USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > A twentieth century history and biographical record of Elkhart County, Indiana > Part 79
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MOSES A. FARVER, M. D.
Moses .A. Farver, engaged in the general practice of medicine in Middlebury, was born in LaGrange county, Indiana, in 1866, his par- ents being Abraham and Harriet ( Snyder ) Farver, the former a native of Holmes county, Ohio, and the latter of Somerset county, Pennsyl- vania. Bothi were of German lineage and of Holmes county, Ohio. The maternal grandparent died in Pennsylvania. The Farver family was established in the Keystone state when it was still numbered among the colonial possessions of Great Britain. Abraham Farver was reared to the occupation of farming, which he followed as a life work. He removed from his native state to LaGrange county, Indiana, in 1863. and there purchased the farm upon which he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in December, 1893, when he was sixty-six years of age. He had long survived his wife, who departed this life at the age of forty-two. He was a member of the Dunkard church and at one time gave his political allegiance to the Democracy. His wife was likewise a member of an old Pennsylvania family and was one of six children. Her religious faith was indicated by her membership in the Mennonite church. Unto Abraham and Harriet Farver were born six children: Elizabeth, who married William Engle and is living in Mid- dlebury; Jonathan, a lumber merchant at Shipshewana ; William, who is in partnership with his brother: Emma, the wife of Cornelius Troyer, a farmer living near Shipshewana, LaGrange county, Indiana ; Barbara, the wife of George Renner, also an agriculturist of LaGrange county; and Moses A.
In the district schools and at LaGrange Moses A. Farver acquired his education and for eight years he engaged in teaching school. but he regarded this merely as an initial step to other professional labor, for it was his desire to become a member of the medical fraternity and to this end he took up the study of medicine in the office and under the direction of Dr. Schrock at Shipshewana. Later he attended lectures in the medical department of the Worcester University of Ohio and subsequently entered the Baltimore Medical College, in September, 1892. He was graduated from that institution in March, 1893, and he pur- sted post graduate work in 1897 in Chicago Polyclinic. He entered upon the practice of his profession in Topeka, LaGrange county, Indi- ana, in the spring of 1893. there remaining until October, 1894, when he came to Middlebury, where he has since practiced with success. Good results have followed his efforts in the alleviation of human suffering and he has kept in touch with the onward march of progress made by
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the medical fraternity, continually broadening his mind and promoting his efficiency through reading and investigation as well as original research.
In 1887 Dr. Farver was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Hos- tettler, a daughter of Samuel J. and Katie ( Mehl) Hostettler and a native of LaGrange county, born in 1868. Her father was a farmer by oechipation and was of German descent. The doctor and his wife now have seven children : Minnieola, Austin, Alvin DeCosta, William Hobart, Jennie Edith, Francis Franklin and Thelma.
Dr. Farver and his wife are prominent socially and she is a mem- ber of the Lutheran church, while his membership relations are with the Knights of Pythias and the Maccabees. He is likewise connected with the county, state and American Medical Associations, while his politieal affiliation has been with the Republican party since 1896. He is a young man possessed of the enterprising spirit of the age, and in a profession where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit and capability he has won a position which is notably successful and gratifying.
WILLIAM B. PAGE, M. D.
Dr. William B. Page, engaged in the practice of medicine in Mid- dlebury, was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, in 1871. His father. Tobias Page, was a native of Snyder county, Pennsylvania, where his ancestors located at an early day. His birth occurred in 1841 and in early life he learned the butcher's trade, which he followed for many years. He is now living in Elkhart county at the age of sixty-four years. His political support is given to the Republican party and he is a men- ber of the Mennonite church. He married Miss Anna Brubaker, who was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, in 1840 and is of German lineage. She too is a member of the Mennonite church, and they had a family of three children, but the eldest and the youngest. Anna and Tobias, are both deceased.
William B. Page acquired his early education in the publie schools of Juniata county and afterward continued his studies in the Northern Indiana Normal College at Valparaiso, Indiana. He also took the greater part of the teacher's course at Ada ( Ohio) Normal School and subsequently he entered the Herring Medical College at Chicago, where- in he pursued a three years' course in medieine and surgery, being gradu- ated with the class of 1896. He afterward took post graduate work in Chicago Homeopathic College and entered upon practice in Middlebury in the fall of 1806. Here he was quite successful in practice until the spring of 1899, when he went to India as a medical missionary, spend- ing two years in that country. At the end of that time he became ill with cholera and because of his invalid condition returned to his native land. He then traveled for a year in the United States. after which he assumed practice in Middlebury, where he has since remained
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and a liberal patronage is now accorded him, the consensus of opinion regarding his skill and ability being very favorable.
In 1896 occurred the marriage of Dr. Page and Miss Alice Thut. a daughter of Peter and Mary ( Steiner ) Thut and a native of Hancock county, Ohio, born in 1870. Her father is a farmer and comes of Swiss ancestry. Dr. and Mrs. Page had four children, but lost the first three. Mary, William and Treva. Their surviving son. Ralph, was born Feb- ruary 5. 1903.
Dr. and Mrs. Page are devoted members of the Mennonite church, and in politics he is a Republican. His professional relations connect him with the Elkhart County Medical Society, with the Northern Indi- ana and Southern Michigan Homoeopathic Association and the Ameri- can Institute of Homeopathy. He is always interested in everything that tends to bring to man the key to that complex mystery which we call life, and it is well that he has a zealous attachment for his profes- sion, because it makes continuous demands upon his time and energies. leaving him little leisure.
W. W. SHOWALTER.
W. W. Showalter, who is engaged in general farming and the raising of sheep, is a native of LaGrange county, Indiana, where he was born March 8, 1856. His father, John B. Showalter, was a native of Rockingham county, Virginia, and was the third in order of birth in a family of ten children. One of his brothers came to Middlebury. Elk- hart county, where he died in the year 1903. The Showalter family is of German lineage and early in the eighteenth century was founded in America by representatives of the name who emigrated from the fatherland to Pennsylvania. In later generations the fam- ily went to Virginia and it was in the old dominion that John B. Showalter was born and reared. He became a farmer and in 1855 removed westward to Indiana, settling in Eden township. LaGrange county. Later he took up his abode in York township. Elkhart county. where he spent his remaining days. His entire life was devoted to the tilling of the soil, managing his farming interests with ability and skill so that reasonable prosperity resulted. His political views upheld the principles of Democracy and he was a loyal member of the Lutheran church. He married Miss Frances Hedrick, also a native of Rocking- ham county. Virgnia. where her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hedrick. both died. Her father was a miller and was of Holland descent. the family having been established, however, in Virginia at an early period in its colonization. Mrs. Showalter was the eldest in a family of seven children and through many years she has been a devoted member of the Lutheran church. She still resides in Millersburg. Indiana, at the age of seventy-five years, having for about seventeen years been a widow. for the death of John B. Showalter occurred in 1888. when he was
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fifty-nine years of age. This worthy couple were the parents of five children : Annie E., the widow of Samuel Stroup of Millersburg ; Ella V., who is living in that place: W. W. of this review; Fanny, the wife of Charles Barry, a merchant of Belle Plains, Kansas; and May, de- ceased.
W. W. Showalter was a student in the common schools of Eden township. LaGrange county, but his educational privileges were meagre and it has been through practical experience that his knowledge has been largely acquired. He was reared to the occupation of farming, which has always claimed his attention and he is now living on section thirty- three, Jefferson township, where he owns and operates eighty-four acres of land. He has lived in Eden and Van Buren townships in LaGrange county, and in York, Clinton and Jefferson townships in Elkhart county. He removed from Clinton to Jefferson township in 1900, taking up his abode on the Abner Blue farm which he had purchased. Here he is carrying on general agricultural pursuits and is also feeding sheep, which is an important branch of his business.
In 1883 Mr. Showalter was married to Miss Ellen Schmidt, who was born in Nattaway, Michigan, in 1862, her parents being George and Mary ( Steininger ) Schmidt. Her father is a farmer and now resides near White Pigeon, Michigan. Unto him and his wife were born five children, namely : Ellen C .: Jennie ; Ada, the wife of Henry Schmidt: Hattie, who became the wife of Bert Swartz and is deceased ; and Fred. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Showalter were born four children : Maude, whose birth occurred in Van Buren township. LaGrange county. in 1884: Ralph, born in York township, Elkhart county in 1890: John. born in Clinton township in 1899: and Clifford, born in Jefferson town- ship in 1903. The mother is a member of the Reformed church. Mr. Showalter is prominent locally in Democratic circles and in the fall of 1904 was elected to the office of township trustee, which position he is now filling.
CHARLIE W. ELLIOTT.
Charlie W. Elliott, postmaster of Middlebury and a stock dealer of Elkhart county, was born in Clinton township, this county, February 23. 1862. He is a son of Daniel and Cynthia ( Larimer) Elliott. His father. Daniel Elliott, was born in Stark county, Ohio, and was one of ten children. His father. Thomas Elliott, was of English lineage. Dan- iel Elliott came to Indiana at an early period in the development of this state. His parents had traveled overland by wagon, had visited Chi- cago and lowa and eventually settled in Clinton township. Elkhart county. Indiana. There Daniel Elliott made his home until 1865. when he removed to Middlebury township and purchased land on section ten. living upon that place until 1884, when he took up his abode in the town of Middlebury, where on the ist of January, 1885. he established the Exchange Bank, the first institution of that character in Middlebury.
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The first draft was issued to J. F. Cooper. He then conducted the bank successfully up to the time of his death, when it went into possession of Jonathan S. Mather, the executor of his estate and it is now owned by the latter's son, Joseph D. Mather. After Daniel Elliott purchased a farm in Middlebury he also sold farm machinery and disposed of the first car load of Walter A. Wood binders ever sold in this county. He likewise engaged in the hardware business in Middlebury, conducting his store until 1872, when he sold out to the firm of Foster & Blough. while eventually the store passed into possession of the firm of Wise & Varns. Mr. Elliott was a man of marked business enterprise, keen discernment and sagacity and accumulating a handsome property he left his family in very comfortable circumstances. He died July 22, 1896, in the sixty-third year of his age. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, served as one of its officers and took a help- ful part in its work. He was also a strong Republican and a man firm in support of his convictions. He did much to promote the commercial prosperity of Middlebury and his own business record was characterized by untiring activity and honorable principles leading to success. He married Cynthia Larimer who died in October, 1894. in her fifty-eighth year. Her father, Moses Larimer, came to Indiana in an early day. settling in Clinton township, where he followed the occupation of farm- ing. He was of English lineage.
Charles W. Elliott pursued his education in the schools of Middle- bury and afterward gave supervision to his father's farm until twenty- four years of age, when he entered his father's bank, remaining there until the death of Daniel Elliott. On the ist of July, 1897, he was appointed postmaster of Middlebury and has since discharged the duties of the office most acceptably to his constituency and the general public. In addition he is also engaged in dealing in horses and making ship- ments. He has likewise dealt in land and as a trader has become well known. manifesting in his business enterprises keen sagacity and sound judgment. He is rarely mistaken in the value of any purchase which he makes and his sales have brought to him an excellent return.
On the 14th of October. 1885, Mr. Elliott was married to Miss Mary M. Gary, a daughter of Victor and Barbara Gary. She was born on what is known as the Haw Patch in Noble county, Indiana, Janu- ary 13. 1865. her father having taken up his abode in this state when the work of improvement and progress had scarcely been begun. He followed the occupation of farming and upon the homestead farm which lie developed reared his family of nine children. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have become the parents of five children. Dick W., the eldest, born October 29. 1886, spent three years as freight clerk with the Michigan Central Railroad at Battle Creek and is now in the superintendent's office of the same road at Chicago. Ruth, born February 21, 1888, is a graduate of the high school at Middlebury and is quite accomplished as a pianist. Helen, born March 24, 1892: Daniel Otis, born July 29,
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1894, and Mckinley, born September 20, 1901, are the younger men- bers of the family. The parents are devoted adherents of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Elliott's name is on the membership rolls of the Knights of Pythias lodge of Middlebury. He is a stanch and ardent Republican and for two terms has served as village clerk and now he is capably discharging the duties of postmaster. In whatever relation of life we find him he is true to the trust reposed in him and he has a wide and favorable acquaintance in the county where he has always lived.
GEORGE W. BEMENDERFER.
George W. Bemenderfer, an agriculturist also engaged in the manu- facture of brick in Jefferson township. was born August 11, 1865, about a mile and a half north of Goshen, in the township where he yet makes his home. His parents were Henry and Rebecca Bemenderfer. The father was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, August 18, 1824, and was a son of Peter and Susan Bemenderfer, who were natives of Penn- sylvania, and in 1813 removed to Virginia, where they lived until 1828. In that year they went to Stark county, Ohio, where they remained for ten years and on the expiration of that period they took up their abode in Carroll county, Ohio, where their remaining days were passed. Henry Bemenderfer, having arrived at years of maturity, was married to Re- becca E. Prince, the wedding being celebrated in Elkhart county, Sep- tember 25. 1851. The lady is a native of Stark county, Ohio. In early manhood Henry Bemenderfer learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for twenty-eight years, after which he devoted his time and energies to farming and the manufacture of brick, thus becoming closely connected with industrial interests of the county. He owned two hun- dred and fifty acres of land on section thirty-four. Jefferson township. and was prosperous in his business affairs. He held the office of town- ship trustee of Jefferson township for ten years and his interest in the public welfare was deep and sincere, being manifest in active effort for the general good. He died in 1904 and the county this lost one of its representative and honored pioneer settlers. Unto him and his wife were born ten children: John P., Mary E., Charles H., George W., Cora E., Hattie M., Burtridge, Allen R., Malinda S., and Emma, ‹leceased.
George W. Bemenderfer, whose name introduces this review, was a student in the country schools and afterward completed a commercial course in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso. He was reared to farm life and when he put aside his text-books he returned to his home and took charge of his father's brick yard, which he oper- ated under his father's direction until his death and since that time he has been manager of the concern. He also manages the farm of two hundred acres and he has an average of twelve men in his employ throughout the entire vear. His business interests have grown deep
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in volume and importance and in the control of his affairs he has dis- played excellent executive force and keen sagacity.
Mr. Bemenderfer was married in 1892 to Miss Magdalene Seibert, a native of Bristol, Indiana, born in 1871. Her father, Charles Seibert, is a carpenter and contractor and in his family are five children : Charles, formerly a school teacher, who is engaged in the telephone supply busi- ness at Elkhart: Emma, the wife of Richard Lake, a representative farmer of Jefferson township: Magdalene: Bertha; and John, who is with Mr. Bemenderfer. Unto our subject and his wife have been born six children: Elizabeth, Helen, Henry, Dart, Kathline and Alice. Mr. Bemendorfer is a member of the Lutheran church, while his wife be- longs to the Episcopal church. He is a member of the Modern . Wood- men camp No. 4075, at Goshen, and is a Democrat, who is now serving on the town board of supervisors. He keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and in local political circles is well known. His chief attention, however, is given to his business affairs and he makes his home on section thirty-four, Jefferson township. where he has two hundred acres of valuable land that he has placed under a high state of cultivation. In all of his work he is eminently practical and he has served faithfully in the upbuilding of public interests in the enterprising west.
CHARLES 1. LAMB.
Among the prominent business men of Elkhart county who have attained success and are counted among the most worthy and honored citizens may be mentioned Charles L. Lamb, the president and man- ager of the Goshen Novelty & Brush Company. He was born in this county on the 21st of January, 1860, a son of David W. and An (Zelley ) Lamb. The father, who was a native of Pennsylvania, came to Elkhart county in an early day, and his name is indelibly traced on the pages of its history from an early epoch. He is a mechanic by trade, and for fifteen years was engaged in the furniture and undertak- ing business, but now, in the evening of a long, useful and honorable career, he is enjoying a well earned rest, relieved of the burdens and responsibilities of business life. His wife passed away in 1888. after becoming the mother of twelve children, eight of whom grew to years of maturity.
Charles L. Lamb, the eleventh child in order of birth in his parents' family, was reared and received his educational training in Goshen. and after laying aside his text-books to engage in the active battle of life he became an employe of the Hawks Furniture Company, being at that time but sixteen years of age, and remaining with the company for six years, his last work having been in charge of the brush employes on the second floor. His next employment was with the Lattia Lamb Company, with whom he remained four years as a designer and assis- tant foreman. In 1897 Mr. Lamb entered into business relations for
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himself, as a manufacturer of furniture, and in the following year. 1898. formed a stock company, consisting of George R. McMasters and Wood- son V. Messick, to which was given the name of the Goshen Novelty & Brush Company. The business was started in a very small room. twenty by thirty feet, and employment was given to two men, but such has been the almost phenomenal growth of this industry that at the pres- ent time from forty to fifty workmen find constant employment in their works, and their capital stock has been increased to about twenty-four thousand dollars. The company now consists of the following well known business men: Charles L. Lamb, president and manager : H. F. Coshey, vice-president ; W. T. Pittenger, secretary ; and George R. AlcMasters, treasurer. Upon the ladder of his own building Mr. Lamb has climbed to the prosperity which he now enjoys, for he entered the business world without a dollar and in debt, but his resolution and capability enabled him to overcome the obstacles in his path, and now no name stands more properly placed in the business circles of Goshen than his.
In 1883 Mr. Lamb was united in marriage to Emma May Cul- bertson, and two children have been born to them: Helen L. and Wilma M. In political matters he exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, and has taken an active interest in public affairs. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Methodist Episcopal church. Wherever known he is held in high regard, and in Elkhart county, where his entire life has been passed, he has a host of warm friends.
CHARLES F. WYLAND.
Charles F. Wyland, owning and operating two hundred and thirty- five acres of land in Jefferson township, is one of the representative agri- culturists of his community. He was born in Harrison township, this county, March 21. 1867. His father. John Wyland, was a native of Preble county. Ohio, and was one of a family of nine children. the others being Kate, Irene, Lizzie, Susan, Margaret, Jane, Moses and George. John Wyland learned the carpenter's trade in early life and has followed that pursuit to a greater or less extent while carrying on general agricultural interests. He is now living in Milford, Kosciusko county, Indiana. He married Miss Mary Ann Whitehead, who was one of ten children, the others being John, Valentine, Louis, Jacob. Kate. Jane, Hester, Ellen and Lydia, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Wyland be- came the parents of a son and daughter. The latter, Lulu Wyland, was married to John McDowell. and after his death she became the wife of Jacob Hazel.
Charles F. Wyland was reared to the occupation of farming and was educated in the public schools. Having arrived at years of matur- ity he was married in 1889 to Miss Emma Ardilla Rodibaugh. the
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ninth child of David Rodibaugh. Her father, who was born in Mont- gomery county. Ohio, in 1819. died in 1898, when almost eighty years of age. He was of German descent and was educated in the common schools of Ohio. He came to Elkhart county in 1831 with his parents. David and Siloam Rodibaugh, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Rodibaugh was reared to farm life amid pioneer surroundings and he became a very prosperous business man, accumulating nine hundred acres of land. He also owned a flouring mill in Jackson township and in partnership with Edward Clark was the owner of a woolen mill near Goshen. He was likewise proprietor of a saw mill and he had other property. He was a very wealthy man, accumulating his fortune entirely through his own well directed effort and judicious investment. His path was not strewn with the wrecks of other men's fortunes, for he was never known to take advantage of the necessities of his fellow men in any business transaction. Straightforward and honorable in all his dealings, he lived peaceably with his friends and neighbors and was a man universally esteemed and honored. As a pioneer settler he remembered when the deer and wolves were numerous, when Indians still visited the neighborhood and when the work of improvement and progress seemed scarcely begun. He watched the development of Jef- ferson township from a wilderness into productive fields, containing within its borders some of the finest farms of this portion of the state. David Rodibaugh was twice married, Miss Martha Shaw becoming his wife in 1842. She was born June 26, 1823, and died June 16, 1852. They were the parents of four children, but the first born died in in- fancy, while Albert W. has also passed away and Elmira died in 1872. The only living representative of that generation is Lorenzo, who is now engaged in the lumber business at Cape Girardeau, Missouri. For his second wife David Rodibaugh chose Rebecca Baringer, who died in 1900 at the age of seventy-one years. Her father, David Baringer, came to Indiana at an early day, settling in Jackson township. Elkhart county. He married Susanna Ritz and they became the parents of sixteen children. By his last marriage David Rodibaugh has nine chil- dren : David D., who was born in Goshen April II. 1856: S. Dayton. born November 3. 1857, and now deceased ; AAndrew Jackson, born May 29. 1859: Rebecca J., who was born May 20, 1860, and is the wife of Ira Miller of Baintertown, Indiana ; Lucinda, the wife of Jacob Wyland. Jackson township: Susannah, who was born April 20, 1865, and is now deceased ; Oliver P. Morton, who was born October 13. 1863, and has passed away: Lovina, who was born December 31, 1866, and is the wife of Albert Brothers, of Elkhart Prairie: and Emma Ardilla. who was born March 8. 1868, and is now the wife of Charles F. Wyland.
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