USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > A standard history of Elkhart County, Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, educational, civic and social development, Volume II > Part 25
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John Manning married Hortense Compton, who was born in Osolo Township of Elkhart County, a daughter of Ezekiel Comp- ton. Her father was a native of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and his father was one of the earliest settlers in that locality, having secured land at Euclid his farm being now included in the City of Cleve- land. Ezekiel Compton came to Elkhart County in 1836 and located in Osolo Township, where he improved a farm and lived until his death in 1863. His wife was Fannie Cathcart, and she survived her husband many years and died in 1893. Mrs. John Manning passed away April 22, 1906, having reared three children, Lewis, who died at the age of twenty-three; George J .; and Mary A., wife of Allen H. Houseworth.
George J. Manning grew up in Elkhart County, attended public schools, and also the Valparaiso Business College, and in the course of time he succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead in Cleveland Township. He has since developed that as an impor- tant dairy farm, and he keeps a herd of about fifty milch cows and supplies large quantities of milk to the City of Elkhart. Since 1900 his home has been in the City of Elkhart, and besides super- intending his farm he also engaged in the real estate business with an office in the Monger Block.
On December 26, 1906, Mr. Manning married Miss Ora E. Eckelman, who was born in Elkhart, a daughter of Dr. Frederick C. Eckelman. Doctor Eckelman was born at Selins Grove, Snyder County, Pennsylvania, November 3, 1836, a son of Francis and Barbara (Bauman) Eckelman. The latter spent all their lives in Pennsylvania. Doctor Eckelman grew up on a farm, attended district schools, and also the Union Seminary at New Berlin, and began the study of medicine with a resident physician at Selins Grove. In the spring of 1861 he graduated from the Pennsylvania Medical College at Philadelphia and soon afterwards arrived in Elkhart County, and was in practice at Bristol until 1866. In that year he moved out to Iowa, but returning east located at Buchanan, Michigan, where he followed his profession and also engaged in
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the drug business until the fall of 1867, in which year he located permanently at Elkhart and established a drug store and soon had an extensive private practice as a physician. For many years he was counted one of the leading physicians of the city. Doctor Eckelman was married April 9, 1861, to Elizabeth Luke, who was born at Selins Grove, Pennsylvania, daughter of Abram Luke. Their three children were Minnie V., Metius M. and Ora E. Doc- tor Eckelman was a member of the Masonic Order and Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Fraternally Mr. Manning is affiliated with Kane Lodge No. 183, Free and Accepted Masons, Concord Chapter No. 101, Royal Arch Masons, Elkhart Council No. 79, Royal and Select Masters, and Elkhart Commandery No. 31, Knights Templar.
WILLIAM H. ROTH. It was a matter for particular satisfaction to all the best citizens of Elkhart when the board of police com- missioners chose William H. Roth, after twenty years of service in the lower grades of the police department, to the responsibilities of chief of police. To that office Chief Roth brought experience, an absolute personal integrity, and a high degree of physical and moral courage and efficiency.
Besides his position as one of the important heads of the city government at Elkhart, Mr. Roth deserves particular mention in these pages as a native son of Elkhart County and a member of one of its early families. He was born in the City of Elkhart when it was only a village September 13, 1859, a son of Abraham and Sophia (Wolf) Roth. His father, who was of Pennsylvania Dutch stock, was born in York County, Pennsylvania, and died in 1877 at the age of sixty-one. The mother was born in Stark County, Ohio, and died at the age of seventy-two on June 19, 1905. Chief Roth was the fourth in their large family of thirteen children, ten of whom are still living. Abraham Roth in early life moved to Stark County, Ohio, where he married, was a farmer there up to 1858, and then came to the Village of Elkhart, which only a few years before had begun to rise in importance as a railroad town. After a short residence at Elkhart he moved to a farm one mile north of Middlebury in eastern Elkhart County, did his share in developing the resources of that beautiful section, and continued as a farmer and stock raiser there the rest of his active career. He gave much attention to the breeding and raising of standard cattle and horses. He never put himself in line for public office, and as a voter supported first the whig and later the republican candidates.
It was on the old farm near Middlebury that William H. Roth
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spent his early years. He attended the district schools, and the young woman who had charge of his first lessons in school is now the wife of Walter S. Hazelton of Elkhart. The intervals of school attendance were varied by work on the home farm, and later as a farm hand, and up to the age of twenty he gave all his earn- ings to his father. His father then allowed him "his time" and he accepted the opportunities by learning the trade of mason. Later he became a fireman on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Rail- road, and continued in that line of employment up to 1894. The next year was spent in operating a transfer line at Middlebury, but he soon afterward came to Elkhart and took a position on the police force. In 1904 he was promoted to day sergeant and in January, 1914, was chosen for his present office as chief of police. Throughout his record has been characterized by ability and a special fitness for this work, and he has made the Elkhart depart- ment one of the best of its kind among the cities of Indiana.
On May 1, 1887, Mr. Roth married Miss Catherine Frey. She was born in Middlebury of Elkhart County. Mr. and Mrs. Roth are proud of their large family of children, and the responsibilities of his own household have been an encouragement and source of inspiration to the chief of police in his work as guardian of the city's peace and good order. The eleven children born to himself and wife are named: Inez; Nona, who died in infancy ; Marjorie; Edna; Helen; Daniel; William H. Jr .; Floyd; Sarah; Winifred; and Elizabeth. There are eight daughters and three sons. Fra- ternally Chief Roth is a member of Elkhart Lodge No. 425, Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks, and also of the Knights of Pythias, the Loyal Order of Moose and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
WILLIAM B. BARNARD, one of the associate editors of the pres- ent publication, has been one of the live and enterprising factors in the town of Millersburg for a quarter of a century.
He was born at New Paris, Indiana, September 20, 1867, a son of William T. and Lizzie J. (Slyter) Barnard. His mother is still living in Goshen, and his father, who was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died in 1883.
Reared and educated in the Millersburg schools Mr. Barnard did his first regular work as clerk in a drug store, and in 1892 entered business for himself in that line. Since then he has ac- quired the ownership of the Millersburg Grit, of which he has been proprietor since 1893, and besides his home and place of business he is also owner of the Millersburg garage building and is a stock- holder in the local bank.
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Mr. Barnard served for twelve years as a member of the local school board until the schools were taken over by the township. He is a democrat, but is not an active party man. In the Knights of Pythias he has served as chancellor, and is also affiliated with the Woodmen of the World, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Masonic Order and belongs to the Lutheran Church.
On September 1, 1889, at Orland, Indiana, he married Enola S. Rosser, daughter of William and Anna Rosser. They are the parents of two sons: Birch Barnard who married Edith Unrue; and Angelo R. Barnard.
ELI FREMONT COLEMAN, street commissioner of Elkhart, and a member of the board of public works, has been in public service from time to time since 1800. Wherever he has found himself a resident, he has taken an active part in the public life of his com- munity, and he has rendered worthy service in whatever official positions he has been called upon to fill. In earlier years he gained prominence in Elkhart County as a farmer and stock breeder, and after he gave up that enterprise he was identified with the ice busi- ness in Elkhart up to 1910. At present all his time is given to the duties of his office.
Mr. Coleman was born in Union Township. Stark County, Ohio, on May 5, 1850, and he is the son of Jonathan and Mary ( Bender) Coleman. The father was born in Stark County in 1806 and died there in 1898, while the mother, born in the vicinity of Harris- burg, Pennsylvania, in 1834, died in 1896. To these worthy people were born nine children, five of whom are living today. Eli Fre- mont Coleman was the fifth born child. Jonathan Coleman was a wheelwright by trade, and in 1857 he located in Osolo Township, Elkhart County, Indiana, some three miles distant from the Village of Elkhart. He was one of the pioneer builders and contractors of the county, and many houses and barns that were the work of his hands still stand in the county today. In late life he retired and lived very quietly to the end of his days. He was not a man who cared for public life, and he never was willing to hold public office. He was a man of quiet, homelike instincts, a good workman, and an honest and valuable citizen all his days. When he died he was mourned by the best citizenship of his community, as was also his good wife, who preceded him in death by two years. They were lifelong members of the United Brethren Church.
Eli F. Coleman had his education in the public schools of Osolo Township, in Elkhart County, and when he began his independent career it was as a farmer. He was devoted to the life by instinct,
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and he was a successful farmer from the beginning. The breeding of fine cattle and horses was a hobby with him and he had a herd of thoroughbred Jersey cattle on his farm that did the county much credit. He also was known for the splendid horses that were bred on his place. He farmed successfully up to 1895, when he located in Elkhart and engaged in the ice manufacturing business. This enterprise claimed his attention until 1910, when he sold out, and since that time he has given his principal attention to the duties of public office.
Mr. Coleman's first public office was that of trustee of Osolo Township, from 1890 to 1895. He was re-elected in 1898 and again at the next election. He resigned the office that year, however. On January 1, 1914, he was appointed street commissioner of Elkhart, and in the past year he has done much for the city in the manner in which he has discharged the duties of that office. As a member of the board of public works he has also given splendid service to the city.
Mr. Coleman has been twice married. His first wife was Marion L. Newell, whom he married in 1870. She was born in Osolo Township, Elkhart County, and she died there on August 13. 1889, leaving two children : Carl E. and Mabel C. In March, 1802, Mr. Coleman married Minnie G. Mead, a native of Elkhart.
The Colemans are prominent in social circles of the city, and they are representatives of the best citizenship in the community, where they have many genuine friends.
JOHN V. MORRICE. For nearly forty years Mr. Morrice has been a well known and honored resident of Goshen. While his interests have extended to various business affairs, he is best known and esteemed as the guiding spirit and principal officials of Calanthe Lodge No. 41 of the Knights of Pythias. He is keeper of records and seals, and has full charge of the details about the lodge rooms. Calanthe Lodge, which was instituted in November, 1873, is one of the most prosperous and popular fraternal organizations in the county seat. It has commodious large rooms in the Jefferson Theater Building, and those quarters are used not only periodically for the regular weekly meetings, but also furnish club, reading room and library facilities to the large membership. In fact. Calanthe Lodge is one of the largest individual organizations of the Knights of Pythias in Indiana. In the lodge rooms there is every equipment and facility for comfort, pleasure, entertainment and agreeable social intercourse for the members. The membership now aggre- gates nearly 500 and includes many of the most prominent citizens of Goshen.
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Few citizens of Goshen have had so active and varied a career as John V. Morrice. He was born in Scotland, November 16, 1839, spent his boyhood there, acquired an education in the local schools, and first came to the United States in 1858. His mother was a native of Wales, while his father was an Englishman. For four- teen years Mr. Morrice was a sailor or employed on merchant vessels that went to nearly all quarters of the globe. At one time he was on a whaling expedition, for a number of years was with an American merchantman engaged in the coasting trade. Of all his experience on the sea he remembers with greatest pleasure the three years and eleven months he spent in the United States Navy.
On leaving the navy he came to Indiana, was for some time in the insurance business at Clinton, Oneida County, New York, and also traveled in many parts of the West. In 1877 he came to Goshen, and for a time was employed by the Goshen-Walker Com- pany and by the Hawks Furniture Company. Since 1893 he has been identified with the Calanthe Lodge No. 41 of the Knights of Pythias in some executive capacity. He is a most genial and pleasant gentleman, and has hosts of friends both in and out of the order.
In 1878 he married Miss Catherine McGuffin. Mrs. Morrice received her education in the schools of New York State. Their children are: Fred W .; Charles E., one of the chief officers of the I-XL; Robert B .; Fanny, wife of George Higgins : George Nelson, who is engaged in salmon fishing on the Columbia River in Oregon.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN LEADER is one of the well known and popular men of Elkhart County, which he has served in a public way for some years. He is a native of Elkhart, born here on August 25, 1869, and is the son of Franklin and Elizabeth ( Clay) Leader, of Pennsylvania and Ohio birth, respectively. Franklin Leader was born May I, 1837, and his wife was born in 1842. She died in 1909, the mother of six children, three of whom are now liviing. They are Clara, the wife of Fred Shasberg, living in Elkhart; Ida, the wife of H. B. Winey, also of Elkhart, and Benjamin F., of this review, he being the fifth child born to his parents. Franklin Leader came to Elkhart from his native state when he was eighteen years of age, in the year 1855. He had learned the trade of a carpenter, and he worked at that until the war broke out, when he enlisted in the Forty-seventh Regiment of Indiana Volunteers. He served throughout the war, and when hostilities ceased he returned to Elk- hart and resumed his trade. He was engaged in contract work in this place until 1906, when he retired from active business. He is a democrat, and has been more or less active in public life during his years of residence here.
ELKHART BRIDGE AND IRON COMPANY
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Benjamin Franklin Leader had his education in the public schools of Elkhart, and when he was twenty-one years old he entered the service of the Lake Shore and Michigan Central Railroad Company as a fireman. He spent four years in that work, when he took a position with the Elkhart Carriage Company, and he was for seven years with that concern. Later he became a member of the Elk- hart Fire Department and he was chief of the department from 1904 to 1910, when he was elected sheriff of Elkhart County. He succeeded himself in the sheriff's office in 1912, serving another two year term, during which time he had the assistance of Mr. Scott Thomas as deputy. When Mr. Leader retired from office at the close of his second term, he gave place to Mr. Thompson, his former deputy, and the latter promptly appointed Mr. Leader as his deputy. on entering office. At this time Mr. Leader is serving as deputy to Mr. Thomas.
Mr. Leader is a member of Kane Lodge No. 183, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Elkhart Lodge No. 425, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Elkhart Lodge No. 75, Knights of Pythias ; Pulaski Lodge No. 60, Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; Lodge No. 599 Loyal Order of Moose; Elkhart Lodge No. 4403, Independent Order of Foresters, and Elkhart Court No. 72, Tribe of Ben Hur.
Mr. Leader married Carrie Brandley, July 3, 1895. She was born in Swanton, Fulton County, Ohio, and is the daughter of William and Barbara Brandley. The father is now deceased, but the mother is living. They were the parents of four children, Mrs. Leader being the third child of her parents.
Mr. Leader is a democrat and has been active in party politics all his life. He is one of the progressive men of the community, and he and his wife have a great many friends in the town and county.
THE ELKHART BRIDGE AND IRON COMPANY is one of the older stable industries of Elkhart County. Its products, extensively used in all parts of the United States, have served to make the name Elkhart familiar to the world at large, while the industry itself has been one of the best assets of Elkhart's commercial prosperity.
The principal officers of this concern are Frank J. Miller, presi- ident, and Frank Brumbaugh. secretary, treasurer and general manager.
It was Mr. Brumbaugh who in 1900 organized the old Elkhart Bridge Company, which several years later was reorganized as the Elkhart Bridge and Iron Company. It was incorporated in 1904 with a capital stock of $10,000. Since the reorganization its busi- ness has been constantly growing.
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At the present time the plant occupies nearly five acres of floor space and the business of all departments furnishes employment to about 150 men, nearly all of them high grade mechanics. The com- pany not only manufactures but erects bridges, of all kinds and types, and ranging in price from $25 apiece to $25,000, and in length from 6 feet to 500 feet. About 5,000 tons of metal are used every year in making the Elkhart bridges which have been set up in all parts of the United States.
While the officers have succeeded in building up a staff of expert workmen and have extended their sales beyond the most sanguine expectations, they have not neglected the welfare of their local workers. The plant is equipped with all the best appliances and machinery, and the safety and welfare of the employes are among the first considerations of the executive officers.
FRANK J. MILLER. Head of one of Elkhart's prominent manu- facturing industries, Frank J. Miller began his career as a farm boy, developed into a salesman, and by one step of progress after an- other has attained a position of marked prominence and influence in one of the leading industrial cities of Northern Indiana.
He was born on a farm in Plain township of Stark County, Ohio, August 3, 1874. His father Jacob Miller was probably born in the same county, while the grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania and an early settler in Stark County, Ohio. Jacob Miller grew up on a farm, but learned the trade of carpenter and continued to live in Stark County, Ohio, until 1885, when he came to Indiana, and bought a farm in Etna Township of Kosciusko County. He super- intended his farm and lived there until his death in 1893. Jacob Miller married Elizabeth Bair, who was born in Stark County, Ohio, a daughter of Jacob Bair. She is now making her home with her children, and there were eleven of her children who reached ma- turity.
Frank J. Miller was about eleven years of age when his family removed from Stark County, Ohio, to Kosciusko County, Indiana, and he attended school in both those counties. After leaving school he went back to Canton, Ohio, and for three years was employed in the factory of the Gilliam Manufacturing Company. After that for a number of years he was actively identified with farming in Kos- ciusko County, Indiana, and in 1901 he entered the Elkhart Bridge & Iron Company as a salesman. He proved an energetic business getter, subsequently acquired stock in the company, became a direc- tor, and in May, 1915, assumed the executive management of the entire concern as president.
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In 1897 Mr. Miller married Nora Boone, who was born in Indiana, a daughter of Martin and Catherine Boone. Mr. Miller died in 1901, leaving two sons, George and Charles. In 1910 Mr. Miller married Margaret Ludwig, a native of Elkhart and a daughter of August and Saloma Ludwig. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have a son named Frank. In matters of politics Mr. Miller takes an inde- pendent attitude. Fraternally he is affiliated with the United Com- mercial Travelers.
MONROE OTT. Among the native sons of Elkhart County who are contributing to the agricultural prestige of this rich and fertile section of Indiana by intelligent and well-directed operations in farming and stock raising, one of those who is well and favorably know is Monroe Ott. Mr. Ott, who is a member of one of the county's pioneer families, is the owner of Maple Street Stock Farm, a valuable property of 500 acres in Benton Township, on which he carries on general farming and raises registered Belgium horses and Durham and Short Horn cattle. He is regarded as a skilled agri- culturist and a good judge of stock, and as a citizen is held in high esteem.
Mr. Ott was born on the Ott homestead in Benton Township, January 2, 1870, and is a son of Franklin and Margaret ( Tully) Ott. His father is also a native of this township, having been born on the farm 11/2 miles south of the Town of Benton, which was entered from the United States Government in 1831 by his father, Samuel Ott. The latter was born in 1800 in Preble County, Ohio, and came as an unmarried man to Elkhart County, Indiana, where he entered eighty acres for himself and eighty acres for the lady who subsequently became his wife. Returning to Preble County, he was there married to Anna Rookstool, and in 1832 they returned to Benton Township and settled on their 160-acre property, where they passed the remaining years of their lives. Mr. Ott, who lived in this county for fifty-six or fifty-seven years, built the first log barn south of the Elkhart River, three-quarters of this structure being of wild cherry and the rest of black walnut. He was one of the sturdy, industrious men of his day and locality, a true pioneer, and a man of integrity and probity, being an active worker in the Evangelical Association, of which his wife was also a member.
After the death of their mother, Franklin Ott and his brother Frederick took charge of the homestead, and there resided until Frederick's death, at which time Franklin moved to the old Tully homestead, a tract of eighty acres in Benton Township, which was
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probably entered from the Government by the first of the Tullys to come here, and where Mr. and Mrs. Ott still reside. She was born in Preble County, Ohio, and was a child when brought to Elk- hart County by her parents, John and Mary ( Wehrley) Tully. Franklin and Margaret Ott have been the parents of four children, as follows: Alfred, who is engaged in farming in Benton Town- ship: Anderson, whose death occurred in 1909; Monroe, of this re- view ; and Walter, who died at the age of one year, eleven months.
Monroe Ott received a public school education in the district institutions of Benton Township and resided at home until the time of his marriage, at the age of twenty-two years, when he went to reside on the Hire homestead with his bride's parents. After one year he removed to the Hire farm, but three years later returned to the Hire homestead, which has continued to be his home to the present time. Here he has made numerous improvements of a modern character, these including a set of substantial buildings, well equipped and attractive in appearance. For some years he devoted himself principally to general farming, but of recent years has been giving more and more attention to the breeding of regis- tered Belgium horses and thoroughbred Durham and Short Horn cattle, and in this department has met with a decidedly satisfying success.
Mr. Ott was married March 26, 1892, to Miss May Hire, daugh- ter of Rudolph and Rachael Hire, early settlers of Benton Town- ship, and to this union there have been born two children: Farrell L., a graduate of the Syracuse High School and of the New York School of Penmanship; and Lera L., who is now in her sophomore year at the Ligonier High School. Mr. Ott is a republican in his political allegiance. He belongs to the Evangelical Church at Rich- ville and Mrs. Ott belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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