A twentieth century history and biographical record of Elkhart County, Indiana, Part 73

Author: Deahl, Anthony, 1861-1927, ed
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publ. Co.
Number of Pages: 1044

USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > A twentieth century history and biographical record of Elkhart County, Indiana > Part 73

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the large furniture manufacturing plant, the Nappanee flouring mills, and the sawmill. all enterprises of Nappanee and employing in the ag- gregate between two hundred and fifty and three hundred men. Mr. John D. Coppes is the senior member of the firm. The Coppes Hotel. the leading hostelry of Nappanee and a distinct credit . to the town, is another institution founded by the Coppes brothers, who erected it in 1802, and the fine opera house was built by them in 1900.

Mr. Coppes, though a stanch Repul lican and often sought to hold office at the gift of his fellow citizens, has never allowed himself to figure to any extent in public life, notwithstanding that he has done as much as any other man for the upbuilding of Nappanee. He served as president of the town board two years.

Ile married, in 1870, Miss Malinda Strohm, a daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Hara ) Strohm. They have only two living children. Mar- vin, who is a graduate of Purdue University, is assistant shipping clerk in his father's business, and Irvin, who likewise studied at Purdue University, is also a member of the firm. One child died in infancy, Gertrude died at the age of six years, and Lloyd died also at the age of six years.

D. W. THOMAS.

D. W. Thomas is one of the best known men in the public life of the city of Elkhart. His position as superintendent of the city schools, which he has held for nearly twenty years, has brought him into very intimate relation with all classes of citizens, and such long tenure of that important office means that he has exerted a broad and far-reach- ing influence on the development in character and mind of many hun- dreds of boys and girls, the majority of whom have already taken their places in the serious pursuits of life. In the portion of this history devoted to education in the county will be found considerable men- tion of Mr. Thomas and his work as an educator in Elkhart, and the very rapid and substantial growth of the schools of that city within the last few years is the best encomium that can be pronounced on his professional career.

Born in Hancock county, Ohio, March 26, 1839. Mr. Thomas was a son of Michael and Charlotte ( Shippey ) Thomas, the father of Welsh and the mother of Irish descent, and both natives of Ohio. They were parents of four children, and after the death of the mother in Ohio, the father was again married, having one child by that marriage. The father and his second wife came to Indiana and settled in Allen county in 1849, where he died in 1880.

His father being a farmer by occupation, Mr. Thomas was reared on a farm, living in Ohio the first ten years of his life and since then having been a permanent resident of this state. His early education was acquired in private and public schools and at Fort Wayne Col- lege. He entered upon his independent career at the age of sixteen,

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY

and thence forward for some years he persevered steadily in his efforts to obtain an education Lefitting one who aimed at teaching as a pro- fession. He began teaching when sixteen years old. and thereafter for some years he alternated in farm labor and teaching and in attend- ing school. From Fort Wayne College he entered Asbury ( now De- Pauw) University, where he was graduated with the class of 1872. In 1873 Mr. Thomas became superintendent of the Wabash city schools. this state, and resigned there to accept the more lucrative position as superintendent of the Elkhart eity schools, in 1886, so that his pro- fessional career has been devoted to two localities, a rather unusual record for an educator, especially one who has been in that line of activ- ity over thirty years.

Mr. Thomas is one of the best known educators of Indiana, and his connections are correspondingly large. He is a member of the Northern Indiana Superintendents' Club, of the Town and City Su- perintendents' Association, the State Teachers' Association, the North- ern Indiana Teachers' Association, of which he was the founder, in 1883. and also a member of the National Educational Association. He is affiliated with Elkhart Commandery No. 31. K. T. He and his family are Methodists.

Mr. Thomas is a Grand Army man, having membership with that organization by virtue of his active service in the Civil war. He en- listed, in April, 1861, in Company G. Twelfth Indiana Infantry, and after a year of service volunteered in Company E, Fifty-fifth Indiana Infantry, in which he served as orderly sergeant until the elose of his term of enlistment. He is a member of Shiloh Post. G. A. R., at Elk- hart.

Mr. Thomas married, in 1872, Miss Anna Beechgood, and they have two living children, namely: Paula B., who is a teacher in the Elkhart schools, and Frost B., who is an orange grower of Califor- nia.

WILSON ROOSE.

Wilson Roose. ex-state representative, a prominent attorney of Elkhart, and by lifelong residence and in many other ways intimately identified with this county, was born on a farm in Harrison township. February 20, 1866, a son of Jolin M. and Mary A. (Myers) Roose. His father and mother were born and were married in Columbiana county, Ohio, and came to Elkhart county in 1854, settling in Harri- son township. where they fived till their deaths, the mother in 1882. aged fifty-five, and the father in 1893. aged seventy-three. There were eleven children. four daughters and seven sons. The father was a farmer and by trade a carpenter, and in early life had followed con- traeting extensively. Although not interested in politics he had voted for candidates as far back as Polk and including Lincoln, Garfield and

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY

Harrison. He and his wife were members of the German Baptist church.

Reared on a farm and with his early education acquired in the country schools supplemented by attendance at normals, when he was seventeen years old Mr. Roose obtained a license to teach and there- with began teaching a country school, an occupation which he carried on for eight years altogether. At the same time he was pursuing with characteristic energy the study of law, and in 1892 he was prepared to enter upon his chosen career, being admitted to the bar in that year. He practiced in Goshen until 1903, and since then has been located in Elkhart. One of the prominent and influential Republicans of this county, he served as county chairman of the Republican county central committee in 1894-96, and in the latter year was elected representative to the state legislature and re-elected in 1898. Mr. Roose's career as a legislator was marked by steady and consistent effort for the welfare of his constituency and the state as a whole. He introduced the bill which became what is known as the Labor Arbitration Law, whereby a labor commission provided for the arbitrating of labor troubles. This is one of the splendid laws which now adorn the statute books of the state, and Mr. Roose's part in other matters was of no less important character. In 1899 Governor Mount appointed him a member of a commission for the purpose of drafting certain bills that would tend to curb the wastefullness as well as extravagance in the management of the county and township governments of Indiana. The result was the enactment of what became known as the County and Township Reform laws, which have saved millions to the taxpayers since the measures became laws. A man of known reliability and executive power, on the failure of the Indiana National Bank he was selected by the Comptroller of the Currency as receiver and has administered the tangled matters in very creditable fashion.

Mr. Roose is a Master Mason, and is especially prominent in the Improved Order of Red Men. in which he has held all the offices in the local lodges and in 1900 was elected Gireat Sachem of the state and has since been a representative to the Great Council of the United States body.

Mr. Roose married, in 1890, Miss Mary Murray, who was the oldest of three daughters of Benjamin I. Murray and Zillah ( Garwood ) Murray. Mr. and Mrs. Roose are members of Trinity Methodist church.

CHRISTIAN BLOCHER.

Christian Blocher, the father of John M. Blocher, present trustee of Olive township, himself for many years an honored citizen of the township, and well remembered for the honesty and industry which characterized his life throughout, was born in Erie county, New York. December 15. 1836, a son of Christian and Catherine ( Beam) Blocher.

John M. Blocher

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His grandfather, a native of the little republic of Switzerland. and his parents devout members of the Mennonite church and people who reared their children to lives of God-fearing integrity and worth. it was natural that Christian Blocher should display the fine character- istics of his race and his ancestry, and no one recalls him but as pos- sessed of the most sterling traits.

Receiving a good practical education in the schools of New York, at the age of nineteen he came to the Wolverine state, where he turned his energetic attention to the lumber industry. When Fort Sumter was fired upon he took up arms in defense of his country, was one of the first men to enlist, and as a member of Company G, Seventh Michigan Infantry, served three years, holding first the rank of corporal and then sergeant, as which he was discharged. As part of the Army of the Potomac, he participated in the battle of the Wilderness, second Bull Run. Antietam or Sharpsburg, and the pivotal battle of the rebel- lion at Gettysburg. He was wounded May 6, 1864, by a spent ball, but not seriously enough to hinder his active service.

Christian Blocher married Miss Susannah Martin, who was born in Erie county. New York, June 6, 1837, a daughter of Abraham and Maria (Herst) Martin. After his marriage Mr. Blocher moved to Ohio, but in a few months came to Elkhart county, where, after rent- ing for awhile, he purchased a partially improved farm of eighty-five acres. During the remainder of his career he was prosperous from his private standpoint and also identified himself closely with the affairs of the community. Politically a Republican, he served as township supervisor for eight years, and for two terms was the incumbent of the office of township trustee. He and his wife were devout members of the Mennonite church. They had four children: Martin A., who is a farmer in Olive township; John M., whose history is given at length elsewhere: Anne E., who married J. W. Moyer, of Olive township: and Ida A., who was born February 14, 1872, and who wedded Charles WV. Witner, a resident of Michigan.

JOHN M. BLOCHER.

John M. Blocher, one of the young men of enterprise and energy upon whom in this modern life of stress and strenuous endeavor rests the robe of responsibility in the fullest measure, is a citizen of long established residence in Olive township and the city of Wakarusa, is a successful attorney with a good and growing practice, and by elec- tion in 1904 is serving as trustee of his township, a position that he is · especially well fitted to fill.

A native son of Elkhart county, where his lifetime of useful activ- ity has placed him among the worthiest citizens, Mr. Blocher was born June 7, 1868, and is the second child of Christian and Susannah ( Mar- tin) Blocher, whose lives are briefly sketched on another page. Reared

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on the farm, Mr. Blocher spent a youth of unusually diligent applica- tion alternately between farm duties and attending the common schools. A man of self-achievement throughout life, he gained most of his edu- cation-and he is very well educated indeed-by his own efforts. When he was twenty-one years old, having obtained a teacher's certificate, he began teaching in this county, and as a practical educator pursued his calling for eleven and a halt years. All of this time was spent in one township and in just four schools, a record which shows how highly he was esteemed as a teacher. Outside of the summer normals he had never attended aught save the common schools, and his self-fitting for his vocation was an accomplishment of which he may be proud and which no doubt gave him the self-reliance needed for other under- takings. He began his career without capital, and the fact that he has continued to prosper and add to his material circumstances is another proof of his sound and substantial ability and manhood.

January 1, 1898, Mr. Blocher married Miss Amanda Musser, and they have one little daughter. Mary Saxton, who dispenses joy and gladness in copious abundance throughout the Blocher household. Mrs. Blocher is also a native to this county, born December 29, 1868, a daughter of Ephraim and Mary ( Martin) Musser, the father a native of Ohio and still in the ranks of the prosperous and active agricultur- ists, he and his wife making their home in Harrison township. Mrs. Blocher was educated in the common schools of this county.

A Republican in politics, Mr. Blocher cast his first vote for Ben- jamin Harrison and has always supported the party of his first choice. His life work has always identified him more or less with the com- munity at large, and after leaving the school room he became con- nected with the official affairs of his county. In 1904 he was selected as a delegate to the state convention of his party, and has been a mem- ber of the township precinct committee. He held office as justice of the peace two terms. In the fall of 1904 he was elected trustee of the township of Olive. This, as is well known, is the most important ad- ministrative position in the county, especially as it bears upon the wel- fare of the public schools, six of which are under Mr. Blocher's super- vision and are in a most flourishing condition. This office of trust has been well placed in him, a practical and thoroughly experienced teacher.

During his service as justice of the peace Mr. Blocher applied him- self to the study of the law, both by private reading and through cor- respondence law school, and with characteristic energy has become a well equipped attorney. in addition to his official and legal duties he does a large fire insurance business as representative of some of the leading companies, the Ohio Farmers', the American, German-Ameri- can and Security, and he also makes a specialty of buying and selling real estate, making loans, collections, etc. \ thoroughly wide-awake and aggressive young business man, yet possessed of the courtesy and gracions conduct withal which are the distinguishing marks of sound

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and self-poised ability, he has always enjoyed the confidence and patronage of the business and general public. In the fall of 1898 he purchased a pretty cottage home on Elkhart street, and has improved it into a modern residence and a most delightful, homey place. He has four pieces of real estate in Wakarusa and forty-five acres in Olive township. Mr. Blocher and his wife are genial people who take pleas- ure in the world as they have found it and give forth of their warmth of heart and mind to their many friends, so that it is not surprising that they fill a large place in the social life of their community.

FREDERICK BROOKS PRATT.

Frederick Brooks Pratt for over forty years was one of the most prominent business men of Elkhart. Dying in this city July 18, 1903, when past the age of fourscore, with fullness of years he had likewise attained completeness of achievement and character, and his name and influence are destined to survive yet a long time in the community where his activity was centered. An able business man, with executive powers fully developed, he was also a man of kindly and philanthropic character, and his daily life was in accord with the highest principles of honor and integrity.

This late respected citizen of Elkhart county was born in the city of Springfield, Vermont. December 18. 1822, being the only son of Herbert and Caroline ( Brooks) Pratt, both of whom were of old New England stock. Their only daughter, Louisa J., now resides in Detroit, Michigan. The first twenty-three years of his life Mr. Pratt spent in his native state, and then came west and located in Battle Creek, Michigan, where he was joined some time later by his parents. Subsequently his father died while visiting in the still farther west. The father's desire was that his son should be a lawyer, with which pur- pose in mind the latter had been liberally educated, but young Pratt preferred the business rather than the professional life and had early identified himself with that line of activity.

At the age of eighteen he had gone to Boston and gained an ample mercantile experience during five years' employment in one of the largest dry-goods establishments of that city. On moving to Bat- tle Creek he had first been employed in the mercantile house of an uncle, but seven years later became a member of the newly organized firm of Pratt. Rue and Rogers, general merchants, who instituted a very large business but finally met with reverses and discontinued.

Mr. Pratt came to Elkhart in 1858, and thenceforward practically up to the time of his death was intimately identified with the business and manufacturing interests of the city. In conjunction with and aided by his uncle, William Brocks, of Battle Creek, he engaged in the hard- ware business, and for years his hardware house was one of the best known business houses of the city. On the entrance of his son Will-

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY

iam B. into the business the firm was known as F. B. Pratt and Son. This establishment was finally discontinued, or, more correctly speak- ing, was merged with the Elkhart Carriage and Harness Manufactur- ing Company, which was established by the father and son in 1873. This has become the largest firm of its kind in the United States, its dealings being carried on directly with the consumer without the use of middleman or jobber. Mr. Pratt's second son, George B. Pratt, came into the business in 1882 and in 1801 Mr. F. B. Pratt sold his interest in the business to his sons and retired from active business life.

Mr. Pratt was married in Battle Creek, Michigan. November 30, 1848. to Miss Charlotte E. Byington, a native of New York state and a daughter of Rev. Joel and Delia (Storrs) Byington, the former of Hartford. Connecticut, and the latter of Vermont. Her father was a distinguished Presbyterian divine. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt became the parents of five children, but the sons William B. and George B., of Elkhart, are the only ones living. Mr. Pratt was a member of the Pres- byterian church, taking an active interest in all church work, and he was among the organizers of the church of his denomination at Elkhart.

JAMES A. JUDAY.

James .A. Juday, engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in Millersburg, was born in Benton township. Elkhart county, July 31, 1856, and is of German lineage. His paternal grandfather, Henry Juday, was a native of Pennsylvania, a fact which indicates that the family was founded in America by previous generations. Henry Juday removed from the Keystone state to Ohio, and thence to Indiana, locat- ing in the Solomon's Creek settlement, in Benton township, where he spent his remaining days. Ile was a farmer and was actively inter- ested in the pioneer development of this county along agricultural lines. He owned one hundred and sixty acres of land together with other property interests and he became quite well-to-do. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Evangelical Lutheran church. In his family were eight children: John: Jacob: David: Solomon: Baltzer: Sarah, who married John Vance: Adam, who died in 1904; and a deceased daughter. All of this generation have now passed awav.

Baltzer Juday, born in Preble county, Ohio, June 18, 1818, came to Indiana with his parents in 1834, when about sixteen years of age. Elkhart county was then a sparsely settled region, in which much of the land was unclaimed and the broad prairies were covered with their native grasses, while the timber stood uncut along the streams. Towns and cities which now have much commercial and industrial importance. were then but hamlets or had not yet sprung into existence, and thus the name of Juday has been associated with agricultural development in Elkhart county almost from its beginning. Baltzer Juday was twice

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married. He first wedded Sarah Price and to them were born two daughters: Matilda, who became the wife of George Hapner, and has three children: and one died in infancy. After losing his first wife Baltzer Juday married Elizabeth Heltzel, who was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. September 22. 1832, and was a daughter of Conrad Heltzel, a native of Pennsylvania, who removed from Ohio to Indiana about 1842. He located in the southeast corner of Benton township, where he followed general agricultural pursuits. He was of German descent. In his family were eight children: Hettie. the de- ceased wife of John Wolf: Catherine, the deceased wife of Wallace Rogers; Margaret, who married Oscar Wilkison, and has also passed way; Sarah, deceased, who wedded Solomon Rogers; Elizabeth. John, Peter and Mary, all of whom have departed this life. Mr. and Mrs. Juday became the parents of fifteen children, of whom four died in infancy, the others being: Henry. now living in Benton township: Nelson. of Ligonier, Indiana : Jane, the deceased wife of Charles Cul- ver; Ellen, the deceased wife of Sammuel Unrue; James; Thomas, a resident farmer of Clinton township: Ira. a dealer in flour and feed in Millersburg: John, a grain dealer of Millersburg; Chauncey, a teacher and specimen collector for educational institutions, living in California : Ada, the wife of Edward Wehrley, a farmer, of Benton township : and Amanda, who became the wife of John Hoffman, and died, leaving two children. The father died March 26. 1883. while his wife's death occurred January 27. 1882.

James A. Juday pursued his early education in the schools of Ben- ton township, afterward spending a short time as a student in Ligonier. Indiana. He was reared to farm life and for eleven years followed that pursuit in Noble county. this state. After marriage he conducted his father's farm for two years, but on account of ill health he removed to Millersburg, in 1893, and since then has engaged in the fire and life insurance business, in collecting and real-estate dealing. He owns the old mill property in Benton township, a residence in Millersburg and six lots in the city of Goshen, and in the department of business to which he now gives his attention he has secured a good elientage.

Mr. Juday was married in 1878 to Miss Elizabeth A. Growcock, who was born in Noble county, Indiana, September 15, 1856. her par- ents being George and Elizabeth ( Ambrose) Groweock, in whose fam- ily were nine children, namely: Mrs. Juday; George, who is a farmer of Noble county. Indiana, and a trustee in his township: Isaac. who is engaged in cultivating onions and is also a stock buyer at Kimmell. Indiana : Nellie, the wife of Thomas Juday, a farmer, of Clinton town- ship, now deceased: Alice, the wife of Nelson Hite, a farmer, of La- Grange county, Indiana; Oscar, of Millersburg: Camilla. the wife of Frank McDivitt, of Goshen; Edward, who is with his brother George in Noble county : and Florence, deceased.

Mr. and Mrs. Juday have a family of four sons and two daugh-

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ters: Luther, who is pursuing a course in civil engineering in Angola, Juliana, and has taught for a number of years; Addie, a teacher; Wes- ley, who is attending the Goshen high school; George, a student in Goshen: Mattie, also in school: and Dean, at home. The parents are members of the Christian church and Mr. Juday's father and mother and all his brothers and sisters with the exception of two are members of that church. He takes an active part in church work, has served as deacon and has been superintendent of the Sunday-school at Millers- burg for several years. He has likewise been president of the Chris- tian Endeavor Union for several years and his labor in behalf of the church has been a helpful factor in its upbuilding and growth. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, Castle No. 328,-now vice-chancellor ; and he votes with the Democracy. On the Democratic ticket he was elected justice of the peace until he had filled the office for ten years, and he has likewise been a member of the school board. A man of genuine worth, meriting the esteem in which he is uniformly held by his fellow-men. it is therefore consistent with the purpose and plan of this work that his record be given among those of the repre- sentative men of the county.

The Juday family for many years have hell annually and semi- annually, rennions, and many pleasant reminiscences are retold and gone over with so much pleasure to all. Some of the Judays come from Ohio to attend these reunions. Each June the reunions will be hell at Lake Wawassee. This Wawassee reunion includes all by the name of Juday.

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of Elkhart County, Indiana, Part 73

Author: Deahl, Anthony, 1861-1927, ed Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publ. Co. Number of Pages: 1044

Author: Deahl, Anthony, 1861-1927, ed
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publ. Co.
Number of Pages: 1044