USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 63
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Mrs. Paul is a native of Drake county, Ohio, born April 28, 1833, a daughter of Jacob and Lehr (Miller) Rupel, in whose family were eight children, but only five are now living; Nancy, the widow of Mark Smith and a resi-
dent of Kosciusko county, Indiana; Wesley, an agriculturist of that city; Mary, the wife of Mr. Paul; Susannah, the widow of Charles Stephens and a resident of Walkerton, In- diana; and Lydia, the wife of Nathaniel Ken- nedy, of Waterloo, Hancock county, Iowa. Mr. Rupel, the father, was born in Pennsyl- vania but reared in Ohio, and his business career was devoted to the tilling of the soil. Both he and his wife were worthy members of the Methodist church, and both passed away in death in St. Joseph county. Indiana. It was in 1836 that the Rupel family established their home in this county, making the journey hither in wagons and camping out during the nights, Arriving at their destination in Lib- erty township, they lived in the wagons until their little log cabin was completed, in the front of which they would build a log heap fire. Wolves were plentiful in those days, and the pioneers had to corral their sheep in log pens to protect them from the wild ani- mals. Four deer were killed near the Rupel home, and at that time the Pottawatomie In- dians were also numerous in this locality, Mrs. Paul having often played with the little Indian children. She can well remember when the first railroad was constructed through South Bend, then but a little village, and with the family she drove there to see the first train of cars pass through the city. Their milling was done at Niles, Michigan, while their grain market was at Michigan City.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul began their married life on a little tract of eighty acres of land, their first home being a little log cabin with a clap- board roof, and even then they had to assume an indebtedness of two hundred and fifty dol- lars. Mr. Paul was obliged to work out by the day grubbing to clear this incumbrance, but slowly and persistently he has climbed up- ward and onward, overcoming the obstacles in his path to success until he is now free from debt and the owner of a valuable estate of two hundred and twenty-five acres, while in addition he has city property in Marion, In- diana. Their pleasant and attractive home is ' known as The Maple Grove Farm. To Mr. Paul also belongs the honor of having served his country in the Civil war, representing Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth In- diana Volunteer Infantry, he having gone with his regiment to Indianapolis, where they were organized, and thence proceeded to Bal- timore, Maryland, on to Washington, and thence across the Potomac river to Alexandria,-
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where they were in camp. From there they went to Dover, Delaware, where they re- mained in camp until the surrender of Gen- eral Lee to Grant at Appomattox, Virginia, April 9, 1865. After his honorable discharge at Indianapolis, in August, 1865, Mr. Paul returned to his home and to his home duties. He is a stalwart Republican in his political affiliations, casting his first presidential vote for General John C. Fremont, and he has since cast his ballot in favor of Lincoln, Blaine, Mckinley and Roosevelt. He can re- call to mind the old days of the "Wild Cat" currency. Both Mr. and Mrs. Paul are adher- ents of the Adventist faith, and Lincoln town- ship numbers them among her leading and honored residents.
SAMUEL KOONTZ, SR., is one of the best known residents of southwestern St. Joseph county, where he is classed with the early and honored pioneers, and is highly esteemed for his many sterling characteristics. He comes from the German race, a nationality which has proved such an important factor in the progress of our Union, and is a native of Marion county, Ohio, born on the 20th of Sep- tember, 1844, the third in order of birth of the eight children, two sons and six daugh- ters, born to Samuel and Mary (Sult) Koontz. But only two of the number are now living, Samuel and Daniel, the latter an agricultur- ist of Orange township, Stark county, In- diana.
Mr. Koontz, the father, was born in North- ampton county, Pennsylvania, in 1814, and his death occurred . in 1898. He was reared in his native county, and was educated in the German tongue, for his grandfather came from the land of Germany, and the orig- inal spelling of the name was "Kuntz." In 1830, after his marriage, Mr. Samuel Koontz removed with his parents and family to Mar- ion county, Ohio, journeying overland with wagons, and after his arrival resumed his trade of a tanner. In 1847 he resumed his westward journey to what is now known as Koontz Lake, Stark county, Indiana. He made the trip first on horseback and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government, the old deed being still in the possession of his children. Success attended his efforts in this then new and undeveloped country, and with the passing years he added to his estate until it included one thousand acres. The first habitation of the family here was the typical log cabin, and at that time
remnants of the tribe of the Pottawatomie Indians were plentiful, their trail passing through the farm. Mr. Koontz once shot a panther near his house, and deer and other wild animals were plentiful. It was in the year 1850 that he established the Koontz grist mill on the banks of Koontz lake, which proved a rare convenience to the early settlers and a blessing in the midst of the wilder- ness. This body of water is one of the most beautiful inland lakes in the state, and is really a continuation of lakes, while its banks are fringed with the native forest trees and covered with luxuriant grass, making it one of the most desirable summer resorts to be found in Indiana. Beautiful cottages have been built on its' banks, which during the sum- mer months are inhabited by the wealthy residents of the county and distant places. Mr. Koontz, however, utilized this lake by putting in a dam, the government granting him and his heirs exlusive sale and owner- ship of the lake and surroundings so long as the mill would be conducted on a business basis. This mill was patronized by the set- tlers for a distance of forty miles, and is yet ably conducted by his son, the subject of this review. Mr. Koontz, Sr., never pursued his trade of a tanner after coming to this coun- ty. He was an old-line Whig until the forma- tion of the Republican party, when he joined its ranks and supported its first presidential candidate, General Fremont, while he was often chosen by his people as their official representative. He was a strong man phys- ically, mentally and morally, was firm in his convictions, and was known and honored for his integrity of character. He was almost a giant in stature, standing five feet eleven inches high, with broad shoulders, and possessed great strength. Both he and his wife were at one time members of the German Lutheran church, but afterward united with the German Methodists. His death occurred at the Koontz Lake homestead, and he now sleeps in the Walkerton cemetery, where a beautiful stone stands sacred to the memory of this honored pioneer. Mrs. Koontz was born in the same locality as her husband. and her death occurred in Starke county, Indiana, when her son Samuel was a little lad of thirteen years.
Samuel Koontz, of this review, was but three years of age when brought by his par- ents to Koontz Lake, and in Stark and St. Joseph counties he grew to maturity and has
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ever since resided, covering the long period of over half a century. In that time he has wit- nessed the growth of this section of the state from a wilderness to its present prosperous condition, doing whatever he could to further its advancement and to such as he all honor is due. Until sixteen years of age his life was spent on the home farm, which he as- sisted in clearing from its dense growth of timber and preparing it for the plow, and his educational training was received in the prim- itive schools of the early days, a little build- ing fourteen by twenty feet, with a clapboard roof, slab seats and desks of the crudest char- acter imag.Jable, and he has used the old goose quill pen. The school was maintained by private subscriptions, while the teacher would board with the families of the different pupils, and it was only Mr. Koontz's privilege to attend this "temple of learning" during two or three months of the year. When he had reached his sixteenth year he was a full grown man and began learning the trade of a miller, while two years later, at the age of eighteen, he took charge of the mill, and has ever since been the proprietor of this historic oid mill, in which he has installed new and modern machinery. In addition to its con- duc+ he owns four hundred and seventy acres
land in Starke county,, also real estate in Walkerton, and the beautiful Koontz lake is his home, located four miles from Walkerton, seven miles from Hamlet and twelve miles from Plymouth, and it is one of the most beautiful resorts to be found in the entire state of Indiana.
Mr. Koontz has been twice married, first wedding Miss Martha Morrow, in December, 1868, and four children, one son and three daughters, were born to them, of whom three are now living. The eldest, Samuel Edward, is one of the successful business men of Wal- kerton, where he is the proprietor of one of the largest clothing and gentlemen's furnish- ing houses in the county outside of the city of South Bend. He is also an expert and prac- tical miller, is a successful business man and is popular and highly esteemed in the com- munity. He is a member of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias orders, and is a stanch Re- publican, having cast his first presidential vote for Harrison. Bertha, the second child, is the wife of Albert Swank, a cigar manufac- turer in Walkerton, and Laura, the youngest, is the wife of Zibe Hornbeck, the proprietor of a large department store in Fowler, In- Vol. II-28.
diana. They have one little daughter, Martha Elizabeth. Mrs. Hornbeck received an excel- lent education, which was completed at the Valparaiso University, where she studied mu- sie and shorthand, and is now a fine pianist and has taught music for a number of years. Mrs. Koontz was born on the 19th of March, 1848, and her death occurred in November, 1897. For a number of years she was a suc- cessful teacher in Indiana, was a kind and loving wife and mother, and was a lady whom to know was to honor and revere. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and an active worker in the cause of Chris- tianity. For his second wife Mr. Koontz chose Mrs. Rebecca A. (Woodward) Vincent, their marriage having been celebrated on the 26th of April, 1899. She is a lady of excel- lent educational training, and is a prominent Pythian sister, having organized the Knox, Michigan City, Plymouth, Argos and South Bend lodges of the Pythian Sisters, and was a state officer in the improved order. She is also a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Walkerton.
Mr. Koontz cast his first presidential vote for the great and honored Lincoln, and has ever since remained true to Republican prin- ciples. He has often been selected as his party's delegate to the county and state con- ventions, served for four terms as the trustee of Oregon township in Starke county, and in 1888 was a strong candidate for the office of county treasurer of Starke county, and he made a hard fight in that Democratic strong- hold. For many years he has served in an of- ficial capacity for the public schools, being a firm friend of the cause of education. He has fraternal relations with the order of Odd Fel- lows at Walkerton, also with the encampment at Hamlet, and is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Walkerton. He has served in all the offices of the Odd Fellows fraternity, was a delegate to the state convention at Indian- apolis in 1905, and is a member of the Rebek- ahs and the Pythian Sisters. His religious af- filiations are with the Methodist Episcopal church of Oregon township. Almost the en- tire life of Mr. Koontz has been spent in this community, and in the work of its growth and upbuilding he has ever borne his part, has been honorable in business, loyal in friend- ship, faithful in citizenship, and is honored and revered by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
CHARLES E. MCCARTY. The name of
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Charles E. McCarty is closely associated with the history of St. Joseph county from an early epoch until the present time, and his activities have been of value in the advancement of his community. He is a native son of Hillsdale, Michigan, born on the 16th of November, 1850, a son of Morgan and Arzella (Wilkin- son) McCarty, in whose family were eight children, five sons and three daughters, but only three of the number are now living. The eldest, Mary, is the widow of Matthew Mc- Cabe and a resident of Lincoln township. Morgan Edward served in Company I, Forty- eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil war, his military career covering a period of one year. He is married and re- sides in Holland, Michigan, where he is em- ployed by the great pickle dealer, Heinz. Charles E., whose name introduces this re- view, is the youngest of the eight children.
Morgan McCarty, the father, was born in Cayuga county, New York, April 2, 1813, and died on the 18th of November, 1878, when he had reached the sixty-sixth milestone on the journey of life. He was reared as an agricul- turist, and during his young manhood he re- moved to Ohio, where he was married in Nor- walk on the 26th of July, 1832, Arzella Wil- kinson then becoming his wife. He had re- ceived but a limited educational training in his youth, and began life for himself a poor but honest lad, his perseverance and sterling integrity winning for him the success which was later his to enjoy. Subsequently remov- ing to Michigan, he became a landlord in Camden village, near Hillsdale, but in 1853 he transferred his residence to Plymouth, Marshall county, Indiana, remaining there, however, but a short time. During his year's residence in Marshall county he received a contract in the construction of the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne Railroad, and on the expira- tion of the period, in 1856, he took up his abode in Lincoln township, St. Joseph county, near the Marshall county line, his buildings being in both counties. With his son-in-law, Mr. McCabe, he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of partially improved land, but later sold the tract and for a time thereafter resided in Starke county, later in Laporte county, and finally returned to St. Joseph county, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was an abolitionist in the early days, a bitter enemy of the institution of slavery, and he therefore ardently espoused the prin- ciples of the Republican party at its organ-
ization, he often having been heard to say: "I . am a straight Republican, as straight as a sheep's leg." He cast his vote for its first presidential nominee, General Fremont, al- ways thereafter supporting the principles of the "Grand Old Party." He was a man of the most sterling characteristics, and he was honored and respected by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. Mrs. McCarty was born in Fort Ann, New York, April 16, 1814, and died on the 22d of August, 1896, aged eighty-two years. Her mind remained clear until the last, and she was one of those grand old pioneer mothers whom it is a de- light to honor and revere. Both she and her husband now lie buried in the Walkerton cemetery, where a beautiful monument stands sacred to their memory.
Charles E. McCarty, the youngest child of this honored old pioneer couple, was but a little lad of five years when he became a resi- dent of St. Joseph county, so that he has spent over a half a century within its borders. His educational training was received in one of the primitive schools of the olden days, which have become so famous in song and story. Until his sixteenth year he was a farm- er's lad, but in 1869 he came with his father to Walkerton and secured employment on the old C. C. & L. Railroad, now known as the Lake Erie & Western, beginning in the very lowest position as a sectionman, thus continu- ing until his nineteenth year, when he en- gaged with the same company as a brakeman, and before he was twenty-one he rose to the position of a conductor of a freight train. Next he was given charge of a contract for grading near Fish Lake, on the old Peninsula Railroad, now known as the Grand Trunk, where he completed one and a half miles of grading, after which he again entered the train service, and followed railroading until the fall of 1892. In that time, however, he was employed with several companies, the Lake Erie & Western, the Wabash, the Mari- etta & Cincinnati, the Baltimore & Ohio, the Nickle Plate, the Santa Fe, the Louisville & Nashville, on which he ran a passenger train from Cincinnati to Lexington, Kentucky. and was with the company for six years, retiring from the fascinating but dangerous life of railroading in November, 1892. Mr. McCarty is now the owner of one hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land northwest of Walkerton, to which he removed with his family in 1892, and there they remained until
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the 16th of August, 1896. They. then took up their abode in Walkerton, where Mr. McCarty conducted the Baltimore & Ohio eating house until 1898.
The marriage of Mr. McCarty and Miss Malisa E. Hardy was celebrated on the 4th of July, 1875, and one son, Charles Harlen, has blessed their union. He was born on the 16th of July, 1876, and received his educa- tion in the common schools of four different states, graduating with the class of 1893 in the common schools of St. Joseph county, while with the class of 1896 he completed the course and graduated from the Logansport Business College. He is now employed with the United States Steel Company at Gary, Indiana, and makes his home with his par- ents. He wedded Miss Gertrude Roy, who is now deceased. He, too, supports the Repub- lican principles, casting his first presidential vote for Mckinley, and he served as the deputy sheriff of St. Joseph county for his father. He has membership relations with many of the fraternal orders, including the Elks, the Eastern Star, the Masons, Macca- bees and the Loyal Americans, and is also a valued member of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. McCarty, the mother, was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, January 10, 1855, a daughter of Valentine H. and Martha (Hughes) Hardy, in whose family were the following children: Lawrence P., of South Bend; Angie E., the widow of Frank E. Barn- hart, and who resides on a ranch in Pine Grove, Montana; Hattie, who is a talented artist in oils, and in her beautiful home in Santa Barbara, California, she has much of her handiwork, as has also Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Carty, including the "Hailing the Ferry- man," "Beauty Bay," Spokane Falls, Wash- ington, also marine views and studies in flowers from the old home. She is a graduate of the class of 1894 in the Valparaiso Univer- sity. Mamie is also a resident of Santa Bar- bara, and is a professional nurse.
Mr. McCarty follows in the footsteps of his. honored father and votes with the Republican party, casting his first presidential vote for General Grant, and as its representative he has been honored with many public positions. He was the first marshal of Walkerton, elect- ed in 1878, while in the year 1894 he was made the assessor of his township, and in 1898 was elected sheriff of St. Joseph county. So well did he discharge the duties of that important position that in 1900 he was re-
elected to the office. During his incumbency he took a prisoner to New Jersey who had been a fugitive from justice for five years, Mr. McCarty tracing him to a farm near South Bend, and he also made the long trip to Houston, Texas, after a murderer, whom he secured, brought back, and he was con- victed and sent to the Michigan City prison. He served his constituents faithfully and well, never regarding personal safety in the discharge of his duties, and in the archives of St. Joseph county his name is honorably recorded. Since 1903 he has been serving as the deputy sheriff, and quite recently he was sent one hundred miles north of Spokane Falls, Washington, after a fugitive, whom he secured and brought to justice, having covered about six thousand miles in the dis- charge of this important duty, and the fugi- tive is now in the penitentiary. He was also elected as councilman of the town board, of which he served as president for three years, and in that time appointed all the present members of the board of education with the exception of one. Fraternally Mr. McCarty holds membership relations with the Masonic order, being a member of Blue Lodge, No. 619, the Council at Mishawaka, Indiana, and Chapter No. 39, at South Bend, also the Knights Templar Commandery, No. 13, in that city. Both he and his wife belong to the Eastern Star, No. 2, in South Bend. Their estate is known as Plain View Farm, while their beautiful residence in Walkerton is called "Oakenwold." It was erected in 1902, and is strictly modern in all its appointments. It is surrounded by spacious grounds of seven acres, the lawn sloping from the resi- dence to the street, and this beautiful home is an ornament to the city of Walkerton and also to St. Joseph county.
SAMUEL J. NICOLES. Among the solid and substantial business men of Walkerton is numbered Samuel J. Nicoles, who is so well known to the residents of St. Joseph county that he needs no special introduction to its citizens. He enjoys an enviable position in industrial circles, having by honorable and correct business methods gained the con- fidence of his fellow townspeople. He is a na- tive son of Highland county, Ohio, born on the 4th of October, 1833. his parents being Nathaniel D. and Elizabeth (Davidson) Nic- oles, in whose family, were five children, four sons and one daughter, but only three are now living: Samuel J., whose name intro-
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duces this review; Susan, the wife of Nelson Welsh, a retired business man of Houston, Texas; and Francis M., who is married and engaged in contracting and building in Mo- bile, Alabama.
Nathaniel D. Nicoles, the father, was a na- tive of Virginia, and was a son of Samuel Nicoles, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving under General Hull. When a young man Nathaniel D. Nicoles removed with his parents to Ohio, taking up their abode in that commonwealth in-a very early day, and in its schools received a limited educational train- ing, but with the passing years he added to his knowledge by reading and observation, and in his early life became a successful edu- cator in the schools of Indiana. He learned the cooper's trade, but his time was prin- cipally devoted to agricultural pursuits. In 1835 the family came to Cass county, Indiana, making the journey in wagons across the sloughs and quagmires and through the for- ests to the wilds of the Hoosier state, which was then inhabited by the red men and the wild animals. The Indians passed by their door on their way to Logansport to receive their money from the government, and Mr. Nicoles of this review well remembers those early days in Cass county. The father pur- chased forty acres of land in Fulton county, but the family maintained their residence in Cass county until their removal to Miami county, Indiana, where the father subsequent- ly died. He was a Jackson Democrat in his political affiliations, firm in his advocacy of its principles, and he was also a stanch friend of education and the public schools. In both Cass and Miami counties he served as a jus- tice of the peace, while during his residence in the latter he was also a county commis- sioner. Both he and his wife were devout members of the Christain church. Mrs. Nic- oles, a native daughter of Ohio, was reared and married in the Buckeye state, and there gave her hand in marriage to Nathaniel D. Nicoles, to whom she proved a true and loving wife and a devoted mother to their children.
When but a babe of two years Samuel J. Nicoles was taken by his parents to Cass coun- ty, Indiana, so that nearly his entire life has been passed within the borders of Indiana, and the commonwealth may be proud to claim him among her honored sons. He was reared as a tiller of the soil, and his education was received in the primitive schools of the early days, supplemented by a short course in a
select school in Peru. He well remembers the little "temple of learning" to which he daily trudged in his boyhood days, and describes it as a little log cabin sixteen by twenty feet, with a clapboard roof, a large fireplace, and seats of slabs, which were secured from a neighboring sawmill, while the desks were a broad board resting on wooden pins driven into the wall. He used the famous old goose quill pen fashioned by the master, and his text books were Webster's elementary speller, Pike's arithmetic and an English reader. The schools were maintained on the subscription plan, and were primitive in their every ap- pointment, forming a striking contrast to the school of the twentieth century. In those early days Mr. Nicoles used the old-fashioned sickle as well as the cradle in the cutting of the grain, which was threshed by means of horses tramping it out, and after this process of threshing the grain was separated from the chaff by means of a sheet which had been hung up, the father thus fanning the grain as it was poured out by the mother. He can also recall to mind the excitement caused by the introduction into the community of the first reapers and mowers. He began the bat- tle of life without capital, save his willing hands and indomitable perseverance, and these have won for him the competence which is now his to enjoy.
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