USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > A twentieth century history and biographical record of Elkhart County, Indiana > Part 41
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Mr. McClure, as a companion and helpmate for life's journey, chose Miss Delilah Immel, to whom he was married on the 15th of September, 1880. She was born in Jackson township, November 13, 1856. and is the fourth in a family of ten children, whose parents were Israel and Eva (Coughman) Inimel. Her father was a native of Ross county, Ohio, and further mention of him is made elsewhere in this work. Mrs. McClure spent her girlhood days in the place of her nativity and acquired a common school education, after which she became a student in the Goshen normal school. Later she was a successful teacher of this county for seven terms, the scholars making good progress
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under her direction, but she gave up her work in this connection in order to assume household duties at the time of her marriage to Mr. McClure.
The young couple began their domestic life upon a farm and Mr. McCluire has continued to engage in agricultural pursuits since that time. It was in 1883 that he located on his present farm of one hundred and forty acres of productive and valuable land in Jackson township and he has since given his attention in undivided manner to the further development and improvement of this property. In 1904 he erected a pretty and modern country home, which forms one of the attractive features of the landscape. It was constructed in tasteful style and architecture, is well furnished and moreover is noted for its generous hospitality, which is greatly enjoyed by many friends of the family. In his farming operations Mr. McClure has been quite suc- cessful and he has striven to improve the grade of cattle raising, his specialty being Short-horns. He also raises Poland China hogs and his stock presents a splendid appearance, being well kept and of good breeds.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. McClure has been blessed with a daughter and a son. Maude, who was graduated from the public schools of New Paris in the class of 1897, entered the Milford high school in the year 1898 and was a student there for three years. She afterward successfully passed a teacher's examination in Elkhart county and later pursued a year's course in the New Paris high school. She next secured a position as teacher in the intermediate department of the schools of New Paris, where she remained for two years, when she continued her own education, matriculating in Danville normal, where she is now a student. She will have charge the coming year of the intermediate department of the New Paris high schools. She be- longs to the New Century Club of New Paris. The only son, Lloyd, completed the course in the public schools near his home with the class of 1898 and then spent two years in the Milford high school and four months in the high school at New Paris. He then took the teacher's examination and after receiving his diploma he continued his studies in New Paris. His first school was in the home township, teaching there in the winter of 1902 and '03, and he has now followed the pro- fession for three years. In the fall of 1905 he expects to enter the Dan- ville normal to pursue the full scientific course. He is a thorough and zealous student. and Mr. and Mrs. McCluire have every reason to be proud of their children, whom they have carefully educated and thus qualified for the important duties in life.
Mr. MeClure votes with the Republican party, of which he has been a stalwart advocate since casting his first presidential ballot for R. B. Hayes. He has frequently been a delegate to county conven- tions and yet he is not a typical politician in the sense of office seeking,
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preferring to leave that to others. He stands for all that is progressive in citizenship. honorable in business affairs and for faithfulness to the ties of friendship and of the home.
REV. ABRAHAM B. YODER.
Rev. Abraham B. Yoder, presiding elder for the Mennonite Breth- ren in Christ of southern Michigan and northern Indiana, one of the best known and most able of the ministers of that denomination, has been a highly esteemed citizen of Wakarusa for a number of years. Not only as an evangel of religion, culture and morality, has he directed his endeavors in performing the work of life, but, being possessed of good business sagacity and executive power, he has been known as a successful merchant in Wakarusa, and in various ways has identified himself with the life and activities of the communities where he has made his home.
Elkhart county also claims Rev. Yoder as one of its native sons, and he has been an honored member of the great family, both native and adopted, which has brought advancement and prosperity to the county during the past decades. Born in Olive township, December 24. 1867, he is the seventh in a family of nine children, seven sons and two daughters, born to Pennsylvania German parents. Henry B. Yoder, the father, was born June 3. 1829, in Mahoning county, Ohio, and (lied March 18, 1899. at his home near Wakarusa, Indiana. Elizabeth ( Bixler ) Yoder was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, August 30. 1833. and died at her home near Wakarusa, December 24, 1880.
Reared on the home farm and educated in the common schools and then the high school at Wakarusa, at the age of eighteen Rev. Yoder received a certificate to teach school and at once entered upon his profession in Locke township, where thirteen years of successful work as a practical educator shows how well he performed his duties. Hle also taught a year in the Elkhart Seminary, in which institution he taught language and church history and topical Bible study. At the age of twenty-eight he entered the ministry of the Mennonite Bretli- ren in Christ Society, and of his nine years in the ministry he spent two at New Market, Iowa, where he had charge of several congrega- tions. In 1901 he was elected by the annual conference as presiding elder of the Indiana and Ohio Conference, his field of labor being in southern Michigan and northern Indiana. He has ten circuits and sixteen churches to look after. so that he leads a very busy life and his devotion to the cause of upbuilding his church and religious culture in general has brought about some notable results in the last few years. Some years ago Rev. Yoder, with his two brothers, N. B. and .A. B., established a hardware business in Wakarusa, and for seven years was one of the merchants of the town. The fire of October, 1898. resulted in the destruction of thirteen buildings comprising the main business
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portion of the town, their place of business being burned and their resulting loss being; five thousand dollars. He sold out to his brothers in February, 1001.
August 31. 1889, Rev. Yoder married Miss Mary M. Myers. They have one child, Ray O., born November 20, 1893, who is now in the seventh grade of the Wakarusa schools and is a bright all-around stu- dent, with perhaps special fondness for history and geography. Mrs. Yoder, who as a woman of culture and innate refinement, has been both an inspiring influence and helpful co-worker with her husband, was born in this county, February 12, 1800, being the tenth of eleven children. four sons and seven daughters, born to Jonas and Mary ( Barkey ) Myers. The five children vet living are all residents of this county. Jonas Myers, who was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, is now aged seventy years and lives on a farm in Locke township. He and his wife are members of the Mennonite church, and his political belief is Repub- lican. Mrs. Myers, who was born in Holmes county, Ohio, over seventy years ago, is also still living. Mrs. Yoder received her education in the schools of Locke township. Mr. and Mrs. Yoder have a pretty and cosy cottage on Wabash avenue in Wakarusa and are held in high esteem among their many friends.
A strong Prohibitionist, Rev. Yoder has done all in his power for temperance and morality in his town. He is an able exponent, by practicai life and conviction, of the creed of simplicity, righteous living and spirituality which forms the basis of Mennonite faith. The world is much the gainer for the past and present lives of this high-minded and wholesome-acting sect, and wherever Mennonite communities are found there abide integrity, respect for law, and high standards of moral conduct.
JOHN F. MCCLURE.
John F. McClure, a farmer, who was connected with pioneer interests in Elkhart county, was born in Jackson township, November 20. 1850, his parents being John and Rachel E. ( Loyd) McClure. The father was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, October 30, 1808, and (lied September 6, 1893. He was reared to farm life, spending his childhood and youth in the county of his nativity. Following his marriage he removed to Indiana, in 1850, accompanied by Louis Noble. making the journey in a covered wagon in true pioneer style. He settled in Jackson township, purchasing about one hundred and sixty acres of partially improved land, on which he built a log cabin. Deer were to be seen in the forests at that time and the village of New Paris was but a hamlet. Mr. McClure was a very enterprising and energetic man and through his well directed labors acquired three hun- (red and eighty-six acres of land in Jackson township, together with a nice property in New Paris. He adhered to the principles of the Presbyterian faith and advocated all measures for the growth and
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development of the churches and for the betterment of mankind. He was a man of strong convictions and he daily instilled into the minds of his children lessons of industry and integrity, while his own life record was proof of the value and sure rewards of character. Mrs. McClure was also a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, and to her family was an affectionate and loving wife and mother. They became the parents of six children-two sons and four daughters, and those vet living are: Ellen, the wife of John Serannage. an agriculturist of Clinton township; John F., who was the third of the six children ; Lewis K., who is married and follows farming in Jackson township ; and Rachel E., who resides in New Paris, Indiana.
John F. McClure was reared upon the old home farm and at the usual age entered the public schools, the little "temple of learning" being a log schoolhouse in Jackson township. The building is still standing and is now used as a house. There was one long desk and the room was heated by a box stove. The seats were made of slabs, resting on wooden legs, and the methods of teaching were also somewhat primitive, Mr. McClure having witnessed great changes in the school system of the county. He can remember many events of pioneer life here, including the building of the first railroad which crossed Jackson township. He was early trained to farm labor, becoming familiar with the work of field and meadow at an early age, and he remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age, when he began renting land of his father so that his labors might more directly benefit himself. He continued to make his home, however, with his parents up to the time of his marriage, which occurred on the 31st of January, 1884. Miss Mary E. Vail becoming his wife. She was born in Ohio, May 9. 1857, and with her parents came to Indiana when a little girl, so that her education was acquired in this county. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and belongs to the Ladies' Aid Society. and has been a faithful and devoted wife and mother, encouraging and assisting her husband in every possible way. To this marriage has been born a daughter, Carrie E., who is now attending school and is in the seventh grade.
Mr. McClure is a stalwart Republican and proudly cast his first presidential vote for General U. S. Grant, since which time he has given his ballot for each nominee at the head of the ticket. He has frequently been chosen to represent his township in the county conven- tion, but he has never sought or desired office for himself, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs. For many years he continued to carry on agricultural pursuits, he and his sister Rachel owning one hundred and eighty-five acres of fine land in Jackson township. In March, 1904, however, he left the active work of the farm to others and removed to New Paris, locating in a modest home here in order to educate his daughter. While on the farm he always raised the best grades of stock and carried on his work along progressive
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lines. The family are well known in New Paris and throughout Elk- hart county and the hospitality of many of the best homes is freely accorded them.
REV. HENRY NEFF.
Rev. Henry Neff, active in the ministry of the German Baptist church and making his home in Jackson township, is of Swiss lineage, his ancestors having lived in Switzerland, the land of the Alps. He was born in White county, Indiana, January 23. 1837, his parents being Henry and Anna ( Frantz) Neff, who had eleven children, but only two are now living, the sister of Rev. Neff being Mrs. Susan Arnold, the widow of Levi Arnold and a resident of Jackson township. Henry Neff was a native of Botetourt county, Virginia, born in 1798, a year before the death of George Washington. He became a tiller of the soil and remained in the Old Dominion until after his marriage. He wedded Miss Anna Frantz and four children were born to them ere their removal to the west. His educational privileges were meagre. but he managed to broaden his knowledge greatly through private study and investigation. He was an earnest student of the Bible and was also noted for his piety and his high standard of conduct. He was firm in his religious faith and each day led the worship around the family altar .. It was in 1833. the year of the great meteoric display. that he and his family emigrated to the west with southern Indiana as their destination. The trip was made in true pioneer style, traveling in covered wagons across the swamps and through the wilderness. They took up their abode in White county, Indiana, where they were living at the time of the birth of Rev. Neff. For a few years only. however. they remained in that locality and thence came to Elkhart county, settling in Washington township. In 1840 they located in Jackson township, where Mr. Neff purchased eighty acres of partially improved land. The surrounding district was covered with a dense growth of timber and no roads had been laid out. The first home of the family was a little log cabin with a mud and stick chimney, while before the immense fire-place was a stone hearth. Henry Neff carried on agricultural pursuits year after year and became a successful man, accumulating six hundred and forty acres of land, so that he was enabled to give to each of his five sons an eighty acre tract. He thus assisted them materially as they started out in life and he also instilled into their minds in youth lessons of industry, integrity and honor. which made them upright and valuable citizens in later years. At that early day many of the residents of Elkhart county were worshipers in the German Baptist church and as the county became more thickly populated the original church was divided and subdivided, various con- gregations being established until the last offshoot of the church is that known as the Union Center church. Henry Neff. Sr., was then chosen by the congregation as its pastor and for about thirty years he
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ministered to this growing flock. By his good words of admonition and his untiring labors the church prospered and grew throughout this long period. In early days the services of the German Baptists were held in the homes of the different members, but in 1858 the Fast or Whitehead house of worship was erected in Jackson township and it is now the oklest church of the denomination in Elkhart county. Mr. Neff's money aided very materially in the erection of this church and he always contributed generously toward promoting the cause of re- ligion. His life was indeed honorable and upright and his memory is vet enshrined in the hearts of those who knew him. He passed away in November. 1868, amid the deep and widespread regret of a very extensive circle of friends. His wife, who was also a native of Vir- ginia, was born near Roanoke City in 1804 and died in 1887. She was a kind and affectionate wife and mother, economical in her man- agement of household affairs, and thus she proved of great assistance to her husband in the early days when their possessions were few. Great responsibility devolved upon her. for her husband's time was taken up almost wholly by his ministerial duties.
Rev. Henry Neff, whose name introduces this record, was a little lad of only about three years when he was brought to Elkhart county. and for sixty-five years he has resided here, witnessing its development as from the virgin forests there has emerged an advanced civilization. For more than a half century he has lived in Jackson township and during this period has witnessed many remarkable changes, including the introduction of the telegraph and telephone and the building of the extensive railroad systems that now cross and recross the state, while the beautiful cities of Elkhart and Goshen have developed from small towns and villages and other centers of learning and culture. of busi- ness activity and commercial enterprise, have sprung up. As has been said, great changes have occurred within the memory of Rev. Neff. He was at one time a pupil in the early pioneer school when the house was built of logs-a little structure eighteen by twenty-two feet. It was covered with a clapboard roof, through which a stove pipe ex- tended from the stove to the open air. The desk on which the larger boys and girls wrote their exercises was formed by placing a board upon wooden pins driven into the wall, while the seats were made of split puncheons, in which large holes had been bored that wooden legs might be inserted. thus raising the bench from the ground. He wrote with the old-time goose quill pen fashioned by the master. and some of his early text-books were Webster's Elementary Speller, McGuf- fey's Readers and Davies' and Ray's arithmetics. Now the log school- house has passed away. replaced by substantial frame and brick struc- tures, and great improvements have been introduced in the methods of teaching as well as in the curriculum.
Rev. Neff was reared to the occupation of farming and after arriving at years of maturity he was married to Miss Elizabeth Brown,
.
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the wedding ceremony being performed on the 6th of February, 1802. Mrs. Neff was born in Elkhart county, July 9, 1840, and is a daughter of Jacob, and Lydia (Smith ) Brown. By her marriage she became the mother of four sons and a daughter, all of whom are yet living. namely: Melvin D., a farmer residing in Kosciusko county, Indiana. who married Miss Etta Ruckstool; William Franklin and Charles A., who are npon the home farm; Josiah E., a farmer of Jackson township, who married Etta Conrad and has a son and a daughter; and Anna, the wife of William Clayton, a farmer of Jackson township, by whom she has three daughters and one son.
In 1892 Rev. Neff was elected minister of the gospel of the Ger- man Baptist church and labors with the Union Center congregation. He is loved by his people for his devotion to the cause and his conse- cration to the work and he enjoys the full respect and confidence of people of other denominations as well. He aims at all times to present the truth as he understands it and to assist his fellow men in drawing near to the path of life marked out by the holy scriptures. He makes his home in Jackson township, where he owns a valuable farm of over four hundred acres of land and he also has eighty acres outside of the county limits. His is a beautiful country residence, situated in the midst of attractive surroundings and he and his family are prominent socially, exercising a beneficent influence for the welfare and upbuild- ing of the community.
DANIEL A. SANDERS.
The expression " the dignity of labor" is exemplified in the life record of Daniel A. Sanders, who attributes his success to earnest work and close application. He is a man of strong force of character, purpose- ful and energetic, and his keen discrimination and sound judgment are shown in his capable management of one of the most important industries of Goshen, being president of the Sanders & Egbert Company. He was born in York county, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1841. His father, Her- man R. Sanders, was a native of Germany, being there reared, and after coming to America was married and took up his abode in York county. Pennsylvania, his death there occurring when he had reached his eightieth year. He was a shoemaker by occupation. His wife died at the age of sixty-six years. She bore the maiden name of Rebecca Gross, and by her marriage became the mother of three children, two sons and a daughter.
Daniel A. Sanders, the second child in order of birth in his parents' family, spent his boyhood days in the county of his nativity, during which time he attended its public schools. On reaching the age of twenty-one he left the parental home and started out on the active duties of life for himself, first serving a two years' apprenticeship at the stone-mason's trade, and for eleven years he followed that occupation. On the expiration of that period he engaged in the buying and selling of timber. The year
DA Sandus
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1865 witnessed his arrival in Goshen, and in 1892, at the organization of the Lesh. Sanders & Egbert Company, he was made its vice-president and treasurer. In July, 1898, the firm name was changed to that of Sanders & Egbert Company, and of this Mr. Sanders was made president and general manager. Much of the success of this well known institution is due to his untiring efforts. This extensive corporation furnishes employ- ment to from one hundred and fifty to two hundred men, and is one of the leading institutions of this section of the state. Mr. Sanders is also a director in the City National Bank and a director in the Elkhart County Loan & Trust Company of Goshen.
He married Frances Mary Miltenberger, and they have had two sons- Harry M., and Boyd W., who died at the age of fifteen years. Mr. San- ders gives his political support to the Democracy, and fraternally is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
WILBER L. STONEN.
Wilber L. Stonex, for many years prominent in legal and business affairs at Goshen. ex-president of the Elkhart County Historical So- ciety, and who, ont of pure love for the preservation of local annals and old-time records of his county, has devoted much time and labor to placing in literary form several important phases of the history of his county, was born at Sturgis, Michigan, March 5. 1852.
Mr. Stonex has a long and interesting ancestry, and is connected on the maternal side with one of the earliest as also most prominent pioneers of Elkhart county. His great-grandfather was Thomas Stonex, who was born, lived and died in Morton, Norfolk county, England; who had three brothers, Rowland. Benjamin and James, and one sister. Deborah; and who married for his second wife a widow Wright, who bore him one son, William.
William Stonex, the grandfather, who was born in England in 1791. married Elizabeth Tipple, and in 1830 emigrated to the United States, making a permanent settlement in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. He died in 1848, and was buried. in Franklin county, Indiana.
One child was born to William and Elizabeth Stonex. William Garrett, whose birth occurred at 18 Chambers street, London, England, November 17. 1818, and who was twelve years old when the family came to America. Studying law at Lawrenceburg, this state, he was admitted to the bar in 1842, but soon afterward entered the ministry of the Methodist church, and at one time was pastor of that congre- gation at Goshen. In 186- he transferred his religious allegiance to the Episcopal church. He died in Dexter, Michigan. August 12. 1897. and was buried in Goshen, where he was well known and much be- loved. His wife was Mary Agnes Thomas, the youngest daughter of Themas Thomas, whose name figures prominently in connection with the early history of this county and who was the first county clerk.
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She was but a child when she came to this county, and she married Rev. Mr Stonex March 30, 1846. Her death occurred April 10. 1889. at the age of sixty-three years. The following children who grew to maturity were born of their marriage: Rev. Henry .A. Stonex : Mary and Emma, unmarried daughters, who live at Dexter. Michigan ; and Wilber L.
Owing to the itinerant character of his father's profession Mr. Wilber I .. Stonex passed his youth in various localities and under varying influences. He received an excellent education, however. at- tending and graduating from Albion ( Michigan) College in 1870 with the degree of .A. B. (.A. M., in 1880). He then taught one year in Immanuel Hall Military School, near Chicago, and in January. 1872, came to Goshen and entered the law office of the well known law firm of Baker and Mitchell. Pursuing his studies with characteristic energy. he was admitted to the bar in 1873. and has since been numbered among the able representatives of the Elkhart county bar.
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