USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > A twentieth century history and biographical record of Elkhart County, Indiana > Part 66
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Dr. Buzzard married, in 1888, Miss Saloma Moyer, and the three children born to them are all daughters: Edith, who received her di- ploma from the public schools in 1902 and who has shown considerable musical taste: Myrtie, in the class of 1905: and Mable, who is also in school. Mrs. Buzzard, who is a native of Elkhart county and received her education in the common schools, has co-operated with her husband and made herself a factor in his success, and is one of the esteemed women of her community. They are members of the Mennonite church and active in Sunday-school work. Politically Dr. Buzzard gives his support to the Republican party on national issues, but in all essentials of politics and life in general is independent in thought and action.
MRS. ELIZABETH HARPER.
Mrs. Harper was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in August, 1836. and she is the fourth in a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters, born to John and Rinah (Arminson ) Milner. There are four living: William, a resident of Jefferson township and a pros- perous agriculturist ; Mrs. Harper is next: Harnah is widow of Wm. Dersey, a resident of Kosciusko county; she was a teacher in several
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counties in Indiana. Rosa is wife of Harvey Thomas, a resident of Fort Wayne and a merchant. She was also a successful teacher.
Father Milner was born in Yorkshire, England, in September, 1803, and died in September. 1876. He was an agriculturist. He resided in England until his marriage, and his first child was born in England.
It was in 1831 when they bade adieu to England and landed in Quebec, Canada. He then went to Rochester, New York, for one year, and thence to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and there he located and pur- chased land, and resided there till 1854, when they moved to Elkhart county, in Benton township, just one-half mile east of Mrs. Harper's homestead. This was his residence till death. Formerly he was a Whig, then a Free Soiler and a strong Abolitionist. At .his death he was a strong advocate of the Republican party. He and his good wife were ardent Methodists. He was one of the pillars of the first Meth- odist church founded in Benton township.
Mother Milner was also a native of Yorkshire, England, born in 1800, and died in 1855.
Mrs. Harper was reared to young womanhood in her native county. Her educational training was in the common schools, and also at a seminary at Farmington, Ohio. She taught in her native state three years, and she also taught in the state of Indiana. She spent nine years of her life in the profession. She wedded John Harper in 1861, and had seven children, two sons and five daughters. Six are living : Rosella is wife of Milton C. Lint, a resident of Kansas City, Kansas. He is a government meat inspector and veterinary surgeon. Mrs. Lint was a graduate of the Valparaiso Normal School at Valparaiso. She was one of the successful teachers in Elkhart county. They have two children, Henry Clay and Reva E. Edward is a resident of Silverton, Colorado, and is engaged in the mining business. He received his education in Ft. Wayne and at the Valparaiso Normal. Albert S. is a resident of Benton township, and is an agriculturist. He married Miss Grace Weaver and has one little son, John H. Luella resides with her mother on the old homestead. Mary is wife of Henry Doll, a resident of Benton township, and has one daughter, Dorothy. Mag- gie is wife of Colby E. Noble, a resident of Jackson township, Laporte county, Indiana. They have four children, Myra, John B., Elizabeth and Dwight. Mrs. Noble was one of the successful teachers in Elk- hart county.
Mr. Harper was born in Ross county, Ohio, August 9. 1831, and died at his home in Benton township April 21, 1905, aged seventy- three years, eight months and twelve days. Mr. Harper was reared to agricultural pursuits. He came with his parents to Noble county when he was but an infant and resided there till his marriage with Miss Milner. He purchased eighty acres, part of the present homestead, and the first home was a modest frame cottage. The young couple
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located on this land and prospered in life and added to their possessions till at his death they possessed two hundred and forty acres of fine land. In 1878 they erected their present beautiful brick residence, which is one of the excellent and pretentious residences of the township.
In former years he was a Democrat, but in the later years of his life he advocated the Prohibition principles and took strong ground on the subject of temperance. Mr. Harper was one of the strong pillars of the Methodist Episcopal church of Benton township, called the Richville M. E. church. Ile and his family were heavy contributors in the erection of the present brick building.
AVANZAS IPE.
Ananias Ipe, a dredging contractor of Nappanee and one of Elkhart county's native sons, was born September 30, 1872. The first representa- tive of the name in this county was Washington Ipe, his paternal grand- father, who came in pioneer times and is now the oldest man living in Union township. He brought with him his family, including Henry Ipe. father of our subject, and a native of Mahoning county, Ohio. Henry Ipe was then but a youth and amid pioneer surroundings he was reared to manhood, assisting at an early age in the arduous task of developing a farm. He has always followed the occupation to which he was reared and was numbered among the enterprising and progressive agriculturists of Union township. He was a representative of an old Pennsylvania Dutch family, and it was in the Keystone state that his wife. Elizabeth Sternberg, was born. She is still living and the family are people of the highest respectability, enjoying the warm regard of many friends in Elk- hart county. On June 16, 1905. Henry lpe met instant death on a rail- road crossing, a sad accident that took away one of Elkhart county's sub- stantial and honored citizens.
Ananias Ipe, the fifth child and third son in order of birth in a fam- ily of eleven children, was reared upon his father's farm in Union town- ship until his fifteenth year, when he started out to earn his own living, accepting any employment that would yield him an honest maintenance. In 1892 he entered the employ of John Hughes, a contractor and dredger, with whom he worked for about nine years, his fidelity to duty and his capability winning him ready recognition until his frequent promotions had made him familiar with all of the departments of the business. He then began contracting on his own account, his first contract being a ditch in Starke county. He was afterward awarded a contract in Newton county, and his last contract was the Turkey creek ditch, for which he re- ceived about thirty-four thousand dollars on the completion of eighteen miles of this ditch. There were two dredgers at work and employment was furnished to sixteen men. He is now located in LaGrange county. working on a fourteen thousand dollar contract. Mr. Ipe justly deserves the praise that is conveyed in the term of self-made man, for his industry has been the basis of his success. No outside aid, influence or financial
ananias ape.
ANANIAS IPE'S STEAM DREDGE OPERATING IN LA GRANGE COUNTY
.... .....
a
RESIDENCE OF ANANIAS IPE, NAPPANEE
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assistance has benefited him. and his life work proves the value of per- sistent labor in the acquirement of a creditable financial position.
In 1892 Mr. Ipe was united in marriage to Miss Dollie Hughes, a (laughter of John and Delila ( Kizer) Hughes, who are represented else- where in this work. They now have one son, Murray. Mr. Ipe gives his political allegiance to the Democracy, but has neither time nor inclinaton to seck office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests, which are constantly growing in extent and importance.
On West Market street Mr. and Mrs. Ipe have one of the beautiful and modern up-to-date residences of Nappanee, which is a credit to the little city.
ELAMI B. MYERS.
Elam B. Myers, well known educator of Elkhart county, whose knowledge of the schools of this county dates from the forties and the log-cabin school days, was born in Portage county, Ohio, March 14, 1836. His parents, Christian and Susan ( Stouffer ) Myers, were born, reared and were married in Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio and made settle- ment in Portage county in 1834. whence they moved to Indiana and located in York township. Elkhart county, in the fall of 1846. Here they lived and died, both being buried in the cemetery at Bristol. There were five children. three sons and two daughters, and two sons and one daughter survive. The father was a brick and stone mason by trade, but spent most of his life on a farm. He died at the age of fifty-five and the mother at forty-five, and they were both Methodists.
Mr. Myers was a boy of ten years when the family came to this county, and he passed the remainder of boyhood and youth on the home farm in York township. The era of primitive schools had not yet passed, and elsewhere in this history Mr. Myer's description of the old-time schoolhouse as he knew it, is quoted.
After leaving the country school he attended the schools of Bris- tol and of Elkhart, and at the age of eighteen he was prepared to enter upon his professional career by receiving a teacher's certificate. His first school was in Jefferson township. After completing his term he entered Oberlin College, and for six years continued his efforts to- ward gaining a thorough education, teaching school three months of each year and being in college the rest of the time. He graduated in 1861. and immediately a strenuous life awaited him. Answering Lin-
coln's first call for troops, he enlisted on April 23. 1861, in Company C. Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three months, and before the expiration of that time and while in camp he re-enlisted in the same company and regiment for three years' service. At Cross Lanes, West Virginia, he was taken prisoner on August 26, 1861, and endured nine months of imprisonment at Richmond. New Orleans and Salisbury. North Carolina, after which he was paroled and soon discharged on account of disability.
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Returning to Indiana he taught a term of school, and then from 1863 to 1873 was head clerk and bookkeeper in a general mercantile establishment at Bristol. He resumed teaching in 1873, being princi- pal of the Bristol schools two years, was principal at Lima, Indiana, three years, was it Edwardsburg, Michigan, a year, and in the fall of 1880 became identified with the Elkhart schools, so that he has been connected with this city as a resident and educator for a full quarter of a century. For twelve years he was principal of the fourth ward schools, and since then principal of the Central school.
While never very active in politics, Mr. Myers has been public spirited beyond the ordinary and at various times and occasions has given his services to the public. In 1871 he was elected and served a term in the state legislature, and just before going to the assembly he served a term as trustee of Washington township. He affiliates with Shiloh Post, G. A. R., and he and his wife are members of the Pres- byterian church, of which he is an elder. January 31. 1863. Mr. Myers married Miss Mary Emma Jamison, and they have two children: Al- bert J. is a dentist in Chicago, and Margaret M. is at home.
A. P. KENT.
A. P. Kent, editor of the Elkhart Review, has for thirty years held a foremost rank among the editors and newspaper publishers of northern Indiana. He is recognized and generally acknowledged to be one of the most forceful and dignified editorial writers among the newspaper fraternity, and his paragraphs contain all the "pith and moment " of the ephemeral events, and his expressions on local and state affairs are marked with keenest discrimination and insight. The dean of the Elkhart county press, he maintains a place of lofty regard in the minds of all his fellow editors and has given his best life's efforts to the upbuilding of his city and county and to the advocacy of the political and moral causes which have appealed most strongly to his judgment.
.A son of Burton and Caroline ( Palmer ) Kent, the former a native of Derry, New Hampshire, and the latter of Unadilla, New York, Mr. Kent was born May 19, 1847, in Adrian, Michigan, whither his father, who was a civil engineer, moved in 1844, and where he followed his profession many years. Mr. Kent was educated in Hamilton Col- lege, Clinton, New York, and the year following his graduation from that institution in 1870. having already made up his mind to take up the profession of journalism, he came to Elkhart and purchased an interest in the weekly Review. His connection with that paper marks the beginning of its era of great prosperity. In 1872 the daily Reviewen was established, and under his editorship the publication of the daily and weekly editions has continued uninterruptedly to the present, the paper growing continually in circulation and reputation. The Reviews
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has the best equipped offices of any newspaper in the county, the plant being housed in a substantial brick building devoted entirely to the publishing and business department of the paper. The political com- plexion of the Review" has always been Republican.
Mr. Kent has been identified with the cause of education in Elk- hart, both through his advocacy of higher standards of education in his capacity as editor, and also as superintendent of the Elkhart city schools. which position he held from 1879 to 1882.
In 1874 Mr. Kent married Miss Emma L. Newell, who was born in Concord. New Hampshire, in 1856.
JAMES H. STATE.
In a profession where advancement depends upon individual merit, where suecess comes as a result of thorough preparation and correct application of legal principles to the points of litigation. James H. State has won a place of prominence, being regarded as one of the leading lawyers of practice at the Elkhart bar. He was born in Tourin. Lewis county, New York, in 1855, and is a son of John and Teresa (Riley) State. His father, a native of the north of Ireland, learned the trade of tanning in early life and when a young man emigrated to America, locating in Lewis county, New York, about 1850. There he worked at his trade for a number of years and in 1870 he came to Indiana, settling at Elkhart, where he entered the employ of the Lake Shore Railroad Company, with which he was connected through- out the remainder of his active business career. He died in 1890 and his wife, also a native of the Emerald Isle, is now living in Elkhart.
James H. State acquired the greater part of his education in the schools of Madison, Ohio, where the family lived prior to their re- moval to this city. In Elkhart he entered the Review office, learning the printer's trade under the direction of A. P. Kent, then, as now. the publisher of the paper, and later he did reportorial work. His leisure hours were largely devoted to study, especially along legal lines, and eventually he entered the 'law office of M. F. Shuey, while subsequently he continued his law reading under the direction of J. M. VanFleet. In 1876 he was elected city clerk and while in that of- fiee he continued his reading so that in 1881 he was admitted to the bar. He entered upon the practice of his chosen profession and later was appointed deputy prosecuting attorney for the Elkhart circuit court, serving in that office for several years. He is regarded to-day as a valued. capable, and prominent lawyer and has been accorded a large clientage. Ilis former employer, Mr. Kent, says that Mr. State is noted for his absolute fidelity and honesty and that when he makes a statement it is accepted by every one as a fact. In the preparation of a case he is thorough and painstaking and in its presentation before court or jury he is logical and forceful. his decisions being presented
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in a clear, precise manner, while the facts are marshaled so as to pro- (luce the desired result.
Mr. State is a member of the Century Club, of which he served as president for one year. He was also president of the National Un- ion, a fraternal organization, and he is a member of the Kenwood Golf Club. Mr. State was married at Elkhart to Miss Katharine A. Snyder, and they have one child, Mrs. Margie L. Bartley.
C. C. PLATT.
C. C. Piatt, superintendent of the vards and mill of the Sanders & Egbert Company of Goshen, and also a stockholder in that well known manufacturing institution, was born at LaGrange. Indiana, Novem- ber 26, 1867. He is a brother of Walter B. Piatt, the United States postoffice inspector, whose residence is also in Goshen. His father, Isaiah Piatt, a native of Holmes county, Ohio, where he spent most of his life, was a prominent man of affairs, especially in his home county, where he served as county auditor eight years, as county sur- veyor several years, and was deputy state auditor for two years. Dur- ing the seventies he taught school in Elkhart county, and he died while in the employ of the Goodspeed Publishing Company, of Chicago. Ile was a much-traveled man, and his career was notable in many other respects. His wife, Mary Piatt, was born near Bristol. England, com- ing to this county in childhood and being reared at LaGrange, Indiana, where she still makes her home. Besides the two sons already men- tioned there was a daughter, who died in childhood.
Mr. C. C. Piatt. the younger son, was reared and educated in La- Grange county, and also attended the business college at LaPorte. In- diana. He has been identified as a resident and business factor with Goshen since he was twenty years old. He was connected, successively. with John H. Lesh & Company. Lesh. Penrod '& Company, and then with the Sanders & Egbert Company, for whom he became superin- tendent of yards and mill in 1902.
Fraternally Mr. Piatt affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, and his political associations are with the Republican party. He was mar- ried in 1800 to Miss Laurinda Tuttle, a daughter of Albert Tuttle. Mr. and Mrs. Piatt have three bright and interesting children. Pauline, aged twelve: John, five years old, and Dorothy, two years old.
HENRY B. SYKES.
In the history of the business men of Elkhart it is imperative that mention should be made of Henry B. Sykes, whose commercial record is a credit to the city and whose political career is one that has always proved of public benefit. He was born in Bennington county, Ver- mont. in 1844. his parents being Judge Israel Newton and Diana ( Gil- bert) Sykes. The ancestry of the Sykes family can be traced back to
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1037, in which year the family was founded in America, and at a later day representatives of the family served in the Revolutionary war. The father was born in the same house in which occurred the birth of Henry B. Sykes, and was reared upon a farm, but when a young man he studied law and was later elected to the bench, serving with distinc- tion as judge for a number of years, his career reflecting credit upon the judicial history of his state. He died in 1896 at the advanced age of ninety years. His wife, who was also a native of the Green Moun- tain state, died there in the eighty-seventh year of her age.
Henry B. Sykes acquired his literary education at Burr & Burton Seminary, Manchester, Vermont, and received his commercial train- ing in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie. After complet- ing his course he clerked in the store of his brother, G. M. Sykes, at Dorset, Vermont, for two years, and the year 1866 witnessed his ar- rival in the middle west. He located first at Belvidere. Illinois, where le engaged in elerking in a drug store for nine months, being willing to accept any honest employment that would gain him a start in this section of the country. He afterward became assistant cashier of the First National Bank, serving in that capacity for nearly two years, when he embarked in the dry-goods business in connection with D. D Sabin, with whom he was associated for about sixteen years under the firm style of Sabin & Sykes.
Selling his interest in the store at Belvidere, Mr. Sykes removed to Elkhart, Indiana, in October, 1884, and purchased the stock of dry goods owned by J. F. Hunt, at No. 227 and 229 South Main street. The business was conducted in a three-story building, and with the growth of his trade Mr. Sykes rented and occupied the two upper floors as well as the main floor. In September, 1902, he added the corner building adjoining his old place, occupying two floors of that structure, and he now has the entire block at Nos. 227, 229 and 231 South Main street, with a frontage of sixty feet and a depth of one hundred and twenty-five feet. lle conducts a modern metropolitan dry-goods and department store of the first class, equipped with every convenience and improvement, having elevator service and employing a large number of salesmen. The business has constantly grown un- der his supervision and he has prospered continuously since coming to Elkhart. He has also been a very important factor in the commercial and industrial development of the city, perhaps no one equalling him in his efforts in this direction. He is enthusiastic in his belief concern- ing the future of the city and inspires others with his own faith. He takes a most prominent and practical part in promoting enterprises that tend to advance the general welfare, especially those which are insti- tuted by the Century Club, the business organization of the city. Ile is a member of the board of directors of this club and is one of its active and valued members.
Mr. Sykes has also extended his efforts to other lines of trade
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aside from the conduct of his department store. He is the treasurer and one of the directors of the Home Telephone Company, is a director of the Building and Loan Association and a member of the board of directors, and financially interested in many other important enter- prises of Elkhart.
His devotion to the general welfare led to his selection by the Re- publican party as its nominee for mayor in 1894. He won the election by flattering majority and served for four years. He gave to the city a business-like administration, introducing the ideas of reform, advo- cating progressive improvement, and altogether promoting in large measure the welfare and upbuilding of his city. Socially he is con- nected with the Kenwood Golf Club.
In 1868 in Belvidere, Illinois, occurred the marriage of Mr. Sykes and Miss Louisa S. Avery, and to them have been born four children : Egbert Newton, Mary Gertrude, Harry Avery and Walter Blakesley.
Mr. Sykes is pleasant and genial and very approachable, not as- suming the reserved state as many men would when they become wealthy. Steadily pursuing his way upward he has achieved the pros- perity of which he did not dream at the outset of his career. Steady application, careful study of business methods and plans to be fol- lowed, close attention to details combined with an untiring energy di- rected by a superior mind, these are the traits of character which have brought him success and made him one of the foremost men of Elk- hart.
ORRIN M. CONLEY.
The bar of Elkhart county has never lacked capable and often dis- tinguished representatives, whether in general or special branches of prac- tice. But in the field of corporation and particularly real estate and title law Orrin M. Conley, of Elkhart, easily takes foremost rank for breadth of insight and judgment and skill born of varied experience in handling this department of legal work. He is a recognized authority in his special field, and in recent years has confined his attention almost exclu- sively to practice as counsel in preference to court and jury work. Eligi- ble to practice since 1886, he gained his entrance into the difficult pro- fession of the law by hard and persevering work, and since his admission to the bar has won his advancement by the same elements of character. He is known as one of the earnest, hard-working and intellectually gifted lawyers of the county, and is held in high esteem among his fellow prac- titioners and the public generally by reason of these qualities and his en- gaging personality. In such a county as Elkhart only men of first-class ability can rise to eminence in the law, the gates are almost continually fast shut against the mediocre, and it is a distinction of the highest merit to bear the reputation from year to year of being one of the most success- ful and able attorneys in the county.
A native son of Elkhart county, born on a farm near the old village
Orino Ml. Couly
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of Jamestown. in Baugo township, July 5. 1860, Mr. Conley is a son of George W. and Sarah A. ( Towsley ) Conley, who are still living on the old homestead in Baugo township. There are some interesting ancestral records which should be detailed at this point before taking up the life of the Elkhart attorney. His father was born in Summit county, Ohio. April 25. 1831, and was a son of Captain William and Elizabeth ( Will- iams) Conley, the former a soldier in the war of 1812. Captain William Conley was a native of Virginia. and his wife was born in Williamsville or Elizabeth, that state, she of Pennsylvania Dutch descent and reared in Pittsburg. Pennsylvania, and he of Irish lineage. Eli Conley, the father of William and the great-grandfather of Orrin M., was born in Ireland. Mr. Conley's parents were reared in Ohio and married at Akron. His mother, who was born in AAkron, was a daughter of Franklin and Sarah ( Rininger) Towsley, the latter a native of Germany. Franklin Towsley. who was born and died at Akron, was a son of John and Rebecca (Bishop) Towsley. John Towsley, who was of Scotch descent but of old New England stock, born in Connecticut, was a pioneer to Ohio, and died in Akron in 1851. His wife, who died at Akron in 1858, was the eldest daughter of Dr. Bishop of Connecticut. George W. Conley and his wife came to Elkhart county in 1854. so that they have been residents of the county over half a century. Of their nine children, four died in early life, and those living are: Almon O., of Berrien Springs, Michi- gan: Orrin MI .: Minerva E., wife of Lloyd N. Warner, of Elkhart county : Alma R., wife of Joseph Delancy, an Elkhart county farmer ; and Flora .A., at home.
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