A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 88

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 88

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).

cleared his farm of its native-growth of timber, placed his fields under an excellent state of cultivation, and in time this became one of the valuable homesteads of the com- munity. He gave a life-long support to the Republican party, and was a valued member of the German Baptist church, passing away in its faith when he had reached the age of seventy-six years.

When a little lad of eight years Harrison Deppen accompanied the family on their removal to St. Joseph county, and in Union and Center townships he received the educa- tional training which fitted him for life's ac- tive duties. He assisted his father in clear- ing the old home place, being early inured to the work of the farm in all its departments, and with the passing years he established a home of his own by his marriage, on the 1st of March, 1873, to Harriet Wynn. She is a native daughter of St. Joseph county, born November 3, 1849, and her father, John Wynn, was numbered among Union town- ship's most honored pioneers. He took up his abode within its borders in a very early day, cleared and improved a valuable homestead, and became one of the township's foremost citizens. He became the father of six children by his first marriage, to the mother of Mrs. Deppen, while by his second marriage he had seven children. Mr. and Mrs. Deppen have three children, Addie, Grace and Charles, all of whom were born and reared on the old homestead farm in Center township. Addie finished the eighth grade in the public schools, and she makes her home with her parents. Grace received her diploma from the common schools, and then attended the Commercial College in South Bend. Receiving her teacher's diploma, she taught in German township, then took three terms' work at the Indiana Northern College. She then taught successfully four years in Center township. She is the wife of Arthur Ort, a resident of Sumption Prairie, where he is an excellent farmer. Charles received his di- ploma at the age of fourteen years, April 11, 1896, and then took a course at the Business College of South Bend. Receiving his teach- er's certificate, he taught a term in his home township, then entered the Northern Indiana Normal, where he remained for four terms. He then taught four years in Center township. He makes his home with his parents. Mrs. Dep- pen was educated in the common schools, and in her life work she has ever been ready in

Digitized by Google

THE NE ··· SIX PUR !!

Digitized by

Google

Jesse Mp Gaminys

Digitized by Google

HISTORY OF ST . -

's and red advice to her husband in the es- ţ hastaent of their pretty home. trwa as

'The Cottage Gloop Fare." 1. .

time of hay que jeze Mr. Deppen todd gest across the road from where he. a. twee be early his hood der, there 1

order and to tale band, which he has p .....

!. which are now seen on the plate 1 Wars lis politiedes pard to the hepb. party. but he is not load be party and wites lo ads for the man woon be Finde as best qui bed for office

1.,AND B. Fees. One of the interpre- ". progressive and taking seriultists of he wants is Altid B. Brick, whose . alve nomedead is krated on section 12.

He was born in Stark

Okre, January 29, 1>45. w.h ... ..

bad resided for many years and was Felderct in the local history of their com- comp. His farmer. Abranam B. Fr. k. h. ...... one of the most prou sont speed. Lots of Center township, was a tative si: Waterland county. Pom Kania. : + Con way thirteen years of as ne accost - id }: s parents on their removal to Vio, wie be completed his sigenaval training. I was married in that comme; well. in : Kome. whose birth of uur, Ian somer. She was also ed in Ohio, and they became the parents 11 of whom adred Bar the fourth s a m I'M both. In 1s'7 the family removed Joth monty. liliana. fill ing come th Con' ! township w.re Al:a.

B. Frick parchased one hundred and " Imvi. IL char d his hand from Youth of tauber, played the room and voli's improvement which i'm gent comot of the re- Time to its enaf vation -

of ont in the party history of the a { his busy and u. fal lite ", , th when he reached the age of 's, at which tare thete passed . we mindis one of Ha most valu !

Bok wes rend to years of . I his educational tra'n-

kwen-j.p. and in the meantime

"valy engaged in the work of the

!! COUNTY 1 warkg and plante the ......

: M: Frick was word #

where loath prepared. -. ! < 60 Lat she was miami

to yad manned in an candy

For neverred i. Ger- mit, and he was there aretried to Cat rine ,utan of the Rathertad. and · pa. of eight children

ak toro dasshters have been born Fri Simmare, Heury, Al. boot. Hamnat. Walter, Buen Maggio, Edith and Blogs " of whom were port and reared

- . Man. M. Frchaftthates with ir D a pracy, bat he is not bound by party 1 ... . " ] is tant eret and gti. proble spar- is I and weding citizens of fent . town hip ميـ fored among the varbest biontes and leading agriever is of St. Joh contar. When to know ves to extern and ther. He was a native of the Binary side of New York, born in Io. comopad Jannes dodnes. A more complete mestoreal record of the Jennings fand will be found in the wrath of Samai denneseen this world In his native em- monwedth Use W. detta learned h. trav ai stranakin .. . coming his calls THIS EMAIL Gal, Ohio, where he was ma sed . · birh ...

taking up his abode ou a form is. C'est town-

werand.

, hunt

:. 1 ª :

: : ··· i

· Digitized by

Google

worship.

Gasser

1 1 2

Digitized by

Google

1085

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

counsel and advice to her husband in the es- tablishment of their pretty home, known as "The Cottage Glenn Farm."

At the time of his marriage Mr. Deppen moved just across the road from where he had lived since his early boyhood days, where he now owns one hundred and thirteen acres of rich and fertile land, which he has placed under an excellent state of cultivation, and has also erected the many and substantial buildings which are now seen on the place. He gives his political support to the Repub- lican party, but he is not bound by party ties and votes locally for the man whom he regards as best qualified for office.

ALFRED B. FRICK. One of the enterpris- ing, progressive and leading agriculturists of St. Joseph county is Alfred B. Frick, whose valuable homestead is located on section 12, Center township. He was born in Stark county, Ohio, January 29, 1848, where the family had resided for many years and were prominent in the local history of their com- nmunity. His father, Abraham B. Frick, who became one of the most prominent agricul- turists of Center township, was a native son of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, but when only thirteen years of age he accompa- nied his parents on their removal to Ohio, where he completed his educational training, and was married in that commonwealth to Sarah Kring, whose birth occurred in Somer- set county, Pennsylvania. She was also reared in Ohio, and they became the parents of ten children, seven sons and three daugh- ters, of whom Alfred B. is the fourth son in order of birth. In 1857 the family removed to St. Joseph county, Indiana, establishing their home in Center township, where Abra- ham B. Frick purchased one hundred and four acres of land. He cleared his land from its native growth of timber, placed thereon all the many and valuable improvement which now adorn the place, and devoted the re- mainder of his life to its cultivation. He took an active part in the early history of the locality, and his busy and useful life was ended in death when he reached the age of eighty-two years, at which time there passed from this community one of its most valued citizens.

Alfred B. Frick was reared to years of maturity and received his educational train- ing in Center township, and in the meantime he was actively engaged in the work of the

old homestead, in clearing and placing the fields under cultivation. He now owns forty acres of rich and valuable land, on which he has placed many valuable and substantial improvements, and he has long been num- bered among the leading farmers of Center township. In 1876 Mr. Frick was united in marriage to Lena Rock, whose birth occurred in Pennsylvania in 1860, but she was reared in Center township of St. Joseph county, whither her father had removed in an early day. His birth, however, occurred in Ger- many, and he was there married to Catherine Novice, also a native of the Fatherland, and they became the parents of eight children. Six sons and three daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Frick-George, Henry, Al- bert, Harriet, Walter, Reuben, Maggie, Edith and Bessie, all of whom were born and reared in Center township. Mr. Frick affiliates with the Democracy, but he is not bound by party ties, and is numbered among the public spir- ited and leading citizens of Center township.

JESSE W. JENNINGS, deceased, was num- bered among the earliest pioneers and leading agriculturists of St. Joseph county, whom to know was to esteem and honor. He was a native of the Empire state of New York, born in 1809, the son of James Jennings. A more complete historical record of the Jennings family will be found in the sketch of Samuel Jennings in this work. In his native com- monwealth Jesse W. Jennings learned his trade of shoemaking, and during his early manhood he went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was married to one of the city's native daughters, Mary Ann Pearse, her birth oc- curring in 1811. In 1830 Mr. Jennings came to St. Joseph county, Indiana, entering and taking up his abode on a farm in Clay town- ship. He subsequently returned to Cleve- land, but afterward again made his way to St. Joseph county and to Clay township, where he cleared a farm and continued its im- provement and cultivation until failing health caused him to remove to South Bend. He later, however, bought the old county farm in Center township, but a short time afterward returned to his old place, there remaining until he became the owner of a farm in Portage township, which now con- sists of four hundred and fifty acres. At one time his estate consisted of over six hundred acres. His reputation was unassailable in all trade transactions, and by the exercise of in-

. Digitized by Google

1086

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

dustry, sound judgment, energy and perse- verance he won a handsome competence, of which he was well deserving.

During his later life Mr. Jennings traveled a great deal, and his death occurred in Cleve- land, Ohio, but his remains were brought back and buried in the city cemetery of South Bend. He was the father of seven children, four sons and three daughters, but only three of the number grew to years of maturity. Mrs. Lucy Farneman, the fifth child in order of birth, now resides on the farm in Portage township which was formerly the David Ulery farm, and was also the Stover farm. The tract consists of one hundred and fifty acres of rich and fertile land. Mr. Jennings gave his political support to. the Democratic party, and had fraternal relations with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He enjoyed the confidence of all with whom his dealings brought him in contact, and he was regarded as one of the representative citizens of old St. Joseph county.

ELISHA H. RUPEL. The leading farmers of Center township, St. Joseph county, in- clude among their number Elisha H. Rupel, the subject of this review, who is also a rep- resentative of one of its pioneer families. He was born in the commonwealth of Pennsyl- vania, October 29, 1827, the son of Peter and Christena (Shoemaker) Rupel, who took up their abode within the borders of Center town- ship in a very early day in its history, and a more complete history of the family will be found elsewhere in this work. Elisha H. Rupel was but a little lad of two years when the family left their Pennsylvania home for Ohio, where they remained during one winter and in the spring of 1830 took up their abode in Elkhart county, Indiana, where the Indians were yet plentiful. After a residence there of one year they came to Center township, St. Joseph county, where their son Elisha was reared to years of maturity and received his education in its district schools. He attended the old log cabin school, about six- teen by sixteen feet in size, built of logs, with a clap-board roof and the old fashioned fire- place. He has also used the goose quill pen. This was a subscription school, and was con- ducted about three months in the year. The seating furniture of the school was a slab with poles bored in and wooden pins inserted to stand on, and the desk was a broad board resting on wooden pins. He has seen plenty of the Pottawatomie Indians from their prem-

ises while hunting. Mr. Rupel assisted his father in clearing the old home farm, and with the passing years he has gained a hand- some property of his own, having now twenty- six acres on the home place and twenty acres in Greene township, all of which he has placed under an excellent state of cultivation, and the many improvements which now adorn the place stand as monuments to his industry and excellent business ability.

In Center township, on the 25th of Novem- ber, 1853, Mr. Rupel was united in marriage to Jane Vanderhoof, a native of the state of New York, where she was born June 24, 1832, a daughter of Yellus Vanderhoof, one of the early and honored pioneers of Center town- ship. His death occurred in 1838. Mrs. Rupel, who was reared and educated in Cen- ter township, was accidentally killed while driving between Mishawaka and South Bend in 1900, leaving two daughters, Clarissa and Harriet, both born on the home farm in this township. Clarissa received a good common school education, and then spent one year in the Jefferson graded schools at South Bend, also one year in South Bend High School. Harriet wedded Abraham Whiteman, a resi- dent farmer of Greene township, and they have three children, Stella, Kittie and Ruth. Mr. Rupel and daughter have two of the old parchment deeds, dated March 1, 1831, and signed by President Andrew Jackson. Mr. Rupel has given a life-long support to the Democratic party, and his every vote has been cast in Center township. He has served his township in the offices of treasurer and super- visor. Upright and just in all his relations, he has won the confidence and high regard of all who know him, and as he passes down the western slope of life he is accorded that love and veneration which is always the merited reward of a well spent life.

JOHN DONAHUE. A worthy representative of the agricultural interests of St. Joseph county, Mr. John Donahue owns a valuable and well improved farm in Center township. which he has taken pride to develop to the highest extent. Center township is also proud to claim him among her native sons, his birth occurring on section 13, July 25, 1856. His father. Francis D. Donahue, whose name ap- pears on the roll of the honored pioneers of St. Joseph county, was for many years identi- fied with the agricultural interests of Center township, but his birth occurred across the waters in Ireland. When he was a lad of

Digitized by Google

1087

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

eighteen years he came to the United States, making his way to St. Joseph county in the late 30's, where he located on a farm of three hundred acres in Center township. With the aid of his sons he cleared nearly this entire tract, placed his fields under an excellent state of cultivation, and with the passing years won for himself a name and place among the leading agriculturists of this sec- tion of St. Joseph county. In his early man- hood he married Rosanna Henson, who was born, reared and educated in the Old Domin- ion state of Virginia, and they became the parents of ten children, of whom six are now deceased. Mr. Donahue gave his political support to the Democratic party, having been an active worker in its ranks during his younger days, and his fraternal relations were with the Masonic order. His busy and useful life was ended in death in 1876. His name is recorded among the honored early pioneers of St. Joseph county, and the active part which he took in the early history of his locality made him well known to its residents, while to him belonged the honor of having been a passenger on the first train which left this county for California.

John Donahue, his son and the immediate subject of this review, is indebted to the schools of Center township for the educational training which he received in his youth, and while pursuing his studies in its district school he also assisted in the clearing of the old homestead farm, of which he now owns one hundred and fifty-four acres. The tract has nearly all been cleared, and he has placed many substantial improvements thereon, making it one of the valuable farms of the locality. The attractive homestead will be known as "The Forest Home Farm." As did his father, Mr. Donahue gives his political support to the Democratic party, and he, too, is winning for himself a name and place among the representative agriculturists of Center township.

JOHN S. STULL. The Stull family was one of the first to locate in St. Joseph county, and John S. Stull, only a lad of nine years at the time of their arrival, is therefore numbered among the honored pioneers who have not only witnessed the remarkable growth and trans- formation of the region, but have been import- ant factors in its progress and advancement. He was born in Jennings county, Indiana, November 21, 1821, while his father, Henry Stull, claimed Pennsylvania as the common- township, Mr. Stull now owns eighty acres of

wealth of his nativity. He was reared, how- ever, in Virginia, eight miles from his birth- place, and when eight years of age he moved with his parents to West Virginia, or what was then known as New Virginia. After a time he made his way to Indiana, first to Jen- nings county, and later, sailing down the Ohio on a flat boat, he located in the city of Madi- son, Indiana, while in 1830, he took up his residence in St. Joseph county, entering a farm of eighty acres in Portage township, now included in the city limits of South Bend. He afterward traded that farm, and at the time of the first entry, he also entered two hundred and forty acres in Center township of which he cleared a part, his sons later trad- ing some of the land and cleared much of the remainder. During the war of 1812, Henry Stull served as a true and valiant soldier, and at the time of the exchange these loyal sol- diers were not furnished with transportation and he walked the entire distance home. His death occurred when he had reached the ripe old age of eighty-six years and four months, and thus passed away one of the brave pio- neers of Indiana and St. Joseph county, one who had helped to make this section the beau- tiful country which it now is. He was a stanch Republican in his political affiliations.

In Jefferson county, Indiana, Mr. Henry Stull married Rebecca Hughes, a native of North Carolina, and she was ten years of age at the time of her parents' removal to Madison county, Indiana, where she was reared. They became the parents of eleven children: Martha, deceased; John S., whose name in- troduces this review; Susan, William H., Samuel C., Lavina, Elizabeth and Hiram Rush, also deceased, Lavina and Hiram Rush dying in infancy ; Mary Jane, and Sarah and Julia, deceased. Six of the children were born in Jennings county and the remaining five in St. Joseph county.

On the 2d of March, 1857, John S. Stull, whose name introduces this review, was united in marriage to Margaret Locke, a native of Ohio, but reared in St. Joseph county, where her father, George Washington Locke, was one of the earliest pioneers. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stull, namely : Alice, who died in infancy ; Mary, the wife of Charles H. Edwards, a farmer; Grant and George, deceased; and Charles, all of whom were born and reared in Center township of St. Joseph county. On section 26, Center

Digitized by Google

1088

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

rich and well improved land, and the many valuable and substantial improvements which now adorn the place are the result of his in- dustry and excellent business ability. His political support is also given to the Republi- can party, while formerly he was a Whig, and as its representative he has served in many of the local offices, as assessor, supervisor, etc., having served in the former office for six years. For twenty years he has also been a member of the Republican County Central Committee, and in that long period has only missed one meeting. In all the varied posi- tions of life which he has been called upon to fill he has been faithful and loyal, and now in his declining days he can look back over the past with little occasion for regret.

EMBERSON PALMER. For many years Em- berson Palmer has been identified with the agricultural interests of St. Joseph county, his valuable homestead being located in Cen- ter township. He was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, February 4, 1847, and in Tus- carawas county of that state his father, Wil- liam H. Palmer, also had his nativity. He, too, pursued the life of an agriculturist, and in his native commonwealth he was married to Martha Connor, whose birth occurred in the Buckeye state, and she was there reared and educated. Their union was blessed by the birth of eight children, seven sons and one daughter, of whom Emberson was the sixth child in order of birth. In 1850 the family home was transferred from Ohio to St. Joseph county, Indiana, where the father purchased a farm of ninety-five acres in Center township. With the passing years he cleared his land from its native growth of timber, placed his fields under an excellent state of cultivation, and erected the many substantial buildings which are now seen upon the place. The first habitation of the family was a little cabin After his marriage, Mr. Palmer located on a farm in the southern part of Center town- ship, which he rented for one year, and then purchased a part of his present homestead. Their first residence was a little log cabin, which continued as their home for six years, and it then gave place to the pleasant and commodious dwelling in which they now re- side. With the passing years he has also added to his original purchase until his landed estate now consists of two hundred acres of rich and fertile land. His entire possessions are but the merited reward of his own labor, for he began the battle of life for himself home, and the barn was also of logs, but in time these were replaced with more modern buildings, and the homestead finally became one of the valuable ones of the township. There the father lived and labored for many years, finally retiring from the active work of the farm and removing to South Bend, where his death occurred when he hau reached the age of eighty-seven years. His political sup- port was given to the Republican party from the time of its organization, and he voted for William H. Harrison. He was well known throughout St. Joseph county because of his effective labors in its upbuilding and advance- . without capital, and all that he now has has

ment, and his long and useful career was crowned with a high degree of success.

The district schools of Penn township, located just acress the line from his old home, furnished Emberson Palmer with his early educational training, and in his early years he also assisted his father in clearing and cul- tivating the farm. He remained at home until his marriage, which occurred on the 17th of March, 1870, Christena Kling be- coming his wife. She was born in Stark county, Ohio, June 26, 1848, but was reared and educated in Penn township, St. Joseph county, her father, John G. Kling, having re- moved to this county in an early day, estab- lishing his home in Madison township. He was a native of Germany, and was there mar- ried to one of its native daughters, Elizabeth Keifer, their union being blessed by the birth of eight children, five sons and three daugh- ters, of whom Mrs. Palmer was the youngest in order of birth. The father's death occurred when he had reached the age of sixty-eight years. He followed the tilling of the soil as a life occupation, and he cleared and improved an excellent farm in Penn township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have been born two children, a son and a daughter, Harry and Mabel, both of whom were born and reared in Center township. Harry completed the com- · mon school course and received his diploma in the class of 1898. He then pursued a com- mercial course in the South Bend Business .College. He is a Republican. Mabel is the wife of Edward Schafer, & prosperous farmer in Center township. They have one little daughter, Dorothy Marie. Mrs. Schafer received her diploma in the common schools with the class of 1897; also attended the South Bend Commercial College and has taken instrumental music.

Digitized by Google

- THE NEW YORK PUPLIC LIS . ARY

Astor, Lenox and Tilden Four ations. 1900

Digitized by

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 88

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