A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 87

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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Josiah G. Kollar was born in Fairfield township, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, July 20, 1824, and was there reared to years of ma- turity and remained until his twenty-sixth year. In 1852, with his wife, father, brother and two brothers-in-law, he left his Ohio home for St. Joseph county, Indiana, taking up his abode in Center township, where he purchased one hundred and fifteen acres of land and was engaged in its cultivation and improvement for two years. On the expira- tion of that period, in 1873, he sold his prop- erty there and came to German township, pur- chasing the two hundred and twenty acres which formed the Kollar homestead, but this he has since divided among his children. A part of the land had been cleared. but he cleared the remaining seventy acres and placed the farm under an excellent state of cultivation, it being devoted to stock and grain purposes. During a period of seven- teen years he also conducted a dairy, while for thirteen years he operated a threshing

machine, and during his residence in Tus- carawas county, Ohio, he conducted a saw mill, and in fact was engaged in that occu- pation during the greater part of his active business life.

In 1850 Mr. Kollar was united in marriage to Elizabeth Leech, who was born in Jeffer- son county, Ohio, February 12, 1828, a daughter of Benjamin H. and Rachel Leech, who died during the girlhood of their daugh- ter Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Kollar became the parents of seven children, namely : Ma- lissa Brown, who died at the age of fifty years; Adam, a resident of South Bend; Charles, an agriculturist of German town- ship; William, who makes his home with his father; Harvey, of Penn township; and Clara and Leona Dell, at home. Both of the daughters. Clara and Leona Dell, also the son, Harvey, formerly sang in the choir in their church. Mrs. Kollar is a good, kind hearted mother, and a friend of all. Her cherry nature and manner have many times been a solace and comfort to her husband and family. Mr. Kollar has been a life-long Republican, and his first presidential vote was cast for Henry Clay, and has ever since supported each Republican presidential candidate with the exception of Cleveland. He has been elected to a number of minor offices, but has never qualified. Both he and his wife are members of the German Baptist church, he having taken an active part in its work during his younger days, and during two sessions conducted the Sunday-school. For a time he was also a member of the Grange. During the period of the Civil war he was active in the enrollment of soldiers and in the raising of funds, having himself contributed eighteen hundred dollars to the cause. During the draft in those dark days he acted in a manner which met the full approbation of all right thinking people. He found adverse characters in the raising of funds, but by his being a strong man in character and standing in his township, he overcame those adverse decisions and was successful, and those adverse in be- lief came nobly to the front and aided him, where if some other man had had charge of the raising of funds, he would have failed. Mr. Kollar is a gentleman who is known by all to stand firm in his opinions and belief at all times and places, in both business and social relations.

JONATHAN JACOB SMITH. One who wore

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the blue during the Civil war, and at all times a public spirited and loyal citizen, Jonathan J. Smith is numbered among the representative farmers of St. Joseph county, which is one of the richest agricultural dis- tricts in this commonwealth. IIe is, however, a native son of the fatherland, for his birth occurred in Germany November 15, 1846. His father, Jacob Smith, who was long num- bered among the leading agriculturists of Union township, St. Joseph county, was also born in Germany, and in his native land he was married to Mary Catherine Beach, one of its native daughters, and they became the parents of nine children, four sons and five daughters, five of whom were born in Ger- many and the remaining four in America, and their son Jonathan was the eldest of the children. In 1854 the family crossed the At- lantic to the United States, and in the fol- lowing year arrived in St. Joseph county, Indiana, while in 1857 they established their home in Union township. where for a time the father farmed on rented land. Later he purchased eighty acres of the forest land of Union township, which he cleared and placed under an excellent state of cultivation, and there he lived and labored until his death, which occurred when he had reached the age of sixty-one years. He had given his politi- cal support to the Republican party, and was a member of the Lutheran church. He estab- lished his home in St. Joseph county in its early pioneer days, and with the passing years he took an active part in the upbuild- ing and development of his locality, his name becoming a familiar one to its residents.

Jonathan J. Smith was eight years of age at the time the family took up their abode in Union township, and he therefore received his educational training in its district schools, in the meantime assisting his father to clear and place under cultivation the home place. When the tocsin of war sounded throughout the land Mr. Smith offered his services to his adopted country, enlisting in 1863 in the Eleventh Michigan Cavalry, with which he served for about twenty months, and then returned to the more peaceful pursuits of agriculture on the old homestead. In 1905, in company with his sister, Mary A. Smith, he moved to his present home place in Cen- ter township, the tract consisting of forty- one acres of rich and fertile land, on which he has made many valuable improvements. and he is making of this one of the valuable

farms of the locality. The attractive home- stead of Jacob and Mary A. Smith in Center township, on the Michigan road. is known as "The Maple Ridge Farm." Although Mr. Smith upholds the principles of the Democ- racy, in local matters he votes irrespective of party ties, casting his ballot for the man whom he regards as best qualified for the office to which he is called. His fraternal relations are with the Masonic fraternity. and he and his sister are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

WILLIAM C. MILLER. This well known business man and honored citizen of Center township has throughout his active business life been prominently identified with the agricultural interests of St. Joseph county, and has for many years resided upon his present farm. He was born, however, in Clark county, Ohio, January 27, '1840. His father, John Miller, a deceased farmer of Center township, was a native son of Penn- sylvania, but in a very early day the fem- ily left that commonwealth for Ohio, and in 1847 they came to St. Joseph county, Indi- ana, taking up their abode on what is now known as the old Miller homestead, a tract of one hundred and sixty acres which John Miller cleared and improved. This was an arduous task, but he succeeded in placing his fields under an excellent state of cultivation, and his homestead became one of the valu- able ones of the township. Ere his removal from Pennsylvania he married Catherine Wenger, a native daughter of that common- wealth, and they became the parents of ten children, three sons and seven daughters. The father gave his political support to the Republican party, and was a stanch sup- porter of its principles, while in the early days he was an old-line Whig. His religious affiliations were with the German Baptist church, and in its faith he passed away at the age of sixty-nine years and seven months, after a busy and useful life, devoted to the interests of his family and fellow citizens.

William C. Miller, the fifth child and sec- ond son in order of birth of his parents' ten children, grew to years of maturity and re- ceived his educational training in Center township, attending its pioneer district schools. In the meantime he worked on his father's farm, which he helped clear and cul- tivate, and later he established a home of his own by his marriage on the 20th of Febru- ary, 1866, to Mary E. L. Tibbitts, whose birth

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occurred in southern Indiana, but she was brought to St. Joseph county when a little babe of only one year. Her father, Abner Tibbitts, was one of the earliest residents of the county, where he was engaged in cooper- ing, farming and shoe-making, but his time was principally devoted to his coopering work. He farmed in Center township and other places, but the later years of his life were spent in the home of Mr. Miller. He was a stanch Democrat in his political affilia- tions. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller: Frank A .; Alta M., de- ceased; and Gertrude E., the wife of George Shafer, all of whom were born and reared on the old homestead in Center township. As a representative of the Republican party Mr. Miller has taken an active part in the public life of his community and has served his township as supervisor. He is minister in the German Baptist church. The family is one of prominence in the community in which they have so long made their home, and their beautiful premises is known as "The Sunny Banks Farm."

CHARLES SUMNER JACKSON, who is one of the leading business men of Center town- ship, where he is extensively engaged in farming, stock raising and dairying on section 31, is one of the native sons of St. Joseph county, his birth occurring in the township of Union January 19, 1863. His father, Edward Jackson, was there en- gaged in agricultural pursuits for many years, but was a native of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, his natal day being the 8th of July, 1827. When he was a babe a year and a half old his parents left the Keystone state and journeyed to Ohio, where they con- tinued to reside for about twenty-six years, and in 1854 they came to St. Joseph county, Indiana, first purchasing a farm and estab- lishing their home in Union township. There Edward Jackson conducted a saw mill in company with his father and brothers for fifteen years, and in 1869 he purchased the old homestead farm in Center township, the tract then consisting of one hundred acres and the purchase price was ninety dollars an acre. He took an active part in the early history of this locality, and his name was a familiar one to the pioneer residents of St. Joseph county. During his residence in Union township he was united in marriage to Eliza Bolin, the wedding being celebrated on the 20th of October, 1859, and they became

the parents of five children, all born and reared in St. Joseph county, namely : Emma, Charles S., Oliver M., Frank and Neva. Mrs. Jackson was born and reared in Ohio, but in 1852 she became a citizen of St. Joseph coun- ty, and her death occurred here on the 26th of August, 1884. Mr. Jackson has given a life-long support to the Republican party.

In the district schools of his native town- ship of Union Charles Sumner Jackson re- ceived his early educational training, and he remained on the old home farm until his marriage, which was celebrated on the 21st of December, 1887, Minnie Kline becoming his wife. Her birth occurred in South Bend January 19, 1863, where her father, Freder- ick Kline, now deceased, was a shoe maker for many years. His birth occurred in Ger- many, but at the early age of fourteen years he came to America with an uncle, locating in Fremont, Ohio, afterward removing to South Bend, where he engaged at his trade. In Ohio Mr. Kline married Mary Darhower, by whom he had four children, one son and three daughters, two of whom are now de- ceased, and after the death of the wife and mother he married Mrs. Fannie (Cripe) Leer a native daughter of St. Joseph county, where her father, John Cripe, was one of the early pioneers. Three children were born of this union, Emma, Minnie and Grace. At the time of her second marriage Mrs. Kline was the widow of Daniel Leer, one of the pioneer agriculturists of Portage township, St. Joseph county, and they had three chil- dren. one son and two daughters. One son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, Charles Arthur, whose birth occurred in Cen- ter township July 9. 1895.

At the time of his marriage Mr. Jackson located on his present homestead farm of ninety-five acres in Center township, section thirty-one, where he erected his dwelling, a commodious and substantial structure, re- built the barns and has made many other valuable improvements thereon. His politi- cal affiliations are with the Republican party, and he and his wife are members of the First Brethren church of South Bend.

ADAM K. WATKINS. Center township. St. Joseph county, numbers among its represen- tative farmers and honored citizens Adam K. Watkins, who has been identified with the interests of this locality throughout nearly his entire life. His birth, however, occurred in Fairfield township, Tuscarawas county,

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Ohio, June 24, 1837. His father, John C. Watkins, who was numbered among the hon- ored pioneers of St. Joseph county, claimed Maryland as the state of his nativity, his natal day being the 22d of February, 1811, but when he was a little lad of five years he accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio, where he grew to years of maturity and learned the blacksmith's trade. In 1851 he removed with his family to St. Joseph county, Indiana, locating on the present Wat- kins homestead in Center township, where with the aid of his son, he cleared the land of its dense growth of timber, placed his fields under an excellent state of cultivation, and erected many of the substantial improve- ments which now adorn the place. He gave a life-long support to the principles of the Republican party, taking an active part in the early history of his locality, and was a valued member of the Methodist church. His death occurred on the 13th of November, 1879, when he had reached the age of sixty- nine years.

In Ohio, on the 19th of April, 1832, John C. Watkins married Sarah Kollars, who was born in that state October 11, 1816, a daugh- ter of Adam and Esther (Swinehart) Kol- lars, the latter a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent. The father followed ag- riculture as his life occupation. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kollars were born twelve children, four sons and eight daughters, of whom Sarah, the wife of Mr. Watkins was the second in order of birth, and seven are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Watkins became the parents of fourteen children, six sons and eight daughters, of whom two died in infancy.

Adam K. Watkins, the second son and third child in order of birth, was a lad of fourteen years when the family home was established in St. Joseph county, but his education was received principally in his native state of Ohio. The early years of his life were spent in assisting to clear the home farm. and after his marriage he moved to Michigan, where for fourteen years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. Going thence to Iowa. he spent about two and a half years in that state, when he returned to the old homestead farm and has since de- voted his time and attention to its cultivation and improvement.

The marriage of Mr. Watkins was cele- brated on the 11th of April, 1861, when Eme- line Gilman became his wife. She was born in

Owen county, Indiana, November 13, 1845, but was reared in St. Joseph county, where her father, Jonathan Gilman, was an honored pioneer and leading agriculturist. Five chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wat- kins: Orlando Delemar, Schuyler C., Jean, Sarah B. and Isaac, but the last three are deceased. The Republican party receives Mr. Watkins' active support and co-operation, and his religious affiliations are with the Methodist Episcopal church at Tamarack.

ALEXANDER SMITH. No state in the Union can boast of a more heroic band of pioneers than Indiana, and their privations, hardships and earnest labors have resulted in estab- lishing one of the foremost commonwealths in America, and one which has still greater pos- sibilities before it. Numbered among these brave early settlers of the Hoosier state is Alexander Smith, who is also one of its native sons, his birth occurring on his present farm in Center township, St. Joseph county, Janu- ary 26, 1839. His father, Colonel John Smith, was one of the very first to take up his abode within the then wilds of Center township, where he cleared and improved a farm, and during the war of 1812 he served as first lieutenant colonel of the Fourth Regi- ment of the ninth military district of the state of Indiana. His birth occurred in Car- roll county, Virginia, December 13, 1805, and there he was also reared. In 1832 he made the overland journey to South Bend, Indiana, where he received the contract for the cutting of the Michigan toad, and the year following his arrival here he purchased the farm yet owned by his son Alexander of John Roher, the tract consisting of eighty acres, and he immediately began the arduous task of clearing the land and placing the fields under cultivation. He first erected a little log cabin home, primitive in its every appointment, and where a blanket served the purpose of a door. He later erected a saw mill on his farm, and with the passing years he added to his original purchase until he became the owner of six hundred acres. his entire business career being devoted to its cultivation and to his lumber interests. His busy and useful life was ended when he had reached the venerable age of eighty years. dying on the old farm which he had carved from a wildness to one of the most valuable homesteads in the township.

In his native county of Carroll Colonel John Smith was married to Mahala Hall,

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who was also born in that .county, November 26, 1809, and the following children blessed their union: Mary Jane, born May 13, 1831; George Smith, deceased, born February 3, 1833; William, deceased, born April 10, 1837; Sarah Ann, deceased, born December 20, 1835; Charles, deceased, born February 17, 1841; Martha Ellen, born May 22, 1842; Nancy Alice, December 11, 1845; Christina, deceased, born January 30, 1847; John Frank, deceased, born May 31, 1849; and Mahala, deceased, born September 26, 1853. All of the children were born on the old homestead in Center township with the ex- ception of the eldest, whose birth occurred in Virginia.

Alexander Smith, the fifth in order of birth of his parents' children, received his elementary education in the district schools of his native township of Center, later pur- suing a two years' course in the University of Notre Dame. In 1859 he journeyed to the golden state of California, and thence to Oregon, where for four years he was asso- cirted with the cattle business, selling out at the expiration of that period and going to Nevada, where for several years he pros- pected in the silver mines of that and other western states. During his residence in Nevada he took an active part in its early his- tory, and he helped to ratify the constitution of that state and Oregon at the time of their admission into the Union. In 1871 Mr. Smith returned to his old home in St. Joseph coun- ty, but after his marriage, which occurred in the same year, he returned to Oregon, there spending two years, and. returning again to his home here, purchased forty acres of the old homestead, where he erected his present residence and also made the many other valuable improvements which now adorn the place. With the passing years he has also added to his original tract until his home- stead now consists of two hundred and five acres and he also has other property in the county. Throughout his life he has been an active man, and his familiarity with the scenes of many of the occurrences of historic interest both in the central and western states, make him an instructive and enter- taining companion.

On the 13th of October, 1871, shortly after his first return from the west, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Emeline Myers, who was born in Penn township, St. Joseph county, Indiana, May 12, 1846, the daughter of Vol. II-31.

Henry Myers, one of the honored early pioneers of this county. His birth occurred in Virginia, but in a very early day he re- moved to Ohio, and thence to St. Joseph county, Indiana. Mrs. Myers bore the maiden name of Lydia Klingler, and was a native daughter of Ohio. By her marriage to Mr. Myers she became the mother of ten children, four sons and six daughters, of whom Mrs. Smith was the seventh child in order of birth. She was educated in the schools of Penn township, where her father was one of the leading agriculturists. He was a Democrat in his political affiliations, and his death occurred when he had reached the sixty-fifth milestone on the journey of life. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, namely: Hallie, born in Oregon on the 16th of July, 1872; Pearl, whose birth occurred in Center township, . September 20, 1874; and John D., also born in Center township, November 24, 1876. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Smith has supported the prin- ciples of the Democratic party. and his fra- ternal relations connect him with the Masonic order, he being a member of the Blue Lodge, No. 45, at South Bend.

JONATHAN IIARTMAN. A prominent farm- er of Center township, Jonathan Hartman has from an early period in the development of St. Joseph county resided within its bor- ders. His birth, however, occurred in Stark county, Ohio, August 13, 1831. His father, Daniel Hartman, who was for a long period identified with the agricultural interests of Indiana, was a native son of Pennsylvania, but during his young manhood he removed from that commonwealth to Ohio, where he was married to a native daughter of the Key- stone state, Catherine Shull, their union hav- ing been blessed by the birth of eight children, five sons and three daughters, of whom Jon- athan was the eldest in order of birth. In 1843 the family journeyed to Indiana, estab- iishing their home in DeKalb county, where the mother passed away in death when her children were young, but the father reached the seventy-fourth milestone on the journey of life ere he was called to the home beyond, dying in St. Joseph county. He supported the principles of the Democratic party, and was a worthy and valued member of the Pres- byterian church.

Jonathan Hartman was reared and re- ceived his educational training in DeKalb

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county, Indiana, but in 1852 he became a citizen of St. Joseph county, where he was first employed at various occupations, having spent much time in the arduous task of clear- ing new land. He worked earnestly and dili- gently during the early years of his life, but his efforts were rewarded with success, and he was soon able to buy a farm of his own. At the time of his marriage he purchased his present place of fifty-nine acres in Center township, about half of which he has cleared, and all the improvements which now adorn this valuable homestead stand as monuments to his excellent ability and unfaltering in- dustry. In addition he also owns another farm of seventy-three acres near by, a part of which he has cleared, and he has a valuable growth of timber of twelve acres.

In October, 1865, Mr. Hartman was united in marriage to Mrs. Sarah J. (Russell) Locke, the widow of William Locke, an agriculturist,' and they became the parents of four children. She was born and reared in Indiana, and is a daughter of Jacob Russell, who was for many years identified with the agricultural inter- ests of this state. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hart- man have been born four children, Clara, Elmer, Ira and Perry, all of whom were born in Center township. Mr. Hartman has given a life-long support to the Democratic party, and is numbered among the public spirited and progressive citizens of Center township.

HARRISON DEPPEN. This honored and highly respected citizen and agriculturist of Center township, St. Joseph county, is a representa- tive of one of the prominent pioneer fami- lies of the county. His birthplace, how- ever, was Stark county, Ohio, and his natal day the 4th of March, 1841. His father, William Deppen, for many years a leading agriculturist of St. Joseph county, Indiana, was born in Pennsylvania in 1809, but in his young manhood he removed to Stark county, Ohio, where he was engaged in the tilling of the soil, and he was there married to Mary Hilderbrand. a native daughter of the Buckeye state. They be- came the parents of four children,-Lydia, Caroline, Amanda and Harrison, but two, Caroline and Amanda, are deceased, and all were born in Ohio. In 1849 the family made the overland journey to St. Joseph county, Indiana, where the father purchased one hundred and fifteen acres of virgin land in Center township. As the years passed by he

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A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 87

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