USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > A twentieth century history and biographical record of Elkhart County, Indiana > Part 53
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Charla@ Frank
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offices of Hubbell and Conley at Elkhart, and on November 13, 1894. when twenty-three years of age, he was admitted to the bar and at once began his professional career. AA short time later he was appointed deputy prosecutor, a position he held between four and five years, and about a year after leaving that office he was appointed county attorney. being now in his third year as such. At the same time he cares for a profitable and increasing private practice.
Mr. Frank affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks and is a member of the Century Club of Elkhart. He married. September 26. 1900, Miss Nettie J. Field- house, a daughter of John W. Fieldhouse, whose personal history ap- pears on other pages of this work.
EMERY L. JONES.
Emery L. Jones, at the head of the extensive furniture house of E. L. Jones Company in Goshen, and who has been identified with some line of the furniture business since youth, was born at Lowell, Michigan, September 4. 1863. and when a boy moved with his parents to Grand Rapids, in which place and in Lowell he received his educa- tion and became fitted for the practical affairs of life.
For seven years he sold furniture on the road, and after that became interested in the manufacture of furniture. In 1887 he estab- lished his residence in Goshen, and since then has been one of the leading and progressive business men of this city. In 1892 he pur- chased an interest in the furniture firm of J. F. B. Kauffman, which later became Cosby and Jones, and in 1900. on the retirement of the Mr. Cosby from the firm, the style became E. L. Jones Company, under which title the business is still conducted. The Jones furniture house is an exclusive furniture establishment. The stock is distributed over three floors, each one hundred and sixty-five by twenty-two feet. The window displays in this store are metropolitan in arrangement and effectiveness, and the universal verdict is to the effect that no better grades of goods can be found anywhere else in the county than at the Jones store. First-class business methods. enterprise and upright deal- ings have brought Mr. Jones a large share of business success, and he is one of the men who are pushing Goshen to the front as a commercial center.
Mr. Jones married Miss Edith A. Moulton. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen.
H. A. BUTTERFIELD.
Among the citizens of Goshen is numbered H. A. Butterfield, who is engaged in the livery business and is well known throughout the county as a stock buver. Goshen numbers him among her native sons.
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his birth occurring in this city on the 4th of March, 1857, his parents being J. P. and Julia C. ( Watkins ) Butterfield, both natives of New York. The father was of English descent, and is said to have been a direct descendant of Sir Edward Parker of that country. In 1855 the family home was established in Elkhart county, Indiana, and here the father was extensively engaged in the stock business, buying and ship- ping. He was well known throughout the community as a successful business man, upright in all his dealings, and at all times enjoyed the confidence of his many friends. He was deeply interested in the public affairs of his community, and served as councilman of the first ward of Goshen. His political support was given to the Democracy, and fraternally he was a worthy member of the Masonic order. His death occurred when he had reached the age of about sixty-four years, while the mother reached the seventy-fifth milestone on the journey of life.
H. A. Butterfieldl. the only child of this worthy pioneer couple. was reared and received his education in the schools of Goshen, and following in his father's footsteps began the stock business during his boyhood days. When only fifteen years of age he engaged in that occupation with his father, and after the latter's death succeeded to the business, continuing in its conduct for about twenty years. Ile has purchased stock all over the county, shipping the same to different places, and at one time five men were engaged in buying for him. In 1890 he expanded his operations to embrace the livery business. build- ing his large and commodious barn, which he well equipped, and in addition also conducts a hack and cab line. He is one of the prominent business men of Goshen, and has attained his prestige by personal effort and the correct application of the powers which are his.
In 1888 Mr. Butterfield was united in marriage to Anna Beck, and three children have been born to them, Harry, Mary and Joseph. Mr. Butterfield gives his political support to the Democratic party. He is interested in all that promotes good government, and served as coun- cilman of the first ward for two terms. He is a member of the Mac- cabees, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias fraternities. For forty-eight years has Goshen been his home, and he is thus widely known among her citizens and is held in uniform regard.
JOHN HALE.
John Hale, for over twenty-five years a resident of Goshen, and throughout this period actively identified with the city's business and industrial affairs. is now vice-president of the well known I. N. L. and Goshen Pump Company, a manufactory that has contributed much to the industrial wealth of the city and has made a prosperous record. Mr. Hale in his successful career has combined practical mechanical skill with good business and executive ability, and these qualities have been the basis on which he has built his success.
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Born in Three Rivers, Michigan, March 20, 1854, Mr. Hale is the son of a Michigan pioneer, David S. Hale, who, born and reared in New York state, came to Michigan about 1838, and thereafter fol- lowed the occupations of farmer and merchant in that state until his death. The mother, whose maiden name was Mary A. McMurtrie, a native of Pennsylvania, was the father's second wife. He was married three times and was the father of fourteen children.
Mr. John Hale, who was the fourth son of the second marriage. was reared and educated at his native town. lived there until twenty- four years old, and then in 1870 became identified with Goshen as a resident. He spent two years and a half with E. W. Walker in the manufacture of pumps, and this line of industry has continued to en- gage his attention almost exclusively for over twenty-five years, so that in comprehensive knowledge of the business in all its details he hardly has a peer anywhere. After leaving Mr. Walker he was with the old Goshen Pump Company two and a half years, then in 1885 went with the I. N. L. Company as shipping clerk, was advanced to superintendent of the finishing and shipping department, and still holds this position, in connection with the vice-presidency of the consoli- dated 1. N. L. and Goshen Pump Company, having become vice-presi- dent in 1899.
Mr. Hale married, in 1879. Miss Emma Coup, a daughter of Dan- iel and Sarah Coup. They have one daughter. Bernis. Mr. Hale is a stockholder in the Home Telephone Company and takes an active interest in all business and civic affairs of his city and county. . \ Re- publican in politics, he was elected and served four years as council- man from the second ward. being one of the men who have adminis- tered the affairs of Goshen with such credit to the municipal welfare.
JAMES ALBERT SNAPP, M. D.
Dr. James Albert Snapp, one of the leading physicians of Goshen, is a representative of one of the oldest families in America, the line of descent being traced back to the original emigrant, a Schnepp, who . came from Scotland during the early epoch of American history, and the family were numbered among the early settlers of the Virginia colony. The paternal grandfather of the doctor, William Snapp, was a native of West Virginia, and was a farmer by occupation. His son and the father of him whose name introduces this review. David Snapp. also claimed that commonwealth as the place of his nativity, and he. too, followed the tilling of the soil as a life occupation. In 1862 he took up his abode in Kosciusko county. Indiana, and there he still re- sides, loved and honored by all who have the pleasure of his acquaint- ance. His wife bore the maiden name of Patience B. MeMillin, and was born, reared and educated in Logan county, Ohio, her parents being Thomas and Mary McMillin, natives of Scotland. Mr. and Mrs.
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Snapp became the parents of three children, one daughter and two sons, the former of whom, Lizzie, is a trained nurse, residing in Belle- fontaine, Ohio, and the son William is assistant fire chief at Hunting- ton, Indiana.
J. A. Snapp, the youngest of his parents' three children, was born in Pierceton, Kosciusko county, Indiana, November 2, 1864. and in the public schools of his native city received his early educational train- ing. After completing the course in the Pierceton high school he en- tered the Jefferson Institute at Logansport, and for a few years after leaving the latter institution was engaged in teaching school. In 1887 he entered upon the study of medicine in the office and under the pre- ceptorship of Dr. H. O. King. and in the fall of the same year entered the Detroit College of Medicine, from which he graduated in 1891. In that year he located for practice at Millersburg, Elkhart county, Indiana, where he remained until 1897, and the following year was spent in Pueblo, Colorado, coming thence to Goshen in May. 1898. where he has ever since remained. His heart and mind have been wholly in this great work, and he has built up an enviable reputation for skill in his chosen line of endeavor.
In September. 1802, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Snapp to Emma Barnard, who was born at Millersburg. Indiana, August 4. 1809, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Barnard. To them were born two daughters, Gladys and Marian, but the younger died at the age of three years. The doctor is a member of the Elkhart County. the Indiana State and the American Medical Associations, while fra- ternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias.
CYRU'S SEILER.
Cyrus Seiler, who since 1870 has made his home in Elkhart, where he is now engaged in the real-estate business, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1842, his parents being John and Lucetta ( Reinoehl) Seiler. The father was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and when six- teen years of age removed with his parents to Wayne county, Ohio. In 1863 he became a resident of Auburn, DeKalb county, Indiana, where he died in 1888. Ile was a brick. also a stone mason by trade, and for many years engaged in business along those lines. His wife was a native of Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and when nine years of age was taken by her parents to Stark county, Ohio. She spent her last days in the home of a sister in Clark county, Illinois, where she died in 1897.
Cyrus Seiler was reared in West Lebanon, Ohio, where he acquired the greater part of his education and also learned the trade of a brick mason under the direction of his father. Fle attended the Greensburg. Ohio, Seminary in 1860. He was about twenty years of age when on the 18th of August, 1862. he enlisted in response to his country's call
Bruseler.
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for aid and became a member of Company A, One Hundred and Fourth Ohio Infantry, under Colonel James Riley at Massillon, joining the Army of the Ohio. His regiment belonged to the so-called Squirrel Brigade and the first engagement in which he participated was in the Cincinnati division of that city against the threatened invasion of Gen- eral Kirby Smith.' Later he was active in service in Kentucky, after- ward went to Knoxville, Tennessee, and followed the enemy as far as Cumberland Gap. His regiment subsequently started toward .Atlanta and participated in the battles of Resaca, Iron Mountain, Big Shanty, Kennesaw Mountain, and Jonesboro. Then instead of going with Sher- man to the sea, the Fourth and the Twenty-third Corps, of which Mr. Seiler was a member, were sent back to take care of Hood and oppose his northward advance. Thus engaged he took part in the battles of Columbia and Franklin and the siege and battle of Nashville. They then were transferred to Washington, from whence the One Hundred and Fourth went down the Potomac and up the Chesapeake Bay to Fort Fisher, North Carolina, and afterward to Wilmington, Goldsboro, where they met Sherman's army, and continued to Raleigh, North Caro- lina. Mr. Seiler's regiment was detailed to go to Greensboro from Raleigh and received the arms from Johnston's army, which had sur- rendered. After the performance of this duty they were detained there for two weeks on special duty and then came to Cleveland, Ohio, where Mr. Seiler was mustered out June 27, 1865.
Following the close of the war Mr. Seiler went to West Lebanon and soon afterward joined the family at Anburn, Indiana, where he attended school in the fall of 1865. That winter he taught school, after which he attended the Commercial College at Fort Wayne. Later he again engaged in teaching in Chio and in Illinois and in 1867 he came to Elkhart. He then taught school in this vicinity and in southern Michigan for a few years and in the fall and winter of 1869-70 he was a student in the State Normal School at Terre Haute, Indiana, being one of the first pupils there.
In the latter part of 1870 Mr. Seiler located permanently in Elk- hart, where he began work as a brick mason and dealer and became one of the most prominent contractors in this section. He erected a large number of stores, residences and other buildings, including the Grand Opera House and water works. Among his last contracts were the building of the United Brethren church and the immense plant of the Elkhart Carriage & Harness Company. In 1884 he was elected county treasurer, serving for four years, and at the close of his term he returned from the county seat and embarked in the grocery business on Main street, in Elkhart. He also resumed contracting and building. but later abandoned active operations along those lines and turned his attention to the real-estate business in connection with D. M. Best under the firm name of Best & Seiler, which relation was maintained for three years, since which time he has been carrying on business alone
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with excellent success. While living in Elkhart, in partnership with Silas Treash, Mr. Seiler, in 1873, compiled and published the first direc- tory of Elkhart and of Goshen, Indiana. Copies of these are still pre- served and are interesting documents.
In November, 1870, in Bristol, Indiana, Mr. Seiler was married to Miss Emma L. Bover and they have three children: J. Frank; Nellie E .: and Edna A. Mr. Seiler is senior past commander of Shiloh Field Post. G. A. R., and is president of the board of trustees of the Trinity Methodist church of Elkhart. He has twice been a member of the board of education, serving for one term as president of that body, and he has several times been a member of the city council, representing the fourth ward. He has also been elected to office on the Republican ticket. being a staunch advocate of the party and its principles. Such in brief is the life history of Cyrus Seiler. In whatever relation of life we find him-in the government service, in political circles, in business or social relations-he is always the same honorable and honored gen- tleman, whose worth well merits the high regard which is uniformly given him.
GEORGE B. SLATE.
Among the prominent business men of Goshen who have attained success and are counted among the most worthy and honored citizens is to be mentioned George B. Slate, the efficient manager of the West- ern Rubber Company. He was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. April 17. 1866. a son of Nathaniel and Louise ( Eherly ) Slate, both also natives of that county and of German descent. In their family were six children. three sons and three daughters, but only three of the number are now living, the brother and sister of our subject being Frank and Anna E.
George B. Slate, the youngest child in the above family, was ten years of age when the family removed to Millersburg, Elkhart county, Indiana, where he grew to years of maturity and received his educa- tion in its common schools. Remaining at home until twenty-one years of age. he then began work as a telegraph operator at different places on the line of the Lake Shore Railroad, continuing in this occupation for about five years. On the expiration of this period he entered the passenger and ticket department, and for fifteen years was the efficient and well known ticket agent at Goshen, but was then transferred to South Bend as city passenger and ticket agent. After remaining there but a short time he resigned that position to assume the one he now holds, as manager of the Western Rubber Company. This enterprise is now one of the important ones in this section of the state, and under the able management of Mr. Slate, an energetic and thorough business man, promises to reach to greater proportions.
In June. 1897. he was united in marriage to Ina, a daughter of Josiah W. and Frances ( Nusbaum ) Kronk. and one daughter has come
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to brighten and bless their home, Frances Louise. Throughout the pe- riod of his residence in Goshen Mr. Slate has taken an active part in its affairs, having served as its treasurer and alderman, and is now serving his second term as a member of the board of education. Fra- ternally he affiliates with the Masonic order and with the Knights of Pythias, while politically he is a stanch adherent of the principles of the Democratic party. He is a zealous and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and his has been an honorable career, well worthy of emulation.
FREDERICK ARNOLD HERRING, M. D.
At the age of ninety-three years Dr. Herring is one of the best preserved, physically and mentally, of the men, few in number, who have attained to his age in the county. He is a typical representative of the German race, honest and upright in word and deed, energetic and enterprising, and of a decidedly practical turn of mind. Cordial in manner, apt in expression and well versed in the knowledge of men and events gathered in many years of intellectual observation, one seldom meets a more interesting octogenarian. He owes his nativity to Lennep, an old town in the Rhine province of Prussia, where he was born October 30, 1812, his parents being Frederick Conrad and Magdalena ( Heinrich ) Herring, the former of whom was born in Lemgo, province of Lippe. Prussia, a town that was founded by the Romans in the year 10 A. D. Frederick Conrad Herring was a mer- chant, who dealt in a fine line of wool zephyr almost exclusively, and which commodity became widely known for its fineness and superior make. He became the father of eight children, and he and all his children with the exception of Frederick Arnold and a brother always made their home in the fatherland.
Frederick Arnokl Herring was given the advantages of an ex- cellent educational training, receiving a thorough drill in Latin, Greek and Hebrew, also in chemistry and botany, and afterward attended a special school that was purely botanical in its instructions, there becon- ing thoroughly familiar with all the flora of his native and other coun- tries and with their pharmaceutical uses and effects. In 1842 he mar- ried Amelia J., the daughter of Christopher Wolff, she being a native of Elberfeld. Germany, where she was born June 24, 1815, and there educated. She died in Goshen in 1893. To this union the following children were given: Frederick A., Mary A., Johanna A .. John H., Paul, Christina J. ( now deceased ), Nathaniel A. and Elizabeth. The eldest son, Frederick AA., was a well known attorney of Chicago and a member of the law firm of Johnson, Herring & Brooke. He is now deceased.
In 1855 Dr. Herring and his family crossed the water to Amer- ica. and after resting a short time at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, continued
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their journey to Goshen, which place has since been their home and where he has continued in the practice of medicine with eminent suc- cess. He belongs to what could properly be called the Germanic Bo- tanic School, and as many of the requisite medicinal plants which grow in Europe and other countries cannot be had in this country or cannot be found in regular commerce. Dr. Herring raises them in his garden, where he propagates such plants as he desires. By this means he is insured of strictly pure herbs, which under his watchful care and skillful compounding produce instant and desirable results. He has made a specialty of treating diseases of many organs, and his success in this respect has been phenomenal. He has been a life-long student, not only as relates to his profession, but in topics general, and being pa- triarchal in appearance he reminds one of the alchemists of old seen in some of those rare paintings by the old masters. He believes in the doctrine of the Apostolic Baptist church, which is of Greek origin, one of the beliefs of this sect being baptism is a saving ordinance and that it consists in immersion three times backwards. In his political views he is broad and liberal, voting for the men and measures and not con- fining himself to the support of any party, a strong advocate of the abolition of slavery of the mind as well as the body.
Dr. Herring has spent over one-half century in this midst, leading a quiet, unostentatious life, scarcely ever seen outside his office or gar- ‹len. During many years he has been recognized as one whose pa- triarcha! appearance, the example of whose moral and religious life and the success of whose practice of his profession have made him justly celebrated in neighboring states and even in the far west as well as at home, where he is revered by young and old as a kind. benevolent Christian gentleman, a model and honored citizen and an intelligent and highly learned physician. In the lore of the ancients, in antique and modern history, in philology, philosophy and botany, but especially in his familiarity with the history of the Christian church from the earliest times down to the present and in his broad Christian work in this county and abroad. he has few equals anywhere and perhaps not a superior. Of him and his worthy wife it can truly be said : " Their presence is like a sweet odor in the land: their memory shall be a pre- cious treasure : their children shall rise up to honor and bless them."
MARTIN K. AND WILLIAM B. KREIDER.
Kreider Brothers have practiced medicine in Goshen for the past quarter of a century, and as specialists and general practitioners have long been reckoned among the foremost representatives of the medical profession in northern Indiana.
Martin K. Kreider. M. D., the elder brother, was born on a farm in Wayne county. Ohio, January 18. 1847. His parents, Jacob and Anna ( Overhalt ) Kreider. of Pennsylvania German stock, were born
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respectively in Pennsylvania and Ohio, the parents of each being pio- neers to Ohio and living and dying in Medina county. Jacob Kreider was a blacksmith by trade. but also followed farming. He died in Medina, Ohio, in March. 1896. at the age of seventy-eight years, but the good old mother, now aged eighty years, still lives on the okl home- stead in Medina county. There were eleven children born to them, and the nine who grew to mature years are still living.
Dr. Martin K. Kreider, like so many successful professional and business men, was brought up of a farm and began his education in the country schools. He later attended a school at Smithville, Ohio, and at the age of nineteen came to Elkhart county with the intention of teaching school. which he did, and very successfully, for nine con- secutive winters. while in the meantime he studied medicine. About 1876 he entered the okl Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, but after one course transferred to the Chicago Homeopathic College. where he was graduated in April. 1878. Locating in Goshen, he be- came a partner of the late well known physician. W. A. Whippy. M. D. In 1880 was formed the partnership with his brother which has been since continued with such excellent results.
Dr. Martin K. Kreider has taken several post-graduate courses. and by these means and by constant research has kept himself abreast of the wonderful progress that medicine and surgery have made dur- ing the past few decades. Although not limiting himself to one branch of his profession, he does considerable surgery and is noted for his skill in this work. In the line of his profession he has membership in the Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan Homeopathic Society, and belongs to the American Society of Orificial Surgeons and the Ameri- ean Homeopathie Association. Ile is a member of the Presbyterian church, and in politics a Republican.
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