A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 86

Author: Howard, Timothy Edward, 1837-1916
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 887

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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

ly: Charles, a farmer of Warren township; Eli, who died at the age of fifty years, unmar- ried; Daniel, whose name introduces this review; Elizabeth, who married W. O. Jack- son, of German township, and is now de- ceased; William, of Portage township; and James, a retired farmer living in South Bend.

Daniel Chamberlain was born in Trenton township, Delaware county, Ohio, May 22, 1834, but in 1847 came with his parents to St. Joseph county, Indiana, the family locat- ing on two hundred and thirty-seven acres of land which the father had purchased about one mile southeast of the present home of our subject. After the marriage the latter removed to the farm on which he now resides, dating his residence here from the first of April, 1857, and the place con- sists of one hundred and ten acres in section nineteen, German township, and he also owns about thirty acres opposite his farm. He has placed the land under an excellent state of cultivation, for only a part of it had been cleared at the time of the purchase; has erected all the substantial buildings which add so much to its value and attractive ap- pearance, and the place is especially noted for its burr oak grove of fifteen acres, which is used for picnic purposes and here the fam- ily reunions are also held.

On the 22d of October, 1855, Mr. Cham- berlain married Elizabeth Fisher, who was born in this township August 11, 1835, a daughter of Elias and Lydia Fisher, and her death occurred here on the 19th of February, 1897. There were no children of this mar- riage, but he reared a child, Phoebe A., who married Nathaniel A. Frame, of Portage township. On the 24th of April, 1898, Mr. Chamberlain was united in marriage with Mrs. Lydia Anderson, who was born in Elk- hart county, Indiana, near Milford, July 3, 1858, and was the widow of Robert Ander- son. Her parents were Peter and Elsie (Wil- liams) Rush. Mr. Chamberlain has an uncle, .Jacob Rush, in Illinois, and his wife's grand- father, also named Jacob Rush, resides in that state, but they do not claim relationship. Mrs. Chamberlain had two children by her first marriage, Inez Anderson, of South Bend, and Marie, the wife of Clifford Rush, also of that city. Mr. Chamberlain has given a life-long support to the Republican party, having voted for its first presidential candi- date, General Fremont, and he has been a member of the German Baptist Brethren

church of German township for over twenty years, while Mrs. Chamberlain belongs to the Progressive German Baptist church. Their pretty homestead is known as "The Burr Oaks Picnic Farm," so named on account of the natural oaks which have stood ever since the Pottawatomie Indian spread his wigwam underneath their branches.

EDWARD M. SLUSSER was a native son of St. Joseph county, his birth having occurred in South Bend on the 13th of October, 1848. His life was strictly honorable, upright and just, and he was always thoroughly interested in everything which pertained to the progress of the communities in which he dwelt. His parents, Abram and Margaret (Marble) Stusser, were natives of Canton, Ohio, but came to South Bend in a very early day, and here spent the remainder of their lives, where the father was well known as a painter and salesman. In their family were four children, Henry B., deceased; Edward M., whose name introduces this review; Sarah C. Barr; and Charles V., deceased.

Edward M. Slusser continued to reside in his native city of South Bend until 1878, when he removed to Perry, Iowa, and after a residence there of eight years, during which time he was employed as a farmer and car- penter, he went to Arkansas. He continued his work as a farmer and carpenter until his life's labors were ended in death, which occurred at his home in Arkansas on the 23d of April, 1896.

In 1872, ere his removal from South Bend, Mr. Slusser was united in marriage to Ada- line Witter, who was born in German town- ship, St. Joseph county, October 6, 1846, a daughter of George and Sarah (Miller) Wit- ter. This union was blessed by the birth of one child, Emma, who became the wife of Harry F. Ullery, of South Bend, and they also have one child, Ernest. Since her hus- band's death Mrs. Slusser has resided with her mother and brother in section 31, Ger- man township. She is a member of the Bap- tist church.

CHARLES E. KIEFER, a well known and highly esteemed resident of Madison town- ship, has been long and prominently identi- field with its agricultural interests and be- longs to that class of representative Ameri- cans who advance the general prosperity while promoting individual success. He was born on the farm on which he now resides. April 4, 1860, and is of German descent, for

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THE NEW YORK PUBULL LE ARY

Aster Lemax and Tilden

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Burr-Oaks Avenue Farm Residence of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Whitmer

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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

his father, Adam Kiefer, was born in the fatherland, and was reared and received his educational training in the land of his birth. Coming to the United States on a sailing ves- sel, he remained for a time in the state of New York, and thence removed to Canton, Stark county, Ohio, where he was married to Reka Fulmer, who also claimed Germany as the place of her nativity, but during her early girlhood days she came with her parents to the United States and the family home was established in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Kiefer made the journey to St. Joseph county, In- diana, with team and wagon, being accom- panied by their three children, Elizabeth, Caroline and Mary Ann, and the father se- cured eighty acres of heavily wooded land. The little log cabin in which the family first resided in time gave place to a more sub- stantial and commodious residence, a large barn was subsequently added to the many im- provements of the place and from time to time he added more land to his original purchase. On this valuable old homestead which he transformed from a wilderness Mr. Kiefer ended his long and useful life, dying at the age of seventy-seven years. His entire busi- ness career was devoted to agricultural pur- suits, in which he achieved success, and dur- ing his early life in New York and Ohio he also worked at the cabinet-maker's trade. His political affiliations were with the Democracy, and he was a member of the Lutheran church. Mrs. Kiefer preceded her husband in death four years, also dying at the age of seventy- seven years, and in their family were nine children ; Mary Ann, deceased, Caroline and Elizabeth, all born in Ohio; while the re- mainder, Barbara, Adam, who died in Madi- son township, William, Emma, Kate and Charles, were born in St. Joseph county.

Charles E. Kiefer spent the days of his boyhood and youth on his father's home- stead farm, and he is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of as fine land as lies in Madison township. all well drained and divided into fields of convenient size. Among the many improvements which add to its value and attractive appearance are a large nine-room house, a fine barn, forty-four by sixty-six feet and a splendid orchard. In ad- dition to his general farming pursuits he also devotes considerable time to his dairy, and he raises excellent stock.

When twenty-eight years of age Mr. Kiefer was united in marriage to Rosa Moore, who

was born in Wabash county, Indiana, a daughter of Philip and Mary (Sloop) Moore, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Ohio. The father was twice mar- ried, having had six children by his first wife and two, Samuel and Rosa Kiefer, by the second, his death occurring when Mrs. Kiefer was but a babe. In his religious affilia- tions he was a member of the Allbright church. Mrs. Moore is yet living, a resident of Wabash, Indiana, and she is a member of the Lutheran church. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kiefer,-Leroy Ed, Laura Elvina, Floyd Carl, Claude Ray- mond and Oliver F. Mr. Kiefer is a firm friend of the cause of education, is strictly temperate in all his habits, and is a worthy member of the Lutheran church.

ELMER J. WHITMER, one of the most promi- nent and successful farmers of St. Joseph county, was born on the farm where he yet resides, in the first frame house built in Por- tage Prairie, March 26, 1869, and is a worthy representative of one of the most honored pioneer families of this region. The family is of Pennsylvania German descent and was founded in St. Joseph county, Indiana, by the grandparents of our subject, Abram and Kate Whitmer, who took up their abode within its borders in 1830 and spent the re- mainder of their lives in Greene township, where Mr. Whitmer entered land and be- came a large property owner. In their family were ten children, nine of whom lived to rear families, and with the exception of one, the father of Elmer J., all resided in Greene township within sight of each other's homes. Jacob M. Whitmer, the eldest of the ten children, and the father of Elmer J., was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, October 20, 1828, and died June 7, 1902. He ac- companied his parents on their removal to Greene township, St. Joseph county, Indiana, in 1830. He was married at the age of twenty-eight years, and with his bride took up his abode on the farm now owned and oc- cupied by his son Elmer in German township, at first purchasing a small tract of land, but as he was able he added to his original pur- chase until at the time of his death he left a large and well improved farm, while in ad- dition to the homestead he owned a farm of one hundred and ninety-three acres in War- ren township on which his daughter now re- sides. When only three years of age he was lost in the woods of Greene township for three

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days and two nights, this being during the sugar making season, and he was found by Mr. McCartney on a brush pile unconscious. He spoke the German language only until he went to school, and was a member of the German Baptist church, being one of its most active and influential members. His political support was given to the Republican party. Mr. Whitmer married Nancy Miller, who was born in Union county, Indiana, May 25, 1832, but came to this county with her parents, . Jacob and Sarah Miller, when young, and her death occurred on the homestead farm April 10, 1890. Jacob Miller was a native of Franklin county, Indiana, and Mrs. Whit- mer was the eldest of his eleven children who grew to mature years. By her marriage she became the mother of four children, but the eldest died in infancy. while the second, Bur- ton, died at the age of four years. The only daughter, Martha E., is the wife of Otis G. Harding, of Warren township.

Elmer J. Whitmer, the youngest of the chil- dren, has resided on the farm on which he now lives during his entire life, and his edu- cation was received in Mt. Morris College, of Mt. Morris, Illinois. The homestead consists of two hundred and eight acres of rich and fertile land located on section 7, German township, and as it is on the state line three acres are also in Michigan. It is devoted to the raising of grain and stock, the latter being one of the principal features, and he has thirty-three head of Short-horn cattle. On the farm is a beautiful fourteen-room house, also a large barn forty-four by sixty-eight feet, and everything about the place denotes the progressive spirit of the owner. Mr. Whitmer gives his political support to the Republican party, and for four years, from 1900 to 1904. served as the trustee of his township. When only twenty-two years of ·age he was a member of the advisory board, and he has held other minor offices.

On the twenty-eighth of December, 1892, Mr. Whitmer was united in marriage to Nora A. Wenger, who was born in Union township, St. Joseph county, Indiana, December 9, 1873, a daughter of Christian and Mary E. (Long- ley) Wenger, also natives of this county and now residing in South Bend. She was edu- cated in the same college as her husband, Mt. Morris. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Whitmer: Florence Arlene. who died at the age of two years. four months and six days: Edna Pearl and J. Russell.

Edna is in the fifth grade in school and she takes instrumental music and loves it dearly. J. Russell is in the second grade.

DAVID JORDAN has since he came to St. Joseph county about fifty-three years ago been a witness of very important changes in this vicinity, and his reminiscences of the early days here are most interesting and en- tertaining to a listener. He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1841, and is of German parentage, for his father, Leonard Jordan, was born in Bavaria, Germany, but when a young man he came to the United States, bringing with him his sweetheart, Margaret Jordan, whom he married after their arrival. They continued their residence in Columbiana county until their son David was a lad of thirteen years, when in 1854 they came to St. Joseph county, Indiana, making the journey hither by boat, railroad and team. Purchasing eighty acres of land, Mr. Jordan built a log cabin and began the making of a home. for the family in the wilderness. They became the parents of three children,- Catherine Rater, David and John, the last named residing on the old homestead farm. The father was seventy-five years of age at the time of his death, and the mother reached the age of eighty, both having been members of the Lutheran church. The father gave his political support to the Democratic party.

David Jordan was reared to years of ma- turity on the farm which he assisted to clear and cultivate, and received his educational training in the old-time log school house. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted for service in the Civil war, entering the Twenty-second Indi- ana Volunteer Infantry. During the follow- ing winter he was confined in the hospital by measles, and suffering a relapse of the disease his eyesight and hearing became greatly impaired, and he has never fully re- covered form this severe illness. He was honorably discharged from the service in May, 1865, and returned to his home in St. .Joseph county, where he now owns a valuable estate of eighty acres, well improved with ex- cellent buildings and other substantial im- provements.

In 1872 Mr. Jordan was united in mar- riage to Caroline Kiefer, who was born in Ohio, but when a child was brought by her parents to St. Joseph county, Indiana, and a sketch of her father, Adam Kiefer, now de- ceased, will be found elsewhere on these pages. Four children have been born to Mr. and

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Mrs. Jordan, but the daughters, Emma and Blanche, are deceased, the former dying at the age of fourteen and the latter when twenty-four years of age. Their two sons are Otto C., who is at home, and Fred, a young man of twenty-seven years. The Democracy receives Mr. Jordan's support and co-opera- tion, and his religious affiliations are with the Lutheran church.

. MOSES GORDON is numbered among the early settlers and prominent agriculturists of St. Joseph county, and for many years he has been actively associated with the development of Madison township, his residence here dat- ing from 1871. He was born in Fulton county, Pennsylvania, September 25, 1837, and traces his lineage to the land of hills and heather and to the Scottish chiefs of the high- land clans who fought in the early wars of Scotland. The grandfather of Mr. Gordon of this review, Colonel Moses Gordon, was a native son of Pennsylvania, and served as an officer of the Pennsylvania militia during the war of 1812. His son William, who also claimed that commonwealth as the place of his nativity, married one of its native daugh- ters, Elizabeth Mann, whose father. John Mann, was born in that state and was of German descent. In 1838 Mr. and Mrs. Wil- liam Gordon journeyed to Knox county, Ohio, which continued as their home for four years, and at the close of that period, with team and wagon, they came to Whitley county, Indiana, being numbered among the first set- tlers of that locality. In this then frontier settlement they made them a home and spent the remainder of their lives. In their family were the following children : Mary, Susan, Valentine (who served as a soldier in the Civil war). Anna, Rachel, Moses, Philip (who also served in that conflict), Rebecca, John (deceased in infancy), Malinda, Sarah, Mar- tin and Amanda. The mother was a typical pioneer woman, strong and hardy, and could perform the arduous labor of binding after the cradle. The husband could catch a sheep, shear it, card the wool and weave the cloth for the family clothing. The death of this honored old St. Joseph county pioneer oc- curred in 1882, when he had reached the age of eighty-two years, long surviving his wife, who had been called to the home beyond at the age of sixty-six. He was a large and well built man, six feet in height and weighing two hundred pounds. He was an agricul- turist throughout the entire period of his

business career, was a Jackson Democrat in his political affiiliations, and was a worthy member of the Christian church, a man whom to know was to honor and revere.

On the old home farm which his father had developed from the dense wilderness Moses Gordon grew to sturdy manhood, receiving his educational training in the primitive school near his home, and to this little tem- ple of learning, a log structure furnished with the old-fashioned fire place, slab seats and benches, the little lad daily trudged three and a half miles. In 1866 he moved to Elk- hart county, Indiana, and after a residence there of five years came to Madison town- ship, St. Joseph county, and purchased the nucleus of his present homestead. His first purchase consisted of eighty acres, but with the passing years he added to the tract until he became a large land owner. He has, how- ever, since sold a part of his farm, and is now the owner of two hundred acres, all rich and fertile land and under an excellent state of cultivation. Their first home was a little log cabin, sixteen by eighteen feet in size, with a little loft overhead as a sleeping room for the boys, but this primitive structure was later replaced by a larger and more substantial log house, and in time the present modern and commodious residence was erected, containing eight rooms. In all these homes, whether cabin or the more pretentious dwelling, a gracious and warm hearted hospi- tality has been extended to all who came, and here their children have grown to an honor- able man and womanhood, an honor to the honored family name.

When twenty-two years of age Mr. Gordon married Elizabeth Jane Denny, who has been his faithful companion and helpmate for rearly half a century. She was born in Wayne county, Indiana, near Richmond, No- vember 25, 1838, a daughter of Jesse and Mary (Crouse) Denny, who were natives of North Carolina but numbered among the early residents of Whitley county, Indiana. Both are now deceased, the father dying in 1860, after a life devoted to agricultural pursuits, and the mother died in Elkhart county, In- diana, at the age of seventy-seven years. She was a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Denny gave his political support to the Demo- cratic party. In their family were nine chil- dren, of whom six grew to years of maturity : James. Jesse who served as a soldier in the Civil war and now lies buried in the

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southland) ; Joseph, who also served as an honored soldier in that conflict and is now de- ceased; Jacob, deceased; John, who offered his life as a sacrifice to his country, dying in Libby prison; and Elizabeth J. Gordon.

Six sons and one daughter have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon: William, Mary E. Wilson, John, Philip, Edgar (who died at the age of fifteen years), Martin and Franklin. The last named was a popular teacher in the township, and the sons are all prominent business men. Mr. Gordon gives his political support to the Democracy, and as its representative has served as a delegate to the conventions and also in the office of trustee, to which he was elected in 1888 and continued as its incumbent for seven years. He has fraternal relations with the Masonic order at Wakarusa, Lodge No. 448. Mr. Gor- don has now reached the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten, but he is yet strong in body. In his earlier years he was one of the strongest men in northern Indiana, weighing three hundred pounds, and he was noted for his agility at log rollings, barn rais- ings and the many other features of the pio- neer days. By reason of his well spent life he enjoys the high regard of his fellow citi- zens, and Madison township is proud to claim him among her adopted sons.

ANDREW J. BRENNAMAN has throughout his entire business career been prominently iden- tified with the agricultural interests of Madi- son township, but his birth occurred in Ohio, in Holmes county, April 10, 1851. His father. Jacob Brennaman, who was one of the earliest residents of Madison township, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, April 13, 1825, a son of Peter and Barbara (Bear) Brennaman, the latter also a native of the Keystone state, but the former was born in Virginia of German parents. At his death he left two children, Jacob and John, and the mother afterward married Ike Culp, by whom she had six children. Jacob Bren- naman was reared to mature years on a farm in Medina county in his native commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and at the age of twenty- five years, in Holmes county, Ohio, he mar- ried Sarah Godshal, who was a native daughter of that state. In 1852 they came to St. Joseph county, Indiana, locating in the dense woods of Madison township on the farm of eighty acres where Mr. Brennaman yet resides. Their first house and barn of logs were afterward replaced by a modern and

commodious residence and a large barn. Six of their children are living, namely: An- drew J., Elizabeth, Susanna, Lydia, Mary and Ben F. One son, Cornelius, was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun while hunt- ing. Mr. Brennaman, the father, is a Repub- lican in his political affiliations.

Andrew J. Brennaman grew to manhood's estate on the old home farm at Clodville, and the first school which he attended was a little log building near his boyhood's home, but the educational training which he received in his youth has been supplemented in later years by constant reading and an extensive business experience. For a time after entering upon his business career he was employed in a saw mill, and after his marriage, which oc- curred when he was twenty-four years of age, he located on the farm on which he vet re- sides, on section 6, Madison township. Ten acres of the place had been cleared, but there were no buildings, and he erected a plank house sixteen by twenty-two feet, which still stands in the rear of his present residence. The place is now adorned by a modern brick dwelling, erected at a cost of seventeen hun- dred dollars, while the barn is a large and convenient building forty by sixty-six feet, with an L forty by sixty-two feet.

Mrs. Brennaman bore the maiden name of Mary Darr, and was born in Canada, but was reared and educated in St. Joseph county, Indiana. Her parents, Henry and Hannah Darr, are both deceased, the former dying in Elkhart county, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Brennaman have become the parents of five children : John, who is twenty-nine years of age and is at home; Walter, a young man of twenty-five years, is also at home; and Ruth. born April 25, 1897, is attending school and is well advanced in her studies. Two of the children are deceased. Sarah, the fourth in order of birth, dying at the age of three years. and William. the eldest, died when six years of age. Mr. Brennaman upholds the princi- ples of the Democratic party. The family are well known and honored in the com- munity in which they have so long resided, and the hospitality of their pleasant home is enjoyed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

JOSIAH G. KOLLAR, who is one of the best known citizens of German township. comes of good old German stock. His pa- ternal grandfather, George Kollar, came with his parents from Bremen, Ger-

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many, to New England, and subsequently took up his abode in Virginia. His son, Adam Kollar, was born in Rockbridge county of that state April 27, 1793, but subsequently went with his father to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where he remained until his removal to St. Joseph county, Indiana, his death here oc- curring at the age of seventy-four years. He devoted his entire active business career to agricultural pursuits, and was an active fac- tor in the public life of the communities in which he resided. During his residence in Ohio, an election was at one time held in his house, and for a number of terms he served as the trustee of his township. His religious affiliations were with the German Baptist church. Mr. Kollar married Hester Ann Swinehart, who was born in Washing- ton county, Pennsylvania, and died in Ohio in 1845, at the age of fifty-two years. She was a daughter of Peter and Mary Swinehart, natives of Germany. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kollar were born twelve children, but only nine grew to mature years, namely: Kath- arine Riley, deceased; Sarah Watkins, who is now ninety years old and is a resident of Center township, St. Joseph county; Susan Boskirk, of Portage township; Eliza Leech, also of Center township; Balinda Wertze, of South Bend; John, deceased; Josiah G., the subject of this review; Joseph, of Allegan, Michigan ; and David, of Oklahoma. Three daughters died when young.

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A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 86

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