A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 56

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 56

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Francis M. Hooton, whose name introduces this review, has spent his entire life in Olive township, and agriculture has been his prin- cipal.vocation. He began working for himself at the age of twenty-one years, receiving fif- teen dollars a month in compensation for his services, and this small beginning served as the nucleus for his subsequent successful career. On the 7th of November, 1875, he was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Anna Yaw in Cass county, Michigan, and ten chil- dren were born to bless their home, three sons and seven daughters, namely : Ruby, the wife of William Schwab, freight agent for the Lake Shore Railroad Company at Wawaka, Indiana, and they have two children, Modelle and Frank; Dwight, a fireman on the Pere Marquette Railroad, wedded Miss Beulah Schwab; Will, who married Miss Catharine Norris, and is at home with his parents, and they have one son, Fay: Arthur, who is also with his parents and is a blacksmith with

Lindahl Brothers; Merle, who graduated in common school in Noble county in 1901, is the wife of Emil Miller, an engineer on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad and a resi- dent of Chicago, and they have one child, Ruth; Glennie, who graduated in school in. 1905 in St. Joseph county; Gladys, who re- ceived her diploma in the class of 1906, and is now a student in the New Carlisle high school; Lucile, a member of the sixth grade; and Mary and Louise. Mrs. Hooton, the mother, was born in Berrien county, Michi- gan, November 20, 1857, a daughter of Jacob and Ruth (Bouton) Yaw, in whose family were seven children, six sons and one daugh- ter, and four are now living: William, who served for three years in the Civil war with the U. S. Regulars, and is now a resident farmer of Dowagiac, Michigan; George, also a resident of that city; Ruth Anna, the wife of Mr. Hooton; and Charles, a farmer of Dowagiac, Michigan. Mr. Yaw, the father, was born in New York on the 21st of April, 1821, and died at Port Hudson, Mississippi, May 27, 1863. When twenty-one years of age he came to Berrien county, Michigan, and there enlisted for service in the Civil war on the 9th of August, 1861, becoming a member of the Sixth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and his regiment was assigned to the Trans- Mississippi department. His life was offered as a sacrifice to his country. His wife, who was a native of Nunda, New York, born August 30, 1827, died on the 23d of February, 1872. She was a descendant of John Bouton, a native of France, but who came from Gravesend, England, to the United States in 1635, locating in Norwalk. Connecticut, and he was the founder of the family in this coun- try. The Yaws are of German descent.

Mrs. Hooton was reared in Berrien county, Michigan, until twelve years of age, when she removed with her parents to Cass county, that state, continuing her education in its common schools. After their marriage they located on a farm in St. Joseph county, which has continued as their home for thirty-two years. and they now own forty acres of land in Olive township and are numbered among its leading agriculturists. Mr. Hooton cast his first presidential vote for General Grant, and has ever since continued to support the prin- ciples of the Republican party, while frater- nally he is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Columbia. Both he and his esti- mable wife are members of the Christian

Digitized by Google

917

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

church located within two miles of New Carl- isle.

GUY CLEMENT CARPENTER. When we trace the careers of those whom the world acknowledges as successful and of those who stand highest in public esteem, we find that in almost every case they are those who have risen gradually by their own efforts, their dili- gence and perseverance. These qualities are possessed in large measure by Guy C. Carpen- ter, who has won for himself a name and place in the business world. He is a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, born on the 23d of October, 1850, his parents being Robert B. and Arvilla (Banister) Carpenter, in whose family were eight children, five sons and three daughters. Six of the number are now living, namely : Martha, who received her education in Potsdam Academy of New York and who was a fine mathematician and prominent teacher in both New York and Michigan, be- came the wife of Henry E. Shaw, a civil engi- neer and claim agent at Spokane Falls, Wash- ington; Mary E., who was also a college grad- uate and teacher, is the wife of Nelson Aber- nathy, an agriculturist of Madrid, New York; Mr. Carpenter of this review is the next in order of birth; William R., is engaged in railroading and the manufacture of lumber in Seattle, Washington; David B., who re- ceived his education in the state normal school at Potsdam, New York, and was afterward a teacher, is now an attorney at law in Cleve- land, Ohio; and Clement J., the youngest, is a railroad auditor, also general freight and pas- senger agent and a resident of Texas.

Mr. Carpenter, the father, was born in Swanzy. New Hampshire, January 11, 1820, and traces his lineage to England, the first of the name to come to this country being Rev. Ezra Carpenter, and several of his descend- ants have distinguished themselves in the halls of congress and the senate, while others were heroes in the Revolutionary war, and Robert Carpenter now has a souvenir of a canteen which was captured in some of its memorable battles. He is a relative of Charles Sumner, the friend of the Negro race. His retentive memory is replete with many historical reminiscences, and he is a well educated man. In an early day he was sent to adjust a claim in Chicago, the journey thereto being made on the first train which ran on the Lake Shore Railroad, and Chicago at that time was but a small village. His life has principally been spent in the state of New York, and he has

been identified with the Republican party since its organization, previously giving his support to the Whigs. He has been success- ful in his business affairs and accumulated six hundred acres of land in St. Lawrence county. Mrs. Carpenter, who was a native of Burling- ton, Vermont, born on the 14th of November, 1827, died in June, 1895. She was also of English extraction, and some of the early representatives of the Banister family were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. Both Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter have lived lives of the truest Christian character, and he is a strong advocate of the Temperance cause.

Guy C. Carpenter, whose name introduces this review, was reared on a dairy farm in the county of his nativity, receiving his edu- cation in the common schools near his home and in the Potsdam Academy, which has since been merged into the state normal. Re- maining at home until the age of twenty years, he then took up telegraphy and rail- road work, as an employe of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company for twenty-five years, following his vocation in every state through which the road passed, and this alone speaks volumes for his trust- worthiness and business ability. In 1893, he began traveling in the interest of the Bird -. . sell Wagon Company of South Bend, continu- ing his connection with that well known firm for twelve years, his territory covering most of the Mississippi valley, also New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and North and South Carolina. His record in that capacity was most commendable, and he has perhaps traveled as many miles as any sales- man of the present time.

On the 29th of August, 1875, Mr. Carpen- ter claimed as his bride, Miss Arvilla Egbert, a representative of one of the most honored . pioneer families of St. Joseph county, and one child has been born to bless this union, Grace, the wife of Charles Holloway, who is a commercial traveler and a resident of Florida. They have two children, Helene Arvilla, born in Omaha, Nebraska, and Charles Carpenter, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Holloway received an excellent educational training, graduating in the new Carlisle high school and was also a student in the Drake University at Des Moines, Iowa, and she is an elocutionist of more than passing importance. Mrs. Carpen- ter, the mother, was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, July 9, 1851 ,a daughter of James

Digitized by Google

918

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

and Delilah (Druliner) Egbert, of whom ex- tended mention is made in another portion of this volume. She received her education in the New Carlisle Collegiate Institute, and has also taken musical instruction. In 1900, Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter purchased their beautiful brick residence and property just east of the limits of New Carlisle and which is known as the Oak Hill Stock Farm. The estate com- prises one hundred and ten acres of excellent land in Olive township, and their residence stands on an eminence commanding a fine view of the surrounding country, and this hill was the identical spot where the first building site of New Carlisle was established. Mr. Carpenter cast his first presidential vote for General Grant, and has ever since sup- ported the principles of the Republican party. The family are held in the highest esteem by all who have the pleasure of their acquaint- ance, and it is with pleasure that we present this review of their lives in this history of St. Joseph county.

The following text of Mrs. Sparrow was prepared by Mrs. Guy Carpenter :

We herewith append a review of one of the oldest ladies living in northern Indiana- "Grandma" Sparrow-who was born in . Springfield, Ohio, September 14, 1814, the eighth child born to John and Catharine (Smith) Dudley. Her grandfather was born in England and was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war, while her father was a native of Washington, D. C., and her mother of Mary- land. Grandma Sparrow is known in several of the counties contiguous to St. Joseph, and is now almost ninety-three years of age, although her mind and physical powers are yet strong. She superintends her housework and can do many kinds of fine needle work, and her reminiscences of the early history of northern Indiana are replete with incidents worthy of record. On the 7th of May, 1832, in Springfield, Ohio, she wedded John Spar- row, and in the following year they emigrated to Elkhart county, Indiana, while in 1835 they came to Laporte county and lived on a farm given her by her father. She reared a family of nine children. John, Martha, Cath- arine, Addie, Elizabeth, Franklin, Jane, Thomas and Nicholas. In 1867. Mrs. Spar- row came to New Carlisle, and here she has cared for her two sons and two grandchil- dren, Belle and Maggie Kenedy, whose father died in the war of the rebellion. Belle Kenedy attended school in Buffalo, New

York, and the Laporte high school, when she was given her state teacher's certificate and taught for nine years, three years as profes- sor of history, and is now principal of a high school in South Bend. Maggie was also a teacher. Grandma Sparrow has also had the care of a nephew and niece who were left orphans, also two great-grandchildren, Henry Watson and George Washington Wycoff.

John Sparrow, her husband, was a Mason in Washington, D. C., also a member of the society of Mechanics. In 1832, Grandma Sparrow attended a banquet in Springfield, Ohio, where she had the pleasure of hearing toasts from six revolutionary soldiers, two of them being her uncles. Her husband's uncle was a captain in the war of 1812, John Spar- row serving as his assistant. She has been a mother to four generations and the first to dress some whose heads have been silvered for many years. She has also cooked food for many Indians, at one time taking care of one who was sick while the others went to Ft. Wayne for supplies from the government. The Indians were grateful and kind to her, often bringing her presents of the chase. For forty-eight years she has been a member of the Baptist church, almost a half century. She well remembers the site of New Carlisle and surrounding country before the towns and villages were laid out, long before the intro- duction of the railroad or any of the modern improvements of the present day. Only two of her children are now living, Thomas, for whom she has kept house for many years, and Addie, a resident of Missouri. We are pleased to present this short review of her life in the history of St. Joseph county as a tribute to her long and well spent life.

JOHN P. CHAPMAN. For over forty years Mr. and Mrs. Chapman have been residents of Olive township and St. Joseph county, and have therefore witnessed its progress from a primitive state. Mr. Chapman was born in Oneida county, New York, April 6, 1838, the sixth of eleven children, five sons and six daughters of John and Lavina (Berry) Chap- man. Six of the number are now living: Juliet, the wife of William A. Byles, a re- tired horticulturist of Windsor, Florida ; John P. is the next in order of birth; James, who now resides at the Soldier's Home in Dayton, Ohio, served two years in the rebellion and has an honorable war record; Charles H., who is successfully engaged in the gardening business in Salem, Oregon; Anson S., an agri-

Digitized by Google

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Aster, Lenax and Tilden Foundations. 1909

Digitized by

Google

Ars John D Chapman

Digitized by Google

Jahn P Chapman

Digitized by Google

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

Astor, Larey ora Ti.Jom Forrestens. 1909

Digitized by

Google

919

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

culturist of Chippewa Lake, Macosta county, Michigan ; and Alton B., a twin of Anson, is an iron manufacturer of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. John Chapman, the father, was born in Oneida county, New York, March 11, 1800, and died February 22, 1850. His progenitors came from the little country of Wales, and his grandfather was a native of Connecticut. John Chapman was a Whig in his political affiliations, was a member of the old Muster Militia Company, and both he and his wife were members of the Baptist church, although after the father's death the mother united with the Methodist Episcopal church. She was a native of Madison county, New York, born August 13, 1806, and died August 21, 1892, aged eighty-six years and seven days, passing away at the home of her son, with whom she had resided for fifteen years. She was a noble pioneer mother and a beautiful Christian in character, and her teachings and admonitions will ever live in the hearts of her children.

John P. Chapman, the immediate subject of this review, remained in his native state of New York until 1866, when he became a resident of Indiana. When he had reached the age of twenty-one years he did not own as much as ten dollars, and shortly afterward went to California, via New York City and the Isthmus and on to San Francisco, and after a residence there of five years engaged as a miner and agriculturist, joined a com- pany of volunteers with the intention of driv- ing out the Indians from the new counties of California, continuing as a soldier for thir- teen months. Returning thence to the States over the same route, he spent the winter of 1865 with his mother in Auburn, New York, and in the spring of 1866 started on his west- ward journey with Three Oaks, Michigan, as his destination, but business caused him to change his route and he arrived in Olive town- ship in June of the same year, where he pur- chased forty acres of land and began as a wage earner in shearing sheep or at any hon- orable occupation that presented itself. His little home was erected in the dense woods, a little space having been cleared for that purpose, and after its completion he went to Mosherville, Michigan, for his bride, Miss Catherine Eddy, their wedding having been celebrated on the 28th of October, 1866. She was born in Spafford, Onondaga county, New York, November 28, 1829, the youngest of nine children, four sons and five daughters,

born to Sylvanus and Joanna (Fuller) Eddy, and now the only survivor of the family. The father was a native of Plymouth, Massa- chusetts, born about twenty-five miles from "Plymouth Rock" March 16, 1788, eleven years before the death of General Washing- ton, and his death occurred about 1844. He traced his lineage to the early Eddys who came from England in 1630, only ten years after the landing of the Pilgrims, and his father was a hero of the Revolutionary war, having lost an arm in the service. Sylvanus Eddy was an old Bay state man, and was an honor to the grand old Puritan name. ] In early life he was employed as a mechanic, but later became an agriculturist, and two years after his marriage he brought his family to New York, traveling by wagon in true pioneer style, and their first home in the Empire state was a little log cabin. They resided in that commonwealth until the father's death. He was a Whig in his political affiliations, and both he and his wife were Methodists. She was a daughter of Isaac Fuller, and the progenitor of their family came over on the Mayflower and landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620. Mrs. Chapman remained in her native county of New York until twenty-two years of age, going thence to Auburn, that state, where she was engaged as a tailoress and re- mained in one place for eleven years. By her marriage she has become the mother of four children, one son and three daughters, namely : Arthur J., associated with the Lake Shore Railroad Company and a resident of Chicago; Emma, at home with her father and mother; Vina, the wife of Frank Chevrie, a butter maker at Elkhart, Indiana, and he has the championship of the state of Michigan; Hattie, wife of Frank Johnson, a master plumber at Elkhart.

Mr. and Mrs. Chapman began their mar- ried life on their little farm in Olive town- ship, St. Joseph county, the now prosperous little town of New Carlisle being then but a little hamlet, with a little shoe shop at the present site of the Warner drug store and a garden where the Brummitt Mercantile Company is now located. Many remarkable changes have taken place since they took up their abode here. He has cleared and placed his farm under a good state of cultivation, and also cleared thirty-seven acres on the Lancaster farm, so he has performed his full share of arduous labor. His political views are those of the Republican party, and he cast

Digitized by Google

920

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

his first presidential vote for General Fre- mont. He has also served as a delegate to the county conventions. Both he and his wife are' stalwart supporters of the temperance cause, and they are Methodists in their relig- ious affiliations, she having been a member of that church since twenty-two years of age. Their valuable homestead now consists of one hundred and twenty acres of land, two and a half miles from New Carlisle, and for thir- teen years Mr. Chapman was well known as a produce dealer throughout this part of the state. During the long period of forty-one years they have made their home in Olive township, and they are now numbered among its honored and esteemed residents. In their home are many valuable old souvenirs, includ- ing a little dish over a century old, also a little snuff box about three-fourths of a cen- tury old, and an Indian knife which was taken from the dead body of an Indian during the Massachusetts wars.

JOSEPHUS DAVIS, M. D. During almost a half century Dr. Josephus Davis has been engaged in the practice of medicine in New Carlisle, St. Joseph county, and his name has therefore become a household word in the homes of this community. He is a native of Laporte county, Indiana, where he was born on the 15th of April, 1835, a son of Caleb B. and Sarah (Wagner) Davis, in whose family were twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, and seven sons and two daughters are yet living, although scattered over the different states of the Union. The father, whose lineage is traced to the little country of Wales, was a native of Marshall county, West Virginia, born in 1813, and during his early manhood he came to the then far west, establishing his home in Laporte county, Indiana, and after a time purchased land in Springfield township, that county. A short time, afterward, however, he sold his farm and located in Galena township, thence removing to Oceana county, Michigan, where his death occurred in 1896. He was a Jack- son Democrat, a Mason and a member and exhorter in the Christian church. Mrs. Davis, also a native of West Virginia, born in 1815, died in 1892, also in the faith of the Chris- tian church, of which she was long a faithful member. She was of German descent.

Dr. Davis was reared on his father's farm in Laporte county, and at the age of twenty- two years he began the preparation for his chosen life work under the preceptorship of

Dr. H. B. Wilcox, while later, in 1858, he en- tered the medical department of the Univer- sity of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and in 1860 graduated in the Western Reserve College of Medicine and Surgery in Cleveland, Ohio. Thus with an excellent education to serve as the foundation of his future life work he be- gan practice in Galena township, Laporte county, but two years later came to New Car- lisle, where his long professional career has been attended with marked success. During the early years of his residence here, he was obliged to spend much of his time. day and night, in riding through the country to visit his patients, many of whom lived on remote farms, and faithfully did he respond to all demands from the sick and suffering, regard- less of storm and flood and his own health and comfort. His fame soon passed beyond the confines of locality and his practice extended into Laporte county and throughout the southern portion of Michigan. The Doctor now owns eighty-five acres of land in Olive township, also another farm on the Kankakee river of eight hundred acres, eighty acres in Marshall county, near Lopaz, Indiana, and one hundred and sixty acres in Grand Tra- verse county, Michigan, owning in all seven farms in addition to his valuable city prop- erty. His residence in New Carlisle, built of brick, is one of the finest homes in the city. His name is ineffaceably traced on the history of this portion of St. Joseph county from an early epoch, and he is distinctively the archi- tect of his own fortune.

In 1860 Dr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Ella Nash, and they have become the parents of two children. The son, John C., has inherited the love of his profession from his father, with whom he is now engaged in practice, and is recognized as one of the ris- ing young physicians of the community. His education was received in Laporte and the University of Michigan, and he married Miss Josie Ball, their home being in New Carliste. The daughter, Mary F., is a resident of Chi- cago. Mrs. Davis, the mother, is a native of Geauga county, Ohio, born on the 31st of December, 1833, a daughter of John and Mary (Lamb) Nash. Both she and her husband are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The Doctor is also a stanch advocate of Democratic principles, his first presidential vote having been cast for James Buchanan, and he has often been selected as delegate to the district and county conventions. He has

Digitized by Google

---

921

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

also served in many other positions of trust and responsibility, and at the present time is president of the town council of New Carlisle. During his administration many needed re- forms have been instituted, and the present year will witness greater improvements in good sidewalks, etc., than has been made in the past ten years. At all times the Doctor has been safely relied upon to use his influ- ence in the advancement of whatever has been for the good of the community.

.JAMES PROUD. Among the well known younger representatives of the agricultural interests of Olive township will be found the name of James Proud, who has gained and well merits the respect and esteem of all those with whom he has had business or social rela- tions. He is also a native son of the township, his birth occurring on the 22d of November, 1866, being the third of the four children, three sons and a daughter, of Hurtian and Beulah (Haines) Proud. The children are all living and are as follows: Mary, wife of Albert Hostetter, a farmer of Liberty town- ship, and they have four children ; George, an employe of the Chicago & Northwestern Rail- mad Company, and a resident of Rapids City, South Dakota; James, the next in order of birth; and Milton H., who married Miss Dora Tippey, by whom he has four children, and he is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Olive township. Mr. Proud, the father of these children, was a native of Warren county, Ohio, born in 1832, and is now a resident of Olive township, having come to St. Joseph county when only eight years of age, and thus for over half a century has been an hon- ored resident of the community. His educa- tional training was received in the pioneer log cabin school house so common in those days, and as the years have grown apace he has added to his landed possessions until he has become a large property owner, while he has also reared a family which have proved an honor to the name. In his political affiliations he is a Jackson Democrat, and he assisted in the erection of the Hamilton church, ever performing his part in the growth and upbuilding of his community. His wife is deceased.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 56

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