USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > A twentieth century history and biographical record of Elkhart County, Indiana > Part 64
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
IRVIN J. BECKNELL, M. D.
Irvin J. Becknell, physician and surgeon, has conducted a large and lucrative practice at Goshen since 1898, and his ability and skill have placed him among the foremost representatives of the medical pro- fession in this part of the state. Having been in active practice for some thirty years, he not only has broad experience and the prestige that comes therewith but his theoretical training has been as complete and thorough as any medical man in the county can claim ..
Born on a farm in Carroll county, Ohio, December 8, 1847, Dr. Becknell was a son of Ananias and Catherine ( Weimer) Becknell, who were both born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. the father in 1819. the mother in 1817. Both sides of the family are worthy of mention. The paternal grandfather. Charles Becknell, a native of Germany and during his earlier years a sailor on the high seas, married in America a woman of his own nativity, and they, as did also the maternal grand- father. Jacob Weimer, settled in Ohio at an early day and passed the rest of their lives there. Grandfather Becknell, who settled in Stark county, taught school for thirty-three years. He was a well educated man for that day, taught both English and German, and was a fine pen- man. In connection with teaching he carried on farming. Grand- father Weimer located in Carroll county, and was a farmer by occupa- tion. Both of these forefathers lived to a great age, and longevity has been a marked characteristic of the family. Dr. Becknell's parents had eleven children, he being the fourth in order of birth, and three sons and three daughters are still living. The parents were German Bap- tists, and the father. in political stamp. was first a Whig and then a
585
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
Republican. In September, 1853. the parents brought their family to Indiana, settling near Milford in Kosciusko county, and later they moved to the town of Milford, where they both passed away in 1897.
Dr. Becknell was reared on a farin, where he early became familiar with the principles of hard labor as a factor in life. Beginning his education in the country schools, which he attended only a few months each year, in 1866 he entered the University of Notre Dame, where he was a student two years, and then spent one term in Hillsdale (Michigan) College. Securing a teacher's certificate, he taught in Elk- hart county, and alternating that with student life he spent two more years at Hillsdale. He began the study of medicine under Dr. A. C. Jackson and Dr. P. D. Harding, of Goshen, being under their preceptor- ship at intervals for three years, but meantime, in 1871, he entered In- diana Medical College at Indianapolis, where he was graduated in March, 1873. By competitive examination before graduation he was assigned to position of assistant physician in the city hospital of In- dianapolis, and while in this position he took a course in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Indiana, graduating from the same in March, 1875. A short time afterward he located at Milford, Indiana, but remained there only about a year until he married and went east to New York for the purpose of pursuing a course in Bellevue Hospital Medical College, from which, one of the best institutions of its kind in the United States, he graduated in the spring of 1877. Returning to Milford he continued his practice there until July, 1898, at which clate lie located in Goshen. In the spring of 1879 he received the honor- ary degree of M. D. from the Medical College of Indiana, the medical department of Butler University.
Dr. Becknell stands high in his profession, and is a member of various professional bodies; namely, the Elkhart County Medical So- ciety. the District Medical Society, the Indiana Medical Society, the Tri-State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the Big Four Railway Surgeons, and the International Association of Railway Surgeons. He is secretary of the Elkhart county board of health and secretary of the board of United States Pension Examiners at Goshen. While a resident of Milford he took a very active part in developing the industrial interests of that town, and to him was due much of the progress and material prosperity of that place. Two additions to the town bear his name. In politics he is a Republican.
October 26, 1876. while living at Milford, Dr. Becknell married Miss Sarah E. Zook, of Goshen. They have two sons. Guy G., the elder, graduated at Northwestern University with the degree of B. S. and is pursuing his post-graduate studies there, which he will complete June, 1905, having won a fellowship in that institution. The younger son is Ralph H., now taking a civil engineering course in the Interna- tional Correspondence School at Scranton, Pennsylvania.
589
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
ROBERT E. CHATTEN.
Robert E. Chatten, deputy sheriff of Elkhart county, has a record of continuous identification with the shrievalty of Elkhart county, either in his present capacity or as sheriff. which, for length as also for efficiency and faithfulness and courage in the performance of duty, has very few if any parallels in the state. On more than one occasion he has exhibited that personal bravery and quickness of wit and action which are so essential in an officer charged with such grave responsi- hilities and duties as is the case with sheriffs.
Mr. Chatten, despite his nineteen years of active official life, is yet in the prime of his powers and years. He was born in Adrian, Michigan, April 2. 1857, and has lived in Elkhart county since he was twelve years old, at which time he was brought here by his parents, Robert and Charlotte ( Flude) Chatten. His father, now deceased, was a shoemaker by trade. Being thrown upon his own resources when quite young. Mr. Chatten had to educate himself largely, profiting by only a brief attendance at the public schools. At the age of twenty- two he had decided to study law in the office of the late Henry C. Dodge. but just at that time was offered the position of deputy sheriff under Sheriff Charles E. Thompson, and held that place for two terms, or four years. He was then, in 1886, elected sheriff of Elkhart county by a majority of 1.488 and re-elected in 1888 by 1.588 majority. For four years he was deputy under Sheriff H. F. Kidder, four years un- der Sheriff Wm. O. Elliott and three years under Sheriff Manning. He has always been a stanch Republican. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias.
Mr. Chatten married, in 1885. Miss Anna Darr, and they have one child. Madge.
GEORGE S. COBB.
George S. Cobb, a long established and well known citizen of this county, for a number of years engaged in educational work and more recently a factor in the trade circles of Goshen, has been honored by election to and is now serving in the office of township trustee of Elk- hart township. This is a position of great responsibility, and a faith- ful and public-spirited discharge of its duties is a matter of moment to every citizen of the township, the schools, bridges, roads and public im- provements generally coming under the direct supervision of the tris- tee. Mr. Cobb has both deserved the honor of this office and has ac- quitted himself most creditably in its work.
Born in Smithville. Chautauqua county, New York, September 12. 1870, Mr. Cobb was early brought to this county and was reared to manhood in Goshen. He received the excellent education afforded in the public schools of this city, and then attended the Tri-State Nor- mal at Angola, Indiana. Receiving a certificate to teach, he was for
590
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
ten years one of the successful instructors of the young in the schools of this county. Since the spring of 1898, and in connection with his teaching duties, he has conducted a bicycle shop and salesroom in Goshen, an enterprise which he has made one of the substantial busi- ness institutions of the city.
On the death of Mr. J. B. Walk, who then held the office of trus- tee of Elkhart township. Mr. Cobb was appointed to fill the vacancy, and at the regular election for this office, on November 8. 1904. he was elected to the trusteeship. A Republican in politics. Mr. Cobb has taken an active interest in general politics and is a man of sound ideas as to world affairs as well as local politics. For three years he served as a member of Company C. Indiana National Guards, and has an honorable discharge from the same. Fraternally he affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
In 1898 Mr. Cobb married Miss Cassie Yoder, who is a daughter of Manassas Yeder, of this county. They have two children, namely : Charles and Mabel.
J. B. ANDREW'S.
One of the most prominent and respected citizens of Goshen is J. B. Andrews, who for a number of years has occupied a prominent place in its manufacturing circles. Starting out for himself early in life. he has steadily worked his way upward, gaining success and winning the public confidence. A native son of Ohio, he was born in Hardin county, near Kenton. November 2, 1863, a son of Samuel Mont- gomery and Martha ( Cary ) Andrews, the former a native of Penn- sylvania and the latter of Worthington, Ohio. The father was num- bered among the early settlers of Hardin county, where for many years he was a tiller of the soil. His death occurred in Hardin county, Ohio, March 4, 1905. He was of Scotch descent. The mother is living. and they were the parents of five children.
J. B. Andrews, the youngest child in order of birth in his parents' family, was but thirteen years of age when he started out in life for himself, first securing employment as news agent on a railroad, later being made a brakeman, and finally rose to the position of conductor. En 1886 he went to old Mexico, where he served as a conductor for three and a half years, and for six months was superintendent of the Mexican Central Railroad. The year 1800 witnessed his arrival in Goshen, since which time he has been prominently identified with its interests as a harness manufacturer. He first engaged in that occupa- tion with his brother. J. F. Andrews, but in 1893 purchased his brother's interest, and has since been alone in the business. His plant is well equipped with the latest improved machinery for carrying on the work, and he also conducts the largest retail store of the kind in the state of Indiana. His success is largely due to his capable manage-
591
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
ment and splendid executive ability. and his reputation in commercial circles is above question. In addition to his large manufacturing inter- ests he is also engaged in the loan and brokerage business.
On the 20th of October. 1800, Mr. Andrews was united in mar- riage to Effie Ahlefeld. and their home is a happy and attractive one, where warm-hearted hospitality is always to be found by their numer- ous friends. Mr. Andrews is a life-long Republican, and fraternally holds membership relations with the Masonic order.
JOSEPH H. LESH.
Joseph H. Lesh, president and treasurer of the Lesh & Young Company, is one of the progressive young business men of the Maple City. interested in all matters tending to the welfare of the city, and in many ways has aided in making the name of Goshen known through- out the country.
Mr. Lesh was born in Wabash county. Indiana, July 6, 1868. a son of John H. and Mary E. ( Clay ) Lesh. The father was a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, born March 19, 1846, a son of Joseph Lesh. In 1850 the family home was changed to Wabash county, In- diana, where John H. was reared to farin life. It was in 1873 that his first venture in lumber was made. Investing the few dollars that he had saved in live timber, he cut it, hauled it to the mill and had it con- verted into lumber. and when that was sold he found that he had made a neat profit and secured a start in life. Moving to North Manchester. Indiana, he at once embarked in the lumber business, where his efforts were also attended with success, but four years later he established a lumber office in Chicago and moved his family to Goshen. After two years he closed out his Chicago business and invested his earnings in Goshen, organizing the firm of John H. Lesh & Company. Gradually the business grew in proportions, and at the time of his death he was president of the Lesh, Sanders & Egbert Company, Goshen : president of Lesh, Prouty & Abbott Company. East Chicago: president of the State Bank of Goshen, besides having vast real estate interests. Goshen lost a strong man and an estimable citizen when John H. Lesh passed away February 15, 1898, at the height of an active business career. He was a power among men, and ever active in the interests of the city. of which he served at one time as mayor. In his fraternal relations he was a member of the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias. He married Mary E. Clay, whose people were early pioneers of Elk- hart county, where her father. Henry Clay, was long engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. They became the parents of two children, and the daughter. Mamie, is the wife of J. W. Latta, of Goshen.
Joseph H. Lesh, the elder of the two children, was about seven years of age when the family home was established in Goshen, and in its schools he received his educational training. When about seven-
592
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
teen years of age he engaged in the lumber business with his father, learning the business in all its details, and upon the death of the latter all of the vast interests fell to him, but his training placed him in a position to efficiently continue its conduct. He is now president of the Lesh & Young Company. Adrian, Michigan; vice-president of the Lesh. Prouty & Abbott Company, Chicago; treasurer of Schuh-Miller Lumber Company at Selma, Alabama, and Berclair. Mississippi; and a director in the State Bank of Goshen. He is also the proprietor of the Lesh Stock Farm, well known to all lovers of horses, and a part of which is within the incorporated limits of Goshen, consisting of sev- enty-five acres. \ fine one-half mile track has been constructed for training purposes, and the stable can accommodate many head of horses. Among those he values most highly may be mentioned Online, with a mark of 2:04: Ontonian. 2:071/2; Junius, 2:0714; Greenline, 2:0734; Onoto, 2:0714. He also owns many other valuable horses.
In 1893 Mr. Lesh married Catherine Wanner, the daughter of Judge Lew Wanner, of Pennsylvania, where Mrs. Lesh was born, and they have one daughter, Catherine. Mr. Lesh is a stanch supporter of Republican principles, and is an active worker in the ranks of his party. He is now serving as president of the Goshen board of education. His fraternal relations are with the Masonic order.
GEORGE W. CART.
The United States may well feel proud of the veterans of the Civil war whose efforts perpetuated the Union and made possible the history of the greatest republic on the face of the globe. As long as memory remains to the American people will they cherish the record of what occurred upon the battle fields of the south, and the soldier is honored everywhere because of the deeds he performed in order to save his country's honor. Of this class Mr. Cart is a representative, being one of the worthy soldiers of Indiana during the Civil war. He is also one of the pioneer residents of Elkhart county, having taken up his abode here many years ago. He was born February 6. 1838, and is the eighth in order of birth in a family of twelve children, four sons and eight daughters, who were born to Adam and Elizabeth ( Nickell) Cart. The father was a native of Monroe county, West Virginia. his birth having occurred in 1797. two years before the death of George Wash- ington. He was a blacksmith by trade while in his native state, and afterward he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. Emigrating westward to Indiana he settled in Rush county in 1829 and purchased forty acres of raw timberland. His first home was a little log cabin and it was in this pioneer structure that the subject of this review was born. The county was in its primitive condition and the pioneer settlers saw and killed many deer, while at one time a bear was seen in the vicinity of Mr. Cart's home. He endured all the hardships and trials
b
Mrs Ellen Part- Respectfully
yours Respectfully George Marl
593
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
incident to pioneer life and as the years went by he both purchased and sold land but retained possession of the original farm until the time of the Civil war, when he sold that property. While on a visit to his daughter in Elkhart county, he died in New Paris. His political support was given to the Democracy and he never faltered in his allegiance to its principles. He was a man of strong convictions, giving firm alle- giance to whatever cause he believed to be right, and both he and his wife were advocates and followers of the teachings of the Presbyterian church. His wife was a native of West Virginia, born in 1804, and her death occurred in 1891. In her home she was an affectionate mother and was a true and faithful friend. Mr. Cart can also boast of Revolu- tionary ancestry, his paternal great uncle. George Cart, having been a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and he related events when he saw General Washington. Mrs. Cart died in Elkhart county, but both she and her husband were laid to rest in Rush county. Five of their chil- dren are now living: Elizabeth, the wife of John Q. Webb, who is now living retired in Newton, Illinois: George W .: Sidney \., the wife of William Berkey, who is living retired in Goshen, Indiana: Joseph, a resident of Wabash county, Indiana, who is married and follows agri- cultural pursuits there : and Louisa, the wife of Henry Myers of Wabash county, this state.
George W. Cart was reared in the county of his nativity, spending his boyhood days under the parental roof and acquiring his education in the common schools. He pursued his studies in one of the okl-time log schoolhouses, which was about 20 by 25 feet in size, and was built of hewed logs. It was heated by a big fire-place and afterward by a stove. A desk was made by placing a board upon some wooden pins driven into the wall and the benches or seats were made of slabs with wooden legs and without backs. The pupils studied Talbert's or Ray's arithmetic and they used an old fashioned goose-quill pen in writing, Mr. Cart having made many of these pens. He has witnessed many changes in the educational system of the state and rejoices in what has been accom- plished for providing superior school privileges for the young. He worked upon his father's farm in the days of his boyhood and youth and continued at home until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when at the age of twenty-five years he enlisted in Battery M. First Indiana Heavy Artillery. The regiment went to the front, however, as the Twenty-first Indiana Infantry. Mr. Cart joined the army in Rush county under Captain Armstrong and Colonel John A. Keith, who was afterward succeeded by Colonel Hays. The date of his enlistment was September 17. 1863, and his battery was assigned to the southwest de- partment under General Banks. After leaving Indianapolis he reported for duty at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but before reaching that place he was under fire at the mouth of the Red river. He was often engaged in scout duty and was sent to garrison duty at Fort Williams at Baton Rouge and afterward was ordered to New Orleans to prepare for the
594
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
siege of Mobile, Alabama. In April, 1865, the battery went across to the point of the mainland of Alabama, expecting to go on the expedition against Mobile, but the soldiers experienced many hardships and priva- tions in that campaign, and on the 5th of May, 1865, Dick Taylor sur- rendered. When the explosion of the great magazine occurred at Mo- bile on Thursday, May 25, 1865, Mr. Cart was in the city and well re- members the occasion, for it was a scene never to be forgotten. He was in active service during the sieges of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely and saw many incidents which have left an indelible impression upon his mind. His wife has prepared a history of his army career from incidents of his active service which he related to her, and it presents a faithful and true picture of war scenes. He was a brave and loyal soldier, inter- ested in the cause for which he fought to the extent of facing danger and death if need be in an attempt to preserve the Union. He will never for- get two of the events which occurred during his army life : the surrender of Lee and the assassination of Lincoln, the latter occurring when he was in the vicinity of Mobile, Alabama. From that place he was sent to Santa Rose Island, Florida. with the heavy artillery to do duty there until the regulars took charge. Later he returned to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he received an honorable discharge January 15, 1866, after which he returned home to don the civilian's garb after an active and arduous service of two and a quarter years. He yet has in his possession his mother's little Bible which she gave to him at the time he entered the army.
Mr. Cart returned to his home in Rush county with impaired health, but in 1867 he began farming, following that pursuit for a few years. He then turned his attention to the timber and grain business in Union township, Elkhart county, and has since made his home in this county, being a respected and worthy citizen here for more than a third of a cen- tury.
Mr. Cart has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Hulda Brothers, and to them was born a son, Carl Clifford. He was educated in the schools of Goshen, Indiana, and is now a practical farmer residing in New Paris. Mrs. Cart was a native of Stark county, Ohio, and died October 29, 1879. For his second wife Mr. Cart chose Miss Ellen Mathews, to whom he was married October 17, 1883. She was born in Elkhart county, September 11. 1851. a daughter of Edwin and Mary A. ( Mills) Mathews. There were thirteen children, five sons and eight daughters, in that family, but only seven are now living. while five of this number are residents of Elkhart county. The others are Alfred Mathews, a mechanic and telegraph operator who now resides in Muncie, Indiana ; and Belle, the wife of Douglas Lichtenwalter, a machinist. The father was born in Logan county. Ohio, April 30, 1819. and died March I, 1898. He came to Elkhart county when a lad of fourteen years. His educational privileges were limited and he experienced many of the hard- ships of pioneer life in his youth. He was descended from Revolutionary ancestry, his grandfather having been one of the soldiers of the American
595
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
army in the war for independence, while his uncle. Henry, was a soldier in the war of 1812 and participated in the battle of Tippecanoe. At one time Phillip Mathews, grandfather of Mrs. Cart, was proprietor of the hotel in Goshen. Indiana. The Mathews family were descended from Welsh ancestry, while the grandmother of Mrs. Cart belonged to an old Mohawk Dutch family. The mother of Mrs. Cart was born in Kentucky, February 22, 1826. and is of English extraction. Mr. Mathews, the father of Mrs. Cart, followed farming through much of his life. He gave his political support to the Whig party in early manhood and after- ward joined the Republican party. He held membership in the Method- ist church, to which his wife also belongs. She is still living and is a well preserved lady. Mrs. Cart was reared in the county of her nativity and acquired her education in the public schools. For six terms she was a teacher in the schools of Elkhart county and is a lady of strong men- tality and superior culture.
It was in 1883 that Mr. and Mrs. Cart took up their abode in the pleasant little village of New Paris in a cozy residence on Main street. He may well be called a self-made man, for he has achieved success in life entirely through his own efforts. He now has a nice town property and eighty acres of fine land in Jackson township. His political alle- giance has always been given the Republican party since he cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has frequently been selected as a delegate to the county conventions. On the 19th of June, 1901. he was appointed postmaster of New Paris, and is the present incumbent in the office, Mrs. Mary Geddes acting as his deputy. This is a model post- office as regards neatness and cleanliness and also the dispatch with which business is carried on. Fraternally Mr. Cart affiliates with William Mc- Laughlin Post No. 508, G. A. R., at Milford, Indiana, and has always taken great delight in attending the encampments of the members of the order. being frequently seen in attendance at the state and national meet- ings. He attended at Detroit in 1891, Washington in 1892, Cincinnati in 1898. Washington in 1902, Cleveland in 1901, and also in Chicago, Columbus and Indianapolis. He now has in his possession one of the camp mess implements-a spoon. knife and fork combined-as a relic of the war. In 1881 Mr. Cart, accompanied by his mother, went to visit her old home in West Virginia and while there she pointed out to him a tract of land which was first purchased in 1789 by one of the Pennsylvania pioneers and which remained in the possession of the family for ninety- two years. The Carts come of German lineage, and the name was orig- inally spelled Kart. Mr. and Mrs. Cart are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at New Paris and he is one of its trustees, while Mrs. Cart is recording secretary of the church. and has been a member since 1866. She is also treasurer of the Ladies' Aid Society. Mr. and Mrs. Cart are leading citizens of New Paris, held in high esteem by all who know them, and it is with pleasure that we present their history to our readers.
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.