A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 45

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 45

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Andrew J. Purucker, the second child in order of birth, was but one year old when the family home was removed to South Bend, and his youth was spent on a farm in Portage township, attending the district school near his home and later the South Bend high school, which was located in the old frame building where the United States and Ameri- can Express Companies now have their offices. After reaching the age of twenty years he began working on a farm by the month, thus continuing for about four years, and in the spring following his marriage he came to this city and secured employment with the South Bend Chilled Plow Works, while six months later he began work at the mason's trade. In the fall of the same year, however, he returned to the farm in Portage township, but two years later again came to South Bend and secured employment with P. O'Brien. After spending nine years in the employ of that gentleman he became associated with Lingler & Creviston in their hardware store, and two years later was appointed janitor for the old high school building, entering upon his duties in January, 1892, but was

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subsequently transferred to the new building as engineer, his present position.

In 1878 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Purucker and Miss Elizabeth Boone. She was a native of Portage Prairie, Indiana, where her marriage also occurred, and was a daughter of Philip and Susan Boone. Their union has been blessed by the birth of three children, Susie, Ira, Alwilda. Mr. Purucker upholds the principles of the Democracy, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World and the Home Accident Insurance Company. He has won for himself an enviable reputation as a man of integrity, and has the deserved and unbounded confidence of his fellow men.

G. SCOTT SMITH. In tracing the careers of those whom their fellow townsmen ack- . nowledge as successful and of those who stand high in public esteem, we find that in almost every case they are those who have risen gradually by their own efforts and persever- ance. These qualities are possessed in a large measure by Mr. G. Scott Smith, who by rea- son of his marked business ability has been made the agent for the Adams Express Com- pany in South Bend. He was born in Warren township of St. Joseph county, April 1, 1878, and is a representative of one of the earliest families to establish their home within its borders. His grandfather, Christian Smith, came to St. Joseph county as early as 1839, settling in the then dense woods of Warren township, and it was there that his son, Mar- tin H. Smith, was born and grew to years of maturity. He married Josephine Baker, the daughter of a Methodist Episcopal minister, Rev. Baker, and they became the parents of five children, two daughters and three sons.

G. Scott Smith, their fourth child in order of birth, spent the first fifteen years of his life in Warren township, attending its district schools and preparing himself for life's future activities. With his father he then moved to South Bend, completing his educational train- ing in the high school of this city, and when he had reached the age of seventeen years he started out to battle for himself. He first secured employment with the South Bend Chilled Plow Works, with whom he was associated for three years, and he then became an employe of the Adams Express Company as a driver, but was soon afterward promoted to the position of clerk, later to messenger, and in 1902 entered upon his duties in the capacity of agent in Beaver Falls, Pennsyl-

vania, remaining there three years. He was then transferred to the company's agency at South Bend, Indiana. He thus occupies a most responsible position, but is ably qualified to discharge its duties.

In 1899 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Alberta Braman, who was born in Monroe, Michigan, and they have two sons, Horace W. and Lisle A. Mr. Smith is a member of the Grace Methodist Episcopal church, in which he takes an active interest. In his political views he is a stalwart Republican and takes a deep interest in the issues and questions of the day, and is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family.

HERMAN F. LANG. For a number of years Herman F. Lang has occupied a leading place among the business men of his section of the city of South Bend, being a well known grocer at 822 South Lafayette street, and is also a member of the city council. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, December 30, 1860. His father, Julius Lang, was a native of Germany, but came to America when a young man and first took up his abode in Brooklyn, New York, removing thence to Kendallville, Noble county, Indiana, in 1866, where he was engaged in the boot and shoe business. Dur- ing his long residence in that city he was also prominent in its public affairs, having served as the county treasurer four years and held many other county and city offices. He now resides in Kendallville, Indiana, enjoying a life of quiet retirement after many years of business and public activities. His wife, nee Catherine Detrich and also a native of Ger- many, is deceased. In their family were eight children.

Herman F. Lang, the third son in order of birth, was six years of age when the family home was moved to Noble county, Indiana, and he was there reared and received his education in parochial schools. He served as his father's deputy in the treasurer's office, and was also the deputy county clerk of Noble county. During a period of thirteen years he was engaged in a general mercantile business in Brimfield, Indiana, and for four years of that time was also a justice of the peace. The year 1900 witnessed his arrival in South Bend, where he at once engaged in the grocery business, and in this field of endeavor he has been steadily advancing until he now occupies a very creditable position among its leading devotees. His efforts, how- ever, have not been confined strictly to his

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line of trade, for he has been an active worker in the public affairs of his city, and in 1905 he was elected to represent the Seventh ward in the city council, while at all times he is a stanch supporter of Republican principles.

In 1886 Mr. Lang was united in marriage to Ada A. Parkman, a descendant of the re- nowned Dr. Parkman of Boston, Massachu- setts. They are members of the Grace Metho- dist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Lang served as superintendent of the Sunday-school and is now a member of the official board. He is also a member of the Tribe of Ben Hur, in which he is a past chief. In this city, where so many years of their lives have been passed, Mr. and Mrs. Lang are held in the highest regard by their innumerable friends.

ADOLPH KOERTH. A good bakery in a community is not only a convenience but is a necessity as well, and as the proprietor of one of the leading bakery establishments of South Bend Adolph Koerth is well and favor- ably known to its citizens. He is a native son of the Fatherland, born on the 12th of April, 1862, and he remained in the land of his nativity until twenty-two years of age, pursuing his education in its German schools. After the closing of his school days, when fifteen years of age, he began learning the baker's trade, working at that occupation in his native country until his progressive spirit led him to seek a wider field for his opera- tions in the new world. He arrived in the United States in 1883, and at once made his way to South Bend, of which city he has been a resident for ten years. He was also for seven years a resident of Chicago, removing to that city in 1886, but returning to South Bend he started in business for himself in 1897 at his present location. In the same year he erected the building which he now occupies, which is fitted throughout with every convenience with which to successfully carry on his bakery business, and in addition he also owns his cottage home. He is a worthy representative of that honored class of Ger- man citizens who have allied their interests with the new world and by consecutive effort and honorable dealing have won a name among the successful and prominent men in the communities in which their lots have been cast.

In South Bend, in 1906, Mr. Koerth was united in marriage to Margaret Bestherer, a native daughter of this city, and they are prominent and worthy members of the Evan-

gelical Lutheran church. Mr. Koerth is a benevolent gentleman, in manner is kindly and genial, and well merits the high regard in which he is uniformly held.

JOHN A. BYERS. The popular principal of the Eighth Grade high school of South Bend, is a thoroughly equipped educator of thirty years' experience in St. Joseph county, and no one is more highly respected for profes- sional ability or manly worth. He was born in Penn township, in the eastern part of the county, the son of Benjamin and Louvina (Peplogla) Byers. They were both of Ger- man descent, his mother being a native of St. Joseph county. The father was born in Ohio, in 1835, and when three years of age was brought to the county by his father, Andrew Byers. The family settled in Union township on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which was cleared, cultivated and transformed into a comfortable homestead. Benjamin Byers lost his father when he was three years of age, and the family afterward moved to Warren township, where the youth learned the trade of a brick mason. He was married in that locality, and for twelve years there- after engaged in farming, after which period he removed to South Bend to busy himself at his trade. This he industriously followed until his death.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Byers, all in St. Joseph county, and of the two sons and one daughter John A. is the elder son and second in order of birth; the other members of the family are Mary Elizabeth and William. After he had received a thorough elementary education in the public schools of South Bend, the boy entered Fort Wayne Methodist College for a training in the higher branches. Both pa- rents were old and earnest members of that denomination, and although he lost his father in early boyhood the mother educated her son under influences which she knew would have had the hearty approval of the deceased. In 1877, before graduating from the Fort Wayne institution, John A. Byers commenced his long career as a pedagogue by teaching several summer terms of district school. He continued his professional education in the winter months, and in 1882 began his per- manent career by becoming connected with the Coquillard School, of South Bend. After teaching there for two years he entered the old South School as a teacher and continued to be identified with it for an entire decade.

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His progressive methods as an educator had now been so thoroughly demonstrated that his services were engaged for the South Bend Training School, and his three years' record there was so consistently strong that, in 1896, he was advanced to his present responsible position. Under his administration of the af- fairs of the high school, for the past eleven years, that institution had advanced to a lead- ing place among the model educational estab- lishments of the kind in the state.

In 1882 John A. Byers was married to Miss Hattie L. Hodson. His wife was born in New Jersey, May 16, 1859, the daughter of Charles L. and Rebecca F. Hodson, her father being the well known contractor and manu- facturer connected with the Hodson-Stanfield Lumber Company. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Byers, Ernest, was born in South Bend, August 24, 1886. An earnest, broad-minded Democrat, a progressive member of the I. O. O. F. (Lodge No. 29), and, outside of his high calling, a valuable and elevating mem- ber of the community, the life record of John A. Byers is one which should be a source of honest pride to himself and family, and an object of emulation for honorably ambitious manhood.

A. H. STEPHENSON. No death in many years caused such profound sorrow through- out the county than did the passing away of this honored citizen of South Bend, A. H. Stephenson, who by long years of honorable, upright life and kindly nature had grown into the affections of his fellow citizens to a marked degree. "Del" Stephenson, as he was familiarly known to his friends, was born in LaGro. Wabash county, Indiana, in Sep- tember, 1852, his parents being Amos T. and Priscilla Stephenson, who both died here in recent years at the ripe ages of four score or more years. They owned the tavern on the banks of the Wabash there, the father having been interested in one of the line of packet boats that then plied that stream, also in a packing house which was probably one of the first in that line of industry in the west.

When their son Del was a small and seem- ingly delicate child the family came to South Bend, and this delicate state of health con- tinued until he went to Colorado at the age of ten years, there becoming strong and ro- bust. After completing his education he be- came a member of the driven well and plumb- ing firm of A. T. Stephenson & Son, and the

remainder of his life was spent in all the activities of the Stephenson Marhufacturing Company on East Tutt street and! in the A. C. Staley Manufacturing Company, \ manufac- turers of knit wool underwear and located on the east side. The four Stephenson broth- ers first became interested in the concern as salesmen, then as stockholders, and were sole owners of that great and prosperous enter- prise at the time of the death of Mr. A. H. Stephenson, he being the company's treasurer. Wherever found, were he a manufacturer, a fireman or a citizen, he was the same far- seeing, aggressive man, tolerant of other's opinions, but of decided convictions of his own. He was an ideal citizen in all these relations, and was never found wanting in assuming his share of worldly responsibilities that face one in a live community. He was a leading spirit in the old Relief Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, of the volunteer fire department, was often honored by the com- pany in its active career as well as in the social features connected with its long main- tained existence for re-union purposes since their active career ended in 1886, and was the life of their banquet occasions.

Mr. Stephenson was married on the 23d of October, 1878, to Mary G. Miller, a daughter of S. W. and Charlotte (Stanley) Miller. She was born in Newark, New Jersey, receiving her education in Mt. Holyoke Seminary of Massachusetts and the New York Normal Col- lege, and came to South Bend with her pa- rents in 1877, the father having served as the superintendent of the Singer factory in this city. At his death Mr. Stephenson left his wife and four children, Mrs. R. T. Urqu- hart, Stanley, Margaret and George. Their first born, Lottie, died in infancy. Of his father's family there remain three brothers and one sister, Clinton B., Burr C., Frank A. and Mary A., the wife of George L. Hager. Death came suddenly to Mr. Stephenson while visiting relatives in Louisville, Kentucky, the disease being apoplexy. Several weeks previ- ously he had been prostrated by a sudden attack ascribed to acute indigestion, the sick- ness coming upon him just after his return home from the duties of the factory, but he was soon about again. About fifteen or more years ago he was afflicted with a stubborn di- gestive trouble, which he combatted resolutely for years before he fully recovered. Of late years, however, he had been a man of most robust physique, the picture of health and

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the personification of alert activity. He had ever been known in this city as a man above reproach, one of the most considerate of em- ployers, one of the most far-seeing, generous and enterprising of its citizens. What he and his brothers had won had been by their own earnest, intelligent efforts, ever energetically directed. Just two weeks before his death, which occurred on the 18th of March, 1905, Mr. Stephenson left this city on a business trip, seemingly in the best of health, but only the silent form was brought home. No death in years caused more genuine sorrow.

WILLIAM B. WRIGHT. Both the business and professional records of William B. Wright are alike commendable, for in both relations he has been true to the trusts re- posed in him and has shown himself worthy of public regard. Both as a lawyer and as a real estate dealer he is well known in South Bend. He was born in Orleans county, New York, on the 29th of December, 1852. His father, Burley Wright, was a prominent mer- chant in that county.

After pursuing his education in the public schools of Orleans county William B. Wright engaged at farm labor for a time. He then became connected with a wholesale shoe house in Rochester, New York, and was also engaged in the grocery business in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1884 he came to South Bend, and after a residence here of four years he was elected a justice of the peace, this being in the year 1888, and he continued to discharge the du- ties of that office until 1896. In that year he was admitted to the bar of Indiana, and has since engaged in the private practice of law in connection with the real estate busi- ness and insurance, in each line of endeavor having met with the success which he so richly deserves. During the days of the Civil war, in 1864, Mr. Wright offered his services in defense of the north, enlisting in Company F, Ninetieth New York regiment, of the First Brigade, First Division, Nineteenth Army Corps, and served till the close of the war. In his fraternal relations he is a Knight Tem- · plar Mason and a member of other orders.

For his wife Mr. Wright chose Miss Annie Metzger. also a native of the Empire state, her birth occurring in Oswego.

JOSEPH KISH. The name of Joseph Kish is one well known to many of the leading citizens of South Bend, for here he has passed many years of his life, and he is now serving as a notary public and as a steamship agent,

his office being at his variety store, 1125 West Thomas street. He was born in Hungary, November 7, 1860, and in his native country was reared and received an excellent common school education in the village where he was born. In 1883, however, he left his little Hungarian home across the sea and made the long voyage to America, stopping for a time in the state of New York. Six months later he made his way to Michigan, but after a short residence in that state came to South Bend and cast about for any occupation that would yield him an honest living. During a number of years past, however, Mr. Kish has been engaged in his present occupation, hav- ing been appointed a notary public by the governor in 1902, while in 1905 he was re- appointed to that position, and during the last seven years has served as a steamship agent, representing all the principal lines to the old country, . the Hamburg-Ameri- can, Holland-American, Cunard, American, French, Anchor and North German Lloyd lines. He gives a stanch and unfaltering support to the Republican party at the pres- ent time, and is a member of the St. Joseph Sick Benefit Society and the St. Stephen Ro- man Catholic Society. Twenty-two years have passed and gone since Mr. Kish cast his lot with the residents of South Bend, and in that time has so lived as to win the confidence and approbation of his fellow men, while at the same time he has gained an enviable posi- tion in its business circles.

He married, February 5, 1888, Anna Tatar, also a native of Hungary, and their six chil- dren are Joseph, Frank, Michel, Charles, Alex and Anna.

BARNEY C. SMITH, a member of the firm of Smith & Jackson, prominent lumber dealers in South Bend, is numbered among the sturdy, persevering and honorable sons that the fatherland has furnished to the United States. He was born in Germany on the 25th of January, 1854, but when a babe of one year his father, Jacob Smith, brought the family to the United States and established the home in St. Joseph county, Indiana, where he purchased a farm in Union township and became one of the leading agriculturists of the locality. It was on this homestead that Barney C. Smith grew to years of maturity, attending the school near his home during his boyhood days, and when the time came for him to begin the battle of life for himself he began working at farm labor by the

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month. He was an industrious lad, and in 1886 he was able to engage in the lumber business, first forming a partnership with his brother, Frederick Smith, but a short time afterward, in 1887, became associated in the business with Charles Jackson, the firm name being Smith & Jackson, and success has re- warded their well directed efforts. In addi- tion Mr. Smith is also connected with the Ziegler & Stickle Lumber Company of South Bend. Thus his varied interests rank him among the most prominent business men of St. Joseph county, where only ability of a high order is recognized.

On the 30th of April, 1879, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Mrs. Julia Kimball Harmon, who is the mother of one daughter by her former marriage, Cora Harmon, while she also has an adopted daughter, Mrs. Mamy Beck. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Smith has been identified with the interests of the Republican party, and formerly was its representative in the office of city commissioner, while he is now serving his first term as a county commis- sioner, always active in the public life of his community. His fraternal relations are with the Knights of Pythias, the Elks and the Masonic order. Through the many years of his residence in St. Joseph county he has ever been true to the trusts reposed in him, and his reputation in business circles is unassail- able. He commands the respect of all by his upright life and is indelibly engraving his name on the pages of the county's history.

HENRY B. HINE. In 1850, about the time the first railroad was built through northern Indiana and the enterprises and industries were being established which made South Bend a prosperous city, there arrived in town a young man of twenty-one years who first became known to the citizens as a clerk in a hardware store, but who is now remembered as one of the leading citizens and sterling business men of the city for more than thirty years. The late Henry B. Hine, whose death occurred in this city, June 3, 1887, was born in Naugatuck, Connecticut, November 1, 1829. He had the advantages of a college educa- tion in his youth before coming west, though he began his business career as a clerk, from which plane he worked his way to more than ordinary prominence. He was in the hard- ware business in Plymouth, Indiana, after he had gained considerable experience in that line in South Bend, and another early venture

was a trip to Pike's Peak during the fifties, when the great gold excitement was rife in that locality. After his return to South Bend he engaged in the real estate and brokerage business, and until his death occupied a high position among his contemporaries in busi- ness and social life. One of the outstanding facts of his career was his faithful adherence to the Methodist church, of which he was long a member, and at the time of his death was a member of its board of trustees.

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A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 45

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