A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 99

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 99

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Mr. Crabill was born in Wabash, Indiana, October 17, 1881, a son of John S. and Ida (Mckibben) Crabill. The father, who was also a native of the city of Wabash, was a gen- eral business man, and for fifteen years has been the assistant transfer manager in the Studebaker works of South Bend, but is now a resident of the west, where he is engaged in mining operations. He first took up his abode in South Bend in 1882, but two years later left the city, and it was not until 1890 that he again returned thereto.

C. N. Crabill, the second son in order of birth of his parents' five children, three sons and two daughters, all yet living, received his educational training in the schools of Kenton, Tennessee, and Wabash and South Bend, In- diana, and in 1894, at the extremely early age of thirteen, entered upon the study of law. He also conducted his first case at the age of thirteen, and was only eight years of age when he began earning his own living, since which time he has battled alone and un- aided with the world. He was admitted to the bar in South Bend in 1902. After coming to Mishawaka he was for a time associated in his profession with Mr. Graham, but since 1905 has been alone. Throughout the period of his residence in Mishawaka he has been actively engaged in the practice of law. He enjoys a large clientage, which has connected him with much of the important litigation heard in the courts of the district during the past few years.

On the 9th of December, 1903, Mr. Crabill

was united in marriage to Mabelle M. Hart, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel W. Beiger. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic, the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Loyal American fraternities, and also has membership relations with many of the leading clubs of the city. His many ad- mirable qualities of heart and mind have gained him a large circle of friends, and he is widely and favorably known in St. Joseph county.

JACOB BECHER. After a successful busi- ness career devoted to agricultural pursuits Jacob Becher is now living a retired life in Penn township. He was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1815. His father, John Becher, also claimed the Key- stone state as the commonwealth of his na- tivity, born in 1779, and he was there mar- ried to one of its native daughters, Theresa Adams, to whom were born eight children, five sons and three daughters, Jacob being the eldest in order of birth. The father's death occurred in St. Joseph county, Indiana, in 1856. He was a Democrat in his political affil- iations.

It was in 1847 that Jacob Becher first made the trip to St. Joseph county, purchasing land in Penn township, and then returned to Penn- sylvania for his father and family. In that state he had farmed and worked at the miller's trade, which he had learned under his father's instructions, and after coming to Indiana fol- lowed those occupations in Penn township. In 1847 he began teaching in the district schools of the township, he also having followed the profession ere his removal hither, and at the same time he performed the arduous task of clearing new land. With the passing years he cleared his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, also placed the fields under an excellent state of cultivation, and erected the many valuable and substantial buildings which are now seen upon the place. In those early days he attended church at Notre Dame.

In 1856 Mr. Becher was united in marriage to Anna Moan, who was born in Ireland in 1825, and came to America at the age of twenty-two years, residing first in Mishawaka. Her parents lived and died in their native land of Ireland. Mrs. Becher passed away in death at the age of fifty-six years, after be- coming the mother of three children, James J .. Mary and Rosie, all of whom were born and reared on the old homestead farm in Penn township. Mr. Becher has given his support

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to the Democratic party throughout the period of his majority, and from the time age con- ferred upon him the right of franchise until 1906 he never missed a vote. He is a member of the Catholic church. After many years of hard and laborious toil, in which he has ac- quired a competence, he is now living in quiet retirement, enjoying the rest which he has so truly earned and richly deserves.

CHARLES L. HODSON. One of South Bend's native citizens who, after spending many years as an active factor in business and in- dustrial affairs, has earned the privilege of retirement is Charles L. Hodson. From the early years of South Bend's development as an important commercial center, he and his father successively carried on a large business as contractors and manufacturers. Most citi- zens are familiar with the C. L. Hodson resi- dence sub-division on the east side of the city, where by the erection of many dwellings Mr. Hodson has created one of the beautiful parts of the city. In recent years, since 1897, Mr. Hodson has been interested in real estate, and the improvement of this addition is the only business care which he has allowed to inter- fere with his retirement. His pleasant home on Vistula avenue is the main center of inter- est for him.

Many years have passed since the Hodson family became identified with St. Joseph county, and its various members have won for the name an enviable distinction by their true worth. Charles G. Hodson, the father, of English ancestry, was a native of Florence. Burlington county, New Jersey, and in that county was married to Rebecca F. Lippencott. who was born in Burlington, New Jersey, a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Lippen- cott. In the year of their marriage (1854) they established their home in South Bend. where Mr. Hodson followed contracting until 1868, and then established the manufacture of sash, door and blinds, which remained an important factor in South Bend's industries. with himself as the guiding executive, until his death in 1901, when he had reached the age of seventy-two years. In his death the community lost one of its truest and best citizens. He was an active worker in the Grace Methodist Episcopal church, and was a Republican in his political affiliations. His widow is still living, and seven of their nine children.

Charles L. Hodson, eldest son and second child, was born in South Bend, October 1,

1855, and has spent his entire life in this city. After attaining to mature years he as- sociated himself with his father in the manu- facturing business, and continued in charge of the mills until 1897, when he sold his inter- est and retired from that line of business. On June 25, 1885, Mr. Hodson married Miss Emma Palmer, thus uniting two of the old families of this county. She was born in Cen- ter township, a daughter of William Harri- son and Elizabeth (Goodrich) Palmer. Her father, who was born in Belmont county, Ohio, was a son of Jonathan Palmer, who, it is thought, was a native of Virginia, but for many years resided in Ohio, his last days be- ing spent at Coshocton. Jonathan Palmer married a Miss Richcreek. Mrs. Hodson's father, who was a farmer by vocation, came from Ohio to Indiana in 1850, a notable fact of family history being that the entire jour- ney was made overland with team and wagon. A tract of timber land was bought in Center township, some of the trees being cut and hewed to make a log house which was the first family shelter, and when a few years later a frame house was built, its large tim- bers were hewed and the shingles rived by hand. This farm remained his home until a short time before his death, when he came to South Bend. Mary Elizabeth Goodrich, the maiden name of his wife, was born near the Blue Ridge in Virginia, a daughter of Daniel Goodrich, who was a planter and slave owner until he moved to Ohio, and thence, in 1845. to St. Joseph county, where he became one of the early settlers and well known farmers of Center township, remaining on his farm until death. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Damron, was also a native of Virginia and survived her husband some years, pass- ing away at Walkerton. The mother of Mrs. Hodson died on the home farm in Center township. Mr. and Mrs. Hodson are the par- ents of three children, Florence, Stanley and Palmer. Stanley is a student at Notre Dame. and Florence attends the Martha Washington Seminary at Washington, D. C. Politically Mr. Hodson is a Republican, and a public- spirited citizen of the city that has been his lifelong residence.

JOSEPH JASOUSKE. During an extended period Mr. Joseph Jasouske has occupied a prominent place among the leading agricul- turist of Olive township. He was born in the land of Poland in 1864. a son of Peter and Agnes Jasouske, who sailed from their native

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province in Poland in 1871 for the United States, landing in the harbor of New York after an ocean voyage of six weeks on a sailing vessel. Making their way to South Bend, In- diana, they spent three years in that city, after which they removed to a wild and un- improved farm, consisting principally of swamp land, and here they suffered many pri- vations and hardships while gaining a start in their new home. In time, however, by pa- tient industry and perseverance, the land was improved until it became one of the finest farms in the Kankakee valley. The father spent the remainder of his life here, dying at the age of seventy-seven years. He is still survived by his widow, who yet resides on the old family homestead. She is a member of the Catholic church, as was also her husband, and they were the parents of three children.

Joseph Jasouske completed in South Bend the educational training which he had begun in his native land of Poland. Since attaining to mature years he has followed the life of the agriculturist, and he now owns a valuable estate of one hundred and sixty acres in Olive township, known as the Woodbine farm. In February, 1890, he was married, and his wife, who died eleven months later, left one daugh- ter, Mary, who is now seventeen years of age. On the 9th of May, 1893, Mr. Jasouske again married, and -he and his wife became the par- ents of seven children, Elizabeth, Henry, Frank, Leo, Alexander, Julia and Brenay. The family are members of the Catholic church.

WILLIAM V. TRUAX, the present assessor of Madison township and one of its repre- sentative business men, was born in the old township of Union, Elkhart county, Indiana, April 22, 1858. His father, Amos Truax, was born in Morrow county, Ohio, near Mount Gilead, and in that county his parents, Abra- ham and Sarah Truax, also had their nativity, but previous to that time the family were lo- cated in Pennsylvania. Abraham Truax se- cured government land in Elkhart county, and on the old homestead which they there developed both he and his wife passed away in death. During his young manhood Amos Truax transferred his residence and the scene of his operation to Elkhart county, and he was there married to Anna Gordon, a repre- sentative of one of its early and honored fami- lies, and a review of which will be found in the sketch of Moses Gordon elsewhere in this work.

During his early boyhood days William V. Truax accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Madison township, St. Joseph county, attaining to years of maturity on the old homestead now occupied by John Truax, and he remained at home until twenty-two years of age. He then spent ten months in central Tennessee, but with the exception of that period he has resided constantly within the borders of this township, where for a number of years he has been identified with the carpenter's trade. In addition he is also engaged in the mercantile business at Wyatt. and for a time was employed as a salesman with the firm of Mochel .Brothers. He is a man of excellent executive ability, and has won for himself a conspicuous place among the leading business men of the community.

When he had reached the age of twenty- three years Mr. Truax was united in marriage to Rosa A. Bliley, who was born in Elkhart county, Indiana, but was reared and educated in Madison township, St. Joseph county. Her father, Jacob Bliley, was born in the father- land of Germany, and after coming to the United States served as a brave and valiant soldier in the Civil war, a member of an In- diana regiment. He was married in Lock township, Elkhart county, to Mary Hostel- read, who makes her home on the old farm in Madison township, and she has attained the age of sixty-three years. The husband and father is deceased, dying in 1891. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bliley seven are living: Mrs. Rosa Truax, Sarah, John, Eliza, Isaac and Isaiah, twins, and Lewis. Mr. Bliley affiliated with the Democ- racy, and was a member of the United Breth- ren church. Seven children, three sons and four daughters, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Truax, namely : Thomas W., John E., Elsie J., Sarah Edith, Rolla R., Blanch M. and a babe not yet named. Mr. Truax is a prominent and active worker in the local ranks of the Democratic party, and he is now serving as the popular and efficient assessor of Madison township.

FREDERICK SHEARER. Residing near the town of Wyatt, Indiana, and ranking with the representative farmers of Madison town- ship is Frederick Shearer, an honored early resident of the community. He was born in Citogen, Alsace, France, May 14, 1845, a son of Peter and Catherine (Smith) Shearer. The family came to the United States in a sailing vessel in 1847, fifty-five days being spent on

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the voyage to New York harbor, whence they made their way to Canton, Stark county, Ohio, and there the parents spent the re- mainder of their lives, the father dying at the age of fifty-four years, and the mother when she had reached the Psalmist's span of three- score years and ten. He allied his interests with the Republican party, as do also his sons. In their family were eight children, six sons and two daughters, namely : Peter, who served as a soldier in Company I, One Hundred and Sixty-second Ohio Infantry during the Civil war; Sophia; Philip, who served in that con- flict in the same company with his brother; Christene; Christian; Jacob; George, who vol- unteered in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio for three years; and Frederick, whose name introduces this review.

On a farm in Stark county, Ohio, Frederick Shearer grew to years of maturity, and at the inauguration of the Civil war he offered his services in Company G, One hundred and Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Goutz, enlisting in May, 1864, and was honorably discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, in the following fall. In 1866 Mr. Shearer began the operation of a sawmill, which he conducted for seven years and then resumed the occupation of farming. Some years later, however, he returned to his saw- milling interests, his having been one of the first mills of its kind in this section of the county, and he continued its operation for five years. Since that time agriculture has claimed his time and attention, and he is now the owner of a valuable estate of sixty-five acres near Wyatt, improved with valuable and substantial buildings, an excellent orchard, and all other necessary farm improvements.

In Madison township, on the 15th of Octo- ber, 1872, Mr. Shearer married Elizabeth Goheen, who was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, near Youngstown, a daughter of David and Hannah (Stenofield) Goheen, natives of Ohio, but early settlers of Madison township, St. Joseph county, where the mother died at the age of sixty-seven, and the father was ac- cidentally killed by the cars at the age of eighty-one years, in September, 1906. His po- litical support was given to the Democracy, and he was a member of the Methodist church. In their family were seven children, four sons and three daughters, Wesley, Henry, Daniel, Elizabeth, Chancey, Martha and Clara. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shearer : Minnie Crofoot, of Penn township,

St. Joseph county; Norman Ed, who died when young; Jennie, the wife of B. C. Stena- field, of Wyatt; Anna; Harvey; Burton C .; James; and Harrison, who was born March 5, 1889, the day on which General Harrison was made president of the United States. Mr. Shearer affiliates with the Republican party, and has membership relations with Bremen Post, G. A. R. He was reared in the faith of the Reformed church at Canton, Ohio, and Mrs. Shearer was raised as a Methodist. They are held in the highest esteem in this com- munity, and their well-wishers are legion.

FRANK W. CHEOBOT, proprietor of Valley Farm, is one of the wealthy and influential citizens of Warren township. His birth oc- curred in Poland, his parents being Jacob and Julia Cheobot, also natives of that country. In 1873 the family emigrated to the United States, making the voyage on a sailing vessel and seventeen days elapsed ere they reached the American harbor. Making their way to St. Joseph county, Indiana, the father spent the remainder of his life here, dying in 1905 at the age of eighty years. His life occupation was farming, he was a Republican in his po- litical views, and was a member of the Cath- olic church. He was the father of five chil- dren, four sons and a daughter.

Frank W. Cheobot spent the first nine years of his life in his native land of Poland, re- ceiving his early educational training in its public schools and completing his studies in the free schools of America. He is extensively engaged in the operation of a sawmill and also of a McCormick harvester and shredder, which has a twenty horsepower engine of the J. I. . Case make. In addition he owns and conducts one of the best farms in the Kankakee river valley, on which are located a commodious residence, a large barn, thirty by seventy-four feet, and all the other conveniences necessary for a well regulated farm.

When he had reached his twenty-fourth year Mr. Cheobot was united in marriage to Leo Coddier, who was born, reared and edu- cated in South Bend, and they have become the parents of three children, Glenn, Helen and Henry. Mr. Cheobot is one of the most prominent Polish-American citizens of War- ren township, and justly merits the high re- gard in which he is held.

JOHN C. ULLERY. This well known agri- culturist and highly esteemed citizen of Ger- man township is a worthy representative of one of the honored pioneer families of St.

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Joseph county. IIis paternal grandfather, Adam Ullery, was one of Napoleon's soldiers. He emigrated with his family to the United States in 1823 and settled in Pennsylvania, but subsequently removed to Ohio, and there spent the remainder of his life, dying at the age of about ninety years.

John F. Ullery, his son and the father of John C. Ullery, was born in Prussia, Ger- many, March 24, 1820, but was brought to the United States when but a babe and was reared in Pennsylvania. After the removal of the family to Ohio he assisted in clearing a farm in Miami county, and when only twelve years of age he drove a four horse team, rid- ing the near horse and driving with a jerk line. He remained with his father until his twentieth year, sharing with the family the pioneer life among the Indians and wild ani- mals. On the 19th of March, 1840, he mar- ried Mary D. Stinchcome, a daughter of David Stinchcome, whose native state was Maryland, but he subsequently moved to Ohio, and during the war of 1812 he served under General Wayne, assisting him in the building. of Fort Wayne, and was there stationed for a long time. After his marriage Mr. Ullery purchased land and engaged in farming, but in 1851 sold his Ohio farm and came to St. Joseph county, Indiana, arriving in German township in September of that year. Here he first purchased three eighty-acre tracts, but as the years passed by he added to his original purchase until he became owner of five hun- dred acres in the home place, and in 1857 he erected a large mansion thereon. This was destroyed by fire in 1866, entailing a loss of four thousand dollars, which caused his finan- cial failure, and although he was an extensive stock raiser he never accumulated money after the fire. His death occurred on the 6th of October, 1896, in South Bend, where he had been living a retired life. Mrs. Ullery passed away on the 20th of February, 1890, at the age of sixty-eight years, one month and twen- ty-two days. In their family were twelve chil- dren, namely: Mary E. Miller, of Dailey, Michigan; Sarah J., who died at the age of twenty years; John C., the immediate subject of this review; George A., of South Bend; David T., a farmer of German township; Wil- liam H., also of South Bend; Joseph F., of Pomona, California; Martha A., of Des Moines. Iowa; Schuyler C., and Horace G., of South Bend; Eddie, who died in infancy ; and Laura May Dunn of South Bend.

John C. Ullery was born in Miami county, Ohio, about three miles from Troy, on the 23d of October, 1844, but in 1854 he came with his parents to St. Joseph county, In- diana, the journey being made by wagons. After their arrival in this county they settled on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 31, German township, on the Michigan road, for which they paid sixteen dollars per acre. There Mr. Ullery continued to make his home until his twentieth year, when he was married and located on a rented farm in Warren township. After a resi- dence there of two years he removed to another farm in Warren township, and three years after his marriage purchased his present farm of one hundred and thirty acres, lying in section 7, German township, on which he has erected all his substantial buildings and has placed his land under an excellent state of cultivation. The farm is devoted to the rais- ing of grain, and he is also quite extensively engaged in stock raising. One acre and a half of the place is devoted to an orchard, which he planted, and all other substantial improve- ments on the place are the work of his hands. He has been a stockholder in the South Bend Land Company since its organization, and has given a life-long support to the Republican party, his first presidential vote having been cast for Lincoln's second term. His religious affiliation is with the German Baptist church.

On the 23d of November, 1864, Mr. Ullery was married to Margaret Ellen Miller, who was born January 24, 1845, in German town- ship, and has always lived within sight of her birthplace. She is a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Backus) Miller, the former of whom was born in Franklin county, Indiana, and the latter in New England. The parents were married in Franklin county, and a year later, in 1831, the young couple journeyed to St. Joseph county, Indiana, taking up their abode among the early pioneers of German township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Miller was an elder in the German Baptist church, and in its interests traveled on horse- back through nearly every state in the Union. They became the parents of twelve children : Nancy Whitmer, deceased; James R., de- ceased; Elizabeth O. Zeigler, deceased; Mrs. L. B. Zeigler, deceased; Abraham, deceased; Eunice Davenport Early, of Warren town- ship; David F., deceased; Margaret E. Ullery and Mary J. Ullery, twins, the former the wife of our subject, and the latter a resident

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of South Bend; Cyrus B., also of South Bend; Aaron N., who died at the age of three years; and Sarah Amanda, who died at the age of nine months. Two children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ullery, Ira M., of South Bend, and the mother of two children, Alice Fern and Harold M .; and Mary M., at home.

GEORGE W. FREYERMUTH. Back to the fatherland must we turn for the early an- cestral history of the Freyermuth family, but in early life the parents of our subject left that country and crossed the ocean to the United States. The father, Jacob Freyer- muth, was a native of Alsace, and the mother, nee Barbara Roch, also claimed Germany as the country of her nativity. After his emigra- tion to the United States Jacob Freyermuth established his home in Pennsylvania, where he worked as a contractor and builder. In 1852 he came to St. Joseph county, Indiana, but after a few years spent here returned to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1872, how- ever, he came again to St. Joseph county, which continued as his home until 1890, in that year going to California, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying on the 5th of February, 1899, when he had reached the age of sixty-nine years. His wife also died in that year, on the 19th of January, and thus the two who had so long traveled the journey of life together were united in so short a time in the home beyond.

George W. Freyermuth received his educa- tional training in the schools of South Bend, after which he worked as a carpenter until he rose to the position of a contractor, while in 1896 he became an architect and builder. His partner in business is R. B. Maurer, and the firm of Freyermuth & Maurer is one of the most prominent and best known of its kind in South Bend and St. Joseph county. Among the leading structures of which they are the architects may be mentioned the city hall, the St. Joseph Hospital, the county infirmary and many others of the most beautiful buildings in this community.

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A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 99

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