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 52
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Returning to Goshen, he afterwards moved to Mishawaka, and from there to Michigan and spent a year or so in the lumber woods of that state. Once more coming to Goshen, he worked at the car- penter's trade there and at other places for thirty-five years. Since 1883 Mr. Parks has lived in Nappanee.
In 1884 he married Miss Caroline Zyaller, a native of Ohio. They have six children: Earl, Edna, Gladys, Sylvan, Mary and Gertrude.
JOHN J. KUHN. For the past nine years Mr. Kuhn has lived somewhat retired in the City of Nappanee, and is one of the most
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esteemed residents of the southwestern corner of Elkhart County, and is also well known in Kosciusko County, where for many years he was an active farmer. For the past five years he has held the office of justice of the peace in Locke Township, and his administra- tion has been of such a character as to show that the importance of any office is to be measured by the individual service rendered by its incumbent.
He was elected justice of the peace of Locke Township in 1911, and at the end of his first term was re-elected. His certificate of election is signed by governor, now vice president, Marshall. In performing his duties as justice Mr. Kuhn has not always been a strict follower of precedent, but in all cases has endeavored to mete out justice in accordance with the gravity of the offense and the character of the individual. Thus, while not a lawyer of training, he is thoroughly grounded in the fundamentals of justice in the relations of men, and it was a gratifying approval of his service that whereas he was first elected by the slender majority of two votes he was re-elected by a majority of sixty-seven.
Judge Kuhn was born in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio, May 27, 1847. Both his parents were natives of Germany and the pater- nal grandparents spent all their lives in that country. His father was Christian Kuhn, who was born in Wurttemberg, Germany, July 27, 1804, was reared and educated there and served an apprentice- ship at the tailor's trade. He worked as a journeyman until 1832 and then with wife and one child set out for America. The sailing vessel on which they embarked was three months in crossing the ocean, and in consequence of the delayed voyage all the passengers were placed on short rations. When they landed in New York Mr. Kuhn had only ten cents in his pocket. He quickly found work at his trade and lived in New York City until 1837. He then set out with his family for the West. Going up the Hudson River, at Albany they took a canal boat to Buffalo, and thence by lake steamer to Sandusky, and from there by wagon and team to Bucyrus. At that time Bucyrus was a village of only fourteen buildings, and the surrounding country was practically a wilderness. No railroads had yet been built in Ohio, consequently there were no established markets, and there was very little money in circulation. More than that, it was a period of general financial depression all over the nation, and it is not strange that Christian Kuhn soon became dis- couraged with the outlook and decided to return to New York City. Having no money, he concluded to make the journey on foot, and with only a change of clothing in a bundle he said good-by to his family, promising to send for them as soon as he could earn suffi-
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cient money. He had gone but a short distance on his journey when he met a Mr. Boyer, who told him that if he would return he would give him work. True to his promise Mr. Boyer came to the Kuhn home with his three sons, and each of them was measured for a suit of clothes. With this encouragement Christian Kuhn soon had all the work he could do, and in 1848 he bought a tract of land in Whet- stone Township. A log cabin and fifteen acres cleared constituted the improvements. One of the first things he did was to set out an orchard. It was necessary to procure the trees at a considerable distance, and he and his two older sons carried the young trees on their shoulders following a trail marked by blazed trees. While still keeping up the work of his trade Christian Kuhn employed help to assist his sons in clearing the land and tilling the soil. His success as a farmer was as great as that at tailoring, and at the time of his death which occurred October 11, 1879, he was owner of a fine farm of 160 acres and had considerable money at interest.
Christian Kuhn married Helearna Sophia Stull, who was born in Wurttemberg, Germany, January 9, 1806. . Her parents came to America in 1832, her father dying in New York City, and her mother spent her last days in Bucyrus. Mrs. Christian Kuhn died January 27. 1877, having reared six children, namely: Johanna, Lewis F., Frederick, George H., John Jacob and Matilda.
It was on the old homestead in Whetstone Township, Crawford County, Ohio, that John Jacob Kuhn spent his early years, acquir- ing his education in the local schools. After the death of his father he bought the interest of the other heirs and lived on the old home- stead until 1885.
In that year he moved to Indiana, buying a farm in Scott Town- ship of Kosciusko County, and successfully continued its manage- ment until 1907, when he rented the place and moved to Nappanee, where he has spent his time in retirement except for the perform- ance of his official duties.
In 1869 Mr. Kuhn married Elizabeth Shearer, who was born in Scott Township of Kosciusko County, Indiana. Her parents James and Hattie Shearer, of Scotch-Irish ancestry and natives of Stark County, Ohio, were among the early settlers of Kosciusko County. Mrs. Kuhn died in January, 1908. In the following year he mar- ried for his present wife Mrs. Martha (Ashbrook) Rowe, a native of Muskingum County.
Mr. Kuhn by his first marriage reared six children, Adam, Emanuel, Emma, Hannah, Hettie and Ida. His son Adam married Irene Hepler, and their ten children are named Christian, Marion E., Carlie E., Ray R., Floyd A., Lester C., Laura, Carrie, Grace M.
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and Vera. The son Emanuel married Saloma Hepler, and has six children named Edna, Mamie, Elmer, Lillian, Emma and Mary. Emma, the oldest daughter, married Daniel Hepler, and their three sons are named Jesse, Russell and John. Hannah is the wife of Jacob Dannar. Hettie married George Wyman, and has four daugh- ters, Mildred, Edith, Elizabeth and Stella. The youngest child, Ida, is the wife of Frank Hahn, and their two children are Loren and Mary.
Judge Kuhn was reared in the Lutheran Church and has always held to that faith. He cast his first presidential vote for Horace Greeley in 1872, and has been a steadfast supporter of the democratic party ever since.
HERSCHEL P. DODGE. It is usual to find in Indiana the most rep- resentative men of a community elected to the post of responsibility in the office of township trustee. Usually solid and substantial citi- zens, those who have proved their public spirit and their value in the handling of public affairs, are entrusted with the honor and burden of this office. The office of township trustee of Baugo Township was fitly bestowed in 1914 upon Mr. Herschel P. Dodge, who rep- resents one of the fine old families of Elkhart County.
He is himself a native of Baugo Township, where he was born May 16, 1861. It was nearly seventy years ago that the Dodge fam- ily came into the wilds of Elkhart County. No railroads had then been built, though the first lines were constructed through the county within a few years afterwards. The pioneer member of the family was grandfather Charles Dodge, who was born in New York State and was a blacksmith by trade. He first moved to Ohio and became an early settler in Delaware County of that state. He followed his trade for many years, in fact until late in life. On coming West he spent his last days with his children in Indiana and Illinois He married Miss Macomber, who died in Baugo Township in 1861. She reared nine sons and three daughters.
Eliphalet Dodge, father of Herschel P., was born in Delaware County, Ohio, in 1825. He was reared in his native state, had a very limited education, according to the standards of the schools of his time, and in 1847 he ventured West, making the journey on foot, and seeking out and acquiring for himself a home in Elkhart County. At that time Elkhart County had very few towns, very few farms that were completely cleared and cultivated, and less than twenty years had elapsed since the first settlements were made. Plenty of Government land could be had at $1.25 per acre. After his mar- riage Eliphalet Dodge lived on the Riggs place for a year, and then
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bought a tract of land in section 34 of Baugo Township. A log house and a small tract cleared were the only improvements and he at once set to work with characteristic energy and diligence to surround himself with those comforts which make a good home.
Eliphalet Dodge married Sarah Riggs. She was born at Ply- mouth in Marshall County, Indiana, a daughter of Jesse and Maria (Van Vactor) Riggs. Her maternal grandfather was Joseph Van Vactor, who was a native of Virginia, served as a soldier during the War of 1812, and was one of the early pioneer settlers of Grant County, Indiana. Joseph Van Vactor married for his first wife Sarah Burt and for his second wife Margaret Bode. Jesse Riggs, father of Mrs. Eliphalet Dodge, was a son of Jesse Riggs, Sr., who spent all his life in Tennessee, and was a man of considerable means. At one time he visited Indiana and bought several tracts of new land. which he later gave to his children. Jesse Riggs, Jr., met his death by accident at the age of thirty-four years. His widow married for her second husband Charles Dodge, and they lived in Cleveland Township of Elkhart County. Mrs. Eliphalet Dodge died at the age of seventy-six. She reared four children: Amelia, Sophia, Eliza and Herschel P.
Herschel P. Dodge, the only son in the family, grew up in Baugo Township, acquired an education in the rural schools such as were maintained in Elkhart County during the late '60s and the decade of the '70s. For fully thirty-five years he has been a worker and a home maker on his own responsibility. After getting all the ad- vantages possible in the local schools he attended the Miskawaka High School. At the age of twenty-two he went West and had six years of life and experience in the State of California. He then returned to Elkhart County and managed the old homestead, but in 1808 he established a home on the site which he now occupies at Jamestown.
In 1000 Mr. Dodge was elected assessor of Baugo Township, and he filled that office with exceptional ability and faithfulness until he was chosen township trustee in 1914. His fellow citizens had no reason to regret their choice, and he is doing a great deal for the township, particularly in the way of schools.
In December, 1898, he married Miss Susan Amanda Pontius. She was born in Elkhart County, and her father Henry Pontius was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1834. The grandfather. John Pontius, was a native of Pennsylvania, and an early settler in Starke County, Indiana, and from there he brought his family west to Elk- hart in 1851. The Pontius family came to Elkhart County by wagon and teams and first settled in Concord Township. where John Pon-
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tius bought a tract of land and cleared a farm from the midst of the wilderness. He lived there until his death. The maiden name of his wife was Susan Weitcel, who survived her husband and died at the age of ninety-three. Henry Pontius was seventeen years of age when he came to Indiana. For a number of years he was a pros- perous farmer in Harrison Township of Elkhart County, and he then bought a farm in Baugo Township and lived there until his death at the age of seventy-two. He married Mary Charlotte Mel- vina Bly. She was born in Mishawaka, Indiana, a daughter of Har- vey and Amanda (Simonds) Bly. Harvey Bly was born in England and was an early settler of St. Joseph County, Indiana. His wife was born in Troy, New York. Mrs. Dodge's mother died at the age of sixty-seven years. There were five children in the Pontius fan- ily : Edgar H., Silas H., Homer J., Susan Amanda and Harriet H. Mr. and Mrs. Dodge have four children: Wilson H., Freda V., Vesta S. and Herschel E. Fraternally Mr. Dodge is affiliated with Blue Lake Lodge No. 47 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Blue Lake, California.
CHARLES REPLOGLE. For upwards of eighty years the Replogle family have been continuously identified with Elkhart County. In that time nearly all the important history of the county has been written in the lives of the pioneers, those that followed immediately after the pioneers, and then in the generation which now has the dominating position in affairs.
Going back to the first generation of the family in America its head was John Replogle, who was born in Germany and when about ten years of age came to America, settling with other members of the family in Ohio. It was Peter Replogle, a son of John, who founded the family name in Elkhart County. Peter was born in Stark County, Ohio, January 18, 1806, and was reared and educated there. He married, and soon afterward came West to Indiana, locating near South Bend in St. Joseph County in 1837. Very soon afterwards he moved across the county line into Concord Township of Elkhart County. He found a farm with a log cabin as its chief improvement. He lived there and prospered until his death in 1849, and was survived by his widow many years. Peter Replogle mar- ried Lovina Porter who was born in Ohio in 1811, and the Porters were of English ancestry. Of the nine children, six sons and three daughters, born to Peter and Lovina Replogle, only three reached adult age, Rebecca, who married Franklin B. Markel; Abraham; and Josiah D.
One of the men most honored in Elkhart County affairs during
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the past half century has been Josiah D. Replogle. He was born on the old homestead in Concord Township of Elkhart County Novem- ber 14, 1838, being seventh in order of birth in his father's family. As a boy he attended school in a log schoolhouse, but at the age of eleven was thrown upon his own resources, and had to work hard for all that he ever gained in the world. He worked as a farm hand until seventeen, then began an apprenticeship at the mason's trade in Elkhart, and continued that business as a journeyman until 1862. He made a splendid record as a soldier during the Civil war. August 9. 1862, he enlisted in Company G of the Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry. He was promoted from private to corporal and color sergeant and altogether served for three years. He fought in the battles of Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, Buzzard's Roost, Dalton and Jonesboro. He and his command were in some of the most hotly contested battles of the war, as the above names indicate, but he escaped without wounds, though he was so ill for some time after the battle of Chickamauga that he was unable to take nourishment for eight con- secutive days. He followed Sherman on the brilliant campaign and march to the sea, and afterwards participated in the Grand Review at Washington, and in that parade carried the flag at the head of the Seventy-fourth Indiana Regiment.
A short time before the war Josiah D. Replogle had moved from a home in the City of Elkhart to Osolo Township, where he acquired a farm, with a log cabin home. In time he became the owner of more than 200 acres of fine land, with several sets of farmi improve- ments, and surrounded himself with all the comforts and a prosper- ity necessary for a peaceful retirement. He has participated much in local public affairs, in addition to his patriotic service rendered the nation during the time of its hardest trial in the Civil war. He has been a consistent republican, served as road supervisor, as justice of the peace eight years, as township trustee, as township assessor five years and in various other positions of trust. As a member of the Grand Army of the Republic he affiliates with Elmer Post No. 37, and his church home is the Methodist Episcopal.
On June 27, 1859, Josiah D. Replogle married Miss Harriet M. Wilson, who was born in Knox County, Ohio, December 27, 1835, a daughter of David and Phoebe (Smith) Wilson. The children born to their union, all but one having been born on the homestead farm in Osolo Township, were: Arthur G., who was born at Elkhart February 12, 1860; Josiah Wellington, born April 6, 1863; Edward, born September 6, 1867, and died July 28, 1881 ; Charles E .; Ernest C., born January 28, 1871 ; Otis A., born December 7, 1872; Elnora
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A., born December 25, 1874, and died September 20, 1898; Emmet and Eugene, twins, born October 17, 1877.
Charles Replogle, who as a representative of this family name is well known all over Elkhart County, has been primarily identified with the work of education. He was born on his father's old home- stead in Osolo Township May 3, 1869. He acquired an education in the rural schools, and at the age of eighteen qualified himself for his first work as a teacher. For several years he followed the pro- fession only in the winter months and attended school during the summer vacations, taking the normal course in the Normal School at Valparaiso. The first school he taught was in District No. 3 of Osolo Township and he taught in that same district more than twenty years later. Practically all his teaching has been confined to Elkhart County, though for about a year he was in Noble County, Indiana.
Mr. Replogle is a republican in politics, is an active member of the Knights of the Maccabees, and has been known as a citizen ever ready to lend his support to anything that would benefit the commun- ity. November 27, 1893, he married Miss Orpha May Baker, who was born in Osolo Township, daughter of Aaron and Sarah ( Smith) Baker. To their marriage were born three sons and one daughter: Charles Elmer, Joseph Aaron, Gladys Ruth and Wayne Manon.
WILLIAM BARGER. One of the old and honored pioneers of Elkhart County still living is William Barger, who has witnessed many phases of development in this section of Indiana during the past fifty or sixty years. He is now living retired at Elkhart, after a long and successful business career.
He was born in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, May 12, 1831. His father George Barger was a farmer and in 1836 removed to Seneca County, Ohio, buying a tract of timbered land near the present site of Flat Rock. He cleared up eighty acres of that land, and had as his home a log house with a frame barn, and continued to live there until his death at the age of fifty-five. George Barger married Margaret Shock, who died at the age of sixty-five, having reared twelve children.
William Barger attended district schools in Flat Rock, Ohio, and continued to make his home with his parents until he was twenty- four. In the meantime he had learned and had worked as a carpen- ter in Seneca County, but in 1855 came to Indiana and located in St. Joseph County. That was his home until 1859, in which year he removed to Elkhart County and set up in business as a contractor and builder. In that occupation for twenty-five years he rendered a
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highly important service in the construction of a great many build- ings in and around Elkhart. On leaving the contracting business he set up a shop for the manufacture of paper boxes, and continued as active proprietor of the concern until 1900. Since that year he had been retired. In 1853 Mr. Barger married Cynthia J. Cherry. Mrs. Barger died in 1896, the mother of seven children. In 1898 he married Mrs. Carrie Skiles Castetter, who was born in Misha- waka, St. Joseph County, Indiana. Her father Thomas Skiles was born in Maryland, a son of Thomas Skiles, who spent his life in that state and was of Scotch parentage. Mrs. Barger's father came West when a young man and was an early settler at Mishawaka, Indiana, engaged in farming near that town. He lived in St. Joseph County until his death at the age of eighty-nine. Thomas Skiles married Mary Fair, who was born on Apple Pie Ridge in New York State and died at the age of about forty, leaving nine children.
Mrs. Barger when nineteen years of age married John Castetter. He was born in Ohio, a son of Rev. John and Catherine (Harsh- barger) Castetter. Rev. John Castetter was a minister of the Evan- gelical Church, and as an early settler of St. Joseph County, Indiana, not only served on the work of the ministry but also owned and operated a farm including the ground now in Riverside Cemetery at Mishawaka. From St. Joseph County he moved to Elkhart, and filled the pulpit in the Evangelical Church for several years. He died at the age of about seventy-nine. John Castetter, Mrs. Barger's first husband, was a painter and house decorator, lived in South Bend some years, later in Warsaw, and finally came to Elkhart where he conducted business until his death at the age of sixty-four. Mrs. Barger has one son by her first marriage named Leon Castetter.
Mr. and Mrs. Barger are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he has long been active in its work and affairs, having served as class leader, chorister, trustee, treasurer of church and Sunday school, and as Sunday school superintendent. Mr. Barger has a very keen recollection of many interesting events in the past. He began voting before the republican party was formed, and in 1864 he cast his ballot for Abraham Lincoln and has never deserted the ranks of the republicans since that date. At one time he served as a member of the city council at Elkhart.
ENOS HILL TURNOCK. The Turnock family has been identified with Elkhart for more than forty years. At an earlier time the name was identified with the first high class crockery and china house in that city, and indeed for a time with the best establishment of its kind in Northern Indiana. Enos H. Turnock, after complet-
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ing his education at Elkhart, went to Chicago, for many years he practiced his profession as an architect, and since 1907 has had his home and business headquarters in Elkhart. Of his work as an architect it is necessary only to point to the best public and private buildings erected in Elkhart during the past eight years.
A native of the City of London, England, Enos Hill Turnock was born February 27, 1857, a son of Richard and Elizabeth ( Hill) Turnock. His father was born at Stock on the Trent in 1831 and died in 1895. The mother was born at Hanley, England, in 1839, and died April 4, 1915. They were married in London and became the parents of four children, three of whom are still living. The oldest is Enos H .; Richard lives in Elkhart ; and James is a Chicago lawyer. Richard Turnock was for a number of years engaged in the crockery, glass and china business in London. He was a highly . educated man and accomplished a great deal of good both as a writer and speaker. The distinction belongs to him of having organized the first carpenters and joiners union in the world. He perfected that organization in the City of London, after bitter opposition and a campaign in which the tide was turned to success largely through his writings and speeches. Richard Turnock made several voyages to America, and in 1871 brought his family to this country. They embarked on a sailing vessel, the Cuba, and after several weeks on the ocean landed in New York City. After visiting friends and relatives in Elizabeth, New Jersey, they came on to Elkhart, Indiana, and here Richard Turnock established the first high grade crockery store in the city. He imported a large part of his goods from Eng- land, France and Germany, and for several years carried the finest stock to be found anywhere in the state. He was never interested in politics to the extent of a public office, but after becoming a naturalized citizen voted the democratic ticket.
As a boy Enos Hill Turnock attended the Borough schools in London, and was about fifteen years of age when the family came to Elkhart in 1872, after which he attended the grammar schools and high school. His inclinations and his early talents indicated his career for him when a young man. Part of his training was ac- quired in the Art Institute of Chicago, and for nine years he was with the noted Chicago architect, W. L. B. Jenney. After that he practiced his profession individually in Chicago until 1907, in which year he returned to Elkhart.
Mr. Turnock since that year has drawn the plans for practically all the finer buildings, including homes, factories and public edifices, in Elkhart. At the present writing he is working on the plans of a new city hall at Elkhart. He has also been architect for a number
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of contracts in Goshen and other cities, and the Goshen Hospital is one example of his work. He was architect for the new high school at Elkhart, one of the finest buildings of its kind in the state, for the Elkhart Masonic Temple and the Elkhart Public Library Building.
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