USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 80
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Thomas K. Frankenberry was early inured to the work of the fields, receiving his educa- tional training in the county schools near his home, and at the age of sixteen years he left the parental roof to work for others. In 1872 he came to St. Joseph county, Indiana, and in the following year, in Greene township, was united in marriage to Linda J. Grove, who was born on the old Grove homestead in this township. Her father, Elias Grove, was born in Pennsylvania, and was reared in that com- monwealth and Ohio, having been married in Licking county of the latter state to Lovina Stombaugh, who was also born in the Key- stone state and was of German ancestry. They journeyed to St. Joseph county, Indiana, in 1853, establishing their home in the dense forest of Greene township, where the father cleared and developed a fine farm and de- voted the remainder of his life to its cultiva- tion. Their four children are Linda J., the wife of Mr. Frankenberry; Samuel C., of Tacoma, Washington ; John E., a resident of South Bend; and Ruben L., also of that city. The father passed away in death at the age of fifty-six years, having given a lifelong sup- port to the Republican party, and was a worthy member of the Evangelical church. The wife and mother died at the age of sixty-
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two years. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Frankenberry : Mabel, the wife of Joseph A. Rennoe, of Portage township; Fred G., who assists in the work of the home farm, and Thomas Howard, who was a mem- ber of the class of 1907 of the North Liberty high school, graduating with high honors, and has the honor of being one of the youngest graduates in the county.
Pine Grove Farm, the home of the Frank- enberry family, is a fine estate of sixty acres, and receives its name from the many large pine trees which add so much to its beauty and attractive appearance. They were planted by her father fifty-three years ago, and in all these years have stood guard over the home. The pleasant and attractive residence was erected at a cost of fourteen hundred dollars, and many other substantial buildings and im- provements now adorn the place. Mr. Frank- enberry served as the assessor of his township for four years, elected in 1900, and he has ever been an active and efficient worker in the ranks of the Republican party.
JAMES H. RUDDUCK. From an early period in the development of Greene township, St. Joseph county, James H. Rudduck has resided within its borders, his residence here dating from 1867, and during all the intervening years he has been prominently identified with its agricultural interests. He was born in Greene county, Ohio, June 6, 1840, a son of . David and Lydia (Beson) Rudduck, the for- mer a native of South Carolina and the latter of Kentucky, but both died on their old home- stead farm in Ohio. In their family were nine children, and by a former marriage the father also had seven children. Three of his sons were represented in the Civil war, James H., A. Jackson and Isaac M., but the latter is now deceased. Mr. Rudduck, the father, was a Democrat in his political views.
James H. Rudduck grew to years of ma- turity on his father's farm in Ohio. After completing his educational training he learned the carpenter's trade. and has followed that occupation throughout his entire business career, being a natural mechanic. On the 15th of February. 1865, at Xenia. Ohio, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, and con- tinued as a valiant soldier until his honorable discharge, September 1, 1865, at Nashville, Tennessee. Four years later. on October 10, 1869, he was married in Niles. Michigan, to Louisa A. Rupe, a member of a prominent old family of Greene township. She was born in
St. Joseph county August 14, 1851, and grew to mature years on the old Rupe homestead in Greene township, her parents being Martin and Mary (Gard) Rupe, the former of whom was born in North Carolina and the latter in West Virginia, but both died in St. Joseph county. They had ten children, four sons and six daughters, and they were worthy members of the Methodist church. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rudduck : Beson E., who died when young; Pearl Hickey, who has four sons, Clarence, Anthony, James and Ben; Edna, Walter, Dale, Dennis, who has a daughter, Lavada; Grover C. and Mabel E. Mr. Rudduck affiliates with the Democracy, and is a member of James Brown Post, G. A. R., of North Liberty. Mrs. Rudduck is a member of the Methodist church, as are also two of the children, Walter and Mabel, while Pearl and Edna are Catholics. The family are highly esteemed in the community where they reside.
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CHORD S. RUPEL. Many years have passed and gone since the Rupel family was estab- lished within the borders of St. Joseph coun- ty, and from that time to the present its mem- bers have been numbered among its valued and honored citizens. This high reputation is maintained in Chord S. Rupel, who is num- bered among the leading agriculturists of Greene township, the township of his nativity. His natal day was the 18th of February, 1859. His father, John J. Rupel, Jr., was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, September 16, 1816, and his death occurred in St. Joseph county, Indiana, on the 22d of March, 1899. He left his native commonwealth of Pennsyl- vania in 1849, his destination being Elkhart county. Indiana, and in this state he was mar- ried to Lydia Chord, whose birth occurred in Sumption Prairie, Greene township, and they became the parents of three children: Mrs. Jacob Wolverton, of South Bend; Mrs. Nora Quay, of Greene township, her husband hav- ing been a prominent man in St. Joseph coun- ty; and Chord S. Mr. Rupel, the father, was a member of the Adventist church. He is yet survived by his widow, who has reached the good old age of eighty-one years, but is still active in mind and body, one of the brave and honored pioneer women of St. Joseph county.
Chord S. Rupel was born and reared on the old Rupel homestead in Greene township, where he was early inured to the labors of the farm, and the educational training which he received in the public schools near his home
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was supplemented by attendance at Hillsdale College in Michigan. For two years there- after he worked at the carpenter's trade in South Bend, and then returned to his former agricultural labors. In Greene township, February 24, 1880, he was united in marriage to Mary E. Van Wagner, whose birth occurred in Tiffin, Ohio. Her father, William Philip Van Wagner, was a brave and loyal soldier during the war of the rebellion, in which he held the rank of lieutenant. He was of Hol- land parentage. His wife was a member of an old Pennsylvania family, but was a native of Ohio, as was also her father, Peter Hostler. He, too, served as a soldier in the defense of his country. Mr. Van Wagner is yet survived by his widow, who is now residing in South Bend, aged seventy-two years. They became the parents of four children: Horace, a car- penter in South Bend; William, who is en- gaged in that occupation in Kansas City, Mis- souri ; Mary E., the wife of Mr. Rupel; and Mrs. George Whiteman. Mr. Van Wagner was liberal in his religious views, and his wife is a member of the Methodist church. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ru- pel : Bessie, the wife of Carroll J. Byers, a prominent agriculturist. of Greene township: Charles W., who is now twenty-one years of age and assists his father in the work of the farm; and Rhoene Catherine, the youngest of the family.
In 1881 Mr. Rupel removed to the old John B. Greene farm, which is a valuable homestead, and in addition he also farms other land, amounting in all to about two hun- dred and fifty acres. In his pastures are found an excellent grade of stock, his fields are fertile and well improved, and Greene township claims him among her leading busi- ness men. He gives a stanch and unfaltering support to the principles of the Republican party, which he has represented in the office of constable. With his wife and children he is a member of the order of Gleaners, and Mrs. Rupel and her daughter Rhoene also hold membership relations with the Methodist Epis- copal church. Their home is one of the at- tractive ones of the community, where they dispense as gracious and warm-hearted hos- pitality as was the custom in the days of old.
PETER H. REAVES. For many years Peter H. Reaves has been prominently identified with the public affairs of St. Joseph county, and he holds and merits a place among its representative citizens. He was born near
Xenia, Ohio, January 8, 1841, a son of Obe- diah Reaves, whose birth occurred in Ten- nessee, and his father was a soldier in the war of 1812. When he was a lad of twelve years Obediah became a resident of Ohio, where he learned and followed the millwright's trade for many years, and he was there married to a Miss Moorman, by whom he had two chil- dren, both of whom grew to years of matur- ity, but Russell Thomas died at the age of thirty-five years. Solathial Reaves is a resi- dent of Jackson, Michigan. After the death of his first wife Mr. Reaves married Susanna (Hummer) Marshall, a daughter of Peter Hummer and at that time a widow with three daughters,-Elizabeth Martin, Eunice Mc- Donald and Margaret Hildreth, all of whom died in Greene township and Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Reaves became the parents of seven chil- dren, namely: Rebecca Seward, deceased; John, a resident of Crumstown, St. Joseph county, Indiana; Susan, whose death occurred in Ohio; Peter H., the subject of this review; Obediah, who was a prominent educator in St. Joseph county, but is now deceased; Dianna, who died when young, and George, who was also a successful teacher and a grad- uate of the Valparaiso University. died at the age of twenty-two years. In 1846 Mr. and Mrs. Reaves established their home in St. Joseph county, Indiana, making their journey hither with team and wagon, and after their arrival purchased the farm now owned and occupied by their son Peter. They became the owners of two hundred acres of land, and their first habitation was the typical log cabin of the west, a small structure eighteen by thirty feet, while their litle barn was also of logs. There the husband and father con- tinued his labors for many years or until his life's work was ended in death in 1864, at the age of sixty six years. He gave his po- litical support to the Republican party. and was an active and worthy member of the Bap- tist church, in which he served as a trustee. steward and class leader; and was a liberal supporter of the church and all charitable organizations. His wife preceded him in death, dying at the age of forty-five years. and she, too, was a worthy member of the Baptist church.
Peter H. Reaves was but four years of age when he accompanied his parents on their re- moval to St. Joseph county, and he attained to years of maturity on the old homestead farm, where he was early taught the value of
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industry and honesty as the foundation for life's success. When he had reached the age of twenty-six years he was united in marriage to Susan Rupe, who was born December 21, 1841, and reared in St. Joseph county, where her grandfather, Jacob Rupe, took up his abode in a very early day. She is a daughter of Samuel and Sally Ann (Trowbridge) Rupe. The mother was twice married, her first hus- band having been Rev. Owens, a Methodist Episcopal minister, and their only child was a daughter, Arminda, now deceased. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rupe: Elana, Susanna Reaves, William H., Lucinda Garwood, Martha Jane Hummer, Algaretta Hummer and Brenton. Mr. Rupe, the father, was a local minister in the Methodist Epis- copal church from his early boyhood, an able and efficient worker in the cause of Christian- ity. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Reaves, the elder being Rosa May, the wife of Abram Bresler, of South Bend, and they have one daughter, Carrie. William E. married Alice Slaybough, and their two chil- dren are Bernice and Russell Everett.
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"Oak Lands," the home of Mr. and Mrs. Reaves, is a valuable estate of one hundred and fifty acres, with its pleasant residence and outbuildings and its well-cultivated fields. During many years Mr. Reaves has been an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party, and as its representative has served in many positions of honor and trust. He has many times served as a delegate to county and state conventions, and in 1894 was elected a commissioner of St. Joseph county. His popu- larity in the county in which he has so long resided was fully attested at that election, for he received the large majority of twelve hundred votes, and he remained an incumbent of the office for three years, discharging its varied duties with ability and credit. During his administration the county courthouse was erected, at a cost of two hundred and forty- seven thousand eight hundred dollars, as was also the county jail, which represents an ex- penditure of thirty-three thousand dollars. He was re-elected as the county commissioner of St. Joseph county. Mr. Reaves is also a trustee of the Sumption Prairie cemetery, and to him belongs the credit of having raised a sinking fund of twenty-eight hundred dollars for the benefit of this cemetery. His frater- nal relations are with the Masonic order. af- filiating with Liberty Lodge, No. 266, and he
is a valued member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, in which he has held the offices of steward and trustee and is a liberal sup- porter to the church and all worthy objects. His life has been a busy and useful one, and his sterling worth commands the respect of all.
DAVID F. WHARTON. One of the first fam- ilies to establish their home within the borders of St. Joseph county was the Whartons, and for many years they have been numbered among the leading citizens and agriculturists of Greene township. The subject of this re- view, David F. Wharton, is one of its native sons, his birth occurring in the same year of the memorable gold discovery in California, 1848. His father, William Wharton, was a native of Warren county, Ohio, and his father, David Wharton, claimed Pennsylvania as the commonwealth of his nativity and was of English ancestry. His death occurred in Ohio. In that state his son William grew to years of maturity, learned and followed the wagon-maker's trade for many years in con- nection with his agricultural pursuits, and was there married to Charity Throckmorton, who was born and reared in Pickaway county, Ohio. Her parents, William and Sarah (Carty) Throckmorton, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio, were among the very first to cast their lot with St. Joseph county, and they now lie buried in the town- ship of Greene. Unto William and Charity Wharton were born six children : Lettia Mack. a resident of South Bend; David F., whose name introduces this review; James G., a prominent farmer of Greene township; and Henrietta D. Schang, also of Greene town- ship. Two of the children died when young. It was in 1833 that Mr. and Mrs. Wharton came to St. Joseph county, their names thus being enrolled among its very first pioneers. The county was then a wild western region, the Indians still roamed at will throughout ' the state, the forests stood in their primeval strength and the broad prairies had been un- turned by the plow. In the work of growth and upbuilding Mr. Wharton performed his full share, and he now lies buried in the town- ship in which he was so long an honored resi- dent, his death occurring at the age of sixty- two years. He gave his political support to the Republican party, and was a Hicksite Quaker in his religious belief. Ten years later his wife joined him in the home beyond,
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she also having passed away at the age of sixty-two years, dying in the faith of the Pres- byterian church.
David F. Wharton grew to years of ma- turity on the old homestead farm, where he was early taught the value of industry and honesty, and he remained at home until his twenty-third year. Later, however, he re- turned to the old farm, for his father was in poor health and needed his assistance in his declining years. In Greene township, on June 9, 1889, Mr. Wharton was married to Mrs. Ada A. (Hummer) Keltner, the widow of Lee Keltner, by whom she had one son, Lee Keltner, of South Bend. She is a daughter of Lot Hummer, from Pennsylvania, and a son of Washington Hummer, prominent early settlers of St. Joseph county. It was within its borders that the son Lot grew to mature years, and was here married to Betsy Inman, a daughter of John Inman, of English des- cent. Mr. and Mrs. Lot Hummer had four children : Lawrence, of South Bend; Louisa Keltner, of Greene township; Mrs. Ada Whar- ton ; and Hattie Flosenzier, of Marshall coun- ty, Indiana. The father died at the early age of thirty-two years, and the mother afterward married Mahlon Pierson, by whom she had two children, William and Cora Houser, of Liberty township, St. Joseph county. One daughter has blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wharton, Deane, who is now sixteen years of age, and is a graduate of the pub- lic schools with the class of 1906. Lee, the son of Mrs . Wharton, supplemented his pub- lic school training by attendance at the Val- paraiso University, and he is a very bright and promising young man.
Mr. Wharton is the proprietor of one of the finest homesteads of Greene township, known as Fair View Farm, which consists of seventy- six acres of rich and fertile land, while a mile or so distant Mrs. Wharton has thirty acres, thus making them the owners of one hundred and six acres. Many substantial and valuable buildings now adorn the farm, including a pleasant and commodious residence, which is situated on a natural building site and over- looks the surrounding neighborhood. In ad- dition to his general agricultural pursuits Mr. Wharton has also been engaged in threshing during the past twelve years, and in this, as well as his farming and stock raising inter- ests. he has been very successful. In 1900 he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, in which he proved himself a popular official.
With his wife and daughter he is a member of the Grange, and Mrs. Wharton also holds membership relations with the Methodist .Episcopal church.
JAMES G. WHARTON. The life history of James G. Wharton is closely identified with the history of Greene township, which has been his home throughout his entire life, his birth occurring on the farm where he now lives, November 9, 1853, a son of William and Charity (Throckmorton) Wharton, the for- mer a native of Warren county and the latter of Pickaway county, Ohio. In the early year of 1836 they journeyed to St. Joseph county, Indiana, first securing forty acres of land in Greene township, which they traded for the present forty acres, and they developed their land into an excellent and well-improved farm. On the old homestead which he had cleared and cultivated the husband and father passed away in death at the age of sixty-two years, and ten years later his wife joined him in the home beyond, her death also occurring when she was sixty-two years of age. They were loved and honored for their many excel- lent traits of character, and in the locality in which they so long made their home they had many friends. Mr. Wharton was a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and was a Hicksite Quaker, while his wife was a member of the Presbyterian church. Their four children are Leticia Mack of South Bend; David Franklin, a resident of Greene township; Henrietta, also of Greene township, and James G., whose name intro- duces this review.
James G. Wharton spent the days of his boyhood and youth on the old home farm, being early inured to its work, and the educa- tional training which he was permitted to en- joy in his youth was received in the public schools near his home. He was married in South Bend on the 22d of February, 1891, by Rev. II. Johnson, to Mary Stoltz, who was born and reared in St. Joseph county, and before her marriage was engaged in dress- making. Her birth occurred on the 23d of March, 1866, and she is a daughter of Charles Stoltz, one of the early pioneers of St. Joseph county, Indiana. He was born in Alsace. France, now a province of Germany, but when only eight years of age he came to the United States and located in Ohio. Remov- ing later to Elkhart county, Indiana, he was there married to Margaret Popp, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, as were also
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her parents. They became the parents of six children, five of whom grew to years of ma- turity : Susan Webster, of South Bend; Charles, a physician in that city; Mary, who became the wife of Mr. Wharton; Rose Jack- son, a resident of Greene township; and Anna Pontius, who yet resides on the old home farm. The father of these children passed away in death at the age of sixty-five years. He was a carpenter as well as farmer, and after locating on his farm in Greene township he worked at his trade in addition to his agricultural labors, his children having as- sisted him in clearing his land. He was a Democrat in his political affiliations, and was reared in the Catholic faith, while his wife was a member of the Lutheran church. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Whar- ton, James Russell, born on the 29th of July, 1893, and William Raymond, born July 3, 1899.
Mr. Wharton is extensively engaged in agri- cultural pursuits on his valuable homestead known as Plain View Farm, which consists of eighty acres of fertile and well-improved land, and in addition he has also operated a- saw- mill and thresher in company with his brother, D. F. Wharton, during the past four- teen years. His business ventures have been attended with a well-merited degree of suc- cess, and he has long occupied a foremost place among the representative citizens of Greene township. As a representative of the Republican party he is serving as the super- visor of his township. He is a man of enter- prise, and is thoroughly identified with the growth and prosperity of St. Joseph county, the county of his nativity.
FRANK L. FULLER. Among the leading resi- dents of Greene township, honored for his sterling worth of character and his activity in the business world, is Frank L. Fuller, a worthy representative of one of the pioneer families of St. Joseph county. His birth oc- curred in the township of Penn on May 7, 1855, where his father, Nelson Fuller, had.lo- cated in an early day. His birth occurred in Pennsylvania, but during his young manhood he came to Penn township, and was here mar- ried to Elizabeth Crouch, who was born in New York. Her parents came from England to the United States, her father dying in the Empire state, and the mother passed away in St. Joseph county. Nelson Fuller spent the remainder of his long and useful life in Penn township. dying at the age of eighty-four
years. Throughout his entire business career he was identified with agricultural pursuits, and was a Democrat in his political views. His wife preceded him in death, she having been called to the home beyond at the age of sixty-eight years, passing away in the faith of the Baptist church, of which she was long a faithful member. They were people of the most sterling worth of character, and their useful and well-spent lives were crowned with veneration and respect. In their family were four children, Frank L., whose name intro- duces this review; Julius, who resides on his father's old home farm; Laura Eller, whose death occurred in this county ; and Lilly Hol- lister, who also died in St. Joseph county.
Frank L. Fuller spent the early years of his life in his native township of Penn, and in its public schools he received his educational training. When he had reached his twenty- fourth year he journeyed to Colorado, where he spent eight years in farming and ranching, and from there went to St. Clair, Missouri. For four years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits in that county, and thence returned to St. Joseph county. In 1904 he became the owner of his present farm in Greene town- ship, consisting of one hundred acres of rich and well-improved land, and here he is en- gaged in general agricultural pursuits. From twenty-five to thirty acres of this place is de- voted to the raising of potatoes, he being the most extensive raiser of that commodity. in St. Joseph county. His well-tilled fields, substantial buildings and modern improve- ments indicate the supervision of a painstak- ing, practical and progressive owner.
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