USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > A twentieth century history and biographical record of Elkhart County, Indiana > Part 59
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87
The father, who was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. Janu- ary 15. 1810, and died April 28, 1896, at the advanced age of eighty-six years, received his education in the primitive manner of the time, was reared to the life of farming, and in 1866 became identified as a resident with Elkhart county, where he spent the remainder of his years in quiet and prosperous activity. He held various local offices in his township. and as an advocate of high standards in education left a permanent im- press for good upon the school system of his locality. A stanch Whig and high protectionist, during the fifties he espoused the cause of the newly born Republican party and upheld its doctrines to the day of his death. He was known and will long be remembered because of his
544
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
devotion to right and truth, both in the abstract and in practice. He and his wife were members of the German Baptist church, and he had assisted in erecting an edifice for that denomination back in his native county. He was one of the earliest advocates of the good roads movement, and did much in that direction in his township. His good wife and life companion, who was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, July 5. 1808. and died July 19, 1882, was a devout woman and ably performed her part in the rearing of her children and the making of a good home.
Mr. Berkey was twenty-two years old when he left his native state and came to Elkhart county. He had been trained to an agricultural career, and his education was obtained in the common schools at his birthplace. Empty-handed but determined, he began life on his own account on reaching majority, and has never lacked the courage to face all difficulties as they came and to attain a worthy place in life. A few months after his arrival in this county he returned to the Keystone state to get his life companion in the person of Miss Catharine Berkey, whom he married October 20, 1867, and who has borne him six children, all of whom are living. Idella. who received her education in the public schools, married Frank S. Miller, the contractor and builder of Goshen, who at present has the contract for the erection of the splendid Goshen opera house ; they have three children, Berkey, Ruth and Howard. War- ren, who was educated in the common schools and was one of the suc- cessful teachers of the county for a number of years, later took full courses in the law at Valparaiso College and at the University of Michi- gan. and is now one of the successful attorneys in active practice at Goshen: he has a little son, Wedel. Julia, who was also educated in the common schools and received her diploma, married P. L. Kurtz, a carpenter and builder at Goshen, and they have six children, Mabel. Floyd. Morris, Paul, Alvin and Ezra. Morris, who completed his liter- ary training. in the Valparaiso Normal School and at one time taught school in this county, is now bookkeeper for the Heintz Company of St. Louis. Foster, who has. like his brothers, devoted some of his energies to teaching, having managed a school in this county for three years, is now a practical farmer on the homestead with his father; he married Miss Rosa Lear. Allie, at home. received a common school education.
On March 1, 1905. this family sustained its most grievous loss in the death of the faithful wife and mother, after their happy wedded life had been extended over thirty-eight years. She was born in Somerset county. Pennsylvania, February 9. 1850, a daughter of Daniel and Eliza- beth ( Poorman) Berkey, and was reared in her native state, being sev- enteen years old at the time of her marriage. An affectionate and loving wife, a mother whose counsel was always sought by her children, she had fulfilled her duties in the world in a way which could deserve only praise. She was a member of the Brethren church.
.A Republican in politics, Mr. Berkey gave his first vote to Grant. and for many years has been prominent in the local political and public
545
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
affairs. He has been selected as delegate to his state and county con- ventions, and has served as chairman of the Elkhart county Republican committee. In 1876 his fellow citizens, with the confidence in his ability which was inspired by his capable conduct of his own affairs, elected him trustee of Harrison township, and he was re-elected in 1878. During that period of control he supervised the construction of four modern brick schoolhouses in the township, besides an addition to Harrison Center school. A few years later he was appointed trustee to fill a va- cancy and served by election altogether for nine years. The splendid record he had made as trustee placed him among the conspicuous men of affairs who could be depended upon for able service in the county's welfare, and in 1898 he was elected to the office of county auditor. His four years in that office were marked by efficiency and utmost competence in the administration of his duties, and at the end of his term as at the beginning he retained the highest esteem of his fellow citizens. At the present time Mr. Berkey lives on and farms his nice estate of ninety acres in Harrison township, carrying on general farming and raising good stock, but without devoting himself to any special agricultural in- terests.
HARDEN D. MARKEL.
Harden D. Markel, in the real estate business at Elkhart and also engaged in farming near that city, represents the present generation of a family which for sixty years has been prominently known in connection with the life and activities of Elkhart county.
Nathan Markel, the father of Harden D., was born in Berks county. Pennsylvania, in May, 1819, a son of David and Mary Markel, both of German lineage. David and Mary Markel had eight children. Polly. Jonas, Nathan, Rufina, William. David, Franklin and Lavina. Nathan Markel married. in Ohio. Catherine Alachamer, and in 1845 moved to Elkhart county, settling in Concord township. He was followed three years later by his father and mother, accompanied by other children, and the grandmother, Anna Catherine Maria Markel, who lived to be ninety- three years old. David Markel died in this county in 1855. aged sixty- three. and his wife at the age of seventy-six. both being members of the United Brethren church. Nathan and Catherine Markel had four chil- dren, one of whom died in infancy, . Almira died at the age of nineteen. Harden D. is the subject of this sketch, and Orlando W. is a resident of Nebraska.
Nathan Markel, who died in this county in 1891, is well remembered for his active and useful career and integrity of character. \ farmer by vocation, also a skilled carpenter. during the fifties he did much bridge construction work for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad. while during most of the remaining years of his life he farmed. He became the owner of some three hundred and eighty-eight acres of land in Concord township, and his career throughout was one of prosperity.
546
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
Fraternally he was a Master Mason. His widow, who resides with her son. Harden D .. is eighty-six years old, having been born in 1819, and remarkably strong and well preserved for such age.
Harden D. Markel, who was born in 1847, on the old homestead farm in Concord township, where his home still is, was reared and educated in this county, and at the age of twenty-eight went to Kan- sas. For the subsequent twenty years he was one of the prominent men of Harvey county, where he was engaged in the hardware and agricultural implement business and then in banking and real estate. Returning to Elkhart county in 1891 on account of his father's death. the following year he moved his family to the old homestead which he now owns and where he has since been engaged in farming. At the same time he has been dealing in real estate, having platted the Elliston addition to the city of Elkhart and been connected with vari- ous other transactions in that line.
Mr. Markel is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In November. 1863. although a boy of only sixteen years, he enlisted in Company D. Twelfth Indiana Cavalry, and gave two years of active service to his country, being mustered out in Novem- ber. 1865.
Mr. Markel married, in 1876, at Osceola. Indiana, Miss Sarah Woodside. Four children have blessed their union: Nathan, who died when three years old: Orrin H., William W. and Ivan J. In politics he is a Democrat.
THE NEW PARIS MUTUAL TELEPHONE UNION.
Knowing it to be valuable to the public in general, both from a business and a social standpoint, especially in case of sickness, acci- dents or death, to be in direct communication with the people of the surrounding towns and rural districts, the following citizens of Jack- son township met at the home of John F. McClure on the 19th day of November. 1901, and organized what is now known as the New Paris Mutual Telephone Union of New Paris: D. J. Whitehead. J. W. Rowdabaugh, John F. McClure, D. M. Weybright. D. W. Weybright. Michael Rookstool, William Redden, Henry Butt, John Arnold, Mil- ton Weaver.
The organization resulted in the election for president, D. J. Whitehead: secretary. J. W. Rowdabaugh: treasurer. J. F. McClure: the officers were also chosen as a committee to enter into a business relation with the Home Telephone Company, of Elkhart county. D. M. Weybright. Henry Butt, and Milton Weaver were elected committee on constitution and by-laws.
The incorporating board of directors were: D. J. Whitehead. J. W. Rowdabaugh, J. F. McClure, D. M. Weybright. D. H. Fisher. The company is incorporated for ten thousand dollars: incorporated
547
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
January 11. 1902, and county commissioners granted franchise April 7, 1902. The first toll line built by this corporation was from New Paris to the south city limits of Goshen. On December 3 and 4, 1901, the Home Telephone Company made the connection and built the line from the city limits to their central office on East Lincoln avenue. The second toll line built, between these two companies, was built May 19, 1905. By this arrangement and an annual fee of three dollars per phone the patrons of this company had free telephone communica- tion with the subscribers of the Independent system of Goshen, Elk- hart. Middlebury, Bristol and the Farmers' Exchange of Clinton township. Later on Dunlap and Wakarusa were added to the list. On October 1, 1903. the annual expense for this service was reduced to one dollar and a half per 'phone per annum.
J. W. Rowdabaugh, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, was the first party line manager elected. He succeeded in organizing a party line company of seven members, who built the first party line in Jackson township, which was built in December, 1901. Since that many miles of line have been built, which accommodates more than one thousand people in Benton. Jackson, Union and Elk- hart townships. Owing to the increase of new 'phones added. it he- came necessary for this company and the Farmers' Telephone Com- pany of Clinton township to have a direct toll line between them, which was completed .August 29. 1902, share and share alike.
On the 17th day of February, 1903, this company and the Royal Telephone Company of Milford. Kosciusko county, Indiana. entered into a contract to build a toll line between them, subscribers of each company to have free service. By this contract it was also agreed to have free exchange between New Paris and Syracuse exchanges, through the Royal Telephone Company's exchange at Milford: con- tract subject to withdrawal by either company giving one year's notice in writing. Free service to Leesburg was given about one year later by virtue of contract. On April 12, 1904. the Royal Telephone Com- pany gave notice of withdrawal of contract. At the expired time of said notice. April 12, 1905, it was agreed to charge five cents per message between New Paris and Syracuse. This arrangement con- tinned until a toll line was built between these exchanges. On July To the Syracuse company and this company entered into a contract to build a toll line between them and give subscribers free exchange.
In order to assist the accommodating and courteous operator. Mrs. Ellen Whitehead. and her assistant, Neal Whitehead, to handle the increasing business and to give better service to all. it became nec- essary, on August 16, 1904. to purchase a new switch-board of 210 drop capacity, equipped for two operators, with equipments of the latest designs. This board took the place of a 100-drop board which had been installed in June. 1902. . \ power generator had been in- stalled in May. 1903.
W. 1 8
Dealle
549
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
was known as one of the young and successful teachers of the county. His pedagogic work was carried on in different localities and he served in different capacities, being the incumbent, in 1893. when he left the school desk, of the office of superintendent of the Nappanee city schools. He resigned his position there in order to become superintendent of the Nappanee Furniture Company. After two years of commercial life he began his preparation for a legal career. During his career as teacher Mr. Deahl was almost constantly improving his educational equipment. and after his first entrance upon an independent career he paid his own way to each successive goal of his ambition. In 1885 he entered the Indiana State Normal at Terre Haute, where he graduated in 1888. and for twenty-two weeks of his last year there he held a position as instructor in the normal. In 1891 he entered the Northern Illinois Normal School at Dixon, where he took the special course in language. literature and oratory, and in the same year received his diploma in those branches. Mr. Deahl entered the law department of the Uni- versity of Michigan in 1894, and finished his preparation for the law by graduation from that institution in 1896, being admitted to the In- diana bar in June of the same year. Mr. Deahl is a man of learning and culture, and from this breadth of mind comes his intimate syn- pathy with all branches and departments of the world's work and his- tory : his intellectual interest being one of his characteristics which most impress a stranger. Positive, vet sane in his convictions as to the right and the expedient. it is natural that he should have been able. more than onee, to influence men and affairs in his community and impress his personality and judgment upon the civic welfare. Mr. Deahl has been in the active practice of the law since 1896, having, since that (late, been the junior member of the firm of Deahl and Deahl.
B. F. Deahil is one of the most loyal supporters of the city of Goshen in its progress toward the best civic ideals. Emphatic in his opinions as to what constitutes the best municipal government, and with bis beliefs strengthened and rendered effective through concrete expe- rience, his fellow citizens, in a campaign involving the most important policies connected with Goshen's municipal history, elected him to the office of mayor in 1898, at first to serve out the unexpired term of J. H. Heatwole, and then for the regular term beginning in September. 1898. and continuing to 1902. The development of purely public utilities was carried forward with remarkably beneficial results during his term. and in the course of his administration the municipal policy of Goshen as regards public ownership of utilities may be said to have been perma- nently fixed. Mr. Deahl is one of the influential Democrats of Elkhart county, a regular worker for his party. and, being a speaker who com- bines a ready rhetoric with effective logic, has for some years been called upon for assistance in the political campaigns. His election as mayor of Goshen came by a majority of 289, in a city which is normally Republican by about three hundred and fifty.
550
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
Fraternally Mr. Deahl affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men, and is a member of the Elkhart County Bar Association. As president of the I X-L and Goshen Pump Company and the Western Rubber Company, both of Goshen, Mr. Deah! also takes a leading part in the manufacturing and business in- terests of the county.
.August 30. 1891, Mr. Dealil married Aliss Emma Mutschler, the oldest daughter of George and Sarah Mutschler, now of Goshen. Mr. and Mrs. Deahl have one child, Albert F., who was born into their home June 5. 1904.
W. H. KNICKERBOCKER.
Well known in the financial circles of Elkhart county as cashier of the First National Bank of Elkhart, and also prominent as a citizen. Mr. W. H. Knickerbocker was born in Dutchess county, New York, March 17. 1853, being the fifth of the six children of Jacob and Eliza D. (Mar- tin ) Knickerbocker, both natives of New York state. The father, who was a merchant, died in 1857, but the mother lived to be seventy-one years old.
Deprived of the support of his father at the age of four years, MIr. Knickerbocker learned to be dependent upon his own efforts at an early age. By taking care of a physician's horses in New York he was enabled to attend the schools there, and after he came to Elkhart, in 1867, he at- tended the schools here for eight months. He obtained employment in the lumber office of Herrick E. Martin and later with B. F. & A. Stephens, undertakers, in this city, and on July 9. 1872, at the age of nineteen. he began his connection with banking as a clerk in the St. Joseph Valley Bank of Elkhart. Progressiveness and business alertness have characterized his entire career, and he has never failed of advance- ment along the course of business success. In 1886 he became cashier of the First National Bank of Elkhart and has ever since been identified very closely with the affairs of this institution.
In politics Mr. Knickerbocker is a Republican, although at one time a Democrat. He has taken much interest in public affairs, though never aspiring to office, and is one of the representative citizens of Elk- hart. On November 29. 1883, Mr. Knickerbocker was married to Miss Nellie Jane Winchester, who was born in Michigan, a daughter of Charles H. and Harriet W. ( Howard ) Winchester.
A. A. LAUGHLIN.
\ \. Laughlin, president secretary and manager of the Union Canning Company of Nappanee, a manufacturing institution which is described in an earlier part of this history, is a native of Hardin county, Ohio, born April 4. 1875. His parents, R. W. and Martha ( Brown) Laughlin, were natives of Guernsey county, Ohio, and are
551
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
now residents of Santa Clara, California. The father is a farmer by occupation and for many years followed agricultural pursuits in order to provide for his family.
A. A. Laughlin is the fourth child and eldest son in a family of seven children. He was educated at AAda, Ohio, in Hardin county, and in the Ohio Normal University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1898. Having studied in the law department he completed the course in 1901 and was admitted to the bar of Indiana by examination at Indianapolis in the same year. He remained a resident of that city for about six months. He located permanently in Nappanee in 1902, and, associated with his brother, H. H. Laugh- lin, held large interests in an extensive tract of land in the vicinity of Nappanee devoted to the raising of onions. The canning company, with which he is now connected, was organized in 1900 with Charles Mutschler as its first manager. He was succeeded by Mr. Uline in 1901, and in December, 1904, Mr. Laughlin assumed the manage- ment. Since that time he has purchased the interests of many of the stockholders, so that the members of the company are now .I. A. Laughlin, S. D. Coppes and Hartman Brothers. Mr. Laughlin, how- ever, owns the controlling interest, and under his management the business has constantly increased and the shipments are made in car- lots. Employment is furnished to as many as sixty men in a season and there are large shipments of product annually. The trade is con- tinually increasing and is developed along modern business lines, thereby insuring a desirable success.
Mr. Laughlin is a Prohibitionist in his political principles and is an active and prominent member of the Presbyterian church, in which he is serving as trustee and as superintendent of the Sunday-school. Anything that tends to better conditions for mankind elicits his in- terest and receives his co-operation. His life has been guided by hon- orable principles, his actions are manly, his motives sincere, and he enjoys in full measure the confidence, respect and good will of those with whom he has business or social relations.
STANFORD WILLARD.
Stanford Willard, whose real estate and agricultural interests in Harrison township and Wakarusa give him a place of first consid- eration in the history of this part of the county, was for a period of twenty-five years identified in a very substantial way with the cause of educational progress in Elkhart county, and although in recent years business affairs have absorbed his time it is as a successful educator that his career is especially interesting at this writing. \ man who is just now in the prime of his powers and years, his period of effective usefulness to himself and society has by no means been completed.
Of English lineage through a long line of descent, Mr. Willard
552
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. November 4, 1858, the younger of the two children of Jonathan and Catharine ( Schwalm) Willard. he being now the only one of the children living. His father. who was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, March 15, 1827, and died August 23. 1900, was formerly a cabinetmaker and later a farmer. He was reared in his native state, to his majority, and in consequence of being left an orphan when a boy received a meager education and from an early age shifted for himself. In 1848 he joined a company that started for the Pacific coast. but at a point in Iowa, diverted from their quest of gold and adventure on the Pacific slope. they stopped and laid out the site of a new town, which they named Marysville. The father had the distinction of building the first house in this place. Dur- ing his sojourn there his mother died in Pennsylvania, and in 1853 he returned to his native state, where he lived until he came to Elkhart county in 1865. Settling in Olive township, where he purchased forty acres of partly improved land, he and his family had for their first home a log cabin. His farm was later increased to fifty-two acres. Polit- ically he was Whig until the organization of the Republican party, and thereafter till his death he advocated that party. He adhered to the Lutheran faith. Jonathan Willard was a son of John Willard, a native of New York, and his wife, Anna Velker, a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Stanford Willard's mother was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. August 21. 1836, and is still living in Elkhart county, at the age of sixty-nine years. She lived in her native county until her marriage, on June 29. 1856. She is a member of the German Baptist church.
Mr. Willard's career, which has been identified with Elkhart county since he was seven years old, has been very successful from many points of view. Endowed with unusual gifts of mind and practical judg- ment. he has never wasted opportunities nor failed to " hitch his wagon to a star" when he thought that course would take him from the ruts of mediocrity and commonplace success. Beginning his education in the country schools, supplemented later by the curriculum of the Waka- rusa high school, which he completed with excellent records, when he was seventeen years old he received his first teacher's certificate, and soon thereafter embarked upon the educational career which gave him so much prestige and esteem in this part of the state. His first school was one mile west of Wakarusa. and thereafter for several years he al- ternated between teaching and attending school. In 1877 he took a course in the formerly well known Elkhart County Normal and Class- ical School in Goshen, followed in 1879. after a period of teaching. with entrance in the Fort Wayne College. In this excellent Methodist in- stitution the standard amount of work prescribed was four studies, but on his arrival young Willard applied to the president. W. F. Yocum. for special dispensation to carry nine studies, with the condition that. should his work not be up to grade. the number of subjects should be scaled down to within reach of his abilities. No instructor ever re-
553
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
ported any dissatisfaction over the record of this ambitious student, and the nine studies were carried through to completion. More than that. he aided the school as a tutor in special branches and made himself so indispensable in other ways that he received remuneration for his extra work. A young man of so much force of character and energy could hardly escape some disparaging remarks as to his efforts, but all aver- ments to the effect that he was favored by those in authority were quieted in the face of examination tests, where his high marks told the story of earnest and independent work. He has three teacher's certifi- cates granted ly examinations which ranked one hundred per cent for every branch recorded. which is an extraordinary showing. In 1880 he entered the Elkhart Normal and Classical School for another course, and he and his classmate, Frank Blakemore, were the only ones to win diplomas in one hundred and forty-six students. He took first prize in drawing, ornamental penmanship and landscape sketching, both in school and in the two counties of Elkhart and St. Joseph. the judges of the contest having been appointed from outside the county. The major part of Mr. Willard's successful career as an educator was spent in Har- rison township, where he taught fourteen years; two years in Locke township, two years in St. Joseph county, and seven years in Olive township.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.