A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 33

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 33

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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, born 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 born 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 usual 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

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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

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 Mishawaka. 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 born 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. Jernegan, the daughter of E. A. and Nannie C. (Sherman) Jernegan, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this work. They have become the parents of two chil- dren, Alfred Sherman and Margery Jerne- 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 George 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 chii- 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

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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 Russell J. Mr. Eberhart votes with the Republican party, and has membership relations with the Elks of South Bend.

ALBERT O. 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 towu- 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 O., whose name introduces this review: and Clara A., the wife of Clarence Rensberger, a merchant of Lakeville, Indiana.

Albert O. 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 1900 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 born and reared in German township, St. Joseph county, and has become the mother of two children, Grace A. and Lester Jay. Mr. 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 crowning 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 born in Dela- ware county and the latter in Summit county.

Michael Ulery, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born 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

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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

the farm he came 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 born 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 number 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 born 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 offices 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 SCHIFFER. 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 born in South Bend on the 29th of March, 1875. His father, August Schiffer, a deceased flo- rist of South Bend, was born, 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. O. 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

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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 numbered among its valued and honored citizens.

In South Bend, on the 8th of May, 1900, Mr. Schiffer was married to Elizabeth, the daughter of Henry Miner, of that city. She was born 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 born 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. Schiffer 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 city 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 born in New York, but came with her parents to St. Joseph county, and she now resides in South Bend. To them were born 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 BUCHHEIT. 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

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A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 33

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