

87  Ind.  Inft 

Lario,  Louis 

C 

73  Ind.  Inft 

Lindsey,  D.  C 

K 

37  Ind.  Inft. 

Lockard,  Samuel 

G 

35  111.  Inft 

Long,  James 

8th  Mass.  Battery. 

Lemen,  C.  B 

B 

66  Ohio  Inft 

Lewis,  Jasper  B 

D 

5th  N.  Y.  H.  Art. 

Maas,  Christopher. . . 

B 

13  111.  Cav. 

Murphy,  George  H.. 

C 

1st  N.  Y.  Art 

Meeker,  H.  H 

9  Ind.  Inft 

McCombs,  John 

21st  Ind.  Battery. 

Mitchell,  Abner  .... 

102  U.  S.  Cal'd. 

Matthews,  A.  P 

C 

25  Ohio  Battery. 

Miller,  A.  B 

21st  Ind.  Battery. 

McChesney,    T 

I 

29  Ind.  Inft 

McCrary,    George. . . 

21st  Ind.  Battery, 

Morgan,  J.   T 

I 

155  Ind.  Inft. 

McBroom,   William.. 

15th  Ind.  Battery. 

McLaughlin,  Pat 

B 

12  Mich.  Inft. 

Nose,  Conrad   

G 

21  Ohio  Inft 

Odiet  Justin 

H 

166  111.  Inft 

Pierce,  J.  M 

C 

73  Ind.  Inft 

Peed,  H.  A 

G 

132  Ind.  Inft 

Pyke,  Moses  

B 

17  Ind.  Inft 

Pray,  Leander 

E 

48  Ind.   Inft 

Parsons.  G.  M 

C 

17  Pa.  Inft 

Perkins,  H.  W 

E 

12  Mich.   Inft 

Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


741 


Our  Honored  Dead,  G>ntuiued. 


VAMK, 

CO. 

OBOANIZATION. 

KAME. 

00. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Plumb,  H.  S 

A 

17  III.  Inft. 

Shaw,    B.   O 

i 

7  Ind.  Inft 

Pflster,  M 

c 

35  Ind.  Inft. 
75  Ind.  Inft 

Schmidt  John 

Smith,  B.  F 

G 

K 

1st  N.  Y.  Eng.^ 

Pugh,  D.  M 

3rd  N.  Y.  Inft 

Poff,  John  

F 
B 

29  Ind.  Inft. 
48  Ind.  Inft 

SteUer.  J.  M 

Slusser,  Oliver  E... 

(J 
E 

53  Ind.  Inft 

Robinson,  John 

48  Ind.  Inft 

Roberts,  Hanford  ... 

D 

14  N.  Y.  Art 

Smith,   E.    N 

S 

138  Ind.  Inft 

Rerrtck,  A,  H 

K 

23  Ind.  Inft 

Scott  Alex  

55  Mass.  Inft 

Ross,  W.  R 

I 

c 

2nd  Minn.  Inft 
12  Mich.  Inft 

Smaltz,  F.  H 

Thomas,  A.  N 

I 

c 

44  111.  Inft 

Rowe,  P.  C. 

73  Ind.  Inft 

Ryan,  John 

H 

U.  S.  Inft 

Treanor,  J.  W 

I 

155  Ind.  Inft 

Ryan.  William 

I 

12  Mich.  Inft 

Tipton,   A.   T 

1 

8  Iowa  Inft. 

Roys.  John  B 

B 

48  Ind.  Inft 

Terrill,  Theo 

Rindlishbacher,  Chri 

A 

60  Ind.  Inft 

Van  Nest  L.  T 

K 

87  Ind.  Inft 

RilBe.  August 

E 

171  Pa.  MiliUa.     * 

Wallace.  J.  M 

I 

55  Mass.  Inft 

Spain,  David  F 

E 

48  Ind.  Inft 

Williamson,  J.  G.... 

1 

63  Ind.  Inft 

Solomon,  Phineas... 

D 

178  N.  Y.  Inft 

Winter,  John  

21st    111.  L.  Art 

Smith.  W 

1st  Long  Island  Inft. 

Worley,  John 

K 

6th  Mich.  Inft 

Sample,  John 

29  Ind.   Inft 

Wltherill,  0.  S 

Paymaster  Dept 

Shetlock.  C 

K 

12  Pa.  Inft 

Waldo.  S.  U 

C 

130  N.  Y.  Inft 

Stimson,  F.  M 

F 

8    N.  H.  Inft 

Wagner,  Geo.  J 

E 

18  Mich.   Inft 

Seltzer,  John  K 

B 

127  Pa.  Inft 

Walburn,  Ed 

D 

136  Ind.   Inft 

Scott,  C.  W 

E 

1st  N.  Y.  Eng. 

Waldfogel,  John   ... 

H 

124  111.  Inft 

Stonehill,  D 

G 

155  Ind.  Inft 

Wynn.  Jacob   

K 

29  Ind.  Inft 

Shirley,  Joe  

I 
E 

47  Ind.  Inft 
24  Mich.   Inft. 

Woodruffs    . . ". 

G 
G 

194  Ohio  Inft 

Swain,  F.  D 

Wallis,  S.  R 

1st  Mich.  Cav. 

Seward,  J.  P 

C 

151  Ind.  Inft 

Young,  Joe  

21st  Ind.  Battery. 

Smith,   Fred    

K 

155  Ind.   Inft 

Young,  Jacob  H 

G 

93  Pa.  Inft 

M^nbers  Transferred  to  Other  Posts. 


Austin,   A.   G 

Fritz.  W.   H 

Loughman,   G.  W 

Livengood,  L 

Reed,  Andrew   

Anderson,  A.    

Fisher,  Peter  

Rulo,  G.  W 

Bebee.  Martin    

Gorsuch.  W.  E 

Liedwick,  James  

Lonzo.  Moses   

Quillen,  Joseph   

Brasinton.  W 

Gillen.   D.  W 

Stanfleld,  E.  P 

Bnibaker     I     S. ....... . 

Goldman,  F.  J 

Heath.  Jeremiah   

Hoover,  E.  W 

Listenberger,  A.  

Ix>we,  J.  M 

Sticknev.  C.  R 

Bower,  W.  H 

Snyder,  C.  A 

Colver.   Herman 

Lamb,  C.  C .^ . . . . 

Monroe.  David 

Southwick,  J.  W.  

C5ulver.   Lorenzo    ....... 

Harris.  B.  B 

Stewart,  Burton  

Calvert  Joe  N 

Gaulfleld,   John    

Horrey,  Elmer   

Morgan,  H.  C.   

Meeker,   Frank  W 

Matlock,  S.  S 

Smith,  D.  C 

Hunt  J.  W 

Turnock,   Joseph 

Thay,  E.  P 

Carlton,  F.  S 

Humphrey,   B.   E 

Hoover,  Elias  

Conrad,  August  

Chapln,   E.   P 

Mickal,    W.    B 

Titus,  Milton 

Ihler,  Jacob  W 

Miller,   Soloman    

Nevin.  David  S 

Van  Pelt  0.  B 

Chanlin.    E.    W 

Jackson,  H.  E 

White.  James  E 

Crockett,   Elmer    

Jay,  Manuel   

OBrien,  Patrick  

Pfleger,  Geo 

Welley,  Joe  H 

Chatterton,  I.   G 

Keasey.  John  W 

Kling,  Christian    

Kelley,  John  T 

Weaver,  W.  S 

Penman,   W.   G 

Plessner,  H 

Walburn,  J.  W 

Davis,   J.   M 

Penrod,  Alex 

Weber.  Jacob  S 

Dressier,   J.   C 

Koener,  Andrew   

Krill,  Seraphin   

Loughman,  J.  H 

Penwell,  H.  C 

Pompey,  Z 

Watts,  William 

Emerson.  G.  W 

Wrigh,  J.  W 

Pinch,  John    

Rose,  Rufus    

Weir.  John  I 

Auten  Post  No.  8,  G.  A.  R.,  Suspended  and  Dropped  M«nbers. 


Austin,  W.  H 

Bartlett  J.  W 

Brower.  Francis   

Bodkin,  Alex 

Blyler,  W.  C 

Burkett,  W.  W 

Brown,  J.  W 

Brown,  W 

Brown,  J.   R 

Burkett  B.  S 

Bronson,   R.    

Borton,  W.  A 

Brick.  Charles   

Casad,   James 

Aflfltin,  AmoR  

Briges.   N.   A 

Close,  Wesley  

Clark,  J.  W 

Andreas,  J.  0 

Bruce,  Charles  H 

Burnham.  E.  F 

Bnibaker.   J.   S 

Augustine,  Abram  

Andrews,  L 

Coker,  James 

Coquillard,  G.  W 

Allen.  Wm -. . . 

Banning.  J.  H 

Chrisman,  G.  R 

Andrus,  L.  A. 

Brower   Joseoh 

Crabill,  Charles  

Ashcraft  C.  E 

Carpenter.  Jay  S 

Chandonia,  Theo 

Coper.  N.  L 

Clark,   A.   D 

Colpoyes,  G.  L 

Austin.  A.  W 

Childs,   Henry    

Carr.  John  P 

Audlaman,    M 

Beard.  Henry  C 

DeGraff.  N 

Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


742 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


Suspended  and  Dropped  Member*,  Continued. 


Dayis,  Z.  B 

Henderson,  John    

Hardy,  Joe  P 

Morritz,  Charles 

Molls,   Gabriel    

Rickel,  Peter   

Reed,  Reuben  E 

Sincerbraux,  Ira   

Savage,  W 

Darr,  Frank  

Dissinger,  Geo 

Hupp,  C.  E 

Moor,  Joel  ^.. 

Mayer.  John  J 

Duncan,  B 

Holliday.  P.  W 

Demont,  R 

Hoover.  W.  S 

Mills,  J.  E 

Sweet,  H.  A 

Snyder,  M.  V 

Statlar,  Jacob  

Smith,  J.  M 

Durst,  Bmos 

Hill,   Henry    

McAlister,  B.  W 

McMickael,  Wayne    

Martin,  J.  H 

Decker,  J.  C 

Houle,  A.   B 

DeLa  Bar 

Hitchcock,   M.    

Dunkel,   W.   F 

Holmes,  J.  M 

Merriman,  J.  J 

McMickael,  J.  A.  

Miller,   J.   C 

Stine,  Isaac  D 

Smith,  J.  K.  

Spickler,  H.  • 

Edinbo,  D.  U 

Hammon,  J.  B 

Evans.   Jackson    

HuDD.  John 

Evans,  Elijah  

Holmes,  G.  W.  . . , 

Mead,  W.  S 

McFann,  A.  

McReynolds,  H 

Shepard.  C 

Smith,  Eugene 

Sharpies,  Joe 

Stephens,  Thos 

Steel,  0.  H 

Smith,  Jacob    

Sheerer,  Henry   

Shull,  John 

Tutt,  J.  F 

Tarbell,  W 

Taylor,  Albert   

Tutt,  Joseph  D 

Eaton,  J.  R 

Hickey,   B 

Putter,  J.  F 

Hauck,  J.  F 

Prazlar.    I.   A 

Hertzell,  Elijah  

Isnogle,  Ellas  

Ott.  John    

Foster,  A.  J 

Ordway,  J.  S 

Ogden,  H.  N 

Oberly,  Peter   

Flucard,  J.  P. . . .' 

Johnson.   Charles    

Jones,  Edward  

Jacob,  Francis  

Passett,  Herbert  

Pinch,  N 

Pratt,  Charles    

Fish,  John  

Johnson.  Jacob  

P"tnam,   A.   B 

Friend,  W.  G 

BYeyar  

Jacobus,  C.  N 

Jones,  Frank  B 

Peterman,  G.   W 

Pomeroy,  H.  C 

... 

Pest,  W.  B 

Klingerman,  H.  P 

Kendall,  Howard   

Kollar,  J.  D 

Parker,  J.  Q 

Penrod,  John   

Qiles,  Jerome  

Taylor,  B.  C 

Van  Eps,  J.  S 

Van  Loon,  S.  M. 

Werd,  B.  F 

Whitten,  W.  D 

Worley,  Oscar   

Wyman,  W 

Green,  W.  C 

Platz,    Charles   A 

Pegg,  W.  A 

Garrison,  M.  J 

Kellev.  John   

Grove,  B.  C 

Kelley.  G.  M 

Plumley,   G 

Hl'^lriTIJin,   Ia    X  . . 

Lieusck,  Henry   

Pajme,  Henry  

Hall,  J.  P 

Leibig,  G.  B 

Lamadee,  August  

Tiamerand,  A 

Powers,  F.  G 

Pool,  Malachi 

Hay,    John    

Hain,  Ed.  H 

Pool,  A.  G 

William.  0.  W 

Worle,  Otto 

Wilson.  J.  H 

Henrv.  Orrin  C . 

Lysinyer,  J.  H 

Plnkerton.  A. 

Hacrertv.  Ira   

Lamb,  J.  A 

Lichtenberger,  J.  H 

Lydick,  Irvln   

Piper.  A.  J 

Helm,   William    

Henrick,  M 

Roseberry,  W.  H 

Reed,  E.  W 

Weatherwax,  J.  M 

Wallace,  J.  M 

Housekeeper    

Lynch,  J.  H 

Robinson,  Alonzo  

Randall,  Stephen  

Reed.  Peter  R 

Wilcoxen,  G 

Hodge,  Riley  

McMlchael,  James  P 

Miller,  Daniel    

Haselton,  John  

History  of  Auten  Post  No.  8,  G.  A.  R 


The  history  of  Auten  post  is  coeval  with 
that  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  it- 
self; for  both  were  instituted  in  the  same 
year,  1866,  and  Auten  Post  has  maintained  its 
integrity  uninterrupted  through  all  the  years 
since  that  date  It  is  the  only  post  within  the 
Department  of  Indiana  that  did  not  go  down 
when  the  department,  as  originally  consti- 
tuted, went  out  of  existence.  With  each  re- 
curring year  this  post  elected  officers,  and  on 
the  reorganization,  in  1879,  our  quartermas- 
ter had  a  handsome  balance  in  the  treasury 
ready  to  start  over  again.  Memorial  Day,  or 
Decoration  Day,  as  it  used  to  be  called,  never 
ceased  to  be  observed  by  the  p>ost ;  and  on  each 
recurring  30th  of  May  the  comrades  paid 
their  loving  tribute  of  flowers  and  eulogies  to 
those  who  had  gone  before. 

The  first  post  of  the  G.  A.  R.  was  instituted 


by  Major  Benjamin  F.  Stephenson  at  De- 
catur, 111.,  April  6,  1866.  But  the  first 
organized  department  was  that  of  Indiana. 
Prom  a  report  made  to  the  twenty-second  an- 
nual encampment  of  the  Department  of  In- 
diana, held  at  Logansport,  May  15  and  16, 
1901,  which  report  was  approved  by  the  en- 
campment and  ordered  printed  in  the  Journal, 
it  appears  that  this  department  was  organ- 
ized in  July  and  August,  1866.  The  first  or- 
der ever  issued  from  any  department  head- 
quarters was  that  issued  August  20,  1866.  by 
Robert  S.  Poster,  provisional  department, 
commander,  Oliver  M.  Wilson,  assistant  ad- 
jutant general.  While  Major  Stephenson,  of 
Illinois,  the  author  of  the  constitution  and 
ritual  of  the  order,  was  recognized  as  pro- 
visional commander-in-chief,  yet  there  was  no 
national  organization  perfected  until  at  the 


Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


743 


first  ttational  encampment  held  at  Indianapo- 
lis, November  22,  1866.  At  this  encampment 
Stephen  A.  Hurlburt,  of  Illinois,  was  elected 
commander-in-chief;  John  B.  McKeon^  of 
New  York,  senior  vice  commander-in-chief; 
Robert  S.  Foster,  of  Indiana,  junior  vice 
commander-in-chief,  and  B.  F.  Stephenson, 
of  Illinois,  adjutant  general.  The  delegates 
from  Indiana  to  this  encampment  numbered 
210.  and  from  aU  the  other  states  78.  It  ap- 
pears, therefore,  that  while  Major  Stephenson 
was  the  originator  the  comrades  of  Indiana 
were  the  organizers  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic. 

The  Union  soldiers  of  St.  Joseph  ^county 
were  early  to  the  front  in  the  formation  of 
the  patriotic  order.  On  August  22,  1866,  two 
days  after  the  issue  of  the  first  order  issued 
by  the  provisional  department  commander, 
and  just  three  months  before  the  holding  of 
the  first  national  encampment,  the  earliest 
steps  were  taken ;  and  on  August  31st  Auten 
Post  was  duly  organized.  For  the  first  two 
years  the  department  was  organized  by  dis- 
tricts, and  this  post  was  at  first  called  Post 
No.  1,  District  of  St.  Joseph,  Department 
of  Indiana,  6.  A.  R.  The  post  was  named 
Auten  Post  from  John  Auten,  a  soldier  of 
Company  I,  Ninth  regiment  Indiana  volun- 
teer infantry,  three  months'  service,  who  was 
killed  in  action  near  Laurel  Hill,  West  Vir- 
ginia, July  10,  1861,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years,  four  months  and  twelve  days.  This 
was  the  first  soldier  from  this  part  of  Indiana 
killed  in  action.  He  was  born  on  Sumption 
Prairie,  St.  Joseph  county,  and  lived  the  life 
of  a  farmer's  boy  until  his  enlistment.  His 
body  was  brought  home  by  his  comrades  and 
his  funeral  was  held  ini  the  old  court  house, 
August  2,  1861.  It  was  the  first  soldier's 
funeral  in  this  part  of  Indiana,  if  not  in 
the  whole  state. 

In  1868  the  district  system  of  organization 
was  abandoned,  and  this  became  Auten  Post, 
No.  17,  Department  of  Indiana,  G.  A.  R. 
The  old  organization  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the    Republic    continued    only    until    about 


1871.  At  this  time  Louis  Humphreys,  a  past 
pM)st  commander  of  Auten  Post,  was  depart- 
ment commander.  No  department  officers 
were  elected  after  this,  nor  was  any  depart- 
ment encampment  held  until  after  the  reor- 
ganization. Auten  Post,  however,  continued 
its  organization,  and  on  August  19,  1879, 
there  being  no  Indiana  department,  the  post, 
at  the  suggestion  and  request  of  the  officers 
of  the  Department  of  Illinois,  was  duly  mus- 
tered as  Post  No.  64  of  that  department. 

In  the  early  part  of  1879  a  movement  was 
made  for  the  reorganization  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Indiana ;  but  it  was  not  until  Octo- 
ber 3,  1879,  that  a  charter  was  issued  for  this 
purpose  from  national  headquarters.  The 
reorganized  department  consisted  of  twelve 
posts,  of  which  Auten  Post  was  made  No.  8, 
although  it  would  seem  that  the  post  might 
well  have  been  called  number  one,  inasmuch 
as  it  was  the  only  post  in  Indiana  that  re- 
mained intact  during  the  whole  time  when 
the  department  itself  had  ceased  to  exist. 
The  first  meeting  of  the  new  organization  was 
held  at  Terre  Haute,  October  31,  1879,  when 
the  Department  of  Indiana  was  formally 
mustered  into  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public, with  provisional  officers,  and  on  Jan- 
uary 29,  1880,  the  first  annual  encampment 
was  held  at  Greencastle,  at  which  permanent 
officers  were  elected  and  the  reorganization 
completed.  From  that  date  on  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  has  continued  to  flour- 
ish in  this  department,  and  Auten  Post  has 
pursued  a  career  of  almost  uninterrupted 
prosperity. 

In  1884,  Auten  Post,  in  the  person  of  Ed- 
win Nicar,  past  post  commander  of  the  post, 
was,  for  the  second  time,  honored  by  the 
election  of  one  of  our  comrades  as  depart- 
ment commander. 

The  first  serious  disturbance  in  the  history 
of  the  post  occurred  when  the  department 
commander,  by  an  order  issued  January  20, 
1888y  saw  fit  to  annul  our  charter.  While  the 
act  caused  great  sorrow  to  the  post,  yet  there 
was  no  hesitancy  in  obeying  the  orders  of  the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


744 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


department  commander,  and  never  did  the 
comrades  of  Auten  Post  more  nobly  exem- 
plify in  word  and  action,  the  cardinal  prin- 
ciples of  fraternity,  charity  and  loyalty. 
Over  two  hundred  comrades  assembled  in  the 
post  room  January  27,  1888,  and  resolved 
that  a  committee  be  at  once  appointed  to  pre- 
pare an  appeal  to  the  Ninth  Department  En- 
campment. This  appeal  was  prepared  and 
adopted  in  due  time,  and  a  thousand  copies 
ordered  printed  for  presentation  at  the  en- 
campment, which  was  held  at  Indianapolis, 
February  22  and  23,  1888.  In  this  contro- 
versy Auten  Post  was  involved  through  sym- 
pathy with  Logansport  Post,  No.  114,  of  this 
department.  The  charter  of  that  post  was 
annulled  at  the  same  time.  Our  appeal  was 
successful.  On  the  explanations  made  and  by 
reason  of  the  representations  of  the  repre- 
sentatives of  both  posts,  and  particularly 
through  the  good  offices  of  Past  Department 
Commander  Nicar,  the  department  com- 
mander, before  the  opening  of  the  encamp- 
ment, revoked  the  order  of  annulment  and 
the  delegates  from  both  posts  took  their  seats 
in  the  encampment.  It  was  a  happy  ending 
to  an  unhappy  misunderstanding. 

On  May  13  and  14,  1896,  the  city  of  South 
Bend,  and  particularly  Auten  Post,  were 
honored  by  the  holding  in  the  Oliver  opera 
house  of  the  seventeenth  department  encamp- 
ment. This  encampment  was  one  of  the  most 
successful  in  the  history  of  the  Department 
of  Indiana.  It  was  then  that  Auten  Post 
was  further  honored  by  the  election  of  Elmer 
Crockett,  a  past  post  commander  of  the  post, 
as  senior  vice  commander  of  the  department. 

One  of  the  chief  sources  of  the  continued 
prosperity  of  Auten  Post  has  been  the  sym- 
pathy of  the  good  people  of  South  Bend  and 
St.  Joseph  county;  but  particularly  the  aid 
and  kindly  assistance  given  by  Auten  Relief 
Corps,  No.  14,  organized  May  13,  1885.  with 
Mrs.  Mary  H.  Hill,  who  is  now  eighty  years 
old,  as  the  first  president.  These  patriotic 
ladies  have  been  an  inspiration  to  their  com- 
rades of  Auten  Post,  and  we  would  thus,  in 


the  most  public  manner,  give  our  testimony 
to  their  womanly  zeal  and  continued  sisterly 
kindness  to  our  feeble  and  disabled  comrades, 
and  also  to  the  ornamentation  and  neatness  of 
our  post  room. 

In  1901,  chiefly  through  the  labors  of  Past 
Post  Commander  Joel  M.  Partridge,  the 
board  of  county  commissioners  set  apart  the 
court  room  and  adjacent  apartments  of  the 
old  court  house  for  the  use  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic ;  and  Auten  Post,  after 
the  expenditure  of  seven  hundred  dollars  for 
repairs,  moved  into  the  finest  post  room  in 
the  department. 

On  June  25,  1903,  the  St.  Joseph  County 
Soldiers'  Monument  was  dedicated  under  the 
auspices  of  the  department  officers.  This 
monument,  the  gift  of  the  good  people  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  was  built  at  a  cost  of  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollars.  Auten  Post  did  her 
full  share  in  securing  the  favorable  action  of 
the  people  in  this  patriotic  work.  The  labors 
of  Past  Post  Commander  John  Hughes  were 
especially  effective. 

In  the  years  1903  and  1904  the  work  of 
preparing  this  roster  was  undertaken  and 
finally  carried  to  a  successful  conclusion.  It 
was  not  an  easy  task  to  secure  the  names  of 
all  the  officers  and  comrades  of  the  post  from 
1866  to  1904;  but  the  work  was  finally  ac- 
complished, chiefly  through  the  aid  of  our 
zealous  quartermaster,  John  Kleindinst. 

Other  posts  in  this  county,  and  in  Elk- 
hart and  Laporte  counties,  were  organized 
through  the  encouragement  and  friendly 
offices  of  Auten  Post;  among  them  Elmer 
Post,  37,  Elkhart;  Hathaway  Post,  110, 
Rolling  Prairie;  Patton  Post,  147,  La 
Porte;  and  Shiloh  Field  Post,  198,  Elkhart. 
The  other  Grand  Army  posts  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  all  mustered  after  the  re-organiza- 
tion of  the  Department  of  Indiana,  and 
chiefly  through  the  aid,  or  out  of  the  mem- 
bership, of  Auten  Post,  are:  Deacon  Post, 
115,  New  Carlisle;  Houghton  Post,  128, 
Mishawaka;  Joseph  Bowen  Post,  197,  North 
Liberty;    Jesse  Coppock  Post,  378,  Walker- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


745 


ton;  Notre  Dame  Post,  569,  Notre  Dame; 
and  Norman  Eddy  Post,  579,  South  Bend. 
Notre  Dame  Post  is  noted  as  being  the  only 
pofii;  in  the  national  oi^anization  which  has 
been  made  up  exclusively  of  chaplains  and 
other  comrades  who  are  all  members  of  a 
religious  society.  Norman  Eddy  Post,  named 
after  the  heroic  and  beloved  commander  of 
the  Forty-eighth  Indiana  infantry  volun- 
teers, was  organized  April  27, 1897,  by  former 
members  of  Auten  Post.  The  first  officers 
were:  Henry  W.  Perkins,  Post  Commander; 
Charles  A.  Pratt,  Senior  Vice  Commander; 
A.  P.  Matthews,  Junior  Vice  Commander; 
Wilbur  E.  Gorsuch,  Quartermaster;  W.  G. 
Denman,  Chaplain;  and  Milton  Titus,  Sur- 
geon. The  subsequent  post  commanders  have 
been:  Charles  A.  Pratt,  A.  P.  Matthews, 
Edward  P.  Stanfield,  F.  S.  Carlton,  George 
W.  Loughman,  Joseph  N.  Calvert  and  Wilbur 
E.  Gorsuch.  The  post  has  had  a  successful 
and  harmonious  existence. 

In  all  public  affairs  relating  to  the  work 
of  the  Grand  Army,  Auten  Post  and  Nor- 
man Eddy  Post  have  worked  together  as  com- 
rades, apportioning  impartially  to  one  an- 
other all  the  duties  and  honors  of  the  several 
occasions.  It  is  thus  that  the  two  posts  come 
together  as  brothers  on  each  Memorial  Day, 
to  pay  their  common  tributes  of  respect  to 
their  comrades  gone  before.  It  was  thus  they 
united  to  secure  the  erection  of  the  fine  sol- 
diers' monument,  of  which  mention  will  be 
made  further  on. 

Each  post  is  aided  in  its  patriotic  labors 
by  an  active  Woman's  Eelief  Corps,  made  up 
of  the  loyal  ladies  of  the  community.  With- 
out their  sisterly  assistance  the  feeble  veter- 
ans would  often  fail  to  receive  that  sympathy 
and  active  help  so  necessary  as  age  comes  on. 
The  veterans  gave  their  youth  and  strength 
to  their  country;  and  many  of  them  have 
therefore  not  been  able  to  keep  up  in  the 
race  of  life  with  those  who  failed  to  go  to 
the  front  and  with  those  of  the  younger  gen- 
erations. Every  Grand  Army  man,  every 
old  soldier,  is  most  grateful  to  the  Woman's 


Relief  Corps,  **  Auxiliary  to  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic." 

A  camp  of  the  Sons  of  Veterans  is  estab- 
lished in  South  Bend,  who,  like  the  Cin- 
cinnati of  the  Revolution,  will  carry  on  the 
patriotic  work  of  the  Grand  Army,  when  the 
veterans  4;hemselves  are  no  longer  able  to 
do  it. 

Reference  is  made  in  the  preceding  history 
of  Auten  Post  to  the  appeal  taken  to  the 
encampment  of  the  Department  of  Indiana, 
in  1888.    To  cover  and  preserve  the  facts  of 
that   historical  event,   the   appeal   itself,   as 
presented  to  the  encampment,  is  here  set  out : 
Appeal  of  Auten  Post,  No.  8,  Department  of 
Indiana,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  to 
the  Ninth   Annual   Department   Encamp- 
ment, to  be  held  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana, 
February  22-23,  1888. 
Headquarters  Auten  Post,  No.  8,  Department 
of  Indiana,  G.  A.  R. 
South  Bend,  Indiana,  February  3,  1888. 
Commander  and  Comrades  of  the  Ninth  An- 
nual Department  Encampment: 
At  a  regular  meeting  of  Auten  Post,  held 
at   these   headquarters    on   Friday   evening, 
January  27,  1888,  the  following  general  or- 
der from  department  headquarters  was  read : 
Headquabtebs   Department   Indiana, 
Gband  Army  of  the  Republic, 
Indianapolis,  Ind.,  Jan.  20,  1888. 
General  Orders 
No.  11. 
At  a  meetmg  of  the  Council  of  Administration 
of  this  Department,  regularly  called  and  held  at 
these  Headquarters  on  the  27th  ult.,  a  printed  cir- 
cular letter,  purporting  to  have  been  Issued  by  cer- 
tain comrades  as  a  committee  of  Logansport  Post, 
No.  114,  of  this  Department,  bearing  date  of  the 
13th   ult,  and   reported  to  have   been   circulated 
among    the    Posts    of    this    Department    without 
authority  therefor  first  sought  or  obtained  from 
these  Headquarters,  which  circular  contains  derog- 
atory and  untrue  statements  concerning  the  De- 
partment Commander  and  other  members  of  the 
Department  Encampment,  was  presented  and  read 
to  said  Council;  therefore  said  Council  appointed 
a  committee  of  Its  members  to  visit  said  LiOgans- 
port  Post,  No.  14,  and  to  Investigate  the  circum- 
stances of  the  issuance  of  said  circular. 

Afterward,  at  a  meeting  of  said  Council  of  Ad- 
ministration, regularly  called  and  held  on  the  13th 
inst.  at  the  same  place,  said  committee  of  the 
Council  reported  that,  in  pursuance  of  the  pur- 
pose of  its  appointment,  it  had  visited  said  Post 
No.  14,  at  a  regular  meeting  thereof  held  on  the 
10th  inst.,  and  as  part  of  its  report  said  commit- 
tee submitted  to  the  Council  a  copy  of  said  circular 
and  certain  duly  authenticated  extracts  from  the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


746 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


minutes  of  regular  meetings  of  said  Post  No.  14, 
held  October  11th  and  25th,  and  November  8th, 
1887,  authorizing  the  issuing  of  said  circular. 
And,  as  a  result  of  its  investigation,  said  com- 
mittee reported  to  the  Council  that  said  Post 
should  be  held  responsible  for  the  acts  of  its  said 
committee  in  the  publication  of  said  circular  and 
the  distribution  thereof  to  the  Posts  of  this  De- 
partment. 

The  Ck>uncil  of  Administration,  having  consid- 
ered the  report,  with  its  said  exhibits,  thereupon 
by  unanimous  vote,  ordered:  **That  the  Depart- 
ment Commander  be  requested  and  directed  to 
annul  the  charter  of  Liogansport  Post,  No.  14,  De- 
partment of  Indiana,  G.  A.  R.,  for  insubordination 
and  violation  of  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the 
G.  A.  R." 

And  thereafter,  at  the  same  meeting  of  said 
Council,  official  evidence  was  introduced  before  it 
concerning  certain  reported  action  of  Auten  Post, 
No.  8,  of  this  Department,  in  relation  to  said  cir- 
cular letter,  which  evidence  from  the  Commander 
of  said  Post  No.  8  was  to  the  effect  that  said  circu- 
lar so  issued  by  said  committee  of  Logansport 
Post,  No.  14,  was  presented  at  a  regular  meeting  of 
said  Auten  Post,  No.  8,  held  on  the  23d  ult.;  that 
action  thereon  was  then  postponed;  but  that  at  a 
regular  meeting  of  said  Auten  Post,  No.  8,  held  on 
the  30th  ult,  with  a  very  full  attendance,  said 
circular,  after  being  amended,  as  to  the  portion 
thereof  in  relation  to  the  mode  of  deciding  upon 
the  place  of  holding  Department  Encampments, 
was  endorsed  by  a  unanimous  vote. 

Said  Council,  having  duly  considered  said  evi- 
dence in  relation  to  said  Auten  Post,  No.  8,  re- 
solved, by  unanimous  vote,  "That  the  Department 
Commander  be  instructed  and  directed  to  annul 
the  charter  of  Auten  Post,  No.  8,  Department  of 
Indiana,  G.  A.  R." 

Now,  therefore,  in  accordance  with  the  findings, 
determinations  and  advice  of  the  Department 
Council  of  Adn^inistration,  above  set  forth,  im- 
pelled by  imperative  official  duty  and  the  hard 
necessity  of  thus  preserving  and  enforcing  proper 
discipline  and  subordination,  the  Department  Com- 
mander, by  virtue  of  the  authority  vested  in  him 
by  section  4,  article  I.,  chapter  V.,  of  the  Rules  and 
Regulations  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
does  hereby  order: 

I.  That  the  charter  of  Logansport  Post,  No.  14, 
Department  of  Indiana,  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public, situated  at  LiOgansport,  Indiana,  be  and  the 
same  is  hereby  forfeited  and  annulled;  and  that 
the  Commander  of  said  Post  turn  over  and  trans- 
mit forthwith  to  the  Assistant  Quartermaster- 
General  of  this  Department  all  the  property  of  this 
Department  in  possession  of  said  Post,  including 
books  of  record  and  Post  papers,  as  provided  by 
article  3,  section  I.,  chapter  V.,  of  said  rules  and 
regulations. 

II.  That  the  charter  of  Auten  Post,  No.  8,  De- 
partment of  Indiana,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
situated  at  South  Bend,  Indiana,  be  and  the  same 
is  hereby  forfeited  and  annulled;  and  that  the 
Commander  of  said  Post  turn  over  and  transmit 
forthwith  to  the  Assistant  Quartermaster-General 
of  this  Department  all  the  property  of  this  De- 
partment in  possession  of  said  Post,  including 
books  of  record  and  Post  papers,  as  provided  by 


section  3,  article  I.,  chapter  V.,  of  said  rules  and 
regulations. 

III.  All  Posts  and  officers  of  this  Department 
will  take  notice  of  the  above  and  foregoing  action 
and  decision,  and  will  govern  themseUes  accord- 
ingly. It  is  earnestly  hoped  that  sincere  devotion 
to  the  great  principles  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  and  a  common  interest  in  the  welfare 
and  reputation  of  our  Department  will  induce 
the  Posts  and  the  comrades  of  the  Department  to 
heartily  co-operate  in  the  attainment  of  the  only 
purpose  of  this  order— the  preservation  of  disci- 
pline and  fraternity. 

By  command  of 

IRA  J.  CHASE, 

I.  N.  Walkeb,  Department  Commander. 

Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

The  reading  of  this  order  was  the  first 
official  information  that  any  unfriendly  ac- 
tion against  the  post  was  contemplated,  still 
less  that  its  ancient  charter  had  been  ac- 
tually annulled  by  the  order  of  the  depart- 
ment commander.  The  attendance  at  tnis 
meeting  of  the  post  was  the  fullest  in  its 
history,  over  two  hundred  of  its  two  hundred 
and  seventy-eight  members  in  good  standin;^ 
being  present,  being  drawn  out  by  the  in- 
formation given  in  the  public  press  that  old 
Auten  Post  had  been  stricken  from  the  rolls 
of  the  Department  of  Indiana,  and  her  com- 
rades banished  from  their  fraternal  associa- 
tions in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Nevertheless,  these  old  soldiers,  their  hearts 
swelling  with  suppressed  feeling,  did  not  for- 
get their  duty  in  the  hour  of  trouble.  Their 
post  commander,  Cyrus  C.  Trump,  arose  in 
his  place  and  announced  that  he  had  reeeiveii 
the  order  the  day  before,  and  that,  although 
he  felt  that  the  order  was  a  harsh  one  and 
its  severity  utterly  uncalled  for,  and  that 
it  was  hard  to  be  thus  stricken  down  without 
a  hearing,  without  even  notice,  this  too  by 
our  own  comrades  placed  over  us  by  the 
suffrages  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public, yet  that  a  soldier's  first  duty  Ls  to 
obey  orders  and  submit  to  lawful  authority, 
even  to  the  death.  That  he  had  therefore  at 
cnce  determined  to  obey  the  order  and  sur- 
render the  charter;  and  he  asked  for  the 
approval  of  his  comrades  of  the  post  upon 
his  action.  This  approval  was  given  by  the 
practically  unanimous  adoption  of  the  fol- 
lowing resolution,  offered  by  Comrade  Jona- 
than P.  Creed,  there  being  but  three  dissent- 
ing votes,  and  the  comrades  rising  to  their 
feet  in  favor  of  the  resolution : 

''Resolved,  That  this  post  approve  of  the 
declared  intention  of  Commander  Trump  to 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


747 


return  to  department  headquarters  all  prop- 
erty in  the  possession  of  the  post  belonging 
to  the  department,  in  obedience  to  General 
Orders  No.  11." 

Not  only  was  the  action  of  the  post  com- 
mander and  the  comrades  thus  emphatic  in 
compliance  with  the  letter  and  spirit  of  the 
order  of  the  department  commander  and  the 
council  of  administration,  but  every  word  ut- 
tered in  the  numerous  speeches  of  the  com- 
rades expressed  the  same  generous  spirit. 
Never,  in  any  post  or  encampment,  was  there 
a  nobler  exemplification  of  fraternity,  char- 
ity and  loyalty.  While  the  veterans  could  not 
repress  their  emotion  in  contemplating  the 
wrong  they  believed  done  them  in  their  own 
household,  yet  they  would  speak  only  with 
respect  of  the  hand  that  smote  them;  and 
even  if  they  should  be  cut  oflf  forever,  would 
still  be  loyal  to  the  constituted  authority  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

The  undersigned  committee  were  thereupon 
detailed  to  prepare  this  appeal  from  the  order 
of  the  department  commander  to  the  depart- 
ment encampment,  and  ask  that  our  charter 
be  returned  and  that  Auten  Post  be  re-in- 
stated in  full  comradeship  in  the  Department 
of  Indiana,  G.  A.  R. 

The  post,  through  its  committee,  specifies 
the  following  errors  for  which  General  Or- 
der No.  11  should  be  revoked: 

1. — The  meeting  of  the  Council  of  Admin- 
istration, at  which  it  was  advised  and  deter- 
mined that  such  order  issue  was  irregular 
and  illegal  in  this: 

<k  The  members  of  the  council  were  not  all 
present,  nor  were  all  notified  to  be  present. 

ft.  The  council  was  not  presided  over  by 
the  department  commander,  nor  by  the  senior 
nor  junior  vice  commander,  nor  did  the  coun- 
cil select  one  of  its  members  as  chairman. 

2. — ^No  charges  or  specifications  were  pre- 
sented against  the  post,  nor  against  any  of 
its  officers  or  members;  nor  was  notice  given 
of  any  contemplated  action  against  them  or 
any  of  them. 

3. — The  punishment  inflicted  by  the  order 
is  excessive,  and  out  of  all  due  proportion 
to  the  alleged  offense,  and  is  without  prece- 
dent in  the  history  of  the  Grand  Army. 

4. — The  order  violates  the  spirit  and  prin- 
ciples of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  in 
this: 

a.  It  is  unfratemal  in  cutting  off,  without 
notice,  from  comradeship  and  fraternal  rela- 

Vol.  11—10. 


tions,  a  faithful  post  and  its  veteran  com- 
rades. 

ft.  It  is  uncharitable,  by  inflicting  the  se- 
verest penalty  known  to  our  discipline  for  a 
trifling  offense  unintentionally  arising  from 
a  free  and  open  criticism  of  the  comrades 
issuing  the  order. 

c.  It  is  disloyal,  by  needlessly  destroying 
the  post,  disrupting  the  department,  and  thus 
striking  at  the  life  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  itself. 

We  do  therefore,  comrades  of  the  ninth 
annual  encampment  of  the  Department  of  In- 
diana, most  earnestly  appeal  to  you,  in  the 
name  of  our  common  fraternity,  charity  and 
loyalty,  and  in  the  name  and  memory  of  our 
comradeship  in  arms,  our  suffering  and  tri- 
umph together  in  the  defense  of  our  beloyed 
country,  to  revoke  this  harsh  order  and  re- 
store us  to  the  household  of  our  brethren  and 
to  our  rightful  inheritance,  from  which  we 
have  been,  without  a  hearing,  without  even 
a  word  of  warning,  so  cruelly  thrust  out. 

That  nothing  may  be  concealed  from  our 
comrades,  we  give  the  offending  circular,  as 
follows,  in  full: 

CIRCULAR. 
LooANSPOBT,  IND.,  December  13,  1887. 
Deab  Sister  and  Comrade: — 

No  reform  is  brought  about  without  agitation 
and  discussion.  So  much  dissatisfaction  exists  in 
the  G.  A.  R.  and  W.  R.  C,  because  of  the  iUegal 
and  unwarranted  conduct  of  some  of  the  comrades, 
and  their  advising  and  counseling  of  the  illegal 
acts  of  those  ladies  composing  the  Indianapolis 
faction  of  the  W^oman's  Relief  Corps,  that  the 
comrades  outside  of  that  faction  view  with  alarm 
the  tendencies  of  those  comrades  to  either  control 
the  two  organiSBitions  in  this  State  or  break  them 
up  into  factions.  We  have  too  much  regard  for 
pur  noble  organization  to  quietly  sit  by  and  see 
these  things  accomplished.  Hence  we  issue  this 
circular  letter  to  the  comrades  of  the  Department 
of  Indiana,  and  hope  that  they  will  carefully  ex- 
amine into  the  matter,  and  dispassionately  and  in 
a  true  spirit  of  charity  decide  what  is  the  beet 
course  to  pursue  to  lift  the  G.  A.  R.  and  W.  R.  C. 
^out  from  under  the  baneful  influences  of  the  few 
who  assume  that  they  are  the  G.  A.  R. 

Without  authority,  and  in  the  face  of  the  law, 
rules  and  regulations,  a  so-called  memorial  com- 
mittee was  appointed  by  the  Department  Com- 
mander to  procure  an  endorsement  from  the  Na- 
tional Convention,  W.  R.  C,  of  the  illegal  action 
of  the  ladies  who  were  at  Indianapolis  last  Feb- 
ruary, and  who,  by  the  advice  of  these  comrades, 
assumed,  in  violation  of  their  obligation  to  their 
order,  to  hold  a  convention.  Their  action  was  il- 
legal, revolutionary  and  factious  in  the  extreme, 
and  tended  to  destroy  the  W.  R.  C.  in  this  De- 
partment. By  permitting  this  action  the  Depart- 
ment Commander  violated  his  obligation  to  our 
order.     Again,  the  Department  Commander  went 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


748 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


to  St.  Louis,  and  to  the  ladies  composing  the 
National  Convention  represented  that  the  G.  A.  R. 
of  this  Department  endorsed  the  faction  at  Indian- 
apolis. He  could  not  have  been  ignorant  of  the 
fact  that  thi^  statement  was  not  borne  out  by 
facts,  and  that  the  contrary  was  true.  The  G.  A. 
R.  of  the  State  never  endorsed  that  faction. 

It  has  been  the  constant  effort  of  the  faction  at 
Indianapolis,  under  the  leadership  of  the  Depart- 
ment Commander,  Comrades  Carnahan,  Foster, 
Vanasdol,  Coburn  and  McMasters,  the  memorial 
(?)  committee,  to  destroy  the  legally  organized 
loyal  aiixiliary  Department  of  the  W.  R,  C,  pre- 
sided over  by  Mrs.  L,  J,  Gorsuch,  and  substitute 
the  illegal,  revolutionary  and  reactionary  faction 
at  Indianapolis,  presided  over  by  Mrs.  Plora 
Wulschner. 

In  furtherance  of  these  illegal  and  rebellious 
actions  these  comrades  have  published  untruthful 
and  exaggerated  statements  of  the  condition  of 
affairs  in  this  Department  in  the  public  press  of 
the  State.  These  comrades  have,  in  their  unholy 
desire  to  rule  "the  Department,  advised  the  ladies 
of  the  W.  R.  C.  to  violate  their  obligation  to  their 
order,  and  thus  induced  them  to  organize  an  oppo- 
sition to  the  legal  authority  of  that  organization  in 
this  State. 

We  don't  believe  that  the  G.  A.  R.  or  W.  R.  C. 
should  be  run  for  the  political  advancement  or 
personal  glory  of  any  man  or  set  of  men.  That 
is  not  the  purpose  of  the  organization.  We  believe 
that  their  affairs  should  be  conducted  in  Frater- 
nity, Charity  and  Loyalty.  As  there  does  not 
appear  to  be  any  hopes  of  so  conducting  the  De- 
partment Encampment  and  the  Department  Con- 
vention so  long  as  they  are  held  at  Indianapolis, 
and  kept  under  the  baneful  influences  of  Captain 
Carnahan  and  others,  we  recommend  the  follow- 
ing: 

1.  That  the  Encampment  be  held  at  the  fol- 
lowing cities  in  the  order  herein  named:  Evans- 
ville,  Terre  Haute,  Richmond,  Fort  Wayne,  New 
Albany,  South  Bend,  Lafayette,  Vincennes,  Logans- 
port  and  Indianapolis,  and  so  on  continuously. 

2.  That  the  reports  of  the  Council  of  Adminis- 
tration. Quartermaster  and  Adjutant-General  be 
printed,  and  each  delegate  be  furnished  with  a 
copy  as  soon  as  the  Encampment  meets  each  year. 

3.  That  the  practice  of  comrades  making  com- 
binations and  trades  to  help  themselves  or  friends 
into  office  is  especially  reprehensible  and  ought 
to  be  condemned  by  the  comrades,  and  those  who 
practice  it  disfranchised. 

4.  That  any  and  all  interference  with  the  W. 
R.  C.  not  authorized  by  their  rules  and  regulations 
shall  be  deemed  a  violation  of  the  rules  and  regu- 
lations of  the  G.  A.  R. 

It  is  with  a  hope  that  we  may  have  a  more 
prosperous  future;  that  a  better  feeling  of  Frater- 
nity, Charity  and  Loyalty  may  exist  in  our  order, 
and  that  more  intimate  and  cordial  relations  may 
exist  between  the  soldiers  of  the  G.  A.  R.  and  the 
noble,  great,  big-hearted  ladles  composing  the  W. 
R.  C,  that  we  issue  this  address. 

Yours  in  F.,  C.  and  L., 

FRANK  SWIGART, 
JASPER  A.  PAUGH, 
HENRY  C.  CUSHMAN, 
Committee  of  Logansport  Post  14,  Dep*t  of  Ind., 
G.  A.  R. 


In  so  far  as  there  is  anything  in  this  cir- 
cular for  which  Auten  Post  can  be  held  ac- 
countable, and  which  shall  be  found  contrary 
to  the  rules  and  regulations,  or  contrary  to 
the  principles  and  discipline  of  the  G.  A.  R., 
we  do  hereby,  in  the  name  of  the  post,  dis- 
avow the  same;  and  we  do,  in  the  name  of 
Auten  Post  and  of  all  her  comrades,  disavow 
any  intention  whatever  of  violating  the  spirit 
of  our  obligation  as  a  post,  or  as  oflScers  or 
comrades  thereof,  or  any  intention  of  doing 
anything  which  should  have  subjected  us  to 
the  censure  or  criticism  of  the  lawful  author- 
ities of  our  order. 

When  we  have  said  this,  comrades,  we 
have  said  all.  We  are  men;  we  are  free- 
born  citizens  of  this  republic ;  we  are  Ameri- 
can Union  soldiers,  who  have  freely  staked 
our  lives  in  red  battle,  in  hunger  and  wet 
and  cold,  in  hospital  and  in  prison,  all  in 
the  glad  service  of  free  institutions  and  the 
liberty  of  man,  and  we  have  not  come  home 
to  surrender  our  manhood.  We  believe  that 
the  institution  or  the  organization  which  can- 
not stand  free  discussion  and  open  criticism 
is  unfit  to  enjoy  the  light  of  that  liberty 
to  which  our  armies  have  struggled  through 
clouds  and  darkness;  and  we  should  be 
ashamed  of  the  soldiers  of  the  great  repub- 
lic if  they  had  come  back  to  their  friends 
and  \  neighbors  and  banded  themselves  to- 
gether into  an  association  which  should  fetter 
that  free  speech  for  which  they  had  proudly 
fought  and  won  on  fields  of  glory. 

We '  therefore  take  back  nothing  of  our 
action  on  that  circular  which  calls  attention 
to  reforms  that  we  believe  should  take  place 
in  the  affairs  of  the  G.  A.  R.  in  this  depart- 
ment. And  this  we  say  whether  it  shall 
finally  appear  that  those  reforms  are  neces- 
sary or  not!  It  was  our  right  to  express  our 
views,  honestly  as  we  held  them,  in  regard  to 
those  matters.  The  lowliest  American  citi- 
zen has  the  right  to  do  that ;  and  the  soldiers 
of  the  republic  have  forfeited  none  of  the 
rights  of  freemen  by  fighting  for  liberty,  nor 
have  the  veterans  by  banding  together  to 
preserve  the  memory  of  those  hours  of  trial 
and  danger. 

The  reforms  suggested  in  the  circular  are 
such  as  we  believe  proper  to  be  made; 
whether  our  belief  be  correct  or  not,  we  had 
the  right  as  men,  as  citizens  and  as  comrades, 
to  express  it.  For  the  form  of  expression 
we  should  not  be  held  altogether  accountable. 
We  took  the  circular  as  it  was  sent  us,  giving 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


749 


slight  attention  to  the  manner  of  expression, 
but  much  to  the  matter.  We  do  believe  that 
the  comrades  of  the  Grand  Army  should  not 
have  interfered  in  the  management  of  the 
Woman's  Relief  Corps,  and  we  do  believe  that 
other  matters  referred  to  in  the  circular 
should  receive  the  attention  of  this  encamp- 
ment. Shall  we  be  punished  for  thus  believ- 
ing, or  for  thus  freely  expressing  our  belief? 

And,  comrades,  granting  even  that  we 
should  first  have  taken  this  circular  and  re- 
vised its  language,  so  that  it  should  not  be 
quite  so  plain-spoken,  that  references  to  in- 
dividual comrades  should  have  been  omitted 
or  modified, — even  so,  in  the  sweet  names  of 
fraternity  and  charity,  shall  we  suffer  death 
for  such  an  offense  f  Because  honest  soldiers, 
plain,  blunt  men,  seeing  what,  in  the  sim- 
plicity of  their  hearts,  they  considered  evil 
practices,  should  have  used  a  soldier's  free- 
dom, and  should  not  have  spoken  with  all  the 
grace  of  Chesterfield,  or  all  the  obsequious- 
ness of  Orientals  addressing  the  Shah  of 
Persia, — ^shall  the  mandate  therefore  go  forth 
that  they  shall  be  exiled  forever? 

We  do  not  question  the  power  of  the  de- 
partment commandeer  to  issue  this  order,  but 
we  do  question  the  right  and  justice.  The 
framers  of  our  rules  and  regulations  lodged 
that  high  power  in  the  hands  of  the  depart- 
ment commander,  believing  that  the  comrade 
so  honored  would  be  a  man  above  all  personal 
considerations,  and  one  who  would  administer 
his  high  office  in  the  spirit,  not  only  of  "dis- 
cipline and  fraternity,"  but  also  of  charity 
towards  all  his  comrades  and  loyalty  to  the 
principles  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic. 

The  commander  might  have  simply  cen- 
sured the  post  for  what  he  found  censurable; 
he  might  even  have  suspended  her  charter 
and  referred  any  wrong  doing  of  which  he 
could  complain  to  the  department  encamp- 
ment: or  he  might,  if  he  so  chose,  and  this 
for  an  offense  personal  to  himself,  without 
asking  for  an  explanation,  aye,  even  for  the 
very  purpose,  if  possible,  of  excluding  those 
who  might  explain  from  the  floor  of  the  en- 
campment, annul  her  charter  and  cut  off  the 
faithful  old  post  forever.  He  might  do  this, 
such  grave  power  is  entrusted  to  his  hands. 

"OJi! 
'Tis  excellent  to  have  a  giant's  strength. 
Bat  tyrannons  to  use  it  as  a  giant!" 

It  does  seem  to  us,  looking  at  the  matter 
in  all  calmness  of  mind  and  charity  of  heart, 


that  the  action  of  the  council  of  administra- 
tion, endorsed  by  the  department  commander 
in  General  Orders  No.  11,  was  unprecedented 
in  our  history,  unnecessarily  severe,  and  espe- 
cially harsh  in  view  of  the  fact  that  no  pre- 
vious intimation  was  given  that  the  post  had 
fallen  under  the  displeasure  of  department 
headquarters.  We  think  that  the  proverbial 
love  of  fair  play,  so  characteristic  of  Ameri- 
cans and  their,  institutions,  should  have  pre- 
vented trial,  judgment  and  sentence,  until 
the  post  by  its  representatives  could  have  been 
heard  and  allowed  to  explain  and  plead  in  its 
behalf. 

Our  noble  order  was  originally  based  upon 
fraternity,  without  regard  to  former  rank, 
and  it  was  certainly  never  the  design  that  we 
should  establish  an  arbitrary  rank  of  our  own. 
Section  4,  Article  I.,  Chapter  V.,  of  the  rules 
and  regulations  could  not  have  been  intended 
to  place  in  the  hands  of  one  of  our  officers 
and  his  council,  however  exalted  their  rank, 
any  star  chamber  authority.  Offenses  cog- 
nizable by  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 
are  specified  in  Article  1  of  said  chapter; 
and  it  is  distinctly  stated  in  Section  3  of 
that  article  that  ''all  accusations  shall  be 
made  in  the  form  of  charges  and  specifica- 
tions,'' thus  securing  to  the  accused  both  no- 
tice of  the  charge  against  him  and  the  right 
to  plead  in  defense.  It  will  hardly  be  claimed 
that  the  right  thus  secured  to  an  individual 
comrade  of  a  post  is  denied  to  all  the  com- 
rades taken  together,  or  to  the  post  itself. 

We  do  therefore  enter  our  solemn  protest 
against  the  summary  provisions  of  Order  No. 
11;  and  we  submit  to  you,  comrades  of  the 
department  encampment,  that  for  whatever 
w^rong  we  may  have  done,  whether  imaginary 
or  real,  the  annuUment  of  our  charter  is  an 
excessive,  uncharitable  and  utterly  dispropor- 
tionate punishment,  and  therefore  confidently 
ask  at  your  hands  the  restoration  of  that 
charter. 

That  charter,  comrades,  is  one  of  the  most 
venerable  in  this  department,  having  been 
given  to  us  while  attached  to  the  Department 
of  Illinois,  and  before  the  existence  of  the 
present  Department  of  Indiana. 

Auten  Post,  No.  8,  was  Auten  Post,  No.  1. 
District  of  St.  Joseph,  and  afterwards  Auten 
Post,  No.  17,  under  the  oH  organization. 
When  that  organization  was  abandoned, 
Auten  Post  maintained  its  integrity,  and  al- 
though responsibly  to  no  existing  department, 
met,  elected  officers,  disbursed  charity,  cared 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


750 


HISTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


for  the  needy  and  destitute  in  its  ranks,  and 
never  once  failed  to  observe  Memorial  Day 
in  all  the  years  that  we  had  no  department. 

On  the  19th  day  of  August,  1879,  by  vir- 
tue of  a  charter  issued  from  the  Department 
of  Illinois,  Auten  Post,  No.  64,  took  its  place 
in  that  department,  and  there  remained  until 
the  re-organization  of  the  Department  of 
Indiana,  when  it  became  Post  No.  8,  Depart- 
ment of  Indiana. 

The  post  haa  always  been  loyal  to  consti- 
tuted authority,  and  no  insubordination  was 
intended  or  thought  of  in  its  action  regard- 
ing the  Logansport  circular.  It  is  the  intent 
that  governs,  and  the  absence  of  all  evil 
intent  in  that  action  should  entitle  the  post 
to  the  charitable  judgment  and  fraternal  in- 
dulgence of  this  encampment. 

Ever  since  the  year  1866,  we  have  kept 
the  fires  of  the  Grand  Army  burning.  For 
twenty-two  years  no  Memorial  Day  has  passed 
that  we  have  not  strewn  the  graves  of  our 
dead  comrades  with  the  flowers  of  spring- 
time, and  held  forth  the  memory  of  their 
heroic  example  to  the  admiration  and  grati- 
tude of  our  people.  Through  good  and  evil 
report  we  have  kept  on  our  way,  and  held 
fast  to  the  faith.  Many  a  flourishing  post 
around  us  looks  up  to  ours  as  founder  and 
helper,  and  is  happy  to  call  herself  the  child 
of  old  Auten  Post. 

Faithful  has  the  post  been,  as  its  reports, 
and  the  records  of  this  department  will  show, 
to  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
and  to  department  and  national  orders.  Re- 
ports and  dues  have  been  promptly  remitted, 
including  those  for  the  fourth  quarter  of 
1887;  and  the  action  of  the  post  in  voting 
to  comply  with  Order  No.  11  has  shown  its 
unquestioning  devotion  to  the  G.  A.  R.  and 
to  constituted  authority. 

Is  it  fitting,  then,  comrades,  that  this  old 
post,  of  nearly  three  hundred  members, 
should  be  struck  down  for  so  slight  a  cause 
and  in  so  summary  a  manner?  The  sternest 
laws  of  war  are  more  lenient  than  this.  The 
deserter  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  the  very 
traitor  himself,  is  granted  at  least  the  form 
of  a  court-martial.  He  is  confronted  with  the 
evidence  against  him,  and  is  called  upon  for 
his  defense,  if  he  has  any.  Even  then,  the 
extreme  sentence  may  be  mitigated  or  com- 
muted; or  he  may  be  fully  pardoned  and 
asked  to  prove  himself  once  more  in  the  fire 
of  battle. 

Then,  too,  comrades,  it  is  not  the  part  of 


the  magnanimous  general  to  pass  over  the  too 
great  freedom  of  his  subordinate,  if  personal 
to  himself,  even  if  he  winces  under  thj  crit- 
icism of  this  subordinate?  Or,  in  any  case, 
will  he,  for  such  an  offense,  order  him  shot 
at  sunrise,  without  warning  or  the  semblance 
of  a  trial? 

We  are  wholly  unwilling  to  believe  that  our 
comrades  of  this  department  will  sanction 
any  such  summary  proceedings  against  a  sis- 
ter post.  Should  you  do  so,  comrades,  it 
may  be  your  turn  to-morrow,  as  it  is  ours 
to-day;  until  the  fine  fabric  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  crumbles  to  dust,  bat- 
tered down  by  the  fratricidal  arms  of  its  own 
defenders. 

"We  believe  you  will  rather  act  upon  the 
holy  precepts  of  fraternity,  charity  and  loy- 
alty, the  memories  of  comradeship  in  danger, 
our  common  love  of  country,  and  the  sacred 
cause  to  which  we  have  all  devoted  our  lives. 
We  make  this  plea  for  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic  and  for  the  Department  of  In- 
diana, no  less  than  for  Auten  Post  and  for 
her  comrades.  You  are  not  ready  yet,  com- 
rades, without  greater  cause,  to  disrupt  the 
noble  Department  of  Indiana,  blast  her  posts 
and  scatter  her  membership. 

Commander  and  Comrades  of  the  Ninth 
Annual  Encampment  of  the  Department  of 
Indiana,  our  appeal  is  in  your  hands;  do 
with  it  as  honor  and  duty  shall  inspire  you. 
We  confide  in  that  decision.  We  believe  that 
you  will  return  to  us  our  charter,  books  and 
papers,  give  seats  to  our  delegates  in  this 
encampment,  and  restore  Auten  Post,  No.  8, 
Department  of  Indiana,  to  your  fraternal 
embrace  and  to  her  pla^e  of  honor  in  this 
department,  the  place  which  she  has  so  long 
and  so  nobly  held  in  the  fore  front  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Yours  in  F.,  C.  and  L., 

Timothy  E.  Howard, 
Elmer  Crockett, 
Albert  M.  Burns, 
Jasper  E.  Lewis, 
Jonathan  P.  Creed, 
Committee  (yn  Avpeal  on  the  part  of  Auten 
Post,  No.  8,  Dept.  of  Indianu,  O,  A.  R. 
Adopted  as  the  action  of  Auten  Post,  No. 
8,  Department  of  Indiana,  G.  A.  R.,  by  unani- 
mous vote  of  the  post,  at  a  regular  meeting 
held  at  headquarters.  South  Bend,  Indiana. 
Friday  evening  February  3,  1888. 

Cyrus  C.  Trump,  Post  Commander, 
Jasper  E.  Lewis,  Adjutant. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


751 


As  stated  in  the  foregoing  history  of 
Auten  Post,  the  appeal  to  the  department 
commander  and  department  encampment  was 
successful;  and  the  post  was  immediately 
admitted  to  membership  in  the  department. 

A  few  years  after  the  close  of  the  Civil 
war,  a  military  spirit  began  to  be  shown 
in  the  generation  then  growing  up.  In  this 
county  that  spirit  manifested  itself  in  the 
formation  of  the  South  Bend  Light  Guards, 
a  well-drilled  company  of  young  soldiers  who 
in  a  few  years  developed  into  Company  F  of 
the  Indiana  National  Guard,  oflScered  by  such 
enthusiastic  young  men  as  George  M.  Stude- 
baker,  George  W.  Feaser,  George  W.  Freyer- 
muth  and  others.  Company  F  was  regarded 
throughout  the  state  as  one  of  the  best  com- 
panies in  the  I.  N.  G.  When  the  war  with 
Spain  came  on  and  Indiana  was  called  upon 
to  furnish  its  quota.  Company  F  at  once 
became  the  nucleus  of  one  of  the  regiments  to 
start  for  the  front.  This  regiment  was  the 
157th  Indiana  infantry,  which  acted  so 
worthy  a  part  in  our  short  controversy  with 
the  proud  nation  whose  dominion  at  one  time, 
as  we  have  seen,  extended  from  the  valley 
of  the  St.  Joseph  to  the  straits  of  Magellan. 
George  M.  Studebaker  was  appointed  colonel. 
In  time,  George  W.  Feaser  was  advanced  to 
the  lieutenant-colonelcy,  and  George  W. 
Freyermuth  was  promoted  from  captain  to 
major.  This  later  military  story  is  so  fresh 
in  the  minds  of  the  people  that  it  hardly 
seems  necessary  to  extend  it  further.  The 
young  men  of  the  Light  Guards,  Company 
F  and  the  157th  regiment,  showed  themselves 
worthy  sons  of  the  veterans  of  1861.  A 
camp  of  Spanish  war  veterans  is  one  of  our 
military  organizations. 

Sec.  4. — The  Soldiers'  Monument. — On 
June  25,  1903,  was  dedicated  in  South  Bend 
the  most  beautiful  soldiers'  monument  in  In- 
diana, save  only  the  state  monument  at  In- 
dianapolis. This  beautiful  shaft,  of  granite 
and  bronze,  was  erected  by  the  county  of 
St.  Joseph,  and  is  the  ero^Tiing  mark  of 
honor  for  all  time  to  the  heroic  soldiers  and 


sailors  of  every  war  since  the  Revolution, 
whose  bodies  are  at  rest  in  the  soil  of  our 
county.  The  exercises  of  the  dedication 
constituted  one  of  the  very  finest  civic  and 
military  displays  ever  witnessed  in  northern 
Indiana.  The  monument  itself  has  given  the 
utmost  satisfaction  to  our  citizens,  both  as  a 
work  of  art  and  as  a  fit  and  costly  memorial 
to  the  defenders  of  the  republic.  The  loca- 
tion of  the  monument  in  our  small  public 
square,  and  surrounded  and  obscured  by  pub- 
lic buildings,  has  been  criticised.  The  beau- 
tiful shaft  is  hidden  away  as  if  it  were  some- 
thing to  be  concealed;  whereas  it  is  worthy 
of  a  place  for  itself,  where  it  might  be  viewed 
and  admired  by  all  the  world.  Mr.  Leighton 
Pine,  a  member  of  the  monument  commis- 
sion, earnestly  contended  that  the  shaft 
should  be  erected  in  one  of  the  public  parks  j 
and  people  now  generally  acknowledge  that 
Mr.  Pine  was  right  in  this,  as  he  was  in 
relation  to  the  stand  pipe,  and  indeed  in 
relation  to  almost  everything  concerning 
which  he  expressed  a  decided  opinion.  He 
was  one  of  the  brightest  and  most  judicious 
minded  of  all  the  men  that  ever  took  part 
in  the  public  affairs  of  St.  Joseph  county. 
But  the  soldiers'  monument,  notwithstanding 
its  location,  is  a  thing  of  beauty,  and  will 
be  a  joy  forever,  teaching  to  all  the  coming 
generations  its  silent  lesson  of  love  of  coun- 
try and  gratitude  to  her  defenders. 

Soldiers  and  citizens  came  for  a  hundred 
miles  on  the  beautiful  June  day,  to  join  in 
the  dedication  of  the  monument,  and  to  listen 
to  the  fine  addresses  of  Mayor  Edward  J. 
Fogarty,  Department  Commander  George  W. 
Orubbs,  Captain  Edwin  Nicar,  Colonel  Wil- 
liam Hoynes  and  former  Congressman  Ben- 
jamin F.  Shively.  The  historical  features  con- 
nected with  the  erection  and  dedication  of  the 
monument  will  perhaps  be  best  shown  in  an 
editorial  in  the  South  Bend  Tribune  of  that 
day ;  in  the  presentation  address  by  the  Hon. 
Isaac  Newton  Miller,  president  of  the  board 
of  county  commissioners  and  in  the  accept- 
ance on  the  part  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


752 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Association.  These  were,  in  order,  as  follows : 
The  Editx)rial. 

The  dedication  of  the  soldiers'  monument 
in  the  court  house  grounds  in  this  city  to-day 
marks  the  last  of  three  important  public 
events  in  St.  Joseph  county  connected  with 
the  great  civil  war.  The  first  was  on  an 
April  evening  forty-two  years  ago  when,  on 
the  news  of  Sumter's  fall,  the  citizens  ot 
South  Bend,  filled  with  patriotic  indignation, 
met  in  mass  concourse,  denounced  disunionism 
and  then  and  there  by  the  scores  volunteered 
to  go  M  the  president's  call  and  battle  for 
their  country's  cause. 

It  was  a  sad  occasion  wlien  again  th^  met 
under  the  leafy  maples  on  the  same  spot  a 
few  months  later  to  pay  humble,  mournful 
tribute  to  the  memory  of  one  who  had  been 
brought  back  from  the  field  of  strife  the  first 
of  his  comrades  to  fall  at  the  enemy's  hands. 
Over  the  silent  form  of  John  Auten,  wrapped 
in  the  starry  flag,  the  highest  honor  to  a  sol- 
dier and  the  tenderest  tribute  of  friend  were 
paid.  Eloquent  were  the  eulogies  said  and 
beside  the  maimed  body  fresh  vows  were 
taken  to  stand  by  the  flag  and  avenge  his 
death. 

Many,  many  more  of  her  brave,  stalwart 
sons  did  St.  Joseph  county  send  to  become  a 
sacrifice  upon  the  altar  of  their  country,  and 
the  gathered  thousands  on  the  historic 
grounds  to-day  are  there  to  pay  the  loftiest 
tribute,  to  express  the  deepest  gratitude,  to 
extend  the  most  affectionate  fealty,  to  show 
the  all-abiding  love  of  the  living  to  the  dead 
in  the  consecration  of  a  monument  of  granite 
and  enduring  bronze  to  loyalty  and  heroism. 

This  impressive  memorial  that  St.  Joseph 
county  has  erected  at  much  expense  to  com- 
memorate the  valor  of  her  soldiers  on  the 
field  of  glory  has  been  a  long  time  going 
through  the  developing  process,  but  it  is  now 
complete  and  will  stand  as  long  as  time 
lasts.  It  certainly  is  a  splendid  specimen  of 
the  sculptor's  art,  and  will  be  classed  among 
the  city's  most  conspicuous  public  ornaments. 
It  is  of  symmetrical  proportions  and  all  of 
its  embellishments  and  inscriptions  are  in 
good  taste  and  appropriate.  No  one  can  well 
look  upon  the  heroic  figure  surmounting  the 
shaft,  the  color  bearer  holdiner  aloft  Old 
Glory,  without  a  thrill  of  patriotic  inspira- 
tion, while  to  the  old  soldier  it  stirs  the  blood 
and  brings  up  memories  of  the  long  ago  jyjien 
the  demon  of  war  stalked  through  ttR^  be- 
loved land. 


Those  who  took  the  responsibility  of  rais- 
ing funds  for  the  monument  and  all  who  were 
in  any  way  connected  with  the  selection  of 
its  design  and  entrusted  with  its  construc- 
tion are  certainly  to  be  congratulated  upon 
the  arucceas  of  their  efforts.  No  criticism 
whatever  is  to  be  offered  of  the  shaft.  It 
is  one  of  the  finest  memorials  of  the  kind  to 
be  found  in  the  country,  and  Indiana  has 
none  other  to  compare  with  it  except  perhaps 
the  state  soldiers'  monimaent  at  Indianapolis, 
which  is  really  no  better,  only  that  it  is  on 
a  more  elaborate  scale.  St.  Joseph  county 
may  well  be  proud  of  the  memorial  she  has 
erected  in  the  public  grounds  to  show  her 
gratitude  to  the  heroes  who  went  forth  to 
battle  for  the  right  in  her  name.  It  is  a 
tribute  to  all  who  gave  up  their  lives  for  the 
flag  in  every  branch  of  the  military  and 
naval  service,  in  all  the  wars  of  the  republic, 
from  the  first  struggle  for  liberty  down  t# 
the  latest  for  the  maintenance  of  American 
supremacy,  the  short  war  with  Spain,  for  in 
old  St.  Joseph's  soil  sleep  the  soldiers  of 
1776,  of  1812,  of  1846,  of  1861,  and  of  1898. 
Mr.  Miller's  Presentation. 

We  come  to-day  to  dedicate  and  conse- 
crate this  monument  in  honor  of  and  to 
the  memory  of  those  who  fought  and  those 
who  fell  in  the  war  of  the  great  rebellion. 
The  citizens  of  St.  Joseph  county  have 
erected  this  soldiers'  and  sailors'  monument 
as  a  token  of  the  high  regard  and  love  they 
have  for  the  men  who  saved  this,  the  great- 
est republic  on  earth,  and  who  carried  Old 
Glory  on  so  many  battlefields  to  victory. 

Almost  four  years  ago  there  was  a  peti- 
tion presented  to  the  county  commissioners  of 
this  county,  asking  them  to  appropriate  the 
sum  of  $25,000  with  which  to  build  a  sol- 
diers' monument.  The  members  of  the  board 
at  that  time  were  Peter  Reaves,  president: 
Samuel  Bowman  and  John  Fulmer.  This 
county  board  submitted  the  petition  to  the 
county  advisory  board  and  the  appropriation 
was  granted  without  a  dissenting  vote.  Prom 
this  time  on,  with  the  aid  of  the  6.  A.  R. 
committee,  for  which  they  will  please  accej)* 
our  thanks,  we  labored  at  every  session  of 
the  board,  up  to  the  present  time,  to  have  a 
monument  erected  that  would  be  an  ornament 
to  the  city  of  South  Bend  and  in  keeping 
with  the  honor  and  dignity  of  St.  Joseph 
county.  How  well  we  have  succeeded  our 
people  must  be  the  judges. 

The  board   of  county   commissioners   feel 


'^;^   P 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


753 


that  they  have  done  their  whole  duty  and 
have  used  the  funds  intrusted  to  their  care 
and  keeping  as  economically  as  possible  and 
have  received  in  return  from  McDonnell  & 
Sons,  the  contraotors,  the  full  value  of  the 
money  paid. 

At  the  earnest  solicitation  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  and  the  Woman  *s  Re- 
lief Corps,  there  will  be  a  space  left  around 
the  base  of  the  monument  three  feet  in  width, 
for  planting  and  cultivation  of  flowering 
plants,  which  we  hope  will  be  realized  as 
soon  as  the  grounds  are  in  shape,  thus  keep- 
ing the  base  of  the  monument  a  living,  per- 
petual bud  and  bloom.  This  we  entrust  to 
the  Woman's  Relief  Corps,  which  we  have 
good  reason  to  believe  will  be  done  to  per- 
fection. And  now,  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public, as  president  of  the  board  of.  county 
commissioners  of  St.  Joseph  county,  I  present 
to  you  this  beautiful  monument  as  a  tribute 
to  the  love  and  respect  we  have  for  you. 
May  you  receive  it  in  the  same  generous 
spirit  that  it  is  freely  given. 

Mr.  Howard's  Acceptance. 
Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Board 
of  County  Commissioners  and  the  County- 
Council  : 

It  is  an  honor  that  I  appreciate  most  highly 
to  be  chosen  on  the  part  of  the  St.  Joseph 
County  Soldiers'  Monument  Association  to 
receive  from  your  hands  this  beautiful  and 
enduring  shaft  which  the  good  people  of  this 
county,  through  you,  have  erected  to  com- 
memorate forever  the  loyal  and  heroic  citi- 
zen soldiers  who  went  out  from  these  borders 
to  maintain  the  integrity  of  the  republic. 
In  gratitude  to  you,  Mr.  President  and  gen- 
tlemen, and  to  the  noble  men  and  women  of 
St.  Joseph  county  whom  you  represent,  we 
accept  this  granite  monument,  surmounted 
with  its  noble  bronze  figures,  commemorative 
of  the  soldiers  and  sailors  who  sleep  in  hon- 
ored graves  in  the  cemeteries  of  every  town- 
ship, city  and  hamlet  of  this  splendid  county 
named  from  and  nestled  in  the  bosom  of  the 
St.  Joseph  valley.  So  long  as  those,  our 
heroes,  sleep  in  the  soil  which  their  ashes 
have  made  sacred,  so  long,  we  trust,  will  this 
granite  and  this  bronze  bear  aloft  the  flag 
which  they  lifted  up  to  sunlight  and  glory. 
Happy  are  the  people  and  secure  are  their 
liberties  who  thus  remember  and  honor  their 
heroic  defenders.  Well  did  the  governor  of 
the  staite  say,  in  sending  to  us  his  congratu- 


lations and  his  regrets  for  his  unavoidable 
absence:  **St.  Joseph  county  honors  herself 
in  thus  honoring  her  soldiers." 

Nearly  four  years  ago,  on  the  16th  day  of 
December,  1899,  the  St.  Joseph  County  Sol- 
diers' Monument  Association  was  formed  for 
the  purpose,  as  stated  in  its  articles  of  in- 
corporation, of  aiding  **in  erecting  at  the 
county  seat  a  monument  or  memorial  hall  to 
the  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  civil  war  from 
St.  Joseph  county  who  fought  and  died  in 
defense  of  the  Union  i^d  the  rights  of  man." 
Membership  in  the  association  was  open  to 
all  the  citizens  of  the  county.  The  following 
representative  board  of  directors  was  chosen  : 
John  Hughes,  Edwin  Nicar,  Timothy  E. 
Howard,  Joseph  M.  Dolph,  John  Layton, 
John  A.  M.  La  Pierre,  Wilbur  E.  Gtorsuch, 
Corwin  B.  Van  Pelt,  Edward  P.  Stanfield, 
Charles  Frank,  Edward  A.  Jemegan,  G.  H. 
Motts,  W.  S.  Olmstead,  William  H.  Deacon, 
H.  A.  Adle,  Simon  B.  Cullars,  James  Oliver, 
Clement  Studebaker,  Joseph  B.  Birdsell, 
Marion  B.  Staley,  George  W.  Lewis,  Leighton 
Pine,  George  W.  Loughman,  Frederick  H. 
Badet,  Very  Rev.  Andrew  Morrissey,  Schuy- 
ler Colfax,  Martin  V.  Beiger,  Henry  G.  Niles, 
George  W.  Baker,  George  Wyman,  John  B. 
Stoll,  Chauncey  N.  Fassett,  Elmer  Crockett, 
Patrick  O'Brien,  Irving  A.  Sibley,  Charles 
T.  Lindsey,  Edward  B.  Reynolds,  Lucius  G. 
Tong,  Myron  Campbell,  Charles  L.  Goetz  and 
Frederick  W.  Mueller. 

As  the  executive  officer  of  the  association 
the  directors  selected  the  man  of  all  the  asso- 
ciation best  fltted  for  the  task.  On  more 
than  one  occasion  had  Past  Department  Com- 
mander Edwin  Nicar  shown  his  capacity  as 
an  organizer,  and  those  who  realized  how 
great  the  task  before  us  turned  instinctively 
to  him,  and  he  was  selected  as  president.  He 
thought  at  first  that  he  had  too  little  time  to 
spare  for  so  great  a  work  and  was  reluctant 
to  serve.  But  on  the  principle  that  if  you 
want  a  thing  done  you  must  get  a  busy  man 
to  do  it,  he  was  pressed  into  service.  There 
was  in  another  respect  a  certain  fitness  in 
things  in  the  selection  of  Captain  Nicar  as 
president.  In  1896  the  seventeenth  annual 
encampment  of  the  Department  of  Indiana, 
G.  A.  R.,  was  held  in  South  Bend,  and  it  may 
be  said,  without  disparagement  of  the  work 
of  any  one  else,  that  the  success  of  that  en- 
campment was  due  in  great  measure  to  the 
ability  displayed  by  Edwin  Nicar  as  head  of 
the    executive    committee.      The    citizens    of 


Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


754 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


South  Bend  were  generous  on  that  occasion, 
as  they  always  are  when  appealed  to  for  a 
great  and  good  purpose,  and  over  $900  re- 
mained in  the  local  treasury  after  payment 
of  all  expenses.  What  to  do  with  this 
money  was  not  easy  to  determine.  In  this 
emergency  the  thought  of  a  soldiers'  monu- 
ment came  as  an  inspiration  to  Mr.  Nicar, 
and  the  following^  resolutions  drawn  up  by 
him  were  unanimously  adopted.  The  money 
problem  was  solved  and  this  fair  monument 
loomed  in  the  distance.  These  were  the  reso- 
lutions : 

''Whereas,  The  executive  committee  has 
reason  to  believe  that  the  wishes  of  the  con- 
tributors to  the  encampment  fund,  and  public 
sentiment  generally,  wiU  sanction  the  follow- 
ing disposition  of  the  .surplus  remaining; 
therefore, 

**  Resolved,  That  the  balance  above  men- 
tioned be  and  the  same  is  hereby  appropriated 
and  set  aside  as  the  nucleus  of  a  soldiers' 
monument  fund,  to  be  used  in  connection 
with  such  other  funds  as  may  hereafter  be 
secured  for  the  purpose,  in  the  erection  of  a 
suitable  monument  in  the  city  of  South  Bend 
to  commemorate  the  sacrifices  and  valor  of 
the  soldiers  of  South  Bend  and  vicinity  who 
lost  their  lives  in  defense  of  the  Union  in 
the  war  of  1861  and  1865. 

''Resolved,  That  until  a  soldiers'  monu- 
ment association  shall  be  properly  organized 
the  balance  above  mentioned  shall  remain  in 
the  hands  of  the  treasurer  of  this  committee ; 
but,  when  it  shall  appear  to  the  chairman  and 
secretary  of  this  committee  that  such  associa- 
tion has  been  properly  organized  and  is  ready 
for  business,  they  shall  draw  their  warrant 
upon  said  treasurer  in  favor  of  the  treasurer 
of  the  monumental  association  and  this  being 
done  the  work  of  the  executive  committee 
shall  be  deemed  completed  and  the  committee 
dissolved." 

With  the  funds  so  provided  by  the  wise 
foresight  of  the  local  committee  of  the  sev- 
enteenth department  encampment  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  all  the  ex- 
penses of  the  St.  Joseph  County  Soldiers' 
Monument  Association  have  been  paid,  un- 
der the  watchful  eyes  of  our  efficient  secre- 
tary, Comrade  W.  E.  Gorsuch,  and  business- 
like treasurer,  Mr.  Frederick  W.  Mueller. 

But  to  secure  sufficient  funds  to  build  n 
monument  worthy  the  great  county  of  St. 
Joseph  was  a  formidable  task.  To  secure  an 
appropriation  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars 


by  your  honorable  board,  it  was  necessary 
for  the  association,  first  of  all,  to  present  a 
petition  signed,  as  the  statute  requires,  by 
*'the  majority  of  the  voters  of  the  county." 
Whether  this  could  be  done  or  not  was  the 
question.  The  effort  had  been  made  several 
times  already  and  failed.  Committees  on  the 
part  of  Auten  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  had  tried  over 
and  over  again,  but  were  unable  to  succeed. 
A  man  of  untiring  energy,  of  unflagging  cour- 
age and  perseverance  was  needed.  Happily 
for  this  day's  triumph,  such  a  man  was 
found. 

Past  Post  Commander  John  Hughes  was 
made  chairman  of  the  committee  on  x)etition, 
and  he  went  to  work  with  that  quiet,  unas- 
suming, patient  energy  that  has  alwa^'s 
marked  the  character  of  one  of  the  most 
modest,  brave  and  true  soldiers  that  ever 
wore  the  uniform  of  the  republic.  It  was 
necessary  to  get  over  seven  thousand  names 
to  secure  a  majority  of  the  voters.  W^eek 
after  week  and  month  after  month  the  quiet 
work  went  on,  and  whenever  a  discour- 
aged member  of  the  association  expressed 
doubt  as  to  success  Comrade  Hughes  quietly 
remarked  that  we  must  have  patience,  that 
the  committee  were  getting  there.  It  is  a 
moral  certainty  that  no  one  else  could  have 
accomplished  the  task,  but  in  good  time  Com- 
rade Hughes  brought  in  his  great  roll  of  the 
voters,  and  on  counting,  it  was  found  that 
over  nine  thousand  had  signed  the  petition. 
The  point  of  danger  was  passed. 

Edwin  Nicar  has  been  the  commander  of 
our  forces;  you,  gentlemen,  the  representa- 
tives of  the  people,  have  furnished  the  sinews 
of  war;  but  John  Hughes,  the  true  soldier, 
faithful  to  his  assigned  task,  is  the  unpre- 
tending hero  of  the  monument. 

Then  came  the  trying  task  of  securing  plans 
and  bidders  to  do  the  work.  Meeting  after 
meeting  of  the  association  was  held  for  this 
purpose.  In  this  connection,  while  words  of 
praise  cannot  be  given  to  so  many  that 
richly  deserve  it,  there  is  one  name,  that  of 
a  most  public  spirited  citizen,  that  cannot 
be  passed  over.  One  of  the  most  faithful 
attendants  of  the  sessions  of  the  association 
and  one  whose  encouragement  and  advice 
helped  very  much  to  keep  alive  the  spirit  of 
the  association  was  that  broad-minded,  large- 
souled  citizen  who  sympathized  with  every 
elevating  and  patriotic  movement  in  the  com- 
mnnity,  Clement  Studebaker.  Th**  soldiers 
of  his  count V  were  verv  near  to  Mr.  Stude- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


PU£- 


/:  -- 


li..J         -' 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


SOLDIERS*  MONUMENT,   SOUTH  BEND. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


757 


baker's  heart,  and  perhaps  the  very  last  pul> 
lie  meeting  which  he  attended  was  that  of 
the  association  when  the  design  of  the  present 
monument  was  finally  selected. 

Mr.  President,  gentlemen,  the  soldiers' 
monument  is  with  us  to  stay.  "We  receive  it 
on  the  part  of  the  people  of  St.  Josepli 
county.  We  and  you  shall  soon  pass  away, 
but  the  people  will  remain,  and  this  enduring 
granite  and  bronze  will  remain  with  them  as 
your  monument  also  and  ours.  The  people  of 
our  blood  and  kindred  who  shall  succeed  us, 
and  all  those  who  will  come  to  dwell  with 
them  in  the  valley  of  the  St.  Joseph,  will 
for  a  thousand  years  gather  at  the  foot  of 
this  beauteous   shaft   to  receive   inspiration 


from  the  silent  heroes  who  are  here  commem- 
orated and  they  will,  too,  remember  with 
pride  that  their  fathers  arose  to  the  full  dig- 
nity of  patriotic  duty  when  they  erected  this 
mark  of  their  love  and  devotion  to  those  who 
died  that  the  nation  might  live. 


And  now  we  shall  close  the  History  of 
St.  Joseph  county  with  this  story  of  the 
noble  monument  which  the  oounty  has  erected 
to  the  memory  of  those  who,  in  the  times  that 
tried  men's  souls,  went  forth  in  defense 
of  our  homes  and  firesides  and  for  preserva- 
tion of  the  republic. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


758 


HISTORY   OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


W.  L.  KizEB.  For  many  years  the  Kizer 
family  have  occupied  a  distinctive  place  in 
the  affairs  of  South  Bend  and  St.  Joseph 
county.  From  a  wilderness  this  section  has 
been  gradually  transformed  into  a  fertile 
farming  country  and  into  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  cities  of  the  Union,  and  in  this 
glorious  labor  the  Kizers  have  been  active 
and  zealous,  leaving  to  their  children  and  to 
posterity  the  records  of  useful,  well  spent 
lives.  A  worthy  scion  of  this  family,  W.  L. 
Kizer,  was  bom  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio, 
February  15,  1844.  His  father,  Ebenezer 
Kizer,  came  to  St.  Joseph  county  in  the  early 
year  of  1846,  locating  in  German  township, 
where  he  purchased  land  and  improved  a 
farm.  The  latter  part  of  his  life  was  spent 
in  South  Bend,  where  his  death  occurred  in 
1883,  when  he  had  reached  the  sixty-third 
milestone  on  the  journey  of  life,  passing 
away  in  the  faith  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  of  which  he  was  long  a  faithful  mem- 
ber. Mrs.  Kizer  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Susanna  Ward,  and  was  a  native  of  Ohio. 
Her  death  occurred  in  South  Bend  at  the 
age  of  sixty-four  years.  In  the  family  of 
this  worthy  pioneer  couple  were  seven  sons 
and  one  daughter,  all  of  whom  grew  to  years 
of  maturity,  but  the  daughter  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-four  years.  The  sons  are: 
George,  a  resident  of  Michigan;  Peter,  also 
of  that  state;  W.  L.,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review;  Ebenezer,  a  resident  of  Michi- 
gan; James,  a  farmer  of  German  township, 
St.  Joseph  county;  Jacob,  also  an  agricul- 
turist of  German  township;  and  Robert  P.. 
of  South  Bend. 

W.  L.  Kizer  was  only  about  two  years  of 
age  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  and  the  early  years  of  his  life 
were  devoted  to  the  work  of  the  home  farm, 
while  his  education  was  obtained  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  near  his  home  and  in  the  city 
schools  of  South  Bend.  He  also  acquired  a 
most  liberal  college  education  in  the  sciences 
and  classics,  where  he  also  paid  special  at- 
tention to  the  study  of  the  languages.  He 
then  became  assistant  revenue  collector  of 
the  ninth  district,  fifth  division,  under  Frank 
Tutt,  and  was  later  made  deputy  collector 
under  Colonel  Norman  Eddy  for  the  ninth 
district,  state  of  Indiana,  in  which  he  re- 
mained for  three  years.  He  was  next  en- 
gaged in  special  agency  work  for  the  Etna 
Insurance  Company  of  Hartford,  but  re- 
signed that  position  to  engage  in  the  real  es- 


tate business  in  1869.    His  name  is  now  well 
known  in  manufacturing  circles,  being  secre- 
tary of  the  Malleable  Steel  Range  Manufact- 
uring Company,  one  of  the  leading  industries 
of  South  Bend.    He  is  the  director  of  the  St. 
Joseph  Loan  &  Trust  Company,  also  of  the 
St.  Joseph  County  Savings  Bank,  and  is  in- 
terested in  many  other  leading  industries  oZ 
this  county  and  city.    At  No.  803  West  Wash- 
ington street.  South  Bend,  Indiana,  is  located 
Mr.  Blizer's  fine  home. 

In  1871  Mr.  Kizer  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Brick,  the  daughter  of  William  W.  Brick,  of 
South  Bend,  and  they  have  a  son  and  daugh- 
ter, Horace  E.  and  Willimena,  the  latter  the 
wife  of.T.  E.  Morrison,  a  real  estate  and  in- 
surance d^ealer  of  South  Bend.  Ward  Wells, 
another  son,  died  July  6,  1904,  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  years.  Mr.  Kizer  gives  his  politi- 
cal support  to  the  Republican  party,  and  has 
served  as  the  city  commissioner,  and  for  six 
years  as  chairman  of  the  board  of  city  com- 
missioners during  the  administration  of  Wil- 
liam H.  Langley  and  Hon.  David  R.  Leeper. 
Success  has  crowned  the  well  directed  efforts 
of  W.  L.  Kizer,  and  he  is  popular  and  re- 
spected in  all  circles. 

John  Harvey  Myers,  a  prominent  con- 
tractor and  builder  of  South  Bend,  Indiana, 
was  born  in  Madison  township,  May  15,  1864. 
His  father,  John  P.  Myers,  was  bom  in  the 
state  of  New  York,  April  24,  1838,  and  his 
father,  Frederick  Myers,  was,  as  far  as 
known,  a  lifelong  resident  of  that  state.  Her 
husband  having  died  and  the  ties  which 
bound  her  to  her  old  home  having  been 
broken,  Mrs.  Myers,  grandmother  of  our  sub- 
ject, emigrated  to  Indiana  with  her  four  chil- 
dren, and  settled  in  Madison  township,  St. 
Joseph  county,  where  she  secured  a  tract  of 
land,  and  there  reared  her  family.  Several 
years  after  coming  to  Indiana,  she  married 
a  Mr.  Hemlinger.  John  F.  Myers,  father  of 
J.  H.  Myers,  availed  himself  of  the  oppor- 
tunity of  attending  the  district  school  and  in 
the  meantime  resided  on  the  farm,  and  after 
marriage  continued  to  occupy  the  home  farm, 
which  he  managed  with  signal  ability  until 
1898,  with  the  exception  of  two  years,  which 
he  spent  as  a  soldier  in  the  federal  army  dur- 
ing the  war  of  the  rebellion.  Since  1898  he 
has  lived  retired  from  active  work,  and  is 
now  enjoying  the  quiet  of  a  well  ordered  life 
and  the  rest  which  is  due  the  man  who  labors 
long  and  faithfully.  He  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican in  his   political  affiliations   and   holds 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


^^ 


^       ■       Digitized  by  Google 


:  *;V         *    ^'i.  JOSEPH    COVNTY. 

<.:.      Fi^cr  t;t:o  bnM'\'f-s  in   l^C.K     liis  n;.M  •*  is  iU  v   .- 

:   f    }■•!' "*     'H  ki'jwn   if    '  .'ni::a 'Ml' JUL''    M^"!•.^    i  >  r 

-     *_   ''-in   ii;'.>  I'lif.i.   <'.;.:''*";.,  m:'^'  of  tii*-  !»';■*'[  n^:^  Ir    . 

.'     ',ii       V    f«n-tilf  (,r  ^,-'r.li   Uf'iul       11.'-  i>  the  (i,rpr:cr  o\    : 

■    .   .:...'i    in   iK.^  St.  Jos  iiti  i  1' Mily  Sn\iri'.>   HmmK*.   .inl 

'•  *  ■      '    •viT%.'».   atni   to  Jiis  cim..!}    ;i:;d  e;tv      At   \»'    ^M  J  \V  r- * 

:-  -  .1.    \M*|I    Kprixl  in:.'t"i.  s'!'*-.'!.  ^^vM^.!i  I'. ■:]'!.  J\'!iaria.  j^      . 

•   ^.  J-i'fA,  W.   L  ^Iv    Ki'U'"s  ri-tt-  tivnio. 
*    '     .'.-    *'')\\i."  ,    i)Li./.  i:i  JnTI  .Mr.  K'/.  r  x\;->  aiarrl«-d  lo  K.i 

;.  -     ...   .  ^-.'^     i:!u:::o/<'r  ]>m.  k.  Tn''  d;.  ..-iJ^^r  o!'  \\  ^iiij-ia  ^\  .  hi 

.''     • ''.iiiy  u:  \]Hi  »::rly  S  .iiih  !".t'n<i.  uut\  tiwv  lur^-'  a  .--on  ar  u    - 

-     ir':::'aJi    *o\vnsU.ii.  U'l .    Horace    K     ^-u'l    \V]!ii^'*r;i...   til-   iat! 

■;  *    a.>'i    !»ji)ii«'Vfd    a  Wii'^'  '>!'    t'     I'".    \',.r";spM.  a  n.a'   --'atL'   • 

:    :.;>  lit'    wft^  ^pt  Pt  sura-i-'O  d- .;:"i   *  i'  "^jii:!"   W-'^:    I      W  i"  1 

■    'f-     ••  •■;:!   <.!*cii"f(\i   ii^.  aiic'tu-r     --'^  di»d  rl':'^    *'.    i:*'»l.  a*,  r, 

:    a  l"!    ^-     .'i\'^y-t )''.»•■  I  ^-n-fb.  '  n    \.^:r-       .\lr.    k     (  r  ^j:^ /">  ir--    : 

:-:'  -1       !:**\     ]>;iss'i.;'  fa'   s'.piMU-t    .-•  ll;.-    [?  a-M^:  ■••an    n.'I'tN,    ' 

'.     .',:"•!.  t    Kpu'-t'oy-al  Si'r\-'d   ,.^   tfa-  *■'"}    i*(»];,a.:>\^  'a*.',   a. si    ;    • 

'.   \-    »    'a  Iti'ni  na 'M-  y;iK>  a-s  .I.;'iri'..n   .s*  *':•  I-'a'fi  td'   '■!' * 

;•>    .  i' ■!    n  i"'U'    ci  ai  ^<''  ;"'-"S  (ja.    •it'"  Mt'     4- 1  ;>■•">*  r;;*..  p.   «;,     \' 

->....      '     .if    ()hM«  /  !ra    ll.    I. a!   :a--   ar^i    lioji.    l)a^  .d    !i.    1.: 

:,  ■.  d    at    i!j'*  S' ;>'("•■  -«     :   .^  <'i  »n  n*Ml   •  h"  \v  -d   ('.I  .•'  *  ♦'.   ••  . 

•    .        ■.'"•i:h"    of  of     \\        I.      Ki/'-.     .       (1     l:--     !^     ;'  'i''"''     •      ''*"' 

:-.        ^-       ^.'v.  T.    .>  .n<  v;„.t  -r'd   Ml   aii  (•('•    .V 

•■        ■       ' ^-   t.^..r':!rs  ,j,jnA     !i\.,:>     Mvoi--^     a    ,  '\.,>u   »::    • 

■:•:    "''  '  ■  •'    -iI     '^'•'  *  ■.-(  t«>r   Mral    ta  d«i  -r  .a'   >••  :di    ii    ■'!.    !*■  *  .  . 

.    ..   -i  '.  '    .-  •^^     ai"^  :  \v,;s  aMiK   ai   Mt-'i  ><vn   t.  xv^  ^''.p     \'  ,'    IT)    ]-• 

■    *     .:  •■'       .  r-!ea.    aIsM  ii;^   f.i'\r.^-    J.jJ.'^    K.    \=    -.•,     vva.s   a.  aai    j.. 

'-'■-•    ■••    ■■     aiM.,t.,-s  ^1;,!^.   ,.,•    \,  .^.    v,>|;^    ;.,     .1    jj^    |<'.^^   ;,     1 

'     ■      '      '       '    "' ■-    ■  *'■'    "^    ^'  '     '■  \\*^A<'i',     yt^^['■^^^^•\:     '\]y-'^.       ,\.i^.     a'N     in: 

'*'■•■'''' ^''  I  1' nov\i'    a  M    :  -M;  r-M«i  ■;::  --i   tji.d  slat' 

'•     •  '    '1^1    <-f'J-\d-  i,.K;,,i,.d     ha\'     '     d'"i    aiu:     th*-    1  ^v     •- 

■•^i--"  .'I    1I.>1»' rt    IV.  1   .,,,,,]     n,.,.    *(>     !  .  >     ,  i,i    ,1"^'"    hav'..'.' 

•'a''>,\-^n.   .\1 'N    M.cr^    i/r*i!i  aiuii'*  "•  of  ta,;- 

*    fv    ^N    *         a>   1-'    >t.   .!■'  dj  •...    •.';••    -sctl'cd    in     Ma  i"N.»ii    !o\\jis}m' 

'    '1.'       .         '.     ."s  "f  liis  I'^'f*  ,)    <  v'i  r^)\r.\.  Vvi.a-''  .A\i'  s- ^"wui  a  ti'. 

-'    v<-  ■    .:    '.•     !'o'»  •■  fa»a:.  1;;    d.    -ad    ta- it    ^''ai'-d    Vf    f.aad^a      > 

"•    a    N  .  '•  :    '.{     I     Mm    d-^  ;    -i:>   .n'I.t   ia»'r'if]Lr   t'-    l-'dmna     ^Il•    ma'" 

•is   V<  "  '    .;  .0    'a    ',h^'   ■■  '  \  a      'r.    ii  .-a  J  a.:i '*.     d.ia  j    f- .    y,  -   ,^,   r.rb    • 

'•  ■     '-a    1.      ti'    .."-  1   a.'-'!'  ■    •*  •'      d      \h  i-'"  .    a\  ;  d  'd    ''aa^iil    »"'     lia      ; 

' '  i   "1   .'!.■.'     -a   ta-    .'        .  •   -  'a  1  ,y  '  r    J'*(  ,;-l:aL   ■''     d"sM  .■■*   -^  •'.<  •;]   •  ■  ■■ 

'•     t"     a'>.     )t.  i*i    s;    «■■  *  ri»    ijit  ant.iira'  n.vd.'d  t.!i   ri^     t.i'iti.  aa  . 

■^•ly    of   w   '    !,ii  .Ma.    ^       '  a' in*'    li-aaiai-aiad  too'-ra-^    Mv-  }"otij.    * 

V  -'.!  't    *'.\"m;^    '"»!'     •    :  V  in-'h   a"    Taaaa;."'-d    wil^i    sa^si  d    a{'d*\ 

thb  r.'^^h  divis '•'•    n:..'   ^    '   .       ,  l"^!**^,  v  it])   \tr  avc-'jaiar   (»f   .\\      y-ai-^,    >• 

Tutt,  -' '■    aianf     {"' 'j'.rv    •      '■    .<  .•  h.   ^     at  ,as  a  -  a  la  r  in  rda-  '"«' 1   -.l.'*   ;v 

under  ^  •'    -.;ti    Ki!'!,v    1'«  •      .-•      '■  '  in-^  "t-i    wwr  .>f  :!••*  ".^:.iMaTi      >  a*-    !*• 

district,    ..    ■  ;alia..a.    mi    \'    -.    ,.      ra-  **-.r.   li\-'i    rdi"-  1    /r'^-a    .a-r;.-    ,vm.  ...    *. 

mained    for  '-'■  '.n       Ii  •   ^-i-    ■:-'\t    <  a-  i-a,^'  .  a.'-.v'i.a  rJ.-'  ird.'-t  •.»{.'  a  w-.li  (  r*:.- 

gaged  in  spec  ■•' n^-y    v\od     f.  -    \K?    Klaa  sa  !  tl'-'  !''>■'  ^^d  'di  's  dn**  ilj-  la-in  \\  a  • 

Insurance    Com^  '    "     *'.  ''i     i)at    r---  I'I'm/   t;id  t-od-fid'y      Hi*  is  a  ^t  *  ^' a   ^^' 

signed  that  positit  '  ti..'  r.ad  a^-  la .  n     a    'd>    jiaai-al    aMna-i.-'-s    a-'i 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


:) 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


■r--\ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


-I  / 


J 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


AuguBt  Hcrzog 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


759 


membership  in  the  local  G.  A.  R.  post.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife,  mother  of  Mr. 
Myers,  was  Margaret  Jane  Grimes.  She  was 
bom  February  27,  1832,  in  Owen  county,  In- 
diana, where  her  parents  were  pioneers,  and 
died  December  23,  1895.  She  reared  five  chil- 
dren: Sarah  Isabelle;  George,  who  died 
August  3,  1879;  John  Harvey;  Nancy 
Sophia,  who  died  in  1893 ;   and  Emma  Ellen. 

John  Harvey  Myers  attended  school  in  his 
youth  and  assisted  on  the  farm,  until  eighteen 
years  of  age,  and  then  commenced  work  at 
the  carpenter's  trade,  continuing  to  live  with 
his  parents  until  twenty-four  years  old,  then, 
having  married,  went  to  Lakeville  and  worked 
at  his  trade  there  two  years,  in  1890  removed 
to  South  Bend  and  engaged  in  business  as 
contractor  and  builder,  which  business  he  has 
continued  successfully  ever  since.  There  are 
many  attractive  evidences  of  his  labor  on 
East  Wenger  street,  where  there  are,  besides 
his  own  residence,  twelve  neat  and  substan- 
tial houses  which  have  been  erected  under  his 
supervision  and  in  addition  to  these  there  are 
many  others  in  different  parts  of  the  city. 
Mr.  Myers  is  a  practical  plumber  as  well  as 
carpenter. 

On  October  18,  1888,  Mr.  Myers  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Flora  Isabella  Kring.  She  was 
bom  in  Union  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
July  22,  1869.  Her  father,  Henry  Kring, 
was  a  native  of  Stari^  county,  Ohio.  His 
father,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  M.  Frederick 
Kring,  emigrated  from  Ohio  to  Indiana,  mak- 
ing the  removal  overland  with  wagons.  This 
was  a  long  time  before  there  were  other 
means  of  transportation  thither  than  that  of- 
fered by  horses  or  oxen.  He  was  an  early 
settler  of  Penn  township,  where  he  bought 
a  partially  improved  farm,  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  days.  Mrs.  Myers' 
father  was  twenty-one  years  old  when  he 
came  to  Indiana  with  his  parents,  with  whom 
he  lived  until  his  marriage,  when  he  bought 
.  good  farm  land  in  Union  township  and  there 
he  engaged  in  farming  until  about  one  year 
before  his  death,  when  he  came  to  South 
Bend,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight  years,  September  27,  1904.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife,  mother  of  Mrs.  Myers,  was 
Sarah  Miller.  She  was  bom  in  Stark  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  daughter  of  John  and  Catherine 
(Wenger)  Miller,  the  former  a  native  of  Ohio 
and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  She  was 
fifteen  years  old  when  she  came  to  Indiana 
with  her  parents,  and  she  died  April  16,  1904. 


Mrs.  Myers  is  the  youngest  of  three  daugh- 
ters, the  others  being  named  Violetta  and 
Dora  Ellen.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  have  one 
son, '  Cluro  L.,  who  was  born  September  9, 
1889,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  are  faithful  and  con- 
sistent members  of  the  German  Baptist 
church. 

August  Herzoq.  When,  after  years  of  long 
and  honorable  labor  in  some  field  of  busi- 
ness, a  man  puts  aside  all  cares  to  spend  his 
remaining  years  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 
fruits  of  his  former  toil,  it  is  certainly  a  well 
deserved  reward  of  his  industry. 
**How  blest  is  he  who  comes  in  shades  like 
these, 

A  youth  of  labor  with  an  age  of  ease — '' 
wrote  the  poet,   and  the  world  everywhere* 
recognizes  the  justice  of  a  season  of  rest  tol- 
lowing  a  period  of  business  lite. 

August  Herzog  is  one  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  one  of  the 
few  early  pioneers  of  Mishawaka  who  have 
taken  such  a  material  part  in  the  develop- 
ment of  this  beautiful  little  city. 

Always  active  in  business,  and  possessed 
of  no  mean  ability,  he  has  conquered  fortune, 
and  now  in  age  is  seeking  rest,  and  the  en- 
joyment of  the  fruits  of  his  long  life  of  toil. 
Few  are  there  who  are  better  known  or  have 
a  wider  circle  of  friends. 

The  Herzog  family  have  resided  in  Misha- 
waka a  full  half  century  and  are  prominently 
identified  with  the  best  interests  of  the  com- 
munity, not  only  in  business,  but  in  social 
and  religious  circles. 

The  founder  of  the  family  in  America  was 
August  Herzog,  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  He  was  bom  in  the  dukedom  of 
Baden,  Germany,  August  21,  1835.  His 
father,  Sebastian  Herzog,  a  brick,  stone  and 
plaster  mason,  was  a  lifelong  resident  of 
Baden,  his  native  land.  The  maiden  name 
of  his  wife  was  Elizabeth  Kastner,  also  a 
native  of  Baden.  She  survived  her  husband 
several  years,  and  visited  America,  but  re- 
turned and  spent  her  last  days  in  her  native 
home.  She  reared  four  children,  named 
August,  Thekla,  Anton  and  Christina.  All 
except  Christina  came  to  America  and  settled 
in  Mishawaka.  August  Herzog  attended 
school  steadily  until  fourteen  years  old,  and 
then  commenced  to  learn  the  trade  of  shoe- 
maker and  served  an  apprenticeship  of  two 
and  a  half  years,  and  then  having  become  a 
skilful  worlnnan,  received  his  discharge,  and 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


760  ^ 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


in  accordance  with  the  custom  prevailing  in 
that  country,  visited  different  cities,  working 
a  while  in  each  city.  He  received  a  recom- 
mendation from  each  employer  as  an  excel- 
lent mechanic  and  a  youth  of  exemplary 
habits.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  came  to 
America.  He  sailed  from  Havre,  France,  in 
a  sailing  vessel  and  landed  at  Xew  York  for- 
ty-two days  later.  He  found  employment  at 
his  trade  in  the  city  and  remained  there  six 
months,  and  then  went  to  Massillon,  Ohio,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  there  three  and  one-half 
years,  and  then,  in  March,  1857,  he  came  to 
St.  Joseph  county  and  first  stopped  at  South 
Bend,  but  not  finding  employment  there, 
came  to  Mishawaka,  and  has  been  a  resident 
here  continuously  since.  He  commenced  here 
•as  a  shoemaker  for  Albert  Hudson,  proprie- 
tor of  a  shoe  store,  and  was  in  his  employ 
five  years  and  then  became  a  "partner,  firm 
name  Hudson  &  Co.,  and  continued  seven 
years,  and  then  Mr.  Hudson  sold  to  C.  C. 
Godeman,  and  the  firm  name  was  changed  to 
Herzog  &  Godeman,  and  continued  four  and 
a  half  years,  and  later  Mr.  Herzog  bought 
his  partner's  interest  and  continued  the  busi- 
ness until  the  year  1899,  and  in  the  mean- 
time has  added  a  gentlemen's  furnishing 
line,  and  selling  his  business  has  lived  retired 
from  active  labor. 

He  married  in  1857,  August  30th,  Balbina 
Kotz.  She  was  bom  July  17,  1837,  in  Ba- 
varia, daughter  of  Francis  Joseph  and  Maria 
Victoria  Besler.  She  came  to  America  with 
her  mother  when  she  was  thirteen  years  old, 
made  the  trip  in  sailing  vessel  and  was  fifty- 
five  days  on  the  water.  The  family  settled 
in  Massillon,  Ohio,  where  they  lived  several 
years,  and  then  came  to  St.  Joseph  county. 

On  the  30th  of  August,  1907,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Herzog  celebrated  their  golden  wedding. 
There  were  present  at  the  time  six  of  their 
seven  children  and  thirteen  grandchildren. 
There  were  ten  children,  nine  of  which  grew 
to  manhood  and  womanhood :  Francis  Joseph, 
Henry,  August  .H.,  Joseph,  John  A.,  Eliza- 
beth M.,  Marie,  Anna  Thekla,  Katherine,  and 
a  nephew,  named  August  Weber,  left  an 
orphan  when  an  infant,  was  reared  by  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Herzog. 

John  Augustus  Herzog.  Whether  the 
elements  of  success  in  life  are  innate  attri- 
butes of  the  individual,  or  whether  they  are 
quickened  by  a  process  of  circumstantial  de- 
velopment, it  is  impossible  to  clearly  deter- 
mine;   yet  the  study  of  a  successful  life  is 


none  the  less  profitable  by  reason  of  the  ex- 
istence of  this  uncertainty,  and  in  the  ma- 
jority of  cases,  it  is  fouiwi  that  exceptional 
ability  supplemented  by  close  application  and 
earnest  purpose,  forms  the  real  success  which 
so  many  have  envied.  It  is  a  noticeable  fact 
that  the  young  men  are  rapidly  occupying 
the  foremost  places  in  business  and  financial 
circles.  Whether  this  is  due  to  superior  edu- 
cation or  training,  or  to  personal  ability,  is  a 
question  of  dispute,  perhaps  it  is  due  to  all 
of  these.  At  aU  events  the  fact  remains  that 
every  community  numbers  among  its  leading 
citizens  men  who  yet  young  in  years  have 
made  a  success  of  life.  And  among  those  who 
deserve  special  mention  in  this  volume  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch. 

He  was  educated  in  the  St.  Joseph  school, 
Mishawaka,  where  he  attended  until  fifteen 
years  old,  when  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Dodge  Manufacturing  Co.,  where  he  re- 
mained six  months,  then  commenced  clerking 
in  his  father's  store,  and  continued  clerking 
until  January,  1899,  when  he  purchased  the 
business  which  he  has  continued  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  was 
elected  city  clerk  and  by  re-election  served 
four  terms.  Since  starting  in  the  shoe  busi- 
ness he  has  given  it  such  close  attention  that 
he  has  made  his  establishment  the  largest  up- 
to-date  shoe  store  in  Mishawaka.  He  is  a 
practical  shoe  man,  having  learned  the  trade 
on  the  bench  when  a  boy  of  twelve  years,  as 
evidence  of  which  he  has  among  his  collection 
in  his  Oriental  room,  a  pair  of  boots  he  made 
at  that  time. 

In  1900  his  health  required  a  recreation 
and  he  took  a  trip  to  Europe,  starting  from 
Mishawaka  August  1st,  through  Canada,  em- 
barking on  ship  at  Quebec,  up  the  St.  Law- 
rence, passing  Anti  Costa,  Labrador,  through 
the  Straights  of  BeUe  Isle  to  Ireland,  Eng- 
land, Holland,  Belgium,  France,  Switzerland, 
Germany,  Italy,  Egypt  and  the  Holy  Land, 
returning  about  December  1st  greatly  satis- 
fied after  a  very  enjoyable  time.  His  rare 
collection  in  Oriental  footwear  and  souvenirs 
are  on  display  in  his  Oriental  room,  also 
cards  and  photographs  to  show  scenes  along 
the  whole  trip. 

He  was  married  July  7,  1891,  to  Henrietta 
Elenoir  Yenn.  She  was  born  in  South  Bend 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Simon  Yenn  and  Jo- 
sephine Yenn.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herzog  have 
two  children,  Mildred  May,  born  October  6th, 
1893,  and  Francis  Elenora,  bom  February  7, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by  LjOOQIC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Tf^E  x^ 


,..,..       ...-.nv. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


(->^J^X    hiiu^ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


lax 

'1  .-!- 


'*!'•     I.' 


i:!-T<u;Y  or  sr. 

■  .     '      \       ^.  .•i.:-:^     .]'    N,   I'll 

■  ■-.'   ^     r,y  ()[  UiC 
7   -'ir'   '11  i  11-. 

.    ■:  !,;-.  h.^'-'-'l- 

-•'   iP(>n    •ill.i      <■- 

•..      i   K'  -ir;-"  a  -.1 
.  ■^]:  i  ;vir    AI'Ii-/- 

;f)n    ill   tu'' 

year     ■  "    lie  uimI''- 

'•••..*     •.'  :'u'  prt-^ri.t 

.    *  '        '^ '  :l'^^  :;<]  .•»• 

'  "  •  "^   arrival 

'       '        •--       \.-h'i  A. 

'  i  !'  1':/    r.'M    S^isaii 
:     ^l\V)V     '  :     »   "iiiiv, 

■  •  *   Mai    :   ;      :'v  born 

•.  .  ■  ■•rj.^K  1'    .'>, 

.      •  :f  '..  •'   v-r.-'U 

'-         II      .:!  "r      '■•  - 

:  i    '^Wi^   r'-a'N  '! 


»'f:    a-/."!    ..-    til     ,-•' 
.-  i  u'  I"  r.  '    i;*    l!  V    .    •  ■ 

V.  'tfi    N.  MM'    t     ;,'  ';<  ' 

Lm^  v.:.y  .'.■  *f  -  '  ■  /     '■ 
*^.^  j.^u-^  i  .— -.:   .^f   1.  •' 

t'''7       !a-.       n.-;'w  ^, 

K.  .'V.  n   a-.  '     t;>    a^'  -  *"  .■ 

h...'l.'-»    t\.ti    «>:'*:.  ''     -' 
1 .''.    <•!- y     a:.. I    'i>*!''::  .    J" 
x\  .:!v<i   1-;  ^"j"\ .  J  '.t^    !-.    ' 

n-'i^tt'^'^      i I<*  \  .'^  ♦    '• 

T  •  usM'cs  <-!'  '^lisiiaw  ar  * 
t  .\  ii't-  rl'.f.'  >i  lO  Ih  • 
r.  Mi'.i  !  I  !vl  'irst  la.  ••  ;' 
l'i;^.Nt-.,riui  c'mh-  -li.  v;  ^- 
'''  .:  .11.  t-ni  •'  f  1  i'l  .  •• 
K"(  .'  ■.'?■'•  in  ].'■>  p  'i:^ 
Ij'l:.  :i      ••  ar^.M-   .:.[."  -' 

;d-    .  •  .  ''--s  Aiij'  •  'I 
;  ■*    :o  ^•l]^-r  f*  • 

■  \\{^    ^^vv   ail  i   ^' 
.•^     .r  "ail,   a:i.i   1, 
„.      .'-:"     '•<-'a'hra!ii 
;   a-'".Vt  i-sat V. 


7r;i 

.  ^^  p  ^i'•■l^n\ak.^ 
. !•  I  .  ^  •  J.  ii  Bond 
a.    i   ''.;f"'    bu-aiifss 

.    r\(.f  i     US     liis 

.  .\    *•  N.'as  111*  \  li- 

■..•'■-      i  )i:t  iriLT 

'    * .'.  -    *':•'».   li.is 

.  :    .      l-i  '«ir.<'>;y 


tl'-'   !• 
1.-.- 


ii      1      f,  :ari      •  •    - 
■>x-       .   •   ;>  at- 


.'     >t.   .lo>e])ti 

t''   11  ;..•■''   \\\v'V 

'    •^\  \hr  imhi 

:      Nai;  ]^^    rt'- 

•   '*.*'  "^^     i'  <  r»'*  .'  .n  Mi\'   L-'diip  and 

■     ;      '.."  a*--'    ,/.i'    pill  -  ^?'^    t!i.':-t 

,.   t^'-";,  a  ^i-  •    :  '■  -y  t.)..;<  III,  tii.'"r 

.    "    i->-'nd.      A.'"'-   io/'atinir   h''*v 

'.  ..J"*--!    iij    t.i..'     s.  'him    })iisiM''s>, 

>*'      .   '  Mi:o    w.t  K    a    Ail .    a'  ud-^on, 

'*.•'  ,' •  ■  ilb.^-st  Tuan  i:i  tlia  0(*i:*:t\-, 

'     ..*^  ihc   pir'Th"-liip  was  dis- 

'i:  ';r.2    tl»('    iollowlTjcr    |i\'o    Vtvi/s 

\\tis    «-r;:xaLr''(i     in    l»:.s:ii<-s    \\\\]\ 

■•>.    Frnm  1^7t>  until  l^aUhowas 


l.ii-f.  .    .    l';/:d.  th  A.,  y   .       ■ 
S    Hi  .>v,  j  'i-t  t.  it*  So-Ul'   »  -  • 
l.'i    \ii''!>    t  .  ^Ta^  drou'.    '.   •-      <  -       .■'. 

n\<'r,    }i;  V ../    NV  llh    tiu,   •      -  •    ■    .• 
nvfi    rht'  i..i:a       Air.   AI    '•  a      '         -■  -i" 

oldrst   [aon— ^-^  of  SJ.  /i--   ■•.   -         •   •     ■ 
♦•>dl    iiia'  y    r    •j'irji^'M'ri.    ^  ; .       .  -,■    -     ''.     : 

and    lif    ''-.-I    dis: .  a-riv    ;  *••'         .  ■      .  '     :  ^ «  .    . 
li.-ar-d    ]!■'••     S  •;.•).  ;.'»•    '"   i-  •■.     .  ..         •■■y    •    - 
s[  1  t*i''i.    i"  .r  .^    ''h'Il    a'.oai*    ^    >   •    :">;.%.'.*.•     ;•" 
a. 'a       11 L-     aip-r    li  is   )-  *    ■     •        a  '    .f.      '..••.'.:'- 
a!:]r    it''d      ;-'f;il    MiM',    aip;      *    '•,:„■     '.*s    1    '-^ 
la  si(l<-i!c»    !n  Soutli  HfTai  ^i:  ..  ^:    fj  isa^h  im  i'i 
1y  Iv'   lv;a*   >\  ai   lia*  1()\»'  an  1  \^nt-ialiuii   a:    :'> 
raswi.'hfs 

\VlIM\\i     M.    ii.HT..\M\    p'   '-  d'  ';t    aiKl    '..a.  .- 

atr-'t'  oi'  t»,  ■  *-M'J  'y  AIa»'hin"  To-.. I  ('(..■, v.-  :-\  o, 
S^aiili  I>(".'.;  vv.cn  ^oni  )ii  \\  v*'U<-(\  >- **''a.slxa, 
diPH'.  4,  l^tT.  fTJs  fatl'T,  Jaiia^s  I'^'Laiid, 
was  a  n  ili\a  id"  Kn^rlnnd.  t)at  <'aaif  !•»  Aniar- 
iaa  <iui'itiir  liss  vnai.'u  nianlnurl,  aia'  in  Xaw 
York  was  nan-i-icd  to  Alarirarat  Fir. ley,  aKo 
a  nativt'  'd*  Kn^land.  Attar  t'l^-ir  marriai^-a 
Air.  and  Airs.  Jlollaiid  t*>'tk  np  Ih-'ir  abod(»  In 
Klldiart.  Indiana,  fra'a  whi(  h  ]>ia<'a  the  for- 
mer  anjist'  d   ih>   a  sold  I. a    jn   tha    Civil   wa*' 


Digitized  by 


Googk 


;  i-t-uj^.L    h-iLu, 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


761 


1896.    The  family  are  members  of  St.  Joseph 
Catholic  church. 

Joseph  MiliLer.  For  many  years  Joseph 
Miller  has  been  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty and  has  been  identified  with  many  of  the 
interests  that  have  contributed  to  its  substan- 
tial development  and  improvement.  His 
probity,  fidelity  and  sterling  worth  have  won 
him  the  unqualified  confidence  of  his  fellow 
men,  and  now,  in  the  evening  of  life,  his  path- 
way is  brightened  by  the  veneration  and  re- 
spect which  ever  follow  an  upright  career. 
He  was  bom  in  Lebanon  county,  Pennsylva- 
nia, February  27,  1823,  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Catharine  (Harper)  Miller,  also  natives  of 
the  Keystone  state.  Their  ancestors  came  to ' 
America  with  William  Penn,  and  Mr.  Miller 
is  of  the  fifth  generation  from  the  founders 
of  the  family  on  American  soil.  He  was 
reared  in  the  county  of  his  nativity,  attend- 
ing the  log  school  houses  so  common  in  the 
early  days,  but  the  instruction  which  he  re- 
ceived therein  has  been  greatly  supplemented 
by  extensive  reading  and  observation  in  later 
years.  In  the  early  year  of  1837  he  made 
his  way  to  Michigan,  locating  on  the  present 
site  of  the  city  of  South  Bend.  On  the  3d  of 
October,  1844,  seven  years  after  his  arrival 
in  this  state,  Mr.  Miller  married  Martha  A. 
Scott,  the  daughter  of  William  and  Susan 
(Nash)  Scott,  natives  of  Culpeper  county, 
Virginia,  but  their  daughter  Martha  was  bom 
in  Jennings  county,  Indiana,  November  3, 
1827.  She  was  about  eight  years  of  age  when 
she  accompanied  her  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  St.  Joseph  county,  and  was  reared 
in  German  township,  on  Portage  Prairie,  her 
education  being  obtained  in  its  country 
schools. 

In  1844  Mr.  Miller  located  with  his  bride 
on  a  farm  in  German  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  where  they  continued  to  make  their 
home  until  1849,  going  thence  to  New  Buffalo, 
Michigan,  where  he  had  charge  of  the  light 
house.  But  in  1853  the  young  couple  re- 
turned to  the  farm  in  German  township  and 
were  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  there 
until  in  April,  1865,  when  they  took  up  their 
abode  in  South  Bend.  After  locating  here 
Mr.  Miller  engaged  in  the  milling  business, 
forming  a  partnership  with  a  Mr.  Judson, 
at  that  time  the  wealthiest  man  in  the  county, 
but  after  two  years  the  partnership  was  dis- 
solved, and  during  the  following  five  years 
Mr.  Miller  was  engaged  in  business  with 
Hiram  Loomas.   From  1876  until  1886  he  was 


engaged  in  the  milling  business  in  Mishawaka, 
returning  in  the  latter  year  to  South  Bend 
and  engaging  in  the  wood  and  coal  business 
with  Samuel  Lontz,  who  had  served  as  his 
head  miller  for  twenty  years,  and  was  there- 
fore very  proficient  in  the  business.  During 
the  long  period  of  forty  years  this  firm  has 
continued  in  business  in  South  Bend,  where 
they  have  become  widely  and  favorably 
known  and  are  awarded  a  liberal  patronage. 
Mr.  Miller*  was  one  of  the  first  justices  of 
the  peace  in  Warren  township,  but  after 
holding  that  office  six  years  he  removed  to 
the  city,  and  during  his  residence  in  Misha- 
waka he  served  as  president  of  the  board  of 
trustees.  He  was  chairman  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  Mishawaka  for  four  years,  being 
twice  elected  to  that  office.  He  was  the 
founder  and  first  member  of  Grace  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  has  ever  since 
been  an  efficient  and  active  worker.  A  stanch 
Republican  in  his  political  views,  he  has  ever 
taken  an  active  interest  in  the  upbuilding  of 
the  party. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have  traveled  the  path- 
way of  life  together  for  many  years,  mutually 
sharing  the  joys  and  sorrows  which  checker 
the  lives  of  all,  and  to  them  has  come  the 
privilege  of  celebrating  their  sixty-second 
wedding  anniversary.  They  have  one  living 
daughter,  Elizabeth  A.,  the  wife  of  Dennis 
S.  Brownfield,  of  South  Bend.  Their  daugh- 
ter Molly  C.  was  drowned  in  the  St.  Joseph 
river,  having  with  three  companions  fallen 
over  the  dam.  Mr.  Miller,  who  is  one  of  the 
oldest  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county,  can  re- 
call many  reminiscences  of  ,the  early  days, 
and  he  can  distinctly  remember  of  having 
heard  Hon.  Schuyler  Colfax  make  his  first 
speech,  being  then  about  seventeen  years  of 
age.  His  career  has  been  an  active,  honor- 
able and  useful  one,  and  during  his  long 
residence  in  South  Bend  and  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty he  has  won  the  love  and  veneration  of  its 
residents. 

William  H.  Holland,  president  and  man- 
ager of  the  Sibley  Machine  Tool  Company  of 
South  Bend,  was  bom  in  Florence,  Nebraska, 
June  4,  1867.  His  father,  James  Holland, 
was  a  native  of  England,  but  came  to  Amer- 
ica during  his  young  manhood,  and  in  New 
York  was  married  to  Margaret  Finley,  also 
a  native  of  England.  After  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holland  took  up  their  abode  in 
Elkhart,  Indiana,  froti  which  place  the  for- 
mer enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  tie  Civil  war. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


762 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


In  1865  they  removed  to  Florence,  Nebraska, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  in  1872  they  returned  to  Indiana, 
locating  in  South  Bend,  where  Mr.  Holland 
was  employed  in  the  manufacturing  of  paper. 
His  death  occurred  when  he  had  reached  the 
age  of  sixty- four  years.  In  their  family  were 
eight  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  years  of 
maturity. 

William  Holland,  the  seventh  child  in  or- 
der of  birth,  was  but  five  years  of  age  when 
he  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  South  Bend, 
and  in  its  public  schools  he  received  the  edu- 
cational training  which  fitted  him  for  life's 
active  duties.  After  its  completion  he  was 
apprenticed  to  the  machinist's  trade  in  the 
firm  of  Sibley  &  Ware.  His  apprenticeship 
beginning  in  1884,  after  eight  years  of  effi- 
cient service  Mr.  Holland  was  made  the  su- 
perintendent, and  thus  continued  until  the 
company  was  organized  as  the  Sibley  Ma- 
chine Tool  Company,  when  he  became  vice- 
president  of  the  corporation,  and  at  the  death 
of  Mr.  A.  P.  Sibley  he  was  made  president 
and  manager,  his  present  position. 

Mr.  Holland  is  president  of  the  Commer- 
cial-Athletic Club  of  South  Bend,  and  in  so- 
cial as  well  as  the  business  circles  he  is  popu- 
lar and  well  known.  In  1888  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Mary  A.  Hanley  of  South 
Bend  and  their  home  has  been  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  one  daughter,  Helen,  of  eleven  years. 

George  Butzbach,  whose  name  is  closely 
identified  with  the  business  interests  of  South 
Bend,  is  at  the  head  of  one  of  its  leading  in- 
dustrial concerns,  being  president  of  the 
South  Bend  Fruit  Company.  He  was  born 
in  Berrien  county,  Michigan,  April  4,  1861, 
and  is  of  German  parentage.  His  father, 
Phillip  Butzbach,  after  coming  from  his  na- 
tive land  to  the  United  States,  established  his 
home  in  Berrien  county,  this  being  about  the 
year  of  1843,  and  he  is  still  residing  within 
its  borders,  having  for  many  years  been 
prominently  identified  with  its  agricultural 
interests.  His  wife,  who  is  also  living,  was 
Blanche  Harmen  before  marriage  and  a  na- 
tive of  Germany,  coming  to  America  with 
her  parents.  In  Phillip  Butzbach 's  family 
were  twelve  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to 
years  of  maturity  and  eleven  are  living  at 
the  present  time. 

George  Butzbach,  their  seventh  child  in  or- 
der of  birth,  spent  the  period  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  on  the  home  farm  in  Bainbridge 
township,   Berrien   county,   Michigan,   assist- 


ing in  the  work  of  the  old  homestead  until 
1884,  when  he  embarked  in  the  fruit  cooper- 
age business  in  Benton  Harbor.  After  sev- 
enteen years  in  that  connection  he  sold  his 
interests  therein  and  came  to  South  Bend 
and  organized  the  South  Bend  Fruit  Com- 
pany, in  which  enterprise  he  is  associated 
with  Jacob  and  Samuel  G.  Butzbach,  himself 
being  the  president  and  manager.  They  do 
an  exclusively  wholesale  business,  handling 
all  kinds  of  fruits,  and  they  ship  to  all  points 
in  Indiana,  southern  Michigan  and  parts  of 
Illinois,  their  annual  sales  reaching  to  nearly 
half  a  million  dollars,  while  each  week  they 
,  handle  about  thirty  carloads  of  this  perish- 
able commodity.  A  large  building,  about 
sixty  by  two  hundred  and  ten  feet,  is  utilized 
for  the  business,  located  at  526-28-30  South 
Scott  street.  Mr.  Butzbach  has  attained  an 
enviable  success  in  the  business  world,  but 
his  prestige  has  been  won  through  marked 
executive  ability,  keen  discrimination,  sound 
judgment  and  unfaltering  industry,  and  his 
life  work  thus  far  illustrates  j:he  wonderful 
possibilities  which  America  affords  her  young 
men  of  energy  and  ambition. 

On  the  5th  of  May,  1886,  Mr.  Butzbach 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Lettie  Weber,  a 
daughter  of  John  Weber,  of  Bainbridge  town- 
ship, Berrien  county,  Michigan,  and  four 
children  have  been  born  of  this  union :  Sam- 
uel G.  and  Irwin  R.,  both  associated  in  busi- 
ness with  their  father;  and  Nora  May  and 
Florence  Blanch,  at  home.  Mr.  Butzbach 
has  fraternal  relations  with  the  Elks,  and  in 
his  political  affiliations  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican. He  is  among  the  active  workers  in 
the  party  ranks,  and  during  his  residence 
in  Benton  Harbor  he  served  for  six  years 
as  its  alderman,  while  for  one  term  he  was 
its  mayor  pro  tem.  A  man  of  natural  ability, 
his. success  in  business  has  been  uniform  and 
rapid.  After  all  that  may  be  done  for  a  man 
in  the  way  of  giving  him  early  opportunities 
for  obtaining  the  ends  sought  in  the  schools 
and  books;  he  must  essentially  formulate,  de- 
termine and  give  shape  to  his  own  character, 
and  this  is  what  Mr.  Butzbach  has  done.  He 
has  persevered  in  the  pursuit  of  a  definite 
purpose  and  gained  a  most  satisfactory  re- 
ward. 

Henry  Forster.  The  honored  subject  of 
this  memoir  was  during  a  long  period  closely 
identified  with  the  business  interests  of  South 
Bend,  Indiana,  being  one  of  her  prominent 
and  influential  merchants.    He  was  successful 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


^y  ST    .]ij<i  [\i  (;nr:MY. 


■•''.^':i       r:u'   \n   thf*  work   of  tlu'  n!<i   I   .'.'■  ;■     ■  ;    '■'■■ 

^^.!.:*.       ••;"<'    f''is!rf^s>   in    lu'iMoii    Il';''i;;.r       .\  '  > 

•   ':''•!.       ''.m-sts    iImt-^m    ri'i.l    ^  .Mine    :-.    >  '  .'  •     • 
'-.^  T- •      ;  !j(l   {.■ -ani/(.'(t    tl.e   ">>■('!';    j*.m,  i    ^- .    t 

-  •?!■      Will  .laM;^  '.,Ui\   <jiii<j<^.   <i.  ];'i<:'!» .  •".  \ 

'  ■    ]:•.'    t  kt     pt .  .]..!. ^?M    ;    -il    ii,;t''.:^   I'         S    i   ^     ' 

•    ".'  M  '••       al]  r  ■••  Is  .^:    r    I  N,  ;;»i'i  M".  \    >!»  ^»  u»  'r'   "    •  ^ 

'  '  '         i   ■  .1.  X    t'lt'ir  i:"^^i./:l  -;.■  -s   r.  .v  Ihrii    t  .   ..  -    ^ 
■     '"*'    ^       l»;ji*'    ;i    It  i'ti'-n    tk-ilf.'-s.    ^'.  ii:!-    t^  .i  ^    ^\  •  .    ■      ' 

'■I    !k         ,.•'•(  '.■ri:-./-]-t  \ .      A     .jV''<^     1  \.  JiM'      : 

'jf    V  :k-      I  >r  1};"   Iimm'.i -■<,   lo- .^fii   ;!i    ■)'Jki^-     ,    "^     . 

'•     'k--       k-    ..-«-'  '_•>'    ka^     iM'^Ti    V   ..i    tk;-.;.u'"    !     .     . 

'  ^*""  a    ..      '"ih'k'v,     :.'  "^    uV-|'ir'i'!lMii.  'I.     '     . 

•'*f'  I      j'i'\";    t*   fi.i'i   .Hit',,':- 'MT'tjj   .Mkist'v.     .d 
^.->    'it        i'{o    v\otU    th,;;    i;r     1  !a-Tt\.^'S    ^  \i^    ,;      .;.    • 
[>t'-si!  ;';t-''S  wirsrli   AMi-  I'li  a  't'^);  N  ]«r  \  '   . 

i:         '  '  T!lf   :1     i»t     ,   i:     ,   /x      ,i'j(]     ;;!!   kit  iv'l 

.    .'.»  <>,.    :kH    ;,iu    (it    \k  >      l.^X)     Ml-.    ]'■:•/.   - 

■:   .:-        s\-  IS    UTikrii     il:    Tu;!i  r};.p;('    ('">     L^t'.i-.    \\"*-     • 
.  =  '"1        (k';'iL;ht-'-  (  L  .k  I  •.    \\.'|;    ^\  0+    li;;)akri(];4.'   S-* 

:k.-i      i'»"t*  .-11    ('"Ur'y.    .^ik-kitraii.    JM>«i     1 

-■'     ti.^        ••i.iivl'-iTi    :i,l.**    i..':'i.    i  M-;!    ot    tlliS    1*1. i->"         ."    i. 

^''   '.     afi<l    h\\i'i   i\..  '-''Ji  as.NtH'ia^M]     n    ;.  . 
'p-NN   '^  ,.ii   Ml  -I"   f;.jf'(M,    ^M.l   \.^ra    Mh'-     ■ 

Fl  .I-lhr       !<;     M.  k.      It       h."M  ■.        Mr      ]',     *,      . 

^1  1--  iI^•."•r^al   tT'-«''*"i\  v/itii  1  kt^  K!''       i'.-. 
I'lN  ■  jM)kt  !c;il    ,>  liv.ii:  r^    1^    a    ^\iiM-k    ''-j    . 
il' ;'ri         11''     l.s    ;.•<-.;    ^^     \f,e     M-ll^.^     V    •»  '        -     ' 

,t<     its     a-    1     f|;i,-    ^.     V»  '.    '"      i'.r     <'i'    ■      U'r"i      ki       V^  . 

!■  '   ::t,  V  '.r  j>ri'  f  <  'i.         \     -i..!!  m''  ,'  '  T  •"  M   ./    .  . 
'•'  .  Nil  ■'•♦>>   Ir     ^'jsM.i->   t   i"^   !•'('?     V,'  '*«■   v-i     •' 
r^l   (k      V  1  -r  ah  t !  ;.'  !i!;'\    ti"  «'  *     ■  i"  >.   -i  ^    ■ 
ill    M'  ■  V  a  s    of  •.'iv'-no-  h^iii   (•.-:'\    ..i;.)r:      *  :' 
'    ■'     'I"  ^.iiiUiT   fk(     t\  us   i!'>';':Mt    .!•    't'i    s--k  < 

I'  ' '  .  :  "  a»j.'    ^!vt'    'k  ■/•    I  .    K  ^'  ovi      •!•.'.•  T 
.\,<i.  ;.   ..,     ,,i;"!i       a\il  Ji  is  i.s  \y\   .t    M-    !i'^  /..-;.  n  '.a^^  ,*..'i-       1 
'■      • 'k  I  'k  .^    1';  i"'k>-       -'•'•'^    p  ■''^^•V..-)V  (i    .>!    tin"    T".  ■    .  ''    ;♦!    a    •]   :]  . 
.-.,    n.    ir"*'sv     t)       puij'.xi     at.'i     .';<  ii-d    a    U'-t    Nt<>i..i  ■    , 
.'-'..      r    M         Vw.!    k 

Ik  N'xV   Fv'fv--T;:K.     TIi-    li.  P"--    1    ^rk:    -.-i 
■".■?■'':  '-'mM  :i:  (-r-      Mii>  i.\'  •.•^.ir  \. -.s  duri-.u'  a  k.^  -  ,.  .•  .ki  . '-  v,. 

"     M     *     <    ' ), .  \  '  1 . ,  .  •         )<!•"*     ;( 1   U  '•':':  ■     k  o" ,  -  i  s>     !  v  -     •     1  ^  o  •'    ^  v  ■ 

"     •^'■'■''    -U'v'         li    a.k      Ilti'i;|;;i       k.  njl"    .  \t'     of     ',«■;      ^        ..i.      ." 


;. »  ai>. 
1/ 


'  '1 

1 


'I     I    ha 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


c 


cf>^i£/r^ 


tr. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


763 


in  his  business,  and  continued,  his  operations 
as  a  dealer  in  flour  until  his  busy  and  useful 
life  was  ended  in  death,  f^ebruary  11,  1905. 
St.  Joseph  county  was  proud  to  name  him 
among  her  honored  sons,  his  birth  occurring 
in  Clay  township  on  the  17th  of  May,  1854. 
His  father,  John  Porster,  for  many  years  a 
prominent  agriculturist  in  Clay  township, 
was  a  native  of  Bavaria,  Germany,  born  May 
17,  1812.  After  reaching  manhood's  estate 
he  left  his  native  land  for  America,  arriving 
in  Clay  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
in  1850,  and  was  here  married  to  Barbara 
Rimiing,  a  native  also  of  Germany  and  at 
that  time  a  widow  with  two  daughters,  Mar- 
garett  and  Barbara.  By  her  marriage  to  Mr. 
Porster  she  became  the  mother  of  two  sons, 
but  one  died  in  infancy,  and  Henry  was  the 
younger  in  order  of  birth.  Mr.  Porster,  the 
father,  was  a  Democrat  in  his  political  af- 
filiations, and  after  reaching  a  ripe  old  age 
he  retired  from  the  active  cares  of  a  business 
life,  his  death  occurring  in  South  Bend  in 
June,  1907,  when  in  his  eighty-sixth  year. 

Henry  Porster  spent  the  days  of  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  on  the  old  homestead  farm 
in  Clay  township,  and  the  training  which  he 
received  in  its  public  schools  was  supple- 
mented by  attendance  at  the  University  of 
Notre  Dame,  where  he  enjoyed  superior  edu- 
cational advantages.  Prom  1870  until  1878 
he  was  employed  by  Knoblock  &  Gintz  in 
their  flouring  mills,  while  during  the  follow- 
ing two  years  he  was  associated  in  the  busi- 
ness of  L.  C.  Axford,  and  lateu  embarked  in 
the  flouring  business  for  himself,  gradually 
winning  a  name  among  the  leading  business 
men  of  South  Bend.  At  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage he  purchased  his  present  property  on 
Lafayette  street,  and  in  1900  erected  their 
present  commodious  dwelling. 

On  the  11th  of  September,  1888,  Mr.  Pors- 
ter married  Anna  C.  pibel,  who  was  born  in 
South  Bend  December  4,  1859,  the  daughter 
of  Earhart  Elbel,  a  cabinet  maker  of  South 
Bend.  He  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany, 
but  during  his  young  manhood  came  to  Amer- 
ica, and  in  South  Bend  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Sophie  Pickenscher,  also  a  native  of 
Bavaria.  He  had  learned  his  trade  of  cab- 
inet-making in  his  native  land,  and  continued 
one  of  its  faithful  devotees  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  Eight  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elbel,  two  sons  and  six 
daughters,  all  of  whom  were  born  and  edu- 
cated in  South  Bend  and  two  are  now  de- 

Vol.   11—11. 


ceased.  The  father  gave  his  political  support 
to  the  Democracy,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Odd  Pellows  fraternity,  having  been  one  of 
the  first  members  of  the  order  in  the  South 
Bend  lodge.  His  death  occurred  in  his  eighty- 
second  year,  for  he  was  bom  in  the  year  of 
1824  and  died  in  1905.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Porster  were  bom  two  children,  a  son  and 
a  daughter, — Plorence  Eleanor,  born  on  the 
28th  of  July,  1890,  and  Herbert,  bom  Octo- 
ber 5,  1894.  Mr.  Porster  was  also  a  sup- 
porter of  Democratic  principles,  and  to  him 
was  accorded  a  leading  place  among  the  rep- 
resentative citizens  of  South  Bend. 

Henry  'C.  Morgan  is  an  honored  veteran 
of  the  Civil  war  and  one  who  has  for  many 
years  held  an  important  place  among  the 
business  men  of  South  Bend.  He  is  a  native 
son  of  the  city,  his  birth  occurring  on  the  20th 
of  July,  1842,  a  son  of  Charles  and  Sarah 
(Shiunarg)  Morgan,  the  former  a  native  of 
North  Carolina  and  the  latter  of  New  Jersey. 
In  a  very  early  day  the  father  removed  to 
Wayne  county,  Indiana,  where  he  worked  for 
some  time  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  in 
1833  established  his  home  in  South  Bend,  here 
continuing  his  trade.  His  name  was  a  well 
known  and  honored  one  in  the  early  days  of 
this  (uty,  and  he  was  prominently  identified 
with  its  early  history. 

Henry  C.  Morgan  is  indebted  to  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  city  for  his  educational 
training,  and  after  completing  his  education 
he  worked  at  the  wagon  maker's  trade  with 
Whitten  &  Conrad,  receiving  twenty-five  dol- 
lars for  his  first  year's  work  and  fifty  dollars 
for  the  second.  At  the  inauguration  of  the 
Civil  war  in  1861  he  offered  his  services  to 
the  Union  cause,  and  in  the  following  year 
became  a  member  of  Company  C,  Seventy- 
third  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry.  His  serv- 
ices continued  until  the  close  of  the  war  and 
he  was  mustered  out  July  4,  1865.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  and 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Nashville,  Stone 
River  and  Perryville.  While  participating  in 
Colonel  Straight  8  raid  in  Tennessee  he  was 
captured  and  held  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  near 
Rome,  Georgia,  and  finally  on  Belle  Isle, 
where  he  was  paroled  and  afterward  dis- 
charged. He  shared  the  fortunes  of  his  com- 
mand, often  being  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight, 
and  all  honor  should  be  paid  to  those  who 
aided  in  upholding  the  principles  of  liberty. 

Returning  to  his  home  in  South  Bend  Mr. 
Morgan  began  work  in  the  grocery  store  of 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


764 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


John  Day,  but  after  a  short  time  embarked 
in  the  same  busines  for  himself  in.  company 
with  Charles  George,  the  firm  of  Morgan  & 
George  continuing  for  six  years.  During  the 
same  length  of  time  Mr.  Morgan  was  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business  for  himself  on 
Washington  street,  on  the  expiration  of  which 
period  he  sold  his  interests  therein  to  G.  II. 
Porter  and  became  connected  with  the  Dodge 
Manufacturing  Company,  having  charge  of 
the  shipping  department  for  six  years.  Again 
selling  his  interest  he  purchased  the  Miller 
farm  near  Mishawaka,  but  a  few  years  later 
sold  that  place  at  a  great  profit  and  then 
embarked  in  the  real  estate  business  in  South 
Bend,  being  now  numbered  among  the  repre- 
sentative real  estate  dealers  in  St.  Joseph 
county. 

Mr.  Morgan  married  Miss  Phebe  W.  Wad- 
hams,  a  daughter  of  Carlton  Wadhams,  of 
South  Bend,  and  they  have  one  son,  Carlton 
W.,  who  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
near  Niles,  Michigan.  Their  only  daughter, 
Estella,  died  when  twelve  years  of  age.  Mr. 
Morgan  is  a  public-spirited  citizen,  actively 
interested  in  every  movement  for  the  upbuild- 
ing of  his  native  city  and  county,  and  he  has 
represented  the  fifth  ward  in  the  city  coun- 
cil. He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Maccabees.  He 
is  a  director  in  the  First  National  Bank. 

Henry  Leer.  During  the  early  history  of 
St.  Joseph  county  the  Leer  family  became 
identified  with  its  interests,  and  during  the 
many  years  which  have  since  elapsed  its  rep- 
resentatives have  aided  materially  in  the  de- 
velopment of  its  resources,  and  have  taken 
an  active  interest  in  all  the  movements  for 
its  welfare  and  upbuilding.  The  family  came 
originally  from  Switzerland,  but  for  many 
generations  they  have  resided  in  this  coun- 
try, and  the  grandfather  of  Henry  Leer  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Samuel  Leer,  the 
father,  and  also  a  native  son  of  the  Keystone 
state,  came  to  St.  Joseph  county  as  early  as 
1829,  being  one  of  its  first  settlers.  At  that 
time  the  present  city  of  South  Bend  was  noth- 
ing but  a  trading  post,  and  immediately  after 
his  arrival  he  secured  land  from  the  govern- 
ment, continuing  to  make  his  home  in  this 
-county  until  his  busy  and  useful  life  was 
ended  in  death  in  1850.  He  was  a  man  of 
the  strictest  honor  and  integrity,  and  to  his 
posterity  he  left  an  unblemished  name  and  a 
record  of  which  they  should  be  ever  proud. 
In  the  city  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  Mr.  Leer  was 


united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Bowman,  also  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  they  were  blessed 
by  the  birth  of  nine  children,  all  but  one  of 
whom  grew  to  years  of  maturity. 

Henry  Leer,  the  only  surviving  child,  was 
born  in  the  little  log  cabin  in  which  his  par- 
ents began  their  life  in  St.  Joseph  county, 
on  the  2d  of  October,  1845,  and  within  the 
borders  of  old  St.  Joseph  he  has  spent  his 
entire  life.  When  he  was  but  five  years  of 
age  his  father  died,  but  he  remained  in  the 
family  home  with  his  mother  until  she,  too, 
was  called  to  her  final  rest.  During  the  early 
years  of  his  life  he  was  engaged  in  farming 
on  the  old  homestead,  which  now  forms  a 
part  of  the  city  of  South  Bend,  and  in  1900 
he  platted  a  part  of  the  land,  laying  out  fifty 
lots,  which  are  now  included  in  the  most  valu- 
able portion  of  the  city,  the  lots  selling  from 
four  hundred  and  fifty  to  fifteen  hundred 
dollars  apiece.  The  land  is  now  known  as 
the  Henry  Leer  addition,  and  is  a  valuable 
adjunct  to  the  city. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Leer  was  celebrated 
in  1868,  when  Caroline  Shedrick  became  his 
wife,  and  they  have  two  daughters, — Minnie, 
the  wife  of  Ezra  Bimm,  of  South  Bend,  and 
Dora,  the  wife  of  Harry  Moore,  an  agricul- 
turist of  Clay  township,  St.  Joseph  count>\ 
Mr.  Leer  has  been  a  lifelong  resident  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  actively  identified  with  its  up- 
building and  development,  and  although  a 
Kepublican  in  his  political  sympathies  in  local 
affairs  he  votes  for  the  man  whom  he  regards 
as  best  qualified  for  office.  Wherever  known 
he  is  held  in  high  regard,  and  those  who  know 
him  best  are  numbered  among  his  warmest 
friends. 

Joseph  E.  Nepf.  Among  those  who  have 
won  a  name  and  place  for  themselves  in  the 
industrial  world  is  Joseph  E.  NeflP.  His  life 
history  exhibits  a  long  and  virtuous  career 
of  private  industry,  and  is  the  record  of  a 
well  balanced  mental  and  moral  constitution, 
strongly  marked  by  those  traits  of  character 
which  are  of  especial  value  in  such  a  state  of 
society  as  exists  in  this  country.  A  commu- 
nity depends  upon  commercial  activity,  its 
welfare  is  due  to  this,  and  its  promoters  of 
legitimate  and  extensive  business  enterprises 
may  well  be  termed  its  benefactors. 

Prominent  in  the  business  circles  of  South 
Bend  stands  Joseph  E.  Neflf.  He  was  bom 
in  Grant  county,  Indiana,  on  the  25th  of  De- 
cember, 1864,  a  son  of  John  and  Catherine 
(Bloomer)    NeflP,  both  natives  of  Ohio.     In 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


"^ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


M  '  ■ 


■...  -'<'■  i  Ui.-'-.l    in       >  :.-,■  ,,u"    tn    M  :'•>     IV)^   :•,-.      . 

',      '        ,'  I   iV:  !i\    :^      :.'P*:  f  t    ''"«  ^'  *'h  pf-^ii,  -ill    !i'.t    ■  . 

■  •■      *','.!  l:  tar  \'.  !■   ■>    u     .\    t<»  '  '.-"■s  'rl'  'm.-.^-'mv. 

^.■^^    ^'h-  ih'nv     i  »  '  r.    "11     <u  j\    su/\t\;ir_r  r 

^■-'.r    t»n  hi-rtl     in     II     ■    '"'.it      j-)L'    .;|!!-:;     ;;i     ..i>'     '.     !i.. 

^       *        '  ^.  ('ij    I'-.     1'  !    of    O   t..!    'f     i  ^  1-  •     ai'.'i    w    !  ".  '      ' 

'  ••  i-  .h"  t<  -r^:   -s  t.f   '^'.l    >..    ,U>^  ;  li    .:»•   ii  '<   s.-.--  • 

■   i'  -"    .'!'  ' '/    •('   \.\'v.        ^'lit'P    fi.      ,  ,s   l^i't.   ii\  ■   >■•    ■     ■ 

.-j-'i)  .::       t    >   f:{lh    ■    »>■■'!,    I'-i    '1'    •  .■...;i'.- ri      t      * 

'.i        :•  i';.;  .  .      ^■'h'.     V  i'!i    \  's    MI'':!'   r   u;  '   '    ^^  '•    , 

•   •  :{!.',.*•  f  M  as  (    •!•  (^  ;m  I,.  1  im  r  '•!'-] .     [  >.i    Hi:  ' ' 

•  •    :    \'-  '  }  ;>'"(  fs  "}'  I' is  l.i'c  li .'  wa^  t'^L.'-.  '«  J     :     *  .' 

'      .-...'  r- ;  '•' -  p.'t  of  t,!*^  .•::;    of  S-.-iUii    i--:iti,  <u  *\     ",    ^  • 

^->  j>'.i  ii<    [^''.'tN'^i  a   i   ir'  .  f  \\u'  iM.ii,  ;,>.!:'.'  •    .:   ^"     ^ 
i«.(^,  V  h:«''i  a*'t*  n«  v\   ji-'i^^n- t      »i  i*'*-  :     .^i   \ 

.      :         '•  •    V;     W  '  i.  ;;h'p    j.  Ttin     *   f   tlx,     rl-  ,    {[.'        -V   ^.  :i'..^    '      . 

■     »    '.\  ,    I  ,.  -In     .'T*  *    1.1-    >iii;i    •  •<!    ix''[    l^t'i>     '<'    tt;*,M    v.        \,', 

>.    ..1;m1;>.1j  '.'■.'  IT'S    tip'  ■.•'-         l'  (  •    lilild     IS    I1'»V     KM    ^ 

■  ■  ..•'!   Miu'.Ni.uis  ('■'     n*^;ji,.    L 'i«id:ti«»TK   i^nd   's'.i    \..i' 

.      ta  ;,  '!:-:•.  a^i'ii.^'t    h.    tlit-    cry 
.  ^    .           -,    >   <.i    .' .  •.     'v.f.  '*!";•:•   III. ''!'i  1  :.'  ot'   M  '.    I<»^-M-    v";o    ''^;   S'^'. 

5     a^tAt';  I'i    !^**^.    u  h«  11   (  a. -"lint'   Sl.t-dri -^   hi<  r 

■  .   .  .    '  .    'I  .i  h-  '■  ;^  W""  uir.'  of   K   -a   I  'hjh.  *d'  '^-Jith   iV  i.-      i  * 

. 'm*  "i'\    •■otr<  [  .-r,\   til"   v.ift'  ui'   Ilafi;-    ^ !<.•',;•<•,   an    a-jr     .    - 

...•\<i  !.'    <  "■-  r.M-.^^    (),*  ria;-    {.»\v:;s!,    ^     Sf.    o  '^,.    h   ,-.    ;-     . 

r       ■   -i    ■:•    "s       ■'  Mr    I  ctf  lia<  1m-' M   a   iifrlniMr  :  ^''iMi:      *'   ^^ 

-     '  .'       .  •'   i>-.'K  -lis  {»i\  ('.)ii!i*y.  ai*i'\.l,^  idpiit;:i'.l  >v:r}i  .:>  .';. 

■  ■•    •    •..        •'i\    h  sfr,t  .'    i\  '>Mii»ii»T:    'I'^l    vK'Vtst  ;  ;u"::t.    ,.!.(!    ai''i'-'{.'i     :- 

"  '  '.Mii/iv    Iji'i'.iriu'  f*-'P'i;)!i'-an  in  1j^  I'lui-^ai  --^v  nniaTlji.^s  l:, 

JHi  I    (iVarsu    M'«'  't't'aM-s  }-.    vc-'is  f"  •  ih'>  ;i!.,:i  \\  L.):ii  Iw  -  ■-,.i'.' 

:  -.-v  <'}ap<^<a  :i^    •  p-  ^^"^  ^*  ^^  hu^'/ImI   i't.r  <,/".•".     \Vi..n-v.r  -;.     ^• 

.;  .^,   f'la^'v  Ml  "»»»     .;■/-  ^''''  '''"  '  *  "'  •''  ^'■-*'  '   '/ai'd    ;.nd  :h''s»'A\b')  •.•   -- 

,    i-Ms,    ar.d    hav'-    •  -a-ti  ^'I'-i    ^-'-t    aiv   ir.i'i}*!'!-^,!   -:.:   nv   h''^    v^  -    ^^ 

>;iL%     The  fVfi'iiy  "rnt;-  .I'»^:  i  m    K.   .^ltf.      Aiiy>n'_:  tliosr   '.v-n,   i.,  ■  , 

'•    ''•■rlaiid,    hi't    t'c'    m;,.';/  a\(.i>   a   n-'j'i*    and   i  la- o  I'^-r   tJi  i',*«'-'v.'s   r     ■'  • 

■   'v'"    r{\v]d<Ml    in    li^s   rotin  i»'.  !>  ^.trirl   vNii-ld  is  duNcpl:   V    \.'i!'      i.  v,   ' .  ,*. 

■  'I'T  <d"   IL'.'nry  li'-M-i-  was  n.;^!-  ■",    ol^  \**s    a    ! 'H_r   ':".:    \.'*'V<^   •  .  '■•    ■ 

»',;in\j.     S;«n-::(  [•  f^.'H',   ,11,^  f,t'   ^)''i.'itt     ii^di'sM-y,    and    is    i  f  ,^   '•,  •*•'•. I      r'    ^, 

..  'itt'\p  s<>!i  «,f  tP'^  K."yst().u'  Wfil   r>aiaj''<ti  nn-n*a'   and  ii '»";  '  ''inf'  ':  a 

-I>)>.  ;>h  .''''in.y    a-^  early  a^  str-trijly  jnai-l'*d    i'V   tlic-^f^  :rr    <  or  i-li..f>  •  - 

■.'■   i's   i''sf  s<  *   't  r^.     At  tl.Mt  v^i.i'ti  aj-i'  of  t'>;>.  'i'tl  'a'';'    i;*  s.;   •!  a  s*  •■.    -.'' 

*\  of  ^•..:*}:  n<-  ,v)  \",asnodi-  s^K'i'ty  a<  «'\;srs  m   trds  '■fri'i'-v.      A    -('o;". 

_;    ;   •-*    a  '  !    jr.Ki"*!    itt '\  I'^M^f  ^sV'*'    <1' tm  »,  i>    ui'mi     ''urnn. «'!'""..  1    a-'iiv  \ 

•1  .'d    '  .i.d   iMan  thf^  t'-ov»M'it-  \vi-!!'art*    i<  duf  to   this.  .imI    rs  })NtiJi''!v      * 

'.    to    'I'. '.vo    r.'>^    h'^'n^'    in    *his  Ir^ii  ini.-i*  -  and    r\!rns.\  -    '>msi',*'^s  ♦•iit'    ^^  .'•  ^ 

s    1    :^\'    Mid    n-^(  '"'  1    111'*'    \\;i>5  may   w.-d  no  tn^-nud  -"s  N- -hi  a/t,  i-^. 

r    !>'><».      lb'   \^■a.s   «   jnan   of  1  •■•mi'.-Nj     n  Ih-'  t.-<N.n»-^s  <*T'^s  (.1    ^...-.t;' 

I  ■»*  and   intf>iri-dy,  and   to  his  IUti'I   .s\inds  .!•'>'  pli    K.    .\    It       IN    w;.--    o   t*.- 

■o^   oi.!'!or..:shod  n;rah    <ujd  a  -n  (ii-r-r*  cm-i.tv.  Indiana,  on  lit"  ''^"}^      '   1  >. 


*n.'V  sli  nil*!   ho  ^\.-^'   pT'^'uh      ir-nd-''!.    !>■}.    a    ^on    ^t   dohn    ao<i    < 


y     .'j-i 


1)   virn,   <Jiiio.    Mr.    Livn-  was      M^hcnitT'    \ri]',    l.oth    n.u-'^/s    -d    '  lr.».       1 1^ 


Digitized  by 


GoogI 


e. 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


/ 


THf 


/ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


piSTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


765 


the  days  of  the  gold  excitement  in  California 
the  father  joined  the  tide  of  emigration  to 
that  state  and  for  six  years  was  engaged  in 
search  for  the  precious  metal.  Returning  to 
the  east  in  1860,  he  took  up  his  abode  in 
Grant  county,  Indiana,  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, and  is  yet  an  honored  and  respected  resi- 
dent of  that  county,  having  reached  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years.  In  his  political  affilia- 
tions he  is  a  Democrat,  being  firm  in  his  con- 
victions and  zealous  in  support  of  the  princi- 
ples in  which  he  believes.  The  cause  of  edu- 
cation has  also  always  found  in  him  a  warm 
and  faithful  friend,  and  in  all  matters  per- 
taining to  the  welfare  of  his  fellow  men  he 
has  always  taken  an  active  and  helpful  in- 
terest. 

In  1884  Joseph  E.  Neff  became  a  student 
in  DePauw  University,  where  he  spent  seven 
years,  taking  a  course  in  liberal  arts  and 
graduating  in  law  in  1891,  with  the  degrees 
of  A.  M.  and  LL.  B.  In  the  same  year  he 
came  to  South  Bend  and  began  the  practice 
of  law  with  A.  L.  Brick,  but  in  1894^  he 
abandoned  a  professional  for  a  business  life, 
and  during  the  following  four  years  was  dep- 
uty collector  of  internal  revenue  under  Cleve- 
land's  administration.  In  1903  he  organized 
the  American  Trust  Company,  and  previous 
to  that  time,  in  1900,  in  company  with  C.  T. 
Lindsay,  he  had  organized  the  Citizens  Trust 
Company,  being  connected  with  that  institu- 
tion for  two  years.  Since  1904  he  has  been 
secretary  of  the  American  Trust  Company. 
He  also  organized  tiie  Navarre  Place  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  is  the  secretary,  and  also 
assisted  in  organizing  the  Michigan  City 
Trust  Company  and  the  Farmers  and  Mer- 
chants Trust  Company  of  Ligonier,  Indiana. 
He  gives  his  political  support  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  is  an  active  worker  in  its 
cause. 

Mr.  Neflf  married  Miss  Daisy,  a  daughter 
of  Rev.  W.  R.  Mickles.  She  died  in  1889,  and 
in  1901  he  married  Miss  Florence  Young,  of 
Rushville,  Illinois,  who  died  in  1905.  He  has 
one  son,  Raymond,  born  on  the  6th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1889.  Mr.  Neflf  holds  membership  rela- 
tions with  the  Masonic  Lodge  No.  294  and  with 
the  order  of  Elks,  and  he  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Commercial  Athletic  Club  and  the 
Country  Club.  He  has  in  every  way  proven 
himself  a  public-spirited  citizen,  and  possesses 
the  public  confidence  to  a  remarkable  degree. 

James  H.  Brink,  South  Bend's  well-known 
and  popular  contractor  and  builder,  is  num- 


bered among  the  native  sons  of  Illinois,  his 
birth  occurring  at  Kankakee  on  the  20th  of 
September,  1857,  his  parents  being  George  L. 
and  Hannah  R.  (Blakeslee)  .Brink,  the  for- 
mer of  whom  was  born  in  Broome  county. 
New  York,  and  the  latter  in  Orange  county, 
that  state.  The  father  was  reared  to  years  of 
maturity  in  the  county  of  his  nativity,  dying 
when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  sixty-seven 
years,  and  the  mother  was  called  to  the  home 
beyond  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  In 
their  family  were  four  sons,  one  of  whom 
died  in  infancy,  one  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years,  and  one  when  only  six  years  old,  leav- 
ing James  H.  Brink  the  only  living  member 
of  the  family.  He  attained  to  mature  years 
in  Plymouth,  Indiaha,  whither  his  parents 
had  removed  when  he  was  only  a  year  old, 
and  there  he  also  learned  the  trade  to  which 
he  has  devoted  the  remainder  of  his  life.  In 
time  he  rose  to  the  position  of  contracting  in 
Plymouth,  and  continued  his  activities  in  that 
city  until  his  removal  to  South  Bend  in  1900. 
Here  he  resumed  the  contracting  and  build- 
ing business,  and  soon  won  the  public  confi- 
dence by  reason  of  his  excellent  workmanship 
and  his  fidelity  to  the  terms  of  a  contract, 
while  his  patronage  has  steadily  and  rapidly 
increased.  He  employs  a  large  force  of  work- 
men, including  carpenters,  brickmasons  and 
other  mechanics,  and  many  of  the  finest 
buildings  of  the  county  stand  as  monuments 
to  his  ability  and  enterprise,  including  his 
own  modern  residence,  erected  iji  1902.  In 
this  city  alone  he  has  built  about  two  hun- 
dred houses,  also  doing  the  work  for  the  Inter 
Urban  Amusement  Company  at  Spring 
Brook  park  and  all  the  stations  between 
Goshen  and  South  Bend..  As  foreman  for  the 
Indiana  Lumber  Company  he  had  charge  of 
building  the  Hungarian  school  and  Epworth 
Hospital,  and  has  built  many  residences  and 
business  houses  in  Plymouth,  including  the 
M.  W.  Simons  residence  and  store  building. 

On  the  2d  of  February,  1881,  was  cele- 
brated the  marria^ge  of  Mr.  Brink  and  Minnie 
J.  Snyder,  a  native  of  Marshall  county,  In- 
diana, and  a  daughter  of  Simon  Snyder,  one 
of  its  early  and  honored  pioneers.  Two  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  Stella  M.,  the 
wife  of  F.  C.  Henry,  of  South  Bend,  and 
George  W.,  a  prominent  young  business  man 
of  this  city.  Mr.  Brink  holds  membership  re- 
lations with  the  order  of  Ben  Hur,  and  his 
political  aflfiliations  are  with  the  Republican 
party.     He  withholds  his  support  from  no 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


766 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY* 


movement  for  the  public  good,  and  is  a  gen- 
tleman to  whom  all  honor  is  due  for  his  many 
virtues  and  genuine  worth. 

Martin  J.  Roach.  Few  residents  of  St. 
Joseph  county  are  better  known  in  business 
circles  than  Martin  J.  Roach,  who  was  born 
in  the  city  of  South  Bend  on  the  9th  of  No- 
vember, 1858,  and  has  spent  his  entire  life 
here.  His  father,  William  Roach,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Mayo,  Ireland,  but  came  to  the  United 
States  when  young  and  established  his  home 
in  the  east.  In  the  early  '50s,  however,  he 
made  his  way  to  South  Bend  and  was  one  of 
the  honored  pioneers  who  aided  in  laying  the 
foundation  on  which  to  erect  the  superstruc- 
ture of  St.  Joseph  county's  present  pros- 
perity and  progress.  Through  the  period  of 
early  development  he  was  an  important  fac- 
tor in  the  improvement  and  advancement  of 
his  adopted  city,  and  he  continued  to  make 
this  his  home  until  his  busy  life  was  ended 
in  1889,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years. 
He  had  married  Bridget  Holmes,  also  a  na- 
tive of  Ireland,  and  she  still  survives  her 
husband,  making  her  home  with  her  son  in 
South  Bend. 

Martin  J.  Roach,  one  in  a  family  of  seven 
children,  three  sons  and  four  daughters,  re- 
ceived his  elementary  training  in  the  schools 
of  South  Bend,  this  being  supplemented  by 
attendance  at  Notre  Dame  University.  Hav- 
ing thus  laid  an  excellent  foundation  for  his 
future  life-work  he  was  thereafter  employed 
as  a  mason  for  a  number  of  years,  when  he 
rose  to  the  position  of  a  contractor  in  mason- 
ry. In  1896,  with  Martin  Hoban,  he  organ- 
ized the  present  firm  of  Hoban  &  Roach,  con- 
tractors of  sewers  and  general  street  improve- 
ment. This  has  been  a  successful  corporation 
from  the  commencement  to  the  present  time, 
having  performed  much  of  the  principal 
work  in  their  line  in  South  Bend  and  sur- 
rounding country,  and  their  business  has 
been  constantly  enlarged  to  meet  the  growing 
demands  of  the  trade  until  it  is  now  classed 
with  the  leading  industries  of  St.  Joseph 
county.  Both  Mr.  Roach  and  Mr.  Hoban  are 
practical  men,  and  are  up-to-date  and  pro- 
gressive in  all  their  ideas. 

In  1906  Mr.  Roach  was  married  to  Miss 
Anna  Miller,  of  South  Bend.  They  are  mem- 
bers of  the  St.  Joseph  church,  South  Bend, 
and  are  accorded  a  high  place  in  the  social 
circles  of  South  Bend.  A  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics, he  has  been  chairman  of  the  township 
committee  for  six  years,  and  served  as  alder- 


man, representing  the  Seventh  ward  four 
years,  and  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  park 
commissioners  seven  years.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  South  Bend  Lodge,  B.  P.  0.  E.,  and 
the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters. 

August  F.  Beyer  was  born  in  the  province 
of  Pommeron,  Germany,  November  1,  1842, 
a  son  of  August  and  Louisa  Beyer.  •  The  son 
became  a  fresco  painter  by  trade,  becoming 
recognized  as  one  of  the  greatest  decorators 
in  that  line  of  trade  in  the  capital  city  of 
Berlin,  Germany.  Whenever  a  call  for  great 
fresco  painting  was  made  he  was  always  in 
line,  and  it  so  happened  that  he  worked  four 
months  in  the  old  King  William's  palace  at 
the  time  when  this  last  Emperor  William  was 
a  little  lad  of  about  two  years  of  age,  Mr. 
Beyer  several  times  enjoying  the  opportunity 
of  playing  with  the  young  emperor.  During 
a  period  of  nearly  four  years  he  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Tenth  Company,  Kaiser  Alexan- 
der, Grenadier  Regiment  No.  1,  in  Berlin, 
also  actively  participating  in  the  wars  of 
1864  with  Sweden  and  1866  in  Austria,  hav- 
ing been  slightly  wounded  in  the  great  battle 
of  Konigsgratz,  July  3,  1866,  and  sent  back 
to  a  private  hospital,  Landsberger  No.  42, 
at  Berlin,  where  he  remained  about  six  weeks. 

After  leaving  his  regiment  Mr.  Beyer  again 
resumed  his  trade  of  a  fresco  painter.  On 
the  first  day  of  June,  1870,  he  sailed  from 
Castle  Garden  on  the  old  steamer  **  Ocean 
Queen''  for  America,  this  being  just  a  few 
days  before  the  commencement  of  the  Ger- 
man and  French  war.  He  immediately  ob- 
tained work  at  his  trade  in  Philadelphia  by 
Kehrweider  Brothers,  fresco  painters,  his  first 
work  being  to  help  fresco  the  great  Presbyte- 
rian church  in  West  Chester,  eighty  miles 
from  Philadelphia,  a  contract  in  oil  colors 
amoimting  to  two  thousand  dollars.  After 
the  completion  of  this  great  work  Mr.  Beyer 
had  a  desire  to  visit  Chicago,  and  immediate- 
ly after  reaching  that  city  obtained  work  at 
his  profession  in  an  opera  house  just  oppo- 
site the  court  house  by  Jeffrey  &  Almini, 
while  later  he  worked  for  Schubert  &  Konig. 
During  his  residence  in  that  city  he  also 
started  a  business  of  his  own  in  partnership 
with  Herman  Korbowsky,  and  their  business 
increased  so  rapidly  that  they  had  completed 
about  six  churches  when  the  great  fire  demon 
swept  over  the  city  and  destroyed  a  tract 
about  five  miles  long  and  one  mile  wide, 
sweeping  everything  in  its  path  and  destroy- 
ing Mr.  Beyer's  residence  at  the  corner  of 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


y 


■y^  *^  >^/^-  /tP^^^ 


GooqIc 


Digitized  by  VjOOQ 


'  F  >i    .'' 'SK[Mi  i'i^'vs'yy. 


,1       M 


r.i'     /    1- 


1 


,    ^   of    ^t  '.r    {•■<-  S.fiv;    »:   '.-1    1.  ".L-    I:     ft'     i 

'•)i    '.f    \m  .  t"    1'.  •'.!:  '  "  ■*  .    tM-    r,  ,*I.         \     ^'    —    "•     • 

.  ■  .  a   na-  '  .•         •    ji    ;»•.  -..!',  i  >r*        /  1. 

■     >  I  >i  'Tt  i!  I . .  ,,„  ■  -,     1    ■  s  ','r'  ,  1    ■  -t'    un    '     .    i; 

.■\-   \\*'i:''  ,:;    ;  ^1  !'    i.i-     "f   u  .  ;.'    .:     *p  ■   *    , 

-    (  \  »  {\     h'-  ji     '  •!?..    .  ••■'  ■•     •!'  "'  '•\    'f*  ■'" 

-«  >-i';u  t  li  '  \]\{i     otiM   it    ,»'  ..    ;  '    ••.     1  I!    .'    Ii 

-  ';     i-^ir  ]  ■•  tM>»i:l  ii.s  T '."   ,  •'{    K'  •        V*  "  :    .  • 

',-";t     \  ^  '<  lin    ;     )  '   .  \.-  .  Oi  '  ;  •■  ■    'ilv  "•*  ■■  ■    ^^ 

•      rrV'   ..?    *.t  ;,     II,  •  .-       '  M     ■'!     «  f'  :     .      '        ^     \  (  ••■  ^       '. 

:  :■:    >  V-i'l    :  '.'  H.    ■■  /  N-  \    .    i   ;   •  '   V    ■•  '.  .'    J-      * 

'-  ■■;. ,  n:.'M:    rf  ..^"  ;»:  ^^  mu:  »'.  '  I    :    •    ^  .'..-.'-•  ■'* 

■•:••-    !o    •■  ;:'x»'  :,    ...  '  f.!    ol     P.-  ;  '.^      :*       ••    v  •'-  " 

.1 >'.     '  1  •,■     *.;  ■:';!•}='  ^     K'  .       -    .'     \-      : 

V  ."^  '  .•        :■    •  \  ^^''^    w   ;  !i  S  •  '    !.  m       ,.i    ^  .f.     ^ 

V     i-"  r    '     r,        .  '.i^    ^      u   -:•.'■.•'/    ^r      •  ■'    '   j    1 

-   .     f.  t   .    «     I      :    ,•!.■     :..--r''''  :     ''-'"    '  '  ^' 

Al-.-- '.;. 's  '•   "  '•  .^  ■:     ^   .'- 

•     '         '  *  tl  >'   IT  >T   ni;-;-   *!'.:•  '-      ^"7'       .-  -•  -I 

.  ;  (  ,.  ,.,,  *    »  .,    A-,,. » '.. ..  ti-  .         ,.      .  • 

■    .  =     :.'-  .i.j  ..s    \  ,  ;.T.     ;  n-     r',  ■•••.■'.       .       ■    ' '-' 

'    -    M-  ii:  .       ;i'j  i     i'  ;>"  -  li    ,...?'        II- 

')■*  T;-   ■     '[    ..     I'i-    ;.■     I    -    '     si"     '      ■' 

"-  K   :  •  >-     !■  r  !'-./'  •-■<    t-  .  -    .-       ' 

•■'/•*-  V      I    '       :l  *      ;■■  i,.  ] '    ^        i,  *     '    i '. 

.-•      •  ■'].,}]     .':.'■'      '-       \V.  vi     <      .-:     '  ii'; 

I    'i.'    ■ ;  "i I  '■-'.•';*:'     .    :    i       *  ■  •»    * i       •-:f     i  ■       -^ 

,>"■     -      1  .i>  •    .   ■   .1   J.  -■  ■-'   t.'    ^  :s.I    (  '  :  y'li      .       V  :    ,    -*• 

*v    ■_■  '•'■"i'  <N    ;•  M    r   r     *'!■':<'   1 !;.'  't,v       ■     ^  .      1   v. 

:■       '  i    ^    •  ,,  S    -.-■  ..-    'n    ;.■!    .  ;-;•■■,     '.     <   •        .^  ! 

.       ^*      .•--    ;  il  -t.       •    ■    ■•  ■■!    '     !-..>..      -.x     .'    '  ..      ^ 

*   ■"*  .'i    '1'  r  '.  '.   '*     ;•!(  '!    l.c   '^  *•;  \,  -I    f  i       >  '     V    . 

.•    '     ■   /  '■  '^'.         ..       iti.v     !•■  -."!■  II.  ♦•      ,1,      •   .  •        ! 


1 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


..^^c^. 


yf  *^r^-^<-/C  /^<^, 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Pi'' 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


767 


Franklin  and  Indiana  streets,  No.  110,  also 
that  of  his  partner  on  Church  street.  Both 
lost  everythmg  they  owned,  and  this  brought 
a  great  shadow  over  the  partnership,  but  the 
same  night  they  went  to  Englewood  and  on 
the  following  day  started  for  Laporte,  In- 
diana, where  Mr.  Beyer  had  just  previously 
frescoed  Father  Oechtering's  church  there  in 
company  with  Whitling  Brothers,  and  Father 
Geehtering's  (who  was  a  brother  of  the  La- 
porte priest)  church  in  Mishawaka.  He  took 
the  latter  contract  himself.  Before  night 
came  on  he  had  found  a  home  in  the  Rumley 
House  opposite  the  church  and  just  above 
Father  Geehtering's  apartments.  That  night 
the  depot  burned  and  destroyed  three  hun- 
dred dollars  in  paints  for  him.  The  old  part- 
nership was  continued  for  three  years,  when 
it  was  then  dissolved  and  Mr.  Beyer  came  to 
South  Bend  in  1875,  just  one  day  before  the 
burning  of  the  Studebaker  factory.  He  did 
a  great  deal  of  frescoing  here  and  in  neigh- 
boring towns,  among  his  contracts  being  the 
old  Masonic  Hall  for  three  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars,  the  old  court  house  for  one  thousand 
dollars.  Father  Geehtering's  church  in  Misha- 
waka, Father  Burk's  church  in  Michigan 
City,  and  a  Presbyterian  church  in  Cold 
Water,  also  working  in  St.  Mary's  and  Notre 
Dame  churches,  together  with  Leipsziger  and 
Bensock  from  Indianapolis,  and  Professor 
Gregory  from  Rome. 

Mr.  Beyer  was  very  successful  in  his  work 
of  fresco  painting,  but  he  was  obliged  to 
abandon  the  work  on  account  of  ill  health 
caused  by  working  so  much  with  poisonous 
paints,  and  he  then  engaged  in  the  gardening 
trade,  a  much  healthier  business.  He  first 
purchased  of  Aaron  Skinner  six  and  a  half 
acres,  the  purchase  price  being  four  thousand 
dollars,  lying  between  the  Laporte  road  and 
Michigan  avenue,  but  the  tract  was  very  poor 
sandy  soil,  on  which  was  located  an  orchard 
of  about  two  hundred  old  and  crippled  apple 
trees,  with  nothing  but  sandberries  all 
around.  Mr.  Beyer  had  great  trouble  in 
bringing  this  land  to  a  growing  condition, 
/  and  by  so  doing  had  overworked  himself  and 
for  a  year  was  very  ill.  In  all  that  time  there 
was  scarcely  any  income,  and  both  he  and  his 
family  suffered  many  hardships,  and  during 
his  sickness  it.  happened  that  both  Aaron 
Skinner  and  his  wife  died,  pasing  away  with- 
in fourteen  days  of  each  other,  with  the  re- 
sult that  Mr.  Beyer  was  obliged  to  return  the 
place  to  the  Skinner  heirs.    At  the  same  time 


it  also  happened  that  Mr.  Wright,  his  neigh- 
bor and  who  owned  the  extreme  fork  of  one 
acre  joining  his  place  between  the  Laporte 
road  and  Michigan  avenue,  offered  his  place 
to  Mr.  Beyer  for  four  hundred  dollars  cash. 
Through  the  courtesy  of  a  good  friend,  Mr. 
Boyd,  at  that  time  a  partner  in  the  lumber 
business  of  Boyd  &  Hillier,  Mr.  Beyer  was 
able  to  become  the  owner  of  this  one  acre, 
which  was  very  rich  in  fertilizer,  and  brought 
excellent  crops.  With  the  profits  of  this 
small  tract,  together  with  the  old  place  he 
had  worked  that  summer,  he  cleared  about 
five  hundred  dollars,  with  which  he  secured 
as  first  payment  a  ten-acre  tract  from  Christ 
Dille,  ex-councilman,  for  the  amount  of  twen- 
ty-five hundred  dollars,  the  land  being  lo- 
cated on  Mishawaka  avenue  near  the  Sample 
street  bridge.  Mr.  Phillip  Klingel  loaned 
Mr.  Beyer  two  thousand  dollars  with  which 
to  pay  Mr.  Dille,  taking  a  first  mortgage  on 
the  place,  and  after  this  debt  had  been  paid 
he  offered  Mr.  Beyer  the  cash  to  purchase 
the  adjoining  ten  acres  from  Mr.  Berk,  the 
iceman,  the  purchase  price  being  nine  hun- 
dred dollars.  Mr.  Beyer's  next  purchase  was 
the  Charles  Vinson  place  joining  his  former 
purchase,  consisting  of  six  and  a  half  acres, 
with  a  brick  house  and  stable,  for  which  he 
paid  thirteen  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 
Again  Mr.  Phillip  Klingel  offered  Mr.  Beyer 
the  money  with  which  to  buy  the  thirteen 
and  a  half  acres  joining  the  Vinson  property 
around  the  corner  on  Eddy  street,  owned  by 
John  Woolverton,  for  the  sum  of  twenty- 
five  hundred  dollars,  which  offer  was  also  ac- 
cepted, and  at  this  time  his  landed  posses- 
sions consisted  of  a  truck  farm  of  about  forty 
acres,  partly  within  and  partly  out  of  the 
city  limits  at  that  time.  He  was  very  suc- 
cessful in  raising  first-class  vegetables,  and 
gained  a  wide  reputation  for  the  number  of 
prizes  which  he  secured,  receiving  over  three 
hundred  dollars  in  prizes  from  Henry  Maule 
of  Philadelphia,  over  one  hundred  dollars 
from  Gregory  Marblehead  of  Massachusetts, 
also  from  Johnson  &  Stokes  and  many  from 
the  Indianapolis  State  Fair  Association,  in 
one  year  receiving  seventeen  out  of  the  twen- 
ty-six awarded,  mostly  first  prizes,  while  in 
one  year  in  South  Bend  he  received  sixty- 
four  prizes  and  a  gold  medal  awarded  by 
Louis  Nickel,  Jr.  &  Company,  for  the  great- 
est and  finest  display  of  vegetables. 

After  seventeen    years    of    hard    and    la- 
borious work  as  a  truck  gardener  Mr.  Beyer 


Digitized  by 


Google 


768 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


turned  the  business  over  to  his  second  son, 
Otto  Beyer,  and  built  a  greenhouse.  For 
this  purpose  he  leased  a  lot  from  Sam  Perly, 
agent  for  the  Coquillards,  on  Main  street, 
just  opposite  the  court  house,  for  ten  years, 
on  which  he  built  a  one-story  frame  building 
for  a  flower  store,  and  just  behind  this  a  rose 
house  with  hot-water  appliances.  This  build- 
ing and  the  greenhouse,  with  a  first-class 
boiler,  proved  very  expensive  and  was  far 
ahead  of  the  business  of  the  town  at  that 
time,  which  was  then  inhabited  principally 
by  working  people  and  too  poor  to  purchase 
flowers,  thus  making  it  almost  impossible  to 
keep  the  expenses  above  watermark.  Through 
this  and  failing  health  the  place  was  even- 
tually lost.  At  this  time  Mr.  Beyer  was  ad- 
vised by  two  physicians  to  seek  a  change  of 
climate,  and  in  search  of  health  went  to  Se- 
attle, Washington,  where  he  soon  recuperated, 
and  after  a  residence  in  that  city  of  two 
months  was  made  president  of  the  Washing- 
ton Produce  &  Fruit  Growers  Union.  This 
organization  had  a  director  in  every  county 
in  the  state  of  Washington,  who  had  his  own 
wholesale  house,  where  all  the  growers 
brought  their  fruit  during  the  season,  and 
all  money  transactions  went  through  the 
Puget  Sound  National  Bank,  no  one  receiving 
any  funds  from  this  bank  or  from  the  Union 
without  the  signature  of  August  F.  Beyer. 
He  sent  in  refrigerator  cars  strawberries  by 
the  carload  as  far  as  Chicago,  which  brought 
returns  as  high  as  from  three  to  nine  dollars 
a  crate.  Through  his  connection  with  this 
organization  Mr.  Beyer  became  better  ac- 
quainted with  the  state  of  Washington  than 
many  people  who  had  been  bom  there. 

In  the  meantime  he  had  sent  in  his  appli- 
cation for  superintendent  of  the  city  park 
of  South  Bend  through  the  civil  service  ex- 
amination, and  subsequently  received  a  post 
card  from  the  county  commissioners  stating 
that  he  had  passed  the  highest  examination, 
receiving  eighty-seven  and  seven-eighths 
points,  while  Mr.  Palmer  received  eighty-four 
points  and  Mr.  Berkharst  eighty-two  points, 
and  consequently  he  was  in  the  list  for  ap- 
pointment. This  was  in  the  fall,  but  Mr. 
Beyer  did  not  return  to  South  Bend  until 
the  1st  of  July  of  the  following  year.  In  this 
time  the  city  had  purchased  through  his 
agents  a  tract  of  land  of  about  ten  acres  for 
park  purposes,  now  known  as  La  Salle  Park, 
and  it  was  soon  after  this  sale  was  made  that 
Mr.  Beyer  returned  from  Seattle,  completely 


restored  in  health,  and  again  began  the  rais- 
ing of  flowers  at  his  place  on  Mishawaka 
avenue.  Through  hard  work  and  honest  deal- 
ings he  has  been  successful,  and  has  today 
one  of  the  finest  and  most  up-to-date  flower 
stores  in  the  state  of  Indiana.  On  the  26th 
of  November,  1906,  Mr.  Beyer  again  stold  the 
city  of  South  Bend  thirteen  acres  of  his  place 
for  a  city  park.  He  yet  has  twelve  and  a 
half  acres,  and  is  now  making  extensive  im- 
provements in  his  hot-houses,  and,  although 
sixty-six  years  of  age,  can  do  two  men's  work. 
He  believes  in  **Do  it  now.''  When  com- 
pleted his  plant  will  be  one  of  the  best  in 
Indiana. 

He  was  married  in  Strausberg,  five  miles 
from  Berlin,  Germany,  to  Louisa  Hagedom, 
a  native  of  that  neighborhood,  and  by  this 
union  were  bom  eight  children.  One  died 
in  infancy,  one  died  when  one  year  old,  and 
those  living  are:  Paul,  who  was  bom  in  Ber- 
lin, Germany.  He  is  now  manager  of  the 
florist  business.  He  also  is  a  great  decora- 
tor, having  had  an  established  reputation  in 
Chicago,  but  gave  it  up  to  relieve  the  great 
work  of  his  father.  Otto  has  the  business 
charge  of  the  garden  business.  Herman  is 
superintendent  of  the  South  Bend  city  park. 
William  assists  Otto  in  the  garden  business. 
John  is  an  assistant  of  his  brother  Paul.  Rosa 
lives  at  home.  Mr.  Beyer  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  South  Bend  Turn-Verein,  of  which  he  is 
president  for  his  second  term,  and  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and 
is  past  commander  of  the  Maccabees.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Northwest  Sanger  Bund. 

Charles  L.  Goetz,  a  manufacturer  of 
cigars  at  307  West  Jeflferson  street,  South 
Bend,  was  born  in  Rome,  New  York,  on  the 
22d  of  January,  1859,  a  son  of  Casper  and 
Mary  (Holderied)  Goetz,  both  natives  of 
Baden,  Germany.  The  father  spent  the  early 
years  of  his  life  in  the  place  of  his  nativity, 
coming  to  America  about  1856  and  locating 
at  Rome,  New  York,  where  he  followed  his 
trade  of  shoemaking.  There  his  death  oc- 
curred when  he  had* reached  the  age  of  sixty- 
four  years,  but  his  widow  is  still  living,  hav- 
ing reached  the  age  of  seventy-one  years,  and 
is  a  resident  of  Rome.  In  their  family  were 
seven  children,  six  sons  and  one  daughter, 
and  all  are  yet  living. 

Charles  L.  Goetz,  the  eldest  of  the  children, 
received  his  education  in  the  public  and  pa- 
rochial schools  of  his  native  city  of  Rome, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


•'•:•■;■    t'    -t    i\{    ■"  ;.     .i^t'   of    t\  ..(•  .  .  •  ,  -      ■> 

•    ■■  ,.::i  \i  ,'  . ''-i  !(    ')]   a  V  u  t/'  '1";'. :;•  :,  <  ^    •:!• 

•  "!'j  p.  ■.'.,.    li.    J  f'    »•••['!     }»-'U  ts  i  ".  ^  * 

..t"    X.  ^\     \.n-!,    ;:::'..    I  >    r   .')».\  •.!  •..     . 

1   .«:.    i;t  ■   :*«'■.  .  :*   A"  r=:.    l^>i  ■■     '  • 

■^   ■    •;      -i-t   '    -',     :   jl'    ;::V    '.  .-.■  A.-    - 
•   "t.'t    (   •>  -i''   I'M, If    '^    w '  il   as    11. 

'     .       .       •    In    ;        tit'tt'M*    "  •».     ]►>'<',  i'^t->   oi"  '     .  . 

-    an-   ;•'    ;.>^:    ! '  '  '-^     .  .ji.-i't    .u   hi^  i:  •/  , 

-■  T.^-,   .,.    •:   .    *(.{.. j  t:.  I.    .  i-   'ill    i'  .o  !....■ 

>.      ' '.    •   f     :•'  *     .,   v   ,  t's    ■  I'  ,v  arT  .v.'l  "iJ     ' 
:  •-     \.   •  '  '  1.       ■     \  ^    *  '•;..'.»    OT    ;•■  '..r    1^1"  I  -  ',\  -, .    • 

•   ,■     .-■      .  \.'     >-\    '   ";!'  '  »  I    if    tl.  '♦     1-. ■!■..'  t      M  1  .-.'     '      . 

.'..<:      It'    ' '       t'l ^1  III 't  't /''.''••'"!'   X   _;  i»  N  a     ■.      ■■  ' 

;         ■  t'        l>f_  !.l  ."IT     ''    ^'    Mr.  '!    W  riv      ;'.,r  (t. 

...   T  ■,-.■••    ,  N I  .  h,..-  i    r    i'-<    •-'  .',  J- .  ',    ' 

•  -'  .1  '  ;■'»/*>:    .  '  i  •■!  tlip  r  •  '^  <K  t    u-  : .  >i   .;  : 


:i    '-n        ''•    is  ..  iri.alti;.^*  •>*'    he  ^>'a'fh   U;";;i  i'l-' /»•   •.;.■    -•' 

ll'vh  S'-i.  M.l    and  '^  u*^\\    •^I'U.-ir-'f!    u.    i. !!--:?•■•  ^  !-      »'.-1,  ■• 

'A::fi   Jr.-    *'.rli.T.      T.".'  >  i.d^ -it    M;e   y..  ■•:,  d     d  :■..  ;»•  ..   .     '• 

i-  -    r^:i-it<'.-    in    Sraiili    t5.'n«l    M".    ir<.-''z   )t,i.-  !■•    !".,     . 

;  '1*11    'M  atT'-vt*  ]iait  in  il^  ;^  .Mif  ai!'.;;j.v     i     "  ]  +V     •  •  ;,. 

'    •■'    '■:■•'-    'w  M'VVi ''   ,-'>    d'  I'U.y  od   i';^]MMt  a*  1  v  d  ■   • 

"   d    •    riiaa.  "tid'    (.on  J'.'  ^  Mr:-  i   di-'r;;-' ,   ^^  ■  -  d     *.        ^  . 

a    a      -ilHa-     d*    ^tl*;    l-a;;]'.!    0/    pabl-.-    »>o-lv-    "V  .    ,; '1    r    .-^^    :.-. 

t'         .'••    *   v''".\    ara.iir  ;-' ;  ;iMua.    ;ii:d    a*     !ii  '. 'i'    , '  ■'    iw-.   . 

;•  -"^  id  tn.a-  'N  a  i.,   .."i  .-r  <,i  *  i.-  .-(.ijnJv  <'<  n;  -  :  .     :?  •  "-      '-    ■ 

-'  !.       'li-    f'-aOaaiMl     rr-'.-' a-r-.s     ai'(      wi.n     !l!  !•;      ■>    »     r  :d 

♦^    tt     -a    I-''.-,  v/hi'.'  [Mdiii  ai  y  ho  \<  a  --l-ir;  !•  i.*^*'::    ^  -  ;  : 

.v.'l',Ma\«a-     .'t      .  >  anot-r:.^  ■"     jvini-.pfis.        »'  -  !'- -i.m:  •'.      •  :■ 

T\''  !  •'   d'di.-N   '.,:ve  av«"'   '  •  «'a  ('s'd-i'ja     n.tli  \'!.'\'.    v  .a»    .■ 

'■  .    •-■:  '  i    ""<u':,'.T.fifs>:   Mai   td.'.^i;.  .   ;:  :d   d  :r;i  a  i.;*n;    a.    '•  ■  ^ 

'^.>      -'  '.-    t'.-^'d-'  '  ,-    in    SoM'fi    1',  n^l    h  .s    la-' n  ,''>,.'.    I  a- • 
^   '/    '••  "M.  -1.  d    ^'i?*!    d^    ii'o'jarN-    un'1    a<:-  ,|,»-i,  >     !  a: 

'V,  '  "  !.ta't.   sn]^po!*td'V   all    iiU'}[>'\i'^    iV.r    1 1».'  ];•.   a,   cid  N-. 


Ja    ■-*      : 

. .' » *  r 

' .  ■;  h  '  •■ 

.  •■■    1  -. 

•    i  ■  '  >•)    1 

si  ,1         "f 


<'.,L, .-  r,     d4»sKFni    TrK'X"'   !•:.     •'""'►I-ai  •'    T;u-       fft^  r"'-.  --d   ii'>  •- ■    j:-.d. 


vdi-a     ias    yr.   -- : 


'.    •    ;''  :/     <  .     .  .a 

?..  .i    '•»     Vai."  '••:! 

.1     •'    ;    tl  -a*   s'-i   »<.: 

■   - 's     ,1    ,i'\     I, as   an    ''sp -. '.-^'y   rl's*'    idu/i-       a;   -^'i-.vn    ('■a\    ,a>d  al  a  1,.^-  ^  •.  •-■■•  la-  '^c  'f.ir 

.'    •    .  \''.}i  tt,.'  f)io'nM  r  h'.st<M'_\  ,-.}'  h<'ih  Vj]\<'      ^a-  !\   •  v    'a    **!!-r.    ii    .•;-i'ad'».    [(■i.Ma.i      \\  i) -a 

*'    ■;  I  !  ^t.  .To^M|>ii  f-.ainih-N.  ;tr,ri  Iv    him..' It'      ho  i'.';h'Iad  d.**  :■■  •'  'd'  s"\('T>:,f..   ^-at-^  fa*  h--  i 

.^   t'cT-  i^asay  ya.DN    a"  his  'iu*  l)(*(ai  a  h-aJinir      v.rda-i"/    t'u,    (d.-u'L-a    of   th«     ''•,. -a.    'i  ai    at  n- 

.,1''*  II-    >.a'it*M-y  ardf<;  >  :  rnj    th'-^a  .'ofrasd-       tiaa*!     t--    M]>«a\'i*(*    it     unt,!    1"'    -dt.-'da^'l     ais 

'   ^' "    '   dJ"  ;>'\  srr\.di.'n  and  rrd'^aa-iam^fd    of      laiio^'ity.    u  laii    la-    (^in^a^    to    Snadi    H.a  >^    t'^ 

.    ■>     r;   South  n'Micl.      In  'im-  (ajfwratai.tad       h-aiai  tii"  tfjalc  ol    a  T>'av|<  r-iav     ''"a.s  0"."i  |   . 

i  '^    (;Mir::il    (dvil  diiti' >a   as   wail   as   in    his      ti<a),    ^\d^•h     h<^     suhsfquaritly     1'ud  a\a-d     i<   ' 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


^ 


-'-Z'-?  '-^"■^C>~Z^^;:/< 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


769 


and  after  its  completion  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen years,  began  the  trade  of  a  cigar  maker, 
following  that  occupation  in  different  parts 
of  the  state  of  New  York  until  his  removal 
to  South  Bend  on  the  29th  of  April,  1881. 
Thus  twenty-five  years  of  his  life  have  been 
spent  in  this  city,  and  during  all  that  time, 
through  the  channels  of  trade  as  well  as  in 
other  ways,  he  has  promoted  the  interests  of 
its  residents,  and  at  all  times  is  alert  in  his 
efforts  to  improve  the  condition  of  all  lines 
of  business.  For  four  years  after  his  arrival 
Mr.  Goetz  worked  at  his  trade  of  cigar  mak- 
ing, but  on  the  expiration  of  that  period,  in 
1885,  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cigars 
for  himself.  Beginning  in  a  small  way,  for 
he  only  employed  two  men  at  the  start,  the 
business  has  gradually  expanded  as  the  re- 
sult of  his  capable  management  and  well- 
directed  efforts,  and  at  the  present  time  an 
average  of  thirty-five  operatives  are  given 
employment  in  the  manufactory,  and  in  ad- 
dition he  also  owns  one  of  the  finest  blocks 
in  the  city. 

In  1883  Mr.  Goetz  was  married  to  Emma 
E.  Klingel,  whose  father,  Valentine  Klingel, 
was  a  prominent  resident  of  South  Bend,  and 
one  son,  Philip  K.,  has  been  bom  of  this 
union.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the  South  Bend 
High  School,  and  is  now  engaged  in  business 
with  his  father.  Throughout  the  period  of 
his  residence  in  South  Bend  Mr.  Goetz  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  its  public  affairs.  For 
four  years  he  served*  as  deputy  oil  inspector 
of  the  Thirteenth  Congressional  district,  was 
a  member  of  the  board  of  public  works  un- 
der the  Colfax  administration,  and  at  the 
present  time  is  a  member  of  the  county  coun- 
cil. His  fraternal  relations  are  with  the 
order  of  Elks,  while  politically  he  is  a  stanch 
supporter  of  Democratic  principles.  His 
public  duties  have  ever  been  discharged  with 
marked  promptness  and  fidelity,  and  during 
his  long  residence  in  South  Bend  has  been 
closely  connected  with  its  progress  and  ad- 
vancement, supporting  all  measures  for  the 
public  good. 

Colonel  Joseph  Turnock.  Colonel  Tur- 
nock's  family  has  an  especially  close  identi- 
fication with  the  pioneer  history  of  both  Elk- 
hart and  St.  Joseph  counties,  and  he  himself 
has  for  many  years  of  his  life  been  a  leading 
figure  in  military  matters  and  those  connect- 
ed with  the  preservation  and  enforcement  of 
the  law  in  South  Bend.  In  the  enforcement 
of  his  official  civil  duties,  as  well  as  in  his 


capacity  of  soldier  of  the  Civil  war,  the 
Colonel  has  always  evinced  unflinching 
bravery  and  cool  judgment.  He  is  a  brave 
man  and  a  good  citizen  and  a  useful  member 
of  the  community,  in  every  sense  of  the  word 
— what  better  words  could  be  spoken  of  an 
American  * 

Joseph  Turnock,  whose  present  business 
occupation  is  financial  secretary  of  the  Build- 
ing and  Loan  Association  of  South  Bend,  was 
born  in  Stoke  Trent,  England,  September 
30,  1836.  His  parents,  Benjamin  and  Mary 
(Whitteker)  Turnock,  were  bom,  reared  and 
married  in  the  same  locality.  The  father  was 
a  carpenter,  and  was  long  in  the  employ  of 
the  famous  Minton  Pottery.  Bringing  his 
family  to  America  about  1839,  he  located  at 
Jersey  City,  where  he  was  employed  at  his 
trade  for  ten  years,  removing  to  Mishawaka, 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  in  1849.  At  that 
time,  however,  the  site  of  the  city  was  prairie 
land,  upon  which  he  engaged  in  farming. 
After  an  experience  of  two  years  in  this  new 
life  Mr.  Turnock  took  his  two  teams  and 
moved  his  family  back  to  Jersey  City,  New 
Jersey.  He  there  resumed  his  occupation  as 
a  carpenter  and  contractor, .  and  continued 
thus  employed  for  some  seven  years,  but  the 
freer  life  of  the  west  again  called  him,  and 
he  returned  to  Indiana,  locating  at  a  point 
two  and  a  half  miles  west  of  Elkhart  City, 
in  Elkhart  county.  The  later  years  of  his 
life  were  spent  in  Elkhart  City,  where  he 
lived  in  comfortable  retirement  until  his 
death,  August  9,  1873.  His  wife  and  the 
mother  of  his  thirteen  children  is  also  dead. 
Of  the  two  daughters  and  eleven  sons  born 
to  them,  five  sons  and  three  daughters 
reached  maturity,  and  the  following  are  still 
living:  Joseph  and  Hiram,  residing  in  South 
Bend;  Jamima,  wife  of  Alexander  Arisman; 
Mary,  who  married  James  Bigelow,  both  of 
the  daughters  living  in  Elkhart,  and  Colonel 
Joseph  Turnock. 

Joseph  Turnock,  who  is  the  eldest  of  the 
living  children,  was  about  four  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  brought  him  to  America. 
He  received  his  education  in  a  public  school' 
of  Jersey  City  and  at  a  log  school  house  near 
the  farm  in  Elkhart  county,  Indiana.  When 
he  reached  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  had 
virtually  the  charge  of  the  farm,  and  con- 
tinued to  operate  it  until  he  attained  his 
majority,  when  he  came  to  South  Bend  to 
learn  the  trade  of  a  plasterer.  This  occupa- 
tion, which    he    subsequently    followed    for 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


770 


HISTORY  OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


some  time,  gradually  drew  him  into  a  con- 
tracting business,  which,  in  partnership  with 
hi^  brother,  Hiram,  he  prosecuted  for  about 
twenty-live  years. 

Mr.  Turnock  dates  his  residence  in  South 
Bend  from  1858,  and  was  already  weU  on 
the  road  to  success  as  a  skillful  workman 
when  the  Civil  war  broke  out.  In  1862-63 
he  was  with  the  Twenty-first  Indiana  Battery 
in  the  sutler's  department,  and  afterward  en- 
listed in  Company  H,  Twelfth  Indiana  Vol- 
unteer Cavalry.  When  the  company  was  or- 
ganized he  was  chosen  its  first  lieutenant  and 
subsequently  was  promoted  to  the  captaincy, 
serving  in  the  latter  capacity  for  six  months 
of  1865.  He  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Mobile,  Alabama,  had  a  horse  shot  from  un- 
der him  near  Florence,  Alabama,  and  was  in 
several  skirmishes  near  Murfreesboro,  Tennes- 
see, and  other  engagements  with  bushwhack- 
ers. Returning  to  South  Bend  at  the  close 
of  the  war,  he  resimied  his  contracting  busi- 
ness, which  he  so  successfully  followed  for 
many  years  thereafter. 

Colonel  Turnock 's  official  career  com- 
menced in  1872,  when  he  was  elected  by  the 
Republicans  as  sheriff  of  St.  Joseph  county. 
He  was  re-elected  in  1874  for  another  term 
of  two  years,  and  served  as  deputy  sheriff  for 
a  period  of  four  years.  During  the  eight 
years  of  his  connection  with  the  shrievalty 
he  earned  the  general  respect  both  of  good 
citizens  and  evil-doers,  although  the  latter 
had  a  wholesome  fear  as  well  as  respect  for 
him.  He  was  afterward  chosen  chief  of  the 
South  Bend  fire  department,  and  his  previous 
record  as  an  officer  of  the  law  was  so  memor- 
able thut  he  became  chief  of  police.  Under 
his  administration  of  this  department  of  the 
city  service  he  first  uniformed  the  policemen, 
and  also  brought  them  to  a  commendable 
state  of  discipline  and  efficiency.  In  1901  he 
was  again  placed  at  the  head  of  the  depart- 
ment, and  continued  the  splendid  work  pre- 
viously begun  for  the  succeeding  two  years. 

Colonel  Turnock  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  finest  disciplinarians  in  the  state,  not 
only  by  the  citizens  of  South  Bend  but  by 
the  military  authorities  of  Indiana.  He  was 
for  some  time  a  captain  in  the  First  Regi- 
ment, Indiana  National  Guard,  and  was  later 
promoted  to  be  lieutenant-colonel.  His  Civil 
war  record  has  made  him  a  leading  member 
of  the  Norman  Eddy  Post  No.  579,  G.  A.  R., 
having  served  as  post  commander  and  a  dele- 
gate to  the  national  encampment.     The  colo- 


nel is  also  a   well-known   Mason,   identified 
with  Lodge  No.  45,  South  Bend. 

Joseph  Turnock  was  married  to  Miss 
Frances  CottreU,  daughter  of  Samuel  S.  and 
Catherine  (Painter)  Cottrell,  and  they  have 
become  the  parents  of  the  following:  Nellie, 
wife  of  William  P.  Booth,  of  Chicago,  and 
Frances,  who  married  Robert  Collmer,  of 
South  Bend.  Mrs.  Turnock 's  father  was 
among  the  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county,  was 
its  first  sheriff  and  otherwise  prominent  in 
its  early  affairs. 

John  Roth,  one  of  South  Bend's  most 
honored  and  respected  business  men,  is  a 
veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  and  bears  an  hon- 
orable record  for  brave  service  in  the  cause 
of  freedom  and  union,  while  in  the  paths  of 
peace  he  has  also  won  an  enviable  reputation 
through  the  sterling  qualities  which  go  to  the 
making  of  a  good  citizen.  As  secretary  of  the 
St.  Joseph  Loan  and  Savings  Bank  he  is  well 
known  throughout  northern  Indiana. 

Mr.  Roth  was  bom  in  Greenville,  Ohio, 
November  28,  1843.  His  father,  the  Rev. 
Peter  Roth,  was  a  native  of  Lorraine,  (Jer- 
many,  but  in  his  boyhood  days  came  with  his 
father's  family  to  the  United  States,  the  fam- 
ily home  having  been  established  in  Ohio, 
where  the  son  Peter  became  in  time  a  well- 
known  minister  of  the  Evangelical  church. 
He  held  pastorates  m  Ohio,  Michigan  and 
Indiana.  In  the  early  '60s  he  became  pastor 
of  a  church  in  Mishawaka  of  the  latter  state, 
where  he  remained  several  years  or  until  his 
removal  to  Ft.  Wayne,  where  he  was  sta- 
tioned three  years.  He  then  came  to  South 
Bend  in  the  late  70s  and  retired  from  the 
ministry.  For  many  years  he  was  one  of  the 
most  efficient  laborers  in  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tianity in  this  city.  A  strong  and  forcible 
speaker,  earnest  and  eloquent  in  the  presen- 
tation of  the  truth,  his  efforts  were  abun- 
dantly blessed,  laboring  in  the  cause  of  the 
Master  until  his  death,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight  years,  although  for  a  few  years  prior  to 
that  time  he  had  retired  from  his  ministe- 
rial labors.  He  married  Susan  Kline,  a  native 
of  Bavaria,  Germany,  but  who  came  with  an 
uncle  and  aunt  to  the  United  States  during 
her  girlhood  days. 

When  the  great  Civil  war  was  inaugurated 
in  1861  John  Roth  was  a  lad  of  eighteen 
years,  but  he  promptly  offered  his  services  to 
the  Union  cause,  becoming  a  member  of  the 
Eighty-seventh  Indiana  Infantry,  Company 
F,  for  just  two  years  previous  to  his  enlist- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


771 


ment  he  had  removed  with  his  family  to  this 
state.  He  took  part  in  all  the  campaigns  of 
his  regiment,  participating  in  the  battles  of 
Perryville,  Chickamauga  and  in  the  cele- 
brated march  with  Sherman  to  the  sea.  He 
was  a  brave  and  fearless  soldier,  and  was 
severely  wounded  at  Chickamauga,  where  he 
suffered  a  gun-shot  wound  in  his  throat.  He 
was  mustered  out  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana, 
in  1865,  for  the  war  had  ended  and  his  coun- 
try no  longer  needed  his  service.  Mr.  Roth 
thence  made  his  way  to  Mishawaka  and  in 
1868  to  South  Bend,  his  first  employment  in 
this  city  being  as  a  clerk  in  a  grocery  store. 
He  was  then  with  the  Union  Manufacturing 
Company  as  a  cabinet  maker,  while  for  six 
years  he  served  as  foreman  of  the  box  de- 
partment of  the  Studebaker  Manufacturing 
Company.  In  1888  Mr.  Roth  assisted  in  the 
organizing  of  the  St.  Joseph  Loan  and  Sav- 
ings Association,  of  which  he  was  elected 
secretary,  and  this  is  now  one  of  the  leading 
institutions  of  its  kind  in  northern  Indiana. 
He  was  the  first  gentleman  to  come  to  the 
assistance  of  the  ladies  in  1894  in  organizing 
the  Epworth  Hospital  and  Training  School. 
After  its  organization  he  was  elected  one  of 
the  trustees,  and  has  served  as  secretary  of 
the  board  of  trustees  ever  since.  He  was  also 
a  member  of  the  building  committee. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Roth  and  Kate  E. 
Yarger  was  celebrated  in  1866,  she  being  a 
daughter  of  Philip  and  Louisa  (Welper) 
Yarger,  of  Laporte  county.  Five  daughters 
have  been  born  of  this  union,  namely:  Mary 
Ellen  (now  Mrs.  Wilkerson,  of  Chicago), 
Fannie  H.,  Catherine  E.,  Carrie  E.,  and 
Helen.  Mr.  Roth  is  a  stanch  supporter  of 
Republican  principles,  and  in  1884  he  was 
its  choice  for  the  oflRce  of  city  treasurer, 
which  position  he  held  for  four  years.  He 
holds  pleasant  relations  with  his  old  army 
comrades  by  his  membership  with  Auten 
Post,  No.  8,  G.  A.  R.,  while  his  religious  aflSlia- 
tion  is  with  the  Methodist  church. 

WiLU.\M  ToEPP.  One  of  the  straightfor- 
ward and  successful  business  men  of  South 
Bend  is  William  Toepp.  He  is  public  spirited 
and  thoroughly  interested  in  whatever  tends 
to  promote  the  moral,  intellectual  and  mate- 
rial welfare  of  the  city,  and  for  many  years 
he  has  been  numbered  among  its  valued  and 
honored  citizens.  His  birth  occurred  in 
Rome,  New  York,  April  14,  1851.  His  fath- 
er. Peter  Toepp,  was  born  in  Alsace,  France, 
and  spent  the  first  nineteen  years  of  his  life 


in  his  native  land,  coming  thence  to  the 
United  States  and  locating  in  Rome,  where 
he  was  engaged  in,  business  from  1857  until 
1880.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 
came  to  South  Bend,  Indiana,  and  was 
counted  among  the  city's  most  successful 
business  men  until  1898,  and  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1906,  when  he  had  reached  the  age 
of  seventy-nine  years.  In  his  early  manhood 
Mr.  Toepp  married  Catherine  Karle,  who  was 
born  in  Baden,  Germany,  and  she  lived  to 
the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  In  their  family 
were  the  following  children:  William,  P.  H., 
Elizabeth  M.,  Frank  C,  and  Minnie,  the  wife 
of  F.  H.  Goetz,  of  South  Bend. 

William  Toepp,  the  eldest  of  the  children, 
grew  to  mature  years  in  his  native  city  of 
Rome,  and  after  completing  his  education  he 
entered  the  dry  goods  business  in  that  city 
with  his  father  and  brother,  in  1878.  They 
moved  their  stock  of  goods  to  South  Bend 
and  established  their  store  at  what  is  now  121 
West  Washington  street.  On  the  28th  of 
January,  1881,  this  store  was  destroyed  by 
fire,  and  Mr.  Toepp  resumed  his  business  on 
South  Chapin  street,  organizing  the  firm  of 
Toepp  Brothers,  they  continuing  in  the  dry 
goods  business  until  1885,  when  they  trans- 
ferred their  operations  to  the  shoe  trade.  One 
year  later,  however,  in  1886,  the  business  was 
closed,  and  Mr.  Toepp,  of  this  review,  then 
went  to  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin.  Remaining 
in  that  city  until  1888,  he  then  returned  to 
South  Bend,  and  embarked  in  his  present 
business  of  wholesale  wines  and  liquors,  and 
in  addition  to  its  proprietorship  is  also  the 
owner  of  much  valuable  city  property,  being 
a  part  owner  of  the  Toepp  Building  and  the 
Jefferson  Building.  The  latter  was  erected 
in  1906-7,  and  is  the  finest  business  block  and 
office  building  in  the  city  of  South  Bend.  He 
is  also  president  of  the  Sinking  Fund  Com- 
mission of  this  city,  and  served  as  one  of  the 
directors  in  the  erection  of  the  handsome 
Elks  Temple,  he  being  a  prominent  member 
of  that  fraternity  and  an  active  worker  for 
its  advancement.  He  belongs  to  the  Mer- 
chants Association,  and  was  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers of  the  C.  A.  C.  building  on  Colfax 
avenue,  opposite  the  Elks  Temple,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Turners  and  Mannerchor  of 
South  Bend. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Toepp  was  celebrated 
on  the  13th  of  September.  1881,  when  Linda 
Elbel  became  his  wife.  She  was  bom  and 
reared  in  South  Bend,  a  daughter  of  John 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


772 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


M.  and  Marie  (Schmitz)  Elbel.  In  his  polit- 
ical connections  Mr.  Toepp  is  a  Democrat, 
always  taking  a  deep  interest  in  local  polit- 
ical affairs,  and  during  a  period  of  ten  years 
he  served  as  treasurer  of  the  Central  Demo- 
cratic Committte,  of  which  he  is  now  a  mem- 
ber. He  is  a  man  of  excellent  business  and 
executive  ability,  of  keen  discrimination  and 
capable  management.  He  has  not  limited  his 
efforts  to  one  line  of  business,  but  has  en- 
couraged many  enterprises,  and  to  a  high 
degree  he  enjoys  the  confidence  and  regard 
of  those  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in 
contact  through  business  and  social  relations. 

Horace  M.  Kauffman,  manager  for  the 
Clem  Studebaker  estate,  was  born  in  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  on  the  10th  of  November,  1866. 
His  career  thus  far  in  life  furnishes  a  splen- 
did example  of  what  may  be  accomplished 
through  laudable  ambition,  for  he  has  stead- 
ily worked  his  w^ay  upward,  gaining  success 
and  winning  the  public  confidence.  His  par- 
ents were  Daniel  W.  and  Mary  A.  (Neff) 
Kauffman,  the  former  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  latter  of  Dayton,  Ohio.  In 
the  early  days  of  1849  the  father  joined  the 
tide  of  emigration  to  the  Golden  state,  but 
returned  in  1852  and  located  at  Muscatine 
and  later  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  where  the 
birth  of  his  son  Horace  occurred.  His  life's 
labors  were  ended  in  death  in  1901,  when  he 
had  reached  the  good  old  age  of  eighty-four 
years. 

In  the  country  schools  of  Iowa  Horace  M. 
Kauffman  received  the  mental  training 
which  enabled  him  to  begin  life 's  battles,  but 
at  a  very  early  age  he  was  obliged  to  lay 
aside  his  text  books  and  begin  work  on  a 
cattle  ranch.  When  he  had  reached  the  age 
of  seventeen  years  he  entered  the  law  office 
of  Lamb,  Ricketts  &  Wilson,  in  Lincoln,  Ne- 
braska, where  he  diligently  pursued  his  legal 
studies  until  his  admission  to  the  bar  of  Lin- 
coln in  1886.  During  the  following  three  and 
a  half  years  Mr.  Kauffman  was  an  employe 
of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  Company,  but 
prior  to  that  time  he  had  also  engaged  in  the 
real  estate  business  in  Omaha,  Nebraska. 
Coming  to  South  Bend  in  1893,  he  \yas  ten- 
dered the  important  position  of  private  sec- 
retary to  Mr.  Clem  Studebaker,  and  after 
the  death  of  that  well-known  financier  he  was 
made  the  secretary  of  the  trustees  of  his 
estate.  The  world  is  not  slow  to  pass  judg- 
ment upon  the  individual,  and  when  a  man 
has  won  the  high  respect  of  those  with  whom 


business  and  social  relations  have  brought 
him  in  contact  it  is  by  reason  of  his  intrinsic 
honor  and  his  worthy  achievements.  Con- 
demnation comes  quickly  when  merited,  and 
esteem  therefore  indicates  the  possession  of 
worthy  qualities  and  characteristics. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Kauffman  occurred 
in  1892,  when  DoUie  A.  Harpster,  of  Omaha, 
became  his  wife.  She  is  a  daughter  of  David 
and  Amanda  (Redmond)  Harpster.  Mr. 
Kauffman  affiliates  fraternally  with  the 
Masonic  order,  Lodge  No.  45,  and  with  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and 
socially  is  a  member  of  the  Indiana  Club. 
His  religious  connection  is  with  St.  Paul's 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Edward  F.  DuBail,  occupying  an  enviable 
position  in  the  business  circles  of  South  Bend, 
is  connected  with  real  estate,  finance  and 
loans,  and  is  well  known  throughout  St.  Jo- 
seph county.  A  native  son  of  this  city,  he 
was  bom  on  the  17th  of  November,  1867,  his 
parents  being  Peter  and  Julia  (Metzgar) 
DuBail,  the  latter  a  native  of  Ohio  but  of 
German  descent.  The  father  was  a  native 
of  Alsace,  Germany,  but  when  only  seven- 
teen years  of  age  he  left  his  German  home 
and  came  to  the  United  States,  and  from  that 
time  until  his  twenty-fourth  year  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Louisville,  Ohio.  He  then  came  to 
South  Bend,  where  he  was  long  known  among 
its  early  and  honored  residents,  his  death 
occurring  here  in  1904,  when  he  had  reached 
the  age  of  seventy  years. 

Edward  F.  DuBail,  a  son  of  this  worthy 
couple,  received  his  educational  training  in 
the  St.  Patrick  school  of  South  Bend,  and 
after  completing  his  studies  he  was  engaged 
as  a  grocery  clerk  for  eight  years.  On  the 
expiration  of  that  period  he  was  enabled  to 
enter  into  business  life  for  himself,  and  from 
that  time  until  1892  was  the  proprietor  of 
a  grocery  store.  Seeing  the  great  possibil- 
ities open  in  the  real  estate  field  he  decided 
to  engage  in  the  real  estate  and  loan  business, 
and  in  this  field  of  endeavor  has  met  with 
excellent  and  well-deserved  success.  He  rep- 
resents sixteen  of  the  oldest  insurance  com- 
panies of  the  world,  and  in  this  special  line 
he  has  done  a  very  large  business,  it  having 
amounted  in  the  past  year  to  eight  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  Mr.  DuBail  has  also  laid 
out  several  additions,  has  erected  eighty 
houses,  and  has  now  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
the  south  end  one  of  the  most  beautiful  por- 
tions of  the  city.     He  is  a  firm  believer  in 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


V 


1^  Xr^< 


^  n  t  L 


Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


-     ^   ^    •  !'^  ST.  .J0.>]::>]i   On^XTV. 

!:    :    s   ../it-       ^.-.iw.  .s    ;•■.]     s"('->!     -ibni'...^    h    .-<     '•"-•i 
'  •      •!  ..'    ;■-  >!i;  li.'f.  !r    ;.n*i     •  ^>     ..'.r  "^^^^      H-'ln'  \ t'l  :(  ii'>         *   ■ 

*.i'0-  .!   i!;-'i'!-        v-k    -iK^x    I;    .  i  1  .  .^   M    i   .-rial  .■■\rr'>V*'s 
t.     I;-  v,>':'^^  -ind  '*  '■"    n.^r  ',it:     (  :    \u',    IviulViffiu    ••<•■  n 

■    •' -.ii'i!,  I  nil   ;;i  4  ':.    i  ^:L\  w  1..  !^   in!,:»    A.  Jhit  i>t.  r,  ot   *m-- 

.■•!ul    n^'.-ani  ?.!a^>  'lie    "JmI -r.    [vuh''-    \*'.    I.'*    a^d     v.:''.    ' 

•   !    l;/'>'i  jit    ill  lie   <".<)!•  jii  ;;m!  I'r'*'-t,v    O^der  <>1"  K'.-vs 

i  "^'iNl  j'o;  iiuniv.  N.  1   itWy    i^    a    ip.Mii'.f'*    of    ui  '    Irniii^*-' 

•..       ..J    ,.      joj-      :ho         1'    *^     '■•''   LMiHiS     r-T.'l.  rK<.>i      is     \\  >^]i     >^:        1'     « 

'  ■    -  •'(  ^   ,'   V  >l  -:■-  j'.>-  {  oil   Ml  1  h.-  ^  .!>■  '-^^  •    ;-<'Jt  s  -4'  •"'■•II' 'i   **•  - 

•'  r  ■(*•  i:*i^  >ifi^<i-  i-'-Hi>.   '!i:d   i..  \  •■il  known   tiii'uiiLdi.»u^   >:     -' 

:     „•'-!:•    ■.'    v.i.-,  ..V'  s"{'!i   ('t,'iii"\.      A    r.i'V'   m»ii   at'  *h's    '-ii.  .    ' 

'-  •    .        .'.       i\>,   \r  :  '  *'  ^^    :•<,{■'.    ,,M    tl'"    IT^Ii   :»f   Xn\c,ul'rr,    L't^i.    • 

■I    '^h'ln     .V      \i  n'  ;<•  ^ '•:;^    t- j.v     »'( t  -r    -rid    Julia    i,^I"iz_.  , 

.    *j      '■•{     '.}     i*-riT>y'  l);;!'.<,i.    Li.     la-'i-    a    j/liv.^    ot    <  »hio    '  y     > 

•'     ■;    .'.-:    :■     i^ho.      I.  •i.'iK.an    dt^.-^^^      4  iic    fathor    was*    u    p:"- 

■    '^-i  !!■•     '•tit-:    ^-''"..'d   :'(-  "I'   .\!sa''',    *  i- i  :ri;t!i^".    \ku    wlu-n    oiih     >-.• 

*  '■'.     :o     '?  ,>mJ.'I.     .^';,'.-.     l.;a  to-!;     >'«\'US    ■•!■     .'  "*     i:  *     lri'\     Iv^    IvTlMail       !", 

*  .    ;m  d    lw,-i'd    ;i:    ^ii.s,  ;,' ::i--  af  .1  <- ;,M"  M)  tho  (  i  ii- d  Sla--^    ai'd  fr"fii  'L 
i'.^>    Mo  !,-■<,    I    ',   I.    V  }.  rr    ih  ^"i'    'iMtd  11  ''  t'>.)'\  -I'l'-irih  yenr  Wc<>  a   -  ■ 

'>':    ll"!'!/.     ,..-.!».■'    '        ll   >   lir     s  ^^    I,'     .'f    j.,-;;>'--;:    ,    (tJlM,.       fl.-    tiU'Ii    .MM.'- 

•     •-:'1>''1   in   (i— itM   .n    ]'«"],  u  •'  Ti  h.-  S'.«iiii  Im'-iI    w  •;   "i    h-'  v/.us  Ic'ir  k.'owra  :  iiio 
•      '    ;}'.•    .'.M.d   (.;  I    ■»■•  •    ..♦'  .  i-i'/^ -:"<  i;i-         \>     .-M    !y    a:;d      i'.!r'i"d    'i-id.-'its,    L^<    *]•' 

.   )'tii!!'\    sell.'',  -.f'   I,.v*a   1!".'a  r   M  ttt^    fLt    u .'  ^'\-'    ;.    y<'a'->. 

n<'('\-."]        ;..       ••■-'I'd      n\.vi  '.-i  l-.fiva^l    F.    \)\i]\.  :\.    a    s.»n    .-f   thus    '.•<:'.: 

.  -^  d  I'  I'l  '•:;<.'!  lit'/'s  }>a!i     *<.  'mi.  '"'  ■t'It\    ft"--  iVrd    bis   ri';ic;i*^«"'.d   tra:i-inu 

'.  ''y    ;^-  -     ;:  ■    ^'..i^    (.r.:.u-<|    i.    Jay  In-    S       i^,.--.r    v/!i'>  >1    of    ^otitb    ]it-.  I.    •.. 

-    ^  \f     •   .""^      ■  •;    '>ir<j'A\    ^'--U    (i\    a  ...ur  <m':i-,>' ^l-i'j    l.is-  <tu-:  '>5;  !•"   was  t.  .- -_ 

*     •      ••'  '■  '    •?;.•'•   d    l»'f     i;:-v\-    .»*"  "0  »,.\^'-' a;  .OM    nl'    t'-.'t    |Hili;d    ho    was    rlMV^-.J 

•'•    Jx     '      ■-  v    \'.  ''M)n,  -n   !/!?>  ,.!ri.  At--  '*'M    r    u.t  .  t  r^n  .  ns  l^f-  ft  i-  i.'tnstdf.  .tiid   li  . 

,    !'■';    ]rir<;ud   h;s  1'  ^•l.  ta  it    M.i.f    ufilii    I'-VJ    wa^    uif    ]>rul>r*-'l  ».'   ■ 

'    -       ■        .    !'<•->-!. n  I't  l.t"  l'.!   oi'  L  '-  a    -uo"-, -'^    st''*<'       StM'inj    ;..r   m^^at    ]».»y>i'i' 

'*        IjL'   ':."   i''..!'    \^"].  i;  Mr    (^  at:d  lt;''■^   ..''.''      m    tip'    i.";:l    f  ta'*     ':«''ii    }».     .1.     ;  : 

I-  '    i"  fiaa    wr  <  a:*   ,'n'j''o\.-  lofj-^a/     ■:■  '\\     n  a:  r-'at«    ?::!  !  i'...n  lius.'a^ 

•"!    •  '    '     w.d   (  .  m:  \''  ',   '-a'  -''''d    "^    ::l^^    laid    »■!    •^'.td*-i-v..r    fr.s   la -i    ^v 

■     ■    'i/d    :..->       -^a-'      '    in    th-  Vv.-''.  T,t     •  ].   i    Av.  i!.d.\.>r\f  <'-.-.  v;  1|        f- 

.*.•  '     ■•       ri     <',^*'ii:;.    N-.;a^"a  ?*•>»:  's   s;\'   *■  i    >*\    t.'*-     ''u' si    *ri<nran,  -      '.»:' 

'  .'      '''.'*     1  s;*  '     i'  '    \\  as    t    ':-  !    !'■  ,<'N    ;•)    *  )        A  mi  >(i,    .. '     i      "    " '  ■  -    ^['t^*  ^  i      V ' 

■  ■  '    ■    \'  ^  '.]•  \    ',]       I  "  >  !  +  t     V  '<  •*'    n-  ->  '!*.•  .-   a    \i  ry   ia»  i.'»    '>    -  *i   ->.    ;i    K  i'  r- 

•  "         •        '      Slit  I -I'-d  .  V,    n  ,d    a!:tM'  a '  ^oi  jMt  'd    i:    i'       |  ..^*    y«  a'  ■■  /!ii.    i.  .'^.■' 

'     '     ^<    ■-'.a-'U 'j   :aiai.r;r']'  h"  \%a>  "t*Ms;  '  d    (iai.-,       ;!,.    J^'.'\       a  J>    :    ---    '    . 

•••     ,•:■'■*.     Ml'    f'l'    r*'!]^t,-'v    r»'    Ji'^  ..iji      N,  A'.M,-.     .iddifa'-  ^     1    •-        •■   ■''    ,     -.    :  '  . 

'    '       '      ('    i.>  'f   a    ■-'«  v\'  t«*  [\a.NS  j..  ^'r-  ll  'MS.  s.    a!''i    !;  ;n    ii..'.    di  ■    j"   .r  :        ..,    s* 

•'.•■  ^  .  ;■'  »-.    'n''!    \\  Ih  n    a    jHaa  i  i"  -  '-•'iiJij   i'].d  .'iiv'    .^'  tl'*'  *>  ,  *     ,..  .  ■     -    , 

•1     ••-■".*   «it    t',  .       \'.  .. 'a  ^Ml.  ;a  i :  -as    nI        a*    "itv        He    1n    a      i     a  .( 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


/iu- 


^L/?--^  n^-^e^ 


Digitized  by  CjOOQIC 


'put 


^.l•^>• 


Digitized  by 


Google 


;  THE 


Digitized  by 


Google 


'{f-t^€^^^r-^ 


Digitized  by  LjOOQ  IC 


'u*Y    OF   ^T,   Jusi:iul    Ci^    \'" 


,'  has   .h>n{    viuih  kno^vK    i'."i-, 

.tiiijr'\  *in  'l■^  ami  of  S  n  ru   i> 

'.-.    Di  l-;.;'.!    is    i\h\^-  -ia.l'':ii:'--  ;  ^ 

i  !  {'\.  >    i.fst    r:,|.',|    to  !  h'^   ^. ;>:::•  ^ 

.'■-■i   t^">   ih..  "r  .  ..{*;•.      lie  »  Vi^-ilt  .1*    P' 

V   (  ;.;nij'!*t'  .  -    '.<  j<; J.'  •'  I'-'s  M*  >•-.   .,' 

>'   ill   nlJ     •!>   1  '  '   >.  ;oi.l  u   .  ^;  .jii, '.•<•'. 

ill  iiii-M.>5«r*'^    '\  .  ■   'u  h«*  i*v-    .!'•'■:.>   <- 


•    -in»rity. 

.'I-^ 

■  :-  in;'!" 

';:!h<' 

.  .      1  ■  . 

r/  :-.>i 

i.n.l 

ai<:    - 

:  .  vrui    .. 

,}ts    h'"l 

•  red 

4 ,       1 

.   'M          1  ,  ■ 

*  'i'\v  hnv-    •' 

,.■!^  !)<> 

,..,., I 

S,."-'  t 

••*    St(  :   •i.l..-/ 

•      i-.-:- 

\1  '. 

l»"-K.  ■ 

••  :ri-  ..*   ,11"  I  '< 

.     ■•    r,! 

a;:.l 

»i;-;ir 

I<-i>!n>.-:-       *    V 

'■•     .■     ^! 

the 

\-.   ,.<. 

K    V.  »>   ;■...{''■    .      .;    t 

'U''.    '^  ' 

-  r      !S 

1  • 

■  :h 


i  '• 


1/ 


.  >r\' 


'  >I    is    r  't    Ww    '  .4.      ".r    .  I    ^    "-      *'\'' 

'.starun's.   :•'.•«    :  (»•        ..i.st 
■  i»a;i-mr'   ■  :jt,  ajj"  .'     r-  ,.].!  .-: 
U'liicll    no    rTt;>',    (-.;'(     \'  .  I     M'\  - 
",vas     hori'     iii     :  '..-r.  .     .     ''o,tnt\ 
\1  !-il  2.   I^(i2,  a   vMi  .   ■  Jm'mi  fi:.(i 
:.o/}     Iu)biTis<;ii      ih  •     ^'o*  ,     r     of 
-    1  ojitive  trf  \Vh.t'  ^'i^',  (  .w  -.'M  ».  a'  ^] 
i'l     this    t*^)iintiy       Tin-    '1     ^-vnal 
'.r  V   V  as    ruiinl.H-rt'd     m-.ou^    /•,.     li..n- 
■'*'  pio'.'-crs  of  St.  ,I<,v'cti  .'ju.'iy    l'\\o 
faiiiily    is    i>f    Fn  '  .  ii    e\irf."'  ..«., 
-••    a;id    W'^lM'itown    in    *'- il    *-t.,.i.:f;' 
!.«    name  is  sfV'JN.i    Ii'o'  ■  '    ;,   1.      i)n-   , 
'  ■'  an  irnporlaiil   [)ail   in   Uu    <-,  -  [^'  Ir- 
)     St.  Jost^ph  i-nnnty.   and  one  nf   tlwir 
^-'r^rd  as  tln^  fM'st   c ''niinp.  dcr  c!    Ih*^ 
'    St.    loM'ph.    MicliiL'^m.      In    tn*    ^aily       ..."ulty   uf  r.  , 
'■■l»n   iv'»bins<>n  <-.>ta'ii.  du^l   ]•^^  \i  >'.rio.   ui      ton{'ar»'i\    ]       -s; 
•-■' I'lt  Ci'iinfy,  Indiana,  \Nlit'r«'  [10  l.-inor.-'d      iniNio- ^s   tWi.-^ 
^:   .-'h'ni.st,  bccoTid:  ir  a   iiiuhly   rvsp.-.-t-.^d      of   Jii'.-,   il*.'  ".■.•. 
■ -d  ('iti'/.oi]  of  h-s  *■  iitnnnni^v    ;.nd  his      n ';.ird"d    a*    -  *     ■ 
la^' o-s    wa^ro   erait^d    in    d'  .Oi    m    1^^>4.      irup-'"  ^in  •-■  ':    *  ■■ 
f  (•    had    r(a(.'h(-d    th'»    atzi     of     ti;'t\.s".\'      ty.      li-^  v -t     •-, 
i(i<;   \^  idow  still   snrviv-^--   Idni.  InTid  .'lal   \."    ■  . 

'."I    M.    RobiTison    r*\'<M\.d    Ids    odn'-a-      hs  )ah  >r>  ^  .mI.- 1  . 
{T-ainirtiT  in   the   R-'>a]}on  >«-h<.ol   h(a;M^.      sroj).'    l^.s    ::ih   *< 
-ri-.     -(,'int.v,   to  whi'di   tn^   v, as  oldii'-rMl      rooT*    in-ad  ;  va* 
•v  a   distanro  ^af  three  Tidhs,   ]y\it   ncni^^      jst,    d-v*'/  ■;"    -,,: 
.  istr.ons.    d'*t(^ianint^fl    lad   h/   manfully      a:.d    eoa:.'i    /<];., 
■>  h  .  coarse  and  e,!.!M<e**d  all  Mie  oj>-      spirit"],   ^a:  'r--' 
t!cs  .»btainal'ie.     AVh*  n  f;  nrli^/n  years      tt'Tul  t.,  aa\M:'  •• 
h^    eiMered    the   ein[>loy    of   {h(-    well-      nily   in   \  *■  .'^'.  h- 


i.i'  n.  ?    n.    -»    - 
h-.a-  or     M      \I 
of  riMd   F-  .  . 

h'>     lur.W       ■■ 

i'ed   Am.     ::'    \ 

nv\[o  s,  . . 


!:/'d. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


/  .^  /^C  r:^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


HISTORY   OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


773 


South  Bend  and  its  future,  has  done  much 
toward  its  upbuilding  and  improvement,  and 
the  south  end  especially  owes  much  to  his 
industry  and  ability.  Mr.  DuBail  is  inde- 
pendent in  his  political  affiliations,  support- 
ing the  men  whom  he  believes  best  fitted  to 
fill  the  positions  entrusted  to  their  care.  He 
has  served  on  many  city  committees,  is  public 
spirited  and  progressive  in  all  his  ideas,  and 
lends  his  influence  to  all  measures  which  he 
believes  useful  to  the  majority. 

In  1889  Mr.  DuBail  was  married  to  Grace 
A.,  a  daughter  of  David  Bowman,  who  came 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  in  1831,  and 
was  thereafter  numbered  among  its  honored 
early  residents.  They  have  one  son,  Donald 
E.,  who  was  bom  September  15,  1890.  Mr. 
DuBail  is  a  member  of  the  Commercial  and 
Athletic  aubs. 

S.vMUEii  M.  Robinson.  **We  build  the 
ladder  by  which  we  rise"  is  a  truth  which  is 
certainly  applicable  to  Samuel  M.  Robinson, 
for  the  high  position  he  now  occupies  in  the 
business  world  is  not  the  outcome  of  pro- 
pitious circumstances,  but  the  honest  reward 
of  labor,  good  management,  ambition  and  en- 
ergy, without  which  no  man  can  win  pros- 
perity. He  was  born  in  Berrien  county, 
Michigan,  April  2,  1862,  a  son  of  John  and 
Mary  (Shepley)  Robinson,  the  former  of 
whom  was  a  native  of  Whitehall,  Canada,  and 
the  latter  of  this  country.  The  maternal 
grandfather  was  nmnbered  among  the  hon- 
ored early  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county.  The 
Robinson  family  is  of  French  extraction, 
prominent  and  well-known  in  that  country, 
where  the  name  is  spelled  Robilliard.  They, 
too,  bore  an  important  part  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  one  of  their 
number  served  as  the  first  commander  of  the 
fort  at  St.  Joseph,  Michigan.  In  the  early 
'50s  John  Robinson  established  his  home  in 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  where  he  labored 
as  a  machinist,  becoming  a  highly  respected 
and  valued  citizen  of  his  community,  and  his 
life's  labors  were  ended  in  death  in  1894, 
when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  fifty-six 
years.     His  widow  still  survives  him. 

Samuel  M.  Robinson  received  his  educa- 
tional training  in  the  Royalton  school  house 
in  Berrien  county,  to  which  he  was  obliged 
to  walk  a  distance  of  three  miles,  but  being 
an  industrious,  determined  lad  he  manfully 
pursued  his  course  and  embraced  all  the  op- 
portunities obtainable.  When  fourteen  years 
of  age  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  well- 


known  firm  of  George  Wyman  &  Company, 
of  South  Bend,  with  whom  he  remained  both 
as  a  boy  and  man  for  twenty-four  years, 
gradually  ascending  the  ladder  of  success  un- 
til he  became  manager  and  a  stockholder  in 
the  business.  In  1900,  however,  he  left  that 
excellent  position  to  embark  in  the  real  estate 
business,  at  that  time  forming  a  partnership 
with  James  B.  Staley,  and  the  firm  of  Staley 
&  Robinson  are  now  among  the  largest  deal- 
ers in  their  line  in  northern  Indiana.  They 
have  also  opened  up  much  desirable  property 
in  South  Bend,  notably  the  City  View  Place 
addition  in  the  southern  part  of  town,  and 
the  Robinson  &  Haughton  Addition  and  La 
Salle  Park  in  the  western  portion.  They  have 
bought  and  sold  much  valuable  property, 
having  but  recently  purchased  the  old  Sand- 
age  Steel  Skein  plant  and  organized  the 
National  Wire  Bound  Box  Company,  which 
promises  to  be  one  of  the  most  successful 
institutions  of  the  city.  Mr.  Robinson  is 
president  of  the  company,  and  he  also  has 
other  valuable  interests  in  the  city.  A  man 
of  forceful  individuality,  he  has  been  steadily 
advancing  until  he  now  occupies  an  enviable 
position  in  the  ranks  of  the  business  men  of 
South  Bend. 

Mr.  Robinson  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Mary  S.  Sigerfoose,  a  native  of  Elkhart 
county,  Indiana,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Samuel  B.,  who  is  a  valued  assistant  to  his 
father  in  business.  Mr.  Robinson  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Maccabees,  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  the  order  of  Elks,  and  also 
has  membership  relations  with  the  Commer- 
cial Athletic  Club.  The  family  affiliate  with 
the  Presbyterian  church. 

David  Stover,  deceased.  Since  in  its  most 
intelligent  form  success  is  measured  by  the 
faculty  of  contributing  to  the  well-being  of 
humanity  by  the  promotion  of  soundness  in 
business  ethics,  politics,  and  the  moral  side 
of  life,  the  career  of  David  Stover  must  be 
regarded  as  of  representative  and  singular 
importance  in  the  history  of  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty. He  was  connected  with  affairs  of  South 
Bend  and  vicinity  for  many  years  and  until 
his  labors  ended  in  death,  June  16,  1906.  In 
scope  his  labors  ascended  from  that  of  a 
route  mail  agent  to  that  of  a  retired  capital- 
ist, diverging  into  the  channels  of  politicly 
and  commercial  pursuits.  He  was  public- 
spirited,  interested  in  everything  that  would 
tend  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  commu- 
nity in  which  he  lived. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


774 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


David  Stover  was  born  in  Botetourt  coun- 
ty, Virginia,  January  19,  1816,  and  was 
there  reared  to  man's  estate  and  came  from 
there  to  Indiana  in  early  manhood.  For  a 
time  he  was  employed  by  his  brother,  Mathias, 
at  cabinet  work,  at  South  Bend,  and  later 
engaged  in  business  for  himself,  and  while 
still  a  young  man  entered  the  service  of  the 
United  States  as  mail  agent,  and  was  one  of 
the  first,  if  not  the  first,  railway  mail  agent 
between  Toledo  and  Chicago,  and  continued 
eight  years  and  then  engaged  in  marble  busi- 
ness at  South  Bend  quite  a  number  of  years ; 
then  engaged  in  tea  business  a  number  of 
years;  then  sold  to  the  Union  Tea  Company 
and  removed  to  Vistula  avenue,  where  he 
lived  retired.  He  had  been  successful  in 
business  and  after  retiring  from  commercial 
pursuits  his  time  was  well  occupied  attend- 
ing to  his  private  affairs. 

He  was  married  in  1855,  October  21,  to 
Calista  S.  Hunt,  bom  in  Eden,  Erie  county, 
New  York.  Her  father,  Eddy  Hunt,  was 
born  in  New  Jersey  and  there  reared  on  a 
farm.  When  a  young  man  he  went  to  York 
state  and  bought  a  farm  in  Eden,  and  lived 
there  a  few  years,  then  sold  and  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  in  Eden.  From  there 
he  moved  to  White  Pigeon,  Michigan, '  and 
bought  a  section  of  land  on  the  state  line, 
and  lived  some  years,  when  on  account  of 
sickness  in  the  family  he  sold  and  started  to 
return  east.  He  stopped  temporarily  in 
Hillsdale  county,  where  the  mother  of  Mr. 
Stover  died.  He  then  went  to  Monroe,  Mich- 
igan, and  died  there  a  few  years  later. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  Mrs. 
Stover  was  Margaret  Pound,  and  her  father, 
the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Stover,  John  Pound, 
was  a  native  of  Scotland,  who  on  coming  to 
America  located  first  in  New  Jersey,  and 
from  there  to  Eden,  New  York,  where  he  was 
a  pioneer  and  where  he  died.  His  wife  was 
Catherine  Sharp.  Mrs.  Stover  was  very 
young  when  her  parents  died  and  she  was 
thrown  on  her  own  resources.  She  appren- 
ticed herself  to  a  milliner,  who  taught  her 
the  commercial  as  well  as  the  manufacturing 
part  of  the  trade,  and  her  employer  soon  sent 
her  to  Toledo  to  conduct  a  store  there.  At 
that  time  Toledo  was  but  a  village  with  two 
railroads.  It  was  a  very  unhealthful  place, 
and  during  her  residence  there  she  passed 
through  two  seasons  of  cholera,  when  at 
times  there  were  not  well  ones  to  care  for 
the  sick.     It  was  while  she  lived  there  she 


met  and  married  Mr.  Stover,  who  was  many 
years  her  senior.  After  her  marriage  she 
removed  her  stock  of  goods  to  South  Bend, 
where  she  conducted  a  flourishing  business 
for  many  years. 

Mr.  Stover  was  a  life-long  Methodist,  an 
interested  worker,  and  filled  various  offices  in 
the  church.  He  was  a  Democrat  all  his  life, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  city  council  for 
many  years  and  fire  policeman,  was  acting 
mayor  some  months  in  the  absence  of  Mayor 
George,  and  for  a  time  was  an  Odd  Fellow. 

Mrs.  Stover  in  early  life  joined  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  and  has  always  been  an  ear- 
nest advocate  of  its  religious  tenets.  In  fact, 
she  has  been  active  in  all  that  tends  to  ele- 
vate humanity.  A  broad-minded  woman  who, 
while  giving  attention  to  her  personal  busi- 
ness affairs,  has  yet  found  opportunity  to 
aid  in  the  material  progress,  intellectual  de- 
velopment and  moral  advancement  of  the 
community,  realizing  that  not  alone  a  man's 
but  a  woman's  nature  should  grow  along 
those  lines.  Mrs.  Stover  is  a  woman  of  not 
alone  splendid  business  ability,  as  is  shown  by 
the  record  of  her  life,  but  of  unimpeachable 
character,  unswerving  integrity  and  honor — 
who  has  a  strong  appreciation  of  the  higher 
ethics  of  life,  and  in  her  pleasing  personality 
has  gained  and  retains  the  friendship  and 
highest  esteem  of  the  entire  community. 

Albert  H.  Cushlng.  One  of  the  straight- 
forward, energetic  and  successful  business 
men  of  South  Bend,  is  Albert  H.  Cushing. 
He  is  public  spirited  and  thoroughly  in- 
terested in  whatever  tends  to  promote  the 
moral,  intellectual  and  material  welfare  of 
the  city  of  his  birth,  for  he  is  a  native  son 
of  South  Bend,»hi8  natal  day  being  the  seventh 
of  April,  1865.  His  father,  Albert  G.  Cush- 
ing, took  up  his  abode  within  its  borders 
in  1849,  and  was  thereafter  numbered  among 
its  prominent  and  useful  citizens.  Mrs. 
Cushing  bore  the  m^idert  name  of  Martha 
Hine. 

After  completing  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  the  son,  Albert  H.  Cushing,  em- 
barked in  the  cooperage  business,  but  was 
afterward  engaged  in  the  drug  trade.  Since 
1891,  however,  he  has  been  extensively  en- 
gaged in  real-estate  operations,  in  which  he 
is  associated  with  his  father.  Few  men  are 
more  prominently  or  widely  known  in  the 
business  circles  of  South  Bend  than  these 
gentlemen,  and  their  popularity  is  well  de- 
served. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


/' 


1909 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


775 


In  1893  Mr.  Albert  Gushing  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Tutt,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  Tutt,  one  of  the  honored  old 
residents  of  St.  Joseph  county. 

W.  P.  Kelley.  The  name  of  W.  P.  Kelley 
has  been  prominently  associated  with  the 
business  interests  of  St.  Joseph  county  and 
South  Bend  for  a  number  of  years,  and  his 
whole  career  has  been  marked  by  signal  in- 
tegrity, justice  and  honor.  He  was  born  in 
Sullivan,  Sullivan  county,  Indiana,  on  the 
nineteenth  of  October,  1862,  the  son  of  James 
Kelley,  a  native  of  Ohio,  while  the  mother 
was  a  daughter  of  E.  Rockwell,  also  a  native 
of  that  state.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kelley  took  up  their  abode  in  Sullivan, 
Indiana,  where  the  father  became  well  known 
as  a  merchant,  and  his  death  there  occurred 
when  his  son  was  but  five  years  of  age.  In 
1870  the  mother  was  again  married,  after 
which  W.  P.  Kelley  went  to  Terre  Haute,  In- 
diana, and  became  a  student  in  its  public 
schools.  After  completing  his  education  he 
engaged  in  the  fire  insurance  business  in  1880, 
but  in  1893  he  removed  to  Indianapolis  and 
in  the  following  year  came  to  South  Bend, 
where  he  has  ever  since  been  engaged  in  the 
fire  insurance  business.  His  sound  judgment, 
sagacity  and  unflagging  energy  have  made 
him  a  valued  factor  of  the  department  which 
he  represents,  and  his  reputation  in  trade 
circles  has  ever  been  unassailable,  for  he  has 
exemplified  in  his  dealings  the  old  adage  that 
honesty  is  the  best  policy.  In  politics  he  is 
an  earnest  Republican,  an  active  worker  in 
the  ranks  of  his  party,  and  he  holds  the  of- 
fice of  treasurer  of  the  Republican  central 
committee. 

On  the  twelfth  of  September,  1888,  Mr.  Kel- 
ley was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ella  M. 
Mitchell,  a  daughter  of  James  Mitchell,  of 
Indianapolis.  Mr.  Kelley  holds  membership 
relations  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
Commercial  Athletic  club. 

Wn^LiAM  L.  Temple.  Mr.  Temple  is  truly 
a  self-made  man,  and  from  the  study  of  his 
life  one  may  learn  valuable  lessons.  De- 
pending upon  his  own  resources  from  the 
early  age  of  eleven  years,  he  has  by  sheer 
force  of  will  and  untiring  effort  worked  his 
way  upward  until  he  now  occupies  a  leading 
place  among  the  business  men  of  South  Bend, 
for  as  president  of  the  Temple  &  Shaw  Cigar 
Manufacturing  Company  he  is  well  and  fav- 
orably know^n.  He  traces  his  ancestry  to 
the  mother  country  of  England,  the  birth- 


place of  his  great-grandfather,  while  his 
grandfather,  Caleb  Temple,  was  a  native  of 
the  commonwealth  which  cradled  so  much  of 
our  national  history,  the  Old  Dominion  of 
Virginia.  His  son  and  the  father  of  him 
whose  name  introduces  this  review,  William 
L.  Temple,  was  a  native  of  Crawford  county, 
Indiana,  where  he  was  well  known  as  a  mer- 
.  chant  and  leading  politician,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  he  held  the  position  of 
county  clerk.  His  death  occurred  when  he 
had  reached  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Martha  Sanders, 
a  native  of  Georgia,  and  in  their  family  were 
ten  children,  nine  daughters  and  one  son. 

William  L.  Temple,  the  only  son  and  the 
youngest  child  of  the  familj^,  is  also  a  native 
of  Crawford  county,  Indiana,  where  he  was 
born  on  the  fifteenth  of  January,  1858,  and 
there  he  was  reared  and  received  his  limited 
educational  training.  At  the  early  age  of 
eleven  years  he  started  out  alone  to  battle 
with  the  world,  for  three  years  working  in 
the  county  treasurer's  office.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period  he  came  west  to  Lincoln, 
Nebraska,  where  at  the  early  age  of  fourteen 
years  he  became  guard  in  the  penitentiary,  re- 
maining there  for  two  years,  and  at  the  end 
of  that  time  he  was  serving  as  the  warden's 
private  secretary.  Returning  thence  to  Leav- 
enworth, Indiana,  he  became  deputy  clerk  of 
Crawford  county,  and  on  the  expiration  of 
his  four  years'  term  in  that  position  he  was 
elected  the  county  auditor  of  the  county,  be- 
ing then  but  twenty-one  years  of  age  and  the 
youngest  county  official  in  the  entire  state 
of  Indiana.  Despite  his  years,  however,  the 
duties  of  the  office  were  discharged  with  a 
promptness  and  fidelity  worthy  of  all  com- 
mendation for  four  years,  and  at  its  close  he 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  a  traveling  sales- 
man, thus  continuing  for  the  long  period  of 
twenty-one  years,  and  during  that  time  he 
traveled  throughout  every  state  in  the  Union 
selling  cigars.  It  was  in  the  year  1891  that 
he  came  to  South  Bend  and  organized  the 
firm  of  Temple,  Hummel  &  Ellis,  cigar  manu- 
facturers, which  later  became  Temple  &  Ellis 
and  subsequently  was  changed  to  its  present 
form  of  Temple  &  Shaw,  one  of  the  largest 
cigar  manufacturing  companies  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state,  their  manufactory  being  lo- 
cated at  301  South  Carroll  street.  They 
began  operations  with  thirty  employes,  but  as 
their  business  continued  to  grow  they  ex- 
panded their  facilities  and  now  350  competent 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


776 


HISTORY   OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


operatives  are  given  employment,  With  three 
men  on  the  road,  and  their  product  is  sent 
throughout  every  part  of  the  United  States. 

In  1879  Mr.  Temple  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Mary  Scott,  a  daughter  of  A.  M.  and 
Sarah  (Clark)  Scott,  of  Leavenworth,  Craw- 
ford county,  Indiana,  where  their  daughter 
was  born  and  reared.  To  this  union  has  been 
bom  two  children,  a  daughter  and  a  son, — 
Ethel  Loraine,  the  wife  of  Horace  T.  Rey- 
nolds, of  South  Bend,  and  William  L.,  Jr., 
attending  the  Culver  Military  academy.  Mr. 
Temple  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
Democracy,  and  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Masonic  order,  being  a  Thirty-second  degree 
Mason  and  a  Shriner.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Odd  Fellows  order  in  Leavenworth, 
Indiana,  of  the  Elks  of  South  Bend,  and  is 
a  member  of  all  the  leading  city  clubs. 

W.  B.  ScmvEPER.  Conspicuous  in  the  roll 
of  names  of  the  younger  men  who  have  been 
successful  in  the  business  circles  of  St.  Jo- 
seph county  is  that  of  W.  B.  Schaefer,  who 
is  extensively  engaged  in  the  lumber  business 
in  South  Bend.  He  was  bom  in  Pierceton, 
Indiana,  on  the  fifth  of  November,  1874.  His 
father,  William  R.  Schaefer,  was  a  native 
of  German,  but  when  a.  young  man  about 
twenty-one  years  of  age  came  to  the  United 
States  and  made  his  way  to  Indiana,  resid- 
ing in  Goshen  for  a  number  of  years  there- 
after. He  then  removed  to  Pierceton  of  that 
state  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness, but  is  now  living  retired  from  the  active 
duties  and  cares  of  life,  enjoying  the  fruits 
of  years  of  toil  in  the  past,  but  he  still  main- 
tains his  home  in  Pierceton.  His  wife  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  J.  Ruch,  and  was 
a  native  of  Ohio. 

W.  B.  Schaefer  completed  his  education  in 
the  high  school  of  Pierceton,  in  which  he 
graduated  in  1893,  and  immediately  thereafter 
he  entered  upon  a  clerkship  in  a  store  in 
Elkhart.  A  few  years  afterward  he  came  to 
South  Bend,  this  being  in  1897,  and  again 
assimaed  a  clerical  position,  with  the  Martin 
&  Page  Lumber  Company,  where  he  laid  the 
foundation  for  his. future  life  work,  for  in 
1901  he  embarked  in  the  wholesale  lumber 
business  for  himself,  with  offices  in  the  Dean 
building.  He  has  attained  a  high  degree  of 
success  in  his  business  venture,  and  is  recog- 
nized as  a  young  man  of  energy,  enterprise 
and  ambition.  His  trade  extends  over 
northern  Indiana  and  southern  Michigan  and 


is    constantly    increasing,    for    his    business 
methods  are  honorable  and  above  reproach. 

Mr.  Schaefer  is  a  member  of  the  Grace 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  of  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  of  which 
he  is  secretary  of  the  board  of  directors. 

Milton  Barmore  Pine.  Milton  B.  Pine,  oc- 
cupying an  enviable  position  with  the  Singer 
Sewing  Machine  Company  of  South  Bend,  was 
born  in  this  city  on  the  twenty-first  of  April, 
1873,  a  son  of  Leighton  Pine,  whose  sketch 
will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work.  After 
completing  his  education  in  the  schools  of 
South  Bend  Milton  B.  decided  to  enter  the 
dental  profession,  and  accordingly  spent  two 
years  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Conklin,  of  this  city. 
He  then  went  to  Chicago  and  entered  the  Chi- 
cago College  of  Dental  Surgery,  in  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1894,  but  owing  to  the  ex- 
cellent training  he  had  received  while  with 
Dr.  Conklin  within  one  year  and  a  half  after 
entering  college  he  was  granted  by  the  State 
Board  of  Dental  Examiners  a  license  to  prac- 
tice, and  he  opened  an  office  while  attending 
college.  The  Doctor  was  engaged  in  practice 
in  Chicago  until  1902,  when  he  returned  to 
South  Bend  and  in  March  of  the  following 
year  assumed  charge  of  the  works  of  the 
Singer  Sewing  Machine  Company  at  Cairo, 
Illinois,  and  South  Bend,  while  in  1904  he 
was  officially  installed  as  manager  of  the 
works  in  both  cities.  Dr.  Pine  was  not  brought 
into  this  company  by  his  father,  but  for 
several  years  they  had  repeatedly  urged  him 
to  join  them,  and  at  last  he  determined  to 
abandon  his  profession  and  accept  their  offer. 
His  excellent  business  ability  has  won  him 
a  high  position  in  this  large  corporation,  and 
South  Bend  numbers  him  among  her  promi- 
nent young  business  men. 

On  the  ninth  of  February,  1904,  Dr.  Pine 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Gamett  M. 
Hupp,  of  South  Bend.  The  Doctor  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Chicago  South  Shore  Country  club, 
the  Chicago  Automobile  club,  the  Chicago 
Athletic  club  and  the  Chicago  Yacht  club. 
He  is  an  enthusiastic  automobilist,  having 
owned  the  first  steam  car  in  Chicago  and  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Chicago  Automo- 
bile club.  A  young  man  of  vigor,  and  like 
his  father,  an  able  organizer,  he  fills  his  im- 
portant position  with  satisfaction  to  all. 

Joseph  A.  Webwinski.  Mr.  Werwinski  is 
distinctly  the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes, 
and  as  the  record  of  a  young  man  it  is  one  of 
which  he  may  well  be  proud.    He  has  gained 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


)yr\<::^^?t!^^ 


i    /       * 


GooqIc 


Digitized  by  VjOOQ 


./ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


777 


a  most  brilliant  success,  a  just  reward  of 
meritorious,  honorable  effort,  which  commands 
the  respect  and  admiration  of  all.  He  is  a 
native  son  of  South  Bend,  born  on  the  four- 
teenth of  January,  1882,  a  son  of  Michael 
and  Amelia  (Kaiser)  Werwinski,  the  former 
having  been  bom  across  the  water  in  Europe, 
while  the  latter  was  born  in  Laporte  county, 
Indiana.  When  a  young  man  the  father  came 
to  South  Bend  and  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business,  thus  continuing  until  his  death  in 
1889,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-six  years.  The 
mother  still  resides  in  South  Bend. 

Their  son  Joseph  attended  the  parochial 
schools  of  South  Bend,  also  the  normal  school 
at  Valparaiso  and  the  South  Bend  Commer- 
cial College,  remaining  in  the  last  named  in- 
stitution for  five  years,  thus  receiving  an  ex- 
cellent educational  training.  For  a  short  time 
thereafter  he  clerked  in  a  grocery  store,  and 
was  also  deputy  township  trustee  under  James 
D.  Reid  for  one  and  a  half  years,  and  then 
for  the  following'  two  years  taught  in  the 
public  schools  in  Crumstown,  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana.  He  then  secured  a  position 
with  the  real  estate  firm  of  Staley  &  Robin- 
son, with  whom  he  remained  for  three  years, 
and  on  the  first  of  January,  1905,  he  em- 
barked in  that  business  for  himself  on  Chapin 
and  Divison  streets.  His  first  venture  in  this 
business,  however,  was  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years  when  he  bought  one  acre  of  ground, 
naming  it  Werwinski,  which  he  subdivided 
and  built  upon,  making  a  success  of  this  ven- 
ture. He  is  now  handling  one  of  the  largest 
tracts  of  land  in  St.  Joseph  county,  consist- 
ing of  thirteen  hundred  and  twenty-six  lots 
belonging  to  the  Clement  Studebaker  estate, 
which  is  known  as  Summit  Place  addition  and 
is  located  south  and  west  from  the  Singer 
Manufacturing  Company.  Mr.  Werwinski  has 
practically  built  up  the  west  end,  a  remark- 
able feat  for  so  young  a  man.  Out  of  four 
hundred  and  twenty  lots  in  the  first  and 
second  additions  there  have  been  built  about 
three  hundred  houses,  while  in  the  third  addi- 
tion he  has  up  to  the  present  time  sold  over 
three  hundred  lots,  twelve  of  which  were  to  be 
used  for  a  Polish  church  and  school,  facing 
on  Ohio  street.  On  the  Summit  addition 
cement  walks  and  curbings  have  been  built. 
He  has  recently  purchased  for  a  syndicate, 
composed  of  Horace  M.  KauflPman,  himself 
and  a  few  other  local  business  men,  the  Kauff- 
man  place  addition,  consisting  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty-three  lots  in  the  most  prosperous 


part  of  the  city,  within  two  hundred  feet  of 
Michigan  avenue,  and  one  of  the  streets  is 
named  Werwinski  in  honor  of  our  subject. 
Mr.  Werwinski  is  part  owner  of  this  addition, 
and  is  also  vice-president  of  the  Kosciusko 
Building  &  Loan  Association,  one  of  the 
largest  corporations  of  its  kind  in  South  Bend. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  views, 
and  is  second  vice-president  of  the  county 
Republican  central  committee.  Fraternally 
he  affiliates  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the 
order  of  Owls  and  the  Elks,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Polish  Turners,  the  Polish  National 
Alliance  of  America  and  the  Local  Real  Es- 
tate Board.  His  is  a  remarkable  career  for  so 
young  a  man.  He  was  left  without  a  father 
when  a  mere  boy,  and  alone  and  unaided  has 
worked  his  way  upward  to  the  high  position 
he  now  occupies. 

Emanuel  R.  Wills,  of  South  Bend,  is  too 
well  known  to  the  citizens  of  this  community 
to  need  any  introduction  to  the  readers  of  this 
volimie.  He  is  a  prominent  factor  in  the  in- 
dustrial and  political  life  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  both  his  public  and  private  record 
is  one  of  which  he  has  every  reason  to  be 
proud.  The  place  of  his  nativity  was  York 
county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  born  on 
the  first  of  October,  1840,  a  son  of  Lewis 
and  Magdeline  (Fleshman)  Wills,  natives 
also  of  that  commonwealth. 

Emanuel  R.  Wills  grew  to  manhood  on  his 
father's  farm,  being  occupied  in  the  labors 
incident  to  the  clearing  and  cultivation  of  the 
homestead.  In  1865  he  came  to  South  Bend, 
and  for  a  time  thereafter  clerked  in  a  dry- 
goods  store,  while  later  he  was  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business  for  himself.  In  1882, 
without  any  solicitation  on  his  part,  he  was 
chosen  and  elected  city  treasurer,  the  duties 
of  which  he  discharged  with  promptness  and 
fidelity  worthy  of  all  commendation  for  two 
years,  and  on  the  expiration  of  that  period 
he  was  made  the  treasurer  of  St-  Joseph 
county.  At  the  following  election  he  was  re- 
turned to  that  position,  thus  showing  how 
efficiently  he  had  discharged  the  obligations 
resting  upon  him.  In  1891  Mr.  Wills  was 
elected  the  county  assessor,  and  was  as 
equally  successful  in  that  office,  while  at  the 
present  time  he  is  engaged  in  the  fire  insurance 
and  real  estate  business  in  St.  Joseph  county. 
He  has  earned  for  himself  an  enviable  repu- 
tation >a8  a  careful  man  of  business,  always 
known  for  his  prompt  and  honorable  methods 
of  dealing,  which  have  won  him  the  deserved 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


778 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


and  unbounded  confidence  of  his  fellow  men. 
In  1874  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Wills  and  Miss  Margaret  Coquillard,  she  be- 
ing a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Sophia  Co- 
quillard, of  South  Bend,  and  they  have  four 
children — ^Leo  J.,  Edmund  A.,  Florentine  M. 
and  Adele  M. 

V  George  Goetz.  The  late  George  Goetz,  a 
well  known  merchant  of  South  Bend  and  for 
years  engaged  in  the  wood  and  coal  business, 
was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  March  24, 
1844.  His  father,  Adam  Goetz,  was  a  farmer 
of  Germany,  where  he  married  Catherine 
Karle,  also  a  native  of  Baden.  They  had  one 
child  and  the  father  died  before  George  was 
born,  the  widow  coming  to  America  when  he 
was  an  infant  of  six  months.  The  m^other  and 
her  two  children  settled  in  New  York,  and 
she  was  again  married  to  Peter  Toep,  who, 
although  a  German,  was  born  under  the 
French  flag.  Mr.  Toep  had  come  to  the 
United  States  when  he  was  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  and  by  his  marriage  to  Mrs.  Adam 
Goetz  he  became  the  father  of  three  sons  and 
three  daughters:  William,  Katherine  (de- 
ceased), Henry,  Elizabeth,  Frank  and  Min- 
nie. 

In  1880  Mr.  Toep  located  with  his  family 
in  South  Bend,  and  during  the  first  year  of 
his  residence  there  was  engaged  in  the  dry 
goods  business.  Subsequently  he  was  in  the 
coal  and  wood  business,  for  a  portion  of  the 
time  with  George  Goetz,  and  still  later  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  son  Frank  in  the  jew- 
elry line.  He  died  in  1906,  highly  respected 
as  a  merchant  and  a  man. 

George  Goetz  was  married,  in  1871,  to  Miss 
Catherine  Mayer,  at  Rome,  New  York.  His 
wife  and  widow  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, December  11,  1847,  the  daughter  of 
Leonard  and  Catherine  (Miller)  Mayer,  also 
both  Bavarians.  The  father  was  a  farmer, 
and  had  a  family  of  six  children,  Mrs.  Goetz 
being  the  only  one  of  the  children  who  came 
to  America.  In  1880  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goetz 
became  residents  of  St.  Joseph  county,  the 
husband  working  for  the  first  year  there  as 
superintendent  of  the  shipping  department  of 
the  Singer  Sewing  Machine  Company.  Later 
he  engaged  in  the  coal  and  wood  business. 
In  1890  he  went  into  the  post  office  as  stamp  . 
clerk,  retired  from  active  work  in  1894  and 
died  in  1906.  Of  the  family  of  eight  sons 
and  two  daughtei^s  three  of  the  former  are 
deceased,  the  children  in  the  order  of  their 
birth  being  as  follows:     George  Peter,  Wil- 


liam (deceased),  Frank  (deceased),  Joseph, 
Minnie,  Edward,  Katherine,  Frederick,  Ar- 
thur and  John  (deceased).  The  children  were 
all  reared  and  schooled  in  South  Bend,  and 
have  proved  a  credit  to  themselves  and  their 
parents. 

In  politics  Mr.  Goetz  was  a  Democrat.  He 
was  a  faithful  and  active  member  of  St. 
Mary 's  Catholic  church,  and  in  every  relation 
of  life  a  man  of  probity  and  reliability.  His 
widow  is  now  classed  among  the  old  residents 
of  South  Bend,  and  a  substantial  factor  in 
its  best  progress. 

Gabriel  R.  Summers.  Among  the  repre- 
sentative citizens  of  St.  Joseph  county,  es- 
teemed alike  for  his  sterling  worth  of 
character  and  his  activity  in  the  business 
world  is  Gabriel  R.  Siunmers,  a  resident  of 
South  Bend.  He  was  born  in  Laporte  county, 
Indiana,  on  the  thirteenth  of  March,  1857,  a 
son  of  Edward  Summers,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred in  Ireland.  During  his  early  man- 
hood, however,  he  came  to  the  United  States, 
and  after  one  year  spent  in  Virginia  went  to 
Laporte  and  entered  the  service  of  the  Drul- 
linger  family,  one  of  the  oldest  and  best 
known  in  that  section  of  the  state.  He  after- 
wards married  Miss  Catherine  Drullinger,  and 
his  death  occurred  in  Clay  township,  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  Indiana,  in  1880,  when  he  had 
reached  the  fifty-sixth  /milestone  on  the  jour- 
ney of  life. 

Gabriel  R.  Summers  received  an  excellent 
education  at  Notre  Dame  University,  in  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1873,  and  after  leaving 
that  institution  he  lived  on  a  farm  until  he 
purchased  the  Jennings  place  adjoining  the 
old  homestead  in  1880,  which  he  still  owns 
and  operates.  In  addition  to  carrying  on  the 
work  of  the  farm  Mr.  Summers  has  also  dealt 
heavily  in  real  estate,  having  been  very  suc- 
cessful in  this  line  of  endeavor,  and  he  has 
handled  some  of  the  most  valuable  real  estate 
in  the  county,  being  the  owner  of  much  land 
at  the  present  time.  In  1895  he  organized 
the  Vanderhoof  Company,  manufacturers  of 
proprietary  medicines,  of  which  he  is  now  the 
sole  owner,  and  in  1894  he  became  president 
of  the  South  Bend  Iron  Bed  Company,  one  of 
the  most  successful  enterprises  of  its  kind 
in  this  section  of  the  state.  Thus  for  many 
years  Mr.  Summers  has  been  an  active  factor 
in  the  industrial  interests  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  through  his  diligence,  persever- 
ance and  business  ability  has  acquired  a  hand- 
some competence,  while  at  the  same  time  he 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


.^•c^ 


(^tfy^f^^y^.yytA^^r^'^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


\  Mi» 


n  » 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


779 


has  also  contributed  to  the  general  prosperity 
through  the  conduct  of  large  enterprises. 

In  1880  Mr.  Summers  was  married  to  Miss 
Mercy  Ann  Longley,  a  daughter  of  Andrew 
and  Mary  (Rupel)  Longley,  of  St.  Joseph 
county.  One  daughter  has  blessed  their  home, 
Alice,  who  was  bom  on  the  seventeenth  of 
August,  1893.  Mr.  Summers  has  fraternal 
affiliations  with  the  order  of  Elks,  the  Royal 
Arcanum,  the  Foresters  and  the  Maccabees,' 
and  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Commercial 
Athletic  club. 

John  GalluVGher.  After  a  long  and  suc- 
cessful business  career  John  Gallagher  is  now 
living  a  retired  life  in  South  Bend,  his  pleas- 
ant residence  being  located  at  319  Colfax 
avenue.  His  birth  occurred  in  the  city  of 
Burlington,  Vermont,  September  3,  1830,  but 
to  the  Emerald  Isle  must  we  turn  for  the  early 
ancestral  history  of  the  family.  His  father, 
Patrick  Gallagher,  was  born  in  Ireland,  and 
in  that  country  was  married  to  Ellen  Giblin, 
but  shortly  afterward,  in  1824,  the  young 
couple  set  sail  for  America,  journeying  first 
to  Canada,  thence  to  Burlington,  Vermont, 
and  finally  to  Canton,  Stark  county,  Ohio,  in 
1836,  where  the  husband  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life  and  died  in  1842.  The  wife  and 
mother  survived  until  eighty-nine  years  of 
age,  dying  in  Massillon,  Ohio.  They  became 
the  parents  of  six  children,  two  sons  and  four 
daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  years  of  ma- 
turity, but  only  two  are  now  living,  the 
daughter  being  Rose  Kersy,  of  Illinois. 

John  Gallagher,  the  third  child  and  second 
son  in  order  of  birth  in  the  family,  was  taken 
from  his  native  city  of  Burlington,  Vermont, 
to  Canton,  Ohio,  by  his  parents  when  only 
six  years  old,  there  attaining  to  years  of  ma- 
turity and  receiving  his  education  in  its  pub- 
lic schools.  In  1843  he  began  the  tailor's 
trade,  and  six  years  later,  in  1849,  removed 
to  Lewisville,  Ohio,  to  engage  in  that  occupa- 
tion for  himself,  while  in  1853  he  came  to 
South  Bend.  In  this  city  he  established  a 
merchant  tailoring  business,  which  he  carried 
on  successfuly  until  1904,  covering  a  period 
of  fifty-two  years,  and  thus  at  that  time  was 
the  oldest  merchant  in  South  BeAd. 

November  22,  1852,  Mr.  Gallagher  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Jemima  Vanderhoof ,  a 
native  of  Summit  county,  Ohio,  and  their 
union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  seven  children, 
but  the  only  two  now  living  are  Florence 
Decker,  of  South  Bend,  and  Charles  C,  a 
practicing  physician  of  Marietta,  Ohio.    The 

Vol.  11—12. 


wife  and  mother  has  long  since  passed  away, 
and  in  February,  1879,  Mr.  Gallagher  married 
Rachel  Rush,  whose  death  occurred  in  Sep- 
tember, 1905.  He  votes  with  the  Democratic 
party,  and  as  its  representative  served  as  one 
of  the  first  trustees  of  South  Bend. 

During  the  long. period  of  fifty  years  he 
has  been  associated  with  the  Odd  Fellows  fra- 
ternity, being  at  the  present  time  the  oldest 
member  of  South  Bend  Lodge,  No.  29,  while 
he  is  also  the  only  surviving  charter  member 
of  the  Masonic  order  of  this  city,  in  which  he 
has  attained  the  Knight  Templar  degree.  He 
has  passed  the  Psalmist's  span  of  three  score 
years  and  ten,  and  now,  as  he  journeys  down 
the  western  slope  of  life,  he  is  resting  from 
arduous  cares,  in  the  midst  of  friends  who 
esteem  him  for  his  honorable  record  and  his 
many  commendable  charajcteristics. 

ViRGiNius  NiCAR,  who  is  numbered  among 
the  leading  business  men  of  South  Bend  and 
St.  Joseph  county,  was  bom  in  Mishawaka 
on  the  first  of  November,  1841,  his  father 
being  Robert  B.  Nicar,  a  native  of  Lynch- 
burg, Virginia,  and  a  millwright  by  trade.  He 
came  to  Mishawaka,  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, in  the  thirties,  and  was  thereafter 
prominently  identified  with  the  history  of  this 
locality.  He  served  as  the  treasurer  of  St. 
Joseph  county  from  1851  until  1857,  and  in 
many  other  ways  was  identified  with  the  pub- 
lic life  of  the  county  of  his  adoption.  From 
the  date  of  his  retirement  from  the  treasurer's 
office  in  1857  until  his  death  in  1865,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-three  years,  he  was  engaged  in 
the  hardware  business.  In  his  life  he  ex- 
emplified the  beneficient  principles  of  the 
Masonic  order,  while  politically  he  was  a 
staunch  Republican  from  the  time  of  the 
organization  of  that  party  until  his  death,  and 
previous  to  that  time  was  a  Whig,  having  left 
the  south  on  account  of  his  hatred  of  slavery. 
For  his  wife  Mr.  Nicar  chose  Mary  E. 
Lewellyn,  a  native  of  Lynchburg,  Virginia, 
where  she  was  also  reared,  and  her  mother 
was  a  first  cousin  of  William  Henry  Harrison. 
Her  death  occurred  in  St.  Joseph  county  in 
1880,  aged  seventy-one  years.  In  the  family 
of  this  worthy  pioneer  couple  were  nine  chil- 
dren, all  but  two  of  whom  grew  to  years  of 
maturity. 

Virginius  Nicar,  the  youngest  of  the  family, 
remained  in  his  native  city  of  Mishawaka  until 
ten  years  of  age,  when  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  South  Bend  and  continued  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city, 


Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


780 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


also  attending  the  Hillsdale  college.  On  the 
completion  of  his  education  he  learned  the 
tinner's  trade,  and  was  thereafter  employed 
in  his  father  *s  hardware  store  until  the 
later 's  death,  when  he  assumed  the  control  of 
the  business  in  company  with  his  brother, 
Captain  Edward  Nicar  and  brother-in-law, 
Dwyght  Deming.  Mr.  Nicar  subsequently 
withdrew  from  the  firm  and  engaged  in  the 
hardware  busines  for  himself  in  this  city,  thus 
continuing  until  he  sold  his  interests  in  1875 
and  turned  his  attention  to  market  gardening 
and  general  farming,  also  becoming  purchas- 
ing egent  for  the  Birdsell  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany of  South  Bend,  having  entire  charge  of 
their  buying  for  four  years.  At  the  close  of 
that  period  he  engaged  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness, which  he  now  conducts  in  connection 
with  a  fruit  ranch  one  and  a  half  miles  south 
of  Spring  Brook,  and  which  is  one  of  the 
finest  properties  of  its  kind  .in  the  state  of 
Indiana.  It  consists  of  a  tract  of  thirty  acres, 
planted  to  many  varieties  of  fruit,  and  its 
product  has  received  more  first  premiums 
than  that  of  any  other  farm  in  the  state. 
Mr.  Nicar  is  also  connected  with  the  Indian- 
apolis, Logansport  &  South  Bend  Railroad 
Company,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the  stock- 
holders and  directors,  and  at  one  time  was 
treasurer  of  the  company. 

In  1865  Mr.  Nicar  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Mary  Taylor,  the  daughter  of  the  late' 
^  Colonel  L.  M.  Taylor,  the  founder  of  South 
Bend,  where  his  daughter  was  born  on  the 
twenty-fourth  of  May,  1844,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  its  public  schools  and  St.  Mary's 
seminary.  The  only  child  of  this  marriage 
is  a  son,  Robert  L.,  of  Seattle,  Washington. 
Mr.  Nicar  has  given  lifelong  support  to  the 
Republican  party,  always  active  in  its  work, 
and  for  five  years  served  as  the  assessor  of 
Union  township.  He  is  president  of  the  St. 
Joseph  County  Horticultural  society  and  a 
member  of  the  Grange.  Sixty-five  years  have 
passed  and  gone  since  Mr.  Nicar  became  iden- 
tified with  the  interests  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
and  fifty-five  years  of  that  time  have  been 
spent  in  South  Bend,  years  devpted  to  the 
improvement  and  upbuilding  of  its  many  in- 
terests. He  has  been  a  traveler  throughout 
his  life,  visiting  nearly  all  sections  of  the 
United  States,  and  thus  gaining  that  exten- 
sive information  which  only  travel  can 
bring. 

Earl  R.  Perrin  is  nimibered  among  the 
enterprising  young  business  men  of  St.  Jo- 


seph county.  A  community  depends  upon 
commercial  activity,  its  welfare  is  due  to  this, 
and  its  promoters  of  extensive  business  en- 
terprises may  well  be  termed  its  benefactors. 
Mr.  Perrin  was  born  in  Lena,  Illinois,  Sep- 
tember 13,  1870,  a  son  of  Noah  and  Rosannah 
(Henderson)  Perrin,  the  former  a  native  of 
Pottsdam,  New  York,  and  the  latter  of  Brock- 
ville,  Ontario.  In  1854  the  father  removed 
to  Illinois,  where  he  taught  school  and  had 
charge  of  the  construction  work  on  the  Illi- 
nois Central  Railroad.  He  later  embarked 
in  the  grain  trade,  purchasing  the  first  grain 
ever  brought  into  Lena.  A  number  of  years 
ago  he  retired  from  the  active  cares  of  a 
business  life,  and  he  now  spends  much  of  his 
time  in  traveling.  His  wife  died  in  1894,  ht 
the  age  of  sixty-four  years. 

Earl  R.  Perrin,  one  of  their  nine  children, 
three  of  whom  are  now  living,  received  his 
educational  training  in  the  public  schools  of 
Lena,  Illinois.  For  several  years  after  laying 
aside  his  text  books  he  was  engaged  in  the  ad- 
vertising business.  Since  1896  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  South  Bend,  and  during  a  year 
and  a  hali  of  the  early  period  of  his  resi- 
dence here  he  was  engaged  in  the  study  of 
law,  and  although  he  did  not  continue  in  the 
proifession  he  obtained  a  knowledge  of  its 
fundamental  principles  which  proved  useful 
to  him  in  his  subsequent  business  career.  In 
1900  he  embarked  in  the  real  estate  business, 
first  conducting  operations  in  partnership 
with  Daniel  Gise,  but  in  February,  1904,  he 
purchased  his  partner 's  interest  and  has  since 
been  alone.  He  has  contributed  much  toward 
the  development  of  his  adopted  city  and 
county.  Among  other  work  he  laid  out  and 
developed  the  Battell  Second  Park  Addition 
of  Mishawaka,  and  also  built  for  five  blocks 
a  boulevard  eighty  feet  wide,  with  beautiful 
flower  plots  at  the  intersections  of  the  streets. 
This  was  the  first  step  toward  the  long  pro- 
posed idea  of  building  a  boulevard  from 
Mishawaka  to  South  Bend.  In  South  Bend 
Mr.  Perrin  is  also  interested  in  the  Bowman 
addition  and  other  enterprises  for  the  im- 
provement of  the  city.  He  also  represents  the 
Continental  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  New 
York. 

On  the  first  of  January,  1900,  Mr.  Perrin 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mae  Humes, 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Loranna  (Tipton) 
Humes,  of  St.  Joseph  county.  Mr.  Perrin 
holds  membership  relations  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  depart- 


Digitized  by 


Google 


^ 


.'^  ./-^  - 


r^-^^^  I 


Digitized  by 


Google 


\'    i^r    <V    »J^^:vK'*rT    roi  NTV 


•      •      '    ;.  r       '      ji'  •  '.'(l  -I'ui     Its     l»»««lH'-;t'J"<    Ml     f\vS  i!^'   •('     '.  .-.I      -. 

>•  '         ,  .  ■  ■!     M"'  t'  T'ji'  tsi-v,  fi,  .\    ;«  'ii   !"•  1  <••'.'- J     ■-'';.,'-. 

'  '>      .:<■•  :•-,  1    M'.   :    i  '     !  - ,  M,  a  a  h     1    ;,..  .:.    •    .     ■»  >•    ' 

,':-•;■-'    ;  •  vi .  ■  M    .  .  ■  '">*  f»      IN-'  Mil.   t  ii'     '"■)•  '.M  r    - 

.  ■>    ;itf*.  :-.  '*".,!.:.".  \.  '•  ^^),■  K    an.l  Ji»'  ;;n  *'■ 

•  .;      r    T;  ..  \     ;..     Oi.t-  '  ,.'.       Ii.       -.'1    ;:l'     V;.   \'  :     ] 
'     -     .■'..'  ^•■■>         .)     1  ;*     »«•  s      \\  't    ..'    11"      ;». ".■,.•!     >■       -        .* 

•    .      -  [i  r.i    J  1  .  '^     t         (  ,'  i'     ]\  '   ■ ;  -'.-hI         i  I.      !    '     • 

;•  '    ■  .',    '''.    .t:,'  '   I  *;  ''       \  .r  <')'-^  i^iS  ' '^"  ' 

.'!'.<    • .  1  <  \  "  r    »■■•!''■  I ; .       '  t '»    1  /•:',.  t       A    1 1 ;  1 1  '  i  ■'  * 

•  '.    '  u'-    ''''  ;  ..  •    n       /<t;i-.  <!     1  r-  ;  i     J^       a/\'    ■      • 

«     :  r         i'  N'    •■!'  I    I  .  ]•,  ^^  !  !*     -n  '1   li"  Tr»'\'  >;    •:  ^'^  ■'>. 

■  - '  -•    :  ii^'-  *  1I-'     '•   t    .  V .  .  r  L.      Jl^s  v»  .''•    (t    ■'.      '    •      '  - 

•i:  i'f.  i-'O  !  '*u    ■!_<    i«i    •-.>',    11. r.     'I'ci   >. 

'■'^   :    '  'Wj  K..;:     i;.    r,  rr.>   ,    <..  .}     ^ii,  T    I."  > 

el"    th'  I 'It,'.      il*    v:i'"ii    ;'i^     ii'»^\    h>Tii,^    j; 

'     .  .  '         >■'.'<»!  •-.  'm.  ;i!  .i  [   'i      ;  i-;j  i!t   1    ,'    .        iK'      fn'  ^  '••    "  •'' 

'    :     ''/\    at;    v  I.'.:t.    I'l.vsv      l'    .v  ^    >.>  ;';i;    \"'*  r*^  •; ;  ^  ' 

'•'     .-'t'i'  i,>;i.l''Mt    (M    oi'<i;r>    I'' i'(L   find   «]'T"       *    ■.   .\ 

'■•I'        .         .  .       '•'  ■  .;■)  .I'M  a   •■■»;•   '.r  :h'    .  .,■  \    :•••: :  -'i    ».■   ■  - 

M".-  1;',,  :  '.li-'  !  I'll    p'-  :.<'ii  li-s    '.^  ^  ■   h    "r  ) 

;.  -       .f      .•  .         !*    .    I  -'.i^i'  to     'm.    !       -Il      f.    S  r    -■'   ,i3M.t      i.Jl-.    !,.  -NN     .-.    ■  - 

*  »      r       '-,'  •        '  '    i  tie  ]*}••<,  )|.-  (-r    |.-  '":  CI   ::     'Ji-    ;-  a!  i*  \^' 

i  >    .\'^  ''rA       't'l-'li.  *S!.:,       i'u'r-it],  Is     ill      ,    .    t' 

:       .    :'i«'  V  i: -1   !  ;j^ '»i  <  liM  ,  ''iij   i.i   K«^^^ua   \     r     t 

'*-    .'..'  .!.if;-  's  'h' ,'r    .'«M,  .     \]r  :.  .s  <'('!'t r:nut.M  hi  ;  "•  : 

.     '    -t       '  ■>;':f,i';'  i  l.r       »(  \-    ..>j<;n.;,l      ,)]'     ],\     a(1i>p;*Mi 

':■•■'■  '.^    :-  l'»,a:      ■,  ,-    >-,  '_^  V  t:  <■.',  r   o  Ii -i    \.',' •<    h«'    l..."!    '     '' 

-     I  »  '     I     .1  '      ^S-■^^,.^    '''■'  a.    ■'■'.:    \'U'(i     r'"_.i.|v      '     ,;     \    ;<ji\    \'  .T 

.->   ;•!        .   ■.'   "'.   ^'      S'.       '..,\*      i'..  Is  a*  ;a  -  i    U'.   •-•ri  .:  ^  "^   •'  •    >. 
■  ::  -'■■';    ;     -*r-!    a       i  ;  .-    v' as   tli'    /r^:    ^  -  ;•   !■'    :•""■  In-    !•    : 

'V  ■!  -    r-a  ■'.  i>.  N.  -I     aj     t     .        ''"  li  '         a     !*.ai!,  '■ 

>.•■•'■'•      .'      **  '  I   'S    V  a'-^a.    W-    Sm,  , ':;    !*».    .  ;         irj    ^',. 
'  ■  '  -           *.      '           !■'•.'■.        Nil'     ' '."'-    i;    Is     tiM,        1.     .  s,;     1     ■     » "1      '  •  — 

■  '\       •"    M  ...iii      .  a    'aal    la;  .■!*!»'   ,.      •       '  >       i    • 

1  '  -     -     '  '.'■     i    I.»    ilu  ,.•  MX  .'  r'    !,t   la"  t  !•,'    '  i>        K I    .  '^  '•••;■--••  *^ 

'      'u     ..s  (■■.■:  V    !  .-  ( ^■r  .•  --'m  j!   !•'>!  a  1  '>   M»-;,*  •  f  \  -•.■.;■;  ■ 

.    a    '       \  ■!    J-    1  ti'-  .'lu'a'  '.  V  i!  i.. 

.!)     -'.'.'mMs    ...     t',.>  o,^    .,.,.    t*.  >v,     ,.i    .1,  .iM-  \v      !■*»  ; 

*■      -    ,  ti'tif;    t^'  ,;    .«♦.■:  vasiM/     I    i:»    'i*,.:-'-!-'-'^  t.,   \,  >.      \.        .'■ 

•      '     "'h        'a    -a     v;  .i  .,    .i  .,;,■)'!;'!'      i*   a    J  '     a;  a    I    .  -a  -    a       : 

Ii';.M  •.  .      r    Si.    a      ';•'- 

-    -1.    ..>M\    ,    a.;.' a 'J"    I'.*  1»  'i  '^    !:■■  Mi'     ix',  n    ai    ,r,     r.-      ',  " '         .        : 


\ 


i-T)    Mi    ^i.   J  .        ["-v^b  I.}  '  >:•!'.    ']■  *  •  '■!  '''    . 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


L.^^ 


Digitized  by  LjOOQIC 


I 


.  -  ^^ 


II 


Digitized  by 


Google 


\ 

i"\  ■  ■ 


l^.j 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by 


Google 


iiI^^ro!:v    OF   ^T.    JO-^I^IM    (mi'XTY 


'    '••      :.'  I'     1.!.'   .r.:l''  ii'iimI   i)!-'.n'h  ni'  iJ>o 
'        \;n.i   111  Ms   fiH':,i!"' ".nIi:!)    ;u   ^^mmv.I 

.    •>:    - '  '•: 'i    ] '   1:  I,   is  .►!*  l.i.'it    •<i-..-v-..i  *■   1 

. .  '  J  M  !  '  ( »t    ,n.';!   stfK-k  w  !i'i  h   I'ti.  ,f  ';..  s 

-     .I'A.'i.  ',;.    ail.'    ttT'*?;i,i       •  •  ■   {  i:    ^f-w^c 

'     ^'     -■'  •'  \  'I  I  ->.  M    I    r.iiM»i.'-v   r^  .!•!    . 

-    :•    ' .r   t-:--    F.J  I^'t'  .li.I     '-.',:    \o- 

'■  ■      -J  '       I-:-'.      •  .     .],!-"  -     ;'•;.;     l;...^..:•a 

.     .    'i'v..!     \v*i.>  l»?N,u'.'i':   !:.ni  s\  ii' ;*  aii 

*    >'<    •  ■'      \   :ti.)ritKs  i.>  AiMt'iitM.  •»',«!  si'VIvmI 

li^'  'il;     f»i*    a     ^':  :  .1!     m     ;->arr  t'li 

•  «      W  '   ■' ;.  '».     i  >ii  tills  li-r.  ,  x't-a.:  in*  ilo- 

■    '  '        '  •  a-  l.-al    t '  i"    .  ■;*'   ')i'    ;  w  •  u.>  -a  :: 

M-   I'.'M   M.,;.'r  ,i^t  fl  a   '\'\r{\   ar/"   t'a^aa 

*  *: '     'I      '  >\\      '>•{>,    r*\'v'    -M.d    '1    lialf    i»i':'-s 

•  '!'    ""'.ilh  Hf'Ti-i,  nat'-ti.al  aM»l     h're 
:   ..    a    li.  'I,'-  "t"  h.N     >^^}]. 

!     •  -t     -    -f^    i\['\'  "    v'ttiinir    ,:i    <n'l\uaTl 

•  li',   ]* 'yr:-"  cairit'd  tjii  -iii  i'M'"i>^:vf 
.".^  r     -'       (''siMis'iiL:"     *»1'     lii>     T)'  •'"'ii't 

-    i»;    !.is  l.K  .!.     ^^)•^  five  yca's  ii,.  sui 

•!•    L'.  *,  ■'  h.-DoM.'!-  :\,r.  tl;"  F(.r*'l  Uw  )t 

*        *'■'■'.''  '  i    *  r  ■■<>'_•".   Iv";--  i^ra\  '1   1!   t'>*"fj 

^*'  <.^'  s    aiiil    .1    if'U     as    n;ih  h    h  r    th*' 

ii'*'aht  !s     Ala.f'iir'a.'iM'ii;'"    ('«  ;-.- 

•\  a^-"  fa  r  i!iri.^i  rai.  u)»;s  >>i   ^\.o  iiia-r- 

'     '  is-        »,.•-        '%s     \-    1  "\)    lit'    ■  .  ;     iiM  tS    ji: 

.!•    r-'-tmi    y'■..I'^   ^u^   u'\t)t«^<l    «.i.  .-a 

:-    U*  t'l-'  :«'il  <>ra:'-   oa^-iass,  h>\\   is 

''*'.i  ':   ais  *"Ui'-  r-'  Ins  rofMin*:  bn'-int^^^ 

s«  ►  P  ^' . 

.    .'\  v.-  iM'  ■  t*  t).'t..}'.M-    1^7",  Mi.  Im-v- 

.-.■^t  t..  M  -s  FiiT.  K    M  h'T,  wlV. 

*    ■        ".'    Wari'"!    '*'..ii^ftip.    itp^    ciath'y 

L*.'     i^.'f^      ■,  I    (s    ;.    Ja;L''.n-»-    u[' 

'r.i\    .\M!;:Tj.ia    K.       K    '■-'      MMrr. 

'     .'hi!  ...,,      ^,.,.,.'  1  ,...  ..       .1      j.loyil. 

■ .     i  '^T"' :    ./.'•la-s    ii.,     '  >  •(  >']u'>*'  I     U), 

•  •  M..'   ]'»     l"^--*;.   a-i.l    Ma'v   L..   in 

..  •  1"''  K      .M  »•-'     I5c^:'*'i     js    a    waa-fliv 

.       '     )h"    }l  'Vuh\-.:    1:-iv*.  p.  '    .'hir'-li. 

..  "  .'    .   '-  a  :''•''!  cin/rn  a.rai   j;  ..ii.  a'i»l 

•    '.•;•'   a-isl    M-    n(.:(*M*     •*     \\'>f■1^_\     p>\>- 

' "  ''  .      t -i^    bf   IS  a   ]l  'I'"'  " '  ■  !•!.  af'<{  a.i 

.    '  i  ..i"'  f'Mal  I'M  .'I  i"a  -l.^^-  o!  r^i-'  i)a'':y. 

.   *  •  •  •.    a    rii'-nr ''r  i»f   Uh-    MaN^aiii^    I'ra- 

-      ■'  •    «  \\d   Fallows   or.i.  t    f(.r  th^   »^.'st 


jl.it't     !>r    Ills    !';!*<'      .I'Ul     J.^     iNi'     •     • 

f I■a^^^ll.l;    o*  i'<ii  '    1'  axi^ 
inah    a'ul   ("-:'/.■••    \M    t   '>   a 
li  -«    na'  ,)!■.!  i;_\'    a'li*      'k     <  •'     ■■ 
'•"    ra>-   i'ait'M  \''.\       •'  ■  •"•  M    *    ' 

y.»  •!!■•-  r  '»■•:  pr. -"•  \.     1  '  ..- 
l  ><  i  .i  is   L    A.  ^>cf    :'  •      ..    ^-    -.     • 
M*   '  llr  o."     f  >    |.  ..;:  •  •    ■,         ■! 

;^:':  •-'  ..i  A.r--  ..<     ^     .      -      • 

;•  1;;  -:!.>    f'.Mi    <iMi.»i:-     "  •       ; 
iM  * «    >u-  M.rrtr  '_•   .,•:.:'    «  ■'• 
a  ssa.  >-t    rl.   A.       ;  '     *  •,-  •-• 
!'*''',        /.I:     11  ii  !v  -s    .  ;     ■ 
S  -liir"'.''      w  's     •    ,     i'"^ .    !  .      ' 

.  ari.rst    .,  .■:.),  I  •  ,     „  •     ■.■   *.. 
tini  !s»    K.     a    ■>:•-•    • 
*-'at!f-'    i    al     I  a-    ■    -a  ••. 
ih   M'  -U,.,     \r  ".,  ;  :  .  ,     •'. 

a^  i  is  :l  'H    ;);•    ^  '  ;\    *.+    ,\  .1 
Soul  r    r,.  ;a;    ')-:s  .  •  i  *  .U\-  ■ 

F.     A.     N,-};..;    -y     li.    (a:-.-'i      i.     '    -- 

(';t  .'(■  1'  '   «i   ■   1     t  *■  i^.  I  lii'X    ^'.i  \      -  .'     *    • 

its   [>.,.•.  :^>  >.'•}     ,.is,  a!U^    ...    is    I   ■ 

]Mi,  )  !".,*-y.      Wlnai  t  /  '  I,:;  .';,,. 

'•!"r.'La*«i   in    >Kr   dr'"^'  hu>:a-  - 

>*  i!'.!.     <  i.-auuali  v'  ti.    ha>  a  .<•»  -  1 

.1:'  V  '  '  M  «;s,  his  hh^!n(  ^.-      a  ^    ii 

\  oir '■•  '     iiKij     i^a.^or^•ln    I       a*"l         ••  .      . 

iiiiiiii'i-"s  hiiu  ajf  niij.-  far  s  '!).-t  r        '   <  -. 

in»'n. 

Jr.  ;**:!*♦  v.a^  ''-a*  ii'"at'.  tl  '  i  '  ..:•'  *.  »''  '  r. 
S,-'i  '\\  r  ■  .!  \i:NS  t  ;:•»■*'  .\.  .;.  \'-'-'  i  ■  t*.  '  '• 
i  ;;w:  L"  '•"' n  rba  l-.to  .},.;  .»  \r  .,  v^u'..-  n.«.aa 
is  s(j  w  li  ';'a'-.\ti  til  ^'.  ;/.>a.:  '-u:'i  }'"-i.l, 
v.!i'"i  he  u  .V  MfH-  (»t'  it  ^  '  a.M  '1^  i"M't*''iaH.s. 
hwi'  .M»^*.':i  yt'ars  ?\'r.  >,-'  ^.»'r  h.-  t"  .ii  in»aa- 
h'-rxliip  n-hitions  will)  !]i.  Iwiijhts  "1*  t'lt*  ^!a■•- 
"  !a'M-»i.  :iii('  h*s'  ]M.'.taa'l  a'aliai'.  -iis  ai'-  \\  :  h 
Tha  Di'ia'M  i-ata*  ;  la'a  iit-  -s  an  '-arr-r^t 
w-Jika'^'  ai«'l  a  ^.ilaid  ni"-  '>.  1  •*"  th»'  'I  r  i^ity 
Pr  .>t)vinivMj  a^^a»'''h  'i  \\i.'<'t)  .-'  1^  S('»'\:r»ra^ 
Ir^'  !'  *  ai^l  S"\-r-.';a!'_\ ,  -.^  d  ki  ail  Ma'  vaji-d 
r<'I.,t  a'Hs  o)  Lie  hr  is  pn;-.  i:t_-  ]\n^\  t  't  a  w  'U't  hy 

i\  A.  pMTi>,        n,.r',;,>:n^  aafn\a«ih-  l>''^l- 

tlon     Ml     ('"     IMisia*    -s    rif''l''>    ot'     S-iMl.h     IVad. 

{\  A.  I)  .Ipa  as  h  •n-.n  di  ;,:,.'  rp>p.N  t.'d  'y  ad. 
ru»r  aaaa'  .a.  ae.'ouat  wi'  th*  Ma*.  i'>s  W  K  i-» 
a^ha^v 'li,  iait  a. so  hv  Tv-w.-n  td"  la*  ':  -nor.t^-l^', 
st  r'»i(  '•; '"i  I'w  a. 'i  f  isi;u-^^  !',]'. -v  h^  has  "\*-v 
r..'i.  --d.  H.-  \\;s  ho-.n  in  Ihii'^dd-  ataiaty, 
.Nii.'l'i.jan  '••]  tia'  VTiJi  'd'  A'ilmis*.  1 -^t;-;.  a  s-  a 
(d' rT..K,.p.|  \1.  ,,;  i  <\H-d'lja  ><''»x"^  I)<'|Mh.  riaji' 
nai:V"'s  oi*  th'>  staf*'  (d'  N <■*■,•  ^'.  ri'  Tha  I'atfan' 
was    iiorn    in    Kn-'aas;*-!'.    thai    slalv.    Jnlv    1, 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


y^        /        7 


^) 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


781 


ment  commander  of  Indiana  for  the  Patri- 
archs Militant,  the  uniformed  branch  of  the 
order.  lie  also  holds  membership  in  several 
other  fraternal  societies. 

John  Beyrer,  a  prosperous  real  estate 
dealer  of  South  Bend,  is  of  that  substantial 
and  invaluable  German  stock  which  combines 
unfailing  industry  and  broad  common  sense 
with  native  shrewdness  and  business  ability. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  Fatherland,  born  No- 
vember 22,  1850,  to  Jacob  and  Barbara 
(Greiner)  Beyrer,  who  brought  him  when  an 
infant  of  six  months  to  America,  and  settled 
with  their  family  on  a  farm  in  Berrien 
county,  Michigan.  On  this  homestead  he  de- 
veloped to  manhood,  working  on  the  farm 
and  attending  the  district  schools  of  his  neigh- 
borhood, thus  assisting  his  father  and  himself 
until  he  had  reached  the  age  of  twenty-six 
year.  He  then  purchased  a  thirty-acre  farm 
in  German  township,  two  and  a  half  miles 
northwest  of  South  Bend,  married  and  there 
established  a  home  of  his  own. 

For  eight  years  after  settling  in  Gterman 
township  Mr.  Beyrer  carried  on  an  extensive 
dairy  business,  disposing  of  his  product 
mostly  in  South  Bend,  afterwards  contracting 
for  gravel  which  he  obtained  from  immense 
deposits  in  his  land.  For  five  years  he  sup- 
plied the  gravel  for  roofing  for  the  Ford  Roof- 
ing Company  of  Chicago,  has  graveled  twen- 
ty-one acres  of  roofing  for  the  Oliver  Chilled 
Plow  Works  and  nearly  as  much  for  the 
Studebaker  Brothers  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, which  are  fair  illustrations  of  the  mag- 
nitude of  the  business  which  he  conducts  in 
this  line.  In  former  years  he  devoted  some 
of  his  time  to  the  real  estate  business,  but  is 
now  devoting  his  time  to  his  roofing  business 
with  his  sons. 

On  the  eleventh  of  October,  1877,  Mr.  Bey- 
rer was  married  to  Miss  Flora  E.  Miller,  who 
was  born  in  Warren  township,  this  county, 
September  25,  1856,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
James  R.  and  Amanda  E.  (Ritter)  Miller. 
Their  four  children  were*  bom :  J.  Lloyd, 
August  11,  1878;  James  R.,  December  16, 
1881 ;  Ada,  June  10,  1886,  and  Mary  L.,  in 
December,  1890.  Mrs.  Beyrer  is  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Her  husband  is  a  good  citizen  and  man,  and 
a  warm  practical  supporter  of  worthy  pro- 
jects. Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  and  an 
active  and  influential  local  factor  of  the  party. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity and  Odd  Fellows  order  for  the  best 


part  of  his  life,  and  is  also  a  member  of  other 
fraternal  organizations.  Altogether  he  is  a 
man  and  citizen  who  is  a  credit  to  himself, 
his  nationality  and  the  community  in  which 
he  has  faithfully  labored  for  so  many  years. 

E.  A.  ScHiPPER.  Numbered  among  the 
younger  but  prominent  business  men  of  South 
Bend  is  E.  A.  Schiffer,  who  is  the  proprietor 
of  one  of  its  leading  drug  houses,  located  at 
527  East  Jefferson  street.  South  Bend  also 
claims  him  among  her  native  sons,  his  birth 
here  occurring  on  the  tenth  of  August,  1876, 
a  son  of  E.  A.  and  Augusta  (Tesmer)  Schif- 
fer, both  natives  of  Germany.  Mr.  E.  A. 
Schiffer  was  numbered  among  this  city's 
earliest  residents,  where  he  was  engaged  as  a 
florist  for  a  number  of  years,  and  his  death 
occurred  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of 
thirty-two  years.  His  widow  is  yet  living, 
and  is  now  the  wife  of  August  Kuss. 

South  Bend  has  continued  as  the  home  of 
E.  A.  Schiffer  throughout  his  entire  life,  his 
educational  training  having  been  received  in 
its  public  schools,  and  he  is  also  a  graduate  in 
pharmacy.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age  he 
engaged  in  the  drug  business  at  his  present 
stand.  Gradually  he  has  ascended  the  ladder 
of  success,  his  business  constantly  growing  in 
volume  and  importance,  and  the  city  now 
numbers  him  among  her  substantial  business 
men. 

In  1899  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Schiffer  and  Miss  Grace  May  Arris,  her  father 
having  been  the  late  John  Arris,  whose  name 
is  so  well  known  throughout  South  Bend, 
where  he  was  one  of  its  leading  politicians. 
For  eleven  years  Mr.  Schiffer  has  held  mem- 
bership relations  with  the  Knights  of  the  Mac- 
cabees, and  his  political  affiliations  are  with 
the  Democratic  party.  He  is  an  earnest 
worker  and  a  valued  member  of  the  Trinity 
Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he  is  serving  as 
trustee  and  secretary,  and  in  all  the  varied 
relations  of  life  he  is  proving  himself  a  worthy 
factor. 

C.  A.  DoLPH.  Occupying  an  enviable  posi- 
tion in  the  business  circles  of  South  Bend, 
C.  A.  Dolph  is  honored  and  respected  by  all, 
not  alone  on  account  of  the  success  he  has 
achieved,  but  also  by  reason  of  the  honorable, 
straightforward  business  policy  he  has  ever 
followed.  He  was  bom  in  Hillsdale  county, 
Michigan,  on  the  27th  of  August,  1862,  a  son 
of  Joseph  M.  and  Cordelia  (Cox)  Dolph,  both 
natives  of  the  state  of  New  York.  The  father 
was  born   in  Rochester,  that  state,  July  1, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


782 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1835,  his  parents  being  Obed  and  Electa 
(Lewis)  Dolph.  His  educational  training  was 
received  in  the  schools  of  his  native  state,  and 
during  his  boyhdod  days  he  moved  with  his 
parents  and  family  to  Ithaca,  New  York, 
where  he  resumed  his  studies.  In  1848  the 
family  home  was  established  in  Michigan,  and 
young  Joseph  engaged  in  cabinet-making  and 
the  undertaking  business,  and  his  efforts  have 
ever  since  been  directed  along  that  line.  In 
1892  he  came  to  South  Bend  to  join  his  son  in 
the  furniture  business.  On  the  24th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1864,  Mr.  Dolph  enlisted  for  service 
in  the  Civil  war,  becoming  a  member  of  the 
second  company  of  Sharpshooters  attached  to 
the  Twenty-seventh  Michigan  infantry.  He 
participated  in  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness 
and  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  in  the  latter 
of  which  he  was  wounded  and  was  discharged 
on  the  18th  of  August,  1865.  He  now  makes 
his  home  in  South  Bend,  and  is  a  member  of 
Auten  Post,  No.  8,  G.  A.  R.,  in  which  he  main- 
tains  pleasant  relations  with  his  old  army 
comrades. 

Charles  A.  Dolph  came  to  South  Bend  in 
1892  and  organized  the  extensive  furniture 
business  of  which  he  is  now  the  proprietor. 
In  1903  he  assisted  in  organizing  the  South 
Bend  Brick  Company  and  he  is  the  treasurer 
of  the  company  and  also  a  director.  This  com- 
pany turns  out  over  ten  million  brick  a  year 
and  is  an  industry  of  importance  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state.  He  is  a  director  and  vice- 
president  of  the  Merchants  National  bank,  and 
is  a  director  and  one  of  the  original  incor- 
porators of  the  Home  Improvement  Company, 
which  made  Navarre  Place  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  home  sights  in  the  state  of  Indiana. 
In  1882  Mr.  Dolph  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Jennie  Snyder,  a  daughter  of  Philip 
and  Betsey  (Snider)  Snyder.  One  son,  Frank, 
has  been  bom  to  this  union,  a  promising 
young  man  now  serving  as  assistant  in  his 
father's  business.  Another  son,  Bertie,  died 
in  1894,  at  the  age  of  nine  years.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  Mr.  Dolph  also  has  membership 
relations  with  the  Commercial  Athletic  club. 

W.  R.  Philups.  In  the  business  circles  of 
South  Bend  Mr.  W.  R.  Phillips  has  become 
an  important  factor  through  his  connection 
with  the  coal  and  wood  trade,  and  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Kanouse  &  Phillips  he  is 
well  known  in  its  industrial  interests.  His 
birth  ocurred  in  Center  township  of  St.  Jo- 
seph county  April  29, 1859,  a  son  of  Randolph 


Phillips,  who  claimed  Virginia  as  the  common- 
wealth of  his  nativity,  and  he  was  there  reared 
to  years  of  maturity.  He  was  also  married 
to  one  of  its  native  daughters,  Lucy  Ann 
Storer,  and  they  became  early  settlers  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  and  the  parents  of 
four  sons,  one  of  whom  died  when  young. 

W.  R.  Phillips,  the  youngest  in  order  of 
birth  of  the  four  sons,  attained  to  years  of 
maturity  in  his  native  township  of  Center, 
attending  its  public  schools  during  his  early 
boyhood  days,  and  after  reaching  a  suitable 
ag6  engaged  in  the  tilling  of  the  soil.  For 
some  time  he  was  also  employed  as  a  house 
painter,  and  in  1888  he  embarked  in  the  coal 
and  wood  business  in  company  with  Mr.  Ka- 
nouse, this  business  relationship  continuing  to 
the  present  time.  They  conduct  both  a  whole- 
sale and  retail  trade,  with  offices  at  540  South 
Chapen  street,  and  they  are  among  the  lead- 
ers in  their  line  in  South  Bend,  and  are  num- 
bered among  the  city's  valued  and  useful  resi- 
dents. 

In  Paris,  Illinois,  in  1885,  Mr.  Phillips  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Rosella  Green,  who  died 
leaving  one  son,  Ralph,  a  resident  of  Pitts- 
burg, Pennsylvania.  In  1900,  Mr.  Phillips 
wedded  Anna  Clingman,  and  their  only  child, 
Helen,  is  now  six  years  of  age.  Mr.  Phillips 
has  been  a  lifelong  resident  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  since  age  conferred  upon  him  the 
right  of  franchise  he  has  supported  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Democratic  party.  He  has  earned 
for  himself  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  man 
of  business,  and  his  honorable  methods  of 
dealing  haye  won  him  the  unbounded  confi- 
dence of  his  fellow  citizens. 

J.  E.  Williams  is  a  worthy  representative 
of  the  business  interests  of  South  Bend*,  and 
possesses  that  progressive  spirit  which,  un- 
deterred by  seeming  obstacles  or  disadvan- 
tages, steadily  presses  forward  to  a  desired 
end  and  accomplishes  the  result  in  view. 
Throughout  his  entire  life  he  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  St.  Joseph  county,  his  birth  having 
occurred  within  its  borders  in  North  Liberty 
on  the  11th  of  August,  ^1852.  The  paternal 
family  has  long  been  established  in  the  United 
States,  and  is  traced  back  to  Thomas  Will- 
iams, who  came  from  the  mother  country  of 
England  in  1777  and  planted  the  family  home 
on  American  shores.  He  was  of  Welsh 
descent.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
George  Williams,  was  bom  in  Harpswell, 
Maine,  August  3,  1777,  and  was  married  to 
Mabel    Litchfield,    of    South   Lewiston,    that 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


/• 


^xlt,  L*n«x  and  fildaa  / 


Digitized  by 


Google 


'ji^.o.^  Rcf-N;::!^-^^ 


GooqIc 


Digitized  by  VjOOQ 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


783 


state.  Their  son,  Sumner  6.  Williams,  was 
bom  in  Durham,  Maine,  December  20,  1813, 
and  as  early  as  1836  he  came  to  Indiana, 
locating  in  North  Liberty,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged as  a  farmer  and  carpei^ter  until  he 
retired  from  the  active  duties  of  a  business 
life  and  established  his  home  in  South  Bend 
in  1874.  His  death  occurred  on  the  23d  of 
April,  1894.  In  his  early  manhood  Mr.  Wil- 
liams married  Ann  Wood,  who  was  born  on 
Staten  Island,  New  York,  of  French  descent. 
She  was  in  her  eighty-fourth  year  when  death 
claimed  her,  and  had  been  the  mother  of 
twelve  children,  only  three  of  whom  are  now 
living:  W.  S.,  who  is  now  engaged  in  busi- 
ness with  his  brother  J.  E.,  and  Mabel,  the 
wife  <rf  Jacob  Reamer,  of  South  Bend. 

J.  E.  Williams  remained  on  the  home  farm 
in  St.  Joseph  county  until  he  came  to  South 
Bend  in  1874,  purchasing  the  grocery  store  of 
J.  W.  Buflfman,  the  business  being  carried  on 
under  the  firm  name  of  Reamer  &  Williams 
until  Mr.  Williams  purchased  his  partner's 
interest  in  1888.  Remaining  alone  from  that 
time  until  1897,  his  brother,  W.  S.  Williams, 
then  became  a  member  of  the  firm,  which  is 
now  known  as  Williams  &  Brother.  South 
Bend  has  long  placed  this  institution  at  the 
forefront  of  her  business  interests,  and  the 
house  enjoys  a  large  and  representative  trade. 

In  1877  Mr.  Williams  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Anna,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Col. 
Norman  Eddy,  of  South  Bend,  and  they  have 
three  children,  Owen,  of  Mishawaka ;  Eugene, 
at  home;  and  Bertha,  the  wife  of  Harold 
E.  Herr,  of  South  Bend.  To  Mr.  Williams 
belongs  the  honor  of  being  the  second  oldest 
grocery  merchant  in  point  of  years  of  con- 
tinuous service  in  South  Bend,  his  connec- 
tion with  the  trade  continuing  during  the 
long  period  of  thirty-four  years,  while  during 
that  time  there  has  been  no  shadow  of  wrong 
or  injustice  to  mar  his  career.  At  one  time 
he  represented  the  third  ward  in  the  city 
council,  and  for  one  term  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council,  the  cause  of  education 
ever  finding  in  him  a  warm  friend.  His  fra- 
ternal relations  are  with  the  Masonic  order. 
Having  spent  his  entire  life  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  Mr.  Williams  is  very  widely  known, 
and  his  extensive  circle  of  friends  and  the 
warm  regard  in  which  he  is  held  indicate  his 
upright  and  honorable  life. 

Jacob  P.  T.  Kirsch.  For  many  years  Mr. 
Kirsch  has  occupied  a  very  conspicuous  place 
among  the   leading  business  men  of   South 


Bend.  As  the  manager  of  the  South  Bend 
Mercantile  Company,  he  is  prominently  con- 
nected with  its  commercial  interests,  and 
through  the  channels  of  trade  has  contributed 
not  alone  to  his  individual  prosperity  but 
to  the  welfare  of  others  as  well.  His  birth 
occurred  in  Priedheim,  Adams  county,  In- 
diana, July  10,  1869.  His  father,  Charles 
Kirsch,  was  a  native  son  of  the  fatherland, 
bom  in  Baden,  Germany,  but  when  eighteen 
years  of  age  he  came  to  Ainerica.  In  Indiana 
he  was  married  to  Margaret  Kiefer,  who  was 
bom  in  Adams  county,  that  state,  of  German 
descent.  They  became  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  seven  of  whom  grew  to  years  of 
maturity. 

Jacob  P.  T.  Kirsch,  the  sixth  child  and 
second  son  in  order  of  birth,  spent  the  early 
years  of  his  life  in  his  native  place,  receiving 
his  higher  education  in  Addison  Seminary, 
of  Addison,  Illinois,  where  for  five  years  he 
pursued  the  teacher's  course.  Thus  with  this 
excellent  educational  training  to  serve  as  the 
foundation  for  his  future  life  work  he  entered 
the  teacher's  profession,  spending  about  two 
years  in  Pekin,  Illinois,  and  about  seven 
years  in  South  Bend,  he  having  taken  up  his 
abode  in  this  city  in  1880.  About  1887  he 
abandoned  the  professional  for  a  business 
career,  embarking  in  the  general  mercantile 
order  and  advertising  business,  and  on  the 
19th  of  June,  1906,  he  organized  the  South 
Bend  Mercantile  Company,  of  which  he  was 
made  the  secretary  and  manager.  The  com- 
pany sells  all  kinds  of  merchandise  by  mail. 
By  his  able  management  of  finances,  Mr. 
Kirsch  has  succeeded  in  placing  it  upon  a 
substantial  and  paying  basis,  and  is  making 
it  one  of  the  leading  mercantile  interests  of 
the  city.  He  is  also  the  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  South  Bend  Advertising  Agency. 

Mr.  Kirsch  was  first  married  to  Anna 
Knoll,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Hulda, 
while  by  his  second  marriage,  to  Lizetta  Hans, 
he  has  become  the  father  of  four  children, 
Renata,  Oswald,  Genevieve  and  Aletha.  Mr. 
Kirsch  is  an  active  and  valued  member  of 
St.  Paul's  Evangelical  Lutheran  church,  in 
which  he  is  completing  his  third  term  of 
three  years  as  one  of  its  deacons,  and  for 
seven  years  he  has  also  served  as  a  teacher 
in  its  parochial  school.  In  this  city,  where 
they  have  so  long  been  citizens,  the  family 
are  held  in  the  highest  regard  by  their  in- 
numerable friends. 

Hilton  Hammond.     The  name  of  Hilton 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


784 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Hammond  occupies  a  high  place  in  the  busi- 
ness circles  of  St.  Joseph  county,  being  well 
known  in  connection  with  contracting  and 
real  estate,  and  the  success  he  has  achieved 
is  the  result  of  enterprise  and  his  own  un- 
aided efforts.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  m 
Bartholomew  county,  Indiana,  near  Colum- 
bus, October  1,  1860,  his  father  being  Joseph 
Hammond  and  a  native  of  Switzerland  coun- 
ty of  this  state,  but  was  reared  in  Cincinnati. 
In  1863  he  moved  west  to  Hastings,  Minne- 
sota, where  he  continued  his  occupation  of 
contracting,  for  he  too  was  well  known  as 
a  contractor  and  builder,  and  his  death  oc- 
curred in  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  January  1, 
1893,  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  seventy- 
three  years.  lie  was  of  English  descent,  as 
was  also  his  wife,  nee  Minerva  Hilton,  a  na- 
tive of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  she  was 
reared  and  educated.  Her  father,  John  Hil- 
ton, taught  the  first  public  school  in  that  city, 
continuing  in  the  profession  for  forty  years, 
and  his  labors  were  effective  in  raising  the 
standard  of  the  schools  with  which  he  was 
connected.  During  the  Civil  war  he  served 
as  scout  for  General  Harrison.  Mrs.  Ham- 
mond passed  away  in  death  in  1892,  aged 
sixty-eight  years,  the  mother  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, seven  of  whom  grew  to  years  of  ma- 
turity. 

Hilton  Hammond,  the  sixth  child  and  fifth 
son  in  order  of  birth,  began  in  the  contracting 
business  with  his  father  when  only  thirteen 
years  of  age,  and  two  years  later,  at  the 
early  age  of  fifteen,  he  started  out  in  the 
world  to  battle  for  himself,  traveling  over 
the  country  as  a  journeyman  until  his  ar- 
rival in  South  Bend  in  1888,  coming  hither 
from  Chicago  and  associating  himself  with 
the  well  known  contractor,  Mr.  Werst.  Sev- 
ering his  connection  with  that  gentleman  six 
years  later,  he  entered  the  contracting  field 
for  himself,  and  many  of  the  finest  buildings 
which  now  adorn  St.  Joseph  county  stand  as 
monuments  to  his  ability,  among  which  may 
be  mentioned  the  Jefferson  building,  several 
of  the  Singer  manufacturing  buildings,  the 
Masonic  Temple,  Places  Hall  on  Lafayette 
street,  and  he  now  has  in  course  of  construc- 
tion the  Y.  W.  C.  A.  building.  Mr.  Ham- 
mond is  also  extensively  interested  in  real 
estate  in  St.  Joseph  county,  where  he  owns 
and  handles  much  valuable  property.  He 
today  ranks  among  the  leading  men  of 
finance  in  his  adopted  county,  and  although 
a  young  man   his  creditable   life   work   has 


won  him  the  respect  and  commendation  of  all 
who  are  familiar  with  his  history. 

In  1884  Mr.  Hammond  was  married  to 
Reese  Bailey,  the  daughter  of  Elisha  Bailey, 
and  their  only  child  is  a  daughter,  Edith,  the 
wife  of  A.  C.  Mecklenburg,  a  manufacturer 
of  gasoline  engines  in  South  Bend.  Mr.  Ham- 
mond is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  having  reached  the  Knight  Templar 
degree,  and  in  his  political  affiliations  he  up- 
holds the  principles  of  the  Democracy. 

Fred  T.  Kemble  may  well  be  termed  one 
of  the  representative  business  men  of  South 
Bend,  as  well  as  one  of  its  most  highly  re- 
spected and  esteemed  citizens.  He  is  an  hon- 
ored veteran  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  and 
his  bravery  aided  in  no  small  way  the  cause 
for  which  he  victoriously  fought.  He  was 
born  in  Burlington  county.  New  Jersey,  De- 
cember 13,  1843.  His  father,  John  Kemble, 
also  a  native  of  that  commonwealth,  became 
a  resident  of  South  Bend  on  the  3d  of  June, 
1853,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  saw-mill- 
ing and  the  distillery  business.  He  was  quite 
an  old  man  at  the  time  he  established  his 
home  in  this  city,  and  he  was  the  father  of 
twelve  children,  of  whom  his  son  Fred  was 
the  youngest  in  order  of  birth  and  was  nine 
years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  father 
to  South  Bend.  In  1861  he  offered  his  service 
to  his  country's  cause,  enlisting  in  Company 
E,  Forty-eighth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  after  three  years  of  service  re-enlisted 
in  the  same  company  and  regiment  and  was 
mustered  out  as  first  duty  sergeant  on  the 
17th  of  July,  1865,  his  military  career  having 
covered  a  period  of  four  years.  During  that 
time  he  participated  in  many  of  the  historic 
battles  of  the  war,  including  those  of  Corinth, 
Raymond,  Jackson,  Champion  Hill,  siege  of 
Vicksburg,  the  Atlanta  campaign  and  the 
march  of  Sherman  to  the  sea  and  finally  took 
part  in  the  grand  review  at  Washington.  Al- 
though often  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight  he 
was  never  wounded  or  in  the  hospital,  and  his 
military  career  is  one  of  which  he  may  justly 
be  proud. 

Arriving  at  fcis  home  on  the  25th  of  July, 
1865,  Mr.  Kemble  began  at  once  to  learn  the 
mason's  trade,  which  he  has  mastered  in 
every  detail,  and  in  1869  he  began  contract- 
ing in  masonry  work.  Gradually  he  has 
forged  to  the  front  in  his  chosen  line  of 
endeavor,  and  has  long  been  recognized  amon^ 
the  leading  mason  contractors  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  many  of  its  large  buildings  being  the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


THE 


IQutJ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


785 


result  of  his  handiwork,  including  the  city 
library  and  the  county  jail  and  many  of  the 
residences  of   South  Bend. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Kemble  was  cele- 
brated in  1866,  when  Anna  Matlock  became 
his  wife,  and  after  her  death  he  married 
Dr.  Lorena  Duch  in  1873.  She  was  born  near 
Akron,  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  November  29, 
1848,  and  when  but  five  years  old  was  brought 
by  her  parents  to  South  Bend,  where  she 
received  her  literary  education,  and  her  med- 
ical training  was  received  under  the  precep- 
torship  of  Dr.  William  Buchel.  In  1876  she 
entered  upon  the  active  practice  of  her  chos- 
en profession,  which  she  has  continued  during 
the  long  period  of  thirty  years  in  South  Bend, 
where  she  has  become  widely  known  both  pro- 
fessionally and  socially  and  is  enjoying  a 
large  and  representative  practice.  She  speaks 
several  languages,  including' the  Polish,  Hun- 
garian, German,  French  and  English.  Mr. 
Kemble  is  a  member  of  Auten  Post  No.  8, 
G.  A.  R.,  in  which  he  has  filled  all  the  chairs 
with  the  exception  of  that  of  commander.  He 
is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  afl&liations,  and 
during  Cleveland's  administration  served  as 
a  mail  carrier  in  South  Bend. 

David  A.  Westbury.  One  of  the  leading 
citizens  and  influential  business  men  of  South 
Bend,  Mr.  Westbury  has  for  a  number  of 
years  been  an  active  factor  in  its  industrial 
circles  as  a  representative  of  the  plumbing 
and  heating  business.  He  was  born  in  Ro- 
chester, New  York,  August  12,  1854,  a  son 
of  James  and  Anna  (Carter)  Westbury,  the 
former  a  native  of  Scotland  and  the  latter 
of  the  north  of  England.  The  Westbury  fam- 
ily came  to  America  in  1827,  and  James 
Westbury  was  an  expert  in  the  mixing  of 
glass  and  also  as  a  shoemaker.  In  1855,  with 
his  family,  he  emigrated  to  Iowa,  locating  on 
a  farm  near  Cedar  Palls,  where  they  con- 
tinued to  reside  for  about  nine  years,  when 
they  sold  their  possessions  there  and  returned 
to  Rochester,  New  York.  There  Mr.  West- 
bury passed  away  in  death  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-nine years,  his  wife  having  preceded  him 
to  the  home  beyond,  dying  when  fifty-nine 
years  of  age.  They  were  the  parents  of  six 
children,  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Their  son  David  was  the  eldest  child  in 
order  of  birth,  and  he  spent  nine  years  of 
his  early  life  in  Iowa,  returning  to  his  na- 
tive city  of  Rochester  when  a  lad  of  ten 
years.  When  fifteen  years  of  age  he  began 
learning  the  plumber's  trade,  serving  a  three 


years'  apprenticeship,  during  which  time  he 
received  fifty  dollars  in  money  and  his  clothes 
for  his  first  year's  work,  boarding  at  home, 
and  the  third  year  he  was  advanced  to  sev- 
enty-five dollars.  During  a  year  and  a  half 
at  the  close  of  his  apprenticeship  he  worked 
as  a  jobber  in  Rochester,  and  then,  abandon- 
ing his  trade,  spent  nine  years  on  the  stage 
in  concert  work  with  many  noted  companies, 
namely :  The  John  T.  Raymond,  Prank  Mayo 
and  Abbie  &  Schofield  at  Buffalo;  Norcross 
&  Nixon  Minstrels  at  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania; spent  one  season  with  Joe  Murphy 
and  Latta,  and  was  also  with  Mary  Anderson, 
Adeline  Neilson,  Charlotte  Cushman,  Law- 
rence Barrett,  E.  L.  Davenport,  Thomas  Sal- 
vina,  Janauschek  and  other  companies.  He 
won  for  himself  widespread  fame  as  an  artist 
of  great  ability,  but  returning  to  Rochester 
at  the  close  of  his  nine  years  on  the  stage, 
he  resumed  his  old  trade  of  plumbing,  and 
for  seven  months  continued  that  occupation 
in  his  native  city.  At  this  time  Mr.  West- 
bury received  an  offer  to  assume  charge  of 
the  American  Heating  &  Plumbing  Company 
at  Winnipeg,  Manitoba,  which  he  accepted 
and  remained  there  until  December  of  1884, 
when  he  removed  to  Chicago,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1885  came  to  South  Bend  to  install 
the  heating  plant  at  the  Oliver  Opera 
House.  After  completing  the  work,  he 
went  to  New  Orleans  and  other  parts  of  the 
country  in  the  interests  of  the  heating  trade, 
and  finally  accepted  a  position  with  E.  P. 
Bates,  of  Syracuse,  New  York,  taking  charge 
of  all  his  western  work,  and  making  his  head- 
quarters at  Chicago.  His  interests,  however, 
were  centered  in  many  of  the  leading  western 
cities,  including  St.  Louis,  St.  Paul  and  Min- 
neapolis. Returning  to  South  Bend  in  June, 
1887,  Mr.  Westbury  put  in  the  heating  works 
at  the  Oliver  plant,  and  afterward  installed 
heating  plants  for  the  Studebakers,  the  Bird- 
sells,  the  Wilson  Brothers  shirt  factory,  the 
Colfax  Manufacturing  Company,  St.  Mary's 
Academy,  thence  returned  to  the  new  plants 
of  the  Olivers  and  the  Studebakers  and  also 
cleared  up  all  the  work  for  E.  P.  Bates.  In 
1894  he  engaged  in  business  with  Mr.  Blair, 
this  partnership  continuing  until  1901,  when 
Mr.  Westbury  purchased  his  partner's  inter- 
est, and  has  since  carried  on  his  vast  and 
important  business  alone.  His  relations,  Jiow- 
ever,  in  this  city  are  many  and  varied,  for 
he  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  South  Bend 
Mercantile   Association,   ex-president   of   the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


786 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


South  Bend  Business  Men's  Association,  of 
which  he  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  direc- 
tors, and  is  one  of  the  city's  leading  business 
men. 

In  1882  Mr.  Westbury  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Lucy  Convery,  and  they  had  one  son, 
John  D.,  now  a  resident  of  Pana,  Illinois. 
For  his  second  wife  he  chose  Ella  Holtorf, 
their  marriage  having  been  celebrated  in 
1893.  Mr.  Westbury  has  fraternal  relations 
with  the  Masonic  order  and  the  Elks  of  South 
Bend,  and  is  a  valued  worker  in  the  ranks 
of  the  Republican  party. 

F.  M.  CiiiMERMAN  for  a  number  of  years 
has  been  prominently  identified  with  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  in 
that  time  has  become  recognized  as  one  of  its 
most  valued  and  useful  citizens.  Connected 
with  real  estate  operations,  he  is  well  known 
in  South  Bend.  He  was  bom  in  Logansport, 
Indiana,  January  13,  1866,  a  son  of  Peter 
and  Mary  (Shiers)  Cimmerman.  The  mother 
claimed  Ohio  as  the  state  of  her  nativity, 
while  the  father  was  bom  in  Maryland,  just 
one  year  after  the  arrival  of  his  parents  in 
the  United  States  from  Germany.  He  con- 
tinued a  resident  of  the  Buckeye  state  until 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  when  he  en- 
listed for  the  struggle  in  the  Ninety-third 
Ohio  Volunteers  and  served  during  the  entire 
campaign.  His  military  career  was  one  which 
will  ever  redound  to  his  honor  as  a  loyal  and 
devoted  son  of  the  republic  and  as  one  whose 
courage  was  that  of  his  convictions.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  he  removed  to  Logans- 
port,  Indiana,  which  continued  as  the  family 
home  until  1876,  when  a  removal  was  made 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  and  here  the  father  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits. 

There  the  early  part  of  Mr.  Cimmerman 's 
life  was  spent  on  the  farm.  At  the  age  of 
thirteen  he  left  the  farm  and  was  engaged 
in  various  kinds  of  work,  from  a  section  hand 
on  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad  to  that  of 
a  grocery  clerk,  that  he  might  educate  him- 
self. In  March,  1884,  he  came  to  South  Bend, 
where  for  the  following  thirteen  years  he 
served  in  a  clerical  capacity  for  the  A.  C. 
Kern  Dry  Goods  Company,  while  for  the  fol- 
lowing seven  years  he  was  with  the  Livings- 
ton Clothing  Company.  Thus  for  many  years 
he  has  been  an  active  worker  in  the  mercan- 
tile interests  of  South  Bend,  and  through  his 
diligence,  perseverance  and  business  ability 
was  enabled  to  enter  into  trade  relations  for 
himself,  and  since  1904  has  been  numbered 


among  the  leading  real  estate  dealers  of  St. 
Joseph  county.  An  ardent  advocate  of  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party,  it  was 
in  but  natural  sequence  that  he  should  be- 
come an  active  worker  in  the  cause  and  one 
of  the  leaders  in  political  work.  In  January, 
1906,  he  was  elected  chairman  of  the  Repub- 
lican central  committee. 

In  1889  Mr.  Cimmerman  married  Miss 
Jessie,  a  daughter  of  David  Card,  one  of  the 
honored  early  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
and  one  daughter  has  blessed  this  union,  Lu- 
cille, who  was  bom  on  the  9th  of  September, 
1891.  In  his  fraternal  relations  Mr.  Cim- 
merman is  a  member  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  Protective  Or- 
der of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  Mr.  Cimmerman 
also  holds  the  very  responsible  position  of 
assistant  postmaster. 

Joseph  ScHMuyr.  The  name  of  Joseph 
Schmidt  is  deeply  engraved  on  the  pages  of 
South  Bend's  industrial  history,  for  through 
many  years  he  has  been  a  prominent  con- 
tractor in  cut  stone,  and  "many  of  the  noted 
buildings  of  northern  Indiana  and  southern 
Michigan  stand  as  monuments  to  his  ability. 
With  a  mind  capable  of  planning,  he  has 
combined  a  will  strong  enough  to  execute  his 
well  formulated  purposes,  and  his  great  ener- 
gy, keen  discrimination  and  perseverance 
have  resulted  in  placing  him  among  the  lead- 
ing business  men  of  the  community. 

Mr.  Schmidt's  birth  occurred  in  Grermany 
on  the  22d  of  March,  1864,  and  he  remained 
in  his  native  land  until  eighteen  years  of  age, 
attending  its  public  schools  until  his  four- 
teenth year  and  serving  his  time  as  an  ap- 
prentice to  the  stone  cutter's  trade.  Crossing 
the  ocean  to  the  United  States,  he  located  at 
Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  began  working  by 
the  day,  but  steadily  he  worked  his  way  up- 
ward, overcoming  many  difficulties  and  ob- 
stacles in  his  path,  until  he  became  a  well 
known  contractor  of  cut  stone  in  that  city. 
After  a  residence  there  of  eighteen  years  he 
came  to  South  Bend  and  resumed  operations 
as  a  contractor,  and  among  the  buildings 
which  are  the  result  of  his  handiwork  may  be 
mentioned  the  city  hall,  the  Perley,  Oliver, 
grammar,  Studebaker  and  Mussell  schools,  the 
Elks  and  Masonic  temples,  and  he  now  has  un- 
der construction  the  cut  stone  work  for  the  Y. 
M.  C.  A.  building,  the  Studebaker  office  build- 
ing and  the  First  National  Bank  building  of 
Gary,  Indiana,  an  all-stone  front  building, 
also  the  Mix  residence,  city  hall  and  school 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


T^-lE 


>. 


/■•      N^.  '.  ^'0^'K      \\ 


PU^L'-. 


^-^=?Y 


\ 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


HISTORY   OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


787 


building  of  Mishawaka,  the  Huntington  li- 
brary at  Huntington,  Indiana,  the  library  at 
(Joshen,  the  library  building  at  Port  Huron, 
Michigan,  a  church  at  Plymouth,  the  First 
Congregational  church  and  Elks  Temple  at 
Elkhart,  the  Plymouth  State  Bank,  and  a 
church  in  Troy,  Ohio,  which  is  built  entirely 
of  stone,  as  is  also  the  Elkhart  church,  and 
many  other  public  buildings  and  private  resi- 
dences. He  furnishes  constant  employment 
to  twenty  men,  all  of  whom  are  skilled  arti- 
sans in  their  calling  and  are  paid  the  highest 
wages.  His  business  methods  have  ever  been 
in  strict  conformity  with  the  ethics  of  com- 
mercial life,  and  he  has  long  been  accounted 
one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  St.  Joseph 
county. 

In  1896  Mr.  Schmidt  married  Etta 
Schwank,  and  their  two  children  are  Richard 
and  Lawrence.  He  gives  his  political  sup- 
port to  the  Democracy,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Elks  and  Turners  fraternities. 

Harry  L.  Yebrick,  the  leading  undertaker 
of  South  Bend,  was  bom  in  Springfield  town- 
ship, Simimit  county,  Ohio,  five  miles  from 
Akron,  April  2,  1872.  His  father,  Benjamin 
F.  Yerrick,  also  claimed  Summit  county  as 
the  place  of  his  nativity,  and  he  was  there 
reared  and  married.  When  about  five  years 
of  age  Harry  L.  Yerrick  accompanied  his  par- 
ents on  their  removal  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,  their  first  home  being  in  Walkerton, 
where  the  son  remained  until  seventeen  years 
of  age.  In  February,  1889,  he  became  a  citi- 
zen of  South  Bend,  spending  his  first  seven 
years  in  this  city  in  the  special  order  depart- 
ment of  the  toy  works.  In  January,  1897, 
he  took  up  the  work  of  an  undertaker,  con- 
tinuing with  some  of  the  leading  firms  of  the 
city  until  1904,  when  he  embarked  in  the 
business  for  himself.  In  the  meantime  he 
had  pursued  a  two  months  *  business  course  at 
Indianapolis,  Indiana,  and  in  1889  secured 
his  license  as  an  undertaker  from  the  state 
board  of  health  and  the  State  Board  of  Em- 
balmers.  He  is  now  the  only  undertaker  in 
the  city  who  owns  his  own  stable  and  fur- 
nishes his  own  horses  and  carriages,  owning 
six  splendid  turnouts.  The  success  which  has 
attended  his  eflForts  is  but  a  merited  reward, 
for  in  him  are  embraced  the  characteristics 
of  an  unbending  integrity,  unabating  energy 
and  industry  that  never  flaggs.  He  is  public 
.spirited  and  thoroughly  interested  in  what- 
ever tends  to  promote  the  moral,  intellectual 
and  material  welfare  of  the  city  in   which 


he  has  so  long  made  his  home,  and  he  is  rap- 
idly winning  for  himself  a  place  among  its 
most  valued  citizens. 

In  1895  Mr.  Yerrick  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Ada  A.  Hood,  the  daughter  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  L.  E.  Hood,  and  two  children,  a 
son  and  a  daughter,  have  been  born  to  them, 
Helen  M.  and  Harry  L.,  Jr.  Many  of  the 
fraternal  societies  of  South  Bend  claim  Mr. 
Yerrick  as  a  member,  namely:  The  Knights 
of  Pythias,  Elks,  Eagles,  Royal  Arcanum,  the 
Loyal  Americans  arid  the  order  of  Ben  Hur, 
and  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Grange.  In 
the  Masonic  order  he  has  attained  the  Royal 
Arch  degree.  He  upholds  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  party,  but  at  local  elections 
votes  independent  of  party  ties,  and  is  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Grace  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church. 

Ross  K.  ScHUTT,  identified  with  the  busi- 
ness and  social  life  of  South  Bend,  was  born 
in  Noble  county,  Indiana,  on  the  12th  of 
October,  1882,  his  parents  being  Abraham 
and  Harriett  (Skinner)  Schutt,  both  natives 
of  Indiana  and  still  well  known  citizens  of 
Noble  county,  where  the  father  is  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  In  their  family  were 
seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. 

Their  son  Ross  K.  received  his  educational 
training  in  the  schools  of  Noble  county,  and 
in  early  life  began  the  study  of  his  chosen 
life  work.  His  studies  were  pursued  in  the 
east  with  several  prominent  architects,  and 
for  a  year  and  a  half  hfe  was  with  the  Col- 
liery Engineering  Company  of  Scranton, 
Pennsylvania.  In  1903  he  came  to  South 
Bend  and  opened  an  office  for  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  in  which  he  has  met  with  a 
very  high  degree  of  success.  In  addition  to 
the  local  work  which  he  is  called  upon  to 
perform  Mr.  Schutt  has  also  accomplished 
considerable  state  work,  and  at  the  present 
time  is  erecting  the  city  hall  at  Kend^llville, 
Indiana.  He  has  made  thorough  research 
along  the  line  of  his  profession,  and  although 
he  has  already  achieved  success,  still  brighter 
prospects  await  him. 

In  1904  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Schutt  and  Miss  Nettie  H.  Gundaker,  she  be- 
ing a  daughter  of  Jacob  Gundaker  of  Denver, 
Colorado.  One  daughter  has  been  born  to 
bless  their  home,  Ruth  Margaret,  whose  natal 
day  was  the  12th  of  November,  1906.  Mr. 
Schutt  is  a  member  of  the  Kjiights  of  Pythias, 
the  Odd  Fellows  No.  29,  the  Elks  and  the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


788 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  His  re- 
ligious affiliation  is  with  the  Presbyterian 
church. 

Henry  Ort,  whose  name  is  one  which  has 
been  prominently  identified  with  the  annals 
of  St.  Joseph  county  from  an  early  period  in 
its  history,  was  born  in  Penn  township,  on 
the  31st  of  March,  1853.  His  father,  Fred 
Ort,  was  a  native  of  Little  York,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  as  his  father  died  in  early  life  the 
responsibilities  of  the  family  fell  upon  the 
son's  young  shoulders.  In  his  native  state 
he  was  married  to  Charlotte  Novis,  who  was 
born  and  reared  in  Germany,  and  to  them 
were  born  five  children,  three  sons  and  two 
daughters,  four  of  whom  claimed  St.  Joseph 
county  as  the  place  of  their  nativity.  Shortly 
after  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ort  came 
to  this  county,  settling  in  Mishawaka,  Penn 
township,  where  they  secured  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  the  dense  woods, 
and  in  addition  to  clearing  and  cultivating 
his  land  he  was  also  employed  in  Judson's 
flour  mill.  As  they  grew  older  the  children 
assisted  in  clearing  the  farm,  and  in  time  the 
fields  were  placed  under  an  excellent  state 
of  cultivation,  and  the  little  log  cabin  in 
which  they  began  life  in  this  county  was  re- 
placed by  a  commodious  and  comfortable 
dwelling.  There  the  father  lived  and  labored 
many  years,  then  removed  to  South  Bend  and 
purchased  a  home  on  Colfax  avenue  on  the 
site  now  occupied  by  the  high  school.  There 
his  useful  life  was  ended  in  death,  when  he 
had  reached  the  age  of  sixty-three  years, 
leaving  to  his  children  valuable  property  in 
South  Bend,  as  well  as  farm  property.  He 
was  a  valued  member  of  the  Evangelical 
church,  having  been  one  of  the  founders  of 
that  denomination  in  this  locality,  and  was 
a  Republican  in  his  political  .affiliations.  His 
wife  was  nineteen  years  old  when  she  came 
to  America  with  her  parents,  Henry  and  Eliz- 
abeth Novis,  who  were  early  settlers  in  Misha- 
waka. Henry  Novis  lived  but  a  few  years, 
and  after  his  death  his  widow  continued  to 
live  with  her  daughter  (Mrs.  Ort)  till  her 
death.  Fred  Ort  and  wife  reared  four  chil- 
dren, Elizabeth,  Daniel,  Frederick  and  Henry 
M.,  Margaret  dying  in  infancy.  The  mother 
now  resides  with  her  daughter  Mrs.  Streibel 
of  South  Bend. 

Henry  Ort,  a  son  of  this  honored  old  pio- 
neer, spent  the  early  years  of  his  life  in 
Penn  township,  and  then  came  to  South  Bend, 
where  he  was  married  on  the  15th  of  Janu- 


ary, 1873,  to  Mary  Keller,  who  was  born  in 
Berrien  county,  Michigan,  July  12,  1851,  of 
German  parentage.  Her  father,  Jacob  F. 
Keller,  came  from  the  fatherland  to  America 
when  very  young,  residing  first  in  New  York, 
where  he  was  engaged  as  a  packer  and 
butcher.  In  that  state  he  was  married  to 
Rosanna  Beyrer,  also  a  native  of  Germany, 
and  they  were  the  parents  of  ten  children, 
five  sons  and  five  daughters,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Ort  was  the  youngest  in  order  of  birth  and 
only  two  of  the  number  are  now  living.  From 
New  York  Mr.  Keller  removed  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Ohio,  and  subsequently  to  Berrien 
county,  Michigan,  where  he  became  the  owner 
of  a  section  of  land,  but  subsequently  sold  a 
part  of  his  farm  and  came  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana.  After  a  time  he  removed 
to  Niles,  Michigan,  but  shortly  returned  to 
St.  Joseph  county,  where  for  a  number  of 
years  he  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits in  German  township.  After  the  death 
of  his  wife  he  returned  to  his  native  land  of 
Germany,  but  it  was  not  long  before  he  again 
set  sail  for  America,  eventually  drifting  to 
the  far-oflf  state  of  California,  where  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  was  spent.  The  union  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ort  has  been  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  five  sons,  Edward  H.  (deceased), 
Harry  F.,  Arthur  D.,  Howard  J.  and  Marvin 
K.,  all  of  whom  were  born  in  this  city. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Ort  erected 
his  present  hoiAe  on  West  Colfax  street,  South 
Bend,  and  in  addition  he  also  owns  three 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  Greene  township. 
He  follows  in  the  political  footsteps  of  his 
father  and  votes  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Mac- 
cabees and  the  Grange.  His  religious  affilia- 
tions are  with  the  St.  Paul  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  of  which  Mrs.  Ort  is  also  a  mem- 
ber. 

Marion  Brown  Russ.  As  the  labors  of  the 
faithful  pioneers  of  a  new  country  must  of 
necessity  be  devoted  to  the  rugged,  practical 
and  often  prosaic  task  of  making  it  habitable 
for  future  generations,  due  credit  must  be 
given  their  children  for  devoting  their  lives 
to  the  upbuilding  of  local  governments  which 
are  also  prime  necessities  to  the  progress  of 
settled  and  advanced  communities.  Marion 
B.  Russ  comes  of  pioneer  stock  on  both  the 
paternal  and  maternal  sides,  and  has  had  a 
large  share  in  the  efficient  development  of 
both  the  educational  and  civic  institutions  of 
St.    Joseph   county,    thereby   upholding   and 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


/^z^^'d, 


Digitized  by  LjOOQIC 


X    li..^ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


789 


perpetuating  the  family  name  in  the  highest 
sense  of  the  phrase. 

Marion  B.  Russ,  one  of  the  county  com- 
missioners of  St.  Joseph  county,  has  for  many 
years  been  a  substantial  and  honored  citizen 
of  Mishawaka.  He  was  born  in  Windham 
county,  Connecticut,  September  26,  1840,  be- 
ing a  son  of  Dan  and  Mary  Ann  (Brown) 
.Russ,  both  also  natives  of  the  county  named. 
The  father,  a  farmer  through  life,  came  to 
St.  Joseph  county  in  1858,  and  died  in  the 
following  February,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six 
years.  He  had  been  twice  married,  his  first 
union  being  with  Esther  Mosley,  by  whom 
he  had  three  daughters  (all  deceased),  and 
his  second  marriage  with  Mary  A.  Brown, 
who  bore  him  three  sons  and  three  daughters 
and  died  near  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  at  the 
age  of  ninety-two  years. 

Mr.  Russ,  the  second  child  and  eldest  son 
in  this  family,  remained  in  his  native  county 
of  Windham  until  he  had  reached  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  when  he  migrated  to  St.  Jo- 
seph county  and  completed  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  Mishawaka.  This  thorough 
mental  training  enabled  him  to  advantage- 
ously enter  the  educational  field,  and  for 
twenty  years  he  proved  an  efficient  teacher 
in  the  schools  of  Mishawaka  and  St.  Joseph 
county.  In  his  early  manhood  he  had  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  and  during  the  sum- 
mer months,  when  not  engaged  in  the  school 
room,  he  followed  this  occupation,  thus  build- 
ing into  his  life  the  stable  elements  both  of 
useful  manual  labor  and  intellectual  vigor. 
During  a  period  of  six  years  he  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  on  his  return  to 
St.  Joseph  county  located  on  a  farm  just  out- 
side the  limits  of  Mishawaka. 

Thus  for  years  living  in  this  community  as 
a  practical  and  intelligent  citizen,  taking  an 
active  part  in  its  useful  work  and  highly  re- 
spected as  a  representative  of  its  best  men- 
tality, Mr.  Russ  has  naturally  been  called 
upon  to  assist  in  the  conduct  of  public  af- 
fairs. For  four  years  he  served  as  trustee 
of  Penn  township,  for  five  years  as  its  as- 
sessor, and  in  1896  was  elected  a  commissioner 
of  the  county.  Accurate,  systematic,  enter- 
prising, able  and  honest  in  the  performance 
of  his  duties,  his  re-nomination  for  the  office 
in  1904  was  equivalent  to  an  election.  This 
is  his  sixth  year  as  county  commissioner,  and 
the  general  satisfaction  of  his  constituents  in- 
creases with  his  length  of  service.     During 


his  official  period  the  beautiful  and  substan- 
tial cement  bridges  which  span  the  river  at 
South  Bend  and  Mishawaka  have  been  con- 
structed under  his  personal  supervision,  and 
he  has  been  altogether  alive  to  the  practical 
needs  of  all  the  people  of  the  county,  thor-  ' 
oughly  appreciating  the  duties  and  dignity 
of  his  office. 

In  1865  Mr.  Russ  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Mary  Olive  Stuckey,  daughter  of  James 
Stuckey,  who  was  among  the  very  early  pio- 
neers of  St.  Joseph  county.  Mrs.  Russ  was 
born  in  Clay  township  in  the  county  named, 
March  16,  1845.  Her  father  was  a  native 
of  North  Carolina,  where  he  was  reared  and 
married,  and  whence  he  journeyed,  in  1832, 
to  the  wilderness  then  embracing  St.  Joseph 
county.  Loading  his  household  goods  and 
family  into  a  home-made  wagon,  he  made  the 
entire  journey  overland,  and  for  about  a  year 
lived  at  Richmond.  He  then  settled  in  this 
county  on  a  tract  of  timber  land  which  he 
purchased  from  the  government.  His  first 
habitation  was  hastily  constructed  of  poles, 
and  the  few  white  settlers  at  South  Bend  and 
scattered  through  the  county  were  planted 
in  surroundings  almost  equally  rude.  South 
Bend  was  then  but  an  Indian  trading  post, 
and  the  savages  roamed  the  country  with  wild 
turkey  and  other  game.  Mr.  Stuckey  was  a 
skilful  himter,  and  in  return  for  supplying 
his  neighbors  with  meat  he  received  the  as- 
sistance of  the  settlers  in  clearing  his  land. 
At  this  time  Michigan  City  was  the  nearest 
market  for  grain  and  depot  for  supplies.  As 
the  early  settlers  lived  chiefly  on  the  products 
of  their  land  and  on  wild  game;  and  wood  for 
shelter  and  fuel  was  plentiful,  it  was  not  dif- 
ficult for  them  to  obtain  the  necessities  of 
life,  their  clothing  of  course  being  made  and 
fashioned  by  the  ** women  folks.''  As  the 
years  passed  Mr.  Stuckey 's  prospects  and  cir- 
cumstances improved,  he  cleared  a  generous 
tract  of  land,  developed  it  into  a  good  farm, 
erected  large  frame  barns  and  other  out- 
buildings, and  the  log  house  was  replaced  by 
a  commodious  brick  residence  in  which  he 
passed  many  comfortable  and  happy  days. 
His  death  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  was  caused 
by  injuries  received  from  a  runaway  team. 
Mrs.  Russ  was  reared  amid  pioneer  scenes  in 
her  native  town.  Her  first  schooling  was  ob- 
tained in  a  log  house,  Anthony  Navarre,  an 
Indian,  being  the  teacher. 

Two  sons  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Marion  B.  Russ — Irwin  Warren  and  James 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


790 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Marion.  Irwin  W.  Russ  was  born  April  18, 
1866,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Robbinsdale, 
a  suburb  of  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  the  grocery  business.  His 
wife  was  formerly  Mary  CJook,  of  that  place, 
and  she  has  borne  him  five  daughters,  Grace, 
Marion,  Hazel  and  Harriet  (twins),  and 
Ruth. 

James  M.  Russ  is  a  native  of  Robbinsdale, 
Minnesota,  bom  September  23,  1868,  but  is 
now  farming  on  the  homestead  in  Penn  town- 
ship. He  married  Nellie  Herrick,  and  they 
have  become  the  parents  of  two  sons,  Ray  and 
Marion. 

G.  Albert  Maurer,  manager  of  the  Misha- 
waka  office  of  the  South  Bend  Tribune,  is  a 
capable  newspaper  man  and  business  mana- 
ger. He  was  bom  in  South  Bend,  December 
10,  1869.  With  his  parents,  Fred  M.  and 
M^ry  (Steirling)  Maurer,  at  the  age  of  eight 
years  removed  to  Laporte,  Indiana,  where  he 
passed  through  the  public  schools,  and  after 
a  limited  school  training  became  a  printer's 
apprentice  with  A.  Beal,  of  the  Laporte  Her- 
ald. 

In  1890  Mr.  Maurer  removed  to  Michigan 
City  to  accept  a  position  with  the  Dispatch, 
but  after  a  short  term  of  employment  there 
located  at  Mishawaka,  being  connected  for  a 
brief  period  with  the  Democrat.  In  1891  he 
made  another  change  of  residence  by  going 
to  South  Bend,  where  he  became  first  identi- 
fied with  the  interests  of  the  Tribune,  re- 
maining for  seven  years  in  its  mechanical  de- 
partment. His  steady  progress  and  perfect 
reliability  in  whatever  task  he  was  assigned 
convinced  his  employers  that  he  was  worthy 
of  greater  responsibilities,  and  in  January, 
1899,  he  was  appointed  manager  of  the  Mish- 
awaka office. 

Under  Mr.  Maurer 's  energetic  management 
the  Mishawaka  department  has  become  a 
strong  feature  of  the  paper.  He  is  a  hard, 
faithful  and  judicious  worker,  and  during 
the  eight  years  of  his  superintendency  has  in- 
creased the  local  circulation  of  the  Tribune 
from  a  small  list  to  a  large  number,  the  ad- 
vertising columns  having  been  expanded  in 
proportion. 

In  1894  Mr.  Maurer  was  married  to  Miss 
Lida  Nettleton,  daughter  of  A.  L.  Nettleton, 
of  Mishawaka,  and  they  have  one  son,  Llew- 
ellyn. Mr.  Maurer  is  prominent  fraternally, 
being  a  member  of  Mishawaka  Commandery 
No.  51,  K.  T.,  and  identified  with  the  Knights 
of  P3rthias  and  K.  0.  T.  M.    He  is  active  in 


the  work  of  the  Business  Men's  Association, 
and  takes  a  deep  interest  as  well  in  the  elevat- 
ing infiuences  of  music.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

August  H.  DeGroote,  who  is  representing 
the  Third  ward  of  Mishawaka  in  the  city 
council,  is  a  native  son  of  the  city,  bom  on 
the  16th  of  April,  1870,  a  son  of  Frederick 
and  Rosalia  (DeClarcque)  DeGroote,  who 
were  born  ,and  married  in  Belgium.  They 
became  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  four 
sons  and  seven  daughters,  of  whom  August 
was  the  fifth  child  and  second  son  in  order  of 
birth.  In  1863  the  parents  set  sail  for  Amer- 
ica, coming  direct  to  Mishawaka,  Indiana, 
where  they  reared  their  family  and  became 
prominent  and  well  known  citizens. 

At  the  early  age  of  seventeen  years  August 
H.  DeGroote  began  the  battle  of  life  for  him- 
self, having  previously  secured  his  educa- 
tional training  in  the  public  and  parochial 
schools  of  Mishawaka,  and  then  learned  the 
machinist's  trade,  which  he  has  ever  since 
followed  in  this  city,  being  now  associated 
with  the  Mishawaka  Woolen  Manufacturing 
Company.  From  the  time  of  reaching  man- 
hood's estate  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in 
the  public  life  of  his  community,  and  in  1905 
was  made  a  member  of  the  city  council.  In 
this  responsible  position  he  has  made  a  fine 
record  for  general  efficiency,  fidelity  and 
promptness  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 
He  stands  high  in  the  councils  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  in  this  district,  and  has  been 
an  energetic,  efficient  worker  in  its  behalf. 

On  the  31st  of  January,  1895,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr.  DeGroote  and 
Theresa  Konewitter,  she  being  a  native 
daughter  of  Mishawaka,  bom  November  28, 
1872.  Her  father,  Sebastian  Konewitter,  was 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
but  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  here  he 
was  employed  as  a  mason  for  many  years. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  DeGroote  have  been  bom 
five  children,  Serena,  Louisa,  Wilfred  (de- 
ceased), Agnes  and  Mildred.  Mr.  DeGroote 
has  membership  relations  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  and  the  C.  B.  L.  of  Mishawaka. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  St.  Joseph 
Catholic  church. 

Martin  V.  Beiger.  When  Martin  V. 
Beiger  passed  away  St.  Joseph  county 
mourned  the  loss  of  one  of  its  most 
prominent  and  highly  respected  citizens. 
As  the  day,  with  its  morning  of  hope, 
its  noontide  of  activity,  its  evening  of  corn- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


»*^A^^ 


S" 


Digitized  by 


Google 


790 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


\;i:\     i  >, 


^.'.•■:  of  hit'   H;;^i^in<^    \i*^ii\   .\* 


■  '  .'A. I'  :-■,  aii'I  .:  I'f-.ia  K  (If  !►  ii!*Mr.\-r  ;«s  vVfii    .11  th        1 

-.>.      I  (is  th«    KisL   ;.i   tliodist    I];>iM.'oi)a]   rhur'^fi. 

*    '/''  '    '•  A>'''-     T    li.    [')  .«  iK(»OTK.    who    i>   !■''{'-     -■ -.        ^ 

'■•'    *   ;•*  '  *h^'    1  .;i  .1    WMFti   r,t    Mwluiwak.i    iii    rri--     • 

'*'"!  c  »'*i'  .1,   is  a   narivi    s*"^!.   *^f  tin*  *M{y.   iu^'  ;     - 
:*:r   lii.h  (if   April.    1>7«).  a  <^'n  uf    ?';•■•:•'•   '^ 

'  '''^   ''  ))••■    tin-'    tNc    |>;urlits    ot'    f-jcvip    "}i  \i.-   ,i.     '■    : 

•■    *ijty  ^,,fj^   ^,..j    ,,^,^.11    iinn^.'htoni,   oi    \v1:m:>j    ^v 

'  -."  '*'  ''  v^ 'is  \\\*-    ]'\\\  chi'^t  a:i;i  S'-ruii.!  ^oii  ']u    •  ".         ■  : 

^>w.n.     [:i  1.-^ -I  rh.*  })ar(MU^  sr-  sail  i'n\    A  .n   :*- 

^-    \!     'i'.'  u   1      (M»'t    f[^    J'.f!-**l     to     M  i.s:);iw;:;:.*.     Iijii  ..*i.. 

■/  .  .   -^  a  ^N^'Tt    iii''V    riMi    (1    tl'rir   t'nruilv    m,i<1    '  ■■•  '     • 

i.iii',  '  [  '-'U.  -ri-'i't   aii'l   \vr'{  1' .lowii  citJ/riis. 

^     "j  h^  r  Ai  fii-   ca^!;*     ::-■  or»s»*v«  littvn  y--  <-^  .V.;-.  i^ 

'     'I      ;:ii(l  r     ,\«iiv...^!    L-an  the    h  illlr  ot*  ll!\'   f-.r   -ii-w 

^    '  ^iV  N' li*.    iK'viiiir    pn-vjuiisly    si't'iir^-*!    li  -     .-*    i    .- 

-  ■"   *■'-  h''  t:  ,ii;!l    n ..  II. '1-.    Ill    th''    ]".blK'    nnd    pa.N."*^  ■- 


U  •.'!• 


r   .\!'Nh;«\\  fil  n,   a».']    :  u-n    ''arh^Mi 


'"•mm  r"s  iit,.''h  f  :.-t  s    **-ai»'.    \\i:irl'i    tu^    has    ('\'v    ^  ':   - 

1  '   •*••   'i'.-  l'>'i'.\v»'ii    ill    iiiis    il;\,    Va''7tL:   no  \    a.s.M.i\r';i 
\'  ■   '.    t:K*    M'Nha'vaka    Woolfu    MaiiijiV.  t  <'!'ii. .' 

»    ■>.     !i  _:air  (  "^a^'iiiiy.     l''roni   '  i'*-  hJii*"'  (-t'   im  <'i'hin«j   ^r-a' 

'  •  .N  vjtfii  h.MKi's  is^it'  J!.'  irn  takf'U  an   .ivti\<'   ,'a»^ 

.    u    Hi  i\-  flu*  t^-.iblic  lit*('  oi"  '.Is  <aniiutiinity,  .uid  -n    '  •'■ 

•   'i   :"'.•■  a  ''VM-,  ijia'!:    a  jiu'i:i-»'!-  of  ihc  (^ly  t-KU  .   -I.      •■ 

:.*>''l    h'  llr--    M  v{)..iis'hl«'   })0^illoIl   hf^   h.:'?   I'Mi^'i-   a    f'l 

-i.  iji'iili-  i>roiiif>T:.'-vs    in    M..*    (iisciijin.'"''   ol    li:s    -.'■'  •- 

'■■:  :   :j\    VI'-  y\''  -J;ii 'is  hiLl-  m  the  i*ou;  "il-  ol   ;h<'   1  ••  • 

.   .  .-cal  n-  ■  riM'w-    ;Mrt\     ih    Mi.s    vli^t'-irt.    ari-i    ha< 


O.I    j!m 


aJiUarv.    ic^'?,^.    \wM^ 


M  >:,-       'rii".,h:'a-    i-f    M  ^ii.'i  \v  ;;K;',    h(.rr    V.   .»  :■''.'•;     ■_'* 
>7l\     [I<t  tV.la-r.  Sr!»   ^tian  K^k^-  ^\  r,  .*']\    ^.• 

•r  .   .;♦      "ii'M  r  Ml.' '•  i'"'\  ]' .■!h.'»'>-s  t<t  ^t.  .).;>-.]  >i  r.   -n*' 
,!.'(      a       ''■       '^^'••"^   H   i]..Ii\t'  <>r   (hrmnny,   ctinl    ii   ^  • 
»^  '>   »*n.pl'Vt(]    ;j^    ri.   Tjidson    tor    7>.a*!V    y   :• 
l"-'    .a  !*.    a'-fi    Mi^.    ra^(irv)ot('   hv^-o  \    -]]    '.,,:: 
*'\  -    <'h    ■u-'-fi     *^' n-n.'!.    L.-'ilsa,    \V'i'"i-  <i 
•  .•:i-"(l  ■,    A  -     ■«   and    Alihir.-.l.       d  ^.    j).--  .- 
r.  :^     -n'riih   ).M''t)    r.'latjo.'s    with    Ih*-    .^To.ii 

'!'li('    t'r ''i.iy    arc    nuMn]n*rs    (»f   M.'*    St.     f  .-c- 
<   -oWtaic  ai'-]rr!i 

M\.rit\      V,      r>f  .  ;i  H         V.    u-p      ^i:!:-   n 
lira-rr     {Msv-d     a\\  ly     S,.     .|..>.  ]■'•>       ■   •; 

7lin'";.rl         Mif        hKN.S        <»f        (W!''        •'{ 

•|  "o'laa.'Jit      a!!d     liii^hiy     !'  -'m-.-;     \ 
\^     U\^'     d-.v  ,     \s  iTh     its     Tai)":]i*ii,     .-.. 
li       itN   jax-nt-dt*  nC  activilv.   it.s  t'\.!ta.'.:      •    - 


.  I  d't  -  ^ 
■  ;,,'\  *h-  ^  -a- 
'fi.  7i  .'■OLtC 
'  ■••      .1.      ..  )- 


:  (     ^ ' . sv 


a-  f\L.^!'T- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


791 


pleted  and  successful  efforts,  ending  in  the 
grateful  rest  and  quiet  of  the  night,  so  was 
the  life  of  this  honored  man.  His  career  was 
a  long,  busy  and  useful  one.  He  was  the 
founder  and  promoter  of  many  enterprises 
which  advanced  the  material  welfare  of  the 
state  and  added  as  well  to  his  individual 
prosperity,  but  although  an  earnest  business 
man,  devoting  his  whole  daily  time  and  at- 
tention to  the  further  development  of  his  in- 
dustrial interests,  he  never  allowed  the  pur- 
suit of  wealth  to  warp  his  kindly  nature,  but 
preserved  his  faculties  and  the  warmth  of  his 
heart  for  the  broadening  and  helpful  influ- 
ences of  human  life. 

The  birth  of  Mr.  Beiger  occurred  on  a  farm 
about  three  miles  south  of  Mishawaka,  on  the 
3d  of  February,  1847.  His  father,  Jacob 
Beiger,  was  numbered  among  the  early  and 
honored  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county,  for  it 
was  in  a  very  early  day  that  he  and  his  wife, 
who  were  natives  of  Germany,  journeyed 
hither  and  took  up  their  abode  upon  a  farm, 
where  they  resided  for  several  years.  But 
the  last  thirty  years  of  the  mother's  life  were 
spent  in  Mishawaka.  Mr.  Beiger,  during  k 
pleasure  trip,  died  in  Holland  about  1871. 
Nine  children  blessed  the  union  of  these  old 
St.  Joseph  pioneers,  but  two  have  passed 
away. 

Martin  V.  Beiger,  the  eldest  of  their  four 
sons,  entered  the  district  schools  near  his 
home  at  an  early  age,  but  when  only  thirteen 
years  old  he  put  aside  his  te:^t  books  to  serve 
his  country  in  its  civil  war.  His  services 
were  during  the  lattei*  part  of  the  war,  and 
in  1865  he  returned  to  Mishawaka  and  en- 
tered the  store  of  A.  B.  Judson,  but  a  short 
time  afterward  severed  his  connection  there- 
with to  enter  Wabash  College  at  Crawfords- 
ville,  where  he  worked  his  own  way  through, 
and  thus  his  splendid  educational  training 
was  the  result  of  his  own  determined  efforts. 
After  completing  his  course  he  returned  to 
Mishftwaka  and  secured  work  in  the  woolen 
factory,  where  he  gradually,  step  by  step, 
mounted  the  ladder  of  success  until  he  be- 
came the  owner  of  the  factory,  and  to  him  be- 
longs the  honor  of  being  the  patentee  of  the 
knit  woolen  boot,  while  later  he  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  rubbers,  etc.  He  was  a 
man  of  resourceful  business  ability,  and  in 
addition  to  his  large  manufacturing  interests 
he  was  also  president  of  the  First  National 
Bank,  president  of  the  Malt  Cream  Company 


and   an   officer   in   the   South   Bend  Watch 
Company. 

In  December,  1876,  Mr.  Beiger  married 
Susie  S.  Higgins,  a  native  daughter  of  Mish- 
awaka, where  her  birth  occurred  on  the  4th 
of  August,  1859.  Her  father,  Henry  D.  Hig- 
gins, was  a  native  of  Warner,  New  York,  and 
in  that  commonwealth  was  married  to  Nancy 
Barnes,  also  a  native  of  the  Empire  state, 
her  birth  occurring  near  Phoenix,  and  in 
1847  they  journeyed  to  Mishawaka,  Indiana, 
where  the  husband  and  father  was  engaged  as 
a  jeweler  and  dentist.  In  1849,  during  the 
gold  excitement  in  California,  he  went  to  the 
Golden  state,  but  disappointed  in  his  search 
for  the  precious  metal  returned  to  this  city 
and  opened  his  jewelry  store.  .He  was  an 
ardent  Republican  in  his  political  affiliations, 
and  his  death  occurred  when  he  had  reached 
the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs. .  Higgins  were  bom  four  children,  one 
son  and  three  daughters,  but  two  of  the  num- 
ber are  now  deceased,  one  having  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  Mrs.  Beiger  is  the  youngest  of  the 
family.  Mr.  Beiger  was  zealous  in  his  sup- 
port of  the  Republican  party,  while  frater- 
nally he  affiliated  with  the  Masons.  Death 
came  to  him  on  the  26th  of  September,  1903. 
During  many  years  he  had  been  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Methodist  church,  an  active 
worker  in  the  cause  of  Christianity.  In  all 
the  varied  relations  of  life  he  was  honorable, 
sincere  and  trustworthy,  winning  the  praise 
and  admiration  of  all  who  were  associated 
with  him  in  any  manner. 

Jacob  Eckstein.  In  the  death  of  Jacob 
Eckstein  Mishawaka  lost  one  of  her  repre- 
sentative business  men  and  respected  citizens. 
His  career  was  a  long,  useful  and  honorable 
one,  and  to  the  end  he  was  a  kindly,  genial 
friend  and  gentleman  with  whom  it  was  a 
pleasure  to  meet.  His  birth  occurred  in  Ger- 
many, February  12,  1837,  a  son  of  John  and 
Catherine  (Greenawalt)  Eckstein,  natives 
also  of  the  fatherland,  where  the  father  was 
employed  as  a  cabinet-maker.  When  their 
son  Jacob,  who  wafi  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth 
of  their  seven  children,  two  sons  and  five 
daughters,  was  seventeen  years  of  age  the 
family  came  to  America,  where  he  learned 
the  English  language  and  also  the  black- 
smith's trade.  It  was  in  the  year  1861  that 
he  came  to  Mishawaka,  and  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  followed  the  carpenter 
and  cabinet-maker's  trades,  his  excellent 
business  and  executive  ability  winning  him 


Digitized  by 


Google 


792 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


marked  success,  and,  though  the  architect  of 
his  own  fortunes,  he  builded  wisely  and  well. 

In  Mishawaka,  in  1864,  Mr.  Eckstein  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Mary  A.  Haubert,  who 
was  bom  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  February 
26,  1843,  but  is  of  German  parentage.  She 
was  eleven  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the 
removal  of  the  family  to  Miahawaka,  where 
she  completed  her  educational  training.  Her 
father,  who  followed  agricultural  pursuits, 
erected  their  present  home  in  this  city.  In 
his  political  adherency  Mr.  Eckstein  was  a 
Democrat,  zealous  in  the  support  of  its  prin- 
ciples, and  for  three  years  served  as  the 
trustee  of  his  township.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  church,  and  he  also 
had  membership  relations  with  the  Catholic 
Knights  of  America.  Throughout  the  long 
years  of  his  residence  in  Mishawaka  he  was 
ever  true  to  the  trusts  reposed  in  him, 
whether  of  a  public  or  private  nature,  and 
his  reputation  in  business  circles  was  un- 
assailable. He  commanded  the  respect  of  all 
by  his  upright  life,  and  was  well  and  favor- 
ably known  in  his  adopted  city. 

James  Boles.  It  is  our  privilege  to  pay 
a  brief  tribute  to  the  memory  of  James  Boles. 
An  honorable,  broad-minded  gentleman,  he 
commanded  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow  men  by  his  upright  life,  and  to  his 
family  he  left  not  only  a  comfortable  com- 
petence acquired  through  years  of  honest 
toil  as  an  agriculturist,  but  also  the  priceless 
heritage  of  a  good  name.  His  birth  occurred 
in  Wooster,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  July  14, 
1835,  in  which  commonwealth  his  parents, 
James  B.  and  Jane  (Lawrence)  Boles,  were 
also  bom  and  married,  and  to  them  were 
born  nine  children,  four  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters. 

James  Boles  came  with  his  parents  to  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  during  his  young 
manhood,  assisting  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
old  Boles  homestead,  and  after  his  marriage 
he  continued  to  reside  on  the  farm  for  two 
years,  when  he  located  on  a  place  near  Os- 
ceola, St.  Joseph  county,  his  time  being  ex- 
clusively given  to  his  agricultural  pursuits 
there  until  the  time  of  his  death,  when  he 
had  reached  the  age  of  forty-eight  years. 
On  the  31st  of  March,  1859,  he  was  married 
to  Calcina  Belden,  who  was  born  in  Penn 
township,  St.  Joseph  county,  October  14, 
1839,  the  daughter  of  Zenos  Belden,  who 
claimed  the  Empire  state  as  the  place  of  his 
nativity,  but  when  a  young  man  he  came  to 


St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  and  soon  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Bango  township,  Elkhart 
county,  near  St.  Joseph  county  line,  there 
clearing  nearly  eighty  acres  of  land,  which 
he  placed  under  an  excellent  state  of  culti- 
vation and  there  reared  his  children.  After 
his  arrival  in  this  county  Mr.  Belden  mar- 
ried Hannah  Jane  West,  a  member  of  one 
of  the  old  pioneer  families  of  the  county, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren, two  sons  and  a  daughter,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Boles  was  the  eldest  in  order  of  birth  and  the 
only  one  to  reach  years  of  maturity.  Mrs. 
Belden 's  death  occurred  in  1844.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife  Mr.  Belden  married 
Jane  McNay,  and  three  children  were  bom 
of  this  union,  one  son  and  two  daughters. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boles  became  the  parents  of 
six  children,  two  of  whom  are  deceased.  Two 
sons  and  two  daughters  live  in  Penn  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county.  Mr.  Boles  gave  his 
political  support  to  the  Democi'atic  party, 
taking  an  active  part  in  its  work,  and  was 
a  Mason  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church.  For  one  year  he  served  as  the  assessor 
of  his  township.  By  reason  of  his  well-spent 
life  he  enjoyed  the  high  regard  of  his  fellow 
men,  and  in  his  death  St.  Joseph  coimty 
mourned  the  loss  of  one  of  its  true  and  good 
citizens. 

Simon  Yenn.  Mr.  Yenn  is  now  living 
practically  retired  from  the  active  cares  of 
a  business  life.  In  former  years  he  occu- 
pied a  distinctive  position  in  the  commercial 
circles  of  his  community,  and  has  ever  been 
faithful  to  his  conceptions  of  the  duties  of 
citizenship,  ever  striving  to  advance  the  in- 
terests of  his  fellow  men.  His  birth  occurred 
in  the  far-off  land  of  France,  May  11,  1840, 
and  in  that  country  his  parents,  Theobold 
and  Christena  (Greenway)  Yenn^  were  also 
born.  The  father  was  bom  on  the  21st  of 
January,  1813,  and  after  completing  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  land 
learned  the  mason's  trade,  while  later  he  be- 
came a  contractor.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yenn 
were  bom  seven  children,  Simon,  our  subject 
Christinia,  deceased;  Agnes,  deceased:  Ce 
celia,  who  married  Mr.  Pealy  of  South  Bend 
Edward,  deceased;  and  two  died  in  infancy. 
In  1849  the  family  set  sail  for  America, 
spending  their  first  year  in  Canton,  Ohio 
and  in  1864  they  came  to  St.  Joseph  county 
Indiana,  and  purchased  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  in  Greene  township. 
The  father  cleared  the  most  of  the  land,  and 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


J. 


9 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


,,,     j;tO    T     dPP  / 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


793 


his  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death  at  the 
age  of  seventy-nine  years.  He  affiliated  with 
the  Democratic  party,  and  the  family  were 
members  of  the  Catholic  church.  *    . 

When  but  five  years  of  age  Simon  Yenn, 
whose  name  introduces  this  review,  accom- 
panied his  parents  on  their  emigration  to 
America,  receiving  his  educational  training 
in  the  east,  and  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Josephine,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Pohl) 
Roth,  also  natives  of  France.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  nine  children; 
Simon  M.,  who  attended  college  in  Bufifalo, 
New  York,  and  is  now  a  contractor  in  Fort 
Wayne,  Indiana;  Mary  J.;  Hattie  E. ;  Clara 
Olivia ;  William  H.  and  Francis  J.,  twins,  but 
the  former  is  now  deceased;  George;  and 
August  B.  and  Augusta  G.,  twins,  the  last 
named  being  also  deceased. 

It  was  in  the  year  1863  that  Mr.  Yenn 
came  to  Mishawaka,  and  for  a  time  after  his 
arrival  drove  a  team,  while  during  the  sub- 
sequent four  years  he  managed  his  father's 
farm  in  Greene  township.  Thus  the  time  was 
spent  up  to  the  year  1868,  when  he  embarked 
in  the  grocery  business  in  Mishawaka,  his 
connection  with  tb'at  department  of  trade 
covering  the  unusually  long  period  of  twen- 
ty-five years.  He  prospered  in  his  enterprise, 
and  now  owns  valuable  property  in  this  city. 
He  has  ever  been  actively  interested  in  the 
promotion  of  the  interests  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  in  1893  was  elected  the  treasurer 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  while  he  has  also  been 
honored  with  many  other  oflSces  of  trust  and 
responsibility.  The  family  are  members  of 
the  Catholic  church.  He  has  been  a  member 
of  St.  Joseph's  Society  since  1868,  and  has 
been  treasurer  for  thirty-three  years.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  building  committee  of 
St.  Joseph's  church,  which  erected  the  mag- 
nificent church  and  school  in  Mishawaka. 
His  life,  which  has  nearly  covered  the 
Psalmist's  span,  has  been  filled  with  useful, 
loving  deeds,  which  will  be  remembered  long 
after  he  has  been  called  to  his  reward. 

Albert  J.  Philion,  the  genial  proprietor 
of  the  Hotel  Milboum,  conducts  one  of  the 
most  popular  resorts  in  St.  Joseph  county. 
The  hotel  is  an  old  and  well-established  one, 
and  the  peculiarly  well-adapted  characteris- 
tics and  affability  of  its  present  proprietor 
ipake  him  a  host  most  attractive  to  the  trav- 
eling public.  He  is  a  life-long  resident  of 
the  county,  for  his  birth  occurred  in  the  city 


of  South  Bend  on  the  25th  of  February, 
1868,  his  parents  being  Philias  and  Fannie 
(ShoKionia)  Philion,  the  former  a  native  of 
Canada  and  the  latter  of  Detroit,  Michigan. 
The  father  was  reared  to  years  of  maturity 
in  his  native  country,  and  in  1856  came  to 
South  Bend,  Indiana,  where  for  many  years 
he  was  one  of  the  city^s  most  prominent  gro- 
cery merchants,  but  with  his  wife  he  now 
resides  in  Kingston,  Illinois.  Of  the  six  chil- 
dren bom  to  this  worthy  couple,  three  sons 
and  three  daughters,  only  two  are  now  living 
and  both  are  residents  of  St.  Joseph  county. 
The  only  surviving  daughter  is  Emma,  widow 
of  Alford  Belmner,  and  a  resident  of  South 
Bend. 

Albert  J.  Philion,  the  fourth  child  and 
second  son  in  order  of  birth,  received  his 
educational  training  in  the  city  schools  of 
South  Bend,  and  at  the  close  of  his  school 
days  became  associated  with  his  father  in  the 
grocery  store.  Subsequently  he  spent  three 
years  in  the  west,  and  on  the  expiration  of 
the  period  returned  to  South  Bend,  but  short- 
ly afterward  came  to  Mishawaka,  and  during 
the  long  period  of  sixteen  years  was  with  the 
Dodge  Manufacturing  Company.  From  that 
time  until  assuming  charge  of  the  Hotel  Mil- 
boum in  1904  he  was  engaged  in  business  for 
himself  in  this  city,  and  since  entering  upon 
his  present  relations  he  has  enjoyed  richly 
merited  success,  while  the  future  is  bright 
with  promise. 

In  1904  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Philion  and  Marian  Rooney,  she  being  the 
widow  of  J.  Rooney.  She  is  the  mother  of 
two  daughters,  Margine  and  Carmin,  twins. 
Mr.  Philion  gives  a  stanch  support  to  the 
Republican  party,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Owls  of  Mishawaka.  He  is  well  known  to 
the  citizens  of  Mishawaka,  in  which  so  many 
years  of  his  life  have  been  passed,  and  no 
hostelry  in  the  community  has  so  excellent 
a  reputation  for  hospitable  treatment  as  has 
the  Milboum. 

^  Michael.  C.  Shea.  Throughout  the  period 
of  his  residence  in  Mishawaka  Mr.  Shea  has 
been  justly  numbered  among  its  leading  cit- 
izens. He  is  prominently  identified  with  its 
leading  business  interests,  and  is  now  serving 
as  chief  engineer  of  the  electric  light  and 
water  plant.  He  is  a  native  of  Boston,  Mas- 
sachusetts, born  on  the  29th  of  August,  1856, 
his  parents  being  Patrick  and  Mary  (King) 
Shea,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  the  far-off 
land    of    Ireland.      In    1853    they    came   to 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


794 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


America  and  located  in  Boston,  where  the 
father  became  well  known  in  connection  with 
railroad  interests,  and  in  1859  removed  to 
Girard,  Pennsylvania,  and  assisted  in  the 
construction  of  most  of  the  Lake  Shore  Rail- 
road, serving  as  foreman  of  the  construction 
work.  He  was  also  connected'  with  the  Phila- 
delphia &  Erie  Railroad,  but  the  most  of  hid 
life  was  spent  with  the  former  company,  and 
he  died  in  their  employ  when  fifty-two  years 
of  age.  His  widow  is  still  living,  and  resides 
in  Ashtabula,  Ohio. 

Michael  C.  Shea,  the  eldest  of  their  ten 
children,  was  reared  to  years  of  maturity  in 
Pennsylvania,  whither  he  had  been  taken  by 
his  parents  when  only  three  years  old,  and 
received  his  educational  training  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Pittsfield  and  Clark,  that  state. 
At  the  early  age  of  fifteen  years  he  was  a 
fireman  on  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad,  remain- 
ing in  the  employ  of  that  company  for  twen- 
ty-two years,  and  was  also  for  a  time  with 
the  Western  New  York  &  Philadelphia  Com- 
pany, but  it  was  then  known  as  the  Dunkard 
&  Warren  Railroad.  During  seven  years  he 
was  employed  as  an  engineer,  and  then  en- 
tered upon  construction  work,  mostly  in  the 
laying  of  track.  His  record  in  the  service  of 
the  railroad  is  one  of  which  he  has  just  rea- 
son to  be  proud,  for  he  was  prompt,  vigilant 
and  efficient,  and  was  fully  relied  upon  by 
his  superiors.  For  seventeen  years  Mr.  Shea 
was  a  resident  of  Elkhart,  Indiana,  serving 
during  a  part  of  that  time  in  the  construction 
and  train  department.  While  serving  as  local 
engineer  he  also  had  charge  of  the  power 
plant  for  the  Indiana  Railway  three  years, 
and  was  for  five  years  with  the  Claws  Print- 
ing Press  Company,  having  entire  charge  of 
the  plant,  and  was  thus  engaged  at  the  time 
of  his  removal  to  Mishawaka,  Indiana,  where 
he  assumed  charge  as  chief  engineer  of  the 
water  and  electric  light  plant,  his  present 
position,  and  in  which  he  is  giving  general 
satisfaction  to  all  concerned. 

Mr.  Shea  was  married  in  1882,  Emma,  the 
daughter  of  Gus  Thomas,  becoming  his  wife, 
and  they  have  five  sons  living,  Patsey  M., 
Thomas  C,  Chancy  G.,  Minnife  0.,  and  Wil- 
liam R.,  all  of  whom  are  at  home,  and  the 
eldest  son  is  serving  as  his  father's  assistant. 
Where  national  issues  are  involved  Mr.  Shea 
votes  with  the  Democracy,  but  otherwise  is 
not  bound  by  party  ties,  and  is  a  valued 
member  of  the  Masonic  order  of  Mishawaka. 
The  family  is  held  in  high  esteem,  and  the 


kindly  social  qualities  with  which  they  are 
endowed  by  nature  win  for  them  the  friend- 
ship and  good  will  of  every  one. 

Charles  Melville  Collins,  of  Mishawaka, 
St.  Joseph  county,  has  been  consulting  engi- 
neer for  the  Dodge  Manufacturing  Company 
during  the  past  twelve  years,  and  for  a  de- 
cade of  that  period  manager  of  their  cement 
department.  During  the  previous  seventeen 
years  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Stude- 
bakers  as  master  mechanic. 

Frederick  J.  Cook.  One  of  the  prominent 
old  pioneer  families  of  St.  Joseph  county  is 
that  of  the  Cooks,  where  they  have  been  well 
represented  ever  since  the  opening  decades  of 
its  history.  They  have  ever  borne  their  part 
in  the  upbuilding  and  development  of  this 
region,  and  have  invariably  been  exponents 
of  progress  and  liberal  ideas  upon  all  sub- 
jects. A  worthy  representative  of  this  hon- 
ored name  is  Fred  J.  Cook,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred in  St.  Joseph  county  on  the  18th  of 
June,  1866.  His  father,  James  Cook,  was 
a  native  of  New  York,  bom  in  1829.  and  in 
1833  he  came  with  his  father,  Arthur  Cook, 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana.  Arthur  Cook, 
who  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  se- 
cured government  land  and  was  successfully 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  near 
Mishawaka  until  his  death.  James  Cook 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  about 
1900,  when  he  retired  from  the  active  cares 
of  a  business  life,  and  his  death  occurred  in 
1906,  when  he  had  reached  the  seventy-sev- 
enth milestone  on  the  journey  of  life.  His 
wife,  nee  Arvilla  Graham  and  a  native  of 
Ohio,  preceded  him  to  the  home  beyond, 
having  passed  away  in  1893. 

Fred  J.  Cook  received  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  near  his  home,  and  he  was 
early  trained  to  the  work  of  the  farm,  con- 
tinuing to  follow  the  tilling  of  the  soil  until 
1904,  when  he  was  elected  township  trustee 
of  Penn  township,  being  the  present  incum- 
bent of  that  position.  He  joined  the  ranks  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  has  since  been  one 
of  its  stalwart  advocates,  actively  interested 
in  all  that  will  promote  good  government, 
and  is  a  progressive,  public-spirited  citizen. 

In  1888  Mr.  Cook  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Minnie  Doolittle,  a  daughter  of  James  H. 
Doolittle,  a  well-known  resident  of  St.  Joseph 
county.  Two  children  have  been  born  of  this 
union,  Grace  A.,  bom  October  1,  1890,  and 
James  R.,  bom  May  2,  1896.  Mr.  Cook  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


^-^L^<^t'C 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


1909    x^ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


795 


and  has  lived  a  conscientious  Christian  life, 
characterized  by  many  good  deeds. 

George  Frank  Stoeckinger,  although  a 
resident  of  America  less  than  twenty-five 
years,  ranks  as  among  the  most  successful 
men  of  aflfairs  of  Mishawaka,  having  thor- 
oughly mastered  the  business  of  plumbing, 
sewer  construction  and  steam-fitting — a  suc- 
cessful combination  which  requires  un- 
usual mechanical  ability  and  sound  judg- 
ment. These  qualities  which,  in  a  certain 
sense,  are  national  traits,  Mr.  Stoeckinger 
possesses  in  a  marked  degree.  He  was  born 
in  Geiselwint,  Bavaria,  Germany,  on  the  6th 
of  May,  1860,  and  is  therefore  in  the  full 
vigor  of  middle  age.  Sebastian  Stoeckinger, 
his  father,  was  a  native  of  the  same  place, 
where  for  some  years  he  operated  a  mill,  but 
later  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
resided  in  the  Fatherland  until  1885,  when 
he  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  locating 
at  once  in  Mishawaka,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  His  wife  (the  mother 
of  Greorge  F.)  was  formerly  Barbara  Dotter- 
weich,  and  she  is  still  a  resident  of  that 
place,  having  given  birth  to  the  following 
eight  children:  George  Frank,  Fred,  John, 
and  George,  four  sons ;  and  Elizabeth,  Mag- 
dalina,  Maggie,  and  Barbara,  four  daugh- 
ters. 

George  F.  Stoeckinger  attended  the  schools 
of  his  home  community  quite  steadily  until 
he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  subsequently 
assisted  his  father  in  the  conduct  of  his  mill 
and  farm.  Thus  employed,  he  remained  at 
home  until  he  reached  his  majority,  when  he 
went  to  reside  with  a  maternal  uncle,  with 
whom  he  was  employed  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  February  2,  1883.  On  that  date 
he  returned  to  his  home  in  the  Fatherland 
for  the  last  time,  remaining  there  until  late 
in  April,  when  he  received  a  letter  from  his 
uncle,  Valentine  Stoeckinger,  a  resident  of 
Mishawaka,  in  which  was  inclosed  a  ticket 
for  the  journey  from  Sweinfurth,  Bavaria, 
to  that  point.  On  the  26th  of  April  he  bade 
his  home  people  farewell,  but  before  taking 
passage  called  upon  his  uncle  and  family, 
with  whom  he  had  lived  for  about  two  years. 
Being  of  military  age,  Mr.  Stoeckinger  took 
secret  passage  from  Antwerp,  and,  landing 
in  New  York  on  the  12th  of  May,  1883,  trav- 
eled direct  to  Mishawaka. 

When  George  F.  Stoeckinger  thus  became 
a  permanent  resident  of  Mishawaka  and  St. 
Joseph  county,  he  secured  employment  for 

Vol.  IT— 18. 


a  short  time  with  the  Roper  Manufacturing 
Company.  For  two  years  he  then  worked  on 
the  farm  of  William  Milburn,  and  next  ac- 
cepted the  foremanship  of  the  Andrews 
Manufacturing  Company  of  Niles,  Michigan, 
being  thus  engaged  until  the  factory  was  re- 
moved to  Chicago  three  years  later.  During 
the  succeeding  seven  and  a  half  years  he  was 
head  steam-fitter  for  the  Niles  paper  mills, 
and  returning  thence  to  Mishawaka  em- 
barked in  his  present  business  on  a  small 
scale.  Steadily  perservering  in  this  line,  he 
forged  his  way  to  the  front,  secured  trade 
and  patronage  by  his  thorough  workmanship 
and  courtesy,  was  gradually  forced  to  em- 
ploy assistance  to  meet  the  demands  upon  his 
services,  and  he  is  now  the  proprietor  of  a 
large  and  remunerative  business,  in  which 
he  furnishes  employment  to  a  number  of 
men.  He  is  now  the  leading  sewer  contractor 
of  the  city,  and  during  the  construction  of 
the- rubber  plant  in  this  city  furnished  all  of 
its  steam  fittings.  Neither  is  his  trade  con- 
fined to  this  city,  but  extendis  to  South  Bend, 
where  his  name  is  almost  equally  well  known. 
The  final  result,  therefore,  of  Mr.  Stoeck- 
inger's  business  efforts  is  to  build  up  an  en- 
terprise which  not  only  greatly  redounds  to 
his  individual  ability,  enterprise  and  advan- 
tage, but  is  also  of  decided  industrial  benefit 
to  his  home  community. 

In  1886  Mr.  Stoeckinger  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Barbara  Endres,  and 
they  have  become  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Maggie  is  deceased.  Katie 
married  Charles  Schelter,  George  is  asso- 
ciated with  his  father,  and  Fred  is  a  student. 
Mr.  Stoeckinger  gives  his  political  support 
to  the  Democracy,  and,  although  public  spir- 
ited and  actively  interested  in  the  affairs  of 
his  community,  has  never  aspired  to  official 
notoriety.  For  the  past  twenty  years  he  has 
been  identified  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  and  is,  in  every  regard,  prominent- 
ly connected  with  the  social  and  business  life 
of  St.  Joseph  county. 

W.  S.  Moore,  who  is  well  known  to  the 
citizens  of  Mishawaka  because  of  his  effect- 
ive, earnest  labors  in  the  position  of  city 
engineer,  was  bom  in  Indianapolis,  Indiana, 
May  14,  1875,  a  son  of  John  and  Ellen 
(Manix)  Moore,  the  former  a  native  of 
Wayne  county,  Indiana,  and  the  latter  of 
Cincinnati,  Ohio.  The  father  now  resides  in 
Indianapolis,  where  has  won  a  name  and 
place  among  the  leading  contractors  of  the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


796 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


city.  In  their  family  were  seven  children, 
five  sons  and  two  daughters,  but  only  four 
of  the  number  are  now  living. 

W.  S.  Moore,  the  fourth  child  and  third 
son  in  order  of  birth,  received  his  early  edu- 
cational training  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  city  of  Indianapolis,  graduating 
therein  in  1893,  and  in  the  following  year 
he  entered  Purdue  University.  During  four 
years  he  pursued  his  course  of  civil  engineer- 
ing in  that  famous  institution  of  learning, 
receiving  his  diploma  on  the  expiration  of 
that  period,  in  1898,  and  in  the  same  year 
was  appointed  assistant  civil  en^eer  in 
South  Bend.  On  the  16th  of  June,  1904, 
however,  he  resigned  that  position  to  become 
the  city  engineer  of  Mishawaka,  wherein  he 
has  labored  earnestly  and  untiringly  and  is 
winning  the  commendation  of  all. 

In  1900  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Moore  and  Miss  Hettie  Haverly,  she 
being  a  daughter  of  James  and  Anna  (Plum- 
beck)  Haverly,  of  Laporte,  Indiana.  Mr. 
Moore  gives  a  stanch  and  unfaltering  sup- 
port to  the  principles  of  the  Republi- 
can party,  and  fraternally  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Bliss  and  the  Knights  of 
Columbus  of  South  Bend  and  the  Foresters 
of  Mishawaka.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Sigma  Nu  Society  of  Lafayette.  Personally 
he  is  esteemed  by  all  who  have  the  pleasure 
of  his  acquaintance,  for  he  is  loyal  and  true 
to  his  friends,  courteous  and  kindly  in  dis- 
position, and  has  due  regard  for  the  rights 
and  welfare  of  his  fellow  men. 

John  Alexander  McMichael,  a  promi- 
nent representative  of  the  business  interests 
of  Mishawaka  and  St.  Joseph  county,  was 
bom  in  Harris  township  of  this  county, 
September  14,  1846.  His  father,  John  Mc- 
Michael, was  bom  in  Cumberland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  on  the  10th  of  September, 
1813,  and  was  of  Scotch  descent.  His  death 
occurred  on  the  2d  of  April,  1905.  In  the 
early  year  of  1833  his  father's  family  made 
the  journey  by  wagon  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,  encountering  many  hardships  and 
difficulties  on  their  way  hither,  and  after 
their  arrival  the  father  engaged  in  farming. 
John  McMichael  took  an  active  and  promi- 
nent part  in  the  subsequent  development  of 
the  county,  and  for  years  served  as  super- 
visor of  Harris  township,  also  assisting  in 
the  construction  of  the  first  public  highway 
through  that  township.  In  1857  he  gave  up 
his  agricultural  pursuits  and  came  to  Misha- 


waka, where  he  served  as  stock-buyer  for 
A.  B.  Judson  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
gave  his  political  support  to  the  Democratic 
party,  and  was  a  worthy  and  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church.  His  first 
wife,  n6e  Mary  Level,  was  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  they  became  the  parents  of  thir- 
teen children,  of  whom  four  sons  and  two 
daughters  are  now  living,  namely:  Mary 
Rachel  Stoy,  of  Defiance,  Ohio;  John  Alex- 
ander, whose  name  introduces  this  review; 
Margaret  E.  Householder,  of  Mishawaka; 
and  Alfred  R.,  Adoniram  B.,  and  James  A., 
aU  of  Toledo,  Ohio. 

J.  Alexander  McMichael  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  *  and  high  schools  of 
Mishawaka,  and  from  1861  until  1863  served 
an  apprenticeship  at  the  printer's  trade  on 
the  St.  Joseph  Valley  RegisFter  in  South 
Bend.  He  then  went  to  Elkhart,  Indiana, 
and  joined  his  brother,  William  C,  who  was 
at  that  time  publishing  a  paper  there,  but 
shortly  returned  to  Mishawaka  and  took 
chaise  of  the  office  work  of  the  Mishawaka 
Enterprise  until  1871.  In  that  year  he  went 
to  Mason  City,  Iowa,  to  take  charge  of  the 
Cerro  Gordo  Republican,  but  in  the  follow- 
ing year  came  again  to  this  city  and  for  a 
time  thereafter  was  connected  with  his  broth- 
er in  the  publication  of  the  Ave  Maria  at 
Notre  Dame.  Mr.  McMichael  next  had 
charge  of  the  mechanical  department  of  the 
St.  Joseph  County  Register,  but  his  health 
becoming  impaired  he  sought  outdoor  em- 
ployment and  for  seven  years  was  engaged 
in  farming  near  Mishawaka.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period  he  became  connected 
with  the  Mishawaka  Enterprise,  thus  con- 
tinuing for  eight  years.  In  the  meantime 
his  brother,  William  C.  McMichael,  had  been 
elected  clerk  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  he 
then  left  the  journalistic  field  to  become  the 
latter 's  deputy,  remaining  in  that  position 
during  the  following  eight  years.  Return- 
ing once  more  to  Mishawaka,  he  assumed 
charge  of  the  Mishawaka  Building  &  Loan 
Association  as  secretary,  at  the  same  time 
engaging  in  the  real  estate  business,  in  which 
he  has  since  continued.  He  is  also  secretary 
of  the  Masonic  Temple  Association,  whic>^ 
controls  some  of  the  most  valuable  property 
in  the  city,  and  is  one  of  the  directors  and 
members  of  its  executive  committee.  He  has 
served  as  city  commissioner,  also  as  city 
trustee,  and  in  1886  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
of  St.  Joseph  county.     His  talents  are  many 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


cwu^r•Y^,%^;^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


797 


and  versatile,  and  in  the  various  positions 
which  he  has  been  called  to  fill  he  has  nobly 
performed  his  work  and  has  won  a  name  and 
place  among  the  leading  business  men  of  his 
city  and  county. 

In  1871  Mr  McMichael  was  married  to 
Eva  A.  Norton,  of  Perry,  Ohio,  whose  death 
occurred  on  the  8th  of  December,  1906,  leav- 
ing one  daughter,  Grace  E;  Mr.  McMichael 
exemplifies  in  his  life  the  principles  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  of  which  he  is  a  member, 
and  his  religious  c<mnection  is  with  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

CuABjJSS  AiiBERT.  Representing  as  he  does 
one  of  the  oldest  families  of  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty, the  subject  of  this  review  is  well  entitled 
to  an  honored  place  in  the  records  of  this 
section  of  Indiana.  The  family  have  borne 
a  very  important  part  in  the  development  of 
the  community,  which  was  a  wilderness  at  the 
time  of  their  arrival  here  from  Pennsylvania, 
the  birthplace  of  their  son  Charles,  who  was 
bom  in  Philadelphia  March  7,  1843.  His 
father,  Anthony  Albert,  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, but  during  his  young  manhood'  came 
to  America  and  located  in  Philadelphia, 
where  he  was  married  to  Barbara  Beck,  also 
a  native  of  the  fatherland.  In  that  city  he 
worked  at  his  trade  of  carpentering  a  few 
years  or  until  he  saved  enough  money  with 
which  to  purchase  a  horse  and  wagon  and  to 
enter  an  eighty-acre  tract  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana.  Thus  in  true  pioneer 
style  the  family  journeyed  overland  to  In- 
diana, arriving  in  Elkhart  in  1850,  and  in 
the  same  year  they  continued  the  journey 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  where  the  husband 
and  father  purchased  eighty  acres  of  unim- 
proved land  in  Madison  township,  erected  a 
little  cabin,  and  at  once  set  about  the  ardu- 
ous task  of  clearing  his  land  and  placing 
it  under  cultivation.  In  time  this  task  was 
acc(Hnpliahed,  and  he  remained  on  the  old 
homestead  until  his  life's  la/bors  were  ended 
in  death  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years.  He 
was  a  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations, 
and  for  many  years  was  its  representative 
in  the  office  of  township  supervisor.  Unto 
this  worthy  old  pioneer  couple  were  bom 
seven  children,  five  sons  and  two  daughters, 
and  all  are  yet  living.  The  father  and  mother 
were  members  of  the  German  Evangelical 
church. 

Charles  Albert,  the  eldest  of  the  seven  chil- 
dren, received  his  educational  training  in  thf^ 
district  schools  of  Madison  township,  and  the 


early  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  assist- 
ing in  the  clearing  of  the  old  home  farm,  be- 
ginning that  arduous  labor  when  only  seven 
years  of  age.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage  he 
took  up  his  abode  on  a  farm  in  Penn  township, 
where  he  cleared  a  part  of  two  farms  and 
was  also  the  owner  of  several  farms,  at  one 
time  having  in  his  possession  six  hundred  and 
thirty-five  acres  of  land,  while  he  has  also 
erected  four  houses  and  four  barns.  His 
entire  active  business  career  was  devoted  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  but  in  1905  he  laid 
aside  its  cares  and  responsibilities  and  re- 
moved to  Mishawaka,  where  he  erected  the 
pleasant  residence  in  which  he  now  resides, 
and  is  also  the  owner  of  considerable  other 
valuable  property  in  this  city. 

It  was  on  the  12th  of  May,  1864,  that  Mr. 
Albert  was  united  in  marriage  to  Margaretta 
M.  Klein,  who  was  bom  in  Prussia,  Germany, 
Janu«try  15,  1845,  a  daughter  of  Mathias 
Klein,  also  a  native  of  that  country,  where  he 
was  a  prominent  farmer  and  miller.  The  fam- 
ily came  to  America  in  1854,  making  their  way 
direct  to  St  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  where 
the  father  cleared  a  farm  in  Penn  township, 
and  became  one  of  the  leading  agricultur- 
ists of  his  community.  Mrs.  Albert  was  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  Penn  township,  and 
by  her  marriage  became  the  mother  of  eight 
children,  namely :  Mary,  the  wife  of  George 
Moon,  a  farmer ;  Katherine,  the  wife  of  Adam 
Huntsberger;  Louis;  Anna,  wife  of  Winfield 
Hauston,  also  an  agriculturist;  Bena,  wife 
of  William  Lechlitner,  a  carpenter;  Theresa 
R. ;  Matilda,  the  wife  of  Jacob  Weiss,  a  farm- 
er; and  M.  Victoria,  Mrs.  Melvin  Hunts- 
berger. The  children  were  all  bom  and  reared 
in  Penn  township.  Mrs.  Albert,  the  loving 
wife  and  mother,  was  called  from  the  family 
home  by  death  on  the  28th  of  May,  1906,  when 
sixty-one  years  of  age.  Mr.  Albert  gives  his 
political  support  to  the  Republican  party, 
but  is  also  an  active  worker  in  the  ranks  of 
the  Prohibition  party,  and  for  several  years 
served  as  the  supervisor  of  Penn  township. 
His  religious  affiliations  are  with  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church,  and  he  is  an  active 
worker  in  the  cause  of  Christianity. 

Davto  a.  Shaw.  The  name  which  intro- 
duces this  review  is  one  which  is  familiar 
to  the  residents  of  Mishawaka,  for  he  is  now 
serving  as  its  postmaster  and  is  one  of  its 
leading  business  men.  His  birth  occurred  in 
Hamden,  Delaware  county.  New  York,  Aug- 
ust 24,  1866,  a  son  of  Hector  and  Rachel  A. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


798 


HISTORY  OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


(McClaren)  Shaw,  also  natives  of  the  Em- 
pire state,  where  their  deaths  occurred.  The 
father  was  a  tanner  by  occupation.  There 
were  but  two  children  in  the  family,  the 
daughter  being  Kittie,  the  wife  of  Rev.  H.  A. 
Percival,  an  Episcopal  minister  of  Peoria, 
Illinois. 

David  A.  Shaw,  the  only  son  and  eldest 
child,  spent  his  early  life  in  the  place  of  his 
nativity,  and  graduated  at  the  Andover  Pre- 
paratory School.  It  was  in  the  year  of  1892 
that  he  came  to  Mishawaka,  Indiana,  remain- 
ing in  a  clerical  position  until  his  appoint- 
ment to  the  office  of  postmaster  in  1903  by 
President  Roosevelt.  He  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican in  his  political  affiliations,  and  is  well 
known  in  his  community  as  an  active  worker 
in  public  affairs.  Hs  is  now  serving  as  sec- 
retary and  treasurer  of  the  Niles  Realty  Com- 
pany, of  Mishawaka,  who  own  the  Edgewater 
addition  to  the  city,  which  is  one  of  its  most 
beautiful  and  valuable  sections. 

In  1896  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Shaw  and  Elizabeth  M.  White.  She 
is  a  native  of  Delhi,  New  York.  Mr.  Shaw 
has  attained  the  Knight  Templar  degree  in 
the  Masonic  order.  He  is  an  energetic  and 
capable  young  business  man,  in  whom  are 
exemplified  the  best  and  noblest  elements  of 
manhood. 

William  S.  Warner.  As  he  journeys 
down  the  western  slope  of  life  Mr.  William 
S.  Warner  is  vouchsafed  an  honored  retire- 
ment from  labor,  as  the  reward  of  a  long, 
active  and  useful  business  career,  for  through 
a  long  period  he  was  identified  with  the  agri- 
cultural interests  as  well  as  the  carpenter's 
trade  in  St.  Joseph  county.  He  was  bom  in 
Adams  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  15, 
1822.  His  father,  Michael  Warner,  was  also 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  there  mar- 
ried to  one  of  its  native  daughters,  Margaret 
Slabauch,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
twelve  children,  nine  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, and  two  are  now  deceased.  When  their 
son  William,  who  was  the  sixth  child  in  order 
of  birth,  was  a  lad  of  eight  years  the  family 
moved  to  Ohio,  and  in  Stark  county  of  that 
state  the  father  passed  away  in  death. 

It  was  in  the  early  year  of  1854  that  Wil- 
liam S.  Warner  came  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,  securing  work  at  the  carpenter's 
trade  in  South  Bend.  In  1875  he  moved  to  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Penn 
township,  which  continued  as  his  home  for 
eleven  years,  but  at  the  close  of  the  period, 


in  1886,  he  sold  the  farm  and  came  to  Misha- 
waka to  resume  the  carpenter's  trade.  His 
enterprise,  energy,  capable  management  and 
honorable  dealings  through  all  these  years 
brought  to  him  a  comfortable  competence, 
and  in  1903  he  laid  aside  the  burdens  and 
cares  of  a  business  life  to  rest  in  the  en- 
joyment of  the  reward  of  his  former  toil, 
spending  the  evening  of  his  life  in  the  pleas- 
ant home,  217  East  Lawrence  street,  Misha- 
waka. He  is  the  owner  of  two  houses  and 
lots  in  this  city.  ^ 

In  Canton,  Ohio,  on  the  2d  of  May,  1847, 
Mr.  Warner  was  united  in  marriage  to  Bar- 
bara Bushong,  who  was  bom  in  Stark  county 
of  that  state  July  23,  1826,  the  daughter  of 
John  and  Barbara  (Crishbaimi)  Bushong, 
who  were  farming  people.  Mrs.  Warner  died 
July  6th,  1888.  Eleven  children  were  bom 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warner,  namely:  Mary 
Bamhardt,  Emeline  (deceased),  Elizabeth, 
Margaret  (deceased),  Milton,  EUen  (de- 
ceased), William  Henry,  Edward,  Lorenzo, 
Emilie  (deceased)  and  Schuyler.  The  Re- 
publican party  receives  Mr.  Warner's  hearty 
support  and  co-operation,  and  he  as  a  stanch 
advocate  of  all  measures  to  improve  and 
benefit  his  community.  His  reputation  in 
business  has  ever  been  unassailable,  and  in 
all  the  walks  of  life  he  is  found  true  to  duty 
and  to  the  trusts  reposed  in  him. 

Jacob  C.  Snyder,  a  retired  carpenter  and 
farmer  of  Mishawaka,  with  residence  at  223 
East  Grove  street,  is  distinctively  the  archi- 
tect of  his  own  fortunes,  and  from  the  study 
of  his  life  history  one  jtnay  learn  valuable 
lessons.  He  was  born  in  Ohio  on  the  17th  of 
September,  1825,  a  son  of  Christian  J.  Sny- 
der, who  claimed  the  fatherland  of  Germany 
as  the  place  of  his  nativity.  During  his  boy- 
hood days  he  came  with  his  brothers  to  Amer- 
ica and  located  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  learned  his  trade  of  a  butcher 
and  continued  there  in  that  occupation  for 
nine  years,  when  he  removed  to  Circleville, 
Ohio,  and  resiuned  his  trade.  From  that  citj^ 
he  made  his  way  to  Marion  county,  Ohio,  and 
in  that  state  was  married  to  Sarah  Miller, 
who  was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  Penn- 
sylvania, the  daughter  of  Adam  Miller,  one 
of  the  early  pioneers  to  Portage  township. 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Snyder  became  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
five  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom 
were  bom  in  Ohio.  The  father  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  in  that  commonwealth. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


WiUiamS.W; 


amer 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


799 


but  the  mother's  death  occurred  in  Indiana. 
He  gave  his  political  support  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party. 

Mr.  Jacob  C.  Snyder,  their  eldest  son  and 
second  child  in  order  of  birth,  was  but  eleven 
years  of  age  when  he  left  the  parental  home 
and  started  out  in  the  world  to  battle  for 
himself,  learning  the  carpenter  and  mill- 
wright's trades  under  the  direction  of  Ben- 
jamin Cramer.  When  he  had  reached  the 
age  of  nineteen  years  he  started-  for  the  west, 
and  on  the  St.  Joseph  river  he  met  a  man 
with  whom  he  secured  employment  for  a  few 
weeks,  thence  went  west  to  Illinois  and  re- 
mained one  year,  returning  at  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period  to  his  old  home  in  Ohio, 
where  he  was  married.  With  his  young  wife 
he  then  journeyed  to  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, locating  on  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  heavily  wooded  land  in  section  23, 
Madison  township,  and  at  once  began  the 
arduous  task  of  clearing  his  farm  and  plac- 
ing the  fields  nnder  cultivation.  This  was 
an  early  ei)och  in  the  history  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  when  the  wild  animals  were  yet 
plentiful  in  this '  vicinity,  and  the  first  home 
of  the  family  was  a  hewed  log  house.  Later 
he  built  a  frame  house.  In  1866  Mr.  Snyder 
rented  his  land  and  moved  to  Mishawaka, 
building  a  residence  on  the  old  Vistula  road, 
now  caUed  Second  street,  but  this  he  later 
traded  for  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  land  in  Clay  and  Harris  townships,  living 
there  for  about  thirty  years,  then  he 
moved  to  Mishawaka,  bought  the  present 
home,  and  has  lived  here  ever  since.  He  de- 
voted his  time  for  awhile  to  carpentering, 
then  retired  from  active  life  and  is  enjoying 
a  well-earned  rest. 

In  Ohio,  in  1850,  Mr.  Snyder  was  married 
to  Catharine  E.  Arthur,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1830,  a  daughter  of  Aaron 
B.  Arthur,  who  was  also  of  that  common- 
wealth and  a  representative  of  a  prominent 
old  family,  to  which  President  Arthur  also 
belonged.  Spending  her  first  sixteen  years 
in  her  native  state  of  Pennsylvania  Mrs.  Sny- 
der then  moved  to  Marion  county,  Ohio, 
where  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Mr. 
Snyder,  and  to  them  have  been  born  six 
children,  five  sons  and  one  daughter:  John 
W.  (deceased),  Arthur  B.,  Henry  J.,  Schuy- 
ler H..  Sarah  M.  and  Charles  (deceased),  all 
bom  and  reared  in  St.  Joseph  county.  In 
his  younger  life  Mr.  Snyder  gave  his  political 
support  to  the  Democracy,  but  when  the  Re- 


publican party  was  formed  to  prevent  the 
institution  of  slavery  he  joined  its  ranks,  for 
he  was  an  ardent  anti-slavery  man,  and  in  its 
ibehalf  had  many  a  heated  debate  with  emi- 
nent politicians,  including  Draper  and 
Thomas  Hendricks.  During  the  war  which 
followed  he  served  in  the  irregular  service 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Union  League.  Dur- 
ing a  period  of  four  years  he  served  as  the 
assessor  of  Madison  township  and  for  one 
year  was  its  deputy  appraiser.  Mr.  Snyder 
is  also  an  active  church  worker,  aflftliating 
with  the  Baptists,  and  on  the  14th  day  of 
May,  1867,  he  helped  to  organize  the  church 
of  that  denomination  in  Mishawaka,  and  of 
its  eighteen  charter  members  only  three  are 
now  living.  His  path  has  ever  been  upward, 
his  friends  are  many  and  his  example  is  well 
worthy  of  emulation. 

Waitteb  Michael.  Among  the  officials  of 
Mishawaka  will  be  found  the  name  of  Walter 
Michael  in  connection  with  the  position  of 
city  clerk.  This  is  an  indication  of  his  popi^ 
larity  and  prominence,  and  all  who  know  him 
willingly  accord  him  a  leading  place  among 
the  esteemed  citizens  of  the  community.  His 
entire  life  has  been  passed  within  the  borders 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  has  been  one  of 
honor  in  husiness  and  fidelity  in  places  of 
public  trust.  On  the  14th  of  May,  1876,  in 
Mishawaka,  Indiana,  there  was  born  to  Wil- 
liam and  Ella  (Friend)  Michael  a  son  to 
whom  they  gave  the  name  of  Walter,  and  he 
is  proving  a  worthy  scion  of  a  noble  sire. 
The  parents  were  natives  respectively  of 
Mishawaka  and  Portage  Prairie,  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indliana,  and  the  father  was  long  en- 
gaged as  a  wood  turner  in  this  city,  his  death 
here  occurring  at  the  <age  of  fifty-two  years, 
but  his  widow  still  survives.  They  were  the 
parents  of  two  children,  the  daughter  being 
Grace,  the  wife  of  0.  W.  Gingrich,  of  South 
Bend. 

Walter  Michael,  the  only  son  and  younger 
child,  supplemented  the  educational  training 
which  he  received  in  the  schools  of  Misha- 
waka by  a  conunercial  course  in  the  National 
Business  College  of  Chicago,  in  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1897.  He  afterward  secured 
the  position  of  bookkeeper  with  the  firm  of 
Rankert  &  E^leston  of  Mishawaka,  with 
whom  he  remained  for  three  years,  and  since 
that  time  has  been  connected  with  the  public 
affairs  of  this  city,  first  serving  as  the  deputy 
clerk  in  1902,  and  in  1906  was  elected  to  that 
important  ofiBce,  assuming  charge  of  its  af- 


Digitized  by 


Google 


800 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


fairs  in  September,  1907.  He  has  been  effi- 
cient and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties,  making  a  most  competent  official.  The 
fraternal  relations  of  Mr.  Michael  connect 
him  with  the  Masonic  order,  in  which  he  has 
aittained  the  Knight  Templar  degree,  and 
with  the  Elks  of  South  Bend.  In  political 
affiliations  he  has  been  a  zealous  Republican^ 
active  in  campaign  work,  and  laboring  ear- 
nestly for  the  adoption  of  the  principles  which 
he  believes  will  best  advance  good  govern- 
ment. 

Amos  Williard,  who  for  many  years  has 
been  prominent  in  local  affairs,  giving  his  best 
talents  and  powers  to  his  fellow  men,  is  one 
of  the  native  sons  of  St.  Joseph  county,  bom 
in  Penn  township  on  the  1st  of  April,  1862. 
His  father,  Emanuel  Williard,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  but  became  one  of  the  early 
pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
whither  he  emigrated  when  about  eighteen 
years  of  age.  He  afterward  returned  east, 
and  was  there  married  to  Emelina  Schofstall, 
whose  birth  also  occurred  in  the  Keystone 
state,  and  after  their  return  to  St.  Joseph 
county  they  took  up  their  abode  on  a  farm 
in  Penn  township.  During  the  Civil  war 
the  husband  and  father  spent  three  years  in 
the  service  of  his  country,  and  with  his  wife 
he  yet  resides  in  his  old  township  of  Penn, 
surrounded  by  the  friends  of  long  ago  as 
well  as  those  of  recent  years.  Unto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Williard  six  children  have  been  born, 
four  sons  and  two  daugthers,  and  the  family 
circle  yet  remains  unbroken  by  the  hand  of 
death. 

Amos  Williard,  their  eldest  son  and  third 
child,  spent  the  first  fifteen  years  of  his  life 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Penn  township,  com- 
ing thence  to  Mishawaka  and  identifying 
himself  with  the  occupation  of  drilling  wells, 
his  time  being  thus  employed  for  five  years. 
For  a  time  thereafter  he  followed  various 
employments,  and  for  five  years  was  asso- 
ciated with  the  old  pulp  mill,  after  which 
he  entered  the  Dodge  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, and  for  ten  years  served  as  foreman 
of  one  of  its  departments.  Mr.  Williard  then 
spent  one  year  in  the  south,  returning  on 
the  expiration*  of  the  period  to  Mishawaka. 
Throughout  the  period  of  his  majority  he 
has  remained  an  active  member  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  his  devotion  to  the  in- 
terests of  the  public  won  him  his  present  of- 
ficial position  as  chief  of  the  city  fire  de- 
partment.   In  the  early  days  of  the  company 


he  had  served  as  chief  of  the  volunteer  de- 
partment, and  on  the  organization  of  the  paid 
department  was  made  its  first  chief,  thus  con- 
tinuing until  his  resignation  in  1905  in  order 
to  visit  the  south,  while  on  his  return,  on 
the  1st  of  April,  1907,  he  was  reinstated  as 
chief. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Williard  was  cele- 
brated in  1886,  when  Rosa  Edwards  became 
his  wife.  She,  too,  claims  St.  Joseph  county 
as  the  place  of  her  nativity,  and  their  union 
has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  one  child, 
a  son  Harry.  The  fraternal  relations  of  Mr. 
Williard  connect  him  with  the  Masonic  order 
and  the  Knights  of  Pythias  of  Mishawaka. 

John  A.  Graham,  the  teller  of  the  Misha- 
waka Trust  &  Savings  Bank  of  Mishawaka, 
was  bom  in  London,  Canada,  January  14, 
1872,  a  son  of  John  and  Rebecca  Graham, 
the  former  a  native  of  Scotland  and  the  lat- 
ter of  Canada,  but  of  Scotch  descent.  Of 
their  ten  children,  eight  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, their  son  John  was  the  seventh  in  order 
of  birth.  His  early  educational  training  was 
received  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
country,  and  later  he  pursued  a  pharmacy 
course  in  Toronto,  fully  preparing  himself 
to  enter  the  drug  business,  while  for  two 
years  following  his  graduation  he  served  as 
manager  of  a  drug  store  in  Grand  Rapids, 
Michigan.  In  1897  he  came  to  Mishawaka, 
Indiana,  and  engaged  in  the  drug  business 
in  company  with  his  brother,  A.  B.  Graham, 
this  relationship  continuing  until  1901,  and 
from  that  time  until  1905  Mr.  John  Graham 
was  the  manager  of  the  American  Malt 
Cream  &  Drug  Company  of  Mishawaka.  At 
the  organization  of  the  Mishawaka  Trust  & 
Savings  Company  he  was  tendered  the  posi- 
tion of  teller,  the  duties  of  which  important 
position  he  has  ever  since  continued  to  dis- 
charge with  his  iisual  promptness  and  fideli- 
ty. The  institution  was  organized  in  May, 
1905,  and  on  the  14th  of  June  of  the  same 
year  the  doors  of  the  bank  were  opened  for 
business,  the  following  men  constituting  the 
officers  of  the  firm:  W.  W.  Mix,  president; 
J.  H.  Beiger,  vice-president;  E.  L.  Beatty, 
second  vice-president;  P.  S.  Fuson,  secretary 
and  cashier.  The  capital  stock  of  the  com- 
pany is  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  while 
the  surplus  amounts  to  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars.  The  bank  is  regarded  as  one  of 
the  most  reliable  financial  institutions  in  this 
section  of  the  state,  and  its  board  of  directors 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


^ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


r  - 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


801 


embrace  some  of  the  most  prominent  and  sub- 
stantial business  men  of  the  city. 

In  1889  Mr.  Graham  was  married  to  Fan- 
nie Beiger,  the  daughter  of  J.  H.  and  S.  L. 
Beiger,  of  Mi^iawaka.  The  only  child  of 
this  union  is  a  son,  Henry  Beiger.  Mr.  Gra- 
ham is  a  stanch  Republican  in  his  political 
affiliations,  taking  an  active  interest  in  the 
work  of  the  party,  and  has  represented  the 
Second  ward  in  the  city  council.  His  ster- 
ling worth  commands  the  respect  and  con- 
fidence of  all,  and  he  is  one  of  the  valued 
citizens  of  Mishawaka. 

C.  A.  OsTROM.  Canada  has  furnished  to 
the  United  States  many  bright,  enterprising 
young  men  who  have  left  the  Dominion  to 
enter  the  business  circles  of  this  country  with 
its  more  progressive  methods,  livelier  com- 
petition and  advancement  more  quickly  se- 
cured. Among  this  number  is  Mr.  Ostrom, 
who  was  bom  in  Ontario,  Canada,  March  1, 
1872,  a  son  of  Elijah  and  Catherine 
(Archer)  Ostrom,  also  natives  of  the  Domin- 
ion, where  the  husband  and  father  was  for 
many  years  engaged  as  a  commission  mer- 
chant in  Petersburg,  his  death  there  occur- 
ring in  1892.  The  widow  still  makes  her 
home  in  Canada.  Of  their  seven  children  all 
grew  to  years  of  maturity  and  four  are  now 
living,  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 

C.  A.  Ostrom,  the  youngest  of  the  family, 
spent  the  first  twenty  years  of  his  life  in 
his  native  land,  receiving  his  education  in 
the  high  school  of  Petersburg,  and  also  pur- 
suing a  course  in  a  business  college  in  that 
city.  In  1892  he  left  that  city  for  Chicago, 
where  for  a  time  he  served  as  assistant  tea 
buyer  for  the  large  firm  of  Reid,  Murdoch 
&  Company,  later  becoming  one  of  their  trav- 
eling salesmen,  with  headquarters  in  South 
Bend,  and  his  entire  connection  with  that 
corporation  covered  a  period  of  eight  years. 
After  his  marriage,  in  1899,  Mr.  Ostrom 
joined  the  tide  of  emigration  to  Cripple 
Creek,  Colorado,  where  for  one  year  he  was 
engaged  in  mining  operations,  having  in  his 
employ  fifty-five  men,  but  at  the  close  of 
that  period  he  sold  his  interests  there  and 
returned  to  the  east,  locating  in  Mishawaka, 
where  he  purchased  a  half  interest  in  the 
Graham  &  Wilson  drug  store,  but  two  years 
later  sold  his  interests  therein  and  engaged 
in  the  real  estate  and  other  business  interests. 
Success  has  attended  his  well  directed  efforts, 
and  his  varied  interests  in  this  city  include 
his  presidency  in  the  Ross  Furniture  Com- 


pany, vice-president  of  the  Mishawaka  Fold- 
ing Carriage  Company,  secretary  of  the 
Mishawaka  Public  Improvement  Corporation, 
president  of  the  Business  Men's  Association, 
president  of  the  Mishawaka  Realty  &  Invest- 
ment Company,  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
the  Eastern  Mishawaka  Realty  Company  and 
a  director  and  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
M.  V.  Beiger  Realty  Company.  He  is  a  thor- 
ough worker,  and  applies  himself  closely  to 
his  business.  It  has  been  very  largely 
through  Mr.  Ostrom 's  personal  efforts  that 
Mishawaka  is  to  have  its  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollar  hotel  building.  Stock  has  been 
subscribed,  the  ground  bought  and  bids  are 
now  being  accepted  by  the  Mishawaka  Im- 
provement Corporation  Company,  of  which 
Mr.  Ostrom  is  secretary  and  Mr.  M.  W.  Mix 
is  president.  The  building  will  stand  as  a 
monument  to  the  men  who  have  made  it 
financially  possible,  and  Mr.  Ostrom  deserves 
the  greatest  credit. 

In  1899  Mr.  Ostrom  was  married  to  May 
C.  Jemegan,  the  daughter  of  E.  A.  and 
Nannie  C.  (Sherman)  Jemegan,  whose 
sketch  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
They  have  become  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren, Alfred  Sherman  and  Margery  Jeme- 
gan. Mr.  Ostrom  gives  his  political  support 
to  the  Republican  party,  is  an  active  and 
efficient  worker  in  its  ranks,  a  member  of 
the  leading  clubs  of  Mishawaka  and  also  a 
Knight  Templar  Mason. 

George  F.  Eberhart.  One  of  the  enter- 
prising business  men  of  Mishawaka  is  Georg:e 
F.  Eberhart,  who  has  been  identified  with  vari- 
ous of  its  leading  interests,  and  is  now  ranked 
with  the  representative  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity. He  is  also  numbered  among  the 
county's  native  sons,  for  his  birth  occurred 
in  Penn  township  on  the  8th  of  November, 
1868,  his  parents,  Frederick  G.  and  Roxey 
R.  (Vesey)  Eberhart,  being  numbered  among 
the  early  residents  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
where  the  father  is  still  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  in  Penn  township.  Four  chil- 
dren blessed  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eber- 
hart, but  only  two  are  now  living,  the  daugh- 
ter, Sabra,  being  the  wife  of  George  F.  Cooke, 
of  Minneapolis,  Minnesota. 

George  F.  Eberhart,  the  younger  of  the 
children,  is  indebted  to  the  public  schools  of 
Mishawaka  for  the  early  educational  training: 
which  he  received  during  his  boyhood  days, 
and  since  leaving  the  school  room  he  has  been 
variously  employed.    During  a  period  of  two 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


802 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


years  he  was  a  general  merchant  in  Osceola, 
Indiana,  and  for  four  years  traveled  for  the 
Mishawaka  Woolen  Company,  while  for  two 
years  he  was  engaged  in  the  wood  and  coal 
business  in  Mishawaka,  and  in  1902  turned 
his  attention  to  real  estate  operations,  in 
which  his  efforts  have  been  attended  with 
success.  Steadily  and  gradually  he  has  been 
advancing  in  the  business  world  until  he 
now  occupies  an  enviable  position  in  the  in- 
dustrial circles  of  Mishawaka. 

Mr.  Eberhart  has  been  twice  married,  first 
in  1891  to  Abbie  E.  Plumb,  who  died  after 
a  happy  married  life  of  only  two  years,  and 
in  1895  he  wedded  Olga  L.  Burgess.  Their 
union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  two 
sons,  George  F.  and  Rusself  J.  Mr.  Eberhart 
votes  with  the  Republican  party,  and  has 
membership  relations  with  the  Elks  of  South 
Bend. 

Albert  0.  Row,  one  of  the  leading  real 
estate  dealers  of  Mishawaka,  with  offices  at 
107  West  Second  street,  was  born  in  Liberty 
township,  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana.  Febru- 
ary 20,  1873,  a  son  of  Jacob  D.  and  Hannah 
(Knepp)  Row,  both  natives  of  Ohio,  the  for- 
mer of  Tuscarawas  and  the  latter  of  Holmes 
county.  It  was  in  the  year  1859  that  the 
father  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  locating 
on  the  farm  he  now  owns  in  Liberty  town- 
ship, and  it  continued  as  his  home  and  the 
scene  of  his  labors  until  1906,  when  he  re- 
moved to  another  farm  near  Lakeville  in 
Union  township.  There  he  yet  resides,  and 
in  addition  to  his  agricultural  labors  he  is 
also  a  veterinary  surgeon.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  became  a  member  of  a  company  at 
its  organization,  and  with  it  assisted  in  the 
suppression  of  the  rebellion.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Row  became  the  parents  of  five  children, 
namely :  William  C,  a  mail  carrier  in  South 
Bend;  Martin  A.,  a  farmer  in  Union  town- 
ship; Jennie,  the  wife  of  Lewis  Lonzo,  also 
of  Union  township;  Albert  0.,  whose  name 
introduces  this  review:  and  Clara  A.,  the 
wife  of  Clarence  Rensberger,  a  merchant  of 
Lakeville,  Indiana. 

Albert  0.  Row  spent  the  early  years  of  his 
life  on  the  old  homestead  in  Liberty  town- 
ship, attending  the  district  schools  near  his 
home  and'  later  pursuing  the  teacher's  course 
in  the  Valparaiso  University.  With  his  edu- 
cation completed  he  was  engaged  in  farming 
and  dairying  for  seven  years  in  German 
township,  St.  Joseph  county,  and  in  190D 
purchased  a  farm  in  Harris  township,  there 


continuing  his  agricultural  labors  until  1906. 
In  that  year  he  sold  his  farm  and  removed 
to  Mishawaka  to  engage  in  the  real  estate 
business.  He  is  the  leading  real  estate  dealer 
of  the  city  and  has  control  of  considerable 
valuable  property.  Mr.  Row  is  energetic  and 
reliable  in  all  his  transactions,  and  has  thus 
gained  the  confidence  as  well  as  a  liberal 
share  of  the  patronage  of  the  public. 

In  1894  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Row 
and  Fannie,  the  daughter  of  W.  O.  and 
Elizabeth  (Chamberlin)  Jackson.  She  was 
bom  and  reared  in  German  township,  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  has  become  the  mother  of 
two  children,  Grace  A.  and  Lester  Jay.  Air. 
Row  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  public 
affairs  of  the  community,  voting  with  the 
Democratic  party,  and  in  1900  he  was  elected 
to  the  position  of  trustee  of  Harris  township, 
continuing  to  discharge  its  duties  for  four 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  the 
Maccabees,  the  Owls,  No.  4,  of  Mishawaka, 
and  of  the  Grange. 

Samuel  Ulery  is  prominent  among  the 
energetic,  far-seeing  and  successful  business 
men  of  Mishawaka.  His  life  history  illus- 
trates what  may  be  attained  by  faithful  and 
continued  effort  in  carrying  out  an  honest 
purpose,  and  integrity,  activity  and  energy 
have  been  the  clowning  points  in  his  success. 
His  birth  occurred  in  Marshall  county,  In- 
diana, January  6,  1859,  his  parents  being 
Jesse  and  Louisa  (Benner)  Ulery,  both  na- 
tives of  Ohio.  The  former  was  bom  in  Dela- 
ware county  and  the  latter  in  Summit 
county. 

Michael  Ulery,  grandfather  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  bom  in  Reading,  Penn- 
sylvania, of  German  ancestry.  He  removed 
from  there  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Delaware 
county,  living  there  until  1852,  when,  accom- 
panied by  his  family,  he  removed  to  Indiana, 
making  the  entire  journey  overland  with 
teams,  and  located  at  what  was  then  called 
Uniontown,  but  now  named  Culver,  in  Mar- 
shall county.  He  bought  a  farm,  of  which 
there  was  about  twenty  acres  cleared,  and 
a  log  house  constituted  the  improvements. 
He  resided  in  that  county  until  his  death  in 
1871.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was 
Elizabeth  Speicher,  born  in  Pennsylvania. 
She  died  in  1856.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  but  eighteen  years  old  when  he  came 
to  Indiana  with  his  parents.  He  was  reared 
on  the  farm  and  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits all  his  active  life.     After  retiring  from 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


^^^•^j-^-t-c^j^^L^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by, 


Google 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


803 


the  farm  he  cape  to  Mishawaka  and  has 
since  made  his  home  at  809  Elizabeth  street. 
The  wife  and  mother  died  in  this  city  in 
February,  1905,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years, 
leaving  the  companion  of  her  youth  and  sub- 
sequent years  to  continue  the  journey  of  life 
alone.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ulery  were  bom 
nine  children,  seven  sons  and  two  daughters, 
but  only  five  sons  and  one  daughter  lived 
to  adult  age. 

Samuel  Ulery,  their  eldest  child,  grew  to 
years  of  maturity  on  the  old  home  farm  in 
Marshall  county,  and  the  educational  training 
which  he  received  in  his  early  years  was  the 
result  of  his  own  energy  and  determined 
efforts.  For  eight  years  he  was  engaged  in 
teaching  school  in  Marshall  county,  while 
during  his  residence  there  he  also  served 
as  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  was  appointed 
by  Governor  Claude  Mathews  as  a  deputy 
prosecuting  attorney.  It  was  in  the  year  of 
1897  that  Mr.  Ulery  came  to  Mishawaka,  his 
first  employment  here  being  as  a  wood  worker 
in  the  furniture  company,  while  later  he  as- 
sisted in  installing  the  machinery  for  the 
Singer  works  at  South  Bend.  After  spend- 
ing some  time  with  the  Dodge  Manufacturing 
Company,  he  was  with  the  Mishawaka 
Woolen  Company,  and  then  began  his  con- 
tracting business,  this  being  in  1901,  and 
since  that  time  he  has  diligently  pursued  the 
vocation,  at  the  present  time  working  on  the 
eighty-third  building  which  he  has  erected  in 
Mishawaka.  Among  the  nimiber  are  included 
many  of  the  city's  most  beautiful  and  sub- 
stantial structures,  including  the  Masonic 
Temple,  and  he  has  also  built  and  sold  many 
houses.  In  the  prosperity  of  the  city  of  his 
home  he  has  been  an  invaluable  factor,  his 
public  spirit  and  progressive  ideas  being  of 
inestimable  worth  to  the  community. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Ulery  was  celebrated 
in  1879,  Clara  P.  Burket,  who  was  bom  in 
Pulaski  county,  Indiana,  a  daughter  of  Dan- 
iel and  Rachel  Burket,  becoming  his  wife, 
and  their  four  children  are:  Alice,  the  wife 
of  Clifford  Kiracofe,  of  Mishawaka;  Stella 
M.,  Herbert  C,  who  is  engaged  in  business 
with  his  father,  and  Ernest  S.  Mr.  Ulery 
is  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Association  in  Mishawaka,  having 
served  as  the  superintendent  of  its  Sunday- 
school  for  seven  years.  He  has  filled  many 
of  the  oflSces  of  the  denomination,  and  is  an 
active  worker  in  the  cause  of  Christianity. 
He  also  has  membership  relations  with  the 


Masonic  order  and  the  Knights  of  the  Mac- 
cabees, and  in  his  political  affiliations  is  a 
Democrat.  His  residence  is  at  219  West  Jo- 
seph street,  Mishawaka,  Indiana. 

Herman  Schifper.  A  native  son  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  during  the  past  few  years 
a  resident  of  Mishawaka,  Herman  Schiffer 
enjoys  an  enviable  position  among  the 
younger  representatives  of  the  business 
interests  of  the  city,  having  by  honor- 
able and  correct  methods  gained  the  confi- 
dence of  his  fellow  townsmen.  He  was  bom 
in  South  Bend  on  the  29th  of  March,  1875. 
His  father,  August  Schiffer,  a  deceased  flo- 
rist of  South  Bend,  was  bom,  reared  and 
educated  in  Germany,  but  during  his  young 
manhood  came  to  America  and  established 
his  permanent  home  in  South  Bend,  Indiana. 
In  that  city  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Augusta  Tessmar,  who  also  spent  the  early 
years  of  her  life  in  her  native  land  of  Ger- 
many, and  they  became  the  parents  of  three 
children,  two  sons  and  a  daughter :  Herman, 
whose  name  introduces  this  review;  Edward 
and  Clara,  the  wife  of  Robert  Schwank,  of 
South  Bend,  where  all  of  the  children  were 
born  and  reared.  Mr.  Schiffer  was  a  mem- 
ber of  St.  Peter's  church  in  that  city,  and 
his  death  occurred  at  the  early  age  of  thirty- 
three  years. 

Herman  Schiffer  received  his  educational 
training  in  the  schools  of  South  Bend,  but 
from  his  twelfth  year,  when  not  in  the  school 
room,  he  was  busy  at  work  in  the  factories, 
having  made  his  own  way  in  the  world  from 
that  early  age.  He  began  the  study  of  phar- 
macy under  the  preceptorship  of  M.  M. 
Myers,  of  South  Bend,  with  whom  he  spent 
about  two  years  and  a  half,  and  also  studied 
under  his  successor,  a  Mr.  Coonley,  working 
in  the  store  from  the  16th  of  March,  1893, 
until  the  6th  of  November,  1899.  During 
that  time  he  had  embarked  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness with  his  brother  across  the  river,  and 
in  1899  became  associated  with  W.  0.  Rennoe 
on  West  Washington  street,  with  whom  he 
continued  for  about  two  years,  and  on  the 
expiration  of  that  period,  in  1901,  came  to 
Mishawaka  and  purchased  the  drug  business 
of  Cass  &  Company  at  his  present  location 
in  partnership  with  R.  P.  Milton,  having 
previously  sold  his  interest  in  South  Bend 
to  his  brother.  In  addition  to  his  large  store 
which  he  has  conducted  throughout  his  resi- 
dence in  Mishawaka,  he  is  at  the  present 
time  opening  another  store  on  the  north  side 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


804 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


of  the  city.  He  is  public  spirited  and  thor- 
oughly interested  in  whatever  tends  to  pro- 
mote the  material  welfare  of  his  chosen  city, 
and  during  the  period  of  his  residence  here 
he  has  been  nimibered  among  its  valued  and 
honored  citizens. 

In  South  Bend,  on  the  8th  of  May,  1900, 
Mr.  Schiflfer  was  married  to  Elizabeth,  the 
daughter  of  Henry  Miner,  of  that  city.  She 
was  bom  in  Germany,  but  was  reared  in ' 
South  Bend,  as  she  was  brought  here  by  her 
parents  when  only  three  years  of  age.  Two 
children  have  been  bom  of  this  union.,  a  son 
and  a  daughter,  Herman  and  Helen,  the 
former  a  native  of  South  Bend  and  the  lat- 
ter of  Mishawaka.  The  family  home  is  at 
207  West  Fourth  street.  The  fraternal  rela- 
tions of  Mr.  Schiflfer  connect  him  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  of  Mishawaka,  with  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees  of  South  Bend  and 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Zion  Evangelical 
church  of  South  Bend. 

William  F.  Kerr,  proprietor  of  the  Misha- 
waka Opera  House,  was  born  in  Penn  town- 
ship of  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  April 
5,  1859.  His  father,  John  Reed  Kerr,  was 
a  native  of  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  but  in 
early  life  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Ohio, 
and  about  1837  came  to  Mishawaka,  Indiana, 
where  for  four  years  he  was  connected  with 
the  Montgomery  Furniture  Company.  He 
then  entered  the  employ  of  the  Singer  Sew- 
ing Machine  Company,  with,  whom  he  re- 
mained during  the  long  period  of  thirty-two 
years,  his  life's  labors  being  ended  in  death 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  He  was  a 
prominent  factor  in  the  business  and  social 
circles  of  the  6ity  in  which  he  so  long  made 
his  home,  and  for  forty  years  he  held  mem- 
bership relations  with  the  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. In  early  life  Mr.  Kerr  wedded  Alvira 
Oliver,  who  was  bom  in  New  York,  but  came 
with  her  parents  to  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
she  now  resides  in  South  Bend.  To  them 
were  bom  two  sons,  but  the  younger  died 
at  the  age  of  eighteen  years. 

William  F.  Kerr  began  the  battle  of  life 
for  himself  at  the  early  age  of  fourteen 
years,  and,  learning  telegraphy,  was  for  five 
years  in  the  employ  of  the  Lake  Shore  and 
Michigan  Southern  Railroad  Company.  On 
the  expiration  of  that  period  he  began  learn- 
ing the  cabinet  maker's  trade  and  was  asso- 
ciated with  the  Roper  Company  for  eighteen 
years,  about  sixteen  years  of  the  time  serving 
as  foreman  of  their  cabinet  department.   His 


next  employment  was  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
continuing  his  contracting  and  building  oper- 
ations until  1906,  when  in  January  of  that 
year  he  rented  the  Mishawaka  Opera  House, 
and  at  the  present  time  owns  the  controlling 
interest  in  the  building,  and  also  the  build- 
ing underneath.  In  his  various  undertakings 
Mr.  Kerr  has  been  very  fortunate,  and  grad- 
ually he  has  forged  his  way  to  the  front  until 
he  is  now  numbered  among  Mishawaka 's 
leading  business  men  and  representative 
citizens. 

In  1887  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Kerr  and  Orrena  Batson,  and  they  have 
had  four  children,  Margaret,  Alice,  Esther 
and  Carroll,  but  the  third  daughter,  Esther, 
is  deceased.  Mr.  Kerr  has  given  a  life-long 
support  to  the  principles  of  the  Democratic 
party,  his  first  presidential  vote  having  been 
cast  for  Winfield  Scott  Hancock.  He  is  a 
man  of  sterling  worth,  and  justly  merits  the 
high  regard  in  which  he  is  held. 

Jacob  BucHHErr.  Among  the  citizens  of 
Mishawaka  to  whom  is  vouchsafed  an  hon- 
ored retirement  from  labor,  as  the  reward  of 
a  long,  active  and  useful  business  career,  is 
Jacob  Buchheit,  who  through  an  extended 
period  was  prominently  connected  with  the 
agricultural  interests  of  St.  Joseph  county. 
His  birth  occurred  in  Waterloo,  Ontario, 
Canada,  on  the  10th  of  March,  1844,  a  son 
of  Jacob  and  Mary  Buchheit,  natives  of  Ba- 
varia, Germany.  The  father  came  to  Amer- 
ica when  a  young  man,  and  seven  times  he 
crossed  the  broad  Atlantic,  living  in  Buffalo, 
New  York,  for  six  years,  while  for  nineteen 
years  he  was  a  resident  of  Canada,  and  in 
1862  located  in  Penn  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  where  his  death  occurred 
when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  eighty-one 
years.  The  wife  and  mother  was  called  to 
the  home  beyond  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight 
years.  In  their  family  were  fourteen  chil- 
dren, eight  of  whom  grew  to  years  of 
.  maturity. 

Jacob  Buchheit,  the  eldest  son  and  second 
child  in  the  family,  was  eighteen  years  of 
age  at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  family 
from  Canada  to  St.  Joseph  county,  and  with 
the  exception  of  one  year  spent  in  Buffalo, 
New  York,  he  has  since  been  a  constant  resi- 
dent within  its  borders.  In  June,  1904,  he 
sold  his  old  homestead  in  Penn  .  township. 
Throughout  his  entire  business  career  he  was 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  but  in  1904 
he  erected  and  moved  to  his  present  home 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by 


Google 


^Aa^K/^^J^  (^/cyvxc4^   ^ 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


i;isTOK/  ir^  ^r   ,h;:::-['iT  r*jrN'iv 


><.'*.i 


"  'i^    .'.>•:    i'Wu    h' !;''.•:'   1  !      ,!.■.•( I'-ri's 
.    ';.    i'>   '>  •'!   ;i.  t-r-ir,,.--:  •};!  ■    'm.mi).  - 

1       !'    ■•   :*    !. 

:•      '  •.^':    *^  \    s   h  ^   p-v. t'i.',,   sii;..  .M't   to 

;    s  :  '  :    '..K  .  '  fcT   ih,'  n  'l-f  of  cw-ntiy 

'H     ■,    *  ■-'.    n.thouvdi    ,l*'It;iLfv!    hy   o?.- 

'  .*  .'.jh  •*';•  \,.:  ^.,  }|.'  I'.tiTiO*!  "<(  .J'j 

'*..      >'    .     T  ,       ...ill,.       Il^s   •"  J  ..t,*: ',-,:T 

'  ."•>  ri;:    '   ''*r  h>  •  n  ;i'i  Ks.N;t:'>i);lf'.  ,  'id  m 
-  *;^-'  .-^l      '.  '  lir  is  j<iurd  trill    '<i  i!  'iv 

'    '.    •         .'     '  d   to  ill.    i''"i^ihKN  ot    M   ^'ri 

•  •^  f;  '  .iv.    tip  r,iit.-!'   -ui    \Ki'    SKI  J    Mi   Ml 

'   ;  '' r'Mi    Wv'  ti*;i.'t-  tl*:^  f^p" -ts  o[ 

■    '     •     .-       V   .''id    *}*•!< Ji.  V- 1' du^v-^   as  h  ;  •- 

-'  ^'     ^ij..  .'  \\  lio  st  ♦:!  I  \v'/t\  in  t'  iv'." 

..  i  *'/ii   tit  alrnosl  (*\"]\    i*--m'  M;<  . 

•     1      '     '-'•   '-iN.'n    ^'r  ■^''.,d!^    h\    th  sr 

■  ^    „..    ■u.d'M  ''tcrlly   ji'>vs(-s>,d   i'v 

'  ■'  .     s  M;-    ;)"•:;, owl'..„'<\'   .,  ;id.  r  lU 

"  •    !-^.  in  Ai.sh:.  \  !k...     Ills  ].i::h 

!'  fin    to.,:i<li;p    .,1     St.    .);><*  J, h 

•  -      n\l.'^     il<-rthiMd     id     tfi   ;    cdv, 

'♦  fi^s  part  1,*^  U.  iiif;  {  ^  ..  s 
.  "ih  II  uiit -ii_r(  r  1  h'-'^cr.  ♦n-th 
.''  '^"1    difs'  '  U  .*    'ijJy     '^''.■*  'i'l  tM-r 

>     tO\VriS!lt}>     M.>     t^*+^     ])^>'-e>    of    J:    ^ 
\'.  •:'•'     fl"       .Hit  :   ;'*r  I     to     /'  ^-d* 

■'      IL'    if:    t'>  o     o      -lilt.:  i(  HI     I'»T'    ^iUoUt 
\t    rilf    .       -.••    ^.f'     '[.:■!     T-.  »';  id     h" 

'    -ii    -icTivi'    h.t-'  ■    ,^      ..'I'f's    ^lIld,    !•■  . 

•  Mid    f^«ilid.    \S  {  .  h>      !>    SMt^l'diri.jr 


t'     ;i    :r»n:;    ..J':* 


\!  ■ 


'  .  "\  a\    'It  1  U,'  ,  '  r  i\    ;i  '  '  of  Ih'riy 
"  d  in  tu-  *r  f.i'M'       ,;■"••  ■  .■  .i»'  .^».^^^; 
.,'"Ji'T\    h:  J    (].'     .  ;!    •  :    .'  ^    I    ,tT    ^  ho 
-(  n    y.  n^ 

h';7Hdl     th  '      .    ".:.•!       '        t    >•     d    >('(»- 

?;  '1  't'd   '»:•   i\v   '.d   '.  ■••-.    ;*,.:':r.    h^ 

■•.\)    until    ;dn  n;     v     -      \n*  .s    of 

••.-if:'"  .(»  \!'di,.'-..  •'  '    ;■'  ".  at  thii 

o     '',  -t'MM'    y-  i?'-     •,      .    .-tn    t|,r 

'"or  hM'^.  :t'.   w  .  .  ,  rj  ^\  r  h  Wmv 

'  ,^\'/  :•  wid'di    •'  •     .'i   '  .   '  '   };:'n  ati 

Wh.M    !:->    1  (d    r 'VI  s    i     fh'' 

.  *.     \>.Hrs  "tu-  ot-^    •.   i    iii''>  .   JiM   r-p 

;•   ii      Mh    fiiri^  :  ift    a;oi    >.:i  i»'v;;ik- 


'i:u''  ^>U';d'   vs,  ;,i  fi.,T     « ,  ■"%  '      :;  uTjd:  ■    .• 

NoM  V  .>'"*  (  i,"  .'  d"  d;n.s  "  .^  ■  fii->l  '"»''  ■• 
?ii'tl  f.-r  Tdri'-  v,-,.!s  '•.-  ;•<  .'•./■.-  :  <>;  tiJ"  ^-mj  «.  s 
(.1  d.  S  td;N  \t  ,^i'  ...■'.  •  II  a>  I  in: 
p-'r:  ■  '.  i:i  1  '-'-J  '  t  I'liL';--:-  I  i'  ^v[-]\i^--<  i  •: 
ill  t --.  'i\     ,'".ii't:r';  .  r     u.t'i    .       •,^p:d.      -'M' 

U-  •  .  d'^'  Ir-  j::do>>  ,t-ili  r  p»M  '^  ..r;'Mi  ,..'d 
'     ..     .'     r    i.C     ^-V'-'/V     r'f.,r  ;  \:      [     .'i      tn     ^'i  '"  \\ 

n.ixrr    "m   i-ida"'-  <»f  -..t  ■  -  ->   •   .'   t<'   h-. .-"!!.• 

t\i      p:'  »o-''.'   or    r,t    ].  s    fti    .;   -  .•;;»  -'W-r's    ^u^'• 

1.  \'s  i*!'  .1.  :.s  tn  t-  ^  :L,i  t'  .-v'-M'.  !■(  hid 
'if.iti'M'i^tM'  f /(  T.i  Dr  \iyr]s  s^"  •  s  f<f  •  itiJ"  'itj ■ 
di^  M  r. ..<'.;  r  :>' :  (».;>.'.  ,M.di  !u.d  •'^{'"''.^•M  a 
stao-     !;'."ll>".        iil     J:d-. '.!<>]!     t(;     ':   -        ^i.-'.-'V*' 

tn.dt'r'>  i; 'P*i  'm-.'-,^s  ^w  ?d<'>  con,'."        ..  t 
drjo  p.''.'  JiV-^'"      '     n  \  ;:]\i]  is  nut'  -;'  *';•     ■! 
;M"v'.  _.    ,.    ■    ^^  i,    ><  V'^s  i\-''n  (d*  A    ^?..<  .\  .'■• ;; 
\:>     i*''i'    '.     -,     '.-i.-oi      1(1    dit'    III?. .'1 'I  -4'    o* 

•  -.-.^^  .  r  >  f  M-.  ;.  d  M'>  K-1''  i*l  vd-  •  !  \  'i 
I  .,:;  :'''\!t  f  n.  '*i  d.t>.  i-'i  <'(.'iirity,  Iitdi../.-. 
'  'u>  .'.id  -f.  'd  ''"  \r,\i>  i>'  '''^'i  *>  a  Ifi'i:  'lU"' 
^'"P^>*  ^..\  .  :•.  An  Fm.  ^-  Ji(*id-  r...'r,i[}M"dj'|* 
I'l-';:':  r.s  v'-tn  tin*  .Ma.-«uir'.  Ur-  M<>d>  r<; 
^*'' o'.....'i],  tJi4»  K'.j-tits  (jf  ,!i**  M.^v..:.  ■^  '■'. 
!\n'    i!"  '  <if   Tyihuis  and  Odd.  >d  llow^    '    m:    r^ 

J.^'A  ■••»  Xr.F     \V      ('k\K1S        'f  Ik     d^'StTVi-d     yo- 
A,  ''d      '•{     a      V.  t^Il     .sprl't      hf.-     IS     HTl      h  n-^rrd 

)•!'*  n '  r:.'-f;  ^'roUi  'xisiii'S^  di  v  hi'di  to  rVi<'' 
•fwM'''"f-  m"  f'TiiH^*  toil,  'i ..  .^i\ ,  a f'l' r  a  MM - 
fn  and  l-"n(»^''  nt  C'.'f''"*'.  .\ir.  t  '-aVrs  i> 
ill  -d^Y  dvi'iL*"  at,  h-s  y,*;*-  >;.:  ;  r'.-'trn'  i'-  A'isha- 
•.     '   .,  S'.:  :*oond»^d   1\/   'L*'   -  ..:t. '' r-ts  tliat    rar 

'  '"-i     i  do'   ;•    h'is    l.--n'j]i1    If^    i-     '■;         It,'    IR    (VK?    i>f 

(*-  'fo^'  .-t  /unwnjt  f'dir't'T^  u  io'^'t-'  tliis  plac* 
K,.  iiN  M.'.pn.  iid,.'if)lr  'i,,:'-^";  '  / : -v  iind  i»n^i- 
\,  ^•<    -dt'l;*/,    tiironuh    \vt.r-'"       •    w.-is    mo>^    t,. 

.^.  lit  V.  as 
^^'ln  tn\VMN''dp.  SI  I  -^^.'pll  *'''.!.M,.  . 
Ino.rinu.  O'^oh'T  27.  1^>^  ::  .-^andon  'd* 
i''  -iM'-  i-i  A  ji'if'n-*  'M;';^'i;.d.  (  ^'iicrs,  aiid 
J  ■■  :;  <d'  't'ii  mas  a'-'t  .\^  ."-x  (  -  lu  -<.  The 
f-'if-'T  v.as  born  in  EriLdai.-l  ni  1*J7.  .irid 
->' a^  [nit  ioMi"  y».,r.s  !»f  ^,mp  at  lijr  ;  nn'  o1  ih. 
I  "  "  .r'M  :  iM  ol  in  ,-  ii'  iits  1<»  tliis  <-oi!  -t:  y.  It  t 
'•  r.'jy  fir  ^  l(  f  .::.,'  m  N- 'v  Yofk.  Tiiofi..N 
V  d%  1 J  \  Mi''.-"jp. -nd^v  I'Mnov/ ]  to  llantn'irttni, 
ind';ni:i,  and  tjn'i.-,-,  to  St.  d  ..>.  p]i  t'oii»'ty  In 
l-l<  pn"dia.dr.u  a  Tipn  td"  e'lLlid^  ..'"rr^  in 
^lad.'on  'ownship.  to  whirh  In  lalt '^  a<ldtd  a 
I  rat-:  (d'  fiM 'y  afvc>.  As  tJH'  \  .-ai"^  tta.-^cd 
!)y  ii(  <n  T'.«l«'d  in  flcarn.^  tho  ni<-.st  of  lii> 
land,  '^Vi\  was  nnnd/intd  aniof,:^''  th**  Ir  atlmir 
'U'rictot'Tist.s  xd  tn-  Ioai  s*.  ;,  In  tht^  l.id  id' 
I'^ni   he  ♦MdistiMi  fo»- ..orv,.-"  .:.  <itr  ('',\i1  v.'ar. 


d  !  "i"    !'[»   a    lai'jc   innin  v  "'v. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


/'/ 


/ 


t  V 


1 


[/ 


r 


,\/\   V    '--^i.^. 


) 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


805 


in  Mishawaka,  his  energy  and  enterprise, 
capable  management  and  honorable  dealings 
having  brought  to  him  a  comfortable  compe- 
tence, and  therefore  he  put  aside  business 
cares  to  rest  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits 
of  his  former  toil. 

Mr.  Buehheit  gives  his  political  support  to 
the  Democratic  party,  and  at  one  time  was 
his  party's  candidate  for  the  oflSce  of  county 
commissioner,  and  although  defeated  by  one 
hundred  and  eighteen  votes,  he  carried  South 
Bend  and  Portage  township.  His  reputation 
in  business  has  ever  been  unassailable,  and  in 
all  the  walks  of  life  he  is  found  true  to  duty 
and  the  trusts  reposed  in  him. 

Prank  J.  Pinch.  In  connection  with  the 
midertaking  business  the  name  of  Prank  J. 
Pinch  is  not  limited  to  the  confines  of  Misha- 
waka,  but  extends  throughout  the  surround- 
ing country.  When  we  trace  the  careers  of 
those  whom  the  world  acknowledges  as  suc- 
cessful and  of  those  who  stand  high  in  public 
esteem  we  find  that  in  almost  every  case  they 
are  those  who  have  risen  gradually  by  their 
own  efforts,  their  diligence  and  perseverance. 
These  qualities  are  undoubtedly  possessed  by 
Mr.  Pinch,  who  is  the  acknowledged  leader  in 
undertaking  circles  in  Mishawaka.  His  birth 
occurred  in  Penn  township  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  three  miles  northeast  of  this  city, 
August  13,  1876,  his  parents  being  Charles 
H.  and  Levina  (Huntsinger)  Pinch,  both 
also  natives  of  St.  Joseph  county.  The  father 
claimed  Penn  township  as  the  place  of  his 
nativity,  and  there  he  continued  to  reside 
until  a  few  years  ago,  when  he  moved  to 
Mishawaka  and  embarked  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness, continuing  in  that  occupation  for  about 
five  years.  At  the  close  of  that  period  he 
retired  from  active  business  cares  and  re- 
moved to  South  Bend,  where  he  is  spending 
the  evening  of  a  long  and  useful  life.  Mrs. 
Pinch  passed  away  at  the  early  age  of  thirty- 
five  years,  and  in  their  family  were  four  sons 
and  one  daughter,  but  the  latter  died  at  the 
age  of  thirteen  years. 

Prank  J.  Pinch,  the  second  child  and  sec- 
ond son,  remained  on  the  old  home  farm  in 
Penn  tovmship  until  about  nine  years  of 
age,  when  he  came  to  Mishawaka,  and  at  the 
early  age  of  thirteen  years  he  began  the 
battle  of  life  for  himself,  working  for  a  time 
at  any  occupation  which  would  yield  him  an 
honest  living.  When  he  had  reached  the 
age  of  twenty  years  he  entered  upon  an  ap- 
prenticeship at  the  furniture  and  undertak- 


ing business,  at  first  receiving  the  munificent 
salary  of  three  dollars  a  week  and  board, 
and  for  nine  years  he  remained  in  the  employ 
of  J.  S.  Ellis.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
period,  in  1902,  he  engaged  in  business  for 
himself,  pi'actically  without  capital,  but 
gradually  his  indomitable  perseverance  and 
unfaltering  energy  enabled  him  to  slowly 
mount  the  ladder  of  success  and  to  become 
the  proprietor  of  his  former  employer's  busi- 
ness. Previous  to  this  time,  however,  he  had 
graduated  from  Dr.  Myers'  school  of  embalm- 
ing in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  had  received  a 
state  license.  In  addition  to  his  extensive 
undertaking  business  he  also  conducts  a  hack 
line  and  livery  stable,  and  is  one  of  the  enter- 
prising young  business  men  of  Mishawaka. 

In  1900  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Pinch  and  Grace  Crooks,  she  being  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Crooks,  of 
Penn  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana. 
The  only  child  of  this  union  is  a  daughter, 
Emily  Lovina.  Mr.  Pinch  holds  membership 
relations  with  the  Masonic,  the  Modern 
Woodmen,  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  Odd  Pellows  frater- 
nities. 

Lawrence  W.  Crakes.  The  deserved  re- 
ward of  a  well  spent  life  is  an  honored 
retirement  from  business  in  which  to  enjoy 
the  fruits  of  former  toil.  To-day,  after  a  use- 
ful and  beneficent  career,  Mr.  Crakes  is 
quietly  living  at  his  pleasant  home  in  Misha- 
waka, surrounded  by  the  comforts  that  ear- 
nest labor  has  brought  to  him.  He  is  one  of 
its  most  prominent  citizens,  winning  this  place 
by  his  commendable  characteristics  and  busi- 
ness ability,  through  which  he  was  able  to 
"build  up  a  large  lumber  business.  He  was 
bom  in  Penn  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,  October  27,  1851,  a  grandson  of 
Prancis  and  Martha  (Marshall)  Crakes,  and 
a  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  Crakes.  The 
father  was  bom  in  England  in  1827,  and 
was  but  four  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the 
emigration  of  his  parents  to  this  country,  the 
family  first  locating  in  New  York.  Thomas 
Crakes  subsequently  removed  to  Huntington, 
Indiana,  and  thence  to  St.  Joseph  county  in 
1848,  purchasing  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in 
Madison  township,  to  which  he  later  added  a 
tract  of  forty  acres.  As  the  years  passed 
by  he  succeeded  in  clearing  the  most  of  his 
land,  and  was  numbered  among  the  leading 
agriculturists  of  the  township.  In  the  fall  of 
1861  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  war. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


806 


HISTORY   OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


entering  the  Forty-eighth  Indiana  Vohinteer 
Infantry,  in  which  he  served  for  three  years 
and  three  months,  entering  the  ranks  as  a 
corporal,  and  at  the  time  of  his  discharge 
was  serving  as  sergeant.  During  his  army 
service  he  was  severely  wounded  in  the  col- 
lar bone,  and  in  compensation  for  his  army 
life  he  afterward  drew  a  pension.  Mr.  Crakes 
participated  in  many  of  the  important  bat- 
tles of  the  conflict,  includdng  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg,  and  after  the  close  of  the  war 
he  returned  to  the  old  home  farm  in  St. 
Joseph  county.  He  had  been  previously  mar- 
ried to  Mary  (Moon)  HoUingshead,  a  native 
of  New  York  and  at  that  time  a  widow.  Her 
death  occurred'  in  1868,  and  by  her  marriage 
to  Mr.  Cra'kes  she  became  the  mother  of 
three  sons  and  three  daughters, — ^Francis  M. 
(deceased),  Lawrence  W.,  Martha  A.,  Mary 
J.,  George  0.  and  Hattie  H.,  all  of  whom 
were  born  and  reared  in  St.  Joseph  county. 
Mr.  Crakes  aflSliated  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  also  in  later  years  upheld  the 
principles  of  the  Prohibition  party,  while 
religiously  he  was  an  active  member  of  the 
Methodist  church,  in  which  he  held  the  of- 
fice of  treasurer.  He  gave  his  support  to 
many  of  the  leading  business  enterprises  of 
St.  Joseph  county,  but  his  principal  occupa- 
tion was  in  connection  with  milling,  having 
for  many  years  been  the  proprietor  of  a  saw 
mill  in  Madison  township,  while  for  three 
years  he  conducted  a  mill  in  Alabama.  Hi^ 
life's  labors  were  ended  in  death  when  he 
had  reached  the  seventy-seventh  milestone  on 
the  journey  of  life. 

Lawrence  W.  Crakes,  a  son  of  this  leading 
business  man  and  pioneer  citizen  of  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  received  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  Madison  township,  and  the 
early  years  of  his  life  were  spent  on  the  old 
homestead  farm,  which  he  assisted  in  clearing 
and  cultivating.  In  the  fall  of  1872  he  went 
south  with  his  father,  making  the  journey 
with  teams  to  Madison  county,  Alabama, 
where  they  engaged  in  farming  for  three 
years.  Returning  thenee  to  St.  Joseph  county 
he  engaged  in  the  saw  mill  and  lumber  busi- 
ness with-  his  father,  but  returned  in  1885 
to  Alabama,  to  Jackson  county,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  saw  milling  business,  coming 
agam^to  St;  Joseph  county  in  1888.  He  re- 
mained with  his  father  until  the  latter 's  re- 
tirement in  the  fall  of  1888,  when  he  pur- 
chased  the  business  and  property  and  con- 


tinued its  conduct  until  his  retirement  in 
1903. 

On  the  14th  of  September,  18^1,  Mr. 
Crakes  was  united  in  marriage  to  Carrie  M. 
Sarber,  born  in  Michigan  City,  Indiana,  to 
William  and  Sarah  (Hunstable)  Sarber.  Mr. 
S.  P.  L.  Hunstable,  the  grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Crakes,  was  a  shoe  dealer  in  Niles  for 
fifty  years.  During  her  girlhood  days  Mrs. 
Crakes  came  to  St.  Joseph  county  with  her 
parents,  where  the  father  followed  farming 
in  Madison  township,  and  after  the  mother's 
death  they  removed  to  South  Bend,  he  there 
resuming  his  trade  of  carpentering.  Four 
sons  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crakes, 
namely:  Willis  Hunstable,  Francis  Willard, 
both  now  at  Los  Angeles,  California;  Clar- 
ence Sarber  and  Thomas  Steele,  all  bom  and 
reared  in  St.  Joseph  county.  Strictly  tem- 
perate in  all  his  habits,  Mr.  Crakes  upholds 
the  principles  of  the  Prohibition  party,  and 
is  also  a  worthy  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  He  has  won  and  retains 
the  esteem  of  his  friends  and  associates  and 
the  confidence  of  the  business  public. 

L.  E.  HiNER,  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Hess 
&  Hiner,  general  contractors  and  builders 
of  Mishawaka,  with  oflSces  at  517  Bridge 
street,  was  born  in  Madison  township,  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  July  23,  1858,  a  son 
of  Abraham  C.  Hiner,  who  claimed  New  Jer- 
sey as  the  state  of  his  nativity.  He  was 
reared,  however,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  in  an 
early  days  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  estab- 
lishing his  home  in  Madison  township,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  general  agricultural  pur- 
suits for  many  years.  He  now  resides  in 
Mishawaka,  one  of  the  honored  old  pioneer 
residents  of  the  county.  Mrs.  Hiner,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  Ohio,  is  also  living,  and  to 
this  revered  old  couple  were  bom  seven  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  proving  worthy  repre- 
sentatives of  the  honored  family  name. 

L.  E.  Hiner,  their  eldest  child,  spent  the 
first  seventeen  years  of  his  life  on  the  old 
homestead  farm  in  Madison  township,  assist- 
ing in  its  cultivation  and  improvement,  and 
afterward  learned  and  followed  the  milling 
trade  for  about  four  years,  when  he  was  com- 
pelled to  relinquish  its  work  on  account  of 
failing  health.  Since  that  time  he  has  fol- 
lowed the  carpenter's  trade,  and  in  1906  a 
partnership  was  formed  with  Mr.  Hess,  whose 
history  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
The  firm  of  Hess  &  Hiner  is  well  known 
throughout  this  section  of  St.  Joseph  county, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


\ 


..     ,y 


Digitized  by 


Google 


I 


,:ii^^xi-t^ 


GooQie 


Digitized  by  VjOOQ 


llIST(>HY    \5F    ST.   JOSKPll    COrX'I 


(-    :•       p'.i  u-     't*  Th«'   p'- -r'l'iw.it   luiil'l  HIT-,  ai;*l 

'!,••'•.     .<    >..   ..^11  \ /no. is    \\\Ui   st  ra'.irhif-j;-- 

•   '  '•'.       !*  ..-MirNs      im-"1k:i:-'  's      j'litl      l.'ir.oi  :*ni" 

/*   •'-'    .i^.     Mr.  H  };.»M-  is  ,-!%'»  !»rfMin:.t'i'ny  !•!<  L- 

'••     '/-'-.'li  ['   rt»lal;«>ns  with  tii«'  orti«'r  of  ('.ni 

..  N     •»!,{    th-^     \l  i-'-pio    .  1  (1   r.    ;'  I'i    ;<    :' 

•*.    K(':Mihlii'nji   ill  h!v  jH>lit:'':tl  a;'}Ili*iMi)ijs. 

•    ■  *'\s  t!,^    i\'trM*il  '  t'  i'i>  h  i!«'w  (J./'iis. 

'I     '  ^    l.jv<./al''}     K.i'-v\n    jn    Alish^i\^  aki    aiul 

->t     \   oour  ty. 
'■'';*    )    W     i\i-^-       Dnrs'U"   U  «-    U*i.  i    |'*t',(  ^l 
:**.-*  lir»''  '.".'s   Fr'Mi    VV.  Kn-s  Ij.ts  !..  oi. 
..    •      >■;»-    ;    .»f   M'<ha\«.M;.,i,  «r:vi  Ki-   '-'-/li   iH-n- 

'    '        !-..N''l    to    i-s    sn^-  :uUi.>i    d- v*  I' ;  ,.•'';!* 
.it;;"'(  .r.ii-'nt.      !}'>   pj-olnty.   ii«i' '  t\    .'id 

'     ..     r*as^.^   'l«\vn   *\u    \\\-^''vn  .•>!-. i'"  <r   M'^; 

'  ',•      "     '»"^'.''il    t'Vr     I»  ilDW    Mil    upT-'ci't    **?M-t'*  T-. 

'.        '■•rvtji.    .,t:ourM  I    in     Pj-i.<  la.    t.iT'n.iny. 
'  ary   *^7     ]s4r>    an«l    :ii    Li;^   Tiati\t*   j»li«*" 

IS     )f    .(.•'',    a''t>'i-  whi.-h    Ih'    M?\-<1    Hi    ai)- 

■  *       i''ri?h'.{'  oi*  1'v.'  yans  ■•''  tli'    •   ,!:»»:  s  ■ra(U\ 

.ri'    to    A  111'"" -a    Ui    l>i-^.    Ml.    Ku--'-    *M*st 

•''*.!    -n    (Uv..'?.l:'<\    Illiiinis,    \v)i.rf    t,.r   t^-, -m- 

:-    i''-    :»li**d    \'  <  \\:i<\*\  ,ju\    lor  two  >•*•»»> 

.     .:.rt^!    11'    '•  ..;  'i  Im"    '.     ( >n  til-'  (  \|>i.'a- 

/    ci:a!    p'T'  >'l.   in    1--^^    h*     .^'j:.^'*']    i». 

'  .      fri"'f''-\    .•)]*{  u'       'O"  1'  4S  '      s  iJi  tha- 

*t    is    r'o:i;  .[iii!t|  ^    I'o/    t\\f'lv*'   ytvt'v.    aij'l 

'    .    _\i-;  '-^ .  r<  <kIv(1  ..'11    '\    .•■nni    hi    1*^'7  m 

'T        «  '►:a'!ij   til.  i.tf    Mt    \|  ^iMv.ar<t.   l.c 

■  '    his   w<,ik  oi'  lial  .';•/     \\liTi)   !i  *.s  vm^-*- 
':uv.t*'[    hs   «'r.Miv   tiiwt     ;i\\y[    a^'«rti    r 

l';''"t    lie     r,elU',]    !■>   I'I  t  s.'*,t    »'Sla!jIis}l- 

11    \vl'i''h   }"'   furiMsIp's  t  niplovnu'..!    lo 

'  •    I        Ifis    T.arii*'    Ktari.Is    (•oii^j'..-i;  -i.siv 

"    ;ht     hisi'^'-v    oT    tuc    l>'i^r,.'^s    witt-r 

■  ^' I'tnv. .  r  a.  ■<»?•  Tlirotii:'!  'nai-y  vccM's 
.  ;  '■,  t-M  ".'*  ot'  ']*<  I'.j.'lMir  t'-:*'*'  r-  pro- 
^     •.  f-i'.rrpi  isii.':  }ji(l  ]  t  pNt-v      >•)'.:     'I'-icst^ 

• -^    .'■.■.t\s  -A'',!  sii'T.  A,  ai'il  t..  All.  Knss 
'•,<>•     '>r'...li'a    haTMl^ojiif    '•(' .u)i'Imum' 
..-  .'.imI    .r  h's  w.  i!  .]'n.'t.-<l  .   f,"*>-ts. 

*■,.'    L*t>h    nf    '.l-!»-rh,    1^7}     ]w'    VMS    lOii^t    i 

iv;   .  .'      in    Mary    Wn-.    wtif-s.     diaih    o;'- 

■*.'     iTi    *Uc   _;"!}.    of    April.    Vm):),    It'avii^^' 

"].:..irvri.    (  ^a"!i.\    Kdwan!    .I'.d    Ai-'ia. 

'*    *>'  ^'  ■'.     ]-'.'r  uiai:y  ynirs    \1''    Kibs  lia^ 

•:  ..'-   ?i'-'iw     part   Ml  l()i',;I  p.i'h*s    an'l  lor 

vt.j'v     ;-fp»'.  SI  iitril    ti'i     S*-c'>ii(l    wa-d    In 


tho  <''ty  ''oiint'il,   W  '^  '1'      t 

t'ouP'-H.iKw.   at    ..M  ir<\   ^'. '     . 
h'»:  *s.      i  J  IS   J]*at»':i'  '     : 
i\U\  F.'lu.v>s.     His     ..      ' 
u>.cf:i'   ai.il  h-ii'kJ-ai'i'^    "  .   . 
ills  \\"'i  >:'Mnt  iiTf  t  ••    '    • 

oi'   ll  ^    t»dloV\    lllt:n. 

acii  f  ,t  -i    sui'^'f  '^    ]]i    *  I  ,   * 
n\iu\\)('i'*-*\   i)avMl   Moor*',   \^ . 
a^M•o!^!^^  of  a  ln>  ^>  }i*«']i  i^  >- 
f iIiunn^ht^^   l>y    l!a*   ino^t    ^o* 
'  f  i'i;a'  acN^t .      Th''   laniily   \ 
<  'h'o  11!  a  v*'r\   .,■!'%    ua\    f- .   ' 
of  I  \<  V  i-l    .IoIji,    ;  ,1  -"'f,  wi.  ■   " 
yr       .'  M<l,    aiui    !i  ^    -J!.    A'h'.'. 
I'./'a  r  "]   .    ..•  ^.i\.  ' ,-».   •v\'a-  a   :     '  - 

S»,n    (  otU  I  \  ,'•[.<..        i  »^'      l.'jilr       .     • ' 

•3.    a  !•<-'. jN-T',  st'  ..     (M/t.-r  ■  ,'<!  ' 
h.^    o    -iN     aod    om-:''!      iitV    \\    -    . 
^t:it»*  ".  io'-]]  L-aV"  h\]'.  l-.'-tli  ^'t 
.^l;-^  vo;;rs.  Ii*  b-;  .-aily  lit.'  h     ...  . 
i)oth    lla-^  '\',    a   ''ati\'.''   <latj.r;,o      >  . 
\  aiiirt,  hi  f  i'rarcc'  i-i  ( Muo  .'-m:)! 
\  <"»:.. -s,    a-.ti    si  a'    \'^\i-'[    to    tin-    ''    «    : 
i)'L"t\   1  v\      ^••'■i<-s.      Ijj    i!t  ^'r   I  ,'•*'. 

t*'.  j:  -  !'  :..'.  -;.  thn-"  -<.!:>  .  r.-,  t'    *      .'.    * 

of    \-  *!'  Ui    v"'vV    to    \!'ai\s    nf    JiaM'I'JV  '    .. 

.-N'   M  •'/     1' V  il'LT. 

1  •  i\  '(l    ^;  HM't'  a:l'  iia  li  to  v«  ;  rs  of    .  ■    " 
ill  '..'^.lat'Vt   st;io^"  <'f  nil  .).  ,i!;'l  \' '."Ml   !•    •:'■     f 
v*' "      .f   a.'c    iu    Ik'l..."    ,\i>,-^],;l'   f ';    t.-ii.-'-' 
a^ll:  ■"    h   la*  r»  'n\il     d  a!    h. .!■.»■   fa-  ^-oi-h    y-     '-^ 
t  ia'»-'' .t''*r        Ij    \v;'s    'm    J'.ia*     V*r;J,    !!•;•*    • 
an  :\ .  -'  ill  }  J  id  an  -'i.  1.  1 1  -"rira.  <  k  \  for  t'i!»'t 
xt^a:'*^   i;-'   xvas   ,Mipit._\;    .    •,.    tli      t    initira    .'a  ■- 

T'-r'-  s    ')f    t  i..     f'.(,\'.        i  !■     .   M  -'    Ir-    W  .  "1    to    Viilis- 

*•..,  [owa.  tait  1  MirO'  .  i'  :n.>  <  dy  in  1^7^  a'l'i 
r*- M  '.  d  ii.>  (■Mipl.t\ '•,  :•:  in  tha  fa.-T'-ry  In 
]-.>]  h«'  )»-L'.»:i  }.'s  •*or..  at'tni,:  a:*  .  l»ii»M:i  " 
«'l»'"  .ditt'  •>,  a:al  s;:' M^  tn-'t  ti'af  I'a.s  *•>'♦•'':..' 
ra  ji.y  ot' t  :uMh'^*  nstd  •  ■  ■  i'  M  i  diawal  i  aim 
.-H!'!-"nnMin^  *' a'*-  ■•;  .  11  :s  nana-  is  thus 
[  1  ""/inrritly  a-.-') -i.it.  d  \  -d  !.a  hn'.itl.n^^r  jp. 
bats's,    .ifKi    Iir    lins    a'-''a-   '•.'    -n.-acss    ni    tid^ 

\(H  ; 

l';i!nt?    ).'.>   i*<\s)d''nrt»   in    \''ii,s.*a,    Jowa.    d 
L^ii,    \i'\    A[«M  ra   ^vas    nnP   '1    ii'    riMiriaL'''   to 
Kr\ii!a   1>    J''d(Mdit'!d.  a   oa'iva  nf  Oloo  an  I   a 
d^oi^hj,  r     nf      Wdln.ai      1).  Cu-m-     l.d.*  nd-  .d 
J^'nnr  'di  Mrrti  liav*    t-'.  n   liorn  <d"  tids  nnaai. 
inr:],']y  :   <;;i\    M.,  a   r'-<'d'-nt   of  S(-i:}i    li.M.d 
(Ht<>  (i.    who  -nak*'-  h.s  ii  at:  -  in   Misha  \  d^a  . 
(diarh's    Aih.  ri     a:t''n«d.n'^'    a    ••  .mmi   •■' 'i;a    :   >!- 
h^i:.     in    "^orrli    h.'nd  :    and    H  tiha-n    i>'<ar^'-. 
nh-i  da' I  at   0]v  a"'  of  niia■^M  o   \.-!,v,     ol;.> 


Digitized  by 


Google 


n 


/: 


/ 


.^>  /  ^-'<^-<^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


HISTORY   OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


807 


for  as  contractors  and  builders  they  have 
erected  many  of  the  principal  buildings,  and 
their  name  is  synonymous  with  straightfor- 
ward business  principles  and  honorable 
methods.  Mr.  Hiner  is  also  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  social  life  of  the  city,  holding 
membership  relations  with  the  order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  the  Masonic  order,  and  is  a 
stanch  Republican  in  his  political  affiliations. 
He  enjoys  the  regard  of  his  fellow  citizens, 
and  is  favorably  known  in  Mishawaka  and 
St.Jo9eph  county. 

Fred  W.  Kuss.  During  the  long  period 
of  thirty-three  years  Fred  W.  Kuss  has  been 
a  resident  of  Mishawaka,  and  has  been  iden- 
tified with  many  of  the  interests  that  have 
contributed-  to  its  mibstantial  development 
and  improvement.  His  probity,  fidelity  and 
sterling  worth  have  won  him  the  unqualified 
confidence  of  his  fellow  townsmen,  and  now 
as  he  passes  down  the  western  slope  of  life 
his  pathway  is  brightened  by  the  respect  and 
honor  which  ever  follow  an  upright  career. 
His  birth  occurred  in  Prussia,  Germany, 
February  27,  1845,  and  in  his  native  place 
was  reared  and  attended  school  until  fifteen 
years  of  age,  after  which  he  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  five  years  at  the  baker's  trade. 
Coming  to  America  in  1868,  Mr.  Kuss  first 
located  in  Chicago,  Illinois,  where  for  three 
years  he  plied  his  trade,  and  for  two  years 
was  a  baker  in  South  Bend.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period,  in  1873,  he  engaged  in 
both  the  bakery  and  grocery  business  in  that 
city,  thus  continuing  for  twelve  years,  and 
for  three  years  resided  on  a  farm  in  Penn 
township.  Coming  thence  to  Mishawaka,  he 
resumed  his  work  of  baking,  which  has  ever 
since  claimed  his  entire  time  and  attention, 
and  in  1905  he  opened  his  present  establish- 
ment, in  which  he  furnishes  employment  to 
nine  men.  His  name  stands  conspicuously 
forth  in  the  history  of  the  business  inter- 
ests of  Mishawaka,  for  .through  many  years 
he  has  been  one  of  its  leading  factors,  pro- 
gressive, enterprising  and  persevering.  These 
qualities  always  win  success,  and  to  Mr.  Kuss 
they  have  brought  a  handsome  competence 
as  the  reward  of  his  well  directed  efforts. 

On  the  26th  of  March,  1874,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Mary  Wies,  whose  death  oc- 
curred on  the  25th  of  April,  1905,  leaving 
three  children,  Charlie,  Edward  and  Anna, 
all  at  home.  For  many  years  Mr.  Kuss  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  local  politics,  and  for 
six  years   represented   the   Second   ward   in 


the  city  council,  while  in  1905  he  was  elected 
councilman  at  large,  which  position  he  now 
holds.  His  fraternal  relations  are  with  the 
Odd  Fellows.  His  career  has  been  an  active, 
useful  and  honorable  one,  and  by  reason  of 
his  well  spent  life  he  enjoys  the  high  regard 
of  his  fellow  men, 

DAvm  Moore.  Among  those  who  have 
achieved  success  in  their  chosen  calling  is 
numbered  David  Moore,  whose  record  is  the 
account  of  a  life  which  is  uneventful,  yet  dis- 
tinguished by  the  most  substantial  qualities 
of  character.  The  family  was  established  in 
Ohio  in  a  very  early  day  by  the  grandfather 
of  David,  John  Moore,  who  was  a  native  of 
Maryland,  and  his  son,  Abraham  Moore,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Harri- 
son county,  Ohio.  The  latter  was  employed 
as  a  cooper,  stone  cutter  and  shoemaker,  and 
his  busy  and  useful  life  was  ended  in  the 
state  which  gave  him  birth  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
three  years.  In  his  early  life  he  married  Blizia- 
beth  Hagey,  a  native  daughter  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  reared  in  Ohio  from  the  age  of  six 
years,  and  she  lived  to  the  good  old  age  of 
ninety-two  years.  In  their  family  were  thir- 
teen children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters 
of  whom  grew  to  years  of  maturity  and  five 
are  now  living. 

David  Moore  attained  to  years  of  maturity 
in  his  native  state  of  Ohio,  and  when  fourteen 
years  of  age  he  began  working  for  himself, 
although  he  remained  at  home  for  some  years 
thereafter.  It  was  in  June,  1873,  that  he 
arrived  in  Mishawaka,  Indiana,  and  for  three 
years  he  was  employed  in  the  furniture  fac- 
tories of  the  city.  In  1876  he  went  to  Villis- 
ca,  Iowa,  but  returned  to  this  city  in  1878  and 
resumed  his  employment  in  the  factory.  In 
1881  he  began  his  contracting  and  building 
operations,  and  since  that  time  has  erected 
many  of  the  best  residences  in  Mishawaka  and 
surrounding  country.  His  name  is  thus 
prominently  associated  with  the  building  in- 
terests, and  he  has  achieved  success  in  this 
vocation. 

During  his  residence  in  Villisca,  Iowa,  in 
1877,  Mr.  Moore  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Ervilla  B.  Edenfield,  a  native  of  Ohio  and  a 
daughter  of  William  DeCorse  Edenfield. 
Four  children  have  been  born  of  this  union, 
namely:  Guy  M.,  a  resident  of  South  Bend; 
Otto  G.,  who  makes  his  home  in  Mishawaka: 
Charles  Albert,  attending  a  commercial  col- 
lege in  South  Bend;  and  William  DeCorse, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years.     Otto 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


808 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


G.,  the  second  son,  served  three  years  in  the 
Twenty-eighth  Regiment  Infantry,  spending 
over  two  yeara  in  the  Philippines,  and  he  now 
lives  in  Grand  Rapids.  He  married  Minnie 
McDougal  and  has  a  daughter,  Helen  Ervilla. 
Mr.  Moore  of  this  review  hodds  fraternal  rela- 
tions with  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  and 
politically  is  allied  with  the  Republicans. 
Although  he  has  led  a  busy  life  he  has  yet 
found  time  to  devote  to  those  interests  which 
develop  the  best  interests  of  the  community, 
and  his  many  admirable  characteristics  have 
gained  him  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 

A.  S.  Hess.  During  a  number  of  years  the 
subject  of  this  memoir  has  been  classed 
among  the  prominent  and  influential  citi- 
zens of  Mishawaka^  and  is  now  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Hesy  and  Hiner,  which  has  been 
an  important  element  in  this  community, 
aifording  employment  to  many  of  the  citi- 
zens and  aiding  materially  in  the  prosperity 
of  the  town.  A  native  son  of  the  Keystone 
state,  he  was  born  in  Evansville,  Pennsyl- 
vania, August  27,  1869,  a  son  of  John  I.  and 
Sarah  (Bowsher)  Hess,  also  natives  of  that 
commonwealth.  The  father  was  employed  as 
an  iron  worker,  and  his  entire  life  was  spent 
in  the  state  of  his  nativity.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hess  were  the  parents  of  four  daughters  and 
three  sons,  of  whom  their  son  A.  S.  was  the 
fourth  child  in  order  of  birth.  After  com- 
pleting his  education  he  was  employed  at 
various  occupations  in  Pennsylvania,  and  in 
1888  he  came  to  Mishawaka,  Indiana,  spend- 
ing the  first  year  and  a  half  here  in  the 
Dodge  plant,  and  then  began  learning  the 
mason's  trade.  So  proficient  did  he  become 
in  his  work  that  in  the  spring  of  1896  he  was 
able  to  begin  contracting  in  masonry  work, 
while  in  1906  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
L.  E.  Hiner,  and  they  conduct  a  general  con- 
tracting and  building  business,  many  of  the 
principal  buildings  of  Mishawaka  standing 
as  monuments  to  their  skill  and  ability.  In 
addition  Mr.  Hess  is  also  engaged  to  a  con- 
siderable extent  in  the  real  estate  and  insur- 
ance business,  his  varied  relations  placing 
him  among  the  leading  business  men  of  his 
adopted  city. 

In  1891  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Hess 
to  Clara  E.  Williams,  but  after  a  happy  mar- 
ried life  of  twelve  years  the  wife  was  called 
to  the  home  beyond,  passing  away  in  Sep- 
tember, 1903,  and  in  September,  1904,  Mr. 
Hess  married  Delia  Margaret,  the  daughter 
of   Anthony   E.   Keagy.     Mr.   Hess   gives   a 


stanch  support  to  the  Republican  party,  and 
for  seven  years  was  its  representative  in  the 
city  council  of  Mishawaka,  while  for  one  year 
he  was  president  of  the  board  of  city  com- 
missioners. He  was  an  intelligent  and  popu- 
lar oflScial,  systematic  and  careful  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties,  courteous  to  all,  and  he 
won  many  friends  while  in  oflSce.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Pel- 
lows,  the  Masonic  order  and  the  Elks  in 
South  Bend.  He  is  a  broad-minded,  pro- 
gressive man  and  public  spirited  citizen,  and 
in  all  life's  relations  is  found  true  to  all  the 
duties  of  business,  public  and  social  life 
which  the  day  may  bring  forth. 

Charles  V.  Kobpal.  Among  the  citizens 
of  South  Bend  to  whom  has  been  accorded  a 
high  place  in  business  and  social  circles  is 
Charles  V.  Korpal,  who  came  to  this  city  in 
1870,  and  from  that  time  to  the  present  has 
taken  an  active  share  in  the  development  of 
the  resources  of  this  locality.  He  was  born 
in  Poland,  Germany,  February  14,  1853,  and 
in  his  native  country  received  an  excellent 
educational  training,  having  studied  for  the 
priesthood  and  for  a  teacher,  but  not  desir- 
ing to  enter  the  professions  he  made  the 
journey  alone  to  the  United  States  in  1870, 
when  a  lad  of  eighteen  years,  being  the  only 
representative  of  his  family  in  this  country. 
Making  his  way  at  once  to  South  Bend  he  se- 
cured employment  in  the  Oliver  foundry,  this 
being  the  first  work  he  had  ever  performed, 
but  he  only  remained  there  about  one  year 
and  then  went  to  Chicago  and  accepted  a  po- 
sition with  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad 
Company,  with  whom  he  remained  for  six 
months.  Returning  thence  to  South  Bend 
Mr.  Korpal  spent  one  year  with  the  Stude- 
baker  Brothers,  while  for  the  following  five 
years  he  was  again  with  the  Olivers,  and  on 
the  expiration  of  that  period  was  appointed 
a  street  commissioner,  continuing  to  discharge 
the  duties  of  that  nflfice  with  ability  for  a 
period  of  three  years.  His  appointment  as 
street  commissioner  was  received  from  Judge 
Howard,  and  at  the  close  of  his  term  of  office 
he  was  made  a  member  of  the  police  force,  and 
after  serving  thereon  for  four  years  became  a 
mail  carrier  under  Cleveland's  administra- 
tion. Thus  for  a  long  period  Mr.  Korpal  re- 
mained in  public  service,  and  he  was  ever 
faithful  to  the  obligations  devolving  upon 
him,  winning  for  himself  the  high  commenda- 
tion of  his  fellow  citizens. 

With  a  splendid  official  record  to  serve  as 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


% 


Q.hM 


£f<^r^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


\     J.K^K^n    Col  XTY. 

'    •    •   *"'K    ^  ^vt  :i  )  i  .irrs  was   i;^   "*  ,  ■ 

J.  .  %-^  •••:>^;  ^.      i  J'    w  ;'i>  :i  t    li  '■ 

...  ••■      "l"   li  ■^   (i.U  -'v.    .  (  ,'    • 

.  .■  It  ijfi  *'♦■  ij..-  1. jjfprii'l.  •■;     •    - 

-^  ''    "    !'"  .  d.       1  ;.•    IS    a    i..-'    . 
'.  -'•  -'  ■■<'    iN'.n  ninl  puK  ^r  ^  ■  ^ 

'       ^■.   '!■  :'•■'  tl-.y  ij'.y  ^'Mi^    t    ,  - 

<   .-v/i-i  ^    V      !v':;l   M         .\         •.,       . 

'  ;  /!<  s   \      K(  :-}    il,   v  '    v  «''}.•        •<'    :  . 

.  ."   •■f'^o^p"  I  s  (-1    lii.s   'o('a!'i\        iJ*-    .^ 
.'     [*-..M:(t.  •t'-:*'  1  t;t;  .  h  ':>!  ^.  -i  v  1-t.   I 


:■'!••     ' 

..-  ,  <  \ 

"*'   tl' 

•,'.').» 

1 " « ! 

-^ 

-•pi." 

:!  'ss-    ..  ■ 

;    ■'■•1',. 

\\ .  a 

'.;     A.  -'    ' 

.   i;    K 

'  .S^  \ 

.\K 

,!',  i-'i  •'     ;;]■-'.<     t-;   til  •    ('i.it*\l    St;.:-<     v 

••■.•".'V'  !  I  \;,si^  i  \  h\s  'ill'  iiy  in  *{  ;.  »•  .  . 
'",;''  ■'■:-  i.  s  .' ;  \  ,::  o'lv'C  to  South  ''.  ■  ; 
«'..".•<'  t-i  .;:  '  ;  lilt  M  in  Uw  i)\\\iV  V^  ii-  !•  \ 
'  ■'..  io-'  ii;  ^;  \v«»rk  h'  h;i<i  "\ -/r  l'^"''- 
.  ■  *..'  t,r\\  T^'.rut'.'H'd  til'  ]\  i\\>'n  t  H" 
.  :  '.  I  *it'i\  \V('f'i  t'>  <  'liii-a^''  »  aiKi  a  •-•  ;  ^  . 
-     •  :i    v\  \\\i    th,.    C'.M-ai/o    ,v:    A'!  -l     ^' 

*  -."I'^^'N,    with    \\  imni    hf    ]-fTfio:nj -i    * 

•  i- utj-v       k- tip*T..:^i:    tl*' iK't'    Ml    s.'..  n 

•i   .    K  .r-na.    >;'<'iit    <-'it^   year    with    *f:.-    ^ 
'   .■   •••    !':'f't!M'rs,   \\nil.     \'i)v  tli^'    !i'M'' v\  .»'i. 
\    .•!>  h'  uas  r_/. .  .   \vit}t   ri.'-  <  k''\  *"- 
'..♦    ('Xp'»  a- «•»!»   of   tli.it    |nrj.»'l    W's   .  ;  «    • 

'I'-i'     Titi-s    <!t'    ih'tt    f't'ii'S*    w.Th    a^I^t^^ 
.'•".-i    t  t'   tlirr^   yrai's       Hiy   a:>tM'.''"i.  •■• 

^     -'  ''^.    rn    jH  :v-{i>i]fM'    Wa^   r'--'.'-"'!    f:'''       •' 
.  !».v\  -v.l     a'l'l   at   thr  el  K,^  .^t    r  -   t,  r:  ,      . 
1."  'vas  ma.''   i    iMr/nl'-'r  oi  ;}..'  pi  !•  ••        .    ■ 
ai*!i  »'  '-'  *'~  I'lj   .!i''r'<.n  for  i'   i.!'  \'*'-  i'n  '■ 
]'.a'|     ra'*i'"»*    '|rl•^M'    i   t'\  'la'i'I'^    ;.' 
^  -1  .      ''!i'i>  Tcr  a  i'in-_r  t>-''|  '-i   ^\•.  K  ■ 
•  ;,  »  .  /]    ;»■    p',')]'\'    s.-!'\  '(•.'.    •■:   i    I-.  •     ' 
i":    iir-.l    ^»    rl,.'»    oi-!i-ali.-h<    ''-  .  -N 
h,!:i.  ^^•'^p'>'L■'  for  t.'in^'ir  ti:-  Ir-  )    - 
ti<^T'   '.it    Irs   f.'llow  r-iti  *•!'<. 

With  H  '>i»K'n  !i(l  .»tti.-i'i'    r.  .''■-  .1   :* 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Qiu/.f<^2^ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


/ 


.'NY 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


809 


a  voucher  for  honorable  and  straightforward 
dealing  Mr.  Korpal  then  entered  upon  an 
independent  business  career,  first  on  Duntum 
street  and  then  at  his  present  location,  1143- 
1149  West  Division  street,  where  he  has  re- 
mained for  twelve  years  and  where  he  is  well 
known  as  a  general  merchant.  His  political 
support  is  given  to  the  Democratic  party,  and 
he  is  an  active  worker  Jn  its  ranks.  In  1892 
he  was  the  (Choice  of  his  party  for  the  posi- 
tion of  councilman,  in  which  he  represented 
the  Sixth  ward. 

On  the  5th  of  May,  1875,  Mr.  Korpal  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Catherine  Qonia,  and 
they  have  three  children,  two  daughters  and 
a  son,  Stella,  Ladystaus  and  Tillie. 

Major  Henry  J.  Blowney,  who  is  num- 
bered among  the  honored  dead  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  was  a  native  son  of  the  Emerald  Isle, 
bom  in  county  Kildare  on  the  22d 
of  February,  1828,  but  from  his  early 
youth  he  was  an  American  citizen,  ever 
loyal  to  the  spirit  of  the  republic.  In 
May,  1844,  with  his  mother,  he  crossed 
the  Atlantic  to  the  United  States,  making  his 
way  direct  to  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  from  that 
city  he  journeyed  to  South  Bend  in  1852. 
The  year  following  his  arrival  in  this  city  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Lovina  Shade,  a 
native  daughter  of  South  Bend,  bom  on  the 
17th  of  December,  1837.  Her  father,  Michael 
Shade,  came  to  this  locality  in  a  very  early 
day  from  Pennsylvania,  where  he  had  been 
previously  married  to  Mary  Baker,  who  was 
bom  and  reared  in  that  commonwealth,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  six  children, 
three  sons  and  three  daughters,  Mrs.  Blowney 
being  the  youngest  in  order  of  birth,  and 
four  of  the  number  are  now  deceased.  The 
father,  who  was  an  old-time  shoemaker,  died 
soon  after  his  arrival  in  St.  Joseph  county, 
leaving  his  widow  with  the  care  of  their  large 
family,  but  bravely  she  struggled  on,  keep- 
ing them  together  and  supporting  them  as 
best  she  could,  and  all  have  proved  an  honor 
to  the  honored  family  name.  Mrs.  Blowney 
received  her  educational  traininsr  in  the  prira- 
itiv*»  nioneer  schools  of  South  Bend,  and  she 
has  become  the  mother  of  four  children,  two 
son  and  two  daughters,  namely:  Minnie  D., 
the  wife  of  William  Saunders,  of  South 
Bend:  William  Henry  and  Lester  Henry, 
who  died  in  infancy;  and  Marie  Ellen,  the 
wife  of  T.  T.  Keller,  also  of  this  city,  where 
aU  were  bom. 
In  1847  Major  Blowney  oflFered  his  serv- 


ices to  his  adopted  country  and  enlisted  in 
Company  I,  Second  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, serving  throughout  the  entire  Mexi- 
can campaign,  and  was  four  times  wounded 
during  the  conflict.  Ever  loyal  to  its  inter- 
ests, he  again  entered  the  ranks  as  a  soldier 
in  1861,  serving  as  a  lieutenant  of  Company 
I,  Ninth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  until 
his  promotion  to  major  of  the  Twenty-ninth 
Indiana,  with  which  he  served  until  ill  health 
made  it  necessary  for  him  to  resign  his  com- 
mission before  the  close  of  the  struggle.  Re- 
turning to  his  home  in  South  Bend,  he  be- 
came the  proprietor  of  an  art  store,  for  many 
years  being  well  known  for  his  skill  as  an 
ornamental  decorator,  and  he  was  also  the 
patentee  of  the  Storm  Sign  and  the  artist 
of  the  state  seal  which  was  for  so  long  and 
is  yet  the  principal  feature  on  the  old  court 
house  of  South  Bend.  He  also  had  the  honor 
of  numbering  James  Whitcomb  Riley  among 
his  employes,  and  later  that  renowned  author 
made  him  one  of  the  characters  of  his  well 
known  poem  entitled  **The  Wild  Irishman." 
Mr.  Blowney  died  March  23,  1879,  loved  and 
honored  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Peter  Stocker.  In  the  very  early  days 
of  the  history  of  St.  Joseph  county  Peter 
Stocker  took  up  his  abode  within  its  borders, 
and  throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life  he 
was  closely  identified  with  its  interests  and 
upbuilding.  His  life,  which  was  one  of  un- 
tiring activity,  was  crowned  with  a  high  de- 
gree of  success,  and  although  he  has  passed 
away  his  memory  is  still  enshrined  in  the 
hearts  of  those  who  knew  him.  He  was  a  na- 
tive son  of  Pennsylvania,  his  natal  day  being 
the  5th  of  May,  1818,  and  his  parents  were 
Samuel  and  Crisetta  (Uhler)  StOcker,  also 
natives  of  the  Keystone  state.  In  their  fam- 
ily were  five  children,  four  sons  and  one 
daughter:  Peter,  Richard,  Godfrey,  Samuel 
and  Malinda.  As  a  life  occupation  the  father 
followed  the  trade  of  weaving. 

Peter  Stocker,  the  eldest  of  his  children, 
was  reared  to  years  of  maturity  and  received 
his  educational  training  in  his  native  state 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  the  state'  of  New  York,  remaining 
at  home  until  his  marriage  and  assisting  in 
the  work  of  the  farm.  In  the  Empire  state, 
on  the  12th  of  December,  1844,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Mary  Ann  Adams,  who  was 
iborn  in  Northamnton  county,  Pennsylvania, 
September  30,  1824,  the  daughter  of  Jacob 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


810 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


and  Phebe  (Uhler)  Adams,  who  were  also 
from  that  commonwealth  and  the  father  fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits.  Mrs.  Stocker, 
the  eldest  of  their  nine  children,  was  reared 
to  years  of  maturity  in  New  York,  whither 
she  had  been  taken  when  only  four  years  old. 
In  1845  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stocker  made  the  over- 
land journey  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
twenty-eight  days  having  elapsed  ere  they 
reached  their  destination  in  South  Bend,  and 
here  they  cast  in  their  lot  with  its  earliest 
pioneers.  They  at  once  purchased  a  farm  of 
eighty  acres  in  German  township,  subse- 
quently adding  another  eighty  acres  to  their 
domain,  and  in  time  this  place  was  cleared, 
the  fields  placed  under  an  excellent  state  of 
cultivation,  and  the  old  homestead  became 
one  of  the  valuable  places  of  the  township. 

The  union  of  this  brave  pioneer  couple 
was  (blessed  with  five  children,  all  daughters, 
namely:  Minerva,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Good, 
who  is  engaged  in  farming  and  the  real  es- 
tate business;  Mrs.  Cora  D.  Sarle;  Elizabeth 
A.  Wagner ;  Ella  C.  Carskaddon ;  and  Emma, 
deceased.  All  were  born,  reared  and  mar- 
ried on  the  old  home  farm  in  German  town- 
ship, and  all  attended  its  district  schools  and 
also  the  city  schools  of  South  Bend.  Death 
came  to  the  father  of  this  family  June  19, 
1906,  but  he  was  long  permitted  to  carry 
on  the  work  assigned  him,  and  he  ever  ex- 
erted a  broad  and  beneficial  influence  upon 
the  lives  of  his  family  and  friends.  His  sup- 
port and  co-operation  were  held  from  no  en- 
terprise intended  to  prove  of  public  benefit, 
and  he  was  prominently  identified  with  the 
Prohibition  party,  temperance  and  political 
reform  ever  finding  in  him  a  firm  friend.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  in  which 
he  and  his  wife  had  held  membership  rela- 
tions since  1845,  and  he  was  a  life  member 
of  the  Baptist  Theological  Union.  His  wife 
now  resides  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Cora  D. 
Sarle. 

WmLiAM  H.  English  is  one  of  the  promi- 
nent and  honored  early  residents  of  South 
Bend.  For  over  fifty-one  years  he  has  been 
identified  with  the  interests  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  he  also  has  the  honor  of  being 
the  pioneer  butcher  of  South  Bend.  He  was 
born  in  Scott  county,  Kentucky,  November 
9,  1837,  and  in  that  commonwealth  his  par- 
ents, Samuel  and  Eleanor  (Taylor)  English 
also  had  their  nativity.  In  an  early  day  they 
came  to  Marshall  county,  Indiana,  and  be- 
came identified  with  its  a«rrieultural  interests. 


and  there  the  father  passed  away  in  death  in 
1845.  The  mother  died  in  Indiana  in  her 
eighty-ninth  year.  In  their  family  were 
seven  children,  of  whom  five  grew  to  years  of 
maturity. 

William  H.  English,  the  second  child  in 
order  of  birth,  was  but  a  little  lad  of  three 
years  when  the  family  home  was  established 
in  Marshall  county,  and  when  he  was  eight 
years  of  age  his  father  died,  and  he  was  taken 
by  his  grandfather,  Robert  English,  back  to 
Kentucky,  where  he  spent  the  following  nine 
years.  At  the  close  of  that  period  he  went 
to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  there  remaining  for  two 
years,  and  it  was  then,  in  1856,  that  he  came 
to  South  Bend  and  allied  his  interests  with 
its  early  pioneers.  In  his  youth  he  had  mas- 
tered the  carpenter's  trade,  and  resuming 
its  work  here  he  erected  nearly  every  good 
barn  in  his  section  of  the  county,  continuing 
as  its  representative  from  the  age  of  nine- 
teen until  his  fiftieth  year.  In  that  time  he 
erected  many  barns  for  the  Studebakers,  and 
became  well  known  in  his  occupation  through- 
out the  entire  county.  In  about  1882  Mr. 
English  became  the  proprietor  of  a  meat  mar- 
ket in  South  Bend,  and  during  the  long 
period  of  twenty-five  years  he  has  remained 
in  the  business,  in  the  meantime  winning  for 
himself  a  leading  place  in  the  business  r*irnles 
of  the  city. 

In  1862  Mr.  English  was  married  to  Jane 
Brothers,  a  daughter  of  David  Brothers  of 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  and  they  have 
two  living  children:  Laura,  the  wife  of  Wil- 
liam Thomas,  of  South  Bend,  and  Cora,  the 
wife  of  William  Hawley,  of  Lansing,  Michi- 
gan. In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  English 
is  a  Democrat,  and  his  fraternal  relations 
connect  him  with  the  Masonic  order,  Lake- 
ville  Lodge  No.  353.  His  services  in  the  Civil 
war  entitles  him  to  membership  in  Auten 
Post,  No.  8,  G.  A.  R.  His  military  career 
covered  a  period  of  over  two  years,  enlisting 
in  Company  L,  First  Indiana  Cavalr>%  in 
which  he  served  for  one  year,  and  he  was 
also  one  year  with  the  Twenty-third  Indiana 
Infantry,  Company  G,  serving  as  bugler  in 
both  regiments.  He  pmrticipated  in  many 
hard-fought  battles  of  the  war,  and  on  one 
occasion  his  horse  was  shot  under  him  and  in 
falling  injured  his  left  leg,  but  he  remained 
with  his  regiment  and  did  not  go  to  the  hos- 
pital. His  sterling  worth  commands  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  of  all,  and  he  is  one  of 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COXJNTY. 


811 


the  valued  residents  of  the  city  in  which  he 
has  so  long  made  his  home. 

Hanpord  Boberts.  The  record  of  an  hon- 
orable, upright  life  is  always  read  with  inter- 
est, and  those  who  have  fought  and  suffered 
for  their  country  are  especially  deserving  of 
an  honored  place  in  all  its  annals.  One  of 
the  boys  in  blue  of  the  Civil  war  was  Han- 
ford  Roberts,  whose  birth  occurred  in  the 
state  of  New  York  January  8,  1846,  his  par- 
ents being  William  and  Sarah  (Clayton) 
Roberts,  both  natives  of  England,  where  the 
father  found  employment  as  a  master 
mechanic.  In  their  family  were  thirteen  chil- 
dren, eight  sons  and  five  daughters,  of  whom 
Hanford  was  the  youngest  in  order  of  birth. 
His  early  boyhood  days  were  spent  in  his  na- 
tive state  of  New  York,  where  he  learned  his 
trade  of  engineering  under  his  brother  John's 
instructions.  He  was  thus  engaged  at  the 
time  of  his  marriage,  which  occurred  in  the 
Empire  state  on  the  15th  of  April,  1867, 
Miss  Alice  Yarwood  becoming  his  wife.  She 
is  the  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Fisher)  Yarwood,  who  were  natives  of  Eng- 
land, as  was  also  Mrs.  Roberts,  but  when  only 
two  years  of  age  she  was  brought  by  her 
father  from  the  mother  country  to  America, 
the  family  home  being  established  in  the  state 
of  New  York.  After  several  years  devoted 
to  agricultural  pursuits  in  that  -common- 
wealth a  removal  was  made  to  Wisconsin, 
while  later  the  journey  was  continued  to 
Washington,  where  Mr.  Yarwood  followed 
farming  for  a  number  of  years,  and  when  his 
daughter  Alice  had  reached  the  age  of  ten 
years  the  family  came  to  Indiana,  first  locat- 
ing in  Lagrange  county.  There  the  father 
continued  his  agricultural  labors  for  a  time, 
but  his  death  occurred  in  Washington  when 
he  had  reached  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years. 

It  was  in  the  year  of  1871  that  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Boberts  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
here  the  husband  and  father  soon  became 
associated  with  the  Oliver  Chilled  Plow 
Works  as  a  master  mechanic,  thus  continuing 
until  his  busy  and  useful  life  was  ended  in 
death  on  Decoration  Day  in  1904.  One  of  the 
most  important  events  in  his  life  was  his  en- 
listment with  the  boys  in  blue  for  the  Civil 
war,  entering  in  1864  the  Fourteenth  New 
York  Heavy  Artillery,  with  which  he  served 
until  the  close  of  the  conflict.  During  the  time^ 
however,  he  was  taken  prisoner  at  Peters- 
burg, and  for  the  long  period  of  seven  months 
and  three  weeks  was  confined  in  Libby  prison. 

Vol.  11—14. 


there  suffering  the  terrible  hardships  and 
privations  which  have  so  often  been  described 
in  song  and  story.  He  ever  maintained  pleas- 
ant associations  with  his  old  army  comrades 
by  his  membership  in  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  and  he  was  also  a  member  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  order.  His  political  affilia- 
tions were  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
during  two  terms  he  represented  his  district 
in  the  city  council. 

The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roberts  was 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  six  children,  two  sons 
and  four  daughters,  namely:  Jennie,  Grace 
E.,  Alice,  Sarah,  William  and  Hanford. 
Grace  E.,  Sarah  and  Hanford  are  with  their 
father  in  the  home  beyond. 

Alpheus  F.  Baer.  The  late  Alpheus  F. 
Baer,  who  passed  away  on  November  20, 
1906,  was  a  veteran  of  the  entire  four  years 
of  the  Civil  war,  and  for  a  period  of  forty 
years,  as  a  skilled  machinist,  was  connected 
with  various  industries  of  South  Bend.  He 
was  industrious,  able  and  reliability  itself, 
and  a  fine  type  of  the  old-school  mechanic 
anxious  to  give  in  honest  services  the  full 
worth  of  his  wages.  Although  unobtrusive, 
his  long  residence  in  South  Bend  and  his 
sturdy  and  admirable  character  gained  him 
hosts  of  friends  and  he  was  very  well  known. 

Alpheus  T.  Baer  was  a  native  of  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  bom  April  23,  1844,  his  father, 
David  Baer,  being  bom  in  Pennsylvania  and, 
during  his  mature  life,  an  Ohio  farmer.  He 
became  one  of  the  pioneer  agriculturists  of 
Stark  county,  where  he  married  Elizabeth 
Doll,  a  native  of  Virginia,  by  whom  he  had  a 
large  family. 

Alpheus  F.  Baer  was  married  in  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  on  May  14,  1862,  to  Marguerite 
Fisher,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Fisher.  Her 
father  was  a  tailor,  who  learned  his  trade  in 
his  native  state  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
also  married  Sophia  Ishler,  who  became  by 
this  union  the  mother  of  fourteen  children, 
equally  divided  as  to  sex.  Mrs.  Baer,  who 
was  the  second  child  of  this  generous  house- 
hold, was  bom,  reared  and  educated  in  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  where  her  husband  learned  his 
trade.  In  1861,  the  year  before  his  marriage, 
Mr.  Baer  enlisted  in  the  Ninety-fourth  Illi- 
nois Volunteer  Infantry  (Company  I),  and 
served  in  this  command  throughout  the  war. 
He  was  in  all  the  battles  in  which  his  com- 
pany participated,  and  his  experience  in- 
cluded Sherman's  historic  March  to  the  Sea, 
with  the  Grand  Review  at  "Washington.   Mus- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


812 


HISTORY   OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


tered  out  in  1865,  he  became  a  resident  of 
St.  Joseph  county  in  the  following  year. 

Mr.  Baer  found  prompt  employment  at  his 
trade,  among  his  early  works  being  that  in 
connection  with  the  mill  race,  in  association 
with  Mr.  Railing.  In  this  he  was  engaged  for 
about  two  years,  after  which  for  some  time 
he  was  identified  with  the  furniture  business. 
About  1880  the  Studebaker  Brothers  secured 
his  services  as  a  machinist,  and  he  remained 
with  them  as  a  valued  employee  for  many 
years.  At  his  death  he  was  in  his  sixty-sec- 
ond year.  The  deceased  was  a  Republican,  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  a  Mason  and  a  Bap- 
tist. He  was  a  stanch  friend  to  the  worthy, 
charitable  to  the  limit  of  his  means,  a  kind 
husband  and  father  and  a  useful  worker  in 
the  community  which  he  assisted  to  defend 
in  the  distant  battle  fields  of  the  Gulf  and 
Atlantic  states. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baer  became  the  parents  of 
one  son  and  one  daughter.  Lulu  is  the  wife 
of  B.  J.  Wiley,  deceased,  a  well  known  South 
Bend  miller,  and  Allen  T.  was  formerly  as- 
sociated with  the  Paris  edition  of  the  New 
York  Herald.  He  died  March  28,  1900,  in 
Paris,  France.  Mrs.  Wiley  now  resides  with 
her  mother  at  626  N.  LaFayette  street. 

Reuben  Pink  is  one  of  the  prominent  men 
of  South  Bend,  where  he  has  been  engaged 
in  the  drug  business  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  in  that  line  is  well  known  to  the  public. 
His  well  appointed  drug  store  is  located  at 
701  Vistula  avenue.  His  birth  occurred  in 
Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  February  4,  1859, 
and  for  a  history  of  his  father's  family  see 
sketch  of  Dr.  Fink  in  this  work.  The  son 
Reuben  was  reared  in  his  native  county  of 
Elkhart,  receiving  his  educational  training  in 
its  common  schools  and  in  the  Valparaiso 
Normal  University.  He  then  spent  a  few 
years  in  the  middle  west,  in  Illinois  and 
Iowa,  and  returning  was  for  three  years  a 
resident  of  Attica,  Ohio,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  threshing.  On  the  ex- 
piration of  that  period  Mr.  Fink  returned  to 
Elkhart,  Indiana,  where  he  secured  employ- 
ment with  the  United  States  Express  Com- 
pany, spending  one  and  a  half  years  on  a 
wagon  and  for  three  years  had  chai'ge  of  the 
night  transfer.  He  was  then  promoted  to  the 
position  of  express  messenger  on  the  Lake 
Shore  Railroad,  running  from  Buffalo  to  Chi- 
cago, a  distance  of  five  hundred  and  forty 
miles,  and  this  was  one  of  the  heaviest  runs 
in  the  service.     On  account  of  ill  health  he 


was  obliged  to  resign  this  position  after  three 
years  of  service,  and  in  1892  came  to  South 
Bend,  where  he  and  his  brother  John  opened 
a  drug  store  at  303  South  Michigan  street. 
Later  Mr.  Reuben  Fink  became  the  sole  owner 
of  the  store,  which  he  conducted  until  May  1, 
1905,  at  which  time  it  was  sold  and  on  the 
18th  of  July  following  he  bought  his  present 
store,  where  he  has  since  carried  on  a  large 
and  ever  increasing  business. 

In  April,  1883,  Mr.  Fink  was  united  in 
mari'iage  to  Emma  C.  Pontious,  who  was 
born  in  Akron,  Ohio,  and  she  was  reared  in 
Elkhart,  Indiana,  and  Topeka,  Kansas. 
One  son  has  been  bom  of  this  union,  Ed- 
ward W.,  who  is  now  attending  the  high 
school.  Mr.  Fink  has  membership  relations 
with  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  South 
Bend  Tent  No.  1,  and  with  the  Woodmen  of 
the  World,  in  which  he  has  served  as  clerk  of 
Harmony  Camp,  No.  78,  since  its  organiza- 
tion. His  political  affiliations  are  with  the 
Democratic  party. 

John  Main.  This  honored  citizen  of  St. 
Joseph  county  is  one  of  its  sturdy  pioneers, 
where  since  his  early  manhood  he  has  been 
identified  with  agricultural  pursuits,  and  has 
aided  materially  in  the  development  and 
progress  of  the  community.  He  has  ever  been 
found  loyal  to  the  cause  of  right  and  truth, 
his  influence  being  used  for  the  good  and 
well  being  of  those  in  any  way  associated 
with  him.  His  birth  occurred  in  Henry 
county,  Indiana,  March  31,  1835,  his  parents 
being  Horace  and  Anna  (Smith)  Main,  the 
former  of  English  and  the  latter  of  German 
descent,  while  both  were  natives  of  Ohio. 
As  early  as  1828  the  father  journeyed  to  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  but  in  the  same  year 
returned  to  Henry  county,  Indiana,  which 
continued  as  his  home  until  1835.  In  that 
year  he  again  made  the  journey  to  Warren 
township,  St.  Joseph  county,  where  he  im- 
proved a  farm,  and  there  lived  and  labored 
until  the  close  of  his  earthly  career,  passing 
to  the  home  beyond  at  the  age  of  forty-five 
years,  being  survived  many  years  by  his 
^\'idow,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight 
years.  They  became  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  now  living. 

John  Main,  the  eldest  child,  was  brought 
by  his  parents  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
in  April,  1835,  just  one  month  following  his 
birth,  and  when  but  a  small  boy  he  began 
assisting  in  the  work  of  the  old  home  farm 
in  Warren  township.     When  it  was  possible 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


cR. 


^. 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


fi'PUeLtc  I  ;"»^aryV 


:  Ait»r,  lenei*  arc  Tiidipi , 
FoMPtial'ent,        /^ 
1909     .-.^ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


813 


he  attended  the  district  school  near  his  home, 
but  his  educational  advantages  were  limited, 
and  he  continued  with  his  parents  until  his 
marriage.  With  his  young  bride  he  then 
took  up  his  abode  on  a  farm  of  his  6wn  in 
Warren  township,  gradually  placing  his  fields 
under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation,  and 
in  addition  to  his  agricultural  labors  he  was 
also  quite  extensively  engaged  in  stock-rais- 
ing, being  quite  successful  in  the  dual  occu- 
pation. His  farm  consisted  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  and  has  been  divided  among 
his  children,  he  owning  and  residing  in  a 
pleasant  home  of  his  own  at  125  North  Wal- 
nut street.  South  Bend,  where  he  is  living 
in  quiet  retirement  after  many  years  of 
earnest  labor. 

In  1858  Mr.  Main  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Sarah  Padock,  by  whom  he  had  six  chil- 
dren, Melvina,  Martha  S.,  John  (deceased), 
Esther  Rosetta,  Robert  and  Sarah  E.  In 
1875  he  married  Phebe  Weed,  while  in  1883 
Jennie  Gantz  became  his  wife,  and  his  pres- 
ent wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Julia  A. 
Snyder,  and  their  marriage  was  celebrated  in 
1901.  Mr.  Main  was  at  one  time  a  member 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations, 
having  held  many  of  the  local  offices  of  his 
township. 

John  Byers.  In  the  best  development  of 
St.  Joseph  coimty  John  Byer3  has  borne  his 
full  share,  having  been  prominently  identi- 
fied with  its  agricultural  interests  from  pio- 
neer days,  and  while  promoting  the  material 
welfare  of  the  community  has  also  given  an 
active  and  liberal  support  to  those  measures 
which  tend  to  advance  its  intellectual  and 
moral  status.  He  is  now  living  retired  from 
the  active  cares  of  a  business  life  at  his  pleas- 
ant home,  517  South  Main  street,  South 
Bend,  enjoying  the  comforts  which  many 
years  of  toil  have  brought.  He  is  of  Scotch 
descent,  and  his  paternal  grandfather  was 
Andrew  Byers,  in  whose  family  were  eight 
children,  four  sons  and  four  d&ughters.  An- 
drew Byers,  Jr.,  the  third  son  and  fourth 
child  in  order  of  birth  in  the  family,  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania, 
December  6,  1800,  and  when  but  a  little 
lad  moved  with  his  parents  to  Morgan  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  reared  to  years  of  ma- 
turity on  a  farm,  and  after  completing  his 
studies  in  the  district  schools  near  his  home 
entered  college,  thus  obtaining  excellent 
training  for  those  early  days.     During  sev- 


eral years  thereafter  he  was  one  of  the  most 
efficient  teachers  ih  Morgan  county,  Ohio. 

In  Licking  county,  Ohio,  Mr.  Byers  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Price,  who  was 
bom  in  Kentucky  in  1801,  a  daughter  of 
John  B.  Price.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Byers  located  on  a  farm  in  Morgan  county 
and  resumed  the  teacher's  profession,  also 
working  at  his  trade  of  shoemaking,  and  con- 
tinuing all  three  occupations  until  he  came 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  in  1836  and 
entered  land.  In  the  following  year  he  moved 
to  Marshall  coimty.  He  traded  two  yoke  of 
oxen  and  a  wagon  for  one  hundred  and 
seventy  acres  of  land  near  the  St.  Joseph 
county  line,  and  there  his  death  occurred  in 
1838,  leaving  his  widow  with  seven  small 
children,  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  the 
eldest  being  but  fifteen  years  of  age,  while 
the  youngest  was  less  than  a  year  old:  In 
order  of  birth  they  were  as  follows;  Melissa, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Abram  Kelter  and 
died  on  the  31st  of  July,  1890;  Sarah,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Hiram  Mikesell,  and  died 
on  the  3d  of  February,  1895;  John,  whose 
name  introduces  this  review ;  Andrew,  a  resi- 
dent of  South  Bend ;  Alva,  of  Oregon ;  Ben- 
jamin P.,  deceased;  and  William  J.,  also  de- 
ceased. The  mother  was  a  brave  pioneer 
woman,  and  after  her  husband's  death  she 
continued  the  work  of  the  farm  and  the  sup- 
port of  the  children,  their  home  being  a  lit- 
tle log  cabin  of  one  room,  sixteen  by  twenty- 
four  feet,  while  their  nearest  neighbor  was 
about  two  miles  distant,  with  no  roads  be- 
tween the  farms,  and  the  second  nearest 
neighbor  was  four  miles  away.  Indians  still 
roamed  at  will  over  the  country,  and  many 
other  dangers  beset  those  brave  pioneers. 
Her  death  occurred  on  the  4th  of  July,  1852, 
when  she  had  reached  the  age  of  fifty-one 
years.  Mr.  Byers  was  reared  in  the  faith  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  but  after  his  mar- 
riage he  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  de- 
nomination, and  ever  afterward  remained  one 
of  its  faithful  members. 

John  Byers  was  but  eleven  years  old  at  the 
time  of  his  father's  death,  and  from  that 
early  age  he  assisted  in  the  clearing  of  the 
farm.  In  June,  1843,  the  family  moved  seven 
miles  west,  locating  in  Kankakee  district,  St. 
Joseph  county,  where  the  mother  purchased 
a  forty-acre  farm,  erected  a  little  log  cabin, 
and  the  work  of  clearing  the  land  was  begun. 
In  addition  to  assisting  in  the  clearing  and 
cultivating  of  the  land  Mr.  Byers  also  learned 


Digitized  by 


Google 


su 


HISTORY    OF  ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


the  mason's  trade,  and  after  his  marriage 
he  took  up  his  abode  on  a  farm  of  forty 
acres  in  Portage  township,  five  miles  from 
South  Bend,  which  he  had  previously  pur- 
chased. On  the  land  was  a  little  log  cabin, 
in  which  the  young  couple  began  their  mar- 
ried life,  and  the  hu^and  continued  the 
work  of  improving  the  fields,  subsequently 
adding  sixty  acres  to  his  original  purchase, 
which  made  him  the  proud  possessor  of  one 
hundred  acres.  In  1867  he  sold  that  place 
and  purchased  a  farm  on  Sumption's  prairie, 
Greene  township,  to  which  he  shortly  after- 
ward added  twenty  acres,  again  becoming 
the  owner  of  one  hundred  acres,  and  after 
partially  improving  the  land  he  traded  the 
farm  for  city  property  in  South  Bend  in 
1900.  Previous  to  this  time,  however,  in 
1892,  he  had  rented  his  farm  and  moved 
to  this  city,  where  he  has  ever  since  lived  a 
retired  life,  enjoying  the  rest  which  he  has 
so  truly  earned,  for  although  now  surrounded 
by  all  the  comforts  of  life,  in  his  early  years 
he  experienced  many  of  the  hardships  and 
difficulties  incident  to  the  establishment  of  a 
home  on  the  frontier. 

On  the  19th  of  October,  1848,  Mr.  Byers' 
married  Anna  Eliza  Brown,  who  was  bom 
in  Middlesex  county,  New  Jersey,  December 
29,  1829,  a  daughter  of  Abram  and  Char- 
lotte (Brown)  Brown.  In  1835  the  family 
located  on  a  farm  five  miles  west  of  South 
Bend,  and  at  that  early  day  the  facilities 
for  travel  were  very  meager,  ss  these  trav- 
elers came  to  Lake  Erie  by  canal,  thence  to 
Detroit,  Michigan,  by  lake  boat,  and  from 
that  city  to  their  new  home  by  wagon.  The 
log  cabin  into  which  they  moved  was  located 
on  an  Indian  trail,  and  was  long  a  stopping 
place  for  the  dusky  warriors  who  inhabited 
that  section.  The  maternal  grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Byers  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  her  father  taught  the  first  school 
in  his  community,  gathering  the  children  of 
the  neighborhood  into  his  own  home  and  thus 
becoming  one  of  the  founders  of  the  educa- 
tional system  of  St.  Joseph  county.  Mrs. 
Byers  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  in  the  summer  of  1843,  during  serv- 
ices held  in  the  house  of  Archibald  Defrees, 
/  and  she  lived  an  exemplary  Christian  life, 
manifested  in  good  deeds,  and  will  long  be 
remembered  as  a  loving  wife,  a  kind  and 
gentle  mother,  a  quiet  and  peaceful  neighbor 
and  an  honored  and  respected  citizen.  Her 
death  oc<»urred  on  the  30th  of  January,  1907, 


and  she  now  sleeps  in  the  South  Bend  ceme- 
tery. Seven  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  JByers,  namely:  Andrew  J.,  who  was 
bom  in  Portage  township  September  26, 
1849,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Sumption's 
Prairie;  Abram  W.,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  township  February  14,  1852,  is  at  home; 
Margaret  A.,  who  was  born  July  7,  18.>4, 
is  the  wife  of  William  Inwood,  who  is  living 
retired  in  South  Bend;  Mary  Ella  and  Clara 
Charlotte,  who  died  whei^  young;  Carrie  E., 
bom  in  December,  1864,  is  at  home;  and 
George  W.,  bom  in  1866,  is  a  postal  telegraph 
operator  in  Lafayette,  Indiana.  Mr.  Byers, 
the  father,  upholds  the  principles  of  the  De- 
mocracy, and  his  first  presidential  vote  was 
cast  in  South  Bend,  Indiana,  for  General 
Lewis  <5as8,  and  twice  he  has  supported  the 
Prohibition  ticket.  During  eight  yeai-s  he 
served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  Greene 
township,  and  has  also  held  other  local  of- 
fices. For  sixty  years  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  while  for 
fifty-five  years  continuously  he  has  served  as 
a  class  leader  and  has  also  been  supei'inten- 
dent  of  the  Sunday-school,  always  attending 
the  Sunday-school  when  able.  The  friends 
of  John  Byers  are  legion,  his  many  noble 
qualities  having  won  the  praise  and  admira- 
tion of  his  associates  and  acquaintances,  and 
his  life,  which  has  long  passed  the  Psahn- 
ist's  span,  has  been  filled  with  useful,  loving 
deeds,  which  will  be  remembered  when  he 
has  been  called  to  his  reward. 

WiLUAM  Mack.  South  Bend  in  the  '40b 
was  a  community  of  too  infantile  growth  to 
have  developed  any  careers  or  to  have  pro- 
duced any  sterling  business  promises.  In 
the  nature  of  things  its  destiny  was  the  slow 
but  sure  unfolding  of  a  prairie  site,  depen- 
dent upon  a  rich  agricultural  region,  and 
upon  the  proximity  to  a  clear  and  beautiful 
river.  The  most  adventurous  and  daring 
could  discern  no  road  to  rapid  fortune,  or 
any  short  cut  to  immediate  personal  aggran- 
dizement. The  man  who  sought  wealth  only 
continued  his  way  to  the  Pacific  Coast 
Necessarily,  those  who  tarried  here  to  lend 
their  brain  and  energy  and  heart  to  the 
making  of  homes  and  the  establishment  of 
legitimate  enterprise  possessed  patience, 
courage  and  pioneering  instincts.  They  were 
the  backbone  of  the  city  of  to-day.  A  few 
remain  to  tell  the  story  of  their  struggles 
with  unsettled  conditions.  But  more  left 
hardy  sons  to  continue  their  work  or  to  main- 


Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


^J^^LJ^^f,^4Ay 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


815 


tain  the  dignity  and  purpose  of  their  less 
happily  environed  lives.  To  the  latter  class 
belongs  William  Mack. 

William  Mack  was  born  near  Silver  Creek, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  October  9, 
1828.  His  father,  John  Mack,  was  born  in 
New  England,  and  his  father.  Captain  John 
Mack,  also  a  native  of  New  England,  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Chautauqua  county. 
He  made  the  entire  journey  from  New  Eng- 
land with  teams,  passing  the  present  site  of 
the  city  of  Buffalo  when  there  were  but  two 
houses  there.  He  halted  for  a  short  time 
in  Hamburg,  Erie  county,  and  from  there 
to  Chautauqua  county  and  bought  land  about 
one-half  mile  from  the  mouth  of  Cattaraugus 
creek.  He  built  a  hotel  which  became  a 
stage  station,  and  which  he  cond^icted  many 
years,  until  his  death.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried. His  first  wife  was  Experience  Joiner 
and  the  second  Silence  Enos. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  but  a  boy 
when  his  parents  moved  to  York  state.  With 
his  brother-in-law  he  succeeded  to  the  owner- 
ship of  his  father's  estate,  and  they  operated 
the  hotel  a  few  years,  and  then  purchased 
land  on  the  lake  shore  and  built  a  hotel  a 
mile  west  of  the  hotel  previously  mentioned, 
which  was  a  stage  station,  and  also  farmed 
and  got  out  timber  from  the  Cattaraugus  res- 
ervation for  ship  builddng  and  docks.  In 
1844  he  sold  his  interest  there  and  oame  to 
Indiana.  With  his  wife  he  made  the  jour- 
ney via  lake  to  Detroit,  thence  via  railroad 
to  Jackson,  and  then  came  to  LaPorte 
county,  while  the  four  children  made  the 
entire  journey  overland  with  e  team.  He  . 
lived  in  LaPorte  county  one  year,  and  then 
came  to  South  Bend  and  bought  land  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river,  and  there  he  built 
a  home.  He  soon  after  entered  the  employ 
of  Alexis  Coquillard,  and  with  him  made 
an  overland  journey  to  the  territory  of  Kan- 
sas, assisting  in  removing  the  Indianis  to 
their  reservation  in  that  territory.  He  was 
in  Mr.  Coquillard 's  employ  several  years. 
He  spent  his  last  years  retired,  and  died  in 
his  eighty-third  year.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried. Hia  first  wife,  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  Clarissa  W.  Hanford.  She  was 
bom  in  Connecticut,  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Hanford.  She  died  in  York  state,  previous 
to  the  removal  of  the  family  to  Indiana. 
There  were  six  children  born  to  this  mar- 
riage and  one  to  tie  second  marriage. 

Our  subject  attended  school  quite  steadily 


in  his  youth,  both  in  the  state  of  New  York 
and  in  South  Bend,  and  at  twenty-one  com- 
menced an  apprenticeship  to  learn  the  trade 
of  brick,  stone  and  plaster  mason,  in  which 
he  served  three  years  and  then  conunenced 
contracting.  For  several  winters  he  served 
as  deputy  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of 
the  Circuit  Court,  and  later  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Studebakers  and  was  cashier  in 
their  office  thirty-one  years,  when  he  resigned 
and  has  since  lived  retired,  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  a  well-®pent  life. 

He  has  been  twice  married.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  first  wife,  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried in  1852,  was  Lauretta  Thurber.  She 
was,  it  is  thought,  born  in  northeastern  Penn- 
sylvania, a  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Sarah 
Ann  (Leland)  Thurber.  Mrs.  Mack  died  in 
1900:  His  second  marriage  occurred  to  Mrs. 
Harriet  (Dennison)  Chaffee,  widow  of  Cem- 
fert  T.  Chaffee,  of  South  Bend.  By  the  first 
marriage  there  were  two  sons.  William  H., 
the  second,  is  a  resident  of  South  Bend.  He 
married  Eva  Staley  and  they  reside  in  South 
Bend,  Indi^ma.  They  have  two  children, 
Ethel  and  Winnifred,  both  married,  the  for- 
mer wife  of  Earl  Doty  and  resides  in  Chi- 
cago; the  latter  married  W.  0.  Davis  and 
resides  in  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan.  The  oldest 
son,  Walter  E.,  married  Janet  Lewis,  of  Illi- 
nois, and  settled  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where 
she  died  in  1893.  He  died  in  South  Bend  in 
1906.  There  were  four  children  born  to 
Walter  and  his  wife:  Walter  L.,  Annie, 
William  and  Janet. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mack  are  both  members  of 
the  Baptist  church,  as  was  his  first  wife. 
He  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Frank- 
lin Pierce,  and  has  always  been  a  Democrat. 
He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  city  coun- 
cil and  city  treasurer. 

Mr.  Mack  is  to-day,  although  seventy-nine 
years  of  age,  a  man  of  striking  personal  ap- 
pearance, a  representative  type  of  the  early 
pioneer,  strong  and  vigorous,  retaining  his 
youth  mentally  and  physically.  His  genial 
and  kindly  nature  has  won  for  him  the  high- 
est regard  of  his  fellow  men,  so  that  in  the 
evening  of  his  life  he  is  blessed  with  health, 
friends  and  happiness. 

Colonel  Charles  Ream.  Colonel  Charles 
Ream,  a  retired  farmer  living  at  No.  1522 
South  Michigan  street.  South  Bend,  was  born 
in  Canal  Dover,  Tuscarawas  county.  Ohio, 
October  29,  1838,  a  son  of  Andrew  J.  and 
Leah  (Shaffer)  Ream,  the  latter  being  a  na- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


816 


HISTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


tive  of  Waynesburg,  Stark  county,  Ohio,  and 
of  German  descent.  She  lived  to  the  age 
of  sixty  years.  The  father,  also  a  native  of 
the  Buckeye  state,  was  a  life-long  tiller  of 
the  soil.  In  1850  the  family  home  was  estab- 
lished in  Marshall  county,  Indiana,  but  later 
the  family  removed  to  Union  township,  St. 
Joseph  county,  where  the  father  followed  his 
chosen  occupation  of  farming  until  his  life's 
labors  were  ended  in  death,  passing  away  at 
the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  He  was  a 
son  of  Michael  Ream,  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, a  hatter  by  trade,  and  one  of  the 
early  pioneers  of  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio. 
The  family  is  of  German  descent.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ream  became  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  three  daughters,  and 
all  grew  to  years  of  maturity. 

Colonel  Ream,  the  eldest  child,  remained 
in  his  native  place  of  Canal  Dover  until  his 
eighteenth  year,  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  Indiana,  the 
home  being  established  in  Marshall  county, 
while  in  1858  he  came  with  them  to  Union 
township,  St.  Joseph  county^.  He  was  early 
inured  to  the  labors  of  the  farm,  and  was 
thus  engaged  until  his  enlistment  in  the  Civil 
war  on  the  27th  of  August,  1861,  entering 
Company  K,  Twenty-ninth  Indiana  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  entering  the  ranks  as  a  private, 
but  for  meritorious  service  on  the  field  of 
battle  was  promoted  first  to  orderly  sergeant 
of  the  company,  thence  to  the  captaincy,  next 
to  major  and  was  finally  made  the  lieutenant 
colonel,  serving  with  that  rank  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  subsequently  re-enlisted 
in  the  same  company  ^nd  regiment,  his  entire 
military  career  covering  a  period  of  four 
years,  three  months  and  six  days,  during 
which  time  he  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Pittsburg  Landing,  Corinth,  Perryville,  Stone 
River  and  Chickamauga,  after  which  he  was 
sent  back  with  Thomas  to  Nashville,  with 
whom  he  served  in  many  battles  and  skir- 
mishes. In  the  engagement  at  Chickamauga 
Mr.  Ream  was  wounded  in  the  left  foot  by 
a  minie  ball,  and  for  ten  days  was  left  lying 
on  the  field  of  battle,  afterward  spending 
two  months  in  the  hospital.  Returning 
thence  to  his  regiment  he  with  ten  others 
of  his  company  was  captured  at  the  battle 
of  Stone  River  and  for  two  months  was  in- 
carcerated at  Libby  Prison.  It  was  on  the 
13th  of  December,  1865,  that  he  was  made  the 
colonel  of  his  regiment.  His  promotions 
came  to  him  as  the  meritorious  reward  of 


bravery  and  self-denying  labor  in  the  cause 
of  his  country,  and  with  a  military  record 
of  which  he  has  every  reason  to  be  proud 
he  returned  to  his  home  in  Union  township 
and  to  the  quiet  pursuits  of  the  farm.  In 
1870,  however,  Mr.  Ream  sold  his  home  place 
and  went  to  Oregon,  but  three  years  later 
sold  the  place  which  he  had  there  purchased 
and  returned  to  South  Bend,  his  labors  there- 
after being  confined  to  farming  and  the  buy- 
ing and  selling  of  wood  until  1901,  when 
he  gave  up  the  active  cares  of  a  business 
life  to  enjoy  in  quiet  retirement  the  labors 
of  former  years. 

On  the  8th  of  November,  1866,  Mr.  Ream 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Margaretta  J. 
Haney,  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary 
(Bowman)  Haney,  who  were  numbered 
among  the  early  settlers  of  St.  Joseph  county 
and  prominently  identified  with  its  early  his- 
tory. Mrs.  Ream  was  bom  in  Portage  town- 
ship of  this  county  April  19,  1845,  just 
across  the  street  from  where  she  now  resides, 
and  by  her  marriage  has  become  the  mother 
of  five  daughters:  Rose,  the  wife  of  Charles 
E.  Huse,  an  employe  of  the  Studebaker  Com- 
pany; Mary,  the  wife  of  Lloyd  Alward,  of 
South  Bend;  Florence,  deceased;  and  Daisy 
and  Fanny  Haney,  at  home.  Colonel  Ream 
has  been  a  life-long  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  in  the  county  where  he  has 
so  long  made  his  home  he  is  well  and  favor- 
ably known.  Mrs.  Ream  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Andrew  Koener.  For  many  years  An- 
drew Koener  was  a  prominent  factor  in  the 
business  life  of  South  Bend,  but  now  in  the 
evening  of  a  long,  useful  and  honorable  ca- 
reer he  is  enjoying  a  well  earned  rest.  He  is 
distinctively  the  architect  of  his  own  for- 
tunes, and  from  the  little  German  home 
across  the  sea,  where  he  was  born  on  the  8th 
of  September,  1837,  he  made  his  way  to  the 
new  world  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  being 
accompanied  on  the  journey  hither  by  his 
father.  In  his  native  land  he  had  received 
his  education,  and  when  only  fourteen  years 
of  age  began  working  at  the  cabinet-making: 
business,  thus  continuing  until  his  emigration 
to  the  new  world.  Landing  in  New  York 
city,  he  shortly  afterward  made  his  way  to 
Englishton,  New  Jersey,  thence,  to  Go  wan  da, 
that  state,  and  subsequently  returned  to  Dun- 
kirk, New  York.  His  next  location  was  in 
Warren,  Pennsylvania,  subsequently  remov- 
ing to  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  and  thence  to 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


THE  \\ 


';Y  ' 


Digitized  by 


Google 


/ 


yjin^L^   //  sL^o^t^^Ca^^^ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


TTT?5Top,y   OF  9T  JOf^EPH   POt^nty  •       -  ^•**- 

.1    t-^     -•  "-N     ••   t.i    i^»-   {.  i\'ii    w a:',  .**u'i-' i:'^-'  ur"UM'tl    at    t.^"      ..n.,  i         •  -.  ■       -       >■    .;. 

.    -1.  ■'■i;'.:    a   |'a''T    v.t    •  >iv   srr>,aUM'  •>!'  i»*t«'i!   '^<Mi..        !M','I!u"- ■.':< :  ■    ;      •      - 

""'        .V    ••.>'-    in    *:i.'    'M-^pinl.      in     V;/;  >'..  fi-,-' ' .-.  j.     n^^  li.-nl  ..';  [li  -•         ■  ■  .    -. 

'     ;.    i.'     :.'»    '>Ki^htl^^l    or    l!i!'    Suiuin- !■:  miI  'j  >-   <-'.■  ■.;;'!>    irii-"-'i:y,    ]•''-*.'• 

:         •.:•!•    -.1,  ;    l.'Krv    to    ivitliji^w:,    A):^''-  '.a.  i!..iiK'     ;i     :•♦•!  d     l/»<;r.>^      ,i  ...     ■,    ,- 

■•'*    .-  ••        '{"  ijtH  War    ii'^i\  ^\^^    Uon'inSiy  «1;--  m.iI  ^I<.:I;«■'•^  '..-  ]:t\  a  v, ;  "!*•  ,-    ' 

.L   _•■    ,   ii-r:  ti,,,  s..'--i^'t-  jjt  Aiiiw 'imk'm  ,  \\  j>-  ci"  fr)e:.*\>  v.ho  };;-,,!  bw-n  ^  '   '♦  '•■      "'.    * 

i;  .  i  .  .  i;  .l]:n»'   IJ.  l-M-j.     Al't^  i    tli*^  *•;«.>.•  ..i"  ),.s,  -^t/ jtl  h.Mt^  and  -I'.ls  of  *.•'•- 

•:      ■'.     .    :^r.  r  >».'r' '•  sp.'ru  ..b-.^  :I  Iw^  y*  ars  ui  P.ili'.  >■. 

t-.'  '      I  .iS'jK't     iKalwiii' .      rr«'Pi    tlal    .-ity  a  ^,»i'  <  i"  tr*v>'--c  ;u.(i   \L,/-v  /.-ir  '   . 

;:!     ..'    'L'    .  ■    K.  .-s.is  rity,  .^;x   iiK'it^is  [;\U  i  \n    sp»i»t   h;^  ii»',  ii«'iMi  t'l.d    it     .       '   .. 

:   >■-'      <  :.:.    iO.N.   ?1  ^>  ».iri.  Mi'-Ijkh    to   U;11.]'  vo,  t\  >:       i)\    u    f'-.i   Iv  ai  I  If  h*-  !  .:.•■        '-  ■ 

>  ^.    .  '.'i  I.:'   i«^  (.  Ill  .tjo,   i"ji'iu  wh'vli  .'isy  o^"  a   Ik-iI-a  s  Tf^,.]^^'v,  i*\\d  \\^\'\   :.-        •-.    * 

..:•   ".1  ;m-  ^.   Sopr'i    H;  rd  i:»    Hu'*  ;ii.  I  bi\';':'i"  Iyti>'  r:-'-    ■>'..•    '>:il    a    bny     ^  iiv    .•-         ■   •    . 

^   ■•   !,t!t'i     -X :  ri     ilic     rnittji     Maritif.n''  \r>v,i^  t'r.J    avo<  jt    ni   as   well   ms   ii     .■!<.    •  ..', 

*    ■■.,.';.>.       lis   i'0':rio"i  ion    wall    lK;-t    '•■!()'>-  ••.'^♦au»-aiit    b.-Mji-  <s.       iiimi- /■,    ••  ^     .. 

'-'t    ,.i        J.  ';■  -1     '     initii     ^^77.     wl  ;  n     lie    r**-  ci'i-    ■»«.'-   :i    i-.">n]«  .jt    of    >^nU'a    f.  '■- 

.'1    {•'     1 1  il!sl"(io,     li!iTi.»i^.     i»;ir     in     l^'^J  lu'  .);•■ 'i.   *  a  t'M-'lu  ,;r(»  s!ow  '-n  i  *. 

*•   :.:,•'  '    t.»   s,).,;}i    I>(ri(l  and   b"*  .n    \^  >rk  «-oniMt''.  *    :«/    'J'<^    busiiii-v    u'l'-;        -     ■      •      ■ 

-,    '!•    ;!,.     I.ij.j^ri     ^L.flu'l'a"lu^ln^    (.'"iii;'.  -ly  Andv^w     ur.M  "•    {]w    livii;     -  <  .  .•  .  .■  t 

1  y  ■]    ■    '■  'd      \\r'"      tlis      i'<w:.n;*uv      uolil  Ur.iduTS.       II'    «M.{!l'i.u»d    at      !^ 

'.  .:      (    '  .'    ru     nrit      bii^lNf^s,     ii.'.'{-:v     uhi-li  l.n     t'Tio    i-f'    }d>    dt'c'*'\    Ab*;i    '    •■     .. 

I'.'         .>.  ,i-v.H'iabd    V. /'i    Wells  tV:  ('rc'ri/.-rj'!'.  f.^ntlia-tf'd   f.ii'.MM' <s  K>i)i:''i'  i.i   t 

'     '      -U'/  t'''U     Ills    l«i]l'i    <.i'd    tl'-lA'r    i),l^lllt'--^    i'd  iTV     liiUIl     J^jy     iMtl-:'     «>^-d»llsr'.  ^'-       '• 

r.  .•      ^.'    o;a^    i>jos'     l\."t;d'id    t(i    th"    etiiio*    of  P.   ..d. 

•.,     '■     ,1  liJ'f,  ]r,\i   ,!i   l,s«r>  l„.  l;,M  ;isido  tbt'  On   tb.     Itl'h  <.;   !).*<•. ■:.. b*  ►■     ■-    '     \..       ! 

■    /    ■      ..'*  -.  ..!'  ^•J■<ili^'^s   M)   livi'  (Mii*'ti;^    Ui   iiis  -,»  i-    \s:;s    Mi.t'-itt      to     ^!is:.     I'l.  !     •>     j  a- 

;  .'■-'.    A.   .^  -Ml.'  wJii'di  }\-  h^id  p'li'ejiMsiM]  riiiont  native  oi    W  dloiiL.'^by    Oli:  >    h  >  l.'!*"       .    ■     ' 

]--[        n.    a''lit'oa    t,>   bis    rr^uhMaH*   b.*   aNr.  sor'rov.  iri-r  wife  slid  <  irvt  v'lt.j:  !  i>'        i '■       .  <, 

■  V,  \     i'*''o '*'^'J^"  \d.j.'iiu'.^'.  ubi'-b  Itr  rei'ts.  and  dy    Wfi'*-   ihe;)d)ers   *»f   1b«'    S*     l':'ut  >    '■;' 

>   *  ->       A..:t    -d    !'(^'.an('.'   pi-o;<'»ty    on    lldl  r.al    (d.iireb,    l?"V.    ^V.    K.    I'-^^-  n,    j  u> 

-  '•'    (.  «'f.>idia-tinir    ti<^    fr.iuo-al    m  r\  v  f*s     i*'    i'.     <'. 

; 'fi   Aov-fii  ',)'"■  i."*,   ]-^7i).  AVIS  «-i-!f'br,it»Mi   tbo  .*•';  srvl.    *Mr.   /rdnev   lmvo  1;.s   \i»t,'  ,,w   v.-  > 

'.;■;;*';;.,    i  I"  M  r    Kovuerani^  Mi^>  M.u'v  .>h"t'.  por'    to   tlio  1\- pnb!>f;fn    [Ho:,.     ^m1    h--   r*.  .-i 

f.    ai'(     *bi'V    bave    on^'   a.-npttd    snii,    T*  di-  cp.t.  red    poiirir^,    b-Mj^r  cm  ir-.t    i,)   s,>   k,v  w  rj 

1        Ui.     FC/ieT'i']'    vaaimaii;^    pTfi^a-it    rela  as    an    tioii'\st.    :A*'H'   basMn,^-.    laaii,    and    ir"(  d 

!     t  -.    '.\dti    '» 'N    oil    army    eoinrati^'s    b\     i\is  bnsband,    a    b  lp'.''d    i'r.(a:d    '.n>]    <in    nno-'ej^- 

,   .M.'n-'^^-h!p  in  \<M'fian    ividy   Po-^t.   \o.  o7!\  tatiou<  but    n-*  fn;   citt/^n. 

;:      \     K.    In  jH.ld^'a]  in'dt.T-s  be  >  M.[M.rt.--   tiie  Fk\NK  ^\  Tm'-ist. -I'F.     '  K.  ,,.)ni*    of  FrarU 

-^■:   '•■d.'v,    ,,f   tbe   KtpublH'Mi    p'ivty.    l^d    in  }»     Fbri^;    ,>K    strnMv   coii-p.-'noiislv    f.-nb    -ai 

.     •     .;r/.'">  ^(*t.-^   fo'"  tbe  Tr:n   \vb  ini   U.'  n^-  i),^,  r-^tt^^  of   St.  dn^.^pi,   .M-uniy 's  tnli.  iais  in 

.   .'•;-   -c  J..-m   ^ird;r:.-d  IVa- o!"!ie'.-.     So- b  is  tbe  ^n.nne'di'^n   \\-M.  the  po^/tion  of  cN  r^.;       M<.m\ 

.-■•;•]  nv-    of   one    of    tbe   sueerv^ful    !n*-n    of  yonv^    of    irs    Id'e    bave    been    ]»a;-'d    in    tb" 

-■     -T  .-:•?•    eouTjty       lb<   b;Ks  eaiveddtis   way  ;   .,u'dy.   and   lieve   b. -m   of  iiiid'^re:   biaio*-   ir; 

.   a"!  ..oi  e   u'-iid-b   alone,   bv   Constant    ap  business    and     rid,']i:>     m     ]>b-ie.'>    <d     pniide 

^)..''^:-^;   j'ud   nard,  worK,  aiid  b\  many  sler-  im^t       11*^   was  b  on^'  ii,    Mrie,   }*enT.s> '-van  .a. 

■' :-  <-n:ifM. -'V-Mics  h"ve  i^ained    bi:ri   ib^^  re-  Deeendier    14.    !.<>«,    a    son    of    Frank    and 

...-.'    a  '1   .ennjenee  of  IV -u,  Mapbdnia  (Fink)  (  bristopb..  botb  ladA-s  o^ 

e,v    /kltxi:r.      Tbe    late    Jobn    Ze!lT.''r,  (itoinniiv,  but    tjoib   eaaie   to   t'ds   ••ount-v   in 


Digitized  by  LjOOQIC 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


817 


Appleton,  Wisconsin,  from  whence  he  en- 
listed for  service  in  the  Civil  war,  enlisting 
on  August  21,  1862,  in  Company  I,  Thirty- 
second  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  which  he 
served  until  the  close  of  the  conflict  as  a 
private,  but  during  a  part  of  the  summer  of 
1863  he  was  in  the  hospital.  In  August, 
1864,  at  the  skirmish  on  the  Summerfield 
road,  near  Decatur,  Alabama,  he  was  made 
a  prisoner  and  taken  to  Kahaba,  Alabama. 
He  was  held  a  prisoner  nine  months,  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged from  the  service  at  Milwaukee,  Wis- 
consin, on  June  12,  1865.  After  the  close  of 
the  war  Mr.  Koener  spent  about  two  years  in 
St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  of  cabinet  making;  from  that  city 
journeying  to  Kansas  City,  six  months  later 
to  St.  Charles,  Missouri,  thence  to  Hillsboro, 
Illinois,  and  on  to  Chicago,  from  which  city 
he  came  to  South  Bend  in  1869  and  became 
associated  with  the  Union  Manufacturing 
Company.  His  connection  with  that  corpo- 
ration continued  until  1877,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Hillsboro,  Illinois,  but  in  1882 
came  again  to  South  Bend  and  began  work 
with  the  Liphart  Manufacturing  Company. 
He  remained  with  this  company  until 
that  concern  quit  business,  after  which 
he  was  associated  with  Wells  &  Creithbaum. 
Throughout  his  long  and  active  business  ca- 
reer he  was  most  faithful  to  the  ethics  of 
commercial  life,  but  in  1895  he  laid  aside  the 
active  cares  of  business  to  live  quietly  in  his 
pleasant  home  which  he  had  purchased  about 
1884.  In  addition  to  his  residence  he  also 
owns  property  adjoining,  which  he  rents,  and 
is  the  owner  of  residence  property  on  Hill 
street. 

On  November  25,  1870,  was  celebrated  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Koener  and  Miss  Mary  Shef- 
fler,  and  they  have  one  adopted  son,  Rich- 
ard. Mr.  Koener  maintains  pleasant  rela- 
tions with  his  old  army  comrades  by  his 
membership  in  Norman  Eddy  Post,  No.  579, 
6.  A.  R.  In  political  matters  he  supports  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party,  but  in 
local  affairs  votes  for  the  man  whom  he  re- 
gards as  best  qualified  for  office.  Such  is  the 
biography  of  one  of  the  successful  men  of 
St.  Joseph  county.  He  has  carved  his  way 
to  aflBuence  unaided,  alone,  by  constant  ap- 
plication and  hard  work,  and  his  many  ster- 
ling characteristics  have  gained  him  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  of  men. 

John  Zeltner.     The   late  John   Zeltner, 


whose  sudden  death  from  a  paralytic  stroke 
occured  at  the  family  residence  in  South 
Bend,  had  been  a  prominent  business  man 
of  the  city  for  the  preceding  twenty-four 
years.  He  was  of  honesit,  sturdy  character, 
intelligent,  economical,  industrious  and 
practical;  he  had  all  the  distinctive  traits  of 
his  (German  ancestry,  plus  a  large  measure 
of  the  American  enterprise,  and  therefore 
made  a  good  business  man  as  well  as  a 
typically  useful  citizen.  Besides  his  wife 
and  brothers  he  left  a  wide  and  warm  circle 
of  friends  who  had  been  attracted  to  him  by 
his  good  heart  and  acts  of  kindness  and  help- 
fulness. 

T^e  deceased  was  bom  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
a  son  of  George  and  Mary  Zeltner,  and  there 
he  spent  his  boyhood  and  received  his  educa- 
tion. Quite  early  in  life  he  learned  the  trade 
of  a  bellows  maker,  and  when  he  removed  to 
Laporte — still  but  a  boy— engaged  both  in 
that  avocation  as  well  as  in  the  bakery  and 
restaurant  business.  Immediately  after  be- 
coming a  resident  of  South  Bend,  in  1883, 
he  opened  a  hardware  store  on  Chapin  street, 
commencing  the  business  with  his  brother 
Andrew  under  the  firm  name  of  Zeltner 
Brothers.  He  continued  at  this  site  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  when  his  house  had 
conducted  business  longer  at  the  same  local- 
ity than  any  other  establishment  in  South 
Bend. 

On  the  16th  of  December,  1891,  Mr.  Zelt- 
ner was  married  to  Miss  Frances  Pike,  a 
native  of  Willoughby,  Ohio,  his  faithful  and 
sorrowing  wife  still  surviving  him.  The  fam- 
ily were  members  of  the  St.  Paul's  Memo- 
rial church.  Rev.  W.  F.  Hovis,  the  pastor, 
conducting  the  funeral  services  of  the  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Zeltner  gave  his  vote  and  sup- 
port to  the  Republican  party,  but  he  never 
entered  politics,  being  content  to  be  known 
as  an  honest,  able  business  man,  and  good 
husband,  a  helpful  friend  and  an  unosten- 
tatious but  useful  citizen. 

Frank  P.  Christoph.  The  name  of  Frank 
P.  Christoph  stands  conspicuously  forth  on 
the  roster  of  St.  Joseph  county's  officials  in 
connection  with  the  position  of  clerk.  Many 
years  of  his  life  have  been  passed  in  the 
county,  and  have  been  of  uniform  honor  in 
business  and  fidelity  in  places  of  public 
trust.  He  was  born  in  Erie,  Pennsylvania, 
December  14,  1858,  a  son  of  Frank  and 
Magdalena  (Fink)  Christoph,  both  natives  of 
Germany,  but  both  came  to  this  country  in 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


818 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


early  life.  They  were  long  residents  of  Erie, 
Pennsylvania,  and  the  father  served  as  bag- 
gage master  for  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad 
Company  during  the  long  period  of  forty 
years,  his  death  occurring  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
seven  years.  The  mother  preceded  her  hus- 
band to  the  home  beyond,  dying  at  the  age 
of  fifty-five  years.  They  were  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  but  only  two  are  living  at  the 
present  time,  the  daughter  being  Mary,  wife 
of  Sanford  Elias,  of  Painesville,  Ohio. 

In  his  native  city  of  Erie  Prank  P.  Chris- 
toph  was  reared  and  received  his  educational 
training,  attending  a  Catholic  school.  At  the 
early  age  of  seventeen  years  he  left  home  and 
inheriting  something  of  his  father's  taste  for 
railroad  work  engaged  in  that  occupation, 
having  been  employed  with  most  of  the  large 
railroad  companies  operating  between  New 
York  and  San  Prancisco,  serving  in  the  ca- 
pacities of  brakeman  and  conductor,  while 
for  twelve  years  he  was  a  conductor  on  the 
Grand  Trunk.  Por  two  years  thereafter  Mr. 
Christoph  was  with  the  Mishawaka  Woolen 
Company,  and  in  1906  was  elected  to  the 
position  of  clerk  of  St.  Joseph  county,  in 
which  he  is  the  present  inciunbent,  while  for 
some  time  he  also  served  as  the  marshal  of 
Mishawaka.  In  his  present  position  he  has 
been  very  efficient  and  faithful,  making  a 
most  competent  officer. 

In  1884  Mr.  Christoph  was  married  to  Min- 
nie, a  daughter  of  L.  A.  and  Anna  Smith,  of 
Mishawaka,  although  the  daughter  is  a  na- 
tive of  Iowa.  Two  children  have  been  bom 
of  this  union,  Hazel  P.  and  Prank  H.  In 
his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Christoph  has 
always  been  a  zealous  Democrat,  active  in 
the  work  and  laboring  earnestly  for  the  adop- 
tion of  the  principles  which  he  believes  will 
best  advance  good  government.  In  his  fra- 
ternal relations  he  is  a  member  of  the  Elks, 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Knights  of 
the  Maccabees,  all  of  Mishawaka  with  the 
exception  of  the  Elks,  with  which  he  holds 
membership  in  South  Bend.  He  enjoys  the 
regard  of  his  fellow  men  and  is  widely  and 
favorably  known  in  St.  Joseph  county. 

William  0.  Davies.  During  a  number  of 
years  past  the  name  of  William  0.  Davies 
has  been  inseparably  interwoven  with  the 
business  interests  of  South  Bend,  and 
through  his  diligence,  perseverance  and  busi- 
ness ability  he  has  acquired  a  handsome  com- 
petence, while  at  the  same  time  he  has  con- 
tributed to  the   general  prosperity   through 


the  conduct  of  enterprises  which  have  fur- 
nished employment  to  many.  He  was  bom 
in  Portage,  Wisconsin,  on  the  7th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1857,  and  his  father,  Thomas  R.  Davies, 
was  a  native  of  Wales,  but  came  to  America 
during  his  early  manhood  and  located  first 
in  Utica,'  New  York,  where  he  followed  his 
trades  of  carpentering  and  stair-building. 
He  was  there  married  to  Winifred  Jones,  also 
a  native  of  Wales,  and  together  the  young 
couple  emigrated  to  Portage,  Wisconsin, 
where  in  those  early  days  he  was  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  fanning  mills.  His  life's 
labors  were  ended  in  death  when  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  sixty-one  years,  his  wife 
surviving  until  sixty-five  years  of  age,  and 
they  now  lie  buried  in  Spokane,  Washington. 
In  their  family  were  eight  children,  five  sons 
and  three  daughters. 

William  0.  Davies,  their  eldest  child,  re- 
mained in  his  native  city  of  Portage,  Wiscon- 
sin, until  fourteen  years  of  age,  removing 
thence  to  Rockford,  Illinois,  and  one  year 
later,  in  February,  1872,  to  Chicago,  where 
he  secured  employment  in  the  Wilson  Broth- 
ers' shirt  factory.  In  1883  he  was  sent  by 
his  employers  to  South  Bend  to  open  a  shirt 
factory  in  this  city,  continuing  with  this 
company  for  twenty-four  years  or  until  the 
1st  of  January,  1896,  when  he  resigned  his 
position  to  go  to  Chicago  and  start  a  high 
grade  hand  laundry.  This  enterprise  has 
grown  until  it  is  now  one  of  the  largest  ex- 
clusive hand  laundries  in  the  United  States, 
giving  employment  to  eighty  people  and  oc- 
cupying a  large  building  built. expressly  for 
the  purpose.  In  1899,  however,  Mr.  Davies 
returned  to  South  Bend  and  established  a 
laundry  in  this  city,  while  two  years  later  a 
shirt  factory  was  made  an  addition  to  the 
South  Bend  laundry,  where  in  that  depart- 
ment alone  employment  is  furnished  to 
eighty  people,  and  they  have  established  a 
reputation  for  high  grade  shirts  which  has 
made  them  famous  throughout  the  central 
west.  Mr.  Davies  still  retains  his  interest 
in  the  Chicago  laundry,  where  he  also  has  a 
large  market  for  his  shirts.  Thus  by  his  own 
efforts  he  has  made  himself  a  leader  in  the 
business  circles  of  the  community,  and  has 
won  a  name  in  connection  with  industrial 
interests  that  is  widely  known. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Davies  was  celebrated 
on  the  16th  of  September,  1882,  when  Han- 
nah Schimmel.  a  daughter  of  Elam  0.  and 
Sfirnh     (Kauffman)    Schimmel,    became    his 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


819 


wife.  She  was  bom  in  Bethlehem,  Penn- 
sylvania, but  was  taken  to  Chicago  when  ten 
years  of  age  and  reared  in  that  city,  grad- 
uating in  one  of  its  high  schools.  They  have 
three  sons  and  one  daughter, — Warren  T., 
who  is  assisting  in  his  father's  shirt  factory; 
W.  Owen,  Jr.,  attending  Wabash  College ; 
George  E.,  a  student  in  the  public  schools 
of  South  Bend;  and  Helen,  a  little  lady  of 
twelve  years.  The  cause  of  education  finds 
in  Mr.  Davies  a  warm  friend,  who  has  ef- 
fectually advanced  its  interests,  and  for  three 
years  was  treasurer  of  the  school  board,  and 
it  was  through  his  efforts  that  domestic  sci- 
ence was  introduced  into  the  schools  of  South 
Bend.  He  is  a  Republican  in  his  political 
affiliations,  but  was  placed  in  the  oflSce  by 
the  Democratic  vote  of  the  council.  He  is 
the  present  vice-president  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  of  South  Bend, 
having  previously  served  as  its  president  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  was  its  first  physical 
director,  conducting  the  gymnasium  class 
during  the  evenings.  During  his  residence 
in  Chicago  he  was  also  prominent  in  athletic 
circles.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  in  which  he  has  served  as  an  elder 
for  eighteen  years,  while  formerly  he  had  a 
young  men's  class  of  thirty  members,  many 
of  them  being  now  prominent  young  business 
men  of  South  Bend.  He  is  now  serving  aa 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  is  one 
of  the  directors  of  the  Associated  Charities 
of  South  Bend  and  is  vice-president  of  the 
County  Sunday-school  Association. 

David  B.  Miller,  whose  death  occurred 
on  the  18th  of  June,  1907,  was  numbered 
among  the  veterans  of  the  Civil  war,  and  was 
a  worthy  representative  of  one  of  the  pio- 
neer families  of  this  region.  He  was  bom 
in  German  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, March  26,  1843,  a  son  of  David  and 
Louisa  (O'Connor)  Miller.  The  father,  who 
was  bom  in  Northumberland  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, on  the  5th  of  July,  1806,  was  a 
Dunkard  minister,  and  in  the  early  year  of 
1839  he  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  pioneer  set- 
tlers of  German  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,  where  he  followed  farming  and  also 
labored  as  a  minister  in  the  Dunkard  church 
until  his  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death 
on  the  29th  of  November,  1876.  Mrs.  Miller, 
who  was  bom  on  the  31st  of  August,  1807, 
(lied  in  March.  1843.  They  were  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  namely:  Tobias, 
born     in     1830;     Maria,     in     1832;     Eliza- 


beth, in  1834;  Laura  A.,  in  1837;  Sarah,  in 
1839;  Solomon  C,  in  1841;  and  David  B., 
in  1843.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Miller 
chose  Catherine  Keltner,  who  was  born  on 
the  29th  of  November,  1824,  and  died  at  the 
age  of  sixty-eight  years.  They  became  the 
parents  of  nine  children:  Lucinda,  born  in 
1845 ;  Narcissus,  in  1847 ;  Margaret,  in  1849 : 
Daniel  C,  in  1851;  Hiram,  in  1854;  Jessie, 
in  1856;  Louisa  J.,  in  I860;  Mary,  in  1864; 
and  Grant,  in  1866.  With  the  exception  of 
two,  Tobias  and  Maria,  all  of  the  sixteen  chil- 
dren were  born  in  St.  Joseph  county,  in 
Green  and  German  townships. 

David  B.  Miller,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  was  reared  in  the  home  of  his 
grandmother  until  he  was  five  years  old,  for 
his  mother  died  within  three  weeks  of  his 
birth,  and  he  was  thereafter  cared  for  by 
his  stepmother,  who  proved  a  loving  and  faith- 
ful counselor,  giving  to  him  the  same  filial 
devotion  as  to  her  own  children.  In  1861, 
when  eighteen  years  of  age,  Mr.  Miller  of- 
fered his  services  in  the  defense  of  his  coun- 
try, becoming  a  member  of  Company  I, 
Ninth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  after 
three  months  of  service  therein  he  re-enlisted 
in  Company  F,  Twenty-ninth  Indiana  Vol- 
unteers, under  Colonel  John  F.  Miller,  who 
afterward  became  a  general.  After  twelve 
months  of  service  he  received  an  honorable 
discharge  and  veteranized  in  the  Twenty-first 
Light  Artillery,  Indiana  Battery,  with  which 
he  continued  for  fourteen  months,  when  he 
became  ill  and  was  sent  to  the  Nashville 
hospital,  from  where  he  was  transferred  to 
the  Invalid  Corps  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged on  the  19th  of  June,  1865,  after  a 
military  career  of  four  years.  Mr.  Miller 
was  ever  true  to  his  duties  as  a  brave  and 
loyal  soldier,  and  he  was  promoted  to  the 
positions  of  sergeant  and  corporal.  After 
participating  in  the  grand  review  at  Wash- 
ington he  returned  to  his  home  in  South 
Bend,  and  in  August,  1865,  began  learning 
the  trade  of  a  wagon  maker  with  the  Stude- 
baker  Brothers,  his  connection  with  them  con- 
tinuing for  about  thirty-two  years,  but  not 
continuously.  For  two  years  from  1876  he 
was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Lib- 
erty township,  going  thence  to  Union  town- 
ship, and  in  1883  returned  to  the  Studebaker 
Brothers  and  was  made  foreman  of  their  lum- 
ber department.  During  the  long  period  of 
seventeen  years  he  continued  in  that  impor- 
tant office,  and  after  his  resignation  lived  in 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


820 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


quiet  retirement  at  his  pleasant  home  in 
South  Bend  until  his  death.  Strictly  up- 
right and  above  reproach  in  all  his  dealings 
with  others,  he  merited  the  high  esteem  in 
which  he  was  held  by  all  who  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  his  acquaintance. 

On  the  25th  of  December,  1867,  Mr.  Miller 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Anna  M.  Morgan, 
the  daughter  of  Charles  and  Sarah  Morgan, 
and  her  death  occurred  on  the  15th  of 
August,  1902,  leaving  one  son,  Henry  N., 
who  was  born  September  1,  1868,  and  is  now 
associated  as  a  machinist  with  the  Singer 
Manufacturing  Company.  In  political  mat- 
ters Mr.  Miller  upheld  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Columbus,  the 
Maccabees,  and  Auten  Post,  No.  8,  G.  A.  R., 
in  which  he  has  served  as  a  chaplain  for 
seven  years.  His  path  was  marked  by  good 
deeds,  by  honest  purpose,  by  commendable 
industry  and  worthy  motives,  and  when  the 
final  summons  came  he  left  a  record  that  is 
well  worthy  of  emulation. 

William  Washington  Giddings,  who  was 
long  a  prominent  Democrat  and  a  leading 
railroad  man  and  progressive  citzen  of  South 
Bend,  died  in  the  city  of  his  adoption  on 
the  21st  of  March,  1883,  and  his  widow,  nee 
Mary  Elizabeth  Flinn,  who  for  many  years 
was  a  leader  in  the  local  work  of  the  W.  C. 
T.  U.,  still  survives  him  as  a  useful  and 
honored  resident.  Mr.  Giddings  was  a  na- 
tive of  Barkhamsted,  Litchfield  county,  Con- 
necticut, bom  March  29,  1826.  Lorain  Gid- 
dings, his  father,  was  of  southern  blood,  but 
a  farmer  of  Connecticut,  in  which  state  he 
married  a  native  daughter,  Desdemona  Cow- 
drey.  They  became  the  parents  of  five  sons 
and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom  were  born 
and  reared  in  Connecticut. 

William  W.  Giddings  was  the  fourth  child 
aiid  the  second  son  in  the  farmily  bom  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lorain  Giddings.  He  was  of 
a  studious  and  reflective  disposition,  and  his 
original  intention  was  to  enter  the  ministry, 
but  he  was  obliged  to  abandon  his  purpose 
on  account  of  a  weakness  of  the  eyes  and  un- 
certain health.  He  then  retired  to  his  fa- 
ther's farm,  where  he  remained  until  his 
health  was  fully  restored,  when  he  removed 
to  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  to  become  con- 
nected with  the  grocery  business.  Later  he 
went  to  New  Hampshire,  and  commenced  his 
long  identification  with  railroading  Avith  the 
Boston,  Lowell  &  Nashua  Railroad. 


On  the  17th  of  January,  1854,  while  liv- 
ing in  Connecticut,  Mr.  Giddings  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Mary  E.  Flinn,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Clarissa  Flinn,  a  Massachusetts 
lady,  bom  March  2,  1835.  Her  father,  who 
was  born  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  was  an  expert 
in  the  installing  of  heavy  machinery,  and  his 
services  were  in  ready  demand  by  many  of 
the  manufacturers  of  the  east.  He  came  to 
America  when  only  fourteen  years  of  age, 
and  his  wife,  Clarissa  Durgin  Langley,  was 
a  native  of  Nottinghapi,  New  Hampshire. 
They  became  the  parents  of  five  sons  and  four 
daughters,  of  whom  Mrs.  Giddings  was  the 
fourth  child  and  the  second  daughter. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  W.  Giddings  lo- 
cated in  South  Bend  in  1872,  and  shortly 
afterward  the  latter  became  corresponding 
secretary  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.,  remaining  in 
that  position  for  about  fourteen  years,  and 
always  maintaining  her  deep  and  practical 
interest  in  it  as  a  steadfast  and  active  worker. 
The  three  children  in  their  family  were: 
William  Washington,  Jr.,  Samuel  Ballon  and 
Mary  Greenleaf .  Mr.  Giddings  was  a  Demo- 
cratic leader  of  much  local  influence,  and  at 
one  time  represented  the  Third  ward  in  the 
city  council.  He  was  a  Mason,  an  Odd  Fel- 
low, a  leading  member  of  the  Episcopal 
church,  and  a  citizen  of  wide  usefulness  and 
unimpeachable  honor.  His  widow  has  cause 
to  feel  a  deep'  pride  in  his  record,  and  her 
own  life  of  high  thoughts  and  good  deeds 
gives  an  added  luster  to  the  family  name. 

Edson  Foster,  retired  merchant  and  prom- 
inent citizen  of  South  Bend,  Indiana,  now 
residing  at  741  West  Washington  street,  is 
a  native  of  Orange  county,  Vermoi^t,  bom 
August  29,  1821,  the  son  of  William  E.  and 
Lucinda  (Walker)  Foster.  His  grandfather, 
Hezekiah  P.  Foster,  was  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire  and  a  patriot  of  the  Revolutionary 
war. 

Edson  attended  the  district  schools  of  his 
native  locality  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of 
age,  when  the  parents  brought  their  family 
to  Indiana,  making  the  journey  by  teams 
and  lake  vessels.  They  located  near  Middle- 
bury,  Elkhart  county,  where  the  father  died 
in  February^  1837,  and  where  the  son  taught 
school  for  more  than  ten  years.  In  this  occu- 
pation Edson  Foster  obtained  a  high  reputa- 
tion, but  finding  his  mind  more  and  more 
turning  to  mercantile  pursuits  abandoned  it, 
and,  after  clerking  for  about  four  years,  en- 
tered that  field  as  a  principal.     In  1851  he 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


i)     r    !    ".J.* 


V'    >     t        •        .  •■'•'.I'M 


.:     J'  '    ■    1         V    ■■ii-   .  • 


\  t  •     ' 


:       ..I  .       :  • 


')',,.'  \  .   \    . 


,.    ♦! 


Digitized  by 


Google 


V 


cioL^ 


0-t^^^ 


-7/(0^ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


.  PUe  .  >      ...  -  'ARYi 


\ 
\ 


.  deii  /' 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


821 


formed  a  connection  with  his  brother-in-law, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Foster  &  White,  and 
conducted  a  growing  and  finally  an  extensive 
business  until  1892.  Since  1875,  however,  it 
has  been  practically  managed  by  Mr.  White, 
and  upon  his  death  in  1892  it  was  closed  up. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Foster  had  been  mak- 
ing frequent  additions  to  his  landed  inter- 
ests, and  is  now  the  owner  of  several  hundred 
acres  in  Elkhart  county,  besides  valuable 
real  estate  in  South  Bend.  He  has  been  a 
resident  of  the  city  since  1875,  being  con- 
sidered not  only  a  substantial  but  a  broad- 
minded  and  public-spirited  member  of  the 
community. 

Mr.  Foster's  wife,  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried in  1845,  was  formerly  Mary  H.  White, 
daughter  of  James  J.  White.  Their  only 
child,  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Hickox,  is  the  widow  of 
Albert  J.  Hickox,  formerly  a  leading  citizen 
of  San  Francisco.  With  D.  O.  Mills,  he  was 
also  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Petroleum 
and  Mining  Exchange  of  New  York  city. 
Mr.  Hickox  died  in  July,  1883,  and  since 
his  decease  his  widow  has  resided  with  her 
father  in  South  Bend.  Despite  his  venerable 
age,  Edson  Foster  attends  to  his  real  estate 
and  other  business  interests,  the  brightness 
of  his  mind  and  his  sturdy  bearing  being  a 
source  of  wondier  and  gratitude  to  his  many 
friends  and  associates. 

Samuel  B.  Westlake,  M.  D.  During  the 
brief  period  of  Dr.  Westlake's  professional  ca- 
reer he  has  met  with  gratifying  success,  and 
though  his  residence  in  South  Bend  dates  back 
but  a  short  time  he  has  won  the  good  will  and 
patronage  of  many  of  its  leading  citizens.  He 
was  bom  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  on  the  9th 
of  February,  1879,  a  son  of  Charles  E.  and 
Nettie  C.  (Powell)  Westlake,  both  natives  of 
New  York.  The  father,  who  was  a  manu- 
facturer, was  long  engaged  in  the  book-bind- 
ing business,  and  his  death  occurred  in  1887. 

The  elementary  educational  training  of 
Samuel  B.  Westlake  was  received  in  his  native 
city  of  Brooklyn,  while  later  he  attended  Nor- 
wich Free  Academy,  of  Connecticut  and  the 
Mt.  Hermon  Preparatory  School,  Baltimore 
Medical  College,  entering  the  latter  in- 
stitution in  1902  and  graduating  in  1906. 
In  the  same  year  he  became  a  resident 
of  South  Bend  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine,  his  office  being  located  in  the  Dean 
building. 

James  Nelson.     From  an  early  period  in 


the  development  of  St.  Joseph  county  the 
Nelsons,  father  and  son,  have  been  important 
factors  in  its  improvement  and  advancement 
as  contractors  and  builders.  James  Nelson 
was  bom  in  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  August  8, 
1861,  but  in  1866  was  brought  by  his  parents 
to  South  Bend,  being  then  but  a  little  lad 
of  five  years.  His  father,  Bernard  Nelson, 
became  one  of  the  leading  contractors  and 
builders  in  the  city,  many  of  its  most  beau- 
tifid  and  substantial  structures  now  standing 
as  monuments  to  his  ability.  His  life's  labors 
were  ended  in  death  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven 
years,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  (nee  Ann 
Green)  were  natives  of  Ireland. 

Wheij  about  twenty  years  of  age  James 
Nelswn  began  the  business  in  which  his  father 
had  been  so  successful,  that  of  contracting 
and  building,  and  much  of  his  time  since  has 
been  devoted  to  street  and  sewer  contracting, 
while  he  has  also  been  interested  quite  exten- 
sively in  real  estate  operations,  being  now  the 
principal  owner  of  the  entire  600  block.  Dur- 
ing his  business  career  he  has  built  about  ten 
miles  of  street  pavement,  and  has  also  per- 
formed much  other  work  which  has  contrib- 
uted to  the  substantial  improvement  of  this 
city.  Mr.  Nelson  gives  his  political  support 
to  the  Republican  party,  while  fraternally 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks. 

George  V.  Glover,  the  former  efficient 
and  popular  sheriff  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
holds  and  merits  a  place  among  its  repre- 
sentative citizens,  and  the  story  of  his  life, 
while  not  particularly  dramatic,  is  such  as 
to  offer  a  typical  example  of  that  alert  Amer- 
ican spirit  which  has  enabled  many  an  indi- 
vidual to  rise  from  obscurity  to  a  position 
of  influence  and  renown  solely  through  na- 
tive talent,  indomitable  perseverance  and  sin- 
gleness of  purpose.  Mr.  Glover  was  born  in 
Windsor  county,  Vermont,  March  10,  1828. 
His  father,  Peter  S.  Glover,  was  bom  and 
reared  in  Massachusetts,  and  was  a  manu- 
facturer of  pearlash  on  a  large  scale.  He 
subsequently  removed  to  Vermont  and  was 
there  married  to  Mary  Robinson,  a  native  of 
that  state,  and  they  continued  to  reside  at 
Barnard,  Windsor  county,  the  remainder  of 
their  lives,  the  father  dying  when  about  forty 
years  of  age  and  the  mother  when  about 
sixty.  In  their  family  were  ten  children, 
but  two  of  them  died  when  young. 

George  V.  Glover,  the  fifth  child  and  third 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


822- 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


son  in  order  of  birth,  remained  in  his  native 
commonwealth  of  Vermont  until  his  thir- 
teenth year,  but  previous  to  this  time,  when 
only  nine  years  of  age,  had  begun  to  fight 
the  earnest  battle  of  life  for  himself.  For 
three  years  he  lived  with  a  man  for  whom  he 
worked  for  his  board  and  clothes,  and  when 
thirteen  years  of  age,  as  above  stated,  left 
the  old  Green  Mountain  state  for  Lowell, 
Massachusetts,  to  became  an  employe  in  his 
brother-in-law's  store.  Three  years  later  Mr. 
Glover  began  work  in  the  cotton  mill,  and 
four  years  later  went  to  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts, and  drove  an  omnibus  from  Charles- 
ton to  that  city,  making  seven  trips  each  day 
and  continuing  in  that  occupation  for  six 
years.  In  1853  hie  went  to  St.  Paul,  Minne- 
sota, and  engaged  in  farming,  and  in  that 
early  day  he  could  have  purchased  the  land 
on  which  Minneapolis  now  stands  for  a  dol- 
lar and  a  quarter  per  acre.  He  had  the 
money  and  could  have  bought  a  section  of 
land,  but,  oblivious  to  these  great  possibili- 
ties, he  purchased  a  half  section  on  the  east 
side  in  Wisconsin,  thirty  miles  from  Minne* 
apolis  and  continued  its  cultivation  and  im- 
provement until  his  removal  to  South  Bend, 
Indiana,  in  1856.  Here  he  resumed  his  agri- 
cultural operations,  but  later  turned  his  at- 
tention to  threshing  clover,  in  which  he  was 
very  successful,  clearing  during  the  first  year 
thirteen  hundred  dollars,  and  he  was  en- 
gaged in  that  occupation  for  four  years.  He 
was  then  deputy  sheriff  four  years  under 
Sheriff  Solomon  W.  Palmer,  after  which  he 
was  elected  to  the  office  for  two  terms.  On 
the  expiration  of  that  period  Mr.  Glover  be- 
came cashier  of  the  Birdsell  Company  during 
their  financial  troubles,  for  three  years  suc- 
cessfully conducting  their  affairs  and  in  that 
time  assisting  them  to  once  more  forge  to  the 
front.  During  the  past  eighteen  years,  how- 
ever, he  has  lived  retired  from  the  active 
cares  of  a  business  life,  relieved  of  the  bur- 
dens and  rasponsibilities  which  he  so  long 
and  faithfully  bore.  He  is  held  in  high  re- 
gard by  all  who  know  him,  his  public  service 
has  been  most  exemplary,  and  his  private 
life  has  been  marked  by  the  utmost  fidelity' 
to  duty. 

Mr.  Glover  is  the  father  of  two  daughters, 
Addea  and  Georgia.  Since  the  organization 
of  the  Republican  party  he  has  faithfully 
supported  and  upheld  its  principles,  having 
voted  for  each  Republican  presidential  can- 
didate since  casting  his  ballot  for  Fremont, 


but  in  local  affairs  he  supports  the  men  whom 
he  regards  as  best  qualified  for  their  re- 
spective offices.  During  many  years  he  has 
been  a  Knight  Templar  Mason,  exemplifying 
in  his  life  the  noble  and  beneficent  spirit  of 
the  order. 

John  M.  Sinqler.  To  John  M.  Singler 
has  been  vouchsafed  an  honored  retirement 
from  labor  as  the  reward  of  a  long,  active 
and  useful  business  career.  Through  an  ex- 
tended period  he  was  prominently  connected 
with  the  hardware  trade  of  South  Bend,  and 
throughout  the  entire  period  of  his  residence 
in  this  city  he  has  occupied  a  distinctive  posi- 
tion in  the  commercial  circles  of  his  com- 
munity, and  has  ever  been  faithful  to  his 
conceptions  of  the  duties  of  citizenship.  He 
was  bom  in  Tyrol,  Austria,  November  7, 
1830,  attending  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  city  until  the  age  of  twelve  years, 
when  he  began  learning  the  tailor's  trade  and 
continued  in  the  occupation  until  his  twenty- 
sixth  year.  In  1856  he  became  an  American 
citizen,  establishing  his  home  in  Goshen,  In- 
diana, but  in  1857  he  removed  to  Franklin 
Grove,  near  Dixon,  Illinois,  where  he  con- 
tinued his  tailoring  busines  until  1858.  Dur- 
ing the  following  year  he  was  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  near  Franklin  Grove, 
and' on  the  expiration  of  that  period  returned 
to  Goshen,  Indiana,  to  resume  his  tailoring 
business,  but  in  the  same  year  transferred 
his  residence  and  operations  to  Lima,  that 
state,  and  after  his  marriage,  which  occurred 
in  1860,  Mr.  Singler  again  returned  to 
Goshen  and  purchased  a  grocery  and  bakery 
stock,  his  proprietorship  therein  continuing 
for  one  year,  when  he  removed  to  MiJlers- 
burg,  Indiana.  During  his  residence  in  that 
city  he  conducted  a  hotel  and  grocery  store, 
and  also  erected  seven  houses,  a  hotel  and 
a  three-story  brick  business  building,  while 
from  1862  to  1867  he  served  as  the  post- 
master of  the  city,  his  residence  therein  cov- 
ering a  period  of  fourteen  years.  While 
there  he  purchased  a  hardware  store  in 
Goshen,  taking  one-half  of  the  stock  to  Avilla, 
Indiana,  and  the  remainder  to  Millersburg, 
and  erected  store  rooms  for  this  purpose. 
In  1873  Mr.  Singler  removed  to  Plymouth, 
Indiana,  where  he  purchased  a  large  hard- 
ware store  of  Mr.  John  Hohain,  the  purchase 
price  being  fourteen  thousand  eight  hundred 
dollars,  he  having  traded  his  Millersburg 
property  toward  the  store,  and  on  the  second 
of  February,  1873,  he  came  to  South  Bend 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


s 


2 


O 

cr 
u 


u 

cwl. 

1 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


823 


and  purchased  the  hardware  store  in  the 
Baker  building,  on  Michigan  street.  It  was 
not  long,  however,  before  his  interests  grew 
to  such  extensive  proportions  that  he  was 
obliged  to  seek  larger  quarters  and  he  ac- 
cordingly moved  to  the  John  Kirby  building, 
where  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Mr. 
increasing  business  until  he  sold  it  in  1894, 
and  has  since  that  time  lived  in  quiet  re- 
tirement, save  for  the  supervision  of  his  large 
real  estate  interests. 

In  1860,  during  his  residence  in  Lima, 
Indiana,  Mr.  Singler  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Susan  Bordon,  a  native  of  Baden,  Ger- 
many, but  she  was  only  six  years  of  age 
when  she  came  to  America,  locating  with  her 
parents  in  Erie,  Pennsylvania.  At  th^  age 
of  sixteen  she  became  a  resident  of  Lima, 
where  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Mr. 
Singler,  and  they  have  become  the  parents 
of  thirteen  children,  but  two  died  in  in- 
fancy, the  eleven  remaining  being:  Frank 
Joseph,  engaged  in  the  wholesale  meat  busi- 
ness in  South  Bend;  Mary  Ann  C,  wife  of 
Mr.  J.  Rick,  of  Grant's  Pass,  Oregon;  Cyn- 
thia N.,  the  wife  of  Henry  Probst,  of  South 
Bend,  Indiana ;  Joseph  F.,  the  manager  of  a 
summer  resort  in  Sandusky,  Ohio;  William 
H.,  of  Everett,  Washington;  John  M.,  Jr.,  a 
dental  surgeon  of  Dunkirk,  Indiana ;  Charles 
E.,  a  business  man  of  South  Bend;  August 
D.,  engaged  in  the  piano  and  organ  business 
at  Medford,  Oregon;  Rudolph,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one;  Jacob  M.,  a  plumber 
in  New  Castle,  Indiana;  and  Peter,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  nine  years,  he  having  been 
drowned.  All  received  an  excellent  educa- 
tional training  in  Notre  Dame  and  were  well 
prepared  to  enter  the  active  duties  of  life, 
ilr.  and  Mrs.  Singler  witnessed  the  terrible 
earthquake  of  San  Francisco  on  the  18th 
of  April,  1906,  it  having  occurred  just  pre- 
vious to  their  entering  the  city  and  while 
their  train  was  stationed  at  Oakland  Pier. 
They  had  engaged  rooms  at  the  Brooklyn 
Hotel,  and'  would  have  been  there  at  the 
time  of  the  terrible  explosion  had  not  their 
train  been  two  hours  late,  this  having  doubt- 
less saved  their  lives,  as  many  lost  their  lives 
in  this  hotel.  Their  train  was  so  badly  shaken 
that  the  passengers  were  thrown  from  their 
beds.  Mr.  Singler  is  a  self-made  man,  and 
from  the  study  of  his  life  history  one  may 
learn  valuable  lessons.  He  is  a  type  of  the 
progressive  spirit  of  the  age,  and  the  un- 
daunted   enterprise    and     resolute    purpose 


which  have  characterized  him  have  brought 
him  to  his  present  high  position. 

W.  E.  Cady,  who  is  now  serving  as  state 
manger  of  the  fraternal  order  of  Woodmen 
of  the  World,  was  bom  in  Batavia,  New 
York,  on  the  13th  of  June,  1861,  a  son  of 
John  W.  and  Cyrene  (Rackley)  Cady,  also 
natives  of  the  Empire  state.  The  father 
was  a  successful  tiller  of  the  soil  until  1890, 
when  he  removed  to  Omaha  and  embarked  in 
the  livery  business,  being  thus  actively  en- 
gaged with  the  industrial  interests  of  that 
city  until  his  death  in  1906,  when  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  He  was 
a  man  of  splendid  physique,  being  six  feet 
and  five  inches  in  height  and  weighing  three 
hundred  pounds,  but  was  finely  proportioned. 
He  earned  for  himself  an  enviable  reputa- 
tion as  a  business  man,  and  enjoyed  the  de- 
served and  unbounded  confidence  of  his  fel- 
low men. 

In  1865  W.  E.  Cady  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  Bureau  county, 
Illinois,  being  then  only  a  little  lad  of  four 
years,  and  in  its  country  schools  he  received 
his  early  educational  training,  which  he  sup- 
plemented by  attendance  at  the  high  school 
of  Princeton.  In  1881  he  removed  to  Rock 
Falls,  Illinois,  and  was  there  employed  as  a 
clerk  in  a  grocery  store  until  1887,  when 
he  went  to  Omaha,  Nebraska,  and  engaged 
as  a  grocery  merchant  for  himself.  In  1890, 
however,  Mr.  Cady  came  to  South  Bend, 
which  has  ever  since  been  his  home  and  where 
he  has  been  accorded  a  place  among  the  suc- 
cessful and  progressive  citizens.  Throughout 
the  period  of  his  residence  here  he  has  served 
as  state  manager  for  the  fraternal  order  of 
Woodmen  of  the  World. 

On  the  27th  of  March,  1887,  Mr.  Cady 
was  married  to  Hattie  Kelsey,  of  Sterling. 
Illinois.  Their  home  is  a  happy  and  attrac- 
tive one,  where  warm-hearted  hospitality  is 
always  to  be  found  by  their  numerous 
friends. 

Alonzo  J.  Hammond.  Among  those  who 
have  stood  as  distinguished  ^types  of  the 
world's  workers  and  who  have  introduced 
new  eras  of  thought  and  works  of  great 
utility  no  one  is  more  worthy  of  honorable 
mention  than  Alonzo  J.  Hammond,  city  engi- 
eer  of  South  Bend.  He  was  born  in  Thorn- 
town,  Indiana,  on  the  23d  of  April,  1869,  a 
son  of  John  W.  and  Mary  A.  (Padgette) 
Hammond,  the  former  a  native  of  Ohio  and 
the  latter  of  Indiana.     When  twenty  years 


Digitized  by 


Google 


824 


HISTORY    OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


of  age  the  father  removed  to  Richmond,  In- 
diana, where  he  was  long  numbered  among 
the  architects  and  builders.  He  afterwards  re- 
moved to  Thorntown,  that  state,  and  thence 
to  Frankfort,  Indiana,  where  he  continued 
to  engage  in  his  profession  with  skill  and 
ability  until  his  life's  labors  were  ended  in 
death,  having  been  called  to  the  home  be- 
yond in  1891,  when  fifty-one  years  of  age. 

During  his  youth  Alonzo  J.  Hammond  at- 
tended the  high  school  of  Frankfort,  and  in 
1885  became  a  student  in  the  Rose  Poly- 
technic Institute  of  Terre  Haute,  in  which 
he  graduated  in  1889.  For  some  time  there- 
after he  remained  in  his  father's  oflSce,  there 
laying  the  foundation  of  his  future  life  work. 
Going  thence  to  Boston  he  took  a  special 
course  in  engineering  at  the  Massachusetts 
Institute  of  Technology,  after  which  he  went 
to  Frankfort  and  acted  as  city  engineer,  also 
engaging  in  the  general  practice  of  engineer- 
ing until  1898.  In  that  year  Mr.  Hammond 
became  an  employe  of  the  Vandalia  Railroad 
Company  in  the  chief  engineer's  office  at 
Terre  Haute.  Since  1901  he  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  South  Bend,  coming  to  this  city  as 
city  engineer  and  is  the  present  incumbent 
of  that  office.  He  also  conducts  a  general 
engineering  practice,  but  the  boundaries  of 
the  town  are  too  limited  for  his  capabilities 
and  he  has  gained  a  wide  reputation  through- 
out Indiana  and  Michigan.  Among  other 
large  enterprises  with  which  he  has  been  en- 
gaged may  be  mentioned  the  construction  of 
the  Southern  Michigan  Road,  of  which  he  was 
chief  engineer,  and  he  also  has  charge  of  the 
construction  of  the  new  road  to  Laporte, 
Indiana.  He  designed  and  constructed  the 
Cedar  street  bridge  at  Mishawaka,  also  the 
Colfax  avenue  bridge  and  Jefferson  street 
bridge  at  South  Bend,  as  well  as  the  new 
La  Salle  street  bridge.  He  was  associate 
engineer  in  charge  of  the  construction  of  the 
Oliver  power  house,  associate  engineer  in 
charge  of  the  construction  of  the  Elkhart 
power  house,  and  has  been  consulting  en- 
gineer on  much  important  work.  He  is  a 
strong  and  self-masterful  man,  and  has  acted 
his  part  so  well  in  both  public  and  private 
life  that  South  Bend  has  been  enriched  by 
his  example,  his  character  and  his  labor. 

In  1893  Mr.  Hammond  was  married  to 
Flora  Troll,  of  Sullivan,  Indiana,  and  they 
have  two  children:  Mary,  born  September 
23,  1895,  and  John,  bom  October  31,  1905. 
The  family  affiliate  with  the  First  Presby- 


terian church.  Mr.  Hammond  is  a  member 
of  the  orders  of  Elks  and  Masons  and  of  the 
Commercial  Athletic  and  Indiana  Clubs. 

Joseph  Eckman.  A  prosperous  farmer 
and  a  representative  citizen  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  Joseph  Eckman  now  resides  on  an 
attractive  homestead  of  sixty  acres  located  on 
section  2,  Portage,  township.  He  was  bom 
in  Centre  township,  southeast  of  his  present 
residence,  on  the  1st  of  December,  1847.  His 
father,  William  Eckman,  was  also  a  farmer 
throughout  his  life,  being  a  native  of  Ohio, 
but  came  to  St.  Joseph  county  early  in  the 
forties.  Shortly  after  his  arrival  he  married 
Catherine  Ulrey,  also  a  native  of  the  Buckeye 
state,  and  the  only  child  in  her  family.  The 
father  died  in  1857,  and  Joseph  Eckman  was 
reared  by  his  mother  on  the  old  homestead  m 
Centre  township. 

Mr.  Eckman  V  wife,  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Portage  township,  was  Anna  M.  Van 
Buskerk,  an  Ohioan,  who  was  two  years  of 
age  when  brought  by  her  parents  to  St. 
Joseph  county.  Three  years  after  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Eckman  bought  his  present  farm 
in  Portage  township,  which  his  care  and  ^U 
as  a  thorough  agriculturist  has  since  brought 
to  a  high  state  as  valuable  property  and  an 
attractive  homestead.  They  have  become  the 
parents  of  two  sons  and  two  daughters — Etta, 
Bessie,  William  and  Arthur,  all  of  whom 
were  born  and  raised  in  St.  Joseph  county. 

A  portion  of  Mr.  Eckman 's  farm  formerly 
adjoined  the  city  of  South  Bend  on  the  south. 
This  land  he  platted  some  years  ago  and  it 
now  comprises  desirable  residence  lots  on  the 
west  side  of  Michigan  street.  Besides  being 
known  as  a  substantial  general  farmer  he  has 
also  engaged  to  some  extent  in  real  estate 
transactions.  He  is  a  leading  Republican, 
and  a  citizen  of  such  standing  and  good 
judgment  that  he  has  served  as  a  member  of 
the  township  advisory  committee  since  its 
creation  in  about  1901.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  St.  Joseph  Valley  Grange. 

Frank  J.  Singler.  In  connection  with  the 
business  interests  of  South  Bend  the  name  of 
Frank  J.  Singler  occupies  a  prominent  place, 
for  during  a  number  of  years  he  has  been  one 
of  the  city's  most  prominent  representatives, 
progressive,  enterprising  and  persevering, 
and  while  his  varied  affairs  have  brought  him 
success  they  have  also  advanced  the  general 
welfare  by  accelerating  commercial  activity. 
He  wa,s  boni  m  Millei-sburg,  Indiana,  April 
16,    1861,   the   eldest  son  of  John   M.   and 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


THE  \ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY    OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


825 


Susan  (Borden)-  Singler,  the  history  of  whom 
will  be  found  in  the  sketch  of  John  M. 
Singler  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Their  son 
Frank  was  but  twelve  years  of  age  when  he 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Plymouth,  In- 
diana, their  receiving  his  elementary  educa- 
tional training,  which  was  completed  at  Notre 
Dame.  When  he  had  reached  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen he  began  the  telegraphy  business,  work- 
ing in  the  Western  Union  office  at  Detroit 
and  other  places,  and  was  also  for  a  time  with 
the  Wabash  Company,  continuing  his  connec- 
tion with  that  profession  from  1879  until 
1886,  when  he  came  to  South  Bend  and  until 
1892  was  associated  with  his  father  in  his 
large  hardware  business.  In  that  year  Mr. 
Frank  J.  Singler  became  associated  with 
Armour  &  Company,  continuing  with  them 
until  1906  when  he  severed  his  relations  with 
that  large  corporation  and  opened  a  whole- 
sale meat  and  commission  house  in  South 
Bend,  with  a  large  cold  storage  plant  on  the 
Michigan  Central  tracks  at  the  corner  of  Col- 
fax and  Emerick  streets.  This  is  one  of  the 
largest  business  enterprises  in  the  city.  Mr. 
Singler  handles  produce  by  the  car  loads,  and, 
being  a  man  of  resourceful  ability,  he  is  con- 
stantly extending  his  field  of  operations  fo 
meet  the  increasing  demands  of  his  business, 
and  South  Bend  is  truly  fortunate  in  that  he 
has  allied  his  interests  with  hers. 

On  the  23d  of  November,  1887,  Mr.  Singler 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Louise  M.  Jacobs, 
a  daughter  of  Leopold  and  Theresa  Jacobs, 
of  Wapakoneta,  Ohio,  the  birthplace  of  tjieir 
daughter  Louise.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Singler  have 
one  son,  Robert,  and  also  three  children  who 
are  deceased,  Winfield,  Rudolph  and  Ther- 
esa. Mr.  Singler  has  membership  relations 
with  the  Foresters,  the  Woodmen  of  America 
and  other  insurance  orders,  and  in  his  po- 
litical views  he  is  a  Democrat  where  national 
issues  are  involved,  but  otherwise  he  votes 
independent  of  party  ties.  He  is,  however, 
at  all  times  loyal  in  his  support  of  all  meas- 
ures intended  to  benefit  the  community  or 
the  general  public. 

Jerome  Potter,  who  has  charge  of  the  old 
plant  of  the  Singer  Manufacturing  Company, 
with  residence  at  823  East  La  Salle  street. 
South  Bend,  is  an  honored  veteran  of  the 
Civil  war.  He  is  a  native  son  of  Connecticut, 
bom  on  the  9th  of  August,  1838,  and  in  that 
country  his  parents.  Nelson  and  Maria 
(Evitts)  Potter,  also  had  their  nativity.  The 
father  followed  the  carpenter's  trade  as  his 


occupation,  and  his  death  occurred  in  his  na- 
tive country,  his  wife  having  reached  the  age 
of  forty-two  years  when  she  was  called  to  the 
home  beyond.  In  their  family  were  but  two 
children,  a  son  and  a  daughter,  the  latter 
being  Helen,  the  deceased  wife  of  Wilson 
Sommers,  a  resident  of  Laporte  avenue.  South 
Bend. 

Jerome  Potter,  the  elder  of  the  children 
and  the  only  living  representative  of  the 
family,  spent  the  first  nineteen  years  of  his 
life  in  his  native  state  of  Connecticut,  going 
thence  to  Summit  county,  Ohio,  and  later  to 
Ashland  county,  that  state.  While  there  he 
enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  war,  becom- 
ing a  member  of  Company  B,  Sixteenth  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry  in  1861,  and  to  him  be- 
longs the  honor  of  having  been  the  third 
man  armed  by  the  state  of  Indiana  in  1864. 
After  a  three  months'  service  Mr.  Potter 
went  to  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  and  was  made 
resident  mechanical  engineer  of  the  fire  de- 
partment of  that  city,  but  he  later  resigned 
that  position  to  again  enter  the  service  of 
his  country,  becoming  a  member  of  the 
Ninety-first  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry.  He 
entered  the  ranks  as  private,  but  was  later 
made  a  deputy  sergeant,  and  afterward  pro- 
moted to  first  or  orderly  sergeant,  his  term 
of  service  covering  a  period  of  a  little  less 
than  a  year,  for  he  enlisted  in  December  and 
was  discharged  at  the  close  of  the  conflict  in 
September,  1865. 

Thus  when  his  country  no  longer  needed 
his  services  Mr.  Potter  went  to  Pierceton,  In- 
diana, to  become  an  engineer  in  the  furniture 
factory  here.  In  1871  he  became  a  citizen  of 
South  Bend  and  an  employe  of  the  Union 
Manufacturing  Company,  thus  continuing 
until  1873,  when  he  became  associated  with 
the  Singer  Manufacturing  Company  in  a  me- 
chanical capacity,  from  which  he  rose  to  the 
position  of  steam  fitter,  and  in  1875  was 
made  the  first  engineer  for  the  Oliver  Chilled 
Plow  Works.  His  relations  with  that  cor- 
poration covered  a  period  of  two  years,  at 
the  close  of  which  he  resigned  to  become  the 
mechanical  engineer  of  the  Birdsell  Clover 
Huller  Worte,  remaining  with  them  from 
1877  until  1878,  when  he  returned  to  the 
Singer  Manufacturing  Company  as  a  steam 
fitter,  his  principal  work  being  the  drying 
of  lumber  and  the  heating  of  the  buildings. 
In  1892  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of 
chief  engineer,  while  in  1903  he  was  made 
the  custodian  of  the  buildings,  of  which  he  is 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


826 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


the  present  incumbent.  In  all  his  varied  re- 
lations he  has  ever  been  true  to  the  trusts 
reposed  in  him,  and  he  is  loved  and  honored 
by  all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  his  ac- 
quaintance. 

In  1859  Mr.  Potter  was  married  to  Helen 
Haynes,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
twins,  Harry  and  Hattie,  who  were  born  in 
1861  while  the  husband  and  father  was  in 
camp  in  West  Virginia  during  the  Civil  war. 
After  the  death  of  the  mother  Mr.  Potter 
married  Edith  Whiting,  their  wedding  hav- 
ing been  celebrated  in  1885.  Mr.  Potter  holds 
pleasant  relationi^  with  his  old  army  com- 
rades of  the  blue  by  his  membership  in  Auten 
Post,  No.  8,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he  has  been 
a  member  for  many  years.  He  is  also  a 
Mason,  having  joined  that  order  in  1861.  In 
national  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  but  lo- 
cally votes  independent  of  party  ties,  and 
he  has  served  as  foreman  of  the  South  Bend 
volunteer  fire  department  No.  3,  while  at  one 
time  he  was  assistant  chief  engineer  of  the 
city's  fire  department. 

W.  Oliver  Williams,  who  is  numbered 
aiiK)ng  the  honored  veterans  of  the  Civil  war, 
hem  for  a  number  of  years  a  representative 
place  among  the  business  men  of  South  Bend, 
but  he  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  this 
city.  His  birth  occurred  in  Shiawassee 
county,  Michigan,  December  13,  1848,  his 
parents  being  James  T.  and  Louisa  E.  (Ford) 
Williams.  The  father  died  during  the  early 
boyhood  days  of  his  son  Oliver,  and  the  latter 
remained  with  his  mother  until  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  war,  when,  in  1864,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
eighth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  serving 
as  a  private  until  the  close  of  the  conflict. 
During  the  time  he  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Atlanta,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Resaca, 
Dallas,  Burnt  Hickory,  Pine  Mountain,  De- 
catur, Lovejoy  Station,  Jonesboro,  Newhope 
Church,  Chattahochee  River,  Cassville,  Co- 
lumbia, Franklin,  Nashville,  Wise's  Forks, 
Kingston  and  was  present  at  the  surrender 
of  Johnston's  army.  His  colonel  was  Jasper 
Packard,  and  he  received  his  honorable  dis- 
charge at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  in  1866. 
He  was  only  fifteen  years  of  age  at  the  time 
of  his  enlistment,  being  one  of  the  youngest 
soldiers  in  the  army,  but  he  performed  his 
arduous  tasks  with  steadiness  and  discretion, 
and  was  numbered  among  the  bravest  of  the 
boys  in  blue. 

in  1856  Mr.  Williams  had  come  to  St.  Jo- 


seph county,  and  was  a  resident  of  Misha- 
waka  at  the  time  of  his  enlistment  for  the 
war,  and  after  its  close  he  returned  to  that 
city  and  for  three  years  was  employed  in 
a  factory.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period 
he  came  to  South  Bend  and  associated  him- 
self with  the  Singer  Sewing  Machine  Com- 
pany, continuing  his  connection  with  that 
corporation  for  about  twelve  years.  During 
the  ten  years  following,  from  1880  until  1890, 
he  was  a  resident  of  York  county,  Nebraska, 
engaged  in  farming  and  the  implement  busi- 
ness, returning  thence  to  South  Bend  and  em- 
barking in  the  grocery  business,  which  he 
continued  for  three  years,  when  he  sold  out 
the  business  and  for  ten  years  was  a  member 
of  the  police  force.  Again  Mr.  Williams  left 
his  South  Bend  home,  this  time  journeying 
south  to  Clarksville,  Tennessee,  but  one  year 
later  returned  to  this  city,  and  since  that 
time  he  has  lived  in  quiet  retirement  in  his 
pleasant  home  at  1614  South  Michigan  street, 
enjoying  the  rest  which  he  so  richly  de- 
serves. 

In  1870  Mr.  Williams  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Anna  Johnson,  who  was  born  in 
Niles,  Michigan,  but  was  reared  in  South 
Bend,  h-er  parents  being  James  W.  and  Mary 
Johnson,  who  were  numbered  among  the 
honored  and  early  pioneers  of  Berrien 
county,  Michigan.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wil- 
liams have  been  bom  a  son  and  a  daughter: 
Nellie,  the  wife  of  Frank  Newton  and  a  resi- 
dent of  South  Bend,  and  Ford,  an  employe 
of  the  C.  I.  &  S.  Railroad  Company  and  a 
resident  of  Kankakee,  Illinois.  He  married 
Ida  Savage,  and  their  three  children  are 
Wayne,  Dorris  and  Warren.  Mr.  Williams 
gives  a  staunch  and  unfaltering  support  to 
the  Republican  party,  and  during  his  con- 
nection with  the  city  police  he  served  as  ser- 
geant and  had  charge  of  the  night  force.  He 
is  a  prominent  member  of  Norman  Eddy 
Post,  No.  579,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he  is  a  past 
commander,  having  also  filled  all  the  other 
offices  in  the  command,  and  he  has  member- 
ship relations  with  the  Masonic  order  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias.  He  has  been  a  member 
of  the  last  named  order  for  thirty-four  years, 
has  been  honored  with  all  of  its  offices  and 
has  taken  the  Grand  Lodge  degree,  being 
a  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Indiana. 
He  has  attained  prominence  in  the  business 
circles,  while  in  private  life  no  man  in  South 
Bend  has  more  friends  than  he,  and  they 
have  been  won  and  are  being  retained  by  his 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


(j^U^^UmM^J^i^^^ 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


-^,,,.,v..'-.^^  «V 


\         s 


IL.  J 


Digitized  by 


Google 


fflSTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEOPH    COUNTY. 


827 


outspoken  devotion  to  the  best  interests  of  the 
community  and  his  mental  ability. 

George  L.  Hageb.  The  extensive  busi- 
ness interests  of  South  Bend  place  George 
L.  Hager  among  the.  leaders  in  industrial 
circles,  for  as  proprietor  of  the  Hager  Medi- 
cal Company  he  is  well  known  over  many 
sections  of  the  United  States  and  also  in  for- 
eign countries.  He  was  bom  in  Hagersville, 
Ontario,  where  his  father,  Charles  Hager,  was 
one  of  the  leading  citizens  for  many  years. 
His  birth,  however,  occurred  in  Palermo, 
Ontario,  but  he  subsequently  removed  to 
Hagersville,  which  was  named  in  his  honor 
and  of  which  he  was  the  postmaster  from  the 
time  of  the  establishment  of  the  oflSce  until 
his  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death,  a  period 
of  about  thirty-five  years.  His  death  occurred 
when  he  was  about  seventy-two  years  of  age, 
and  in  his  family  were  six  sons  and  two 
daughters,  all  of  whom  with  the  exception  of 
one  son  are  living  at  the  present  time,-  and 
one  of  whom.  Dr.  Frank  D.  Hager,  is  one  of 
the  most  prominent  dentists  of  South  Bend. 

George  L.  Hager  remained  in  the  place  of 
his  birth  until  twenty-seven  years  of  age, 
receiving  his  education  in  its  public  schools 
and  also  the  high  school  of  Haldimand 
county,  Ontario,  and  after  its  completion  was 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  until  1885. 
In  the  spring  of  the  following  year  he  came 
to  South  Bend,  Indiana,  in  the  capacity  of 
correspondent  for  Dr.  J.  McGill,  thus  con- 
tinuing for  about  seven  months,  and  during 
the  following  four  and  a  half  years  was  en- 
gaged in  business  with  Dr.  S.  L.  Kilmer. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  Mr.  Hager 
engaged  in  business  for  himself  as  proprietor 
of  the  Hager  Medical  Company,  which  is 
carried  on  entirely  by  correspondence,  his 
product  thus  being  sent  to  all  parts  of  the 
United  States  and  into  foreign  countries  as 
well.  In  conducting  this  large  enterprise  Mr. 
Hager  has  so  directed  his  efforts  that  its 
interests  have  grown  apace  with  the  progress 
which  dominates  the  central  west,  and  he  has 
won  for  himself  a  name  and  place  among 
the  leading  men  of  affairs  in  northern  In- 
diana. He  is  also  well  known  as  a  tenor 
singer,  having  formerly  taken  a  very  active 
part  in  the  musical  circles  of  South  Bend. 

In  1888  Mr.  Hager  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Mary  A.  Stephenson,  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Amos  T.  Stephenson  of  South 
Bend,  where  Mrs.   Hager  was  bom,   reared 


and  educated.  Mr.  Hager  gives  his  political 
support  to  the  Republican  party. 

C.  B.  Greene.  Numbered  among  the  na- 
tive sons  of  St.  Joseph  county  is  C.  B. 
Greene.  He  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the 
earliest  and  best  known  families  of  the 
county,  they  having  become  identified  with 
its  interests  in  a  very  early  day,  and  in 
honor  of  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  John 
Greene,  its  township  of  Greene  was  named. 
It  was  within  its  confines  that  Mr.  C.  B. 
Greene  was  born  on  the  18th  of  April,  1859. 
His  father,  Jackson  Greene,  was  born  in  the 
commonwealth  of  Ohio,  but  when  eighteen 
years  of  age,  in  1823,  he  came  with  his  father 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  and  was  here  mar- 
ried to  Mary  Kiiott,  also  a  native  of  Ohio, 
but  from  her  twelfth  year  she  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  coointy,  and  she  has  now 
reached  the  eightieth  milestone  on  the  jour- 
ney of  life.  In  their  family  were  six  chil- 
dren, five  sons  and  one  daughter,  but  Mr. 
Greene  of  this  review  is  now  the  only  surviv- 
ing child. 

The  first  twenty-six  years  of  his  life  were 
spent  in  his  native  township  of  Greene,  and 
he  then  became  identified  with  the  business 
interests  of  South  Bend.  For  fifteen  years 
he  was  connected  with  the  South  Bend  Medi- 
cal Company,  manufacturers  of  physicians 
supplies,  of  which  he  was  the  secretary  and 
treasurer,  but  on  the  expiration  of  that 
period,  in  1901,  he  sold  his  interests  therein, 
and  after  living  retired  for  about  four  years 
became  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  St.  Jo- 
seph Lumber  and  Manufacturing  Company, 
which  is  rapidly  winning  a  leading  place 
among  the  industrial  concerns  of  South  Bend 
and  of  which  he  was  elected  the  president 
and  treasurer,  but  he  disposed  of  his  interests 
in  this  concern  July  22,  1907. 

In  1892  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Greene  and  Miss  Alice  Baker.  She  was 
a  daughter  of  Mrs.  Kate  R.  Baker,  of  this 
city,  and  her  death  occurred  in  1902.  Where 
national  affairs  are  involved  Mr.  Greene  up- 
holds the  principles  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  in  the  county  in  which  he  has  made  his 
home  throughout  his  entire  life  he  is  widely 
and  favorably  known  and  has  gained  a  large 
circle  of  friends. 

Frank  J.  Murphy.  The  life  history  of 
Frank  J.  Murphy  furnishes  a  spendid  ex- 
ample of  what  may  be  accomplished  through 
determined  purpose,  laudable  ambition  and 
well   directed   efforts.     Starting   out  in   life 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


828 


HISTORY   OP  ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


for  himself  when  only  eleven  years  of  age,  he 
has  steadily  worked  his  way  upward,  gain- 
ing success  and  winning  the  confidence  of 
those  by  whom  he  has  been  employed.  He  is 
a  native  of  Quebec,  Canada,  born  on  the  17th 
of  May,  1848.  When  ten  years  of  age  he 
went  to  New  York  City,  there  completing  his 
education,  and  in  the  following  year  secured 
employment  with  the  Singer  Manufacturing 
Company,  working  at  anything  they  could 
find  for  him  to  do.  In  1868  he  came  with 
Leighton  Pine  to  South  Bend  and  resumed 
his  connection  with  his  former  company,  con- 
tinuing in  charge  of  their  cabinet  department 
until  failing  health  compelled  him  to  resign 
his  position.  He  is  still  with  the  company, 
however,  one  of  their  oldest  and  most  trusted 
employes. 

In  1870  Mr.  Murphy  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Ann  Kelty,  and  they  have  become 
the  parents  of  eight  daughters,  namely :  Mary 
E.,  the  wife  of  T.  P.  Guilfoyle,  of  Kansas 
City,  Missouri;  Agnes;  Ann,  the  wife  of  W. 
A.  Mclnerny,  whose  history  appears  else- 
where in  this  work ;  Margaret  Cecelia ;  Helen 
T. ;  Loretta;  Genevieve;  and  Martha,  who  is 
a  member  of  the  order  of  the  Holy  Cross, 
in  which  she  is  known  as  Sister  Francina. 
Since  age  gave  him  the  right  of  franchise 
Mr.  Murphy  has  supported  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  Democarcy,  an  active  worker 
in  the  party's  cause.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Columbus,  the  Ancient  Order  of 
Hibernians  and  for  the  long  period  of  thirty 
years  has  served  as  usher  in  St.  Patrick's 
church. 

James  McWeeny.  Honored  and  respected 
by  all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  his  ac- 
quaintance, James  McWeeny  has  been  for 
several  years  prominently  identified  with  the 
public  affairs  of  South  Bend,  and  is  now 
serving  as  its  chief  of  police.  He  was  bom 
in  Glencoe,  Buffalo  county,  Wisconsin,  a  son 
of  James  and  Catherine  (Scanlan)  Mc- 
Weeny, both  natives  of  Ireland,  the  former 
of  county  Leitrim  and  the  latter  of  Sligo. 
When  eighteen  year^  of  age  the  father  came 
to  the  United  States,  first  taking  up  his 
abode  in  Rochester,  New  York.  In  1849  he 
went  to  Chicago,  and  in  1853  to  West  Centre, 
Wisconsin,  where  he  farmed  until  his  life's 
labors  were  ended  in  death,  in  1901,  when  he 
had  reached  the  age  of  seventy-four  years. 
He  gave  hLs  political  support  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  being  an  earnest  and  active 
worker    in    its    ranks.      He    was    a    typical 


American  citizen,  thoroughly  in  harmony 
with  the  spirit  of  the  republic,  and  among 
the  Winnebago  and  Chippewa  Indians  he 
had  great  influence,  owing  to  his  straightfor- 
ward dealings  with  them  and  his  kindly  na- 
ture. At  the  time  of  the  Mormon  trouble  he 
led  the  vigilant  conunittee,  and  his  influence 
was  always  on  the  side  of  right  and  jus- 
tice. 

James  McWeeny,  a  son  of  this  stanch  old 
northern  pioneer,  left  home  at  an  early  age 
and  went  to  Montana  and  the  Dakotas,  where 
he  lived  an  active  life  in  that  new  country, 
which  helped  to  make  him  the  robust  and 
powerful  man  he  is  to-day.  In  1885  he  made 
his  way  to  Chicago,  where  he  remained  for 
fourteen  years,  and  during  ten  years  of  that 
time  was  a  member  of  the  police  force.  Be- 
ing a  magniflcent  specimen  of  manhood  and 
with  Irish  blood  in  his  veins,  he  naturaDy 
took  to  sport,  and  in  1887  entered  the  field 
of  athletics,  making  a  specialty  of  wrestling 
and  football.  Prom  1889  to  1897  he  held 
both  the  national  and  international  amateur 
championship  for  Graeco-Roman  and  Catch- 
as-Catch-Can  wrestling,  and  in  1897  critics 
in  both  the  east  and  west  gave  him  credit  for 
being  the  peer  of  football  guards.  In  1899 
Mr.  McWeeny  went  to  Notre  Dame  to  take 
charge  of  its  football  team,  which  he  trained 
and  of  which  he  had  charge,  while  at  the 
same  time  he  engaged  in  the  study  of  law  in 
the  university,  thus  gaining  a  knowledge  of 
jurisprudence  which  now  stands  him  in  good 
stead  in  his  present  position.  On  the  1st  of 
September,  1902,  he  was  made  chief  of  police 
of  South  Bend,  the  duties  of  which  he  has 
since  discharged  with  a  promptness  and  fidel- 
ity worthy  of  all  commendation.  He  also 
has  two  brothers  who  are  well  known  officers 
on  the  Chicago  force,  one  of  them  being  a 
captain. 

On  the  2d  of  June,  1895,  Mr.  McWeeny 
married  Elizabeth  Ganey,  a  daughter  of 
William  Ganey,  of  Peru,  Illinois.  They  have 
three  sons:  James,  born  October  11,  1899; 
Frank,  born  October  25,  1901;  and  Edward, 
born  June  5,  1903.  Mr.  McWeeny  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the  Ancient 
Order  of  Hibernians,  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective order  of  Elks,  the  Eagles  and  the  tribe 
of  Ben  Hur. 

Barnhart  H.  Neitzel.  In  connection  with 
the  industrial  interests  of  South  Bend  the 
name  of  Barnhart  H.  Neitzel  occupies  a  lead- 
ing place,  for  by  reason  of  his  marked  busi- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


a-^^u^^i/t  'yy^  c  u/Ci 


j^<-«>i„— - 


Digitized  by  LjOOQ  IC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


829 


ness  ability  he  has  long  been  numbered  among 
the  most  prominent  contractors  of  the  city. 
One  of  the  persevering,  honorable  sons  of  the 
fatherland,  his  birth  occurred  in  Prussia, 
Germany,  on  the  26th  of  July,  1856,  his 
parents  being  Henry  and  Augusta  Neitzer, 
who  left  their  native  land  in  1875  and  came 
to  America,  their  son  Barnhart  being  the 
only  member  of  the  family  left  behind,  but 
four  years  later  he  joined  them  in  South 
Bend.  In  his  native  land  he  had  learned 
the  cabinet  maker  ^s  trade,  but  after  com- 
ing to  South  Bend  he  secured  employment; 
with  the  Studebaker  Brothers  in  their  paint 
department,  there  remaining  for  about  ten 
months.  Prom  that  time  until  1893  he 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  as  a  day 
laborer,  then  forming  a  partnership  with 
Henry  J.  Christman  in  the  contracting  busi- 
ness, but  after  two  years  Mr.  Neitzel  turned 
the  business  over  to  his  partner  and  entered 
the  contracting  field  alone,  gradually  work- 
ing his  way  upward  and  winning  for  himself 
a  name  and  place  in  connection  with  indus- 
trial interests  that  is  widely  known.  Many 
of  the  city's  buildings  now  stand  as  monu- 
ments to  his  ability,  among  them  hose  house 
No.  6,  the  German  Odd  Fellows  hall  on  Jef- 
ferson street,  also  the  Odd  Fellows  building 
on  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Main 
street,  the  Merchants  bank  building,  the 
Lewis  Nichol  block  and  many  other  buildings 
of  note. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Neitzel  was  celebrated 
m  1883,  when  Susana  Hess,  a  native  of  Wur- 
temberg,  Germany,  became  his  wife.  They 
have  had  no  children  of  their  own,  but  they 
are  now  rearing  two,  giving  to  them  the  same 
love  and  devotion  as  if  they  were  their  own. 
The  Republican  party  receives  Mr.  Neitzel's 
support  where  national  issues  are  involved, 
but  at  local  elections  he  casts  his  ballot  for 
the  men  whom  he  regards  as  best  qualified 
for  their  respective  positions.  He  has  given 
his  aid  in  many  generous  ways  to  the  per- 
petuation of  those  forces  which  conserve  the 
best  interests  of  the  community,  and  the 
course  that  he  has  followed  in  political,  busi- 
ness, social  and  home  circles  conunends  him 
to  the  highest  esteem  of  all. 

John  T.  Willett,  who  now  holds  an  im- 
portant position  in  connection  with  the  city 
as  its  sealer,  holds  and  merits  a  place  among 
the  representative  citizens  of  the  community. 
He  was  bom  in  Kendallville,  Indiana,  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1870,  the  son  of  William  and  Martha 


(Taylor)  Willett,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  England.  The  father,  who  was  bom  and 
reared  in  Bristol,  came  to  America  at  the 
ag^  of  twenty-one  years,  locating  in  New 
York  city,  where  he  worked  at  this  trade  of 
stone  cutting.  From  there  he  moved  to 
Lima,  Indiana,  and  thence  to  Kendallville, 
this  state,  where  he  was  employed  by  the 
Lake  Shore  Railroad  Company  to  superin- 
tend their  culverts,  while  later  he  was  made 
the  auditor  for  the  company's  bridges.  Sub- 
sequently removing  to  Rome  City,  Indiana, 
he  there  embarked  in  the  hotel  business,  and 
he  is  now  engaged  in  the  same  occupation 
in  Jefferson,  Ohio,  his  hostelry  being  well 
and  favorably  known  to  the  traveling  public. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willett  became  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  but  only  five  of  the  number 
grew  to  years  of  maturity. 

John  T.  WiUett,  the  youngest  of  the  above 
family,  spent  the  days  of  his  youth  in  his 
native  city  of  Kendallville,  attending  its  pub- 
lic schools,  and  after  completing  his  educa- 
tion learned  the  cigar  maker's  trade,  work- 
ing at  that  occupation  when  only  sixteen 
years  of  age.  From  Kendallville  he  removed 
to  Defiance,  Ohio,  in  1888,  there  continuing 
his  trade  until  1891,  when  he  removed  to 
Sandusky,  that  state,  but  in  December  of  the 
same  year  came  to  South  Bend.  From  the 
29th  of  December,  1891,  the  date  of  his  ar- 
rival in  this  city,  until  1900,  he  carried  on 
the  work  of  cigar  making  in  the  employ  of 
othel^,  but  in  the  latter  year  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Ed  McFarland,  and  the  firm  of 
McFarland  &  Willett  became  extensive  manu- 
facturers of  cigars,  the  partnership  continu- 
ing until  1903,  when  Mr.  Willett  sold  his 
interest  to  his  partner  and  retired  from  the 
business.  In  the  meantime,  in  1902,  he  had 
been  appointed  the  City  Sealer  of  South 
Bend,  a  x>osition  which  he  has  ever  since  so 
ably  filled,  and  he  gives  to  it  his  entire  time 
and  attention. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Willett  was  celebrated 
in  1889,  when  Nellie  McFarland  became  his 
wife.  She  was  born  in  Defiance,  Ohio,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  William  McFarland.  One 
son  has  been  born  of  this  union,  Harry  How- 
ard, whose  birth  occurred  on  the  27th  of 
October,  1890.  Mr.  Willett  is  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat in  his  political  affiliations,  taking  an  ac- 
tive interest  in  the  work  of  the  party,  and 
his  fraternal  connections  are  with  the  Knights 
of  the  Maccabees  of  South  Bend. 

H.  6.  Christman,  a  member  of  the  firm 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


830 


fflSTORY  OP  ST.   JOSEOPH   COUNTY. 


of  H.  Q.  Chri&tman  Company,  leading  con- 
tactors and  builders  of  St.  Joseph  county 
and  also  of  northern  Indiana,  was  born  in 
South  Bend  on  the  18th  of  February,  1869. 
His  father,  Henry  Christm-an,  was  a  native 
of  Bavaria,  Germany,  but  when  a  young  man 
came  to  America  and  on  to  South  Bend,  In- 
diana. The  year  of  his  emigration  was  1862, 
and  in  this  city  he  engaged  in  teaming  and 
contracting.  He,  however,  subsequently  re- 
turned to  his  native  country,  and  was  there 
married  to  Wilhelmina  Lang,  a  native  of 
Baden,  Germany.  With  his  young  bride  he 
again  made  the  journey  to  America  and  to 
South  Bend,  where  his  death  occurred  at  the 
age  of  fifty-one  years,  but  his  widow  is  still 
living.  In  their  family  were  eight  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  living  at  the  present 
time. 

H.  G.  Christman,  their  second  child  and 
eldest  son  in  order  of  birth,  is  indebted  to 
the  public  schools  of  South  Bend  for  the 
early  educational  training  which  he  received, 
and  after  its  completion  he  began  working 
with  his  father.  After  his  father's  death  he 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  in  1894 
entered  the  field  as  a  contractor,  where  he 
has  won  a  name  that  is  widely  known.  His 
fame  as  a  contractor  has  passed  beyond  the 
confines  of  locality  and  has  permeated  many 
sections  of  northern  Indiana.  Among  the 
many  buildings  which  he  has  erected  may  be 
mentioned  the  following  school  buildings: 
The  Laural,  Oliver,  Perly,  Studebaker  and 
the  grammar  school  of  South  Bend,  while 
the  city  hall,  erected  in  1900  at  a  cost  of 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  the  warehouse 
of  the  Singer  Company,  the  largest  of  its 
kind  in  the  state  of  Indiana,  also  the  Singer 
foundry,  the  Studebaker  Automobile  Works, 
also  the  most  extensive  of  its  kind  in  the 
state,  the  Elks  Temple,  erected  at  a  cost  of 
about  seventy  thousand  dollars,  the  veneer 
plant  at  Cairo,  Illinois,  costing  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  and  a  large  school  house 
at  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  all  stand  as 
monuments  to  his  thrift  and  wonderful 
ability.  At  the  present  time  he  is  engaged  in 
the  erection  of  an  orphans'  home  near  Misha- 
waka,  which  whe;n  completed  wiU  cost  about 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  they  are 
also  working  on  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  building,  one  of  the  finest  build- 
ings of  the  order  in  the  United  States.  Many 
other  large  and  beautiful  structures  are  also 
the  result  of  his  handiwork,  and  South  Bend 


owes  much  to  him  for  the  part  he  has  taken 
in  her  upbuilding  and  improvement. 

In  this  city  Mr.  Christman  was  married 
to  Minnie  Haslanger,  and  they  have  four 
children — Ima,  Clara,  Theodore  and  H.  G., 
Jr.  He  is  independent  in  his  political  aflSlia- 
tions,  and  in  this,  his  native  county,  is  a  man 
of  wide  influence. 

Lambert  McCombs,  an  honored  veteran  of 
the  Civil  war,  is  now  retired  from  the  active 
cares  of  a  business  life,  enjoying  the  com- 
petence which  many  years  of  farm  labor  has 
brought  to  him.  William  McCombs.  his 
father,  was  born  in  Wooster,  Ohio,  January 
31,  1818,  the  son  of  Lambert  and  Hannah  Mc- 
Combs, both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  From 
that  commonwealth  they  journeyed  to  Ohio 
when  their  son  William  was  a  young  man, 
while  later  the  journey  was  continued  to  In- 
diana, arriving  in  Clay  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  about  1827,  and  the  land  which  they 
here  homesteaded  is  now  known  as  the  Sam 
Pearley  place.  Lambert  McCombs,  Sr.,  drove 
one  of  the  first  bolts  into  the  first  boat  that 
went  up  the  St.  Joseph  river,  and  in  many 
ways  he  was  prominently  identified  with  the 
early  history  of  the  county.  And  althougrh 
he  resided  within  its  borders  for  many  years, 
his  death  subsequently  occurred  in  the  far- 
off  state  of  California.  His  son  WiUiam  was 
but  a  little  kd  of  nine  years  when  the  family 
came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  attaining  to  years 
of  maturity  on  the  old  home  farm  here,  and 
in  his  early  manhood  was  married  to  Eva 
Cripe.  Although  she  was  bom  and  reared  in 
Ohio,  she  came  in  an  early  day  with  her 
father,  John  Cripe,  to  German  township,  St. 
Joseph  county.  Mr.  and  IVIrs.  McCombs  be- 
came the  parents  of  nine  children,  four  sons 
and  five  daughters,  aU  of  whom  were  bom 
and  reared  on  the  old  homestead.  The  father 
was  a  self-made  man,  his  possessions  being 
the  result  of  honest  toil  and  perseverance, 
and  during  his  lifetime  he  cleared  and  im- 
proved one  hundred  and  eighty-four  acres 
of  land.  Both  he  and  his  father  upheld  the 
principles  of  the  Democracy,  and  the  former 
lived  to  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years. 

After  attending  the  old  log  cabin  schools 
of  the  township  Lambert  McCombs  became  a 
student  in  Notre  Dame  university,  and  his 
education  was  further  supplemented  by  his 
attendance  at  the  Northern  Indiana  Normal 
college,  of  Valparaiso,  where  he  pursued  a 
business  course.  In  the  faU  of  1863,  when 
twenty  years  of  age,  he  enlisted  for  service 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Lambert  Mc Combs 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


/  The 

'"u:  I  :  i.  ,>  'ARv| 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


831 


in  the  Civil  war,  entering  the  twenty-first 
Light  Artillery,  with  which  he  served  for 
about  eighteen  months.  During  the  battle  of 
Franklin,  Tennessee,  he  was  wounded  by  an 
explosion,  but  he  continued  to  serve  until  the 
close  of  the  conflict,  when  he  received  his 
honorable  discharge  and  returned  to  the  old 
home  farm.  Shortly  -afterward,  in  1866,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Caroline  Johnson, 
who  was  bom  in  Union  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  January  29,  1847,  her 
father,  Joshua  C.  Johnson,  having  been  an 
agriculturist  and  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of 
Clay  township.  They  have  become  the  parents 
of  six  children,  three  sons  -and  three  daugh- 
ters,— ^Laura,  Mamie,  Raymond,  Alma  and 
Frank  B.  The  eldest,  Laura,  is  deceased,  and 
the  second  child  died  in  infancy.  Three  of 
the  number  were  born  in  St.  Joseph  county 
and  three  in  Marshall  county,  Indiana. 

For  twenty-one  years  after  his  marriage 
Mr.  McCombs  was  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  owning  and  operating  eighty  acres 
of  land,  but  in  1892,  on  account  of  ill  health, 
he  put  aside  active  business  cares,  and  since 
that  time  has  lived  quietly  at  his  pleasant 
home  in  South  Bend.  Always  faithful  to  the 
welfare  and  best  interests  of  the  Republican 
party,  a  true  patriot  and  devoted  citizen  both 
in  times  of  peace  and  war,  he  merits  the  high 
regard  which  is  universally  bestowed  upon 
him. 

Otto  S.  Hans.  During  a  number  of  years 
Otto  S.  Hans  has  been  an  honored  resident 
of  South  Bend,  and  is  also  numbered  among 
its  native  sons.  He  has  won  a  reputation  in 
business  circles  as  e  contractor  and  builder, 
and  in  all  progressive  movements  he  takes  a 
deep  and  commendable  interest.  His  natal 
day  was  the  16th  of  December,  1866.  His 
father,  Adam  Hans,  claimed  Alsace  Lorraine, 
then  a  province  of  France,  now  of  Germany, 
as  the  place  of  his  nativity,  but  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  years  he  came  to  America,  first  lo- 
cating in  Hartford,  Connecticut,  and  thence 
removing  to  Mishawaka.  He  was  the  first 
blacksmith  employed  in  the  Studebaker  fac- 
tory where  it  is  now  located,  and  he  con- 
tinued with  them  for  some  years,  his  death 
occurring  in  Ft.  Wayne,  Indiana,  when  he 
had  reached  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years. 
During  the  civil  war  he  nobly  offered  his 
services  to  his  adopted  country,  and  during 
his  military  career  was  promoted  from  the 
ranks  to  the  position  of  corporal.  Mrs.  Hans, 
who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Hannah  Glass, 


was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  but  during 
her  early  girlhood  she  became  a  resident  of 
South  Bend,  whither  she  had  removed  with 
her  parents,  and  her  death  occurred  in  1873, 
aged  thirty-five  years.  She  had  become  the 
mother  of  three  children,  but  one  is  now  de- 
ceased, and  the  only  daughter  is  Laura,  the 
wife  of  Henry  Weishart,  of  Fort  Wayne.  Mr: 
Hans  was  a  second  time  married,  Dora 
Ahrens  becoming  his  wife,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  six  children,  only  four  of 
whom  are  now  living. 

Otto  S.  Hans,  the  eldest  child  of  the  first 
marriage,  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  ill  South  Bend,  but  from  1884  until 
1890  he  was  a  resident  of  Fort  Wayne.  When 
a  lad  of  fifteen  years  he  began  learning  the 
carpenter's  trade  in  South  Bend,  at  which  he 
served  his  apprenticeship,  and  -afterward  fol- 
lowed his  chosen  calling  in  Fort  Wayne.  In 
1893,  however,  he  began  contracting  in  his 
home  city,  thus  continuing  until  the  20th  of 
November,  1905,  when  he  bought  an  interest 
in  the  St.  Joseph  Lumber  and  Manufacturing 
company,  of  which  he  is  now  the  vice  presi- 
dent and  one  of  the  directors.  The  corpora- 
tion includes  in  its  membership  some  of  the 
leading  business  men  of  South  Bend,  its  presi- 
dent and  treasurer  being  Charles  Green, 
while  its  secretary  is  F.  E.  MacDonald.  The 
plant  is  located  on  the  comer  of  Indiana 
avenue  and  Franklin  street,  and  the  industry 
is  one  of  which  South  Bend  may  well  feel 
proud.  Many  of  the  fine  residences  of  the 
city  also  stand  as  monuments  to  the  skill  of 
Mr.  Hans  as  a  contractor  and  builder.  He  is 
a  prominent  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  church,  of  which  his  father  was  one 
of  the  founders,  and  is  a  trustee  of  the  school 
connected  with  the  denomination.  His 
political  affiliations  are  with  the  Democracy. 

On  the  23d  of  May,  1889,  Mr.  Hans  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Emilie  Schmidt,  who 
was  bom  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  although  her 
parents,  Leon  and  Mary  Schmidt,  were  na- 
tives of  Alsace-Lorraine,  then  a  province  of 
France,  now  of  Germany.  They  have  two 
sons,  Albert  P.  F.  and  Homer  D.  J. 

John  P.  Butler.  The  name  of  John  P. 
Butler  stands  conspicuously  forth  on  the 
pages  of  South  Bend's  history.  For  more 
than  forty  years  he  has  been  an  honored  resi- 
dent of  the  city,  actively  interested  in  all 
measures  for  the  good  of  the  people,  and  has 
performed  his  full  share  in  the  development 
and  improvement  of  the  city.     He  was  bora 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


832 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


in  Franklin,  New  Jersey,  June  24,  1861,  and 
came  to  South  Bend  with  his  parents,  James 
and  Rose  (Sheekey)  Butler,  about  1865,  when 
only  four  years  of  age.  Therefore  he  has 
spent  nearly  his  entire  life  in  this  city,  re- 
ceiving his  education  in  the  St.  Patrick 
Roman  Catholic  school.  During  the  first 
twenty  years  of  his  active  business  career  he 
was  employed  in  the  cabinet  department  of 
the  sugar  factory,  and  on  the  expiration  of 
that  period  was  m<ade  deputy  street  commis- 
sioner, in  which  he  served  for  three  years. 
For  some  time  thereafter  Mr.  Butler  was  in 
the  transfer  business,  thus  continuing  until 
he  was  again  called  to  public  service,  having 
received  the  appointment  as  a  commissioner 
for  two  and  a  half  years.  On  the  expiration 
of  that  period  he  was  again  appointed  as 
deputy  street  commissioner,  but  seventeen 
months  later  was  made  a  street  commissioner 
under  Mayor  Fogerty,  and  was  reappointed 
to  that  position  by  the  present  mayor,  being 
its  present  incumbent.  Accurate  and  system- 
atic in  his  work  he  has  won  the  commendation 
of  all  concerned,  and  his  public  life  has  been 
one  of  entire  satisfaction. 

On  the  27th  of  November,  1884,  Mr.  But- 
ler was  married  to  Julia  Cahill,  whose  death 
occurred  in  1900,  leaving  four  children, 
Margaret,  James,  John  and  William. 
Throughout  the  years  of  his  maturity  Mr. 
Butler  has  been  a  zealous  worker  in  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  in  his  fratern-al  relations  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hiber- 
nians and  also  of  the  Woodmen  of  the  World. 

Fred  W.  Martin.  On  the  roster  of  St. 
Joseph  county's  oflScials  appears  the  name  of 
Fred  W.  Martin  in  connection  with  the  posi- 
tion of  city  comptroller.  This  is  an  indica- 
tion of  his  popularity  and  prominence,  and 
all  who  know  him  willingly  accord  him  a 
leading  place  among  the  esteemed  citizens  of 
the  community.  His  entire  life  has  been 
passed  in  the  county,  and  it  has  been  one  of 
uniform  honor  in  business  and  fidelity  in 
places  of  public  trust.  His  birth  occurred  in 
South  Bend  on  the  5th  of  February,  1856,  his 
parents  being  Jacob  and  Catherine  (Mat- 
thews) Martin,  natives  respectively  of  Ger- 
many and  the  state  of  New  York.  The  father 
came  to  the  United  States  when  nineteen 
years  of  age,  locating  in  New  York,  but  in 
1855  the  parents  came  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana.  Mr.  Martin  was  a  cabinet-maker 
by  trade,  and  his  life's  labors  were  thereafter 
continued  in  this  city  until  he  was  called  to 


the  home  beyond,  his  death  occurring  in  1892, 
when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  fifty-five 
years. 

After  completing  his  education  iii  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  South  Bend  Fred  W.  Martin  en- 
tered a  grocery  store  as  a  clerk,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a  number  of  years,  and  the  suc- 
ceeding five  years  were  spent  as  a  clerk  in 
the  county  auditor's  ofl&ce.  For  a  period  of 
four  years  he  was  the  assistant  postmaster, 
and  then  for  three  years  was  the  efficient 
manager  of  the  South  Bend  Telephone  Com- 
pany. Returning  then  to  the  grocery  busi- 
ness, Mr.  Martin  spent  five  years  in  trade  for 
himself,  and  in  1892  he  was  appointed  city 
comptroller,  while  in  1906  he  was  reappointed 
for  another  four-year  term.  He  is  very 
prompt  and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties,  and  his  service  has  received  high  com- 
mendation from  the  citizens  of  St.  Joseph 
county. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Martin  was  celebrated 
in  1877,  in  February,  when  Mary  E.,  a 
daughter  of  George  Vinson,  one  of  the  promi- 
nent pioneer  residents  of  this  county,  became 
his  wife.  Three  sons  and  three  daughters 
have  been  bom  of  this  union.  Mr.  Martin 
is  a  member  of  the  Germania  Masonic  order, 
of  the  Elks,  the  Maccabees,  the  Owls,  the 
South  Bend  Turn  Verein  and  the  Sons  of 
Herman. 

Captain  William  S.  Aj«>erson,  one  of  the 
honored  pioneers  who  aided  in  laying  the 
foundation  on  which  to  erect  the  superstruc- 
ture of  St.  Joseph  county's  prosperity  and 
progress,  was  born  in  Burlington  county, 
New  Jersey,  September  12,  1829.  His  father, 
William  Anderson,  whose  native  state  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  Pennsylvania,  was  a  ship 
carpenter  and  ship  owner.  After  removing 
to  New  Jersey  he  was  married  to  Rebecca 
Seeds,  a  native  of  Burlington,  that  state,  and 
whose  death  occurred  in  South  Bend  in  her 
eightieth  year.  Her  husband  preceded  her  to 
the  home  beyond,  passing  away  in  his  seventy- 
third  year. 

William  S.  Anderson,  the  fifth  in  order  of 
birth  in  his  parents'  family  of  seven  children 
who  grew  to  years  of  maturity,  spent  the 
days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  his  native 
place,  receiving  his  educational  training  in 
its  common  schools,  and  at  its  completion  be- 
gan sailing,  he  having  been  only  about  ten 
years  of  age  at  that  time.  He  was  mostly 
engaged  in  river  trade,  and  thus  continued  his 
occupation  until  he  reached  his  twenty-second 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Mrs.  Ellen  AnJerson 


Digitized  by 


Google 


^^illiam  S.  Anderson 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


THE 
<'      fJPW  YORK 


^  ^H»r,  \.«n»if  and  Tildtty 
1909 


Digitized  by 


Google 


fflSTORY    OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


833 


year,  when  he  came  to  South  Bend,  Indiana, 
and  on  the  20th  of  April,  1861,  enlisted  for 
service  in  the  Civil  war,  becoming  a  member 
of  Company  B,  Fifteenth  Indiana  Volunteer 
Infantry.  Enlisting  as  a  private,  he  was  pro- 
moted first  to  the  position  of  corporal,  and 
after  the  battle  of  Stone  River  he  was  made 
a  sergeant,  his  meritorious  service  winning 
him  his  various  promotions.  His  military 
career  covered  a  period  of  three  years  and 
three  months,  during  which  time  he  particip- 
ated in  many  of  the  most  historical  battles  of 
the  war,  including,  on  the  3d  of  October,  1861, 
Green  Brier;  July  11,  1861,  Rich  Mountain, 
West  Virginia;  October  3,  1861,  the  second 
day's  battle  of  Shiloh;  October  8, 1862,  Perry- 
ville.  Stone  River,  Chattanooga ;  November  25, 

1863,  Missionary  Ridge,  where  he  was 
wounded  by  a  ball  in  the  left  hand.  After 
four  weeks,  however,  he  returned  to  duty,  and 
remained  in   active   service   until   June   25, 

1864,  when  he  was  mustered  out,  for  his  term 
of  service  had  then  expired.  His  military 
record  was  one  of  which  he  had  every  reason 
to  be  proud^  and  he  afterward  held  pleasant 
relations  with  his  old  army  comrades  of  the 
blue  by  his  membership  in  Auten  Post, 
G.  A.  R. 

After  returning  from  the  war  Mr.  Ander- 
son came  at  once  to  South  Bend  and  found 
employment  at  the  carpenter's  trade  and  in 
railroad  work.  In  1874  he  returned  to  his 
native  state  of  New  Jersey,  where  he  resumed 
his  old  occupation  of  sailing,  owning  a  small 
vessel  and  following  the  packing  business  for 
eight  years,  carrying  produce  to  the  Phila- 
delphia market.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period  he  sold  his  vessel  and  with  his  family 
came  again  to  South  Bend,  where  he  after- 
ward lived  a  busy  and  useful  life.  He  owned 
a  farm  situated  five  and  a  half  miles  from 
this  city.  For  fifty-three  years  he  was  a  resi- 
dent of  South  Bend,  the  place  where  he  now 
resides  having  been  a  dense  woods  when  he 
purchased  it  in  1855,  he  being  one  of  the  first 
to  locate  in  that  part  of  this  city.  At  that 
time  he  purchased  two  and  a  third  acres  from 
his  earnings  of  a  dollar  a  day  for  twenty-four 
hours'  work.  He  improved  and  platted  the 
place,  and  built  the  first  house  in  1858,  but 
all  told  he  had'  erected  about  six  residences 
on  this  tract,  and  owned  four  at  the  time  of 
his  death— April  23,  1907.  Throughout  the 
entire  period  of  his  residence  in  South  Bend 
he  was  prominently  identified  with  its  growth 
and  upbuilding,  represented  the  Fifth  ward 


in  the  city  council,  and  had  been  active  in  the 
work  of  sinking  artesian  wells  in  the  city. 

On  the  3(>th  of  April,  1850,  Mr.  Anderson 
was  married  to  Ellen  Kemble,  a  native  of 
Burlington  county,  New  Jersey,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Martha  (Prince)  Kemble. 
They  became  the  parents  of  five  children, 
namely:  Alice,  deceased;  Walter  C,  who  re- 
sides on  the  farm ;  Rebecca,  also  deceased ;  El- 
liott T.,  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  M.  Ellen, 
wife  of  Bert  Smyser,  of  Logansport,  Indiana. 
Mr.  Anderson  was  a  member  of  the  First 
Christian  church,  and  had  taken  an  active 
part  in  its  work. 

H.  N.  S.  Home,  the  official  reporter  of  the 
St.  Joseph  Circuit  Court  of  South  Bend,  suc- 
ceeded Miss  Lillian  M.  Jennings  in  that  posi- 
tion on  the  1st  of  August,  1905.  He  was 
educated  in  England,  the  country  of  his 
nativity,  where  he  attended  the  public  schools, 
and  in  1896  he  came  to  America.  He  is  inde- 
pendent in  his  political  views,  preferring  to 
cast  his  ballot  irrespective  of  party  ties. 

H.  McClellan.  For  a  number  of  years 
past  H.  McClellan  has  occupied  a  very  con- 
spicuous place  among  the  leading  business 
men  of  South  Bend,  being  numbered  among 
its  most  competent  civil  engineers.  He  was 
bom  in  Green  county,  Ohio,  on  the  28th  of 
May,  1857,  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Mildred  (Mc- 
Donald) McClellan,  also  natives  of  the  state 
of  Ohio.  Throughout  the  early  years  of  his 
business  career  the  father  was  engaged  in 
farming  in  Ohio,  but  on  October  10,  1864,  he 
arrived  in  South  Bend,  at  once  taking  up  his 
abode  on  a  farm  in  Greene  township,  St. 
Joseph  county,  where  he  now  resides,  aged 
eighty-five  years.  He  was  born  on  the  27th 
of  October,  1821.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  his 
political  affiliations,  and  is  numbered  among 
the  highly  respected  citizens  of  St.  Joseph 
county.  Mrs.  MoClellan  died  on  the  11th  of 
January,  1906,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven 
years. 

After  attending  the  country  schools  for  a 
time  our  subject  continued  his  education  in 
the  Northern  Indiana  Normal  College  at  Val- 
paraiso, Indiana.  He  then  resumed  the  oc- 
cupation to  which  he  had  been  reared,  that  of 
farming,  but  in  1893  he  left  the  farm  and  be- 
gan the  study  of  civil  engineering.  Since 
completing  his  studies  he  has  practiced  his 
profession  in  South  Bend,  and  during  all 
these  years  he  has  taken  an  active  interest  in 
every  movement  or  enterprise  that  has  con- 
tributed to  the  welfare  of  South  Bend  and  St. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


834 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Joseph  county,  and  at  the  same  time^  he  has 
succeeded  in  making  for  himself  a  name  and 
place  among  its  leading  business  men. 

On  the  2d  of  November,  1882,  Mr.  McClel- 
lan  was  married*  to  Miss  Mantie  Skiles,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  J.  Skiles,  of  Greene  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  and  they  have  two 
children:  George  Otto,  who  is  now  twenty- 
two  years  of  age  and  who  is  pursuing  civil 
engineering  in  Purdue  University ;  and  B.  G., 
the  youngest  SK)n,  is  employed  in  the  Stude- 
baker  Wagon  Works.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  Mr.  McClellan  is  also  connected  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  Lodge  No.  294,  of  which 
he  is  at  present  worshipful  master,  and  with 
Chapter  No.  29,  of  which  he  is  past  high 
priest.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Woodmen 
of  the  World. 

Mrs.  Martha  E.  (Martin)  (Ward)  Myler. 
Mrs.  Myler  is  a  representative  of  a  family 
which  has  been  prominent  in  the  history  of 
St.  Joseph  county  from  its  early  days,  and 
throughout  nearly  her  (entire  life  she  has  re- 
sided within  its  borders  and  has  given  freely 
of  her  time  and  means  to  its  philanthropic 
interests.  Her  father,  John  Martin,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  as  early  as  1837 
he  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  locat- 
ing on  a  farm  in  Harris  Prairie.  Prior  to 
his  removal  hither  he  had  married  Elizabeth 
Crouthers,  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  they  became  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  years  of  ma- 
turity and  to  lives  of  usefulness  and  helpful- 
ness. The  father  died  the  year  following  his 
arrival  here,  leaving  his  widow  with  the  care 
of  their  large  family,  but  bravely,  she 
struggled  on  and  was  eighty-four  years  of 
age  before  d-eath  claimed  her. 

Mrs.  Myler,  the  youngest  of  the  seven  chil- 
dren, was  bom  in  Westmoreland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  August  24,  1834,  and  was  but 
three  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  removal 
of  the  family  to  St.  Joseph  county,  and  here 
she  was  reared  to  years  of  maturity  on  the 
homesftead  farm  on  Harris  Prairie,  six  miles 
from  South  Bend,  attending  the  country 
schools  of  the  locality  and  completing  her 
education  by  one  term  in  the  city  schools  of 
South  Bend.  She  was  first  married  to  Daniel 
Ward,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  but  during  his 
young  manhood  came  to  this  city.  During 
the  memorable  tide  of  emigration  to  the 
Golden  state  of  California  in  1849,  he  joined 
the  rush  thereto,  spending  two  years  on  the 


Pacific  slope,  and  following  his'  return,  in 
1852,  was  joined  in  marriage  to  Martha  E. 
Martin.  Their  happy  married  life  was  ended 
in  the  death  of  the  husband  on  the  10th  of 
January,  1890,  after  a  busy  and  useful  life 
devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church,  and  was 
prominent  in  the  local  affairs  of  his  com- 
munity. Five  years  after  the  death  of  her 
first  husband  Mrs.  Ward  married  Robert 
Myler,  who  was  one  of  the  leading  politicians 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  representing  the  Democ- 
racy, and  for  a  time  served  as  the  county 
auditor.  He  was  also  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Christian  church,  contributing  liber- 
ally to  its  maintenance  and  support,  and  in 
its  faith  he  passed  away  in  death  in  1899. 
Mrs.  Myler  has  been  almost  a  lifelong  resi- 
dent of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  since  twenty 
years  of  age  she  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church,  an  earnest  worker  in  the 
cause  of  Christianity.  She  has  ever  contrib- 
uted liberally  of  her  means  to  the  support  of 
churches,  generously  giving  to  the  Harris 
Prairie  church,  also  assisting  in  the  building 
of  the  Second  Christian  church  of  South  Bend, 
while  about  1895  she  gave  five  thousand  dol- 
lars to  improve  the  First  Christian  church, 
and  has  but  recently  subscribed  two  thousand 
dollars  for  the  erection  of  the  new  Christian 
church  of  this  city.  In  addition  to  her  gen- 
erous support  of  the  churches  she  has  also 
been  a  firm  friend  of  the  orphans'  home  and 
other  benevolent  institutions.  She  is  loved 
and  revered  by  all  who  know  her,  and  her 
kind  and  loving  deeds  will  be  remembered 
long  after  she  has  passed  to  the  home  beyond. 

John  William  Fites,  the  present  deputy 
street  commissioner  of  South  Bend,  was  bom 
in  Marshall  county,  Indiana,  near  Bremen,  on 
the  30th  of  March,  1862.  His  father,  Peter 
Fites,  was  a  native  of  Bern,  Switzerland, 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated,  and  he 
was  there  married  to  Barbara  Foegely,  also 
a  native  of  Switzerland.  In  1856  the  young 
couple  left  their  home  across  the  sea  and 
came  to  America,  taking  up  their  abode  iD 
Marshall  county,  Indiana,  where  the  father 
was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until 
his  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death  at  the 
age  of  fifty-six  years.  His  widow  survived 
him  many  years,  passing  away  at  the  age  of 
sixty-six  years.  They  became  the  parents  of 
thirteen  children,  but  at  the  present  time 
only  four  sons  and  three  daughters  are  living. 

John  W.  Fites,  the  ninth  in  order  of  birth 


Digitized  by 


Google 


:(^/l{c^'nifi<^    '-C^     /friy^^L 


CI 


Digitized  by  LjOOQIC 


iirsToRV    t»i^'  hT.    .T():-jJ'II    (^OIX^IV. 


'  •      .:•.....    \     ..";.'  "l\    ^>^J.   Mr.    \Irrl.^l 

•'  ';  .   ^  .    ,Mi*l    Tli''\     li'iv'    I  \v*' 
■    '  *  -.  .    w  L'.    's    :»''W    twi  ri'v 

•   1   '^i\*  i'sit\  :  :n  li   \^.  »  ;., 

^      ■■■,'■  ■;  *  .1    jn    Tht-   />;'*({   - 

:    :>*    t'-i'ii.ly    ;i.'i-   p:r.."- 

•  .    '    '  [.   *   K{);s  'Mp;|1  f  Mir.-'.. 

'  N  .  .  Dr.ih"  i.'d   \\     11  I  J." 

:.     ■  M     No.    :;'''     .  1-    \,iii-l. 

.-!■■.    Vl-:^.(  r     :r!M    Wi'h 

.    •■■    .    r;.-    is    n  1st    lri;h 

•  .•      ■■•  -r   !h<'  \V'M>:  .  i-Ti 

'        .'    ».'.*  'x  -  {  \V  \'io  J  M  '.  i  t:K. 

■    •  '.    '••    •'.       •  :    .'■;    •}:     hsjMi  \    ^>l 

,  ':     •'"•  ■  .     -!    '*-N   •  .rlv    'lays.    Ml  { 

'•..■':•     '    ■    -.         '".      •'■  ''!*<*  <^*r  li'is  j*e- 

'  .     .;   v'   *ir'i     ,  >  '  "•.  .  •    '']•'<  i:]v  ']l   i'lf;  'y 

(■;'•'  r   t!  'It     <  Jut     :  •       ^    "  •    /.^    t^n"' 'ant hf; •['.(• 

:.T.'..  s^s.      11.  r-    f.    :,  -••    .     ■  •.    M.pfir«.    ^^;w    m 

n;:t:v'.,    of   P.  :;:.^>1     \i\:  •     .'I     .-    »ariy    'i<    1^:^ 

in*  mmp  tn  St.  J.'M  ;.ii      ."•  '},  '.:•^a!^■l,  1^m-;ii- 

mir  nil   a    1<»ii!i    Wi    I*  -i*.  ^   I*'  i' ■''•.      I'r  "!    to 

his  T-o?:i<ival   fnt)i»'!'  K>    ^'/-i  'i-*'"  ■    i    f'l'./4'-r*h 

('iun-hi»^.  a  T].ii"\t'M     r\  :;m'.  .[.ri';,     ,'  :  ii.s\  >- 

vai'-a.  aiid  tluy  \)*\  ;;n.-  i^r  ;>  "•".*;  -»!    <i'Vt^Ti 

«'h:i(lv,'n,   all   ••+'  Mlz-tn   t*!'t»M    {a    /.v-m^  i,r  ]t\. - 

tarity  'i»"|  to  ii\'--  *.l  ii.s"f'i:n  ^>.    .•?,«]   IuIm'  i 

ar.'^'.'.i  h*'V(\  K'aviru  hi^^  v.'di.',.  ni:li  tin-  tM'e 
*^i*  tficr  lari"'  laaiily.  h.M  '  r;.  '!'\v  sh" 
sin;'.'-  ,'»<l    on    aii  i    wa^    .■'I'-n  ^\-i  •  ^r   yt  ar>    uf 

:»!..  M;.:m.',  M.'  NouiiL^.'st  <.f  ta"  <»\rP  chil- 
(1  r'\  M;\N  ihj:M  in  W-^*;  of.  ■;.".]  ('i'1Ki*\. 
1' ':.'!•  \  W  an. a  A"i>ijv{  iM.  ls;;4,  ;i>:,|  ■^•a.^  hut 
:»!'*■•  \. •..■:'  (f  t,."  at  th»'  :nn"''f  thf  rrn««\;i] 
ol"  r!  "  ^\  ;i\'\  T<*'  ^t.  J-^^  ')'  cHMit.v.  and  'm^r,^ 
s'.''  *\.^^  ,.';:'.(!  !o  y' ;"S  (•['  inat>iiii\  uii  ih" 
!••••'•■%.•,  1  ;ar';  -a;  I'.tTi-'v  Pra"'*i*\  six  "I't.-v 
f/'av  '"-■'Ml  ".^-i-..  rM  'i.'i'i'L  iht'  *">m)n'y 
N- ••  .  ■  >  ..;  Imc  'M-;i.'i\  ard  f' »nM']'  '  Mii!"  h' r 
',  :'■(:'  '  ny  'M  ti'-'ai  mi  Mi-'  c'fy  s  h')f'ls  o^ 
■^  ■-;;'  11'./!  ''^:'>^  ^\.;-  fi'^^!  Mm!!"!-!'-]  :<»  Darit'l 
\\  •;'  ^^  ij'^  \Sf^s  ii'iMi  l^  *>hn..  '.uf  dnrli.c;  n'> 
• '>.i:  .    inatiho*    i   <••!■  v-    ■<.   t'-;^   i'ii->-        I'imi-l^ 

i*'(  Ii'O'-i  Vf'Mi*'  *'!"  (U*  (  i'li""!  Ml  1' 'M  U\  th  ' 
(J't.l-t    ^■yi  +  "   -,t*    '    :il:TMr  .;   ,.    M>    1      iJ.    h<^    inj)"-  ] 

M"  ]  I  a    i-i^-f'S'.  spt'i'ih'.u  two  xrp's  .11  tii^^ 


J'/tv-ific    siojt(\    ;;;"{     r.t.;<r.\  in  .     )■    - 
1  '^'  -.    Has    i>';Jinl    •:-    U'."   ■  <:dr 
M.'T-.  i]i.     Their  h.fj-pv  /  a   ;•-  .'  '!  * 
.n   th<*  d(\'ith   t.;f  tic   h  -    J  -'.vi   •    '     • 
.i,<rtuiry     I^!K),   ;it:(^''  a   i'l'^    .''"' 
ih-\'ntcd   lo  airr'<-;u1'*»  m   ]J'  .-^'m' 
•liO  Jx''"  r      tl     :ii»     ^  ijr'-l    'a       ".  •    • 
].:-.'.uri'  rii    iji    :lt.'    !(.•-;.!    aV ..    •>       ,     .    > 
ifiM::'y  ■       h  .V"    \  ";.'•-,   a.'t'  J    ''■  ■         ■    - 

frsi     ii  i<h  ,!..!     H'rs.     W  ,'.»     •  ,| 

Yr  I    '■.  w  1k'  \va-^.',i.r  'jf  Ui*-  <;  .  ■'.  : 

i>\  ^\     I  k-.  {/ii  ."Minty.  '-('pr-  ^   ,■  » 
^■■i'  .V .    M'  ,!    li-i    a    t  ••■'    S'.-;      .'    .• 
a^<<  ;!;■(•       1 1-^    w.t--    *  !-^(«   a,    p  s<\      ■  i.' 
of    t.i      <'.-:-   jin    <'h  M    .      ''.  1  •^"  -t  :  ' 
.»!■,',    tc   .;--  ti.  .■..:'  ii;....-    ;M.-i   ->'     '    •!•. 

-  M-     y\}  i.       h:..    ....  ■:,    'a..,..>t     i    i     • 

(!'.i.^   <•/    -■'     J..M  pa  ..  .  :  i;.     a    -^  -     ■  ■ 
;  '-,  1  s  •,,;■  a^.    ^)^-    1;  K^   t-  ■  n   a   ".■•  ::.  ■■ 
*  'lv:s;  lai'    i-'itii .  !i.    i  ■    -  a' :   '^>*    \'.    !  'v 
'  an-;i'  *d    '  'iiri'  i  \:    ■;  .     ^''.'   L  -^  -  •. 
it-'l  :■'■.'.■..';'.    '^  I    ."  ;.:"  'n^  :••  yi-  s 
('•!    ■  -'h'  .->     i:   n-"-<...'  ;_      »_  i  v   -^i'    ).■    * 
[*••■, .i-'-*  rii'sr'-'i.  .i;-  >  i  ^^rs:  -n.'   'i,   1 1 
or  Ml"  >'■.  aid  r»  i  - .  ';.n  ■  r  i '■<•'*     ''  "'   •  '  . 
w  -i.'i      :*  >.-,!    I>".     Ml-    u;.v  •    -i^ 
'Ii  N   :o   i-  '.ro-' .       ..     K:rst    i  'ar-^M 
af    :  h;'^-  •<"!   '•('■-".    y  su.>\.'! /f  <  *'-\o 

'a  ,s   {;»•■   :  h-'  I  -fi'  i'»n    (-f   Tr.      n»-  .    v 
(•b.,rrh  '  l"   .]  's  «-:'  ^        In   ad  ]..  ''*•      1 
'■•■  I  ;s   v.'    y  ,    •'       ;'    I  at-    '-au'"  •.!'■•-    ^'K 
'..  ;.   ;    f'aa   t-     nd  ■  f  M  ••  .a-pl'  ■'  .      " 
,a'i'-r   !'»•!,«  \ '»'   .jt    iav!  .;'.ta,"v,       .^f      i , 
and    i\:'  ••'<!    *.\     ::  '    ."hi    ''a  .\\     ;.    ;  .    .  - 

'  !'!<:    a-'d    i">v     .LT    .!•  .  -'s    w  i.!    a,      • 

•'  la.:  ai  .''!*  s^  t'  !a«v  p.-  st  -^    o  ih     ;t>\'      }• 

via.    1   I'oMiad^-  vt?'*'r  '4   .-^f  >  ■)«    '-   ';■'     *  *. 
in  >iM-s};,("!  >Naii.*>  ,  Ii -iM'ta.  '■:•  '!    '''■• 
tlv  ^n:l^  (,!'  ^>aI.■h.    1-'.^.     1=  .   '  ^'     •■ 
1'  "*«-.    w  as    .1    a.i'  iv-'     »i'    r»'    n     s 
V.  -a  J .'    !'..     ^\.'S    'a^-M'ad    an  !    '  ■  'a»'   " 
\va>   thrr*   ni,ir!-''-d    to   r>a'-' .         r-    y-    - 
a   1' 'liM    t  t"  S\v"l /('}''."  ai!       J I     !*>'■»'■    'a 

.•.ai|'lf       ltd'"*        tfi      ;)■       },-    i;:.^       '■(•"., -N^       *',o       .- 

Mf!.','   t'»   Ain'^^ ''a.    *;;:-]■■  lt   'y>    t:. 
M;.»Nh.;dl   coni.iy,    Ind'.  ^..    \\\--  ■•■-     ' 
vv'is    tn<ya'j-(al    m    a'_r!''a'idT  a  "i!    .•.>.'>■ 
Ills    I  fr'.^   la^^aN  ;\a  ;■,•  '-^.1 -di    i]     d  a^f 
.''•.:•*  <d*  IMt;,  si\   ;rars.      His    ». :  »    •     • 
iian  laany  yoars.  n.iN-^'nLr  u\\,\\    a"*   :•.■ 
s'vTx-M\  y  -ii's.      dday    ^.-.^  I'i"  '*"    ;    ■• 
Mr  ••'("■!.    child*-;*!!,    hat    a(    M.      ir  .-v    , 
'r^\i}   n  'iV  ^'-fins  anrl  Wirar  dnih- ■"»;'■'■>  '.  '^ 
d    an   W.  >'d.'s    Ml-  n-nth   :n    •  d  -:   -a 


Digitized  by  LjOOQIC 


e/K<:^o^  ^  ^c6  0aA± 


\ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


THE  N\ 

New  vo9/<      \\ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pkilo  F.  IngersoU  and  Great  Grandckild 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


HISTORY   OP  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


835 


of  the  thirteen  children,  spent  the  early  years 
of  his  life  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Marshall 
county,  attending  its  district  schools  and  the 
public  schools  of  Bremen  until  his  eighteenth 
year,  when  he  came  to  South  Bend  and  se- 
cured employment  with  the  Studebaker 
Brothers.  For  more  than  twenty  years  he 
remained  a  faithful  employe  in  this  large 
manufacturing  industry,  having  charge  of 
the  axles  and  hubs  in  the  wood  working  de- 
partment. In  1901  Mr.  Fites  received  the  ap- 
pointmenl;  of  street  commissioner  under  Col- 
fax, and  seventeen  months  later  was  made 
the  deputy  street  commissioner  under  the  Fo- 
gerty  administration,  to  which  position  he  was 
later  reappointed  by  the  same  mayor.  From 
1896  until  1900  he  served  as  a  member  of  the 
city  council,  representing  the  Seventh  ward. 
His  public  services  have  indeed  been  most  ex- 
emplary, and  he  is  held  in  high  regard  by  all 
who  know  him.  As  a  Republican  he  has  eVer 
taken  an  active  and  prominent  part  in  polit- 
ical affairs,  and  both  his  public  and  private 
life  have  been  marked  by  the  utmost  fidelity 
to  duty. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Fites  was  celebrated 
on  the  24th  of  November,  1886,  when  Flora 
Z.  Bratt,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  H. 
Bratt,  became  his  wife,  and  they  have  had 
four  children,  but  two,  Willie  B.  and  Inez, 
are  deceased.  Those  living  are  Eula  and 
Erald.  Mr.  Fites  is  a  member  of  the  Wood- 
men of  the  World  and  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  South  Bend  Lodge 
No.  235.  The  family  worship  in  the  Grace 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  their  pleas- 
ant and  attractive  r.esidence  is  at  1512  South 
Michigan  street,  where  a  gracious  hospitality 
is  extended  to  their  many  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances. 

Nelson  H.  Kyser,  a  popular  and  well- 
known  citizen  of  South  Bend,  has  been  for 
several  years  identified  with  the  public  affairs 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  is  now  serving  as 
the  present  city  clerk  of  South  Bend.  He 
was  bom  in  Marshall  county,  Indiana,  on 
the  5th  of  September,  1867,  a  son  of  John 
J.  and  Mary  (Wise)  Kyser,  both  natives  of 
Ohio.  Through  many  decades  representatives 
of  the  family  have  been  important  factors  in 
the  public  life  of  the  Hoosier  state.  The  first 
of  the  family  to  take  up  his  home  within  its 
borders  was  John  J.  Kyser,  the  father  of  him 
whose  name  introduces  this  review,  and  who 
was  a  native  of  Akron,  Summit  county,  Ohio. 
A  settlement  was  made  in  Marshall  county, 


where  the  father  secured  a  farm,  which  as  the 
years  passed  by  was  placed  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  and  his  untiring  in- 
dustry, energy  and  well-directed  efforts  at 
length  were  crowned  with  success,  and  ere  the 
end  of  his  earthly  pilgrimage  he  found  him- 
self in  possession  of  a  good  home.  Having 
thus  for  many  years  borne  an  important  part 
in  the  development  and  upbuilding  of  Mar- 
shall county,  John  J.  Kyser  passed  to  his  final 
rest  in  1885,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  He 
was  recognized  as  a  leader  in  the  ranks  of  the 
local  Democratic  party,  and  was  the  recipient 
at  its  hands  of  many  positions  of  honor  and 
public  trust.  He  was  at  one  time  a  member 
of  the  Indiana  Railroad  Commission. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Marshall  county 
Nelson  H.  Kyser  received  the  early  education- 
al training  which  fitted  him  for  life's  active 
duties,  and  for  two  years  he  was  also  en- 
gaged in  the  study  of  medicine,  but  deciding 
to  abandon  a  professional  for  a  commercial 
life  he  came  to  South  Bend  in  1885  and  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Lake  Shore  Rail- 
road company  as  a  yard  clerk,  thus  continu- 
ing for  two  years.  From  that  time  until  1902 
he  was  with  the  Studebaker  Manufacturing 
Company,  being  then  elected  to  the  office  of 
city  clerk,  the  duties  of  which  he  has  dis- 
charged with  a  promptness  and  fidelity 
worthy  of  all  commendation  from  that  time 
to  the  present,  having  been  re-elected  to  the 
position  in  1902. 

On  the  14th  of  January,  1897,  Mr.  Kyser 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Pearl  M.  Fulmer, 
a  native  of  Walkerton,  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, and  a  daughter  of  Oliver  R.,  one  of  the 
well  known  and  honored  pioneers  of  this,  coun- 
ty. One  son  has  been  born  of  this  union, 
Howard  Nelson  Kyser,  Jr.,  his  birth  occur- 
ring on  the  3d  of  September,  1905.  Frater- 
nally Mr.  Kyser  is  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Masonic  order.  Lodge  No.  45,  also  of  the 
Elks,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Eagles. 
He  is  emphatically  a  man  of  positive  char- 
acter, indomitable  energy  and  liberal  views, 
and  is  thoroughly  identified  in  feeling  with 
the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  county 
which  has  been  so  long  his  home. 

Philo  F.  Ingersoll.  For  many  years  Philo 
F.  Ingersoll  was  numbered  among  the  resi- 
dents and  business  men  of  South  Bend,  and 
the  death  of  this  venerable  citizen  caused  pro- 
found sorrow  throughout  the  community.  He 
was  a  representative  of  a  well  known  and 
prominent  family  who  trace  their  ancestry 


Digitized  by 


Google 


836 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


to  three  brothers  who  came  from  the  mother 
country  of  England  and  settled  in  the  New 
England  states,  while  from  this  same  ancestry 
is  also  descended  the  celebrated  Robert  Inger- 
soU.  Philo  F.  Ingersoll  was  born  in  Mentor, 
Ohio,  May  9,  1824,  the  youngest  of  four  sons 
of  Philo  and  Eunice  (Denning)  Ingersoll. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  but  two  years  of 
age,  the  mother  then  being  left  with  the  care 
and  support  of  her  family  of  small  children, 
and  her  son  Philo  remained  with  her  and  as- 
sisted in  her  arduous  labors  until  his  mar- 
riage, on  the  24th  of  May,  1848,  Maria 
Matilda  Merrill  becoming  his  wife.  She  was 
bom  in  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts, 
September  17,  1827,  the  daughter  of  Noah 
and  Rhoda  Merrill.  She  was  one  of  three 
children,  a  sister  older,  Mrs.  Honor  Wilson, 
now  deceased,  and  a  brother  younger,  George 
B.,  also  deceased.  She  was  but  two  years 
of  age  when  her  parents  mo\'ed  to  Medina 
county,  Ohio,  where  she  was  reared  to  years 
of  maturity. 

In  1848,  the  year  of  their  marriage,  Mr. 
and'  Mrs.  Ingersoll  went  to  Nlles,  Michigan, 
but  a  short  time  afterward  removed  to  Bu- 
chanan, that  state,  where  for  sixteen  years  the 
husband  was  engaged  in  the  blacksmithing 
business.  In  the  year  1867  they  came  to 
South  Bend,  Indiana,  where  Mr.  Ingersoll  se- 
cured work  as  a  blacksmith  with  the  Stude- 
baker  Brothers,  but  later  engaged  in  business 
for  himself,  and  thus  continued  until  his  re- 
tirement in  1886.  He  gave  a  lifelong  and  un- 
faltering support  to  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party,  taking  an  active  interest  in 
the  public  life  of  the  community,  was  well 
posted  on  the  events  of  the  day  and  was  lib- 
eral and  considerate  in  all  his  thoughts  and 
deeds. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ingersoll  were  born  two 
daughters.  The  elder,  Geraldine,  was  born  in 
Niles,  Michigan,  in  1850,  and  in  1881  was 
married  to  Fred  J.  White,  who  is  associated 
with  the  Singer  Manufacturing  Company  in 
the  capacity  of  a  machinist.  The  second 
daughter,  Annetta,  married  William  S. 
Weaver,  and  died  on  the  4th  of  October,  1899, 
leaving  three  sons,  Albert  M.,  Edward  E.  and 
Clem  I.  Mrs.  Ingersoll  also  has  two  great- 
grandsons,  Merrill  and  Albert  Clem.  The 
death  of  Philo  F.  Ingersoll  occurred  Decem- 
ber 30,  1906.  Thus  for  more  than  fifty  years 
this  loving  couple  pursued  the  journey  of 
life  together,  loyally  sharing  the  trials,  sor- 
rows and  pleasures  which  are  the  lot  of  all, 


but  the  one,  becoming  tired  and  weary,  lay 
down  to  rest,  leaving  the  companion  to  con- 
tinue the  remainder  of  her  life's  journey 
alone. 

Fred  K.  Schaper  is  the  present  efficient 
superintendent  of  the  South  Bend  Water 
Works,  and  he  holds  and  merits  a  place 
among  its  representative  citizens.  One  of  the 
persevering,  honorable  sons  of  Germany,  he 
was  born  in  Frankfort-on-the-Main,  Novem- 
ber 23,  1850,  and  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  place.  When 
eighteen  years  of  age  he  left  his  home  and 
friends  in  Germany  and  came  to  the  United 
States,  first  locating  at  Three  Rivers,  Michi- 
gan. Previous  to  his  emigration  he  had 
learned  the  machinist's  trade  in  the  father- 
land, and  after  his  arrival  at  Three  Rivers  at 
once  resTuned  his  trade.  After  a  three  years' 
residence  in  that  city  he  went  to  Elkhart  and 
found  employment  in  the  machine  shops  of 
the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan  Southern  Rail- 
road Company,  where  he  remained  for  five 
years,  coming  thence  in  1877  to  South  Bend. 
During  his  first  two  years  in  this  city  Mr. 
Schafer  was  with  the  Birdsell  Manufacturing 
Company,  for  the  following  three  years  was 
in  the  machine  shops  of  the  Oliver  company, 
and  for  the  next  twenty  years  was  with  the 
Studebaker  company,  where  he  had  charge  of 
the  tool  room  department.  His  long  reten- 
tion with  that  large  corporation  proved  his 
ability  as  a  machinist,  and  after  leaving  their 
employ  he  spent  two  years  with  the  Singer 
Manufacturing  Company. 

On  the  1st  of  June,  1904,  Mr.  Schafer  was 
appointed  by  the  board  of  public  works  as 
superintendent  of  the  water  works  of  South 
Bend,  which  position  he  now  holds,  and  he 
has  also  served  as  superintendent  of  the  re- 
building of  the  central  pumping  station,  in- 
cluding the  remodeling  of  the  old  pumping 
works.  He  is  now  installing  two  two  and  a 
half  million  capacity  power  pumps,  also  a 
Hamilton  Corliss  engine  of  two  hundred  horse 
power  for  the  purpose  of  relieving  this  pump  ^ 
during  the  reconstruction  of  the  water  wheel 
and  to  be  used  during  the  stages  of  low  wa- 
ter in  the  river. 

In  1873  Mr.  Schafer  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Sophia  Sable,,  and  they  have  five  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  two  daughters,  namely: 
Harry  W.,  who  has  served  as  foreman  for  the 
Studebaker  machine  shops  for  two  years; 
George  F.,  a  base  ball  player  in  the  Terre 
Haute  team  in  the  Central  League;  Laura, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


The 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Felix  Grange 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Mrs.  Felix  Grange 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


puei.'c  L!?»r^ARYt 


V 


Asttr,  L#re*  an«  T-'l 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


837 


wife  of  Shepard  Davis,  of  California ;  Maud, 
a  stenographer  with  the  Studebaker  Manu- 
facturing Company ;  Albert  J.,  also  a  maehin- 
.ist  with  the  Studebaker  company.  Mr. 
Schafer  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
Democratic  party,  and  from  1891  until  1896 
served  as  a  member  of  the  city  council  of 
South  Bend,  being  an  active  Vorker  on  party 
lin^  in  his  community.  His  fraternal  rela- 
tions are  with  the  Masonic  order,  being  a 
member  of  the  Blue  Lodge  and  of  the  Royal 
Arcajium,  and  he  also  has  membership  rela- 
tions with  the  South  Bend  Turner  society. 
Public-spirited  and  progressive  in  all  his 
ideas,  he  lends  his  influence  to  all  measures 
which  he  believes  useful  to  the  majority,  and 
is  highly  esteemed  in  the  community  for  his 
honorable,  upright  life. 

John  PIiATZ.  The  family  name  of  John 
Platz  is  one  which  is  inefifaeeably  traced  on 
the  history  of  St.  Joseph  county  and  which 
figures  on  the  pages  whose  records  perpetuate 
the  principal  events  from  an  early  day  to  the 
present  time.  He  was  born  in  Somerset 
county,  Pennsylvania,  September  20,  1827, 
and  in  that  commonwealth  his  parents,  Peter 
and  Polly  (Deeter)  Platz,  were  also  born.  In 
1828,  however,  they  moved  to  Stark  county, 
Ohio,  where  the  father  followed  his  trade  of 
carpentering  and  contracting,  having  erected 
many  buildings  in  that  county.  In  1853  the 
family  home  was  established  in  South  Bend, 
Indiana,  and  here  this  worthy  pioneer  couple 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  the  father 
passing  away  at  the  age  of  seventy  years. 

Their  son  John  Platz  was  but  one  year  old 
at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  family  to 
Stark  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared 
and  educated,  one  of  his  schoolmates  having 
been  President  McKinley's  father-in-law,  Mr. 
Saxon.  Learning  the  carpenter's  trade  under 
the  instruction  of  his  father,  Mr.  Platz  was 
engaged  in  contracting  and  building  in  that 
county  until  the  removal  of  the  family  to 
South  Bend  in  1851,  the  journey  being  made 
via  Niles,  Michigan,  and  this  was  before  the 
advent  of  railroads  into  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try. After  his  arrival  in  this  city  Mr.  Platz 
resumed  his  contracting  operations,  and  many 
of  the  finest  buildings  of  South  Bend  still 
stand  as  monuments  of  his  ability,  among 
which  may  be  mentioned  both  of  the  large 
paper  mills,  also  many  of  the  buildings  of  the 
Singer  and  Studebaker  Manufacturing  com- 
panies. In  1896,  however,  he  retired  from  the 
business  which  he  had  so  long  followed  and 


was  subsequently  appointed  by  the  state  as 
truant  oflBcer,  being  the  first  incumbent  of 
that  oflSce  after  the  law  for  its  establishment 
went  into  effect,  and  so  faithfully  has  he  per- 
formed its  duties  that  he  has  ever  since  been 
retained.  He  was  also  one  of  the  first  fire- 
men in  the  city,  belonging  first  to  the  bucket 
brigade  and  then  to  the  hook  and  ladder  com- 
pany, and  was  twice  elected  a  member  of  the 
city  commissioners.  Bis  support  and  co-oper- 
ation have  never  been  withheld  from  any  en- 
terprise intended  to  prove  of  public  benefit. 

While  a  resident  of  Stark  county,  Ohio, 
Mr.  Platz  was  married  in  1847  to  Matilda 
Palmer,  and  they  have  three  living  children, 
Charlie,  Harry  and  Cora  May,  the  last  named 
the  wife  of  Professor  L.  Clarence  Ball,  of 
South  Bend,  and  an  artist  of  ability.  Mr. 
Platz  has  given  a  life-long  support  to  the 
Republican  party,  having  cast  his  ballot  for 
the  first  Republican  president  of  the  United 
States  and  has  supported  each  presidential 
candidate  since  that  time,  while  previous  to 
the  inauguration  of  that  party  he  upheld  the 
principles  of  the  Whig  party.  For  many 
years  he  has  been  a  worthy  and  efficient  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
in  his  younger  days  in  Ohio  served  as  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school.  His  frater- 
nal relations  are  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  South  Bend  Lodge  No.  29. 

Felix  Grange.  Forty-five  years  of  Mr. 
Grange's  life  have  been  gpent  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  years  of  hard  and  unremitting  toil, 
but  now  as  he  passes  down  the  western  slope 
of  life  he  is  relieved  of  the  burdens  and  re- 
sponsibilities of  a  business  life  and  is  enjoy- 
ing a  well-earned  rest.  His  birth  occurred  in 
the  city  of  New  York  on  the  19th  of  March, 
1838,  his  parents  being  Claud  and  Christo- 
phlin  (Sibuet)  Grange,  both  natives  of 
France.  They  came  to  America  during  their 
youth,  and  were  married  in  Louisville,  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  after  which  they  took  up  their 
abode  in  the  city  of  New  York,  the  father 
following  his  trade  of  a  baker.  After  a  resi- 
dence of  eleven  years  in  that  city  they  jour- 
neyed to  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  purchas- 
ing and  locating  on  a  farm,  but  subsequently 
returned  to  Louisville,  where  the  father  re- 
tired from  the  active  cares  of  a  business  life, 
and  there  they  spent  their  remaining  days, 
both  passing  away  at  about  the  age  of  seventy- 
three  years.  In  their  family  were  eleven 
children,  four  sons  and  seven  daughters,  all 
of   whom   grew    to   years   of   maturity    and 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


838 


HISTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


proved  an  honor  to  the  honored  family  name, 
while  at  the  present  time  there  are  two  sons 
and  three  daughters  living. 

Felix  Grange,  the  second  child  and  eldest 
son  in  thi«  large  family,  was  sent  to  the  home 
of  his  paternal  grandparents  in  CJolumbiana 
county,  Ohio,  when  only  two  years  old,  re- 
maining with  them  until  his  parents  removed 
thither  from  the  city  of  New  York  and  re- 
ceiving his  education  in  the  district  schools 
near  the  home.  After  attaining  to  years  of 
maturity  the  lad  started  out  in  the  world  to 
battle  for  himself  and  his  first  employment 
was  at  the  carpenter  and  mason's  trades.  In 
about  the  year  1858  he  went  to  East  St.  Louis, 
Illinois,  but  two  years  later  returned  to  Ohio, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1861  came  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  making  the  journey  with 
team  and  wagon  and  after  his  arrival  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1863  he  became 
a  resident  of  South  Bend,  and  for  a  short 
time  thereafter  was  associated  with  the  Ven- 
nett  &  Wanger  Furniture  Company,  later 
working  for  the  Lovell  Furniture  Company 
and  for  James  Oliver,  and  in  1866  rented  a 
farm  in  Greene  township,  St.  Joseph  county. 
Shortly  afterward  another  move  was  made, 
this  time  Mr.  Grange  returning  to  Colum- 
biana county,  Ohio,  the  scene  of  his  boyhood's 
home,  and  after  a  year  there  spent  journeyed 
again  to  St.  Joseph  county  and  purchased  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres 
in  Greene  township,  where  he  erected  a  prim- 
itive log  cabin,  without  windows,  and  at  once 
began  the  hard  and  laborious  ta^  of  placing 
his  land  under  cultivation.  Nine  years  were 
devoted  to  the  work  of  clearing  and  improv- 
ing the  property,  on  the  expiration  of  which 
period  he  traded  the  farm  for  the  old  home- 
stead of  Mrs.  Grange's  parents  in  Greene 
township.  There  this  honored  old  pioneer 
couple  continued  to  make  their  home  until 
1903,  when  they  rented  the  land  and  removed 
to  South  Bend. 

On  the  3d  of  February,  1863,  Mr.  Grange 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth  Good- 
man, the  daughter  of  Theoble  and  Catherine 
(Gulling)  Goodman,  who  removed  to  Sump- 
tion's Prairie,  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
in  1855,  from  Stark  county,  Ohio,  where  their 
daughter  Elizabeth  was  bom  on  the  2d  of 
May,  1841,  and  was  fourteen  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  family  to 
this  county.  Their  two  living  children  are: 
Frank,  who  married  Hallie  Davis  and  is  a 
resident  6f  Elizabeth,  North  Dakota,  where 


he  is  cashier  of  the  bank;  and  Joseph  Peter, 
who  married  Edifh  MoflBtt.  He  is  also  a  resi- 
dent of  North  Dakota,  where  he  is  farming 
on  an  extensive  scale.  He  has  raised  thirty- 
five  thousand  bushels  of  grain  in  two  years, 
besides  much  stock.  He  owns  about  twelve 
hundred  acres  of  land.  Mr.  Grange  gives 
his  political  support  to  the  Democratic  party, 
and  has  been  honored  with  many  township 
offices.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Catholic  church.  They  have  long 
since  passed  the  noontide  of  their  married 
life  and  the  sun  is  far  on  its  journey  to  the 
west,  but  it  is  hoped  that  many  years  may 
yet  be  theirs  in  which  to  enjoy  the  richness 
of  their  lives. 

Ira  M.  Ulleey,  paying  teller  of  the  Mer- 
chants' National  Bank  of  South  Bend,  was 
born  in  Warren  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
on  the  20th  of  May,  1869.  His  father,  John 
C.  Ullery,  a  native  of  Miami  county,  Ohio, 
was  but  seven  years  of  age  when  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  on  their  removal  to  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  in  1851.  He  was  a 
son  of  John  F.  and  Mary  D.  Ullery,  the 
former  a  native  of  Germany.  From  that  early 
age  John  C.  Ullery  has  continued  to  make 
this  county  his  home,  being  identified  with 
its  agricultural  interests,  and  his  home  is 
now  in  German  township.  Mrs.  Ullery  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Margaret  E.  Miller,  and 
was  a  native  of  (Jerman  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  where  her  people  were  among  the 
early  pioneers,  dating  their  arrival  here  about 
1845.  In  the  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
C.  Ullery  were  two  children,  the  sister  of 
Ira  being  Mary  M.,  who  is  at  home. 

On  the  old  home  farm  in  German  town- 
ship to  which  his  parents  had  removed  when 
he  was  only  two  years  of  age,  Ira  M.  Ullery 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth,  at- 
tending the  district  school  near  his  home  and 
later  the  South  Bend  Business  College,  in 
which  he  completed  the  course  and  grad- 
uated. After  spending  one  winter  at  Mt. 
Morris,  Illinois,  he  located  in  South  Bend 
in  1894,  where  he  engaged  in  the  sale  of  coal, 
wood  and  farm  implements,  but  in  1898  sold 
his  interests  in  that  business  and  entered  the 
county  treasurer's  office  in  the  employ  of 
John  W.  Zigler.  From  1903  he  ably  and 
efficiently  filled  the  position  of  deputy  county 
treasurer  until  January  1,  1907.  On  the  2d 
of  June,  1906,  he  was  nominated  for  the 
office,  but  was  defeated  at  the  November  elec- 
tion of  1906. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


THE  N\ 

/PUBLIC   '.'  t-'ARY 


Digitized  by 


Google 


J 


.AJu 


2^'irti^, 


Digitized  by  LjOOQ  IC 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


839 


On  the  20th  of  November,  1889,  Mr.  Ullery 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  E.  Main, 
who  was  bom  in  Buchanan,  Berrien  county, 
Michigan,  May  14,  1870,  a  daughter  of  Orin 
W.  and  Esther  (Sparkin)  Main,  the  former 
a  native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Indiana. 
One  daughter,  Alice  Fern,  and  one  son,  Har- 
old M.,  have  been  born  of  this  union.  Mr. 
Ullery  is  a  stalwart  supporter  of  Republican 
principles,  actively  working  for  its  growth 
and  upbuilding,  and  he  is  well  and  favorably 
known  throughout  the  county. 

Professor  Herman  F.  Heimbero,  a  teacher 
in  the  St.  Paul  Evangelical  Lutheran  school 
of  South  Bend,  has  devoted  his  life  to  the 
work  of  the  school  room,  and  since  1899  he 
has  been  identified  with  the  educational  in- 
terests of  this  city.  His  birth  occurred  in 
Hanover,  Germany,  September  7,  1873,  a  son 
of  Frederick  and  Charlotte  (Moeller)  Heim- 
berg,  also  natives  of  that  city.  The  father 
was  a  farmer.  In  1875  the  family  emigrated 
to  America,  making  their  way  at  once  to  Por- 
ter county,  Indiana,  where  the  father  re- 
sumed his  occupation  of  agriculture,  and  they 
became  prominent  residents  of  that  county. 

Herman  F.  Heimberg,  the  eldest  of  their 
five  children,  two  sons  and  three  daughters, 
of  whom  one  daughter  is  now  deceased,  was 
but  a  little  lad  of  two  years  at  the  time  of 
the  emigration  of  the  family  from  the  father- 
land to  the  United  States,  and  he  was  reared 
to  years  of  maturity  on  a  farm  in  Porter 
county,  Indiana,  receiving  his  early  educa- 
tional training  in  its  district  schools.  Dur- 
ing three  winter  terms  he  attended  a  Protes- 
tant school  in  Chicago,  while  in  1893  he 
graduated  from  the  Lutheran  Seminary  at 
Addison,  Illinois.  With  this  excellent  educa- 
tional training  to  serve  as  the  foundation 
of  his  future  life  work  he  began  teaching 
in  the  Lutheran  school  of  Valparaiso,  where 
he  remained  during  the  following  six  years, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  period,  in  1899,  came 
to  South  Bend  to  enter  upon  his  work  as  a 
teacher  in  its  Evangelical  Lutheran  school. 
His  labors  in  this  institution  have  been  ef- 
fective in  raising  its  standard  of  excellence, 
and  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  sue-, 
cessful  and  capable  members  of  its  faculty. 

On  the  26th  of  October,  1898,  Professor 
Heimberg  was  united  in  marriage  to  Emma 
K.  Lutz,  who  died  August  8,  1907.  She  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  Valparaiso,  In- 
diana, a  daughter  of  Herman  and  Anna 
(Hansen)   Lutz,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 


Holstein,  Germany.  Four  children  were 
bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heimberg,  Althea  and 
Agatha,  and  two  who  are  deceased.  To  Pro- 
fessor Heimberg  belongs  the  honor  of  being 
the  oldest  teacher  in  the  St.  Paul  Evangeli- 
cal Lutheran  school,  and  to  his  efforts  as 
much  as  to  those  of  any  other  this  well  known 
institution  of  learning  owes  the  high  stand- 
ing which  it  now  occupies  in  the  educational 
circles  of  South  Bend. 

Rev.  J.  F.  Borg,  pastor  of  the  Swedish 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Gloria  Dei  church  of 
South  Bend,  Indiana,  was  bom  in  the  prov- 
ince of  Oster  Gothland,  Sweden,  December 
13,  1849.  When  twenty  years  of  age,  in 
1869,  he  came  to  America,  and  in  1872  he 
entered  Augustana  College,  which  was  then 
located  at  Paxton,  Illinois,  but  is  now  an 
institution  of  Rock  Island,  that  state,  in  which 
he  graduated  from  its  theological  seminary 
in  1878.  In  the  same  year  of  his  graduation 
he  was  ordained  for  the  ministry  in  Prince- 
ton, Illinois,  and  since  that  time  has  filled  the 
following  pastorates :  Knoxville,  Illinois, 
1878  to  1880;  Ishpeming,  Michigan,  1880  to 
1882;  Saunders  county,  Nebraska,  1883; 
Galva,  Illinois,  1883  to  1889 ;  Swede  Valley, 
Iowa,  1889  to  1891;  Ishpeming,  Michigan, 
1891  to  1900;  Pecatonica,  Illinois,  1901  to 
1903;  and  since  1904  he  has  been  the  loved 
pastor  of  the  South  Bend  church.  Rev.  Borg 
has  long  been  an  earnest  laborer  in  the  vine- 
yard of  his  Master,  and  is  loved  by  his  peo- 
ple and  honored  and  revered  by  all  who 
know  him. 

He  married,  June  28,  1878,  in  Galva,  Illi- 
nois, Miss  Clara  Charlotte  Anderson,  and  of 
their  six  children  four  are  now  living:  An- 
nette Rosalia,  bom  in  Knoxville,  Illinois, 
June  10,  1879;  Carl  Reuben  Valdemar,  born 
in  Ishpeming,  Michigan,  February  7,  1893; 
Sven  Elmer  Ambrosius,  born  December  17, 
1894 ;  and  Edna  Althea  Belinda,  bom  August 
30,  1896.  The  three  youngest  were  all  bom 
in  Ishpeming,  Michigan. 

John  Alfred  Cover,  a  well  known  farmer 
and  liveryman  of  South  Bend,  who  died  in 
1903,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born 
May  1,  1852.  He  was  a  son  of  Daniel  and 
Elizabeth  (Grove)  Cover,  his  father  being  a 
farmer  of  Pennsylvania,  in  which  state  he 
was  married.  There  were  six  sons  and  two 
daughters  in  the  family,  John  A.  being  the 
oldest  son  and  the  second  child. 

Mr.  Cover  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Pennsylvania,  coming  to  St.  Joseph  county 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


840 


fflSTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


when  a  youth  and  being  in  the  employ  of 
Mr.  Rockhill  for  about  seven  years.  As  he 
was  both  industrious  and  well  educated  he 
busied  himself  at  various  kinds  of  out-of- 
door  work  in  the  summer  and  taught  school 
during  the  winter  months. 

On  October  7,  1880,  Mr.  Cover  married 
Miss  Rachel  Dunn,  daughter  of  Reuben 
Dunn,  a  farmer  of  German  township,  who 
had  come  when  a  young  man  into  that  section 
of  the  county  and  had  become  a  prosperous 
and  prominent  citizen.  Both  of  her  parents 
were  natives  of  Ohio,  and  the  homestead  of 
one  hundred  and  ninety-seven  acres  was  one 
of  the  largest  and  most  valuable  in  the  north- 
em  part  of  the  county.  Her  mother  (nee 
Mary  Dunn)  was  raised  in  Oliio,  and  her 
father  was  the  late  Judge  Dunn,  a  pioneer 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  in  whose  district  schools 
she  was  educated.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reuben 
Dunn  had  a  family  of  five  sons  and  three 
daughters,  and  Mrs.  Cover  is  the  youngest. 
She  was  bom  and  reared  in  German  town- 
ship. At  the  time  of  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cover  located  on  a  farm  of  eighty  acres 
in  Warren  township,  where  for  many  years 
he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 

In  1901  Mr.  Cover  retired  from  farming 
and  located  in  South  Bend  to  engage  in  the 
livery  business,  and  was  well  known  in  that 
line  at  the  time  of  his  death  March  5,  1903. 

The  deceased  prospered  in  his  private  af- 
fairs as  an  agriculturist,  and  was  considered 
a  progressive  farmer  and  a  good  business 
man.  He  also  took  a  d-eep  interest  in  out- 
side movements  tending  to  improve  the  con- 
ditions of  his  calling,  being  long  an  active  and 
progressive  member  of  the  Grange.  He  was 
always  a  firm  Democrat  in  his  political  views, 
and  locally  active  in  furthering  the  cause  of 
his  party.  Whatever  the  nature  of  his  ac- 
tivities, he  did  his  part  in  a  faithful,  hon- 
orable and  manly  way. 

Four  sons  and  two  daughters  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  A.  Cover, — Ira,  Glenn, 
Anna,  Alfred,  James  and  Laura,  all  natives 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  where  they  still  reside. 
The  widow  is  an  esteemed  member  of  the 
Methodist  church,  as  was  her  husband,  and 
the  entire  family  is  highly  respected. 

Union  Dodd,  who  for  a  number  of  years 
was  associated  with  the  Studebaker  Company 
in  the  capacity  of  a  carriage  trimmer,  was 
numbered  among  the  native  sons  of  South 
Bend  and  was  a  representative  of  one  of  its 
early  pioneer  families.     His  natal  day  was 


the  4th  of  July,  1863.  His  father,  Amos 
Dodd,  was  born,  reared  and  spent  his  early 
life  in  New  York,  having  been  there  married 
to  G^orgiana  Downs,  also  a  native  of  that 
commonwealth.  In  a  very  early  day  they 
journeyed  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
where  the  father  at  once  resumed  his  work 
of  a  cabinet  maker  in  South  Bend.  He  was 
well  known  among  the  early  residents  of  the 
city,  and  was  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Re- 
publican party. 

The  son  Union  spent  his  entire  life  in  the 
city  of  his  birth,  attending  its  public  schools, 
and  after  the  completion  of  his  education 
secured  employment  with  the  Studebaker 
Company,  with  whom  he  learned  his  trade 
of  carriage  trimming.  When  he  had  reached 
his  twenty-second  year,  on  the  25th  of  De- 
cember, 1885,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Lizzy  Holland,  who  was  bom  in  Elkhart 
county,  Indiana,  >{ovember  27,  1864.  Her 
father,  James  Holland,  was  a  native  of  Staf- 
ford, England,  but  when  eighteen  years  of 
age  came  to  America  as  his  father's  agent  in 
the  selling  of  fancy  .crockery.  Ere  leaving 
his  native  land  he  had  married  Margaret 
Pinley,  also  a  native  of  England,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  four 
sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  Mrs.  Dodd 
was  the  youngest  daughter  in  order  of  birth. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Holland  learned  his 
trade  of  paper  making  in  Elkhart,  Indiana, 
where  he  lived  for  many  years  and  reared 
his  family,  finally  removing  from  that  city  to 
Omaha,  Nebraska,  and  thence  to  South  Bend, 
where  he  became  well  known  as  a  paper  manu- 
facturer and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-six 
years.  His  political  support  was  given  to 
the  Republican  party,  in  which  he  was  an 
active  worker,  and  his  services  as  a  soldier 
in  the  Civil  war  entitled  him  to  membership 
in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dodd 
erected  their  pleasant  residence  on  South 
Michigan  street,  where  they  continued  to  re- 
side until  the  loving  husband  was  called  away 
by  death,  dying  at  the  comparatively  early 
age  of  thirty-seven  years,  and  thus  ending  a 
life  of  usefulness  and  promise.  He  was  a 
zealous  supporter  of  Republican  principles, 
and  was  ever  loyal  to  his  duties  of  citizen- 
ship. 

James  I.  Frame.  Since  an  early  period 
in  the  development  of  St.  Joseph  county  the 
Frame  family  have  been  identified  with  its 
interests,   aiding  materially   in   the  develop- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


841 


ment  of  the  resources  of  their  section.  In 
the  early  year  of  1832  Nathaniel  Frame,  a 
native  of  Wayne  county,  Indi€ina,  journeyed 
hither  and  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  early  pio- 
neers of  Warren  township.  He  lived  to  the 
extreme  old  age  of  eighty  years,  and  the  last 
thirty  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  South 
Bend,  where  he  was  well  and  favorably 
known.  He  took  an  active  pant  in  the  early 
history  of  St.  Joseph  county,  affiliating  with 
the  Republican  party,  and  for  several  years 
he  served  as  a  county  commissioner,  also 
holding  many  other  positions  of  honor  and 
trust.  He  was  also  a  valued  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  exemplifying  in  his  life 
its  beneficent  and  helpful  principles.  For 
his  wife  he  chose  Caroline  Main,  who  was 
bom  in  Henry  county,  Indiana,  and  died  in 
her  eighty-second  year.  They  became  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  three  sons  and  four 
daughters,  and  the  family  name  is  an  hon- 
ored one  throughout  St.  Joseph  county. 

James  I.  Frame,  the  fifth  child  and  second 
son  in  order  of  birth,  spent  the  early  years 
of  his  life  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Wari*en 
township,  which  was  also  the  place  of  his 
birth,  his  natal  day  being  the  26th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1850.  He  early  became  familiar  with 
the  work  of  the  fields,  and  he  remained  with 
his  parents  and  assisted  in  the  work  of  the 
homestead  until  his  marriage,  when  he  estab- 
lished a  home  of  his  own  and  was  extensively 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing in  Warren  township  until  1892.  In  that 
year  he  laid  aside  the  active  cares  of  an 
agricultural  life  and  removed  to  South  Bend, 
where  he  now  resides  in  a  pleasant  home  at 
1019  West  Washington  street,  surrounded  by 
the  comforts  and  luxuries  which  many  years 
of  toil  have  brought  him.  He  still  retains 
his  old  homestead  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres.  Which  he  rents.  In  his  political  ad- 
herency  Mr.  Frame  has  ever  been  stanehly 
arrayed  in  support  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  for  a  period  of  six  years  he  served  as  a 
member  of  the  advisory  board  of  his  town- 
ship. He  is  also  connected  with  the  Grange 
movement. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  1873,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Frame  and  Retta  M. 
Scott,  she  being  also  a  native  of  Warren  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  where  her  parents, 
James  and  Lovina  (Plotts)  Scott,  were  early 
pioneer  residents,  coming  hither  from  Vir- 
ginia during  a  very  early  day  in  its  history. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frame  are  numbered  among 
the  honored  residents  of  South  Bend. 

Bazel  Rupel.  Since  an  early  pioneer 
epoch  in  the  history  of  St.  Joseph  county 
the  Rupel  family  have  been  identified  with  its 
interests  and  have  been  influential  in  its  de- 
velopment and  gradually  increasing  prosper- 
ity. One  of  its  honored  representatives, 
Bazel  Rupel,  is  now  living  retired  from  the 
active  duties  and  cares  of  a  business  life, 
enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  years  of  toil  in 
the  past.  He  was  born  in  Center  township, 
St.  Joseph  county,  on  the  29th  of  January, 
1833,  a  son  of  Peter  and  Christena  (Schu- 
maker)  Rupel,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
As  early  as  1831  this  brave  pioneer  couple 
journeyed  to  the  then  frontier  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  securing  land  from  the  gov- 
ernment in  Center  township,  but  the  father 
was  not  long  i)ermitted  to  enjoy  his  new 
home,  his  life's  labors  having  been  ended  in 
death  in  1839,  leaving  his  widow  with  the 
care  ot  seven  small  children,  the  eldest  at 
that  time  being  twelve  years  of  age.  Bravely 
she  met  the  hardships  and  diflBculties  which 
beset  her  at  every  turn,  keeping  her  family 
together  and  continuing  the  work  of  the  farm 
until  she  too  was  called  to  her  final  rest  in' 
1854.  The  old  homestead  is  now  owned  by 
one  of  the  sons,  E.  N.  There  were  five 
brothers  in  the  family,  a)l  of  whom  grew  to 
sturdy  manhood  and  four  are  now  living: 
Blisha,  a  farmer  in  Center  township;  Elias, 
who  resides  on  South  Michigan  street,  South 
Bend ;  and  Frank,  on  the  old  farm  in  Center 
township.  The  daughter,  Pheby,  is  now  Mrs. 
Andrew  Yoder. 

Bazel  Rupel,  the  fourth  child  and  third 
son  in  order  of  birth,  was  but  six  years  old 
at  the  time  of  his  father's  death,  and  after 
his  marriage  he  located  on  a  farm  in  Center 
township  near  the  Gn^ne  townsihip  line, 
which  he  placed  under  cultivation  as  the  years 
passed  by,  and  in  addition  to  his  agricultural 
pursuits  he  also  followed  the  carpenter's 
trade  until  about  1898.  He  moved  to  South 
Bend  in  1904,  settling  in  his  pleasant  home 
at  1613  Prairie  avenue,  laying  aside  the  ac- 
tive cares  of  a  business  life  to  enjoy  the  rest 
which  he  had  so  truly  earned  and  richly  de- 
served. He  is  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  liv- 
ing in  St.  Joseph  county,  which  has  been  his 
home  throughput  his  entire  life.  He  has 
watched  the  transformation  of  wild  land  into 
beautiful  homes  and  farms,  and  in  the  work 


Digitized  by 


Googr( 


842 


HISTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


of  growth  and  upbuilding  he  has  ever  borne 
his  part,  has  been  honorable  in  business, 
loyal  in  friendship,  faithful  In  citizenship, 
and  now  in  his  declining  days  he  can  look 
back  over  the  past  with  little  occasion  for 
regret. 

In  1854  Mr.  Rupel  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Sarah  J.  Brunson,  she  too  having  been 
bom  in  St.  Joseph  county,  where  her  parents 
were  numbered  among  the  early  pioneers,  and 
her  father,  George  W.  Brunson,  was  one  of 
the  first  men  to  become  identified  with  the 
apple  tree  industry  in  the  county.  The  lov- 
ing wife  and  mother  passed  away  in  death 
in  1900,  leaving  one  daughter,  Mary  L.,  the 
^wife  of  J.  W.  Hoover.  In  his  political  affil- 
iations Mr.  Rupel  is  a  stanch  supporter  of 
the  Democratic  party,  and  from  its  inception 
he  has  been  a  member  and  an  active  worker 
in  the  Grange. 

William  B.  Dietrich.  After  a  successful 
business  career  as  an  agriculturist,  in  which 
he  acquired  a  handsome  competence,  William 
B.  Dietrich  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in 
South  Bend,  his  pleasant  home  being  at  1502 
Michigan  avenue.  He  was  born  in  Berks 
county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  5th  of  March, 
1838,  his  parents  being  Gideon  and  Royal 
(Boucher)  Dietrich,  both  natives  of  the  Key- 
stone state  and  of  German  descent.  In  their 
family  were  eight  children,  seven  sons  and 
-^  one  daughter,  all  of  whom  grew  to  years  of 
maturity,  and  five  are  now  living,  but  the 
parents  have  long  since  passed  away,  the 
father  dying  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years 
and  the  mother  when  seventy-eight. 

William  B.  Dietrich,  the  eldest  of  their 
children,  spent  the  early  years  of  his  life 
in  the  place  of  his  nativity,  and  for  a  short 
time  after  his  marriage  resided  on  a  small 
farm  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pennsylvania, 
being  also  engaged  in  teaming  for  a  time. 
In  1863  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil 
war  as  a  member  of  Company  F,  Fifty-third 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  three 
months,  during  which  time  he  served  as  a 
corporal,  and  at  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  service  returned  to  his  home  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. For  two  years  he  worked  as  a  cabinet 
maker.  During  the  following  ten  years  he 
was  in  the  drug  business,  and  in  1868  he  came 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  purchasing  a 
small  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Penn  town- 
ship, but  subsequently  traded  the  land  for 
town  property  in  South  Bend.  He  then 
rented  the  farm  known  as  Sunny  Side  for 


one  year,  when  he  traded  his  town  property 
for  the  Augustine  farm  located  seven  miles 
west  of  South  Bend,  upon  which  he  took  up 
his  abode  and  there  remained'  for  one  year, 
engaged  in  general  agricultural  pursuits.  At 
the  end  of  the  year,  however,  he  traded  the 
property  for  the  farm  he  now  owns,  his  ori- 
ginal purchase  consisting  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty  acres,  but  from  time  to  time  he  added 
to  the  tract  until  the  homestead  consisted  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  all  rich  and 
fertile  land  and  placed  under  .an  excellent 
state  of  cultivation  by  his  untiring  efforts. 
Its  many  substantial  buildings  stand  as  mon- 
uments to  his  ability,  and  the  farm  is  one 
of  .the  valuable  homesteads  of  the  township. 
In  1906,  however,  he  gave  up  the  active  work 
of  the  farm  and  removed  to  South  Bend,  and 
now,  on  the  western  slope  of  life,  he  is  rest- 
ing from  arduous  cares,  in  the  midst  of  fam- 
ily and  friends,  who  esteem  him  for  his  hon- 
orable record  and  his  many  commendable 
characteristics.  In  addition  to  the  homestead 
he  also  owns  another  valuable  farm,  on  which 
have  been  erected  good  and  substantial  build- 
ings, and  both  places  are  now  rented. 

In  1859  Mr.  Dietrich  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Amelia  Moyer,  who  was  bom  and 
reared  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  they  have  three  living  children:  Ed- 
ward, who  is  serving  as  engineer  at  the  power 
house  for  the  Indiana  Railway  Company : 
Katie,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Van  Buskirk,  of 
South  Bend;  and  Charles  W.,  on  the  farm 
in  German  township.  Mr.  Dietrich  has  given 
a  life-long  support  to  the  Republican  party, 
and  as  its  representative  served  as  the  as- 
sessor of  German  township,  while  for  eighteen 
years  he  was  the  committeeman  of  his  party. 
He  is  a  worthy  member  and  an  active  worker 
of  St.  Paul's  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  he  holds  pleasant  relations  with  his  old 
army  comrades  of  the  blue  by  his  member- 
ship in  Auten  Post,  No.  8,  G.  A.  R. 

Rezean  Brown.  During  the  long  period 
of  eighty-three  years  Rezean  Brown  has  trav- 
eled life's  journey,  and  now  in  the  evening 
of  a  useful  and  honorable  career  he  is  enjoy- 
ing a  well  earned  rest.  He  has  been  promi- 
nent in  the  business  circles  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  has  left  the  impress  of  his  indi- 
viduality upon  many  lines  of  progress  and 
advancement  here.  His  birth  occurred  in 
Middlesex  county.  New  Jersey,  October  5, 
1824,  his  parents  being  Abram  and  Charlotte 
(Brown)    Brown,  both  natives  of  New  Jer- 


Digitized  by 


Google 


/ 


\  A$i»r    I  .-'0^  an()  Tilde*/ 
\  Kit  "■.••♦  nP|. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Mrs.  August  Conrad 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


August  Conrad 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


fflSTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


843 


sey,  and  the  former  of  German  and  the  latter 
of  French  descent.  The  father,  who  was  well 
known  in  business  circles  as  a  mason,  came 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  in  the  early 
year  of  1835,  casting  in  his  lot  among  its 
first  pioneers,  and  to  him  belongs  the  honor 
of  having  erected  some  of  the  first  buildings 
in  South  Bend.  His  death  occurred  in  1865, 
when  he  had  reached  the  sixty-ninth  mile- 
stone on  the  journey  of  life,  while  his  wife 
reached  the  age  of  seventy-two  years  ere  she 
was  called  to  the  home  beyond.  In  the  family 
of  this  worthy  old  pioneer  couple  were  seven 
children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  all 
of  whom  grew  to  years  of  maturity  and  two 
are  now  living. 

Rezean  Brown,  the  second  son  and  second 
child  in  order  of  birth,  was  about  eleven 
years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  parents 
on  their  removal  to  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
therefore  for  seventy-two  years  he  has  re- 
sided within  its  borders,  watdhing  with  inter- 
est the  transformation  of  wild  land  into 
beautiful  homes  and  farms,  the  building  of 
towns  and  villages,  and  in  the  work  of  growth 
and  upbuilding  he  has  ever  borne  his  full 
share.  Remaining  on  the  farm  until  fifteen 
years  of  age,  he  then  began  the  mason's  trade 
with  his  father,  with  whom  he  remained  for 
two  years,  and  then  started  the  contracting 
business  for  himself  in  South  Bend,  erecting 
many  of  the  city's  first  buildings,  and  among 
these  may  be  mentioned  the  first  Odd  Fel- 
low's hall.  In  company  with  a  Mr.  Lapeer 
he  also  built  the  first  college  building  in 
Notre  Dame  and  a  little  chapel  on  the  island, 
while  many  other  notable  buildings  of  the 
city  stand  as  mute  reminders  of  his  former 
activity  in  the  business  world,  including 
about  twenty-eight  brick  residences  in  St. 
Joseph  county.  He  has  also  been  active  in 
the  business  circles  in  other  sections,  having 
lathed  and  plastered  four  houses  in  North 
Dakota,  and  during  many  years  he  carried  on 
the  work  of  his  trade,  winning  success  and  at 
the  same  time  contributing  to  his  county's 
prosperity.  About  1852  Mr.  Brown  took  up 
his  abode  on  a  farm  in  German  township,  his 
wife  superintending  its  work  while  he  con- 
tinued his  contracting  business,'  but  later  he 
traded  this  place  for  other  land,  and  after 
bartering  in  farm  property  he  finally  became 
the  owner  of  what  is  now  known  as  the  county 
farm,  he  having  sold  it  to  St.  Joseph  county 
in  1904.    About  1893  he  laid  aside  the  cares 

of  an  active  business  life,  and  is  now  resting 
Vol.  n— 16 


in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his  former 
toil.  He  has  long  passed  the  age  of  three 
score  years  and  ten,  and  now  on  the  western 
slope  of  life,  in  the  midst  of  family  and 
triends,  he  is  resting  from  arduous  oares. 

On  the  27th  of  September,  1849,  Mr.  Brown 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Nancy  Jones,  a 
native  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  St.  Joseph  county, 
where  her  parents,  Samuel  and  Polly  Jones, 
were  early  pioneers.  After  a  happy  married 
life  of  over  fifty-four  years  the  loving  wife 
was  caUed  to  her  final  rest,  passing  away 
in  September,  1903,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
four  years.  They  became  the  parents  of  six 
children,  but  only  three  are  now  living: 
George  W.,  of  South  Bend;  Mrs.  LiUie  Green, 
of  North  Dakota;  and  Sallie,  the  wife  of 
W.  G.  McManis,  with  whom  our  subject  re- 
sides. Mr.  Brown  has  long  been  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  in  his  political  affiliations  he  votes  for 
the  man  whom  in  his  judgment  is  best  quali- 
fied for  office.  He  has  many  friends  in  the 
county  which  has  so  long  been  his  home,  who 
esteem  him  for  his  honorable  record  and  his 
many  commendable  characteristics. 

August  Conrad.  The  record  of  an  hon- 
orable, upright  life  is  always  read  with  inter- 
est, and  those  who  have  fought  for  the  state 
and  country  in  which  their  lot  is  cast  are 
especially  deserving  of  an  honored  place  in 
all  its  annals.  Their  posterity  will  turn  with 
just  pride  to  these  records  of  the  founders 
and  preservers  of  a  prosperous,  united  na- 
tion. Mr.  Conrad  is  a  native  son  of  Prussia, 
Germany,  bom  on  the  22d  of  February,  1831, 
and  he  remained  in  the  land  of  his  nativity 
until  his  twenty-fifth  year,  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period,  in  1857,  he  crossed  the  ocean  to 
America,  first  establishing  his  home  at  Wil- 
liamsburg, New  York,  where  for  nine  months 
he  worked  at  any  honorable  occupation  that 
he  could  get  to  do.  He  then  bought  a  ticket 
for  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  but  stopping  off 
at  Mishawaka,  Indiana,  he  there  secured  a 
position  in  a  saw;  mill  and  remained  for  two 
years,  coming  thence  to  South  Bend  and  se- 
curing work  on  a  farm  on  Portage  Prairie. 
After  a  residence  there  of  a  short  time  he 
went  to  Berrien  county,  Michigan,  and  re- 
sumed his  farm  labor,  thus  continuing  until 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  in  1861,  when 
he  enlisted  in  Company  L,  Second  Michigan 
Cavalry,  entering  the  ranks  as  a  private. 
After  a  service  of  three  years  he  veteranized 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


844 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


in  the  same  company  and  regiment  and  con- 
tinued as  a  faithful  soldier  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  his  military  career  covering  a 
period  of  four  years  as  a  private  with  the 
exception  of  about  one  month,  and  during 
that  time  he  participated  in  many  of  the  his- 
toric battles  of  the  war  as  a  member  of  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

When  his  country  no  longer  needed  his 
services  Mr.  Conrad  returned  to  South  Bend 
and  purchased  a  little  farm  of  sixty-five 
acres  in  Union  township,  but  as  he  was  able 
he  added  to  his  original  purchase  ui^til  he 
became  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  acres,  but  in  1903  he  sold  his  farm  and 
moved  to  South  Bend,  where  he  has  since 
lived  retired  from  the  active  cares  of  a  busi- 
ness life,  enjoying  a  well  earned  rest.  His 
pleasant  home  is  located  at  631  Leland  ave- 
nue, where  a  generous  and  warm-hearted  hos- 
pitality is  extended  to  his  many  friends  and 
acquaintances. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Conrad  was  cele- 
brated in  1866,  when  Christene  Buyers  be- 
came his  wife.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
D.  and  Dorothea  Buyers,  who  were  born  in 
Grermany  and  came  to  America  in  1851,  at 
once  making  their  way  to  Berrien  county, 
Michigan,  where  they  were  numbered  among 
its  honored  pioneers.  Mrs.  Conrad  was  ten 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  removal  of 
the  family  to  America,  and  she  was  there- 
after reared  and  received  her  education  in 
Berrien  county.  By  her  marriage  she  has 
become  the  mother  of  three  children:  Eda, 
the  wife  of  William  Gillis,  of  St.  Joseph 
county ;  Emma,  the  widow  of  Michael  Land- 
graf,  and  she  resides  with  her  parents;  and 
Schuyler,  of  River  Park,  St.  Joseph  county, 
Michigan.  Mr.  Conrad  maintains  pleasant 
relations  with  his  old  army  associates  of  the 
blue,  by  his  membership  in  Auten  Post,  No. 
8,  6.  A.  R.  He  is  also  a  stanch  and  unfal- 
tering supporter  of  Republican  principles, 
having  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Abraham  Lincoln  in  1860,  and  he  has  con- 
tinued to  support  each  of  its  presidential 
candidates  since  that  time. 

Benjamin  Allen  Bates.  Among  those 
to  whom  have  been  vouchsafed  an  honored  re- 
tirement from  the  arduous  duties  of  life  is 
Benjamin  A.  Bates,  who  throughout  his  ac- 
tive business  career  was  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  but  during  the  past  few  years 
has  lived  quietly  at  his  pleasant  home  on 
West  Colfax  avenue,  No.  820.    He  was  bom 


in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  June  1,  1833,  his 
parents  being  Samuel  and  Harmony  (Allen) 
Bates,  the  former  a  native  of  Hadenfield, 
New  Jersey,  and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  The 
father,  however,  became  d  resident  of  Ohio 
in  a  very  early  day,  and  in  1834  the  parents 
journeyed  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  lo- 
cating near  New  Carlisle,  where  the  father 
was  employed  as  a  teamster  and  was  one 
of  the  first  residents  of  the  county.  He  lived 
to  the  good  old  age  of  eighty-two  years,  sur- 
viving his  wife  for  many  years,  she  having 
died  at  the  age  of  fifty  years.  In  their  fam- 
ily were  six  children,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  all  of  whom  attained  to  years  of 
maturity. 

Benjamin  A.  Bates,  their  third  child  and 
second  son  in  order  of  birth,  was  but  a  babe 
of  one  year  when  the  family  home  was  estab- 
lished in  St.  Joseph  county,  and  he  grew 
to  years  of  maturity  in  Olive  township,  at- 
tending its  primitive  log  cabin  schools.  In 
1860  he  went  to  Pike's  Peak,  Colorado,  cross- 
ing the  plains  in  company  with  a  freigMer, 
but  he  remained  there  only  a  short  time  when 
he  returned  to  his  old  home  in  St.  Joseph 
county  and  resumed  his  farming  operations. 
After  his  marriage  he  located  on  a  farm  in 
Olive  township,  there  continuing  his  agri- 
cultural labors  until  1896,  when  he  rented  his 
farm  and  removed  to  South  Bend,  to  enjoy 
the  rest  which  he  had  ao  richly  earned.  He 
still  owns  the  old  homestead  of  one  hundred 
acres,  also  his  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Olive  township,  the  latter  of  which 
is  rented  to  his  eldest  son. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Bates  was  celebrated 
on  the  2d  of  December,  1863,  when  Mary 
Jane  Curry  became  his  wife.  Her  birth  oc- 
curred in  Olive  township  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  January  14,  1841,  her  parents,  James 
and  Elizabeth  (Nickerson)  Curry,  having 
been  numbered  among  the  early  pioneers  of 
that  locality,  removing  there  from  Butler 
county,  Ohio.  Of  their  ten  children  two 
died  in  infancy,  and  the  remainder  are  yet 
living.  Seven  children  have  been  bom  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bates,  namely :  Charles  Allen : 
Emma,  who  became  the  wife  of  John  I. 
Hoke,  and  is  now  deceased;  Alva  C,  of 
South  Bend;  James  A.  and  Clifford  E.,  also 
of  this  city.  Two  of  the  number  died  when 
young.  Mr.  Bates,  who  is  the  last  of  his 
father's  family,  has  almost  reached  the 
Psalmist's  span  of  three  score  years  and  ten, 
and  nearly  all  of  this  long  and  useful  life 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


845 


has  been  spent  in  St.  Joseph  county.  He 
gives  his  political  support  to  the  Democracy, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 

William  Clenny,  deceased,  was  one  of 
the  sturdy  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
where  for  many  years  he  was  engaged  in  car- 
pentering, and  for  eight  years  afterwards  he 
farmed  and  conducted  a  mill.  His  birth 
occurred  in  Randolph  county,  Indiana,  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1824,  his  parents  being  Curtis  and 
Mary  C.  (Milliner)  Clenny,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  North  Carolina.  On  the  ma- 
ternal side  he  was  descended  from  an  old 
English  family  who  lost  their  property  in 
this  country  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 
The  parents  were  numbered  among  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Randolph  county,  where 
they  were  well  known  fanning  people,  and 
in  their  family  were  twelve  children,  three 
sons  and  nine  daughters. 

William  Clenny,  their  eldest  son  and  fifth 
child,  was  an  invalid  from  his  early  youth, 
having  been  afficted  with  hip  disease,  but 
bravely  he  surmounted  all  obstacles  which 
barred  his  path  to  success,  and  at  his  death 
left  a  valuable  landed  estate.  His  first  mar- 
riage was  celebrated  in  Randolph  county, 
Indiana,  Miss  Sarah  "Garrett  becoming  his 
wife,  and  the  two  children  of  this  union  are 
both  deceased.  Shortly  after  their  marriage 
they  came  with  team  and  wagon  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  locating  in  Union  township,  where 
Mr.  Clenny  secured  two  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  land.  In  1860,  however,  he  aban- 
doned the  work  of  the  farm,  and  from  that 
time  forward  devoted  his  attention  to  his 
saw  mills.  About  1865  he  sold  the  saw  mills 
and  bought  a  grist  mill,  and  with  his  partner, 
Nelson  EldTedy,  who  had  been  with  him  in 
the  saw  mill,  conducted  this  until  1872.  He 
gave  a  life  long  support  to  the  Republican 
party,  being  an  active  worker  in  its  ranks, 
and  was  a  worthy  member  of  the  Masonic 
order. 

Five  years  after  their  coming  to  St.  Joseph 
county  the  wife  died,  and  in  1859  Mr.  Clenny 
married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Brumfield)  Bron- 
aon,  the  widow  of  Nathan  Bronson,  who  was 
a  native  of  Ohio,  but  became  a  well  known 
farmer  in  Randolph  county,  where  his  death 
subsequently  occurred,  leaving  one  daughter. 
Mrs.  Clenny  was  bom  in  Randolph  county 
April  22,  1837,  the  daughter  of  Jesse  and 
Sarah  (Davis)  Brumfield  the  mother  having 
been  a  native  of  the  Shenandoah  valley  in 


Virginia.  The  father  was  a  minister  in  the 
New  Light  Christian  church,  and  in  addition 
to  his  ministerial  labors  also  worked  as  a 
millwright  and  farmer.  In  their  family  were 
ten  children,  six  sons  and  four  daughters, 
of  whom  Mrs.  Clenny  was  the  eighth  child 
and  third  daughter  in  order  of  birth.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Clenny  became  the  parents  of  three 
children,  two  sons  and  a  daughter,  and  wher- 
ever known  the  family  is  held  in  high  regard. 
Mr.  Clenny  was  a  'manly  man,  and  the  honor 
and  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  all  who 
came  in  contact  with  him  was  but  the  just 
tribute  to  his  worth.  He  passed  away  Octo- 
ber 2,  1890,  loved  and  honored  by  all  who 
knew  him.  His  widow  resides  with  h^ 
daughter,  Mrs.  Dr.  F.  M.  Sawyer. 

Mr.  Clenny  became  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist church,  as  did  his  wife,  in  1861.  He 
was  class  leader  and  trustee  for  many  years. 
Mrs.  Clenny  is  still  a  member  of  that  denom- 
ination. 

Gilbert  L.  Eluott.  Although  inany 
years  have  passed  since  Mr.  Gilbert  L.  El- 
liott was  called  from  this  life  to  the  home 
beyond,  his  memory  is  still  enshrined  in  the 
hearts  of  all  who  knew  him,  and  his  name 
was  long  and  prominently  connected  with 
the*  business  interests  of  South  Bend.  His 
birth  occurred  in  the  far-off  land  of  India, 
at  Marut,  on  the  28th  of  February,  1837,  and 
his  father,  Robert  Elliott,  was  bom  in  the 
north  of  Ireland,  and  was  an  officer  in  the 
English  army.  In  that  capacity  he  was  sent 
to  Marut,  India,  where  he  was  married,  and 
there  his  son  Gilbert  was  bom  and  was  reared 
to  the  sige  of  twelve  years.  Returning 
thence  to  England  with  his  father,  he  was 
educated  in  a  college  of  the  mother  country, 
from  whence  he  oame  to  America  when  he 
had  reached  his  twentieth  year,  in  1857. 
Locating  at  Hamilton,  Canada,  he  secured 
a  position  in  the  auditor's  office  of  the  Great 
Western  Railroad,  was  also  station  agent  at 
Bothwell,  Canada,  and  later  became  agent  of 
the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  at  Kalamazoo, 
Michigan.  After  a  five  years'  residence  in 
that  city  he  came  to  South  Bend,  where  he 
was  given  charge  of  the  freight  and  passen- 
ger department  of  the  Michigan  Central  Rail- 
road, and  continued  to  discharge  the  duties 
of  that  important  position  for  twenty-five 
years,  or  until  his  life's  labors  were  ended 
in  death  on  the  19th  of  April,  1896.  He 
became  well  known  in  the  business  and  social 
life   of  this  city,  taking  an  active   part  in 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


846 


mSTOEY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


its  public  aflfairs,  and  his  services  were  ever 
put  forth  for  the  betterment  of  mankind. 
In  the  beneficent  and  helpful  order  of  Ma- 
sonry he  also  attained  to  a  high  position, 
reaching  the  thirty-second  degree,  and  he 
was  the  incumbent  of  many  of  its  most  promi- 
nent positions. 

Mrs.  Elliott  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Anna 
McElroy,  and  was  born  in  county  Down, 
Ireland,  May  21,  1839,  the  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Sarah  (Lacock)  McElroy,  who  came 
from  their  native  land  of  county  Derry,  Ire- 
land, to  America  and  established  their  home 
at  Serell,  Canada,  during  the  early  child- 
hood days  of  their  daughter  Anna.  She  was 
one  of  five  children,  four  daughters  and  a 
son,  the  latter  being  James  McElroy,  also  a 
native  of  Ireland,  and  he  and  Mrs.  Elliott 
are  now  the  only  living  members  of  the  fam- 
ily. Mrs.  Elliott  has  four  sons  and  two 
daughters  living:  Robert  R.,  of  Springfield, 
Illinois,  with  the  Beckwith  Round  Oak  Stove 
Company;  William  H.,  a  resident  of  South 
Bend;  Henry,  also  of  this  city;  Elizabeth, 
with  her  mother;  Anna,  the  wife  of  Charles 
L.  Spain,  of  Detroit,  Michigan;  and  Hon. 
Gilbert  A.,  a  member  at  the  present  time  of 
the  state  legislature,  and  a  dietch  of  whom 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Four,  of 
the  children  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elliott 
are  deceased,  Sarah,  Gilbert  and  Garnet  and 
Ruby,  twins.  Mrs.  Elliott  has  made  her 
home  in  the  city  of  South  Bend  during  the 
long  period'  of  thirty  years,  and  she  is  hon- 
ored and  revered  by  all  who  have  the  pleas- 
ure of  her  acquaintance. 

Louis  Alexai«)er  Rostiser.  It  is  a  well 
attested  truth  that  the  greatness  of  a  com- 
munity lies  in  the  sterling  qualites  of  its  in- 
dividual citizens,  in  their  capacity  for  high 
and  unselfish  effort  and  their  devotion  to  the 
public  good.  To  this  class  belonged  Louis 
A.  Rostiser,  whose  influence  for  good  was 
widely  felt  and  whose  memory  is  enshrined 
in  the  hearts  of  those  who  knew  him.  His 
birth  occurred  in  Rome,  New  York,  October 
5,  1833,  but  his  parents,  Frederick  and  Kath- 
erine  (Nicol)  Rostiser,  were  both  natives  of 
Germany,  and  were  married  in  their  native 
land,  the  father  there  following  the  carpen- 
ter's trade.  In  their  family  were  six  chil- 
dren, five  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Louis  A.  Rostiser,  the  fourth  child  in  order 
of  birth,  remained  in  his  native  state  of  New 
York  until  his  removal  to  South  Bend  in 
1854,  where  during  the  long  period  of  forty 


years  he  devoted  his  time  to  the  milling  busi- 
ness, winning  success  in  his  chosen  calling, 
and  becoming  well  known  throughout  the 
county.  He  was  a  man  of  unquestioned 
integrity  in  all  business  transactions,  was 
generous  in  his  methods,  and  the  success  and 
prosperity  he  achieved  was  the  deserved  re- 
ward of  honorable  labor. 

In  this  city,  on  the  14th  of  April,  1856, 
Mr.  Rostiser  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary 
Schmucker,  who  was  bom  in  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, May  12,  1841,  the  daughter  of  An- 
thony and  Mary  (Funter)  Schmucker,  who 
also  claimed  Bavaria  as  the  place  of  their 
nativity,  the  father  being  a  well  known  op- 
tician there.  Mrs.  Rostiser  was  the  younger 
of  their  two  children,  and  by  her  marriage 
has  become  the  mother  of  two  sons  and  a 
d-aughter,  Frederick,  Rosie  M.,  wife  of  George 
Keisling,  and  Edward  A.,  all  bom  and  reared 
in  South  Bend.  The  pleasant  home  in  which 
Mrs.  Rostiser  now  resides  was  erected  by  her 
husband  on  Michigan  avenue,  and  is  endeared 
to  her  through  its  associations  with  her  happy 
married  life.  Mr.  Rostiser  gave  a  life-long 
support  to  the  Democratic  party,  in  which 
he  was  an  active  and  valued  worker,  and  in 
his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  9th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1907,  the  community  lost  one  of  its 
revered  and  honored  citizens. 

JosiAH  G.  Keltneb.  The  name  of  Josiah 
G.  Kekner  is  closely  associated  with  the  early 
history  of  St.  Joseph  county,  for  he  was  but 
a  lad  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  South 
Bend,  and  is  therefore  numbered  among  the 
honored  pioneers  who  have  not  only  wit- 
nessed the  wonderful  transformation  of  the 
region  but  have  been  important  factors  in 
its  progress  and  advancement.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  state 
of  Indiana  on  the  24th  of  September,  1828. 
His  father,  Samuel  Keltner,  who  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  in  1795,  removed  to  Ohio 
in  1813,  and  a  few  years  later  came  to  In- 
diana, taking  up  his  abode  in  the  southeast- 
em  part  of  the  state,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  removal 
to  St.  Joseph  county  in  1844.  He  then  estab- 
lished his  home  in  German  township,  four 
miles  northwest  of  South  Bend,  where  his 
life's  labors  were  ended  in  death  in  his 
ninety-fourth  year.  He  was  of  (Jerman  de- 
scent. In  Kentucky  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Jane  Hardman,  a  native  of  that 
commonwealth,  and  her  death  occurred  at  the 
age  of  sixty-seven  years.     They  became  the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


*•# 


■•*^ 


m 


*i 


J2 


'I 


m 


■^v,(  9/ 


,--) 


,.j 


(/ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


LnsTi){>Y    OT^  ^.T.    JOSL,  u    COUNTV. 


.     *  >r    *nv    "^^t*.  I -u  lit.    .t    iJitiJi'an.], 


^.JU  .-1     J 


1:1J^I.  :■'  A\  :  jm  uiiw  ;  --,■  ':-*'. \*  rh  •..'  Ix  •:  .- 
nil'      'T    !;\-*:    '-':■.;»•'  ^;.    i  •.    •   <•.;■»'  :l'^cr^    ;>.-  -i    a 

>«■•{  tKt"  itlS'T  "'  .O;.,'  ''•'%'•  ^  ^'  .  1  Ti'V,  ('I  «•  -t 
at'-    TiOV/    til'     f'\';     i'vi'     •    .-wii    ...--.^    (,f    t;    '    t'-:   ri- 

w;'.       \IiN.     I  '..,-  t    }:-.s    r<-':r    'M';^    ,-;]  ,}    ;v,t 

\\Nh  Ih  .•  ■:  m'h^^*;  Aj:.:..  *1u'  v-l-  ot  ("-JM*-^ 
L,    S[»;t    ..     *t'    P.^rj  ■'      '..  <'.'j'\h:     a*f!    ilor,. 

til-!  si,  ■  i<':.:'s.:{rt*-*  ,  ..'^-l  a  -^^ '■:  -Ii  i>i  ^v^^JU^ 
!ir  ;•(/•=-■  .  iv(M^-i  v"  ■(■  *i.'^  ^  1  ►.  h'.;!  .»}■ 
tiip    '.-■•'Irin    hr.'i.    to    '.!-.      ■•      \irs.     ill  >"  ! 


-s- a.  s  ».Mi,  i. 


-;.  .    (:;M^.■:    j.f  d 


'.    :      *     .i!     0  f^    .'   \\      .'•!'     ^    ■  l'"!  i!      ''.M!'L'    tl:v 

I'  ^  '^    ;).*■'!»;   '»i    Mt.i\\       •  •  * ..   *i    d     "'!    IS   h'^n- 

I  "I   li^T   '-K'U'iain,;  :-.'.'. 

J  ■-' N     \i.fc:x'^:K'v   J ;<«-!•'  »  .c.      !-.   >   a    ^\»'"' 
.'  •■^i«h1   fiiiii   <  T.t"  .t^"*''   :    < 'i!!i'><   ■>:    a      <'n- 

'  .   -Tiily   iirs    ill    p|f   sN*  'i   *  L    M'l  »'   '    ^    *''     '• 

!iv.'!ial    i''p./rr>,   i-i   "    :r  fa-'.iriiy    ;o^    ;il!i 

a).  I    MD.NfiH-tl  /  '•   ..  r   a-  ;i    H-'  ir   -IfV,,;,    *     t'.   I';. 

V  i(k-lv    ft'It     .    '■    ^    !'•  •'    ';■<*]];. '^  •     IS   »^;-:F-in'''» 

II  :Ia    lir'ar  '    ?'»  >s.     \v]h>    kri'-w   h^-iu      lis 

'"^r'br    ■     '  ■'  ■        'i^.-xtlsor,    ^\  t'l'e    })')Mi    ir.Iivr'^'    <»t 

rM-uii.r  \  ■>'    M  '■•-   'xai-ri^'vl   in   tut>'r   t-ative 

]aTi>!.     .  .1  '»!    tn-a''-*   t.*'!  ^^viii'r  :1  ^'  .".rp- r^- 

t«'r  .-    '       ■  Ta    :\r'r    family    \v*  , .     ■;  \   i-a  !- 

T-  .-■•      '■  ,'    '    a      1    '•  .!'•   -iaill/i't;  .* 

^  i:--."-.*  -,  tin-  f.Hjr-h  ^li'!.]  ir  nrd'^v 

^^'   •       '  .  *  »'ia  'a'd  in  li's  nat'^^t    <tat-    "'   X  v 

'-.•i     «  ',   '"  r't;  \.^   M'l'   lo;i','  T'<':"'''  ft'  i'or'v 


y-aiN  :ie  ti*j\')!.'J  :>:<  i  >       r  ,  t.-..-  ;...  ,    ,_ 
hi- '.s.    wirifi.h;^    «<ac'"--'     a    \.s    .-'1  a-   a. 
..lal     iavaf  r  ■:    ^\^'!'     !  j1   ^-  ii     t  L"-  ..  ' 
r*n^ii,._\         Jf..-     V,  ..^    a     »  <ai'     o:     11  a 
il  t.  ^'a:\      ill     ai      ^.'-^:t>^^■-     J ;  a: 
j"ii  a\>(is  ill  i)  s  !•}•  tii'HiN.  a.i'  {  iM     a-  ■  ■ 

}):'a^ia  !*:.;      1:  ■    a."  ■:-'-<  ■'     V.  i^    U"'    -i' 
.^al"'!    '»*'    ji*'l  ;>ra')  a    la  na 

II:    tii-    •  i;;  .    V  i'    *'.•■'■    "•:.].    ar"     \,. 
Ml.   R--.>t:-T  v\    a  IM    a<'    "'  1   »•  .a  a     -••    ' 
^  'i:}::.!.--'.  I .    .-  !i-*    uas     .-.-  ■       ^  »    i    .     ^.  , 
raary,    .  !a\     J  J,    1  ^  H,    .    i     -...:.    ' 
t^'.  a\    aT.  :    \i.ai'y    '  !•  '::r.  i  ■    ^  •      a.    . 
vi'  "><»    t'laa  a.l    i 'a  \  .i"  1    a  -•    :  '*a'    ;    •*• 
•Ki'  i\  iiy.    . '       iatl^-a-   '•     :"'  ..    ''■■  :    '  : 
til-  •  r    i:.'  V'\       M   s.    U  >'  ■.^'  \    "^'.  :.^     a*'  .. 
«>;■  'ii'-if   lu.)  .-!  ii.irt 'i.   r    ;i   }.^\    m.  ■>•    • 
Las    'H*f  "nil-    Mj'    !"  a  ii'T    »it"    i  .  .      ••  •■ 
.1...    ''!■<  J  ,  ria'«'.-'a,  iv    ]»\>s  '    al..  v         ■> 
K.-adi..!:.  a.ii'i  Jv:  V'^-<i    \     a'-  -.'  -i'     '. 
!''  S  la'li  I '.  a.-i.      Ti'.'  r  !•  a>'.    r  '  .-  . 
.v['-s    li  .^^-M']    I'  > '•  ;m  s    [t  s  \^a.-,  •   'iM    •  <: 
l;^^l)al"^  m    A-    aara,    avatni  a  ;■.''> 
*  »  Ij   a  t'n-'-U"!.  '•  -   a^^ .-  'aatv..  x    -  :   a   i     a 
a. a -a  a-.i  .iiii        M  r.    K-.--  -sc-    ^m  --   .^ 
^',;*i  .>r;     !■;    tia      !">♦    a'M-ra^        r,«,-'v. 
ho  Vv'a^    iv  aat-v,'  ,ri  \  ', .  'a;-.]  ;v   'a   a    .  . 

Irs  ■!(a.'\    "    1:     Jl   ^.'a-a-'Kd   •:'    III''     'S 
iiaty.    r"*7,    tl).'    t'ca- T4ll|li*^     1-'.-/    aa  r 
i*t  ''^i'-[  ,ii;>l   laaion'tl  -Mia-   :  .^. 

^i'.'-r^^-  CI    St.  .|<-aah  a<  Ui.ty.   I'oi    a,     / 
••  ta«]  \' h«^">i  ha  aa^'^-'  w  /;  las  pav.^  .'<  1,^ 
I*/'aid.    a''.{    i^   M""a't  a";    ra'fi!n-rcd    a"""*    J 
hoaoj'a:     p!   a*  • -^    ^.  a  »    la-'v*-    la.t    o*-"; 
r.--Mi    i!aa  v  «>h.  '•••Mii.   ti  ^iisN-iar.  .^  .,     . 
i'(  •'■■a    1 '^r    ha^-"    j'-'Mi    iijij'-lant"    !.t' ' 
i:>  p:  >-2*"' ^'^  "ful   a.i\  aa  a>^»f  rt.      11'^    ai.' 
•aiii''!    in    tit-  so  raiaaat^TTi   Vi'rr:   .•>'     ''i- 
<f    lui'aiaa   <>]\    tb--   Jtth  v)l'   St  ;- '  -'ni"  r. 
^'•<    i';;*aa*,    ^innia    K»'l  n*  i     '.vh-i    '^^  *- 
U'    [*- !•  ;s\  ivaitai    Ti    'V.''>.    r*   'i-^'-al    t 
n    1-^1  ;.   arai   ;;    i    ^v  y.     -a   ;a'   "^  .a.,ii.     - 
.^;."a-     i..r<.a'r  up  hs  ahtua*   'tj    *ht'  -^  't 
•^'a    ^,jTa   u'    tfi'-'  Ntit-',  ^vlv  ,'.^  f;r    V..S  •:: 
iri     .."■••■M.,;  a  rail    pa'"*-''i;i'    aat  '    !iw     . 
to  St    .To-'p.^-;  ("W  .t\    :•   \^\i      H"  *:.   \ 
i-  h  J    n.'    h'  a  i»    iri    <'"Mr.a:     ;    .     '-'a;  • 
a.i;  -s    !■  Whw'-T    "i*    ^^-r. !-    BOiTil         *  . 
!■  ■'■'<;    la  la  UN      .v   •*  ;     e'aivi     I'l     'i-aii  i 
r;-> +v-f'"iiHh  y- a'\      ll^-   va-us  <^i'   *;.a: 
«^ct  a' .      ;!i    K'a;:a  ■'  v  h-'   ".v,  ^   :  -'a.   i    : 
raajv'    to    Ja-n--    iia.<.:a.ir     a    r..t  ^« 
a^tr-a-  oTva.ii.'a.  a  ad  h  -r  J-  .  :*.  o.-.-^  jm- 
.a:(;    '.r  sav!^ -s»  \'(ai    \aa-         T}i''\    ]>    -. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by  LjOOQIC 


1 L .;  J    x>'' 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


847 


parents  of  eleven  children,  and  the  family 
name  is  an  honored  one  in  the  communities 
in  which  it  is  represented. 

Josiah  G.  Keltner,  the  sixth  child  in  order 
of  birth  and  the  only  one  now  living,  was 
sixteen  years  of  age  when  the  family  home 
was  established  in  St.  Joseph  county.  Al- 
most with  the  dawn  of  civilization  in  north- 
western Indiana  he  came,  and  the  history  of 
his  life  is  to  a  great  extent  the  history  of 
the  community.  Remaining  with  his  father 
until  twenty-nine  years  of  age,  he  then,  in 
1857,  removed  to  a  farm  in  German  town- 
ship, where  he  became  the  owner  of  eighty 
acres  of  land,  only  ten  acres  of  which  had 
been  cleared,  and  for  this  little  homestead 
he  went  in  debt  twelve  hundred  dollars.  As 
time  passed,  however,  his  untiring  and  well 
directed  efforts  enabled  him  to  clear  the  in- 
debtedness, to  place  his  farm  under  an  excel- 
lent state  of  cultivation  and  to  add  thereto 
until  he  was  the  proud  possessor  of  three 
hundred  and  seventy-five  acres,  all  of  which 
he  improved  and  the  many  substantial  build- 
ings thereon  stand  as  moniunents  to  his 
ability.  In  1889  Mr.  Keltner  laid  aside  the 
active  cares  of  a  business  life  and  removed 
to  his  pleasant  home  in  South  Bend,  where 
he  owns  property  to  the  value  of  ten  thou- 
sand dollars,  while  in  addition  he  also  retains 
the  old  homestead  of  three  hundred  acres, 
w'hich  is  rented  for  cash  rentt 

On  the  7th  of  December,  1857,  Mr.  Kelt- 
ner was  united  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth  Gil- 
lette, who  was  bom  in  Yates  county,  New 
York,  July  17,  1831,  and  came  with  her 
parents,  Joel  Hoyte  and  Mabel  (Bainbridge) 
Gillette,  to  Niles,  Michigan,  in  1844,  when 
thirteen  years  of  age,  her  education  being  ob- 
tained in  the  schools  of  that  city  and  South 
Bend.  They  have  become  the  parents  of 
three  children:  Arthur,  Charles  C.  and 
Helen  M.,  all  of  South  Bend,  and  the  daugh- 
ter is  the  wife  of  Ezekiel  Garwood.  Mr. 
Keltner  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
Republican  party,  which  he  has  represented 
in  many  of  the  local  offices,  having  served  as 
a  justice  of  the  peace,  was  appointed  by  the 
government  to  take  the  census  of  German 
township  and  is  now  a  jury  conmiissioner. 
For  forty-three  years  he  has  been  a  devout 
member  of  the  Baptist  church,  while  during 
forty  years  of  that  time  he  has  served  as  a 
deacon.  Mrs.  Keltner  is  also  a  member  of 
that  denomination.  In  the  county  in  which 
they  have  so  long  resided  they  are  held  in 


high  regard,  and  those  who  know  them  best 
are  numbered  among  their  warmest  friends. 

William  Geltz,  the  ex-assessor  of  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  was  one  of  the  prominent  and 
well  known  officials  in  this  section  of  tEe 
state.  Throughout  his  entire  life  he  has  been 
a  resident  of  South  Bend,  actively  interested 
in  all  measures  advanced  for  the  good  of  the 
people,  and  has  performed  his  full  share  in 
the  development  and  improvement  of  the 
city.  His  father,  George  Geltz,  was  a  native 
of  Germany,  but  when  a  young  man  crossed 
the  ocean  to  America  and  took  up  his  abode 
in  Ohio.  In  1849  he  made  his  way  to  South 
Bend,  and  after  looking  over  the  place  he 
decided  to  make  it  his  future  home,  and  re- 
turned to  Ohio  for  his  family  in  1852.  The 
family  home  was  established  in  Clay  town- 
ship, but  after  a  short  time  they  returned  to 
the  city  and  the  father  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Studebaker  Company  as  a  blacksmith, 
and  in  1853,  in  company  with  J.  M.  Stude- 
baker, went  to  the  gold  fields  of  California, 
where  he  remained  for  three  years,  returning 
thence  to  South  Bend  and  resunyng  work 
with  his  former  employers.  Thus  he  con- 
tinued until  his  life's  labors  were  ended  in 
death  in  1905,  when  he  had  reached  the  age 
of  seventy-five  years.  His  life  history  was 
thus  closely  identified  with  the  history  of 
St.  Joseph  county,  which  was  his  home  for 
many  years,  and  throughout  aU  that  time  he 
was  closely  allied  with  its  interests  and  up- 
building. Mrs.  Geltz  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Catherine  Kenk  and  was  a  native  of 
Germany. 

William  Geltz,  a  son  of  this  worthy  pio- 
neer couple,  after  completing  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  South  Bend,  worked  as  a 
salesman  in  a  clothing  store  for  fourteen 
years,  on  the  expiration  of  which  period  he 
embarked  in  the  real  estate  business. 
Through  his  diligence,  perseverance  and 
business  ability  he  made  a  success  of  his 
venture,  and  he  now  occupies  an  enviable 
position  in  the  industrial  circles  of  South 
Bend.  An  ardent  advocate  of  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Republican  party,  he  does  all  in 
his  power  to  promote  its  growth  and  insure 
its  success,  and  in  1900  he  was  its  choice  for 
the  position  of  assessor  of  St.  Joseph  county. 

In  1888  Mr.  Geltz  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Frances  Keller,  a  daughter  of  James 
Keller,  of  Mishawaka,  Indiana,  and  they  have 
three  children:  Genevieve,  born  January  3, 
1889;    George,  bom   October  2,   1892;    and 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


848 


mSTOKT   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Dorothy,  bom  October  21,  1903.  Mr.  Geltz 
holds  membership  relations  with  the  Masonic 
order,  Lodge  No.  45,  with  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  with  other 
orders.  The  family  are  Presbyterians  in 
their  religious  aflSliations. 

John  T.  Niezgodzki.  Opportunity  for 
advancement  is  never  denied  the  business 
man.  There  is  always  room  at  the  front, 
and  it  is  toward  that  place  that  Mr.  Niez- 
godzki has  been  steadily  advancing  until  he 
now  occupies  a  leading  position.  He  was 
born  in  Poland,  Germany,  August  23,  1872, 
and  in  September,  1873,  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  America,  the  family  coming  direct 
to  South  Bend,  Indiana,  where  the  son  John 
T.  was  reared  and  received  an  excellent  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools.  When  thirteen 
years  of  age  he  began  learning  the  cigar 
business,  and  in  January,  1898,  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  that  commodity  with  two 
employes,  but  step  by  step  he  has  advanced 
in  the  business  world  until  he  is  now  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  large  manufactory,  where  em- 
ployment is  furnished  to  twenty-two  men. 
He  makes  a  specialty  of  a  ten  cent  cigar 
callec;  the  **J.  N.,''  also  **The  Tramp,''  a 
five  cent  cigar.  He  is  a  thoroughly  American 
citizen,  and  making  the  most  of  his  own 
opportunities  has  steadily  worked  his  way 
upward  to  success  through  wisely  directed 
efforts.  His  political  support  is  given  to  the 
Democratic  party,  in  which  he  is  an  active 
and  efficient  worker,  and  for  a  period  of 
eight  years  has  served  as  commissioner  of 
public  safety,  being  the  present  incumbent. 

In  1896  Mr.  Niezgodzki  was  married  to 
Tillie  Buczkowski,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren, Stanislow  A.,  Edward  L.,  Onupry  K. 
and  John  T.,  Jr.  In  his  social  relations  he 
is  a  member  of  St.  Casme  Society,  the  Polish 
Turners  M.  R.,  the  Polish  Turners  Z.  B.  No. 
1,  the  Polish  National  Alliance  U.  S.  N.  A., 
the  Polish  Protective  Association  of  Chicago, 
the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the  Eagles,  the  St. 
Vincent  de  Paul  Society,  the  Polish  Catholic 
Federal  Society  and  is  a  retired  member  of 
the  Cigar  Makers'  Union.  He  is  also  a  stock- 
holder in  several  land  companies  and  in  many 
other  ways  is  interested  in  the  affairs  of 
South  Bend  and  St.  Joseph  county. 

Paul  Kochanowski..  One  who  has  made 
for  himself  a  place  in  connection  with  the 
activities  of  life  and  who  has  gained  recogni- 
tion for  true  worth,  is  Paul  Kochanowski,  a 
prominent  grocery  merchant  of  South  Bend. 


He  was  bom  in  Asha,  Poland,  March  15, 
1853,  and  was  reared  and  educated  in  his 
native  country.  But  in  1879  he  left  the 
home  and  scenes  of  his  childhood  to  come  to 
America,  making  his  way  direct  to  South 
Bend,  where  he  secured  employment  in  the 
factory  of  the  Studebaker  Brothers,  but  a 
short  time  afterward  transferred  his  opera- 
tions to  the  Oliver  Chilled  Plow  Works,  where 
he  continued  for  four  years.  Returning 
thence  to  his  former  employers,  the  Stude- 
bakers,  he  was  for  eight  years  employed  in 
their  paint  department.  During  all  these 
years  he  had  worked  diligently  and  earnestly 
and  had  saved  his  earnings  so  that  in  1891 
he  was  able  to  engage  in  business  for  him- 
self, at  that  time  embarking  in  the  grocery 
trade,  first  on  the  comer  of  Chapin  and 
Monroe  streets,  but  in  1895  erected  his  two- 
story  brick  building  at  522  South  Chapin 
street,  to  which  in  1905  he  added  a  store 
adjoining  on  the  south,  and  he  now  occupies 
both  rooms.  He  also  has  other  property  in 
the  city,  including  his  pleasant  and  com- 
fortable home,  and  is  one  of  the  stockholders 
in  the  Cascasco  Building  &  Loan  Association. 

Before  leaving  his  native  country  Mr. 
Kochanowski  married  Salomea  Nowrocka, 
and  they  have  two  sons,  Stanley  and  Joseph. 
The  Democratic  party  receives  Mr.  Koch- 
anowski's  active  support  and  co-operation, 
and  he  is  also  a  member  of  three  church  so- 
cieties and  the  Modem  Woodmen  of  America. 
In  this  free  land  of  America  he  has  risen 
by  his  own  efforts  to  a  place  of  prominence 
in  *the  business  circles  of  South  Bend,  and 
his  creditable  work  thus  far  in  life  has  won 
him  the  respect  and  commendation  of  his 
fellow  citizens. 

OsBORN  RuPEL.  It  was  during  the  pioneer 
epoch  in  the  history  of  St.  Joseph  ooimty 
that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Rupel,  the  parents 
of  Osbom,  made  their  way  hither,  and  from 
that  early  day  to  the  present  the  name  has 
been  identified  with  its  history.  The  father 
was  born  in  Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1797,  and  in  that  state  was  reared  and 
married,  Miss  Mary  Peck,  also  a  native  of 
the  commonwealth,  becoming  his  wife.  They 
subsequently  removed  to  Stark  county.  Ohio, 
where  the  husband  continued  his  agricultural 
labors  until  1831.  In  that  year,  with  ox 
teams  and  wagons,  the  family  journeyed  to 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  erecting  a  little 
log  cabin  in  Greene  township,  and  during  the 
first  day  of  their  arrival,  early  in  April,  the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


8if) 


snow  fell  to  a  depth  of  two  feet.  As  there 
was  no  grass  or  hay  to  be  had  for  the  cattle, 
Mr.  Bupel  was  obliged  to  cut  down  green 
trees  and  let  them  **brouse'^  the  tops  for 
their  food.  Such  was  the  beginning  of  their 
subsequent  successful  life  in  St.  Joseph 
county.  At  once  he  entered  land  from  the 
grovemment  in  Greene  township,  having  been 
obliged  to  journey  on  horseback  to  Ft.  Wayne 
to  secure  the  signing  of  the  deed  by  Jackson 
and  Van  Buren.  His  first  entry  consisted 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  but  as  the 
years  advanced  he  succeeded  in  adding  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  thereto,  and  in 
time  all  was  cleared  and  the  fields  placed 
under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation.  The 
wife  and  mother  was  permitted  to  enjoy  her 
new  home  but  a  short  time,  for  death  soon 
claimed  her,  and  Mr.  Rupel  was  afterward 
married  to  Mrs.  Susannah  Chord,  nee  Bow- 
man, who  was  bom  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  in  1807, 
and  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  that  state.  A 
more  complete  account  of  her  life  will  be 
found  in  the  history  of  Lucretia  Bowman 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  By  her  former  mar- 
riage to  Jacob  Chord  she  became  the  mother 
of  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, while  by  her  second  union  to  Mr.  Rupel 
she  had  three  children,  all  sons,  namely :  Tyra 

B.  and  Tilman  H.,  twins,  and  Osborn,  but 
only  the  last  named  is  living.  By  his  for- 
mer marriage  Mr.  Rupel  had  four  children, 
two  sons  and  two  daughters.  He  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  his  political  affiliations  and  he  was 
well  and  favorably  known  throughout  the 
county,  where  his  long  and  useful  life  was 
ended  ajt  the  age  of  ninety  years,  while  his 
wife  had  reached  the  age  of  ninety-one  years 
ere  she  joined  him  in  the  home  beyond. 

Osborn  Rupel,  a  son  of  this  honored  old  St. 
Joseph  pioneer,  was  born  within  its  confines 
in  Greene  township,  July  17,  1844,  and  re- 
ceived an  excellent  edncational  training  in 
the  university  of  Notre  Dame.  On  the  14th 
of  December,  1869,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Josephine  A.  CoquiUard,  who  was  born 
in  CJerman  towndiip,  St.  Joseph  county,  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1849,  and  a  more  extended  account 
of  her  family  history  will  be  found  in  the 
biography  of  Alexis  CoquiUard  in  this  work. 
One  son  has  been  bom  of  this  union,  Alexis 

C,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Greene  township 
on  the  25th  of  January,  1877.  _ 

Mr.  Rupel  continued  his  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  1890,  at  which  time  he  was  ap- 
pointed trustee  of  the  CoquiUard  estate,  con- 


tinuing to  successfully  adjust  its  affairs  for 
two  years,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time 
returned  to  his  home  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres.  But  in  December,  1905,  he  again  left 
the  homestead  and  is  now  connected  with 
the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan  Southern  Rail- 
road Company.  In  politics  he  takes  no  active 
part,  and  in  religion  he  conforms  to  no  rit- 
uals, but  believes  in  only  one,  God's  written 
word.  Loyalty  to  his  duties  of  citizenship 
and  straightforward  business  dealings  have 
won  him  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his 
fellow  citizens. 

Arthur  C.  Niblack,  superintendent  of 
the  veneer  department  for  the  Singer  Manu- 
facturing Company,  with  residence  at  628 
Portage  avenue,  South  Bend,  was  born  in 
Tecumseh,  Michigan,  May  3,  1872,  a  son  of 
Lewis  Cass  Niblack.  He  was  a  native  son 
of  the  Empire  state,  but  removed  to  Michi- 
gan in  an  early  day,  and  during  the  long 
period  of  twenty  years  was  with  the  Grand 
Rapids  Veneer  Works.  He  was  married  to 
one  of  Grand  Rapids'  native  daughters, 
Catherine  De  Blond,  who  is  also  living,  and 
they  have  two  children,  the  daughter  being 
Lottie  May,  the  wife  of  Bert  Hazlewood,  of 
Grand  Rapids. 

Arthur  C.  Niblack,  the  elder  of  the  chil- 
dren and  the  only  son,  grew  to  years  of 
maturity  in  his  native  commonwealth  of 
Michigan,  where  he  was  a  student  in  the 
schools  lof  Marshall  and  Owosso,  and  for 
three  years  also  attended  a  business  college 
in  Grand  Rapids.  With  this  excellent  edu- 
cational training,  he  was  then  well  fitted  to 
engage  in  life's  active  duties,  his  first  em- 
ployment being  with  the  veneer  works  of 
Grand  Rapids,  with  which  he  was  associated 
when  but  a  mere  boy.  He  was  later  sent  by 
the  Frost  Veneer  Setting  Company  to  their 
cutting  mills  at  Antigo,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
remained  for  five  years,  when  he  returned 
to  Grand  Rapids  and  for  nine  years  was  con- 
nected with  the  veneer  works  there.  It  was 
in  1904  that  he  came  to  South  Bend,  as  su- 
perintendent of  the  veneer  department  for 
the  Singer  Manufacturing  Company,  the 
duties  of  which  important  position  he  has 
ever  since  continued  to  discharge  with  ability 
and  true  worth. 

In  1905  Mr.  Niblack  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Myrtle,  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  George 
Tilkie,  of  Antigo.  Wisconsin.  Mrs.  Niblack 
is  a  worthy  member  of  the  Evangelical  Lu- 
theran church,  taking  an  active  part  in  the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


850 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


work  of  the  denomination.  He  is  one  of  the 
rising  yoimg  men  of  South  Bend,  and  his 
steriing  characteristics  have  won  him  the 
praise  and  regard  of  all  with  whom  he  has 
had  dealings. 

Samuel  C.  Stull.  One  of  the  earliest 
pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county  was  Samuel 
C.  Stull,  who  was  actively  associated  with 
the  development  of  this  region  during  nearly 
his  entire  life,  and  no  one  was  more  thor- 
oughly interested  in  everything  which  per- 
tained to  the  progress  of  the  community  in 
which  he  dwelt.  When  only  two  years  of  age 
he  was  brought  by  his  parents,  Henry  and 
Rebecca  Stull,  to  St.  Joseph  county,  the  fam- 
ily home  being  established  in  what  is  now 
South  Bend,  where  their  son  Samuel  was 
reared  and  educated.  In  1864,  the  year  of 
his  marriage,  he  located  on  the  place  where 
his  widow  now  resides,  and  was  there  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  until  the  town 
gradually  grew  up  about  him.  His  influence 
for  good  was  at  all  times  widely  felt,  and 
the  history  of  South  Bend  would  be  incom- 
plete without  the  record  of  his  life. 

On  the  6th  of  November,  1864,  Mr.  Stull 
married  Margaret  M.  Adams,  who  was  bom 
in  Hudson,  New  York,  on  the  1st  of  July, 
1839,  a  daughter  of  John  E.  and  Catherine 
(Deming)  Adams,  both  natives  of  the  Empire 
state.  In  1842  they  journeyed  west  and  took 
up  their  abode  near  Niles  in  Berrien  county, 
Michigan,  where  for  a  time  they  were  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits,  subsequently 
removing  to  Niles,  and  the  father  embarked 
in  the  grocery  business.  He  lived  to  the 
good  old  age  of  seventy-seven  years,  but  his 
wife  passed  away  at  the  early  age  of  thirty- 
five.  Their  daughter  Margaret  was  reared 
and  received  her  education  in  Niles,  there 
giving  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Samuel  C. 
Stull,  with  whom  she  traveled  the  journey  of 
life  for  many  years.  Since  the  death  of  her 
husband  she  has  managed  her  property,  and 
she  is  now  the  owner  of  nine  houses  which 
she  rents,  having  also  sold  a  number  which 
she  built.  She  has  one  son,  who  is  now  in 
Phoenix,  Arizona.  In  politics  Mr.  Stull  was 
a  stanch  Democrat,  and  always  took  an  active 
part  in  the  advocacy  and  adoption  of  all 
measures  tending  to  prove  of  public  benefit. 
He  passed  away  August  5,  1893,  honored  and 
respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Millard  F.  ElErr.  During  the  long  period 
of  thirty-nine  years  Millard  F.  Kerr  has 
been  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph  county,  a  stal- 


wart champion  of  its  progress  and  develop- 
ment, and  he  is  now  serving  as  the  deputy 
sheriff  of  the  county,  his  residence  being  at 
302  East  Battell  street,  Mishawaka.  He  was 
bom  in  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  September  2, 
1856,  while  his  father,  James  W.  Kerr,  was 
a  native  of  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  a  carpenter  by  occupation.  He  subse- 
quently took  up  his  abode  in  Columbus,  In- 
diana, thence  removing  to  Bunker  Hill, 
Miami  county,  this  state,  and  in  September, 
1867,  came  to  Mishawaka,  St.  Joseph  county, 
where  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent. 
Mrs.  Kerr  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarena 
A.  Harman,  and  was  also  a  native  of  Seneca 
county,  Ohio.  In  their  family  were  six  chil- 
dren, five  daughters  and  one  son,  but  one  of 
the  daughters  is  now  deceased. 

Millard  F.  Kerr,  the  third  child  in  order 
of  birth  and  the  only  son  in  the  family,  was 
eleven  years  of  age  when  the  family  home 
was  established  in  Mishawaka,  receiving  his 
education  in  its  common  schools,  and  after 
the  completion  of  his  school  training  took 
up  the  occupation  of  painting,  during  the 
long  period  of  twenty-two  years  remaining 
in  the  employ  of  the  Perkins  Windmill  & 
Axe  Company,  of  Mishawaka,  in  their  ship- 
ping department,  while  for  the  following  two 
years  he  was  associated  with  the  Dodge  Man- 
ufacturing Company  as  order  clerk.  On  the 
expiration  of  that  period,  on  the  1st  of  Jan- 
uary, 1905,  Mr.  Kerr  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  deputy  sheriff  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
in  which  he  is  the  present  incumbent,  having 
been  reappointed  to  the  position  on  the  1st 
of  January,  1907.  Brave  and  fearless  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duties,  he  has  won  the 
commendation  of  all  concerned,  and  is  one 
of  the  most  popular  and  efficient  officers  in 
the  county. 

In  May,  1881,  Mr.  Kerr  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Dora  Ford,  who  became  the 
mother  of  one  daughter,  Edith  L.,  and  is 
now  deceased.  On  the  6th  of  February,  1895, 
he  married  Nannie  E.  Savidge,  a  native 
daughter  of  St.  Joseph  county  and  a  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  its  old  and  prominent 
pioneer  families.  Since  attaining  to  years 
of  maturity  Mr.  Kerr  has  been  a  stalwart 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  an  active 
and  efficient  worker  in  its  ranks,  and  pre- 
vious to  entering  upon  the  duties  of  his  pres- 
ent position  he  served  as  the  marshal  of 
Mishawaka  and  for  three  years  represented 
the  Second  ward  in  the  city  council.    In  his 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


/'  ; 


'"V 


■1  A 


Digitized  by 


Google 


TTT-T^T7Y    or  ?T     T09Er^    rOT'XTT 


•  t'    M."    •   f    I'T    .'.  till  I..',    },.-     ft     ■:.'['       . 

In  .  ^i    ill    '^',t)"<-,     "  ..i  '•    ,    <M  ■•'.    >"..     •  ,- 

«;»r  J:''y  T  »,  '-    tip  \'v  -J  .   l^  in   (".,!.. 
^i;.  IK..     1.'-   n.'--     r>'PV)v,r.Y     ^o     I;     /,    • 
*i.;if-  i    .'Ml!!,!  \      *h    .   St;  i'*.    \iui   '1    S    ■  • 
!-•  :.   fv;  ^.0  i*i  :N^  .:.;:a-k.:.   St.  .1  .  »     i.   . 

.Mil  M'v    <  ViiM      ^n  th-1  •  t.  :'>'\^    -  t'"'  -^  ■< 

•  'i'  li'i'':!  ai-il  l!-'^  (<!;]\   s'.n  in  th^'  ''•:•.    .. . 
n-'M'n  /    -'-s  of  uJ-t'   \  *»',-ij   ;b',  !';.*•   ._ 


■      ^  •'  •  ...Ml    ^%;  U 
■    :    i'. /.»)}:  Ji'  nriy 


".  ii  •.)'!.  :  V   :■!<■  rai'i- 

•      -t     in      \\  *!  .t     is     I.i/V>' 

.-1     N(  ::     S'Mia''4    vv;iv 
•  .     -n   TH".  p':i'-(*    viler/. 


\:*  .y    K'it,    <i'Jtl       •'u;ii''"i^j-'  11     11    ^^   --"ir'Hi'^T,    -  -'I'-'ls, 


■  d    }iC    ^?  f'\m\- 


sf  ■;-•. 
Up    t}-< 

C"U'  i 


rp    tho   c»*N-'ir'''^-a!    I't    p:."  .lint:,    iV  :-.    .' 

!,:j   ,■  »    ..  »■         ■;  -  .  J     Mr,   .'^trtll  I'^t^""    im'::  N)ci    of    tv.  I'-i^c-t -vo   y**.j7\s    ^' .\     ' 

,   ,... :    '        \.',n      n  •  .)  V.  .s  b-r^^  • '''    ''''    MHp.iV    ot      r-    1\  rK.n<    \\}: 

.,.,.    ^   ,.„     \  :.     .     -    ,    T--       M    .>:'    ef.Ky,  ..'v\*>    i'^:^.\^ri\\   ui    .\i  ■.sh.'r.*  ..!:m.    il-    tl:-  '       - 

iiiT-    "^-'..f*.-.  '•*:'.  >».*'  *  'U^  i    ■■T.'.rc  y-'.- ''s  i'<^  wa^  a-^< -/".%   -I  w/.ti  ih'^  I'  ■.  '    - 

Ir-   1^1_  ih'.     '  !.  ■      ■      .>'^'  a\rl  U'»  ]„  k^'m' ^MMi":  t '-^-n^pa"/  a«  .n--'l«  r  (.'"'("•K      '     . 

'■:    ai^^'l."  T^'-;r    n".   <  ■\   •'   •*  ; -n  l-  *:    !v,  »  Ap  rr  ' ,   "    i/"  ^ha^  T"-'"'^''-^.  «^n  thi    ]*^i      !    - 

M'..    wh. -.'    r  I-   a    '  If!*     M-v     ^.t)t'    rn-  luM-y.    If^K*,    ^Ir.   Kt  r-*    r.^'fiw'd   thr-   .:,  . 

'n    ;:..  ^u  ;/-.  !/;    ;./"-.    -    ^-'.-'nr,   .il'v  i-- '  *  <*^  .!•  i>nt  x   mi- nf:  -if  St.  J.xft.:^ 

:  ^   *,,    ^    !.  ,_   •);  ,|   t'^'      .;      I-  ,^!:.!  ,"  -  .'  i^5  v% ''it  U  ii*-  i^  *!  -^  \>v*-^v\i   \:'.;n:n  ^■'''■*     ' 

■    .J '\      )'iv  !■.  .<.      lir    i.vo'l    l.»     'i.^  J'^''-'   i.app'.iM.  .1   i'     ;1"   iK.-.:t:„n   f.>.    : 

:■■  '    • '.•  r)(  s.'\,.ii.y-> -.    .)  y  i:-    but   *   ^  '■^'    .^":ir.a\v,    l'*')7.      K'Mve    t'i.I    fVa -i     - 

._    1    ..  ,  .    ;;t   iMt'  ...        'a::*,'  ot*  [  lU' >  -  t]i.-   • ! :- /i.a  "</'?  ,J'  b'^   d.-r.^^,  he   lia^    u-    1 

*    ...u"r;t'<'    ^l^."_..^    t    V  ;'.'^,    r  ►'.♦:"  i  **   "  i"^*-:'.' •%  -n    .>F    i-li    cov.  •  np  (i      --.''      * 

'.-.;    h  *     '.i'K'a;-  1.    -n    \^- s,    f -•".,'  *''"  '•'"   fjif^-    1^''     !   "  -u^*~*  -S>a '•  rj*     -"     •    * 

.     f    '    .,!-i    111    ii.'r:-..'      t')    ^.'ivja'i    r.  ^b'    ".';r.;v. 
-  .■  I '-.  .  .»  .     ."      ■    v,M.   'i  P,.-   miKr--    of  •■■    .^\./.     l--'l.    \rr.    Tv^rr    v  -^    ■■'''  ■   i 

'.    .   .'     .   .       •  •(■   b-^i    Tt"t'p.M*s.  ar>u  ^^  •-     t*    .n     r,n,^    ('-i.- .'bf  ^•.    ^<-  '"'^^     '-^    ^' 

•    .»  '   :.,-.   <  ,  j'  jiint*    *i'ii'-»^^'    N'  '    '  h  *  '*  '•  ^'' ••'"^''  i-     ^-^^^  ^^i'"  *'^-i  <■'*■'  1'    '  '  ■ 

•^    h  v  ..    ;  :^  ^   «^i]   i\   n  in. ■•('••   V  ;.]■  b  ^i«"    •*' '   "  *'♦•     N'a:.nie     E.     Sa^"'  «  ,;    "• 

,t  • '•   '  .         .1      ^f»n.   ^' nr*   i^  iif^v^   ;i:  'biK-:!''!*  -'f   ^i.   .bi^.»  ;  a   <-oi\.'v   ,•:  -]     .     ■ 

.■      V  I:.   ;../  ;.  s  Mr.  S;n'!   ^^■*':  N'j-t.:'M-    .^*'    v.t*    .>t    :.,>:    i^bi     i-    '    p-- 

•'.   M   .•   ,    r        ;>•.].'  .-a'vS  t  w  '  JIM  a- r.v  .  T'i.<n' .  1     r..'h'\>^^.       Sij  ?■►»    ?'.*..      ,'  „■     t- 

•'   -    ..       .  „..  '    ,,,    [    ;.  ),ip^' >i:    vf    a-l  f^f*    na*  i!-ity   ^l       K'Tr  h  *v    "^  .  .ri    .-,    -• 

■:  r  .     .  .  '  .  t    p  .1,;.-   .)'  11".':  '^'irj'  *'""^'  "t*  ^'i'*  nf'f.iiblb  '  -1  '•■   ••"...  .,  • 

'..,..,•..•     ti  ^  '.-'Is  to  phK-' 'i^  u  ap'-n  ^'U'  1^:  '--v  ..f  ► 

.    ■/.   r  '      '  •; uT-^'icd  '  ■''     :^-  f  '^n     *^^    s*^-v.-l    a^    lb      -  — 


li>v-     I 


>,     .:     .   ,  1.   .    .11, 


■.t'--    ai.'l    f»r   tbr—   y  . 


Digitized  by 


Google 


:  t>:  JtZtK 


Digitized  by  VjODQIC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


851 


fraternal  relations  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Misha- 
waka,  No.  286,  also  the  Knights  of  the  Mac- 
cabees, Mishawafca  Tent  No.  12.  He  is  ac- 
corded a  prominent  position  among  the  resi- 
dents of  the  eonununity,  and  his  public  career 
is  an  honor  to  the  district  which  has  honored 
him. 

John  H.  Holloway.  One  of  the,  leading 
citizens  and  influential  business  men  of 
South  Bend  is  John  H.  Holloway,  who  is  now 
the  proprietor  of  a  well  known  and  popular 
livery,  board  and  sale  stable  at  226  South 
Michigan  street.  His  father,  Thomas  L.  Hol- 
loway, was  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of 
St.  Joseph  county  for  many  years,  but  was 
bom  and  reared  in  Ohio.  In  his  early  man- 
hood he  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  and  was 
here  married  to  Drucilla  McCullough,  the 
young  couple  then  returning  to  Ohio  and  es- 
tablished their  home  twelve  miles  from 
Springfield  in  Clark  county.  After  a  resi- 
dence there  of  four  years  they  again  came 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  this  being  in  1846,  and 
they  took  up  their  abode  on  a  farm  in  Greene 
township,  where  Mr.  Holloway  passed  away 
in  death  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  His 
wife  had  died  in  1857,  and  he  afterward 
married  Mrs.  Ann  Bush,  the  widow  of  Cyrus 
Rush,  and  they  had  two  daughters.  By  his 
first  marriage  Mr.  Holloway  became  the  fa- 
ther of  four  children,  two  sons  and  two 
daughters,  of  whom  John  H.,  the  subject  of 
this  review,  was  the  second  child  and  second 
son  in  order  of  birth. 

John  H.  Holloway  was  bom  near  Spring- 
field, Clark  county,  Ohio,  March  29,  1845, 
and  was  therefore  but  a  little  lad  of  two 
years  at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  fam- 
ily to  St.  Joseph  county.  From  that  time 
until  his  twenty-first  year  he  remained  with 
his  parents  on  a  farm  in  Greene  township, 
going  thence  to  Terre  Coupee,  Olive  town- 
ship, where  he  continued  his  agricultural 
labors  for  six  years.  He  then  returned  to 
South  Bend  and  for  a  similar  period  was  the 
proprietor  of  a  retail  meat  market,  and  on 
the  expiration  of  that  time  went  to  Buchanan, 
Berrien  county,  Michigan,  and  became  asso- 
ciated with  the  stock  business,  shipping  to 
the  Chicago  and  Buffalo  markets.  He  was 
engaged  with  that  important  industry  for 
twelve  years,  and,  severing  his  connection 
therewith,  returned  once  more  to  South  Bend, 
making  this  city  his  headquarters  during  his 
twenty  years'  experience  as  a  traveling  sales- 


man in  the  interests  of  the  Economist  Plow 
Company,  the  Oliver  Chilled  Plow  Company 
and  the  Moline  Plow  Company,  of  Moline, 
Illinois,  closing  his  career  as  a  traveling  man 
by  a  two  years'  connection  with  the  Stude- 
baker  Brothers.  Since  1903  Mr.  Holloway  has 
been  the  proprietor  of  a  livery  business,  at 
that  time  purchasing  the  stable  of  A.  Cover, 
and  this  occupation  has  since  claimed  his 
time  and  attention. 

In  1871  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Holloway  and  Mary  E.  Wade,  and  two  chil- 
dren, a  son  and  a  daughter,  have  blessed  their 
union,  Charles  W.  and  Grace  M.  The  daugh- 
ter is  now  the  wife  of  Robert  Butterworth, 
a  prominent  merchant  of  Laporte.  The  son 
is  associated  with  the  Armour  Packing  Com- 
pany, of  Chicago.  He  married  Grace  M. 
Carpenter  and  has  two  children,  Helene  and 
Charles  C.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holloway 
are  highly  esteemed  in  the  community  in 
which  they  have  so  long  made  their  home,  and 
their  sterling  worth  have  won  for  them  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  all  who  have  the 
pleasure  of  their  acquaintance. 

James  M.  Andrews.  For  about  thirty-two 
years  James  M.  Andrews  was  a  faithful  em- 
ploye of  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad  Company, 
but  during  the  past  few  years  he  has  lived 
retired  at  his  pleasant  home,  528  South  Main 
street.  South  Bend.  His  record  in  the  serv- 
ice of  this  company  is  one  of  which  he  has 
just  reason  to  be  proud,  for  he  was  prompt, 
vigilant  and  efficient,  one  who  could  be 
trusted  and  who  was  relied  upon  by  his 
superiors.  He  is  also  one  of  the  native  sons 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  bom  in  Oliver  town- 
ship April  29,  1840.  His  father,  Hiram  H. 
Andrews,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but 
became  one  of  the  early  pioneers  in  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  Indiana,  taking  up  his  abode 
within  its  borders  as  early  as  1832,  and  for 
a  time  thereafter  his  home  was  near  New 
Carlisle.  He  afterward  removed  to  Laporte 
county,  Indiana,  where  he  purchased  a  farm, 
and  in  1863  became  a  resident  of  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  where  the  remainder  of  his  life  was 
spent.  Mrs.  Andrews  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Jeannette  Haskells,  and  from  this  family 
Haskell  Station  in  Laporte  county  received 
its  name.  Her  death  occurred  when  her  son 
James  was  but  a  little  lad,  and  in  the  family 
were  six  children,  two  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, all  of  whom  grew  to  years  of  maturity. 

James  M.  Andrews,  the  youngest  of  the 
children,  spent  the   early  years  of  his  life 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


852 


fflSTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


in  Laporte  county,  and  when  but  sixteen 
years  of  age  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Lake  Shore  Eailroad  Company,  spending  a 
short  time  in  their  shops  in  the  city  of 
Laporte.  In  the  same  year,  1855,  he  was 
made  a  fireman,  thus  continuing  for  about 
five  years,  when  he  rose  to  the  position  of 
engineer,  serving  as  both  freight  and  pas- 
senger engineer,  and  later  had  charge  of  the 
express  mail  train.  During  the  long  period 
of  thirty-two  years  he  continued  with  this 
company,  faithfully  and  efficiently  discharg- 
ing his  duties,  and  at  the  time  of  his  retire- 
ment he  was  their  oldest  employe  in  point 
of  years  of  service.  At  the  time  of  the  great 
wreck  between  Mishawaka  and  South  Bend 
he  was  serving  as  fireman  on  an  engine,  and 
nobly  assisted  in  recovering  the  dead  bodies 
from  the  debris,  recovering  and  placing 
forty-two  in  the  Mishawaka  freight  house. 
In  1862  Mr.  Andrews  went  to  northwestern 
Iowa  and  became  associated  with  the  Chicago 
&  Northwestern  Railroad  Company,  his  run 
being  between  Cedar  Rapids  and  Boone,  and 
he  also  assisted  in  the  construction  of  the 
railroad.  During  the  years  of  1864-5,  the 
last  years  of  the  Civil  war,  he  had  charge  of 
an  engine  on  the  Chattanooga  &  Nashville 
Railroad,  and  during  the  latter  part  of  his 
railroad  service  he  was  connected  with  the 
Indiana  Northern  Railroad,  having  served 
as  its  first  engineer. 

On  the  4th  of  September,  1861;  Mr.  An- 
drews was  united  in  marriage  to  Eliza  M. 
Pease,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  was  but 
eight  years  of  age  when  the  family  removed 
to  Laporte,  Indiana,  the  entire  journey  hav- 
ing been  made  in  a  wagon.  Three  children 
have  been  bom  of  this  union,  namely:  Frank 
E.,  a  mining  engineer  in  Lowell,  Arizona; 
Carrie  E.,  the  \\idow  of  Dr.  E.  C.  Meyer, 
and  who  resides  with  her  father;  and 
Charles,  a  resident  of  South  Pasadena,  Cali- 
fornia. In  1903  Mr.  Andrews,  the  father, 
made  a  trip  to  California,  where  he  visited 
his  son  and  saw  the  beautiful  scenery  of 
the  Golden  state.  For  twenty-five  years  he 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Brotherhood  of  En- 
gineers, and  is  also  an  exemplary  Mason, 
affiliating  with  South  Bend  lodge  No.  294. 
His  religious  connection  is  with  the  Baptist 
church,  of  which  he  has  long  been  a  faithful 
member,  and  he  is  a  stanch  supporter  of 
Republican  principles. 

Albert  Bernhard,  representing  the  Thir^ 
ward  in  the  city  council  of  South  Bend,  has 


been  an  honored  resident  of  this  cit>'  for 
forty-five  years,  actively  interested  in  all 
measures  for  the  good  of  the  people.  He 
was  born  in  Elkhart  county,  .Indiana,  June 
28,  1859,  a  son  of  Phillip  and  Christena 
(Linderman)  Bernhard,  the  former  a  native 
of  Germany  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  The 
father  came  from  his  native  land  to  America 
in  1841,  and  from  New  York  made  his  way 
to  Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  where  his  death 
occurred  in  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-nine  years,  but  is  still  sur- 
vived by  his  widow,  who  is  of  French  de- 
scent and  is  a  resident  of  Liberty  township, 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana.  In  their  family 
were  six  children,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters. 

Albert  Bernhard,  the  second  child  and  eld- 
est son,  was  about  three  years  of  age  when 
the  family  home  was  located  in  Greene  town- 
ship, and  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city 
he  received  the  educational  training  which 
fitted  him  for  life's  active  duties.  After 
completing  his  education  he  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  four  miles  southwest  of 
South  Bend,  in  Greene  township,  but  in  1886 
he  left  the  farm  and  came  to  South  Bend, 
where  he  has  ever  since  served  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  clerk  for  John  C.  Paxson.  In 
his  political  associations  Mr.  Bernhard  is  a 
Democrat,  and  has  ever  been  most  earnest 
in  his  advocacy  of  its  principles.  During 
the  long  period  of  ten  years  he  served  as 
chairman  of  the  Sixth  precinct  in  the  Third 
ward,  while  in  1903  he  was  made  an  alder- 
man of  the  same  ward  and  two  years  later 
was  re-elected  for  that  position. 

Mr.  Bernhard  married  Katie  Stickler,  the 
daughter  of  Martin  Stickler,  and  they  have 
two  daughters,  Clara  and  Cleora.  The  pleas- 
ant and  attractive  home  is  at  423  South  La- 
fayette street,  and  the  family  enjoy  the  warm 
regard  of  a  large  circle  of  friends  and 
acquaintances. 

Ulysses  G.  Manning.  The  true  measure 
of  individual  success  is  determined  by  what 
one  has  accomplished,  and  although  many 
a  one  falls  exhau^ed  in  the  conflict  of  en- 
deavor, a  few,  by  their  inherent  force  of 
character  and  strong  mentality,  rise  para- 
mount to  environments.  Thus  it  has  been 
with  Ulysses  G.  Manning,  the  well  known 
advertising  specialist  of  South  Bend.  His 
birth  occurred  in  New  Paris,  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  August  9,  1864,  a  son  of  Samuel  L. 
and  Margaret   (Brandon)   Manning,  both  of 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


6t}6 


English  descent  and  both  natives  of  Ohio, 
the  father  bom  in  Shelby  county.  In  their 
family  were  two  sons,  one  of  whom,  John  A., 
is  a  merchant  of  Anna,  Ohio. 

Ulysses  6.  Manning,  the  younger  son,  was 
a  little  lad  of  nine  years  when  he  became 
identified  with  the  interests  of  South  Bend, 
coming  hither  with  an  uncle,  J.  L.  Manning, 
and  here  he  completed  his  educational  train- 
ing in  the  city's  public  schools.  At  the  early 
age  of  fifteen  years  he  began  the  battle  of 
life  for  himself,  entering  upon  his  business 
career  as  a  drug  clerk,  and  continuing  in 
that  capacity  for  ten  years.  At  the  close 
of  that  period  he  turned  his  attention  to 
manufacturing  initerests  as  a  maker  of  medi- 
cal and  toilet  specialties,  but  gradually  he 
merged  his  interests  into  the  advertising 
business,  and  during  the  subsequent  ten  years 
he  has  been  forging  his  way  to  the  front  in 
life's  activities.  He  makes  a  specialty  of 
drug  advertising,  and  his  business  now  ex- 
tends beyond  the  confines  of  the  United 
States  into  all  the  English-speaking  foreign 
countries.  For  seven  years  Mr.  Manning 
also  served  as  editor  of  the  advertising  de- 
partment of  the  American  Druggist  of  New 
York  city,  which  gave  him  prestige  in  his 
business  and  placed  him  in  touch  with  the 
people  of  the  United  States  as  well  as  with 
all  foreign  countries. 

In  1892  Mr.  Manning  married  Mary  E. 
Latson,  a  daughter  of  Morton  Latson,  of  Ed- 
wardsburg,  Michigan,  and  their  only  child 
is  a  daughter,  Mary  Margaret.  Where  na- 
tional issues  are  involved  Mr.  Manning  up- 
holds the  principles  of  the  Republican  party, 
but  locally  is  independent  in  his  afSliations, 
and  he  is  a  worthy  and  prominent  member 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  South 
Bend. 

Benjamin  F.  Yerrick,  a  trustworthy  of- 
ficial of  South  Bend,  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil 
war  and  a  man  whose  sterling  integrity  en- 
titles him  to  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is 
held  by  all  who  know  him.  He  was  bom  in 
Springfield  township.  Summit  county,  Ohio, 
June  6,  1842,  to  which  place  his  father,  Sam- 
uel Yerrick,  had  been  taken  by  his  parents 
from  his  native  state  of  Pennsylvania  when 
only  eighteen  months  old.  He  was  reared 
to  years  of  maturity  in  Springfield  town- 
ship, and  his  entire  business  career  was  de- 
voted to  the  tilling  of  the  soil.  He  was 
married  in  Springfield,  Summit  county,  in 
1841,  and  thence  removed  to  Walkerton,  St. 


Joseph  county,  Indiana,  where  he  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty-four  years,  joining  his 
wife  in  the  home  beyond,  for  she  had  passed 
away  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  They 
became  the  parents  of  nine  children,  four 
sons  and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to 
years  of  maturity. 

Benjamin  F.  Yerrick,  their  eldest  child, 
was  early  inured  to  the  work  of  the  fields, 
and  he  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
in  his  native  county  of  Summit  imtil  his 
removal  to  Walkerton,  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, in  1877.  He  remained  a  resident  of 
that  city  for  about  twelve  years,  engaged 
in  the  implement  and  restaurant  business, 
coming  thence  to  South  Bend  in  1889  and 
engaging  in  business  as  a  second-hand  furni- 
ture dealer.  He  continued  in  that  occupation 
for  about  six  years,  and  then  after  a  lapse 
of  about  three  years  assumed  charge  of  the 
Rosehill  and  Bowman  cemeteries,  his  present 
position.  On  the  22d  of  August,  1862,  Mr. 
Yerrick  offered  his  services  to  his  country's 
cause  in  the  dark  days  of  the  Civil  war, 
becoming  a  member  of  Company  I,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Fifteenth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry, 
entering  the  ranks  as  a  private,  and  after 
serving  with  his  regiment  about  one  year 
was  placed  on  detached  duty  at  Murfrees- 
boro,  Tennessee,  there  remaining  until  the 
close  of  the  struggle.  He  returned  to  his 
home  on  the  18th  of  July,  1865,  after  three 
years  of  service  for  his  country's  cause.  Dur- 
ing a  part  of  this  time  he  had  charge  of  all 
the  employes  engaged  in  building  block 
houses,  having  about  one  hundred  men  under 
his  supervision. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Yerrick  was  celebrated 
on  the  17th  of  July,  1862,  when  Hannah  S. 
Babb  became  his  wife.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  David  and  Rebecca  (Keiser)  Babb,  of 
Pennsylvania  but  early  pioneers  to  Summit 
county,  Ohio,  where  their  daughter  Hannah 
was  bom  on  the  12th  of  November,  1841,  and 
was  the  fifth  in  a  family  of  nine  children, 
five  sons  and  four  daughters.  Unto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Yen'ick  have  been  born  three  children 
who  are  yet  living,  namely,  Edith,  the  wife 
of  I.  C.  HoflPman,  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana; 
Harry  L.,  an  undertaker  in  South  Bend ;  and 
Oliver  Wells,  a  member  of  the  Vernon  Cloth- 
ing Company  of  South  Bend.  There  are  also 
four  grandchildren,  Earl  Hoflfman  and  Helen, 
Harry  and  Ruth  E.  Yerrick.  Mr.  Yerrick 
j.s  a  member  of  Auten  Post,  No.  8,  of  South 
Bend,  in  which  he  is  serving  at  the  present 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


854 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


time  as  senior  vice  commander  and  has  taken 
a  very  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  order. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Grange  of  South 
Bend,  and  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  his  politi- 
cal affiliations.  He  has  always  advocated  the 
measures  wMch  have  advanced  the  welfare 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  all  who  know  him 
have  the  highest  admiration  for  his  good 
qualities  of  heart  and  mind. 

Hon.  Albert  Minnis  Burns.  The  name  of 
Albert  M.  Burns  stands  conspicuously  forth 
on  the  pages  of  Indiana's  political  history. 
He  was  an  active  factor  in  administering  the 
aflPairs  of  the  government,  and  in  his  death 
the  community  felt  that  an  irreparable  loss 
had  been  sustained  by  the  public.  His  birth 
occurred  in  Clarion  county,  Pennsylvania, 
November  24,  1847.  Thomas  Bums,  has 
father,  was  a  native  of  the  north  of  Ireland, 
,bom  on  the  5th  of  August,  1812,  but  when 
a  young  man  he  came  to  America,  taking 
up  his  abode  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  be- 
came a  prominent  contractor  and  builder,  de- 
voting his  entire  life  to  that  pursuit.  During 
his  residence  in  the  Keystone  state  he  was 
married  to  Catherine  Deary,  who  was  bom 
in  Erin,  Ireland,  March  31,  1823,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  four 
sons  and  four  daughters. 

Albert  M.  Bums,  the  fifth  child  and  second 
son  in  order  of  birth  in  the  family,  was  but 
six  years  of  age  when  he  removed  with  his 
parents  from  Pennsylvania  to  Platteville, 
Wisconsin,  where  he  was  reared  to  years  of 
maturity  and  where  he  offered  his  services  to 
his  country's  cause  during  her  Civil  war,  en- 
listing in  1861,  when  only  fourteen  years  of 
age,  as  a  drummer  boy  in  Company  I,  Tenth 
Wisconsin  Infantry.  After  two  years  of  ser- 
viee  therein  he  was  honorably  discharged,  and 
shortly  afterward  veteranized  in  Company  K, 
Forty-fourth  Wisconsin  Infantry,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  in  1865  with  the  rank 
of  captain.  During  his  military  career  he 
suffered  all  the  hardships  and  privations 
usually  meted  out  to  the  soldier,  having  been 
wounded  at  Chickamauga  and  lay  on  the 
battlefield  all  night.  He  participated  in  many 
of  the  principal  battles  of  the  war,  such  as 
Shiloh,  Stone  River,  Chattanooga,  and  was 
with  General  Sherman  throughout  the  entire 
Atlanta  campaign.  To  hira  belongs  the  honor 
of  having  been  the  youngest  soldier  from  Wis- 
consin, but  his  bravery  and  loyalty  were  equal 
to  one  twice  his  age,  and  he  was  a  valued 
soldier  in  his  country's  cause. 


•  After  the  close  of  the  conflict  Mr.  Bums 
returned  to  his  parents*  home,  and  in  1868 
went  to  Beaver  Dam,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
was  engaged  as  foreman  in  a  paint  shop.  In 
that  state,  on  the  30th  of  March,  1870,  he 
was  united  in  marrij^e  to  Betsy  Whitaker, 
a  native  of  Dodge  county,  Wisconsin,  where 
she  was  bom  on  the  24th  of  July,  1848,  the 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  Whitaker.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  England,  and  remained 
in  the  mother  country  until  his  twenty-first 
year,  coming  thence  to  America  and  taking 
up  his  abode  in  Massachusetts,  this  being  in 
an  early  day  in  its  history.  Mrs.  Bums  was 
reared  in  her  native  state  of  Wisconsin,  was 
there  married,  and  has  become  the  mother  of 
four  children,  one  son  and  three  daughters, 
namely:  Nellie,  the  wife  of  Frank  L.  Beck, 
of  Elkhart,  Indiana;  Mary  Janet,  Lovia  W. 
and  Greorge  L.  The  son  was  married  July 
5,  1906,  to  Harriett  L.  Weir,  of  Laporte,  this 
state. 

In  1881  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burns  came  to  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  establishing  their 
home  in  South  Bend,  where  the  husband  fol- 
lowed many  occupations  until  he  finally  be- 
came associated  with  the  Sandage  Steel  Kein 
Company,  gradually  working  his  way  upward 
with  that  corporation  until  he  became  it^ 
superintendent.  Throughout  the  period  of 
his  manhood  Mr.  Bums  had  taken  an  active 
interest  in  public  affairs,  working  in  the  in- 
terests of  the  Republican  party,  and  in  1894 
he  was  placed  in  nomination  for  the  office 
of  senator.  Although  defeated  at  that  conven- 
tion, in  1898,  he  successfully  made  the  race 
for  the  senatorsbip,  and  at  the  expiration  of 
his  four  years'  term  of  service  was  again 
placed  in  the  office,  entering  upon  his  second 
term  in  that  high  official  position  in  1902  and 
continuing  therein  until  his  busy  and  useful 
life  was  ended  in  death,  February  14,  1903, 
the  senate  adjourning  its  session  to  attend 
his  funeral  in  a  body.  He  was  at  all  times 
true  to  dttty  and  the  right,  commanding  the 
respect  of  his  fellow  men  by  his  sterling  worth, 
and  Indiana  was  proud  to  number  him  among 
her  honored  adopted  sons.  Socially  he  was 
a  valued  member  of  the  Maccabees,  the 
United  Workmen,  and  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic.  He  was  a  member  of  Grace 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  South  Bend, 
Indiana. 

Frank  Rogers.  In  perusing  the  life  his- 
tory of  Frank  Rogers  it  will  be  seen  that  he 
is  truly  a  self-made  man,  one  who  has  battled 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


/ 


a. 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


\    Alt»-    I 


/, 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


855 


earnestly  and  energetically,  and  by  indomit- 
able courage  and  integrity  has  achieved  both 
character  and  position.  He  was  bom  in 
Lapeer  county,  Michigian,  September  27, 1857. 
His  father,  Frank  Rogers,  was  a  native  of 
New  York  and  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  He 
was  a  lumberman  by  occupation,  and  his  death 
occurred  in  1861,  when  only  thirty-two  years 
of  age,  but  he  is  still  survived  by  his  wife, 
nee  Olive  Rogers,  who  was  also  bom  in  New 
York,  and  is  now  the  widow  Stevens,  residing 
near  Xiles,  Michigan.  In  their  family  were 
but  two  sons,  the  brother  of  our  subject  being 
Ward  Rogers,  of  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan. 

The  educational  training  of  Frank  Rogers 
was  received  at  Spring  Lake,  Ottawa  county, 
Michigan,  but  as  he  was  obliged  to  begin  the 
battle  of  life  for  himself  when  only  thirteen 
years  of  age  his  school  privileges  were 
naturally  limited.  At  that  early  age  he  be- 
gan working  at  any  honorable  occupation 
which  he  could  find  to  do,  while  from  1870  to 
1884  he  worked  in  the  lumber  woods.  Coming 
thence  to  South  Bend  he  followed  agricultural 
pursuits  for  two  years,  while  for  one  year  he 
was  employed  by  the  Hill  Brothers,  and  at 
the  end  of  that  time  engaged  in  the  sewing 
machine  business,  first  with  the  Wheeler  & 
Wilson  Company,  with  whom  he  remained  for 
six  years,  and  since  that  time,  covering  a 
period  of  seventeen  years,  his  agency  has  been 
with  the  Singer  Company.  In  1903  he  also 
became  connected  with  the  phonograph  busi- 
ness, handling  both  the  Edison  and  Victor. 

During  his  residence  in  Michigan,  on  the 
30th  of  July,  1882,  Mr.  Rogers  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Ida  May  Bennett,  a  native  of 
Union  township,  St.  Joseph"  county,  Indiana, 
and  a  daughter  of  John  H.  and:  Margaret 
(Burns)  Bennett.  Five  children  have  been 
bom  of  this  union,  namely :  Lessie,  who  died 
in  her  twentieth  year;  and  A.  I.,  D.  C,  Ralph 
and  Nina,  at  home.  Mr.  Rogers  uses  his 
franchise  in  favor  of  Republican  principles, 
and  in  1905  was  elected  a  councilman  of  the 
First  ward,  in  which  he  has  served  for  four 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Woodmen  of 
the  World,  and  is  well  and  favorably  known 
in  the  city  where  he  has  so  long  made  his 
home. 

Henby  C.  Stegman,  who  is  associated  with 
the  extensive  corporation  known  as  the  Bran- 
den  Durell  Company,  is  a  life-long  resident 
of  South  Bend,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
this  city  on  the  14th  of  October,  1872.  After 
oompleting    his    education    in    its    Gterman 


Lutheran  school,  he  was  for  seventeen  years 
an  employe  of  the  Singer  Sewing  Machine 
Company,  beginning  his  association  therewith 
when  a  boy  and  gradually  rising  from  one 
of  its  lowest  to  one  of  its  highest  positions, 
that  of  assistant  foreman.  In  about  1902  he 
engaged  in  business  for  himself  as  a  grocer 
in  South  Bend,  but  two  years  later,  in  1904, 
he  sold  the  business,  but  a  short  time  after- 
ward, resumed  the  trade,  continuing  therein 
for  about  one  year  longer,  when  he  again 
sold,  this  time,  also  disposing  of  his  store 
building,  which  was  located  on  the  comer  of 
Carroll  and  Du  Bale  streets.  Mr.  Stegman 
then  became  associated  with  the  Happen 
Mark  Company,  at  309  and  311  South  Michi- 
gan street,  continuing  with  them  until  the 
firm  was  merged  into  the  Branden  Durell 
Company,  with  whom  he  has  since  remained 
as  foreman.  He  is  the  manager  of  their  bar- 
gain basement  department,  and  he  discharges 
the  duties  connected  with  this  important 
position  with  the  utmost  ability. 

In  1896  Mr.  Stegman  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Bertha,  a  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Rosa  Krause.  She  was  bom  in  Germany,  but 
was  only  a  babe  of  one  year  when  brought 
by  her  parents  to  the  United  States.  To  this 
union  have  been  bom  four  sons,  Herbert, 
Edward,  Martin  and  Oscar.  Mr.  Stegman  is 
a  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations,  and 
during  the  administration  of  Mayor  Fogerty 
was  appointed  city  sealer,  but  on  account  of 
his  large  business  interests  he  was  obliged  to 
decline  the  position.  He  is  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  tak- 
ing a  very  active  part  in  the  work  of  the 
denomination,  and  at  all  times  may  be  safely 
relied  upon  to  use  his  influence  in  the  ad- 
vancement of  whatever  is  for  the  good  of  the 
community.  One  daughter  was  born  to  them, 
but  she  died  in  February,  1898. 

John  L.  Bowman.  In  reviewing  the  his- 
tory of  St.  Joseph  county  it  will  be  found 
that  the  name  of  Bowman  has  been  closely 
connected  with  the  progress  and  advancement 
of  this  section  of  the  state.  Wild  was  the 
region  into  which  Jacob  Bowman,  the  father 
of  John  L.,  came  in  1831,  making  the  journey 
hither  from  Ohio,  and  to  him  belongs  the 
honor  of  being  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the 
county.  Securing  land  from  the  government 
in  Portage  township,  he  there  established  his 
home,  and  it  was  on  this  old  farm  homestead 
that  John  L.  Bowman  was  bom  on  .the  26th 
of  October,  1835.    His  education  was  received 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


856 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


ill  the  old  log  school  houses  so  coininon  in 
those  early  days,  and  he  remained  at  home 
and  assisted  his  mother  in  the  work  of  the 
farm  until  his  marriage,  which  occurred  on 
the  5th  of  June,  1857,  Mary  Frances  Shed- 
drick  becoming  his  wife.  His  mother,  Chris- 
tina (Leer)  Bowman,  remained  with  him  until 
h^r  death,  April  5,  1871i  His  father  died 
September  16,  1838.  Mrs.  Bowman  was  born 
in  Decatur  county,  Indiana,  about  three  miles 
from  Greensbnrg.  Her  father,  John  Shed- 
drick,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  moved  to  Dear- 
born county,  Indiana,  and  thenee  to  St. 
Joseph  county,  where  his  death  occurred  when 
he  had  reached  the  age  of  eighty-four  years. 
Mrs.  Sheddrick,  who  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Rebecca  Sherer,  was  a  native  of  Decatur 
county,  Indiana,  and  lived  only  to  the  age 
of  sixty-two  years,  dying  March  14,  1882.  .  In 
their  family  were  eleven  children,  nine  of 
whom  grew  to  years  of  maturity,  and  Mrs. 
Bowman  was  the  eld^t  in  order  of  birth. 
She  was  about  ten  years  of  age  when  she  came 
with  her  parents  to  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
grew  to  years  of  maturity  on  a  farm  in  Penn 
township.  By  her  marriage  she  became  the 
mother  of  two  sons,  the  elder  of  whom,  Frank 
D.,  was  bom  on  the  old  Bowman  homestead 
on  the  19th  of  September,  1859,  and  on  the 
17th  of  November,  1881,  was  married  to 
Cordelia  Emsperger,  whose  parents,  John  and 
Mary  Emsperger,  were  numbered  among  the 
early  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  the 
daughter  Cordelia  is  one  of  its  native  daugh- 
ters. Her  mpther  died  when  seventy-five 
years  of  age,  but  the  father  survived  until 
his  ninetieth  year.  Two  children,  Mae  F.  and 
Herbert  J.,  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bowman.  The  younger  son,  Samuel  J.,  was 
also  bom  on  the  old  homestead,  July  16,  1867^ 
and  was  married  to  Ada  Hilderbrand,  Jan- 
uary 18,  1888,  their  three  children  being 
Estella,  May  Gertrude  and  Ralph. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bow- 
man took  up  their  abode  on  the  Bowman 
homestead,  where  he  was  engaged  in  general 
agricultural  pursuits  until  1892,  in  that  year 
selling  the  farm  and  moving  to  South  Bend, 
where  he  afterward  lived  in  quiet  retirement 
until  his  death  on  the  4th  of  March,  1896. 
While  residing  on  the  farm  he  served  for  the 
long  period  of  fourteen  years  as  road  super- 
visor, looking  after  all  the  roads  in  Portage 
township,  and  well  and  faithfully  did  he  dis- 
charge the  duties  entrusted  to  his  care  while 
an  incumbent  of  that  position.     Throughout 


the  years  of  his  manhood  he  loyally  upheld 
the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  taking 
an  active  interest  in  public  affairs,  and  was 
well  and  favorably  known  throughout  the 
county  in  which  his  entire  life  had  been 
passed.  His  path  was  marked  by  good  deeds 
and  honest  purpose,  and  when  the  final  sum- 
mons came  he  left  a  record  that  is  well  worthy 
of  emulation. 

Herman  H.  Beyer,  superintendent  of  the 
city  parks  of  South  Bend,  possesses  talents 
which  has  placed  his  name  high  among  the 
landscape  artists  of  Indiana.  He  was  bom 
in  Laporte,  Indiana,  August  30,  1873,  the 
third  son  of  August  F.  Beyer,  whose  history 
will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work.  The 
son  Herman  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
South  Bend  when  only  one  year  old,  and  his 
education  was  received  in  its  public  schools, 
also  spending  two  terms  in  Notre  Dame  Uni- 
versity, where  he  pursued  the  commercial 
course  and  also  a  course  in  landscape  drawing 
and  engineering.  For  a  time  thereafter  he 
was  connected  with  his  father  in  business,  and 
also  did  some  private  work  in  the  city.  For 
a  number  of  years  he  was  employed  by  James 
Oliver  as  his  landscape  gardener,  and  July  1, 
1903,  was  appointed  by  the  board  of  public 
works  as  their  landscape  artist  and  engineer 
to  superintend  the  work  of  the  parks  of  South 
Bend.  In  this  important  position  he  super- 
intends the  following  parks:  the  Howard 
(dedicated  in  honor  of  Judge  Howard),  La- 
peer, Coquillard,  Kelly,  Henry  Studebaker, 
La  Salle  and  the  Pottawattomie. 

In  1898  Mr.  Beyer  was  married  to  Bertha 
Hagedom,  a  daughter  of  August  and  Eva 
Hagedorn,  and  they  have  one  son,  Raymond. 
Mr.  Beyer's  fame  as  a  landscape  artist  is  not 
confined  to  his  present  position,  for  he  has 
done  much  private  work,  and  is  well  and 
favorably  known  for  his  genius  and  artistic 
ideas. 

Charijbs  Krause.  One  of  the  best  known 
business  men  of  this  section  of  South  Bend, 
and  certainly  one  of  the  best  patronized,  is 
Charles  Krause,  whose  well  appointed  meat 
-market  is  located  at  307  North  Emerick  street. 
During  the  long  period  of  twenty  years  he 
has  continued  at  this  stand,  which  is  an  in- 
dication of  strong  business  vitality  and  the 
conducting  of  an  establishment  along  estab- 
lished commercial  lines,  with  an  intimate 
acquaintance  of  the  peculiarities  as  well  as 
needs  of  a  varied  line  of  customers.  The  pro- 
prietor   of    this    long    established    mfarket, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


/ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


IIIST'MIY    OK  Si 


jii  J 


■     .  i.  •!  Ill'  *  ^*"  ,h'  .",  l>'n,  ^;  « 'l'ai'i^\> 
'•'.     Ill    l\ia;i.-t',   iUMi   i,,.!'^''^    '.'t' 
'i.     lii   iS7>  ;!:•    :?vi  iiy  U  ■  r  :!.•  ,;• 
*"-r'    11. 1      i'rut-  '1    S!:it.s.    1/   :Kw  :•  .     ..     ' 

*■»<  w  '.y  ins  'V-.i'AV    \*}i  »  Ikj;-  a     -'.-..J  i  m.     •■ 

•  '    ■•♦■   Vw'irv  <'i:.'  <^*i  tiir  ;}<>hMi('y  ul*  r.N'.  - 

-.    hriiPb*',    tlu*    .  \\  si    *  i'    lU'i"    .^-t^  r 

<  .1  rtt?o  '-^'1  oi  :iij>     >>  t'.*    when  ..i-     •   ■  . 

•..•  ,\    •  s  iU'ut  oi  S   utn  r>''   !,  a'li'  h«  re  ..:      ;  • 

.-,  .'-    1   siiitM'  i:v<(i  a'l.i  uiL;)rt '],  ^.nr.^uji^/,  ■»}. 

.    :     iti',?,  ;?'  jts,  j>;i?  ,c  ^1  I'  ,  i'-.     [it    1).  'jni  t*  ''   * 

^  I'm!  I't  !i^''It'  in  1"-"^'^.  f'li  i^h'  ^ili-  wii  r«  a^  •: 

^  H  .irr^i,    ,i]id    L-r   t\vnit\    yeaiv    lie  •  {♦    ■, 

..    '-r  'Mvd   t.»  '1   !a*ve   i\Mr»)ui'jr    t' -''lii  .•',/  ■ 

-:    '-la.^-;  .)f  !'"»"''• ';s.      Hi'   w   ouiioWii:   a  r.    -      • 

"..     '■l.•l^'4    i'<  -'t    !:'>   his    ui'i    p.a.^'*    ani  .a-'c  .    . 

.  -;    :s  •••,rrp'el**(i  ho  v,i!;  'h'   W'T-l    a")!e  <  ,'  ■.'    . 

•  ivt'    ot    :  is    lar^e    t»*avh'       He    is   a  ,-,.  -    - 

.''t\   (Mi'^riietic   ..'id   eh tf\'"[)' 1*^11:1^   bj>i-  Ik-   ••ati  < 

'..":.      IHs   ht>Ti'^sty,    iiidnsl-y.    .'ourt* -^y  j..^  ;-•'■. 

>;"U   i'iisiii*\ss   pro:>'ty 'j^':.]   cm.  "r)*\st*  j.  ^^'^i    -i. 

■-'1-1' *l  at  their  true  ^vovth.     Ahich^  I   '.Mt  -.-;«■  r  ..- 

)       '.    -s  he  aUo   takes  a-i   "a-ti^*'   hl^^-•^^  M'-  t-    • 

■  a  trail's,  ".'j^reseiit-r^'*  th--  [)■-•'■>"  a  ■;•  nt.'.-'i  is  ' 

-.  :  .  ,  ._rh  he  \  a  promiM-i.t  \vork  ,■  i:t  ,^^  h «•<»'!  d--  > 
'    h*'    h;is   iirV"!™   •Tired    t',)'-   i)ie   h  )n(>'N 

■  ;  '".r.'^i  of  |>Ut)]ie  nthrv*. 
:  ".      L"'M»  i)f  [V/endnM-,  18>'7.  "ii*.  Kr.'..-.  ^ 

*•    i    III    n.arri  e^e   \o   Liic'i  ht  ('"''/    a  '.•,-.  T':; 

•  -'i*    MaiNhail    eoinily,    ta.!i,ti;a,    and    a  'v 

■  .'1    daughter   havf'   h,^ri.    born    t*;    t:i>'Tt> 
'^  "  ar.d  Kos -^      Mr    Kraiis(^  i.s  a  pfc-tin-  [^    r  .tr    '*      .»    I'-ja**' 

■^i'm^'*    '»{■'    flu*     ErHnL'-*'ii(' il     r.tiili-'ran  r  .  a  oe-;  ;*•  in  At  \\    '^     "j     -.  - ; 
•  M,    '.h'.'h   is  nnd^^r  the  pasiiaale  ^M*   li'-v.         \t.    \^i;^•  ;.*    \^';i;!;i'"*  '         *'';■. 

"  ...    r^'id    n  •'   N\\  years   Ik-   1  a.^  h.  ei   Uio  /m1\  ..f  \     ,   V'-k.  \>      ■     '••     - 

•  f    frustrf    th'TiMii.       Hf^    IS    ttiJ    a-dive  v    I-  \Vt".:.-'j!i   u^m    ;  r  ;•*  . 

■<•  'n  H'.'  raii-if  ot  riiristianlty  and  S.,i;^h  ;\'t-l  **rn   1  -  <•■  ^     X.  i^    V-p-'.   i    * 

i''M;d>ei-s,  1:  '  .  ai!»f»ni:r  hi  r  n.^.^r  pn  ii-^s-  i.s    a    h'-p'."''  -'''an    '..■    "'.>    i»'  1  . 


■ ,    r 


r     .  -:(..:*.  r. 


<-• :    h.> 


'■tM- 


.     :   h  ' 

'1  arx'ie  t   . 

ai«  i    ''d  , 


.«M  \ve^l  i:i'  ■\  n 
*   ..-'■  the   Asv)- 

^      ^  \n  M  'j-iW'lKi  - 

r  u>  pt  !<'  N.-w- 

I;.   J      •;  *     i'm> 


;'  a*   u   ^  .It'   .     '* 

^^  us  e'ai.!"      i    '   ' 

d   whi;     th  >s   :   .- 

:  I'.-    s<  lee*''.n    (.1     1  he 

1      «  .  s\(r^  (\'ii.'^N'ry. 


.--fl.     'd 

'>r*  J. "' 

':iia--  '■ 

''>aT*K''i 
>  s.   but 

•(>   sU])- 

■  r.  i|u;di 
:i  >'   are 
•  aiiM^l 

.".rh     h. 


lOyd   "iti/* '..s.  is  not   'i.)ii"'i  tjy  y>ar\\'  ii«'N.  p'-i-.*  ■■ 

\'     (1.    }!.*!•  v'!-.H,    s.iiM"r!Ti1*a!d*a.t    of    Hie  t>"r'    ti,,-  m-.,-h   ^slu>a:  J.-  n".a'<;^    \' 

•v.--     (■■  !i  '  lery  rf  8*>nHi  fi.^nd,  wns  ht.-Ti  ti*'d  t<'   fi'l    the    po>i:it.i.s   ior    m   ■ 

'.T.t  I  --'"M.   siifV(..k  (n  an'y,  f^»M  the  east-  ''h.>sen.     H.^  t;\ea'plife\-^  'm  his  1-r 

-.'MS     ,,f   Ki  Jand.     Wla-n  *[  nrn'on  y<<ns  ph^  of  tiie  ?hi.soni.'   t'ral'^rrnt}  ,  • 

'    i-'    'a.iiH^  with  his  j'-aviits  n>  the  r'nnrd  »^  ^^   raeniN'r.   a-id   is  also  a    x\'>'t;/   vi- ';  ^^  ' 

^.   .h»-   i'ainiW-  hf>.iie  tM^i'^i?  established  in  ot"  the  P>aptist  ehiireh. 

;.    \rn    York,   wh 'n*   the  yonn^r  hul   a's-  xXak-'N  J,>nk.s.     1  he  name  of  A.'t.-ti  J')n*'s 

1    ^,s    faille^*    in    F<^rest     Hill    ecni^dery.  lias    luM^n    iiiser.h*'d   h'^li    <m    th*-    rod   oi'    "<t. 

•  n.   :.t\v  he  spf>' t  a  slH»rt  time  in  SpTano:-  fl  )st  |'h    eoiw'y's   hora5r<'d    ]»ion(Vrs   and    »  ^ni- 

Va-'^a 'h  e^'eis.    i'<  mir    then-'e   to    Phda-  ra^iit    men.  and   the  pan  \\ide]i    \w  >ia.>  t.i,K«-n 

..  •"  d  a  ^Irirt  tine'-  aftt^rwju^l  to  C.nn-  ni    the     f'mndmtr    an  I    d^evi^lopj-e-nt    'd    th*- 

'    .\!;us'<a«'husett>:,  where  he  followed  the  comity  wil  entith-.s   him   to   prc^miix'nt  m*j:i- 


Digitized  by 


Googh 


^f  A'^- 


.^""1.^ 


y^ 


O' 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


HISTORY    OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


857 


Charles  Krause,  is  a  native  son  of  Germany, 
born  on  the  14th  of  October,  1861,  to  Charles 
and  Rose  (Bratten)  Krause,  also  natives  of 
the  Fatherland.  In  1872  the  family  left  their 
native  land  for  the  United  States,  making 
their  way  at  once  to  South  Bend,  where  the 
husband  and  father  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life,  dying  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years. 
He  is  survived  by  his  widow,  who  has  reached 
the  sixtieth  milestone  on  the  journey  of  life. 

Charles  Krause,  the  eldest  of  their  six 
children,  was  a  little  lad  of  nine  years  when 
he  became  a  resident  of  South  Bend,  and  here 
he  has  ever  since  lived  and  labored,  pursuing 
his  education  in  its  public  schools.  He  began 
business  for  himself  in  1888,  on  the  site  where 
he  is  yet  located,  and  for  twenty  years  he 
has  here  catered  to  a  lai^e  patronage  from 
the  best  class  of  citizens.  He  is  building  a 
nK)dem  market  next  to  his  old  place  and 
when  this  is  completed  he  wiU  be  better  able 
to  take  care  of  his  large  trade.  He  is  a 
wideawake,  energetic  and  enterprising  busi- 
ness man.  His  honesty,  industiy,  courtesy 
and  fair  dealing  are  proverbial  in  this  city 
where  such  business  probity  and  enterprise 
are  esteemed  at  their  true  worth.  Aside  from 
his  business  he  also  takes  an  active  interest 
in  public  affairs,  representing  the  Democracy, 
and  although  he  is  a  prominent  worker  in  its 
ranks  he  has  never  cared  for  the  honors  or 
emoluments  of  public  oflBce. 

On  the  29th  of  December,  1887,  Mr. 'Krause 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Lucinda  Qrile,  a 
native  of  Marshall  county,  Indiana,  and  a 
son  and  daughter  have  been  bom  to  them, 
William  and  Rosie.  Mr.  Krause  is  a  promin- 
ent member  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
church,  which  is  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
Thiema,  and  for  six  years  he  has  held  the 
oflSce  of  trustee  therein.  He  is  an  active 
worker  in  the  cause  of  Christianity  and  South 
Bend  numbers  him  among  her  most  progres- 
sive and  loyal  citizens. 

John  Q.  Barker^  superintendent  of  the 
Riverview  Cemetery  of  South  Bend,  was  bom 
in  Huntingfeld,  Suffolk  county,  on  the  east- 
em  coast  of  England.  When  fourteen  years 
of  age  he  came  with  his  parents  to  the  United 
States,  the  family  home  being  established  in 
Utica,  New  York,  where  the  young  lad  as- 
sisted his  father  in  Forest  Hill  cemetery. 
Subsequently  he  spent  a  short  time  in  Spring- 
field, Massachusetts,  going  thence  to  Phila- 
delphia, and  a  short  time  afterward  to  Cam- 
bridge, Massachusetts,  where  he  followed  the 


occupation  of  gardening.  Mr.  Barker's  next 
employment  was  in  the  Pine  Grove  cemetery 
in  Lynn,  that  state,  where  he  served  as 
superintendent  for  fourteen  years,  and  dur- 
ing that  time  developed  that  cemetery  into 
one  of  the  finest  ones  in  the  country.  During 
a.  period  of  ten  years  he  served  as  superin- 
tendent of  the  Forest  Hill  Cemetery  at  Boa- 
ton,  which  also  became  one  of  the  finest  in 
the  country  under  his  supervision.  During 
his  residence  in  both  Lynn  and  Boston  he 
served  as  chairman  of  the  Garden  Conunittee 
of  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural  Society, 
the  second  oldest  institution  of  the  kind  in 
the  United  States,  and  was  also  well  known 
as  a  public  speaker  on  horticultural  subjects. 
He  has  also  served  as  president  of  the  Asso- 
ciation of  American  Cemetery  Superintend- 
ents. From  Boston  Mr.  Barker  went  to  New- 
castle, Pennsylvania,  where  he  laid  out  Cas- 
cade park,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  in  the 
country,  and  after  his  work  there  was  ended 
he  came  to  South  Bend.  For  a  time  after 
his  arrival  in  this  city  he  was  employed  on 
work  in  the  city  parks,  and  while  thus  en- 
gaged also  assisted  in  the  selection  of  the 
site  now  occupied  by  the  Riverview  Cemetery. 
The  genius  which  he  possesses  as  a  landscape 
artist  is  inborn  not  acquired,  as  from  his  boy- 
hood days  he  has  expressed  his  artistic  tastes, 
and  his  name  now  occupies  a  high  place 
among  the  men  of  his  calling  in  the  United 
States. 

Mr.  Barker  married  a  Miss  Edson,  who  was 
bom,  reared  and  educated  in  Springfield, 
Massachusetts,  and  they  have  three  children : 
Herbert  C,  a  traveling  salesman;  Gardiner 
H.,  a  dentist  in  New  York  city,  and  Florence, 
the  wife  of  Wallace  C.  Brackebt,  also  of  the 
city  of  New  York,  where  he  is  a  civil  engineer 
with  Westinghouse,  Church  &  Kerr,  architects 
and  engineers.  New  York  City.  Mr.  Barker 
is  a  Republican  in  his  political  views,  but 
is  not  bound  by  party  ties,  preferring  to  sup- 
port the  men  whom  he  regards  as  best  quali- 
fied to  fill  the  positions  for  which  they  are 
chosen.  He  exemplifies  in  his  life  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  of  which  he 
is  a  member,  and  is  also  a  worthy  member 
of  the  Baptist  church. 

Aaron  Jones.  The  name  of  Aaron  Jones 
has  been  inscribed  high  on  the  roU  of  St. 
Joseph  county's  honored  pioneers  and  emi- 
nent men,  and  the  part  which  he  has  taken 
in  the  founding  and  development  of  the 
county  well  entitles  him  to  prominent  men- 


Digitized  by 


Google 


858 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


tion  in  this  volume.  St.  Joseph  county  has 
remained  his  home  throughout  his  entire  life, 
for  his  birth  occurred  within  its  borders,  in 
German  township,  on  the  9th  of  September, 
1838,  his  parents  being  Samuel  and  Polly 
(Pearson)  Jones,  the  former  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia and  the  latter  of  North  Carolina.  As 
early  as  1829  the  family  home  was  established 
in  St.  Joseph  county,  where  the  father  was 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  German 
township  until  his  busy  and  useful  life  was 
ended  in  1850,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years. 

When  fourteen  years  of  age  Aaron  Jones 
left  the  country  schools  to  enter  Franklin 
College,  where  he  remained  for  two  years, 
thence  continuing  his  studies  in  Antioch  Col- 
lege. Thus  with  an  excellent  educational 
training  to  serve  as  the  foundation  on  which 
to  build  his  future  life  work  he  began  farm- 
ing in  Penn  township,  his  father  at  that  time 
having  given  him  a  tract  of  land  and  he  also 
purchased  one.  Although  he  has  not  been 
engaged  in  active  farm  work  for  thirty  years, 
yet  he  managed  his  estate  until  seven  years 
ago,  when  this  work  devolved  upon  his  son 
Aaron,  who  resides  upon  the  old  homestead. 
In  1878  Mr.  Jones  was  elected  master  of  the 
State  Grange,  continuing  to  fill  that  import- 
ant position  for  the  long  period  of  twenty 
years  with  the  exception  of  an  interval  of 
seven  years  when  he  served  as  auditor  of  the 
county,  to  which  he  was  elected  in  1882,  his 
term  expiring  in  1891.  At  that  time  he  was 
re-elected  master  of  the  Grange,  while  in 
1897  he  was  made  master  of  the  National 
Grange,  continuing  as  the  incumbent  of  that 
high  oflScial  position  until  1905.  The  na- 
tional membership  embraces  about  one  mil- 
lion, and  during  Mr.  Jones'  able  administra- 
tion almost  six  hundred  thousand  new  mem- 
bers were  added.  During  a  period  of  ten 
years  he  also  served  as  a  member  of  the  State 
Board  of  Agriculture,  being  president  for  two 
years  of  that  time  and  chairman  of  its  execu- 
tive committee  for  six  years. 

In  1860  Mr.  Jones  was  married  to  Margaret 
W.  Wiley,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Hannah 
(Esterley)  Wiley,  of  Lancaster  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. Two  children  have  been  born  of 
this  union, — Aaron,  Jr.,  and  Mary  J.,  now 
Mrs.  Ort.  Mr.  Jones  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order.  Lodge  No.  45,  Chapter  No.  13 
and  Commandery  No.  29.  His  influence  has 
passed  beyond  the  confines  of  locality  and  has 
permeated  the  national  life.  To  such  as  he 
is  a  careful  study  of  the  life,  character  and 


services  pre-eminently  entitled,  not  only  on 
the  part  of  the  student  of  biography,  but 
also  by  every  citizen  who,  guided  by  the  past, 
would  in  the  present  wisely  build  for  the 
future. 

WnxiiAM  C.  Row.  A  popular  and  efficient 
employe  of  the  government  during  the  past 
twelve  years,  William  C.  Row  has  during  all 
that  time  served  as  a  United  States  letter 
carrier  in  South  Bend,  and  has  thus  become 
well  known  to  many  of  its  residents.  St. 
Joseph  county  also  numbers  him  among  her 
native  sons,  his  birth  occurring  in  Liberty 
township,  April  25,  1869.  His  father,  Jacob 
D.  Row,  was  bom  in  Tuscarawas  county, 
Ohio,  but  was  reared  in  Coschocton  county 
of  that  state,  and  was  there  married  on  June 
30,  1860,  to  one  of  the  state's  native  daugh- 
ters, Hannah  Knepp.  In  a  very  early  day 
the  young  couple  left  the  Buckeye  state  and 
journeyed  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  this 
being  in  May,  1861,  and  they  established  their 
home  in  Liberty  township,  where  Mr.  Row 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  while  in 
addition  he  also  had  a  large  practice  as  a 
veterinary  surgeon,  his  name  being  a  familiar 
one  in  the  profession  throughout  this  part  of 
the  county.  He  now  resides  in  Union  town- 
ship, and  in  addition  to  his  homestead  there 
also  owns  another  farm  in  Liberty  township. 
His  wife  passed  away  when  sixty  years  of 
age,  leaving  five  children,  three  sons  and  two 
daughters;  Jennie,  the  wife  of  Louis  Lonzo, 
of  Union  township;  William  C,  whose  name 
introduces  this  review;  Martin  A.,  also  an 
agriculturist  of  Union  township;  Albert  C, 
whose  sketch  will  be  found  on  other  pages 
in  this  work;  and  Clara  A.,  the  wife  of 
Clarence  Rensberger,  of  Lakeville,  Indiana, 

William  C.  Row  spent  the  early  years  of 
his  life  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Liberty 
township,  and  after  completing  his  education 
in  its  schools  taught  for  six  years,  five  years 
of  the  time  in  St.  Joseph  county.  During 
1893  and  1894  he  served  as  the  deputy  sur- 
veyor of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  since  1895 
he  has  been  a  government  employe  in  the 
capacity  of  a  United  States  letter  carrier  in 
South  Bend,  in  which  position  he  has  won 
the  commendation  of  all. 

In  1895  Mr.  Row  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Sadie  C.  Bair,  who  was  bom  and  reared 
in  Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  a  daughter  of 
Michael  and  Amelia  (Kenrich)  Bair.  Mr. 
Row  is  an  exponent  of  the  principle  that 
whatever  is  inherently  wrong  can  not  be  made 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


859 


right  by  l^islation,  and  therefore  easts  his 
ballot  in  opposition  to  licensing  the  liquor 
traflfie  and  its  kindred  evils.  He  is  a  valued 
member  of  the  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation of  South  Bend.  He  is  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  affairs  of  the  city  which  has  so 
long  been  his  home,  and  all  who  know  him 
have  the  highest  admiration  for  his  good 
qualities  of  heart  and  mind. 

Robert  Codd.  On  the  roster  of  the  oflScials 
of  South  Bend  appears  the  name  of  Robert 
Codd,  who  is  now  capably  serving  as  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  public  safety,  and  who 
is  also  connected  with  the  business  interests 
of  the  .city  as  one  of  her  leading  linotype 
operators.  He  has  spent  almost  his  entire 
life  in  South  Bend,  although  his  birth  oc- 
curred in  Allegan,  Michigan,  November  4, 
1874,  his  parents  being  Robert  H.  and  Mary 
(Pool)  Codd.  The  father  had  his  nativity 
in  Erie  county,  New  York,  and  he  became  a 
representative  of  the  tinner's  trade,  his  life's 
labors  being  ended  in  death  at  the  age  of 
sixty  years,  but  he  is  still  survived  by  his 
widow,  who  yet  resides  in  South  Bend,  her 
native  city,  her  father  having  been  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers  of  St.  Joseph  county. 
Of  their  two  sons,  Delbert  D.,  the  younger, 
is  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph,  Michigan. 

Robert  Codd  was  reared  to  years  of  ma- 
turity in  South  Bend,  and  received  his  edu- 
cational training  in  the  Edwardsburg  common 
and  high  schools.  When  but  a  lad  of  twelve 
years  he  began  learning  the  printer's  trade, 
at  the  same  time  continuing  his  studies,  and 
he  has  since  served  on  the  staff  of  the  Times 
and  Tribune,  his  journalistic  career  covering 
a  period  of  about  sixteen  years.  He  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  public  affairs  of 
his  city  and  county  as  a  representative  of 
the  Democratic  party,  and  for  five  years  he 
has  served  as  president  of  the  board  of  public 
safety.  He  is  a  man  of  marked  integrity, 
and  is  therefore  well  qualified  to  discharge 
the  responsible  duties  of  his  position. 

In  1894  Mr.  Codd  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Anna  Nieb,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Philip 
Xieb,  of  Niles,  Michigan,  and  they  have  three 
children,  two  daughters  and  a  son,  Eunice, 
May  and  Robert  E.  His  fraternal  relations 
connect  him  with  the  order  of  Eagles,  and 
he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Typographical 
Union  of  South  Bend.  As  has  been  stated 
he  has  been  a  resident  of  this  city  throughout 
nearly    his    entire    life,    and    many    of    his 

Vol.  11—17. 


stanchest  friends  are  those  who  have  known 
him  from  boyhood, — an  indication  that  his 
life  so  far  has  been  an  upright  and  honorable 
one. 

A.  J.  PuRUCKER,  who  is  serving  sa  engineer 
for  the  high  school  of  South  Bend,  with  resi- 
dence at  1718  Michigan  avenue,  was  bom  in 
Pittsburg,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania, 
September  17,  1853,  a  son  of  Simon  and 
Amelia  H.  (Piffer)  Purucker,  both  natives  of 
Germany.  In  1848  they  emigrated  to 
America,  establishing  their  home  in  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  but  in  1854  removed  to  South 
Bend,  Indiana,  and  located  on  the  comer  of. 
Madison  and  Wood  streets  in  a  little  log 
house,  having  paid  three  hundred  dollars  for 
one  acre  of  land.  The  father  was  a  glass 
blower,  but  after  coming  to  St.  Joseph  county 
was  employed  on  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad 
and  rented  his  little  farm  for  eight  years. 
He  then  purchased  another  farm  and  erected 
the  brick  house  on  the  Mt.  Pleasant  road 
which  continued  as  his  home  until  his  life's 
labors  were  ended  in  death  at  the  age  of 
sixty-six  years,  having  been  accidentally 
killed  by  being  thrown  from  a  load  of  hay. 
Mrs.  Purucker  reached  the  age  of  seventy- 
four  years  ere  she  was  called  to  the  home 
beyond.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  sons, 
Christopher,  Andrew  J.,  and  John  A. 

Andrew  J.  Purucker,  the  second  child  in 
order  of  birth,  was  but  one  year  old  when 
the  family  home  was  removed  to  South  Bend, 
and  his  youth  was  spent  on  a  farm  in  Portage 
township,  attending  the  district  school  near 
his  home  and  later  the  South  Bend  high 
school,  which  was  located  in  the  old  frame 
building  where  the  United  States  and  Ameri- 
can Express  Companies  now  have  their  offices. 
After  reaching  the  age  of  twenty  years  he 
began  working  on  a  farm  by  the  month,  thus 
continuing  for  about  four  years,  and  in  the 
spring  following  his  marriage;  he  came  to  this 
city  and  secured  employment  with  the  South 
Bend  Chilled  Plow  Works,  while  six  months 
later  he  began  work  at  the  mason's  trade. 
In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  however,  he 
returned  to  the  farm  in  Portage  township, 
but  two  years  later  again  came  to  South  Bend 
and  secured  employment  with  P.  O'Brien. 
After  spending  nine  years  in  the  employ  of  ' 
that  gentleman  he  became  associated  with 
Cingler  &  Creviston  in  their  hardware  store, 
and  two  years  later  was  appointed  janitor 
for  the  old  high  school  building,  entering 
upon  his  duties  in  January,  1892,  but  was 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


860 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


subsequently  transferred  to  the  new  building 
as  engineer,  his  present  position. 

In  1878  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Purucker  and  Miss  Elizabeth  Boone.  She 
was  a  native  of  Portage  Prairie,  Indiana, 
where  her  marriage  also  occurred,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Philip  and  Susan  Boone.  Their 
union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  three 
children,  Susie,  Ira,  Alwilda.  Mr.  Purucker 
upholds  the  principles  of  the  Democracy,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  the  Woodmen  of  the  World  and  the 
Home  Accident  Insurance  Company.  He  has 
won  for  himself  an  enviable  reputation  as  a 
man  of  integrity,  and  has  the  deserved  and 
unbounded  confidence  of  his  fellow  men. 

Q.  ScxxTT  Smith.  In  tracing  the  careers 
of  tho^e  whom  their  fellow  townsmen  ack- 
'  nowledge  as  successful  and  of  those  who  stand 
high  in  public  esteem,  we  find  that  in  almost 
every  case  they  are  those  who  have  risen 
gradually  by  their  own  efforts  and  persever- 
ance. These  qualities  are  possessed  in  a  large 
measure  by  Mr.  Q.  Scott  Smith,  who  by  rea- 
son of  his  marked  business  ability  has  been 
made  the  agent  for  the  Adams  Express  Com- 
pany in  South  Bend.  He  was  born  in  Warren 
township  of  St.  Joseph  county,  April  1,  1878, 
and  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  earliest 
families  to  establish  their  home  within  its 
borders.  His  grandfather.  Christian  Smith, 
came  to  St.  Joseph  county  as  early  as  1839, 
settling  in  the  then  dense  woods  of  Warren 
township,  and  it  was  there  that  his  son,  Mar- 
tin H.  Smith,  was  born  and  grew  to  years  of 
maturity.  He  married  Josephine  Baker,  the 
daughter  of  a  Methodist  Episcopal  minister, 
Rev.  Baker,  and  they  became  the  parents  oi 
five  children,  two  daughters  and  three  sons. 

G.  Scott  Smith,  their  fourth  child  in  order 
of  birth,  spent  the  first  fifteen  years  of  his 
life  in  Warren  township,  attending  its  district 
schools  and  preparing  himself  for  life's  future 
activities.  With  his  father  he  then  moved  to 
South  Bend,  completing  his  educational  train- 
ing in  the  high  school  of  this  city,  and  when 
he  had  reached  the  age  of  seventeen  years 
he  started  out  to  battle  for  himself.  He  first 
secured  employment  with  the  South  Bend 
Chilled  Plow  Works,  with  whom  he  was 
associated  for  three  years,  and  he  then  became 
an  employe  of  the  Adams  Express  Company 
as  a  driver,  but  was  soon  afterward  promoted 
to  the  position  of  clerk,  later  to  messenger, 
and  in  1902  entered  upon  his  duties  in  the 
capacity  of  agent  in  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsyl- 


vania, remaining  there  three  years.  He  was 
then  transferred  to  the  company's  agency  at 
South  Bend,  Indiana.  He  thus  occupies  a 
most  responsible  position,  but  is  ably  qiMdified 
to  discharge  its  duties. 

In  1899  Mr.  Smith  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Alberta  Braman,  who  was  born  in  Monroe, 
Michigan,  and  they  have  two  sons,  Horace  W. 
and  Liisle  A.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  member  of  the 
Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which 
he  takes  an  active  interest.  In  his  political 
views  he  is  a  stalwart  Eepublican  and  takes 
a  deep  interest  in  the  issues  and  questions  of 
the  day,  and  is  a  worthy  representative  of 
an  honored  pioneer  family. 

Herman  F.  Lang.  For  a  number  of  years 
Herman  F.  Lang  has  occupied  a  leading  place 
among  the  business  men  of  his  section  of  the 
city  of  South  Bend,  being  a  well  known  grocer 
at  822  South  Lafayette  street,  and  is  also  a 
member  of  the  city  council.  He  was  bom 
in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  December  30,  1860. 
His  father,  Julius  Lang,  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  but  came  to  America  when  a  young 
man  and  first  took  up  his  abode  in  Brooklyn, 
New  York,  removing  thence  to  Kendallville, 
Noble  county,  Indiana,  in  1866,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business.  Dur- 
ing his  long  residence  in  that  city  he  was  also 
prominent  in  its  public  affairs,  having  served 
as  the  county  treasurer  four  years  and  held 
many  other  county  and  city  offices.  He  now 
resides  in  Kendallville,  Indiana,  enjoying  a 
life  of  quiet  retirement  after  many  years  of 
business  and  public  activities.  His  wife,  nee 
Catherine  Detrich  and  also  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, is  deceased.  In  their  family  were 
eight  children. 

Herman  F.  Lang,  the  third  son  in  order 
of  birth,  wa9  six  years  of  age  when  the  family 
home  was  moved  to  Noble  county,  Indiana, 
and  he  was  there  reared  and  received  his 
education  in  parochial  schools.  He  served  as 
his  father's  deputy  in  the  treasurer's  oflfce, 
and  was  also  the  deputy  county  clerk  of 
Noble  county.  During  a  period  of  thirteen 
years  he  was  engaged  in  a  general  mercantile 
business  in  Brimfield,  Indiana,  and  for  four 
years  of  that  time  was  also  a  justice  of  the 
peace.  The  year  1900  witnessed  his  arrival 
in  South  Bend,  where  he  at  once  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business,  and  in  this  field  of 
endeavor  he  has  been  steadily  advancing  imtil 
he  now  occupies  a  very  creditable  position 
among  its  leading  devotees.  His  eflforts,  how- 
ever, have  not  been  confined  strictly  to  his 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


fflSTORY   OP  ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


861 


line  of  trade,  for  he  has  been  an  active  worker 
in  the  public  affairs  of  his  city,  and  in  1905 
he  was  elected  to  represent  the  Seventh  ward 
in  the  city  council,  while  at  all  times  he  is 
a  stanch  supporter  of  Republican  principles. 

In  1886  Mr.  Lang  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Ada  A.  Parkman,  a  descendant  of  the  re- 
nowned Dr.  Parkman  of  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts. They  are  members^  of  the  Grace  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church,  in  which  Mr.  Lang 
served  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school 
and  is  now  a  member  of  the  oflScial  board. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur, 
in  which  he  is  a  past  chief.  In  this  city, 
where  so  many  years  of  their  lives  have  been 
passed,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lang  are  held  in  the 
highest  regard  by  their  innumerable  friends. 

Adolph  Koerth.  a  good  bakery  in  a 
community  is  not  only  a  convenience  but  is 
a  necessity  as  well,  and  as  the  proprietor  of 
one  of  the  leading  bakery  establishments  of 
South  Bend  Adolph  Koerth  is  well  and  favor- 
ably known  to  its  citizens.  He  is  a  native 
son  of  the  Fatherland,  bom  on  the  12th  of 
April,  1862,  and  he  remained  in  the  land  of 
his  nativity  until  twenty-two  years  of  age, 
pursuing  his  education  in  its  German  schools. 
After  the  closing  of  his  school  days,  when 
fifteen  years  of  age,  he  began  learning  the 
baker's  trade,  working  at  that  occupation  in 
his  native  country  until  his  progressive  spirit 
led  him  to  seek  a  wider  field  for  his  opera- 
tions in  the  new  world.  He  arrived  in  the 
United  States  in  1883,  and  at  once  made  his 
way  to  South  Bend,  of  which  city  he  has  been 
a  resident  for  ten  years.  He  was  also  for 
seven  years  a  resident  of  Chicago,  removing 
to  that  city  in  1886,  but  returning  to  South 
Bend  he  started  in  business  for  himself  in 
1897  at  his  present  location.  In  the  same 
year  he  erected  the  building  which  he  now 
occupies,  which  is  fitted  throughout  with 
every  convenience  with  which  to  successfully 
carry  on  his  bakery  business,  and  in  addition 
he  also  owns  his  cottage  home.  He  is  a  worthy 
representative  of  that  honored  class  of  Ger- 
man citizens  who  have  allied  their  interests 
with  the  new  world  and  by  consecutive  effort 
and  honorable  dealing  have  won  a  name 
among  the  successful  and  prominent  men  in 
the  communities  in  which  their  lots  have  been 
cast. 

In  South  Bend,  in  1906,  Mr.  Koerth  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Margaret  Bestherer,  a 
native  daughter  of  this  city,  and  they  are 
prominent  and  worthy  members  of  the  Evan- 


gelical Lutheran  church.  Mr.  Koerth  is  a 
benevolent  gentleman,  in  manner  is  kindly 
and  genial,  and  well  merits  the  high  regard 
in  which  he  is  uniformly  held. 

John  A.  Byers.  The  popular  principal  of 
the  Eighth  Grade  high  school  of  South  Bend, 
is  a  thoroughly  equipped  educator  of  thirty 
years*  experience  in  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
no  one  is  more  highly  respected  for  profes- 
sional ability  or  manly  worth.  He  was  bom 
in  Penn  township,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
county,  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Louvina 
(Peplogla)  Byers.  They  were  both  of  Ger- 
man descent,  his  mother  being  a  native  of  St. 
Joseph  county.  The  father  was  bom  in  Ohio, 
in  1835,  and  when  three  years  of  age  was 
brought  to  the  county  by  his  father,  Andrew 
Byers.  The  family  settled  in  Union  township 
on  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
which  was  cleared,  cultivated  and  transformed 
into  a  comfortable  homestead.  Benjamin 
Byers  lost  his  father  when  he  was  three  years 
of  age,  and  the  family  afterward  moved  to 
Warren  township,  where  the  youth  learned 
the  trade  of  a  brick  mason.  He  was  married 
in  that  locality,  and  for  twelve  years  there- 
after engaged  in  farming,  after  which  period 
be  removed  to  South  Bend  to  busy  himself 
at  his  trade.  This  he  industriously  followed 
until  his  death. 

Three  children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Benjamin  Byers,  all  in  St.  Joseph  county, 
and  of  the  two  sons  and  one  daughter  John 
A.  is  the  elder  son  and  second  in  order  of 
birth;  the  other  members  of  the  family  are 
Mary  Elizabeth  and  William.  After  he  had 
received  a  thorough  elementary  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  South  Bend,  the  boy 
entered  Fort  Wayne  Methodist  College  for  a 
training  in  the  higher  branches.  Both  pa- 
rents were  old  and  earnest  members  of  that 
denomination,  and  although  he  lost  his  father 
in  early  boyhood  the  mother  educated  her 
son  under  influences  which  she  kneW  would 
have  had  the  hearty  approval  of  the  deceased. 
In  1877,  before  graduating  from  the  Fort 
Wayne  institution,  John  A.  Byers  commenced 
his  long  career  as  a  pedagogue  by  teaching 
several  summer  terms  of  district  school.  He 
continued  his  professional  education  in  the 
winter  months,  and  in  1882  began  his  per- 
manent career  by  becoming  connected  with 
the  Coquillard  School,  of  South  Bend.  After 
teaching  there  for  two  years  he  entered  the 
old  South  School  as  a  teacher  and  continued 
to  be  identified  with  it  for  an  entire  decade. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


862 


HISTORY   OP  ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


His  progressive  methods  as  an  educator  had 
now  been  so  thoroughly  demonstrated  that 
his  services  were  engaged  for  the  South  Bend 
Training  School,  and  his  three  years'  record 
there  was  so  consistently  strong  that,  in  1896, 
he  was  advanced  to  his  present  responsible 
position.  Under  his  administration  of  the  af- 
fairs of  the  high  school,  for  the  past  eleven 
years,  that  institution  had  advanced  to  a  lead- 
ing place  among  the  model  educational  estab- 
lishments of  the  kind  in  the  state. 

In  1882  John  A.  Byers  was  married  to  Miss 
Haittie  L.  Hodson.  His  wife  was  born  in 
New  Jersey,  May  16,  1859,  the  daughter  of 
Charles  L.  and  Rebecca  F.  Hodson,  her  father 
being  the  well  known  contractor  and  manu- 
facturer connected  with  the  Hodson-Stanfield 
Lumber  Company.  The  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Byers,  Ernest,  was  bom  in  South  Bend, 
August  24,  1886.  An  earnest,  broad-minded 
Democrat,  a  progressive  member  of  the  I.  0. 
0.  F.  (Lodge  No.  29),  and,  outside  of  his 
high  calling,  a  valuable  and  elevating  mem- 
ber of  the  community,  the  life  record  of  John 
A.  Byers  is  one  which  should  be  a  source  of 
honest  pride  to  himself  and  family,  and  an 
object  of  emulation  for  honorably  ambitious 
manhood. 

A.  H.  Stephenson.  No  death  in  many 
years  caused  such  profound  sorrow  through- 
out the  county  than  did  the  passing  away  of 
this  honored  citizen  of  South  Bend,  A.  H. 
Stephenson,  who  by  long  years  of  honorable, 
upright  life  and  kindly  nature  had  grown 
into  the  affections  of  his  fellow  citizens  to 
a  marked  degree.  ''DeV^  Stephenson,  as  he 
was  familiarly  known  to  his  friends,  was  bom 
in  LaGro.  Wabash  coui^ty,  Indiana,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1852,  his  parents  being  Amos  T.  and 
Priscilla  Stephenson,  who  both  died  here  in 
recent  years  at  the  ripe  ages  of  four  score 
or  more  years.  They  owned  the  tavern  on 
the  banks  of  the  Wabash  there,  the  father 
having  been  interested  in  one  of  the  line  of 
packet  boats  that  then  plied  that  stream,  also 
in  a  packing  houso  which  was  probably  one 
of  the  first  in  that  line  of  industry  in  the 
west. 

When  their  son  Del  was  a  small  and  seem- 
ingly delicate  child  the  family  came  to  South 
Bend,  and  this  delicate  state  of  health  con- 
tinued until  he  went  to  Colorado  at  the  age 
of  ten  years,  there  becoming  strong  and  ro- 
bust. After  completing  his  education  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  driven  well  and  plumb- 
ing firm  of  A.  T.  Stephenson  &  Son,  and  the 


remainder  of  his  life  was  spent^  in  all  the 
activities  of  the  Stephenson  Mai*.iufacturing 
Company  on  East  Tutt  street  and^^  in  the  A. 
C.  Staley  Manufacturing  Company ,  n  manufac- 
turers of  knit  wool  underwear  anci  located 
on  the  east  side.  The  four  Stephenso'n  broth- 
ers first  became  interested  in  the  concern  as 
salesman,  then  as  stockholders,  and  were  sole 
owners  of  that  great  and  prosperous  enter- 
prise at  the  time  of  the  death  of  Mr.  A.  H. 
Stephenson,  he  being  the  company's  treasurer. 
Wherever  found,  were  he  a  manufacturer,  a 
fireman  or  a  citizen,  he  was  the  same  far- 
seeing,  aggressive  man,  tolerant  of  other's 
opinions,  but  of  decided  convictions  of  his 
own.  He  was  an  ideal  citizen  in  all  these 
relations,  and  was  never  found  wanting  in 
assuming  his  share  of  worldly  responsibilities 
that  face  one  in  a  live  community.  He  was 
a  leading  spirit  in  the  old  Relief  Hook  and 
Ladder  Company,  No.  1,  of  the  volunteer  fire 
department,  was  often  honored  by  the  com- 
pany in  its  active  career  as  well  as  in  the 
social  features  connected  with  its  long  main- 
tained existence  for  re-union  purposes  since 
their  active  career  ended  in  1886,  and  was 
the  life  of  their  banquet  occasions. 

]Mr.  Stephenson  was  married  on  the  23d  of 
October,  1878,  to  Mary  G.  Miller,  a  daughter 
of  S.  W.  and  Charlotte  (Stanley)  Miller.  She 
was  born  in  Newark,  New  Jersey,  receiving 
her  education  in  Mt.  Holyoke  Seminary  of 
Massachusetts  and  the  New  York  Normal  Col- 
lege, and  came  to  South  Bend  with  her  pa- 
rents in  1877,  the  father  having  served  as 
the  superintendent  of  the  Singer  factory  in 
this  city.  At  his  death  Mr.  Stephenson  left 
his  wife  and  four  children,  Mrs.  R.  T.  Urqu- 
hart,  Stanley,  Margaret  and  George.  Their 
first  born,  Lottie,  died  in  infancy.  Of  his 
father's  family  there  remain  three  brothers 
and  one  sLster,  Clinton  B.,  Burr  C,  Frank  A. 
and  Mary  A.,  the  wife  of  George  L.  Hager. 
Death  came  suddenly  to  Mr.  Stephenson  while 
visiting  relatives  in  Louisville,  Kentucky,  the 
disease  being  apoplexy.  Several  weeks  previ- 
ously he  had  been  prostrated  by  a  sudden 
attack  ascribed  to  acute  indigestion,  the  sick- 
ness coming  upon  him  just  after  his  return 
home  from  the  duties  of  the  factory,  but  he 
was  soon  about  again.  About  fifteen  or  more 
years  ago  he  was  afiSicted  with  a  stubborn  di- 
gestive trouble,  which  he  combatted  resolutely 
for  years  before  he  fully  recovered.  Of  late 
years,  however,  he  had  been  a  man  of  most 
robust  physique,  the  picture  of  health   and 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


lA^^-<^'^--A^^^'^----^2J>n->^  ) 


Digitized  by 


Google 


ir>:T(n:v  of  S'l.  jom.I'ii  coiwi^. 


;     »".    <si\'    i!'ftho^\  as  iUi   f*au.*<**or   had 

•  .  ^  <.  r\  !'Tv  w,.,  ,>  *'i. ::;'•'»  <t  •  i  Mit*  m  tih  ii' n-i 
;':;!>'  1:  .*  S"i:<j't!.   ;  m-I   iv<   ilu'f-    \.   'l-s'   j'-.^Tii 

^'■•^;'.v\       1   I  'It'.j-  11*^  ,\.!i'  .1.1  ^  -^P  .!<ii  of  1 .1'^  jM'- 

!.''■<    (.,     T|i<"    I  '.:!>    V. •*,,.)!      l\»i      ,  !..>    pH.Ni        -.-V'^t^ 

'*  '   '-  :-:  -    ■:   ■ '  .    K'-jJ  ]•>  tilt'  si  /i 

'.     ■      r-     1         tl'    '--r:  ''iN     ,\>\'      A"*:      U-i  ri     n 

'  '  .■  •  -  .«'  tM-iw  (• ...  |-.  n,  ,v  ,1.,  h.  ,•  %,:h  •:- 
'   ■•••_■     '       i\^  ll    1  ';ti\\  .)   <••»•■  r^w  :  .]    aua   jiiiiMi- 

-  '•  <  \mm].'.[,^        T  m    <■  r  M.-.  a.  •]    Air.. 

'   n'      St,     IS-^'.,        All     .*•'-     .     >t.     }\(M    U    r.ilMi-'ii 

'  .'.••]'  ^r,  ,1  }M-o'  .•'-'  iy  r  •  :  :mm-  (.i  t  !h  I.  ( ». 
t  >      J  *      i  K-  ^!^^'     \  '      J'  '      :i.  ^L    *.:i  si*!-'    nf    li'> 

I'lfUs;  Mr.(i»  to  ^i:):v'.f  ,t?  'i  ^':.i^.  ;  n.l  fu* 
o;.i.-.  t    (.f   rrii:il;i*     'j    v^v   h-'U-?..  •!>'   at..  '•li'M;-- 

A      1!,    SiTi'.'jv  .  V        \<'.    't-.itii    'M    i!j^.j;» 

;,  f.ltS    "M    isrU    '    i.-^i     pi'(/       ill    >^<    I  ••.•'/.      .  »'t*<t  ;,_;.% 

(.nt  i!.i-  .'u';r;>  ,h'"i  u  '■  ' ''••  :^■'^^-lnL^  a*-^ 'i>  <•!' 
i:is    hn'.ou'  I    .-.ii/.-u    r''    ^    -.th    ];,.;;.!     A.    H. 

^^■l•:t♦-}     "fi,    Alio    ')v     '  )J.u*  ,^    M.S   of    li.-t  <>I-'!;lr, 

!■[  •!*•'. 1  I--'  ,tn-'  kiri.lly  ..i'M*'  i:a(^  'vovii 
i:  t'l  tiir  f,[]V>  ,  i<  ..-  of  h  >  iV  !"^\■  i  ui/ons  to 
.'  r:  .i''K' *i  li'  :r.'»\  M)r^'"  "^'<  :.i"  ':^mi,  a^  L-' 
";  ^  f;  :'i''.-'/i\  U]]<-\  i:  ;  h-.-  tt-'.-'-L-N  \^  as  l-oia; 
-  •    I.a^MO     >n'-..  ,-s\    .-,...:  -.'.    lii.'i./;^     ,0    ^.-[i- 

-  '.ot(.  1^->'J,  Id.s  pare  '^  ^■■'  :'^  A::as'  T.  fi-! 
.'•  -'lit!.    -   .  p!     (.^   ;      v>  !.«>   ifs'i   <1^-!    li'^r.'   iTi 

■  •'  'Ii  .^  •  .  >  al  t^.  r,  '  au'i's  **\'  --'ii'  sf.  r-' 
•    '.  '  r'      ,wii's.       'I''"'y    ■v\i;',l    tht     'a\'t'r?!    o; 

•  o  I.-i'  ■  )^'  \\u^  W  :r  .;^'.  tl  c^,'  ihc  f.  !ii-  '• 
;    -  .  ...;;    '     .  ;i    iUtc?  •-<.  d    m^    ofu-   *  j    lK«'    I',;  .     (.  f 

;  "iv*  "mm!  ^■■;:t  tl.-r  i-i-.-i  tt,,l  s:f";:rit.  a;.->(i 
,.:    -1    -!   '  I  .  oj    hoii-     wb.^'h    ^^  '>    |".-'a!'^    «ai.' 

•  f     ;■       '  -.    ::■    1 1.-''    ^;\t*   oj*  'ii^'lustrv^   in    tl.r 

•  r'l"  >o\   Im  1   \va<  a  -J'uall  )ii  d  scfN- 

•:■  '        -    •    '■   (-'''Id    if:-'    :''t!r>-I_\'   r.ii.ie   tn    >    U*Il 

♦  '        .1    '.if  i^a     y^":'i    :'>  <  oio-  :,U.  at   t:i"  <"t--o 
'•I    /«m:s.      i"  "'■    !a;oi'.!iiU    ^ir<ajLr    li'td    ro- 

'        .       ^  '""'  -f  vcn  ,  L  \m.    h.^  t'tl'.'T.t'  »ti  lb    !)• 
'    ■  ri  J   "    ;!>''!   rf  : '"-  d  I  *  t  M  v\ .  ' '  aiai  pl'v.  'j- 
■  •*   '  1  .'.'  A    T    >*-i>li.n,^.'T'  v\'  Son,  aiul  t'n- 


r-!»'..i!!  I/r    c  f    ]:-    ]  fo    ^^  is    >;■*  !  ■      ■■    ,- 
a--l.\iti'>   <.f    \hi'    Sr^•I.h('"son    M, 
(  i»:.t'-.fiy  on    I-';.-l    'i'uM  stf'ot   ;-».  : 

('.  >l:  a-y  .M,.r.nf.  'aiiriT.«:  (    --i  p,.  ■-     -  ■  - 
tll!••'r.^   <d'   I^i  it    v,'H'd    iin  1<  rueai 
)!.  ih"  *-a,-i  Md.'.     T!m-  f.*.:r  "^i  -p   .^i.^- 
«-rs  tn-st   1mm--ui  r-  intM'^s^■d  in   I'l-'  '■ 
^altsn:*'  .  +hen  as  si-...*kh'  '.ir»s.  ;;  !  i     ■- 

m  M.Ts     of     lil:{t     UVirt     ai'd     jO    >    ,K'!*    ' 

?"■.  -    a-;   Mio  tnn"  of  *;i.^  <»  aM.     ■:    ;d.  ■ 
^  (';->•  r. sou    n»   h- in ■/  ^Ja- .'otnT -a •.•.-'•  ■ 

v\  j^    j<'Vif   f ,*'.   '\.    x-   lio    1     .:;'niM.* 

Ill  'in-'tn      1*   a    fit  !/'*M.    >:c   ^^  i  .-    i  'a'-    - 
^'''■i    ^.    a_r  •■»'♦  ^"^'X*'    '  :an.    t*  i.*: ;  \r    • 
o'.;l.;.Ml^     !>■::    .'f   de-nU  '     -    \.i"\\' 
f'Wii.       l!  ^    V, ,  s    ail    ■«*'^al    ^i:''»'i 
'  '■(*!'j!lon>      ;^l;d    Mas     !'*\.v    V'-.jid     .     - 
as-ai!.";-.'  L*s  sii*"»*  of  ■»»»•■  ;.y  ;.    ^ 
Mm:   la'-f  oM'-  ni    .  In'*     -onnn.n   '  / 
a   ii'r-or.iu   s5  jfi:    n     rl'*    o'.i    !;<',.•  f    ' 
\.:*r,i\  -  Ctahpany.  X  >    I.  -d  :  .••  '- 
tlo;  a"-, '.n-'Ll.    \'  as     ..-i  u    hojiw;  •  :    »■ 
p:i!*y    H     i^N   a.'!!'  "   i*ar*-('r    a  ,    \     ' 
s.   'iai   f'-ilnr-'s  ronm '.-i  mI    a   \h   i\ 
ta:n''d    <  :.   -:    'a   ^    t'-r    i,-  'm'oTi    p:< 
ll'.ni-    a'-ii.  o    r/'  .M'l*  tnidi'd   ^n    1 "  ■ 
'  n  '   !i''t»   of   ilu'.r   1,;o^m;  ,  ^    op/m.v. 

?»'"    Su»pn*  1  s  in   \^'a.s   i:%  ■  . ;.  d    ': 
'  '^  '■  o-  1",    1^/^.    'i-    M:jv;.    1  ,      Mi:'. 
"f  S.   \V.  ana  <  ^sa   i  ...        '-^tM.n-      * 
v.;s    U.»-n    ;..    \,  ..  •    1       \,..s    ,].   s. 
t^''!"      (]<a  ;.'  :-.n    in     \ii.     M.»'\'wk 
^i.«^va'to..,  MS  ,M'd   d,      \  ■'\    V    •■'      '     :• 
!•  '^f  .   a  ••*   (">jii*     *      >    ''*ii    lit-i 
"oi  Is     n    >77,    '^t      *'■.!.;  .*  •   I'-'     •    :    s.- 

;  I  IS  (-i;  V     A»    '    ^  (i'-a*  !i    \J . 

li^S     V.  i  .r     --nd    T^^.-'    ^    '/hii.lM*!'       '  i» 

'i:'-t.    S-;.:;i.  \       '•■.  :  ,■  ■♦'■  t    :  ' 

tir  st    '  .'  n.    i  J  r  .       '  "d    m        r.ii  •  ■ 

^'a!  I.'  t   .s    i ,    I  "V    • '.     *•     ]•  -t;  ■  ,t'    t;  ^  : 

<  n<i  (..  ,'  n;--    r,  »  "':;  *■  \    H.     '  •       •"  '         i"  ". 

-•Mid    :*  i:\     A.,    ti't     0  ■•.    •>•    i  :  '    I,     . 

I'.'Tf:  ■'•.!•■<    .  :  '.:•  :■:;    :  .  Vv.  <'       ' 

\  ^iln  ^  T-  'J  o  '\  ''^  ri    I  ■     '  ^^   ' '-'  .   .^       •  a-' 

(i'v.  .  V      i.   ';'v  ap  ■    '•  ^  .        ^-      •    . 

(aisl.v     *!•'    ('    .1    !"•  I     :  i-.s^".*     '    '•■     . 

,,;  .a.''<   ::  >(•>  i'"  d   :  I  ...  ..■•    "       _  ■    ■  ••  ■ 

i:.-ns   .•i..;!:n'.:   v,m»:     i    .,■    ot  t    •» ; 

i'  )iijt-'   fr')>'i   t]i,,  ^pr[  S's  «,»    r,  -    *    1  • 

w  as  s(v,,n   ,,^   v.*  a  .'^      .       \'mpI  i    ■;*',•:■  , 

,\   'a IS  ;  _'o    }.,'   V    p>  ,     '  •  +  "!    -v  :i^i    .     '-    .  1 

«.'   nI  ■^ "  1'  mI  *o,  \\  a''  (j   t."    ■■  a-  -a'  *.  u  v  - 

Un-    ,  I  a  Is  i-  M  I"  ia*  !*    '  y   ;      ....-'       < 

x."    .s,   hov .  '.an*.   »a'  b:i"i   ht .  n   a    •  •   '• 

I'M. nasi     ;>\y^i  pa\    ^hr    jortn'.-     -f 


Digitized  by  LjOOQIC 


^^^y^lA^S^ZA^-t-G^^^^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


19^3 


// 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


863 


the  personification  of  alert  activity.  He  had 
ever  been  known  in  this  city  as  a  man  above 
reproach,  one  of  the  most  considerate  of  em- 
ployers, one  of  the  most  far-seeing,  generous 
and  enterprising  of  its  citizens.  What  he  and 
his  brothers  had  won  had  been  by  their  own 
earnest,  intelligent  efforts,  ever  energetically 
directed.  Just  two  weeks  before  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  the  18th  of  March,  1905, 
Mr.  Stephenson  left  this  city  on  a  business 
trip,  seemingly  in  the  best  of  health,  but  only 
the  silent  form  was  brought  home.  No  death 
in  years  caused  more  genuine  sorrow. 

Wni-iAM  B.  Wright.  Both  the  business 
and  professional  records  of  William  B. 
Wright  are  alike  commendable,  for  in  both 
relations  he  has  been  true  to  the  trusts  re- 
posed in  him  and  has  shown  himself  worthy 
of  public  regard.  Both  as  a  lawyer  and  as 
a  real  estate  dealer  he  is  well  known  in  South 
Bend.  He  was  bom  in  Orleans  county.  New 
York,  on  the  29th  of  December,  1852.  His 
father,  Burley  Wright,  was  a  prominent  mer- 
chant in  that  county. 

After  pursuing  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Orleans  county  William  B.  Wright 
engaged  at  farm  labor  for  a  time.  He  then 
becan>e  connected  with  a  wholesale  shoe  house 
in  Rochester,  New  York,  and  was  also  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
In  1884  he  came  to  South  Bend,  and  after  a 
residence  here  of  four  years  he  was  elected 
a  justice  of  the  peace,  this  being  in  the  year 
1888,  and  he  continued  to  discharge  the  du- 
ties of  that  office  until  1896.  In  that  year 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Indiana,  and 
has  since  engaged  in  the  private  practice  of 
law  in  connection  with  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness and  insurance,  in  each  line  of  endeavor 
having  met  with  the  success  which  he  so  richly 
deserves.  During  the  days  of  the  Civil  war, 
in  1864,  Mr.  Wright  offered  his  services  in 
defense  of  the  north,  enlisting  in  Company 
F,  Ninetieth  New  York  regiment,  of  the  First 
Brigade,  First  Division,  Nineteenth  Army 
Corps,  and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war. 
In  his  fraternal  relations  he  is  a  Kjiight  Tem- 
plar Mason  and  a  member  of  other  orders. 

For  his  wife  Mr.  Wright  chose  Miss  Annie 
Metzger,  also  a  native  of  the  Empire  state, 
her  birth  occurring  in  Oswego. 

Joseph  Kish.  The  name  of  Joseph  Kish 
is  one  well  known  to  many  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  South  Bend,  for  here  he  has  passed 
many  years  of  his  life,  and  he  is  now  serving 
as  a  notary  public  and  as  a  steamship  agent. 


his  office  being  at  his  variety  store,  1125  West 
Thomas  street.  He  was  born  in  Hungary, 
November  7,  1860,  and  in  his  native  country 
was  reared  and  received  an  excellent  common 
school  education  in  the  village  where  he  was 
born.  In  1883,  how,ever,  he  left  his  little 
Hungarian  home  across  the  sea  and  made  the 
long  voyage  to  America,  stopping  for  a  time 
in  the  state  of  New  York.  Six  months  later 
he  made  his  way  to  Michigan,  but  after  a 
short  residence  in  that  state  came  to  South 
Bend  and  cast  about  for  any  occupation  that 
would  yield  him  an  honest  living.  During  a 
number  of  years  past,  however,  Mr.  Kish  has 
been  engaged  in  his  present  occupation,  hav- 
ing been  appointed  a  notary  public  by  the 
governor  in  1902,  while  in  1905  he  was  re- 
appointed to  that  position,  and  during  the 
last  seven  years  has  served  as  a  steamship 
agent,  representing  all  the  principal  lines  to 
the  old  country,  •  the  Hamburg-Ameri- 
can, Holland-American,  Cunard,  American, 
French,  Anchor  and  North  German  Lloyd 
lines.  He  gives  a  stanch  and  unfaltering 
support  to  the  Republican  party  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  and  is  a  member  of  the  St.  Joseph 
Sick  Benefit  Society  and  the  St.  Stephen  Ro- 
man Catholic  Society.  Twenty-two  years  have 
passed  and  gone  since  Mr.  Kish  cast  his  lot 
with  the  residents  of  South  Bend,  and  in  that 
time  has  so  lived  as  to  win  the  confidence 
and  approbation  of  his  fellow  men,  while  at 
the  same  time  he  has  gained  an  enviable  posi- 
tion in  its  business  circles. 

He  married,  February  5,  1888,  Anna  Tatar, 
also  a  native  of  Hungary,  and  their  six  chil- 
dren are  Joseph,  Frank,  Michel,  Charles,  Alex 
and  Anna. 

Barney  C.  Smith,  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Smith  &  Jackson,  prominent  lumber  dealers 
in  South  Bend,  is  numbered  among  the 
sturdy,  persevering  and  honorable  sons  that 
the  fatherland  has  furnished  to  the  United 
States.  He  was  bom  in  Germany  on  the  25th 
of  January,  1854,  but  when  a  babe  of  one 
year  his  father,  Jacob  Smith,  brought  the 
family  to  the  United  States  and  established 
the  home  in  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  where 
he  purchased  a  farm  in  Union  township  and 
became  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of 
the  locality.  It  was  on  this  homestead  that 
Barney  C.  Smith  grew  to  years  of  maturity, 
attending  the  school  near  his  home  during  his 
boyhood  days,  and  when  the  time  came  for 
him  to  begin  the  battle  of  life  for  himself 
he    began    working    at    farm    labor    by    the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


864 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


month.  He  was  an  industrious  lad,  and  in 
1886  he  was  able  to  engage  in  the  lumber 
business,  first  forming  a  partnership  witli  his 
brother,  Frederick  Smith,  but  a  short  time 
afterward,  in  1887,  became  associated  in  the 
business  with  Charles  Jftckson,  the  firm  name 
being  Smith  &  Jackson,  and  success  has  re- 
warded their  weU  directed  efforts.  In  addi- 
tion Mr.  Smith  is  also  connected  with  the 
Ziegler  &  Stickle  Lumber  Company  of  South 
Bend.  Thus  his  varied  interests  rank  him 
among  the  most  prominent  business  men  of 
St.  Joseph  county,  where  only  ability  of  a 
high  order  is  recognized. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  1879,  Mr.  Smith  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Julia  Kimball 
Harmon,  who  is  the  mother  of  one  daughter 
by  her  former  marriage,  Cora  Harmon,  while 
she  also  has  an  adopted  daughter,  Mrs.  Mamy 
Beck.  Since  age  conferred  upon  him  the  right 
of  franchise  Mr.  Smith  has  been  identified 
with  the  interests  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  formerly  was  its  representative  In  the 
office  of  city  commissioner,  while  he  is  now 
serving  his  first  term  as  a  county  commis- 
sioner, always  active  in  the  public  life  of  his 
community.  His  fraternal  relations  are  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Elks  and  the 
Masonic  order.  Through  the  many  years  of 
his  residence  in  St.  Joseph  county  he  has  ever 
been  true  to  the  trusts  reposed  in  him,  and 
his  reputation  in  business  circles  is  unassail- 
able. He  commands  the  respect  of  all  by  his 
upright  life  and  is  indelibly  engraving  his 
name  on  the  pages  of  the  county's  history. 

Henry  B.  Hine.  In  1850,  about  the  time 
the  first  railroad  was  built  through  northern 
Indiana  and  the  enterprises  and  industries 
were  being  established  which  mad^  South 
Bend  a  prosperous  city,  there  arrived  in  town 
a  young  man  of  twenty-one  years  who  first 
became  known  to  the  citizens  as  a  clerk  in 
a  hardware  store,  but  who  is  now  remembered 
as  one  of  the  leading  citizens  and  sterling 
business  men  of  the  city  for  more  than  thirty 
years.  The  late  Henry  B.  Hine,  whose  deati 
occurred  in  this  city,  June  3,  1887,  was  born 
in  Naugatuck,  Connecticut,  November  1, 1829. 
He  had  the  advantages  of  a  college  educa- 
tion in  his  youth  before  coming  west,  though 
he  began  his  business  career  as  a  clerk,  from 
which  plane  he  worked  his  way  to  more  than 
ordinary  prominence.  He  was  in  the  hard- 
ware business  in  Plymouth,  Indiana,  after  he 
had  gained  considerable  experience  in  that 
line  in  South  Bend,  and  another  early  venture 


was  a  trip  to  Pike's  Peak  during  the  fifties, 
when  the  great  gold  excitement  was  rife  in 
that  locality.  After  his  return  to  South  Bend 
he  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  br(^erage 
business,  and  until  his  death  occupied  a  high 
position  among  his  contemporaries  in  busi- 
ness and  social  life.  One  of  the  outstanding 
facts  of  his  career  was  his  faithful  adherence 
to  the  Methodist  church,  of  which  he  was  long 
a  member,  and  ^t  the  time  of  his  death  was 
a  member  of  its  board  of  trustees. 

A  South  Bend  pioneer  whose  name  is  very 
deserving  of  mention  in  this  connection  was 
Benjamin  Wall.  He  was  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  arriving  in  South  Bend  in  1836, 
when  there  was  only  a  small  population  along 
the  river  banks,  he  became  a  tavern-keeper, 
having  one  of  the  first,  if  not  the  first,  public 
house  in  this  locality.  Besides  holding  the 
position  of  landlord,  which  was  a  very  digni- 
fied office  in  those  days,  he  was  also  honored 
by  being  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  serving 
as  such  for  many  years.  He  lived  to  the  age 
of  seventy-seven  years,  while  his  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Priscilla  Ki^g,  a  native  of 
Delaware,  survived  until  her  eighty-second 
year.  Of  their  family  of  five  children  three 
are  now  living,  namely :  D.  K.  WaU,  of  Den- 
ver, Colorado;  Mr.  M.  C.  Veasey,  of  South 
Bend;  Mary  L.,  the  youngest  of  the  family, 
who  has  been  a  lifelong  resident  of  South 
Bend,  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Hine.  As  the 
widow  of  one  of  South  Bend's  well  known 
citizens,  and  as  a  member  of  one  of  the  city's 
pioneer  families,  Mrs.  Hine  lives  in  the  con- 
stant esteem  of  the  people  of  her  home  city. 

Charles  Brechbnseeb.  The  history  of 
South  Bend  would  be  incomplete  without 
mention  of  this  worthy  representative  of  its 
industrial  interests,  C.  Brechenser,  to  whom 
belongs  the  honor  of  being  one  of  its  oldest 
merchants  in  years  of  continuous  service.  He 
was  bom  in  Putnam  county,  Ohio,  December 
22,  1858,  and  is  of  German  parentage,  his 
father,  Frank  Brechenser,  having  left  his  na- 
tive land  of  Germany  for  America  during  his 
young  manhood,  and  he  is  now  a  resident  of 
Dowagiac,  Michigan.  He  removed  to  Cass 
county,  Michigan,  when  his  son  was  only  six 
months  old,  and  there  the  latter  grew  to  years 
of  maturity  and  learned  the  baker's  trade, 
engaging  in  that  occupation  in  Niles,  that 
state,  when  sixteen  years  of  age.  Four  years 
later  he  removed  to  Three  Rivers,  MicWgan, 
where  he  remained  for  one  year,  going  thence 
to  Dowagiac  and  entering  the  bakery  and  gro- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTOKY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


865 


ceiy  business.  His  next  place  of  residence 
was  at  Plymouth,  Indiana,  where  he  remained 
until  September,  1883,  and  in  that  year  came 
to  South  Bend  and  in  company  with  Sylvester 
Gordon  continued  his  grocery  and  bakery 
business.  In  June,  1884,  this  partnership  was 
dissolved,  Mr.  Brechenser  purchasing  his 
partner's  interest,  and  he  has  continued  as 
the  sole  proprietor  of  the  business  to  the  pres- 
ent time,  though  in  July,  1904,  he  closed  the 
bakery  department.  In  1887  he  started  an- 
other store,  which  he  operated  about  one  year, 
then  sold  to  Mr.  Paxson.  Thus  during  the 
long  period  of  twenty-four  years  he  has  been 
numbered  among  the  prominent  business  men 
of  South  Bend,  where  his  intrinsic  worth  is 
recognized,  and  in  addition  to  his  large  gro- 
cery interests  he  is  also  a  stockholder  in  the 
South  Bend  Wholesale  Grocery  Company. 

During  his  residence  in  Plymouth,  Indiana, 
Mr.  Brechenser  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Matilda  M.  Hankey,  of  Kalamazoo,  Michigan, 
and  they  have  one  little  daughter,  Mary  Alice, 
a  little  maiden  of  two  years.  In  his  political 
connections  Mr.  Brechenser  is  a  Democrat 
where  national  issues  are  involved,  but  locally 
votes  irrespective  of  party  ties.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  church  and  of  the  Cath- 
olic Knights  of  America. 

A.  A.  Waterpbeld,  sales  manager  of  the 
Colfax  Manufacturing  Company,  with  resi- 
dence at  304  North  St.  Louis  street,  South 
Bend,  is  one  of  the  younger  representatives 
of  the  city's  business  interests,  but  he  has  al- 
ready attained  a  leading  place  in  its  com- 
mercial activities.  He  was  born  in  Notting- 
ham, England,  July  2,  1878,  a  son  of  James 
and  Julia  (Denman)  Waterfield,  both  of 
whom  were  also  natives  of  the  mother  coun- 
try. When  their  son  was  a  little  lad  of  four 
years  they  came  to  the  United  States,  locating 
in  Newark,  New  Jersey,  but  about  four  years 
later  they  removed  to  Oswego,  New  York,  and 
subsequently  to  Maumee,  Ohio.  Prom  there 
they  journeyed  to  Cincinnati,  that  state, 
thence  to  Amsterdam,  New  York,  and  finally 
came  to  South  Bend.  The  son  accompanied 
his  parents  on  their  various  removals  and  at- 
tended the  schools  of  the  different  places  in 
which  they  resided,  completing  his  education 
in  the  Commercial  College  of  this  city.  His 
first  business  employment  was  in  the  humble 
position  of  ofSce  boy  for  the  Colfax  Manufac- 
turing Company,  with  whom  he  became  asso- 
ciated in  August,  1897,  and  gradually,  by  his 
persistent   effort   and  laudable   ambition,   he 


ascended  the  ladder  of  success  until  in  1902 
he  was  made  the  assistant  manager  of  this 
large  corporation.  On  the  1st  of  May,  19Q7, 
he  entered  upon  his  present  relations  with 
the  company,  that  of  sales  manager,  and  in 
the  absence  of  the  general  manager  he  is  now 
in  charge  of  the  plant. 

On  the  28th  of  June,  1900,  Mr.  Waterfield 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Cora  L.,  a  daughter 
of  Joseph  and  Sarah  MacDonald,  and  they 
have  one  son,  Albert  J.  M.,  who  was  born  on 
the  30th  of  May,  1901.  Mr.  Waterfield  is 
well  and  prominently  known  both  in  the  busi- 
ness and  social  circles  of  this  city  which  has 
been  his  home  during  the  past  fourteen  years, 
and  South  Bend  is  proud  to  claim  him  among 
her  younger  sons. 

Joseph  E.  Mosset.  A  most  exemplary 
citizen  and  an  honored  hero  of  the  war  of 
the  rebellion  is  Joseph  E.  Mossey,  of  South 
Bend,  where  for  many  years  he  has  held  a 
responsible  position  with  one  of  the  leading 
manufacturing  concerns  of  the  country.  He 
was  bom  in  the  province  of  Quebec,  Canada, 
September  15,  1847,  but  when  not  yet  four 
years  of  age  he  was  brough  by  his  parents, 
Francis  and  Clara  Mossey,  to  South  Bend, 
arriving  in  this  city  on  the  2d  of  August, 
1851.  When  he  had  attained  the  age  of  eleven 
years  his  parents  removed  to  a  farm  north- 
east of  the  city  about  five  and  a  half  miles, 
in  Penn  township,  where  the  little  lad  at- 
tended school  during  three  months  of  the  win- 
ter seasons,  the  remainder  of  the  year  being 
devoted  to  the  work  of  the  farm  and  to  the 
pleasures  of  youth.  He  was  but  eighteen 
years  of  age  when  he  enlisted  for  service  in 
the  Civil  war  in  1864,  entering  Company  F, 
Thirty-third  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  en- 
tering the  ranks  as  a  private,  and  continuing 
to  serve  his  country  f aithfuly  and  loyally  un- 
til the  close  of  the  conflict,  and  was  honorably 
discharged  on  the  25th  of  July,  1865.  When 
his  country  no  longer  needed  his  services  Mr. 
Mossey  returned  to  his  home  to  resume  the 
peaceful  pursuits  of  farm  labor,  thus  con- 
tinuing until  about  1871,  when  he  came  to 
South  Bend  and  became  an  employe  of  the 
Birdsell  and  Singer  manufacturing  compa- 
nies, working  in  the  machinery  department. 
In  1873,  desiring  to  see  the  western  life,  Mr. 
Mossey  went  to  Columbus,  Nebraska,  but  a 
short  time  later  continued  his  westward  jour- 
ney and  became  a  cowboy  on  the  plains  of 
the  North  Platte  river,  continuing  that  wild 
and  fascinating  life  for  one  season.    He  was 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


866 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


then  ready  to  return  to  his  old  home  in  South 
Bend,  where  he  resumed  his  connection  with 
the  Singer  company,  first  as  a  pattern  filler 
and  later  as  a  shaper,  for  the  long  period  of 
seventeen  years  continuing  his  work  as  a  ma- 
chinist. He  was  then  appointed  to  the  re- 
sponsible position  of  foreman,  the  duties  of 
which  oflSce  he  has  ever  since  continued  to 
fill  with  ability.  Thus  for  many  years  he  has 
devoted  the  labors  of  his  life  to  the  Singer 
company,  being  now  one  of  their  oldest  as 
well  as  most  competent  employes.  For  his 
connection  with  this  one  corporation  covers 
the  long  period  of  thirty-seven  years,  years 
largely  devoted  to  the  upbuilding  and  en- 
largement of  their  interests,  and  this  long  con- 
nection of  itself  speaks  volumes  for  his  ex- 
cellent business  ability,  his  trustworthiness 
and  his  superior  charaeteristics. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  1876,  Mr.  Mossey  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Eleanor  M.  Thomas,  the 
daughter  of  William  H.  and  Martha  J.  (Bor- 
den) Thomas.  She  was  born  in  Summer- 
ville,  Ohio,  but  was  only  a  babe  of  six  months 
when  brought  to  South  Bend.  In  1871  she 
also  went  to  Nebraska,  where  she  remained 
for  four  years,  returning  thence  to  South 
Bend.  Two  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Mossey,  Ernest  L.  and  Mildred  M., 
both  at  home.  Mr.  Mossey  has  membership 
relations  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Lodge 
No.  14,  of  South  Bend,  and  since  age  gave 
him  the  right  of  franchise  he  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  Republican  party. 

Jerry  Voel.kers  is  a  typical  American  citi- 
zen, thoroughly  in  harmony  with  the  spirit 
of  the  republic,  and  making  the  most  of  his 
opportunities,  has  steadily  worked  his  way 
upward  to  success,  being  now  the  manager  of 
the  South  Bend  Brewing  Association.  His 
birth  occurred  in  Germany  on  the  27th  of 
August,  1864,  and  in  his  native  land  he  re- 
ceived his  educational  training  and  learned 
the  plumber's  trade.  In  1892  he  bade  adieu 
to  his  home  in  the  fatherland,  and  crossing 
the  ocean  to  the  United  States,  established  his 
home  in  Racine,  Wisconsin,  where  for  ten 
years  he  worked  at  the  plumber's  trade,  grad- 
ually forging  his  way  forward  in  his  chosen 
line  until  his  name  became  a  familiar  one  in 
the  business  circles  of  that  city.  It  was  in 
the  year  1902  that  he  came  to  South  Bend  and 
with  his  usual  energy  entered  into  the  busi- 
ness life  of  this  city,  resuming  the  vocation 
in  which  he  had  become  so  proficient  and  thus 
continuing  until  the  first  of  April,  1904,  when 


he  became  the  manager  of  the  South  Bend 
Brewing  Association,  his  present  position. 

Ere  leaving  his  native  land  Mr.  Voelkers 
married  Regina  Foelsen,  also  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  they  have  become  the  parents  of 
five  children,— John,  Jerry  W.,  Carl,  Ger- 
trude and  Mary.  ^Ir.  Voelkers  is  a  member 
of  the  Elks,  the  Turners,  the  Owls  and  the 
Catholic  Polyesters,  in  all  of  which  he  is  prom- 
inent, and  he  is  an  active  worker  in  the  ranks 
of  the  Democratic  party. 

F.  H.  KowALSKi,  a  prominent  grocery  mer- 
chant of  South  Bend,  was  born  in  Poland, 
Prussia,  March  5,  1845,  and  in  his  native 
country  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools.  In  his  young  manhood  he  decided 
to  cast  his  lot  with  the  citizens  of  America, 
and  coming  direct  to  South  Bend  he  arrived 
in  this  city  on  the  19th  of  June,  1872.  His 
first  work  here  was  for  the  Studebaker  Broth- 
ers, with  whom  he  remained  for  eight  years 
as  a  body  maker,  and  at  the  end  of  that 
period  embariced  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness on  Dunham  street,  1002  to  1004, 
entering  upon  his  independent  business  career 
on  the  1st  of  April,  1880.  Mr.  Kowalski  sub- 
sequently sold  this  store  to  C.  V.  Korpal  in 
1890  and  then  turned  his  attention  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  pfurchasing  ti^  farm  of 
David  Cravison  in  Warren  township,  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  consisting  of  three  hundred  and 
tw^enty  acres.  He  still  owns  this  place,  al- 
though in  1894  he  rented  it  and  returned  to 
South  Bend  and  to  the  grocery  business,  at 
that  time  erecting  his  large  double  building 
in  which  for  the  past  fourteen  years  he  has 
been  actively  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade. 
In  conducting  this  enterprise  he  has  constant- 
ly enlarged  its  scope,  and  is  now  numbered 
among  the  representative  grocery  merchants 
of  South  Bend. 

On  the  23d  of  April,  1872,  Mr.  Kowal^ 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Katharine  An- 
drzejewska,  and  they  have  four  living  chil- 
dren, namely:  Kazmiera,  the  wife  of  Anton 
Buholtz;  Lucy,  the  wife  of  Leo  Hasinski; 
Leonard;  and  Edward.  Mr.  Kowalski  gives 
his  political  support  to  the  Republican  party, 
and  from  1888  to  1890  represented  the  Sixth 
ward  in  the  city  council,  and  in  many  other 
ways  has  shown  his  public-spirited  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  his  adopted  city.  For  many 
years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Society 
of  St.  Iledwige's,  and  for  the  past  ten  years 
has  served  as  its  president,  and  also  belongs 
to  the  Polish  National  Alliance  of  U.  S.  N.  A. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


THE 

NEW  YORK 

/PUBLIC  Llii^ARYl 

FMui^tltnt. 
1009 


Digitized  by 


Google 


H-i/n/i^   ^      r^GL^ 


Qy^-^^L- 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


867 


Id  his  business  career  Mr.  Kowalski  has 
worked  earnestly  and  energetically,  and  the 
success  which  he  has  achieved  in  the  merited 
reward  of  honorable  effort  and  straightfor- 
ward dealing,  which  commands  the  respect 
of  all. 

M.UIION  S.  GrORSKi,  president  of  the  Kos- 
ciuszko  Building  and  Loan  Fund  Association 
of  South  Bend,  was  bom  in  Wiktorowo,  West 
Prussia,  Germany,  October  3,  1874.  When 
he  was  only  eight  years  of  age  the  family  left 
their  little  German  home  for  America,  arriv- 
ing in  the  city  of  New  York  on  the  4th  of 
December,  1882,  but  they  at  once  made  their 
way  to  Alpena,  Michigan,  where  the  son 
Marion  was  reared  to  years  of  maturity  and 
received  his  education  in  the  public  and 
parochial  schools.  When  but  thirteen  years 
of  age  he  began  working  at  the  trade  of  cigar 
making,  and  after  traveling  about  the  country 
for  a  time  took  up  his  permanent  abode  in 
South  Bend  in  September,  1892,  being  still 
engaged  in  the  occupation  of  cigar  making. 
Since  attaining  to  years  of  maturity  Mr. 
Gorski  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  public 
affairs,  having  organized  many  labor  unions, 
and  was  made  president  of  the  Kosciuszko 
Building  and  Loan  Fund  Association  on  the 
20th  of  December,  1905,  having  previously 
held  the  office  of  vice-president.  He  has  also 
held  most  of  the  ofSces  in  the  Cigarmakers' 
Union,  and  serves  bs  recording  secretary  now, 
served  as  secretary  and  vice-president  of  the 
Central  Labor  Union  of  South  Bend,  and  is 
an  active  worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  In  1904  he  was  elected  to  rep- 
resent the  second  ward  in  the  city  council, 
in  which  position  he  served  for  two  years,  and 
in  all  life's  relations,  political,  social  and  pri- 
vate, he  commands  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  those  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact.  He 
Ls  president  of  tihe  St.  Casimir  Society,  a 
member  of  the  Polish  National  Union  and  the 
Turners  and  also  of  the  St.  Hedwige's 
Catholic  ehuTch. 

On  the  14th  of  January,  1895,  Mr.  Gorski 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Victoria  Otolski, 
and  they  have  six  children, — ^Michael,  Louis, 
Clara,  Martha,  Helen  and  Marie  (deceased). 

Henry  Edwin  Hain.  During  almost  his 
entire  life  Henry  E.  Hain  has  been  num- 
bered among  the  citizens  of  St.  Joseph  county. 
His  birth,  however,  occurred  in  Edwardsburg, 
Michigan,  on  the  17th  of  September,  1836. 
His  father,  Leonard  Hain,  was  a  native  of 
North  Carolina,  but  his  death  occurred  in 


South  Bend  in  1883,  when  he  had  reached  the 
age  of  eighty  years.  He  removed  from  ^ 
Springfield,  Ohio,  to  Edwardsburg,  Michigan, 
where  he  resided  for  two  years,  and  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  was  spent  in  South  Bend, 
where  he  became  well  known  as  a  chair  maker 
and  painter.  In  his  political  affiliations  he 
was  first  a  Whig  and  later  a  Republican.  Mr. 
Hain  married  Julia  Ann  Niblick,  whose  step- 
father, Mr.  Beardsley,  was  the  first  white  set- 
tler in  Cass  county,  Michigan,  at  Edwards- 
burg. Mrs.  Hain's  brothers  moved  to  Cass 
county  in  1835,  where  they  entered  land,  and 
her  death  occurred  in  South  Bend  at  the  age 
of  eighty-one  years.  She  became  the  mother 
of  thirteen  children,  but  the  son,  Henry  E., 
and  daughter,  Sarah  Marilla  Slusher,  of  South 
Bend,  are  the  only  ones  now  living. 

Henry  E.  Hain  was  but  two  years  of  age 
when  brought  by  his  parents  to  South  Bend, 
Indiana,  which  continued  as  his  home  until 
1859,  in  that  year  coming  to  Harris  township, 
St.  Joseph  county,  to  work  for  Ed  Irvin,  the 
most  prominent  farmer  of  this  township.  In 
1861,  with  twelve  other  employes  of  Mr.  Irvin, 
he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  war,  be- 
coming a  member  of  Company  P,  Twenty- 
ninth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  under 
Colonel  John  F.  Miller.  They  were  assigned 
to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  Mr. 
Hain  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh  and 
Corinth,  also  many  minor  engagements,  but 
after  a  year  and  a  half  of  service  he  con- 
tracted typhoid  fever  and  left  Chattanooga 
for  his  home.  He  later,  however,  assisted  in 
recruiting  the  Twenty-first  Indiana  Battery 
and  accompanied  it  to  Indianapolis,  where  its 
officers  were  chosen.  Captain  Andrews  being 
placed  in  command  and  Mr.  Hain  its  sutler, 
continuing  in  that  capacity  until  the  battery 
was  disbanded  at  Covington  and  ordered  to 
the  Department  of  the  Cumberland.  Mr. 
Hain  then  returned  home  and  resumed  work 
for  Mr.  Irvin,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
he  started  on  his  long  journey  to  the  Pacific 
coast  in  1864.  Leaving  St.  Joseph,  Missouri, 
on  the  1st  of  February,  1864,  with  a  mule 
team  he  journeyed  to  Idaho,  thence  to  Kotui, 
British  Columbia,  and  on  to  Washington  and 
Oregon,  spending  the  winter  of  1865-1866  in 
the  Blue  mountains.  Leaving  San  Francisco 
during  the  latter  part  of  1865,  he  continued 
his  journey  to  Manila,  Mexico,  and  then 
started  on  the  return  journey  home  by 
way  of  Panama  and  New  York,  ar- 
riving   home    in     November,     1866,    where 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


868 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


he  again  resumed  work  on  the  farm  of 
Mr.  Irvin.  His  connection  with  that  gentle- 
man continued  during  the  long  period  of 
twenty-nine  years,  which  speaks  volumes  for 
his  integrity  and  excellent  business  ability. 
During  the  past  twenty  years  Mr.  Hain  has 
resided  on  his  present  farm  in  section  13, 
Harris  township,  originally  a  part  of  the  Ir- 
vin place,  and  now  well  known  as  the  Syca- 
more Fruit  Farm,  for  on  his  land  stands  the 
only  sycamore  tree  between  Granger  and 
South  Bend.  The  homestead  consists  of  eight 
acres,  devoted  wholly  to  the  culture  of  all 
kinds  of  fruit  adapted  to  this  soil  and  climate, 
and  the  many  substantial  buildings  which 
adorn  the  place  stand  as  monuments  to  his 
ability. 

In  1867  Mr.  Hain  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Maximelia  Baker,  a  native  of  Poughkeep- 
sie,  New  York,  and  whose  death  occurred  in 
Missouri,  leaving  two  children,  Mamie  C.  Cun- 
ningham, who  resides  with  her  father,  and 
Erne  B.,  a  traveling  salesman  and  whose 
home  is  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  In  1884  Mr. 
Hain  married  Melvina  Shurte,  who  was  bom 
in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  and  died  in  April, 
1903.  There  were  no  children  by  the  second 
marriage.  Mr.  Hain  is  a  member  of  the 
Grange,  the  Gleaners,  the  Knights  of  the  Mac- 
cabees, the  Horticultural  Society  of  St.  Jo- 
seph County,  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Repub- 
lic, and  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic order.  A  lifelong  Republican,  his  first 
presidential  vote  was  cast  for  John  C.  Fre- 
mont, and  for  ten  years  he  served  as  chair- 
man of  the  Republican  township  committee, 
and  was  also  appointed  census  enumerator. 
Mr.  Hain  can  relate  many  interesting  inci- 
dents of  his  pioneer  life  in  St.  Joseph  county, 
for  as  a  boy  he  played  with  the  Indians,  and 
during  his  early  residence  in  South  Bend 
there  were  only  eighteen  houses  in  the  now 
IM>pulous  city,  while  the  roads  of  the  county 
were  then  but  mere  trails.  He  worked  as  a 
brick  cairier  at  thirty-five  cents  a  day  on  the 
construction  of  the  first  Methodist  church  in 
the  city,  and  he  was  with  the  Studebakers 
when  they  were  manufacturing  the  Utah 
wagons.  He  can  recall  the  time  when  they 
paid  him  and  a  companion  the  only  dollar 
they  had  on  hand  to  attend  a  circus  that  had 
come  to  town,  for  everything  was  plentiful 
in  those  days  excepting  money.  But  through- 
out all  the  years  which  have  since  come  and 
uone  he  has  steadily  worked  his  way  upward 
to  a  position  of  affluence,  advancing  step  by 


step  along  the  tried  paths  of  honorable  effort 
until  he  has  reached  the  goal  of  prosperity. 

Renatus  H.  Duey.  When  Renatus  H.  Duey 
passed  away  South  Bend  lost  one  of  its  most 
valued  citizens.  His  entire  life  was  spent  in 
the  city  of  his  birth,  and  during  a  long  period 
he  was  one  of  its  noted  singers,  so  that  as 
long  as  memory  remains  to  those  who  knew 
him  his  beautiful  life  will  remain  as  a  blessed 
benediction.  His  birth  occurred  in  South 
Bend  on  the  27th  of  August,  1850,  and  it  was 
during  the  pioneer  epoch  in  the  his- 
tory of  St.  Joseph  county  that  the 
Duey  family  was  founded  within  its 
borders,  aiding  in  its  subsequent  wonderful 
development.  They  owned  the  first  piano  in 
South  Bend,  which  is  now  in  possession  of 
Mrs.  Duey,  and  were  numbered  among  the 
leading  citizens'  of  the  community,  their  in- 
fluence being  ever  used  for  the  good  and  well 
being  of  those  associated  with  them  in  any 
way.  Henry  Duey,  the  father  of  R.  H.,  was 
of  Pennsylvania  Dutch  descent,  and  his  name 
is  numbered  among  those  who  came  to  South 
Bend  in  its  early  days  and  were  prominent 
in  its  subsequent  history. 

In  the  University  of  Notre  Dame,  Mr.  Duey 
of  this  review  received  an  excellent  educa- 
tional training,  and  early  in  life  his  wonder- 
ful powers  as  a  musician  were  developed, 
finally  becoming  recognized  as  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  baritone  singers  of  the  city  as  well 
as  in  the  entire  county.  His  wonderful  talent 
led  to  his  membership  in  the  St.  James 
Orchestra,  one  of  the  finest  in  this  section  of 
the  state,  and  he  was  the  first  of  its  members 
to  pass  away  in  death.  It  has  been  said  that 
the  soul  finds  its  best  and  'truest  expression 
in  music,  and  thus  it  seemed  to  Mr.  Duey, 
but  death  ended  this  beautiful  life  on  the  9th 
of  October,  1904.  He  has  gone  to 
**Join  the  choir  invisible 
Of  those  immortal  dead  who  live  again 
In  minds  niade  better  by  their  presence." 

Mr.  Duey  was  first  married  to  Nellie  Rob- 
inson, who  died  after  a  happy  married  life  of 
tA^elve  years,  and  on  the  2d  of  January,  1904, 
Mr.  Duey  married  Ruth  Lumbert,  the  daugh- 
ter of  E.  J.  and  Mary  Earl.  She  had  been 
previously  married  to  0.  N.  Lumbert,  by 
whom  she  had  one  daughter,  Ollie,  the  wife 
of  R.  H.  Blackburn,  of  South  Bend.  Mrs. 
Duey  was  born  in  Lockport,  Michigan,  but 
during  her  girlhood  days  accompanied  her 
parents  on  their  various  removals,  residing  in 
Jackson,  Hillsdale,  Michigan,  Syracuse,  New 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


isKPU    ^:nv  .TV 


/f    .•  .;    -   .1. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


1 1 V.  i^    yy 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


869 


York,  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  finally  came  to 
South  Bend,  where  she  now  owns  what  is 
known  as  the  Duey  Flats  on  East  Wayne 
street,  consisting  of  twelve  flats,  and  in  addi- 
tion also  owns  the  old  homestead  of  the  Dueys. 
In  the  death  of  R.  H.  Duey  the  community 
mourned  the  loss  of  one  of  its  most  valued 
citizens,  but  his  wonderful  personality  and 
his  influence  for  good  will  remain  with  those 
who  knew  him. 

James  Lake  is  one  of  the  best  known  among 
-the  dealers  in  meats  in  the  city  of  South 
Bend,  his  courtesy,  fair  dealing  and  industry 
being  proverbial  in  a  city  where  such  business 
prabity  and  enterprise  are  estimated  at  their 
true  worth.  He  was  born  in  the  mother  coun- 
try of  England,  at  Devonshire,  on  the  29th 
of  April,  1854,  and  there  he  spent  the  first 
seventeen  years  of  his  life.  Coming  thence 
to  the  United  States  to  make  for  himself  a 
home  and  a  place  in  the  activities  of  life  he 
located  in  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  in  1876  en- 
gaged in  business  in  Englewood,  one  of  its 
principal  suburbs,  where  he  lived  and  labored 
for  eighteen  years.  It  was  at  the  close  of 
that  period,  in  1904,  that  he  came  to  South 
Bend,  where  he  has  since  been  numbered 
among  its  representative  business  men  and 
citizens,  and  to  his  credit  it  may  be  stated 
that  he  is  the  only  man  to  win  success  at  his 
present  location,  531  South  Michigan  street. 
He  has  attained  his  prestige  by  personal  effort 
and  the  correct  application  of  the  powers 
which  are  his,  while  his  course  has  ever  been 
such  as  to  retain  to  him  unqualified  confidence 
and  esteem  as  an  able  business  man  and  a 
public-spirited  citizen. 

In  1880  Mr.  Lake  was  united  in  mdrriage 
to  Laura  M.  Nicks,  also  a  native  of  England, 
and  they  have  two  children  living,  a  son  and 
a  daughter,  Winnet  Ralph  and  Edna  B.  Mr. 
Lake  holds  fraternal  relations  with  the  Elks, 
the  Masonic  order  and  the  Sons  of  St.  (Jeorge, 
and  also  for  a  time  aflSliated  with  the  Knights 
of  Pythias.  He  is  independent  in  his  politi- 
cal relations,  voting  for  the  man  regardless 
of  party  ties,  and  he  is  numbered  among 
South  Bend's  honored  citizens. 

John  B.  Habeble  is  numbered  among  the 
most  successful  and  leading  business  men  of 
South  Bend,  prominently  identified  with  its 
manufacturing  interests.  Many  years  of  his 
life  have  been  passed  within  the  confines  of 
this  city,  and  his  advancement  has  been  along 
the  lines  of  its  growth,  due  to  progressive, 
resolute  purpose  and  laudable  ambition.    In- 


diana claims  him  among  her  native  sons,  his 
birth  occurring  at  Valparaiso  on  the  24th  of 
June,  1855,  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Cynthia 
Haberle.  It  was  in  1872'  that  Mr.  John  B. 
Haberle  came  to  South  Bend,  entering  the 
employ  of  Jacob  Strayer  &  Company,  with 
whom  he  served  his  apprenticeship  as  a  ma- 
chinist, remaining  in  their  employ  for  twelve 
years.  During  the  succeeding  nine  years  he 
was  connected  with  the  Studebaker  works, 
having  charge  of  their  machine  shops  during 
five  years  of  the  time.  Severing  his  connec- 
tion with  that  corporation,  Mr.  Haberle  in 
company  with  Messrs.  John  Graham  and  El- 
mer Strayer  purchased  the  Jacob  Strayer  & 
Company's  shops,  this  being  in  January,  1894, 
and  later  the  two  former  gentlemen  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  Elmer  Strayer.  At 
the  death  of  Mr.  Graham  in  1905  Mr.  Haberle 
purchased  his  heir's  interest  in  the  business 
and  thus  became  the  sole  owner  and  proprie- 
tor. A  man  of  distinctive  and  forceful  in- 
dividuality, he  is  leaving  his  impress  upon  the 
industrial  world,  but  it  has  been  upon  the 
ladder  of  his  own  building  that  he  has  climbed 
to  prominence. 

In  1880  Mr.  Haberle  was  married  to  Cath- 
erine Keener,  the  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Eliz- 
abeth Keener,  and  they  have  one  daughter, 
Maude  H.  In  politics  Mr.  Haberle  is  a  stal- 
wart Republican,  and  for  four  years  repre- 
sented the  First  Ward  of  South  Bend  in  the 
city  council.  His  fraternal  relations  are  with 
the  Independent.  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He 
is  a  man  of  genial  temperament  and  genuine 
worth,  and  is  highly  respected  and  popular 
in  all  circles. 

Andrew  Huber,  who  is  numbered  among 
the  many  honored  sons  which  the  fatherland 
of  Germany  has  furnished  to  the  United 
States,  has  for  a  number  of  years  past  been 
prominently  associated  with  the  business  life 
of  South  Bend  in  connection  with  her  hard- 
ware trade.  His  birth  occurred  in  Germany 
on  the  3d  of  January,  1854,  and  when  he  was 
but  a  babe  of  one  year  his  mother  died,  while 
ten  years  later  he  was  left  an  orphan  by  the 
death  of  his  father,  and  the  little  lad  was 
reared  by  a  guardian  until  his  fourteenth 
year.  At  that  time  he  was  placed  in  a  posi- 
tion to  learn  the  tinner's  trade,  at  which  he 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years,  and 
continued  his  connection  therewith  until  he 
was  drafted  as  a  soldier  in  the  German  army, 
this  being  when  he  had  attained  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years,  and  his  military  career  cov- 


Digitized  by 


Google 


870 


HISTORY   OF  ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


ered  a  period  of  three  years.  At  the  close  of 
that  period  he  again  resumed  work  at  the 
tinner's  trade,  thus  continuing  until  he  left 
his  German  home  for  the  United  States,  ar- 
riving in  South  Bend  in  the  year  1884.  Dur- 
ing the  first  ten  years  of  his  residence  in  this 
city  he  was  an  employe  of  Myer  &  Poehlman, 
later  was  for  a  tim^  associated  with  a  Mr. 
Polsom,  and  on  the  1st  of  May,  1900,  em- 
barked in  business  for  himself  at  his  present 
location.  He  began  in  a  small  way,  but  with 
the  passing  years  has  increased  his  interests 
until  his  hardware  store  is  now  one  of  the 
leading  establishments  of  its  kind  in  the  city. 
He  is  a  business  man  of  great  ability,  and 
carries  forward  to  successful  completion 
whatever  he  undertakes. 

Before  leaving  his  German  home  Mr.  Huber 
was  there  married  to  one  of  its  native  daugh- 
ters, Magdalena  Schnitzer,  in  1878,  and  they 
have  one  son,  Oscar,  who  is  now  engaged  in 
business  With  his  father,  the  firm  name  being 
Andrew  Huber  &  Son.  Mr.  Oscar  Huber  was 
born  in  Germany  October  9,  1882,  and  was 
only  a  babe  when  his  parents  came  to  the 
United  States  and  to  South  Bend,  he  having 
been  reared  and  educated  in  this  city.  Both 
he  and  his  father  hold  fraternal  relations 
with  the  order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  Mr. 
Huber,  Sr.,  is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  the  Maccabees  of  South  Bend.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  aflBliations,  but  lo- 
cally is  an  independent  voter. 

Charles  Russ.  In  the  life  history  of  the 
subject  of  this  review  is  represented  a  worthy 
type  of  American  character  and  a  progres- 
sive spirit  which  promotes  public  good  in  ad- 
vancing individual  prosperity.  He  has  long 
been  prominently  identified  with  the  business 
interests  of  South  Bend,  and  as  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Charles  &  Fred  Russ,  manufac- 
turers of  grocers'  sundries,  he  is  well  known 
to  its  residents.  He  was  bom  in  Berrien 
county,  Michigan,  in  1861,  where  his  parents 
established  their  home  in  an  early  day,  but 
they  claimed  the  Empire  state  of  New  York 
as  the  commonwealth  of  their  nativity. 

Charles  Russ,  their  fourth  child  in  order  of 
birth,  spent  the  first  niiieteen  years  of  his 
life  in  Buchanan  and  Berrien  county,  Michi- 
gan, receiving  his  educational  training  in  the 
schools  of  that  city,  Rolling  Prairie  and  Val- 
paraiso, and  after  its  completion  he  returned 
to  the  school  room  as  a  teacher.  He  entered 
the  profession  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  and 
after  teaching  for  two  seasons  came  to  South 


Bend,  and  has  ever  since  maintained  his  resi- 
dence in  this  city.  In  1887  he  turned  his  atr 
tention  to  the  manufacturing  business,  in 
which  he  is  associated  with  his  brother  Fred, 
and  they  at  times  employ  as  many  as  seventy- 
five  operatives.  Their  business  interests  have 
grown  to  extensive  proportions,  and  the  pro- 
prietors deserve  to  be  ranked  with  the  prom- 
inent men  of  aflfairs  of  their  adopted  city, 
where  only  ability  of  a  superior  order  is  now 
recognized. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Russ  was  celebrated 
in  December,  1892,  when  Anna  Keesey  be- 
came his  wife.  She  is  a  daughter  of  William 
Keesey,  of  North  Manchester,  Indiana,  and 
by  her  marriage  she  has  become  the  mother 
of  two  daughters  and  a  son,  Helen,  Mary  and 
Dwight.  Mr.  Russ  is  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he 
is  serving  as  steward. 

Edward  Pfeiffer,  a  native  son  of  South 
Bend,  has  gained  an  enviable  position  in  its 
business  circles,  being  now  well  known  as  a 
wholesale  wine  dealer.  His  birth  occurred  in 
South  Bend  on  the  21st  of  November,  1864, 
in  which  city  his  parents,  George  and  Eva 
Pfeiflfer,  natives  of  Artzburg,  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, were  among  the  early  pioneers.  They 
established  their  home  here  as  early  as  1850, 
and  the  father  was  engaged  in  business  in 
both  South  Bend  and  Hamilton,  but  they  yet 
reside  in  the  former  city,  the  father  aged 
seventy-eight  and  the  mother  seventy-nine 
years  of  age.  They  became  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  five  sons  and  four  daughters, 
but  only  two  sons  and  one  daughter  are  now 
living. 

Edward  Pfeiffer,  the  seventh  child  and 
fourth  son  in  order  of  birth,  completed  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
city  of  South  Bend,  after  which  he  spent  four 
years  in  business  in  Los  Angeles,  California 
Returning  thence  to  South  Bend  in  1890  he 
was  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  for  five 
years,  but  at  the  end  of  that  time  sold  his 
interests  therein  and  in  1895  engaged  ip  his 
present  occupation  as  a  wine  merchant.  A 
man  of  distinctive  and  forceful  individuality, 
he  has  gained  a  distinguished  position  in  con- 
nection with  the  material  industries  of  the 
city,  the  logical  result  of  enterprise,  systematic 
effort,  resolute  purpose  and  straightforward 
methods. 

In  Pasadena,  California,  in  1888,  Mr.  Pfeif- 
fer was  married  to  Millie  Ulbricht,  a  native 
of  Center  township,   St.  Joseph  county,  In- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


871 


diana,  and  a  daughter  of  August  Ulbricht, 
who  was  a  well  known  stone  mason  and  eon- 
traotor  of  South  Bend  for  many  years  but 
now  deceased.  Two  daughters  have  been  born 
of  this  union,  Anita  and  Agnes.  Mr.  Pfeiflfer 
is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  afl&liations,  and 
is  a  member  of  a  number  of  the  lodges  of 
South  Bend. 

Joseph  C.  Lonzo,  a  partner  in  the  Swan 
Laundry  Company,  whose  well  known  estab- 
lishment is  at  No.  119  East  Sample  street, 
South  Bend,  was  born  in  Liberty  township, 
in  the  southwestern  part  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
December  22,  1873.  His  father,  Lorenzo 
Lonzo,  now  deceased,  was  a  stationary  en- 
gineer of  exemplary  character  and  good 
standing  in  his  trade,  who  was  a  native  of 
Tonawanda,  New  York,  and  when  twelve 
years  of  age  came  with  his  parents  to  St. 
Joseph  county.  The  grandparents,  Moses 
and  Marguerite  Lonzo,  settled  on  a  farm  south 
of  Lakeville,  where  Lorenzo  was  married  to 
Elizabeth  Roush.  Mrs.  Lorenzo  Lonzo,  the 
mother  of  Joseph  C,  was  born  in  Holmes 
county,  Ohio,  where  she  devloped  into  woman- 
hood. By  her  marriage  to  Lorenzo  Lonzo  she 
became  the  mother  of  four  sons  and  four 
daughters,  of  whom  Joseph  was  the  fourth 
child  and  the  third  son.  The  father,  who  was 
a  sturdy  Republican,  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
three. 

Joseph  C.  Lonzo  remained  at  home  until 
he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  assisting  on  the 
home  farm  and  acquiring  as  thorough  an  edu- 
cation as  was  possible  under  the  circum- 
stances. From  the  time  he  left  the  home- 
stead he  has  made  his  own  way  in  the  world, 
mostly  in  connection  with  the  laundry  busi- 
ness. He  therefore  understands  it  in  every 
detail,  and  his  practical  knowledge*  and  good 
business  judgment  have  brought  his  acknowl- 
edged success.  In  July,  1905,  Mr.  Lonzo 
formed  a  partnership  with  Charles  Airgood, 
under  the  style  of  The  White  Swan  Laundry 
Company,  and  their  large,  modem  steam  laun- 
dry is  being  run  to  its  full  capacity,  the 
business  growing  every  day. 

On  the  5th  of  July,  1895,  Joseph  C.  Lonzo . 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Anna  Henry,  a 
native  of  Laporte,  Indiana,  and  daughter  of 
James  Henry,  a  farmer  of  that  county.  She 
was  the  second  of  their  five  children.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lonzo  have  been  born  five  children, 
as  follows:  Harriet  (deceased).  Hazel,  Anna, 
Mary  and  Joseph.    Mr.  Lonzo  is  a  good  Re- 


publican, and  is  fraternally  associated  with 
the  Modem  Woodmen  of  America. 

Jerry  P.  Moore,  whose  name  is  prominent- 
ly associated  with  the  transfer  business  of 
South  Bend,  is  numbered  among  its  native 
sons,  his  birth  here  occurring  on  the  14th  of 
November,  1857.  He  is  of  Irish  descent,  for 
his  father,  Stephen  Moore,  was  born  on  the 
Emerald  Isle,  but  in  his  early  life  came  to 
the  United  States,  and  was  numbered  among 
the  pioneer  citizens  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
where  he  was  extensively  engaged  in  farming 
in  Greene  township;  He  was  married  in 
South  Bend  to  Katherine  Donovan,  also  a 
native  of  Ireland,  and  their  two  sons  are 
Thomas  and  Jerry.  The  father  gave  his  po- 
litical support  to  the  Democracy,  being  an 
active  worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  party,  and 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church.  His 
death  occurred  when  he  had  reached  the  age 
of  fifty-six  years,  thus  ending  a  busy  and 
useful  life,  for  in  addition  to  his  agricultural 
pursuits  he  was  also  employed  as  a  shoe- 
maker, following  those  dual  occupations  for 
many  years. 

Jerry  F.  Moore  obtained  his  educational 
training  in  the  district  schools  of  Greene 
township,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years 
he  left  the  old  home  farm  for  South  Bend, 
where  he  secured  employment  with  the  Singer 
Sewing  Machine  Company,  continuing  his  as- 
sociation therewith  for  about  five  years.  Dur- 
ing the  following  two  years  he  was  identified 
with  the  grocery  trade,  and  on  the  expiration 
of  that  period  embarked  in  the  business  which 
has  since  claimed  his  time  and  attention,  be- 
ing now  well  known  as  the  leader  of  the 
transfer  business  in  this  city.  The  enterprise 
was  begun  in  a  small  way,  but  gradually  he 
has  pushed  his  way  to  the  front  until  South 
Bend  now  accords  to  him  a  leading  place 
among  her  business  men.  Step  by  step  he 
has  climbed  the  ladder  of  success,  each  step 
upward  being  the  result  of  his  own  energy 
and  determination,  and  he  has  made  for  him- 
self the  high  place  which  he  now  occupies. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  1882,  Mr.  Moore 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Frances  Leppke, 
who  w^as  born  in  Coldwater,  Michigan,  but 
w^hen  nine  years  of  age  she  was  brought  by 
her  father,  Samuel  Leppke,  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  where  he  followed  his  trade 
of  cabinet  making  for  a  number  of  years. 
Some  time  before  his  death  he  retired  from 
active  business  cares,  and  in  1884  erected  the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


872 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


pleasant  home  in  which  the  remainder  of  his 
life  was  spent.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore 
have  been  born  four  children,  two  sons  and 
two  daughters:  Grace  (deceased),  Hazel, 
Arthur  (deceased)  and  Jerry,  Jr.,  all  of 
whom  were  born  in  South  Bend.  Mr.  Moore 
gives  an  active  support  to  the  Democratic 
party,  and  fratemaUy  is  a  member  of  the 
Elks.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Cath- 
olic church. 

Henry  Duncker.  There  is  no  element 
which  has  entered  into  our  national  life  which 
has  been  of  more  practical  strength  than  that 
furnished  by  the  sturdy,  persevering  and  hon- 
orable sons  of  Germany,  and  one  of  its  native 
bom  citizens  is  Henry  Duncker,  a  prominent 
tin  and  sheet  iron  worker  in  South  Bend.  His 
birth  occurred  in  the  city  of  Hamburg,  Ger- 
many, October  2,  1859,  and  he  remained  in 
his  native  land  until  eighteen  years  of  age, 
attending  its  public  schools  and  serving  a 
four  years'  apprenticeship  to  the  cornice 
maker's  trade.  It  was  in  June,  1878,  that 
he  left  his  little  home  across  the  sea  and 
came  to  the  United  States,  remaining  in  New 
York  city  for  a  time  and  thence  going  to  Chi- 
cago, and  in  fact  he  traveled  over^  the  north- 
western states  until  his  final  settlement  in 
South  Bend  in  1882.  His  first  employment 
in  this  city  was  with  Godf ord,  Myer  &  Poehl- 
man,  with  whom  he  remained  for  seventeen 
years  as  foreman  of  their  cornice  department. 
Since  that  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  busi- 
ness for  himself  as  a  tin  and  sheet  iron  work- 
er, but  his  business  ability  has  also  reached 
out  in  other  directions  and  he  is  now  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  boat  livery.  As  his  house  stands 
on  the  banks  of  the  St.  Joseph  river  he  has 
also  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  boats, 
and  now  has  about  fourteen  which  he  rents 
during  the  season.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that 
he  is  identified  with  many  interests  which 
lend  their  aid  to  the  improvement  of  his  chos- 
en city,  and  during  his  residence  here  of 
twenty-six  years  he  has  won  the  high  regard 
of  its  citizens  with  whom  he  has  been  asso- 
ciated in  either  business  or  social  relations. 

In  1886,  in  South  Bend,  Mr.  Duncker  mar- 
ried Lizzie  Nagel,  who  came  from  her  native 
land  of  Germany  to  America  in  1884,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  two  daughters, 
Tillie,  the  wife  of  Nelson  Woodcox  of  South 
Bend,  and  Freeda,  at  home.  The  wife  and 
mother  died  in  October,  1904,  after  a  happy 
married  life  of  eiofhteen  years.  Mr.  Duncker 
is  a  member  of  the  South  Bend  Historical 


Society  and  is  one  of  its  most  active  workers. 
He  is  a  well  known  collector  of  Indian  relics, 
of  which  he  has  many  interesting  specimens, 
and  he  also  has  one  of  the  finest  collections 
of  butterflies  in  the  state. 

J.  W.  Papczynski,  occupying  a  leading  po- 
sition in  the  pharmaceutical  circles  of  South 
Bend,  was  born  in  Poland,  Germany,  January 
21,  187Q,  and  was  only  about  seven  years  of 
age  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  the 
United  States,  the  home  being  first  estab- 
lished in  Baltimore,  Maryland.  Three  years 
later  a  removal  was  made  to  South  Bend, 
Indiana,  where  the  son  received  an  excellent 
educational  training  in  the  public  schools. 
He  then  entered  upon  a  clerkship  in  the  drug 
store  of  Otto  C.  Bastian,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained in  that  capacity  for  about  sixteai 
years,  and  so  well  did  he  take  advantage  of 
his  opportunities  and  so  faithfully  did  he  dis- 
charge the  duties  devolving  upon  him  that 
on  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  a  partnership  in  the  business.  In 
1903,  however,  this  relation  was  dissolved, 
and  Mr.  Papczynski  then  engaged  in  the  drug 
business  at  his  present  location,  407  South 
Chapin  street.  He  has  been  a  resident  of 
South  Bend  since  his  tenth  year,  covering  a 
period  of  twenty-six  years,  and  he  is  now 
recognized  as  one  of  its  valued  citizens,  ac- 
tively interested  in  every  enterprise  for  its 
upbuilding  and  improvement.  He  is  now 
serving  his  fourth  year  as  a  member  of  the 
board  of  public  works,  and  is  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  of  the  Democratic 
party. 

Mr.  Papczynski  was  married,  but  his  wife 
is  now  deceased,  leaving  a  little  daughter, 
Clara,  seven  years  of  age.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Polish  Turners,  also  the  Polish  National 
Alliance,  U.  S.  A.  M.,  and  of  the  St.  Casimir, 
in  all  of  which  he  takes  an  active  and  effec- 
tive interest. 

Thomas  H.  Rollins.  In  reviewing  the  life 
history  of  those  who  have  made  for  them- 
selves a  place  in  connection  with  the  activities 
and  honors  of  life,  who  have  successfully  sur- 
mounted obstacles  and  who  hav^  gained  rec- 
ognition for  true  worth  of  character  is  found 
the  subject  of  this  review,  Thomas  H.  Rollins, 
one  of  the  promoters  and  the  superintendent 
of  the  W.  T.  Wyant  &  Company  cold  storage 
plant.  He  was  bom  in  Larwill.  Whitley 
county,  Indiana,  March  20,  1865.  His  father. 
Warren  Rollins,  claimed  Ohio  as  the  com- 
monwealth of  his  nativitv,  and  was  a  farmer 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


873 


by  occupation,  his  life's  labors  being  ended  in 
death  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  sixty- 
five  years.  He  became  one  of  the  early  pion- 
eers of  Whitley  county,  Indiana,  there  having 
been  a  large  settlement  of  the  Rollins'  family 
in  the  Eel  River  valley.  During  the  war  of 
the  rebellion  he  served  as  a  loyal  soldier,  his 
military  career  covering  a  period  of  three 
years,  and  he  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
the  Wilderness.  In  his  early  manhood  Mr. 
Rollins  married  Anna  Caldwell,  a  native  of 
Maryland,  and  she  still  survives  her  husband. 

Thomas  H.  Rollins,  their  only  child,  grew 
to  mature  years  in  his  native  county  of  Whit- 
ley, but  at  the  early  age  of  ten  years  he 
started  out  in  the  world  to  battle  for  himself, 
securing  employment  with  a  cousin  in  North 
Manchester,  Indiana,  in  the  produce  business, 
while  for  about  ten  years  he  was  engaged  in 
business  with  his  cousins,  J.  Swindell  & 
Brother,  at  Dowagiac,  Michigan,  and  in  1904 
with  Mr.  W.  T.  Wyant  he  organized  the  W. 
T.  Wyant  &  Company  Cold  Storage  Plant 
and  began  a  wholesale  trade  in  butter  and 
eggs.  These  gentlemen  were  boys  together 
and  have  been  in  close  relationship  during 
the  long  period  of  thirty  years. 

In  1889  Mr.  Rollins  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Emma  Wiser,  of  Bourbon,  Indiana.  Mr. 
Rollins  has  fraternal  relations  with  the  Ma- 
sons, the  Elks  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at 
Dowagiac,  Michigan.  He  has  carved  his  way 
to  success  by  his  own  unaided  efforts,  and  in 
all  the  relations  of  life  he  enjoys  the  high 
regard  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

E.  B.  RuPEL,  who  is  prominent  in  the  busi- 
ness circles  of  South  Bend,  is  connected  with 
its  wholesale  trade.  A  community  depends 
upon  commercial  activity,  its  welfare  is  due 
to  this,  and  its  promoters  of  legitimate  and 
extensive  business  enterprises  may  well  be 
termed  its  benefactors.  The  life  history  of  E. 
B.  Rupel  exhibits  a  long  and  virtuous  career 
of  private  industry,  crowned  with  success.  He 
was  bom  in  Center  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  October  22,  1866,  a  son  of 
Franklin  and  Martha  J.  (Rockhill)  Rupel, 
both  of  whom  yet  reside  on  the  old  homestead 
in  Center  township. 

Mr.  E.  B.  Rupel,  the  second  child  and  sec- 
ond son  in  order  of  birth  of  his  parents '  four 
children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  yet 
living,  was  reared  to  years  of  maturity  on 
the  old  Rupel  homestead  in  his  native  town- 
ship of  Center,  attending  its  districts  schools, 
and  also  graduating  from  the  high  school  of 


South  Bend  with  the  class  of  1884.  During 
the  ten  years  following  his  graduation  he  was 
numbered  among  the  successful  educators  of 
the  county,  while  during  the  succeeding  five 
years  he  was  on  the  road  as  a  traveling  sales- 
man for  a  wholesale  grocery  house.  In  1889 
he  embarked  in  business  at  his  present  loca- 
tion, spending  the  first  year  on  the  road,  but 
since  that  time  his  entire  attention  has  been 
given  to  his  large  and  constantly  increasing 
wholesale  interests  in  this  city,  giving  to  the 
business  his  personal  supervision.  Steadily 
and  persistently  he  has  been  forging  his  way 
to  the  front  in  industrial  circles  until  he  now 
occupies  a  very  creditable  and  enviable  posi- 
tion as  a  dealer  in  notions  and  stationery, 
selling  exclusively  to  the  wholesale  trade. 

In  1893  Mr.  Rupel  wedded  Hallie  Smith,  a 
daughter  of  Alexander  Smith,  of  Center  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  and  they  have  two 
daughters.  Pearl  and  Alice  Ernestine.  Mr. 
Rupel  has  fraternal  relations  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  and  is  also  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  South  Bend. 

Irving  A.  Sibley.  In  the  subject  of  this 
review  we  find  one  who  has  attained  a  lead- 
ing position  in  the  business  life  of  South 
Bend.  During  the  long  period  of  twenty-two 
years  he  has  been  numbered  among  the  city's 
valued  and  honored  residents,  at  all  times 
public-spirited  and  thoroughly  interested  in 
whatever  tends  to  promote  its  moral,  intel- 
lectual and  material  welfare.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  Erie  county,  New  York,  June  27, 
1852,  his  parents  being  William  A.  and 
Margery  J.  (Churchill)  Sibley,  both  also  na- 
tives of  the  Empire  state,  and  the  father  was 
of  English  descent.  He  adopted  the  profes- 
sion of  medicine  as  his  life's  occupation,  and 
in  the  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sibley  were  two 
children,  Irving  A.  and  William  E.,  the  last 
named  a  resident  of  Freeport,  Illinois. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  Irving  A.  Sib- 
ley grew  to  years  of  maturity,  receiving  his 
early  educational  training  in  its  public 
schools,  while  later  he  was  a  student  in  the 
city  schools  of  Buffalo.  When  he  had  reached 
the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  began  the  active 
battle  of  life  for  himself,  his  first  employment 
being  as  a  clerk  in  a  shoe  store,  and  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  became  a  salesman  on  the 
road,  while  three  years  later,  when  he  had  at- 
tained the  age  of  nineteen,  he  embarked  in 
the  manufacture  of  shirts  in  Buffalo,  New 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


87 1 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


York.  Going  to  Chicago,  Illinois,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two,  he  secured  employment  with 
the  firm  of  C.  M.  Henderson  &  Company, 
wholesale  dealers  in  boots  and  shoes,  and  con- 
tinued traveling  in  that  line  in  Minnesota 
for  ten  years,  and  at  the  close  of  that  period, 
in  January,  1885,  he  came  to  South  Bend  and 
entered  the  hardware  trade,  establishing  his 
store  at  his  present  location  and  he  transacts 
both  a  wholesale  and  retail  business.  With 
the  passing  years  his  name  has  become  in- 
separably connected  with  the  industrial  inter- 
ests of  the  city,  for  in  addition  to  his  large 
hardware  enterprise  he  is  also  a  director  of 
the  Malleable  Steel  Range  Manufacturing 
Company  of  South  Bend,  a  director  in  the 
South  Bend  Watch  Company,  and  also  con- 
nected with  other  extensive  concerns  which 
form  an  important  part  of  the  business  life 
of  the  city. 

In  1872  Mr.  Sibley  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Cora  C.  Curtis,  who  was  born  in  BuflBalo, 
Erie  county.  New  York,  a  daughter  of  Seir 
Curtis,  and  they  have  become  the  parents  of 
three  sons,  Irving  A.,  Jr.,  William  C.  and 
Frank  C,  the  two  eldest  being  associated  with 
their  father  in  business,  and  the  youngest  son 
is  attending  high  school.  In  his  political  re- 
lations Mr.  Sibley  is  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party,  while  fraternally  he  has  mem- 
bership relations  with  the  Masonic  order,  the 
Blue  Lodge,  Chapter  and  Commandery,  and 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church 
of  South  Bend. 

H.  W.  Eldredge.  Success  is  determined  by 
one's  ability  to  recognize  opportunity  and  to 
pursue  this  with  a  resolute  and  unflagging 
energy.  It  results  from  continued  labor,  and 
the  man  who  thus  accomplishes  his  purpose 
usufally  becomes  an  important  factor  in  the 
business  circles  of  the  community  with  which 
he  is  connected.  Mr.  Eldredge,  a  well-known 
merchant  of  South  Bend,  has  through  such 
means  attained  a  leading  place  among  the 
representative  business  men  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  his  well  spent  and  honorable  life 
commands  the  respect  of  all  who  know  him. 
He  was  bom  in  Norwich,  New  York,  Novem- 
ber 24,  1865,  a  son  of  Adin  D.  and  Harriet 
(Fox)  Eldredge,  both  matives  of  Chenango 
county,  New  York.  The  father,  who  followed 
the  occupation  of  a  painter  and  decorator, 
died  in  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  in  1881,  but 
he  is  still  survived  by  his  widow,  who  is  a 
resident  of  Kaneville,  Illinois.    In  their  fam- 


ily  were    only   two    children,    the   daughter 
being  Bertha,  the  wife  of  Ralph  H.  Hardy. 

H.  W.  Eldredge,  their  only  son,  spent  the 
first  eleven  years  of  his  life  in  Norwich,  his 
native  city,  going  thence  to  Jacksonville,  Illi- 
nois, but  a  year  later  removed  to  Pekin,  that 
state,  where  for  two  years  he  pursued  his 
studies  in  its  high  school.  Returning  thence 
to  Norwich,  New  York,  he  spent  three  years  at 
work  in  a  factory,  after  which  he  went  again 
to  Illinois,  this  time  locating  in  Kaneville, 
where  for  three  years  he  was  employed  as  cleit 
in  a  country  store.  *'We  build  the  ladder  by 
which  we  rise,**  is  a  truth  which  is  certainly 
applicable  to  Mr.  Eldredge,  for  his  early  la- 
bors were  but  the  means  for  securing  further 
educational  training,  and  at  the  close  of  his 
three  years'  clerkship  he  entered  the  Jen- 
ning's  Seminary  at  Aurora,  Illinois,  where  he 
completed  the  course  and  graduated  one  year 
thereafter.  Resuming  his  clerkship  at  the  ex- 
piration of  that  period,  he  spent  one  year  in 
Newark,  Illinois,  returning  thence  to  Kane- 
ville, where  for  four  years  he  had  chai^  of  a 
store,  and  during  the  following  three  years 
had  charge  of  the  dry  goods  store  belonging 
to  George  H.  Dennett,  in  Rockford,  Illinois. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  was  able  to  pur- 
chase his  employer's  interest,  and  in  associa- 
tion with  James  J.  Van  Duzer  he  continued 
in  business  in  that  city  for  three  years,  their 
firm  name  being  Van  Duzer  &  Eldredge.  Sell- 
ing his  interest  to  his  partner  in  1898,  Mr. 
Eldredge  then  came  to  South  Bend  and  be- 
came a  partner  of  George  Wyman,  whose 
sketch  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work, 
and  the  firm  of  George  Wyman  &  Company 
has  become  well  known  to  the  citizens  of 
South  Bend  and  St.  Joseph  county.  Mr.  Eld- 
redge is  a  man  of  excellent  business  and  ex- 
ecutive ability,  whose  sound  judgment,  un- 
flagging enterprise  and  capable  management 
have  brought  to  him  a  well-merited  success. 

In  1894  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Eldredge  to  Daisy  Ames,  she  being  a  daugh- 
ter of  Chauncy  and  Mary  (Adams)  Ames, 
and  they  have  three  children,  Dorothy,  Donald 
and  Stuart.  Mr.  Eldredge  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Elks  fraternity,  of  the  Com- 
mercial Athletic  Club  and  of  the  St.  Joseph 
Valley  Country  Club. 

D.wiD  Bowman.  The  members  of  the  Bow- 
man family  are  among  the  most  numerous 
and  worthy  representatives  of  the  pioneer  ele- 
ment in  St.  Joseph  county.  At  a  reunion  of 
the   family  held  on   Sumption's  Prairie,  in 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


-         X 

TMP  -\ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by 


Google 


0)c^yirLoC  '^^^^^rVU^'^p-tA^ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


\ 


1 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


875 


1896,  there  were  one  hundred  and  fifty  mem- 
bers present,  the  special  occasion  being  to 
commemorate  the  eighty-ninth  birthday  of 
Mrs.  Susanna  Rupel,  then  the  oldest  surviv- 
ing representative  of  the  family.  As  re- 
marked by  one  of  the  speakers  at  that  cele- 
bration: **  While  the  Bowman  family  have 
not  made  any  vivid  marks  of  distinction  as 
representatives  in  the  national  halls  of  con- 
gress, the  supreme  bench,  the  literary  world 
or  journalism,  they  have  been  at  parity  with 
the  highest  encomiums  of  honor  and  integ- 
rity. Those  of  you  who  have  Bowman  blood 
coursing  through  your  veins  need  not  be 
ashamed  of  a  single  drop  of  it.'' 

Mrs.  Susanna  Rupel  (nee  Bowman),  men- 
tioned above,  was  an  aunt  of  David  Bowman, 
now  deceased  and  well  worthy  to  bear  the 
honorable  name  of  the  family.  John  Bowman, 
his  grandfather,  the  founder  of  the  American 
branch,  was  bom  in  Germany,  settled  in 
Pennsylvania  and  was  twice  married,  three 
boys  and  four  girls  being  born  of  his  first 
union.  All  of  the  sons  were  ministers  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  and,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Jacob,  lived  from  early  boyhood  in 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  Rev.  Jacob  Bow- 
man, the  father  of  David,  was  a  native  of 
Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  moved  with 
bis  parents  to  that  county,  where  he  was 
rear^  and  married,  and  in  1831,  with  his 
wife  and  nine  children,  moved  to  St.  Joseph 
county.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Moyer,  was  also 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Of  the  three  sons 
and  six  daughters  bom  of  their  union  David 
Bowman  was  the  youngest  child.  When  the 
family  came  to  St.  Joseph  county  they  estab- 
lished their  home  in  Center  township,  where 
the  Rev.  Bowman  entered  one  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land  from  the  government.  His 
sons  assisted  him  in  the  clearing  and  cultiva- 
tion of  the  farm,  and,  in  addition  to  his  agri- 
cultural labors,  he  also  faithfully  and  ably 
performed  his  duties  as  pastor  of  the  Dun- 
kard  church,  continuing  in  the  active  work  of 
the  ministry  until  his  life's  labors  were  ended 
in  death.  In  his  political  affiliations  he  was 
an  old  line  Whig. 

David  Bowman  spent  his  early  boyhood 
days  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Center  town- 
ship, assisting  in  its  cultivation  and  improve- 
ment, and  when  not  thus  employed  attended 
the  primitive  log  schoolhouse  near  his  home. 
As  the  years  passed  he  became  successful  in 
his  farm  labors,  and  at  his  death,  February 

Vol.  11—18. 


23,  1893,  left  an  estate  of  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres. 

On  the  9th  of  October,  1849,  Mr.  Bowman 
married  Elizabeth  Stull,  who  died  in  1874, 
leaving  an  only  child — Grace,  who  became 
Mrs.  Grace  A.  Dubail.  Mr.  Bowman  was 
again  married,  September  9,  1876,  when  Lu- 
cretia  Fox  became  his  wife.  She  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  February  12,  1849,  a  daughter 
of  Andrew  and  Catherine  Fox,  her  parents 
being  representatives  of  the  stanch  farming 
class.  Mrs.  Bowman  was  reared  and  educated 
in  her  native  commonwealth,  and  came  to  St. 
Joseph  county  upon  the  occasion  of  her  mar- 
riage, which  resulted  in  one  son,  John  A.  Mr. 
Bowman  gave  his  political  support  to  the  Re- 
publican party,  proving  an  active  worker  in 
its  cause.  He  was  also  a  valued  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  and,  although  he  did 
not  push  himself  unduly  to  the  front,  in 
whatever  field  of  activity  he  engaged  he 
evinced  faithfulness,  industry  and  intelli- 
gence and  earned  the  implicit  confidence  of 
his  associates.  In  short,  he  upheld  the  high 
record  of  the  family  for  unvarying  honor  and 
practical  ability,  and  by  his  good  and  useful 
life  strengthened  the  assurance  already 
quoted — **  those  of  you  who  have  Bowman 
blood  coursing. through  your  veins  need  not 
be  ashamed  of  a  single  drop  of  it.'' 

Professor  Carl  Junqkuntz,  who  is  devot- 
ing his  time  to  the  instruction  of  the  young, 
being  a  teacher  in  the  primary  grade  of  the 
St.  Paul  German  Lutheran  School  of  South 
Bend,  was  born  in  North  Judson,  Starke 
county,  Indiana,  December  6,  1884,  a  son  of 
Rev.  H.  Jungkuntz,  the  pastor  of  the  German 
Evangelical  church  at  Columbia  City,  In- 
diana. The  latter 's  birth  occurred  in  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  and  the  educational  training 
which  he  received  in  the  schools  of  Water- 
town,  Wisconsin,  and  Ft.  Wayne,  Indiana, 
was  completed  in  his  native  city  of  St.  Louis. 
He  married  Regina  Graebner,  who  was  bom 
in  St.  Charles,  Missouri,  and  of  their  family  ' 
of  nine  children  eight  are  living  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  The  eldest  son  is  Rev.  Henry  Jung- 
kuntz, a  minister  in  the  German  Lutheran 
church  at  Apache,  Oklahoma,  while  the  sec- 
ond son.  Otto,  is  a  student  in  the  Fort  Wayne 
college.  The  three  daughters  of  the  family 
are  Clara,  Martha  and  Dora,  and  the  young- 
est son,  Paul,  is  attending  school.  Professor 
Jungkuntz,  the  second  child  in  order  of  birth, 
was  educated  under  private  instruction  at 
Columbia   City,   Indiana,   and   graduated  at 


Digitized  by 


Google 


876 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


Addison,  Illinois,  in  1903,  after  a  five  years' 
course.  Coming  to  South  Bend  in  the  same 
year,  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  pres- 
ent position  as  a  teacher  in  the  primary  grade 
of  the  St.  Paul  German  Lutheran  school.  His 
labors  have  done  much  to  quicken  literary 
interest  and  to  promote  intellectual  activity, 
and  he  is  gaining  marked  prestige  as  a  teacher 
of  superior  mental  force  and  ability. 

JxVMEs  William  Camper,  one  of  the  oldest 
business  men  of  South  Benid,  his  residence 
here  covering  a  period  of  over  sixty  years  is 
now  extensively  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  guns,  fishing  tackle,  etc.,  ait  116  West  Col- 
fax avenue.  His  bdrth  occurred  in  this  city 
on  the  ISith  of  June,  1836,  Iris  father,  William 
Camper,  having  arrived  here  just  two  years 
previous  to  that  time,  in  1834.  He  was  a 
native  of  Virginia  and  a  wagon-maker  by  oc- 
cupation, and  after  his  removal  to  South 
Bend  continued  in  that  occupation  until  his 
life's  labors  were  ended  in  death  in  1844. 
His  name  was  inscribed  high  on  the  roll  of 
the  city's  honored  pioneers  and  business  men, 
and  he  was  of  stanch  old  German  ancestry. 
Ere  leaving  his  old  home  in  Virginia  Mr. 
Camper  married  Elizabeth  Stevers,  who  was 
bom  and  reared  in  that  commonwealth.  Her 
life's  labors  were  ended  in  1849,  after  becom- 
ing the  mother  of  seven  children,  three  sons 
and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to 
years  of  maturity,  but  only  two,  James  W. 
and  his  sister,  Mrs.  L.  T.  Stedman,  are  living 
in  South  Bend. 

James  W.  Camper,  the  fifth  child  and  third 
son  in  his  family,  received  his  educational 
training  iii  the  schools  of  South  Bend,  re- 
maining in  this  city  until  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age,  when,  in  1853,  he  went  to  La- 
fayette, Indiana,  and  in  December,  1855,  to 
Delphi,  this  state.  In  March,  1857,  he  started 
on  the  overland  journey  to  California,  mak- 
ing the  trip  with  horse  teams  and  in  the 
Fisher  train,  but  after  a  sojourn  of  eight 
years  in  the  Golden  state  he  returned  to  South 
Bend,  and  three  years  later,  in  1868,  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  guns,  to  which  occupa- 
tion he  has  ever  since  devoted  his  time  and 
attention,  his  labors  being  crowned  with  a 
well-merited  degree  of  success. 

On  the  25th  of  December,  1865,  Mr.  Camper 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Smith,  whose 
death  occurred  on  the  9th  of  February,  1885, 
and  on  May  4  of  the  following  year  Mr. 
Camper  married  Emma  Miller,  the  widow  of 
a  Mr,  Culp  and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Miller. 


Mr.  Camper  has  given  a  lifelong  support  to 
the  Republican  party,  and  in  his  fraternal  re- 
lations is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He 
is  of  a  social  disposition,  courteous  and  genial 
manner,  and  throughout  the  city  in  which 
nearly  his  entire  life  has  been  passed  he  has  a 
host  of  warm  friends. 

Isaiah  L.  Dice.  From  its  early  pioneer 
days  the  Dice  family  have  been  identified  with 
the  interests  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  the 
subject  of  this  review  has  made  his  home 
within  its  confines  during  his  entire  life, 
being  now  prominently  associated  '  with  its 
well  driving  and  gas  fitting  interests.  His 
birth  occurred  in  Center  township  September 
2,  1876,  a  son  of  James  and  Sarah  (Rose- 
berry)  Dice.  The  father,  who  was  of  German 
descent,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  but  came 
to  St.  Joseph  county  in  the  early  days  of  its 
history  and  allied  his  interests  with  its  pion- 
eers. He  became  identified  with  agricultural 
pursuits  in  Center  township,  and  lived  to  the 
age  of  fifty-six  years,  his  widow  still  surviv- 
ing him  and  residing  at  735  South  Michigan 
street,  South  Bend.  In  their  family  were 
eight  children,  namely:  Rille,  the  wife  of 
John  Strickler;  Augustus,  of  South  Bend; 
Isaiah;  Birdie,  with  her  mother;  James,  a 
resident  of  Michigan;  Bessie,  deceased; 
Blanch  and  Clelle,  who  are  also  at  home. 

After  attaining  to  mature  years  Mr.  Dice 
learned  the  trades  of  paper  hanging  and 
plumbing,  but  after  seven  years  in  those  occu- 
pations he  gave  up  the  paper  hanging  depart- 
ment and  has  since  been  engaged  in  well  dig- 
ging in  connection  with  his  plumbing,  a  large 
and  remunerative  patronage  being  accorded 
him  in  these  occupations. 

In  1902  Mr.  Dice  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Julia  Fluckey,  who  was  born  in  Union  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  a  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Certicea  Fluckey.  The  Repub- 
lican party  receives  Mr.  Dice's  active  support 
and  co-operation,  and  he  is  well  known 
throughout  the  county  in  which  his  entire  life 
has  been  passed. 

Edgar  E.  Burner.  In  the  comparatively 
few  years  in  which  Edgar  E.  Burner  has  been 
identified  with  the  business  world  he  has 
achieved  a  commendable  success,  the  result 
of  enterprise,  resolute  purpose  and  straight- 
forward methods.  South  Bend  may  well  be 
proud  to  claim  him  as  one  of  her  honored 
residents,  for  as  a  contractor  and  builder  he 
has  added  much  to  its  beauty  and  substantial 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


877 


development.  He  was  bom  in  Crawford 
county,  Illinois,  on  the  7th  of  April,  1872,  a 
son  of  Henry  and  Almeda  (Beem)  Burner, 
both  natives  of  Ohio.  The  father,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Licking  county  of  that  state,  has 
devoted  his  entire  business  career  to  the  work 
of  the  farm,  and  he  now  resides  on  the  old 
Burner  homestead  in  Crawford  county,  Illi- 
nois, but  his  wife  has  preceded  him  to  the 
home  beyond,  dying  at  the  age  of  sixty-two 
years.  In  their  family  were  eleven  children, 
all  but  one  of  whom  grew  to  years  of  matur- 
ity and  are  living  at  the  present  time. 

Edgar  E.  Burner,  the  fifth  child  in  order 
of  birth,  was  a  student  in  the  normal  school 
at  Danville,  Indiana,  also  the  business  depart- 
ment of  Smith  College  at  Lexington,  Ken- 
tucky, thus  receiving  an  excellent  educational 
training  as  a  foundation  on  which  to  rear  the 
superstructure  of  his  life  work.  For  three 
years  thereafter  he  was  engaged  in  the  furni- 
ture business  in  Robinson,  Illinois,  when  he 
sold  his  interests  there  and  came  to  South 
Bend  in  1899.  During  the  first  years  of  his 
residence  in  this  city  Mr.  Burner  was  in  the 
employ  of  H.  6.  Christian  &  Company  in 
the  capacity  of  bookkeeper,  and  in  1903  em- 
barked in  the  contracting  and  building  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account  in  this  city.  Many 
of  South  Bend's  largest  and  best  buildings 
are  the  result  of  his, skill  and  ability,  and 
among  them  may  be  mentioned  the  church  for 
the  Evangelical  Association,  and  at  the  pres- 
ent time  is  engaged  in  the  erection  of  the 
public  school  building  at  Bremen,  Indiana, 
and  two  school  buildings  in  South  Bend. 

In  1896  Mr.  Burner  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Emma  B.  Hulse,  of  Robinson,  Illi- 
nois, and  they  have  two  children,  Kenneth 
and  Wilma.  Mr.  Burner  is  a  member  of  the 
Court  of  Honor,  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  of  South  Bend,' and  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  his  political  aflBliations.  His  religious 
connection  is  with  the  First  Methodist  church, 
and  he  is  numbered  among  the  well-known 
young  business  men  of  South  Bend. 

Charles  W.  Doolittle.  On  the  roster  of 
Mishawaka's  officials  appears  the  name  of 
Charles  W.  Doolittle  in  connection  with  the 
office  of  street  commissioner.  His  entire  life 
has  been  passed  within  the  confines  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  has  been  one  of  uniform 
honor  in  business  and  fidelity  in  places  of 
public  trust.  He  was  bom  in  Penn  township 
of  St.  Joseph  county  August  21,  1864,  and 
his  father,  William  H.  Doolittle,  also  claimed 


that  township  as  the  place  of  his  nativity.  He 
was  a  son  of  Charley  Doolittle,  who  was  num- 
bered among  the  early  and  honored  pioneers 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  the  family  since 
that  early  day  have  been  prominently  identi- 
fied with  its  varied  interests.  William  H. 
Doolittle  yet  resides  in  Penn  township,  one 
of  its  venerable  and  highly  esteemed  citizens. 
He  was  three  times  married,  and  the  mother 
of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Ellen 
HoUingshead.  She,  too,  was  a  native  of  Penn 
township,  where  her  father,  William  Hol- 
lingshead,  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  and 
was  prominently  identified  with  its  early  his- 
tory. Her  death  occurred  when  her  son 
Charles  was  but  two  ye^rs  old. 

Charles  W.  Doolittle,  his  parents'  only 
child,  spent  his  early  life  on  the  old  home 
farm  in  Penn  township,  assisting  in  its  culti- 
vation and  improvement,  and  also  attending 
the  district  schools  near  his  home.  The  train- 
ing which  he  received  therein  was  supple- 
mented by  attendance  in  the  Mishawaka  city 
schools,  and  when  eighteen  years  of  age  he 
put  aside  his  text  books  and  began  the  battle 
of  life  for  himself.  Farming  continued  his 
vocation  until  his  removal  to  Mishawaka  in 
1890,  from  which  time  until  Mishawaka 's  ad- 
mission as  a  city  he  was  engaged  in  teaming. 
At  that  time,  however,  he  was  elected  by  the 
city  council  as  street  commissioner,  and  has 
ever  since  continued  to  discharge  the  duties 
of  that  office  with  the  exception  of  a  year  and 
a  half  when  he  served  as  foreman  of  the 
building  of  a  large  six-story  factory  for  the 
Mishawaka  Woolen  Manufacturing  Comi>any. 

In  1886  Mr.  Doolittle  married  Emma 
Smyser,  who  was  bom  in  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,  the  daughter  of  Cornelius  Smyser. 
They  have  two  daughters,  Gladys  W.  and 
Mary.  Mr.  Doolittle  has  given  a  lifelong  sup- 
port to  the  Republican  party,  active  in  its 
growth  and  upbuilding,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity  in  Misha- 
waka. He  enjoys  the  regard  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens, and  is  widely  and  favorably  known  in 
this  city  and  St.  Joseph  county. 

Thomas  J.  Slick.  One  of  the  boys  in  blue 
of  the  Civil  war,  and  at  all  times  a  loyal  citi- 
z^n,  true  to  the  interests  of  county,  state  and 
nation,  Thomas  J.  Slick  is  numbered  among 
the  business  men  of  South  Bend.  He  was 
bom  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  on 
the  27th  of  August,  1841,  a  son  of  Samuel  H. 
and  Mary  (Toundt)  Slick,  both  also  natives 
of  the  Keystone  state.     In  1841  the  family 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


878 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


home  was  established  in  Stark  county,  Ohio, 
where  it  remained  until  1860,  when  they  came 
to  South  Bend  and  the  father  embarked  in 
the  grocery  business  with  his  sons,  John  Y. 
and  Thomas  J.  He  was  numbered  among  the 
honored  early  citizens,  his  name  being  con- 
spicuous on  its  roll  of  business  men,  but  in 
1877  his  busy  life  was  ended  in  death.  At 
that  time  the  business  was  sold  and  Thomas 
J.  Slick  then  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
near  South  Bend,  this  claiming  his  time  and 
attention  for  fifteen  years.  Returning  thence 
to  South  Bend  in  1895  he  was  elected  assessor 
of  St.  Joseph  county  for  four  years. 

In  the  meantime,  in  1882,  Mr.  Slick's 
brother,  John  Y.,  had  established  a  laundry 
business  in  South  Bend,  and  the  former's  son 
Charles  had  taken  possession  of  the  Home 
Laundry  in  1901,  and  on  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  office  Mr.  Slick  became  associated 
with  the  latter  in  the  Home  Laundry,  while 
in  1904  they  purchased  the  business  of  Mr. 
John  Y.  Slick,  now  couducting  both  under 
the  name  of  the  Slick  Laundry  Company, 
owned  by  Thomas  J.  and  his  sons,  Charles 
and  Samuel  H.  This  is  one  of  the  important 
enterprises  of  South  Bend,  and  its  proprietors 
are  excellent  business  men,  straightforward 
and  honorable  in  all  their  dealings. 

In  186S  Mr.  Slick  offered  his  services  as  a 
soldier  for  the  Union,  becoming  a  member  of 
the  Twenty-first  Indiana  Battery,  in  which 
he  served  for  three  years  in  the  western  army 
under  Rosecrans  and  Thomas.  He  particip- 
ated in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga,  Chattan- 
ooga, Franklin  and  Nashville,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  of  service  in  October,  1865,  return- 
ing home  with  a  creditable  military  record. 
After  his  return  to  South  Bend  he  was  for  a 
number  of  years  proprietor  of  the  Windsor 
Hotel,  one  of  the  leading  hostelries  in  those 
days. 

In  1862  Mr.  Slick  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Laura  A.  Whitten,  a  daughter  of  President 
Whitten,  one  of  the  honored  early  pioneers 
of  South  Bend,  and  seven  children  have  been 
born  of  this  union,  six  sons  and  one  daughter, 
namely:  Edmund  H.,  a  member  of  the  South 
Bend  Engraving  Company;  Thomas  W.,  a 
leading  attorney  of  this  city;  Samuel  H.,  in 
the  laundry  business  with  his  father,  as  is 
also  his  next  younger  brother,  Charles  W. ; 
William  Albert,  a  member  of  the  legal  frater- 
nity of  South  Bend;  John  L.,  a  student  at 
Notre  Dame;  and  the  only  daughter,  Kate, 
is  now  the  wife  of  Earl  Dunkle,  of  South 


Bend.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist church,  and  Mr.  Slick  also  holds  mem- 
bership relations  with  the  Grand  Army  (if  the 
Republic,  Auten  Post,  in  which  he  maintains 
pleasant  relations  with  his  old  army  comrades 
of  the  blue. 

Samuel  R.  Thomas,  the  present  assessor 
of  Portage  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  was 
bom  in  Pine  Grove,  Pennsylvania,  June  29, 
1854,  a  son  of  William  W.  and  Mary  M. 
(Small)  Thomas,  both  also  natives  of  the  Key- 
stone state.  Throughout  his  entire  business 
careex  the  father  was  engaged  in  railroad 
work,  and  his  death  occurred  in  New  Jersey. 

Samuel  R.  Thomas,  the  fifth  in  order  of 
birth  of  his  parents*  twelve  children,  spent 
the  first  ten  years  of  his  life  in  Pine  Grove, 
Pennsylvania,  after  which  the  family  home 
was  removed  to  Erie,  that  state,  where  Samuel 
attended  the  Erie  Academy.  During  the 
early  part  of  his  business  career  he  was  con- 
nected with  railroad  work  on  the  Pennsyl- 
vania lines,  but  in  1880  he  abandoned  that 
occupation  and  came  to  South  Bend,  obtain- 
ing employment  with  the  Oliver  Chilled  Plow 
Works  for  eleven  years.  During  that  time 
he  was  also  connected  with  other  lines  of  busi- 
ness activity,  having' for  a  few  years  been 
identified  with  the  furniture  trade.  In  1900 
he  was  made  the  township  assessor,  elected  on 
the  Republican  ticket,  and  so  well  did  he  dis- 
charge the  duties  entrusted  to  his  care  that 
in  1904  he  was  returned  to  that  position, 
being  its  present  incumbent. 

In  1881  Mr.  Thomas  was  married  to  Flora 
S.  Secoy,  a  native  of  Wabash,  Indiana.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  blue  lodge,  chapter  and 
Knight  Templars  of  the  Masonic  order,  is  a 
member  of  the  Elks  of  South  Bend,  and  dur- 
ing the  past  ten  years  has  served  as  record 
keeper  for  the  Benights  of  the  Maccabees.  He 
has  been  a  lifelong  supporter  of  Republican 
principles,  and  on  one  occasion  was  chairman 
of  the  county  central  committee,  always  tak- 
ing an  active  and  helpful  interest  in  every 
movement  for  the  upbuilding  of  the  county. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Business  Men's  Asso- 
ciation of  South  Bend  and  of  other  local  or- 
ganizations. Many  years  of  his  life  having 
been  spent  in  St.  Joseph  county,  he  is  well 
known  among  her  citizens,  and  is  held  in 
uniform  regard. 

Alfred  SMrrn,  the  deputy  sheriff  of  Notre 
Dame,  has  been  identified  with  the  interests 
of  the  place  during  much  of  the  time  for  the 
past  twenty-two  years,  and  his  fidelity  and 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


879 


sterling  worth  have  won  him  the  unqualified 
confidence  of  his  fellow  townsmen.  He  was 
bom  in  the  commonwealth  of  Delaware, 
March  15, 1854,  a  son  of  John  R.  and  Rebecca 
(White)  Smith.  The  father  died  when  his 
son  Alfred  was  but  three  years  of  age,  and 
the  little  lad  then  went  to  live  with  his  uncle, 
Daniel  White  of  Delaware,  with  whom  he 
made  his  home  until  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years,  and  in  the  meantime  receiving  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  his  com- 
munity. In  1874  he  went  to  Cass  county, 
Michigan,  but  two  years  later  continued  his 
westward  journey  to  Illinois,  where  he  lo- 
cated at  Wyanet.  BVom  there  he  came  to 
Notre  Dame  in  1899,  and  two  years  later,  in 
1901,  was  made  its  deputy  sheriff,  the  duties 
of  which  position  he  has  continued  to  dis- 
charge for  the  past  seven  years. 

In  1876  Mr.  Smith  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Emma  Carter,  who  is  now  deceased,  leav- 
ing four  children:  May,  the  wife  of  Lew 
Howe,  of  Galesburg,  Illinois;  Edna  the  wife 
of  Bert  Lowe,  also  of  that  city;  Edith,  also 
married ;  and  Charles,  a  resident  of  Wyanet, 
Illinois.  Mr.  Smith  upholds  the  principles 
of  the  Democratic  party,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Pathfinders'  Lodge  of  South  Bend.  His 
labors  have  been  effective  in  maintaining  the 
law  and  order  in  his  community,  and  in  the 
faithful  discharge  of  his  duties  and  as  a 
worthy  citizen  he  has  won  and  retained  many 
friends  in  St.  Joseph  county. 

Fred  P.  Futter.  On  the  roster  of  South 
Bend's  oflScials  may  be  found  the  name  of 
Fred  P.  Futter  in  connection  with  the  posi- 
tion of  plumbing  inspector.  He  is  public- 
spirited  and  thoroughly  interested  in  what- 
ever tends  to  promote  the  moral,  intellectual 
and  material  welfare  of  South  Bend,  and 
for  almost  his  entire  life  has  made  his  home 
within  its  borders.  A  native  of  Erie,  Penn- 
sylvania, he  was  bom  on  the  12th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1869,  his  father  being  Jacob  P.  Futter, 
who  was  bom  across  the  sea  in  the  fatherland. 
When  a  small  boy,  however,  he  came  to  Amer- 
ica with  his  parents  and  was  reared  in  Penn- 
sylvania, there  learning  the  shoemaker's 
trade.  In  1870,  the  year  following  the  birth 
of  his  son  Fred,  the  family  home  was  estab- 
lished in  South  Bend,  where  he  is  still  an 
honored  resident,  as  is  also  his  wife,  Magdel- 
ana,  nee  Wamsgans. 

Fred  P.  Futter,  the  second  child  and  eld- 
est son  in  the  above  family,  was  only  one  year 
old  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  South 


Bend,  where  he  has  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life  and  to  its  public  schools  is  indebted 
for  his  early  educational  training.  When  the 
time  came  for  him  to  enter  upon  a  business 
life  he  leamed  the  plumbing  trade  under  the 
preceptorship  of  James  Aslin,  and  after  its 
completion  worked  for  three  years  in  Mil- 
waukee. After  that  he  worked  in  different 
states  in  Illinois,  Iowa,  Missouri  and  Ne- 
braska, returning  thence  to  South  Bend  and 
establishing  himself  as  a  plumber  in  this 
city.  In  October,  1902,  Mr.  Futter  was  ap- 
pointed city  plumbing  inspector,  this  having 
been  the  inauguration  of  that  office  in  South 
Bend  and  he  its  first  incumbent.  At  each 
subsequent  election  since  that  time  he  has 
been  returned  to  the  office,  an  indication  of 
his  popularity  and  prominence,  and  all  who 
know  him  willingly  accord  him  a  leading 
place  among  the  citizens  of  the  community. 
His  political  support  is  given  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  he  is  an  active  and  efficient 
worker  in  its  ranks.  Mr.  Futter  is  a  member 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  and  assisted 
in  the  organization  and  is  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  the  local  Plumbers'  Union. 

Casimir  Woltman.  Since  attaining  to 
years  of  maturity  Mr.  Woltman  has  taken  an 
active  share  in  the  development  of  the  re- 
sources of  his  portion  of  South  Bend,  has  ma- 
terially aided  its  public  institutions,  and  has 
used  his  influence  in  behalf  of  everything 
making  for  good  citizenship.  He  was  born 
in  Poland,  Grermany,  February  11,  1867,  and 
was  reared  and  attended  the  schools  of  his 
native  country  until  his  thirteenth  year, 
when,  in  1880,  he  accompanied  his  parents  on 
their  removal  to  America,  the  family  home 
being  established  first  in  Erie,  Pennsylvania. 
At  the  end  of  eight  months,  however,  they 
transferred  their  residence  to  South  Bend, 
where  the  son  attended  a  law  school  for  a 
time,  and  then  became  an  employe  in  the  toy 
works,  at  the  same  time  continuing  his  studies 
in  a  night  school.  He  was  subsequently  ap- 
pointed to  the  position  of  deputy  street  com- 
missioner, in  which  he  served  for  one  year 
and  six  months,  and  during  the  past  four 
years  has  been  associated  with  the  Meyer  Liv- 
ingston Sons  in  the  capacity  of  clerk.  Dur- 
ing a  period  of  two  years  he  also  served  as  a 
councilman  at  large,  and  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  Jan  Sobieski  Building  and  Loan 
Association,  while  for  five  years  he  J^erved  as 
trustee  of  St.  Casimir  church  and  is  now  fill-. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


880 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


ing  the  position  of  secretary  of  St.  Casimir 
society.  The  Republican  party  receives  his 
active  support  and  co-operation,  while  in  his 
social  relations  he  is  a  member  of  the  St. 
Stanislaw  and  St.  Hedwidge  Societies,  and 
is  an  active  worker  in  their  interests. 

In  1892  Mr.  Woltman  was  married  to  Mary 
Wojciec'howska  and  they  have  four  children, 
Lottie,  Steve,  Sylvester  C.  and  Sophia.  His 
life  is  exemplary  in  all  respects,  and  he  has 
ever  supported  the  interests  which  are  formed 
to  benefit  and  uplift  society. 

Adam  Zell,  who  is  now  serving  as  council- 
man at  large,  representing  the  Sixth  ward  in 
the  city  of  South  Bend,  was  bom  in  Poland, 
Germany,  December  24,  1870,  but  when 
only  about  eleven  years  of  age,  in  1882,  came 
to  America  and  direct  to  South  Bend  with 
his  parents,  Valentine  and  Mary  Zell.  His 
education  was  received  in  the  German  schools 
of  this  city,  and  after  completing  his  educa- 
tion began  learning  the  trades  of  painting 
and  hard  wood  finishing,  in  which  occupation 
he  is  still  engaged. 

Mr.  Zell  was  married  in  this  city  to  Mallyer 
Cleese,  a  native  also  of  Poland,  and  their  six 
children  are  Kazmar,  Lottie,  Edward,  Sal- 
vina,  Sylvees  and  Sylvester.  Mr.  ZeU  is  a 
stanch  Democrat  in  his  political  afiiliations, 
and  is  an  active  worker  in  the  party  ranks. 
In  1904  he  was  elected  councilman  at  large 
for  the  city  of  South  Bend,  which  position  he 
still  fills  with  ability,  and  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  St. 
Hedwidge 's  Society. 

Prank  S.  Hosinski.  Although  numbered 
among  the  younger  residents  of  South  Bend, 
the  name  of  Prank  S.  Hosinski  stands  on  the 
pages  of  its  later  history,  for  he  is  now  serv- 
ing as  alderman  of  the  Second  ward.  He  is 
connected  with  the  Oliver  Company.  He  is 
also  a  native  son  of  the  city,  his  natal  day 
being  the  14th  of  August,  1880.  His  parents, 
John  and  Mary  Hosinski,  were  natives  of 
Poland,  but  in  1879  left  their  native  land  for 
America,  and  made  their  way  direct  to  South 
Bend,  where  both  are  still  living.  In  their 
family  were  seven  children,  four  sons  and 
three  daughters. 

Prank  S.  Hosinski,  the  eldest  child,  is  in- 
debted to  the  South  Bend  public  schools  for 
the  educational  training  which  he  received, 
and  when  about  fourteen  years  of  age  he  be- 
gan work  in  the  foundry  of  the  old  Economist 
Chilled  Plow  Works,  while  later  for  four 
years  he  was  engaged  in  the  butchering  busi- 


ness. At  the  close  of  that  period  he  went  to 
Bremen,  Indiana,  and  was  employed  in  the 
foundry  of  that  city  for  about  four  years, 
after  which  he  returned  to  South  Bend  and 
secured  employment  with  the  South  Bend 
Foundry  Compeny  and  later  with  the  Stude- 
baker  Company,  remaining  with  the  latter 
copporaition  for  six  months.  Returning 
thence  to  the  South  Bend  Foundry  Company, 
he  served  as  foreman  of  the  foundry  depart- 
ment since  the  memoraJble  fire,  a  period  of  five 
years,  until  January,  1907.  During  all  the 
years  of  his  active  business  life  he  has  taken 
a  commendable  interest  in  the  public  affairs 
of  his  native  city,  afiSliating  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  in  1905  was  elected  to  rep- 
resent the  Second  ward  in  the  city  council,  re- 
ceiving a  four  years'  term  and  is  the  present 
incumbent.  He  is  a  man  of  keen  discernment 
and  resolute  purpose,  and  is  therefore  well 
fitted  for  the  political  honors  conferred  upon 
him. 

In  1901  Mr.  Hosinski  was  married  to  Rosie 
Piechorowska,  and  they  have  had  three  chil- 
dren, two  daughters  and  a  son,  but  the  lat- 
ter, Clem,  is  now  deceased,  and  the  daughters 
are  Gertrude  and  Bertha.  Mr.  Hosinski  is 
a  member  and  secretary  of  the  St.  Stanislaus 
Polish  society  and  treasurer  of  the  St.  Joseph 
Polish  society.  He  conmiands  the  respect  of 
his  fellow  men  by  his  sterling  worth,  and 
South  Bend  is  proud  to  number  him  among 
her  native  sons. 

August  E.  Jahnke.  Among  the  younger 
representatives  of  the  business  interests  of 
South  Bend  is  numbered  August  E.  Jahnke, 
the  proprietor  of  one  of  the  leading  bakery 
establishments  of  the  city.  His  birth  occurred 
in  Germany  April  13,  1872,  a  son  of  Charles 
and  Tressa  Jahnke,  also  natives  of  the  father- 
land. It  was  in  1886  that  they  left  their  Ger- 
man home  for  America,  coming  directly  to 
South  Bend,  where  the  father  is  still  an  hon- 
ored resident,  but  the  mother  has  passed  away 
in  death. 

August  E.  Jahnke  spent  the  first  fourteen 
years  of  his  life  in  his  native  country,  pur- 
suing his  education  in  its  public  schools,  and 
accompanying  his  parents  to  America  and- to 
South  Bend  became  a  resident  of  this  city  at 
the  age  of  fourteen.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
years  he  had  learned  the  baker's  trade,  and 
in  1895  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself 
on  Paris  street,  where  he  remained  for  two 
years,  coming  thence  to  his  present  location, 
807  South  Michigan  street.  Here  he  erected 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


881 


bin  own  business  building,  a  two-story  brick 
block,  his  own  business  occupying  the  first 
floor,  while  the  second  is  fitted  for  residence 
purposes.  He  is  an  enterprising  young  busi- 
ness man,  whose  diligence  and  ability  have 
won  him  continued  advancement,  and  he  is 
now  able  to  give  employment  to  six  skilled 
workmen,  while  his  trade  is  constantly  in- 
creasing. 

On  the  16th  of  June,  1896,  Mr.  Jahnke  was 
united  in  marriage  to  one  of  the  fatherland's 
native  daughters,  Mary  Jordan,  whose  par- 
ents were  Galfred  and  Carrie  Jordan.  They 
have  two  children,  Arnold  and  Dorothea.  Mr. 
Jahnke  is  independent  in  his  political  aflSlia- 
tions,  and  is  a  member  of  the  EvangelicaJ 
Lutheran  church,  in  which  he  has  served  as  a 
deacon  and  takes  an  active  part  in  the  church 
work.  He  is  a  progressive  and  public-spirited 
citizen,  and  all  that  pertains  to  the  public 
welfare  receives  his  hearty  endorsement. 

Vincent  Niedbalski,  a  druggist  at  the  cor- 
ner of  West  Division  and  Arnold  streets, 
South  Bend,  was  bom  in  Prussian  Poland,  in 
May,  1858,  and  was  educated  in  his  native 
place.  Coming  to  America  in  1874,  he  spent 
the  first  two  years  in  the  state  of  New  York, 
while  during  a  similar  period  he  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Michigan,  and  in  1879  he  arrived  in 
South  Bend,  where  he  has  ever  since  made  his 
home  and  been  identified  with  its  varied  in- 
terests. During  the  first  years  of  his  resi- 
dence in  this  city  he  worked  for  the  Olivers, 
the  Studebakers  and  the  Singer  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  amd  in  1883  he  was  able  to  start 
in  business  for  himself,  embarking  in  the 
grocery  trade  at  the  corner  of  Walnut  and 
Napier  streets,  where  he  remained  for  about 
two  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  selling  his 
interests  to  his  brother,  he  spent  tihe  following 
sixteen"  months  as  an  employe  in  the  whole- 
sale departmjent  of  Russ  Company,  after 
which  he  served  in  the  capacity  of  a  clerk 
for  Meyer  Livingston  for  about  three  years. 
He  also  spent  about  nine  months  in  the  em- 
ploy of  Charles  Korpal,  and  in  1893  engaged 
in  the  drug  business  at  1127  West  Division 
street,  but  in  1895  moved  to  his  present  quar- 
ters. His  life  has  been  characterized  by 
energy,  perseverance  and  hard  work,  and  to 
these  principles  his  success  is  due. 

On  the  24th  of  May,  1886,  Mr.  Niedbalski 
was  married  to  Katherine  Szybowicz,  also  a 
native  of  Poland,  and  their  seven  children  are 
Stanislaw,  Apolonia,  Julius,  Hedwig.  Re- 
gina,   Mary   and   Tedos.     Mr.   Niedbalski    is 


somewhat  independent  in  his  political  affilia- 
tions, but  upholds  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party  and  is  a  member  of  the 
church  societies. 

Mrs.  Mary  Jackson  Whitmore,  who  has 
resided  in  Indiana  since  her  girlhood  days, 
has  during  a  number  of  years  past  been  num- 
bered among  the  esteemed  resideAts  of  South 
Bend.  She  was  born  in  Seneca  county,  Ohio, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  John  Jackson,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  Pennsylvania,  and  he  was  a 
son  of  Silas  Jackson,  who  also  claimed  the 
Keystone  state  as  the  commonwealth  of  his 
nativity.  From  there  he  moved  to  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  and 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  there. 

It  was  on  thi^  old  homestead  farm  in  Knox 
county  that  John  Jackson  grew  to  years  of 
maturity,  but  after  his  marriage  he  purchased 
a  farm  in  Seneca  county.  Remaining  there 
until  1855,  he  then  removed  wfth  his  family 
to  Indiana,  the  family  home  being  established 
in  St.  Joseph  county.  Mr.  Jackson  purchased 
a  farm  twelve  miles  from  South  Bend,  where 
he  carried  on  his  farming  and  stock-raising 
interests,  becoming  in  that  time  one  of  the 
county's  leading  agriculturists  and  business 
men.  His  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death 
when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  fifty-nine 
years.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Elizabeth  Eager  and  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, a  daug*hter  of  James  and  Isabelle 
Eager.  She  survived  her  husband  for  several 
years,  and  died  on  the  old  home  farm  in  St. 
Joseph  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson  reared 
a  family  of  ten  children:  Jane,  Edward, 
Lydia,  Joseph,  Hiram,  John,  May,  Silas  S., 
Newton  and  Sarah. 

Mrs.  Whitmore  came  to  Indiana  with  her 
parents  and  lived  with  them  until  September 
20th,  1872,  when  she  gave  her  hand  in  mar- 
riage to  Charles  Whitmore.  He  was  bom  in 
New  Haven,  Connecticut,  where  he  was  also 
reared  to  years  of  maturity  and  receiyed  his 
educational  training.  Coming  to  Indiana 
during  his  early  manhood,  he  located  in  Port 
Wayne,  where  during  the  subsequent  few 
years  he  served  in  the  capacity  of  a  clerk. 
Removing  thence  to  Plymouth,  he  embarked 
in  the  insurance  business  and  the  sale  of 
musical  instruments,  and  thus  he  continued 
his  activities  until  his  life  was  ended  in  death, 
February  3,  1893.  After  that  sad  event  Mrs. 
Whitmore  sold  the  business,  and  with  her 
stepson,  Charles  H.  Whitmore,  came  to  South 
Bend,   where  they  have  ever  since  resided. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


882 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


Mr.  Charles  H.  Whitmore  has  engaged  in. 
business  in  this  city.  He  married  Etta  Eek- 
man,  and  has  one  child,  Donald.  Mrs.  Mary 
Whitmore  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church. 

Mrs.  Ambrosia  (Pope)  Bierbauer,  who 
lives  at  1237  Michigan  avenue,  South  Bend, 
represents  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  St. 
Joseph  county.  She  is  also  the  widow  of  a 
gallant  soldier  who  fought  for  his  adopted 
country  in  the  civil  war.  She  substantiates 
her  claim  to  being  one  of  the  real  pioneers  of 
the  county  by  the  fact  that  she  was  bom  in  a 
log  house  in  Clay  township.  Many  of  the 
older  residents  remember  her  father,  John 
Pope,  who  was  bom  in  New  York,  January  1, 
1812,  and  in  1825  moved  from  New  York  to 
Ohio,  making  the  journey  overland  with 
teams  and  settling  near  Pickaway.  His  par- 
ents, John  and  Mary  (Atwood)  Pope,  were 
natives  of  New  Jersey,  and  the  latter,  after 
the  death  of  her  husband  in  Ohio,  came  to 
Indiana  to  live  with  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Samuel  Tabor.  Mr.  Tabor  had  been  one  of 
the  first  settlers  in  the  vicinity  of  Plymouth, 
and  his  son  Cyrus  was  the  first  white  child 
bom  in  Marshall  county.  Mr.  Tabor  kept  an 
inn  in  a  log  house  in  the  early  days,  and  was 
known  far  and  wide  for  the  hospitality  which 
he  dispensed  in  those  primitive  quarters. 

John  Vope,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Bierbauer, 
who  had  ten  sisters  and  no  brothers,  was  thir- 
teen years  old  when  the  family  moved  to 
Ohio,  and  during  the  brief  time  that  he  at- 
tended school  in  his  new  home  he  was  com- 
pelled to  walk  three  miles  to  the  schoolhouse. 
Being  the  only  son  he  early  had  to  assist  in 
the  labors  of  the  farm.  He  married  in  Ohio, 
and  soon  afterward  started  with  his  bride 
overland  to  Marshall  county,  Indiana,  where 
he  lived  with  his  brother-in-law  a  few  months. 
Then  for  two  years  he  was  engaged  in  dray- 
ing  in  Bertram,  which  was  a  flourishing  place, 
and  from  there  moved  to  Clay  township,  St. 
Joseph  county,  where  he  bought  land,  only 
a  small  part  of  which  was  improved,  and  on 
it  was  the  double  log  house  in  which  he  lived 
for  some  years  and  in  which  his  children  were 
born.  At  the  time  of  his  coming  not  a  rail- 
road had  been  built  in  the  state,  and  all 
grains  had  to  be  hauled  to  Lake  Michigan  for 
transportation  to  distant  markets.  After  ten 
years  he  sold  his  place  and  moved  to  Michi- 
gan, buying  land  in  Niles  township,  Berrien 
county,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  at  the 
age  of  seventy-four.    The  maiden  name  of  his 


wife  was  Phebe  Wolf,  bom  in  Pickaway, 
Ohio,  March  2,  1813,  her  father  being  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia  and  pioneer  of  Ohio.  Mrs. 
Pope  died  at  the  age  of  about  fifty-ei^t 
years.  Her  four  children  were:  Philander, 
who  died  in  service  during  the  civil  war;  Am- 
brosia, Lucretia,  and  MariUa. 

Ambrosia,  the  oldest  of  the  daughters,  has 
a  distinct  remembrance  of  the  removal  of  the 
family  home  from  St.  Joseph  county  to  Mich- 
igan, and  she  recalls  a  pioneer  period  in  this 
county  when  Indians  and  deer  were  stiU 
everyday  features  of  life.  Being  without 
railroad  facilities,  the  settlers  came  and  went 
by  team,  and  all  traflSc  depended  on  this  form 
of  locomotion  except  what  was  done  by  way 
of  the  river.  She  lived  with  her  parents  until 
her  marriage,  on  December  1,  1861,  to  Simon 
Bierbauer,  a  citizen  whose  career  deserves 
recognition  in  this  history. 

Simon  Bierbauer,  who  was  bom  in  Bavaria, 
Germany,  March  16,  1832,  was  one  of  the 
nine  children  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  Eliza- 
beth Bierbauer,  lifelong  residents  of  Bavaria, 
the  others  being:  John,  Charles,  Louise, 
Jacob,  William,  Henry,  Louis,  Elizabeth.  All 
came  to  America  except  John,  Louise  and  Eli- 
zabeth. After  attending  school  quite  steadily 
until  seventeen  years  of  age,  Simon  came  to 
America  and  for  three  years  was  employed 
in  his  brother's  brewery,  after  which  he 
moved  to  Michigan  and  engaged  in  farming. 
In  the  year  of  his  marriage  he  had  become  a 
soldier  for  the  Union,  having  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany E  of  the  Twelfth  Michigan  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  for  three  years,  until  January 
17,  1865,  served  with  a  regimemt  whose  record 
for  bravery  and  endurance  became  firmly 
established.  Shiloh  was  the  first  battle  in 
which  he  engaged,  and  from  that  time  he  was 
constantly  marching  and  fighting  and  per- 
forming a  soldier's  duty  until  his  term  was 
over.  His  farm,  to  which  he  returned  after 
his  honorable  discharge,  was  close  to  the  state 
line  in  Niles  township,  and  he  continued  farm- 
ing until  his  death,  on  December  7th,  1890. 
His  family  remained  on  the  farm  for  a  time 
after  losing  him,  and  then  moved  to  South 
Bend,  where  they  now  occupy  a  pleasant  home 
on  Michigan  avenue.  There  are  three  daugh- 
ters Lena  H.,  Henrietta  and  Kaitherine,  two 
of  whom  are  teachers.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  St.  James  Episcopal  church. 

F.  C.  Rapp  is  identified  with  the  real  ^tate 
interests  of  South  Bend,  of  which  city  he  is 
a  native  son,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


THfc  \n 

V  A»t»r,  L«»n»»>  ana  T'idtit  // 
forfroat'Onf.        // 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


^-:/ 


r 


>^    O^       o^^>1 


zZ 


e>^c^t^c 


y 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


IirsTOKY    OV   ST.    JOSEPH    rw'  n 


t        ii<'  h:^  v\..ii  an  <  X',-'J'*'ni  n'i)N^.^:ti"n  in 

.-  *  ">^  '.•u«'i''S,  iiiid  m  jII  p'-o.'i^sM  ^  ;•  luove- 

n's  ]}i^  t.iki.'s  a  (IiH'}i  and  fnninitMuiablt'  in- 

••M       'i.   i^  o\'  <J.»-ji^-tn  *lrsc-'nt.  h>  pMH' its 

.   12' r  ''.^  li   Simon  and   Sar-ali   ( Fiv-y  )    [[,^l]\ 

*■.■'.■'*  a  native  of   Stulli-afl,  (uM-niauy. 

^    ' .  .^  a  T.hy.-NU.-Jan,  and  wlu^n  a  youiiu  man 

.."';'    ..ft    lii.s    abndf*    in    St»u;]i    }i,'nd    and 

.'  '■«  'd  HI'  .il.'in.*  lioi'o  for  many  y^ar.-.    I>nr- 

r-'.    iMi-i^    days  of  thti  L'"ld  <*x»*jt' lot'iit     t; 

"r<'i:  "•    iiL*  jir^.fti    the   lor:>  iu]i<m-s   in   tin; 

'    ■'    *'  •!   Ml'*  i>nrions  metal,  1  lU  albT  a  i*\\ 

^  W'   -.'  rrtiji-nt^d  T(.  S(nitli  Hv-nd  and  ^pt*nt 

'  ■    ']  .iiMdc'T-  ;.f  his  life  h -rr,  his  dtNilli  oc- 

•'  ••„     \slicn    lie    had    r^.-tched    th**    -iiro    (d' 

'  .  '  e  yeai-s. 

^.  ;  ■:    *Mii\  six  w^un  of  a\:o  V.  C,  Rai'^  wns 

'  '■     ]ij>.  p'jrom-:  t«>  Iliin^^'s,  recoivint^  bis 

;  .1    \v.   tin-  publ;*.*  .vhools  uf  that  slat^ 

i.^»    a""    AVht  aton    Colie.^o.      After   eom- 

■'*  V  his  t'dm'at:'/n  Iv  v\as  ^Mnpli^yed  by  the 

<    ">.  <-;<^  Ju.droiid  <'ompaii>    as  a  ti  !e*_;!-Mph 

•  ':.t<  r.     F  -r  '^l-t;  lom^  [)«^riod  (^f  t\V''i:t>''five 

J^-'   \^•  !>>  one  of  ti'.  T  I^mim-hI  and  eoui- 

■  •  *  'n])N\veh,  fiU'Tij'  nian\  r^'sponsibb^  posi- 
'N  j!:-inLr  ibat  period,  and  on  le"vin:i-  th»» 
'"  S:j-)re  l:.-  h'^'an.e  sreneral  siip'.'rinte«iden( 
•i    'ii'i-'jad.  ))(Mn'^'  thus  emidoyed  for  lliree 

■  r<.     « >n    tne  exj'iration   of  tba^   p-'riocl  he 

■  d    his    c.e^neet ion    \\ilh    railroad    w«;rk- 
i  *''  ),  an-i  '-nibarlced  in  tb^  real  ('^t■!■•e  bu^i- 

•--   .r   "^^ovdh  Heftd,  as  a  nuMj.jx-r  <d'  tlie  firm 

*\' \    &   Frevt'rmnth,   real   '^state   and   in- 

;     ■  "r    <ii-a!ers.       S.uiee    enterinir    upon    b:^ 

;>'.  V-,    r'ar(^er    Mr.    l^a fT   has    ocen   st^^atii'y 

f  '-w  :  nntii  hv  now  o'^eupi*  >  a  vory  en'  1- 

■.     a 'id    enviabb^  posn'-on    in    'lie   business 

.  >  of   S{.  JfAeph  ronid> . 

^''-     h'af   r.'arrit-d    Mr..    K'nma    I'Im-l^'t,    a 

■ti\.'  nf*  Mi^bawaku    rn»li.i  -a.  tlvn'r  wMit-Mir 

.'  ■  '.    t>i.»-ij  ,•!  It  brat. 'd  in   1^7»).     One  daoidi- 

'^  '  N  "e*'  .  b<o'n  of  teis  tiniMn.  Flort-nt'e.   Thf 

V    art*   well  .r*id    ♦•'a^'orab  v   knovvnj    and 

..■   1  'ujh  in  tb'^  eomT!.:niit\. 

*'.' .\v    Vavk.    on.'   <u*    the    \V'''iid:n(»\\  n    and 

■ '.:■  ■  r  j:  cdi/'^ns  of  "^1.  d'.s.'ph  ".Minty.  has 

;••    ;.,','d  })'<  n-'-id'-n'M'  in  So-uli  Ib-nd  for  n 

■  •"      -"x-.^rrs.     ThroiiLdi'Mit  t*-?).  pei*iod  Iv 

■  -  *'-'..  '  -  +  1'-^'^    conia'-tMi  with  ail   interests 

■  ,••  ':.'..■  til,-  d"V- Ir.pmrnt  of  tli's  r*^;?ion, 
>  ii;  -   !*  '\  *H*nfid»e^jt!y  eoiuit-d  upon  to  en- 

•'■m  ..[  a'.  i;mes  t)T'ou-re>s:vi^  Mu-asun's.  FJe 
^  •  ni  -r-  Star^.*  loontv  Indiana.  Xovem- 
.  1 -'  ^ -'^7,  a  son  of  John  and  Fleanoi-p 
'  •  ..  \'av(\  le-.Mi  nadivfs  of  Tennp^s(n\ 
■    .ri  .  ibr  dvt\s  'd'  ibi'  Civil  war  the  father 


re!noVHti  • 

iv,    w  b'-r; 

iils    d.M.J; 

After     ;• 
lie   s>  n   -.^v 
\av.'  1'  ■■ 
fe^sion      '.;■ 
mdiv.'  .  • 
ti'»n  of  '.   . 
Hfnd    and 
bet    >'i>  •  ' 
i:  .';     '.    '    . 


>  i  I  <  ■ 

Ins   ;      •■,.       .    :• 

ob  1  ! '  ■                            .■  1  1 

tWi.i   \ 

<    i      .-    ^ 

j".m'.'        :          ':■'  ■■ 

..       's    ,. 

I'—'.i. 

.    M'-.  N't.      ..           •     . 

iri     1-, 

'-0-'      \llie.    '  . 

A'.--    >       '    . 

.  ■? '-'   eoun\. 

a  >    *    ;  • '         ..".     V.  • 

Mh  V  hav'^  tb 

V..,  n.   ,  :      .      M  , 

barj 

fF(t^  "I  I'    i  '      t  'r,    ' 

.  -in.xzi,     Sln-r 

inleli:!'.     }     ■  .  '!. 

•'  vs  is  me.ix  . 

faenltN    >"'     •     t» 

'.T'.^'-  to  the    v :- 

hnmanil.\    •.     *  ie^ 

■'•■*:on   of  .s^    '• 

ethies,  eu*'-  •     "i 

s    iinanee  aii  • 

fut    arts    o'     '  >  M 

.      -reer   of   w       ■ 

L<*ren//.  x\\u<'  *  -  • 

.      ■      ,  nf  repr.\-. 

and    slnirnlar    .-e. 

'•    ••       >o     the     h'M:  ' 

MisbaN\aka  a:    »  > 

■oonty.     In   ^    •. 

iseend.^d  fr"T!:   a 

.•'n'*'ntiee>b  " 

T'-^ornonT  {'f  b  id 

.            '  ■      .     fuid   m<  •• 

t.b-    eni'M  p".s,  V   *  • 

There   :: 

b'     f'T  see-    x--  :,  1" 

•  1    1  '•  -           •  ''-isis  in  t  ■ 

neb  r,  and  !■  »•    is 

» ^'    .   ■         ■,  '-or  lim( 

pr*'-  .   '1  ilv  and  - 

t'e    tr    .    ■           .       .di  we  > 

pron.-.  '^^    we  i-^e; 

'     ..   t,  ■-.               '    -s  are    .' 

soeia*  •-.,  i;<)f    V-, .{ : 

'.  •  d-'*\vv  .         .>      tMii  \\i; 

the  da--  ■.•  ■■;V:>r 

!'■    lOU's  : ve  hr 

to   do   ;d     •■:■:    is 

:'.    n^    to    •»'  •*               b    SOl  > 

wort  bv  ei-  1        vn 

'•    ;■      f\.s  b<  •    '    ■       •    :;    sr  • 

by    onr    lb        "  • 

*  "be    w.'»  r     -        fa! 

^\or!  li''  end.s       1* 

•.  'X-    .b•^v»  that           .  .  -es 

aiel  nearest  ;••  ••  ih  .  e  lin-t  ^^rro!■  ■.■  -on. 
hap]>v.  .o'd  '''''  -1'  •  ".  M  yon  ai"'  .  •'.^* 
And  he  i-  <evt,i;i  ^  d.  j'vvnir  of  Mie  i^'..  ':,-f 
bonor  ajid  v..  id  n-r'----  e-'f  o-is  ba\e  l)i .  ■  .  ;' 
llie  p-reatest  M- ^-i:.e  t(»  h  s  ^-d^vv  "iti>"'-.- 
jnd'jred  l)y  {hvv  ^<a' d.arib  \  v,o:k  of  tli  s 
(diaraett'r  W(Miid   '      "M'omplete  we  n^  not  spe- 


Digitized  by 


Googk 


/V' 


rr 


;-^^   ^;^^<'>4      cA. 


r^t  <^'/  t^r 


c- 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


883 


1849.  He  has  won  an  excellent  reputation  in 
business  circles,  and  in  all  progressive  move- 
ments he  takes  a  deep  and  commendable  in- 
teresrt.  He  is  of  German  descent,  his  parents 
having  been  Simon  and  Sarah  (Prey)  Raflf, 
the  former  a  native  of  Stuttgart,  Germany. 
He  was  a  physician,  and  when  a  young  man 
he  took  up  his  abode  in  South  Bend  and 
practiced  medicine  here  for  many  years.  Dur- 
ing the  early  days  of  the  gold  excitement  in 
California  he  joined  the  forty-niners  in  the 
search  for  the  precious  metal,  but  after  a  few 
years  there  returned  to  South  Bend  and  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life  here,  his  death  oc- 
curring when  he  had  reached  the  age  of 
eighty-three  years. 

When  only  six  years  of  age  P.  C.  Raff  was 
taken  by  his  parents  to  Illinois,  receiving  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  that  state 
and  also  at  Wheaton  College.  After  com- 
pleting his  education  he  was  employed  by  the 
Lake  Shore  Railroad  Company  as  a  tele^rraph 
operator.  Por  the  long  period  of  twenty-five 
years  he  was  one  of  their  trusted  and  com- 
petent employes,  filling  many  responsible  posi- 
tions during  that  period,  and  on  leaving  the 
Lake  Shore  he  became  general  superintendent 
of  a  railroad,  being  thus  employed  for  three 
years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 
severed  his  connection  with  railroad  work, 
in  1903,  and  embarked  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness in  South  Bend,  as  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Prey  &  Preyermuth,  real  estate  and  in- 
surance dealers.  Since  entering  upon  his 
business  career  Mr.  Raff  has  been  steadily 
advancing  until  he  now  occupies  a  very  cred- 
itable and  enviable  position  in  the  business 
circles  of  St.  Joseph  county. 

Mr.  Raff  married  Miss  Emma  Pfleger,  a 
native  of  Mishawaka,  Indiana,  their  wedding 
having  been  celebrated  in  1876.  One  daugh- 
ter has  been  born  of  this  union,  Plorence.  The 
family  are  well  and  favorably  known,  and 
stand  high  in  the  community. 

Pliny  Nave,  one  of  the  well-known  and 
influential  citizens  of  St.  Joseph  county,  has 
maintained  his  residence  in  South  Bend  for  a 
num^ber  of  years.  Throughout  that  period  he 
has  been  actively  connected  with  all  interests 
to  promote  the  development  of  this  region, 
and  has  been  confidently  counted  upon  to  en- 
dorse at  all  times  progressive  measures.  He 
was  born  in  Starke  county,  Indiana,  Novem- 
ber 12,  1867,  a  son  of  John  and  Eleanore 
(Jones)  Nave,  both  natives  of  Tennessee. 
During  the  days  of  the  Civil  war  the  father 


removed  to  Indiana,  locating  in  Starke  coun- 
ty, where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  until 
his  death  in  1888. 

After  receiving  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Starke  county,  Indiana,  Pliny 
Nave  became  a  member  of  the  teacher's  pro- 
fession, having  taught  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  county  for  five  years.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period,  in  1889,  he  came  to  South 
Bend  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  business, 
but  subsequently  retired  from  that  occupa- 
tion and  in  1901  became  connected  with  the 
real  estate  and  insurance  business.  In  all  his 
various  undertakings  he  has  been  fortunate 
for  the  most  part,  and  while  he  has  attended 
strictly  to  business  and  to  the  discharge  of  all 
his  personal  duties  he  has  not  neglected  the 
obligations  resting  upon  him  as  a  citizen.  Por 
two  yeaj^  he  served  as  the  city  clerk  of  North 
Judson,  and  in  1902  was  the  Republican 
nominee  for  the  office  of  city  clerk  of  South 
Bend. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Nave  was  celebrated 
in  1887,  when  Miss  Allie,  the  daughter  of 
Abner  Hay,  of  Starke  county,  Indiana,  be- 
came his  wife,  and  they  have  three  children — 
Vennie,  Guy  and  Earl. 

Joseph  H.  Db  Lorenzi.  Since,  in  its  most 
intelligent  form,  success  is  measured  by  the 
faculty  of  contributing  to  the  well-being  of 
humanity  by  the  promotion  of  soundness  in 
ethics,  education,  politics,  finance  and  the  use- 
ful arts  of  living,  the  career  of  Joseph  de 
Lorenzi  must  he  regarded  as  of  representative 
and  singular  importance  in  the  history  of 
Mishawaka  and  St.  Joseph  county.  In  scope, 
ascended  from  a  jeweler's  apprenticeship  to 
promoter  of  leading  industrial  and  mercan- 
tile enterprises  of  this  county.  There  must 
be  for  success  a  certain  material  basis  in  char- 
acter, and  for  us  to  look  back  in  our  time  of 
prosperity  and  see  the  things  of  which  we  are 
proudest,  we  find  that  those  memories  are  as- 
sociated, not  with  the  days  of  ease,  but  with 
the  days  of  efifort ;  the  days  that  we  have  had 
to  do  all  that  is  in  us  to  accomplish  some 
worthy  end.  And  as  has  been  happily  said 
by  our  President,  **The  worthiest  of  all 
worthy  ends  is  to  make  those  that  are  closest 
and  nearest  and  those  that  surround  you, 
happy,  and  not  sorry  that  you  are  alive." 
And  he  is  certainly  deserving  of  the  greatest 
honor  and  regard  whose  efforts  have  been  of 
the  greatest  blessing  to  his  fellow  citizens, 
judged  by  their  standard.  A  work  of  this 
character  would  be  incomplete  were  not  spe- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


884 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


cial  mention  made  of  the  gentleman  whose 
name  introduces  these  brief  memoirs. 

Joseph  de  Lorenzi  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Simmern,  Prussia,  September  8,  1856.  His 
father,  Charles  de  Lorenzi,  was  bom  in  Prus- 
sia. His  ancestors  were  natives  of  Italy  and 
removed  to  Germany  in  1774  and  first  settled 
at  Bingen  on  the  Rhine.  The  father  of  our 
subject  kept  public  house  in  Siinmem  all  his 
active  life.  He  died  in  1871,  aged  forty-eight 
years.  The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of 
our  subject  was  Louise  Rottman.  She  was 
born  in  Simmern.  Her  father,  Joseph  Rott- 
man, was  a  native  of  Simmern.  He  acquired 
a  good  education  and  in  early  life  entered  the 
government  service,  and  through  promotion 
became  mayor  of  his  native  city.  He  also  rep- 
resented his  native  city  in  the  Reichstag.  He 
was  a  lifelong  resident  of  his  native  city.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  spent  her  last  years  at 
Crefeld,  where  she  died  in  1902.  She  reared 
nine  children :  Anna,  Louise,  Charles,  Amalie, 
Joseph,  Katherine,  Herman,  Mathilde  and  Al- 
bert. The  subject  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools,  where  he  prepared  for  col- 
lege. His  father's  death  changed  his  plans 
and  he  had  to  assist  in  the  hotel,  and  at  six- 
teen commenced  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  jew- 
eler, and  served  an  apprenticeship  of  three 
years,  and  then,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  en- 
tered the  army  and  served  three  years,  and 
then  was  honorably  discharged  and  returned 
to  work  at  his  trade,  and  in  1881  came  to 
America,  and  after  a  few  weeks  in  South 
Bend,  came  to  Mishawaka  and  entered  the 
employ  of  Henry  D.  Higgins,  jeweler,  and 
continued  in  his  employ  until  about  1894, 
when  he  succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  the 
business  which  he  continued  most  success- 
fully until  1906,  when  he  disposed  of  that 
business  and  has  since  devoted  his  time  to  the 
multiplicity  of  enterprises  with  which  he  is 
intimately  connected.  Among  the  more  im- 
portant industries  with  which  he  is  connected, 
is  the  Mishawaka  Folding  Carriage  Company, 
of  which  he  is  treasurer.  He  is  also  vice 
president  of  the  M.  V.  Beiger  Realty  Com- 
pany, president  of  the  East  Mishawaka 
Realty  Company,  director  of  the  Mishawaka 
Hotel  Association,  and  also  president  of  the 
Mishawaka  Business  Men's  Association.  He 
was  married  in  1883  to  Sarah  M.  Higgins. 
She  was  bom  in  Mishawaka,  daughter  of 
Henry  D.  and  Nancy  Higgins.  They  have 
three  children :  Joseph,  now  a  student  at  Wa- 


bash College;  Susie,  who  has  studied  in  Ber- 
lin, and  Helen. 

August  Erb,  who  is  now  resting  from  the 
arduous  cares  of  a  business  life  after  a  long 
and  successful  career  as  a  cabinet  maker, 
principally  in  the  manufacture  of  church  fur- 
niture, is  a  native  son  of  Germany,  where  he 
was  born  on  the  4th  of  July,  1838,  and  in  the 
fatherland  his  parents,  Adam  and  Adelia 
(Schnider)  Erb,  also  had  their  nativity,  and 
in  their  family  were  seven  children.  The 
father  also  devoted  his  business  career  to  the 
trade  of  cabinet  making  and  the  manufac- 
ture of  church  furniture. 

Mr.  August  Erb  spent  the  first  twenty-eight 
years  of  his  life  in  the  land  of  his  nativity, 
coming  thence  to  America  and  establishing 
his  home  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania.  After 
a  three  months'  residence  in  that  city,  how- 
ever, he  journeyed  to  Freeburg,  Illinois, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  for  three  years, 
and  on  the  expiration  of  the  period,  in  1871, 
came  to  Mishawaka  and  became  associated 
v/*th  the  Montgomery  Furniture  Factory, 
where  he  labored  for  about  two  and  a  half 
years.  It  was  in  1874  that  he  started  in  busi- 
ness for  himself  as  a  cabinet  maker,  and  dur- 
ing the  long  period  which  intervened  from 
that  time  until  1905  he  remained  faithfully  at 
his  work,  his  excellent  ability  and  unceasing 
labors  winning  him  a  place  among  the  leading 
business  men  of  his  adopted  city.  But  in  that 
year  he  laid  aside  the  active  cares  of  a  busi- 
ness life,  and  has  since  lived  in  the  enjoy- 
ments of  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil. 

In  Mishawaka,  in  1874,  Mr.  Erb  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Mary  Beglin,  who  was  bom  in 
Stark  county,  Ohio,  the  daughter  of  John 
and  Mary  Beglin,  who  were  bom  and  reared 
in  Grermany.  On  coming  to  America,  they 
located  in  Ohio,  and  from  there  made  their 
way  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  in  an 
early  day.  On  their  arrival  in  this  county 
they  secured  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  in 
Harris  township,  and  on  this  old  homestead 
they  reared  their  children  to  years  of  matur- 
ity. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Erb  have  been  bora  six 
children,  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  three 
of  whom  are  deceased,  and  all  were  bora  and 
reared  in  Mishawaka.  Mr.  Erb  has  given  a 
lifelong  support  to  the  Democracy,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  church  and  of  the 
Catholic  Knights. 

George  C.  Clark,  a  machinist  and  manu- 
facturer of  aluminum  shoe  and  foot  lasrts  at 
1111  North  Main  street,  Mishawaka,  is  rapidly 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


883 


winning  for  himself  a  name  in  connection 
with  industrial  circles  that  is  widely  known. 
He  is  also  one  of  the  city's  native  sons,  his 
birth  occurring  on  the  15th  of  August,  1874. 
His  father,  Chester  W.  Clark,  a  machinist 
with  the  Snell  Manufacturing  Company  of 
South  Bend,  was  born  in  Defiance,  Ohio,  but 
was  reared  and  educated  in  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty, whither  he  had  removed  with  his  parents 
when  young,  the  family  locating  in  South  . 
Bend,  where  Chester  W.  was  married  to  one 
of  the  county's  native  daughters.  Flora  Ever- 
son.  They  became  the  parents  of  three  sons, 
the  eldest  of  whom  is  deceased,  as  is  also  the 
second  son,  Frank,  and  George  C.  is  the  only 
surviving  child.  All  were  bom  in  Misha- 
waka.  During  the  long  period  of  twenty-five 
years  Chester  W.  Clark  had  charge  of  the  St. 
Joseph  Iron  Company.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
his  political  affliations,  and  has  taken  an 
active  part  in  the  political  life  of  the  county, 
while  for  one  term  he  served  as  a  member  of 
the  city  board. 

George  C.  Clark  obtained  his  education  in 
the  city  schools  of  Mishawaka,  and  after  its 
completion  he  learned  his  trade  of  machinist 
under  his  father's  directions,  but  it  was  not 
long  before  he  began  experimenting  on  the 
aluminum  shoe  last  and  was  successful  in  his 
ventures.  In  1906  he  opened  the  shop  of 
which  he  has  since  been  the  proprietor,  and 
here  he  is  rapidly  forging  his  way  to  the 
front  and  winning  success  as  a  manufacturer. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Clark  was  celebrated 
in  1894,  when  Grace  Rarencroft  became  his 
wife.  Her  birth  occurred  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  she  is  the  daughter  of  J.  A. 
Rarencroft,  a  farmer  iij  Ohio,  but  who  for 
many  years  was  a  salesman  for  the  Misha- 
waka Woolen  Oonipiany.  The  ooily  child,  a 
son  Kenneth,  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  is 
now  deceased.  Mr.  Clark  gives  his  political 
support  to  the  Republican  party,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Benights  of  Pythias  fraternity. 

Isaac  K.  Parks.  About  ten  years  ago  Mr. 
Isaac  Kane  Parks,  then  a  young  man  of 
eighteen  years,  came  to  Mishawaka.  Since 
then,  as  journalist,  attorney,  jurist  and  citi- 
zen he  has  been  an  important  factor  in  the 
development  of  the  town  and  no  one  is  more 
highly  esteemed.  He  was  bom  on  the  old 
Santa  Fe  trail  in  eastern  Kansas,  September 
10,  1879.  His  father,  Horace  Parks,  is  a  na- 
tive of  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  where  he 
was  also  reared,  and  his  life  occupation  has 
been  farming.     The  early  years  of  his  life 


were  spent  in  Penn  township,  and.  during 
three  years  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland.  Returning  thenc^  to  Misha- 
waka he  was  married  to  Sarah  Mmer,  also  a 
native  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  in  the  sam. 
year,  with  his  young  bride,  he  started  for  the 
west,  his  destination  being  Olathe,  Kansas, 
where  he  resumed  his  farming  operations.  He 
still  resides  in  the  Sunflower  state. 

After  completing  his  literary  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  state  Isaac  Kane 
Parks  entered  the  Kansas  University,  where 
he  graduated  in  the  law  department  in  1897. 
Coming  thence  to  South  Bend,  Indiana,  he 
entered  the  office  of  B.  F.  Shively  for  about 
three  years.  He  then  entered  upon  his  jour- 
nalistic career  in  the  office  of  the  Mishawaka 
Democrat,  but  later  resumed  his  law  practice, 
and  is  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  bar 
of  Mishawaka.  He  was  appointed  assistant 
prosecuting  attorney  for  St.  Joseph  county 
in  April,  1907,  by  Joseph  E.  Talbot,  prosecut- 
ing attorney.  He  was  admitted  to. the  bar  in 
Kansas,  and  after  coming  to  Indiana,  al- 
though yet  under  age,  he  was  allowed, 
through  the  courtesy  of  the  court,  to  con- 
tinue his  practice  here.  His  first  case  was 
tried  before  he  had  reached  his  twenty-first 
year,  in  which  he  was  pitted  against  three  of 
the  leading  lawyers,  who  are  now  holding  re- 
sponsible positions,  one  being  on  the  federal 
bench  and  one  a  past  attorney  general  of  In- 
diana. Mr.  Parks  has  also  been  a  prominent 
factor  in  the  ranks  of  the  Democratic  party. 
He  stands  high  in  the  councils  of  the  party  in 
his  district,  and  has  been  an  erergetic,  effi- 
cient worker  in  its  behalf.  He  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  order  in  Mishawaka,  and  in  all  life's 
relations  is  true  to  duty  and  the  right. 

KoNSTANTiNE  Lewinski,  vicc  secretary  of 
the  Kosciusko  Building  and  Loan  Association, 
and  in  many  other  w-ays  identified  with  the 
interests  of  South  Bend,  was  born  in  Poland, 
November  6,  1865,  a  son  of  Severyn  and  Cath- 
arine (Siuchninski)  Lewinski,  both  also  na- 
tives of  that  country.  They  came  to  South 
Bend  in  1882,  and  in  this  city  they  have  ever 
since  made  their  home,  the  father  having  at- 
tained the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  In  their 
family  were  three  children,  Frances,  Stanis- 
laws  and  Konstantine. 

Konstantine  Lewinski,  the  youngest  of  the 
family,  was  reared  and  received  his  education 
in  his  native  land,  remaining  there  until  he 
was  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  at  that  early 
age  he   came  alone  to   America  and  on   to 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


886 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


South  Bend,  the  year  of  his  emigration  being 
1881.  During  the  first  fourteen  years  of  his 
residence  in  this  city  he  was  an  employe  of 
the  Olivers,  working  as  a  day  molder  until 
he  was  given  a  position  of  second  foreman  in 
the  stock  rooms.  On  account  of  poor  health, 
however,  he  was  obliged  to  leave  the  factory, 
and  since  that  time  has  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  interests  of  the  people  of 
his  native  land.  During  the  long  period  of 
fourteen  years  he  served  as  secretary  of  the 
St.  Hedwige's  society,  for  a  similar  i>eriod 
was  councilman  for  the  Kosciusko  Association, 
while  at  the  present  time  he  is  serving  as  vice 
secretary  of  that  organization.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  St.  Hodwig's  society,  the  Kosciusko 
Building  and  Loan  Association,  the  Polish 
Turners,  and  is  a  member  of  the  committee 
to  care  for  the  Kosciusko  Hall,  which  belongs 
to  the  Turners.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Polish  Alliance  of  America,  No.  193,  and  is 
a  Republican  in  his  political  affiliations,  ac- 
tive in  the  work  of  the  party. 

On  the  13th  of  February,  1889,  Mr.  Lewin- 
ski  was  married  to  Wladyslawa  Kluszczyuski, 
and  they  have  eight  living  children,  Hedwig, 
Adolph,  Edward,  Sophia,  Joseph,  Tresia,  Al- 
bin,  and  Clara.  Leonard,  the  oldest  son,  was 
shot  and  died  from  the  wounds  in  a  few 
hours,  June  23,  1907. 

John  C.  Ellsworth,  one  of  the  leading 
merchants  of  South  Bend,  St.  Joseph  county, 
is  a  native  of  that  city,  where  he  was  bom 
on  the  20th  of  December,  1874.  His  father, 
Fred  D.  Ellsworth,  was  also  a  native  son  of 
the  county,  his  birthplace  being  Mishawaka 
and  the  day  of  his  birth,  December  27,  1849. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  James,  commenced 
his  life  at  Watkins  Glen,  New  York,  being  of 
substantial  English  ancestry,  and  coming  to 
St.  Joseph  in  the  real  rugged  pioneer  days 
of  the  county.  As  all  the  region  was  a  devel- 
oping wilderness,  and  roads  and  highways 
were  prime  necessities  of  its  settlement,  he 
found  eager  use  for  his  professional  attain- 
ments as  a  civil  engineer.  When  he  first 
came  to  St.  Joseph  county  he  located  at 
Mishawaka  and  there  spent  the  balance  of 
his  days,  busily  engaged  in  professional  work. 

The  father  of  John  C.  Ellsworth  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Misha- 
waka and  at  Notre  Dame  University.  When 
a  young  man  he  commenced  clerking  in  the 
store  of  John  W'.  Chess,  and  there  obtained 
his  first  insight  into  mercantile  operations 
and  principles.     Having  obtained  the  neces- 


sary practical  knowledge  required  by  men 
of  common  sense,  who  succeed  in  the  busi- 
ness aflfairs  of  the  world,  Fred  D.  Ellsworth 
established  his  own  dry  goods  store,  and, 
under  his  able  and  genial  management,  it 
waxed  in  strength  as  a  mercantile  venture. 
In  1882  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Gar- 
land E.  Rose  under  the  firm  name  of  Rose 
&  Ellsworth,  which  continued  mutually  ad- 
vantageous ajid  harmonious  until  the  death 
of  Mr.  Rose  in  1892.  Mr.  Fred  D.  Ellsworth 
then  purchased  the  interest  of  the  heirs  of 
his  deceased  partner,  and  conducted  the  busi- 
ness alone  until  his  own  death  in  1897. 
Fred  D.  Ellsworth  was  in  his  forty-eighth 
year  at  the  time  of  his  demise.  His  widow 
before  marriage  was  Helen  M.  Chess,  daugh- 
ter of  John  W.  Chess,  in  whose  store  he  ob- 
tained his  first  experience  in  mercantile  mat- 
ters.    Mrs.   Ellsworth  died  in   1900. 

John  W.  Chess  was  an  early  settler  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  having  been  for  many  years 
prior  to  his  death  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits as  proprietor  of  a  general  store.  He 
also  owned  and  operated  a  large  farm  on  the 
Division  street  road,  Chees  Island  having 
been  named  for  him.  His  wife  and  widow, 
known  in  her  maiden  days  as  Olive  Winans, 
is  still  hale  and  hearty,  although  a  venerable 
lady  of  eighty-five  years.  She  makes  her 
home  with  her  children,  and  is  a  universal 
object  of  love  and  veneration. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  the  only 
son  of  the  paternal  family,  and  is  the  sole 
representative  of  both  the  Ellsworth  and  the 
Chess  families  now  living  in  St.  Joseph 
county.  After  receiving  a  thorough  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  South  Bend  and 
at  Phillips  Exeter  Academy,  he  became  as- 
sociated with  his  father  in  business,  and  at 
the  death  of  the  elder  Ellsworth  assumed  its 
management,  which  he  has  continued  with  sig- 
nal ability.  The  Ellsworth  store,  as  it  is 
still  popularly  called,  maintains  its  former 
reputation  as  a  progressive  dry  goods  store, 
its  stock  being  always  complete  and  up-to- 
date  and  its  proprietor  courteous,  clear 
sighted  and  energetic.  Its  patronage  is  de- 
rived from  this  and  neighboring  counties. 
The  store  so  aptly  named  **The  brightest  spot 
in  the  town"  is  a  household  word  for  miles 
around. 

On  October  14,  1903,  Mr.  Ellsworth  mar- 
ried  Miss  Alice  Chalifoux,  a  native  of  Lowell, 
Massachusetts,  and  daughter  of  J.  L.  and 
Nellie    Chalifoux.      Their    two    children   are 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


887 


Helene  and  Fred.  Mr.  Ellsworth  is  well 
known  as  a  fraternalist,  being  identified  with 
St.  Joseph  Lodge  No.  45,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
South  Bend  Lodge  No.  235,  B.  P.  0.  E. 

Charles  H.  Jackson,  who  for  a  number 
of  years  past  has  been  an  active  factor  in 
the  industrial  interests  of  South  Bend,  has 
through  his  diligence,  perseverance  and  abil- 
ity won  for  himself  an  honored  name.  He 
was  born  in  St.  Joseph  county,  near  Lake- 
view,  February  1,  1867,  a  son  of  Newton 
and  Caroline  (Deppen)  Jackson,  the  former 
a  native  of  Ohio,  bom  in  1810,  and  the  lat- 
ter of  Pennsylvania.  Very  early  in  the  '50s 
the  father  made  his  way  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
taking  up  his  abode  in  Lakeville,  where  he 
operated  one  of  the  first  saw  mills  in  the 
county.  He  gives  his  political  support  to 
the  Republican  party,  and  has  ever  been  an 
active  worker  in  its  ranks,  while  for  a  time 
he  served  as  the  commissioner  of  St.  Joseph 
county.  In  1875  he  embarked  in  the  lumber 
business,  in  which  he  was  engaged  until  1886, 
when  he  laid  aside  the  active  cares  of  life 
and  has  sinice  lived  in  comparative  retire- 
ment, enjoying  the  pleasures  which  years  of 
toil  have  brought  to  him.  He  still  has,  how- 
ever, saw-milling  interests  in  Tennessee.  He 
now  makes  his  home  in  South  Bend.  The 
wife  and  mother  died  in  1877,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-nine  years. 

After  attending  the  public  schools  of 
South  Bend  Charles  H.  Jackson  pursued  a 
commercial  college  course,  after  which  he 
worked  for  his  father  for  two  years,  there 
gaining  a  broad  and  general  knowledge  of 
the  lumber  business.  In  1887  he  engaged  in 
the  same  business  with  Barney  C.  Smith,  the 
firm  of  Smith  &  Jackson  being  numbered 
among  the  leading  lumber  corporations  in 
South  Bend.  Mr.  Jackson  gives  his  political 
support  to  the  Republican  party,  and  al- 
though he  takes  an  active  interest  in  the 
public  life  his  attention  is  devoted  princi- 
pally to  his  large  business  interests.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  order  of  Elks,  also  of  the 
Pev  Se  Club,  of  which  he  has  been  president 
for  several  years,  and  he  has  a  wide  circle 
of  friends  and  acquaintances. 

John  Vermande.  During  a  period  of 
twenty-three  years  John  Vermande  has  been 
numbered  among  the  representative  citizens 
and  business  men  of  South  Bend,  and  during 
the  principal  part  of  that  time  has  been 
engaged  in  general  contracting  and  building. 
His  entire  career  has  been  marked  by  signal 


integrity,  and  his  genius  and  talent  as  a 
business  manager  has  resulted  in  the  pros- 
perity of  the  enterprises  with  which  he  has 
been  identified  and  the  employment  of  large 
numbers  of  workmen.  His  birth  occurred  in 
Goes,  province  of  Zeeland,  Holland,  April 
29,  1862.  In  1883  he  left  his  native  land  for 
the  United  States,  making  his  way  direct  to 
South  Bend,  where  during  the  first  years  of 
his  residence  he  readily  embraced  any  occu- 
pation that  presented  itself,  at  intervals 
teaching  German  and  French,  his  strong 
point  being  mathematics.  During  one  year 
Mr.  Vermande  was  also  associated  with  the 
Studebaker  Brothers  as  a  millwright,  and  in 
1889,  in  partnership  with  George  Russell,  he 
entered  the  contracting  field,  but  the  partner- 
ship only  continued  for  a  period  of  eight 
months,  sin-ce  which  time  Mr.  Vermande  has 
been  alone  in  the  business.  During  the  past 
two  years  he  has  performed  much  work  for 
the  Studebaker  estate,  also  all  of  the  work 
for  the  Indiana  Railroad  Company  during 
the  year  of  1906,  and  he  has  just  closed  a 
contract  for  the  remodeling  of  the  store 
building  for  John  Ellsworth,  involving  a 
sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars.  Many  of  the 
public  buildings  of  South  Bend  also  stand 
as  monuments  to  his  ability,  and  in  1906 
he  erected  his  present  residence  at  812  East 
Washington  street. 

On  the  21st  of  November,  1895,  Mr.  Ver- 
mande was  united  in  marriage  to  Anna 
Luella  Chalfant,  who  was  born  in  Clay  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  the  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  Thomas  B.  Chalifant,  one  of 
the  early  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county.  He 
took  up  his  abode  within  its  borders  as  early 
as  1832,  and  was  actively  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  Clay  township,  residing 
on  one  farm  from  1832  until  his  death  in 
1902.  Mrs.  Vermande  is  the  eldest  of  his 
three  children,  the  second  being  Mrs.  L.  E. 
Carpenter,  of  South  Bend,  and  the  youngest, 
Robert,  also  a  resident  of  this  city,  his  home 
being  at  826  East  Colfax  street.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Vermande  have  one  son,  Robert  J.  Mr. 
Vermande  gives  a  stanch  and  unfaltering  sup- 
port to  the  Republican  party,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Elks  and  the  Turners. 

Jerry  R.  Woodward.  Mishawaka  in- 
cludes among  her  representative  farmers  and 
honored  citizens  Jerry  R.  Woodward,  who 
was  born  in  St.  Joseph  county,  Michigan, 
August  23,  1859.  The  early  years  of  his 
life  were  spent  on  his  father's  farm  in  that 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


888 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


y 


county,  which  was  devoted  to  the  raising  of 
peppermint,  and  the  little  son  was  early 
inured  to  the  raising  of  that  commodity, 
which  has  continued  as  his  life  occupation. 
The  growing  of  peppermint  was  first  started 
in  New  York,  and  about  1845  was  introduced 
in  Michigan  by  Wolf  Brothers,  while  later 
its  popularity  spread  over  that  entire  section 
of  the  country  and  northern  Indiana.  It 
was  in  1889  that  Mr.  Woodward  came  to  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  locating  on  a  farm 
east  of  his  present  place,  where  he  devoted 
three  hundred  acres  to  the  raising  of  pep- 
permint, in  which  he  was  assisted  by  his  two 
brothers,  J.  W.  and  W.  M.  Woodward.  After 
a  residence  tliere  of  eight  years  he  pur- 
chased other  land,  including  his  present  farm 
of  three  hundred  acres,  which  is  principally 
devoted  to  the  raising  of  peppermint,  he' 
doing  his  own  distilling  and  placing  the  oil 
on  the  market.  In  the  pursuit  of  his  chosen 
occupation  he  has  been  very  successful,  and 
while  he  has  attended  strictly  to  his  business 
and  to  the  discharge  of  all  hie  duties  as  a 
husband  and  father,  he  has  not  neglected  the 
remoter  obligations  resting  upon  him  as  a 
citizen.  He  has  voted  with  the  Republican 
party  throughout  the  years  of  his  majority, 
and  from  1901  to  1905  was  its  representa- 
tive in  the  office  of  trustee  of  Penn  township. 

During  his  residence  in  Michigan,  on  the 
7th  of  December,  1887,  Mr.  Woodward  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Cora  Pomeroy,  who 
was  bom  in  St.  Joseph  county  of  that  state, 
the  daughter  of  A.  S.  and  Charlotte  (Foote) 
Pomeroy,  in  whose  family  were  three  chil- 
dren, one  son  and  two  daughters.  The  hus- 
band and  father  followed  carpentering  and 
farming  as  his  occupation.  Five  children 
have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Woodward. 
Grace,  May,  Madeline,  Beatrice  and  Logan, 
all  of  whom  have  had  their  nativity  in  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana.  Mr.  Woodward  has 
membership  relations  with  the  Masonic  order, 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Knights  of  the 
Maccabees,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
associated  with  the  Grangers.  Their  reli- 
gious affiliations  connect  them  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  in  their 
pleasant  home  on  East  Second  street  they  ex- 
tend a  gracious  hospitality  to  their  many 
friends  and  well-wishers. 

Louis  A.  Hickey,  one  of  the  leading  con- 
tractors and  builders  of  South  Bend,  with 
residence  at  912  North  Laurel  street,  is  a 
representative  of  two  of  the  oldest  and  most 


honored  pioneer  families  of  the  city,  which 
alao  claims  him  as  one  of  her  native  sons, 
his  birth  occurring  on  the  30th  of  May, 
1859.  His  father,  Louis  Hickey,  was  born 
in  Canada,  but  came  to  South  Bend  in  1849, 
this  being  at  the  time  when  the  first  engine 
made  its  way  to  this  city,  and  he  too  was 
a  carpenter  and  builder,  but  he  is  now  re- 
tired from  the  active  pursuits  of  a  business 
life,  enjoying  the  rest  which  has  been  se- 
cured through  honest,  earnest  labor.  He  has 
now  reached  the  seventy-seventh  milestone  on 
the  journey  of  life,  and  is  one  of  South 
Bend's  honored  early  pioneers.  Mrs.  Hickey 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Julia  La  Fountain 
and  was  bom  in  South  Bend,  of  French  de- 
scent, her  parents  being  Anthony  and  Julia 
La  Fountain,  who  established  their  home  in 
this  city  in  an  early  day  in  its  history.  They 
were  natives,  however,  of  Canada. 

Louis  A.  Hickey,  the  second  in  order  of 
birth  of  his  parents'  nine  children,  began 
the  carpenter's  trade  at  the  early  age  of 
eighteen  years,  while  in  1900  he  entered  the 
contracting  field,  and  he  now  has  in  his 
employ  from  eleven  to  twenty-four  men,  thus 
adding  to  the  general  welfare  while  advanc- 
ing his  own  interests.  In  1883  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Hickey  and  Miss  Sarah 
Flynn.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Julia  Flynn,  and  was  bom  in  Niles,  Michi- 
gan. They  have  six  living  children :  Elenora, 
the  wife  of  Alonzo  J.  Heston,  of  Ravenna, 
Ohio,  Thomias  L.,  Waflren,  Ruth,  Greneva  and 
Marvin.  Three  of  their  children  also  died  in 
infancy.  Mrs.  Heston  has  one  son,  Louis  J. 
Mr.  Hickey  has  been  a  lifelong  resident  of 
South  Bend,  prominently  identified  with  its 
interests  and  upbuilding,  and  his  friends  here 
are  many.  His  sympathies  are  with  the 
Democratic  party,  but  locally  he  is  not  bound 
by  party  ties,  and  his  fraternal  relations  are 
with  the  Elks  of  South  Bend  and  the  Cana- 
dian Foresters  and  the  St.  Vincent  de  Paul 
societies. 

George  H.  Alward,  Jr.,  the  late  eflBcient 
and  popular  clerk  of  St.  Joseph  county,  holds 
and  merits  a  place  among  its  representative 
citizens,  and  for  mainy  years  he  had  been 
prominently  identified  with  its  public  affairs. 
South  Bend  may  well  be  glad  to  claim  him 
as  one  of  her  native  sons,  his  birth  occurring 
in  this  city  on  the  14th  of  July,  1858.  His 
father,  the  Hon.  George  Henry  Alward,  was 
born  at  Scipio,  Cayuga  county,  New  York, 
February  24,   1834,  being  a  son   of  Squire 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


8S9 


Alward,  a  prominent  citizen  of  that  county 
and  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  When  a  young 
man  the  latter  moved  to  New  York,  and 
was  there  married  to  Miss  Abigail  Boughton, 
whose  father  was  a  well  known  and  highly 
respected  citizen  of  Cayuga  county. 

It  was  in  the  year  1855  that  Judge  George 
H.  Alward  came  to  South  Bend,  but  previous 
to  this  time  he  had  received  a  good  educa- 
tion and  had  taught  school  in  his  native 
state.  After  his  arrival  in  South  Bend  he 
secured  the  position  of  clerk  in  the  store  of 
A.  6.  Gushing,  and  while  thus  engaged  pur- 
sued the  study  of  law,  a  partnership  with 
Alvin  Dunbar  subsequently  being  formed, 
the  firm  of  Dunbar  &  Alward  becoming  well 
known  throughout  this  section  of  the  state. 
Subsequently,  however,  Judge  Alward  re- 
tired from  the  firm  to  enter  the  office  of 
clerk  of  the  circuit  court,  while  previous  to 
this  time  he  had  also  held  the  offices  of  dep- 
uty county  auditor,  city  clerk,  and  judge  of 
the  municipal  court.  He  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  clerk  of  the  court  in  1883,  and  held 
the  position  until  his  death  on  the  11th  of 
November,  1885.  His  influence  for  good  was 
widely  felt,  and  his  example  was  indeed 
worthy  of  emulation.  Por  many  years  he 
was  an  honored  citizen  of  South  Bend,  ac- 
tively interested  in  all  measures  for  the  good 
of  the  people,  and  he  performed  his  full 
share  in  the  development  and  the  improve- 
ment of  his  community.  The  judge  was  a 
Republican  in  his  political  affiliations,  and  a 
cultured  Christian  gentleman;  a  man  whom 
St.  Joseph  county  was  proud  to  claim  as  a 
citizen.  He  was  a  thirty-second  degree  Ma- 
son, being  past  master  of 'Lodge  No.  45,  A. 
P.  &  A.  M.,  high  priest  of  South  Bend  Chap- 
ter No.  29,  R.  A.  M.,  and  eminent  commander 
of  South  Bend  Conmiandery,  Knights  Temp- 
lar. 

Judge  Alward  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Martha  Hodgkinson,  whose  father, 
James  Hodgkinson,  was  numbered  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Berrien  county,  Michigan, 
and  who  was  a  native  of  England.  Pour 
sons  were  born  to  Judge  and  Mrs.  Alward: 
Greorge  H.,  James  S.,  Harry  B.,  and  Albert 
P.  The  death  of  Judge  Alward  was  deeply 
deplored  throughout  the  community  in  which 
he  had  so  long  made  his  home,  and  the 
funeral  services  were  conducted  under  the 
imposing  rites  of  the  Masonic  order.  Judge 
Alward  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church. 


George  H.  Alward,  Jr.,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review,  received  his  early  educa- 
tional training  in  the  public  schools  of  South 
Bend,  and  on  putting  aside  his  text  books  He 
became  connected  with  the  South  Bend  Reg- 
ister and  Times,  thus  contimiin^  for  a  few 
years.  In  1880,  in  company  with  George 
M.  Pountain,  he  established  the  New  Carlisle 
Gazette  and  was  thereafter  engaged  in  vari- 
ous enterprises  until  1885,  when  he  assumed 
the  duties  of  the  office  of  circuit  clerk,  being 
appointed  by  the  commissioners  to  fill  the 
vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  his  father. 
Prom  1894  until  1902  he  served  as  deputy 
clerk  under  George  M.  Pountain,  and  in  the 
latter  year  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
county  clerk,  the  duties  of  which  he  dis- 
charged with  honesty  and  intelligence,  until 
he  concluded  his  term  of  office  and  retired 
to  resume  his  private  interests.  As  a  Re- 
publican, Mr.  Alward  has  taken  an  active 
and  prominent  part  in  politcal  affairs,  and 
has  ever  been  an  efficient  worker  in  all  mat- 
ters pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  his  county, 
state  and  nation. 

He  was  married  on  the  26th  of  June,  1879, 
to  Miss  Mary  E.  Rockhill,  a  daughter  of 
William  Rocldiill,  a  prominent  early  pioneer 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana.  They  have 
three  sons:  Robert,  bom  July  25,  1880; 
Chester,  August  2,  1884 ;  and  Henry,  August 
8,  1891.  Mr.  Alward  holds  membership  in 
the  Masonic  order,  and  is  connected  with 
several  other  societies.  He  is  of  a  social  dis- 
position, courteous  and  genial  manner,  and 
throughout  the  county,  in  which  his  life  has 
been  passed,  he  has  a  host  of  warm  friends. 

Isaac  Gorsuch.  While  South  Bend  and 
St.  Joseph  county  are  indebted  to  the  men 
of  the  present  for  what  they  are  accomplish- 
ing for  their  welfare  and  further  upbuild- 
ing, they  also  can  never  repay  the  debt  of 
gratitude  which  they  owe  to  the  pioneers  of 
the  county,  the  men  who  coped  with  the  nat- 
ural wild  conditions,  who  bravely  faced  the 
dangers,  trials  and  difficulties  ever  incident 
to  frontier  life,  and  who  laid  broad  and  deep 
the  foundation  for  the  present  prosperity 
and  progress  of  this  section  of  the  state.  And 
none  are  more  worthy  of  special  mention  in 
a  volume  of  this  character  than  the  subject 
of  this  sketch. 

Isaac  Gorsuch,  who  settled  in  South  Bend 
in  1847,  was  born  about  four  miles  from 
the  city  of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  Pebruary 
1,   1818.     His  father,   Elijah  Gorsuch,  was 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


890 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


a  native  of  the  same  state,  probably  bom  in 
Baltimore  county.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
shoemaker  and  followed  that  trade  much  of 
the  time  in  his  native  county  until  1872,  and 
then  he  and  his  family  removed  to  Ohio, 
making  the  entire  journey  with  teams,  taking 
their  household  goods  along.  They  put  up  at 
taverns  when  convenient  to  do  so,  but  at 
times  encamped  by  the  roadside.  He  located 
in  Dayton,  then  a  quiet  city  of  about  four 
or  five  thousand  inhabitants.  He  bought  a 
lot  upon  which  he  built,  but  soon  sold,  and 
after  that  built  and  sold  several  houses,  and 
later  bought  a  farm  near  by,  which  he  oper- 
ated for  a  time,  then  sold  and  returned  to 
Dayton,  where  he  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  shoes  for  a  time,  then  went  to 
Fletcher  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  a  few  years,  then  sold  and  removed 
to  Sparta,  Illinois,  and  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile business  a  few  years,  then  came  to  South 
Bend  to  live  with  his  grandson.  When  he 
was  eighty-nine  years  old  he  went  to  Illinois 
to  visit  his  daughter,  and  died  on  his  arrival, 
witjiout  any  sickness  or  premonition.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  first  wife,  mother  of 
our  subject,  was  Savannah  Grore,  a  native 
and  lifelong  resident  of  Maryland.  His  sec- 
ond wife  was,  before  her  marriage,  Rebecca 
Bailey,  also  a  native  of  Baltimore  county. 
There  were  six  children  by  the  first  marriage 
and  twelve  by  the  aecond  miarriage. 

Isaac  Gorsuch  was  fourteen  years  old  when 
his  parents  removed  to  Ohio,  so  he  remembers 
well  the  incidents  of  the  overland  journey. 
He  learned  the  shoemaking  trade  of  his  fa- 
ther and  worked  at  the  trade  in  different 
places  until  1847,  when  he  came  to  South 
Bend,  at  that  time  but  a  village  and  with 
but  little  promise  of  its  present  magnitude. 
He  took  into  consideration  that  it  was  located 
on  the  bank  of  a  beautiful  stream  and  sur- 
rounded by  a  very  fertile  though  undevel- 
oped country,  and  made  up  his  mind  that 
South  Bend  was  bound  to  flourish,  and  he 
bought  two  acres  of  land  on  the  outskirts 
of  the  city,  paying  one  hundred  dollars  per 
acre,  and  there  built  a  home  which  has  since 
been  his  abode.  This  is  now  the  heart  of 
the  best  residential  part  of  the  city,  the 
limits  of  which  are  far  beyond.  Here  he 
lives  retired,  enjoying  a  life  of  ease  in  the 
city  which  he  has  helped  to  build. 

He  was  first  married  in  Dayton,  Ohio, 
June  1,  1842,  to  Mary  Gass,  daughter  of 
"William  Gass,  a  pioneer  of  Greenville,  Ohio, 


where  Mrs.  Gorsuch  was  born.  She  was  edu- 
cated in  Dayton,  and  taught  school  in  that 
city  and  later  in  South  Bend.  She  died  in 
about  1889,  and  his  second  marriage  occurred 
December  20,  1893,  to  Maria  Forbes,  who 
was  born  at  St.  Joseph,  Michigan,  a  daughter 
of  John  Forbes,  who  was  a  native  of  Edin- 
burgh, Scotland,  and  Margarette  MiUs,  a 
native  of  Cornwall,  Canada. 

Mr.  Gorsuch  has  one  son,  Wilbur  E.,  who 
as  a  boy  enlisted  as  a  musician  and  served 
almost  the  entire  period  of  the  Civil  war, 
and  is  to-day  one  of  the  youngest  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  in 
South  Bend.  Our  subject  is  a  member  of 
the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of 
which  he  was  a  steward  many  years. 

George  J.  Hoffman.  The  name  of  George 
J.  Hoffman  is  fast  becoming  inseparably  con- 
nected with  the  industrial  interests  of  South 
Bend,  and  his  general  contracting  business 
forms  ab  important  part  of  the  business  life 
of  the  city,  furnishing  employment  to  a  large 
force  of  workmen.  A  native  '  son  of  the 
Hoosier  state,  he  was  bom  in  Monroeville, 
AUen  county,  Indiana,  June  5,  1876,  a  son 
of  Christian  and  Mary  (Schemmer)  Hoff- 
man, the  father  a  native  of  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana,  and  the  mother  of  Germany.  Chris- 
tian Hoffman  was  a  man  of  varied  attain- 
ments, having  followed  the  occupations  of 
carpentering,  wagon-making  and  farming  in 
Van  Wert,  Ohio.  The  mother  died  when  her 
son  George  was  but  a  little  lad  of  three 
years,  and  the  only  daughter  of  the  family 
is  Lena,  the  wife  of  Charles  Schemmer. 

George  J.  Hoffman,  the  elder  of  the  chil- 
dren, went  to  live  with  his  grandmother  in 
Bremen,  Indiana,  when  three  years  of  age, 
remaining  with  her  for  four  years,  when  his 
father  remarried,  and  he  then  returned  to 
his  home  and  remained  with  him  until  of 
age.  When  but  a  small  boy  he  began  work- 
ing at  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  for  two 
years  he  was  in  the  employ  of  a  cousin  in 
the  milling  and  lumber  business  in  Ohio,  but 
returning  to  Bremen,  Indiana,  worked  for  a 
similar  period  at  his  trade  for  an  uncle. 
Coming  to  South  Bend  at  the  expiration  of 
that  period  Mr.  Hoffman  worked  by  the  day 
at  the  carpenter's  trade  for  two  years,  and 
then  began  a  general  contracting  business  on 
his  own  account.  Seven  years  have  passed 
since  he  started  out  in  business  for  himself, 
and  in  that  time  his  interests  have  gradually 
broadened  and  enlarged,  and  many  of  South 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


891 


Bend's  finest  builddngs  now  stand  as  evi- 
dences of  his  excellent  ability.  At  the  pres- 
ent time  he  is  engaged  in  the  erection  of  the 
Studebaker  dry  kilns.  He  has  in  his  employ 
about  sixty-four  men,  including  the  most 
skilled  carpenters  and  masons,  and  he  thus 
adds  to  the  general  prosperity  while  promot- 
ing his  own  individual  interests.  He  is  in- 
terested in  the  Standard  Cement  Brick  Com- 
pany, of  South  Bend,  of  which  he  is  serving 
as  the  president,  and  is  also  connected  with 
other  leading  enterprises  in  this  city,  being 
at  all  times  a  progressive,  public  spirited 
citizen. 

On  the  30th  of  May,  1899,  Mr.  Hoffman 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Wilhelmina  Jor- 
dan, and  they  have  three  children,  Herbert, 
Walter  and  Louise.  Mr.  Hoffman  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church,  in 
which  he  is  serving  as  trustee,  and  is  an 
active  worker  in  the  church.  He  is  inde- 
pendent in  his  political  affiliations.  He  is  a 
man  of  well  rounded  character,  and  is  a 
valued  factor  in  the  church,  social  and  busi- 
ness circles,  where  his  upright  life  and  genial 
temperament  make  him  well  and  favorably 
known. 

Eugene  A.  Feiten,  deceased,  one  of  the 
most  popular  young  men  who  ever  lived  in 
St.  Joseph  county,  was  a  son  of  John  Feiten, 
the  pioneer  and  retired  business  man  of 
Mishawaka,  with  whom  he  was  associated 
for  several  years.  He  was  born  in  Misha- 
waka on  the  12th  of  August,  1875,  educated 
in  its  parochial  schools,  and,  under  his  fa- 
ther's thorough  training,  learned  the  trade 
of  cabinet  making  as  well  as  the  furniture 
business.  He  also  became  posted  on  the  prac- 
tical details  of  undertaking,  and  obtained  a 
scientific  and  working  knowledge  of  embalm- 
ing by  taking  a  course  in  the  Chicago  school 
devoted  to  that  specialty.  In  1901,  when  his 
father  retired,  he  was  fully  competent  to  as- 
sume the  entire  management  of  the  business, 
which  he  did  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of 
patrons  in  the  several  lines  which  the  house 
embraced.  As  a  funeral  director  the  young 
man's  reputation  extended  far  beyond  the 
confines  of  his  native  city. 

Eugene  A.  Feiten  passed  aiway  on  the  14th 
of  April,  1906,  to  the  deep  regret  of  a  numer- 
ous body  of  citizens  and  the  profound  sor- 
row of  his  friends  and  relatives.  He  was 
both  exemplary  and  lovable,  and  a  man  of 
activity  in  all  that  tended  to  advance  the 
moral  and  religious  interests  of  the  commu- 

Vol.  11— 19. 


nity.  He  was  a  leading  member  of  the  St. 
Joseph's  Catholic  church,  and  was  also  iden- 
tified with  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters, 
Ejiights  of  Columbus,  Order  of  Eagles  and 
Order  of  the  Maccabees.  Blessed  with  all 
those  qualities  which  attract  admiration  and 
affection,  broadly  useful  despite  the  compara- 
tive brevity  of  his  mature  life,  it  is  little  to 
be  wondered  that  the  deceased  was  one  of 
the  most  popular  residents  of  the  county, 
and  that  his  kindliness  and  sympathy  shown 
toward  those  in  bereavement  were  returned 
in  kind  to  his  surviving  relatives  when  his 
own  body  was  laid  to  rest. 

John  Feiten.  One  of  the  substantial 
pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county,  especially 
identified  with  its  business  progress,  has  been 
gaining  ground  in  the  confidence  and  deep 
respect  of  its  people  since  he  first  located 
in  this  locality  fifty-four  years  ago.  In  view 
of  this  fact,  it  will  rightly  be  inferred  that 
the  honor  in  which  he  is  held  is  deep  rooted 
indeed,  as  it  is  of  such  long  and  continuous 
growth. 

Mr.  Feiten  is  a  native  of  the  village  of 
Demarath,  Germany,  bom  on  the  3d  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1840,  a  son  of  John  F.  and  Anna 
Maria  (Stultz)  Feiten,  his  parents  being  na- 
.  tives  of  the  same  place.  They  were  married 
in  the  Church  of  Saints  Peter  and  Paul,  at 
Demarath.  The  father  was  bom  in  1810,  was 
educated  in  the  parochial  schools  of  his  na- 
tive town,  and  died  in  1841,  at  the  early  age 
of  thirty-one.  John  Feiten  was  the  only 
child  by  this  marriage.  His  mother  was  mar- 
ried a  second  time  to  John  Hamprichs,  and 
by  this  union  was  born  a  son,  Joseph,  who 
was  a  resident  of  Mishawaka  until  his  death 
in  1902. 

John  Feiten  attended  the  parochial  schools 
of  his  native  village  until  he  was  thirteen 
years  of  age,  when,  in  1853,  his  parents 
brought  him  to  America,  the  family  landing 
in  New  York  and  going  thence  directly  to 
Mishawaka,  where  they  arrived  on  June  29th 
of  that  year.  In  accord  with  the  sensible 
German  custom  the  boy  was  at  once  appren- 
ticed to  a  trade,  which  in  his  case  happened 
to  be  that  of  cabinet  making  combined  with 
chair  making.  At  this  dual  occupation  he 
busied  himself  for  several  years,  but  with 
experience  and  the  saying  of  a  little  capital 
he  determined  to  broaden  the  scope  of  his 
business  operations  and  engage  in  the  furni- 
ture and  undertaking  lines. 

In  1865  Mr.  Feiten  founded  the  house  de- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


892 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


voted  to  this  business  through  which  he  be- 
came so  well  known  by  his  energetic  and  hon- 
orable dealings  of  more  than  a  quarter  of  a 
century.  Although  his  store  was  entirely 
destroyed  in  the  great  fire  of  September  5, 
1872,  he  immediately  rebuilt,  and  thereafter 
his  business  continued  to  grow  uninter- 
ruptedly until  he  was  as  well  known  as  any 
undertaker  in  St.  Joseph  county.  His  un- 
failing courtesy  and  sociability  made  him 
numerous  friends,  and  his  reliability  as  a 
business  man  retained  the  trade  which  his 
popularity  brought  him.  He  successfully 
conducted  the  business  until  1901,  when  its 
conduct  was  assumed  by  his  son,  Eugene, 
since  deceased,  and  a  sketch  of  whose  useful 
life  appears  elsewhere. 

On  April  16,  1866,  Mr.  Feiten  married 
Miss  Isabella  Black,  the  ceremony  occurring 
at  St.  Patrick's  church,  Decatur,  Illinois. 
The  four  children  of  this  union  are  as  fol- 
lows: Nellie  Mary,  now  the  wife  of  William 
K.  Konzon,  assistant  manager  of  the  South 
Bend  Chilled  Plow  Company;  Gertrude 
Louise,  Mrs.  W.  P.  O'Neil,  whose  husband's 
biography  is  published  on  other  pages  of 
this  work;  Mary  Bernidetta,  wife  of  Frank 
Lenhardt,  assistant  manager  of  the  Beiger 
Woolen  Manufacturing  Company,  and  she  is 
the  mother  of  one  child,  Alden ;  and  Eugene 
August  Feiten,  already  mentioned  in  this 
review.  Mr.  Feiten  and  his  family  are  stanch 
members  of  the  St.  Joseph's  Catholic  church, 
with  which  the  former  is  so  prominently 
identified.  John  Feiten  is  a  Catholic  by  an- 
cestry and  from  conviction.  When  he  came 
to  St.  Joseph  county  in  1853,  as  a  boy  of 
thirteen,  he  served  as  altar  boy  in  an  old 
frame  house  used  as  a  place  of  worship  by 
Rev.  Father  Sorin,  the  founder  of  Notre 
Dame  College.  In  November,  1867,  then  but 
a  young  man,  he  succeeded  in  organizing  St. 
Joseph's  Mutual  Benefit  Society,  and  alto- 
gether for  more  than  fifty  years  has  been  a 
pillar  of  the  church  and  all  its  associated 
organizations.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat, 
but  has  given  the  strength  of  his  life  to  the 
faithful  and  able  superintendence  of  his  -pri- 
vate affairs,  and  the  upbuilding  locally  of 
the  religious  faith  which  is  so  vital  a  part  of 
his  very  existence. 

Peter  Hanbert.  As  a  restauranteur  and 
a  confectioner  the  late  Peter  Hanbert  was 
for  years  a  familiar  and  pyopular  character 
among  the  old-time  citizens  of  Mishawaka, 
being  especially  well  known  to  the  students 


of  Notre  Dame  University  and  St.  Mary's. 
He  comes  of  German  parentage,  both  his 
parents  being  born  in  Rhenish  Prussia.  His 
father,  Nicholas  Hanbert,  died  at  Misha^ 
waka  in  1882,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight, 
and  his  mother,  nee  Catharine  Blaieer,  on  the 
26th  of  October,  1903,  aged  eighty-six.  They 
came  to  America  in  1836,  were  married  in 
Williamsburg,  New  York,  became  residents 
of  Mishawaka  in  1854,  and  were  the  parents 
of  nine  children. 

The  parents  of  Peter  Hanbert  came  with 
thedr  family  to  Illinois,  stopped  awhile  at 
(jhioago,  and  then  came  to  Miabawaka,  the 
father  commencing  to  farm  on  a  tract  of 
land  he  had  purchased  two  and  a  half  miles 
south  of  that  place.  This  continued  to  be 
the  homestead  until  1881,  when  the  household 
removed  to  the  city  itself,  where,  as  stated, 
both  the  parents  died.  They  were  faithful 
and  leading  members  of  the  St.  Joseph's 
Catholic  church,  of  which  Mr.  Hanbert  was 
a  trustee  for  many  years. 

Peter  Hanbert  attended  school  until  he 
was  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he  beg-an 
his  business  career  as  a  grocer's  clerk,  ajid 
in  1870  established  himself  in  that  line  of 
business  at  Mishawaka.  After  being  thus 
successfully  engaged  for  about  three  years 
he  sold  his  business  and  started  a  restaurant 
and  confectionery  in  the  Phoenix  block, 
being  thus  eng:aged  until  the  time  of  his 
death.  Both  citizens  and  students  patron- 
ized him  liberally^  both  because  of  his  at- 
tractive personal  qualities  and  because  his 
dealings  with  them  were  strictly  just  and 
business  like,  even  leaning  to  the  side  of 
generosity. 

On  June  13,  1871,  Mr.  Hanbert  married 
Miss  Mary  Catherine  Black,  the  ceremony 
occurring  at  St.  Joseph's  church,  Mishawaka, 
and  being  performed  by  the  Rev.  A.  B. 
Oechtran.  Mrs.  Hanbert  is  a  native  of  that 
city,  bom  March  25,  1848,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Catherine  (McGraw)  Black, 
both  natives  of  Ireland.  The  latter  were 
married  in  St.  Catherine's  cathedral,  Port 
La  Housie,  Canada,  and  the  husband  first  en- 
gaged in  the  foundry  business  at  St.  Joseph, 
Michigan,  afterward  removing  to  Chicago. 
After  remaining  in  the  latter  city  for  awhile 
he  located  at  Mishawaka,  where  he  resumed 
the  foundry  business  in  connection  with 
James  Oliver,  patentee  of  the  famous  Oliver 
chilled  plows.  His  death  occurred  February 
19,    1883.     The   deceased  was   a  Democrat, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


THt 


Att»r,  I  «' 


'^A^^V  , 


i^<«    '.  rfM  // 


Digitized  by 


Google 


^M^  _/'.  tJl'tAULL^. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


u 


* 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


i 


\ 


t^^^'L  t^y?     ^_y ,     gy'K  ^^'^^'^-■(-^■■K 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


^  ArtT-Th'-^-e^^ 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


-.  -L 

.-.>, 

'-<>    ^    f, 

>     •*   /- 

Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


893 


and  a  well  known  member  of  the  St.  Joseph's 
Catholic  church. 

Isaac  Newton  Mii^ler.  The  gentleman 
whose  name  introduces  this  review  is  so  well 
known  to  the  people  of  St.  Joseph  county 
as  a  worthy  citizen,  native  son  and  an  effi- 
cient county  official  that  he  needs  no  special 
introduction  to  the  people.  He  is  possibly 
the  oldest  gentleman  living  in  Olive  town- 
ship who  was  bom  and  reared  in  the  county 
of  St.  Joseph,  and  both  he  and  his  estimable 
wife  come  from  old  families,  and  it  is  with 
pleasure  that  we  present  a  review  of  their 
lives  to  be  preserved  in  this  twentieth  cen- 
tury history.  Mr.  Miller's  life  dates  back 
to  the  pioneer  days  when  St.  Joseph  county 
was  in  its  primitive  state  and  when  the  mod- 
em improvements  and  present  advancement 
were  not  dreamed  of.  The  great  network 
of  railroads  has  been  thrown  across  northern 
Indiana,  also  the  introduction  of  the  tele- 
phone, the  rural  delivery,  the  telegraph,  the 
interurbans,  and  the  beautiful  modem  school 
houses  which  dot  tMs  rich  and  progressive 
county  have  taken  the  place  of  the  log  cabin 
and  the  modernly  built  and  equipped  coun- 
try residence  has  taken  the  place  of  the  log 
cabin  home  heated  by  the  old  fireplace.  In 
fact,  the  great  advancement  of  the  twentieth 
century  has  been  made  since  his  birth. 

Mr.  Miller  is  a  native  of  German  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  born  November  3, 
1835,  and  is  the  third  in  a  family  of  ten 
children,  eight  sons  and  two  daughters,  of 
William  and  Mary  (Miller)  Miller.  Four  of 
the  number  are  now  living:  Isaac  N.  is  the 
subject  of  this  review.  William  H.,  who  re- 
sides in  the  city  of  South  Bend,  No.  1110 
East  Jefferson  street,  has  been  a  contractor 
and  manufacturer  all  his  life,  and  has  been 
successful  in  his  business  ventures.  He  is 
married.  Mattie  is  the  widow  of  Moses  E. 
Butterworth  and  a  resident  of  Chicago.  He 
was  an  agriculturist  and  was  also  engaged  in 
the  real  estate  business  in  Chicago.  Horace 
G.,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  resides  in 
the  city  of  South  Bend.  The  Miller  family 
is  of  German  ancestry,  and  was  founded  in 
America  by  three  brothers  who  came  from 
that  country  in  an  early  day. 

William  Miller  was  a  native  of  Franklin 
county,  Virginia,  bom  on  the  Ist  of  April, 
1809,  and  died  in  South  Bend  May  20,  1879. 
He  was  reared  as  a  farmer  boy,  and  was 
thereafterward  prominently  identified  with 
agricultural  pursuits,  although  in  his  earlier 


days  he  learned  the  tanner's  trade.  When 
but  a  child  his  parents  emigrated  to  Union 
county,  Indiana,  and  it  was  in  1832,  the  year 
of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  that  he  came  to 
German  township.  Portage  prairie,  where  he 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
government  land  on  the  Indian  reserve,  his 
first  home  there  being  a  little  bark  shack, 
heated  by  a  fireplace.  The  next  habitation 
was  the  little  log  house  in  which  Isaac  New- 
ton was  born.  Mr.  Miller  continued  to  add 
to  his  possessions  until  he  became  the  owner 
of  seven  hundred  acres  all  in  one  body,  and 
also  other  lands.  He  was  a  man  of  remark- 
able concentration  and  decision,  always 
standing  four  square  to  the  world,  and  his 
good  opinions  were  as  gold  to  the  people 
of  St.  'Joseph  county.  He  so  gained  the 
esteem  of  his  fellow  men  that  he  was  elected 
to  the  state  legislature  three  times,  and  was 
the  formulator  of  a  bill  introduced  in  the 
legislature  for  the  benefit  of  the  insane,  blind, 
deaf  and  dumb.  He  was  first  a  Whig  in  his 
political  views,  stanchly  supporting  its  prin- 
ciples until  the  formation  of  the  new  Ke- 
publican  party,  when  he  joined  its  ranks 
and  was  one  of  its  charter  members  in  St. 
Joseph  county  and  cast  his  vote  for  its  first 
presidential  nominee,  General  Fremont. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  went  as  far  south 
as  Memphis  and  farther  and  brought  back 
with  him  some  of  the  poor  soldiers,  whom 
he  nursed  back  to  health  and  guaranteed 
their  return.  His  father,  however,  an  old 
Virginian,  was  a  slave  holder  in  the  ante- 
bellum days. 

General  John  P.  Miller,  a  son  of  William 
Miller,  was  ^ne  of  the  valiant  soldiers  in 
the  Civil  war.  He  organized  the  Twenty- 
ninth  Indiana  Infantry  and  went  out  as  its 
colonel,  his  regiment  being  assigned  to  the 
Army  of  the  Ciunberland.  He  was  a  brave 
soldier,  and  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River  was 
shot  in  the  neck,  which  proved  almost  a  fatal 
wound,  but  he  was  again  wounded  at  Lib- 
erty Gap,  where  his  left  eye  was  shot  out 
and  the  minie  ball  lay  in  his  head  for  twelve 
years,  finally  causing  his  death.  He  had 
been  in  service  only  about  ninety  days  when 
he  was  brevetted  major  general,  and  he 
served  during  the  entire  struggle,  under  Gen- 
erals Buell,  Rosecrans,  Sherman  and  Thomas. 
He  was  a  noted  attorney,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  state  senate  when  asked  to  take  a  com- 
mission in  the  army.  He  was  a  Republican 
candidate   for   presidential   elector   in    1872. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


894 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


At  his  death  he  left  a  wife  and  one  daughter, 
Mary  Eudora,  the  wife  of  Captain  Richard- 
son Clover,  a  graduate  at  Annapolis,  and 
commanded  the  Dolphin  in  the  United  States 
navy. 

Another  son,  H.  Clay  Miller,  was  a  man  of 
more  than  passing  importance.  While  he 
was  yet  a  young  man  his  brother.  General 
Miller,  who  was  a  collector  of  customs  at 
San  Francisco,  California,  sent  his  brother 
word  that  there  was  a  position  waiting  for 
him,  and  the  latter,  who  was  not  an  adept 
in  bookkeeping,  went  to  Chicago  and  took  a 
business  course  at  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Busi- 
ness College,  where  he  completed  in  three 
months  the  course  that  ordinarily  requires 
six  months,  and  immediately  proceeded  to 
San  Francisco  to  take  charge  of  the  position. 
He  was  so  ready  and  apt  that  he  soon  rose 
to  the  position  of  test  clerk  in  the  custom 
house.  He  was  also  a  prominent  candidate 
for  the  ofiBce  of  surveyor  of  customs,  which 
is  a  presidential  appointment.  But  previous 
to  this  time,  at  the  revision  of  the  McKinley 
tariff,  the  port  at  New  York  became  difficult 
to  handle,  and  a  tel^ram  of  information 
was  sent  Mr.  Miller,  who  immediately  re- 
sponded, and  soon  the  business  was  again 
straightened.  The  presidential  selection  of 
the  surveyor  of  customs  at  San  Francisco 
proved  incompeftent,  and  as  the  office  had  to 
be  filled  by  a  competent  man  Mr.  Miller  w^s 
duly  installed,  and  remained  in  the  custojn 
house  in  that  city  for  sixteen  years,  during 
which  time  he  was  never  under  bond  and 
was  never  a  cent  short  in  his  accounts. 

Hon.  William  Miller  was  one  of  the  great 
promoters  of  the  city  of  South  Bend,  and 
was  the  principal  factor  in  having  the  Singer 
Sewing  Machine  Company  installed  there. 
He  was  a  great  friend  of  the  public  schools 
of  Indiana,  and  also  took  high  ground  on  the 
subject  of  temperance.  He  was  no  doubt 
the  inventor  or  projector  of  the  first  steel 
plow  in  existence,  and  it  came  about  in  this 
way.  As  all  the  old  pioneers  well  know,  there 
was  much  trouble  caused  in  the  scouring  of 
the  cast  iron  plow,  and  as  Mr.  Miller  had 
made  a  few  plow  shares  of  steel  he  discov- 
ered that  they  would  scour,  and  he  accord- 
ingly conceived  the  idea  of  making  a  mould 
board  of  steel.  Accordingly  he  went  to  James 
Done  in  the  little  shop  on  the  southwest 
comer  of  Washington  and  Lafayette  streets, 
on  the  present  site  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.     He   stated   his   case   to   the   black- 


smith, but  the  latter  replied  that  he  had  no 
steel  and  was  too  poor  to  buy  it.  Not  dis- 
couraged, however,  Mr.  Miller  sent  to  Pitts- 
burg at  his  own  expense  and  at  a  time  when 
there  were  no  railroads  in  northern  Indiana, 
obtained  the  steel  and  it  was  sent  around 
by  the  lakes  and  up  the  St.  Joseph  river. 
The  little  smithy  went  to  work  and  fashioned 
the  plow  after  Mr.  Miller's  instructions,  and 
although  the  first  attempt  was  a  failure  the 
second,  a  small  plow,  worked  to  a  dot,  while 
the  third,  of  much  larger  construction,  was 
also  a  success.  This  was  no  doubt  the  first 
idea  of  a  steel  mouldboard  plow  and  dates 
back  to  the  year  1845.  Religiously  the  Mil- 
lers of  the  olden  day  on  the  maternal  side 
were  Dutikards,  but  Hon.  William  Miller  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Swedenboi^an 
church,  and  always  contributed  of  their 
means  to  all  worthy  measures.  The  maternal 
grandfather  was  a  colonel  in  the  war  of  1812. 
In  his  fraternal  relations  Hon.  William  Mil- 
ler was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows. Both  he  and  his  wife  lie  buried  in 
South  Bend,  where  a  beautiful  monument 
stands  sentinel  over  their  remains. 

Isaac  Newton  Miller,  the  immediate  sub- 
ject of  this  review,  was  reared  and  educated 
in  the  county  of  St.  Joseph,  and  after  com- 
pleting his  work  in  the  common  schools  en- 
tered the  high  school  of  South  Bend  and 
later  pursued  a  course  in  Wabash  College. 
However,  the  responsibilities  of  the  family 
early  rested  upon  his  shoulders,  and  he  has 
been  a  practical  farmer  and  stockman  all 
his  life.  He  began  life  for  himself  at  the 
time  of  his  marriage,  on  the  25th  of  March, 
1858,  Miss  Emma  Ritter  becoming  his  wife. 
They  have  become  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, four  sons  and  one  daughter,  namely: 
Eldon  Newton  is  one  of  the  successful  young 
farmers  of  Olive  township.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools,  the  New 
Carlisle  High  School  and  graduated  in  the 
business  department  of  the  Indiana  Normal 
University.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
an  able  representative  of  his  party,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Republican  central  commit- 
tee of  this  county.  He  married  Mias  Lulu 
Dickey,  and  they  have  six  children,  Marie, 
Anna,  Edith,  Eva,  Winona  and  Joe.  John 
F.  is  a  successful  attorney  in  Seattle,  Wash-i 
ington.  After  attending  the  New  Carlisle 
schools  he  entered  Ann  Arbor  University, 
and  then  spent  three  years  as  a  cadet  at 
West  Point,  but  on  account  of  an  accident 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


WiUiam   MiUer 


Digitized  by  LjOOQ  IC 


vl 


THE 

NtW  YORK 

PUBL!'     I  '.-^ARYj 

Asttr,  Lt»n^>  a '*i  Ji'dsn /^ 

\    '"-•-    / 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


895 


he  failed  to  become  a  soldier.  Returning 
thence  to  his  home,  he  entered  the  law  de- 
partment of  the  Northern  Indiana  Normal 
CoUege  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  in  which  he 
was  graduated  and  admitted  to  the  bar.  He 
then  removed  to  the  far  west,  and  has  rapidly 
advanced. in  his  profession.  He  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Washington  before  its  admission  to 
statehood  and  prior  to  that  event  also  served 
as  police  judge.  Becoming  interested  in  the 
search  for  gold  in  Alaska,  he  made  three 
trips  to  that  country,  and  in  the  interim 
acted  as  reorter  for  one  of  th«  Seattle  pa- 
pers, while  for  three  months  he  was  in  con- 
trol of  one  of  the  city  papers  during  the 
absence  of  the  editor.  He  married  Miss 
Mary  Stewart,  a  schoolmate  and  a  native  of 
Bloomington,  Illinois.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, Leah  and  Stewart.  Theirs  is  pne  of 
the  beautiful  homes  of  Seattle.  Mary,  an 
artist  in  oils  and  also  a  musician  on  the 
piano,  is  the  wife  of  Harris  E.  Taylor,  one 
of  the  educators  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
a  resident  of  New  Carlisle.  She  is  a  grad- 
uate of  the  high  school  of  New  Carlisle,  and 
they  have  one  little  son,  Newton  Miller.  Wil- 
liam, a  prosperous  agriculturisjt  of  Warren 
township,  was  educated  in  the  New  Carlisle 
High  School  and  graduated  in  the  South 
Bend  Commercial  College.  He  married  Miss 
Eliza  Pontius.  He  is  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Gleaners  and  the  Odd  PeDows.  Nel- 
son,  a  natural  artist  in  pen  work,  much  of 
his  beautiful  handwork  adorning  his  home, 
is  a  law  student  in  Ann  Arbor  University. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  class  of  1908,  and  is 
one  of  its  brightest  students.  He  is  also  an 
Odd  Fellow.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  may  well 
be  proud  of  their  family.  Mrs.  Miller  was 
born  in  Grerman  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
September  1,  1838,  and  was  the  sixth  of  four- 
teen children,  six  sons  and  eight  daughters, 
of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Miller)  Ritter. 
Seven  of  the  number  are  now  living,  namely : 
Aaron,  who  is  a  horticulturist  and  farmer 
near  Springfield,  Missouri,  is  married  and  is 
a  great  traveler;  Mrs.  Miller  is  the  next  in 
order  of  birth ;  William,  engaged  in  farming 
near  South  Bend,  was  one  of  the  first  volun- 
teers in  the  Civil  war,  serving  in  the  Twenty- 
first  Indiana  Battery  during  the  entire  period 
of  the  war ;  David,  an  extensive  fruit  grower 
and  farmer  near  Springfield,  Missouri,  served 
during  the  war  in  the  same  battery  as  his 
brother  and  never  took  a  furlough;  Frank, 
who  resides  on  the  old  homestead  in  German 


township;  and  Callie  and  Loe,  twins,  the 
former  the  widow  of  John  Buchtel,  of  South 
Bend,  and  the  latter  the  wife  of  Quincy  A. 
Bulla,  who  is  living  retired  in  Pomona,  Cali- 
fornia. Another  son,  Benjamin  F.  Ritter, 
was  a  resident  of  Cass  county,  North  Da- 
kota, and  while  there  residing  was  elected 
to  the  state  legislature  and  served  one  term. 
His  brother,  John  Ritter,  served  as  county 
and  circuit  judge  of  Cherokee  county,  Kan- 
sas, during  his  residence  there. 

Jacob  Ritter,  the  father,  was  bom  in 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  January  1,  1806, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-three  years. 
He  ,was  reared  in  his  native  state,  was  there 
married  in  Wayne  county,  and  came  to  St. 
Joseph  county  in  1829  on  a  prospecting  tour, 
making  the  journey  on  horseback  across 
swollen  streams  and  through  swamps.  He 
purchased  from  the  government  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  virgin  land  in  German 
township,  and  in  1830  returned  to  this 
county  with  his  family,  they  making  the  trip 
in  true  pioneer  style  in  wagons.  Their  first 
home  was  indeed'  a  primitive  one,  and  at  that 
time  the  now  great  city  of  South  Bend  was 
a  struggling  village.  Mr.  Ritter  became  a 
wealthy  and  successful  man,  was  even  tem- 
pered in  his  disposition,  and  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Miller,  never  heard  him  utter  a  word  of 
profanity.  He  lived  a  life  of  strict  honesty 
and  integrity.  The  Ritters  were  noted  for 
their  longevity,  and  both  they  and  the  Mil- 
lers were  of  German  lineage.  Mr.  Ritter 
was  a  well  educated  man,  having  attended 
both  a  high  school  and  university,  and  in  his 
political  views  was  an  old4ine  Whig  and  then 
a  Republican,  while  his  religious  connections 
were  with  the  Universalist  church.  Mrs.  Rit- 
ter was  a  native  of  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  bom  June  5,  1809,  and  died  on  the  21st 
of  February,  1867,  aged  fifty-seven  years, 
eight  months  and  fifteen  days.  She  was  a 
kind  Christian  mother,  and  the  poor  and 
needy  were  never  turned  away  from  her  door. 
She  was  a  Dunkard  in  her  early  life,  while 
her  husband  was  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and 
she  was  a  member  of  its  auxiliary,  the  Re- 
bekahs.  Both  are  interred  in  the  German 
Mt.  Pleasant  cemetery,  where  a  beautiful 
monument  stands  sacred  to  their  memory. 

Mr.  Miller  of  this  review  began  life  for 
himself  on  his  father's  homestead,  where  he 
remained  for  eight  years,  was  then  for  two 
years  in  South  Bend,  and  in  1866  came  to 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


896 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


Olive  township,  where  he  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land,  thereby  going  in 
debt  to  the  amount  of  eight  thousand  dol- 
lars, but  by  industry  and  economy,  aided  by 
his  estimable  wife  and  with  the  heritage  that 
his  father  left  him  he  soon  had  his  place 
free  from  debt.  They  have  erected  their 
present  home,  and  have  added  to  their  orig- 
inal possessions  until  they  now  have  four 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  the  Kankakee 
bottoms,  devoted  to  the  raising  of  mdnit,  and 
also  four  hundred  acres  in  the  home  town- 
ship, making  a  total  of  eight  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  in  St.  Joseph  county.  Mr.  Miller 
is  a  Republican  in  his  political  affiliations, 
and  oast  his  vote  for  its  first  nominee,  Greneral 
Fremont,  and  has  ever  since  supported  those 
principles.  He  has  many  times  been  a  dele- 
gate to  the  district,  county  and  state  conven- 
tions, and  was  at  one  time  a  candidate  for  the 
office  of  state  representative.  In  1900  he  was 
elected  a  commissioner  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
his  associates  being  Samuel  Bowman  of  South 
Bend  and  John  Fullmer  of  Penn  township. 
During  his  administration  was  accomplished 
the  erectian  of  the  Sample  street  bridge,  at 
a  cost  of  aJbout  forty  thousand  dollars,  also 
the  Soldiers'  Monument  and  court  house  at 
South  Bend,  costing  twenty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars. This  is  an  honor  to  the  city  and  county, 
but  they  had  trouble  in  closing  the  contract. 
Mr.  Miller,  who  was  president  of  the  board, 
rose  to  his  feet  and  said:  ** Gentlemen,  I 
want  you  to  distinctly  understand  that  this 
twenty-five  thousand  dollar  contract  calls  just 
for  the  completion  of  this  honorable  tribute 
to  the  fallen  dead  soldiers,  but  not  a  dollar 
for  graft.''  In  a  short  time  the  contract 
was  closed.  The  dedication  of  this  beautiful 
monument  was  a  feature  of  interest  to  all  the 
people  of  St.  Joseph  county.  Their  next 
work  was  the  erection  of  three  great  bridges 
over  the  St.  Joseph  river,  first  the  Cellar 
street  bridge  at  Mishawaka,  a  steel  and  con- 
crete bridge  costing  sixty-four  thousand  dol- 
lars, next  the  Colfax  avenue  bridge  in  South 
Bend,  a  steel  girder  bridge  costing  eighty- 
four  thousand  dollars,  then  the  Jeflferson 
street  bridge,  representing  an  expenditure  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty-two  thousand  dol- 
lars. This  is  a  cement  and  steel  bridge,  and 
one  of  the  most  excellent  bridges  in  the  mid- 
dle west.  Their  next  work  was  the  advertis- 
ing of  bids  on  the  bridge  at  Milwaukee  street 
and  La  Salle  avenue,  South  Bend,  after  which 
the  board  purchased  a  new  county  farm  of 


one  hundred  and  thirty-nine  acres,  at  one 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per  acre,  lying  three 
miles  northwest  of  the  city,  on  the  Portage 
avenue  road,  and  the  beautiful  infirmary  is 
now  almost  completed,  representing  an  ex- 
penditure of  about  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  They  also  remodeled  the  county  jail 
and  put  in  the  woman's  department  under 
the  supervision  of  the  matron,  at  a  cost  of 
about  seven  thousand  dollars.  They  also  re- 
modeled the  lower  story  of  the  old  court 
house  for  the  use  of  the  Northern  Indiana 
Historical  Association,  costing  about  thirty- 
five  hundred  dollars.  The  board  of  which 
Mr.  Miller  was  a  member  proved  a  great 
credit  to  the  county  and  its  people,  and  at 
the  close  of  his  administration  county  attor- 
ney Woodward,  in  behalf  of  the  county  of- 
ficials, presented  Mr.  Miller  with  a  valuable 
chair-,  which  is  now  in  his  pleasant  home,  and 
is  one  of  the  bright  milestones  in  his  path- 
way. 

Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  FeDows,  No.  595,  in 
which  he  has  passed  all  the  chairs,  and  has 
many  times  been  a  delegate  to  the  grand 
lodge,  and  is  now  treasurer  of  the  lodge  at 
New  Carlisle.  Mrs.  Miller  is  a  member  of  the 
Eebekahs,  No.  398,  in  which  she  is  chaplain, 
and  she,  too,  has  filled  all  of  its  chairs.  They 
have  in  their  home  a  clock  over  a  century 
old,  a  beautiful  mahogany  case  over  three 
quarters  of  a  century  old,  and  four  of  the 
old  coverlets  woven  by  their  mothers  about 
seventy-five  years  ago.  Their  home  is  a  pleas- 
ant and  attractive  residence,  and  here  they 
are  spending  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in 
pleasant  retirement. 

Lyman  C.  Egbert.  Mr.  Egbert  is  a  scion 
of  one  of  the  oldest  pioneer  families  in  the 
county  of  St.  Joseph,  and  he  is  one  of  its 
native  sons,  his  birth  occurring  on  the  19th 
of  November,  1854,  a  son  of  James  B.  and 
Delilah  (Druliner)  Egbert.  The  Egbert 
family  is  of  English  lineage,  and  its  founder 
in  this  country  came  in  a  very  early  day. 

James  E.  Egbert  was  born  in  Preble 
county,  Ohio,  March  2,  1825,  and  was  left 
fatherless  when  but  three  years  of  age,  early 
in  life  assisting  in  the  support  of  his  widowed 
mother  and  two  sisters.  When  but  twelve 
years  of  age  he  induced  his  mother  to  remove 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  which  they  did 
in  1837  and  established  their  home  on  Terre 
Coupee  Prairie,  their  first  dwelling  being  a 
little  log  cabin  which  stood  under  the  tall 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


897 


pines  just  northwest  of  the  H.  B.  Ranstead 
residence,  and  which  Mr.  Egbert  in  after  life 
often  pointed  out  to  his  friends  as  the  place 
where  he  began  as  a  farmer's  lad.  On  this 
little  farm  and  at  that  early  age  he  assumed 
not  only  the  responsibilities  of  his  own  family  ^ 
but  also  reared  to  years  of  maturity  the  son  * 
and  daughter  of  a  loved  sister.  As  a  boy  he 
was  passionately  fond  of  music,  and  often 
after  ending  a  hard  day's  work  the  neigh- 
bors' children  would  gather  in  and  make  the 
old  cabin  ring  with  their  melodies,  while  dur- 
ing the  long  winters  he  would  walk  miles  to 
a  social  gathering  and  think  it  but  fun.  After 
five  years  of  hard  work  on  this  farm  and 
just  as  he  could  see  the  first  darkness  of  ad- 
versity passing  away  he  lost  his  best  friend, 
his  mother,  she  being  laid  to  rest  in  the  Ham- 
ilton cemetery.  Among  the  neighboring 
children  was  one  young  lady  whom  he  had 
long  loved,  as  only  such  a  boy  could  love,  and 
on  the  4th  of  March,  1846,  Mr.  Egbert  claimed 
as  his  bride  Miss  Delilah  Druliner,  to  whom 
he  was  always  a  kind,  true  and  loving  hus-. 
band.  A  year  after  their  marriage  he  pur- 
chased the  farm  on  which  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  but  which  was  then  cov- 
ered with  a  thick  growth  of  underbrush.  His 
willing  hands,  however,  soon  placed  the  land 
under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation  and 
brought  prosperity  and  increasing  worldly 
goods. 

When  but  eighteen  years  of  age  Mr.  Egbert 
united  with  the  Hamilton  church,  under  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  Hoffman,  and  after  remov- 
ing to  **The  Hill"  he  would  always  hurry 
through  the  Sunday  morning  ** chores,"  hitch 
to  the  lumber  wagon  and  take  a  load  of 
neighbors  to  Hamilton  during  the  church  ses- 
sion, often  urging  the  young  men  to  accom- 
pany him  instead  of  playing  cards  all  day 
as  was  their  common  practice.  In  1858  the 
subject  of  building  a  church  in  New  Car- 
lisle was  agitated,  and  Mr.  Egbert  was  one 
of  its  prime  movers,  not  only  giving  liberally 
of  his  means  but  assisted  in  the  erection  of 
the  building.  He  was  a  member  of  the  class 
organized  in  1853  when  this  was  Byron  Cir- 
cuit, while  other  members  of  the  class  were 
his  wife,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  H.  Pidge,  Josiah 
Pidge,  Jacob  Hopkins,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  S. 
White  and  Eliza  White.  He  was  also  a 
firm  believer  in  temperance  and  took  an  active 
part  in  the  work. 

Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Egbert,  Leroy,  who  died  in  infancy;  Ljrman 


C,  whose  name  introduces  this  revigw;  and 
Arrilla  A.  The  daughter  received  her  edu- 
cation in  the  New  Carlisle  high  school,  and 
became  the  wife  of  Guy  C.  Carpenter,  who 
was  formerly  a  commercial  traveler,  and  they 
have  one  daughter,  Grace  M.,  the  wife  of 
Charles  HoUoway,  who  is  connected  with  a 
large  wholesale  fruit  firm.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Carpenter  reside  in  a  beautiful  brick  resi- 
dence just  east  of  the  village,  with  thirty-two 
acres  of  land  adjoining,  the  home  being  known 
as  the  Oak  Hill  Stock  Farm,  and  in  addi- 
tion they  also  have  eighty  acres  adjoining. 
Mr.  Carpenter  gives  his  political  support  to 
the  Republican  party.  James  E.  Egbert 
passed  away  at  the  home  of  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Guy  Carpenter,  at  Greytown,  Ohio,  Oc- 
tober 19,  1887,  aged  sixty-two  yedrs,  seven 
months  and  seventeen  days.  The  services 
were  held  at  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
Rev.  Grimes  and  Elder  Beck  officiating,  and 
S.  D.  Pidge  sung  **Weep  not  for  me  when 
I  am  gone,"  a  song  so  dearly  beloved  by  Mr. 
Egbert  and  which  he  had  requested  rendered 
when  he  was  laid  to  rest.  The  remains  were 
brought  to  Hamilton  to  be  laid  beside  the 
mother  whom  he  had  so  loved  and  revered 
when  a  boy  and  whose  memory  he  had  ever 
cherished  in  his  later  years.  He  was  a  man 
whom  to  know  was  to  honor,  love  and  respect, 
and  while  he  never  sought  or  received  a 
world-wide  fame  he  passed  from  earth  with 
the  regard  of  all  who  knew  him. 

Mrs.  Egbert  is  still  living,  one  of  the  brave 
pioneer  mothers  whose  beautiful  presence  is 
ever  welcome  in  all  the  homes  of  Olive  town- 
ship. She  was  bom  in  Warren  county,  Ohio^ 
October  23,  1826,  a  daughter  of  Gamaliel  and 
Abigail  (Wills)  Druliner,  in  whose  family 
were  six  children,  and  the  five  now  living 
are:  Delilah,  who  became  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Egbert ;  Syntipe,  the  wife  of  Elwood  Moore, 
who  was  a  merchant  of  Parker,  South  Da- 
kota; Hannah,  the  widow  of  Abram  N. 
Deacon  and  a  resident  of  South  Bend,  In- 
diana; John,  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by 
trade  and  a  resident  of  Sandwich,  Illinois: 
and  David  L.,  a  commercial  traveler  of  Chi- 
cago,  Illinois. 

Gamaliel  Druliner,  the  father,  was  born  in 
Warren  county,  Ohio,  in  1802,  and  his  death 
occurred  in  June,  1864.  His  grandfather, 
Frederick  Druliner,  a  native  of  Germany, 
was  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  his  descendants  being  thus*  entitled  to 
become  members  of  the  Sons  and  Daughters 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


898 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


of  the  Revolution.  The  grandson  Gamaliel 
received  an  ordinary  educational  training  in 
the' schools  of  **ye  early  day,"  but  was  a  man 
of  great  decision  and  firmness  of  character 
and  his  entire  life  was  exemplified  by  the 
strictest  honesty  of  purpose.  It  was  in  the 
year  1830  that  he  and  his  two  brothers,  John 
and  Brazilla,  also  John,  Jacob  and  Paul  Eg- 
bert, Benjamin  and  Robert  Redding,  John 
Wills  (from  whom  Wills  township  of  Laporte 
county  received  its  name),  William  White  and 
Israel  Rush,  a  company  of  eleven  brave  and 
sturdy  pioneers,  faced  to  the  west  with  ox 
teams  on  a  prospecting  tour  across  swamps, 
quagmires,  through  vaUeys,  over  hills  and 
finally  landed  in  St.  Joseph  county,  where  Mr. 
Druliner  purchased  one  hundred  and  thirty 
acres  of  fand  on  the  beautiful  Terre  Ck)upee 
prairie,  one  mile  north  of  the  present  site  of 
New  Carlisle,  which  place  is  more"  recently 
known  as  the  Eli  Wade  farm.  There  he 
broke  the  virgin  soil,  planted  his  crops,  and 
then  started  on  the  return  journey  to  Ohio 
for  his  family,  with  whom  he  again  made  the 
weary  journey  to  Indiana  with  ox  teams, 
while  at  nightfall  they  would  make  camp  as 
was  the  usual  custom  of  the  pioneer  wander- 
ers, the  wolves  oftentimes  making  the  night 
hideous  with  their  bowlings.  Wending  their 
weary  way  along,  their  last  night  on  the  road 
was  spent  in  the  then  little  straggling  village 
of  South  Bend,  which  contained  at  that  time 
perhaps  a  dozen  houses,  and  they  secured 
lodging  at  the  little  inn  kept  as  a  trading 
post  for  the  Indians,  the  proprietor  being  a 
French  Canadian.  On  the  following  day 
they  landed  a  short  distance  west  of  Hamil- 
ton, where  the  family  lived  in  their  wagons 
until  the  men  could  fell  the  logs  and  erect 
their  primitive  log  mansion,  which  was  heat- 
ed by  the  wide-open  fireplace  with  a  mud 
and  stick  chimney,  and  the  little  habitation 
was  covered  with  a  clapboard  roof,  above 
which  was  a  ceiling  made  of  the  same  ma- 
terial. Oftentimes  during  the  extreme  cold 
winters  the  father  would  go  aloft  and  sweep 
the  snow  from  their  beds.  There  were  no  high- 
ways at  that  time,  only  blazed  trails,  and  the 
remnants  of  the  tribe  of  Pottawatomie  In- 
dians were  plentiful  and  ofttimes  trouble- 
some, especially  during  the  sugar-making 
time.  On  one  occasion  John  Druliner  took  a 
good-sized  gad  to  the  dusky  fellows  and  put 
them  to  flight,  much  to  the  apprehension  of 
the  family,  who  feared  they  might  retaliate. 
Mr.  Druliner  was  very  successful  in  his  busi- 


ness affairs,  and  not  only  left  to  his  children 
the  heritage  of  an  honored  name  but  also  a 
worldly  competence.  All  that  he  possessed 
was  the  result  of  his  own  ability,  for  after 
paying  for  his  land  he  had  just  a  dollar  and  a 
half  left.  Politically  he  was  a  stanch  Jackson 
Democrat,  and  always  gave  liberally  of  both 
his  time  and  money  to  those  measures  in- 
tended to  benefit  his  community.  His  wife, 
who  was  also  a  native  of  Warren  comity, 
Ohio,  born  in  1800,  died  on  the  7th  of  June, 
1864,  while  only  six  days  later,  on  the  13th, 
her  husband  joined  her  in  the  home  beyond, 
both  being  laid  to  rest  in  the  same  grave. 

Mrs.  Egbert  was  only  a  little  maiden  of 
four  years  when  she  became  a  resident  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  so  that  for  over  three-quarters 
of  a  century  it  has  remained  her  home.  Dur- 
ing that  time  she  has  witnessed  its  wonderful 
development,  the  introduction  of  the  rail- 
roads, the  telegraph,  the  telephone,  the  sew- 
ing machine,  the  reaper,  etc.  She  received 
her  education  in  a  primitive  log  building,  six- 
teen by  twenty  feet,  heated  by  the  fire  place, 
and  she  had  used  the  old-fashioned  goose  quill 
pen  fashioned  by  the  master,  which  were  sold 
for  two  shillings  a  dozen.  The  text  books 
were  the  New  Testament  and  the  Webster's 
blue  back  speller.  The  writing  desk  was  a 
hewed  puncheon  resting  against  the  wall, 
while  the  schools  were  maintained  by  sub- 
scriptions from  the  parents  of  the  children, 
who  in  turn  would  board  the  teacher.  In 
that  early  day  their  market  place  was  Michi- 
gan City,  twenty-two  miles  away,  and  their 
grinding  was  done  at  Niles,  Michigan.  Mrs. 
Egbert  can  also  recall  to  mind  the  days  of 
the  sickling  of  the  grain  with  the  primitive 
sickle,  then  the  cradle  and  finally  the 
reaper  and  the  excitement  which  its  introduc- 
tion produced.  The  popular  amusements  for 
the  young  people  then  were  the  spelling  bee, 
the  log  rollings  and  the  singing  schools,  and 
their  first  place  of  worship  which  she  recalls 
to  mind  was  the  home  of  Uncle  John  Wills, 
another  of  those  brave  and  honored  pioneers 
who  has  passed  to  his  final  rest,  which  was 
in  the  vicinity  of  Boot  Jack,  well  known  by 
the  Laporte  and  St.  Joseph  counties  citizens, 
while  their  first  church  building  was  at  Ham- 
ilton in  Olive  township.  This  was  erected  in 
1841.  She  can  also  well  remember  when  the 
site  of  New  Carlisle  was  covered  with  thick- 
ets of  hazel  brush,  and  here  it  may  be  stated 
that  the  place  received  its  name  from  Rich- 
ard   Carlisle,    but    was    afterward    changed 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


899 


from  Carlisle  to  New  Carlisle  that  it  might  not 
conflict  with  a  town  of  the  same  name  in 
Ohio, 

It  was  in  the  year  1847  that  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Egbert  took  up  their  abode  in  this  now  pros- 
perous city,  their  first  little  home  being  lo- 
cated on  the  present  site  of  their  present 
beautiful  dwelling,  where  she  resides  with  her 
son  Lyman  C.  In  this  modem  home  are  many 
relies  of  **ye  olden  time,"  one  being  an  old 
bureau  that  was  brought  in  a  wagon  from 
Ohio  and  is  possibly  a  century  old,  while  she 
also  has  several  of  the  double  coverlets  woven 
by  her  mother.  Many  has  been  the  day  when 
she  spun  the  yam  to  knit  the  stockings  for 
her  family,  and  she  has  yet  as  a  souvenir  the 
little  spinning  wheel  that  she  and  her  mother 
used.  She  is  one  of  those  dear  old  pioneer 
mothers  whose  presence  is  ever  a  solace  and 
comfort,  and  her  beautiful  life  in  her  declin- 
ing years  is  but  a  reflection  of  her  kind  na- 
ture and  love  for  her  family  and  friends,  and 
this  review  of  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Egbert  will 
be  treasured  and  held  sacred  by  their  chil- 
dren long  after  both  have  passed  away.  Mrs. 
Egbert  is  now  almost  eighty-one  years  of 
age,  and  although  her  sun  is  fast  setting 
beyond  the  western  horizon  of  life  her  good 
deeds  and  loving  admonitions  will  long  re- 
main as  a  blessed  benediction. 

Lyman  C.  Egbert,  a  worthy  son  of  worthy 
pioneer  parents,  is  one  of  the  representative 
men  of  St.  Joseph  county.  Being  an  only  son 
much  of  the  responsibility  of  the  family 
rested  on  his  young  shoulders,  but  he  man- 
fully performed  his  full  doity,  although  in 
consequence '  he  received  only  an  ordinary 
educational  training  during  his  youth  and 
early  manhood.  However,  he  has  greatly 
added  to  this  training  in  later  years  and  is 
now  a  well-informed  man.  He  remained  with 
his  parents  until  twenty-three  years  of  age, 
and  was  then  married  to  Miss  Florence  Belle 
Wade,  also  a  member  of  one  of  the  old  and 
Well  known  families  of  St.  Joseph  county. 
Their  marriage  was  celebrated  on  the  7th  of 
June,  1877,  and  two  children  have  blessed  the 
union  but  only  one  is  now  living,  Prank  Le- 
Roy,  who  received  his  educational  training  in 
the  New  Carlisle  high  school.  Mrs.  Egbert  was 
a  student  for  some  years  in  the  well  known 
St.  Mary's  Academy,  near  Notre  Dame,  and 
is  a  talented  artist,  her  beautiful  paintings  in 
oils  and  water  colors  adorning  the  walls  of 
their  beautiful  home.  Three  pieces  especially 
are    worthy    of   mention,    the    Swiss    scene, 


pastoral  scene  and  a  marine  view.  Her  pieces 
in  fruit  and  flowers  are  also  most  commend- 
able, and  her  work  is  a  credit  to  her  wonder- 
.  f ul  ability.  She  was  born  in  Laporte  county, 
Indiana,  May  5,  1858,  a  daughter  of  Eli  and 
Rebecca  (Sohrader)  Wade.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  Charity  Circle,  an  organization  de- 
signed to  aid  the  poor  and  needy,  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church,  and  the  L.  0.  T.  M., 
Hive  No.  2.  Mr.  Egbert  is  a  stalwart  Repub- 
lican and  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Garfield,  and  since  his  appointment  as  trustee 
of  Olive  township  he  has  had  eight  schools 
under  his  charge,  including  the  high  school  of 
New  Carlisle,  all  of  which  are  in  excellent 
condition  and  the  citizens  may  well  feel  proud 
of  their  high  educational  standing.  Frater- 
nally he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  No.  441,  also  the  Knights  of  the 
Maccabees,  No.  2,  both  of  New  Carlisle. 

Mr.  Egbert  began  his  business  career  as  a 
purchaser  for  a  large  milling  company  at 
Ashley,  Minnesota,  but  a  shori  time  after- 
ward went  to  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin,  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  a  collector,  and  after  two  years 
there  returned'  to  his  home  county  of  St. 
Joseph  and  became  associated  with  the  Howe 
Sewing  Machine  Company,  of  Bridgeport, 
Connecticut,  thus  continuing  for  three  years, 
when  he  secured  a  position  with  the  well 
known  Birdsell  Wagon  Company.  After  a 
residence,  in  Iowa  of  five  years  he  became  as- 
sociated with  the  Mechanical  Rubber  Com- 
pany of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  with  whom  he  has  re- 
mained for  fourteen  consecutive  years.  The 
record  of  an  honorable  life  is  a  man's  best 
monument,  and  no  words  of  praise  can  add 
luster  to  the  name  of  Lyman  C.  Egbert. 

EdWiVRd  L.  Maudlin,  editor  of  the  New 
Carlisle  Gazette  and  also  postmaster  of  New 
Carlisle,  is  a  native  son  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
born  at  Mishawaka  on  the  30th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1871,  the  eldest  of  three  children,  one 
son  and  two  daughters,  of  Lucius  A.  and 
Melissa  (Michael)  Maudlin.  The  children  are 
as  follows:  Edward  L.,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review;  Martha  I.,  educated  in  New 
Carlisle  and  the  wife  of  L.  G.  McDonald,  a 
stenographer  in  the  State  Depfeirtment  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  and  Lulu  L.,  the  wife  of 
B.  C.  Klackle,  a  merchant  of  Bridgeman, 
Michigan.  Lucius  A.  Maudlin,  the  father, 
was  also  a  native  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
his  life  work  is  that  of  a  mechanic.  At  the 
inauguration  of  the  Civil  war  he  entered  the 
service  and  was  later  veteranized.    The  ances- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


900 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


tors  took  an  active  part  in  the  various  wars 
in  which  the  country  has  participated,  the 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject  having 
served  in  the  revolutionary  war,  and  his 
grandfather,  Lee  Michael,  was  an  active  par- 
ticipant in  the  war  of  1812. 

Edward  L.  Maudlin,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  received  his  education  in  the  city 
schools  of  Mishawaka  and  New  Carlisle  and 
began  work  as  a  printer's  **devir'  when  but 
twelve  years  of  age.  In  1898  he  became  sole 
owner  and  proprietor  of  the  New  Carlisle 
Gazette,  which  had  been  established  in  1880 
by  (Jeorge  M.  Fountain.  It  is  a  six-column 
quarto,  published  weekly,  and  is  an  able  ex- 
ponent of  Republican  principles,  while  the 
plant  is  equipped  with  alv  the  latest  and  best 
machinery.  Since  age  gave  him  the  right  of 
franchise,  Mr.  Maudlin  has  supported  the  Re- 
publicaii  party,  his  first  presidential  vote 
having  been  cast  for  Benjamin  Harrison,  and 
'  on  the  10th  of  January,  1900,  he  received  hia 
commission  as  postmaster  of  New  Carlisle, 
the  office  being  associate<  in  the  third  class. 
Under  his  adniinistration  the  rural  routes, 
four  in  number,  were  established,  and  at  the 
expiration  of  his  first  term  he  was  returned 
by  President  Roosevelt.  The  office  admits  of 
three  deputies,  while  the  mails  number  eight 
in  and  eight  out  daily.  Mr.  Maudlin  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  order. 

On  the  12th  of  December,  1889,  Mr.  Maud- 
lin  married  Miss  Ellen  Clarke  Parnell,  a  na- 
tive daughter  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  her 
education  was  received  in  the  New  Carlisle 
high  school  and  the  Oberlin,  Ohio,  college. 
Her  father,  James  S.  Parnell,  who  is  a  lineal 
descendant  from  the  great  Irish  patriot  Par- 
nell, devoted  many  years  of  his  life  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  but  later  became  township 
trustee.  He  served  as  postmaster  at  New 
Carlisle  under  the  Cleveland  administration. 
Mrs.  Parnell  is  yet  living,  having  reached  the 
age  of  eighty  years. 

Rev.  Father  Alexander  A.  Buechler. 
The  Catholic  clergy  is  one  of  the  most  import- 
ant factors  in  the  civilization,  progression  and 
advancement  of  a  country,  and  go  where  we 
may,  to  the  distant  isles  of  the  sea, 
the  Torrid  zone  or  Frigid,  we  always  find  the 
cross  pointing  heavenward  and  in  charge  of  a 
man  of  Gk)d,  who  is  well  equipped  as  a  scholar 
and  leader  to  carry  forth  the  mission  of  Cath- 
olic sovereignty.  One  of  the  best  known  and 
most  generally  loved  citizens  of  Olive  town- 


ship is  Rev.  Father  Buechler,  in  charge  of  the 
St.  Stanislaus  Kostka  parish  at  Terre  Coupee. 
He  is  a  native  of  Ottawa,  LaSalle  county,  Illi- 
nois, born  on  the  12th  of  March,  1877,  his 
parents  being  Philip  and  Anna  (Moczygemba) 
Buechler.  The  father,  a  native  of  Hesse  Cas- 
sel,  Gertnany,  came  to  the  United  States  when 
a  young  man.  He  was  a  fine  scholar  and  mu- 
sician, and  served  as  an  organist  and  teacher 
for  many  years.  He  had  five  brothers,  one  of 
whom  is  a  priest  and  is  stationed  at  the  Cata- 
line  Islands,  near  San  Francisco,  California, 
Mrs.  Buechler  is  a  native  of  Texas,  and  is  a 
lady  whom  to  know  is  to  love  and  honor. 

Father  Buechler  attended  the  parochial 
schools  at  his  home  at  Otis,  Indiana,  until 
thirteen  years  of  age,  and  from  1890  until 
1897  he  was  a  student  in  the  St.  Francis  of 
Sales  .Seminary  at  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  pursued  a  full  course  in  philosophy 
and  the  classics.  On  account  of  ill  health  he 
was  then  forced  to  relinquish  his  studies,  but 
was  afterward  sent  by  Bishop  Rademacher  to 
Mt.  St.  Mary's  of  the  West  at  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  where  he  pursued  the  theological  course 
and  was  ordained  a  priest  July  3,  1900,  by 
His  Excellency  the  Apostolic  Delegate  Mar- 
tinelli  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  when  twenty-three 
years  of  age.  His  first  work  was  as  assistant 
to  his  cousin.  Rev.  Father  Emanuel  Wrobel, 
at  Michigan  City,  who  was  then  traveling  in 
Europe  for  his  healtlj  and  where  he  remained 
for  four  and  a  half  months.  Father  Buechler 
again  became  ill,  and  after  spending  a  short 
time  in  the  hospital  he  traveled  through  Texas 
and  Old  Mexico.  It  was  his  intention  on  re- 
gaining his  health  to  enter  college  at  Cracow, 
Austria,  and  perfect  himself  in  the  Polish 
language,  but  as  there  was  a  great  dearth  of 
priests  at  that  time  he  was  compelled  in  1901 
to  enter  upon  active  work  in  the  priesthood 
and  was  sent  to  Goshen,  Indiana.  On  the  1st 
of  May,  1901,  he  became  the  priest  of  St. 
Stanislaus  Kostka  Parish,  Terre  Coupee, 
which  at  that  time  comprised  ninety-five  fam- 
ilies and  a  small  church  building,  and  thero 
was  a  large  amount  of  work  to  be  accom- 
plished. His  predecessor.  Rev.  Father  George 
Kolesinski.  an  old  man,  had  been  an  exiled 
prieart  to  Siberia  by  the  Russian  government 
for  twenty-five  years,  and  had  been  pastor  of 
this  parish  for  seven  years.  When  Father 
Buechler  took  charge  he  found  the  condition 
of  affairs  at  rather  a  low  ebb,  but  with  his 
usual  vigor  and  indomitable  will  h^  set  to 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


(M^.  ^aju^-^^-e^  (^^uc^^^^c^ 


Digitized  by  LjOOQIC 


THE 

Mwr.Unff  and  Ti'dM^ 
1d09 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


901 


work  to  infuse  new  life  in  the  district,  and 
although  many  obstacles  beset  his  path  he  ac- 
complished the  work  he  had  laid  out  to  do. 

He  at  once  introduced  to  the  parishioners 
the  idea  of  a  modern  church  building  as  well 
as  the  necessity  of  increasing  the  facilities  of 
the  school  and  enlarging  the  membership.  On 
the  30th  of  August,  1903,  he  laid  the  corner ' 
stone  for  the  f oimdation  of  the  beautiful  and 
symmetrical  structure  which  now  adorns  Olive 
township,  the  ceremony  being  performed  by 
Rev.  Father  John  Kasprzyski,  then  pastor 
of  the  great  St.  Stanislaus  parish  of  Chicago, 
the  largest  in  the  world.  He  is  now  general 
of  the  Resurrectionists  of  Rome.  The  foun- 
dation for  this  structure  was  stopped  for  a 
time  for  the  lack  of  funds,  but  in  the  summer 
of  1904  the  walls  were  erected,  while  in  1906 
the  brickwork  and  roof  were  finished,  and  the 
beautiful  church  as  it  stands  today  represents 
an  expenditure  of  twenty-seven  thousand  dol- 
lars. It  was  d-uly  dedicated  on  Labor  day, 
September  3,  1906,  the  dedicatory  ceremony 
being  performed  by  Very  Rev.  U.  Raszkiewicz, 
the  oldest  priest  in  the  state  of  Indiana.  A 
large  concourse  of  people  were  present,  also 
numerous  brother  priests,  and  the  day  was  a 
red  letter  one  for  the  people  of  St.  Stanislaus. 
The  present  school  numbers  seventy-five 
pupils  and  one  teacher,  while  the  men's  sodal- 
ity has  a  membership  of  fifty  and  the  ladies' 
forty-five,  the  young  ladies'  forty  and  the 
young  men's  is  in  formation.  Father  Buech- 
ler  has  organized  all  of  these  societies,  and 
in  addition  to.  his  own  parish,  numbering  one 
himdred  and  thirty  families,  he  has  a  mission 
of  sixty-five  families  ne^r  Rolling  Prairie,  La- 
porte  county,  Indiana.  Just  recently  Father 
Buechler  has  haid  the  beautiful  church  fres- 
coed and  beautifully  decorated  windows  en- 
throned. He  is  also  erecting  a  oburch  in 
the  St.  Jothni  Cantius  Parish,  near  Rolling 
Prairie,  Laporte  county,  at  a  cost  of  six 
thousand  dollars,  which  will  be  completed  in 
the  spring  of  1908. 

Father  Buechler  is  a  young  priest  of  cul- 
ture and  refinement,  possessing  unusual  vigor, 
and  he  is  proving  a  great  help  not  only  to  his 
own  parishioners  but  to  the  citizens  of  Olive 
township.  The  priest's  home,  as  well  as  the 
church,  are  well  lighted  by  an  electric  light 
plant  of  a  six  horse-power  gasojine  engine, 
and  the  home  is  cosily  and  tastefully  fur- 
nished, a  fitting  abode  where  he  may  royally 
entertain  bishop,  priest  or  the  laity.  In  this 
home  is  also  a  library  well  stocked  with  books 


of  the  choicest  literature  to  the  number  of 
fully  a  thousand  volumes. 

Charles  Ivins.  The  pioneer  record  of  a 
county  or  state  is  one  of  the  most  important 
epochs  in  its  annals,  and  Charles  Ivins  has 
been  a  resident  of  the  little  town  of  New 
Carlisle  longer  than  any  living  citizen  and 
has  witnessed  the  wonderful  transformation 
in  St.  Joseph  county  from  its  primitive  state 
to  one  of  the  greatest  manufacturing  centers 
in  the  middle  west.'  He  was  born  in  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  May  15,  1826,  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Sarah  (Morris)  Ivins.  In  their  family 
were  six  children,  two  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, but  Charles  is  now  the  only  survivor  of 
the  family.  Joseph  Ivins,  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  was  an  hotel  keeper  and  farmer,  and 
his  father,  Moses  Ivins,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  which  entitles  his  descend- 
ants to  membership  in  the  order  of  Sons  and 
Daughters  of  the  Revolution.  Joseph  Ivins 
emigrated  from  his  native  state  of  New  Jersey 
to  Ohio  when  a  young  man,  and  in  Butler 
county  in  that  state  was  married  and  was 
there  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In 
1834  te  made  the  journey  by  ox  teams  to  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  locating  within  two 
and  a  half  miles  of  New  Carlisle,  and  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in 
Warren  township,  his  first  home  being  a  little 
log  cabin,  which  was  located  partly  in  Michi- 
gan and  partly  in  Indiana.  His  political  sup- 
port was  given  to  the  Whig  party.  During  a 
long  period  he  was  an  hotel  keeper,  and  in 
1839  he  came  to  New  Carlisle  and  resumed 
that  occupation,  his  hostelry  having  been  sit- 
uated on  the  old  stage  line  from  Detroit  to 
Chicago.  His  death  occurred  when  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  sixty-three  years,  three 
months  and  fourteen  days,  in  the  year  1862. 
His  wife,  also  a  native  of  Trenton,  New  Jer- 
sey, was  a  brave  pioneer  mother,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  passing 
away  in  that  faith  in  New  Carlisle  at  the  age 
of  sixty-four  years  and  three  months,  in  her 
son's  home. 

Charles  Ivins  was  but  eight  years  of  age 
when  the  family  home  was  established  in  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  thus  for  almost  three- 
fourths  of  a  century  he  has  lived  within  its 
borders,  and  is  now  possibly  the  oldest  stage 
route  agent  living  in  northern  Indiana.  He 
began  that  occupation  when  but  a  boy,  hav- 
ing driven  to  Chicago  when  that  city  was  but 
a  hamlet,  and  also  from  Kalamazoo  to  New 
Buffalo  and  St.  Joseph,  this  being  the  long- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


902 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


est  stage  line  in  the  United  States  at  that 
time.  His  route  made  connection  with  the 
lake  steamers  to  Chicago  and  Milwaukee,  and 
he  has  staged  between  the  two  cities.  In  1850 
Mr.  Ivins  started  with  four  large  horses  and 
a  fine  outfit  for  California,  the  El  Dorado  of 
the  west,  the  trip  consuming  five  months,  and 
during  the  journey  passed  Salt  Lake  and  saw 
the  great  Mormon  temple, "  and  crossed  the 
great  American  desert  of  ninety  miles  in  two 
days  and  two  nights,  carrying  water  in  kegs. 
Arriving  in  Placerville,  California,  he  was  en- 
gaged in  a  search  for  the  precious  metal  for 
three  years,  when  he  turned  his  attention  to 
the  stock  business  at  Sacramento,  and  was 
reasonably  successful  in  his  endeavors  until 
he  entered  upon  the  work  of  draining  the 
American  river,  where  he  met  with  great  loss. 
But  not  discouraged,  he  at  once  turned  his 
attention  to  ranching,  conducting  a  sale  and 
feed  stable,  and  he  continued  his  residence  in 
the  Golden  state  until  1853,  returning  thence 
by  the  Nicaragua  route  to  the  states  and  ar- 
riving in  New  York  in  1853. 

Mr.  Ivin's  education  in  his  boyhood  days 
was  of  the  pioneer  type,  having  attended  the 
old  log  cabin  school,  eighteen  by  twenty  feet 
in  size,  with  a  clap  board  roof  and  heated  by 
the  old-fa^oned  fireplace  and  stick  chimney, 
while  the  seats  were  of  slabs  and  the  writing 
desk  a  broad  board  resting  upon  wooden  pins, 
the  children  using  the  old  goose  quill  pen 
fashioned  by  the  master.  The  schools  were 
maintained  by  private  subscriptions,  and  the 
teachers  boarded  at  the  scholars'  homes.  Mr. 
Ivins  can  only  quote  two  of  his  classmates  in 
that  old  temple  of  learning  who  are  now  liv- 
ing, Henry  Ranstead  and  ** Lucky"  Baldwin. 
He  has  used  the  old  cradle  to  cut  the  grain, 
and  has  also  seen  his  father  cut  the  grain 
with  a  sickle.  He  can  also  well  remember  the 
first  binder  which  was  brought  into  Olive 
township.  Mr.  Ivins  has  been  twice  married, 
first  to  Miss  Helen  Pierce,  by  whom  he  had 
one  son,  Walter.  The  wife  and  mother  died 
in  1863,  and  Mr.  Ivins  afterward  married 
Mrs.  Mary  (Gish)  Streets,  their  wedding  hav- 
ing been  celebrated  in  1864.  Their  only  child 
is  a  daughter,  Carrie,  the  wife  of  Wells 
Dennee,  a  resident  of  New  York  city,  and 
both  are  on  the  stage.  Mrs.  Ivins  is  a  native 
of  South  Bend,  Indiana,  bom  February  17, 
1842,  a  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Chalfant)  Gish,  and  she  is  the  only  survivor 
of  their  two  children.  By  her  first  marriage 
to  James  P.  Streets  she  became  the  mother  of 


one  daughter,  Minnie  M.,  now  the  widow  of 
Robert  L.  Frewin  and  a  resident  of  New  York 
city.    She  also  has  one  daughter,  Maude  P. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  JVIrs.  Ivins 
started  by  team  for  the  Pacific  slope,  passing 
en  route  Joliet,  Council  BluflFs,  Omaha,  Den- 
ver .and  Salt  Lake  City,  and  this  beautiful 
trip  was  one  of  the  greatest  pleasures  of  their 
lives.  Mr.  Ivins- took  charge  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty-five  miles  of  stage  road  in  Ne- 
braska in  1865,  and  as  this  was  the  time  of  the 
great  Indian  outbreak  it  was  indeed  a  hazard- 
ous undertaking,  as  the  stages  had  to  be  es- 
corted by  the  military.  Schuyler  Colfax,  an 
old  schoolmate  of  Mr.  Ivins,  was  a  member  of 
this  company  across  the  plains  to  Ft.  Kearney, 
and  they  were  escorted  by  fifty  militia.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ivins  located  east  of  Salt  Lake  City, 
he  serving  as  superintendent  of  the  stage 
route  of  two  hundred  miles,  which  was  in  con- 
nection with  the  Pony  Express,  and  Buffalo 
Bill  was  with  Mr.  Ivins  more  than  once  when 
he  was  a  **  scout  on  the  plains. ''  They  re- 
mained there  for  one  year,  returning  in  1866 
via  the  stage  and  arrived  at  their  old  home  in 
St.  Joseph  county  in  the  fall  of  the  year.  For 
seven  years  thereafter  Mr.  Ivins  was  engaged 
in  the  livery  business  in  New  Carlisle,  and 
also  had  charge  of  his  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  just  outside  the  village  limits. 
A  part  of  this  village  plat  was  dedicated  by 
his  father  to  found  a  college  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  society,  and  it  is  now  known  as  the 
Ivins  school 

Mr.  Ivins  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
Democratic  party,  and  has  often  been  solicited 
as  delegate  to  county,  and  state  conventions, 
having  served  as  a  state  delegate  at  the  nomi- 
nation of  Thomas  Hendricks  for  governor  of 
Indiana.  During  a  period  of  six  years  he 
served  as  ihe  deputy  sftieriff  of  St.  Joseph 
county.  He  has  contributed  liberally  to- 
ward the  ereotion  of  the  different 
churches  in  New  Carlisle,  and  his  wife 
is  a  member  of  the  Christian  diurch. 
They  can  recall  many  pleasant  remin- 
iscences of  the  early  days  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  can  well  remember  when  South 
Bend  was  but  a  hamlet,  when  the  little  old 
red  brick  court  house  and  log  jail  stood  in 
the  center  of  the  town,  and  from  which,  as 
Mrs.  Ivins  says,  many  a  prisoner  has  escaped. 
Her  cousin  was  at  that  time  the  sheriff. 
They  resided  here  when  the  Indians  were  yet 
numerous  and  lived  in  their  bai'k  wigwams 
on  their  place.     He  has  killed  deer  within 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


903 


three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  his  door,  and 
at  one  time  even  caught  a  litle  fawn.  Wolves 
and  wild  turkeys  were  then  plentiful,  and 
there  was  not  a  railroad  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  state.  Mr.  Ivins  can  also  recall  that 
the  township  of  Olive  was  named  in  honor  of 
Olive  Vail,  one  of  its  early  settlers.  In  the 
home  of  this  worthy  pioneer  couple  is  an  old 
Longfellow  clock,  seventy-five  years  old,  and 
has  passed  down  through  many  generations 
in  Mrs.  Ivins'  family,  and  it  yet  keeps  splen- 
did time.  They  also  have  two  or  three  of  the 
beautiful  old  coverlets  woven  by  their  grand- 
mothers, and  among  other  reminiscences  Mr. 
Ivins  recalls  that  in  1848,  when  the  stage  had 
stopped  at  their  home  in  New  Carlisle,  there 
was  stolen  four  thousand  six  hundred  and 
seventy-three  dollars  in  pension  money,  and 
nothing  was  ever  afterward  heard  of  it.  They 
are  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  all  for  their 
sterling  character,  and  we  are  pleased  to  pre- 
sent the  history  of  their  lives  in  this  Twen- 
tieth Century  History  of  St.  Joseph  county. 

HuRTAiN  Proud.  The  pioneer  record  of 
the  great  county  of  St.  Joseph  is  one  of  the 
most  valuable  in  the  history  of  the  state,  and 
this  grand  old  man,  Hurtain  Proud,  has  spent 
almost  three-fourths  of  a  century  as  an  hon- 
ored citizen  of  this  section  of  the  common- 
wealth, being  numbered  among  the  early 
pioneers  of  Olive  township.  He  has  witnessed 
the  wonderful  advancement  made  by  the 
county  and  state  from  an  unbroken  and  track- 
le^  wilderness  to  one  of  the  greatest  manu- 
facturing centers  in  the  middle  west.  Mr. 
Proud  is  a  native  of  Warren  county,  Ohio, 
his  natal  day  being  the  7th  of  November, 
1831,  and  he  is  the  eldest  of  the  thirteen  chil- 
dren bom  to  James  and  Harriett  (Woolley) 
Proud.  Seven  of  the  children  are  living  at 
this  time,  namely:  Hurtain,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  review;  Marie,  the  wife  of  W. 
L.  Cassidy,  one  of  the  leading  citizens  and 
prominent  manufacturers  of  South  Bend; 
Abbie  Ann,  wife  of  James  Slocum,  an  agri- 
culturist of  Olive  township ;  Olive  Ellen,  wife 
of  William  Fox,  of  New  Carlisle;  Lewis  P.,  a 
stock  buyer  of  Buchanan,  Michigan ;  Rebecca, 
the  wife  of  Milton  Stinchcomb,  of  New  Carl- 
isle; and  Marietta,  wife  of  George  Smith,  an 
agriculturist  of  Olive  township. 

James  Proud,  the  father  of  this  family,  was 
also  born  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  April  19, 
1808,  and  his  death  occurred  on  the  20th  of 
June,  1894.  His  father,  Peter  Proud,  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  his 


descendants  are  thus  entitled  to  become  mem- 
bers of  the  order  known  as  the  Sons  and 
Daughters  of  the  Revolution.  The  son  James 
was  engaged  in  the  packing  business  in  his 
native  state  of  Ohio,  but  in  Indiana  he  was  a 
well-known  agriculturist.  It  was  in  the  early 
year  of  1835  that  the  family  started  on  the 
arduous  journey  across  the  country  to  the 
Hoosier  state,  their  destination  being  Olive 
township,  St.  Joseph  county,  which  was 
reached  after  encountering  much  difficulty 
and  hardship  en  route.  Their  first  habitation 
here  was  a  double  log  cabin,  which  continued 
as  their  home  for  several  years,  and  in  the 
course  of  time  Mr.  Proud  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  virgin  land  in  Olive  township,  on 
which  not  a  furrow  had  been  turned  nor  an 
improvement  made,  and  here  the  timber  was 
cleared  from  a  sufficient  space  on  which  to 
erect  the  first  frame  dwelling  of  the  family. 
As  the  years  passed  by  this  land  was  brought 
under  an  excellent  ^ate  of  cultivation,  and  in 
addition  to  his  large  landed  possessions  in 
Olive  township,  Mr.  Proud  also  owned  forty 
acres  in  Laporte  county  and  forty  acres  in 
Olive  township.  He  was  a  Jackson  Democrat 
in  his  political  views,  stanchly  advocating  the 
principles  of  his  party,  and  was  also  an  active 
worker  in  the  cause  of  Christianity.  The  wife 
and  mother  also  claimed  Warren  county,  Ohio, 
as  the  place  of  her  nativity,  born  about  1812, 
and  she  and  her  husband  were  reared  as  chil- 
dren together.  Her  death  occurred  in  1880, 
when  a  true  pioneer  woman,  a  loving  wife  and 
devoted  mother  passed  away,  and  both  Father 
and  Mother  Proud  now  lie  buried  in  New 
Carlisle  cemetery,  where  a  beautiful  monu- 
ment stands  sacred  to  their  memory. 

Hurtain  Proud  was  a  little  lad  of  four  and 
a  half  years  when  he  became  a  resident  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  therefore  nearly  his  en- 
tire life  has  been  passed  within  its  borders. 
He  was  reared  as  a  farmer's  boy,  receiving 
his  educational  training  in  the  primitive  frame 
structure  near  his  home,  in  which  the  seats 
were  benches  and  the  house  only  a  makeshift 
of  a  school  building.  The  text  books  which 
he  used  were  the  elementary  spelling  book 
and  McGuflPey's  reader,  while  the  school  was 
maintained  by  private  subscriptions,  the  par- 
ents boarding  the  teachers  week  by  week.  Out- 
side of  the  school  hife  surroundings  were 
equally  as  primitive,  and  Mr.  Proud  has  la- 
bored with  the  old  hand  sickle  and  the  turkey 
wing  cradle  many  a  day  from  early  morn 
until  night,  and  he  also  well  remembers  when 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


904 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


the  first  old  Blue  Jay  MeCormick  reaper  was 
brought  into  Olive  township  and  the  excite- 
ment which  it  occasioned.  He  recalls  the 
present  populous  city  of  South  Bend  when 
it  numbered  not  one  hundred  houses,  the  now 
compact  north  and  northwest  portion  being 
but  a  lake,  while  there  was  not  a  railroad  in 
the  northern  part  of  Indiana.  He  has  lived 
in  the  ** Victorian'*  age,  witnessing  the  inven- 
tion of  steam,  electricity,  the  telephone,  and 
the  railroad,  and  the  many  other  inventions 
which  have  been  brought  forth.  He  was  a 
resident  of  the  county  before  the  departure 
of  the  Pottawatomie  Indians,  and  on  one  oc- 
casion five  of  the  red  skins  came  to  the  door 
of  his  father's  house  to  ask  for  shelter,  which 
was  given  them  for  the  night,  they  lying  with 
their  heads  to  the  fireplace.  In  those  early 
days  their  table  was  bounteously  supplied 
with  all  the  wild  game  common  to  this  section, 
while  their  only  highways  were  blazed  trails, 
and  so  dense  were  the  woods  that  at  one  time 
Hurtain  and  his  brother  William  were  lost 
for  a  time  near  New  Carlisle. 

On  the  16th  of  June,  1861,  Mr.  Proud 
wedded  Miss  Beulah  Haines,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  four  children,  three  sons 
and  a  daughter,  namely:  Mary,  the  wife  of 
Albert  Hostetter,  a  prominent  citizen  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  they  have  four  children, 
Joseph  H.,  Martha  May,  Ida  and  Lillian 
Lucile;  George,  who  is  engaged  in  railroad 
work  in  Rapids  City,  South  Dakota;  James, 
one  of  the  successful  farmers  of  Olive  town- 
ship, and  who  wedded  Miss  Anna  Borden,  and 
they  have  four  children,  Keith,  Theodore, 
Marguerite  and  James  Cecil;  andj  Milton  H., 
who  resides  with  his  father  on  the  old  home- 
stead. He  married  Miss  Dora  Tippey,  a  na- 
tive of  Marshall  county,  Indiana,  bom  on  the 
11th  of  March,  1870,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren, Vivian,  Clarence,  Dorothy  and  Oliver 
Randolph.  Mrs.  Proud  was  born  in  Laporte 
county,  Indiana,  August  25,  1830,  and  was 
reared  in  northern  Indiana.  She  was  a  grand 
pioneer  woman,  a  loving  wife  and  mother 
and  a  devout  Christian,  affiliating  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  After  a  happy 
married  life  of  fifteen  years  she  was  called  to 
the  home  beyond.  Mr.  Proud  subsequently 
married  Mrs.  Mary  A.  (Lough)  Oarr,  who 
remained  his  loving  counselor  and  companion 
for  thirty  years,  when  she,  too,  was  called  to 
the  home  beyond.  Their  wedding  was  cele- 
brated on  the  1st  of  February.  1877,  and  her 
death  occurred  December  6,  1906.  She  proved 


a  kind  and  loving  mother  to  her  husband's 
children,  was  always  ready  to  administer  to 
the  afflicted  and  was  kind  to  the  poor  and 
needy.  She  was  a  devout  member  of  the 
Christian  church.  But  the  sun  is  fast  setting 
beneath  the  western  horizon  of  the  husband 's 
life,  and  it  will  not  be  many  years  ere  he 
joins  his  dear  ones  in  the  happy  home  beyond. 

Mr.  Proud  is  the  owner  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  rich  and  fertile  land  in 
Olive  township,  fifty-seven  acres  of  which 
was  inherited  by  his  first  wife.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  his  political  affiliations,  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  party. 

Mrs.  Mary  Zurelda  Van  Ryper.  The  Rey- 
nolds family  long  constituted  what  perhaps 
was  the  most  substantial  pioneer  element  of 
St.  Joseph  county,  and  were  especially  the 
founders  of  Olive  township.  At  one  time  the 
Reynolds  brothers  owned  the  major  part  of 
North  Olive  township  and  were  by  far  the 
largest  land  proprietors  in  the  county.  They 
were  both  men  of  remarkable  business  ability 
and)  broad  and  uoral  views  of  life,  and  were 
citizens  of  the  highest  repute  in  every  par- 
ticular. 

A  representative  of  this  family,  well  known 
and  ver>'  highly  honored,  is  Mrs.  Mary  Z.  Van 
Ryper,  wife  of  Dr.  A.  X.  Van  Ryper,  and 
daughter  of  James  Reynolds,  one  of  the  two 
brothers  mentioned  above.  She  is  a  native 
of  Berrien  county,  Michigan,  born  May  18. 
1856,  and  is  the  eldest  of  four  children,  of 
whom  the  only  other  one  now  living  is  Estelle, 
the  wife  of  Clyde  H.  Baker,  a  resident  of 
Buchanan,  Michigan. 

James  Reynolds,  the  father,  was  born  in 
Wayne  county,  Indiana,  near  Richmond,  on 
the  12th  of  August,  1824,  being  the  youngest 
of  six  sons  bom  to  Joseph  and  Mary  (Starry) 
Reynolds.  The  paternal  grandfather  was  a 
Virginian — the  day  of  his  birth  October  5, 
1785,  and  descended  from  good  Irish  ances- 
trj\  He  was  a  patriot  and  showed  his  faith 
in  his  adopted  country  by  enrolling  himself 
with  Washington's  troops  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  Miss  Mary  Starry,  as  the  maternal 
grandmother  was  known  before  her  marriage, 
was  also  a  Virginian,  born  two  years  after 
her  husfband.  James  Reynolds  was  trained 
on  the  home  farm  and  educated,  in  a  literary 
sense,  in  the  district  schools  of  Laporte  coun- 
ty. He  remained  with  his  parents  until  he 
had  reached  the  age  of  twenty-four  years,  but 
early  showed  a  decided  business  or  commer- 
cial  instinct.     His  first   investment   venture 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


'•>-- 


U  /  Digitized  by  Google 


\\\y  I  '^''V  <^K  sr   .j'^sij'i'  (  ' .!  N  '\ 


'  ;  I    I . 


»'.-   ;...>  :.\("I      .: 


It  ..;•    (.., 


!l. 


"■]' 


-»■..;.      .    •     ;  .      •  ,!•     ;■  !    ^  li'  )i..     .'-ul       ;)!<!   iM  .•.•,-..-'•>•>!'   ]•  cii  .     .■        .    .: 

f        '",.•••(:,••  i      ,   •   .  '       .         ;•       r,  '      (*•.■'■■!'     .i'  V--'.  I     '.''^  ()•••«>      1. ' ,.    1  .!•'  ""'        •;       V       '    .'r' .       .  •«  .'^      .    .       s. 

>    ...  •      b;\.'    '••  .  .        '•/     f-i'li.        Jj.'     u;i^    a  ^     «<•■•■■•'  \.  ;i    .'■\-  \'  .     :    -.•    V     _'.     .  • 

'    ^     •    .u     j^'    "'    ■    •     ,    ..V     :     !.••     tlr     u»  P..    iiir-^  '•■at    •]'    l'.-    1-'      ■  ;K   it.    -.i-'    ^  ^     ..      : 

.  '      •  .•   r    !  t     •■•«.:!,'.'    1  ':('''..'..>,,  f  'i' I   f'ii  I.' !«'(.<  •  ii    ..  v  ••  ■  I'  ".■■■.--T  ..:  !  !;••   -a  •  r  <  ..i.'i    •  I    :•  -    " 
;.•.!•::•*     •-■  •.       I'  .:   >'<  n.  -MM      t..  *.i«-  r  •■■)•  :^l  ..>.  A:  .\-.    7j  ?..-.;.  .  v  \'     •  Kn    •   . 

•.    It  s  :'•  .  -J.   •  •    '■     ..  .•  r-i  jvn'.   r   I    >li-  ;.'  *',  w  h-  'ii  n.-'.'^    I :.  .    .  ,     1    :.;;■    i   ■:  -* ..     ,    -{    \'.  \..t 

'  :.''^>     ■'''■•>  r*     '  ,1.'  .(•     \  .1  -     In  'Mil-      i.sl'      ^  i'  •.  !  .  ;  [  .i ;    -.  -.  v     -l*  (  •!  .\'.    '•  ■.\  p-,   ,  \ ' 

'[•i^r.il  ^^■    r.     ri U   i  •;.;;,...::.•   ^ -.i.r        l-,;-;,      i;;  •.,!    j  ...-,.•..  v   -i   1  •■•      ■     .!.. 

Hi.'':-..     .'  ;.  .    '.1  V    J.i-.-.- 1..  ■'    W:.    .:ni    -•..•    1.^:       ^.i'    ;.••.     -  ■  :i  .•     r  k/(l>lt*  lniKiJMr*j  *i 

'y*     •:  y.'.l  .';•«!   •    n-    i    .  u.^»|^  of  lsf|. 
."'I  >   i')    .  ir    J.  . :    ^*    rvjinl«*  in   *  ■ 


•  »-i    ;).-•    I'Pj!     'I*   -iu."     1^^'  1.    \^   .    rt'  -pi 
vU'.'t!..    ,.!,.-'.;>  oi"  f.n].'      '.!■■'!.  1.'    ^  S4.hs         :\  .-"..•s--^   .i-  "  •  f  mK  fiunj^jr^  well  * ' 

A!'m'.-|.     I]..^'.r!  ...    ;. :,.     l.-./i.    .'     -^f.  !?•;>:,     ^v^r.'-l'     I  ^r.       ■       "      '^  '^^   —   . 

-)..'^-|)h     II        .M    i*.:.«      ■»'■;..     «'«'     «i-'  '     '.'.■i:-W'  };••;.."■.  >'v    ^  .»  •-   .    ;.   J    ,i^.     •         >h,      •.     «    ■ 

JiUcU''      (."«,»(     .    \,"',.>    is    '  :.    .'••'♦!    '  "'    !/   !'»•;, J  ,    '    i    -i  r-  r.    - -m      •  \  .    ^:l    i    ..;m     I..  ••••     '! 

r.'i.    ('/  *  1  (•  >'"M  .-    ill    t";:  •••.'••'  '^  .1    '■  •:i\  •   t     N  n-  '\  i  <•.♦■)     '1      .1  '  V-  ,.  -i.-T  ,  !.  '  1,  -w   ■]%  ir'.r  ":<  t  • 

^!':p.  ;:••.!  \'. '•'■  \N -'i'  ,  ••!   Mi>.s   A*  i:a  i'    I'-i.  1..  ;.-:i  *t'-    \n  '  •'.'       '     ^']\>\>-    I:,     i  .;>•     r.    .i     ■     «■ 

t!i"y     h,]Vv    t-"!''    '.''^i'.i'i--  *!      )'.'•:'.:       i'lr   .'.r»-  l  :•'■  i.-ti!..!:.  ^;  ;.-p.  lnii! 
.\'.,uiiJ'    :.'•     'inl   .lr'i';''s   <   •'    ■'  .   an  1    "*  !    '   o.i    li.,  .i.'rf-     ii"\H.>;M^      *    ■      r..t!:-/      ^\  ;'s    '■•• 

!.'..[       \v\'\  ii'S   ♦';'ih«'!'     ij   l>i.'  (.:■!    :..i'  \\  ■}  w-   .,;,■/-.    I..',.rp\    ii-?-'     u"   !.."  . 

•   -,.'1.      h  •   ,r-  .'T'.  'i    ^'\n    i)>.   ,*    '!■;''>     ;>    ii>--  •»!  •*!  J  'j   '■»'   A''i/M>y    l-JT   ..   >:.-  ".. 

\ "  o!    .|  •  I  >  f.  i!l  .-(MiP^w  .1  ■■'•ar-!    I..'i-;i    ■'!  ; '  «'  .  :  v  \  >.)r^  '•  ii-;i  ;..  Jc^.'^ii  ;i::  j  "^^  «•  •.• 

!|:'l;.l     ^1     '..:i.    i-V'),     U  il  t*x    .      ill     ■•    '(  'i:    ••>:   i  I.'  •;..;•'   i<         'I"';.       J.."n!'!.     cr'-p7-ii 
■•.'U.     \    ■.'•!'!.    (    !-i!-t  :!«'t'.     !'■>'•  '.it;,     a"!     •>!.\'r     *  \  ,•  •.•   in.-.n  ■     ';•♦     <l;i\     •'     I  ■--    l-'T"     < 


'i^>    Pi-'U-l    v;..  :i 


i    5;.   i.nr;';'  !!•    I',,J,:i,  ;:.      <l.  -   v 


,1 


.!    V'.'     .        (    ■ 


III,    a 't"  ./.»•■-     s'    t  :i    T 


;.•-}•:,!   (•[...;>::. 


.\ ; ; . 


i*    a 


» 


'.■    i    '.va^        t .  \        ii-     '.'  .<y   .i    ;>  .1;  ■..*    .  :i  I   ^t-.-  '  •    ^ 

■■a  !i  ;•  w  ii  ii  \\  a  -^1  •'  -i  -  t  •  >■  '>^  :  ':  1. 
.;!'}  \\.i»"  ;' .  ^^  M  r  A  ^  •  «  .  -  *^":  ■ 
''•,.•..••':>*  Ii  ■:    \\  a  <   .'.  -  -s  n   :•     •  •  •    :. 

;-;,     •'■  •    ^    ,' '  I       .    i*    'i-'    '    :i    \.-     '^    .^a.-    ".■  'j.    «•;   • '- (    I    '-i  -.v,,      •     .,->     p      \''''.    '     .T'  ■'•  ,      •  "    >     v 

,M.      ;.    •    a     •.-.    a;'!.        \:'.     "}•-•!    s;.S<>,  . , '  .  p' '>  ;.     •     frv:.;,,..]        J.p-v     !..,  ^.,     •. 

■••i-»'..t      "\'     -«        ',.   M■^       A        •  l.'),.L'li  '      *'.!''•.     \Nia>  •••!    :.),      »'...--.i..    ;'•-*■•»,       ,     .:    .     •       •;   ,       i      :; 

.     :»;."■;    ■"    ;     •-    •'.  \l''"   '.t.,'av'-!    :*   ,.  r.  I    ao]  ;  |    (••  .<  ai ,  s-'PS,      i'?',    t  }<«■-' a- ■'  "r-^    -■'•,,    is     •.     '     .,- 

*'.»     •  :    •■•\    \  '•    N.    v\  .-M. -^i'-'     ;"'!i.   w-   •••!    <    I   to  t\.       If,-    '  '^       •^-  -.1    \'    :!     !,!»^    p     ' 

:i^.    hr  '•>    •     ,M|..i.      Tf 'ai'    V.    [■ .    'a    v;.,    c..'.  .  ],.ivi  )■•  .i  •!.  "^  ;  m-    :  ••    .a;       ,a\.'\ 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


^C4<-y7^-LA^    ^Ci^ 


// 


UU^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


905 


was  not  very  propitious ;  he  bought  a  team  of 
horses  from  his  brother  for  two  hundred  hard- 
earned  dollars  and,  after  enjoying  the  pos- 
session of  his  property  for  a  short  time,  lost 
it  through  the  ingenuity  and  boldness  of  horse 
thieves.  Afterward  he  spent  about  two  years 
with  his  brother  John  in  farming  and  then, 
borrowing  seven  thousand  dollars,  opened  a 
general  store  at  Buchanan,  Michigan,  this 
same  brother  being  his  partner.  Continuing 
thus  for  three  years,  his  next  move  was  to 
Dajion,  Michigan,  where  he  also  engaged  in 
general  merchandising  for  six  years.  Ill 
health  compelled  him  to  abandon  a  very  suc- 
cessful venture,  or  rather  established  busi- 
ness, to  resume  agriculture  on  his  brother's 
farm,  the  two  profitably  working  the  same  on 
shares.  He  settled  in  St.  Joseph  county  in 
1833,  and  in  1853  married  Miss  Nancy  S. 
Howe,  who  became  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Van 
Ryper.  In  1861,  having  brought  himself  to  a 
position  of  comfort  in  this  world's  goods,  he 
purchased  about  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  on  the  beautiful  prairie  known 
as  Terre  Coupee,  Olive  township,  and  moved 
his  family  to  his  new  homestead.  From  un- 
settled notes  and  accounts  left  from  his  mer- 
cantile business  and  profits  from  his  farm,  he 
purchased  twenty-one  hundred  acres  of  land 
in  Laporte  and  St.  Joseph  counties.  He  and 
his  brother  together  also  owned  about  thirty- 
two  hundred  acres  in  Indiana,  ten  acres  in 
Chicago  and  valuable  real  estate  in  South 
Bend. 

James  Reynolds  was  a  stalwart  Republican 
after  the  formation  of  that  party,  and  pre- 
Wously  an  old-line  Whig.  Although  he  did 
not  go  to  the  front  in  the  service  of  the  Union, 
he  assisted  in  the  prosecution  of  the  Civil 
war,  even  more  effectively,  by  the  generous 
expenditure  of  his  money  and  his  abilities  as 
a  patriotic  citizen.  In  1890  Mr.  Reynolds 
was  elected  president  of  the  First  National 
Bank  at  Buchanan,  Michigan,  and  was  pre- 
eminently, a  man  of  affairs.  He  not  only 
amassed  property  but  established  a  reputa- 
tion as  a  good  man  and  a  useful  citizen.  He 
was  a  man  most  temperate  in  his  habits,  and 
always  took  most  high  moral  ground  on  all 
questions  which  came  before  him  for  consider- 
ation. Among  other  works  which  are  indic- 
ative of  his  standing  and  which  are  also  con- 
sidered an  improvement  of  the  county  was  his 
erection  of  the  beautiful  residence  in  which 
Mrs.  Van  Ryper  now  lives.  It  seldom  hap- 
pens that  even  two  brothers  form  such  an  en- 


during attachment  as  will  withstand  the  test 
of  intimate  business  relationship  as  marked 
the  lives  of  James  and  John  Reynolds.  For 
half  a  century  they  resided  within  half  a 
mile  of  each  other,  their  business  and  private 
affairs  closely  connected,  and  yet  their  re- 
lations were  always  affectionately  harmonious. 
Mrs.  James  Reynolds  was  a  native  of  New 
York,  who  came  with  her  parents  to  Berrien 
county,  the  family  locating  on  the  Indian 
reservation  near  Niles,  Michigan.  Wife  and 
husband  are  now  interred  in  the  Hamilton 
cemetery,  and  none  whom  its  soil  enfolds  have 
received  greater  or  more  merited  honor  while 
on  earth. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Rey- 
nolds were  as  follows:  Zurelda,  who  married 
Dr.  Van  Ryper;  John  F.,  deceased,  formerly 
a  resident  of  South  Bend  and  cashier  of  the 
Citizens'  Bank,  of  that  place;  Clara,  also  de- 
ceased, who  married  Dickson  Scoffern,  of 
Olive  township;  and  Estelle,  now  JMrs.  Clyde 
H.  Baker,  of  Buchanan,  Michigan. 

Mrs.  Van  Ryper  was  a  child  of  only  four 
years  when  she  became  a  resident  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  she  has  since  resided 
within  its  boundaries,  although  she  received 
her  education  in  the  common  and  high  schools 
of  Niles,  Michigan.  On  May  4,  1880,  she  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Dr.  A.  N.  Van  Ryper, 
and  one  son  and  two  daughters  have  been 
born  to  their  union.  Of  these  James  Rey- 
nolds was  educated  in  the  Culver  Military 
Academy  at  Culver,  Indiana,  also  spending 
four  years  at  Northwestern  University,  and 
is  a  farmer  located  near  New  Carlisle.  He  is 
a  Knight  of  Pythias,  with  membership  in  No. 
41,  of  that  town.  Relda,  one  of  the  daugh- 
ters, graduated  from  the  Knickerbocker  Fe- 
male Academy,  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  class 
of  '06,  and  is  a  student  in  music  at  the  North- 
western University,  Evanston,  Illinois.  Fran- 
ces, as  a  member  of  the  class  of  1911,  is  in  at- 
tendance at  the  Young  Ladies'  Seminary  at 
Grand  Haven,  Michigan.  All  the  children 
have  received,  or  are  now  receiving  educa- 
tions which  are  fitted  for  any  walk  of  life 
which  they  may  enter. 

Dr.  A.  N.  Van  Ryper  is  a  native  of  New 
York,  where  he  obtained  his  education.  He 
first  graduated  from  St.  Edward's  College, 
prior  to  commencing  the  study  of  medicine 
at  the  Michigan  University.  He  graduated 
from  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons, 
Chicago,  and  has  practiced  at  Three  Oaks, 
Buchanan  and  in  Olive  township,  but  of  late 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


906 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


years  the  large  business  interests  connected 
with  his  own  property  and  that  of  his  wife 's 
estate  have  taien  much  of  his  time  from  his 
profession.  The  doctor  traces  his  lineage  to 
the  historic  Mohawk  Dutch  of  the  Empire 
state.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  and  is 
a  good  citizen  and  a  high-minded  professional 
gentleman. 

Mrs.  Van  Ryper  is  a  leading  member  of  the 
Episcopal  church  and  a  strong  spirit  in  reli- 
gious, charitable  and  literary  circles.  She  is 
an  earnest  member  of  the  Woman's  Club, 
whose  mission  to  create  and  foster  a  desire 
for  good'  literature  is  being  fully  realized. 
The  pretty  country  seat  of  the  family,  known 
as  *'The  Oaks,''  is  one  of  the  most  beautifully 
located  in  the  county,  and,  being  the  center 
of  a  large  circle  of  sociability  and  culture, 
consrt;itutes  a  happy  memorial  of  the  good  infl- 
ence  and  high  standing  of  the  Reynolds  fam- 

iiy. 

George  W.  E.  Doughty,  a  prominent  at- 
torney residing  in  New  Carlisle,  Indiana,  is 
so  well  known  throughout  the  northern  por- 
tion of  Indiana  that  he  needs  no  special  intro- 
duction to  the  readers  of  this  history  of  St. 
Joseph  county.  A  native  of  King's  county. 
New  York,  he  was  born  on  the  22d  of  July, 
1846,  a  son  of  George  S.  and  Eliza  A.  (Mc- 
Farland)  Doughty.  The  father  traces  his* 
lineage  to  Scotland,  but  was  born  in  Rye, 
Westchester  county,  New  York,  August  18, 
1811,  where  he  was  liberally  educated  and 
was  a  city  weigher  and  ganger.  During  the 
Civil  war  he  was  a  valiant  soldier  for  three 
years,  when  he  wa«  honorably  discharged, 
and  in  his  political  affiliations  he  was  first  a 
Whig  and  then  a  Republican.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  were  valued  members  of  the  Baptist 
church,  and  she  was  of  Welsh  descent.  In 
their  family  were  fourteen  children,  seven 
sons  and  seven  daughters,  but  only  six  of 
the  number  are  now  living,  namely:  Cath- 
arine, the  wife  of  Daniel  Grant,  who  has  been 
connected  with  the  American  Bank  Note  Com- 
pany of  Brooklyn,  New  York,  for  forty  years; 
Alfred  A.,  who  served  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war,  is  also  a  resident  of  Brooklyn,  and 
has  become  famous  in  the  wholesale  trade; 
Sarah,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Herron,  also  of 
that  city,  where  he  is  a  bookkeeper  and  ac- 
countant, and  he  too  served  bs  a  valiant  sol- 
dier; George  W.  E.,  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view; Emeline,  the  wife  of  Louis  Tway,  a 
veteran  of  the  Civil  war  and  now  a  salesman ; 


Annie,  wife  of  James  Young,  of  New  Dun- 
ham, New  Jersey. 

George  W.  E.  Doughty  was  a  little  lad  of 
three  years  when  the  family  home  was  estab- 
lished in  Brooklyn,  and  he  there  remained 
until  the  1st  of  January,  1860,  when  he 
started  alone  to  the  weart,  being  then  but  thir- 
teen years  of  age,  and  his  destination  was  Elk- 
hart, Indiana.  Previous  to  his  removal,  how- 
ever, he  had  served  as  a  little  newsboy  and 
bootblack  on  Wall  street.  New  York,  and  was 
an  inmate  of  the  Newsboys '  Home.  After  his 
arrival  in  Elkhart  city  he  went  out  with  a 
farmer  for  a  visit,  and  his  first  home  was 
with  Archibald  Beal,  of  Mishawaka,  with 
whom  he  remained  for  a  year,  going  thence  to 
the  farm  of  Joseph  Ammons.  After  the  har- 
vest he  worked  in  a  brickyard  in  the  city,  on 
the  site  of  the  old  Methodist  College,  thence 
returning  to  the  farm,  where  he  worked  for 
his  board  and  clothes  and  was  also  permitted 
to  attend  school.  On  the  22d  of  December, 
1861,  when  the  tocsin  of  war  sounded 
throughout  the  land,  Mr.  Doughty 's  young 
heart  was  stirred  with  patriotic  zeal  and  he 
enlisted  in  defense  of  the  Union,  becoming  a 
member  of  Company  E,  Forty-eighth  Indiana 
Volunteer  Infantry,  a  South  Bend  company. 
He  enlisted  for  three  years,  and  his  regiment 
was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee, 
with  which  he  proceeded  to  Corinth,  Mississ- 
ippi, and  participated  in  the  battle  of  luka, 
also  those  of  Port  Gibson,  Richmond,  Jackson, 
Champion  Hills  and  the  charges  and  assaults 
of  Vicksburg.  He  was  present  at  the  sur- 
render of  the  Confederate  General  Pemberton 
to  Grant.  While  guarding  the  rebel  paroles 
on  the  fortifications  he  received  a  severe 
sunstroke,  which  incapacitated  him  for  duty 
and  he  was  sent  to  the  St.  Louis  Hospital,  and 
three  months  passed  ere  he  was  able  to  rejoin 
his  regiment  at  Memphis.  With  Sherman  Mr. 
Doughty  was  then  sent  to  Chattanooga  to  as- 
sist General  Thomas,  and  was  present  at  the 
battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  known  as  the 
Battle  of  the  Clouds.  Continuing  on  to  Ring- 
gold, Georgia,  he  was  thence  set  back  to 
Huntsville,  Alabama,  where  he  rested  for  a 
year.  On  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  was 
sent  to  Cartersville,  Georgia,  to  guard  the 
railroad,  and  after  the  battle  of  Atlanta  was 
with  General  Sherman  on  the  celebrated 
march  to  the  sea,  which  cut  k  swath  across  the 
state  of  sixty  miles,  and  arriving  at  Savannah 
thev  started  across  the  country  to  Beaufort, 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


907 


North  Carolina,  but  as  the  country  was  flood- 
ed at  that  time  they  were  obliged  to  proceed 
in  boats  to  that  city,  from  whence  they  pro- 
ceeded to  Gk)ldsboro  and  Bentonville,  where 
the  last  battle  of  the  war  was  fought.  Then 
they  went  into  camp  at  Raleigh  and  waited 
the  arrival  of  Greneral  Grant,  and  as  he  and 
Sherman  galloped  by  cheer  after  cheer  greeted 
them  from  the  noble  boys  in  blue.  There 
the  line  of  march  commenced  across  the  Caro- 
linas  and  into  Virginia,  during  which  Mr. 
Doughty  saw  the  famous  Libby  prison,  where 
so  many  of  our  brave  soldiers  were  incarcer- 
ated. During  this  time,  in  February,  1863, 
he  had  veteranized  at  Huntsville,  Alabama, 
and  he  was  also  present  at  the  surrender  of 
the  rebel  General,  Joe  E.  Johnston,  at  Ra- 
leigh, North  Carolina,  while  at  Columbia, 
South  Carolina,  he  witnessed  that  memorable 
destruction  of  cotton.  His  discharge  was  re- 
ceived at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  July  15,  1865, 
after  a  service  to  his  country  covering  a  pe- 
riod of  four  years  and  three  months. 

Thus  with  a  creditable  military  record  Mr. 
Doughty  returned  to  his  home,  where  he  was 
ag'ain  obliged  to  begin  at  the  bottom  round  of 
the  ladder  as  a  wage  earner  in  St.  Joseph 
county.  As  the  years  grew  apace,  however, 
his  prosperity  increased,  and  at  length  he 
was  able  to  take  up  the  study  of  law,  being 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  Indiana  on  the  17th  of 
May,  1898.  His  large  practice  now  extends 
over  St.  Joseph  and  Laporte  counties,  and  he 
has  achieved  that  success  which  is  1;Jie  result 
of  energy,  determination  and  the  ability  to 
recognize  and  improve  the  opportunities  pre- . 
sented.  During  his  residence  in  Laporte 
county  he  served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace,  to 
which  oflBce  he  was  also  elected  in  St.  Joseph 
county  in  1894.  He  removed  from  Wills 
township  of  the  former  county  to  New  Carl- 
isle in  1891,  and  has  ever  since  been  one  of 
its  valued  residents.  In  addition  to  his  law 
practice  he  also  transacts  large  deals  in  real 
estate,  pensions,  mortgages,  etc.,  and  also  rep- 
resents three  excellent  fire  companies,  so  that 
his  business  is  a  lucrative  one.  He  owns 
sixty-two  acres  of  rich  and  fertile  land  in  La- 
porte county,  also  his  pleasant  home  in  New 
Carlisle,  and  in  1895  he  made  a  visit  to  his 
old  home  in  New  York,  which  he  had  not  seen 
for  almost  a  half  a  century.  Mr.  Doughty  is 
a  stalwart  Republican  and  cast  his  first  vote 
for  Grant,  and  he  has  ever  since  continued  to 
support  those  principles.  He  has  been  selected 
as  delegate  to  state,  county  and  district  con- 

Vol.   11—20. 


ventions,  has  also  served  as  county  commit- 
teeman and  as  chairman  of  the  township  com- 
mittee of  his  party,  and  has  ever  performed 
his  part  in  the  interests  of  his  party. 

Mr.  Doughty  wedded  Miss  Nacy  E.  Myler, 
and  two  children,  a  son  and  daughter,  have 
been  born  to  them,  but  the  daughter,  Elsie, 
died  at  the  age  of  nine  years.  Marvin  F.,  the 
only  son,  is  a  resident  of  New  Carlisle,  where 
he  is  a  commercial  traveler  for  J.  B.  Weber 
of  South  Bend.  He  received  his  elementary 
educational  training  in  the  high  school  and 
later  graduated  at  the  Northern  Indiana  Nor- 
mal College  of  Valparaiso,  Indiana.  Mrs. 
Doughty,  who  is  also  a  native  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  is  a  daughter  of  Matthew  and  Char- 
lotte (Frame)  Myler,  both  now  deceased.  She 
is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Christian 
church  at  New  Carlisle,  is  president  of  the 
Charity  Circle  and  is  a  leader  in  all  move- 
ments which  she  considers  of  benefit.  She  is 
also  president  of  Olive  Court,  No.  31,  of  the 
Tribe  of  Ben  Hur,  and  is  past  president  of 
the'  Women's  Relief  Corps,  No.  48.  Mr. 
Doughty  is  perhaps  among  the  oldest  mem- 
bers of  the  Grand  Army  Post  in  northern  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  has  thrice  served  as  com- 
mander of  Deacon  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  No.  115, 
twice  in  succession.  He,  too,  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  church.  From  a  little  newsboy 
he  has  carved  his  way  to  aflSuence  alone  and 
unaided,  and  during  all  this  time  he  has  so 
lived  that  as  a  citizen,  as  a  man  of  business, 
as  an  honorable  Christian  gentleman  no  man 
has  a  cleaner  record  or  is  more  highly  re- 
spected than  he. 

David  G.  Warren.  The  specific  history  of 
the  west  was  made  by  its  pioneers;  it  was 
emblazoned  on  the  forest  trees  by  the  strength 
of  sturdy  arms  and  gleaming  axe,  and  writ- 
ten on  the  face  of  the  earth  by  the  track  of 
the  primitive  plow.  The  trackless  prairie  was 
made  to  yield  its  tribute  under  the  eflfective 
endeavors  of  the  pioneer,  and  slowly  but 
surely  were  laid  the  steadfast  foundations 
upon  which  has  been  builded  the  magnificent 
structure  of  an  enlightened  commonwealth. 
The  Warren  family  were  one  of  the  first  to 
locate  in  St.  Joseph  county,  and  David  G. 
Warren  is  numbered  among  the  honored  pion- 
eers who  have  not  only  witnessed  the  remark- 
able growth  and  transformation  of  the  region 
but  have  been  important  factors  in  its  prog- 
ress and  advancement.  He  was  bom  in  Miami 
county,  Ohio,  November  3,  1833,  the  second 
of  ten  children,  four  sons  and  six  daughters. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


908 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


of  David  H.  and  Sarah  (Graham)  Warren. 
Nine  of  the  chihiren  are  now  living,  four  of 
whom  are  residents  of  Indiana,  while  one 
brother,  Thomas  J.,  is  in  Omaha,  Nebraska, 
engaged  in  the  agricultural  implement  busi- 
ness, another,  Gfeorge  W.,  is  a  resident  of  the 
state  of  Washington,  and  William  is  an  agri- 
culturist of  Michigan. 

David  H.  Warren  was  a  native  of  New  Jer- 
sey, born  about  1812,  and  his  death  occurred 
about  1877.  He,  too,  was  a  lifelong  agricul- 
turist, and  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Ohio  in 
a  very  early  day.  His  marriage  was  cele- 
brated' in  that  state,  and  in  1834  the  young 
couple  started  in  primitive  style  across  the 
swamps  and  over  bad  roads  to  the  Hoosier 
state,  their  destination  being  Olive  township, 
which  they  reached  by  blazed  trails.  The  first 
home  of  the  Warrens  was  a  litle  log  cabin  of 
the  most  primitive  style,  heated  with  the  old- 
fashioned  fireplace,  while  at  that  time  there 
were  scarcely  any  highways  here.  Mr.  War- 
ren rented  land  for  some  years,  his  first  pur- 
chase having  been  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  in  Olive  township,  forty  acres  of  which 
was  timber  land.  He  was  first  a  Whig  in  his 
political  views,  but  afterwards  became  a  Jack- 
sonian  Democrat,  and,  being  a  well  read  man, 
could  put  forth  his  views  in  intelligent  argu- 
ment. Religiously  he  was  a  Universalist,  and 
fraternally  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, exemplifying  in  his  life  its  beneficent 
teachings.  Mrs.  Warren  was  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  about  the  same  year  as  her  husband,  and 
was  eighty  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her 
death.  She  was  a  brave  and  loving  pioneer 
mother,  a  beautiful  Christian  at  heart,  and 
her  prayers  and  admonitions  will  ever  live  in 
the  minds  of  her  sons.  Her  father,  Graham, 
lived  to  the  remarkable  age  of  one  hundred 
years,  three  months  and  four  days.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Warren  are  interred  in  the  New 
Carlisle  cemetery,  where  a  beauitful  stone 
marks  their  last  resting  place,  on  which  is  en- 
graved a  square  and  compass.  They  lived  to 
good  old  ages,  leaving  behind  them  an  hon- 
orable record  of  which  their  descendants  may 
well  be  proud. 

David  G.  Warren,  a  son  of  this  revered 
pioneer  couple,  was  only  nine  months  old  at 
the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  family  to  Olive 
township,  and  thus  for  almost  seventy-three 
years  he  has  been  an  honored  citizen  of  old  St. 
Joseph  county.  He  was  reared  as  a  farmer 
lad,  obtaining  his  education  in  an  old  log 
cabin  school,  twenty  feet  square  in  size,  with 


a  clapboard  roof  and  heated  by  a  fireplace, 
while  the  seats  were  of  the  old  slab  kind,  and 
he  has  written  with  the  old-fashioned  goose 
quill  pen  fashioned  by  the  master.  These 
schools  were  maintained  by  private  subscrip- 
tions, and  convened  during  three  months  of 
each  year.  In  those  early  days  Mr.  Warren 
swung  the  old-fashioned  cradle  many  a  day 
from  early  mom  until  night,  and  he  well  re- 
members the  first  binder  brought  into  the 
township,  where  a  man  had  to  walk  around 
the  field  to  rake  the  grain,  but  this  machine 
nevertheless  created  a  great  deal  of  excite- 
ment. He  also  remembers  seeing  in  St.  Joseph 
county  at  least  five  hundred  of  the  Pottawat- 
omie Indians  just  acress  the  road  from  his 
father's  house.  They  were  friendly,  but  on 
one  occasion,  while  his  mother  was  hoeing  in 
the  garden,  an  Indian  came  up  and  pointed 
his  musket  at  her,  which  greatly  frightened 
both  her  and  the  children,  although  no  harm 
resulted.  Mr.  Warren  began  life  for  himself 
at  the  age  of  twenty -one  years,  with  scarcely 
any  cash  capital,  and  going  to  Ohio  attended 
school  during  theat  year,  and  the  first  money 
which  he  obtained  was  from  chopping  cord 
wood.  Returning  to  St.  Joseph  county  he  be- 
gan to  work  by  the  month  for  Thomas  Vail, 
while  for  eight  months  he  was  an  employe  of 
Granville  Woolman.  During  this  time  he 
suc<»eeded  in  saving  one  hundred  dollars, 
which  he  sent  to  Iowa  to  enter  eighty  acres 
of  land,  but  the  man  with  whom  he  entrusted 
the  money  betrayed  the  confidence  of  Mr. 
Warren  and  used  the  entire  amount.  Going 
.thence  to  Marshall  county  of  that  stat^  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  the  purchase 
price  being  five  hundred  and  twenty  dollars, 
but  he  let  the  land  lay  idle  until  after  his 
marriage. 

On  the  2d  oi*  January,  1868,  Mr.  Warren 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza  A. 
White,  a  native  of  Olive  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  bom  December  11,  1843,  and  a 
daughter  of  William  M.  and  Charlotte  (Gar- 
routt)  White.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  four  sons  and  five  daughters,  and 
five  of  the  number  are  now  living,  namely: 
Daniel,  a  resident  of  New  Carlisle  and  now 
serving  as  a  commissioner  of  St.  Joseph 
county;  Eliza  A.  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth; 
Mary  B.,  a  resident  of  New  Carlisle;  Teresa 
M.,  the  widow  of  Mathias  Bates  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Chicago,  Illinois ;  and  Belle,  the  wife 
of  James  Rush,  an  agriculturist  of  Olive  town- 
ship.   Mr.  White  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  but 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


THE 
1909    ^ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


909 


became  an  honored  early  pioneer  of  Olive 
township,  St.  Joseph  county,  where  he  was 
extensively  engaged  in  agricultural  pursiwts. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  devout  members 
of  the  Methodist  church,  and  he  was  also  con- 
nected with  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Mrs. 
White,  a  native  of  Ohio,  passed  away  in  death 
on  the  14th  of  October,  1906,  aged  eighty- 
nine  years,  having  been  tenderly  cared  for  in 
her  later  years  by  her  daughter,  Mrs.  War- 
ren. Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  lie  buried  in 
Hamilton  cemetery,  where  a  beautiful  stone 
stands  sacred  to  their  memory. 

Mrs.  Warren  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Olive  township,  and  for  almost  forty  years 
she  and  her  husband  have  traveled  the  path- 
way of  life  together,  mutually  sharing  the 
joys  and  sorrows  which  checker  the  lives  of 
all.  About  thirty  years  ago  they  located  on 
their  present  farm  of  eighty  acres,  and  they 
have  remodeled  their  residence  and  out  build- 
ings until  they  bear  little  resemblance  to  their 
first  home  in  St.  Joseph  county.  Mr.  War- 
ren is  a  Jacksonian  Democrat  in  his  political 
views,  having  supported  that  party  all  his 
life,  and  his  first  presidential  vote  was  cast 
for  Buchanan.  He  has  been  selected  as  a 
delegate  to  the  county  and  district  conven- 
tions, and  was  present  in  that  capacity  when 
Hon.  Ben  Shively  was  nominated  as  a  con- 
gressman of  Indiana.  He  is  one  of  the  old- 
est living  Masons  in  the  county,  a  member  of 
Terre  Coupee  Lodge,  No.  204,  of  New  Carl- 
isle. Both  he  and  his  wife  are  devout  adher- 
ents of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  to 
which  they  contribute  of  their  means  to  all 
worthy  benevolences,  and  their  lives  are  in 
harmony  with  its  teachings.  They  are  num- 
bered among  the  sterling  old  citizens  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  we  are  pleased  to  present 
the  record  of  their  lives  in  this  history  of  rep- 
resentative men  and  women. 

Mark  L.  Brummitt.  The  gentleman  whose 
name  initiates  this  review  is  the  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  well-known  firm  of  the  Brummitt 
Mercantile  Company  of  New  Carlisle,  Indiana^ 
He  is  a  native  of  Porter  county,  Indiana, 
bom  on  his  father's  farm  on  the  24th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1858,  the  second  of  seven  children,  three 
sons  and  four  daughters,  of  William  and 
Mary  (Lucas)  Brummitt,  both  natives  of 
Yorkshire,  England,  and  both  bom  in  the 
year  1832.  The  father,  who  was  educated  in 
his  native  land,  where  he  also  learned  the 
trade  of  weaving,  came  to  Canada  in  1855, 
and  in  the  following  year  took  up  his  abode 


in  Porter  county,  Indiana.  At  the  time  of  his 
arrival  in  Canada  he  had  only  ten  dollars  in 
money,  and  was  therefore  obliged  to  begin  at 
the  very  bottom  round  of  the  ladder,  but  m 
1857  he  was  able  to  send  for  his  wife,  and 
they  afterwards  purchased  three  acres  of  land 
in  Porter  county,  going  in  debt  for  a  portion 
of  it.  This  little  tract  formed  the  nucleus  of 
their  afterward  large  estate,  for  by  exercising 
the  strictest  economy  and  by  hard  and  per- 
sistent labor  they  were  enabled  to  add  to  it 
from  time  to  time  until  they  finally  owned 
two  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  In  1886,  how- 
ever, they  left  the  county  which  had  been 
their  home  for  so  many  years  and  came  to 
New  Carlisle,  where  they  are  still  living,  but 
the  fatljer  has  retired  from  the  active  cares 
of  a  business  life  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  former 
toil.  He  owns  about  five  hundred  and  thirty 
acres  of  rich  and  fertile  farming  lattid,  and 
was  long  numbered  among  the  leading  agri- 
cultui'ists  of  St.  Joseph  county.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Brummitt  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church,  and  he  is  a  Republican  in  his 
political  aflSliations.  Six  of  their  seven  chil- 
dren are  now  living,  namely:  Mark  L.,  whose 
name  introduces  this  review;  John,  who  was 
educated  in  the  Valparaiso  Normal  College 
and  is  now  engaged  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness in  that  q^ty ;  Maria,  wife  of  J.  Augustine, 
of  New  Carlisle ;  Jennie,  wife  of  M.  P.  Goody- 
koontz,  a  resident  farmer  of  Olive  township, 
and  both  she  and  her  sister  were  well  edu- 
cated and  were  members  of  the  teachers'  pro- 
fession before  their  marriage;  Emily,  who 
was  also  a  teacher,  is  now  the  wife  of  H.  H. 
Loring,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Valparaiso, 
Indiana;  and  A.  R.,  the  youngest  of  the  fam- 
ily, is  the  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  New  Carlisle,  Indiana.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brum- 
mitt have  given  their  children  excellent  edu- 
cational advantages,  and  all  are  proving  an 
honor  to  the  honored  family  name. 

Mark  L.  Brummitt  received  his  elementary 
education  in  the  common  schools,  supplement- 
ing this  by  attendance  at  the  Northern  In- 
diana Normal  College  of  Valparaiso,  and 
while  pursuing  his  course  he  and  his  sifrters 
boarded  themselves  in  order  to  help  defray 
their  expenses  while  at  college.  With  his  edu- 
cation completed  he  was  engaged  for  six  years 
thereafter  as  a  teacher  in  Porter  county,  but 
in  1885  he  came  to  New  Carlisle  and  entered 
into  partnership  with  Edward  Thompson, 
business  being  conducted  under  the  firm  name 
of  Thompson  &  Brummitt.      This  hardware 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


910 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


firm  continued-  in  business  during  the  follow- 
ing ten  months,  when  Mr.  Brummitt,  Sr.,  pur- 
chased Mr.  Thompson's  interest,  and  the 
name  was  then  changed  to  William  Brummitt 
&  Son,  thus  continuing  until  1890.  In  that 
year  another  was  admitted  to  the  partner- 
ship, while  in  1892  the  father  severed  his  con- 
nection therewith,  and  the  firm  then  became 
known  as  The  Brummitt  Hardware  Company. 
During  this  time  they  established  the  private 
bank  known  as  the  Bank  of  the  Brummitt 
Hardware  Company.  This  institution  was  es- 
tablished in  the  spring  of  1897,  in  the  build- 
ing where  their  business  is  now  located,  and 
continued  until  1900,  when  it  was  incorpo- 
rated as  the  First  National  Bank  of  New  Carl- 
isle, where  three  years  later,  in  1903,  the 
Brummitt  Hardware  Company  was  incorpo- 
rated under  the  name  of  the  Brummitt  Mer- 
cantile Company,  with  the  following  oflScers: 
President  and  treasurer,  Mark  L.  Brummitt; 
secretary,  Mrs.  J.  Augustine;  vice-president, 
A.  R.  Brummitt.  The  various  members  are 
noted  for  their  business  integrity,  and  the 
well-known  firm  needs  no  further  mention 
than  to  say  it  is  in  the  zenith  of  success.  They 
handle  coal,  lumber,  grain,  farm  implements 
and  vehicles,  as  well  as  a  first-class  stock  of 
shelf  and  heavy  hardware,  and  the  volume  of 
their  business  now  annually  reaches  forty 
thousand  dollars.  The  extensive  business  re- 
flects great  credit  on  the  president  and  mana- 
ger, and  in  fact  the  town  of  New  Carlisle  may 
be  proud  to  claim  it  among  its  business  inter- 
ests. In  addition  to  this  Mr.  Brummitt  also 
has  extensive  landed  interests  in  Laporte 
county,  Indiana,  consisting  of  two  hundred 
and  twelve  acres. 

On  the  7th  of  April,  1886,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Ida  M.  Phillips,  and  they 
have  become  the  parents  of  three  children, 
but  the  eldest,  a  son  Clair,  died  at  the  age  of 
nine  years ;  Loren  is  in  the  ninth  grade  of  the 
New  Carlisle  public  schools,  and  Helen  is  in 
the  fourth  grade.  Mrs.  Brummitt  is  a  native 
of  Ohio,  but  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
New  Carlisle,  Indiana.  She  is  a  member  of 
the  Eastern  Star,  the  Ladies  of  the  Macca- 
bees, and  both  she  and  her  husband  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church.  Mr.  Brum- 
mitt gives  his  political  support  to  the  Repub- 
lican party,  his  first  presidential  vote  having 
been  cast  for  the  lamented  President  Garfield, 
and  he  has  ever  since  favored  the  **  Grand 
Old  Party."  He  is  a  member  of  the  county 
council,  through  whose  hands  pass  the  appro- 


priations for  public  expenditures,  and  he  is 
now  serving  as  president  of  this  important 
body.  During  a  period  of  four  years  he  was 
also  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  New 
Carlisle.  As  the  leading  merchant  and  rep- 
resentative citizen  of  this  city  he  well  de- 
serves mention  in  this  history  of  St.  Joseph 
county. 

Aaron  Wenger.  Aaron  Wenger  is  num- 
bered among  the  old  and  honored  pioneer 
settlers  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  he  ako 
occupies  a  leading  place  among  the  represen- 
tative agriculturists  of  Olive  township.  It 
was  in  the  fall  of  1865  that  the  family  home 
was  established  within  the  borders  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  to  which  it  was  removed  from 
Darke  county,  Ohio,  the  native  place  of  Aaron 
Wenger,  where  he  was  born  June  28,  1837, 
the  third  in  a  family  of  seven  children,  six 
sons  and  one  daughter,  of  Joseph  and  Lydia 
(Isenham)  Wenger.  Five  of  the  number  are 
now  living,  namely :  David,  who  served  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  and  is  now  a  farmer 
and  merchant  of  Missouri ;  Aaron  is  the  next 
in  order  of  birth ;  Sarah,  the  widow  of  ^Michael 
Cranmer  and  a  resident  of  New  Carlisle; 
Samuel  and  William,  twins,  both  of  whom 
served  in  the  Civil  war,  the  former  now  resid- 
ing in  New  Carlisle,  while  the  latter  makes 
his  home  in  Rochester,  Indiana. 

Joseph  Wenger,  the  father  of  these  chil- 
dren, was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
was  reared  to  manhood  and  followed  farming. 
He  emigrated  first  to  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  resided  for  several  years,  was 
there  married  and  afterward  took  up  his 
abode  in  Darke  county,  this  being  in  the 
early  days  and  he  was  numbered  among  its 
pioneers.  In  the  fall  of  1865  the  family 
sought  a  new  home  in  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, two  of  the  sons  driving  through  with 
teams,  and  on  reaching  their  destination  in 
Olive  township,"  the  father  purchased  one 
hundred  and  ninety  acres  of  partially  im- 
proved land,  and  this  became  the  old  Wengrer 
homestead.  Politically  he  was  an  ardent  Re- 
publican, and  both  he  and  his  wife  were 
exemplary  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church.  Both  have  long  since  passed  away, 
but  their  memories  are  still  enshrined  in  the 
hearts  of  their  children. 

Aaron  Wenger,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  early  in  life  learned  the  trade  of  a 
wagon  maker  in  his  native  county  of  Darke, 
Ohio,  but  throughout  the  period  of  his  resi- 
dence in  St.  Joseph  county  has  been  identi- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


911 


fied  with  agricultural  pursuits.  He  can  re- 
call many  reminiscences  of  the  early  days  in 
old  St.  Joe,  when  the  now  great  and  popu- 
lous city  of  South  Bend  was  but  a  mere  ham- 
let, and  he  has  been  an  active  participant  in 
the  subsequent  development  and  improve- 
ment. He  is  now  the  owner  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty-seven  acres  of  rich  and  fertile 
land  on  the  Terre  Coupee  prairie,  which  is 
well  adapted  to  the  raising  of  all  kinds  of 
grain. 

Mr.  Wenger  was  first  married  to  Miss 
Nancy  Hines,  and  the  only  son  of  this  union 
was  John  C,  a  resident  of  Jackson,  Michigan, 
where  he  is  now  serving  as  deputy  warden  at 
a  lucrative  salary.  He  married  Miss  Olive 
Redding,  and  they  have  had  four  children. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Wenger 
married  Miss  Mary  Ross,  their  wedding  hav- 
ing been  celebrated  on  the  2d  of  September, 
1865,  in  Darke  county,  Ohio.  They  have  be- 
come the  parents  of  eleven  children,  four 
sons  and  seven  daughters,  namely:  Serena 
E.  is  the  wife  of  Richard  Teeters,  a  salesman 
in  New  Carlisle.  Jacob  E.  is  engaged  in 
farming  in  Olive  township.  He  married  Miss 
Rhoda  Reynolds,  and  they  have  five  children. 
Sarah  E.  and  Lydia  M.,  are  both  at  home. 
Walter  E.,  who  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  also  at  the  Northern  Indiana 
Normal  College  of  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  was 
engaged  in  teaching  school  for  one  term.  He 
married  Miss  Theresa  Ehrler,  and  they  make 
their  home  in  Olive  township,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  farming.  One  son  has  been  born  of 
their  union.  Ida  M.  is  at  home.  Lloyd  F., 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Olive 
township,  married  Miss  Eunice  Smith.  Chris- 
tena  B.,  Mary  H.  and  Ruby  C.  are  at  home. 
One  child  is  also  deceased.  Mrs.  Wenger  was 
bom  in  Darke  county,  Ohio,  January  22, 
1845,  of  which  state  her  father  was  also  a 
native,  but  her  mother  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  both  lie  buried  in  Darke  county. 
She  has  proved  to  her  husband  a  loving 
counselor  and  helpmate  at  all  times,  and  has 
ably  assisted  him  in  the  establishment  of 
their  home  and  the  rearing  of  their  children 
to  honorable  manhood  and  womanhood.  Mr. 
Wenger  gives  his  political  support  to  the  Re- 
publiean  party,  his  first  presidential  vote  hav- 
ing been  cast  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  he 
has  ever  since  continued  to  uphold  its  prin- 
ciples. Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  are  active 
workers  in  the  cause  of  Christianity. 


Henry  B.  Ranstead.  Mr.  Ranstead  is 
one  of  the  oldest  living  residents  of  Olive 
township,  St.  Joseph  county.  Wild  was  the 
region  into  which  he  came  when  but  a  little 
lad.  Its  forests  stood  in  their  primeval 
strength,  the  prairie  land  was  still  unbroken, 
and  the  Indians  still  roamed  through  the 
dense  woods.  From  that  early  period  he  has 
been  prominently  identifiied  with  the  history 
of  old  St.  Joseph,  and  now  in  his  declining 
years  he  is  living  retired  in  his  pleasant  home, 
crowned  with  the  veneration  and  respect 
which  should  ever  be  accorded  an  honorable 
old  age.  He  is  a  native  of  Decatur  county, 
Indiana,  bom  on  the  25th  of  October,  1829, 
a  son  of  Henry  A.  and  Anna  (Buell)  Ran- 
stead. In  their  family  were  six  children, 
Henry  B.  being  the  only  son.  The  father  was 
born  in  the  old  Bay  state  of  Massachusetts 
in  1794,  and  his  death  occurred  in  1860. 
Prom  his  native  state  he  eventually 
removed  to  New  York,  where  he  was  subse- 
quently married,  and  after  a  time  he  started 
with  his  family  on  the  long  and  arduous 
journey  to  Indiana  in  one  of  the  pioneer 
wagons,  crossing  the  mountains,  valleys  and 
swamps  and  finally  reaching  what  is  now 
Decatur  county,  Indiana.  There  he  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  heavily  tim- 
bered land,  clearing  a  suflScient  space  on. 
which  to  erect  their  little  log  cabin  home,  and 
they  began  life  on  the  frontier  in  true  pio- 
neer style.  Decatur  county  remained  their 
home  for  about  eight  or  nine  years,  when  the 
father  sold  the  farm,  and  they  started  across 
the  black  swamps  to  St.  Joseph  county,  mak- 
ing the  journey  in  two  of  the  large  sway- 
backed  covered  wagons  driven  by  ox  teams, 
and  the  mother  held  her  little  son  Henry  in 
her  lap  during  most  of  the  journey.  They 
camped  out  at  night,  and  they  passed  through 
South  Bend  when  it  was  a  little  struggling 
hamlet  of  six  or  eight  log  houses,  while  now  it 
has  reached  a  population  of  fifty  thousand 
and  is  one  of  the  largest  manufacturing  cities 
in  the  Mississippi  valley.  Previous  to  this 
time  the  father  had  visited  Olive  township 
and  had  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  and 
after  the  arrival  of  the  family  he  entered  a 
large  amount  of  land  from  the  government. 
They  continued  to  live  in  the  wagons  until 
the  men  could  cut  logs  and  erect  the  log  cabin, 
the  floor  of  which  was  of  puncheons  and  the 
roof  of  clapboards,  being  held  in  place  with 
weight  poles.  Their  only  light  at  night  was 
obtained   by  pouring   grease    into    a   saucer, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


912 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


using  a  rag  for  a  wick,  which  continued  to 
serve  until  the  old  fashioned  candles  came  into 
use.  Mr.  Ranstead  gave  his  political  sup- 
port to  the  Whig  party,  and  his  father  served 
as  an  orderly  under  General  Washington  in 
the  Revolutionary  war.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ranstead  were  Methodists,  and  the  first 
church  society  in  the  township  was  held  in  a 
little  log  school  house,  while  Mr.  Ranstead 
assisted  in  the  erection  of  the  first  church  in 
the  township.  Mrs.  Ranstead  was  a  native  of 
New  York,  born  in  1796,  and  her  death 
occurred  in  1878.  She  was  a  devout  Chris- 
tian, a  brave  pioneer,  and  the  poor  and  needy 
ever  found  aid  at  her  hospitable  door.  Both 
now  sleep  in  the  Hamilton  cemetery,  where  a 
beautiful  stone  stands  sacred  to  their  memory. 

Henry  B.  Ranstead  was  a  little  lad  of  four 
years  when  he  was  brought  to  this  county, 
and  here  he  has  passed  almost  three-fourths 
of  a  century  in  Olive  township.  He  was  early 
inured-  to  the  duties  of  the  farm,  and  his  edu- 
cation was  received  in  a  little  log  cabin  eight- 
een by  twenty  feet  in  size,. heated  with  an  old 
fashioned  stick  and  mud  chimney  fireplace, 
the  seats  being  of  slabs  with  wooden  legs,  and 
the  writing  desk  a  huge  hewed  log  resting  on 
wooden  pins  driven  into  the  wall,  their  writ- 
ing being  accomplished  by  the  use  of  the  old 
goose  quill  pen.  His  text  books  were  the  old 
elementary  spelling  book  and  his  arithmetic 
the  old  Daball,  the  schools  being  maintained 
by  private  subscriptions.  This  was  the  tem- 
ple of  learning  in  "those  good  old  days  when 
friendships  were  more  lasting  than  in  the 
twentieth  century.  Mr.  Ranstead  has  also 
seen  plenty  of  Indians  pass  the  door.  They 
would  ride  along  the  side  of  the  fence  and 
exclaim,  **Quathkin,''  meaning  they  would 
trade  a  bird  or  fowl  for  some  bread  or  other 
eatables,  but  they  were  always  friendly.  In 
those  early  days  he  has  also  plowed  many  an 
acre  with  ox  teams,  and  he  has  worked  many 
a  day  with  the  old  fashioned  sickle  and  the 
turkey  wing  cradJe,  and  he  can  well  remem- 
.ber  the  astonishment  th,e  first  reapers  or  bind- 
ers made  when  first  introduced  into  the  town- 
ship. Threshing  out  the  grain  was  done  by 
horses  tramping  it  on  the  barn  floor. 

Mr.  Ranstead  married  Miss  Jane  Fox,  and 
they  had  five  children,  three  sons  and  two 
daughters,  but  only  three  are  now  living: 
Emma,  the  wife  of  William  Schimp,  a  coal 
merchant  of  South  Bend ;  Walter,  who  is  em- 
ployed at  the  stock  yards  in  Chicago,  and  he 
is  married  and  has  four  living  children ;  and 


Lo\iie,  the  wife  of  Aimer  B.  Wycoflf,  an  agri- 
culturist of  Hamilton.  After  the  death  of 
the  mother  of  these  children,  Mr.  Ranstead 
was  again  married,  but  this  wife  is  also  de- 
ceased. He  has  long  been  numbered  among 
the  prosperous  farmers  of  the  county,  and  is 
the  owner  of  about  six  hundred  acres  of  rich 
and  fertile  land,  all  in  Olive  township  and 
on  the  celebrated  Terre  Coupee  prairie.  He 
has  lived  for  forty-one  years  in  the  large 
brick  residence  on  the  Chicago  road,  and  is 
revered  by  all  who  know  him.  He  was  for- 
merly a  Whig  in  his  political  aflSliations,  and 
voted  for  the  first  Republican  nominee,  Gen- 
eral Fremont,  having  ever  since  supported 
those  principles.  He  has  long  been  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  affiliating  with 
Terre  Coupee  Lodge.  His  religious  associa- 
tions are  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  Hamilton,  of  which  he  has  long  been  a 
worthy  member,  and  is  an  active  worker  in 
the  cause  of  Christianity.  He  is  now  living 
retired  in  his  pleaaant  home,  surrounded  by 
many  friends,  but  his  sun  is  fast  setting  and 
this  full  review  of  his  life  will  be  cherished 
and  held  sacred  by  his  children  when  he  has 
passed  away. 

Hugh  V.  Compton,  whose  name  stands 
conspicuously  forth  on  the  pioneer  records 
of  St.  'Joseph  coun'ty,  is  a  naitive  of 
Hutler  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
born  on  the  18th  of  September,  1829,  a 
son  of  Josdah  and  Jane  (Morris)  Compton. 
In  their  family  were  five  children,  three  sons 
and  two  daughters,  of  whom  the  son,  H.  V.. 
was  the  second  in  order  of  birth,  and  only  two 
of  the  number  are  now  living.  The  paternal 
grandfather,  Joseph  Compton,  was  one  of 
the  Revolutionary  heroes,  was  present  at  the 
battle  of  Monmouth,  in  which  he  served  as 
captain  and  also  as  a  pilot  to  guide  a  body  of 
soldiers  through  a  swamp  during  the  attack- 
ing of  the  British,  and  for  that  purpose 
General  Washington  gave  him  a  compass.  It 
is  of  unique  construction,  made  of  rosewood 
and  fashioned  like  a  casket.  This  is  in  an 
excellent  state  of  preservation,  as  is  also  the 
old  flint-lock  musket  which  he  carried  during 
the  war,  and  both  are  now  in  the  possession 
of  his  grandson,  H.  V.  Compton.  The  mus- 
ket is  as  good  as  ever,  with  bayonet  fixed, 
although  the  flint  has  disappeared. 

Josiah  Compton,  a  son  of  this  old  Revolu- 
tionary hero,  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  but  in 
1830,  emigrated  to  Indiana,  taking  up  his 
abode  near  Crawfordsville,  in  a  little  hamlet 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


THE 

NF^A    VORK      ^ 
.PUBLIC     '.''^'ARYjj 

FnHr'';*iCn<.  // 

190 J    ^y 


Digitized  by 


Google 


^^^no^'-r-J^^f^     /     5^^^W?>4^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Jacob  Hooton 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


913 


known  as  Potato  Creek  Prairie,  and  in  1836 
by  covered  wagon  and  in  true  pioneer  style, 
he  continued  the  journey  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
where  he  finally  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  south  of  New  Carlisle,  at 
that  time  heavily  timbered.  Their  first  home 
was  a  little  log  cabin,  and  at  that  time  the 
red  men  were  plentiful,  one  Indian,  MeSaba, 
often  coming  to  play  ball  with  the  boys.  Mr. 
Compton  of  this  review  can  well  remember . 
the  first  school  which  he  attended  in  New  Car- 
lisle, the  building  being  made  of  poles  and 
heated  by  the  old  fashioned  fireplace,  while 
the  seats  were  slabs  and  the  writing  desks  a 
broad  board  resting  on  wooden  pins  driven 
into  the  walls  for  support.  The  text  books 
were  such  as  the  parents'  limited  library  could 
furnish,  consisting  of  Smiley 's  arithmetic  and 
the  Testament.  The  old  fashioned  cradle, 
called  the  Turkey  Wing,  was  then  in  use,  and 
Mr.  Compton  says  that  he  has  often  cut  ten 
acres  of  grain  in  two  days  with  that  crude 
implement.  He  has  also  used  the  old  sickle 
and  the  old  time  ox  teams.  The  amusements 
of  those  days  are  also  fresh  in  his  memory, 
such  as  the  apple  bees,  the  log  rollings,  etc., 
and  although  the  families  then  lived  four  and 
five  miles  apart  they  were  called  neighbors. 
Mr.  Compton  began  life  for  himself  as  a  wage 
earner  at  eleven  dollars  a  month,  also  giving 
half  of  that  amount  to  his  father,  but  as  the 
years  have  passed  by  he  has  prospered  in  his 
undertakings.  After  devoting  his  life  for 
many  years  to  agricultural  pursuits,  he  moved 
to  New  Carlisle  in  1874,  and  for  eight  years 
thereafter  was  engaged  in  the  livery  business, 
but  has  since  lived  a  retired  life,  surrounded 
by  the  comforts  which  former  years  of  toil 
have  brought  him. 

Mr.  Compton  has  been  twice  married,  first 
to  Miss  Catharine  Lancaster,  by  whom  he  had 
two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter.  The 
former,  Albert  H.,  who  is  employed  as  a  com- 
mercial salesman,,  was  educated  in  the  New 
Carlisle  public  schools,  with  also  a  course  in 
De  Pauw  University,  and  has  married  Miss 
Cora  Wells.  The  daughter  is  deceased,  as  is 
also  the  mother,  who  passed  away  in  1878. 
Mr.  Compton  subsequently  married  Miss  Mary 
E.  Wells,  who  was  bom  in  Kalamazoo  county, 
Michigan,  July  12,  1844,  a  daughter  of  Dar- 
ius and  Mary  (Breeden)  Wells.  They  were 
the  parents  of  six  children,  two  sons  and  four 
daughters,  of  whom  Mrs.  Compton  was  the 
youngest, .  and  only  she  and  her  sister,  Mrs. 
R.  J.  Pidge,  of  South  Dakota,  are  the  only 


survivors.  The  father  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton county,  Pennsylvania,  was  both  a  Whig 
and  Kepublican  in  his  political  affiliations, 
and  at  one  time  served  as  postmaster  of  his 
city.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  Methodist  church,  and  the  mother  was  a 
southern  lady,  a  native  of  Maryland.  Both 
are  now  deceased,  the  father  passing  away  in 
Michigan  and  the  mother  in  New  Carlisle.  Mr. 
Compton  is  a  stalwart  supporter  of  Republi- 
can principles,  and  his  first  presidential  vote 
was  cast  for  the  Whigs,  but  since  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Republican  party  he  has  upheld 
its  principles.  Mrs.  Compton  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  both  are 
active  workers  in  the  cause  of  temperance. 
They  have  an  old  family  Bible  which  belonged 
to  the  Wells  family,  and  it  bears  the  date  of 
1802,  being  one  of  the  oldest  Bibles  in  the 
county  of  St.  Joseph. 

A  little  point  of  history  in  the  life  of  Mr. 
Compton  may  prove  of  interest.  His  parents 
and  the  children  landed  in  Olive  township, 
June  24,  1836,  and  stayed  all  night  in  a  little 
log  cabin.  Near  this  cot  there  was  a  pine  tree ; 
in  1907  that  tree  was  visited  by  Mr.  Compton, 
seventy-one  years  since,  and  the  tree  is  yet 
standing  and  measures  fully  three  and  one- 
half  feet  in  diameter. 

Mrs.  Emily  J.  Hooton.  The  ladies  of  our 
great  state  and  nation  play  a  most  conspicu- 
ous part  in  its  true  history,  and  for  over  half 
a  century  Mrs.  Hooton  has  witnessed  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  great  changes  which  have 
been  wrought  in  our  fair  land.  She  is  a 
native  of  Decatur  county,  Indiana,  bom  on 
the  6th  of  June,  1838,  the  eldest  of  the  two 
children  of  Chesley  and  Mary  (Long)  Taylor. 
The  brother  of  Mrs.  Hooton  is  John  D.  Tay- 
lor, a  prominent  farmer  of  Laporte  county, 
Indiana.  During  the  Civil  war  he  served  as 
a  member  of  the  Indiana  Volunteer  Cavalry, 
and  was  wounded  in  the  left  leg  during  Ihe 
struggle. 

Chesley  Taylor,  the  father,  was  a  native  of 
Virginia,  where  he  was  reared  as  an  agricul- 
turist, and  his  education  was  acquired  prin- 
cipally by  his  own  efforts.  During  his  early 
youth  the  family  removed  to  Indiana,  where 
he  was  subsequently  married,  and  about  the 
year  1852  he  removed  to  Laporte  county  and 
purchased  land  in  Wills  township.  Their 
first  home  was  a  little  log  cabin,  and  their 
farm  of  eighty  acres  was  only  partially 
cleared,  but  in  time  the  land  was  cleared  and 
placed  under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


914 


HISTORY.  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


while  the  priinitive.log  dwelling  gave  place  to 
a  beautiful  and  substantial  home.  Mr.  Taylor 
cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  the  Whig 
party,  remaining  true  to  its  principles  until 
the  formation  of  the  Republican  party,  when 
he  joined  its  ranks.  His  father,  Dudley  Tay- 
lor, was  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  war  of  1812. 
Mrs.  Taylor  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  but 
reared  in  Indiana,  and  both  she  and  her  hus- 
band now  sleep  in  Olive  Chapel  cemetery, 
where  a  beautiful  stone  marks  their  last  rest- 
ing place. 

Their  daughter  Emily  on  the  24th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1855,  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Jacob 
Hooton,  and  their  union  was  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  seven  children,  three  sons  and  four 
daughters,  but  only  three  of  the  number  are 
now  living.  The  eldest,  Esther,  is  the  wife  of 
William  Robinson,  a  farmer  in  Laporte 
county,  and  they  have  one  son,  Marion. 
Osoar,  the  son,  has  charge  of  the  old  home- 
stead and  is  a  practical  agriculturist.  His 
first  presidential  vote  was  cast  for  J^mes  G. 
Blaine,  and  he  has  ever  since  remained  true 
to  Republican  principles,  and  he  is  now  serv- 
ing as  road  commissioner  of  his  township.  He 
married  Miss  Sadie  Carr,  who  died  in  1900, 
after  becoming  the  mother  of  three  children, 
MoUie,  Willie  and  Ethel.  Mr.  Hooton  resides 
on  the  homestead  with  his  mother.  Florence 
M.  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Wade,  an  engineer 
on  the  Santa  Pe  Railroad  with  headquarters 
at  Marceline,  Missouri.  His  wife  and  two 
children,  Neil  and  Marjorie,  both  in  school, 
live  in  Olive  township,  St.  Joseph  county.  Mr. 
Hooton,  the  father,  was  born  in  Decatur 
county,  Indiana,  March  3,  1831,  and  died  on 
the  20th  of  December,  1900.  In  his  early  life 
he  was  employed  as  a  sawyer  and  thresher, 
but  the  latter  part  of  his  business  career  was 
devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  he  was 
numbered  among  the  leading  business  men  of 
Olive  township.  It  was  in  1836  that  he  came 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  when  the  Indians  and 
wild  animals  roamed  at  will  through  the 
dense  forests,  the  red  men  often  coming  to 
their  door  and  asking  for  bread,  but  they 
were  friendly.  There  was  then  not  a  railroad 
throughout  the  northern  portion  of  Indiana, 
while  the  nearest  market  for  their  wheat  was 
Michigan  City,  the  teaming  being  done  by 
oxen,  and  only  eight  or  ten  bushels  could  be 
hauled  at  a  time  on  account  of  the  bad  condi- 
tion of  the  roads.  Mr.  Hooton  was  a  man  of 
firm  decision  of  character,  although  kind 
hearted  and  generous  to  a  fault,  and  many  a 


dollar  he  lost  by  not  being  able  to  say  no.  He 
was  successful  in  his  business  ventures,  and 
his  estate  consisted  of  five  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  Olive  township  and  Laporte  county, 
a  beautiful  and  valuable  estate  and  a  noble 
heritage  to  a  noble  pioneer.  It  was  in  1853 
that  the  young  couple  began  life  in  a  small 
clearing  of  fifty  acres,  their  first  home  being  a 
little  log  cabin  where  the  brave  pioneer  wife 
cooked  the  meals  by  the  Old  f  ashoned  fire- 
place, and  spun  the  yam  to  knit  the  stockings 
for  her  children.  Both  were  charter  members 
of  the  Olive  Chapel  church,  ever  afterward 
remaining  its  truest  and  stanchest  members, 
and  Mr.  Hooton  aided  in  the  erection  of  the 
church  building.  In  his  political  affiliations 
he  was  first  an  old-line  Whig,  and  after  the 
formation  of  the  Republican  party,  he  cast 
his  vote  for  its  first  presidential  candidate. 
General  John  C.  Fremont,  remaining  a  loyal 
worker  in  its  ranks.  After  his-  death  the 
estate  was  divided  and  Mrs.  Hooton  now  con- 
trols two  hundred  acres  of  excellent  land  in 
Olive  township,  on  which  their  old  homestead 
is  located,  and  there  she  now  resides,  sur- 
rounded by  life-long  friends  and  her  loving 
children. 

Rev.  William  Jakways.  One  of  the  best 
known  and  most  generally  loved  citizens  of 
New  Carlisle  and  vicinity  is  Rev.  William 
Jakways,  many  years  of  whose  life  have  been 
passed  in  St.  Joseph  county,  and  who  has  long 
been  a  faithful  servant  in  his  Master's  vine- 
yard. He  was  bom  in  Spaflford,  New  York, 
near  Syracuse,  March  31,  1818,  a  son  of 
Ebenezer  and  Belinda  ( Jencks)  Jakways.  In 
their  family  were  nine  children,  six  sons  and 
three  daughters,  of  whom  William  was  the 
sixth  in  order  of  birth  and  now  the  only  sur- 
vivor. The  father  was  a  native  of  the  state 
of  Connecticut,  and  his  father  was  a  man  of 
wonderful  physique  and  came  from  the  sturdy 
English  race.  Thomas  Jencks,  the  paternal 
grandfather  of  Rev.  Jakways,  served  as  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Revolutionary  war,  his  military 
career  covering  a  period  of  eight  years.  Mrs. 
Jakways  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  was 
of  Welsh  extraction.  Ebenezer  Jakways 
emigrated  to  Michigan,  where  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  his  residence  in  that  state 
covering  a  period  of  thirty  years. 

Rev.  William  Jakways  remained  in  the  east 
until  reaching  years  of  maturity,  and  there 
received  a  liberal  education  in  the  common 
schools,  also  attending  De  Reyter  College. 
From  his  early  youth  he  had  desired  to  enter 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


915 


the  ministry  and  preach  God's  word,  and  with 
that  desire  gratified  he  entered  upon  his  first 
charge  in  Brownsville,  Cass  county,  Michigan, 
and  he  continued  his  work  in  that  state  until 
1878.  Going  thence  to  Nebraska,  he  assumed 
the  care  of  five  charges,  one  district  alone 
which  he  opened  containing  thirty  members, 
and  in  each  there  was  an  Evergreen  Sunday- 
school  with  a  large  attendance.  He  has  ever 
been  a  man  of  remarkable  courage  and  convic- 
tions, and  by  prayer'  and  admonition  has 
accomplished  a  work  in  the  saving  of  souls 
which  will  ever  redound  to  his  credit.  He 
continued  to  reside  in  Nebraska  for  five  years, 
and  during  that  time  secured  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  which  he  proved  upon. 
Returning  thence  to  the  east,  he  located  in 
New  Carlisle  in  1892,  and  this  city  has  re- 
mained his  home  ever  since.  In  that  year  he 
preached  each  Sabbath  at  Hamilton  in  Olive 
township,  and  met  with  the  usual  success  at- 
tendant to  his  work. 

In  1847,  Rev.  Jakwaye  wedded  Miss  Electa 
M.  Bell,  and  six  children,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  were  bom  of  this  xmion,  but  only 
three  of  the  number  are  now  living.  William 
B.,  the  eldest,  received  an  excellent  education 
in  the  state  college  at  Lansing,  Michigan,  and 
for  many  years  has  been  a  prominent  educa- 
tor, perhaps  serving  in  that  profession  longer 
than  any  of  his  classmates  in  college.  He  was 
elected  to  the  state  legislature  from  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana.  He  is  married  and  has  four 
living  children :  Flossie,  who  is  a  professional 
nurse,  receiving  her  training  in  South  Bend, 
and  she  possesses  that  disposition  which 
brings  joy  and  gladness  to  the  sick  room; 
Ross,  an  agriculturist ;  Lucy,  who  received  her 
education  in  the  schools  of  New  Carlisle,  and 
is  now  an  accomplished  teacher;  and  Louis, 
at  home.  Mary,  the  second  child  of  Rev. 
Jakways,  is  the  wife  of  0.  E.  Hawthorne, 
agent  for  the  C.  &  A.  Railroad  and  a  resident 
of  Marshall,  Missouri.  Their  two  children  are 
Ray  and  Lucille.  Charles  is  a  successful 
merchant  in  Montana,  and  is  also  a  great  hun- 
ter, finding  this  a  pleasant  recreation  from  his 
business  cares.  He  is  married  and  has  four 
children,  one  son  and  three  daughters.  The 
wife  of  Rev.  Jakways  and  the  mother  of  these 
children,  was  born  in  Auburn,  New  York,  May 
26,  1829,  and  was  but  a.  small  child  when 
she  removed  to  Michigan  with  her  parents, 
there  becoming  a  pupil  of  her  future  husband. 
For  a  period  of  fifty-eight  years,  over  half  a 
century,  they  traveled  the  journey  of  life  to- 


gether, and  in  all  this  time  with  her  kindly 
advice  and  gentle  nature  she  proved  a  great 
consolation  to  her  husband  in  his  labor  of 
love,  but  her  golden  deeds  and  kindly  acts 
have  been  garnered,  and  she  has  passed  to  the 
beautiful  mansions  not  made  by  mortal  hands. 

Rev.  Jakways  was  ordained  as  a  Methodist 
Episcopal  deacon  by  Bishop  Simpson  in  1862, 
and  by  Bishop  Peck  as  an  elder  in  1880.  He 
has  erected  two  new  churches,  and  it  was  re- 
marked by  the  presiding  elder,  **that  Rev. 
Jakways  had  erected  the  best  church  he  had 
seen  for  the  least  money.''  He  is  a  charter 
member  of  the  Republican  party,  and  was  one 
of  the  strong  anti-slavery  advocates,  always 
standing  firm  for  those  principles. 

Francis  M.  Hooton.  Mr.  Hooton  is  a  rep- 
resentative of  an  honored  pioneer  family  of 
St.  Joseph  county,  and  few  residents  of  Olive 
township  are  better  known  or  more  highly 
esteemed  than  he.  Many  years  have  passed 
and  gone  since  the  family  took  up  their  abode 
within  its  borders,  and  there  the  son  Francis 
M.  was  bom  on  the  7th  of  September,  1850, 
his  parents  being  William  and  Sarah  (Clark) 
Hooton.  In  their  family  were  ten  children, 
five  sons  and  five  daughters,  and  six  of  the 
number  are  now  living,  namely :  Mary  E.,  the 
wife  of  J.  H.  Pickett,  who  is  living  a  retired 
life  in  Preston,  Minnesota;  Francis  M.,  whose 
name  introduces  this  review;  Thomas  and 
Sylvester,  both  agriculturists  of  Olive  town- 
ship ;  Alice,  also  a  resident  of  Preston,  Minne- 
sota; and  Caleb  D.,  a  resident  of  Olive  town- 
ship. 

The  family  is  of  English  lineage,  and  the 
name  in  the  old  English  form  was  spelled 
Houghton.  William  Hooton  was  born  in 
Dearborn  county,  Indiana,  December  2,  1822, 
and  his  death  occurred  on  the  23d  of  August, 
1902.  When  but  a  lad  he  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  St.  Joseph  county,  receiving  his 
education  in  its  primitive  log  school  houses* 
so  common  in  those  early  days,  and  for  fifty 
years  he  was  engaged  as  a  thresher,  sawyer 
and  agriculturist.  His  first  purchase  of  land 
consisted  of  eighty  acres  in  Laporte  county, 
but  as  he  was  able  he  added  to  his  original 
tract  until  he  owned  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  in  Laporte  and  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ties and  eighty  acres  in  Iowa.  The  first 
home  of  the  Hootons  was  a  little  log  cabin, 
and  William  Hooton  could  well  remember 
when  the  now  populous  city  of  South  Bend 
was  but  a  straggling  village.  He  swung  the 
old  fashioned   cradle  from  morn  till  night. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


916 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUxNTT. 


and  their  neareart  market  place  was  then 
Michigan  City,  making  the  journey  thither 
with  ox  teams  over  blazed  roads  through  the 
timber.  The  Pottawatomie  Indians  were  yet 
plentiful,  and  often  came  to  their  home  to 
sharpen  their  hatchets  or  axes.  Mr.  Hooton 
was  an  old-line  Whig  until  the  formation  of 
the  Republican  party,  when  he  joined  its 
ranks  and  cast  his  vote  for  its  first  presiden- 
tial candidate,  General  John  C.  Fremont. 
Mrs.  Hooton  was  also  of  English  descent,  and 
was  a  cousin  of  General  Greene  and  a  relative 
of  General  Montgomery.  She  was  a  native  of 
Franklin  county,  Indiana,  bom  May  10, 
1825,  and  died  on  the  23d  of  January,  1883. 
Her  parents  were  Malachi  and'  Rachel 
(George)  'Clark,  in  whose  family  were  eleven 
children,  and  the  three  now  living  are:  Zil- 
pha,  the  widow  x)f  James  S.  Parnell  and  a 
resident  of  New  Carlisle ;  Elizabeth,  the  widow 
of  Christian  Hackman  and  a  resident  of  Or- 
tonville,  Minesota;  and  Thomas,  an  agricul- 
turist of  Olive  township.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  served  nineteen  months  as  a  member 
of  Company  F,  Second  Iowa  Cavalry,  his  regi- 
ment being  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland under  General  Thomas.  He  was  pres- 
ent at  the  battles  of  Nashville  and  Franklin, 
Tennessee,  and  received  his  honorable  dis- 
charge at  Jefferson,  Indiana,  May  22,  1865. 
He  is  a  stalwart  Republican  in  his  political 
views.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark,  the  parents,  emi- 
grated to  Keokuk  county,  Iowa,  where  they 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 

Francis  M.  Hooton,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  Olive 
township,  and  agriculture  has  been  his  prin- 
cipal vocation.  He  began  working  for  himself 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  receiving  fif- 
teen dollars  a  month  in  compensation  for  his 
services,  and  this  small  beginning  served  as 
the  nucleus  for  his  subsequent  successful 
*  career.  On  the  7th  of  November,  1875,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ruth  Anna 
Yaw  in  Cass  county,  Michigan,  and  ten  chil- 
dren were  born  to  bless  their  home,  three  sons 
and  seven  daughters,  namely :  Ruby,  the  wife 
of  William  Schwab,  freight  agent  for  the 
Lake  Shore  Railroad  Company  at  Wawaka, 
Indiana,  and  they  have  two  children,  Modelle 
and  Frank;  Dwight,  a  fireman  on  the  Pere 
Marquette  Railroad,  wedded  Miss  Beulah 
Schwab;  Will,  who  married  Miss  Catharine 
Norris,  and  is  at  home  with  his  parents,  and 
they  have  one  son.  Fay;  Arthur,  who  is  also 
with  his  parents  and   is   a  blacksmith  with 


Lindahl  Brothers;  Merle,  who  graduated  in 
common  school  in  Noble  county  in  1901,  is 
the  wife  of  Emil  Miller,  an  engineer  on  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Chicago,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Ruth;  Glennie,  who  graduated  in  school  in 
1905  in  St.  Joseph  county;  Gladys,  who  re- 
ceived her  diploma  in  the  class  of  1906,  and 
is  now  a  student  in  the  New  Carlisle  high 
school;  Lucile,  a  member  of  the  sixth  grade; 
and  Mary  and  Louise.  Mrs.  Hooton,  the 
mother,  was  bom  in  Berrien  county,  Michi- 
gan, November  20,  1857,  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Ruth  (Bouton)  Yaw,  in  whose  family 
were  seven  children,  six  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, and  foui:  are  now  living:  William,  who 
served  for  three  years  in  the  Civil  war  with 
the  U.  S.  Regulars,  and  is  now  a 'resident 
farmer  of  Dowagiac,  Michigan;  Greorge,  also 
a  resident  of  that  city ;  Ruth  Anna,  the  wife 
of  Mr.  Hooton;  and  Charles,  a  farmer  of 
Dowagiac,  Michigan.  Mr.  Yaw,  the  father, 
was  bom  in  New  York  on  the  21st  of  April, 
1821,  and  died  at  Port  Hudson,  Mississippi, 
May  27,  1863.  When  twenty-one  years  of 
age  he  came  to  Berrien  coimty,  Michigan,  and 
there  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  war  on 
the  9th  of  August,  1861,  becoming  a  member 
of  the  Sixth  Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  his  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  department.  His  life  was  offered 
as  a  sacrifice  to  his  country.  His  wife,  who 
was  a  native  of  Nunda,  New  York,  born 
August  30, 1827,  died  on  the  23d  of  February, 
1872.  She  was  a  descendant  of  John  Bouton, 
a  native  of  France,  but  who  came  from 
Gravesend,  England,  to  the  United  States  in 
1635,  locating  in  NorwaJk,  Connecticut,  and 
he  was  the  founder  of  the  family  in  this  coun- 
try.    The  Yaws  are  of  German  descent. 

Mrs.  Hooton  was  reared  in  Berrien  county, 
Michigan,  until  twelve  years  of  age,  when  she 
removed  with  her  parents  to  Cass  county,  that 
state,  continuing  her  education  in  its  common 
schools.  After  their  marriage  they  located 
on  a  farm  in  St.  Joseph  county,  which  has 
continued  as  their  home  for  thirty-two  years, 
and  they  now  own  forty  acres  of  land  in 
Olive  township  and  are  numbered  among  its 
leading  agriculturists.  Mr.  Hooton  cast  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  General  Grant,  and 
has  ever  since  continued  to  support  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Republican  party,  while  frater- 
nally he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  and 
Ladies  of  Columbia.  Both  he  and  his  esti- 
mable  wife   are   members  of    the   Christian 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


917 


church  located  within  two  miles  of  New  Carl- 
isle. 

Guy  Clement  Carpenter.  When  we 
trace  the  careers  of  those  whom  the  world 
acknowledges  as  successful  and  of  those  who 
stand  highest  in  public  esteem,  we  find  that  in 
almost  every  case  they  are  those  who  have 
risen  gradually  by  their  own  efforts,  their  dili- 
gence and  perseverance.  These  qualities  are 
possessed  in  large  measure  by  Guy  C.  Carpen- 
ter, who  has  won  for  himself  a  name  and  place 
in  the  business  world.  He  is  a  native  of  St. 
Lawrence  county,  New  York,  bom  on  the  23d 
of  October,  1850,  his  parents  being  Robert  B. 
and  Arvilla  (Banister)  Carpenter,  in  whose 
family  were  eight  children,  five  sons  and  three 
daughters.  Six  of  the  number  are  now  living, 
namely:  Martha,  who  received  her  education 
in  Potasdam  Academy  of  New  York  and  who 
was  a  fine  mathematician  and  prominent 
teacher  in  both  New  York  and  Michigan,  be- 
came the  wife  of  Henry  E.  Shaw,  a  civil  engi- 
neer and  claim  agent  at  Spokane  Palls,  Wash- 
ington; Mary  E.,  who  was  also  a  college  grad- 
uate and  teacher,  is  the  wife  of  Nelson  Aber- 
nathy,  an  agriculturist  of  Madrid,  New  York ; 
Mr.  Carpenter  of  this  review  is  the  next  in 
order  of  birth;  William  R.,  is  engaged  in 
railroading  and  the  manufacture  of  lumber 
in  Seattle,  Washington;  David  B.,  who  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  state  normal  school 
at  Potsdam,  New  York,  and  was  afterward  a 
t-eacher,  is  now  an  attorney  at  law  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio;  and  Clement  J.,  the  youngest,  is  a 
railroad  auditor,  also  general  freight  and  pas- 
senger agent  and  a  resident  of  Texas. 

Mr.  Carpenter,  the  father,  was  born  in 
Swanzy,  New  Hampshire,  January  11,  1820, 
and  traces  his  lineage  to  England,  the  first  of 
the  name  to  come  to  this  country  being  Rev. 
Ezra  Carpenter,  and  several  of  his  descend- 
ants have  distinguished  themselves  in  the  halls 
of  congress  and  the  senate,  while  others  were 
heroes  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  Robert 
Carpenter  now  has  a  souvenir  of  a  canteen 
which  was  captured  in  some  of  its  memorable 
battles.  He  is  a  relative  of  Charles  Sumner, 
the  friend  of  the  Negro  race.  His  retentive 
memory  is  replete  with  many  historical 
reminiscences,  and  he  is  a  well  educated  man. 
In  an  early  day  he  was  sent  to  adjust  a  claim 
in  Chicago,  the  journey  thereto  being  made 
on  the  first  train  which  ran  on  the  Lake  Shore 
Railroad,  and  Chicago  at  that  time  was  but 
a  small  village.  His  life  has  principally  been 
spent  in  the  state  of  New  York,  and  he  has 


been  identified  with  the  Republican  party 
since  its  organization,  previously  giving  his 
support  to  the  Whigs.  He  has  been  success- 
fu]  in  his  business  affairs  and  accumulated  six 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  St.  Lawrence  county. 
Mrs.  Carpenter,  who  was  a  native  of  Burling- 
ton, Vermont,  born  on  the  14th  of  November, 
1827,  died  in  June,  1895.  She  was  also  of 
English  extraction,  and  some  of  the  early 
representatives  of  the  Banister  family  were 
soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Carpenter  have  lived  lives  of  the 
truest  Christian  character,  and  he  is  a  strong 
advocate  of  the  Temperance  cause. 

Guy  C.  Carpenter,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  was  reared  on  a  dairy  farm  in 
the  county  of  his  nativity,  receiving  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  near  his  home 
and  in  the  Potsdam  Academy,  which  has 
since  been  merged  into  the  state  normal.  Re- 
maining ait  home  until  the  age  of  twenty 
years,  he  then  took  up  telegraphy  and  rail- 
road work,  as  an  employe  of  the  Lake  Shore 
&  Michigan  Southern  Railroad  Company  for 
twenty-five  years,  following  his  vocation  in 
every  state  through  which  the  road  passed, 
and  this  alone  speaks  volumes  for  his  trust- 
worthiness and  business  ability.  In  1893,  he 
began  traveling  in  the  interest  of  the  Bird-, 
sell  Wagon  Company  of  South  Bend,  continu- 
ing his  connection  with  that  well  known  firm 
for  twelve  years,  his  territory  covering  most 
of  the  Mississippi  valley,  also  New  York,  New 
Jersey,  Delaware,  Pennsylvania  and  North 
and  South  Carolina.  His  record  in  that 
capacity  was  Aiost  commendable,  and  he  has 
perhaps  traveled  as  many  miles  as  any  sales- 
man of  the  present  time. 

On  the  29th  of  August,  1875,  Mr.  Carpen- 
ter claimed  as  his  bride,  Miss  Arvilla  Egbert, 
a  representative  of  one  of  the  most  honored 
pioneer  families  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
one  child  has  been  born  to  bless  this  union, 
Grace,  the  wife  of  Charles  HoUoway,  who  is 
a  commercial  traveler  and  a  resident  of 
Florida.  They  have  two  children,  Helene 
Arvilla,  bom  in  Omaha,  Nebraska,  and 
Charles  Carpenter,  born  in  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Holloway  received  an 
excellent  educational  training,  graduating  in 
the  new  Carlisle  high  school  and  was  also  a 
student  in  the  Drake  University  at  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  and  she  is  an  elocutionist  of 
more  than  passing  importance.  Mrs.  Carpen- 
ter, the  mother,  was  bom  in  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,  July  9,  1851  ,a  daughter  of  James 


Digitized  by 


Google 


918 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


and  Delilah  (Druliner)  Egbert,  of  whom  ex- 
tended mention  is  made  in  another  portion  of 
this  volume.  She  received  her  education  in 
the  New  Carlisle  Collegiate  Institute,  and  has 
also  taken  musical  instruction.  In  1900,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Carpenter  purchased  their  beautiful 
brick  residence  and  property  just  east  of  the 
limits  of  New  Carlisle  and  which  is  known 
as  the  Oak  Hill  Stock  Farm.  The  estate  com- 
prises one  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  excellent 
land  in  Olive  township,  and  their  residence 
stands  on  an  eminence  commanding  a  fine 
view  of  the  surrounding  country,  and  this 
hill  was  the  identical  spot  where  the  first 
building  site  of  New  Carlisle  was  established. 
Mr.  Carpenter  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  General  Grant,  and  has  ever  since  sup- 
ported the  principles  of  the  Republican  party. 
The  family  are  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by 
all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  their  acquaint- 
ance, and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we  present 
this  review  of  their  lives  in  this  history  of  St. 
Joseph  county. 

The  following  text  of  Mrs.  Sparrow  was 
prepared  by  Mrs.  Guy  Carpenter : 

We  herewith  append  a  review  of  one  of  the 
oldest  ladies  living  in  northern  Indiana — 
**  Grandma"  Sparrow — who  was  bom  in 
Springfield,  Ohio,  September  14,  1814,  the 
eighth  child  born  to  John  and  Catharine 
(Smith)  Dudley.  Her  grandfather  was  born 
in  England  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  while  her  father  was  a  native  of 
Washington,  D.  C,  and  her  mother  of  Mary- 
land. Grandma  Sparrow  is  known  in  several 
of  the  counties  contiguous  to  St.  Joseph,  and 
is  now  almost  ninety-three  years  of  age, 
although  her  mind  and  physical  powers  are 
yet  strong.  She  superintends  her  housework 
and  can  do  many  kinds  of  fine  needle  work, 
and  her  reminiscences  of  the  early  history  of 
northern  Indiana  are  replete  with  incidents 
worthy  of  record.  On  the  7th  of  May,  1832, 
in  Springfield,  Ohio,  she  wedded  John  Spar- 
row, and  in  the  following  year  they  emigrated 
to  Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  while  in  1835 
tliey  came  to  Laporte  county  and  lived  on  a 
farm  given  her  by  her  father.  She  reared  a 
family  of  nine  children.  John,  Martha,  Cath- 
arine, Addie,  Elizabeth,  Franklin,  Jane, 
Thomas  and  Nicholas.  In  1867,  Mrs.  Spar- 
row came  to  New  Carlisle,  and  here  she  has 
cared  for  her  two  sons  and  two  grandchil- 
dren, Belle  and  Magprie  Kenedy,  whose  father 
died  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  Belle 
Kenedy    attended    school    in    Buffalo,    New 


York,  and  the  Laporte  high  school,  when  she 
was  given  her  state  teacher's  certificate  and 
taught  for  nine  years,  three  years  as  profes- 
sor of  history,  and  is  now  principal  of  a  high 
school  in  South  Bend.  Maggie  was  also  a 
teacher.  Grandma  Sparrow  has  also  had  the 
care  of  a  nephew  and  niece  who  were  left 
orphans,  also  two  great-grandchildren,  Henry 
Watson  and  George  Washington  Wycoff. 

John  Sparrow,  her  husband,  was  a  Mason 
in  Washington,  D.  C,  also  a  member  of  the 
society  of  Mechanics.  In  1832,  Grandma 
Sparrow  attended  a  banquet  in  Springfield, 
Ohio,  where  she  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing 
toasts  from  six  revolutionary  soldiers,  two  o: 
them  being  her  uneles.  Her  husband's  unck 
was  a  captain  in  the  war  of  1812,  John  Spar- 
row serving  as  his  assistant.  She  has  been  a 
mother  to  four  generations  and  the  first  to 
dress  some  whose  heads  have  been  silvered 
for  many  years.  She  has  also  cooked  food 
for  many  Indians,  at  one  time  taking  care  of 
one  who  was  sick  while  the  others  went  to  Ft. 
Wayne  for  supplies  from  the  government. 
The  Indians  were  grateful  and  kind  to  her, 
often  bringing  her  presents  of  the  chase.  For 
forty-eight  years  she  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  church,  almost  a  half  century. 
She  well  remembers  the  site  of  New  Carlisle 
and  surrounding  country  before  the  towns  and 
villages  were  laid  out,  long  before  the  intro- 
duction of  the  railroad  or  any  of  the  modem 
improvements  of  the  present  day.  Only  two 
of  her  children  are  now  living,  Thomas,  for 
whom  she  has  kept  house  for  many  years,  and 
Addie,  a  resident  of  Missouri.  We  are  pleased 
to  present  this  short  review  of  her  life  in  tie 
history  of  St.  Joseph  county  as  a  tribute  to 
her  long  and  well  spent  life. 

John  P.  Chapman.  For  over  forty  years 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chapman  have  been  residents 
of  Olive  township  and  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
have  therefore  witnessed  its  progress  from  a 
primitive  state.  Mr.  Chapman  was  bom  in 
Oneida  county.  New  York,  April  6,  1838,  the 
sixth  of  eleven  children,  five  sons  and  six 
daughters  of  John  and  Lavina  (Berry)  Chap- 
man. Six  of  the  number  are  now  living: 
Juliet,  the  wife  of  William  A.  Byles,  a  re- 
tired horticulturist  of  Windsor,  Florida;  John 
P.  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  James,  who 
now  resides  at  the  Soldier's  Home  in  Dayton, 
Ohio,  served  two  years  in  the  rebellion  and 
has  an  honorable  war  record ;  Charles  H., 
who  is  successfully  engaged  in  the  gardening 
business  in  Salem,  Oregon ;  Anson  S.,  an  agri- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


THE 

NEW  YORK 
/PUBLIC   LlftT-^ARYl 

^Att»r,  [m\9%  ini  T\\6n  / 

FouRoatlont. 

1909 


Digitized  by 


Google 


C^^i^    LxyivKj  (P^rStA^^ 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by  VjOOQlC 


(f^/rn^     /^/'^K^t^^^>wUHH^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


919 


culturist  of  Chippewa  Lake,  Maeosta  county, 
Michigan;  and  Alton  B.,  a  twin  of  Anson,  is 
an  iron  manufacturer  of  Conshohocken, 
Pennsylvania.  John  Chapman,  the  fatheV., 
was  bom  in  Oneida  county,  New  York,  March 
11,  1800,  and  died  February  22,  1850.  His 
progenitors  came  from  the  little  country  of 
Wales,  and  his  grandfather  was  a  native  of 
Connecticut.  John  Chapman  was  a  Whig  in 
his  political  affiliations,  was  a  member  of  the 
old  Muster  Militia  Company,  and  both  he  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Baptist  church, 
although  after  the  father's  death  the  mother 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
She  was  a  native  of  Madison  county.  New 
York,  bom  Augusrt;  13,  1806,  and  died  August 
21, 1892,  aged  eighty-six  years  and  seven  days, 
passing  away  at  the  home  of  her  son,  with 
whom  she  had  resided  for  fifteen  years.  She 
was  a  noble  pioneer  mother  and  a  beautiful 
Christian  in  character,  and  her  teachings  and 
admonitions  will  ever  live  in  the  hearts  of  her 
children. 

John  P.  Chapman,  the  immediate  subject 
of  this  review,  remained  in  his  native  state 
of  New  York  until  1866,  when  he  became  a 
resident  of  Indiana.  WTien  he  had  reached 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  did  not  own 
as  much  as  ten  dollars,  and  shortly  afterward 
went  to  California,  via  New  York  City  and 
the  Isthmus  and  on  to  San  Francisco,  and 
after  a  residence  there  of  five  years  engaged 
as  a  miner  and  agriculturist,  joined  a  com- 
pany of  volunteers  with  the  intention  of  driv- 
ing out  the  Indians  from  the  new  counties  of 
California,  continuing  as  a  soldier  for  thir- 
teen months.  Returning  thence  to  the  States 
over  the  same  route,  he  spent  the  winter  of 
1865  with  his  mother  in  Auburn,  New  York, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1866  started  on  his  west- 
ward journey  with  Three  Oaks,  Michigan, 
as  his  c'^stination,  but  business  caused  him  to 
change  his  route  and  he  arrived  in  Olive  town- 
ship in  June  of  the  same  year,  where  he  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  land  and  began  as  a 
wage  earner  in  shearing  sheep  or  at  any  hon- 
orable occupation  that  presented  itself.  His 
little  home  was  erected  in  the  dense  woods, 
a  little  space  having  been  cleared  for  that 
purpose,  and  after  its  completion  l^e  went  to 
Mosherville,  Michigan,  for  his  bride.  Miss 
Catherine  Eddy,  their  wedding  having  been 
celebrated  on  the  28th  of  October,  1866.  She 
was  bom  in  Spafford,  Onondaga  county.  New 
York,  November  28,  1829,  the  youngest  of 
nine  children,  four  sons  and  five  daughters, 


born  to  Sylvanus  and  Joanna  (Fuller)  Eddy, 
and  now  the  only  survivor  of  the  family. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  Plymouth,  Massa- 
chusetts, born  about  twenty-five  miles  from 
*^  Plymouth  Eock"  March  16,  1788,  eleven 
years  before  the  death  of  General  Washing- 
ton, and  his  death  occurred  about  1844.  He 
traced  his  lineage  to  the  early  Eddys  who 
came  from  England  in  1630,  only  ten  years 
after  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims,  and  his 
father  was  a  hero  of  the  Revolutionary  war, 
having  lost  an  arm  in  the  service.  Sylvanus 
Eddy  was  an  old  Bay  state  man,  and  was  an 
honor  to  the  grand  old  Puritan  name.  In 
early  life  he  was  employed  as  a  mechanic,  but 
later  became  an  agriculturist,  and  two  years 
after  his  marriage  he  brought  his  family  to 
New  York,  traveling  by  wagon  in  true  pioneer 
style,  and  their  first  home  in  the  Empire 
state  was  a  little  log  cabin.  They  resided  in 
that  commonwealth  until  the  father's  death. 
He  was  a  Whig  in  his  political  aflSliations, 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  Methodists. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Fuller,  and  the 
progenitor  of  their  family  came  over  on  the 
Mayflower  and  landed  at  Pljnmouth  Rock  in 
1620.  Mrs.  Chapman  remained  in  her  native 
county  of  New  York  until  twenty-two  years 
of  age,  going  thence  to  Auburn,  that  state, 
where  she  was  engaged  as  a  tailoress  and  re- 
mained in  one  place  for  eleven  years.  By  her 
marriage  she  has  become  the  mother  of  four 
children,  one  son  and  three  daughters, 
namely :  Arthur  J.,  associated  with  the  Lake 
Shore  Railroad  Company  and  a  resident  of 
Chicago ;  Emma,  at  home  with  her  father  and 
mother;  Vina,  the  wife  of  Frank  Chevrie,  a 
butter  maker  at  Elkhart,  Indiana,  and  he  has 
the  championship  of  the  state  of  Michigan; 
Hattie,  wife  of  Frank  Johnson,  a  master 
plumber  at  Elkhart. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chapman  began  their  mar- 
ried life  on  their  little  farm  in  Olive  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  the  now  prosperous 
little  town  of  New  Carlisle  being  then  but  a 
little  hamlet,  with  a  little  shoe  shop  at  the 
present  site  of  the  Warner  drug  store  and  a 
garden  where  the  Brummitt  Mercantile 
Company  is  now  located.  Many  remarkable 
changes  have  taken  place  since  they  took  up 
their  abode  here.  He  has  cleared  and  placed 
his  farm  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation, 
and  also  cleared  thirty-seven  acres  on  the 
Lancaster  farm,  so  he  has  performed  his  full 
share  of  arduous  labor.  His  political  views 
are  those  of  the  Republican  party,  and  he  cast 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


920 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


his  first  presidential  vote  for  General  Fre- 
mont. He  has  also  served  as  a  delegate  to  the 
county  conventions.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
are'  stalwart  supporters  of  the  temperance 
cause,  and  they  are  Methodists  in  their  relig- 
ious afSliations,  she  having  been  a  member  of 
that  church  since  twenty-t^o  years  of  age. 
Their  valuable  homestead  now  consists  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  two  and 
a  half  miles  from  New  Carlisle,  and  for  thir- 
teen years  Mr.  Chapman  iwras  well  known  as 
a  produce  dealer  throughout  this  part  of  the 
state.  During  the  long  period  of  forty-one 
years  they  have  made  their  home  in  Olive 
township,  and  they  are  now  numbered  among 
its  honored  and  esteemed  residents.  In  their 
home  are  many  valuable  old  souvenirs,  includ- 
ing a  little  dish  over  a  century  old,  also  a 
little  snuff  box  about  three-fourths  of  a  cen- 
tury old,  and  an  Indian  knife  which  was  taken 
from  the  dead  body  of  an  Indian  during  the 
Massachusetts  wars. 

JosEPHUS  Davis,  M.  D.  During  almost 
a  half  century  Dr.  Josephus  Davis  has  been 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  New 
Carlisle,  St.  Joseph  county,  and  his  name  has 
therefore  become  a  household  word  in  the 
homes  of  this  community.  He  is  a  native  of 
Laporte  county,  Indiana,  where  he  was  born 
on  the  15th  of  April,  1835,  a  son  of  Caleb 
B.  and  Sarah  (Wagner)  Davis,  in  whose 
family  were  twelve  children,  eight  sons  and 
four  daughters,  and  seven  sons  and  two 
daughters  are  yet  living,  although  scattered 
over  the  different  states  of  the  Union.  The 
father,  whose  lineage  is  traced  to  the  little 
country  of  Wales,  was  a  native  of  Marshall 
county,  West  Virginia,  bom  in  1813,  and 
during  his  early  manhood  he  came  to  the  then 
far  west,  establishing  his  home  in  Laporte 
county,  Indiana,  and  after  a  time  purchased 
land  in  Springfield  township,  that  county.  A 
short  time,  afterward,  however,  he  sold  his 
farm  and  located  in  Galena  township,  thence 
removing  to  Oceana  county,  Michigan,  where 
bis  death  occurred  in  1896.  He  was  a  Jack- 
son Democrat,  a  Mason  and  a  member  and 
exhorter  in  the  Christian  church.  Mrs.  Davis, 
also  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  born  in  1815, 
died  in  1892,  also  in  the  faith  of  the  Chris- 
tian church,  of  which  she  was  long  a  faithful 
member.    She  was  of  German  descent. 

Dr.  Davis  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm 
in  Laporte  county,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years  he  began  the  preparation  for  his 
chosen  life  work  under  the  preceptorship  of 


Dr.  H.  B.  Wilcox,  while  later,  in  1858,  he  en- 
tered the  medical  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  in  1860 
graduated  in  the  Western  Reserve  College  of 
Medicine  and  Surgery  in  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
Thus  with  an  excellent  education  to  serve  as 
the  foundation  of  his  future  life  work  he  be- 
gan practice  in  Galena  township,  Laporte 
county,  but  two  years  later  came  to  New  Car- 
lisle, where  his  long  professional  career  has 
been  attended  with  marked  success.  During  the 
early  years  of  his  residence  here,  he  was 
obliged  to  spend  much  of  his  time,  day  and 
night,  in  riding  through  the  country  to  visit 
his  patients,  many  of  whom  lived  on  remote 
farms,  and  faithfully  did  he  respond  to  all 
demands  from  the  sick  and  suflfering,  regard- 
leas  of  storm  and  flood  and  his  own  health  and 
comfort.  His  fame  soon  passed  beyond  the 
confines  of  locality  and  his  practice  extended 
into  Laporte  county  and  throughout  the 
southern  portion  of  Michigan.  The  Doctor 
now  owns  eighty-five  acres  of  land  in  Olive 
township,  also  another  farm  on  the  Kankakee 
river  of  eight  hundred  acres,  eighty  acres  in 
Marshall  county,  near  Lopaz,  Indiana,  and 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Grand  Tra- 
verse county,  Michigan,  owning  in  all  seven 
farms  in  addition  to  his  valuable  city  prop- 
erty. His  residence  in  New  Carlisle,  built  of 
brick,  is  one  of  the  finest  homes  in  the  city. 
His  name  is  ineflfaceably  traced  on  the  history 
of  this  portion  of  St.  Joseph  county  from  an 
early  epoch,  and  he  is  distinctively  the  archi- 
tect of  his  own  fortune. 

In  1860  Dr.  Davis  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Ella  Nash,  and  they  have  become  the 
parents  of  two  children.  The  son,  John  C, 
has  inherited  the  love  of  his  profession  from 
his  father,  with  whom  he  is  now  engaged  in 
practice,  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  ris- 
ing young  physicians  of  the  community.  His 
education  was  received  in  Laporte  and  the 
University  of  Michigan,  and  he  married  Miss 
Josie  Ball,  their  home  being  in  New  Carlisle. 
The  daughter,  Mary  F.,  is  a  resident  of  Chi- 
cago. Mrs.  Davis,  the  mother,  is  a  native  of 
Geauga  county,  Ohio,  born  on  the  31st  of 
December,  1833,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
(Lamb)  Nash.  Both  she  and  her  husband 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  The  Doctor  is  also  a  stanch  advocate 
of  Democratic  principles,  his  first  presidential 
vote  having  been  cast  for  James  Buchanan, 
and  he  has  often  been  selected  as  delegate  to 
the  district  and  county  conventions.    He  has 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


921 


also  served  in  many  other  positions  of  trust 
and  responsibility,  and  at  the  present  time  is 
president  of  the  town  council  of  New  Carlisle. 
During  his  administration  many  needed  re- 
forms have  been  instituted,  and  the  present 
year  will  witness  greater  improvements  in 
good  sidewalks,  etc.,  than  has  been  made  in 
the  past  ten  years.  At  all  times  the  Ooctor 
has  been  safely  relied  upon  to  use  his  influ- 
ence in  the  advancement  of  whatever  has  been 
for  the  good  of  the  community. 

James  Proud.  Among  the  well  known 
younger  representatives  of  the  agricultural 
interests  of  Olive  township  wiU  be  found  the 
name  of  James  Proud,  who  has  gained  and 
well  merits  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  those 
with  whom  he  has  had  business  or  social  rela- 
tions. He  is  also  a  native  son  of  the  township, 
his  birth  occurring  on  the  22d  of  November, 
1866,  being  the  third  of  the  four  children, 
three  sons  and  a  daughter,  of  Hurtian  and 
Beulah  (Haines)  Proud.  The  children  are 
all  living  and  are  as  follows:  Mary,  wife  of 
Albert  Hostetter,  a  farmer  of  Liberty  town- 
ship, and  they  have  four  (thildren ;  George,  an 
employe  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Rail- 
road Company,  and  a  resident  of  Rapids  City, 
South  Dakota;  James,  the  next  in  order  of 
birth;  and  Milton  H.,  who  married  Miss  Dora 
Tii>pey,  by  whom  he  has  four  children,  and 
he  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Olive  township.  Mr.  Proud,  the  father  of 
these  children,  was  a  native  of  Warren  county, 
Ohio,  bom  in  1832,  and  is  now  a  resident  of 
Olive  township,  having  come  to  St.  Joseph 
county  when  only  eight  years  of  age,  and 
thus  for  over  half  a  century  has  been  an  hon- 
ored resident  of  the  community.  His  educa- 
tional training  was  received  in  the  pioneer 
log  cabin  school  house  so  common  in  those 
days,  and  as  the  years  have  grown  apace  he 
has  added  to  his  landed  possessions  until  he 
has  become  a  large  property  owner,  while  he 
has  also  reared  a  family  which  have  proved 
an  honor  to  the  name.  In  his  political 
affiliations  he  is  a  Jackson  Democrat,  and  he 
assisted'  in  the  erection  of  the  Hamilton 
church,  ever  performing  his  part  in  the 
growth  and  upbuilding  of  his  community. 
His  wife  is  deceased. 

James  Proud,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  was  reared  in  his  native  township  and 
county,  and  is  strictly  a  St.  Joseph  cifizen. 
The  educational  training  which  he  received  in 
the  district  schools  was  supplemented  by  at- 
tendance at  the  high  school  of  New  Carlisle, 


and  he  also  pursued  a  course  at  the  South 
Bend  Commercial  College,  so  that  he  was  well 
fitted  to  engage  in  the  active  battle  of  life.  He 
remained  at  home  until  his  twenty-first  year, 
giving  his  time  and  wage  to  his  parefits,  and 
at  that  age,  with  a  cash  capital  consisting  of 
one  hundred  dollars,  engaged  with  his  brother 
Milton  in  the  operation  of  the  old  homestead 
farm,  thus  continuing  for  three  years,  and 
was  very  successful  in  his  first  business  ven- 
ture. He  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Borden 
on  the  25th  of  December,  1894,  and  their  four 
children  are  all  living,  namely :  Edson  Keith, 
who  is  now  a  member  of  the  fifth  grade  in 
the  public  schools ;  Theodore  S.,  in  the  fourth 
grade ;  Marguerite,  also  in  school ;  and  James 
Cecil,  the  youngest  of  the  family.  Mrs.  Proud 
was  bom  in  Olive  township,  on  the  site  of  her 
present  home,  March  28,  1868,  a  daughter  of 
Theodore  and  Eliza  (Whitlock)  Borden,  who 
were  the  parents  of  six  children,  three  sons 
and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living 
at  this  writing.  She  received  her  elementary 
education  in  the  New  Carlisle  schools,  after- 
wards entering  De  Pauw  University,  and  for 
two  years  was  one  of  the  well  known  and 
successful  teachers  of  Laporte  county,  Indi- 
ana. She  is  now  a  member  of  the  Harmony 
Club,  whose  mission  is  advancement  along  lit- 
erary lines,  and  both  she  and  her  husband  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
in  which  she  is  serving  as  president  of  the 
Ladies'  Aid  Society. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Proud  began  their  married 
life  as  renters,  thus  continuing  for  two  years, 
but  in  March,  1897,  they  located  on  the  old 
Borden  homestead,  where  they  have  ever  since 
made  their  home.  Their  landed  possessions 
now  consist  of  seventy-two  acres  in  Olive 
township,  while  they  also  have  fifteen  acres 
of  timber  land  in  Berrien  county  and  eighty 
acres  south  of  their  residence  in  Olive  town- 
ship. Although  Mr.  Proud 's  commencement 
in  business  life  was  humble  he  has  by  untir- 
ing effort  accumulated  one  hundred  and  thir- 
ty-one acres,  with  the  exception  of  thirty-six 
acres  inherited  by  his  wife,  while  in  1905 
their  present  attractive  and  modern  residence 
was  erected,  which  is  finished  in  Georgia  pinfe, 
and  is  a  two-story  structure,  with  attic  and 
basement.  Their  pretty  country  seat  will  be 
known  as  '*The  Proud  Oaks,''  and  is  one  of 
the  finest  estates  of  Olive  township.  In  all 
his  work  he  has  been  ably  assisted  by  his  esti- 
mable wife,  to  whom  much  praise  is  due. 

Mr.  Proud  gives  his  political  support  to  the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


922 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


Democracy,  having  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Cleveland,  and  he  has  served  as  a 
delegate  to  his  comity,  district  and  congres- 
sional conventions.  At  South  Bend  in  1905, 
he  was  elected  vice  president  of  the  Farmers' 
Institute  for  Olive  township,  to  which  posi- 
tion he  was  re-elected,  and  the  meetings  have 
been  held  annually  in  each  township.  For 
six  years  he  was  also  president  of  the  New 
Carlisle  Creamery  Company,  which  was  one 
of  the  best  in  the  state.  He  is  accorded  a 
prominent  position  in  the  agricultural  circles 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  his  career  is  an 
honor  to  the  district  which  has  honored  him. 

Granville  Woolman.  For  almost  three- 
quarters  of  a  century  Granville  Woolman  has 
resided  within  the  borders  of  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty, and  during  that  time  has  witnessed  its 
transformation  from  a  wilderness  to  a  great 
manufacturing  center.  He  is  a  native  of 
Clark  county,  Ohio,  born  February  14,  1823, 
a  son  of  Joseph  and  Rebecca  (Allen)  Wool- 
man.  In  their  family  were  three  children,  one 
son  and  two  daughters,  the  son  Granville 
being  the  second  in  order  of  birth  and  the 
only  one  now  living.  Joseph  Woolman,  the 
father,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  of  Eng- 
lish lineage,  and  his  entire  business  career 
was  devoted  to  the  tilling  of  the  soil.  When 
twenty-one  years  of  age  he  went  to  Ohio, 
was  there  married,  purchased  land,  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  there  until  1830,  when  he 
came  to  Indiana  on  a  prospecting  tour.  About 
this  time  the  Black  Hawk  war  was  breaking 
out,  and  in  a  year  or  so  he  again  came  to  In- 
diana, purchasing  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  the  Indians  in  Olive  township  and 
also  eighty  acres  of  government  land.  The 
first  habitation  of  the  Woolmans  here  was  a 
little  log  shack,  the  door  of  which  was  a  quilt, 
and  this  was  afterward  used  as  a  stable,  while 
the  second  cabin,  although  also  of  logs,  was 
more  pretentious.  Mr.  Woolman  was  first  a 
Whig  and  afterwards  a  Republican  in  his 
political  aflSliations,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
were  Quakers,  exemplifying  that  quiet  and 
beautiful  faith  throughout  their  entire  lives. 
The  father's  death  occurred  in  Ohio  at  the 
age  of  fifty-five  years,  while  the  mother  passed 
away  in  St.  Joseph  county  when  she  had 
reached  the  age  of  sixty  years. 

Granville  Woolman  was  but  a  little  lad  of 
ten  years  when  in  1834  he  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  St.  Joseph  county,  where  for  seventy- 
three  years  he  has  been  an  honored  resident 
and  has  been  identified  with  agricultural  pur- 


suits. The  first  school  which  he  attended  was 
in  a  hewed  log  cabin  near  Hudson,  sixteen  by 
eighteen  feet  in  size,  heated  by  a  stove  and 
seated  by  board  benches  and  was  conducted 
on  the  subscription  plan,  the  average  session 
being  two  months  in  the  year.  Thus  his 
chances  for  an  educational  training  in  early 
life  were  extremely  limited,  but  by  extensive 
reading  and  observation  in  later  years  he  has 
become  a  well-informed  man.  His  father 
died  ere  he  reached  his  twenty-first  year,  and 
he  afterward  conducted  the  home  farm  until 
his  mother's  death,  his  farm  implements  at 
that  time  being  of  the  most  primitive  sort,  for 
he  used  the  old  hook  or  sickle,  the  scythe  and 
the  turkey  wing  cradle,  all  so  well  remem- 
bered by  the  early  pioneers.  He  calls  to  mind 
the  first  binder  ever  purchased  on  the  Terre 
Coupee  prairie,  and  in  partnership  with  a 
neighbor  he  purchased  the  second  one  ever 
brought  to  this  locality.  He  used  the  ox  teams 
in  the  olden  days,  and  was  a  resident  of  the 
county  when  the  red  men  were  more  plentiful 
than  the  whites,  many  of  their  bark  wigwams 
having  been  located  near  his  home.  But  these 
Indians,  of  the  Pottawatomie  tribe,  were 
friendly,  although  they  were  ofttimes  trouble- 
some as  beggars.  Wild  animals  of  all  kinds 
were  also  plentiful.  At  the  time  the  family 
emigrated  to  Olive  township  they  passed 
through  or  near  the  present  city  of  South 
Bend,  the  great  manufacturing  center  of  fifty 
thousand  population,  but  then  a  little  hamlet 
with  a  few  straggling  habitations.  He  has 
also  witnessed  the  introduction  of  all  the  mod- 
em inventions,  and  thus  it  will  be  seen  that 
his  name  is  ineffaceably  traced  on  the  history 
of  St.  Joseph  county. 

Mr.  Woolman  has  been  twice  married,  first 
to  Miss  Mary  Whittaker,  by  whom  he  had  six 
children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters,  but 
only  the  sons  are  now  living,  namely:  Burr, 
a  resident  of  California,  who  is  married  and 
has  two  children;  Ed^ar,  a  resident  farmer 
of  Olive  township,  and  who  is  married  and 
has  three  children;  and  Allen  J.,  a  mechanic 
of  Three  Oaks,  Michigan.  The  mother  of 
these  children  was  a  native  of  the  state  of 
New  York,  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  was  a  successful  teacher.  After  her 
death  Mr.  Woolman  married  Miss  Jennie 
Zigler,  a  member  of  one  of  the  prominent 
pioneer  families  of  Olive  township,  and  here 
she  was  reared  and  educated.  Her  birth  oc- 
curred on  the  25th  of  March.  1844,  and  she  is 
a  devout  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


^M^/^     fl^-^HA^rt/U^yy^ 


Digitized  by  LjOOQ  IC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


923 


church.  It  was  about  the  year  1900  that  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Woohnan  erected  their  pleasant  resi- 
dence in  New  Carlisle,  and  here  they  are  living 
in  quiet  retirement.  The  home  is  rich  in  relics 
of  the  olden  days,  and  contains  a  Longfellow 
clock  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  years  old, 
which  his  grandfather  brought  from  New 
Jersey,  and  although  it  has  been  handed 
down  through  many  generations  it  yet  keeps 
excellent  time.  They  also  have  the  double 
coverlets  woven  by  his  mother,  who  spun  the 
wool  and  wove  the  cloth,  and  have  one  of  the 
old  parchment  deeds  executed  March  15, 1837, 
by  President  Martin  Van  Buren.  Mr.  Wool- 
man  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  his  political 
affiliations,  having  cast  his  vote  for  its  first 
presidential  nominee,  General  Fremotit,  but 
his  first  vote  was  cast  for  the  Whig  party. 
During  a  period  of  three  years  he  was  presi- 
dent of  the  St.  Joseph  County  Fair  Associa- 
tion, and  at  the  elose  of  that  period  he  was 
presented  with  a  beautiful  gold^headed<  cane, 
which,  although  highly  prized,  he  never  uses, 
as  he  is  yet  erect  and  well  preserved  in  body. 
Perhaps  no  other  resident  of  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty is  better  known  than  Granville  Woolman, 
and  we  are  pleased  to  present  this  full  review 
of  hi^  life  to  its  residents. 

Reminiscences  of  Early  Days. 
By  Granville  Woohman. 
**My  father  came  to  this  country  in  1830 
with  three  of  his  neighbors  to  look  the  coun- 
try over  to  learn  whether  they  would  like  it 
and  could  better  their  condition.  On  their 
return  my  father  was  the  only  one  that  con- 
cluded to  come.  He  made  arrangements  to 
move  in  '32,  but  the  Black  Hawk  war  had 
broken  out  and  by  the  time  it  had  reached  us 
it  was  to  the  effect  that  every  white  man, 
woman  and  child  were  murdered  in  the  most 
cruel  manner ;  property  all  destroyed  and  the 
Indians  reigned  supreme.  While  that  was  not 
the  case  it  had  the  effect  to  stop  the  emigra- 
tion for  the  time  being.  My  father,  not  being 
entirely  satisfied,  came  in  '33  and  liked  the 
countrj^  still  better.  He  purchased  the  land 
where  we  now  live,  for  which  he  paid  $2.50 
per  acre,  it  being  Indian  land,  and  moved  in 
'34  in  company  with  Samuel  Bates,  his 
brother-in-law.  We  left  Ohio  August  20  and 
arrived  here  September  4.  The  roads  were 
quite  bad  part  of  the  way,  especially  through 
the  Black  Swamp  and  Grapevine.  Conse- 
quently we  made  slow  progress  compared 
with  travel  nowadays — about  twenty  miles  a 
day.     My  father  drove  three  horses,  one  of 

Vol,    II— 21 


which  he  rode.  The  leader  was  driven  by  a 
single  or  jerk  line.  The  roads  axsross  the  marsh 
were  very  bad  and  continued  so  most  of  the 
way  across  the  prairie.  When  we  arrived  at 
the  edge  of  the  prairie  father  said  to  mother : 
*Here  is  Terre  Coupee,  if  the  bottom  has  not 
fallen  out.'  Not  a  very  pleasant  sight,  I  as- 
sure you.  Mud  12  to  15  inches  deep  and 
water  frequently  standing  either  side  of  th« 
road.  We  finally  arrived  at  Bunker  Hill  and 
a  far  more  pleasing  sight  it  seemed.  This 
somewhat  overcame  the  first  unfavorable  im- 
pression. There  was  but  one  cabin  and  that 
was  located  where  the  Christian  church  now 
stands.  That  and  the  land  belonged  to  a  fam- 
ily by  the  name  of  Burasaw,  a  half-breed  In- 
dian. We  crossed  to  the  north  side  of  the 
prairie,  where  our  land  was  located,  and 
selected  a  place  to  build  near  where  the  build- 
ings now  stand.  The  road  ran  about  15  rods 
south  of  the  building  arid  remained  there  for 
years.  We  immediately  built  a  shanty  in- 
tended for  a  stable.  With  a  slab  for  a  table 
and  stools  made  out  of  the  same  material,  pins 
driven  in  the  logs  on  which  to  hang  wearing 
apparel,  dirt  floor  and  a  camp  fire,  we  were 
quite  at  home.  My  father  went  to  the  east 
end  of  the  prairie  and  bought  a  quarter  of 
beef.  As  we  had  no  place  to  keep  it,  father 
climbed  up  a  small  tree  near  the  shanty,  cut 
off  a  limb  with  mother's  help  and  managed  to 
hang  it  up.  But  it  served  to  attract  the 
wolves,  which  came  in  large  numbers,  howl- 
ing, snarling  and  snapping  around  the  shanty. 
The  dogs  we  brought  to  devour  all  the  wolves 
in  the  west  came  through  the  door  with  a 
rush,  slipped  under  the  bed  and  were  very 
docile  until  the  wolves  left.  I  never  could 
understand  why  dogs  were  so  afraid  of  wolves 
that  had  never  been  attacked  by  them. 

' '  Every  one  who  passed  along  the  road  and 
saw  the  shanty  and  covered  wagon  would  stop 
and  inquire  where  we  were  from,  and  if  we 
had  come  to  stay.  Mrs.  Abbie  Druliner,  who 
lived  on  the  Wade  Reynolds  place,  came  a 
few  days  after  we  had  located,  introduced 
herself  and  inquired  where  we  were  from, 
hoped  we  would  be  satisfied,  saying  that  we 
needed  people  to  help  improve  the  country, 
and  as  we  were  near  neighbors  she  hoped  we 
would  remain  as  such.  *We  have  been  here 
two  years  and  anything  we  have  in  the  way 
of  provisions  that  you  haven't  we  want  to 
divide  with  you.  I  have  the  material  for 
making  soap,  come  over  and  help  make  it  and 
we  will  divide.'    Whether  this  kind  act  had 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


924 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


anything  to  do  with  their  friendship  or  not 
I  assure  you  they  were  fast  friends  all  their 
lives.  They  visited  each  other,  their  neigh- 
bors, the  sick  and  needy.  Everyone  seemed 
delighted  to  have  new  comers  and  worked  for 
each  other's  interest. 

**The  Indians  were  quite  numerous,  pass 
ing  «long  the  road  in  squads  of  two  to  twen- 
ty. You  may  imagine  how  a  boy  of  ten  would 
feel  after  hearing  all  about  the  depredations 
the  Indians  had  committed  the  past  two  years. 
It  so  happened  one  day  in  my  father's  ab- 
sence that  I  went  down  near  the  road  to  cut 
some  wood  out  of  a  large  oak  top.  We  had 
an  old)  dog,  Rover,  in  some  respects  like 
Mary's  lamb,  wherever  I  went  he  was  sure  to 
go.  He  Wjas  lying  near  where  I  was  and 
commenced  growling.  His  bair  standing  on 
end  I  told  him  to  be  quiet.  I  knew  something 
was  up ;  1  commenced  looking  about  and  soon 
discovered  two  big  Indians  coming  down  the 
road  with  feathers  in  cap,  belts  with  toma- 
hawks and  scalping  knives.  With  not  much 
time  to  think,  I  bade  the  old  dog  be  quiet  and 
settled  down  in  the  top  of  the  tree,  hoping  to 
avoid  their  notice  until  they  passed.  But 
when  they  got  opposite  where  I  was,  one  of 
them  straightened  up  and  pulled  out  a  scalp- 
ing knife.  I  went  out  of  that  tree  top  like  a 
jack  rabbit,  outran  the  old  dog,  my  hat  and 
everything  else  landed  into  the  shanty  half- 
way across  the  room.  My  mother  says,  *  What 's 
the  matter  with  thee?'  *Two  big  Indians.  I 
guess  they  never  scalped  me.' 

*'The  Indians  were  quite  docile  except 
when  they  had  fire  water.  Then  they  would 
pass  along  the  road  in  single  file,  no  matter 
what  their  number  was,  whooping  and  yell- 
ing, with  their  ponies  at  full  speed.  We  soon 
became  accustomed  to  them  and  had  but  little 
fear.  Many  of  their  wigwams  were  very  at- 
tractive, lined  with  furs  of  different  kinds, 
fancy  blankets,  the  squaws  sitting  on  robes 
doing  fancy  bead  work  with  papooses  lashed 
to  boards  hanging  to  a  limb  or  leaning  against 
a  tree.  The  older  ones  frisking  about  prac- 
ticing with  bow  and  arrow,  jumping  or  run- 
ning races.  The  surroundings  seemed  the 
height  of  contentment  and  they  acted  very 
friendly  but  would  never  invite  you  inside." 

Augustus  Bradley  Garouttb.  The  Gar- 
outte  family  is  so  well  known  throu2:hout 
northern  Indiana  that  its  representative 
needs  no  special  introduction  to  the  residents 
of  St.  Joseph  county.  The  name  stands  con- 
spicuously forth  on  the  pages  of  its  political 


history,  and  the  father  of  Augustus  B.,  the 
Hon.  Thomas  J.  Garoutte,  was  widely  recog- 
nized as  a  Democratic  leader  who  labored  ear- 
nestly for  the  success  of  his  party  and  for 
good  citizenship.  The  name  Qaroutte  is  of 
French  origin,  and  the  great-grandfather  of 
him  whose  name  introduces  this  review, 
Michael  Garoutte,  came  to  America  from 
France  with  General  Lafayette  to  aid  Gen- 
eral Washington  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
He  was  one  of  the  heroes  of  that  great  strug- 
gle, and  his  descendants  are  therefore  entitled 
to  membership  in  the  order  of  the  Sons  and 
Daughters  of  the  Revolution. 

Augustus  Bradley  Garoutte  was  bom  in 
Olive  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
February  14,  1870,  a  son  of  Thomas  J.  and 
Sarah  (Burk)  Garoutte.  The  father,  a  na- 
tive of  Washington  county,  Ohio,  bom  on 
the  19th  of  December,  1823,  was  reared  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  was  a  well  though 
self  educated  man.  When  a  little  lad  he 
came  with  his  parents  in  1830  to  Laporte 
county,  Indiana,  locating  on  the  old  David 
Stoner  place  near  Rolling  Prairie,  their  first 
home  being  a  little  log  cabin.  The  red  men 
then  roamed  at  will  over  the  country,  and 
often  came  to  their  door  for  food,  whil^  the 
wolves  made  the  night  hideous  by  their  dismal 
howling.  During  the  winter  of  1831,  memor- 
able on  account  of  its  severity,  the  mother 
was  frozen  to  death,  and  in  1832  the  re- 
mainder of  the  family  returned  to  their  Ohio 
home.  From  the  Buckeye  state  they  moved 
to  Greene  county,  Missouri,  in  1838,  and  in 
1844  the  Hon.  Thomas  J.  Garoutte  rode  all 
the  way  back  to  Ohio  on  horseback.  For  two 
years  thereafter  he  attended  school,  and  in 
1846  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
establishing  his  home  in  New  Carlisle,  where 
he  began  at  the  very  bottom  round  of  the  lad- 
der of  life,  working  by  the  month  for  eight 
dollars,  but  this  small  beginning  served  as  the 
foundation  on  which  he  builded  his  subse- 
quent career.  His  first  purchase  consisted 
of  eighty  acres  of  timber  land,  obtaining  it 
from  Elisha  Egbert,  and  it  was  located  on 
the  border  of  the  Terre  Coupee  prairie. 

On  the  26th  of  August,  1850,  Mr.  Garoutte 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Burk, 
who  was  born  in  Ohio  on  the  3d  of  September, 
1829,  and  her  death  occurred  December  4, 
1879.  Shortly  after  her  birth  her  parents 
came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  where  they  be- 
came extensive  land  owners  in  Olive  town- 
ship, and  they  were  one  of  the  first  families 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


925 


to  take  up  their  abode  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  the  county.  Mrs.  Garoutte  was  a 
brave  pioneer  woman,  a  devoted  wife  and  a 
loving  mother,  and  she  was  a  devout  member 
of  the  Christian  church.  They  became  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  five  sons  and  three 
daughters,  of  whom  Augustus  B.  was  the 
youngest  in  order  of  birth.  Only  two  of  the 
number  are  now  living,  the  elder  being  James 
B.,  a  resident  of  Denver,  Colorado,  where  he 
is  extensively  engaged  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness. He  attended  the  common  schools  and 
also  graduated  from  the  Valparaiso  college, 
and  he  married  Miss  Clara  Foster,  by  whom 
he  has  one  little  son,  Foster  Thomas.  A 
granddaughter  of  Hon.  Garoutte,  Miss  Mary 
Agnes  Hatfield,  daughter  of  Ennma  E.  (Gar- 
outte) Hatfield,  is  a  resident  of  Kalamazoo, 
Michigan,  aged  twenty-seven  years.  She  was 
highly  educated,  a  graduate  of  the  Kalamazoo 
Young  Ladies'  Seminary  in  the  class  of  1899, 
and  also  of  Oberlin  College.  She  is  a  historian 
and  genealogist  of  more  than  passing  im- 
portance and  is  now  writing  a  fine  genealogy 
of  the  Garoutte  family.  Hon.  Garoutte  was 
an  important  factor  in  the  political  life  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  was  a  Jackson  Democrat. 
For  twenty-one  years  he  served  as  the  trustee 
of  Olive  township,  the  longest  record  of  any 
official  in  St.  Joseph  county,  and  during  his 
incumbency  many  needed  improvements  were 
instituted,  such  as  the  erection  of  school 
houses,  the  straightening  of  roads,  etc.  He 
was  a  firm  friend  of  the  public  schools,  and 
for  a  number  of  years  also  servefd  as  the  jus- 
tice of  the  peace.  In  1878-9  he  was  elected  to 
represent  the  thirteenth  district  of  St.  Joseph 
county  in  the  state  legislature,  filling  the 
duties  of  that  office  with  marked  ability  and 
fidelity.  He  was  often  selected  as  delegate  to 
district  and  congressional  conventions,  and 
about  1880  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  office 
of  state  senator,  being  defeated  in  the  race  by 
only  seventeen  votes.  Fraternally  he  was  f 
prominent  Mason,  a  member  of  South  Bend 
Commandery,  No.  13,  K.  T.,  also  a  charter 
member  of  Terre  Coupee  Lodge,  and  was  an 
efficient  officer  and  member.  He  adhered  to 
the  Methodist  faith,  aided  in  the  erection  of 
many  churches,  and  was  a  kind  and  benevol- 
ent man,  always  ready  to  aid  any  enterprise 
for  the  good  of  his  fellow  men.  He  was  suc- 
cessful in  his  business  ventures,  having  accu- 
mulated two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of 
land  in  Olive  township,  also  real  estate  in 
New  Carlisle,  and  in  1888  he  visited  Califor- 


nia on  a  pleasure  trip.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Garoutte  are  interred  in  the  New  Carlisle 
cemetery,  where  a  beautiful  stone  marks  their 
last  resting  place. 

Augustus  B.  Garoutte  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  New  Carlisle  high  school,  and 
the  work  of  the  farm  has  continued  as  his  life 
cecupation.  On  the  15th  of  June,  1892,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Olive  Ackley, 
and  six  children  have  been  bom  to  them, 
three  sons  and  three  daughters,  namely :  Paul 
v.,  a  bright  and  promising  student  in  the 
eighth  grade  of  school;  Horace  A.  a  member 
of  the  seventh  grade;  Thomas  B.  and  Ella 
Vivian,  both  in  the  third  grade;  Beatrice  A., 
in  the  first  grade;  and  Olive  Nadine,  the 
youngest  of  the  faanily.  Mrs;  Garoutte  was 
bom  in  Laporte  couoty,  Indiana,  June  2,  1871, 
the  second  of  three  children,  one  son  and  two 
daughters,  born  to  Jacob  and  Martha  E. 
(Culveyhouse)  Ackley.  All  are  yet  living: 
Elias  S.,  a  well-known  business  man  of  New 
Carlisle;  Olive,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Garoutte; 
Ella,  the  wife  of  John  E.  Ayres  and  an  ef- 
ficient music  teacher  in  New  Carlisle,  now 
residing  in  South  Bend.  Mr.  Ackley,  the 
father,  is  a  native  of  New  York,  bom  May 
14,  1843,  and  is  now  connected  with  the  elec- 
tric light  plant  in  New  Carlisle.  For  three 
j^ears  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  par- 
ticipating in  a  number  of  its  leading  battles, 
and  he  is  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  the 
New  Carlisle  Grand  Army  Post,  formerly 
affiliating  with  Rolling  Prairie  Post,  and  a 
Mason  at  New  Carlisle.  His  political  support 
is  given  to  the  Republican  party.  Mrs.  Ack- 
ley, who  was  born  in  Laporte  county,  In- 
diana, December  10,  1842,  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  church.  Mrs.  Garoutte  was 
reared  in  both  Laporte  and  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ties, receiving  her  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Rolling  Prairie  and  New  Carlisle. 
Mr.  Garoutte  follows  in  the  political  faith  of 
his  father,  having  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Grover  Cleveland,  and  he  has  ever 
since  remained  true  to  Democratic  principles. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  No.  441,  at  New  Carlisle,  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  mentbers  of  the  Christian 
church  of  that  city.  They  reside  on  the  Gar- 
outte estate  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
and  they  are  worthy  representatives  of  the 
honored  family  name. 

S.  C.  Lancaster  is  numbered  among  the 
honored  pioneers  who  aided  in  laying  th^ 
foundation  on  which  the  future  development 


Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


926 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


of  this  section  of  the  county  has  been  built. 
He  is  a  native  of  Fayette  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, born  on  the  3d  of  January,  1837,  a  son 
of  Heniy  and  Elizabeth  (Grapevine)  Lancas- 
ter. In  their  family  were  ten  children,  our 
subject  being  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth,  and 
only  four  of  the  number  are  now  living.  Mr. 
Lancaster,  the  father,  was  bom  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  the  grandson  of  a  Revolution- 
ary soldier.  About  1843  he  removed  from  his 
native  state  to  Clark  county,  Ohio,  and  in 
1849  came  to  St.  Josepb  county,  Indiana,  here* 
purchasing  eighty  acres  of  land  three  miles 
south  of  New  Carlisle,  which  was  covered 
with  a  dense  gi-owth  of  timber  and  which 
with  the  aid  of  his  sons  he  cleared  and  placed 
under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation.  Their 
first  home  was  the  primitive  log  cabin,  and 
those  were  the  good  old  days  of  true  friend- 
s/hip  and  good  cheer.  Mr.  Lancaster  was  a 
Jackson  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  were  stanch  Baptists. 
His  death  occurred  in  South  Bend,  Indiana, 
in  1867,  aged  about  seventy  years.  His  wife, 
who  was  a  native  of  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
had  two  brothers  who  were  ocean  sailors. 

S.  C.  Lancaster,  a  son  of  this  worthy  pioneer 
couple,  was  about  thirteen  years  of  age  when 
the  family  home  was  established  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  but  a  short  time  afterward,  in  1851, 
he  went  to  Laporte,  Indiana,  and  learned  the 
saddlery  and  harness  trades.  Returning: 
thence  to  New  Carlisle  in*  1855  he  began  work 
at  his  chosen  occupations,  and  before  he  was 
of  age  he  had  saved  ten  dollars  and  was  also 
the  owner  of  a  cheap  watch,  the  result  of  his 
own  enterprise  and  ability,  and  it  may  truth- 
fully be  said  that  he  is  the  architect  of  his 
own  fortune.  In  1886  he  sold  his  store  in 
New  Carlisle,  but  previous  to  this  time  it  had 
three  times  been  destroyed  by  fire,  causing 
severe  losses  to  the  yooing  business  man,  but 
each  time  he  builded  better  than  before.  In 
1886,  in  company  with  H.  V.  Compton,  Mr. 
Lancaster  embarked  in  the  livery  business, 
the  partnership  continuing  for  eleven  years, 
when  he  sold  his  interest  and  since  that  time 
has  dealt  considerably  in  real  estate  and  in- 
surance, representing  one  of  the  oldest  insur- 
ance companies  in  the  state  of  Indiana,  the 
Hartford. 

On  the  19th  of  December,  1866,  Mr.  Lan- 
caster was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Myra 
M.  Briggs,  a  native  of  Somerset,  Niagara 
county.  New  York,  where  she  was  born  on  the 
1st  of  May,  1842,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and 


Elizabeth  (Fargo)  Briggs.  They  were  the 
parents  of  twelve  children,  seven  sons  and 
five  daughters,  but  only  two  are  now  living, 
the  sister  of  Mrs.  Lancaster  being  Abna,  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Merritt,  a  horticulturist  of 
Grand  View,  Tennessee.  Mr.  Briggs,  the 
father,  was  a  native  of  Herkimer  county,  New 
York,  where  he  was  a  successful  agriculturist, 
and  after  liis  removal  to  the  west  he  became 
the  owner  of  five  hundred  acres  of  land  south 
of  Niles.  His  political  support  was  given  to 
the  Whig  party.  Both  he  and  bis  wife,  who 
was  also  a  native  of  Herkimer  county,  were 
Baptists,  and  both  died  in  Lenawee  county, 
Michigan.  Mrs.  Lancaster  was  but  seven 
years  old  when  brought  by  her  parents  to 
Niles,  Michigan,  and  three  years  afterward  the 
family  home  was  removed  to  Lenawee  county, 
that  state.  During  the  long  period  of  forty 
years  she  and  her  husband  have  traveled  the 
journey  of  life  together,  mutually  sharing  the 
joys  and  sorrows  which  checker  the  lives  of 
all,  and  they  have  won  the  love  and  high  re- 
gard of  all  who  have  had  the  pleasure  of  their 
acquaintance.  They  have  had  no  children  of 
their  own,  but  have  adopted  two,  a  son  and 
daughter.  Rollin,  the  eldest,  is  a  resident  of 
New  Carlisle,  where  he  is  well  known  as  a 
carpenter  and  joiner.  He  married  Miss  Lu- 
cretia  Longfellow,  of  Galien,  Michigan.  The 
daughter,  Inez,  married  Charles  D.  White,  a 
prominent  young  business  man  of  New  Carl- 
isle, and  died  in  1904.  Mr.  Lancaster  cast  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  Pierce,  and  has  ever 
since  remained  true  to  the  principles  of  the 
Democracy.  For  twenty-six  years  he  served 
as  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  New  Carlisle,  the 
longest  period  of  any  incumbent  in  the  county, 
and  for  three  years  was  also  clerk  of  the 
school  board.  In  1896  he  was  a  formidable 
candidate  for  the  office  of  county  clerk,  re- 
ducing the  Republican  majority  from  eighteen 
hundred  to  six  hundred  and  twenty-one  votes, 
and  he  has  many  times  served  as  a  delegate  to 
the  county  conventions.  His  fraternal  rela- 
tions connect  him  with  Terre  Coupee  Lodge, 
No.  204,  of  New  Carlisle,  which  he  served  two 
terms  as  worshipful  master  and  has  been  a 
delegate  to  the  grand  lodge.  Mrs.  Lancaster 
is  a  charter  member  of  the  Eastern  Star, 
Lodge  No.  320,  of  which  she  is  treasurer. 
Both  are  members  of  the  Episcopal  church,  in 
which  they  are  active  workers,  and  Mr.  Lan- 
caster personally  solicited  funds  for  the  erec- 
tion of  their  church  building  in  1892  and 
1893.     In  addition  to  the  pleasant  and  corn- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


\ 


I 


Mrs.  Edwin  C.  Laidlaw 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Ed^wm  C.  LaiJla^w 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


^JFW  YORK 
PUBLIC    L1t*^*ABVj 

19C9 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUxXTY. 


927 


fortable  home  on  Michigan  street,  Mr.  Lan- 
caster also  owns  the  New  Carlisle  opera  house, 
and  has  long  been  numbered  among  the  sub- 
stantial business  men  of  New  Carlisle. 

Edwin  C.  Lajdljlw,  This  well  and  favor- 
ably known  citizen  of  Penn  township,  St. 
Joseph  county,  is  now  living  retired  from 
the  active  duties  and  cares  of  life,  enjoying 
the  fruits  of  his  years  of  toil  in  the  past.  He 
is  numbered  among  the  native  sons  of  the 
township  in  which  he  has  so  long  lived  and 
labored,  his  natal  day  being  the  17th  of  April, 
1844.  His  father,  John  Laidlaw,  who  was 
numbered  among  the  pioneer  agriculturists 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  was  a  native  son  of 
Scotland,  but  when  only  ten  years  of  age  he 
became  an  American  citizen,  and  his  first 
home  in  this  country  was  in  St.  Lawrence 
county.  New  York,  where  he  grew  to  years  of 
maturity.  When  he  had  reached  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years  he  left  that  state  and  made 
the  journey  on  foot  to  Indiana,  first  locating 
in  Mishawaka,  and  his  firsft  employment  in 
this  state  was  in  the  building  of  the  race  on 
the  north  side  of  the  river.  In  1834  he  en- 
tered eighty  acres  of  land  from  the  govern- 
ment in  Penn  town^p,  which  was  then  cov- 
ered with  timber,  and  he  later  entered  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Madison  township, 
erecting  his  cabin  home  on  the  first  tract.  He 
at  once  began  burning  the  timber  on  his  land 
in  order  to  secure  charcoal  with  which  to  melt 
the  iron  ore  taken  from  the  marsh,  and  thus 
he  cleared  his  land,  placed  many  improve- 
ments thereon,  and  with  the  passing  years 
added  to  his  estate  until  he  owned  five  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres.  His  was  truly  a  suc- 
cessful life,  for  when  he  started  out  to  battle 
with  the  world  his  capital  consisted  of  fifty 
dollars,  but  his  entire  possessions  were  but 
the  merited  reward  of  earnest  and  persistent 
labor,  excellent  management  and  straightfor- 
ward methods.  Mr.  Laidlaw  married  Sarah 
Shaw,  who  was  bom  in  Ohio,  but  was  reared 
in  both  that  state  and  Indiana,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  twelve  children,  five  sons 
and  seven  daughters,  all  of  whom  were  bom 
on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty. The  father  passed  away  in  death  at  the 
age  of  seventy-four  years.  In  his  political 
aflSliations  he  supported  the  principles  of  the 
Whig  party  until  the  formation  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  when  he  joined  its  ranks  and 
became  one  of  its  active  and  loyal  followers. 

Edwin    C.    Laidlaw,   the   second   son    and 


third  child  in  order  of  birth  of  his  parents' 
twelve  children,  received  his  early  educational 
training  in  the  district  schools  of  Penn  town- 
ship, but  he  later  pursued  several  college 
courses,  one  at  the  Northern  Indiana  College 
at  South  Bend,  and  was  also  a  student  in 
Eastman's  Business  College  of  New  York.  Re- 
turning thence  to  the  old  home  farm,  he  has 
ever  since  resided  upon  this  valuable  estate, 
but  as  his  children  grew  to  mature  years  he  di- 
vided his  land  among  them  until  he  now  has 
but  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  Through- 
out all  these  years  he  has  also  been  extensive- 
ly engaged  in  the  stock  business,  in  addi- 
tion to  his  general  agricultural  pursuits,  for 
thirty  years  having  dealt  in  thoroughbred 
stock,  and  in  this  connection  he  is  known  all 
over  the  county  and  also  in  southern  Michi- 
gan. He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Mishawaka 
Trust  and  Savings  Bank.  To  Mr.  Laidlaw 
also  belongs  the  credit  of  having  operated  one 
of  the  first  steam  threshers  in  St.  Joseph 
county.  It  was  an  old-style  Wood,  Tabor  and 
Morse  engine,  with  a  Laporte  separator,  and 
was  built  in  New  York.  He  has  ever  been 
progressive  in  his  ideas,  and  throughout  his 
entire  business  career  he  has  been  numbered 
among  St.  Joseph  county's  leading  citizens. 

On  the  25th  of  Febmary,  1876,  Mr.  Laid- 
law  was  united  in  marriage  to  Henrietta  Pull- 
ing, a  native  daughter  of  Penn  township, 
where  her  father,  Cyrus  K.  Pulling,  was  one 
of  the  earliest  pioneers,  as  also  of  St.  Joseph 
county.  To  them  have  been  bom  four  chil- 
dren, one  son  and  three  daughters,  but  two 
are  now  deceased.  All  were  bom  and  reared 
on  the  old  home  farm  in  Penn  township.  Mr. 
Laidlaw  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  affi- 
liations, having  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  as  its  representa- 
tive he  served  one  term  in  the  legislature,  hav- 
ing had  to  resign  from  that  important  posi- 
tion on  account  of  sickness.  During  the  pe- 
riod of  the  Civil  war  he  nobly  offered  his  serv- 
ices to  his  country's  cause,  enlisting  in  1864 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-eighth  In- 
diana Volunteer  Infantry,  Company  H,  with 
which  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  con- 
flict. During  the  time  he  was  injured  while 
on  guard  duty  by  the  falling  of  a  trestle.  He 
now  holds  pleasant  relations  with  his  old 
army  comrades  of  the  blue  by  his  membership 
in  the  Grand  Army  Post,  and  he  also  had 
membership  relations  with  the  Independent 
Order   of   Odd  Fellows,   No.    128,   and   the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


928 


HISTOEY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


Grange.  His  religious  aflSliations  are  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  he 
is  a  valued  and  worthy  member. 

J.  B.  Seaman,  M.  D.  As  a  representative 
of  the  medical  profession.  Dr.  J.  B.  Seaman 
has  won  distinction,  and  though  but  a  com- 
paratively few  years  have  passed  since  he  be- 
came a  resident  of  Osceola,  he  enjoys  an  ex- 
tensive and  remunerative  practice.  He  is 
progressive  in  all  his  methods,  constantly 
reading  and  studying,  and  keps  in  close  touch 
with  the  spirit  of  the  times.  He  is  a  native 
son  of  the  Empire  state,  bom  in  Clyde,  New 
York,  June  21,  1864,  his  parents  being  Joseph 
W.  and  Sarah  M.  (Uline)  Seaman,  the  former 
a  native  of  Jersey  City,  New  Jersey,  bom  in 
1835,  and  the  mother  was  bom  in  Wayne 
county,  New  York,  in  1837.  Mr.  Joseph  W. 
Seaman,  who  in  early  life  had  learned  the 
milling  business,  became  a  citizen  of  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  Indiana,  May  5,  1866,  but  a 
short  time  afterward  located  in  Wakarusa, 
Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  and  resumed  his 
milling  business.  He  yet  resides  in  that  city, 
and  his  long  identification  with  the  place  and 
his  prominence  in  its  business  affairs  have 
made  him  well  known  to  its  residents. 

Dr.  J.  B.  Seaman,  the  second  child  and  eld- 
est son  in  his  parents'  family  of  six  children, 
three  sons  and  three  daughters,  was  but  two 
years  of  age  when  the  family  home  was  estab- 
lished in  St.  Joseph  county,  but  removing 
with  the  family  to  Wakarusa  was  there  reared 
and  the  early  educational  training  which  he 
received  in  its  public  schools  was  supplement- 
ed by  attendance  at  the  DePauw  University 
of  Greencastle.  In  1897  he  matriculated  in 
the  Medical  College  of  Indiana,  in  which  he 
completed  his  medical  course  and  graduated 
in  1900,  and  for  a  time  thereafter  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  Bobb's  dispensary  of  Indian- 
apolis. It  was  in  1901  thwt  the  Doctor  came 
to  Osceola  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
medicine  in  this  village,  where  he  has  built 
up  an  extensive  patronage  and  is  rapidly 
winning  the  commendation  of  the  public  and 
his  professional  brethren.  His  connection 
with  the  St.  Joseph  County  Medical  Society 
enables  him  to  keep  in  touch  with  the  many 
new  discoveries  which  are  constantly  being 
made  in  the  medical  profession,  and  he  is 
numbered  with  the  leading  practitioners  of 
St.  Joseph  county. 

On  the  17th  of  May,  1904,  Dr.  Seaman  was 
united    in    marriage    to    Margaret    Morgan, 


whose  birth  occurred  in  Butler,  Indiana,  and 
their  only  chUd  is  a  son,  Joseph  W. 

Louis  Proudpit,  M.  D.  One  of  the  younger 
representatives  of  the  medical  fraternity  in 
St.  Joseph  county  is  Dr.  Louis  Proudfit,  but 
during  the  few  years  which  marks  his  profes- 
sional career  he  has  met  with  gratifying  suc- 
cess, and  though  his  residence  in  Osceola  dates 
back  but  five  years  he  has  won  the  good  will 
and  patronage  of  many  of  the  leading  citi- 
zens and  families  of  the  place.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  February 
10,  1876,  his  parents  being  Milton  M.  and 
Emeline  (Bancroft)  Proudfit,  the  former  a 
native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Osceola  and 
a  member  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of 
St.  Joseph  county.  In  an  early  day  in  its 
history  Milton  M.  Proudfit  removed  to  Elk- 
hart county,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  yet 
living.  In  their  family  were  but  two  chil- 
dren, and  the  younger,  Louisa,  is  at  home 
with  her  parents. 

Dr.  Louis  Proudfit  received  his  literary 
education  in  the  schools  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
and. in  1902  he  graduated  from  the  Medical 
College  of  Indiana,  at  Indianapolis.  Imme- 
diately after  his  graduation  he  located  for  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Osceola,  where 
he  has  not  only  won  a  large  share  of  the  pub- 
lic patronage,  but  also  its  good  will  and  hi^ 
esteem.  He  is  at  all  time  a  student,  and  en- 
deavors to  keep  fully  abreast  of  the  times  in 
everything  relating  to  discoveries  in  the  medi- 
cal science,  taking  the  leading  journals  and 
holding  member^ip  relations  with  the  St. 
Joseph  County  Medical  Society,  the  State 
Medical  Society,  the  Tri-State  Medical  So- 
ciety and  the  Thirteenth  Congressional  Dis- 
trict Socfety. 

In  1906  Dr.  Proudfit  was  united,  in  mar- 
riage to  Grace  Sawyer,  a  daughter  of  Fred 
and  Clara  (Crowfoot)  Sawyer.  She  is  a  na- 
tive daughter  of  St.  Joseph  county,  where  her 
people  are  enrolled  among  its  earliest  pion- 
eers. The  doctor  and  his  wife  have  a  pleasant 
home  in  Osceola,  where  they  extend  a  gracious 
hospitality  to  their  many  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances. 

Or.ivER  P.  Rogers,  who  has  throughout  his 
entire  business  life  been  prominently  identified 
with  the  agricultural  interests  of  Penn  town- 
ship, was  bom  upon  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  resides,  April  7,  1860.  His  father,  Aaron 
Rogers,  who  was  numbered  among  the  leading 
farmers  and  honored  pioneers  of  Penn  town- 
ship, was  bom  in  Ireland,  but  came  to  the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


929 


United  States  in  his  early  life  and  established 
his  home  first  in  Mishawaka,  where  he  began 
working  on  a  ferry  boat  on  the  St.  Joseph 
river.  He  was  alfiw  employed  in  a  foundry 
in  that  city,  and  finally  removed  to  the  farm 
which  is  now  so  well  known  as  the  Rogers 
homestead.  With  the  aid  of  his  sons  he 
cleared  his  land  from  its  dense  growth  of 
timber  and  placed  his  fields  under  an  excel- 
lent state  of  cultivation.  His  original  pur- 
chase consisted  of  eighty  acres,  but  he  later 
added  to  his  boundaries  until  he  became  the 
owner  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  the 
most  of  which  was  cleared  by  hun  and  his 
sons.  .  The  first  home  of  the  family  was  a  lit- 
tle log  cabin,  and  the  farm  machinery  in 
those  early  days,  was  of  the  crudest  sort,  the 
plowing  being  done  by  means  of  ox  teams. 
Mrs.  Rogers  was  born  in  Denmark,  but  came 
to  the  United  States  during  her  girlhood  days, 
and  for  a  time  was  employed  in  Mishawaka. 
By  her  marriage,  she  became  the  mother  of 
six  sons  and  one  daughter,  namely:  Matilda, 
deceased;  John;  William;  Robert,  Thomas 
and  David,  deceased;  and  Oliver  P.,  all  born 
on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Penn  township, 
and  all  received  their  education  in  the  near- 
by district  school.  Mr.  Rogers,  the  father, 
supported  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  was  a  member  of  the  first  Presby- 
terian church  of  Mishawaka,  an  active  worker 
in  the  cause  of  Christianity.  His  death  oc- 
curred when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  sixty- 
five  years,  and  in  his  death  St.  Joseph  eourit- 
ty  lost  one  of  her  most  useful  citizens  and 
one  of  her  early  and  honored  pioneers. 

The  early  years  of  Oliver  P.  Rogers  were 
spent  in  assisting  to  clear  and  improve  the 
home  farm,  and  in  addition  to  his  large  agri- 
cultural and  stock  raising  interests  there  he 
is  now  also  serving  as  president  of  the  Ehn 
Grove  Breeding  Association,  in  which  he  is 
one  of  the  stockholders.  On  the  19th  of 
April,  1883,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Sarah  A.  Burket,  a  native  of  Elkhart  county, 
Indiana,  and  a  daughter  of  Henry  Burket, 
who  was  a  farmer  as  well  as  a  German  Bap- 
tist minister.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  of 
German  descent.  Two  children,  a  son  and  a 
daughter,  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rogers,  Clarence  B.  and  Loretta  A.,  both 
bom  on  the  farm  which  was  also  the  birth- 
place of  their  father.  Throughout  the  period 
of  his  majority,  Mr.  Rogers  has  given  his  polit- 
ical support  to  the  Republican  party,  and 
he  is  an  active  worker  in  the  party  ranks,  at 


the  present  time  serving  as  deputy  assessor 
of  his  township.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  church,  and  is  a  gentleman  hon- 
ored and  respected  wherever  known. 

John  H.  Fulmeb.  Among  the  younger 
representatives  of  the  agricultural  interests 
of  Penn  township  is  numbered  John  H.  Ful- 
mer,  who  is  descended  from  a  long  line  of  till- 
ers of  the  soil,  and  he,  too,  has  won  an  en- 
viable reputation  in  the  calling.  His  birth 
occurred  in  the  township  of  Penn  May  26, 
1872,  and  a  complete  history  of  the  family 
will  be  found  in  the  sketch  of  Jacob  Fulmer 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  On  the  old  family 
homestead  in  this  community  he  grew  to 
sturdy  manhood,  receiving  his  educational 
training  in  the  district  schools  near  his  home, 
and  on  the  15th  of  March,  1894,  he  was  here 
married  to  Mary  Ann  Weis,  whose  birth  also 
occurred  within  the  borders  of  Penn  town- 
ship. She  is  the  daughter  of  Henry  Weis, 
an  honored  early  pioneer  of  Penn  township, 
and  two  children  have  been  born  to  bless  their 
union,  a  son  and  a  daughter,  Carl  Melvin 
and  Ada  May,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  this 
township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fulmer  began  their  married 
life  on  the  old  home  farm  on  which  the  hus- 
band was  bom,  where  they  resided  during  the 
following  eight  years,  and  at  the  close  of 
that  period,  in  1902,  removed  to  their  present 
homestead  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 
Mr.  Fulmer  gives  a  stanch  and  unfaltering 
support  to  the  Republican  party,  and  the 
family  are  members  of  the  Evangelical 
church,  to  which  he  contributes  liberally  of 
his  time  and  means  toward  its  maintenance 
and  upbuilding.  He  is  accorded  a  prominent 
position  in  the  business  circles  of  Penn  town- 
ship, and  his  career  thus  far  on  the  journey 
of  life  has  been  a  credit  to  the  township  of 
his  nativity.  v 

James  Boner,  a  well-known  agriculturist 
of  Penn  township,  was  born  in  Mahoning 
county,  Ohio,  May  15,  1833.  His  father, 
Andrew  Boner,  who  was  for  many  years  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  in  that  com- 
monwealth, was  a  native  son  of  Ireland,  but 
in  his  young  manhood  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  where  he  was  married  to  a  native 
daughter  of  Pennsylvania.  They  became  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  three  sons  and  four 
daughters. 

James  Boner,  their  fourth  child  and  sec- 
ond son  in  order  of  birth,  spent  the  early 
years  of  his  life  on  the  home  farm  in  Ohio, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


930 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


and  it  was  about  1858  when  he  came  to  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana.  During  the  first 
years  of  his  residence  in  this  county  he 
worked  for  others,  but  in  1863  he  put  aside 
ail  personal  considerations  and  enlisted  for 
service  in  the  Civil  war,  becoming  a  member 
of  Company  K,  Fifth  Indiana  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, his  military  career  covering  a  period 
of  ten  months.  During  a  part  of  that  time  he 
was  ill  in  the  hospital,  and  returning  to  St. 
Joseph  county  bought  his  present  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres,  which  he 
cleared  of  its  dense  growth  of  timber  and 
placed  under  an  excellent  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, converting  it  into  one  of  the  valuable 
homesteads  of  the  township. 

After  coming  to  St.  Joseph  county  Mr. 
Boner  was  united  in  marriage  to  Angeline 
Campbell,  her  father,  William  Campbell, 
being  one  of  the  well-known  agriculturists  of 
this  county.  She  was  bom  in  Laporte  coun- 
ty, Indiana,  and  was  there  reared  and  edu- 
cated. Six  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Boner,  Etta,  Carrie  (deceased), 
Stella,  Pearl,  Frank  and  Minnie.  All  were 
born  in  St.  Joseph  county.  In  his  political 
affiliations  Mr.  Boner  is  not  bound  by  party 
ties,  and  although  he  takes  an  active  interest 
in  all  public  questions  and  political  afifairs 
he  has  never  desired  the  honors  or  emolu- 
ments of  oflSce. 

Solomon  Moon.  For  many  years  Solomon 
Moon  was  connected  with  the  agricultural 
interests  of  Penn  township,  and  his  well-spent 
life  commended  him  to  the  confidence  and  es- 
teem of  all,  while  in  his  death  the  community 
lost  one  of  its  most  valued  citizens.  He  was 
bom  in  the  Empire  state  of  New  York  March 
25,  1825,  and  in  that  commonwealth  his 
father,  Wanton  Moon,  also  had  his  nativity. 
He  was  there  married  to  one  of  its  native 
daughters,  Barbara  Biggs,  and  they  had  two 
children,  Harriet  and  Solomon.  After  the 
death  of  the  mother  the  father  was  again  mar- 
ried, also  having  two  children  by  the  second 
union. 

During  the  boyhood  days  of  Solomon  Moon 
the  family  moved  to  Michigan,  where  the 
father  resumed  his  agricultural  labors,  and 
that  state  continued  the  home  of  his  son 
Solomon  until  his  removal  to  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty in  the  '40s.  He  worked  for  others  until 
his  marriage,  when  he  purchased  forty  acres 
of  timber  land  in  Penn  township,  the 
nucleus  of  the  present  Moon  estate,  and*  began 
the   arduous  task  of  clearing  his  land  and 


placing  it  under  cultivation.  His  labors,  how- 
ever, were  attended  with  success,  and  he  not 
only  succeeded  in  bringing  his  farm  to  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  but  added  thereto  until 
at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  the  owner  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  a  valuable  estate. 

On  the  26th  of  June,  1851,  Mr.  Moon  mar- 
ried Charlotte  Hollingshead,  who  was  born  in 
Ohio  October  31,  1831,  a  daughter  of  Daniel 
Hollingshead,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Ken- 
tucky.    In  his  early  youth  he  moved  from 
that  state  to  Ohio,  where  he  was  subsequently 
married  to  Margaret  McConnel,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
ten  children,  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  of 
w^hom  Mrs.  Moon  was  the  youngest  in  order 
of  birth,  and  seven  of  the  children  are  dow 
deceased.    In  about  1832  the  family  came  to 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  arriving  here  in 
a  very  early  period  of  its  history,  when  its 
resources  were  very  limited,  and  they  proved 
valued  factors  in  its  upbuilding  and  develop- 
ment.   They  located  in  Penn  township,  where 
Mr.  Hollingshead  entered  a  farm  from  the 
government,    and    with    the    passing   years 
cleared  and  placed  his  fields  under  cultiva- 
tion.    The  township  was  new  and  wild  when 
they  took  up  their  abode  within  its  borders, 
and  as  there  were  then  no  mills  they  were 
obliged  to  pound  their  corn  into  flour.    The 
father  gave  his  political  support  to  the  Democ- 
racy,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church,  passing  away  in  its  faith  at  the  age 
of  seventy-three  years.     He  was  well  known 
among  the  early  residents  of  this  conunmiity, 
and  his  upright  and  useful  life  won  him  the 
love  and  respect  of  all.    Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Moon  were  bom  nine  children,  five  sons  and 
four  daughters,  Annis,  Arvilla,  Amy,  George, 
Ira,  Laura,   Charles,  and  two  who  died  in 
infancy.    Arvilla,  Amy,  Ira  and  Charles  are 
also  deceased.     All  were  bom  and  reared  in 
Penn  towng^hip.    Mr.  Moon,  tlie  father  affili- 
ated with  the  Democracy,  and  was  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Methodist  church.     His  busy 
and  useful  life  was  ended  in  death  at  the  age 
of  fifty-three  years.    For  many  years  he  was 
identified  with  the  substantial  and  material 
development  of  his  adopted  county,  and  was 
classed   among   the   worthy   pioneer  settlers 
who  laid  the  foundation  for  the  present  pros- 
perity of  this  section  of  the  state. 

Jacob  Fulmer.  In  reviewing  the  promi- 
nent early  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county  one 
will  find  that  from  a  very  early  day  in  its  de- 
velopment the  name  of  Fulmer  has  been  elo8^ 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


THE  \ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Mrs.  Jacot  Fulmcr 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Jacob  Fulmer 


Digitized  by 


Google 


ii 

'  PUt,LK.    lU-^ARY 
C  Aiitr,  L*i9K  ,nd  TiidM// 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


931 


ly  connected  with  the  progress  and  advance- 
ment of  this  section  of  the  state.  Wild  was 
the  region  into  which  Mr.  Jacob  Fulmer  came 
when  a  little  lad  of  eight  years,  and  from 
that  early  period  he  has  been  prominently 
identified  with  its  history,  but  now,  as  he 
journeys  down  the  western  slope  of  life,  he  is 
living  retired,  crowned  with  the  respect  and 
esteem  which  should  ever  follow  an  honorable 
career.  He  was  bom  in  Ohio  December  12, 
1842,  a  son  of  Martin  Fulmer,  who  was  num- 
bered among  the  agriculturists  of  Penn  town- 
ship. He  was  bom  in  the  f  ar-oflf  land  of  Ger- 
many in  1802,  but  after  attaining  to  years 
of  maturity  he  came  to  America,  establishing 
his  home  on  a  farm  in  Portage  county,  Ohio. 
He  was  there  married  to  Mary  Kling,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  Germany  in  1804,  and  dur- 
ing her  young  womanhood  she  came  to  the 
United  States  and  located  in  Ohio.  Five  chil- 
dren blessed  their  union,  four  sons  and  one 
daughter,  namely:  Elizabeth  Wahl,  Martin, 
David,  Jacob  and  John,  all  of  whom  claimed 
Ohio  as  the  commonwealth  of  their  nativity. 
In  1849  the  family  made  the  overland  jour- 
ney to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  establish- 
ing their  home  on  a  farm  of  ninety-five 
acres  in  Penn  township.  The  father,  how- 
ever, was  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new  home 
but  a  short  time,  for  his  death  occurred  just 
one  year  after  the  removal  hither,  and  to  his 
sons  fell  the  arduous  task  of  clearing  the 
new  farm  and  placing  it  under  cultivation. 
To  their  united  efforts  is  due  the  many  im- 
provements which  now  adorn  this  valuable  • 
old  homestead. 

In  time  Mr.  Jacob  Fulmer  purchased  the 
interests  of  the  other  heirs  in  the  place,  and 
he  is  now  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  rich  and  fertile  land,  while  formerly 
his  estate  niunbered  three  hundred  and  twen- 
ty acres  in  Penn  township.  He  also  per- 
formed his  part  in  the  arduous  task  of  clear- 
ing the  land,  plowing  and  planting  the  crops, 
and  thus  for  many  years  he  carried  on  the 
active  work  of  the  old  homestead,  but  as  he 
approached  the  western  slope  of  life  he  laid 
down  its  cares,  his  indu^ry  and  entberprise 
in  former  years  winning  for  him  the  comforts 
of  life. 

In  1865  Mr.  Fulmer  was  married  to  Eliza- 
beth L.  Beiger,  a  native  daughter  of  Ger- 
many, but  who  came  to  America  with  her  par- 
ents dliring  her  childhood  days.  Her  father 
was  Jacob  Beiger.  To  this  union  were  born 
five  sons,  Lee  D.,  Clarence  W.,  John  Henry, 


Martin  D.  and  Jacob  H.,  all  of  whom  were 
born  and  reared  in  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, and  were  educated  in  the  district 
schools  of  Penn  township.  Mr.  Fulmer,  the 
father,  has  given  a  lifelong  support  to  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party,  and  dur- 
ing the  long  period  of  twenty-five  years  he 
served  as  his  party  *s  representative  in  the  of- 
fice of  supervisor.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Evangelical  church  at  Coalbush,  in  whi6h  he 
is  serving  as  a  trustee.  He  is  an  earnest 
Christian  gentleman,  and  its  teachings  have 
actuated  his  life  and  formed  the  principles 
upon  which  his  conduct  has  been  based. 

Lee  D.  Fulmer,  the  eldest  son  of  this  hon- 
ored St.  Joseph  county  pioneer,  is  a  rep- 
resentative agriculturist  on  section  31,  Penn 
township,  and  his  birth  occurred  on  the  old 
family  homestead  here  on  the  11th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1868.  On  the  28th  of  September,  1893, 
he  was  married  to  Eva  Huston,  whose  birth 
also  occurred  within  the  borders  of  the  town- 
ship of  Penn,  where  her  father,  Harrison 
Huston,  located  in  a  very  early  day,  and  his 
history  will  be  found  on  other  pages  of  this 
work.  The  daughter  attended  the  schools  of 
Center  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  and  also 
the  schools  of  Missouri.  Four  children  have 
been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fulmer,  two  sons 
and  two  daughters,  Floyd  H.,  Mildred  and 
Raymond  and  Helen,  twins,  all  bom  in  Penn 
township. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Fulmer  located  on 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which 
he  rented  for  one  year,  and  then  became  the 
owner  of  a  tract  of  forty  acres.  Six  years 
later,  however,  he  sold  that  place  to  his  father 
and  purchased  his  present  homestead  of  one 
hundred  and  nine  acres,  and  in  addition  to 
its  cultivation  and  improvement  he  is  also 
a  stockholder  in  the  Mishawaka  Malt  Cream 
Factory.  He  is  a  supporter  of  Repub- 
lican principles,  and  a  leading  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  In  his  business 
relations  he  is  thoroughly  upright  and  con- 
scientious, gentlemanly,  considerate  and  cour- 
teous in  his  personal  and  social  contact,  and  is 
a  worthy  representative  of  an  honored  an- 
cestry. 

John  W.  Leonard.  For  over  half  a  cen- 
tury John  W.  Leonard  has  been  numbered 
among  the  representative  citizens  and  leading 
agriculturists  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  his 
entire  career  has  been  marked  by  signal  in- 
tegrity, justice  and  honor.  He  was  bom  in 
Wayne  county,  Ohio,  October  18,  1821,  a  son 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


932 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


of  Henry  and  Anna  (Yoger)  Leonard,  the 
mother  of  Gterman  descent,  while  the  father, 
who  was  for  many  years  a  farmer  in  Ohio, 
was  a  native  son  of  Pennsylvania.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  two  children,  of  whom 
John  W.  is  the  elder,  and  he  also  had  a  half- 
sister,  Sarah,  now  deceased.  She  was  born  in 
Ohio.  Mr.  Leonard  died  when  his  son  was 
but  a  little  lad  of  four  years,  and  the  mother 
afterward  became  the  wife  of  Edwin  Force. 

John  W.  Leonard  remained  at  home  until 
1848,  when  by  his  marriage  he  established  a 
home  of  his  own,  and  in  the  same  year  he 
emigrated  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  re- 
maining one  year  in  Portage  township,  after 
which  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  near 
South  Bend,  known  as  the  Bank  lot.  It  was 
in  1849  that  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Penn 
township,  purchasing  his  present  homestead 
of  two  hundred  acres,  the  most  of  which  he 
has  cleared,  and  the  many  substantial  and 
valuable  improvements  which  now  adorn  the 
place  stand  as  monuments  to  his  ability.  Pew 
men  are  more  justly  entitled  to  the  term  of 
seM-made  than  is  he,  for  when,  he  arrived 
in  this  county  he  had  less  than  one  hundred 
dollars,  but  he  was  industrious,  determined 
and  resolute,  and  his  creditable  life  work  has 
won  him  the  commendation  of  all. 

In  1848  Mr.  Leonard  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Eliza  Laing,  who  was  bom,  reared 
and  educated  in  Ohio,  but  her  people  were 
from  Virginia.  They  have  had  twelve  chil- 
dren, eight  sons  and  four  daughters:  Eliza- 
beth, William,  Gary  and  JJzra  (deceased), 
John,  Edward,  Helen  and  Zenos  (twins),  Al- 
ma, Ira  (deceased),  Sarah  and  Schuyler.  With 
the  exception  of  three,  who  were  born  in  Ohio, 
all  were  bom  in  St.  Joseph  county,  and  all 
were  reared  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in 
Penn  township.  Mr.  Leonard  has  given  a  life- 
long support  to  the  Republican  party,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  Osceola  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  to  which  he  is  a  liberal  contributor 
and  is  an  active  worker  in  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tianity. He  has  one  of  the  old  deeds  executed 
by  President  Andrew  Jackson  and  which 
bears  the  date  of  about  1832.  This  is  a  valu- 
able souvenir  in  the  home. 

Henry  Cropoot.  From  an  early  period  in 
the  history  of  St.  Joseph  county  Henry  Cro- 
foot  has  been  prominently  identified  with  its 
agricultural  interests,  and  now  in  his  declin- 
ing years  he  is  living  retired  on  his  old  home- 
stead farm,  crowned  with  the  veneration  and 
respect  which  should  ever  be  accorded  an  hon- 


orable old  age.  His  birth  occurred  in  Lake 
county,  Ohio,  July  8,  1830,  and  in  that  com- 
monwealth his  father,  Vernon  Crofoot,  was 
also  bom  and  reared.  He  was  there  married 
to  Diantha  Puller,  a  native  daughter  of  Pemi- 
sylvania,  where  she  wias  reared  and  educated, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
four  sons  and  four  daughters.  In  the  early 
'30s  the  family  came  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,  establishing  their  home  in  Penn 
township,  where  the  husband  and  father  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres.  With 
the  passing  years  he  cleared  and  placed  his 
land  under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation, 
and  also  added  many  hundreds  of  acres  to  his 
estate,  thus  becoming  one  of  the  large  land- 
owners of  the  township.  In  addition  to  his 
agricultural  pursuits  he  also  burned  charcoal 
on  his  farm.  He  was  numbered  among  the 
honored  early  settlers  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
and  performed  his  full  share  in  the  progress 
and  advancement  of  his  community,  living 
and  laboring  here  until  his  life's  work  was 
ended  in  death  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years. 

The  second  son  of  this  worthy  old  pioneer 
couple,  Henry  Crofoot,  attended  the  primitive 
log  schools  of  Penn  township  during  his  boy- 
hood days,  and  at  the  same  time  he  assisted 
in  the  arduous  work  of  clearing  and  cultivat- 
ing the  farm.  In  1853  he  made  the  trip  to 
California,  but  returned  after  an  absence  of 
six  months  and  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  in  Penn  township,  the 
nucleus  of  his  present  valuable  homestead. 
At  the  time  of  the  purchase  the  land  was 
covered  with  timber,  but  as  the  years  grew 
apace  he  succeeded  in  clearing  his  land,  and 
from  time  to  time  added  to  its  boundaries 
until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and 
eighty-eight  acres,  forming  one  of  the  vain- 
able  homestead  farms  of  the  township. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Crofoot  was  celebrat- 
ed on  the  18th  of  September,  1856,  Miss 
Nancy  Pruner,  a  native  daughter  of  Ohio, 
then  becoming  his  wife.  Her  people  were  of 
Pennsylvania  Dutch  descent.  Eleven  chil- 
dren have  been  bom  to  them,  four  sons  and 
seven  daughters,  but  two  of  the  number  are 
now  deceased,  one  having  been  accidentally 
killed  with  dynamite.  All  of  the  children 
were  bom  and  reared  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Penn  township.  Mr.  Crofoot  gives  his  polit- 
ical support  to  the  Democratic  party,'  and  is 
a  valued  and  worthy  member  of  the  Baptist 
church.    He  is  an  earnest  Christian  man.  and 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


933 


his  pathway  has  been  marked  by  good  deeds, 
honest  puipose  and  commendable  industry. 

ALiPred  Ferris.  Many  years  have  been 
added  to  the  cycle  of  time  since  the  Ferris 
family  was  established  within  the  borders  of 
St.  Joseph  county,  and  during  the  years 
which  have  since  come  and  gone  its  various 
members  have  won  for  the  name  an  enviable 
distinction  by  their  true  worth.  Among  its 
prominent  representatives  in  Penn  township 
is  Alfred  Ferris,  whose  birth  occurred  here 
on  the  16th  of  October,  1856,  and  throughout 
his  entire  business  career  he  has  been  identi- 
fied with  agricultural  pursuits.  His  father, 
Lewis  Ferris,  also  a  native  son  of  Indiana, 
was  married  in  St.  Joseph  county  to  Mary 
Grain,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Chautauqua 
coimty,  New  York,  September  26,  1826,  but 
when  ten  years  of  age  she  made  the  overland 
journey  in  wagons  to  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana. The  f  amiljr  home  was  established  on 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  in 
Penn  township,  of  which  they  cleared  a  con- 
siderable amount,  and  there  Mrs.  Ferris  grew 
to  years  of  maturity  and  received  her  educa- 
tion in  .the  district  school.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ferris  were  numbered  among  the  honored 
early  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  in 
1852  they  took  up  their  abode  on  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Ferris  homestead  in  Penn 
township,  where  the  father  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  and  passed  away  in 
death.  He  gave  a  lifelong  support  to  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  was  well  and  favorably 
known  throughout  the  entire  county  of  St. 
Joseph,  where  so  many  years  of  his  life  were 
passed.  He  is  still  survived  by  his  wife,  who 
has  now  reached  the  age  of  eighty-two  years, 
and  is  yet  a  resident  of  Penn  township.  Dur- 
ing several  years  she  was  numbered  among 
the  successful  educators  of  the  county.  Five 
children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  MrS.  Ferris, 
three  sons  and  two  daug>hters,  namely :  Cyrus, 
Martha,  the  wife  of  Frank  Tupper,  of  Otsego, 
Michigan;  Alice,  the  wife  of  William  Gaug- 
ler,  of  Penn  township;  Alfred,  whose  name 
introduces  this  review,  and  William,  who  died 
in  infancy.  All  were  bom  and  reared  in 
Penn  township. 

Mr.  Alfred  Ferris  has  always  remained  at 
home,  and  he  is  now  numbered  among  the 
leading  agriculturists  of  Penn  township.  He, 
too,  gives  his  political  support  to  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  during  one  term  served  as  its 
representative  in  the  office  of  supervisor.  He 
is  a  worthy  representative  of   an   honored 


pioneer  family,  and  at  all  times  can  be  relied 
upon  to  use  his  influence  in  the  advancement 
of  whatever  is  for  the  good  of  the  community. 

Thomas  Elder,  who  is  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  in  Penn  township,  section  18, 
is  numbered  among  the  native  sons  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  his  birth  occurring  in  its  town- 
ship of  Portage  on  the  12th  of  September, 
1855.  His  father,  William  Elder,  who  was 
long  engaged  in  the  tilling  of  the  soil  of  Penn 
township,  but  now  deceased,  was  born  in  Scot- 
land in  1827,  attaining  to  years  of  maturity 
and  receiving  his  educational  training  in  his 
native  land.  At  the  age  of  twenty-three  years 
he  left  the  land  of  hills  and  heather  and  came 
to  America,  spending  the  first  year  in  Penn- 
sylvania engaged  in  farming,  while  in  1851  he 
made  his  way  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
journeying  overland  the  greater  part  of  the 
way,  and  arriving  in  Portage  township  rented 
a  farm  and  resumed  his  old  occupation  of 
agriculture.  In  1860  he  purchased  forty 
acres  of  partially  cleared  land,  but  in  1864, 
after  clearing  the  remainder,  he  traded  the 
property  for  the  present  Elder  homestead  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  He  performed  the 
arduous  labor  of  clearing  about  ninety  acres 
of  this  property,  erected  many  substantial  and 
valuable  improvements  and  transformed  it 
into  an  attractive  and  beautiful  homestead. 
In  his  native  land  of  Scotland  Mr.  Elder  was 
married  to  one  of  its  native  daughters,  Mary 
Grieve,  where  she  was  bom  on  the  28th  of 
November,  1823.  She  accompanied  her  hus- 
band on  his  emigration  to  America,  and  in 
St.  Joseph  county  there  were  born  to  them  six 
children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters: 
Rachael  (deceased),  Robert,  Mary,  Thomas, 
Margaret  and  John  (deceased).  Throughout 
the  period  of  his  residence  in  this  country  Mr. 
Elder  gave,  a  stanch  support  to  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  he  was  a  worthy  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  passing  away  in  its 
faith  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  He 
was  an  indefatigable  worker,  making  the  most 
of  his  opportunities,  and  was  the  architect  of 
his  own  fortunes. 

In  the  district  schools  of  his  native  town- 
ship of  Penn  Thomas  Elder  received  his  edu- 
cational training,  but  in  1878  he  left  the  pa- 
rental  home  to  seek  his  fortunes  in  the  west, 
there  continuing  the  trade  of  carpentering 
which  he  had  previously  learned.  Twenty 
years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  the  western 
country,  but  in  1898  he  returned  to  his  old 
home  in  St.  Joseph  county,  and  on  the  old 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


934 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


family  homestead  he  has  ever  since  lived  and 
labored.  In  addition  to  his  farm  labors  he 
also  taught  school  during  two  winter  seasons 
in  Warren  township. 

In  1905  Mr.  Elder  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Sadie  Fourtner,  who  was  born  and  reared 
in  Iowa,  and  her  death  occurred  in  1906, 
after  a  happy  married  life  of  but  one  year. 
Mr.  Elder  upholds  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  but  uses  his  franchise  in  sup- 
port of  the  man  rather  than  the  party.  He 
has  one  of  the  old  parchment  deeds,  which  is 
a  valuable  document  as  an  heirloom. 

George  Eutzler.  Through  many  decades 
representatives  of  the  Eutzler  family  have 
been  important  factors  in  the  public  life,  espe- 
cially that  part  bearing  oil  agricultural  de- 
velopment, of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  to 
George  Eutzler  belongs  the  honor  of  being 
one  of  its  oldest  settlers  in  point  of  residence. 
He  was  born  in  Jackson  county,  Ohio,  in 
June,  1829.  His  father,  George  E.  Eutzler, 
for  many  years  one  of  the  leading  farmers 
of  Penn  township,  was  a  native  son  of  the 
Keystone  state  of  Pennsylvania,  but  -during 
his  boyhood  days  he  left  that  commonwealth 
and  went  to  Jackson  county,  Ohio,  which  con- 
tinued as  his  home  for  many  years.  He  was 
there  married  to  one  of  Ohio's  native  daugh- 
ters, Elizabeth  Hollingsheadj  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  eight  children,  two  sons 
and  six  daughters,  of  whom  George  was  the 
eld<est  of  the  sons,  and  four  of  the  children 
are  now  deceased.  In  1832  the  family  estab- 
lished their  home  in  St.  Joseph  county,  locat- 
ing on  what  is  now  known  as  the  old  Eutzler 
homestead,  where  the  husband  and  father 
purchased  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land,  which  with  the  aid  of  his  sons  he  cleared 
from  its^dense  growth  of  timiber  and  converted 
It  into  one  of  the  valuable  farms  of  the 
county.  It  was  located  in  Penn  township, 
and  there  Mr.  Eutzler  lived  and  labored  until 
his  life's  work  was  ended  in  death,  passing 
away  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  He  was  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations,  and  was 
a  valued  member  of  the  Methoddst  Episcopal 
church. 

George  Eutzler  was  but  three  years  of  age 
when  the  family  became  residents  of  Penn 
township,  and  his  boyhood  days  were  passed 
on  the  old  home  farm,  which  he  assisted  in 
clearing  and  developing.  On  the  6th  of  April, 
1853,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Anna 
Vesey,  who  was  born,  reared  and  educated  in 
Ohio,  a  daughter  of  George  and  Olive  (Gra- 


ham) Vesey,  who  were  long  numbered  among 
the  leading  residents  of  Penn  township.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eutzler  were  born  three  chil- 
dren, Elizabeth,  Erastus  and  Enos,  but  the 
second  child,  Erastus,  is  deceased,  and  all 
were  born  and  reared  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Penn  township.  Mr.  Eutzler  also  affiliate 
with  the  Democracy,  and  has  fraternal  con- 
nections with  the  Masonic  order.  As  one  of 
its  venerable  citizens  and  as  a  scion  of  one  of 
its  earliest  pioneer  families  we  are  pleased 
to  present  in  this  history  of  St.  Joseph  county 
a  review  of  the  life  of  George  Eutzler. 

George  E.  Moon,  one  of  the  leading  agri- 
culturists of  Penn  township  and  a  represen- 
tative of  one  of  the  honored  pioneer  families 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  was  born  on  the  farm 
on  which  he  now  resides  December  25,  1856. 
His  father,  William  Moon,  was  long  num- 
bered among  the  pioneer  residents  and  influ- 
ential farmers  of  Penn  township.  His  birth 
occurred  in  the  state  of  New  York  May  3. 
1820,  and  in  that  conmion wealth  he  spent  the 
first  eighteen  years  of  his  life,  coming  thence 
in  1838  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  where 
shortly  afterward  he  established  his  home  in 
Penn  township.  During  a  number  of  years 
he  taught  school  in  this  county,  his  name 
being  prominently  associated  with  its  early 
educational  labors.  For  his  wife  he  chose 
Fannie  Eutzler,  who  was  bom  December  5, 
1824,  in  Ohio,  but  came  to  St.  Joseph  county 
with  her  parents  when  only  about  six  years  of 
age,  and  her  educational  training  was  received 
in  Penn  township. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moon 
removed  to  a  farm  in  Elkhart  county,  In- 
diana, which  had  been  entered  by  her  father, 
where  they  continued  to  reside  for  a  number 
of  years,  and  they  were  among  the  first  resi- 
dents of  what  is  now  Wakarusa.  Returning 
to  St.  Joseph  county  about  1852,  they  located 
in  Penn  township,  where  Mr.  Moon  purchased 
two  hundred  acres  of  timber  land,  a  portion 
of  which  he  cleared,  and  there  his  busy  and 
useful  life  was  ended  in  death  on  the  3d  of 
November,  1857.  He  was  an  active  and 
valued  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  in  Osceola,  having  assisted  in  the  erec- 
tion of  the  church  there,  and  was  a  Democrat 
in  his  political  affiliations.  Unto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Moon  were  born  three  children,  one  son 
and  two  daughters,  Sarah  Etta,  bom  April  16. 
1850,  and  Elizabeth,  bom  October  27.  1852, 
both  born  in  Elkhart  county  but  reared  in  St. 
Joseph  county. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Mrs.  Jokn  M.  ^Vommcr 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


'M,A.(:¥; 


^n^nyrw^ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


THE 

■^   \%\9r,  ^fr?»  and  T]\4%nj 
1909 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


935 


George  E.  Moon,  the  only  son  of  the  family, 
received  his  education  in  the  district  schools 
of  Penn  township,  in  the  meantime  assisting 
in  clearing  and  cultivating  the  home  fann, 
and  he  is  now  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  rich  and  fertile  land,  all  of 
which  is  cleared  and  under  an  excellent  state 
of  cultivation.  Many  substantial  improve-, 
ments  have  been  instituted  by  him,  and  every- 
thing about  the  place  shows  the  care  of  a 
thrifty  and  practical  owner.  In  addition  to 
his  agricultural  pursuits  he  is  also  the  presi- 
dent, treasurer  and  salesman  of  the  Crystal 
Springs  Creaimery. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Moon  was  celebrated 
on  the  31st  of  March,  1887,  when  Alice  L. 
Funk  became  his  wife.  Her  father,  William 
Funk,  a  deceased  farmer  of  Elkhart  county, 
was  a  native  son  of  Pennsylvania,  but  re- 
moved to  Ohio  when  only  eleven  years  of  age, 
and  was  reaf'ed  on  a  farm  in  that  common- 
wealth. Five  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Moon,  four  sons  and  one  daughter: 
William,  bom  January  20,  1888 ;  Grace,  June 
15.  1891;  Lloyd,  Febraary  15,  1893;  Walter, 
Pebmary  17,  1896 ;  and  Carl,  March  4,  1898. 
All  were  educated  in  the  district  schools  of 
Penn  township  and  in  the  high  school  of 
South  Bend.  Mr.  Moon  gives  his  political  al- 
legiance to  the  Republican  party,  while  fra- 
ternally he  is  a  member  of  the  Maccabees,  at 
Osceola.  His  religious  connection  is  with  the 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  that  city, 
and  he  is  a  gentleman  who  is  highly  esteemed 
wherever  known. 

John  M.  Wommer.  After  a  long  and  suc- 
cessful career  devoted  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, principally  on  his  present  farm  on  sec- 
tion 10,  Penn  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
Mr.  John  M.  Wommer  is  now  living  a  retired 
life  on  this  pleasant  and  valuable  estate.  He 
is  a  representative  of  an  honored  family  of 
the  Keysrtone  state  of  Pennsylvania,  his  par- 
ents, Jacob  and  Maria  (Minnich)  Wommer, 
having  both  been  bom  in  that  commonwealth 
and  were  of  German  descent.  The  father  was 
a  blacksmith  by  trade,  but  made  his  home  on 
a  farm,  where  his  death  occurred  at  the  ex- 
treme old  age  of  eighty-two  years.  He  was  a 
lifelong  Republican,  and  previous  to  the  or- 
ganization of  that  party  voted  with  the  Whigs. 
During  many  years  he  was  an  active  and 
zealous  member  of  the  Evangelical  church, 
living  his  life  in  harmony  with  its  teachings, 
and  devoting  much  of  his  time  to  the  further- 
ance  of    Christianity.      Mrs.    Wommer   was 


seventy-seven  years  of  age  when  called  to  the 
home  beyond,  while  her  mother  lived  to  the 
unusual  old  age  of  ninety-seven  years,  and 
thus  both  the  paternal  and  maternal  families 
are  noted  for  their  longevity. 

John  M.  Wommer,  the  elder  of  their  two 
sons  and  the  only  living  representative  of  the 
family,  was  bom  in  P(  nnsylvania  October  13, 
1831,  where  he  was  reared  to  years  of  matur- 
ity on  his  father's  farm,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  near  his  home. 
He  was  there  married  in  1852  to  Catherine 
Karsner,  "a  native  daughter  of  Pennsylvania 
and  of  German  descent,  and  to  them  have 
been  born  nine  children,  seven  sons  and  two 
daughters,  three  born  in  Pennsylvania,  three 
in  St.  Joseph  county,  and  three  ^re  deceased. 
Those  living  are:  Morris,  William,  Frank, 
Charles,  Jacob  and  Sarah.  Edward  and 
Katherine  are  deceased  and  one  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mrs.  Wommer  died  April  19,  1903. 
She  had  been  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
church  for  forty-one  years.  She  was  a  true 
wife  and  mother,  and  her  death  caused  a  feel- 
ing of  regret  in  the  vicinity  as  well  as  the 
home  circle. 

In  1868  Mr.  Wommer  removed  with  his 
family  from  Pensylvania  to  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty, Indiana,  establishing  the  home  on  his  pres- 
ent farm  in  Penn  township,  then  consisting 
of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land, 
but  the  estate  has  since  been  diminished  until 
it  now  contains  but  two  hundred  and  eighty 
acres.  The  land,  however,  is  rich  and  fertile, 
and  the  most  of  it  is  under  cultivation.  Here 
Mr.  Wommer  has  lived  and  labored  for  many 
years,  winning  success  in  his  chosen  calling  of 
agriculture,  and  he  is  now  resting  in  the  en- 
joyment of  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil.  He 
gives  a  stanch  support  to  the  Republican 
party,  and  his  fraternal  relations  are  with 
the  order  of  Odd  Fellows  in  Mishawaka,  but 
he  joined  the  order  in  Pennsylvania  many 
years  ago,  in  about  1862.  He  has  long  passed 
the  Psalmist's  span  of  three  score  years  and 
ten,  and  now  in  the  evening  of  life  he  is  rest- 
ing from  arduous  cares  in  the  mid^  of  friends 
who  esteem  him  for  his  honorable  record. 

Samuel  Laing.  We  pause  for  a  moment  to 
pay  a  passing  tribute  to  the  memory  of  one 
who  rounded  out  over  half  a  century  of  hon- 
orable life  and  then  passed  to  his  reward. 
He  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  July 
15,  1834.  His  father,  who  was  for  many  years 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Portage 
township,    St.   Joseph   county,   claimed   Vir- 


Digitized  by 


Google 


936 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


ginia  as  the  commonwealth  of  his  nativity, 
and  was  of  Scotch  parentage.  He  spent  the 
first  eighteen  years  of  his  life  in  the  Old 
Dominion  state,  removing  thence  to  Ohio, 
where  he  became  a  tiller  of  the  soil,  and  was 
there  married  to  Sarah  Piper,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Pennsylvania.  They  became  the 
parents  of  six  children,  two  sons  and  four 
daughters,  of  whom  Samuel  was  the  fifth 
child  and  youngest  son  in  order  of  birth. 
When  he  had  reached  the  age  of  nine  years 
the  family  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, making  the  journey  overland  with 
wagons  and  established  their  home  in  Portage 
township.  This  was  in  the  year  of  1843,  and 
the  father  purchased  what  afterward  became 
known  as  the  Laing  homestead,  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  death  of  the  wife  and 
mother,  after  which  he  made  his  home  with 
his  children  until  he,  too,  finally  passed  away 
in  death  in  Greene  township.  He  upheld  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party,  and  was 
a  worthy  member  of  the  Methodist  church. 

In  the  district  schools  of  Portage  township 
Samuel  Laing  received  his  educational  train- 
ing, in  the  meantime  working  on  the  old 
home  farm,  and  after  his  marriage  he  fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits  for  some  years 
in  Center  township,  finally  moving  to  South 
Bend  and  associating  himself  with  the  Olivers, 
with  whom  he  remained  for  eight  years.  Re- 
turning thence  to  his  former  pursuit  of  farm- 
ing, he  purchased  forty  acres  of  the  present 
estate,  on  w^hieh  he  made  many  and  substan- 
tial improvements,  also  adding  to  its  boun- 
daries until  the  homestead  now  contains 
eighty  acres  of  land. 

On  the  8th  of  May,  1859,  Mr.  Laing  mar- 
ried Katherine  Metzger,  a  native  daughter  of 
Ohio,  where  she  was  born  on  the  4th  of  Febru- 
ar\%  1838,  her  parents  being  John  and  Kath- 
erine (Goodman)  Metzger.  They  were  both 
bom  in  the  fatherland  of  Germany,  but  came 
to  America  when  young,  and  for  many  years 
made  their  home  in  Ohio,  where  their  daugh- 
ter Katherine  was  reared  to  years  of  matur- 
ity, and  from  whence  she  came  to  St.  Joseph 
county  in  1856.  Eleven  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Laing,  five  sons  and  six 
daughters,  all  born  and  reared  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  namely:  John  Franklin,  deceased; 
Charles  Frederick,  who  has  also  passed  away ; 
Francis  Delphine.  Sarah  Catherine.  George 
Fabeon,  Mary  Ellen,  Florence  May,  Alice 
Beatrice,  Clara  Blanche,  Samuel  Edward,  de- 
ceased, and  Marcus  James.     Mr.  Laing,  the 


father,  gave  his  political  support  to  both  the 
Republican  and  Democratic  parties  at  differ- 
ent  times  during  his  life,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  Catholic  church.  His  death  occurred 
when  he  had  reached  the  sixty-fifth  milestoDe 
on  the  journey  of  life,  and  in  his  death  the 
community  in  which  he  had  so  long  lived  and 
labored  mourned  the  loss  of  one  of  its  truest 
and  best  citizens. 

John  H.  Pabett.  Many  years  have  faded 
away  in  the  past  since  the  Parett  family  was 
founded  in  St.  Joseph  county,  and  no  better 
citizens  than  they  have  been  numbered  among 
the  inhabitants  of  this  portion  of  the  state. 
Among  its  representatives  in  Penn  township 
is  numbered  John  H.  Parett,  who  was  bora 
within  its  borders  August  31,  1848.  His 
father,  William  Parett,  who  was  long  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  in  this  locality,  was 
born  in  New  York,  but  when  a  young  man  he 
came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  and  es- 
tablished his  home  in  Penn  township,  where 
he  secured  eighty  acres  of  timber  land.  After 
clearing  this  farm  he  sold  it  and  purchased 
another  eighty-acpe  tract,  which  continued  as 
the  family  home  for  many  years.  In  St.  Jo- 
seph county  Mr.  Parett  was  married  to  Cath- 
erine Rogers,  who  came  from  her  native  land 
of  Ireland  to  America  during  her  early  girl- 
hood days,  locating  in  St.  Joseph  county, 
where  she  was  reared  from  the  age  of  four- 
teen years.  They  became  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  two  sons  and  five  daughters,  all 
born  and  reared  in  Penn  township,  namely: 
Elizabeth,  Belle,  John  H.,  Eliza,  Mary,  Mar- 
garet and  Charley,  but  the  two  oldest.  Eliza- 
beth and  Belle,  are  now  deceased.  The  father 
gave  his  political  support  to  the  Republican 
party,  and  he  performed  well  his  part  in  both 
his  public  and  private  duties. 

John  H.  Parett  was  reared  as  a  farmer  lad. 
attending  the  district  schools  during  his  early 
boyhood  days,  while  during  the  summer 
months  he  worked  in  the  fields.  He  remained 
at  home  until  his  twenty-fifth  year,  and  dur- 
ing that  time-  cleared  the  home  farm  of 
eighty  acres,  and  after  his  marriage  he  con- 
tinued his  residence  on  the  old  homestead 
until  1879,  when  he  located  on  sixty  acres 
of  his  present  place.  He  has  not  only 
cleared  and  improved  this  tract,  but  has  also 
added  to  its  boundaries  a  tract  of  seventy- 
five  acres  of  timber  land,  and  in  addition  has 
cleared  forty  acres  in  other  sections.  His 
life  has  been  one  of  unremitting  toil,  but  he 
to-day  ranks  among  the  leading  farmers  of 


Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


937 


Penn  township,  and  his  creditable  life  work 
has  won  him  the  respect  and  commendation 
of  all  who  are  familiar  with  his  history. 

In  1873  Mr.  Parett  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Annis  Moon,  the  daughter  of  Solomon 
Moon,  whose  history  will  be  found  on  other 
pages  of  this  work.  They  have  five  children, 
three  sons  and  two  daughters:  Florence,  the 
wife  of  James  Sprague,  and  they  reside  near 
her  father's  home;  Ralph;  Edna,  the  wife  of 
George  Wesy,  of  South  Bend;  Arzie;  and 
Ivan.  All  were  bom  and  reared  in  Penn 
township.  Mr.  Parett  gives  his  allegiance 
to  the  Republican  party,  and  he  has  ever 
manifested  an  earnest  interest  in  local  and 
general  affairs. 

James  E.  Jennings.  Penn  township 
numbers  among  its  representative  young  agri- 
culturists and  business  men  JUmes  E.  Jen- 
nings, whose  valuable  and  well  cultivated 
farmstead  is  located  in  section  5.  He  was 
bom  in  Clay  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,  on  the  19th  of  September,  1876, 
and  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  county's 
honored  pioneer  families.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Samuel  R.  Jennings,  Sr.,  was 
bom  in  Monroe,  Orange  county.  New  York, 
April  3,  1807,  and  his  death  occurred  in 
St.  Joseph  county,  where  he  had  resided  for 
many  years,  on  the  4th  of  January,  1874. 
He  married  Matilda  BardoU,  who  was  bom 
in  Jamestown,  Greene  county,  Ohio,  Decem- 
ber 1,  1818,  and  her  death  occurred  on  the 
25th  of  March,  1864.  They  were  the  parents 
of  five  children,  all  bom  in  St.  Joseph  county, 
namely:  James,  born  June  8,  1843,  died 
on  the  11th  of  December,  1865;  Samuel, 
bom  December  18,  1845 ;  Charles,  born  Octo- 
ber 2,  1847,  is  deceased;  Francis,  bom  Jan- 
uary 3,  1849;  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 
Francis  Jennings,  the  father  of  him  whose 
name  introduces  this  review,  was  bom  in 
South  Bend,  Indiana,  January  3,  1849,  and 
was  reared  and  educated  in  Clay  township, 
where  he  attended  the  Stucky  school.  His 
educational  training  was  completed  at  Notre 
Dame,  and  he  was  afterward  engaged  in 
farming  the  old  homestead  for  some  time 
imtil  finally,  in  1873,  he  purchased  his  pres- 
ent home  farm  of  eighty  acres.  On  the  23d 
of  February,  1875,  he  was  married  to  Esther 
M.  Pulkerson,  who  was  born  in  Clay  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  November 
18,  1854,  a  daughter  of  Louis  E.  Fulkerson, 
one  of  lihe  early  residents  of  St.  Joseph 
county.      Two   children   were   bom    of   this 


union,  James  E.  and  Arthur  L.,  the  former 
of  whom  was  bom  in  Clay  township,  and  the 
latter  in  Penn  township.  Mr.  Jennings,  the 
father,  gave  a  life-long  support  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  at  one  time  was  made  the 
assessor  of  Clay  township.  His  fraternal  re- 
lations were  with  the  Masonic  order. 

James  E.  Jennings  completed  his  educa- 
tional training  begun  in  the  district  schools 
of  Penn  township  in  the  Elkhart  Commercial 
College,  where  he  enjoyed  superior  advan- 
tages. On  the  21st  of  March,  1900,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Alice  Oakes,  who  was 
bom  in  Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  November 
5,  1879,  where  her  father,  Benjamin  F. 
Oakes,  was  long  a  leading  farmer.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Jennings  have  had  three  children,  two 
sons  and  a  daughter,  Samuel  Cecil,  Milriel 
and  James,  but  the  first  bom,  Samuel,  is  now 
deceased.  Two  were  born  on  the  present 
home  farm  of  Mr.  Jennings.  He  is  deeply 
interested  in  the  public  affairs  of  his  com- 
munity, and  he  is  winning  for  himself  a  name 
and  place  among  its  leading  agriculturists 
and  business  men. 

Fred  G.  Ebbbhart.  Penn  township  in- 
cludes among  its  prominent  farmers  and  citi- 
zens Fred  G.  Eberhart,  whose  birth  occurred 
in  N^w  York  March  15,  1835.  A  review  of 
the  Eberharrt  family  will  be  found  on  other 
pages  of  this  work.  He  was  but  a  year  and 
a  half  old  when  he  was  brought  by  his  parents 
to  St  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  and  he  was 
reared  to  mature  years  on  the  old  homestead 
two  miles  northeast  of  Mishawaka,  where  he 
attended  the  district  schools  of  Penn  town- 
ship. At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  left 
the  parental  home  and  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business  in  Madison  township,  thus  contin- 
uing for  seven  years,  when  he  returned  to 
Penn  township  and  purchased  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  acres,  this  having  been  in  the 
year  of  1857.  He  cleared  sixty-six  acres  of  this 
tract,  while  all  of  the  many  and  substantial 
improvements  which  now  adorn  the  home- 
stead stand  as  monuments  to  his  industry  and 
ability. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  1864,  Mr.  Eberhart 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Roxie  Vesey,  a 
representative  of  an  old  and  prominent  fam- 
ily in  Penn  township.  She  was  born  in  Lake 
county,  Ohio,  May  15,  1846,  and  was  but 
two  years  of  age  when  brought  by  her  parents 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  receiving  her 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  Penn 
township.     Her  father,   George  Vesey,   pur- 


Digitized  by 


Google 


938 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


chased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  timber 
land  here,  on  which  he  erected  a  log  cabin 
and  began  the  hard  and  laborious  task  of 
clearing  his  place  of  its  native  growth  of 
timber.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Olive  Graham,  and  was  born  in  Ohio.  In 
their  family  were  six  children,  three  sons 
and  three  daughters,  but  two  of  the  number 
are  now  deceased.  Mr.  Vesey  gave  his  politi- 
cal support  to  the  Republican  party,  and  was 
a  member  and  deacon  of  the  Baptist  church 
in  Penn  township,  which  he  also  helped  to 
build.  His  birth  occurred  in  Vermont  on 
the  20th  of  August,  1811,  and  he  passed 
away  in  death  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years, 
after  a  long  life  of  usefulness  and  honor. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eberhart  have  been  born 
four  children,  three  sons  and  a  daughter,  all 
bom  on  the  home  farm  in  Penn  township, 
namely:  Sabra,  the  wife  of  George  Cooke, 
of  Minneapolis;  George,  of  Mishawaka;  and 
Lucius  and  Adelbert,  deceased.  Mr.  Eber- 
hart has  given  a  liife-long  support  to  the 
Republican  party,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church.  Among  the  people  with 
whom  he  has  been  so  long  connected  he  is 
popular,  and  is  well  known  and  honored  for 
his  many  sterling  characteristics. 

William  H.  Phillips.  Although  many 
years  have  been  added  to  the  past  since 
William  H.  Phillips  passed  to  his  reward, 
he  is  yet  remembered  in  many  a  home,  and 
in  his  death  Penn  township  lost  one  of  its 
influential  and  useful  business  men.  He  was 
born  in  Sheffield,  Massachusetts,  October  16, 
1820,  a  son  of  Solomon  and  Mary  (Churchill) 
Phillips,  who  were  also  born  in  that  com- 
monwealth. The  son  spent  the  first  twenty- 
five  years  of  his  life  in  his  native  state,  after 
which  he  moved  to  New  York  and  was  em- 
ployed as  a  collier  and  in  burning  coal  for 
several  years.  In  the  town  of  Austerlitz, 
Columbia  county,  New  York,  on  the  12th  of 
April,  1849,  Mr.  Phillips  married  Mary  A. 
We^tover,  who  was  there  born  on  the  16th 
of  December,  1825,  a  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Hannah  (Woodin)  Westover,  the  former  a 
native  of  Stockbridge,  Massachusetts,  and  the 
latter  of  the  state  of  New  York.  They  were 
farming  people,  and  their  daughter  Mary  was 
reared  on  their  old  homestead  farm,  the  par- 
ents both  passing  away  in  death  in  the 
Empire  state. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  remained  in  New 
York  for  seven  years  after  their  marriage, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1857  began  the  overland 


journey  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  where 
they  established  their  home  on  eighty  acres 
of  land  in  Penn  township.  Mr.  Phillips  per- 
formed the  arduous  ta^  of  clearing  about 
ten  acres  of  this  tract,  and  with  the  passing 
years  he  added  to  the  boundaries  of  his  es- 
tate until  he  became  the  owner  of  one  hun- 
dred acr^.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  and 
influential  agriculturists  of  Penn  township, 
and  was  long  numbered  among  its  honored 
pioneer  residents.  His  valuable  estate  was 
but  the  reward  of  an  honest,  industrious 
career,  and  upon  the  ladder  of  his  own  build- 
ing he  climbed  to  aflSuence  and  prosperity. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  were  bom  five 
children,  two  sons  and  three  daughters,  three 
of  whom  were  born  in  New  York  and  two  in 
St.  Joseph  county,  but  all  are  now  deceased. 
Mr.  Phillips  was  a  life-long  agriculturist  and 
was  a  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations. 
He  met  an  accidental  death  at  the  age  of 
sixty-three  years,  having  been  killed  while 
at  work  in  taking  down  an  old  barrack,  and 
thus  passed  away  an  honored  pioneer  citizen 
of  Penn  township. 

James  C.  Eberhart.  On  the  farm  known 
as  ''The  Plain  View  Farm''  on  which  he  now 
lives  and  labors  James  C.  Eberhart  has  spent 
his  entire  life,  his  birth  here  occurring  on 
the  18th  of  August,  1844.  His  father,  Fred- 
crick  George  Eberhart,  was  numbered  among 
the  early  pioneers  of  Penn  township,  and 
was  a  native  son  of  New  York,  bom  in  1797, 
and  was  there  reared  to  years  of  maturitj*. 
In  Pennsylvania  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Weltner,  whose  birth  occurred  in  that  com- 
monwealth on  the  25th  of  September,  1800. 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, nine  sons  and  three  daughters,  eight 
of  whom  were  born  in  the  east,  in  New  York 
and  Pennsylvania,  and  the  remainder  in  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana.  In  1835  the  family 
started  on  the  overland  journey  to  the  west, 
their  destination  being  Illinois,  but  on  reach- 
ing St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  a  son  became 
ill,  and  in  the  delay  which  this  occasioned 
the  father  became  attached  -to  the  country 
here  and  purchased  four  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  Penn  township.  The  land  was  then 
in  its  primitive  state,  but  he  immediately 
began  the  arduous  task  of  clearing  it  and 
placing  it  under  cultivation,  first,  however, 
erecting  a  little  log  cabin.  He  was  a  glass 
blower  by  trade,  and  followed  that  occupa- 
tion for  some  time  in  Michigan,  his  sons  con- 
ducting the  work  of  the  farm.     He  was  a 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


A»t»r,  Len»^x  anfl  7114 


Digitized  by 


Google 


cAhiJf:,  fO'  ^  luU^^^.4.iLAj/r 


Digitized  by 


Google 


<^  ^ilju.JLz.ucU- 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


/  THE 

'  Mtp^l^^«'''  and  Ti>d»»/' 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


939 


stanch  Eepublican  in  his  political  affiliations, 
and  a  true  abolitionist,  and  his  death  oc- 
curred on  the  old  home  farm  when  he  had 
just  passed  the  Psalmist's  span  of  three  score 
years  and  ten.  He  was  a  worthy  member 
of  the  Methodist  church,  having  been  one  of 
the  principal  organizers  of  that  denomination 
in  this  neighborhood,  and  he  continued  one 
of  its  leading  members  until  called  to  his 
home  beyond. 

The  district  schools  of  Penn  township  af- 
forded James  C.  Eberhart  the  educational 
training  which  he  enjoyed  in  his  youth,  but 
he  was  early  inured  to  the  work  of  the 
fields,  and  assisted  his  father  and  brothers 
in  clearing  the  home  farm  and  making  it 
the  valuable  estate  which  it  now  is.  In 
time  he  became  the  sole  owner  of  this  val- 
uable property  by  purchasing  the  interests 
of  the  other  heirs,  and  its  boundaries  now 
contain  two  hundred  and  fourteen  acres  of 
rich  and  fertile  land. 

On  the  6th  of  September,  1866,  Mr.  Eber- 
hart married  Samantha  Huntsinger,  who  was 
bom  and  reared  in  Penn  township,  where 
her  father,  S.  K.  Huntsinger,  tad  established 
his  home  in  an  early  day,  and  was  long  num- 
bered among  its  prominent  agriculturists. 
Two  sons  and  a  daughter  were  born  to  bless 
the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eberhart,  William, 
Grace  and  Harry  W.  All  were  bom  on  the 
homestead  farm'  in  Penn  townsihip.  The 
daughter  is  the  wife  of  Walter  D.  Ort,  a 
grocer  of  Mishawiaka;  they  have  four  chil- 
dren, Bess  Eldona,  Blanche  Adine,  Ida  Valier 
and  Marguerite.  William  wedded  Miss 
Aurilla  Van  Winkle,  and  they  have  three 
children,  Clem,  Vera  and  Donald.  William 
is  employed  in  the  Mishawaka  Rubber  Works. 
Since  age  conferred  upon  him  the  right  of 
franchise  Mr.  Eberhart  has  voted  with  the 
Republican  party,  and  in  1894  was  elected 
the  sheriff  of  St.  Joseph  county,  to  which 
position  he  was  returned  at  the  expiration 
of  his  first  term,  serving  four  years  in  all  in 
that  responsible  position.  He  too  is  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Benjamin  F.  Reinhardt.  For  almost  half 
a  century  Mr.  Benjamin  F.  Reinhardt  has 
resided  within  the  borders  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  throughout  this  long  period  he 
has  been  an  important  factor  in  the  improve- 
ment and  advancement  of  his  community, 
while  he  has  also  been  concerned  with  the 
broader  interests  which  have  had  to  do  with 
the  welfare  of  the  commonwealth.     He  was 

Vol.  11—22. 


born  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  December  18, 
1838,  the  youngest  of  the  eleven  children, 
five  sons  and  six  daughters,  born  to  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  (Trent)  Reinhardt^  but  the 
only  ones  now  living  are  Benjamin  F.  and 
his  sister  Elizabeth,  the  widow  of  Edward 
Cordray  and  a  resident  of  Union  township, 
St.  Joseph  county. 

Jacob  Reinhardt,  the  father,  claimed  Som- 
erset county,  Pennsylvania,  as  the  place  of 
his  nativity,  born  March  26,  1783,  twenty- 
six  years  before  the  death  of  General  Wash- 
ington. He  was  reared  and  married  in  his 
native  conmionwealth,  and  his  entire  life  was 
characterized  by  its  strict  integrity  and  noble 
purposes.  He  was  a  tinner  by  trade,  but  dur- 
ing the  later  years  of  his  life  was  identified 
with  agricultural  pursuits.  Making  his  way 
to  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio,  in  true  pioneer 
style,  he  located  in  Shanesville,  and  that 
county  continued  as  his  home  for  a  number 
of  years,  when  he  removed  to  Coshocton 
county  and  purchased  a  quarter  section  of 
timber  land  from  the  government.  In  addi- 
tion to  clearing  this  farm  from  its  dense 
growth  of  timber  he  also  added  eighty  acres 
to  its  boundaries,  but  in  1864  sold  the  prop- 
erty and  continued  his  westward  journey  to 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana.  He  established 
his  home  in  the  southeastern  portion  of  Lib- 
erty township,  there  purchasing  eighty  acres 
of  partially  cleared  land,  and  maintained  his 
residence  thereon  until  his  life's  labors  were 
ended  in  death,  passing  away  in  August, 
1869.  Politically  he  was  formerly  an  old-line 
Whig,  and  on  the  formation  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  joined  its  ranks  and  ever  re- 
mained true  to  its  principles,  also  serving  as 
.  its  representative  in  the  offices  of  township 
treasurer  and  assessor  in  Coshocton  county, 
•Ohio.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  devout 
members  of  the  German  Lutheran  'church, 
and  he  was  one  of  the  leading  factors  in 
the  erection  of  the  church  of  that  denomina- 
tion which  now  stands  in  Liberty  township. 
Mrs.  Reinhardt  was  born  in  Somerset  county, 
Pennsylvania,  March  8,  1797,  and  her  death 
occurred  in  about  the  year  1882.  She  grew 
to  years  of  maturity  in  her  native  county, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  James  Trent,  who 
was  of  English  birth  and  was  the  progenitor 
of  the  Trent  family  in  Somerset  county,  this 
being  aftor  the  period  of  the  Revolutionary 
war.  Mr.  Reinhardt  of  this  review  now  has 
in  his  possession  a  genealogical  record  com- 
prising about  four  hundred  and  thirty-five 


Digitized  by 


byG00gI( 


940 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


names  of  actual,  lineal  descendants  of  the 
Trent  family  who  are  located  throughout  the 
middle  west.  The  Reinhardt  family  is  of 
German  descent,  and  was  founded  in  this 
country  by  the  grandfather  of  Mr.  Benjamin 
F.  Reinhardt,  he  having  been  a  native  of 
Saxony  and  came  hither  in  a  very  early  day. 
There  were  two  brothers  who  when  young 
left  the  fatherland  to  seek  their  fortunes  in 
other  countries,  one  going  to  England  and 
the  other  to  America,  and  from  the  latter  is 
descended  the  Reinhardt  family  of  Ohio  and 
Indiana.  The  brother  who  went  to  England 
became  a  prominent  and  successful  man,  be- 
coming especially  renowned  in  its  military 
record,  as  he  was  a  general  in  charge  of  the 
English  army  at  Bombay,  India.  Grandfa- 
ther Philip  Reinhardt  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  serving  under  General 
Washington,  and  thus  his  descendants  are  en- 
titled to  become  members  of  the  great  AmeH- 
can  order  of  Sons  and  Daughters  of  the  Revo- 
lution. Mrs.  Jacob  Reinhardt  was  a  devout 
Christian,  and  her  beautiful  character  was 
reflected  in  her  teachings  to  her  children. 
With  her  husband  she  now  sleeps  in  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  cemetery,  where  a  beautiful 
stone  stands  sacred  to  their  memory. 

Benjamin  F.  Reinhardt,  of  this  review, 
spent  the  period  of  his  boyhood  and  youth 
in  his  native  county  of  Coshocton,  and  his 
business  life  has  been  devoted  to  the  work 
of  farming  and  stock  raising.  In  his  early 
life  he  received  an  excellent  educational  train- 
ing, having  supplemented  his  common  school 
training  by  study  in  a  select  school,  which 
was  maintained  by  his  fellow  srtudents,  they 
having  banded  together  and  engaged  the  best 
preceptor  money  could  obtain,  with  the  re- 
sult that  they  received  a  thorough  mental 
training  far  in  advance  of  the  present  high  - 
school  course.  For  eight  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  teacher's  profession  in  Ohio, 
becoming  a  prominent  and  successful  edu- 
cator. He  has  always  taken  pleasure  in  im- 
proving his  spare  moments  by  the  reading  of 
the  best  literature,  and  with  Ralph  Waldo 
Emerson  he  believes  that  ''Good  books  are 
our  best  companions.'*  It  was  in  1860  that 
he  went  to  Hancock  county  to  visit  his  uncle, 
and  while  there  resumed  his  work  as  a  teacher 
and  remained  until  1861,  when  the  tocsin  of 
war  sounded  throughout  the  land,  and  with 
its  call  for  troops  after  the  firing  upon  Fort 
Sumter  he  enlisted  in  Company  A.  Twenty- 
first    Ohio  Volunteer   Infantry,   under   Gen- 


eral Rosecrans.  His  enlistment  took  place 
on  the  l^h  of  April,  1861,  for  a  three  months' 
service,  but  his  military  career  covered  a 
period  of  four  months,  and  he  was  honorably 
discharged  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  August  12, 
1861,  his  duties  as  a  soldier  having  been 
principally  as  a  guard.  His  brigade  was 
under  the  command  of  General  J.  D.  Cox. 
subsequently  governor  of  the  state  of  Ohio. 

Returning  thence  to  Hancock  coimty  ilr. 
Reinhardt  taught  school  during  the  winter 
of  1861-2,  and  in  the  following  spring  re- 
turned to  his  home  in  Coshocton  county.  On 
the  27th  of  November,  1862,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Catherine  Steele,  and 
to  them  were  born  nine  children,  seven  sons 
and  two  daughters,  of  whom  five  are  livino:, 
namely :  Seward  C,  who  was  formerly  a  busi- 
ness man  but  is  now  a  teacher  in  Grovertown, 
Indiana,  and  for  his  wife  he  chose  Miss  Dora 
Uncapher,  their  children  being  Bernice,  Don- 
ald C.  and  Vera  M. ;  Robert  E.,  deceased, 
married  Miss  Ada  Ewald,  of  Starke  county, 
Indiana,  and  they  have  three  children,  Hazel 
F.,  Glenn  E.  and  Wilfred  P.;  Louisa  E.  Is 
the  widow  of  F.  A.  Stover,  by  whom  she  had 
three  children,  Nellie  B.,  Mildred  E.  and 
Catherine  E.,  and  she  makes  her  home  in 
Lincoln  township;  Emma  is  the  wife  of 
Herman  Goppert,  who  is  represented  else- 
where in  this  work;  Willard  F.  received  a 
musical  education  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  and 
is  now  a  teacher  in  Polk's  Piano  Tuning 
School  in  that  city;  and  Lawrence  P.,  who 
is  a  piano  tuner  in  Logansport,  Indiana,  mar- 
ried Miss  Florence  Shenefield. 

Mrs.  Reinhardt,  the  mother,  was  born  in 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  September  18,  1840, 
a  daughter  of  Elias  and  Elizabeth  (Bickel) 
Steele,  a  full  review  of  whose  lives  will  be 
found  in  the  sketch  of  David  Steele,  of  Lib- 
erty township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reinhardt 
began  their  married  life  in  Holmes  county, 
Ohio,  in  1862,  but  after  a  residence  there  of 
eighteen  months  they  came  to  Liberty  to\^Ti- 
ship,  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  where  in 
company  with  Jeremiah,  George  and  Michael 
Steele,  Mr.  Reinhardt  conducted  a  saw  mill 
about  three  and  a  half  years.  At  the  close 
of  that  period  he  moved  to  the  farm  where 
he  now  resides,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  and  which  was  the  property  of 
his  father-in-law.  With  the  passing  years, 
however,  he  has  purchased  the  larger  part 
of  the  tract,  and  has  also  added  sixty  acres 
to  its  boundaries.     The  homestead  is  known 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


941 


as  Linwood  Stock  Farm,  and  the  many  val- 
uable improvements  which  now  adorn  this 
valuable  farm  stand  as  monuments  to  the  ef- 
forts of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reinhardt.  They  in- 
clude a  pleasant  and  commodious  residence 
and  a  large  stone  basement  barn,  which  con- 
tains twenty-two  cords  of  stone,  while  in  the 
basement  of  the  house  there  are  eight  oords 
of  stone.  This  stone  was  all  hauled  a  dis- 
tance of  ten  miles,  and  three  winter  months 
were  consumed  in  the  arduous  task.  The 
wood  used  in  the  buildings  was  secured  from 
the  stump.  During  their  lives  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Reinhardt  have  also  traveled  quite  exten- 
sively, having  visited  the  grand  encampments 
at  Washington,  D.  C,  and  Minneapolis,  and 
Mrs.  Reinhardt  also  visited  Somerset  county, 
Pennsylvania.  He  is  independent  in  his  po- 
litical aflBliations,  casting  his  franchise  for 
the  man  whom  he  regards  best  qualified  for 
oflSce  regardless  of  party  ties.  For  nine  years 
he  served  as  the  assessor  of  Lincoln  town- 
ship, and  at  one  time  he  was  the  candidate 
for  the  office  of  representative  of  St.  Joseph 
county  on  the  Populist  ticket,  while 
later  he  was  the  party's  candidate  for 
the  office  of  joint  senator  for  the 
counties  of  St.  Joseph  and.  Starke.  He 
has  been  firmly  grounded  in  the  true  prin- 
ciples of  the  Populist  party.  The  cause  of 
education  finds  in  him  a  firm  friend,  and 
he  maintains  pleasant  relations  with  his  old 
army  comrades  by  his  membership  in  Jesse 
Coppock  Post,  No.  378,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which 
he  served  as  the  commander  for  one  year. 
Mrs.  Reinhardt  passed  away  in.  death  on  the 
26th  of  November,  1905,  after  traveling  the 
journey  of  life  with  her  husband  for  forty- 
three  years.  She  was.  a  faithful  and  loving 
wife,  an  affectionate  mother,  and  her  beauti- 
ful Christian  life  will  long  live  in  the  hearts 
of  those  who  knew  her. 

Mr.  Reinhardt  wedded  Mrs.  Hattie  (Fry) 
Robbins  June  12,  1907.  She  was  born  in 
Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  February  14,  1847, 
and  is  the  seventh  in  a  family  of  twelve 
children,  three  sons  and  nine  daughters,  born 
to  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Frazier)  Fry. 
There  are  four  of  the  family  living,  the  eld- 
est being  Amanda,  the  widow  of  Ellis  Flowers, 
and  she  is  a  resident  of  San  Francisco,  Cal- 
ifornia; Mrs.  Reinhardt  is  next;  Franklin 
is  a  resident  of  South  Bend,  Indiana ;  Joseph 
B.  is  a  resident  of  Bakersfield,  California. 
Joseph  Fry,  the  father,  was  a  native  of 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  and  was  reared,  edu- 


cated and  married  in  that  state.  By  occu- 
pation he  was  an  agriculturist.  Politically 
he  was  an  ardent  Republican,  and  he  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist  church. 
Mrs.  Joseph  Fry  was  a  native  of  the  same 
locality  as  her  husband,  and  she  traced  her 
lineage  to  the  English.  Some  of  the  Frazier 
progenitors  were  soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  Mrs.  B.  F.  Reinhardt  was  reared  in 
Iroquois  county  and  received  a  practical 
common  school  education  there.  She  married 
Mr.  Samuel  A.  Robbins,  who  was  one  of  the 
well  known  lawyers  of  South  Bend.  She  is 
a  member  of  the  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  in  South  Bend.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rein- 
hardt have  one  of  the  most  delightful  country 
seaAs  in  Lincoln  township,  and  they  extend 
a  most  gracious  hospitality  to  their  many 
friends  at  all  times. 

Ira  F.  Place.  Among  those  to  whom  has 
been  vouchsafed  an  honored  retirement  from 
the  active  duties  of  life  is  Ira  F.  Place,  who 
has  resided  within  the  borders  of  St.  Joseph 
county  during  the  past  eleven  years,  and  in 
all  that  time  has  been  numbered  among  her 
honored  and  substantial  citizens.  He  is  of 
French  descent,  the  name  having  been 
changed  from  its  French  form  of  **La 
Place"  to  its  present  orthography,  and  was 
born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  August  2,  1828, 
a  son  of  Ira  K.  and  Sarah  (Urmston)  Place. 
To  them  were  born  eight  children,  five  sons 
and  three  daughters,  but  only  two  are  now 
living,  Ira  F.  and  his  sister  Mary  A.,  who 
is  the  widow  of  David  Smyers  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Hamilton,  Ohio.  Ira  K.  Place,  the 
father,  was  born  in  Springfield,  Vermont,' 
July  30,  1797,  two  years  before  the  death  of 
General  Washington.  In  his  young  manhood 
he  removed  to  Butler  county,  Ohio,  was  there 
married,  and  became  a  pattern  maker  in  his 
later  years,  having  formerly  been  an  agricul- 
turist. All  of  his  children  were  born  in 
his  old  log  house  in  Camden,  Ohio,  which  is 
still  standing,  a  mute  reminder  of  the  primi- 
tive life  of  the  olden  days.  He  was  a  Jack- 
son Democrat  in  his  political  aiBliations,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Universalist  church,  but 
his  wife  was  a  Presbyterian.  They  both  died 
in  Ohio,  and  the  mother  was  reared  in  Butler 
county  of  that  state,  and  there  gave  her  hand 
in  marriage  to  Ira  K.  Place. 

His  native  state  of  Ohio  continued  as  the 
home  of  Ira  F.  Place  until  after  reaching 
manhood's  estate,  receiving  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  then  primitive  school  of  Camden, 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


942 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUxNTY. 


which  was  held  in  the  Presbyterian  church, 
the  seats  being  of  slabs  of  the  rudest  charac- 
ter, and  he  has  used  the  old  fashioned  goose- 
quill  pen.  He  afterward,  however,  received  a 
more  advanced  literary  training.  Remain- 
ing with  his  parents  until  reaching  his  ma- 
jority, he  began  the  battle  of  life  for  himself, 
practically  without  capital.  His  father  gave 
him  a  horse,  and  in  the  first  year  he  put  in 
a  small  piece  of  wheat  on  rented  land,  sav- 
ing in  that  year  six  hundred  dollars.  During 
one  year  he  was  engaged  in  the  sale  of  pumps, 
later  dealing  in  lightning  rods,  but  in  all  his 
business  ventures,  whether  as  a  tiller  of  the 
soil  or  as  a  salesman,  he  has  maintained 
that  same  integrity  of  character  which  has 
distinguished  his  entire  life.  For  four  years 
he  was  engaged  in  the  lightning  rod  business 
in  Decaitur  county,  Indiana,  but  during  the 
war  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  produce 
business,  and  during  that  time  paid  as  high 
as  forty-two  cents  a  pound  for  butter,  while 
other  prices  were  equally  as  high.  In  1866 
Mr.  Place  purchased  a  half  interest  in  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  Johnson  township,  and 
after  the  division  of  the  home  estate  he  was 
the  owner  of  thirteen  hundred  acres,  he  also 
having  purchased  a  part  of  the  estate.  His 
residence  in  Laporte  county  covered  the 
long  period  of  thirty  years,  and  in  that  time 
he  became  well  known  to  its  citizens  and  a 
prominent  factor  in  its  business  circles. 

On  the  28th  of  March,  1871,  Mr.  Place 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Alzina  Pot- 
tinger,  and  they  have  two  children.  The 
elder,  Ira  W.,  is  a  prominent  agriculturist 
near  Walkerton.  The  educational  training 
which  he  received  in  the  common  schools  was 
supplemented  by  attendance  at  the  Val- 
paraiso University,  and  he  afterward  wedded 
Miss  Lelie  Leslie,  their  two  little  children 
being  Florence  Alzina  and  Ira  Leslie.  Ira  W. 
Place  affiliates  with  the  Democracy,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  while  his 
wife  holds  membership  relations  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Jennie  Mary, 
the  second  child,  is  the  wife  of  Irvin  Wolfe, 
a  dealer  in  hay  in  Walkerton.  They  have 
five  children,  Francis,  Robert  P.,  Burdette 
v.,  Zoe  and  Stanley.  Mrs.  Wolfe  also  at- 
tended the  Valparaiso  University,  and  is  a 
talented  musician,  as  well  as  formerly  a  suc- 
cessful teacher.  Mrs.  Place  was  bom  in 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  October  24,  1832,  the 
daughter  of  William  and  Jane  (Ward)  Pot- 
tinger.     The  paternal  family  are  of  Holland 


descent,  and  were  represented  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  William  Pottinger  was  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky,  but  reared  in  Ohio  as  an 
agriculturist,  and  with  the  passing  years  be- 
came a  successful  business  man.  His  politi- 
cal affiliations  were  with  the  Republican 
party,  a  strong  and  active  worker  in  its  ranks, 
and  his  death  occurred  in  Ohio  at  the  age 
of  seventy-one  years.  Mrs.  Pottinger  was  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and'  was  a  Scotch  Presby- 
terian, her  death  occurring  when  she  had 
reached  the  good  old  age  of  eighty-three 
years.  Mr.  Place  is  a  stanch  and  true  Demo- 
crat, and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  church.  They  aided  ma- 
terially in  the  erection  of  the  beautiful  church 
of  that  denomination  in  Walkerton,  and  have 
ever  been  active  workers  in  the  cause  of 
Christianity.  Mr.  Place  is  a  trustee  and 
elder  in  the  church,  while  his  wife  is  a  mem- 
ber of  its  Ladies'  Aid.  Walkerton  may  well 
be  proud  to  claim  them  among  her  honored 
citizens,  and  in  the  history  of  St.  Joseph 
county  they  deserve  a  foremost  place. 

Myron  D.  Leroy  is  numbered  among  the 
native  sons  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  here 
he  has  spent  his  entire  life,  thus  becoming 
well  known  to  the  citizens  of  his  locality,  who 
esteem  him  highly  for  his  true  worth  of  char- 
acter. His  birth  occurred  on  the  6th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1859,  a  son  of  John  S.  and  Ruth 
(Giberson)  Leroy.  To  them  were  bom  three 
children,  namely :  J.  D.,  a  resident  of  But- 
ler county,  Iowa,  where  he  is  now  serving 
as  the  deputy  sheriff  of  the  county;  Myron 
D.,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  review; 
and'  William  S.,  who  is  an  agriculturist  in 
Lincoln  township  and  also  serving  as  route 
agent  for  the  government.  John  S.  Leroy, 
who  traced  his  lineage  to  the  French,  was 
born  in  New  York  in  1821,  and  his  death 
occurred  in  Lincoln  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  in  1904.  Remaining  in  his 
native  commonwealth  until  reaching  man's 
estate,  he  emigrated  to  St.  Joseph  county 
about  1856,  his  first  purchase  of  land  here 
consisting  of  fifty-one  acres  in  Lincoln  town- 
ship, and  here  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life  with  the  exception  of  a  three  years'  resi- 
dence in  Laporte  county.  In  his  early 
manhood  he  had  learned  the  carpenter's  trade, 
but  his  life  was  principally  devoted  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  Formerly  a  Whig,  he 
joined  the  Republican  party  at  its  organiza- 
tion, and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.    During 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


943 


the  period  of  the  Civil  war  he  served  about 
one  year  as  a  soldier,  when  he  received  an 
honorable  discharge  and  returned  home. 
Mrs.  Leroy  also  claimed  New  York  as  the 
state  of  her  nativity,  born  about  1829,  and 
her  death  occurred  in  1905.  She  traced  her 
lineage  from  the  Scotch. 

Myron  D.  Leroy  is  indebted  to  the  public 
schools  of  St.  Joseph  county  for  the  early 
educational  training  which  he  received,  but 
the  greater  part  of  his  education  has  been 
obtained  in  later  years,  by  reading  and  ob- 
servation. Reared  as  a  farmer's  lad,  he  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  his  marriage, 
first  wedding  Miss  Mittie  Whetzell,  by  whom 
he  had  one  son.  Worth  J.,  who  is  a  graduate 
of  the  Walkerton  high  school  and  is  now 
employed  with  the  Illinois  Steel  Company 
at  South  Chicago.  He  afl&liates  with  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  also  has  membership  rela- 
tions with  the  Masonie  and  Knights  of 
Pythias  orders  in  Walkerton.  The  wife  and 
mother  died  in  March,  1888,  and  for  his  sec- 
ond wife  Mr.  Leroy  chose  Miss  Nina  Martin, 
and  their  only  child  is  a  daughter,  June. 
She  graduated  from  the  eighth  grade  of  the 
Walkerton  high  school  with  the  class  of 
1907,  and  has  also  taken  musical  instruction, 
being  a  vocalist  of  more  than  ordinary  ability, 
and  as  such  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
social  life  of  Walkerton.  Mrs.  Leroy  was 
bom  in  Van  Buren  county,  Michigan,  July 
11,  1870,  a  daughter  of  S.  D.  and  Amret 
(GsLge)  Martin.  She  remained  in  her  native 
state  of  Michigan  until  her  eighteenth  year, 
receiving  her  education  in  its  common  schools. 
Her  father,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Noble 
county,  Indiana,  traces  his  ancestry  to  the 
Emerald  Isle,  the  birthplace  of  his  grand- 
parents. His  business  career  has  been  de- 
voted to  the  tilling  of  the  soil.  The  wife 
and  mother  is  deceased. 

Mr.  Leroy  b^an  the  battle  of  life  for  him- 
self as  an  agriculturist,  pursuing  this  voca- 
tion for  nine  years  in  La  Porte  and  St.  Jo- 
seph counties,  and  on  the  expiration  of  the 
period,  in  1891,  turned  his  attention  to  the 
livery  and  sale  stable  business  in  Walkerton. 
In  1897,  however,  a  fire  destroyed  his  barn 
and  burned  twelve  head  of  horses  and  all 
his  vehicles,  and  although  this  was  a  terrible 
loss  tis  indomitable  will  proved  equal  to 
the  emergency,  and  Phoenix-like  there  arose 
from  the  ashes  in  the  following  spring  a 
larger  and  better  equipped  barn,  strictly  mod- 
em in  all  its  appointments,  in  which  he  now 


has  eighteen  head  of  horses  and  a  fine  line 
of  buggies,  hacks  and  carriages,  he  also  doing 
the  hearse  work  of  the  town.  He  has  also 
been  extensively  engaged  in  buying  and  sell- 
ing horses,  and  in  1906,  in  company  with 
another  gentleman,  he  sold  one  hundred  and 
fifty  head  in  Walkerton.  Success  has  at- 
tended Mr.  Leroy  in  his  business  efforts,  and 
by  his  courteous  treatment  and  honorable 
dealings  he  has  won  the  confidence  of  the 
public.  His  political  support  is  given  to  the 
Republican  party,  casting  his  first  presiden- 
tial vote  for  Garfield,  and  at  various  times 
has  been  selected  to  represent  the  people's 
interests  in  the  county  conventions,  while 
for  two  terms  he  was  also  a  councilman  in 
Walkerton.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  fraternity  No.  263,  of  his  home 
city.  The  family  are  classed  among  the  lead- 
ing residents  of  Walkerton,  and  it  is  with 
pleasure  we  present  this  review  of  their  lives 
in  the  Twentieth  Century  History  of  St. 
Joseph  county. 

Sydenham  C.  Ewing.  One  of  the  leading 
citizens  and  influential  business  men  of 
Walkerton,  Mr.  Ewing  has  spent  many  years 
of  his  life  in  this  immediate  community,  and 
is  therefore  well  known  to  its  residents.  He 
was  born  in  La  Porte  county,  Indiana,  De- 
cember 29,  1868,  the  third  in  order  of  birth 
of  the  six  children,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  born  to  George  D.  and  Mary 
(Cogley)  Ewing,  three ,  of  *  whom  are  now 
living:  Sydenham,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review ;  Maude,  who  received  her  educa- 
tion in  the  Oxford  Female  Academy,  and  is 
now  a  teacher  in  both  vocal  and  instrumental 
music  in  Indianapolis ;  and  Earl,  a  machinist 
of  that  city.  Mr.  Ewing,  the  father,  is  a 
native  of  Ohio,  bom  February  10,  1838,  and 
he  is  now  a  resident  of  Indianapolis  and  a 
representative  of  the  photographer's  profes- 
sion. In  his  early  youth  he  emigrated  from 
his  native  conunonwealth  of  Ohio  to  La  Porte 
county,  Indiana,  with  his  parents,  the  jour- 
ney thither  having  been  made  in  wagons  and 
in  true  pioneer  style.  He  was  left  fatherless 
in  his  early  manhood,  much  of  the  responsi- 
bility for  the  support  of  the  family  thus 
falling  upon  his  young  shoulders,  and  in 
those  early  days  much  of  his  time  was  spent 
as  a  tiller  of  the  soil,  but  later  he  took  up 
the  profession  of  a  photographer.  For  ten 
years  he  was  a  resident  of  the  city  of  La 
Porte,  for  two  years  was  located  at  Chester- 
ton,   from    there    removed    to    Garrett,    this 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


944 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


state,  and  in  1877  came  to  Walkerton.  From 
that  time  until  1900  he  -was  engaged  in  the 
work  of  his  profession  in  this  city,  but  at 
the  expiration  of  the  period  went  to  Indian- 
apolis, where  he  ha^  ever  since  made  his  home. 
In  the  early  years  of  his  life  his  political 
sympathies  were  with  the  Greenback  party, 
but  later  identified  himself  with  the  De- 
mocracy, and  during  his  residence  in  Walker- 
ton  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  town  council. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  adherents  of  the 
Presbyterian  faith.  Mrs.  Ewing  is  a  native 
daughter  of  Ohio,  born  July  30,  1844,  and 
she  attained  to  mature  years  in  Indiana,  re- 
ceiving her  education  in  the  St.  Rose  Acad- 
emy of  La  Porte,  Indiana. 

Sydenham  C.  Ewing  was  but  eight  years 
of  age  when  he  became  a  resident  of  Walker- 
ton,  receiving  his  early  educational  training 
in  its  public  schools,  but  he  is  principally  a 
self-educated  man.  When  he  had  reached  the 
age  of  eighteen  years  he  began  as  a  wage 
earner,  his  first  employment  being  with  the 
Michigan  Central  Railroad  Company,  with 
whom  he  remained  for  eighteen  months.  Like 
many  other  young  men  he  met  with  many 
reverses  on  his  road  to  success,  but  with  the 
aid  of  his  estimable  wife  he  has  gradually 
climbed  the  ladder  of  success  and  has  be- 
come influential  in  the  business  life  of  Walker- 
ton.  He  learned  the  practical  details  of  pho- 
tography in  his  father's  studio,  and  from 
0.  F.  Townsend,  of  Walkerton  he  learned  the 
barber's  trade,  while  at  the  present  time  his 
is  one  of  the  leading  tonsorial  parlors  in  the 
city. 

On  the  22d  of  September,  1897,  Mr.  Ewing 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Marie 
Mikesell,  and  a  son  and  daughter  have  been 
born  to  them,  but  the  little  daughter  is  de- 
ceased, and  the  eon,  Donald,  is  now  their 
only  surviving  child.  Mrs.  Ewing  was  born 
in  Carroll  county,  Indiana,  June  6,  1875, 
the  youngest  of  six  children,  three  sons 
and  three  daughters,  bom  to  Philip  and 
Suzanne  (Hasting)  Mikesell.  Four  are  yet 
living,  namely :  Margaret,  a  resident  of  Chi- 
cago; Charles  W.,  engaged  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness in  Indianapolis;  Bowman,  a  leading 
business  man  of  Idaville,  White  county,  In- 
diana; and  Marie,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Ewing. 
Mrs.  Ewing  was  left  an  orphan  at  an  early 
age,  her  mother  dying  when  she  was  only 
two  years  old,  and  her  father  when  she  was 
sixteen,  the  children  then  being  left  without 


any  financial  resources  and  from  that  time 
were  obliged  to  make  their  own  way  in  the 
world.  Mrs.  Mikesell  was  a  member  of  the 
Church  of  God.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ewing  began 
their  married  life  with  but  little  means,  but 
by  their  united  efforts  they  succeeded  in 
canceling  some  debts  and  with  the  passing 
years  have  become  prosperous  and  influential 
citizens.  They  own  one  of  the  pretty  cottage 
homes  in  the  little  town  of  Walkerton,  and 
here  they  dispense  a  gracious  hospitality  to 
their  many  friends  and  acquaintances.  Mrs. 
Ewing  is  a  pleasing  hostess,  a  model  house- 
keeper, and  has  ever  been  an  able  helpmate 
to  her  husband.  Mr.  Ewing  is  independent  in 
his  political  affiliations,  and  fraternally  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  order,  affiliating  with 
Lodge  No.  619  at  Walkerton,  and  at  Wina- 
mac  he  became  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  Lodge  No.  274,  but  he  now  frater- 
nizes with  Castle  Hall  Lodge  No.  263,  at 
Walkerton.  Mrs.  Ewing  is  a  member  of  the 
Rebekahs,  also  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus, 
now  known  as  the  Royal  Americans  of  the 
Republic,  and  is  a  Pythian  Sisrter.  Both  are 
devout  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
at  Walkerton,  and  in  this  city,  where  they 
have  so  long  made  their  home,  they  have 
many  friends  and  acquaintances. 

EoWiVRD  GRmER,  to  whom  belongs  the 
honor  of  being  a  pioneer  merchant  of  Walk- 
erton, and  to  whom  has  also  come  the  repu- 
tation of  being  one  of  its  solid  and  substan- 
tial business  men,  is  descended  from  the 
sturdy  and  honored  German  race,  the  name 
having  been  (ihanged  from  its  original  Ger- 
man form  of  Greider  to  its  present  orthog- 
raphy. His  birth  occurred  in  the  county  of 
Allen,  Indiana,  on  the  27th  of  May,  1846, 
his  parents  being  Martin  and  Mary  (Lef- 
fler)  Grider,  of  whose  family  of  five  children, 
three  sons  and  two  daughters,  only  two  are 
now  living,  Mr.  Edward  Grider  and  his  sis- 
ter Martha,  who  is  the  wife  of  George  Norris, 
of  La  Porte,  Indiana.  Martin  Grider.  the 
father,  was  a  native  of  Lancaster,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  an  agriculturist  during  his 
business  life.  In  a  very  early  day  he  emi- 
grated to  Indiana,  making  the  journey  hither 
in  wagons  and  in  true  pioneer  style,  and  on 
his  arrival  in  Allen  county  he  purchased  land 
and  continued  its  cultivation  until  his  life's 
labors  were  ended  in  death,  passing  away 
when  his  son  Edward  was  but  a  babe  of 
two  years.  His  widow,  who  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  is  yet  living,  having  reached  the  eighty- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


945 


second  milestone  on  the  journey  of  life,  and 
is  an  honored  resident  of  Johnson  township, 
La  Porte  county.  She  is  a  worthy  member 
of  the  Methodist  church,  and  is  one  of  those 
brave  pioneer  women  whom  it  is  a  delight  to 
honor  and  revere. 

Edward  Grider  spent  his  boyhood  days  as 
a  farmer's  lad  in  Allen  county,  receiving 
his  education  in  one  of  its  primitive  pioneer 
schools,  a  little  log  building  twenty  by  twenty- 
four  feet,  with  a  clapboard  roof  and  heated 
by  an  old  box  stove.  The  desks  were  made 
orf  a  broad  board  resting  on  wooden  pins, 
while  the  seats  were  made  from  splitting  bass- 
wood  logs  in  two  pieces.  They  had  no  text 
books  in  those  early  schools,  and  they  usfed 
the  old  fashioned  goosequill  pen.  The  schools 
were  maintained  by  private  subscriptions  and 
taxation,  and  they  present  a  striking  contrast 
to  the  modern  schools  of  the  twentieth  cen- 
tury. At  the  age  of  twenty  years  Mr.  Grid6r 
began  the  battle  of  life  for  himself,  practi- 
cally without  capital,  and  his  first  employ- 
ment was  cutting  cord  wood  at  one  dollar  a 
cord.  This  was  during  the  war,  and  he  later 
took  charge  of  a  farm  on  the  shares,  where 
he  remained  for  two  years.  In  1870  he  re- 
moved to  La  Porte  county,  Indiana,  where  he 
purchased  thirty  acres  of  land,  going  in  debt 
for  a  part  of  the  tract,  but  his  excellent  busi- 
ness ability  and  industry  soon  enabled  him 
to  clear  the  indebtedness,  and  he  also  added 
to  his  original  purc*hase  until  he  became  the 
owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-four  acres, 
all  in  Johnson  township.  In  1882,  however, 
Mr.  Grider  transferred  his  residence  from 
La  Porte  to  St.  Joseph  county,  and  entered 
into  partnership  with  Daniel  Brubaker  in  a 
general  store  in  Walkerton,  this  relationship 
continuing  for  seven  years,  but  on  the  ex- 
piration of  that  period,  in  1889,  Mr.  Grider 
sold  his  interest  to  another  party  and  retired 
for  a  time  from  a  business  life.  In  1892, 
however,  he  again  entered  the  commercial  cir- 
cles, forming  a  partnership  with  Charles  Ste- 
vens, but  this  relationship  was  severed  in 
1902,  and  since  that  time  Mr.  Grider  has 
been  engaged  in  general  mercantile  pursuits 
at  his  present  location,  his  being  one  of  the 
leading  general  stores  of  the  township.  The 
stock  comprises  a  full  line  of  dry  goods,  gro- 
ceries, boots  and  shoes,  and  all  county  prod- 
uce, and  the  volume  of  business  which  he 
annually  transacts  amounts  to  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars.  By  fair  and  honorable  deal- 
ings he  has  won  the  confidence  and  good  will 


of  the  people,  and  is  therefore  accorded  a 
liberal  share  of  the  patronage  of  the  sur- 
rounding country. 

Mr.  Grider  married  Miss  Anna  Ake,  their 
wedding  having  been  celebrated  on  the  18th 
of  December,  1868,  and  of  the  three  children 
which  blessed  their  union,  one  son  ajid  two 
daughters,  all  have  passed  away.  Mrs.  Gri- 
der is  a  native  of  Allen  comity,  Indiana, 
born  October  9,  1850,  and  during  the  long 
period  of  thirty-nine  years  she  has  traveled 
the  journey  of  life  with  her  husband,  assist- 
ing him  in  the  establishment  of  their  home 
and  at  all  times  proving  a  true  and  worthy 
helpmate.  Mr.  Grider  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican in  his  political  affiliations,  casting  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  General  Grant, 
and  he  has  frequently  been  selected  as  dele- 
gate to  the  county  conventions.  He  also 
served  as  trustee  of  his  town  for  one  term, 
was  treasurer  of  Walkerton  for  one  term,  was 
a  member  of  the  old  board  of  education  and 
is  now  treasurer  of  the  present  school  board. 
His  fraternal  connections  are  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Lodge  No.  263,  in  which 
he  has  passed  all  of  the  chairs,  and  also 
served  as  a  delegate  to  the  Grand  Lodge  in 
1901.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Pythian 
Sisters,  and  both  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church.  They  are  numbered 
among  the  leading  citizens  of  Walkerton,  and 
their  long  identification  with  the  place  and 
their  prominence  here  entitles  them  to  more 
than  a  passing  notice  in  a  work  of  this  char- 
acter, devoted  as  it  is  to  the  portrayal  of  the 
lives  of  the  representative  men  and  women 
of  St.  Joseph  county. 

George  P.  Ross.  During  a  number  of 
years  George  P.  Ross  has  been  a  resident  of 
Walkerton,  St.  Joseph  county,  and  has  also 
been  prominently  identified  with  its  business 
interests  as  a  hardware  merchant.  He  was 
bom  in  Davis  county,  Iowa,  February  19, 
1859,  a  son  of  Samuel  F.  and  Samantha  A. 
(Bell)  Ross,  to  whom  were  born  four  sons, 
and  the  three  now  living  are  Frank  M.,  who 
is  married  and  resides  in  Davis  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  is  a  prominent  merchant;  George 
P.,  whose  name  introduces  this  review;  and 
Fred  F.,  who  is  married  and  resides  in  Michi- 
gan City,  there  following  the  trade  of  tin- 
ning. Mr.  Samuel  F.  Ross,  the  father,  was 
a  native  son  of  Maryland,  born  about  1831, 
but  when  quite  young  he  left  that  common- 
wealth and  thereafter  resided  in  Iowa  and 
Ohio,  but  was  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph  county 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


946 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1903.  In  his  early  life  he  had  learned  the 
trade  of  shoemakin-g,  but  afterward  became 
a  merchant,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 
George  P.,  in  the  hardware  business  in  Walk- 
erton.  He  was  an  ardent  supporter  of  Re- 
publican principles,  and  his  fraternal  con- 
nections were  with  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fel- 
lows orders,  his  funeral  services  having  been 
conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  former 
fraternity.  Mrs.  Ross  was  bom  in  Ohio, 
and  is  yet  living,  a  resident  of  Iowa,  she 
having  reached  the  age  of  seventy-one  years, 
and  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church. 

Greorge  P.  Ross,  in  whose  veins  flows  the 
blood  of  his  Scotch  ancestors,  was  reared  and 
educated  in  his  native  state  of  Iowa,  there 
remaining  until  his  thirteenth  year,  when  he 
came  to  Walkerton,  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, and  has  here  made  his  home  during  the 
past  thirty-five  years.  He  is  a  self-educated 
but  a  thorough  business  man,  and  for  fifteen 
years  he  served  as  a  commercial  traveler  in 
different  lines  of  trade,  his  route  being  to 
Chicago  and  La  Porte,  Indiana.  In  1897  he 
purchased  his  father's  business  in  Walker- 
ton,  but  for  three  years  thereafter  he  con- 
tinued on  the  road,  although  he  superin- 
tended his  hardware  interests,  and  since  that 
time  has  given  to  it  his  entire  time  and  atten- 
tion. The  business  is  now  one  of  the  leading 
ones  of  Walkerton,  his  sales  annually  amount- 
ing to  eighteen  thousand  dollars.  His  large 
trade  has  been  secured  through  his  honorable 
methods,  his  earnest  desire  to  please  his  pat- 
rons and  the  excellent  line  of  goods  which 
he  carries,  and  such  qualities  cannot  fail  to 
win  success.  Under  his  management  the  busi- 
ness has  been  constantly  enlarged  and  broad- 
ened, and  now  embraces  the  sale  of  buggies, 
carriages  and  machinery. 

In  1885  Mr.  Ross  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Acta  Buckles,  and  they  have  had 
two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter,  but  the 
latter,  Hazel  Catherine,  died  when  a  babe 
of  four  years.  The  son  is  a  member  of  the 
graduating  class  of  1907  in  the  Walkerton 
high  school,  and  has  the  honor  of  being  the 
historian  of  his  class.  Mrs.  Ross  is  a  native 
daughter  of  St.  Joseph  county,  her  parents 
being  Harvey  and  Elizabeth  (DeArmand) 
Buckles.  Mr.  Ross  is  a  Republican  in  his 
political  affiliations,  casting  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  Garfield,  and  in  his  frater- 
nal  relations  he  has  attained  high  rank  in 


the  Masonic  order;  having  served  as  most 
worshipful  master  of  the  local  lodge  of  Walk- 
erton.  No.  619,  also  serving  as  its  representa- 
tive to  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  is  a  member 
of  Walkerton  Knights  of  Pythias,  Lodge  No. 
263,  which  he  has  also  represented  in  the 
Grand  Lodge  at  Indianapolis.  The  family 
are  well  and  favorably  known  in  the  com- 
munity, and  stand  high  in  its  various  circles. 

Isaac  T.  Snethen.  In  reviewing  the  life 
history  of  Isaac  T.  Snethen  we  find  one  who 
has  risen  through  his  own  efforts  to  a  posi- 
tion of  prominence  in  the  business  life  of 
this  section  of  St.  Joseph  county,  represent- 
ing its  agricultural  interests.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  Febru- 
ary 8,  1851,  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in 
a  family  of  four  children,  three  sons  and  one 
daughter,  bom  to  Abram  and  Mary  (Thomas) 
Snethen.  Only  two  of  the  children  are  now 
living,  the  daughter  being  Mahala,  the  widow 
of  Robert  Robinson  and  a  resident  of  Walk- 
erton, where  she  has  charge  of  the  Baltimore 
&  Ohio  CkMnpany's  liuioh  room.  Mr.  Snethen, 
the  father,  was  also  a  native  son  of  Ohio, 
bom  in  1831,  and  his  death  occurred  in  St 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  in  1857,  when  his 
son  Isaac  was  a  little  lad  of  six  years.  He 
was  numbered  among  the  early  pioneers  and 
agriculturists  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  the 
first  home  of  the  family  here  was  a  little  log 
cabin.  The  wife  and  mother,  who  also 
claimed  Ohio  as  the  commonwealth  of  her 
nativity,  passed  away  in  death  at  the  age  of 
thirty-two  years,  dying  in  St.  Joseph  county. 

Thus  their  little  son  was  left  an  orphan 
at  an  early  age,  and  until  his  eighteenth 
year  he  made  his  home  with  an  uncle,  enjoy- 
ing but  meager  school  advantages.  He  was 
reared  as  a  farmer  boy,  but  during  a  part 
of  his  early  business  career  he  was  also  en- 
gaged in  gardening.  On  the  1st  of  January, 
1874,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Amanda  Pollock,  and  of  their  six  children, 
four  sons  and  two  daughters,  five  are  now 
living.  Daisy,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  Ed 
Rupel,  a  resident  farmer  of  Lincoln  town- 
ship, and  they  have  four  children,  Edna.  Elsa, 
Walker  and'  Willard.  Mrs.  Rupel  was  well 
educated,  and  was  formerly  a  teacher  in 
St.  Joseph  county.  The  son  Elmer  is  a  prac- 
ticing dentist  in  Evansville,  Indiana.  He 
graduated  from  the  scientific  course  at  Dan- 
ville, Indiana,  August,  1899,  where  he  won 
a  gold  medal  for  proficiency,  also  freshman 
honors,  i.  e.,  free  tuition  of  one  hundred  dol- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


947 


lars.  He  then  graduated  from  a  dental  col- 
lege in  Louisville,  Kentucky.  He  wedded 
Miss  Verona  Herman  October  7,  1901,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Dorothy  and  Merrill. 
Dr.  Snethen  was  also  a  successful  teacher  for 
five  years.  Perry,  who  was  for  five  years  a 
teacher  in  the  township  and  high  schools, 
has  been  pursuing  the  civil  engineer's  course 
at  Purdue  University  during  the  past  two 
years.  He  graduated  from  Walkerton  high 
school  in  1899,  and  also  graduated  at  Marion, 
Indiana,  in  the  scientific  course  in  1905.  He 
wedded  Miss  Pearl  Stair  June  12,  1907. 
Millie  is  the  wife  of  Guy  Holmes,  a  general 
merchant  at  Kingsbury,  Indiana.  Edward, 
the  youngest  of  the  family,  resides  with  his 
parents.  He  received  his  diploma  from  the 
Walkerton  high  school  with  the  class  of  1905, 
and  during  the  past  two  years  has  been  teach- 
ing in  Lineoln  township  and  St.  Joseph 
county.  He  also  pursued  a  twenty  weeks', 
coarse  at  the  Marion  Normal  School  and  is 
now  taking  the  scientific  and  oratory  course 
at  the  same  place. 

Mrs.  Snethen,  the  mother,  was  born  in 
Allen  county,  Indiana,  November  12,  1856, 
a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Mary  (LeflBer) 
Pollock,  in  whose  family  were  eight  children, 
three  sons  and  five  daughters,  and  six  are  now 
Living;  Mrs.  Snethen;  Isabelle,  the  wife  of 
James  Jackson,  an  agriculturist  of  Walker- 
ton; Lucy,  the  wife  of  William  Devine,  a 
mechanic  in  South  Bend ;  Ella,  the  widow  of 
Evan  James  and  who  resides  on  a  farm  in 
Lincoln  township ;  William,  who  married  Miss 
Addie  Snell  and  has  a  restaurant  in  Wana^ 
ta^h,  Indiana;  and  Eliza,  the  wife  of  Jacob 
Paul,  a  farmer  of  Laporte  county,  this  state. 
Mr.  Pollock,  the  father,  was  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  his  death  occurred  when  his  daughter 
Amanda  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  after  a 
bnsiness  career  devoted  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. Mrs.  Pollock  was  bom  in  Pennsylvania 
in  1827,  of  German  ancestry,  and  she  now  re- 
sides in  La  Porte  county,  Indiana,  an  hon- 
ored and  revered  pioneer  lady.  Mrs.  Snethen 
was  but  thirteen  years  of  age  when  she  ac- 
companied her  parents  on  their  removal  to 
La  Porte  county,  and  there  she  completed 
her  educational  training  and  grew  to  years 
of  maturity. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snethen  began  their  married 
life  on  the  farm  where  they  yet  reside,  their 
first  home  being  a  little  log  cabin,  but  this 
has  long  since  given  place  to  the  comfortable 
and    commodious   brick   residence   in    which 


they  now  reside.  Their  valuable  little  home- 
stead of  eighty  acres,  all  of  which  is  under 
cultivation  but  ten  acres,  comprises  rich  and 
fertile  land  and  contains  many  valuable  and 
substantial  improvements,  while  his  stock  are 
all  of  the  standard  breed.  Mr.  Snethen  gives 
his  political  support  to  the  Democratic  party, 
casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Horace 
Greeley,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  worthy 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
at  Walkerton.  Their  homestead  is  known  as 
/* Walnut  Lane  Farm.'' 

Walter  F.  La  Feber.  Among  the  younger 
representatives  of  the  business  interests  of 
St.  Joseph  county  we  are  pleased  to  present 
the  name  of  Walter  F.  La  Feber,  the  trusted 
agent  of  the  Lake  Erie  &  Western  Railroad 
at  Walkerton.  He  was  born  in  Hamilton 
county,  Indiana,  November  10,  1871,  a  son 
of  Joseph  and  Caroline  (Waltz)  La  Feber, 
in  whose  family  were  four  children,  three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  namely:  Henry  W., 
who  is  married  and  is  an  iron  worker  in 
Atlanta,  Indiana;  Walter  F.,  whose  name 
introduces  this  review;  Frank,  a  hardware 
merchant  and  one  of  the  leading  business 
men  of  Atlanta;  and  Nellie,  the  wife  of  J. 
M.  Noble,  connected  with  the  light  company 
in  Indianapolis.  Joseph  La  Feber,  the  father, 
is  a  native  of  Ohio,  bom  November  28,  1844, 
and*  was  there  reared  and  educated  in  the 
common  schools.  During  three  years  he 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  as  a 
member  of  the  Sixth  Regiment  of  Ohio,  and 
he  now  holds  pleasant  relations  with  his  old 
army  comrades  of  the  bjue  by  his  member- 
ship in  the  G.  A.  R.  post.  He  has  ever  cast 
his  ballot  in  favor  of  Republican  principles, 
and  fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Odd 
Fellows  order.  His  business  career  was  de- 
voted to  the  tilling  of  the  soil,  and  with  his 
wife  he  now  resides  at  Atlanta,  Indiana, 
where  they  are  earnest  and  valued  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mrs.  La 
Feber  is  a  native  daughter  of  Wayne  county, 
Indiana,  bom  on  the  10th  of  September.  1845, 
and  the  family  is  one  of  prominence  in  At- 
lanta, where  they  have  so  long  made  their 
home. 

Walter  F.  La  Feber  was  reared  to  years  of 
maturity  in  his  na;tive  county  of  Hamilton, 
receiving  his  education  in  its  common  schools 
and  graduating  with  the  class  of  1889.  He 
then  took  up  the  work  of  a  telegraph  oper- 
ator and  general  railroad  man  on  the  Lake 
Erie  &  Western  Railroad  at  Atlanta,  and  on 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


948 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


the  15th  of  December,  1891,  was  transferred 
by  the  company  to  La  Porte,  Indiana,  where 
he  remained  for  five  months,  when  he  was 
called  to  different  parts  of  the  state  in  the 
interests  of  the  company.  From  February, 
1894,  until  July  10,  1894,  he  was  agent  at 
Fisher's  Station,  after  which  he  assumed  en- 
tire charge  of  the  station  at  Walkerton.  Thus 
for  thirteen  years  he  has  served  as  the  agent 
and  operator  here,  ever  conducting  the  busi- 
ness of  the  Lake  Erie  &  Western  with  entire 
satisfaction  to  the  company  as  well  as  the 
general  public,  his  gentlemanly  deportment 
and  kindly  manner  winning  him  many  friends 
and  making  him  an  ideal  oflScial. 

For  his  wife  Mr.  Le  Feber  chose  Miss 
Rose  Nichols,  and  they  have  two  children, — 
Ralph  W.,  who  is  pursuing  his  studies  in 
the  sixth  grade  of  the  Walkerton  school,  and 
Naomi,  a  bright  little  maiden  of  the  fourth 
grade.  Mrs.  La  Feber  also  claims  Marshall 
county,  Indiana,  as  the  pla<;e  of  her  nativity, 
but  she  was  reared  in  Walkerton,  and  is  a 
graduate  of  its  high  school  with  the  class 
of  1889.  For  six  years  thereafter  she  taught 
in  the  schools  of  Walkerton,  winning  success 
in  the  teacher's  profession.  Her  parents,  P. 
Q.  and  Esther  (Yoder)  Nichols,  are  yet  re- 
siding in  this  city,  and  their  long  identifica- 
tion with  its  interests  and  their  prominence 
here  have  made  them  well  known  and  hon- 
ored residents.  The  father,  who  is  a  native 
son  of  Pennsylvania,  was  a  mechanic  through- 
out his  business  career,  and  was  a  brave  and 
loyal  soldier  during  the  Civil  war,  now  hold- 
ing membership  relations  with  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic.  Mrs.  Nichols  had  her 
nativity  in  Virginia.  Mr.  La  Feber  gives 
his  political  support  to  the  Republican  party, 
his  first  presidential  vote  having  been  cast 
for  Benjamin  Harrison,  and  as  its  representa- 
tive he  has  served  as  the  town  clerk  for  five 
years  and  also  as  a  representative  to  the 
state  convention.  He  has  fraternal  relations 
with  the  Odd  Fellows  order,  No.  445,  at  At- 
lanta, with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  No.  263, 
at  Walkerton,  and  he  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Railway  Telegraphers,  of  which  he  is 
serving  as  chairman  at  the  present  time. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  La  feber  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he  is 
one  of  the  deacons  and  also  a  member  of  the 
choir.  They  own  their  own  little  cottage 
home  in  Walkerton,  where  they  dispense  a 
gracious   hospitality   to   their  many    friends 


and  acquaintances,  and  are  young  people  of 
true  worth  in  their  community. 

Henry  M.  Smith.  The  name  of  Henry  M. 
Smith  is  well  known  to  the  residents  of  Lin- 
coln township,  for  here  he  has  passed  many 
years  of  his  life  and  has  represented  its  in- 
terests in  some  of  its  offices  of  honor  and 
trust.  He  was  bom  in  La  Porte  county,  In- 
diana, February  13,  1857,  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Rebecca  (Burke)  Smith.  In  their  fam- 
ily were  three  sons:  Nelson  S.,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  is  a  prosperous  agriculturist  of  La 
Porte  county;  George  L.,  a  general  business 
man  of  Gary,  Indiana,  and  he  is  also  mar- 
ried; and  Henry  M.,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review.  Mr.  Smith,  the  father,  was  prob- 
ably born  in  Ohio,  where  he  was  also  reared 
to  mature  years,  but  he  was  married  in  In- 
diana, and  his  death  occurred  when  his  young- 
est son  was  but  nine  weeks  old,  so  but  littJe 
is  known  of  his  history.  The  mother  was  also 
a  native  of  Ohio,  and  her  death  occurred  in 
December,  1906,  and  although  she  was  seven- 
ty-seven years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  death 
her  hair  had  not  been  whitened  by  the  hand 
of  time. 

Henry  M.  Smith,  of  this  review,  was  but 
three  years  of  age  when  his  mother  moved 
with  him  to  St.  Joseph  county,  she  having 
become  the  wife  of  Jacob  Snell,  and  they 
established  their  home  on  a  farm  in  Lincoln 
township,  which  continued  as  the  home  of 
Mr.  Smith  until  his  marriage.  He  began 
as  a  wage  earner,  however,  when  only  four- 
teen years  of  age,  receiving  fifty  cents  a 
day,  and  he  continued  working  for  wapres 
until  he  reached  his  majority.  On  the  9th 
of  October,  1878,  Mr.  Smith  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Anastasia  Dare,  and  two 
sons  have  been  born  to  them.  The  elder, 
Leonard  F.,  received  his  diploma  with  the 
class  of  1897  in  the  public  schools,  and  with 
the  class  of  1900  graduated  from  the  Walk- 
erton high  school.  He  then  entered  the  eel^ 
brated  college  of  Notre  Dame  at  South  Bend, 
and  after  remaining  there  for  one  year  took 
up  the  work  of  teaching  in  Lincoln  town- 
ship, spending  three  years  in  one  district. 
In  1904  he  again  entered  Notre  Dame  Uni- 
versity, where  he  spent  two  j'ears  in  pur- 
suing the  civil  engineering  course,  and  then 
located  for  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
South  Bend.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Columbus.  Henry  Myron,  the  younger 
son,  after  receiving  his  diploma  with  the 
class   of   1905   entered   the   Walkerton  high 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


0 


B 


Digitized  by 


Google 


\ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


949 


school,  where  he  has  been  a  student  during 
the  past  two  years,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
class  of  1909.  He  has  a  special  fondness  for 
the  study  of  languages,  is  a  fine  Latin  stu- 
dent, and  is  also  a  lover  of  science  and  piano 
music.  Mrs.  Smith,  the  mother,  was  bom 
in  the  house  in  which  the  family  now  reside, 
January  18,  1860,  the  second  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  four  children,  two  sons 
and  two  daughters,  born  to  William  and 
Bridget  E.  (Curran)  Dare,  and  three  are 
now  living:  Anastaaia,  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Smith;  William  M.,  who  is  married  and  is 
associated  with  the  Singer  works  in  South 
Bend;  and  Robert  F.,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
wood  and  coal  business  in  Walkerton. 

Mr.  Dare,  the  father,  was  a  native  of  the 
mother  country  of  England,  where  he  spent 
the  period  of  his  early  youth  and  then  came 
to  America,  making  his  way  direct  from  New 
York  to  La  Porte  county,  Indiana,  from 
whence  he  came  to  Lincoln  township,  but  this 
particular  division  was  then  a  part  of  Liberty 
township.  Here  he  entered  two  hundred 
acres  of  land  from  the  government,  the  most 
of  which  was  covered  with  timber,  and  the 
first  home  of  the  family  was  a  little  log 
cabin,  which  stood  for  many  years  as  a  mute 
reminder  of  the  early  pioneer  days  of  St. 
Joseph  county^  but  it  has  been  recently  torn 
down  by  Mr.  Smith.  The  Dares  were  among 
the  first  to  take  up  their  abode  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  county,  locating  here  when  the 
red  men  were  among  its  principal  inhabi- 
tants, they  being  the  representatives  of  the 
once  famous  Pottawatomie  tribe,  when  deer 
and  wild  game  of  all  kinds  were  plentiful, 
and  these  were  also  the  days  of  the  old  fash- 
ioned cradle  and  sickle.  Mr.  Dare  had  to 
haul  his  grain  to  Michigan  City  with  ox 
teams,  the  trip  consuming  two  days,  and  at 
that  time  there  was  not  a  railroad  through- 
out the  entire  county,  he  having  accorded  to 
the  first  company  the  right  of  way  across  his 
farm  in  order  that  Lincoln  township  might 
enjoy  its  privileges,  and  in  after  years  this 
grand,  good  man  lost  his  life  at  the  railroad 
crossing  on  his  farm.  He  was  a  Jackson 
Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations.  Mrs. 
Dare  was  born  in  the  Emerald  Isle,  but  in 
her  childhood  days  she  came  with  her  parents 
to  America,  and  in  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Mr. 
Dare.  She  was  a  devout  Catholic  in  her 
religious  belief,  generous  and  sympathetic, 
and  Ae  early  taught  her  children  the  value 


of  industry  and  honesty.  With  her  husband 
she  now  lies  buried  in  Woodlawn  cemetery, 
where  a  beautiful  stone  marks  their  last 
resting  place. 

Mrs.  Smith  supplemented  her  common 
school  training  by  a  term  in  the  St.  Eose 
Academy  of  Laporte  county,  and  after  her 
marriage  the  young  couple  began  life  on  the 
Dare  homestead.  It  was  just  one  year  later 
that  they  lost  almost  their  entire  possessions 
by  fire,  including  a  large  barn,  thirty  by  sixty- 
four  feet,  with  four  head  of  horses,  twenty- 
five  tons  of  hay,  three  hundred  and  fifty 
bushels  of  wheat  and  many  f arm  4mplements. 
This  was  indeed  a  heavy  loss  to  the  young 
couple  just  starting  out  in  life,  but  undis- 
mayed they  set  about  the  task  of  retrieving 
their  lost  possessions.  They  now  own  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-seven  acres  of  as  fine  land  as 
can  be  found  in  St.  Joseph  county,  a  part  of 
which  Mrs.  Smith  inherited  as  her  share  of 
the  home  estate,  while  in  addition  to  purchas- 
ing the  interests  of  the  other  heirs  they  have 
also  added  forty  acres  to  boundaries  of  the 
old  estate,  making  them  a  large  and  valuable 
homestead.  Their  home  is  known  as  the  Plain 
View  Farm.  Mr.  Smith  affiliates  with  the 
Democratic  party,  casting  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  General  Hancock,  and  at  various 
times  he  has  been  selected  as  delegate  to  the 
county  conventions.  In  1899  he  was  elected 
trustee  of  Lincoln  township  on  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket,  continuing  as  the  incumbent  of 
this  important  position  for  four  years.  The 
cause  of  education  always  finds  in  him  a 
warm  and  faithful  friend,  and  he  has  done 
much  to  further  the  interests  of  the  schools 
in  Lincoln  township.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith  are  members  of  St.  Patrick's  Catholic 
church  at  Walkerton,  Mr.  Smith  and  his  son 
Leonard  having  both  been  confirmed  by  Bishop 
Rademacher,  while  Mrs.  Smith  was  confirmed 
by  Bishop  Dwenger. 

Amos  T.  Atwood.  As  a  veteran  of  the 
Civil  war  Amos  T.  Atwood  bears  an  honor- 
able record  for  brave  service  in  the  cause  of 
freedom  and  Union,  and  in  the  peaceful  pur- 
suits of  a  business  life  he  has  also  won  an 
enviable  reputation.  His  birth  occurred  in 
Jennings  county,  Indiana,  September  14, 
1840,  the  fifth  of  the  eight  children  bom  to 
Horace  and  Samantha  (Pearse)  Atwood.  Six 
of  the  children  are  now  living,  namely ;  Delia, 
the  widow  of  Jacob  Hahn,  who  was  engaged 
in  the  undertaking  business  in  Buchanan, 
Michigan;  Edgar,  a  retired  shoe  and  harness 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


950 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


maker  in  Carroll,  Iowa,  was  also  for  two  years 
a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  serving  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Twelfth  Michigan  Infantry ;  Amos 
T.,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  review; 
Robert  T.,  who  served  for  four  and  a  half 
years  as  a  member  of  the  Sixth  Michigan  In- 
fantry during  the  Civil  war,  and  is  now  a  car- 
penter in  North  Carolina ;  Emory  C,  a  retired 
cabinet  maker  in  Los  Angeles,  California,  was 
a  member  of  the  Twelfth  Michigan  Regiment 
during  the  war,  serving  for  two  years ;  Walter 
H.,  who  is  married  and  is  a  cabinet  maker  in 
Benton  Harbor,  Michigan. 

Mr.  Atwood,  the  father,  was  bom  in  Clin- 
ton county,  New  York,  in  1805,  and  his  death 
occurred  in  Starke  county,  Indiana,  in  August, 
1850.  He  followed  the  mason  and  shoemaker's 
trades,  and  was  reared  in  his  jiative  state  and 
there  married.  Some  of  his  early  progenitors 
were  soldiers  in  the  war  of  1812.  On  leaving 
his  native  state  of  New  York  Mr.  Atwood 
journeyed  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Cuyahoga 
county,  and  from  there  removed  to  Jennings 
county,  Indiana,  where  he  entered  land  on  the 
line  separating  that  county  from  Marshall 
county.  He  aflSliated  with  the  Whig  party, 
and  was  a  gentleman  of  fine  convictions  and 
took  a  high  stand  on  the  subject  of  temper- 
ance. Mrs.  Atwood  was  born  in  Clinton 
county.  New  York,  in  1809,  and  her  death  oc- 
curred about  1892,  dying  in  the  faith  of  the 
Adventist  church.  She  was  of  English  ex- 
traction. 

Amos  T.  Atwood  was  a  little  lad  of  ten 
years  when  the  family  in  true  pioneer  style 
journeyed  to  Starke  county,  Indiana,  with 
ox  teams,  making  their  first  camp  in  north- 
em  Indiana,  where  they  erected  a  temporary 
board  shanty  and  resided  there  about  nine 
months,  thence  continuing  the  journey  to  Ber- 
rien county,  Michigan.  There  they  estab- 
lished their  home  on  the  beautiful  Terre 
Coupee  prairie,  where  their  son  Amos  was 
reared  to  mature  years  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  its  primitive  district  sthool  of  those 
early  days.  After  his  father's  death  much  of 
the  care  of  the  family  fell  upon  his  young 
shoulders,  beginning  as  a  wage  earner  when 
only  thirteen  years  of  age,  and  from  this 
early  period  he  has  been  an  active  business 
man.  With  many  other  brave  youths  of  the 
land  he  offered  his  service  to  his  country  at 
the  inauguration  of  the  Civil  war,  joining 
Company  C,  Twelfth  Michigan  Infantry,  his 
regiment  being  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Quinn,  and  they  were  assigned  to  the  Trans- 


Mississippi  department  under  General  Banks. 
Throughout  his  service  Mr.  Atwood  was  en- 
gaged principally  in  scout  duty  in  Arkansas, 
and  in  all  his  long  military  career  he  was 
never  wounded,  taken  prisoner  or  in  the  hos- 
pital. His  honorable  and  final  discharge  was 
received  at  Camden,  Arkansas,  February  15, 
1866,  after  two  years  of  faithful  and  valiant 
service  in  the  cause  of  freedom  and  Union, 
and  he  left  the  ranks  as  a  corporal,  to  which 
he  was  commissioned  at  Devall  Bluffs,  Arkan- 
sas. Returning  to  Jackson,  Michigan,  the 
regiment  was  disbanded,  and  he  returned 
home  to  resume  his  trade  of  shoe  maker. 

On  the  8th  of  January,  1868,  Mr.  Atwood 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Hawk, 
and  they  have  six  children,  five  sons  and  one 
daughter.  The  eldest,  Walter  J.,  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Walkerton  and  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Atwood  Brothers,  pickle  and  relish  manu- 
facturers. He  supplemented  his  common- 
school  education  by  a  commercial  course  in 
the  Valparaiso  University,  and  he  makes  his 
home  with  his  parents.  He  is  a  member  and 
chancellor  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  frater- 
nity. Fred  H.,  who  is  in  the  oil  refinery  at 
Muskogee,  Indian  Territory,  also  received  a 
common  school  education  and  a  commercial 
course  at  Valparaiso,  and  for  several  years 
served  as  a  bookkeeper  for  a  Chicago  firm.  Al- 
bert E.  is  a  resident  of  Grand  Rapids,  Michi- 
gan, where  for  years  he  has  been  associated 
with  the  Heinz  Pickle  Company,  now  having 
charge  of  all  the  salting  stations  in  the  state. 
He  was  educated  the  same  as  his  two  elder 
brothers,  and  he  married  Miss  Blanche  Bray- 
man,  by  whom  he  has  two  children,  Marjorie 
and  Stuart.  Ed  E.  is  also  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Atwood  Brothers  of  Walkerton,  this 
industry  having  been  established  in  1903,  and 
it  has  now  reached  extensive  proportions.  He 
wedded  Miss  Dora  Hummer,  and  they  have 
one  daughter.  Vera.  Harriet  S.  is  the  wife  of 
Norman  Beall,  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  where  he 
is  engaged  in  the  steel  works  of  South  Chi- 
cago. She  received  her  education  in  the  Wal- 
kerton high  school.  Harry  C,  is  associated  in 
business  with  his  brother  Fred  in  Muskogee, 
Indian  Territory.  This  large  family  of  (Ail- 
dren.  as  has  been  noted,  have  received  excel- 
lent educational  advantages  and  have  become 
prominent  citizens  of  their  respective  com- 
munities. 

Mrs.  Atwood,  the  mother,  was  bom  in  Mon- 
roe county,  Pennsylvania,  January  28,  1847, 
a  daughter  of  Reuben  and  Salina  (Serf ace) 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTRY. 


951 


Hawk,  both  bom  in  Pennsylvania.  The  father 
was  bom  in  1817,  and  his  death  occurred 
about  1855,  after  a  business  career  devoted  to 
agricultural  pursuits.  Mrs.  Hawk  survives 
her  husband  and  is  living  in  Fostoria,  Ohio, 
aged  eighty-three  years.  Mrs.  Atwood  was 
but  four  years  of  age  when  her  parents  moved 
to  Ohio,  and  there  she  was  reared  to  the  age 
of  sixteen  years,  attending  its  common  schools. 
After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Atwood 
located  in  Buchanan,  Michigan,  where  they 
purchased  property  and  he  worked  at  his 
trade.  In  1874  they  took  up  their  abode  in 
Walkerton,  where  they  have  ever  since  re- 
sided, and  Mr.  Atwood  is  now  engaged  in 
building  the  beautiful  stone  church  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  society  in  this  city.  He 
also  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
in  Starke  county,  Indiana,  on  which  he  has 
placed  many  valuable  improvements.  He  cast 
his  first  presidential  vote  for  Lincoln,  and 
has  supported  each  Republican  presidential 
candidate  since  that  time,  including  Garfield, 
Blaine,  McKinley  and  Roosevelt.  During  his 
residence  in  Starke  county  he  was  elected  the 
trustee  of  his  township,  in  which  he  served  for 
two  terms.  His  fraternal  relations  connect 
him  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, Lodge  No.  437,  in  which  he  has  fiUed 
most  of  the  chairs,  and  Mrs.  Atwood  is  a  mem- 
ber of  its  auxiliary,  the  Rebekahs,  No.  465. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  Jesse  Ooppock  Post, 
No.  378,  G.  A.  R.,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
are  worthy  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  in  which  he  is  one  of  the  stew- 
ards. 

Thomas  J.  Fitzgerald.  Throughout  nearly 
his  entire  business  career  Mr.  Fitzgerald  has 
been  connected  with  the  railroad  service,  and 
for  a  number  of  years  past  he  has  been  asso- 
ciated with  the  Chicago,  Indiana  &  South- 
em  Company  in  the  capacity  of  agent  at  Wal- 
kerton. He  was  bom  in  Muskingum  county, 
Ohio,  December  24,  1867,  a  son  of  Patrick 
and  Bridget  (Nevill)  Fitzgerald,  in  whose 
family  were  ten  children,  eight  now  living: 
Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  John  Garvey,  an  iron 
molder  in  Gtoshen,  Indiana ;  Daniel,  who.  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  Walkerton  high 
school,  and  is  now  a  prosperous  real  estate 
dealer  in  Gary,  Indiana;  David,  who  when 
last  heard  from  was  in  Colorado,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  railroad  business;  Patrick  L., 
who  was  also  educated  in  the  Walkerton  high 
school,  is  married  and  is  the  police  judge  in 
(rary,  this  state ;  Nora,  Thomas  J.  and  Sadie, 


all  of  whom  reside  in  Walkerton;  and  Mau- 
rice, who  is  engaged  in  railroad  construction 
work  in  Gary,  the  steel  city.  Patrick  L.,  the 
fourth  child,  is  a  member  of  the  Eagles  and 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

Patrick  Fitzgerald,  the  father,  was  bom  in 
the  county  of  Limerick,  Ireland,  March  17, 
1830,  and  his  death  occurred  on  the  14th  of 
December,  1904.  He  spent  the  first  fifteen 
years  of  his  life  in  his  native  country,  when  he 
bade  adieu  to  home  and  homeland  and  sailed 
for  America,  arriving  in  this  country  a  poor 
boy  and  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land.  He  was 
always  a  great  reader,  and  by  this  means  he 
greatly  added  to  the  little  educational  train- 
ing he  had  received  in  his  native  country.  His 
first  employment  here  was  with  the  Baltimore 
&  Ohio  Railroad  Company,  one  of  the  oldest 
railroads  in  the  United  States,  with  whom 
he  worked  through  the  east,  and  in  1876  came 
from  Zanesville,  Ohio,  to  Walkerton,  Indiana, 
still  in  the  employ  of  his  former  company, 
and  during  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life  he 
was  pensioned  by  the  company  on  account  of 
the  eflBcient  and  earnest  labor  which  he  had 
performed  for  them  in  former  years.  He  was 
a  Republican  in  his  political  aflSliations,  and 
was  a  devout  Catholic,  having  been  one  of  the 
most  active  workers  and  earliest  members  of 
the  church  at  Walkerton,  while  he  now  lies 
buried  in  St.  MichaePs  Catholic  cemetery. 
Mrs.  Fitzgerald  was  bom  in  the  same  county 
in  Ireland  as  her  husband,  in  1832,  and  she 
now  resides  in  Walkerton.  She  was  ten  years 
of  age  when  she  came  with  her  parents  to 
America,  their  home  having  been  first  estab- 
lished' in  Ohio,  where  she  gave  her  hand  in 
marriage  to  Mr.  Fitzgerald  on  the  28th  of 
November,  1854. 

Thomas  J.  Fitzgerald,  their  son,  was  a  lad 
of  nine  years  when  he  accompanied  his  par- 
ents on  their  removal  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,  and  he  completed  his  education  in 
the  Walkerton  high  school.  He  began  his 
business  career  as  a  salesman  in  the  store  of 
Elias  Rensberger,  with  whom  he  remained 
until  1891.  He  had  long,  however,  cherished 
a  desire  to  enter  the' railroad  business,  and  he 
accordingly  began  learning  telegraphy  under 
the  instructions  of  his  brother  Daniel,  begin- 
ning his  studies  in  the  spring,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing fall  was  competent  to  take  charge  of 
the  telegraph  office  at  McCool,  Indiana,  for 
the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Company.  This  was 
in  1901,  and  he  remained  there  and  at  differ- 
ent points  until  he  became  night  operator  in 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


952 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


Walkerton.  After  a  time,  however,  he  severed 
his  relations  with  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Com- 
pany, and  in  1896  took  charge  as  relief  agent 
of  lie  office  of  the  Chicago,  Indiana  &  South- 
ern Company,  thus  continuing  for  seven 
months,  while  during  the  following  eighteen 
months  he  was  the  company's  agent  at  Union 
Hill.  Returning  to  Walkerton  in  the  fall  of 
1898,  he  assumed  exclusive  charge  of  the  com- 
pany 's  station  here,  and  thus  he  has  ever  since 
continued,  a  faithful  and  competent  employe. 
By  his  geniality  and  courteous  treatment  to 
the  public,  as  well  as  by  his  efficiency  as  a 
business  man,  he  has  gained  the  full  confidence 
of  the  public  and  the  company  whom  he  rep- 
resents. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Fitzgerald  was  cele- 
brated on  the  11th  of  June,  1900,  when  Miss 
Eva  E.  Platts  became  his  wife,  and  they  have 
two  sons,  the  elder  being  Maurice  D.,  who  is 
pursuing  his  studies  in  the  second  year  of  the 
Walkerton  high  school,  his  specialty  being 
language  and  history.  He  was  confirmed  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  by  Bishop  Alerding,  of  the 
North  Bishopric  of  Indiana.  Vivian  J.,  the 
second  son,  is  a  member  of  the  eighth  grade, 
and  he  has  also  been  confirmed.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fitzgerald  will  give  their  sons  excellent  edu- 
cational advantages  and  will  fit  them  for  the 
higher  walks  of  life.  Mrs.  Fitzgerald  was 
born  in  Three  Oaks,  Berrien  county,  Michi- 
gan, February  11,  1870,  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  Platts,  residents  of  Walkerton. 
The  father,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  is  a  promi- 
ent  representative  of  the  farming  class,  and 
during  the  Civil  war  he  served  as  an  honored 
and  valiant  soldier,  participating  in  the  fa- 
mous ** march  to  the  sea.*'  Mrs.  Platts  is  also 
a  native  of  Ohio.  When  a  little  maiden  of  six 
years  Mrs.  Fitzgerald  came  with  her  parents 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  receiving  her 
edxication  in  the  Walkerton  high  school.  Mr. 
Fitzgerald  has  supported  the  Democratic 
presidential  candidates  since  casting  his  first 
vote  for  Cleveland,  and  he  has  been  active  in 
the  political  life  of  his  community.  As  his 
party  ^s  representative  he  has  served  as  a  dele- 
gate to  the  county  conventions  at  various 
times,  and  during  two  years  he  also  served  as 
the  town  clerk  of  Walkerton.  Fraternally  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  which  he  joined  in  Illinois  in  1897, 
and  he  also  holds  membership  relations  with 
the  R.  W.  Telegraphers.  He,  too,  is  a  devout 
Catholic,  and  was  confirmed  by  Bishop  Rade- 
macher  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years.    Mr.  and 


Mrs.  Fitzgerald  own  their  own  pleasant  little 
cottage  home,  where  they  dispense  a  gracious 
hospitality  to  their  many  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances, and  they  are  numbered  among 
Walkerton 's  leading  citizens. 

Lewis  Paul.  From  the  period  of  the  ear- 
liest development  in  St.  Joseph  county  Mr. 
Lewis  Paul  has  been  an  important  factor  in 
the  improvement  and  advancement  of  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state,  and  is  therefore  numbered 
among  the  county's  honored  pioneers.  He 
was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania, 
August  20,  1834,  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth 
of  the  twelve  children,  six  sons  and  six  daugh- 
ters, bom  to  Philip  and  Elizabeth  (Moser) 
Paul.  Five  of  the  children  are  as  follows: 
Lewis,  whose  name  introduces  this  review; 
Eliza,  who  became  the  wife  of  Gideon  Zigler, 
residents  of  Noble  county,  Indiana,  and  both 
are  now  deceased;  Henrietta,  the  widow  of 
Francis  Block  and  a  resident  of  Walkerton; 
Emeline,  of  Lexington,  Ohio,  is  the  widow 
of  Henry  Williams ;  and  Joseph,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  is  an  engineer  in  Kansas  City,  Kan- 
sas. Mr.  Paul,  the  father,  was  bom  in  Penn- 
sylvania in  1801,  and  his  death  occurred  in 
Ohio  in  1848.  He  was  a  tailor  by  trade  and 
an  excellent  representative  of  the  craft,  and 
he  was  a  gentleman  of  more  than  ordinary 
educational  advantages  for  those  days,  being 
proficient  in  both  the  German  and  English 
languages.  In  his  native  state  of  Pennsyl- 
vania he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Moser,  and 
they  emigrated  to  Belleville,  Ohio,  but  after 
a  residence  of  one  winter  in  that  city  they  re- 
moved to  a  farm  in  the  Buckeye  state  and 
there  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Mr. 
Paul  was  a  representative  of  the  stanch  old 
Pennsylvania  German  stock,  was  a  man  of 
sound  judgment  and  decision  of  character, 
and  was  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
had  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church,  and  he  gave  his  political 
support  to  the  Democracy.  Mrs.  Paul  claimed 
Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania,  as  the  place 
of  her  nativity,  born  about  1803,  and  her 
death  occurred  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years. 

Mr.  Lewis  Paul,  a  son  of  this  honored  old 
couple,  was  but  two  years  old  at  the  time  of 
the  family  emigration  to  Ohio,  the  journey 
thither  having  been  made  in  true  pioneer  style 
in  a  wagon  drawn  by  a  span  of  old  horses, 
thus  crossing  the  mountains  and  swamps  to 
their  destination.  He  was  a  lad  of  eitrhteen 
years  when  he  became  a  resident  of  Indiana. 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


953 


In  his  early  life  he  followed  the  cooper's 
trade,  but  his  business  career  has  been  de- 
voted chiefly  to  the  tilling  of  the  soil,  and  as 
his  parents  were  poor  he  was  obliged  to  begin 
the  battle  of  life  at  an  early  age.  His  first 
employment  was  carrying  water  in  the  har- 
vest field,  for  which  he  received  twenty-five 
cents  a  day,  while  later  he  secured  employ- 
ment at  the  munificent  salary  of  four  dollars 
a  month.  His  labors  in  those  days,  too,  were 
most  arduous,  for  he  has  chopped  the  heavy 
timber  and  then  grubbed  out  the  roots  and 
stumps,  working  by  the  job.  Steadily  and 
persistently,  however,  he  has  climbed  the  lad- 
der of  success,  winning  for  himself  a  place  in 
connection  with  the  activities  and  honors  of 
life.  It  was  in  1853  that  he  arrived  in  old 
St.  Joseph  county,  walking  the  entire  distance 
from  his  Ohio  home,  and  here  he  began  work- 
ing by  the  day  or  month  as  opportunity  of- 
fered. After  a  residence  here  of  two  years 
Mr.  Paul  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Mary  Rupel,  a  representative  of  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  honoted  pioneer  families  of 
the  county.  Their  wedding  d«ay  was  the  15th 
of  April,  1855,  and  they  have  become  the 
parents  of  three  sons.  The  eldest,  Jacob  H., 
is  a  resident  of  Laporte  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  was  educated  in  the  Walkerton  schools, 
and  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  affilia- 
tions. He  was  married  first  to  Miss  Sarah 
Koontz,  and  of  their  eight  children  five  are 
now  living;  Maude  Blanche,  Mary  Edith, 
Verne,  Roy  and  Colbum.  The  mother  is  de- 
ceased. William  Schuyler  is  a  resident  of 
South  Bend  and  associated  with  the  Singer 
Manufacturing  Works.  After  completing  his 
education  in  the  Walkerton  high  school  he 
married  Miss  Lizzie  Dare,  and  they  have  four 
children:  Howard,  an  employe  in  South 
Bend ;  Ralph,  who  is  a  fine  scholar  and  is  as- 
sociated with  the  Oliver  Chilled  Plow  works; 
Winona  May,  a  stenographer  in  Walkerton; 
and  Lewis  Edward.  Mr.  Paul  is  a  Repub- 
lican. Frank  Sheridan,  named  in  honor  of 
General  Phil  Sheridan,  is  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  artificial  limbs  in  Kansas 
City.  He  married  Miss  Ella  Griggs,  and  they 
have  one  son,  Harry  L.,  who  holds  the  posi- 
tion of  brakeman  on  the  Three  I.  Railroad. 

Mrs.  Paul  is  a  native  of  Drake  county,  Ohio, 
bom  April  28,  1833,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Lehr  (Miller)  Rupel,  in  whose  family  were 
eight  children,  but  only  five  are  now  living; 
Nancy,  the  widow  of  Mark  Smith  and  a  resi- 


dent of  Kosciusko  county,  Indiana;  Wesley, 
an  agriculturist  of  that  city;  Mary,  the  wife 
of  Mr.  Paul ;  Susannah,  the  widow  of  Charles 
Stephens  and  a  resident  of  Walkerton,  In- 
diana ;  and  Lydia,  the  wife  of  Nathaniel  Ken- 
nedy, of  Waterloo,  Hancock  county,  Iowa. 
Mr.  Rupel,  the  father,  was  bom  in  Pennsyl- 
vania but  reared  in  Ohio,  and  his  business 
career  was  devoted  to  the  tilling  of  the  soil. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  worthy  members  of 
the  Methodist  church,  and  both  passed  away 
in  death  in  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana.  It 
was  in  1836  that  the  Rupel  family  established 
their  home  in  this  county,  making  the  journey 
hither  in  wagons  and  camping  out  during  the 
nights^  Arriving  at  their  destination  in  Lib- 
erty township,  they  lived  in  the  wagons  until 
their  little  log  cabin  was  completed,  in  the 
front  of  which  they  would  build  a  log  heap 
fire.  Wolves  were  plentiful  in  those  days, 
and  the  pioneers  had  to  corral  their  sheep  in 
log  pens  to  protect  them  from  the  wild  ani- 
mals. Four  deer  were  killed  near  the  Rupel 
home,  and  at  that  time  the  Pottawatomie  In- 
dians were  also  numerous  in  this  locality, 
Mrs.  Paul  having  often  played  with  the  little 
Indian  children.  She  can  well  remember 
when  the  first  railroad  was  constructed 
through  South  Bend,  then  but  a  little  village, 
and  with  the  family  she  drove  there  to  see  the 
first  train  of  cars  pass  through  the  city.  Their 
milling  was  done  at  Niles,  Michigan,  while 
their  grain  market  was  at  Michigan  City. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paul  began  their  married  life 
on  a  little  tract  of  eighty  acres  of  land,  their 
first  home  being  a  little  log  cabin  with  a  clap- 
board roof,  and  even  then  they  had  to  assume 
an  indebtedness  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars. Mr.  Paul  was  obliged  to  work  out  by  the 
day  grubbing  to  clear  this  incumbrance,  but 
slowly  and  persistently  he  has  climbed  up- 
ward and  onward,  overcoming  the  obstacles 
in  his  path  to  success  until  he  is  now  free  from 
debt  and  the  owner  of  a  valuable  estate  of 
two  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres,  while  in 
addition  he  has  city  property  in  Marion,  In- 
diana. Their  pleasant  and  attractive  home  is ' 
known  as  The  Maple  Grove  Farm.  To  Mr. 
Paul  also  belongs  the  honor  of  having  served 
his  country  in  the  Civil  war,  representing 
Company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth  In- 
diana Volunteer  Infantry,  he  having  gone 
with  his  regiment  to  Indianapolis,  where  they 
were  organized,  and  thence  proceeded  to  Bal- 
timore, Maryland,  on  to  Washington,  and 
thence  across  the  Potomac  river  to  Alexandria,. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


954 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


where  they  were  in  camp.  From  there  they 
went  to  Dover,  Delaware,  where  they  re- 
mained in  camp  until  the  surrender  of  Gen- 
eral Lee  to  Grant  at  Appomattox,  Virginia, 
April  9,  1865.  After  his  honorable  discharge 
at  Indianapolis,  in  August,  1865,  Mr.  Paul 
returned  to  his  home  and  to  his  home  duties. 
He  is  a  stalwart  Republican  in  his  political 
affiliations,  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  General  John  C.  Fremont,  and  he  has 
since  cast  his  ballot  in  favor  of  Lincoln, 
Blaine,  McKinley  and  Roosevelt.  He  can  re- 
call to  mind  the  old  days  of  the  *'Wild  Cat" 
currency.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paul  are  adher- 
ents of  the  Adventist  faith,  and  Lincoln  town- 
ship numbers  them  among  her  leading  and 
honored  residents. 

Samuel  Koontz,  Sr.,  is  one  of  the  best 
known  residents  of  southwestern  St.  Joseph 
county,  where  he  is  classed  with  the  early  and 
honored  pioneers,  and  is  highly  esteemed  for 
his  many  sterling  characteristics.  He  comes 
from  the  German  race,  a  nationality  which 
has  proved  such  an  important  factor  in  the 
progress  of  our  Union,  and  is  a  native  of 
Marion  county,  Ohio,  bom  on  the  20th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1844,  the  third  in  order  of  birth  of 
the  eight  children,  two  sons  and  six  daugh- 
ters, born  to  Samuel  and  Mary  (Suit)  Koontz. 
But  only  two  of  the  number  are  now  living, 
Samuel  and  Daniel,  the  latter  an  agricultur- 
ist of  Orange  township.  Stark  county,  In- 
diana. 

Mr.  Koontz,  the  father,  was  bom  in  North- 
ampton county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1814,  and 
his  death  occurred  '  in  1898.  He  was 
reared'  in  his  native  county,  and  was  educated 
in  the  German  tongue,  for  his  grandfather 
came  from  the  land  of  Germany,  and  the  orig- 
inal spelling  of  the  name  was  **Kuntz.*'  In 
1830,  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Samuel  Koontz 
removed  with  his  parents  and  family  to  Mar- 
ion county,  Ohio,  journeying  overland  with 
wagons,  and  after  his  arrival  resumed  his 
trad€  of  a  tanner.  In  1847  he  resumed  his 
westward  journey  to  what  is  now  known  as 
Koontz  Lake,  Stark  county,  Indiana.  He 
made  the  trip  first  on  horseback  and  entered 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  from  the 
government,  the  old  deed  being  still  in  the 
possession  of  his  children.  Success  attended 
his  efforts  in  this  then  new  and  undeveloped 
country,  and  with  the  passing  years  he  added 
to  his  estate  until  it  included  one  thousand 
acres.  The  first  habitation  of  the  family  here 
was  the  typical  log  cabin,  and  at  that  time 


remnants  of  the  tribe  of  the  Pottawatomie 
Indians  were  plentiful,  their  trail  passing 
through  the  farm.  Mr.  Koontz  once  shot  a 
panther  near  his  house,  and  deer  and  other 
wild  animals  were  plentiful.  It  was  in  the 
year  1850  that  he  established  the  Koontz  grist 
mill  on  the  banks  of  Koontz  lake,  which 
proved  a  rare  convenience  to  the  early  settlers 
and  a  blessing  in  the  midst  of  the  wilder- 
ness. This  body  of  water  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  inland  lakes  in  the  state,  and  is 
really  a  continuation  of  lakes,  while  its  banks 
are  fringed  with  the  native  forest  trees  and 
covered  with  luxuriant  grass,  making  it  one 
of  the  most  desirable  sunmier  resorts  to  be 
found  in  Indiana.  Beautiful  cottages  have 
been  built  on  its' banks,  which  during  the  sum- 
mer months  are  inhabited  by  the  wealthy 
residents  of  the  county  and  distant  places. 
Mr.  Koontz,  however,  utilized  this  l^e  by 
putting  in  a  dam,  the  government  granting 
him  and  his  heirs  exlusive  sale  and  owner- 
ship of  the  lake  and  surroundings  so  long  as 
the  mill  would  be  conducted  on  a  business 
basis.  This  mill  was  patronized  by  the  set- 
tlers for  a  distance  of  forty  miles,  and  is  yet 
ably  conducted  by  his  son,  the  subject  of  tkis 
review.  Mr.  Koontz,  Sr.,  never  pursued  his 
trade  of  a  tanner  after  coming  to  this  coun- 
ty. He  was  an  old-line  Whig  luitil  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Republican  party,  when  he  joined 
its  ranks  and  supported  its  first  presidential 
candidate,  General  Fremont,  while  he  was 
often  chosen  by  his  people  as  their  ofiScial 
representative.  He  was  a  strong  man  phys- 
ically, mentally  and  morally,  was  firm  in  his 
convictions,  and  was  known  and  honored  for 
his  integrity  of  character.  He  was  almost  a 
giant  in  stature,  standing  five  feet  eleven 
inches  high,  with  broad  shoulders,  and 
possessed  great  strength.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  were  at  one  time  members  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church,  but  afterward  united  with 
the  German  Methodists.  His  death  occurred 
at  the  Koontz  Lake  homestead,  and  he  now 
sleeps  in  the  Walkerton  cemetery,  where  a 
beautiful  stone  stands  sacred  to  the  memory 
of  this  honored  pioneer.  Mrs.  Koontz  was  bom 
in  the  same  locality  as  her  husband,  and  her 
death  occurred  in  Starke  county,  Indiana, 
when  her  son  Samuel  was  a  little  lad  of 
thirteen  years. 

Samuel  Koontz,  of  this  review,  was  but 
three  years  of  age  when  brought  by  his  par- 
ents to  Koontz  Lake,  and  in  Stark  and  St 
Jaseph  counties  he  grew  to  maturity  and  has 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


955 


ever  since  resided,  covering  the  long  period  of 
over  half  a  century.  In  that  time  he  has  wit- 
nessed the  growth  of  this  section  of  the  state 
from  a  wilderness  to  its  present  prosperous 
condition,  doing  whatever  he  could  to  further 
its  advancement  and  to  such  as  he  all  honor 
is  due.  Until  sixteen  years  of  age  his  life 
was  spent  on  the  home  farm,  which  he  as- 
sisted in  clearing  from  its  dense  growth  of 
timber  and  preparing  it  for  the  plow,  and  his 
educational  training  was  received  in  the  prim- 
itive schools  of  the  early  days,  a  little  build- 
ing fourteen  by  twenty  feet,  with  a  clapboard 
roof,  slab  seats  and  desks  of  the  crudest  char- 
acter ima^^^able,  and  he  has  used  the  old 
goose  quill  pen.  The  school  was  maintained 
by  private  subscriptions,  while  the  teacher 
would  board  with  the  families  of  the  different 
pupils,  and  it  was  only  Mr.  Koontz's  privilege 
to  attend  this  ** temple  of  learning*'  during 
two  or  thiee  months  of  the  year.  When  he 
had  re£.ched  his  sixteenth  year  he  was  a  full 
grown  man  and  began  learning  the  trade  of  a 
miller,  while  two  years  later,  at  the  age  of 
eighteen,  he  took  charge  of  the  mill,  and  has 
e^er  since  been  the  proprietor  of  this  historic 
Old  mill,  in  which  he  has  installed  new  and 
modern  machinery.  In  addition  to  its  con- 
due*  he  owns  four  hundred  and  seventy  acres 
land  in  Starke  county,, also  real  estate  in 
Walkerton,  and  the  beautiful  Koontz  lake  is 
his  home,  located  four  miles  from  Walkerton, 
seven  miles  from  Hamlet  and  twelve  miles 
from  Plymouth,  and  it  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  resorts  to  be  found  in  the  entire 
state  of  Indiana. 

Mr.  Koontz  has  been  twice  married,  first 
wedding  Miss  Martha  Morrow,  in  December, 
1868,  and  four  children,  one  son  and  three 
daughters,  were  born  to  them,  of  whom  three 
are  now  living.  The  eldest,  Samuel  Edward, 
is  one  of  the  successful  business  men  of  Wal- 
kerton, where  he  is  the  proprietor  of  one  of 
the  largest  clothing  and  gentlemen's  furnish- 
ing houses  in  the  county  outside  of  the  city  of 
South  Bend.  He  is  also  an  expert  and  prac- 
tical miller,  is  a  successful  business  man  and 
is  popular  and  highly  esteemed  in  the  com- 
munity. He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and 
Knights  of  Pythias  orders,  and  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, having  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Harrison.  Bertha,  the  second  child, 
is  the  wife  of  Albert  Swank,  a  cigar  manufac- 
turer in  Walkerton,  and  Laura,  the  youngest, 
is  the  wife  of  Zibe  Hornbeck,  the  proprietor 

of  a  large  department  store  in  Fowler,  In- 
voL  n— 1$. 


diana.  They  have  one  little  daughter,  Martha 
Elizabeth.  Mrs.  Hornbeck  received  an  excel- 
lent education,  which  was  completed  at  the 
Valparaiso  University,  where  she  studied  mu- 
sic and  shorthand,  and  is  now  a  fine  pianist 
and  has  taught  music  for  a  number  of  years. 
Mrs.  Koontz  was  bom  on  the  19th  of  March, 
1848,  and  her  death  occurred  in  November, 
1897.  For  a  number  of  years  she  was  a  suc- 
cessful teacher  in  Indiana,  was  a  kind  and 
loving  wife  and  mother,  and  was  a  lady  whom 
to  know  was  to  honor  and  revere.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  an  active  worker  in  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tianity. For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Koontz 
chose  Mrs.  Eebecca  A.  (Woodward)  Vincent, 
their  marriage  having  been  celebrated  on  the 
26th  of  April,  1899.  She  is  a  lady  of  excel- 
lent educational  training,  and  is  a  prominent 
Pythian  sister,  having  organized  the  Knox, 
Michigan  City,  Plymouth,  Argos  and  South 
Bend  lodges  of  the  Pythian  Sisters,  and  was 
a  state  officer  in  the  improved  order.  She  is 
also  a  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  Walkerton. 

Mr.  Koontz  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  the  great  and  honored  Lincoln,  and  has 
ever  since  remained  true  to  Republican  prin- 
ciples. He  has  often  been  selected  as  his 
party's  delegate  to  the  county  and  state  con- 
ventions, served  for  four  terms  as  the  trustee 
of  Oregon  township  in  Starke  county,  and  in 
1888  was  a  strong  candidate  for  the  office  of 
county  treasurer  of  Starke  county,  and  he 
made  a  hard  fight  in  that  Democratic  strong- 
hold. For  many  years  he  has  served  in  an  of- 
ficial capacity  for  the  public  schools,  being  a 
firm  friend  of  the  cause  of  education.  He  has 
fraternal  relations  with  the  order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows at  Walkerton,  also  with  the  encampment 
at  Hamlet,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pjrthias  at  Walkerton.  He  has  served  in  all 
the  offices  of  the  Odd  Fellows  fraternity,  was 
a  delegate  to  the  state  convention  at  Indian- 
apolis in  1905,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Rebek- 
ahs  and  the  Pythian  Sisters.  His  religious  af- 
filiations are  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  Oregon  township.  Almost  the  en- 
tire life  of  Mr.  Koontz  has  been  spent  in  this 
community,  and  in  the  work  of  its  growth  and 
upbuilding  he  has  ever  borne  his  part,  has 
been  honorable  in  business,  loyal  in  friend- 
ship, faithful  in  citizenship,  and  is  honored 
and  revered  by  all  who  have  the  pleasure  of 
his  acquaintance.  t 

Charles    E.    McCarty.      The    name    of 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


956 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


Charles  E.  MeCarty  is  closely  associated  with 
the  history  of  St.  Joseph  county  from  an  early 
epoch  until  the  present  time,  and  his  activities 
have  been  of  value  in  the  advancement  of  his 
community.  He  is  a  native  son  of  Hillsdale, 
Michigan,  bom  on  the  16th  of  November, 
1850,  a  son  of  Morgan  and  Arzella  (Wilkin- 
son) McCarty,  in  whose  family  were  eight 
children,  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  but 
only  three  of  the  number  are  now  living.  The 
eldest,  Mary,  is  the  widow  of  Matthew  Mc- 
Cabe  and  a  resident  of  Lincoln  township. 
Morgan  Edward  served  in  Company  I,  Forty- 
eighth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  during 
the  Civil  war,  his  military  career  covering  a 
period  of  one  year.  He  is  married  and  re- 
sides in  Holland,  Michigan,  where  he  is  em- 
ployed by  the  great  pickle  dealer,  Heinz. 
Charles  E.,  whose  name  introduces  this  re- 
view, is  the  youngest  of  the  eight  children. 
'  Morgan  McCarty,  the  father,  was  born  in 
Cayuga  county,  New  York,  April  2,  1813,  and 
died  on  the  18th  of  November,  1878,  when  he 
had  reached  the  sixty-sixth  milestone  on  the 
journey  of  life.  He  was  reared  as  an  agricul- 
turist, and  during  his  young  manhood  he  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  where  he  was  married  in  Nor- 
walk  on  the  26th  of  July,  1832,  Arzella  Wil- 
kinson then  becoming  his  wife.  He  had  re- 
ceived but  a  limited  educational  training  in 
his  youth,  and  began  life  for  himself  a  poor 
but  honest  lad,  his  perseverance  and  sterling 
integrity  winning  for  him  the  success  which 
was  later  his  to  enjoy.  Subsequently  remov- 
ing to  Michigan,  he  became  a  landlord  in 
Camden  village,  near  Hillsdale,  but  in  1853 
he  transferred  his  residence  to  Plymouth, 
Marshall  county,  Indiana,  remaining  there, 
however,  but  a  short  time.  During  his  year's 
residence  in  Marshall  county  he  received  a 
contract  in  the  construction  of  the  Pittsburg 
&  Fort  Wayne  Eailroad,  and  on  the  expira- 
tion of  the  period,  in  1856,  he  took  up  his 
abode  in  Lincoln  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
near  the  Marshall  county  line,  his  builddngs 
being  in  both  counties.  With  his  son-in-law, 
Mr.  McCabe,  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  partially  improved  land,  but 
later  sold  the  tract  and  for  a  time  thereafter 
resided  in  Starke  county,  later  in  Laporte 
county,  and  finally  returned  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  was  an  abolitionist  in  the  early  days, 
a  bitter  enemy  of  the  institution  of  slavery, 
and  he  therefore  ardently  espoused  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Republican  party  at  its  organ- 


ization, he  often  having  been  heard  to  say :  **I . 
am  a  straight  Republican,  as  straight  as  a 
sheep's  leg."  He  cast  his  vote  for  its  first 
presidential  nominee.  General  Fremont,  al- 
ways thereafter  supporting  the  principles  of 
the  ** Grand  Old  Party."  He  was  a  man  of 
the  most  sterling  characteristics,  and  he  was 
honored  and  respected  by  all  who  had  the 
pleasure  of  his  acquaintance.  Mrs.  McCarty 
was  born  in  Fort  Ann,  New  York,  April  16, 
1814,  and  died  on  the  22d  of  August,  1896, 
aged  eighty-two  years.  Her  mind  remained 
clear  until  the  last,  and  she  was  one  of  those 
grand  old  pioneer  mothers  whom  it  is  a  de- 
light to  honor  and  revere.  Both  she  and  her 
htisband  now  lie  buried  in  the  Walkerton 
cemetery,  where  a  beautiful  monument  stands 
sacred  to  their  memory. 

Chairles  E.  McCarty,  the  youngest  child  of 
this  honored  old  pioneer  couple,  was  but  a 
little  lad  of  five  years  when  he  became  a  resi- 
dent of  St.  Joseph  county,  so  that  he  has 
spent  over  a  half  a  century  within  its  borders. 
His  educational  training  was  received  in  one 
of  the  primitive  schools  of  the  olden  days, 
which  have  become  so  famous  in  song  and 
story.  Until  his  sixteenth  year  he  was  a  farm- 
er's  lad,  but  in  1869  he  came  with  his  father 
to  Walkerton  and  secured  employment  on  the 
old  C.  C.  &  L.  Railroad,  now  known  as  the 
Lake  Erie  &  Western,  beginning  in  the  very 
lowest  position  as  a  sectionman,  thus  continu- 
ing until  his  nineteenth  year,  when  he  en- 
gaged with  the  same  company  as  a  brakeman, 
and  before  he  was  twenty-one  he  rose  to  the 
position  of  a  conductor  of  a  freight  train. 
Next  he  was  given  chaise  of  a  contract  for 
grading  near  Fish  Lake,  on  the  old  Peninsula 
Railroad,  now  known  as  the  Grand  Trunk, 
where  he  completed  one  and  a  half  miles  of 
grading,  after  which  he  again  entered  the 
train  service,  and  followed  railroading  until 
the  fall  of  1892.  In  that  time,  however,  he 
was  employed  with  several  companies,  the 
Lake  Erie  &  Western,  the  Wabash,  the  Mari- 
etta &  Cincinnati,  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio,  the 
Nickle  Plate,  the  Santa  Fe,  the  Louisville  & 
Nashville,  on  which  he  ran  a  passenger  train 
from  Cincinnati  to  Lexington,  Kentucky,  and 
was  with  the  company  for  six  years,  retiring 
from  the  fascinating  but  dangerous  life  of 
railroading  in  November,  1892.  Mr.  McCarty 
is  now  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  rich  and  productive  land  northwe^ 
of  Walkerton,  to  which  he  removed  with  his 
family  in  1892,  and  there  they  remained  until 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


957 


the  16th  of  August,  1896.  They,  then  took  up 
their  abode  in  Walkerton,  where  Mr.  McCarty 
conducted  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  eating  house 
until  1898. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  McCarty  and  Miss 
Malisa  E.  Hardy  was  celebrated  on  the  4th 
of  July,  1875,  and  one  son,  Charles  Harlen, 
has  blessed  their  union.  He  was  bom  on  the 
16th  of  July,  1876,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  four  different 
states,  graduating  with  the  class  of  1893  in 
the  common  schools  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
while  with  the  class  of  1896  he  completed  the 
course  and  graduated  from  the  Logansport 
Business  College.  He  is  now  employed  with 
the  United  States  Steel  Company  at  Gary, 
Indiana,  and  makes  his  home  with  his  par- 
ents. He  wedded  Miss  Gertrude  Boy,  who  is 
now  deceased.  He,  too,  supports  the  Repub- 
lican principles,  casting  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  McKinley,  and  he  served  as  the 
deputy  sheriff  of  St.  Joseph  county  for  hii 
father.  He  has  membership  relations  with 
many  of  the  fraternal  orders,  including  the 
Elks,  the  Eastern  Star,  the  Masons,  Macca- 
bees and  the  Loyal  Americans,  and  is  also  a 
valued  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
Mrs.  McCarty,  the  mother,  was  born  in  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  January  10,  1855,  a 
daughter  of  Valentine  H.  and  Martha 
(Hughes)  Hardy,  in  whose  family  were  the 
following  children:  Lawrence  P.,  of  South 
Bend;  Angie  E.,  the  widow  of  Frank  E.  Barn- 
hart,  and  who  resides  on  a  ranch  in  Pine 
Grove,  Montana;  Hattie,  who  is  a  talented 
artist  in  oils,  and  in  her  beautiful  home  in 
Santa  Barbara,  California,  she  has  much  of 
her  handiwork,  as  has  also  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mc- 
Carty, including  the  **  Hailing  the  Ferry- 
man/' ** Beauty  Bay,''  Spokane  Falls,  Wash- 
ington, also  marine  views  and  studies  in 
flowers  from  the  old  home.  She  is  a  graduate 
of  the  class  of  1894  in  the  Valparaiso  Univer- 
sity. Mamie  is  also  a  resident  of  Santa  Bar- 
bara, and  is  a  professional  nurse. 

Mr.  McCarty  follows  in  the  footsteps  of  his 
honored  father  and  votes  with  the  Republican 
party,  casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Qeneral  Grant,  and  as  its  representative  he 
has  been  honored  with  many  public  positions. 
He  was  the  first  marshal  of  Walkerton,  elect- 
ed in  1878,  while  in  the  year  1894  he  was 
made  the  assessor  of  his  township,  and  in 
1898  was  elected  sheriff  of  St.  Joseph  county. 
So  well  did  he  discharge  the  duties  of  that 
important  position  that  in  1900  he  was  re- 


elected to  the  office.  During  his  incumbency 
he  took  a  prisoner  to  New  Jersey  who  had 
been  a  fugitive  from  justice  for  five  years, 
Mr.  McCarty  tracing  him  to  a  farm  near 
South  Bend,  and  he  also  made  the  long  trip 
to  Houston,  Texas,  after  a  murderer,  whom 
he  secured,  brought  back,  and  he  was  con- 
victed and  sent  to  the  Michigan  City  prison. 
He  served  his  constituents  faithfully  and 
well,  never  regarding  personal  safety  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duties,  and  in  the  archives 
of  St.  Joseph  county  his  name  is  honorably 
recorded.  Since  1903  he  has  been  serving  as 
the  deputy  sheriff,  and  quite  recently  he  was 
sent  one  hundred  miles  north  of  Spokane 
Falls,  Washington,  after  a  fugitive,  whom  he 
secured  and  brought  to  justice,  having 
covered  about  six  thousand  miles  in  the  dis- 
charge of  this  important  duty,  and  the  fugi- 
tive is  now  in  the  penitentiary.  He  was  also 
elected  as  councilman  of  the  town  board,  of 
which  he  served  as  president  for  three  years, 
and  in  that  time  appointed  all  the  present 
members  of  the  board  of  education  with  the 
exception  of  one.  Fraternally  Mr.  McCarty 
holds  membership  relations  with  the  Masonic 
order,  being  a  member  of  Blue  Lodge,  No. 
619,  the  Council  at  Mishawaka,  Indiana,  and 
Chapter  No.  39,  at  South  Bend,  also  the 
Knights  Templar  Commandery,  No.  13,  in 
that  city.  Both  he  and  his  wife  belong  to 
the  Eastern  Star,  No.  2,  in  South  Bend.  Their 
estate  is  known  as  Plain  View  Farm,  while 
their  beautiful  residence  in  Walkerton  is 
called  *  *  Oaken  wold. ' '  It  was  erected  in  1902, 
and  is  strictly  modem  in  all  its  appointments. 
It  is  surrounded  by  spacious  grounds  of 
seven  acres,  the  lawn  sloping  from  the  resi- 
dence to  the  street,  and  this  beautiful  home 
is  an  ornament  to  the  city  of  Walkerton  and 
also  to  St.  Joseph  county. 

Samuel  J.  Nicoles.  Among  the  solid  and 
substantial  business  men  of  Walkerton  is 
numbered  Samuel  J.  Nicoles,  who  is  so  well 
known  to  the  residents  of  St.  Joseph  county 
that  he  needs  no  special  introduction  to  its 
citizens.  He  enjoys  an  enviable  position  in 
industrial  circles,  having  by  honorable  and 
correct  business  methods  gained  the  con- 
fidence of  his  fellow  townspeople.  He  is  a  na- 
tive son  of  Highland  county,  Ohio,  born  on 
the  4th  of  October,  1833,  his  parents  being 
Nathaniel  D.  and  Elizabeth  (Davidson)  Nic- 
oles, in  whose  family,  were  five  children,  four 
sons  and  one  daughter,  but  only  three  are 
now  living:     Samuel  J.,  whose  name  intro- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


958 


HISTOKY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


duces  this  review ;  Susan,  the  wife  of  Nelson 
Welsh,  a  retired  business  man  of  Houston, 
Texas;  and  Francis  M.,  who  is  married  and 
engaged  in  contracting  and  building  in  Mo- 
bile, Alabama. 

Nathaniel  D.  Nicoles,  the  father,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  and  was  a  son  of  Samuel 
Nicoles,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812, 
serving  under  (Jeneral  Hull.  When  a  young 
man  Nathaniel  D.  Nicoles  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Ohio,  taking  up  their  abode  in  that 
commonwealth  in- a  very  early  day,  and  in  its 
schools  received  a  limited  educational  train- 
ing, but  with  the  passing  years  he  added  to 
his  knowledge  by  reading  and  observation, 
and  in  his  early  life  became  a  successful  edu- 
cator in  the  schools  of  Indiana.  He  learned 
the  cooper's  trade,  but  his  time  was  prin- 
cipally devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits.  In 
1835  the  family  came  to  Cass  county,  Indiana, 
making  the  journey  in  wagons  across  the 
sloughs  and  quagmires  and  through  the  for- 
ests to  the  wilds  of  the  Hoosier  state,  which 
was  then  inhabited  by  the  red  men  and  the 
wild  animals.  The  Indians  passed  by  their 
door  on  their  way  to  Logansport  to  receive 
their  money  from  the  government,  and  Mr. 
Nicoles  of  this  review  well  remembers  those 
early  days  in  Cass  county.  The  father  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  land  in  Fulton  county, 
but  the  family  maintained  their  residence  in 
Cass  county  until  their  removal  to  Miami 
county,  Indiana,  where  the  father  subsequent- 
ly died.  He  was  a  Jackson  Democrat  in  his 
political  affiliations,  firm  in  his  advocacy  of 
its  principles,  and  he  was  also  a  stanch  friend 
of  education  and  the  public  schools.  In  both 
Cass  and  Miami  counties  he  served  as  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  while  during  his  residence 
in  the  latter  he  was  also  a  county  commis- 
sioner. Both  he  and  his  wife  were  devout 
members  of  the  Christain  church.  Mrs.  Nic- 
oles, a  native  daughter  of  Ohio,  was  reared 
and  married  in  the  Buckeye  state,  and  there 
gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Nathaniel  D. 
Nicoles,  to  whom  she  proved  a  true  and  loving 
wife  and  a  devoted  mother  to  their  children. 

When  but  a  babe  of  two  years  Samuel  J. 
Nicoles  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Cass  coun- 
ty, Indiana,  so  that  nearly  his  entire  life  has 
been  passed  within  the  borders  of  Indiana, 
and  the  commonwealth  may  be  proud  to  claim 
him  among  her  honored  sons.  He  was  reared 
as  a  tiller  of  the  soil,  and  his  education  was 
received  in  the  primitive  schools  of  the  early 
days,  supplemented  by  a  short  course  in  a 


select  school  in  Peru.  He  well  remembers  the 
little  ** temple  of  learning''  to  which  he  daily 
trudged  in  his  boyhood  days,  and  describes  it 
as  a  little  log  cabin  sixteen  by  twenty  feet, 
with  a  clapboard  roof,  a  large  fireplace,  and 
seats  of  slabs,  which  were  secured  from  a 
neighboring  sawmill,  while  the  desks  were  a 
broad  board  resting  on  wooden  pins  driven 
into  the  wall.  He  used  the  famous  old  goose 
quill  pen  fashioned  by  the  master,  and  his 
text  books  were  Webster's  elementary  speller, 
Pike's  arithmetic  and  an  English  reader.  The 
schools  were  maintained  on  the  subscription 
plan,  and  were  primitive  in  their  every  ap- 
pointment, forming  a  striking  contrast  to  the 
school  of  the  twentieth  century.  In  those  early 
days  Mr.  Nicoles  used  the  old-fashioned  sickle 
as  well  as  the  cradle  in  the  cutting  of  the 
grain,  which  was  threshed  by  means  of  horses 
tramping  it  out,  and  after  this  process  of 
threshing  the  grain  was  separated  from  the 
chaff  by  means  of  a  sheet  which  had  been 
hung  up,  the  father  thus  fanning  the  grain  as 
it  was  poured  out  by  the  mother.  He  can 
also  recall  to  mind  the  excitement  caused  by 
the  introduction  into  the  community  of  the 
first  reapers  and  mowers.  He  began  the  bat- 
tle of  life  without  capital,  save  his  willing 
hands  and  indomitable  perseverance,  and 
these  have  won  for  him  the  competence  which 
is  now  his  to  enjoy. 

In  1855  Mr.  Nicoles  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Phoebe  A.  Kinsey,  and  of  their 
eight  children,  two  sons  and  six  daughters,  six 
are  now  living:  Emma,  the  wife  of  Achilles 
North,  the  surveyor  of  Marshall  county  and 
a  resident  of  Plymouth.  She  received  her 
education  in  the  schools  of  Peru  and  Plym- 
outh, and  for  several  years  taught  in  Mar- 
shall county.  Kenneth  M.  is  a  trainmaster 
for  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  Company 
and  a  resident  of  Duluth,  Minnesota.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  district  schools 
and  in  the  Plymouth  and  Walkerton  high 
schools.  Olive  Alice,  who  also  received  her 
educational  training  in  the  schools  of  Plym- 
outh and  Walkerton,  was  afterward  engaged  in 
teaching,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  B.  A.  Byers, 
a  conductor  on  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad 
and  a  resident  of  Qarrett,  Indiana.  They 
have  three  children.  Frank  E.  is  married 
and  resides  in  Omaha,  Nebraska.  He  is  the 
superintendent  of  the  Nebraska  division  of 
the  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  and 
Omaha  Railroad.  Maude  L.,  who  received  an 
excellent  education  and  then  followed  teaeh- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


'    95? 


ing,  is  the  wife  of  William  A.  Tank,  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business  in  Louisiana.  Edna 
C,  the  youngest,  was  a  teacher  in  the  Walker- 
ton  schools  for  some  years,  while  during  the 
four  years  preceding  1906  she  taught  in  the 
city  schools  of  South  Bend,  and  is  now  a 
teacher  in  the  Walkerton  high  schools. 

Mrs.  Nicoles  was  bom  in  Montgomery 
county^  Ohio,  October  12,  1834,  a  daughter 
of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  (Astenfelter) 
Kinsey,  both  now  deceased.  It  was  in  1855 
that  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Mr. 
Nicoles,  and  fifty  years  later,  on  the  14th  of 
February,  1906,  they  celebrated  their  golden 
wedding  in  Walkerton,  Indiana.  The  young 
couple  began  married  life  as  renters  in  Miami 
county,  Indiana,  thus  continuing  for  some 
years,  and  in  1862  they  removed  to  Peru,  this 
state,  where  the  husband  entered  mercantile 
life  as  a  salesman.  In  addition  to  his  agricul- 
tural labors  he  had  also  taught  school  both 
before  and  after  his  marriage.  In  1865  they 
took  up  their  abode  in  Plymouth,  Indiana, 
where  Mr.  Nicoles  was  engaged  in  the  sale  of 
agricultural  implements  until  1870,  and  two 
years  later  was  appointed  superintendent  of 
the  county  infirmary  at  Tyner,  Marshall 
county,  continuing  to  discharge  the  duties  of 
that  position  for  two  years.  It  was  in  1875 
that  they  came  to  Walkerton,  Indiana;  where 
Mr.  Nicoles  continued  his  sale  of  agricultural 
implements  and  hardware,  and  at  the  same 
time  served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  sub- 
sequently established  himself  in  the  insurance 
and  legal  business,  in  which  he  has  built  up 
an  excellent  patronage.  He  represents  the 
Hartford,  the  Phenix  of  Brooklyn,  and  the 
National  of  Hartford,  Connecticut,  all  reli- 
able and  well-known  companies.  He  also 
transacts  a  large  amount  of  business  as  an 
attorney,  and  his  varied  intersts,  successfully 
managed,  have  advanced  him  to  the  high  plane 
which  he  now  occupies^  Mr.  Nicoles  is  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations,  casting 
his  presidential  vote  for  Buchanan,  and  as 
its  representative  he  has  been  the  recipient  of 
many  public  positions  at  the  hands  of  his 
fellow  townsmen.  He  served  as  a  justice  of 
the  peace  and  as  a  member  of  the  town  coun- 
cil in  Plymouth,  Marshall  county,  for  eight 
years,  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  Walker^ 
ton  and  during  about  four  years  was  a  mem- 
ber of  its  school  board.  He  is  a  firm  friend 
of  the  cause  of  education,  and  has  done  what 
he  could  to  further  the  interests  of  the  public 
schools  in  the  communities  in  which  he  has 


resided.  He  has  also  served  as  a  member  of 
the  town  council,  while  at  the  present  time  he 
is  the  town  treasurer,  and  he  has  at  various 
times  been  selected  as  a  delegate  to  state, 
county  and  district  conventions.  His  frater- 
nal connections  are  with  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, belonging  to  Lodge  No.  659  at  Walker- 
ton. Both  he  and  his  good  wife  are  devout 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  in  which 
he  has  served  as  an  ^Ider  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  they  are  classed  among  the  leading 
residents  of  Walkerton. 

Frank  J.  Qukk.  In  the  life  history  of 
Frank  J.  Quirk,  although  he  is  numbered 
among  the  younger  representatives  of  the 
business  interests  of  Walkerton,  we  find  a 
worthy  type  of  American  character  and  a  pro- 
gressive spirit.  He  is  prominently  identified 
with  the  business  interests  of  his  home  city 
and  county,  and  while  his  varied  affairs  are 
bringing  him  success  they  are  also  advancing 
the  general  welfare  by  accelerating  commer- 
cial activity.  His  birth  occurred  in  Laporte 
county,  Indiana,  February  11,  1882,  a  son  of 
Michael  and  Ellen  (Powers)  Quirk,  in  whose 
family  were  seven  children,  one  son  and  six 
daughters,  and  all  are  living  and  residents  of 
Indiana.  The  father,  who  was  a  native  of  the 
Emerald  Isle,  passed  the  first  years  of  his  life 
in  the  land  of  his  birth,  and  then  came  alone 
to  the  United  States,  arriving  in  this  country 
a  stranger  in  a  strange  land.  Making  his  way 
to  Michigan  City,  Indiana,  he  resided  there 
and  in  Laporte  county  until  his  demise.  After 
coming  to  this  country  he  gave  his  political 
support  to  the  Democracy,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Catholic  church. 
Mrs.  Quirk  was  also  bom  in  Ireland,  and  is 
yet  living,  having  just  passed  the  Psalmist's 
span  of  three  score  years  and  ten. 

Remaining  in  his  native  county  of  Laporte 
until  nine  years  of  age,  Frank  J.  Quirk  then 
became  a  citizen  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
graduated  from  the  Walkerton  high  school 
with  the  class  of  1898.  He  then  learned  the 
art  of  telegraphy  under  M.  A.  Cole,  of  the 
Lake  Erie  &  Western  Railroad,  and  in  his 
early  manhood  became  an  operator  in  Crom- 
well, Indiana,  in  the  employ  of  the  Baltimore 
&  Ohio  Railroad  Company,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained for  two  years,  and  then  returned  to 
Walkerton.  This  was  in  the  year  1901,  and 
during  the  following  four  years  he  was  in  the 
employ  of  the  Lake  Erie  &  Western  Com- 
pany, his  services  being  highly  satisfactory  to 
the  corporation   which  he   represented.     In 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


960 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


1905  Mr.  Quirk  established  the  lumber  busi- 
ness of  which  he  now  has  charge,  in  the  same 
year  entering  into  partnership  relations  with 
J.  E.  Johnson,  under  the  firm  name  of  the 
Walkerton  Lumber  Company.  They  annual- 
ly transact  a  volume  of  business  amounting 
to  from  thirty  to  fifty  thousand  dollars,  and 
they  handle  coal,  cement,  lime,  lumber  and 
in  fact  all  building  material.  The  straight- 
forward, manly  course  which  Mr.  Quirk  is 
pursuing  in  his  business  life  is  winning  him 
many  friends  and  the  confidence  of  the  en- 
tire public.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political 
afiiliations,  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  William  Jennings  Bryan,  and  during  two 
terms  he  represented  his  party  in  the  office 
of  town  clerk  of  Walkerton.  His  fraternal 
connections  are  with  the  Knights  of  Columbxis 
at  Fort  Wayne,  while  in  the  city  of  Walker- 
ton he  is  a  member  of  St.  Patrick's  Catholic 
church,  having  been  confirmed  by  Bishop 
Rademacher,  of  the  Northern  Bishopric  of  In- 
diana. 

Matthew  S.  Denaut,  M.  D.  In  reviewing 
the  prominent  members  of  the  medical  profes- 
sion in  St.  Joseph  county,  the  name  of  Dr. 
Matthew  S.  Denaut  stands  forth  conspicuous- 
ly as  one  of  its  leaders.  He  is  a  representa- 
tive of  one  of  the  prominent  old  families  of 
Canada,  of  French  extraction.  They  trace 
their  lineage  from  Bishop  Denaut,  the  tenth 
Bishop  of  Quebec,  who  was  a  great-great- 
uncle  of  the  doctor. 

Dr.  Denaut  was  born  in  Delta,  Leeds  coun- 
ty, Ontario,  Canada,  July  13th,  1863,  the 
third  of  seven  children  bom"  to  Walter  H.  and 
Caroline  A.  (Dunham)  Denaut.  Only  four 
of  the  children  are  now  living:  Matthew  S., 
the  eldest ;  Elizabeth,  who  received  her  educa- 
tion in  a  high  school  in  her  native  country, 
and  now  resides  with  the  doctor  in  Walker- 
ton; Sarah,  the  next  in  order  of  birth,  also 
resides  with  the  family,  and  Dr.  James  L.  is 
a  leading  medical  practitioner  of  Hamlet,  In- 
diana. The  last  named,  after  completing  his 
literary  training  in  the  high  schools  of  Can- 
ada, entered  Rush  Medical  College  of  Chi- 
cago, from  which  he  was  graduated  with  the 
class  of  1896,  and  entered  the  medical  profes- 
sion at  Mark  Center,  Ohio,  a  short  time  after, 
in  1897,  removing  to  Hamlet,  Indiana,  where 
he  has  since  been  numbered  among  its  suc- 
cessful practitioners.  He  married  Miss  Cloe 
Fancher,  a  talented  masieian,  by  whom  he 
has  one  daughter,  Elizabeth.  Dr.  James  L. 
Denaut  is  a  Republican  in  his  affiliations. 


Dr.  Harry  D.  Denaut,  the  second  brother 
in  the  family,  with  whom  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  associated  in  practice,  was  grad- 
uated from  Queen's  College,  Kingston,  Can- 
ada, in  1892,  and  in  the  same  year  located  in 
Walkerton,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred on  June  7,  1904.  He  was  eminently 
popular  both  as  a  physician  and  citizen,  and 
his  sterling  characteristics  and  genial  and 
affable  manner  won  him  the  love  and  respect 
of  all  who  had  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaint- 
ance. His  death,  which  occurred  in  the  prime 
of  manhood,  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  profes- 
sion in  which  he  had  achieved  such  great  suc- 
cess, aa  well  as  to  the  citizens  of  Walkerton. 
During  the  smallpox  epidemic  in  1894  his  ef- 
forts were  most  commendable  in  quelling  the 
disease,  and  in  many  ways  won  him  the  ad- 
miration and  deep  regard  of  the  citizens  of 
St.  Josepli  county.  Julia  E.,  a  half-sister, 
still  resides  in  Brockville. 

Walter  H.  Denaut,  the  father,  was  bom 
near  Prescott,  Ontario,  September  10,  1807. 
He  was  married  three  times,  first  to  Miss  Julia 
Easton  of  Brockville,  by  whom  four  children 
were  bom;  Roderick  E.,  Geoi^e  C,  Walter 
H.,  all  of  whom  are  deceased,  and  Julia  E., 
who  still  resides  in  her  native  town.  The  sec- 
ond wife  was.  Miss  Harriet  Jones  of  Connecti- 
cut, who  died  shortly  after  their  marriage, 
leaving  no  children.  The  third  wife  was  Caro- 
line A.  Dunham,  to  whom  he  was  married  on 
the  17th  of  May,  1859,  and  by  whom  the  five 
children  were  bom  heretofore  mentioned.  His 
death  occurred  on  the  16th  of  March,  1889. 
He  was  one  of  the  original  contractors  on  the 
old  Beauhoraais  canal  at  Cornwall,  Farran's 
Point,  Morrisburg,  and  the  Galoup  Rapids,  in 
which  were  associated  with  him  the  late  Col. 
James  Crawford,  George  Easton,  and  the  late 
John  Crawford.  In  1848  he  purchased  the 
stone  flour  mills  at  Delta,  and  at  the  same 
time  conducted  a  big  general  store,  retaining 
active  possession  of  the  former  and  managing 
personally  his  large  land  holdings  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death.  The  family  was  one  of 
prominence  in  Canada,  commercially  and  so- 
cially. Among  the  chief  characteristics  of 
Walter  H.  Denaut  were  his  charitable  disposi- 
tion, force  of  character,  and  sterling  integ- 
rity, his  word  being  considered  as  true  as  the 
law  l>y  those  with  whom  he  had  dealings.  As 
a  citizen  of  Canada  he  was  in  favor  of  un- 
restricted reciprocity.  The  Doctor,  of  this 
review,  has  several  of  his  father's  old  parch- 


Digitizfed  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by  LjOOQIC 


x       - 


TMF 


NJfW 


:*  * :  r.v 


\  /V 


1909 


Digitized  by 


Google 


//         th? 

\        '"f^"-;.  font. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


(^J^^^t^-^Ze^-'^tj^  \J0^f4^%<p-^Je^ 


Digitized  by  LjOOQ  IC 


HISTORY   OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


961 


ment  deeds,  executed  in  1821  and  other  dates, 
two  bearing  the  seal  of  Upper  Canada. 

The  wife  and  mother  was  born  in  Broek- 
ville,  Ontario,  March  7,  1832,  and  died  on  the 
9th  of  Februaiy,  1907.  She  was  a  lady  of 
more  than  ordinary  intellectual  accomplish- 
ments, and  was  a  devout  member  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  church  in  Brockville  from  early 
childhood  until  her  removal  to  Walkerton  in 
1901.  Both  she  and  her  husband  now  lie 
buried  in  their  native  land  of  Canada,  the 
father  at  Delta,  and  the  mother  with  her  son 
in  the  family  plot  at  the  Brockville  cemetery. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Dr.  M.  S.  Denaut  were 
spent  in  Canada,  receiving  an  excellent  educa- 
tional training  in  the  public  and  high  schools 
of  Ontario.  After  the  completion  of  his  liter- 
ary studies,  he  was,  for  three  years,  an  em- 
ploye in  the  lumber  business  at  Parry  Sound 
and  Port  Arthur.  Returning  to  Delta,  On- 
tario, be  succeeded  his  father  as  a  clerk  of 
the  Sixth  Division  court  of  Leeds  and  Gren- 
ville,  also  acting  as  executor  of  the  Denaut 
estate.  Entering  Rush  Medical  College  in 
1893,  he  was  graduated  therefrom  in  the  class 
of  1897. 

Previously  he  had  taken  the  examination  of 
the  Illinois  State  Board  of  Health  in  1896, 
when  an  undergraduate,  and  in  1897  located 
at  Walkerton,  Indiana,  as  a  medical  practi- 
tioner. His  long  identification  with  the  place 
and  his  prominence  here  entitles  him  to  a 
leading  place  in  the  annals  of  the  county.  For 
several  years  he  has  been  surgeon  of  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  railway,  also  secretary  of 
the  town  board  of  health.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  American  Medical  Association  and  social- 
ly is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fel- 
lows orders.  His  professional  career  has  been 
attended  with  marked  success,  and  those  who 
have  known  him  longest  esteem  him  most 
highly.  His  beautiiful  brick  offices  and  resi- 
dence, erected  by  himself  and  brother  in  1898, 
are  ornaments  to  the  town  of  Walkerton.  He 
has  supplied  himself  with  an  excellent  liter- 
ary and  professional  library,  and  is  equipped 
with  an  ample  and  well  appointed  surgery 
and  surgical  outfit.  His  practice  is  not  bound- 
ed by  the  limits  of  the  county  but  extends 
into  Marshall,  Laporte  and  Starke  counties, 
where  his  name  is  well  known  in  the  profes- 
sion. 

On  the  13th  of  September,  1899,  Dr.  Den- 
aut was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Regina 
MacDon-ald,  amd  they  have  had  four  children, 
two  sons  and  two  daughters,  Caroline  L.,  aged 


seven  years;  Walter  M.,  aged  six  years;  Julia 
G.,  aged  four  years,  and  Harry  D.,  who  died 
on  the  21st  of  March,  1907,  at  the  age  of  two 
years,  and  was  buried  at  Brockville.  Mrs. 
Denaut  was  bom  in  Plymouth,  Indiana,  June 
15,  1881,  but  shortly  afterward  her  parents 
removed  to  Kokomo,  Indiana,  where  she  ob- 
tained her  education  in  the  high  schools.  She 
received  special  training  and  became  very 
proficient  in  vocal  and  instrumental  music. 
Dr.  Denaut  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  Repub- 
lican principles,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
adherents  of  the  Presbyterian  faith,  Mrs. 
Denaut  being  a  member  of  that  denomination. 
The  Doctor's  paternal  grandfather,  Joachim 
Denaut,  was  a  Royal  Arch  Mason  and  Dr. 
Denaut  has  the  certificate  of  his  membership 
in  Lodge  No.  9,  A.  Y.  M.,  on  parchment,  dated 
October,  1798.  This  is  perhaps  the  only  relic 
of  the  kind  existing  in  St.  Joseph  county.  He 
also  has  some  rare  old  books,  Goodrich's  His- 
tory of  the  United  States,  dated  1825;  The 
Book  of  Common  Prayer,  1754;  Royal  Dic- 
tionary (London  edition),  1764;  American 
Gazetteer,  1804;  Bible  Concordance  (Eng- 
lish), Introduction  and  Preface  by  Daniel 
Featley,  at  Lambeth,  England,  Nov.  Ult. 
anno.  1630;  The  Private  Christian's  Witness 
for  Christianity,  printed  for  Thomas  Cocker- 
ill,  at  the  '* Three  Legs  in  the  Poultry,''  1697 ; 
Scott's  '*Life  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte,"  1833. 
Among  the  pieces  of  antique  furniture  which 
he  treasures  as  heirlooms  is  an  old  family 
Grandfather  clock,  bought  by  his  grandfather, 
the  late  Ephraim  Dunham,  of  Brockville, 
about  the  year  1799. 

Anthony  W.  Turner.  Among  the  rep- 
resentative citizens  and  honored  soldiers  of 
the  Civil  war  is  numbered  Anthony  W.  Tur- 
ner, of  Walkerton.  He  is  a  native  son  of  Dela- 
ware county,  Ohio,  bom  on  the  14th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1844,  a  son  of  Thompson  and  Catherine 
(Casad)  Turner,  in  whose  family  were  eleven 
children,  five  sons  and  six  daughters,  but  only 
five  are  now  living,  namely:  Caroline,  the 
widow  of  G.  W.  Amsden  and  a  resident  of 
Dowagiac,  Michigan;  Catherine  and  Alfred, 
twins,  the  former  the  wife  of  Lonson  Hupp, 
of  South  Bend,  and  the  latter  a  prosperous 
farmer  and  merchant  of  Wayne  township, 
Cass  county,  Michigan,  and  he  also  served 
three  years  during  the  Civil  war  as  a  member 
of  the  Sixth  Michigan  Infantry;  Anthony  W., 
whose  name  introduces  this  review ;  and  Finis, 
the  wife  of  Oren  Lalon,  of  Missouri. 

Mr.  Turner,  the  father,  was  born  in  New 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


962 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


Jersey  in  1803,  and  his  death  occurred  in 
1857.  He  was  reared  as  an  agriculturist,  and 
remained  in  his  native  state  until  his  mar- 
riage. His  business  life  was  crowned  with  a 
fair  degree  of  success,  and  he  became  a  land 
owner  in  Ohio.  In  1852  he  became  a  resident 
of  Berrien  county,  Michigan,  where  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  was  spent,  and  he  was  a 
Jefferson  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations. 
Mrs.  Turner  was  born  in  the  Empire  state  of 
New  York  in  1806,  and  her  death  occurred 
in  1865,  passing  away  in  the  faith  of  the  Bap- 
tist church,  of  which  she  was  long  a  faithful 
member.  She  was  of  English  lineage,  while 
her  husband's  people  were  from  Scotland. 
The  maternal  ancestors  located  in  Vermont 
in  a  very  early  day,  where  they  suffered  many 
depredations  from  the  Indians,  some  of  the 
family  having  been  scalped  by  the  red  skins. 
Her  brothers,  Samuel  and  James  Casad,  were 
soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Anthony  W.  Turner  was  only  eight  years 
of  age  when  he  journeyed  with  his  parents  in 
true  pioneer  style  across  the  black  swamps  to 
Michigan,  locating  in  Berrien  county,  where 
the  little  lad  attended  the  log  cabin  schools  of 
the  early  days,  with  their  broad  board  to 
serve  as  desks  and  slabs  for  seats,  and  he  has 
also  used  the  famous  old  goose  quill  pen.  This 
was  a  subscription  school.  He  was  reared  as 
a  farmer  boy,  and  in  1861,  when  the  tocsin 
of  war  sounded  throughout  the  land,  he  en- 
listed in  his  country's  service,  entering  on  the 
7th  of  October  of  that  year  Company  L,  Sec- 
ond Michigan  Cavalry,  enlisting  at  Niles 
under  Colonel  Smith,  and  his  regiment  was  as- 
signed to  the  Mississippi  department.  With 
his  regiment  he  journeyed  to  Madrid  and 
Island  No.  10,  finally  reaching  Corinth,  where 
his  cavalry  commander  was  ** Little"  Phil 
Sheridan.  The  first  battle  in  which  he  par- 
ticipated was  at  Island  No.  10,  later  was  at 
the  battle  of  Farmington,  and  in  July,  1862, 
was  wounded  in  the  left  shoulder  at  Boone- 
ville,  Mississippi,  captured  and  taken  as  a 
prisoner  of  war  to  Tupelo,  that  state,  thence 
to  Macon,  Georgia,  and  on  to  the  famous  Libby 
prison,  where  for  five  months  he  suffered  all 
the  horrors  of  that  terrible  prison,  pen.  Mr. 
Turner  was  then  paroled  and  entered  the  re- 
cruiting haspital  at  Portsmouth  Grove,  Rhode 
Island,  which  was  under  the  supervision  of 
ladies,  and  from  thence  joined  his  regiment 
at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  in  1863,  participating 
with  them  in  the  battle  of  Franklin,  in  which 
his  company  lost  three  men.    His  next  engage- 


ment was  at  Eaglesville,  Tennessee,  later  par- 
ticipating in  a  charge  south  of  that  city, 
where  one  of  his  comrades  was  killed,  and  he 
also  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Resaea,  Buz- 
zard's  Roost,  Strawberry  Plains  and  Peach 
Tree  Creek.  While  at  the  latter  place  his 
term  of  service  expired,  and  returniiig  to 
Franklin,  Tennessee,  remained  with  the  troops 
while  they  were  taking  care  of  the  rear  guard 
of  Sherman 's  army  while  on  its  march  to  the 
sea.  In  this  famous  siege  Mr.  Turner  took 
part  in  several  battles,  including  those  of 
Nashville,  the  second  battle  of  Franklin, 
Spring  Hill,  Carter  Creek,  Columbia  and 
many  skirmishes.  He  received  his  honorable 
discharge  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  November 
1,  1864,  after  a  long  and  honorable  record  as  a 
faithful  and  valiant  soldier,  and  when  his 
country  no  longer  needed  his  services  he  re- 
turned to  Lakeville,  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana. 

On  the  1st  of  September,  1867,  Mr,  Turner 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  E  valine  Hardy, 
and  the  only  child  of  this  union  is  a  son, 
Thompson,  who  is  an  attorney  and  the  pK>st- 
master  of  Walkerton,  and  a  sketch  of  whom 
will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mrs. 
Turner  was  bom  in  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, June  10,  1847,  a  daughter  of  Hiram 
and  Harriet  (Jones)  Hardy,  both  now  de- 
ceased. The  father  was  born  in  Darke  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  May  11,  1819,  and  his  death  oc- 
curred when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  eighty 
years,  six  months  and  twenty-eight  days.  He 
was  a  farmer,  a  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church,  an  earnest  Christian  gentleman, 
both  a  Whig  and  Republican  in  politics,  and 
he  now  lies  buried  in  St.  Joseph  county.  Mrs. 
Hardy  was  bom  in  Bartholomew  county,  In- 
diana, January  27,  1823,  and  her  death  oc- 
curred at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  two  months 
and  eighteen  days,  while  on  a  visit  to  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Turner.  She  was  a  loving 
wife,  an  affectionate  mother,  a  kind  neighbor 
and  friend,  and  was  devout  in  her  religious 
duties.  There  were  eleven  children  in  their 
family,  and  ten  are  now  living  and  residents 
of  St.  Joseph  county.  Mrs.  Turner  was  reared 
and  educated  in  this  county,  and  after  her 
marriage  the  young  couple  began  life  as  farm- 
ers in  a  little  log  cabin  home  in  Marshall 
county,  Indiana.  Returning  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  they  now  own  a  valuable  little  estate 
of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres,  and  all  the 
improvements  which  now  adorn  their  place 
have  been  placed  there  by  them.    Mr.  Turner, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


THE 


(I       NF 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1.1 

o  ? 

.    o 
£  H 

s 


O  OH 

u    S 

«  2 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


963 


however,  has  laid  aside  the  active  cares  of  a 
farmer's  life,  and  the  family  have  resided  in 
Walkerton  since  1899.  He  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican in  his  political  affiliations,  casting  hie 
first  pr^idential  vote  for  Grant,  and  at  one 
time  he  was  tke  choice  of  his  party  for  the  of- 
fice of  superintendent  of  roads  in  Oak  town- 
ship, Marshall  county.  He  has  membership 
relations  with  Jesse  Coppock  Post,  No.  378, 
G.  A.  R.,  at  Walkerton,  in  which  he  has  filled 
most  of  the  chairs,  and  is  now  senior  vice  com- 
mander, while  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Woman's  Relief  Corps.  Both  are  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  church  at  Walkerton,  in 
which  he  is  serving  as  a  trustee,  and  Mrs. 
Turner  is  a  member  of  the  Ladies'  Aid  So- 
ciety and  is  vice-president  of  the  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society.  They  are  honored  and  re- 
vered residents  of  Walkerton,  and  we  are 
pleased  to  present  this  review  of  their  lives 
in  the  history  of  St.  Joseph  county. 

Grove  Vosburgh.  The  Hollanders  and 
their  descendants  are  known  far  and  wide 
tor  their  intrinsic  worth  of  character,  and  in 
the  progress  of  our  Union  they  have  played 
an  important  part.  Mr.  Grove  Vosburg  is  a 
descendant  of  the  sons  of  Holland,  the  land  of 
dykes,  but  his  birth  occurred  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  June  16,  1855,  and  he  is  the 
seventh  in  order  of  birth  of  the  twelve  chil- 
dren, five  sons  and  seven  daughters,  bom  to 
Nelson  and  Eliza  (Turner)  Vosburgh.  But  of 
this  large  family  of  children  only  two  are  now 
living",  the  daughter  being  Ella,  the  wife  of 
Dr.  J.  A.  Varier,  one  of  the  leading  phy- 
sicians of  South  B^nd.  Mr.  Vosburgh,  the 
father,  was  born  in  Herkimer  county.  New 
York,  in  the  Mohawk  Valley,  May  4,  1815, 
and  it  was  his  father,  Bartholomew  Vosburgh, 
who  came  from  the  land  of  Holland  to  the 
United  States.  Nelson  Vosburgh  became  a 
carpenter,  joiner  and  pattern  maker,  learning 
his  various  trades  in  New  York,  and  it  was  in 
1836  that  he  began  his  westward  journey  to 
seek  his  fortune  in  this  then  new  and  undevel- 
oped country.  Arriving  in  Mishawaka,  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  he  at  once  began 
work  at  his  trade,  but  later  returned  to  New 
York  to  take  a  drove  of  horses  across  the 
mountains  to  Herkimer  county.  Becoming 
imbued  with  the  western  gold  fever,  on  the 
20th  of  February,  1850,  he  started  with 
others  on  the  long  and  perilous  journey  across 
the  plains,  reaching  Stockton,  California,  in 
the  following  October,  and  the  city  was  named 
in  honor  of  a  member  of  their  party.    After 


remaining  on  the  Pacific  coast  for  three  years, 
Mr.  Vosburgh  returned  by  way  of  Cape 
Horn  to  New  York,  and  thence  to  his  former 
home  in  St.  Joseph  county.  In  what  is  now 
Lincoln  township,  but  then  included  in  the 
township  of  Liberty,  he  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  unimproved  land  near 
the  Wesaw  settlement,  and  the  first  home  of 
the  Vosburghs,  a  litle  frame  structure  erected 
in  1853,  now  serves  as  the  home  of  his  son 
Grove,  it  being  now  the  oldest  occupied  resi- 
dence in  Lincoln  township.  But  in  order  to 
ereot  this  little  home  a  space  had  to  be  first 
cleared  in  the  dense  forest,  and  at  that  time 
the  red  men  still  roamed  at  will  over  the  com- 
munity, while  deer  and  wild  game  of  all  kinds 
were  yet  plentiful.  South  Bend  was  then 
their  chief  market,  and  in  Lincoln  township 
Mr.  Vosburgh  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
passing  away  on  the  21st  of  July,  1880.  He 
was  a  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations. 
Mrs.  Vosburgh  was  born  near  Utica,  New 
York,  November  10,  1819,  and  her  death  oc- 
curred on  the  3d  of  July,  1902,  when  she  was 
eighty-three  years  of  age.  Both  she  and  her 
husband  now  lie  buried  in  the  North  Liberty 
cemeterj^,  where  a  beautiful  stone  stanck 
sacred  to  their  memory. 

Within  the  borders  of  St.  Joseph  county 
Grove  Vosburgh  has  spent  his  entire  life,  and 
has  long  been  identified  with  agricultural  pur- 
suits. At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he 
began  life  for  himself  as  a  renter,  his  entire 
capital  at  that  time  consisting  of  one  hundred 
dollars,  and. he  continued  to  remain  on  the  old 
homestead.  On  the  15th  of  September,  1881, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Adella 
Cole,  and  they  have  two  children — Rose,  who 
has  passed  the  eighth  grade  in  her  studies, 
and  Grover  C,  a  promising  young  lad  in  the 
seventh  grade.  Mrs.  Vosburgh  was  born  in 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  February  17, 
1858,  the  ninth  in  order  of  birth  of  the  twelve 
children,  seven  sons  and  five  daughters,  born 
to  Alvah  H.  and  Maria  (Jones)  Cole.  Seven 
of  the  children  are  yet  living:  Adeline,  the 
wife  of  Rev.  C.  W.  Clifton,  pastor  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Hancock, 
Iowa ;  George,  who  is  married  and  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  in  Plymouth,  Indiana; 
John,  who  is  married  and  is  a  farmer  near 
Taylor,  Nebraska;  Alson,  an  agriculturist  of 
Palmer,  Nebraska;  Adella,  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Vosburgh;  Leonard,  a  resident  of  Indian- 
apolis; and  Milton,  who  resides  near  the  city 
of  Seattle,  Washington,  where  he  is  associated 


Digitized  by 


Google 


964 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


with  the  Great  Northern  Railroad  Company. 
Mr.  Cole,  the  father,  was  born  in  Putnam 
county,  New  York,  April  23,  1815,  and  died 
on  the  25th  of  December,  1876.  During  his 
young  manhood  he  removed  from  his  native 
commonwealth  to  Michigan,  this  being  in 
1836,  but  shortly  afterward  came  to  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  Indiana,  purchasing  three  hun- 
dl*ed  and  twenty  acres  of  land  near  Walker- 
ton,  and  there  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  his  political 
views,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  Bap- 
tists. Mrs.  Cole  was  born  in  the  same  locality 
in  New  York  as  her  husband,  her  natal  day 
being  the  21st  of  July,  1825,  and  her  death 
occurred  in  1870.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cole 
were  interred  in  Woodlawn  cemetery  at 
Walkerton. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Voeburgh  began  their  married 
life  on  the  old  homestead  where  they  yet  re- 
side. He  is  classed  with  the  early  pioneers 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  can  well  remember 
the  days  when  he  used  the  old  fashioned 
cradle  in  the  harvest  field  and  mowed  the 
grass  with  the  scythe.  His  valuable  estate 
now  consists  of  one  hundred  and  eleven 
acres,  located  twenty  miles  from  South  Bend, 
three  miles  from  Walkerton  and  four  miles 
from  North  Liberty.  In  addition  to  his  agri- 
cultural pursuits  he  raises  standard  bred 
stock,  favoring  the  Poland  China  hogs  and 
Polled  Durham  cattle  and  he  also  has  draft 
horses.  He  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Hon.  Samuel  Tilden,  and  has  always  sup- 
ported the  candidates  of  the  Democratic 
party,  while  many  times  he  has  served  as 
his  party's  delegate  to  the  county  conven- 
tions. The  family  are  numbered  among  the 
leading  ones  of  this  section  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  are  highly  esteemed  for  their  ster- 
ling characteristics. 

Thomas  H.  Dougherty.  As  one  of  the 
representative  business  men  and  citizens  of 
St.  Joseph  county  Mr.  Thomas  H.  Dougherty 
needs  no  introduction  to  the  readers  of  this 
volume.  He  is  classed  with  the  honored  pio- 
neers of  the  community,  for  his  identification 
with  its  interests  dates  back  to  the  time  when 
the  country  was  an  almost  unbroken  foresrt. 
He  is  a  native  son  of  Stark  county,  Ohio, 
bom  near  Canton  on  the  5th  of  April,  1847, 
the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  of  the  five  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  two  daughters,  born  to 
Martin  and  Tabitha  (Leeper)  Dougherty, 
but  the  son  Thomas  is  the  sole  survivor  of 
this  once  large  family. 


Martin  Dougherty,  the  father,  was  also 
bom  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  March  14,  1812, 
and  he  traces  his  lineage  to  the  Germans,  his 
great-grandfather  having  removed  from  the 
fatherland  to  America.  It  was  in  1850  that 
Martin  Dougherty  left  his  native  county  of 
Stark  and  in  true  pioneer  style  with  wagons 
journeyed  across  the  swamps  to  Marshall 
county,  Indiana,  where  he  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  unimproved  land  and 
established  their  home  in  a  little  log  cabin 
of  the  moert;  primitive  construction.  The  red 
men  then  roamed  at  will  through  the  forests 
of  this  community,  and  the  crudest  of  farm- 
ing implements  were  then  in  vogue.  In  1859 
Mr.  Dougherty  sold  that  farm  and  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Liberty  town- 
ship, which  is  now  included  in  the  township 
of  Lincoln,  his  land  lying  within  a  short 
distance  north  of  the  present  site  of  Walker- 
ton, and  Mr.  Dougherty  of  this  review  can 
recall  to  mind  the  primitive  little  log  cabin 
home  in  which  the  family  first  resided  on 
this  farm.  With  the  passing  years  Mr.  Mar- 
tin Dougherty  'added  eighty  acres  to  his  ori- 
ginal purchase  of  one  hundred  and  sixty,  and 
became  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  the 
community.  In  an  early  day  he  gave  his 
political  support  to  the  Democracy,  but  at 
the  formation  of  the  Republican  party  he 
espoused  its  cause  and  cast  his  vote  for  the 
martyred  Lincoln.  He  was  a  strong  anti- 
slavery  man,  a  thorough  Republican,  and  a 
stanch  advocate  of  the  free  public  schools. 
The  life  of  this  noble  old  pioneer  gentleman 
was  ended  on  the  9th  of  November,  1864, 
and  he  now  lies  buried  in  the  Walkerton 
cemetery.  Mrs.  Dougherty  was  bom  in  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  September  2,  1814,  and  died 
on  the  9th  of  September,  1874.  She  was  a 
loving  wife  and  mother,  a  devout  Christian 
in  her  religious  duties,  and  a  kind  neighbor 
and  friend.  She  traced  her  lineage  to  the 
Scotch  and  the  land  of  the  hills  and  heather. 

When  but  a  babe  of  two  years  Thomas  H. 
Dougherty  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Indiana,  and  when  he  was  three  years  of  age 
the  family  home  was  established  in  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  and  thus  over  half  a  century 
has  been  added  to  the  cycle  of  time  since  he 
became  identified  with  its  interests.  He  has 
witnessed  the  growth  of  South  Bend  from 
a  little  hamlet  of  five  hundred  inhabitants 
to  its  present  population  of  fifty  thousand, 
can  recall  to  mind  when  not  a  railroad 
traversed    the   entire   county,    and   can  also 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


9G5 


remember  when  the  Pottawatomie  Indians 
were  numerous  in  this  section.  He  has  seen 
as  many  as  fifty  deer  in  one  drove  on  his 
father's  farm,  and  the  latter,  who  was  a 
great  hunter,  supplied  many  of  his  neigh- 
bors' tables  with  venison,  he  having  earned 
the  reputation  of  killing  more  deer  than  any 
other  man  in  the  township  of  Liberty. 
There  was  a  deer  runway  on  the  Dougherty 
farm,  and  he  has  killed  the  little  animals 
from  a  forked  tree  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
from  his  home.  Liberty  township,  now  known 
as  Lincoln,  was  one  of  the  greatest  hunting 
grounds  in  Indiana  in  those  early  days.  Mr. 
Dougherty  of  this  review  has  swung  his  old 
fashioned  cradle  many  a  day  from  morn 
until  night  and  has  cut  as  many  as  five  acres 
of  wheat  in  a  day  with  that  crude  imple- 
ment, and  he  also  used  the  scythe  in  cutting 
the  grass.  He  can  well  remember  the  excite- 
ment the  first  threshing  machine  and  binder 
caused  when  they  were  introduced  into  the 
county.  He  has  also  used  the  old  fashioned 
flail  to  thresh  out  the  grain,  as  well  as  rode 
the  horses  on  the  bam  floor  to  accomplish 
the  same  result.  His  educational  training 
was  received  principally  in  the  school  of  ex- 
perience, as  well  as  by  reading  and  observa- 
tion, the  first  school  which  he  attended  having 
been  held  in  an  old  bam,  where  the  seats 
were  made  of  slabs  and  rested  on  wooden 
legs  and  the  desk  a  broad  board  resting 
against  the  manger.  ,  He  was  reared  as  a 
farmer  boy,  later  learning  the  carpenter's 
trade,  and  during  the  past  twenty-five  years 
he  has  been  a  salesman  in  northern  Indiana, 
representing  the  International  Harvester 
Company.  He  has  been  very  successful  in 
his  career  as  a  salesman,  and  is  thoroughly 
familiar  in  every  detail  with  the  line  of 
goods  which  he  carries.  He  owns  valuable 
real  estate  in  the  little  town  of  Walkerton, 
where  he  maintains  his  residence. 

Mr.  Dougherty  has  been  twice  married.  In 
1867  he  wedded  Miss  Sabrina  Grommon,  and 
of  their  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter, 
only  one  is  now  living,  Emma,  who  is  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Walkerton  high  school,  and  for 
three  years  has  been  a  successful  teacher  in 
St.  Joseph  county.  She  is  a  member  of  the 
Ladies'  Aid  Society  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  also  of  the  Women's  Relief 
Corps  at  Walkerton,  and  she  now  resides  in 
Lafayette,  Indiana,  where  she  is  connected 
with  the  sanitarium.  Mrs.  Dougherty  was 
bom  in  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  in  1849,  and 


her  death  occurred  in  1870,  passing  away 
in  the  faith  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  of  which  she  was  long  a  faithful 
member.  In  1874  Mr.  Dougherty  married 
Miss  Louisa  Vincent,  and  their  only  child 
is  a  daughter,  Ivy  B.  She  received  her  di- 
ploma from  the  intermediate  grade  and  pur- 
sued one  year's  study  in  the  high  school,  and 
has  also  studied  instrumental  music.  She 
is  the  wife  of  E.  L.  Narragon,  a  merchant  of 
North  Liberty,  Indiana,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Thomas  Alexander,  who  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  sixth  grade  in  school,  and  Arthur. 
Mrs.  Dougherty  was  born  in  St.  Joseph  county 
on  the  5th  of  September,  1849,  a  daughter 
of  Benjamin  and  Betsey  (Ellis)  Vincent, 
honored  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county.  The 
Vincent  family  became  established  here  in 
1849,  but  the  father  originally  came  from 
England.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  Vincent 
were  married  in  Mishawaka,  and  three  of 
their  children  are  now  living:  Louisa,  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Dougherty ;  Albert,  a  prosperous 
farmer  of  Lincoln  township;  and  Martha, 
the  wife  of  Frank  Tisher,  of  Walkerton. 
Mr.  Dougherty  affiliates  with  the  Democracy, 
and  as  his  party's  representative  has  been 
chosen  as  delegate  to  the  county  and  district 
conventions.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Walker- 
ton Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge,  No.  263,  of 
which  he  is  a  past  chancellor,  and  his  wife 
is  a  member  of  the  Pythian  Sisters.  Both 
are  devout  members  of  the  Methodist  Epiis- 
copal  church,  and  Mr.  Dougherty  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  building  committee  for  the  erec- 
tion of  the  new  church,  which  is  to  cost  fifteen 
thousand  dollars.  During  the  long  period  of 
twenty  years  he  served  as  trustee  of  the 
church  society,  and  for  twenty-five  ypars  he 
occupied  one  pew.  He  is  a  man  of  well 
rounded  character  and  is  a  valued  factor  in 
church,  fraternal  and  social  circles. 

Rev.  Brenton  H.  Be  all  has  devoted  his 
life  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  the  highest 
and  holiest  calling  in  which  one  may  engage, 
and  therein  his  efforts  have  been  abundantly 
blessed.  He  is  a  descendant  of  the  sturdy  and 
persevering  sons  of  Germany,  and  his  grand- 
fathers, Beall  and  Blont,  were  soldiers  in  the 
war  of  1812.  His  birth  occurred  in  Noble 
county,  Indiana,  on  the  16th  of  August,  1848, 
the  second  of  the  four  children,  three  sons 
and  a  daughter,  born  to  Allen  and  Angelina 
(Lee)  Beall.  All  of  the  children  are  yet 
living,  namely:  Rayon,  who  is  married  and 
is   an    agriculturist    in    St.    Joseph   county; 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


966 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


Brenton  H.  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth; 
Daniel  W.  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this 
work;  and  Helen,  the  youngest,  is  the  wife 
of  Frank  P.  Byers,  a  sawyer  or  lumberman 
/n  Independence,  Oregon. 

Allen  Beall,  the  father,  was  bom  in  Frank- 
/in  county,  Ohio,  June  6,  1820,  and  during 
many  years  of  his  early  business  career  he 
was  a  machinist  in  an  iron  manufacturing 
establishment,  but  later  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  farming.  He  was  a  self-educated  man, 
for  being  a  great  student  in  history,  also  an 
extensive  reader  and  possessing  a  retentive 
memory,  he  became  well  informed  and  a  lover 
of  good  literature.  At  the  age  of  twelve 
years  he  left  his  native  state  of  Ohio  and 
journeyed  in  true  pioneer  style  to  Noble 
county,  Indiana,  arriving  there  when  the  red 
men  yet  roamed  at  will  over  that  section.  In 
an  early  day  he  erected  a  foundry  in  Ligonier, 
also  a  forge  at  Rochester,  this  state,  and  was 
successful  in  his  business  enterprises.  Being 
a  strong  abolitionist,  he  espoused  the  Repub- 
lican party  at  its  birth,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  were  devout  members  of  the  Methodist 
church.  In  1867  they  came  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  where  the  husband  and  father  pur- 
chased two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land 
in  Lincoln  township,  to  which  he  afterward 
added  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
and  there  he  continued  his  agricultural  labors 
until  his  life  work  was  ended  in  death,  pass- 
ing away  in  October,  1901.  He  was  one  of 
the  most  prominent  representatives  of  the  Ma- 
sonic order  in  St.  Joseph  county,  and  exem- 
plified its  beneficent  principles  in  his  every 
day  life.  Mrs.  Beall  was  a  native  of  Wythe 
county,  Virginia,  bom  about  1820,  and  her 
death  occurred  when  she  had  reached  the  age 
of  forty-nine  years.  She  was  a  descendant 
of  the  celebrated  Lee  family  of  Virginia,  who 
were  conspicuous  as  Revolutionary  heroes, 
and  her  brother,  Jackson  Lee,  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Mexican  war.  She  came  to  Noble 
county,  Indiana,  in  an  early  day,  and  be- 
came a  successful  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Ligonier.  She  had  received  an 
excellent  educational  training  for  those  days. 
With  her  husband  she  now  lies  buried  in 
the  Walkerton  cemetery. 

Rev.  Beall  attained  to  years  of  maturity  in 
his  native  county  of  Noble,  where  he  com- 
pleted a  common  school  education  and  then 
entered  the  Fillmore  Academy  at  Fillmore, 
Missouri,  where  he  pursued  the  scientific 
course,  and  later  was  a  student  in  the  Mt. 


Vernon  Cgllege  of  Iowa.  For  two  years  he 
pursued  the  study  of  medicine,  but  his  trend 
of  thought  led  him  into  the  higher  calling 
of  the  ministry,  and  in  1868  he  entered 
upon  his  work  as  a  pastor.  He  had  pre- 
viously pursued  a  course  by  correspondence 
at  the  Wesleyan  University  of  Bloomington, 
Illinois,  and  entered  the  ministry  at  Culver, 
Indiana,  where  he  remained  for  one  year,  and 
during  that  time  erected  and  dedicated  a 
new  church,  the  cost  of  which  was  twenty- 
five  hundred  dollars.  His  next  charge  was 
at  Kewanee,  Indiana,  where  during  his  pas- 
torate of  two  years  he  erected  a  three  thou- 
sand dollar  church,  was  for  two  years  a  min- 
ister at  Lowell,  this  state,  where  he  paid  off 
a  long  standing  indebtedness  of  fifteen  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  during  the  following  eleven 
years  he  was  located  by  his  conference  and 
resided  at  Walkerton.  He  came  here  to  re- 
store his  failing  health,  and  during  the  time 
entered  the  practice  of  law,  for  he  had  been 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  St.  Joseph  county, 
and  also  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business, 
meeting  with  success  in  both  his  professional 
and  business  ventures.  In  1886,  however, 
Rev.  Beall  was  readmitted  to  the  Northwest- 
em  Indiana  Conference  and  was  stationed 
at  Pittsboro  and  Brownsburg,  while  in  the 
following  year  he  was  transferred  to  the 
Laporte  circuit,  there  remaining  for  two  years, 
and  foi*  five  years  was  stationed  at  Argos, 
Indiana.  During  his  pastorate  there  he  com- 
pleted the  parsonage  and  increased  the  mem- 
bership of  the  church  from  one  hundred  and 
twenty  to  five  hundred,  showing  a  wonder- 
fully healthy  growth  and  the  earnest  efforts 
of  its  pastor.  From  there  he  went  to  Rom- 
ney,  Indiana,  remaining  one  year,  was  for 
two  years  at  Knox,  where  he  lifted  a  five 
hundred  dollar  incumbrance,  and  was  then 
transferred  to  Bringhurst  and  Flora,  Carroll 
county,  Indiana,  the  towns  being  but  one 
mile  apart.  At  Flora  he  erected  a  six  thou- 
sand dollar  stone  and  brick  church,  his  pas- 
torate there  covering  a  period  of  two  years. 
During  the  following  year  he  was  stationed  at 
Chesterton,  Porter  county,  two  years  Was  at 
Union  Mills,  and  then  came  to  Walkerton, 
this  being  in  the  year  of  1900.  For  a  time 
thereafter  he  had  charge  of  the  surrounding 
chaises  of  the  church,  while  for  one  year 
he  also  had  supervision  over  the  Wanatah  and 
Hanna  churches  and  two  years  over  the 
Union  Mills  church.  In  1903  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  charge  of  the  Lowell  Heights 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  £!OUNTY. 


967 


ehurch  at  South  Bend,  where  he  continued 
01  his  ministerial  labors  for  three  years,  but 
At  the  last  conference  he  was  placed  on  the 
retired  list,  for  his  work  in  the  Master's 
vineyard  had  covered  the  long  period  of 
thirty-nine  years,  and  he  had  grown  old  in 
the  service.  As  long  as  life  remains  he  will 
6e  an  active  worker  in  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tianity, active  in  the  continuance  of  the  work 
to  which  he  dedicated  his  life  in  early  man- 
hood. He  is  now  interested  in  agricultural 
pursuits. 

On  the  22d  of  December,  1867,  Rev.  Beall 
married  Miss  Lois  M.  Gorsline,  and  of  their 
eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daughters, 
four  are  now  living.  The  eldest,  Allen  M., 
resides  on  the  old  homestead  two  miles  south 
of  Walkerton.  He  is  an  inventive  genius, 
and  to  him  belongs  the  honor  of  inventing 
the  Beall  Non-Pounding  Frog  and  Crossing, 
which  is  now  being  used  by  all  railroads,  while 
at  the  present  time  he  -is  working  on  a 
patent  air  compre^or.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  his  political  affiliations.  For  his  wife  he 
chose  Miss  Eva  Loutz,  and  they  have  six 
children,  Maude,  Orville,  Beulah,  Donald, 
Marvin  and  Marjorie.  Thomas  Eddy,  the 
second  son,  is  a  resident  of  Mishawaka,  where 
he  is  employed  as  a  machinist  with  the  Dodge 
Manufacturing  Company.  He  affiliates  with 
the  Democracy.  Jessie  M.  is  the  wife  of  Paul 
M.  Seifert,  formerly  of  Walkerton,  but  now 
engaged  as  a  machinist,  decorator  and  painter 
in  Chicago.  They  have  three  children,  Paul, 
Freddie  and  Helen.  Carl,  the  youngest  of 
the  family,  is  a  resident  of  Walkerton.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Eighteenth  Battery  and 
stationed  in  Cuba,  while  at  the  time  of  the 
terrible  earthquake  in  San  Francisco  he  as- 
sisted General  Funston  in  taking  care  of 
the  inhabitants  of  that  stricken  city.  Mrs. 
Beall,  the  mother,  was  born  in  Decatur, 
Adams  county,  Indiana,  January  11,  1851, 
the  daughter  of  Marvin  and  Julia  (Daily) 
Gorsline,  both  born  in  Ohio  and  both  now 
decea^d.  Mrs.  Beall  remained  in  her  native 
state  until  reaching  mature  years,  receiving 
her  education  in  its  public  schools.  She  has 
worthily  aided  her  husband  in  all  his  minis- 
terial labors,  as  well  as  in  the  establishment 
of  their  home  and  the  rearing  of  their  chil- 
dren. Rev.  Beall  is  a  strong  Prohibitionist, 
an  active  worker  in  the  cause  of  temperance, 
and  his  fraternal  relations  are  with  the  Ma- 
sonic order  at  Wheeler,  Indiana,  the  Odd 
Fellows  at  Knox  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias 


art;  Argos.  In  Walkerton,  where  they  have 
so  long  made  their  home,  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Beall 
are  held  in  the  highest  regard  by  their  in- 
numerable friends. 

Henry  A.  Adle.  The  old  soldier  is  an 
important  personage  in  any  community,  and 
among  those  who  wore  the  blue  in  defense 
of  their  country  in  the  memorable  Civil  war 
is  numbered  Henry  A.  Adle,  who  throughout 
nearly  his  entire  life  has  been  a  resident  of 
St.  Joseph  county.  His  birth  occurred  in 
Cayuga  county,  New  York,  November  11, 
1836,  the  youngest  of  the  four  children,  two 
sons  and  two  daughters,  bom  to  John  and 
Cyrena  (Barrus)  Adle.  All  of  the  children 
are  yet  living,  namely :  Charlotte,  the  widow 
of  Benjamin  Leroy,  who  served  in  an  Iowa 
regiment  during  the  Civil  war,  and  his  widow 
now  resides  in  Central  City,  Nebraska; 
Sarah,  the  wife  of  Arthur  Cole,  an  agricul- 
turist of  San  Jacinto,  California;  John,  a 
resident  of  Topeka,  Kansas;  Henry  A.,  of 
this  review. 

Mr.  John  Adle,  the  father,  was  born  in 
Cayuga  county,  New  York,  July  24,  1808, 
and  in  1840,  in  true  pioneer  style,  he  jour- 
neyed from  that  commonwealth  to  Steuben 
county,  Indiana,  making  the  trip  with  teams 
across  the  mountains,  through  quagmires  and 
swamps  to  their  destination  in  the  Hoosier 
state,  he  having  previously  trad^  forty  acres 
of  land  in  New  York  for  an  eighty-acre  tract 
in  Steuben  county.  Their  j5rst  home  was  a 
little  log  cabin,  but  he  soon  sold  his  land 
there  and  came  to  St.  Joseph  county  in  1844, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life 
and  died  on  the  26th  of  March,  1871.  When 
he  secured  his  farm  here  it  was  located  just 
west  of  Walkerton  in  Liberty  township,  but 
after  the  formation  of  Lincoln  township  it 
became  a  i>art  of  that  division.  In  his  early 
life  Mr.  Adle  was  an  old-line  Whig,  and  at  the 
formation  of  the  Republican  party  he  joined 
its  ranks  and  ever  remained  true  to  its  prin- 
ciples. He  was  a  sincere  and  devout  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  his 
entire  life  was  a  reflection  of  honest  and  up- 
right principles.  Mrs.  Adle,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred in  New  York  May  17,  1808,  was  called 
to  the  home  beyond  on  the  5th  of  April,  1872. 
She  was  of  Scotch  descent,  while  her  husband 
traced  his  lineage  to  the  Germans,  his  father 
having  emigrated  hither  from  th^t  country. 
She  was  reared  in  her  native  commonwealth 
of  New  York,  and  there  attended  with  her 
husband  the  old  log  schools  of  the  early  daj^. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


968 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


She  was  a  kind  and  loving  wife  and  mother, 
and  her  prayers  and  admonitions  will  ever 
live  in  the  hearts  of  her  children. 

Henry  A.  Adle  was  but  three  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  family  to 
Indiana,  and  in  this  commonwealth  he  has 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  long  and  useful 
life.  In  his  youth  he  attended  the  little  log 
school  house  near  his  home,  a  building  twelve 
by  fourteen  feet  in  size,  with  a  clapboard 
roof  and  heated  with  a  box  stove.  Its  seats 
were  of  slabs  with  wooden  legs,  the  desks 
a  broad  board  resting  on  wooden  pins  driven 
into  the  wall,  and  there  were  no  books  in 
these  early  schools,  which  were  maintained 
principally  by  private  subscriptions.  Mr. 
Adle  remained  with  his  parents  until  his 
thirtieth  year,  and  when  the  tocsin  of  war 
sounded  throughout  the  land  he  responded 
to  its  call  for  troops,  and  on  the  3d  of  Sep- 
tember, 1861,  enlisted  in  Company  G,  Twenty- 
ninth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  at  Lsr 
porte,  Indiana,  his  regiment  being  assigned  to 
the  Second  Brigade,  Second  Division,  Twen- 
tieth Army  Corps,  in  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland, under  Generals  Buell  and  Rosecrans. 
The  first  battle  in  which  he  participated  was 
at  Shiloh,  while  his  next  important  engage- 
ment was  at  Stone  River,  followed  by  the  bat- 
tle of  Chickamauga,  where  on  the  first  day 
of  the  siege  Mr.  Adle  received  a  wound  in 
the  abdomen  and  a  minie  ball  struck  his  belt 
buckle  and  the  ball  was  flattened  like  an  old 
copper  cent.  This  buckle  saved  his  life,  and 
had  it  not  been  for  some  of  his  comrades 
carrying  him  from  the  bloody  field  he  would 
have  been  made  a  Rebel  prisoner.  Three  of 
these  noble  men  have  answered  to  the  last 
roll  call,  while  the  fourth,  Simeon  Nelson,  re- 
sides in  Plymouth,  Indiana.  Mr.  Adle  was 
sent  to  the  hospital,  spending  three  months 
at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  then  joined  his 
regiment  at  Indianapolis  on  veteran  furlough. 
Thus  during  a  period  of  almost  four  years 
he  continued  a  brave  and  loyal  soldier  in 
the  defense  of  his  country,  receiving  his  hon- 
orable discharge  on  the  26th  of  September, 
1864,  after  a  military  career  of  three  years 
and  twentj^-three  days.  All  honor  is  due  and 
is  paid  these  brave  men  who  endured  the 
hardships  and  privations  of  a  soldier's  life 
that  their  country  might  be  saved. 

Mr.  Adle  wedded  MLss  Margaret  Grennert 
on  the  23d  of  February,  1865,  and  they  have 
two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter.  The 
elder,  May,  is  the  wife  of  W.  E.  Simmons, 


who  follows  agricultural  pursuits  in  Lincoln 
township,  St.  Joseph  county.  She  received 
a  good  education  in  the  Walkerton  high 
school,  and  by  her  marriage  has  become  the 
mother  of  two  children,  Walter  A.  and  Susie 
C.  Mrs.  Simmons  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church.  The  son,  James  B.,  is  at 
home  with  his  father.  He,  too,  was  educated 
in  the  Walkerton  high  school,  and  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  fruit  industry.  He  wedded  Miss 
Sylvia  Brannaman,  and  has  one  little  son, 
Harry,  in  the  second  grade  in  school.  Mrs. 
Adle,  the  mother,  was  born  in  Seneca  county, 
Ohio,  December  13,  1840,  a  daughter  of 
Michael  and  Barbara  (Culp)  Grennert, 
both  of  whom  were  Germans  and  now 
deceased.  They  oame  to  Penn  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  diuring  the 
early  girlhood  days  of  their  daughter  Mar- 
garet, and  she  was  educated  in  its  common 
schools,  and  could  read  and  write  both  English 
and  German  languages.  Her  death  occurred  on 
the  5th  of  August,  1893,  leaving  the  com- 
panion of  her  youth  to  continue  the  re- 
mainder of  the  journey  of  life  alone.  She 
was  a  loving  wife  and  mother,  a  kind  neigh- 
bor and  friend  and  was  ever  ready  to  help 
the  poor  and  needy.  She  now  sleeps  in  the 
Walkerton  cemetery.  She  was  a  devout  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  Adle  is  a  stalwart  Republican  in  his 
political  affiliations,  and  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  the  great  and  good  Lincoln, 
having  since  supported  Garfield,  Blaine,  Mc- 
Kinley  and  Roosevelt.  He  has  often  been 
selected  as  delegate  to  the  county  and  district 
conventions.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  order,  Lodge  No.  619,  at  Walk- 
erton, in  which  he  has  filled  all  of  the  offices 
but  that  of  secretary,  and  is  also  a  member 
of  Jesse  Coppock  Post,  No.  378,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
which  he  was  the  first  commander  and  held 
that  position  for  thirteen  years.  He  attended 
the  grand  encampments  at  Boston,  Indian- 
apolis and  Chicago,  and  while  in  Boston  he 
sailed  up  the  coast  past  Cape  Cod  to  the 
celebrated  PljTnouth  Rock,  the  landing  of 
the  Pilgrims  in  1620.  Mr.  Adle  is  one  of 
the  honored  old'  pioneers  and  soldiers  of  St 
Joseph  county,  and  the  record  of  its  repre- 
sentative men  would  be  incomplete  without 
the  mention  of  his  name. 

Davh)  Edmund  Rupel  has  devoted  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  to  the  task  of  in- 
structing the  young  along  lines  of  mental 
advancement  which  are  the  source  of  prep- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


969 


aration  for  the  responsible  duties  which  de- 
volve upon  each  individual  as  he  puts  aside 
the  text  books  to  take  up  the  work  which 
must  follow  the  labors  of  the  school  room. 
He  has  always  resided  in  the  coupty  which 
gave  him  birth,  for  he  was  born  within  the 
borders  of  St.  Joseph  county  January  31, 
1865,  the  eldest  of  the  seven  children,  five 
sons  and  two  daughters,  born  to  Dennis  and 
Mary  (O'Connor)  Rupel,  the  full  review  of 
whose  lives  are  given  elsewhere  in 
this  history.  Five  of  the  children  are 
yet  living,  namely:  David  E.,  whose 
name  introdiices  this  review;  Charles  F., 
who  attended  the  district  and  South  Bend 
high  schools,  after  which  he  was  engaged  in 
teaching  in  St.  Joseph  county  for  about  three 
years,  and  is  now  married  and  engaged  in 
farming  in  Liberty  towQship;  Eflfie  B.,  at 
home  with  her  parents;  Alfred  B.,  who  sup- 
plemented his  common-school  course  by  at- 
tendance in  the  Walkerton  high  school,  while 
for  one  term  he  was  also  a  student  in  the 
Valparaiso  University,  and  during  the  past 
seven  years  has  been  a  successful  educator 
as  well  as  a  farmer  in  Lincoln  township; 
and  Mary  Emma,  who  after  completing  her 
education  in  the  district  schools  entered  the 
Walkerton  high  school,  and  then  taught  for 
two  terms  in  Lincoln  township. 

David  E.  Rupel  was  reared  as  a  farmer 
and  stockman,  but  he  became  one  of  the  most 
successful  educators  that  St.  Joseph  county 
has  produced,  while  to  him  is  accorded  the 
longest  record  as  a  teacher  in  Lincoln  town- 
ship. Receiving  his  diploma  from  the  dis- 
trict schools  with  the  class  of  1886,  he  then 
entered  upon  the  work  of  his  profession  in 
Laporte  county,  but  in  the  following  year  re- 
turned to  his  home  county  and  for  fifteen 
years  has  been  one  of  its  most  successful  edu- 
cators, the  greater  part  of  his  labor  having 
been  performed  in  his  home  township  of  Lin- 
coln. His  professional  career  has  covered  the 
long  period  of  sixteen  years,  and  during  six 
and  a  half  years  of  that  time  he  taught  in 
one  school,  boarding  at  home,  and  in  that 
time  he  walked  a  distance  to  and  from  his 
school  which  would  reach  across  the  conti- 
nent from  New  York  to  San  Francisco  and 
half  of  the  way  back.  His  labors  as  an  edu- 
cator have  been  effective  in  raising  the  stand- 
ards of  the  schools  with  which  he  has  been 
connected,  and  he  keps  fully  abreast  of  the 
advancement  made  in  his  profession  by  the 
reading  of  the  best  literature. 


Mr.  Rupel  remained  at  home  until  his 
twenty-ninth  year,  and  on  the  29th  of  April, 
1894,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Daisy 
Snethen,  by  whom  he  has  had  four  children, 
two  sons  and  two  daughters:  Edna  Belle, 
who  is  pursuing  her  studies  in  the  seventh 
grade  of  the  public  schools,  and  has  a  spe- 
cial fondness  for  mathematics;  Elsie  Ann,  a 
member  of  the  fifth  grade;  Isaac  Walker 
and  Ernest  Willard.  Mrs.  Rupel  was  bom 
in  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  August  30, 
1874,  and  in  addition  to  her  district  school 
education  pursued  a  course  in  the  Walkerton 
high  school,  and  for  a  time  was  numbered 
among  the  successful  teachers  of  the  county 
of  her  nativity.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  'Rupel  began 
their  married  life  on  their  present  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  five  acres  in  Lincoln  tQwn- 
ship,  Mr.  Rupel  paying  for  the  property  with 
the  little  aid  which  his  father  advanced  him, 
and  in  addition  has  added  fifteen  acres  to 
its  boundaries,  while  the  home  has  been  re- 
modeled and  enlarged,  and  the  homestead 
is  now  one  of  the  valuable  ones  of  Lincoln 
township.  As  a  Democrat  Mr.  Rupel  cast  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  Grover  Cleveland, 
and  he  has  often  been  selected  as  his  party's 
representative  to  attend  the  county  conven- 
tions, but  he  has  never  cared  for  the  honors 
or  emoluments  of  oflSce.  He  is  a  worthy 
member  of  the  German  Baptist  church,  al- 
ways giving  freely  of  his  means  toward  the 
cause  of  Christianity,  and  the  family  are 
members  of  the  Sunday-school.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rupel  are  worthy  representatives  of  honored 
pioneer  families,  and  they  now  have  in  their 
possession  one  of  the  parchment  deeds  signed 
by  President  Martin  Van  Buren,  August  10, 
1837,  and  is  a  title  to  the  land  which  they 
now  own  and  occupy.  This  is  a '  valuable 
heirloom  in  the  home. 

Rayon  Beall.  The  name  of  Beall  is  so 
well  known  throughout  southern  St.  Joseph 
county  that  its  representatives  need  no  spe- 
cial introduction' to  the  readers  of  this  vol- 
ume. Rayon  Beall,  one  of  the  firm  of  Beall 
Brothers,  which  has  contributed  so  materially 
to  the  business  advancement  of  the  commu- 
nity, is  a  native  of  Noble  county,  Indiana, 
bom  on  the  15th  of  February,  1845,  the  eld- 
est of  the  five  children  born  to  Allen  and 
Angelina  (Lee)  Beall,  a  full  review  of  whose 
lives  will  be  found  in  the  sketch  of  Rev. 
Beall.  The  Lee  family  were  numbered  among 
the  heroes  of  the  Civil  war,  and  are  related 
to  the  celebrated  Robert  E.  Lee,  the  head  of 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


970 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


the  Confederate  forces  during  the  Civil  war. 
Rayon  Beall  has  been  numbered  among 
the  residents  of  St.  Joseph  county  for  over 
half  a  <;entury,  but  the  first  twenty-one  years 
of  his  life  were  spent  in  his  native  county  of 
Noble,  where  he  attended  one  of  the  old  time 
log  cabin  schools,  a  little  building  twenty 
feet  square,  heated  by  the  old  fashioned  box 
stove  and  furnished  with  the  slab  seats  and 
desks,  while  his  text  books  were  the  Elemen- 
tary speller,  McGuflfey's  reader  and  Davies' 
arithmetic.  He  has  .lived  to  see  these  primi- 
tive structures  of  learning  give  place  to  mod- 
ern and  elegant  school  buildings,  and  in  the 
work  of  advancement  along  all  lines  he  has 
not  only  beai  an  eye  witness  but  has  also 
performed  his  full  share  in  the  transforma- 
tion. He  was  reared  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil, 
and  remained  with  his  parents  until  the  time 
of  his  marriage,  which  occurred  on  the  26th 
of  August,  1868,  Miss  Lillian  Monroe  becom- 
ing his  wife,  and  they  have  become  the  par- 
ents of  six  children,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  of  whom  five  are  living.  Her- 
bert E.  is  a  prominent  educator  of  Lincoln 
township,  having  received  his  diploma  from 
its  public  schools  with  the  class  of  1889. 
He  also  attended  the  sumijier  normal  for  one 
term,  and  then  entered  upon  his  work  as  a 
teacher,  which  he  has  followed  for  fourteen 
years  in  St.  Joseph  and  Stark  counties.  He 
wedded  Miss  Carrie  Nash  and  their  three 
children  are  Wendell,  a  member  of  the  sixth 
grade  in  school,  Mamie,  in  the  fourth  grade, 
and  Walter,  who  is  also  in  school.  The  wife 
and  mother  was  born  in  Vermont,  but  when 
seven  years  of  age  came  with  her  parents  to 
Indiana.  Dr.  Walter  C.  Beall,  the  second 
son,  is  a  prominent  physician  in  Indianapo- 
lis, Indiana.  After  graduating  with  the  class 
of  1889  in  the  common  schools  of  Lincoln 
township,  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  for 
five  years  in  Laporte  and  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ties. He  then  took  up  the  study  of  phar- 
macy at  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  while  in  1898 
he  entered  the  Medical  College  of  Indian- 
apolis, in  which  he  graduated  with  the  class 
of  1901.  During  one  year  thereafter  he 
served  as  an  interne,  and  then  began  the 
active  work  of  his  profession  in  the  city  of 
Indianapolis.  He  married  Miss  Pearl  Mourer 
June  14,  1903.  She  was  born  in  New  CavStle, 
Indiana,  August  15,  1865,  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Ann  E.  (Reid)  Mourer,  and  graduated 
with  the  class  of  1881  in  that  city.  Mr. 
^lourer  was  born  in  Pennsvlvania  in   1842, 


and  traced  his  lineage  to  the  Hollanders. 
He  is  yet  living  in  New  Castle,  which  has  been 
his  home  for  forty  years,  and  he  made  the 
journey  thither  from  Pennsylvania  in  true 
pioneer  style  in  wagons.  Mrs.  Mourer  passed 
away  in  death  August  4, 1882,  aged  forty-four 
years.  Nellie,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Mr. 
Beall,  is  the  wife  of  John  E.  Wenger,  a  car- 
penter and  joinder  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 
She  was  also  a  teacher  in  Stark  county.  Nora 
resides  with  her  parents.  After  graduating 
with  the  class  of  1898  she  became  a  teacfier 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  county,  but  at 
the  present  time  is  a  student  in  the  Val- 
paraiso University.  Roy  C.  is  a  resident  of 
Walkerton,  where  he  is  serving  as  a  route 
agent.  He  received  his  diploma  with  the 
class  of  1900,  and  then  spent  three  years  in 
the  Walkerton  high  school,  after  which  he 
became  a  teacher.  He  married  Miss  Adah 
Jack,  who  was  a  successful  educator  in  La- 
porte county.  I' 
Mrs.  Beall,  the  mother,  was  bom  in  New 
York  February  3,  1852,  a  daughter  of  Robert 
H.  and  Margaret  E.  (Crouch)  Monroe,  in 
whose  family  were  five  children :  Alvina,  the 
wife  of  Hiram  A.  Hall,  an  agriculturist  of 
Traverse  City,  Michigan;  Mary,  the  wife  of 
James  Otwell,  a  farmer  of  Berrien  Springs, 
Michigan ;  Mrs.  Beall ;  and  Lenora,  the  wife 
of  Dennis  L.  Stowe,  a  barber  in  the  city  of 
Chicago.  Mr.  Monroe  was  a  native  of  New 
York,  bom  on  the  5th  of  January,  1821,  and 
his  death  occurred  in  November,  1898,  after 
a  career  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  served  for  four  years  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war,  a  member  of  the  Army  of  the  Ten- 
nessee, and  after  his  return  from  the  service 
he  became  a  physician,  hLs  death  occurring 
in  Grand  Traverse  county.  The  Monroe  fam- 
ily were  of  Scotch  lineage,  and  the  original 
spelling  of  the  name  was  '*Munroe."  Mr. 
Monroe  was  in  early  life  an  old-line  Whig, 
but  supported  the  Republican  party  from  the 
time  of  its  organization.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Method'st  church. 
She  was  a  native  of  New  York,  born  on  the 
6th  of 'November,  1823,  and  her  death  oc- 
curred in  1879,  in  St.  Joseph  county,  while 
her  husband  passed  away  in  Traverse  City, 
Michigan.  They  were  married  on  the  27th  of 
March,  1843.  Mrs.  Beall  was  a  little  maiden 
of  six  years  when  she  left  her  native  state 
of  New  York,  and  came  with  her  parents  to 
Starke  county,  Indiana,  where  they  resided 
until  her  father  left  for  the  war,  when  the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


,/'  THE 


^"■'^^  and  Tilde// 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


971 


family  came  to  Walkerton.  Here  she  com- 
pleted the  educational  training  begim  in 
Starke  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beall  began  their  married 
life  on  the  farm  on  which  they  now  reside, 
and  they  own  a  valuable  little  estate  of  sixty 
acres.  Mr.  Beall  is  a  Republican  politically, 
casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Grant, 
and  during  the  campaign  preceding  his  elec- 
tion Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beall  with  others  went  to 
South  Bend  in  wagons,  and  one  of  these,  con- 
taining forty  ladies  representing  the  different 
states  of  the  Union,  mired  in  the  mud  on 
Michigan  street  not  far  from  the  court  house. 
They  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  occupy  a  prominent  place  among 
the  leading  and  honored  residents  of  Lincoln 
township. 

Thompson  Turner.  The  United  States 
officials  play  a  most  conspicuous  part  in  the 
affairs  of  the  state  and  nation,  and  in  the 
progressive  little  town  of  Walkerton  we  find 
in  its  postmaster,  Thompson  Turner,  a  worthy 
representative  of  these  important  personages. 
He  is  a  native  son  of  Marshall  county,  In- 
diana, bom  on  the  13th  of  August,  1868,  the 
only  child  of  Anthony  and  Evaline  (Hardy) 
Turner.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Delaware 
county,  Ohio,  bom  on  the  14th  of  February, 
1844,  but  during  his  early  boyhood  days  he 
was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Michigan,  and 
was  reared  in  Berrien  and  Cass  counties  of 
that  commonwealth.  During  the  Civil  war 
he  offered  his  services  to  his  country,  and 
was  one  of  those  brave  soldiers  who  suffered 
the  tortures  of  Libby  Prison.  For  a  more 
complete  history  of  his  life  see  his  sketch 
elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Thompson  Turner,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  spent  the  early  years  of  his  life 
in  his  native  county  of  Marshall,  and  after 
completing  his  studies  in  its  county  schools 
entered  the  Walkerton  high  school,  in  which 
he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1886,  while 
during  the  following  three  years  he  was  a 
student  in  Otterbein  College,  there  pursuing 
the  classical  course.  He  further  continued 
his  pursuit  of  knowledge  in  the  Columbus 
College,  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  which  he  grad- 
uated with  the  class  of  1888,  after  which 
he  attended  the  National  School  of  Oratory 
at  Cleveland,  that  state.  It  had  been  Mr. 
Turner's  intention  to  enter  the  teacher's  pro- 
fession, and  returned  to  PliTnouth,  Indiana, 
to  become  associated  with  the  normal  train- 
ing department;  but  as  the  office  of  cashier 


of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Marshall 
county  was  then  vacant,  he  was  selected  for 
the  position  and  continued  therein  for  six 
years.  During  that  time  he  also  took  up  the 
study  of  laWj  and  on  the  7th  of  February, 
1898,  was  admitted  to  the  Indiana  state  bar 
in  St.  Joseph  county,  under  Judge  Hubbard. 
In  the  faU  of  1893  Mr.  Turner  had  taken  up 
his  residence  in  Walkerton,  as  cashier  of  the 
Farmers'  Bank,  continuing  to  discharge  the 
duties  of  that  important  position  for  four 
years.  Under  McKinley's  administration  he 
was  appointed  postmaster  of  Walkerton,  his 
present  position,  and  for  ten  years  he  has 
discharged  its  affairs  with  such  efficiency  that 
he  truly  merits  the  commendation  of  all.  Un- 
der his  management  the  office  has  become  a 
strong  one  for  a  town  of  eleven  hundred  pop- 
ulation. It  has  thirteen  outgoing  mails  and 
twelve  incoming,  while  from  it  also  radiate 
seven  rural  routes,  with  about  three  thousand 
names  on  the  delivery.  The  daily  mileage 
covered  by  the  deliverers  will  rea^h  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty-eight  miles  daily,  while  the 
territory  covers  one  hundred  and  ninety-five 
square  miles.  He  is  assisted  in  the  manage- 
ment of  this  important  office  by  his  deputy. 
Miss  Anna  Conrad*. 

On  the  22d  of  August,  1889,  Mr.  Turner 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ella  Swank, 
and  of  their  three  children,  two  sons  and  a 
daughter,  two  are  now  living:  Malinda,  who 
is  pursuing  her  studies  in  the  fifth  grade  of 
school,  and  Thompson,  Jr.  Howard  A.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  had  com- 
pleted the  eighth  grade  in  his  studies,  and 
was  a  Latin  scholar  and  a  fine  historian.  He 
was  a  bright  little  lad,  and  his  death  was  a 
severe  blow  to  his  parents.  Mrs.  Turner  is 
a  native  daughter  of  Walkerton,  her  birth 
having  here  occurred  on  the  23d  of  May,  1868. 
She  graduated  from  the  high  school  with  the 
class  of  1886,  and  for  a  time  thereafter  served 
as  cashier  of  one  of  the  large  printing  houses 
in  Chicago,  holding  a  very  responsible  posi- 
tion. Mr.  Turner  gives  a  stanch  and  unfal- 
tering support  to  the  Republican  party,  cast- 
ing his  first  presidential  vote  for  Benjamin 
Harrison,  and  since  age  conferred  upon  him 
the  right  of  franchise  he  has  been  active  in 
the  political  arena.  He  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Republican  County  Committee  and 
was  also  an  active  member  of  the  Citizens' 
League.  He  has  often  made  speeches  favor- 
ing his  party's  principles,  and  for  seven  years 
delivered   the    annual    addresses   before    the 


Vol.   11—24. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


972 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


G.  A.  R.  encampment  at  Walkerton,  which 
indicates  his  high  standing  as  a  citizen.  He 
was  formerly  vice-president  of  the  La  Salle 
Club  of  South  Bend,  a  political  organization 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  has  at  various  times 
served  as  a  delegate  to  the  state  and  congres- 
sional conventions,  and  for  eight  years  was 
one  of  the  leading  attorneys  of  Walkerton. 
His  fraternal  relations  connect  him  with  the 
Masonic  order,  Lodge  No.  619  at  Walkerton, 
in  which  he  has  served  as  a  junior  warden, 
also  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Walkerton 
Lodge,  No.  263,  which  he  has  represented  in 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  Pythians.  For  four  years 
he  was  also  deputy  grand  chancellor  of  the 
Second  Pythian  district,  and  at  one  of  its 
services  he  was  presented  with  the  past  grand 
jewel  by  Grand  Chancellor  Merrill  E.  Wil- 
son. With  his  wife  he  has  membership  rela- 
tions with  the  Eastern  Star,  Lodge  No.  319, 
in  which  she  has  served  as  a  patron.  They 
are  valued  and  worthy  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  active  workers  in  the  cause 
of  Christianity,  and  Mr.  Turner  has  served 
as  a  deacon  and  trustee  of  his  church  and  as 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  for  four 
years.  The  school  has  an  average  attendance 
of  one  hundred,  and  he  also  conducts  the 
teachers'  meetings.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turner  are 
numbered  among  the  leading  citizens  of  Walk- 
erton, and  their  prominence  in  its  varied  re- 
lations have  won  for  them  the  high  place 
which  they  now  occupy. 

Daniel  W.  Beall  is  so  well  known  to  the 
citizens  of  St.  Joseph  county  that  he  needs 
no  special  introduction  to  the  readers  of  these 
volumes,  since  he  is  a  scion  of  one  of  the 
oldest  families  of  Indiana,  his  father  having 
removed  hither  from  Fayette  county,  Ohio, 
in  1832,  first  establishing  his  home  in  Noble 
county.  It  was  there  that  the  son.  Daniel 
W.,  was  bom,  in  September,  1851,  to  Allen 
and  Angelina  (Lee)  Beall,  in  whose  family 
were  the  following:  Brenton  H.,  who  re- 
ceived his  education  in  Fillmore,  Missouri, 
is  married  and  is  a  retired  Methodist  minis- 
ter living  in  Walkerton;  Daniel  W.,  whose 
name  introduces  this  review;  and  Helen, 
the  wife  of  Frank  Byers,  a  horticulturist  of 
Salem,  Oregon.  Allen  Beall,  the  father,  was 
a  native  of  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  born  in 
1817,  and  his  death  occurred  in  1903.  He 
made  the  overland  journey  with  his  parents 
to  Noble  county,  Indiana,  crossing  the  Black 
Swamps,  the  quagmires  and  the  dense  woods 
to  their  destination,  where  they  entered  land 


from  the  government.  Mr.  Beall  was  suc- 
cessful in  his  business  life,  and  as  a  me- 
chanic he  erected  the  first  foundry  in  Noble 
county,  and,  becoming  a  general  iron  worker, 
buUt  forges  at  Rochester  and  Lima.  During 
his  youth  he  had  received,  but  a  limited  edu- 
cation, but  he  constantly  added  to  his  store 
of  knowledge  by  reading  and  observation, 
thus  becoming  a  well  informed  man.  His 
political  support  was  given  to  the  Repub- 
lican party,  casting  his  vote  for  its  first  presi- 
dential nominee.  General  Fremont,  and  ho 
continued  to  support  its  presidential  candi- 
dates until  his  useful  life  was  ended.  He 
was  a  charter  member  of  one  of  the  first 
lodges  in  northern  Indiana,  and  both  he  and 
his  wife  were  Methodists  in  their  religious 
affiliations.  They  both  passed  away  on  their 
farm  in  Lincoln  township,  near  Walkerton, 
on  which  they  had  taken  up  their  abode  in 
1867.  Mrs.  Beall  was  bom  and  reared  in 
Richmond,  Virginia.  To  establish  a  home 
amid  the  new  and  wild  surroundings  which 
existed  in  Indiana  at  the  time  they  took  up 
their  abode  within  its  borders,  and  to  cope 
with  the  many  privations  and  hardships  which 
were  the  inevitable  concomitants,  demanded 
an  invincible  courage  and  fortitude,  strong 
hearts  and  willing  hands.  All  these  were 
characteristics  of  this  brave  pioneer  couple, 
whose  name  and  deeds  should  be  held  in 
perpetual  reverence  by  those  who  enjoy  the 
fruits  of  their  toil. 

Daniel  W.  Beall  remained  in  his  native 
county  of  Noble  until  sixteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  became  a  citizen  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  his  educational  training  having  been 
received  in  both  counties,  in  their  early  pio- 
neer schools.  The  ** temple  of  learning" 
which  he  attended  was  a  little  structure 
eighteen  by  twenty  feet,  with  a  clapboard 
roof,  and  the  seats  were  of  slabs,  secured 
from  a  neighboring  saw  mill.  They  were 
without  backs,  and  the  desk  was  a  broad 
board  resting  on  wooden  pins  driven  into 
the  wall.  With  the  passing  years  he  has  wit- 
nessed the  remarkable  change  which  has 
transformed  St.  Joseph  county  from  a  com- 
parative wilderness  into  one  of  the  richest 
and  foremost  sections  of  the  commonwealth. 
He  was  reared  as  an  agriculturist  and  stock- 
man, and  on  reaching  his  twenty-first  year  he 
engaged  in  those  occupations  with  his  father 
on  the  old  homestead.  Shortly  afterward,  in 
1873,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Elizabeth    Hummer,    and    they    have    had 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


973 


three  children:  Effie,  who  received  an  ex- 
cellent education  in  the  Walkerton  high 
school,  is  the  wife  of  Scott  Blaine,  a  mer- 
chant of  Walkerton;  and  Ralph,  who  also 
received  his  education  in  the  Walkerton  high 
school.  One  child  is  deceased.  Mrs.  Beall 
was  born  in  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  in 
1851. 

The  young  couple  began  their  married  life 
on  a  farm  in  Lincoln  township  where  they 
yet  reside,  and  Mr.  Beall  has  spent  his  entire 
life  as  a  citizen  of  Indiana  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  two  years'  residence  in  Andrew 
county,  Missouri,  where  he  was  engaged  with 
his  father  in  the  milling  business.  He  now 
owns  a  fine  estate  of  five  hundred  acres  near 
the  corporate  limits  of  Walkerton,  as  well  as 
a  fine  brick  block  in  that  city,  and  he  is  also 
well  known  as  a  successful  stockman.  He 
handles  pure  bred  stock  in  cattle  and  hogs, 
and  ships  to  the  Chicago,  Pittsburg  and  Buf- 
falo markets.  He  has  also  been  quite  actively 
interested  in  real  estate  operations,  in  buying 
and  selling  property,  and  he  has  served  as 
vice-president  of  the  Walkerton  bank  since 
its  organization.  Mr.  Beall  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican in  his  political  aflSliations,  casting  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  its  soldier  presi- 
dent Grant,  and  has  ever  since  supported  its 
candidates.  He  has  at  various  times  been 
selected  as  delegate  to  county  and  state  con- 
ventions, and  for  eight  years  served  as  treas- 
urer of  Walkerton.  His  fraternal  relations 
connect  him  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
Castle  Hall  Lodge  No.  2,  of  Walkerton,  and 
with  the  Odd  Fellows  order.  Mrs.  Beall  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Having  made  good  use  of  his  opportunities, 
Mr.  Beall  has  prospered  from  year  to  year, 
conducting  all  business  matters  carefully  and 
sjrstematically,  and  in  all  his  acts  displaying 
an  aptitude  for  successful  management.  To 
all  moral,  educational  and  social  interests  he 
is  a  liberal  contributor,  doing  all  in  his  power 
to  benefit  and  elevate  humanity. 

Dennis  W.  Rupet;..  The  life  history  of 
Dennis  W.  Rupel  is  closely  identified  with 
the  history  of  St.  Joseph  county,  for  within 
its  borders  he  has  spent  his  entire  life,  an<J 
has  lived  and  labored  to  such  goodly  ends, 
while  none  more  than  he  deserves  a  fitting 
recognition  among  its  honored  pioneers  and 
business  men.  He  was  born  in  St.  Joseph 
county  on  the  28th  of  November,  1839,  the 
eldest   of  six   children,   two  sons   and   four 


daughters,  bom  to  David  and  Sarah   (Mel- 
ling)  Rupel. 

David  Rupel  was  reared  in  Pennsylvania 
until  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age,  when  (in 
1830)  he  decided  to  venture  into  the  wilder- 
ness of  the  west.  His  party  traveled  in 
wagons,  in  true  pioneer  style,  and  as  there 
were  but  two  or  three  guns  among  the  mem- 
bers each  man  took  his  turn  at  hunting  for 
game  on  the  way.  Mr.  Rupel  used  to  relate 
with  some  gusto  how  upon  one  of  his  solitary 
hunts,  despite  instructions,  he  got  out  of 
hearing  of  a  big  cow-bell  which  was  to  limit 
his  territory,  and  wandered  around  all  night 
before  he  found  his  friends, — and  none  the 
richer  as  to  game.  The  party  finally  reached 
the  eastern  part  of  the  county  and  camped 
for  the  winter  on  the  banks  of  the  St.  Joseph 
river.  David  earned  his  first  money  by  split- 
ting rails,  and  in  the  six  years  of  this  occu- 
pation he  figured  that  he  got  out  some  thirty- 
two  thousand.  The  first  land  which  he  en- 
tered consisted  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  one  mile  southwest  of  Liberty  township, 
and  Andrew  M.  Rupel  (his  otiier  son)  has 
still  in  his  possession  the  original  government 
deed,  dated  March  30,  1837,  and  issued  under 
the  hand  and  seal  of  President  Martin  Van 
Buren.  This  was  the  third  deed  of  the  kind 
issued  in  the  county.  David  Rupel  located 
his  homestead  before  the  village  of  North 
Liberty  was  platted,  and  his  first  home  was  a 
little  log  cabin  on  its  present  site.  There  were 
two  windows  in  the  hut,  one  behind  and  the 
other  near  the  door,  and  this  arrangement 
was  not  unwise,  since  bears,  wolves  and  other 
wild  animals  were  plentiful  in  those  days  and 
inclined  to  be  inquisitive  and  troublesome. 
The  Indians,  on  the  other  hand,  mostly  Pot- 
tawatomies,  were  friendly,  especially  when 
they  were  hungry,  and  the  young  pioneer 
gave  them  many  a  *' hand-out,"  and  even  en- 
tertained them  at  his  fireside.  As  the  years 
went  by,  however,  his  prospects  improved, 
and  he  eventually  accumulated  six  hundred 
acres  of  land,  all  in  Liberty  and  Lincoln 
townships.  .  But  although  accounted  a  very 
successful  man  of  the  world,  he  never  lost 
interest  in  church  matters.  The  (Jerman  Bap- 
tist Brethren  often  held  services  in  his  house. 
He  was  miainly  instrumental  in  organizing  the 
first  church  in  1866,  and  in  1877,  when  their 
building  was  destroyed  by  a  cyclone,  he  was 
one  of  the  prime  movers  in  its  reconstruc- 
tion.    David  Rupel's  wife,   formerly   Sarah 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


974 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


Melling,  was  a  native  of  Preble  county,  Ohio, 
bom  December  10,  1818,  and  her  death  oc- 
curred in  January,  1875.  She  was  of  Eng- 
lish descent,  and  was  reared  to  young  woman- 
hood in  her  native  state.  Mr.  Rupers  fam- 
ily is  of  Grerman  ancestry,  the  founders  of  the 
American  branch  being  Jacob,  Mathias  and 
John,  three  brothers. 

During  his  early  boyhood  days  Dennis  W. 
Rupel  attended  the  log  cabin  schools  of  the 
early  days  of  Liberty  township,  a  little  build- 
ing sixteen  by  twenty  feet,  with  a  clapboard 
roof  held  in  place  by  a  weight  pole,  heated 
by  the  old  fa^ioned  fireplace,  and  furnished 
with  slab  seats  without  backs  and  resting  on 
wooden  pins,  and  a  long  board  for  a  desk. 
He  has  written  with  the  ever  memorable 
goose  quill  pen  fashioned  by  the  m-aeter,  and 
this  school  was  maintained  by  subscriptions 
and  was  built  on  land  belonging  to  Mr.  Ru- 
pePs  father.  This  was  one  of  the  most  primi- 
tive schools  of  the  early  days  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  forms  a  striking  contrast  to  the 
beautiful  and  well  conducted  school  of  the 
twentieth  century.  Remaining  with  his  par- 
ents until  his  majority,  Mr.  Rupel  began  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  years  to  make  his  own 
way  in  the  world,  beginning  his  business  ca- 
reer as  an  agriculturist,  and  he  can  well  re- 
member the  primitive  methods  of  farming 
then  in  vogue.  He  has  used  the  old  turkey 
wing  cradle,  and  among  his  most  valuable 
souvenirs  is  the  skeleton  of  this  old  imple- 
ment. He  has  rode  the  horses  while  they 
were  trampling  out  the  grain  on  the  barn 
floor,  and  he  can  well  remember  when  the 
populous  city  of  South  Bend  with  its  fifty 
thousand  inhabitants  was  no  larger  than  the 
little  village  of  North  Liberty  of  today,  and 
his  father  helped  make  the  first  brick  manu- 
factured in  that  city.  He  can  also  recall  to 
mind  when  the  first  railroad,  the  Lake  Shore 
&  Michigan  Southern,  was  constructed 
through  the  county,  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio 
following  soon  afterward. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  1863,  Mr.  Rupel  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  A.  O'Con- 
nor, and  seven  children,  five  sons  and  two 
daughters,  have  been  bom  to  them,  and  five 
are  now  living,  namely:  David  Edmund, 
whose  history  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this 
work;  Charles  F.,  who  ministers  to  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  church  in  the  Pine  Creek  charge 
and  is  also  an  agriculturist  of  Liberty  town- 
ship, supplemented  his  common  school  course 
by  attendance  at  the  South  Bend  Commer- 


cial College,  in  which  he  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1889,  and  he  married  Miss  Alzina 
Whitmer,  by  whom  he  has  five  children, 
Charles  D.,  Paul  W.,  Mary,  Martha  and 
Claud;  Effie  Bell,  who  received  her  diploma 
with  the  class  of  1889  in  the  public  school, 
is  at  home  with  her  parents;  Alfred  Byron 
has  received  an  excellent  eduoational  train- 
ing, having  graduated  with  the  class  of  1896 
in  the  home  schools,  completed  the  course  in 
1900  in  the  high  school  of  Walkerton,  spent 
one  summer  at  the  Valparaiso  University,  and 
for  a  period  of  six  years  was  a  succ^ul 
educator,  teaching  the  mosft  of  that  time  in 
his  home  county;  and  Mary  Emma,  who 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1894  in  the  home 
schools,  with  the  class  of  1899  in  the  Walker- 
ton  high  school,  and  has  taught  for  two  years 
in  her  home  township.  All  of  the  children 
are  members  of  the  German  Baptist  church 
with  the  exception  of  Edmund. 

Mrs.  Rupel,  the  mother,  was  born  in  Ches- 
tershire,  England,  January  14,  1843,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  and  Charlotte  (Nickson) 
O'Connor,  who  were  married  in  1832.  She 
was  a  little  maiden  of  eight  years  when  she 
came  with  her  parents  to  the  United  States, 
and  the  little  sailing  vessel  on  which  they 
took  passage  having  been  stranded  on  the 
banks  of  Newfoundland  it  was  six  weeks  ere 
they  sighted  the  shores  of  New  York,  from 
whence  they  went  to  Pennsylvania  and  thence 
to  their  journey's  end  in  St.  Joseph  county. 
Indiana.  They  established  their  home  in 
Mishawaka,  where  her  father,  who  was  a  man 
of  excellent  education,  became  a  leading  phy- 
sician and  surgeon,  continuing  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  St.  Joseph  county  until 
his  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death  in  1890, 
aged  seventy-eight  years.  He  was  an  adher- 
ents of  the  Episcopal  church.  Mrs.  O'Connor 
was  a  native  of  England,  but  her  husband 
was  born  in  Ireland,  and  her  death  occurred 
at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years,  both  passing 
away  in  St.  Joseph  county.  Mrs.  Rupel  has 
thus  been  a  resident  of  this  county  since  her 
eighth  year.  After  their  marriage  the  young 
couple  began  life*  on  the  farm  on  which  they 
now  reside,  their  first  home  being  a  little 
log  cabin,  while  their  land,  a  tract  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  had  been  deeded  to 
Mr.  Rupel  by  his  father.  With  the  passing 
years  he  has  added  forty  acres  to  the  tract, 
and  he  now  owns  a  valuable  estate  of  two 
hundred  acres,  while  the  many  improvements 
which  add  so  much  to  its  value  have  all  been 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


975 


placed  there  by  him.  Their  pretty  estate  in 
Lincoln  township  is  known  as  ' '  The  Oak  Ave- 
nue Homestead.''  In  his  pastures  are  found 
the  best  standard  bred  stock.  In  the  home 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rupel  are  found  many  inter- 
esting relics  of  the  olden  days,  including 
three  or  four  old  coverlets  made  by  Mr.  Ru- 
p>ers  mother,  who  was  ^  expert  weaver  and 
made  all  the  clothing  of  the  family  for  many 
years,  she  having  spun  the  flax  from  which 
the  clothing  was  made.  They  also  have  an 
old  clock  which  dates  back  fully  a  century, 
and  many  other  valuable  old  relics.  They 
are  members  of  the  German  Baptist  church, 
in  which  they  are  active  and  efficient  work- 
ers, and  both  they  and  their  children  are 
members  of  the  Sunday-school.  Mr.  Rupel 
is  independent  in  his  political  affiliations, 
casting  his  ballot  for  the  men  whom  he  re- 
gards as  best  qualified  for  office,  and  in  all 
the  relations  of  life  he  is  found  true  to  the 
best  interests. 

Herman  P.  (Joppert,  one  of  the  prominent 
and  successful  farmers  of  Lincoln  township, 
is  descended  from  sturdy  German  ancestors, 
a  race  that  has  wielded  a  powerful  influence 
in  our  national  history.  His  birth  occurred 
in  Starke  county,  Indiana,  January  11,  1864, 
the  seventh  in  a  family  of  twelve  children, 
eight  sons  and  four  daughters,  bom  to  Fred 
and  Anna  B.  (Wagner)  Goppert.  Eight  of 
the  children  are  now  living,  but  only  two 
are  residents  of  Lincoln  township,  Herman 
F.  and  his  brother  Bernhart,  who  is  also  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  Mr.  Goppert, 
the  father,  was  bom  in  Bavaria,  Germany, 
November  25,  1819,  and  his  death  occurred 
on  May  26,  1903,  in  Starke  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  had  resided  during  the  long  period 
of  fifty-three  years.  He  was  reared  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  his  native  land,  where 
he  became  a  cabinet  maker  and  a  fine  me- 
chanic, and  was  also  an  agriculturist.  On 
a  sailing  vessel  and  in  company  with  his 
wife  he  set  sail  from  the  fatherland  for  the 
United  States,  landing  in  New  York  after 
a  voyage  of  fifty-seven  days,  and  from  there 
journeyed  to  Starke  county,  Indiana,  and  en- 
tered eighty  acres  of  land  from  the  govern- 
ment. He  was  a  successful  man  in  his  busi- 
ness affairs,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
owned  a  valuable  estate  of  two  hundred  acres. 
He  gave  his  political  support  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  German  Lutheran  church. 
Mrs.    Goppert    was    a    native    of    the    same 


locality  in  Germany  as  her  husband, 
born  on  the  20th  of  January,  1830,  and  she 
is  yet  living  at  the  good  old  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years,  both  the  maternal  and  paternal 
families  being  noted  for  their  longevity. 

Herman  F.  Goppert  spent  the  first  nine- 
teen years  of  his  life  in  his  native  county 
of  Starke,  attending  its  public  schools  during 
his  early  boyhood  days,  but  his  broad  and 
general  knowledge  has  been  obtained  princi- 
pally by  his  extensive  reading  and  travel  in 
later  years.  When  he  had  reached  his  nine- 
teenth year,  in  1885,  he  went  to  Kansas,  from 
whence  he  returned  home,  but  again  went  to 
the  Sunflower  state  and  later  to  Chicago, 
where  he  found  work  at  his  tracj-e  of  car- 
penter and  joiner,  and  was  also  for  a  time 
an  employe  of  the  Chicago  Street  Car  Com- 
pany. After  a  two  years'  residence  in  that 
city  he  went  to  Denver,.  Colorado,  and 
through  the  state  sightseeing,  from  whence 
he  returned  to  Kansas,  and  in  1894  landed  in 
Oklahoma,  where  he  secured  a  quarter  sec- 
tion of  land  in  Kay  county.  After  improv- 
ing this  property  he  sold  it  in  1898  at  a 
profit.  Mr.  Goppert  is  a  natural  mechanic, 
and  throughout  his  entire  business  career  he 
has  followed  the  carpenter  and  joiner's 
trades.  He  is  also  a  great  lover  of  nature, 
and  to  a  great  extent  has  satisfied  his  desire 
for  travel,  having  visited  many  states  of  the 
Union,  including  those  of  Oklahoma,  Indiana, 
Illinois,  Iowa,  Missouri,  North  and  South  Da- 
kota, Wyoming,  Wisconsin  and  Colorado,  and 
has  thus  gained  that  broad  and  valuable 
learning  which  travel  alone  can  give.  He  be- 
gan life  for  himself  at  the  very  bottom  round 
of  the  ladder,  and  all  through  his  early  career 
he  was  not  above  accepting  any  position  that 
would  bring  to  him  an  honest  dollar. 

On  the  8th  of  February,  1899,  Mr.  Goppert 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Emma  L. 
Reinhardt,  and  they  have  two  children,  Har- 
old R.,  who  is  pursuing  his  studies  in  the 
second  grade  of  school,  and  Helen  M.  Mrs. 
Goppert  was  born  near  Walkerton,  Indiana, 
October  14,  1869,  the  fourth  of  the  nine  chil- 
dren, seven  sons  and  two  daughters,  bom  to 
Benjamin  F.  and  Catherine  (Steele)  Rein- 
hardt, but  only  five  of  the  children  are  now 
living.  She  was  reared  and  educated  in  Lin- 
coln township,  receiving  her  diploma  with 
the  class  of  1884,  and  in  its  schools  she  per- 
formed her  first  work  as  a  teacher,  continuing 
therein  for  four  years.  She  then  perfected 
herself  in  her  chosen  calling  by  a  course  in 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


976 


HISTOKY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


the  Valparaiso  University,  and  during  eight- 
years  she  was  one  of  the  successful  educators 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  teaching  in  Madison, 
Greene  and  Lincoln  townships. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goppert  began  their  mar- 
ried life  on  the  farm  on  which  they  now  re- 
side, purchasing  seventy-eight  acres  and  erect- 
ing their  pleasant  little  cottage  home.  In 
1906  was  built  the  large  basement  barn,  and 
on  his  farm  he  keeps  a  standard  line  of 
stock.  He  has  an  able  helpmate  in  his  esti- 
mable wife,  and  she  too  has  been  a  great 
traveler  in  her  life,  having  visited  the  Nia- 
gara Falls  and  Canada,  and  also  the  far  west. 
She  has  seen  Denver,  the  Queen  City  of  the 
plains,  and  has  also  traveled  through  Kan- 
sas, Illinois,  Michigan,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio, 
New  York,  Nebraska,  Wyoming  and  Iowa. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  Brethren  church. 
Mr.  Goppert  is  a  Republican  in  his  political 
aflSliations,  but  in  local  matters  casts  his  fran- 
chise for  the  man  regardless  of  party.  In 
both  Starke  county  and  in  Oklahoma  he  was 
selected  as  delegate  to  the  various  conven- 
tions, and  has  ever  been  an  active  worker  in 
the  best  interests  of  his  community.  His  fra- 
ternal relations  connect  him  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Lodge  No. 
437,  in  which  he  has  passed  all  the  chairs. 

William  F.  Miranda,  M.  D.  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  has  its  full  quota  of  skilled 
physicians,  and  among  the  number  may  be 
noted  the  subject  of  this  review,  Dr.  William 
F.  Miranda,  of  Walkerton.  He  is  a  native  of 
Clarke  county,  Ohio,  bom  near  the  city  of 
Springfield,  January  22,  1851,  the  fifth  in, 
order  of  birth  of  the  nine  children  born  to 
Dr.  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  (Garver)  Miranda. 
Only  four  of  this  large  family  of  children 
are  living,  namely:  William  F.,  whose  name 
introduces  this  review;  Elizabeth,  the  wife 
of  J.  J.  Whaley,  a  salesman  in  Osborn,  Ohio; 
Anna  K.,  the  wife  of  Dr.  Douglas  Miles,  a 
dental  surgeon  of  Troy,  Ohio;  and  Carrie, 
a  resident  of  New  Carlisle,  that  state. 

Dr.  Miranda,  the  father,  was  born  in 
Bracken  county,  Kentucky,  in  1817,  and  was 
a  son  of  Senor  Jonathan  Miranda,  a  na- 
tive  of  Spain  and  a  soldier  in  the  American 
war  of  1812,  while  to  Dr.  Miranda,  of  Walk- 
erton, his  grandson,  is  accorded  the  honor  of 
being  the  only  Spanish  descendant  repre- 
sented in  the  twentieth  century  history  of 
St.  Joseph  county.  Dr.  Isaac  Miranda  was 
a  physician  of  fifty  years'  practice.  He  was 
a  graduate  of  the  Jefferson  Medical  College 


of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  of  the  allopathic 
school.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Ohio  State 
Medical  Society,  was  a  Jackson  Democrat  in 
his  political  affiliations,  was  a  strong  advo- 
cate of  the  public  school,  and  was  one  of  the 
successful  physicians  of  his  day.  Both  he 
and  hie  wife  held  membership  relations  with 
the  Methodist  church.  Mrs.  Miranda  was 
born  in  Maryland,  April  14,  1821,  and  died 
but  recently,  August  31,  1907.  She  traced 
her  lineage  to  the  Germans,  and  long  sur- 
vived her  husband,  for  his  death  occurred  in 
1898. 

Dr.  Miranda,  of  this  review,  was  reared 
to  manhood  in  his  native  county  of  Clarke, 
receiving  a  good  practical  education  in  the 
district  schools,  and  is  also  a  graduate  of  the 
New  Carlisle  high  school  in  Ohio.  Desiring 
to  enter  the  profession  in  which  his  father 
had  achieved  success,  he  first  became  a  phar- 
macist, thus  continuing  until  his  twenty- 
second  year.  For  one  year  he  then  read 
medicine  under  his  father's  direction,  after 
which  he  entered  the  Ohio  Medical  College 
at  Cincinnati,  entering  that  institution  in 
1875  and  completing  the  course  and  graduat- 
ing with  the  class  of  1877.  Entering  upon 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  his  home 
town  of  New  Carlisle,  he  remained  there 
for  one  year,  was  for  a  similar  period  at 
Westville,  Ohio,  was  for  eight  years  a  prac- 
ticing physician  of  Medway,  that  state,  and 
in  1885  removed  to  Attica,  Kansas.  Two 
years  later,  however,  in  1887,  he  returned 
to  his  Ohio  home  and  resumed  his  practice 
at  Medway,  where  lie  remained  for  two  years, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  period,  in  1898,  came 
to  Walkerton.  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
arriving  in  this  city  on  the  20th  of  April,  and 
the  extensive  practice  which  he  has  ever  since 
enjoyed  is  an  excellent  proof  of  his  effi- 
ciency as  a  physician.  His  prestige,  how- 
ever, has  been  attained  through  technical  in- 
formation and  skill,  for  he  is  a  man  of  schol- 
arly attainments,  and  has  made  deep  and 
careful  research  in  the  science  to  which  he  is 
devoting  his  life. 

On  the  2d  of  May,  1875,  Dr.  Miranda  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Josephine  Pine, 
and  of  their  four  children,  two  sons  and  two 
daughters,  only  one  son  is  now  living.  Max 
G.,  who  graduated  with  the  class  of  1905  in 
the  Walkerton  high  school.  He  is  now  pur- 
suing his  studies  in  the  second  year  of  the 
Northwestern  University  at  Evanston,  Illi- 
nois.    He   is  a  young  man   of  exceptional 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


977 


talent  in  music,  being  proficient  on  both  the 
piano  and  pipe  organ,  and  has  received  in- 
struction from  one  of  the  most  accomplished 
teachers  of  the  art,  Miss  Haynes,  while  in 
1908  he  will  enter  the  study  under  Professor 
Lutkin.  Mrs.  Miranda  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania April  12,  1854,  a  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Pine,  who  was  also  bom  in  the  Keystone 
state  of  Pennsylvania  and  is  yet  living,  aged 
eighty-five,  a  resident  of  Iowa.  Dr.  Miranda 
is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations, 
casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Horace 
Greeley,  and  he  has  ever  since  supported  its 
presidential  nominees.  He  is  a  strong  advo- 
cate of  the  cause  of  temperance,  and  is  serv- 
ing as  president  of  the  board  of  education 
of  Walkerton.  His  fraternal  relations  are 
with  the  Masonic  order  of  Walkerton,  Lodge 
No.  619,  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  with  the  Maccabees;  while  his 
professional  work  connects  him  with  the 
American  Medical  Association  and  the  St. 
Joseph  County  Medical  Society.  Both  the 
doctor  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  is 
serving  as  a  trustee,  and  in  their  pleasant 
home  on  Avenue  E,  where  the  Doctor  also  has 
his  office,  they  dispense  a  gracious  hospital- 
ity to  their  many  friends  and  acquaintances. 
Joshua  Poor.  In  a  history  of  St.  Joseph 
county  we  are  pleased  to  present  a  full  review 
of  the  life  of  Joshua  Poor,  who  is  numbered 
among  its  old^t  and  most  honored  pioneers 
and  citizens,  and  although  he  has  now  passed 
the  eightieth  milestone  on  the  journey  of 
life  his  mind  is  yet  clear  and  is  stored  with 
many  pleasant  reminiscences  of  the  early  days 
in  the  county.  He  was  born  near  St.  Johns, 
New  Brunswick,  near  the  state  of  Maine, 
November  16,  1827,  a  son  of  David  and  Let- 
tie  E.  (Earl)  Poor,  in  whose  family  were 
six  children,  four  sons  and  two  daughters, 
but  only  two  are  now  living,  the  daughter 
being  Elathyne,  the  widow  of  Alexander 
Petrie  and  a  resident  of  South  Bend.  David 
Poor,  the  father,  was  bom  in  Baldwinsville, 
Massachusetts,  and  traced  his  lineage  to  the 
English  and  Scotch  races.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  old  Bay  state,  and  remained 
in  the  place  of  his  nativity  until  reaching 
manhood's  estate,  becoming  a  limiberman  and 
ship  builder.  Removing  to  New  Brunswick, 
he  was  there  married,  and  in  1847  removed 
to  Michigan  City,  Indiana,  making  the  jour- 
ney by  way  of  the  Great  Lakes,  while  later 
he  became  a  resident  of  Porter  and  Laporte 


counties,  this  state,  his  death  occurring  in 
the  former  county  of  Porter.  Mrs.  Poor  was 
a  native  daughter  of  New  Brunswick,  and 
her  death  occurred  in  St.  Joseph  county,  she 
having  long  been  a  worthy  and  consistent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

When  but  two  years  of  age  Joshua  Poor 
was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Upper  Canada, 
and  later  removed  with  them  to  Ohio,  their 
home  being  located  east  of  Cleveland  until  the 
son  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  another 
move  was  made  to  Laporte  county,  Indiana. 
After  a  residence  there  of  two  years  they 
removed  to  Michigan  City,  where  Mr.  Poor 
resided  for  twenty-four  years,  coming  thence 
to  St.  Joseph  county.  During  his  boyhood 
days  he  received  a  limited  educational  train- 
ing in  the  primitive  schools  of  the  localities 
in  which  he  made  his  home,  and  his  residence 
in  Indiana  dates  from  an  early  period  in 
its  history,  when  the  Pottawatomie  Indians 
were  numerous  in  this  section  and  wild  game 
roamed  at  will  through  the  forests.  He  was 
a  great  hunter  in  those  early  days,"  and  his 
trophies  of  the  chase  number  one  hundred 
and  fifty  deer,  one  bear  and  two  lynx,  also 
an  abundance  of  wildcats,  while  to  him  per- 
haps belongs  the  credit  of  killing  more  wild 
animals  in  St.  Joseph  county  than  any  living 
man. 

On  the  30th  of  October,  1866,  in  Michigan 
City,  Indiana,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Poor  and  Miss  Harriet  Van  Winkle,  and  they 
b^an  their  married  life  as  farmers  near 
North  Liberty,  continuing  as  renters  for  two 
years.  Their  first  purchase  of  land  consisted 
of  forty  acres  north  of  North  Liberty,  while- 
later  they  purchased  a  tract  of  forty-six 
acres,  and  at  one  time  they  owned  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty-seven  acres  in  St.  Joseph 
county.  They  made  many  improvements  on 
their  land,  erected  a  pleasant  residence  and 
other  buildings,  and  placed  the  fields  under 
an  excellent  state  of  cultivation.  Subse- 
quently, however,  they  sold  their  farm  and 
invested  in  real  estate  in  South  Bend  and 
Walkerton.  In  1893  they  erected  their  pleas- 
ant cottage  home  in  Walkerton,  where  they 
are  now  living  quietly  and  contentedly,  en- 
joying the  rest  which  they  so  richly  deserve. 
Mrs.  Poor  was  reared  in  Laporte  county,  In- 
diana, and  is  a  lady  of  fine  literary  attain- 
ments. She  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Poor  is  a  Jackson 
Democrat  in  his  political  aflBliations,  having 
always  stood  firm  upon  those  principles,  and 


Digitized  by 


Google 


978 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


his  many  sterling  characteristics  and  true 
worth  have  won  him  the  high  regard  and 
esteem  of  his  many  friends  and  acquaintances. 
For  over  forty  years  this  honored  old  couple 
have  pursued  the  journey  of  life  together, 
and  now  as  they  pass  down  the  western 
slope  they  receive  the  love  and  veneration 
which  should  ever  be  the  heritage  of  useful 
and  well  spent  lives. 

William  M.  Bellinger.  During  almost 
half  a  century  Mr.  Bellinger  has  resided 
within  the  borders  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
he  has  been  prominently  connected  with  the 
process  and  advancement  made  in  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  has  so  long  made  his 
home.  He  was  bom  in  Allen  county,  Ohio, 
September  10,  1857,  the  fifth  in  order  of 
birth  of  the  nine  children  bom  to  William 
M.  and  Catherine  (Rigle)  Bellinger.  Eight 
of  the  children  are  yet  living,  namely: 
George,  who  supplemented  his  common  school 
training  by  a  three  months'  normal  course, 
and  is  now  serving  as  foreman  in  a  shoe 
department  in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin ;  Sarah, 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Gearhart,  of  Walkerton, 
Indiana;  Olive,  of  Elkhart  county,  Indiana; 
Mary,  the  wife  of  James  Brown,  a  stockman 
of  Wichita,  Kansas;  William  M.,  whose  name 
introduces  this  review;  Marion,  connected 
with  the  rubber  factory  in  Mishawaka ;  John, 
an  agriculturist  of  Lincoln  township,  and  a 
more  complete  review  of  his  life  will  be  found 
in  his  sketch  elsewhere  in  this  work;  and 
Genette,  the  wife  of  Ed  Logan,  of  Elkhart 
county,  Indiana. 

Mr.  Bellinger,  the  father,  was  born  in 
New  York  in  1834,  and  his  death  occurred 
on  the  11th  of  Febmary,  1907.  He  was  of 
Yankee  descent.  He  was  reared  in  Ohio, 
where  he  owned  a  good  farm,  and  he  was  a 
soldier  for  three  months  during  the  Civil 
war.  In  about  1862  he  came  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  where  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land,  but  later  sold  that  property 
and  became  the  owner  of  a  tract  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  his  first  home  here 
having  been  a  little  log  cabin.  He  gave  a 
stanch  and  unfaltering  support  to  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Methodist  church.  Mrs. 
Bellinger  claimed  Pennsylvania  as  the  com- 
monwealth of  her  nativity,  bom  in  1825,  and 
her  death  occurred  on  the  16th  of  October, 
1880. 

William  M.  Bellinger  was  but  a  little  lad 
of  five  years  when  brought  by  his  parents 


to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  and  with  the 
exception  of  three  years  he  has  here  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  During  those  three 
years  he  was  a  resident  of  Woodford  county, 
Illinois.  His  educational  training  was  received 
in  the  primitive  early  schools  of  this  county, 
and  at  the  early  age  of  eighteen  years  he 
began  the  active  battle  of  life  for  himself, 
first  working  ait  grubbing  by  the  acre.  He 
thus  began  his  business  career  at  the  very 
bottom  round  of  the  ladder  of  life,  but  grad- 
ually and  persistently  he  has  worked  his  way 
upward,  and  his  record  is  one  of  which  he  has 
every  reason  to  be  proud. 

On  the  1st  of  October,  1881,  Mr.  BeUinger 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Frederieka 
Wolfe,  and  six  children,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  have  been  bom  to  them:  Leora, 
the  wife  of  Roscoe  G<>it,  of  Lincoln  town- 
ship; Laura,  who  has  completed  her  studies 
in  the  eighth  grade  of  school;  Fred,  who  is 
now  a  member  of  that  grade;  Charles,  who 
is  in  the  second  year  of  the  Walkerton  high 
school,  he  having  received  his  diploma  with 
the  class  of  1906  in  the  home  school ;  Bertha, 
who  received  her  diploma  with  the  class 
of  1907,  and  will  enter  the  high  school 
during  the  present  year;  and  Floyd, 
a  member  of  the  fifth  grade.  Mrs.  Bellinger 
was  bom  in  Laporte  county,  Indiana,  Novem- 
ber 21,  1857,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Dora 
(Wolfe)  Wolfe.  She  was  a  little  maiden  of 
five  years  at  the  time  of  the  family  removal 
to  Starke  county,  this  state,  where  they  re- 
mained for  nine  months,  and  then  came  to 
St.  Joseph  county,  and  thus  her  education 
was  received  in  its  schools.  After  their  mar- 
riage Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bellinger  began  life  on  a 
tract  of  forty  acres  of  land  four  miles  east 
of  their  present  estate,  which  continued  as 
their  home  for  seven  years,  removing  thence 
to  their  present  home.  During  the  first  six- 
teen years  here  they  rented  the  place,  but  they 
now  own  the  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  where  they  are  extensively  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock  raising.  He  raises  only  the 
standard  grade  stock,  favoring  the  Duroc 
swine  and  the  Hereford  cattle.  As  a  Repub- 
lican Mr.  Bellinger  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  General  Grant,  having  ever  since 
continued  to  support  its  presidential  nomi- 
nees, and  he  has  many  times  been  selected 
as  delegate  to  the  county  conventions.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  Gleaners. 

David  L.  Swank,  who  throughout  nearly  his 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


979 


entire  business  career  has  been  identified  with 
the  interests  of  St.  Joseph  county,  has  lived 
a  life  of  activity,  and  his  efforts  have  been 
crowned  with  a  well  merited  degree  of  suc- 
cess. His  birth  occurred  in  Stark  county, 
Ohio,  March  18,  1835,  the  second  in  order 
of  birth  of  the  six  children,  four  sons  and 
two  daughters,  bom  to  Conrad  and  Dorcas 
(Hall)  Swank.  Only  two  of  the  children 
are  now  living,  the  daughter  being  Sarah, 
the  widow  of  Jacob  Rush  and  a  resident  of 
North  Liberty,  Indiana. 

Conrad  Swank,  the  father,  was  born  in 
Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  in 
early  life  followed  the  trade  of  shoemaking, 
but  later  became  an  agriculturist.  He  was 
early  left  an  orphan  and  had  to  make  his 
own  way  in  the  world,  and  he  continued  his 
residence  in  his  native  state  of  Pennsylvania 
until  after  his  marriage.  His  father  had  emi- 
grated to  this  country  from  Germany,  and 
thus  the  son  Conrad  could  speak  and  write 
both  languages.  From  Pennsylvania  he  made 
his  way  to  Stark  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade  until  his  restless  spirit 
led  him  still  farther  west,  and  in  1843  he 
crossed  the  swamps  and  quagmires  in  true 
pioneer  style  to  Elkhart  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  spent  the  following  twelve  years. 
It  was  about  1853  that  he  established  his 
home  in  St.  Joseph  county,  locating  on  a 
farm  of  seventy-two  and  a  half  acres  near 
North  Liberty,  but  later  sold  that  farm  and 
removed  to  Walkerton,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life  and  died  on  the  26th 
of  June,  1885.  In  his  early  life  he  was  a 
Jackson  Democrat,  but  in  after  years 
espoueed  the  cause  of  the  Republican  party. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  and  were  devout  in 
their  religious  work.  Mrs.  Swank  was  also 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  there 
reared  and  educated.  Her  family  had  been 
long  established  in  the  United  States,  and 
they  were  represented  in  the  war  of  1812. 
She  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety-three  years, 
passing  away  on  the  31st  of  March,  1894. 

David  L.  Swank  was  about  eiffht  and  a 
half  years  of  age  when  the  family  started 
on  their  we«tward  journey  to  Elkhart  county, 
Indiana,  where  he  attended  the  old-fashioned 
log  cabin  schools,  and  he  continued  with  them 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  remaining  at  home 
until  his  twenty-first  year.  He  began  life  for 
hinuielf  with  but  a  small  capital,  but  pos- 
sessing the  sturdy  and   persevering  charac- 


teristics of  his  German  ancestors  he  has  sur- 
mounted all  the  obstacles  in  his  path  to  suc- 
cess and  has  long  been  numbered  with  the 
prominent  business  men  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
where  he  is  making  a  specialty  of  the  raising 
of  small  fruits.  He  has  a  tract  of  twelve 
acres  planted  to  strawberries,  raspberries, 
blackberries,  grapes,  etc.,  shipping  lus  prod- 
uct to  the  Chicago  market,  and  he  has  sold 
as  high  as  one  hundred  dollars'  worth  of 
strawberries  in  a  single  day.  Thus  success 
has  attended  his  efforts  and  has  enabled  him 
to  practically  retire  from  ardoious  labor. 

In  1862  Mr.  Swank  wedded  Miss  Malinda 
Eels,  and  four  children,  one  son  and  three 
daughters,  have  been  born  to  them.  The 
eldest,  Albin  D.,  is  a  cigar  manufacturer  in 
Walkerton.  After  completing  his  education 
in  the  high  school  of  that  city  he  taught  for 
seven  years  in  the  schools  of  Stark,  St.  Jo- 
seph and  Laporte  counties.  He  married  Miss 
Bertha  Koontz,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Clemm.  Mr.  Swank  is  a  Republican.  Ada 
is  the  wife  of  Marcus  Bender,  who  has  been 
associated  with  the  recorder's  office  in  Knox, 
Indiana,  since  his  early  boyhood  days.  She 
was  educated  in  the  Walkerton  high  school, 
and  was  also  a  successful  teacher.  Their 
only  son  and  cjiild  is  named  Wade.  Ella 
is  the  wife  of  Thompson  Turner,  a  sketch  of 
whom  appears  in  this  work.  Cora  is  the 
wife  of  Harry  Owen,  a  mason  and  brick 
layer  in  Muncie,  Indiana,  and  they  have  one 
son,  Carl.  Mrs.  Swank  was  born  in  Laporte 
county,  Indiana,  July  26,  1837,  the  eldest  of 
the  six  children,  one  son  and  five  diighters, 
born  to  Simeon  and  Clarissa  (Nichols)  Eels. 
The  three  now  living  are :  Mrs.  Swank,  Mary, 
the  widow  of  Martin  Miller  and  a  resident  of 
Chicago,  and  Cyrena,  the  wife  of  Charles 
Stewart,  a  city  official  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Eels, 
the  father,  was  born  in  Erie  county.  New 
York,  November  4,  1812,  was  there  reared, 
educated  and  married  and  became  a  tiller  of 
the  soil.  With  his  wife  he  came  to  Laporte 
county,  Indiana,  and  thence  to  Marshall  coun- 
ty, where  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  un- 
improved land,  and  their  first  home  there  was 
a  little  log*cabin  of  the  most  primitive  kind. 
For  twenty  years  Marshall  county  continued 
as  their  home,  and  at  the  close  of  that  period 
they  came  to  Liberty  township,  where  the  hus- 
band and  father  passed  away  in  death  on  the 
30th  of  September,  1864.  He  was  a  Democrat 
in  his  political  affiliations.  He  was  honest  and 
upright  in  all  his  dealings,  and  was  a  true 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


980 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


gentleman  of  the  old  school.    Mrs.  Eels  was 
born  in  Brie  county,  New  York,  July  25, 1812, 
and  her  dieath  occurred  on  the  3d  of  March, 
1880.    She  was  a  devout  Christian  from  the 
early  age  of  seventeen  years,  strict  in  her 
devotional  life,  and  was  a  brave  and  noble 
pioneer  wife  and)  mother.     Mrs.  Swank  was 
a  little  maiden  of  two  years  when  she  was 
taken   by  her  parents   to   Marshall   county, 
there  receiving  a  good  educational  training 
which  eriabled  her  later  to  enter  the  teacher's 
profession,  having  taught  in  both  Laporte  and 
St.  Joseph  counties.     She  has  been  her  hus- 
band's faithful  helpmate  in  the  establishment 
of  their  home  and  the  rearing  of  their  chil- 
dren, and  is  a  lady  of  many  noble  character- 
istics.   She  is  a  devout  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  and  is  identified  with  its 
Ladies'  Aid  Society.     As  a  Republican  Mr. 
Swank  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Lin- 
coln, also  supported  Garfield,  Blaine,  McKin- 
ley  and  Roosevelt  in  their  race  for  the  presi- 
dency, and  has  ever  performed  his  full  share 
in  the  public  life  of  his  community.    He  wit- 
nessed the  remains  of  Lincoln  as  they  lay  in 
the  state  house  of  Indianapolis.    His  services 
as  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war  entitles  him  to, 
membership  in  the  Jesse  Coppic  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
at  Walkerton.    He  was  a  member  of  Company 
D,  Twenty-second  Indiana  Infantry,  and  was 
sent  with  his  regiment  to  Indianapolis.     He 
entered  the  ranks  in   September,  1864,  and 
received  his  honora:ble  discharge  in  May,  1865. 
He,  too,  is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  and  he  assisted  materially  in  the  erec- 
tion of  the  beautiful  church  of  that  denomina- 
tion  in   Walkerton.     His   life  has  been   ex- 
emplary in  all  respects,  and  his  high  moral 
worth  is  deserving  of  the  highest  commenda- 
tion. 

WUiLiAM  A.  Endley.  For  over  twenty  years 
William  A.  Endley  has  been  a  resident  of 
Walkerton,  and  throughout  that  entire  time 
has  been  connected  with  its  journalistic  inter- 
ests, being  now  the  editor  and  proprietor  .of 
the  Walkerton  Independent,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing journals  of  the  county.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  LaGrange,  LaGrange  county,  In- 
diana, in  October,  1865,  a  son  of  James  F.  and 
Nellie  (Coomer)  Endley.  The  father  was 
bom  in  Jacksonville,  Ohio,  in  1841,  of  Ger- 
man ancestry,  and  his  death  occurred  in  Wal- 
kerton, Indiana,  in  1892.  He  was  a  graduate 
of  the  Bennett  Medical  College  of  Chicago, 
and  also  studied  in  Rush  Medical  College  of 
that  city.     He  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 


fession at  Butler,  Indiana,  later  removing  to 
Brimfield,  this  state,  and  subsequently  came 
to  Walkerton,  where  he  achieved  success  in 
the  practice  of  medicine,  and  was  also  a  well- 
known  pharmacist  and  druggist  in  this  city 
for  many  years.  As  a  representative  of  the 
Republican  party  he  took  an  active  part  in 
the  political  history  of  Walkerton  and  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  was  the  recipient  of  many 
public  honors  at  the  hands  of  his  fellow 
townsmen.  Mrs.  Endley,  who  was  a  native 
daughter  of  Ohio,  is  yet  living  and  a  resident 
of  Walkerton. 

William  A.  Endley,  their  only  child,  pur- 
sued his  studies  in  the  schools  of  Brimfield, 
Butler  and  Walkerton,  while  later  he  pursued 
a  course  in  the  literary  department  of  Sprague 
University,  and  at  the  early  age  of  eighteen 
years  was  made  a  reporter  on  the  South  Bend 
Tribune.  In  1884  he  became  the  city  editor 
of  the  Times,  but  in  1887  he  transferred  his 
residence  from  South  Bend  to  Walkerton  and 
purchased  the  Visitor,  edited  by  H.  S.  Mintle. 
Mr.  Endley  at  once  changed  the  caption  of 
this  paper  to  the  Walkerton  Independent,  in- 
creased its  size  to  a  seven-column  quarto  week- 
ly, installed  new  machinery,  and  the  office  is 
now  fitted  with  a  power  outfit  and  two  job 
rotary  prases.  Hia  is  one  of  the  up-to-date 
printing  houses  of  the  county,  located  in  a 
beautiful  cement  building,  sixty  by  twenty- 
eight  feet,  which  he  erected  in  1905,  and  which 
contains  a  solid  cement  floor.  The  circulation 
of  the  paper  now  reaches  fifteen  hundred 
copies,  and  it  to-day  ranks  among  the  ablest 
journals  of  this  section  of  the  state. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Endley  was  celebrated 
in  1888,  Miss  Nellie  Jones  becoming  his  wife. 
She  is  a  native  daughter  of  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
but  pursued  her  education  in  the  high  schools 
of  Buchanan,  Michigan,  where  she  received 
her  diploma  and  became  one  of  the  successful 
teachers  of  St.  Joseph  county.     Mr.  Endley 
also  received  a  diploma  from  the  Chautau- 
qua Literary  and  Scientific  course  in  1898.  He 
and  his  wife  took  the  full  course,  completing 
it  by  themselves.      Mr.  Endley  is  prominent 
in  the  Republican  circles  of  the  countj-,  and 
his  first  presidential  vote  was  cast  for  Blaine, 
the  peer  of  the  diplomats.    He  was  selected  as 
delegate  to  the  state  convention  which  nomi- 
nated Governor  Frank  Hanly,   and  he  also 
served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  of 
Walkerton  for  three  years.     He  has  member- 
ship relations  with -the  Masonic  order,  his  con- 
nection being  with  Walkerton  Lodge,  Xo.  619. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


981 


of  which  he  is  the  present  treasurer,  and  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Castle  Hall  Lodge, 
No.  263,  of  Walkerton.  During  his  long  resi- 
dence in  Walkerton  he  has  been  closely  con- 
nected with  its  progress  and  advancement, 
and  in  addition  to  his  journalistic  interests  he 
is  also  a  director  of  the  Walkerton  State  Bank. 
He  is  a  man  of  well  rounded  character  and 
while  his  energies  are  chiefly  given  to  his 
business  he  i,s  a  valued  factor  in  social  circles, 
where  his  upright  life  and  genial  tempera- 
ment make  him  a  favorite. 

Rev.  Homer  P.  Ivey.  Among  the  eflBcient 
and  earnest  laborers  in  the  cause  of  Christian- 
ity in '  St.  Joseph  county  is  numbered  Rev. 
Homer  P.  Ivey,  the  resident  pastor  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Walkerton. 
The  Ivey  family  so  far  as  is  known  is  of 
Welsh  origin,  and  Rev.  Homer  P.  Ivey  is  a 
native  of  Hendricks  county,  Indiana,  born 
August  29,  1879,  the  youngest  of  the  seven 
children,  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  bom 
to  Benjamin  F.  and  Emeline  (Collins)  Ivey, 
and  ^ve  are  yet  living,  namely:  M.  Waters, 
who  is  married  and  is  an  attorney  at  law  in 
Kewanna,  Indiana ;  J.  Luther,  who  graduated 
from  De  Pauw  University  with  the  class  of 
1901,  and  is  a  minister  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  at  Upham,  North  Dakota;  Don- 
nell  R.,  a  graduate  of  the  Central  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  Indianapolis  and 
now  practicing  his  profession  in  Wolcott,  In- 
diana, but  he  formerly  resided  in  North  Da- 
kota ;  Homer  P.,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review ;  and  Susie  E.,  the  wife  of  J.  C.  Dim- 
mick,  an  agriculturist  of  Upham,  North  Da- 
kota. Rev.  Ivey,  the  father,  was  born  in 
Georgia  March  12,  1851,  and  was  reared  to 
years  of  maturity  in  his  native  commonwealth, 
but  is  now  a  resident  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana, 
and  is  serving  as  pastor  of  a  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  in  a  near-by  community.  He 
was  formerly  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian,  but 
in  1884  joined  the  Northwestern  Indiana  Con- 
ference of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
His  political  affiliations  are  with  the  Repub- 
lican party.  Mrs.  Ivey  was  born  in  North 
Carolina,  about  1841,  and  her  death  occurred 
on  the  10th  of  October,  1895.  She  was  very 
devoted  to  her  home  and  secular  duties,  and 
won  the  love  and  respect  of  all  who  knew  her. 

Rev.  Homer  P.  Ivey  was  but  two  years  of 
age  when  he  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Put- 
nam county,  Indiana,  there'  remaining  until 
1884,  and  afterward  accompanied  his  parents 
to  the  different  charges  to  which  they  were 


sent  in  the  father's  ministerial  labors.  He  re- 
ceived his  diploma  in  1894  from  the  public 
schools  of  Fountain  county,  after  which  he 
became  a  student  in  the  Ladoga  high  school 
and  graduated  with  the  class  of  1898.  In  the 
same  year  he  entered  DePauw  University, 
where  he  pursued  the  full  classical  course  and 
graduated  in  1902.  Thus  fifteen  years  of  his 
life  have  been  devoted  to  hard  and  persistent 
study  to  prepare  himself  thoroughly  for  his 
chosen  profession,  the  ministry,  and  it  is  his 
intention  to  pursue  in  the  near  future  a  the- 
ological course  at  Boston,  Massachusetts.  The 
first  charge  at  which  Rev.  Ivey  officiated  was 
at  Union  Mills,  Indiana,  where  he  remained 
for  two  years,  and  in  1904  he  assumed  the 
pastorate  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
in  Walkerton,  where  he  has  now  in  course  of 
construction  one  of  the  finest  church  buildings 
in  St.  Joseph  county  outside  of  the  city  of 
South  Bend.  Its  approximate  cost  will  reach 
fifteen  thousand  dollars.  The  church  is  con- 
stantly growing,  both  in  numbers  and  influ- 
ence, and  it  now  has  a  Sunday-school  attend- 
ance of  ninety-five.  Rev.  Ivey  is  also  inter- 
ested' in  the  literary  lecture  course,  and  served 
as  president  of  the  association.  He  is  an  ef- 
ficient laborer  in  the  cause  of  Christianity, 
earnest  and  eloquent  in  the  presentation  of 
the  truth,  and  his  efforts  are  being  abundant- 
ly blessed. 

On  the  28th  of  August,  1904,  Rev.  Ivey  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Zela  R.  Tinsley, 
and  they  have  one  little  son,  Homer  Merrill. 
Mrs.  Ivey  claims  Dallas  county,  Missouri,  as 
the  place  of  her  nativity,  born  February  8, 
1874,  a  daughter  of  T.  S.  and  Julia  Tinsley, 
both  natives  of  Tennessee.  The  father  passed 
away  in  death  on  the  2d  of  July,  1905,  and 
the  mother  is  now  living  in  Buffalo,  Missouri. 
Mrs.  Ivey  received  her  education  in  the  Ken- 
tucky University  and  the  Valparaiso  Univer- 
sity, graduating  in  the  latter  institution  with 
the  class  of  1894,  and  was  an  efficient  educa- 
tor in  Laporte  county.  She  is  an  earnest 
worker  in  the  Home  Missionary  Society  at 
Walkerton,  and  is  an  able  consort  to  her  hus- 
band in  his  ministerial  labors.  In  political 
matters  Rev.  Ivey  is  independent  where  only 
local  issues  are  involved,  but  in  national 
politics  he  votes  with  the  Republican  party. 
He  has  fraternal  relations  with  the  Masonic 
Lodge  of  Walkerton,  with  the  Kjiights  of 
Pythias,  and  during  his  college  life  was  a 
member  of  the  Delta  Upsilon  Fraternity  of 
DePauw  University  and  upon  the  completion 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


982 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


of  his  course  he  was  elected  to  membership  in 
the  honorary  society  of  Phi  Beta  Kappa.  Rev. 
Ivey  and  his  estimable  wife  are  leaders  in  the 
younger  social  circles  of  Walkerton,  where 
they  are  loved  and  honored  for  their  true 
worth  of  character. 

Eratus  S.  Darling,  A.  M.,  LL.  B.,  M.  D. 
Of  all  the  different  professions  of  our  nation 
that  of  medicine  plays  the  most  conspicuous 
part  in  the  annals  of  a  county  or  state.  The 
twentieth  century  physician  and  surgeon  is  a 
factor  which  tends  to  elevate  the  social  status 
of  a  community,  for  he  is  usually  weU 
equipped  from  a  scholarly  standpoint  to  com- 
mand a  greater  respect  than  the  common  prac- 
titioner of  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago.  Among 
those  who  have  achieved  success  in  this  noble 
'calling  is  Dr.  Eratus  S.  Darling,  who  traces 
his  ancestry  back  to  the  mother  country  of 
England,  but  more  recently  the  family  were 
from  Worcester,  Massachusetts.  Although 
sympathizers  of  the  crown  of  England,  they 
remained  neutral  during  the  Revolutionary 
war.  One  ancestor,  John  Darling  died  in 
1787,  twelve  years  before  the  death  of  General 
Washington,  and  the  doctor's  grandfather, 
Hiram  Darling,  was  deputy  grand  master  of 
the  L.  0.  L.  and  a  soldier  in  ttie  Canadian  re- 
bellion of  1837.  He  was  a  man  of  large 
physique  and  a  gentleman  of  more  than  pass- 
ing importance,  and  it  seems  that  the  male 
descendants  of  the  Darlings  were  all  men  of 
large  physique. 

John  Darling,  the  father  of  the  doctor,  was 
a  native  of  Ontario,  Canada,  born  in  April, 
1840,  and  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  Tor- 
onto, Canada,  having  been  successful  in  the 
real  estate  and  loan  business.  He  married 
Catherine  E.  Copper,  who  was  bom  in  Nap- 
anee,  Canada,  July  5,  1845,  and  died  July  8, 
1884.  She  was  a  ripe  scholar,  had  received  an 
excellent  musical  training,  and  believed  in 
the  thorough  mental  training  of  her  children. 
Her  father  was  of  Scotch  birth,  born  in  the 
same  county  as  Robert  Burns,  and  was  twen- 
ty-five years  of  age  when  he  bade  adieu  to  the 
land  of  the  ** hills  and  heather*'  and  sailed 
for  America.  He  was  a  merchant  by  occupa- 
tion. Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Darling  were  born 
five  children,  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  all 
of  whom  are  living.  The  eldest,  Hiram,  is  a 
dental  surgeon  of  Edmonton,  Alberta,  Can- 
ada. He  received  his  professional  training  in 
the  Toronto  College  of  Dental  Surgeons,  where 
he  received  his  degree  of  L.  D.  S.,  also  holding 
a  degree  D.  D.  S.  from  the  Chicago  College 


of  Dental  Surgeons,  a  part  of  Rush  Medical 
College,  and  is  well  equipped  for  the  practice 
of  his  chosen  profession.  He  is  married,  and 
socially  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason,  while 
during  his  residence  in  the  United  States  he 
was  a  Republican.  Dr.  Darling  is  the  next 
in  order  of  birth.  Charles  D.  is  serving  as 
pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of 
Red  Wing,  Minnesota.  He  received  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Arts  from  McAllister  College 
of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  and  is  also  a  graduate 
of  the  McCormick  Theological  Seminary  of 
Chicago,  one  of  the  leading  institutions  of 
the  middle  west.  Previous  to  accepting  his 
present  charge  he  served  as  pastor  at  Walker- 
ton,  Indiana,  three  years,  and  while  there 
erected  the  present  beautiful  cement  and  stone 
church,  costing  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  In 
April,  1905,  he  entered  upon  his  duties  at 
Red  Wing.  He  is  strictly  and  technically  a 
scholar,  a  man  of  great  concentration  of 
thought  and  action,  and  he  is  now  ready  to 
receive  his  degree  of  Ph.  D.  from  Wesleyan 
University  at  Bloomington,  Illinois.  J.  El- 
more is  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Stanley,  Alberta,  Canada.  He  attended  Ho- 
bart  College,  of  Geneva,  New  York,  and  also 
spent  two  years  in  the  McCormick  Theological 
Seminary.  Marian,  the  only » daughter,  is  a 
resident  of  Red  Wing,  Minnesota,  where  she 
is  an  ordained  minister  in  the  Congregational 
church.  Her  education  was  received  in  the 
McAllister  College  at  St.  Paul  and  the  Chi- 
cago Theological  Seminary,  and  she  is  a  lady 
of  marked  ability  and  accomplishments. 

Dr.  Darling  was  born  in  Ontario,  Canada, 
February  10,  1872.  He  pursued  his  studies 
in  Canada  until  reaching  his  majority.  He  is 
a  ripe  scholar,  and  received  an  education 
which  is  accorded  to  but  few.  Graduating  at 
the  Victoria  College  of  Toronto,  Canada,  he 
received  his  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  after 
which  he  followed  the  leoture  plaitfomi  for 
two  years,  lecturing  on  popular  scientific  sub- 
jects. He  next  pursued  a  post  graduate  course 
in  the  New  York  University,  studying  philoso- 
phy and  Christian  evidences  as  special  work, 
flnd  with  this  excellent  training  he  took  up  the 
study  of  law  in  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
where  he  remained  during  the  years  1895  and 
1896,  graduating  in  the  two  years'  course. 
During  the  year  1897  the  doctor  occupied  the 
rostrum  as  lecturer.  In  his  Bachelor  of  Arts 
degree  he  took  honor  work  in  English  liter- 
ature and  history,  and  in  1898  entered  the 
Indiana    Medical    College    at    Indianapolis, 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


// 


AMPr, 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


983 


where  he  graduated  with  the  class  of  1903. 
After  spending  a  short  time  in  that  city  as  a 
physician  he  located,  in  North  Liberty,  In- 
diana, where  he  has  ever  since  continued  in 
the  practice  of  medicine.  He  has  a  fine  library 
of  fifteen  hundred  volumes,  and  is  a  gentle- 
man of  profound  education  and  research,  ad- 
mirably fitted  for  the  work  to  which  he  is  de- 
voting his  life.  He  is  a  man  whom  to  know 
is  to  respect  and  honor.  He  was  one  of  the 
leading  factors  in  the  establishment  of  the 
lecture  bureau  in  North  Liberty,  and  is  serv- 
ing as  president  of  the  association.  Frater- 
nally Dr.  Darling  is  a  member  of  the  Amer- 
ican Medical  Association,  and  is  a  Mason  and 
a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
'Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Since  the  above  compilation  the  doctor  has 
purchased  property  in  the  coming  greatest 
steel  city  of  the  United  States,  Gary,  Indiana, 
and  has  located  there  to  practice  his  profes- 
sion. This  wonderful  city  is  calling  for 
^brains,  enterprise  and  energy  and  men  with 
such  equipment  are  fast  becoming  citizens 
of  this  coming  city. 

Kev.  Isaac  Early.  During  many  years 
Rev.  Isaac  Early  was  a  most  efficient  laborer 
in  the  cause  of  Christianity  in  the  German 
Baptist  church.  A  strong  and  forcible  speak- 
er, earnest  and  eloquent  in  the  presentation  of 
the  truth,  his  efforts  were  abundantly 
blessed.  He  was  of  German  descent,  (for  his 
grandfather  was  bom  in  the  fatherland,)  and 
was  a  native  of  Rockingham  county,  Vir- 
ginia, where  his  birth  ocurred  on  the  7th  of 
March,  1838,  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Sim- 
mons) Early.  In  their  family  were  nine  chil- 
dren, seven  sons  and  two  daughters,  but  only 
four  of  the  nxmiber  are  now  living,  namely: 
Rev.  Early,  whose  name  introduces  this  re- 
view; Abraham,  a  retired  farmer  living  in 
Cairo,  Ohio;  Samuel,  a  prosperous  farmer  in 
Allen  county,  Ohio;  and  Jacob,  also  an  agri- 
culturist of  that  county.  Three  of  the  sons 
were  soldiers  in  the  Civil  war,  Noah,  Abraham 
and  Jonas,  and  Abraham  was  for  seven 
months  incarcerated  in  Libby  prison,  where 
he  was  nearly  starved  to  death. 

Jacob  Early,  the  father,  was  also  a  native 
of  Rockingham  county,  Virginia,  born  about 
1818.  He  was  reared  as  a  farmer's  son,  and 
was  a  well,  although  self,  educated  man, 
speaking  and  writing  both  the  German  and 
English  languages.  In  1840  with  his  family 
he  joined  a  small  colony  bound  for  Lima, 
Ohio,   making  the   journey    thither   in    true 


pioneer  style.  Mr.  Early  had  saved  five  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  with  that  amount  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  heavily 
timbered  land,  their  first  habitation  there 
being  a  primitive  log  cabin  of  one  room,  where 
the  family  ate,  slept  and  lived,  the  mother 
cooking  on  the  old-fashioned  fireplace.  Lima, 
the  now  populous  city,  was  but  a  hamlet,  and 
their  farm  was  located  five  miles  north  of 
that  city.  Wishing  to  add  eighty  acres  to  his 
original  purchase  and  being  without  money, 
Mr.  Early  sought  the  aid  of  his  friend,  Samuel 
Miller,  a  wealthy  man  who  had  come  with  the 
colony,  who  advanced  the  money,  and  the 
first  crop  of  wheat  raised  paid  for  the  land. 
About  1864,  however,  Mr.  Early  sold  this 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  for 
ten  thousand  dollars  and  removed  to  Illi- 
nois, there  purchasing  three  hundred  acres  of 
land,  but  sold  it  ere  it  had  been  inclosed  and 
returned  to  his  former  home  in  Ohio,  where 
he  remained  until  his  life's  labors  were  ended 
in  death  in  1905.  In  his  political  affiliations 
he  voted  first  with  the  Democracy,  later  with 
the  Whigs,  and  at  the  formation  of  the  Re- 
publican party  he  joined  its  ranks,  remaining 
thereafter  a  loyal  supporter  of  its  principles. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
German  Baptist  church.  He  was  a  grand  old 
man  of  his  time,  and  the  family  were  honored 
in  the  communities  in  which  they  resided. 
Mrs.  Early  was  born  in  Virginia  about  1815, 
and  her  death  occurred  in  1882,  both  being 
interred  in  Allen  county,  Ohio,  in  a  little 
cemetery  laid  out  by  the  colonists  who  came 
with  them  from  Virginia. 

Rev.  Early,  a  son  of  this  honored  old  pion- 
eer couple,  was  but  two  years  of  age  when 
the  family  journeyed  to  Ohio,  where  he  was 
reared  as  a  farmer  lad  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  little  log  school  house  so  com- 
mon in  those  early  days.  When  twenty-one 
years  of  age  he  purchased  his  time  of  his 
father,  for  he  was  then  earning  fifteen  dol- 
lars a  month  as  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  all 
work  then  being  dressed  by  hand,  and  after 
working  one  year  he  again  entered  the  school 
room  as  a  student.  With  his  education  com- 
pleted he  entered  the  teacher's  profession, 
which  he  continued  for  two  terms  after  his 
marriage.  On  the  18th  of  April,  1861,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Ir- 
vin,  in  Allen  county,  Ohio,  and  all  of  their 
eight  children,  three  sons  and  five  daughters, 
are  yet  living,  namely :  Sarah  M.  is  the  wife 
of  John  Reish,  a  well-known  farmer  of  Port- 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


984 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


age  Prairie,  Indiana,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren, Ella  M.,  Mary  E.,  Charles  and  George. 
Haititie  E.  is  the  wife  of  Ira  Gard,  a  resident 
farmer  of  Sawyer,  Ward  county,  North  Da- 
kota, and  their  four  children  are  Nellie, 
Claude,  Russell  and  Joy.  Mary  E.  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Ullery,  also  a  resident  of  Portage 
Prairie,  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Chadwick  and  Ralph.  Mrs. 
Ullery  completed  her  education  in  the  Valpa- 
raiso Normal  College,  and  afterward  taught 
school  for  one  term.  A  history  of  the  eldest 
son,  Charles  Early,  will  be  found  in  another 
portion  of  this  volume.  Ella  May,  a  twin 
of  Charles,  is  the  wife  of  Abraham  Whitmer, 
a  salesman  in  Munich,  Cavalier  county.  North 
Dakota,  and  they  have  three  children,  Ray, 
Carroll  and  Larmon.  Mattie  is  the  wife  of 
W.  D.  Knott,  a  well-known  lumberman  of 
New  Madrid,  Missouri,  and  she  is  an  artist 
in  crayon.  Their  three  children  are  Mary, 
Dorothy  and  Robert.  William  I.  has  been 
principal  of  the  public  schools  of  Hunting- 
ton, Indiana,  during  the  past  five  years.  He, 
too,  attended  the  Valparaiso  normal,  and  is 
also  a  graduate  of  the  state  normal  at  Bloom- 
ington,  Indiana.  He  married  Mariel  Peffley, 
a  representative  of  one  of  the  honored  old 
families  of  Liberty  township,  and'  they  have 
four  children,  Lee,  Harold,  Helen  and  Rich- 
ard Deane.  The  family  reside  in  a  pleasant 
home  in  Huntington.  John  J.,  the  youngest, 
is  now  superintendent  of  the  Warsaw,  In- 
diana, public  schools,  where  he  has  been  lo- 
cated during  the  past  four  years.  He  was 
educated  in  the  same  institutions  as  his 
brother  William,  the  brothers  having  worked 
their  way  through  college.  He  married  Miss 
Mary  WTiitmer. 

Mrs.  Early,  the  mother,  was  bom  in  Au- 
gusta county,  Virginia,  May  15,  1843,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Malinda  (Mosingo)  Ir- 
vin.  Of  the  parents'  five  children,  four  sons 
and  one  daughter,  three  are  now  living,  of 
whom  Mrs.  Early  is  the  eldest.  The  son  Henry 
is  a  resident  farmer  of  Lima,  Ohio,  and  on 
hie  farm  are  located  valuable  oil  wells.  Hugh, 
the  second  son,  is  a  dentist  in  Lima,  and  he  is 
also  the  owner  of  a  fruit  farm  in  southern 
California.  Mr.  Irvin,  the  father,  was  bom 
in  Augusta  county.  Virginia,  March  13,  1813, 
and  although  a  miller  he  gave  his  time  prin- 
cipally to  farming.  He  traced  his  lineage  to 
the  English,  Scotch  and  Irish,  and  the  orig- 
inal spelling  of  the  name  was  Erwin.  Mrs. 
Irvin  was  bom  in  Western  Virginia  on  Janu- 


ary 7,  1813,  and-  in  1856  they  emigrated  to 
Ohio,  where  both  passed  away  in  death,  the 
father  in  1889  and  the  mother  in  1896.  In 
their  religious  affiliations  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  and  his  wife  of  the 
United  Brethren.  Mrs.  Early  was  reared  in 
Virginia  until  her  thirteenth  year,  and  she 
well  remembers  the  trip  across  the  mountains 
in  wagons  to  Ohio,  the  journey  consuming 
twenty-two  days.  After  her  marriage  the 
young  couple  located  on  a  rented  farm,  but 
after  two  years  they  were  able  to  purchase  a 
small  place,  which  they  sold  in  1865  and  came 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  Tie  making:  the 
journey  by  horseback  and  the  wife  on  the  train 
with  the  children,  locating  in  Liberty  town- 
ship, four  miles  northeast  of  North  Liberty. 
Their  first  purchase  consisted  of  two  hundred 
acres  of  partially  improved  land,  for  which 
they  assumed  an  indebtedness  of  four  thou- 
sand dollars.  Subsequently  they  sold  that 
land  and  leased  a  farm  in  the  eastern  limits 
of  the  village.  Rev.  Early  in  1868  was  chosen 
as  a  minister  of  his  charge,  this  district  com- 
prising four  ministers,  and  he  labored  faith- 
fully and  earnestly  in  the  Master's  vineyard 
for  twenty-eight  years.  At  the  expiration  of 
that  time  his  health  failed  and  he  was  obliged 
to  give  up  the  work.  He  was  thoroughly  sin- 
cere in  all  his  thoughts  and  deeds,  and  his 
noble  life  proved  an  inspiration  to  many  of 
those  who  came  under  his  ministrations.  Dur- 
ing a  period  of  three  years  he  served  as  a 
county  commissioner,  fulfilling  the  duties  of 
that  important  position  with  lie  same  loyalty 
which  ever  characterized  all  his  acts.  Mrs. 
Early  served  as  president  of  the  Ladies*  Aid 
Society  of  her  church,  and  for  many  yeare 
she  has  been  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school. 
She  has  in  her  home  a  little  kettle  given  her 
when  a  small  child  by  a  servant,  and  which 
is  nearly  a  century  old,  also  a  large  double 
coverlet  over  three-quarters  of  a  century  old 
woven  by  her  mother.  Many  years  have 
passed  since  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Early  cast  their 
lot  with  the  residents  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
ajid  as  their  golden  years  drew  apace  they  re- 
ceived the  love  and  veneration  of  all  who 
came  under  their  benign  influence.  But  the 
husband  and  father  has  answered  the  final  roll 
call,  dying  August  14,  1907,  aged  sixty-nine 
years,  five  months  and  seven  days.  Besides 
his  devoted  wife,  three  brothers,  eight  children 
and  twenty-four  grandchildren  are  left  to 
mourn  his  loss.  He  wielded  a  noble  influence 
in  the  church  and  conununity.    He  was  a  man 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY.  * 


985 


of  truth,  honesty  and  Christian  integrity.  His 
life  harmonized  with  his  preaching  which  ren- 
dered his  life  a  success  among  those  who  knew 
him.  He  possessed  tact  as  a  counselor  in  the 
church  and  in  the  home  and  was  admired  by 
young  and  old  for  his  amiable  qualities.  All 
realize  that  a  Christian  soldier  has  fallen,  but 
he  fell  clad  in  his  armor  and  loyal  to  his  trust 
andf  has  gone  to  reap  his  eternal  reward. 

Charles  E.  Early.  Honored  and  respected 
by  all,  Charles  E.  Early  has  been  for  several 
years  prominently  identified  with  the  public 
affairs  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  he  is  now 
serving  as  trustee  of  his  township.  His  entire 
life  has  been  passed  within  the  borders  of  the 
county,  and  has  been  one  of  uniform  honor  in 
business  and  fidelity  in  places  of  public  trust. 
His  birth  occurred  in  Liberty  township,  St. 
Joseph  county,  July  4,  1868,  a  son  of  Rev. 
Isaac  and  Mary  E.  (Irvip)  Early,  whose  his- 
tory is  given  in  another  portion  of  this  work. 
The  sCn  Charles  received  a  good  practical 
common-school  education,  and  was  reared  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  remaining  with  his 
father  and  giving  him  the  benefit  of  his  time 
until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age.  At  that 
age  and  with  a  small  capital,  possibly  one 
hundred  dollars,  he  began  life  for  himself  as 
a  renter,  his  principal  occupation  being  the 
raising  of  sheep,  in  which  he  was  very  suc- 
cessful. His  first  purchase  of  land  consisted 
of  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  in  Greene  town- 
ship, for  which  he  assumed  an  indebtedness 
of  twenty-five  hundTed  dollars,  but  being  a 
type  of  the  progressive  spirit  of  the  age  and 
possessing  that  enterprise  and  perseverance 
which  have  ever  characterized  him  he  was 
soon  able  to  meet  his  obligations  in  full.  In 
1902,  however,  he  sold  this  land  and  pur- 
chased his  present  estate  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  lying  within  one  mile  of  North 
Liberty,  which  is  excellent  farming  land,  with 
not  an  acre  of  swamp  and  only  a  small  amount 
of  timber.  Beautiful  and  substantial  build- 
ings adorn  the  homestead,  but  in  1903  he  met 
with  a  severe  loss  in  the  burning  of  his  barn. 
However,  he  has  successfully  surmounted  all 
obstacles  which  have  barred  his  path,  and  has 
made  for  himself  a  place  in  connection  with 
the  activities  and  honors  of  life. 

On  the  17th  of  March,  1897,  Mr.  Early  mar- 
ried Miss  Ella  Kane,  and  they  have  become 
the  parents  of  four  children,  Dorothy,  Amy, 
Mary  and  Ruth.  Mrs.  Early  was  born  in  St. 
Joseph  county  March  31,  1876,  the  second  in 
a  family  of  six  children,  three  sons  and  three 


daughters,  but  only  three  of  the  nuinber  are 
now  living:  Arthur,  who  is  married  and  is 
engaged  in  farming  in  Liberty  township; 
Ella,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Early;" and  Gladys,  who 
is  attending  school.  Mr.  Kane,  the  father,  and 
whose  record  appears  in  this  work,  is  also  a 
native  son  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  he  is 
now  a  resident  of  Liberty  township,  where  he 
owns  one  hundred  acres  of  excellent  farming 
land  and  he  is  well  known  as  a  produce  deal- 
er, selling  to  the  South  Bend  market.  He  is 
a  Republican  in  his  political  affiliations.  Mrs. 
Kane  is  also  living,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Brethren  church.  Mr.  Early  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Benjamin  Harrison,  and 
has  ever  since  continued  to  support  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  ** Grand  Old  Party.''  In  1904 
he  was  elected  to  the  highest  office  within  the 
gift  of  his  township,  that  of  trustee,  assuming 
the  duties  of  that  responsible  position  on  the 
1st  of  January,  1905.  During  his  administra- 
tion he  l^as  increased  the  school  term  from 
seven  to  eight  months,  and  many  other  needed 
reforms  have  been  instituted.  Each  school 
contains  an  excellent  library,  and  at  the  pres- 
ent time  there  are  nine  brick  and  three  frame 
school  buildings  in  the  township,  while  the 
best  corps  of  teachers  which  money  can  pro- 
duce are  employed.  Mrs.  Early's  religious 
connection  is  with  the  Progressive  Dunkard 
church,  and  both  she  and  her  husband  are 
interested  in  all  benevolent  and  progressive 
movements.  As  the  record  of  a  young  man 
it  is  one  of  which  he  may  be  justly  proud,  and 
the  success  he  has  attained  is  the  just  reward 
of  meritorious,  honorable  effort. 

Andrew  J.  Ingleright  for  many  years  was 
a  member  *of  the  medical  profession  of  north- 
ern Indiana,  and  his  long  identification  with 
the  work  and  his  prominence  here  entitles 
him  to  more  than  a  passing  notice  in  tHe  his- 
tory of  the  representative  men  of  St.  Joseph 
county.  He  was  bom  in  Berrien  county, 
Michigan,  January  18,  1842,  a  son  of  Andrew 
and  Elizabeth  (Weaver)  Ingleright,  who  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  four  sons  and 
four  daughters,  of  the  number  being:  Andrew 
J.,  whose  name  introduces  this  review; 
George,  a  stock  buyer  and  a  resident  of  Ber- 
rien Springs,  Michigan ;  Franklin  F.,  who  re- 
sides on  the  old  homestead  in  Oronoco  town- 
ship, Berrien  county;  Thomas,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  in  the  same  lo- 
cality; Caroline,  the  widow  of  Albert  Wil- 
liams, who  was  an  inventor  of  medicines  and 
a  teacher,  and  his  'widow  now  resides  in  Bu- 


Digitized  by 


Google 


986 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


chanan,  Michigan,  and  Eliza,  the  wife  of  P. 
Vary,  a  resident  of  Oronoco  township,  Ber- 
rien county,  where  he  is  an  agriculturist  and 
also  a  carpenter  and  joiner. 

Andrew  Ingleright,  the  father,  was  born 
and  reared  in  Ohio,  and  during  the  Indian 
war  and  the  Bad  Land  movements  he  served 
as  a  soldier,  afterward  entering  land  in  In- 
diana, Illinois  and  Michigan.  During  a  num- 
ber of  years  he  resided  on  Portage  prairie, 
near  South  Bend,  thence  removing  to  Oronoco 
township,  Berrien  county,  Michigan,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a 
Jackson  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations, 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Brethren  church.  Mrs.  Ingleright  was  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  but  reared  in  Indiana,  and  theirs 
was  the  twelfth  marriage  celebrated  in  St. 
Joseph  county. 

Dr.  Ingleright,  the  eldest  of.  their  living 
children,  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  his  native  county  of  Berrien,  where 
he  had  the  pleasure  of  attending  one  of  its 
first  log  cabin  schools,  a  little  ertructure  six- 
teen by  twenty-four  feet  made  of  logs  and 
chinking,  while  the  roof  was  covered  with 
clapboards  and  the  room  was  heated  with  a 
large  box  stove.  The  desks  were  long  enough 
to  accommodate  eight  or  ten  pupils,  and  he 
has  used  the  old  goosequill  pen  fashioned  by 
the  master.  This  temple  of  learning  was 
known  as  the  Burke  school,  and  there  he  re- 
ceived the  rudiments  which  served  as  the 
foundation  for  his  subsequent  excellent  edu- 
cation. He,  however,  had  to  battle  earnestly 
and  energetically  for  the  educational  training 
he  received.  The  second  school  which  he  at- 
tended was  the  Buchanan  high  school,  located 
at  the  edge  of  the  village,  where  he  worked  his 
own  way  through,  and  then  studied  under 
the  preceptorship  of  Professor  D.  A.  Ewing 
at  South  Bend,  who  proved  a  friend  in  need 
and  assisted  the  struggling  youth  in  his  ef- 
forts for  literary  advancement.  Mr.  Ingle- 
right next  went  to  Morris,  Illinois,  and  dur- 
ing the  following  two  years  read  medicine  un- 
der Dr.  Williams,  returning  thence  to  Berrien 
county  and  continuing  his  medical  reading 
under  Dr.  Martin,  although  he  had  previously 
obtained  a  certificate  for  practice.  In  1878, 
after  a  long  and  hard  struggle,  but  with  an 
excellent  literary  and  professional  training 
to  serve  as  the  foundation  of  his  life  work, 
he  entered  upon  the  practice  of  medicine,  and 
his  professional  career  was  attended  with 
marked    success.      In    1882    he    received    his 


diploma  from  the  American  Health  Univer- 
sity of  Chicago,  and  he  also  held  a  state 
license  in  both  Indiana  and  Michigan. 

Dr.  Ingleright  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Carrie  Williams,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  three  children,  two  sons  and  one 
daughter,  as  follows :  Leon  Ray,  who  received 
his  education  at  Ashland,  Ohio,  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois, and  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  and  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery 
in    Rose   City,   Michigan,   having  previously 
been  associated  with  his  father  in  South  Bend ; 
Ross,  who  is  a  self-educated  man  and  a  grad- 
uate of  telegraphy,  but  he  owns  and  resides 
on  a  farm  near  Rose  City,  where  he  is  also  a 
minister  in  the  Saints  church ;  Lena  Dell,  the 
wife  of  Perry  0.  Smith,  an  agriculturist  of 
South  Bend.    After  the  death  of  Mrs.  Ingle- 
right the  doctor  married  Miss  Lu«lla  Huff, 
their  wedding  being  celebrated  July  20,  1884, 
and  they  had  five  children :  DeWitt,  at  home ; 
Mabel,  the  wife  of  Ira  D.  Carpenter ;  Eva  B., 
at  home ;  Ethel,  who  is  in  the  eighth  grade  in 
school ;  and  Allegra,  the  youngest  of  the  fam- 
ily.    The  children  have  all  been  given  excel- 
lent educational  advantages,  and  the  two  old- 
est daughters  were  also  educated  in  music  and 
both  were  teachers.     In  his  political  affilia- 
tions Dr.  Ingleright  was  a  Democrat,  but  his 
sympathies  were  with  the  Prohibition  party 
and  he  was  an  active  worker  in  its  cause.    He 
was  among  the  first  in  the  county  to  offer  his 
services  in  defence  of  the  Union  during  the 
Civil  war,  and  even  organized  a  company  in 
Berrien  county,  but  just  at  this  time  he  un- 
fortunately broke  his  leg  which  necessitated 
his  remaining  at  home.     In  the  religious   as 
well  as  professional  circles  Dr.  Ingleright  was 
equally  well  known,  and  for  nine  years  he 
was  a  minister  in  the  Brethren  church.     He 
has  found  special  pleasure  in  the  work  of  the 
Sunday  school  throughout  the  count>\  was  of 
great   assistance  in   the  building  up  of   the 
Sunday  school  on  Portage  prairie,  and  served 
as  superintendent   of  the  Sunday  school    at 
North  Liberty.  He  was  also  an  important  fac- 
tor in  the  erection  of  the  church  in  this  vil- 
lage.    His  life  and  achievements  worthily  il- 
lustrate what  may  be  attained  by  persistency 
and  painstaking  effort,  and  his  noble,  manly 
life  has  proved  an  inspiration  to  many  of  his 
old   friends  and   associates.     Dr.   Ingleright 
died  at  his  home  in  North  Liberty  in  April, 
1907,  aged  sixty-five  years,  three  months  and 
one  day.    The  funeral  services  were  conduct- 
ed by  Rev.  C.  F.  Toder,  of  Ashland,  Ohio, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


4^, 


Digitized  by 


Google 


^fcr^L^^fc. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


987 


who  voiced  the  feeling  of  the  community  when 
he  spoke  of  the  deceased's  devotion  to  the 
church  and  his  fellow  citizens  and  his  varied 
and  active  career  as  physician  and  minister. 

Prank  H.  Foe.  The  Dominion  of  Canada 
has  given  to  the  United  States  some  of  lyBr 
most  energetic  .business  and  professional  men 
of  the  present  epoch,  and  among  the  number 
may  be  mentioned  Frank  H.  Foe,  who  now 
holds  a  representative  place  among  the  lead- 
ing men  of  affairs  in  his  section  of  the  county. 
He  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Ontario,  May  8, 
1871,  the  youngest  child  of  Charles  and  Ro- 
setta  (Hughes)  Foe.  In  their  family  were 
four  children,  namely :  Estella,  wife  of  Isaac 
Colborn,  a  lumber  merchant  of  Goodland,  In- 
diana, and  they  have  two  children:  Ernest, 
who  is  married  and  is  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  in  Edgetts,  Michigan-,  Adah,  the 
wife  of  Herbert  E.  Smith,  a  carpenter  and 
joiner  in  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan ;  and  Frank 
H.,  whose  name  introduces  this  review. 

Charles  Foe,  the  father,  was  bom  in  On- 
tario, Canada,  February  2,  1838,  and  his 
death  occurred  October  28,  1872.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  England,  and  was  a  stanch 
advocate  of  the  customs  and  manners  of  the 
mother  country.  His  son  Charles  continued 
as  a  tiller  of  the  soil  throughout  his  entire 
business  life,  and  was  one  of  the  leading  citi- 
zens of  the  locality  in  which  he  made  his 
home.  Mrs.  Foe  was  also  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, born  in  Northamptonshire  August  26, 
1840,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Wayland,  Mich- 
igan. When  a  little  maiden  of  seven  years 
she  came  with  her  parents  to  Canada,  making 
the  voyage  in  a  sailing  vessel,  and  fourteen 
we^ks  passed  on  the  voyage  from  Liverpool  to 
Quebec.  During  her  early  girlhood  she  was 
adopted  by  a  family,  and  with  them  removed 
to  western  Michigan  in  1856,  where  she  re- 
mained until  about  eighteen  or  twenty  years 
of  age,  when  she  returned  to  Canada  and 
there  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Mr.  Foe. 
After  the  death  of  her  first  husband  ^he  be- 
came the  wife  of  John  R.  Stauflfer,  and  of 
their  three  children  two  are  now  Kving,  Alon- 
zo,  who  is  married  and  follows  farming  near 
Wayland,  Michigan;  and  Clara,  the  wife  of 
William  J.  Cisler,  a  salesman  in  Middleville, 
Michigan.  Mrs.  Stauflfer  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

When  a  little  lad  of  five  years  Frank  II. 
Foe  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal 
to  Caledonia,  Kent  county,  Michigan,  and 
when  yet  a  youth  he  went  to  live  with  Asa 

Vol.   TI— 25 


Luther,  with  whom  he  remained  until  sixteen 
years  of  age,  in  the  meantime  receiving  a 
common  school  education,  but  principally  by 
his  own  endeavors.  It  will  thus  be  readily 
seen  that  Mr.  Foe,  like  many  other  leading 
men  of  the  twentieth  century,  has  risen  by  his 
own  perseverance  and  determination  from 
comparative  obscurity  to  a  place  of  promi- 
nence in  the  commercial  world.  After  the 
completion  of  the  regular  farm  work  of  the 
season  he  would  work  for  others  in  cutting 
and  husking  corn  or  do  any  labor  that  would 
win  him  an  honest  dollar.  In  compensation 
for  his  labor  he  received  the  munificent  salary 
of  fifty  cents  a  day,  which  he  then  considered 
a  large  sum.  Until  the  year  1891,  when  he 
was  twenty  years  of  age,  he  was  a  resident  of 
Michigan,  and  then  went  to  Goodland,  In- 
diana, and  entered  the  lumber  business  with 
his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Colborn,  of  the  Col- 
born Lumber  Company,  where  he  at  first  re- 
ceived fifteen  dollars  a  month,  and  remained 
with  that  company  for  eleven  years,  during 
the  time  becoming  proficient  in  every  depart- 
ment of  the  business.  In  1902  Mr.  Foe  went 
to  Sheldon,  Illinois,  where  for  almost  one  year 
he  served  as  manager  of  a  branch  establish- 
ment of  J.  A.  Patten,  a  large  poultry  dealer. 
In  February,  1903,  he  embarked  in  business 
for  himself,  as  a  dealer  in  lumber,  lime, 
cement,  coal  and  all  builders'  materials,  at 
North  Liberty,  and  within  the  few  years 
which  have  since  elapsed  he  has  enlarged  his 
operations  until  his  business  is  now  one  of  the 
leading  industries  of  the  town.  He  has  erected 
his  own  lumber  sheds  and  buildings,  and  his 
sales  annually  run  as  high  as  forty  thousand 
dollars,  while  his  name  has  become  a  familiar 
one  in  the  business  circles  of  this  portion  of 
the  county. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  1898,  Mr.  Foe  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eula  Hefner  at 
GToodland,  Indiana,  and  their  three  sons  are: 
Charles  Cliflford,  who  is  a  little  lad  in  the 
first  grade  of  school;  Forrest  Hefner  and 
Donald  Franklin.  Mrs.  Foe  was  bom  in  Mc- 
Lean county,  Illinois,  near  Lexington,  April 
3,  1877,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  P.  and  Eva 
(HeAerth)  Hefner,  in  whose  family  were 
six  children,  two  sons  and  four  daughters,  of 
whom  four  are  living :  Eula,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Foe;  Eson  G.,  who  received  his 
education  in  the  Lexington  public  schools  and 
the  Goodland  high  school,  and  is  now  engaged 
in  farming  near  Chalmers,  Indiana;  Belle  E., 
who  was  educated  in  the  same  schools  as  her 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


986 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


sister  Eula,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Qeorge 
F.  Taylor,  a  merchant  of  Chicago,  Illinois; 
and  Lenore  C,  a  student  in  the  Chalmers 
high  school,  and  after  the  completion  of  her 
studies  there  will  receive  collegiate  training. 

Samuel  P.  Hefner,  the  father,  was  bom  in 
Upshur  county,  Virginia,  November  24,  1852, 
and  was  brought  by  his  parents  when  but  a 
child  to  McLean  county,  Illinois.  His  father 
was  born  in  Virginia,  and  was  a  cari)enter 
and  joiner  by  trade  in  the  early  years  of  his 
life.  He  came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  in 
1853,  in  the  spring,  and  engaged  in  farming, 
raising,  feeding  and  shipping  stock.  He  died 
in  1871.  He  wa&  of  German  parentage  and 
could  speak  the  language  until  the  age  of  ten. 
He  never  cared  to  hold  any  oflBce.  The  Hef- 
ners were  one  of  the  most  prominent  families 
in  that  county.  Samuel  P.  Hefner  has  often 
driven  large  droves  of  cattle  to  the  Chicago 
market.  He  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  his 
political  affiliations,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  They  now  reside  on  a  farm  near 
Chalmers,  Indiana,  honored  and  respected 
for  their  sterling  worth.  Mrs.  Foe's  mother, 
Eva  (Herberth)  Hefner,  was  of  German 
lineage  but  was  bom  in  Peoria  county,  Illi- 
nois, December  10,  1853,  and  was  educated  in 
the  schools  of  Secor,  Illinois.  Her  parents 
were  born  in  Germany.  Her  father  was  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  and  grain  business  at 
Secor,  Illinois.  In  March,  1896,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hefner  moved  to  Goodland,  Indiana,  and  in 
1902  to  Chalmers.  Mrs.  Foe  remained  in  her 
native  county  of  McLean  until  she  had  at- 
tained womanhood,  and  graduated  from  the 
Goodland  high  school  with  the  class  of  1897, 
in  the  meantime  having  also  received  both  in- 
strumental and  vocal  culture. 

Mr.  Foe  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
Republican  party,  his  first  presidential  vote 
having  been  cast  for  McKinley,  and  he 
stanchly  upholds  the  principles  and  is  an 
active  worker  in  the  party.  He  is  now  serving 
as  president  of  the  Business  Men's  Associa- 
tion of  North  Liberty,  and  was  one  of  the 
leading  factors  in  the  movement  for  the  lay- 
ing of  the  excellent  cement  sidewalks  in  the 
town.  His  fraternal  relations  connect  him 
with  the  Masonic  order.  North  Liberty  Lodge 
No.  266.  also  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
Castle  Hall  No.  141,  at  Goodland,  Indiana,  in 
which  he  has  passed  all  the  chairs  and  has 
been  selected  as  delegate  to  the  state  lodge 
at  Indianapolis.    Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foe  are 


members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
at  North  Liberty.  They  are  young  people 
who  stand  high  in  the  social  circles  of  the 
town  of  North  Liberty,  where  a  gracious  hos- 
pitality is  extended  to  them  from  the  best 
homes.  Mr.  Foe  has  been  distinctively  the 
architect  of  his  own  fortunes,  and  stands  as 
a  symmetrical  type  of  the  sterling  American 
manhood  which  our  nation  delights  to  honor. 

George  A.  Bettcher.  **  Peace  hath  its  vic- 
tories no  less  renowned  than  war,"  and  this 
fact  has  been  proved  often  and  again  as  the 
march  of  progress  has  continued  with  ever 
accelerating  speed.  But  the  military  career 
of  George  A.  Bettcher  is  one  which  will  ever 
redound  to  his  honor  as  a  loyal  and  devoted 
son  of  the  republic  and  as  one  whose  courage 
was  that  of  his  convictions. 

Mr.  Bettcher  was  bom  in  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri, May  20,  1838,  the  eldest  of  three  chil- 
dren, one  son  and  two  daughters,  born  to 
Christian  Alfred  and  Eleanor  (Kennedy) 
Bettcher.  Only  two  of  the  children  are  now 
living,  the  sister  of  our  subject  being  Laura 
A.,  the  wife  of  George  P.  Kimmel,  a  retired 
coal  merchant  living  in  Terre  Haute,  Indiana. 
Christian  A.  Bettcher,  the  father,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Prussia,  Germany,  born  March  9, 
1812,  and  his  death  occurred  on  the  1st  of 
February,  1881.  The  original  German  spell- 
ing of  the  name  was  Boettcher,  but  the  orthog- 
raphy has  since  been  changed  to  Bettcher. 
The  father  received  a  superior  educational 
training  as  a  Lutheran  minister,  being  pro- 
ficient in  both  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages. 
When  about  twenty-three  years  of  age,  in 
1835,  he  bade  adieu  to  home  and  native  land 
and  came  to  America,  securing  passage  on  a 
sailing  vessel  which  encountered  severe  storms 
and  was  driven  from  her  course,  many  weeks 
passing  ere  anchor  was  cast  in  Baltimore, 
Maryland.  He  landed  in  a  strange  land  and 
among  strange  people  without  money,  but  he 
made  his  way  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  where 
he  was  married  and  for  a  number  of  years 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  From  there 
he  went  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  in  1836,  thence 
to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  in  March,  1842,  came 
to  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  In  an  early  day  he 
voted  with  the  Whig  party,  and  after  the  for- 
mation of  the  Republican  party  he  joined  its 
ranks  and  remained  one  of  its  stanch  support- 
ers. His  religious  affiliations  were  with  the 
Universalist  church,  while  Mrs.  Bettcher  was 
an    Episcopalian.      She    was    a    native    of 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


989 


Charleston,  South  Carolina,  born  on  the  5th  of 
January,  1805,  and  her  death  occurred  in 
Terre  Ilaute,  Indiana,  February  8,  1875.  She 
was  reared  in  her  native  city  and  there  re- 
mained until  reaching  womanhood.  Her  son 
still  has  in  his  possession  a  letter  written  by 
his  mother  over  half  a  century  ago,  and  which 
he  prizes  very  highly. 

George  A.  Bettcher  was  but  four  years  of 
age  when  the  family  home  was  removed  from 
Cincinnati  to  Terre  Haute,  and  there  he  was 
reared  and  received  his  education.  His 
mother,  however,  was  highly  educated,  and 
had  taught  her  little  son  during  his  early  boy- 
hood so  that  when  he  entered  school  he  used 
Ray's  third  part  arithmetic  and  the  Fourth 
Reader.  When  but  fourteen  years  of  age  he 
began  learning  the  trade  of  a  gunsmith,  work- 
ing at  that  occupation  until  the  tocsin  of  war 
was  sounded  in  1861.  On  the  18th  of  April  of 
that  year  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Eleventh 
Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  General 
Lew  Wallace,  and  was  sent  to  Cumberland, 
Maryland,  to  join  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
Their  first  little  battle  was  at  Romney,  Vir- 
ginia, then  waited  for  orders  at  Harper's 
Perry,  and  in  August  Mr.  Bettcher  was  dis- 
charged and  returned  to  his  home  in  Terre 
Haute.  He  then  re-enlisted  for  three  years 
under  General  Fremont,  but  a  short  time  aft- 
erward, by  special  order,  was  again  dis- 
charged, then  he  was  returned  to  Terre  Haute 
and  assisted  in  recruiting  Company  B,  Fifty- 
fourth  Indianh,  Infantry,  going  out  as  its  first 
lieutenant,  the  regiment  being  ordered 
through  the  state  of  Kentucky  to  guard  the 
railroads  and  bridges.  In  1862,  at  Red  River 
bridge.  Company  B  was  captured  by  the 
rebels,  but  they  were  paroled  on  the  field  and 
returned  home.  A  call  was  then  made  for  five 
cavalry  regiments  for  three  years,  and  Mr. 
Bettcher  again  engaged  in  recruiting  duty, 
going  out  as  the  second  lieutenant  of  Com- 
pany D,  Eleventh  Indiana  Cavalry.  The  regi- 
ment was  sent  into  Alabama  under  General 
Thomas,  and  at  Paint  Rock,  that  state.  Cap- 
tain Carlton  A.  Goodman  was  wounded  and 
Lieutenant  Bettcher  was  commissioned  cap- 
tain of  the  company.  They  were  then  ordered 
to  join  Thomas'  array  at  Nashville,  thence  to 
Pulaski  to  join  Schofield  and  on  to  Duck 
river  and  Franklin,  Tennessee,  where  Captain 
Bettcher  participated  in  that  short  but  ter- 
rible battle,  the  Federals  losing  three  thou- 
sand in  killed  and  wounded  and  there  the 
Captain  was  shot  through  the  right  hand  just 


as  he  was  drawing  his  sabre.  With  about 
forty  of  his  regiment  he  was  taken  prisoner 
and  sent  to  Columbia,  Tennessee,  where  they 
were  confined  in  an  earthwork  fort  with  about 
eighteen  hundred  Federal  prisoners.  About 
this  time  the  Confederates  began  to  distribute 
them  to  Andersonville  and  Libby  prisons,  and 
they  were  crowded  into  the  cars  like  so  many 
cattle,  some  even  being  placed  on  top  of  the 
cars.  Captain  Bettcher  with  the  last  squad 
of  seventy-two  were  placed  in  the  last  car  and 
were  the  last  to  leave.  They  were  recaptured 
by  the  Federals  and  returned  to  their  regi- 
ment, the  Eleventh  Indiana  Cavalry  at  East- 
port,  Mississippi,  and  Captain  Bettcher  re- 
ceived his  final  discharge  in  March,  1865,  after 
a  military  career  covering  three  years,  an 
honorable  record  as  a  defender  of  the  stars 
and  stripes.  He  has  three  commissions  from 
the  old  war  governor  Morton. 

Captain  Bettcher  has  a  special  room  in  his 
home  called  his  **den,"  which  contains  many 
war  relics,  such  as  his  company's  sword, 
sabre,  cartridge  box  and  knapsack,  and  mus- 
kets, holsters  and  an  Arkansas  toothpick 
taken  from  the  dead  body  of  a  Texan  during 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  Mississippi.  He  has 
also  a  flintlock  musket  of  the  year  1820  and  a 
navy  cutlass  used  in  olden  times  in  boarding 
vessels  in  a  hand  to  hand  conflict.  He  has 
also  one  of  the  Mauser  rifles  used  by  the  Ger- 
mans during  the  Franco-Prussian  war. 

On  his  return  to  Terre  Ilaute  he  entered 
the  commercial  college,  where  he  completed 
the  course  and  secured  the  position  of  ac- 
countant. In  1871  he  came  to  North  Liberty 
to  take  charge  of  his  father-in-law's  store, 
which  he  conducted  for  a  time,  while  for  a 
few  years  thereafter  he  conducted  a  store  of 
his  own,  and  in  the  meantime  he  had  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  in  Lincoln  town- 
ship, but  this  he  subsequently  sold  and  is  now 
living  retired  from  the  active  cares  of  a  busi- 
ness life. 

Mr.  Bettcher  was  first  married  to  Miss 
Mary  E.  Donaldson,  but  there  were  no  chil- 
dren of  that  union.  On  the  26th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1869,  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Mc- 
Cauley,  by  whom  he  had  two  children.  The 
daughter,  Elizabeth  E.,  attended  the  common 
schools  and  also  graduated  at  the  Terre  Haute 
normal  in  the  class  of  1890,  after  which  she 
was  engaged  in  teaching  at  Newport,  Indiana, 
for  two  years,  during  a  similar  period  taught 
at  Alexandria,  this  state,  and  for  nine  years 
followed   h*er  profession   successfully  in   In- 


Digitized  by 


Google 


990 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


ddanapolis.  She  then  went  to  Wyoming,  where 
she  taught  for  one  year  and  then  took  a  course 
in  the  state  university  at  Bloomington,  In- 
diana. She  is  a  renowned  educator.  She  was 
located  at  McCook,  Nebraska,  as  cashier  in 
her  uncle's  store  for  two  years  and  now  is 
teaching  in  the  city  schools  of  McCook.  The 
son,  Earl  M.,  is  superintendent  of  the  car- 
rier's department  in  the  South  Beiid  post 
office.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the  state  univer- 
sity at  Bloomington,  Indiana,  and  he  taught 
school  before  he  had  reached  his  sixteenth 
year,  while  during  his  career  as  a  teacher  he 
saved  one  hundred  and  twenty  dollars,  the 
first  year's  salary  before  his  sixteenth  year. 
He  wedded  Miss  Mabel  Williams,  a  represent- 
ative of  one  of  the  leading  families  of  North 
Liberty,  and  they  reside  in  their  own  home  in 
South  Bend.  Mrs.  Bettcher,  the  mother  of 
these  children,  died  on  the  4th  of  April,  1881, 
and  on  the  21st  of  June,  1883,  Mr.  Bettcher 
wedded  Miss  Mary  Rosemond,  his  present 
wife,  who  was  born  in  Harris  township,  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  December  18,  1845, 
a  daughter  of  Theodore  and  Elizabeth 
(Nixon)  Roosevelt.  She  is  their  only  child^ 
£|id  was  brought  up  in  a  family  by  the  name 
of  Ryan,  but  her  direct  lineage  is  the  Dutch 
family  of  Roosevelts.  After  attending  the 
common  schools  of  St.  Joseph  county  she 
entered  the  South  Bend  high  school,  and  was 
also  a  student  in  the  state  normal  at  Terre 
Haute.  When  nineteen  years  of  age  she  en- 
tered the  teacher's  profession,  and  she  de- 
voted twenty  years  of  her  life  to  that  occupa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  St.  Joseph  and  Elkhart 
counties  and  also  in  Michigan.  At  the  time 
of  her  marriage  she  was  teaching  in  North 
Liberty,  and  she  continued  during  one  year 
thereafter.  They  then  took  up  their  abode 
in  North  Liberty,  where  they  have  ever  since 
resided,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
have  the  pleasure  of  their  acquaintance. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Bettcher  is 
a  stanch  Republican,  and  since  casting  his 
first  vote  for  Lincoln  he  has  continued  to  sup- 
port the  ticket.  He  has  been  selected  as  dele- 
gate to  both  the  county  and  congressional  dis- 
trict conventions,  and  was  appointed  post- 
master of  North  Liberty  by  President  Gar- 
field, but  resigned  ere  his  term  was  completed. 
He  is  a  prominent  Mason,  having  served  as 
past  master  of  North  Liberty  lodge  No.  266, 
and  is  also  a  member  of  South  Bend  Chapter, 
No.  29,  and  Terre  Haute  Council.  He  was 
initiated    into   the  order   in    1866    in    Terre 


Haute,  and  has  ever  since  exemplified  in  his 
life  its  beneficent  principles.  He  is  a  past 
conunander  of  Joe  Bowen  Post,  No.  197,  G. 
A.  R.,  at  North  Liberty,  and  is  now  a  member 
of  Auten  Post,  No.  8,  of  South  Bend.  Mrs. 
Bettcher  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal eh  arch  and  the  Women  s  Relief  Corps, 
No.  193.  Mr.  Bettcher  is  also  a  member  of 
the  military  order  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  com- 
posed of  officers  of  the  Civil  war,  and  he  may 
well  feel  proud  of  his  membership  in  this  or- 
ganization. 

John  Nelson  Rupel.  St.  Joseph  county 
was  exceptionally  fortunate  in  the  character 
of  her  pioneers,  who,  save  in  rare  instances, 
were  God-fearing,  law-abiding  citizens,  pa- 
triotic and  true  to  their  native  land  and  con- 
scientious in  the  discharge  of  every  duty  to- 
ward their  fellow  men.  Of  such  a  stamp  were 
the  ancestors  of  John  Nelson  Rupel,  who  were 
numbered  among  the  country's  earliest  and 
most  prominent  citizens,  and  the  subject  of 
this  review  is  one  of  its  native  sons,  his  birth 
occurring  in  Liberty  township  on  the  17th 
of  March,  1837,  the  youngest  of  six  children, 
two  sons  and  four  daughters,  born  to  John 
and  Anna  (Loring)  Rupel,  but  only  four  of 
the  number  are  now  living  and  the  eldest  is 
Catherine,  the  widow  of  James  Garrard  and 
a  resident  of  Fresno,  California. 

John  Rupel,  the  father,  was  a  native  of 
Ohio,  bom  in  1800,  and  his  death  occurred  on 
the  4th  of  May,  1854,  in  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana.  His  education  was  received  in  the 
pioneer  schools  so  common  in  the  early  days, 
and  he  made  his  way  to  success  through  his 
own  efforts,  possessing  the  strength  and  per- 
severance of  the  German  race,  for  his  father 
came  to  this  country  from  the  fatherland.  The 
early  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  Ohio, 
where  he  was  married,  and  in  1834  with  his 
bride  he  came  to  Indiana  in  true  pioneer 
style,  making  the  journey  by  wagon  over 
marshes  and  quagmires  and  through  the  dense 
forests  to  St.  Joseph  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  quarter  section  of  land  within  a  mile 
of  North  Liberty,  their  first  home  being  a 
primitive  log  cabin.  At  that  time  the  present 
site  of  North  Liberty  contained  only  a  mill 
and  the  remnants  of  the  Pottawatomie  In- 
dians. As  he  was  able  Mr.  Rupel  added  to  his 
original '  purchase  until  at  the  time  of  his 
death  he  owned  about  five  hundred  acres  in 
Liberty  township,  extending  to  the  Kankakee 
river,  and  at  that  early  day  the  grain  was 
hauled  to  Michigan  City,  a  distance  of  thirty 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


991 


miles,  while  their  trading  was  done  in  South 
Bend,  which  at  that  time  was  a  little  strag- 
gling village  with  not  a  railroad  in  the  entire 
county.  In  his  political  affiliations  he  was  an 
old  Jackson  Democrat,  ever  remaining  true 
to  those  principles,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
were  devout  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  he  being  the  leading  factor  in 
the  erection  of  the  first  church  of  that  denomi- 
nation in  his  conmiunity.  Mrs.  Rupel,  who 
was  born  on  the  banks  of  Licking  river  in 
Kentucky  in  1802,  died  in  1886.  She  was  but 
a  child  when  her  parents  removed  to  Ohio, 
and  her  father  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Kentucky,  well  remembering  Daniel  Boone, 
the  great  Indian  fighter.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rupel 
are  interred  in  the  New  Liberty  cemetery, 
where  their  son  Nelson  has  erected  a  beauti- 
ful monument  sacred  to  their  memory. 

John  Nelson  Rupel,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  was  early  inured  to  the  tilling 
of  the  soil,  and  during  the  principal  part  of 
his  business  career  he  has  been  engaged  in 
the  buying  and  selling  of  stock  in  the  eastern 
and  northern  markets,  being  still  active  in 
this  occupation  and  his  annual  sales  reach 
as  high  as  seventy-five  thousand  dollars.  His 
early  educational  training  was  received  in 
the  log  cabin  school  which  stood  on  the  pres- 
ent site  of  the  Dunkard  church,  one  mile 
south  of  his  home.  The  building  was  only 
eighteen  by  twenty-four  feet,  with  a  clap- 
board roof  and  puncheon  floor,  and  heated 
with  the  old-fashioned  box  stove.  The  seats 
were  slabs  with  wooden  legs  to  stand  on, 
while  the  desk  was  a  broad  board,  and  he  has 
used  the  old-fashioned  goose  quill  pen  fash- 
ioned by  the  master,  who  boarded  two  weeks 
with  each  pupil  during  the  school  -session. 
After  his  father's  death  Mr.  Rupel  assumed 
charge  of  the  estate,  a  heavy  burden  for  such 
young  shoulders,  but  he  discharged  his  duties 
faithfully  and  well  and  as  the  years  grew 
apace  developed  into  an  excellent  business 
man. 

On  the  19th  of  February,  1865,  in  the  city 
of  Laporte,  Mr.  Rupel  married  Miss  Isadore 
Waxham,  and  one  son  has  been  born  to  bless 
this  pnion,  John  F.,  who  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing young  merchants  of  North  Liberty.  After 
completing  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  he  pursued  a  commercial  course  in  the 
Valparaiso  normal  college.  He  wedded  Miss 
Emma  Barnhardt,  and  they  have  become  the 
parents  of  two  daughters  and  one  son,  name- 
ly :    Neva  May,  who  is  now  thirteen  years  of 


age  and  is  in  the  eighth  grade  in  school,  while 
she  has  become  proficient  in  both  vocal  and 
instrumental  music  and  is  organist  in  the 
Brethren  church ;  Blanche  Adell,  is  pursuing 
her  studies  in  the  sixth  grade;  and  Clare 
Fenley  is  a  bright  young  lad  in  the  fifth 
grade.  In  1906  Mr.  John  F.  Rupel  entered 
upon  his  mercantile  career  in  North  Liberty, 
and  he  is  meeting  with. excellent  success  in  Ms 
undertaking.  He  gives  his  political  support 
to  the  Democracy,  while  fraternally  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
and  he  has  served  as  president  of  the  school 
board  at  Liberty. 

Mrs.  Rupel,  the  wife  of  John  N.  Rupel,  was 
bom  in  Laporte  county,  Indiana,  January  8, 
1846,  a  daughter  of  Zachariah  and  Caroline 
(Nevins)  Waxham.  In  their  family  were 
seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  now  living, 
namely:  Isadore,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Rupel;  Ernest,  who  received  a  college 
education  and  is  a  commercial  traveler  over 
all  the  western  states ;  George,  a  horticulturist 
in  Florida;  Frank,  a  physician  and  surgeon 
in  Denver,  Colorado;  and  Charles,  also  a 
physician  and  surgeon  and  a  resident  of 
Sugar  City,  Colorado.  Mr.  Waxham,  the 
father,  was  bom  near  the  city  of  Ely,  Eng- 
land, December  10,  1821,  and  was  only  nine 
years  of  age  when  he  came  to  America,  spend- 
ing his  youth  and  early  manhood  in  Erie, 
Pennsylvania.  He  became  one  of  the  early 
pioneers  of  Indiana,  passing  through  Chicago 
when  it  contained  only  five  houses,  and  his 
death  occurred  in  1902.  Mrs.  Waxham  was  a 
native  of  New  York,  born  in  1823,  and  her 
death  occurred  in  1900,  both  being  interred 
in  Rockford,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Rupel  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Laporte  county,  Indiana,  and 
after  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Rupel  they  began 
life  on  the  old  homestead,  residing  on  the 
farm  until  1905,  when  they  came  to  Norj;h 
Liberty  and  took  up  their  abode  in  their 
pretty  modem  cottage  home.  Mr.  Rupel  has 
witnessed  the  many  great  changes  which  have 
occurred  in  St.  Joseph  county  since  the  pion- 
eer days,  and  can  well  remember  when  the 
city  of  South  Bend  was  but  a  village,  and  he 
can  also  recall  the  old  turkey  wing  cradle  and 
the  advent  of  the  first  reaper  into  the  town- 
ship. He  is  a  stanch  Democrat  in  his  political 
views,  but  his  first  presidential  vote  was  cast 
for  Lincoln.  During  a  period  of  seven  and 
a  half  years  he  served  as  the  township  trustee, 
was  also  assessor  for  four  years,  and  ii  treas- 
urer of  the  village  board  at  the  present  time. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


992 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


He  is  one  of  the  noble  men  who  offered  their 
services  to  their  country  during  tihe  dark  days 
of  the  Civil  war,  enlisting  in  Company  C, 
Seventy-third  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  at 
South  Bend,  and  his  regiment  was  assigned  to 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  under  General 
Rosecrans.  He  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Stone  River  on  the  31st  of  December,  1862, 
and  the  1st,  2d  and  3d  of  January,  1863, 
where  he  was  wounded  by  having  his  hip 
broken  by  a  piece  of  shell.  He  was  sent  to  the 
hospital  and  received  his  honorable  discharge 
for  disability,  returning  home  in  March  1863. 
His  grandfather  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier, 
as  was  also  Mrs.  Rupel's  grandfather  Nevins, 
and  thus  their  descendants  are  entitled  to  be- 
come members  of  the  Sons  and  Daughters  of 
the  Revolution.  Mr.  Rupel  has  one  of  the  old 
parchment  deeds  executed  by  President  Mar- 
tin Van  Buren,  which  is  a  rare  relic  in  the 
Rupel  home.  During  a  period  of  forty-two 
years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  or- 
der, his  connection  being  with  North  Liberty 
Lodge  No.  266.  His  wife  is  of  the  Episcopal 
faith.  They  are  among  the  best  known  citi- 
zens of  Liberty  township,  where  their  friends 
are  legion. 

Charles  C.  Schrader.  Numbered  among 
the  early  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county  are 
the  Schraders,  who  for  many  yeans  have  been 
actively  associated  with  the  development  gf 
this  portion  of  the  state,  always  noted  for  in- 
dustry and  integrity.  They  are  descendants 
of  the  persevering  and  honored  sons  of  Ger- 
many, and  the  original  spelling  of  the  name 
was  Schroeder.  Charles  C.  Schrader  is  one 
of  the  native  sons  of  St.  Joseph  county,  bom 
on  the  17th  of  January,  1863,  his  parents 
being  Charles  and  Mary  (Steam)  Schrader. 
Of  their  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four 
daughters,  six  are  now  living:  Fred,  who  is 
married  and  is  a  prosperous  farmer  in  Lib- 
erty township;  Mary,  the  wife  of  Ruda  Sel- 
lers, an  employe  in  a  hardware  store  in 
South  Bend;  Anna,  the  wife  of  J.  J.  Hoke,  a 
business  man  of  Champion,  Nebraska;  Charles 
C,  whose  name  introduces  this  review ;  Henry, 
who  married  Miss  Jennie  Drieblabliss,  and 
is  a  contractor  and  builder  in  South  Bend; 
and  Edward,  who  married  Miss  Mary  Hilde- 
brand,  and  is  a  salesman  in  a  hardware  store 
in  South  Bend. 

Mr.  Schrader,  the  father,  was  bom  in  Ger- 
many, where  he  was  engaged  in  farming,  and  . 
after  his  marriage  the  young  couple  set  sail 
from  Bremen  for  the  United  States  in  1851, 


landing  in  the  harbor  of  New  York  after  a 
pleasant  voyage.     They  at  once  made  their 
way  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  where  the 
father  began  as  a  wage  earner,  but  after  a 
short  time  was  able  to  purchase  forty  acres 
of   timber  land  in   Portage   township,  their 
first  home  being  a  primitive  log  cabin  so  well 
known  in  the  early  days.    Mr.  Schrader  was 
obliged  to  go  in  debt  for  this  farm,  but  his 
native   industry   and   perseverance   soon  en- 
abled him   to  meet  all  his  obligations,  and 
selling  his  original  purchase  became  the  owner 
of  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Liberty  township, 
which  he  also  later  sold  and  then  purchased 
his  present  homestead  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  on  which  his  son  Charles  now  re- 
sides.    At  the  time  of  the  purchase  all  the 
improvements  the  farm  contained  was  a  little 
frame  house  and  barn,  but  these  have  long 
since   given  place  to   the   present  beautiful 
homestead,  large  basement  bams  and  many 
other   substantial    buildings.      In    1889    Mr. 
Schrader  laid  aside  the  active  cares  of  a  busi- 
ness life  and  removed  to  South  Bend,  there  to 
enjoy  the  rest  which  he  has  so  truly  earned 
and  richly  deserves.    His  political  support  is 
given  to  the  Democracy,  and  he  is  a  worthy 
member  of  the  German  Lutheran  church,  with 
which  his  wife  was  also  identified.    She,  too, 
was  bom  in  Germany,  and  her  death  occurred 
on  the  7th  of  March,  1902.    She  was  a  loving 
wife  and  mother,  and  her  presence  in   the 
home  is  sadly  missed. 

Charles  C.  Schrader,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review,  has  resided  in  his  native 
county  of  St.  Joseph  throughout  his  entire 
life,  and  he  is  thus  well  known  to  its  resi- 
dents. Although  farming  has  continued  as 
his  principal  occupation  throughout  his  busi- 
ness career,  he  is  proficient  in  many  lines  of 
industry,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  car- 
pentering and  masonry  work.  He  is  also  ex- 
tensively en-gaged  in  stockraising,  keeping 
only  the  best  standard  bred  stock  upon  his 
place,  and  on  this  valuable  old  homestead  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  there  are  twelve 
running  springs,  from  which  the  place  de- 
rives the  name  of  **The  Springdale  Farm," 
and  it  also  contains  a  fish  pond  stocked  with 
German  carp. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Schrader  was  cele- 
brated on  the  3d  of  April,  1890,  when  Miss 
Elizabeth  Bamhart  became  his  wife,  and  their 
only  child,  Albert  C,  is  now  pursuing  his 
studies  in  the  fourth  grade  of  school,  ilrs, 
Schrader  was  bom   in   Elkhart  county,    In- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


993 


diana,  February  16,  1864,  a  daughter  of  Phil- 
ip and  Christena  (Linderman)  Barnhart,  and 
of  their  six  children,  four  sons  and  two  daug'h- 
ters,  only  three  are  now  living:  Albert,  who 
is  married  and  is  a  salesman  in  South  Bend ; 
Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Schrader ;  and  Wil- 
liam, who  is  married  and  is  a  member  of  the 
police  force  of  South  Bend.  Mr.  Barnhart, 
the  father,  was  born  near  the  Rhine  river  in 
Grermany  in  1827,  and  died  in  September, 
1897.  After  reaching  manhood's  estate  he 
embarked  on  a  sailing  vessel  for  the  United 
States,  landing  in  the  harbor  of  New  York 
after  a  voyage  of  eleven  weeks.  Subsequently 
he  came  to  South  Bend,  Indiana,  but  later  re- 
moved to  Elkhart  county,  and  returning  to 
St.  Joseph  county  purchased  seventy-three 
acres  of  land  in  Greene  township,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  political 
affiliations  were  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  he  was  a  valued  member  of  the  Evangel- 
ical church,  as  is  also  his  wife.  She  was  bom 
in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  December  20,  1834, 
and  now  makes  her  home  with  her  daughter. 
Wlhen  she  was  but  a  child  her  parents  came 
in  true  pioneer  style  to  Elkhart  county, 
where  the  father  was  first  employed  as  a 
wage  earner,  and  Mrs.  Barnhart  is  one  of  the 
brave  pioneer  mothers  who  are  loved  and  re- 
vered for  the  noble  work  which  they  have 
performed.  She  yet  recalls  the  olden  days 
when  the  Indianfi  roamed  at  will  over  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state,  when  the  deer  were  plentiful 
and  often  passed  their  little  cabin  home,  and 
she  has  attended  the  old  log  school  houses, 
whose  seats  were  of  slabs  and  the  desks  a 
broad  board,  heated  by  the  old  fashioned  fire- 
place and  maintained  on  the  subscription 
plan.  She  has  ever  been  a  true  wife  and 
mother,  lovingly  caring  for  her  children  until 
they  left  the  home  roof,  and  she  has  now 
reached  the  good  old  age  of  seventy-three 
years.  Mr.  Schrader  gives  his  political  sup- 
port to  the  Democracy,  casting  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  Cleveland,  and  he  is  num- 
bered among  the  leading  business  men  of  Lib- 
erty township.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  German  Lutheran  church, 
and  as  worthy  scions  of  honored  pioneer  fam- 
ilies they  well  deserve  mention  among  the 
leading  men  and  women  of  St.  Joseph  county. 
Mrs.  Emeune  Steele.  The  ladies  of  our 
nation  have  played  a  conspicuous  part  in  its 
true  history,  and  therefore  we  take  pleasure 
in  presenting  to  the  readers  of  this  volume 
the  life  record  of  Mrs.  Emeline  Steele,  who 


is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  early  and 
honored  families  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
within  whose  borders  she  has  resided  during 
the  greater  part  of  her  life.  She  was  bom 
in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  December  12, 
1844,  a  daughter  of  George  and  Lucy  (Long) 
Houser,  in  whose  family  were  eleven  children, 
the  daughter  Emeline  being  the  fifth  in  order 
of  birth.  The  father  claimed  Pennsylvania 
as  the  state  of  his  nativity,  born  in  1813, 
and  his  death  occurred  when  he  had  reached 
the  seventy-first  milestone  on  the  journey  of 
life.  When  he  was  a  little  lad  of  eleven 
years  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Ohio,  where  he  became  a  tiller 
of  the  soil  and  was  very  successful  in  his 
chosen  occupation.  He  was  what  may  be 
truly  called  a  self  educated  man,  and  he 
gave  his  political  support  to  the  Republican 
party,  while  both  he  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Evangelical  church.  Their  first 
home  was  a  little  log  cabin  of  the  most  primi- 
tive style,  but  in  time  the  little  cabin  gave 
place  to  their  commodious  and  substantial 
home,  and  they  were  numbered  among  the 
leading  families  of  their  community.  Mrs. 
Houser,  who  was  also  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
in  1817,  removed  to  Ohio  with  her  parents 
during  her  girlhood  days,  and  her  death  oc- 
curred in  her  daughter's  home  at  the  age 
of  seventy-eight  years. 

Mrs.  Steele  became  a  citizen  of  St.  Joseph 
county  at  the  early  age  of  twelve  years,  and 
here  she  has  spent  the  remainder  of  her  life 
with  the  exception  of  her  two  years'  resi- 
dence in  Nebraska.  After  completing  her 
education  in  the  common  schools  she  taught 
in  Liberty  township  and  also  in  Laporte 
county,  and  was  numbered  among  the  suc- 
cessful members  of  the  profession.  On  the 
9th  of  March,  1876,  she  gave  her  hand  in 
marriage  to  John  Steele,  and  to  them  were 
born  four  children.  The  eldest,  Alva  C,  is 
a  teacher  in  a  high  school  in  Indian  Terri- 
tory. He  received  his  diploma  with  the  class 
of  1894,  and  then  attended  the  Valparaiso 
University.  For  his  wife  he  chose  Miss  Maud 
B.  Rensberger.  Maude  E.  graduated  with 
the  class  of  1899  in  the  Walkerton  high 
school,  having  also  received  musical  ins1?ruc- 
tions,  and  during  the  past  eight  years  she  has 
been  engaged  in  teaching,  the  last  four  in 
Mishawaka,  Indiana.  Myrtle  Beatrice  grad- 
uated from  the  common  schools  with  the  class 
of  1896,  when  twelve  years  of  age,  and  in 
1902  completed  the  course  in  the  Walkerton 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


994 


HISTORY  OF  St.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


high  school.  She,  too,  is  a  teacher,  and  dur- 
ing the  past  four  years  has  taught  in  the 
schools  of  Liberty  township.  J.  RoUand  re- 
sides with  his  mother  on  the  old  homestead 
and  is  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising. 
After  completing  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  he  studied  for  one  year  in  Walk- 
erton,  and  then  graduated  from  the  North 
Liberty  high  school,  after  which  he  returned 
to  the  Walkerton  high  school  and  graduated 
with  the  class  of  1904. 

Mr.  Steele  was  born  in  Coshocton  county, 
Ohio,  in  1847,  and  became  one  of  the  lead- 
ing business  men  of  Liberty  township,  where 
he  was  extensively  engaged  in  the  purchasing 
and  shipping  of  stock.  He  accumulated  an 
estate  of  two  hundred  and  sixt}'-  acres  of  the 
finest  land  in  Liberty  township,  but  at  the 
time  of  their  marriage  the  young  couple  be- 
gan life  in  a  little  frame  house  on  a  small 
portion  of  the  present  homestead.  He  voted 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  was  a  faith- 
ful member  of  the  Brethren  church,  as  is 
also  his  wife.  In  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1890,  Liberty  township  lost  one  of  her 
most  prominent  and  useful  citizens,  and  al- 
though a  number  of  years  have  been  added 
to  the  past  since  he  waS'Called  to  his  reward 
his  memory  is  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  his 
old  friends  and  associates,  to  whose  interests 
he  was  ever  faithful. 

Henry  B.  Gearhart.  Many  years  have 
passed  since  the  Gearhart  family  became 
identified  with  the  interests  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  its  various  members  have  won 
for  the  name  an.  enviable  reputation  in  the 
various  walks  of  life.  One  of  its  representa- 
tives, Henry  B.  Gearhart,  who  is  counted  one 
of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  Liberty  town- 
ship, was  bom  within  its  borders  March  14, 
1861,  a  son  of  Henry  and  Cassiah  (Wolf) 
Gearhart,  to  whom  were  born  eight  children, 
two  sons  and  six  daughters,  but  only  three 
of  the  number  are  now  living:  Catherine,  the 
wife  of  Jeremiah  Steele,  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  of  the  township ;  Henry  B.,  the  sev- 
enth in  order  of  birth  of  the  eight  children; 
and  Eliza  Jane,  the  wife  of  Samuel  New- 
comer, an  agriculturist  of  Marshall  county, 
Indiana.  Mr.  Gearhart,  the  father,  was  a 
native  of  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  bom 
about  1825,  and  his  death  occurred  in  1871. 
He  was  but  nine  years  of,  age  when  the  fam- 
ily bade  adieu  to  the  fatherland  and  sailed 
for  America,  landing  in  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land,  after  an   ocean  voyage  of  six  weeks. 


They  at  once  made  their  way  to  Columbiana 
county,   Ohio,   where   the   father    purchased, 
land,  and  in  the  Buckeye  state  the  son  Henry 
grew  to  years  of  maturity  and  received  hii 
education  in  the  German  tongue.     He  wat'-' 
reared  as  a  farmer's  lad,  and  after  his  arrivd.- 
in  St.  Joseph  county,  which  was  in  a  vcogr '  . 
early  day,  he  purchased  forty  acres  of  IbqB' 
just  south  of  the  old  homestead  in  liibeHgr*. 
township,  but  soon  afterward  sold  that  trMt.: 
and  bought  the  land  where  his  son    Hewy* . 
now  resides.    Mr.  Gearhart  had  been  marri^A^'' 
previous  to  his  removal  to  St.  Joseph  cowa^Ji^' 
and  their  first  home  here  was  a  little  Iq^* 
cabin,    the    birthplace    of    Henry    G^aiiiaxL^'; 
while  deer  and  wild  game  of  all  kinds  jnK 
plentiful  in  those  early  days,  and  their 
implements  were  of  the   crudest   and 
primitive  style.     Mr.  Gearhart  gave  his 
litical  support  to  the  Democracy,  and 
he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
man  Baptist  church.     She  was  a  native 
Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  and  her  death 
curred  on  the   10th  of  October,   1897; 
with   her  husband   she   now  lies   buried 
North  Liberty  township,  where  a  beauf 
stone  marks  their  last  resting  place, 
came  to  St.  Joseph  county  in  the  fall  of 

Henry  B.   Gearhart,   their  son,   began^ 
lay  the  foundation  for  his  future  life 
reaching  the   age  of  majority,  and    on 
19th  of  March,  1882,  he  was  united  in 
riage  to   Miss  Fyetta  Smick.     Their 
has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  four 
dren,  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  but 
are  now  deceased,  Melvin,  Blanche  and 
B.,  dying  at  the  ages  of  ten,  five  and 
years  respectively.     Florence,   the   only 
ing  child,  graduated  with  the  class  of 
and  she  also  pursued  a  full  musical 
She  is  now  giving  instructions  in  music. 
is  very  efficient  as  a  teacher.    Mrs. 
was  bom  in  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
10,  1858,  a  daughter  of  Michael  and 
(Hartman)   Smick,  to  whom  were  bora 
children,  two  sons  and  three  daughtera^ 
only  two  are  now  living,  the  younger 
Solomon  Smick,  pastor  of  the  United  ' 
ren  church  in  Vinton,  Iowa.     He  pi 
for  the  ministry  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  and 
marriage  to  Miss  Etta  Mangus  he  has 
children,  Lela  and  Charon.     Mr.  Smid^ 
father,  was  bom  in  Paris,  Ohio,  in  1831, 
his  death  occurred  on  the  12th  of  Oel 
1895.    During  the  early  part  of  his  bi 
career  he  was  a  brick  manufacturer,  having 


1% 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


I 


^ 


ITt 


Digitized  by  V^OOQIC 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


995 


made  the  brick  which  was  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  first  residence  in  South  Bend. 
It  was  in  1856  that  he  established  his  home 
in  Liberty  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
where  he  purchased  eighty  acres  gf  unim- 
proved land,  and  made  hds  home  thereon  un- 
til his  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death.  He 
was  married  in  Ohio,  and  his  wife  accom- 
panied him  on  the  journey  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  which  was  made  with  ox  teams  and 
wagon  to  Liberty  township.  He  was  a  Demo- 
crat in  his  political  aflBliations,  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church.  She  was  born  in  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  in  1830,  was  there  reared  and 
educated,  and  her  death  occurred  in  1891. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gearhart  began  their  married 
life  on  the  old  Gearhart  homestead,  and  their 
present  beautiful  homestead,  known  as 
** Sunny  Banks,*'  comprises  one  hundred  and 
nineteen  acres  of  the  finest  land  in  Liberty 
township,  which  is  under  an  excellent  state 
of  cultivation  and  contains  most  excellent  im- 
provements, including  a  modern  residence 
and  fine  bam.  There  is  also  upon  the  place 
a  **ram,''  which  forces  the  water  from  a 
spring  over  four  himdred  feet  to  his  barn  and 
into  a  large  tank,  from  which  he  can  adjust 
hose  for  lawn  sprinkling  and  other  purposes. 
In  their  home  they  also  have  a  n-umber  of 
relics  of  the  pioneer  epoch,  among  them  a 
double  coverlet  woven  three-quarters  of  a 
century  ago  and  which  belonged  to  Mrs.  Gear- 
hart's  grandmother,  also  a  large  and  small 
spinning  wheel  which  were  used  by  Mr.  Gear- 
hart's  mother.  Mr.  Gearhart  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Grover  Cleveland,  and 
has  always  allied  his  interests  with  the  De- 
mocracy. The  family  are  highly  respected  by 
all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  their  acquaint- 
ance, and  they  are  worthy  representatives  of 
honored  pioneer  families. 

B.  F.  McEndarfer.  Among  the  pioneer 
families  which  have  contributed  to  the  pros- 
perity of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  particu- 
larly to  that  of  Liberty  township,  the  one 
represented  by  B.  F.  McEndarfer  occupies 
an  important  place.  He  is  one  of  the  native 
sons  of  the  township,  bom  on  the  7th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1866,  the  second  of  four  children 
of  Eli  and  Lydia  (Rensberger)  McEndarfer. 
The  eldest  son,  John  A.,  is  numbered  among 
the  young  and  successful  merchants  of  South 
Bend.  He  married  Miss  Ida  Stombaugh,  a 
native  also  of  Liberty  township,  and  they 
have  one  little  son,  Eli.     He  affiliates  with 


the  Democratic  party.  B.  F.  McEndarfer, 
of  this  review,  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth. 
Josiah  Edward,  engaged  in  the  hardware 
business  in  South  Bend,  married  Miss  Anna 
Bergman.  He  was  formerly  engaged  in 
teaching  in  Liberty  township.  George  Ira, 
the  youngest  son,  is  a  prosperous  farmer  in 
this  township.  He  married  Miss  Olive 
Hildebrand,  and  their  three  children  are  Wil- 
fred, Myron  and  Herbert. 

Mr.  McEndarfer,  the  father,  was  born  in 
Stark  county,  Ohio,  April  12,  1839,  and  is 
now  a  resident  of  the  city  of  South  Bend. 
When  he  was  but  a  little  lad  his  parents  emi- 
grated in  true  pioneer  style  to  Liberty  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  their  first  purchase 
of  land  consisting  of  a  half  section,  the 
homestead  of  Mr.  Frank  McEndarfer  being  a 
part  of  this  tract.  The  land  was  mostly 
heavily  timbered,  and  in  those  early  days  the 
Pottawatomie  Indians  roamed  at  will  over 
this  section  of  the  state,  while  the  father 
also  killed  deer  on  his  premises  with  a  shot 
gun  which  is  now  in  the  possession  of  his 
son  Frank.  This  gun  is  an  old  time  relic, 
the  grandfather  becoming  its  possessor  by 
trading  a  colt  for  it.  He,  as  well  as  some 
of  his  sons,  have  used  the  old  ox  teams  in 
breaking  the  soil  preparatory  for  the  plow, 
and  they  have  also  used  the  old  fashioned 
turkey  wing  cradle  in  cutting  the  grain.'  The 
first  home  of  the  family  here  was  a  little 
log  cabin  of  the  most  primitive  kind,  but 
many  happy  hours  were  spent  within  its 
walls.  Mr.  Eli  McEndarfer  was  a  successful 
man  in  his  business,  and  accumulated  one 
hundred  and  sixty-four  acres  of  land  in 
Liberty  township,  while  all  the  excellent  im- 
provements which  now  adorn  the  farm  stand 
as  monuments  to  his  industry  and  ability. 
The  homestead  is  known  as  *' Maple  Avenue 
Farm,''  and  the  first  home  which  he  erected 
still  stands,  it  being  the  birthplace  of  his 
son  Frank.  It  was  in  1893  that  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McEndarfer  took  up  their  abode  in 
South  Bend,  there  to  spend  the  evening  of 
their  long  and  useful  lives  in  quiet  retire- 
ment, enjoying  the  rest  which  they  have  so 
truly  earned.  He  is  a  stanch  Jackson  Demo- 
crat in  his  political  affiliations,  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church,  which  is  located  about  a 
half  a  mile  south  of  their  farm,  which  the 
husband  assisted  in  erecting  and  also  con- 
tributed generously  of  his  means  thereto. 
Mrs.  McEndarfer  was  born  in  Stark  county. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


996 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


Ohio,  September  15,  1839,  and  with  her  hus- 
band she  attended  the  old  log  cabin  schools 
of  the  early  days,  furnished  with  slab  seats 
without  backs,  with  only  a  broad  board  for  a 
desk,  and  they  have  also  written  with  the 
old  goosequill  pen  fashioned  by  the  master. 
She  is  of  German  lineage,  while  her  husband 
traces  his  ancestry  to  '* Bonnie  Scotland,'' 
the  land  of  hills  and  heather. 

Frank  McEndiarfer,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  received  his  educational  training 
in  the  McEndarfer  school  of  Liberty  town- 
ship, to  which  belongs  the  honor  of  furnish- 
ing more  teachers  than  any  country  school  in 
the  county.  During  eleven  years  he  was  also 
engaged  in  that  profession,  having  taught 
ten  years  in  St.  Joseph  county  and  one  year 
in  Berrien  county,  Michigan,  while  he  has 
devoted  his  more  recent  years  to  the  pursuits 
of  farming  and  stockraising.  In  1894  he 
took  charge  of  the  homestead,  known  as  the 
Maple  Avenue  Farm,  and  in  addition  to  its 
cultivation  he  operates  a  threshing  machine, 
owning  a  twenty  horse  power  double  cylinder 
Rumley  engine  and  separator,  and  also  a 
huUer.  He  is  one  of  the  best  known  thresh- 
ers in  St.  Joseph  county,  and  on  one  occa- 
sion in  eight  hours  threshed  two  thousand 
three  hundred  and  seventy  bushels  of  oats 
and  wheat,  also  having  to  move  and  set  his 
machine  three  times  during  the  day. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  McEndarfer  was  cele- 
brated on  the  3d  of  June,  1888,  when  Miss 
Lizzie  A.  Snoke  became  his  wife,  and  they 
have  five  children:  Emma,  who  received 
her  diploma  from  the  coimtry  schools  with 
the  class  of  1905,  having  been  the  second 
highest  in  honors  in  the  township  and  fourth 
highest  in  the  county,  and  she  has  also  re- 
ceived a  good  musical  training;  Howard  A., 
who  received  his  diploma  in  the  class  of  1905, 
being  the  third  highest  in  the  county  and  the 
highest  in  the  township,  and  he  is  now  a 
student  in  the  North  Liberty  high  school, 
driving  to  and  fro  each  day,  a  distance  of  five 
and  a  half  miles,  and  he  has  never  missed 
a  day  during  the  year;  Charles  E.,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  sixth  grade ;  John  R.,  in  the  third 
grade;  and  Mary,  the  youngest  of  the  fam- 
ily. Mrs.  McEndarfer  was  bom  in  Warren 
township  of  St.  Joseph  county  August  18, 
1864,  a  daughter  of  John  W.  and  Ruth 
(Brick)  Snoke.  In  the  parents'  family  were 
seven  children,  three  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, and  five  are  now  living,  namely;  Ar- 
thur, a  carpenter  and  joiner  in  South  Bend ; 


Lizzie  A.,  the  wife  of  Mr.  McEndarfer; 
Schuyler,  the  manager  of  the  automobile  de- 
partment in  the  great  Studebaker  works  of 
South  Bend;  John  H.,  a  railroad  employe 
in  Kansas  City,  Missouri;  and  Mary,  the 
wife  of  William  Farlow,  a  decorator  in  Bir- 
mingham, Alabama. 

Mr.  Snoke,  the  father,  was  born  in  Cum- 
berland county,  Pennsylvania,  Jime  29,  1836, 
and  is  now  living  in  South  Bend.  He  traces 
his  lineage  to  the  fatherland,  and  the  original 
German  spelling  of  the  name  was  Snough. 
He  became  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph  county 
fifty  years  ago,  and  therefore  half  a  cen- 
tury has  rolled  its  course  since  he  became 
identified  with  its  interests,  during  all  of 
which  time  he  has  been  an  active  worker  in 
its  upbuilding  and  improvement,  and  is  now 
classed  among  its  honored  pioneers.  He  is  a 
stanch  advocate  of  the  Prohibition  party,  and 
is  an  active  worker  in  the  cause  of  temper- 
ance. Mrs.  Snoke  was  bom  in  Warren  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  March  24,  1841,  and 
she  can  recall  many  pleasant  remembrances  of 
the  olden  days,  well  remembering  when  South 
Bend  was  but  a  straggling  village.  Both  she 
and  her  husband  are  members  of  the  Church 
of  God.  Previous  to  her  marriage,  Mrs.  Mc- 
Endarfer was  one  of  the  successful  teachers 
of  the  county.  She  has  been  an  able  assist- 
ant to  her  husband  in  the  establishment  of 
their  home,  which  contains  many  valuable 
and  interesting  relics,  among  which  may  be 
mentioned  an  old  brass  clock  which  belonged 
to  his  Grandfather  McEndarfer  and  which 
was  purchased  July  21,  1842.  It  is  yet  in 
excellent  repair,  and  is  a  souvenir  which  they 
highly  prize.  Mr.  McEndarfer  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Cleveland,  and  has  ever 
since  continued  to  uphold  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party.  He  has  often  been 
selected  as  a  delegate  to  the  county  conven- 
tions, and  both  in  his  public  and  private  life 
he  has  been  true  to  the  trusts  reposed  in  hint 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  adherents  of  the 
Evangelical  faith. 

William  H.  Conner  is  a  veteran  of  the 
Civil  war  and  bears  an  honorable  record  for 
brave  service  in  the  cause  of  freedom  and 
union,  while  in  the  paths  of  peace  he  has  also 
won  an  enviable  reputation  through  the  ster- 
ling qualities  which  go  to  the  making  of  a 
good  citizen  and  a  trustworthy  official.  Dur- 
ing the  long  period  of  forty-one  years  or 
almost  half  a  century  he  has  been  connected 
in  an  official  capacity  with  the  great  Gould 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


997 


system,  the  Wabash,  and  his  record  in  the 
service  is  one  of  which  he  has  just  reason 
to  be  proud.  Indiana  claims  him  among  her 
native  sons,  his  birth  occurring  in  Mont- 
gomery county  on  the  27th  of  September, 
1843,  his  parents  being  William  and  Nancy 
(Teeter)  Conner.  In  their  family  were 
eight  children,  four  sons  and  four  daughters, 
and  four  of  the  number  are  now  living, 
namely:  Mary,  wife  of  Richard  Harrison, 
a  resident  of  Danville,  Illinois,  where  he  is 
employed  as  a  tailor;  C.  F.,  a  resident  of 
Paris,  Texas,  and  foreman  of  bridges  and 
building  for  the  Texas  Pacific  Railroad  Com- 
pany; Emily  J.,  the  wife  of  Wallace  Rich- 
ards, a  harness  dealer  in  Indianapolis, 
Indiana. 

William  Conner,  the  father,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  Kentucky,  the  Blue  Grass  state 
of  the  Union,  September  3,  1805,  and  was 
there  reared  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  mill- 
wright. In  an  early  day  and  in  true  pio- 
neer style  he  emigrated  to  Montgomery 
county,  Indiana,  entering  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  from  tlie  government  fif- 
teen miles  from  Crawfordsville,  their  first 
habitation  there  being  a  little  log  cabin,  and 
the  scenes  connected  with  this  early  home 
are  still  vivid  in  the  minds  of  his  children. 
It  was  about  the  year  1857  that  the  family 
removed  to  Warren  county,  Indiana,  and  in 
1869  they  went  to  Attica,  this  state,  where 
the  father  lived  and  labored  until  his  death 
on  the  4th  of  April,  1872.  He  was  an  old- 
line  Whig  until  the  formation  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  when  he  espoused  its  cause 
and  cast  his  first  vote  for  the  great  and  good 
Lincoln.  In  his  fraternal  relations  he  was  a 
Mason,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Missionary  Baptist  church.  Mrs. 
Conner,  who  was  bom  in  Lancaster,  Girard 
county,  Kentucky,  June  9,  1811,  died  on  the 
2d  of  March,  1862.  She  was  a  kind  and 
affectionate  wife  and  mother,  and  with  her 
husband  she  now  lies  buried  in  Warren 
county,  Indiana. 

In  his  native  county  of  Montgomery  Wil- 
liam H.  Conner  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth,  receiving  his  education  in  its 
primitive  pioneer  schools,  and  in  1857  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  on  their  removal  to 
Warren  county.  Before  he  had  reached  his 
eighteenth  year  the  tocsin  of  war  sounded 
throughout  the  land,  and  with  other  brave  and 
noble  hearted  youths  he  responded  to  its  call, 
enlisting  in  Company  K,  Thirty-third  Indiana 


Volunteer  Infantry,  at  Williamsport,  Indi- 
ana, his  regiment  being  assigned  to  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland^  and  his  division  com- 
mander was  General  Thomas.  Their  first 
battle.  Wildcat,  was  fought  in  Kentucky  on 
the  21st  of  October,  1861,  where  two  men 
of  the  regiment  were  killed,  they  having  been 
the  first  killed  in  the  great  conflict  in  that 
commonwealth.  He  afterward  took  part  in 
the  engagements  at  Cumberland  Gap  and 
Thompson's  Station,  the  latter  being  a  des- 
perate battle  in  which  Mr.  Conner  was  taken 
prisoner,  while  four  of  his  company  were 
killed  and  seventeen  wounded.  Prom  March 
until  the  following  May,  1863,  he  was  in- 
carcerated in  Libby  Prison,  when  he  was  ex- 
changed at  Richmond  and  returned  to  In- 
dianapolis, there  re-organizing  and  moving 
south  to  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  thence  to 
Murfreesboro,  where  they  served  on  guard 
duty  on  the  Louisville  &  Nashville  railroad 
until  February,  1864.  After  veteranizing 
for  further  service  in  the  conflict  Mr.  Conner 
went  to  Indianapolis  and  was  given  a  thirty 
days'  furlough,  and  in  the  following  spring 
went  with  his  regiment  to  Chattanooga,  Ten- 
nessee, and  joined  General  Sherman  on  his 
famous  march  to  the  sea,  taking  part  in  the 
celebrated  siege  of  Atlanta,  where  the  brave 
boys  in  blue  were  under  fire  for  one  hundred 
days,  participating  in  the  battles  of  Resaca, 
Cassville,  Gulp's  Farm,  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  Golgotha,  New  Hope 
Church  and  the  entire  siege  of  Atlanta,  last- 
ing from  the  1st  of  August  until  the  2d  of 
September.  At  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  Georgia,  July  20,  1864,  Mr.  Conner 
captured  a  Rebel  flag  from  the  Thirty-third 
Mississippi  regiment,  which  had  been  forced 
into  action  by  the  Thirty-third  Indiana. 
While  carrying  the  flag  on  his  arm  and  at 
the  same  time  loading  and  firing  his  rifle 
Captain  Beecher,  one  of  the  staff  officers  of 
General  Ward,  of  the  Third  Division  Army 
Corps,  and  who  by  the  way  was  a  nephew  of 
the  celebrated  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher, 
rode  up  and  said :  * '  Soldier,  let  me  take  that 
flag/'  Mr.  Conner  obeying  the  command,  and 
he  has  never  been  able  to  locate  this  war 
relic. 

His  regiment  was  the  first  to  enter  the 
captured  city  of  Atlanta,  their  colonel  being 
John  Coburn,  while  Mr.  Conner  was  corporal 
of  the  company  and  was  its  commander  on 
entering  the  city.  This  occurred  on  the  2d 
of  September,  1864,  and  the  Twentieth  Corps 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


998 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


remained  there  until  the  15th  of  November, 
when  commenced  the  celebrated  March  to 
the  Sea  and  the  capture  of  Savannah  on 
December  21,  1864.  In  January,  1865,  they 
started  on  the  march  north,  passing  through 
the  Carolinas  in  pursuit  of  General  Joe 
Johnston,  their  first  battle  being  Averysboro, 
North  Carolina,  on  the  16th  of  March,  1865, 
and  it  was  in  this  immediate  vicinity  that 
Mr.  Conner  and  two  comrades  were  detailed 
to  drive  back  the  Rebel  sharpshooters  who 
were  located  in  the  house  near  by.  Marching 
through  the  deep  mud  and  water  they  came 
to  the  Rebel  breastworks,  covered  with  pine 
boughs,  where  they  met  five  rebels  and  two 
twelve  pound  howitzers,  but  the  three  Fed- 
erals fought  bravely  and  captured  both  men 
and  guns.  Passing  northward,  the  regiment 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Goldsboro  and 
Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  finally  march- 
ing into  Virginia  and  on  to  Washington, 
where  with  Sherman's  tattered  and  battle- 
scarred  veterans  they  passed  down  Pennsyl- 
vania avenue  before  the  reviewing  stand  on 
which  sat  the  president  and  his  cabinet.  Re- 
turniAg  thence  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  the 
brave  young  soldiers  received  their  final  dis- 
charge and  returned  home.  Mr.  Conner  ar- 
rived home  on  the  21st  of  July,  1865,  his 
military  career  having  covered  a  period  of 
about  four  years,  from  the  12th  of  September, 
1861,  until  the  21st  of  July,  1865.  He  was  at 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  when  the  joyful 
news  was  received  of  Lee's  surrender,  and 
just  five  dayTS  later  the  cry  went  forth  of 
Lincoln's  assassination. 

On  the  1st  of  November,  1866,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr.  Conner  and  Miss 
Kate  O'Brien,  and  four  children  have  been 
born  of  the  union,  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, but  only  two  are  now  living.  The 
elder,  Mary,  graduated  from  the  Attica  high 
school,  after  which  she  completed  a  commer- 
cial course  at  the  Valparaiso  University,  and 
.  has  since  done  stenographic  work  in  her  fa- 
ther's office.  Emma  graduated  with  the 
class  of  1901,  after  which  she  took  the  teach- 
er's course  at  the  Tri-State  Normal  at  An- 
gola, Indiana,  and  during  the  past  five  years 
has  been  engaged  in  teaching,  two  years  in 
the  county  schools  and  three  years  in  the 
intermediate  department  of  the  North  Lib- 
erty schools.  Both  of  the  daughters  have 
also  received  musical  training.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Conner  suffered  the  sad  bereavement  of  los- 
ing both  of  their  sons,  who  were  promising 


young  men  just  entering  young  manhood. 
They  both  had  many  friends  and  admirers, 
and  the  following  lines  were  written  at  the 
time  of  their  deaths:  Prank,  the  elder  son, 
died  Sunday  eve,  Jidy  12,  1891,  aged  twenty- 
one  years,  ten  months  and  sixteen  days. 
Frank  was  a  noble-hearted  boy,  the  pride  of 
his  parents,  sisters  and  friends.  His  burial 
occurred  from  St.  Paul's  Catholic  church, 
and  the  funeral  rites  were  performed  by  Fa- 
ther Lemper  of  Attica,  Indiana,  at  St.  Paul's 
Catholic  church  of  Columbia  City,  Indiana. 
He  was  a  devoted  Christian,  and  always  ex- 
expressed  himself  as  ever  ready  to  cross  the 
dark  river  whenever  the  will  of  Providence 
called  him.  The  son  *' Willie"  died  at  North 
Liberty,  Indiana,  April  12,  1902,  aged 
eighteen  years,  nine  months  and  twelve  days. 
He  had  removed  with  his  parents  from  Co- 
lumbia City,  Indiana,  to  North  Liberty  in 
1893.  He  had  been  a  patient  sufferer  from 
boyhood,  and  when  his  young  life  was  snuffed 
out  there  was  a  void  in  the  family  circle 
which  can  never  be  filled.  He  was  of  a  cheer- 
ful and  affectionate  nature  and  admired  by 
all  his  playmates.  He  had  passed  the  first 
year's  high  school  work,  and  great  promise 
was  before  him  had  his  life  been  spared. 
Many  friends  attended  the  last  sad  rites  over 
his  beloved  remains,  and  the  floral  offerings 
were  many.  All  that  medical  skill  could  do 
was  given  him  by  loving  parents.  The  fu- 
neral services  were  pronounced  by  Father 
Ellering  of  St.  Paul's  Catholic  church  of 
Columbia  City,  Indiana.  Many  tributes  of 
love  and  respect  could  be  pronounced  on  these 
two  sons  would  space  permit.  Mrs.  Conner 
is  a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  bom  in 
county  Clare  in  March,  1845,  but  when  a 
young  lady  of  fifteen  years  she  came  to 
America. 

On  the  19th  of  June,  1866,  Mr.  Coiiner 
entered  upon  his  long  career  in  the  railroad 
service,  beginning  at  the  very  bottom  for  the 
Wj^bash  Company,  and  for  forty-one  yeare  he 
has  been  connected  with  this  corporation.  Be- 
ginning as  a  bridge  builder,  he  was  promoted 
to  the  position  of  foreman  of  a  gang  of 
bridge  carpenters,  and  then  to  the  track  de- 
partment, while  since  the  16th  of  January, 
1885,  he  has  filled  the  important  office  of 
road  master.  During  that  time  he  has  had 
charge  of  three  divisions,  first  between  Peru 
and  Tilton,  Illinois,  next  from  Logansport 
to  Butler,  Indiana,  and  then  from  Ashley  to 
Clark   Junction.      Thus   for    almost   half   a 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


999 


century  Mr.  Conner  has  continued  to  dis- 
charge his  important  duties,  and  during  all 
this  time  obedience  to  orders  has  been  his 
watchword.  In  April,  1893,  thtf  family  home 
was  established  in  North  Liberty,  where  they 
are  well  and  favorably  known  and  where 
they  extend  a  gracious  and  warm  hearted  hos- 
pitality to  their  many  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances. Mr.  Conner  is  a  stanch  Republican  in 
his  political  affiliations,  and  oast  his  first 
vote  for  the  soldier  president  Grant.  He  has 
often  been  selected  as  delegate  to  the  state 
and  county  conventions.  He  is  a  member  of 
Joseph  Brown  Post,  No.  197,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
which  he  has  served  as  commander  for  seven 
years,  and  his  wife  and  daughter  Mary  are 
members  of  Norman  Eddy  Relief  Corps,  No. 
1,  at  South  Bend.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Maccabees,  South  Bend  Tent  No.  1.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conner  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  church  at  Walkerton,  Indiana,  as 
^re  also  the  daughters,  and  the  family  is 
one  of  prominence  in  their  community. 

Leonard  S.  Pearse.  One  of  the  first  fam- 
ilies to  take  up  their  abode  within  the  bor- 
ders of  St.  Joseph  county  was  the  Pearses, 
and  for  many  years  its  representatives  have 
been  identified  with  the  various  interests  of 
their  communities,  aiding  materially  in  the 
development  of  the  resources  and  taking  an 
active  part  in  everything  tending  to  promote 
the  welfare  of  the  majority.  Leonard  S. 
Pearse  is  a  native  son  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
born  on  the  26th  of  February,  1837,  the  eld- 
est of  two  children  of  Franklin  and  Teresa 
(Wakefield)  Pearse.  The  father,  who  was  a 
native  of  New  York,  subsequently  took  up 
his  abode  in  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  and  in 
1836,  with  ox  teams,  they  came  across  the 
country  in  true  pioneer  style  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  establishing  their  home  in 
Liberty  township,  of  which  Lincoln  town- 
ship then  formed  a  part.  The  old  homestead 
comprised  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
in  Liberty  township,  and  the  deed  for  this 
land  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  Pearse 
brothers.  Their  first  habitation  was  a  little 
log  cabin,  the  doors  and  windows  of  which 
were  closed  by  the  quilt  which  the  mother 
hung  up,  and  at  that  time  the  Pottawatomie 
Indians  were  plentiful  and  often  came  to 
their  home  to  ask  for  food.  They  were  then 
in  charge  of  the  French  Canadian  Coquil- 
lard,  who  was  gathering  them  together  for  the 
purpose  of  transporting  them  west  of  the 
Mississippi  river.     Mr.  Pearse  had  to  clear 


much  of  his  land,  but  as  the  years  grew  apace 
he  succeeded  in  converting  this  virgin  soU 
into  a  beautiful  and  productive  farm  and 
accumulated  a  splendid  property.  He  was 
a  stanch  "Whig  until  the  formation  of  the 
Republican  party,  when  he  joined  its  ranks. 
Mrs.  Pearse  was  a  native  of  Milton,  Vermont 
and  was  .reared  to  years  of  maturity  in  her 
native  state. 

Almost  three-quarters  of  a  century  has 
passed  since  the  birth  of  Leonard  S.  Pearse, 
and  during  all  that  time  he  has  maintained 
his  residence  in  St.  Joseph  county,  actively 
identified  with  the  interests  intended  to  pro- 
mote the  best  interests  of  his  community.  He 
was  reared  as  a  farmer  lad,  remaining  with 
his  parents  and  giving  them  the  benefit  of  his 
time  and  labor  until  his  twenty-sixth  year. 
On  the  first  of  October,  1863,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss-Gertrude  B.  Williams,  and 
two  children  were  born  of  this  union :  Anna, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  yeans,  and 
Alice,  who  married  Alfred  Finch,  the  lead- 
ing grain  dealer  in  North  Liberty.  Mr.  Finch 
is  a  native  of  St.  Joseph  county,  born  on  the 
3d  of  December,  1865,  and  although  he  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1896  he  embarked  in  the  grain  busi- 
ness and  has  met  with  excellent  success  in 
his  undertaking.  They  have  become  the  par- 
ents of  three  daughters,  Carrie  G.,  Mabel 
D.  and  Teresa  P.  Mr.  Finch  is  identified 
with  the  Republican  party  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  Mrs.  Pearse  was  also  a  devout  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  church,  and  in  its  faith 
she  passed  away  on  the  21st  of  May,  1896, 
loved  and  honored  by  all  who  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  her  acquaintance.  For  over  thirty- 
three  years  she  and  her  husband  had  trav- 
eled the  journey  of  life  together,  sharing 
with  each  other  its  joys  and  sorrows,  and 
her  loving  prayers  and  admonitions  will  long 
be  cherished  in  the  hearts  of  her  children. 
She  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  North  Liberty 
cemetery,  where  a  beautiful  stone  stands 
sacred  to  her  memory. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Pearse  located  on 
a  farm  three-fourths  of  a  mile  south  of  North 
Liberty,  which  continued  as  his  home  until 
his  removal  to  that  city,  and  in  1887,  with 
his  brother  Wakefiel^,  he  began  his  mercan- 
tile career  in  which  he  has  achieved  such 
eminent  success,  and  at  that  time  he  was  also 
engaged  in  the  buying  and  shipping  of  stock. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1000 


HISTORY   OF    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


They  carry  a  good  line  of  staple  merchan- 
dise, and  their  excellent  business  methods 
have  secured  for  them*  a  large  and  remuner- 
ative patronage.  Mr.  Pearse  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Lincoln,  and  has  ever 
since  remained  true  to  Republican  princi- 
ples. He  is  a  worthy  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  and  has  aided  in  the 
erection  of  every  church  building  in  his  im- 
mediate vicinity.  He  is  numbered  among  the 
early  and  honored  pioneers  of  old  St.  Joseph 
county,  his  life  history  being  closely  identi- 
fied with  its  subsequent  development  and 
progress,  and  he  deserves  a  fitting  recogni- 
tion among  those  whose  enterprise  and  abili- 
ties have  achieved  splendid  results. 

John  Iachholtz.  During  almost  a  half 
century  John  Iachholtz  has  resided  in  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  his  name  appears  fre- 
quently and  prominently  in  connection  with 
its  early  history.  He  was  born  across  the 
waters  in  Wurtemberg,  Grermany,  March  21, 
1839,  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Greiner) 
Iachholtz,  natives  also  of  Wurtemberg.  In 
their  family  were  five  children,  three  sons  and 
two  daughters,  namely:  Margaret,  the  wife 
of  George  Hawblitzel,  a  prominent  farmer  of 
Union  township,  St.  Joseph  county;  John, 
whose  name  introduces  this  review ;  Charles, 
who  is  married  and  is  an  agriculturist  of 
Seneca  county,  Ohio;  Rosanna,  the  wife  of 
Jacob  Marshall,  also  of  Seneca  county;  and 
Christ,  who  also  makes  his  home  in  Seneca 
county.  He  married,  but  his  wife  is  deceased, 
and  he  has  five  children. 

John  Iachholtz,  the  father,  was  a  weaver 
by  trade,  and  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation in  his  native  land.  In  the  spring  of 
1847  the  family  bade  adieu  to  home  and  na- 
tive land,  sailed  down  the  Rhine  and  across 
the  North  sea  to  London,  England,  where 
they  took  passage  on  a  sailing  vessel  for  the 
city  of  New  York,  the  voyage  consuming 
forty-seven  days,  for  the  little  ship  was 
driven  from  her  course  by  severe  storms. 
Landing  in  a  strange  country  amid  strange 
people  and  with  but  little  capital,  this  brave 
and  sturdy  couple  set  to  work  to  establish 
a  home  and  secure  a  competence  in  this  free 
land.  Making  their  way  to  Pittsburg,  they 
resided  there  for  one  year,  when  they  re- 
moved to  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  going  by  way 
of  the  lakes,  canal  and  railroad  and  reach- 
ing their  destination  in  three  weeks'  time, 
they  having  come  on  the  first  trip  that  was 
made  on  the  railroad.    There  the  father  lived 


and  labored  until  he  was  called  to  the  home 
beyond,  winning  for  himself  a  name  and 
place  among  the  business  men  of  his  com- 
munity. His  political  support  was  given  to 
the  Democracy,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church.  Both  now  lie  buried  in  Carlisle, 
Ohio,  where  a  beautiful  stone  marks  their 
last  resting  place. 

John  Iachholtz,  their  son,  was  but  a  little 
lad  of  eight  years  when  he  became  an  Ameri- 
can citizen,  and  has  ever  remained  true  to 
its  national  institutions,  and,  making  the 
most  of  his  opportunities,  has  steadily  worked 
his  way  upward  to  success  and  to  all  that 
is  ennobling  in  Me.  The  first  school  which 
he  attended  was  of  the  typical  log  cabin 
kind,  and  the  building  afterward  served  as 
a  residence  for  the  Iachholtz  family.  When 
he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he 
was  the  owner  of  a  span  of  colts,  which  he 
sold  for  fifty  dollars.  Coming  to  Liberty 
township,  St.  Joseph  county,  he  began  clear- 
ing land  for  others  at  six  dollars  an  acre, 
thus  laying  the  foundation  for  his  future 
successful  business  career.  In  those  early  days 
he  furnished  the  Studebakers  with  native 
hickory  and  oak  for  their  singletrees,  spokes, 
etc.,  they  having  paid  him  five  dollars  extra 
on  every  one  thousand  on  account  of  the 
superior  material  which  he  produced.  South 
Bend  was  then  a  little  city  of  three  thou- 
sand population,  while  the  present  macmifi- 
cent  Studebaker  works  was  but  a  little  in- 
significant affair.  Mr.  Iachholtz 's  first  pur- 
chase of  land  consisted  of  forty  acres  of 
timber,  which  he  afterward  sold  and  then 
bought  another  forty-acre  tract,  to  which  he 
later  added  forty  acres  in  Liberty  township, 
going  in  debt  for  this  amount.  However,  he 
worked  early  and  late,  and  his  diligence  and 
excellent  ability  enabled  him  to  meet  all  obli- 
gations. The  little  log  cabin  long  since  ^ve 
way  to  the  beautiful  frame  residence  which 
now  adorns  the  place,  and  many  other  sub- 
stantial buildings  also  stand  as  monuments 
to  his  skill  and  labor. 

On  the  14th  of  March,  1867,  Mr.  Iachholtz 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  J. 
Hosier,  and  they  have  become  the  parents 
of  four  children:  Ida  Rosella  died  at  three 
years,  ten  months  and  eleven  days.  Elsie 
E.  is  the  wife  of  William  Gammon,  who  is 
associated  with  the  Studebakers  of  South 
Bend  as  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  while  their 
residence  is  at  '212  Dayton  street  of  that  city. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1001 


For  three  years  prior  to  her  marriage  Mrs. 
Gammon  taug'ht  music,  and'  she  is  also  a  pro- 
fessional dressmaker.  Irene  B.  is  the  wife 
of  Dennis  Huttenstine,  who  resides  in  South 
Bend,  but  is  connected  with  the  great  rubber 
factory  at  Mishawaka.  Mrs.  Huttenstine  was 
also  previously  married,  and  by  that  union 
had  one  little  son,  Carm  Hathaway,  named 
for  his  father,  and  he  is  the  pride  of  his 
grandparents.  Myrtle  L.  is  the  wife  of  Bert 
Norton,  who  is  connected  with  the  Singer 
Sewing  Machine  Company  in  South  Bend, 
having  been  thus  associated  for  ten  years, 
and  they  have  a  little  daughter,  Treva 
Morene.  Mrs.  lachholtz  was  bora  in  Seneca 
county,  Ohio,  October  11,  1848,  a  daughter 
of  Daniel  and  Elsie  (Evert)  Hosier,  and  of 
their  family  of  ten  children,  five  sons  and 
five  daughters,  eight  are  now  living,  but  Mrs. 
lachholtz  is  the  only  one  residing  in  St. 
Joseph  county.  The  father  was  of  German 
lineage,  and  was  successful  in  his  work  as  an 
agriculturist.  Daniel  Hosier  died  at  Grain 
Valley,  Missouri,  March  10,  1907,  aged  eighty- 
two  years,  seven  months  and  fifteen  days. 
He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  church.  When  twelve  years  of 
age  Mrs.  lachholtz  accompanied  her  parents 
on  their  removal  to  Marshall  county,  Indiana, 
where  she  completed  her  education  in  the 
common  schools.  For  many  years  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  lachholtz  have  lived  and  labored  to 
goodly  ends  among  the  people  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  they  are  numbered  among  the 
honored  pioneers  who  aided  in  laying  the 
foundation  for  its  present  prosperity  and  ad- 
vancement. He  gives  his  political  support  to 
the  Democracy  where  national  issues  are  con- 
cerned, but  is  not  bound  by  party  ties.  They 
are  sincerely  admired  and  loved  by  those  who 
have  known  them  almost  a  lifetime,  and  in 
peace  and  content  they  are  passing  their 
days,  surrounded  with  the  comforts  and  lux- 
uries which  are  the  fruits  of  their  former 
years  of  industry. 

Wakefield  N.  Pearse.  The  Pearse  fam- 
ily was  one  of  the  first  to  locate  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  to  establish  a  home  amid  such 
pioneer  surroundings  as  then  existed  here 
and  to  cope  with  the  many  privations  and 
hardships  which  were  the  inevitable  concomi- 
tants demanded  an  invincible  courage  and 
fortitude,  strong  hearts  and  willing  hands. 
All  these  were  characteristics  of  the  pioneers, 
whose  names  and  deeds  should  be  held  in  per- 


petual reverence  by  those  who  enjoy  the  fruits 
of  their  toil. 

The  name  Pearse  is  of  Welsh  origin,  and 
the  family  trace  their  lineage  to  the  great- 
grandfather of  Wakefield  N.,  Richard  Pearse, 
who  was  born  in  Bristol,  Rhode  Island,  Octo- 
ber 27,  1762,  and  died  at  Sudbury,  Vermont, 
September  6,  1834.  Frankland  Pearse,  the 
father,  was  a  native  of  New  York,  bom  on 
the  25th  of  March,  1809,  and  was  reared  as 
a  farmer  lad,  receiving  his  education  in  the 
old  district  schools  of  his  neighborhood. 
When  a  youth  he  was  taken  by  his  parents 
to  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  the  journey 
thither  being  made  in  true  pioneer  style,  and 
they  took  up  their  abode  on  a  heavily  tim- 
bered farm  of  one  hundried  and  sixty  acres 
which  now  forms  a  part  of  the  city  of  Cleve- 
land or  Newberg,  and  this  old  estate  is  still 
owned  by  members  of  the  Pearse  family.  Mr. 
Pearse  cleared  a  sufficient  space  to  erect  their 
little  cdbin  home,  and  there  the  family  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  the  land  sale  in  St. 
Joseph  county  in  1835,  when  Frankland 
Pearse  came  west  and  purchased  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  land  in  Liberty  township, 
the  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  lying 
south  of  North  Liberty  forming  the  home- 
stead. He  subsequently  returned  to  Ohio  for 
his  bride,  Teresa  A.  Wakefield,  who  was  a 
native  of  Williston,  Chittenden  county,  Ver- 
mont, born  on  the  6th  of  June,  1812,  and 
died  October  22,  1877.  She  was  reared  to 
years  of  maturity  in  her  native  state,  and  was 
a  lady  of  more  than  ordinary  educational 
training,  while  prior  to  her  marriage  she  was 
engaged  in  teaching  school. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pearse 
came  to  St.  Joseph  county  and  began  their 
wedded  life  in  a  little  log  cabin  of  one  room, 
and  the  only  chair  which  it  then  contained 
is  now  a  valuable  relic  in  the  home  of  Mr. 
Wakefield  Pearse.  They  were  numbered 
among  the  early  and  honored  pioneers  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  the  red  men  of  the  forest 
being  then  plentiful  within  its  borders,  and 
many  a  time  they  came  to  the  cabin  door 
and  frightened  Mrs.  Pearse,  although  they 
were  always  friendly.  During  his  early  life 
Mr.  Pearse  gave  his  political  support  to  the 
Whig  party,  and  after  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  party  he  joined  its  ranks, 
remaining  true  to  its  principles  until  his 
death.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  assisted'  in  the  erec- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1002 


HISTORY   OF    ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


tion  of  their  first  church  in  the  township, 
previous  to  that  time  the  people  having  wor- 
shiped in  private  homes.  Mrs.  Pearse  was 
reared  in  the  Presbyterian  faith,  and  both 
she  and  her  husband  now  sleep  in  the  North 
Liberty  cemetery,  where  a  beautiful  stone 
marks  their  last  resting  place. 

Wakfield  N.  Pearse  is  a  native  born  citizen 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  his  natal  day  being  the 
23d  of  November,  1842,  and  thus  for  sixty- 
five  years  he  has  been  numbered  among  its 
honored  residents.  He  was  early  inured  to 
the  work  of  the  fields,  but  after  reaching 
his  majority  he  engaged  with  his  brother  in 
the  buying  and  selling  of  stock,  they  having 
been  among  the  first  stock  buyers  in  the 
county.  On  the  14th  of  October,  1869,  he 
married  Miss  Phoebe  Ann  Travis,  and  they 
have  become  the  parents  of  four  sons.  The 
eldest,  Charles  L.,  is  one  of  the  leading  young 
merchants  of  North  Liberty,  being  associated 
in  business  with  his  brother,  Frank  C,  and 
they  carry  a  full  line  of  dry  goods,  gentle- 
men's furnishing  goods,  carpets,  wall  paper, 
etc.,  their  store  being  one  of  the  leading  ones 
of  the  village.  Both  boys  attended  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  Charles  also  received  a  com- 
mercial course  in  South  Bend,  while  Frank 
C.  pursued  a  business  course  and  also  a  four 
years'  course  at  the  state  university  at 
Bloomington,  Indiana.  He  is  a  Mason  in 
his  fraternal  relations.  The  third  son,  Ste- 
phen W.,  is  associated  with  his  father  in  a 
general  mercantile  store  in  North  Liberty. 
After  attending  the  common  schools  he  en- 
tered the  Danville  Normal  and  pursued  a 
business  course.  He  wedded  Miss  Grace  B. 
Houser,  and  they  have  one  little  daughter, 
Florence  Genevieve,  their  home  being  a  beau- 
tiful modern  residence  in  North  Liberty.  The 
>-oungest  son,  Delbert  A., 'is  at  home.  He, 
too,  attended  the  common  schools  and  then 
pursfued  a  full  commercial  course  at  Dan- 
ville, Indiana.  He  is  a  practical  farmer, 
and  both  he  and  his  brother  Stephen  are 
members  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Pearse  have  given  their  children  ex- 
cellent educational  advantages,  and  all  have 
become  an  honor  to  the  honored  family  name. 

Mrs.  Pearse,  the  mother,  was  born  in  La- 
porte  county,  Indiana,  October  5,  1844,  and 
is  the  ninth  in  a  family  of  twelve  children, 
six  sons  and  six  daughters,  born  to  Curtis 
and  Mary  A.  (Miller)  Travis.  Five  of  the 
number  are  now  living:  Louisa,  the  wife  of 
James  Tiberghien,  a  retired  farmer  living  in 


Sac  City,  Iowa;  Noah,  a  retired  farmer  of 
Kingsbury,  Indiana;  Curtis,  who  is  also  re- 
tired from  business  cares  and  resides  in  La- 
porte,  Indiana;  Phoebe  Ann,  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Pearse;  and)  Jay  W.,  an  agriculturist  of 
Stilwell  Prairie,  Indiana.  The  father  of 
these  children  was  born  near  Albany,  New 
York,  in  1809,  and  died  in  Laporte  county, 
Indiana,  in  August,  1870.  He  was  married 
in  his  native  state,  and  in  1835  they  took  up 
their  abode  in  Laporte  county,  and  much  of 
the  land  which  he  there  purchased  from  the 
government  is  stall  in  the  Travis  name.  He 
was  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  his 
county,  and  in  his  political  affiliations  was  a 
Whig  until  the  formation  of  the  Republican 
party,  when  he  espoused  its  cause.  He  was 
a  firm  friend  of  education  and  the  public 
school  system,  and  during  a  long  period 
served  as  examiner  of  teachers.  Mrs.  Travis 
was  a  native  of  Williamsport,  Pennsylvania, 
born  about  1821,  and  her  death  occurred  in 
1895.  She  was  of  German  descent.  Both 
Mr.  and  IVIrs.  Travis  were  Methodists  in 
their  religious  belief,  and  both  are  interred 
in  the  Norton  cemetery  of  Laporte,  where  a 
beautiful  stone  stands  sacred  to  their  mem- 
ory. Mrs.  Pearse  was  reared  in  her  native 
county  of  Laporte,  and  attended  the  West- 
ville  seminary  when  Professor  Laird  had 
charge  of  the  institution,  Miss  Kate  Baily 
being  her  teacher  in  instrumental  music, 
while  previous  to  her  marriage  she  taught 
school  in  St.  Joseph  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pearse  began  their  married 
life  on  the  old  homestead  with  his  father  and 
mother,  and  there  they  continued  to  reside 
until  the  death  of  the  mother.  In  July,  1886, 
Mr.  Pearse  and  his  brother  Leonard  began 
their  mercantile  operations  in  North  Liberty, 
and  by  honorable  methods  and  fair  dealing 
they  have  gained  the  full  confidence  of  the 
people  and  are  enjoying  a  well  merited  suc- 
cess. Mr.  Pearse  has  continued  in  the  buying 
and  selling  of  "stock  more  years  than  any 
other  person  now  living  in  southern  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  and  in  all  his  varied  relations 
he  has  ever  been  true  to  the  trusts  reposed 
in  him,  triumphing  over  the  obstacles  which 
have  beset  his  path  and  steadily  working  his 
way  upward  to  a  position  of  aiHuence.  The 
Pearse  estate  comprises  six  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Liberty  township, 
and  the  beautiful  brick  residence  was  erected 
by  Frankland  Pearse  in  1866.  Mr.  Pearee 
of  this  review  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


CM4.      (M. 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by  LjOOQIC 


•'  i'^'^  '-r,.  i.idtn  7 


;  .  iLc 


./ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OP    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1003 


for  Lincoln,  and  has  ever  since  supported 
the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  while 
he  has  many  times  been  selected  as  delegate 
to  county  conventions.  He  has  assisted  in  the 
erection  of  nearly  every  church  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  North  Liberty,  and  Mrs.  Pearse  is  a 
member  of  the  Episcopal  denomination. 
They  have  in  their  home  a  Bible  over  one 
hundred  years  old,  which  has  passed  down 
through  the  Wakefield  family  and  which  is 
still  in  a  splendid  state  of  preservation,  and 
they  also  have  some  of  the  old  coverlets 
woven  in  both  the  Travis  and  Wakefield  fam- 
ilies, while  another  valuable  heirloom  is  two 
old  parchment  deeds,  one  executed  on  the  20th 
of  March,  1837,  and  signed  by  President  Mar- 
tin Van  Buren.  This  deed  was  made  to 
Prankland  Pearse,  who  also  left  to  his  de- 
scendants a  name  that  has  long  been  honored 
in  the  old  county  of  St.  Joseph. 

Robert  E.  Geyer.  Since  an  early  pio- 
neer epoch  in  the  history  of  St.  Joseph  county 
the  Geyer  family  have  occupied  a  distinctive 
place  in  its  annals,  and  one  of  its  most  promi- 
nent representatives,  Robert  E.  Geyer,  has 
passed  many  years  of  his  life  as  an  educator 
within  its  borders.  He  was  born  in  Dearborn 
county,  Indiana,  February  8,  1865,  the  third 
child  of  Peter  and  Margaret  (Ewald)  Geyer, 
in  whose  family  were  five  children,  four  sons 
and  one  daughter,  and  all  are  yet  living: 
William,  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of 
Union  township,  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools,  and  for  many  years 
was  a  successful  teacher;  Caroline,  the  wife 
of  Fred  Schrader,  a  prosperous  agriculturist 
in  Liberty  township,  and  they  have  five  chil- 
dren living;  Robert  E.,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review;  Edmund,  also  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Liberty  township, 
is  represented  elsewhere  in  this  work;  and 
Alfred  B.,  who  is  associated  with  the  Stude- 
baier  Company  in  South  Bend.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  and  also 
in  the  Beaver  Creek  school,  which  has  the 
reputation  of  turning  out  many  competent 
teachers,  and  he  also  followed  the  teacher's 
profession  for  a  time.  AU  of  the  children 
are  married. 

Mr.  Geyer,  the  father,  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, tracing  his  lineage  to  the  old  Teutonic 
race,  and  possessed  that  sturdy  German  in- 
dustry and  indomitable  will  which  signifies 
success  at  the  laying  of  the  foundation  of 
life.  His  birth  occurred  near  the  city  of 
Munich,  province  of  Bavaria,  December  12, 

Vol.   II— 26. 


1836,  and  his  death  occurred  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  on  the  15th  of  October,  1901. 
He  was  only  a  little  lad  of  four  years  when 
he  came  with  his  parents  across  the  Atlantic 
to  the  United  States,  the  family  coming  di- 
rect to  Dearborn  county,  Indiana,  arriving 
there  at  a  very  early  day  in  its  history.  The 
father  purchased  land  in  that  county,  and 
there  the  little  son  grew  to  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on 
their  removal  to  St.  Joseph  county,  the  jour- 
ney hither  being  made  in  true  pipneer  style. 
After  their  arrival  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  the  virgin  timber  land  w?s  pur- 
chased, and  they  blazed  a  trail  to  their  little 
cabin  which  they  erected  in  the  midst  of 
the  wilderness,  and  in  which  the  father  made 
a  small  window  from  whence  he  could  sit  and 
shoot  deer.  Thus  the  family  are  numbered 
among  the  early  and  honored  pioneers  of 
St.  Joseph  county,  and  Mr.  Robert  Geyer 
now  has  in  his  possession  one  of  the  old 
parchment  deeds  which  was  executed  June 
30,  1837,  in  old  Dearborn  county,  and  given 
under  the  hand  and  seal  of  President  Martin 
Van  Buren.  This  is  the  third  deed  known 
to  exist  in  Liberty  township,  and  is  one  of 
the  valuable  souvenirs  in  the  Geyer  home. 
Mr.  Gey^r,  the  father,  was  very  successful 
in  his  business  life,  and  always  observed 
closely  the  laws  which  governed  the  nature 
and  taught  his  children  the  principles  of 
righteousness  and  honor.  He  was  a  positive 
but  quiet  man,  one  whom  to  know  was  to  re- 
spect, and  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life 
he  was  solicited  as  a  Republican  to  accept 
public  office  in  his  county,  but  he  preferred 
to  give  his  attention  to  his  business  interests. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  identified  with 
the  German  Lutheran  church.  Mrs.  Geyer 
is  a  native  of  Dearborn  eounty,  Indiana, 
born  about  1838,  and  is  now  a  resident  of 
South  Bend,  having  reached  the  Psalmist's 
span  of  three  score  years  and  ten. 

Robert  E.  Geyer,  a  son  of  these  worthy 
old  St.  Joseph  county  pioneers,  spent  the  early 
years  of  his  life  in  his  native  county  of  Dear- 
bom.  In  1873  he  went  to  Indianapolis,  In- 
diana, but  two  years  later  came  with  his 
parents  to  St.  Joseph  county,  which  has  been 
his  home  from  that  time  to  the  present.  The 
education  which  he  received  in  the  common 
schools-  was  greatly  supplemented  by  special 
study  by  himself,  and  in  time  he  became  a 
ripe  scholar  and  one  of  the  successful  edu- 
cators in  Liberty,  Union  and  Greene  town- 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1004 


HISTORY   OF    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


ships,  following  that  profession  for  eighteen 
years.  He  has  a  keenly  analytical  mind,  and 
under  his  superintendency  the  schools  of 
which  he  had  charge  made  marked  progress 
and  showed  the  effect  of  his  careful  guid- 
ance, while  many  of  the  young  men  and 
women  of  St.  Joseph  county  will  long  remem- 
ber him  as  their  teacher  and  preceptor.  On 
the  5th  of  April,  1887,  Mr.  Geyer  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Emeline  Barrett,  and 
their  three  children  are:  Edna  F.,  who  has 
received  an  excellent  educational  training, 
supplementing  her  training  received  in  the 
common  schools  by  attendance  in  the  South 
Bend  high  school,  and  later  became  a  student 
in  the  Valparaiso  University,  while  in  addi- 
tion she  has  also  received  instruction  in  in- 
strumental music  and  is  a  pronounced  elocu- 
tionist. She  will  soon  begin  her  educational 
work  as  a  teacher  in  the  schools  of  Liberty 
township.  Russell  W.  received  his  diploma 
from  the  common  schools  in  the  class  of 
1906,  and  is  now  a  student  in  the  high  school 
of  North  Liberty.  Claude  L.  is  pursuing 
eighth  grade  work  in  the  home  school,  and 
will  graduate  with  the  class  of  1907.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Geyer  may  well  feel  proud  of  their 
children,  for  they  have  nobly  carried  for- 
ward the  advantages  which  have  been  given 
them. 

Mrs.  Geyer,  the  mother,  is  a  native  daugh- 
ter of  St.  Joseph  county,  born  on  the  1st  of 
March,  1867,  her  parents  being  John  and 
Catherine  (Lentz)  Barrett,  in  whose  family 
were  seven  children,  one  son  and  six  daugh- 
ters, but  only  three  of  the  number  are  now 
living:  Mrs.  Geyer;  Laura,  the  wife  of 
George  N.  Folk,  a  farmer  of  Greene  township ; 
and  Mary  C,  the  wife  of  William  0.  Cullar, 
a  prosperous  agriculturist  of  Liberty  town- 
ship. Mr.  Barrett,  the  father,  claims  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  as  the  place  of  his  nativity, 
and  he  is  now  a  resident  of  Greene  township, 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana.  Mrs.  Barrett 
is  also  a  native  of  Stark  county,  and  a  his- 
t9ry  of  their  lives  will  be  found  elsewhere  in 
this  work. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geyer 
resided  with  the  latter 's  parents  in  Union 
township  for  three  years,  and  then  located  on 
their  present  farm,  which  is  known  as  *'The 
Homestead,''  and  which  comprises  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  acres  of  land  in  Liberty 
township.  Their  home  is  one  of  the  desirable 
residences  in  the  county,  and  the  family 
extend  a  gracious  hospitality  to  their  many 


friends  and  acquaintances.  Mr.  Geyer  gives 
his  political  support  to  the  Republican  party, 
his  first  presidential  vote  having  been  east 
for  Benjamin  Harrison,  and  he  has  often 
been  solicited  as  delegate  to  the  county  and 
district  conventions.  During  a  period  of 
eight  years  he  served  as  the  county  drainage 
commissioner,  and  was  the  leading  factor  in 
the  reclaiming  of  thousands  of  acres  of  land 
along  the  Kankakee  river.  For  four  years 
he  was  a  member  of  the  county  central  com- 
mittee, and  in  1892  was  a  candidate  for  the 
legislature.  For  so  young  a  man  this  was 
truly  a  great  honor,  and  should  he  again 
presume  to  enter  the  lists  for  any  of  the  lead- 
ing offices  of  St.  Joseph  county  he  would 
prove  a  formidable  opponent.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  North  Liberty,  in  which  Mr.  Geyer 
is  one  of  the  stewards  and  also  a  teacher 
in  the  Sunday-school.  He  has  resided  within 
the  borders  of  old  St.  Joseph  county  since 
he  was  a  lad  of  ten  years,  and  during  eighteen 
years  of  his  life  here  he  was  one  of  its  most 
able  educators,  and  during  the  past  years 
he  has  been  numbered  among  the  leading 
agriculturists  and  stock  raisers  of  Liberty 
township.  His  labors  .  have  done  much  to 
quicken  literary  interest  and  to  promote  intel- 
lectual activity,  and  his  influence  upon  tho 
best  development  of  his  community  is  incal- 
culable. 

Vincent  S.  Bulla,  an  honored  citizen 
of  Liberty  township  is  one  of  the  sturdy 
pioneers  of  the  county  and  state.  He  has 
ever  been  found  loyal  to  the  cause  of  right 
and  truth,  and  his  influence  has  been  used 
for  the  good  and  well  being  of  those  asso- 
ciated with  him  in  any  way.  He  traces  his 
lineage  to  the  French,  the  German,  the  Mo- 
hawk Dutch  and.  the  Scotch,  his  grandfather, 
William  Bulla,  haying  been  of  German  birth 
and  lineage,  his  grandmother,  Susie  Smith, 
of  Scotch  lineage,  and  his  grandfather,  Vin- 
cent Stephenson,  of  French  lineage.  Mr. 
Bulla  was  bom  in  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, February  24,  1846,  a  son  of  William 
F.  and  Mary  (Stephenson)  Bulla,  to  whom 
were  born  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four 
daughters,  but  only  four  of  the  number  are 
now  living:  Martha  J.,  the  wife  of  Melvin  G. 
Huey,  a  horticulturist  of  German  township, 
St.  Joseph  county,  and  she  was  educated  in 
the  country  schools,  the  city  schools  of  South 
Bend,  and  was  one  of  the  successful  teachers 
of  the  county  before  her  marriage;   Vincent 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1005 


S.,  who  was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth  of  the 
eight  children;  Quincy  A.,  who  is  married, 
and  is  living  retired  in  Pomona,  California; 
and  James  S.,  who  is  married  and  engaged 
in  farming  near  St.  Edwards,  Nebraska. 

William  P.  Bulla,  the  father,  was  bom 
in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  March  4,  1810, 
and  died  on  the  10th  of  January,  1875,  after 
a  life  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits  and 
stock  raising.  In  1832,  the  year  of  the 
Blackhawk  war,  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,  his  father  having  previously  pur- 
chased a  section  of  land  here  from  the  govern- 
ment and  presented  each  of  his  sons  with  a 
quarter  section,  but  it  was  not  until  1836 
that  William  F.  Bulla  permanently  took  up 
his  abode  within  the  borders  of  the  county, 
which  was  at  that  time  a  wilderness,  South 
Bend  having  been  established  about  a  mile 
north  of  its  present  site  and  only  four  fiam- 
ilies  resided  on  the  east  side  of  the  St.  Jo- 
seph river.  Their  first  habitation  was  a 
typical  cabin  home,  heated  by  a  large  old 
fashioned  fireplace,  to  which  the  logs  were 
•drawn  by  horses,  and  his  son  Vincent  can 
well  remember  this  primitive  frontier  home. 
With  the  passing  years  the  father  became 
successful  in  his  business  ventures,  accumu- 
lating an  estate  of  eight  hundred  and  ten 
acres  in  St.  Joseph  county  and  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  Laporte  county  and  two 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Marshall  county, 
Indiana,  while  he  also  owned  four  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  in  Grundy  county  and  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  in  Blackhawk 
county,  Iowa.  In  his  early  years  he  upheld 
the  principles  of  the  Whig  party,  and  at  the 
formation  of  the  Repulblican  party  he  joined 
its  ranks,  supporting  its.  first  presidential 
nominee,  Fremont,  and  later  voting  for  Lin- 
coln and  Grant.  During  two  terms  he  was 
its  representative  as  a  county  commissioner. 
He  was  a  stanch  advocate  of  the  anti-slavery 
cause,  and  was  an  adherent  of  the  Univer- 
salist  church.  In  1866  he  removed  to  South 
Bend  to  enjoy  the  rest  which  Should  ever 
follow  a  long  and  active  business  career,  and 
there  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
His  grandfather  Bulla  was  a  subordinate  of- 
ficer in  the  Revolutionary  war,  which  gives 
prestige  to  the  Bulla  fame  and  entitles  them 
to  membership  in  the  great  order  of  Sons 
and  Daughters  of  the  Revolution.  Mrs.  Huey, 
of  South  Bend,  has  three  large  and  four 
small  buttons  from  oflp  the  uniform  of  this 
famous  old  patriot.     Mrs.   Bulla  was  bom 


in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  December  16, 
1811,  and  died  on  the  23d  of  August,  1893, 
an  octogenarian.  She  was  reared  in  the  Pres- 
byterian faith,  but  later  in  life  joined  the 
Christian  church.  In  August,  1906,  oc- 
curred the  anniversary  of  the  arrival  of  the 
Bulla  family  in  the  then  territory  of  Indiana 
one  hundred  years  before,  and  the  reunion 
was  held  on  the  land  on  which  they  first  took 
up  their  abode.  There  have  been  strong  men 
and  true  as  one  generation  has  followed  an- 
other, men  leal  and  loyal  to  our  national 
institutions  and  the  duties  of  patriotism. 

Vincent  S.  Bulla  has  spent  his  entire  life 
in  St.  Joseph  county  with  the  exception  of 
the  seven  years  when  he  resided  in  Black- 
hawk county,  Iowa.  The  first  school  which 
he  attended  here  was  held  in  a  little  log 
calbin,  sixteen  by  fourteen  feet,  covered  with 
clapboards  and  poles,  while  the  floor  was  of 
puncheons  and  heated  by  a  queerly  built 
fireplace.  It  stood  in  the  center  of  the  room, 
and  contained  a  six  foot  square  hole  almost 
full  of  stone,  and  in  this  hole  wood  was 
placed  and  a  fire  kindled,  the  smoke  escaping 
from  a  hole  in  the  center  of  the  roof.  The 
desks  were  a  broad  puncheon  resting  on 
wooden  pins  driven  into  the  wall  for  sup- 
port, the  seats  slab  benches,  and  there  were 
pegs  driven  into  the  wall  to  hold  the  chil- 
dren's clothing.  Some  of  the  text  books  used 
were  the  elementary  speller,  Davis'  arithme- 
tic and  McGuflfey's  reader,  while  the  school 
was  maintained  by  subscriptions.  The  Pot- 
tawatomie Indians  still  inhabited  this  sec- 
tion, and  they  would  often  shoot  at  marks 
and  pitch  horse  shoes  in  his  father's  yard, 
for  the  elder  Mr.  Bulla  was  very  kind  to  the 
dusky  fellows.  Mr.  Bulla  of  this  review  has 
killed  deer  on  their  own  premises,  and  has 
used  the  cradle  and  sickle  in  cutting  grain. 
When  sixteen  years  of  age  he  became  a  wage 
earner,  and  when  he  had  reached  his  twenty- 
first  year  he  had  accumulated  three  thousand 
dollars. 

On  the  8th  of  January,  1873,  Mr.  Bulla 
was  unted  in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Mc- 
Kenzie,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren :  Mary,  who  received  her  diploma  with 
the  class  of  1895,  and  also  obtained  a  teach- 
er's certificate,  but  did  not  enter  the  profes- 
sion and  is  at  home;  Loree  Vincent,  who 
also  resides  with  his  parents,  is  an  agricul- 
turist and  for  three  years  was  an  employe 
of  the  Wabash  Railroad  Company;  William 
Franklin  married  Miss  Lucy  Swanson,  and 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1006 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


they  reside  in  North  Liberty;  Eaxl  D.,  a 
farmer  at  home;  RoUin,  also  at  home;  and 
Edna  Verne,  the  youngest,  is  pursuing  her 
studies  with  the  class  of  1907.  Their  daugh- 
ter Mary  has  one  of  the  finest  cabinets  of 
curios  to  be  found  in  Liberty  township,  con- 
sisting of  leaves  and  famous  ferns  from  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  United  States  and  the 
Sandwich  Islands,  old  antique  dishes  three 
quarters  of  a  century  old,  specimens  of  the 
stockade  at  Anderson ville  prison,  the  old  can- 
dlestick, snuffers  and  grease  lamp  of  the  pio- 
neer epoch  and  many  other  rare  curios.  Mr. 
Bulla  also  has  in  his  possession  three  parch- 
ment deeds,  dated  March  30,  1837,  August  10, 
1837,  and  bearing  the  signature  of  President 
Martin  Van  Buren,  also  one  executed  under 
the  hand  and  seal  of  President  Buchanan 
and  bearing  the  date  of  December  1,  1857, 
these  making  three  of  the  six  deeds  found 
in  the  southern  part  of  St.  Joseph  county 
and  are  valuable  souvenirs  in  the  Bulla  home. 
They  also  have  an  old  relic  in  a  coverlet 
which  was  woven  by  his  grandmother  Bulla, 
and  also  one  for  which  Mrs.  Bulla's  mother 
spun  and  prepared  the  yam,  and  they  have 
samples  of  her  work  as  a  weaver  of  cloth 
from  flax.  In  their  home  are  many  other 
interesting  relics,  such  as  silk  gloves  worn 
at  weddings  by  grand  and  great-grandparents. 
Mrs.  Bulla  was  bom  in  Laporte  county, 
Indiana,  September  9,  1854,  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  R.  and  Elizabeth  A.  (Travis)  Mc- 
Kenzie,  to  whom  were  bom  three  children: 
Curtis  D.,  a  retired  farmer  of  Kingsbury, 
Indiana;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Bulla; 
and  Mary  A.,  the  wife  of  George  R.  Flood, 
engaged  in  the  insurance  business  in  South 
Bend,  and  they  have  two  children,  Daniel 
E.  and  Mabel  L.  Mr.  McKenzie,  the  father, 
was  bom  in  Caledonia,  New  York,  January 
25,  1818,  and  died  on  the  8th  of  August, 
1891.  He  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  in 
Laporte  county,  Indiana,  where  he  took  up 
his  abode  in  1841.  He  was  of  Scotch  lineage, 
his  father,  Donald  McKenzie,  having  been 
born  in  the  land  of  the  hills  and  heather,  near 
Inverness,  in  1784,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1804,  but  representatives  of  the 
McKenzie  family  had  located  in  New  York, 
Gtenesee  county,  as  early  as  1792,  seven  years 
before  the  death  of  Washington.  Daniel 
McKenzie  was  a  stanch  Republican,  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  were  of  the  Episcopal  faith. 
She  was  bom  in  New  York,  and  her  death 
occurred  on  the  1st  of  June,  1894,  when  she 


had  reached  the  age  of  sixty-five  years,  nim» 
months  and  twenty-four  days.  Mrs.  Bulla 
was  a  little  maiden  of  two  years  when  her 
parents  came  to  North  Liberty,  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  here  she  was  reared  to  maturity 
and  received  her  educational  training.  Shi? 
began  her  married  life  on  their  present  es- 
tate in  Liberty  township  in  a  little  frame 
house,  but  in  the  cyclone  of  July,  1877, 
which  passed  through  the  township,  their 
home  and  out  buildings  were  completely  de- 
stroyed. Mrs.  Bulla  and  her  daughter  Mary 
were  in  the  house  at  the  time,  but  escaped 
unhurt,  although  the  building  and  contents 
were  completely  destroyed.  Their  watches 
and  the  wedding  ring  were  in  the  wreck,  but 
were  recovered,  although  the  ring  lay  on 
the  premises  for  eleven  years  before  it  was 
found.  All  of  the  improvements  which  arc 
now  seen  on  the  Bulla  homestead  stand  as 
monuments  to  the  ability  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Vincent  S.  Bulla,  and  their  estate,  which  com- 
prises two  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  is  one 
of  the  finest  in  Liberty  township  and  is 
stocked  with  high  grade  cattle,  Poland  China 
hogs  and  good  standard  bred  stock.  He 
gives  his  political  support  to  the  Republican 
party,  casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Grant,  and  he  has  often  been  selected  as  dele- 
gate to  the  county  conventions.  The  family  are 
well  and  favorably  known  throughout  the 
township,  and  are  held  in  high  regard  by  a 
large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 

Lewis  S.  Aukerman.  For  many  years 
closely  identified  with  the  business  interests 
of  this  section  of  St.  Joseph  county,  the  com- 
munity may  well  feel  a  just  pride  in  claim- 
ing Lewis  S.  Aukerman  among  its  honored 
residents.  He  is  not  only  worthy  of  all 
honor  in  himself  for  the  brave  and  success- 
ful fight  which  he  has  made  to  achieve  suc- 
cess, but  because  of  his  descent  from  parents 
who  were  such  useful  pioneers  of  that  state 
which  has  been  called  the  mother  of  the  north- 
west, Ohio. 

Mr.  Aukerman  is  a  native  of  Darke  county. 
Ohio,  bom  June  24,  1850,  a  son  of  Geor^ 
and  Mary  (Brubacker)  Aukerman.  The 
father  was  born  in  Eaton,  Preble  county,  that 
state,  on  the  28th  of  October,  1804,  and  was 
himself  of  German  ancestry.  George  Auker- 
man was  a  self-made  man,  having  battled  ear- 
nestly and  energetically  for  the  success  he 
won,  and  he  remained  in  his  native  county  of 
Preble  until  after  his  marriage,  when  the 
young  couple  removed  to  Darke  county,  Ohio. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY    OF    ST.   JOSEPH    GOUNlTr. 


1007 


where  his  death  occurred  April  11,  1854.  The 
deceased  assisted  in  the  construction  of  many 
of  the  beautiful  pike  roads  in  that  county, 
and  in  other  ways  contributed  to  the  sub- 
stantial growth  and  improvement  of  the  com- 
munity. He  was  first  a  Whig  and  then  a 
Republican,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were 
faithful  members  of  the  German  Baptist 
church.  Mrs.  Aiikerman  was  bom  in  Podi- 
ker  county,  Virginia,  January  15,  1809,  and 
when  a  girl  came  with  her  parents  to  Darke 
county,  Ohio,  the  journey  through  the  dense 
wilderness  being  made  in  wagons  and  a  loca- 
tion finally  chosen  near  old  Fort  Greenville. 
She  was  married  in  Darke  county,  and  in 
1861  removed  with  the  family  to  Wabash 
county,  Indiana,  where,  near  **01d  Somer- 
set," her  death  occurred  August  11,  1893. 
Only  three  of  their  family  of  six  sons  and 
four  daughters  are  now  living,  viz. :  _  John, 
who  served  in  the  Civil  war,  and  is  a  retired 
resident  of  New  Paris,  Indiana;  Lewis  S., 
whose  name  introduces  this  review;  and 
Barbara,  the  wife  of  William  Wagner,  a 
farmer  of  Goshen,  Indiana. 

In  1861,  when  he  removed  with  his  mother 
to  Wabash  county,  Indiana,  Lewis  S.  Auker- 
man  was  but  a  lad,  although  prior  to  this 
time  he  had  obtained  a  smattering  of  educa- 
tion by  attendance  at  a  little  log  school  house 
in  Union  City,  Ohio.  A  description  of  this 
structure  would  show  a  building  eighteen  by 
twenty-five  feet,  with  a  riveted  shingle  roof, 
heated  with  the  old-time  box  stove,  the  seats 
being  two  inch  boards  with  no  back,  and  the 
desks  merely  a  poplar  board  resting  upon 
woocten  pins  for  support.  He  used  the  old 
fashioned  goose  quill  pen  and  the  elementary 
spelling  book.  The  master  was  well  known 
in  those  days  for  his  dexterous  use  of  the 
rod,  and  on  one  occasion  that  he  well  remem- 
bers Mr.  Aukerman  and  five  companions  who 
were  inclined  to  pranks,  received  the  full 
benefit  of  the  red  willow  switches  some  five  or 
six  feet  long.  He  resumed  his  studies  after 
his  removal  to  Wabash,  and  at  the  same  time 
was  inured  to  the  work  of  the  farm,  remain- 
ing with  his  mother  until  reaching  years  of 
maturity.  On  the  29th  of  January,  1871, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Nancy 
C.  Wagoner,  and  three  children,  two  sons 
and  a  daughter,  were  born  to  them,  but  the 
little  daughter,  lanna,  died  on  the  29th  of 
March,  1880,  aged  three  years  and  seven 
days.  The  eldest  son,  Oba,  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  Goshen  schools,  and  is  now  asso- 


ciated with  his  father  in  the  livery  business 
in  North  Liberty,  although  he  is  a  carpenter 
and  joiner  by  trade,  and  he  has  also  bought 
and  sold  horses.  He  is  a  Republican  in  his 
political  affiliations,  having  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  McKinley.'  He  wedded 
Miss  Ida  Alberson,  and  their  two  children 
are  Max  and  Elzy.  The  second  son,  Elzy, 
is  also  associated  with  his  father  in  the  livery 
business  in  Knox,  Indiana,  where  they  carry 
on  a  business  valued  at  seven  thousand  dol- 
lars. He  married  Miss  Sada  Stump,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Bemiee  and  Lewis. 
He,  too,  oast  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
McKinley,  and  is  a  stanch  advocate  of  Re- 
publican principles,  while  his  fraternal  rela- 
tions are  with  the  order  of  Elks. 

Mrs.  Aukerman,  the  mother,  was  born  in 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  December  30,  1852,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Susannah  (Foutz) 
Wagner,  and  of  their  family  of  four  children, 
two  sons  and  two  daughters,  three  are  now 
living:  William,  a  resident  farmer  of 
Goshen,  Indiana,  married  Miss  Barbara 
Aukerman;  Nancy  C.  became  the  wife  of 
Lewis  S.  Aukerman;  and  Jacob,  who  mar- 
ried Julia  Arthur,  deceased,  is  a  farmer  re- 
siding in  Roann,  Indiana.  Mrs.  Aukerman 
was  but  ten  yeara  of  age  when  she  came  with 
her  parents  to  Wabash  county,  and  they  aft- 
erward removed  to  Miami  county,  where  the 
father  died.  He  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
but  was  reared  in  Ohio,  the  journey  to  that 
state  being  made  by  wagon,  and  he  became 
a  minister  in  the  German  Baptist  church. 
His  political  support  was  given  to  the  Re- 
publican party.  Mrs.  Wagner,  who  is  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  is  still  living  at  Roann,  Indiana, 
aged  seventy-seven  years,  and  is  a  devout 
member  of  the  Progressive  Brethren  church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Aukerman  began  their  mar- 
ried life  in  a  little  log  cabin  on  the  Wabash 
river  at  Somerset,  Indiana,  where  he  worked 
as  a  wage  earner  in  cutting  cord  wood  and 
splitting  rails,  and  from  there  they  removed 
to  Roann,  Indiana,  where  in  a  small  way 
he  embarked  in  the  livery  business.  Many 
obstacles  beset  his  path  while  thus  engaged, 
and  he  subsequently  sold  his  business  and 
entered  the  confectionery  trade,  but  in  thfs 
venture  he  lost  his  entire  savings  and  also 
had  to  pay  his  partner's  security  debts.  He 
then  resumed  his  old  trade  of  plastering  in 
Goshen,  which  he  had  previously  followed  for 
fourteen  years  in  Wabash  county,  and  in 
1884  he  opened  a  livery  stable  and  was  also 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1008 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH    COUNIT. 


extensively  engaged  in  buying  and  selling 
horses.  About  the  year  1898  he  traded  his 
stable  for  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Union  town- 
ship in  St.  Joseph  county  and  a  drug  store 
in  Knox,  Indiana,  and  for  two  years  his 
home  was  upon  this  farm,  on  the  expiration 
of  which  period  he  took  up  his  abode  in  one 
of  the  pretty  and  up-to-date  homes  in  North 
Liberty.  On  the  19th  of  .March,  1906,  he 
became  the  possessor  of  a  livery  stable  in 
Knox,  Indiana,  valued  at  seven  thousand  dol- 
lars, conducting  this  in  addition  to  his  livery 
business  in  North  Liberty.  In  the  Knox 
stable  he  has  twenty-six  horses  and  thirty 
vehicles  of  all  kinds,  while  at  North  Liberty 
he  has  fifteen  head  of  horses  and  sixteen 
vehicles.  Mr.  Aukerman  has  been  distinc- 
tively the  architect  of  his  own  fortune,  has 
been  true  in  every  relation  of  life,  faithful 
to  every  trust,  and  stands  as  a  symmetrical 
type  of  that  sterling  American  manhood 
which  our  nation  delights  to  honor.  His 
first  presidential  vote  was  cast  for  the  soldier 
president  Grant,  and  he  has  ever  since 
been  loyal  to  Republican  principles.  Since 
her  youth  Mrs.  Aukerman  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Progressive  Brethren  church,  and 
at  the  time  of  the  erection  of  the  new  church 
in  North  Liberty  in  1904  both  she  and  her 
husband  gave  liberally  of  their  means  for 
its  support.  They  are  people  of  sterling 
worth  and  are  highly  honored  in  the  commu- 
nity in  which  they  have  so  long  resided. 

Joseph  Leggett.  One  of  the  oldest  inhab- 
itants of  St.  Joseph  county  is  Joseph  Leggett, 
of  Liberty  township,  where  he  has  dwelt  for 
over  seventy  years,  and  is  well  known  and 
highly  esteemed.  He  has  seen  this  state  de- 
veloped from  a  wilderness,  and  has  himself 
aided  in  its  progress  and  civilization,  year  by 
year  watching  with  deep  interest  the  result  of 
man's  labor  and  enterprise,  as  he  gradually 
transformed  the  dense  forests  and  uninhab- 
ited swami)s  into  thrifty,  fertile  homesteads 
and  flourishing  settlements  and  cities.  Mr. 
Leggett  was  born  in  Greenville,  Darke 
county,  Ohio,  August  9,  1835,  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Hannah  (Collins)  Leggett,  to  whom  were 
bom  twelve  children,  seven  sons  and  five 
'daughters,  but  Joseph,  who  is  the  eleventh  in 
order  of  birth,  is*  the  only  one  now  living. 
The  father  was  bom  on  the  Emerald  Isle,  of 
Scotch-Irish  lineage,  and  followed  farming  as 
a  life  occupation.  His  death  occurred  when 
his  son  Joseph  was  but  a  child.  The  mother, 
who  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  died  in   St. 


Joseph  county  at  the  age  of  seventy-five 
years,  passing  away  in  the  faith  of  the  Meth- 
odist church,  of  which  in  life  she  was  a  de- 
vout member. 

When  but  a  babe  of  one  year  Joseph  Leg- 
gett was  brought  by  his  parents  to  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  where  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  were  purchased  in  Liberty  town- 
ship, all  heavily  timbered,  and  their  firet 
home  was  a  little  log  cabin  of  the  most  primi- 
tive style  and  which  Mr.  Leggett  of  this 
review  can  yet  recall  to  mind.  He  can  also 
remember  the  Pottawatomie  Indians  as  they 
roamed  at  will  over  this  section  of  the  state, 
and  deer,  wild  turkeys  and  the  gray  wolves 
were  also  plentiful,  he  having  at  one  time 
killed  a  deer  about  a  half  a  mile  west  of 
North  Liberty.  In  those  early  days  the  old 
fashioned  turkey  wing  cradle  was  used,  also 
the  sickle,  while  the  threshing  was  accom- 
plished by  the  horses  tramping  out  the  grain 
on  the  bam  floor.  A  few  years  later  the  old 
** Cover,''  a  cylinder  which  would  simply  run 
out  the  grain,  was  introduced,  and  he  well 
remembers  the  excitement  created  over  the 
introduction  into  the  county  of  the  first 
binder  and  reaper.  At  that  time  South  Bend, 
the  now  populous  city  of  fifty  thousand  in- 
habitants and  world-famed  factories,  was  but 
a  straggling  village  and  the  great  Stude- 
baker  plant  had  but  a  primitive  little  shop. 
At  that  time  there  was  not  a  railroad  within 
the  county  of  St.  Joseph,  and  Mr.  Leggett 
was  employed  on  the  Lake  Shore  near  New 
Carlisle  during  its  construction.  This  pio- 
neer couple  have  also  witnessed  the  intro- 
duction of  the  telegraph,  the  telephone,  the 
rural  free  delivery  and  the  many  other  im- 
provements which  now  place  this  section  on 
a  par  with  the  older  east.  Both  attended 
the  old  log  cabin  schools  of  the  pioneer 
period,  their  little  temple  of  learning,  six- 
teen by  twenty-four  feet  in  size,  being  cov- 
ered with  a  clapboard  roof,  heated  by  a  box 
stove,  and  seated  with  slab  benches,  with  a 
broad  board  for  a  desk,  and  they  have  also 
used  the  famous  old  goosequill  pens  fashioned 
by  the  master.  Friendships,  however,  in 
those  days  were  genuine,  and  should  a  neigrh- 
bor  have  a  house  to  raise  or  a  clearing  to 
make  all  would  join  in  and  help  him,  while  in 
the  evening  the  young  couples  would  gather 
for  one  of  the  old  time  frolics,  Mrs.  Leggett 
having  often  attended  a  quilting  party  or 
apple  bee. 

In  August,  1860,  Mr.  Leggett  married  Miss 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


//       NEW  YORK       V 
"    .1909 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by  LjOOQ  IC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1003 


Mary  Wagner,  and  their  two  children  are 
both  living,  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Hilde- 
brant,  a  teacher  of  North  Liberty,  and  their 
only  child  is  a  daughter  Carrie,  and  Norman 
E.  is  living  on  the  old  homestead  and  is  one 
of  the  successful  agriculturists  of  the  town- 
ship. He  married  Miss  Mary  C.  Sheneman, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Hazel  and  Bernie. 
Mrs.  Leggett,  the  mother,  was  born  in  Logan 
county,  Ohio,  in  1830,  but  when  a  little  child 
of  five  years  she  was  brought  by  her  parents 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  making  the  journey  by 
wagon  and  on  horseback,  over  the  hills  and 
through  the  swamps  and  quagmires  to  their 
destination,  where  they  first  lived  on  rented 
land.  The  father  had  died  in  Ohio,  and  the 
mother  afterward  wedded  John  Keeley.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Leggett  began  their  married  life  as 
renters,  with  a  cash  capital  of  less  than 
twenty  dollars,  and  their  first  purchase  of 
land  consisted  of  forty  acres,  but  the  hard 
times  following  they  disposed  of  the  tract, 
but  later  became  the  owners  of  one  hundred 
a«ree.  Two  years  later  they  again  sold  their 
land,  and  after  conducting  a  saw  mill  for 
two  years  Mr.  Leggett  purchased  the  present 
homestead  of  ninety-five  acres,  where  but  a 
few  acres  had  been  cleared  and  on  which  a 
little  old  school  house  served  as  a  dwellmg. 
Gradually,  however,  the  land  was  cleared  and 
placed  under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation, 
the  domain  increased  to  two  hundred  and 
sixty-two  acres,  and  the  old  school  house  has 
long  since  given  place  to  the  beautiful  and 
commodious  residence  which  now  adorns  the 
farm.  Mr.  Leggett  gives  his  political  support 
to  the  Democracy,  being  a  Jackson  Democrat, 
and  has  always  stood  firmly  by  those  princi- 
ples. Both  he  and  his  wife  are  devout  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  church,  their  lives  hav- 
ing been  spent  in  harmony  therewith.  Their 
sun  is  fast  setting  beneath  the  western  hori- 
zon of  life,  and  when  called  upon  to  lay 
down  the  burdens  and  responsibilities  of  this 
world  they  will  leave  to  their  posterity  a 
priceless  heritage,  the  record  of  well  spent, 
useful  lives. 

Edmund  G.  Geyer.  The  name  of  Geyer 
is  so  well  known  throughout  the  entire  county 
of  St.  Joseph  that  its  representatives  need  no 
special  introduction  to  the  readers  of  this 
volume.  Edmund  G.  Geyer  is  numbered 
among  the  leading  agriculturists  and  business 
men  of  Liberty  township,  and  his  birth  oc- 
curred' in  Dearborn  county,  Indiana,  Decem- 
ber  16,   1866,  his  parents  being  Peter  an3 


Margaret  (Ewald)  Geyer,  he  being  their 
fourth  child  in  order  of  birth.  The  father 
was  born  about  t^n  miles  from  the  old  city 
of  Mimich,  Germany  in  the  province  of  Ba- 
varia, December  12,  1836,  and  his  death  oc- 
curred in  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  Novem- 
ber 15,  1901.  He  was  but  a  little  lad  of  four 
years  when  he  bade  adieu  to  the  fatherland 
and  set  sail  from  Bremen  for  the  United 
States,  their  destination  being  Baltimore, 
Maryland.  Their  voyage  was  a  stormy  one, 
the  vessel  being  buffeted  about  by  wind  and 
wave  for  fourteen  weeks  and  many  times 
driven  from  its  course,  but  finally  God  in  his 
infinite  mercy  carried  them  safely  into  port. 
Making  their  way  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  the 
family  spent  several  months  in  that  city,  and 
then  removed  to  Dearborn  county,  Indiana, 
the  father  there  believing  he  would  find  a 
primitive  land  where  he  might  begin  anew  the 
battle  of  life  among  the  wilds  as  a  huntsman. 
But  the  location  not  proving  satisfactory,  in 
the  year  1850,  over  the  old  Michigan  trail, 
the  family  again  began  their  journeyings, 
finally  landing  in  Liberty  township,  St. 
Joseph  county,  where  the  father  purchased 
four  hundred  acres  of  virgin  timber  land, 
receiving  this  tract  and  five  hundred  dollars 
in  return  for  his  eighty  kcres  in  Dearborn 
coimty,  and  their  first  habitation  was  a  little 
log  cabin.  The  Pottawatomie  Indians  were 
then  to  be  seen  in  the  vicinity,  while  game  of 
all  kinds  was  plentiful.  There  were  then 
practically  no  highways  in  the  county,  the 
road  leading  from  the  village  of  North  Lib- 
erty, or  what  has  since  been  designated  by  that 
name,  being  but  a  blazed  trail.  In  the  early 
days  the  Geyers  were  Democrats,  but  the 
question  of  slavery  caused  them  to  change 
their  views,  and  at  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party  they  joined  its  ranks  and 
supported  its  first  presidential  nominee.  Gen- 
eral Fremont.  Peter  Geyer  devoted  his  life 
to  the  pursuit  of  agriculture.  Having  re- 
ceived but  limited  educational  advantages  in 
his  youth  he  constantly  added  to  his  store  of 
knowledge  by  constant  reading  and  observa- 
tion until  he  became  a  well  informed  man, 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  adherents  of 
the  Lutheran  faith,  while  Mr.  Geyer  was  also 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  order.  The  wife 
and  mother  was  a  native  of  Dearborn  county, 
Indiana,  born  in  the  same  house  in  which  all 
of  her  children  also  first  saw  the  light  of  day, 
November  18,  1837,  and  she  now  resides  in 
the  city  of  South  Bend,  honored  and  revered 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1010 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


for  her  many  noble  characteristics.  She  and 
her  husband  were  schoohnates  in  their  child- 
hood days,  from  whence  sprung  that  beauti- 
ful attachment  which  grew  stronger  with  the 
passing  years,  finally  uniting  them  as  hus- 
band and  wife,  and  together  they  traveled 
the  journey  of  life  for  many  years. 

Edmund  G.  Greyer,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  was  but  eight  years  of  age  when 
he  became  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph  coimty, 
and  here  he  has  since  lived  and  labored,  being 
now  numbered  among  the  leading  agricultur- 
ists'and  stock  raisers  of  Liberty  township. 
In  past  years,  however,  he  was  one  of  the 
successful  educators  of  the  county,  teaching 
in  both  North  Liberty  and  Liberty  township. 
During  his  youth  he  received  an  excellent 
educational  training  in  the  Beaver  Creek 
school  of  Liberty  township,  and  he  seems  to 
have  inherited  the  love  of  the  teacher's  pro- 
fession, for  in  the  family  were  four  prom- 
inent educators,  and  the  name  is  a  familiar 
one  in  the  educational  circles  of  this  section 
of  the  county.  Mr.  Qeyer  taught  three  years 
in  the  North  Liberty  schools  and  twelve  years 
in  the  township  schools,  and  he  now  holds  an 
exemption  certificate,  which  is  nominally  the 
same  as  a  life  certificate. 

On  the  25th  of  May,  1889,  Mr.  Geyer  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Martha  E.  King, 
and  their  two  children  are  LaVerne  B.,  who 
received  a  diploma  from  the  county  schools 
in  the  class  of  1906,  and  is  now  a  student  in 
the  North  Liberty  high  school,  and  she  has 
also  received  musical  instruction,  and  Leo  P., 
who  is  a  bright  and  intelligent  student  in 
the  fourth  grade  of  school.  Mrs.  Geyer  was 
bom  in  Bethany,  Harrison  county,  Missouri, 
July  28,  1865,  {he  yoimger  of  the  two  chil- 
dren, a  son  and  daughter,  bom  to  Daniel  and 
Annie  (Mullet)  King.  The  son  is  William 
N.  King,  who  is  engaged  in  teaching  in  Cow- 
ley county,  Kansas.  Mr.  King  was  bom  in 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  and  his  entire  active 
business  career  was  devoted  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  while  politically  he  was  a  Repub- 
lican. Mrs.  King  was  bom  in  Holmes  county, 
OhiOj  in  1840,  and  she  now  makes  her  home 
with  her  daughter.  Mrs.  Geyer  was  but  a 
babe  of  two  years  when  the  family  returned 
to  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  attaining  to  years  of 
maturity  in  the  Buckeye  state  and  receiving 
her  education  in  its  common  schools.  She  is 
a  lady  of  pleasing  personality,  and  her  cheery 
manner  is  a  blessing  in  her  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geyer  began  their  married 


life  in  the  old  Geyer  home,  there  remaining 
for  one  year,  and  in  1890  located  on  their 
present  farm  which  comprises  one  hundred 
acres  in  one  tract  and  seventy  in  another,  and 
all  lies  in  Liberty  township.  They  have  re- 
modeled their  residence,  erected  a  large  barn 
and  other  buildings,  and  their  home  is  known 
as  **Lakeview.*'  Mr.  Geyer  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Benjamin  Harrison,  hav- 
ing ever  since  continued  to  support  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Republican  party,  and  he  has 
often  times  been  selected  as  delegate  to  the 
county  conventions.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  as  are  also  their  children  and  the 
family  is  one  of  the  honored  ones  of  St 
Joseph  county. 

John  Adam  Sheneman,  a  member  of  one 
of   the   historic   old   families   of   St.   Joseph 
county,  has  been  closely  identified  with  its 
interests   throughout  his  entire  life,  and  it 
may  well  feel  proud  to  claim  him  among  its 
native  sons.     His  natal  day  was  the  6th  of 
September,   1864,  and  he  is  the  third  in  a 
family  of  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three 
daughters,    born    to    Henry    and    Elizabeth 
(Mullet)    Sheneman,   whose  history  will  be 
found  elsewhere.     His  entire  business  career 
has  been  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  the 
fields,  and  his  education  was  received  in  the 
common  school  near  his  home.     Upon  reach- 
ing the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  began  the 
battle  of  life  for  himself,  having  previously 
given  the  benefit  of  his  time  to  his  parents, 
and  beginning  at  the  bottom  round  of  the 
ladder  he  has  gradually  worked  his  way  up- 
ward until  he  now  occupies  a  position  anjong: 
the   leading  agriculturists   of  the  township. 
During  the  first  nine  years  he  worked  by  the 
month   at   one   place,   the   DeCoudres  farm 
southwest  of  North  Liberty,  after  which  he 
purchased  forty  acres  of  his  present  home- 
stead, at  that  time  only  partially  improved, 
and  the  price  necessary  for  its  purchase  had 
been  saved  from  his  hard-earned  earninss  in 
the  previous  years.    He  is  truly  a  type  of  the 
progressive  spirit  of  the  age.  a  spirit  which 
has   given    America   pre-eminence    along  its 
various  business  lines  and  the  undaunted  en- 
terprise  and   resolute   purpose   which  have 
characterized  him  have  been   the  means  of 
raising  him  from  a  lowly  position  to  one  of 
prominence  in  the  business  life  of  the  com- 
munity. 

On  the  25th  of  December.  1895,  Mr.  Shene- 
man, was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ella 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


^v>^^.  (/.ft^wc/^  J<fAe^,cz^uuta<.^, 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


THE 

l-OMr^tiOflt. 

iyC9 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1011 


Newcomer,  and  they  have  became  the  parents 
of  three  children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter, 
namely:  Addie  Marje,  who  is  now  a  little 
maiden  in  the  third  grade  of  the  public 
schools;  Harvey  Leo,  a  member  of  the  first 
grade;  and  Charles  Russell,  the  youngest  of 
the  family.  Mrs.  Sheneman  was  bom  in 
Starke  county,  Indiana,  May  16, 1875,  and  was 
a  little  maiden  of  only  two  years  when  she 
came  with  her  parents  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
receiving  her  education  in  its  common  schools 
and  graduating  therein  in  1890.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  John  A.  and  Catherine  S.  (Hart- 
man)  Newcomer,  in  whose  family  were  six 
children,  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  but 
only  two  of  the  number  are  now  living,  the 
younger  being  Susanna,  the  wife  of  Alopzo 
Sheneman,  who  is  prominent  and  well  known 
farmer  in  Madison  township.  They  have 
four  living  children. 

Mr.  Newcomer,  the  father,  is  a  native  of 
Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  bom  June  14,  1844, 
but  when  a  lad  his  parents  removed  to  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  where  they  remained  until  he 
was  nine  years  of  age,  coming  thence  to  St. 
Joseph  county.  The  journey  hither  was  made 
in  true  pioneer  style,  traveling  in  a  covered 
wagon  across  the  swamps  and  through  the 
woods  until  finally  reaching  their  journey's 
end  in  Liberty  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
where  they  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  timber  land.  Their  first  abode  was 
a  little  log  cabin,  and  their  nearest  neighbors 
were  the  Pottawatomie  Indians,  who  made 
sugar  just  a  little  way  from  their  home.  The 
son  John  received  his  education  in  a  little  log 
cabin  eighteen  by  twenty  feet,  with  slab  seats 
resting  on  wooden  legs,  while  the  desk  was  a 
broad  board  supported  by  wooden  pins  driven 
into  the  wall,  and  he  has  written  with  the  old 
fashioned  goose  quill  pen  fashioned  by  the 
master.  He  has  also  used  the  old  sickle,  and 
cradled  wheat  all  day  with  the  turkey  wing 
cradle  for  wages.  The  wedding  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Newcomer  was  celebrated  on  the  23d  of 
December,  1866,  and  their  first  purchase  of 
land  was  eighty  acres  in  Starke  county,  Indi- 
ana, but  he  is  now  the  owner  of  thirty-six 
acres  in  Liberty  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
where  he  has  resided  for  over  a  quarter  of  a 
century.  He  is  a  Jackson  Democrat  and  cast 
his  first  presidential  vote  for  Greeley,  always 
having  stood  firm  for  those  principles.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church.  Mrs.  Newcomer  was  bom 
in  DeKalb  coimty,  Indiana,  October  18,  1844, 


there  remaining  until  her  ninth  year,  when 
she  was  brought  by  her  father  to  St.  Joseph 
county.  For  forty-one  years  she  has  traveled 
the  journey  of  life  with  her  husband,  they 
mutually  sharing  the  joys  and  sorrows  which 
have  checkered  their  careers,  and  now  as  they 
pass  down  the  western  slope  they  receive  the 
love  and  veneration  which  should  ever  be  the 
reward  of  useful  and  well  spent  lives. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shene- 
man took  up  their  abode  in  a  little  home  sdx- 
teen  by  twenty-four  feet  on  their  present  farm, 
but  as  the  years  have  grown  apace  their  ac- 
tivity, industry  and  economy  have  made  pos- 
sible the  erection  of  the  many  beautiful  build- 
ings which  now  adorn  the  place.  The  barn, 
which  was  erected  in  1901,  is  a  model  one  in 
all  its  appointments,  and  is  forty  by  seventy 
feet  in  dimensions,  with  twenty  foot  corner 
posts  and  an  eight  foot  basement.  The  land 
has  also  been  placed  imder  an  excellent  state 
of  cultivation,  and  in  addition  to  the  original 
purchase  of  forty  acres  they  also  own  fifty 
acres  located  just  a  little  northeast,  while  in 
the  pastures  may  be  seen  some  of  the  best 
standard  bred  stock  in  the  county,  consist- 
ing of  Polled  Durham  cattle,  Clyde  and  Per- 
cheron  horses  and  Chester  White  and  Poland 
China  hogs.  Although  a  young  man*  Mr. 
Sheneman  has  attained  a  distinguished  posi- 
tion among  the  leading  business  men  of  the 
township,  and  to-day  he  stands  facing  the 
future  undaunted  and  is  rapidly  winning  for 
himself  a  still  higher  place  in  the  biLsiness 
world.  His  political  support  is  given  to  the 
Democracy,  and  he  has  often  represented  his 
district  in  the  county  conventions.  Still  high- 
er political  positions  have  been  offered  him, 
but  he  has  preferred  to  give  his  undivided 
attention  to  his  business  interests.  Mrs. 
Sheneman  is  a  member  of  the  German  Luther- 
an church,  and  both  are  held  in  high  regard 
by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  neighbors. 

William  E.  Gushwa.  One  of  the  historic 
old  families  of  the  Hoosier  state  is  the  Gush- 
was  ;  and  the  name  is  so  well  known  in  south- 
em  St.  Joseph  county  that  its  representa- 
tives need  no  special  introduction  to  its  citi- 
zens. William  E.  Gushwa  has  spent  nearly 
his  entire  life  within  its  borders,  and  during 
the  long  period  of  fourteen  years  his  name 
was  interwoven  with  the  educational  interests 
of  the  county.  He  is  of  French  origin  and 
was  born  in  DeKalb  county,  Indiana,  Septem- 
ber 9,  1856,  a  son  of  John  and  Catherine 
(Reinoehl)  Gushwa.     They  were  the  parents 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1012 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


of  four  children,  one  son  and  three  daughters, 
and  three  are  now  living,  namely:  William 
E.,  the  eldest;  Mary,  the  wife  of  James  B. 
Fisher;  who  is  employed  as  a  carpenter  and 
joiner  in  South  Bend ;  and  Sarah  L.,  the  wife 
of  J.  L.  Weaver,  an  ex-official  and  prominent 
farmer  of  Liberty  township. 

John  Gushwa,  the  father,  was  a  native  of 
Holmes  county,  Ohio,  born  on  the  27th  of 
January,  1831,  and  his  death  occurred  on  the 
8th  of  February,  1903.  He  was  reared  as  an 
agriculturist  in  his  native  state,  but  in  1844 
emigrated  to  Indiana,  the  trip  hither  being 
made  in  true  pioneer  style,  with  ox  teams 
and  wagons,  across  quagmires,  swamps  and 
the  virgin  forests  imtil  they  finally  reached 
their  destination  in  DeKalb  county.  After 
a  short  time  spent  as  a  renter,  Mr.  Gushwa 
purchased  forty  acres  of  unimproved  land, 
the  first  habitation  being  a  typical  log  cabin 
in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness,  where  deer, 
wolves  and  other  wild  animals  were  frequently 
seen.  In  that  early  day  there  were  but  six 
voters  in  his  township,  the  ballot  box  being 
an  old  boot  leg,  and  other  conditions  and  sur- 
roundings were  equally  as  primitive.  About 
1862,  when  the  tocsin  of  war  sounded  through- 
out the  land,  Mr.  Gushwa  offered  his  services 
to  his  country's  cause,  enlisting  in  Company  B, 
Twenty-ninth  Indiana  Infantry,  and  served 
throughout  the  remainder  of  the  conflict,  re- 
ceiving his  honorable  discharge  at  its  close 
and  returning  to  his  Indiana  home  to  again 
don  the  civilian's  garb  and  resume  the  duties 
he  had  so  nobly  put  aside  to  further  his  coun- 
try's cause. 

In  1865  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  but 
previous  to  this  time,  in  1862,  his  wife  had 
died,  and  in  1866  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Ellen  Shambaugh,  by  whom  he  had 
five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters, 
of  whom  four  are  living,  namely:  Elza,  who 
resides  with  his  mother  on  the  old  homestead 
in  Liberty  township,  and  is  one  of  its  agricul- 
turists ;  Emma,  the  wife  of  D.  E.  Steele,  also 
a  farmer  of  Liberty '  township ;  Albert,  who 
married  Miss  Emma  Price,  and  is  an  agri- 
culturist of  Union  township,  St.  Joseph  coun- 
German  Baptist  church,  as  was  also  her  bus- 
ty ;  and  Frank,  who  wedded  Miss  Viola  Man- 
gus  and  also  resides  on  the  old  home  farm. 
Mrs.  Gushwa,  the  mother,  is  a  native  of  Rich- 
land county,  Ohio.  She  has  been  a  loving  and 
affectionate  mother,  not  only  to  her  own  chil- 
dren but  to  her  husband's  as  well,  and  is 
loved  and  revered  by  all  who  have  the  pleas- 


ure of  her  acquaintance.  She  is  a  worthy 
member  of  the  German  Baptist  church.  Mr. 
Gushwa  was  a  Jackson  Democrat  in  his  polit- 
ical affiliations,  and  was  «in  honored  member 
of  the  Masonic  order. 

William  E.  Gushwa,  the  eldest  child  of  this 
honored  old  St.  Joseph  pioneer,  was  but  a  lad 
of  ten  years  when  the  family  home  was  es- 
tablished within  its  borders,  and  thus  through- 
out njearly  his  entire  life  he  has  been  identified 
with  its  interests.  After  completing  his  train- 
ing in  the  common  schools  he  received  a  teach- 
er *s  certificate  and  taught  for  one  year  in  his 
home  township,  after  which  he  entered  as  a 
student  the  Northern  Indiana  Normal  College 
at  Valparaiso,  there  remaining  from  1879  un- 
til 1880.  He  pursued  the  normal  course  of 
study  in  order  to  further  perfect  himself  for 
his  work  as  a  teacher,  and  his  field  of  labor 
lay  in  Liberty  and  Union  townships,  where 
for  fourteen  years  he  devoted  his  time  to  the 
task  of  instructing  the  young  along  lines  of 
mental  advancement,  his  scholarly  attain- 
ments and  intellectuality  making  him  an  able 
and  successful  teacher.  In  1892,  however,  he 
left  the  professional  for  a  business  life,  enter- 
ing the  hardware  and  implement  trade  in 
North  Liberty,  where  he  was  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Price  &  Gushwa.  Two  years  later 
this  partnership  was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Gush- 
wa then  embarked  in  the  real  estate  and  in- 
surance business,  also  being  a  notary  public, 
and  in  the  insurance  department  he  represents 
the  Phoenix  of  Brooklyn,  the  Hartford  and 
the  Etna  companies.  He  has  met  with  success 
in  all  the  departments  of  his  work,  and  his 
name  stands  conspicuously  forth  among  the 
leading  business  men  of  the  community  of 
North  Liberty. 

On  the  25th  of  November,  1890,  Mr.  Gush- 
wa was  united  in  marriage  to  IMiss  Estella 
Lee,  who  was  born  in  Laporte  county,  Indi- 
ant,  March  16,  1857,  and  she  was  but 
a  little  maiden  of  nine  years  when 
she  came  with  her  parents  to  North  Lib- 
erty, completing  her  education  in  its  pub- 
lie  schools  and  also  receiving  musical  instruc- 
tion. Her  father  was  a  native  of  the  old  com- 
monwealth of  Virginia,  but  was  reared  in 
Ohio  and  Indiana,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war.  His  life's  labors  were  ended  in 
death  on  the  2nd  of  July,  1900,  but  his  widow, 
a  native  of  New  York,  still  resides  in  North 
Liberty,  and  is  a  worthy  member  of  the  Epis- 
copal church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gushwa  are  prom- 
inent in  the  social  life  of  North  Liberty,  and 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1013 


where  they  are  members  of  the  Lecture  Bur- 
eau, and  theirs  is  one  of  the  pretty  modern 
cottages  of  the  village.  In  his  fraternal  re- 
lations Mr.  Gushwa  is  a  member  of  the  Mod- 
em Woodmen  of  America.  His  courteous 
manners  and  broad-minded  principles  ren- 
der him  a  favorite  with  the  people,  and  the 
circle  of  his  friends  is  almost  co-extensive  with 
the  circle  of  his  acquaintances. 

Larmon  Foote,  who  is  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  agricultural  interests  of  Liberty 
township,  is  a  scion  of  a  family  whose  associa- 
tion with  the  annals  of  St.  Joseph  county  have 
been  intimate  and  honorable  since  an  early 
epoch  in  its  history,  and  such  men  and  such 
ancestral  prestige  fully  justify  the  compila- 
tion of  works  of  this  nature,  that  a  worthy 
record  may  be  perpetuated  for  future  gener- 
ations. The  birth  of  Mr.  Foote  occurred  in 
St.  Joseph  county  on  the  16th  of  April,  1872, 
the  only  child  born  to  Linus  and  Malissa 
(Rupe)  Foote.  The  father  claimed  New  York 
as  the  commonwealth  of  his  nativity,  born  in 
1848,  and  his  father  came  from  the  little 
** Nutmeg'*  state  of  Connecticut.  In  the  early 
yiear  of  1854  Linus  Foote  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  they  pur- 
chasing land  in  Center  township,  but  the  first 
land  which  he  owned  was  in  Qreene  township, 
where  he  gradually  increased  his  possessions 
until  his  estate  comprised  one  hundred  acres. 
He  gives  a  stanch  and  unfaltering  support  to 
the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
has  served  as  the  trustee  of  Greene  township, 
proving  himself  an  efficient  and  competent  of- 
ficer, and  also  as  assessor  and  supervisor.  Mrs. 
Foote  is  a  native  daughter  of  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty, born  on  the  24th  of  December,  1848,  to 
Daniel  and  Martha  (Stull)  Rupe,  the  former 
a  native  of  Virginia.  The  mother  was  of  Ger- 
man lineage.  While  her  mother,  Rebecca 
(Hughes)  Stull,  was  of  Scotch  descent.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rupe  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  church,  and  were  people  of  true 
worth  in  the  localities  in  which  they  made 
their  home.  Five  children  were  bom  to  bless 
their  union,  and  all  are  now  living  in  St. 
Joseph  county  with  the  exception  of  one 
daughter,  Mrs.  Margaret  Cook,  a  resident  of 
Ft.  Wayne,  Indiana. 

Larmon  Foote,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  remained  at  home  with  his  parents 
until  reaching  his  majority,  and  on  the  27th 
of  November,  1891,  Thanksgiving  day,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Barbara  Cullar, 
to   whom  have  been   born   three   daughters: 


Blanche,  who  was  a  member  of  the  class  of 
1905,  but  sickness  prevented  her  graduation, 
and  she  has  received  musical  instruction ;  Dor- 
othy, in  the  eighth  grade  and  a  member  of 
the  class  of  1907 ;  and  Helen,  the  youngest  of 
the  family.  Mrs.  Foote  was  born  in  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  Indiana,  October  8,  1873,  the 
youngest  child  of  Samuel  and  Louisa  (Metz- 
ker)  Cullar,  to  whom  were  born  eight  chil- 
dren, and  the  five  now  living  are:  Josiah,  who 
is  married  and  resides  in  California ;  Matilda, 
the  wife  of  Jacob  Barnhart,  a  merchant  of 
Colorado  Springs,  Colorado ;  Rosa,  the  wife  of 
Pf*ate  Baker,  who  is  now  living  retired  in  that 
city ;  William,  who  is  represented  elsewhere  in 
this  work ;  and  Barbara,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Foote. 
Samuel  Cullar,  the  father,  was  born  in  Ma- 
honing county,  Ohio,  July  9,  1834,  and  his 
death  occurred  on  the  13th  of  August,  1874. 
In  his  early  life  he  had  learned  the  trades  of 
a  carpenter  and  joiner,  but  after  taking  up 
his  abode  in  Liberty  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
unimproved  land,  erected  a  little  log  cabin, 
and  began  the  arduous  task  of  clearing  and 
cultivating  his  farm.  Ite  subsequently  re- 
moved to  Douglas  county,  Kansas,  where  he 
became  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land,  and  there  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  Mrs.  Cullar  continued  her  resi- 
dence in  that  commonwealth  for  eight  years, 
and  then  returned  to  Indiana.  Her  birth 
occurred  in  Pennsylvania,  September  28, 1838, 
and  she  is  now  living  with  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Foote,  a  consistent  and  worthy  member  of  the 
German  Baptist  church  as  was  also  her  hus- 
band. He  gave  his  political  support  to  the 
Republican  party. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foote  now  own  a  valuable 
estate  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  fer- 
tile and  well  improved  land  in  Liberty  town- 
ship, their  home  being  one  of  the  pretty  resi- 
dences of  the  township.  His  political  affilia- 
tions are  with  the  Republican  party,  casting 
his  first  presidential  vote  for  McKinley.  Mrs. 
Foote  is  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist 
church.  Their  many  admirable  qualities  of 
heart  and  mind  have  gained  for  them  a  large 
circle  of  friends,  and  they  are  widely  and 
favorably  known  in  Liberty  township  and 
vicinity. 

Levi  Mangus  has  spent  the  greater  part  of 
his  life  in  St.  Joseph  county,  has  witnessed 
the  wonderful  transformation  which  has  taken 
place  as  its  wild  land  has  been  transformed 
into  beautiful  homes  and  farms  and  towns 
and  villages  have  sprung  up,  and  in  all  the 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1014 


fflSTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


work  of  upbuilding  he  has  borne  his  full 
share.  His  birth  occurred  in  Columbiana 
county,  Ohio,  July  3,  1831,  his  parents  being 
Jacob  and  Mary  (StuU)  Mangus,  in  whose 
family  were  nine  children,  five  sons  and  four 
daughters,  of  whom  five  are  now  living,  name- 
ly: Levi,  the  eldest;  Susan,  the  widow 
of  John  Borden  and  a  resident  of  Lib- 
erty township;  Simon,  who  resides  south- 
east of  the  city  of  South  Bend;  Mary  Ann, 
the  widow  of  Levi  Stull  and  a  resident  of 
Liberty  township;  and  Hiram,  a  successful 
farmer  of  Union  township,  St.  Joseph  county. 

Jacob  Mangus,  the  father,  was  a  native  of 
York  county,  Pennsylvania,  born  in  1809,  and 
his  death  occurred  about  1855.  When  he 
was  a  little  lad  of  twelve  years  he  was  brought 
by  his  parents  to  Ohio,  the  journey  being 
made  in  the  old  sway  backed  wagons  in  true 
pioneer  style,  and  their  destination  was  Col- 
umbiana county.  There  the  son  Jacob  grew 
to  manhood's  estate,  continuing  to  reside  in 
a  little  log  cabin  until  the  removal  was  made 
to  St.  Joseph  county  in  1855.  However  Mr. 
Mangus  had  previously  journeyed  to  the  coun- 
ty and  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  in  Union  township,  where  he  erected 
a  hewed  log  cabin,  but  ere  its  completion  he 
was  called  to  the  home  beyond.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  as  have  been 
the  family  for  many  generations,  and  assisted 
in  the  building  of  the  church  here.  Mrs. 
Mangus  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1803, 
and  her  death  occurred  in  1847.  Both  the 
Mangus  and  Stull  families  were  of  German 
lineage,  and  Grandfather  Stull  came  from  the 
fatherland  during  his  young  manhood  and 
located  in  Pennsylvania. 

Levi  Mangus,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review^  passed  the  early  years  of  life  in  his 
native  county  of  Columbiana,  where  he  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  but  being  of 
an  inventive  turn  of  mind  his  tastes  naturally 
led  to  mechanics,  and  for  a  time  he  followed 
the  occupation  of  shoe  making  and  was  also 
expert  as  a  gun  maker.  In  his  youth  he  re- 
ceived only  a  meager  education  in  the  old  fash- 
ioned log  cabin  schools  of  those  days,  where 
the  seats  were  slabs  with  wooden  legs  and  no 
backs,  and  the  desks  were  long  boards  rest- 
ing on  wooden  pins  driven  into  the  wall.  His 
first  purchase  of  land  consisted  of  forty  acres 
in  Liberty  township,  but  as  time  has  parsed 
and  as  his  means  permitted  he  added  to  this 
tract  until  he  now  owns  two  hundred  and 
seventy-eight  acres  and  also  two  lots  in  North 


Liberty.  In  1878  he  erected  his  pleasant  and 
commodious  residence,  and  the  brick  used  in 
its  construction  was  manufactured  by  him- 
self. He  is  truly  an  inventive  genius,  and  is 
known  as  the  Genius  of  Liberty  township. 
He  can  fashion  many  articles  from  steel,  and 
in  an  early  day  made  guns,  cleaned  clocks, 
manufactured  shoes,  and  in  fact  followed  any 
occupation  that  would  yield  him  an  honest 
dollar.  He  yet  owns  a  combined  rifle  and 
shot  gun  which  he  made  with  his  own  hands, 
it  being  beautifully  inlaid  with  silver  and 
manufactured  from  the  best  material.  He 
has  the  pattern  of  a  shuttle  for  a  sewing 
machine,  where  the  shuttle  holds  one  spool, 
the  other  spool  being  on  the  machine,  and  he 
also  has  a  book  which  is  over  a  century  old. 

Mr.  Mangus  has  been  twice  married,  first 
in  1852  to  Miss  Caroline  Jarrett,  and  they  had 
t€n  children,  four  sons  and  six  daughters,  of 
whom  eight  are  living:  Lucinda,  the  wife  of 
Thomas  Cheatwood,  of  Canada;  Marion,  a 
farmer  of  Liberty  township;  Alonzo,  who  is 
also  an  agriculturist  of  Liberty  township; 
Amanda  Catherine,  the  wife  of  Percillus  Wor- 
ster,  of  North  Liberty;  Charlotte,  wife  of 
Isaiah  Bickle,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Liberty 
township ;  Jane,  wife  of  Henry  Beuchtel,  who 
is  also  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Liberty  township;  Lucretia,  wife  of  Charles 
Unkefer,  who  is  engaged  in  the  creamery 
business  at  Robertsville,  Stark  county,  Ohio; 
and  Lot,  who  is  married  and  resides  in  Liber- 
ty township.  Mrs.  Mangus,  the  mother,  was 
a  native  of  New  Jersey,  of  English  descent, 
and  after  her  death  Mr.  Mangus  married, 
October  15,  1874,  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  (Barton) 
Wharton.  Mrs.  Mangus  had  been  previously 
married  to  Stacy  Wharton,  and  they  had  six 
children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters,  of 
whom  five  are  living:  Margaret  M.,  who  is  a 
well  but  self  educated  lady  and  resides  with 
her  mother;  John  A.,  a  resident  of  South 
Bend;  Alfred,  an  agriculturist  of  Liberty 
township ;  Rachel,  the  wife,  of  William  Crowl. 
a  farmer  of  Liberty  township;  and  Ellen, 
the  widow  of  Henry  Bickel  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Liberty  township.  Mrs.  Mangus 
was  born  in  St.  Joseph  county  November  4, 
1837,  receiving  her  education  in  its  early 
primitive  schools,  and  has  witnessed  its  won- 
derful transformation  from  a  comparative 
wilderness  to  one  of  the  most  populous  coun- 
ties of  the  commonwealth.  Mr.  Mangus  gives 
his  political  support  to  the  Independent  party 
where  national  issues  are  involved,  but  is  not 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


ipjjiiv     /p>     ^d^U£4>eje4^^^C4^^ 


Digitized  by  LjOOQ  IC 


/^m-<i^  ^,  JS^^C-n^f^ 


Zt^yi/ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


',PU'^'-^' 


L»  ^^;■T^V 


\ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


lOlo 


bound  by  party  ties,  and  is  a  strong  advocate 
of  the  cause  of  temperance.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  Company  K, 
One  Hundred  and  Fifty-first  Indiana  Volun- 
teers, and  with  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
Indianapolis,  but  while  there  he  became  ill 
and  was  sent  to  the  hospital,  afterward  re- 
ceiving his  honorable  discharge  and  returned 
home.  He  is  numbered  among  the  honored, 
early  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  the 
primitive  manners  and  customs  of  its  early 
days  are  familiar  to  him.  His  first  home  was 
a  little  log  cabin,  which  was  raised  by  the 
neighbors,  they  having  come  in  hunter  style, 
with  their  eruns  and  shot  pouches. 

Levi  A.  Smith.  Liberty  township,  St. 
Joseph  county,  numbers  among  its  honored 
citizens  Le\d  A.  Smith,  who  is  classed  among 
its  younger  agriculturists,  but  his  years  have 
been  no  bar  to  his  success,  for  he  has  won 
for  himself  a  name  and  place  among  the  lead- 
ing business  men  of  the  township.  He  is  also 
a  native  son  of  St.  Joseph  county,  his  natal 
day  being  the  30th  of  August,  1865,  and  his 
parents  Theodore  A.  and  Katie  (Holser) 
Smith.  During  his  early  boyhood  days  the 
lad  was  inured  to  the  duties  of  the  farm  and 
to  the  raising  of  stock,  and  he  has  devoted 
his  life  to  this  enterprise  with  gratifying  suc- 
cess, being  now  the  owner  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  excellent  and  well  im- 
proved land  in  Liberty  township,  constituting 
one  of  the  finest  homesteads  in  the  vicinity. 

For  his  wife  Mr.  Smith  sought  and  won 
Miss  Mary  E.,  the  daughter  of  Allen  Mc- 
Enderfer,  whose  history  will  be  found  on 
other  pages  in  this  work,  and  their  home 
has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  two  little 
children,  Leo  L.  and  Elva  Loretta.  Mrs. 
Smith  was  bom  and  reared  on  her  father's 
farm  in  Liberty  township,  receiving  her  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools,  and  she  has 
proved  a  most  worthy  assistant  to  her  hus- 
band in  the  formation  and  building  of  their 
home.  They  began  their  young  married  lives 
with  a  great  responsibility,  but  by  industry 
and  economy  they  will  soon  cancel  all  their 
obligations  and  will  be  the  owners  of  one  of 
the  valuable  homesteads  of  the  township. 
Mrs.  Smith  is  a  member  of  the  German  Lu- 
theran church.  In  his  political  affiliations 
Mr.  Smith  is  a  Republican,  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  having  been  cast  for  James  G. 
Blaine,  and  he  has  ever  since  continued  to 
support  its  presidential  candidates.  He  is 
well  known  for  his  honesty  of  purpose  and 


integrity  of  character,  and  will  make  for  his 
children  a  name  that  they  may  look  \ipon 
with  pride. 

Washington  A.  Sheneman.  As  a  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  the  earliest  and  most 
prominent  families  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
as  one  who  has  achieved  success  in  his  chosen 
calling  of  agriculture,  we  are  pleased  to  re- 
cord the  name  of  Washington  A.  Sheneman 
among  the  leading  men  and  women  of  St. 
Joseph  county.  His  birth  occurred  in  Lib- 
erty township  March  28,  1867,  his  parents 
being  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Mullet)  Shene- 
man, whose  history  will  be  found  in  the 
biography  of  Henry  Sheneman  in  this  vol- 
ume. Their  son  Washington,  the  fourth  in 
order  of  birth  of  their  seven  children,  has 
passed  his  entire  business  career  as  an  agri- 
culturist, beginning  as.  a  wage  earner,  and 
thus  continuing  until  his  marriage,  which  was 
celebrated  on  the  23d  of  December,  1893, 
Miss  Eliza  Ellen  Stroup  becoming  his  wife. 
Their  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of 
two  children,  Clyde  H.,  who  is  pursuing  his 
studies  in  the  sixth  grade  of  school,  and  Vera 
Belle,  in  the  third  grade,  and  both  are  re- 
ceiving musical  instruction. 

Mrs.  Sheneman  was  born  in  Warren  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  October  22,  1873,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  (Haas) 
Stroup,  in  whose  family  were  nine  children, 
but  the  only  two  now  living  are  Moses,  a 
carpenter  and  joiner  in  South  Bend,  and 
William,  who  follows  farming  on  the  old 
Stroup  homestead  in  Warren  township.  Mr. 
Stroup,  the  father,  was  a  native  son  of  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  was  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  until  his  removal  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  in  1855,  his  death  here  occur- 
ing  in  1905.  In  his  early  life  he  voted  with  the 
Whigs,  joining  the  Republican  party  at  its 
organization,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  German  Baptist  church. 
Their  marriage  was  celebrated  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  the  wife's  birth  occurred  in 
Juniata  co^nty,  but  all  of  their  children 
claimed  St.  Joseph  county  as  the  place  of 
their  nativity.  The  mother  passed  away  in 
death  in  1903,  and  with  her  husband  she  now 
lies  buried  in  German  township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheneman  began  their  mar- 
ried life  on  a  little  twenty-five  acre  farm  in 
Liberty  township,  a  part  of  their  present 
homestead  and  purchased  with  the  earnings 
he  had  saved  from  his  boyhood  days.  All  of 
the    many    substantial    improvements    which 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1016 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


now  adorn  the  place  stand  as  monuments  of 
their  industry  and  ability,  and  they  also 
added  to  their  original  purchase  until  the 
homestead  now  contains  eighty-eight  acres. 
In  1906  Mr.  Sheneman  erected  one  of  the 
finest  basement  bams  in  the  township,  sixty- 
six  by  forty  feet  in  dimensions,  with  twenty 
foot  posts  and  an  eight  foot  concrete  base- 
ment floor.  Mrs.  Sheneman,  who  so  nobly 
stood  by  her  husband's  side  in  the  establish- 
ment of  their  home,  passed  away  in  death  on 
the  5th  of  September,  1899,  and  she  now  lies 
buried  in  the  North  Liberty  cemetery,  where 
a  beautiful  stone  stands  sacred  to  her  mem- 
ory. Mrs.  Adilliu  Ross,  the  housekeeper,  has 
haid  charge  of  the  home  and  the  guidance  of 
the  children  during  the  past  eight  years. 
She  was  bom  in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania, 
June  10,  1851,  and  was  reared  in  that  com- 
monwealth and  Ohio.  Mr.  Sheneman  gives 
his  political  support  to  the  Republican  party, 
and  as  its  representative  has  often  been  se- 
lected as  delegate  to  the  county  conventions. 
His  fraternal  relations  are  with  the  Gleaners 
of  North  Liberty  and  the  Republic  Arbor, 
A.  0.  0.  G.,  which  has  a  membership  of 
seventy-five  in  North  Liberty  and  in  which 
he  has  served  as  inner  guard.  He  is  well 
known  in  the  township  in  which  his  entire 
life  haa  been  passed,  and  enjoys  a  wide 
popularity. 

Allen  McEnderper.  The  history  of  a 
state,  as  well  as  that  of  a  nation,  is  chiefly 
the  record  of  the  lives  and  deeds  of  those 
who  have  conferred  honor  upon  its  society, 
whether  in  the  broad  sphere  of  public  labors 
or  in  the  more  circumscribed  but  not  less 
worthy  and  valuable  realm  of  individual  ac- 
tivity. The  name  borne  by  Allen  McEn- 
derfer  is  one  which  has  stood  exponent  for 
the  most  sterling  personal  characteristics  and 
which  has  been  indissolubly  identified  with 
the  annals  of  St.  Joseph  county  from  an  early 
epoch  in  its  history,  for  over  a  half  a  cen- 
tury ago  the  family  home  was  established 
within  its  borders  by  John  McEnderfer,  the 
father  of  Allen.  He  was  born  and  reared 
in  Ohio,  remaining  in  his  native  state  until 
his  removal  to  Indiana  in  1844,  the  journey 
hither  being  made  in  the  old  wide  track  wag- 
ons across  the  swamps  and  through  the  woods 
to  the  destination  in  St.  Joseph  county,  the 
first  winter  being  spent  in  Union  township. 
Coming  thence  to  Liberty  township,  he  pur- 
chased three  hundred  and  seventy-nine  acres 
of  land,  the  first  habitaition  of  the  McEnder- 


fers  h'ere  being  a  little  log  ca)bin  in  the  midst 
of  the  wilderness,  surrounded  by  the  dense 
woods  and  often  visited  by  the  wild  animals 
which  then  inhabited  this  section,  and  the 
son  Allen  can  well  remember  the  carcasses 
of  the  deer  which  usually  hung  in  this  little 
cabin.  Wild  game  of  all  kinds  was  plentiful, 
and  on  one  occasion  a  panther  was  seen  near 
the  home,  while  wolves  and  wild  cats  were 
frequent  visitors.  The  remnants  of  the  Pot- 
tawatomie tribe  of  Indians  yet  inhabited  this 
region,  and  their  only  roads  were  blazed 
trails. 

In  his  early  manhood  Mr.  McEnderfer  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Bowers,  a  native 
of  Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  she  also  grew  to  years  of  maturity, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  six  children, 
five  sons  and  one  daughter,  but  only  two 
are  now  living,  the  elder  being  Eli,  a  re- 
tired agriculturist  living  in  South  Bend.  In 
their  younger  days  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McEnderfer 
united  with  the  Lutheran  church  and  they 
exemplified  its  faith  in  their  every  day  life 
until  their  labors  were  finally  ended  in  death, 
both  now  sleeping  in  the  Lutheran  cemetery. 
Mr.  McEnderfer  was  numbered  among  the 
honored,  early  pioneers  of  Liberty  township, 
and  his  name  is  inseparably  connected  with 
its  early  records.  He  was  the  first  man  in  the 
township  to  erect  a  bank  bam,  and  aided  in 
the  erection  of  the  first  Lutheran  church, 
located  just  southeast  of  his  residence,  and 
this  building  is  still  standing. 

Allen  McEnderfer,  the  son  of  this  honored 
St.  Joseph  pioneer,  was  bom  in  Stark  county, 
Ohio,  December  15,  1844,  and  was  but  three 
years  of  age  when  the  removal  was  made  to 
St.  Joseph  county.  His  early  educational 
training  was  received  in  the  primitve  school 
near  his  home,  a  little  building  twenty-five 
by  thirty  feet,  where  the  desks  were  broad 
boards  resting  on  wooden  pins  driven  into 
the  wall  for  support,  and  the  seats  were 
slabs  resting  on  wooden  legs.  This  was  known 
as  the  Dice  school.  On  the  11th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1869,  Mr.  McEnderfer  was  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Stonehill,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  six  children,  three  sons  and 
three  daughters,  of  whom  four  are  living, 
namely:  Mary  E.,  the  wife  of  Levi  A. 
Smith,  whose  history  will  be  found  elsewhere 
in  this  work ;  Meta,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Austin  Kaser,  a  leading  agriculturist  of  the 
township,  and  they  reside  on  her  father's 
farm.     One  child,  Charles  Edward,  has  been 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1017 


born  to  them,  and  Mrs.  Kaser  is  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church.  Irvin  S.  also  resides 
on  the  old  homestead,  where  he  is  a  prosper- 
ous farmer  and  stockman.  He  married  Miss 
Bessie  Shubert,  and  they  have  one  little 
dfiughter,  Edith.  He  also  belongs  to  the 
Lutheran  church.  Sarah  E.,  the  youngest  of 
the  family,  is  the  wife  of  John  Johnson,  an 
agriculturist. 

Mrs.  McEnderfer,  the  mother,  was  born 
in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  in  1847,  and  her  death 
occurred  on  the  22d  of  November,  1906.  She 
was  but  a  babe  of  two  yeans  when  brought  to 
Liberty  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  and  the 
remainder  of  her  life  was  here  spent.  She 
was  a  kind  and  affectionate  wife  and  mother, 
a  devoted  member  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
and  was  always  ready  to  aid  the  poor  and  the 
needy.  For  over  thirty-eight  years  she  trav- 
eled the  journey  of  life  with  her  husband, 
when  tired  and  weary  she  lay  down  to  sleep, 
leaving  the  companion  to  continue  on  alone, 
but  to  those  who  knew  her  her  memory  will 
long  remain  as  the  fragrance  of  a  flower  after 
the  petals  have  fallen. 

Mr.  McEnderfer  has  spent  almost  his  en- 
tire life  in  this  county,  has  witnessed  the 
transformation  of  wild  land  into  beautiful 
homes  and  farms  and  the  establishment  of 
towns  and  villages,  and  in  the  work  of  growth 
and  upbuilding  he  has  ever  borne  his  full 
part.  His  business  career  has  been  crowned 
with  a  well  merited  success,  and  he  now  owns 
two  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  fertile  and 
well  tilled  land  in  Liberty  township,  while 
in  1890  he  erected  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
brick  residences  in  the  entire  township.  His 
political  support  is  given  to  the  Democracy, 
having  ever  been  a  stanch  advocate  of  its 
principles,  and  he  is  also  a  wortlhy  member 
and  an  active  worker  in  the  Lutheran  church. 
He  has  ever  been  honorable  in  business,  loyal 
in  friendship,  faithful  in  citizenship,  and 
now  in  his  declining  days  he  can  look  back 
over  the  past  with  little  occasion  for  regret. 

William  Newcomer.  For  nearly  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century  William  Newcomer  has  been 
a  resident  of  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
and  his  honesty  and  integrity  are  well  estab- 
lished in  Liberty  township,  where  he  and  his 
family  are  well  and  widely  known.  He  was 
bom  in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  February 
27,  1844,  and  is  the  twelfth  in  order  of  birth 
of  thirteen  children  (eight  of  whom  were 
sons  and  five  daughters)  bom  to  Abraham 
and  Catherine  (Wolf)  Newcomer.     Of  these 


children  seven  are  now  alive,  three  of  them 
making  their  residence  in  Indiana. 

The  elder  Mr.  Newcomer  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  devoted  his  life  to  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  was  married  in  Columbiana 
county,  Ohio,  and  availed  himself  of  the  op- 
portunity of  obtaining  an  education  in  the 
public  schools.  In  his  political  thought  he 
was  a  Democrat,  and  was  a  loyal  member  of 
the  Mennonite  church.  The  mother  was  a 
native  of  Ohio,  spending  her  entire  life  in 
that  state.  She  was  of  the  Lutheran  faith 
and  was  known  throughout  her  life  as  a  loyal 
and  consistent  member  of  the  church.  They 
came  to  Hancock  county,  Ohio,  about  the 
year  1847  and  settled  on  an  eighty  acre  farm, 
and  it  was  here  that  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  reared,  and  in  this  county  that  he  re- 
ceived his  first  schooling,  attending  one  of 
the  little  log  schools  which  were  so  common 
fifty  years  ago,  built  of  hewed  logs  with  a 
clapboard  roof  and  the  seats  and  benches  of 
the  roughest  description,  quite  in  contrast 
with  the  district  schools  of  to-day.  He  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  they  both 
passed  aWay.  He  has  devoted  his  life  to  till- 
ing the  soil  and  has  witnessed  a  wonderful 
change  in  the  rural  life  of  Indiana  since  his 
residence  there,  the  country  advancing  from 
a*  number  of  scattered  and  primitive  settle- 
ments to  profitable  and  well  kept  farms  with 
advantages  in  reach  of  all  which  were  not 
even  dreamed  of  fifty  years  ago. 

Mr.  Newcomer  was  married  January  20, 
1870  to  Miss  Sarah  Banders.  They  are  the 
I>arents  of  eight  children,  six  sons  and  two 
daughters,  five  of  whom  are  living  to-day. 
The  following  is  their  order  of  birth:  Viola, 
wife  of  Samuel  Bates,  a  carpenter  and  joiner 
of  North  Liberty,  whose  family  comprises 
eight  children ;  y^,  F.,  a  sketch  of  whose  life 
is  given  elsewhere  in  this  work;  Charles, 
who  still  resides  at  the  old  homestead  and 
who  wedded  Miss  Anna  Hildebrand  (they 
have  one  daughter.  Bertha  by  name) ;  James, 
who  is  employed  in  a  publishing  house  in 
Elgin,  Illinois ;  and  Reuben,  who  still  resides 
with  his  parents. 

Mrs.  Newcomer  was  bom  in  Hancock 
county,  Ohio,  April  25,  1850,  and  is  a  daiigh- 
ter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Fulmar)  Banders. 
Mr.  Banders  was  bom  and  reared  in  the  state 
of  Pennsylvania  and  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation. Hearing  much  in  favor  of  the  farm 
lands  which  were  opening  up  in  Ohio,  Mr. 
Banders  decided  to  try  this  new  field  and 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1018 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


came  to  the  state  in  one  of  those  large  cov- 
ered wagons  in  which  settlers  were  wont  in 
those  days  to  move  their  earthly  possessions 
from  place  to  place.  Mrs.  Banders  was 
also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  I^th  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Banders  died  in  Ohio.  There  were 
ten  children  in  the  Banders  family — four 
sons  and  six  daughters — four  only  being  alive, 
and  Mrs.  Newcomer  is  the  only  one  of  them 
resident  in  Indiana. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newcomer  resided  in  Han- 
cock county  for  seventeen  years,  where  they 
owned  a  fertile  farm  of  fifty-three  acres. 
Upon  deciding  to  change  their  place  of  resi- 
dence they  sold  this  farm  and  came  to  Lib- 
erty township,  where  they  purchased  the 
eighty  acre  tract  on  which  their  son  Charles 
now  lives.  They  also  own  another  eighty 
acre  farm  which  lies  about  a  mile  and  one- 
quarter  east  of  Liberty.  On  this  piece  they 
erected,  in  the  summer  of  1907,  a  beautiful 
cottage  home  in  which  they  intend  to  pass 
the  remainder  of  their  days  in  the  peace  and 
quiet  which  they  so  richly  deserve. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Newcomer 
is  a  Democrat,  and  is  a  consistent  and  worthy 
member  of  the  German  Baptist  Brethren 
church,  his  wife  being  of  the  Evangelical 
faith.  It  is  a  source  of  satisfaction  to  this 
worthy  couple  to  feel  that  in  a  long  resi- 
dence in  this  county  they  have  been  accorded 
the  invariable  respect  and  good  will  of  their 
neighbors  and  that  they  are  passing  the  clos- 
ing days  of  their  lives  among  friends. 

W.  P.  Newcomer.  Prom  a  long  line  of 
tillers  of  the  soil  comes  a  worthy  represen- 
tative of  a  sturdy  ancestry  in  W.  P.  New- 
comer. He,  too,  is  an  agriculturist,  owning 
a  splendid  farm  in  Liberty  township,  which 
he  has  taken  pride  to  cultivate  to  the  high- 
est extent,  although"  he  is  numbered  among 
the  younger  business  men  of  the  community. 
His  birth  occurred  in  Hancock  county,  Ohio, 
April  8,  1877,  a  son  of  William  and  Sarah 
(Borders)  Newcomer,  in  which  family  were 
eight  children,  six  sons  and  two  daughters. 

W.  P.  Newcomer  was  about  ten  years  of 
age  when  he  came  with  his  parents  from  Ohio 
to  Indiana,  landing  in  St.  Joseph  county 
on  the  27th  of  September,  1887,  and  in  Lib- 
erty township  the  father  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land.  Prom  his  early  youth  the  son 
was  inured  to  the  duties  of  the  fields  and 
stock  raising,  and  these  occupations  he  has 
carried  on  in  his  subsequent  years  with  ever 
increasing   success,    being   now   classed   with 


the  younger  progressive  agriculturists  of  Lib- 
erty township.    Mr.  Newcomer  has  been  twice 
married,  but  there  were  no  children  by  the 
first    union,   while    by    his   second  marriage 
to   Miss   Prances   Gearhart   on   the   27th  of 
October,  1898,  he  has  three  children,  one  son 
and  two  daughters,  of  whom  two  are  living, 
Raymond  R.  and  Edith  A.    Mrs.  Newcomer 
is  a  native  of  St.  Joseph  county,  born  May 
15,    1878,   a    daughter   of   John   and   Lydia 
(Wolf)   (Jearhart,  in  whose  family  were  the 
following  children :    Mrs.  Newcomer,  the  eld- 
est; William,  a  farmer  of  Greene  township, 
St.    Joseph    county;    Jesse,    a    merchant   in 
South    Bend,    Indiana;    Alice,    who    resides 
with   her   parents    in    South   Bend;    Charles 
in  the  seventh  grade  in  school;   and  Lizzie 
and    Earl,    also    in    school.      Mr.    Gearhart 
was  bom   in   Pennsylvania  on   the   28th  of 
November,    1851,    but   has   long   been   num- 
bered among  the  honored  residents  of  South 
Bend.     He  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
Democracy,  and  both  he  and  his  wife,  who 
was  bom  in  St.  Joseph  county  May  2,  1861, 
are    identified    with    the    German     Baptist 
church.    When  eleven  years  of  age  Mrs.  New- 
comer removed  from  the  farm  to  North  Lib- 
erty, where  she  continued  her  education  in 
the  public  schools  until  graduation  in  1894. 
and  received  a  teacher's  certificate,  having 
served  as  a  substitute  teacher.  She  has  proved 
an  able  assistant  to  her  husband  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  their  home,  and  they  occupy  a 
high  position  in  the  social  circles  of  the  com- 
munity. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newcomer  began  their  mar- 
ried life  as  renters,  but  in  1904  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  one  and  one-half  miles 
from  North  Liberty,  one  of  the  finest  farms 
of  the  township,  and  in  its  pastures  may  be 
found  the  finest  standard  bred  cattle.  Mr. 
Newcomer  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  af- 
filiations, but  takes  a  strong  stand  on  the 
subject  of  temperance,  and  has  often  been 
solicited  to  accept  the  offices  of  the  township. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  church  in  Liberty  town- 
ship, and  they  liberally  contribute  of  their 
means  to  all  objects  of  benevolence.  They 
are  young  people  who  are  held  in  the  highest 
regard  by  their  friends  and  acquaintances, 
and  we  are  pleased  to  present  the  record  of 
their  lives  among  the  representative  men  and 
women  of  St.  Joseph  county. 

Moses  Q.  Houser,  a  well  known  farmer 
and  honored   citizen   of  St.   Joseph  county, 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1019 


has  throughout  his  active  business  life  been 
prominently  identified  with  agricultural  in- 
terests, and  has  for  many  years  resided  upon 
his  present  farm.  He  is  a  representative 
of  one  of  the  county's  honored  pioneer  fami- 
lies, and  was  born  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio, 
June  10,  1840,  a  son  of  George  and  Lucy 
(Long)  Houser,  to  whom  were  born  eleven 
children,  six  sons  and  five  daughters,  but 
only  four  of  the  sons  and  three  daughters 
are  now  liviag,  and  all  are  residents  of  In- 
diana with  the  exception  of  Elizabeth,  who 
is  the  wife  of  John  Girard  and  resides  in 
California.  Mr.  Houser,  the  father,  was  of 
German  lineage,  for  his  grandfather  was 
born  in  the  fatherland,  but  he  was  a  native 
of  Pennsj'lvania,  born  March  11,  1813,  and 
his  death  occurred  on  the  14th  of  October, 
1884.  When  he  was  a  little  lad  of  two  years 
he  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Ohio,  where 
he  was  reared  to  years  of  maturity  and  edu- 
cated in  the  early  schools  of  the  Buckeye 
state.  But  desiring  to  establish  for  his  fam- 
ily a  home  in  the  west,  he  removed  to  Plym- 
outh, Indiana,  in  1858,  and  thence  to  Liberty 
township,  St.  Joseph  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  the  virgin  land.  Only 
a  little  clearing  of  one  acre  had  been  made, 
and  the  first  home  of  the  family  was  one  of 
those  primitive  log  cabins  so  typical  of  the 
pioneer  days,  while  all  about  them  were  the 
wild  game  of  the  forest.  At  that  time  the 
now  populous  city  of  South  Bend,  with  its 
fifty  thousand  population  and  world  famed 
manufacturing  industries,  was  but  a  strag- 
gling little  village,  the  great  Studebaker 
works  being  but  a  little  shop  on  Michigan 
street.  The  only  railroad  that  then  traversed 
the  county  was  the  Lake  Shore,  and  great 
indeed  have  been  the  changes  wrought  within 
the  borders  of  old  St.  Joseph  since  the  Hou- 
sers  took  up  their .  abode  here,  and  in  all 
this  work  of  transformation  they  have  nobly 
performed  their  part,  laboring  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  movements  to  benefit  the 
community  and  promote  the  welfare  of  its 
inhabitants.  Mr.  Houser  gave  his  political 
support  to  the  Republican  party,  and  both  he 
and)  his  wife  were  members  of  the  German 
Evangelical  church,  they  having  assisted  in 
the  erection  of  the  present  house  of  worship. 
The  wife  and  mother  was  born  in  Ohio,  De- 
cember 11,  1817,  and  her  death  occurred  in 
1898.  ^ 

Moses   G.   Houser,   the  third   in   order  of 
birth  of  their  eleven  children,  spent  the  first 

Vol.  TI— 27. 


seventeen  years  of  his  life  in  his  native 
county  of  Coshocton,  attending  its  public 
schools  and  completing  his  education  in  In- 
diana, where  for  two  years  he  attended  a 
hewed  log  cabin  school  twenty-four  feet 
square,  where  the  seats  were  of  slabs  without 
backs,  and  the  desks  a  long  board,  on  which 
he  has  written  with  a  goose  quill  pen.  Agri- 
culture has  claimed' his  time  and  attention 
since  entering  upon  his  business  career,  and 
for  fifteen  years  during  the  time  their  land 
was  being  cleared  he  also  conducted  a  saw 
mill.  On  the  24th  of  June,  1866,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Gonser, 
and  of  their  eight  children,  four  sons  and 
four  daughters,  seven  are  now  living,  namely : 
Delia  May,  who  in  addition  to  her  common- 
school  education  received  musical  instruction, 
is  the  wife  of  Albert  D.  Mangus,  a  resident 
farmer  of  Liberty  township,  and  their  three 
children  are  Russell  E.,  Eva  LaVerne  and 
Harley  E.;  Lettie  Alice  makes  her  home 
with  Mrs.  Finch  in  North  Liberty;  Charles 
A.,  who  supplemented  his  common-school 
training  by  attendance  at  the  Valparaiso 
University  and  for  seven  years  was  one  of 
the  successful  teachers  of  Liberty  township, 
married  Miss  Mary  E.  Hullinger,  and  resides 
in  Liberty  township;  Laura,  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Steele,  a  leading  farmer  of  Liberty 
township;  Reuben,  who  resides  on  the  old 
homestead,  married  Miss  Abna  Thomas,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Grace  and  Stanley; 
Olive,  who  has  completed  her  seventh  grade 
studies  and  is  at  home;  and  Orville,  the 
youngest  of  the  family. 

Mrs.  Houser  was  born  in  DeKalb  county, 
Indiana,  December  9,  1847,  where  she  was 
reared  to  young  womanhood,  and  the  educa- 
tional training  which  she  there  received  was 
continued  after  her  removal  to  St.  Joseph 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houser  began  their  mar- 
ried life  on  eighty  acres  of  their  present  home- 
stead, which  was  mostly  covered  with  timber 
and  for  which  they  were  obliged  to  go  in  debt, 
but  diligently  they  labored  on  together, 
sharing  with  each  other  the  many  trials  and 
hardships  which  they  encountered  on  their 
road  to  success,  until  finally  their  united 
efforts  enabled  them  to  cleer  the  indebted- 
ness and  add  to  their  holdings  until  now 
they  are  the.  owners  of  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  rich  and  well  improved  land,  their 
homestead  being  known  as  ''The  Poplars.'' 
Mr.  Houser  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Lincoln,  and  has  ever  since  remained  true 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


1020 


HISTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


and  loyal  to  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party,  while  both  he  and  his  wife  attend 
the  Evangelical  church,  of  which  she  is  a 
worthy  member.  They  have  won  for  them- 
selves the  high  place  which  they  now  occupy, 
and  are  the  recipients  of  the  deserved  and 
unbounded  esteem  of  all  who  have  the  pleas- 
ure of  their  acquaintance. 

Frederick  W.  Lammedee.  The  name 
borne  by  Frederick  W.  Lammedee  is  one 
which  is  indissolubly  identified  with  the  an- 
nals of  St.  Joseph  county  from  an  early 
epoch  in  its  history,  and  he  is  numbered 
among  its  native  sons,  for  his  birth  occurred 
in  the  city  of  South  Bend  on  the  6th  of  June, 
1848,  the  youngest  of  six  children,  four  sons 
and  two  daughters,  bom  to  Barnhardt  and 
Elizabeth  (Sehaeflfer)  Lammedee.  Four  of 
the  number  are  now  living:  Charlotte,  the 
widow  of  Andrew  Bird  and  a  resident  of 
Greene  township ;  Barnhardt,  who  resides  in 
South  Bend ;  Margaret,  who  became  the  wife 
of  William  Manring,  who  also  made  their  home 
in  that  city,  and  they  are  now  deceased ;  and 
Frederick  W.,  whose  name  ^troduces  this 
review. 

Barnhardt  Lammedee,  the  father,  was  a 
native  of  France,  and  the  name  was  origin- 
ally spelled  **Lamady,"  but  has  been  changed 
to  its  present  orthography.  After  reaching 
years  of  maturity  Mr.  Lammedee  left  his  na- 
tive land  for  America,  arriving  in  Ohio  thirty 
dollars  in  debt,  and  he  was  obliged  to  begin 
at  the  very  bottom  round  of  the  ladder  of 
life.  In  a  very  early  day  he  left  the  Buckeye  , 
state  for  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  which 
was  then  the  home  of  the  red  man  and  other 
pioneer  conditions  existed  which  made  it  a 
frontier  region. '  He  could  have  purchased 
the  land  where  the  Oliver  plow  works  now 
stand  for  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  dol- 
lars, and  the  son  Frederick  was  bom  on  the 
site  of  the  St.  Joseph  County  Savings  Bank. 
Although  he  began  life  in  this  country  a  poor 
man,  he  was  successful  in  his  operations  and 
at  his  death  left  an  estate  of  one  hundred 
and  forty-two  acres  of  land  in  Liberty  town- 
i^ip.  He  pursued  his  trade  of  a  tailor 
throughout  the  principal  part  of  his  business 
career,  and  his  political  support  was  given 
to  the  Democracy.  His  fraternal  relations 
were  with  the  Odd  Fellows  order,  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Lu- 
theran church,  he  having  aided  in  the  erec- 
tion of  the  church  of  that  denomination  in 
South  Bend.     Mrs.  Lammedee  was  born  in 


the  little  province  of  Alsace,  Germany,  and 
she  was  but  fourteen  years  of  age  when  she 
and  her  orphan  sister  crossed  the  ocean  to 
America,  she  having  learned  to  sew  from  a 
lady  passenger  during  the  long  journey 
hither.  Both  she  and  her  husband  died  in 
Greene  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  which 
had  been  their  home  for  so  many  years  and 
where  they  were  loved  and  honored  by  all 
who  had  the  pleasure  of  their  acquaintance. 

Frederick  W.  Lammedee,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  review,  was  reared  in  his  na- 
tive county  as  a  farmer  lad,  pursuing  his 
education     in     its     common     schools,     and 
throughout  his  entire  business  career  he  has 
been  a  successful  farmer  and  stockman.    He 
remained  at  home  until  his  twenty-first  year, 
when  he  was  married  and  entered  the  busi- 
ness  world   for   himself,   his   entire   capital 
consisting  of  a  mule  valued  at  fifty  dollars 
which  had   been   given  him  by  his  father. 
Mr.   Lammedee  was  first  married  in  1870, 
when  Miss  Lydia  Whitmer  became  his  wife, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  following 
children :    Arthur  B.,  who  wedded  Miss  Susie 
Newcomer,  and  they  reside  in  Canada,  where 
he  is  well  known  in  musical  circles,  being 
proficient   in   both   instrumentad   and  vocal, 
and  has  taught  music  from  the  age  of  fifteen 
years ;  Clarence  M.,  who  is  engaged  in  railroad 
work  and  is  a  resident  of  Alberta,  Canada; 
Nellie  C,  who  received  an  excellent  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  North  Liberty,  and  is 
now  engaged  in  teaching  in  Minot,  North  Da- 
kota, where  she  has  secured  a  claim  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres ;  Lawrence,  a  farmer 
in  Canada.     The  mother  of  these  children 
died  on  the  6th  of  July,  1895,  and  on  the 
25th  of  Novemiber  following  Mr.  Lammedee 
married  Mrs.  Mary    (Smith)   Arnold.     She 
was  bom  near  Goshen,  Elkhart  county,  In- 
diana, May  7,  1850,  a  daughter  of  John  W. 
and  Zilla   (Wilson)   Smith,  in  whose  family 
were  eight  children,  one  son  and  seven  daugh- 
ters, and  four  of  the  number  are  now  liviner, 
namely:    Sarah  E.,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Pef- 
fley,  an  agriculturist  of  Walkerton,  Indiana; 
Mary,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Lanmiedee;   Amanda 
L.,  the  wife  of  Peter  Jacobs,  a  farmer  of 
Walkerton,  Indiana;   and  Susanna,  the  wife 
of  William  Brown,  who  is  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural  pursuits   near   Wilson,   North   Da- 
kota.    Mr.  Smith,  the  father,  was  a  native 
of  Ohio,  but  in  a  very  early  day  in  the  his- 
tory of  northern  Indiana  he  located  within 
the  borders  of  Elkhart  counts',  where  he  se- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


X  u 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Elmer  Kane 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


1021 


cured  land  from  the  government,  the  deeds 
for  which  were  executed  in  Laporte.  His 
father  Daniel  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  The  country  at  that  time  abounded  in 
wild  game  of  all  kinds,  and  Mr,  Wilson,  being 
an  excellent  marksman,  secured  many  val- 
uable trophies  of  the  chase.  It  has  been 
stated  that  at  the  time  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson 
began  life  in  this  state  their  entire  worldly 
possessions  could  have  been  tied  in  a  silk 
handkerchief,  but  at  the  time  of  his  death 
Mr.  Wilson  left  an  estate  of  one  hundred 
acres  of  excellent  land  in  Liberty  township, 
valued  at  five  thousand  dollars.  He  was  a 
Jackson  Democrat,  strong  in  the  faith  of  the 
principles  which  he  advocated,  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  German 
Baptist  church  for  forty-six  years,  they  hav- 
ing assisted  in  the  erection  of  the  church  of 
that  denomination  west  of  North  Liberty. 
They  now  lie  buried  in  the  cemetery  in  that 
city,  where  a  beautiful  stone  marks  their 
last  resting  place.  John  T.  Wilson,  the 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  Lammedee,  was  a  promi- 
nent factor  in  the  early  history  of  Elkhart 
county,  Indiana,  and  he  helped  to  hew  the 
logs  used  in  the  first  court  house  in  Goshen. 
He  was  of  Scotch  origin,  his  father  having 
emigrated  from  Scotland  to  America  and 
taken  up  his  abode  in  Ohio.  At  the  time  of 
the  removal  of  his  son  to  Goshen  there  were 
but  six  or  eight  bouses  in  the  now  populous 
city,  while  many  Indians  roamed  at  will 
through  the  dense  forests  of  the  county.  In 
those  early  days  be  was  extensively  engaged 
in  trapping  and  hewing  logs,  and  he  also  pre- 
emptied  four  hundred  acres  of  land  north  of 
Gk)shen,  where  for  many  years  he  was  well 
known  as  a  miller.  He  made  three  trips  to 
California,  going  once  by  water  and  twice 
across  the  plains. 

Mrs.  Lammedee  remained  in  Elkhart 
county  until  about  six  years  of  age,  when 
she  accompanied  her  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  St.  Joseph  county,  continuing  her 
education  in  its  public  schools.  She  was 
first  married  to  Charles  F.  Arnold,  a  native 
of  New  York,  and  whose  death  occurred  in 
1894.  Her  marriage  to  Mr.  Lammedee  was 
celebrated  on  the  25th  of  November,  1896, 
and  they  began  their  married  life  on  a  farm 
in  Greene  township,  which  continued  their 
home  until  1903,  the  year  of  their  removal 
to  the  village  of  North  Liberty.  There  they 
purchased  a  beautiful  cottage  home,  in  which 
they  are  spending  their  remaining  days  in 


quiet  retirement,  enjoying  the  rest  which  they 
have  so  truly  earned  and  richly  deserve.  Mr. 
Lammedee  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Horace  Greeley,  and  has  ever  since  remained 
true  to  the  principles  of  the  Democracy. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  devout  members 
of  the  German  Baptist  church,  in  which  he 
is  one  of  the  trustees,  and  his  wife  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society  and  is  now 
assistant  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  although  for  years  she  served  as  the 
efficient  superintendent.  They  have  at- 
tended nine  of  the  annual  conferences  of 
their  church,  have  crossed  the  Blue  Ridge 
and  Allegheny  mountains,  have  visited  the 
White  House  and  capitol  building,  and  have 
gained  that  knowledge  which  only  extensive 
travel  can  give. 

Elmee  Kane.  During  half  a  century  the 
Kane  family  have  been  closely  associated 
with  the  progress  and  development  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  few  of  her  citizens  have 
manifested  greater  public  spirit  or  more 
earnest  interest  in  the  reduction  of  the  coun- 
try from  a  wilderness  to  a  fertile  land  of 
fine  farms  and  villages.  One  of  the  repre- 
sentatives of  this  prominent  pioneer  family, 
Elmer  Kane,  was  born  in  Elkhart  county,  In- 
diana, December  3,  1852,  a  son  of  Joseph  and 
Lydia  (Hively)  Kane,  to  whom  were  bom 
eleven  children,  but  only  three  are  now  liv- 
ing: Sarah,  the  wife  of  Zachariah  Shene- 
man,  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  Lib- 
erty township;  Elmer,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review;  and  Schuyler,  who  re- 
sides on  the  old  Kane  homestead  in  Liberty 
township.  He  married  Mrs.  Rhoda  J. 
(Shenemdn)  Stull. 

Joseph  Kane,  the  father,  was  of  Irish  lin- 
eage, and  was  bom  in  Columbiana  county, 
Ohio,  about  1830,  and  he  was  called  upon  to 
lay  down  his  life  on  the  altar  of  his  country 
during  the  Civil  war,  having  been  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Bentonville^  North  Carolina, 
the  last  battle  of  the  war.  He  spent  the  early 
years  of  his  life  in  his  native  county  of  Co- 
lumbiana, and  was  there  married.  In  a  very 
early  day  with  ox  teams  and  in  true  pioneer 
style  the  family  made  the  journey  to  Indiana, 
traveling  through  the  bkc^k  swamps  in  Ohio. 
All  day  long  the  weary  travelers  wended 
their  way  along  the  terrible  roads,  and  at 
nightfall  they  could  often  see  their  camp  fires 
of  the  night  before,  so  little  of  the  distance 
had  they  accomplished.  Their  destination 
was    Jefferson    township,    Elkhart    county, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1022 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


where  their  first  habitation  was  a  little  log 
cabin,  the  birthplace  of  Elmer  Kane  and 
which  he  yet  recalls  to  mind.  In  1853  the 
family  continued  the  journey  to  Liberty  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  where  Joseph  Kane 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land,  heavily  timbered,  but  chosen  on  account 
of  its  high  location.  He  was  compelled  to 
cut  a  road  through  to  his  land,  and  their 
first  home  here  was  a  log  house  erected  by 
Mr.  Kane  and  his  brother-in-law,  William 
Hively.  Eemnants  of  the  Indian  tribe  were 
here  then,  and  even* the  son  Elmer  remem- 
bers seeing  them,  while  deer  and  wild  game 
were  plentiful.  He  improved  his  land  ere 
he  left  for  the  war,  and  in  addition  was 
engaged  in  masonry  work  throughout  his  en- 
tire business  career,  having  been  one  of  the 
best  masons  and  plasterers  in  St.  Joseph  and 
Elkhart  counties.  In  the  early  days  he  was 
an  old-line  Whig,  and  at  the  formation  of 
the  Republican  party  he  joined  its  ranks  and 
remained'  one  of  its  stalwart  supporters  and 
active  workers  throughout  his  entire  life,  as- 
sisting in  its  campaigns  and  ever  ready  to 
blend  his  voice  in  song  and  speech.  Oft- 
times  during  the  campaigns  he  sung  **01d 
Shady,''  wearing  upon  his  head  a  broad  rye 
straw  hat,  and  he  was  ever  a  central  figure 
in  the  meetings  of.  his  party.  It  may  here 
be  mentioned  that  he  was  a  descendant  of 
the  celebrated  Dr.  Kane.  Mrs.  Kane  was 
of  Pennsylvania  German  descent,  and  was 
born  in  that  commonwealth  about  1833,  while 
her  death  occurred  in  February',  1899.  She 
was  reared  principally  in  Columbiana 
county,  Ohio,  and  was  one  of  those  brave 
pioneer  wives  and  mothers  who  underwent 
the  hardships  and  privations  of  establishing 
for  her  posterity  a  home  in  the  then  far 
west,  and  her  many  noble  deeds  will  long 
be  cherished  by  those  who  knew  her.  She 
scutched,  broke  and  spun  the  flax  for  her 
children's  clothing,  at  the  same  time  perform- 
ing the  many  duties  that  fell  to  the  lot  of 
the  pioneer  women.  She  died  at  the  home 
of  her  son,  Elmer  Kane,  passing  away  in  the 
faith  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  of  which 
she  had  long  been  a  worthy  member. 

Elmer  Kane  was  but  a  year  old  when  he 
became  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
here  he  has  spent  over  half  a  century.  The 
first  school  which  he  attended  was  held  in  a 
log  cabin  which  had  been  erected  by  the  set- 
tlers and  was  known  as  the  Gearhart  School. 
It  was  twenty  by  twenty-four  feet  in  dimen- 


sions, heated  by  one  of  the  old  fashioned  box 
stoves,  while  the  seats  were  slabs  resting  on 
wooden  legs,  and  the  dedt  a  broad,  rough 
board  supported  by  wooden  pegs  driven  into 
the  wall.  His  first  text  book  was  the  Saun- 
der's  speller,  and  the  school  was  maintained 
by  subscriptions.  He  was  early  inured  to 
the  work  of  the  farm,  and  agriculture  con- 
tinued as  his  occupation  until  about  eight 
years  ago,  when  he  entered  the  produce  busi- 
ness, selling  to  the  South  Bend  market,  and 
he  has  built  up  one  of  the  best  trades  of 
this  kind  in  southern  St.  Joseph  county.  He 
makes  two  trips  each  week  to  the  city,  hav- 
ing done  so  during  the  past  eight  years,  and 
his  annual  sales  aggregate  twenty-eight  thou- 
sand dollars.  He  has  so  systematized  his 
business  that  each  customer  is  individualized 
in  their  wants,  and  he  has  so  directed  his 
efforts  that  his  business  intei-ests  have  grown 
apace  with  the  progress  of  the  community. 

On  the  29th  of  January,  1874,  Mr.  Kane 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lydia  A. 
Hostetler,  and  of  their  six  children,  three 
sons  and  three  daughters,  three  are  now  liv- 
ing: Ella,  the  wife  of  Charles  Earley,  the 
trustee  of  Liberty  township,  and  also  an  agri- 
culturist, and  his  sketch  appears  elsewhere 
in  this  work;  Arthur,  who  is  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  is  also  a  natural 
carpenter  and  joiner,  wedded  Miss  Xellie 
Nitcher,  and  they  have  one  child,  Simon 
Elmer.  He  gives  his  political  support  to 
the  Republican  party.  Gladys,  the  youngest 
of  the  family,  is  pursuing  her  studies  in 
the  sex?ond  grade  of  school.  Mrs.  Kane  was 
born  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  March  16,  1855, 
where  she  remained  until  eleven  years  of  age, 
when  she  came  with  her  parents  to  Liberty 
township,  St.  Joseph  county.  She  was  one 
of  fifteen  children,  nine  sons  and  six  dauffh- 
ters,  and  six  are  yet  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kane  began  their  married  life  with  a  capital 
of  thirty-five  dollars,  and  as  renters  on  a 
little  farm  in  Liberty  township,  but  later  he 
received  forty  acres  as  his  share  of  his  fa- 
ther's estate,  and  subsequently  sold  that 
tract  and  purchased  his  present  homestead 
of  one  hundred  acres,  where  they  have  re- 
sided since  1890.  Mr.  Kane  has  made  of 
life  a  success,  and  he  is  now  numbered 
among  the  leading  men  of  Liberty  township. 
He  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  his  political 
aflBliations,  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  R.  B.  Hayes,  and  he  has  four  times  been 
selected  as  a  delegate  to  county  conventions. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1023 


He  was  one  of  the  main  factors  in  the  cre- 
ation of  the  petition  to  the  circuit  court  of 
St.  Joseph  county  to  drain  nine  miles  of 
Liberty  township,  which  resulted  in  nine  thou- 
sand acres  being  converted  into  cultivatable 
land.  Mrs.  Kane  is  a  member  of  the  First 
Brethren  church,  and  both,  by  their  true 
worth  and  kindly  life,  have  endeared  them- 
selves to  all  who  know  them. 

Zachariah  Sheneman.  The  Sheneman 
family  have  long  been  identified  with  the 
farming  interests  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
the  subject  of  this  review  is  now  a  worthy 
representative  of  the  time-honored  occupa- 
tion of  agriculture.  He  traces  his  lineage  to 
the  Germans,  a  race  which  is  known  through- 
out the  west  as  the  best  tillers  of  the  soil, 
and  was  bom  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  July 
17,  1849,  a  son  of  Frederick  and  Elizabeth 
(Friedland)  Sheneman,  whose  history  will 
be  found  in  the  sketch  of  Henry  Sheneman 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  twelve  children,  eleven  sons  and  one 
daughter,  of  whom  Zachariah  was  the  elev- 
enth in  order  of  birth.  His  grandfather, 
Frederick  Farugott  Ferdinand  Sheneman, 
was  bom  in  the  province  of  Saxony,  Ger- 
many, in  the  little  village  of  Eisleben,  Octo- 
ber 17,  1755,  and  was  reared  in  his  native 
land  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  coming  thence 
to  America.  He  had  previously  received  an 
excellent  educational  training,  and  could 
speak  fluently  seven  languages.  Five  years 
aJfter  his  arrival  in  this  country  he  was  called 
upon  to  serve  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  in 
which  he  served  as  a  teamster,  and  thus  his 
descendants  are  entitled  to  membership  in 
the  order  of  Sons  and  Daughters  of  the  Revo- 
lution. On  the  12th  of  April,  1785,  he 
wedded  Anna  Marguerite  Faust,  of  Bucks 
county,  Pennsylvania,  whither  she  had  emi- 
grated from  Germany  in  1773,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  fourteen  children,  ten 
sons  and  four  daughters.  The  father  died 
on  the  30th  of  June,  1844,  aged  eighty-five 
years,  seven  months  and  thirteen  days.  He 
settled  in  Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
there  purchased  three  farms  in  the  coal  and 
iron  fields.  He  was  a  benevolent,  kind- 
hearted  man,  always  ready  to  aid  the  poor 
and  needy,  but  finally  disaster  came  to  him 
and  his  valuable  farms  were  sacrificed,  al- 
though he  signed  them  away,  and  to-day  those 
rich  fields  of  coal  and  iron  could  have  fallen 
to  the  Shenemans.  Mrs.  Sheneman,  the 
mother  of  our  subject,  bore  the  maiden  name 


of  Elizabeth  Friedland,  and  was  born  in 
Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  she 
was  reared  and  educated,  and  she  was  of 
Pennsylvania  Dutch  stock.  For  over  fifty 
years  she  was  a  devout  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  church. 

Zachariah  Sheneman  has  passed  the  most 
of  his  life  in  St.  Joseph  county,  and  is 
classed  among  its  honored  pioneers.  He  was 
but  eleven  years  of  age  when  his  parents 
came  to  Indiana,  locating  first  in  Plymouth, 
Indiana,  and  thence  overland  through  the 
quagmires  and  dense  woods  they  made  their 
way  to  St.  Joseph  county  in  1860,  settling 
in  the  midst  of  the  forest.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sheneman  are  familiar  with  the  old 
log  cabin  days,  and  the  school  which  they 
attended,  located  on  the  Gearhart  farm,  was 
a  log  building  eighteen  by  twenty-six  feet, 
covered  with  oak  clapboards  made  on  the 
Kane  farm,  and  heated  with  a  tin  plate 
stove,  while  the  furnishings  were  the  crude 
benches  and  boards  so  often  described. 
Their  text  books  were  Sanders  Arithmetic, 
the  Elementary  Speller  and  McGuffy's 
Reader,  and  children  were  furnished  with  a 
slate,  arithmetic  and  grammar.  On  the  2d 
of  January,  1876,  Mr.  Sheneman  wedded 
Mrs.  Sarah  (Kane)  Long,  and  of  their  four 
daughters  three  are  now  living:  Elizabeth, 
the  wife  of  Alhert  Kring,  who  resides  on  the 
old  homestead  in  Liberty  township,  and  their 
two  sons  are  Vernie  Roy  and  Francis  Zach- 
ariah; Rosa,  who  is  pursuing  her  studies  in 
the  seventh  grade  of  school;  and  Vina,  a 
member  of  the  fifth  grade.  Mary  Lydia,  the 
eldest  daughter,  married  John  W.  Ullery, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  two  children, 
a  son  and  daughter,  but  the  little  son,  Ira 
Frederick,  died  when  a  babe  of  one  year. 
The  daughter,  Ida  May,  is  a  little  maid  of 
five  years  and  is  living  with  her  grandpar- 
ents. Mrs.  Ullery  died  on  the  26th  of  August, 
1905,  a  consistent  member  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church,  and  the  funeral  services 
were  performed  by  Rev.  Martin  L.  Peter. 
She  was  but  twenty-eight  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  her  death,  and  with  her  little 
son  she  now  sleeps  in  the  Lutheran  cemetery. 

Mrs.  Sheneman  is  a  representative  of  one 
of  the  honored  early  pioneer  families  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  was  bom  in  Jefferson 
township,  Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  February 
2,  1851,  the  eldest  of  her  parents'  three  chil- 
dren, and  her  brothers  are  Elmer,  who  is  rep- 
resented elsewhere  in  this  work,  and  Schuy- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1024 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


ler,  who  resides  on  the  old  family  homestead. 
She  came  with  her  parents  to  St.  Joseph 
county  when  three  years  of  age,  the  family 
home  ibeing  established  in  Liberty  township, 
and  they  lived  with  Ben  Ross  until  the 
completion  of  their  hewed  log  house,  to  which 
they  had  to  cut  their  way  through  the  dense 
woods.  She  well  remembers  this  little  cabin 
home,  and  recalls  a  time  when  at  least  twen- 
ty-four saddles  of  venison  hung  in  its  loft, 
her  father  having  kept  the  larder  well  sup- 
plied with  wild  game.  She  has  used  the  old 
spinning  wheel,  and,  as  has  been  noted,  at- 
tended the  primitive  log  school  house  near 
her  childhood's  home.  It  may  be  here  noted 
that  the  Kane  family  are  distantly  related  to 
the  celebrated  Dr.  Kane.  Mrs.  Sheneman 
was  first  married  to  Jonathan  Long,  and  the 
only  child  of  that  union  is  deceased. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheneman  began  their  mar- 
ried life  as  renters  on  the  old  homestead, 
and  afterward  they  located  on  an  eighty-acre 
farm,  forty  acres  of  which  belonged  to  Mr. 
Sheneman  and  the  remainder  to  his  wife, 
on  which  they  lived  in  a  little  frame  shack. 
Later  they  became  the  owners  of  their  pres- 
ent building  site  of  one  hundred  acres,  but 
gradually  they  have  increased  their  estate 
until  it  now  consists  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty-seven  acres,  located  in  section  12,  Lib- 
erty township.  Their  large  and  substantial 
bam  was  erected  in  1881,  while  in  1891  their 
large  and  beautiful  brick  residence  was  built, 
which  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  township, 
and  their  homestead  is  known  as  **  Maple  For- 
est Home."  On  the  land  is  one  of  the  finest 
sugar  camps  in  the  entire  county  of  St.  Jo- 
seph, and  also  a  flowing  well,  from  which  he 
runs  a  one  and  a  quarter  inch  pipe.  This 
well  contains  the  best  and  purest  water,  and 
is  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  estate.  Mr. 
Sheneman  gives  a  stanch  and  unfaltering  sup- 
port to  the  Republican  party,  casting  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  U.  S.  Grant,  and 
he  has  since  voted  for  Blaine,  Garfield,  Mc- 
Kinley  and  Roosevelt.  The  family  is  held 
in  high  esteem,  and  the  kindly  social  quali- 
ties with  which  they  are  endowed  by  nature 
win  for  them  the  friendship  and  good  will 
of  all. 

Henry  Sheneman.  During  almost  half  a 
century  this  sturdy  old  St.  Joseph  pioneer 
has  resided  within  the  county's  borders,  and 
he  is  therefore  numbered  among  the  honored 
citizens  who  have  not  only  witnessed  the 
remarkable  growth  and  transformation  of  the 


region  but  have  been  important  factors  in 
its  progress  and  advancement.  He  traces 
his  lineage  to  the  sturdy  (Jerman  race,  for 
his  grandfather,  F.  D.  F.  Sheneman,  came 
from  the  fatherland  and  established  his  home 
in  Pennsylvania,  from  whence  he  removed  to 
Ohio.  The  original  German  spelling  of  the 
name  was  *  *  Schoenemann. "  Henry  Shene- 
man was  bom  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  June 
25,  1836,  and  has  therefore  almost  passed  the 
three-quarter  mark  on  the  journey  of  life. 
In  his  parents'  family  were  twelve  children, 
eleven  sons  and  one  daughter,  but  only  five 
of  the  number  are  now  living,  the  eldest  being 
Henry,  whose  name  introduces  this  review; 
F.  D.  F.  is  a  retired  farmer  in  North  Lib- 
erty; Isaac  is  a  farmer  of  Kosciusko  county, 
Indiana;  John  is  a  retired  agriculturist  of 
Liberty  township;  and  Zachariah,  the  young- 
est, also  resides  in  Liberty  township,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  farming. 

Frederick  Sheneman,  the  father,  was  bom 
in  Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  about 
1803,  and  died  on  the  28th  of  March,  1876. 
During  the  greater  part  of  his  business  ca- 
reer he  was  engaged  in  the  tilling  of  the 
soil,  but  he  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade.  After 
attaining  to  years  of  maturity  he  removed 
from  his  native  state  to  Holmes  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  timber 
land  and  their  first  home  was  a  little  log 
cabin.  In  the  fall  of  1860  the  journey  was 
resumed  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  and 
here  they  purchased  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  Liberty  township,  one  mile  south  of 
Mr.  Sheneman 's  present  home.  In  his  early 
manhood  he  had  married  Elizabeth  Fried- 
land,  she  being  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
bom  about  1807,  and  her  death  occurred  in 
about  1885.  She,  too,  was  reared  in  the  Key- 
stone state  until  attaining  years  of  maturity, 
and  was  of  German  descent.  Both  were  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Lutheran  church,  and 
the  father  was  one  of  the  most  important  fac- 
tors in  the  erection  of  the  first  church  build- 
ing. Both  died  in  Liberty  township,  where 
they  now  lie  buried  in  the  Lutheran  ceme- 
tery, a  beautiful  monument  standing  sacred 
to  their  memory. 

Their  son  Henry  Sheneman  was  reared  in 
his  native  county  of  Holmes  as  a  farmer  and 
stockman,  and  at  the  early  age  of  fourteen 
years  he  became  a  wage  earner  at  five  dollars 
a  month,  which  munificent  salary  was  given 
to  his  father.  Thus  when  he  reached  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years  he  had  not  twenty 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1025 


dollars  to  his  credit,  and  in  true  pioneer 
style  he  began  at  the  very  bottom  round  of 
the  ladder  of  life.  On  the  2Sth  of  August, 
1860,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Mullet,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three 
daughters,  and  six  of  the  number  are  yet 
living.  The  eldest,  Susama,  is  the  wife  of 
Isaiah  Roush,  who  is  one  of  the  leading  farm- 
ers of  Liberty  township,  and  they  have  seven 
children,  Charles,  Claude,  Melvin,  Milo, 
Mabel,  Iva  and  Alta.  Mr.  Koush  is  a  stanch 
Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations.  Rhoda 
Jane  is  the  wife  of  Schuyler  Kane,  also  a 
farmer  of  Liberty  township,  and  their  five 
children  are  Robert,  Anna,  Lola,  Allen  and 
Elden.  Mrs.  Kane  had  been  previously  mar- 
ried to  Abraham  StuU,  by  whom  she  has  two 
living  children,  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  John 
Hummel,  and  they  have  two  children,  Edna 
and  Clarence,  and  George  Henry,  who  re- 
sides in  the  state  of  Washington.  The  his- 
tory of  the  third  child,  John  Sheneman,  will 
be  found  on  another  page.  Washington  is 
one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  Liberty 
township.  He  married  Miss  Ella  Stroup,  who 
died  leaving  two  children,  Clyde  and  Vera. 
He  erected  one  of  the  finest  bank  barns  in 
the  township  in  1906,  and  is  both  a  stockman 
and  farmer,  also  belonging  to  the  Gleaners, 
a  farmer's  insurance  order.  Alonzo  is  a 
prominent  farmer  of  Madison  township,  and 
Elizabeth  Ann,  the  youngest,  is  at  home  with 
her  parents. 

Mrs.  Sheneman  was  bom  in  Holmes 
county,  Ohio,  November  28,  1835,  her  parents 
being  Nicholas  and  Anna  (Biddieoffer)  Mul- 
let, both  natives  of  Switzerland.  In  early 
life  they  crossed  the  ocean  to  America,  spend- 
ing thirteen  weeks  on  the  voyage.  The  fa- 
ther was  then  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  he 
first  established'  his  home  in  New  York,  re- 
moving thence  to  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  and 
there  he  and  his  wife  and  his  father  died. 
He  became  a  very  successful  farmer  and 
stockman,  having  accumulated  about  five  hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  and  in  one  year  he  sold 
over  one  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  wool. 
His  political  aflSliations  were  with  the  De- 
mocracy, and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Reformed  church.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Mullet  became  the  parents  of 
twelve  children,  and'  the  nine  now  living  are : 
Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Sheneman;  John, 
an  agriculturist  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio; 
Annfa,  the  widow  of  Michael  Steele,  and  a 


resident  of  Liberty  township;  Daniel,  an 
agriculturist  of  Whitley  county,  Indiana; 
Joseph,  a  resident  farmer  of  Missouri;  Sam- 
uel, engaged  in  farming  in  Holmes  county, 
Ohio;  Susie,  the  widow  of  William  Bell  and 
a  resident  of  Ohio;  Thomas,  who  is  also  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Holmes 
county;  and  Abraham,  the  youngest, 
who  resides  on  the  old  homestead.  Mrs. 
Sheneman  received  her  education  in  the  Ger- 
man tongue,  and  after  their  marriage,  which 
was  celebrated  in  Ohio,  the  young  couple 
started  on  the  journey  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,  where  Mr.  Sheneman  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  his  present  farm,  on  which 
stood  a  little  log  cabin  with  one  door  and 
window,  and  two  acres  of  the  land  had  been 
partially  cleared.  As  the  years  passed  by 
and  with  the  aid  of  his  sons  he  placed  the 
land  under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation, 
adding  thereto  until  he  is  now  the  owner  of 
two  hundred  acres,  all  lying  in  Liberty  town- 
ship. No  state  in  the  Union  can  boast  of  a 
more  heroic  band  of  pioneers  than  Indiana, 
and  their  privations,  hardships  and  labors 
have  resulted  in  establishing  one  of  the  fore- 
most commonwealths  in  America,  and  one 
which  has  still  greater  possibilities  before  it. 
But  their  work  is  nearly  complete,  and  soon, 
too  soon,  will  the  last  of  these  sturdy  pio- 
neers be  laid  away,  but  their  memory  will 
ever  be  cherished  by  those  who  lived  among 
them  and  appreciated  their  efforts.  The  name 
of  Henry  Sheneman  is  closely  associated  with 
the  early  history  of  St.  Joseph  county,  which 
has  been  his  home  for  many  years,  and 
throughout  that  long  period-  he  has  been 
closely  allied  with  its  upbuilding  and  devel- 
opment. He  has  been  a  life-long  supporter 
of  Democracy,  and  has  ever  been  a  firm  friend 
of  the  public  school,  doing  everything  in  his 
power  for  their  advancement.  During  the 
long  period  of  thirty  years  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  order,  exemplifying 
in  his  every  day  life  its  beneficent  princi- 
ples, and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  German  Reformed  church. 

William  Orlando  Cullar,  one  of  the  na- 
tive bom  sons  of  St.  Joseph  county,  is  num- 
bered among  the  leading  agriculturists  and 
stockmen  of  Liberty  township.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  the  township  on  the  10th  of  June, 
1868,  his  parents  being  Samuel  and  Louisa 
(Metsker)  Cullar,  in  whose  family  were  eight 
children,  three  sons  and  five  daughters,  and 
five  are  now  living:     Josiah,  a  resident  of 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1026 


HISTORY   OP.  ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


California,  where  he  is  a  talented  musician, 
and  was  formerly  engaged  in  teaching  school ; 
Matilda,  the  wife  of  Jacob  W.  Bamhart,  a 
merchant  in  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado; 
Rosa  E.,  the  wife  of  Prate  Baker,  who  also 
resides  in  Colorado  Springs,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  ranching;  William  0.,  who  is  the 
seventh  in  order  of  birth  of  the  eight  chil- 
dren; and  Barbara,  the  wife  of  Larmon 
Foote,  an  agriculturist  in  Liberty  township. 
Samuel  Cullar,  the  father,  was  of  Scotch 
descent,  and  a  native  of  Stark  county,  Ohio, 
born  July  9,  1834,  while  his  death  occurred 
in  Kansas  on  the  13th  of  August,  1874.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  joiner, 
becoming  proficient  in  that  occupation,  and  in 
his  early  life  he  gave  his  political  support 
to  the  Whig  party,  but  upon  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Republican  party  joined  its  ranks, 
and  became  one  of  its  stalwart  supporters. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
German  Baptist  church.  Mrs.  Cullar  is  also 
a  native  of  Ohio,  born  on  the  28th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1838,  and  she  yet  resides  in  Liberty 
township,  one  of  its  brave  and  honored  pio- 
neer women. 

William  0.  Cullar  spent  the  first  five  years 
companied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to 
Kansas,  which  continued  as  the  family  home 
of  his  life  in  St.  Joseph  county,  and  then  ac- 
for  nine  years.  The  son  was  thus  fourteen 
years  of  age  when  he  returned  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  the  educational  training  which 
he  had  received  in  the  Sunflower  state  was 
supplemented  by  attendance  at  the  Valpar- 
aiso University,  while  for  eleven  years  there- 
after he  taught  in  the  schools  of  this  county. 
From  the  study  of  his  life  one  may  learn 
valuable  lessons,  for  it  illustrates  in  no  un- 
certain manner  what  it  is  possible  to  accom- 
plish when  perseverance  and  determination 
form  the  keynote  to  a  man's  life.  At  the 
early  age  of  fourteen  he  began  as  a  wage 
earner,  receiving  eight  dollars  a  month  in 
compensation  for  driving  a  horse  to  a  grub- 
bing machine,  and  with  the  money  thus 
earned  he  purchased  his  books,  also  a  pair  of 
boots,  and  started  to  school,  diligently  pur- 
suing his  studies  until  he  was  later  able  to 
enter  the  school  room  as  an  instructor.  The 
first  land  which  he  purchased  was  his  present 
farm  of  6ne  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  for 
which  he  went  in  debt  to  the  amount  of  two 
thousand  dollars,  but  soon,  by  the  aid  of  his 
estimable  wife,  he  was  able  to  pay  off  the 
entire  indebtedness,  and  in  addition  they  have 


erected  one  of  the  most  beautiful  modern 
country  residences  in  the  township,  finished 
in  hard  wood,  heated  by  a  furnace  and  mod- 
em in  all  its  appointments.  It  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  three  thousand  dollars,  and  they 
also  expended  one  thousand  dollars  in  re- 
modeling their  large  basement  barn.  The 
pretty  country  seat  is  known  as  '^Ingleside." 
On  the  farm  is  a  large  sugar  camp  of  three 
hundred  trees,  while  on  their  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  in  Union  town- 
ship, the  old  Barrett  homestead,  and  in  which 
they  own  a  half  interest,  they  have  a  grove 
of  one  thousand  trees,  six  hundred  and  sixty 
of  which  are  tapped,  and  they  have  a  patent 
evax)orator  with  which  to  manufacture  the 
genuine  maple  sugar,  for  which  they  find  a 
ready  sale  on  the  market. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Cullar  was  celebrated 
on  the  12th  of  September,  1893,  when  Miss 
Mary  C.  Barrett  became  his  wife,  and  they 
have  three  children:  Fred  Orlando,  who  is 
pursuing  his  studies  in  the  fifth  grade  of 
school,  and  has  also  received  musical  instruc-- 
tion;  Nellie  May,  a  member  of  the  fourth 
grade ;  and  Cora  Eva,  the  youngest  of  the  fam- 
ily, who  is  in  the  third  grade  of  school.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cullar  will  provide  their  children 
with  the  best  educational  advantages  possi- 
ble, and  they  have  already  made  for  them  a 
beautiful  and  comfortable  home.  Mr.  Cullar 
cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Benjamin 
Harrison,  and  he  has  ever  since  continued 
to  support  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party,  often  being  selected  as  its  delegate  to 
the  county  conventions.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  German  Baptist  church,  while  his  wife 
has  membership  relations  with  the  German 
Lutherans,  and  their  children  attend  the 
Sunday-«chool.  The  family  are  well  and  fa- 
vorably known,  and  are  worthy  in  every  way 
to  be  recorded  among  the  representative  men 
and  women  of  old  St.  Joseph  county. 

Leonard  Amm.  Li  the  history  of  St.  Jo- 
seph county  the  name  of  Leonard  Amm 
should  not  be  omitted,  for  through  many 
years  he  has  been  one  of  the  leading  agri- 
culturists of  Liberty  township,  progressive, 
enterprising  and  persevering.  Such  quali- 
ties always  win  success,  and  to  Mr.  Amm 
they  have  brought  a  handsome  competence 
as  the  reward  of  his  well  directed  efforts.  He 
is  a  native  of  Dearborn  county,  Indiana,  bom 
on  the  27th  of  March,  1855,  a  son  of  Andrew 
and  Margaret  (Kundinger)  Amm,  in  whose 
family  were  seven  children,  five  sons  and  two 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1027 


daughters,  and  six  are  now  living:  Adam, 
a  farmer  of  Lincoln,  Nebraska;  Maggie,  the 
wife  of  Albert  Miller,  who  is  living  retired 
in  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  George,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  resides  in  Dearborn  county,  Indiana, 
and  with  whom  his  father  resided;  Fred, 
who  is  married  and  also  follows  farming  in 
Dearborn  county;  Leonard,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  review;  and  Lizzie,  the  wife 
of  Adam  Ester,  an  agriculturist  of  Dear- 
bom  county. 

Mr.  Amm,  iJie  father,  was  born  in  the  prov- 
ince of  Byron,  Germany,  and  after  his  mar- 
riage, with  his  young  wife  he  left  home  and 
native  land  on  a  sailing  vessel  bound  for 
New  York,  three  weeks  having  passed  ere 
the  worn  and  weary  travelers  sighted  land. 
Their  first  permanent  home  was  in  Hamil- 
ton, Ohio,  but  they  subsequently  removed 
to  Dearborn  county,  Indiana,  where  they  be- 
came the  owners  of  sixty  acres  of  partially 
improved  land,  their  first  home  being  a  little 
log  cabin,  and  this  land  is  yet  in  the  name 
of  Mr.  Amm.  From  the  time  of  his  arrival 
in  America  he  was  a  loyal  and  devoted  son 
of  the  republic,  and  would  have  served  his 
adopted  country  in  the  Civil  war  had  he  not 
been  exempted  therefrom  on  account  of  hav- 
ing lost  one  of  his  fingers.  He  stanchly  up- 
held the  principles  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  was  a  worthy  memlber  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church,  as  was  also  his  wife.  She 
was  bom  in  the  same  place  as  her  husband, 
about  1823,  and  her  death  occurred  in  1895, 
when  she  had  reached  the  age  of  seventy- 
two  years.  She  was  a  kind  and  loving  wife 
and  mother,  and  she  now  sleeps  in  Dearborn 
county,  where  a  beautiful  stone  stands  sacred 
to  her  memory.  Mr.  Amm  died  May  27, 
1907,  at  the  home  of  his  son  George,  in  Dear- 
bom  county,  and  he  was  interred  on  Decora- 
tion Day.  He  was  eighty-four  years,  four 
months  and  seventeen  days  old  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  and  he  is  buried  beside  his  wife  in 
the  county  of  Dearborn.  His  mind  remained 
clear  and  was  filled  with  many  pleasant 
memories  of  the  past. 

Leonard  Amm,  their  son,  spent  the  early 
years  of  his  life  in  his  native  county  of  Dear- 
bom,  and  has  devoted  his  entire  business 
life  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  is  a  self 
educated  man,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years  he  began  the  battle  of  life  for  him- 
self, receiving  fifteen  dollars  a  month  in  com- 
pensation for  his  farm  labor.  When  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  came 


to  Liberty  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  his 
first  employer  here  being  Peter  Geyer,  on 
whose  farm  he  worked  for  four  years.  He 
was  an  industrious  lad,  and  having  saved 
his  wages  was  enabled  on  the  expiration  of 
that  period  to  purchase  forty  acres  of  land, 
only  about  five  of  which  had  been  cleared, 
and  he  was  obliged  to  go  in  debt  for  a  part 
of  the  farm.  As  the  years  grew  apace  suc- 
cess rewarded  his  well  directed  efforts,  and 
he  was  soon  able  to  clear  his  indebtedness 
and  to  also  purchase  thirty-seven  acres  just 
across  the  road,  while  later  he  became  the 
owner  of  forty-two  acres  where  his  house 
stands.  He  subsequently  sold  his  first  pur- 
chase of  forty  acres,  and  his  farm  now  con- 
sists of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  all 
excellent  land  and  under  a  fine  state  of 
cultivation. 

On  the  10th  of  August,  1879,  Mr.  Amm 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Nancy  JE. 
Newcomer,  and  their  five  children,  three  sons 
and  two  daughters,  are:  Elmer  G.,  who  is 
an  employe  of  the  Armour  Company  in  South 
Bend.  He  received  his  diploma  from  the 
common  schools  with  the  class  of  1899,  and 
married  Miss  Ida  Harmon,  by  whom  he  has 
three  children,  Clarence,  Merrill  and  Mil- 
bourn  L.  He  gives  his  political  support  to 
the  Republican  party,  and  the  family  are 
memlbers  of  the  Lutheran  church.  Edmund 
D.  resides  with  his  brother  Elmer  in  South 
Bend.  He  was  a  member  of  the  class  of 
1900,  and  also  spent  two  years  in  the  high 
school  of  North  Liberty.  Celestia,  who  is 
pursuing  her  studies  in  the  eighth  grade  and 
is  also  receiving  musical  instruction ;  Lodema, 
a  member  of  the  seventh  grade  and  also  a 
music  pupil ;  and  Sterling  Albert,  the  young- 
est of  the  family,  who  is  a  bright  little  lad  in 
the  fourth  grade.  Mrs.  Amm  was  bom  in 
Liberty  township  January  21,  1859,  and  is 
the  sixth  of  the  seven  children  born  to  Sam- 
uel and  Susanna  (Stump)  Newcomer.  Six 
of  the  number  are  now  living:  John,  a  re- 
tired farmer  of  Liberty  township ;  Katie,  the 
wife  of  Christopher  Eisenmanger,  a  retired 
farmer  of  Marshall  county,  Indiana;  Mary, 
the  wife  of  Albert  Harmon,  also  of  Marshall 
county ;  Eliza,  wife  of  Moses  Kaser,  a  farmer 
of  Union  township,  St.  Joseph  county ;  Nancy 
E.,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Amm;  and  Sariiuel,  who 
is  married  and  resides  on  a  farm  in  Mar- 
shall county,  Indiana.  Mr.  Newcomer,  the 
father,  was  born  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio, 
April  2,  1821,  and  died  in  1897,  in  Liberty 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1028 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


township.  In  true  pioneer  style  he  journeyed 
from  his  native  state  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,  where  he  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  the  dense  timber, 
and  the  first  home  was  the  primitive  log 
cabin  so  common  in  the  early  days.  He  was 
a  Jackson  Democrat  in  his  political  affilia- 
tions, while  religiously  he  was  a  Mennonite. 
Mrs.  Newcomer  claimed  Pennsylvania  as  the 
state  of  her  nativity,  her  natal  day  being 
the  10th  of  August,  1823,  and  her  death  oc- 
curred at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Amm,  May  20,  1906.  In  1904  an  organiza- 
tion for  the  reunion  of  the  Newcomer  fam- 
ily was  instituted,  their  meetings  to  be  held 
yearly,  and  in  1905  the  reunion  was  held 
at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Amm,  at  which  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  of  the  relatives  were  pres- 
ent. On  that  occasion  photographs  of  her 
mother  and  children,  also  her  mother  and 
grandchildren  and  her  mother  and  great- 
grandchildren were  taken.  This  is  the  only 
organization  of  the  kind  known  to  exist  in 
Liberty  township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Amm  began  their  married  life 
on  the  little  forty  acre  tract  purchased  by 
the  husband,  and  although  their  capital  was 
then  extremely  limited  their  diligence  and 
careful  management  have  enabled  them  with 
the  passing  years  to  acquire  a  competence  and 
to  become  leading  agriculturists  in  the  town- 
ship. Their  pleasant  home  is  known  as 
**Mapleridge  Farm."  Mr.  Amm  is  a  stanch 
Republican  in  his  political  affiliations,  hav- 
ing cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  R.  B. 
Hayes,  and)  he  has  ever  since  supported  its 
presidential  candidates.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  advisory  board  of  Liberty  township,  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  church.  Mrs.  Amm  recently 
went  on  an  extended  trip  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  she  visited  relatives  and  viewed  the 
beautiful  scenes  of  the  Keystone  state. 

Israel  Irvin.  During  the  pioneer  epoch 
in  the  history  of  St.  Josepl\  county  Israel 
Irvin  located  within  its  borders,  and  he  has 
taken  an  active  and  prominent  part  in  the 
development  of  this  section  of  the  state.  His 
birth  occurred  in  Lancaster  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, April  9,  1830,  he  being  the  young- 
est of  ten  children,  five  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters, bom  to  George  Irvin  and  the  only  one 
now  living.  The  father,  a  native  of  Ireland 
and  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  was  reared  in 
England,  but  after  reaching  manhood's  es- 
tate he  came  to   America  and  took  up  his 


abode  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  subse- 
quently married.  At  the  time  of  his  arrival 
in  this  country  he  was  practically  without 
money,  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land,  and 
his  subsequent  successful  career  was  but  the 
honest  reward  of  labor,  good  management 
and  ambition.  He  was  a  mechanic  by  pro- 
fession, and  about  1834  he  emigrated  to 
Stark  county,  Ohio,  where  he  farmed  on 
rented  land  until  his  removal  to  Indiana  in 
1842,  at  which  time  he  located  in  Elkhart 
county  and  rented  land  between  Elkhart  and 
Goshen  long  enough  to  enable  him  to  erect 
his  little  home  on  land  he  purchased.  This 
first  home, was  a  two-story  log  cabin,  in  which 
he  resided  until  his  death  at  the  age  of 
sixty-five  years,  passing  away  in  the  faith 
of  the  German  Baptist  church,  of  which  he 
was  long  a  faithful  member.  His  political 
support  was  given  to  the  Whig  party. 

Israel  Irvin  was  left  an  orphan  at  the  age 
of  fourteen  years,  for  at  that  time  his  father 
diedj  and  his  mother  had  passed  away  when 
he  was  a  little  lad  -of  four  years.  His  two 
brothers  came  to  Indiana  from  Ohio,  and 
on  their  return  they  took  the  little  lad  with 
them,  where  he  remained  until  reaching  ma- 
ture years.  During  that  time  he  learned 
the  carpenter  and  joiner's  trades,  following 
those  occupations  after  his  return  to  Elk- 
hart county,  Indiana,  where  he  erected  many 
houses.  During  his  residence  there  Mr.  Irvin 
married  Miss  Susan  Leer,  and  six  children, 
three  sons  and  three  daughters,  were  born 
to  them,  namely:  Catharine,  the  wife  of 
Stephen  Baine,  who  is  also  a  carpenter  and 
joiner,  and  they  have  three  daughters  and  a 
son;  John,  a  contractor  in  South  Bend,  is 
married'  and  has  two  children;  Jane,  the 
wife  of  Hiram  Dreibelbis,  of  North  Liberty, 
and  they  have  two  children ;  Elmer,  a  barber 
in  South  Bend,  is  married  and  has  four  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  a  daughter;  George  B., 
who  is  engaged  in  the  butchering  business  in 
North  Liberty,  also  in  buying  and  selling 
stock,  is  married  and  has  two  sons;  Dora, 
the  wife  of  C.  Keck,  the  postmaster  of  North 
Liberty. 

Mrs.  Irvin,  the  mother  of  these  children, 
was  born  in  Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  April 
11,  1832,  a  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Hester 
(Miller)  Leer,  in  whose  family  were  eight 
children,  and  four  of  the  number  are: 
Elizabeth,  the  widow  of  Samuel  Irvin  and  a 
resident  of  Nebraska;  Susan,  the  deceased 
wife  of  Israel  Irvin ;    John  W.,  who  served 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


THF 

;PUBLt'     L'.t^iRY^ 
W  'I 


Digitized  by 


Google 


F 


Mrs.  Israel  Irvin 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Israel  Irvin 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1029 


as  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  and  is  now 
engaged  in  farming  in  Elkhart  county;  and 
Sarah,  the  wife  of  Eliphus  Reigel,  of  Pea- 
body,  Elansas.  Abraham  Leer,  the  father, 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to 
Indiana  in  true  pioneer  style,  purchasing  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  fine  timber  land 
near  Goshen,  and  he  became  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful business  men  in  the  county.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  German 
Baptist  church,  and  he  aided  in  the  erection 
of  the  church  in  their  neighborhood.  He 
was  also  a  stalwart  advocate  of  the  temper- 
ance cause,  and  gave  his  political  support 
to  the  Republican  party.  Mrs.  Leer  was  also 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  her  death 
occurred  at  about  the  age  of  forty-five  years. 
After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Irvin 
took  up  their  abode  in  Elkhart  county  in  a 
house  which  his  father  had  built.  Previous 
to  his  marriage,  however,  he  had  gone  to 
Ohio  and  entered  upon  a  five  years'  appren- 
ticeship, and  for  that  long  period  of  work 
he  received  a  set  of  bench  tools  and  forty 
dollars  in  money,  while  after  its  expiration  in 
one  year's  time  he  saved  four  hundred  dol- 
lars. With  this  little  sum  he  purchased 
thirty  acres  of  land  west  of  Goshen,  which 
was  covered  with  timber  with  the  exception 
of  a  strip  of  marsh  land.  About  four  years 
later,  however,  they  sold  this  land  and  went 
to  Stephenson  county,  Illinois,  where  for 
three  years  they  farmed  on  rented  land, 
going  thence  to  Clay  county,  Missouri,  and 
a  short  time  afterward  returned  to  Elkhart 
county.  Again  they  were  obliged  to  begin 
at  the  very  bottom  round  of  the  ladder,  for 
they  had  only  enough  money  with  which  to 
purchase  a  cow,  even  having  to  go  in  debt 
for  their  household  goods.  Mr.  Irvin  began 
work  at  his  trade  and  also  farmed  his  father- 
in-law 's  farm  for  one  year,  while  later  they 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  unimproved  land, 
going  in  debt  for  the  entire  amount  and 
later  they  sold  thirty  acres  of  the  tract. 
During  the  long  period  of  forty  years  he 
also  dealt  in  stock,  for  a  number  of  years 
conducting  a  meat  market,  while  his  surplus 
stock  of  meats  was  sold  to  the  Chicago  mar- 
ket, South  Bend  and  throughout  the  county. 
However,  the  greater  part  of  his  business 
career  has  been  devoted  to  his  trade.  By 
sheer  force  of  will  and  untiring  effort  he 
has  worked  his  way  upward,  his  success 
being  the  just  reward  of  meritorious,  honor- 


able labor,  which  commands  the  respect  of  all. 
In  1865  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Irvin  took  up  their 
abode  in  North  Liberty,  which  at  that  time 
contained  but  a  little  log  cabin  located  in 
the  western  part  of  the  town,  while  South 
Bend  was  then  but  a  village.  Mr.  Irvin 
and  the  Studebaker  Brothers  were  school- 
mates in  Ohio  during  their  early  boyhood 
days.  He  gives  a  stanch  support  to  the  Re- 
publican party,  having  supported  each  presi- 
dential candidate  since  casting  his  vote  for 
Lincoln,  and  he  was  the  first  village  treas- 
urer of  North  Liberty.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  German  Baptist  church,  as  was  also  his 
wife  and  both  are  numbered  among  its  ac- 
tive workers  and  contributed  to  the  erection 
of  the  church  in  North  Liberty.  The  dear 
wife  and  companion  passed  away  June  5, 
1907,  aged  seventy-five  years,  one  month 
and  twenty-four  days,  and  she  is  interred 
in  the  Liberty  cemetery.  They  had  traveled 
life's  journey  together  for  over  fifty-five 
years,  sharing  alike  the  joys  and  sorrows 
of  life.  She  was  an  affectionate  wife  and 
mother,  and  her  place  can  never  be  filled 
again.    This  was  the  first  death  in  the  family. 

Del  M.  Woodward.  Perhaps  no  one 
agency  in  all  the  world  has  done  so  much 
for  public  progress  as  the  press,  and  an  en- 
terprising, well  edited  journal  is  a  most  im- 
portant factor  in  promoting  the  welfare  and 
prosperity  of  any  community.  North  Liberty 
is  certainly  indebted  to  its  wide-awake  jour- 
nal in  no  smaU  degree,  and  Mr.  Woodward  is 
the  editor  of  the  excellent  newspaper  of  the 
village,  the  News.  Throughout  his  entire 
life  he  has  been  connected  with  journalistic 
work,  and  by  his  own  efforts  he  has  risen  to 
his  present  high  position  in  the  newspaper 
field. 

Mr.  Woodward  is  a  native  son  of  the  county 
of  St.  Joseph,  bom  on  the  8th  of  March, 
1872,  the  fourth  of  five  children,  four  sons 
and  one  daughter,  of  Horace  P.  and  Sarah 
C.  (Roberts)  Woodward.  Only  two  of  the 
number  are  now  living,  the  younger  being 
Phay,  a  barber  at  Plymouth,  Indiana.  Horace 
P.  Woodward,  the  father,  was  a  native  of 
Homellsville,  Steuben  county,  New  York, 
born  in  1842,  and  both  he  and  his  wife,  the 
latter  a  native  of  Indiana,  are  yet  living 
and  are  residents  of  Walkerton,  Indiana. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  enlisting 
from  Laporte  county,  Indiana,  he  having 
resided  in   St.  Joseph  county  prior  to  that 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1030 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


struggle,  and  he  now  owns  considerable  land 
in  Walkerton.  His  political  support  is  given 
to  the  Republican  party. 

Del  M.  Woodward  is  an  example  of  the 
boys  who  have  educated  themselves  and  se- 
cured, their  own  start  in  life,  for  during  his 
early  youth  he  worked  in  a  printing  oiKce 
before  entering  school  in  the  morning  and  in 
the  evenings  after  the  session  had  closed, 
and  when  sixteen  years  of  age  he  went  to 
Saint  Peter,  Minnesota,  and  began  work  as 
a  printer  or  typo  at  four  dollars  a  week,  also 
receiving  nis  board  and  washing,  there  re- 
maining for  six  months.  On  the  expiration 
of  that  period  he  went  to  Chicago  and  secured 
work  in  the  well  known  publishing  and 
printing  house  of  Donohue  &  Henneberry, 
remaining  with  that  firm  for  two  years  as 
a  cataloguist  and  newspaper  typo.  He  then 
began  newspaper  work  and  held  cases  on  the 
Chicago  Evening  Post  and  the  Times,  being 
thus  engaged  during  the  time  of  the  World's 
Pair.  He  was  also  in  the  employ  of  Carter 
Harrison  when  that  well  known  journalist 
and  mayor  of  Chicago  was  assassinated.  In 
1895  Mr.  Woodward  located  in  North  Liberty 
and  established  the  North  Liberty  News.  It 
made  its  first  appearance  on  the  23d  of 
March,  1905,  entering  upon  what  has  proved 
to  be  a  most  prosperous  existence.  His  long 
experience  in  the  field  of  journalism  enabled 
him  to  successfully  launch  the  new  venture, 
and  so  guide  its  course  until  it  reached  the 
untroubled  sea.  The  plant  was  at  fitnat 
located  in  one  end  of  a  carpenter  shop,  with 
a  Washington  hand  press,  a  Gordon  jobber 
and  a  few  fonts  of  type.  The  infant  paper 
was  a  six  folio  weekly,  which  was  finally  in- 
creased to  a  five  quarto  and  later  to  a  six 
quarto,  its  present  size.  In  1899  he  was 
able  to  erect  his  present  substantial  brick 
plant,  and  little  by  little  he  increased  his 
facilities  until  in  1903  he  put  in  a  two  and 
a  half  horse  power  gasoline  engine,  with  a 
full  series  of  the  best  and  most  approved 
fonts  of  type,  and  the  News  now  has  a  cir- 
culation of  twelve  hundred.  As  the  record 
of  a  young  man,  his  is  one  of  which  he  may 
justly  be  proud.  He  began  his  business  life 
in  North  Liberty  in  the  face  of  difficulties 
and  in  debt,  but  he  was  industrious,  deter- 
mined and  resolute,  and  these  qualities  stood 
him  instead  of  fortune  and  enabled  him  to 
overcome  the  difficulties  and  obstacles  in  his 
path  and  work  his  way  steadily  upward.  He 
owns  the  building  in  which  his  plant  is  lo- 


cated, also  the  one  adjoining,  and  in  1900  he 
erected  his  beautiful  modem  residence  on  the 
corner  of  Maple  and  Elm  streets,  while  he 
also  has  a  pretty  little  summer  cottage  on 
Koontz's  lake,  ten  miles  from  North  Liberty. 

On  the  20th  of  November,  1894,  Mr.  Wood- 
ward was  married  to  Miss  Ida  Hutehings, 
who  was  bom  in  Fayette,  Ohio,  December 
12,  1869,  a  daughter  of  Charles  Hutehings. 
She  received  her  elementary  educational 
training  in  the  common  schools  and  is  also 
a  graduate  of  Parson's  Horalogical  Institute 
of  Laporte,  Indiana.  For  three  years  she 
pursued  her  profession  successfully  in 
Walkerton,  Indiana,  and  she  is  a  worthy 
aid  to  her  husband  in  the  conduct  of  the 
business.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
church  at  Laporte.  Mr.  Woodward  affiliates 
with  the  Republican  party,  having  cast  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  McKinley,  and  he 
has  been  selected  as  delegate  to  the  state  and 
county  conventions.  In  1906  he  was  ap- 
pointed a  member  of  the  board  of  education 
in  North  Liberty,  while  in  1898  he  was 
elected  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  is  also 
a  prominent  Mason,  a  member  of  the  Blue 
Lodge,  No.  266,  of  North  Liberty,  Chapter 
No.  29,  R.  A.  M.,  at  South  Bend,  and  he  is 
now  serving  as  senior  deacon  of  his  lodge. 
In  manner  he  is  courteous  and  genial,  and 
among  the  people  with  whom  he  has  been  so 
long  connected  he  is  popular. 

George  Kime.  St.  Joseph  county  includes 
among  its  honored  pioneers  and  leading  citi- 
zens George  Kime,  who  has  lived  and  labored 
within  its  borders  for  over  forty  years,  and 
to  these  brave  and  hardy  settlers  is  accorded 
the  distinction  of  having  laid  the  foundation 
for  the  county's  present  advancement  and 
prosperity.  His  birth  occurred  in  Holmes 
county,  Ohio,  March  23,  1835,  the  eldest 
child  of  Joseph  and  Catherine  (Schoenne- 
man)  Kime,  in  whose  family  were  seven 
children,  three  sons  and  four  daughters, 
namely :  George,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Kaser, 
an  agrieulturist  of  Liberty  township;  Eliza- 
beth, the  widow  of  Peter  JSIrieger,  of  Holmes 
county,  Ohio;  John,  a  merchant  of  Topeka, 
Lagrange  county,  Indiana;  Joseph,  a  carpen- 
ter and  joiner  in  that  city ;  Barbara,  the  wife 
of  Adam  Troyer,  of  Oregon;  and  Kate,  the 
wife  of  Silas  Trittipo,  a  paper  hanger  in 
South  Bend. 

Joseph  Kime,  the  father,  was  bom  in 
Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1813,  and 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF    ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1031 


his  death  occurred  on  the  4th  of  March,  1857. 
He  was  reared  to  the  life  of  an  agriculturist 
in  his  native  state,  there  remaining  until  his 
nineteenth  year,  when  the  trip  was  made 
across  the  mountains  to  Ohio.  He  gave  his 
political  support  to  the  Democracy,  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  German 
Baptist  church.  Mrs.  Kime  was  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born  about  1814,  and  her  death  oc- 
curred in  1885.  She  was  a  devout  Christian 
woman,  a  kind  and  affectionate  mother,  and 
the  parents  early  taught  their  children  the 
road  to  higher  thoughts  and  actions  and  to 
live  honest  and  useful  lives. 

George  Kime  remained  in  his  native  county 
of  Holmes  until  thirty-one  years  of  age,  and 
from  his  early  youth  has  been  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  attended  the  old 
fashioned  log  cabin  school,  a  hewed  log  build- 
ing twenty  by  twenty-five  feet  in  size,  where 
the  desks  were  a  long  board  around  the  wall 
and  the  seats  were  of  slabs.  He  remained 
with  his  father  until  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  at  which  time  his  worldly  possessions 
consisted  of  a  horse  and,  he  farmed  the  old 
homestead  on  the  shares.  He  therefore  began 
at  the  very  bottom  round  of  the  ladder  of 
life,  but  gradually  has  he  ascended  step  by 
step  until  he  is  now  numbered  among  the 
leading  agriculturists  of  the  township.  Mr. 
Kime  has  been  twice  married,  first  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Krieger,  July  12,  1862,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  seven  children,  two 
sons  and  five  daughters,  of  whom  three  are 
now  living.  Manda,  the  eldest,  was  first 
married  to  Albert  Steiner,  and  they  had  one 
daughter,  Flossie,  who  was  well  educated  in 
the  city  public  schools  and  is  now  employed 
as  forelady  in  one  of  the  factories.  Mrs. 
Steiner  afterward  married  Ellsworth  Liven- 
good,  a  resident  of  South  Bend  and  an  em- 
ploye of  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad  Company. 
Lena  is  the  wife  of  James  Hamlin,  a  painter 
of  South  Bend,  and  they  have  one  little  son, 
Raymond.  Alma  is  the  wife  of  Ed  Tohhulka, 
who  is  employed  as  a  fireman  in  South  Bend, 
and  their  four  children  are  Georgie,  Helen, 
Marguerite  and  Kenneth.  Mrs.  Kime,  the 
mother,  was  a  native  of  Holmes  county,  Ohio, 
born  in  1838,  and  her  death  occurred  on  the 
8th  of  April,  1885,  passing  away  in  the  faith 
of  the  Grerman  Baptist  church,  of  which  she 
had  long  been  a  faithful  member. 

It  was  in  the  year  1866  that  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kime  journeyed  to  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
all   of   their   children    were   therefore   born 


within  its  borders  with  the  exception  of  two. 
They  here  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  the 
present  homestead,  and  after  erecting  their 
little  home  they  were  sixteen  hundred  dollars 
in  debt,  but  by  careful  management  and 
diligent  labor  they  were  soon  able  to  meet  all 
obligations.  The  county  was  then  new  and 
wild.  South  Bend  being  but  a  little  village, 
while  Liberty  township  could  not  boast  of  a 
railroad,  in  fact  the  only  one  in  the  county 
was  the  Lake  Shore.  They  therefore  watched 
with  interest  the  subsequent  development 
which  placed  St.  Joseph  among  the  leading 
counties  of  the  commonwealth,  and  in  the 
work  they  bore  their  full  share.  In  1893  Mr. 
Kime  remodeled  his  residence,  making  it  one 
of  the  handsome  homes  of  the  township,  and 
the  beautiful  estate  is  now  known  as  the 
** Evergreens.''  The  farm  contains  eighty 
acres  of  as  fine  land  as  can  be  found  in 
Liberty  township. 

On  the  14th  of  May,  1889,  Mr.  Kime  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Alice  (Fisher)  Hildebrand. 
By  her  marriage  to  Henry  Hildebrand  she 
became  the  mother  of  one  daughter,  Olive, 
the  wife  of  Ira  McEnderfer,  a  prosperous 
farmer  of  Liberty  township.  Their  three 
children  are  Wilfred,  Myron  and  Herbert. 
Mrs.  Kime  received  her  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  the  township,  and  she  is 
a  member  of  the  Evangelical  church.  She 
was  bom  in  Crawford  county,  Ohio,  April 
1,  1859,  the  third  of  six  children,  four  sons 
and  two  daughters,  born  to  James  and  Mary 
(Luke)  Fisher.  Four  of  the  number  are  now 
living,  namely:  John  Wesley,  employed  on 
the  city  water  works  in  South  Bend;  James, 
who  is  a  carpenter,  but  is  now  serving  as  a 
substitute  in  the  mail  service  of  South  Bend ; 
Alice,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Kime;  and  Charles, 
who  was  residing  in  California  when  last 
known,  and  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by 
trade,  but. employed  on  the  railroad.  Mr. 
Fisher,  the  father,  was  bom  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  died  in  Crawford  county,  Ohio,  at  the 
age  of  forty-seven  years.  He  was  a  well 
educated  man,  employed  as  a  salesman,  and 
was  a  Republican  in  his  political  affiliations. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church.  Mrs.  Fisher,  a 
native  of  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  removed  from 
there  to  St.  Joseph  county  about  1865,  and 
her  death  occurred  at  the  home  of  her 
daughter  in  Liberty  township  in  1901,  aged 
seventy-eight  years.  Mrs.  Kime  is  one  of 
the  e5?timable  ladies  of  Liberty  township,  and 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1032 


HISTORY   OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


gracefully  presides  over  her  beautiful  home. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  church, 
and  has  long  been  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday- 
school.  Mr.  Kime  gives  his  political  support 
to  the  Republican  party,  having  voted  for 
Lincoln,  and  he  stanchly  supports  all  meas- 
ures and  movements  intended  for  the  good 
of  St.  Joseph  county. 

P.  D.  Steele.  Of  the  stanch  and  hardy 
pioneers  who  settled  in  the  wilds  of  St. 
Joseph  county  in  the  early  days  none  have 
been  more  influential  for  good  than  the  Steele 
family,  in  whose  veins  flow  the  blood  of  the 
mother  country  of  England.  The  subject  of 
this  review  was  born  in  Coshocton,  county, 
Ohio,  September  28,  1844,  a  son  of  Elias  and 
Elizabeth  (Bickel)  Steele.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  six  sons  and  two 
daughte'rs,  and  the  three  now  living  are: 
Jeremiah,  who  has  been  a  millwright  during 
his  entire  business  career,  having  reached  the 
age  of  seventy-three  years  and  is  a  resident 
of  Liberty  township;  George,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing agriculturists  of  that  township;  arid  P. 
D.,  who  was  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth  of 
the  eight  children. 

Elias  Steele,  the  father,  was  a  native  of 
Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  spending  his 
boyhood  days  in  that  commonwealth,  and 
then  removing  to  Ohio.  He  made  for  himself 
a  place  in  connection  with  the  activities  and 
honors  of  life,  for  he  was  left  a  poor  boy  at 
his  father's  early  death  and  was  obliged  to 
battle  earnestly  and  energetically  for  the  ad- 
vantages which  he  received.  In  1865  he 
came  with  his  family  to  Plymouth,  Indiana, 
and  thence  to  Liberty  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  where  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land,  which  was  partially 
timbered'  and  on  which  was  located  a  steam 
saw  miU.  Later  he  became  the  owner  of 
what  afterward  became  known  as  the  old 
Steele  homestead,  containing  about  two  hun- 
dred acres  in  Liberty  township,  but  as  the 
years  grew  apace  his  prosperity  increased 
until  he  became  one  of  the  largest  land 
owners  at  that  time  in  St.  Joseph  county, 
his  estate  consisting  of  about  eighteen  hun- 
dred acres.  He  was  a  man  of  the  strictest 
honor  and  integrity,  and  for  many  years 
was  a  minister  in  the  German  Baptist  church, 
faithfully  laboring  in  his  Master's  vineyard. 
The  death  of  this  noble  old  St.  Joseph  pioneer 
occurred  when  he  had  reached  the  sixty- 
seventh  milestone  on  the  journey  of  life,  and 
he    now   sleeps    in    the    cemetery   of   North 


Liberty  township,  where  a  beautiful  monu- 
ment stands  sacred  to  his  memory.  Mrs. 
Steele  was  born  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio, 
where  she  was  also  reared,  and  her  life,  which 
was  filled  with  loving  deeds,  was  brought 
to  a  close  in  her  eighty-second  year,  and  she 
now  rests  beside  her  husband. 

P.  D.  Steele,  the  subject  of  this  review, 
spent  the  early  years  of  his  life  in  his  native 
county  of  Coshocton,  receiving  his  education 
in  one  of  its  primitive  old  log  school  houses, 
sixteen  by  twenty  feet  in  size,  furnished  with 
slab  seats  without  backs  and  a  broad  board 
on  which  to  write,  while  he  has  also  used  the 
old  goose  quill  pen  fashioned  by  the  master. 
On  the  28tTi  of  December,  1865,  in  Ohio,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Rebecca  Jane 
Hostetter,  and  of  their  eight  children,  six 
sons  and  two  daughters,  six  are  now  living. 
The  eldest,  Jeremiah  Reuben,  is  a  prosperous 
agriculturist  of  North  Dakota,  near  Zion. 
He  married  Catherine  Zentz,  and  they  have 
six  children,  Lawrence,  Orville,  Ruthie,  Ida, 
Edgar  and  David.  He  gives  his  political  sup- 
port to  the  Republican  party,  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  German 
Baptist  church.  Walter,  the  second  son.  is 
engaged  in  farming  near  Grano,  North  Da- 
kota. He  married  Miss  Sadie  Gripe,  and 
their  six  children  are  Merwin,  Edith,  Beulah, 
David  R.,  Vera  and  Mabel.  He  also  aflSliates 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  church  with  which  the  family  have 
so  long  been  identified.  Elias  R.  resides  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Liberty  township.  He 
wedded  Miss  Nina  Lutz,  who  was  bom  in 
Medina  county,  Ohio,  and  they  have  four 
children,  Florence,  Herman,  Ralph  and 
Floyd.  D.  Burton  resides  on  a  part  of  the 
home  farm  in  Liberty  township.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Lucinda  Baughman,  and  their  two 
children  are  Vernon  and  Earle.  William  W., 
who  is  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  in  Lin- 
coln township,  married  Miss  Dora  Clem,  and 
they  have  one  little  son,  David  Clem.  Edgar 
D.  is  employed  as  a  bookkeeper  in  the  Stude- 
baker  Wagon  Company  of  South  Bend.  He 
supplemented  his  training  in  the  common 
schools  by  attendance  at  the  North  Liberty 
high  school,  and  also  received  a  course  in 
the  commercial  college.  The  daughter,  Ida 
Ellen,  wedded  J.  Frank  Price,  formerly  a 
business  man  of  North  Liberty,  but  now  a 
resident  of  South  Bend.  Their  only  son, 
Earl,  is  a  student  in  the  high  school  of  South 
Bend,  and  is  also  a  proficient  musician  on  the 


Digitized  by 


Google 


7^'3 


Digitized  by 


Google 


^o^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


[digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


1909    /^ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by 


Google 


o 

H 

u 

u 

ni 

9 
U 

« 
II 

8 
o 

X 


CI 

> 

CI 

> 

II 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1033 


piano.  The  family  are  all  members  of  the 
German  Baptist  church,  and  the  sons  are 
identified  with  the  Republican  party. 

Mrs.  Steele,  the  mother,  was  born  in 
Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  January  20, 
1841,  and  died  on  the  30th  of  June,  1906. 
When  eleven  years  of  age  she  removed  from 
her  native  state  to  Ohio  with  her  parents, 
there  attaining  to  years  of  maturity.  Nobly 
she  stood  by  her  husband's  side  and  shared 
with  him  the  hardships  of  establishing  their 
home  during  the  early  pioneer  days,  they 
t<^ether  meeting  the  joys  and  sorrows  which 
fall  to  the  lot  of  all  until  the  one,  tired  and 
weary,  lay  down  to  rest,  leaving  the  other  to 
continue  on  alone  until  he  too  shall  be  called 
to  lay  down  the  burdens  and  responsibilities 
of  life  and  join  his  companion  in  the  home 
beyond.  The  valuable  homestead  of  Mr. 
Steele  in  Liberty  township  is  known  as 
*' Broad  Acres.'' 

George  W.  Van  Valin.  The  Van  Valin 
family,  of  which  the  subject  of  this  review 
is  a  representative,  is  one  of  the  oldest  in 
Greene  township.  Isaac  Van  Valin,  the  father 
of  George  W.,  took  up  his  abode  within  its 
borders  in  1851,  establishing  his  home  in  the 
dense  woods,  and  from  the  virgin  forests 
evolved  a  fertile  and  well  improved  farm. 
He  was  bom  at  Albany,  New  York,  October 
6,  1818,  a  son  of  Jeremiah  Van  Valin,  who 
was  of  Holland  descent.  In  the  Empire  state 
the  son  Isaac  grew  to  years  of  maturity,  and 
for  some  years  or  until  failing  health  caused 
him  to  resign  he  was  employed  in  a  woolen 
factory.  Journeying  west  to  Summit  county, 
Ohio,  he  was  there  married  in  April,  1845, 
to  Sarah  Day,  who  was  bom  in  Yorkshire, 
Eoigland,  in  1827,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Harbine)  Day,  also  natives  of 
the  mother  country  of  England,  where  the 
father  spent  his  entire  life.  The  mother 
came  to  the  United  States  and  to  Summit 
county,  Ohio,  in  1835,  but  her  death  occurred 
in  Wright  county,  Iowa,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
nine  years.  She  was  twice  married,  her 
second  husband  having  been  a  Mr.  France, 
by  whom  she  had  two  children,  Mary,  de- 
ceased, and  Richard  Prance,  a  resident  of 
Wright  county,  Iowa.  At  his  death  John 
Day  left  six  children,  three  of  whom  grew 
to  years  of  maturity, — Susan,  Harlett,  and 
Mrs.  Van  Valin.  Isaac  Van  Valin  became  the 
owner  of  a  beautiful  farm  of  three  hundred 
and  twenty-seven  acres,  now  the  home  of 
his  son  George  W.   Their  first  home  was  a  lit- 


tle log  cabin,  with  a  puncheon  floor  and  clap- 
board roof,  but  with  the  passing  years  this 
little  cabin  home  gave  place  to  a  commodious 
and  modern  dwelling,  the  fields  were  placed 
under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation,  and 
it  became  one  of  the  most  valuable  farms  of 
the  township.  Five  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Valin :  May  Barkis,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years;  Eliza- 
beth Eberly,  of  Greene  township;  George  W., 
whose  name  introduces  this  review;  Emma 
Fuller,  also  of  Greene  township;  and  Ella 
Brown,  a  resident  of  South  Bend.  The  father 
of  these  children,  Isaac  Van  Valin,  died  on 
the  11th  of  January,  1866,  when  he  had 
reached  the  sixty-eighth  milestone  on  the 
journey  of  life.  His  political  affiliations  were 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  he  was  very 
liberal  in  Ids  religious  views:  His  widow, 
who  has  now  reached  the  age  of  eighty  years, 
is  yet  a  resident  of  the  old  homestead. 

George  W.  Van  Valin  was  bom  on  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  October  8, 
1853,  and  from  an  early  age  has  worked  in 
its  fields.  In  Mishawaka,  Indiana,  February 
9,  1876,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Anna 
Fuller,  who  was  born  in  Bertrand,  Michigan, 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Ingraham) 
Fuller.  From  their  native  country  of  Eng- 
land the  parents  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  and  to  Niles,  Michigan,  and  the  father 
died  when  his  daughter  Anna  was  but  a  babe, 
leaving  three  children,  Geoi^e,  of  Brooklyn, 
New  York;  Jenny  Michael,  of  Toledo,  Ohio; 
and  Mrs.  Van  Valin.  The  family  were 
Methodists.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Valin 
have  been  bom  three  children:  May  Smith, 
who  is  the  mother  of  two  children,  Zilla  Mun- 
dell  and  (Jeorge  Christian ;  Mrs.  Grace  Moon, 
of  South  Bend;  and  Mrs.  Maggie  Albert, 
who  also  resides  in  that  city. 

Poplar  Farm,  on  which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van 
Valin  reside,  is  a  beautiful  rural  homestead, 
containing  three  hundred  and  twenty-seven 
acres  of  rich  and  fertile  land.  Nine  lakes 
are  located  on  this  farm,  and  its  beauty  and 
value  are  further  enhanced  by  its  commodious 
and  substantial  buildings,  its  excellent 
orchard  and  its  well  cultivated  fields.  Mr. 
Van  Valin  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
Republican  party,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church. 

OHARiiES  0.  RuPEL,  one  of  the  leading  agri- 
culturists and  business  men  of  Greene  4;own- 
ship,  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  oldest 
and   most   honored   pioneer   f^^milies   of   St. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1034 


HISTORY   OF    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


Joseph  county.    Hie  birth  occurred  within  its 
borders  on  the  8th  of  January,  1865,  a  son 
of  Franklin  Rupel  and  a  grandson  of  Peter 
Rupel.    The  last  named  was  born  in  Somer- 
set county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  of  Pennsyl- 
vania German  descent,  a  people  noted  for  their 
many  noble  characteristics.    It  was  in  March 
of  1831  that  the  Rupel  family  took  up  their 
abode  in  St.  Joseph  county,  this  being  at  a 
time  when  the  Pottawatomie  Indians  were  yet 
numerous  in  this  section.    Here  Peter  Rupel 
lived  and  labored  during  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  and  he  now  lies  buried  on  the  old  home 
farm,  while  beside  him  lies  his  wife,  Chris- 
tena,  and  a  brother.    About  the  time  of  the 
arrival  of  the  family  in  St.  Joseph  county, 
Rum,  a  famous  chief  of  the  Pottawatomies, 
died,  and  as  was  then  the  custom  of  the  In- 
dians   he    was    buried    in    a    sitting    posi- 
tion   in    a    pen    built    of    sticks    five     by 
three     feet     and     about     six     feet     high. 
Franklin,  the  youngest  son  of  Peter  Rupel, 
was   bom   in    Centre   township,    St.   Joseph 
county,  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides, 
and  in  this  state  he  was  married  to  Martha 
Jane  Rockhill,  who  was  born  near  Springfield, 
Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Israel  J.  Rockhill,  also 
of  that  commonwealth.     Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rupel  were  born  four  children :     Charles  0., 
whose  name  introduces  this  review;  Ernest, 
who  is  engaged  in  the  wholesale  notion  busi- 
ness in  South  Bend;  Mrs.  Nelly  Walz,  of  the 
same  city;  and  Edith,  the  youngest  of  the 
family.    All  received  excellent  educational  ad- 
vantages, and  the  second  son,  Ernest,  was  for 
ten  years  a  successful  teacher,  while  Edith  is 
now  a  prominent  member  of  that  profession. 
Mr.  Rupel  was  an  excellent  farmer,  a  success- 
ful business  man  and  was  honored  and  re- 
srpeeted  wherever  known.     He  gave  his  poli- 
tical support  to  the  Democracy,  and  was  lib- 
eral in  his  religious  views.     Mrs.  Rupel  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Their  eldest  son,  Charles  0.  Rupel,  received 
his     elementary     education     in    the    county 
schools,  while  later  he  became  a  pupil  in  the 
South  Bend  high  school,  and  he  remained  at 
home  after  attaining  to  years  of  maturity,  as- 
sisting his  father  in  the  work  of  the  farm.    At 
the  age  of  thirty-three  years  he  was  united  in 
marriage   to   Clara   Stichler,   who  was  born, 
reared    and    educated    in    Greene    township, 
where  her  father,  Martin  Stichler,  was  a  well- 
known   agriculturist.     He   was   born    in   the 
fatherland  of  Germany,  serving  for  six  years 
in  the  German  army,  and  was  aLso  a  soldier  in 


the  French  war.  During  his  young  manhood 
he  came  to  the  United  States,  and  in  1845 
settled  in  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana.  He  was 
here  married  to  Magdalena  Gtebhart,  who  also 
claimed  Germany  as  the  land  of  her  nativity. 
She  became  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph  county  in 
1859,  and  she  is  yet  living  and  resides  in 
South  Bend,  a  worthy  member  of  the  Luth- 
eran church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stichler  were  tie 
parents  of  seven  children,  Catherine,  Freder- 
ick, Theodore,  Carl,  Clara  and  Magdalena. 
One  son,  Martin,  died  at  the  age  of  nine 
months,  and  the  husband  and  father  passed 
away  in  death  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven 
years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church,  and  was  a  Democrat  in  his  political 
afliliations.  Two  sons  have  blessed  the  imion 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rupel :  Martin  Franklin,  who 
was  born  November  30,  1898,  and  Albert 
Hale,  whose  birth  occurred  on  the  5th  of 
June,  1902.  Mr.  Rupel  is  numbered  among 
the  leading  agriculturists  of  Greene  township. 
The  farm  which  he  now  owns  and  resides 
upon  was  formerly  known  as  the  John  Greene 
place,  he  having  settled  upon  it  as  early  as 
1831,  and  being  the  first  settler  the  township 
was  named  after  him.  Since  May,  1902.  it 
has  been  the  home  of  the  Rupel  family.  It 
is  a  valuable  homestead,  with  its  excellent 
buildings,  rich  and  well  cultivated  fields,  and 
in  addition  to  general  agricultural  pursuits 
its  owner  is  also  engaged  in  stock  raising. 

John  B.  Fak,  who  throughout  his  entire 
life  has  been  an  honored  resident  of  Greene 
township,  St.  Joseph  county,  actively  inter- 
ested in  all  measures  advanced  for  its  growth 
and  upbuilding,  is  now  efficiently  serving  as 
its  assessor.  He  was  born  on  the  old  Fair 
homestead  in  this  township  April  20,  1866,  a 
son  of  Elisha  D.  Fair,  who  for  many  years 
was  accounted  one  of  the  most  prominent 
agriculturists  and  leading  citizens  of  this  sec- 
tion of  St.  Joseph  county.  He  was  born  in 
Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  27, 
1827,  and  was  of  German  descent.  In  March, 
1851,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Susan 
Barnett,  and  from  Pennsylvania  they  jour- 
neyed to  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  from  whence 
in  1858  they  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana. In  1863  they  established  their  home 
on  section  17,  Greene  township,  where  the 
husband  and  father  became  the  owner  of  a 
valuable  h'omestead  of  five  hundred  and  eight}* 
acres,  whereon  he  lived  and  labored  during 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  became  very 
successful  in  his  business  affairs,  and  Greene 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH    COXJNTY. 


1035 


township  numbered  him  among  her  leading 
and  influential  citizens.  Of  the  nine  children 
bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fair  eight  grew  to  years 
of  maturity,  namely :  Harvey,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  thirty-three  years,  leaving  a  widow  and 
three  children ;  Leander,  a  resident  of  Greene 
township;  Elizabeth  Reece,  of  South  Bend; 
Ella  Henderson,  also  of  this  township; 
Thomas  M.,  who  maintains  his  residence  in 
Walkerton,  Indiana;  John  B.,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  review;  Anna  R.  Shaffer,  of 
South  Bend,  and  Ck)ra  M.  Nelson,  of  North 
Liberty.  Mr.  Fair,  the  father,  gave  a  stanch 
and  unfaltering  support  to  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  was  a  worthy  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in 
which  faith  his  wife  and  children  were  reared. 
He  was  an  active  worker  in  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tianity, was  honored  and  revered  by  all  who 
knew  him,  and  was  a  worthy  scion  of  an  hon- 
ored old  family. 

John  B.  Fair  has  spent  his  entire  life  on  the 
beautiful  old  Fair  homestead  which  was  the 
home  of  his  father  for  so  many  years,  and  he 
has  devoted  his  business  career  to  its  further 
improvement  and  cultivation.  In  Greene 
township,  on  the  8th  of  November,  1885,  he 
was  married  to  Hattie  Rensberger,  also  a  rep- 
resentative of  an  honored  old  pioneer  family 
of  St.  Joseph  county.  Her  birth  occurred  in 
its  township  of  Lincoln,  her  parents  being 
George  and  Jemima  (Klingman)  Rensberger, 
the  former  of  whom  is  now  deceased.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fair  have  been  born  six  chil- 
dren, namely:  Clarence  L.,  Darrel  E.,  Gladys 
L.,  B.  Marie,  Edith  D.  and  Charles  B.  .  The 
family  home  forms  a  portion  of  the  old  Fair 
estate,  where  Mr.  John  B.  Fair  is  extensively 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  stock 
raising,  while  in  addition  he  has  also  served 
his  township  as  assessor  for  three  years,  prov- 
ing a  competent  and  worthy  official.  He  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  order, 
holding  membership  relations  with  the  Blue 
Lodge,  No.  266,  of  North  Liberty;  Chapter 
No.  290,  Order  of  Eastern  Star,  and  is  a 
past  master  of  his  lodge.  He  is  a  valued 
factor  in  the  business  and  social  circles  of 
Greene  township,  and  is  accorded  a  leading 
place  among  its  citizens. 

Elmer  E.  Yoder.  The  agriculturist  is  one 
of  the  most  important  factors  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  state  or  nation,  and  in  Elmer  E. 
Yoder  we  find  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of 
Greene  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  where  he 
has  resided  since  his  boyhood  days.    He  comes 


from  the  old  Pennsylvania  German  stock,  but 
was  bom  in  Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  his 
natal  day  being  the  13th  of  September,  1864, 
and  his  parents  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Woods)  Yoder.  In  their  family  were  eight 
children,  three  sons  and  five  daughters,  and 
five  of  the  number  are  now  living:  Elmer  E., 
whose  name  introduces  this  review ;  Myra,  the 
wife  of  William  Baker,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
bakery  business  at  Long  Beach,  California; 
Mary,  who  is  an  artist  in  oils  of  exceptional 
ability,  is  the  wife  of  George  M.  Feerrar,  who 
is  engaged  in  business  with  Mr.  Baker  in  Long 
Beach;  George  M.,  who  is  married  and  for- 
merly resided  in  Ohio,  but  is  now  a  resident 
of  Long  Beach ;  Anna,  who  is  a  post  graduate 
of  the  Northwestern  University  at  Chicago;  is 
now  teaching  elocution  in  Cornell  College, 
Iowa.  Mr.  Yoder,  the  father,  was  born  in 
Stark  county,  Ohio,  May  2,  1835,  and  is  now  a 
resident  of  Elkhart,  Indiana.  He  was  but  a 
little  lad  when  he  came  to  Elkhart  county 
with  his  parents,  and  there  he  remained  until 
after  his  marriage,  when  he  came  to  St.  Joseph 
county  in  1865  and  took  up  his  abode  in  War- 
ren township.  He  has  followed  agricultural 
pursuits  as  a  life  occupation,  and  as  a  farmer 
achieved  a  well-merited  degree  of  success,  be- 
coming the  owner  of  five  hundred'  acres  of 
fertile  and  valuable  land.  During  the  long 
period  of  forty  years  he  served  as  a  minister 
in  the  Mennonite  church,  and  to  him  belongs 
the  honor  of  having  founded  a  church  of  that 
denomination  at  Crumstown,  in  Warren  town- 
ship. For  many  years  he  voted  with  the  Re- 
publicans, but  in  recent  years  has  supported 
the  Prohibition  party,  having  ever  been  an 
active  worker  in  the  cause  of  temperance. 
Mrs.  Yoder  was  a  native  daughter  of  Elkhart 
county,  there  remaining  until  her  sixteenth 
year,  when  she  went  with  her  parents  to 
Grundy  county,  Illinois.  She  remained  there 
until  her  marriage,  and  her  death  occurred  on 
the  14th  of  November,  1903.  She  was  a  kind 
and  loving  wife  and  mother,  good  to  the  poor 
and  needy,  and  she  was  honored  and  revered 
by  all  who  had  the  pleasure  of  her  acquaint- 
ance. 

Elmer  E.  Yoder,  the  third  in  order  of  birth 
of  his  parents'  eight  children,  spent  the  first 
year  of  his  life  in  his  native  county  of  Elk- 
hart, was  then  till  twenty  years  of  age  a  resi- 
dent of  St.  Joseph  county,  was  then  in  Elk- 
hart county  six  years,  and  thence  returned  to 
St.  Joseph  county,  receiving  a  good  practical 
education  in  its  common  schools,  which  was 


Vol.   11—28. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1036 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


supplemented  by  one  year's  attendance  at  the 
Morris  Normal  and  Scientific  School  at  Mor- 
ris, Illinois,  and  a  course  at  the  South  Bend 
Business  College.  During  one  year  he  served 
as  fireman  at  the  Lake  Shore  yards  in  Chi- 
cago, but  prior  to  this  time  he  had  been  em- 
ployed as  collector  for  the  Truth  Publishing 
Company  of  Elkhart  county  for  one  year. 
Coming  thence  to  his  farm  in  Greene  town- 
ship, he  spent  four  years  in  its  improvement 
and  cultivation,  when  he  removed  to  South 
Bend  to  engage  in  the  grocery  trade,  thus  con- 
tin^uing  for  three  and  a  half  years.  He  was 
very  successful  in  his  mercantile  efforts,  but 
at  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  sold  his 
business  and  in  1902  returned  to  the  farm, 
where  he  has  ever  since  been  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising  on  a  large  scale.  His 
landed  estate  comprises  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres.  This  is  one  of  the  valuable  homesteads 
of  the  township,  and  is  pleasantly  located 
nine  miles  from  the  city  of  South  Bend.  He 
makes  a  specialty  of  the  raising  of  thorough- 
bred stock,  consisting  of  Polled  Durham  cattle 
and  Poland-China  hogs,  all  of  registered 
breed.  He  has  been  very  successful  both  as 
an  agriculturist  and  stock  raiser,  and  Greene 
township,  as  well  as  St.  Joseph  county,  num- 
bers him  among  her  leading  business  men. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Yoder  was  celebrated 
on  the  23d  of  November,  1893,  when  Miss 
Katie  Lammedee  became  his  wife,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  two  children,  a  son  and  a 
daughter,  Bernice,  who  will  enter  the  eighth 
grade  work  in  school,  and  Eldon,  a  member  of 
the  seventh  grade.  Mrs.  Yoder  was  born  on 
the  farm  on  which  she  now  resides  in  St. 
Joseph  county,  in  1869,  a  daughter  of  Adam 
and  Anna  (Whitmer)  Lammedee,  and  she 
was  reared  in  the  township  of  Greene.  Her 
father  was  very  successful  as  a  business  man, 
and  gave  his  political  support  to  the  Democ- 
racy. Although  he  has  passed  away,  his  wid- 
ow still  survives,  and  has  now  reached  the  age 
of  sixty-nine  years.  She  makes  her  home  with 
her  daughter,  Mrs.  Yoder.  Mr.  Yoder  gives 
his  political  support  to  the  Republican  party, 
casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Garfield, 
and  he  has  ever  since  been  an  active  worker 
in  the  party  ranks.  He  has  often  been  select- 
ed to  represent  the  people's  interest  in  the 
county  and  district  conventions,  and  in  1904 
was  elected  to  one  of  the  most  important  posi- 
tions in  the  township,  that  of  trustee,  in  which 
he  is  the  present  incumbent.  He  has  under  his 
supervision    seven    good    schools,    which   are 


presided  over  by  a  corps  of  competent  teach- 
ers during  their  sessions  of  eight  months.  Mr. 
Yoder  was  reared  in  the  Mennonite  faith,  but 
is  now  an  adherent  of  the  German  Baptist 
church.  They  are  numbered  among  the  hon- 
ored and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  Greene 
township,  and  few  have  a  wider  circle  of 
friends  than  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yoder.  Their 
pretty  farmstead  will  be  known  as  **The 
Shady  Nook  Farm.'' 

Leandee  Fair,  the  proprietor  of  Fair  Land 
Farm,  one  of  the  beautiful  rural  homesteads 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  is  a  representative  of 
one  of  the  most  honored  old  families  of  the 
county.  His  birth  occurred  in  Holmes  county, 
Ohio,  November  27,  1856,  and  he  is  a  son  of 
Elisha  D.  Fair,  whose  name  is  so  prominently 
connected  with  the  early  history  of  St.  Joseph 
county.  His  birth  occurred  in  Somerset  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  December  27,  1827,  but 
when  ten  years  of  age,  in  1837,  he  journeyed 
from  his  native  conunonwealth  to  Ohio,  where 
he  was  married  in  March,  1851,  to  Susan  Bar- 
nett,  who  proved  to  him  a  true  and  loving 
companion  for  the  journey  of  life.  They  sub- 
sequently came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
where  Mr.  Fair  became  the  owner  of  a  beau- 
tiful estate  of  five  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
in  Greene  township..  He  improved  his  farm 
to  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  erected  com- 
modious and  substantial  buildings,  and  con- 
tinued its  cultivation  and  improvement  until 
his  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death,  passing 
away  in  the  faith  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  of  which  he  was  for  many  years  a 
valued  and  worthy  member.  In  his  early  life 
he  had  been  accorded  the  privilege  of  an  ex- 
cellent educational  training,  and  for  four 
terms  he  was  employed  as  a  teacher,  proving  a 
successful  educator.  His  talents,  however,  were 
many  and  varied,  for  in  addition  to  his  educa- 
tional and  agricultural  labors  he  was  also  an 
excellent  carpenter.  These  manifold  interests 
could  not  but  win  for  him  a  high  degree  of 
success,  and  throughout  the  period  of  his  resi- 
dence in  Greene  township  he  was  classed 
among  its  influential  and  representative  busi- 
ness men. 

Leander  Fair,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  was  but  a  lad  when  brought  by  his 
parents  from  his  native  commonwealth  of 
Ohio  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  and  on 
the  old  Fair  homestead  in  Greene  township 
he  grew  to  years  of  maturity.  At  the  age  of 
thirty  years  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Emma  Warner,  whose  birth  occurred  within 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


yk^  ^  cA%ukJi 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


^7^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


A' 


19G9 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1037 


the  borders  of  this  township,  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Ellen  (Sullivan)  Warner,  both 
natives  of  Ohio  but  now  residents  of  Greene 
township,  where  the  husband  and  father  is 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  is  iden- 
tified with  the  Republican  party  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Brethren  church.  The  union 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fair  has  been  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  four  children, — Otto  L.,  Russell  R., 
Orel  W.  and  Maude  C.  Mr.  Fair  resides  on 
his  beautiful  estate  of  one  hundred  and  eighty 
acres,  which  he  has  placed  under  an  excellent 
state  of  cultivation,  and  the  buildings  which 
adorn  the  place  are  commodious  and  substan- 
tial. He  is  a  worthy  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  holding  membership  relations  with 
the  Blue  Lodge  at  North  Liberty.  He  is  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  ablest  agriculturists  of 
his  community,  and  every  measure  or  move- 
ment intended  to  promote  the  welfare  of 
Greene  township  or  St.  Joseph  county  re- 
ceives his  hearty  eiidorsement  and  co-oper- 
ation. 

William  H.  Aldrich.  During  an  early 
epoch  in  the  history  of  St.  Joseph  county  the 
Aldrich  family  was  founded  within  its  bord- 
ers by  David  and  Elizabeth  (Bixler)  Aldrich, 
the  parents  of  William  H.,  who  leaving  their 
eastern  home  in  1854,  took  up  their  residence 
in  Penn  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
and  in  this  county  they  spent  the  remainder 
of  their  lives.  Mr.  Aldrich  was  a  native  son 
of  Connecticut  and  a  representative  of  a 
prominent  old  New  England  family,  whose 
ancestory  can  be  traced  back  to  the  landing 
of  the  Mayflower  in  1620,  and  some  of  its 
members  took  part  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
which  entitles  the  descendants  to  become  mem- 
bers of  the  Sons  and  Daughters  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. To  this  family  also  belongs  Charles  Aid- 
rich,  a  United  States  senator  from  Rhode 
Island  and  a  cousin  of  William  H.  Aldrich. 
The  mother,  nee  Elizabeth  Bixler,  was  a  na- 
tive daughter  of  Lancaster,  Ohio,  of  Penn- 
sylvania German  descent,  and  her  death  oc- 
curred in  South  Bend  when  she  has  reached 
the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-two  years,  she  hav- 
ing survived  her  husband  for  many  years,  for 
his  death  occurred  shortly  after  their  arrival 
in  St.  Joseph  county,  passing  away  in  1855, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years.  In  their  family 
were  four  children:  William  H.,  whose  name 
introduces  this  review;  Willard,  whose  death 
occurred  in  Mishawaka :  Martha  Bugbee,  who 
died  in  Ohio;  and  David,  a  resident  of  Cob- 
den,  Illinois.    David  Aldrich,  the  father,  was 


a  Universalist  in  his  religious  views,  whil« 
the  mother  was  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  both  were  highly  esteemed  for 
their  many  noble  characteristics. 

William  H.  Aldrich  was  born  near  San- 
dusky, Ohio,  the  '* Buckeye''  state,  July  9, 
1834,  and  in  that  state  was  reared  and  re- 
ceived his  educational  training.  He  came  to 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  in  his  young 
manhood,  in  1854,  and  in  Greene  township 
was  married  to  Mary  Antrim,  who  was  born 
within  its  borders,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Sarah  (Wharton)  Antrim.  The  father  was 
a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  but  both  he  and 
his  wife  died  in  Greene  township,  St.  Joseph 
county.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Aldrich  were 
born  eight  children,  and  the  four  now  living 
are :  Henry  J.,  who  makes  his  home  in  South 
Bend;  Matthew  and  Willie  D.,  on  the  old 
homestead  farm;  and  Mary,  the  wife  of  Dan 
Spencer,  also  of  Greene  township.  Mrs.  Aid- 
rich,  the  wife  and  mother,  was  called  to  the 
home  beyond  on  the  3d  of  May,  1874.  She 
.was  a  loving  wife  and  mother,  a  kind  neigh- 
bor, and  was  loved  and  honored  by  all  who 
knew  her.  Mr.  Aldrich  afterward  married 
Mary  E.  Garwood,  who  has  proved  a  kind  and 
affectionate' mother  to  her  husband's  children, 
while  the  poor  and  needy  never  go  empty- 
handed  from  her  door.  She  was  born  in 
Greene  township,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  and 
Martha  (Mellender)  Garwood,  who  came  to 
this  county  from  Ohio,  and  their  daughter 
Mary  was  reared  near  Richmond,  Indiana. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Garwood  passed  away  in 
death  in  Greene  township,  the  father  dying 
when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years.  He  was  a  father  and  blacksmith,  and 
gave  his  political  support  to  the  Republican 
party.  He  was  very  liberal  in  his  religious 
views,  but  his  wife  was  a  stanch  Methodist, 
and  they  were  the  parents  of  three  children, 
Samuel,  Mary  E.  and  George  W. 

Matthew  Aldrich,  the  second  son  of  the 
subject 'of  this  review,  was  bom  and  reared 
on  the  old  home  farm  where  he  yet  resides, 
having  from  his  early  youth  assisted  in  its 
cultivation  and  improvement,  and  he  is  now 
numbered  among  the  representative  young 
agriculturists  of  the  township.  In  1906  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  advisory  board, 
in  which  he  has  proved  a  worthy  official,  and 
in  addition  he  is  also  the  auditor  of  the  Snrp-^ 
tion  Prairie  Cemetery  Association. 

Mr.  Aldrich,  Sr.,  is  a  stanch  sunport'^r  -*^ 
the  Republican  party,  having  cast  his  vote  for 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1038 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


its  first  presidential  candidate,  General  John 
C.  Fremont,  and  has  ever  since  continued  to 
support  its  presidential  ijominees.  His  reli- 
gious affiliations  are  with  the  Baptist  church, 
in  which  he  has  served  as  a  deacon  for  many 
years.  He  has  ever  been  honorable  in  busi- 
ness, faithful  in  citizenship,  and  now  in  the 
evening  of -life  he  is  crowned  with  the  venera- 
tion and  respect  which  is  ever  accorded  an 
honorable  career. 

Andrew  J.  Byers.  They  were  strong  men 
and  true  who  came  to  found  the  empire  of  the 
west,  and  the  forests  and  the  trackless  prairie 
were  made  to  yield  their  tribute  under  the  ef- 
fective endeavors  of  the  brave  pioneers.  As  a 
member  of  one  of  the  very  earliest  families  of 
Greene  township  Andrew  J.  Byers  witnessed 
the  wonderful  development  of  St.  Joseph 
county  from  its  virgin  wilderness  to  one  of 
the  foremost  sections  of  the  state.  His  birth 
occurred  within  its  borders,  September  26, 
1849,  his  parents  being  John  and  Anna 
(Brown)  Byers,  in  whose  family  were  seven 
children,  but  only  five  are  now  living,  namely : . 
Andrew  J.,  whose  name  introduces  this  re- 
view; Abram,  who  is  living  retired  in  South 
Bend;  Maggie,  the  wife  of  William  In  wood, 
who  is  engaged  in  contracting  and  also  a  rep- 
resentative of  the  mail  service  in  South  Bend; 
Carrie  E.,  also  a  resident  of  South  Bend ;  and 
George  W.,  a  telegraph  operator  in  the  postal 
service  of  Sotith  Bend. 

John  Byers,  the  father,  was  born  in  Musk- 
ingum county,  Ohio,  July  23,  1829,  and  he  is 
yet  living,  a  resident  of  South  Bend.  He 
traced  his  lineage  to  Scotland,  the  land  of 
hills  and  heather,  and  was  but  a  small  boy 
when  with  his  parents  he  came  in  true  pioneer 
style  with  wagons  across  the  black  swamps, 
through  forests  and  across  hills  and  dales  to 
their  destination  in  St.  Joseph  county  in 
1836.  Their  objective  point  was  the  county 
line  between  Plymouth  City  and  St.  Joseph 
county,  and,  securing  land,  took  up  their 
abode  in  the  typical  log  cabin  of  those  early 
days.  Mr.  Byers  often  killed  deer  near  his 
premises,  and  wild  animals  of  all  kinds  were 
plentiful,  as  were  also  the  red  men.  Shortly 
after  their  arrival  here,  in  1838,  the  father  of 
Mr.  John  Byers  died,  leaving  his  widow  with 
seven  small  children,  of  whom  John  was  the 
eldest,  and  consequently  a  great  deal  of  the 
responsibility  of  the  family  fell  upon  his 
young  shoulders.  Although  a  practical  acrri- 
culturist,  he  also  followed  the  brick  and  stori" 
mason's  trad^  and  for  a  time  was  a  member 


of  the  teacher's  profession.  He  underwent  all 
the  hardships  and  privations  of  a  pioneer  life, 
and  to  do  this  demanded  an  invincible  cour- 
age and  fortitude,  a  strong  heart  and  wih  :. 
hands,  but  all  these  were  numbered  among  his 
characteristics.  During  many  of  the  cold  win- 
ters members  of  the  family  were  obliged  to  go 
with  ox  teams  as  far  as  Mishawaka  to  mill, 
the  weather  often  being  so  very  severe  that 
they  suftered  with  the  cold.  Sometimes  they 
were  obliged  to  run  with  the  oxen  in  order  to 
keep  from  freezing.  After  the  planting  of 
their  little  crops  of  corn  and  while  it  was  com- 
ing up  it  had  to  be  constantly  watched  during 
the  day  to  save  it  from  destruction  by  the 
numerous  wild  turkeys  and  the  raccoons,  llr. 
Byers  was  very  successful  in  his  business 
operations,  and  accumulated  an  estate  of  one 
hundred  acres  in  Greene  township.  He  is  a 
Jackson  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations, 
and  a  devout  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  as  was  also  his  wife,  they  hav- 
ing united  with  the  church  at  the  same  time. 
Both  the  paternal  and  maternal  families  were 
prominently  represented  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  Grandfather  Brown  served  in  that 
'  conflict  under  General  Washington.  Mrs. 
Byers  was  bom  in  Middlesex  county.  New  Jes- 
sey,  December  29,  1829,  and  died  on  the  30th 
of  January,  1907.  She  was  but  a  little  maiden 
when  she  came  with  her  parents  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  making  the  journey  through 
the  old  Erie  canal,  thence  by  boat  across  the 
lake  and  on  to  South  Bend  by  wagon.  This 
was  about  the  year  1835,  and  the  remainder 
of  her  life  was  spent  within  the  borders  of  St. 
Joseph  county.  Their  little  cabin  home,  five 
miles  west  of  the  city,  was  located  on  an  In- 
dian trail,  and  ofttimes  the  dusky  warriors 
passed  the  door.  Her  father  taught  the  first 
school  in  the  neighborhood,  near  the  Warren 
township  line,  and  the  family  were  in  many 
ways  prominently  identified  with  the  early 
history  of  this  section  of  the  county.  Mrs. 
Byers  was  devoutly  religious,  and  her  pray- 
ers and  admonitions  will  ever  live  in  the 
hearts  of  her  children  and  grandchildren. 

Andrew  J.  Byers,  the  eldest  of  his  parents' 
seven  children,  is  thus  a  representative  of  two 
of  the  most  honored  pioneer  families  of  St. 
Joseph  county.  During  his  early  boyhood 
days  he  attended  one  of  its  primitive  log  cabin 
schools,  a  building  eighteen  by  twenty-four 
feet  in  size,  with  a  clapboard  roof  and  heated 
by  an  old-fashioned  stove,  and  his  text  books 
were  the  Elementary  speller,  Pinner's  gram- 


Digitized  by 


Googk 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1039 


mar,  Ray's  arithmetic,  Mitchell's  geography 
and  McGuffey  's  reader.  Those  little  *  *  temples 
of  learning'*  presented  a  striking  contrast 
to  the  schools  of  the  present  day,  but  within 
their  walls  the  sturdy  lads  received  the  train- 
ing which  fitted  them  for  life's  responsibil- 
ities. Mr.  Byers  also  attended  the  Northern 
Indiana  College,  a  Methodist  institution,  for 
two  years,  and  later  was  a  student  in  an 
academy  located  near  the  Oliver  building  in 
South  Bend.  For  three  years  thereafter  he 
taught  in  the  schools  of  Greene  and  Portage 
townships,  but  the  principal  part  of  his  busi- 
ness career  has  been  devoted  to  farming  and 
stock  raising.  He  now  owns  a  fine  estate  in 
Greene  township  of  five  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  also  valuable  city  property  in  South 
Bend.  On  his  farm  he  raises  the  standard- 
bred  stock,  and  in  this  department  of  his  busi- 
ness, as  well  as  in  his  agricultural  pursuits, 
he  has  been  very'successful,  the  county  num- 
bering him  among  its  leading  business  men. 

On  the  22d  of  October,  1872,  Mr.  Byers  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Margarette 
Greene,  and  to  them  have  been  born  seven 
children,  three  sons  and  four  daughters,  but 
only  four  are  now  living.  The  eldest,  Carroll 
J.,  resides  on  the  old  homestead  farm.  After 
completing  a  common  school  education  he  en- 
tered the  Valparaiso  University,  where  he 
pursued  a  literary  course,  and  later  became  a 
student  in  Purdue  University  to  study  agri- 
culture, while  his  education  was  further  con- 
tinued by  a  business  course  in  South  Bend. 
He  wedded  Miss  Bessie  Rupel,  and  their  only 
child  is  a  daughter,  Esther.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  his  political  afiiliations,  and  religious- 
ly is  a  Methodist,  while  his  wife  is  of  the  Ad- 
ventist  faith.  Carrie  Greene,  the  second  child, 
is  at  home  with  her  father.  She  received  her 
diploma  from  the  county  schools  in  1900,  and 
in  the  following  year  entered  the  South  Bend 
high  school,  graduating  therein  with  the  class 
of  1905,  and  for  two  years  thereafter  was 
engaged  in  teaching.  She  is  also  a  student  in 
both  vocal  and  instrumental  music,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Charles  B.  is  at  present  a  student  in  the  South 
Bend  high  school,  a  member  of  the  class  of 
1907,  and  it  is  his  intention  to  continue  his 
studies  and  fit  himself  for  the  teacher's  pro- 
fession. Previous  to  entering  the  high  school 
he  had  received  a  diploma  with  the  class  of 
1903  in  the  county  schools,  and  was  also  a 
musical  pupil  and  a  member  of  the  orchestra. 
Marguerite   completed   her  education   in   the 


county  schools  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years, 
with  the  class  of  1906,  and  is  now  a  student 
in  the  high  school  of  South  Bend.  She,  too, 
is  pursuing  musical  instruction.  Mr.  Byers 
has  given  his  children  superior  educational 
advantages  to  fit  them  for  the  higher  walks  of 
life.  Mrs.  Byers,  the  mother,  was  a  native 
daughter  of  St.  Joseph  county,  born  in  Greene 
township  on  the  17th  of  April,  1851,  and  her 
death  occurred  on  the  16th  of  December,  1896. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Jackson  and  Mary 
(Knott)  Greene,  honored  early  settlers  of  St. 
Joseph  county.  Her  grandfather,  John 
Greene,  came  to  this  county  from  Ohio 
in  1835,  and  Greene  township  was  named 
in  honor  of  this  family.  Mrs.  Byers  supple- 
mented a  common  school  education  by  attend- 
ance at  the  Indiana  Normal  and  was  a  teacher 
in  instrumental  music.  For  twenty-four  years 
she  traveled  the  journey  of  life  with  her  hus- 
band, sharing  with  him  the  joys  and  sorrows 
which  checkered  their  careers,  and  was  a  de- 
vout member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr. 
Byers  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  in  which  he  has  served  as  a  steward 
since  his  twentieth  year,  and  is  now  a  trustee 
and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school,  hav- 
ing served  in  the  latter  position  for  almost  fif- 
teen years.  He  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  his  po- 
litical affiliations,  casting  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  the  soldier  president  Grant,  and 
three  times  he  has  represented  his  party  a§  a 
justice  of  the  peace.  He  is  a  firm  friend  of 
the  public  schools  and  of  all  worthy  objects 
for  the  growth  and  upbuilding  of  the  locality 
which  has  been  so  long  his  home. 

Ephraim  H.  Peffley,  one  of  the  prominent 
business  men  and  leading  agriculturists  of 
Greene  township,  has  resided  within  the  bord- 
ers of  St.  Joseph  county  throughout  his  en- 
tire life,  and  his  birth  occurred  in  its  town- 
ship of  Warren  December  30,  1848,  the  year 
of  the  memorable  discovery  of  gold  in  Califor- 
nia. He  is  of  German  descent,  for  his  grand- 
father was  born  in  the  fatherland,  but  his  son, 
Joseph  Peflfley,  the  father  of  Ephraim,  was 
born  in  Lebanon  county,  Pennsylvania.  Going 
to  Dayton,  Ohio,  he  was  there  married  to  Cath- 
erine Burtner,  who  was  also  bom  in  Lebanon 
county,  and  later  they  removed  to  Preble 
county,  Ohio,  thence  to  Elkhart  county,  In- 
diana, and  about  1842  came  to  Warren  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  where  they  both 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  the  wife 
and  mother  dyinjr  at  the  aire  of  sixty-five 
years,  and  the  father  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1040 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


They  were  not  long  separated  in  death,  for 
Mrs.  PeflBey  died  in  the  month  of  November, 
and  in  the  following  February  her  husband 
joined  her  in  the  home  beyond.  For  many 
years  he  had  served  as  a  minister  in  the 
United  Brethren  church,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  were  active  workers  in  the  cause  of 
Christianity.  They  were  people  of  many 
noble  characteristics,  were  charitable  to  all, 
and  their  names  are  honored  and  revered  in 
the  community  where  they  so  long  lived  and 
labored.  Four  children  were  bom  to  bless 
their  union :  Simon,  who  is  associated  with  the 
Singer  Manufacturing  Company  of  South 
Bend ;  Henry,  a  resident  of  Sioux  Falls,  South 
Dakota ;  Daniel,  who  makes  his  home  in  South 
Bend;  and  Ephraim,  whose  name  introduces 
thifi  review. 

Ephraim  11.  PeflBey  was  early  taught  the 
value  of  industry  on  the  old  home  farm  in 
Warren  township,  and  during  his  boyhood 
days  he  attended  the  old  log  school  house  near 
his  home,  which  was  furnished  in  the  most 
primitive  manner,  but  within  its  walls  he  re- 
ceived the  educational  training  which  fitted 
him  for  the  active  duties  of  life.  On  the  2d 
of  November,  1871,  in  South  Bend,  he  was 
married  to  Anna  Robertson,  a  member  of  a 
prominent  old  family  of  St.  Joseph  county. 
She  was  bom  on  the  Robertson  homestead 
where  she  now  resides  and  where  she  has  spent 
her  entire  life.  Her  father,  James  Robertson, 
was  a  native  of  Ohio  and  a  son  of  John  S. 
and  Elizabeth  (Goble)  Robertson,  the  former 
a  native  of  Scotland  and  the  latter  born  near 
Dayton,  Ohio,  of  German  ancestry.  In  their 
family  were  three  sons.  After  coming  to  St. 
Joseph  county  John  D.  Robertson  secured  his 
farm  from  the  government  at  the  United 
States  land  oflfice.  James  Robertson  married 
Mary  Ann  Chord,  a  representative  of  a  prom- 
inent old  St.  Joseph  county  family,  and  they 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  here,  the 
mother  dying  at  the  age  of  thirty-five  years 
and  the  father  at  the  age  of  seventy-three.  In 
their  family  were  four  children :  Muriel  Mil- 
ler, deceased;  W.  Schuyler,  of  South  Bend: 
Mrs.  Anna  PeflBey;  and  Susie  Kimball,  of 
Mishawaka,  St.  Joseph  county.  Mr.  Robert- 
son was  a,  Republican  in  his  political  aflfilia- 
tions.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peflfley  have  been 
bora  two  children :  Mariel  B.,  the  wife  of  Pro- 
fessor William  Early,  principal  of  the  high 
school  at  Huntington,  Indiana,  and  C.  R.,  a 
very  promising  young  man  of  twenty-eight 
years  who  is  at  home.    Both  children  received 


excellent  educational  training,  supplementing 
their  studies  in  the  county  schools  by  attend- 
ance at  the  South  Bend  high  school,  and  later 
were  students  in  the  Valparaiso  University. 

The  Robertson  farm  on  which  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
PeflBey  reside  is  located  five  and  a  half  miles 
from  North  Liberty  and  consists  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-seven  acres  of  excellent  and 
well-improved  land.  The  pleasant  and  sub- 
stantial residence  was  erected  in  1892  at  a 
cost  of  three  thousand  dollars,  and  contains 
eleven  rooms,  all  tastefully  furnished.  In  ad- 
dition to  this  homestead  Mr.  PeflBey  also  owns 
ninety-four  acres  of  land  on  section  10,  mak- 
ing in  all  two  hundred  and  forty-five  acres. 
The  pastures  are  well  stocked  with  a  fine 
grade  of  cattle,  the  fields  are  rich  and  well  cul- 
tivated, and  everything  about  the  place  is 
neat  and  attractive  in  appearance.  As  a  rep- 
resentative of  the  Republican  party  Mr. 
PeflBey  served  seven  years*  as  the  township 
trustee,  and  has  also  served  as  trustee  of  the 
Sumption  Prairie  cemetery.  He  is  a  public- 
spirited,  progressive  citizen,  honored  for  his 
'integrity  of  character  and  for  his  fidelity  to 
every  trust. 

Andrew  Heinzman.  The  above  named,  a 
respected  citizen  of  South  Bend,  was  known 
in  Greene  township  for  many  years  as  an  in- 
dustrious and  successful  farmer.  He  was  bom 
in  Germany  in  1843,  his  father  Matthias,  and 
his  mother,  Eva  Heinzman,  being  both  chil- 
dren 5f  the  fatherland.  They  became  the  par- 
ents of  three  sons  and  three  daughter,  of 
whom  Andrew  was  the  oldest.  Of  this  family 
three  were  bom  in  Germany  prior  to  the  emi- 
gration to  America  in  1853. 

The  father  was  a  weaver  by  trade,  and  when 
he  brought  his  family  to  South  Bend,  in  the 
year  named,  the  son  whose  life  is  here  sketched 
was  a  lad  of  ten  years.  Here  he  was  educated 
and  brought  up  to  habits  of  industry,  and,  as 
the  family  increased  by  the  addition  of  three 
children,  he  did  all  in  his  power  to  assist  in 
the  support  of  the  household.  When  he  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age  he  engaged  in  the 
bakery  business,  but  subsequently  turned  to  • 
the  soil  as  his  means  of  livelihood.  The 
father  had  in  the  meantime  prospered  and  be- 
came the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  and  homestead 
in  Greene  township,  which  Andrew  now  culti- 
vated and  managed.  He  married,  in  South 
Bend,  Liza  Maxwell,  a  native  of  the  county, 
and  was  employed  in  agricultural  operations 
for  a  number  of  years. 

Mr.   and  Mrs.  Andrew  Heinzman  have  a 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1041 


family  of  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  all  of 
whom  have  been  bom  and  reared  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  as  honored  residents  of  South 
Bend,  who  have  materially  contributed  to  the 
agricultural  prosperity  and  advancement  of 
the  county,  the  parents  are  now  enjoying  a 
comfortable  and  fully  deserved  retirement. 
Mr.  Heinzman  is  a  Democrat,  but  is  not 
known  in  politics  except  as  an  intelligent  citi- 
zen and  voter. 

Seth  Hammond.  Among  the  leading  agri- 
culturists and  prominent  citizens  of  Greene 
township,  St.  Joseph  county,  none  are  better 
known  than  Seth  Hammond,  who  was  bom  on 
the  homestead  farm  on  which  he  now  resides 
January  5,  1836.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
James  Hammond,  was  a  native  son  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestory,  an  ele- 
ment which  has  given  to  the  United  States 
some  of  her  most  prominent  men.  His  son, 
Matthew  Brown,  grew  to  years  of  maturity  on 
the  old  home  farm  in  that  conunonwealth,  and 
was  there  married  to  Susan  McCormick,  who 
was  also  bom  and  reared  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  her  father,  Seth  McCormick,  was  a  rep- 
resentative of  a  prominent  old  family.  In 
1833  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matthew  B.  Hammond  be- 
gan the  long  and  toilsome  journey  to  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  via  Lake  Erie,  and 
thence  by  teams  and  wagons  to  their  destina- 
tion in  South  Bend,  where  they  arrived  in  the 
following  fall.  In  the  spring  Mr.  Hammond 
purchased  a  claim  of  a  Mr.  Pomeroy,  who  was 
an  Indian  trader,  selling  bright  calicos,  beads 
and  fire  water  to  the  red  skins,  and  they  were 
very  much  disappointed  and  disgusted  when 
they  found  Mr.  Hammond  in  the  place  of  Mr. 
Pomeroy  and  his  goods.  The  former  owner 
had  erected  a  log  cabin  on  the  place,  into 
which  the  Hammonds  took  up  their  abode, 
but  this  little  cabin  home  in  time  gave  place 
to  a  substantial'  brick  dwelling,  which  is  now 
occupied  by  tenants.  Mr.  Hammond  devel- 
oped his  farm  into  a  valuable  homestead,  and 
there  he  lived  and  labored  until  his  life's 
work  was  ended  in  death  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
six  years.  He  devoted  his  entire  business 
career  to  agricultural  pursuits,  was  a  Whig 
and  Republican  in  his  political  affiliations, 
and  was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church. 
His  wife  reached  the  age  of  eighty-two  years 
ere  she  was  called  to  the  home  beyond,  and 
she,  too,  was  a  valued  and  worthy  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  They  were  people 
of  the  highest  worth  of  character,  were  charit- 
able to  all,  and  their  names  will  long  be  hon- 


ored and  revered  in  the  county  which  they 
helped  to  build.  Ten  children  blessed  their 
union,  seven  of  whom  grew  to  years  of  ma- 
turity: William  Brown,  who  died  in  Laporte 
county;  Sarah  Maria  Beard,  of  Decorah, 
Iowa ;  Angeline,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen years;  Samuel,  whose  death  occurred 
while  he  was  journeying  across  the  plains  to 
California,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years; 
Margaret,  who  died  when  young;  Cynthia 
Ann,  who  also  died  when  young;  an  infant 
son,  deceased ;  and  Eliza  Hammond,  who  died 
in  South  Bend. 

Seth  Hammond,  a  worthy  son  of  these  hon- 
ored pioneer  parents,  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  on  the  old  farmstead  in 
Greene  township,  where  he  was  early  inured 
to  the  work  of  the  fields  and  was  also  taught 
that  industry  and  honesty  were  requisite  qual- 
ities for  success.  He  attended  the  pioneer 
log  school  house  near  his  home,  which  was 
primitive  in  its  every  appointment,  and 
among  the  text  books  which  he  used  were  Mc- 
Guffey's  reader,  Davis'  arithmetic  and  Col- 
burn,  Brown  and  Clark's  grammar.  On  the 
18th  of  October,  1863,  in  German  township, 
St.  Joseph  county,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Sarah  Longley,  who  has  proved  to  him  a 
worthy  helpmate  and  a  loving  counselor  in 
their  journey  of  life  together.  She  was  born 
in  Madison  township  of  St.  Joseph  county 
November  21,  1841.  Her  father,  Thomas 
Longley,  was  born  in  Somerset  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, of  English  ancestry,  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  a  prominent  old  family  of  that  com- 
monwealth. It  was  represented  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  was  in  many  other  ways  identified 
with  the  early  history  of  the  country.  For 
his  wife  Mr.  Longley  chose  Mary  Rupel,  also 
a  native  of  Somerset  county,  and  a  daughter 
of  Jacob  Rupel,  who  became  one  of  the  hon- 
ored early  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county,  com- 
ing hither  from  his  native  commonwealth  of 
Pennsylvania.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Longley  also 
took  up  their  abode  here  in  a  very  early  day, 
dating  their  arrival  from  1834.  They  first 
established  their  home  southeast  of  Elkhart, 
but  later  came  to  Madison  township,  where 
both  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  and 
now  lie  buried  in  German  township,  the  wife 
and  mother  dying  at  the  age  of  fifty-six 
years,  while  the  husband  reached  the  vener- 
able old  age  of  eighty-two  years.  Both  were 
worthy  members  of  the  German  Baptist 
church.  In  their  family  were  eleven  children, 
but  only  eight  grew  to  years  of  maturity^ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1042 


HISTORY   OP   ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


Permelia  Greenwood,  of  Clay  township ;  Fran- 
ces Crill,  of  North  Manchester,  Indiana ;  Har- 
riett Greenwood,  of  Clay  township;  Martha 
Smith,  who  died  at  Carthage,  Missouri ;  Mary 
E.  Wenger,  of  South  Bend;  Newton,  of  Har- 
ris township;  Mrs.  Hammond;  and  Lewis, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years. 
Mrs.  Hammond  was  reared  in  her  native 
county  of  St.  Joseph,  where  she  received  a 
good  education  in  its  public  schools,  also 
attending  the  Northern  Indiana  College,  and 
before  her  marriage  was  a  prominent  and  suc- 
cessful teacher.  Three  children  have  been 
bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hammond :  Fanny,  the 
wife  of  Jesse  L.  Drake,  of  Marseilles,  IllinoiSi 
and  they  have  seven  children,  Fanny,  Louise, 
Seth  Hammond,  Paul  Hayes,  Florence,  Mar- 
garet, Dean  and  Fern.  Dr.  Matthew  Brown 
Hammond  is  a  member  of  the  faculty  of  the 
State  University  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  He  has 
received  an  excellent  educational  training, 
having  studied  at  the  University  of  Michigan 
at  Ann  Arbor,  in  Madison,  Iowa,  at  Colum- 
biana, New  York,  in  the  state  university  at 
Urbana,  Illinois,  and  also  spent  three  years 
at  the  state  university  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  He 
married  Sunie  Butler  Denham,  of  Columbia, 
Missouri,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Mar- 
gery. Lewis  Wilbur  Hammond,  the  third 
child,  received  an  excellent  education  in  the 
home  schools  and  in  South  Bend,  and  now  re- 
sides on  the  old  homestead,  where  he  has  a 
fine  residence  near  his  father's  home.  He 
married  Miss  Georgiana  Davis,  and  they  have 
two  children,  Leslie  Davis  and  Irene  Esther. 

In  1885  Mr.  Hammond,  of  this  review, 
erected  his  pleasant  and  commodious  resi- 
dence, at  a  cost  of  six  thousand  dollars,  while 
his  barn,  forty-six  by  eighty-six  feet,  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  forty-five  hundred  dollars. 
The  Hammond  farm  is  one  of  the  most  beauti- 
ful rural  homes  in  St.  Joseph  county,  and  is 
located  seven  miles  southwest  of  South  Bend. 
There  Mr.  Hammond  is  extensively  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  in  addition  is 
also  interested  to  a  large  extent  in  real  estate 
in  South  Bend.  He  is  an  excellent  business 
man,  frank  and  genial  in  manner,  and  has 
won  and  retained  many  friends.  His  political 
affiliations  are  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
he  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Lincoln. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  worthy  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church. 

Thomas  K.  Frankenberry.  During  the 
long  period  of  twenty-eight  years  Thomas  K. 
Frankenberry  has  been  a  resident  of  St.  Jo- 


seph county,  and  as  the  proprietor  of  Pine 
Grave  Farm  in  Greene  township  he  is  well 
and  favorably  known  to  the  residents  of  this 
part  of  the  county.  He  is,  however,  a  native 
son  of  Pennsylvania,  his  birth  occurring  in 
Fayette  county  of  that  commonwealth  on  the 
19th  of  May,  1852.  His  father,  James  Frank- 
enberry, who  has  now  reached  the  ninetieth 
milestone  on  the  journey  of  life,  is  ako  a  na- 
tive of  the  Keystone  state,  of  Pennsylvania 
Dutch  descent.  He  married  one  of  its  native 
daughters,  Anna  Wolf,  and  they  removed  to 
Licking  county,  Ohio,  locating  near  Newark, 
where  Mr.  Frankenberry  yet  resides,  but  his 
wife,  who  was  bom  on  the  8th  of  January, 
1814,  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years. 
They  became  the  parents  of  eleven  children, 
nine  of  whom  grew  to  years  of  maturity  and 
eight  are  now  living,  namely:  (Jeorge,  Eme- 
line,  Susan,  Ann,  James  L.,  Thomas  K.,  Han- 
nah and  Lucy,  but  Mr.  Frankenberry  of  this 
review  is  the  only  representative  of  the  family 
in  Indiana.  The  father  has  devoted  his  entire 
business  career  to  the  pursuit  of  agriculture, 
is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations,  and 
is  a  worthy  member  of  the  Wesleyan  church, 
as  was  also  his  wife. 

Thomas  K.  Frankenberry  was  early  inured 
to  the  work  of  the  fields,  receiving  his  educa- 
tional training  in  the  county  schools  near  his 
home,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  left 
the  parental  roof  to  work  for  others.  In  1872 
he  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  and  in 
the  following  year,  in  Greene  township,  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Linda  J.  Grove,  who 
was  born  on  the  old  Grove  homestead  in  this 
township.  Her  father,  'Elias  Grove,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  reared  in  that  com- 
monwealth and  Ohio,  having  been  married  in 
Licking  county  of  the  latter  state  to  Lovina 
Stombaiigh,  who  was  also  bom  iA  the  Key- 
stone state  and  was  of  German  ancestry.  They 
journeyed  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  in 
1853,  establishing  their  home  in  the  dense 
forest  of  Greene  township,  where  the  father 
cleared  and  developed  a  fine  farm  and  de- 
voted the  remainder  of  his  life  to  its  cultiva- 
tion. Their  four  children  are  Linda  J.,  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Frankenberry;  Samuel  C,  of 
Tacoma,  Washington ;  John  E.,  a  resident  of 
South  Bend ;  and  Ruben  L.,  also  of  that  city. 
The  father  passed  away  in  death  at  the  age 
of  fifty-six  years,  having  given  a  lifelong  sup- 
port to  the  Republican  party,  and  was  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Evangelical  church. 
The  wife  and  mother  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1043 


two  years.  Three  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frankenberry :  Mabel,  the  wile 
of  Joseph  A.  Rennoe,  of  Portage  township; 
Fred  6.,  who  assists  in  the  work  of  the  home 
farm,  and  Thomas  Howard,  who  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  class  of  1907  of  the  North  Liberty 
high  school,  graduating  with  high  honors,  and 
has  the  honor  of  being  one  of  the  youngest 
graduates  in  the  county. 

Pine  Grove  Farm,  the  home  of  the  Frank- 
enberry family,  is  a  fine  estate  of  sixty  acres, 
and  receives  its  name  from  the  many  large 
pine  trees  which  add  so  much  to  its  beauty 
and  attractive  appearance.  They  were  planted 
by  her  father  fifty-three  years  ago,  and  in  all 
these  years  have  stood  guard  over  the  home. 
The  pleasant  and  attractive  residence  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  fourteen  hundred  dollars, 
and  many  other  substantial  buildings  and  im- 
provements now  adorn  the  place.  Mr.  Frank- 
enberry served  as  the  assessor  of  his  township 
for  four  years,  elected  in  1900,  and  he  has 
ever  been  an  active  and  efficient  worker  in 
the  ranks  of  the  Republican  party. 

James  H.  Rudduck.  From  an  early  period 
in  the  development  of  Greene  township,  St. 
Joseph  county,  James  H.  Rudduck  has  resided 
vrithin  its  borders,  his  residence  here  dating 
from  1867,  and  during  all  the  intervening 
y^ars  he  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
its  agricultural  interests.  He  was  bom  in 
Greene  county,  Ohio,  June  6,  1840,  a  son  of 
David  and  Lydia  (Beson)  Rudduck,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  South  Carolina  and  the  latter 
of  Kentucky,  but  both  died  on  their  old  home- 
stead farm  in  Ohio.  In  their  family  were 
nine  children,  and  by  a  former  marriage  the 
father  also  had  seven  children.  Three  of  his 
sons  were  represented  in  the  Civil  war,  James 
H.,  A.  Jackson  and  Isaac  M.,  but  the  latter  is 
now  deceased.  Mr.  Rudduck,  the  father,  was 
a  Democrat  in  his  political  views. 

James  H.  Rudduck  grew  to  years  of  ma- 
turity on  his  father's  farm  in  Ohio.  After 
completing  his  educational  training  he  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  and  has  followed  that 
occupation  throughout  his  entire  business 
career,  being  a  natural  mechanic.  On  the 
15th  of  February,  1865,  at  Xenia,  Ohio,  he 
enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  war,  knd  con- 
tinued as  a  valiant  soldier  until  his  honorable 
discharge,  September  1,  1865,  at  Na.shville, 
Tennessee.  Four  years  later,  on  October  10, 
1869,  he  was  married  in  Niles,  Michigan,  to 
Louisa  A.  Rupe,  a  member  of  a  prominent  old 
family  of  Greene  township.    She  was  bom  in 


St.  Joseph  county  August  14,  1851,  and  grew 
to  mature  years  on  the  old  Rupe  homestead  in 
Greene  township,  her  parents  being  Martin 
and  Mary  (Gard)  Rupe,  the  former  of  whom 
was  bom  in  North  Carolina  and  the  latter  in 
West  Virginia,  but  both  died  in  St.  Joseph 
county.  They  had  ten  children,  four  sons  and 
six  daughters,  and  they  were  worthy  members 
of  the  Methodist  church.  Eight  children  have 
been  born  fo  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rudduck:  Beson 
E.,  who  died  when  young;  Pearl  Hickey,  who 
has  four  sons,  Clarence,  Anthony,  James  and 
Ben;  Edna,  Walter,  Dale,  Dennis,  who  has  a 
daughter,  Lavada;  Grover  C.  and  Mabel  E. 
Mr.  Rudduck  affiliates  with  the  Democracy, 
and  is  a  member  of  James  Brown  Post,  G.  A. 
R.,  of  North  Liberty.  Mrs.  Rudduck  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  church,  as  are  also 
two  of  the  children,  Walter  and  Mabel,  while 
Pearl  and  Edna  are  Catholics.  The  family  are 
highly  esteemed  in  the  community  where  they 
reside. 

Chord  S.  Rupel.  Many  years  have  passed 
and  gone  since  the  Rupel  family  was  estab- 
lished within  the  borders  of  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty, and  from  that  time  to  the  present  its  mem- 
bers have  been  numbered  among  its  valued 
and  honored  citizens.  This  high  reputation  is 
maintained  in  Chord  S.  Rupel,  who  is  num- 
bered among  the  leading  agriculturists  of 
Greene  townsihip,  the  township  of  his  nativity. 
His  natal  day  was  the  18th  of  February,  1859. 
His  father,  John  J.  Rupel,  Jr.,  was  born  in 
Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  September 
16,  1816,  and  his  death  occurred  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  on  the  22d  of  March,  1899. 
He  left  his  native  commonwealth  of  Pennsyl- 
vania in  1849,  his  destination  being  Elkhart 
county,  Indiana,  and  in  this  state  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Lydia  Chord,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
Sumption  Prairie,  Greene  township,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  three  children :  Mrs. 
Jacob  Wolverton,  of  South  Bend;  Mrs.  Nora 
Quay,  of  Greene  township,  her  husband  hav- 
ing been  a  prominent  man  in  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty ;  and  Chord  S.  Mr.  Rupel,  the  father,  was 
a  member  of  the  Adventist  church.  He  is  yet 
survived  by  his  widow,  who  has  reached  the 
good  old  age  of  eighty-one  years,  but  is  still 
active  in  mind  and  body,  one  of  the  brave  and 
honored  pioneer  women  of  St.  Joseph  county. 

Clhord  S.  Rupel  was  born  and  reared  on  the 
old  Rupel  homestead  in  Greene  township, 
where  he  was  early  inured  to  the  labors  of  the 
farm,  and  the  educational  training  which  he 
received  in  the  public  schools  near  his  home 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1044 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


was  supplemented  by  attendance  at  Hillsdale 
College  in  Michigan.  For  two  years  there- 
after he  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  in 
South  Bend,  and  then  returned  to  his  former 
agricultural  labors.  In  Greene  township, 
February  24,  1880,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Mary  E.  Van  Wagner,  whose  birth  occurred 
in  Tiffin,  Ohio.  Her  father,  William  Philip 
Van  Wagner,  was  a  brave  and  loyal  soldier 
during  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  in  which  he 
held  the  rank  of  lieutenant.  He  was  of  Hol- 
land parentage.  His  wife  was  a  member  of 
an  old  Pennsylvania  family,  but  was  a  native 
of  Ohio,  as  was  also  her  father,  Peter  Hostler. 
He,  too,  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  defense  of 
his  country.  Mr.  Van  Wagner  is  yet  survived 
by  his  widow,  who  is  now  residing  in  South 
Bend,  aged  seventy-two  years.  They  became 
the  parents  of  four  children:  Horace,  a  car- 
penter in  South  Bend;  William,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  that  occupation  in  Kansas  City,  Mis- 
souri; Mary  E.,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Rupel;  and 
Mrs.  Grcorge  Whiteman.  Mr.  Van  Wagner  was 
liberal  in  his  religious  views,  and  his  wife  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  church.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ru- 
pel: Bessie,  the  wife  of  Carroll  J.  Byers,  a 
prominent  agriculturist,  of  Greene  township ; 
Charles  W.,  who  is  now  twenty-one  years  of 
age  and  assists  his  father  in  the  work  of  the 
farm ;  and  Rhoene  Catherine,  the  youngest  of 
the  family. 

In  1881  Mr.  Rupel  removed  to  the  old 
John  B.  Greene  farm,  which  is  a  valuable 
homestead,  and  in  addition  he  also  farms 
other  land,  amounting  in  all  to  about  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres.  In  his  pastures  are 
found  an  excellent  grade  of  stock,  his  fields 
are  fertile  and  well  improved,  and  Greene 
township  claims  him  among  her  leading  busi- 
ness men.  He  gives  a  stanch  and  unfaltering 
support  to  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party,  which  he  has  represented  in  the  office 
of  constable.  With  his  wife  and  children  he 
is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Gleaners,  and 
Mrs.  Rupel  and  her  daughter  Rhoene  also  hold 
membership  relations  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  Their  home  is  one  of  the  at- 
tractive ones  of  the  community,  where  they 
dispense  as  gracious  and  warm-hearted  hos- 
pitality as  was  the  custom  in  the  days  of  old. 

Peter  H.  Reaves.  For  many  years  Peter 
H.  Reaves  has  been  prominently  identified 
with  the  public  affairs  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
and  he  holds  and  merits  a  place  among  its 
representative   citizens.     He   was  born   near 


Xenia,  Ohio,  January  8,  1841,  a  son  of  Obe- 
diah  Reaves,  whese  birth  occurred  in  Ten- 
nessee, and  his  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  18-12.  When  he  was  a  lad  of  twelve  years 
Obediah  became  a  resident  of  Ohio,  where  he 
learned  and  followed  the  millwright's  trade 
for  many  years,  and  he  was  there  married  to 
a  Miss  Moorman,  by  whom  he  had  two  chil- 
dren, both  of  whom  grew  to  years  of  matur- 
ity, but  Russell  Thomas  died  at  the  age  of 
thirty-five  years.  Solathial  Reaves  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Jackson,  Michigan.  After  the  death 
of  his  first  wife  Mr.  Reaves  married  Susanna 
"(Hummer)  Marshall,,  a  daughter  of  Peter 
Hummer  and  at  that  time  a  widow  with  three 
daughters, — Elizabeth  Martin,  Eunice  Mc- 
Donald and  Margaret  Hildreth,  all  of  whom 
died  in  Greene  township  and  Iowa.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Reaves  became  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren, namely:  Rebecca  Seward,  deceased; 
John,  a  resident  of  Crumstown,  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana ;  Susan,  whose  death  occurred 
in  Ohio;  Peter  H.,  the  subject  of  this  review; 
Obediah,  who  was  a  prominent  educator  in 
St.  Joseph  county,  but  is  now  deceased; 
Dianna,  who  died  when  young,  and  George, 
who  was  also  a  successful  teacher  and  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Valparaiso  University,  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two  years.  In  1846  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Reaves  established  their  home  in  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  making  their  journey 
hither  with  team  and  wagon,  and  after  their 
arrival  purchased  the  farm  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  their  son  Peter.  They  became  the 
owners  of  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  and 
their  first  habitation  was  the  typical  log  cabin 
of  the  west,  a  small  structure  eighteen  by 
thirty  feet,  while  their  litle  barn  was  also  of 
logs.  There  the  husband  and  father  con- 
tinued his  labors  for  many  years  or  until  his 
life's  work  was  ended  in  death  in  1864,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  He  gave  his  po- 
litical support  to  the  Republican  party,  and 
was  an  active  and  worthy  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church,  in  which  he  served  as  a  trustee, 
steward  and  class  leader;  and  was  a  liberal 
supporter  of  the  church  and  all  charitable 
organizations.  His  wife  preceded  him  in 
death,  dying  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years, 
and  she,  too,  was  a  worthy  member  of  the 
Baptist  church. 

Peter  H.  Reaves  was  but  four  years  of  ap:e 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  St.  Joseph  county,  and  he  attained 
to  years  of  maturity  on  the  old  homestead 
farm,  where  he  was  early  taught  the  value  of 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


/.  THE 

Put  L,       L-.-'^ARV| 

\..     1£.0     // 


Digitized  by 


Google 


/k-n^    j6eA^   fUit4J>s9 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


^02ci^y   ^  <^iuu^^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1045 


industry  and  honesty  as  the  foundation  for 
life's  success.  When  he  had  reached  the  age 
of  twenty-six  years  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Susan  Rupe,  who  was  born  December  21, 
1841,  and  reared  in  St.  Joseph  county,  where 
her  grandfather,  Jacob  Rupe,  took  up  his 
abode  in  a  very  early  day.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Sally  Ann  (Trowbridge)  Rupe. 
The  mother  was  twice  married,  her  first  hus- 
band having  been  Rev.  Owens,  a  Methodist 
Episcopal  minister,  and  their  only  child  was  a 
daughter,  Arminda,  now  deceased.  Seven 
children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rupe: 
Elana,  Susanna  Reaves,  William  H.,  Lucinda 
Garwood,  Martha  Jane  Hummer,  Algaretta 
Hummer  and  Brenton.  Mr.  Rupe,  the  father, 
was  a  local  minister  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  from  his  early  boyhood,  an  able 
and  efScient  worker  in  the  cause  of  Christian- 
ity. Two  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Reaves,  the  elder  being  Rosa  May,  the 
wife  of  Abram  Bresler,  of  South  Bend,  and 
they  have  one  daughter,  Carrie.  William  E. 
married  Alice  Slaybough,  and  their  two  chil- 
dren are  Bernice  and  Russell  Everett. 

**Oak  Lands,''  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Reaves,  is  a  valuable  estate  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  acres,  with  its  pleasant  residence  and 
outbuildings  and  its  well-cultivated  fields. 
During  many  years  Mr.  Reaves  has  been  an 
active  worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  as  its  representative  has  served  in 
many  positions  of  honor  and  trust.  He  has 
many  times  served  as  a  delegate  to  county  and 
state  conventions,  and  in  1894  was  elected  a 
commissioner  of  St.  Joseph  county.  His  popu- 
larity in  the  county  in  which  he  has  so  long 
resided  was  fully  attested  at  that  election, 
for  he  received  the  large  majority  of  twelve 
hundred  votes,  and  he  remained  an  incumbent 
of  the  oflSce  for  three  years,  discharging  its 
varied  duties  with  ability  and  credit.  During 
his  administration  the  county  courthouse  was 
erected,  at  a  cost  of  two  hundred  and  forty- 
seven  thousand  eight  hundred  dollars,  as  was 
also  the  county  jail,  which  represents  an  ex- 
penditure of  thirty-three  thousand  dollars. 
He  was  re-elected  as  the  county  commissioner 
of  St.  Joseph  county.  Mr.  Reaves  is  also  a 
trustee  of  the  Sumption  Prairie  cemetery,  and 
to  him  belongs  the  credit  of  having  raised  a 
sinking  fund  of  twenty-eight  hundred  dollars 
for  the  benefit  of  this  cemetery.  His  frater- 
nal relations  are  with  the  Masonic  order,  af- 
filiating with  Liberty  Lodge,  No.  266,  and  he 


is  a  valued  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  in  which  he  has  held  the  offices 
of  steward  and  trustee  and  is  a  liberal  sup- 
porter to  the  church  and  all  worthy  objects. 
His  life  has  been  a  busy  and  useful  one,  and 
his  sterling  worth  commands  the  respect  of 
all. 

DAvm  F.  Whaeton.  One  of  the  first  fam- 
ilies to  establish  their  home  within  the  borders 
of  St.  Joseph  county  was  the  Whartons,  and 
for  many  years  they  have  been  numbered 
among  the  leading  citizens  and  agriculturists 
of  Greene  township.  The  subject  of  this  re- 
view, David  F.  Wharton,  is  one  of  its  native 
sons,  his  birth  occurring  in  the  same  year  of 
the  memorable  gold  discovery  in  California, 
1848.  His  father,  William  Wharton,  was  a 
native  of  Warren  county,  Ohio,  and  his  father, 
David  Wharton,  claimed  Pennsylvania  as  the 
commonwealth  of  his  nativity  and  was  of 
English  ancestry.  His  death  occurred  in 
Ohio.  In  that  state  his  son  William  grew  to 
years  of  maturity,  learned  and  followed  the 
wagon-maker's  trade  for  many  years  in  con- 
nection with  his  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
was  there  married  to  Charity  Throckmorton, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  Pickaway  county, 
Ohio.  Her  parents,  William  and  Sarah 
(Carty)  Throckmorton,  natives  respectively 
of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  were  among  the 
very  first  to  cast  their  lot  with  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  they  now  lie  buried  in  the  town- 
ship of  Greene.  Unto  William  and  Charity 
Wharton  were  born  six  children :  Lettia  Mack, 
a  resident  of  South  Bend;  David  F.,  whose 
name  introduces  this  review;  James  G.,  a 
prominent  farmer  of  Greene  township;  and 
Henrietta  D.  Schang,  also  of  Greene  town- 
ship. Two  of  the  children  died  when  young. 
It  was  in  1833  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wharton 
came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  their  names  thus 
being  enrolled  among  its  very  first  pioneers. 
The  county  was  then  a  wild  western  region, 
the  Indians  still  roamed  at  will  throughout 
the  state,  the  forests  stood  in  their  primeval 
strength  and  the  broad  prairies  had  been  un- 
turned by  the  plow.  In  the  work  of  growth 
and  upbuilding  Mr.  Wharton  performed  his 
full  share,  and  he  now  lies  buried  in  the  town- 
ship in  which  he  was  so  long  an  honored  resi- 
dent, his  death  occurring  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
two  years.  He  gave  his  political  support  to 
the  Republican  party,  and  was  a  Hicksite 
Quaker  in  his  religious  belief.  Ten  years 
later  his  wife  joined  him  in  the  home  beyond. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1046 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


she  ako  having  passed  away  at  the  age  of 
sixty-two  years,  dying  in  the  faith  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church. 

David  F.  Wharton  grew  to  years  of  ma- 
turity on  the  old  homestead  farm,  where  he 
was  early  taught  the  value  of  industry  and 
honesty,  and  he  remained  at  home  until  his 
twenty-third  year.  Later,  however,  he  re- 
turned to  the  old  farm,  for  his  father  was  in 
poor  health  and  needed  his  assistance  in  his 
declining  years.  In  Greene  township,  on  June 
9,  1889,  Mr.  Wharton  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Ada  A.  (Hummer)  Keltner,  the  widow  of 
Lee  Keltner,  by  whom  she  had  one  son,  Lee 
Keltner,  of  South  Bend.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  Lot  Hummer,  from  Pennsylvania,  and  a 
son  of  Washington  Hummer,  prominent  early 
settlers  of  St.  Joseph  county.  It  was  within 
its  borders  that  the  son  Lot  grew  to  mature 
years,  and  was  here  married  to  Betsy  Inman, 
a  daughter  of  John  Inman,  of  English  des- 
cent. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lot  Hummer  had  four 
children:  Lawrence,  of  South  Bend;  Louisa 
Keltner,  of  Greene  township ;  Mrs.  Ada  Whar- 
ton ;  and  Hattie  Flosenzier,  of  Marshall  coun- 
ty, Indiana.  The  father  died  at  the  early  age 
of  thirty-two  years,  and  the  mother  afterward 
married  Mahlon  Pierson,  by  whom  she  had 
two  children,  William  and  Cora  Houser,  of 
Liberty  township,  St.  Joseph  county.  One 
daughter  has  blessed  the  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wharton,  Deane,  who  is  now  sixteen 
years  of  age,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  pub- 
lic schools  with  the  class  of  1906.  Lee,  the 
son  of  Mrs  .Wharton,  supplemented  his  pub- 
lic school  training  by  attendance  at  the  Val- 
paraiso University,  and  he  is  a  very  bright 
and  promising  young  man. 

Mr.  Wharton  is  the  proprietor  of  one  of  the 
finest  homesteads  of  Greene  township,  known 
as  Fair  View  Farm,  which  consists  of  sfvventy- 
six  acres  of  rich  and  fertile  land,  while  a  mile 
or  so  distant  Mrs.  Wharton  has  thirty  acres, 
thus  making  them  the  owners  of  one  hundred 
and  six  acres.  Many  substantial  and  valuable 
buildings  now  adorn  the  farm,  including  a 
pleasant  and  commodious  residence,  which  is 
situated  on  a  natural  building  site  and  over- 
looks the  surrounding  neighborhood.  In  ad- 
dition to  his  general  agricultural  pursuits  Mr. 
Wharton  has  also  been  engaged  in  threshing 
during  the  past  twelve  years,  and  in  this,  as 
wtII  as  his  farminsr  and  stock  raising  inter- 
ests, he  has  been  very  successful.  In  1900  he 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace, 
in  which  he  proved  himself  a  popular  official. 


With  his  wife  and  daughter  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Grange,  and  Mrs.  Wharton  also  holds 
membership  relations  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

James  G.  Whaeton.  The  life  history  of 
James  G.  Wharton  is  closely  identified  with 
the  history  of  Greene  township,  which  has 
been  his  home  throughout  his  entire  life,  his 
birth  occurring  on  the  farm  where  he  now 
lives,  November  9,  1853,  a  son  of  William  and 
Charity  (Throckmorton)  Wharton,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Warren  county  and  the  latter 
of  Pickaway  county,  Ohio.  In  the  early  year 
of  1836  they  journeyed  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,  first  securing  forty  acres  of  land  in 
Greene  township,  which  they  traded  for  the 
present  forty  acres,  and  they  developed  their 
land  into  an  excellent  and  well-improved 
farm.  On  the  old  homestead  which  he  had 
cleared  and  cultivated  the  husband  and  father 
passed  away  in  death  at  the  age  of  sixty-two 
years,  and  ten  years  later  his  wife  joined  him 
in  the  home  beyond,  her  death  also  occurring 
when  she  was  sixty-two  years  of  age.  They 
were  loved  and  honored  for  their  many  excel- 
lent traits  of  character,  and  in  the  locality  in 
which  they  so  long  made  their  home  they  had 
many  friends.  Mr,  Wharton  was  a  stanch 
advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  was  a  Hicksite  Quaker,  while  his 
wife  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  Their  four  children  are  Leticia  Mack 
of  South  Bend;  David  Franklin,  a  resident 
of  Greene  township ;  Henrietta,  also  of  Greene 
township,  and  James  G.,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review. 

James  G.  Wharton  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  on  the  old  home  farm, 
being  early  inured  to  its  work,  and  the  educa- 
tional training  which  he  was  permitted  to  en- 
joy in  his  youth  was  received  in  the  public 
schools  near  his  home.  He  was  married  in 
South  Bend  on  the  22d  of  February,  1891,  by 
Rev.  II.  Johnson,  to  Mary  Stoltz,  who  was 
born  and  reared  in  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
before  her  marriage  was  engaged  in  dress- 
making. Her  birth  occurred  on  the  23d  of 
March,  1866,  and  she  is  a  daughter  of  Charles 
Stoltz,  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana.  He  was  born  in  Alsace, 
France,  now  a  province  of  Germany,  but 
when  only  eight  years  of  age  he  came  to  the 
United  States  and  located  in  Ohio.  Remov- 
ing later  to  Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  he  was 
there  married  to  Margaret  Popp,  who  w^ 
born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  as  were  also 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1047 


her  parents.  They  became  the  parents  of  six 
children,  five  of  whom  grew  to  years  of  ma- 
turity: Susan  Webster,  of  South  Bend; 
Charles,  a  physician  in  that  city;  Mary,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Wharton ;  Eose  Jack- 
son, a  resident  of  Greene  township ;  and  Anna 
Pontius,  who  yet  resides  on  the  old  home 
farm.  The  father  of  these  children  passed 
away  in  death  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years. 
He  was  a  carpenter  as  well  as  farmer,  and 
after  locating  on  his  farm  in  Greene  township 
he  worked  at  his  trade  in  addition  to  his 
agricultural  labors,  his  children  having  as- 
sisted him  in  clearing  his  land.  He  was  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations,  and  was 
reared  in  the  Catholic  faith,  while  his  wife 
was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  Two 
sons  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whar- 
ton, James  Russell,  born  on  the  29th  of  July, 
1893.  and  William  Raymond,  bom  July  3, 
1899; 

Mr.  Wharton  is  extensively  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  on  his  valuable  homestead 
known  as  Plain  View  Farm,  which  consists  of 
eighty  acres  of  fertile  and  well-improved  land, 
and  in  addition  he  has  also  operated  a -saw- 
mill and  thresher  in  company  with  his 
brother,  D.  P.  Wharton,  during  the  past  four- 
teen years.  His  business  ventures  have  been 
attended  with  a  well-merited  degree  of  suc- 
cess, and  he  has  long  occupied  a  foremost 
place  among  the  representative  citizens  of 
Greene  township.  As  a  representative  of  the 
Republican  party  he  is  serving  as  the  super- 
visor of  his  township.  He  is  a  man  of  enter- 
prise, and  is  thoroughly  identified  with  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
the  county  of  his  nativity. 

Prank  L.  Puller.  Among  the*leading  resi- 
dents of  Greene  township,  honored  for  his 
sterling  worth  of  character  and  his  activity  in 
the  business  world,  is  Prank  L.  Puller,  a 
worthy  representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer 
families  of  St.  Joseph  county.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  the  township  of  Penn  on  May  7, 
1855,  where  his  father,  Nelson  Puller,  had. lo- 
cated in  an  early  day.  His  birth  occurred  in 
Pennsylvania,  but  during  his  young  manhood 
he  came  to  Penn  township,  and  was  here  mar- 
ried to  Elizabeth  Crouch,  who  was  born  in 
New  York.  Her  parents  came  from  England 
to  the  United  States,  her  father  dying  in  the 
Empire  state,  and  the  mother  passed  away  in 
St.  Joseph  county.  Nelson  Puller  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  long  and  useful  life  in  Penn 
township,    dying  at  the   age   of  eighty-four 


years.  Throughout  his  entire  business  career 
he  was  identified  with  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  was  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views. 
His  wife  preceded  him  in  death,  she  having 
been  called  to  the  home  beyond  at  the  age  of 
sixty-eight  years,  passing  away  in  the  faith 
of  the  Baptist  church,  of  which  she  was  long 
a  faithful  member.  They  were  people  of  the 
most  sterlibg  worth  of  character,  and  their 
useful  and  well-spent  lives  were  crowned  with 
veneration  and  respect.  In  their  family  were 
four  children,  Prank  L.,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review;  Julius,  who  resides  on  his 
father's  old  home  farm;  Laura  Eller,  whose 
death  occurred  in  this  county ;  and  Lilly  Hol- 
lister,  who  also  died  in  St.  Joseph  county. 

Frank  L.  Fuller  spent  the  early  years  of  his 
life  in  his  native  township  of  Penn,  and  in  its 
public  schools  he  received  his  educational 
training.  When  he  had  reached  his  twenty- 
fourth  year  he  journeyed  to  Colorado,  where 
he  spent  eight  years  in  farming  and  ranching, 
and  from  there  went  to  St.  Clair,  Missouri. 
Por  four  years  he  was  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  in  that  county,  and  thence  returned 
to  St.  Joseph  county.  In  1904  he  became  the 
owner  of  his  present  farm  in  Greene  town- 
ship, consisting  of  one  hundred  acres  of  rich 
and  well-improved  land,  and  here  he  Is  en- 
gaged in  general  agricultural  pursuits.  Prom 
twenty-five  to  thirty  acres  of  this  place  is  de- 
voted to  the  raising  of  potatoes,  he  being  the 
most  extensive  raiser  of  that  commodity,  in 
St.  Joseph  county.  His  well-tilled  fields, 
substantial  buildings  and  modem  improve- 
ments indicate  the  supervision  of  a  painstak- 
ing, practical  and  progressive  owner. 

Mr.  Puller  was  united  in  marriage  to  Emma 
Van  Valin,  a  representative  of  an  honored 
pioneer  family  of  St.  Joseph  county,  whose 
history  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
Eight  children  have  been  bora  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Puller,  namely:  Mabel  Kollars,  Earl, 
Elizabeth,  John,  Pr.ed  and  Daisy,  twins,  and 
Walter.  One  son,  Eugene,  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years.  He  was  a  young  man  of 
much  promise  and  ability,  and  his  death  was 
a  sad  bereavement  to  his  family  and  friends. 
Mr.  Puller  votes  with  the  Democracy.  He  has 
given  his  aid  in  many  ways  to  the  furtherance 
of  the  best  interests  of  the  community,  and 
the  ^course  that  he  has  followed  in  political, 
business  and  social  circles  commends  him  to 
the  high  esteem  of  all. 

Joseph  CoRNELnis  Ult^ry.  An  old  settler 
and    prosperous    and    prominent   farmer    of 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1048 


HISTORY   OF    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


Greene  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  a  brave 
Civil  war  soldier  of  the  Union  army,  a  Repub- 
lican leader  of  the  county,  and  an  upright 
man  in  all  his  public  and  private  relations, 
Joseph  C.  UUery,  who  passed  from  his  active 
and  useful  earthly  life  on  Sunday  afternoon, 
November  12,  1899,  left  behind  him  only  sor- 
row in  the  hearts  of  those  closest  to  him  and 
universal  regret  in  the  minds  of  those  more 
distant  but  who  had  known  of  his  good  works 
in  their  locality  for  many  years.  The  de- 
ceased ^as  bom  in  Miami  county,  Ohio,  on 
the  23d  of  January,  1842,  a  son  of  George  A. 
and  Marie  C.  (Wittig)  UUery. 

The  father  was  a  soldier  under  Napoleon, 
and,  after  distinguishing  himself  in  several 
severe  engagements,  was  captured  by  the  Eng- 
lish, who  gave  him  the  choice  of  remaining 
in  prison  or  joining  the  English  army.  He 
chose  the  latter  alternative,  first  coming  to 
America  as  a  member  of  the  British  army  and 
participating  in  several  engagements  in 
Maine.  Returning  to  England  at  the  end  of 
four  years,  the  authorities  concluded  that  he 
had  earned  his  freedom,  and  accordingly  dis- 
charged him  from  the  military  service.  George 
A.  Ullery  at  once  returned  to  Prussia,  his 
native  country,  and,  in  1828,  came  with  his 
wife  to  Pennsylvania,  residing  in  that  state 
for  about  five  years.  He  then  moved  by  wagon 
to  Miami  county,  Ohio,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm  on  which  he  resided  until  his  death  at 
the- age  of  ninety-four  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  A.  Ullery  became  the 
parents  of  eleven  children,  of  whom  Joseph 
C.  was  the  youngest.  In  1859  the  youth  moved 
to  the  vicinity  of  South  Bend,  St.  Joseph 
county,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  for  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  As  he  had  been  bom 
on  the  old  Ohio  homestead  in  Miami  county, 
January  23,  1842,  he  was  at  this  time  seven- 
teen years  of  age — an  industrious,  sturdy,  re- 
liable youth,  well  adapted  to  make  his  way 
in  a  new  country,  which  required  for  its  devel- 
opment just  such  personal  material.  Within 
three  years  his  prospects  became  so  promising 
as  to  warrant  Ids  marriage  and  the  founding 
of  a  home  of  his  own,  and  accordingly  on 
September  1,  1862,  he  wedded  Miss  Mary  I. 
Robertson,  daughter  of  the  late  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Daniel  D.  Robertson.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ullery  re- 
sided in  Greene  township  for  about  six  years, 
when  they  migrated  to  Iowa  and  made  the 
Hawkeye  state  their  home  for  six  years,  re- 
turning then  to  St.  Joseph  county,  which  was 
thereafter  their  home. 


Two  years  after  his  marriage  to  a  month, 
Mr.  Ullery  had  become  so  aroused  over  the 
issues  of  the  Civil  war  that  he  sacrificed  all  his 
natural  feelings  of  love  and  domesticity  upon 
the  altar  of  patriotism  and  went  to  the  front 
in  the  service  of  the  Union  army.  From  Sep- 
tember, 1864,  to  May  10,  1865,  he  served  as  a 
private  in  the  Fifty-third  Indiana  Regiment, 
during  that  period  being  on  detailed  service. 
Ever  since  the  casting  of  his  first  ballot  he 
was  an  earnest  adherent  to  the  Republican 
cause,  and  to  its  progress  he  was  in  after 
years  of  valued  assistance.  He  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace  in  Greene  township  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  while  in  Iowa  held  the 
office  of  township  clerk.  He  was  at  one  time 
a  member  of  the  now  defunct  Northern  In- 
diana and  Southern  Michigan  Agricultural 
Society,  and  at  his  death  identified  with  the 
St.  Joseph  Valley  Grange,  ever  taking  a  deep 
interest  in  the  furtherance  of  agriculture 
through  co-operation  and  the  free  exchange 
of  views  and  experiences.  In  the  fraternal 
affairs  of  the  North  Liberty  G.  A.  R.  Post  he 
also  took  a  deep  interest,  aiding  it  in  every 
possible  way. 

Besides  his  widow  and  one  daughter — 
Myrtle,  the  wife  of  P.  R.  Gillin,  a  civil  engi- 
neer of  standing — ^the  deceased  left  a  large 
number  of  relatives,  a  brother,  John  Ullery, 
now  deceased,  and  three  sisters:  Mrs.  Chris- 
tina CruU,  residing  near  Mishawaka,  St.  Jo- 
seph county ;  Mrs.  Achsam  Lee,  deceased,  and 
Mrs.  Charlotte  Shellhaas,  of  Miami  county, 
Ohio. 

Mrs.  Joseph  C.  Ullery  is  a  native  of  Greene 
township,  St.  Joseph  county,  where  she  was 
bom  August  24,  1845.  She  is  the  grand- 
daughter of  the  late  venerable  and  beloved 
Judge  John  D.  Robertson,  who  died  in  the 
spring  of  1885,  at  the  age  of  minety-three 
years  and  seven  months,  as  the  result  of  in- 
juries sustained  by  falling  down  stairs.  He 
was  a  Virginian,  bom  in  1791,  passed  his 
early  years  on  a  farm  and  in  1795  was  taken 
by  his  grandmother  to  Kentucky.  In  the 
following  year  the  family  removed  to  Ohio, 
where  the  father  entered  government  land 
and  cleared  it  up  for  a  homestead.  Being  the 
faithful  son  of  a  poor  man,  John  D.  worked 
hard  to  assist  in  the  support  of  the  family, 
and  in  1813.  while  living  in  Ohio,  married 
Miss  Betsy  Gtoble,  a  Pennsylvania  lady  bom 
during  his  own  natal  year.  They  had  four 
children,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  three 
sons  survived  him :  William  H.,  aged  seventy- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1049 


one;  Daniel  D.,  aged  sixty-nine,  and  James 
W.,  sixty-four  years  of  age.  His  wife  had 
preceded  him  in  March,  1873. 

In  1824  John  D.  Robertson  removed  from 
Ohio  to  Indiana,  entering  land  for  a  home- 
stead in  Wayne  county.  He  lived  there  about 
twelve  years  as  an  honored  citizen,  serving  as 
a  justice  of  the  peace  for  several  years  and 
being  otherwise  brought  into  the  public  serv- 
ice. In  1836  he  sold  his  property  and,  moving 
into  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  where  land 
was  cheaper,  entered  several  government 
tracts,  and  thus  enabled  his  sons  to  found 
homes  of  their  own.  In  the  half  a  century 
which  followed  he  either  resided  in  Union 
or  Greene  townships,  serving  as  justice  in  the 
former  and  as  associate  judge  of  the  circuit 
court  in  the  latter.  He  served  as  judge  for  a 
period  of  seven  years,  or  until  the  office  was 
abolished  by  the  new  constitution.  In  1855 
Judge  Robertson  became  a  resident  of  South 
Bend  and  continued  to  be  one  of  its  most  be- 
loved and  prominent  citizens  until  his  death, 
thirty  years  afterward. 

Mrs.  Ullery 's  parents,  Daniel  D.  and  Esther 
(Bishop)  Robertson,  after  living  together  as 
faithful  and  loving  man  and  wife  for  a  pe- 
riod of  forty-eight  years,  ten  months  and 
twenty-one  days,  were  laid  side  by  side  in  the 
Sumption  Prairie  cemetery,  Greene  township, 
beautiful  and  appropriate  funeral  ceremonies 
being  conducted  over  their  hallowed  remains, 
the  sermon  being  based  on  the  text,  **In  their 
deaths  they  were  not  divided."  Daniel  D. 
Robertson  was  bom  in  Warren  county,  Ohio, 
September  10,  1815,  moved  to  Indiana  in 
1824,  and  to  St.  Joseph  county  in  1836,  where 
he  died  September  7,  1891,  aged  seventy-five 
years,  eleven  months  and  seven  days.  An 
elder  brother,  W.  H.  Robertson,  of  Lakeville, 
and  a  younger  brother,  J.  W.  Robertson,  of 
South  Bend,  then  survived  him.  It  was  a  pe- 
culiarly sad  coincidence  that  the  twenty-ninth 
anniversary  of  Mrs.  Ullery's  marriage  oc- 
curred upon  the  day  of  the  death  of  her 
parents.  During  m-any  years  she  had  borne, 
with  loving  assiduity  and  cheerfulness,  the 
care  of  her  invalid  father  and  mother,  and 
yet  her  regret  and  grief  at  their  final  depar- 
ture were  deep  and  poignant,  softened  as  it 
was  by  the  thought  that  ''in  death  they  were 
not  divided." 

George  N.  Folk.  An  energetic  and  pro- 
gressive farmer  and  honored  citizen  of  Greene 
township  is  George  N.  Polk,  who  has  spent 
his  entire  life  in  St.  Joseph  county,  his  birth 


occurring  in  Union  township  in  1869.  His 
father,  George  Polk,  was  a  native  of  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  but  his  father  claimed  Mary- 
land as  the  commonwealth  of  his  nativity,  and 
was  of  Pennsylvania  German  descent.  His 
son  George  grew  to  years  of  maturity  on  a 
farm  in  the  Buckeye  state,  and  was  there 
married  to  one  of  Stark  county's  native 
daughters,  Lydia  Clark,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  Ohio.  In  1862  the  young  couple 
came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  locating 
in  Union  township,  where  they  have  ever 
since  continued  to  reside,  they  each  having 
now  reached  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 
Mr.  Polk  .gives  his  political  support  to  the 
Republican  party,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  They 
have  nine  children. 

George  N.  Polk,  his  parents  only  ^on,  spent 
the  early  years  of  his  life  on  the  old  home 
farm  in  Union  township,  receiving  his  educa- 
tional training  in  the  township  schools,  and 
was  early  taught  the  work  of  the  fields.  He 
remained  with  his  parents  until  his  twenty- 
third  year,  when  he  was  married  to  one  of 
Union  township's  native  daughters,  Laura 
Barrett,  her  parents  being  John  and  Cath- 
erine (Lentz)  Barrett,  who  now  resides  in 
Greene  township.  The  father  had  his  birth 
in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  his  natal  day  being 
the  27th  of  April,  1836,  and  he  is  a  son  of 
John  C.  and  Catherine  (Strouse)  Barrett, 
both  natives  of  the  fatherland  of  Germany. 
They  became  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
and  both  died  in  Ohio.  Of  their  four  children 
two  are  now  living.  Their  son  John  was 
reared  to  mature  years  in  Stark  county,  Ohio, 
and  was  there  married  to  Catherine  Lentz, 
whose  birth  also  occurred  within  its  borders. 
It  was  in  1850  that  they  came  to  Union  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  and  in  1904  they 
transferred  their  residence  to  Greene  town- 
ship, where  they  are  now  honored  and  highly 
esteemed  residents.  Their  homestead  farm 
includes  two  hundred  and  ^xteen  acres  of 
fertile  and  well  improved  land.  They  are 
the  parents  of  three  living  children :  Emma 
Geyer,  of  Greene  township;  Laura,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Mr.  Polk,  and  May  Molar. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  Mr.  Barrett  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party  in  his  political  afiilia- 
tions.  Seven  children  have  blessed  the  union 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Polk,  Howard  N.,  Mildred 
L.,  Edith  E.,  John  B.  and  Georgie,  twins, 
Alta  L.  and  Sylvia. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1050 


HISTORY   OF    ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


Lakeside  farm,  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Folk,  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  homesteads 
of  Greene  township,  with  its  natural  lake,  its 
fertile  and  well  tilled  fields,  and  its  pleasant 
and  commodious  buildings,  including  a  large 
brick  house  and  a  rock  basement  barn  seventy- 
five  by  thirty-five  feet.  The  farm  is  located 
two  and  a  half  miles  from  North  Liberty, 
and  contains  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven 
acres,  all  of  which  have  been  placed  under  an 
excellent  state  of  cultivation.  In  addition  to 
his  general  agricultural  pursuits,  he  is  quite 
extensively  engaged  in  stock  raising,  raising 
high  grade  Percheron  horses,  Polled  Red 
cattle,  Chester  White  hogs,  etc.  Mr.. Folk  is 
a  leader  in  all  social  and  political  matters  in 
his  township,  and  he  is  now  serving  his  third 
term  as  a  member  of  its  advisory  board.  He 
is  highly  respected  by  those  who  have  known 
him  from  boyhood,  and  is  a  worthy  represen- 
tative of  an  honored  pioneer  family. 

NathxVNIel,  H.  Crum.  The  name  of 
Nathaniel  H.  Crum  is  inscribed  high  on  the 
roll  of  Warren  township's  honored  pioneers. 
Crumstown  was  named  in  honor  of  the  family 
which  he  represents,  and  in  the  improvement 
and  upbuilding  of  Warren  township  its  mem- 
bers have  taken  an  active  and  helpful  part, 
laboring  for  its  promotion  and  welfare. 
Nathaniel  H.  Crum  was  bom  in  Berrien 
county,  Michigan,  October  27,  1847.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  John  Crum,  had  a 
i^markable  history,  for  when  but  a  small  boy 
he  was  captured  by  the  Indians,  and  it  was 
not  until  he  had  reached  his  eighteenth  year 
that  the  chief  of  the  tribe  with  whom  he  lived 
told  him  of  his  parents  and  where  he  could 
find  them.  The  boy  immediately  returned 
home,  and  in  Ohio  was  married  to  Mary  Lee, 
and  they  had  six  children,  four  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Among  the  number  was  Stephen 
Crum,  the  father  of  Nathaniel,  who  was  bom 
in  Ohio,  and  in  Indiana  was  married  to 
Mahala  Berry,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Penn- 
sylvania, tt  daughter  of  Ben  Berry  of  Penn- 
sylvania. In  "1847  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crum  made 
the  overland  journey  to  Michigan,  locating 
on  the  farm  now  owned  by  their  children  and 
consisting  of  three  hundred  acres.  They 
have  long  since  passed  to  their  reward,  the 
father  reaching  the  good  old  age  of  eighty 
years  ere  he  was  called  to  the  home  beyond, 
while  the  mother  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-five 
years.  The  father  was  an  enthusiastic  hunter, 
and  many  a  deer  and  other  wild  game  fell 
by  his  excellent   marksmanship.      He  voted 


with  the  Republican  party.  Of  the  large  fam- 
ily of  fourteen  children  bom  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Crum  eleven  grew  to  years  of  maturity, 
namely :  Rachel,  deceased ;  Rebecca,  who  has 
also  passed  away;  Mary;  Martha,  on  the  old 
homestead  farm;  Cornelia,  deceased;  Cather- 
ine, also  on  the  old  homestead;  William, 
deceased;  Nathaniel  H.,  of  this  review;  Han- 
nah; Percilla,  and  Olive. 

The  son  William  Crum,  who  was  a  valiant 
soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  was  bom  on  the  11th 
of  August,  1845,  and  died  on  the  old  home 
farm  on  which  he  was  reared  April  13,  1907. 
In  1863  he  offered  his  services  to  his  country 
during  the  Civil  war,  Entering  the  Twelfth 
Indiana  Cavalry,  under  €aptain  Dahoft  and 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Tumock.  He  partici- 
pated in  many  of  the  hard  fought  battles  of 
the  war,  including  those  of  Alabama,  Mis- 
sissippi, Louisiana,  Tennessee,  Kentucky, 
Georgia  and  Mississippi  and  was  honorably 
discharged  at  the  close  of  the  conflict  at 
Indianapolis,  Indiana.  He  continued  his  rela- 
tions with  his  old  army  comrades  of  the  blue 
by  his  membership  in  the  Grand  Army  post, 
and  his  funeral  services  were  conducted  by 
that  honored  body. 

Nathaniel  H.  Crum,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review,  was  but  a  babe  ^en 
brought  by  his  parents  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
and  when  he  had  reached  his  twenty-sixth 
year,  March  4,  1874,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Hamnah  Whiting,  who  was  bom  in 
Laporte,  Indiana,  March  7,  1851,  a  daughter 
of  Silas  and  Sarah  (Sheldon)  Whiting,  both 
of  whom  are  now  deceased,  the  mother  dying 
in  niinois  and  the  father  in  Minnesota. 
Eight  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Crum,  seven  of  whom  are  now  living. 
namely:  C.  Prank,  of  Warren  township; 
George,  John,  Delbert,  May,  Mary  and  Alfred. 
The  daughter  Anna  is  deceased.  Mr.  Crum  is 
numbered  among  the  agriculturists  and  stock 
raisers  of  Warren  township,  where  he  owns 
an  estate  of  thirty-six  acres,  and  his  fields 
are  fertile  and  under  an  excellent  state  of 
cultivation,  while  in  his  pastures  are  an  excel- 
lent grade  of  stock.  He  too  gives  a  stanch 
and  unfaltering  support  to  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  party.  He  is  a  man  of  fine 
physique,  being  six  feet  three  inches  in  heijjht, 
and  is  a  gentleman  of  commanding  appear- 
ance. When  a  boy  he  was  an  expert  marks- 
man with  small  rock,  and  many  a  game  bird 
or  squirrel  fell  from  his  unerring  aim.  Almost 
a  lifelong  resident  of  Warren  township,  he  is 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


q4Ch  ■  c^A-'^MT^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


c^-^..V?  x.x 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


^^    1903 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1051 


well  known  among  its  citizens,  and  is  held 
in  uniform  regard. 

W.  HIa^bison  Riddle,  one  of  the  prominent 
and  well  known  men  of  Warren  township, 
St.  Joseph  county,  was  born  on  the  farm 
on  which  he  now  lives,  January  27, 
1860.  He  is  of  Scotch  descent,  for 
his  paternal  grandfather  was  bom  in  the 
land  of  hills  and  heather,  and  to  his  descend- 
ants liave  been  given  the  sterling  Scotch 
characteristics.  After  coming  to  America  he 
first  made  his  home  in  Tennessee,  and  then  in 
Marion  county,  Indiana,  while  later  he 
resided  in  different  localities  in  Illinois  and 
Indiana,  always  endeavoring  to  keep  in  the 
outskirts  of  the  settlements. 

William  Riddle,  a  son  of  this  Scotch  High- 
lander, and  the  father  of  him  whose  name 
introduces  this  review,  was  born  during  his 
parents^  residence  in  Marion  county,  Indiana, 
in  1826,  and  on  a  farm  in  that  commonwealth 
he  grew  to  years  of  maturity.  He  was  there 
married  to  Mary  Ann  Replogle,  a  native 
daughter  of  Ohio,  bom  in  Montgomery 
county,  near  Dayton,  in  1829.  They  began 
their  married  life  on  a  little  tract  of  eighty 
acres  of  wild  and  unimproved  land,  on  which 
they  erected  a  litle  log  cabin  and  barn,  this 
primitive  home  continuing  to  shelter  the 
family  for  a  number  of  years,  but  it  finally 
gave  place  to  a  modern  and  commodious  resi- 
dence, while  with  the  passing  years  the  land 
was  cleared  and  improved  and  its  boundaries 
increased  to  five  hundred  acres.  Mr.  Riddle 
was  an  excellent  farmer,  and  he  succeeded  in 
transforming  his  farm  into  one  of  the  most 
attractive  and  valuable  homesteads  of  the 
township.  His  busy  and  useful  life  was 
ended  in  death  when  he  had  reached  the 
seventy-sixth  milestone  on  the  journey  of  life, 
while  his  wife  was  seventy-three  years  of  age 
when  she  was  called  to  the  home  beyond.  Two 
sons  and  a  daughter  were  born  to  bless  their 
union — Alexander,  W.  Harrison  and  Prances 
Ryder. 

The  second  child  in  order  of  birth,  W. 
Harrison  Riddle,  spent  the  early  years  of  his 
life  on  the  old  homestead  farm,  where  he  was 
early  trained  to  the  work  of  the  fields  and 
taught  the  lessons  of  industry  and  honesty. 
When  he  had  reached  the  age  of  twenty-five 
years  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth 
Laflore,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  a  daughter  of  Peter 
and  Miranda  Laflore,  of  South  Bend,  but  the 
father  is  now  deceased.    Four  children  were 

Vol.  11—29. 


bom  of  this  union:  Forest  E.,  Blanche  F., 
EUa  F.  and  William  Arthur.  In  1898  the 
family  suffered  an  irreparable  loss  in  the 
death  of  the  wife  -and  mother,  and  the  place 
which  she  then  left  vacant  can  ne'er  be  re- 
filled. The  Republican  party  receives  Mr. 
Riddle's  hearty  support  and  co-operation,  and 
his  fraternal  relations  are  with  the  Woodmen 
of  the  World.  His  farm  consists  of  eighty 
acres  of  rich  and  fertile  land,  and  it  is  a  part 
of  his  father's  old  homestead,  it  being  thus 
endeared  to  him  through  its*  associations  with 
his  childhood  days  and  his  later  years.  No 
one  in  the  community  enjoys  a  better  reputa- 
tion for  integrity  of  word  or  deed,  and  when 
a  man  stands  high  in  the  estimation  of  the 
people  who  have  known  him  during  his  entire 
life  no  greater  testimonial  to  his  worth  can  be 
given. 

Silas  A.  Ross,  the  proprietor  of  Grapevine 
Farm,  one  of  the  valuable  estates  of 
Warren  township,  is  a  well  known  and 
representative  citizen  of  the  township 
and  an  honored  soldier  in  the  Civil  war. 
His  birth  occurred  in  Auglaize  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  18th  of  April,  1848,  the  year  of 
the  ever  memorable  discovery  of  gold  in  Cali- 
fornia, and  he  is.  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Susan 
(Wyant)  Ross,  natives  of  Maryland,  and  of 
German  descent.  The  parents  subsequently 
removed  to  Eaton  county,  Michigan,  where 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  and 
both  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 
Both  were  members  of  the  German  Baptist 
church,  in  which  the  father  served  as  a  min- 
ister, and  he  was  also  a  tiller  of  the  soil.  His 
political  support  was  given  to  the  Republican 
party.  In  their  family  were  five  children — 
Thomas,  Mary  Ann,  Sophia,  MaJinda  and 
Silas. 

Silas  A.  Ross  was  reared  on  the  old  home 
farm,  where  he  was  early  inured  to  the  work 
of  its  fields,  and  his  educational  training  was 
received  in  the  district  schools.  At  the  early 
age  of  fifteen  years  he  enlisted  for  service 
in  the  Civil  war,  becoming  a  member  at 
Lima,  Ohio,  in  1863,  of  Company  D,  Fifty- 
fourth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Colonel 
Moore's  regiment  and  Captain  Carlisle's  com- 
pany. He  was  first  under  fire  at  Larkinville, 
Alabama,  was  with  Sherman  on  his  famous 
march  to  the  sea,  and  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Resaca,  Big  Stony,  Burnt  Hickory, 
the  siege  of  Atlanta,  Savanna,  Raleigh,  and 
on  to  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  partici- 
pated in  the  Grand  Review.     He  was  mus- 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1052 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


tered  out  of  service  at  Little  Eock,  Arkansas, 
and  honorably  discharged  on  the  24th  of 
August,  1865,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  haying  for 
twenty  months  defended  the  starry  banner 
upon  southern  battlefields.  During  his  entire 
military  career  he  was  never  abisent  from  his 
regiment  a  day.  In  1873  Mr.  Eoss  came  to 
Indiana,  thereafter  making  his  home  in  hsr 
porte.  Stark  and  St.  Joseph  counties,  and  he 
is  now  the  owner  of  a  valuable  estate  of  one 
hundred  and  forty  acres,  known  as  Grapevine 
Farm,  in  Warren  townjEJiip. 

At  Walkerton,  Indiana,  on  the  4th  of  April, 
1878,  Mr.  Ross  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Martha  Woodburn,  who  was  bom  and  re- 
ceived her  educational  training  in  Laporte 
county,  Indiana,  her*  natal  day  being  April  4, 
1857.  Her  family  came  originally  from 
Bradford  county,  Penn^lvania,  and  she  is  a 
daughter  of  (Jeorge  and  Martha  (Lewis) 
Woodburn,  both  of  whom  are  now  deceased, 
the  father  dying  at  the  age  of  seventy-two 
and  the  mother  when  forty-two  years  of  age. 
Five  children  were  bom  to  them,  namely: 
Amy  L.  Bear,  Lewis  W.,  who  died  as  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Civil  war;  Gustavus,  of  Kansas; 
Adelbert,  who  died  on  the  home  farm,  aged 
twenty-six  years,  and  Mrs.  Boss.  Mr.  Boss 
is  a  member  of  Governor  Auten  Post,  No.  8, 
G.  A.  B.  Mrs.  Boss  and  daughters  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
she  also  has  membership  relations  with  the 
Ladies  Circle  of  the  Woodmen  of  the  World. 
The  family  are  held  in  the  highest  regard  by 
all  who  enjoy  their  acquaintance. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boss  have  had  four  children, 
one  son  and  three  daughters,  all  living: 
Lewis  W.,  who  resides  on  the  homestead,  re- 
ceived his  diploma  in  the  common  schools; 
Mae  E.,  who  graduated  in  the  common  schools 
and  was  also  a  student  in  the  tenth  and 
eleventh  grades  in  Laporte  county  schools, 
and  taught  school;  Daisy  D.,  who  wedded 
Elmer  Whitesel,  a  farmer  of  Warren  town- 
ship, and  they  have  two  children,  Viola  Mae 
and  Alice  M ;  Daisy  also  received  her  diploma 
from  the  common  schools;  Myrtle  V.,  the 
wife  of  Boy  Peterson,  a  farmer  of  Warren 
township,  received  her  diploma  from  the  com- 
mon schools. 

Newton  Winpield  Walters.  Of  the  pio- 
neer families  which  have  materially  contri- 
buted to  the  prosx)erity  of  St,  Joseph  county 
the  one  represented  by  Newton  W.  Walters 
occupies  an  important  place.  He  was  bom 
in  its  township  of  German  December  6,  1863. 


His  father,  Harvey  C.  Walters,  was  bom  in 
Bhode  Island,  but  was  only  a  small  boy  when 
brought  by  his  parents  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana.  In  German  township  he  was  xnar- 
ried  to  one  of  its  native  daughters  in  1858, 
Nancy  J.  Huston,  bom  in  1840,  a  daughter  of 
James  Huston,  &  native  of  Henry  coonfy, 
Indiana,  and  a  granddaughter  of  Jacob 
Huston,  who  claimed  the  Old  Dominion  of 
Virginia  as  the  commonwealth  of  his  nativity. 
Catherine  Huston  died  in  German  township, 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  in  middle  life  and 
her  husband  reached  the  seventy-fifth  mile- 
stone on  life's  journey,  dying  in  Clay  town- 
ship, both  having  been  wortiiy  and  consistent 
members  of  the  German  Baptist  church.  After 
their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walters  located 
on  Portage  Prairie,  German  township,  but 
later  removed  to  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of 
Crumstown,  and  his  death  occurred  at  the 
age  of  sixty-seven  years.  He  was  a  farmer, 
saw-mill  man  and  thresher,  his  attamments 
being  many  and  varied,  and  his  political  sup- 
port was  given  to  the  Bepublican  party.  Mrs. 
Walters  is  now  living  in  Warren  township. 
She  has  many  friends  in  the  community 
where  so  many  years  of  her  life  have  been 
passed,  is  loved  and  honored  for  her  many 
noble  traits  of  character,  and  is  a  worthy 
member  of  the  German  Baptist  church.  She 
is  sixty-seven  years  of  age.  Five  children 
were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walters :  Hamlin 
Millroy,  Newton  Winfield,  Minnie  P.  Zeitler, 
of  South  Bend,  Cora  B.  Turabull,  of  StaA 
county,  Indiana,  and  Bertha  Wilkerson,  of 
Biver  Park. 

Newton  W.  Walters  was  early  in  life  iden- 
tified with  the  labors  of  the  farm,  assisting  his 
father  with  the  work  of  the  homestead  until 
he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age,  when  he 
established  a  home  of  his  own  by  his  mar- 
riage, in  South  Bend,  to  Clara  Bell  Morss, 
a  member  of  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  hon- 
ored pioneer  families  of  St.  Joseph  county. 
She  was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  War- 
ren township,  and  has  proved  to  her  husband 
a  worthy  assistant  in  the  establishment  of 
their  home  and  the  rearing  of  their  children. 
A  full  review  of  her  family  history  will  be 
found  in  the  sketch  of  her  father,  William  A. 
Morss.  Eight  children  have  been  bom  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walters,  namely:  Lillie  May 
Watkins,  of  Warren  township;  Delmar  E., 
now  of  Bed  Cloud,  Nebraska ;  Balph  0.,  Nora 
E.,  Jennie  V.,  William  Nelson,  Florence  E. 
and  Theodore  Charles.    The  familv  reside  on 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


^^^^y^..*^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


^^''^^    /Jc^^  c4i    ^^ta<^<^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


J 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1053 


a  beautiful  estate  of  fifty  acres  in  Warren 
townfihip,  two  miles  froiq.  Lydick  Station, 
where  Mr.  Walters  is  engaged  in  farming  and 
trucking.  There  is  a  large  huckleberry  marsh 
on  the  place,  and  the  farm  is  a  fertile  and 
well  improved  tract.  He  is  a  broad-minded, 
patriotic  citizen,  a  supporter  of  Republican 
principles,  and  merits  the  genuine  regard 
which  is  accorded  him. 

James  W.  Ryder,  a  prominent  represent- 
ative of  the  business  interests  of  War- 
ren township,  was  bom  in  eastern  New 
Jersey,  October  23,  1849,  the  year  of  the 
ever  memorable  emigration  to  the  Pacific 
slope,  occasioned  by  the  gold  discovery  there, 
and  like  many  others  of  the  successful  men 
of  this  country,  he  is  of  Irish  parentage.  His 
father,  James  Ryder,  was  bom  in  Dublin, 
Ireland,  and  was  there  married  to  one  of  its 
native  daughters,  Elizabeth  Quinn.  Some 
time  after  their  marriage  they  sailed  for  the 
United  States,  settling  in  New  Jersey,  but 
both  died  in  Mill  Creek,  Liaporte  county, 
Indiana,  the  father  when  seventy  years  of  age 
and  the  mother  when  seventy-four.  They 
were  members  of  the  Catholic  church,  and 
reared  their  children  in  that  faith.  Two  sons 
were  bom  t<^  bless  their  union,  James  W.  and 
Thomas  S.  The  last  named  is  engaged  in 
operating  a  steam  shovel  in  Michigan. 

James  W.  Ryder  was  reared  to  farm  life, 
early  becoming  familiar  with  the  duties  of 
the  field,  and  his  educational  training  was 
received  in  New  Jersey  and  Indiana.  During 
the  long  period  of  thirty  years  he  was  in  the 
employ  of  the  Grand  Trunk  Railroad  Com- 
pany in  the  capacity  of  foreman,  and  his  rec- 
ord in  the  service  of  his  company  is 
one  of  which  he  has  just  reason  to 
be  proud,  for  he  was  prompt,  vigilant  and 
eflScient,  and  one  who  at  all  times  could  be 
trusted  and  relied  upon.  Resigning  the  posi- 
tion at  the  close  of  that  period,  he  turned  his 
attention  to  farming  and  stock  raising,  and 
the  Ryder  farm  now  consists  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty-five  acres  of  valuable  land,  located 
a  half  a  mile  from  the  town  of  Crumstown 
in  Warren  township.  The  fields  are  all  under 
an  excellent  state  of  cultivation,  and  the  estate 
is  one  of  the  valuable  ones  of  the  township. 

On  the  10th  of  November,  1890,  Mr.  Ryder 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Frances  Riddle, 
who  was  bom,  reared  and  educated  in  this 
county,  where  her  father,  William  Riddle, 
early  established  his  home,  and  a  sketch  of 
this  honored  early  pioneer  is  found  elsewhere 


in  this  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ryder  have  one 
son,  James  W.,  a  bright  little  lad  of  fifteen 
years.  The  political  affiliations  of  Mr.  Ryder 
are  with  the  Democracy,  and  he  is  a  member 
of  St.  Patrick's  church  in  South  Bend. 

John  M.  Reaves.  The  popular  Reaves 
Hotel  has  been  made  so  by  its  genial  and 
aflfable  proprietor  and  owner,  John  M. 
Reaves.  No  hostelry  in  Warren  township  has 
so  excellent  a  reputation  for  hospitable  treat- 
ment as  has  the  Reaves.  Its  well  known  pro- 
prietor is  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war 
and  a  busiuess  man  of  Warren  township.  His 
birth  occurred  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember 27,  1837,  a  son  of  Obediah  and  a 
grandson  of  Ashur  Reaves,  the  latter  of  whom 
was  represented  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  the 
deaths  of  both  he  and  his  wife  occurred  in 
Greene  county,  Ohio.  Obediah  Reaves  was  a 
native  son  of  Tennessee,  but  in  his  early  life 
he  became  a  citizen  of  Greene  county,  Ohio, 
and  was  there  twice  married,  his  second  wife 
being  Susan  (Humer)  Marshall,  a  widow,  and 
a  daughter  of  Peter  Humer,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. In  1846  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reaves  came 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  establishing 
their  home  in  Greene  township,  where  they 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Their 
names  occupy  a  conspicuous  place  on  the  roll 
of  the  honored  early  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  which  they  assisted  in  reclaiming 
from  its  virgin  state  to  one  of  the  most  popu- 
lous cpeetions  of  the  commonwealth,  and  in 
many  ways  were  prominently  identified  with 
its  early  history.  Their  first  habitation  here 
was  the  typical  log  cabin  so  familiar  in  song 
and  story,  but  with  the  passing  years  they 
were  able  to  enjoy  all  the  comforts  and  many 
of  the  luxuries  of  life,  and  became  the  own- 
ers of  a  beautiful  estate  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres.  In  his  early  life  Mr.  Reaves 
gave  his  political  support  to  the  Whigs,  and 
at  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party 
joined  its  ranks.  He  was  an  active  and  val- 
ued member  of  the  JBaptist  church,  having 
assisted  in  the  erection  of  a  church  of  that 
denomination  in  this  county,  and  served  as 
its  deacon,  steward  and  class  leader,  while  in 
its  faith  he  passed  away  in  death  at  the  age 
of  sixty-five  years,  honored  and  respected  by 
all  who  had  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintan-ce. 
The  wife  and  mother  was  called  to  the  home 
beyond  when  she  had  reached  the  forty-fifth 
milestone  on  the  journey  of  lif^,  and  she,  too, 
was  a  worthy  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1054 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


The  seven  children  bom  to  these  honored  St. 
Joseph  county  pioneers  were:  Rebecca,  de- 
ceased; John  M.,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review;  Susan;  Peter;  Diana,  deceased; 
Obediah,  who  for  ten  years  was  numbered 
among  the  well  known  educators  of  St. 
Joseph  county;  aod  George,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years.  He  was  a  young 
man  of  great  promise,  and  his  death  occurred 
while  he  was  preparing  for  the  teacher's  pro- 
fession in  Valparaiso  University.  By  his  first 
marriage  Mr.  Reaves  had  two  sons,  Salathial, 
a  resident  of  Jackson,  Michigan,  and  Tomas, 
deceased. 

John  M.  Reaves  was  a  little  lad  of  nine 
years  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  attaining  to  years 
of  maturity  within  its  borders,  and  receiving 
his  education  in  the  little  log  school  house 
near  his  home.  In  1864  he  enlisted  for  service 
in  the  Civil  war,  becoming  a  member  of  Com- 
pany B,  Forty-eighth  Indiana  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, serving  firat  under  Colonel  Eddy  and 
later  under  Colonel  Wood.  With  Sherman 
he  made  the  memorable  march  to  the  sea 
through  Atlanta,  Savannah,  on  to  the  Caro- 
linas,  and  thence  to  Washington,  D.  C,  to 
participate  in  the  Grand  Review,  receiving 
his  final  discharge  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana. 
In  1862,  prior  to  his  enlistment,  Mr.  Reaves 
had  married  Amanda  Owens,  who  was  born 
in  Marshall  county,  Indiana,  and  of  their  two 
children  one  is  now  living,  Luetta  Laning- 
differ.  After  the  death  of  the  wife  and 
mother  Mr.  Reaves  married  Martha  Luther,  a 
native  daughter  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
their  four  children  are  George,  Hart,  William 
N.  and  Cora  Harriet.  On  the  23d  of  March, 
1874,  Mr.  Reaves  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Sarah  Replogle,  who  was  born  and  reared  in 
this  county,  where  her  father,  Warren  Rep- 
logle, had  taken  up  his  abode  in  a  very  early 
day.  He  was  numbered  among  its  honored 
residents  for  sixty-seven  years.  His  birth 
occurred  in  Ohio  on  the  22d  of  November, 
1830,  a  son  of  Dan  and  Elizabeth  (Baker) 
Replogle,  natives  respectively  of  Ohio  and 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  whose  family  were  seven 
children.  Warren  Replogle  married  Joicy 
Wharton,  and  of  their  nine  children  seven 
are  now  living.  He  still  survives  his  wife, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years.  He 
is  a  Ropublio-an  in  his  political  affiliations,  and 
IS"  one  of  the  honored  old  residents  of  St. 
Joseph  county.  Three  children  have  blessed 
the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reaves — Myrtle 


Remsted,  of  South  Bend;  Dan  F.  and  John  W. 

The  Reaves  Hotel,  of  which  Mr.  Reaves  is 
the  genial  proprietor,  is  one  of  the  popular 
resorts  of  this  section  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
with  its  four  acres  of  fertile  land,  with 
its  excellent  cuisine,  and  with  its  honest, 
frank  and  genial  proprietor.  Mr.  Reaves' 
peculiarly  well  adapted  characteristics  and 
affability  of  manner  make  him  a  host  most 
attractive  to  the  general  public. 

Joel  Fisher.  The  name  borne  by  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review  has  been  indissolubly 
identified  with  the  annals  of  St.  Joseph  county 
from  an  early  period  in  its  history,  and  has 
ever  stood  exponent  for  the  most  sterling 
personal  characteristics.  One  of  its  honored 
representatives,  Joel  Fisher,  has  performed 
his  full  share  in  the  wonderful  transforma- 
tion which  has  been  wrought  in  this  section 
of  the  county,  and  is  numbered  among  its 
earliest  pioneers.  His  birth  occurred  east  of 
the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains  in  Franklin  county, 
Virginia,  in  1828,  a  son  of  Elias  Fisher,  who 
also  had  his  nativity  in  the  Old  Dominion 
state.  The  family,  however,  is  of  German 
descent,  and  was  founded  in  this  country  by 
Peter  Fisher,  the  grandfather  of  Joel,  who 
coming  from  the  fatherland  to  the  United 
States  located  with  a  colony  in  Virginia, 
where  he  became  identified  with  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  was  a  German  Baptist  in  his 
religious  affiliations.  His  son  Elias  grew  to 
manhood  on  a  farm  in  that  commonwealth, 
and  was  there  married  to  one  of  its  native 
daughters,  Lydia  Henry,  who  was  also  of 
German  descent.  In  1832  the  family,  con- 
sisting of  the  father,  mother  and  two  children, 
started  on  the  overland  journey  to  Ohio,  and 
for  four  years  they  resided  near  Dayton  in 
Montgomery  county.  At  the  close  of  the 
period,  in  1836,  in  the  same  primitive  man- 
ner, with  team  and  covered  wagon,  they 
again  took  up  the  line  of  march  with  their 
destination  in  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
and  on  their  arrival  they  located  on  eighty 
acres  of  heavily  wooded  land,  where  they 
erected  a  little  log  cabin,  eighteen  by  twenty 
feet,  with  a  clapboard  roof,  stick  chimney  and 
puncheon  floor,  and  also  a  log  stable.  Mr. 
Fi^er  at  once  began  the  arduous  task  of 
clearing  and  improving  his  land,  and  with 
the  passing  years  his  efforts  were  attended 
with  success,  but  when  he  had  reached  his 
forty-ninth  year  his  busy  and  useful  life  was 
ended  in  death.  He  was  a  grand  old  pioneer 
man,  and  his  memory  is  honored  and  revered 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1055 


by  all  who  knew  liim.  He  supported  the  first 
presidential  nominee  of  the  Republican  party, 
General  Fremont,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
German'  Baptist  church,  as  was  also  his  wife, 
who  was  called  to  the  home  beyond  at  the 
age  of  seventy-five  years.  They  reared  the 
following  children:  Joel,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review ;  Jacob,  a  resident  of  South 
Bend;  Mary  Poff,  of  Walkerton;  George  W., 
also  of  South  Bend;  Lydia,  the  wife  of  Wil- 
liam Chamberlain,  of  Portage  township; 
Martha  Wagner,  who  died  in  1906,  in  South 
Bend;  and  Elizabeth,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Daniel  Chamberlain  and  died  in  German 
township. 

Joel  Fisher,  the  eldest  child,  was  a  little 
lad  of  four  years  at  the  time  of  the  parents' 
removal  to  Ohio,  and  when  he  was  eight  years 
of  age  he  accompanied  them  on  their  journey 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  attaining  to  years  of 
maturity  here  and  during  the  time  assisted 
his  father  in  clearing  the  home  farm.  The 
land  was  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of 
heavy  hickory  timber,  whi<»h  they  cut  and  sold 
for  a  dollar  and  a  quarter  a  cord.  In  time 
Mr.  Fisher  bought  out  the  other  heirs  in  the 
estate  and  became  the  sole  owner  of  the  home- 
stead, consisting  of  four  hundred  acres.  He 
erected  a  good  residence  and  a  large  rock- 
basement  bam,  fifty  by  thirty-six  feet  in 
dimensions,  and  Fisher  Hill  Farm  is  now  one 
of  the  beautiful  rural  homes  of  the  township. 
He  has  since  given  a  portion  of  the  land  to 
his  children,  his  estate  now  consisting  of  three 
hundred  acres,  but  it  is  a  rich  and  valuable 
tract  and  yearly  returns  bounteous  harvests 
in  return  for  the  care  and  labor  expended 
upon  it. 

At  the  age  of  thirty-six  years  Mr.  Fisher 
was  married  to  Mary  J.  Mandeville,  who  was 
bom  in  Laporte  county,  Indiana,  a  daughter 
of  Dewitt  Mandeville,  whose  birth  occurred 
in  the  state  of  New  York,  but  he  became  one 
of  the  early  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county. 
His  wife.  Ellen  Mandeville,  was  born  in 
Kingston,  New  York,  and  her  death  occurred 
at  the  extreme  old  age  of  ninety-eight  years. 
She  was  of  German  descent.  In  their  family 
were  the  following  children :  Margaret  Morss, 
of  Warren  township :  Mary  Jane  Fisher,  and 
John,  a  resident  of  South  Bend.  The  parents 
were  German  Baptists  in  their  religious  affilia- 
tions. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fisher  have  six  living 
children :  Laura  Baker,  who  was  bom  in  the 
little  log  cabin  which  served  as  the  first  home 
of  her  parents,  and  she  is  now  the  wife  of 


David  Baker ;  Henry  L.,  a  prominent  business 
man  and  the  assessor  of  Greene  township; 
George  W.,  who  lives  on  a  farm  adjoining 
the  homestead;  Dan  W.,  a  resident  of  War- 
ren township;  Ida  Belle,  the  wife  of  Myron 
Milligen,  of  Warren  township;  and  Elmer 
0.,  a  young  man  at  home.  Four  of  their 
children  died  in  childhood.  As  they  grew  to 
mature  years  Mr.  Fisher  has  assisted  his  chil- 
dren to  gain  a  start  in  life,  and  the  sons  are 
now  successful  business  men.  He  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  General  Fremont  in 
1856,  and  has  ever  since  upheld  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  worthy  and  consistent  members  of 
the  German  Baptist  church,  and  they  share 
in  the  high  regard  of  a  large  circle  of  friends. 

Charles  F.  Crum.  The  well  known  and 
successful  educator  of  Warren  township, 
Charles  F.  Crum,  is  one  of  the  native  sons 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  in  the  welfare  of  which 
he  takes  a  sincere  interest.  As  an  educator 
he  stands  in  the  front  ranks,  and  he  is  a 
well  known  and  popular  resident  of  Crums- 
town.  His  birth  occurred  in  Warren  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  December  4,  1874, 
a  son  of  Nat  H.  and  Hannah  Jane  Crum. 
Their  son  Charles  was  reared  to  years  of 
maturity  on  a  farm,  and  received  his  early 
educational  training  in  the  public  schools  of 
the  county,  this  being  later  supplemented  by 
attendance  at  the  Valparaiso  University. 
Previous  to  entering  upon  his  college  course 
he  had  taught  school,  entering  the  teacher's 
profession  when  but  seventeen  years  of  age, 
and  he  has  continued  therein  for  fifteen 
terms,  all  of  which  time  has  been  spent  in  his 
native  township  of  Warren.  Mr.  Crum  is 
very  thorough  and  conscientious  in  his  work 
as  an  educator,  and  his  labors  have  been 
effective  in  raising  the  standards  of  the 
schools  with  which  he  has  been  connected. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Crum  was  celebrated 
in  1895,  when  Mary  C.  Page  became  his  wife. 
She  was  bom  in  Pennsylvania,  where  she 
spent  the  first  nine  years  of  her  life,  and  then 
came  with  her  parents,  George  V.  and  Sarah 
(Gearhart)  Page,  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana.  They  have  become  the  parents  of 
two  children,  Fanny  Irene  and  Groldie  Lucile. 
Mr.  Crum  is  a  stalwart  supporter  of  Republi- 
can principles,  and  for  two  years  he  repre- 
sented his  party  as  a  member  of  the  advisory 
board  of  Warren  township.  He  holds  mem- 
bership relations  with  the  Woodmen  of  the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1056 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


World,  while  Mrs.  Cniin  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church. 

William  Henry  Price.  Numbered  among 
the  leading  agriculturists  of  Warren  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  is  William  H.  Price, 
who  with  other  brave  comrades  marched  forth 
to  defend  the  Union  and  maintain  the  supre- 
macy of  the  stars  and  stripes  during  the  Civil 
war.  He  was  bom  in  Kirksville  township, 
near  Newark,  Licking  county,  Ohio,  October 
6,  1842,  and  is  a  representative  of  a  promi- 
nent old  Virginia  family,  General  Price  of 
Confederate  fame  having  been  a  cousin  of 
his  father.  His  grandfather,  John  Price,  was 
a  native  son  of  Pennsylvania,  but  became  one 
of  the  early  pioneers  in  Licking  county,  Ohio, 
whither  he  removed  with  his  sons,  Joseph, 
John,  Thomas  and  Benjamin. 

Mordecai  Price,  the  father  of  William 
Henry,  also  had  his  nativity  in  Klirksville 
township.  Licking  county,  Ohio,  and  there 
grew  to  yeans  of  maturity.  He  married 
Nancy  Perkins,  a  native  of  Maryland  and  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Caroline  (Hatfield) 
Perkins,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Joseph,  John,  Nancy, 
Sarah,  William  H.,  Benjamin,  Wesley,  Susan 
and  John.  The  last  named  died  as  a  soldier 
of  the  Civil  war,  having  been  a  member  of 
the  Sixty-third  Indiana,  Company  F,  and  his 
death  occurred  at  the  early  age  of  twenty- 
three  years.  He  now  .sleeps  in  a  soldier's 
grave  at  Knoxville,  Tennessee.  Mr.  Price,  the 
father,  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812, 
as  did  also  his  brothers  John  and-  Adam.  His 
death  occurred  when  he  had  reached  the 
eighty-eighth  milestone  on  the  journey  of  life, 
having  long  survived  his  wife,  who  died  at  the 
early  age  of  thirty-seven  years,  dying  in  the 
faith  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  of  which 
she  was  a  worthy  and  faithful  member.  Mr. 
Price  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  denomi- 
nation. 

Mr.  William  H.  Price  was  twelve  years  of 
age  when  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
on  a  farm  here  he  attained  to  years  of  matur- 
ity. When  the  tocsin  of  war  sounded  through- 
out the  land  he  offered  his  services  to  his 
country's  cause,  enlisting  on  the  6th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1862,  in  Captain  Mill's  company,  with 
which  he  went  to  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  and 
was  transferred  to  Company  F,  Sixty-third 
Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Colonel 
Ezra  L.  Shields  and  Jasper  Packard  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-eighth  regiment. 
With  his  regiment  Mr.  Price  went  into  Camp 


Newman  at  Indianapolis,  from  whence  he  was 
sent  south  to  Crab  Orchard,  and  also  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  of  Altoona,  Resaeca,  Buz- 
zard 's  Roost,  Burnt  Hickory,  and  on  to  the  sea 
and  the  battle  of  Atlanta.  Returning  to  fight 
Gteneral  Hood's  troops,  he  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Franklin,  one  of  the  hardest  fought 
engagements  of  the  war,  and  with  his  regi- 
ment he  then  fell  back  to  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
from  whence  he  went  to  Savanna,  Rial  to, 
Qoldsboro,  Charlotte,  Greensboro,  Fort  Fisher, 
Cape  Fear,  again  at  Greensboro,  and  was 
mustered  out  of  service  at  Qoldsboro,  North 
Carolina,  March  20,  1865,  after  a  niilitary 
career  covering  a  period  of  three  years  and 
two  months. 

In  1863  Mr.  Price  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Evaline  Platts,  who  was  bom,  reared  and 
educated  in  Indiana,  and  they  have  four  sons : 
William  S.,  engaged  in  the  railroad  business 
at  Streator,  Illinois;  James  F.,  who  also  re- 
sides near  that  city;  Elmer  C,  associated  with 
the  Studebaker  Company  of  South  Bend ;  and 
John  C,  a  resident  of  the  old  homestead.  Four 
of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Price,  two 
sons  and  two  daughters,  died  when  young. 
The  family  reside  on  a  beautiful  estate  of  one 
hundred  and  ten  acres  in  Warren  township, 
St.  Joseph  county,  known  as  the  Maple  Grove 
Farm,  and  there  Mr.  Price  is  extensively  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  affiliates 
with  the  Democratic  party,  and  maintains 
pleasant  relations  with  his  old  army  comrades 
of  the  blue  by  his  membership  in  the  Grand 
Army  Post  at  Walkerton,  Indiana. 

Charles  Chamberlain.  Through  many 
years  Charles  Chamberlain  has  been  an  im- 
portant factor  in  the  agricultural  and  finan- 
cial interests  of  Warren  township,  and  his 
name  is  deeply  engraved  on  the  pages  of  its 
history.  He  was  bom  in  Trenton  township, 
Delaware  county,  Ohio,  March  15,  1830,  and 
is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  prominent  old 
pioneer  families  of  St.  Joseph  county.  His 
grandfather,  Freegift  Chamberlain,  was  a 
native  of  the  mother  country  of  England, 
bom  in  London,  and  was  of  the  same  family 
as  Lord  Chamberlain.  Coming  to  the  United 
States,  he  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  and  during  the  early  settlement  of 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  he  took  up  his 
abode  within  its  borders.  His  residence  here 
covered  a  period  of  about  ten  years,  and  his 
death  occurred  in  South  Bend,  where  he  and 
his  wife  both  lie  buried  in  Mt.  Pleasant  cem- 
etery.    He  learned  and  followed  the  wagon- 


Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


HISTORY   OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1057 


maker's  trade,  and  was  one  of  the  first  to 
engage  in  that  occupation  in  this  county.  Mrs. 
Chamberlain  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Eliza- 
beth Whitaker,  and  was  a  member  of  a  well- 
known  Irish  family.  To  them  were  born  a 
larg>e  family  of  children,  numbering  John, 
Thomas,  Rachael,  William,  Elizabeth,  Nancy 
and  Mary,  all  now  deceased.  Mr.  Chamber- 
lain was  a  protestant  in  his  religious  aflSlia- 
tions. 

William  Chamberlain,  his  son  and  thp 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  review,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  spent  the  first  six- 
teen years  of  his  life,  and  then  removed  to 
Ohio.  In  Delaware  county  of  that  state  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Julia  A.  Rush,  who 
was  born  in  Virginia,  as  were  also  her  parents, 
Jacob  and  Catherine  (Urice)  Rush.  In  1847 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chamberlain  left  the  Buckeye 
state,  and  with  their  six  children  started  on 
the  long  and  tedious  journey  with  four  horses 
and  covered  wagons  across  the  country  to  St. 
Joseph  coimty,  Indiana,  spending  eleven  days 
on  the  road  ere  they  reached  their  journey's 
end  at  South  Bend.  After  spending  a  short 
time  at  the  home  of  their  uncle,  Thomas 
Chamberlain,  they  went  to  Portage  Prairie  in 
Grerman  township,  where  they  established 
their  home  and  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives,  the  father  dying  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two  years,  while  the  mother  reached  the  age 
of  eighty-six  years  ere  she  was  called  to  the 
home  beyond,  both  dying  as  members  of  the 
Christian  church.  In  their  family  were  six 
children,  namely:  Charles,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review;  Eli,  deceased;  Elizabeth, 
the  wife  of  W.  0.  Jackson  of  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty; Daniel,  who  makes  his  home  in  Grerman 
township;  William,  a  resident  of  Portage 
township;  and  James,  also  of  German  town- 
ship. 

In  his  native  county  of  Delaware  Charles 
Chamberlain  was  reared  to  mature  years  on 
a  farm,  having  been  early  inured  to  its  work. 
After  his  marriage  he  established  a  home  of 
his  own  in  Warren  township,  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty, purchasing  four  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  land,  but  he  has  since  sold  a  part  of  the 
tract  and  his  landed  estate  now  consists  of 
two  hundred  and  thirty  acres,  while  the  many 
improvements  which  add  so  much  to  its  value 
stand  as  moniiments  to  his  industry  and 
ability.  This  valuable  homestead  is  known 
as  Lake  Chamberlain  farm  for  the  beautiful 
Lake  Chamberlain  lies  within  its  borders.    It 


is  a  delightful  rural  home,  and  is  located  six 
miles  from  Michigan  street. 

Remaining  at  home  until  his  twenty-first 
year,  Mr.  Chamberlain  was  then  married  to 
Miss  Catherine  Huston,  a  native  of  Warren 
township  and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Catherine  (Kingery)  Huston,  both  of  whom 
died  in  St.  Joseph  county,  where  they 
had  taken  up  their  abode  in  a  very  early  day. 
The  following  children  were  bom  of  this 
union :  John  W. ;  Clarintine  Lambert,  of  South 
Bend;  William  R.,  who  at  his  death  left  a 
widow  and  one  child;  Rosa  C.  Lower,  of  South 
Bend;  and  Franklin  and  Jacob,  who  also  re- 
side in  that  city.  The  wife  and  mother  passed 
away  in  death  at  the  age  of  forty-three  years, 
having  long  been  a  consistent  and  worthy 
member  of  the  Methodist  church.  In  1876  Mr. 
Chamberlain  wedded  Martha  Gillis,  who  was 
bom  in  Wabash  county,  Indiana,  there  re- 
maining until  her  seventeenth  year,  when  she 
came  with  her  parents,  John  and  Margaret 
Gillis,  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  where 
they  both  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
They  were  members  of  the  Baptist  church, 
and  the  father  was  a  native  son  of  Ohio.  One 
daughter  has  been  born  of  this  union,  Delia, 
the  wife  of  John  White,  of  South  Bend.  Mr. 
Chamberlain  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
Republican  party,  and  for  eight  years  he 
served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace,  an  oflSce 
equivalent  to  that  of  the  present  judge.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  and  an  active  worker  in 
the  Baptist  church,  with  which  he  has  affi- 
liated during  the  past  six  years,  while  pre- 
vious to  that  time  he  was  a  Methodist  and 
held  the  office  of  steward  in  his  church.  His 
wife  is  also  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 
The  Chamberlain  family  are  held  in  high  es- 
teem, and  their  many  sterling  characteristics 
have  won  for  them  the  friendship  and  good 
will  of  all. 

Alexander  Riddle.  One  of  the  first  fam- 
ilies to  secure  a  home  within  the  borders  of 
St.  Joseph  county  was  the  one  now  worthily 
represented  in  this  section  of  the  state  by  the 
subject  of  this  review.  For  many  years  they 
have  been  identified  with  the  agricultural  in- 
terests of  Warren  township,  aiding  materially 
in  the  development  of  the  resources  of  this 
section,  and  taking  an  active  part  in  all  move- 
ments for  the  upbuilding  of  its  best  interests. 
William  Riddle,  the  father  of  Alexander,  was 
one  of  the  first  to  locate  in  Warren  township. 
He  was  a  native  son  of  Indiana,  and  started 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1056 


HISTORY   OP    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


out  in  life  for  himself  a  poor  boy,  and  by  his 
own  industry,  excellent  ability  and  persever- 
ance mounted  the  ladder  of  success,  step  by 
step,  imtil  he  became  the  owner  of  a  valuable 
estate  of  five  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  He 
married  Mary  Ann  Replogle,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  but  reared  in  Indiana,  and  they 
established  their  home  on  a  little  farm  of 
eighty  acres,  their  first  home  being  a  little  log 
cabin,  with  a  mud  and  stick  chimney,  the  old- 
f  as-hioned  fireplace,  a  puncheon  floor  and  clap- 
board roof.  Their  barn  was  also  a  log  struc- 
ture, and  everything  about  the  little  farm 
home  was  primitive  and  wild.  With  the  help 
of  his  sons  Mr.  Riddle  soon  cleared  and  im- 
proved a  valuable  farm,  and  in  time  the  log 
structures  gave  place  to  a  pleasant  and  com- 
modious residence,  a  large  barn  and  substan- 
tial outbuildings.  In  his  young  manhood  he 
traveled  with  his  father  through  Illinois  and 
Indiana,  also  living  for  some  years  in  the 
west,  but  returning  to  Indiana  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  long  and  useful  life  here, 
having  reached  the  seventy-fifth  milestone  on 
life's  journey  ere  he  was  called  to  the  home 
beyond.  He  was  a  Republican  in  his  political 
affiliations.  Mrs.  Riddle  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-three  years.  She  wasi  a  loving  wife 
and  mother,  a  kind  neighbor  and  friend,  and 
her  memory  will  long  live  in  the  hearts  of 
those  who  knew  her.  In  their  family  were 
three  children:  Alexander,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  review;  Mrs.  Prances  Ryder,  of 
Warren  township ;  and  William  Harrison,  on 
the  old  homestead. 

Alexander  Jliddle  was  born  on  the  old 
homestead  farm  just  a  short  distance  from 
where  he  now  lives  March  4,  1854,  and  re- 
maining at  home  until  his  twenty-fifth  year 
he  was  then  married  to  Alwilda  Grafford,  who 
was  born,  rehired  and  educated  in  North  Lib- 
erty, St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  a  daughter 
of  Lewis  and  Martha  (Evans)  Grafliord,  both 
now  deceased.  They  have  an  adopted  son, 
Clyde  Riddle,  who  is  a  carpenter  and  an  ex- 
cellent mechanic.  He  married  Margaret  Hoff- 
man, and  they  have  one  child,  Claude.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Alexander  Riddle  live  on  their  pleas- 
ant homestead  of  one  hundred  acres  adjoining 
the  town  of  Crumstown,  and  in  addition  they 
also  own  forty  acres  one  and  a  half  miles  east. 
The  farm  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  township, 
and  the  many  valuable  improvements  there- 
on further  add  to  iLs  attractive  appearance. 
Mr.  Riddle  gives  a  stanch  and  unfaltering 
support  to  the  principles  of  the  Republican 


party,  and  Mrs.  Riddie  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church.  They  have  a  pleasant  home, 
and  are  surrounded  by  many  of  the  luxuries 
and  comforts  of  life. 

James  W.  Wyckofp,  proprietor  of  Edge 
Hill  Farm,  located  near  New  Carlisle,  in  War- 
ren township,  is  a  member  of  a  prominent  old 
Virginia  family,  and  was  bom  in  the  Shen- 
andoah valley  of  that  state  on  the  24th  of 
May,  1843,  this  being  also  the  same  year  in 
which  President  McKinley  was  born  and  was 
the  birthday  of  Queen  Victoria.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Cornelius  Wyckoff,  was  a  native 
of  the  Old  Dominion  state  of  Virginia,  and 
was  married  to  a  Miss  Judson,  who  was 
bom  in  Newark,  Licking  county,  Ohio,  where 
the  husband's  death  later  occurred.  Their 
son,  Cornelius,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Frederick 
county,  Virginia,  and  was  married  to  Anna 
Mowrey,  who  was  also  bom  in  that 
county,  where  her  father,  John  Mowrey, 
was  a  slave  owner  before  the  war.  In  1853 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wyckoff  came  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  where  they  lived  for  many 
years,  but  the  husband's  death  occurred  at 
Buchanan,  Michigan,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three  years.  In  early  life  he  was  a  Whig  and 
a  Henry  Clay  man,  and  later  became  a  Demo- 
crat, although  he  supported  Grant  in  his 
presidential  race.  His  wife  still  survives  him, 
having  now  reached  the  age  of  eighty  years, 
and  she  is  a  resident  of  South  Bend  and  a 
member  of  the  Adventist  church.  They  were 
the  parents  of  two  sons,  one  of  whom,  Wat- 
son, is  also  a  resident  of  South  Bend. 

James  W.  Wyckoff  grew  to  year*  of  ma- 
turity on  a  farm,  'and  for  some  years  was  a 
prominent  and  successful  educator.  On  De- 
cember 4,  1864,  in  Berrien  county,  Michigan, 
he  was  married  to  Sarah  Evelyn  Wyckoff,  a 
cousin,  bom  November  9,  1845,  a  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Louisa  (Wilson)  Wyckoff.  The 
parents  were  married  on  the  22d  of  October, 
1840,  and  in  an  early  day  took  up  their  abode 
in  Warren  township,  where  they  improved  an 
excellent  farm,  and  where  Mrs.  Wyckoff  yet 
resides.  Her  husband  died  at  the  age  of  sixty 
years.  Two  daughters  have  been  bom  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  James  W.  Wyckoff.  The  elder, 
Frances  Caroline  Reading,  resides  on  a  farm 
adjoining  her  father's,  and  has  two  children, 
Ralph  and  Edna.  The  second  daughter,  Edna 
Fladilla,  is  the  wife  of  James  Peck,  of  Monti- 
cello,  Illinois,  and  their  two  children  are  Cecil 
and  Carrie  Evelyn.  Both  daughters  were  well 
educated  and  were  prominent  teachers.    Mrs. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


r  n^K 


Digitized  by 


Google 


<::JUpJid  ^i 


'Oy^-f^-^d 


,0^. 


^^# 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


' — i^a^ 


^%^->^,-2,0^ 


t%j^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OP    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1059 


Wyckoff  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church 
and  of  the  order  of  Gleaners.  Both  Mr.  and 
Airs.  Wyckoff  have  been  honored  members  of 
the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  for  thirty-four 
years  and  they  have  held  office  in  the  order. 
In  this  community,  in  which  they  have  so  long 
resided,  the  family  are  held  in  the  highest  re- 
gard by  their  innumerable  friends. 

Ed  F.  Vogt,  the  owner  and  manager  of 
Oakwood  Farm,  a  beautiful  and  attractive 
homestead  in  Warren  township,  is  one  of  the 
prominent  agriculturists  and  business  men  of 
the  community,  and  is  descended  from  the 
persevering  and  honorable  sons  of  Germany. 
He  was  born  in  Saginaw,  Michigan,  March  15, 
1858,  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Christena  (Lefler) 
Vogt,  who  were  bom  in  Hesse-Darmstadt, 
Grermany,  where  for  many  years'  the  father 
was  a  prominent  and  successful  brewer.  After 
coming  to  America  they  established  their 
home  in  Saginaw,  Michigan,  where  Mr.  Vogt 
resumed  his  brewing  busine^,  and  became 
successful  in  his  ventures. 

Ed  F.  Vogt,  one  of  twelve  children,  was 
reared  and  received  his  educational  training 
in  his  native  city  of  Saginaw,  but  since  1882 
has  been  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana. In  1886  he  was  married  to  Hannah  E. 
Rockhill,  who  for  a  number  of  years  was  iden- 
tified with  the  educational  interests  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  her  father,  William  F. 
Rockhill,  was  one  of  the  county's  earliest  set- 
tlers, ^and  his  name  is  inseparably  interwoven 
with  the  early  history  of  Warren  township. 
He  was  bom  in  Lebanon  county,  Ohio,  in 
1824,  and  his  death  occurred  at  the  good  old. 
age  of  eighty-two  years.  The  Democratic 
party  received  his  active  support  and  co-oper- 
ation. Mrs.  Rockhill  was  called  to  the  home 
beyond  at  the  age  of  sixty  years,  leaving  three 
children,  Don  K.,  a  well  known  and  promi- 
nent business  man  of  South  Bend ;  Thomas  J., 
also  a  resident  of  that  city,  and  Hannah  E., 
who  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Vogt.  One  son 
has  been  born  to  bless  the  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Vogt,  Richard  R.,  who  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen years  is  pursuing  his  studies  in  South 
Bend.  The  family  reside  on  the  old  Rockhill 
homestead,  formerly  the  property  of  Mrs. 
Vogt's  father,  W.  D.  Rockhill,  which  is  one 
of  the  most  valuable  farms  in  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty, containing  many  substantial  and  valuable 
improvements.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vogt  spend  the 
winter  months  in  South  Bend.  The  Democ- 
racy receives  his  hearty  support  and  co-oper- 
ation, while  his  fraternal  relations  are  with 


the  Woodmen  of  the  World,  and  both  he  and 
his  wife  have  membership  relations  with  the 
order  of  Gleaners. 

Charles  W.  Mikesell.  For  many  years 
the  Mikesell  family  have  occupied  a  distinc- 
tive place  in  the  affairs  of  this  section  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  one  of  its  leading  rep- 
resentatives is  Charles  W.  Mikesell,  whose 
birth  occurred  within  the  borders  of  the  coun- 
ty on  the  27th  of  October,  1857,  a  son  of  Peter 
and  Rachel  (Fields)  Mikesell,  the  latter  a 
sister  of  Stephen  Fields,  who  is  represented 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  The  father  died  at  the 
early  age  of  thirty-three  years,  when  his  son 
Charles  was  but  three  years  old,  and  when 
the  mother  was  forty-four  she  joined  him  in 
the  home  beyond.  In  their  family  were  three 
children,  Emma,  the  wife  of  W.  H.  Barker, 
of  South  Bend;  Charles  W.  and  Benson  J. 
The  father  followed  farming  as  a  life  occupa- 
tion, was  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views, 
and  Mrs.  Mikesell  was  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church. 

Charles  W.  Mikesell  has  been  identified 
with  agricultural  pursuits  since  his  early 
youth,  for  he  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  his 
educational  training  was  received  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  near  his  home.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  was  married  to  Anna  Smith,  a 
native  daughter  of  German  township,  St.  Jo- 
seph county.  Her  father,  Henry  Smith,  was 
the  first  white  child  born  within  the  borders 
of  old  St.  Joseph,  whither  his  family  had 
removed  from  Pennsylvania  in  a  very  early 
day,  establishing  their  home  in  the  midst  of  a 
wilderness,  where  wild  game  of  all  kinds  were 
plentiful  and  Indians  yet  roamed  at  will,  and 
the  little  Indian  boys  were  the  playmates  of 
Mr.  Smith.  It  was  in  those  early  days  that 
he  became  so  proficient  with  the  gun,  in  later 
years  becoming  a  noted  hunter,  and  after  the 
supply  of  game  was  exhausted  in  this  section 
he  hunted  in  northern  Michigan.  The  death 
of  this  old  St.  Joseph  county  pioneer  occurred 
when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  fifty-seven 
years.  He  had  married  Mary  Roof,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  six  children,  five  now 
living:  Alice  Wertz  and  Arvilda  Bestle, 
twins;  Clara  Mahar,  of  Warren  township: 
James  W.,  a  resident  of  South  Bend;  and 
Anna,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Mikesell.  Six  children 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mikesell, 
namely :  Bessie,  the  wife  of  Ira  Brown :  Wal- 
ter H.,  at  home;  Nellie,  the  wife  of  Arthur 
Stroup,  and  who  was  a  popular  and  successful 
educator  before  her  marriage;  Pearl  M.,  at 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1060 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


home;  Raymond  E.  and  Charles  E.  Mr.  Mike- 
sell  owns  a  beautiful  estate  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  and  he  gives  his  political  sup- 
port to  the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Brethren  church,  and  Mrs.  Mikesell 
was  reared  in  the  Baptist  faith.  The  family 
are  held  in  high  regard  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances. 

Orson  Marble.  During  many  years  Mr. 
Orson  Marble  was  numbered  among  the  lead- 
ing agriculturists  of  Warren  township.  In  all 
life's  relations  he  commanded  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  those  with  whom  he  came  in 
contact,  and  the  memory  of  his  upright  life  is 
an  inspiration  to  the  many  friends  who  knew 
him  well  and  were  familiar  with  his  virtues. 
He  was  born  in  Paseton,  Vermont,  but  his 
father,  Joseph  Marble,  claimed  Massachusetts 
as  the  commonwealth  of  his  nativity,  and  the 
grandfather  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war  and  fought  at  Bunker  Hill,  having 
been  wounded  in  battle.  Joseph  Marble  mar- 
ried Anna  Smith,  a  native  of  Athol,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  in  a  very  early  day  in  its  his- 
tory they  established  their  home  in  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  where  they  spent  the  remainder 
of  their  lives. 

In  Berrien  county,  Michigan,  Orson  Marble 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Louisa  Holmes,  who 
had  been  a  popular  and  successful  teacher  be- 
fore  her  marriage.  She  was  bom  in  Spring- 
field, Vermont,  a  daughter  of  Enos  and  Louisa 
(Adams)  Holmes,  both  natives  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. The  mother  was  bom  at  Jeffrey,  that 
state,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Adams,  who  was  a 
cousin  of  John  Quincy  Adams,  of  presidential 
fame.  Joseph  Adams  married  a  Miss  Darling. 
Enos  and  Louisa  Holmes  reared  five  children, 
Catherine,  Daniel,  Mrs.  Marble,  Enos  and 
John,  the  last  named  a  resident  of  Idaho.  The 
parents  both  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine 
years. 

From  his  eastern  home  Mr.  Marble  removed 
to  Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  and  in  1859  came 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  where  he  became  the 
owner  of  Maple  Lawn  Farm,  one  of  the  most 
valuable  estates  of  Warren  township.  It  con- 
sists of  five  hundred  acres  of  rich  and  fertile 
^aivV  he  best  in  St.  Joseph  county,  and  there 
Mi  -  arble  lived  and  labored  until  his  busy 
r^mi  Meful  life  was  ended  in  death,  passing 
'  \  r  n  1887,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years. 
1  itical  matters  he  was  a  Democrat,  but 

!  3  he  voted  for  General  Fremont.     At 

his  death  he  left  a  widow  and  ten  children, 
namely:     Willard,  who  (Med  in  1907,  at  the 


age  of  fifty-four  years;  Enos  H.,  on  the  old 
homestead;  Sarah  Swank,  Mary  Matthews, 
Clara  Letchford,  Hattie  Miles,  of  Elsinore, 
California;  Fanny,  Daniel,  John,  and  Flor- 
ence. The  children  were  all  given  excellent 
educational  advantages,  studying  at  Hillsdale, 
South  Bend  and  Valparaiso,  and  two  daugh- 
ters, Fanny  and  Florence,  are  successfully  en- 
gaged in  teaching  in  Chicago,  Illinois.  After 
the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Marble  mar- 
ried John  C.  Marble,  his  brother  and  a  well- 
known  resident  of  St.  Joseph  county,  whose 
death  occurred  in  1898,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
three  years. 

Enos  H.  Marble  was  bom  in  1854,  and  nine 
years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  Michigan,  while 
later  he  removed  to  Nuckolls  county,  Ne- 
braska, near  Nelson,  where  he  remained  for 
thirteen  years,  returning  on  the  expiration  of 
that  period,  in  1889,  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana.  In  Benton  county,  Iowa,  he  was 
married  to  Vernie  Anderson,  who  was  bora, 
reared  and  educated  in  that  commonwealth,  a 
daughter  of  Leonard  Anderson,  deceased. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marble  have  been  bom 
three  sons  and  a  daughter,  Leonard  O.,  Clyde 
L.,  Holmes  E.  and  Marjorie.  Mr.  Marble  is  a 
stanch  Republican  in  his  political  affiliations, 
and  has  served  in  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  order  of  Gleaners. 

Mrs.  Marble,  Sr.,  still  survives  her  husband 
and  occupies  the  old  home  of  Maple  Lawn. 
She  has  traveled  quite  extensively  during  her 
lifetime,  especially  on  the  Pacific  coast,  and 
she  is  one  of  the  noble  pioneer  women  whom 
the  residents  of  St.  Joseph  county  delight  to 
honor. 

Martin  M.  Witter.  Since  the  early  days 
of  the  history  of  Warren  township  the  Witter 
family  have  occupied  a  distinctive  place 
within  its  borders,  and  among  its  present  rep- 
resentatives is  Martin  M.  Witter,  a  prominent 
and  well  known  agriculturist.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  John  Witter,  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  and  there 
his  son  George  Witter,  the  father  of  Martin, 
was  born  on  the  12th  of  October,  1817.  He 
was  but  twelve  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his 
parents'  removal  to  St.  Joseph  county,  the 
family  home  being  established  in  German 
township,  where  they  were  among  the  first  to 
take  up  their  abode,  for  this  was  in  the  early 
year  of  1829.  There  the  son  George  grew  to 
mature  years,  and  was  married  to  Sarah  Mil- 
ler, who  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1061 


November  1,  1822.  After  coming  to  St.  Jo- 
seph county  the  Miller  family  also  took  up 
their  abode  in  German  township,  on  the  Jesse 
Jennings  farm,  and  the  father,  John  Miller, 
was  one  of  the  first  German  Baptist  ministers 
in  the  county,  an  able  and  efficient  worker  in 
the  cause  of  Christiaaity.  After  their  mar- 
riage Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Witter  took  up 
their  abode  in  Warren  township,  on  what  has 
since  become  known  as  the  old  Witter  home- 
stead, which  was  then  a  valuable  tract  of  two 
hundred  and  eight  acres,  but  its  boundaries 
have  since  been  diminished  to  one  hundred 
and  ninety-seven  acres.  Twelve  children  were 
born  to  bless  their  union — Elizabeth,  Aaron, 
Adaline,  Mary  E.,  Lucinda,  John  (who  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years),  Albert,  Caro- 
line, Martin,  George  and  Harrison,  the  la^t 
named  a  resident  of  German  township,  where 
he  is  now  in  office.  One  child  died  when 
young. 

Martin  M.  Witter  was  born  on  this  old 
homestead  farm  February  11,  1861,  and  here 
he  grew  to  years  of  maturity  and  develoi)ed  a 
strong  and  sturdy  manhood.  During  his  early 
manhood  he  went  to  Red  Willow  county,  Ne- 
braska, where  his  sister,  Lucinda  Smith,  was 
living,  and  there  spent  two  and  a  half  yeans 
engaged  in  ranch  farming.  Returning  to  the 
old  farm  in  Warren  township,  he  was  married 
on  the  26th  of  December,  1889,  to  Lowie 
Smith,  a  daughter  of  L.  B.  and  Melissa 
(Flowers)  Smith,  the  former  a  native  of  Hun- 
ter, New  York,  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  The 
mother  passed  away  in  death  in  South  Bend 
when  fifty-one  years  of  age,  but  the  father 
reached  about  his  seventy-second  year  ere  he 
was  called  to  the  home  beyond,  dying  in  Ten- 
nessee. Three  of  their  four  children  are  liv- 
ing, Ella,  William  P.  and  Mrs.  Lowie  Witter. 
Two  sons  have  blessed  the  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Witter,  Claude  M.  and  Russell  D.  The 
family  reside  on  the  old  farm  which  has  been 
in  the  possession  of  the  family  for  so  many 
years,  and  which  is  one  of  the  most  valuable 
tracts  in  Warren  township,  while  its  hand- 
some brick  residence  is  also  one  of  the  town- 
ship 's  finest  homes.  Mr.  Witter  supports  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party,  and  he 
has  membership  relations  with  the  Woodmen 
of  the  World,  while  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  order  of  Gleaners. 

Jacob  E.  Caupfman,  the  proprietor  of  Fair- 
view  Farm,  one  of  the  valuable  estates  of 
Warren  township,  is  at  the  present  time  the 
incumbent  of  the  office  of  assessor.     He  was 


•bom  in  Bertrand  township,  Berrien  county, 
'  Michigan,  November  6,  1865,  a  son  of  Michael 
and  Rebecca  (Rough)  Cauflfman,  both  of  Ger- 
man descent  and  both  natives  of  the  common- 
wealth of  Pennsylvania,  the  former  bom  in 
Perry  county  and  the  latter  in  Snyder  county. 
In  1855  they  left  the  state  of  their  nativity 
for  Michigan,  their  worldly  capital  at  that 
time  consisting  of  five  hundred  dollars,  and 
arriving  at  their  destination  they  leased  land 
for  a  time,  later  purchasing  their  farm  of 
about  five  hundred  acres  at  different  times. 
Mr.  Cauffman  followed  the  tilling  of  th^  soil 
as  a  life  occupation,  and  his  labors  were  ended 
in  death  a,t  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years. 
Throughout  his  entire  life  he  was  an  active 
worker  in  the  cause  of  Christianity,  being 
identified  with  the  Evangelical  church,  in 
which  he  served  as  a  steward,  and  his  politi- 
cal affiliations  were  with  the  Republican  party. 
Mrs.  Cauffman  was  also  a  member  of  the 
Evangelical  church,  and  in  their  family  were 
the  following  children:  Henry  I.,  George  W., 
William  P.,  John  Wesley,  Mary  Ellen,  Lewis 
F.,  Eliza  J.,  Jacob  E.  and  Samuel  E.  The  sec- 
ond son,  George  W.,  was  accidentally  killed 
while  hunting,  leaving  a  wife  and  four  chil- 
dren. 

Jacob  E.  Cauffman  remained  at  home  until 
he  was  twenty-nine  yearn  of  age,  and  then 
established  a  home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage 
to  Minerva  Houswerth,  who  was  bom,  reared 
and  educated  in  Berrien  /50unty,  Michigan,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  A.  (Shaffer) 
Houswerth,  both  now  deceased,  but  formerly 
residents  of  Snyder  county,  Pennsylvania.  In 
1894  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cauffman  took  up  their 
abode  on  their  present  homestead,  known  as 
Fairview  Farm,  where  they  have  one  hundred 
and  thirty  acres  of  well-improved  land, 
adorned  with  a  pleasant  and  commodious  resi- 
dence and  all  other  necessary  buildings  and 
improvements.  In  addition  to  his  agricultural 
pursuits  Mr.  Cauffman  is  also  extensively  en- 
gaged in  the  raising  of  fine  stock,  his  specialty 
being  the  Oxford  Down  sheep,  which  have 
won  many  blue  and  red  ribbons  at  the  county 
fairs.  He  is  an  active  and  efficient  worker 
in  the  ranks  of  the  Republican  party,  and  in 
1904  was  elected  its  representative  in  the  of- 
fice of  assessor,  proving  a  popular  and  ef- 
ficient officer.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Evan- 
gelical church,  his  membership  relations  being 
with  the  Zion  church  of  Portage  Prairie, 
where  he  is  serving  as  a  class  leader.  The 
only  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cauffman  is  a  son, 


Digitized  by 


Google 


106^. 


TITSTOKY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Carson  E.,  who  was  born  on  the  6th  of  June, 
1896,  and  is  now  in  the  sixth  grade  in  school. 

William  A.  Morss.  Among  the  many  thou- 
sands of  brave  men  who  marched  forth  to  de- 
fend the  Union  during  the  period  of  the  Civil 
war  is  numbered  William  A.  Morss,  a  rep- 
resentative of  one  of  the  honored  old  pioneer 
families  of  St.  Joseph  county.  He  was  bom 
in  Dearborn  county,  Indiana,  October  24, 
1840,  and  in  that  county  his  father,  Daniel 
Morss,  also  had  his  nativity.  He  was  of  Ger- 
man descent,  and  a  son  of  John  Morss,  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania  and  an  early  pioneer  of 
Dearborn  county,  Indiana.  The  mother  of 
the  subject  of  this  review  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Sarah  N.  Milliken,  and  was  of  Irish 
parentage.  In  1841  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel 
Morss  started  on  the  long  and  tiresome  jour- 
ney to  St.  Joseph  county,  and  arriving  in 
Madison  township  they  secured  a  farm  in  the 
dense  woods  and  at  once  began  the  arduous 
task  of  clearing  the  land  and  placing  it  under 
cultivation.  After  a  long  and  honorable  career 
devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits  Mr.  Mores 
passed  away  in  death  at  the  age  of  eighty-five 
years,  while  his  wife  reached  the  age  of  ninety- 
three  years  ere  she  was  called  to  the  home  be- 
yond. He  gave  his  political  support  to  the 
Democratic  party,  and  afterwards  cast  his  vote 
for  the  presidential  nominee,  General  Fre- 
mont, in  1856.  Six  of  their  children  are  yet 
living :  Rebecca  Jane  Bates ;  Una ;  M.  M.,  who 
was  wounded  at  Resaca,  Georgia,  during  his 
military  service  in  the  Civil  war,  and  he  is  a 
resident  of  Warren  township ;  Elizabeth  Wil- 
kinson, whose  husband  was  also  a  Civil  war 
soldier  and  is  now  connected  with  the  Singer 
Company  in  South  Bend;  Mrs.  Sarah  C. 
Whitesell,  of  Warren  township ;  and  Susan  A. 
Thompson,  of  Walkerton,  Indiana.  Two  chil- 
dren are  also  deceased,  Rozena  Holstin,  who 
left  ten  children,  and  Mary  F. 

William  A.  Morss  entered  the  Civil  war 
service  on  the  6th  of  October,  1862,  at  the 
call  of  Lincoln  for  three  hundred  thousand, 
men,  entering  Company  F,  Sixty-third  In- 
diana Volunteer  Infantry,  and  his  military 
career  covered  a  period  of  two  years  and  eight 
months.  His  officers  were  Colonel  Williams, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Stiles,  Lieutenant  Conner, 
Captain  Rashing,  and  Lieutenant  Plastnick 
and  Captain  Bly  also  served  for  a  time.  Mr. 
Morss  was  with  Generals  Thomas  and  Seho- 
field,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Buz- 
zard's Roost,  Resaca,  Cartersville,  Cedaxville, 
Lost  Mountain,  Altoon a.  Burnt  Hickory,  Pump- 


kinvine  Ridge,  where  he  was  shot  through 
the  hat,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Atlanta,  Jones- 
boro,  Columbia,  and  Franklin,  the  most  des- 
perate fought  battle  of  the  war,  where  many 
men  were  lost  on  both  sides,  the  Confederates 
losing  13,500  and  the  Federals  2,500  behmd 
works  in  little  over  one  hour.  During  four 
months  of  the  war  Mr.  Morss  also  served  with 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-eighth  Indiana 
Regiment.  He  was  discharged  at  Salisbury, 
North  Carolina,  having  for  nearly  three  years 
defended  the  starry  banner  upon  southern 
battle  fields. 

Returning  to  his  home  in  Warren  township, 
St.  Joseph  county,  Mr.  Morss  resumed  has 
agricultural  labors,  and  he  now  resides  at 
Lydick,  Indiana,  where  his  home  is  surround- 
ed by  six  acres  of  land,  while  in  addition  he 
owns  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  acres  else- 
where, and  a  tract  of  sixty-one  acres,  all  in 
Warren  township ;  and  Mrs.  Morss  has  a  valu- 
able little  estate  of  forty  acres.  In  their  fam- 
ily are  three  children — Clara  Bell  Walters, 
George  W.  and  Albert  Fremont,  all  of  this 
township.  They  also  have  two  children  de- 
ceased, James,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-two years,  and  Mary  Ellen,  who  died  on  the 
12th  of  May,  1907,  at  the  age  of  thirty-six 
years.  Mrs.  Morss'  grandfather,  Peter  Kel- 
der,  was  in  the  war  of  1812,  in  which  he  par- 
ticipated in  some  of  the  battles.  Mr.  Morss 
affiliates  with  the  Republican  party,  and  as 
its  representative  has  served  in  the  office  of 
supervisor.  He  maintains  pleasant  relations 
with  his  old  army  comrades  by  his  member- 
ship in  the  Grand  Army  Post,  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church. 

WuvLiAM  McDonald.  Throughout  nearly 
his  entire  life  Mr.  William  McDonald  has  been 
a  resident  of  Warren  township,  and  during 
the  intervening  years  he  has  been  identified 
with  many  of  the  interests  that  have  contrib- 
uted to  its  substantial  development  and  un- 
provement.  His  birth  occurred  in  Berrien 
county,  Michigan,  about  five  miles  from  where 
he  now  resides,  July  10, 1845,  a  son  of  Michael 
McDonald,  who  sacrificed  his  life  on  the  altar 
of  his  country  during  the  period  of  the  Civil 
war,  in  w;hich  he  served  as  a  member  of  the 
Fifteen  Indiana  Volunteers,  and  was  killed  in 
a  charge  at  the  battle  of  Lookout  Mountain. 
He  was  about  fifty  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  His  wife,  Mary  McDonald,  is  also 
deceased,  and  their  three  children  are :  Peny, 
who  was  but  a  boy  in  his  teens  during  the  pe- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


J^  w^^-4  ^'Mh^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


•M'a^  O^  cMgM 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1063 


riod  of  the  war,  but  despite  his  age  he  offered 
his  services  to  his  country  ^s  cause  and  entered 
the  Forty-eighth  Indian  Volunteer  Infantry, 
in  which  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  con- 
flict, and  he  now  resides  near  New  Carlisle, 
Indiana.  The  only  daughter,  Mary,  is  de- 
ceased. 

William  McDonald,  the  youngest  child,  was 
a  little  lad  of  nine  years  when  he  became  a . 
citizen  of  Warren  township,  from  that  time 
until  his  twenty-first  year  making  his  home 
with  Isaac  Frame,  a  prominent  farmer  here. 
His  early  educational  training  was  received 
in  the  district  schools,  but  he  has  greatly 
added  to  his  knowledge  in  later  years  by  ob- 
servation and  reading  and  is  now  an  excep- 
tionally well-informed  man.  When  he  had 
reached  his  twenty-seventh  year  he  was  united 
in  marriage,  in  Warren  township,  to  Mahala 
Myler,  one  of  its  native  daughters  and  a  rep- 
resentative of  one  of  its  prominent  early  fam- 
ilies. During  the  long  period  of  thirty-five 
years  they  have  traveled  the  journey  of  life 
together,  mutually  sharing  the  joys  and  sor- 
rows which  checker  the  careers  of  all,  and 
their  love  and  confidence  have  increased  with 
the  passing  years.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Mat- 
thew and  Charlotte  (Frame)  Myler,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  southern  Indiana  and  the  lat- 
ter of  Henry  county,  this  state,  and  both  are 
now  deceased,  the  fether  passing  away  at  the 
age  of  fifty-three  years  and  the  mother  when 
she  had  reached  her  eighty-first  year.  Mr. 
Myler  gave  his  political  support  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Christian  church.  In  their 
family  were  six  children :  Mary,  Mahala  Mc- 
Donald, Nancy,  Emily  Buckles,  Olive  and 
George.  The  son  is  a  resident  of  South  Bend. 
One  son,  Elmer  E.,  has  been  bom  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McDonald,  hb  birth  occurring  in  1873. 
He  married  Ethel  Dunn,  and  their  only  child, 
a  little  daughter  Marie,  is  now  eight  years  of 
age. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  McDonald  located 
on  the  land  which  he  now  owns  and  occupies, 
consisting  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-five 
acres  in  Warren  township,  on  which  he  has 
placed  many  valuable  and  substantial  im- 
provements. The  homestead  is  known  as 
Grand  View,  and  the  farm  is  one  of  the  bast 
in  the  township.  Mr.  McDonald  is  one  of  the 
leaders  in  the  ranks  of  the  Eepublican  party 
in  this  community,  -and  as  its  representative 
has  served  in  a  number  of  the  township 's  lead- 
ing ofiices,  including  that  of  trustee,  of  which 


he  was  the  incumbent  for  five  years  and  four 
months.  He  entered  upon  the  duties  of  that 
office  in  1894,  and  served  with  credit  and  abil- 
ity. In  1904  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  state 
convention,  and  was  also  a  member  of  the 
committee  for  the  Miller  and  Peffer  ditches 
in  1903.  His  interests  are  many  and  varied, 
but  with  all  he  has  never  neglected  the  higher 
duties  of  life,  and  is  an  active  worker  in  the 
cause  of  Christianity  as  a  member  of  the 
Brethren  church,  in  which  he  has  served  as 
treasurer.  His  career  has  been  an  active,  use- 
ful and  honorable  one,  and  his  sterling  worth 
has  won  him  the  unqualified  confidence  of  his 
fellow  townsmen. 

DAvm  Rose.  Among  the  thousands  of  men 
-  who  marched  forth  to  defend  the  Union  and 
to  maintain  the  supremacy  of  the  stars  and 
stripes  during  the  memorable  Civil  war  is 
numbered  David  Rose,  one  of  the  most  h()n- 
ored  residents  of  Warren  township.  His  birth 
occurred  in  Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania, 
December  12,  1847,  a  son  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth (Parling)  Rose,  both  of  Grerman  ances- 
try. They  have  long  since  passed  to  their 
final  reward,  the  mother  dying  at  the  age  of 
fifty-five  years,  while  the  father  was  sixty-six 
years  of  age  when  he  was  called  to  the  home 
beyond.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and 
was  a  Republican  in  his  political  views.  Mrs. 
Rose  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
and  in  their  family  were  seven  children: 
Daniel,  Jacob,  Kate,  Henry,  Mary,  William 
and  David.  The  son  William  also  offered  his 
service  to  his  country's  cause  during  the  war 
of  the  rebellion,  becoming  a  member  of  the 
Ninth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  he  now 
lives  at  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania. 

David  Rose  was  reared  in  the  occupation  to 
which  he  has  devoted  his  life's  activities,  and 
when  he  was  but  fourteen  years  of  age  he  be- 
came a  soldier  boy,  enlisting  in  Company  M, 
Sixteenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  under 
Colonel  Griggs  and  Captain  Alexander,  con- 
tinuing ^u&  a  brave  and  loyal  defender  of  his 
country's  cause  until  the  conflict  was  ended. 
In  that  time  he  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Sabine  Cross  Roads,  Pleasant  Hill,  Shreve- 
port,  Red  River,  where  he  served  under  Gen- 
eral Banks,  and  was  then  transferred  to  the 
eastern  department  under  General  Sheridan, 
with  whom  he  served  from  the  time  o^'  *^^  ' 
tie  of  Gettysburg  until  the  greatest  engasre- 
ment  of  the  war,  that  of  Winchester.  He  also 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek,  where 
occurred  Sheridan's  famous  ride,  and  other 


Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


1064 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


famous  and  hard  fought  conflicts  up  to  and 
including  the  Grand  Review  at  Washington, 

D.  C.  When  the  war  had  ended  and  his  coun- 
try no  longer  needed  his  services  Mr.  Rose 
returned  to  his  home  in  Pennsylvania,  from 
whence  he  removed  to  LaSalle  county, 
Illinois,  and  four  years  later  to  Iowa, 
from  whence  he  returned  in  a  short 
time  to  Pennsylvania.  It  was  in  1870 
that  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
on  the  23d  of  May,  1871,  Mr.  Rose  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  Elizabeth  Frame,  with  whom  for 
thirty-six  years  he  has  traveled  the  journey 
of  life.  She  was  bom  in  Warren  township 
November  1,  1849,  a  daughter  of  Abraham 
and  Martha  (Poff)  Frame.  The  father  was 
numbered  among  the  early  pioneers  of  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  coming  to  this  state  from  Ohio, 
and  first  taking  up  his  abode  in  Henry  coun- 
ty. He  was  a  son  of  William  and  Nancy 
(Leach)  Frame.  The  father  was  bom  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  his  death  occurred  in 
Warren  township.  The  death  of  Abraham 
Frame  occurred  in  Warren  township,  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  when  he  had  reached  the  seventy- 
second  milestone  on  the  journey  of  life,  and 
the  mother  died  when  eighty-two  years  of  age. 
Both  were  members  of  the  German  Baptist 
church,  and  he  was  a  Republican  in  his  polit- 
ical affiliations.  In  their  family  were  eight 
children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living:  Mary 

E.  Rose;  Nathaniel,  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph 
county;  Daniel,  who  also  makes  his  home  in 
this  county;  and  John,  of  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah.  Three  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Rose,  but  one,  little  Benjamin  Harri- 
son, died  at  the  sge  of  nine  yeans.  The  two 
living  are  John  Abraham,  who  married  Bes- 
sie Miller,  and  David  Edgar,  whose  wife  was 
Minnie  Newsom,  and  both  sons  reside  in  War- 
ren township. 

Rose  Hill,  the  beautiful  rural  home  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Rose,  is  one  of  the  valuable  estates 
of  Warren  township.  It  contains  one  hundred 
and  ten  acres  of  rich  atid  fertile  land,  and  is 
a  beautiful  place  in  which  to  spend  the  even- 
ing of  a  long,  useful  and  honorable  career. 
Mr.  Rose  has  ever  been  a  stanch  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  worthy  members  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist church.  They  have  two  of  the  old  parch- 
ment deeds,  one  bearing  the  date  of  March  15, 
1837,  and  the  other  of  March  20,  1837,  and 
executed  by  President  Martin  Van  Buren. 
These  are  valuable  souvenirs  in  the  home  of 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Rose  of  Warren  town- 
ship. 

George  A.  Brown  is  praminently  before 
the  people  as  an  instructor,  for  his  ability  has 
rapidly  forced  hdm  to  the  front  in  the  educa- 
tional circles  of  St.  Joseph  county.  He  is  a 
representative  of  one  of  the  county's  old  and 
prominent  families,  and  is  of  Welsh  descent, 
the  progenitor  of  the  family  having  emigrated 
from  that  country  to  America  about  the  same 
time  as  William  Penn.  Colonel  Isaac  Brown, 
his  paternal  gn^at-grandfather,  served  with 
distinction  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  in 
which  he  was  a  member  of  the  Seventh  Vir- 
ginia Infantry.  He  married  Hattie  Williams, 
and  among  their  children  was  Charles  Brown, 
who  was  bom  in  Loudoun  county,  Virginia, 
near  Richmond,  and  he  served  his  country  in 
the  war  of  1812.  He  married  Eliza  Finch, 
who  was  bom  near  Harper's  Ferry,  Virginia, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  six  children : 
Jacob  R. ;  Cornelia  Peters,  deceased:  Joshua 
F.,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  review; 
Jason,  who  died  in  1847 ;  Permelia  Byers ;  and 
Mary  Gantz,  of  Ohio.  Mr.  Charles  Brown,  the 
father  of  these  children,  died  in  1833,  at  the 
age  of  forty-five  years.  He  was  a  Whig  in 
his  political  relations,  and  his  religious  affilia- 
tions were  with  the  Baptist  church.  His  wife 
died  near  Crumstown  twenty  years  ago,  pass- 
ing away  in  the  faith  of  the  Christian  church. 

Joshua  F.  Brown  was  bom  in  Carrollton, 
Carroll  county,  Ohio,  March  19,  1830,  and  his 
death  occurred  when  he  had  reached  the  sixty- 
second  milestone  of  the  joumey  of  life.  In 
1849,  with  the  Listenbergers  of  South  Bend, 
he  made  the  overland  joumey  to  California, 
and  en  route  the  company  with  which  he  trav- 
eled had  a  fight  with  the  Indians  and  Mr. 
Brown  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder  by  a  poi- 
soned arrow.  On  his  arrival  in  this  county 
he  purchased  a  farm  at  Crumstown,  where 
the  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent,  and  he 
won  for  himself  a  foremost  place  among  the 
honored  pioneers  and  business  men  of  this 
section  of  the  county.  On  the  10th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1859,  Mr.  Brown  married  Miss  Margaret 
(Goodrich,  who  was  bom  in  Livonia,  Livings- 
ton county.  New  York,  a  daughter  of  George 
and  Lucena  0.  (Goodrich)  Lithgow,  the  for- 
mer a  Scotchman,  and  both  have  long  since 
passed  to  the  home  beyond,  the  mother  dyinp 
in  Petersburg,  Michigan.  In  their  family 
were  two  daughters,  and  Mrs.  Brown  was 
reared  by  her  maternal  grandfather. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1065 


George  A.  Brown,  a  son  of  Joshua*  F.  and 
Lucena  O.  Brown,  was  bom  in  St.  Joseph 
ooimty,  Indiana,  October  3,  1863,  on  the  old 
homestead,  of  which  his  farm  now  forms  a 
part,  and  his  elementary  education  was  re- 
ceived in  the  district  schools  near  his  home. 
He  later  entered  the  Valparaiso  University, 
where  he  fitted  himself  for  the  teacher's  pro- 
fession, and  for  fourteen  years  he  taught  the 
village  school.  He  later  spent  seven  years  at 
South  Warren,  two  years  at  Oak  Grove  and 
one  year  in  Olive  township,  and  during  all 
this  time  he  has  also  been  a  diligent  student, 
endeavoring  to  keep  abreast  of  the  times  in  his 
profession.  His  methods  have  placed  the 
schools  with  which  he  has  been  connected  on 
a  high  plane,  and  he  is  winning  a  leading 
place  in  the  educational  circles  of  this  section 
of  the  county.  His  landed  possessions  consist 
of  a  farm  of  seventy-five  acres  near  Crums- 
town,  which  contains  many  substantial  im- 
provements, and  property  in  River  Park. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years  Mr.  Brown 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Martha  Wedel,  who 
was  bom  in  Michigan,  and  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Niles,  that  state.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  George  Wedel.  Two  children  have  been 
bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown:  Barl  B.,  bom  in 
1891,  and  Ray,  now  in  his  twelfth  year.  Mr. 
Brown  is  an-  active  worker  in  the  ranks  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  has  served  as  a  dele- 
gate to  its  conventions. 

H.  Wilson  Lydick,  now  at  the  head  of  the 
Warren  School  No.  3,  and  who  for  nearly  fif- 
teen years  has  been  in  the  school  work  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  as  an  educator  has  contributed 
work  of  lasting  value  to  his  county  and  at  the 
same  time  has  made  a  worthy  reputation  in 
a  profession  which  ranks  second  to  none  in  its 
benefits  to  humanity  and  civilization. 

Though  a  resident  of  this  county  for  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  since  he  was  five 
years  old,  Mr.  Lydick  was  born  in  Perry 
county,  Pennsylvania.  Of  Pennsylvania 
Dutch  stock,  both  his  grandfather,  John  Ly- 
dick, and  his  father,  Irvin  W.  Lydick,  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The  father  (Irvin) 
grew  up  on  a  farm  in  Perry  county,  where 
the  district  schools  afforded  him  an  educa- 
tion, and  on  the  outbreak  of  the  war  of  the  re- 
bellion, being  a  young  man  and  as  yet  un- 
married, he  enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  Company 
D,  One  Hundred  and  Eighth  Regiment  of 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  in  which  he  served 
with  honor  and  distinction  until  the  conflict 
was  brought  to  a  close.    He  subsequently  mar- 


ried Sarah  Ellen  Stroup,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Stroup,  both  being  natives  of  the  Keystone 
state.  Irvin  W.  Lydick  and  wife  now  reside 
in  Walnut  Grove,  German  township,  where 
they  have  been  well  known  and  highly  es- 
teemed for  nearly  thirty  years.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
church. 

Mr.  Lydick,  who  is  an  only  child,  was  five 
years  old  when  his  parents  came  to  Warren 
township.  He  lived  on  the  home  farm  and 
performed  its  routine  of  labors.  Prom  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  his  neighborhood,  he  later  went 
to  secure  additional  advantages  in  the  Val- 
paraiso University.  He  was  nineteen  years 
old  when  he  began  teaching,  and  has  been 
identified  with  the  work  ever  since.  Warren 
school  No.  3,  where  he  has  be^n  in  charge  for 
some  time,  is  one  of  the  well  known  schools 
of  the  township,  and  now  has  an  enrollment 
of  over  forty  pupils.  Mr.  Lydick  is  a  pro- 
gressive teacher,  combines  long  experience 
with  originality  and  independence  of  method, 
and  gets  results  that  cause  him  to  rank  among 
the  most  efficient  of  St.  Joseph  county's  many 
educators.  He  is  also  a  carpenter  by  trade, 
aind  follows  this  as  a  calling  when  not  active- 
ly engaged  in  school  work. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  Mr.  Lydick  mar- 
ried Miss  Daisy  E.  Fields,  daughter  of  B.  F. 
and  Martha  (Augustine)  Fields.  Mrs.  Ly- 
dick's  two  sisters  are  Maud  Adell,  wife  of 
George  W.  Fisher,  a  farmer  of  German  town- 
ship ;  and  Kate,  at  home  with  her  parents  in 
South  Bend.  Pleasant  View,  the  home  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lydick,  is  a  beautiful  rural  home- 
stead, modem  in  all  its  appointments,  and  a 
place  often  enjoyed  by  their  many  friends  and 
acquaintances.  Mr.  Lydick  is  a  Democrat 
and  affiliates  with  the  Maccabees,  his  wife  be- 
ing a  member  of  the  Ladies  of  the  Maccabees, 
and  both  are  identified  with  the  United 
Brethren  church. 

LoREN  C.  Miller.  A  most  exemplary  citi- 
zen and  an  honored  veteran  of  the  Civil  war 
is  Loren  C.  Miller,  who  has  long  been  num- 
bered among  the  prominent  agriculturists  of 
Warren  township.  His  birth  occurred  within 
the  borders  of  St.  Joseph  county  on  the  10th 
of  September,  1844,  his  father,  Isaac  Miller, 
having  taken  up  his  abode  here  in  a  very 
early  day  and  become  prominently  identified 
with  the  early  history  of  the  county.  He' 
came  here  during  the  Blaek  Hawk  war  of 
1832,  journeying  from  near  Richmond,  Wayne 
county,  Indiana,  and  established  his  home  in 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1066 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


German  township,  and  there  his  parents, 
Aaron  Miller  and  wife,  both  died.  Their  son 
Isaac  grew  to  years  of  maturity  in  that  and 
St.  Joseph  county,  receiving  his  educational 
training  in  the  primitive  log  school  houses  of 
those  early  days,  and  he  was  early  taught  the 
lessons  of  industry  and  honesty.  He  mar- 
ried a  native  daughter  of  Pennsylvania,  Han- 
nah Smith,  whose  parents,  John  and  Nancy 
Smith,  also  natives  of  that  commonwealth, 
both  died  in  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana.  Isaac 
Miller  was  numbered  among  the  pioneer  mer- 
chants of  South  Bend,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  business  with  his  brother  Solomon,  con- 
tinuing his  mercantile  interests  from  the  early 
'50s  until  1859,  when  he  disposed  of  his  busi- 
ness and  made  the  overland  journey  to  Pike 's 
Peak.  When  the  Civil  war  was  inaugurated 
he  returned  to  his  home  in  South  Bend  to  en- 
list for  the  service,  entering  in  1863  the  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-eighth  Indiana  Infan- 
try, Company  D.  To  him  came  the  summons 
to  lay  down  his  life  on  the  altar  of  his  coun- 
try, his  death  occurring  at  Marietta,  Georgia, 
and  he  now  lies  buried  there.  He  had  reached 
the  forty-fifth  milestone  on  the  journey  of 
life,  and  to  the  memory  of  this  brave  and 
loyal  soldier  all  honor  is  due.  From  the 
Whigs  he  transferred  his  membership  to  the 
Republican  party,  and  his  life  was  the  ex- 
emplification of  the  Gx)lden  Rule.  At  his 
death  he  left  a  wife  and  four  children,  three 
of  whom  are  now  living :  Loretta  Russ,  of  Min- 
neapolis, Minnesota;  Aaron,  a  resident  of 
southwestern  Kansas;  and  Loren.  One  son, 
John,  died  in  Mishawaka,  Indiana,  and  four 
children.  Wash,  Quincy,  Clara  and  Mark,  died 
in  childhood.  His  wife  survived  him  for  a 
number  of  years,  joining  him  in  the  home  be- 
yond when  she  had  reached  the  a$re  of  fifty- 
two  years.  She  was  a  loving  wife  and  mother, 
and  was  honored  and  revered  by  all  who 
knew  her. 

Loren  C.  Miller  grew  to  years  of  maturity 
on  his  father's  old  homestead,  and  in  Auprust, 
1862,  he,  too,  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil 
war,  answering  the  call  of  Lincoln  for  three 
hundred  thousand  more  men,  and  became  a 
member  of  Company  K,  Eighty-seventh  In- 
diana Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Colonel  Shy- 
lock.  He  was  under  fire  at  Prairieville,  Ken- 
tucky, Chickamauga,  Missionary  Ridge,  Big 
Stoney,  Buzzard ^s  Roost,  Resaca,  the  siege  of 
Atlanta,  and  on  with  Sherman  to  Savannah 
and  thence  to  the  Carolinas,  their  last  skir- 
mish having  been  at  Smithville,  North  Caro- 


lina. Groing  thence  to  Richmond  and  on  to 
Washington,  D.  C,  he  participated  in  the 
Grand  Review,  the  most  magnificent  military 
pageant  ever  witnessed  in  the  United  States. 
Throughout  his  entire  military  career  he  was 
never  absent  from  his  company  a  day  and  was 
never  wounded  or  taken  prisoner.  With  the 
close  of  the  war  Mr.  Miller  returned  to  his 
home  in  St.  Joseph  county,  and  twenty-eight 
years  ago  took  up  his  abode  in  Warren  town- 
ship, where  he  now  owns  a  splendid  estate  of 
eighty  acres,  his  home  being  known  as  Cottage 
Glenn  Farm.  In  1906  he  erected  a  pleasant 
and  commodious  residence,  costing  sixteen 
hundred  dollars,  and  many  other  substantial 
and  valuable  improvements  now  adorn  the 
homestead. 

In  Portage  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  in 
1868,  Mr.  Miller  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Paulina  Moomaw,  who  was  bom  Febru- 
ary 24,  1846,  in  St.  Joseph  county,  and  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Botetourt  county,  Vir- 
ginia, post  office  Finncastle,  a  daughter  of 
Christian  and  Frances  (Noff singer)  Moomaw, 
both  of  German  extraction,  and  both  now  lie 
buried  in  Mt.  Pleasant  cemeter>%  St.  Joseph 
county.  Three  daughters  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  I\Iiller,  namely :  Anna  M.,  a  success- 
ful and  popular  teacher:  Beatrice  Morris,  of 
South  Bend:  and  Bessie  Rose,  of  Warren 
township.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  prominent  and  ac- 
tive worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  as  its  representative  has  served  as 
a  delegate  to  the  county  and  district  conven- 
tions, while  for  six  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  advisory  board.  In  1904  he  was  elected 
a  trustee  of  his  township,  and  proved  a  com- 
petent and  worthy  official.  His  three  daugh- 
ters are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
and  the  Progessive  German  Baptist  churches, 
and  Mr.  Miller  holds  membership  relations 
with  the  G.  A.  R.  Post.  The  family  are  held 
in  high  regard  by  a  large  circle  of  friends 
and  neighbors.  Mr.  and  ^frs.  Miller  have  in 
their  possession  three  of  the  old  parchment 
deeds  executed  under  the  hand  and  seal  of 
Presidents  Andrew  Jackson  and  Martin  Van 
Buren,  dated  March,  1831^  and  one  deed  from 
Van  Buren,  August  20,  1838.  This  makes 
twelve  deeds  of  the  kind  in  old  St.  Joseph 
county.  These  are  valuable  souvenirs  in  the 
home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller.  Their  pretty 
home  or  residence  is  known  as  **  Cottage  Glen 
Farm." 

Griffin  S.  Dunnahoo,  the  proprietor  of 
Cedar  Hill  Farm,  is  closely  identified  with  the 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


HISTORY   OF    ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1067 


business  interests  of  Warren  township,  being 
one  of  its  most  prominent  and  influential  agri- 
culturists. His  birth  occurred  in  this  town- 
ship on  the  23d  of  August,  1839,  and  he  is  a 
representative  of  one  of  its  most  honored 
pioneer  families.  His  father,  Gkorge  Dunna- 
hoo,  was  bom  in  Botetourt  county,  Virginia, 
in  1807,  and  his  ancestors  were  Scotch  High- 
landers. Remaining  in  the  Old  Dominion 
state  until  twenty  years  of  age,  he  then  went 
to  Dajrton,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Catherine  Mike- 
sell,  who  was  there  born  in  1812.  The  father 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  at 
Detroit  when  General  Hull  surrendered  the 
fort  to  the  British.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
died  in  Ohio.  In  1836  Mr.  George  Dunnahoo 
came  with  team  and  covered  wagon  to  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  Indiana,  making  the  journey  in 
true  pioneer  style,  camping  out  at  nights  and 
cooking  over  a  camp  fire.  Arrivins^  in  War- 
ren township  he  located  on  land  in  section  28, 
which  he  leased  for  eight  years,  and  then  came 
to  the  Cedar  Hill  homestead.  The  first  home 
of  the  family  was  a  little  cabin  built  of  round 
logs,  sixteen  by  twenty-four  feet  in  dimen- 
sions, with  puncheon  floor,  stick  chimney  and 
the  old-fashioned  fireplace,  but  in  1864  this 
rude  dwelling  gave  place  to  the  pleasant  and 
commodious  residence,  while  with  the  passing 
years  he  cleared  his  land  of  its  dense  growth 
of  timber  and  became  the  owner  of  a  valuable 
estate  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  With 
advancing  age  he  left  the  farm  and  took  up 
his  abode  in  South  Bend,  where  he  passed 
away  in  death  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years, 
but  his  wife  was  eighty-five  years  of  age  ere 
she  joined  him  in  the  home  beyond.  They 
were  members  of  the  German  Baptist  church, 
in  which  he  long  served  as  a  deacon,  and  his 
political  support  was  given  to  the  Democratic 
party.  To  them  were  bom  nine  children,  and 
eight  grew  to  years  of  maturity,  namely :  W. 
J.,  a  resident  of  Los  Angeles,  California; 
Winch,ester,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years;  Maggie  Brown,  who  died  in  this  coun- 
ty ;  GriflRn  S.,  whose  name  introduces  this  re- 
view ;  Peter,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fifty  years 
in  Elkhart  county,  Indiana;  Mary,  who  died 
when  fifteen  years  old;  Agnes  Jackson,  who 
died  aged  about  fort>^-two  years ;  and  George, 
who  died  in  1888,  at  Eureka  Springs,  aged 
forty. 

Griffin  S.  Dunmahoo  grew  to  mature  years 
on  the  old  home  farm  in  Warren  township, 
and  the  meager  educational  training  which  he 

Vol.  11—80. 


received  in  the  district  schools  of  the  com- 
munity has  been  supplemented  by  actual  ex- 
perience, reading  and  travel.  In  1864  he  went 
to  Montana,  and  spent  three  years  engaged  in 
mining  in  the  far  west,  returning  on  the  ex- 
piration of  that  period  to  his  old  home  in 
Warren  township.  At  the  age  of  twenty-seven 
years  he  was  married  to  Miss  Phebe  A.  Ward, 
who  was  bom  March  11,  1846,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  St.  Joseph  county,  being  a  successful 
and  popular  teacher  before  her  marriage.  Her 
parents,  Franklin  H.  and  Susanna  (McMul- 
lin)  Ward,  were  prominent  early  settlers  of 
the  county,  and  in  their  family  were  the  fol- 
lowing children :  Christian  Ward,  of  St.  Jo- 
seph county;  Phebe,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Dunna- 
hoo; James  P.,  deceased;  and  Franklin  D.,  of 
Warren  township.  The  parents  have  long 
since  passed  to  their  final  reward,  dying  in 
the  faith  of  the  German  Baptist  church.  The 
following  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dunnahoo:  Lillian  M.,  who  received  her 
diploma  from  the  common  schools  in  1884, 
and  from  the  South  Bend  high  school  with  the 
class  of  1887,  was  one  of  the  popular  teachers 
of  the  county  and  city  of  South  Bend  for  ten 
years.  She  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Stoltz,  of  South 
Bend,  and  they  have  one  little  son,  Charles 
Raymond.  William  D.  graduated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  with  the  class  of  1887,  and  then 
took  a  business  course  at  the  South  Bend 
Business  College.  He  was  with  the  Birdsell 
Wagon  Company  for  seven  years,  and  is  now 
located  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  Prank  H.  is  a 
resident  of  South  Bend  and  one  of  its  leading 
artitomeys.  He  graduated  in  the  common 
schools  in  1887,  and  then  took  the  law  course 
at  Ann)  Arbor  in  1894.  He  taught  two  years 
in  St.  Joseph  county.  He  wedded  Miss  Mary 
A.  Dunlap.  Edith  A.  is  the  wife  of  Edward 
A.  Morse,  of  South  Bend.  She  graduated  in 
the  common  schools  in  1891,  and  then  took  a 
course  at  the  South  Bend  high  school,  after 
which  she  taught  for  three  years.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Morse  have  two  children,  Edward  D.  and 
Phebe  C,  bright  little  children.  Hugh  P. 
graduated  in  the  common  schools  with  the 
class  of  1891.  He  has  taken  up  the  study  of 
law,  and  makes  his  real  home  with  his  parenits. 
Walter  A.  graduated  in  the  common  schools 
with  the  class  of  1892,  and  took  two  years' 
work  in  the  high  school,  also  a  course  in  the 
business  college  at  South  Bend,  Indiana.  He 
traveled  for  the  Standard  Oil  Company  for 
four  years,  and  is  now  stationed  at  Houston, 
Texas.    He  wedded  Miss  Mary  W.  Burks.  Mr. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1068 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


DuDDahoo  is  an  active  worker  in  the  ranks  of 
the  Democratic  party,  and  for  two  years  he 
served  as  the  treasurer  of  the  township.  With 
his  wife  he  is  spending  the  evening  of  a  long, 
useful  and  honorable  life  at  his  beautiful 
rural  home,  known  as  Cedar  Hill  Farm,  which 
derives  its  name  from  the  fine  cedar  trees 
which  surround  it.  He  has  an  old  hand  sickle 
which  his  father  and  mother  used  in  the  pio- 
neer epoch,  and  which  is  a  valuable  souvenir. 
They  also  have  a  dresser  fully  three  quarters 
of  a  century  old.  They  are  members  of  the 
Christian  church,  and  they  share  in  the  warm 
regard  of  many  friends  and  acquaintances. 

MELTffiE  M.  MoRSS.  One  of  the  brave  sol- 
diers in  blue  during  the  Civil  war,  and  at  all 
times  a  loyal  citizen,  Mr.  M.  M.  Morss  is  num- 
bered among  the  representative  farmers  and 
honored  pioneers  of  Warren  township.  He 
was  born  in  Dearborn  county,  Indiana,  Oc- 
tober 5,  1843,  the  same  year  in  which  Wil- 
liam McKinley  was  born,  and  was  reared  to 
years  of  maturity  on  the  old  home  farm  in 
his  native  county.  On  his  twentieth  birth- 
day, the  5th  of  October,  1863,  he  enlisted  for 
service  in  the  Civil  war,  joining  Company  P, 
Sixty-third  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry, 
under  Colonel  J.  S.  Williams,  Major  J.  N. 
Stiles  and  Captain  F.  E.  Raschig.  He  took 
part  in  many  of  the  historic  battles  of  the 
conflict,  including  those  of  Buzzard's  Roost 
and  Resaca,  where  he  was  wounded  in  the 
shoulder  and  was  in  the  field  hospital  there 
until  transferred  to  the  hospital  at  Chatta- 
nooga, thence  to  Nashville,  on  the  hospital  boat 
down  the  Cumberland  and  Ohio  rivers  to  New 
Albany,  Indiana,  where  he  remained  in  the 
hospital  until  transferred  to  Indianapolis, 
there  remaining  in  the  hospital  for  seven 
months.  He  was  honorably  discharged  on  the 
11th  of  May,  1865,  and  with  a  creditable  mil- 
itary record  returned  to  his  home. 

During  the  long  period  of  forty  years  Mr. 
Morss  has  resided  on  his  present  farm,  which 
is  a  valuable  estate,  and  Warren  township 
numbers  him  among  her  leading  agricultur- 
ists. On  the  7th  of  October,  1866,  when  twen- 
ty-three years  of  age,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Ellen  B.  Snyder,  who  was  bom  in 
Pennsylvania,  but  was  reared  in  Elkhart  and 
St.  Joseph  counties,  Indiana,  her  parents 
being  Jarred  and  Jane  A.  (Weston)  Snyder. 
The  mother  is  deceased,  but  the  father  sur- 
vives and  resides  in  Panora,  Guthrie  county, 
Iowa.  Three  children  were  born  of  this  union, 
namely:  Irvin  S.,  who  for  twelve  years  was  a 


successful  educator,  but  is  now  a  mail  clerk 
with  the  Lake  Shore  Company ;  Annie  L.,  the 
wife  of  John  Shapley,  of  Portage  towndiip; 
and  Terry  B.,  a  telegraph  operator  in  Ains- 
worth,  Indiana.  The  sons  received  excellent 
educational  advantages,  and  have  become  suc- 
cessful business  men.  The  great  loss  of  Mr. 
Morss'  life  was  in  the  death  of  the  loving 
wife  and  mother,  who  was  called  to  the  home 
beyond  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years.  She 
was  a  faithful  wife,  a  kind  and  loving  mother, 
and  her  memory  is  revered  by  all  who  had 
the  pleasure  of  her  acquaintance.  In  his  po- 
litical views  Mr.  Morss  has  always  been  a 
stanch  Republican.  He  was  elected  assessor 
of  Warren  township  in  April,  1880,  and  as- 
sessed the  township  eleven  years  in  succes- 
sion. He  has  membership  relations  with 
Auten  Post,  5.  A.  R.,  of  South  Bend.  His 
valuable  homestead,  which  consists  of  thirty- 
five  acres,  is  pleasantly  located  five  miles  from 
that  city,  and  here  he  is  spending  his  remain- 
ing days  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his 
former  toil. 

Davto  Bachtel,  a  retired  farmer  and 
cooper  of  South  Bend,  where  he  has  been  a 
familiar  and  respected  citizen  for  the  past 
twenty  years,  is  a  native  of  Maryland,  of 
which  state  his  family  embraced  not  a  few 
well  known  and  prosperous  farmers.  He  him- 
self was  bom  in  Maryland  June  8,  1812,  his 
father.  Christian  Bachtel,  having  been  a  na- 
tive of  the  Keystone  state,  his  life  being 
ushered  in  by  the  year  1771.  The  paternal 
grandfather  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  and,  when  a  boy,  the  father  of 
David  migrated  to  Maryland,  where  he  mar- 
ried Katherine  Smith,  also  "a  native  of  that 
state.  Their  family  of  seven  children  con- 
sisted of  three  sons  and  four  daughters,  of 
whom  David  is  the  youngest  and  the  only 
one  now  alive. 

David  Bachtel  was  reared  in  Maryland, 
removing  to  Stark  county,  Ohio,  when  a 
young  man  of  twenty-one  years,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  married  Miss  Mar- 
guerite Nelson.  She  was  a  native  of  that 
county,  and  by  him  beeame  the  mother  of 
three  sons  and  four  daughters,  dying  in  the 
year  1849.  In  1852  he  married  for  his  sec- 
ond wife,  Maria  (Emerick)  Stom,  widow  of 
Daniel  Stom,  a  shoemaker  of  Stark  county. 
She  had  seven  children  by  her  first  husband, 
and  four  sons  and  one  daughter  by  her  union 
to  David  Bachtel. 

In  1854  Mr.  Bachtel  removed  to  Whitley 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


/(PUBLiC   Lr''>ARYi 
^>.     1909      X^' 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


m^  {Pi^juLu 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1069 


eounrt;y,  Indiana,  where  for  twelve  years  he 
passed  an  industrious  and  profitable  period 
of  farming.  In  1866  he  located  his  family 
homestead  in  Union  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  cultivating  and  improving  about 
twenty  acres  and  also  engaging  at  his  trade 
of  cooperage.  In  1887  he  had  acquired  so 
comfortable  a  competence  that  he  retired  from 
active  work,  and  in  1895  made  South  Bend 
his  permianent  residence.  Mr.  Bachtel  has 
always  been  a  firm  Eepublican,  but  never 
an  oflSce  holder  or  a  seeker.  In  religion  he 
is  a  faithful  and  old  member  of  the  Brethren 
church. 

Mr.  Bachtel  was  too  far  along  in  years  to 
serve  his  country  in  the  Civil  war,  but  took 
a  deep  interest  in  the  Union  cause  and  con- 
tributed of  his  substance  to  its  support  and 
final  triumph.  Two  of  his  sons  were  active 
pajticipants  in  the  four  years'  conflict,  one 
of  them  sacrificing  a  leg  and  an  eye.  They 
both  served  in  Indiana  regiments,  the  elder 
son  being  with  Sherman  in  his  historic  march 
to  the  sea  and  his  other  campaigns,  participat- 
ing in  many  fierce  engagements  and  wearvinfl: 
marches. 

Mrs.  Priscilla  C.  Fields,  whose  home  is 
Oak    Grove  Farm   in   Warren  township,   is 
one  of  the  well  known  and  honored  residents 
of  the  community.     She  was  bom  in  Jen- 
nings county,   Indiana,   in   1831,   and  is  of 
Scotch  ancestry.     Her  paternal  grandfather, 
John  Buckles,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  his  son,  also  named  John,  was  bom 
in  Virginia,  and  was  twelve  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  his  parents'  removal  to  Jennings 
county,  Indiana.     He  grew  to  years  of  ma- 
turity   there,   and    was    married   to   Lovina 
Hughes,  whose  birth  occurred  in  North  Caro- 
lina,  and   that  commonwealth  was  also  the 
birthplace  of  her  father,  David  Hughes.     It 
was  in  1833  that  John  Buckles  with  his  fam- 
ily came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  this 
being  at  a  very  early  epoch  in  its  history 
and  during  the  progress  of  the  Blackhawk 
war.     For  a  time  they  resided  in  Portage 
Prairie,   Greene  township,   and  the  father's 
death  occurred  ait  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty- 
four  years,  long  surviving  his  wife,  who  was 
called  to  the  home  beyond  when  but  forty- 
two.     Both  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
church,  while  he  was  formerly  connected  with 
the  German  Baptists,  and  gave  his  political 
support    to    the    Republican    party.      Their 
names  are  recorded  with  those  who  cast  in 
their  lot  with  the  early  pioneers  of  St.  Jo- 


seph county  and  assisted  in  m'aking  it  the 
prosperous  community  which  it  now  is,  and 
all  honor  is  due  these  brave  and  hardy  lead- 
ers. Six  children  blessed  their  union,  namely : 
Priscilla  C.  Fields;  Marion,  who  served  as 
a  member  of  an  Indiana  regiment  dnring  the 
Civil  war,  and  now  resides  at  What  Cheer, 
Iowa;  Henry,  a  resident  of  Lamed,  Kansas, 
also  served  his  country  during  that  conflict; 
Rebecca,  a  resident  of  Buchanan,  Michigan; 
Gilbert,  of  Linn  county,  Kansas;  and  Sarah, 
deceased.   * 

On  the  27th  of  January,  1852,  Priscilla  C. 
Buckles  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Ste- 
phen Fields,  for  many  years  a  prominent  and 
well   known   resident   of   Warren   township. 
He  was  bom  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
near  Dayton,  in  March,  1822,  a  son  of  Wal- 
ter Fields.     Mr.  Fields  had  been  previously 
married,  wedding  Charlotte  Rush,  by  whom 
he  had  two  children,  Burris  Lloyd,  who  re- 
sides on   Michigan  avenue  in  South  Bend, 
and  Almira  Augustine,  also  of  that  city.    By 
his  marriage  to  Priscilla  C.  Buckles  he  be- 
came the  father  of  eight  children:     Frank- 
lin P.,  engaged  in  the  coal  business  in  South 
Bend;    Julia  Pixley,  who  died  leaving  four 
children;    Martha   Egner,   of   South   Bend; 
Douglass,  whose  death  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
five  years  brought  to  a  close  a  bright  and 
promising  career ;  Walter,  a  resident  of  War- 
ren township ;  Ida,  the  wife  of  William  Pef- 
fley,  of  South  Bend ;  John,  also  of  that  city ; 
and  Florence  Haff,  of  Mishawaka.    The  fam- 
ily suffered  an  irreparable  loss  in  the  death 
of  the  husband  and  father  on  the  7th  of  De- 
cember, 1878,  when  he  had  reached  the  fifty- 
seventh  milestone  on  the  journey  of  life,  and 
although  he  has  long  since  passed  to  his  re- 
ward his  memory  is  revered  by  all  who  had 
the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance.    For  eight 
years  he  served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
was  a  leading  member  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist church.     Mrs.  Fields  now  resides  on  the 
estate  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  left 
her  by  her  husband.    She  is  a  woman  of  ex- 
cellent executive   ability,   and   has  worthily 
carried  on  the  work  laid  down  by  her  hon- 
ored husband.     She  aflBliates  with  the  Breth- 
ren church,  and  has  drawn  about  her  a  large 
circle  of  devoted  friends. 

Joseph  Beehleb,  an  enterprising  and  pros- 
perous agriculturist  of  Madison  township,  St. 
Joseph  ooimty,  where  he  owns  a  fine  estate 
in  section  25,  has  been  identified  with  the 
industrial     interests     of     this     community 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1070 


HISTORY  OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


throughout  his  entire  business  career,  and  is 
a  member  of  one  of  the  county's  oldest  and 
most  prominent  families.  His  birth  occurred 
on  the  old  homestead  of  his  father  in  Madi- 
son township  November  14,  1872,  his  parents 
being  Peter  and  Mary  (Weible)  Beehler, 
both  of  whom  were  bom  near  the  river  Rhine 
in  Bavaria,  Germany.  The  father's  birth  oc- 
curred in  the  year  of  1817.  In  1848,  on  a 
sailing  vessel,  the  parents  set  sail  for  the 
Undted  States,  and  after  a  residen-ce  in  Erie 
county,  New  York,  near  Buffalo,  Until  1854 
they  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
establishing  their  home  on  a  farm  in  section 
13,  Madison  township.  Mr.  Beehler  became 
in  time  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  town- 
ship 's  citizens  and  the  owner  of  three  hundred 
acres  of  rich  and  well  cultivated  land.  In 
the  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beehler  were 
eight  children,  seven  sons  and  one  daughter, 
namely:  Phillip  W.,  Peter  H.,  Fred  W., 
Adam  G.,  Charles,  Jacob  and  Joseph  (twins), 
and  Sarah  Beehler.  The  father  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life  on  the  old  homestead 
farm  which  he  had  cleared  and  cultivated, 
dying  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  He 
was  a  weaver  by  trade,  having  learned  and 
followed  that  occupation  in  his  native  land 
of  Germany,  and  he  was  a  worthy  and  promi- 
nent member  of  the  German  Evangelical 
church.  The  wife  and  mother  is  still  living, 
making  her  home  with  her  son  Adam  on  the 
old  homestead  farm,  where  she  has  resided 
during  the  past  fifty-four  years. 

It  was  on  this  farmstead,  the  home  of  the 
Beehlers  for  so  many  years,  that  the  son 
Joseph  grew  to  a  sturdy  manhood,  in  the 
meantime  receiving  an  excellent  educational 
training  in  both  the  German  and  English 
languages.  When  he  had  reached  the  age 
of  maturity  he  established  a  home  of  his  own, 
and  he  is  now  the  owner  of  an  estate  of 
ninety  acres  of  land,  all  rich  and  fertile  land 
and  all  under  an  excellent  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. His  residence  is  a  substantial  and  com- 
modious structure,  and  his  fine  bank  bam 
is  forty  by  seventy  feet,  and  was  erected  in 
1905.  ' 

Mr.  Beehler  married  one  of  the  township's 
native  daughters,  Anna  Birk,  and  a  sketch 
of  her  father,  George  A.  Birk,  one  of  the 
prominent  early  settlers  of  the  community, 
will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Two 
children  have  been  bom  to  them,  Edna  Marie 
and  Clarence  Joseph.  The  Democracy  re- 
ceives the  political  support  of  Mr.  Beehler, 


and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
church. 

Edwin  Douglass  Eaton,  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  of  Clay  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
was  bom  in  this  township  on  the  28th  of 
March,  1854,  and  is  a  representative  of  one 
of  its  oldest  and  most  prominent  families. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Isaac  Eaton,  was 
bom  in  Loudoun  county,  Virginia.  January 

24,  1775,  having  been  born  after  his  father's 
death.  He  was  bound  out  to  learn  the  black- 
smith's trade,  but  ran  away  to  Maryland, 
and  was  there  engaged  in  work  at  his  trade 
until  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  entered  eighty  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tions 16  and  17,  Clay  township.  He  offered 
his  services  to  his  country  during  the  war 
of  1812,  serving  under  General  Mason,  and 
witnessed  the  burning  of  Washington,  D.  C. 
He  was  an  only  child,  and  was  married  in 
1798,  in  Frederick  county,  Maryland,  to  Mar- 
garet Metzger,  a  native  of  that  county,  bom 
on  the  15th  of  November,  1781,  the  family 
having  come  from  Holland  to  this  country  in 
colonial  days.  The  Eaton  family  is  of  Eng- 
lish descent,  and  the  father  of  Isaac  served 
in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Eaton  passed  away  on  their  old  home^ 
stead  farm  in  Clay  township,  she  on  the  23d 
of  April,  1863,  and  he  on  the  25th  of  De- 
cember, 1869.  In  their  family  were  eight 
children,  as  follows:    Millie,  bom  December 

25,  1800;  Susan,  July  26,  1806;  Samuel, 
October  5,  1809;  John,  August  4,  1811; 
William,  Pebmary  7,  1814;  Mary,  December 
5,  1816 ;  Jacob,  May  1,  1819 ;  and  Abraham, 
June  10,  1822. 

Jacob  Eaton  was  born  in  Frederick  county, 
Marj'land,  May  1,  1819,  and  was  eleven  years 
of  age  when  his  parents  located  near  Dayton, 
in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  but  after  a  resi- 
dence there  of  one  year  they  came  to  Clay 
township,  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  in  the 
year  1831.  They  first  located  on  the  present 
site  of  St.  Mary's  Academy,  on  sections  25 
and  26,  living  there  with  people  who  had  a 
lease  on  the  property.  Five  years  later  they 
took  up  their  abode  on  sections  16  and  17, 
where  Mr.  Eaton,  Sr.,  entered  eighty  acres 
of  land  and  turned  it  over  to  his  son  Jacob, 
the  youngest  son.  The  latter  resided  on  that 
place  until  he  came  to  what  afterward  became 
known  as  the  old  Eaton  homestead  on  the 
12th  of  April,  1856.  He  cleared,  improved 
and  sold  other  places,  and  also  purchased 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  sections  13 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF    ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1071 


and  18,  of  which  he  cleared  about  twenty- 
five  acres  and  erected  the  present  substantial 
buildings.  He  later,  purchased  twenty-five 
acres  more,  then  eighty  acres  on  section  18, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
on  the  11th  of  February,  1894,  left  an  es- 
tate of  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres, 
which  is  still  owned  by  his  children.  He  was 
a  life-long  Democrat  in  his  political  affilia- 
tions, and  for  sixteen  years  served  as  the 
trustee  of  Clay  township,  while  for  a  period 
of  eight  years  he  was  a  county  commissioner. 

On  the  6th  of  Augu^,  1846,  Mr.  Eaton  was 
undted  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth  Barnes,  who 
was  bom  in  Frederick  county,  Maryland, 
October  27,  1820,  and  come  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiama,  with  her  father  in  1836,  he 
securing  a  farm  south  of  the  city  of  South 
Bend.  Her  parents  were  John  Eli  and  Han- 
nah (Yeast)  Barnes,  he  a  native  of  Virginia 
and  of  English  descent.  The  mother,  who 
was  of  German  descent,  died  before  the  fam- 
ily home  was  established  in  this  county,  the 
father  having  made  the  journey  with  his 
second  wife.  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Barnes) 
Eaton  became  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
namely:  Emma  P.,  bom  May  23,  1847,  re- 
sides on  the  old  homestead;  Clarissa  M., 
bom  February  4,  1849,  married  Charles  Jen- 
nings and  died  June  1,  1890;  Mary  A.,  bom 
January  28,  1851,  married  John  Kiefer,  and 
died  May  1,  1875;  Edwin  D.,  who  was  bom 
March  28,  1854;  Joanna  W.,  born  Novem- 
ber 12,  1856,  also  resides  on  the  old  liome- 
si^ad;  Norman  Eddy,  born  March  24,  1859, 
died  March  30,  1883 ;  and  Mark  Byron,  bom 
January  6,  1862,  died  March  20,  1883. 

Edwin  D.  Eaton  has  resided  on  the  old 
homestead  place  in  Clay  township  for  fifty 
years,  sinee  1856,  where  he  makes  his  home 
with  his  two  sisters,  Emma  F.  and  Joanna 
W.  The  place  consists  of  two  hundred  and 
twenty-five  acres  of  rich  and  well  cultivated- 
land,  which  is  devoted  to  general  farming 
purposes  and  on  which  is  located  good  and 
substantial  buildings.  Mr.  Eaton  has  erected 
the  splendid  bam  which  now  adorns  the  place, 
and  is  numbered  among  the  most  substantial 
agriculturists  of  Clay  township.  In  his  po- 
litical aflSliations  he  upholds  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party. 

Samuel  R.  Jennings  is  a  well  known  agri- 
culturist of  Clay  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
whose  skill  and  ability  in  his  chosen  calling 
are  plainly  manifest  in  the  well  tilled  fields 
and  neat  and  thrifty  appearance  of  his  place. 


He  was  bom  on  the  18th  of  December,  1845, 
in  the  township  which  is  yet  his  home,  and  in 
early  life  became  familiar  with  every  depart- 
ment of  farm  work.  His  father,  Samuel  R. 
Jennings,  was  a  native  of  Orange  county. 
New  York,  born  in  1808,  and  when  but  a 
young  lad  was  deprived  of  his  father  by 
death,  after  which  he  was  bound  out  and 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  subse- 
quently removed  to  Toledo,  Ohio,  thence  to 
Monroe,  Michigan,  and  in  1833  took  up  his 
abode  in  South  Bend,  which  continued  as 
his  home  for  about  three  years.  At  the  end 
of  that  time  he  traded  his  property  in  that 
city  with  his  brother  James  H.  for  his  farm 
in  Clay  township,  and  there  his  death  oc- 
curred on  the  4th  of  January,  1874,  leaving 
an  estate  of  about  three  hundred  acres  in 
this  township  and  also  a  block  in  South  Bend. 
During  his  residence  in  Toledo,  Ohio,  he  was 
engaged  in  merchandising,  while  in  South 
Bend  he  followed  his  trade  of  carpentering, 
and  in  Clay  township  he  was  extensively  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  A  Democrat 
in  his  political  views,  he  served  a  number  of 
times  as  township  trustee,  and  at  one  time 
was  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  sheriff. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  1841,  in  Clay  town- 
ship, Samuel  R.  Jennings  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Matilda  BarkdoU,  who  was  born  in 
Jamestown,  Ohio,  in  1818,  and  accompanied 
her  parents  on  their  removal  to  this  county. 
Her  father,  Solomon  Barkdoll,  was  a  gun- 
smith, and  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  par- 
ticipating in  the  battle  of  Port  Meigs.  After 
the  close  of  that  conflict  he  came  to  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  Indiana,  but  about  five  years 
later  removed  to  Chillioothe,  Missouri.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Jennings  became  the  parents  of 
four  children,  namely;  James,  who  was 
killed  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  in  1865,  while 
in  the  United  States  detective  service  under 
Theodore  Coquillard;  Samuel  R.,  whose 
name  introduces  this  review;  Charles,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  about  forty-five  years ;  and 
Francis,  an  agriculturist  of  Clay  township. 
Mrs.  Jennings,  the  mother  of  these  children, 
died  in  1863. 

In  December,  1862,  when  but  seventeen 
years  of  age,  Samuel  R.  Jennings,  Jr.,  enlisted 
for  service  in  the  Civil  war,  becoming  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Twenty-first  Independent  Indiana 
Battery,  which  he  joined  at  Nashville,  Ten- 
nessee. About  November  1,  1864,  he  par- 
ticipated in  the  engagement  at  Columbia, 
Tennessee,  thence  to  Nashville  in  advance  of 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1072 


HISTORY  OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Hood  and  was  under  fire  there  on  the  15th 
and  16th  of  December,  and  was  discharged 
at  Indianapolis  in  June,  1865.  During  his 
service  he  was  twice  in  the  hospital  at  Co- 
lumbia, Tennessee,  and  once  at  Indianapolis, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  return  home  was  ill 
with'  typhoid  pneumonia.  Mr.  Jennings  sub- 
sequently spent  four  years  in  Missouri,  and 
during  that  time  was  engaged  in  various  occu- 
pations, in  farmdng,  painting  and  as  a  school 
teacher.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  returned 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  and  after  his  marriage 
removed  to  Edwardsbui^,  Michigan,  where 
he  remained  two  years,  then  spent  a  similar 
period  in  Missouri  and  Kansas  engaged  in 
farming,  and  in  1874  again  returned  to  St. 
Joseph  county.  In  1876  he  removed  to  his 
present  farm  of  eighty-eight  acres  in  Clay 
township,  section  30,  known  as  **The  Wil- 
lows,'* which  he  has  transformed  from  a  wild 
tract  into  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in 
the  township.  He  has  been  a  life-long  Demo- 
crat, and  is-  now  serving  his  second  term  as 
township  trustee,  while  previous  to  his  elec- 
tion to  that  office  was  the  township  assessor 
for  four  years,  and  was  at  one  time  a  candi- 
date for  the  office  of  county  assessor.  He  is 
a  member  of  Laughton  Post,  No.  8,  G.  A.  R. 

Mr.  Jennings  returned  to  Missouri  for  his 
bride,  and  was  there  married  on  the  1st  of 
March,  1870,  to  Mary  M.  Melton,  born  in 
Monroe  county  of  that  state  July  19,  1856, 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Margaret  (Jar- 
boe)  Melton,  natives  of  Kentucky.  The  fol- 
lowing children  have  been  born  of  this  union ; 
Mary  Lillian,  bom  February  16,  1872,  the 
wife  of  Clarence  E.  Lee,  of  South  Bend,  and 
she  was  the  official  stenographer  of  the  cir- 
cuit court  a  number  of  years  before  her  mar- 
riage; Samuel  Harrison,  bom  August  11, 
1874,  and  now  resides"  in  South  Bend;  the 
third  child  died  in  infancy  in  1876;  Clar- 
ence, bom  September  11,  1878,  died  on  the 
25th  of  December  following;  Asher  M.,  bom 
February  6,  1880;  Louis  E.,  bom  October 
12,  1883;  and  James  Elmer, 'born  April  28, 
1890,  are  all  at  home. 

John  V.  ZEriLER  was  a  native  of  Bavaria, 
Germany,  bom  on  the  2d  of  May,  1835,  a 
son  of  Heney  Zeitler,  whose  death  occurred 
in  the  fatherland.  His  widow,  nee  Catherine 
Klugart,  and  a  native  of  Bavaria,  afterward 
married  John  M.  Myers,  by  whom  she  had 
four  daughters,  while  by  her  first  marriage 
she  became  the  mother  of  two  sons  and  three 
daughters.     One  of  the  sons,  Andrew,  died 


in  Alabama.  He  owned  three  thousand  acres 
of  land,  and  was  extensively  and  widely 
known  as  a  cotton  grower  and  merchant.  The 
death  of  the  mother  ooeurred  in  this  county. 

John  V.  Zeitler  accompanied  the  family 
on  their  removal  to  the  United  States  in 
1847,  continuing  their  journey  by  boat  to 
Chicago  Bod  by  flat-'boat  up  the  St.  Joseph 
river,  being  one  of  the  first  German  families 
to  come  direct  to  St.  Joeeph  eounty,  Indiana. 
They  first  established  their  home  south  of 
South, Bend,  but  later  removed  to  Clay  town- 
ship, and  for  six  years  Mr.  Zeitler  was  in- 
terested in  the  St.  Joseph  Milling  Company. 
In  1870  he  purchased  his  farm  of  his  step- 
father, the  contract  price  being  ten  thousand 
dollars,  and  there  he  made  all  the  modem 
improvements  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life,  hifi  labors  being  ended  in  death  on 
the  20th  of  September,  1904.  He  followed 
the  tilling  of  the  soil  Hiroughout  his  entire 
active  business  career  with  the  exception  of 
six  months  spent  in  the  milling  business,  was 
a  Mason  in  his  fraternal  relations,  and  politi- 
cally a  Democrat,  having  served  his  township 
as  its  trustee  and  assessor.  He  was  truly 
a  self-made  man,  for  without  advantages  at 
the  commencement  of  life  he  battled  earnestly 
and  energetically,  and  at  his  death  left  to 
his  family  a  fine  estate. 

On  the  9th  of  May,  1867,  Mr.  Zeitler  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Lottie  Eileindinst,  who 
was  bom  in  the  Rhine  country  of  Germany, 
and  came  to  America  with  her  parents  when 
about  seven  years  of  age.  Their  union  was 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  two  children,  Edward 
A.,  who  is  a  farmer  in  Clay  town^ip;  and 
Charles,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-one 
years  in  Springfield,  Missouri,  on  the  2d  of 
June,  1903,  having  been  employed  as  trav- 
eling salesman  for  the  Oliver  Chilled  Plow 
Company.  The  mother  now  resides  with  her 
son  in  St.  Joseph  county. 

John  Belledin.  This  well  known  farmer 
and  honored  citizen  of  Clay  township  has 
throughout  his  active  business  life  been  prwni- 
nently  identified  with  the  agricultural  inter- 
ests of  St.  Joseph  county  and  has  for  many 
years  past  resided  upon  his  present  farm. 
He  was  bom,  however,  in  Erie  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, December  16,  1837.  His  father, 
Joseph  Belledin,  was  bom  in  the  Rhine  coun- 
try of  Germany,  and  came  to  Pennsylvania 
prior  to  his  marriage.  At  the  time  of  the 
Mexican  war  he  offered  his  services  to  his 
country,   and  was   never  heard   from  after 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


/:  THE 


Digitized  by 


Google 


3L/t»»^^  ^/»*'^>L^^jt*z^^.^^ 


Digitized  by  LjOOQ  IC 


'^^^t^    Pa^yi^u/  ^€X4y^*^y>6-cju/^^ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1073 


the  close  of  that  conflict.  In  the  state  of 
New  York  he  married  Barbara  Becker,  a  na- 
tive alfio  of  Germany,  but  who  came  to  the 
.  United  States  alone,  and  her  death  occurred 
in  this  county  in  1894,  at  the  age. of  eighty- 
four  years.  In  their  family  were  five  chil- 
dren: John,  whose  name  introduces  this  re- 
view; Josep'h,  deceased;  Mary  Wolf,  a  resi- 
dent of  South  Bend ;  William  and  Benhart, 
both  also  deceased. 

John  Belledin  was  but  two  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  his  parents'  removal  to  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  the  home  being  es- 
tablished on  a  farm  on  the  Kankakee  river, 
west  of  South  Bend.  When  he  had  reached 
the  age  of  twenty-three  years  he  joined  the 
tide  of  gold  seekers  to  Colorado,  for  nine 
years  woricing  between  Pike's  Peak  and  the 
Missouri  river,  but  after  two  years  he  aban- 
doned the  search  for  the  precious  metal  and 
engaged  at  other  occupations.  During  his 
residence  in  the  west,  in  1863,  he  enlisted 
for  service  in  the  Civil  war,  joining  Company 
C,  Second  Colorado  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
during  his  military  service,  which  covered  a 
period  of  about  nine  months,  he  lost  the  sight 
of  hds  right  eye.  In  December,  1869,  Mr. 
Belledin  returned  to  his  old  home  in  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  in  1870  purchased  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  first  securing 
eighty  acres  in  section  16,  while  later  he 
bought  the  old  homestead  of  one  hundred 
and  twelve  acres  on'  section  9,  so  that  now 
his  landed  possessions  consist  of  one  hundred 
and  .ninety-two  acres  of  rich  and  fertile  land, 
all  in  one  body  and  all  under  an  excellent 
state  of  cultivation.  The  place  is  devoted  to 
the  purpose  of  general  farming,  and  the  at- 
tractive and  substantial  buildings  which  now 
adorn  the  place  were  put  there  by  Mr.  Belle- 
din. He  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
Democratic  party,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church. 

In  1874  Mr.  Belledin  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Elizabeth  Hoose,  who  was  born  in 
Columbus,  Ohio,  in  1852,  and  came  to  this 
county  with  her  parents,  John  and  Jose- 
phine (Fet)  Hoose.  Three  children  have 
been  bom  of  this  union:  Frank,  an  agricul- 
turist of  Clay  township,  is  married  aiid  has 
two  children,  Bertha  and  Marie;  Edward, 
at  home,  who  is  married  and  has  one  child, 
Mabel;  and  John,  who  was  the  first  bo^m 
and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  months. 
Mr.  Belledin  now  draws  a  small  pension  in 
compensation   for  the  valiant  service  which 


he  rendered  his  country  during  the  dark  days 
of  the  rebellion. 

Daniel  Chamberlain.  German  township, 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  includes  among 
its  representative  farmers  and  honored  citi- 
zens Daniel  Chamberlain.  He  is  of  English, 
Scotch  and  German  descent,  and  in  the  pa- 
ternal line  the  family  was  founded  in  this 
country  by  his  grandfather,  Freegift  Cham- 
berlain, who  came  from  England  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  subsequently  took  up  his  abode  in 
Licking  county,  Ohio.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  war,  under  General  Wash- 
ington, and  as  an  incident  in  his  war  life 
it  is  related  that  all  night  long  he  sat  in  a 
tree  top,  with  the  snow  piled  around  him  and 
also  the  Indians  all  about  him.  His  being  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war  entitles  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Chamberlain  and  the  Chamberlain 
descendants  to  become  members  of  the  Sons 
and  Daughters  of  the  Revolution.  His  wife 
was  a  native  of  Scotland.  Their  son,  Wil- 
liam Chamberlain,  was  born  in  Franklin 
county,  Pennsylvania,  February  27,  1800, 
but  removed  with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  where 
the  home  was  established  on  Rattlesnake  creek 
in  Licking  county.  His  journey  to  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  Indiana,  was  made  by  wagon, 
and  his  first  home  was  a  little  log  cabin  of 
the  most  primitive  sort.  There  was  no  well 
upon  the  place,  and  their  water  had  to  be 
carried  a  distance  of  eighty  rods.  His  father 
and  two  brothers  afterward  joined  him  here, 
and  he  became  one  of  the  leading  agricul- 
turists of  the  township,  his  landed  estate  at 
the  time  of  his  death  consisting  of  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-one  aeres  in  the  home  place, 
while  he  also  owned  another  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-two  acres  and  forty  acres 
near  Crumstown.  His  death  occurred  on  his 
old  homestead  on  the  12th  of  December,  1872, 
after  a  life  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits 
except  during  the  period  of  his  young  man- 
hood, when  he  was  engaged  in  coopering. 
He  gave  his  political  support  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church;  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Juliann  Rush,  was  bom  in  Vir- 
ginia on  the  14th  of  April,  1800,  and  died 
here  ait  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Katharine  Rush,  a  native 
of  Germany,  and  after  their  emigration  to 
the  United  States  they  took  up  their  abode 
in  Virginia,  but  later  removed  to  Delaware 
county,  Ohio,  where  their  deaths  occurred. 
They  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  name- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


107^ 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


ly :  Charles,  a  fanner  of  Warren  township ; 
Eli,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fifty  years,  unmar- 
ried; Daniel,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review ;  Elizabeth,  who  married  W.  0.  Jack- 
son, of  German  township,  and  is  now  de- 
ceased; William,  of  Portage  township;  and 
James,  a  restired  farmer  living  in  South  Bend. 

Daniel  Chamberlain  was  born  in  Trenton 
township,  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  May  22, 
1834,  but  in  1847  came  with  his  parents  to 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  the  family  locat- 
ing on  two  hundred  and  thirty-seven  acres  of 
land  which  the  father  had  purchased  about 
one  mile  southeast  of  the  present  home  of 
our  subject.  After  the  marriage  the  latter 
removed  to  the  farm  on  which  he  now 
resides,  dating  his  residence  here  from 
the  first  of  April,  1857,  and  the  place  con- 
sists of  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  in  section 
nineteen,  German  township,  and  he  also  owns 
about  thirty  acres  opposite  his  farm.  He 
has  placed  the  land  under  an  excellent  state 
of  cultivation,  for  only  a  part  of  it  had  been 
cleared  at  the  time  of  the  purchase;  has 
erected  all  the  substantial  buildings  which 
add  so  much  to  its  value  and  attractive  ap- 
pearance, and  the  place  is  especially  noted 
for  its  burr  oak  grove  of  fifteen  acres,  which 
is  used  for  picnic  purposes  and  here  the  fam- 
ily reunions  are  also  held. 

On  the  22d  of  October,  1855,  Mr.  Cham- 
berlain married  Elizabeth  Fisher,  who  was 
bom  in  this  township  August  11,  1835,  a 
daughter  of  Elias  and  Lydia  Fisher,  and  her 
death  occurred  here  on  the  19th  of  February, 
1897.  There  were  no  children  of  this  mar- 
riage, but  he  reared  a  child,  Phoebe  A.,  who 
married  Nathaniel  A.  Frame,  of  Portage 
township.  On  the  24th  of  April,  1898,  Mr. 
Chamberlain  was  united  in  marria^  with 
Mrs.  Lydia  Anderson,  who  was  bom  in  Elk- 
hart county,  Indiana,  near  Milford,  July  3, 
1858,  and  was  the  widow  of  Robert  Ander- 
son. Her  parents  were  Peter  and  Elsie  (Wil- 
liams) Rush.  Mr.  Chamberlain  has  an  uncle, 
Jacob  Rush,  in  Illinois,  and  his  wife's  grand- 
faither,  also  named  Jacob  Rush,  resides  in 
that  state,  but  they  do  not  claim  relationship. 
Mrs.  Chamberlain  had  two  children  by  her 
first  marriage,  Inez  Anderson,  of  South  Bend, 
and  Marie,  the  wife  of  Clifford  Rush,  also 
of  that  city.  Mr.  Chamberlain  has  given  a 
life-long  support  to  the  Republican  party, 
having  voted  for  its  first  presidential  candi- 
date, Gfeneral  Fremont,  and  he  has  been  a 
member   of    the   Gferman    Baptist   Brethren 


church  of  German  township  for  over  twenty 
years,  while  Mrs.  Ohamberlain  belongs  to  the 
Progressive  German  Baptist  ehureh.  Their 
pretty  homestead  is  known  as  **The  Burr 
Oaks  Picnic  Farm, ' '  so  named  on  account  of 
the  natural  oaks  which  have  artood  ever  since 
the  Pottawatomie  Indian  spread  his  wigwam 
underneath  their  branches. 

Edward  M.  Slusser  was  a  native  son  of 
St.  Joseph  county,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  South  Bend  on  the  13th  of  October,  1848. 
His  life  was  strictly  honorable,  upright  and 
just,  and  he  was  always  thoroughly  interested 
in  everything  which  pertained  to  ^e  progress 
of  the  communities  in  which  he  dwelt.  His 
parente,  Abram  and  Margaret  (Marble) 
Shisser,  were  natives  of  Canton,  Ohio,  but 
came  to  South  Bend  in  a  very  early  day, 
and  here  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives, 
where  the  father  was  well  known  as  a  painter 
and  salesman.  In  their  family  were  four 
children,  Henry  B.,  deceased;  Edward  M., 
whose  name  introduces  this  review ;  Sarah  C. 
Barr;   and  Charles  V.,  deceased. 

Edward  M.  Slusser  continued  to  reside  in 
his  native  city  of  South  Bend  until  1878, 
when  he  removed  to  Perry,  Iowa,  and  after 
a  residence  there  of  eight  years,  during  which 
time  he  was  employed  as  a  farmer  and  car- 
penter, he  went  to  Arkansas.  He  continued 
•his  work  as  a  farmer  and  carpenter  until 
his  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death,  which 
occurred  at  his  home  in  Arkansas  on  the  23d 
of  April,  1896. 

In  1872,  ere  his  removal  from  South  B^nd, 
Mr.  Slusser  was  united  in  marriage  to  Adar 
line  Witter,  who  was  bom  in  German  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  October  6,  1846,  a 
daughter  of  George  and  Sarah.  (Miller)  Wit- 
ter. This  union  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of 
one  child,  Emma,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Harry  F.  Ullery,  of  South  Bend,  and  they 
also  have  one  child,  Ernest.  Since  her  hus- 
band's death  Mrs.  Slusser  has  resided  with 
her  mother  and  brother  in  section  31,  Ger- 
man township.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church. 

Charles  E.  Kiepeb,  a  well  known  and 
'highly  esteemed  resident  of  Madison  town- 
ship, has  been  long  and  prominently  identi- 
field  with  its  agricultural  interests  and  be- 
longs to  that  class  of  representative  Ameri- 
cans who  advance  the  general  prosperity 
while  promoting  individual  success.  He  was 
bom  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides, 
April  4,  1860,  and  is  of  German  descent,  for 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Sui 

s  = 

^    e 

I       ® 


pq 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1075 


his  father,  Adam  Kiefer,  was  born  in  the 
fatherland,  and  was  reared  and  received  his 
educational  training  in  the  land  of  his  birth. 
Coming  to  the  United  States  on  a  sailing  ves- 
sel, he  remained  for  a  time  in  the  state  of 
New  York,  and  thence  removed  to  Canton, 
Stark  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  married  to 
Keka  Fulmer,  who  also  claimed  Germany  as 
the  place  of  her  nativity,  but  during  her  early 
girlhood  days  she  came  with  her  parents  to 
the  United  States  and  the  family  home  was 
established  in  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kiefer 
made  the  journey  to  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, with  team  and  wagon,  being  accom- 
panied by  their  three  children,  Elizabeth, 
Caroline  and  Mary  Ann,  and  the  father  se- 
cured eighty  acres  of  heavily  wooded  land. 
The  little  log  cabin  in  which  the  family  first 
resided  in  time  gave  place  to  a  more  sub- 
stantial and  commodious  residence,  a  large 
bam  was  subsequently  added  to  the  many  im- 
provements of  the  place  and  from  time  to  time 
he  added  more  land  to  his  original  purchase. 
On  this  valuable  old  homestead  which  he 
transformed  from  a  wilderness  Mr.  Kiefer 
ended  his  long  and  useful  life,  dying  at  the 
age  of  seventy-seven  years.  His  entire  busi- 
ness career  was  devoted*  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, in  which  he  achieved  success,  and  dur- 
ing his  early  life  in  New  York  and  Ohio  he 
also  worked  at  the  cabinet-maker's  trade.  His 
political  affiliations  were  with  the  Democracy, 
and  he  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
Mrs.  Kiefer  preceded  her  husband  in  death 
four  years,  also  dying  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years,  and  in  their  family  were  nine 
children;  Mary  Ann,  deceased,  Caroline  and 
Elizabeth,  all  bom  in  Ohio;  while  the  re- 
mainder, Barbara,  Adam,  who  died  in  Madi- 
son township,  William,  Emma,  Kate  and 
Charles,  were  bom  in  St.  Joseph  county. 

Charles  E.  Kiefer  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  on  his  father's  home- 
stead farm,  and  he  is  now  the  owner  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  a«  fine  laud  as 
lies  in  Madison  township,  all  well  drained  and 
divided  into  fields  of  convenient  size.  Among 
the  nmny  improvements  which  adjd  to  its 
value  and  attractive  appearance  are  a  large 
nine-room  house,  a  fine  bam,  forty-four  by 
aixty-six  feet  and  a  splendid  orchard.  In  ad- 
dition to  his  general  farming  pursuits  he  also 
devotes  considerable  time  to  his  dairy,  and 
he   raises   excellent  stock. 

When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  Mr.  Kiefer 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Rosa  Moore,  who 


was  barn  in  Wabash  county,  Indiana,  a 
daughter  of  Philip  and  Mary  (Sloop)  Moore, 
the  former  a  native  of  Germany  and  the 
latter  of  Ohio.  The  father  was  twice  mar- 
ried, having  had  six  children  by  his  first 
wife  and  tn'o,  Samuel  and  Rosa  Kiefer,  by 
the  second,  his  death  occurring  when  Mrs. 
Kiefer  was  but  a  babe.  In  his  religious  affilia- 
tions he  was  a  member  of  the  AUbright 
church.  Mrs.  Moore  is  yet  living,  a  resident 
of  Wabash,  Indiana,  and  she  is  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  church.  Five  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mra  Kiefer, — ^Leroy 
Ed,  Laura  Elvina,  Floyd  Carl,  Claude  Ray- 
mond and  Oliver  F.  Mr.  Kiefer  is  a  firm 
friend  of  the  cause  of  education,  is  strictly 
temperate  in  all  his  habits,  and  is  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Elmer  J.  WnrrMER,  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent and  successful  farmers  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  yet 
resides,  in  the  first  frame  house  built  in  Por- 
tage Prairie,  March  26,  1869,  and  is  a  worthy 
representative  of  one  of  the  most  honored 
pioneer  families  of  this  region.  The  family 
is  of  Pennsylvania  German  descent  and  was 
founded  in  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  by 
the  grandparents  of  our  subject,  Abram  and 
Kate  Whitmer,  who  took  up  their  abode 
within  its  borders  in  1830  and  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives  in  Greene  township, 
where  Mr.  Whitmer  entered  land  and  be- 
came a  large  property  owner.  In  their  family 
were  ten  children,  nine  of  whom  lived  to  rear 
families,  and  with  the  exception  of  one,  the 
father  of  Elmer  J.,  all  resided  in  Greene 
township  within  sight  of  each  other's  homes. 
Jacob  M.  Whitmer,  the  eldest  of  the  ten 
children,  and  the  father  of  Elmer  J.,  was 
bom  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  October 
20,  1828,  and  died  June  7,  1902.  He  ac- 
companied his  parents  on  their  removal  to 
Greene  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
in  1830.  He  was  married  at  the  age  of 
twenty-eight  years,  and  with  his  bride  took  up 
his  abode  on  the  farm  now  owned  and  oc- 
cupied by  his  son  Elmer  in  German  township, 
at  first  purchasing  a  small  tract  of  land,  but 
as  he  was  able  he  added  to  his  original  pur- 
chase until  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  left  a 
large  and  well  improved  farm,  while  in  ad- 
dition to  the  homestead  he  owned  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  ninety-three  acres  in  War- 
ren township  on  whicii  his  daughter  now  re- 
sides. When  only  three  years  of  age  he  was 
lost  in  the  woods  of  Greene  township  for  three 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


1076 


HISTORY  OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


days  and  two  nights,  this  being  during  the 
sugar  making  season,  and  he  was  found  by- 
Mr.  McCartney  on  a  brush  pile  unconscious. 
He  spoke  the  Qcnnan  language  only  until 
he  went  to  school,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
German  Baptist  church,  being  one  of  its  most 
active  and  influential  membensi.  His  political 
support  was  given  to  the  Republican  party. 
Mr.  Whitmer  married  Nancy  Miller,  who  was 
bom  in  Union  cdunty,  Indiana,  May  25,  1832, 
but  came  to  this  county  with  her  parents, 
Jacob  and'  Sarah  Miller,  when  young,  and 
her  death  occurred  on  the  homestead  farm 
April  10,  1890.  Jacob  Miller  was  a  native 
of  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  and  Mrs.  Whit- 
mer was  the  eldest  of  his  eleven  children  who 
grew  to  mature  years.  By  her  marriage  she 
became  the  mother  of  four  children,  but  the 
eldest  died  in  infancy,  while  the  second,  Bur- 
ton, died  at  the  age  of  four  years.  The  only 
daughter,  Martha  E.,  is  the  wife  of  Otis  6. 
Harding,  of  Warren  township. 

Elmer  J.  Whitmer,  the  youngest  of  the  chil- 
dren, has  resided  on  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  lives  during  bis  entire  life,  and  his  edu- 
cation was  received  in  Mt.  Morris  College,  of 
Mt.  Morris,  Illinois.  The  homestead  consists 
of  two  hundred  and  eight  acres  of  rich  and 
fertile  land  located  on  section  7,  German 
township,  and  as  it  is  on  the  state  line  three 
acres  are  also  in  Michigan.  It  is  devoted  to 
the  raising  of  grain  and  stock,  the  latter  being 
one  of  the  principal  features,  and  he  has 
thirty-three  head  of  Short-horn  cattle.  On 
the  farm  is  a  beautiful  fourteen-room  house, 
also  a  large  barn  forty-four  by  sixty-eight 
feet,  and  everything  about  the  place  denotes 
Iflie  progressive  spirit  of  the  owner.  Mr. 
Whitmer  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
Republican  party,  and  for  four  years,  from 
1900  to  1904,  served'  as  the  trustee  of  his 
township.  When  only  twenty-two  years  of 
age  he  was  a  member  of  the  advisory  board, 
and  he  has  held  other  minor  oflfioes. 

On  the  twenty-eighth  of  December,  1892, 
Mr.  Whitmer  was  united  in  marriage  to  Nora 
A.  Wenger,  who  was  bom  in  Union  town.^hip, 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  December  9,  1873, 
a  daughter  of  Christian  and  Mary  E.  (Long- 
ley)  Wenger,  also  natives  of  this  county  and 
now  residing  in  South  Bend.  She  was  edu- 
cated in  the  same  college  as  her  husband,  Mt. 
Morris.  Three  children  have  been  bom  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitmer:  Florence  Arlene, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years,  four  months 
and   six   days;   Edna  Pearl   and  J.   Russell. 


Edna  is  in  the  fifth  grade  in  school  and  she 
takes  instrumental  music  and  loves  it  dearly. 
J.  Russell  is  in  the  second  grade. 

Davto  Jordan  has  since  he  came  to  St. 
Joseph  county  about  fifty-three  years  €igo 
been  a  witness  of  very  important  changes  in 
this  vicinity,  and  his  reminiscences  of  the 
early  days  here  are  most  interesting  and  en- 
tertaining to  a  listener.  He  was  bom  in 
Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  in  1841,  and  is  of 
German  parentage,  for  his  father,  Leonard 
Jordan,  was  bom  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  but 
when  a  young  mam  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  bringing  with  him  his  sweetheart, 
Margaret  Jordan,  whom  he  marriec|  after 
their  arrival.  They  continued  their  residence 
in  Columbiana  county  until  their  son  David 
was  a  lad  of  thirteen  years,  when  in  1854  they 
came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  making 
the  journey  hither  by  boat,  railroad  and  team. 
Purchasing  eighty  acres  of  land,  Mr.  Jordan 
built  a  log  cabin  and  began  the  making  of 
a  home .  for  the  family  in  the  wilderness. 
They  became  the  parente  of  tJiree  children, — 
Catherine  Rater,  David  and  John,  the  last 
named  residing  on  the  old  homestead  farm. 
The  father  was  seventy-five  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  and  the  mother  reached 
the  age  of  eighty,  both  having  been  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church.  The  father  gave  his 
political  support  to  the  Democratic  party. 

David  Jordan  was  reared  to  years  of  ma- 
turity on  the  farm  which  he  assisted  to  clear 
and  cultivate,  and  received  his  educational 
training  in  the  old-time  log  school  house.  In 
the  fall  of  1864  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the 
Civil  war,  entering  the  Twenty-second  Indi- 
ana Volunteer  Infantry.  During  the  follow- 
ing winter  he  was  confined  in  the  hospital 
by  measles,  and  suffering  a  relapse  of  the 
disease  his  eyesight  and  hearing  became 
greatly  impaired,  and  he  has  never  fully  re- 
covered form  this  severe  illness.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  from  the  service  in 
May,  1865,  and  returned  to  his  home  in  St. 
Joseph  county,  where  he  now  owns  a  valuable 
estate  of  eighty  acres,  well  improved  with  ex- 
cellent buildings  and  other  substantial  im- 
provements. 

In  1872  Mr.  Jordan  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Caroline  Kiefer,  who  was  bom  in 
Ohio,  but  when  a  child  was  brought  by  her 
parents  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  and  a 
sketch  of  her  father,  Adam  Kiefer,  now  de- 
ceased, will  be  found  elsewhere  on  these  pages. 
Four  children  have  been   born   to  Mr.  and 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


IVil 


Mrs.  Jordan,  but  the  daughters,  Emma  and 
Blanche,  are  de^ieased,  the  former  dying  at 
the  age  of  fourteen  and  the  latter  when 
twenty-four  years  of  age.  Their  two  sons  are 
Otto  C,  who  is  at  home,  and  Pred,  a  young 
m«in  of  twemty-seven  years.  The  Democracy 
reeeives  Mr.  Jordan's  support  and  co-opera- 
tion, and  his  religious  affiliations  are  with  the 
Lutheran  church. 

•  Moses  Gordon  is  numbered'  among  the 
early  settlers  and  prominent  agriculturists  of 
St.  Joseph  county,  and  for  many  years  he  has 
been  actively  associated  with  the  development 
of  Madison  township,  his  residence  here  dat- 
ing from  1871.  He  was  born  in  Fulton 
county,  Pennsylvania,  September  25,  1837, 
and  traces  his  lineage  to  the  land  of  hills  and 
heather  and  to  the  Scottish  chiefs  of  the  high- 
land clans  who  fought  in  the  early  wars  of 
Scotland.  The  grandfather  of  Mr.  Gordon 
of  this  review,  Colonel  Moses  GJordon,  was  a 
native  son  of  Pennsylvania,  and  served  as  an 
officer  of  the  Pennsylvania  militia  during 
the  war  of  1812.  His  son  William,  who  also 
claimed  that  commonwealth  as  the  place  of 
his  nativity,  married  one  of  its  native  daugh- 
ters, Elizabeth  Mann,  whose  father,  John 
Mann,  was  bom  in  that  state  and  was  of 
German  descent.  In  1838  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam Gordon  journeyed  to  Knox  county,  Ohio, 
which  continued  as  their  home  for  four  years, 
and  at  the  close  of  that  period,  with  team 
and  wagon,  they  came  to  Whitley  county, 
Indiana,  being  numbered  ^mong  the  first  set- 
tlers of  that  locality.  In  this  then  frontier 
settlement  they  made  them  a  home  and  spent 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  In  their  family 
were  the  following  children :  Mary,  Susan, 
Valentine  (who  served  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war),  Anna,  Rachel,  Moses,  Philip  (who 
also  served  in  that  conflict),  Rebecca,  John 
(deceased  in  infancy),  Malinda,  Sarah,  Mar- 
tin and  Amanda.  The  mother  was  a  typical 
pioneer  woman,  strong  and  hardy,  and  could 
perform  the  arduous  labor  of  binding  after 
the  cradle.  The  husband  could  catch  a  sheep, 
shear  it,  card  the  wool  and  weave  the  cloth 
for  the  family  clothing.  The  death  of  this 
honored  old  St.  Joseph  county  pioneer  oc- 
curred in  1882,  when  he  had  reached  the  age 
of  eighty-two  years,  long  surviving  his  wife, 
who  had  been  called  to  the  home  beyond  at 
the  age  of  sixty-six.  He  was  a  large  and  well 
built  man,  six  feet  in  height  and  weighing 
two  hundred  pounds.  He  was  an  agricul- 
turist throughout  the   entire  period   of  his 


business  career,  was  a  Jackson  Democrat  in 
his  political  affiiliations,  and  was  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Christian  church,  a  man  whom 
to  know  was  to  honor  and  revere. 

On  the  old  home  farm  which  his  father  had 
developed  from  the  dense  wilderness  Moses 
Gordon  grew  to  sturdy  manhood,  receiving 
his  educational  training  in  the  primitive 
school  near  his  home,  and  to  this  little  tem- 
ple of  learning,  a  log  structure  furnished 
with  the  old-fashioned  fire  place,  slab  seats 
and  benches,  the  little  lad  daily  trudged  three 
and  a  half  miles.  In  1866  he  moved  to  Elk- 
hart county,  Indiana,  and  after  a  residence 
there  of  five  years  came  to  Madison  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  and  purchased  the 
nucleus  of  his  present  homestead.  His  first 
purchase  consisted  of  eighty  acres,  but  with 
the  passing  years  he  added  to  the  tract  until 
he  became  a  large  land  owner.  He  has,  how- 
ever, since  sold  a  part  of  his  farm,  and  is 
now  the  owner  of  two  hundred  acres,  all  rich 
and  fertile  land  and  under  an  excellent  state 
of  cultivation.  Their  firs-t  home  was  a  little 
log  cabin,  sixteen  by  eighteen  feet  in  size, 
with  a  little  loft  overhead  as  a  sleeping  room 
for  the  boys,  but  this  primitive  structure 
was  later  replaced  by  a  larger  and  more 
substantial  log  house,  and  in  time  the  present 
modem'  and  commodious  residence  was 
erected,  containing  eight  rooms.  In  all  these 
homes,  whether  cabin  or  the  more  pretentious 
dwelling,  a  gracious  and  warm  hearted  hospi- 
tality has  been  extended  to  all  who  came,  and 
here  their  children  have  grown  to  an  honor- 
able man  and  womanhood,  an  honor  to  the 
Honored  family  name. 

When  twenty-two  years  of  age  Mr.  Gordon 
married  Elizabeth  Jane  Denny,  who  has  been 
his  faithful  companion  and  helpmate  for 
rearly  half  a  century.  She  was  bom  in 
Wayne  county,  Indiana,  near  Richmond,  No- 
vember 25,  1838,  a  daughter  of  Jesse  and 
Mary  (Grouse)  Denny,  who  were  natives  of 
North  Carolina  but  numbered  among  the  early 
residents  of  Whitley  county,  Indiana.  Both 
are  now  deceased,  the  father  dying  in  1860, 
after  a  life  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  the  mother  died  in  Elkhart  county,  In- 
diana, at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  She 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church.  Mr. 
Denny  gave  his  political  support  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  In  their  family  were  nine  chil- 
dren, of  whom  six  grew  to  years  of  maturity : 
James,  Jesse  who  served  as  a  soldier  in 
the   Civil   war  and  now   lies  buried   in   the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1078 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


southland) ;  Joseph,  who  also  served  as  an 
honored  soldier  in  that  conflict  and  is  now  de- 
ceased; Jiacob,  deceased;  John,  who  offered 
his  life  as  a  sacrifice  to  his  country,  dying 
in  Libby  prison;  and  Elizabeth  J.  Gordon. 

Six  sons  and  one  daughter  have  blessed  the 
union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gordon:  William, 
Mary  E.  Wilson,  John,  Philip,  Edgar  (who 
died  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years),  Martin  and 
Franklin.  The  last  named  was  a  popular 
teacher  in  the  township,  and  the  sons  are  all 
prominent  business  men.  Mr.  Gordon  gives 
his  political  support  to  the  Democracy,  and 
as  its  representative  has  served  as  a  delegate 
to  the  conventions  and'  also  in  the  office  of 
trustee,  to  which  he  was  elected  in  1888  and 
continued  as  its  incumbent  for  seven  years. 
He  has  fraternal  relations  with  the  Masoni(5 
order  at  Wakarusa,  Lodge  No.  448.  Mr.  Gor- 
don has  now  reached  the  Psalmist's  span  of 
three  score  years  and  ten,  but  he  is  yet  strong 
in  body.  In  his  earlier  years  he  was  one 
of  the  strongest  men  in  northern  Indiana, 
weighing  three  hundred  pounds,  and  he  was 
noted  for  his  agility  at  log  rollings,  bam  rais- 
ings and  the  many  other  features  of  the  pio- 
neer days.  By  reason  of  his  well  spent  life 
he  enjoys  the  high  regard  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens, and  Madison  township  is  proud  to  claim 
him  among  her  adopted  sons. 

Andrew  J.  Brennam.vn  has  throughout  his 
entire  business  career  been  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  agricultural  interests  of  ]\Tadi- 
son  township,  but  his  birth  occurred  in  Ohio, 
in  Holmes  county,  April  10,  1851.  His 
father,  Jacob  Brennaman,  who  was  one  of 
the  earliest  residents  of  Madison  township, 
was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania, 
April  13,  1825,  a  son  of  Peter  and  Barbara 
(Bear)  Brennaman,  the  latter  also  a  native 
of  the  Kei'stone  state,  but  the  former  was 
bom  in  Virginia  of  German  parents.  At  his 
death  he  left  two  children,  Jacob  and  John, 
and  the  mother  afterward  married  Ike  Gulp, 
by  whom  she  had  six  children.  Jacob  Bren- 
naman  was  reared  to  mature  years  on  a  farm 
in  Medina  county  in  his  native  commonwealth 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
five  years,  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  Godshal,  who  was  a  native 
daughter  of  that  state.  In  1852  they  came  to 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  locating  in  the 
dense  woods  of  Madison  township  on  the  farm 
of  eighty  acres  where  Mr.  Brennaman  yet 
resides.  Their  finst  house  and  barn  of  logs 
were  afterward  replaced  by  a  modern   and 


conmiodious  residence  and  a  large  barn.  Six 
of  their  children  are  living,  namely:  An- 
drew J.,  Elizabeth,  Susanna,  Lydia,  Mary  and 
Ben  F.  One  son,  Cornelius,  was  killed  by 
the  accidental  discharge  of  a  gun  while  hunt- 
ing. Mr.  Brennaman,  the  father,  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  his  political  aflSliations. 

Andrew  J.  Brennaman  grew  to  manhood's 
estate  on  the  old  home  farm  at  Olodville,  and 
the  first  school  which  he  attended  was  a  little 
log  building  near  his  boyhood's  home,  but  the 
educational  training  which  he  received  in  his 
youth  has  been  supplemented  in  later  years 
by  constant  reading  and  an  extensive  business 
experience.  For  a  time  after  entering  upon 
his  business  career  he  was  employed  in  a 
saw  mill,  and  after  his  marriage,  which  oc- 
curred when  he  was  twenty-four  years  of  age, 
he  located  on  the  farm  on  which  he  yet  re- 
sides, on  section  6,  Madison  township.  Ten 
acres  of  the  place  had  been  cleared,  but  there 
were  no  buildings,  and  he  erected  a  plank 
house  sixteen  by  twenty-two  feet,  which  still 
stands  in  the  rear  of  his  present  residence. 
The  place  is  now  adorned  by  a  modem  brick 
dwelling,  erected  at  a  cost  of  iseventeen  hun- 
dred dollars,  while  the  bam  is  a  lai^e  and 
convenient  building  forty  by  sixty-six  feet, 
with  an  L  forty  by  sixty-two  feet. 

Mrs.  Brennaman  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Mary  Darr,  and  was  born  in  Canada,  but  was 
reared  and  educated  in  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana.  Her  parents,  Henry  and  Hannah 
Darr,  are  both  deceased,  the  former  dying  in 
Elkhart  county,  this  state.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Brennaman  have  become  the  parents  of  five 
children :  John,  who  is  twenty-nine  years  of 
age  and  is  at  home ;  Walter,  a  young  man  of 
twenty-five  years,  is  also  at  home ;  and  Ruth, 
bom  April  25,  1897,  is  attending  school  and 
is  well  advanced  in  her  studies.  Two  of  the 
children  are  deceased,  Sarah,  the  fourth  in 
order  of  birth,  dying  at  the  age  of  three  years, 
and  William,  the  eldest,  died  when  six  years 
of  age.  Mr.  Brennaman  upholds  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Democratic  party.  The  family 
are  well  known  and  honored  in  the  com- 
munity in  which  they  have  so  long  resided, 
and  the  hospitality  of  their  pleasant  home  is 
enjoyed  by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and 
acquaintances. 

JosiAH  G.  KoLLAR,  who  is  one  of  the  be^ 
known  citizens  of  German  township,  comes 
of  good  old  German  stock.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  George  KoUar,  came 
with     his     parents     from     Bremen,     Ger- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1079 


many,  to  New  England,  and  subsequently  took 
up  his  abode  in  Virginia.  His  son,  Adam 
KoUar,  was  born  in  Rockbridge  county  of  that 
state  April  27,  1793,  but  subsequently  went 
with  his  father  to  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  until  his  removal  to  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  his  death  here  oc- 
curring at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  He 
devoted  his  entire  active  business  career  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  was  an  active  fac- 
tor in  the  public  life  of  the  communities  in 
which  he  resided.  During  his  residence  in 
Ohio,  an  election  was  at  one  time  held  in 
his  house,  and  for  a  number  of  terms  he 
served  as  the  trustee  of  his  township.  His 
religious  affiliations  were  with  the  German 
Baptist  church.  Mr.  Kollar  married  Hester 
Ann  Swinehart,  who  was  bom  in  Washing- 
ton county,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  Ohio 
in  1845,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Mary  Swinehart, 
natives  of  Germany.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kollar  were  born  twelve  children,  but  only 
nine  grew  to  mature  years,  namely:  Kath- 
arine Riley,  deceased ;  Sarah  Watkins,  who  is 
now  ninety  yeans  old  and  is  a  resident  of 
Center  township,  St.  Joseph  county;  Susan 
Boskirk,  of  Portage  township;  Eliza  Leech, 
also  of  Center  township ;  Balinda  Wertze,  of 
South  Bend;  John,  deceased;  Josiah  G.,  the 
subject  of  this  review;  Joseph,  of  Allegan, 
Michigan;  andi  David,  of  Oklahoma.  Three 
daughters  died  when  young. 

Josiah  G.  Kollar  was  born  in  Fairfield 
township,  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio,  July  20, 
1824,  and  was  there  reared  to  years  of  ma- 
turity and  remained  until  his  twenty-sixth 
year.  In  1852,  with  his  wife,  father,  brother 
and  two  brothers-in-law,  he  left  his  Ohio 
home  for  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  taking 
up  his  abode  in  Center  township,  where  he 
purchased  one  hundred  and  fifteen  acres  of 
land  and  was  engaged  in  its  cultivation  and 
improvement  -for  two  years.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period,  in  1873,  he  sold  his  prop- 
erty there  and  came  to  German  township,  pur- 
chasing the  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
which  formed  the  Kollar  homestead,  but  this 
he  has  since  divided  among  his  children.  A 
part  of  the  land  had  been  cleared,  but  he 
cleared  the  remaining  seventy  acres  and 
placed  the  farm  under  an  excellent  state  of 
cultivation,  dt  being  devoted  to  stock  and 
grain  purposes.  During  a  period  of  seven- 
teen years  he  also  conducted  a  dairy,  while 
for   thirteen  years  he  operated  a  threshing 


machine,  and  during  his  residence  in  Tus- 
carawas county,  Ohio,  ^he  conducted  a  saw 
mill,  and  in  fact  was  engaged  in  that  occu- 
pation during  the  greater  part  of  his  active 
business  life. 

In  1850  Mr.  Kollar  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Elizabeth  I^eeeh,  who  was  born  in  Jeffer- 
son county,  Ohio,  February  12,  1828,  a 
daughter  of  Benjamin  II.  and  Rachel  Leech, 
who  died  during  the  girlhood  of  their  daugh- 
ter Elizabeth.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kollar  became 
the  parents  of  seven  children,  namely:  Ma- 
lissa  Brown,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fifty 
years;  Adam,  a  resident  of  South  Bend; 
Charles,  an  agriculturist  of  German  town- 
ship ;  William,  who  makes  his  home  with  his 
father ;  Harvey,  of  Penn  township ;  and  Clara 
and  Leona  Dell,  at  home.  Both  of  the 
daughters.  Clara  and  Leona  Dell,  also  the 
son,  Harvey,  formerly  sang  in  the  choir  in 
their  church.  Mrs.  Kollar  is  a  good,  kind 
hearted  mother,  and  a  friend  of  all.  Her 
dierry  nature  and  manner  have  many  times 
been  a  solace  and  comfort  to  her  husband  and 
family.  Mr.  Kollar  has  been  a  life-long 
Kepublican,  and  his  first  presidential  vote 
was  cast  for  Henry  Clay,  and  has  ever 
since  supported  eaeh  Republican  presidential 
candidate  with  the  exception  of  Cleveland. 
He  has  been  elected  to  a  number  of  minor 
offices,  but  has  never  qualified.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  German  Baptist 
church,  he  having  taken  an  active  part  in  its 
work  during  his  younger  days,  and  during 
two  sessions  conducted  the  Sunday-school. 
For  a  time  he  was  also  a  member  of  the 
Grange.  During  the  period  of  the  Civil  war 
he  was  active  in  the  enrollment  of  soldiers 
and  in  the  raising  of  funds,  having  himself 
contributed  eighteen  hundred  dollars  to  the 
cause.  During  the  draft  in  those  dark  days 
he  acted  in  a  manner  which  met  the  full 
approbation  of  all  right  thinking  people. 
He  found  adverse  characters  in  the  raising 
of  funds,  but  by  his  being  a  strong  man 
in  character  and  standing  in  his  township, 
he  overcame  those  adverse  decisions  and 
was  successful,  and  those  adverse  in  be- 
lief came  nobly  to  the  front  and  aided  him, 
where  if  some  other  man  had  had  charge 
of  the  raising  of  funds,  he  would  have  failed. 
]Mr.  Kollar  is  a  gentleman  who  is  known  by 
all  to  stand  firm  in  his  opinions  and  belief 
at  all  times  and  places,  in  both  business  and 
social  relations. 

Jonathan  Jacob  Smith.     One  who  wore 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


1080 


HISTORY   OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


the  blue  during  the  Civil  war,  and  at  all 
times  a  public  spirited  and  loyal  citizen, 
Jonathan  J.  Smith  is  numbered  among  the 
representative  farmers  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
which  is  one  of  the  richest  agricultural  dis- 
tricts in  this  commonwealth.  He  is,  however, 
a  native  son  of  the  fatherland,  for  his  birth 
occurred  in  Germany  November  15,  1846. 
His  father,  Jacob  Smith,  who  was  long  num- 
bered among  the  leading  agriculturists  of 
Union  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  was  also 
bom  in  Germany,  and  in  his  native  land  he 
was  married  to  Mary  Catherine  Beach,  one 
of  its  native  daughters,  and  they  became  th^ 
parents  of  nine  children,  four  sons  and  five 
daughters,  five  of  whom  were  bom  in  Ger- 
many and  the  remaining  four  in  America, 
and  their  son  Jonathan  was  the  eldest  of  the 
children.  In  1854  the  family  crossed  the  At- 
lantic to  the  United  States,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  arrived  in  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,  while  in  1857  they  established  their 
home  in  Union  towiiship,  where  for  a  time 
the  father  farmed  on  rented  land.  Later  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  the  forest  land  of 
Union  township,  which  he  cleared  and  placed 
under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation,  and 
there  he  lived  and  labored  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  when  he  had  reached  the  age 
of  sixty-one  years.  He  had  given  his  politi- 
cal support  to  the  Republican  party,  and  was 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  He  estab- 
lished his  home  in  St.  Joseph  county  in  its 
early  pioneer  days,  and  with  the  passing 
years  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  upbuild- 
ing and  development  of  his  locality,  his  name 
becoming  a  familiar  one  to  its  residents. 

Jonathan  J.  Smith  was  eight  years  of  age 
at  the  time  the  family  took  up  their  abode  in 
Union  township,  and  he  therefore  received 
his  educational  training  in  its  district  schools, 
in  the  meantime  assisting  his  father  to  clear 
and  place  under  cultivation  the  home  place. 
When  the  tocsin  of  wax  sounded  throughout 
the  land  Mr.  Smith  offered  his  services  to  his 
adopted  country,  enlisting  in  1863  in  the 
Eleventh  Michigan  Cavalry,  with  which  he 
served  for  about  twenty  months,  and  then 
returned  to.  the  more  peaceful  pursuits  of 
agriculture  on  the  old  homestead.  In  1905, 
in  company  with  his  sister,  Mary  A.  Smith, 
he  moved  to  his  present  home  place  in  Cen- 
ter township,  the  tract  consisting  of  forty- 
one  acres  of  rich  and  fertile  land,  on  which 
he  has  made  many  valuable  improvements, 
and  he  is  making  of  this  one  of  the  valuable 


farms  of  the  locality.  The  attractive  home- 
stead of  Jacob  and  Mary  A.  Smith  in  Center 
township,  on  the  Michigan  road,  is  known  as 
**The  Maple  Ridge  Farm.''  Although  Mr. 
Smith  upholds  the  principles  of  the  Democ- 
racy, in  local  matters  he  votes  irrespective 
of  party  ties,  casting  his  ballot  for  the  man 
whom  he  regards  as  best  qualified  for  the 
office  to  which  he  is  called.  His  fraternal 
relations  are  with  the  Masonic  fratwroty, 
and  he  and  his  sister  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Wn^LiAM  C.  MHjLER.  This  well  known 
business  man  and  honored  citizen  of  Center 
township  has  throughout  his  active  business 
life  been  prominently  identified  with  the 
agricultural  interests  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
and  has  for  many  years  resided  upon  his 
present  farm.  He  was  bom,  however,  in 
Clark  county,  Ohio,  January  27,  '1840.  His 
father,  John  Mliller,  a  deceased  fanner  of 
Center  township,  was  a  native  son  of  Penn- 
sylvania, but  in  a  very  early  day  the  feip- 
ily  left  that  commonwealth  for  Ohio,  ami  in 
1847  they  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indi- 
ana, taking  up  their  abode  on  what  ift  now 
known  as  the  old  Miller  homestead,  a  tract 
of  one  hundred, and  sixty  acres  which  John 
Miller  cleared  and  imnroved.  This  was  an 
arduous  task,  but  he  succeeded  in  placing  his 
fields  under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation, 
and  his  homestead  became  one  of  the  valu- 
able ones  of  the  township.  Ere  his  removal 
from  Pennsylvania  he  married  Catherine 
Wenger,  a  native  daughter  of  that  common- 
wealth, and  they  became  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  three  sons  and  seven  daughters. 
The  father  gave  his  political  support  to  the 
Republican  party,  and  was  a  stanch  snp- 
porter  of  its  principles,  while  in  the  early 
days  he  was  an  oM-line  Whig.  His  religious 
affiliations  were  with  the  Qermian  Ba|)tist 
church,  and  in  its  faith  he  passed  away  at 
the  age  of  sixty-nine  years  and  seven  months, 
after  a  busy  and  useful  life,  devoted  to  the 
interests  of  his  family  and  fellow  citizens. 

William  C.  Miller,  the  fifth  child  and  sec- 
ond  son  in  order  of  birth  of  his  parents'  ten 
children,  grew  to  years  of  maturity  and  re- 
ceived his  educational  training  in  Center 
township,  attending  its  pioneer  district 
schools.  Tn  the  meantime  he  worked  on  his 
father's  farm,  which  he  helped  clear  and  cul- 
tivate, and  later  he  established  a  home  of  his 
own  bv  his  marriage  on  the  ^Oth  of  Febru- 
ary, 18G6,  to  Mary  E.  L.  Tibbitts,  whose  birth 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


IB 


"s 


Digitized  by 


Google 


THE 
'        NEW  ^  OHK 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


a081 


occurred  in  southern  Indiana,  but  she  was 
brought  to  St.  Joseph  county  when  a  little 
babe  of  only  one  year.  Her  father,  Abner 
Tibbitts,  was  one  of  the  earliest  residents  of 
the  county,  where  he  was  engaged  in  cooper- 
ing, farming  and  shoe-making,  but  his  time 
was  principally  devoted  to  his  coopering 
work.  He  farmed  in  Center  township  and 
other  places,  but  the  later  years  of  his  life 
were  spent  in  the  home  of  Mr.  Miller.  He 
was  a  stanch  Democrat  in  his  political  affilia- 
tions. Three  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Miller:  Frank  A.;  Alta  M.,  de- 
ceased; and  Gertrude  E.,  the  wife  of  George 
Sbafer,  all  of  whom  were  bom  and  reared  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Center  township.  As  a 
representative  of  the  Republican  party  Mr. 
Miller  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  public 
life  of  his  commimity  and  has  served  his 
township  as  supervisor.  He  is  minister  in  the 
German  Baptist  church.  The  family  Is  one 
of  prominence  in  the  community  in  which 
they  have  so  long  made  their  home,  and  their 
beautiful  premises  is  known  as  **The  Sunny 
Banks  Farm." 

Charles  Sumner  Jackson,  who  is  one  of 
the  leading  business  men  of  Center  town- 
ship, where  he  is  extensively  engaged 
in  farming,  stock  raising  and  dairying 
on  section  31,  is  one  of  the  native 
sons  of  St.  Joseph  county,  his  birth  occurring 
in  the  township  of  Union  January  19,  1863. 
His  father,  Edward  Jackson,  was  there  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  for  many 
years,  but  was  a  native  of  the  commonwealth 
of  Pennsylvania,  his  natal  day  being  the  8th 
of  July,  1827.  When  he  was  a  babe  a  j^ar 
and  a  half  old  his  pareiite  left  the  Keystone 
state  and  journeyed  to  Ohio,  where  they  con- 
tinued to  reside  for  about  twenty-six  years, 
and  in  1854  they  came  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiama,  first  purchasing  a  farm  and  estab- 
lishing their  home  in  Union  township.  There 
Edward  Jackson  conducted  a  saw  mill  in 
company  with  hus  father  and  brothers  for 
fifteen  years,  and  in  1869  he  purchased  the 
old  homestead  farm  in  Center  township,  the 
tract  then  consisting  of  one  hundred  acres 
and  the  purchase  price  was  ninety  dollars  an 
acre.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  early 
history  of  this  locality,  and  his  name  was  a 
familiar  one  to  the  pioneer  residents  of  St. 
Joseph  county.  During  his  residience  in 
Union  township  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Eliza  Bolin,  the  wedding  being  celebrated  on 
the  2(>th  of  October,  1859,  and  they  became 


the  parents  of  five  children,  all  born  and 
reared  in  St.  Joseph  county,  namely :  Emma, 
Charles  S.,  Oliver  M.,  Prank  and  Neva.  Mrs. 
Jackson  was  bom  and  reared  in  Ohio,  but  in 
1852  she  became  a  citizen  of  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty, and  her  death  occurred  here  on  the  26th 
of  August,  1884.  Mr.  Jackson  has  given  a 
life-long  support  to  the  Republican  party. 

In  the  district  schools  of  his  native  town- 
ship of  Union  Chairles  Sumner  Jiaekson  re- 
ceived his  early  educational  training,  and  he 
remained  on  the  old  home  farm  until  his 
marriage,  which  was  celebrated  on  the  21st 
of  December,  1887,  Minnie  Kline  becoming 
his  wife.  Her  birth  occurred  in  South  Bend 
January  19,  1863,  where  her  father,  Freder- 
ick Kline,  now  deceased,  was  a  shoe  maker 
for  many  years.  His  birth  occurred  in  Ger- 
many, but  at  the  early  age  of  fourteen  years 
he  came  to  America  with  an  uncle,  locating 
in  Fremont,  Ohio,  afterward  removing  to 
South  Bend,  where  he  engaged  at  his  trade. 
In  Ohio  Mr.  Kline  married  Mary  Darhower, 
by  whom  he  had  four  children,  one  son  and 
three  daughters,  two  of  whom  are  now  de- 
ceased, and  after  the  death  of  the  wife  and 
mother  he  married  Mrs.  Fannie  (Cripe) 
Leer  a  native  daughter  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
v'here  her  father,  John  Cripe,  was  one  of  the 
early  pioneers.  Three  children  were  born  of 
this  union,  Emma,  Minnie  and  Grace.  At 
the  time  of  her  second  marriage  Mrs.  Kline 
was  the  widow  of  Daniel  Leer,  one  of  the 
pioneer  agriculturists  of  Portage  township, 
St.  Joseph  county,  and  they  had  three  chil- 
dren, one  son  and  two  daughters.  One  son 
has  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson, 
Charles  Arthur,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Cen- 
ter township  July  9,  1895. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Jackson 
located  on  his  present  homestead  farm  of 
ninety-five  acres  in  Center  township,  section 
thirty-one,  where  he  erected  his  dwelling,  a 
commodSious  and  substanitial  structure,  re- 
built the  barns  and  has  made  many  other 
valuable  improvements  thereon.  His  politi- 
cal affiliations  are  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  First 
Brethren  church  of  South  Bend. 

Adam  K.  Watkins.  Center  township.  St. 
Joseph  county,  numbers  among  its  represen- 
tative farmers  and  honored  citizens  Adam  K. 
Watkins,  who  has  been  identified  with  the 
interests  of  this  locality  throughout  nearly 
his  entire  life.  His  birth,  however,  occurred 
in    Fairfield   township,    Tuscarawas    county. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1082 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Ohio,  June  24,  1837.  His  father,  John  C. 
Watkins,  who  was  numbered  among  the  hon- 
ored pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county,  claimed 
Maryland  as  the  state  of  his  nativity,  his 
natal  d*ay  being  the  22d  of  February,  1811, 
but  when  he  was  a  little  lad  of  five  years  he 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to 
Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  years  of  maturity 
and  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade.  In  1851 
he  removed  with  his  family  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  locating  on  the  present  Wat- 
kins  homestead  in  Center  towmship,  where 
with  the  aid  of  his  son,  he  cleared  the  land 
of  its  dense  growth  of  timber,  placed  his 
f-elds  under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation, 
and  erected  many  of  the  substantial  improve- 
ments which  now  adorn  the  place.  He  gave 
a  life-long  support  to  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party,  taking  an  active  part  in 
the  early  history  of  his  locality,  and  was  a 
valued  member  of  the  Methodist  church.  His 
death  occurred  on  the  13th  of  November, 
1879,  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  sixty- 
nine  years. 

In  Ohio,  on  the  19th  of  April,  1832,  John 
C.  Watkins  married  Sarah  KoUars,  who  was 
bom  in  that  state  October  11,  1816,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Adam  and  Esther  (Swinehart)  Kol- 
lars,  the  latter  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and 
of  German  descent.  The  father  followed  ag- 
riculture as  his  life  occupation.  Unto  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Kollars  were  bom  twelve  children, 
four  sons  and  eight  daughters,  of  whom 
Sariah,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Watkins  was  the 
second  in  order  of  birth,  and  seven  are  now 
living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watkins  became  the 
parents  of  fourteen  children,  six  sons  and 
eight  daughters,  of  whom  two  died  in  infancy. 

Adam  K.  Watkins,  the  second  son  and 
third  child  in  order  of  birth,  was  a  lad  of 
fourteen  years  when  the  family  home  was 
established  in  St.  Joseph  county,  but  his 
education  was  received  principally  in  his 
native  state  of  Ohio.  The  early  years  of  his 
life  were  spent  in  assisting  to  clear  the  home 
farm,  and  after  his  marriage  he  moved  to 
Michigan,  where  for  fourteen  years  he  was 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Going 
thence  to  Iowa,  he  spent  about  two  and  a 
half  years  in  that  state,  when  he  returned 
to  the  old  homestead  farm  and  has  since  de- 
voted his  time  and  attention  to  its  cultivation 
and  improvement. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Watkins  was  cele- 
brated on  the  11th  of  April,  1861,  when  Eme- 
line  Oilman  became  his  wife.    She  was  bora  in 


Owen  county,  Indiana,  November  13,  1845, 
but  was  reared  in  St.  Joseph  county,  where 
her  father,  Jonathan  Oilman,  was  an  honored 
pioneer  and  leading  agriculturist.  Five  chil- 
dren have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Wat- 
kins: Orlando  Delemar,  Schuyler  C,  Jean, 
Sarah  B.  and  Istaac,  but  the  last  three  are 
deceased.  The  Republican  party  receives  Mr. 
Watkins*  active  support  and  co-operation, 
and  his  religious  affiliations  are  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Tamarack. 

AleXuVNder  Smith.  No  state  in  the  Union 
can  boast  of  a  more  heroic  band  of  pioneers 
than  Indiana,  and  their  privations,  hardships 
and  earnest  labors  have  resulted  in  estab- 
lishing one  of  the  foremost  commonwealths  in 
America,  and  one  which  has  still  greater  pos- 
sibilities before  it.  Numbered  among  these 
brave  early  settlers  of  the  Hoosier  state  is 
Alexander  Smith,  who  is  also  oine  of  its  native 
sons,  his  birth  occurring  on  his  present  farm 
in  Center  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  Janu- 
ary 26,  1839.  His  father,  Colonel  John 
Smith,  was  one  of  the  very  first  to  take  up 
his  abode  within  the  then  wilds  of  Center 
township,  where  he  cleared  and  improved  a 
farm,  and  during  the  war  of  1812  he  served 
as  first  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  Fourth  Regi- 
ment of  the  ninth  military  district  of  the 
state  of  Indiana.  His  birth  occurred  in  Car- 
roll county,  Virginia,  December  13,  1805, 
and  there  he  was  also  reared.  In  1832  he 
made  the  overland  journey  to  South  Bend, 
Indiana,  where  he  received  the  contract  for 
the  cutting  of  the  Michigan  foad,  and  the 
year  following  his  arrival  here  he  purchased 
the  farm  yet  owned  by  his  son  Alexander  of 
John  Roher,  the  tract  consisting  of  eighty 
acres,  and  he  immediately  began  the  arduous 
task  of  clearing  the  land  and  placing  the 
fields  under  cultivation.  He  first  erected  a 
little  log  cabin  home,  primitive  in  its  every 
appointment,  and  where  a  blanket  served  the 
purpose  of  a  door.  He  later  erected  a  saw 
mill  on  his  farm,  and  with  the  passing  years 
he  .  added  to  his  original  purchase  until  he 
became  the  owner  of  six  hundred  acres,  his 
entire  business  career  being  devoted  to  its 
cultivation  and  to  his  lumber  interests.  His 
busy  and  useful  life  was  ended  when  he  had 
reached  the  venerable  age  of  eighty  years, 
dying  on  the  old  farm  which  he  had  carved 
from  a  wildness  to  one  of  the  most  valuable 
homesteads  in  the  township. 

In   his  native  county  of   Carroll  Colonel 
John   Smith   was  married  to  Mahala  Hall 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1083 


who  was  also  bom  in  that  .county,  November 
^^6,  1809,  and  the  following  children  blessed 
their  union :  Mary  Jane,  bom  May  13,  1831 ; 
George  Smith,  deceased,  bom  February  3, 
1833;  William,  deceased,  bom  April  10, 
1837;  Sarah  Ann,  deceased,  bom  December 
20,  1835;  Charles,  deceased,  bom  February 
17,  1841 ;  Martha  Ellen,  born  May  22,  1842 ; 
Nancy  Alice,  December  11,  1845;  Christina, 
deceased,  bom  January  30,  1847;  John 
Frank,  deceased,  bom  May  31,  1849;  and 
Mahala,  deceased,  bom  September  26,  1853. 
All  of  the  children  were  born  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Center  township  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  eldest,  whose  birth  occurred 
m  Virginia. 

Alexander  Smith,  the  fiftli  in  order  of 
birth  of  his  parents*  children,  received  his 
elementary  education  in  the  district  schools 
of  hi^  native  township  of  Center,  later  pur- 
suing a  two  years'  course  in  the  University 
of  Notre  Dame.  In  1859  he  journeyed  to 
the  golden  state  of  California,  and  thenee  to 
Oregon,  where  for  four  years  he  was  asso- 
c^-'ted  with  the  cattle  business,  selling  out  at 
the  expiration  of  that  period  and  going  to 
Nevada,  where  for  several  years  he  pros- 
pected in  the  silver  mines  of  that  and  other 
western  states.  During  his  residenee  in 
Nevada  he  took  an  active  part  in  its  early  his- 
tory, and  he  helped  to  ratify  the  constitution 
of  that  state  and  Oregon  at  the  time  of  their 
admission  into  the  Union.  In  1871  Mr.  Smijth 
returned  to  his  old  home  in  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty, but  after  his  marriage,  which  occurred  in 
the  same  year,  he  returned  to  Oregon,  there 
spendmg  two  years,  and,  returning  again  to 
his  home  here,  purchased  forty  acres  of  the 
old  homestead,  where  he  erected  his  present 
residence  and  also  made  the  many  other 
valuable  improvements  which  now  adorn  the 
place.  With  the  passing  years  he  has  also 
added  to  his  original  tract  until  his  home- 
stead now  consists  of  two  hundred  and  five 
acres  and  he  also  has  other  property  in  the 
county.  Throughout  his  life  he  has  been 
an  active  man,  and  his  familiarity  with  the 
scenes  of  many  of  the  occurrences  of  historic 
interest  both  in  the  central  and  western 
states,  make  him  an  instructive  and  enter- 
taining companion. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  1871,  shortly  after 
his  first  return  from  the  west,  Mr.  Smith  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Emeline  Myers,  who 
was  born  in  Penn  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,    May    12,    1846,    the    daughter    of 


Vol,   11—81. 


Henry  Myers,  one  of  the  honored  early 
pioneers  of  this  county.  His  birth  occurred 
in  Virginia,  but  in  a  veiy  early  day  he  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  and  thence  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana.  Mrs.  Myers  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Lydda  KlingJer,  and  was  a 
native  daughter  of  Ohio.  By  her  marriage 
to  Mr.  Myers  she  became  the  mother  of  ten 
children,  four  sons  and  six  daughters,  of 
whom  Mrs.  Smith  was  the  seventh  child  in 
order  of  birth.  She  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Penn  township,  where  her  father 
was  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists.  He 
was  a  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations, 
and  his  death  occurred  when  he  had  reached 
the  sixty-fifth  milestone  on  the  journey  of 
life.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Smith,  namely:  Hallie,  born  in 
Oregon  on  the  16th  of  July,  1872;  Pearl, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  Center  township, 
•  September  20,  1874;  and  John  D.,  also  born 
in  Center  township,  November  24,  1876. 
Since  age  conferred  upon  him  the  right  of 
franchise  Mr.  Smith  has  supported  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Democratic  party,  and  his  fra- 
ternal relations  connect  him  with  the  Masonic 
order,  he  being  a  member  of  the  Blue  Lodge, 
No.  45,  at  South  Bend. 

Jonathan  IIartman.  A  prominent  farm- 
er of  Center  township,  Jonathan  Hartman 
has  from  an  early  period  in  the  development 
of  St.  Joseph  county  resided  within  its  bor- 
ders. His  birth,  however,  occurred  in  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  August  13,  1831.  His  father, 
Daniel  Hartman,  who  was  for  a  long  period 
identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  of 
Indiana,  was  a  native  son  of  Pennsylvania, 
but  during  his  young  manhood  he  removed 
from  that  commonwealth  to  Ohio,  where  he 
was  married  to  a  native  daughter  of  the  Key- 
stone state,  Catherine  Shull,  their  union  hav- 
ing been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  eight  children, 
live  sons  and  thr<^  daughters,  of  whom  Jon- 
athan was  the  eldest  in  order  of  birth.  In 
1843  the  family  journeyed  to  Indiana,  estab- 
lishing their  home  in  DeKalb  county,  where 
the  mother  passed  away  in  death  when  her 
children  were  young,  but  the  father  reached 
the  seventy-fourth  milestone  on  the  journey 
of  life  ere  he  was  called  to  the  home  beyond, 
dying  in  St.  Joseph  county.  He  supported 
the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  and 
was  a  worthy  and  valued  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church. 

Jonathan  Hartman  was  reared  and  re- 
ceived  his  educational  training  in   DeKalb 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1084 


HISTORY   OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


county,  Indiana,  but  in  1852  he  became  a 
citizen  of  St.  Joseph  county,  where  he  was 
first  employed  at  various  occupations,,  having 
spent  much  time  in  the  arduous  ta^  of  clear- 
ing new  land.  He  worked  earnestly  and  dili- 
gently during  the  early  years  of  his  life,  but 
his  efforts  were  rewarded  with  success,  and 
he  was  soon  able  to  buy  a  farm  of  his  own. 
At  the  time  of  his  marriage  he  purchased  his 
present  place  of  fifty-nine  acres  in  Center 
township,  about  half  of  which  he  has  cleared, 
and  all  the  improvements  which  now  adorn 
this  valuable  homestead  stand  as  monuments 
to  his  excellent  ability  and  unfaltering  in- 
dustry. In  addition  he  also  owns  another 
farm  of  seventy-three  acres  near  by,  a  part 
of  which  he  has  cleared,  and  he  has  a  valuable 
growth  of  timber  of  twelve  acres. 

In  October,  1865,  Mr.  Hartman  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  (Ruaaell)  Locke, 
the  widow  of  William  Locke,  an  agriculturist,' 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  four  children. 
She  was  born  and  reared  in  Indiana,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Russell,  who  was  for  many 
years  identified  with  the  agricultural  inter- 
ests of  this  state.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hart- 
man  have  been  bom  four  children,  Clara, 
Elmer,  Ira  and  Perry,  all  of  whom  were 
bom  in  Center  township.  Mr.  Hartman  has 
given  a  life-long  support  to  the  Democratic 
party,  and  is  numbered  among  the  public 
spirited  and  progressive  citizens  of  Center 
township. 

Habrison  Deppbn.  This  honored  and  highly 
respected  citizen  and  agriculturist  of  Center 
township,  St.  Joseph  county,  is  a  representa- 
tive of  one  of  the  prominent  pioneer  fami- 
lies of  the  county.  His  birthplace,  how- 
ever, was  Stark  county,  Ohio,  and  his 
natal  day  the  4th  of  March,  1841.  His 
father,  William  Deppen,  for  many  years 
a  leading  agriculturist  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,  was  bom  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1809,  but  in  his  young  manhood  he  removed 
to  Stark  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  the  tilling  of  the  soil,  and  he  was  there 
married  to  Mary  Hilderbrand,  a  native 
daughter  of  the  Buckeye  state.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  four  children, — Lydia, 
Caroline,  Amanda  and  Harrison,  but  two, 
Caroline  and  Amanda,  are  deceased,  and  all 
were  bom  in  Ohio.  In  1849  the  family  made 
the  overland  journey  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,  where  the  father  purchased  one 
Imndred  and  fifteen  acres  of  virgin  land  in 
Center  township.    As  the  years  passed  by  he 


cleared  his  farm  of  its  native-growth  of 
timber,  placed  his  fields  under  an  excellent 
state  of  cultivation,  and  in  time  this  became 
one  of  the  valuable  homesteads  of  the  com- 
munity. He  gave  a  life-long  support  to  the 
Republican  party,  and  was  a  valued  member 
of  the  Genman  Bajxtist  church,  passing  away 
in  its  faith  when  he  had  reachwi  the  age  of 
seventy-six  years. 

When  a  little  lad  of  eight  years  Harrison 
Deppen    accompanied   the    family   on   their 
removal  to  St.  Joseph  county,  and  in  Union 
and  Center  townships  he  received  the  educa- 
tional training  which  fitted  him  for  life's  ac- 
tive duties.     He  assisted  his  father  in  clear- 
ing the  old  home  place,  being  early  inured  to 
the  work  of  the  farm  in  all  its  departments, 
and  Y^th  the  passing  years  he  established  a 
home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage,  on  the  1st 
of  March,  1873,  to  Harriet  Wynn.    She  is  a 
native  daughter  of  St.  Joseph  county,  bom 
November   3,    1849,    and   her    father,    John 
Wynn,  was  numbered  among  Union   town- 
ship's most  honored  pioneer's.    He  took  up  his 
abode  within  its  borders  in  a  very  early  day, 
cleared  and  improved  a  valuable  homestead, 
and  became  one  of  the  township's  foremost 
citizens.      He    became    the    father    of    six 
children  by  his  first  marriage,  to  the  mother 
of     Mrs.     Deppen,    while    by    his    second 
marriage  he  had  seven  children.     Mr.  and 
Mrs.    Deppen   have   three    children,   Addle, 
Grace  and  Charles,  aU  of  whom  were  bora 
and  reared  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in 
Center  township.    Addie  fini^ed  the  eighth 
grade  in  the  public  schools,  and  she  makes  her 
home  with  l^r  parents.     Qrace  received  her 
diploma  from  the  common  schools,  and  then 
attended  the   Commercial   College  in  South 
Bend.     Receiving  her  teacher's  diploma,  she 
taught  in  German  township,  then  took  three 
terms'  work  at  the  Indiana  Northern  College. 
She  then  taught  successfully  four  years  in 
Center  township.    She  is  the  wife  of  Arthur 
Ort,  a  resident  of  Sumption  Prairie,  where  be 
is  an  excellent  farmer.  Charles  received  his  di- 
ploma at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  April  11, 
1896,  and  then  took  a  course  at  the  Business 
College  of  South  Bend.    Receiving  .his  teach- 
er's certificate,  he  taught  a  term  in  his  home 
township,  then  entered  the  Northern  Indiana 
Normal,  where  he  remained  for  four  terms. 
He  then  taught  four  years  in  Center  township. 
He  makes  his  home  with  his  parents.   Mrs.  Dep- 
pen was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and 
in  her  life  work  she  has  ever  been  ready  in 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


r\ 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by 


Google 


jii^'L'uKr  "F  i-r   .    -'  5'  f  ( oy\'i  V 


I  •>.'. 


*.•  .  f..  .  I  .".,.1  .'mUi.'c  t<'  iiiM-  lii:>'^ci^i({  ill  Jl.t'  i'>- 

■  'i  ':►   i  '*'L'?.L{*  <.j]'"jr  F;i>-i'\  " 
At    :]      luiio   of   Ih-i   . '.-:  ■]•■/>>   Mr.    I>i-j>i><ai 

li'  I  .>v  '.u  lis  oiit'  !.M!i(ii't  u  .-ind  thi* '  ■•  ti  I  t  "S 
.►;■  ::<•'!  tuvi  ti  rJ<*  Ia:.tL  v.  :.;.'h  lit'  ii.u^  j/- ••■';^ 
;  ■•'u'l-  ;*:i  <'\.'  ^i\  lit  >f.tt*  '»}"  v./iMv :.'.  ;t  ij  ;  ]■  1 
,.>  i.ly*  t.'}tt'^(l  !:■■  M:'":.y  a-;,!  .^iil.-i  iMt  ;:i 
lit  i  ...>   V  hj'h   :i''«'   '".\\    M'x  i\   en    th-^   j)';t^'<- 


} 


,:i\ts  [•:<   [M.'iti 


1 


O     IfH'      ltt-{,li|)- 


*■•;■:'    [»'!;*'y.   ]>iit    is'    ],n    11*4    *.'M-i.(i    i.^'    f  i;"\ 

■  ■>   ..t;*!   v  u->;   lo' i;-')    *''M-   tln^  Ti'ti'.   v. '".mi   In' 

V.Kif)    B.    !''':'<  K.     wt.c   ot'   the.  <nNr['rs- 
,-:<_,   MtN,wn>s'M'  nr'J    It';:-!' .i.i:   a;:n('itlt  Ui 'sis  of' 

*  .  .1.  v-;a  <- aiiily  L--  A'.^'i   •]   !».   rncK,  \vit">e 
.    ;•.!'■<'  fi!)ni'\^'tM«l    1>   k-i'i!t**<l  on  s^H-iiofi   1'?. 

*  -■':•.  V    »,>'■!  -li]p.      lie    v.a>    b-)>ii    in    >;a*-k 
:  .  "vy     kKi\\   Jar.naiy   »:',    l-^iS.   ^^!l'•■•    u\* 

.•.in^    :»a(l   i'fSi(ir«1  i'*>r  n-a'\v  ycj--^  aral  ^v."- 

•  ' ■.o.;i!ii"^t    in  1n*^  i(H'al   ii'-^to'-y  <jr  tlulr  viM'-- 
.■■j:i:y.     11  i^  fa'li-r.  .\l'raiia«ii  I'>,  K'-.'-k,  nh.» 

'•'..»'■'   oil'   oi   th»     nn>^t    pro'i    :i"'it    aL"\'' i'- 

'   '    W  I  .!]•;.■' •■laiiJ   county.    !'<  T..i-'  K  aula.    '»':^ 

'"'■}}  oi_\'  ^D'.rt-'ini  yeajs  of  a  ;>    in'  a'''<'o:iii<.i- 

;    -d    h  <    p-'i'^'Mis   t»n    *"bcir    ''»':'h)»ai    to    "  Vii-t, 

.■..  iv-  h'    tN'JM[)It't«'d  L's    '*'«i.':.i:.  ;'a!   Trrn'*-:, 

■  •.I    ,\  .;s   iiMi'rii'c'    m    li-a.t    c^'iTiii '>;  .^t';lli.    ;'• 
"<.'-:^:  K";n'..'.  \\  i.(>>'^  l»irf  h  0''«  nrr-   i  .n  >c:«iir- 

:     •'•!.iit\.     IN-'M'-^.v  :\  "^'a.      ^lu-    was    al>.'> 

■>.   •  d  ii-   <Jhii«,  ai'tl  tii'v    !}♦'<  :']•♦•  Till*  jjrt.r- r.i^ 

:    !    ti     I    '■livn,  vr\  -n  .'^'Mi>  and  trrv-*  d*    ,':n- 

.  ;-     .•!    ^aImmi   v\.l":'t^d   li.    i-   Ta*^    ftiuri:'.  '-a    M"! 

.  •  •  •»    'M   h.'-^j.     In   1^"'7  liie  fanniy  i-t'Ui.'tvd 

-!.    d'-s.  ;  h    <*o!!U\.    F.d^ana.    '>i<Jll"-''"/^ 

*  ■■   t  o:^'  in   r<!i*   I    UM.a-^hip    v/' ,  i'(^   AK^a- 

*  K'    li.    Frii'k   p  ii^^diaM'd    «<r'^'    hnnt!Tf^l    and 

■  ;•  ■'•■-^  ,»-■  land.     1!«    rl.ar  d  b'^  Fntl  (r^y-w 

^     '    :   '    .'    j:'n\.  Ml    ,;t    t.i'iK.-i*,    plat-rd    tli*rf-»h 

;;,  '  'y  a  wl  \"i-iai  '»   in«pi ov/^n^'nt  wl'itdi 

•».    ;!;,     iv    '-.-,    'in. I    /.."-ot   d    t]\.*    tv- 

:  ■'•  r    nf      i:.-    i:i  *    T"    it  i    f'n.l  ^'al  ioii         II' 

;-,    i' r  '  .    M.it  in  :in'  *•  M-'.y  };:^t<>rv  of  tlv; 

:  :!    I    tjl.s    h^ls>     -t'l  {     Us    fa!     'ih>    w.  ^ 

1    1^1    .    ■•,:;,    \\K.'r.    lir    i*a-hrd    liio   au'*'    '>^' 

:     '      :m.»    '.-■•s.   ,it    \\ln;di    i  ai-  t^n-w   pa -.-■•  d 

•  .  \^s    •'"•,;'  l!l'i:ly    OIJO    or    iLs    J'M,^t     \'.d'!    d 

>..'!     '/,      ['•'.'d^    ^'..'^    rt'N]'td    to    vv'fr--;    'f 

I  ■■  ;,     •  .d   I'*-.'-'. v' '  I   his  odn"ationa'   {r.;"n- 

.li  '  •  '  :■•»•  *o^^-n-!'.p.  a»id  in  th.'  nn-.»ntnn.'- 

■   -    '  -.^.  a  '-n/iv  cnii'.iu't  d   in   tic  work   (tf  tin* 


*■>]•'        .  ■■    ^i    ..  J      w:    .  a-ari;  i^    aiK^    p:  v    .  i^    Av 
r-.O-      :   .  ■     •        I    ■  ••■       n.       )!■:    '\i^^V   .>V'ii'    J!  >     V- 

■i.   •■*>    '  '  ;.    ,•  ai    '•  »....  i.Me    ian-'     ot:     '\  'f  -*! 

};*■  '     -  '   •   .>*:^    '  .i    >,  '..  .    \nd  ^nij^ia-  *  <i\ 

In    'i-i  V    •         .^     *!■:.•    ^a.^    1;  i  ;;'    n  .-n    ''O.ii- 

]>••».'     '.'1,.   .  M'         <  .'d-nt-'"     1  a    111-  ».%     Oi"     (("/'»• 

:  '^^ .     .  n.      •  :    '  -^T.'   A-!     ^da;  k  -  ,\us  nuiVd    n 

J-.  :*     •.■'■'■    •    *    ■..•■     V    \l       :       wh'^N,.    b'Tth    0'>-;;.-i-.>d 

'I.  .*  \ ';>;  i\  jr.  •-.  *!:  ■  •^*::*  lit!  s!a^  u.-y  r«-»'i'U 
n  '  ■('•;r  t-.- \  o  ^  i: ;  f  •  '?i  >l.  ^lo^^d'^i-  fv  :n\. . 
■•  ;  .'  •■;■  '.'I-  ''.  •''••'!  aid,  n-jitN^.-d  i!i  an  rai  !y 
'ia^,  U'.v  .-;,•..  r  ' . '■'  r.  of-a'-i'taj  in  (itT- 
I-:  ;'  \ .  ;  n  i  '!»'  Vw'.^  d-  -  -  n-.'r  ri'  d  t.^  0  .d-  !*iur 
\'  '  : -r.  .  ,N->  i.  1^  *.\'  -i'  !*:■*  I'\.t}a'rl;  nri,  and 
U. -v  f>'  -.a-  ;■.>'  pa.  '-  -4'  o.i^h.i  rhiidren 
>>.\  v<'a<  oMd  t'lni  da-t-dit-'ts  h.-\t'  h  ^'ii  born 
lo  liv  a:  i  \I"s  Fi".'i  -iM-a---.'^  jjcnry.  Ai- 
b-'-r.  l!:i-.:.r.  Walt-f,  Ji'-  no  n  da^.-io, 'i:d.dh 
<t'  d  ti.  -'J.'.  ■"'  .if  \%'a..rn  '\**M'  n"»  f  and  roared 
Ml  <  '■*  ■••  M'wnN^di'.  M ••  I'd -'iv  affiiniU'*^  wilii 
kt'  ')  a;  "  i'ar\  ,  liat  hr  !>-■  n.»i  "nnunt.l  by  [.a*:} 
1  -  s.  ,,'■  1  i.^  nnni: '-r« -1  au  f'  j  li  ,  ['n.d-<-  sT-.r- 
;**   ■•   an«i   "anin  tr  'd'l/rPs  of  '.'rti*.   ■•  t^v'-'.  M-ld{ 

.."  <■>(  v..  d..NM^,;s,  d.  •■;;\^.(b  W.iS  IJ'ini- 
b'-rtnl  ani-oi:  Uu-  fariiest.  nio.  a-,.-,  and  lcidd^'( 
atrricn  '  i'  ;>  n{  M.  dv«>-i\vd  CMniV.  '\noai 
to  knt»\v-  \  ^  '^(»  p-^hani  and  'i*  ta>r.  lie  was  a 
nri^iva*  '■*'  ;  ia^  Ivnpir*  »s.,.i.  of  X.-w  ^  o.-k,  born 
in  l^'^'b  a  •  .'OJ'  .d'  Jana's  at  ni*  ri-js.  A  nioi't- 
<'oinf»I'b-  M:.^to"a-ul  r('"."*d  nl'  tlui  JfTMd..,'>i 
i'Ai\>''i  'Alii  \h:  fv'iual  'ii  ;!a  m^'U  h  *>!'  ^;un•n'l 
dvai'!  '  _s  Ml  tiiv  vu?k.  In  n\s  nat'.vi'  (v  ni- 
na.n'.\a-dMi  d  -s^**  \V.  dr.ai:,j>  ]»airn'*d  bi^ 
ii'i'''-  •  i'  ^b' '  .itak  f!. .  .,d  ii'Man;,^  bi.s  •\ifiv' 
a  ai  ;■'>/!  f' '  ^n  •  'i  n  <  ".''^'a,  ad.  Ohio.  'v\  her' 
lio  \^  ts  ir:h  ; 't'd  n-  «-nc  »'f'  !'  -  f..\ 's  n'M''>  * 
(bun'htta-s,  d,  t*;.  Ann  F-  '/  >'  b*--  i>ir  ft  .>•'- 
(!nr'in<r  ;:•  '[^•\  la  {•  >^'  d  r-  •(  "-nnd  ;.:m  '-.nne 
lo  M.  d.  .-I  .  •  ,1.  .,  !  •..;  •:  :  i,  :-  r-.a^r  an  1 
takiitL:  •((»  his  abwle  {*n  h,  jc-rri  in  td..\  to-vj,. 
^b'p  li'*  sab^' iLi'-nt '\  '-'-tni'i/d  to  Fl«  ^'-> 
'•I'M.  i  '■:  .I'Ua'  /aird  r'^  *■  n  ]•>•*(-,*  b  <:  \\.  ,  ;.o 
St  .1..^  '.  1  '•.;,,;}'.'  ,.»  ■'  >.  (d;  \'  t->vf'  :.ip. 
u'it  '•!■  !i^'  •  »-i/ad  j"  'a  -.a  ;  .  '<nn.  d  ys  .vj 
p  -"^  a  "n;  a'.<  I  c  il  ,•*,  mm;  .■  "'  i  .• .' ;--  / 
}i»'a''j'  ...ov-d  b'la  Jo  :  a  \ »-  t)  /->itfi  t'»  a* 
IJ-  a.:  '■,  )->.-rw'j.  (-.  -..  t.  "..  *  Id"  .-onntv 
f;-T-»*.  i.  (  ■  j.'"r  n."  1^1.  ;■  '  :  :t  ;;,.rr  f  ..,•.- 
a^'M'"  .-  :  f  ;:  •'•  i  ,o  !.->  ',  ,.  ,-•  ,  M.  • ;. 
r- a'a    -d  .'    -.  ri'  i      a      !  -■  ■•    a<^    t  f  -'     ^  ^  .     .     '^^    ^ 

*;.-  .   .     "»;      [*.   •:      ',•     ♦    .  '  I':-J  .  ''^      '.        .;u      »    ■,. 

,!-  •  -   ,o'   i.y.M'    1.,.;   .1.  .  ,'    -  .,  .  .'    ,     ;       •    -    .       ^  .        :  t 

:•'.     to    .  : .  -■-  ,..<  ■       ..:•.:..  ;•    1 

^r,  d.-  t;  i..    .  '*.     -    ..<-  '■  ..      ',-  ^   •■• 


•  Digitized  by  LjOOQIC 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1085 


counsel  and  advice  to  her  husband  in  the  es- 
tablishment of  their  pretty  home,  known  as 
**The  Cottage  Glenn  Farm.'' 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Deppen 
moved'  just  across  the  road  from  where  he 
had  lived  since  his  early  boyhood  days,  where 
he  now  owns  one  hundred  and  thirteen  acres 
of  rich  and  fertile  land,  which  he  has  placed 
under  an-  excellent  state  of  cultivation,  and 
has  also  erected  the  many  and  substantial 
buildings  which  are  now  seen  on  the  place. 
He  gives  his  political  support  to  the  Repub- 
lican party,  but  he  is  not  bound  by  party 
ties  and  votes  locally  for  the  man  whom  he 
regards  as  best  qualified  for  oflBce. 

Alfred  B.  Frick.  One  of  the  enterpris- 
ing, progressive  and  leading  agriculturists  of 
St.  Joseph  county  is  Alfred  B.  Frick,  whose 
valuable  homestead  is  located  on  section  12, 
Center  township.  He  was  bom  in  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  January  29,  1848,  where  the 
family  had  resided  for  many  years  and  were 
prominent  in  the  local  history  of  their  com- 
nmnity.  His  father,  Abraham  B.  Frick,  who 
became  one  of  the  most  prominent  agricul- 
turisrts  of  Center  township,  was  a  native  son 
of  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  but 
when  only  thirteen  years  of  age  he  accompa- 
nied his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Ohio, 
where  he  completed  his  educational  training, 
and  was  married  in  that  commonwealth  to 
Sarah  Kring,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Somer- 
set county,  Pennsylvania.  She  was  also 
reared  in  Ohio,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  ten  children,  seven  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  Alfred  B.  is  the  fourth  son  in 
order  of  birth.  In  1857  the  family  removed 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  establishing 
their  home  in  Center  township,  where  Abra- 
ham B.  Frick  purchased  one  hundred  and 
four  acres  of  land.  He  cleaned  his  land  from 
its  native  growth  of  timber,  placed  thereon 
all  the  many  and  valuable  improvement  which 
now  adorn  the  place,  and  devoted  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  to  its  cultivation.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  the  early  history  of  the 
locality,  and  his  busy  and  useful  life  was 
ended  in  death  when  he  reached  the  age  of 
eighty-two  years,  at  which  time  there  passed 
from  this  community  one  of  its  most  valued 
citizens. 

Alfred  B.  Frick  was  reared  to  years  of 
maturity  and  received  his  educational  train- 
ing in  Center  township,  and  in  the  meantime 
he  was  actively  engaged  in  the  work  of  the 


old  homestead,  in  clearing  and  placing  the 
fields  under  cultivation.  He  now  owns  forty 
acres  of  rich  and  valuable  land,  on  which 
he  has  placed  many  valuable  and  substantial 
improvements,  and  he  has  long  been  niun- 
bered  among  the  leading  farmers  of  Center 
township.  In  1876  Mr.  Frick  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Lena  Rock,  whose  birth  occurred 
in  Pennsylvania  in  1860,  but  she  was  reared 
in  Center  township  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
whither  her  father  had  removed  in  an  early 
day.  His  birth,  however,  occurred  in  Gter- 
many,  and  he  was  there  married  to  Catherine 
Novice,  also  a  native  of  the  Fatherland,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  eight  children. 
Six  sons  and  three  daughters  have  been  bom 
to  Mr.. and  Mrs.  Frick; — George,  Henry,  Al- 
bert, Harriet,  Walter,  Reuben,  Maggie,  Edith 
and  Bessie,  all  of  whom  were  bom  and  reared 
in  Center  township.  Mr.  Frick  aMiates  with 
the  Democracy,  but  he  is  not  bound  by  party 
ties,  and  is  numbered  among  the  public  spir- 
ited and  leading  citizens  of  Center  township. 
Jesse  W.  Jennings,  deceased,  was  num- 
bered among  the  earliest  pioneers  and  leading 
agriculturisrts  of  St.  Joseph  county,  whom 
to  know  was  to  esteem  and  honor.  He  was  a 
native  of  the  Empire  state  of  New  York,  bom 
in  1809,  the  son  of  James  Jennings.  A  more 
complete  historical  record  of  the  Jennings 
family  will  be  found  in  the  sketch  of  Samuel 
Jennings  in  this  work.  In  his  native  com- 
mon wealth  Jesse  W.  Jennings  learned  his 
trade  of  shoemaking,  and  during  his  early 
manhood  he  went  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where 
he  was  married  to  one  of  the  city's  native 
daughters,  Mary  Ann  Pearse,  her  birth  oc- 
curring in  1811.  In  1830  Mr.  Jennings  came 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  entering  and 
taking  up  his  abode  on  a  farm  in  Clay  town- 
ship. He  subsequently  returned  to  Cleve- 
land, "but  afterward  again  made  his  way  to 
St.  Joseph  county  and  to  Clay  township, 
where  he  cleared  a  farm  and  continued  its  im- 
provement and  cultivation  until  failing 
health  caused  him  to  remove  to  South  Bend. 
He  later,  however,  bought  the  old  county 
farm  in  Center  township,  but  a  short  time 
afterward  returned  to  his  old  place,  there 
remaining  until  he  became  the  owner  of  a 
farm  in  Portage  township,  which  now  con- 
sists of  four  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  At  one 
time  his  estate  consisted  of  over  six  hundred 
acres.  His  reputation  was  unassailable  in  all 
trade  transactions,  and  by  the  exercise  of  in- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1086 


HISTORY   OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


dustry,  sound  judgment,  energy  and  perse- 
verance he  won  a  handsome  competence,  of 
which  he  was  well  deserving. 

During  his  later  life  Mr.  Jennings  traveled 
a  great  deal,  and  his  dea\h  occurred  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  but  his  remains  were  brought  back 
and  buried  in  the  city  cemetery  of  South 
Bend.  He  was  the  father  of  seven  children, 
four  sons  and  three  daughters,  but  only  three 
of  the  number  grew  to  years  of  maturity. 
Mrs.  Lucy  Parneman,  the  fifth  child  in  order 
of  birth,  now  resides  on  the  farm  in  Portage 
township  which  was  formerly  the  David  Ulery 
farm,  and  was  also  the  Stover  farm.  The  tract 
consists  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
rich  and  fertile  land.  Mr.  Jennings  gave  his 
political  support  to-  the  Democratic  party, 
and  had  fraternal  relations  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  enjoyed 
the  confidence  of  all  with  whom  his  dealings 
brought  him  in  contact,  and  he  was  regardeil 
as  one  of  the  representative  citizens  of  old  St. 
Joseph  county. 

EusHA  H.  RuPEL.  The  leading  farmers 
of  Center  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  in- 
clude among  their  number  Elisha  H.  Rupel, 
the  subject  of  this  review,  who  is  also  a  rep- 
resentative of  one  of  its  pioneer  families.  He 
was  born  in  the  commonwealth  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, October  29,  1827,  the  son  of  Peter  and 
Christena  (Shoemaker)  Rupel,  who  took  up 
their  abode  within  the  borders  of  Center  town- 
ship in  a  very  early  day  in  its  history,  and 
a  more  complete  history  of  the  family  will 
be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Elisha  H. 
Rupel  was  but  a  little  lad  of  two  years  when 
the  family  left  their  Pennsylvania  home  for 
Ohio,  where  they  remained  during  one  winter 
and  in  the  spring  of  1830  took  up  their  abode 
in  Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  where  the  Indians 
were  yet  plentiful.  After  a  residence  there 
of  one  year  they  came  to  Center  township, 
St.  Joseph  county,  where  their  son  Elisha 
was  reared  to  yeai's  of  maturUy  and  received 
his  education  in  its  district  schools.  He 
attended  the  old  log  cabin  school,  about  six- 
teen by  sixteen  feet  in  size,  built  of  logs,  with 
a  clap-board  roof  and  the  old  fashioned  fire- 
place. He  has  also  used  the  goose  quill  pen. 
This  was  a  subscription  school,  and  was  con- 
ducted about  three  months  in  the  year.  The 
seating  furniture  of  the  school  was  a  slab  with 
poles  bored  in  and  wooden  pins  inserted  to 
stand  on,  and  the  desk  was  a  broad  board 
resting  on  wooden  pins.  He  has  seen  plenty 
of  the  Pottawatomie  Indians  from  their  prem- 


ises while  hunting.  Mr.  Rupel  assisted  his 
father  in  clearing  the  old  home  farm,  and 
with  the  passing  years  he  has  gained  a  hand- 
some property  of  his  own,  having  now  twenty- 
six  acres  on  the  home  place  and  twenty  acres 
in  Greene  township,  all  of  which  he  has  placed 
under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation,  and 
the  many  improvements  which  now  adorn  the 
place  stand  as  monuments  to  his  industry  and 
excellent  business  ability. 

In  Center  township,  on  the  25th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1853,  Mr.  Rupel  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Jane  Vanderhoof ,  a  native  of  the  state  of 
New  York,  where  she  was  born  June  24,  1832, 
a  daughter  of  Yellus  Vanderhoof,  one  of  the 
early  and  honored  pioneers  of  Center  town- 
ship. His  death  occurred  in  1838.  Mrs. 
Rupel,  who  was  reared  and  educated  in  Cen- 
ter township,  was  accidentally  killed  while 
driving  between  Mishawaka  and  South  Bend 
in  1900,  leaving  two  daughters,  Clarissa  and 
Harriet,  both  bom  on  the  home  farm  in  this 
township.  Clarissa  received  a  good  common 
school  education,  and  then  spent  one  year  in 
the  Jefferson  graded  schools  at  South  Bend, 
also  one  >^ar  in  South  Bend  High  School. 
Harriet  wedded  Abraham  Whiteman,  a  resi- 
dent farmer  of  Greene  township,  and  they 
have  three  children,  Stella,  Kittie  and  Ruth. 
Mr.  Rupel  and.  daughter  have  two  of  the  old 
parchment  deeds,  dated  March  1,  1831,  and 
signed  by  President  Andrew  Jackson.  Mr. 
Rupel  has  given  a  life-long  support  to  the 
Democratic  party,  and  his  every  vote  has  been 
cast  in  Center  township.  He  has  served  his 
township  in  the  offices  of  treasurer  and  super- 
visor. Upright  and  just  in  all  his  relations,  he 
has  won  the  confidence  and  high  regard  of 
all  who  know  him,  and  as  he  passes  down  the 
western  slope  of  life  he  is  accorded  that,  love 
and  veneration  which  is  always  the  merited 
reward  of  a  well  spent  life. 

John  Donahue.  A  worthy  representative 
of  the  agricultural  interests  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  Mr.  John  Donahue  owns  a  valuable 
and  well  improved  farm  in  Center  township, 
which  he  has  taken  pride  to  develop  to  the 
highest  extent.  Center  township  is  also  proud 
to  claim  him  among  her  native  sons,  his  birth 
occurring  on  section  13,  July  25,  1856.  His 
father,  Francis  D.  Donahue,  whose  name  ap- 
pears on  the  roll  of  the  honored  pioneers  of 
St.  Joseph  county,  was  for  many  years  identi- 
fied with  the  agricultural  interests  of  Center 
township,  but  his  birth  occurred  across  the- 
waters  in  Ireland.     When  he  was  a  lad  of 


Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


HISTORY   OF  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1087 


eighteen  years  he  came  to  the  United  States, 
making  his  way  to  St.  Joseph  county  in  the 
late  30 's,  where  he  located  on  a  farm  of  three 
hundred  acres  in  Center  township.  With  the 
aid  of  his  sons  he  cleared  nearly  this  entire 
tract,  placed  his  fields  under  an  excellent 
state  of  cultivation,  and  with  the  passing 
years  won  for  himself  a  name  and  place 
among  the  leading  agriculturists  of  this  sec- 
tion of  St.  Joseph  county.  In  his  early  man- 
hood he  married  Rosanna  Henson,  who  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  the  Old  Domin- 
ion state  of  Virginia,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  of  whom  six  are  now 
deceased.  Mr.  Donahue  gave  his  political 
support  to  the  Democratic  party,  having  been 
an  active  worker  in  its  ranks  during  his 
younger  days,  and  his  fraternal  relations  were 
^vith  the  Masonic  order.  His  busy  and  useful 
life  was  ended  in  death  in  1876.  His  name 
is  recorded  among  the  honored  early  pioneers 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  the  active  part 
which  he  took  in  the  early  history  of  his 
locality  made  him  well  known  to  its  residents, 
while  to  him  belonged  the  honor  of  having 
been  a  passenger  on  the  first  train  which  left 
this  county  for  California. 

John  Donahue,  his  son  and  the  immediate 
subject  of  this  review,  is  indebted  to  the 
schools  of  Center  township  for  the  educational 
training  which  he  received  in  his  youth,  and 
while  pursuing  his  studies  in  its  district 
school  he  also  assisted  in  the  clearing  of  the 
old  homestead  farm,  of  which  he  now  owns 
one  hundred  and  fifty-four  acres.  The  tract 
has  nearly  all  been  cleared,  and  he  has  placed 
many  substantial  improvements  thereon, 
making  it  one  of  the  valuable  farms  of  the 
locality.  The  attractive  homestead  will  be 
known  as  '*The  Forest  Home  Farm."  As 
did  his  father,  Mr.  Donahue  gives  his  political 
support  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  he,  too, 
is  winning  for  himself  a  name  and  place 
among  the  representative  agriculturists  of 
Center  township. 

John  S.  Stull.  The  StuU  family  was  one 
of  the  first  to  locate  in  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
John  S.  Stull,  only  a  lad  of  nine  years  at  the 
time  of  their  arrival,  is  therefore  numbered 
among  the  honored  pioneers  who  have  not  only 
witnessed  the  remarkable  growth  and  trans- 
formation of  the  region,  but  have  been  import- 
ant factors  in  its  progress  and  advancement. 
He  was  bom  in  Jennings  county,  Indiana, 
November  21,'  1821,  while  his  father,  Henry 
Stull,  claimed  Pennsylvania  as  the  common- 


wealth of  his  nativity.  He  was  reared,  how- 
ever, in  Virginia,  eight  miles  from  his  birth- 
place, and  when  eight  years  of  age  he  moved 
with  his  parents  to  West  Virginia,  or  what 
was  then  known  as  New  Virginia.  After  a 
time  he  made  his  way  to  Indiana,  first  to  Jen- 
nings county,  and  later,  sailing  down  the  Ohio 
on  a  flat  boat,  he  located  in  the  city  of  Madi- 
son, Indiana,  while  in  1830,  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  St.  Joseph  county,  entering  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Portage  township,  now 
included  in  the  city  limits  of  South  Bend. 
He  afterward  traded  that  farm,  and  at  the 
time  of  the  first  entry,  he  also  entered  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Center  township 
of  which  he  cleared  a  part,  his  sons  later  trad- 
ing some  of  the  land  and  cleared  much  of  the 
remainder.  During  the  war  of  1812,  Henry 
Stull  served  as  a  true  and  valiant  soldier,  and 
at  the  time  of  the  exchange  these  loyal  sol- 
diers were  not  furnished  with  transportation 
and  he  walked  the  entire  distance  home.  His 
death  occurred  when  he  had  reached  the  ripe 
old  age  of  eighty-six  years  and  four  months, 
and  thus  passed  away  one  of  the  brave  pio- 
neers of  Indiana  and  St.  Joseph  county,  one 
who  had  helped  to  make  this  section  the  beau- 
tiful countiy  which  it  now  is.  He  was  a 
stanch  Republican  in  his  political  affliations. 

In  Jefferson  county,  Indiana,  Mr.  Henry 
Stull  married  Rebecca  Hughes,  a  native  of 
North  Carolina,  and  she  was  ten  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  her  parents*  removal  to  IVIadison 
county,  Indiana,  where  she  was  reared.  They 
became  the  parents  of  eleven  children: 
Martha,  deceased;  John  S.,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  review;  Susan,  William  H., 
Samuel  C.,  Lavina,  Elizabeth  and  Hirai?i 
Rush,  also  deceased,  Lavina  and  Hiram  Rush 
dying  in  infancy ;  Maiy  Jane,  and  Sarah  and 
Julia,  deceased.  Six  of  the  children  were  bom 
in  Jennings  county  and  the  remaining  five  in 
St.  Joseph  county. 

On  the  2d  of  March,  1857,  John  S.  Stull, 
whose  name  introduces  this  review,  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Margaret  Locke,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  but  reared  in  St.  Joseph  county,  where 
her  father,  George  Washington  Locke,  was 
one  of  the  earliest  pioneers.  Five  children 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stull,  namely : 
Alice,  who  died  in  infancy ;  Mary,  th^  wife  of 
Charles  H.  Edwards,  a  farmer;  Grant  and 
George,  deceased;  and  Charles,  all  of  whom 
were  born  and  reared  in  Center  township  of 
St.  Joseph  county.  On  section  26,  Center 
township,  Mr.  Stull  now  owns  eighty  acres  of 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1088 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


rich  and  well  improved  land,  and  the  many 
valuable  and  substantial  improvements  which 
now  adorn  the  place  are  the  result  of  his  in- 
dustry and  excellent  business  ability.  His 
political  support  is  also  given  to  the  Republi- 
can party,  while  formerly  he  was  a  Whig,  and 
as  its  representative  he  has  served  in  many 
of  the  local  oflSces,  as  assessor,  supervisor,  etc., 
having  served  in  the  former  oflBce  for  six 
years.  For  twenty  years  he  has  also  been  a 
member  of  the  Republican  County  Central 
Committee,  and  in  that  long  period  has  only 
missed  one  meeting.  In  all  the  varied  posi- 
tions of  life  which  he  has  been  called  upon  to 
fill  he  has  been  faithful  and  loyal,  and  now  in 
his  declining  days  he  can  look  back  over  the 
past  with  little  occasion  for  regret. 

Emberson  Palmer.  For  many  years  Em- 
berson  Palmer  has  been  identified  with  the 
agricultural  interests  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
his  valuable  homestead  being  located  in  Cen- 
ter township.  He  was  born  in  Coshocton 
county,  Ohio,  February  4,  1847,  and  in  Tus- 
carawas county  of  that  state  his  father,  Wil- 
liam H.  Palmer,  also  bad  his  nativity.  He, 
too,  pursued  the  life  of  an  agriculturist,  and 
in  his  native  conunonwealth  he  was  married 
to  Martha  Connor,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
the  Buckeye  state,  and  she  was  there  reared 
and  educated.  Their  union  was  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  eight  children,  seven  sons  and  one 
daughter,  of  whom  Emberson  was  the  sixth 
child  in  order  of  birth.  In  1850  the  family 
home  was  transferred  from  Ohio  to  St.  Joseph 
.  county,  Indiana,  where  the  father  purchased  a 
farm  of  ninety-five  acres  in  Center  township. 
With  the  passing  years  he  cleared  his  land 
from  its  native  growth  of  timber,  placed  his 
fields  under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation, 
and  erected  the  many  substantial  buildings 
which  are  now  seen  upon  the  place.  The  first 
habitation  of  the  family  was  a  little  cabin 
home,  and  the  bam  was  also  of  logs,  but  in 
time  these  were  replaced  with  more  modem 
buildings,  and  the  homestead  finally  became 
one  of  the  valuable  ones  of  the  township. 
There  the  father  lived  and  labored  for  many 
years,  finally  retiring  from  the  active  work  of 
the  farm  and  removing  to  South  Bend,  where 
his  death  occurred  when  he  hau  reached  the 
age  of  eighty-seven  years.  His  political  sup- 
port was  given  to  the  Republican  party  from 
the  time  of  its  organization,  and  he  voted  for 
William  H.  Harrison.  He  was  well  known 
throughout  St.  Joseph  county  because  of  his 
effective  labors  in  its  upbuilding  and  advance- 


ment, and  his  long  and  useful  career  was 
crowned  with  a  high  degree  of  success. 

The  district  schools  of  Penn  township, 
located  just  acress  the  line  from  his  old  home, 
furnished  Emberson  Palmer  with  his  early 
educational  training,  and  in  his  early  years 
he  also  assisted  his  father  in  clearing  and  cul- 
tivating the  farm.  He  remained  at  home 
until  his  marriage,  which  occurred  on  the 
17th  of  March,  1870,  Christena  Kling  be- 
coming his  wife.  She  was  bom  in  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  June  26,  1848,  but  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Penn  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  her  father,  John  G.  Kling,  having  re- 
moved to  this  county  in  an  early  day,  estab- 
lishing his  home  in  Madison  township.  He 
was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  was  there  mar- 
ried to  one  of  its  native  daughters,  Elizabeth 
Keifer,  their  union  being  blessed  by  the  birth 
of  eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  Mrs.  Palmer  was  the  youngest 
in  order  of  birth.  The  father's  death  occurred 
when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  sixty-eight 
years.  He  followed  the  tilling  of  the  soil  as 
a  life  occupation,  and  he  cleared  and  improved 
an  excellent  farm  in  Penn  township.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Palmer  have  been  bom  two 
children,  a  son  and  a  daughter,  Harry  and 
Mabel,  both  of  whom  were  bom  and  reaxed  in 
Center  township.  Harry  completed  the  com- 
mon school  course  and  received  his  diploma  in 
the  class  of  1898.  He  then  pursued  a  com- 
mercial course  in  the  South  Bend  Business 
College.  He  is  a  Republican.  Mabel  is 
the  wife  of  Edward  Schafer,  a  prosperous 
farmer  in  Center  township.  They  have  one 
little  daughter,  Dorothy  Marie.  Mrs.  Schafer 
received  her  diploma  in  the  common  schools 
with  the  class  of  1897;  also  attended  the 
South  Bend  Commercial  College  and  has  taken 
instrumental  music. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Palmer  located  on 
a  farm  in  the  southern  part  of  Center  town- 
ship, which  he  rented  for  one  year,  and  then 
purchased  a  part  of  his  present  homestead. 
Their  first  residence  was  a  little  log  cabin, 
which  co;itinued  as  their  home  for  six  years, 
and  it  then  gave  place  to  the  pleasant  and 
commodious  dwelling  in  which  they  now  re- 
side. With  the  passing  years  he  has  also 
added  to  his  original  purchase  until  his  landed 
estate  now  consists  of  two  hundred  acres  of 
rich  and  fertile  land.  His  entire  possessions 
are  but  the  merited  reward  of  his  own  labor, 
for  he  began  the  battle  of  life  for  himself 
without  capital,  and  all  that  he  now  has  has 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


^H/7€^-y^c( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


/f^^/w'^^^'^f'^r^*^ 


Digitized  by  LjOOQ  IC 


THE-    ^ 


\, 


Aiisr,  .->'.  »  1. f  .,  can  .' 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1089 


been  acquired  through  persistent  and  arduous 
labor.  Since  age  conferred  upon  him  the  right 
of  franchise,  Mr.  Pa^lmer  has  upheld  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Republican  party.  His  upright, 
honorable  life  has  won  him  the  confidence  of 
friends  and  neighbors,  and  Center  township 
classes  him  among  her  representative  citi- 
zens. 

WHibiAM  C.  KowNOVEB.  The  Kownover 
family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  America,  it 
having  been  founded  in  this  country  by  Wol- 
f ort  Garretts  Von  Kovenhoven,  who  came 
from  the  province  of  Ulrich,  Holland,  to 
America  in  1634,  establishing  his  home  on 
Long  Island,  where  he  secured  a  township  of 
land  where  the  present  city  of  Brooklyn  now 
stands.  In  1637  he  secured  a  patent  from 
Governor  Woulter  Von  Twiller,  one  of  the 
Dutch  governors  of  New  York.  In  1736,  the 
family  emigrated  from  New  York  to  New  Jer- 
sey, and  since  its  e^ablishment  in  America 
the  name  has  undergone  many  changes  in 
orthography,  it  being  spelled  differently  by 
some  of  Mr.  Kownover 's  near  relatives.  The 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Ru- 
dolph or  Rulf  Kownover,  while  his  parents 
were  Richard  and  Katharine  (Dye)  Kown- 
over, natives  of  New  Jersey,  but  both  died  in 
Pennsylvania,  the  father  in  Munsey  and  the 
mother  in  Milton.  In  their  family  were 
seven  children,  three  sons  and  four  daughters. 

William  C.  Kownover,  the  youngest  of  the 
family,  was  bom  in  Limestone  township, 
Columbia  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  25th 
of  December,  1834,  and  subsequently  accom- 
panied his  parents  on  their  various  removals. 
In  the  spring  of  1840,  the  home  was  estab- 
lished in  White  Pigeon,  St.  Joseph  county, 
Michigan,  but  six  years  later  the  family  re- 
turned to  Danville,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1847  went  to  Munsey,  that  state.  They 
were  driven  from  that  city  by  the  flood  and 
went  thence  to  Milton,  Pennsylvania,  while  in 
the  spring  of  1860,  they  returned  to  Munsey. 
In  the  spring  of  1865.  Mr.  Kownover  came 
with  his  sister,  Matilda,  to  Harris  township, 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  for  his  parents 
had  both  previously  died,  and  here  he  has 
ever  since  remained.  He  took  charge  of  the 
farm  of  his  widowed  sister,  Mrs.  John  FoU- 
mer,  and  in  the  fall  of  1877  removed  to  his 
present  farm  on  the  state  line,  forty-five  acres 
of  his  place  being  located  in  Ontwa  town- 
ship, Cass  county,  Michigan,  while  the  re- 
mainder lies  in  section  7,  Harris  township. 


St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana.  He  also  owns 
another  good  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Harris  township,  adjoining  the  vil- 
lage of  Granger.  His  son  assists  him  in  the 
cultivation  %f  the  homestead.  Mr.  Kownover 
has  placed,  all  the  good  buildings  on  his  farm, 
including  a  fine  brick  residence  and  he  has 
been  a  life-long  tiller  of  the  soil,  with  the 
exception  of  the  early  days  when  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  pattern  maker. 

On  the  5th  of  December,  1869,  Mr.  Kown- 
over was  married  to  Erepta  Perkins,  who  was 
born  in  South  Bend  on  the  28th  of  January, 
1846,  and  has  spent  her  entire  life  in  this 
county.  Her  parents,  Erastus  and  Lucy 
(Palmer)  Perkins,  were  natives  of  New  York 
and  of  New  England  descent.  They  were 
reared  and  married  in  their  native  state,  and 
in  1843  came  to  South  Bend,  Indiana,  their 
farm  being  the  present  site  of  the  Oliver  Plow 
Works.  The  mother  passed  eway  in  death  at 
the  age  of  thirty  years,  but  the  father  sur- 
vived until  he  had  reached  his  fifty-ninth 
year,  and  in  their  family  were  six  children. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kownover  have  also  been 
bom  six  children :  Kittie,  the  wife  of  George 
Snyder,  of  River  Park;  Harry,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  two  years;  Bert  B.,  at  home; 
Charles  Francis,  who  is  an  excellent  me- 
chanic; and  May  and  Helen,  also  at  home. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  Edwardsburg,  Michigan, 
with  which  Mr.  Kownover  has  be^  connected 
sinee  1849,  and  is  a  trustee  and  class  leader. 
He  is  an  active  worker  in  the  Prohibition 
party,  and  is  a  member  of  St.  Peters  Lodge, 
P.  &  A.  M.,  No.  106,  at  Edwardsburg,  in 
which  he  was  initiated  December  28,  1865. 

Jacob  Shimp.  The  name  of  Jacob  Shimp 
has  been  inscribed  high  on  the  roll  of  St. 
Joseph  county 's  honored  pioneers  and  leading 
citizens,  and  his  memory  is  revered  by  all  who 
knew  him.  His  career  was  a  long,  busy  and 
useful  one,  and  as  the  day,  with  its  morning 
of  hope  and  promise,  its  noontide  of  activity, 
its  evening  of  completed  and  successful  effort, 
ending  in  the  grateful  rest  and  quiet  of  the 
night,  so  waS  the  life  of  this  honored  man. 
He  was  a  native  son  of  New  Jersey,  born  on 
the  16th  of  June,  1812.  His  father  died  when 
he  was  a  young  man,  and  when  eleven  years 
of  age  he  went  with  his  widowed  mother  to 
Warren  county,  Ohio,  there  residing  and  con- 
tinuing to  care  for  her  until  her  death.  He 
came    to    Indiana    in    1833,  and    his    death 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1090 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


occurred  on  the  19th  of  March,  1901,  at 
which  time  the  following  memorial  of  his  life 
aippeared  in  one  of  the  local  papers : 

**  Jacob  Shimp,  the  last  Jackson  voter  in  St. 
Joseph  county,  died  at  4 :30  Tuesday  morning 
at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Cyrus  B. 
Miller  at  the  comer  of  Monroe  and  Frank- 
lin streets,  his  death  being  painless,  having 
been  unconscious  about  a  day.  His  death 
was  due  to  a  general  breaking  down  of  the 
sj'stem,  but  his  last  illness  lasted  but  two 
days.  Mr.  Shimp  would  have  been  eighty- 
nine  years  old  June  16,  and  he  had  resided  in 
this  county  sixty-eight  years.  He  bore  his 
years  remarkably  well  and  retained  his  facul- 
ties to  a  remarkable  degree.  The  deceased 
was  a  Mason,  and  was  buried  under  the  aus- 
pices of  Terre  Coupee  Lodge,  No.  204,  of  New 
Carlisle,  the  services  being  held  at  the  New 
Carlisle  Christian  church. 

**The  deceased  had  long  been  a  familiar 
figure  in  this  city  and  county,  and  was  a  citi- 
zen of  most  excellent  repute  and  a  Democrat 
of  unwavering  integrity.  His  death  took  the 
last  Jackson  voter  from  St.  Joseph  county. 
Few  men  were  prouder  of  a  deed  than  was 
the  deceased  in  the  fact  that  he  had  voted 
once  for  Old  Hickory.  Mr.  Shimp  was  a 
Jacksonian.  He  was  one  of  the  ten  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrew  Shimp,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  New  Jersey.  Andrew 
Shimp  was  bom  in  New  Jersey,  February  18, 
1767,  and  when  quite  a  young  man  married 
Margaret  Wendyell,  who  was  bom  November 
12,  1771.  Their  children  were:  Susan,  bom 
August  1,  1782;  Hannah,  December  20,  1794; 
Anna,  September  12,  1797;  David,  February 
10,  1800;  Elizabeth,  April  8,  1802;  Sarah, 
April  6,  1803;  Samuel,  October  18,  1805;  An- 
drew, May  27,  1810;  Jacob,  June  16,  1811; 
and  John,  May  28,  1817. 

**  Jacob,  the  ninth  child,  was  bom  in  Salem 
county,  New  Jersey,  but  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Ohio  in  1825,  settling  in  Warren 
county,  one  of  the  old  Abolition  and  Republi- 
can strongholds  of  that  state.  He  lived  there 
until  1833,  when  he  removed  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Jacob's 
grandfather  and  grandmother  were  natives  of 
Germany.  His  father  was  a  prosperous  farmer 
until  the  era  of  depreciated  continental 
money  came  upon  him,  causing  him  to  lose 
the  farm  which  he  had  worked  hard  to  de- 
velop. In  1838  Jacob  married  Ann  Dniliner, 
who  died  in  1840.  Two  years  later  he  took 
for  his  second  wife  Hannah  Graham,  of  War- 


ren county,  Ohio,  who  died  March  15,  1889. 
To  them  seven  children  were  bom,  and  all 
but  two  survive.  The  survivors  are:  Mrs. 
Lewis  Kii^by,  of  Warren  county,  Ohio;  Mrs. 
Cyrus  B.  Miller  of  this  city ;  ex-Trustee  John 
M.  Shimp  of  Harris  township ;  ex-County  Re- 
corder William  D.  Shimp  of  this  city;  and 
Mrs.  Joseph  Burden  of  Olive  township. 

*'The  entire  Shimp  family,  beginning  with 
Andrew,  the  father  of  Jacob,  have  been 
Democrats  to  the  backbone.  The  women  have 
been  as  loyal  and  enthusiastic  as  the  men  and 
would  gladly  have  voted  had  the  law  allowed- 
Jacob  Shimp  cast  his  first  vote  for  Andrew 
Jackson,  in  1832,  and  had  voted  the  straight 
Democratic  ticket  ever  since  until  the  last 
when  he  was  too  ill  to  go  to  the  polls.  He 
took  great  pride  in  his  long  record  of  unswerv- 
ing allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party  and  in 
the  fact  that  his  sons  tread  in  the  same  path. 
One  of  the  latter,  William  D.,  has  served  as 
recorder  of  St.  Joseph  county  and  is  a  leading 
citizen  of  the  city  of  South  Bend.'' 

Throughout  the  long  period  of  his  residence 
in  St.  Joseph  county,  Mr.  Shimp  was  ever 
true  to  the  trusts  reposed  in  him.  He  com- 
manded the  respect  of  all  by  his  upright  life, 
and  engraved  his  name  inde-libly  on  the  pages 
of  the  county 's  history. 

Charley  L.  Slaughterbeck.  The  Slaugh- 
terbeck  family  is  one  that  has  long  been 
identified  with  the  development  of  the  farm- 
ing interests  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  the 
subject  of  this  review  is  now  a  worthy  repre- 
sentative of  the  time-honored  occupation  af 
agriculture.  He  was  bom  on  the  farm  on 
which  he  now  resides,  on  the  25th  of  April, 
1874.  His  father,  Jacob  Slaughterbeck,  was 
a  native  of  Germany,  and  was  his  mother's 
only  child,  although  his  father  had  a  number 
of  children  by  a  second  marriage.  When  but 
two  years  of  age,  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
the  United  States,  and  soon  after  their  arrival 
they  made  their  way  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana.  ]\Ir.  Slaughterbeck  subsequently 
became  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and  seventy 
acres  of  land,  all  of  which  was  located  in  Har- 
ris township  with  the  exception  of  fifty  acres 
lying  in  Penn  township,  and  all  of  which  he 
cleared  and  put  under  an  excellent  state  of 
cultivation  with  the  exception  of  eight>^  acres, 
which  has  since  been  developed  by  his  son. 
He  also  erected  the  substantial  buildings 
which  now  adorn  the  place,  and  his  entire  life 
was  devoted  to  the  tilling  of  the  soil  with  the 
exception  of  about  two  or  three  years  which 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


lOSl 


were  spent  in  Elkhart  before  his  marriage.  He 
married  Maggie  McFaren,  who  was  born  in 
Elkhart,  Indiana,  and  now  resides  in  Penn 
township,  St.  Joseph  county.  Mr.  Slaughter- 
beck  died  on  his  farm  on  the  8th  of  August, 
1894,  aged  fifty-six  years.  In  their  family 
were  three  children :  Nora,  the  wife  of  Adel- 
bert  Ipes,  of  Mishawaka,  Indiana;  Annie 
Smith;  and  Charley,  whose  namo  introduces 
this  review. 

Charley  Slaughterbeck  has  always  resided 
on  his  present  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  which  forms  a  part  of  the  old  Slaugh- 
terbeck homestead  and  lies  in  sections  29  and 
30,  and  about  three  years  ago  he  purchased 
another  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  section 
28,  this  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
making  him  one  of  the  largest  property  own- 
ers in  the  township.  The  place  is  devoted  to 
general  farming  pursuits,  raising  annually 
about  three  thousand  bushels  of  com,  two 
thousand  bushels  of  oats,  and  he  also  fattens 
about  fifty  head  of  hogs  each  year.  In  one 
year  on  eighty  acres  of  this  place,  his  father 
raised  over  nineteen  hundred  bushels  of 
wheat,  and  thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  land  is 
rich  and  fertile,  and  under  the  management 
of  its  owner  it  annually  produces  excellent  re- 
turns. 

On  the  4fth  of  February,  1900,  Mr.  Slaugh- 
terbeck was  united  in  marriage  to  Laura 
Thomfton,  who  was  bom  in  Cleveland  town- 
ship, Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  July  7,  1884,  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Ellen  (Linninger) 
Thornton,  who  still  resides  in  Elkhart  county, 
where  the  Thorntons  are  numbered  among  the 
early  pioneers.  Two  children  have  been  bom 
of  this  union,  Floyd  B.,  who  died  when  but 
two  years  of  age,  and  Vera.  Mr.  Slaughter- 
beck  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  church, 
as  is  also  his  wife.  His  beautiful  home  is 
known  as  '  *  The  Idlewild  Stock  Farm. ' ' 

John  Lerner.  This  well  known  citizen  is 
a  leading  and  representative  agriculturist  of 
St.  Joseph  county,  where  he  was  bom  in  Mish- 
awaka, on  the  16th  of  April,  1862.  His  father, 
John  Lerner,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  born 
on  the  7th  of  February,  1830,  and  in  his 
native  land  he  learned  the  trade  of  slate  roof- 
ing. Coming  to  the  United  States  in  1852,  he 
spent  the  first  three  years  in  New  York  City 
working  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  in  1855 
came  to  MLshawaka,  Indiana,  where  for  thir- 
teen years  he  was  employed  in  the  woolen 
mills.     On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 


purchased  the  farm  on  which  his  son  John 
now  resides.  This  was  then  marsh  land  and 
considered  worthless,  and  he  spent  much  time 
and  money  in  placing  it  under  cultivation, 
his  death  here  occurring  on  the  8th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1883.  He  was  a  worthy  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  and  was  a  Republican  in 
his  political  affiliations.  In  1854,  Mr.  Lerner 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Dora  D.  Windel, 
who  was  born  in  Germany  on  the  2d  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1827,  and  died  on  their  farm  in  this 
county,  April  14,  1897.  She  came  to  the 
United  States  with  a  brother  and  sister.  Six 
children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lerner: 
William,  of  Mishawaka ;  Christopher,  an  agri- 
culturist of  Harris  township;  Henry,  a  resi- 
dent of  South  Bend ;  John,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review ;  Mary,  who  makes  her  home 
with  her  brother  John;  and  George,  also  a 
resident  of  Mishawaka. 

John  Lerner  was  but  eight  years  of  age 
when  with  his  parents  he  came  to  the  farm  on 
which  he  now  resides,  which  has  ever  since  re- 
mained his  home,  and  he  is  now  the  owner  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  the  home 
place^  eighty  acres  of  which  lie  in  section  25, 
Harris  township,  and  forty  acres  in  section 
36,  Penn  township,  while  in  addition  he  has 
eighty-three  and  a  fraction  acres  in  section  1, 
Pena  township.  Mr.  Lerner  owns  the  farm 
in  connection  with  his  sister.  He  is  an  original 
stockholder  in  the  Osceola  creamery,  of  which 
he  served  as  a  director  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  during  the  past  thirteen  years  he  has 
made  a  specialty  of  the  dairying  business  on 
his  farm,  which  is  known  as  the  Maple  Front 
Farm,  so  named  from  a  beautiful  maple  grove 
which  occupies  a  conspicuous  place. 

Mr.  Lerner  has  one  son,  Ernest,  who  was 
bom  in  Mishawaka,  November  17,  1889.  Mr. 
Lerner,  Sr.,  is  a  Republican  in  his  political 
affiliations,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church. 

Asa  D.  Christian,  one  of  the  honored  old 
pioneer  residents  of  St.  Joseph  county,  was 
bom  in  Columbia  county,  Pennsylvania,  July 
24,  1821,  a  son  of  Michael  and  Jane 
(Kennedy)  Christian,  natives  also  of  Colum- 
bia county.  The  father,  who  was  born  in 
1785,  died  of  a  contagious  disease  when 
his  son  Asa  was  but  two  years  of  age, 
and  the  mother,  who  was  born  in  1795,  passed 
away  in  Harris  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
on  the  24th  of  September,  1863.  They  were 
the  parents  of  four  children :  James,  who  died 
in  1856;  Asa  D.,  whose  name  introduces  this 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1092 


HISTORY   OF    ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY, 


review ;  Michael,  who  died  in  1867 ;  and  Re- 
becca MuflBey,  of  St.  Edwards,  Nebraska. 

On  the  8th  of  April,  1834,  Asa  D.  Christian 
was  a  member  of  a  party  which  consisted  of 
his  mother,  grandmother,  two  aunts  and  an 
uncle  which  started  on  the  westward  journey 
to  South  Bend,  Indiana,  with  two  teams,  ar- 
riving on  the  9th  of  May  following.  The 
party  entered  four  lots  of  eighty  acres  each 
in  Harris  township,  and  settled  in  section  14. 
For  two  years  all  lived  together  in  a  little 
cabin  sixteen  by  sixteen  feet,  with  a  stick  and 
mud  chimney,*  and  their  water  was  drawn 
with  the  old  fashioned  well  sweep.  At  the 
expiration  of  the  two  years,  the  widowed 
mother  with  her  three  sons  and  a  daughter, 
the  grandmother  and  aunt,  who  were  also 
widows,  took  up  their  abode  in  a  log  cabin 
on  an  adjoining  farm,  where  Asa  lived  with 
his  mother  until  reaching  years  of  maturity. 
He  had  an  older  brother,  but  the  latter  was 
not  well,  and  so  the  burden  of  the  family  fell 
upon  the  second  son,  who  worked  hard  during 
his  early  life  in  clearing  and  cultivating  the 
farm.  In  1847,  at  the  time  of  his  marriage, 
he  took  up  his  abode  on  the  farm  on  which 
he  now  resides,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  section  24,  Harris  township, 
which  he  has  cleared  and  placed  under  an 
excellent  state  of  cultivation,  and  has  also 
erected  good  buildings  thereon.  During  a 
period  of  six  years  he  was  engaged  in  break- 
ing new  land,  using  a  five  yoke  team  of  oxen 
and  a  regular  breaking  plow  which  turned  a 
two-foot  furrow,  and  he  broke  the  land  in 
South  Bend  where  the  Oliver  shops  now 
stand,  that  city  then  consisting  of  only  a  few 
shanties  and  a  population  of  three  hundred 
people,  while  at  that  time  Indians  were  also 
plentiful  throughout  the  county,  but  they 
were  peaceable  and  friendly. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  1843,  Mr.  Chris- 
tian was  married  to  Elmira  Foster,  who  was 
bom  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  May  22,  1825,  and 
her  death  occurred  at  her  home  in  this  town- 
ship July  15,  1886,  to  which  she  had  removed 
with  some  cousins,  as  her  mother  died  during 
her  youth.  Thirteen  children  were  born  of 
this  union,  namely:  Valentine,  of  Kansas; 
Ezekia,  who  died  in  1846 ;  Clementine,  wife  of 
Frank  Rupe,  of  Kansas ;  Elvina,  wife  of  Mil- 
ton Garwood,  also  of  Kansas;  Edwin,  a  resi- 
dent of  the  Sunflower  state;  Robert,  who 
makes  his  home  in  Missouri;  Uzell,  of  Clay 
township;  Elsie,  a  trained  nurse  in  Misha- 
waka ;  Martha,  who  resides  with  her  brother 


in  this  township ;  Irene,  who  died  in  1862  at 
the  age  of  thirty-three  years ;  Byron,  of  Clay 
township;  William,  who  resides  on  a  neigh- 
boring farm;  and  Herdman,  who  resides  at 
home  and  carries  the  mail  and  operates  the 
farm.  He  was  married  in  1896  to  Nellie  May 
Ribble,  who  was  born  in  Niles,  Michigan,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  Ellen  (Snod- 
grass)  Ribble.  In  1853,  Mr.  Christian  of  this 
review  united  with  the  Christian  church,  and 
has  ever  since  been  identified  with  that  de- 
nomination, having  assisted  in  the  erection  of 
their  churoh  near  Harris  Prairie  in  1880, 
while  previous  to  that  time  meetings  were 
held  in  the  school  house  and  in  private  homes. 
He  has  been  a  life-long  supporter  of  Republi- 
can principles,  having  casft  his  vote  for  its 
first  presidential  nominee,  General  Fremont. 
In  the  work  of  growth  and  upbuilding  he 
has  ever  borne  his  part,  has  been  honorable  in 
business,  faithful  in  citizenship,  and  now  in 
his  declining  days  he  can  look  back  over  the 
past  with  little  occasion  for  r^ret. 

John  M.  Shimp.  The  Shimp  family  is  one 
of  the  oldest  in  St.  Joseph  county,  and  have 
been  noted  from  the  beginning  of  their  iden- 
tification with  its  interests  for  the  sterling 
traits  that  are  so  characteristic  of  the  subject 
of  this  review,  constituting  him  a  fitting  rep- 
resentative of  the  name.  He  is  one  of  Harris 
township 's  most  honored  citizens  and  farmers, 
and  is  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Hannah  (Graham) 
Shimp.  He  was  bom  on  the  18th  of  January, 
1848,  and  this  county  has  always  been  his 
home  and  agriculture  his  chosen  vocation.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Olive  township,  and  remained  with  his  par- 
ents until  twenty-two  years  of  age.  On  the 
16th  of  March,  1869,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Sarah  J.  Longley,  at  the  residence  of 
her  parents,  Andrew  and  Mary  (Rupel) 
Longley,  of  Greene  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  they  have  become  tiie  parents  of 
three  children  :  Gertrude,  who  died  when  only 
two  months  old;  Delbert,  an  agriculturist  of 
Harris  township ;  and  Andrew  L.,  a  resident 
of  Mishawaka. 

In  1870  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shimp  came  to  his 
present  farm,  known  as  the  Burr  Oaks,  and 
this  is  one  of  the  valuable  farming  properties 
of  the  township.  He  is  a  member  of  the  St. 
Joseph  County  Farmers'  Mutual  Insurance 
Company,  which  has  three  million  dollars 
worth  of  insurance  in  this  county,  and  for 
eight  years  he  served  as  its  director,  while 
during  the  past  three  years  he  has  been  its 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


ynA^  ^f  s^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


THE 
.•      ^ PRK 

■■:■:;■./ 

1  ««  w  ^     ,  y 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


HISTORY   OP    ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1093 


president.  He  has  been  a  life-long  Democrat 
in  his  political  aflBliations,  and  has  held  many 
positions  of  honor  and  trust.  For  nine  years 
he  served  as  assessor,  and  for  two  terms,  of 
two  years  each,  was  township  trustee,  and  six- 
teen years  ago  was  appointed  jury  commis- 
sioner of  St.  Joseph  county  by  the  circuit 
court  judge,  he  having  been  the  incumbent  of 
this  important  office  ever  since.  Two  years 
ago  he  was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  the 
office  of  county  commissioner,  and  while 
Roosevelt  carried  the  county  by  over  five 
thousand,  Mr.  Shimp  ran  about  twenty -three 
hundred  votes  ahead  of  the  national  ticket.  In 
his  fraternal  relations  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order,  No.  45,  of  South  Bend,  and  in 
that  city  he  also  has  membership  relations 
with  the  St.  Joseph  Valley  Grange.  His  ster- 
ling worth  commands  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  all,  and  he  is  one  of  the  valued  citi- 
zens of  his  native  county  of  St.  Joseph. 

Franklin  E.  Lowry.  Franklin  E.  Lowry, 
a  member  of  one  of  the  prominent  old  fami- 
lies of  St.  Joseph  county  and  one  of  its  native 
sons,  was  bom  in  Harris  township,  December 
8,  1849.  His  paternal  grandfather,  James 
Lowry,  was  born  in  Leeds,  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land, but  came  with  his  father,  Jaiji^s  Lowry, 
to  America,  locating  in  Middleford,  Delaware. 
In  1833  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indi- 
ana, and  entered  the  farm  in  Harris  town- 
ship which  has  ever  since  been  in  the  posses- 
sion of  his  descendants.  His  death  here 
occurred  in  about  1840,  when  he  had  reached 
the  age  of  forty-nine  years.  A  son  of  this 
worthy  old  pioneer,  James  Lowry,  Jr.,  was 
bom  in  Delaware  in  1820,  but  in  the  early 
year  of  1833,  accompanied  his  father  on  his 
removal  to  St.  Joseph  county,  where  his  death 
occurred  in  February,  1904,  nearly  his  entire 
life  having  been  spent  on  the  old  homestead. 
He  owned  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
land  in  Harris  township,  Indiana,  and  Milton 
township,  Michigan,  and  in  his  later  days  was 
extensively  engaged  in  loaning  money.  He 
first  gave  his  political  support  to  the  Democ- 
racy, and'  later  to  the  Prohibition  party. 
He  served  as  trustee  of  Harris  town- 
ship twelve  years  under  the  old  dispensation, 
and  was  a  worthy  member  of  the  Christian 
church.  He  is  still  survived  by  his  wife,  nee 
Hester  E.  Powell,  who  was  bom  in  Delaware 
in  1822,  and  came  to  this  county  with  her 
parents,  Thomas  and  Meriam  (Dennis) 
Powell  in  1837.  She  now  resides  on  the  old 
home   place   in   Harris   township.     Mr.    and 


Mrs:  Lowry  became  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren: Franklin  E.,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review;  Mariam  A.,  at  home  with  her 
mother;  James  T.,  of  California;  and  Mary 
A.,  the  deceased  wife  of  T.  N.  Longley. 

After  attending  the  common  schools  near 
his  home  Franklin  E.  Lowry  entered  the  high 
school  at  South  Bend,  while  later  he  became  a 
student  in  the  Northern  Indiana  Normal  Col- 
lege at  South  Bend.  With  this  excellent  edu- 
cational training  he  w.as  able  to  enter  the 
teacher's  profession,  thus  continuing  for 
twelve  years,  and  when  thirty-two  years  of 
age  he  rented  a  farm  and  devoted  his  sum- 
mers to  its  cultivation,  while  during  the  win- 
ter months  he  continued  to  teach  in  both 
Michigan  and  Indiana.  During  a  period  of 
two  years,  in  1875  and  1876,  he  was  principal 
of  the  Marcellus  schools,  and  during  the  fol- 
lowing year  taught  one  term  in  Harris  town- 
ship. Thus  his  name  is  inseparably  inter- 
woven with  the  early  history  of  the  educa- 
tional interests  of  this  locality,  while  his  broad 
intelligence,  scholarly  attainments  and  his 
full  appreciation  of  the  value  of  knowledge 
as  a  preparation  for  life's  responsibilities 
made  him  one  of  its  ablest  educators.  At  the 
time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Lowry  purchased 
and  located  upon  a  farm  in  section  15,  Milton 
township,  Cass  county,  which  he  still  owns, 
and  on  which  he  resided  for  three  years.  In 
1882  he  came  to  Granger,  where  for  thirteen 
years  he  served  as  its  postmaster,  under  the 
administrations  of  Garfield,  Arthur,  Cleve- 
land and  a  part  of  the  Harrison  term.  He 
had  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  in 
1883,  although  he  has  long  been  extensively 
engaged  as  a  grain  dealer  and  he  is  also  a  large 
land  holder,  owning  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  near  Cassopolis,  Michigan, 
eighty  acres  near  Niles,  that  state,  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in  Boone  county,  Ne- 
braska, one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Mil- 
ton township,  Cass  county,  and  forty  acres  in 
Harris  township,  while  in  addition  he  owns 
store  property  and  an  elevator  with  eight 
acres.  His  varied  interests  number  him 
among  the  leading  business  men  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  in  his  life  work  he  has  achieved 
an  excellent  success.  Mr.  Lowry  has  been  a 
life-long  Democrat,  and  is  the  present  town- 
ship trustee,  elected  in  1904,  while  he  was 
also  twice  a  candidate  for  the  state  legislature 
and  made  an  excellent  run,  and  during  one 
term  he  served  as  clerk  of  Milton  township, 
Michigan.     His  fraternal  relations  are  with 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1094 


HISTORY   OF    ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  St.  Peters 
Lodge,  No.  130,  of  Edwardsbui^,  Michigan, 
and  with  Harris  Prairie  Lodge  of  Foresters, 
No.  4395. 

In  1878,  Mr.  Lowry  was  married  to  Laura 
Parsons,  who  was  born  in  Milton  township, 
Cass  county,  Michigan,  in  April,  1856,  a 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  (Abbott) 
Parsons,  natives  of  Delaware.  They  have  be- 
come the  parents  of  three  children:  Homer 
J.,  Mabel  C,  and  Mildred  E.  Homer  J.  re- 
ceived his  diploma  in  the  common  schools  with 
the  class  of  1894,  and  in  the  Niles  high  school 
with  the  class  of  1899,  and  is  now  a  student 
in  Perdue  University,  where  he  is  taking  the 
civil  engineering  course.  He  spent  two  years 
as  a  teacher  in  Michigan  and  two  years  in 
Indiana.  Mabel  C.  received  her  diploma  from 
the  common  schools  in  the  class  of  1900  and 
the  high  school  at  Granger,  in  1902,  and  she 
attended  the  Northern  Indiana  Normal  at 
Valparaiso,  Indiana,  three  terms.  She  taught 
one  term  in  Michigjin  and  four  terms  in  the 
River  Park  school,  near  the  city  of  South 
Bend.  She  has  also  taken  music.  Mildred 
E.  is  pursuing  her  studies  in  the  fifth  grade. 

Dayton  D.  Mangus.  The  oft-repea/ted  (and 
seldom  denied)  statement  that  this  is  particu- 
larly the  age  of  young  men — an  era  when 
broad  education  and  natural  talents  for  lead- 
ership override  all  considerations  of  old-time 
experience — finds  forcible  illustration  in  the 
career  and  present  standing  of  Dayton  D. 
Mangus,  already  so  well  known  and  highly 
honored  in  the  southern  part  of  St.  Joseph 
county  as  a  public  official,  a  leading  Republi- 
can and  a  citizen  of  progressive  ideas  and 
practical  usefulness.  Now  a  resident  of 
Liberty  township,  he  was  born  in  Union  town- 
ship, to  the  east,  on  the  12th  of  September, 
1871,  the  sixth  in  the  family  of  George  and 
Mary  (Kaser)  Mangus. 

The  other  members  of  the  family  were  as 
follows:  William  F.,  a  farmer  residing  in 
Union  township ;  Albert  C,  a  leading  agricul- 
turist and  horseman  of  Liberty  township; 
Delia  M.  wife  of  John  H.  Walker,  a  prosper- 
ous citizen  of  Union  township;  Delbert,  a 
farmer  of  the  same  township,  and  Melvin,  also 
thus  engaged  in  Union  township;  Etta  E., 
wife  of  Rev.  Solomon  Imick,  whose  husband 
is  a  pastor  of  the  United  Brethren  church, 
located  at  Vinton,  Iowa;  Anna  L.,  whose  hus- 
band. Rev.  Earl  0.  Brown,  is  engaged  in  pas- 
toral work  in  the  Willamette  Valley,  Oregon ; 
Eva  v.,  wife  of  Frank  Gusteva,  a  farmer  of 


Liberty  township;  Carrie  F.,  formerly  a 
teachelj.  in  the  county  schools  and  a  graduate 
of  the  Valparaiso  Normal  School,  who  is  now 
the  wife  of  Everett  Burns,  timekeeper  of  the 
Erie  railroad  at  Huntington,  Indiana;  Fred, 
a  farmer  of  Liberty  township;  and  Blanche, 
wife  of  a  Mr.  McCoy,  a  well  known  merchant. 

George  Mangus,  the  father,  was  bom  in 
Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  July  19,  1837,  and 
died  January  29,  1901.  Left  as  an  orphan  at 
an  early  age,  he  was  thrown  on  his  own  re- 
sources when  but  a  boy*  and  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  came  to  reside  in  Union  township. 
He  was  fairly  successful  in  worldly  matters 
and  at  his  death  owned  a  good  farm  of  eighty 
acres  and  the  improvements  which  constitute 
a  comfortable  family  homestead.  He  was  a 
firm  Republican  from  the  time  of  casting  his 
first  presidential  ballot  for  Abraham  Lincoln, 
but  never  held  or  solicited  public  office. 
Although  reared  a  Lutheran,  he  afterward 
joined  the  United  Brethren  church,  of  which 
he  was  long  an  earnest  member,  as  is  his 
widow  at  the  present  time. 

Mrs.  Mary  (Kaser)  Mangus  was  bom  in 
Stark  county,  Ohio,  August  18,  1845,  and  she 
still  resides  in  Union  township  near  her 
daughter.  She  is  of  Irish  and  Dutch  lineage, 
and  is  a  lady  of  remarkable  physical  and  men- 
tal vigor.  She  came  to  St.  Joseph  county 
when  a  young  lady,  and  an  indication  of  her 
hardihood  at  that  period  of  her  life  is  the 
accomplishment  of  the  journey  from  Ply- 
mouth, Marshall  county,  on  foot. 

Coming  of  such  parentage  and  reared  amid 
the  healthful  labors  and  influences  of  agri- 
cultural life,  it  is  small  wonder  that  Dayton 
D.  Mangus  has  stored  an  abundance  of  phys- 
ical and  intellectual  energy,  which  has  tended 
to  make  him  the  active  man  of  affairs  that 
he  is.  After  completing  his  elementary  train- 
ing in  the  common  schools,  in  1886  he  pur- 
sued courses  in  the  normal  schools  at  both 
South  Bend  and  Plymouth.  He  had  so  hearty 
an  appreciation  of  the  value  of  a  good  edu- 
cation that,  it  is  said,  when  he  was  short  of 
funds,  he  has  sometimes  gone  without  his 
meals  in  order  to  purchase  the  necessary 
text  books.  But  the  young  man  fully  accom- 
plished his  purpose  and  in  1889,  then 
but  eighteen  years  of  age,  commenced  his 
career  in  St.  Joseph  county.  About  the 
same  time,  also,  he  began  to  take  an  active 
part  in  politics,  and  the  result  is  to  place  him 
in  the  ranks  of  the  influential  Republicans  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  county.     His  fine 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1095 


work  as  a  teacher  extended  over  a  period  of 
fifteen  years,  and  many  of  the  young  men  and 
women  who  are  today  holding  responsible 
positions  in  the  communities  of  St.  Joseph 
county  acknowledge  their  indebtedness  to 
him  for  starting  them  along  the  progressive 
road. 

Mr.  Mangus'  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Steele  occurred  December  28,  1893,  and  three 
sons  and  three  daughters  have  been  born  to 
their  union.  Don  C,  the  eldest  child,  is  de- 
ceased; Ruth  E.,  a  pupil  in  the  fifth  grade  is 
also  pursuing  a  musical  course ;  besides  whom, 
are  Lois  M.,  Mary  C,  Paul  Dayton  and 
John  R. 

Mrs.  Mangus  was  born  in  Liberty  township, 
St.  Joseph  county,  July  23,  1870,  being  the 
third  child  in  a  family  of  six  sons  and  two 
daughters  bom  to  Michael  and  Charlotte 
(Stradley)  Steele.  The  seven  living  children 
are:  Edwin  Steele,  married,  a  teacher  for 
twenty  years  in  the  county,  and  now  engaged 
in  commercial  lines;  Clarence,  a  farmer  of 
Laporte  county,  Indiana,  and  married ;  Eliza- 
beth (Mrs.  Mangus) ;  Daniel  E.  and  Lloyd, 
farmers  of  Liberty  township ;  Ira  and  Melino 
L.,  the  former  a  merchant  of  South  Bend  and 
the  latter  an  operator  on  the  Lake  Shore  and 
Michigan  Southern  road.  All  the  above  are 
married. 

Michael  Steele,  the  farmer  of  Mrs.  Mangus, 
was  a  native  of  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  born 
May  30,  1838,  and  died  October  16,  1898.  He 
was  a  very  successful  man,  both  from  a  prop- 
erty standpoint  and  considered  as  a  citizen  of 
broad  and  high  character.  Of  good  practical 
education,  the  owner  of  valuable  property 
consisting  of  three  hundred  and  eighty  acres, 
all  highly  improved,  a  stanch  Republican 
since  the  days  of  the  martyred  Lincoln,  and  a 
reliable  friend  of  public  education  and  all 
agencies  calculated  to  advance  the  interests 
of  his  home  community — Mr.  Steele  was  an 
acknowledged  force  of  the  utmost  value  to  the 
entire  county.  His  remains  are  interred  in 
North  Liberty  cemetery,  where  a  beautiful 
monimient  stands  sacred  to  the  memory  of  the 
father  and  his  good  wife,  who  had  preceded 
him  fourteen  years.  Mrs.  Michael  Steele,  a 
native  of  Wabash  county,  Indiana,  born  in 
1848,  died  September  2,  1885,  being  at  the 
time  of  her  death  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mangus  began  their  married 
life  on  a  little  farm  of  thirty-five  acres,  and 
after  residing  there  for  about  fi^e  years,  in 


1898  purchased  their  present  comfortable 
estate  of  eighty  acres.  Mr.  Mangus  has  since 
been  engaged  in  raising  the  standard  breeds 
of  livestock,  at  which  he  has  made  a  decided 
success.  The  family  residence  is  a  commo- 
dious frame  house  and  is  the  center  of  much 
neighborhood  enjoyment  of  a  social  and  intel- 
lectual nature. 

As  stated,  Mr.  Mangus  has  been  an  active 
Republican  since  he  was  eighteen  years  of 
age,  and  cast  his  first  presidential  ballot  for 
Benjamin  Harrison.  He  has  since  been 
among  the  most  vigorous  supporters  of  Mc- 
Kinley  and  Roosevelt  in  the  county.  Upon 
numerous  occasions  he  has  served  as  a  dele- 
gate to  district  and  county  conventions,  and 
has  served  in  the  following  offices :  Notary  pub- 
lic, twelve  years;  census  enumerator  in  1900, 
completing  his  official  work  in  eighteen  days ; 
assessor  of  Liberty  township  in  1904,  running 
twelve  ahead  of  the  Roosevelt  ticket  and  re- 
ceiving the  largest  majority  of  any  one  ever 
elected  to  that  office.  Being  a  practical  edu- 
cator of  high-grade  himself,  Mr.  Mangus  has 
always  taken  an  advanced  stand  in  the  cause 
of  public  education,  giving  his  support  only 
to  the  best  teachers  and  schools  which  the 
public  means  will  afford.  In  every  walk  of 
life  he  is,  in  fact,  a  twentieth-century  pro- 
gressionist. Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mangus  are 
bright  and  substantial  representatives  of  old 
families  of  the  county,  and  are  themselves 
pi-oducts  of  its  institutions,  in  whose  develop- 
ment they  have  already  taken  a  goodly  part. 

Henry  B.  Worster.  There  are  few  men 
who  can  more  justly  claim  the  proud  Ameri- 
can title  of  a  self-made  man  than  Henry  B. 
Worster,  for  at  an  early  age  he  started  out  in 
life  for  himself  and  has  steadily  worked  his 
way  upward,  gaining  success  and  winning  the 
public  confidence,  while  at  the  present  time 
his  name  is  enrolled  among  the  leading  mer- 
chants of  Liberty  township.  The  family  is 
of  English  extraction,  and  Mr.  Worster  was 
born  in  New  York  on  the  19th  of  July,  1844, 
the  eldest  child  of  Anson  and  Betsey  (Van 
Buren)  Worster,  in  whose  family  were  four 
children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  but 
only  three  are  now.  living,  namely:  Henry 
B.,  whose  name  introduces  this  review;  Par- 
cellus,  a  contractor  and  builder  in  North  Lib- 
erty ;  and  Nora,  the  widow  of  Joseph  Leggitt 
and  a  resident  of  Avoca,  Iowa.  Mr.  Leggitt 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war. 

Anson  Worster,  the  father,  was  a  native  of 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  born  on  the 


Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


1096 


HISTORY   OP    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


Sth  of  July,  1818,  and  his  death  occurred  on 
the  24th  of  August,  1900.  He  was  a  self-edu- 
cated man,  and  was  reared  to  the  occupation 
of  wagon-making,  following  that  occupation 
in  his  native  state  until  the  removal  of  the 
family  to  LaPorte  county,  Indiana,  in  1850, 
the  trip  being  made  via  the  Great  Lakes  to 
Chicago;  this  was  before  the  advent  of  the 
railroads  into  this  part  of  the  state.  For 
two  years  Mr.  Worster  worked  at  his  trade  of 
wagon-making  in  the  city  of  LaPorte,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  that  time,  in  1852,  came  to 
North  Liberty  to  assist  in  the  erection  of  the 
second  grist  mill  built  in  the  township.  A 
year  later  he  erected  a  little  shop  and  re- 
sumed work  at  his  trade.  During  his  early 
life  he  was  a  Jackson  Democrat,  but  when 
Lincoln  was  placed  in  nomination  he  sup- 
ported him  and  afterward  voted  with  the  Re- 
publican party.  Religiously  he  was  an  advo- 
cate of  the  Spiritualistic  belief,  but  later  in 
life  became  an  Adventist,  and  in  1860  both 
he  and  his  wife  were  instrumental  in  organiz- 
ing the  society  and  erecting  the  church  here. 
Mrs.  Worster,  who  was  born  in  New  York 
about  1826,  died  on  the  30th  of  September, 
1901,  and  with  her  husband  she  now  sleeps  in 
the  North  Liberty  cemetery,  where  a  beautiful 
stone  marks  their  last  resting  place.  Her 
father  was  a  cousin  of  President  Martin  Van 
Buren,  and  the  family  is  of  Mohawk  Dutch 
descent. 

Henry  B.  Worster  was  but  eight  years  of 
age  when  he  became  a  citizen  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  where  he  was  early  taught  the  duties 
of  a  contractor  and  builder.  The  first  money 
he  ever  earned  was  from  picking  apples  when 
but  a  little  lad,  working  an  entire  week,  for 
one  dollar,  but  which  to  him  seemed  a  muni- 
ficent sum.  When  but  twelve  years  of  age  he 
began  as  a  wage  earner  with  his  father,  and 
gradually  he  ascended  the  ladder  of  success 
until  he  became  one  of  the  leading  contractors 
and  builders  of  the  locality,  many  of  the  resi- 
dences in  St.  Joseph,  LaPorte  and  even  Mar- 
shall counties  standing  as  monimients  to  his 
ability.  In  1892  he  erected  a  large  brick  gen- 
eral store  building  in  North  Liberty  and  en- 
tered upon  his  career  as  a  general  merchant, 
carrying  a  full  and  complete  line  of  general 
merchandise,  and  in  this  enterprise  he  is  assist- 
ed by  his  son.  Their  trade  extends  over  much 
of  the  surrounding  country,  and  North  Lib- 
erty may  well  be  proud  to  claim  them  among 
its  leading  business  men.  In  addition  he  also 
owns  two  beautiful  farms  of  two  hundred  and 


sixty-six  acres.  He  has  truly  made  of  life  a 
success,  and  the  secret  of  it  is  found  in  that 
persistent  purpose  which  has  been  a  motive 
power  in  his  life,  to  put  to  the  noblest  and 
best  use  all  that  he  is  and  has. 

On  the  10th  of  April,  1868,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Worster  and  Miss 
Amanda  Rupert,  which  has  been  blessed  by 
the  birth  of  two  sons.  The  elder,  Bert,  is  his 
father's  associate  in  business.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  Indiana  Normal  College, 
graduating  in  the  business  department,  and 
in  1905  he  was  admitted  to  a  partnership  with 
his  father.  He  man-ied  Miss  Chloe  Matthew- 
son,  and  they  have  two  little  sons,  Bert  and 
Wayne.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  cast  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  Harrison.  Charley, 
the  second  son,  is  a  solicitor  in  South  Bend. 
He  married  Miss  Delpha  Swihart,  and  one 
little  son  has  been  born  to  them,  Derwin.  He, 
too,  is  a  stanch  Republican.  Mrs.  Worster, 
the  mother,  died  on  the  6th  of  September, 
1875,  and  Mr.  Worster  afterward  married 
Miss  Maggie  Brillhart,  their  wedding  having 
been  celebrated  on  the  1st  of  January,  1877, 
and  two  children  have  been  bom  to  them.  Dr. 
W.  W.  Worster  graduated  from  the  Adven- 
tists  College  in  Battle  Creek,  Michigan,  after 
which  he  was  a  student  in  the  American  Med- 
ical College,  the  Rush  Medical  College  and 
the  University  of  Michigan,  and  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Lafayette  and  manager  of  the  Wa- 
bash Sanitarium.  He  is  a  man  of  marked 
ability.  His  first  presidential  vote  was  cast 
for  McKinley,  and  he  is  a  stanch  supporter  of 
the  Grand  Old  Party.  He  wedded  Miss  Ada 
Olson.  Lela  May,  the  daughter,  is  book- 
keeper in  the  sanitarium  at  Lafayette.  After 
attending  the  North  Liberty  public  schools 
she  entered  the  South  Bend  Business  College, 
where  she  completed  the  course  and  gradu- 
ated and  also  graduated  in  instrumental 
music.  Mr.  Worster  has  given  his  children 
exceptional  educational  advantages,  and  they 
have  worthily  improved  their  opportunities. 
Mrs.  Worster,  the  mother,  was  bom  in  Rich- 
land county,  Ohio,  May  31,  1852,  a  daughter 
of  Adam  and  Elizabeth  (Bucher)  Brillhart, 
in  whose  family  were  four  children,  three 
sons  and  one  daughter.  Her  parents  both 
died  during  the .  early  days  of  Marshall 
county,  and  for  ten  years  she  taught  in  the 
schools  of  Kosciusko  and  Marshall  counties. 
In  1892  Mr.  Worster  erected  his  beautiful 
home  on  Center  street,  where  the  family  dis- 
pense a  gracious  hospitality  to  their  many 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


^  Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by 


Google 


^T-Aa^i/^^ 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF    ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1097 


friends  and  acquaintances.  He  gives  a 
stanch  and  unfaltering  support  tp  the  Repuh- 
lican  party,  and  has  often  been  selected  as 
delegate  to  the  county  and  district  conven- 
tions. He  has  also  served  on  both  the  school 
and  town  boards  for  years,  and  has  always 
favored  any  movement  for  the  betterment  of 
the  community.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  ad- 
herents of  the  Adventists  faith. 

John  W.  Griffith.  During  many  years 
John  W.  GriflSth  has  been  classed  among  the 
prominent  and  influential  agriculturists  of 
Harris  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana. 
His  birth  occurred  in  Milton  township,  Cass 
county,  Michigan,  about  one  mile  from  the 
state  line,  on  the  18th  of  November,  1840,  and 
the  farm  on  which  he  was  reared  was  located 
in  both  Michigan  and  Indiana,  the  state  line 
running  through  it,  but  the  home  was  situated 
on  the  Michigan  side.  His  father,  Mathew 
GriflSth,  was  bom  in  Sussex  county,  Delaware, 
March  10,  1811,  and  was  a  representative  of 
one  of  the  prominent  old  Delaware  families 
of  English  descent.  He  came  to  Michigan 
before  his  marriage,  in  1830,  having  been  one 
of  the  first  to  take  up  his  abode  within  its 
borders,  and  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life  in  Cass  county,  that  state,  where  at  one 
time  he  owned  over  two  hundred  acres  of 
land.  His  death  occurred  on  the  28th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1879,  passing  away  in  the  faith  of  the 
Methodist  church,  of  which  he  was  long  a 
faithful  member.  Mrs.  GriflSth  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Emeline  Smith  and  was  a 
native  also  of  Sussex  county,  Delaware,  bom 
on  the  1st  of  December,  1815.  When  thir- 
teen years  of  age  she  removed  with  her  par- 
ents. Cannon  and  Charlotte  Smith,  also  na- 
tives of  Delaware,  to  Milton  township,  Cass 
county,  Michigan,  where  the  parents  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives.  Four  children  were 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  GriflSth,  namely:  Wil- 
liam C,  a  resident  of  Cass  county,  Michigan ; 
John  W.,  whose  name  introduces  this  review ; 
Sarah,  the  wife  of  Isaac  Shetterley;  and 
Lydia,  the  wife  of  John  Dunning,  of  Cass 
county,  Michigan. 

John  W.  GriflSth  enlisted  for  service  in  the 
Civil  war  when  twenty-one  years  of  age,  on 
the  1st  of  September,  1861,  one  of  the  first  to 
enlist  in  the  three  years*  service,  and  became 
a  member  of  Company  L,  Second  Michigan 
Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Phil  Sheridan.  They 
were  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land, and  with  his  command  Mr.  GriflSth  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Booneville,  Missis- 


sippi; Perry ville,  Kentucky;  Corinth,  Missis- 
sippi ;  and  Chickamauga,  Franklin,  Elnoxville 
and  Nashville,  Tennessee ;  besides  many  minor 
engagements.  His  military  career  covered  a 
period  of  four  years  to  a  day,  and  returning 
home  he  at  once  resumed  the  labors  of  the 
farm.  His  present  place  consists  of  one 
hundred  and  three  acres,  eighty-three  acres 
of  which  are  located  in  section  10,  Harris 
township,  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  and 
twenty  acres  of  woodland  in  Milton  township, 
Cass  county,  Michigan.  His  first  home  here 
was  a  small  frame  dwelling,  sixteen  by  twen- 
ty-six feet,  but  this  has  long  since  given 
place  to  a  beautiful  and  commodious  residence 
and  he  also  has  a  fine  bank  barn,  fifty-five 
by  thirty-six  feet  in  size,  while  these  and  the 
many  other  substantial  improvements  which 
now  adorn  the  farm  stand  as  monuments  to 
his  energy  and  business  ability.  The  home- 
stead is  a  part  of  the  old  Jesse  Smith  place, 
and  is  known  as  Sunny  Banks  Farm. 

On  the  21st  of  February,  1866,  Mr.  Grif- 
fith was  married  to  Elizabeth  McMichael,  a 
native  of  Harris  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
where  she  was  bom  on  the  13th  of  May,  1841, 
and  has  resided  in  this  vicinity  throughout 
her  entire  life.  Her  parents,  Samuel  and 
Nancy  (Smith)  McMrchael,  were  natives  of 
Delaware,  but  were  numbered  among  the 
early  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county,  where 
their  marriage  was  afterward  celebrated,  and 
here  they  passed  away  in  death  during  the 
youth  of  their  daughter.  In  their  family 
were  five  children,  namely:  Hiram,  who  of- 
fered up  his  life  on  the  altar  of  his  country 
during  the  Civil  war,  having  been  one  of  the 
first  to  enlist  in  the  three  months'  service,  and 
from  Niles  entered  the  Sixth  Michigan  Infan- 
try; Elizabeth,  who  became  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Griffith;  Eliza  Mariner,  a  resident  of  Kan- 
sas; Rebecca  Beardsley,  who  died,  leaving 
four  sons  and  one  daughter;  and  Mary,  who 
died  at  about  the  age  of  ten  years.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Griffith  have  no  children  of  their  awn, 
but  have  reared  an  adopted  child,  a  nephew 
Milton  Beardsley  Griffith,  a  noted  musician, 
and  who  is  now  the  head  of  the  Concert  of 
Music  at  South  Bend.  Mr.  Griffith  also  raised 
his  sister.  He  is  a  life-long  Republican  in  his 
•political  affiliations,  having  cast  his  first  vote 
for  Lincoln's  second  term,  and  he  is  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Smith's  Chapel,  in  Milton  township,  Cass 
county. 

Adam  W.  Shidler,  one  of  the  well  known 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1098 


HISTORY   OF    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


citizens  of  Lakeville,  Union  township,  has 
reached  the  Psalmist's  span  of  three  score 
years  and  ten.  His  has  been  a  busy 
and  useful  life,  a  life  filled  with  ardu- 
ous and  honorable  toil  for  the  welfare  of 
his  family  and  others,  and  all  who  know  him 
respect  and  esteem  him.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  eleven  miles 
east  of  Canton,  October  30,  1832,  a  son  of 
Greorge  W.  and  Catherine  (Wise)  Shidler, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania,  where  their  marriage 
was  also  celebrated.  About  1810,  they  emi- 
grated from  that  state  to  Stark  county,  Ohio, 
making  the  journey  on  horseback,  and  the 
mother  carried  a  little  child  in  her  arms.  The 
Shidler  family  were  originally  from  Switzer- 
land, whence  they  emigrated  to  England,  and 
thence  to  the  United  States  and  to  Pennsylva- 
nia. 'The  maternal  grandfather,  John  Wise, 
was  a  Tory  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  at  one  time,  escaping  from  the  sol- 
diers, was  hid  in  a  haymow  and  bayonets 
penetrated  his  tall  hat.  He  afterward  made 
his  home  in  Pennsylvania.  George  W.  Shid- 
ler operated  a  saw  and  grist  mill  in  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  in  addition  to  his  agricultural 
labors,  and  his  death  there  occurred  at  the 
age  of  seventy-five  years,  his  widow  afterward 
removing  to  Indiana  and  dying  at  the  age  of 
eighty-seven  years.  In  their  family  were 
thirteen  children,  eleven  of  whom  grew  to 
years  of  maturity,  and  three  are  living  in 
1907,  the  daughter,  who  has  reached  the  age 
of  ninety-two  years,  in  Columbiana  county, 
Ohio,  and  the  son,  eighty-two  years  of  age,  ia 
Stark  county,  Ohio. 

Adam  W.  Shidler,  in  company  with  his 
brother  Jacob,  in  1854  erected  a  saw  mill 
three  miles  south  of  Lakeville  in  Union  town- 
ship, which  later  became  known  as  the  Coquil- 
lard  mill,  the  partnership  continuing  for  two 
years,  and  the  year  following  its  dissolution 
the  brother  Jacob  went  west  in  company  with 
a  small  party  of  St.  Joseph  county  men,  his 
destination  being  the  Black  Hills,  but  he 
died  en  route  and  was  buried  on  Clark's  Fork 
of  the  Yellowstone,  he  being  only  twenty- 
eijjit  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His  widow 
reared  her  family  near  Lakeville,  and  is  still 
a  resident  of  the  county.  Adam  Shidler 
continued  to  operate  the  mill  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  but  was  not  successful  in  the 
venture  as  there  was  too  much  competition, 
and  after  selling  his  interests  therein  secured 
his  present  farm  north  of  Lakeville  and  nine 


miles  south  of  South  Bend,  on  the  Michigan 
road.  In  1854  this  was  a  plank  road  from 
South  Bend  to  one  mile  south  of  Lakeville, 
but  the  company  which  had  built  it  failed 
to  keep  it  in  repair  and  in  consequence  its 
condition  was  so  poor  that  only  light  loads 
could  be  hauled  over  it.  Mr.  Shidler  offered 
to  pay  his  toll  in  plaaik,  but  his  driver  being 
demanded  cash  hitched  to  the  toll  gate  and 
hauled  it  out  of  the  way.  He  was  arrested 
and  fined,  but  the  result  was  that  plank  was 
accepted  for  toll.  Later,  however,  the  road 
changed  hands,  and  in  a  few  months  cash 
was  demanded  of  another  driver,  who  also 
refusing  was  arrested  and  given  a  three  days' 
trial.  In  the  meantime,  however,  Mr.  Shidler 
sued  the  company  for  unlawfully  collecting 
toll,  and  the  jurors,  at  the  request  of  the 
company,  passed  over  the  road  as  far  as 
Lakeville,  making  the  trip  in  a  band  wagon, 
and  on  the  way  fell  into  a  chuck  hole,  with 
the  result  that  they  were  not  long  in  deciding 
against  the  company.  The  road  remained  in 
this  terrible  condition  for  some  time  after- 
ward. 

In  1869  Mr.  Shidler  secured  letters  patent 
on  a  sugar  sap  evaporator  which  consisted  of 
a  float  to  make  the  flow  of  sap  automatic,  but 
as  he  did  not  push  the  invention  they  were 
never  manufactured  extensively.  During  the 
long  period  of  forty  years  he  has  conducted 
his  present  farm,  while  in  addition  he  has 
also  operated  two  portable  mills,  one  having 
been  located  on  his  land,  and  to  which  he 
added  a  planer  for  the  manufacture  of  his 
own  lumber.  His  estate  consists  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  one  of  the  best  and 
most  fertile  farms  in  the  county,  on  which  he 
erected  a  pleasant  and  commodious  residence 
in  1870,  and  eight  years  later  his  fine  bam 
was  built.  He  follows  diversified  farming, 
and  in  his  pastures  keeps  an  excellent  grade 
of  stock,  he  having  introduced  the  Poland 
China  hogs  into  this  conununity. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Shidler  occurred  on 
the  6th  of  November,  1853,  in  Stark  county, 
Ohio,  when  Mary  M.  Klopfenstine  became 
his  wife,  who  with  her  sister,  Mre.  Pogle,  are 
the  only  survivors-  of  their  parents  fifteen 
children,  eleven  of  whom  grew  to  years  of 
maturity.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shidler 
have  been  born  nine  children:  Belle,  the 
wife  of  Andrew  Moon,  of  South  Bend; 
Frances,  wife  of  Erastus  Hupp,  of  Union  . 
township;  Emma,  the  wife  of  John  Xeddo, 
an    agriculturist   near   the   old   home   place; 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


HISTORY   OF    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1099 


Arthur  L.,  w6o  after  ten  years  as  a  general 
medical  practitioner  in  Fulton  county,  Illi- 
nois, specialized  in  the  diseases  of  the  eye, 
ear,  nose  and  throat  and  practiced  in  South 
Bend,  where  his  death  occurred  at  the  age 
of  thirty-nine  years;  Schuyler,  who  was  a 
medical  practitioner  at  Sheridan,  North 
county,  Missouri,  died  at  the  age  of  forty 
years ;  Alice,  the  widow  of  Dr.  Albert  Wagner, 
late  of  Lapaz,  Indiana,  and  she  now  resides 
on  the  farm  with  her  father,  her  son,  Albert 
Wagner,  performing  its  work;  Willard  and 
Adam  were  engaged  in  the  hardware  business 
at  Ellisville,  Illinois,  two  years,  and  now 
engaged  with  the  firm  of  Wells  &  Shidler,  in 
the  manufacture  of  tables  in  South  Bend; 
and  Clem,  a  dentist  in  South  Bend.  All  but 
one  of  the  children  have  been  teachers  in  the 
county,  and  the  daughter  Alice  was  also  an 
instructor  in  music.  Most  of  the  sons  have 
attended  the  Valparaiso  University,  and  all 
have  received  excellent  educational  advant- 
ages. In  his  early  life  Mr.  Shidler  gave  his 
political  support  to  the  Whigs,  and  in  1856 
voted  for  the  first  Republican  presidential 
nominee,  Fremont,  and  although  he  has 
always  since  upheld  the  principles  of  that 
party  he  is  independent  in  local  matters.  At 
various  times  he  has  been  elected  to  the  office 
of  trustee,  and  is  one  of  the  influential  citi- 
zens in  public  affairs  of  the  locality.  During 
the  long  period  of  thirty  years  both  he  and 
his  wife  have  been  members  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  he  was  made  the  third  member 
in  the  bakeville  Masonic  lodge,  this  being 
over  forty  years  ago,  and  for  some  time  he 
served  as  its  junior  warden.  Mr.  Shidler  has 
traveled  much  over  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  and  belongs  to  that  class  of  repre- 
sentative Americans  who  advance  the  general 
prosperity  while  promoting  individual  suc- 
cess. 

•Charles  Ludwig  Schaper  is  one  of  the 
practical,  progressive  and  enterprising  far- 
mers of  St.  Joseph  county,  whose  valuable 
homestead  is  located  in  Union  township.  He 
is  also  a  native  son  of  the  township,  his  natal 
day  being  the  16th  of  April,  1859,  a  son  of 
Conrad  and  Juliana  (Hermann)  Schafer, 
both  natives  of  Germany.  In  1851  the  father 
came  to  the  United  States,  and  after  spending 
one  year  in  South  Bend  returned  to  Germany 
and  was  married,  bringing  his  young  bride 
with  him  on  his  return  trip,  and  this  time 
took  up  his  abode  in  Union  township,  St. 
Joseph  county.     Here  he  secured  land  in  the 

Vol.   11—32. 


dense  woods,  from  which  he  cut  the  native 
timber  and  continued  its  improvement  until 
his  was  one  of  the  valuable  homesteads  of 
the  township,  and  was  located  on  the  line  of 
Center  township,  on  the  Turkey  Creek  road, 
eight  miles  southeast  of  South  Bend.  There 
he  lived  and  labored  during  the  remainder  of 
his  life,  and  at  his  death,  which  occurred  on 
the  13th  of  August,  1873,  he  left  a  valuable 
estate  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  It 
was  seventeen  years  ere  his  widow  joined 
him  in  the  home  beyond,  and  in  this  time 
she  added  to  the  boundaries  of  the  estate, 
with  the  help  of  her  children,  until  it  con- 
tained five  hundred  and  ninety  acres,  and  for 
one  farm  she  paid  eighteen  thousand  dollars. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schafer  were  people  of 
excellent  business  ability,  and  were  numbered 
among  the  leading  citizens  of  Union  township. 
In  their  family  were  eleven  children,  all  but 
one  of  whom  grew  to  years  of  maturity,  and 
nine  are  now  living.  One  son,  Harmon 
George  Schafer,  died  three  years  ago.  Their 
son  William  now  carries  on  the  work  of  the 
old  homestead.  Hannah,  the  eldest  child,  re- 
sides near  her  old  home  with  her  brother 
Leonard. 

On  the  15th  of  March,  1883,  Charles  L. 
Schafer  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary 
Christina  Megerle,  a  native  of  Center  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  and  a  daughter  of 
Frederick  Megerle,  a  native  of  Germany  and 
a  resident  of  Union  township.  The  young 
couple  were  schoolmates  in  their  childhood 
days,  and  since  their  marriage  they  have 
labored  together  in  the  establishment  of  their 
home  and  the  rearing  of  their  children.  Of 
their  eleven  children  four  died  in  infancy, 
and  the  seven  now  living  are  Julia,  Elton, 
Louise,  Bertha,  Edna,  Nora  and  Carl,  all  at 
home.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Schafer  began 
the  improvement  of  one  of  his  mother's  farms 
in  Center  township,  there  remaining  until  he 
purchased  his  present  homestead  in  the  fall 
of  1888.  This  was  formerly  known  as  the  old 
Eli  Moon  homestead,  it  having  been  sold  by 
the  Moon  heirs  to  Peter  Schafer,  of  Center 
township,,  who  in  turn  sold  a  half  of  it  to 
George  Beltzer,  a  brother-in-law  of  Charles 
Schafer.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Beltzer,  Mr. 
Schafer  purchased  the  entire  tract,  which 
consisted  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres, 
but  he  has  since  increased  its  boundaries  to 
one  hundred  and  seventy  acres,  and  in  1900 
he  erected  his  fine  bank  bam,  forty  by 
seventy-two   feet,   while  four  years  ago  the 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1100 


HISTORY   OF    ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


pleasant  and  commodious  residence  was  built, 
making  this  one  of  the  valuable  homesteads 
of  the  community.  The  homestead  is  known 
as  '^Idlewild,''  .  Mr.  Schafer  has  carved  his 
way  to  affluence  alone  and  unaided,  by  con- 
stant application  and  hard  work,  and  his  ex- 
ample is  well  worthy  of  emulation.  His  polit- 
ical support  is  given  to  the  Democracy,  and 
he  was  reared  in  the  Evangelical  faith.  He 
is  a  man  of  sterling  worth,  and  justly  merits 
the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  held. 

Mahlon  Heston,  the  only  survivor  of  the 
once  large  and  happy  family  which  gathered 
around  the  table  of  the  pioneer  settler,  Gentry 
A.  Heston,  of  Union  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  is  now  living  in  Lakeville  quietly  re- 
tired from  the  active  cares  ^f  a  business  life. 
The  family  is  numbered  among  the  earliest 
pioneers  of  this  section  of  the  state,  and  the 
various  members  have  taken  an  active  part 
in  its  early  and  subsequent  development. 
Mr.  Mahlon  Heston  was  born  in  Henry 
county,  Indiana,  seven  miles  west  of  New 
Castle,  September  5,  1826,  a  son  of  Gentry 
Amos  and  Nancy  Ann  (Kirk)  Heston,  both 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  From  that  common- 
wealth they  removed  to  Indiana  about  1820, 
and  when  their  son  Mahlon  was  nine  vears 
old  the  family  came  to  the  St.  Joseph  river 
country,  remaining  one  year  in  Berrien 
county,  Michigan,  the  father  conducting  a 
saw  and  grist  mill  four  miles  from  Niles. 
About  1838  they  arrived  in  Union  township, 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  where  the  parents 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  both  dying 
about  1875.  The  mother  reached  the  extreme 
old  age  of  ninety-two  years,  being  the  oldest 
person  in  the  township  at  the  time  of  her 
death.  During  many  years  they  lived  and 
labored  on  their  farm  one  mile  south  of  Lake- 
ville, the  father  also  conducting  a  repair  shop 
on  his  farm,  for  he  was  a  wagon-maker  by 
occupation,  while  the  agricultural  labor  was 
performed  by  Mahlon,  their  youngest  son. 
His  brother  Amas  worked  for  others,  as  did 
also  his  sisters,  and  the  family  numbered 
fourteen  children,  of  whom  eight  reached 
years  of  maturity,  one  brother  dying  in  mid-  - 
die  life,  while  all  of  the  daughters  reached 
advanced  ages. 

Mahlon  Heston.  the  only  living  member  of 
the  family,  was  inured  to  the  work  of  the 
farm  during  his  early  youth,  for  as  a  boy 
of  fifteen  he  practically  cleared  the  old  home- 
stead of  its  dense  growth  of  timber  and  placed 
the    fields    under    cultivation.      Throughout 


nearly  his  entire  life  he  made  a  home  for  the 
family,  and  by  purchasing  the  interests  of 
the  other  heirs  he  in  time  became  the  sole 
owner  of  the  old  farm,  to  which  he  added 
from  time  to  time  until  he  owns  one  hundred 
and  fourteen  acres,  all  in  one  tract.  The  soil 
is  rich  and  the  fields  are  under  an  excellent 
state  of  cultivation,  while  large  and  sub- 
stantial buildings  adorn  the  premises,  which 
stand  as  mute  reminders  of  his  industry  and 
ability.  In  1892,  however,  he  left  the  farm 
and  removed  to  Lakeville,  where  he  is  now 
enjoying  the  rest  which  he  has  so  truly 
earned. 

On  the  10th  of  December,  1850,  Mr.  Heston 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Nancy  Eastbum, 
who  died  after  a  happy  married  life  of 
eighteen  years,  without  issue.  On  the  6th 
of  March,  1869,  Mr.  Huston  wedded  Harriet 
Ross,  who  was  born  in  Westmoreland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  March  19,  1832,  and  was 
reared  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio.  When  twenty 
years  of  age  she  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Charles  A.  Barkley,  they  afterward  removing 
to  Indiana,  and  thirteen  years  later  she  be- 
came the  wife  of  Theodore  Tibbitts,  an  ex- 
surgeon  in  the  Civil  war.  By  her  marriage 
to  Mr.  Barkley  she  became  the  mother  of 
four  children:  Jame3  W.,  of  Lakeville; 
Francis  A.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  livery 
business  in  Lakeville;  Emma  Alice,  the  wife 
of  Schuyler  Robertson,  who  served  as  the 
sheriff  of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  now  resides 
in  the  city  of  Lakeville;  and  Milton  C,  who 
died  in  South  Bend  at  the  age  of  forty-two 
years.  When  sixteen  years  old  Mrs.  Heston 
became  a  member  of  the  teacher's  profession, 
thus  continuing  until  her  marriage,  and  after 
becoming  a  widow  she  taught  in  the  schools 
of  Marshall  county,  Indiana.  For  over  fifty 
years  she  has  been  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Church  of  the  Disciples  or  Christian  church, 
as  has  also  Mr.  Heston.  The  congregation  at 
Lakeville  was  organized  at  a  meeting  held  by 
Rev.  J.  A.  Clark  about  1865,  at  which  time 
protracted  meetings  were  held  for  seventeen 
days,  resulting  in  the  organizing  of  the 
Christian  church  of  Lakeville,  Mr.  Heston 
paying  all  the  expenses  and  donating  the 
land  on  which  to  erect  its  house  of  worship. 
His  path  has  been  marked  by  worthy  motives 
and  good  deeds,  and  when  the  time  comes  for 
him  to  lay  down  the  responsibilities  of  life 
he  will  leave  a  record  that  is  well  worthy  of 
emulation. 

Dr.  John  Moore,  deceased,  was  bom  at 


Digitized  by 


Googl( 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1101 


Millersburg,  Ohio,  August  3,  1836,  and  died 
at  Lakeville,  Indiana,  April  23,  1904,  after 
a  brief  illness  from  pneumonia,  aged  sixty- 
seven  years,  eight  months  and  twenty  days. 
He  was  a  widely  known  practitioner.  Thus 
might  some  chronicler  write,  in  a  cold  per- 
functory way,  if  in  the  years  to  come  he  were 
to  gather  mere  statistics  for  some  local  his- 
tory, and  in  the  statement  he  would  note  the 
two  momentous  moments  of  a  soul, — ^the 
period  of  its  advent  into  our  sphere  of  action, 
and  the  period  of  its  departure  from  among 
us.  But  life  is  more  than  a  mere  matter  of 
birth  and  death.  It  is  more  than  perfunctory 
statistics.  True,  these  place  a  soul  in  a  special 
point  of  time.  They  identify  and  segregate 
but  they  do  not  characterize.  Mere  coming  and 
going  do  not  differentiate  and  individualize. 
It  is  action  that  gives  form  and  solidity  and 
personality  and  fills  the  interim  between  that 
mystery  caMed  birth  and  that  other  deeper 
mystery  called  death.  Action,  then,  in- 
dividualizes and  solidifies  thought  and  im- 
pulse, reason  and  emotion  into  character.  Dr. 
John  E.  Moore  was  essentially  a  man  of  ac- 
tion, of  strong  and  energetic  action,  which 
individualized  him  and  gave  that  bent  to  his 
character  by  which  we  know  him  best. 
Analyzed,  we  can  say  he  was  amiable,  gener- 
ous, sympathetic,  open-hearted  and  true,  and 
when  we  say  this  much  of  him  we  feel  that 
we  have  given  that  cue  to  his  character  which 
made  him  the  indulgent  husband,  the  high- 
minded  citizen,  the  sympathetic  physician, 
the  typical  Mason,  the  sunny-hearted,  ap- 
proachable man  that  he  was. 

Dr.  John  Moore  was  a  son  of  John  6.  and 
Margaret  (Miller)  Moore j  to  whom  were  born 
nine  children,  the  son  John  being  the  fifth 
in  order  of  birth.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
Gabriel  Moore,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  but 
came  to  America  in  1813,  locating  in  Holmes 
county,  Ohio.  Of  the  nine  children  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  G.  Moore,  all  are 
now  deceased  with  the  exception  of  two 
daughters,  one  at  Aletha,  Kansas,  and  one  in 
Illinois,  and  one  son,  Dr.  Allen  Moore,  of 
North  Liberty,  Indiana.  The  father  came 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  in  1865,  estab- 
lishing his  home  in  HaiTis  township,  and  his 
death  occurred  in  South  Bend,  where  the  later 
years  of  his  life  were  passed,  in  June,  1883. 

During  his  early  life  Dr.  John  Moore 
taught  school  in  Marshall  county  and  when 
nineteen  years  of  age  came  to  Lakeville,  where 
he  made  his  home  with  his  brother  Robert, 


with  whom  he  studied  medicine,  and  later 
pursued  a  medical  course  at  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
in  1860.  In  the  following  year  he  began 
practice  and  continued  for  forty  years,  and 
in  that  time  his  practice  grew  to  extensive 
proportions.  In  the  line  of  his  profession  Dr. 
John  Moore  held  membership  relations  with 
the  State  Medical  Association,  and  the  County 
Medical  Association,  while  fraternally  he  was 
a  Knight  Templar  Mason,  serving  as  master 
of  the  Lakeville  lodge  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
and  for  many  years  he  had  been  the  life  of 
the  lodge.  Although  not  a  politician,  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Democracy  and  was  always 
well  informed  on  the  leading  questions  of  the 
day. 

On  the  18th  of  June,  1862,  Dr.  John  Moore 
was  married  to  Harriet  A.  Johnson,  a  daugh- 
ter of  L.  P.  Johnson,  of  South  Bend,  and 
whose  death  occurred  in  1866,  when  ■  but 
twenty-four  years  of  age.  On  the  31st  of  De- 
cember, 1867,  the  Doctor  married  Ella,  the 
daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Eliza  (Harvey) 
Cunningham.  The  father  was  killed  by  a  fall 
on  the  ice  at  Walkerton,  Indiana,  and  the 
mother  later  made  her  home  with  Mrs.  Moore, 
her  death  occurring  just  six  months  before 
that  of  the  Doctor.  She  has  two  brothers, 
Oliver  Cunningham,  an  attorney  of  South 
Bend,  who  became  a  member  of  Dr.  John 
Moore's  home  w^hen  but  nine  years  of  age, 
and  resided  with  them  until  his  graduation, 
and  Andrew  Cunningham,  a  farmer  of 
Walkerton,  Indiana. 

Dr.  John  Moore  always  sought  the  sunny 
slopes  of  life.  There  was  a  latent  optimism 
in  his  every  thought.  He  met  the  buffetings 
of  fate  as  a  something  requisite  to  the  de- 
velopment of  his  life  and  character.  The 
clouds  might  obscure  his  sky,  but  that  was 
secondary  to  the  fact  that  the  sun  shone  on, 
and  though  its  rays  might  not  light  up  his 
pathway,  yet  they  fell  in  full  glory  upon 
some  one  else,  and  there  was  light  in  the 
world  as  a  consequence.  The  winter  of  dis- 
content to  others  was  the  raucous  herald  of 
springtime  to  himself,  and,  instead  of  the 
rude  sting  of  frosty  winds,  he  ever  felt  the 
melting  breath  of  the  hyacinth  drift  up  the 
paths  of  life.  He  gathered  sunshine  out  of 
the  years,  and,  weaving  it  into  the  fabric  of 
his  character,  reflected  it  again  into  the  lives 
of  those  about  him.  In  his  sympathies  for 
the  distressed  he  embodied  the  essential  ele- 
ments of  the  physician  of  the  old  school.  The 
beneficiaries   of   his   ministrations   to   hearts 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1102 


HISTORY   OF    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


bereaved  and  spirits  sorely  burdened  are  as 
many  as  the  beneficiaries  of  his  professional 
skill.  For  the  solace  he  brought  to  others, 
fully  as  much  as  for  his  services  profes- 
sionally, will  he  be  long  remembered. 

In  keeping  pace  with  his  profession  and  in 
his  active  practice  of  the  same  he  typified  the 
spirit  and  the  characteristics  of  a  physician  of 
the  new  school.  His  was  a  composite  of  the 
traditional  and  the  ethical  in  his  chosen  pro- 
fession. His  continuous  practice  in  this 
vicinity  for  nearly  a  half  century  made  him 
a  familiar  figure  to  everyone,  and  as  Dr. 
**John,'^  he  was  their  physician,  their  coun- 
sellor and  their  friend.  This  is  not  the  only 
home  where  the  sorrow  is  deep  and  soul-felt. 
In  nearly  every  home  in  this  section  there 
is  unfeigned  sadness  over  the  unexpected  de- 
parture of  one  of  the  people  loved.  Devoted 
to  his  profession  and  ever  regardful  of  the 
distress  of  others,  he  denied  himself  that  re- 
spite which  his  long  years  of  active  service 
had  won  him,  and  in  responding  to  the  need 
of  others  he  contracted  the  disease  which 
caused  his  death.  It  was  a  case  of  profes- 
sional martyrdom.  *' Greater  love  hath  no 
man  than  this,  that  he  lay  down  his  life  for 
his  friend."  It  were  indeed  a  tragedy,  name- 
less and  inexplicable,  if  we  should  feel  and 
know  that  somewhere  such  devotion  shall  not 
receive  its  merited  reward. 

lie  emulated  the  Masonic  virtues.  To  those 
of  us  who  have  sat  with  him  in  the  charmed 
circle  of  the  Essenes,  there  comes  a  remem- 
brance of  moral  precepts  inculcated  sweet  as 
the  breath  of  violets.  Whether  directing  the 
craft  at  labor  or  mingling  with  them  at  re- 
freshments; whether  leading  the  candidate 
from  \<^orldly  darkness  and  ignorance  into 
the  golden  glow  and  glory  of  Masonic  light 
and  beauty;  whether  raising  the  fallen 
brother  from  the  low  level  of  esoteric  sepul- 
ture or  following  the  departed  brother  to  that 
bourne  from  whence  no  traveler  returns;  in 
every  feature  he  exemplified  Masonry  in  its 
highest  and  noblest  attributes.  To-day  his 
column  is  broken,  his  jewel  is  cast  down,  and 
his  brethren  mourn.  Evergreen  as  the  sprig 
of  acacia  which  we  wear  will  we  keep  his 
memory. 

In  the  home  he  made  and  cherished  there 
is  the  sadness  which  knows  no  consolation, 
and  there  lies  the  shadow  of  a  sorro\y  which 
will  not  depart.  Dr.  John  Moore  spent  his 
life  in  unselfish  devotion  to  others.  We  can 
do  no  better  thing  to  indicate  our  apprecia- 


tion of  that  devotion  than  by  ministering  to 
and  offering  our  sympathy  to  those  dear  ones 
he  left  behind.  At  an  hour  like  this  wealth 
and  wisdom  are  poor  and  paltry  things. 
Reason  and  argument  refuse  an  explanation 
of  such  bereavement.  The  flash  of  gold  and 
jewels  cast  no  gleam  into  the  soul  when  sore 
distressed.  Love  and  tenderness  alone, — the 
tenderness  the  Doctor  had  for  the  veriest 
child  that  approached  him, — are  efficacious  in 
their  ministry.  We  can  whisper  hope.  We 
can  offer  our  willing  hands.  We  can  tender 
our  love  and  sympathy.  These  are  the  only 
gifts  that  death  will  take  to  soften  doA^-n  its 
bitterness.  We  can  offer  these  as  our  only 
token  and  sign  that  the  life  of  one  so  sud- 
denly removed  from  us  still  lives  on  in  goodly 
deeds  and  tender  ministrations.  This  is  the 
rosemary  which  we  lift  up  out  of  the 
memories  of  our  departed  friend  and  say, 
''This  is  for  remembrance,  Dr.  John;  and 
this  is  for  thee." 

In  some  other  sphere  where  love  is  more 
than  a  broken  reflection  and  tenderness  and 
sympathy  compose  the  soul's  pure  atmos- 
phere, the  inexplicable  wherein  we  grope  to- 
day will  all  be  made  plain.  Standing  amid 
the  mists  of  this  hour,  we  wave  our  farewell 
to  one  who  has  drifted  from  our  shores  as 
softly  as  a  rose  petal  falling  in  the  airs  of 
June,  and  the  sky  is  leaden.  But  looking  to 
the  East  there  is  a  gleam  of  purple,  and  we 
know  that  we  shall  meet  again. 

Cadmus  Crabiix.. 

Isaac  Shetterly,  extensively  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  at  his  farm  on  the  state 
line  in  Harris  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
was  bom  in  Union  county,  Pennsylvania,  No- 
vember 28,  1844,  a  son  of  Gfeorge  and  Eliza- 
beth (Keely)  Shetterly,  natives  also  of  that 
commonwealth.  They  came  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  about  1854,  where  they  re- 
sided for  many  years,  but  their  deatl^  oc- 
curred in  Berrien  county,  Michigan,  he  at  the 
age  of  seventy-four  years,  and  she  at  the  age 
of  sixty-six  years.  They  were  the  parents  of 
six  children :  Susan  and  Eliza,  both  deceased; 
George,  of  Edwardsburg,  Michigan;  Ellen, 
deceased;  Isaac,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review ;  and  Jeremiah,  of  Cass  county,  Michi- 
gan. 

Isaac  Shetterly  when  about  ten  years  of  age 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to 
Portage  Prairie,  Berrien  county,  Michigan, 
where  he  resided  for  four  or  five  years,  thence 
locating    in    Ontwa   township,    Cass   county, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


7Ht 
NT.  -^    VORK 

A.iof,  LHfi')*  an<i  Tiidea / 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


<Jot^  ff^/^ae 


Digitized  by  LjOOQ  IC 


..   '    '.'^eX 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OF    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1103 


that  state.  About  thirty-five  years  ago  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  Harris  township,  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  and  during  the  past 
twenty-five  years  has  resided  on  hii^  present 
home  farm,  consisting  of  eighty-four  acres  in 
section  8,  on  the  state  line,  while  Mrs.  Shet- 
terly  owns  fifty  acres  just  across  the  line  in 
Milton  township,  Cass  county,  Michigan,  the 
entire  northern  side  of  the  former  place  also 
bordering  the  state  line.  The  entire  tract  is 
devoted  to  general  farming  purposes,  and  is 
a  rich  and  well  cultivaited  farm.  Throughout 
his  entire  life  Mr.  Shetterly  has  resided  on  a 
farm,  but  during  more  or  less  of  the  time 
until  ten  years  ago  worked  at  the  mason's 
trade  in  addition  to  his  agricultural  pursuits. 
In  1866  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Shet- 
terly and  Miss  Malinda  Rogers,  who  was  bom 
in  Cass  county,  Michigan,  a  daughter  of  John 
Rogers,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  The  wife 
died  seven  years  after  her  marriage,  leaving 
one  child,  Hattie  Bell,  whose  death  occurred 
at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  December  29, 
1880,  Mr.  Shetterly  married  Sarah  Eliza  Grif- 
fith,  who  was  bom  in  Milton  township,  Cass 
county,  Michigan,  October  24,  1846,  and  has 
always  resided  in  this  vicinity.  Her  great- 
grandfather Griffith  came  to  America  from 
England,  and  her  parents,  Mathew  and 
Emeline  (Smith)  Griffith,  were  natives  of 
Sussex  county,  Delaware,  but  came  to  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  with  their  parents  in 
their  early  youth.  The  father,  who  was  born 
on  the  10th  of  March,  1811,  came  to  this 
vicinity  three  years  after  his  wife's  arrival, 
and  his  death  occurred  in  Milton,  Michigan, 
January  28,  1879.  Mrs.  Griffith  was  born  on 
the  1st  of  December,  1815,  and  was  thirteen 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  her 
family  to  this  county,  her  death  occurring  at 
the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Shetterly, 
November  11,  1899.  She  Was  a  daughter  of 
Cannon  and  Charlotte  (Handy)  Smith,  bom 
February  15,  1783,  and  June  15,  1784,  re- 
spectively, and  the  mother  died  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  November  7,  1899,  and  the 
father  in  Michigan  on  the  28th  of  January, 
1879.  At  the  time  of  their  removal  here  only 
two  or  three  white  families  resided  within  the 
borders  of  this  vicinity,  and  often  their  door 
yard  was  filled  with  Indians.  Their  home 
was  a  little  log  shanty,  erected  without  nails, 
and  their  journey  hither  was  made  by  wagon 
and  they  were  obliged  to  cut  their  way 
through.  Four  children  were  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Griffith,  namely:    William  Cannon, 


of  Centerville,  Michigan;  John  Wesley,  a 
resident  of  Harris  township ;  Sarah  Eliza,  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Shetterly ;  and  Lydia  A.  Dunning, 
of  Cass  county,  Michigan.  The  marriage  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shetterly  has  been  blessed  by 
the  birth  of  two  children,  Alva  Homer,  at 
home,  and  Lawrence  Grenville,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  thirteen  years.  Mr.  Shetterly  gives 
his  political  support  to  the  Democratic  party 
where  national  issues  are  involved,  and  locally 
claims  the  right  to  vote  for  the  men  whom 
he  regards  as  best  qualified  to  fill  public  of- 
fices. He  and  his  wife  are  worthy  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Smith's 
Chai>el  in  Cass  county,  Michigan. 

Dr.  Robert  Moore,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Holmes  county,  Ohio,  April  19,  1829,  and  died 
in  Lakeville,  Indiana,  May  11,  1900,  aged 
seventy-one  years  and  twenty-two  days.  He 
was  the  eldest  of  a  large  family  of  children, 
the  son  of  a  pioneer  farmer,  and  grew  to 
manhood  on  the  farm  where  he  was  bom.  He 
assisted  his  father  in  clearing  the  land  and 
tilling  the  soil.  His  father,  in  speaking  of  his 
great  helpfulness  at  this  period,  said: 
**  Robert  worked  faithfully  then,  as  always. 
His  hard  work  helped  to  make  the  old  farm 
a  profitable  and  beautiful  place;  helped  to 
make  life  easier  and  more  pleasant  for  his 
mother,  myself  and  the  younger  children.  In 
the  year  1848,  when  we  built  our  new  brick 
house,  Robert  carried  every  brick  that  went 
into  that  structure.  Later  he  helped  me  to 
reap  the  harvest  and  house  the  grain.  But 
farm  life  was  becoming  distasteful  to  him, 
he  began  to  feel  a  restless  desire  to  do  some- 
thing for  himself,  to  see  something  of  the 
world.  One  day,  when  we  were  working  to- 
gether in  the  field,  he  suddenly  stood  erect, 
looked  over  the  old  place  earnestly,  then 
threw  down  his  hoe  and  said,  *  Father,  this 
day  farm  work  and  I  part  company  forever. ' 
The  individuality,  so  strong  within  him,  had 
asserted  itself.'' 

For  a  few  months  he  taught  school,  but 
in  the  spring  of  1848,  when  he  was  nineteen 
years  of  age,  he  began  the  study  of  medicine 
in  Millersburg,  Ohio,  under  Dr.  Welsh,  of 
whom  he  always  spoke  as  **My  kind  old  pre- 
ceptor.'' He  studied  diligently  for  two  years, 
then  entered  medical  college  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio.  In  1852  the  gold  fields  of  California 
lured  him  over  the  plains.  He  met  the  party 
with  which  he  was  to  journey  at  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  but  the  old  Pontiac  on*  which  they 
took  passage  was  wrecked,  and  he  lost  all  his 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1104 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


provisions  and  medical  supplies.  All  but  two 
of  the  party  turned  homeward,  but  he,  with 
characteristic  firnmess,  held  to  his  purpose. 
He  joined  an  overland  party  consisting  of 
forty-one  persons,  including  women  and 
children.  They  crossed  the  river  at  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  and  there  began  the  journey 
of  six  long  months  over  desert  wastes  and 
smiling  valleys.  Many  times  they  paused  to 
receive  the  last  message  of  the  dying,  to 
minister  to  the  cholera-stricken  patients,  to 
hollow  a  narrow  bed  in  the  desert  sand  for 
some  comrade,  child  or  broken-hearted  mother 
fallen  by  the  way,  or  to  encourage  the  living 
to  renewed  hope  and  energy.  For  six  long 
months,  and  then  a  weary  party,  few  in  num- 
bers, reached  the  **Iiand  of  Sunshine",  whose 
fields  of  gold  had  lured  them  so  far  from 
home  and  friends,  and  entered  upon  a  career 
of  hardships  and  temptations  which  tried 
men's  souls,  where  the  mettle  of  man's  nature 
was  thoroughly  tested,  and  the  survival  of 
the  fittest  was  the  rule. 

For  five  years  he  remained  in  California 
following  mining  and  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine. Having  accumulated  a  snug  sum,  in 
1857  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Millersburg, 
Ohio,  and  on  March  19  of  the  same  year, 
was  married  to  Maria  Asire,  of  Medina,  Ohio. 
To  this  union  four  children  were  bom — Dr. 
M.  L.  Moore,  of  Los  Angeles,  California,  D. 
L.  Moore,  of  La  Paz,  Indiana;  Mrs.  Carrie 
Gray,  of  Galveston,  Indiana;  and  Luna,  who 
died  twenty  years  ago.  His  wife,  three  child- 
\  ren  and  nine  grand-children,  together  with 
two  brothers.  Dr.  John  Moore,  of  Lakeville, 
Indiana;  and  Dr.  Allen  Moore,  of  North 
Liberty,  Indiana,  and  two  sisters,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Wallack,  of  Olatha,  Kansas,  and  Mrs.  Emma 
Fuller,  of  Keokuk,  Iowa,  survive  him.  Mrs. 
Wallack  is  present  with  us  to-day,  and  his 
baby  sister  is  at  home  too  ill  to  be  present. 

Immediately  after  his  marriage  he  came  to 
Lakeville,  Indiana,  where  he  has  lived  for 
forty-three  years,  and  where  for  forty-two 
years  he  has  actively  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  medicine,  pausing  only  when  the  hand  of 
disease  was  laid  heavily  upon  him.  Forty- 
t^'o  years  of  labor  in  behalf  of  suffering 
humanity!  What  a  history  lies  back  of  all 
these  years  of  useful  labor,  for  with  him  it 
was  a  labor  of  love.  He  loved  his  chosen  pro- 
fession as  a  mother  loveth  her  child,  and  his 
great  heart  grew  more  sympathetic  and  his 
kind  hand  more  tender  as  he  ministered  more 
and  more  to  the  suffering  and  dying,  sor- 


rowed with  the  sorrowing  and  rejoiced  with 
mothers  over  new  found  treasures.  It  caused 
him  a  pang  of  keenest  regret  when  the  swift- 
flying  years  and  the  hand  of  disease  warned 
him  that  the  time  had  come  when  he  must 
sever  his  professional  relations  with  the  great 
public  family  to  whom  he  had  so  long  min- 
istered. 

He  spoke  of  the  youths  and  children  as 
they  passed  his  door,  and  referred  to  the 
time  when  their  mothers  were  blooming  girls 
and  proud  young  mothers ;  spoke  of  the  dead 
and  living  for  years  back,  and  hoped  that 
their  children  might  be  an  honor  and  comfort 
to  them.  Financially  he  was  successful  in 
the  practice  of  medicine,  doubly  so  in  that 
he  was  just  and  honorable.  Many  times  dur- 
ing his  illness  he  expressed  himself  as  having 
always  dealt  with  his  patrons  as  he  would 
wish  to  be  dealt  by.  And  so  close  was  his 
hold  upon  the  hearts  of  his  patients  that  the 
children,  grandchildren  and  great-grandchil- 
dren of  many  who  employed  him  in  his  sturdy 
youth  clung  to  him  b&  long  as  he  was  able  to 
minister  to  them,  and  mingled  their  tears 
when  they  heard  he  was  no  nfore,  that  his 
landmark  in  the  community  was  swept  away, 
that  his  stately  form  and  good  grey  head 
would  be  seen  among  us  no  more.  Over  the 
whole  community  a  shadow  has  fallen,  every- 
w^here  there  is  a  feeling  of  personal  loss. 

As  a  husband  he  was  tender  and  affection- 
ate, true  as  steel.  lie  was  a  father  of  the 
highest  type,  loving,  planning,  sacrificing, 
that  his  children  might  be  fitted  for  good  citi- 
zenship, that  they  might  enjo\'  to  the  fullest 
the  privileges  and  blessings  of  life.  As  a 
friend  he  was  incomparable,  genial,  compan- 
ionable, kind.  Especially  was  he  the  coun- 
selor and  friend  of  the  young.  Interested  in 
educational  affairs,  counseling  always  perse- 
verance, economy  and  morality.  As  a  citi- 
zen he  was  high-minded  and  honorable.  His 
character  was  above  reproach,  and  his  repu- 
tation untarnished  throughout  a  life  of  sev- 
enty-one years  and  a  practice  of  forty-two 
years. 

He  was  a  Mason  in  good  standing,  having 
become  a  charter  member  of  Lakeville  Lodge, 
No.  353,  in  the  year  1867.  In  1852,  two  years 
before  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise, 
which  swept  away  the  line  of  Mason  and 
Dixon,  while  in  Missouri  and  before  starting 
upon  his  journey  across  the  plains,  there  oc- 
curred an  incident  which  changed  the  color 
of  his  politics.    He  was  then  a  Democrat.  He 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY    OP   ST.    JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1105 


witnessed  an  auction  jsale  from  the  block  of  a 
slave  mother,  she  to  go  to  the  cotton  fields  of 
Alabama,  and  her  child,  from  whom  she  part- 
ed with  the  wildest  grief,  was  sold  to  another 
master.  His  indignation  was  intense.  He 
vowed  never  again  to  vote  with  the  party  of 
his  fathers  till  the  slave  traffic  should  be  abol- 
ished from  the  land.  With  the  courage  of  his 
convictions  h-e  showed  himself  an  Aboli- 
tionist. In  1854  he  became  a  charter 
member  of  the  Republican  party.  He 
joined  the  Grenback  party  at  its  incep- 
tion and  stayed  witih  it,  as  he  declared,  till 
the  purpose  for  which  it  was  organized  was 
accomplished.  Some  years  since  he  joined 
the  party  pledged  to  the  prohibition  of  the 
liquor  traffic,  a  traffic  which  he  declared  to 
be  a  greater  curse  than  that  of  human  slavery. 

Like  all  intense  natures  he  was  strong  in 
his  likes  and  dislikes,  and  in  the  old  mining 
days  he  had  only  one  friend  to  whom  he  con- 
fided fully — Augustus  Hartzey,  of  McComb, 
Ohio.  They  were  comrades  and  messmates, 
sharing  each  other's  secrets,  hiding  each 
other's  treasures,  watching  each  other's  inter- 
ests. Mr.  Hartzey,  in  speaking  of  his  friend, 
says:  '*Our  natures  are  dual.  We  climbed 
the  Rockies  and  delved  for  gold  together. 
We  thought  and  acted  in  harmony.  We  had 
both  voted  for  Pierce.  We  both  voted  for 
Fremont,  and  we  both  left  the  Golden  state 
to  redeem  sacred  promises  made  in  youth." 
Mr.  Hartzey  visited  his  friend  twice  last  sea- 
son, and  he  is  here  to-day  to  look  for  the  last 
time  upon  the  face  of  his  dead  comrade.  He 
is  the  last  surviving  member  of  the  old  wagon 
train  of  '52.  God  grant  that  they  may  meet 
again  when  for  him  the  journey  overland  is 
finished. 

Dr.  Moore  was  a  firm  believer  in  the 
Christian  religion,  and  united  with  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  in  1880,  during  a 
series  of  meetings  held  by  the  Rev.  Saun- 
ders. Faults  he  had,  for  to  err  is  human,  but 
they  were  faults  of  a  strong  intense  nature, 
which  made  him  almost  extreme  in  his  de- 
nunciation of  wrong  and  love  of  what  he  be- 
lieved to  be  right.  He  loved  life,  thought  it  a 
great  privilege  to  live.  The  world  was  to 
him  great  and  beautiful,  but  he  expressed 
himself  as  perfectly  resigned,  having  made 
his  peace  with  God.  Having  forgiven,  as  he 
hoped  to  be  forgiven,  he  looked  forward  with 
faith  to  a  reunion  with  loved  ones  beyond  the 
grave.  The  words  of  the  Psalmist  David, 
chosen  by  his  mother  as  a  text  of  Scripture 


from  which  comforting  thoughts  suggested  to 
her  family  when  she  walked  through  the  Val- 
lay  of  the  Shadow  of  Death,  comforted  her 
son  when  the  Death  Angel  hovered  near  him : 
^*  Though  I  walk  through  the  Valley  of  the 
Shadow  of  Death  I  will  fear  no  evil,  for  Thou 
art  with  me ;  Thy  rod  and  Thy  staff  they  com- 
fort me." — Obituary  by  Mrs.  Dr.  John  Moore. 
Christopher  Fuchs,  the  popular  trustee  of 
Union  township,  is  one  of  the  native  sons  of 
the  township,  born  on  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  lives  May  6,  1851,  and  in  this  responsi- 
ble position  he  has  made  a  fine  record  for  gen- 
eral efficiency,  fidelity  and  promptness  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duties.  His  parents,  George 
and  Johanna  Fuchs,  were  both  natives  of  Ba- 
varia, Germania,  and  came  to  America  in  the 
fall  of  1850,  being  accompanied  on  the  jour- 
ney by  their  five  children,  their  youngest 
child,  Christopher,  having  been  born  after  the 
arrival  of  the  family  in  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Fuchs  had  a  sister,  Mrs.  Bauer,  living  in 
Indiana,  and  hither  they  made  their  way,  the 
father  purchasing  fifty  acres  of  the  present 
homestead  in  Union  township,  of  which  a  few 
acres  had  been  cleared  and  a  small  log  cabin 
erected.  There  he  continued  to  reside  until 
his  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death,  when 
he  had  reached  his  eighty-fifth  year,  and  in 
the  meantime  he  had  increased  the  boundaries 
of  his  farm  to  one  hundred,  and  ninety  acres, 
devoting  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  its 
cultivation  and  improvement,  although  pre- 
vious to  his  coming  to  this  country  he  had 
been  a  locksmith.  The  timber  on  his  land 
he  untilized  into  the  making  of  hubs,  spokes 
and  wagon  lumber,  also  selling  much  walnut 
timber,  and  the  double  log  house  continued 
as  his  home  until  death,  he  having  survived 
his  wife  for  some  years.  He  was  a  Lutheran 
in  his  religious  belief,  there  being  at  one  time 
a  church  of  that  denomination  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  home,  and  gave  his  political  support  to 
the  Democratic  party.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fuchs  were  born  six  children:  John,  who 
followed  farming  in  this  neighborhood  until 
his  death  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years,  and 
he  had  never  married ;  Charley,  an  agricultur- 
ist of  Center  township;  Henry,  a  resident  of 
the  gold  mining  section  of  Gtass  Valley,  Cal- 
ifornia, he  having  been  absent  from  this  sec- 
tion since  about  1854,  although  he  has  twice 
returned  on  visits;  Caroline,  the  wife  of  John 
Fickenger,  of  Clay  township,  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty; Kate,  who  served  as  her  father's  house- 
keeper until  his  death,  and  has  since  resided 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1106 


HISTORY   OF    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


on  the  old  homestead,  having  never  married; 
and  Christopher,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review. 

Christopher  Fuchs  has  spent  his  entire  life 
on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  months  in  California, 
and  his  homestead,  now  comprises  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  acres,  one  hundred  and  thir- 
ty-five acres  of  which  is  included  in  the  old 
home  farm  on  the  Michigan  road,  nine  miles 
south  of  the  centier  of  South  Bend.  The  many 
substantial  improvements  which  now  adorn 
the  premises  are  the  result  of  his  industry  and 
ability,  including  a  fine  bank  bam  built  in 
1876,  and  a  comfortable  and  commodious  resi- 
dence erected  in  1884.  He  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral agricultural  pursuits,  and  in  his  pas- 
tures ^re  to  be  found  a  fine  grade  of  stock. 
He  is  a  thorough  farmer  and  excellent  finan- 
cier, progressive  in  his  methods  and  earnest 
in  his  desire  to  promote  the  interests  of  the 
community.  He  is  a  stalwart  Democrat  and 
uses  his  influence  in  the  support  of  his  party 
principles  and  nominees.  In  1904  he  was 
elected  the  trustee  of  Union  township,  run- 
ning iorty-seven  votes  ahead  of  his  opponent 
in  a  district  with  a  Republican  majority  of 
sixty,  and  thus  it  is  seen  that  he  has  many 
Republican  friends.  In  the  township  are 
eleven  schools,  including  the  Lakeville  school 
of  three  rooms,  which  is  a  township  higb 
school,  and  the  thirteen  teachers  are  Charles 
Bailey,  Floyd  Berkley,  Floyd  Annis,  John 
Hardy,  Walter  Katering,  Phiney  Long,  Maud 
Flucky,  Annie  Rush,  Bemice  Rush,  Annie 
Thayer,  Alice  Smith,  Nellie  Eastbum  and  Ar- 
thur Henderson.  The  schools  have  an  enroll- . 
ment  of  five  hundred  and  sixty-five  pupils, 
and  include  five  brick  buildings,  and  to  Mr. 
Fuchs  belongs  the  credit  of  erecting  one  of 
these  beautiful  school  houses.  He  has  often 
served  as  a  delegate  to  the  county  and  other 
conventions  of  his  party,  and  is  one  of  the 
active  workers  in  the  ranks  of  the  Democracy 
in  this  section. 

In  1878  Mr.  Fuchs  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Julia  Kunsman,  who  was  born  near 
Mishawaka,  where  her  mother  still  resides, 
and  they  have  become  the  parents  of  four 
children,  Charley,  Louie,  Lizzie  and  Nellie, 
all  at  home.  The  daughter  Lizzie  is  the  wife 
of  Russell  Annis,  but  resides  with  her  par- 
ents. Mr.  Fuchs  enjoys  the  outdoor  sports  of 
hunting,  fishing,  etc.,  and  is  a  worthy  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  church  of  South  Bend. 

Peter  Slough.    Since  an  early  epoch  in  its 


history  the  Slough  family  have  been  identi- 
fied with  the  progress  and  development  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  Peter  Slough  has  long 
been  numbered  among  the  leading  agricultur- 
ists and  business  men  of  Union  township. 
He  was  born  at  Atwater,  Portage  county, 
Ohio,  May  31,  1839,  a  son  of  Martin  and 
Barbara  (Sauers)  Slough,  both  natives  of 
Wittenburg,  Germany.  About  1832,  after 
their  marriage,  they  came  to  the  United 
States,  making  their  way  to  Portage  county, 
Ohio,  which  continued  as  their  home  until  in 
September,  1850,  coming  thence  to  Wood- 
land, Madison  township,  St.  Joseph  county. 
This  section  of  the  country  was  then  new  and 
wild,  and  from  the  virgin  forest  Mr.  Slough 
made  a  fine  farm,  the  parents  there  residing 
until  about  1864,  when  they  laid  aside  the 
active  work  of  the  farm  and  removed  to 
Bremen.  The  mother's  death  there  occurred, 
but  the  father  died  at  the  home  of  his  son 
Valentine  at  Carson,  Union  township,  when 
he  had  reached  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 
They  became  residents  of  the  county  during 
its  earliest  pioneer  epoch,  before  the  advent 
of  the  railroads,  and  at  that  time  Mishawaka 
was  their  nearest  trading  station.  Unto  this 
worthy  old  pioneer  couple  were  bom  fourteen 
children,  and  the  five  now  living,  four  sons 
and  one  daughter,  are:  David,  who  resides 
in  Center  township,  three  miles  south  of  South 
Bend ;  Margaret,  the  wife  of  Lennett  Rogers, 
of  South  Bend ;  Peter,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review;  Valentine,  of  Greene  township; 
and  Adam,  who  resides  in  South  Bend. 

Peter  Slough  was  eleven  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  family  to  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  his  boyhood  days  were 
spent  m  their  foresrt  home  in  Madison  town- 
ship, where  he  helped  to  clear  the  land  and 
place  the  fields  under  cultivation.  The  Ferris 
saw  mill,  built  the  same  winter  of  their  ar- 
rival, was  located  three  miles  north  of  their 
home,  and  much  of  his  time  was  spent  in 
hauling  logs  from  the  farm  to  the  mill. 
Leaving  home  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years, 
he  secured  employment  in  the  saw  mills  in 
Bourbon  and  Carson,  owned  by  Slough  & 
Alexander,  the  partnership  consisting  of  his 
brothers  Frederick  and  Martin  and  William 
Alexander.  During  his  connection  therewith 
he  worked  his  way  upward  to  the  position  of 
head  sawyer,  thus  continuing  about  three 
years,  and,  returning  to  Bourbon,  spent  one 
year  there  and  was  there  married.  In  com- 
pany with  his  brothers  Valentine  and  David, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1107 


he  then  rented  the  Slough  &  Alexander  mill 
at  Carson,  which  they  conducted  for  one 
year,  doing  a  general  custom  trade,  and  on  the 
expiration  of  that  period  Mr.  Slough  pur- 
chased a  half  interest  in  the  Slover  &  Keyser 
mill  in  Marshall  county  in  company  with  a 
Mr.  Monowick.  After  two  years  the  property 
was  burned,  and,  purchasing  his  partner's  in- 
terest, Mr.  Slough  rebuilt  and  conducted  the 
mill  alone  for  one  year,  when  he  sold  a  half 
interest  to  Montgomery,  Eggleston  &  Com- 
pany, of  Mishawaka,  he  continuing  in  charge 
during  the  following  year.  His  brother  David 
then  became  his  partner,  and  they  purchased 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  where  Mr. 
Slough  now  resides.  This  was  about  the  year 
1871,  and,  removing  the  mill  thereto,  the  two 
brothers  continued  its  operation  •  for  sixteen 
years,  doing  a  general  custom  business. 
Theirs  was  the  only  mill  within  a  distance  of 
three  miles,  and  it  was  located  in  a  fine  body 
of  walnut,  poplar,  ash,  maple  and  beech  tim- 
ber, and  proved  a  profitable  investment.  On 
the  expiration  of  sixteen  years  Mr.  Slough 
purchased  his  brother's  interest,  and  con- 
tinued to  operate  it  alone  for  four  years  or 
until  the  death  of  his  wife  in  1895,  when  he 
sold  the  mill  and  his  since  devoted  his  atten- 
tion to  the  clearing  and  cultivation  of  his 
land.  His  farm  consists  of  about  two  hun- 
dred acres,  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  of 
which  are  under  a  fine  state  of  cultivation, 
and  he  has  also  erected  a  pleasant  and  com- 
modious residence  and  excellent  barn.  Dur- 
ing his  connection  with  the  saw  milling  busi- 
ness he  found  a  ready  market  for  his  product 
in  South  Bend,  selling  principally  to  the 
Singer,  Birdsell  and  Studebaker  companies, 
and  they  gave  constant  employment  to  from 
five  to  seven  men. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-four  years  Mr.  Slough 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Maria  L.  Snyder, 
and  for  ihirty-four  years  they  traveled  the 
journey  of  life  together,  she  nobly  assisting 
him  in  the  establishment  of  their  home.  Dur- 
ing his  identification  with  the  milling  busi- 
ness she  boarded  the  men  in  their  employ,  and 
in  many  ways  prove*  a  worthy  helpmate. 
Their  union  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  five 
children :  Elva  0.,  the  wife  of  Prank  Niceley, 
proprietor  of  a  paper  manufactory  in  South 
Bend;  Orris,  who  died  in  childhood;  Otto, 
who  had  married  and  died  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-four years;  Russell,  who  is  at  home  with 
his  father  and  is  conducting  the  farm;  and 
Dessie,  also  at  home.     On  the  29th  of  July, 


1900,  Mr.  Slough  married  Miss  Irene  Hayes, 
of  liogansport,  Indiana.  He  also  has  an 
adopted  daughter,  Jennie,  who  came  to  them 
when  a  little  maiden  of  five  years,  and  re- 
mained with  them  until  reaching  womanhood. 
Mr.  Slough  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
Republican  party,  and  in  1865,  during  the 
period  of  the  Civil  war,  he  volunteered  as  a 
member  of  Company  A,  Thirty-fifth  Indiana 
Regiment,  which  he  joined  at  Chattanooga, 
Tennessee,  under  Colonel  Tassen  and  General 
Thomas.  He  participated  in  two  of  the  hard- 
fought  battles  of  the  war,  Franklin  and  Nash- 
ville, and  was  honorably  discharged  on  the 
16th  of  November,  1865,  having  in  the  mean- 
time been  sent  to  Galveston,  Texas,  where  his 
term  of  service  expired.  He  is  broad-minded 
and  patriotic,  and  merits  the  high  regard 
which  is  freely  accorded  him. 

Lemen  Shaperu  In  the  early  settlement 
and  subsequent  history  of  St.  Joseph  county 
the  ancestors  of  Lemen  Shafer  have  been 
prominent,  and  his  birth  occurred  on  the  site 
of  his  present  home  April  28,  1861,  his  par- 
ents being  Hiram  and  Eliza  (Schmachten- 
berger)  Shafer.  The  father,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  Stark  county,  Ohio,  and  of  Pennsyl- 
vania-German descent,  was  a  son  of  David 
Shafer,  whose  death  occurred  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  whither  he  had  come  to  join 
his  son  Hiram.  When  past  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-one years  Hiram  Shafer,  in  company  with 
his  brother  Reuben,  made  the  journey  over- 
land with  team  and  wagon  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  where  for  a  time  he  worked  at  the 
shoemaker's  trade  in  Mishawaka.  Returning 
to  Ohio  for  his  bride,  he  came  again  to  St. 
Joseph  county  and  this  time  located  on  the 
farm  on  which  his  son  Lemen  now  resides. 
This  was  about  the  year  1852,  and  he  had  to 
cut  his  way  in  the  woods  one  mile  from  the 
Turkey  Creek  road  to  the  farm,  where  he 
cleared  a  space  sufficient  to  erect  a  hewed, 
two-story  log  cabin,  one  of  the  best  in  the  vi- 
cinity at  that  time.  The  purchase  price  for 
his  eighty-acre  tract  was  two  hundred  and* 
fifty  dollars,  and  it  contained  the  finest  of 
walnut,  white  oak,  maple  and  beech  timber, 
all  of  which  was  sacrificed  in  order  to  clear 
his  land.  He  added  another  eighty  acre  tract 
to  his  original  purchase,  and  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  he  placed  under  cultivation. 
After  some  years  spent  in  Harris  township 
his  brother  Reuben  came  to  Union  township 
and  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of    land    adjoining    Hiram    Shafer's    farm, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1108 


mSTORT   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


where  he  also  erected  a  hewed  log  cabin,  but 
after  ten  years  returned  to  Harris  township 
and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
dying  in  1889.  The  death  of  Hiram  Shafer 
occurred  on  the  29th  of  January,  1897,  when 
he  had  reached  the  seventieth  milestone  on 
the  journey  of  life,  and  eight  days  later  his 
wife  joined  him  in  the  home  beyond.  For 
forty-five  years  they  had  traveled  the  journey 
of  life  together,  their  mutual  love  and  confi- 
dence increasing  as  the  years  went  by,  and 
the  wish  expressed  at  her  husband's  death 
that  she  might  be  with  him  in  their  heavenly 
home  was  so  soon  granted.  Mr.  Shafer  was 
a  member  and  assisted  in  the  organization  of 
the  United  Brethren  church  in  this  township. 
Its  meetings  were  first  held  in  a  school  house, 
but  ill  the  winter  of  1874  a  meeting  resulted 
in  the  accession  of  eighty-five  new  members, 
and  this  was  the  origin  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church  at  Bremen.  Mr.  Shafer  was  very 
active  in  raising  the  funds  with  which  to 
erect  the  church,  and  long  served  as  its  stew- 
ard. Mrs.  Shafer  was  reared  in  the  faith  of 
the  Lutheran  church.  In  their  family  were 
twelve  children,  nine  of  whom  grew  to  years 
of  maturity,  and  eight  are  now  living:  Cor- 
delia, the  wife  of  John  Kidder,  of  White 
Pigeon,  Michigan;  Maria,  who  married  John 
Bondurant,  and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
eight  years ;  Henry,  a  resident  of  Union  town- 
ship; William,  who  resides  near  Lakeville; 
Lemen,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  review ; 
Edward,  of  North  Dakota;  Simon,  who  re- 
sides near  his  old  home;  Sally,  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Van  Fisher,  of  South  Bend;  and  George, 
of  Union  township. 

Lemen  Shafer  remained  at  home  until 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  as  did  also  each  of 
his  brothers,  and  for  one  year  thereafter  was 
engaged  in  farming.  During  the  following 
five  years  he  was  a  resident  of  South  Bend, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  teaming,  and  then 
removed  to  Woodland,  where  for  ten  years 
he  operated  a  sawmill  and  stave  factory  and 
also  farmed.  Returning  to  the  old  homestead 
farm  in  1899,  he  purchased  the  interest  of 
the  other  heirs,  and  there  he  has  since  lived 
and  labored,  in  the  meantime  remodeling 
the  house  which  had  been  erected  by  his 
father,  building  fences,  tilling  the  land,  and 
in  many  ways  has  increased  the  value  of  this 
old  homestead. 

On  the  25th  of  May,  1882,  Mr.  Shafer  was 
united  in  marriage  to  ]Margaret  Grose,  a 
daughter    of    Christian     and    Sophia    Grose, 


of  Woodland,  Madison  township,  where  the 
father  farmed  for  many  years  or  until  his 
life's  labors  were  ended  in  death  in  1882. 
She  is  a  native  daughter  of  Woodland,  and 
the  only  child  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shafer 
is  Daisy,  the  wife  of  Clifford  DuComb,  a  law 
student  at  the  state  university.  Mr.  Shafer 
votes  with  the  Republican  party,  and  his  fra- 
ternal relations  are  with  the  Knights  of  the 
Maccabees  and  the  Gleaners,  with  which  his 
wife  also  affiliates.  The  family  are  well  and 
favorably  known,  and  stand  high  in  the  com- 
munity. 

John  Sieper.  The  Siefer  family  is  one  of 
the  oldest  in  Union  township.  For  over  half 
a  century  they  have  been  identified  with  the 
agricultural  interests  of  their  community,  aid- 
ing materially  in  the  development  of  the  re- 
sources of  their  section  and  taking  an  active 
part  in  all  movements  tending  to  advance  its 
welfare. 

George  Siefer,  the  father,  was  bom  in  Al- 
sace, France,  November  2,  1822,  and  in  1852 
he  came  to  the  United  States,  spending  the 
first  three  years  in  this  country  as  a  tailor 
in  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey,  where  he  had 
a  brother-in-law  living.  It  was  in  the  year 
18oo  that  he  came  to  Indiana,  first  locating 
in  Madison  township,  a  half  a  mile  from  his 
present  home  in  Union  township,  where  he 
owned  a  farm  for  nearly  fifty  years,  but 
about  twenty  years  ago  he  transferred  his 
residence  to  another  part  of  the  land,  so  he 
has  lived  on  the  old  farm  since  his  advent  into 
the  county  over  a  half  century  ago.  The 
hewed  log  house  in  which  he  first  took  up  hjs 
abode  was  located  in  the  dense  woods,  and  it 
continued  as  his  home  until  it  finally  gave 
place  twenty  years  ago  to  his  present  frame 
dwelling,  and  as  the  years  grew  apace  he 
added  to  his  original  purchase  until  he 
ouTied  four  hundred  acras  in  this  vicinity, 
two  hundred  acres  in  the  homestead  and  two 
tracts  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
and  eighty  acres  each.  Most  of  the  land  was 
covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber,  which 
he  at  first  burned  in  his  efforts  to  clear  the 
farm,  but  later  he  secured  a  saw  mill  and 
was  thus  able  to  utilize  the  valuable  timber. 
For  thirty-five  years  in  addition  to  his  general 
farming  labors  he 'also  handled  the  largest 
part  of  the  stock  in  this  vicinity,  and  was 
widely  known  as  the  leading  stock  dealer  in 
this  section  of  St.  Joseph  county.  About 
three  years  ago,  however,  Mr.  Siefer  laid  aside 
the  active  work  of  the  farm,  and  has  since 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTOEY   OP  ST.    JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1109 


lived  in  quiet  retirement,  enjoying  the  rest 
which  he  has  so  truly  earned.  He  helped  each 
of  his  children  as  they  grew  to  years  of  ma- 
turity and  left  home,  and  has  at  all  times  been 
a  devoted  father  and  a  true  and  loyal  friend 
and  neighbor.  From  the  little  home  across 
the  sea  he  made  his  way  to  the  new  world 
with  but  little  capital  and  without  influential 
friends,  and  has  made  for  himself  a  place  in 
connection  with  the  activities  of  life,  success- 
fully surmounting  obstacles  and  gaining  rec- 
ognition for  intrinsic  worth  of  character. 

In  has  native  land  of  France  Mr.  Siefer 
had  married  Mary  Conrad,  who  accompanied 
him  on  his  emigration  to  the  United  States, 
and  continued  his  faithful  and  loving  com- 
panion until  her  life's  labors  were  ended 
in  death  on  the  30th  of  October,  1891,  when 
fifty-nine  years  of  age.  In  their  family  were 
the  following  children:  Mary,  the  wife  of 
Alexander  Grose,  of  Madison  township; 
George,  who  owns  a  valuable  farm  in  Union 
township,  but  is  now  living  retired  in 
Bremen;  John,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review;  Emma,  the  wife  of  William  Klinkner, 
of  Center  township;  William,  a  resident  of 
South  Bend;  Edward,  who  owns  the  old  home- 
stead and  with  whom  his  father  now  lives; 
Ida,  who  became  the  wife  of  Walter  Huff,  of 
Bremen,  and  died  October  30,  1906,  when  but 
thirty-five  years  of  age;  and  Cora,  who 
served  as  her  father  s  housekeeper  after  the 
death  of  her  mother  until  she  too  was  called 
to  the  home  beyond,  passing  away  on  the  24th 
of  December,  1901,  aged  twenty-seven  years. 
Mr.  Siefer,  the  father,  affiliates  with  the 
Democracy,  but  is  not  bound  by  party  ties, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  church 
at  Bremen. 

John  Siefer  was  born  in  the  old  log  house 
in  which  the  family  so  long  resided  December 
17,  1858,  and  he  continued  as  his  father's 
helper  until  his  marriage,  which  occurred  in 
his  twenty-fifth  year,  February  7,  1884,  Katie, 
the  daughter  of  Christian  and  Sophia 
(Scherer)  Grose,  becoming  his  wife.  The 
name  was  formerly  spelled  Grotz,  and  the 
family  is  one  of  the  old  and  honored  ones  of 
this  section  of  the  county.  She  is  also  a  na- 
tive of  Madison  township,  born  a  half  a  mile 
south  of  Woodland,  and  there  the  parents  died 
on  the  farm  they  had  cleared  and  cultivated, 
and  where  A.  L.  Grose  still  resides.  After 
his  marriage  Mr.  Siefer  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land  of  his  father,  which  he  received 
on  easy  terms,  and  the  land  was  then  mainly 


covered  with  stumps,  brush,  etc.,  but  he  has 
since  cleared  the  tract  and  has  added  forty 
acres  to  its  original  boundaries,  also  owning 
fifty  acres  near  by,  the  old  Fred  Willmer 
place.  He  has  placed  his  fields  under  an  ex- 
cellent state  of  cultivation,  has  erected  many 
substantial  buildings,  and  is  now  enlarging 
his  fine  bank  barn,  forty  by  seventy-two  feet, 
which  was  erected  nine  years  ago. 

Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Siefer,  a  son  and  a  daughter.  The  lat- 
ter, Elsie,  is  a  high  school  student  in  South 
Bend,  and  Marvin  is  a  sturdy  little  lad  of 
eight  years.  In  his  political  aflSliations  Mr. 
Siefer  was  formerly  identified  with  the  De- 
mocracy, but  during  the  past  eight  years  has 
given  his  support  to  the  Republican  party. 
He  enjoys  his  summer  outings  with  his  gun 
and  rod,  and  often  visits  the  lakes  during  his 
vacations. 

John  Eastburn,  one  of  the  leading  farmers 
of  Union  township  and  a  representative  of  one 
of  its  honored  old  pioneer  families,  is  entitled 
to  a  prominent  place  in  the  annals  of  St. 
Joseph  county.  lie  was  born  on  the  family 
homestead  one  mile  east  of  Lakeville,  Decem- 
ber 29,  1859,  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mar- 
garet (Thorpe)  Eastburn.  The  father  was 
born  in  North  Carolina,  and  was  but  a  little 
lad  of  nine  years  when  he  came  with  his 
father  to  Johnson  county,  Indiana,  where  he 
grew  to  years  of  maturity  and  was  there  mar- 
ried. Previous  to  this  time  he  had  come  to 
St.  Joseph  county  and  rafted  Imnber  on  the 
Kankakee  river,  returning  to  Johnson  county 
for  his  bride,  and  after  coming  again  to  this 
county  secured  land  east  of  Lakeville.  The 
young  couple  took  up  their  abode  in  a  little 
log  cabin  in  the  dense  woods,  the.  birthplace  of 
their  son  John,  and  when  he  was  but  a  babe 
of  four  years  his  mother  died,  leaving  the 
father  to  rear  their  children  and  make  for 
them  a  home.  Six  children  had  been  born  to 
them,  namely:  Mary  C,  the  wife  of  Lewis 
Bailey,  who  resides  on  the  old  Eastburn  home- 
stead in  Union  township;  Zachariah  T.,  who 
was  formerly  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits in  Kansas;  but  is  now  a  resident  of 
Union  township;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Isaac 
Henderson,  who  resides  near  Lakeville ;  John, 
the  subject  of  this  review ;  Nancy,  the  wife  of 
William  Schafer,  of  Union  township;  and 
Samuel  I.,  a  bridge  contractor  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Cando,  North  Dakota.  Mr.  Eastburn, 
the  father,  was  an  excellent  business  man, 
and  from  time  to  time  he  added  to  his  original 


Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


1110 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


purchase  until  at  the  time  of  his  d^eath  the 
estate  consisted  of  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
two  acres,  sixty-one  of  which  were  included 
in  the  homestead.  He  was  a  Republican  in 
his  political  affiliations,  and  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church  at  Lakeville,  in  its  faith 
passing  away  in  death  on  the  19th  of  March, 
1891,  having  remained  true  to  the  memory 
of  his  wife  during  all  those  many  years. 

John  Eastburn  remained  at  home  until 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  farming  the  old 
homestead  in  company  with  his  brother 
Samuel  for  eight  years,  or  until  his  father's 
death.  It  was  in  the  year  1892  that  he  took 
up  his  abode  on  his  present  homestead,  it  hav- 
ing been  purchased  by  his  father  three  years 
previously,  and  was  the  old  Jonathan  Winn 
farm,  he  having  located  it  in  the  dense  woods 
and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  its  im- 
provement and  cultivation.  At  the  time  of 
the  purchase  by  Mr.  Eastburn  it  contained 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  but  its  boun- 
daries have  since  been  increased  to  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres,  and  the  farm  is  located 
two  and  a  half  miles  southeast  of  Lakeville 
in  Union  township.  The  many  valuable  and 
substantial  improvements  which  now  adorn 
,  the  premises  have  been  placed  there  by  its 
present  owner,  and  consist  of  a  fine  bank  bam 
forty  by  seventy-two  feet,  while  in  1904  the 
pleasant  and  commodious  residence  was 
erected,  thus  making  it  one  of  the  modern  and 
attractive  homesteads  of  the  township.  Mr. 
Eastburn  follows  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising,  and  is  very  successful  in  his  efforts. 

On  the  14th  of  March,  1883,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Eastburn  and  Miss  Ella 
Nogle,  she  being  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  Nogle,  of  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  the 
birthplace  of  their  daughter  Ella.  She  be- 
came a  resident  of  South  Bend  some  years 
before  her  marriage,  and  for  two  years  re- 
sided in  the  home  of  Alfred  Miller,  the  well 
known  editor  of  that  city.  Pour  children 
have  been  bom  of  this  union :  Carrie  M.,  at 
home  and  engaged  in  teaching;  Nellie  and 
Freddie,  twins,  and  Mary.  Nellie  is  also  a 
teacher  in  the  schools  of  Union  township,  and 
Fred  is  an  engineer  in  the  dredge  business. 
The  Republican  party  receives  Mr.  East- 
burn's  active  support  and  co-operation  and  he 
has  often  served  as  a  delegate  to  its  con- 
ventions. His  fraternal  relations  are  with 
the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees. 

Harry  Witter,  one  of  the  leading  agri- 
culturi-;ts  of  German  township,   is  a  repre- 


sentative of  one  of  the  prominent  old  pioneer 
families  of  St.  Joseph  county.  His  paternal 
great-grandfather,  Christopher  Witter,  was 
born  on  the  5th  of  July,  1756,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, of  German  descent,  and  became  the 
father  of  eight  children.  The  grandparents 
of  our  subject,  John  and  Mary  (Moyer)  Wit- 
ter, were  natives  of  Ohio,  where  their  mar- 
riage was  celebrated  on  the  25th  of  May, 
1803.  About  1835  they  established  their  home 
in  German  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  Indi- 
ana, where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  and  passed  to  their  final  reward.  The 
father  was  born  on  the  23d  of  October,  1782, 
and  his  wife  on  the  5th  of  March,  1783. 

George  Witter,  a  son  of  this  worthy  old 
pioneer  couple,  was  born  in  Union  county, 
Ohio,  October  23,  1817,  and  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  St.  Joseph  county 
in  1835.  The  family  first  took  up  their  abode 
in  German  township,  and  Mr.  Witter  subse- 
quently became  a  resident  of  Warren  town- 
ship, but  returning  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life  in  German  township,  his  death  occur- 
ring on  the  8th  of  January,  1898.  He  was  a 
life-long  agriculturist  and  by  his  own  efforts 
acquired  a  fine  property  of  two  hundred  and 
ninety  acres.  He  was  active  in  the  public 
life  of  his  locality,  voting  first  with  the  Whig 
and  then  the  Republican  party,  and  he  served 
as  the  trustee  of  Warren  township  and  in 
other  minor  offices.  His  religious  connection 
was  with  the  German  Baptist  church,  and  he 
was  an  active  and  efficient  worker  in  the 
cause  of  Christianity.  On  the  16th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1840,  Mr.  Witter  was  married  to  Sarah 
J.  Miller,  who  was  born  near  Dayton,  Ohio, 
November  1,  1822,  but  in  1830  was  brought 
by  her  parents  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indi- 
ana, the  home  being  established  about  a  mile 
east  of  the  daughter's  present  home.  Her 
parents  were  David  and  Sarah  (Hardman) 
Miller,  both  natives  of  Ohio.  At  the  time  of 
their  removal  to  St.  Joseph  county  the  now 
populous  city  of  South  Bend  consisted  of  but 
a  few  Indian  huts,  and  the  fattier  entered 
land  in  German  township  and  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  here,  dying  on  the  26th 
of  October,  1842,  while  his  wife  survived  until 
the  4th  of  June,  1850.  In  their  family  were 
thirteen  children,  and  their  daughter,  Mrs. 
Witter,  is  still  living,  and  makes  her  home 
with  the  subject  of  this  review.  Twelve  chil- 
dren were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Witter, 
namely :  Elizabeth  McCoy,  deceased ;  Phoebe 
Jane,  who  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years ;  Aaron, 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


u^tA^/  (J£c.-^t 


V 


vx. 


Digitized  by  LjOOQ  IC 


p'Jt-  -  '  I 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


nil 


of  Warren  township;  Adaline,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Ed.  Slusser,  deceased,  and  she 
now  resides  with  her  brother  Harry;  Mary 
Ellen  Augustine,  deceased;  Lucinda.  Smith, 
deceased;  John  W.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years;  Albert,  deceased;  Caroline 
Dunn,  of  Elkhart,  Indiana;  Martin  M.,  who 
resides  on  the  old  homestead  in  Warren  town- 
ship ;  George  I.,  deceased ;  and  Harry,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review. 

Harry  Witter  was  born  in  Warren  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  November 
26,  1865,  and  remained  in  his  native  place 
until  twenty  years  of  age,  when  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  his  present  farm  in  German 
township.  After  his  marriage,  however,  he 
returned  to  the  old  homestead  in  Warren 
township,  but  after  a  residence  there  of  four 
years  he  again  came  to  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  lives.  The  home  farm  consists  of  seven- 
ty-five acres  in  section  31,  which  belongs  to 
his  mother,  and  he  is  also  the  administrator 
of  the  old  homestead  in  Warren  township, 
consisting  of  one  hundred  and  ninety-five 
acres.  His  entire  active  business  career  has 
been  devoted'  to  agricultural  pursuits  and 
stock-raising,  and  he  has  met  with  excellent 
success  in  his  chosen  calling.  He  has  given  a 
life-long  support  to  the  Eepublican  party,  and 
two  years  ago  he  was  its  choice  for  the  posi- 
tion of  trustee  of  German  township,  being 
the  present  incumbent.  During  a  period  of 
two  years  he  also  served  as  road  supervisor, 
and  is  an  active  factor  in  the  public  life  of 
his  community. 

In  1891  Mr.  Witter  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Eva  Dunn,  a  native  of  Warren  township 
and  a  daughter  of  James  T.  Dunn.  After  a 
happy  married  life  of  only  four  years  Mrs. 
Witter  was  called  to  the  home  beyond,  having 
become  the  mother  of  two  children,  Harry 
Everett,  who  died  when  only  ten  weeks  old, 
and  Juanita,  a  little  maiden  of  eleven  years, 
who  is  pursuing  her  studies  in  the  eighth 
grade. 

Christian  R.  Fogle.  The  most  enduring 
monument  which  can  be  erected  to  the  mem- 
ory of  loved  ones  is  the  written  record,  the 
pages  glowing  with  the  enrollment  of  the 
noble  life  and  kindly  deeds — these  alone  hand 
down  to  generations  of  the  future  the  history 
of  the  past.  One  of  the  highly  respected  citi- 
zens of  Lakeville  was  Christian  R.  Fogle,  who 
was  born  on  the  18th  of  December,  1832,  in 
Stark  county,  Ohio.  His  grandfather,  Adam 
Pogle,  was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  Can- 


ton, Ohio,  where  he  conducted  a  tannery  for 
many  years,  and  was  succeeded  in  the  busi- 
ness by  his  son,  Adam  Fogle,  the  father  of 
Christian.  On  the  11th  of  February,  1852,  in 
Canton,  Ohio,  Christian  Fogle  married  Fanny 
Klopfenstein,  who  was  nearly  of  his  own 
age,  born  in  the  village  of  Lewisville,  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  where  her  father.  Christian 
Klopfenstein,  was  an  early  pioneer,  removing 
thither  from  Pennsylvania. 

Christian  Fogle  learned  the  tanner's  trade 
from  his  father,  and  also  worked  at  that  oc- 
cupation with  his  brother-in-law  in  Lewis- 
ville. The  year  following  his  marriage  he 
took  charge  of  his  brother-in-law's  farm  near 
Osnaburg,  Stark  county,  Ohio,  thus  continu- 
ing for  two  years,  and  in  the  spring  of  1861 
came  to  Indiana  and  secured  employment 
with  Adam  Shidler,  who  operated  a  saw  mill 
aiear  Lakeville,  Mr.  Fogle  hauling  lumber 
from  the  mill  to  South  Bend,  and  continued 
his  association  with  Mr.  Shidler  for  one  year. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  purchased 
land  just  north  of  Lapaz,  then  in  the  dense 
woods,  and  took  up  his  abode  in  a  little  log 
cabin  with  a  puncheon  floor  and  clapboard 
roof,  and  there  he  and  his  faithful  wife  lived 
and  labored  for  ten  years.  In  the  meantime 
he  was  drafted  for  service  in  the  Civil  war, 
and  having  no  money  with  which  to  secure  a 
substitute  was  obliged  to  leave  his  family  in 
destitute  circumstances  and  go  to  the  front, 
where  he  spent  nine  months,  but  most  of  the 
time  was  sick  in  the  hospital.  During  her 
husband's  absence  Mrs.  Fogle  had  to  carry 
-  on  the  farm  work,  and  in  her  distressed  cir- 
cumstances would  chop  wood,  the  exposures 
from  that  labor  bringing  on  rheumatism,  from 
which  she  is  now  a  severe  sufferer.  When  her 
food  supply  gave  out  she  went  to  the  trustees 
for  help,  but  being  sent  from  one  to  another 
and  told  that  she  would  have  to  wait  an  in- 
vestigation to  see  if  she  was  wholly  destitute, 
she  decided  to  depend  upon  her  own  exer- 
tions and  managed  to  exist  through  the  win- 
ter. After  her  husband's  return  his  health 
was  so  poor  that  he  was  unable  to  work,  and 
bravely  she  struggled  on  until  finally  their 
farm  became  one  of  the  best  in  the  township, 
with  good  buildings  and  many  substantial  im- 
provements. 

Their  only  child,  a  son,  Elmer  Medill,  died 
from  typhoid  fever  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years,  so  that  at  the  death  of  her  husband, 
which  occurred  on  tlie  11th  of  August,  1893, 
she  sold  the  farm  and  in  the  same  year  came 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1112 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


to  Lakeville,  buying  a  small  place,  which  she 
has  converted  into  a  n^at  and  pleasant  home. 
During  the  past  years  she  has  been  so  aflSicted 
with  rheumatism  that  she  has  had  to  depend 
upon  the  ministrations  of  others,  her  niece 
making  her  home  with  her.  Her  life  has 
been  frought  with  hardships  and  privations, 
but  bravely  she  met  and  overcame  the  trials 
which  barred  her  pathway,  and  she  is  num- 
bered among  the  brave  pioneer  women  of  St. 
Joseph  county.  Mr.  Fogle  was  not  a  poli- 
tician, voting  for  the  men  whom  he  regarded 
as  best  qualified  for  office,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  German  Baptist  church,  in  which  his 
widow  also  holds  membership,  an-d  both  have 
been  active  workers  in  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tianity through  life.  Mrs.  Fogle  is  a  well 
educated  lady,  having  been  a  student  in 
Mount  Union  Seminary  of  Stark  county, 
Ohio,  and  her  parents  dying  when  she  was 
young  she  was  obliged  to  begin  teaching  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  years,  continuing  that  oc- 
cupation until  her  marriage.  She  is  the 
youngest  of  fifteen  children,  but  only  two 
are  now  living,  her  sister  being  Mrs.  Mary 
Shidler. 

Joseph  G.  Zigler.  Back  to  Virginia  must 
we  turn  in  tracing  the  lineage  of  Joseph  G. 
Zigler.  That  section  of  the  country  which 
cradled  so  much  of  our  national  history  be- 
came the  home  of  his  ancestors  in  early  colon- 
ial days,  and  the  representatives  of  the  fam- 
ily have  been  loyal  and  devoted  sons  of  the 
republic.  He  was  born  in  Botetourt  county, 
Virginia,  August  17,  1827,  a  son  of  Samuel 
and  Margaret  (Garwood)  Zigler,  also  natives 
of  the  Old  Dominion.  The  father,  who  was 
a  wagon-maker,  came  to  South  Bend  in  the 
spring  of  1834,  but  later  took  up  his  abode 
on  Palmer's  prairie,  and  subsequently  on  Por- 
tage Prairie,  remaining  in  German  township 
until  his  son  Joseph  was  sixteen  ye^rs  of  age. 
He  afterward  operated  a  saw  mill  on  the 
Terre  Coupee  Prairie  for  three  or  four  years, 
and  his  death  occurred  in  New  Carlisle  when 
he  had  reached  the  age  of  seventy  years,  his 
widow  surviving  him  for  five  years.  In  their 
family  were  ten  children,  eight  of  whom  grew 
to  years  of  maturity,  and  four,  Joseph, 
Hiram,  John  and  Jane,  are  now  living. 
Hiram  is  a  resident  of  South  Dakota,  John 
resides  on  the  Terre  Coupee  near  New  Cal- 
lisle,  and  Jane  is  the  wife  of  Granville  Wool- 
man,  also  of  New  Carlisle.  The  four  who  are 
deceased  are:  Mary,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Aaron  Miller,  and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 


nine  years;  William,  who  resided  in  St. 
Joseph  county  until  his  death  at  the  age  of 
seventy-six  years;  James,  who  was  thirty 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death;  and 
Martha,  who  became  the  wife  of  Abel  Hat- 
field, and  died  in  South  Bend  at  the  age  of 
thirty  years. 

Joseph  G.  Zigler,  the  eldest  of  the  children, 
remained  at  home  for  years  after  attaining 
the  age  of  maturity,  working  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  and  he  also  spent  twenty -five 
years  in  the  employ  of  Studebaker  Brothers, 
assisting  in  the  construction  of  their  large 
factories.  Previous  to  this  time,  however,  in 
1859,  he  had  gone  to  California  to  secure  a 
change  of  climate,  and  there  worked  at  his 
trade  in  quartz  mills,  etc.,  for  eleven  years, 
when  he  returned  to  St.  Joseph  county  and 
associated  himself  with  the  Studebakers  as  a 
mechanic,  serving  for  a  few  years  as  foreman 
of  their  carpenter  work.  In  the  fall  of  1899 
he  came  to  Lakeville,  exchanging  a  five  acre 
tract  in  South  Bend  for  his  home  here,  which 
is  one  of  the  oldest  ones  of  the  locality, 
having  been  settled  by  a  Mr.  Moon  in  a  very 
early  day,  and  has  changed  hands  many  times 
since,  the  residence  having  been  erected  by  the 
original  owner.  The  tract  consists  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  ninety  acres  of 
which  are  under  cultivation,  and  the  Vandalia 
railroad  passes  through  the  place.  For  some 
years  past  Mr.  Zigler  has  been  disabled  from 
paralysis,  and  he  is  passing  the  evening  of  a 
long  and  useful  life  in  the  midst  of  family 
and  friends. 

On  the  17th  of  December,  1857,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr.  Zigler  and  Jane 
Morrell,  who  was  bom  on  the  21st  of  De- 
cember, 1831,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary 
Morrell,  natives  of  Ohio,  but  their  marriage 
was  celebrated  in  Hamilton,  Indiana,  In  1834 
they  took  up  their  abode  four  miles  north  of 
South  Bend,  where  they  remained  until*  old 
age,  and  he  also  spent  one  year  in  California 
after  the  death  of  his  wife,  which  occurred 
when  she  was  fifty-two  years  of  age.  After 
his  return  he  located  on  a  small  place  near 
Niles,  Michigan,  but  his  last  years  were 
passed  in  the  home  of  Mrs.  Zigler,  in  South 
Bend,  where  his  death  occurred  at  the  age  of 
ninety-four  years.  He  was  a  wheelwright, 
and  in  the  early  days  manufactured  spinning 
and  flax  wheels,  looms,  reels,  etc.,  some  of 
which  are  still  in  existence,  and  he  was  an 
expert  mechanic.  In  the  family  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.   Morrell  were  seven   children,  namely: 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


fflSTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1113 


Charles,  who  was  a  farmer  and  telegraph  op- 
erator, died  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years; 
Thomas,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years,  was  a  telegraph  operator  at  Kalamazoo, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  to  read  by  sound; 
Benjamin  Franklin,  who  died  in  the  United 
States  service  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight;  Al- 
bert; Rebecca,  the  widow  of  Rev.  James  A. 
Kennedy,  a  teacher  and  minister  in  Missouri, 
where  ^e  now  resides;  and  Rhoda,  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Kiser,  of  Granger,  Indiana.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zigler  have  been  born  one 
daughter,  Addie,  who  is  at  home,  and  she  has 
devoted  her  life  to  her  parents.  Mr.  Zigler 
gives  his  political  support  to  the  Republican 
party,  and  for  fifty  years  has  held  member- 
ship relations  with  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows.  His  career  has  been  an  active, 
useful,  honorable  one,  and  by  reason  of  his 
well  spent  life  he  enjoys  the  high  regard  of 
his  fellow  citizens. 

.  Philip  Parker  DuComb,  who  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business  in  Lakeville 
during  the  past  thirty  years,  is  a  veteran  of 
the  Civil  war  and  a  man  whose  sterling  integ- 
rity entitles  him  to  the  high  regard  in  which 
he  is  held  by  all  who  know  him.  He  is  a 
native  of  the  Buckeye  state  of  Ohio,  born  in 
Minerva,  Stark  county,  on  the  22d  of  Febru- 
ary, 1839,  but  the  family  is  of  French  origin, 
and  the  grandfather  of  Philip  Parker  came  to 
the  United  Statas  from  Paris,  France,  in  1801, 
becoming  a  loyal  and  devoted  son  of  the  re- 
public and  a  soldier  in  its  war  of  1812.  He 
established  his  home  in  Stark  county,  Ohio, 
and  there  he  passed  away  in  death  in  1834, 
five  years  before  the  birth  of  his  grandson, 
Philip  P.  He  had  married  Nancy  Armstrong, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  four  sons, 
Vincent,  William,  Andrew  and  Philip,  the 
eldest  of  whom,  Vincent,  was  the  father  of 
him  whose  name  introduces  this  review.  He 
married  Harriet  C.  Parker,  a  native  daughter 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  their  children  were 
James  M.,  Philip  P.,  Obediah  W.,  Rachael  A., 
Eliza  J.,  Maria  A.,  Harriet  C,  Mary  A.  and 
Elizabeth  M.,  but  only  three  of  this  once 
large  family  are  now  living,  Rachael,  Mary 
and  Philip  P.  The  father  died  on  the  farm 
he  had  cleared  and  cultivated  in  Union  town- 
ship in  1876,  aged  seventy  years,  and  four 
years  later  the  mother  joined  him  in  the  home 
beyond. 

In  1853  Philip  Parker  DuComb  emigrated 
with  his  father  to  Indiana,  settling  near  Lake- 
ville, and  he  obtained  an  excellent  education 


at  Asbury  University  of  Greencastle,  where  he 
pursued  the  scientific  course.  But  his  studies 
were  interrupted  with  the  inaguration  of  the 
Civil  war,  and  in  September,  1861,  he  put 
aside  his  text  books  to  become  a  loyal  soldier 
of  the  republic,  becoming  sergeant  of  Com- 
pany K,  Twenty-ninth  Indiana  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, with  which  he  served  for  three  years 
and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh, 
Corinth,  Dalton  and  Atlanta.  His  brother, 
James  M.,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Corinth, 
Mississippi,  nobly  dying  as  a  sacrifice  to  his 
country.  For  a  time  Mr.  DuComb  served  on 
detached  duty  as  a  U.  S.  detective,  and  after 
the  close  of  his  three  years*  service  was  made 
captain  of  his  company  at  Nashville,  Ten- 
nessee, under  General  Thomas,  his  bravery 
on  the  field  of  battle  having  won  him  his  pro- 
motion, and  he  was  in  command  during  the 
battle  of  Nashville.  He  was  mustered  out 
with  his  company  at  the  close  of  the  conflict, 
and  is  now  a  member  of  Auten  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
of  South  Bend,  attending'  the  encampments 
and  reunions  of  the  order,  and  keeps  in  close 
touch  with  his  old  army  comrades  of  the  blue. 
Shortly  after  his  return  from  the  army,  in 
1867,  Mr.  DuComb  embarked  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  in  Lakeville,  and  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  period  of  ten  years  when  he 
resided  on  the  farm  he  has  sinee  been  num- 
bered among  the  leading  merchants  of  this 
city,  covering  a  period  of  thirty  years.  He 
purchased  the  interest  of  the  other  heirs  in 
the  DuComb  homestead,  mainly  for  the  pur- 
pose of  establishing  his  sons  on  the  farm  for 
a  few  years,  and  he  was  also  made  the  post- 
master at  Lakeville  under  President  Grant, 
continuing  in  that  oflSce  until  his  resignation. 
On  the  17th  of  February,  1867,  Mr.  Du 
Comb  was  united  in  marriage  to  Bertha  E. 
Wright,  w^ho  was  born  near  Walkerton,  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  and  their  union  has 
been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  five  children: 
Roland  F.,  ehief  stamp  clerk  in  the  South 
Bend  postoffice ;  Cortland  P.,  a  popular  attor- 
ney of  South  Bend;  Florence  B.,  the  wife  of 
Evo  Olivet,  a  dredge  contractor  in  that  city; 
Cliflford  Vincent,  a  teacher  and  law  student 
in  South  Bend;  and  Chester  Loyd,  who  is  a 
member  of  the  teacher's  profession  in  St. 
Joseph  eounty.  All  of  the  children  have  re- 
ceived excellent  educational  advantages,  and 
in  turn  they  have  become  popular  teachers 
in  the  county.  Mr.  DuComb  holds  fraternal 
relations  with  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees. 
In  manner  he  is  courteous  and  genial,  and 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1114 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


among  the  people  with  whom  he  has  been  so 
long  eonneeted  he  is  well  known  and  highly 
esteemed. 

ChzIrles  E.  Bailey,  the  principal  of  the 
Union  township  high  school  at  Lakeville,  is 
one  of  the  native  sons  of  the  township,  in 
the  welfare  of  which  he  takes  a  sincere  in- 
terest. As  an  educator  he  stands  in  the  front 
ranks,  and  his  practical  methods  are  deserv- 
ing of  the  high  praise  which  is  universally 
accorded  them.  Born  on  the  20th  of  July, 
1879,  he  is  a  son  of  Lewis  and  Mary  (East- 
burn)  Bailey,  who  yet  reside  on  the  farm 
which  was  the  birthplace  of  their  son  Charles 
E.  The  mother  was  born  in  Union  township 
of  St.  Joseph  county,  a  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin Eastburn,  while  the  father's  birth  oc- 
curred in  Ohio,  but  during  his  youth  he  was 
brought  from  that  state  to  Union  township. 

Charles  E.  Bailey  spent  the  early,  y^ars 
of  his  life  on  the  old  home  farm,  and  the 
training  which  he  received  in  the  home  school 
was  supplemented  by  attendance  in  the  Val- 
paraiso University.  Before  reaching  the  age 
of  majority  he  entered  the  school  room  as  a 
teacher,  while  later  he  again  attended  the 
Valparaiso  University  in  order  to  further  per- 
fect himself  in  his  chosen  profession.  He  is 
now  on  his  fourth  year  as  principal  of  the 
Union  township  high  school,  which  contains 
three  rooms  and  an  enrollment  of  one  hundred 
and  tw^enty-five  pupils.  The  school  completes 
the  tenth  grade  of  studies,  and  the  graduating 
class  of  1907  contains  nine  pupils.  Mr. 
Bailey  spares  himself  no  work  to  make  the 
school  of  the  highest  possible  standard,  and 
his  zeal  is  appreciated  by  the  citizens. 

On  the  6th  of  August,  1906,  Mr.  Bailey 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Inez  Holland, 
of  Lakeville,  who  during  the  two  years  pre- 
vious to  her  marriage  was  a  successful  teacher 
in  the  township  schools.  He  is  an  active 
worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  in  his  fraternal  relations  is  a  member  of 
the  Woodmen  of  the  World.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bailey  are  held  in  the  highest  esteem 
in  the  social  circles  of  the  community,  and 
their  friends  are  legion. 

Jonathan  Lineback,  the  oldest  living  resi- 
dent of  Union  township,  has  long  passed  the 
Psalmist's  span  of  three  score  years  and  ten, 
and  now  in  the  evening  of  his  long,  useful 
and  eventful  life  he  is  honored  and  revered 
by  all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaint- 
ance. He  was  born  on  the  banks  of  the 
Brandywine,  at  Greenfield,  Hancock  county, 


Indiana,  January  11,  1830,  a  son  of  Elijah 
and  Elizabeth  (Little)  Lineback,  both  na- 
tives of  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  and  of  Ger- 
man descent,  he  of  German-Dutch  and  she  of 
German-English.  In  May,  1830,  they  jour- 
neyed on  horseback  to  the  St.  Joseph  country, 
going  first  to  Elkhart  Prairie,  but  soon  after- 
ward settled  west  of  South  Bend,  and  one 
year  later  took  up  their  abode  in  that  city, 
where  he  built  a  residence.  In  the  year  1833 
they  came  to  Union  township,  where  they  se- 
cured one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land, 
and  were  the  second  family  to  locate  within 
the  borders  of  Union  township,  a  Mr.  Garner 
having  preceded  them  hither,  while  South 
Bend  at  that  time  contained  but  two  inhabi- 
tants, and  they  were  Indian  traders.  Mr. 
Lineback  hired  ox  teams  with  which  to  make 
the  journey,  they  cutting  their  own  road 
through  the  woods  and  over  marshes  to  the 
Michigan  road,  which  had  then  just  been  lo- 
cated, and  on  which  Mr.  Lineback  had  worked 
near  South  Bend  and  had  come  here  to  con- 
tinue the  employment.  He  secured  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land  lying  just  nortii 
of  what  is  now  Lakeville,  although  it  was 
twenty  years  later  before  that  village  was  even 
started,  and  paid  for  his  land  by  work  on 
the  Michigan  road,  laboring  under  a  con- 
tractor named  Rush.  His  road  work  con- 
tinued as  his  main  employment  during  two 
summers,  while  his  wife  boarded  the  men 
assisting  in  its  construction.  He  then  set 
about  the  arduous  ta*  of  clearing  his  land 
from  its  dense  growth  of  timber,  but  during 
the  memorable  sickly  season  of  1837  his  life's 
labors  were  ended  in  death  and  he  now  lies 
buried  in  South  Bend.  Mr.  Lineback  was  a 
young  man  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  left 
a  widow  and  three  children,  of  whom  Jona- 
than was  the  eldest  child.  The  second  son, 
George  Riley,  was  the  first  white  child  born 
in  the  township,  his  birth  occurring  in  the 
fall  of  1833,  and  here  he  was  reared  to  ma- 
ture years,  but  he  now  resides  in  Miami 
county,  near  Peru,  Indiana.  The  only 
daughter,  Mary,  is  the  wife  of  John  Boyes, 
of  Kalkaska,  Michigan.  Just  prior  to  his 
death  the  father  had  traded  his  original  pur- 
chase and  was  five  hundred  dollars  in  debt, 
the  farm  at  his  death  being  taken  in  payment 
for  this  amount,  which  left  his  widow  in  desti- 
tute circumstances,  a  couple  of  beds  being 
her  sole  worldly  possessions.  For  a  time 
thereafter  she  made  the  living  for  her  family 
by   picking  cranberries,    which   she   sold  at 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1115 


twenty-five  cents  a  bushel,  and  after  remain- 
ing a  widow  for  one  year  she  became  the  wife 
of  Mark  Rector,  her  death  occurring  in  the 
neighborhood  in  which  she  had  so  long  lived 
and  labored  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years. 

Jonathan  Lineback  grew  to  manhood  amid 
the  then  wild  scenes  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
assisting  his  mother  in  the  support  of  her  fam- 
ily, and  after  her  marriage  he  remained  with 
his  step-father  and  worked  on  the  farm.  He 
was  an  expert  chopper  in  his  early  life,  and 
when  sixteen  years  of  age  he  began  work  by 
the  month  on  Portage  Prairie,  the  first  year 
receiving  eight  dollars  a  month,  while  during 
the  following  two  years  his  wages  were  nine 
dollars  a  month,  his  employers  being  John  and 
Si  Rush.  In  1850  he  joined  the  tide  of  emi- 
gration to  the  gold  fields  of  California,  in 
company  with  George  Replogle,  Dr.  Mahlon 
Rush  and  Jesse  Mills,  but  the  two  latter 
returned  after  reaching  Illinois,  leaving  Mr. 
Replogle  and  Mr.  Lineback  to  continue  the 
journey  alone.  His  former  employers  fur- 
nished them  with  the  means  to  make  the  trip, 
and  on  reaching  St.  Joe,  Missouri,  they  se- 
cured a  wagon  and  outfit,  but  during  the  sum- 
mer on  the  plains  their  teams  gave  out.  Trad- 
ing a  horse  for  sixteen  pounds  of  flour,  they 
then  separated,  each  with  his  pack  on  his 
back  proceeding  alone  to  their  destination. 
At  the  Sierra  Nevada  mountains  Mr.  Line- 
back  overtook  David  Clark  and  George  Frier, 
both  from  Union  township,  and  on  reaching 
Placerville  the  party  had  but  thirty  cents  and 
thirty  pounds  of  flour  between  them.  Mr. 
Lineback  at  once  began  the  work  of  prospect- 
ing, in  which  he  met  with  average  success, 
and  although  he  secured  good  claims  he  would 
leave  them  to  find  others,  but  often  eventually 
returned  to  them.  After  three  years  on  the 
Pacific;  coast  he  returned  to  his  old  home  in 
Indiana,  making  the  return  journey  via  the 
Panama  and  Jamaica,  and  during  the  finan- 
cial panic  of  1857  he  purchased  his  father's 
old  homestead  in  Union  township.  It  had  been 
his  intention  to  return  to  California,  but 
changed  his  plans,  and  in  1858  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Annie  J.  Moon,  a  sister  of 
Calvin  Moon,  the  celebrated  educator  of  South 
Bend.  She  had  resided  on  the  farm  adjoin- 
ing that  of  her  husband's,  and  was  a  maiden 
of  twenty  years  at  the  time  of  her  marriage, 
which  was  a  happy  one  and  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  eight  children  who  grew  to  years  of 
maturity. 

The  farm  on  which  Mr.  Lineback  now  re- 


Vol     11—88. 


sides  has  been  his  home  since  1833,  and  since 
1857  he  has  owned  the  land.  The  farm  con- 
tains seventy-seven  and  a  half  acres,  and  is 
conducted  by  his  youngest  son,  Charles.  He 
is  an  old-time  Democrat.  While  he  was  in 
California  Fremont  was  a  candidate  for  gov- 
ernor, and  Mr.  Lineback  was  told  before  the 
election  that  if  he  voted  the  Democratic  ticket 
he  would  be  obliged  to  leave  his  work,  but  in 
the  face  of  all  this  he  cast  his  ballot  as  he 
desired,  with  the  result  that  after  election 
he  was  paid  what  was  due  him  and  discharged. 
He  has  served  six  years  as  the  assessor  of 
Union  township,  being  elected  to  that  office 
on  the  Greenback  ticket.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  was  twice  drafted  for  service,  but  each 
time  hired  a  substitute,  for  the  first  paying 
four  hundred  dollars  and  eight  hundred  for 
the  second.  For  many  years  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  church,  in  which  he 
is  an  active  and  valued  worker,  and  is  also 
a  prominent  factor  in  its  Sunday-school.  His 
wife  was  also  identified  with  that  denomina- 
tion before  her  marriage.  Mr.  Lineback  has 
always  been  very  fond  of  fishing,  and  al- 
though there  are  many  fine  lakes  near  his 
home,  he  has  often  camped  out  on  the  Kan- 
kakee river  for  sport.  His  fidelity  and  ster- 
ling worth  have  won  him  the  confidence  of 
his  fellow  men,  and  now  in  the  evening  of 
life  hLs  pathway  is  brightened  by  the  venera- 
tion and  respect  which  ever  follow  an  upright 
career. 

John  Ulrich  W.u.ter.  *' Continual  drop- 
ping wears  a  stone,''  so  persevering  labor 
gains  our  objects,  and  perseverance  has  en- 
abled John  U.  Walter  to  gain  the  competence 
which  he  now  enjoys.  He  was  born  in  Wur- 
temberg,  Germany,  September  9,  1832,  and 
he  grew  to  years  of  maturity  on  a  farm  in 
the  village.  In  1849,  when  he  had  reached 
his  eighteenth  year,  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  establishing  his  home  in  Sandusky, 
Ohio,  where  six  years  later  he  was  joined  by 
a  half  brother,  and  in  Sandusky  and  Seneca 
county  he  continued  his  residence  for  six 
years,  employed  at  farm  labor,  for  which  he 
received  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars 
a  year.  In  1854  he  became  a  resident  of 
Columbia  City,  Whitley  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  conducted  the  farm  of  Michael 
Mowry  on  shares,  receiving  one-half  of  the 
crops,  and  was  thus  engaged  during  the  con- 
struction of  the  Pittsburg  &  Chicago  Railroad 
through  that  locality.  After  his  marriage. in 
1856  he  rented  another  farm,  which  contained 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1116 


fflSTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


an  old  style  log  cabin,  with  a  clapboard  roof 
held  in  place  by  poles  and  a  puncheon  floor, 
while  the  hinges  were  of  wood,  and  every- 
thing was  of  the  most  promitive  sort  imagi- 
nable. During  his  residence  there  of  six  years 
he  made  many  improvements,  among  them  the 
remodeling  of  the  house,  and  he  also  saved 
some  money,  with  which  he  purchased  a  little 
farm  of  eighty  acres  near  Larwill.  Again  he 
moved  into  a  little  log  cabin  home,  but 
eighteen  months  later  he  sold  that  place  at 
advantage,  and  in  1864  came  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  and  purchased  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land  one  mile  southeast 
of  LakeviUe,  thirty  acres  of  which  had  been 
cleared  and  a  small  log  cabin  erected.  There 
Mr.  Walter  lived  and  labored  from  the  fall 
of  1864  until  the  15th  of  February,  1905,  a 
period  of  forty-one  years,  and  in  that  time 
cleared  and  placed  the  original  tract  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  under  cultivation 
and  added  to  its  boundaries  until  the  farm 
contained  two  hundred  and  five  acres,  for  a 
part  of  which  he  has  paid  as  high  as  fifty  dol- 
lars an  acre.  The  timber  from  the  land 
was  largely  worked  into  spokes  and  hubs  and 
sold  to  the  South  Bend  market,  for  which 
he  was  obliged  to  drive  a  distance  of  twelve 
miles,  but  in  this  way  he  obtained  a  cash  in- 
come. In  1869  the  little  old  log  cabin  home 
gave  place  to  a  substantial  modem  frame  resi- 
dence, while  a  bank  bam,  thirty-two  by  sev- 
enty feet,  has  also  been  erected,  as  well  as 
many  other  substantial  outbuildings,  and  in 
later  years  much  draining  has  been  done  on 
the  farm.  In  addition  to  his  general  agri- 
cultural pursuits  he  also  had  his  pastures 
well  stocked  with  a  good  grade  of  stock,  but 
in  1905  he  sold  this  valuable  homestead  and 
removed  to  Lakeville,  where  he  owns  a  few 
acres  of  land  and  devotes  his  leisure  hours  to 
its  cultivation. 

On  the  1st  of  April,  1856,  Mr.  Walter  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Boyer, 
of  Whitley  county,  Indiana,  but  after  a  happy 
married  life  of  forty  years  the  union  was 
severed  by  the  death  of  the  loving  wife.  To 
them  were  bom  eight  children:  William 
Henry,  engaged  in  railroad  work  in  Colo- 
rado; Anna,  the  wife  of  George  Barnhart, 
of  Wyatt,  Indiana;  Ellen,  the  wife  of  Fred- 
erick Zugelder,  also  of  Colorado;  Catherine, 
the  wife  of  Robert  Robertson,  of  Crumstown, 
Indiana ;  Caroline,  who  is  a  teacher  of  music 
in  Denver,  Colorado;  Edith,  who  died  when 
a  young  lady  of  twenty  years;    David,  who 


died  in  childhood;  and  Jennie,  the  wife  of 
Frank  Jackson,  and  they  reside  on  a  farm 
near  South  Bend.  On  the  10th  of  August, 
1897,  Mr.  Walter  married  Mrs.  Sarah  Walter, 
of  the  same  name  but  no  relation,  and  she 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  Stump.  She 
too  was  a  native  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany, 
but  came  to  the  United  States  when  five  years 
of  age,  the  family  locating  in  Stark  county, 
Ohio.  When  she  had  reached  her  eighteenth 
year  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Jacob 
Walter,  of  KosciuAo  county,  Indiana,  this 
being  in  1862,  and  in  the  spring  of  1865  they 
moved  to  Union  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
where  the  death  of  Mr.  ^Y^l^^  occurred  in 
1882.  For  fifteen  years  she  remained  a 
widow,  and  was  the  mother  of  seven  children : 
William,  who  resides  on  his  father's  old  home- 
stead in  Union  township ;  Lizzie,  the  wife  of 
John  Bechtel,  of  Marshall  county,  Indiana; 
John,  an  agriculturist  of  Union  township; 
Cora,  the  wife  of  Albert  Keyser,  also  of  Mar- 
shall county;  Cassie,  the  wife  of  Henry 
HuUinger,  a  merchant  of  Lapaz,  Indiana; 
Michael,  a  farmer  of  Walkerton,  Indiana; 
and  Rosa,  the  wife  of  Elmer  Richard,  also  a 
merchant  at  Lapaz.  Formerly  Mr.  Walter 
gave  his  political  support  to  the  Democracy, 
but  later  became  an  active  worker  in  the 
ranks  of  the  Prohibition  party,  and  during 
the  long  period  of  forty  years  he  has  been 
an  active  worker  in  the  Christian  church  of 
Lakeville.  He  is  one  of  its  three  charter 
members  now  living,  and  with  Mahlon  Hes- 
ton  has  served  as  an  elder  throughout  the 
entire  period  of  his  membership.  Although 
his  home  is  on  the  banks  of  the  lake,  he  has 
never  been  a  sportsman,  but  has  devoted  his 
entire  time  and  attention  to  the  work  of  his 
farm  and  has  achieved  success  in  his  chosen 
vocation. 

Valentine  WEroLER.  In  the  lite  history 
of  Valentine  Weidler  is  found  a  worthy  illus- 
tration of  the  characterifirtic  energy  and  en- 
terprise of  the  typical  German-American 
citizen,  doming  to  this  country  with  little 
capital  excepting  his  abilities  he  has  made 
his  way  to  success  through  wisely  directed 
efforts,  and  has  long  been  numbered  among 
the  representative  citizens  of  Union  town- 
ship. His  birth  occurred  in  Rhine  Pfalz, 
Bavaria,  Germany,  August  9,  1832,  and  in 
1854,  when  a  young  naan  of  twenty-two  years, 
he  came  to  the  United  States*,  spending  the 
first  t^n  or  fifteen  years  of  his  residence  in 
this  eountrv  in  South  Bend  where  he  was  em- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1117 


ployed  at  his  trade  of  coopering  by  Ulrich 
Poeke,  his  brother-in-law,  and  also  worked 
one  year  for  himself  in  the  manufacture  of 
flour  barrels.  On  the  12th  of  April,  1867,  he 
took  up  his  abode  on  the  farm  on  which  he 
yet  resides  and  since  that  time  he  has  been 
constantly  engaged  in  its  clearing  and  culti- 
vation, sixty-five  of  the  eighty  acres  being 
now  under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation, 
and  in  1891  he  erected  the  pleasant  residence 
which  now  adorns  the  premises. 

During  his  residence  in  South  Bend,  on 
the  28th  of  February,  1862,  Mr.  Weidler 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Magdelene 
Kuntz,  who  was  bom  near  Stra^burg,  prov- 
ince of  Dozenhuir,  Prance.  She  was  brought 
to  the  United  States  when  but  four  years 
of  age,  and  for  sixteen  years  she  lived  at 
Bremen,  Marshall  county,  and  worked  for 
others  until  her  marriage.  Seven  children 
have  been  born  of  this  union:  Henry,  who 
resides  in  Union  township;  Lizzie  Ann,  the 
wife  of  V.  Beiler,  of  Bremen;  Clara,  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Hoffman,  of  Union  township ; 
William,  who  resides  near  the  old  home  farm ; 
John,  who  has  had  charge  of  the  homestead 
for  five  years;  Oharles,  an  attorney  in  South 
Bend;  and  Mary  Emma,,  who  also  resides  in 
that  city.  The  family  enjoy  the  high  regard 
of  their  friends  and  neighbors,  and  are  fa- 
vorably known  throughout  Union   township. 

Jacob  Marker  has  from  an  early  period 
in  the  development  of  St.  Joseph  county  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  history  of 
Madison  township,  and  now  in  his  declining 
years  he  is  living  retired  in  the  village  of 
Woodland,  crowned  with  the  veneration  and 
respect  which  should  ever  be  accorded  an 
honorable  old  age.  He  was  bom  in  Prussia, 
Germany,  March  14,  1835,  a  son  of  Philip 
and  Katherine  Maimer.  In  1837  the  family 
left  the  fatherland  for  the  United  States, 
making  their  way  at  once  to  Holmes  county, 
Ohio,  where  they  resided  on  a  farm  until 
the  20th  of  September,  1853,  when  the  jour- 
ney was  resumed  to  the  then  western  state 
of  Indiana.  The  trip  was  made  by  team 
and  wagons,  they  reaching  their  destination 
at  Colebush  or  Buck  settlement  in  Madison 
township  Octx>ber  1,  following,  after  a  jour- 
ney of  eleven  days.  In  the  settlement  were 
three  Buck  brothers,  and  from  one,  Truman 
Buck,  Mr.  Philip  Marker  secured  his  farm, 
which  was  then  in  its  virgin  state.  Soon 
afterward  the  Bucks  left  the  settlement,  and 
among  the   first   German   settlers  here   were 


Adam  Keifer,  Daniel  Jewel,  Lemuel  Jordan, 
Joseph  Megers,  Adam  Raeder  and  George 
Kling,  while  at  Woodland  or  what  afterward 
became  known  by  that  name,  were  two  fam- 
ilies the  Kelleys  and  Adam  Monowick,  the 
latter  residing  on  the  place  now  occupied 
by  Mr.  Marker.  On  his  farm  in  Madison 
township  Philip  Marker  lived  and  labored 
until  his  life's  worij:  was  ended  in  death, 
passing  away  in  1879,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two  years,  while  his  wife  was  called  to  the 
home  beyond  in  1871.  They  were  charter 
memibers  of  the  Zion  Evangelical  church, 
which  was  organized  in  1856,  three  miles  east 
of  their  home,  and  they  continued  active 
workers  in  the  cause  of  Christianity  until 
their  busy  and  useful  lives  were  ended.  They 
became  the  parents  of  four  children :  John, 
who  was  a  farmer  in  Madison  township  until 
his  death  in  1889,  aged  sixty-two  years,  and 
his  widow  is  still  living,  but  their  old  home 
farm  has  been  sold;  Katherine  became  the 
wife  of  Christian  Horine,  and  died  at  the 
age  of  thirty  years,  her  husband  being  also 
deceased;  Caroline  became  the  wife  of 
Christian  Horine,  and  now  resides  at  Bremen ; 
and  Jacob,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review. 

Jacob  Marker  was  a  lad  of  eighteen  years 
at  the  time  of  the  family's  removal  from 
Ohio  to  Indiana,  he  having  driven  one  of  the 
wagons  on  the  journey  hither.  He  remained 
with  his  father  until  his  marriage,  finally 
purchasing  the  old  homestead,  and  his  father 
si>ent  the  latter  part  of  his  life  in  his  home. 
He  has  increased  the  boundaries  of  the  old 
farm  until  it  now  contains  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres,  and  in  addition  he  also  at  one 
time  owned  two  other  tracts,  one  of  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  and  the  other  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty,  at  Woodland,  but  as  his 
sons  married  he  gave  to  each  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  while  to  his  daughters  he  gave  money, 
his  plan  having  been  to  give  his  sons  the 
value  of  twenty-six  hundred  dollars  at  the 
commencement  of  their  active  business  life, 
and  to  his  daughters  twenty-one  hundred 
dollars  at  the  time  of  their  marriage.  He 
erected  the  pleasant  and  commodious  resi- 
dence which  now  adorns  the  premises  twenty- 
nine  years  ago,  while  the  large  bank  barn, 
one  of  the  first  in  the  vicinity,  was  built  by 
his  father  fifty  years  ago,  but  the  heavy 
frame  timbers  still  stand  as  solid  as  of  old. 
His  son  Fred  now  has  charge  of  this  valuable 
old  homestead,  for  in   1898  Mr.  Marker  re- 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1118 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


tired  from  busineas  cares  and  now  resides 
in  his  pleasant  home  in  Woodland,  his  indus- 
try and  enterprise  in  former  years  enabling 
him  to  now  enjoy  the  comforts  and  many 
of  the  luxuries  of  life. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Marker  occurred  on 
the  2d  of  February,  1861,  when  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Speicher  became  his  wife.  She  is  a  sis- 
ter of  the  Speichers  of  Wabash  county,  In- 
diana, and  was  bom  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio, 
about  four  miles  distant  from  the  Marker 
home.  The  acquaintance  of  the  young  couple 
was  resumed  in  Wabash  county,  Indiana, 
where  she  resided,  and  he  made  his  first 
trip  to  see  her  on  horseback.  When  he  re- 
turned for  her,  however,  he  drove  in  a  cutter, 
and  on  their  journey  homeward  they  were 
upset  in  the  snow,  but  this  only  added  ro- 
mance to  their  wedding  journey.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Marker  became  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren; J.  Philip,  a  resident  of  Wilson,  Kan- 
sas; Fred,  on  the  old  homestead,  as  men- 
tioned above;  Jacob  S.,  a  farmer  in  !Madi- 
son  township;  Mary,  the  wife  of  Martin 
Mochel,  township  trustee  of  Woodland ; 
Caroline,  wife  of  Norman  Kelly,  who  reside 
in  Woodland,  one  mile  east  of  the  old  home ; 
David,  also  of  Woodland;  Hehry,  a  farmer 
in  Madison  township;  Anna,  the  wife  of 
tJharles  Weber,  who  was  formerly  a  teacher, 
but  now  employed  in  the  postoffice  in  South 
Bend;  Lora,  the  wife  of  Fred  Horine.  a 
railroad  employe  in  South  Bend;  and  Olga, 
who  has  attended  the  Valparaiso  University, 
also  the  State  University  at  Bloomington, 
Indiana,  and  is  now  at  home.  Mr.  IVIariier, 
the  father,  is  a  charter  member  and  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Zion  church  at  Wood- 
land, with  which  Mrs.  Marker  also  aflSliates. 
He  gives  his  political  support  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  has  often  served  as  its  rep- 
resentative to  the  conventions,  while  for  four 
years  he  was  the  township  assessor.  His  repu- 
tation in  business  has  ever  'been  unassailable, 
and  in  all  the  walks  of  life  he  is  found  true 
to  duty  and  to  the  trusts  reposed  in  him. 

John  Zeiger,  proprietor  of  the  Zeiger 
farm,  one  of  the  finest  estates  in  Madison 
township,  is  one  of  the  best  known  German- 
American  citizens  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
where  he  has  made  his  home  for  many  years. 
When  but  a  little  lad  he  started  out  in  the 
world  to  battle  for  himself,  and  his  large 
landed  possessions  stand  as  a  merited  tribute 
to  his  ability  and  true  worth. 

Mr.  Zeiger  is  of  German  birth,  born  near 


Wurtemberg,  and  is  a  representative  of  a 
prominent  old  family  of  that  community. 
His  father,  John  Zeiger,  Sr.,  was  born  in 
the  same  place  as  his  son,  in  1822,  and  in 
his  native  land  he  attended  school  until  his 
fourteenth  year,  in  the  meantime  becoming 
familiar  with  the  duties  of  the  farm.  He 
was  married  to  one  of  the  fatherland's  na- 
tive daughters,  Rosanna  Shearer,  born  near 
Wurtemberg,  and  with  their  two  sons  they 
set  sail  for  the  United  States  in  1856,  spend- 
ing forty-seven  days  on  the  ocean  on  a  sailing 
vessel,  for  they  encountered  a  severe  storm 
en  route  and  the  vessel  was  driven  from  her 
course.  Eventually,  however,  they  landed 
on  American  shores,  and  made  their  way  to 
Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  where  on  the  old 
Buzzard  farm  near  Goshen  they  resided  for 
three  years,  the  husband  working  out  by 
the  day.  Later  he  received  a  contract  to 
clear  twenty  acres  of  land,  and  in  payment 
therefor  was  given  ten  acres  of  the  tract,  on 
which  he  erected  a  little  log  cabin.  His  native 
thrift  and  industry  soon  enabled  him  to  clear 
his  land,  and  soon  the  little  tract  of  ten  acres 
was  converted  into  a  pleasant  and  valuable 
farm  home.  After  three  years  he  sold  the 
farm  for  seven  hundred  dollars  and  bought 
thirty  acres  in  Madison  township,  the  pur- 
chase price  being  four  hundred  dollars,  and 
this  continued  as  the  family  home  during  the 
period  of  the  Civil  war.  Disposing  of  the 
place,  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  where  Christ  Zeiger  now  resides, 
but  later  sold  eighty  acres  of  the  tract  to  his 
brother  Alexander,  building  on  the  remaining 
eighty  a  log  house,  and  there  these  honored 
St.  Joseph  pioneers  spent  the  remainder  of 
their  lives. 

Answering  the  call  to  arms,  Mr.  Zeiger,  Sr., 
enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  war  October 
15,  1862,  entering  Company  K,  Fifty-seventh 
Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Captain 
Ed  L.  Billings.  During  his  military  career 
of  nine  months  he  took  part  in  many  of  the 
historic  battles  of  the  war,  including  that  of 
Stone  River,  where  his  comrades  on  all  sides 
fell  thick  and  fast,  his  companion  on  the  right 
having  been  felled  by  a  cannon  ball,  while  the 
one  on  the  left  was  struck  by  a  rifle  ball,  and 
in  that  engagement  Mr.  Zeiger  left  the  ranks 
and  went  where  the  bullets  fell  the  thickest. 
He  was  honored  for  his  bravery  and  highly 
commended  by  his  superior  officers  and  he 
left  the  ranks  at  Hillsboro,  Tennessee.  June 
30,  1863,  with  a  gallant  record  as  a  soldier  for 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1119 


the  Union  cause.  His  death  occurred  when 
he  had  reached  the  age  of  fifty-three  years. 
He  had  been  a  worthy  and  acceptable  member 
of  the  German  Evangelical  church  for  many 
years,  and  his  political  affiliations  were  with 
the  Democracy.  Mrs.  Zeiger  preceded  her  hus- 
band to  the  home  beyond,  dying  at  the  age 
of  fifty-two  years.  They  were  the  parents 
of  the  following  children:  John  and  Jacob, 
who  were  bom  in  Germany ;  Lewis  and  Christ, 
who  reside  on  the  old  family  homestead  in 
Madison  township;  and  Dan,  a  resident  of 
Three  Oaks,  Michigan. 

John  Zeiger,  of  this  review,  was  but  a  little 
lad  of  six  years  when  the  family  left  his  na- 
tive land  for  the  United  States,  and  when 
he  had  reached  the  age  of  ten  years  they 
removed  from  Elkhart  county  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  so  that  the  principal  part  of  his  life 
has  been  spent  within  the  borders  of  old  St. 
Joseph.  He  was  but  twelve  years  old  when 
he  began  the  battle  of  life  for  himself,  work- 
ing for  Peter  Beehler,  Sr.,  for  eight  dollars 
a  month,  and  he  gave  his  wages  to  his  father. 
He  was  later  employed  for  a  time  by  Jacob 
Marker,  who  paid  him  ten  dollars  a  month, 
and  he  then  began  work  in  the  hotel  of  Frank 
Ambrose,  where  his  duties  consisted  of  black- 
ing the  shoes  for  the  traveling  men  and  as- 
sisting in  doing  the  chores  connected  with 
the  tavern.  After  three  years  of  hotel  life  he 
transferred  his  relations  to  the  saw-milling 
business  and  farming,  alternating  as  the  sea- 
sons demanded,  and  for  three  years  he  was 
in  the  employ  of  George  Utsler,  Sr.  After  his 
marriage  he  riented  the  Sarah  Newman  farm 
for  six  years,  and  then  resided  on  the  Dr. 
Butterworth  farm  near  Mishawaka  in  Penn 
township  until  he  became  the  owner  of  his 
present  estate  in  Madison  township.  Mr. 
Zeiger  first  purchased  eighty  acres  of  George 
Walthers,  but  with  the  passing  years  he  added 
thereto  until  his  landed  possessions  consisted 
of  five  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  although  at 
the  present  time  bis  estate  numbers  three 
hunci'ed  and  sixty  acres,  for  he  has  given  land 
to  his  children  as  they  have  started  out  for 
themselves.  The  old  home  residence  is  a  pleas- 
ant and  commodious  structure,  and  he  also 
has  a  large  bank  bam  forty  by  seventy  feet. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  Mr.  Zeiger 
married  Catherine  Nodurfth,  who  was  born 
in  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Christ  and  Catherine 
Nodurfth,  who  came  from  their  native  land 
of  Germany  to  the  United  States  in  a  sailing 


vessel  and  established  their  home  in  Marshall 
county,  Indiana.  Of  the  eleven  children  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zeiger  seven  are  now  living: 
Tracy  Stanley,  John  Jacob,  George  E.,  Laura 
Ann,  Harry  Arthur,  Jessie  J.  and  Maude  H. 
Mr.  Zeiger  gives^  his  political  support  to  the 
Eepublican  party,  and  is  one  of  the  best 
known  and  most  highly  esteemed  residents 
of  St.  Joseph  county. 

George  J.  Birk,  a  prominent  agriculturist 
of  Madison  township  and  a  member  of  its 
advisory  board,  is  one  of  the  best  known  resi- 
dents of  the  community  and  a  man  worthy 
of  mention  in  the  history  of  St.  Joseph 
county.  His  birth  occurred  on  the  old-  home- 
stead farm  of  his  father,  George  A.  Birk, 
who  has  long  been  numbered  among  the  lead- 
ing residents  of  Madison  township,  where  he  is 
now  living  in  quiet  retirement  from  the  active 
cares  of  a  business  life,  enjoying  the  high 
esteem  and  veneration  which  ever  follow  an 
honorable  career.  He  served  his  country 
with  valor  during  the  period  of  the  Civil 
war,  and  is  also  an  ex-trustee  of  Madison 
township.  His  parents,  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Fuhrer)  Birk,  were  both  bom  in  Germany, 
from  whence  they  came  in  a  sailing  vessel  to 
the  United  States  in  1852,  the  sea  voyage 
consuming  fifty-two  days,  for  they  encoun- 
tered severe  storms  en  route.  They  journeyed 
via  Kotterdam,  Holland,  Hull  and  Liverpool, 
England,  and  on  to  Baltinjore,  Maryland, 
from  whence  they  went  to  Galion,  Crawford 
county,  Ohio.  In  1860  Jacob  and  George  A. 
Birk  came  to  Madison  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  where  in  time  they  made 
excellent  homes  for  themselves  and  families. 
Mr.  George  A.  Birk  married  Miss  Mary  Ann 
Kling,  who  was  bom  in  Stark  county,  Ohio, 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Edith  (Kiefer) 
Kling,  in  whose  family  were  six  children. 

George  J.  Birk,  their  eldest  child,  was 
reared  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Madison 
township,  and  the  educational  training  which 
he  received  in  the  nearby  district  school  was 
supplemented  by  attendance  at  the  Valparaiso 
University,  of  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  becoming 
familiar  with  both  the  German  and  English 
languages.  He  remained  at  home  until  his 
twenty-first  year,  assisting  his  father  in  the 
work  of  the  farm,  and  during  one  year  he 
was  also  an  employe  of  the  Elkhart  &  In- 
diana Buggy  Company.  After  the  death  of 
his  wife  and  in  company  with  his  brother,  Ed 
F.,  he  conducted  a  rented  farm  in  Penn  town- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1120 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


ship  for  a  time,  and  he  is  now  the  owner  of 
forty  acres  of  rich  and  fertile  land  in  Madi- 
son township. 

In  1893  Mr.  Birk  married  Elizabeth  Beeh- 
ler,  who  was  bom,  reared  and  educated  in 
Madison  township,  a  member  of  one  of  its 
oldest  and  most  prominent  families.  Her 
death  occurred  in  February,  1895,  after  be- 
coming the  mother  of  one  child,  Edgar  J., 
who  died  when  six  months  old.  In  January, 
1897,  Mr.  Birk  married  her  sister,  Emma 
Beehler,  and  they  have  four  children: 
Charles  A.,  Clarence  6.,  John  H.  and  Ger- 
trude L.  Mr.  Birk  is  one  of  the  leading  mem- 
bers of  the  Democratic  party  in  this  com- 
munity, often  serving  as  its  representative 
to  the  county  and  congressional  conventions, 
and  he  is  at  all  times  an  active  and  public 
spirited  citizen.  His  religious  affiliations  are 
with  the  Evangelical  church,  and  he  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Foresters'  Lodge,  No.  1490, 
of  Mishawaka. 

Peter  Beehler,  one  of  the  prominent  and 
well  known  agriculturists  of  Madison  town- 
ship, is  a  native  son  of  the  fatherland,  born 
in  Germany  on  the  21st  of  July,  1851.  His 
father,  Phillip  .Beehler,  who  was  numbered 
among  the  prominent  early  business  men  of 
Madison  township,  was  bom  near  Wurtem- 
berg,  Germany,  and  was  there  married  to 
Catherine  Beehler.  In  1853  the  family  bade 
adieu  to  home  and  native  land  and  sailed  for 
the  United  States,  arriving  in  the  harbor  of 
New  York  after  thirty-three  days  upon  the  sea 
in  a  sailing  vessel.  They  resided  one  year 
near  Buffalo,  New  York.  In  1854  they  estab- 
lished their  home  in  the  woods  of  Madison 
township,  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  and  on 
their  little  farm  of  eighty  acres  they  built  a 
log  cabin  and  bam  and  began  life  in  true 
pioneer  style.  With  the  passing  years  this 
became  one  of  the  best  improved  and  most 
valuable  estates  in  Madison  township,  and 
there  the  husband  and  father  passed  to  his 
final  reward  in  1878.  In  his  early  life  he 
had  followed  the  blacksmith's  trade.  He  was 
an  active  and  valued  member  of  the  Zion 
Evangelical  church,  and  was  a  prominent 
factor  in  the  erection  of  the  church  of  that 
denomination  in  this  community.  Mrs.  Beeh- 
ler is  yet  living  on  the  old  homestead,  and 
she  has  reached  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years. 
Six  of  their  children  are  living:  Philip; 
Jacob;  Elizabeth  Kelley,  of  Madison  town- 
ship; Peter,  the  immediate  subject  of  this 
review;    Mary  Beehler,  who  makes  her  home 


with  her  brother  Peter ;   and  Emma,  the  wife 
of  Philip  Honne,  on  the  old  homestead  farm. 

It  was  on  this  old  homestead  in  Madison 
township  that  Peter  Beehler  grew  to  years 
of  maturity,  and  he  remained  under  the  paren- 
tal roof  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  assisting  his  father  in  the  work  of  the 
farm,  and  during  a  number  of  years  in  his 
early  business  career  he  was  employed  in 
the  saw  mill  of  John  Uline  in  this  neighbor- 
hood. In  company  with  Adam  Beehler  he 
afterward  bought  a  saw  mill,  and  they  did  an 
extensive  business  in  their  line  through  an 
extended  period,  but  after  seven  years  Mr. 
Beehler  of  this  review  sold  his  interest  and 
has  since  confined  his  business  activities  to 
agricultural  pursuits.  His  farm  consists  of 
one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  fertile  and 
well  improved  land,  on  which  he  has  erected 
a  pleasant  and  commodious  residence,  costing 
two  thousand  dollars,  also  a  fine  bank  bam 
forty-two  by  eighty  feet,  and  has  made  many 
other  substantial  and  valuable  improvements. 
The  skimming  station  is  located  just  twenty 
rods  from  his  house,  which  adds  greatly  to 
the  convenience  of  the  farm. 

When  Mr.  Beehler  had  reached  the  age  of 
thirty-two  years  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Charlotte  Beehler,  whose  father,  Philip 
Beehler,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  the  following  children : 
Matilda  Catherine  Felton,  Carrie  Elizabeth 
Guiecler,  Charles  A.  and  Warner  Phillip.  On 
the  24th  of  July,  1899,  the  family  suffered 
the  irreparable  loss  of  the  loving  wife  and 
mother,  whose  place  in  the  household  can 
never  be  filled,  and  as  a  friend  and  neighbor 
she  was  loved  and  honored.  The  Democracy 
receives  the  support  and  co-operation  of  Mr. 
Beehler,  and  he,  too,  conmiands  the  uniform 
respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  have  the  pleas- 
ure of  his  acquaintance. 

George  A.  Birk,  the  proprietor  of  Madison 
Center  Farm,  one  of  the  valuable  estates  of 
Madison  township,  was  one  of  the  boys  in 
blue  during  the  Civil  war,  and  is  at  all  times 
a  loyal  citizen,  true  to  the  interests  of  county, 
state  and  nation.  He  was  bpm  in  Wetzlar, 
<5ermany,  April  7,  1839,  a  son  of  George  and 
Elizabeth  (Fuhrer)  Birk,  who  were  also  born 
in  that  province.  Mr.  Birk  of  this  review 
spent  the  first  thirteen  years  of  his  life  in 
the  fatherland,  receiving  a  good  education  in 
his  native  language,  and  in  1852  the  family, 
consisting  of  the  father,  mother  and  four  chil- 
dren, set  sail  for  the  United  States,  going 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1121 


from  Hohensolms  to  Frankfort-on-the-Main, 
to  the  river  Rhine  and  on  to  Rotterdam,  Hol- 
land, on  to  Hull,  England,  thence  to  Liver- 
pool, by  sailing  vessel  to  New  York  and  by 
rail  to  Galion,  Crawford  county,  Ohio.  There 
for  eight  years  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand, 
and  in  1860  came  with  his  brother  Jacob  to 
Madison  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, where  he  worked  out  by  the  month 
on  a  farm  until  he  purchased  at  an  adminis- 
trator's sale  eighty  acres  of  land,  Andrew 
Cramer  having  loaned  him  the  money  with 
which  to  make  a  payment  on  the  tract.  In 
1862,  during  the  period  of  the  Civil  war,  his 
brother  Jacob  had  been  drafted  for  service, 
and  Mr.  Birk  of  this  review  went  as  his  sub- 
stitute, becoming  a  member  of  Company  F, 
Forty-eighth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  in 
which  he  served  for  nine  months  under  Colo- 
nel Eddy  and  Captain  Barney  Burget.  Dur- 
ing his  military  career  he  took  part  in  the 
battles  of  Jackson,  Champion  Hill,  Raymond, 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  was  honorably 
discharged  on  the  16th  of  July,  1863,  return- 
ing home  with  a  creditable  military  record 
in  the  service  of  his  adopted  country.  From 
that  time  forward  the  clearing  and  cultivating 
of  his  land  has  occupied  his  entire  time  and 
attention,  and  his  estate  consists  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  fine  farming  land, 
well  fenced  and  improved,  and  divided  into 
fields  of  convenient  size.  His  first  residence 
was  a  log  house,  twenty-two  by  twenty-six 
feet  in  size,  one  and  a  half  stories  high,  and 
this  served  as  his  home  until  1888,  when  he 
erected  a  modem  and  substantial  residence  of 
brick,  costing  two  thousand  dollars,  and  his 
large,  rock-basement  barn,  forty  by  sixty-five 
feet,  was  built  in  1876.  His  home  is  an  at- 
tractive and  commodious  residence,  erected  on 
a  natural  building  site,  and  is  beautifully 
shaded  with  evergreen  trees. 

In  Madison  township,  on  October  13,  1864, 
Mr.  Birk  was  married  to  Mary  A.  Kling,  a 
native  of  Stark  county,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Kiefer)  Kling,  both 
of  whom  were  bom  in  Alsace,  France.  One 
of  their  sons,  John  Kling,  served  as  a  soldier 
in  the  Civil  war,  and  died  at  Independence, 
Iowa.  Nine  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Birk,  of  whom  the  following  are  living: 
George  J.,  Franklin  J.,  Ed  F.,  Alfred  M., 
Anna  E.  Beehler  and  Clara  C.  Mr.  Birk  is 
one  of  the  leaders  in  the  local  ranks  of  the 
Democratic  party  in  Madison  township,  hav- 
ing served  as  its  representative  in  the  county 


and  state  conventions,  and  in  1894  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  township  trustee,  in 
which  he  served  for  five  years  and  three 
months.  He  built  the  Madison  township  high 
school.  He  holds  pleasant  relations  with  his 
old  army  comrades  by  his  membership  in 
Ouster  Post,  No.  232,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Wakarusa. 
His  religious  affiliations  are  with  the  German 
Evangelical  church,  in  which  he  has  served  as 
the  secretary  and  treasurer  for  nine  years,, 
and  he  is  deeply  interested  in  the  advance- 
ment of  the  doctrines  of  Christianity. 

Levi  A.  Strope,  who  is  well  known  through- 
out Madison  county  as  a  prominent  and  suc- 
cessful agriqulturist,  was  born  on  the  2d  of 
August,  1869.  His  father,  Andrew  Jackson 
Strope,  was  a  native  son  of  Ohio,  where  he 
was  also  reared,  and  he  was  there  married 
to  Catherine  Hinkey,  who  was  bom  in  Ohio, 
but  was  of  German  parentage.  In  an  early 
day  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Strope  founded  their  home 
in  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  entering  gov- 
ernment land  where  Daniel  K.  Strope  now 
resides,  and  there  they  erected  their  little 
cabin  home  and  began  life  in  true  pioneer 
style  in  Madison  township.  With  the  passing 
years  he  cleared  and  improved  a  fine  farm 
of  two  hundred  acres,  also  replaced  their 
primitive  cabin  home  by  a  pleasant  and  com- 
modious residence  and  won  for  himself  a 
name  and  place  among  the  leading  citizens 
of  the  community.  His  busy  and  useful  life 
was  ended  in  death  when  he  had  reached  the 
age  of  fifty-four  years,  and  in  his  passing 
away  Madison  township  lost  one  of  its  earliest 
and  most  honored  pioneer  residents.  He  gave 
his  political  support  to  the  Republican  party, 
and  was  a  worthy  and  faithful  member  of 
the  Christian  church.  Mrs.  Strope  still  sur- 
vives her  husband,  and  is  one  of  the  loved 
pioneer  women  of  Madison  township.  She  has 
reached  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  In 
their  family  were  six  children :  Daniel  K.,  a 
farmer  of  Madison  township;  James,  a  resi- 
dent of  Wakarusa,  Indiana ;  Allen  P.,  also  of 
this  township;  Ida  Gcyer,  a  resident  of  Madi- 
son township;  Levi  A.,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review;  and  Catherine  Border, 
of  the  township  of  Madison. 

On  the  old  Strope  homestead  Levi  A.  Strope 
attained  to  years  of  maturity,  and  in  its  dis- 
trict schools  he  received  his  educational  train- 
ing. Agriculture  has  been  his  life  occupa- 
tion, and  he  is  now  the  owner  of  a  valuable 
little  homestead  of  thirty  acres.  He  married 
Hattie  Overleese,  a  daughter  of  Leonard  and 


Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


1122 


HISTORY   OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Elizabeth  (Moorehouse)  Overleese,  and  the 
union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  six 
children:  Edgar  0.,  Goldie  V.,  Albert  J., 
Libby  V.,  Vietor  Dewey  and  Grace  Gertrude. 
Mr.  Strope  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party. 

Abraham  Weldy,  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  highly  esteemed  of  the  early  pioneers 
of  the  community,  is  now  living  a  retired 
life  in  Wakarusa.  His  birth  occurred  in  Tus- 
carawas county,  Ohio,  January  3,  1827,  and 
he  remained  at  home  with  his  parents  until 
his  twenty-first  year,  assisting  his  father  in 
the  work  of  the  farm,  and  when  not  thus 
employed  he  attended  the  district,  schools  near 
his  home.  On  the  21st  of  June,  1849,  he 
was  married  to  Nancy  Yoder,  and  in 
the  following  year,  1850,  he  fitted  out 
a  crude  covered  wagon  and  with  three 
horses  made  the  westward  journey  to 
Indiana,  being  accompanied  by  his  wife  and 
her  sister,  Mrs.  Henry  Smeltzer,  and  his 
father.  After  ten  days  en  route  they  arrived 
in  Elkhart  county,  where  Mr.  Weldy  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  acres 
of  land,  the  purchase  price  being  eight  hun- 
dred and  seventy-two  dollars,  and  the  family 
began  their  life  in  the  Hoosier  state  in  true 
pioneer  style.  Their  little  cabin  home  in 
which  they  first  resided  was  replaced  in  1856 
by  a  more  modem  and  commodious  residence, 
and  in  the  early  days  here  they  suffered  from 
the  depredations  of  the  wnld  animals,  even 
the  little  squirrels  proving  destructive  to 
their  crops.  The  large  red  bam  was  built  in 
1861,  and  with  the  passing  years  many  val- 
uable improvements  were  added  to  the  old 
homestead.  After  a  long  and  arduous  career, 
devoted  to  agriculture,  Mr.  Weldy  laid  aside 
the  active  cares  of  a  business  life  and  re- 
moved to  Wakarusa,  where  he  is  now  enjoying 
the  many  comforts  which  his  former  years  of 
labor  have  brought  him. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weldy  were  born  thir- 
teen children,  as  follows:  Elizabeth  Blosser, 
Anna  Hartman  and  Margaret  Clay,  deceased, 
and  Sarah  Hartman,  John,  Jacob,  Samuel, 
Henry,  Joseph,  Levi,  Amos  and  two  who  died 
in  infancy.  They  also  have  sixty-eight  grand- 
children and  twenty-eight  great-grandchil- 
dren. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weldy  are  sincerely 
loved  and  revered  by  those  who  have  known 
them  for  almost  a  lifetime,  and  in  peace  and 
content  they  are  passing  their  remaining  days, 
surrounded  by  the  comforts  which  are  the 
reward  of  their  former  years  of  industr3\ 


John  Weldy,  proprietor  of  Walnut  Hill 
farm  in  Madison  township,  was  born  on  the 
old  Weldy  homestead  of  his  parents  in  Lock 
township,  Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  Novem- 
ber 24,  1858.  His  father,  Abraham  Weldy, 
was  one  of  the  first  to  take  up  his  residence 
in  that  county,  and  with  his  wife,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Nancy  Yoder,  and  was 
born  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  he  is  now  living 
quietly  retired  from  business  life  in  Waka- 
rusa, one  of  the  honored  early  pioneers  of 
that  community. 

John  Weldy,  who  was  the  sixth  in  order  of 
<birth  of  their  thirteen  children,  spent  the 
days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  was  born,  and  he  re- 
mained at  home  until  his  marriage  to  Rhoda 
Saulsbury,  who  was  also  bom  in  Lock  town- 
ship, Elkhart  county,  a  daughter  of  Luther 
and  Clarissa  (McCfey)  Saulsbury,  both  now 
deceased,  the  mother,  who  was  bom  in  Lock 
township,  dying  when  her  daughter  Rhoda 
was  but  a  child.  They  came  to  Elkhart  county 
from  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  there 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  In 
their  family  were  the  following  children: 
Buel  J.,  Alice  May,  Rhoda  A.,  Elias  Daniel, 
Alden  P.,  Luther  Owen  and  Eunice  Viola. 
Six  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Weldy, — Delia  M.,  the  wife  of  Martin  Fer- 
guson, and  they  have  one  child;  Alma,  wife 
of  Harley  Hunsberger,  and  they  have  two 
children;  L.  Ernest,  who  married  Myrtie 
Stope:  Lloyd  L.:  Buel  C;  and  Ruth  V. 
Walnut  Hill  farm,  the  homestead  of  the  fam- 
ily, is  a  beautiful  and  valuable  tract  of  land 
in  Madison  township,  but  it  has  been  brought 
to  its  present  high  state  of  perfection  by  the 
able  efforts  of  Mr.  Weldy,  who  is  a  practical 
and  successful  farmer.  Among  the  many 
valuable  improvements  which  now  adorn  the 
place  may  be  mentioned  a  large  bank  bam, 
forty  by  seventy-six  feet,  and  a  pleasant  and 
commodious  residence.  The  farm  comprises 
one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  rich  and  well 
cultivated  land.  Mr.  Weldy  gives  his  politi- 
cal support  to  the  Republican  party. 

Joseph  W.  Weldy,  proprietor  of  Sunny 
Side  Farm,  a  beautiful  estate  of  one  hundred 
and  seventy-three  acres  in  Madison  township, 
was  bom  on  the  7th  of  June,  1864,  on  the 
old  homestead  of  his  father,  Abraham  Weldy, 
in  Lock  township,  Elkhart  county,  Indiana. 
It  was  in  the  early  year  of  1851  that  Abra- 
ham Weldy  established,  his  home  in  Lock 
township,  and  a  more  complete  history  of  the 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY   OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


ir?:^ 


family  will  be  found  on  other  pages  in  this 
work.  Mrs.  Weldy  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Nancy  Yoder,  and  was  born  in  Holmes  county, 
Ohio. 

Joseph  W.  Weldy,  one  of  their  thirteen 
children,  spent  the  early  years  of  his  life 
on  the  old  homestead  farm  of  his  parents,  re- 
maining under  the  parental  roof  until  twenty- 
three  years  of  age.  He  thereafter  lived  with 
his  brother  John  for  four  years,  and  together 
they  purchased  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
of  land.  His  present  homestead  consists  of 
one  hundred  and  seventy-three  acres,  on  which 
he  has  made  all  of  its  many  and  valued  im- 
provements, including  a  pleasant  eight-room 
house,  a  fine  bank  barn  forty  by  eighty  feet 
in  dimensions  for  hay,  grain  and  stock,  and 
another  barn  thirty  by  forty  feet.  Sunny 
Side  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  valuable 
estates  in  Madison  township,  and  its  pro- 
prietor is  one  of  the  best  known  and  leading 
agriculturists  of  the  community.  He  is  also 
extensively  engaged  in  stock-raising,  and  in 
the  year  of  1905  he  fed  two  car  loads  of  cattle 
and  forty  hogs,  while  for  eight  years  he 
bought  and  killed  calves,  lambs  and  sheep, 
which  he  marketed  in  South  Bend.  He  has 
been  very  successful  both  in  his  agricultural 
and  stock-raising  efforts. 

On  the  3d  of  November,  1892,  Mr.  Weldy 
married  Mary  Sheets,  a  native  daughter  of 
St.  Joseph  county.  Her  father,  Peter  Sheets, 
a  valiant  soldier  of  the  Civil  war,  is  now 
deceased,  but  her  mother,  who  bore  tbe  maiden 
name  of  Elizabeth  Coffman,  is  living  in  Elk- 
hart county,  Indiana,  near  Wakarusa.  Eight 
children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Weldy,  namely :  Charles  F.,  Irvin  V.,  Willie 
A.,  Nora  E.,  Goldie  M.,  Harvey  R.,  Anna  E. 
and  Mabel  C.  The  political  affiliations  of  Mr. 
Weldy  are  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Mennonite  church,  in  which  he  is  serving  as 
one  of  the  trustees,  and  is  also  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school. 

Amos  Snyder  has  been  during  many  years 
closely  associated  with  the  progress  and  de- 
velopment of  this  section  of  St.  Joseph  county, 
and  is  well  and  favorably  known  among  its 
citizens.  His  birth  occurred  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pennsylvania,  November  23,  1837,  his 
parents  being  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Page)  Sny- 
der, both  natives  of  Lancaster  county.  The 
paternal  grandfather,  Phillip  Snyder,  and 
grandmother,  Barbara  Snyder,  were  natives 
of  Germany.     Sarah  (Page)  Snyder  was  de- 


prived of  a  parent's  care  when  she  was  but  a 
small  child,  and  was  raised  by  some  friends 
of  the  family.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Snyder  removed  to  Mahoning  county, 
Ohio,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
days,  he  dying  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years 
and  she  at  the  age  of  seventy-three,  both  pass- 
ing away  in  the  faith  of  the  Baptist  church. 
He  devoted  his  entire  life  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  in  politics  was  identified  with  the 
Republican  party.  In  their  family  were 
thirteen  children,  but  only  five  are  now  liv- 
ing, namely:  Amos,  Hattie  E.,  Rebecca,  who 
resides  on  the  old  homestead  in  Ohio;  Lydia 
Shimm,  of  Leetonia,  Ohio;  and  Samuel,  who 
lives  in  East  Chicago,  Indiana. 

When  a  lad  of  but  eight  years  Mr.  Amos 
Snyder  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  Mahoning  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  reared  as  a  farmer  boy  and  received  his 
education  in  its  district  schools.  At  the  age 
of  nineteen  he  went  to  Morrow  county,  Ohio, 
later  to  Coldwater,  Michigan,  and  thence  re- 
turned to  the  oil  fields  in  Ohio.  In  1859  he 
made  a  western  journey  to  Wisconsin,  and 
while  there  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil 
war,  becoming  a  member  of  the  Fortieth  Wis-  ■ 
consin  Volunteer  Infantry,  serving  under 
Colonel  Ray  and  Captain  John  H.  Houser. 
He  was  stationed  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  and 
was  honorably  discharged  at  Madison,  Wis- 
consin, from  whence  he  returned  to  his  Ohio 
home.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Snyder  lived 
for  five  years  in  Penn  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  it  was  at  the  close  of  that  period, 
in  1872,  that  he  came  to  Madison  township, 
where  he  has  ever  since  been  numbered  among 
its  prominent  and  leading  citizens.  For  a  time 
after  his  arrival  he  resided  on  his  father-in- 
law's  farm,  and  then  came  to  the  place  which 
he  now  owns,  a  valuable  homestead  of  eighty 
acres,  all  rich  and  fertile  land  and  contain- 
ing one  of  the  best  orchards  in  the  township, 
while  its  many  other  improvements  are  sub- 
stantial and  in  keeping  with  the  splendid  ap- 
pearance of  the  farm.  The  homestead  is  pleas- 
antly located  one  mile  from  Wyatt. 

On  June  1,  1865,  Mr.  Snyder  married 
Catherine  Kettring,  who  was  bom  in  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  June  4,  1848,  a  daughter  of 
Michael  and  Rosanna  Kettring,  both  natives 
of  Germany.  The  father  was  called  to  his 
final  rest  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of 
sixty-eight  years,  and  the  mother  had  reached 
the  Psalmist's  span  of  three  score  years  and 
ten  when  she  joined  him  in  the  home  beyond. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1124 


HISTORY  OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


One  of  their  sons,  John  Kettring,  served  as  a 
soldier  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  and 
now  lives  in  the  soldier's  home  at  Marion, 
Indiana.  Six  children  have  been  bom  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder:  Emery,  a  resident  of 
St.  Joseph  county ;  Frank,  a  barber  at  Wyatt ; 
Norman,  who  was  a  teacher  and  is  now  a 
merchant  at  Wyatt ;  Ella  Slough,  of  Mt.  Vern- 
on, Indiana;  Matilda  Shrader,  of  Madison 
township ;  and  Celia.  The  Democracy  receives 
Mr.  Snyder's  active  support  and  co-operation, 
and  as  his  party's  representative  he  was 
elected  to  the  oiBce  of  trustee  in  1875,  serv- 
ing in  that  position  for  five  years,  and  filling 
out  the  unexpired  term  of  James  Dougherty. 
Mrs.  Snyder  is  a  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren ehurch.  The  family  is  held  in  high  es- 
teem and  the  kindly  social  qualities  with 
which  they  are  endowed  win  for  them  the 
friendship  and  good  will  of  all. 

Zachary  T.  Longenbcker,  the  proprietor 
of  ** Valley  Farm,"  one  of  the  finest  country 
seats  of  Madison  township,  represents  one  of 
the  pioneer  families  of  St.  Joseph  county. 
His  birth  occurred  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio, 
September  26,  1848,  but  his  father,  Levi 
Longenecker,  claimed  Fayette  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, as  the  place  of  his  nativity,  and  his 
fiather,  Peter  Longenecker,  was  born  in 
Switzerland,  but  his  death  occurred  in  Holmes 
county,  Ohio.  His  son  Levi  was  reared  to 
mature  years  in  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  and 
was  married  to  Elizabeth  Weldy,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Pennsylvania,  but  she  was  reared 
in  Holmes  county,  Ohio.  In  1864  the  family 
came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  estab- 
lishing their  home  on  the  farm  in  Madison 
township  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Longenecker 
of  this  review,  and  there  the  parents  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives.  The  mother  died  in 
the  prime  of  life,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine 
years,  leaving  six  children:  John,  Susan, 
Sarah,  Levi,  Silas  and  Zachary  T.  The  father 
had  been  previously  married,  and  by  the  first 
union  had  three  children,  but  only  two,  Mar- 
tha and  Elizabeth,  are  now  living,  and  both 
are  unmarried.  His  death  occurred  at  the 
ripe  old  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  His  was 
a  busy  and  useful  career,  in  which  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  blacksmith  and  farmer,  and  in 
his  political  affiliations  he  was  identified  with 
the  Republican  party. 

Zachary  T.  Longenecker  spent  the  first  six- 
teen years  of  his  life  on  a  farm  in  his  native 
county  of  Holmes,  Ohio,  and  after  coming 
to   Madison   township   he   was   employed  for 


some  time  in  the  old  and  well  remembered 
Euline  mill,  which  was  located  on  his  father's 
farm.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  a  fine  estate 
of  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  acres,  known 
as  the  ** Valley  Farm."  His  residence  is  a 
pleasant  and  commodious  structure  erected  on 
a  natural  building  site,  and  his  fine  bank  bam 
is  forty  by  eighty  feet.  Madison  township 
numbers  him  among  her  progressive  and  lead- 
ing agriculturists  and  stock-raisers,  and  his 
homestead  is  one  of  the  valuable  ones  of  the 
community. 

In  Madison  township,  in  1887,  Mr.  Longe- 
necker was  married  to  Jennie  Shutts.  Her 
father,  Isaiah  Shutts,  was  bom  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  was  of  German  descent.  He  was 
left  an  orphan  at  the  early  age  of  fourteen 
years,  and  he  was  an  honored  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war,  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army 
post  and  of  the  Methodist  church.  His  wife 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Rebecca  Mitchell 
and  was  born  in  the  state  of  New  York,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Melvina  Mit<»hell,  also 
of  that  commonwealth.  At  Mrs.  Shutt's 
death  she  left  the  following  children:  Mar- 
garet, Jennie  Longenecker,  William,  Mordecai, 
John  Wesley,  Ellen,  Mary  and  Charles.  Two 
sons  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Longe- 
necker: Oaklyn  S.,  born  December  29,  1889, 
and  Forest  L.,  bora  March  7,  1892.  Mr. 
Longenecker  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
Republican  party,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 

John  Qood  has  during  many  years  occu- 
pied a  very  conspicuous  place  among  the  lead- 
ing business  men  of  Madison  township.  He 
was  bom  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  April  24, 
1853,  a  son  of  Daniel  Good  and  a  grandson 
of  Joseph  Good,  both  bom  in  Rockingham 
county,  Virginia.  The  ancestry  of  the  family 
is  traced  back  to  the  lands  of  Switzerland 
and  Germany,  from  whence  its  representa- 
tives came  to  the  new  world  and  established 
the  name  in  this  free  land,  a  name  that  has 
ever  stood  as  a  synonym  for  all  that  is  true 
and  honorable  in  life.  Daniel  Good  grew  to 
years  of  maturity  in  Virginia  and  Ohio,  and 
was  married  to  Sarah  Gaster,  a  native  of 
the  same  county  as  her  husband,  but  her  peo- 
ple came  originally  from  Switzerland.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  Gaster, 
both  of  whom  died  in  Ohio,  and  they  were 
worthy  members  of  the  Evangelical  Reformed 
church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel  Good  were  the 
parents  of  six  children :    Elizabeth,  deceased ; 


Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


1125 


Mary,  of  Columbia  City,  Indiana;  Caroline, 
of  Pontiac,  Illinois;  Jacob,  deceased;  John, 
the  subject  of  this  review;  and  Samuel  T.,  a 
merchant  at  Baspil,  Ohio.  Samuel  is  the  only ' 
representative  of  the  family  in  Fairfield 
county.  After  a  beautiful  Christian  life  the 
mother  passed  away  in  death  at  the  age  of 
forty-six  years,  having  for  many  years  been 
a  consistent  member  of  the  Reformed  church. 
Mr.  Good  afterward  married  Catherine 
Smoke,  who  was  bom  in  Licking  county,  Ohio, 
the  daughter  of  Dennis  Smoke.  The  follow- 
ing children  were  born  of  this  union: 
Amanda,  deceased);  Dennis,  deceased;  Mer- 
tie;  William,  who  was  killed  in  a  railroad 
accident;  and  Charles,  a  resident  of  Hebron, 
Ohio.  The  father  was  seventy-three  years 
of  age  when  called  to  the  home  beyond.  His 
was  a  busy  and  useful  life,  devoted. to  a^- 
cultural  pursuits  and  the  carpenter's  trade, 
ajid  he  gave  his  political  support  to  the  Re- 
publican party.  His  religious  affiliations 
were  with  the  United  Brethren  church. 

John  Good,  whose  name  introduces  this  re- 
view, was  reared  as  a  farmer's  boy,  and  was 
early  taught  the  lessons  of  industry  and  hon- 
esty. He  has  been  a  diligent  student  all  his 
life,  and  thus  he  has  added  to  the  knowledge 
which  he  received  in  the  public  schools  dur- 
ing his  boyhood  days.  At  the  early  age  of 
fifteen  years  he  left  home  and  went  to  a  farm 
in  Whitley  county,  Indiana,  from  whence  he 
removed  to  Huntington  county,  Indiana,  and 
it  was  in  1881  that  he  came  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  establishing  his  home  on  the  farm  on 
which  he  yet  resides.  With  the  passing  years 
he  has  placed  the  homestead  under  an  excel- 
lent state  of  cultivation,  and  among  its  many 
valuable  improvements  may  be  noted  its  com- 
modious and  pleasant  residence,  its  large 
bam.  forty  by  seventy  feet,  its  splendid  or- 
chard and  ite  attractive  outbuildings.  He 
also  owns  a  valuable  farm  in  Davison  county. 
South  Dakota,  and  is  interested  in  many  busi- 
ness enterprises  in  St.  Joseph  county,  includ- 
ing a  creamery  company,  in  which  he  is  one 
of  the  stockholders.  He  is  at  all  times  a  pub- 
lic-spirited and  progressive  gentleman,  ever 
ready  to  lend  his  aid  and  co-operation  to  any 
movement  for  the  public  good. 

In  Olive  township,  Elkhart  county,  Indi- 
ana, December  19,  1882,  Mr.  Good  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Catherine  Rebecca  Holdeman, 
and  for  twenty-seven  years  they  have  trav- 
eled the  journey  of  life  together.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Joseph   and  Anna   (Nusbaum) 


Holdeman,  the  former  of  whom  was  bom  in 
Berks  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter 
in  Ashland  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Holdeman 
died  on  the  19th  of  August,  1894,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years.  He  was  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  his  community,  having  been 
one  of  its  prominent  educators,  teaching  in 
ftll  eighteen  terms  of  school,  and  was  also  a 
deacon  in  the  Mennonite  church  for  many 
years.  Mrs  Holdeman  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight  years.  In  their  family  were 
fifteen  children,  but  of  that  large  number 
only  four  are  now  living:  Christian;  Cath- 
erine R.  Gk)od;  Margaret  Flickinger;  and 
Anna  Willard,  whose  husband  is  a  banker 
of  Wakarusa.  Two  children  have  been  bom 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Good,  the  elder  of  whom, 
Anna,  is  the  wife  of  W.  S.  Weaver,  a  car- 
penter and  contractor,  ^nd  they  have  one 
child,  Catherine  R.  The  only  son  and 
younger  child,  Joseph  .  C.  Good,  received  an 
excellent  educational  training,  attending  first 
the  country  schools,  later  the  Wakarusa  high 
school,  and  completed  his  training  in  the 
Elkhart  Institute.  He  is  now  a  mail  clerk 
on  the  Chicago  &  Cleveland  division  of  the 
Lake  Shore  Railroad.  As  a  representative  of 
the  Republican  party  Mr.  Good  of  this  re- 
view takes  an  active  part  in  public  affairs, 
while  the  cause  of  education  fbds  in  him  a 
firm  and  helpful  friend.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  advisory  board  at  the  time  the  high 
school  in  Madison  township  was  built,  and  he 
has  ever  manifested  an  intelligent  and  dis- 
criminating interest  in  public  affairs.  His 
religious  i^liations  are  with  the  Mennonite 
church,  of  whieh  he  is  a  worthy  and  valued 
member. 

Ja(X)B  Beehler,  a  well  known  agriculturist 
and  popular  citizen  of  Madison  township,  has 
resided  here  since  his  early  boyhood  days. 
He  is  a  frank  and  genial  gentleman,  success- 
ful in  business,  honored  and  esteemed  at  home 
and  abroad.  He  was  born  on  the  20th  of 
December,  1845,  near  the  river  Rhine,  in 
Bergen,  Germany,  a  son  of  Phillip  and  Cath- 
erine Beehler,  who  were  numbered  among  the 
very  early  pioneers  of  Madison  township,  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana.  When  their  son 
Jacob  was  a  little  lad  of  nine  years  they 
sailed  with  their  family  for  the  United  States, 
spending  thirty-three  days  on  a  sailing  vessel 
in  reaching  the  harbor  of  New  York,  from 
whence  they  went  to  Buffalo,  that  state,  and 
one  year  later  by  boat  to  Toledo,  Ohio.  Prom 
there  they  oame   to  Madison   township,   St. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


112G, 


HISTORY  OF   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Joseph  county,  Indiana,  establishing  their 
home  on  a  heavily  wooded  farm  adjoining  the 
present  homestead  of  Mr.  Beehler  of  this  re- 
view. Their  first  home  was  a  little  log  cabin, 
eighteen  by  twenty-four  feet,  a  loft  above 
serving  as  the  sleeping  apartment  of  the  chil- 
dren. The  stable  and  other  buildings  were 
also  of  logs,  and  the  family  began  their  life 
in  Madison  township  in  true  pioneer  style. 
In  their  family  were  seven  children :  Phillip, 
a  resident  of  South  Bend ;  Jacob,  whose  name 
introduces  this  review ;  Peter,  a  resident  farm- 
er of  Madison  township ;  Henry,  of  Penn  town- 
ship; Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Peter  Kelley,  Sr., 
of  Madison  township;  Mary  Beehler,  also  of 
this  township ;  and  Emma,  the  wife  of  P.  G. 
Horine,  who  resides  on  the  old  homestead 
farm.  After  a  long  and  useful  life,  devoted 
to  agricultural  pursuits  Mr.  Beehler,  the  hus- 
band and  father,  passed  to  his  final  reward 
at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  honored  and 
revered  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Evangelical  church,  and  helped 
to  build  the  church  of  that  denomination  in 
this  community  and  remained  one  of  its  most 
active  supporters  until  his  busy  and  useful 
life  was  ended.  Mrs.  Beehler  has  now 
reached  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years.  She 
has  lived  to  see  her  children  grow  to  success- 
ful man  and  womanhood,  and  nobly  did  she 
perform  her  part  in  the  establishment  of  the 
home  in  the  wilds  of  Madison  township. 

When  he  was  nine  years  of  age  Jacob  Beeh- 
ler accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal 
to  the  United  States,  and  on  the  old  home 
farm  in  Madison  township  he  grew  to  a  sturdy 
manhood,  receiving  his  educational  training 
in  the  primitive  schools  of  the  early  days 
and  he  became  proficient  in  both  the  German 
and  English  languages.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years  he  began  work  for  himself  in  a  saw 
mill,  and  by  industry  and  economy  he  soon 
became  able  to  purchase  forty  acres  of  land, 
which  was  heavily  covered  with  sycamore  tim- 
ber. He  performed  the  arduous  labor  of 
clearing  his  land  and  placing  it  under  culti- 
vation, and  with  the  passing  years  he  has 
added  to  its  boundaries  until  he  is  now  the 
owner  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  all 
well  tilled  and  improved  and  constituting  a 
valuable  and  beautiful  estate.  His  residence 
is  a  pleasant  and  commodious  home,  sur- 
rounded by  trees  and  flowers,  and  his  fine 
bank  bam  is  forty  by  seventy  feet. 

When  he  had  reached  the  age  of  twenty- 
six  years  Mr.  Beehler  was  married  to  Anna 


Link,  who  was  bom  in  the  state  of  New  York, 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Beehler) 
Link,  both  natives  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany. 
Crossing  the  ocean  to  the  United  States,  the 
family  located  in  Cattaraugus  county.  New 
York,  near  Jamestown,  where  the  father  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life  and  where  the 
mother  is  yet  living  on  the  old  family  home- 
stead. They  were  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, of  whom  three  are  living, — John,  Fred- 
erick and  Anna  Beehler.  Of  the  ten  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beehler  eight  are  now 
living:  Emma,  the  wife  of  (Jeorge  J.  Birk, 
of  Madison  township;  Ed,  a  resident  of 
South  Bend;  Sarah  Beehler;  Martin,  of  Penn 
township,  St.  Joseph  county ;  and  John,  Anna. 
Olga  and  Walter,  at  home.  Two  daughters 
are  deceased:  Elizabeth,  the  first  wife  of 
George  J.  Birk,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years;  and  Louisa  Lechlieter  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-three  years,  leaving  one  son, 
Harris  B.,  who  makes  his  home  with  his 
grandparents.  As  a  representative  of  the 
Democratic  party  Mr.  Beehler  takes  an  active 
part  in  local  politics,  and  during  his  incum- 
bency of  the  oflSce  of  supervisor  he  was  active 
in  the  building  of  the  corduroy  roads  in  Madi- 
son township.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Evan- 
gelical church,  and  in  ihe  community  in 
which  he  has  so  long  resided  he  is  held  in  the 
highest  regard  by  his  innumerable  friends. 

Rev.  Paul  Grob,  pastor  of  the  Zion  Evan- 
gelical church  of  Madison  township,  is  a  man 
of  ripe  scholarship  and  marked  ability,  and 
one  whose  life  is  consecrated  to  the  cause 
of  the  Master  and  to  the  uplifting  of  man. 
His  birth  occurred  in  Germany,  in  Wurtem- 
berg, on  the  1st  of  October,  1861,  a  son  of  John 
and  Louisa  (Greib)  Grob,  both  of  whom  spent 
their  entire  lives  in  that  country,  where  the 
husband  and  father  served  as  foreman  of  a 
factory  in  his  native  village.  Their  son 
Paul,  the  second  in  order  of  birth  of  their 
four  children,  received  an  excellent  educa- 
tional training  in  his  youth,  having  attended 
college  at  Basle,  Switzerland.  In  1885  he 
left  his  German  home  for  the  United  States, 
first  residing  in  Marshall  county,  Indiana, 
and  a  short  time  afterward  came  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  where  he  remained  for  two  years. 
At  the  close  of  that  period  he  returned  to  his 
native  land  for  a  visit  of  three  months,  and 
again  crossing  the  Atlantic  took  up  his  abode 
in  Lansing,  Michigan.  Later  he  spent  four 
years  in  Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  and  it  was 
at  the  expiration  of  that  period  that  he  came 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1127 


to  Madison  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  and 
assumed  charge  of  his  present  church. 

The  Zion  Evangelical  church  was  erected  in 
1856.  It  is  a  pleasant  and  commodioiis  build- 
ing, with  a  seating  capacity  of  four  hundred, 
and  the  church  has  an  enrollment  of  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  members.  The  average 
attendance,  however,  reaches  as  high  as  twelve 
hundred,  and  the  Sunday-school  has  an  en- 
rollment of  one  hundred,  and  is  under  the  ^ 
superintendency  of  P.  G.  Horine.  The  church 
society  also  owns  a  large  and  pleasant  par- 
sonage, and  there  is  a  school  in  connection 
with  the  church  which  is  in  session  about 
three  months  of  the  year  and  in  w^hich  the 
children  become  familiar  with  the  German 
language.  The  pastor,  Rev.  Grob,  is  devoting 
himself  without  ceasing  to  the  interests  of 
his  church  and  to  the  furtherance  of  all  good 
works,  and  his  efforts  in  his  holy  office  have 
been  abundantly  blessed.  In  addition  to  his 
own  church  he  also  preaches  at  the  Wood- 
land St.  John's  Evangelical  church  once  in 
two  weeks,  where  he  has  a  congregation  num- 
bering about  one  hundred  and  fifty  members. 
Adjoining  the  parsonage  he  has  fifty-nine 
acres  of  good  farming  land,  the  work  of  which 
he  carries  on  by  the  help  of  his  eldest  son. 

In  Bourbon,  Marshall  county,  Indiana,  in 
1889,  Rev.  Grob  was  married  to  Mary  Lam- 
ler,  who  was  born  and  educated  in  that 
county,  a  daughter  of  Frederick  and  P]va 
(Tisehbein)  Lamler.  They  have  seven  chil- 
dren,— Frederick,  Alma,  Freda,  Eva,  Ru- 
dolph, Theodore  R.  and  Paula.  Rev.  Grob 
has  devoted  many  years  of  his  life  to  the  work 
of  the  ministry,  and  there  has  not  been  denied 
the  full  harvest  whose  garnering  shall  bring 
full  reward. 

John  Fredericks,  a  prominent  farmer  of 
Madison  township,  is  one  of  the  thrifty  and 
industrious  men  to  whom  this  community 
owes  its  substantial  development  and  prog- 
ress. He  was  bom  in  Bedford  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, May  4,  1840,  and  is  a  representative 
of  a  prominent  old  family  of  the  Keystone 
state.  His  parents,  William  and  Sarah 
(Hudson)  Fredericks,  both  also  had  their  na- 
tivity in  that  commonwealth,  but  the  father's 
death  occurred  when  he  was  a  young  man. 
The  mother  lived  to  the  good  old  age  of 
seventy-five  years,  and  died  in  Tiffin,  Ohio. 
In  their  family  were  the  following  children : 
Francis  Marion;  Thomas  B.,  a  resident  of 
Fostoria,  Ohio;   and  William. 

John   Fredericks,   the  first  born,   grew   to 


years  of  maturity  in  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio, 
where  he  was  reared  as  a  farmer  lad  and  was 
early  taught  the  work  of  the  fields.  The  first 
nineteen  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  Bed- 
ford county,  Pennsylvania, .from  whence  he 
removed  to  Tiffin,  Ohio,  in  1859,  and  when 
he  had  reached  the  age  of  twenty-six  years 
he  came  to  St.  Joseph  "'County,  Indiana,  this 
being  in  the  year  of  1866.  Madison  town- 
ship has  ever  since  continued  as  his  home,  and 
he  is  now  the  owner  of  a  valuable  estate  of 
eighty  acres. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  Mr.  Fred- 
ericks married  Susan  A.  Grimes,  whose  father, 
Dr.  Joseph  Grimes,  was  a  well  known  phy- 
sician of  Tiffin,  Ohio.  Four  children  have 
been  born  to  them :  John,  George  0.,  Joseph 
and  Amanda,  the  sons  all  being  residents  of 
Madison  township,  and  the  daughter,  the  wife 
of  John  Willard,  lives  in  Niles,  Michigan. 
Mr.  Fredericks  votes  with  the  Democratic 
party,  and  has  always  taken  an  active  interest 
in  local  affairs.  Mrs.  Fredericks  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  church. 

Abraham  Lincoln  Grose.  In  the  devel- 
opment of  Madison  township  the  Grose  fam- 
ily have  borne  an  important  part,  and 
throughout  his  entire  business  career  Abra- 
ham L.  Grose  has  been  identified  with  the 
agricultural  interests  of  this  community.  His 
birth  occurred  on  the  land  which  he  now 
owns  November  7,  1862,  but  he  is  of  German 
parentage.  His  father.  Christian  Grose,  one 
of  the  prominent  and  well  known  German- 
American  citizens  and  farmers  of  Madison 
township,  was  born  on  the  river  Rhine  in 
.  Alsace,  France,  now  a  province  of  Germany, 
and  was  a  son  of  Jacob  Grose,  who  was  a 
prominent  factor  in  his  native  village  of  the 
Rhine.  Some  of  the  land  owned  by  this  fam- 
ily in  Germany  became  the  property  of  Mr. 
Grose  of  this  review,  and  he  has  a  deed  to 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  signed  by  the 
president  of  the  United  States.  Christian 
Grose,  the  father,  was  but  a  small  boy  w^hen 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  this  country,  the 
family  home  being  first  established  in  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  and  there  he  grew  to  years  of 
maturity  on  a  farm.  He  was  also  there  mar- 
ried to  Sophia  Shearer,  who  spent  the  first 
seventeen  years  of  her  life  in  her  native  coun- 
try of  Germany,  coming  thence  to  the  United 
States.  In  1848  Mr.  Grose  came  with  his 
family  to  Madison  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  establishing  their  home  in 
the  woods,  and  they  were  numbered  among 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1128 


HISTORY   OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


the  first  settlers  of  the  community.  The  lit- 
tle log  cabin  in  which  they  first  made  their 
home  in  time  gave  place  to  a  modern  and 
commodious  residence,  the  land  was  cleared 
and  improved,  and  Mr.  Grose  became  one  of 
the  foremost  settlers  of  the  township.  Of 
the  fourteen  children  born  to  this  honored 
pioneer  couple  the  fallowing  are  now  living, 
namely :  Maggie  Shef er,  a  resident  of  Union 
township,  St.  Joseph  county;  Sadie,  the 
widow  of  W.  Marble  and  a  resident  of  South 
Bend ;  Catherine  Seifer,  also  of  Union  town- 
ship; Abraham  L.,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review;  Christian,  who  makes  his  home 
in  Union  township;  Phillip,  of  South  Bend; 
Ellen  Ruff,  of  Madison  township ;  and  George 
A.,  a  resident  of  Madison  township.  Mr. 
Grose,  the  father,  died  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
nine  years,  after  an  active  and  useful  career. 
He  was  a  man  of  strong  physique,  was  an 
excellent  financier,  and  as  a  representative 
of  the  Republican  party  he  took  an  active 
part  in  the  public  affairs  of  his  community. 
In  1856  he  was  made  the  supervisor  of  Madi- 
son township,  and  to  him  belongs  the  credit 
of  building  some  of  the  excellent  highways 
which  add  so  much  to  the  value  of  the  town- 
ship. He  was  a  member  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist church. 

On  the  old  farm  which  his  father  had 
evolved  from  a  wilderness  Abraham  L.  Grose 
grew  to  a  sturdy  manhood,  in  the  meantime 
becoming  well  educated  in  both  the  German 
and  English  languages.  When  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years  he  was 
married  in  Penn  township  November  20,  1890, 
to  Olive  Crofoot,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Cro- 
foot,  one  of  the  prominent  early  settlers  of 
that  township.  Two  children,  Hilda  G.  and 
Mayme  M.,  aged  respectively  fifteen  and 
thirteen  years,  have  been  born  of  this  union. 
Mrs.  Grose  was  born  April  10,  1872.  With 
his  family  Mr.  Grose  resides  on  his  pleasant 
and  valuable  estate  of  two  hundred  and  four 
acres,  located  in  section  21,  Madison  town- 
ship. The  farm,  which  is  rich  and  fertile 
land  under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation, 
is  adorned  with  valuable  buildings,  and  in 
addition  to  his  agricultural  labors  Mr.  Grose 
has  also  been  engaged  in  the  saw-milling  busi- 
ness during  the  past  seventeen  years,  owning 
a  good  forty-horse  power  mill  with  a  capacity 
of  twelve  thousand  feet  a  day.  The  Repub- 
lican party  receives  his  support  and  co-opera- 
tion, and  he  has  membership  relations  with 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 


Joseph  A.  Fredericks.  Madison  township 
includes  among  its  representative  farmers 
Joseph  A.  Fredericks,  who  owns  a  valuable 
estate  of  eighty  acres,  on  which  he  has  placed 
many  valuable  improvements,  including  a 
pleasant  residence  and  a  fine  bank  barn.  His 
fields  are  well  tilled  and  fertile,  and  the  farm 
is  one  of  the  pleasant  rural  homies  of  the  com- 
munity. His  bdrth  occurred  on  the  old  home- 
stead of  his  father  in  Madison  township  April 
7,  1868,  and  this  section  of  St.  Joseph  county 
has  long  been  the  home  of  the  Fredericks. 
The  grandparents,  William  and  Sarah  (Hud- 
son) Fredericks,  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, the  former  of  whom  died  when  young, 
and  the  latter  died  at  TiflSn,  Ohio,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-five  years.  They  became  the  par- 
ents of  four  children, — John,  Francis  M., 
Thomas  Benton  and  William.  John  Fred- 
ericks, the  father  of  Joseph  A.,  was  born 
in  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1840, 
and  in  the  commonwealth  of  his  nativity  he 
spent  the  first  nineteen  years  of  his  life,  re- 
moving thence  to  Tiffin,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
married  to  Susanna  A.  Grimes,  a  daughter  of 
Jonas  Grimes,  one  of  the  prominent  early 
settlers  of  Tiffin,  and  a  sister  of  Dr.  Grimes, 
a  prominent  physician  of  St.  Joseph  county. 
In  1868  Mr.  Fredericks  came  with  his  family 
to  Indiana,  where  he  became  the  owner  of 
the  farm  which  is  known  as  the  old  Fred- 
ericks homestead,  and  here  he  yet  resides,  one 
of  the  honored  old  pioneers  of  the  county. 
Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fredericks,  and  the  three  sons,  John,  George 
0.  and  Joseph,  are  all  prominent  agricul- 
turists of  Madison  township,  while  the  daugh- 
ter, Amanda  Willard,  is  a  resident  of  Niles, 
Michigan. 

When  he  had  reached  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years  Joseph  A.  Fredericks  left  the  paren- 
tal roof  and  established  a  home  of  his  own 
by  his  marriage  to  Nora  B.  Andrews,  the 
wedding  having  been  celebrated  in  Olive  town- 
ship, Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  She  was  born 
in  Kosciusko  county,  this  state,  near  War- 
saw, a  daughter  of  Rufus  and  Msury  (Dal- 
rimple)  Andrews.  The  father's  birth  oc- 
curred in  Illinois,  but  his  death  took  place 
in  Madison  township,  St.  Joseph  countj', 
where  he  had  long  been  well  known  as  a 
farmer  and  as  a  Methodist  Episcopal  min- 
ister. The  mother's  death  occurred  when  she 
had  reached  the  age  of  thirty-eight  years. 
Four  living  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.   Fredericks, — Grace  S.,   Hattie  B., 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP   ST/ JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1129 


Edna  M.  and  Lillie  B.  They  also  have  three 
children  deceased,  Franklin  Albert,  the  first 
born,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years ;  a 
girl  baby  who  died  when  three  months  old; 
and  Agnes  A.  Mr.  Fredericks  affiliates  with 
the  Republican  party. 

JVIaetin  E.  Gordon,  manager  of  the  Oak 
Grove  Creamery  and  proprietor  of  the  Grove 
store,  has  passed  his  entire  life  in  this  com- 
munity, and  it  has  been  one  of  uniform  honor 
in  business  and  fidelity  in  places  of  trust.  He 
is  therefqre  deserving  of  mention  among  the* 
representative  men  of  this  section  of  the  state, 
and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we  present  his 
.history  to  our  readers.  His  birth  occurred  on 
the  old  homestead  of  his  father,  Moses  Gor- 
don, November  16,  1872,  and  in  the  district 
school  near  by  he  received  his  educational 
training.  He  remained  in  the  parental  home 
until  twenty-three  years  of  age,  when  he  was 
married  and  establishd  a  home  of  his  own. 
The  creamery  of  which  he  is  the  proprietor 
transacts  a  large  and  remunerative  business, 
taking  in  about  fifty-five  hundred  pounds  of 
cream  a  day,  and  under  Mr.  Gordon's  effi- 
cient management  it  is  constantly  increasing 
in  volume  and  importance.  He  is  an  excellent 
business  man,  and  his  sound  judgment,  enter- 
prise and  laudable  ambition  have  all  con- 
tributed to  make  his  business  career  a  pros- 
perous ouie. 

Mr.  (Jordon  married  Mary  Stuart,  who  was 
born  in  Lock  township,  Elkhart  county,  In- 
diana, September  15,  1876,  a  daughter  of 
Andrew  and  Lucinda  (Huflf)  Stuart,  both 
also  natives  of  Elkhart  county,  Indiana.  In 
their  family  were  four  children :  George  M., 
John  M.,  who  died  and  left  two  children, 
Alva  0.  and  Mary  E.  Gordon.  The  father 
died  at  the  age  of  thirty-six  years,  and  the 
mother  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  sixty-four 
years,  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church.  Four 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gordon,  William  Jennings,  Jesse  F.,  George 
G.  and  Moses  R.  (deceased).  In  his  political 
affiliations  Mr.  Gordon  is  a  Democrat,  labor- 
ing earnestly  for  the  principles  which  he  be- 
lieves will  best  advance  good  government.  He 
enjoys  the  regard  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and 
is  well  known  throughout  his  native  town- 
ship of  Madison. 

George  H.  Grise,  proprietor  of  Poplar  Hill 
Farm,  one  of  the  finest  estates  of  Madison 
township,  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the 
county's  oldest  and  most  honored  families. 
His   birth  occurred   in   Stark    county,    Ohio, 


near  Canton,  February  14,  1843.  His  father, 
David  Grise,  was  a  native  son  of  Maryland, 
but  was  only  three  years  of  age  when  taken 
by  his  father,'  George  Grise,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, to  Stark  county,  Ohio.  There  David 
grew  to  years  of  maturity  on  a  farm,  and  was 
married  to  Martha  Landon,  who  was  bom  in 
Connecticut,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Landon, 
also  a  native  of  that  commonwealth  and  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  In  1856  David 
Grise  came  with  his  family  to  Madison  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  and  his 
death  later  occurred  on  the  old  homestead 
which  he  had  cleared  and  cultivated  near 
Woodland  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of 
fifty-four  years,  his  widow  surviving  until 
the  age  of  sixty-seven  years,  when  she  joined 
him  in  the  home  beyond.  In  their  family 
were  five  children,  namely:  George  H., 
whose  name  introduces  this  review;  Frank- 
lin P.,  a  resident  of  Mishawaka;  Albert  C, 
who  makes  his  home  in  Petersburg,  Mahoning 
county,  Ohio;  Josiah  D.,  who  married  Alice 
Goodrich  and  resided  in  Madison  township 
until  his  death ;  and  James  N.,  a  resident  of 
Madison  township.  Mr.  Grise,  the  father, 
was  a  Democrat  in  his  politicfd  affiliations, 
a  stanch  Jackson  man. 

When  a  little  lad  of  thirteen  years  George 
H.  Grise  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Madison  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  thus  during  a  long  period  he 
has  been  identified  with  its  interests.  In  1871 
he  purchased  a  large  tract  of  heavily  tim- 
bered land  in  this  township,  on  which  he 
erected  a  saw-mill,  and  thereafter  did  an  ex- 
tensive business  in  clearing  the  land  and  saw- 
ing the  timber.  With  the  passing  years  he 
transformed  the  farm  into  one  of  the  most 
valuable  tracts  in  Madison  township,  and 
Poplar  Hill  Farm  is  now  a  beautiful  home- 
stead. It  contains  three  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  fertile  and  well  tilled  land,  and  is 
adorned  with  a  beautiful  residence,  costing 
thirty-five  hundred  dollars,  and  one  of  the 
largest  bams  in  the  township,  a  rock  base- 
ment structure  forty-one  by  eighty  feet,  with 
an  L  thirty  by  fifty  feet  for  stock  feeding 
purposes.  He  raises  high  gradp  cattle  of 
the  Short-horn  breed,  one  of  which  weighs 
seventeen  hundred  pounds.  In  his  pastures 
are  also  found  large  numbers  of  high  grade 
sheep,  and  both  in  his  stock-raising  and  agri- 
cultural interests  he  has  achieved  a  notable 
success. 

Mr.    Grise   wedded   Mary   A.    Kettring,   a 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


113J 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


member  of  one  of  the  old  families,  and  they 
have  five  children,  namely:  John  F.,  a  busi- 
ness man  of  Bremen,  Indiana;  Clara  F.,  of 
Madison  township;  Charles  H.,  also  a  resident 
of  this  township;  Ellen  M.,  at  home;  and  Min- 
nie, the  wife  of  John  H.  Doering,  a  promi- 
nent business  man  of  Wakarusa.  The  politi- 
cal affiliations  of  Mr.  Grise  are  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  he  at  one  time  served  as  a 
member  of  the  advisory  board  of  the  town- 
ship. In  his  religious  associations  he  is  a 
worthy  and  valued  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church. 

John  M.  Truax,  one  of  the  prominent  and 
well  known  residents  of  Madison  township, 
was  bom  within  a  few  miles  of  his  present 
home,  in  Union  township,  Elkhart  county, 
August  22,  1853.  His  father,  Amos  Truax, 
was  bom  at  Mount  Gilead,  Morrow  county, 
Ohio,  which  was  also  the  birthplace  of  Abra- 
ham Truax,  his  father,  but  the  latter 's  par- 
ents had  their  nativity  in  Pennsylvania. 
Abraham  and  Sarah  Truax,  his  wife,  took  up 
their  abode  in  Elkhart  county,-  Indiana, 
among  its  earliest  pioneer  settlers,  and  there 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  On 
the  old  home  farm  in  Ohio  Amos  Truax 
grew  to  mature  years,  in  the  meantime  assist- 
ing in  the  clearing  and  cultivating  of  the 
land,  and  his  educational  training  was  re- 
ceived in  the  old-time  log  schools  of  Morrow 
county.  In  an  early  day  in  its  history  he 
established  his  home  in  Elkhart  county,  In- 
diana, and  was  there  married  to  Anna  Gor- 
don, a  daughter  of  William  Gordon,  the  his- 
tory of  whose  life  will  be  found  in  the  sketch 
of  his  son,  Moses  Gordon,  elsewhere  in  this 
work.  Of  the  ten  children  bom  of  this  union 
three  grew  to  mature  years,  namely :  John 
M.,  whose  name  introduces  this  review;  Wil- 
liam, who  is  a  well  known  citizen  of  Madi- 
son township,  and  is  now  serving  as  its  as- 
sessor; and  Isaac,  a  resident  of  Elkhart 
county.  The  remainder  of  the  children  died 
when  young.  During  the  boyhood  days  of 
their  son  John  the  parents  removed  to  Madi- 
son township,  St.  Joseph  county,  where  the 
mother  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-four  years, 
but  the  father  afterward  went  to  Arkansas 
and  died  there  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years. 
He  was  a  farmer  throughout  the  entire  period 
of  his  business  career,  was  a  Democrat  in 
his  political  views,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Baptist  church. 

On  the  old  Truax  homestead  in  Madison 
township  John  M.  Truax  grew  to  manhood's 


estate,  receiving  a  practical  education  in  its 
common  schools.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  one 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  fertile  and  well 
improved  land  within  the  borders  of  this 
township,  which  returns  to  him  each  year 
bounteous  harvests,  and  he  also  has  twenty 
acres  of  timber  land. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  Mr.  Truax 
married  Abigail  Wilson,  a  native  daughter  of 
St.  Joseph  county,  where  her  parents,  Amos 
and  Abigail  Wilson,  established  their  home 
in  an  early  day,  and  one  son  was  born  of  the 
union,  Amos  Truax,  a  resident  of  South  Bend. 
The  wife  and  mother  died  at  the  early  age 
of  twenty-six  years,  passing  away  in  the  faith 
of  the  United  Brethren  church,  of  which  she 
was  a  worthy  and  consistent  member.  In 
1888  Mr.  Truax  married  Matilda  Denney,  who 
was  bom  in  Whitley  county,  Indiana,  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Leticia  Denney,  both 
now  deceased.  Two  children  were  born  of 
the  second  union,  Roscoe  C.  and  Lottie  A., 
aged  respectively  seventeen  and  fifteen  years. 
Mr.  Truax  is  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  ranks 
of  the  Democratic  party  in  Madison  town- 
ship, and  as  its  representative  he  has  served 
in  many  of  its  leading  offices,  including  those 
of  deputy  assessor  for  twenty  years  and  as- 
sessor for  many  years,  was  at  one  time  a  can- 
didate for  the  office  of  sheriff,  and  has  many 
times  served  as  a  delegate  to  its  conventions. 
His  fraternal  relations  are  with  the  Masonic 
order,  and  he  stands  high  in  the  regard  of  his 
brethren  of  the  craft,  as  well  as  with  the  resi- 
dents of  the  community  in  which  so  many 
years  of  his  life  have  been  passed. 

Martin  J.  Mochei.  is  occupying  an  en- 
viable position  in  business  circles  and  is  also 
one  of  the  political  leaders  of  his  community, 
honored  and  respected  by  all.  The  business 
interests  of  Madison  towTiship  place  him 
among  the  leaders  in  industrial  circles,  and 
as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Mochel  Brothers, 
dealers  in  general  merchandise  and  agricul- 
tural implements  in  Woodland  and  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  coimty  commissioners,  his  name 
is  well  and  favorably  known  over  this  section 
of  St.  Joseph  county.  He  is  also  numbered 
among  its  native  sons,  his  birth  occurring  in 
Madison  township  on  the  28th  of  May,  1863. 
a  son  of  Adam  and  Agnes  (Kelley)  Mochel. 
both  natives  of  Wittenburg,  Germany.  Dur- 
ing their  childhood  days  they  were  brought 
to  the  United  States,  being  reared  princi- 
pally in  Ohio,  and  in  Atwater,  that  state,  they 
were     subsequently     married.       Coming     to 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


fflSTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1131 


Madison  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, the  father  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life  here,  dying  in  April,  1907,  when  eighty- 
six  years  of  age,  and  the  mother  is  yet  living 
at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  They  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Bosanna 
Webber,  who  died  in  March,  1907;  John; 
Mary  Stuber,  a  resident  of  Madison  town- 
ship; Ernest  F. ;  Katie  Marker,  who  also 
makes  her  home  in  Madison  township;  Mar- 
tin J;  and  Charles.  Mr.  Mochel  was  a  suc- 
cessful business  man  and  owned  a  fine  home 
in  Woodland.  He  gave  his  political  support 
to  the  Republican  party,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  Evangeli-cal  church,  as  is  also  his 
widow. 

Martin  J.  Mochel  spent  the  early  years 
of  his  life  on  the  old  home  farm,  where  he 
was  early  taught  the  lessons  of  industry  and 
honesty,  and  his  first  business  employment 
was  in  the  stave  mills  of  Prank  &  Lang, 
where  he  remained  for  some  time.  In  com- 
pany with  his  brother-in-law,  Fred  Webber, 
he  then  embarked  in  the  mercantile  trade, 
but  at  the  close  of  one  year  his  brother,  Ed 
F.  Mochel,  purchased  Mr.  Webber's  interest, 
and  the  firm  of  Mochel  Brothers  now  transact 
an  annual  business  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars 
as  dealers  in  general  merchandise  and  agri- 
cultural implements.  The  honorable  and 
straightforward  methods  employed  by  the 
proprietors  of  this  firm  and  their  pleasing 
personality  have  gained  for  them  a  large 
trade,  and  they  are  worthy  of  the  extensive 
patronage  accorded  them.  The  firm  also  have 
a  store  at  Wyatt,  St.  Joseph  county,  where 
they  annually  transact  a  large  volume  of 
business. 

On  October  10,  1889,  Mr.  Mochel  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Mary  E.  Marker,  a  member 
of  a  prominent  old  family  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  a  sketch  of  her  father,  Jacob 
Marker,  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  One 
son  has  been  born  of  this  union,  Clem  0., 
who  is  a  bright  and  promising  young  man 
of  seventeen  years.  They  also  lost  a  child  in 
infancy.  Mr.  Mochel  is  one  of  the  political 
leaders  in  Madison  township,  representing 
the  Republican  party,  and  during  three  years 
he  was  the  incumbent  of  the  office  of  town- 
ship trustee,  the  duties  of  which  he  dis- 
charged with  credit  and  ability.  In  the  fall 
of  1906  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  com- 
missioners of  St.  Joseph  county,  and  his  ex- 
cellent   judgment    and    (extensive    business 


experience  will  make  him  one  of  the  most 
popular  county  officials. 

Charles  F.  GinrER  is  numbered  among  the 
prominent  agriculturists  of  Madison  township, 
the  proprietor  of  Park  Farm.  He  was  born 
in  the  neighboring  county  of  Laporte  on  the 
15th  of  October,  1857,  and  his  father,  Jacob 
Geyer,  had  his  nativity  in  Stolsbury-on-the- 
Rhine,  Germany,  as  did  also  his  father,  Jacob 
Geyer,  Sr.  The  last  named  died  at  the  age 
of  ninety-six  years.  One  of  his  sons  was  an 
officer  in  the  French  army  for  forty  years, 
and  during  that  time  participated  in  the 
Franco-Prussian  war,  making  a  gallant  rec- 
ord as  a  soldier.  The  son  Jacob  grew  to  man- 
hood's  estate  in  the  land  of  his  birth  and 
received  an  excellent  educational  training  in 
his  native  language,  but  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
in  order  to  escape  service  in  the  army,  he 
made  his  way  across  the  Rhine  and  on  a  sail- 
ing vessel  to  the  United  States,  six  weeks 
elapsing  ere  he  readied  the  harbor  of  New 
York.  From  there  he  made  his  way  to  To- 
ledo, Ohio,  and  thence  on  foot  to  Mishawaka, 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  where  he  assisted 
in  the  building  of  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad. 
After  a  time  he  went  to  Laporte,  where  he 
secured  employment  as  a  fireman,  but  later 
turned  his  attention  to  farming  and  for  five 
years  resided  .on  a  farm  in  German  town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  county.  Removing  thence 
to  a  farm  in  Marshall  county,  Indiana,  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  there,  dying 
in  1904,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  His 
political  views  were  in  harmony  with  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Democratic  party,  and  his  re- 
ligious affiliations  were  with  the  Lutheran 
church.  Mrs.  Geyer  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Regina  Nusselman,  and  is  a  native  of  Al- 
sace, France,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  NuBsel- 
man.  Thirteen  children  were  bom  to  them, 
of  whom  seven  grew  to  years  of  maturity, 
namely:  Charles  F.,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review;  Caroline  Alberts;  Jacob,  a  resi- 
dent of  Penn  township;  Anna,  the  wife  of 
Levi  Hahn,  of  Madison  township;  Joseph,  a 
resident  of  Bremen ;  David,  a  farmer  of  Ger- 
man township,  Marshall  county,  Indiana; 
and  Ed,  who  lives  in  Mishawaka  with  his 
mother.  She  has  rounded  the  Psalmist's  span 
of  three  score  years  and  ten,  a  lady  whom  to 
know  is  to  revere  and  honor. 

On  his  father's  farm  in  Penn  township 
Charles  F.  G^yer  was  early  taught  the  work 
of   the   farm,   and   the   educational  training 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1132 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


which  he  received  in  the  public  schools  was 
supplemented  in  later  life  by  extensive  read- 
ing and  travel.  During  a  period  of  fourteen 
years  he  was  engaged  in  the  saw-milling  busi- 
ness in  Madison  and  German  townships,  own- 
ing at  one  time  a  portable  mill,  but  this  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  a 
valuable  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
in  section  36,  Madison  township,  known  as 
Park  Farm,  where  he  is  extensively  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  and  stock  raising. 

On  the  first  of  September,  1886,  Mr.  Geyer 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Ida  Strope,  who 
was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  Madison 
township,  a  daughter  of  A.  J.  and  Catherine 
(Minky)  Strope,  prominent  early  settlers  of 
the  community,  and  the  former  of  whom  is 
deceased,  but  the  latter  is  still  living.  They 
reared  a  large  family  of  children.  Ten  chil- 
dren, five  sons  and  five  daughters,  have  been 
bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geyer,  namely:  Grace 
G.,  Walter  W.,  Emma  E.,  Mabel  I.,  Dora  C, 
Roscoe  C,  Warren  W.,  Layton  Miner,  Edna 
F.  and  Lloyd  M.  The  children  are  receiving 
excellent  edueational  advantages,  and  two  of 
them  have  successfully  passed  the  eighth 
grade.  Mr.  Geyer  has  been  quite  an  extensive 
traveler  duripg  his  lifetime,  and  to  him  was 
accorded  the  pleasure  of  visiting  the  World's 
fairs  at  Chicago,  Buffalo,  New  York,  and 
St.  Louis,  Missouri.  He  is  independent  in 
his  political  aflfiliations,  and  he  justly  merits 
the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  held. 

Adam  Beehler,  a  prominent  agriculturist 
of  Madison  township,  has  become  well  known 
through  his  connection  with  the  industrial  in- 
terests of  St.  Joseph  county.  He  has  led  a 
thrifty  and  industrious  life,  has  made  by  his 
own  efforts  all  that  he  has  in  the  way  of 
worldly  possessions,  and  wherever  he  has  been 
called  to  touch  the  public  life  of  the  com- 
munity he  has  performed  a  public-spirited 
part  both  as  a  man  and  as  a  citizen.  His 
birth  occurred  in  the  far  off  land  of  Ger- 
many, on  the  old  historic  river  Rhine  in  Ba- 
varia, August  19,  1852,  and  he  is  a  member 
of  a  prominent  old  family  there.  His  great- 
grandfather, Adam  Beehler,  Sr.,  was  a  brave 
and  valiant  soldier  under  Napoleon,  with 
whom  he  went  to  Moscow.  His  father,  Phillip 
Beehler,  was  bom  in  the  same  village  as  his 
son  Adam,  in  1823,  and  there  he  yet  resides, 
having  reached  the  good  old  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.  About  twenty  years  ago  he  came 
to  the  United  States  on  a  visit,  remaining 
here  a  year,  but  he  has  continued  his  resi- 


dence in  his  native  village  throughout  his 
entire  life,  devoting  his  industrial  interests 
to  the  wagon-maker  *s  trade,  and  he  is  a  fine 
mechanic.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Anna  Lizinberger,  bom  in  the  same  village 
as  her  husband,  and  her  death  occurred  when 
she  had  reached  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years. 
In  their  family  were  the  following  children: 
Phillip,  Elizabeth,  Adam,  Lena  Schlarb,  a 
resident  of  Madison  township ;  Charles,  Char- 
lotte, deceased;  Jacob  and  August. 

Adam  Beehler  spent  the  first  seventeen 
years  of  his  life  in  his  native  land  of  Ger- 
many, and  in  1869,  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years,  he  came  by  steam  vessel  to  the  United 
States.  Making  his  way  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
Indiana,  he  first  secured  employment  with 
John  Barkey,  later  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
Jacob  Marker,  and  for  one  year  was  associated 
with  Mike  Grenert.  He  then  served  as  an 
employe  of  John  Uline,  with  whom  he  learned 
the  details  of  the  saw  milling  business  and 
in  time  became  an  expert  sawyer,  serving  for 
six  years  as  head  sawyer  for  Mr.  XJline. 
Later,  in  company  with  Peter  Beehler,  he 
purchased  the  mill  of  his  former  employer, 
and  for  seven  years  continued  its  operation, 
at  the  close  of  that  period  selling  his  in- 
terest to  Jacob  K.  Beehler  and  turning  his 
attention  to  agricultural  pursuits.  His  es- 
tate consists  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  rich  and  fertile  land,  well  improved,  and 
well  and  conveniently  located  in  section  24, 
Madison  township. 

In  1879  Mr.  Beehler  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Sarah  Beehler,  who  was  bom  on 
the  old  homestead  of  her  parents  in  Madi- 
son township,  and  there  she  grew  to  years 
of  maturity  and  received  her  education  in  the 
near  by  district  schools.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  Peter  and  Mary  (Veible)  Beehler,  both 
of  whom  were  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many. The  father's  birth  occurred  in  1817, 
and  he  was  a  son  of  George  and  Catherine 
(Starver)  Beehler,  also  natives  of  the  land  of 
Germany.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Beehler  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1854,  establishing 
their  home  in  Madison  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  where  their  first  residence 
was  a  little  log  cabin,  but  after  a  time  this 
gave  place  to  a  modem  and  commodious  resi- 
dence, containing  fourteen  rooms,  and  they 
were  numbered  among  the  leading  residents 
of  the  community.  Their  homestead  con- 
sisted of  three  hundred  acres  of  rich  and 
fertile   land.     They  became  the   parents  of 


Digitized  by 


Google 


fflSTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1133 


nine  children,  and  the  following  are  now 
living:  Phillip,  Peter,  Sarah  Beehler,  Fred, 
Adam,  and  Jacob  and  Joseph,  twins,  all  of 
whom  are  well-to-do  and  prominent  citizens 
of  Madison  township.  The  father's  life  was 
ended  in  death  when  he  had  reached  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years,  having  passed  the 
Psalmist's  span  of  three  score  years  and  ten, 
but  the  mother  still  survives  and  resides  on 
the  old  homestead  farm,  aged  seventy-three 
years,  both  prominent  members  of  the  Evan- 
gelical church.  Eleven  children,  two  sons 
and  nine  daughters,  have  been  bom  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Adam  Beehler,  namely:  Anna  M., 
Minnie  C,  Bosa  M.,  Ida  L.,  Josephine  M., 
Sarah  B.,  Elsie  S.,  Mabel  M.,  Esther  C, 
Adam  Peter  and  Wilbur  William.  One  of 
the  daughters,  Mrs.  Rosa  A.  Switzberger,  died 
on  the  4th  of  January,  1904,  when  only 
twenty  years  of  age.  Mr.  Beehler  gives  his 
politeal  support  to  the  Republican  party,  and 
is  one  of  the  active  political  workers  of  his 
community.  As  the  representative  lof  his 
part>"  he  has  served  as  a  delegate  to  the 
county  and  oongpessionial  conventions,  also  as 
township  commiteemam,  and  was  its  choice  on 
one  occasion  for  the  office  of  township  trustee, 
but  as  the  township  has  a  large  Democratic 
majority  he  was  defeated  in  the  race.  In 
1883  he  crossed  the  ocean  on  a  visit  to  his 
parents  and  friends  in  Germany,  and  in  the 
following  year  his  papents  paid  a  visit  to  their 
children  in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Beehler  is 
a  man  of  excellent  business  ability,  is  well  in- 
formed on  the  leading  questions  of  the  day, 
and  his  beautiful  and  attractive  home  is  a 
place  of  hospitality  and  good  cheer  for  all 
who  enter  its  doors. 

John  Cline-  Since  the  days  when  St.  Jo- 
seph county  was  a  wilderness  the  Cline  family 
have  been  influential  in  its  development,  and 
have  long  been  prominently  identified  with 
its  farming  interests.  One  of  its  representa- 
tives in  Madison  township,  John  Cline,  was 
bom  in  Prussia,  Germany,  December  11,  1841, 
a  son  of  Peter  and  Margaret  Ann  (Recte- 
walt)  Cline,  also  natives  of  the  fatherland. 
In  a  sailing  vessel  the  family  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1843,  and  from  the  harbor 
of  New  York  they  made  their  way  to  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  residing  for  some  time  near 
Canton.  It  was  in  the  year  of  1849  that  they 
sought  a  home  in  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, locating  in  Penn  township,  and  from 
there  they  came  to  Madison  township  in  1866. 
After   many   years   devoted   to   agricultural 


pursuits  the  father  passed  away  in  death 
here  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years,  and  the 
mother  was  seventy-four  when  called  to  the 
home  beyond,  both  having  been  members  of 
the  Catholic  church,  and  the  father  was  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  views.  In  their 
family  were  ten  children, — John,  Stephen, 
Margaret,  Elizabeth,  Catherine,  Mary,  Peter, 
Rose,  Frank  (deceased  )and  J.  Adam. 

In  St.  Joseph  county  John  Cline  attained 
to  years  of  maturity  and  here  he  has  spent 
his  entire  business  life,  and  being  the  eldest 
son  much  of  the  work  of  the  father's  farm 
fell  upon  his  shoulders.  On  the  11th  of  De- 
cember, 1861,  he  volunteered  for  service  in 
the  Civil  war,  entering  the  Forty-eighth  In- 
diana Infantry,  Captain  William  J.  Judkin's 
company,  and  he  participated  in  many  of  the 
notable  and  hard-fought  battles  of  the  con- 
flict, including  those  of  luka,  Corinth,  Ray- 
mond, Jackson,  Port  Gibson,  Champion  Hills, 
and  was  severely  wounded  in  the  assault  on 
Vicksburg  May  22,  1863,  where  he  received 
a  bullet  in  the  left  shoulder,  which  he  yet 
carries.  He  was  detained  in  hospitals  at  Mem- 
phis, Tennessee,  and  Evansville,  Indiana, 
finally  rejoining  his  regiment  at  Vicksburg. 
Just  after  the  battle  of  Port  Gibson  Mr. 
Cline  was  the  first  man  to  receive  the  flag 
truce  as  it  was  brought  to  the  victorious  army. 
He  later  participated  with  General  Sher- 
man in  his  famous  march  to  the  sea  and 
fought  in  the  battles  of  Atlanta,  Savanna, 
Goldsboro,  Raleigh,  Richmond,  and  with  the 
victorious  army  marched  to  Washington,  D. 
C,  and  took  part  in  the  Grand  Review,  re- 
ceiving his  honorable  discharge  at  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  on  the  15th  of  July,  1865,  re- 
turning thence  to  his  home  in  St.  Joseph 
county  and  to  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  the 
farm.  During  the  long  period  of  fifty-eight 
years  he  has  made  his  home  within  the  bor- 
ders of  the  county,  and  his  sterling  worth  has 
won  him  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  had  dealings. 

J.  Adam  Cline,  a  brother  of  Mr.  John 
Cline,  was  bom  in  St.  Joseph  county  on  the 
23d  of  May,  1860,  and  he  too  is  numbered 
among  its  representative  and  foremost  agri- 
culturists, owning  an  excellent  farm  of  ninety- 
three  acres  in  Madison  township.  On  the 
12th  of  October,  1882,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage  to  Pauline  Hahn,  who  was  bom  in  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Christian  Hahn, 
deceased.  They  have  four  children, — Amelia 
Sheets,  Walter  W.,  Clara  May  and  Floyd  R. 


Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


1134 


fflSTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


Mr.  Cline  has  allied  his  political  interests 
with  those  of  the  Democracy.  He  is  a  social 
and  affable  gentleman,  whose  friends  are 
legion,  and  all  honor  and  esteem  him  for  his 
many  virtues  and  genuine  worth. 

Jacob  Putter,  numbered  among  the  hon- 
ored early  settlers  and  prominent  agricul- 
turists of  Madison  township,-  St.  Joseph 
county,  was  one  of  the  brave  men  to  march 
forth  to  defend  the  Union  and  maintain  the 
supremacy  of  the  stars  and  stripes  during 
the  period  of  the  Civil  war.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  the  far-oflf  land  of  Germany,  at 
Wxirtemberg,  on  the  12th  of  August,  1827, 
and  in  that  country  his  father  lived  and 
died.  His  parents  were  Jacob  and  Barbera 
(Pulmer)  Putter.  Jacob,  Jr.,  obtained  an 
excellent  educational  training  in  his  native 
language,  attending  school  until  his  four- 
teenth year,  and  he  there  also  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  many 
years.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  he 
made  the  voyage  on-  a  sailing  vessel  to  the 
United  States,  and  in  1860  he  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Madison  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
where  he  purchased  forty  acres  of  land.  The 
first  home  of  the  family  here  was  a  little 
log  cabin,  but  in  time  this  was  replaced  by 
a  modern  and  commodious  residence,  while 
his  fine  bank  bam  and  other  improvements 
are  in  keeping  with  the  valuable  and  attrac- 
tive appearance  of  the  place.  On  the  15th 
of  October,  1862,  Mr.  Putter  enlisted  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  entering  Colonel 
Eddy's  regiment,  Captain  Schofield's  com- 
pany, and  during  his  ten  months  of  army 
life  he  took  part  in  all  the  battles  in  which 
his  regiment  participated,  including  those  of 
Port  Gibson,  Raymond,  Jackson,  Champion 
Hill,  and  the  siege  of  Vieksburg,  t^rhich  lasted 
for  two  months  and  over  which  the  stars  and 
stripes  were  placed  on  the  4th  of  July.  After 
a  creditable  military  record  in  the  service  of 
his  country  he  was  honorably  discharged  and 
returned  to  his  home  in  St.  Joseph  county. 

In  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Putter  married 
Agnes  Kelly,  whose  death  occurred  in  1906, 
when  she  had  reached  the  age  of  seventy-six 
years,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  eight 
children:  Barbara,  at  home;  Jacob  and 
George,  also  at  home;  Peter,  Charles  and 
Mairy,  all  deceased ;  Stephen  and  Jolhn.  In  po- 
litical matters  Mr.  Putter  gives  a  stanch  and 
unfaltering  support  to  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party.  He  supported  Lincoln  in 
his  race   for  the  presidency  of  the   United 


States,  and  after  the  death  of  the  martyred 
president  he  saw  his  body  and  witnessed  its 
burial.  Paithful  and  true  in  all  the  relations 
of  life  this  honored  old  St.  Joseph  pioneer 
is  held  in  the  highest  regard  by  all  who  en- 
joy the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance. 

Petee  KeLiLEY,  Sr.,  is  one  of  the  best 
known  and  most  prosperous  agriculturists  of 
Madison  township,  and  during  the  long  period 
of  forty-eight  years  he  has  resided  within 
its  borders  and  been  prominently  identified 
with  its  industrial  interests.  Possessed  by 
inheritance  and  nature  with  an  energetic  and 
enterprising  disposition  and  adapted  by  early 
training  and  inclination  for  the  various  de- 
partments of  agriculture,  he  has  made  it  his 
life  work  and  devoted  his  best  years  and  ef- 
forts to  an  industry  with  which  his  name  is 
inseparably  connected  in  this  section  of  St. 
Joseph  county. 

He  is  a  native  son  of  Ohio,  born  in  Portage 
county  on  the  15th  of  October,  1838,  a  son 
of  John  and  Agnes  (Pulmer)  Kelley,  who 
were  bom  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany.  There 
also  they  were  reared  and  married^  and  in 
1835  with  their  family  they  set  sail  for  the 
United  States,  spending  eighty-five  days  on  a 
sailing  vessel  to  the  New  York  harbor,  for 
they  encountered  severe  storms  en  route  and 
were  ship-wrecked.  They  also  suffered  dur- 
ing the  passage  from  the  shortage  of  pro- 
visions, but  in  due  time  they  landed  on 
American  shores,  and  from  New  York  made 
their  way  to  Portage  county,  Ohio,  which 
continued  as  their  home  for  eighteen  years. 
At  the  close  of  that  period  the  family  started 
for  St.  Joseph  county,  the  father,  with  his 
son-in-law,  Jake  Waters,  and  his  brother 
Charles,  making  the  journey  with  two  teams 
and  wagons,  while  the  mother  with  her  young 
children,  came  by  railroad,  and  they  estab- 
lished their  home  on  a  farm  in  Madison 
township.  Their  homestead  was  located  one 
mile  east  of  Woodland,  and  with  the  passing 
years  the  father  improved  the  place  until  it 
became  one  of  the  valuable  estates  of  the 
community.  There  also  these  sturdy  pioneers 
reared  their  children  to  years  of  maturity 
and  to  be  an  honor  to  the  honored  family 
name.  Ten  childiren  had  blessed  their  union, 
five  sons  and  five  daughters,  namely :  George ; 
Anna  Kettring,  the  widow  of  Michael  Ket- 
tring  and  a  resident  of  Woodland;  Rosanna 
Kettring,  deceased;  Mary  Hileman,  deceased; 
Charles,  a  resident  of  Madison  township,  all 
of  whom  were  bom  in  Germany;  and  Cath- 


Digitized  by 


Cjoogle 


HISTORY   OF   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1135 


erine,  the  wife  of  Jacob  Waters ;  Martin,  who 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war  and  now  lies 
buried  in  the  Southland;  Mrs.  Aldinger,  de- 
ceased; Peter,  whose  name  introduces  this  re- 
view; «uid  Mary  Higfhtaomon,  deceased.  The 
wife  and  mother  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
five  years,  but  the  father  reached  the  Psal- 
mist's span  of  three  score  years  and  ten  ere 
he  was  called  to  join  her  in  the  home  be- 
yond. 

Peter  Kelley  was  a  little  lad  of  twelve 
years  at  the  time  the  family  removed  to  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  in  the  schools  of  Madison 
township  he  completed  his  educational  train- 
ing, becoming  proficient  in  both  the  German 
and  English  languages.  During  the  early 
years  of  his  business  career  he  was  employed 
in  a  saw-mill,  becoming  thoroughly  familiar 
with  every  department  of  the  business,  and 
for  many  years  he  was  associated  in  its  con- 
duct with  Fred  Lang  and  Jacob  Kelley.  He 
afterward  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  is  now  the  own-er  of  a  splendid 
estate  of  eighty  acres,  located  in  section  18, 
Madison  township,  his  postoffice  address  be- 
ing Bremen. 

On  the  10th  of  March,  1870,  Mr.  Kelley 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth  Beehler, 
who  was  bom  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany, 
where  she  spent  the  first  six  years  of  her 
life,  but  coming  thence  to  the  United  States 
she  was  reared  in  Madison  township,  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  Indiana.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Phillip  and  Catherine  Beehler,  a  review  of 
whose  lives  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this 
work.  Of  the  ten  children  bom  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kelley,  nine  are  now  living,  namely: 
Henry  W.,  Anna  Todd,  Sarah  Kelley,  Amelia 
Kiel,  Mary  Garmen,  Harmon,  Irvin  Philip, 
Otto  M.  and  Ralph  A.  The  daughter  Cather- 
ine died  at  the  age  of  two  years,  and  Otto 
M.  is  a  teacher  and  a  student  in  .the  Val- 
paraiso University:  Mr.  Kelley  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  he  is  justly  regarded 
as  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Madison 
township. 

Berton  C.  Shenefield.  To  those  familiar 
with  the  educational  interests  of  Madison 
township  Berton  C.  Shenefield  needs  no  in- 
troduction, for  his  efforts  in  behalf  of  the 
public  schools  have  gained  him  a  wide  repu- 
tation. He  is  also  numbered  among  the  na- 
tive sons  of  Madison  township,  his  birth  oc- 
curring on  the  24th  of  December,  1875,  and 
he  is  a  son  of  Scott  L.  and  Elizabeth  (Mona- 
weck)    Shenefield.     They  were  both  born  in 


Ohio,  but  came  to  St.  Joseph  county  many 
years  ago,  where  the  father  operated  a  saw 
mill  for  a  long  period  and  was  well  and  favor- 
ably known  as  a  business  man.  He  died  in , 
the  prime  of  life,  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight 
years,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him,  and  at  his  death  left  four  chil- 
dren, Cora  R.  (deceased),  Minerva,  Berton  C. 
and  Ford  0. 

Berton  C.  Shenefield  supplemented  the 
early  educational  training  which  he  received 
in  the  district  schools  of  Madison  township 
by  attendance  at  the  Valparaiso  University, 
and  at  the  early  age  of  sixteen  years  he 
entered  upon  the  work  to  which  he  has  thus 
far  devoted  his  life.  He  worked  his  own 
way  through  college,  and  he  has  taught  for 
fifteen  years,  and  in  that  time  he  has  worked 
his  way  upward  to  a  leading  place  in  the 
educational  circles  of  Mudison  township.  He 
is  always  a  student,  and  his  strong  mentality 
and  high  intellectual  attainments  have  ren- 
dered him  popular  in  educational  circles. 

In  May,  1899,  Mr.  Shenefield  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Jennine  Shearer,  who  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  this  township, 
and  a  sketch  of  her  father,  Frederick  Shearer, 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mr.  Shene- 
field is  an  active-  worker  in  the  ranks  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  has  frequently  served 
as  a  delegate  to  its  conventions.  Mrs.  Shene- 
field is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  and  both  are  accorded  a  high  position 
socially  in  the  community  in  which. they  have 
always  made  their  home. 

William  H.  Shearer.  A  familiar  figure 
within  the  confines  of  Madison  township  and 
one  who  occupies  a  prominent  place  in  its 
business  circles  is  William  H.  Shearer,  a 
prominent  agriculturist.  He  was  born  within 
a  short  distance  of  where  he  now  resides 
April  20,  1860,  a  son  of  Elias  Shearer,  who 
was  a  brave  and  valiant  soldier  in  the  Civil 
war,  and  was  also  numbered  among  the  early 
pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county.  He  served  his 
country  as  a  member  of  the  Forty-eighth  In- 
diana Volunteer  Infantry,  entering  the  ranks 
in  October,  1862,  and  he  was  called  upon 
to  lay  down  his  life  on  the  altar  of  his  coun- 
try. He  now  lies  buried  in  the  Southland. 
He  died  in  the  hospital  at  Memphis,  Ten- 
nessee, at  the  early  age  of  about  thirty-six 
years,  leaving  a  widow  and  four  children. 
He  was  bom  in  the  neighboring  state  of  Ohio, 
where  he  grew  to  years  of  maturity  on  a  farm, 
and  he  was  married  to  one  of  the  common- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1136 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


wealth's  native  daughters,  Susanna  Lomiller, 
a  daughter  of  Henry  Lomiller.  In  1854  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Elias  Shearer  came  to  St  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  establishing  their  home  in 
the  woodb  of  Madison  township,  where  they 
lived  for  a  time  in  a  little  log  cabin  and  be- 
came familiar  with  the  pioneer  conditions 
which  existed  here  at  that  early  time.  Their 
four  children  were  Dorothy  Kizer,  of  South 
Bend;  Morgan  Shearer,  a  resident  of  Madi- 
son township;  William  H.,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  review;  and  Abby  Parker,  also 
of  South  Bend.  The  mother  was  early  left 
with  the  care  of  the  little  family,  and  she 
experienced  many  privations  and  hardships 
in  her  task  of  providing  for  her  children  and 
rearing  them  to  years  of  maturity,  but  bravely 
she  met  the  obstacles  which  beset  her  path 
and  her  efforts  were  rewarded  with  success. 
She  subsequently  became  the  wife  of  Preston 
Greene,  now  deceased,  and  she  too  has  passed 
to  her  final  reward,  dying  on  the  old  home- 
stead farm  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  She 
was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and 
was  loved  and  honored  by  all  who  had  the 
pleasure  of  her  acquaintance. 

William  H.  Shearer  •  was  left  fatherless 
when  but  a  small  ehild,  and  as  he  grew  in 
years  he  assisted  his  mother  in  the  care  of 
the  farm.  When  he  had  reached  the  age  of 
thirty-one  years  he  established  a  home  of 
his  own  by  his  marriage  to  Flora  Ellen  Bu- 
shong,  who  was  reared  in  Ohio  and  Texas. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Naomi 
(Saulsbury)  Bushong,  in  whose  family  were 
four  children:  Flora  Ellen  Shearer,  William 
F.,  Esther  Belle  and  Lydia  Barnes.  Mrs. 
Bushong  was  bom  in  Putnam  county,  Ohio, 
and  there  she  was  also  reared,  but  her  death 
occurred  in  Texas.  Mr.  Bushong  resides  in 
New  Mexico.  Four  children  have  also  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shearer, — ^William 
Eugene,  Naomi  Lucile,  Stella  May  and  Susan 
Marie.  The  family  home  is  a  beautiful  estate 
of  eighty  acres  in  Madison  township.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Shearer  are  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church,  and  Mr.  Shearer  lends 
his  political  support  to  the  Republican 
party. 

Frank  Ritter.  This  well  known  farmer 
and  honored  citizen  of  German  township,  St. 
Joseph  county,  was  born  in  the  house  in 
which  he  now  resides  December  13,  1845.  His 
father,  Jacob  Ritter,  was  born  in  Dayton, 
Ohio,  January  1,  1806,  and  came  to  Wayne 
county,   Indiana,   with  his   parents  in    1817, 


where  he  was  married  in  1827.  With  his 
bride-  he  removed  to  St.  Joseph  county  in 
1830,  taking  up  his  abode  in  Portage  Prairie, 
on  the  farm  on  which  his  son  Frank  now  re- 
sides, known  as  *  *  Ritter-Schloss. "  His  liv- 
ing children  are:  Aaron,  of  Green  county, 
Missouri;  Emeline,  the  wife  of  Newton  Mil- 
ler, of  New  Carlisle;  W.  H.  H.,  of  South 
Bend;  David  M.,  also  of  Green  county,  Mis- 
souri; Frank,  whose  name  introduces  this  re- 
view; Lorinda  Bulla,  of  California;  and 
Clarinda  Buchtel,  of  South  Bend.  Two  of 
the  sons,  William  H.  H.  and  David  M.,  served 
as  soldiers  in  the  Civil  war,  in  the  Twenty- 
first  Indiana  Battery,  remaining  in  service 
during  the  entire  struggle.  The  father  of 
these  children  died  in  South  Bend  on  the 
12th  of  April,  1898. 

Frank  Ritter  remained  on  the  home  farm 
until  1865,  when  he  went  to  South  Bend,  and 
during  his  residence  in  that  city  attended  the 
Northern  Indiana  College.  In  1868  he  went 
to  Kansas,  and  returning  home  spent  nine 
years  on  the  old  homestead  and  three  years 
on  a  farm  in  Warren  township.  In  the 
spring  of  1883  Mr.  Ritter  went  to  North  Da- 
kota, where  he  was  numbered  among  the  pio- 
neers of  the  Red  River  Valley,  Cass  county, 
where  he  purchased  a  section  of  land,  to 
which  he  later  added  a  half  section  more,  and 
was  extensively  engaged  in  the  raising  of 
wheat.  During  his  residence  in  that  state, 
which  covered  a  period  from  1883  to  189S,  he 
served'  one  term  in  the  legislature,  this  being 
the  second  meeting  of  that  body  after  the 
admission  of  the  state  into  the  Union,  and  he 
was  elected  by  the  Republican  party.  Re- 
turning to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  in  the 
fall  of  1898,  Mr.  Ritter  again  took  up  his 
abode  on  the  old  Ritter  homestead,  where  he 
now  owns  eighty  acres  of  the  original  three, 
hundred  acres,  and  is  extensively  engaged  in 
agrieultural  pursuits. 

On  the  28th  of  February,  1871,  he  was 
united'  in  marriage  to  Miss  Justina  Sump- 
tion, who  was  bom  on  Sumptions  Prairie. 
Greene  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  Jime 
24,  1849,  her  grandfather,  George  Sumption, 
from  whom  the  prairie  took  its  name,  having 
been  the  first  to  settle  in  Greene  township, 
dating  his  arrival  in  April,  1830,  and  he  took 
up  his  abode  in  section  32.  He  came  to  the 
county  with  his  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 
One  of  the  former,  Charles  Sumption,  was 
born  the  29th  of  May,  1817,  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  this  county  in 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


r 


o 


2? 


3    ^ 

1  CO 

?;•  o 


3 


Digitized  by 


Google 


'  THE 

PULL  ;        '*''-ARY. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1137 


1830,  and  was  killed  by  his  horse  on  his  re- 
turn journey  from  Texas  in  1849,  dying  be- 
fore the  birth  of  his  daughter  Justina.  Her 
mother,  nee  Mary  Hoover,  was  born  in  Miami 
county,  Ohio,  September  7,  1822,  and  was 
eleven  years  of  age  when  she  came  with  her 
parents,  David  and  Sarah  (Weinbright) 
Hoover,  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana.  Her 
death  occurred  at  the  home  of  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Ritter,  on  the  17th  of  January,  1901. 
Mrs.  Ritter  had  one  sister,  Helen  Marian,  who 
became  the  wife  of  William  H.  H.  Ritter,  and 
died  in  1888.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ritter  have 
four  children:  Edna  Marian,  wife  of  N. 
B.  Fitch,  a  resident  of  Denver,  Colorado, 
and  he  is  state  agent  for  the  Manhattan 
Life  Insurance  Company.  They  have  two 
children,  Thieodosia  and  Norris  Ritter. 
Mrs.  Fitch  graduated  in  the  class  of  1890 
at  Castleton,  North  Dakota,  and  was  also 
a  student  in  the  South  Bend  Commercial 
College.  She  then  returned  to  Castleton  and 
accepted  a  position  as  teacher  in  the  schools 
for  six  years.  Bertha  is  the  wife  of  Emmett 
Wolverton,  of  Denver,  Colorado,  who  is  a 
salesman.  She  received  a  splendid  high  school 
education  in  Castleton,  North  Dakota,  and 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1893.  She  taught 
in  South  Bend,  Denver  and  North  Dakota. 
Arthur  Raymond  completed  his  studies  in 
the  common  schools  and  was  a  student  for 
three  years  in  the  South  Bend  high  school. 
He  has  taken  up  a  claim  in  Montana.  Mary 
Elizabeth  received  a  common  school  education 
and  was  also  a  student  for  two  years  in  South 
Bend  high  school.  She  is  now  a  stenographer 
with  the  well  known  South  Bend  firm  of  Jones 
&  Bates,  attorneys.  Mr.  Ritter  formerly  gave 
his  political  suppK>rt  to  the  Republican  party, 
but  is  now  independent  in  his  affiliations.  On 
one  occasion  he  voted  twenty-one  consecutive 
days  for  a  United  States  senator,  resulting  in 
the  election  of  the  Democratic  Senator  Roach. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ritter  have  one  of  the  old 
parchment  deeds  dated  March  1,  1831,  and 
which  bears  the  signature  of  President  An- 
drew Jackson,  this  being  the  sixth  deed  of  the 
kind    found    in    the   county   of    St.    Joseph. 

Mrs.  Ritter  also  has  samples  of  her  grand- 
parents handiwork  in  patchwork,  coverlets 
and  counterpanes.  The  latter  were  designed 
by  grandfather  David  Ritter,  and  the  arti- 
cles are  about  three-quarters  of  a  century 
old.  She  also  has  a  copy  of  **The  Ulster 
County  Gazette, '*  New  York,  published  Janu- 
ary 4,  1800,  which  contains  the  obituary  of 


President  George  Washington,  who  died  in 
1799.  Possibly  there  is  not  another  copy  of 
the  edition  in  the  entire  county  of  St.  Joseph. 
She  has  a  Bible  published  in  1813,  and  she  is 
also  a  numismatist,  a  collector  of  coins.  The 
pretty  country  residence  in  German  township 
is  known  as  **Ritter-Schlo6s.*' 

Alexander  Grose,  a  well  known  and 
highly  esteemed  agriculturist  of  Madison 
township,  is  a  member  of  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  honored  pioneer  families  of  St.  Jo- 
seph county.  He  was  born  on  the  farm  on 
which  he  now  resides  March  12,  1852.  His 
father,  Jacob  Grose,  claimed  Alsace,  France, 
as  the  place  of  his  nativity,  born  June  10, 
1820,  the  year  following  the  birth  of  Queen 
Victoria,  and  was  a  son  of  Jacob  Grose,  Sr., 
who  was  also  bom  at  Alsace  and  was  a  sol- 
dier under  Napoleon  at  Waterloo.  During 
the  early  boyhood  days  of  Jacob,  Jr.,  the 
family  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the  United 
States  on  a  sailing  vessel,  and  from  the  harbor 
of  New  York  made  their  way  to  Stark  county, 
Ohio,  near  Canton;  this  being  in  1826, 
and  there  the  little  lad  grew  to  years 
of  maturity  on  a  farm.  He  subsequently 
removed  to  Owens  county,  Indiana,  where 
he  was  married  to  Sarah  Grines,  who 
was  born  in  Ohio,  and  was  reared  in  that 
state  and  Indiana,  a  daughter  of  James 
Grines,  who  was  of  Irish  descent.  In  1844 
Mr.  Grose  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, having  been  one  of  the  first  to  take 
up  his  abode  within  the  borders  of  Madison 
township,  this  being  before  the  building  of  its 
roads  and  when  all  was  new  and  wild.  On 
his  land  he  erected  a  little  log  cabin,  six- 
teen by  twenty  feet,  with  a  clapboard  roof, 
also  a  primitive  log  barn,  and  began  the  ar- 
duous task  of  clearing  his  land  and  preparing 
it  for  the  plow.  Mrs.  Grose  passed  to  her 
final  reward  on  the  2nd  of  July,  1898,  but 
the  husband  and  father  yet  survives,  having 
reached  the  eighty-seventh  milestone  on  the 
journey  of  life.  He  is  the  oldest  resident  of 
Madison  township  and  one  of  the  oldest  in  St. 
Joseph  county,  a  worthy  and  exemplary  type 
of  the  honored  pioneers.  In  their  family 
were  three  children,  but  only  two  grew  to 
mature  years,  and  the  daughter  is  Elizabeth, 
the  widow  of  John  Whitmer.  Mrs.  Grose  was 
a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 

On  the  old  farm  in  Madison  township  which 
has  ever  since  been  his  home  Alexander  Grose 
was  reared  to  a  sturdy  manhood.  Its  domains 
contain  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 


Digitized'by 


GoogI( 


1138 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


the  best  land  in  the  township,  on  which  has 
been  erected  a  large  frame  residence  and  one 
of  the  best  bams  in  St.  Joseph  county,  a 
large  bank  structure  forty-five  by  ninety  feet 
and  twenty-one  feet  high,  with  a  slate  roof. 
In  addition  to  his  agricultural  interests  Mr. 
Grose  is  also  extensively  engaged  in  the  rais- 
ing of  high  grade  stock,  including  Shropshire 
sheep.  The  Grose  farm  is  one  of  the  most 
valuable  estates  in  Madison  township. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  Mr.  Grose 
was  united  inj  marriage  to  Mary  Seifer,  who 
was  born  in  New  Jersey,  but  was  reared  to 
mature  years  in  Madison  township,  where  her 
parents,  George  and  Mary  Seifer,  had  es- 
tablished their  home  in  an  early  day.  The 
mother  is  deceased,  but  the  father  is  yet  liv- 
ing and  has  reached  the  age  of  eighty-four 
years.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  sons 
and  four  daughters.  Three  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grose,  but  only 
two  are  living,  John  Irvin,  who  married 
Sarah  G.  Pent,  a  native  of  Topeka,  Indiana, 
and  he  is  a  railroad  engineer  at  Massillon, 
Ohio,  and  Eva  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  J.  P. 
Canavon,  of  Gallon,  that  state.  Mrs.  Grose 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  In  his 
political  aflfiliations  Mr.  Grose  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party,  and  he  keeps  well  in- 
formed on  the  issues  and  questions  of  the 
day.  He  is  a  fine  type  of  strong  and  vigor- 
ous manhood,  weighing  two  hundred  pounds, 
and  he  is  a  great  lover  of  the  chase.  He  is 
a  genial,  affable  gentleman,  broad-minded 
and  courteous  with  all,  and  he  enjoys  the 
high  regard  of  a  large  circle  of  friends. 

Phh^lip  G.  Horine.  Few  of  the  residents 
of  Madison  township  have  a  wider  acquain- 
taceship  than  Phillip  G.  Horine,  who  is  a  rep- 
resentative of  one  of  its  earliest  pioneer 
families,  and  his  birth  occurred  here  on  the 
old  homestead  which  had  been  located  by  his 
grandfather.  His  father.  Christian  Horine, 
was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  and  when 
a  lad  of  fourteen  years  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  the  United  States,  making  the  voy- 
age on  a  sailing  vessel  which  was  sixty-four 
duys  in  reaching  the  harbor  of  New  York, 
for  a  servere  storm  was  encountered  en  route 
and  the  captain  was  obliged  to  cut  away  the 
masts  and  also  obtain  food  from  a  passing 
vessel.  From  New  York  the  family  made 
their  way  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  thence 
with  ox  team  and  wagon  to  Madison  township, 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  where  Mr.  Ho- 
rine, Sr.,  purchased  a  farm,  erected  a  little 


log  cabin  and  bam  and  began  life  here  in 
true  pioneer  style.  The  first  home  was  after- 
ward replaced  by  a  large  and  substantial 
frame  residence,  and  in  time  the  homestead 
of  two  hundred  acres  became  one  of  the  most 
valuable  estates  in  the  township.  Christian 
Horine  married  Catherine  Marker,  a  sister 
of  Jacob  Marker,  Sr.,  whose  history  will  be 
found  x)n'  other  pages  of  this  work.  The 
Marker  family  also  made  the  journey  to 
Madison  township  with  ox  team  and  wagon, 
coming  in  the  year  of  1852.  Of  the  seven 
children  born  of  this  union  four  are  now  liv- 
ing, Jacob,  Joseph,  Elizabeth  and  Catherine. 
After  the  death  of  the  wife  and  mother  Mr. 
Horine  married  her  sister,  Caroline  Marker, 
and  they  have  ten  children  living :  Kate ; 
PhdlMp;  David,  a  resident  of  Elkhart,  In- 
diana; Pauline  Shafer;  Henry,  of  Bremen, 
this  state;  Julius;  Freda  Shafer;  Martin; 
Charles,  who  also  makes  his  home  in  Bremen ; 
and  Anna.  During  the  last  eight  years  of  his 
life  Mr.  Horine  lived  retired  from  the  active 
cares  of  a  business  life,  and  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1896,  when  he  had  reached  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years.  He  assisted  in  the  erec- 
tion of  the  Zion  Evangelical  church  in  Madi- 
son township,  and  was  one  of  its  most  devoted 
members  for  many  years.  His  widow  is  still 
living,  and  is  a  resident  of  Bremen,  Indiana. 

It  was  on  this  old  Madison  township  home- 
stead that  Phillip  Horine  was  born  and  grew 
to  years  of  maturity.  During  six  years  of 
his  early  business  career  he  was  a  resident  of 
Elkhart,  this  state,  engaged  in  the  grocery 
and  meat  business,  but  for  many  years  past 
he  has  resided  on  the  Beehler  homestead, 
which  is  one  of  the  finest  estates  of  Madison 
township,  improved  with  excellent  buildings. 
In  addition  to  his  agricultural  interests  Mr. 
Horine  is  also  agent  for  the  Mutual  Aid  As- 
sociation of  Elkhart  county,  one  of  the  largest 
and  best  farm  insurance  companies  in  the 
state,  capitalized  at  eighty  million  dollars,  and 
they  transact  an  enormous  business  iD 
northern  Indiana. 

When  he  had  reached  the  age  of  twenty- 
three  years  Mr.  Horine  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Emma  Beehler,  a  native  daughter  of 
Madison  township,  bom  on  the  farm  on  which 
she  now  resides.  The  history  of  her  father, 
Phillip  Beehler,  appears  on  other  pages  of 
this  work.  The  two  children  bom  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Horine  are  Minnie,  a  young  lady 
at  home,  and  John,  who  is  twelve  years  of 
age.     Mr.  Horine  is  a  leading  member  and 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Digitized  by  LjOOQIC 


HISTORY  OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1139 


an  active  worker  in  the  Zion  Evangelical 
church  of  Madison  township,  in  which  he  is 
serving  as  choir  leader  and  as  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday-school.  He  is  an  active  and 
efficient  worker  in  the  cause  of  Christianity, 
and  he  commands  the  regard  of  all  by  his 
upright  life. 

Ralph  S.  Hollowell.  One  of  the  early 
settlers  and  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph  county 
was  Jacob  Shimp,  grandfather  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  who  came  from  Warren 
county,  Ohio,  with  his  bride,  traveling  with 
ox  teams  and  settling  on  government  land  on 
Terre  Coupee  prairie,  Olive  township.  On 
one  corner  of  this  farm  the  town  of  Plain- 
field  was  started  but  soon  succumbed  to  the 
sister  town  of  New  Carlisle,  after  the  building 
of  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad.  Margaret  E. 
Shimp,  daughter  of  Jacob  Shimp  and  mother 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  bom  in  the 
same  house  as  her  son,  the  home  of  his  grand- 
father at  Plainfield. 

Isaac  T.  Hollowell,  descendant  of  English 
colonial  settlers  in  Virginia,  and  born  near 
Paoli,  Orange  county,  Indiana,  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Margaret  E.  Shimp,  and  their 
son  was  born  at  Plainfield,  August  12,  1873. 
He  received  his  early  education  and  training 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  city  of  South 
Bend,  attending  the  high  school  to  the  junior 
year.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  entered  the 
preparatory  department  of  Butler  College  at 
Indianapolis.  After  completing  the  two 
years*  preparatory  course  he  entered  the 
Theological  School  at  Drake  University  in  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  completing  the  course  and  re- 
ceiving the  theological  diploma  in  1894.  Dur- 
ing the  next  three  years  he  engaged  in  minis- 
terial and  missionary  work  in  Mississippi  and 
Louisiana,  representing  the  Church  of  Christ 
or  Disciples  -of  Christ.  At  this  time  he  as- 
sisted in  the  organization  of  several  churches 
in  this  new  field  for  the  people  he  repre- 
sented. As  a  result  of  the  impoverished  con- 
dition of  the  south  at  the  close  of  the  panic 
from  1893  to  1897,  Mr.  Hollowell  returned  to 
South  Bend  in  January,  1897,  and  entered 
the  employ  of  D.  E.  Iluntsinger,  as  an  under- 
taker's assistant,  with  whom  he  remained  for 
one  and  one-half  years. 

For  about  one  year  thereafter  he  engaged 
in  the  life  insurance  business  with  the  Metro- 
politan Life  Insurance  Company,  and  at  this 
time  in  company  with  J.  L.  Mills,  he  or- 
ganized and  established  the  South  Bend  Towel 


Supply  Company,  of  which  he  was  manager 
for  three  years.  Disposing  of  his  infterest  in 
this  successful  enterprise  in  1901  to  Mr.  Mills, 
he  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  building 
business.  He  first  purchased  lots  and  thereon 
erected  four  houses.  The  result  of  this  ven- 
ture proved  so  satisfactory  that  he  continued 
to  enlarge  his  operations,  until  he  is  numbered 
among  the  leading  real  estate  dealers  and 
home  builders  of  South  Bend,  his  specialty 
being  the  building  of  modern  homes  for  those 
of  moderate  means. 

For  one  who  wishes  to  invest,  he  will  pur- 
chase a  lot,  furnish  plans  and  specifications 
and  superintend  the  erection  of  the  building 
until  all  is  completed.  During  the  last  five 
years,  Mr.  Hollowell  has  erected  over  one 
hundred  houses,  being  identified  with  the 
erection  of  many  more  and  at  the  present 
writing  has  ten  houses  under  construction. 

In  company  with  his  wife,  Addie  Z.  Hollo- 
well, and  his  brother-in-law,  Knowles  B. 
Smith,  he  is  one  of  the  owners  of  the  Hollo- 
well-Smith  addition,  located  on  Linden 
avenue  and  Smith  street,  running  from  Sixth 
street  to  Olive  street,  and  located  two  blocks 
north  of  the  Singer  factory.  He  is  also  iden- 
tified with  several  other  locations  and  enter- 
prises in  different  parts  of  the  city. 
.  During  the  past  two  years,  Mr.  Hollowell 
has  made  a  careful  investigation  and  numer- 
ous experiments  with  concrete  construction, 
having  in  mind  the  building  of  economical, 
permanent  homes  for  those  of  moderate 
means.  His  investigations  along  these  lines 
have  resulted  in  his  becoming  one  of  the  in- 
corporators, president  andi  member  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  Concrete  Manu- 
fa<*turing  and  Construction  Company.  This 
company  was  organized  in  November,  1907, 
with  a  capital  stock  of  fifty  thousand  dollars, 
having  as  its  object  the  establishment  of  a 
permanent  business  in  the  line  of  concrete 
construction,  using  the  American  Hydraulic 
stone,  and  constructing  homes  as  well  as  other 
buildings,  practically  fire  and  moisture  proof 
and  almost  everlasting;  at  but  little  more 
than  the  present  cost  of  frame  buildings. 

In  1901  Mr.  Hollowell  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Addie  Z.  Smith,  of  South  Bend ;  her 
father  Abraham  Smith  having  been  among 
the  early  pioneers  of  Michigan  and  Indiana. 
They  have  two  children,  Knowles  B.  and  Do- 
rothy M. 

Mr.  Hollowell  is  a  member  of  the  Commer- 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1140 


HISTORY  OF  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


lal  Athletic  Club,  the  South  Bend  Business 
Men's  Association,  South  Bend  Real  Estate 
Board  and  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

James  H.  Roberts,  recently  deceased,  was 
deputy  state  factory  inspector,  and  had  been 
a  resident  of  South  Bend  for  twenty-four 
years.  All  who  knew  him  willingly  accorded 
him  a  leading  place  among  the  esteemed  citi- 
zens of  the  community.  A  native  son  of  the 
Empire  state,  his  birth  occurred  in  Oneida 
county.  New  York,  on  the  26th  of  July,  1841. 
His  father,  William  Roberts,  was  a  native  of 
England,  and  in  his  native  land  was  married 
to  Sarah  Clayton,  also  a  native  of  the  mother 
country.  Together  they  came  to  America 
about  1823,  locating  in  Oneida  county.  New 
York,  he  having  come  to  this  country  for  the 
purpose  of  erecting  a  cotton  mill  in  that 
county.  The  Empire  state  continued  as  their 
home  throughout  the  remainder  of  their  lives, 
the  father  passing  away  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
foiir  years,  while  the  mother  survived  until 
the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  In  their  family 
were  thirteen  children,  all  but  three  of  whom 
grew  to  years  of  maturity,  and  the  family 
was  one  of  prominence  in  the  locality  in  which 
they  so  long  resided. 

James  H.  Roberts,  the  eleventh  child  and 
fourth  son  in  order  of  birth,  grew  to  manhood 
in  the  county  of  his  nativity,  receiving  his 
educational  training  in  the  schools  of  Troy, 
New  York,  and  the  commercial  college  at  Syr- 
acuse, that  state.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
he  began  learning  the  machinist's  trade  in 
the  mills  of  Oneida  county,  remaining  with 
his  father  for  about  ten  years,  when  in  1867 
he  went  west  to  Colorado,  also  spending  some 
time  in  Minnesota  and  Mississippi,  thence  go- 
ing to  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  and  in  1882 
arrived  in  South  Bend,  where  the  rest  of  his 
life  was  passed  and  which  has  been  one  of 
uniform  honor  in  business  and  fidelity  in 
places  of  public  trust.  During  the  long  period 
of  twenty  years  thereafter  he  was  employed 
as  foreman  in  the  machine  shops  of  the  Oliver 
works,  and  at  the  close  of  that  long  connec- 
tion, in  1891,  he  was  appointed  state  deputy 
factory  inspector,  his  systematic  business 
methods,  his  sound  judgment  and  his  laudable 
ambition  all  contributing  to  make  his  official 
career  a  prosperous  one. 

On  the  lOth  of  June,  1868,  Mr.  Roberts  was 
married  to  Mary  Harris,  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Glover)  Harris,  the 
former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  England  and 
came  to  America  when  only  ten  years  of  age. 


while  the  mother  was  bom  in  Scotland  and 
was  seven  years  of  age  when  brought  by  her 
parents  to  this  country.  Mrs.  Roberts  was 
bom  in  Prince  Edwards  Island  December  29, 
1836,  and  was  about  fifteen  years  of  age  when 
the  family  home  was  established  in  the  state 
of  New  York,  where  she  grew  to  womanhood. 
She  has  become  the  mother  of  two  daughters, 
Charlotte  J.  ahd  Isabell.  In  his  political  aM- 
iations  Mr.  Roberts  is  a  Republican,  laboring 
earnestly  for  the  adoption  of  the  principles 
which  he  believes  will  best  advance  good  gov- 
ernment, and  for  four  years  he  represented 
the  second  ward  in  the  city  council  of  South 
Bend.  His  fraternal  relations  connect  him 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity,  and 
Mrs.  Roberts  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church. 

Patrick  H.  Casey,  who  is  now  serving  as 
superintendent  of  the  mechanical  department 
of  the  Times  Printing  Company  in  South 
Bend,  has  been  a  resident  of  thi§  city  for 
twenty-five  years,  and  during  twenty  years  of 
that  time  has  served  in  his  present  position. 
His  birth  occurred  in  Ligonier,  Indiana,  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1860,  his  parents  being  Michael  and 
Catherine  (Daily)  Casey,  who  were  natives 
of  county  Kerry,  Ireland.  Some  time  in  the 
'30s,  however,  they  left  their  native  land  for 
the  United  States,  first  taking  up  their  abode 
in  Elkhart,  Indiana,  where  Michael  Casey  was 
employed  in  the  construction  of  the  Lake 
Shore  &  Michigan  Southern  Railroad,  but 
eventually  they  located  on  a  farm  near  Ligon- 
ier in  Noble  county,  Indiana,  where  their 
nine  children,  seven  sons  and  two  daughters, 
were  principally  reared.  Of  that  large  family 
of  children  all  grew  to  years  of  maturity. 

Patrick  II.  Casey,  the  eighth  child  and  sixth 
son  in  order  of  birth,  spent  the  days  of  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  in  Noble  county,  Indiana,  and 
received  his  educational  training  in  the  Ligon- 
ier high  school.  He  began  the  printer's  trade 
in  1876,  under  the  tutorship  of  that  veteran 
newspaper  man,  the  Hon.  John  B.  Stoll,  in 
whose  employ  he  has  been  almost  continuously 
ever  since.  He  is  at  present  a  stockholder  in 
The  Times  Printing  Company  and  one  of  its 
directors,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the 
welfare  and  suoeess  of  that  corporation. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Casey  was  celebrated 
in  1892,  when  Ella  Stoll,  the  daughter  of  J. 
B.  and  Mary  (Snyder)  Stoll,  became  his  wife, 
and  they  have  one  daughter,  Mary  Margaret. 
Mr.  Casey  holds  membership  relations  with 
the  order  of  Ben  Hur  of  South  Bend,  and  is 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1141 


a  member  of  the  Catholic  church  of  this  city. 
His  long  identification  with  the  interests  of 
South  Bend  has  made  him  well  known  to  its 
citizens,  and  he  is  held  in  high  esteen  in  the 
community  for  his  honorable,  upright  life. 

C.  N.  CrabHjL.  The  man  who  wins  promi- 
nence at  the  bar  of  America's  thriving  cities 
must  have  a  thorough  understanding  of  the 
law,  a  keen  perception,  logical  reasoning,  forc- 
ible argument,  and  above  all  habits  of  pains- 
taking, patient  industry.  Not  by  inheritance, 
by  purchase  or  by  gift  can  he  win  reputation 
in  his  chosen  calling.  It  must  come  as  the 
reward  of  true  merit.  All  must  begin  on  a 
common  plane  and  rise  to  eminence  by  per- 
severance, industry  and  ability,  or  fall  back 
into  the  ranks  of  mediocrity.  In  like  manner 
with  all  others  C.  N.  Crabill  started  out  to  win 
a  name  and  place  for  himself,  and  his  success 
has  made  him  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Misha- 
waka  bar. 

Mr.  Crabill  was  born  in  Wabash,  Indiana, 
October  17,  1881,  a  son  of  John  S.  and  Ida 
(McKibben)  Crabill.  The  father,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  the  city  of  Wabash,  was  a  gen- 
eral business  man,  and  for  fifteen  years  has 
been  the  assistant  transfer  manager  in  the 
Studebaker  works  of  South  Bend,  but  is  now 
a  resident  of  the  west,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  mining  operations.  He  first  took  up  his 
abode  in  South  Bend  in  1882,  but  two  years 
later  left  the  city,  and  it  was  not  until  1890 
that  he  again  returned  thereto. 

C.  N.  Crabill,  the  second  son  in  order  of 
birth  of  his  parents'  five  children,  three  sons 
and  two  daughters,  all  yet  living,  deceived  his 
educational  training  in  the  schools  of  Kenton, 
Tennessee,  and  Wabash  and  South  Bend,  In- 
diana, and  in  1894,  at  the  extremely  early 
age  of  thirteen,  entered  upon  the  study  of 
law.  He  also  conducted  his  first  case  at  the 
age  of  thirteen,  and  was  only  eight  years  of 
age  when  he  began  earning  his  own  living, 
since  which  time  he  has  battled  alone  and  un- 
aided with  the  world.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  South  Bend  in  1902.  After  coming 
to  Mishawaka  he  was  for  a  time  associated 
in  his  profession  with  Mr.  Graham,  but  since 
1905  has  been  alone.  Throughout  the  period 
of  his  residence  in  Mishawaka  he  has  been 
actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law.  He 
enjoys  a  large  clientage,  which  has  connected 
him  with  much  of  the  important  litigation 
heard  in  the  courts  of  the  district  during  the 
past  few  years. 

On  the  9th  of  December,  1903,  Mr.  Crabill 


was  united  in  marriage  to  Mabelle  M.  Hart, 
the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel  W. 
Beiger.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic,  the  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  the  Loyal  American  fraternities, 
and  also  has  membership  relations  with  many 
of  the  leading  clubs  of  the  city.  His  many  ad- 
mirable qualities  of  heart  and  mind  have 
gained  him  a  lai^e  circle  of  friends,  and  he 
is  widely  and  favorably  known  in  St.  Joseph 
county. 

Jacob  Becher.  After  a  successful  busi- 
ness career  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits 
Jacob  Becher  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in 
Ppnn  township.  He  was  born  in  Adams 
county,  Pennsylvania,  December  19, 1815.  His 
father,  John  Becher,  also  claimed  the  Key- 
stone state  as  the  commonwealth  of  his  na- 
tivity, bom  in  1779,  and  he  was  there  mar- 
ried to  one  of  its  native  daughters,  Theresa 
Adams,  to  whom  were  born  eight  children,  five 
sons  and  three  daughters,  Jacob  being  the 
eldest  in  order  of  birth.  The  father's  death 
occurred  in  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  in 
1856.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  his  political  aflBl- 
iations. 

It  was  in  1847  that  Jacob  Becher  first  made 
the  trip  to  St.  Joseph  county,  purchasing  land 
in  Penn  township,  and  then  returned  to  Penn- 
sylvania for  his  father  and  family.  In  that 
state  he  had  farmed  and  worked  at  the  miller's 
trade,  which  he  had  learned  under  his  father's 
instructions,  and  after  coming  to  Indiana  fol- 
lowed those  occupations  in  Penn  township.  In 
1847  he  began  teaching  in  the  district  schools 
of  the  township,  he  also  having  followed  the 
profession  ere  his  removal  hither,  and  at  the 
same  time  he  performed  the  arduous  task  of 
clearing  new  land.  With  the  passing  years 
he  cleared  his  present  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  also  placed  the  fields  under 
an  excellent  state  of  cultivation,  and  erected 
the  many  valuable  and  substantial  buildings 
which  are  now  seen  upon  the  place.  In  those 
early  days  he  attended  church  at  Notre  Dame. 

In  1856  Mr.  Becher  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Anna  Moan,  w^bo  was  born  in  Ireland  in 
1825,  and  came  to  America  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years,  residing  first  in  Mishawaka. 
Her  parents  lived  and  died  in  their  native 
land  of  Ireland.  Mrs.  Becher  passed  away  in 
death  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years,  after  be- 
coming the  mother  of  three  children,  James  J.. 
Mary  and  Rosie,  all  of  whom  were  born  and 
reared  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Penn 
township.    Mr.  Becher  has  given  his  support 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1142 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


to  the  Democratic  party  throughout  the  period 
of  hifi  majority,  and  from  the  time  age  con- 
ferred upon  him  the  right  of  franchise  until 
1906  he  never  missed  a  vote.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Catholic  church.  After  many  years  of 
hard  and  laborious  toil,  in  which  he  has  ac- 
quired a  competence,  he  is  now  living  in  quiet 
retirement,  enjoying  the  rest  which  he  has 
so  truly  earned  and  richly  deserves. 

Charles  L.  Hodson.  One  of  South  Bend's 
native  citizens  who,  after  spending  many 
years  as  an  active  factor  in  business  and  in- 
dustrial affairs,  has  earned  the  privilege  of 
retirement  is  Charles  L.  Hodson.  From  the 
early  years  of  South  Bend's  development  as 
an  important  commercial  center,  he  and  his 
father  successively  carried  on  a  large  business 
as  contractors  and  manufacturers.  Most  citi- 
zens are  familiar  with  the  C.  L.  Hodson  resi- 
dence sub-division  on  the  east  side  of  the  city, 
where  by  the  erection  of  many  dwellings  Mr. 
Hodson  has  created  one  of  the  beautiful  parts 
of  the  city.  In  recent  years,  since  1897,  Mr. 
Hodson  has  been  interested  in  real  estate,  and 
the  improvement  of  this  addition  is  the  only 
business  care  which  he  has  allowed  to  inter- 
fere with  his  retirement.  His  pleasant  home 
on  Vistula  avenue  is  the  main  center  of  inter- 
est for  him. 

Many  years  have  passed  since  the  Hodson 
family  became  identified  with  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  its  various  members  have  won  for 
the  name  an  enviable  distinction  by  their  true 
worth.  Charles  G.  Hodson,  the  father,  of 
English  ancestry,  was  a  native  of  Florence, 
Burlington  county.  New  Jersey,  and  in  that 
county  was  married  to  Rebecca  F.  Lippencott. 
who  was  born  in  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  a 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  Lippen- 
cott. In  the  year  of  their  marriage  (1854) 
they  established  their  home  in  South  Bend, 
where  Mr.  Hodson  followed  contracting  until 
1868,  and  then  established  the  manufacture 
of  sash,  door  and  blinds,  which  remained  an 
important  factor  in  South  Bend's  industries, 
with  himself  as  the  guiding  executive,  until 
his  death  in  1901,  w^hen  he  had  reached  the 
age  of  seventy-two  years.  In  his  death  tho 
community  lost  one  of  its  truest  and  best 
citizens.  He  was  an  active  worker  in  the 
Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  was  a 
Republican  in  his  political  affiliations.  His 
widow  is  still  living,  and  seven  of  their  nine 
children. 

Charles  L.  Hodson,  eldest  son  and  second 
child,  was  bom  in   South  Bend,  October  1, 


1855,  and  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  this 
city.  After  attaining  to  mature  years  he  as- 
sociated himself  with  his  father  in  the  manu- 
facturing business,  and  continued  in  charge 
of  the  mills  until  1897,  when  he  sold  his  inter- 
est and  retired  from  that  line  of  business.  On 
June  25,  1885,  Mr.  Hodson  married  Miss 
Emma  Palmer,  thus  uniting  two  of  the  old 
families  of  this  county.  She  was  born  in  Cen- 
ter township,  a  daughter  of  William  Harri- 
son and  Elizabeth  (Goodrich)  Palmer.  Her 
father,  who  was  born  in  Belmont  county,  Ohio, 
was  a  son  of  Jonathan  Palmer,  who,  it  is 
thought,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  but  for 
many  years  resided  in  Ohio,  his  last  days  be- 
ing spent  at  Coshocton.  Jonathan  Palmer 
married  a  Miss  Richcreek.  Mrs.  Jlodson^s 
father,  who  was  a  farmer  by  vocation,  came 
from  Ohio  to  Indiana  in  1850,  a  notable  fact 
of  family  hdstory  being  ttmt  the  entire  jour- 
ney was  made  overland  with  team  and  wagon. 
A  tract  of  timber  land  was  bought  in  Center 
township,  some  of  the  trees  being  cut  and 
hewed  to  make  a  log  house  which  was  the 
first  family  shelter,  and  when  a  few  years 
later  a  frame  house  was  built,  its  large  tim- 
bers were  hewed  and  the  shingles  rived  by 
hand.  This  farm  remained  his  home  until 
a  short  time  before  his  death,  when  he  came 
to  South  Bend.  Mary  Elizabeth  Goodrich,  the 
maiden  name  of  his  wife,  was  born  near  the 
Blue  Ridge  in  Virginia,  a  daughter  of  Daniel 
Goodrich,  who  was  a  planter  and  slave  owner 
until  he  moved  to  Ohio,  and  thence,  in  1845. 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  where  he  became  one  of 
the  early  settlers  and  well  known  farmers  of 
Center  township,  remaining  on  his  farm  imtil 
death.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Jane  Damron,  was  also  a  native  of  Virginia 
and  survived  her  husband  some  years,  pass- 
ing away  at  Walkerton.  The  mother  of  Mrs. 
Hodson  died  on  the  home  farm  in  Center 
township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hodson  are  the  par- 
ents of  three  children,  Florence,  Stanley  and 
Palmer.  Stanley  is  a  student  at  Notre  Dame, 
and  Florence  attends  the  Martha  Washington 
Seminary  at  Washington,  D.  C.  Politically 
Mr.  Hodson  is  a  Republican,  and  a  public- 
spirited  citizen  of  the  city  that  has  been  his 
lifelong  residence. 

Joseph  Jasouske.  During  an  extended 
period  Mr.  Joseph  Jasouske  has  occupied  a 
prominent  place  among  the  leading  agricul- 
turist of  Olive  tow^nship.  He  was  born  in 
the  land  of  Poland  in  1864,  a  son  of  Peter  and 
Agnes  Jasouske,  who  sailed  from  their  native 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY  OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COXINTT. 


1143 


province  in  Poland  in  1871  for  the  United 
States,  landing  in  the  harbor  of  New  York 
after  an  ocean  voyage  of  six  weeks  on  a  sailing 
vessel.  Making  their  way  to  South  Bend,  In- 
diana, they  spent  three  years  in  that  city, 
after  which  they  removed  to  a  wild  and  un- 
improved farm,  consisting  principally  of 
swamp  land,  and  here  they  suffered  many  pri- 
vations and  hardships  while  gaining  a  start 
in  their  new  home.  In  time,  however,  by  pa- 
tient industry  and  perseverance,  the  land  was 
improved  until  it  became  one  of  the  finest 
farms  in  the  Kankakee  valley.  The  father 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  here,  dying  at 
the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  He  is  still 
survived  by  his  widow,  who  yet  resides  on  the 
old  family  homestead.  She  is  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  church,  as  was  also  her  husband, 
and  they  were  the  parents  of  three  children. 

Joseph  Jaaouske  completed  in  South  Bend 
the  educational  training  which  he  had  begun 
in  his  native  land  of  Poland.  Since  attaining 
to  mature  years  he  has  followed  the  life  of 
the  agriculturist,  and  he  now  owns  a  valuable 
estate  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Olive 
township,  known  as  the  Woodbine  farm.  In 
February,  1890,  he  was  married,  and  his  wife, 
who  died  eleven  months  later,  left  one  daugh- 
ter, Mary,  who  is  now  seventeen  years  of  age. 
On  the  9th  of  May,  1893,  Mr.  Jasouske  again 
married,  and  -he  and  his  wife  became  the  par- 
ents of  seven  children,  Elizabeth,  Henry, 
Frank,  Leo,  Alexander,  Julia  and  Brenay. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
church. 

WiujAM  V.  Truax,  the  present  assessor 
of  Madison  township  and  one  of  its  repre- 
sentative business  men,  was  bom  in  the  old 
township  of  Union,  Elkhart  county,  Indiana, 
April  22,  1858.  His  father,  Amos  Truax,  was 
born  in  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  near  Mount 
Gilead,  and  in  that  county  his  parents,  Abra- 
ham and  Sarah  Truax,  also  had  their  nativity, 
but  previous  to  that  time  the  family  were  lo- 
cated in  Pennsylvania.  Abraham  Truax  se- 
cured government  land  in  Elkhart  county, 
and  on  the  old  homestead  which  they  there 
developed  both  he  and  his  wife  passed  away 
in  death.  During  his  young  manhood  Amos 
Truax  transferred  his  residence  and  the  scene 
of  his  operation  to  Elkhart  county,  and  he 
was  there  married  to  Anna  Gordon,  a  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  its  early  and  honored  fami- 
lies, and  a  review  of  which  will  be  found  in 
the  sketch  of  Moses  Gordon  elsewhere  in  this 
work. 


During  his  early  boyhood  days  William  V. 
Truax  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  Madison  township,  St.  Joseph 
county,  attaining  to  years  of  maturity  on  the 
old  homestead  now  occupied  by  John  Truax, 
and  he  remained  at  home  unAil  twenty-two 
years  of  age.  He  then  spent  ten  months  in 
central  Tennessee,  but  with  the  exception  of 
that  period  he  has  resided  constantly  within 
the  borders  of  this  township,  where  for  a 
number  of  years  he  has  been  identified  with 
the  carpenter's  trade.  In  addition  he  is  also 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Wyatt, 
and  for  a  time  was  employed  as  a  salesman 
wit^h  the  firm  of  Moehel  'Brothere.  He  is  a 
man  of  excellent  executive  ability,  and  has 
won  for  himself  a  conspicuous  place  among 
the  leading  business  men  of  the  community. 

When  he  had  reached  the  age  of  twenty- 
three  years  Mr.  Truax  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Rosa  A.  Bliley,  who  was  born  in  Elkhart 
county,  Indiana,  but  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Madison  township,  St.  Joseph  county.  Her 
father,  Jacob  Bliley,  was  bom  in  the  father- 
land of  Germany,  and  after  coming  to  the 
United  States  served  as  a  brave  and  valiant 
soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  a  member  of  an  In- 
diana regiment.  He  was  married  in  Lock 
township,  Elkhart  county,  to  Mary  Hostel- 
read,  who  makes  her  home  on  the  old  farm  in 
Madison  township,  and  she  has  attained  the 
age  of  sixty-three  years.  The  husband  and 
father  is  deceased,  dying  in  1891.  Of  the 
nine  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bliley 
seven  are  living:  Mrs.  Rosa  Truax,  Sarah, 
John,  Eliza,  Isaac  and  Isaiah,  twins,  and 
Lewis.  Mr.  Bliley  affiliated  with  the  Democ- 
racy, and  was  a  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church.  Seven  children,  three  sons  and 
four  daughters,  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Truax,  namely:  Thomas  W.,  John  E., 
Elsie  J.,  Sarah  Edith,  Rolla  R.,  Blanch  M. 
and  a  babe  not  yet  named.  Mr.  Truax  is  a 
prominent  and  active  worker  in  the  local 
ranks  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  is  now 
serving  as  the  popular  and  efficient  assessor 
of  Madison  township. 

Frederick  Shearer.  Residing  near  the 
town  of  Wyatt,  Indiana,  and  ranking  with 
the  representative  farmers  of  Madison  town- 
ship is  Frederick  Shearer,  an  honored  early 
resident  of  the  community.  He  was  bom  in 
Citogen,  Alsace,  France,  May  14,  1845,  a  son 
of  Peter  and  Catherine  (Smith)  Shearer.  The 
family  came  to  the  United  States  in  a  sailing 
vessel  in  1847,  fifty-five  days  being  spent  on 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1144 


HISTORY   OP  ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


the  voyage  to  New  York  harbor,  whence  they 
made  their  way  to  Canton,  Stark  county, 
Ohio,  and  there  the  parents  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives,  the  father  dying  at  the 
age  of  fifty-four  years,  and  the  mother  when 
she  had  reached  the  Psalmist's  span  of  three- 
score years  and  ten.  He  allied  his  interests 
with  the  Republican  party,  as  do  also  his  sons. 
In  their  family  were  eight  children,  six  sons 
and  two  daughters,  namely :  Peter,  who  served 
as  a  soldier  in  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and 
Sixty-second  Ohio  Infantry  during  the  Civil 
war;  Sophia;  Philip,  who  served  in  that  con- 
flict in  the  same  company  with  his  brother; 
Christene ;  Christian ;  Jacob ;  George,  who  vol- 
unteered in  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifteenth 
Ohio  for  three  years;  and  Frederick,  whose 
name  introduces  this  review. 

On  a  farm  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  Frederick 
Shearer  grew  to  years  of  maturity,  and  at  the 
inauguration  of  the  Civil  war  he  offered  his 
services  in  Company  G,  One  hundred  and 
Sixty-second  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  under 
Captain  Goutz,  enlisting  in  May,  1864,  and 
was  honorably  discharged  at  Camp  Chase, 
Ohio,  in  the  following  fall.  In  1866  Mr. 
Shearer  began  the  operation  of  a  sawmill, 
which  he  conducted  for  seven  years  and  then 
resumed  the  occupation  of  farming.  Some 
years  later,  however,  he  returned  to  his  saw- 
milling  interests,  his  having  been  one  of  the 
first  mills  of  its  kind  in  this  section  of  the 
county,  and  he  continued  its  operation  for 
five  years.  Since  that  time  agriculture  has 
claimed  his  time  and  attention,  and  he  is  now 
the  owner  of  a  valuable  estate  of  sixty-five 
acres  near  Wyatt,  improved  with  valuable  and 
substantial  buildings,  an  excellent  orchard, 
and  all  other  necessary  farm  improvements. 

In  Madison  township,  on  the  15th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1872,  Mr.  Shearer  married  Elizabeth 
Goheen,  who  was  bom  in  Mahoning  county, 
Ohio,  near  Youngstown,  a  daughter  of  David 
and  Hannah  (Stenofield)  Goheen,  natives  of 
Ohio,  but  early  settlers  of  Madison  township, 
St.  Joseph  county,  where  the  mother  died  at 
the  age  of  sixty-seven,  and  the  father  was  ac- 
cidentally killed  by  the  cars  at  the  age  of 
eighty-one  years,  in  September,  1906.  His  po- 
litical support  was  given  to  the  Democracy, 
and  he  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church. 
In  their  family  were  seven  children,  four  sons 
and  three  daughters,  Wesley,  Henry,  Daniel, 
Elizabeth,  Chancey,  Martha  and  Clara.  Eight 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Shearer:  Minnie  Crofoot,  of  Penn  township. 


St.  Joseph  county;  Norman  Ed,  who  died 
when  young;  Jennie,  the  wife  of  B.  C.  Stena- 
field,  of  Wyatt;  Anua;  Harvey;  Burton  C; 
James;  and  Harrison,  who  was  born  March  5, 
1889,  the  day  on  which  General  Harrison  was 
made  president  of  the  United  States.  Mr. 
Shearer  aflSliates  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  has  membership  relations  with  Bremen 
Post,  G.  A.  R.  He  was  reared  in  the  faith 
of  the  Reformed  church  at  Canton,  Ohio,  and 
Mrs.  Shearer  was  raised  as  a  Methodist.  They 
are  held  in  the  highest  esteem  in  this  com- 
munity, and  their  well-wishers  are  legion. 

Frank  W.  Cheobot,  proprietor  of  Valley 
Farm,  is  one  of  the  wealthy  and  influential 
citizens  of  Warren  township.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  Poland,  his  parents  being  Jaeob  and 
Julia  Cheobot,  also  natives  of  that  country. 
In  1873  the  family  emigrated  to  the  United 
States,  making  the  voyage  on  a  sailing  vessel 
And  seventeen  days  elapsed  ere  they  reached 
the  American  harbor.  Making  their  way  to 
St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  the  father  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life  here,  dying  in  1905 
at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  His  life  occupation 
was  farming,  he  was  a  Republican  in  his  po- 
litical views,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Cath- 
olic church.  He  was  the  father  of  five  chil- 
dren, four  sons  and  a  daughter. 

Frank  W.  Cheobot  spent  the  first  nine  years 
of  his  life  in  his  native  land  of  Poland,  re- 
ceiving his  early  educational  training  in  its 
public  schools  and  completing  his  studies  in 
the  free  schools  of  America.  He  is  extensively 
engaged  in  the  operation  of  a  sawmill  and  also 
of  a  McCormick  harvester  and  shredder,  which 
has  a  twenty  horsepower  engine  of  the  J.  I. 
Case  make.  In  addition  he  owns  and  conducts 
one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  Kankakee  river 
valley,  on  which  are  located  a  commodious 
residence  J  a  large  barn,  thirty  by  seventy-four 
feet,  and  all  the  other  conveniences  necessary 
for  a  well  regulated  farm. 

When  he  had  reached  his  twenty-fourth 
year  Mr.  Cheobot  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Leo  Coddier,  who  was  born,  reared  and  e<lu- 
cated  in  South  Bend,  and  they  have  become 
the  parents  of  three  children,  Glenn,  Helen 
and  Henry.  Mr.  Cheobot  is  one  of  the  most 
prominent  Polish- American  citizens  of  War- 
ren township,  and  justly  merits  the  high  re- 
gard in  which  he  is  held. 

John  C.  Ullery.  This  well  known  agri- 
culturist and  highly  esteemed  citizen  of  Ger- 
man township  is  a  worthy  representative  of 
one  of  the  honored  pioneer  families  of  St 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP   ST.  JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1143 


Joseph  county.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Adam  UUery,  was  one  of  Napoleon 's  soldiers. 
He  emigrated  with  his  family  to  the  United 
States  in  1823  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania, 
but  subsequently  removed  to  Ohio,  and  there 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  at  the 
age  of  about  ninety  years. 

John  F.  Ullery,  his  son  and  the  father  of 
John  C.  Ullery,  was  bom  in  Prussia,  Ger- 
many, March  24,  1820,  but  was  brought  to 
the  United  States  when  but  a  babe  and  was 
reared  in  Pennsylvania.  After  the  removal  of 
the  family  to  Ohio  he  assisted  in  clearing  a 
farm  in  Miami  county,  and  when  only  twelve 
years  of  age  he  drove  a  four  horse  team,  rid- 
ing the  near  horse  and  driving  with  a  jerk 
line.  He  remained  with  his  father  until  his 
twentieth  year,  sharing  with  the  family  the 
pioneer  life  among  the  Indians  and  wild  ani- 
mals. On  the  19th  of  March,  1840,  he  mar- 
ried Mary  D.  Stinchcome,  a  daughter  of 
David  Stinchcome,  whose  native  state  was 
Maryland,  but  he  subsequently  moved  to  Ohio, 
and  during  the  war  of  1812  he  served  under 
General  Wayne,  assisting  him  in  the  building, 
of  Fort  Wayne,  and  was  there  stationed  for 
a  long  time.  After  his  marriiige  Mr.  Ullery 
purchased  land  and  engaged  in  farming,  but 
in  1851  sold  his  Ohio  farm  and  came  to  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  arriving  in  German 
township  in  September  of  that  year.  Here  he 
first  purchased  three  eighty-acre  tracts,  but 
as  the  years  passed  by  he  added  to  his  original 
purchase  until  he  became  owner  of  five  hun- 
dred acres  in  the  home  place,  and  in  1857  he 
erected  a  large  mansion  thereon.  This  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1866,  entailing  a  loss  of 
four  thousand  dollars,  which  caused  his  finan- 
cial failure,  and  although  he  was  an  extensive 
stock  raiser  he  never  accumulated  money  after 
the  fire.  His  death  occurred  on  the  6th  of 
October,  1896,  in  South  Bend,  where  he  had 
been  living  a  retired  life.  Mrs.  Ullery  passed 
away  on  the  20th  of  February,  1890,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-eight  years,  one  month  and  twen- 
ty-two days.  In  their  family  were  twelve  chil- 
dren, namely:  Mary  E.  Miller,  of  Dailey, 
Michigan;  Sarah  J.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years ;  John  C,  the  immediate  subject 
of  this  review;  George  A.,  of  South  Bend; 
David  T.,  a  farmer  of  German  township ;  Wil- 
liam H.,  also  of  South  Bend;  Joseph  F.,  of 
Pomona,  California;  Martha  A.,  of  Des 
Moines,  Iowa;  Schuyler  C,  and  Horace  G.,  of 
South  Bend ;  Eddie,  who  died  in  infancy ;  and 
Laura  May  Dunn  of  South  Bend. 


John  C.  Ullery  was  born  in  Miami  county, 
Ohio,  about  three  miles  from  Troy,  on  t^e 
23d  of  October,  1844,  but  in  1854  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, the  journey  being  made  by  wagons. 
After  their  arrival  in  this  county  they  settled 
on  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
section  31,  German  township,  on  the  Michigan 
road,  for  which  they  paid  sixteen  dollars  per 
acre.  There  Mr.  Ullery  continued  to  make  his 
home  until  his  twentieth  year,  when  he 
was  married  and  located  on  a  rented 
farm  in  Warren  township.  After  a  resi- 
dence there  of  two  years  he  removed  to 
another  farm  in  Warren  township,  and  three 
years  after  his  marriage  purchased  his  present 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres,  lying 
in  section  7,  German  township,  on  which  he 
has  erected  all  his  substantial  buildings  and 
has  placed  his  land  under  an  excellent  state  of 
cultivation.  The  farm  is  devoted  to  the  rais- 
ing of  grain,  and  he  is  also  quite  extensively 
engaged  in  stock  raising.  One  acre  and  a  half 
of  the  place  is  devoted  to  an  orchard,  which 
he  planted,  and  all  other  substantial  improve- 
ments on  the  place  are  the  work  of  his  hands. 
He  has  been  a  stockholder  in  the  South  Bend 
Land  Company  since  its  organization,  and  has 
given  a  life-long  support  to  the  Republican 
party,  his  first  presidential  vote  having  been 
cast  for  Lincoln  *s  second  term.  Jlis  religious 
affiliation  is  with  the  German  Baptist  church. 

On  the  23d  of  November,  1864,  Mr.  Ullery 
was  married  to  Margaret  Ellen  Miller,  who 
was  born  January  24,  1845,  in  German  town- 
ship, and  has  always  lived  within  sight  of  her 
birthplace.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Sarah  (Backus)  Miller,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  and  the 
latter  in  New  England.  The  parents  were 
married  in  Franklin  county,  and  a  year  later, 
in  1831,  the  young  couple  journeyed  to  St. 
Joseph  county,  Indiana,  taking  up  their  abode 
among  the  early  pioneers  of  German  township, 
where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
Mr.  Miller  was  an  elder  in  the  German  Baptist 
church,  and  in  its  interests  traveled  on  horse- 
back through  nearly  every  state  in  the  Union. 
They  became  the  parents  of  twelve  children: 
Nancy  Whitmer,  deceased;  James  R.,  de- 
ceased; Elizabeth  0.  Zeigler,  deceased;  Mrs. 
L.  B.  Zeigler,  deceased;  Abraham,  deceased; 
Eunice  Davenport  Early,  of  Warren  town- 
ship; David  F.,  deceased;  Margaret  E.  Ullery 
and  Mary  J.  Ullery,  twins,  the  former  the 
wife  of  our  subject,  and  the  latter  a  resident 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1146 


HISTORY  OP   ST.   JOSEPH  COUNTY. 


of  South  Bend ;  Cyrus  B.,  also  of  South  Bend ; 
Aaron  N.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years; 
and  Sar^  Amanda,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
nine  months.  Two  children  blessed  the  union 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ullery,  Ira  M.,  of  South 
Bend,  and  the  mother  of  two  children,  Alice 
Pern  and  Harold  M. ;  a^d  Mary  M.,  at  home. 

George  W.  Freyebmuth.  Back  to  the 
fatherland  must  we  turn  -for  the  early  an- 
cestral history  of  the  Freyermuth  family,  but 
in  early  life  the  parents  of  our  subject  left 
that  country  and  crossed  the  ocean  to  the 
United  States.  The  father,  Jacob  Freyer- 
muth, was  a  native  of  Alsace,  and  the  mother, 
nee  Barbara  Roch,  also  claimed  (Jermany  as 
the  country  of  her  nativity.  After  his  emigra- 
tion to  the  United  States  Jacob  Freyermuth 
established  his  home  in  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  worked  as  a  contractor  and  builder.  In 
1852  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana, 
but  after  a  few  years  spent  here  returned  to 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  In  1872,  how- 
ever, he  came  again  to  St.  Joseph  county, 
which  continued  as  his  home  until  1890,  in 
that  year  going  to  California,  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  on  the  5th  of 
February,  1899,  when  he  had  reached  the  age 
of  sixty-nine  years.  His  wife  also  died  in 
that  year,  on  the  19th  of  January,  and  thus 
the  two  who  had  so  long  traveled  the  journey 
of  life  together  were  united  in  so  short  a  time 
in  the  home  beyond. 

George  W.  Freyermuth  received  his  educa- 
tional training  in  the  schools  of  South  Bend, 
after  which  he  worked  as  a  carpenter  until  he 
rose  to  the  position  of  a  contractor,  while  in 
1896  he  became  an  architect  and  builder.  His 
partner  in  business  is  R.  B.  Maurer,  and  the 
firm  of  Freyermuth  &  Maurer  is  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  best  known  of  its  kind 
in  South  Bend  and  St.  Joseph  county.  Among 
the  leading  structures  of  which  they  are  the 
architects  may  be  mentioned  the  city  hall,  the 
St.  Joseph  Hospital,  the  county  infirmary  and 
many  others  of  the  most  beautiful  buildings 
in  this  community. 

In  1893  Mr.  Freyermuth  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Anna  Billstein,  a  daughter  of  August 
Billstein,  of  South  Bend.  Mr.  Freyermuth 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  Lodge  No. 
294,  also  of  the  chapter  and  commandery,  an4 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Fred  Baumberger.  Among  the  citizens  of 
South  Bend  to  whom  is  vouchsafed  an  hon- 


ored retirement  from  labor,  as  the  reward  of 
an  active  and  useful  business  career  is  Fred 
Baumberger,  who  is  also  numbered  among  the 
boys  in  blue  of  the  Civil  war.  He  was  bom 
in  Switzerland,  November  22,  1844,  but  in 
1852,  when  a  small  boy,  came  with  his  father, 
John  Baumberger,  to  America,  locating  first 
in  Buffalo,  New  York.  The  father  was  a 
miller,  and  had  followed  that  occupation  in 
his  native  country.  He  lived  only  six  years 
after  his  arrival  in  America,  dying  in  1858, 
and  the  young  son  was  then  left  to  care  for 
himself,  a  young  lad  of  only  fourteen  years 
and  almost  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land.  Go- 
ing to  Rochester,  New  Yorit,  he  worked  at  the 
painter's  trade  there,  and  was  also  a  member 
of  the  Fifty-fourth  Regiment  of  the  state  of 
New  York  Militia,  serving  as  a  guard  of  rebel 
prisoners  at  Elmira,  that  state,  for  three 
months.  At  the  close  of  that  period  he  en- 
listed in  the  Union  army,  becoming  a  member 
of  Company  E,  Tenth  New  York  Volunteer 
Infantry,  entering  the  ranks  as  a  private,  and 
was  stationed  at  Governor's  Island,  New  York. 
He  remained  a  faithful  soldier  until  the  close 
of  the  struggle  in  1866,  and  in  that  year  came 
to  Michigan  and  located  at  Kalamazoo,  where 
he  remained  for  two  years  and  during  that 
time  learned  the  shoe-maker's  trade.  In  1868 
he  left  Kalamazoo  for  the  northern  part  of 
the  state,  remaining  at  Traverse  City  for  a 
time,  and  then,  purchasing  a  piece  of  wild 
land,  engaged  in  its  cultivation  and  improve- 
ment. As  the  years  passed  by  he  succeeded 
in  converting  this  once  densely  wooded  land 
into  a  good  farm  of  two  himdred  acres,  which 
he  yet  owns,  and  on  which  he  made  his  home 
for  thirty-five  years. 

In  1897  Mr.  Baumberger  came  to  South 
Bend,  Indiana,  to  care  for  Augustus  Inwood, 
one  of  the  honored  old  pioneers  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  his  arrival  within  its  borders  dating 
back  to  1833,  and  from  that  time  forward  he 
was  prominently  identified  with  its  history. 
In  1870  Mr.  Baumberger  had  married  his 
daughter,  Mary  E.  Inwood,  and  they  have  be- 
come the  parents  of  eight  living  children: 
Charles  A.,  Susan  R.,  Richard  J.,  Lydia  L., 
Mattie  G.,  Edna  G.,  Jessie  and  Fred  B.  Mr. 
Baumberger  is  a  member  of  the  Norman  Eddy 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  South  Bend,  in  which  he 
has  long  served  as  the  chaplain.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  is  a  life-long  Republican,  having 
cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Grant,  and 
has  supported  every  Republican  presidential 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1147 


candidate  since  that  time.  During  his  resi- 
dence in  Michigan  he  served  as  township  treas- 
urer, as  supervisor  and  as  road  commissioner, 
and  throughout  the  period  of  his  residence  in 
South  Bend  he  has  been  equally  prominent  in 
its  public  affairs  and  is  well  known  to  many 
of  its  residents. 

John  G.  Hartman,  whose  extensive  real- 
estate  interests  place  him  among  the  leading 
business  men  and  financiers  of  South  Bend, 
was  born  in  Petersburg,  Canada,  on  the  27th 
of  January,  1874.  His  father,  Gottlieb  Hart- 
man,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  but  emigrated 
to  Canada  when  seventeen  years  of  age,  and 
made  his  home  there  until  1878.  He  was  a 
cabinet  maker,  and  on  his  removal  from  Can- 
ada he  settled  in  Detroit,  Michigan,  coming 
thence  to  South  Bend  in  1880,  where  he  fol- 
lowed his  chosen  calling  until  his  life's  labors 
were  ended  in  death,  when  he  had  reached  the 
age  of  ninety-one  years.  His  widow,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Barbara  Syler,  is  a  native 
of  Petersburg,  Canada,  and  now  resides  in 
South  Bend. 

The  early  educational  training  of  John  G. 
Hartman  was  received  in  the  public  schools, 
and  when  eighteen  years  of  age  he  took  up  the 
business  of  contracting  and  building,  this  be- 
ing among  the  last  years  of  his  father's  identi- 
fication with  that  business,  and  the  son  suc- 
ceeded him.  On  reaching  his  twenty-first  year 
he  embarked  in  the  real  estate  business  in 
South  Bend,  with  which  he  is  still  identified, 
and  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  he  has  erected 
and  sold  sixty-five  houses,  also  laid  out  four 
additions,  including  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
six  lots,  while  in  the  city  proper  he  has  built 
and  sold  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  houses. 
Mr.  Hartman  has'  built  and  financed  the 
Dewey  flats  and  the  Ciralsky  warehouse,  while 
in  1904  he  built  over  fifty  houses  for  other 
parties.  During  the  past  seven  years  he  has 
been  connected  as  general  overseer  with  the 
Harriett  Hartman  Remedy  Company,  which 
carries  on  an  extensive  business  over  all  parts 
of  the  United  States  and  Canada.  His  varied 
interests  also  include  fire  insurance.  His  sis- 
ter, Katie  P.,  is  associated  with  him  in  busi- 
ness, and  is  the  able  manager  of  the  office, 
rents  and  collections. 

On  the  25th  of  July,  1895,  Mr.  Hartman 
married  Miss  Hattie  May  Kurtz,  a  native  of 
St.  Joseph  county  and  a  daughter  of  Frank 
and  Ophelia  (Zeigler)  Kurtz,  the  latter  also 
a  native  of  this  county.  The  father  was  num- 
bered among  the  honored  early  pioneers  of 

Vol.   11—35. 


this  section  of  the  state,  and  was  long  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  history  of  St.  Jo- 
seph county.  Mr.  Hartman  holds  membership 
relations  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the 
Knights  of  Khorassan,  and  is  a  zealous  and 
active  member  of  the  Zion  Evangelical  church. 
He  is  emphatically  a  man  of  enterprise,  in- 
domitable energy  and  liberal  views,  and  is 
thoroughly  identified  in  feeling  with  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  the  county  and  city 
of  his  adoption. 

WauAM  N.  Bergan.  Close  application 
and  industry,  a  high  degree  of  self-reliance 
and  natural  aptiitudie  for  his  work  have 
brought  William  N.  Bergan  into  rank  with 
the  best  citizens  of  South  Bend  while  he  is 
still  one  of  the  youngest.  To  the  people  in 
general  he  has  been  well  known  for  many 
\  ears  through  his  connection  with  the  county 
clerk's  office,  and  his  thorough  training  and 
careful  legal  preparation  are  generally  rec- 
cignized  and  appreciated. 

Bom  in  Three  Rivers,  Michigan,  June  20, 
1880,  Mr.  Bergan 's  parents  were  Joseph  and 
Margaret  Bergan  (the  latter  being  deceased), 
and  his  father  has  been  well  known  for  many 
years  in  South  Bend  business  circles,  having 
promoted  several  manufacturing  enterprises 
and  conducting  a  wholesale  paper  stock  busi- 
ness. In  the  upbuilding  of  the  east  side  he 
has  been  especially  active,  and  several  im- 
portant results  of  his  work  come  to  mind  at 
mention  of  his  name.  Both  parents  were  bom 
in  county  Westmeath,  Ireland,  were  reared 
and  married  there,  and  on  coming  to  America 
lived  a  time  in  Cincinnati  and  then  in  the 
southern  part  of  Indiana  before  locating  in 
South  Bend. 

One  of  the  parochial  schools  of  this  city 
gave  Mr.  Bergan  his  early  education,  and 
later  he  attended  Notre  Dame  University  two 
years.  From  an  early  period  he  began  work 
which  contributed  to  his  education,  and 
his  schooling  was  continued  in  winter, 
while  in  summer  he  worked  in  the  fac- 
tories. On  leaving  school  he  began  studying 
law  in  the  office  of  George  E.  Clarke.  Here 
he  learned  shorthand  and  typewriting,  and 
during  the  two  years  spent  in  that  office  he 
acted  as  stenographer  and  attended  to  the 
collections  besides  learning  much  theoretical 
law.  He  left  Mr.  Clarke's  office  in  1899  to  enter 
the  county  clerk's  office  under  Clerk  George 
M.  Fountain,  and  later  being  appointed  dep- 
uty clerk  under  George  H.  Alward  he  con- 
tinued as  deputy  clerk  four  years,  and  was 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1148 


HISTORY   OP    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


later  appointed  deputy  under  the  present 
clerk,  Frank  P.  Christoph.  In  the  meantime 
he  had  continued  his  law  studies  and  in  1901, 
on  motion  of  Judge  Lucius  Hubbard  wias  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar.  Though  active  in  poli- 
tics, he  has  never  run  for  oflSce,  although  the 
respect  he  has  won  from  the  community  and 
his  popularity  with  the  people  would  make 
him  an  eligible  candidate  for  public  favor. 
Prominent  in  several  fraternal  orders,  he  was 
elected  state  vice  president  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  Hibernians  for  two  years,  and  was  a 
delegate  to  the  national  convention  of  the 
order.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Elks,  the 
Tribe  of  Ben  Hur  and  the  Knights  of 
Columbus. 

Mr.  Bergan  married,  June  20,  1906,  Miss 
Nellie  Hagerty,  daughter  of  Cornelius  Hag- 
erty,  of  South  Bend,  who  was  ticket  agent 
for  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad  Company  in  this 
city  for  thirty  years.  One  son  bom  of  their 
marriage  March  15,  1907,  is  named  William 
Joseph  Bergan. 

Charles  WEmLEB  was  bom  in  Union 
townsihip,  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  on  the 
17th  day  of  June,  1875.  He  was  the  sixth 
child  of  Valentine  and  Mary  (Koontz)  Weid- 
ler,  both  natives  of  Grermany. 

Charles  Weidler  spent  his  childhood  and 
youth  on  a  farm  attending  the  district  school 
imtil  he  was  13  years  of  age  and  then  took  a 
two  years'  course  at  the  graded  schools  at 
Bremen,  Indiana.  After  several  years  of 
teaching  school  he  attended  Valparaiso  Nor- 
mal and  the  state  university  at  Bloomington, 
Indiana,  and  at  the  latter  place  began  the 
study  of  law.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1901.  He  opened  an  office  to  follow  his 
chosen  profession  at  South  Bend  in  Novem- 
ber, 1902,  and  since  that  time  has  had  a  con- 
stantly increasing  business.  He  has  also  had 
some  experience  in  real  estate  affairs,  having 
been  interesrt:ed  in  the  platting  and  improving 
seveml  additions  to  the  city  and  in  building 
the  Jefferson  building. 

Mr.  Weidler  was  married  in  1901  to  Maude 
Jackson,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  T.  Jackson  and 
Mary  (Hupf)  Jackson,  of  Union  township, 
St.  Joseph  county.  They  have  two  children, 
Helen  and  Carl. 

George  H.  Wilklow,  one  of  the  progres- 
sive, wide-awake  young  business  men  of 
Mishawaka,  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the 
oldest  pioneer  families  of  St.  Joseph  county. 
He  seems  to  have  inherited  his  ability  for 
the    livery    business,    for    his    grandfather. 


Frank  Wilklow,  was  one  of  the  first  to  en- 
gage in  that  occupation  in  Mishawaka,  and 
his  father,  John  Z.  Wilklow,  was  a  veteran 
liveryman  of  the  city,  so  that  the  name  has 
long  been  prominently  associated  with  the 
vocation.  A  more  complete  history  of  the 
family  will  be  found  in  the  sketch  of  J.  Z. 
Wilklow  in  this  volume.  The  last  named  was 
a  native  son  of  Mishawaka,  bom  in  1856, 
and  in  this  city  his  son  George  also  had  his 
birth,  his  natal  day  being  the  6th  of  April, 
1881.  After  completing  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  he  became  identified  with  his 
present  occupation,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
father's  retirement,  on  the  16th  of  July,  1906, 
assumed  entire  charge  of  the  business.  He 
conducts  a  general  livery  business,  and  in 
addition  runs  hacks  to  and  from  the  depots. 
He  is  systematic,  prompt  and  far-sighted  in 
his  business  transactions,  meeting  his  obliga- 
tions faithfully  and  inspiring  confidence  in 
all  with  whom  he  has  de^dings.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order  and  of  the  Elks  and 
Owls,  and  in  his  political  affliations  he  is 
independent, 

John  Q.  Swangeb  comes  of  a  substantial 
family  of  Pennsylvania  (Jermans,  whose 
great-grandfather  founded  the  American 
branch.  The  latter  emigrated  from  the  fa- 
therland before  the  Revolutionary  war,  in 
which  he  afterward  became  a  participant, 
and  settled  near  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania, 
still  later  removing  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
In  1833  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Richland 
county,  that  state,  where  he  became  a  wealthy 
farmer  and  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  one 
hundred  and  two  years,  having  been  for  much 
of  his  long  life  a  faithful  Lutheran.  Jacob 
Swanger,  his  son,  was  bom  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  there  married 
to  Mary  Lasher,  their  union  resulting  in  thir- 
teen children.  After  the  birth  of  his  three 
eldest  children  Jacob  Swanger  moved  to 
Wayne  county,  Ohio,  but  in  1833  became  a 
resident  of  Richland  county,  where  he  re- 
sided upon  his  farm  of  one  hundred  acres 
until  1851,  the  nine  subsequent  years  being 
spent  in  Berrien  county,  Michigan.  He  then 
returned  to  Richland  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
died  at  the  venerable  age  of  ninety-seven 
years.  He  was  a  Lutheran.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  1812,  was  with  Perry  on  Lake 
Erie,  and  participated  in  other  engagements. 
He  was  a  man  of  great  versatility  in  many 
practical  ways,  being  a  skilful  farmer,  a 
practical  shoemaker,   a  good  weaver  and   a 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1149 


manufacturer  of  wheat  cradles  and  wooden 
mold-board  plows,  obtaining  the  material  for 
the  last  named  from  twisted  trees. 

Peter  Swanger,  the  son  of  Jacob  and  the 
father  of  John  Q.,  was  born  April  21,  1801, 
in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
such  a  hard  and  faithful  worker  from  early 
boyhood  that  he  received  few  educational  ad- 
vantages. He  went  to  Ohio  with  his  father 
and  was  married  in  "Wayne  county  to  Mary 
Boydson,  who  died  after  bearing  him  two 
children, — John  Q.  and  George  W.,  the  latter 
dying  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil 
war.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr. 
Swanger  moved  to  Richland  county,  Ohio,  in 
1835,  and  there  wedded  Martha  Johnson. 
They  became  the  parents  of  eight  children: 
William,  who  died  while  serving  in  the  Civil 
war;  Hester  A.,  Mary,  Alexander  J.,  Sarah, 
Margery,  Loving  C,  and  Franklin  B.  Peter 
Swanger  maintained  the  reputation  of  the 
family  for  longevity,  and  himself  attained 
the  age  of  over  ninety  years.  He  was  one  of 
the  most  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  Richland 
county,  and  for  many  years  was  a  leadin^c 
member  of  the  Christian  church.  Formerly 
a  Whig,  he  afterward  became  a  firm  Repub- 
lican and  his  politics  were  rooted  deeper  than 
ever  by  the  issues  and  results  of  the  Civil 
war.  Four  of  his  sons  served  in  the  Union 
army,  including  the  one  with  which  this 
biography  is  chiefly  concerned. 

John  Q.  Swanger  was  born  in  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  May  3,  1832,  performed  all  the 
duties  of  a  farmer's  son,  and  received  his 
usual  modicum  of  education.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  came  to  South  Bend,  and  after 
learning  the  carpenter's  trade  worked  at  it  in 
Berrien  county  most  of  the  time  until  the 
opening  of  the  Civil  war.  On  January  H, 
1856,  he  was  married  to  Elsa  J.,  daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Electa  (Scott)  Tripp,  the  former 
of  whom  was  a  native  of  Niagara  county,  New 
York,  and  a  manufacturer  of  plows.  Mra. 
Swanger  was  the  fourth  of  ten  children,  her 
father,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-six, 
being  a  well  educated  gentleman  as  well  as  a 
good  business  man.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Swanger  lived  in  Steel  county,  Minnesota, 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  in  1859  returned 
to  Berrien  county,  Michigan,  and  cultivated 
a  rented  farm  until  his  enlistment  in  the 
Union  service  in  August,  1862.  At  that  time 
he  joined  Company  K.  Twenty-fifth  Regiment, 
Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  hon- 
orably discharged  at  Salisbury,  North  Caro- 


lina, June  24,  1865,  after  having  participated 
in  the  following  engagements:  Tibb's  Bend, 
Kingston,  London,  Knoxville,  Mossy  Creek, 
Rocky  Fiaoe  Mountain,  Resaoa,  Dallas,  Al- 
toona,  Cips  Farm,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Eutaw 
Creek,  Decatur,  Atlanta,  Jonesboro,  Duck 
River  Ford,  Nashville,  New  Brunswick,  Wil- 
mington, Goldsboro,  Raleigh  and  Greensboro. 
His  command  was  present  at  the  surrender 
of  General  Joe  Johnston. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Swanger  was  first  em- 
ployed in  the  wagon  factory  of  Alexis  Co- 
quiUard,  nine  years  later  he  became  connected 
with  the  Studebaker  Brothers'  manufactory, 
and  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  manu- 
facturing of  cement  sidewalks,  in  which  line 
he  has  developed  a  fine  business,  being  recog- 
nized as  an  expert  in  South  Bend  and  con- 
tiguous territory.  In  fraternal  ranks  Mr. 
Swanger  has  confined  his  most  enthusiastic 
work  to  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  his  Republicanism 
is  of  the  kind  founded  upon  the  terrible  reali- 
ties of  the  Civil  war.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Swanger  are  members  of  the  Christian  church. 

Mr.  Swanger 's  marriage  has  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  ten  children:  Myron  F.,  who  was  in 
the  regular  service  of  the  United  States  for 
five  years,  was  in  a  number  of  engagements 
with  Indians  and  married  Clara  Harris,  had 
a  number  of  children;  Levi  E.,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  years;  Homer,  who  mar- 
ried Candace  BuUard,  is  a  resident  of  Misha- 
waka,  and  has  a  family  of  four  children; 
Lenora,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight; 
William  J.,  married,  and  in  the  hardware 
business  at  Marion,  Indiana;  Ella,  who  mar- 
ried Edward  Nolan,  of  South  Bend ;  John  Q., 
who  married  Effie  Lawler  and  is  a  tinner  of 
Mishawaka ;  Grant,  who  died  when  nine  years 
of  age;   May  and  Louie. 

Mathias  Lang.  In  all  ages  the  desire  to 
be  remembered  after  one's  brief  span  of  life 
is  finished  has  been  one  of  the  most  important 
factors  of  human  existence,  and  we  are  glad 
to  place  before  the  readers  of  this  work,  which 
records  the  histories  of  many  of  the  repre- 
sentative citizens  and  families  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  a  few  facts  which  have  been  gleaned 
in  regard  to  the  life  of  the  subject  of  this 
memoir.  Mr.  Lang  was  born  in  Germany 
June  8,  1830,  and  the  first  thirty-three  years 
of  his  life  were  spent  in  the  fatherland,  after 
which,  in  1863,  he  set  sail  for  America.  Con- 
tinuing on  to  Mishawaka,  Indiana,  he  here 
learned  his  trade  of  coopering,  under  the  in- 
structions of  his  brother,  Henry  Lang.     On 


455412 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1150 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


the  2d  of  September,  1863,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Anna  Lunz,  a  native  also  of  Ger- 
many, where  she  was  born  on  the  30th  of 
June,  1833,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters: 
Benjamin,  deceased;  Henry;  Mathias,  de- 
ceased; Rosa,  the  wife  of  John  Goller,  now 
retired  and  lives  in  South  Bend;  and  Mary, 
the  wife  of  August  Mahank,  engaged  in  the 
saloon  business  in  Mishawaka.  All  were  bom 
and  reared  in  this  city,  receiving  their  edu- 
cation in  its  Catholic  schools,  and  the  family 
are  members  of  the  Catholic  church.  He  con- 
tinued his  work  at  the  cooper's  trade  until 
his  busy  life  was  ended  in  death,  passing 
away  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years.  He  gave 
his  political  support  to  the  Democratic  party. 
He  had  no  enemies,  for  his  honest,  kindly  na- 
ture drew  every  one  to  him  and  made  them 
his  friends.  His  widow  lived  with  her  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Goller,  till  her  death  in  1907. 

Archibald  Graham.  A  promin«pnt  repre- 
sentative of  the  bar  of  northern  Indiana  is 
Archibald  Graham,  who  is  also  winning  for 
himself  a  name  among  the  political  leaders 
of  this  section  of  the  state.  He  was  bom 
in  London,  Ontario,  on  the  1st  of  September, 
1871,  his  parents  being  John  and  Rebecca 
(McClellan)  Graham,  both  natives  of  Scot- 
land, a  country  which  has  furnished  our  re- 
public with  some  of  her  most  loyal  sons. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age  the  father 
crossed  the  waters  to  Canada,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  he  is  still 
a  resident  of  Ontario. 

After  attending  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  locality  Archibald  Graham  matricu- 
lated in  Toronto  University  in  1892,  while  in 
1896  he  graduated  from  the  Detroit  Cjlli^jre 
of  Law.  Coming  to  Mishav;aka,  Indiana,  in 
the  sajne  year,  he  remained  in  that^city  until 
in  August,  1905,  when  he  established  his 
heme  in  South  Bend  and  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  the  Hon.  A.  L.  Brick,  the  firm  name 
becoming  Brick  &  Graham.  Mr.  Graham's 
ability  as  a  legal  practitioner  soon  won  him 
a  distinctively  repressentative  clientage,  and 
from  the  beginning  of  his  career  as  a  lawyer 
his  efforts  have  been  attended  with  success. 
This  ability  has  also  led  to  his  selection  for 
public  honors,  and  in  1904  he  served  as  chair- 
man of  the  county  Republican  central  com- 
mittee. Throughout  the  period  of  his  resi- 
dence in  Mishawaka  he  served  as  its  city  at- 
torney with  the  exception  of  a  year  and  a 
half,  and  after  coming  to  South  Bend  still 


continued  to  hold  that  office  until  his  resig- 
nation in  September,  1906,  his  service  in 
this  city  being  under  a  Democratic  adminis- 
tration, although  he  is  a  stalwart  supporter 
of  Republican  principles. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  1904,  ^Ir.  Graham 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Harriet 
Crane,  a  daughter  of  Charles  Crane,  of  Elk- 
hart county,  Indiana.  Mr.  Graham  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order  at  Mishawaka,  also 
of  the  Commandery  in  South  Bend,  of  the 
order  of  Elks  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Indiana  Club 
and  the  St.  Joseph  Valley  Country  Club. 

L.  M.  MucHA.  No  citizen  of  South  Bend 
enjoys  the  confidence  and  high  esteem  of  his 
associates  in  a  greater  degree  than  doe^  L. 
M.  Mucha,  who  came  to  this  city  in  1891 
from  his  home  in  Poland,  where  he  was  bom 
en  the  23d'  of  July,  1863.  He  received  an  ex- 
cellent education  in  his  native  land,  grad- 
uating in  some  of  its  leading  colleges,  and 
afterward  taught  in  the  schook  there.  Com- 
ing direct  to  South  Bend  from  his  home  in 
Poland  in  1891,  he  resumed  his  teaching  in 
St.  Hedwidge's  Schools,  thus  continuing  for 
six  years,  and  he  tSien  taught  in  the  St.  Ka- 
zonider  schools  unitil  1905.  During  that  time 
he  also  taught  history  and  the  Polish  lan- 
guage in  Notre  Dame  University  for  two 
hours  each  day.  Mr.  Mucha  was  appointed 
a  notary  public,  in  which  capacity  he  has 
served  for  nine  years,  and  his  term  of  office 
does  not  expire  for  three  years  following. 
He  is  also  the  secretary  and  one  of  the  stock- 
holders in  the  Jan  III  Sobieski  Building  and 
Loan  Association,  and  in  addition  to  his  other 
varied  business  relations  is  also  extensively 
engaged  in  the  insurance  business. 

In  his  native  country  of  Poland  in  1888 
Mr.  Mucha  was  married  to  Anna  Stopka,  and 
their  two  children  are  Mary  and  Steve.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Modem  "Woodmen  of 
America,  of  Branch  83  of  the  Polish  Na- 
tional Alliance  of  America,  the  St.  Kasimier 
Society  and  the  Polish  Turners,  Z.  B.  No.  1. 
He  has  been  four  times  delegate  to  the  Polish 
National  Alliance,  and  in  1907  was  elected 
Commissioner  for  the  Alliance  for  Indiana, 
Since  taking  up  his  abode  in  South  Bend 
Mr.  Mucha  has  taken  an  active  interest  in 
the  development  of  the  resources  of  his  lo- 
cality, and  as  a  real  estate  dealer,  steamship 
agent  and  notary  public,  with  offices  at  822 
South  Webster  street,  he  is  well  known  to  the 
business  men  of  this  city. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1151 


Adam  Hunsberger.  To  become  firmly  es- 
tablished in  the  confidenee  of  a  community 
in  the  ajctivities  of  many  fields  of  endeavor 
is  indicative  not  only  of  a  powerful  physical 
personality  but  of  a  most  elastic  and  vig- 
orous mentality.  Such  a  combination  is  found 
in  Adam  Hunsberger,  educator,  public  offi- 
cial, land  dealer  and  merchant  of  South 
Bend.  For  years  prominently  connected  with 
the  mercantile,  industrial,  agricultural  and 
civic  interests  of  his  community,  he  is  a 
Canadian  by  birth,  a  native  of  Perth  county, 
province  of  Ontario,  bom  March  23,  1860. 
His  father,  Christian  Hunsberger,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  of  German  ancestry,  and  his 
mother  (formerly  Margaret  Paflf)  was  a  na- 
tive of  the  fatherland.  When  a  young  man 
Mr.  Hunsberger  remove<J  to  Perth  county, 
Canada,  where  he  married  and  resided  until 
1860,  returning  then  to  the  States  and  set- 
tling in  Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  where  he 
has  since  lived,  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits. 

Adam  Hunsberger  was  but  an  infant  when 
his  parents  brought  him  to  Indiana,  and  so 
knows  no  other  state  as  his  home.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Elkhart 
county,  and  in  young  manhood  devoted  much 
of  his  time  to  teaching.  Until  he  was  of  age 
he  livedo  with  his  parents,  but  at  his  majority 
purchased  a  farm  in  Penn  township,  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  which  he  operated  for  several 
years  in  connection  with  his  school  teaching. 
In  1894  he  transferred'  his  residence  from 
the  farm  to  River  Park,  and  has  since  lived 
in  that  place. 

In  1893  Mr.  Hunsberger  was  appointed 
deputy  county  treasurer,  serving  in  that  ca- 
pacity for  four  years,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1902  was  elected  county  treasurer  on  the 
Republican  ticket  to  succeed  Mr.  Ziegler. 
He  was  re-elected  in  1904,  and  completed  his 
second  term  with  a  high  and  sustained  repu- 
tation for  financial  aibility  and  unimpeach- 
able integrity.  Since  leaving  the  treasury 
department  of  the  county  he  has  devoted 
himself  to  a  multiplicity  of  interests  and 
investments,  which  he  ha»  been  continually 
developing. 

Having  a  firm  and  abiding  faith  in  the 
future  of  St.  Joseph  county,  especially  in 
the  permanent  and  increasing  value  of  its 
real  estate,  Mr.  Hunsberger  has  been  a  lib- 
eral investor  in  both  country  and  town  prop- 
erty, and  is  the  ownier  of  fine  farm  lands  in 
Penn  and  Union  townships.    He  is  also  presi- 


dent of  the  South  Bend  Land  Company  and 
of  the  River  Park  Land  and  Improvement 
Company,  and  is  influential  with  the  indus- 
trial and  mercantile  interests  of  the  county 
as  president  of  the  R.  G.  Snell  Manufactur- 
ing Company  and  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Albert  &  Hunsberger,  hardware  dealers  of 
Mishawaka. 

On  the  6th  of  May,  1885,  Mr.  Hunsberger 
married  Miss  Kate  E.  Albert,  a  native  of 
Penn  township,  St.  Joseph  county,  whose 
father,  Charles  Albert,  was  a  Philadelphian, 
born  March)  7,  1843.  Her  mother,  Margaret 
Klein,  was  bom  in  Germany,  and  when  seven 
years  of  age  was  brought  to  America  by  her 
parents,  Mathias  and  Katherine  Klein.  The 
daughter  was  educated  in  the  district  schools, 
and  resided  with  her  parents  until  her  mar- 
riage, at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  to  Charles 
Albert.  Mrs.  Albert  died  on  the  28th  of 
May,  1906. 

The  maternal  grandfather,  Anthony  Al- 
bert, was  bom  in  Germany,  locating  in  the 
City  of  Brotherly  Love  when  a  young  man. 
Soon  afterward  he  married  Bar^bara  Beck,  a 
countrywoman,  and  from  Philadelphia  they 
removed  to  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  they  resided  until  1850.  In  that  year 
the  parents  with  their  family  started  west- 
ward to  seek  a  home  and'  better  opportunities 
for  their  children.  They  made  the  journey 
overland  in  a  one-horse  wagon,  first  locating 
in  Madison  township,  St.  Joseph  county, 
where  Anthony  Albert  secured  a  tract  of 
government  land.  He  at  once  built  a  log 
house  in  the  wilderness  and  industriously 
set  to  work  to  clear  his  land,  finally  bringing 
it  to  the  condition  of  a  well  cultivated-  and 
valuable  farm,  which  he  occupied  until  his 
death. 

It  was  in  this  locality  that  Charles  Albert, 
the  father  of  Mrs.  Hunsberger,  was  reared. 
He  assisted  his  father  until  1865,  when  he 
bought  eighty  acres  in  Penn  township  pn  an 
independ'ent  venture,  and  thereafter,  by  in- 
dustry and  good  judgment,  was  enabled  to 
add  and  profitably  develop  other  farming 
property,  until  he  owned  about  eight  hun*- 
dred  acres  of  choice  lands  in  various  sections 
of  the  county.  He  was  actively  engaged  in 
agricultural  operations  until  1905,  when  he 
i-emoved  to  Mishawaka,  where  he  now  lives 
in  comfortable  and  honored  retirement. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunsberger  have  become  the 
parents  of  two  children^ — Charles  A.,  bom 
November  28,  1886,  and  Grace,  born  August 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1152 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


6',  1891.  Mr.  Hunsberger  is  a  member  of 
South  Bend  Lod^e  No.  294,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  St.  Joseph  Chapter  No.  29;  R.  A.  M., 
and  is  also  identified  with  South  Bend  Lodge 
No.  235,  B.  P.  0.  E. 

Robert  F.  Lucas,  D.  Di  S.,  who  has  gained 
an  enviable  prestige  as  one  of  the  most  able 
and  successful  of  the  younger  practitioners 
of  dental  surgery  in  the  city  of  South  Bend, 
is  numbered  among  its  native  sons,  his  birth 
occurring  on  the  24th  of  August,  1881.  His 
father,  Sylvester  John.  Lucas,  was  also  a 
native  son  of  South  Bend,  bom  in  1856,  and 
was  a  son  of  John  Lucas,  a  native  of  Ashland 
county,  Ohio,  but  who  came  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  at  an  early  day,  and  was 
thereafter  numbered  among  its  honored  pio- 
neers. For  many  years  he  was  a  prominent 
and  well  known  merchant  of  South  Bend. 
His  son.  Sylvester  John  was  throughout  the 
most  of  his  active  business  career  connected 
with  the  Studebakers,  his  mother,  a  native 
of  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  having  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Studebaker  family  and  a  sister 
of  the  Studebaker  brothers  so  well  known 
in  this  city.  Mr.  Lucas  married  Anna  Agnes 
Moreland,  whose  father,  John  Moreland,  was 
a  native  of  Ireland.  She,  however,  was  born 
in  Marshall,  Calhoun  county.  Michigan,  and 
was  reared  in  Battle  Creek,  that  state.  They 
became  the  parents  of  four  children,  three 
of  whom  are  living  at  the  present  time :  Rob- 
ert F.,  whose  name  introduces  this  review; 
Edigar  S.,  a  ranchman  of  Montana;  and 
(George  M.,  who  is  yet  a  student.  The  wife 
and  mother  was  called  to  the  home  beyond 
in  1899.  when  only  thirty-six  years  of  age, 
and  on  the  10th  of  February,  *1905,  the  fa- 
tlier  joined  her  in  the  spirit  world. 

Dr.  Lucas  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  his 
native  city  of  South  Bend,  receiving  his  edu- 
cation in  its  public  schools,  while  for  a  time 
he  also  attended  school  at  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky. His  professional  training  was  re- 
ceived in  the  Chicago  College  of  Dental  Sur- 
gery, in  which  he  was  graduated  in  1904, 
and  the  same  year  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  South  Bend,  his  well 
equipped  office  being  located  at  301  South 
Michigan  street.  He  holds  membership  rela- 
tions with  the  Chicago  College  Alumni  Asso- 
ciation, the  Odontographic  Society,  the  In- 
diana State  Dental  Society,  also  with  the 
Knights  of  Columbus,  the  Elks,  the  Easjles, 
the  Hibernians,  the  Catholic  Society  and  the 
Saint  Vincent  de  Paul,  a  charitable  organiza- 


tion. In  his  political  affiliations  Dr.  Lucas 
is  a  Republican. 

Stuart  Mackibbin.  A  corporation  lawyer 
of  high  standing,  broad  education  and  suc- 
cessful practice,  Stuart  Mackibbin,  of  South 
Bend,  was  bom  at  Lake  Gteneva,  Wisconsin, 
on  the  22d  of  November,  1860.  Darius  Mac- 
kibbin, his  father,  was  connected  with  the 
United  States  regular  army  during  his  earlier 
years,  but  later  followed  mercantile  pursuits, 
and  was  a  farmer  from  1862  until  his  death 
in  1900. 

In  1881,  then  twenty  years  of  age,  Mr. 
Mackibbin  commenced  to  read  law  in  Colum- 
bia City,  Indiana.  He  was  thus  busily  and 
profitably  engaged  for  two  years  in  the  of- 
fices of  Hon.  J.  W.  Adair  and  Marshall  & 
McNagny.  Mr.  Mackibbin  has  been  honored 
with  the  degrees  of  M.  A.  from  Wabash  Col- 
lege, at  Crawfordsville,  Indiana,  and  LL.  M. 
from  the  Valparaiso  (Indiana)  University. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1883  and  prac- 
ticed in  Michigan  for  ten  years,  having  been 
a  resident  of  South  Bend  since  1893.  He 
has  achieved  a  high  reputation  both  as  a 
practitioner  in  the  higher  courts,  a  shrewd 
and  broadly  able  manager  and  counselor  in 
various  corporate  interests,  and  an  educator 
in  professional  lines. 

Mr.  Mackibbin  is  a  member  of  the  bar  of 
the  supreme  court  of  the  United  States,  of 
the  supreme  courts  of  Indiana  and  Michi- 
gan, United  States  court  of  appeals  (seventh 
circuit),  and  the  United  States  circuit  courts 
of  Indiana,  western  district  of  Michigan, 
western  district  of  Wisconsin,  northern  dis- 
trict of  Illinois  and  West  Virginia,  He  is 
also  a  registered  attorney  of  the  United 
States  patent  office.  For  two  years  he  was  a 
lecturer  on  corporation  law  in  the  law  de- 
partment of  the  Valparaiso  (Indiana)  T^ni- 
versity.  On  June  17,  1885,  Mr.  Mackibbin 
married  Miss  Susie  M.  Brown,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Mary  Wilnot  Mackibbin.  bom  in 
1886. 

Harry  A.  Lundy.  During  a  period  of 
twenty-two  years  the  name  of  Harr>'  A. 
Lundy  has  been  found  upon  the  roll  of 
South  Bend's  business  men,  and  he  is  now 
serving  as  buyer  for  one  of  the  leading  de- 
partments of  the  Elsworth  store.  He  is  pub- 
lic spirited  and  progressive,  and  thoroughly 
interested  in  whatever  tends  to  promote  the 
material  welfare  of  his  comunity,  and  during 
the  past  four  years  he  has  served  as  secretary 
of  the  board  of  public  safety,  his  faithful 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF    ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1153 


service  in  public  life,  as  well  as  his  personal 
worth,  making  him  an  honored  resident  of 
South  Bend.  His  birth  occurred  in  Green- 
castle,  Indiana,  September  11,  1869,  a  son 
of  R.  W.  and  Lucy  (Robinson)  Lundy,  the 
former  a  native  of  Sherman,  Pennsylvania, 
and  the  latter  of  Greencastle,  Indiana. 

Harry  A.  Lundy,  the  eldest  of  their  five 
children,  received'  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  the  city  of  New  York  and 
in  the  high  school  of  South  Bend,  he  having 
located  in  this  city  in  1885.  For  two  years 
after  the  completion  of  his  education  he 
served  as  a  salesman  in  the  carpet  depart- 
ment of  the  store  of  George  Wyman,  and  in 
1889  transferred  his  connection  to  the  Els- 
worth  store,  as  salesman  in  their  carpet  and 
drapery  department,  but  with  the  passing 
years  he  gradually  ascended  higher  and 
higher  on  the  ladder  of  success  until  he  is 
now  filling  the  important  position  of  man- 
ager and  buyer  of  the  cloak  department. 
He  was  tendered  this  position  in  1897,  and 
has  ever  since  continued  to  discharge  its  du- 
ties. His  public  spirted  interest  in  the  af- 
fairs of  the  city  led  to  his  selection  for  the 
oflSce  of  secretary  of  the  board  of  public 
safety,  of  which  he  has  been  the  incumbent 
for  four  years,  and  in  which  he  has  been  true 
and  faithful  to  the  trusts  reposed  in  him. 
The  Republican  party  receives  his  unfalter- 
ing support,  and)  his  fraternal  relations  con- 
nect him  with  the  order  of  Elks  in  South 
Bend. 

In  189'8  Mr.  Lundy  was  united  in  marriage 
tc  Hannah  E.  Cliflford,  a  daughter  of  Dennis 
Clifford,  one  of  the  honored  old  pioneer  resi- 
dents of  this  city.  During  the  long  period 
of  twenty-two  years  Mr.  Lundy  has  been 
identified  with  the  interests  of  his  adopted 
city,  spending  two  years  of  the  time  in  school 
and  the  remainder  with  two  of  its  leading 
mercantile  houses.  His  identification  with 
his  present  firm  covers  a  period  of  eighteen 
years,  and  he  is  now  one  of  their  most  trusted 
employes,  while  he  also  has  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him,  and  his 
friends  are  many. 

Prank  P.  Hartzell.  In  an  early  day  in 
its  history  the  Hartzell  family  took  up  their 
abode  within  the  borders  of  St.  Joseph 
county,  and  as  the  years  have  grown  apace 
its  representatives  have  taken  an  active  and 
prominent  part  in  its  development,  have 
aided  in  its  wonderful  transformation  and 
'n   many  ways  have  promoted  the  progress 


and  advancement  which  have  since  taken 
plaee.  One  of  its  members  is  Prank  P.  Hart- 
zell, who  has  lived  and  labored  in  the  county 
for  many  years,  and  is  now  living  in  quiet 
retirement  in  his  pleasant  home  at  123  East 
Ohio  street.  South  Bend.  He  was  born  in 
Akron  oounty,  Ohio,  July  1,  1848,  a  son  of 
George  Hartzell,  who  was  also  born  and 
reared  in  that  county.  In  Canton,  Ohio,  he 
was  married  to  Mariah  Cristman,  who  was 
bom  in  Pennsylvania  in  1809,  and  they  be- 
gan their  married  life  in  Akron,  Ohio,  where 
Mr.  Hartzell  was  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  sash  and  blinds  until  his  removal  to 
South  Bend  in  1855.  In  this  city  he  con- 
tinued his  chosen  occupation  in  company 
with  Jacob  Ryder,  the  firm  of  Hartzell  & 
Ryder  becoming  well  known  throughout  this 
section  of  the  state,  and  Mr.  Hartzell  was 
actively  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  sash 
and  blinds  until  his  retirement  from  business 
in  1882.  In  his  early  life  he  gave  his  politi- 
eal  support  to  the  Whig  party,  and  at  the 
organization  of  the  new  Republican  party 
he  espoused  its  cause,  and'  at  one  time  served 
as  chief  of  the  city  fire  department.  His 
busy  and  useful  life  was  ended  in  death  after 
having  passed  the  Psalmist's  span  of  three 
score  years  and  ten,  for  his  birth  occurred 
in  1819,  and  his  wife  was  ninety-one  years  of 
age  ere  she  joined  him  in  the  home  beyond. 
In  their  family  were  five  children,  three  sons 
and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living  at 
the  present  time. 

Prank  P.  Hartzell,  the  youngest  of  the 
family,  was  but  a  little  lad  of  seven  years 
when'  the  family  home  was  established  in 
South  Bend,  receiving  his  education  in  its 
pioneer  schools  and  early  becoming  identi- 
fied with  its  business  interests.  Prom  1880 
until  1884  he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business  in  this  city,  during  the  following 
three  years  was  connected  with  its  grocery 
trade,  and  for  six  years  was  employed  as  a 
pattern-maker.  During  the  past  six  years 
he  has  lived  retired  from  the  active  cares  of  a 
business  life,  his  industry  and  enterprise  in 
former  years  enabling  him  to  enjoy  the  com- 
forts and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life.  Fifty- 
two  years  have  passed-  and  gone  since  he 
became  identified  with  the  interests  of  St. 
Joseph  county,  and  thus  for  a  long  period 
his  name  has  been  prominently  connected 
with  its  annals. 

On  the  26th  of  December,  1872,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr.  Hartzell  and  Miss 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1154 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


Mary  F.  Weaver.  She  is  a  daugrhter  of  An- 
drew and  Sarah  F.  (Nunnally)  Weaver,  who 
became  identified  with  the  interests  of  St. 
Joseph  county  in  a  very  early  day,  their  ar- 
rival dating  as  early  as  1834.  Mrs.  Hartzell 
has  been  a  life-long  resident  of  South  Bend, 
her  birth  having  occurred  in  this  city  on  the 
17th  of  February,  1852,  and  by  her  mar- 
riage she  has  become  the  mother  of  two  sons, 
Horace,  who  is  serving  as  a  mail  carrier  in 
South  Bend,  and  Louis,  a  resident  of  Steger, 
Illinois.  In  his  fraternal  relations 3Ir.  Hart- 
zell is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Mac- 
cabees, and-  politically  has  been  a  life-long 
Republican.  He  is  highly  esteemed  in  the 
community  for  his  honorable,  upright  life. 

William  P.  0'NEa.L.  Everywhere  in  our 
land  are  found  men  who  have  worked  their 
own  way  to  places  of  leadership  and  high 
esteem,  and  thus  it  has  been  with  the  emi- 
nent member  of  the  bar  of  Mishawaka,  Wil- 
liam P.  O'Neill,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
South  Bemd,  Indiana,  February  7,  1874,  a 
son  of  Dennis  and  Margaret  (McMahon) 
O'Neill,  the  father  a  native  of  Ireland  and 
the  mother  of  Montreal,  Canada,  although 
of  Irish  descent.  When  a  young  man  the 
father  came  to  America  and  first  located  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  but  in  the  late  '50k  came  to 
South  Bend,  where  he  was  for  a  time  asso- 
ciated with  the  Studebaker  Brothers,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  was  serving  as  street 
commissioner.  He  was  but  a  young  man 
when  death  claimed  him,  passing  away  in 
1879,  but  his  widow  survived  until  1905. 

William  P;  O'Neill,  the  seventh  child  and 
second  son  of  fiis  parents'  nine  children,  was 
reared  and  received  his  educational  training 
in  his  native  city  of  South  Bend.  He  was 
only  a  little  lad  of  nine  years  when  he  se- 
cured work  in  the  drygoods  store  of  George 
Wyman,  and  after  leaving  his  employ  was 
in  the  office  of  the  Studebaker  Brothers  until 
attaining  his  thirteenth  year.  So  diligently 
had  he  labored  and  so  economically  had  he 
lived  that  at  this  time  he  was  able  to  enter 
Notre  Dame  University,  where  he  pursued 
the  literary  and  scientific  courses  and  left 
the  institution  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years. 
Immediately  afterward  he  entered  the  news- 
paper business,  establishing  the  Mishawaka 
Democrat,  which  was  for  years  one  of  the 
most  widely  circulated  journals  in  the  entire 
state  of  Indiana.  It  had  always  been  the 
wish  of  Mr.  O'Neill's  life  that  he  might  some 
day  enter  the  legal   profession,  and  as  this 


became  possible  he  returned  to  Notre  Dame 
and  completed  the  law  course,  after  which  he 
was  admitted  to  the  'bar.  He  bad  previously 
disposed  of  his  newspaper  interests,  and  from 
that  time  forward  has  given  his  entire  time 
and  talents  to  his  chosen  profession  of  the 
law,  practicing  in  partnership  with  Ed  H. 
Schwab  and  under  the  firm  name  of  O'Neill 
&  Schwab.  He  has  always  been  an  ardent 
supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  in  1900  was  the  successful  candi- 
date for  the  office  of  prosecuting  attorney, 
while  in  1906  he  entered  upon  a  four  years' 
term  in  the  office  of  city  attorney.  In  all 
of  his  public  duties  he  has  given  general  sat- 
isfaction and  has  met  the  requirements  of 
the  office  with  fidelity  and  ability.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  other  manifold  duties  he  is  also 
serving  as  secretary  of  the  Milbum  Place 
Land  Company  and  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  North  Side  Land  aiid  Improvement 
Company. 

On  the  5th  of  February,  1894,  Mr.  O'Neill 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Gertrude  Feiten. 
who  was  bom  in  Mishawaka,  the  daughter 
of  John  and  Isabella  (Black)  Feiten.  Four 
children  have  been  bom  of  this  union,  Ron- 
ald, Geraldine,  Angela  and  Dennis.  Mr. 
O'Neill  holds  membership  relations  with  the 
Knights  of  Columbus  and  the  Catholic 
Foresters. 

Charles  W.  Cole,  who  has  gained  an  en- 
viable prestige  as  one  of  the  younger  repre- 
sentatives of  the  business  interests  of  Misha- 
waka, where  he  is  now  serving  as  assistant 
city  engineer,  was  born  in  Pierre,  South  Da- 
kota, November  19,  1883.  His  father,  Henry 
C.  Cole,  a  traveling  salesman  in  the  interests 
of  the  Mishawaka  "Woolen  Manufacturing: 
Company,  was  bom  in  New  York,  but  came 
to  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  with  his  par- 
ents, Charles  and  Miletta  Cole,  during  his 
early  boyhood  days,  attaining  to  years  of 
maturity  on  his  father's  farm  here  and  re- 
ceiving his  education  in  the  Mishawaka 
schools.  In  South  Bend  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Helen  M.  Whitmon,  also  a  na- 
tive of  the  Empire  state,  and  of  their  family 
of  four  children,  three  sons  and  a  daughter, 
Charles  was  the  third  child  and  second  son 
in  order  of  birth.  Two  of  the  children  were 
born  in  South  Dakota  and  two  in  St.  Joseph 
county.  Mr.  H.  C.  Cole  gives  his  political 
support  to  the  Republican  party,  and  fra- 
ternally is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order. 

To     the     public    schools    of     Mishawaka 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


1155 


Charles  W.  Cole  is  indebted  for  his  educa- 
tional training,  and  after  completing  his 
studies  therein  pursued  a  course  of  practical 
surveying  in  the  Scyanton  School  of  Corre- 
spondence. In  1903  he  became  an  employe 
of  the  city,  and  gradually,  by  his  ability  and 
straightforward  methods,  has  worked  his  way 
to  the  front. and  to  his  present  position  of 
assi^ant  city  engineer. 

On  the  6th  of  February,  1907,  Mr.  Cole 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Hazel  F.  Moore, 
who  was  born  in  Three  Rivers,  Michigan, 
December  12,  1887,  and  when  twelve  years 
of  age  she  came  to  St.  Joseph  county,  In- 
diana, completing  her  education  in  the  city 
schools  of  Mishawaka.  Mr.  Cole  gives  a 
stanch  and  unfaltering  support  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Republican  party.  Judging  by 
his  past  his  future  may  be  forecast  as  char- 
acterized by  great  activity  in  the  important 
things  that  concern  the  interests  of  society 
and  good  government. 

Ed  S.  Chirhart,  manager  of  the  East  Side 
lumber  yard  of  South  Bend,  with  office  at 
131  South  Emerick  street,  was  bom  in  Notre 
Dame,  Indiana,  September  20,  1869,  a  son 
of  Jacob  Henry  and  Mary  M.  (Talley)  Chir- 
hart, the  former  bom  in  Canton,  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  in  Hartford, 
Connecticut.  The  paternal  grandfather  was 
Apolina  Chirhart,  a  native  of  Germany,  who, 
a  few  years  after  his  marriage  to  Mary 
Meyer,  came  to  America  and)  settled  at  Can- 
ton, Ohio,  where  he  died  within  a  few  years. 
His  widow,  having  married  John  Beglin, 
came  to  Indiana,  the  family  becoming  pio- 
neers of  St.  Joseph  county^  living  for  a  time 
in  Clay  township  and  later  on  Harris  prairie, 
.where  Mr.  Beglin  spent  his  last  years,  his 
widow  passing  her  declining  years  in  Misha- 
waka. Jacob  H.  Chirhart,  'the  father,  having 
come  to  Harris  township  in  pioneer  times, 
was  a  successful  farmer  there  until  his  life's 
labors  were  ended  in  death,  in  about  his 
fiftieth  year,  while  his  wife  reached  the  age 
of  about  sixty  before  death  called  her.  Mr. 
Chirhart 's  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Alfred 
Morris  Talley,  a  noted  man  in  South  Bend 
and  elsewhere  in  the  middle  west.  He  was  a 
Southerner  by  birth,  his  parents  being  slave- 
owners, but  be  himself  became  resolutely  op- 
posed to  this  institution  and  is  to  be  counted 
among  the  prominent  abolitionists  who  were 
so  successful  in  molding  sentiment  during  the 
two  decades  before  the  war.  Going  to  Chi- 
cago in  1835  he  became  an  associate  of  John 


Went  worth  in  conducting  a  newspaper  in 
that  city,  and  several  years  later  established 
the  Ave  Maria  at  Notre  Dame,  a  paper  that 
became  a  definite  power  in  St.  Joseph  county. 

Ed  S.  Chirhart,  the  third  child  and  second 
son  among  his  parents'  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  was  reared  on  his  father's  home- 
stead near  Notre  Dame,  receiving  his  educa- 
tional training  in  Notre  Dame  University. 
Remaining  at  home  until  about  twenty-three 
years  old,  he  was  then  associated  for  one 
year  with  the  South  Bend  Implement  Com- 
pany as  traveling  salesman,  was  connected 
with  the  Baker  grocery  store  until  1902,  and 
in  that  year  turned  his  attention  to  the  lum- 
ber business.  Since  1905  he  has  been  mana- 
ger of  the  East  Side  lumber  yard,  and  has 
directed  the  business  with  such  ability  that 
the  credit  for  the  success  of  that  well  known 
enterprise  largely  rests  with  Mr.  Chirhart. 

In  October,  1903,  Mr.  Chirhart  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Anna  M.  McCabe,  daughter 
of  John  and  Hannah  McCabe,  and  one  son, 
Ed*ward  S.,  has  hlessed  their  union.  Mr. 
Chirhart  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
Democratic  party,  and  his  fraternal  relations 
are  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus.  His  en- 
tire life  having  been  spent  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  he  is  well  known  among  its  citizens 
and  is  held  in  uniform  esteem. 

Andrew  Byers,  Sr.  Among  the  first  fam- 
ilies to  establish  their  home  in  the  wilds  of 
St.  Joseph  county  were  the  Byers,  and  Mr. 
Andrew  Byers,  who  was  only  a  little  lad  of 
seven  years  at  the  time  of  his  parents'  ar- 
rival, is  therefore  numbered  among  the  hon- 
ored pioneers  who  have  not  only  witnessed 
the  remarkable  growth  and  transformation  of 
the  region,  but  have  been  important  factors 
in  its  progress  and  advancement.  He  was 
bom  in  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  January  11, 
1830,  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Mary  (Price) 
Byers,  who  took  up  their  abode  within  the 
borders  of  St.  Joseph  county  in  1837,  about 
the  1st  of  May.  In  the  southern  part  of  the 
county  their  little  son  Andrew  grew  to  j'cars 
of  maturity,  and  when  he  was  but  eight  years 
old  his  father  died,  he  remaining  on  the  farm 
with  his  mother  until  his  twenty-first  year. 
In  1843  they  left  the  southern  part  of  the 
county  and  moved  to  Warren  township,  and 
after  his  marriage  Mr.  Byers  spent  one  year 
in  Mt.  Pleasant,  going  thence  in  1853  to  Fa- 
yette county,  Iowa,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1865.     During 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1156 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


the  following  ten  years  he  was  a  resident  of 
Muscatine  county,  Iowa,  whence  he  returned 
to  St.  Joseph  county  and  located  on;  the  In- 
wood  farm,  seven  miles  south  of  South  Bend 
in  Union  township.  After  a  three  years' 
residence  on  that  place  and  two  years  on  the 
old  Chamberlain  farm  on  Portage  Prairie  he 
came  to  South  Bend  and  began  teaming,  haul- 
ing sand  principally,  and  during  the  seven 
years  in  which  he  was  thus  engaged  he  hauled 
all  the  sand  for  the  Clem  Stud<jbaker  resi- 
dence, known  ss  the  Tippecanoe  place.  He 
also  handled  the  short  wood  at  the  Mishler's 
mill  for  three  years,  for  three  years  dealt  in 
wood  and  coal  for  the  South  Bend  "Wood  & 
Coal  Company,  and  then  entered  upon  his 
relatione  with  the  Grand  Trunk  Railroad 
Company,  with  whom  he  has  been  associated 
for  four  years. 

In  1851  Mr.  Byers  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Lucinda  Umbarger,  and  they  have  become 
the  parents  of  five  children :  Mary,  the  wife 
of  Theodore  Patterson,  of  Iowa;  Ellen;  Hor- 
ace, a  resident  of  North  Dakota;  Ora,  at 
home;  and  Ella,  the  wife  of  6.  A.  Mclron,  of 
Fort  Wayne,  Indiana.  Mr.  Byers  also  has 
ten  grandchildren  and  eight  great-grandchil- 
dren. During  the  long  period  of  sixty-four 
years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Grace 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  has 
been  an  active  and  efficient  worker,  and  has 
served  as  steward,  class-leader  and  as  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school.  He  is  an 
active  worker  in  the  cause  of  temperance,  and 
his  own  life  is  a  worthy  example  of  its  benefi- 
cent teachings,  for  he  has  never  used  tobacco 
or  liquor  in  any  form.  He  is  numbered 
among  the  honored  pioneer  residents  of  St. 
Joseph  county  whose  names  and  deeds  should 
be  held  in  perpetual  reverence  by  those  who 
enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  toil. 

Henry  C.  Eckler,  president  of  the  Eckler 
Manufacturing  Company,  has  been  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  business  and  social 
life  of  South  Bend  during  the  long  period  of 
thirty  years,  and  to  such  as  he  are  the  life, 
character  and  services  worthy  of  study,  not 
only  on  the  part  of  the  student  of  biography, 
but  also  of  every  citizen  who,  guided  by  the 
past,  would  in  the  present  wisely  build  for  the 
future.  The  birth  of  Mi;.  Eckler  occurred  in 
Sandusky,  Ohio,  August  19,  1855,  his  parents 
being  George  and  Catherine  (Liphart)  Eck- 
ler, who  were  born  in  the  fatherland  of  Ger- 
many.   After  their  marriage  they  came  to  the 


United  States  in  1850,  establishing  their  home 
in  Sandusky,  Ohio,  where  the  husband  and 
father  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  wagons, 
for  his  trade  was  that  of  wagon-making.  His 
busy  and  useful  life  was  ended  in  death  when 
he  had  reached  the  age  of  eighty-five  years, 
lon^  surviving  his  wife,  who  died  at  the  early 
age  of  thirty-two  years.  In  their  family  wer^ 
seven  daughters  and  two  sons,  but  one  son  and 
one  daughter  have  joined  their  parents  in  tho 
home  beyond. 

Henry  C.  Eckler,  the  third  child  in  ordir 
of  birth  and  the  only  surviving  son,  spent  the 
first  twenty- four  years  of  his  life  in  his  na- 
tive  city  of  Sandusky,   attending  its  public 


HENRY    C.    ECKLER. 

schools,  and  there  also  learning  the  carpenter 
and  cabinet-maker's  trades,  which  he  followed 
as  a  journeyman  until  1888.  In  that  year  he 
began  contracting  in  South  Bend,  for  he  had 
taken  up  his  abode  in  this  city  a  few  years 
previously  in  1878,  while  in  1896  he  bought 
out  the  C.  Liphart  furniture  factory  and 
entered  upon  his  present  relations.  He  has 
also  continued  his  building  .operations  to  the 
present  time,  and  in  addition  conducts  a  lum- 
ber yard  and  planing  mill,  furnishing  employ- 
ment to  one  hundred  and  fifty  men.  The  Eck- 
ler Manufacturing  Company,  of  which  he  is 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


HISTORY   OP   ST.   JOSEPH   COUNTY. 


1157 


the  president,  manufacture  store  and  office 
furniture,  also  do  estimating  on  all  kinds  of 
buildings,  and  in  connection  with  their  lum- 
ber yard  they  carry  building  materials  of  all 
kinds.  The  plant  is  located  at  1306-1314 
South  Franklin  street.  During  the  long  period 
of  thirty  years  Mr.  Eckler  has  been  promi- 
nently connected  with  the  business  interests 
of  South  Bend,  and  in  addition  to  being  at 
the  head  of  one  of  its  largest  corporations 
many  of  the  business  houses  and  residences  of 
this  city  and  Mishawaka  stand  as  monuments 
to  his  ability  and  industry. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Eckler  and  Miss 
Sophia  Wagner,  a  native  of  Laporte,  Indiana, 
was  celebrated  in  1879,  and  they  have  become 
the  parents  of  four  children,  two  sons  and 
two  daughters:  Dora  May,  deceased;  George 
Walter,  vice-president  and  secretary  of  the 
Eckler  Manufacturing  Company ;  Charles  JI., 
deceased;  and  Mary  Alice,  head  bookkeeper 
in  the  office  of  the  Eckler  Manufacturing 
Company.  The  fraternal  relations  of  Mr. 
Eckler  are  with  the  order  of  Elks  in  South 
Bend.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  excellent  busi- 
ness ability,  broad-minded  and  patriotic,  and 
merits  the  genuine  regard  which  is  every- 
where accorded  him.  He  resides  at  127  East 
Paris  street. 

To  George  C.  Muessel,  whose  death  oc- 
curred December  4,  1907,  belonged  the  honor 
of  being  a  pioneer  grocer  of  South  Bend,  and 
his  long  identification  with  the  place  and  his 
honorable  and  straightforward  business  meth- 
ods made  his  name  well  known  to  its  citi- 
zens. He  was  a  native  son  of  the  father- 
land, his  birth  having  occurred  in  Bavaria, 
November  20,  1842,  but  when  only  six  years 
of  age,  in  1848,  he  came  with  his  parents  J. 
D.  and  Catherine  Muessel,  to  America,  they 
making  their  way  at  once  to  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana,  and  establishing  their  home 
in  Penn  township,  two  miles  east  of  Misha- 
waka. The  son  G-eorge  received  his  first 
schooling  there,  and  later  the  family  moved 
to  a  farm  on  the  present  site  of  South  Bend, 
known  at  one  time  as  the  Bresett  farm,  but 
the  site  is  now  occupied  by  the  cement  works. 
In  1852  they  removed  to  the  city  proper, 
where  the  son  continued  his  educational  train- 
ing in  a  private  school,  but  at  the  early  age 
of  thirteen  he  put  aside  his  text  books  and  be- 
came a  clerk  in  a  general  store,  which  was 
later  transformed  into  a  grocery  store,  and  he 
continued  his  clerkship  therein  until  1865. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  Mr.  Muessel 


was  aible  to  engage  in  business  for  himself, 
and  in  company  with  Christ  Kunstman  con- 
ducted a  grocery  store  for  one  year,  when  he 
sold  his  interest  to  his  partner.  This  was 
about  1866,  and  Mr.  Muessel  then  engaged  in 
business  by  himself,  building  in  1872  the 
three-story  brick  block  in  which  he  ever  since 
conducted  his  grocery  business.  In  addition 
Mr.  Muessel  was  a  stockholder  in  the  South 
Bend  "Wholesale  Grocery  Company  and  the 
National  Box  Factory  of  South  Bend.  He 
made  for  himself  a  name  and  place  in  the 
business  circles  of  this  city,  and  there  were 
few  who  could  more  justly  claim  the  proud 
American  title  of  a  self-made  man,  for  at  an 
early  age  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself, 
and,  successfully  surmounting  obstacles  in  his 
path,  gained  recognition  fSr  his  intrinsic 
worth  of  character. 

In  1867  Mr.  Muessel  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Caroline  ElJ)el,  and  of  their  three 
children  only  one  is  now  living,  Charles  A., 
engaged  in  business  with  his  father.  Mr. 
Muessel  was  a  life-long  Democrat,  while  his 
social  relations  were  with  the  Turners,  and 
he  always  took  an  active  interest  in  the  politi- 
cal and  social  affairs  of  South  Bend. 

B.  E.  Williams  occupies  a  distinctive 
place  in  the  business  interests  of  Walkerton, 
where  he  is  engaged  as  a  pharma^jist  and 
druggist.  He  was  bom  in  Somerville,  Masss/- 
ehusetts,  a  suburb  of  Boston,  September  2, 
1867,  the  youngest  of  the  three  children,  two 
^ns  and  a  daughter,  bom  to  Otis  and 
Frances  (Slade)  Williams.  Two  of  the  chil- 
dren are  yet  living,  the  subject  of  this  review 
and  his  sister  Minnie,  both  residents  of  Walk- 
erton. Mr.  Williams,  the  father,  was  bom 
in  Dunham,  Maine,  in  1819,  and  his  death 
occurred  in  1890,  when  he  had  just  passed 
thp  Psalmist's  span  of  three  score  years  and 
ten.  He  remained  in  his  native  common- 
wealth until  young  manhood,  receiving  his 
educational  training  in  its  public  schools,  and 
for  a  time  he  was  a  member  of  the  police 
force  in  Boston.  In  1868  he  sought  to  better 
his  financial  conditions  by  seeking  a  home  in 
the  then  far  west,  and  accordingly  journeyed 
to  South  Bend  and  thence  to  Liberty  town- 
ship, where  he  purchased  one  hundred  acres 
of  land  northwest  of  North  Liberty,  and  re- 
mained in  that  locality  until  1882,  when  he 
located  as  a  retired  agriculturist  in  Walker- 
ton,  Indiana.  He  was  an  ardent  Republican 
in  his  political  affiliations,  advocating  those 
sterling  principles  until  his  life's  work  wt» 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


1158 


HISTORY   OP    ST.   JOSEPH    COUNTY. 


ended  in  death..  Mrs.  Williams  was  born  in 
Hallowell,  Maine,  in  1820,  and  has  joined  her 
husband  in  the  home  beyond. 

Mr.  B.  E.  Williams,  the  younger  of  their 
two  surviving  children,  was  but  one  year  old 
when  brought  to  St.  Joseph  county,  here 
receiving  a  good  common-school  education  in 
the  common  schools,  from  which  he  secured 
his  diploma,  and  then  entered  upon  a  busi- 
ness course  in  the  Indianapolis  Business  Col- 
lege, where  he  fitted  himself  for  the  activities 
of  life.  His  inclinations  leading  him  in  the 
('hannel  of  pharmacy,  he  became  a  practical 
druggist,  and  in  1892  entered  into  a  partner- 
ship in  that  business  with  Marion  Bellinger 
in  Walkerton,  the  firm  n«ame  continuing  as 
Bellinger  &  Williams  until  1895,  when  Mr. 
Williams  purchased  his  partner  *s  interest  and 
has  ever  since  been  in  control  of  one  of 
the  leading  drug  stores  of  Walkerton.  He 
carries  a  complete  stock  of  fresh  and  pure 
drugs,  oils,  paints,  fancy  goods,  wall  paper, 
stationery  and  has  a  good  pharmaceutical 
laboratory. 

Mr.  Williams  wedded  Miss  Katie  George, 
and  two  children  have  blessed  their  union, 
a  son  and  a  daughter:  Harry  George,  who 
(completed  the  common  school  course  in  Walk- 
erton, and  is  now  pursuing  the  second  year 
of  study  in  the  college  of  Notre  Dame,  and 
Florence  Marie,  a  member  of  the  third  grade 
in   the  WalkertOn  high  school,   and  is   also 


studying  music.  Mrs.  Williams  was  bom  in 
Marshall  county,  Indiana,  but  was  reared 
and  educated  in  St.  Joseph  county,  and  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Walkerton  high  school.  She 
is  also  proficient  in  music.  As  a  Republican 
Mr.  Williams  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  James  G.  Blaine,  having  ever  since  sup- 
ported each  presidential  nominee  of  the  party, 
while  he  has  often  been  selected  as  its  repre- 
sentative to  the  county  conventions.  He  has 
also  served  in  other  oflScial  positions,  having 
been  the  city  clerk  for  one  term,  during  two 
terms  was  a  member  of  the  council,  and  for 
three  years  was  a  member  of  the  board  of 
education.  He  is  a  true  friend  of  the  public 
schools,  always  ready  to  aid  in  any  movement 
for  their  improvement,  and  is  at  all  times  a 
public  spirited  and.  progressive  citizen.  He 
has  fraternal  relations  with  the  Masonic  or- 
der, affiliating  with  Lodge  No.  619  in  Walk- 
erton, also  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Cas- 
tle Hall  Lodge  No.  263,  in  which  he  har, 
filled  all  of  the  offices  and  was  chosen  a?  a 
delegate  to  Ihe  grand  lodge.  Mrs.  Williams 
is  a  member  of  its  auxiliary,  the  Pythian 
Sisters,  and  both  are  worthy  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Walkerton. 
They  reside  in  one  of  the  pleasant  modem 
residences  of  the  city,  fitted  and  furnished 
throughout  with  all  the  latest  conveniences, 
and  its  hospitable  doors  are  ever  open  to 
their  many  friends. 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Digitized  by 


GoogI( 


^ijv  ti5  1c^^-> 


rr 


Digitized  by 


Google