A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 64

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 64

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).

In 1855 Mr. Nicoles was united in mar- riage to Miss Phoebe A. Kinsey, and of their eight children, two sons and six daughters, six are now living: Emma, the wife of Achilles North, the surveyor of Marshall county and a resident of Plymouth. She received her education in the schools of Peru and Plym- outh, and for several years taught in Mar- shall county. Kenneth M. is a trainmaster for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company and a resident of Duluth, Minnesota. He received his education in the district schools and in the Plymouth and Walkerton high schools. Olive Alice, who also received her educational training in the schools of Plym- outh and Walkerton, was afterward engaged in teaching, and is now the wife of B. A. Byers. a conductor on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and a resident of Garrett, Indiana. They have three children. Frank E. is married and resides in Omaha, Nebraska. He is the superintendent of the Nebraska division of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railroad. Maude L., who received an excellent education and then followed teach-

Digitized by Google

· 959

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

ing, is the wife of William A. Tank, engaged in the lumber business in Louisiana. Edna C., the youngest, was a teacher in the Walker- ton schools for some years, while during the four years preceding 1906 she taught in the city schools of South Bend, and is now a teacher in the Walkerton high schools.

Mrs. Nicoles was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, October 12, 1834, a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Astenfelter) Kinsey, both now deceased. It was in 1855 that she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Nicoles, and fifty years later, on the 14th of February, 1906, they celebrated their golden wedding in Walkerton, Indiana. The young couple began married life as renters in Miami county, Indiana, thus continuing for some years, and in 1862 they removed to Peru, this state, where the husband entered mercantile life as a salesman. In addition to his agricul- tural labors he had also taught school both before and after his marriage. In 1865 they took up their abode in Plymouth, Indiana, where Mr. Nicoles was engaged in the sale of agricultural implements until 1870, and two years later was appointed superintendent of the county infirmary at Tyner, Marshall county, continuing to discharge the duties of that position for two years. It was in 1875 that they came to Walkerton, Indiana; where Mr. Nicoles continued his sale of agricultural implements and hardware, and at the same time served as a justice of the peace. He sub- sequently established himself in the insurance and legal business, in which he has built up an excellent patronage. He represents the Hartford, the Phenix of Brooklyn, and the National of Hartford, Connecticut, all reli- able and well-known companies. He also transacts a large amount of business as an attorney, and his varied intersts, successfully managed, have advanced him to the high plane which he now occupies, Mr. Nicoles is a Democrat in his political affiliations, casting his presidential vote for Buchanan, and as its representative he has been the recipient of many public positions at the hands of his fellow townsmen. He served as a justice of the peace and as a member of the town coun- cil in Plymouth, Marshall county, for eight years, was a justice of the peace in Walker- ton and during about four years was a mem- ber of its school board. He is a firm friend of the cause of education, and has done what he could to further the interests of the public schools in the communities in which he has

resided. He has also served as a member of the town council, while at the present time he is the town treasurer, and he has at various times been selected as a delegate to state, county and district conventions. His frater- nal connections are with the Masonic frater- nity, belonging to Lodge No. 659 at Walker- ton. Both he and his good wife are devout members of the Presbyterian church, in which he has served as an elder for a number of years, and they are classed among the leading residents of Walkerton.

FRANK J. QUIRK. In the life history of Frank J. Quirk, although he is numbered among the younger representatives of the business interests of Walkerton, we find a worthy type of American character and a pro- gressive spirit. He is prominently identified with the business interests of his home city and county, and while his varied affairs are bringing him success they are also advancing the general welfare by accelerating commer- cial activity. His birth occurred in Laporte county, Indiana, February 11, 1882, a son of Michael and Ellen (Powers) Quirk, in whose family were seven children, one son and six daughters, and all are living and residents of Indiana. The father, who was a native of the Emerald Isle, passed the first years of his life in the land of his birth, and then came alone to the United States, arriving in this country a stranger in a strange land. Making his way to Michigan City, Indiana, he resided there and in Laporte county until his demise. After coming to this country he gave his political support to the Democracy, and both he and his wife were members of the Catholic church. Mrs. Quirk was also born in Ireland, and is yet living, having just passed the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten.

Remaining in his native county of Laporte until nine years of age, Frank J. Quirk then became a citizen of St. Joseph county, and graduated from the Walkerton high school with the class of 1898. He then learned the art of telegraphy under M. A. Cole, of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, and in his early manhood became an operator in Crom- well, Indiana, in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, with whom he re- mained for two years, and then returned to Walkerton. This was in the year 1901, and during the following four years he was in the employ of the Lake Erie & Western Com- pany, his services being highly satisfactory to the corporation which he represented. In

Digitized by Google

960

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

1905 Mr. Quirk established the lumber busi- ness of which he now has charge, in the same year entering into partnership relations with J. E. Johnson, under the firm name of the Walkerton Lumber Company. They annual- ly transact a volume of business amounting to from thirty to fifty thousand dollars, and they handle coal, cement, lime, lumber and in fact all building material. The straight- forward, manly course which Mr. Quirk is pursuing in his business life is winning him many friends and the confidence of the en- tire public. He is a Democrat in his political affiliations, casting his first presidential vote for William Jennings Bryan, and during two terms he represented his party in the office of town clerk of Walkerton. His fraternal connections are with the Knights of Columbus at Fort Wayne, while in the city of Walker- ton he is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic church, having been confirmed by Bishop Rademacher, of the Northern Bishopric of In- diana.

MATTHEW S. DENAUT, M. D. In reviewing the prominent members of the medical profes- sion in St. Joseph county, the name of Dr. Matthew S. Denaut stands forth conspicuous- ly as one of its leaders. He is a representa- tive of one of the prominent old families of Canada, of French extraction. They trace their lineage from Bishop Denaut, the tenth Bishop of Quebec, who was a great-great- uncle of the doctor.

Dr. Denaut was born in Delta, Leeds coun- ty, Ontario, Canada, July 13th, 1863, the third of seven children born to Walter H. and Caroline A. (Dunham) Denaut. Only four of the children are now living: Matthew S., the eldest; Elizabeth, who received her educa- tion in a high school in her native country, and now resides with the doctor in Walker- ton; Sarah, the next in order of birth, also resides with the family, and Dr. James L. is a leading medical practitioner of Hamlet, In- diana. The last named, after completing his literary training in the high schools of Can- ada, entered Rush Medical College of Chi- cago, from which he was graduated with the class of 1896, and entered the medical profes- sion at Mark Center, Ohio, a short time after, in 1897, removing to Hamlet, Indiana, where he has since been numbered among its suc- cessful practitioners. He married Miss Cloe Fancher, a talented musician, by whom he has one daughter, Elizabeth. Dr. James L. Denaut is a Republican in his affiliations.

Dr. Harry D. Denaut, the second brother in the family, with whom the subject of this sketch was associated in practice, was grad- uated from Queen's College, Kingston, Can- ada, in 1892, and in the same year located in Walkerton, where he was engaged in the prac- tice of medicine until his death, which oc- curred on June 7, 1904. He was eminently popular both as a physician and citizen, and his sterling characteristics and genial and affable manner won him the love and respect of all who had the pleasure of his acquaint- ance. His death, which occurred in the prime of manhood, was a severe blow to the profes- sion in which he had achieved such great suc- cess, as well as to the citizens of Walkerton. During the smallpox epidemic in 1894 his ef- forts were most commendable in quelling the disease, and in many ways won him the ad- miration and deep regard of the citizens of St. Joseph county. Julia E., a half-sister, still resides in Brockville.

Walter H. Denaut, the father, was born near Prescott, Ontario, September 10, 1807. He was married three times, first to Miss Julia Easton of Brockville, by whom four children were born; Roderick E., George C., Walter H., all of whom are deceased, and Julia E., who still resides in her native town. The sec- ond wife was Miss Harriet Jones of Connecti- cut, who died shortly after their marriage, leaving no children. The third wife was Caro- line A. Dunham, to whom he was married on the 17th of May, 1859, and by whom the five children were born heretofore mentioned. His death occurred on the 16th of March, 1889. He was one of the original contractors on the old Beauhornais canal at Cornwall, Farran's Point, Morrisburg, and the Galoup Rapids, in which were associated with him the late Col. James Crawford, George Easton, and the late John Crawford. In 1848 he purchased the stone flour mills at Delta, and at the same time conducted a big general store, retaining active possession of the former and managing personally his large land holdings up to the time of his death. The family was one of prominence in Canada, commercially and so- cially. Among the chief characteristics of Walter H. Denaut were his charitable disposi- tion, force of character, and sterling integ- rity, his word being considered as true as the law by those with whom he had dealings. As a citizen of Canada he was in favor of un- restricted reciprocity. The Doctor, of this review, has several of his father's old parch-

Digitized by Google

M. & Denaut, m.S.

Digitized by

Google

THE

Aovor leon ore Tiden Forzeabers. 1909

Digitized by

Google

: 1

İ !

THE NE 1 .03K PUBLI LIO FARY

Aster, Lenny and Tilden Formations. 1909

Digitized by

Google

Anthony

Digitized by

Google

961

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

ment deeds, executed in 1821 and other dates, two bearing the seal of Upper Canada.

The wife and mother was born in Brock- ville, Ontario, March 7, 1832, and died on the 9th of February, 1907. She was a lady of more than ordinary intellectual accomplish- ments, and was a devout member of the First Presbyterian church in Brockville from early childhood until her removal to Walkerton in 1901. Both she and her husband now lie buried in their native land of Canada, the father at Delta, and the mother with her son in the family plot at the Brockville cemetery.

The boyhood days of Dr. M. S. Denaut were spent in Canada, receiving an excellent educa- tional training in the public and high schools of Ontario. After the completion of his liter- ary studies, he was, for three years, an em- ploye in the lumber business at Parry Sound . and Port Arthur. Returning to Delta, On- tario, he succeeded his father as a clerk of the Sixth Division court of Leeds and Gren- ville. also acting as executor of the Denaut estate. Entering Rush Medical College in 1893, he was graduated therefrom in the class of 1897.

Previously he had taken the examination of the Illinois State Board of Health in 1896, when an undergraduate, and in 1897 located at Walkerton, Indiana, as a medical practi- tioner. His long identification with the place and his prominence here entitles him to a leading place in the annals of the county. For several years he has been surgeon of the Baltimore and Ohio railway, also secretary of the town board of health. He is a member of the American Medical Association and social- ly is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fel- lows orders. His professional career has been attended with marked success, and those who have known him longest esteem him most highly. His beautiful brick offices and resi- dence, erected by himself and brother in 1898, are ornaments to the town of Walkerton. He has supplied himself with an excellent liter- ary and professional library, and is equipped with an ample and well appointed surgery and surgical outfit. His practice is not bound- ed by the limits of the county but extends into Marshall, Laporte and Starke counties, where his name is well known in the profes- sion.

On the 13th of September, 1899, Dr. Den- aut was united in marriage to Miss Regina MacDonald, and they have had four children, two sons and two daughters, Caroline L., aged

seven years; Walter M., aged six years; Julia G., aged four years, and Harry D., who died on the 21st of March, 1907, at the age of two years, and was buried at Brockville. Mrs. Denaut was born in Plymouth, Indiana, June 15, 1881, but shortly afterward her parents removed to Kokomo, Indiana, where she ob- tained her education in the high schools. She received special training and became very proficient in vocal and instrumental music. Dr. Denaut is a stanch supporter of Repub- lican principles, and both he and his wife are adherents of the Presbyterian faith, Mrs. Denaut being a member of that denomination. The Doctor's paternal grandfather, Joachim Denaut, was a Royal Arch Mason and Dr. Denaut has the certificate of his membership in Lodge No. 9, A. Y. M., on parchment, dated October, 1798. This is perhaps the only relic of the kind existing in St. Joseph county. He also has some rare old books, Goodrich's His- tory of the United States, dated 1825; The Book of Common Prayer, 1754; Royal Dic- tionary (London edition), 1764; American Gazetteer, 1804; Bible Concordance (Eng- lish), Introduction and Preface by Daniel Featley, at Lambeth, England, Nov. Ult. anno. 1630; The Private Christian's Witness for Christianity, printed for Thomas Cocker- ill, at the "Three Legs in the Poultry," 1697; Scott's "Life of Napoleon Bonaparte," 1833. Among the pieces of antique furniture which he treasures as heirlooms is an old family Grandfather clock, bought by his grandfather, the late Ephraim Dunham, of Brockville, about the year 1799.

ANTHONY W. TURNER. Among the rep- resentative citizens and honored soldiers of the Civil war is numbered Anthony W. Tur- ner, of Walkerton. He is a native son of Dela- ware county, Ohio, born on the 14th of Febru- ary, 1844, a son of Thompson and Catherine (Casad) Turner, in whose family were eleven children, five sons and six daughters, but only five are now living, namely: Caroline, the widow of G. W. Amsden and a resident of Dowagiac, Michigan; Catherine and Alfred, twins, the former the wife of Lonson Hupp, of South Bend, and the latter a prosperous farmer and merchant of Wayne township, Cass county, Michigan, and he also served three years during the Civil war as a member of the Sixth Michigan Infantry; Anthony W., whose name introduces this review ; and Finis, the wife of Oren Lalon, of Missouri.

Mr. Turner, the father, was born in New

Digitized by Google

962

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

Jersey in 1803, and his death occurred in 1857. He was reared as an agriculturist, and remained in his native state until his mar- riage. His business life was crowned with a fair degree of success, and he became a land owner in Ohio. In 1852 he became a resident of Berrien county, Michigan, where the re- mainder of his life was spent, and he was a Jefferson Democrat in his political affiliations. Mrs. Turner was born in the Empire state of New York in 1806, and her death occurred in 1865, passing away in the faith of the Bap- tist church, of which she was long a faithful member. She was of English lineage, while her husband's people were from Scotland. The maternal ancestors located in Vermont in a very early day, where they suffered many depredations from the Indians. some of the family having been scalped by the red skins. Her brothers, Samuel and James Casad, were soldiers in the Revolutionary war.

Anthony W. Turner was only eight years of age when he journeyed with his parents in true pioneer style across the black swamps to Michigan, locating in Berrien county, where the little lad attended the log cabin schools of the early days, with their broad board to serve as desks and slabs for seats, and he has also used the famous old goose quill pen. This was a subscription school. He was reared as a farmer boy, and in 1861, when the tocsin of war sounded throughout the land, he en- listed in his country's service, entering on the 7th of October of that year Company L, Sec- ond Michigan Cavalry, enlisting at Niles under Colonel Smith, and his regiment was as- signed to the Mississippi department. With his regiment he journeyed to Madrid and Island No. 10, finally reaching Corinth, where his cavalry commander was "Little" Phil Sheridan. The first battle in which he par- ticipated was at Island No. 10, later was at the battle of Farmington, and in July, 1862, was wounded in the left shoulder at Boone- ville, Mississippi, captured and taken as a prisoner of war to Tupelo, that state, thence to Macon. Georgia, and on to the famous Libby prison. where for five months he suffered all the horrors of that terrible prison pen. Mr. Turner was then paroled and entered the re- cruiting hospital at Portsmouth Grove, Rhode Island, which was under the supervision of ladies, and from thence joined his regiment at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1863, participating with them in the battle of Franklin, in which his company lost three men. His next engage-

ment was at Eaglesville, Tennessee, later par- ticipating in a charge south of that city, where one of his comrades was killed, and he also took part in the battles of Resaca, Buz- zard's Roost, Strawberry Plains and Peach Tree Creek. While at the latter place his term of service expired, and returning to Franklin, Tennessee, remained with the troops while they were taking care of the rear guard of Sherman's army while on its march to the sea. In this famous siege Mr. Turner took part in several battles, including those of Nashville, the second battle of Franklin, Spring Hill, Carter Creek, Columbia and many skirmishes. He received his honorable discharge at Nashville, Tennessee, November 1, 1864, after a long and honorable record as a faithful and valiant soldier, and when his country no longer needed his services he re- turned to Lakeville, St. Joseph county, In- diana.

On the 1st of September, 1867, Mr. Turner was united in marriage to Miss Evaline Hardy, and the only child of this union is a son, Thompson, who is an attorney and the post- master of Walkerton, and a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Turner was born in St. Joseph county, In- diana, June 10, 1847, a daughter of Hiram and Harriet (Jones) Hardy, both now de- ceased. The father was born in Darke coun- ty, Ohio, May 11, 1819, and his death oc- curred when he had reached the age of eighty years, six months and twenty-eight days. He was a farmer, a member of the United Breth- ren church, an earnest Christian gentleman. both a Whig and Republican in politics, and he now lies buried in St. Joseph county. Mrs. Hardy was born in Bartholomew county, In- diana, January 27, 1823, and her death oc- curred at the age of eighty years, two months and eighteen days, while on a visit to her daughter, Mrs. Turner. She was a loving wife, an affectionate mother, a kind neighbor and friend, and was devout in her religious duties. There were eleven children in their family, and ten are now living and residents of St. Joseph county. Mrs. Turner was reared and educated in this county, and after her marriage the young couple began life as farm- ers in a little log cabin home in Marshall county, Indiana. Returning to St. Joseph county, they now own a valuable little estate of one hundred and forty acres, and all the improvements which now adorn their place have been placed there by them. Mr. Turner,

---

Digitized by Google

THE NEW YORK PUBL: : BRARY

Aster, La, w and Tilden Four.i.tions. 1909

Digitized by Google

Residence of Mr. and Mrs. Grove Vosburgh Oldest Residence in Lincoln Township occupied

Digitized by

Google

963

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

however, has laid aside the active cares of a farmer's life, and the family have resided in Walkerton since 1899. He is a stanch Repub- lican in his political affiliations, casting his first presidential vote for Grant, and at one time he was the choice of his party for the of- fice of superintendent of roads in Oak town- ship, Marshall county. He has membership relations with Jesse Coppock Post, No. 378, G. A. R., at Walkerton, in which he has filled most of the chairs, and is now senior vice com- mander, while his wife is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps. Both are members of the United Brethren church at Walkerton, in which he is serving as a trustee, and Mrs. Turner is a member of the Ladies' Aid So- ciety and is vice-president of the Home Mis- sionary Society. They are honored and re- vered residents of Walkerton, and we are pleased to present this review of their lives in the history of St. Joseph county.

GROVE VOSBURGH. The Hollanders and their descendants are known far and wide for their intrinsic worth of character, and in the progress of our Union they have played an important part. Mr. Grove Vosburg is a descendant of the sons of Holland, the land of dykes, but his birth occurred in St. Joseph county, Indiana, June 16, 1855, and he is the seventh in order of birth of the twelve chil- dren, five sons and seven daughters, born to Nelson and Eliza (Turner) Vosburgh. But of this large family of children only two are now living, the daughter being Ella, the wife of Dr. J. A. Varier, one of the leading phy- sicians of South Bend. Mr. Vosburgh, the father, was born in Herkimer county, New York, in the Mohawk Valley, May 4, 1815, and it was his father, Bartholomew Vosburgh, who came from the land of Holland to the United States. Nelson Vosburgh became a carpenter, joiner and pattern maker, learning his various trades in New York, and it was in 1836 that he began his westward journey to seek his fortune in this then new and undevel- oped country. Arriving in Mishawaka, St. Joseph county, Indiana, he at once began work at his trade, but later returned to New York to take a drove of horses across the mountains to Herkimer county. Becoming imbued with the western gold fever, on the 20th of February, 1850, he started with others on the long and perilous journey across the plains, reaching Stockton, California, in the following October, and the city was named in honor of a member of their party. After

remaining on the Pacific coast for three years, Mr. Vosburgh returned by way of Cape Horn to New York, and thence to his former home in St. Joseph county. In what is now Lincoln township, but then included in the township of Liberty, he purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of unimproved land near the Wesaw settlement, and the first home of the Vosburghs, a litle frame structure erected in 1853, now serves as the home of his son Grove, it being now the oldest occupied resi- dence in Lincoln township. But in order to erect this little home a space had to be first cleared in the dense forest, and at that time the red men still roamed at will over the com- munity, while deer and wild game of all kinds were yet plentiful. South Bend was then their chief market, and in Lincoln township Mr. Vosburgh spent the remainder of his life, passing away on the 21st of July, 1880. He was a Democrat in his political affiliations. Mrs. Vosburgh was born near Utica, New York, November 10, 1819, and her death oc- curred on the 3d of July, 1902, when she was eighty-three years of age. Both she and her husband now lie buried in the North Liberty cemetery, where a beautiful stone stands sacred to their memory.

Within the borders of St. Joseph county Grove Vosburgh has spent his entire life, and has long been identified with agricultural pur- suits. At the age of twenty-one years he began life for himself as a renter, his entire capital at that time consisting of one hundred dollars, and he continued to remain on the old homestead. On the 15th of September, 1881, he was united in marriage to Miss Adella Cole, and they have two children-Rose, who has passed the eighth grade in her studies, and Grover C., a promising young lad in the seventh grade. Mrs. Vosburgh was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, February 17, 1858, the ninth in order of birth of the twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, born to Alvah H. and Maria (Jones) Cole. Seven of the children are yet living: Adeline, the wife of Rev. C. W. Clifton, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church in Hancock, Iowa; George, who is married and engaged in agricultural pursuits in Plymouth, Indiana ; John, who is married and is a farmer near Taylor, Nebraska; Alson, an agriculturist of Palmer, Nebraska; Adella, the wife of Mr. Vosburgh; Leonard, a resident of Indian- apolis; and Milton, who resides near the city of Seattle, Washington, where he is associated

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 64

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