A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 81

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 81

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Mr. Fuller was united in marriage to Emma .Van Valin, a representative of an honored pioneer family of St. Joseph county, whose history will be found elsewhere in this work. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fuller, namely: Mabel Kollars, Earl, Elizabeth. John, Fred and Daisy, twins, and Walter. One son, Eugene, died at the age of twenty-one years. He was a young man of much promise and ability. and his death was a sad bereavement to his family and friends. Mr. Fuller votes with the Democracy. He has given his aid in many ways to the furtherance of the best interests of the community. and the course that he has followed in political, business and social circles commends him to the high esteem of all.

JOSEPH CORNELIUS ULLERY. An old settler and prosperous and prominent farmer of

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Greene township, St. Joseph county, a brave Civil war soldier of the Union army, a Repub- lican leader of the county, and an upright man in all his public and private relations, Joseph C. Ullery, who passed from his active and useful earthly life on Sunday afternoon, November 12, 1899, left behind him only sor- row in the hearts of those closest to him and universal regret in the minds of those more distant but who had known of his good works in their locality for many years. The de- ceased was born in Miami county, Ohio, on the 23d of January, 1842, a son of George A. and Marie C. (Wittig) Ullery.

The father was a soldier under Napoleon, and, after distinguishing himself in several severe engagements, was captured by the Eng- lish, who gave him the choice of remaining in prison or joining the English army. He chose the latter alternative, first coming to America as a member of the British army and participating in several engagements in Maine. Returning to England at the end of four years, the authorities concluded that he had earned his freedom, and accordingly dis- charged him from the military service. George A. Ullery at once returned to Prussia, his native country, and, in 1828, came with his wife to Pennsylvania, residing in that state for about five years. He then moved by wagon to Miami county, Ohio, where he purchased a farm on which he resided until his death at the age of ninety-four years.

Mr. and Mrs. George A. Ullery became the parents of eleven children, of whom Joseph C. was the youngest. In 1859 the youth moved to the vicinity of South Bend, St. Joseph county, where he engaged in farming for the remainder of his life. As he had been born on the old Ohio homestead in Miami county, January 23, 1842, he was at this time seven- teen years of age-an industrious, sturdy, re- liable youth, well adapted to make his way in a new country, which required for its devel- opment just such personal material. Within three years his prospects became so promising as to warrant his marriage and the founding of a home of his own, and accordingly on September 1, 1862, he wedded Miss Mary I. Robertson, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Daniel D. Robertson. Mr. and Mrs. Ullery re- sided in Greene township for about six years, when they migrated to Iowa and made the Hawkeye state their home for six years, re- turning then to St. Joseph county, which was thereafter their home.

Two years after his marriage to a month, Mr. Ullery had become so aroused over the issues of the Civil war that he sacrificed all his natural feelings of love and domesticity upon the altar of patriotism and went to the front in the service of the Union army. From Sep- tember, 1864, to May 10, 1865, he served as a private in the Fifty-third Indiana Regiment, during that period being on detailed service. Ever since the casting of his first ballot he was an earnest adherent to the Republican cause, and to its progress he was in after years of valued assistance. He served as justice of the peace in Greene township for a number of years, and while in Iowa held the office of township clerk. He was at one time a member of the now defunct Northern In- diana and Southern Michigan Agricultural Society, and at his death identified with the St. Joseph Valley Grange, ever taking a deep interest in the furtherance of agriculture through co-operation and the free exchange of views and experiences. In the fraternal affairs of the North Liberty G. A. R. Post he also took a deep interest, aiding it in every possible way.

Besides his widow and one daughter- Myrtle, the wife of P. R. Gillin, a civil engi- neer of standing-the deceased left a large number of relatives, a brother, John Ullery, now deceased, and three sisters: Mrs. Chris- tina Crull, residing near Mishawaka, St. Jo- seph county ; Mrs. Achsam Lee, deceased, and Mrs. Charlotte Shellhaas, of Miami county, Ohio.

Mrs. Joseph C. Ullery is a native of Greene township, St. Joseph county, where she was born August 24, 1845. She is the grand- daughter of the late venerable and beloved Judge John D. Robertson, who died in the spring of 1885, at the age of ninety-three years and seven months, as the result of in- juries sustained by falling down stairs. He was a Virginian, born in 1791, passed his early years on a farm and in 1795 was taken by his grandmother to Kentucky. In the following year the family removed to Ohio, where the father entered government land and cleared it up for a homestead. Being the faithful son of a poor man, John D. worked hard to assist in the support of the family. and in 1813. while living in Ohio, married Miss Betsy Goble, a Pennsylvania lady born during his own natal year. They had four children, and at the time of his death three sons survived him : William H., aged seventy-

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one; Daniel D., aged sixty-nine, and James W., sixty-four years of age. His wife had preceded him in March, 1873.

In 1824 John D. Robertson removed from Ohio to Indiana, entering land for a home- stead in Wayne county. He lived there about twelve years as an honored citizen, serving as a justice of the peace for several years and being otherwise brought into the public serv- ice. In 1836 he sold his property and, moving into St. Joseph county, Indiana, where land was cheaper, entered several government tracts, and thus enabled his sons to found homes of their own. In the half a century which followed he either resided in Union or Greene townships, serving as justice in the former and as associate judge of the circuit court in the latter. He served as judge for a period of seven years, or until the office was abolished by the new constitution. In 1855 Judge Robertson became a resident of South Bend and continued to be one of its most be- loved and prominent citizens until his death, thirty years afterward.

Mrs. Ullery's parents, Daniel D. and Esther (Bishop) Robertson, after living together as faithful and loving man and wife for a pe- riod of forty-eight years, ten months and twenty-one days, were laid side by side in the Sumption Prairie cemetery, Greene township, beautiful and appropriate funeral ceremonies being conducted over their hallowed remains, the sermon being based on the text, "In their deaths they were not divided." Daniel D. Robertson was born in Warren county, Ohio, September 10, 1815, moved to Indiana in 1824, and to St. Joseph county in 1836, where he died September 7, 1891, aged seventy-five years, eleven months and seven days. An elder brother, W. H. Robertson, of Lakeville, and a younger brother, J. W. Robertson, of South Bend, then survived him. It was a pe- culiarly sad coincidence that the twenty-ninth anniversary of Mrs. Ullery's marriage oc- curred upon the day of the death of her parents. During many years she had borne, with loving assiduity and cheerfulness, the care of her invalid father and mother, and yet her regret and grief at their final depar- ture were deep and poignant, softened as it was by the thought that "in death they were not divided."

GEORGE N. FOLK. An energetic and pro- gressive farmer and honored citizen of Greene township is George N. Folk, who has spent his entire life in St. Joseph county, his birth

occurring in Union township in 1869. His father, George Folk, was a native of Stark county, Ohio, but his father claimed Mary- land as the commonwealth of his nativity, and was of Pennsylvania German descent. His son George grew to years of maturity on a farm in the Buckeye state, and was there married to one of Stark county's native daughters, Lydia Clark, who was born and reared in Ohio. In 1862 the young couple came to St. Joseph county, Indiana, locating in Union township, where they have ever since continued to reside, they each having now reached the age of seventy-five years. Mr. Folk gives his political support to the Republican party, and both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. They have nine children.

George N. Folk, his parents only son, spent the early years of his life on the old home farm in Union township, receiving his educa- tional training in the township schools, and was early taught the work of the fields. He remained with his parents until his twenty- third year, when he was married to one of Union township's native daughters, Laura Barrett, her parents being John and Cath- erine (Lentz) Barrett, who now resides in Greene township. The father had his birth in Stark county, Ohio, his natal day being the 27th of April, 1836, and he is a son of John C. and Catherine (Strouse) Barrett, both natives of the fatherland of Germany. They became citizens of the United States, and both died in Ohio. Of their four children two are now living. Their son John was reared to mature years in Stark county, Ohio, and was there married to Catherine Lentz, whose birth also occurred within its borders. It was in 1850 that they came to Union town- ship, St. Joseph county, and in 1904 they transferred their residence to Greene town- ship, where they are now honored and highly esteemed residents. Their homestead farm includes two hundred and sixteen acres of fertile and well improved land. They are the parents of three living children: Emma Geyer, of Greene township; Laura, who be- came the wife of Mr. Folk, and May Molar. The family are members of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Barrett is identified with the Republican party in his political affilia- tions. Seven children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Folk, Howard N., Mildred L., Edith E., John B. and Georgie, twins, Alta L. and Sylvia.

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Lakeside farm, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Folk, is one of the most beautiful homesteads of Greene township, with its natural lake, its fertile and well tilled fields, and its pleasant and commodious buildings, including a large brick house and a rock basement barn seventy- five by thirty-five feet. The farm is located two and a half miles from North Liberty, and contains one hundred and fifty-seven acres, all of which have been placed under an excellent state of cultivation. In addition to his general agricultural pursuits, he is quite extensively engaged in stock raising, raising high grade Percheron horses, Polled Red cattle, Chester White hogs, etc. Mr .. Folk is a leader in all social and political matters in his township, and he is now serving his third term as a member of its advisory board. He is highly respected by those who have known him from boyhood, and is a worthy represen- tative of an honored pioneer family.

NATHANIEL H. CRUM. The name of Nathaniel H. Crum is inscribed high on the roll of Warren township's honored pioneers. Crumstown was named in honor of the family which he represents, and in the improvement and upbuilding of Warren township its mem- bers have taken an active and helpful part, laboring for its promotion and welfare. Nathaniel H. Crum was born in Berrien county, Michigan, October 27, 1847. His paternal grandfather, John Crum, had a remarkable history, for when but a small boy he was captured by the Indians, and it was not until he had reached his eighteenth year that the chief of the tribe with whom he lived told him of his parents and where he could find them. The boy immediately returned home, and in Ohio was married to Mary Lee, and they had six children, four sons and two daughters. Among the number was Stephen Crum, the father of Nathaniel, who was born in Ohio, and in Indiana was married to Mahala Berry, whose birth occurred in Penn- sylvania, a daughter of Ben Berry of Penn- sylvania. In `1847 Mr. and Mrs. Crum made the overland journey to Michigan, locating on the farm now owned by their children and consisting of three hundred acres. They have long since passed to their reward, the father reaching the good old age of eighty years ere he was called to the home beyond, while the mother died at the age of sixty-five years. The father was an enthusiastic hunter, and many a deer and other wild game fell by his excellent marksmanship. He voted

with the Republican party. Of the large fam- ily of fourteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Crum eleven grew to years of maturity, namely : Rachel, deceased; Rebecca, who has also passed away; Mary; Martha, on the old homestead farm; Cornelia, deceased; Cather- ine, also on the old homestead; William, deceased; Nathaniel H., of this review; Han- nah; Percilla, and Olive.

The son William Crum, who was a valiant soldier in the Civil war, was born on the 11th of August, 1845, and died on the old home farm on which he was reared April 13, 1907. In 1863 he offered his services to his country during the Civil war, entering the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry, under Captain Dahoft and Lieutenant Colonel Turnock. He partici- pated in many of the hard fought battles of the war, including those of Alabama, Mis- sissippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and Mississippi and was honorably discharged at the close of the conflict at Indianapolis, Indiana. He continued his rela- tions with his old army comrades of the blue by his membership in the Grand Army post, and his funeral services were conducted by that honored body.

Nathaniel H. Crum, whose name intro- duces this review, was but a babe when brought by his parents to St. Joseph county, and when he had reached his twenty-sixth year, March 4, 1874, he was united in mar- riage to Hannah Whiting, who was born in Laporte, Indiana, March 7, 1851, a daughter of Silas and Sarah (Sheldon) Whiting, both of whom are now deceased, the mother dying in Illinois and the father in Minnesota. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Crum, seven of whom are now living. namely : C. Frank, of Warren township; George, John, Delbert, May, Mary and Alfred. The daughter Anna is deceased. Mr. Crum is numbered among the agriculturists and stock raisers of Warren township, where he owns an estate of thirty-six acres, and his fields are fertile and under an excellent state of cultivation, while in his pastures are an excel- lent grade of stock. He too gives a stanch and unfaltering support to the principles of the Republican party. He is a man of fine physique, being six feet three inches in height, and is a gentleman of commanding appear- ance. When a boy he was an expert marks- man with small rock, and many a game bird or squirrel fell from his unerring aim. Almost a lifelong resident of Warren township. he is

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well known among its citizens, and is held in uniform regard.

W. HARRISON RIDDLE, one of the prominent and well known men of Warren township, St. Joseph county, was born on the farm on which he now lives, January 27, 1860. He is of Scotch descent, for his paternal grandfather was born in the land of hills and heather, and to his descend- ants have been given the sterling Scotch characteristics. After coming to America he first made his home in Tennessee, and then in Marion county, Indiana, while later he resided in different localities in Illinois and Indiana, always endeavoring to keep in the outskirts of the settlements.

William Riddle, a son of this Scotch High- lander, and the father of him whose name introduces this review, was born during his parents' residence in Marion county, Indiana, in 1826, and on a farm in that commonwealth he grew to years of maturity. He was there married to Mary Ann Replogle, a native daughter of Ohio, born in Montgomery county. near Dayton, in 1829. They began their married life on a little tract of eighty acres of wild and unimproved land, on which they erected a litle log cabin and barn, this primitive home continuing to shelter the family for a number of years, but it finally gave place to a modern and commodious resi- dence, while with the passing years the land was cleared and improved and its boundaries increased to five hundred acres. Mr. Riddle was an excellent farmer, and he succeeded in transforming his farm into one of the most attractive and valuable homesteads of the township. His busy and useful life was ended in death when he had reached the seventy-sixth milestone on the journey of life, while his wife was seventy-three years of age when she was called to the home beyond. Two sons and a daughter were born to bless their union-Alexander, W. Harrison and Frances Ryder.

The second child in order of birth, W. Harrison Riddle, spent the early years of his life on the old homestead farm, where he was early trained to the work of the fields and taught the lessons of industry and honesty. When he had reached the age of twenty-five years he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Laflore, who was born and reared in St. Joseph county, Indiana, a daughter of Peter and Miranda Laflore, of South Bend, but the father is now deceased. Four children were Vol. II-29.

born of this union : Forest E., Blanche F., Ella F. and William Arthur. In 1898 the family suffered an irreparable loss in the death of the wife and mother, and the place which she then left vacant can ne'er be re- filled. The Republican party receives Mr. Riddle's hearty support and co-operation, and his fraternal relations are with the Woodmen of the World. His farm consists of eighty acres of rich and fertile land, and it is a part of his father's old homestead, it being thus endeared to him through its associations with his childhood days and his later years. No one in the community enjoys a better reputa- tion for integrity of word or deed, and when a man stands high in the estimation of the people who have known him during his entire life no greater testimonial to his worth can be given. ·

SILAS A. Ross, the proprietor of Grapevine Farm, one of the valuable estates of Warren township, is a well known and representative citizen of the township and an honored soldier in the Civil war. His birth occurred in Auglaize county. Ohio, on the 18th of April, 1848, the year of the ever memorable discovery of gold in Cali- fornia, and he is a son of Samuel and Susan (Wyant) Ross, natives of Maryland, and of German descent. The parents subsequently removed to Eaton county, Michigan, where they spent the remainder of their lives and both died at the age of seventy-five years. Both were members of the German Baptist church, in which the father served as a min- ister, and he was also a tiller of the soil. His political support was given to the Republican party. In their family were five children- Thomas, Mary Ann, Sophia, Malinda and Silas.

Silas A. Ross was reared on the old home farm, where he was early inured to the work of its fields, and his educational training was received in the district schools. At the early age of fifteen years he enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member at Lima, Ohio, in 1863, of Company D, Fifty- fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Moore's regiment and Captain Carlisle's com- pany. He was first under fire at Larkinville, Alabama, was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea, and participated in the battles of Resaca, Big Stony, Burnt Hickory, the siege of Atlanta, Savanna, Raleigh, and on to Washington, D. C., where he partici- pated in the Grand Review. He was mus-

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tered out of service at Little Rock, Arkansas, and honorably discharged on the 24th of August, 1865, at Cincinnati, Ohio, having for twenty months defended the starry banner upon southern battlefields. During his entire military career he was never absent from his regiment a day. In 1873 Mr. Ross came to Indiana, thereafter making his home in La- porte, Stark and St. Joseph counties, and he is now the owner of a valuable estate of one hundred and forty acres, known as Grapevine Farm, in Warren township.

At Walkerton, Indiana, on the 4th of April, 1878, Mr. Ross was united in marriage to Miss Martha Woodburn, who was born and re- ceived her educational training in Laporte county, Indiana, her natal day being April 4, 1857. Her family came originally from Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and she is a daughter of George and Martha (Lewis) Woodburn, both of whom are now deceased, the father dying at the age of seventy-two and the mother when forty-two years of age. Five children were born to them, namely : Amy L. Bear, Lewis W., who died as a sol- dier in the Civil war; Gustavus, of Kansas; Adelbert, who died on the home farm, aged twenty-six years, and Mrs. Ross. Mr. Ross is a member of Governor Auten Post, No. 8, G. A. R. Mrs. Ross and daughters are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, and she also has membership relations with the Ladies Circle of the Woodmen of the World. The family are held in the highest regard by all who enjoy their acquaintance.

Mr. and Mrs. Ross have had four children, one son and three daughters, all living: Lewis W., who resides on the homestead, re- ceived his diploma in the common schools; Mae E., who graduated in the common schools and was also a student in the tenth and eleventh grades in Laporte county schools, and taught school; Daisy D., who wedded Elmer Whitesel, a farmer of Warren town- ship, and they have two children, Viola Mae and Alice M; Daisy also received her diploma from the common schools; Myrtle V., the wife of Roy Peterson, a farmer of Warren township, received her diploma from the com- mon schools.

NEWTON WINFIELD WALTERS. Of the pio- neer families which have materially contri- buted to the prosperity of St. Joseph county the one represented by Newton W. Walters occupies an important place. He was born in its township of German December 6, 1863.

His father, Harvey C. Walters, was born in Rhode Island, but was only a small boy when brought by his parents to St. Joseph county, Indiana. In German township he was mar- ried to one of its native daughters in 1858, Nancy J. Huston, born in 1840, a daughter of James Huston, a native of Henry county, Indiana, and a granddaughter of Jacob Huston, who claimed the Old Dominion of Virginia as the commonwealth of his nativity. Catherine Huston died in German township, St. Joseph county, Indiana, in middle life and her husband reached the seventy-fifth mile- stone on life's journey, dying in Clay town- ship, both having been worthy and consistent members of the German Baptist church. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Walters located on Portage Prairie, German township, but later removed to a farm in the vicinity of Crumstown, and his death occurred at the age of sixty-seven years. He was a farmer, saw-mill man and thresher, his attainments being many and varied, and his political sup- port was given to the Republican party. Mrs. Walters is now living in Warren township. She has many friends in the community where so many years of her life have been passed, is loved and honored for her many noble traits of character, and is a worthy member of the German Baptist church. She is sixty-seven years of age. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Walters: Hamlin Millroy, Newton Winfield, Minnie F. Zeitler, of South Bend, Cora B. Turnbull, of Stark county, Indiana, and Bertha Wilkerson, of River Park.

Newton W. Walters was early in life iden- tified with the labors of the farm, assisting his father with the work of the homestead until he was twenty-two years of age, when he established a home of his own by his mar- riage, in South Bend, to Clara Bell Morss, a member of one of the oldest and most hon- ored pioneer families of St. Joseph county. She was born, reared and educated in War- ren township, and has proved to her husband a worthy assistant in the establishment of their home and the rearing of their children. A full review of her family history will be found in the sketch of her father, William A. Morss. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Walters, namely : Lillie May Watkins, of Warren township; Delmar E., now of Red Cloud, Nebraska; Ralph O., Nora E., Jennie V., William Nelson, Florence E. and Theodore Charles. The family reside on

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A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 81

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