USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 47
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In 1880 Mr. Haberle was married to Cath- erine Keener, the daughter of Jacob and Eliz- abeth Keener, and they have one daughter, Maude H. In politics Mr. Haberle is a stal- wart Republican, and for four years repre- sented the First Ward of South Bend in the city council. His fraternal relations are with the Independent. Order of Odd Fellows. He is a man of genial temperament and genuine worth, and is highly respected and popular in all circles.
ANDREW HUBER, who is numbered among the many honored sons which the fatherland of Germany has furnished to the United States, has for a number of years past been prominently associated with the business life of South Bend in connection with her hard- ware trade. His birth occurred in Germany on the 3d of January, 1854, and when he was but a babe of one year his mother died, while ten years later he was left an orphan by the death of his father, and the little lad was reared by a guardian until his fourteenth year. At that time he was placed in a posi- tion to learn the tinner's trade, at which he served an apprenticeship of three years, and continued his connection therewith until he was drafted as a soldier in the German army, this being when he had attained the age of twenty-one years, and his military career cov-
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ered a period of three years. At the close of that period he again resumed work at the tinner's trade, thus continuing until he left his German home for the United States, ar- riving in South Bend in the year 1884. Dur- ing the first ten years of his residence in this city he was an employe of Myer & Poehlman, later was for a time associated with a Mr. Folsom, and on the 1st of May, 1900, em- barked in business for himself at his present location. He began in a small way, but with the passing years has increased his interests until his hardware store is now one of the leading establishments of its kind in the city. He is a business man of great ability, and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
Before leaving his German home Mr. Huber was there married to one of its native daugh- ters, Magdalena Schnitzer, in 1878, and they have one son, Oscar, who is now engaged in business with his father, the firm name being Andrew Huber & Son. Mr. Oscar Huber was born in Germany October 9, 1882, and was only a babe when his parents came to the United States and to South Bend, he having been reared and educated in this city. Both he and his father hold fraternal relations with the order of Odd Fellows, and Mr. Huber, Sr., is also a member of the Knights of the Maccabees of South Bend. He is a Democrat in his political affiliations, but lo- cally is an independent voter.
CHARLES RUSS. In the life history of the subject of this review is represented a worthy type of American character and a progres- sive spirit which promotes public good in ad- vancing individual prosperity. He has long been prominently identified with the business interests of South Bend, and as a member of the firm of Charles & Fred Russ, manufac- turers of grocers' sundries, he is well known to its residents. He was born in Berrien county, Michigan, in 1861, where his parents established their home in an early day, but they claimed the Empire state of New York as the commonwealth of their nativity.
Charles Russ, their fourth child in order of birth, spent the first nineteen years of his life in Buchanan and Berrien county, Michi- gan, receiving his educational training in the schools of that city, Rolling Prairie and Val- paraiso, and after its completion he returned to the school room as a teacher. He entered the profession at the age of twenty years, and after teaching for two seasons came to South
Bend, and has ever since maintained his resi- dence in this city. In 1887 he turned his at- tention to. the manufacturing business, in which he is associated with his brother Fred, and they at times employ as many as seventy- five operatives. Their business interests have grown to extensive proportions, and the pro- prietors deserve to be ranked with the prom- inent men of affairs of their adopted city, where only ability of a superior order is now recognized.
The marriage of Mr. Russ was celebrated in December, 1892, when Anna Keesey be- came his wife. She is a daughter of William Keesey, of North Manchester, Indiana, and by her marriage she has become the mother of two daughters and a son, Helen, Mary and Dwight. Mr. Russ is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as steward.
EDWARD PFEIFFER, a native son of South Bend, has gained an enviable position in its business circles, being now well known as a wholesale wine dealer. His birth occurred in South Bend on the 21st of November, 1864, in which city his parents, George and Eva Pfeiffer, natives of Artzburg, Bavaria, Ger- many, were among the early pioneers. They established their home here as early as 1850, and the father was engaged in business in both South Bend and Hamilton, but they yet reside in the former city, the father aged seventy-eight and the mother seventy-nine years of age. They became the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters, but only two sons and one daughter are now living.
Edward Pfeiffer, the seventh child and fourth son in order of birth, completed his education in the public schools of his native city of South Bend, after which he spent four years in business in Los Angeles, California. Returning thence to South Bend in 1890 he was engaged in the grocery business for five years, but at the end of that time sold his interests therein and in 1895 engaged in his present occupation as a wine merchant. A man of distinctive and forceful individuality, he has gained a distinguished position in con- nection with the material industries of the city, the logical result of enterprise, systematic effort, resolute purpose and straightforward methods.
In Pasadena, California, in 1888, Mr. Pfeif- fer was married to Millie Ulbricht, a native of Center township, St. Joseph county, In-
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diana, and a daughter of August Ulbricht, who was a well known stone mason and con- tractor of South Bend for many years but now deceased. Two daughters have been born of this union, Anita and Agnes. Mr. Pfeiffer is a Democrat in his political affiliations, and is a member of a number of the lodges of South Bend.
JOSEPH C. LONZO, a partner in the Swan Laundry Company, whose well known estab- lishment is at No. 119 East Sample street, South Bend, was born in Liberty township, in the southwestern part of St. Joseph county, December 22, 1873. His father, Lorenzo Lonzo, now deceased, was a stationary en- gineer of exemplary character and good standing in his trade, who was a native of Tonawanda, New York, and when twelve years of age came with his parents to St. Joseph county. The grandparents, Moses and Marguerite Lonzo, settled on a farm south of Lakeville, where Lorenzo was married to Elizabeth Roush. Mrs. Lorenzo Lonzo, the mother of Joseph C., was born in Holmes county, Ohio, where she devloped into woman- hood. By her marriage to Lorenzo Lonzo she became the mother of four sons and four daughters, of whom Joseph was the fourth child and the third son. The father, who was a sturdy Republican, died at the age of sixty- three.
Joseph C. Lonzo remained at home until he was sixteen years of age, assisting on the home farm and acquiring as thorough an edu- cation as was possible under the circum- stances. From the time he left the home- stead he has made his own way in the world, mostly in connection with the laundry busi- ness. He therefore understands it in every detail, and his practical knowledge and good business judgment have brought his acknowl- edged success. In July, 1905, Mr. Lonzo formed a partnership with Charles Airgood, under the style of The White Swan Laundry Company, and their large, modern steam laun- dry is being run to its full capacity, the business growing every day.
On the 5th of July, 1895, Joseph C. Lonzo. was united in marriage with Anna Henry, a native of Laporte, Indiana, and daughter of James Henry, a farmer of that county. She was the second of their five children. To Mr. and Mrs. Lonzo have been born five children, as follows : Harriet (deceased), Hazel, Anna, Mary and Joseph. Mr. Lonzo is a good Re-
publican, and is fraternally associated with the Modern Woodmen of America.
JERRY F. MOORE, whose name is prominent- ly associated with the transfer business of South Bend, is numbered among its native sons, his birth here occurring on the 14th of November, 1857. He is of Irish descent, for his father, Stephen Moore, was born on the Emerald Isle, but in his early life came to the United States, and was numbered among the pioneer citizens of St. Joseph county, where he was extensively engaged in farming in Greene township: He was married in South Bend to Katherine Donovan, also a native of Ireland, and their two sons are Thomas and Jerry. The father gave his po- litical support to the Democracy, being an active worker in the ranks of the party, and he was a member of the Catholic church. His death occurred when he had reached the age of fifty-six years, thus ending a busy and useful life, for in addition to his agricultural pursuits he was also employed as a shoe- maker, following those dual occupations for many years.
Jerry F. Moore obtained his educational training in the district schools of Greene township, and at the age of twenty-one years he left the old home farm for South Bend, where he secured employment with the Singer Sewing Machine Company, continuing his as- sociation therewith for about five years. Dur- ing the following two years he was identified with the grocery trade, and on the expiration of that period embarked in the business which has since claimed his time and attention, be- ing now well known as the leader of the transfer business in this city. The enterprise was begun in a small way, but gradually he has pushed his way to the front until South Bend now accords to him a leading place among her business men. Step by step he has climbed the ladder of success, each step upward being the result of his own energy and determination, and he has made for him- self the high place which he now occupies.
On the 20th of February, 1882, Mr. Moore was united in marriage to Frances Leppke, who was born in Coldwater, Michigan, but when nine years of age she was brought by her father, Samuel Leppke, to St. Joseph county, Indiana, where he followed his trade of cabinet making for a number of years. Some time before his death he retired from active business cares, and in 1884 erected the
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pleasant home in which the remainder of his life was spent. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Moore have been born four children, two sons and two daughters: Grace (deceased), Hazel, Arthur (deceased) and Jerry, Jr., all of whom were born in South Bend. Mr. Moore gives an active support to the Democratic party, and fraternally is a member of the Elks. The family are members of the Cath- olic church.
HENRY DUNCKER. There is no element which has entered into our national life which has been of more practical strength than that furnished by the sturdy, persevering and hon- orable sons of Germany, and one of its native born citizens is Henry Duncker, a prominent tin and sheet iron worker in South Bend. His birth occurred in the city of Hamburg, Ger- many, October 2, 1859, and he remained in his native land until eighteen years of age, attending its public schools and serving a four years' apprenticeship to the cornice maker's trade. It was in June, 1878, that he left his little home across the sea and came to the United States, remaining in New York city for a time and thence going to Chi- cago, and in fact he traveled over the north- western states until his final settlement in South Bend in 1882. His first employment in this city was with Godford, Myer & Poehl- man, with whom he remained for seventeen years as foreman of their cornice department. Since that time he has been engaged in busi- ness for himself as a tin and sheet iron work- er, but his business ability has also reached out in other directions and he is now the pro- prietor of a boat livery. As his house stands on the banks of the St. Joseph river he has also engaged in the manufacture of boats, and now has about fourteen which he rents during the season. Thus it will be seen that he is identified with many interests which lend their aid to the improvement of his chos- en city, and during his residence here of twenty-six years he has won the high regard of its citizens with whom he has been asso- ciated in either business or social relations.
In 1886, in South Bend, Mr. Duncker mar- ried Lizzie Nagel, who came from her native land of Germany to America in 1884, and they became the parents of two daughters, Tillie, the wife of Nelson Woodcox of South Bend, and Freeda, at home. The wife and mother died in October, 1904, after a happy married life of eighteen years. Mr. Duncker is a member of the South Bend Historical
Society and is one of its most active workers. He is a well known collector of Indian relics, of which he has many interesting specimens, and he also has one of the finest collections of butterflies in the state.
J. W. PAPCZYNSKI, occupying a leading po- sition in the pharmaceutical circles of South Bend, was born in Poland, Germany, January 21, 1870, and was only about seven years of age when brought by his parents to the United States, the home being first estab- lished in Baltimore, Maryland. Three years later a removal was made to South Bend, Indiana, where the son received an excellent educational training in the public schools. He then entered upon a clerkship in the drug store of Otto C. Bastian, with whom he re- mained in that capacity for about sixteen years, and so well did he take advantage of his opportunities and so faithfully did he dis- charge the duties devolving upon him that on the expiration of that period he was ad- mitted to a partnership in the business. In 1903, however, this relation was dissolved, and Mr. Papczynski then engaged in the drug business at his present location, 407 South Chapin street. He has been a resident of South Bend since his tenth year, covering & period of twenty-six years, and he is now recognized as one of its valued citizens, ac- tively interested in every enterprise for its upbuilding and improvement. He is now serving his fourth year as a member of the board of public works, and is a stanch sup- porter of the principles of the Democratic party.
Mr. Papczynski was married, but his wife is now deceased, leaving a little daughter, Clara, seven years of age. He is a member of the Polish Turners, also the Polish National Alliance. U. S. A. M., and of the St. Casimir, in all of which he takes an active and effec- tive interest.
THOMAS H. ROLLINS. In reviewing the life history of those who have made for them- selves a place in connection with the activities and honors of life, who have successfully sur- mounted obstacles and who have gained rec- ognition for true worth of character is found the subject of this review, Thomas H. Rollins, one of the promoters and the superintendent of the W. T. Wyant & Company cold storage plant. He was born in Larwill. Whitley county, Indiana, March 20, 1865. His father. Warren Rollins, claimed Ohio as the com- monwealth of his nativity, and was a farmer
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by occupation, his life's labors being ended in death when he had reached the age of sixty- five years. He became one of the early pion- eers of Whitley county, Indiana, there having been a large settlement of the Rollins' family in the Eel River valley. During the war of the rebellion he served as a loyal soldier, his military career covering a period of three years, and he was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness. In his early manhood Mr. Rollins married Anna Caldwell, a native of Maryland, and she still survives her husband.
Thomas H. Rollins, their only child, grew to mature years in his native county of Whit- ley, but at the early age of ten years he started out in the world to battle for himself, securing employment with a cousin in North Manchester, Indiana, in the produce business, while for about ten years he was engaged in business with his cousins, J. Swindell & Brother, at Dowagiac, Michigan, and in 1904 with Mr. W. T. Wyant he organized the W. T. Wyant & Company Cold Storage Plant and began a wholesale trade in butter and eggs. These gentlemen were boys together and have been in close relationship during the long period of thirty years.
In 1889 Mr. Rollins was united in marriage to Emma Wiser, of Bourbon, Indiana. Mr. Rollins has fraternal relations with the Ma- sons, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias at Dowagiac, Michigan. He has carved his way to success by his own unaided efforts, and in all the relations of life he enjoys the high regard of his fellow citizens.
E. B. RUPEL, who is prominent in the busi- ness circles of South Bend, is connected with its wholesale trade. A community depends upon commercial activity, its welfare is due to this, and its promoters of legitimate and extensive business enterprises may well be termed its benefactors. The life history of E. B. Rupel exhibits a long and virtuous career of private industry, crowned with success. He was born in Center township, St. Joseph county, Indiana, October 22, 1866, a son of Franklin and Martha J. (Rockhill) Rupel, both of whom yet reside on the old homestead in Center township.
Mr. E. B. Rupel, the second child and sec- ond son in order of birth of his parents' four children, two sons and two daughters, all yet living, was reared to years of maturity on the old Rupel homestead in his native town- ship of Center, attending its districts schools, and also graduating from the high school of
South Bend with the class of 1884. During the ten years following his graduation he was numbered among the successful educators of the county, while during the succeeding five years he was on the road as a traveling sales- man for a wholesale grocery house. In 1889 he embarked in business at his present loca- tion, spending the first year on the road, but since that time his entire attention has been given to his large and constantly increasing wholesale interests in this city, giving to the business his personal supervision. Steadily and persistently he has been forging his way to the front in industrial circles until he now occupies a very creditable and enviable posi- tion as a dealer in notions and stationery, selling exclusively to the wholesale trade.
In 1893 Mr. Rupel wedded Hallie Smith, a daughter of Alexander Smith, of Center town- ship, St. Joseph county, and they have two daughters, Pearl and Alice Ernestine. Mr. Rupel has fraternal relations with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of the Maccabees, and is also a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church of South Bend.
IRVING A. SIBLEY. In the subject of this review we find one who has attained a lead- ing position in the business life of South Bend. During the long period of twenty-two years he has been numbered among the city's valued and honored residents, at all times public-spirited and thoroughly interested in whatever tends to promote its moral, intel- lectual and material welfare. His birth oc- curred in Erie county, New York, June 27, 1852, his parents being William A. and Margery J. (Churchill) Sibley, both also na- tives of the Empire state, and the father was of English descent. He adopted the profes- sion of medicine as his life's occupation, and in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Sibley were two children, Irving A. and William E., the last named a resident of Freeport, Illinois.
In the county of his nativity Irving A. Sib- ley grew to years of maturity, receiving his early educational training in its public schools. while later he was a student in the city schools of Buffalo. When he had reached the age of fourteen years he began the active battle of life for himself, his first employment being as a clerk in a shoe store, and at the age of sixteen he became a salesman on the road, while three years later, when he had at- tained the age of nineteen, he embarked in the manufacture of shirts in Buffalo, New
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York. Going to Chicago, Illinois, at the age of twenty-two, he secured employment with the firm of C. M. Henderson & Company, wholesale dealers in boots and shoes, and con- tinued traveling in that line in Minnesota for ten years, and at the close of that period, in January, 1885, he came to South Bend and entered the hardware trade, establishing his store at his present location and he transacts both a wholesale and retail business. ' With the passing years his name has become in- separably connected with the industrial inter- ests of the city, for in addition to his large hardware enterprise he is also a director of the Malleable Steel Range Manufacturing Company of South Bend, a director in the South Bend Watch Company, and also con- nected with other extensive concerns which form an important part of the business life of the city.
In 1872 Mr. Sibley was united in marriage to Cora C. Curtis, who was born in Buffalo, Erie county, New York, a daughter of Seir Curtis, and they have become the parents of three sons, Irving A., Jr., William C. and Frank C., the two eldest being associated with their father in business, and the youngest son is attending high school. In his political re- lations Mr. Sibley is identified with the Re- publican party, while fraternally he has mem- bership relations with the Masonic order, the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the First Presbyterian church of South Bend.
H. W. ELDREDGE. Success is determined by one's ability to recognize opportunity and to pursue this with a resolute and unflagging energy. It results from continued labor, and the man who thus accomplishes his purpose usually becomes an important factor in the business circles of the community with which he is connected. Mr. Eldredge, a well-known merchant of South Bend, has through such means attained a leading place among the representative business men of St. Joseph county, and his well spent and honorable life commands the respect of all who know him. He was born in Norwich, New York, Novem- ber 24, 1865, a son of Adin D. and Harriet (Fox) Eldredge, both natives of Chenango county, New York. The father, who followed the occupation of a painter and decorator, died in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1881, but he is still survived by his widow, who is a resident of Kaneville, Illinois. In their fan-
ily were only two children, the daughter being Bertha, the wife of Ralph H. Hardy.
H. W. Eldredge, their only son, spent the first eleven years of his life in Norwich, his native city, going thence to Jacksonville, Illi- nois, but a year later removed to Pekin, that state, where for two years he pursued his studies in its high school. Returning thence to Norwich, New York, he spent three years at work in a factory, after which he went again to Illinois, this time locating in Kaneville, where for three years he was employed as clerk in a country store. "We build the ladder by which we rise," is a truth which is certainly applicable to Mr. Eldredge, for his early la- bors were but the means for securing further educational training, and at the close of his three years' clerkship he entered the Jen- ning's Seminary at Aurora, Illinois, where he completed the course and graduated one year thereafter. Resuming his clerkship at the ex- piration 'of that period, he spent one year in Newark, Illinois, returning thence to Kane- ville, where for four years he had charge of a store, and during the following three years had charge of the dry goods store belonging to George H. Dennett, in Rockford, Illinois. At the end of that time he was able to pur- chase his employer's interest, and in associa- tion with James J. Van Duzer he continued in business in that city for three years, their firm name being Van Duzer & Eldredge. Sell- ing his interest to his partner in 1898, Mr. Eldredge then came to South Bend and be- came a partner of George Wyman, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this work. and the firm of George Wyman & Company has become well known to the citizens of South Bend and St. Joseph county. Mr. Eld- redge is a man of excellent business and ex- ecutive ability, whose sound judgment, un- flagging enterprise and capable management have brought to him a well-merited success.
In 1894 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Eldredge to Daisy Ames, she being a daugh- ter of Chauncy and Mary (Adams) Ames, and they have three children, Dorothy, Donald and Stuart. Mr. Eldredge is a prominent member of the Elks fraternity, of the Com- mercial Athletic Club and of the St. Joseph Valley Country Club.
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