USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 67
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cial College, in which he graduated in the class of 1889, and he married Miss Alzina Whitmer, by whom he has five children, Charles D., Paul W., Mary, Martha and Claud; Effie Bell, who received her diploma with the class of 1889 in the public school, is at home with her parents; Alfred Byron has received an excellent educational train- ing, having graduated with the class of 1896 in the home schools, completed the course in 1900 in the high school of Walkerton, spent one summer at the Valparaiso University, and for a period of six years was a successful educator, teaching the most of that time in his home county; and Mary Emma, who graduated with the class of 1894 in the home schools, with the class of 1899 in the Walker- ton high school, and has taught for two years in her home township. All of the children are members of the German Baptist church with the exception of Edmund.
Mrs. Rupel, the mother, was born in Ches- tershire, England, January 14, 1843, a daugh- ter of Joseph and Charlotte (Nickson) O'Connor, who were married in 1832. She was a little maiden of eight years when she came with her parents to the United States, and the little sailing vessel on which they took passage having been stranded on the banks of Newfoundland it was six weeks ere they sighted the shores of New York, from whence they went to Pennsylvania and thence to their journey's end in St. Joseph county. Indiana. They established their home in Mishawaka, where her father, who was a man of excellent education, became a leading phy- sician and surgeon, continuing the practice of his profession in St. Joseph county until his life's labors were ended in death in 1890, aged seventy-eight years. He was an adher- ent of the Episcopal church. Mrs. O'Connor was a native of England, but her husband was born in Ireland, and her death occurred at the age of fifty-six years, both passing away in St. Joseph county. Mrs. Rupel has thus been a resident of this county since her eighth year. After their marriage the young couple began life on the farm on which they now reside, their first home being a little log cabin, while their land, a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, had been deeded to Mr. Rupel by his father. With the passing years he has added forty acres to the tract, and he now owns a valuable estate of two hundred acres, while the many improvements which add so much to its value have all been
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placed there by him. Their pretty estate in Lincoln township is known as "The Oak Ave- nue Homestead." In his pastures are found the best standard bred stock. In the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rupel are found many inter- esting relics of the olden days, including three or four old coverlets made by Mr. Ru- pel's mother, who was an expert weaver and made all the clothing of the family for many years, she having spun the flax from which the clothing was made. They also have an old clock which dates back fully a century, and many other valuable old relics. They are members of the German Baptist church, in which they are active and efficient work- ers, and both they and their children are members of the Sunday-school. Mr. Rupel is independent in his political affiliations, casting his ballot for the men whom he re- gards as best qualified for office, and in all the relations of life he is found true to the best interests.
HERMAN F. GOPPERT, one of the prominent and successful farmers of Lincoln township, is descended from sturdy German ancestors, a race that has wielded a powerful influence in our national history. His birth occurred in Starke county, Indiana, January 11, 1864, the seventh in a family of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, born to Fred and Anna B. (Wagner) Goppert. Eight of the children are now living, but only two are residents of Lincoln township, Herman F. and his brother Bernhart, who is also en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Goppert, the father, was born in Bavaria, Germany, November 25, 1819, and his death occurred on May 26, 1903, in Starke county, Indiana, where he had resided during the long period of fifty-three years. He was reared and re- ceived his education in his native land, where he became a cabinet maker and a fine me- chanic, and was also an agriculturist. On a sailing vessel and in company with his wife he set sail from the fatherland for the United States, landing in New York . after a voyage of fifty-seven days, and from there journeyed to Starke county, Indiana, and en- tered eighty acres of land from the govern- ment. He was a successful man in his busi- ness affairs, and at the time of his death owned a valuable estate of two hundred acres. He gave his political support to the Demo- cratic party, and both he and his wife were members of the German Lutheran church. Mrs. Goppert was a native of the same
locality in Germany as her husband, born on the 20th of January, 1830, and she is yet living at the good old age of seventy- seven years, both the maternal and paternal families being noted for their longevity.
Herman F. Goppert spent the first nine- teen years of his life in his native county of Starke, attending its public schools during his early boyhood days, but his broad and general knowledge has been obtained princi- pally by his extensive reading and travel in later years. When he had reached his nine- teenth year, in 1885, he went to Kansas, from whence he returned home, but again went to the Sunflower state and later to Chicago, where he found work at his trade of car- penter and joiner, and was also for a time an employe of the Chicago Street Car Com- pany. After a two years' residence in that city he went to Denver, Colorado, and through the state sightseeing, from whence he returned to Kansas, and in 1894 landed in Oklahoma, where he secured a quarter sec- tion of land in Kay county. After improv- ing this property he sold it in 1898 at a profit. Mr. Goppert is a natural mechanic, and throughout his entire business career he has followed the carpenter and joiner's trades. He is also a great lover of nature, and to a great extent has satisfied his desire for travel, having visited many states of the Union, including those of Oklahoma, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, North and South Da- kota, Wyoming, Wisconsin and Colorado, and has thus gained that broad and valuable learning which travel alone can give. He be- gan life for himself at the very bottom round of the ladder, and all through his early career he was not above accepting any position that would bring to him an honest dollar.
On the 8th of February, 1899, Mr. Goppert was united in marriage to Miss Emma L. Reinhardt, and they have two children, Har- old R., who is pursuing his studies in the second grade of school, and Helen M. Mrs. Goppert was born near Walkerton, Indiana, October 14, 1869, the fourth of the nine chil- dren, seven sons and two daughters, born to Benjamin F. and Catherine (Steele) Rein- hardt, but only five of the children are now living. She was reared and educated in Lin- coln township, receiving her diploma with the class of 1884, and in its schools she per- formed her first work as a teacher, continuing therein for four years. She then perfected herself in her chosen calling by a course in
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the Valparaiso University, and during eight. years she was one of the successful educators of St. Joseph county, teaching in Madison, Greene and Lincoln townships.
Mr. and Mrs. Goppert began their mar- ried life on the farm on which they now re- side, purchasing seventy-eight acres and erect- ing their pleasant little cottage home. In 1906 was built the large basement barn, and on his farm he keeps a standard line of stock. He has an able helpmate in his esti- mable wife, and she too has been a great traveler in her life, having visited the Nia- gara Falls and Canada, and also the far west. She has seen Denver, the Queen City of the plains, and has also traveled through Kan- sas, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Nebraska, Wyoming and Iowa. She is a member of the Brethren church. Mr. Goppert is a Republican in his political affiliations, but in local matters casts his fran- chise for the man regardless of party. In both Starke county and in Oklahoma he was selected as delegate to the various conven- tions, and has ever been an active worker in the best interests of his community. His fra- ternal relations connect him with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 437, in which he has passed all the chairs.
WILLIAM F. MIRANDA, M. D. St. Joseph county, Indiana, has its full quota of skilled physicians, and among the number may be noted the subject of this review, Dr. William F. Miranda, of Walkerton. He is a native of Clarke county, Ohio, born near the city of Springfield, January 22, 1851, the fifth in. order of birth of the nine children born to Dr. Isaac and Elizabeth (Garver) Miranda. Only four of this large family of children are living, namely : William F., whose name introduces this review; Elizabeth, the wife of J. J. Whaley, a salesman in Osborn, Ohio; Anna K., the wife of Dr. Douglas Miles, a dental surgeon of Troy, Ohio; and Carrie, a resident of New Carlisle, that state.
Dr. Miranda, the father, was born in Bracken county, Kentucky, in 1817, and was a son of Senor Jonathan Miranda, a na- tive of Spain and a soldier in the American war of 1812. while to Dr. Miranda, of Walk- erton, his grandson, is accorded the honor of being the only Spanish descendant repre- sented in the twentieth century history of St. Joseph county. Dr. Isaac Miranda was a physician of fifty years' practice. He was a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College
of Pennsylvania, and was of the allopathic school. He was a member of the Ohio State Medical Society, was a Jackson Democrat in his political affiliations, was a strong advo- cate of the public school, and was one of the successful physicians of his day. Both he and his wife held membership relations with the Methodist church. Mrs. Miranda was born in Maryland, April 14, 1821, and died but recently, August 31, 1907. She traced her lineage to the Germans, and long sur- vived her husband, for his death occurred in 1898.
Dr. Miranda, of this review, was reared to manhood in his native county of Clarke, receiving a good practical education in the district schools, and is also a graduate of the New Carlisle high school in Ohio. Desiring to enter the profession in which his father had achieved success, he first became a phar- macist, thus continuing until his twenty- second year. For one year he then read medicine under his father's direction, after which he entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, entering that institution in 1875 and completing the course and graduat- ing with the class of 1877. Entering upon the practice of his profession in his home town of New Carlisle, he remained there for one year, was for a similar period at Westville, Ohio, was for eight years a prac- ticing physician of Medway, that state, and in 1885 removed to Attica, Kansas. Two years later, however, in 1887, he returned to his Ohio home and resumed his practice at Medway, where he remained for two years, and at the close of the period, in 1898, came to Walkerton, St. Joseph county, Indiana, arriving in this city on the 20th of April, and the extensive practice which he has ever since enjoyed is an excellent proof of his effi- ciency as a physician. His prestige. how- ever, has been attained through technical in- formation and skill, for he is a man of schol- arly attainments, and has made deep and careful research in the science to which he is devoting his life.
On the 2d of May, 1875, Dr. Miranda was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Pine, and of their four children, two sons and two daughters, only one son is now living, Max G., who graduated with the class of 1905 in the Walkerton high school. He is now pur- suing his studies in the second year of the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illi- nois. He is a young man of exceptional
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talent in music, being proficient on both the piano and pipe organ, and has received in- struction from one of the most accomplished teachers of the art, Miss Haynes, while in 1908 he will enter the study under Professor Lutkin. Mrs. Miranda was born in Penn- sylvania April 12, 1854, a daughter of Wil- liam Pine, who was also born in the Keystone state of Pennsylvania and is yet living, aged eighty-five, a resident of Iowa. Dr. Miranda is a Democrat in his political affiliations, casting his first presidential vote for Horace Greeley, and he has ever since supported its presidential nominees. He is a strong advo- cate of the cause of temperance, and is serv- ing as president of the board of education of Walkerton. His fraternal relations are with the Masonic order of Walkerton, Lodge No. 619, with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Maccabees; while his professional work connects him with the American Medical Association and the St. Joseph County Medical Society. Both the doctor and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. in which he is serving as a trustee, and in their pleasant home on Avenue E, where the Doctor also has his office, they dispense a gracious hospital- ity to their many friends and acquaintances.
JOSHUA POOR. In a history of St. Joseph county we are pleased to present a full review of the life of Joshua Poor, who is numbered among its oldest and most honored pioneers and citizens, and although he has now passed the eightieth milestone on the journey of life his mind is yet clear and is stored with many pleasant reminiscences of the early days in the county. He was born near St. Johns, New Brunswick, near the state of Maine, November 16, 1827, a son of David and Let- tie E. (Earl) Poor, in whose family were six children, four sons and two daughters, but only two are now living, the daughter being Elathyne, the widow of Alexander Petrie and a resident of South Bend. David Poor, the father, was born in Baldwinsville, Massachusetts, and traced his lineage to the English and Scotch races. He received his education in the old Bay state, and remained in the place of his nativity until reaching manhood's estate, becoming a lumberman and ship builder. Removing to New Brunswick, he was there married, and in 1847 removed to Michigan City, Indiana, making the jour- ney by way of the Great Lakes, while later he became a resident of Porter and Laporte
counties, this state, his death occurring in the former county of Porter. Mrs. Poor was a native daughter of New Brunswick, and her death occurred in St. Joseph county, she having long been a worthy and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
When but two years of age Joshua Poor was taken by his parents to Upper Canada, and later removed with them to Ohio, their home being located east of Cleveland until the son was seventeen years of age, when another move was made to Laporte county, Indiana. After a residence there of two years they removed to Michigan City, where Mr. Poor resided for twenty-four years, coming thence to St. Joseph county. During his boyhood days he received a limited educational train- ing in the primitive schools of the localities in which he made his home, and his residence in Indiana dates from an early period in its history, when the Pottawatomie Indians were numerous in this section and wild game roamed at will through the forests. He was a great hunter in those early days, and his trophies of the chase number one hundred and fifty deer, one bear and two lynx, also an abundance of wildcats, while to him per- haps belongs the credit of killing more wild animals in St. Joseph county than any living man.
On the 30th of October, 1866, in Michigan City, Indiana, occurred the marriage of Mr. Poor and Miss Harriet Van Winkle, and they began their married life as farmers near North Liberty, continuing as renters for two years. Their first purchase of land consisted of forty acres north of North Liberty, while later they purchased a tract of forty-six acres, and at one time they owned one hun- dred and eighty-seven acres in St. Joseph county. They made many improvements on their land, erected a pleasant residence and other buildings, and placed the fields under an excellent state of cultivation. Subse- quently, however, they sold their farm and invested in real estate in South Bend and Walkerton. In 1893 they erected their pleas- ant cottage home in Walkerton, where they are now living quietly and contentedly, en- joying the rest which they so richly deserve. Mrs. Poor was reared in Laporte county, In- diana, and is a lady of fine literary attain- ments. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Poor is a Jackson Democrat in his political affiliations, having always stood firm upon those principles. and
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his many sterling characteristics and true worth have won him the high regard and esteem of his many friends and acquaintances. For over forty years this honored old couple have pursued the journey of life together, and now as they pass down the western slope they receive the love and veneration which should ever be the heritage of useful and well spent lives.
WILLIAM M. BELLINGER. During almost half a century Mr. Bellinger has resided within the borders of St. Joseph county, and he has been prominently connected with the progress and advancement made in the com- munity in which he has so long made his home. He was born in Allen county, Ohio, September 10, 1857, the fifth in order of birth of the nine children born to William M. and Catherine (Rigle) Bellinger. Eight of the children are yet living, namely : George, who supplemented his common school training by a three months' normal course, and is now serving as foreman in a shoe department in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Sarah, the wife of Joseph Gearhart, of Walkerton, Indiana; Olive, of Elkhart county, Indiana; Mary, the wife of James Brown, a stockman of Wichita, Kansas; William M., whose name introduces this review; Marion, connected with the rubber factory in Mishawaka; John, an agriculturist of Lincoln township, and a more complete review of his life will be found in his sketch elsewhere in this work; and Genette, the wife of Ed Logan, of Elkhart county, Indiana.
Mr. Bellinger, the father, was born in New York in 1834, and his death occurred on the 11th of February, 1907. He was of Yankee descent. He was reared in Ohio, where he owned a good farm, and he was a soldier for three months during the Civil war. In about 1862 he came to St. Joseph county, Indiana, where he purchased eighty acres of land, but later sold that property and became the owner of a tract of one hun- dred and twenty acres, his first home here having been a little log cabin. He gave a stanch and unfaltering support to the Re- publican party, and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist church. Mrs. Bellinger claimed Pennsylvania as the com- monwealth of her nativity, born in 1825, and her death occurred on the 16th of October, 1880.
William M. Bellinger was but a little lad of five years when brought by his parents
to St. Joseph county, Indiana, and with the exception of three years he has here spent the remainder of his life. During those three years he was a resident of Woodford county, Illinois. His educational training was received in the primitive early schools of this county, and at the early age of eighteen years he began the active battle of life for himself, first working at grubbing by the acre. He thus began his business career at the very bottom round of the ladder of life, but grad- ually and persistently he has worked his way upward, and his record is one of which he has every reason to be proud.
On the 1st of October, 1881, Mr. Bellinger was united in marriage to Miss Fredericka Wolfe, and six children, three sons and three daughters, have been born to them: Leora, the wife of Roscoe Goit, of Lincoln town- ship; Laura, who has completed her studies in the eighth grade of school; Fred, who is now a member of that grade; Charles, who is in the second year of the Walkerton high school, he having received his diploma with the class of 1906 in the home school; Bertha, who received her diploma with the class of 1907, and will enter the high school during the present year; and Floyd, a member of the fifth grade. Mrs. Bellinger was born in Laporte county, Indiana, Novem- ber 21, 1857, a daughter of John and Dora (Wolfe) Wolfe. She was a little maiden of five years at the time of the family removal to Starke county, this state, where they re- mained for nine months, and then came to St. Joseph county, and thus her education was received in its schools. After their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Bellinger began life on a tract of forty acres of land four miles east of their present estate, which continued as their home for seven years, removing thence to their present home. During the first six- teen years here they rented the place, but they now own the tract of one hundred and sixty acres, where they are extensively engaged in farming and stock raising. He raises only the standard grade stock, favoring the Duroc swine and the Hereford cattle. As a Repub- lican Mr. Bellinger cast his first presidential vote for General Grant, having ever since continued to support its presidential nomi- nees, and he has many times been selected as delegate to the county conventions. Both he and his wife are members of the Ancient Order of Gleaners.
DAVID L. SWANK, who throughout nearly his
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entire business career has been identified with the interests of St. Joseph county, has lived a life of activity, and his efforts have been crowned with a well merited degree of suc- cess. His birth occurred in Stark county, Ohio, March 18, 1835, the second in order of birth of the six children, four sons and two daughters, born to Conrad and Dorcas (Hall) Swank. Only two of the children are now living, the daughter being Sarah, the widow of Jacob Rush and a resident of North Liberty, Indiana.
Conrad Swank, the father, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and in early life followed the trade of shoemaking, but later became an agriculturist. He was early left an orphan and had to make his own way in the world, and he continued his residence in his native state of Pennsylvania until after his marriage. His father had emi- grated to this country from Germany, and thus the son Conrad could speak and write both languages. From Pennsylvania he made his way to Stark county, Ohio, where he worked at his trade until his restless spirit led him still farther west, and in 1843 he crossed the swamps and quagmires in true pioneer style to Elkhart county, Indiana, where he spent the following twelve years. It was about 1853 that he established his home in St. Joseph county, locating on a farm of seventy-two and a half acres near North Liberty, but later sold that farm and removed to Walkerton, where he spent the remainder of his life and died on the 26th of June, 1885. In his early life he was a Jackson Democrat, but in after years espoused the cause of the Republican party. Both he and his wife were members of the United Brethren church, and were devout in their religious work. Mrs. Swank was also a native of Pennsylvania, and was there reared and educated. Her family had been long established in the United States, and they were represented in the war of 1812. She lived to the age of ninety-three years, passing away on the 31st of March, 1894.
David L. Swank was about eight and a half years of age when the family started on their westward journey to Elkhart county, Indiana, where he attended the old-fashioned log cabin schools, and he continued with them to St. Joseph county, remaining at home until his twenty-first year. He began life for himself with but a small capital, but pos- sessing the sturdy and persevering charac-
teristics of his German ancestors he has sur- mounted all the obstacles in his path to suc- cess and has long been numbered with the prominent business men of St. Joseph county, where he is making a specialty of the raising of small fruits. He has a tract of twelve acres planted to strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, grapes, etc., shipping his prod- uct to the Chicago market, and he has sold as high as one hundred dollars' worth of strawberries in a single day. Thus success has attended his efforts and has enabled him to practically retire from arduous labor.
In 1862 Mr. Swank wedded Miss Malinda Eels, and four children, one son and three daughters, have been born to them. The eldest, Albin D., is a cigar manufacturer in Walkerton. After completing his education in the high school of that city he taught for seven years in the schools of Stark, St. Jo- seph and Laporte counties. He married Miss Bertha Koontz, and they have one child, Clemm. Mr. Swank is a Republican. Ada is the wife of Marcus Bender, who has been associated with the recorder's office in Knox, Indiana, since his early boyhood days. She was educated in the Walkerton high school. and was also a successful teacher. Their only son and child is named Wade. Ella is the wife of Thompson Turner, a sketch of whom appears in this work. Cora is the wife of Harry Owen, a mason and brick layer in Muncie, Indiana, and they have one son, Carl. Mrs. Swank was born in Laporte county, Indiana, July 26, 1837, the eldest of the six children, one son and five dughters, born to Simeon and Clarissa (Nichols) Eels. The three now living are : Mrs. Swank, Mary, the widow of Martin Miller and a resident of Chicago, and Cyrena, the wife of Charles Stewart, a city official of Chicago. Mr. Eels, the father, was born in Erie county, New York, November 4, 1812, was there reared, educated and married and became a tiller of the soil. With his wife he came to Laporte county, Indiana, and thence to Marshall coun- ty, where he purchased eighty acres of un- improved land, and their first home there was a little log cabin of the most primitive kind. For twenty years Marshall county continued as their home, and at the close of that period they came to Liberty township, where the hus- band and father passed away in death on the 30th of September, 1864. He was a Democrat in his political affiliations. He was honest and upright in all his dealings, and was a true
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