A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 35

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 35

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).

On the 5th of May, 1875, Mr. Korpal was united in marriage to Catherine Gonia, 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, born 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, born 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 born 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 training in the prim- itive pioneer 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 all were born.

In 1847 Major Blowney offered 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 born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania. September 30, 1824, the daughter of Jacob

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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.

WILLIAM 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 agricultural 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 circles 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 Cavalry, 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 participated 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

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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Astor, Lenex and Tilden Four dations. 1909

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the valued residents of the city in which he has so long made his home.

HANFORD ROBERTS. 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 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. Roberts 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. II-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 iblessed 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, born April 23, 1844, his father, David Baer, being born 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 born, 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-

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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 FINK 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 charge 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 marriage to Emma C. Pontious, who was born in Akron, Ohio, and she was reared in Elkhart, Indiana, and Topeka, Kansas. One son has been born 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 widow, 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

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- THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LI ARY

Aster, lener and Tilden Fourdations. 1909

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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 own 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 county John Byers 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 daughters. 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 in Morgan county, Ohio.

In Licking county, Ohio, Mr. Byers was united in marriage to Mary Price, who was born 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 county. 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 F., 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

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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 husband 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 born 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, as 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 occurred on the 30th of January. 1907,

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A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 35

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