A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 26

Author: Howard, Timothy Edward, 1837-1916
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 887

USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 26

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Neff 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. Neff 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, Indiana, 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 in 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 marriage 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 affiliations are with the Republican party. He withholds his support from no

Digitized by Google

766

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

movement for the public good, and is a gen- man, representing the Seventh ward four 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-

years, and was a member of the board of park commissioners seven years. He is a member of the South Bend Lodge, B. P. O. 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 amounting 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 Google

Google

Digitized by

PS! JOSEPH COUNTY.

th ' .

I: 1 .. .

F B.

110-

1 ;.

1 . . ..

. (s. r. h.

fig :

B. ..

of : , ¿ 1

the met alar

. ...

.i ..

| | : i .. !

.i .... th.

. 1 : M .

B. ....

n pul,.

- -

Digitized by

Google

it-

Koll.

August F. Beyer

Google

Digitized by

THE

: 16Y

A .. . . .

Digitized by Google

767

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

Franklin and Indiana streets, No. 110, also that of his partner on Church street. Both lost everything 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 Oechtering'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 Oechtering'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 Oechtering'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 born 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 sold 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 Hagedorn, a native of that neighborhood, and by this union were born eight children. One died in infancy, one died when one year old, and those living are: Paul, who was born 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 Jefferson 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 Google

THE

PUE !! . . . ARY

Water, " › . 1 . iden

15.3

Digitized by Google

Joseph Turnock

Digitized by Google

HISTORY OF ST JAMES

at to age of fear ..

... . B. If ropt parts

.. ... .

Har't m his

ftp, art. val

Be. a Mirett Way for to.

: the pot :.

" Ivell ..

E hned who father. Vanning Ar .... Na' a tomet resident of South Bend. a' ! Philip k. he bert borg of it ... him Weis . andharraf be South Bend

with Ina file Tamachen the pond it Feraitnew in South Bend Mr. trong Bus : den or white part in its public affairs - . por the serve' a duplay off inspect er 1

there of the board of public works

septness and idois, and deres in South Bend has been

its progres and ad- supportive all meastes for the

JOSEPH TURNO K. CHEGO Tar-

ah the prosent history of both Bk- ! St. Joseph counties, and he himself for many years of his life been a leading sudary matters and these connect- the preservation and enforcement of . :

r: South Bend. In the enforcement

official civil duties, as well as in his

Jerses

fre eri.

i .. ! "

! ! .....:

. . .. . . . . ! ! !!! :

he reached the age of seventery wars he had virtuele the charge of the "we. and an- timet to operate it until be attained his rusty. when be came to South Bend to learn the trade of a plasteres. This ouml; . tion, when he subsequently followed i. . .

Digitized by

Google

itis fraternal re tous art .who !!! of this white pontual y he is a star h

word

Digitized by

Google

769

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

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 born 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 born, 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 Google

770

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

some time, gradually drew him into a con- tracting business, which, in partnership with his brother, Hiram, he prosecuted for about twenty-five years.

Mr. Turnock dates his residence in South Bend from 1858, and was already well 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 resumed his contracting busi- ness, which he so successfully followed for many years thereafter.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 26

Author: Howard, Timothy Edward, 1837-1916 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 887

Author: Howard, Timothy Edward, 1837-1916
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 887