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 30
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Mr. Miller was married on October 16, 1907, to Lena Altland, the daughter of Lewis and Mary (Cooper) Altland. She was born
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in Pratt County, Kansas, on August 7, 1886, and spent her young life there. Her parents were of Michigan birth, their early home having been in the vicinity of White Pigeon. There they were married and one child was born to them there, after which they moved to Kansas. They homesteaded a tract of land there, which they later sold and moved to Oklahoma in later life. The father died in Oklahoma and the mother returned to the old home in Michi- gan, where she is now living at the advanced age of eighty-two. They were the parents of seven children, four of them reaching mature life. Of that number Melvin died at the age of twenty- five. The others are Dora, the wife of Guy Wilmot of Kansas; Lena, the wife of Clarence Miller; and Luella, unmarried, and engaged in the teaching profession.
To Clarence and Lena Miller four children have been born. Chan A. was born in 1908; Mary L. in 1909; Monroe F. in 1911; and James A. in 1914.
Mr. Miller is a republican and with his family attends the Evangelical Church at New Paris. They have many friends in and about the county, where they have been long and favorably known, and they have a secure place in their community as examples of excellent citizenship and commendable industry.
GROVER C. TARMAN. Formerly well known in railroad and mercantile circles of Elkhart County, Grover C. Tarman has been ably discharging the duties of postmaster of New Paris since Au- gust 4. 1914. He has been a resident of the county all his life and the citizens have come to regard him as a young man of exceptional ability, whose versatile talents have drawn him into various enter- prises in which he has gained success. Mr. Tarman was born September 17, 1885, one mile south of New Paris, in Jackson Town- ship, Elkhart County, and is a son of John A. and Elizabeth V. ( Toms) Tarman.
The Tarman family is of English and German origin and for many years has resided in America, having been known for several generations in Pennsylvania, where was born John Tarman, the grandfather of Grover C. He passed his entire life in the Key- stone State and there died, but his widow still survives him and lives there. John A. Tarman was born in Franklin County, Penn- sylvania, and was there reared, educated and married. After the birth of two children he brought his family to Elkhart County, settling at what is known as Rush Corners, in Jackson Township, where he followed masonry and bricklaying and resided for twelve years. He next moved one mile south of New Paris,
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where he continues to reside and is somewhat retired from active life, although on occasions he follows his trade. All of the seven children of John A. and Elizabeth V. Tarman are still living: Albert C. and George, of New Paris; John Elmer, Irvin and C. F., of Goshen; Grover C .; and Anna, who is the wife of Mervin Mish- ler, of New Paris.
Grover C. Tarman received his education in the Jackson Town- ship public schools and after his graduation from high school entered upon his business career in connection with the produce business. He continued to be thus engaged until August 1, 1908, when he took charge of interurban work at New Paris, but resigned his position April 1, 1911, to engage in railroad work at Goshen. This occupied his attention until November 7, 1911, when he em- barked in the real estate business at New Paris, but March 1, 1912, turned his attention to mercantile lines when he succeeded M. Stiver in the ownership of a general merchandise establishment. Disposing of his interests therein July 5, 1913, he again engaged in operations in realty and followed that business until he was made manager of the Hatfield store, February 12, 1914. On July 23, 1914 he was appointed postmaster of New Paris, and entered upon the duties of that office August 4, 1914. He is proving a capable, courteous official, who handles the business of the office expedi- tiously and well and who is constantly seeking to improve the service. He is the author of "The Producer's Marketing and Instruction Guide," the material for which was secured during Mr. Tarman's long experience in the produce business, and this work has met with a large sale and much favorable comment. He is a stalwart democrat in his political views, is fraternally affiliated with the New Paris Lodge No. 888, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and with his family belongs to the New Paris Methodist Episcopal Church. As a live and progressive citizen of his com- munity, he has done much to advance its commercial and civic interests.
Mr. Tarman was married September 23, 1900, to Miss Pearl B. Hatfield, of Leesburg, Indiana, daughter of E. M. and Alice Hat- field, farming people west of Leesburg. Mr. and Mrs. Tarman have two children: Frederick H., born February 29, 1912; and Wayne Burdett, born July 22, 1915.
IRA MYERS was born on the farm he now owns and operates. It is a fine place of IT0 acres, lying in section 30, and is known as the Rock Run Valley Farm. Mr. Myers was born on July 9, 1867, and he is the son of John and Hester Anne ( Riley) Myers. The
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father was born in Ohio, not far distant from the town of Day- ton, and he came to Indiana in young manhood. He made the trip on horseback, through a wild and untraveled country, and settled first in Clinton Township, where his brother Jonathan then was living. John Myers was a young man without resources when he came to Indiana, and such material prosperity as he gained was the result of his determination to succeed, and his splendid energy. He married Hester Anne Riley when still a young man, and to her, also was due much credit for the progress the family made. She was born in Ohio, like her husband, and she came with her parents to this state, locating first in Clinton Township and later settling in another part of the county. She was not more than eight years of age when her people brought her to Elkhart County, and when she later married John Myers they settled on a farm just a mile distant from the Riley homestead. They moved later to section 30, one mile north of the old family home, and there they bought 160 acres of land, which they developed into a fine farm home. They prospered, and gained much prominence in their township, also finding a creditable standing throughout the county. They lived there until 1902, the father dying in December of that year, after which the mother gave up the farm and moved to Goshen, where she now maintains a home.
Ira Myers lived at home on the farm and attended the country schools for his elementary educational training. Later it was his privilege to enter Mt. Morris College, from which he was graduated in due time. He partly earned his way through college, however, teaching in the country schools in his efforts to secure sufficient money to carry on his college work. Clinton, Benton and Elkhart Townships all knew him as a teacher in his young manhood. After his marriage in 1897 he settled on the old farm, to which he has since added forty acres, and here he is carrying on active farming. In more recent years Mr. Myers has been converting the place into a seed farm, and for the past six years has made a specialty of fancy seed corn. He has had excellent success in this phase of his work.
On June 2, 1897, Mr. Myers was married to Miss Mae Eldridge, and to them one son has been born,-James Roy Myers, now pur- suing an agricultural course in Goshen College. Mr. and Mrs. Myers are members of the Church of the Brethren and both take an active interest in the work of the church in their community. They have many friends in and about the town and county and have a leading part in the social activities of their immediate circle. Mr. Myers is independent in his politics ordinarily, though in matters of national import he has usually favored the democratic party.
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B. F. DEWEY, whose residence in Clinton Township covers a period of nearly three score and ten years, and who is one of the few surviving native citizens who lived in the township at the time of his birth, is now the owner of a well-cultivated property con- sisting of 153 acres, on Millersburg Rural Route No. I. Mr. Dewey is one of the best known agriculturists of this part of Elkhart County and is thoroughly familiar with his land, as he has passed his entire life on the farm which he now occupies. He was born December 22, 1847, and is a son of Charles B. and Mary Ann (Ben- jamin) Dewey.
Charles B. Dewey was born in Ohio, as was his wife, his parents having come from New York and Vermont and hers from New Jersey. They were married in Ohio and not long thereafter migrated to Elkhart County, Indiana, settling here among the pioneers on the farm of Mr. Dewey's brother, a property which is now known as the John Rink farm. Later Mr. and Mrs. Dewey went to a farm which had been entered by Nathaniel Benjamin from the United States Government, and which later was purchased by Mr. Dewey, who passed the remaining years of his life thereon and died in 1862, Mrs. Dewey surviving him a number of years. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: B. F., of this notice; C. N., who resides with his brother in Clinton Township; H. C., who is deceased; N. W., also of Goshen; Hannah J., who died at the age of three years; Mary, who is the wife of J. C. Murray, a resident of North Manchester, Indiana; and Sarah J., who is the wife of James H. Matthews, a resident of Goshen, Indiana.
B. F. Dewey received his education in the district schools of Clinton Township at a time when the "three R's" were the principal studies taught and when the school terms covered the winter months. The eldest of his parents' children, he grew up as an agriculturist, assisting his father in the work of the farm during the summer months practically from the time he was able to reach the plow-handles. He thus learned thoroughly every detail of agricultural work, and when he was ready to enter upon a career of his own chose the vocation of farmer. In September, 1851, Mr. Dewey founded a home of his own when he was united in marriage with Miss Samantha Loncor, the daughter of Silas Lon- cor, of LaGrange County, Indiana. After nearly a quarter of a century of married life, Mrs. Dewey died May 9, 1876. Four children were born to this union : Della J., who is the wife of Solo- mon I .. Thomas, of Goshen, Indiana ; Jessie Mabel, who is the wife of Charles Miller, also of that city ; J. W., a graduate of the North
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Manchester High School, and now a resident of that place; and Mattie May, who died at the age of three years.
At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dewey settled down to housekeeping in Clinton Township, and here Mr. Dewey has continued to spend his life in the peaceful pursuits of farming and raising stock. His home farm consists of 153 acres, in addition to which he has a property of fifty-eight acres, all located in Clinton Township, and the home place is improved with good buildings and equipped with modern machinery. He has been successful in his business ventures, is a director in the Millersburg State Bank, and bears a high reputation in business and financial circles. As a citizen he has capably discharged the duties which have devolved upon him, and has served efficiently and faithfully as road super- visor and member of the township advisory board for a number of years, having been elected to these positions on the republican ticket.
H. L. KAUFMAN. The career of H. L. Kaufman is an example of the possible control over early limitations and discouraging con- ditions and of the wise utilization of ordinary opportunities. His career has been identified with Elkhart County for a half a century, his substantial property has been gained by integrity and good management, and his broadening influences have included meritor- ious service in the Civil war. Mr. Kaufman was born in Somer- set County, Pennsylvania, June 6, 1841, and is a son of Moses and Sallie ( Spiker) Kaufman.
The founder of this branch of the Kaufman family in America was Jacob Kaufman, who emigrated from Germany, and from whom the line of descent is traced through Nicholas, Jacob, John and Moses Kaufman. Moses and Sallie ( Spiker) Kaufman were born, reared and married in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, where Moses Kaufman followed the vocations of farming and blacksmith- ing until the death of his wife, at which time he removed to the State of Michigan with two daughters, and there his death occurred
H. L. Kaufman grew up on his father's farm in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and secured but little chance for an educa- tion, the family being in modest circumstances and the youth's assistance being needed in adding to the family income. He was not yet twenty years of age when the Civil war came on, and he enlisted in Company I, Fifty-fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry, with which he served until receiving his honorable discharge during the closing months of 1864. With a good record for faithful and patriotic service, he returned to the duties of civil
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life, coming to Elkhart County, Indiana, where for a time he was engaged in working out by the month. He was married April 2, 1867, to Miss Mary Ann Cripe, daughter of Daniel Cripe, who had come to this county from Ohio at an early day. After his marriage Mr. Kaufman remained with Mr. Cripe for two years, but eventually embarked in farming on his own account, locating on his present farm, 372 miles southeast of the City of Goshen, in Elkhart Township. His subsequent activities have been devoted to farming and stockraising and at the present time he is the owner of eighty acres of well-cultivated land, on which he has good build- ings and modern improvements.
Mr. and Mrs. Kaufman have no children of their own, but have an adopted child, Arthur, who is assisting Mr. Kaufman in the work of the farm. Since attaining his majority Mr. Kaufman has been a stanch supporter of the candidates and principles of the republican party. He has not been an office seeker, but has faith- fully discharged the duties of citizenship and has been a friend of progressive and helpful movements for his community. He is the oldest member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Goshen, having joined that order in 1872, and is also a valued member of the Grand Army of the Republic Post, being connected with Goshen Post No. 90.
ISAIAH VIOLETT. To trace the history of the Violett family in detail would be to recount practically the entire history of Elkhart County since its first settlement. This is one of the names that stands out conspicuously among the old and prominent families of the county, and the activities and experiences of the various mem- bers of the family will always be followed with interest in this section of Indiana.
One of the oldest representatives of the name is Isaiah Violett, who though not of the first generation in Elkhart County may be considered a pioneer, since in his own lifetime he has witnessed the countless changes and improvements which have taken place during the past three quarters of a century. He is now living retired, and has an attractive country home on route No. 9, a mile south of Goshen, in Elkhart Township. He is still owner of what is known as Locust Grove Farm, comprising twenty-seven acres, and another farm of fifty-one acres just across the road from his home place.
In the early days the possessions of the Violett family extended over a large territory in the woods and on the prairies surrounding Goshen, and it was in a log cabin that stood on his father's farm that Isaiah Violett was born June 2, 1835, more than eighty years
Nonich Violett
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ago. His father was Major John W. Violett, who figured so con- spicuously in the early annals of Elkhart County. He was elected its first county recorder, and held the office seven years. Major Violett was born at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, in 1795, and brought his family to Elkhart County, Indiana, in 1829. The county had not yet been organized and he was one of the very first settlers on the beautiful Elkhart Prairie. He entered large tracts of land, and at one time owned 800 acres in that vicinity. On account of his activity in early military affairs, having organized a company for fighting Indians, he was designated major and always bore that title, which was his familiar designation. He spent the rest of his life in Elkhart County, and was one of the men of progress who brought about many improvements. He was instrumental in getting the first railroad and in 1854 he built at Goshen the Violett Hotel, an old time hostelry which with many changes is still in existence. He was first a whig and later a republican in politics. His death occurred Octo- ber 24, 1871. He was the father of nine children who grew to man- hood, and the only two living now are Isaiah and Benjamin. Ben- jamin was a soldier in the Seventy-fourth Indiana Regiment during the Civil war and is now in the Marion Soldiers' Home. Another brother was John Violett, who died in 1913, and also had a record as a soldier.
From childhood to the present time Isaiah Violett has been primarily identified with the locality in which he was born, Elkhart Township. He attended one of the primitive district schools, and is one of the few men still living who have an accurate recollection of the old time subscription schools, the methods of instruction, and the teachers of that early day. Schooling was only a small part of his boyhood, since schools were not kept many months in the year, and his services were required for the duties of the home farm. Up to the age of twenty-six he remained on the homestead and contributed his labors to its management.
On September 4, 1862, he married Helen C. Hale. She was born in Lenawee County, Michigan, March 2, 1841, and was brought by her sister, Mrs. W. B. Palmer, by whom she was reared, to Elkhart County, Indiana, in 1851, her parents having died when she was four years of age. The Hale family lived in Goshen, and it was while Isaiah Violett was attending school in that city that he and his wife became acquainted. Before his marriage Isaiah Violett had acquired 160 acres of land in Jackson Township, and lived there and operated his farm for eight years, but in 1871 traded that place for his present farm south of Goshen. The only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Violett was Edwin Franklin Violett, who died in infancy.
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Mr. and Mrs. Violett are now spending the declining years of their lives on the old home, and their farm land is operated by tenants. Both are members of the Spiritualist Church.
ANAN ULERY. "The Wayside Farm," owned by Anan Ulery, is representative of the best in agricultural progress in Elkhart County. Situated in the center of Clinton Township, on rural route No. 7, Mr. Ulery's place of 120 acres is a credit to him and to the com- munity, and its owner, a lifelong resident of the township and county, is a proper subject for mention in a history of the state.
Mr. Ulery was born on the farm adjoining his present home on April 28, 1869, and he is a son of John and Mary ( Myers) Ulery. John Ulery, too, was born in Clinton Township, and his parents were Samuel and Mary Ulery, who came from Preble County, Ohio, in about 1838. They were pioneers of this county, indeed, and when they settled on a tract of 160 acres of land in Clinton Township they faced the most primitive conditions that ever con- fronted a pioneer farmer in a new farming country. They spent the remainder of their lives on that farm, there reared their family, and their days were passed in quiet usefulness in their community. To them were born seven children, and John, father of the subject, was their fifth child.
Mary Myers, who became the wife of John Ulery, was the daughter of Jonathan and Salome (Wyland) Myers. They, too, were natives of Preble County, Ohio, and they came to Indiana at the same time as did the Ulerys. They located on land adjacent to that of the Ulerys, and when John and Mary reached years of manhood and womanhood, they married, thus uniting more closely than before, the two families that had been devoted friends for so many years.
After the marriage of the young people they settled on the farm where Anan Ulery was born. They lived there through many years of mingled joys and sorrows, common to the lot of man, and the father died there in May, 1913. He had always enjoyed excel- lent health, and his death came without warning, when he was seventy-three years old. His widow still survives, and is now seventy years old, her natal day having been September 1. 1845. During his lifetime Mr. Ulery was active in church work, and with his wife had membership in the Church of the Brethren. Politically, he was a democrat. To them were born two children, William Harvey, living in Jefferson Township, and Anan, of this review.
Anan Ulery was reared on the home farm of his parents. He
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had his early educational training in the country schools, and later attended the normal schools of his part of the state. He returned to the home farm when he had finished his studies, and in 1893 he married and settled on the farm adjoining the one on which he was born. This has been his home ever since. He carries on general farming and stock raising, and his success has been one that is worthy of the name.
Mr. Ulery's marriage took place on December 31, 1893, and at that time Carrie Phillips, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Phil- lips, of Clinton Township, became his wife. To them three children have been born. Madge, the eldest, is a musician of talent and is a graduate of North Manchester. Fred is also a graduate of North Manchester and is at home with his parents; and Mary Eveline is attending school. The family have membership in the Church of the Brethren, and Mr. Ulery is a democrat in his political faith.
The family is well traveled, especially in America, they having journeyed in twenty-eight states, and spent the winter of 1915 in California. They also enjoy the confidence and esteem of a wide circle of friends in and about the township, are leaders in the best social activities of their community, and have cherished its best interests in a manner that reflects creditably upon them as citizens.
JELLE K. SWART. Among the farmers who have passed their lives in Elkhart County and whose persevering and diligent labors have placed them in comfortable circumstances, is the well known resident and owner of the Poplar Lane Farm, in Jackson Town- ship, Jelle K. Swart. Although he has exceeded the Psalmist's limit of three-score and ten years, he is still in the undiminished enjoyment of sound physical and mental faculties, and while he has retired from active labor still supervises the operation of his farm and takes a lively interest in community affairs.
Mr. Swart is a native of Holland, born April 3, 1842, a son of Klaas J. and Rinskey (Klynstra) Swart, also natives of that country. The family came to the United States in the spring of 1854. settling in Jackson Township. Elkhart County, where the father purchased a farm, there passing the remaining years of his life. There were four children in the family of whom three are living at this time: Piebe, ex-county superintendent of Elkhart County and now a farmer 21/2 miles southeast of New Paris ; Gerrit, who is a retired farmer of New Paris; Anna, who became the wife of Clarkson Cart, and is now deceased ; and Jelle K.
Jelle K. Swart attended school in Holland until coming to the
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United States at the age of twelve years, when he entered the Elk- hart County public schools and here completed his education. He was brought up as a farmer's son and trained to agricultural pur- suits, and remained at home until the time of attaining his majority, when he started out for himself. He had no capital and his first years were filled with hard work on the property of others, but by the time he was twenty-seven years of age his industry and perse- verance had gained him some small means and he was able to pur- chase the land that formed the nucleus for his present holdings. At that time he was married to Hiltje Symmensma, who was also born in Holland and came to the United States with her parents when a child, her education being secured in the public schools. After more than twenty years of married life Mr. and Mrs. Swart were separated by the death of the latter in 1890. They were the parents of three children, as follows: Charley, who is a prosperous farmer of Jackson Township, and representative from Elkhart County in the Indiana Legislature; Frank, a graduate of Central Normal College, Danville, Indiana, and Leland Stanford University, and now district attorney of San Mateo County, California; and Addison, who is engaged in farming operations in Jackson Town- ship.
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