USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > A twentieth century history and biographical record of Elkhart County, Indiana > Part 49
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In September. 1892, Dr. Stuckman was married to Miss Savilla Neff. a daughter of William and Mary ( Flory) Neff and a native of Elkhart county, Indiana. Dr. and Mrs. Stuckman now have one son- Edgar. Since proudly casting his first presidential vote, the doctor has been an advocate of Republican principles, and has taken an active in- terest in the work of the party. He is a member of the Elkhart County Medical Society and is well known throughout this part of the state as a gentleman of strong purpose and laudable ambition, who in his chosen calling has already demonstrated his right to rank with its foremost rep- resentatives.
DANIEL J. TROYER.
Daniel J. Troyer, for several years city attorney of Goshen and recently appointed probate commissioner of Elkhart county, was born on his father's farm in Clinton township of this county, May 20, 1860. and throughout his career he has been identified closely with his native community. Of a family which has numerous honorable connections in various parts of the country, containing names of some early settlers of Elkhart county, he was a son of John D. and Catherine ( Egli) Troyer. The father, who was born in Holmes county, Ohio, was a son of David and Elizabeth ( Plank ) Troyer, both natives of Holmes county. where David Troyer died at the age of nearly eighty-five years. Go- ing back still another remove in the ancestry, there was Joseph Troyer, who was of Swiss lineage, and from his native state of Penn- sylvania had become an early settler of Holmes county, Ohio. Cath- erine ( Egli) Troyer, the mother of Mr. Troyer, who was born near Canton, Stark county, Ohio, was of German parentage, and her father. Christian Egli, settled in Clinton township of Elkhart county along in the early forties, where he continued to make his home until his death about twenty-five years ago, John D. Troyer, the father, came to this county, a single man, in 1858, was married soon after, and settled on a faim in Clinton township. In 188t he moved to Michigan, and ten
Del Toyer
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years later moved to Milford, Nebraska, where he is now engaged in the contracting business.
Reared on a farm and obtaining his preliminary education in the country schools, Mr. Troyer enjoyed excellent educational privileges and is one of the thoroughly learned men in the legal profession of this county. He attended the Indiana State University and later the Normal College at Danville, Indiana. Securing a teacher's certificate when seventeen years old, for twenty-four years he was known as one of the prominent educators of this county. He was principal of the Benton schools two years, was one year in the North Side school in Goshen, and for a number of years a member of the faculty of Goshen high school. While teaching he took up the study of law, studying with .A. S. Zook and then with E. A. Dausman, and was admitted to the bar in 1899. At the death of Llewellyn Wanner he purchased the law library of the estate and opened his office in Goshen. For two years he was associated with the firm of Miller. Drake and Hubbell, but in January, 1905, he again engaged in practice alone. He was a member of the Goshen city council two years, and since May, 1902. has served as city attorney, having been twice elected to the office. In the fall of 1904 he was appointed probate commissioner for Elkhart county. In politics Mr. Troyer has always voted and advocated the cause of the Republican party.
One of the prominent fraternity men in Goshen, Mr. Troyer has affiliations with the Odd Fellows. the Knights of Pythias, the Macca- bees, the Knights and Ladies of Columbia. He has taken an especially active part in Odd Fellowship, having for the past four years served as member of the legislative committee of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, and for some time has been secretary and a trustee of the subordinate lodge at Goshen and treasurer of the encampment. He is a member of the Reformed church in Goshen.
In 1881 Mr. Troyer married Miss Etta Brown, of Clinton town- ship. Their living children are two daughters. Myrtle M., the elder, who was formerly principal of the Wakarusa schools and taught one vear in the Goshen schools, is now the wife of V. V. Swartz, Goshen. Indiana. Miss Pearl is a stenographer in her father's office, and the only son, John, died at the age of six years. Mrs. Troyer is a daugh- ter of Amos and Ann ( Evans) Brown, who were early settlers of Clin- ton township, where they both died in 1892.
JACOB HARTMAN.
The firm of Hartman Brothers is well known in Nappanee, and of this business combination Jacob Hartman is a representative. He was born in Elkhart county, September 6, 1849, and is a son of Adam Hart- man, a native of Germany, who came to this county at an early day, set- tling in Harrison township, where he remained for about two years. He
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then removed to Union township, where he improved a farm, but his last days were spent in Harrison township, where he died at an advanced age. As a pioneer settler he not only witnessed the development of the county, but assisted materially in the changes that were wrought and which brought about its present improved condition and prosperity. Every matter of progressive citizenship received his endorsement, and in as far as possible he gave to it his material assistance. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Elizabeth Rainer. was born in Pennsylvania and passed away in Elkhart county. They were the parents of seven sons and three daughters, and with one exception all reached manhood or womanhood. namely: Samuel, who is engaged in dealing in produce south of Elk- hart: Tobias, who was born in Ohio and is a member of the firm of Hartman Brothers: Peter, of Louisiana; Adam R., a representative farmer living about three and a half miles west of Nappanee; Jacob of this review: John, who is also a member of the firm of Hartman Brothers; Emanuel, deceased: Catherine, the deceased wife of David W. Bechtel; Elizabeth, the wife of Samuel Mettever of Newton, Kan- sas; and one that died in infancy.
Jacob Hartman, the seventh child and fifth son of this family, was reared upon his father's farm in Union township and continued to assist him along agricultural lines until twenty-one years of age, when he started out to make his own way in the world, following both farming and carpentering for a year. On the expiration of that period he began business on his own account at Hapton, Kosciusko county, joining his brother Samuel in the ownership and conduct of a mercantile store. This was in 1871 and they conducted the business until 1873, when they removed to Locke, where they carried on a similar enterprise until 1875. In that year Samuel Hartman sold his interest to his brothers, Tobias und John, the firm name of Hartman Brothers being retained. Soon after they established a branch store at Nappanee when the town was organized and carried on both stores until 1883, when they removed the stock at Locke to Nappanee. Here they have since continued as Hartman Brothers. This was one of the first stores in the town and is now the largest enterprise of the kind at this place. They conduct a general mercantile establishment, carrying clothing, groceries, dry goods, boots and shoes, notions, carpets and queensware. In fact their store is well equipped with a large line of goods and the business has grown to gratifying proportions. Hartman Brothers are recognized as leading and influential men of the town and in connection with their store they own an elevator and are largely interested in shipping grain. They furnish employment to from fifteen to twenty men and their enterprise has been an important factor in the upbuilding and improvement of Nappanee
Jacob Hartman was married in 1877 to Miss Alwelda J. Farring- ton. a daughter of William and Calissa Farrington. Mrs. Hartman was born in the Empire state and became a resident of Kosciusko county
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in her girlhood days. She died in February, 1895, leaving two sons and two daughters: Arthur F., who married Cinderella Emmons and is engaged in the banking business in Nappanee: Melvin F., who wedded Sarah Bellman and is in the employ of Hartman Brothers: Iva 1., who is engaged in clerking in the store: Diana B., who is engaged in book- keeping in the store. On the rith of September, 1896, Mr. Hartman was again married, his second union being with Osa E. Heckaman, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah Heckaman of Kosciusko county. There is one child by this marriage. Russell H., now five years of age.
Jacob Hartman takes no active part in political affairs but is a Prohibitionist in principle. He is well known in the county, having spent his entire life here, and his business prominence is the result of carefully directed effort, unfaltering diligence and strong and determined purpose. He has become well-to-do, yet the acquirement of a com- petence has not alone been the goal for which he was striving, for he belongs to that class of representative American citizens who promote the general prosperity while advancing individual interests.
JOHN HARTMAN.
John Hartman, of the firm of Hartman Brothers, general mer- chants at Nappanee, is a native son of Elkhart county, who has found in the business conditions here all the opportunity necessary for successful accomplishment. He was born in Union township, December 11, 1851, and in a family of nine children was the sixth in order of birth. He early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the ag- riculturist, for upon the farm he was reared and at an early age he began assisting in the work of the fields. His education was obtained in the public schools and he continued to render his father aid in the work of the farm until twenty-one years of age. He then hegan working for his brother in a store and about a year later was admitted to a partner- ship under the firm style of Hartman Brothers. They have one of the largest department stores in the county and have been very pros- perous since instituting this business. Theirs is now the oldest estab- lished enterprise of Nappanee, and in volume and importance their trade has kept pace with the growth of the town. They are also inter- ested in the grain business owning an elevator and shipping grain.
In July, 1879. John Hartman was married to Miss Rebecca Peters, who was born in Pennsylvania and is a daughter of William Peters. They have three children : Lillie, Barnetha and Horace. Mr. Hartman exercises his right of franchise in support of the Democratic party and its principles and he served for two terms or four years as township trustee in Locke township. lle was also a member of the town board for about six years and is now occupied in that capacity. His interest in the general welfare is manifest in tangible effort for the
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public good. He is an active. wide-awake man, furthering worthy pub- lic measures, and at the same time conducting private business interests with an ability that has insured success.
SUMNER ARTHUR EDMANDS, M. D.
Sumner Arthur Edmands, Al. D., who has within the past few years added himself to the number of able medical men of Elkhart county, is a young physician of thorough training in his profession. of broad and expert experience. and his skill and knowledge have already advanced him to a place where he is recognized among the best of Goshen's physicians and surgeons.
Born November 21, 1870, during a brief residence of his parents at Buchanan, Berrien county, Michigan, he is a son of John and Emma ( White ) Edmands, both natives of the state of Massachusetts and mar- ried in that state. The paternal grandfather, Samuel Sumner Edmands. was a shoe manufacturer and banker at North Brookfield, and was also connected with the Boston and Albany Railroad. The maternal grand- father, A. J. White, of English and Scotch descent, followed the occu- pation of horticulturist and was also a music instructor. The parents of Dr. Edmands, leaving Massachusetts, went to Michigan, locating first at Buchanan and then at Kalamazoo, where the father still lives. The mother died when her son Sumner was three years old, and the father afterward married again.
Dr. Edmands was reared in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he at- tended the high school and then spent two years in the Baptist college at that place. For his professional education he matriculated in Rush Medical College in Chicago, and was graduated from that institution in 1896. For the following five years he practiced at Mendon, Michigan. and came to Goshen in 1901. Progressive in his ideals, he has never been content with his attainments, and since leaving school has taken two post-graduate courses to fit him more thoroughly for his work- one in gynecology in Chicago under Dr. A. R. Martin and one in bac- teriology in Rush Medical College. He gives some special attention to surgery, although his practice is of a general nature. He follows his profession closely and is connected with various professional organiza- tions -- the Elkhart County Medical Society, the Indiana State Medical Society, the Kalamazoo AAcademy of Medicine, Michigan State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. Fraternally he is affil- iated with the Knights of Pythias.
Dr. Edmands has achieved his own success, and, having been de- pendent on his own resources and labored for his self-support since he was ten years old, he should be classed among the self-made men of our country. Circumstances, however. . have not handicapped him to any great extent in his career, for he has always succeeded well in his under- takings. In his graduating class at medical college, numbering two hun-
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dred and thirty-five, he was honored by election as president of the class and his scholastic standing made him valedictorian. Dr. Edmands married Miss Ilettie Essig. Dr. Edmands' brother Samuel is a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is now an electrical engineer and a professor in Pratt Institute, Brooklyn.
BENJAMIN C. BENDER.
Benjamin C. Bender, one of the young and progressive citizens of Goshen, where he has spert practically all his life, now serving his second term as city clerk, was born in this city July 16, 1875. His parents were Jacob J. and Mary Ellen ( Crary ) Bender. . His father. though now a resident of Chicago, lived for a number of years in Goshen. and followed the vocation of traveling salesman.
Mr. Bender was reared and educated in Goshen. Entering upon his business career at the early age of eighteen, he then began as a commercial traveler in the interests of A. F. Kent and Sons, of James- town, New York, manufacturers of hosiery, and later sold silks for Brainerd and Armstrong Company, of New York. While on the road he became afflicted with rheumatism and was ill for several years. Ile then held the position of bookkeeper and cashier for the Goshen Milling Company until his election to the office of city clerk, which took place at the spring election of 1902, and two years later he was re-elected. He is an excellent official and has discharged his duties with a pains- taking care that is satisfactory to all concerned.
Mr. Bender is a stanch Republican, and fraternally is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knight Templar Masons. He was married in 1902 to Miss Maud C. Divine, of Reading. Michigan.
GEORGE W. ELLIS.
George W. Ellis, who for over fifteen years has been the efficient incumbent of the office of county superintendent of schools for Flk- hart county, has devoted almost his entire active career to educational work.
Born in Berlin, Holmes county, Ohio, September 15, 1850, Mr. Ellis was the third eldest of the eight children who comprised the fam- ily of James and Mary ( Thompson ) Ellis. This worthy couple, who were born in Pennsylvania. of Scotch-Irish lineage, and were reared in that state, were married in Ohio and many years lived at Wilmot, where the father died in 1871 aged forty-eight. and the mother in 1897 at the age of seventy-four. Two of their children are now deceased. The father, who was a blacksmith by trade. entered the Union service as first lieutenant of Company K. One Hundred and Sixty-third Ohio In- fantry, but after four months' service was sent home with health per- manently impaired, and he never regained his full strength. In politics
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he was a Republican, and was a man of influence and known for his in- tegrity in his home community.
Reared at Wilmot, Ohio, where he first attended school, later study- ing at Smithville and at Mt. Union ( Ohio) College. Mr. Ellis procured his educational and professional equipment by alternately teaching and attending school, so that he is really a self-educated man and has won by his own efforts the place he occupies as an educator. Mr. Ellis has been a citizen of Goshen since 1884. Soon after coming here he became principal of the South Fifth Street school, and held that place four years, until elected. in June. 1889. to the office of county superin- tendent, where successive re-elections have maintained him ever since.
Mr. Ellis is a Republican in politics, and fraternally is a Master Mason and a Knight of Pythias. He was married in Ohio in 1874 to Miss Ella Brey, and their family consists of four children, one son and three daughters.
MARTIN HENRY KINNEY.
Martin Henry Kinney, prominent for a number of years in the public affairs of the county, is now serving as clerk of the Elkhart Cir- cuit Court. The third generation of the family to reside in this county, he himself was born near the town of Bristol on May 27. 1862, a son of Benjamin F. and Catherine ( Layton) Kinney, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. His father accompanied his parents to Elkhart county when he was twelve years old, the family being one of the first to cast in their lot with this portion of northern Indiana, and both father and mother have lived nearly all their lives in the county, being farming people and still living near Bristol. There were just two children, and the younger, Charles L. Kinney, is ex- county surveyor and is now a contractor and surveyor residing at Bristol.
It is a circumstance worthy of note that both the father and mother and Charles L. Kinney as well as Mr. Martin Kinney himself have all, at different times, taught school in the same schoolhouse in this county. Martin Henry Kinney first attended the public schools of the town of Bristol, and later took a scientific course at the Northern Indi- ana Normal School at Valparaiso, where he also studied law. He has had eight years of school teaching experience, his last teaching being as principal of the Bristol schools. He was admitted to the bar on March 4. 1897, and has been more or less actively identified with the legal profession ever since. He resigned his place in the Bristol schools to become deputy clerk under George H. Fister, clerk of the Elkhart Circuit Court, and continued as deputy under Clerk Louis .A. Dennert. being deputy for eight years. In the fall of 1902 he was elected to his present position of clerk of the Elkhart Circuit Court, and has most capably filled the office to the present time, his present term to expire
Martin H. Kommey.
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on January 1. 1907. He has always been a stanch and active Repub- lican.
Mr. Kinney married on leap-year day. February 29, 1888, Miss Gertrude Swinehart, of this county. They are the parents of three children, Joyce, Clare and Paul. Mr. Kinnay affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, the Maccabees and the order of Elks.
WILLIAM BARGER.
William Barger retired a few years ago from a life of well spent activity and usefulness and is now one of the men past the age of threescore and ter who have given the best years of their careers to the business and industrial development of Elkhart and who may be considered the founders and authors of much of the present stability of the city.
Born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, May 12, 1831, the next to the youngest child of George Barger, who was of German stock, and Margaret ( Shock ) Barger, whose nine children all grew to maturity. at the age of three years the son William went with his parents to Seneca county, Ohio, and spent the years of his boyhood and youth in that county, receiving his education in the country schools. Although reared on a farm, he learned the carpenter's trade and followed it for some years. In 1856 he located in St. Joseph county, Indiana, and (luring the three years of his residence there he gave his efforts to the clearing up of a timber farm. In 1859 he identified himself with the city of Elkhart. and for twenty-five years thereafter was a well known contractor and builder. . During that period he erected his full share of the private and business houses of this city. In 1885. in partnership with his son, he began the manufacture of paper boxes, and his connec- tion with this very successful enterprise continued until 1900, when he withdrew permanently from active business and has since lived re- tired. His business career has been very successful, and in the forty vears during which he was so prominently identified with the business life of this city he accumulated a large amount of property. He assisted in the organization of the Elkhart Building and Loan Association, which later became the St. Joseph Valley Association. In this and in many other ways he has promoted the development and upbuilding of Elk- liart.
Mr. Barger married, in 1855. Miss Cynthia J. Cherry. Their wedded life has lasted over forty years, and in these years seven chil- (Iren were born to them, namely: Olinda B., Etta, Clementina, Frank- lin. William H .. James R., and Adelbert, who died in infancy. Mrs. Barger died in 1896, and in 1808 Mr. Barger was married to Mrs. Car- rie M. Castetler of Elkhart.
Reared in Democratic opinions and casting his first vote for those principles, in 1860 Mr. Barger became ? Republican, and, voting for
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Abraham Lincoln, for his second term, has ever since cast his ballot for Republican candidates. He has served on the city council of Elk- hart. A loval Methodist. the first church of that denomination in Elk- hart was partly built by him, and he is now a trustee and class leader in the church and has been treasurer of the Sunday school ever since com- ing to the city.
GEORGE W. HAUENSTEIN, M. D.
George W. Hauenstein, M. D., has been successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Elkhart since 1893. Since first opening an office he has never lost ground in his profession either from the standpoint of skill or patronage, and the sphere of his work is continually getting broader.
Dr. Hauenstein was born on a farm in Baugo township, January 20, 1866. His parents were Rudolph and Anna ( Myers ) Hauenstein. both of whom were born in Switzerland and were brought to the United States in childhood. The father, who had passed all his years from boyhood in this county, died in 1888 at the age of seventy years, while the mother. who was reared in Ohio, is still living on the old homestead in Baugo township, being in good health despite her eighty-four years. They had eight children, of whom a daughter died at the age of twenty.
Reared on a farm, Dr. Hauenstein obtained his early education in the country schools, and for a few years he taught school. Having chosen medicine as his profession he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Chicago and on his graduation from that well known school in 1893 he at once located for practice in Elkhart, where he has found a fruitful field for his labors and has made full use of his ample opportunities. He is a member of the Elkhart City and the Elkhart County medical societies and also of the Indiana Medical Society.
Dr. Hauenstein married. in 1892, Miss Effie Funk, and to them has been born one child. Russell F. They are members of the Metho- dist church, and are among the well known and highly respected cit- izens of the city of Elkhart.
ANDREW JACKSON CARPER. M. D.
Andrew Jackson Carper, M. D., is noted all over northern Indiana not only as one of the foremost among the general medical practitioners of this section of the state but more particularly as a specialist, who for years has treated with remarkable success cancers, eczema, and various chronic and habitual diseases. \ man of intense convictions and with a correspondingly broad personality, thoroughly skilled in his profes- sion. Dr. Carper has gained a deservedly high reputation for ability and among the people of Elkhart county in general has infused a complete confidence in his powers as a specialist and general practitioner.
Dr. Carper was born November 2. 1844, on a farm in DeKalb
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county, Indiana, a son of Adam and Elizabeth ( Cobler ) Carper, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania of German descent and, coming from Ohio, settled as pioneers in DeKalb county about 1840. They remained there the rest of their lives, the father being a farmer.
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