USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > A twentieth century history and biographical record of Elkhart County, Indiana > Part 77
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JOSHUA B. GATTSHALL.
Joshua B. Gattshall. of Goshen, has been a resident of this city for the past thirteen years, during which time he has been one of the lead- ing members of the Elkhart county bar and also well known as an edi- tor and journalist.
Born in Marion county, Ohio. July 26, 1853. he was a son of Philip and Maria ( Barry ) Gattshall, the former born near Johnstown. Pennsylvania, and the latter in Maryland. The parents were married in Ohio, of which state both the paternal and maternal grandfathers were pioneer settlers. Great-grandfather Yelverton Barry was a. sol- dier in the Revolutionary war, and grandfather Elisha Barry served in the war ot 1812. The latter was a Virginia slaveholder, but afterward liberated all his slaves and, becoming obnoxious to his neighbors un this account. left that state and moved to Ohio. He was a stanch sup- porter of his country and a believer in equal rights to all, and at the outbreak of the Civil war he urged his sons and relatives to bear arms in defense of their country, and two of his sons and three grandsons
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went to the war. Another trait of his family besides their great loy- alty to country was length of life, nearly all his eleven children living to be more than threescore and ten. The parents of Mr. Gattshall were early settlers of Marion county, Ohio, and both died there, the father in 1881 at the age of sixty-four, and the mother in 1897 aged eighty years. The father made farming his life work.
Reared on his father's farm and ohtaining his preliminary educa- tion in the country schools, Mr. Gattshall at the age of fifteen obtained a certificate and began teaching school, which he alternated with atten- dance at school for his own instruction during the next eleven years,
Joshua B. Gatt:hall.
and in the meantime studied law. He was admitted to the bar in Ohio in 1879, and removed to Indiana in the spring of 1880 and for twelve years conducted an active practice at Warsaw. In 1892 he came to Goshen. For five years he was on the editorial staff of the Goshen Daily Times, afterward the News-Times. In 1896 he took a cargo of high- class horses to London, England, for Edgar Snow, of Boston, return- ing to this county in November, 1896, when he again resumed editorial work for the Times. In 1898 he became chief clerk to Major J. H. Heatwole during the Spanish war, and spent some time in Cuba, and on the conclusion of his army service again became connected with the News-Times, which he continued until he resumed his law practice in
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1002. He is an able and skilled lawyer, and has a good practice in the county.
Mr. Gattshall is an earnest advocate of Republican principles and has in many ways contributed to the success of his party locally. Fra- ternally he is a Knight Templar Mason at Warsaw Commandery and a member of the Knights of Pythias.
October 28. 1879, he married Miss Emma J. Mathews, who was born in Jackson township, this county. They have one child living. Ralph, who is a graduate of the Goshen high school; their boy David died when two years old. Mrs. Gattshall belongs to one of the pioneer families of this county. Her grandfather. Philip Mathews, settled here in 1831. and erected the first hotel, or tavern, on the site of Goshen. He died on a farm in this county. Her father, David Mathews, is liv- ing on his farm in Jackson township, being now eighty-two years old.
JOSIAH D. REPLOGLE.
For almost sixty-six years Josiah D. Replogle has been a resident of Elkhart county, being numbered among her native sons. His birth occurred in Concord township, November 14, 1838, and he now resides on section 22, Osolo township. He is descended from German ancestry. His paternal grandfather, John Replogle, was born in Germany and was about ten years of age when he came to America, settling in Ohio. His son. Peter Replogle, was born in Stark county, Ohio, January 18, 1800, and was there reared and educated. After attaining man's estate he was married in that county and thence removed to St. Joseph county, Indiana, locating near South Bend in 1837. However, he remained in that local- ity for only a brief period, after which he took up his abode in Concord Township, Elkhart county. upon a farm. There was a log cabin upon the place but few improvements had been made. He at once began to clear and cultivate the place and made it his home until his death, which occurred in 1849. His wife continued to reside thereon during the suc- ceeding eighteen years, after which she went to live with her son, Jo- siah D. Her maiden name was Lovina Porter and she was born in Ohio in 1811. The Porters were of English lineage. To Mr. and Mrs. Replogle were born nine children, six sons and three daughters, but only three of the number reached adult age: Rebecca, now the deceased wife of Franklin B. Markel: Abraham, who has also passed away ; and Jo- siah D.
The last named was the seventh in order of birth in his father's family and was reared in Concord township until eighteen years of age. In his youth he pursued his studies in a log schoolhouse, attending each winter for a brief period. while the remainder of the year was given to farm labor. He was thrown upon his own resources at the very early age of eleven years and hired out to work by the month on a farm. He was thus employed until seventeen years of age. when he entered upon
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an apprenticeship to the mason's trade in Elkhart, serving a full terin, and followed that occupation until 1862. On the 9th of August of that year he put aside all business and personal considerations that he might aid his country in the struggle to preserve the Union, and joined Com- pany G, Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry, as a private. He was promot- ed to corporal and color sergeant and served for three years, with the exception of about one month. He participated in a number of the most important engagements of the war, including the battles of Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge. Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Buzzard's Roost, Dalton and Jonesboro. At the last named place one-third of the regiment was lost in killed and wounded. Mr. Replogle, however, was never wounded, nor was he in a hospital, although at one time he had a hard sick spell immediately following the battle of Chickamauga, being unable to take any food for eight days. He went with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea and also participated in the grand review in Washington where " wave after wave of bayonet-crested blue passed by the stand on which the president stood, watching the return of the vic- torious army," and in that parade he carried the flag at the head of the Seventy-fourth Indiana Regiment.
He received an honorable discharge in March, 1865, and was mus- tered out at Indianapolis, Indiana, after which he returned to his farm, living on the farm which he yet occupies.
On the 27th of June. 1850, Mr. Replogle was married to Miss Har- riet M. Wilson, a daughter of David and Phoebe ( Smith) Wilson and a native of Knox county, Ohio, born December 27, 1835. She was reared and educated in her native county and her parents were both natives of Ohio. They had a family of eleven children, of whom Mrs. Replogle was the third.
For a year and a half before the war Mr. Replogle lived in Elkhart in the house which he built, and on the expiration of this period he re- moved from his city home to a log cabin on a farmi where he now resides. He remained upon this farm for forty-five years and with the exception of his eklest son all of his children were here born. He is today the owner of two hundred and thirty acres of rich and arable land on which are two sets of farin buildings, including two substantial residences and all the buildings necessary for the shelter of grain and stock.
To Mr. and Mrs. Replogle have been born the following named : Arthur G., who was born in the city of Elkhart, February 12, 1860. and is a resident farmer of Osolo township: Josiah Wellington, who was horn April 6, 1863, and is a resident of Goshen and general record keeper for the Knights of the Maccabees of Indiana; Edward, who was born September 6. 1867. and died July 28. 1881 ; Charles E., who was born May 3, 1869, and for thirteen years has been a teacher of Osolo town- ship: Ernest C .. born January 28, 1871, and now assisting in the opera- tion of the home farm: Otis A., who was born December 7, 1872, and is married and resides at Mishawaka : Elnora A., who was born Decem-
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ber 25. 1874, and died September 20, 1898; and Emmet and Eugene, twins, born October 17, 1877.
Mr. Replogle has been a life-long Republican and has taken an active and helpful interest in the local work of his party. He has served as road supervisor, as justice of the peace for eight years, and as town- ship trustee for two terms of two years each, and also filled out an un- expired term. He was also township assessor for five years and in of- ficial service has always been found prompt and faithful, fully meeting every obligation devolving upon him. He belongs to Elmer Post No. 37. G. A. R., of Elkhart, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He belongs to the class of citizens designated as self-made men and deserves all the praise that that term implies. Starting out when a young lad of eleven years, he had the care of his mother until her death. and he received no financial assistance or aid from influential friends, but by persistent purpose, resolute will and honesty he has worked his way upward, now occupying an enviable position in the regard of his fel- low mien, and at the same time gaining for himself a place among the substantial farmers of the county.
CHARLES DILLS.
Charles Dills, who carries on general farming on section 23. Osolo township, was born upon this place, July 23, 1854. His father, Harry Dills, was a native of Vermont and came with his father, Morris Dills. tto Elkhart county. Indiana, when pioneer conditions existed throughout this part of the state. A location was made in Osolo township, and there amid frontier environment the grandfather developed and improved a farm. The father assisted in this arduous task, giving his time and labor for the further cultivation of the old home place up to the time of his marriage. In Osolo township he wedded Miss Isabel Philson, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to the west at an early day in com- pany with her parents, James and Susan Philson, who cast in their lot with the early settlers of Benton township. Elkhart county. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Dills began their domestic life upon a farm and about four years later Mr. Dills departed this life. His widow afterward became the wife of Richard Smith, and Charles Dills remained with his mother and stepfather through the period of his minority, assisting in the work of the farm in its various departments and attending the district schools through the winter seasons. He started out upon an independent busi- ness career when twenty-one years of age, turning his attention to farm- ing in Osolo township, and his labors, persistent and directed by sound judgment, have made him one of the practical, progressive and prosper- ous agriculturists of the community.
On the 3Ist of December. 1875, Mr. Dills was united in marriage to Miss Alice A. Laing, a daughter of Frederick and Mary (Rupel) Laing, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania. They
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came to Indiana during the pioneer epoch in its improvement and settled in St. Joseph county, where their daughter, Mrs. Dills, was born on the IIth of June, 1856. To our subject and his wife have been born five children who are yet living, and they also lost one-Bernie. The others are Lloyd. Merwin, Bessie, Hazel, and Theron.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Mills located on the farm which has since been his home, und his attention has been given to general agri- cultural pursuits until now his place of two hundred acres constitutes one of the fine farms of the county, being improved with all modern con- veniences aud equipments, including substantial buildings. He also raises some good stock, and the products of his fields are a marketable com- modity, bringing to him a good financial return. Mr. Dills has always given his political support to the Republican party and its principles, and has filled various local offices, proving a capable official whose first in- terest seems to be the public good. He was first elected to the office of trustee in 1894 and has filled the position for about six years. He is also substitute mail carrier. His duties are always faithfully performed and whether in public or private life he is true to the trust reposed in him.
JOHN L. WARDEN.
John L. Warden. superintendent of the county poor farm, was born in Stark county, Ohio, June 4. 1846, and is of Irish lineage. His pater- nal grandfather was a brother of General James Warden. His father. Harrison Warden, was also born in Stark county, Ohio, and was a farmer by occupation, following that pursuit in the Buckeye state until his removal to Indiana about 1854. He located in DeKalb county, but in later life returned to the county of his nativity, where his death occurred when he was in his eightieth year. He had married Miss Clementine Halter, a native of Germany, who was brought to America when but three years of age, and died in Ohio at the age of seventy-eight years. They were the parents of a son and two daughters: John L. ; Elizabeth. deceased; and Mary, the wife of Curtis Snyder, of Napoleon, Ohio.
John L. Warden spent the first eight years of his life in the county of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their removal to DeKalb county, where his youth was passed ; while in the public schools he mastered the elementary branches of English learning. The coun- try's need for men awakened his earnest consideration in 1863. and re- solving to aid in the preservation of the Union he became a member of Company D, One Hundred and Forty-second Indiana Infantry, with which he served until the elose of the war. He participated in the battles of Franklin and Nashville and was under the command of General Thomas. In 1864 he was ill with measles in the hospital. He received an honorable discharge at Indianapolis, having done his full duty as a soldier, and though he became familiar with the rigors and hardships of
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war he never faltered in the performance of duty and his loyalty made his a most creditable record.
Following his return from the south Mr. Warden traveled for some time in the east and the west, and in Henry county, Ohio, in 1870, he was married to Miss Louise Long, a native of that county and a daughter of William Leng, who was also a soldier of the Civil war. Mr. Warden came to Elkhart county in 1882, locating at Goshen, where he was man- ager for the E. W. Walker Manufacturing Company for eight years. He was also engaged in the hotel business at Goshen and Elkhart for about ten years, being proprietor of the West Union in the former city, and of the Tremont in the latter. He also engaged in carpentering for a number of years and in 1903 was appointed to his present position. being now superintendent of the Elkhart county infirmary and poor farm. In the administration of the business connected therewith he is enterprising, accurate and prompt, and his course has given general satisfaction.
To Mr. and Mrs. Warden have been born a son and a daughter : Orlie Harrison, who is living in Duluth, Minnesota, where he is con- nected with a clothing firm: and Gazelle, the wife of Joseph Keely, now of Chicago.
In his political views Mr. Warden has always been a Republican and at one time he served as janitor of the county court house. His interest in political questions is such as every true American citizen should feel, and he keeps well informed on the issues of the day. Fra- ternally he is well known and prominent. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, the Uniformed Rank, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Grand Army post at Goshen, also the Tribe of Ben Hur and the Knights and Ladies of Columbia. He is widely known in Elkhart county, having long taken an active part in politics and public affairs, and none question his sin- cerity of purpose and his devotion to what he believes to be right.
NATHANIEL C. NEWELL.
Nathaniel C. Newell, a leading and representative farmer of Osolo township, was born October 17, 1883, and is a son of one of the most honored of Elkhart county's pioneer citizens-U'nele Nathaniel Newell. now deceased. He was a native of Chittenden county, Vermont, his hirth occurring near Charlotte. January 2, 1800. He was of English lineage and his parents were Abel and Polly ( Hollerbert ) Newell, who were natives of Connecticut, while their ancestors were early settlers of the New England states. Abel Newell carried on general farming, and his careful management of his business interests brought to him well deserved success, while his unblemished integrity and sterling worth were unquestioned facts in his life record. He served his country in the war of 1812 and died in Vermont, respected by all who knew him.
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Nathaniel Newell was the third in order of birth in his family of four sons and five daughters, and from an early age he was familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist in Vermont, his work on the old homestead being so continous that lie had little opportunity of enjoying even such educational advantages as the schools of that day afforded. During the winter season he was obliged to haul logs, and while still quite young he had to drive four yoke of oxen hitched to a sled, working in this way from early morning until long after dark. Determining to locate where he could secure. government land, he started westward in 1835, with all of his household effects in a wagon and accompanied by the wife that he had just married. She bore the maiden name of Lucinda Johnson and was a relative of Colonel R. M. Johnson, who it is said killed the Indian Chief Tecumseh and thus put an end to much of the suffering which the Indians caused the white race on the frontier. The journey westward was fraught with dangers and difficulties. On reaching the Maumee swamp his wagon became stuck in the mud and after calling for help and hitching four yoke of oxen to the wagon he managed to complete the journey of thirty miles in five days. Continuing on his way to Adamsville, Michigan, after a brief sojourn there he established his home in Osolo township, Elk- hart county, where he purchased one hundred acres of land adjoining the homestead place. The young couple began their domestic life in a comfortable log house of one room, which had been built in the midst of a little clearing of eight acres. Otherwise the farm was unimproved, but with characteristic energy Mr. Newell began clearing and cultivat- ing the land. In a short time he was called upon to mourn the death of his young wife, who left two children to his care, and although the task was a difficult one he resolutely set to work to provide for his children and improve the farm. . At that time there were only five white families living in the township, but the Indians were very numerous and his kindly treatment of them led them to supply him with venison, and fre- quently he was enabled to secure their services in some work on the farm. He prospered in his undertaking and when his capital was sufficient he invested in a quarter section of land for which he paid eight dollars per acre. There were no improvements upon it, but within hinself lay the power and energy necessary for the subjugation of the wild tract and its conversion for his own uses. He worked untiringly, adding to his prop- erty from time to time, and ere his death he was the owner of eight hundred acres of very valuable land, of which over five hundred acres was cleared and cultivated.
For his second wite Mr. Newell chose Miss Mary Ohls, and of that marriage there is one living child, Nathaniel, while of the first marriage one son survived, George. The latter, now a prominent farmer of the county, was born in Osolo township on the old family homestead. His boyhood days were spent on the old homestead and he assisted in the arduous task of developing new land and cultivating the fields. For
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about two months each winter he would attend schools held in a little log building and supplied with primitive equipments, but at the end of that time the school was usually broken up by the unruliness of some of the older boys. The furnishings of the pioneer homes were also meager, the cooking being done over the fireplace, for there were 110 stoves at that time. Farm implements were very crude in comparison with the fine farm machinery of the present day and George Newell was only eleven years of age when he took his place between the handles of the old wooden plow and was given charge of ten yoke of oxen. He continued to assist his father until twenty-three years of age, when at the outbreak of the Civil war he espoused the Union cause and became a member of Company M. Second Indiana Cavalry, under Captain J. A. S. Mitchell, of Goshen. He rode horseback to Indianapolis and after be- ing mustered in started for the south, taking part, as his first engagement. in the sanguinary battle of Shiloh. He was afterward in the engage- ment at Pea Ridge. and at Murfreesboro he was captured and paroled. He was then detailed in the quartermaster's department and served in the same until the close of the war. After three years devoted to hiis country's service he returned to Elkhart county and resumed farming. being the owner of valuable farm property in the county, highly im- proved and richly cultivated.
George Newell was married to Miss Sarah A. Compton, a native of this county, in 1864, and they have two children, Minnie and Na- thaniel.
Nathaniel Newell was reared and educated in Osolo township and in 1905 was united in marriage to Miss Esther Ghrist, a daughter of Wallace and Mary Manning Ghirist, whose birth occurred in Osolo town- ship June 2. 1886. Their farm comprises one hundred and twenty-one acres of rich land and is valuable property, well improved and showing every evidence of the careful supervision of a painstaking and progres- sive owner. He is a worthy representative of a prominent pioneer fam- ily and the name of Newell has been an honored one in this part of the state since Uncle Nathaniel Newell settled in Osolo township, taking a helpful part in the development of the frontier and winning the respect and friendship of all by his upright life and kindly nature.
JAMES L. HARMAN.
James L. Harman, a prominent attorney of Elkhart and a member of the Metropolitan Board of Police Commissioners of that city, was horn in Mishawaka, St. Joseph county, Indiana, July II, 1873. He was the only son of David and Carrie ( Mack) Harman, the father a native of Kentucky and the mother of Canada, and both are now de- ceased.
The parents moved from Mishawaka to Elkhart when the son was two years old, and he was reared and educated in this city, grad-
Jours Starway
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uating from the high school with the class of 1892. Having already .lecided upon the law as his profession, he began his studies in 1893 and made rapid progress until he was admitted to the bar. He stud- jed with the late R. M. Johnson, and on November 19, 1894, was ad- mitted to the bar. Until April, 1897. he practiced as a member of the firm of Johnson and Harman; then it was Harman and Barney until August. 1800: from that date until January, 1901, he was alone, and since then the firm of Harman and Zigler has conducted a very success- ful business in the courts of this county and as counselors. Mr. Har- man is thoroughly versed in the law and procedure, is a man of en- gaging personality and of wide acquaintance, and his success has been well achieved. He is very much interested in his city, and as a miem- ber of the Metropolitan Board of Police Commissioners occupies one of the most responsible positions connected with the municipal admin- istration. In politics he is a Democrat, and he has fraternal affiliations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Harman married, in 1898. Miss Maude E. Cummins, a daughter of Charles E. Cummins, of Elkhart. They are Presbyterians in religious affiliations.
SAMUEL HOLTZ.
Among the early settlers of Elkhart county who for many years have been identified with agricultural interests and have also been a power for good citizenship and substantial progress in this part of the state is numbered Samuel Holtz, who resides on section 24, Osolo town- ship. He was born February 5, 1832, in Stark county, Ohio, about five miles from Canton. His father, Jacob Holtz, was a native of Pennsyl- vania and was of German lineage. He removed from the Keystone state to Stark county, Ohio, and there followed the occupation of farm- ing, departing this life there when his son Samuel was but eight years of age. Ilis wife hore the maiden name of Susan Lininger and was of Scotch lineage. She also died in Stark county.
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