USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 40
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSHTHI COUNTY.
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Mr. and Mrs. Philo F. Ingersoll and Great Grandchild
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
of the thirteen children, spent the early years of his life on the old home farm in Marshall county, attending its district schools and the public schools of Bremen until his eighteenth year, when he came to South Bend and se- cured employment with the Studebaker Brothers. For more than twenty years he remained a faithful employe in this large manufacturing industry, having charge of the axles and hubs in the wood working de- partment. In 1901 Mr. Fites received the ap- pointment of street commissioner under Col- fax, and seventeen months later was made the deputy street commissioner under the Fo- gerty administration, to which position he was later reappointed by the same mayor. From 1896 until 1900 he served as a member of the city council, representing the Seventh ward. His public services have indeed been most ex- emplary, and he is held in high regard by all who know him. As a Republican he has ever taken an active and prominent part in polit- ical affairs, and both his public and private life have been marked by the utmost fidelity to duty.
The marriage of Mr. Fites was celebrated on the 24th of November, 1886, when Flora Z. Bratt, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Bratt, became his wife, and they have had four children, but two, Willie B. and Inez, are deceased. Those living are Eula and Erald. Mr. Fites is a member of the Wood- men of the World and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, South Bend Lodge No. 235. The family worship in the Grace Methodist Episcopal church, and their pleas- ant and attractive residence is at 1512 South Michigan street, where a gracious hospitality is extended to their many friends and ac- quaintances.
NELSON H. KYSER, a popular and well- known citizen of South Bend, has been for several years identified with the public affairs of St. Joseph county, and is now serving as the present city clerk of South Bend. He was born in Marshall county, Indiana, on the 5th of September, 1867, a son of John J. and Mary (Wise) Kyser, both natives of Ohio. Through many decades representatives of the family have been important factors in the public life of the Hoosier state. The first of the family to take up his home within its borders was John J. Kyser, the father of him whose name introduces this review, and who was a native of Akron, Summit county, Ohio. A settlement was made in Marshall county,
where the father secured a farm, which as the years passed by was placed under a high state of cultivation, and his untiring in- dustry, energy and well-directed efforts at length were crowned with success, and ere the end of his earthly pilgrimage he found him- self in possession of a good home. Having thus for many years borne an important part in the development and upbuilding of Mar- shall county, John J. Kyser passed to his final rest in 1885, at the age of sixty-two years. He was recognized as a leader in the ranks of the local Democratic party, and was the recipient at its hands of many positions of honor and public trust. He was at one time a member of the Indiana Railroad Commission.
In the public schools of Marshall county Nelson H. Kyser received the early education- al training which fitted him for life's active duties, and for two years he was also en- gaged in the study of medicine, but deciding to abandon a professional for a commercial life he came to South Bend in 1885 and en- tered the employ of the Lake Shore Rail- road company as a yard clerk, thus continu- ing for two years. From that time until 1902 he was with the Studebaker Manufacturing Company, being then elected to the office of city clerk, the duties of which he has dis- charged with a promptness and fidelity worthy of all commendation from that time to the present, having been re-elected to the position in 1902.
On the 14th of January, 1897, Mr. Kyser was united in marriage to Pearl M. Fulmer, a native of Walkerton, St. Joseph county, In- diana, and a daughter of Oliver R., one of the well known and honored pioneers of this. coun- ty. One son has been born of this union, Howard Nelson Kyser, Jr., his birth occur- ring on the 3d of September, 1905. Frater- nally Mr. Kyser is a prominent member of the Masonic order, Lodge No. 45, also of the Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Eagles. He is emphatically a man of positive . char- acter, indomitable energy and liberal views, and is thoroughly identified in feeling with the growth and prosperity of the county which has been so long his home.
PHILO F. INGERSOLL. For many years Philo F. Ingersoll was numbered among the resi- dents and business men of South Bend, and the death of this venerable citizen caused pro- found sorrow throughout the community. He was a representative of a well known and prominent family who trace their ancestry
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
to three brothers who came from the mother country of England and settled in the New England states, while from this same ancestry is also descended the celebrated Robert Inger- soll. Philo F. Ingersoll was born in Mentor, Ohio, May 9, 1824, the youngest of four sons of Philo and Eunice (Denning) Ingersoll. His father died when he was but two years of age, the mother then being left with the care and support of her family of small children, and her son Philo remained with her and as- sisted in her arduous labors until his mar- riage, on the 24th of May, 1848, Maria Matilda Merrill becoming his wife. She was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, September 17, 1827, the daughter of Noah and Rhoda Merrill. She was one of three children, a sister older, Mrs. Honor Wilson, now deceased, and a brother younger, George B., also deceased. She was but two years of age when her parents moved to Medina county, Ohio, where she was reared to years of maturity.
In 1848, the year of their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Ingersoll went to Niles, Michigan, but a short time afterward removed to Bu- chanan, that state, where for sixteen years the husband was engaged in the blacksmithing business. In the year 1867 they came to South Bend, Indiana, where Mr. Ingersoll se- cured work as a blacksmith with the Stude- baker Brothers, but later engaged in business for himself, and thus continued until his re- tirement in 1886. He gave a lifelong and un- faltering support to the principles of the Republican party, taking an active interest in the public life of the community, was well posted on the events of the day and was lib- eral and considerate in all his thoughts and deeds.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ingersoll were born two daughters. The elder, Geraldine, was born in Niles, Michigan, in 1850, and in 1881 was married to Fred J. White, who is associated with the Singer Manufacturing Company in the capacity of a machinist. The second daughter, Annetta, married William S. Weaver, and died on the 4th of October. 1899. leaving three sons, Albert M., Edward E. and Clem I. Mrs. Ingersoll also has two great- grandsons, Merrill and Albert Clem. The death of Philo F. Ingersoll occurred Decem- ber 30, 1906. Thus for more than fifty years this loving couple pursued the journey of life together, loyally sharing the trials, sor- rows and pleasures which are the lot of all,
but the one, becoming tired and weary, lay down to rest, leaving the companion to con- tinue the remainder of her life's journey alone.
FRED K. SCHAFER is the present efficient superintendent of the South Bend Water Works, and he holds and merits a place among its representative citizens. One of the persevering, honorable sons of Germany, he was born in Frankfort-on-the-Main, Novem- ber 23, 1850, and was educated in the com- mon schools of his native place. When eighteen years of age he left his home and friends in Germany and came to the United States, first locating at Three Rivers, Michi- gan. Previous to his emigration he had learned the machinist's trade in the father- land, and after his arrival at Three Rivers at once resumed his trade. After a three years' residence in that city he went to Elkhart and found employment in the machine shops of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Rail- road Company, where he remained for five years, coming thence in 1877 to South Bend. During his first two years in this city Mr. Schafer was with the Birdsell Manufacturing Company, for the following three years was in the machine shops of the Oliver company. and for the next twenty years was with the Studebaker company, where he had charge of the tool room department. His long reten- tion with that large corporation proved his ability as a machinist, and after leaving their employ he spent two years with the Singer Manufacturing Company.
On the 1st of June, 1904, Mr. Schafer was appointed by the board of public works as superintendent of the water works of South Bend, which position he now holds, and he has also served as superintendent of the re- building of the central pumping station, in- cluding the remodeling of the old pumping works. He is now installing two two and a half million capacity power pumps, also a Hamilton Corliss engine of two hundred horse power for the purpose of relieving this pump. during the reconstruction of the water wheel and to be used during the stages of low wa- ter in the river.
In 1873 Mr. Schafer was united in mar- riage to Sophia Sable, and they have five chil- dren, three sons and two daughters, namely: Harry W., who has served as foreman for the Studebaker machine shops for two years: George F .. a base ball player in the Terre Haute team in the Central League; Laura,
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
wife of Shepard Davis, of California; Maud, a stenographer with the Studebaker Manu- facturing Company ; Albert J., also a machin- ist with the Studebaker company. Mr. Schafer gives his political support to the Democratic party, and from 1891 until 1896 served as a member of the city council of South Bend, being an active worker on party lines in his community. His fraternal rela- tions are with the Masonic order, being a member of the Blue Lodge and of the Royal Arcanum, and he also has membership rela- tions with the South Bend Turner society. Public-spirited and progressive in all his ideas, he lends his influence to all measures which he believes useful to the majority, and is highly esteemed in the community for his honorable, upright life.
JOHN PLATZ. The family name of John Platz is one which is ineffaceably traced on the history of St. Joseph county and which figures on the pages whose records perpetuate the principal events from an early day to the present time. He was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, September 20, 1827, and in that commonwealth his parents, Peter and Polly (Deeter) Platz, were also born. In 1828, however, they moved to Stark county, Ohio, where the father followed his trade of carpentering and contracting, having erected many buildings in that county. In 1853 the family home was established in South Bend, Indiana, and here this worthy pioneer couple spent the remainder of their lives, the father passing away at the age of seventy years.
Their son John Platz was but one year old at the time of the removal of the family to Stark county, Ohio, where he was reared and educated, one of his schoolmates having been President Mckinley's father-in-law, Mr. Saxon. Learning the carpenter's trade under the instruction of his father, Mr. Platz was engaged in contracting and building in that county until the removal of the family to South Bend in 1851, the journey being made via Niles, Michigan, and this was before the advent of railroads into this part of the coun- try. After his arrival in this city Mr. Platz resumed his contracting operations, and many of the finest buildings of South Bend still stand as monuments of his ability, among which may be mentioned both of the large paper mills, also many of the buildings of the Singer and Studebaker Manufacturing com- panies. In 1896, however, he retired from the business which he had so long followed and
was subsequently appointed by the state as truant officer, being the first incumbent of that office after the law for its establishment went into effect, and so faithfully has he per- formed its duties that he has ever since been retained. He was also one of the first fire- men in the city, belonging first to the bucket brigade and then to the hook and ladder com- pany, and was twice elected a member of the city commissioners. His support and co-oper- ation have never been withheld from any en- terprise intended to prove of public benefit.
While a resident of Stark county, Ohio, Mr. Platz was married in 1847 to Matilda Palmer, and they have three living children, Charlie, Harry and Cora May, the last named the wife of Professor L. Clarence Ball, of South Bend, and an artist of ability. Mr. Platz has given a life-long support to the Republican party, having cast his ballot for the first Republican president of the United States and has supported each presidential candidate since that time, while previous to the inauguration of that party he upheld the principles of the Whig party. For many years he has been a worthy and efficient mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in his younger days in Ohio served as super- intendent of the Sunday-school. His frater- nal relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, South Bend Lodge No. 29.
FELIX GRANGE. Forty-five years of Mr. Grange's life have been spent in St. Joseph county, years of hard and unremitting toil, but now as he passes down the western slope of life he is relieved of the burdens and re- sponsibilities of a business life and is enjoy- ing a well-earned rest. His birth occurred in the city of New York on the 19th of March, 1838, his parents being Claud and Christo- phlin (Sibuet) Grange, both natives of France. They came to America during their youth, and were married in Louisville, Stark county, Ohio, after which they took up their abode in the city of New York, the father following his trade of a baker. After a resi- dence of eleven years in that city they jour- neyed to Columbiana county, Ohio, purchas- ing and locating on a farm, but subsequently returned to Louisville, where the father re- tired from the active cares of a business life, and there they spent their remaining days, both passing away at about the age of seventy- three years. In their family were eleven children, four sons and seven daughters, all of whom grew to years of maturity and
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
proved an honor to the honored family name, while at the present time there are two sons and three daughters living.
Felix Grange, the second child and eldest son in this large family, was sent to the home of his paternal grandparents in Columbiana county, Ohio, when only two years old, re- maining with them until his parents removed thither from the city of New York and re- ceiving his education in the district schools near the home. After attaining to years of maturity the lad started out in the world to battle for himself and his first employment was at the carpenter and mason's trades. In about the year 1858 he went to East St. Louis, Illinois, but two years later returned to Ohio, and in the fall of 1861 came to St. Joseph county, Indiana, making the journey with team and wagon and after his arrival engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1863 he became a resident of South Bend, and for a short time thereafter was associated with the Ven- nett & Wanger Furniture Company, later working for the Lovell Furniture Company and for James Oliver, and in 1866 rented a farm in Greene township, St. Joseph county. Shortly afterward another move was made, this time Mr. Grange returning to Colum- biana county, Ohio, the scene of his boyhood's home, and after a year there spent journeyed again to St. Joseph county and purchased a farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres in Greene township, where he erected a prim- itive log cabin, without windows, and at once began the hard and laborious task of placing his land under cultivation. Nine years were devoted to the work of clearing and improv- ing the property, on the expiration of which period he traded the farm for the old home- stead of Mrs. Grange's parents in Greene township. There this honored old pioneer couple continued to make their home until 1903, when they rented the land and removed to South Bend.
On the 3d of February, 1863, Mr. Grange was united in marriage to Elizabeth Good- man, the daughter of Theoble and Catherine (Gulling) Goodman, who removed to Sump- tion's Prairie, St. Joseph county, Indiana, in 1855, from Stark county, Ohio, where their daughter Elizabeth was born on the 2d of May, 1841, and was fourteen years of age at the time of the removal of the family to this county. Their two living children are: Frank, who married Hallie Davis and is a resident of Elizabeth, North Dakota, where
he is cashier of the bank; and Joseph Peter, who married Edith Moffitt. He is also a resi- dent of North Dakota, where he is farming on an extensive scale. He has raised thirty- five thousand bushels of grain in two years, besides much stock. He owns about twelve hundred acres of land. Mr. Grange gives his political support to the Democratic party, and has been honored with many township offices. Both he and his wife are members of the Catholic church. They have long since passed the noontide of their married life and the sun is far on its journey to the west, but it is hoped that many years may yet be theirs in which to enjoy the richness of their lives.
IRA M. ULLERY, paying teller of the Mer- chants' National Bank of South Bend, was born in Warren township, St. Joseph county, on the 20th of May, 1869. His father, John C. Ullery, a native of Miami county, Ohio, was but seven years of age when he accom- panied his parents on their removal to St. Joseph county, Indiana, in 1851. He was a son of John F. and Mary D. Ullery, the former a native of Germany. From that early age John C. Ullery has continued to make this county his home, being identified with its agricultural interests, and his home is now in German township. Mrs. Ullery bore the maiden name of Margaret E. Miller, and was a native of German township, St. Joseph county, where her people were among the early pioneers, dating their arrival here about 1845. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. John C. Ullery were two children, the sister of Ira being Mary M., who is at home.
On the old home farm in German town- ship to which his parents had removed when he was only two years of age, Ira M. Ullery spent the days of his boyhood and youth, at- tending the district school near his home and later the South Bend Business College, in which he completed the course and grad- uated. After spending one winter at Mt. Morris, Illinois, he located in South Bend in 1894, where he engaged in the sale of coal, wood and farm implements, but in 1898 sold his interests in that business and entered the county treasurer's office in the employ of John W. Zigler. From 1903 he ably and efficiently filled the position of deputy county treasurer until January 1, 1907. On the 2d of June, 1906, he was nominated for the office, but was defeated at the November elec- tion of 1906.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
On the 20th of November, 1889, Mr. Ullery was united in marriage to Mary E. Main, who was born in Buchanan, Berrien county, Michigan, May 14, 1870, a daughter of Orin W. and Esther (Sparkin) Main, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Indiana. One daughter, Alice Fern, and one son, Har- old M., have been born of this union. Mr. Ullery is a stalwart supporter of Republican principles, actively working for its growth and upbuilding, and he is well and favorably known throughout the county.
PROFESSOR HERMAN F. HEIMBERG, a teacher in the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran school of South Bend, has devoted his life to the work of the school room, and since 1899 he has been identified with the educational in- terests of this city. His birth occurred in Hanover, Germany, September 7, 1873, a son of Frederick and Charlotte (Moeller) Heim- berg, also natives of that city. The father was a farmer. In 1875 the family emigrated to America, making their way at once to Por- ter county, Indiana, where the father re- sumed his occupation of agriculture, and they became prominent residents of that county.
Herman F. Heimberg, the eldest of their five children, two sons and three daughters, of whom one daughter is now deceased, was but a little lad of two years at the time of the emigration of the family from the father- land to the United States, and he was reared to years of maturity on a farm in Porter county, Indiana, receiving his early educa- tional training in its district schools. Dur- ing three winter terms he attended a Protes- tant school in Chicago, while in 1893 he graduated from the Lutheran Seminary at Addison, Illinois. With this excellent educa- tional training to serve as the foundation of his future life work he began teaching in the Lutheran school of Valparaiso, where he remained during the following six years, and at the close of the period, in 1899, came to South Bend to enter upon his work as a teacher in its Evangelical Lutheran school. His labors in this institution have been ef- fective in raising its standard of excellence. and he is regarded as one of the most suc -. cessful and capable members of its faculty.
On the 26th of October, 1898, Professor Heimberg was united in marriage to Emma K. Lutz, who died August 8, 1907. She was born, reared and educated in Valparaiso, In- diana, a daughter of Herman and Anna (Hansen) Lutz, both of whom were born in
Holstein, Germany. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Heimberg, Althea and Agatha, and two who are deceased. To Pro- fessor Heimberg belongs the honor of being the oldest teacher in the St. Paul Evangeli- cal Lutheran school, and to his efforts as much as to those of any other this well known institution of learning owes the high stand- ing which it now occupies in the educational circles of South Bend.
REV. J. F. BORG, pastor of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Gloria Dei church of South Bend, Indiana, was born in the prov- ince of Oster Gothland, Sweden, December 13, 1849. When twenty years of age, in 1869, he came to America, and in 1872 he entered Augustana College, which was then located at Paxton, Illinois, but is now an institution of Rock Island, that state, in which he graduated from its theological seminary in 1878. In the same year of his graduation he was ordained for the ministry in Prince- ton, Illinois, and since that time has filled the following pastorates : Knoxville, Illinois, 1878 to 1880; Ishpeming, Michigan, 1880 to 1882; Saunders county, Nebraska, 1883; Galva, Illinois, 1883 to 1889; Swede Valley, Iowa, 1889 to 1891; Ishpeming, Michigan, 1891 to 1900; Pecatonica, Illinois, 1901 to 1903; and since 1904 he has been the loved pastor of the South Bend church. Rev. Borg has long been an earnest laborer in the vine- yard of his Master, and is loved by his peo- ple and honored and revered by all who know him.
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