A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 94

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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twenty-five cents a bushel, and after remain- ing a widow for one year she became the wife of Mark Rector, her death occurring in the neighborhood in which she had so long lived and labored at the age of sixty-five years.

Jonathan Lineback grew to manhood amid the then wild scenes of St. Joseph county, assisting his mother in the support of her fam- ily, and after her marriage he remained with his step-father and worked on the farm. He was an expert chopper in his early life, and when sixteen years of age he began work by the month on Portage Prairie, the first year receiving eight dollars a month, while during the following two years his wages were nine dollars a month, his employers being John and Si Rush. In 1850 he joined the tide of emi- gration to the gold fields of California, in company with George Replogle, Dr. Mahlon Rush and Jesse Mills, but the two latter returned after reaching Illinois, leaving Mr. Replogle and Mr. Lineback to continue the journey alone. His former employers fur- nished them with the means to make the trip, and on reaching St. Joe, Missouri, they se- cured a wagon and outfit, but during the sum- mer on the plains their teams gave out. Trad- ing a horse for sixteen pounds of flour, they then separated, each with his pack on his back proceeding alone to their destination. At the Sierra Nevada mountains Mr. Line- back overtook David Clark and George Frier, both from Union township, and on reaching Placerville the party had but thirty cents and thirty pounds of flour between them. Mr. Lineback at once began the work of prospect- ing, in which he met with average success, and although he secured good claims he would leave them to find others, but often eventually returned to them. After three years on the Pacific coast he returned to his old home in Indiana, making the return journey via the Panama and Jamaica, and during the finan- cial panic of 1857 he purchased his father's old homestead in Union township. It had been his intention to return to California, but changed his plans, and in 1858 was united in marriage to Annie J. Moon, a sister of Calvin Moon, the celebrated educator of South Bend. She had resided on the farm adjoin- ing that of her husband's, and was a maiden of twenty years at the time of her marriage, which was a happy one and resulted in the birth of eight children who grew to years of maturity.

The farm on which Mr. Lineback now re- Vol II-38.

sides has been his home since 1833, and since 1857 he has owned the land. The farm con- tains seventy-seven and a half acres, and is conducted by his youngest son, Charles. He is an old-time Democrat. While he was in California Fremont was a candidate for gov- ernor, and Mr. Lineback was told before the election that if he voted the Democratic ticket he would be obliged to leave his work, but in the face of all this he cast his ballot as he desired, with the result that after election he was paid what was due him and discharged. He has served six years as the assessor of Union township, being elected to that office on the Greenback ticket. During the Civil war he was twice drafted for service, but each time hired a substitute, for the first paying four hundred dollars and eight hundred for the second. For many years he has been a member of the Methodist church, in which he is an active and valued worker, and is also a prominent factor in its Sunday-school. His wife was also identified with that denomina- tion before her marriage. Mr. Lineback has always been very fond of fishing, and al- though there are many fine lakes near his home, he has often camped out on the Kan- kakee river for sport. His fidelity and ster- ling worth have won him the confidence of his fellow men, and now in the evening of life his pathway is brightened by the venera- tion and respect which ever follow an upright career.

JOHN ULRICH WALTER. "Continual drop- ping wears a stone," so persevering labor gains our objects, and perseverance has en- abled John U. Walter to gain the competence which he now enjoys. He was born in Wur- temberg, Germany, September 9, 1832, and he grew to years of maturity on a farm in the village. In 1849, when he had reached his eighteenth year, he came to the United States, establishing his home in Sandusky, Ohio, where six years later he was joined by a half brother, and in Sandusky and Seneca county he continued his residence for six years, employed at farm labor, for which he received one hundred and twenty-five dollars a year. In 1854 he became a resident of Columbia City, Whitley county, Indiana. where he conducted the farm of Michael Mowry on shares, receiving one-half of the crops. and was thus engaged during the con- struction of the Pittsburg & Chicago Railroad through that locality. After his marriage in 1856 he rented another farm, which contained

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an old style log cabin, with a clapboard roof held in place by poles and a puncheon floor, while the hinges were of wood, and every- thing was of the most promitive sort imagi- nable. During his residence there of six years he made many improvements, among them the remodeling of the house, and he also saved some money, with which he purchased a little farm of eighty acres near Larwill. Again he moved into a little log cabin home, but eighteen months later he sold that place at advantage, and in 1864 came to St. Joseph county, Indiana, and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land one mile southeast of Lakeville, thirty acres of which had been cleared and a small log cabin erected. There Mr. Walter lived and labored from the fall of 1864 until the 15th of February, 1905, a period of forty-one years, and in that time cleared and placed the original tract of one hundred and twenty acres under cultivation and added to its boundaries until the farm contained two hundred and five acres, for a part of which he has paid as high as fifty dol- lars an acre. The timber from the land was largely worked into spokes and hubs and sold to the South Bend market, for which he was obliged to drive a distance of twelve miles, but in this way he obtained a cash in- come. In 1869 the little old log cabin home gave place to a substantial modern frame resi- dence, while a bank barn, thirty-two by sev- enty feet, has also been erected, as well as many other substantial outbuildings, and in later years much draining has been done on the farm. In addition to his general agri- cultural pursuits he also had his pastures well stocked with a good grade of stock, but in 1905 he sold this valuable homestead and removed to Lakeville, where he owns a few acres of land and devotes his leisure hours to its cultivation.

On the 1st of April, 1856, Mr. Walter was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Boyer, of Whitley county, Indiana, but after a happy married life of forty years the union was severed by the death of the loving wife. To them were born eight children: William Henry, engaged in railroad work in Colo- rado; Anna, the wife of George Barnhart, of Wyatt, Indiana; Ellen, the wife of Fred- erick Zugelder, also of Colorado; Catherine, the wife of Robert Robertson, of Crumstown, Indiana; Caroline, who is a teacher of music in Denver, Colorado; Edith. who died when a young lady of twenty years; David, who

died in childhood; and Jennie, the wife of Frank Jackson, and they reside on a farm near South Bend. On the 10th of August, 1897, Mr. Walter married Mrs. Sarah Walter, of the same name but no relation, and she bore the maiden name of Sarah Stump. She too was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, but came to the United States when five years of age, the family locating in Stark county, Ohio. When she had reached her eighteenth year she gave her hand in marriage to Jacob Walter, of Kosciusko county, Indiana, this being in 1862, and in the spring of 1865 they moved to Union township, St. Joseph county, where the death of Mr. Walter occurred in 1882. For fifteen years she remained a widow, and was the mother of seven children : William, who resides on his father's old home- stead in Union township; Lizzie, the wife of John Bechtel, of Marshall county, Indiana; John, an agriculturist of Union township; Cora, the wife of Albert Keyser, also of Mar- shall county; Cassie, the wife of Henry Hullinger, a merchant of Lapaz, Indiana; Michael, a farmer of Walkerton, Indiana; and Rosa, the wife of Elmer Richard, also a merchant at Lapaz. Formerly Mr. Walter gave his political support to the Democracy, but later became an active worker in the ranks of the Prohibition party, and during the long period of forty years he has been an active worker in the Christian church of Lakeville. He is one of its three charter members now living, and with Mahlon Hes- ton has served as an elder throughout the entire period of his membership. Although his home is on the banks of the lake, he has never been a sportsman, but has devoted his entire time and attention to the work of his farm and has achieved success in his chosen vocation.

VALENTINE WEIDLER. In the life history of Valentine Weidler is found a worthy illus- tration of the characteristic energy and en- terprise of the typical German-American citizen. Coming to this country with little capital excepting his abilities he has made his way to success through wisely directed efforts, and has long been numbered among the representative citizens of Union town- ship. His birth occurred in Rhine Pfalz. Bavaria, Germany, August 9, 1832. and in 1854, when a young man of twenty-two years. he came to the United States, spending the first ten or fifteen years of his residence in this country in South Bend where he was em-

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Astor, Lenax and Tilden Foundations. 1903

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Elizabeth Marker

Jacob Marker

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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY. 1117

ployed at his trade of coopering by Ulrich Foeke, his brother-in-law, and also worked one year for himself in the manufacture of flour barrels. On the 12th of April, 1867, he took up his abode on the farm on which he yet resides and since that time he has been constantly engaged in its clearing and culti- vation, sixty-five of the eighty acres being now under an excellent state of cultivation, and in 1891 he erected the pleasant residence which now adorns the premises.

During his residence in South Bend, on the 28th of February, 1862, Mr. Weidler was united in marriage to Mary Magdelene Kuntz, who was born near Strasburg, prov- ince of Dozenhuir, France. She was brought to the United States when but four years of age, and for sixteen years she lived at Bremen, Marshall county, and worked for others until her marriage. Seven children have been born of this union: Henry, who resides in Union township; Lizzie Ann, the wife of V. Beiler, of Bremen; Clara, the wife of Thomas Hoffman, of Union township; William, who resides near the old home farm; John, who has had charge of the homestead for five years; Charles, an attorney in South Bend; and Mary Emma, who also resides in that city. The family enjoy the high regard of their friends and neighbors, and are fa- vorably known throughout Union township.

JACOB MARKER has from an early period in the development of St. Joseph county been prominently identified with the history of Madison township, and now in his declining years he is living retired in the village of Woodland, crowned with the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded an honorable old age. He was born in Prussia, Germany, March 14, 1835, a son of Philip and Katherine Marker. In 1837 the family left the fatherland for the United States, making their way at once to Holmes county. Ohio, where they resided on a farm until the 20th of September, 1853, when the jour- ney was resumed to the then western state of Indiana. The trip was made by team and wagons, they reaching their destination at Colebush or Buck settlement in Madison township October 1. following, after a jour- ney of eleven days. In the settlement were three Buck brothers, and from one, Truman Buck, Mr. Philip Marker secured his farm, which was then in its virgin state. Soon afterward the Bucks left the settlement, and among the first German settlers here were

Adam Keifer, Daniel Jewel, Lemuel Jordan, Joseph Megers, Adam Raeder and George Kling, while at Woodland or what afterward became known by that name, were two fam- ilies the Kelleys and Adam Monowick, the latter residing on the place now occupied by Mr. Marker. On his farm in Madison township Philip Marker lived and labored until his life's work was ended in death, passing away in 1879, at the age of seventy- two years, while his wife was called to the home beyond in 1871. They were charter members of the Zion Evangelical church, which was organized in 1856, three miles east of their home, and they continued active workers in the cause of Christianity until their busy and useful lives were ended. They became the parents of four children: John, who was a farmer in Madison township until his death in 1889, aged sixty-two years, and his widow is still living, but their old home farm has been sold; Katherine became the wife of Christian Horine, and died at the age of thirty years, her husband being also deceased; Caroline became the wife of Christian Horine, and now resides at Bremen ; and Jacob, whose name introduces this review.

Jacob Marker was a lad of eighteen years at the time of the family's removal from Ohio to Indiana, he having driven one of the wagons on the journey hither. He remained with his father until his marriage, finally purchasing the old homestead, and his father spent the latter part of his life in his home. He has increased the boundaries of the old farm until it now contains two hundred and forty acres, and in addition he also at one time owned two other tracts, one of two hun- dred and eighty acres and the other of one hundred and fifty, at Woodland, but as his sons married he gave to each a farm of eighty acres, while to his daughters he gave money, his plan having been to give his sons the value of twenty-six hundred dollars at the commencement of their active business life. and to his daughters twenty-one hundred dollars at the time of their marriage. He erected the pleasant and commodious resi- dence which now adorns the premises twenty- nine years ago, while the large bank barn, one of the first in the vicinity, was built by his father fifty years ago, but the heavy frame timbers still stand as solid as of old. His son Fred now has charge of this valuable old homestead, for in 1898 Mr. Marker re-

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tired from business cares and now resides in his pleasant home in Woodland, his indus- try and enterprise in former years enabling him to now enjoy the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.

The marriage of Mr. Marker occurred on the 2d of February, 1861, when Miss Eliza- beth Speicher became his wife. She is a sis- ter of the Speichers of Wabash county, In- diana, and was born in Holmes county, Ohio, about four miles distant from the Marker home. The acquaintance of the young couple was resumed in Wabash county, Indiana, where she resided, and he made his first trip to see her on horseback. When he re- turned for her, however, he drove in a cutter, and on their journey homeward they were upset in the snow, but this only added ro- mance to their wedding journey. Mr. and Mrs. Marker became the parents of ten chil- dren : J. Philip, a resident of Wilson, Kan- sas; Fred, on the old homestead, as men- tioned above: Jacob S., a farmer in Madi- son township; Mary, the wife of Martin Mochel, township trustee of Woodland ;. his land, and soon the little tract of ten acres was converted into a pleasant and valuable farm home. After three years he sold the farm for seven hundred dollars and bought thirty acres in Madison township, the pur- chase price being four hundred dollars, and this continued as the family home during the period of the Civil war. Disposing of the place, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land where Christ Zeiger now resides. but later sold eighty acres of the tract to his brother Alexander, building on the remaining eighty a log house, and there these honored St. Joseph pioneers spent the remainder of their lives.

Caroline, wife of Norman Kelly, who resides in Woodland, one mile east of the old home; David, also of Woodland; Henry, a farmer in Madison township; Anna, the wife of Charles Weber, who was formerly a teacher, but now employed in the postoffice in South Bend; Lora, the wife of Fred Horine, a railroad employe in South Bend; and Olga, who has attended the Valparaiso University. also the State University at Bloomington, Indiana, and is now at home. Mr. Marker, the father, is a charter member and one of the organizers of the Zion church at Wood- land, with which Mrs. Marker also affiliates. He gives his political support to the Demo- cratic party, and has often served as its rep- resentative to the conventions, while for four years he was the township assessor. His repu- tation in business has ever been unassailable, and in all the walks of life he is found true to duty and to the trusts reposed in him.

JOHN ZEIGER, proprietor of the Zeiger farm, one of the finest estates in Madison township, is one of the best known German- American citizens of St. Joseph county, where he has made his home for many years. When but a little lad he started out in the world to battle for himself, and his large landed possessions stand as a merited tribute to his ability and true worth.

Mr. Zeiger is of German birth, born near

Wurtemberg, and is a representative of a prominent old family of that community. His father, John Zeiger, Sr., was born in the same place as his son, in 1822, and in his native land he attended school until his fourteenth year, in the meantime becoming familiar with the duties of the farm. He was married to one of the fatherland's na- tive daughters, Rosanna Shearer, born near Wurtemberg, and with their two sons they set sail for the United States in 1856, spend- ing forty-seven days on the ocean on a sailing vessel, for they encountered a severe storm en route and the vessel was driven from her course. Eventually, however, they landed on American shores, and made their way to Elkhart county, Indiana, where on the old Buzzard farm near Goshen they resided for three years, the husband working out by the day. Later he received a contract to clear twenty acres of land, and in payment therefor was given ten acres of the tract, on which he erected a little log cabin. His native thrift and industry soon enabled him to clear

Answering the call to arms, Mr. Zeiger, Sr .. enlisted for service in the Civil war October 15, 1862, entering Company K, Fifty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Ed L. Billings. During his military career of nine months he took part in many of the historic battles of the war, including that of Stone River, where his comrades on all sides fell thick and fast, his companion on the right having been felled by a cannon ball, while the one on the left was struck by a rifle ball, and in that engagement Mr. Zeiger left the ranks and went where the bullets fell the thickest. He was honored for his bravery and highly commended by his superior officers and he left the ranks at Hillsboro, Tennessee. June 30, 1863, with a gallant record as a soldier for

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the Union cause. His death occurred when he had reached the age of fifty-three years. He had been a worthy and acceptable member of the German Evangelical church for many years, and his political affiliations were with the Democracy. Mrs. Zeiger preceded her hus- band to the home beyond, dying at the age of fifty-two years. They were the parents of the following children: John and Jacob, who were born in Germany; Lewis and Christ, who reside on the old family homestead in Madison township; and Dan, a resident of Three Oaks, Michigan.

John Zeiger, of this review, was but a little lad of six years when the family left his na- tive land for the United States, and when he had reached the age of ten years they removed from Elkhart county to St. Joseph county, so that the principal part of his life has been spent within the borders of old St. Joseph. He was but twelve years old when he began the battle of life for himself, work- ing for Peter Beehler, Sr., for eight dollars a month, and he gave his wages to his father. He was later employed for a time by Jacob Marker, who paid him ten dollars a month, and he then began work in the hotel of Frank Ambrose, where his duties consisted of black- ing the shoes for the traveling men and as- sisting in doing the chores connected with the tavern. After three years of hotel life he transferred his relations to the saw-milling business and farming, alternating as the sea- sons demanded, and for three years he was in the employ of George Utsler, Sr. After his marriage he rented the Sarah Newman farm for six years, and then resided on the Dr. Butterworth farm near Mishawaka in Penn township until he became the owner of his present estate in Madison township. Mr. Zeiger first purchased eighty acres of George Walthers, but with the passing years he added thereto until his landed possessions consisted of five hundred and eighty acres, although at the present time his estate numbers three hundred and sixty acres, for he has given land to his children as they have started out for themselves. The old home residence is a pleas- ant and commodious structure, and he also has a large bank barn forty by seventy feet.

At the age of twenty-two years Mr. Zeiger married Catherine Nodurfth, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Christ and Catherine Nodurfth, who came from their native land of Germany to the United States in a sailing

vessel and established their home in Marshall county, Indiana. Of the eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Zeiger seven are now living: Tracy Stanley, John Jacob, George E., Laura Ann, Harry Arthur, Jessie J. and Maude H. Mr. Zeiger gives his political support to the Republican party, and is one of the best known and most highly esteemed residents of St. Joseph county.

GEORGE J. BIRK, a prominent agriculturist of Madison township and a member of its advisory board, is one of the best known resi- dents of the community and a man worthy of mention in the history of St. Joseph county. His birth occurred on the old home- stead farm of his father, George A. Birk, who has long been numbered among the lead- ing residents of Madison township, where he is now living in quiet retirement from the active cares of a business life, enjoying the high esteem and veneration which ever follow an honorable career. He served his country with valor during the period of the Civil war, and is also an ex-trustee of Madison township. His parents, George and Elizabeth (Fuhrer) Birk, were both born in Germany, from whence they came in a sailing vessel to the United States in 1852, the sea voyage consuming fifty-two days, for they encoun- tered severe storms en route. They journeyed via Rotterdam, Holland, Hull and Liverpool, England, and on to Baltimore, Maryland. from whence they went to Galion, Crawford county, Ohio. In 1860 Jacob and George A. Birk came to Madison township, St. Joseph county, Indiana, where in time they made excellent homes for themselves and families. Mr. George A. Birk married Miss Mary Ann Kling, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, a daughter of John and Edith (Kiefer) Kling, in whose family were six children.

George J. Birk, their eldest child, was reared on the old homestead farm in Madison township, and the educational training which he received in the nearby district school was supplemented by attendance at the Valparaiso University, of Valparaiso, Indiana, becoming familiar with both the German and English languages. He remained at home until his twenty-first year, assisting his father in the work of the farm, and during one year he was also an employe of the Elkhart & In- diana Buggy Company. After the death of his wife and in company with his brother, Ed F., he conducted a rented farm in Penn town-

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ship for a time, and he is now the owner of forty acres of rich and fertile land in Madi- son township.

In 1893 Mr. Birk married Elizabeth Beeh- ler, who was born, reared and educated in Madison township, a member of one of its oldest and most prominent families. Her death occurred in February, 1895, after be- coming the mother of one child, Edgar J., who died when six months old. In January, 1897, Mr. Birk married her sister, Emma Beehler, and they have four children: Charles A., Clarence G., John H. and Ger- trude L. Mr. Birk is one of the leading mem- bers of the Democratic party in this com- munity, often serving as its representative to the county and congressional conventions, and he is at all times an active and public spirited citizen. His religious affiliations are with the Evangelical church, and he is also a member of the Foresters' Lodge, No. 1490, of Mishawaka.

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A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 94

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