A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 36

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 36

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and she now sleeps in the South Bend ceme- tery. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Byers, namely: Andrew J., who was born 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, 1854, is the wife of William Inwood, who is living retired in South Bend; Mary Ella and Clara Charlotte, who died when young; Carrie E., born in December, 1864, is at home: and George W., born 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 Cass, and twice he has supported the Prohibition ticket. During eight years 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 superinten- 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 Psalm- ist's span, has been filled with useful, loving deeds, which will be remembered when he has been called to his reward.

WILLIAM MACK. South Bend in the '40s 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-

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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

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 conducted 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 building and docks. In 1844 he sold his interest there and came 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 a 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 Indians 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. His first wife, the mother of our sub- ject. was Clarissa W. Hanford. She was born 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 the 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 commenced 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-spent 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, Indiana. 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. O. 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-

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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 and 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 born 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 Gowanda, 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

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THISTORY OF ST JOSEPH COUNTY

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if the war and was nonotably die Here the service at Milwaukee. Wir June 12. Ist. After the case of 'r. P'berer spent abo it two years in Wieour .. where he worked at his enet maknw. from that vity Nessas City, six months later ies. Mis mari. theba to Hill. ro. d up to thi ago, from which chy . South Bord i Ist and beans with the Union Manufac aring Ils connection with that coppa- .1 wnili 1977. when he po. 11. inlistino, Hapis, but in 1542 . to South Bend and bon work Lappart Manufacturing Comp. WV . .. d with this company until in writ business, after which destinati with Wells & Caliente. le bout ins land and active business ta He was most faithful to the ethics of i life, but a late he laid aside the , of business to live quienes in his : a me which he had purchased about : m. a lift on to his residence ha also . W. property adjoining which he rents, and se of rese property on Hal 1.

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FRANK D. CHRISTOPH. ' WY man of Frock P Christ ph stands conspurnonas forth on the roster of St. Joseph condy's off ials in connection with the position of clock Many years of his l'e have been passed in the ( maty. and have been of unifores honor in business and fidelity in places of public trust He was born in Erie, Permetvand. Desember 14. 1858, a son of Frank and Magdalena ( Fink ) ( bristoph, both natives of Germany, but both came to this country in

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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, G. 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 affluence 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 honest, 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.

The deceased was born 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

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HISTORY OF 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 Frank 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 Francisco, serving in the ca- pacities of brakeman and conductor, while for twelve years he was a conductor on the Grand Trunk. For 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 incumbent, 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 born of this union, Hazel F. and Frank 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 O. DAVIES. During a number of years past the name of William O. 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 born 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 O. 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 O. and Sarah (Kauffman) Schimmel, became his

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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

wife. She was born 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 office 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 as 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.

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A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 36

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