USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > A twentieth century history and biographical record of Elkhart County, Indiana > Part 71
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Mrs. Mary G. Rheubottom, the mother, who was born in Dela- ware county, Ohio, in 1852, and when a child came to Indiana, where she was reared, was a daughter of one of the California forty-niners who crossed the plains in search of the golden Eldorado and who met his death while still on the coast. Mrs. Rheubottom graduated from Ontario Collegiate Institute and is now a minister of the gospel in the Christian church at North Manchester, Indiana. She entered the ministry about 1895. Wakarusa being her first charge. She was the first president of the W. C. T. U. in Elkhart county, having organized the first society, and was also an active member of the Shakespearian Club at LaGrange. She holds a high rank as an evangelistic worker. and is often called upon to aid various churches regardless of denomina- tion.
Mr. D. A. Rheubottom, who was reared in his native county to
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the age of twelve years, received his primary training in the common schools, from which, after receiving his diploma, he entered the Ken- dallville high school in Noble county, graduating in the class of 1884. Already, at the age of sixteen, he had received his teacher's certificate. and he began teaching in Noble county and followed that line of work for four years. During that time he served as secretary of the Noble County Teachers' Association. In 1886 he left the ranks of edu- cators and identified himself with journalism. which vocation has ab- sorbed his time and energies ever since. As already mentioned, he and his father established a paper in Middlebury in 1886, and this was continued there several years by the son after his father had come to Wakarusa. The history of the Wakarusa Tribune as one of the rep- resentative Elkhart county journals will be found in the general history of this volume.
Mr. Rheubottom married Miss Ida Schwin, February 2, 1887, an.1 two sons have been born to them: Gladstone is in the high school, having completed the first year's work there; Blaine had finished the eighth grade. Mrs. Rheubottom was born and reared in this county, being educated in the Middlebury schools. She is a trained nurse by profession, having prepared herself for that calling in Michigan Uni- versity, where she took two years' work in the medical department. A woman of versatile mind, she has, besides caring for her household in such an exemplary manner, assisted her husband in the editing of the Wakarusa Tribune, conducting the Ladies' Department of that pa- per, and has identified herself prominently with various other move- inents for social and intellectual uplift in her town. She was one of the organizers of the Search Light Club, a society devoted to literary and social culture. One of the young stalwarts of the Republican party in this county. Mr. Rheubottom has been a delegate to state and county conventions, and editorially and personally upholds the principles which time and usage have proved sound and good. Fraternally he affiliates with Lodge No. 311. K. of P., at Middlebury.
JOHN ROHRER.
Within the shadow of his fourscore years, over seventy of which have been spent in this county, Mr. John Rohrer, of Jackson township, comes very near to being the oldest resident of Elkhart county, both from the standpoint of the length of his own lifetime and years of con- tinuous residence. On other pages we have already spoken of the prom- inence of the Rohrer family as pioneers of Jackson township, and it is to such devoted men and women as represent this family that the phe- nomenal advancement of the county to a foremost position in all depart- ments of civilization is due. The homage paid to pioneers is well de- served, the extent of their services to mankind can never be overesti- mated. and the chronicling of their lives and deeds is not less impor-
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tant in this history than the record of the present affairs and activities of the county.
Born near Dayton, Ohio, September 3, 1826. he is the only living representative of the eight children, six sons and two daughters, com- prised in the family of John and Catherine (Razor) Rohrer. His grandfather was from Germany, and the family is of Pennsylvania German stock. The father, a farmer and also dealer in real estate, came at an early day on a trip to Indiana, seeking a home for his chil- dren and for the passing of his own remaining years. He entered government land both in Noble and Elkhart counties, and in 1833 the Rohrer family came to this county, in covered wagons and in true pioneer style, and of course their first habitation was a log cabin. Mr. Rohrer's present home is part of the old homestead settled over seventy years ago. .At that time a dense growth of timber covered alf this portion of the country, and before crops could be planted it was the arduous task of the father and older boys to cut off the brush and trees and make a small clearing on which their next year's means of subsistence might be raised. The father was a man of influence in his community, and gave his political support to the Whig and later the Republican party. The mother, who was born in Pennsylvania, died in this county, and the remains of both parents rest in Milford cemetery, where a beautiful monument has been erected in their sacred memory.
A boy of about six years when he came to this county, Mr. Rohrer has been continuously a resident here for seventy-two years. Nearly all his conditions of life and the pioneer surroundings which have been described at length in other portions of this volume, for the purpose of affording this and future generations a correct knowledge of the past, are memory pictures in the mind of Mr. Rohrer, and from his own long experience he culls incidents and scenes almost exactly sim- ilar in general and in detail. He is numbered among those who obtained their education in the log schoolhouses, he has often swung the old four-fingered cradle during the harvest days of fifty years ago, he has driven ox teams, and in fact, with his long train of successive years. he bridges over the interval between the dim-remembered past and the glorious twentieth century.
Mr. Rohrer lived at home with his parents until his marriage. By his wedding with Miss Catharine A. Unrue ten children were born. six sons and four daughters, eight of whom are living. Marion is married and is a carpenter and joiner at Goshen. Wesley, who is mar- ried, is a painter at New Paris. Rebecca Ann, a resident of Jackson township, is the widow of Daniel Peoples. James and Thomas are twins, the former a resident of New Paris and a farmer, and the latter a farmer at Milford; both are married. Emma is the wife of Melvin Sheline, a farmer and salesman. John. a practical farmer having charge of the old homestead and living with his parents, married Miss Linnic
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Harper and has two children, Glenwood and Ruth. Ira A. is success- fully engaged in the tent and awning business at Boise City, Idaho, and is married.
Mrs. Rohrer was born in Preble county, Ohio, February 18, 1827, a daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth ( Hawks) Unrue. She has been a resident of Elkhart county and Jackson township since she was a little girl eight years old, so that she too deserves representation among the oklest pioneers of the county. She attended log-cabin school, studied the Elementary speller, the Testament, a United States history. and with a goosequill pen has written the copy set by the master. She has faithfully performed her part of life's duties, has reared her large family with credit and honor, and in home and community has made herself beloved by her sweet and generous character.
When the young couple began their wedded life their home was in the little house which stands just back of their beautiful country residence. All their children were born in that modest little house. That little dwelling moved away to make place for a pretentious and modern home tells in a beautifully graphic manner the story of pros- perity which has marked their career: tells of patient and persistent effort by which gradually they got ahead in the world, and besides doing well by their children, furnishing them a good home, sending them to school, at the same time they were steadily increasing their store of world's goods-all this and more may we read as we look from the weatherbeaten and well worn old place to the ornate and comfortable residence that has succeeded it. During her first years of housekeeping Mrs. Rohrer has woven the cloth for many of the gar- ments worn by the family, and she still possesses as almost sacred relics her flax wheel, reel and other implements, although she has sold the loom. Their beautiful estate comprises one hundred and ninety- one acres of land in Jackson township, and their residence was erected in 1876.
Mr. Rohrer was first a Whig and then a Republican, being an emphatic advocate of the principles of his party. He and his wife were among the organizers of the Evangelical church in this neighbor- hood, and years ago they often walked four miles to attend the Solo- mon's Creck church. They contributed generously to the erection of the Evangelical church in New Paris, and also helped in the building of the Methodist church at the same place, their interest in religious progress and the moral life of their community causing them to lend their aid with discrimination or regard for creeds and sects.
BENJAMIN F. PAUL.
As long as memory remains to the American people they will ac- knowledge their debt of gratitude to the men who wore the blue uni- form and carried the musket in defense of the Union cause at the time of the Civil war. Among the veterans of that long and sanguinary
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struggle now living in Elkhart county, Benjamin F. Paul is num- bered. He comes of German lineage and was born in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, on the 28th of May, 1842, being the third in a family of six children, two sons and four daughters, whose parents were Abra- ham and Sarah (Alwine) Paul. Only two of the number are now living, Benjamin F. Paul being the elder, while Levi is a resident of Eikhart township, where he follows the occupation of farming. The father was born in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and throughout his active business career carried on general farming. His educational privileges were limited but he made the most of his opportunities and from his native state he removed to Elkhart county. Indiana, in 1864, settling in Jackson township. He purchased property in New Paris, and continued in the tilling of the soil up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was sixty-four years of age. His early politi- cal support was given to the so-called Know-nothing party, and when the Republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery he joined its ranks and continued to follow its banners until called to his final rest. He and his estimable wife were members of the Evangelical church. Mrs. Paul was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and was about seventy-two years of age at the time of her death.
Benjamin F. Paul was reared in the state of his nativity until he had reached manhood and his time and attention were largely given to the farm work. About the time he attained his majority, however, he began learning the carpenter's trade, which he followed for twenty- five or thirty years. In 1864 he decided to seek a home in the middle west and with his brother-in-law came to Indiana. He had desired to enter the service of his country at the time of the Civil war but his parents objected. Following his arrival in Indiana, when there was no objection to his joining the army, he offered his services to the government, enlisting in Company H. Thirty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under command of Captain Dawson. This was in the early fall. The regiment was assigned to the Trans-Mississippi department and he joined it in Alabama. Almost immediately he was under fire and he participated in the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, one of the most hotly contested engagements of the war, the Union troops be- ing mown down like a field of grain. Two of his comrades standing very near him were killed, but Mr. Paul managed to escape deatlı. He was engaged in erecting breast works and under a hot fire the works had been built to a height of about two feet with rails on top when the enemy made the attack. The commanding officer told them to pile their knapsacks on top of the breast works and soon the rebel bullets rained around them like a hail. The next battle in which Mr. Paul participated was at Nashville, Tennessee, twelve or thirteen days later, and this was another hard-fought action, a number of the mem- bers of Mr. Paul's company being killed. Then came the order "on
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to Richmond' and they started for that point, proceeding as far as Lookout Mountain when word was received that Lee had surrendered to Grant and the stars and stripes were floating over the capital of the southern Confederacy. Then a part of the army to which Mr. Paul's regiment belonged was discharged, while the remainder was sent to Texas, Mr. Paul being with the latter section. The troops proceeded to New Orleans and thence across the gulf to San Antonio, Texas, where they remained on duty for some time but no battles oc- curred. Mr. Paul was honorably discharged September 30, 1865, at Victoria, Texas.
Returning at once to his home in Pennsylvania he had to spend some time in recuperating, for his health was impaired by the hard- ships and rigois of war. Atter a brief period spent in the Keystone state he again came to Elkhart county, Indiana, where he resumed work at the carpenter's trade. He had no difficulty in obtaining work, there being much building going on at this time so that the services of competent men were always in demand. It was about this time that lie choose a companion and helpmate for life's journey, being mar- ried in 1866 to Miss Elizabeth Hahn, by whom he had five children, three sons and two daughters. The family circle yet remains un- broken, the record being as follows: Isadora May, the wife of B. W. Davis, who is a rural route mail agent, residing in New Paris; Charles William, of New Paris, a barber by trade but now working at carpen- tering and who married Miss Cora Landahl; Franklin, who married Miss Minnie Carrier, and is a painter and paper hanger of New Paris; Ola Bell, the wife of Bert Tarman, a teacher of Jackson township; and Erastus, who is a barber of New Paris, and married Miss Addie AAnselman.
Mrs. Paul was born in Indiana, in 1843, and she and her hus- band are members of the Evangelical church at New Paris. The at- tractive house of worship here has been erected since they became resi- dents of New Paris, and Mr. Paul was one of the building committee. In politics he is a Republican. About 1891 he engaged in the sawmill business. which he continued for about six years and he conducted a hardware business for four years. He then turned his attention to general merchandising, carrying on a store for three years and dur- ing the succeeding year as a furniture dealer. He is now, however, a shoe merchant of New Paris, and in this relation is known to the citizens of the enterprising village, having a good patronage and car- rying a weil selected stock. His business integrity stands as an un- questioned fact in his career and the success which he has achieved is the merited reward of his own labor.
C. J. SWEZEY.
C. J. Swezey, postmaster at Nappanee, for many years identified with the manufacturing activity of this city, has in his later years re-
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ceived the rewards which his early industry and perseverance through difficulties deserved. A self-made man, his achievements in every line have been the result of his own intelligent management and earnest labor.
Born in Orange county, New York, June 3, 1839, he was only seven years old when the family lost their main support in the death of the father, David C. Swezey, who, also a native of Orange county, New York, had moved out to Marshall county, Indiana, in 1845 and died there the following year. The widowed mother, with her six young children, then returned to Yates county, New York, and from that time until he was fourteen years old young Swezey lived with his grandfather, David Swezey. Then hiring out to a farmer for a year, he thus early began an independent career and with increasing strength and experience came also added ability to cope with life's problems and to pull more than his own weight in the affairs of the world. Recognizing his deficiencies as to education, he set about edu- cating himself while laboring daily for his own support. After clerk- ing in a store at Howells, New York, about two years, he came out to Marshall county, Indiana, and put his self-acquired education to use by teaching school three years.
In 1861 Mr. Swezey entered the Union army as a private in Com- pany K. Twenty-ninth Inchiana Infantry, became a corporal and then first sergeant, and was in the war until receiving his honorable dis- charge in 1865. He was in the western armies, taking part in the bat- tles of Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, and others, and at Chicka- mauga received a gunshot wound in his left leg so that he was com- pelled to lie in the hospital six months, which was the only interrup- tion to his continuous service.
After the war he returned to Indiana, but soon went back east and engaged in farming in Seneca county, New York, three years. Locating in Mishawaka. Indiana, he was in the employ of the Mil- burn Wagon Works six years as shipping clerk, then conducted a gen- eral store in Lakeville, St. Joseph county, and in 1883 identified him- self with the growing town of Nappanee. In company with Robert McGomey and DeWitt C. Eggleston, he engaged in the manufacture of furniture, especially tables. The enterprise was later incorporated as a stock company under the name of Nappanee Furniture Company. of which Mr. Swezey was secretary, and about 1900 the interests of the company were reorganized and have been since carried on by the Coppes, Zook & Mutschler Company. Mr. Swezey retained his share in the business two years longer, and then sold out to Daniel Zook and has since been retired from active participation in business affairs. He was appointed to his present position of postmaster in 1962, and the efficiency with which he has administered the office has had a marked effect both in the quantity and quality of the service.
Mr. Swezey has been connected in various other ways with the
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public life of Nappanee. He was a member of the town board several terms and was president of the board one term. He has been a life- long Republican and an active party worker for many years. He is a member of the Methodist church and holds the office of steward. and his fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic order and with Berlin Post No. 402, G. A. R., in which he has filled all the chairs. Mr. Swezey was married in 1865 to Miss Harriet Lyon.
PERRY L. TURNER.
Perry L. Turner, who for over twenty years has held a secure position among the principal lawyers of this county, who has risen to a place of commanding influence and great professional prestige among the members of the bar and the general public, was born on a farm in Osolo township, Elkhart county. October 27. 1860. His parents were Lyman Turner, now deceased, and Tamar ( Wilkinson ) Turner. still living. They took up their residence in this county in 1849. They had five children, but the only two living are Perry L. and Dr. Porter Turner, both of Elkhart.
Like so many men who have risen to prominence in the profes- sions, Mr. Turner spent his youth on a farm, where he assisted his father during the time he was not in school. Supplementing his com- mon school training by attendance at the Elkhart city high school. where he was graduated in the class of 1879. he taught in the country schools of the county in the winters of 1879-80-81, and during the cor- responding summers took a select literary course in the Northern In- diana Normal at Valparaiso, receiving his diploma from that institu- tion in 1881. In May, 1882. he entered the law office of Captain (). T. Chamberlain at Elkhart and took up the study of law under that well known jurist. Obtaining admission to the bar in 1884, he at once became the law partner of his preceptor, and the law firm of Chamber- lain and Turner continued with uninterrupted success until 1902. in which year the senior member withdrew to make his home in Califor- nia. Since then Mr. Turner has practiced alone and has maintained the higli reputation for legal skill and ability which has always char- acterized the firm. In 1885 he was elected city attorney of Elkhart. and the satisfactory record he made in this office is shown in the fact that he was retained in the office for sixteen consecutive years. He has the ablest qualifications as a lawyer, the keen perception, the analyti- cal mind, the knowledge of law. and as a trial lawyer in particular lie has made and well sustained a reputation throughout this section of the state.
Besides attending to a large practice, Mr. Turner has connections with many other enterprises. He is general counsellor for the Modern Samaritans of the World, with which order he is affiliated. He is vice- president of the Elkhart Gas Company and is a director in the First
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State Bank of Elkhart. He is a Master and Chapter Mason, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias, and both he and his wife are members of the Episcopal church. Mr. Turner is proprie- tor of and caused the erection of the Law Exchange building in Elkhart, in which he has his own law offices. His law library is considered one of the largest and best selected in the state, and his private library at home indicates the breadth and scope of his intellectual interests. He has never interested himself to any extent in practical politics, but in
Perry L. Turner.
the public welfare of his city and county hie yields to no one in public- spirited endeavor.
Mr. Turner was married in 1885 to Miss Mamie E. Wright. Her father, the late H. C. Wright, was the first mayor of the city of Elk- hart, and for many years a prominent lumber dealer and leading citi- ze11. Mrs. Turner, who was born and reared at Elkhart, is a graduate of St. Mary's Academy of South Bend and of Peekskill Seminary in New York. For years she has been a leading spirit in the social and club life of Elkhart, and is now recording secretary of the Indiana State Federation of Women's Clubs.
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R. S. MCCORMICK, M. D.
Dr. R. S. McCormick, engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Nappanee, is a native of Livingston county, Illinois, born March 12, 1869. His father, Hunter McCormick, was a native of Pennsylvania and following the period of the Civil war became a resi- dent of Illinois, settling in Odell. Livingston county, where he engaged in bookkeeping and afterward in grain dealing. There he died at the age of fifty-eight years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary E. Neyhart, is also deceased.
Dr. McCormick is the second in order of birth in a family of five sons and was only twelve years of age at the time of his mother's death. He afterward went to Pennsylvania, where he remained for about four years, attending school in that state, and on the expiration of that period he rejoined his father in Illinois, remaining in Livingston county until 1887, when he went to Chicago. He was there engaged in the shoe business and also attended school, after which he determined to make the study of medicine his life work. He did his preliminary reading under the direction of Dr. Lee and in 1903 was graduated from the Chicago Homeopathic College. In July of the same year he located for practice in Nappanee, where he has since remained, and here he has worked up a very gratifying business, winning a creditable professional and financial success.
In 1898 Dr. McCormick was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Taylor of Rochester, Indiana, a daughter of Israel Taylor. Dr. and Mrs. McCormick are widely and favorably known socially and he is a valued member of the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic frater- nities. In the line of his profession he is connected with the Indiana Homeopathic Medical Association and his wife is an active and helpful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Dr. McCormick has little leisure time, owing to the increased demands for his professional serv- ices, but he finds genuine enjoyment in the calling which he has chosen as a life work and the love of scientific investigation and broad humani- tarian principles as well as a hope of gaining a desirable financial return prompts him to put forth his best efforts as a practitioner of medicine and surgery.
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