USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > A twentieth century history and biographical record of Elkhart County, Indiana > Part 83
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ALFONSO LAMAR LAMPORT.
Alfonso Lamar Lamport, proprietor of a general mercantile estab- lishment in Bristol, his business having reached proportions that make it a profitable investment, was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, No- vember 25. 1852, and in the paternal line comes of Irish lineage. His father, Chauncey W. Lamport, was born in New York and was a farmer by occupation. With his parents he removed to the vicinity of Painesville, Ohio, where he was reared to manhood and was mar- ried. About 1847 he took up his abode in St. Joseph county, Indiana, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring there in
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1889. He was an active member and efficient worker in the Methodist Episcopal church and long served as one of its officers. He ranked high in public regard and was known as a successful business man. having through his own efforts acquired a handsome competency. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party and he served as postmaster of Osceola during the administrations of Presidents Gar- field, Arthur and Cleveland. His public and private life were alike above reproach and in community interests he was a valued factor. He married Adeline D. Barbour, who was born in New York and died in 1896. She was descended from one of the old Puritan families of New England and was an active worker and devoted member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, holding to the old Puritan ideas concerning the observance of the Sabbath. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey W. Lamport were four children: Minnie and Hortentius M., both de- ceased : Alfonso: and Emma R., the wife of W. S. Buck, a merchant of South Bend, Indiana.
Alfonso Lamport was educated in the public schools of Elkhart and was graduated from the Northern Indiana Normal School of Valpar- aiso with the class of 1878. He afterward engaged in teaching school for twelve years, being principal of the schools in Bristol, Millersburg and Waterloo, Indiana, but in 1882 his health failed him and he turned his attention to merchandising, in which he continued until 1886. In that year he entered the Methodist ministry, being ordained by Bishop S. M. Merrill of the Northern Indiana Conference at the session hekl at Warsaw. He assumed his first pastorate at Orland, Indiana, where he remained for three years when he came to Bristol, acting as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church here for two years. He was afterward assigned to the church at Garrett. Indiana, where he con- tinued for four years when he was compelled to resign because of ill health. He then spent two years in recuperating and in 1897 he opened his general mercantile store in Bristol, starting with a small capital but now carrying a large stock and conducting a very gratifying and con- stantly growing business. He also owns a small fruit farm on the banks of Baldwin lake.
In 1876 Mr. Lamport was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Bas- sett. a daughter of Daniel and Nancy (Lundy) Bassett. She was born upon a farm north of Bristol just over the boundary line in Michigan. Her mother was a descendant of a Lundy whose family name was given to an engagement of the war of 1812-the battle of Lundy's Lane. Her father, Daniel Bassett, was a millwright and came to Bristol when the town was in its infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Lamport had one child. Edwin Murray, who died in infancy. They are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and his fraternal relations connect him with the Odd Fellows and the Maccabees, while in his political views he is "? Republican. He is widely known as a man of upright character, strong purpose and commendable principles, who as educator, minister
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and merchant has done much for his fellow man. Almost his entire life has been spent in this portion of the state, and his life record is as an open book which all may read.
M. SHOOKMAN.
M. Shookman, one of the progressive men in the mercantile circles of Goshen, for over ten years engaged in the grocery and meat business, was born in Cass county, Michigan, April 14, 1857. He is of German lineage through his father, and English through his mother. His father, Otho Shookman, a native of Ohio, came to Michigan with his parents, was reared, educated and married in the latter state, has spent his life very successfully as a farmer, and still lives on the Cass county homestead. The maiden name of the mother was Elizabeth Wright, who was born in Michigan and is still living. They were the parents of six children, four daughters and two sons, five of whom grew to adult age.
Mr. Shookman, the third child and second son, was reared in his native county, but received his education in the schools of Decatur, Van- buren county. After living on the home farm and assisting his parents until he was eighteen years okl, he started out for himself by engaging in the butcher business, which he followed in the town of Decatur, Michigan, about eight years. On selling out he spent some time in South Bend. this state, and located at Goshen in 1893. He and Mr. Simons conducted a retail grocery and meat market together for a time, and then Mr. Shookman bought the entire concern, and since then has carried on one of the leading provision stores in this city.
Mr. Shookman married, in 1880, Miss Charity Rich, daughter of Josephus Rich, and they have one son, Bert. Mr. Shookman is a Demo- crat in politics, and fraternally is a member of the Maccabees.
JOHN H. GARMAN.
John H. Garman, controlling one of the leading productive indus- tries of his part of the county, being now engaged in the manufacture of hay racks, lawn swings, ladders and fruit packages, is a native of Jeffer- son township, Elkhart county, born on the 29th of July, 1858. His par- ents were Frederick S. and Mary \. ( Huff) Garman. The father was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, and died in 1890, at the age of fifty-six years. The family is of German lineage, and the name was originally spelled German, and it was in honor of this family that the village of Germantown, Pennsylvania, was named. The original ances- tors in the new world came from Hesse-Darmstadt, and the founder of the family in Elkhart county was Peter Garman, the grandfather of our subject, who in 1855 made his way westward from Pennsylvania and settled on Middlebury road between Middlebury and Elkhart. He was quite a wealthy man, and his son, Frederick S. Garman, also became
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quite well to do. He followed the occupation of farming on Middlebury road and was active and prominent in community affairs. He held a number of township offices and at the time of the building of the county courthouse his great-unele, William B. Garman, was county commis- sioner. Frederick S. Garman gave his political allegiance to the Dem- ocracy and his religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, who was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, sur- vived him for a few years, passing away in 1893 at the age of fifty-eight. Her father. Isaac Huff, was a contractor and builder and he served as major in the state militia of Pennsylvania. Like her husband, Mrs. Garman was also a devoted member of the Methodist church. By their marriage they became the parents of four children : John H. ; Ella B., who died in 1882 at the age of eighteen years; Mary Lovinia, now living in Chicago; and Clara E., the widow of Wilson Martin, of Chicago.
John H. Garman acquired his education in the district schools and read medicine in the office of Dr. F. M. Aitken at Bristol for three years. He also pursued a course of lectures in Bellevue Medical College and in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, spending two years in the latter institution, when, owing to the ill health of his parents, he returned home without taking his degree. He never finished his medical course and therefore drifted into other vocations. Following the death of his mother he came to Bristol, where he established a small fruit box fac- tory. He has since kept adding to his plant until he now has one build- ing forty by one hundred and ten feet, another thirty-five by forty feet. a third twenty-two by forty feet and a fourth eighteen by forty feet, and all of these are utilized in the manufacture of hay racks, lawn swings. ladders and fruit packages. Their trade extends all over the United States and into Canada. Mr. Garman also does a large mail order busi- ness in the sale of folding chicken coops, of which he is not only the manufacturer but also the inventor. He is likewise the inventor of a folding fruit box, and possesses much mechanical ingenuity. The fac- tory is supplied with the most modern machinery for carrying on the work and the plant is in continuous operation, while the business is con- stantly increasing. Mr. Garman has developed it along modern lines and is now at the head of an important productive industry. furnishing employment to a large number of workmen and shipping an extensive output which goes to many parts of the country. He likewise owns a small fruit farm in this locality.
In 1897 Mr. Garman was united in marriage to Miss Einma Hutton, a daughter of John and Rebecca Hutton, who was born in Van Buren county, Michigan, in 1867. She was a school teacher prior to her mar- riage. Her father was an extensive miller and large land owner, who came to the west from New York. At the time of the Civil war he joined the Union army. becoming a captain in a Michigan regiment. At the battle of Missionary Ridge he was wounded and never recovered from his injury. The wound was a constant source of pain to him
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until 1903. when he died from the effects of his injuries in battle. passing away at his home in Cass county, Michigan. About a year later his wife died at the home of her daughter in Van Buren county, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Garman have two children : Veda A., who was born in Bristol in 1898; and Mariam Rebecca, born in July. 1900. Mrs. Garman is a member of the Baptist church and Mr. Garman has membership relations with the Maccabees and the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a Re- publican and has held minor township offices, but he gives the greater part of his time and attention to his business affairs. He has been the promoter of one of the leading industrial enterprises of Bristol and his success is well merited. His connection with any undertaking insures the prosperous outcome of the same, for it is in his nature to carry for- ward to successful completion whatever he is associated with. He has earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of business and in his dealings is known for his prompt and honorable methods, which have won him the deserved and unbounded confidence of his fellow men.
HIRAM KANTZ.
Hiram Kantz, carrying on general farming on section 22, Cleve- land township, is a native of Union county, now Snyder county, Penn- sylvania, born April 14. 1833, and is a son of Christian and Anna Mary ( Spotts ) Kantz, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by occupation, always following that pursuit in order to provide for his family. His death occurred in the county of his nativity, and his wife also passed away there, her death occurring in 1892, when she was ninety-two years of age, for she was born in 1800. Mr. Kantz was sixty-five years of age at the time of his demise.
Hiram Kantz was the only child of their marriage, but both had been previously married. the father having one son and the mother three daughters and a son by the first marriage. He spent the days of his boyhood and youth in what is now Snyder county and attended the common schools. When twenty years of age he started out in life on his own account, working by the month, and has since been dependent entirely upon his own resources. He was married in his native county to Miss Cassandra Walter, a native of Snyder county, and then turned his attention to merchandising, opening a general store at what was known as the Kantz postoffice. in Snyder county. Pennsylvania. There he remained until about 1867, after which he engaged in farming in the Keystone state until 1872, when he came to Eikhart county, Indiana, establishing his home in Bristol. After a brief period he removed to his present location, in September. 1872. and here he bought one hun- (red and twenty-six acres of land. on which he has since lived, adding modern improvements and also cultivating his fields until it is now a fine property, forming one of the attractive features of the landscape.
Mr. and Mrs. Kantz became the parents of seven children : Agnes,
yours Truly Ernest & Karty
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+
Sincerely yours. Mrs. Ernest J. Kanty.
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the wife of Levi Thornton; Calvin, who married Catherine Shinn and is a farmer of Lake county, Michigan: Nora, Sally and .Anna, all de- ceased : Charles, who married Ella Diehl and resides in Elkhart : and Ernest, who married Harriet Mckean and resides upon the home farm.
Mr. Kantz is one of the respected citizens of Elkhart county and has taken an active interest in the development and substantial improve- ment of this part of the state, his time and influence being counted upon as a substantial factor in support of the public good. He votes with the Democracy and his fellow townsmen have called him to public office on that ticket, he serving for two terms of two years each as township trustee. He is an active and devoted member of the Lutheran church and is well known in the county as a man worthy the respect and con- fidence uniformly extended him.
Ernest Kantz, who resides with his father on the old home farm and assists him in its operation, was here born June 13. 1878, and at the usual age he entered the public schools: therein continued his studies until he matriculated in the Elkhart Normal School, from which he was graduated with the class of 1900. He has always remained upon the home farm and his labors have materially advanced its work and im- provement. He is also active in politics and was elected township asses- sor in November. 1904, so that he is the present incumbent in the office. He was married September 27, 1904. to Miss Harriet Mckean and they are prominent young people of their locality. Mr. Kantz engaged in teaching school for one term, and his wife taught for three terms. They are members of the Lutheran church and he is interested in the political. intellectual and moral progress of this community.
JOHN J. FINK.
John J. Fink, a young and progressive business man, wideawake to the opportunities and methods by which success is brought about in this modern age, public-spirited as concerns the progress and upbuilding of his home community, is a popular and well known druggist of Wakarusa. where for some eight years he has been prominently identified with the various interests of the town.
A native son of the township where he still makes his home, Mr. Fink was born on a farm in Olive township. October 6, 1869. He is the fifth in a family of nine children, whose parents were Peter and Mary ( Klouse ) Fink. All the children are living, three being residents of this county. Sarah is the wife of John Riddle, a farmer of Olive town- ship; Alcetta is the wife of Elliott Crull, superintendent of the Elkhart city waterworks, and she was a successful teacher before marriage ; John J. Fink is next in the family record: H. A., who was a teacher in this county, graduated from the Chicago Medical College and is now a physi- cian and surgeon in South Bend: Reuben, likewise an ex-teacher of this county, is a druggist at South Bend: Emanuel .A., a druggist of South
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Bend, for some time followed the family bent and taught school ; Frankie is the wife of Mr. Baum, a prosperous merchant at Portland. Maine : Charles, a resident of South Bend, is mail clerk on the Lake Shore from Chicago to Cleveland; Mable, the youngest, who was educated in the WVakarusa high school and took the full course at the business college of South Bend, has for the past three years been a stenographer with the Automatic Telephone Company at Chicago. The father of the family is deceased, but the mother, who was born in Ohio, April 1. 1842, of German lineage. is living in Wakarusa, and a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church at that place.
Reared on his father's farm during the first twenty-one years of his life. Mr. Fink attended the country schools as well as those in Wakarusa. and later took a course in pharmacy at Buffalo, New York, where he was graduated from the professional school with the class of 1892. In Au- gust of the same year he established, in connection with his brother Reuben, a drug store at South Bend. Two years later he sold out his interest there, came to Wakarusa and purchased. in September, 1897. the store of John H. Yoder, where he at once began to lay the foundation for his subsequent large business. In the summer of 1898 he located at the corner of Elkhart and Waterford streets, one of the most eligible business sites in the town, and he has maintained his business in all its branches at a point abreast of the advance in the town and county gen- erally. At his store will always be found a complete line of drugs, pro- prietary and toilet articles, stock foods, stationery, and tobacco and cigars. and through most consistently honorable and sagacious methods of doing business his annual volume of trade has reached a high figure.
October 17. 1894. Mr. Fink married Miss Alma Fidler, an accom- plished and energetic woman, a native of St. Joseph county, educated in the schools of Wakarusa, well trained in instrumental music, and she has made her home the realization of her best ideals. Her mother is de- ceased. but her father resides at South Bend. She is a member of the Search Light Club, the excellent literary and social organization which is exponent of the highest culture in Wakarusa, and she is also a charter member of the local chapter of the Eastern Star. Mr. Fink is a Demo- crat in politics, having cast his first vote for Cleveland, and locally he holds the office of town treasurer. Fraternally he affiliates with Masonic Lodge, No. 448, and with the tent of the Maccabees.
LUCIUS JAMES GREENAN.
Lucius James Greenan, who is filling the position of postmaster in Bristol, was born on the old family homestead just outside the city lim- its of Bristol. April 3rd. 1871. His paternal grandfather, John P. Greenan, came from Ireland to the new world when about nineteen years of age and settled in Elkhart county, where he followed the occul- pation of farming. His son, James I. Greenan, now a prosperous agri-
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culturist of this county, was also born in Bristol, Indiana, September 1. 1842, and is now living on the home farm about a mile and a quarter north of the town, being at this writing. in 1905. sixty-three years of age. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, active in its work and interested in its growth. At the time of the Civil war he espoused the Union cause, enlisting in 1862 as a member of the Sixth Michigan Infantry, with which he served until the close of hostilities. He has ever been an advocate of the Republican party, which was cham- pion of the Union at the time of the rebellion in the south and which has ever been the party of reform, progress and improvement. He married Miss Helen C. King, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah ( Brooks ) King. She was born in Michigan and was of Irish-German descent. She held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and in that faith passed away July 17, 1880. By her marriage she had become the mother of five children, of whom four are vet living, namely: Ida. the wife of George \. Rine, a resident farmer of Washington township: Lucius J. : Florence E. : and Lura B. For his second wife James 1. Greenan chose Miss Mary E. Kirk and they have one living child. Lloyd E., who is with the St. Joseph County Savings Bank at South Bend. Indiana.
Lucius J. Greenan was educated in the country schools and the Bristol high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1892. He then continued his studies in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, after which he successfully engaged in teaching for six years. He was well qualified for a life of usefulness and activ- ity and during the past eight years has rendered capable service to Bris- tol in the position of postmaster, to which he was first appointed in 1897 by President Mckinley, while on the expiration of the four years' term he was reappointed by President Roosevelt. Ile is now discharg- ing the duties of the office with promptness and fidelity, bringing to its administration the same qualities of accuracy, industry and conscien- tious application which had manifested the conduct of his private busi- ness interests. Like his father he is a stanch Republican, having firm faith in the principles and ultimate triumph of the party.
On the 10th of June. 1896. Mr. Greenan was united in marriage to Miss Maude Weamer, at Auburn, Indiana. She was born in that place in 1876. her parents being R. H. and Elvira (Gregg) Weamer. Her father was a printer and established the Steuben County Republican at Angola, Indiana, and the Auburn Dispatch at Auburn, Indiana; while for some years he edited the Bristol Banner. Mr. Weamer also spent three years in the service of his country, enlisting in 1862 and contin- uing until the close of the war as a soldier of Company E. Second Ken- tucky Infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Greenan have one son. Kenneth Weamer. born March 24, 1901. Mr. Greenan holds membership relations with the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Order of Eastern
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Star. He is well known in the county where his entire life has been passed, and is a popular citizen who has gained many friends because of his reliability in business, his trustworthiness in office and his considera- tion for all with whom he has been brought in contact.
THOMAS HILBISH.
The prosperity and growth of a community depend upon its com- mercial and industrial activity and the men who are in control of the leading business enterprises are the real promoters and upbuilders of their respective localities. Thomas Hilbishi, whose intense and well directed energies have given him prominence with representative men of the county, is now owning and controlling an extensive department store in Bristol. His life record began in Juniata county, Pennsyl- vania. in 1842. The Hilbish family is of German lineage and was es- tablished in Pennsylvania at an early period in the development of the Keystone state. The name is found upon the roll of Washington's soldiers at the time of the Revolutionary war. Peter Hilbish was born in Pennsylvania and following his marriage came to Elkhart county, Indiana, in 1856, settling in Washington township, where he followed the occupation of farming. He prospered in his business affairs, which he managed with great care, decision and energy, and although he was a tanner by trade and followed that pursuit in his early life, it was as an agriculturist that he gained his prosperity. His political allegiance was given the Republican party and he was a member of the German Re- formed church. He married Katherine Beckhart, who was born in Snyder county, Pennsylvania, was also of German lineage, and was a member of the Reformed church. Mr. Hilbish died in 1858 at the age of sixty-three years, while his wife survived until 1882, passing away at the age of seventy years. By their union they were the parents of five children : John, now deceased : Jonathan, who is living in Washington township: Thomas, of this review: Peter, also of Washington town- ship: and Sarah. the wife of William Houseworth of Bristol.
Thomas Hilbish was educated in the Bristol schools and was reared to farm life, remaining with his father until twenty-three years of age. when, thinking that he would find other pursuits more congenial than to follow the plow and the cultivator, he took up his abode in Bristol, where he established a general store in partnership with William C. Birch and Andrew Aiken, under the firm name of W. C. Birch & Company, this relation being maintained for three years, at the end of which time Mr. Birch retired and the firm style of Hilbish & Company was assumed. In 1880 Mr. Aiken retired and Mr. Hilbish has since conducted the business alone. He now has a large department store of three rooms with a front- age of sixty-six feet on Main street. He carries dry goods, groceries, hardware and farm implements, and each department of the business is proving profitable, owing to his capable management and his understand-
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ing of the public needs. In 1893 he established a private bank which is the only institution of the kind in Bristol, known as the Banking House of Thomas Hilbish.
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