A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 83

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 83

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).

Alexander Riddle was born on the old homestead farm just a short distance from where he now lives March 4, 1854, and re- maining at home until his twenty-fifth year he was then married to Alwilda Grafford, who was born, reared and educated in North Lib- erty, St. Joseph county, Indiana, a daughter of Lewis and Martha (Evans) Grafford. both now deceased. They have an adopted son, Clyde Riddle, who is a carpenter and an ex- cellent mechanic. He married Margaret Hoff- man, and they have one child, Claude. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Riddle live on their pleas- ant homestead of one hundred acres adjoining the town of Crumstown, and in addition they also own forty acres one and a half miles east. The farm is one of the best in the township, and the many valuable improvements there- on further add to its attractive appearance. Mr. Riddle gives a stanch and unfaltering support to the principles of the Republican

party, and Mrs. Riddle is a member of the Methodist church. They have a pleasant home, and are surrounded by many of the luxuries and comforts of life.

JAMES W. WYCKOFF, proprietor of Edge Hill Farm, located near New Carlisle, in War- ren township, is a member of a prominent old Virginia family, and was born in the Shen- andoah valley of that state on the 24th of May, 1843, this being also the same year in which President Mckinley was born and was the birthday of Queen Victoria. His paternal grandfather, Cornelius Wyckoff, was a native of the Old Dominion state of Virginia, and was married to a Miss Judson, who was born in Newark, Licking county, Ohio, where the husband's death later occurred. Their son, Cornelius, Jr., was born in Frederick county, Virginia, and was married to Anna Mowrey, who was also born in that county, where her father, John Mowrey, was a slave owner before the war. In 1853 Mr. and Mrs. Wyckoff came to St. Joseph county, Indiana, where they lived for many years, but the husband's death occurred at Buchanan, Michigan, at the age of seventy- three years. In early life he was a Whig and a Henry Clay man, and later became a Demo- crat, although he supported Grant in his presidential race. His wife still survives him, having now reached the age of eighty years. and she is a resident of South Bend and a member of the Adventist church. They were the parents of two sons, one of whom, Wat- son, is also a resident of South Bend.

James W. Wyckoff grew to years of ma- turity on a farm, and for some years was a prominent and successful educator. On De- cember 4, 1864. in Berrien county, Michigan, he was married to Sarah Evelyn Wyckoff. a cousin, born November 9, 1845, a daughter of Peter and Louisa (Wilson) Wyckoff. The parents were married on the 22d of October, 1840, and in an early day took up their abode in Warren township, where they improved an excellent farm, and where Mrs. Wyckoff yet resides. Her husband died at the age of sixty years. Two daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. James W. Wyckoff. The elder, Frances Caroline Reading, resides on a farm adjoining her father's, and has two children. Ralph and Edna. The second daughter. Edna Fladilla, is the wife of James Peck, of Monti- cello. Illinois, and their two children are Cecil and Carrie Evelyn. Both daughters were well educated and were prominent teachers. Mrs.

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Wyckoff is a member of the Christian church and of the order of Gleaners. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wyckoff have been honored members of the Patrons of Husbandry for thirty-four years and they have held office in the order. In this community, in which they have so long resided, the family are held in the highest re- gard by their innumerable friends.

ED F. VoGT, the owner and manager of Oakwood Farm, a beautiful and attractive homestead in Warren township, is one of the prominent agriculturists and business men of the community, and is descended from the persevering and honorable sons of Germany. He was born in Saginaw, Michigan, March 15, 1858, a son of Jacob and Christena (Lefler) Vogt, who were born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, where for many years the father was a prominent and successful brewer. After coming to America they established their home in Saginaw, Michigan, where Mr. Vogt resumed his brewing business, and became successful in his ventures.

Ed F. Vogt, one of twelve children, was reared and received his educational training in his native city of Saginaw, but since 1882 has been a resident of St. Joseph county, In- diana. In 1886 he was married to Hannah E. Rockhill, who for a number of years was iden- tified with the educational interests of St. Joseph county, and her father, William F. Rockhill, was one of the county's earliest set- tlers, and his name is inseparably interwoven with the early history of Warren township. He was born in Lebanon county, Ohio, in 1824, and his death occurred at the good old age of eighty-two years. The Democratic party received his active support and co-oper- ation. Mrs. Rockhill was called to the home beyond at the age of sixty years, leaving three children, Don K., a well known and promi- nent business man of South Bend; Thomas J., also a resident of that city, and Hannah E., who became the wife of Mr. Vogt. One son has been born to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Vogt, Richard R., who at the age of six- teen years is pursuing his studies in South Bend. The family reside on the old Rockhill homestead, formerly the property of Mrs. Vogt's father, W. D. Rockhill, which is one of the most valuable farms in St. Joseph coun- ty, containing many substantial and valuable improvements. Mr. and Mrs. Vogt spend the winter months in South Bend. The Democ- racy receives his hearty support and co-oper- ation, while his fraternal relations are with

the Woodmen of the World, and both he and his wife have membership relations with the order of Gleaners.

CHARLES W. MIKESELL. For many years the Mikesell family have occupied a distinc- tive place in the affairs of this section of St. Joseph county, and one of its leading rep- resentatives is Charles W. Mikesell, whose birth occurred within the borders of the coun- ty on the 27th of October, 1857, a son of Peter and Rachel (Fields) Mikesell, the latter a sister of Stephen Fields, who is represented elsewhere in this work. The father died at the early age of thirty-three years, when his son Charles was but three years old, and when the mother was forty-four she joined him in the home beyond. In their family were three children, Emma, the wife of W. H. Barker, of South Bend; Charles W. and Benson J. The father followed farming as a life occupa- tion, was a Democrat in his political views, and Mrs. Mikesell was a member of the Bap- tist church.

Charles W. Mikesell has been identified with agricultural pursuits since his early youth, for he was reared on a farm, and his educational training was received in the dis- trict schools near his home. At the age of twenty-one he was married to Anna Smith, a native daughter of German township, St. Jo- seph county. Her father, Henry Smith, was the first white child born within the borders of old St. Joseph, whither his family had removed from Pennsylvania in a very early day, establishing their home in the midst of a wilderness, where wild game of all kinds were plentiful and Indians yet roamed at will, and the little Indian boys were the playmates of Mr. Smith. It was in those early days that he became so proficient with the gun, in later years becoming a noted hunter, and after the supply of game was exhausted in this section he hunted in northern Michigan. The death of this old St. Joseph county pioneer occurred when he had reached the age of fifty-seven years. He had married Mary Roof, and they became the parents of six children, five now living: Alice Wertz and Arvilda Bestle, twins: Clara Mahar, of Warren township: James W., a resident of South Bend; and Anna, the wife of Mr. Mikesell. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mikesell, namely : Bessie, the wife of Ira Brown: Wal- ter H., at home; Nellie, the wife of Arthur Stroup, and who was a popular and successful educator before her marriage; Pearl M., at

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home; Raymond E. and Charles E. Mr. Mike- . age of fifty-four years; Enos H., on the old sell owns a beautiful estate of one hundred and sixty acres, and he gives his political sup- port to the Democratic party. He is a mem- ber of the Brethren church, and Mrs. Mikesell was reared in the Baptist faith. The family are held in high regard by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

ORSON MARBLE. During many years Mr. Orson Marble was numbered among the lead- ing agriculturists of Warren township. In all life's relations he commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he came in contact, and the memory of his upright life is an inspiration to the many friends who knew him well and were familiar with his virtues. He was born in Faseton, Vermont, but his father, Joseph Marble, claimed Massachusetts as the commonwealth of his nativity, and the grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution- ary war and fought at Bunker Hill, having been wounded in battle. Joseph Marble mar- ried Anna Smith, a native of Athol, Massa- chusetts, and in a very early day in its his- tory they established their home in St. Jo- seph county, where they spent the remainder of their lives.

In Berrien county, Michigan, Orson Marble was united in marriage to Louisa Holmes, who had been a popular and successful teacher be- fore her marriage. She was born in Spring- field, Vermont, a daughter of Enos and Louisa (Adams) Holmes, both natives of New Hamp- shire. The mother was born at Jeffrey, that state, a daughter of Joseph Adams, who was a cousin of John Quincy Adams, of presidential fame. Joseph Adams married a Miss Darling. Enos and Louisa Holmes reared five children, Catherine, Daniel, Mrs. Marble, Enos and John, the last named a resident of Idaho. The parents both died at the age of sixty-nine years.

From his eastern home Mr. Marble removed to Elkhart county, Indiana, and in 1859 came to St. Joseph county, where he became the owner of Maple Lawn Farm, one of the most valuable estates of Warren township. It con- sists of five hundred acres of rich and fertile 'an.3. the best in St. Joseph county, and there W .. . arble lived and labored until his busy and weful life was ended in death, passing n 1887, at the age of sixty-one years.

1 itical matters he was a Democrat, but

S he voted for General Fremont. At ! his death he left a widow and ten children, namely : Willard, who died in 1907, at the

homestead; Sarah Swank, Mary Matthews, Clara Letchford, Hattie Miles, of Elsinore, California; Fanny, Daniel, John, and Flor- ence. The children were all given excellent educational advantages, studying at Hillsdale, South Bend and Valparaiso, and two daugh- ters, Fanny and Florence, are successfully en- gaged in teaching in Chicago, Illinois. After the death of her husband Mrs. Marble mar- ried John C. Marble, his brother and a well- known resident of St. Joseph county, whose death occurred in 1898, at the age of eighty- three years.

Enos H. Marble was born in 1854, and nine years of his life were spent in Michigan, while later he removed to Nuckolls county, Ne- braska, near Nelson, where he remained for thirteen years, returning on the expiration of that period, in 1889, to St. Joseph county, Indiana. In Benton county, Iowa, he was married to Vernie Anderson, who was born, reared and educated in that commonwealth, a daughter of Leonard Anderson, deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Marble have been born three sons and a daughter, Leonard O., Clyde L., Holmes E. and Marjorie. Mr. Marble is a stanch Republican in his political affiliations, and has served in the office of justice of the peace. Both he and his wife are members of the order of Gleaners.

Mrs. Marble, Sr., still survives her husband and occupies the old home of Maple Lawn. She has traveled quite extensively during her lifetime, especially on the Pacific coast, and she is one of the noble pioneer women whom the residents of St. Joseph county delight to honor.

MARTIN M. WITTER. Since the early days of the history of Warren township the Witter family have occupied a distinctive place within its borders, and among its present rep- resentatives is Martin M. Witter, a prominent and well known agriculturist. His paternal grandfather, John Witter, was one of the first settlers of Wayne county, Indiana, and there his son George Witter, the father of Martin, was born on the 12th of October. 1817. He was but twelve years of age at the time of his parents' removal to St. Joseph county. the family home being established in German township, where they were among the first to take up their abode, for this was in the early year of 1829. There the son George grew to mature years, and was married to Sarah Mil- ler, who was born in Wayne county. Indiana.

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November 1, 1822. After coming to St. Jo- . born in Bertrand township, Berrien county, seph county the Miller family also took up their abode in German township, on the Jesse Jennings farm, and the father, John Miller, was one of the first German Baptist ministers in the county, an able and efficient worker in the cause of Christianity. After their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. George Witter took up their abode in Warren township, on what has since become known as the old Witter home- stead, which was then a valuable tract of two hundred and eight acres, but its boundaries have since been diminished to one hundred and ninety-seven acres. Twelve children were born to bless their union-Elizabeth, Aaron, Adaline, Mary E., Lucinda, John (who died at the age of twenty-one years), Albert, Caro- line, Martin, George and Harrison, the last named a resident of German township, where he is now in office. One child died when young.

Martin M. Witter was born on this old homestead farm February 11, 1861, and here he grew to years of maturity and developed a strong and sturdy manhood. During his early manhood he went to Red Willow county, Ne- braska, where his sister, Lucinda Smith, was living, and there spent two and a half years engaged in ranch farming. Returning to the old farm in Warren township, he was married on the 26th of December, 1889, to Lowie Smith, a daughter of L. B. and Melissa (Flowers) Smith, the former a native of Hun- ter, New York, and the latter of Ohio. The mother passed away in death in South Bend when fifty-one years of age, but the father reached about his seventy-second year ere he was called to the home beyond, dying in Ten- nessee. Three of their four children are liv- ing, Ella, William P. and Mrs. Lowie Witter. Two sons have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Witter, Claude M. and Russell D. The family reside on the old farm which has been in the possession of the family for so many years, and which is one of the most valuable tracts in Warren township, while its hand- some brick residence is also one of the town- ship's finest homes. Mr. Witter supports the principles of the Republican party, and he has membership relations with the Woodmen of the World, while both he and his wife are members of the order of Gleaners.

JACOB E. CAUFFMAN, the proprietor of Fair- view Farm, one of the valuable estates of Warren township, is at the present time the incumbent of the office of assessor. He was

Michigan, November 6, 1865, a son of Michael and Rebecca (Rough) Cauffman, both of Ger- man descent and both natives of the common- wealth of Pennsylvania, the former born in Perry county and the latter in Snyder county. In 1855 they left the state of their nativity for Michigan, their worldly capital at that time consisting of five hundred dollars, and arriving at their destination they leased land for a time, later purchasing their farm of about five hundred acres at different times. Mr. Cauffman followed the tilling of the soil as a life occupation, and his labors were ended in death at the age of seventy-nine years. Throughout his entire life he was an active worker in the cause of Christianity, being identified with the Evangelical church, in which he served as a steward, and his politi- cal affiliations were with the Republican party. Mrs. Gauffman was also a member of the Evangelical church, and in their family were the following children : Henry I., George W., William P., John Wesley, Mary Ellen, Lewis F., Eliza J., Jacob E. and Samuel E. The sec- ond son, George W., was accidentally killed while hunting, leaving a wife and four chil- dren.

Jacob E. Cauffman remained at home until he was twenty-nine years of age, and then established a home of his own by his marriage to Minerva Houswerth, who was born, reared and educated in Berrien county, Michigan, a daughter of Henry and Mary A. (Shaffer) Houswerth, both now deceased, but formerly residents of Snyder county, Pennsylvania. In 1894 Mr. and Mrs. Cauffman took up their abode on their present homestead, known as Fairview Farm, where they have one hundred and thirty acres of well-improved land, adorned with a pleasant and commodious resi- dence and all other necessary buildings and improvements. In addition to his agricultural pursuits Mr. Cauffman is also extensively en- gaged in the raising of fine stock, his specialty being the Oxford Down sheep, which have won many blue and red ribbons at the county fairs. He is an active and efficient worker in the ranks of the Republican party, and in 1904 was elected its representative in the of- fice of assessor, proving a popular and ef- ficient officer. He is a member of the Evan- gelical church, his membership relations being with the Zion church of Portage Prairie, where he is serving as a class leader. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Cauffman is a son,

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Carson E., who was born on the 6th of June, 1896, and is now in the sixth grade in school.

WILLIAM A. MORSS. Among the many thou- sands of brave men who marched forth to de- fend the Union during the period of the Civil war is numbered William A. Morss, a rep- resentative of one of the honored old pioneer families of St. Joseph county. He was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, October 24, 1840, and in that county his father, Daniel Morss, also had his nativity. He was of Ger- man descent, and a son of John Morss, a na- tive of Pennsylvania and an early pioneer of Dearborn county, Indiana. The mother of the subject of this review bore the maiden name of Sarah N. Milliken, and was of Irish parentage. In 1841 Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Morss started on the long and tiresome jour- ney to St. Joseph county, and arriving in Madison township they secured a farm in the dense woods and at once began the arduous task of clearing the land and placing it under cultivation. After a long and honorable career devoted to agricultural pursuits Mr. Morss passed away in death at the age of eighty-five years, while his wife reached the age of ninety- three years ere she was called to the home be- yond. He gave his political support to the Democratic party, and afterwards cast his vote for the presidential nominee, General Fre- mont, in 1856. Six of their children are yet living : Rebecca Jane Bates; Una ; M. M., who was wounded at Resaca, Georgia, during his military service in the Civil war, and he is a resident of Warren township; Elizabeth Wil- kinson, whose husband was also a Civil war soldier and is now connected with the Singer Company in South Bend; Mrs. Sarah C. Whitesell, of Warren township; and Susan A. Thompson, of Walkerton, Indiana. Two chil- dren are also deceased, Rozena Holstin, who left ten children, and Mary F.

William A. Morss entered the Civil war service on the 6th of October, 1862, at the call of Lincoln for three hundred thousand men, entering Company F, Sixty-third In- diana Volunteer Infantry, and his military career covered a period of two years and eight months. His officers were Colonel Williams, Lieutenant Colonel Stiles, Lieutenant Conner, Captain Rashing, and Lieutenant Plastnick and Captain Bly also served for a time. Mr. Morss was with Generals Thomas and Scho- field. and participated in the battles of Buz- zard's Roost, Resaca, Cartersville, Cedarville, . Lost Mountain, Altoona, Burnt Hickory, Pump-

kinvine Ridge, where he was shot through the hat, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jones- boro, Columbia, and Franklin, the most des- perate fought battle of the war, where many men were lost on both sides, the Confederates losing 13,500 and the Federals 2,500 behind works in little over one hour. During four months of the war Mr. Morss also served with the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Indiana Regiment. He was discharged at Salisbury, North Carolina, having for nearly three years defended the starry banner upon southern battle fields.

Returning to his home in Warren township. St. Joseph county, Mr. Morss resumed his agricultural labors, and he now resides at Lydick, Indiana, where his home is surround- ed by six acres of land, while in addition he owns one hundred and fifty-one acres else- where, and a tract of sixty-one acres, all in Warren township; and Mrs. Morss has a valu- able little estate of forty acres. In their fam- ily are three children-Clara Bell Walters, George W. and Albert Fremont, all of this township. They also have two children de- ceased, James, who died at the age of twen- ty-two years, and Mary Ellen, who died on the 12th of May, 1907, at the age of thirty-six years. Mrs. Morss' grandfather, Peter Kel- der, was in the war of 1812, in which he par- ticipated in some of the battles. Mr. Morss affiliates with the Republican party, and as its representative has served in the office of supervisor. He maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades by his member- ship in the Grand Army Post, and both he and his wife are members of the Christian church.

WILLIAM McDONALD. Throughout nearly his entire life Mr. William McDonald has been a resident of Warren township, and during the intervening years he has been identified with many of the interests that have contrib- uted to its substantial development and im- provement. His birth occurred in Berrien county, Michigan, about five miles from where he now resides, July 10, 1845, a son of Michael McDonald, who sacrificed his life on the altar of his country during the period of the Civil war, in which he served as a member of the Fifteen Indiana Volunteers, and was killed in a charge at the battle of Lookout Mountain. He was about fifty years of age at the time of his death. His wife, Mary McDonald, is also deceased, and their three children are : Perry, who was but a boy in his teens during the pe-

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riod of the war, but despite his age he offered his services to his country's cause and entered the Forty-eighth Indian Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until the close of the con- flict, and he now resides near New Carlisle, Indiana. The only daughter, Mary, is de- ceased.

William McDonald, the youngest child, was a little lad of nine years when he became a . citizen of Warren township, from that time until his twenty-first year making his home with Isaac Frame, a prominent farmer here. His early educational training was received in the district schools, but he has greatly added to his knowledge in later years by ob- servation and reading and is now an excep- tionally well-informed man. When he had reached his twenty-seventh year he was united in marriage, in Warren township, to Mahala Myler, one of its native daughters and a rep- resentative of one of its prominent early fam- ilies. During the long period of thirty-five years they have traveled the journey of life together, mutually sharing the joys and sor- rows which checker the careers of all, and their love and confidence have increased with the passing years. She is a daughter of Mat- thew and Charlotte (Frame) Myler, the for- mer a native of southern Indiana and the lat- ter of Henry county, this state, and both are now deceased, the father passing away at the age of fifty-three years and the mother when she had reached her eighty-first year. Mr. Myler gave his political support to the Demo- cratic party, and both he and his wife were members of the Christian church. In their family were six children : Mary, Mahala Mc- Donald, Nancy, Emily Buckles, Olive and George. The son is a resident of South Bend. One son, Elmer E., has been born to Mr. and Mrs. McDonald, his birth occurring in 1873. He married Ethel Dunn, and their only child, a little daughter Marie, is now eight years of age.

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A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 83

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