History of Elkhart County, Indiana; together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history: portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 101

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, C. C. Chapman & co.
Number of Pages: 1192

USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > History of Elkhart County, Indiana; together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history: portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 101

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Richard Terwilliger, son of Cornelius and Harriet Terwilliger, was born in Ulster county, N. Y., July 12, 1833. In December, 1837, he and his parents came to this county; here in the wilder- ness he grew to the years of maturity, receiving his education in the common schools; also attended the Elkhart schools. May 31, 1860, he was married to Mary A. Stair, daughter of Jacob and Susan Stair, and they have had 4 children, viz .: Byron E., Alma L., Jacob W. and Susan H. Mr. T. owns 80 acres in sec. 10, valued at $4,800 ; he is a Democrat.

Barney Uline, Jr., merchant, Wakarusa. Mr. Uline was born in Wayne county, N. Y., June 28, 1841. His parents were Barney and Esther Uline, of New York. Ile was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. In 1847 he went with his grand- fatlier to Renssalaer county, N. Y., and in 1861 to St. Joseph county, Ind., and the same year he came to this county. He worked in the saw mill till the following November, when he enlisted in the army as drum-major in Co. F, 48th Reg. Ind. Inf., and partici- pated in the siege of Corinth, battle of Inka, battle of Corinth, siege of Vicksburg, and 15 others of note. At the latter part of the war he was promoted 1st Sergeant of his company. He was discharged in August, 1865; he then returned home and resumed saw-milling, at which he continned till 1876, and then engaged in the mercantile trade. He was married Dec. 24, 1867, to Mary E., daughter of Robert and Rebecca Milliken, and they have had 2 children, viz .: Charles A. and Walter C. Mr. Uline is a Repub- lican. His Grandfather Burnet fought in the Revolutionary war.

Lewis Wagner was born in Mahoning county, O., June 20, 1851, and is a son of Nicholas and Margaret Wagner, who were natives of Germany, and came to this country in March, 1848, and to this county in 1866, where they still reside. In 1870 the subject of this

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

sketch came to Wakarusa, and in 1878 opened a saloon. He was married May, 12, 1872 to Anna Miller, who was born-Feb. 9, 1855, and they have 1 child, Lloyd. Mrs. W. is a daughter of Geo. and Susan Miller, who are natives of Canada. Mr. W. is a Repub- lican.

Jonathan R. Williard was born in Dauphin county, Penn., March 15, 1827. His parents were John and Anna Williard, who were also natives of Penn .; was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools; he came to this county in April, 1865, where he still resides, following farming and stock-raising. He was mar- ried Jan. 29, 1856, to Catharine, daughter of Frederick and Cath- arine Schwalim. They have had 2 children; only 1 is living, namely, Stanford I. Christain is deceased. Stanford I. is a gradu- ate of the Goshen schools, and follows school-teaching. He was born Nov. 4, 1858.

Mrs. Williard was born Aug. 21, 1836. Mr. W. owns a farm of 40 acres, in sec. 22, worth $75 per acre. In 1873 he built a $2,000 barn. He was a poor orphan boy, cast out among strangers, and grew to manhood with but little education. By his industry he has become possessor of property to the amount of $6,000.

Christian I. Werntz was born in Schuylkill county, Penn., Sept. 15, 1836; his parents, Daniel and Lydia Werntz, were natives of Columbia county, Penn. At the age of six years, Christian, with his parents, moved to Ross county, Ohio, where he was reared; they traveled all the way in a wagon drawn by one blind horse; his edu- cation was attained in a log cabin with rough slab seats, unhewed puncheon floor and greased-paper window-lights. He commenced at a very early day to work in a saw-mill, which he followed prin- cipally through life. His father was a miller by trade. In 1848, he came to this county, where he resided till 1856, then went to Iowa and Nebraska, but returned the same year. Ang. 10, 1862, he enlisted in the army in 21st Ind. Battery, under Capt. A. P. Andrews; was honorably discharged June 20, 1865, having served nearly three years; he participated in the following battles, viz .: New Middleton, Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Colum- bia City, Franklin and Nashville, Tenn .; also various other skir- mishes. He was captured by the Morgan company at New Middleton and was held for nine days and then released. At the expiration of his term of service he returned home and resumed his foriner business, saw-milling. In 1876 he visited his native place, attended the Centennial and the cities of note in the East. March 5, 1877, he married Martha Shugars, daughter of John and Catharine Shu- gars, natives of Ohio; they have had one child, Malinda. Mr. W. served one term as County Commissioner, and partly superintended the building of the county jail. He owns a farm of 48 acres near Wakarusa.

A portrait of Mr. Werntz is given in this volume.

John Wire was born in Mahoning county, O., July 9, 1837, and a son of Samuel and Elizabeth Wire, natives of Pennsylvania. He

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

was reared on a farm; his educational advantages were limited to the common schools. In 1857 he went to Kansas and afterward to Michigan, and in 1863 came to Wakarusa, where for eight years he was engaged in the mercantile trade. Sept. 3, 1865, he married Hannah Kimble, a native of Wyandot connty, O. She was born in January, 1840, a daughter of Nathan and Mary Kimble, of Massa- chusetts; the former was a Captain in the war of 1812.

Jackson Woolverton, deceased, one of the first business and representative men of the town of Wakarusa, was a native of Tompkins county, N. Y. He was born May 30, 1820. In early life he emigrated with his parents to Ohio. In the fall of 1848 he was nnited in marriage with Miss Lucinda M., second daughter of E. Stevens, of Tioga county, N. Y., and settled in Ashland, Ohio, where he engaged in mercantile pnrsnits. In the spring of 1852 he moved to Goshen, Ind., and in 1854 to Wakarnsa, where he engaged in business nntil the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he responded to the call of his country, and entered the service as Lieutenant in Co. G, 74th Ind. Vol. Inf. In the spring of 1864 he resigned his commission on account of poor health, returned home and died the following spring, March 12, 1865. Of the children now living, the eldest, A. B. Woolverton, is a practicing physician at Silver Lake, Kansas.

Philip Young, farmer, sec. 3; P. O., Elkhart; was born in Stark county, O., July 17, 1845, the second son and child in a family of 8 children, all of whom are living; the parents were Peter and Catharine Young, natives of Ohio, the former of whom died in 1874 and the latter in 1852. Philip was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. Sept. 1, 1869 he married Charlotte Marble, who was born in Michigan Sept. 13, 1854, and they have 1 child, Charles.

OSOLO TOWNSHIP.

Osolo township is bounded on the north by the State of Michi- gan, east by Washington township, south by the St. Joseph river and Concord township, and west by Cleveland township, of which it was formerly a part.

Samuel Simonton is supposed to have been the first settler, who abont 1834 located on what is now section 9. Soon afterward came Abraham Heaton, who settled on section 25, followed by Philip Mechling, who fixed his location on sec. 26; and in 1835 James and Ezekiel Compton, Mrs. Long, a widow lady, John Gardner and a Mr. Nutting formed a settlement on Christiana creek. In the year following Mr. Alpheus Bugbee became a settler in the same neighborhood. In Jannary, 1838, the township was organized. Abraham Heaton, the second settler in the township, was the first justice of the peace. The year following the organization, in 1839, Nat. Newell, Henry Salmon and Gny Johnson, and soon Luther Wood, William, Erastus and Walter Beach came and selected loca- tions and were residents of Osolo township.

The first election was held in the first school-house that was built, known as the Johnson school-house, which was erected on section 20, in 1838. The now flourishing, healthy life of the settle- ment brought with it the necessity of a postoffice, which was established in 1839; and Alpheus Bugbee, a resident on the west side of Christiana creek, was the first postoffice incumbent. After a time Mr. Smith Howland, by appointment, became postmaster. But after a few years the office was discontinued.

There are several small lakes in this township; Simonton lake, Mnd lake and Cooley lake are in the north, and Heaton lake in the east- ern part. Mud lake is the principal source of Puterbangh creek. Christiana creek is said to have been thus named in honor of the wife of a Christian missionary; it enters this township in the northwest corner from the State of Michigan, and empties into the St. Joseph river on the sonth. The country generally presents a pleasant and thrifty appcarance. Having been formerly covered thickly with small oak timber, it was called the " barrens," and the numerous groves yet found give it quite a picturesque appearance. There

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

are placesthat are quite romantic. The soil is a sandy loam with a goodly mixture of gravel ; it is easy of enltivation and produces good erops. The farms generally are under good cultivation. have fine buildings. and the farmers are prosperons and happy.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

We give below a number of personal sketches, including some of the most prominent residents of the township :

Eslie C. Adams. farmer and teacher of penmanship, sec. 13; P. O., Elkhart; was born in Wayne county, Ohio, Oet. 9. 1839, the son of Daniel and Catharine Adams, natives of Pennsylvania, who now reside in Washington tp., this county. They first came to Indiana in 1840. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of this State, and in 1861-'2 he attended college at Oberlin, Ohio, then the Geneva (O.) college, where he was instructed in penmanship by P. R. Spencer. the celebrated penman and author of the Spencerian system. In the spring of 1863 he was married to Mr. Spencer's daughter. Phoebe J. She was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, and died at South Bend. Ind., where they were resid- ing at that time, when Mr. Adams was engaged as a teacher of penmanship in the business college at that place. They have had 2 children, both of whom died in infancy. He then went to Mish- awaka and engaged in commission business in partnership with A. B. Bishop. continuing in this one year. He then came to this tp. where he engaged in teaching writing. He married for his second wife, Mrs. Carrie E. Stevens, who was born in New York Oct. 3, 1843. They have had by this marriage 4 children: Robt. P .. Eslie C., Thomas S. and one deceased, Mary P. He is the owner of 150 acres of land in this tp., worth $30 per acre. Mrs. Adams is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church and Mr. Adams is a Baptist. Po- litically, he is a Republican.

Peter Cauffman, farmer. sec. 36; P. O .. Elkhart: was born in Juniata county. Penn., July 16, 1817. second son of Peter and Sarah (Wagner) Cauffinan. His father died in 1523 in Pennsyl- vania, in his 33d rear. and his mother died in 1529. He then re- sided with his grandfather until he was 16 years of age. He then began for himself. working by the day, month or year, and attend- ing school during the winter months. In 1838 he was first mar- ried to Mary Anne Harner, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1816. He continued farming and teaming in Pennsylvania until 1854: he then came West and located in Washington tp .. where he rented for four years, and then purchased the farm that he now owns, consisting of 133 acres of land, which is finely improved, and worth $75 per acre. Br this marriage they had 10 children; the living are: Sarah E., Margaret J., Harriet N .. Samuel K .. William H., Mary C., Elmira G. and John P .; the deceased are: Michael E. and Wesley A. Mrs. C. died Jan. 17. 1875, and Mr. O.

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married for his second wife in 1879. Mrs. Harriet Smith, who was born April 26, 1824, and had had by her former marriage 9 children. The living are: Anna E., Albert D., Hiram T., Clarissa E., Mary, Colan B. and Emma A. The deceased were David and Ephraim. Mr. and Mrs. Canffinan are members of the M. E. Church, and he is a Republican.

H. A. Coe, dairyman, sec. 32. was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, May 5, 1840; his parents moved to Michigan in 1858; he is the son of Samnel D. and Lydia Coe; mother is deceased and father resides with him. Ile enlisted in the 19th Reg. of Michigan Inf .. and served until the close of the war; was in numnerons battles; received a ball in his shoulder. and has almost lost his sight by the concussion of a cannon ball; at the close of the war he returned to his former home in Michigan, from where he emigrated to Kansas, from Kansas to Illinois, and from there to this county, where he continued in the employ of the R. R. Co. for six years. In Ists he engaged in the dairy business; has 25 cows in his dairy, from which he supplies the citizens of Elkhart with pure and unadul- terated milk. In January, 1566, he was married to Frances Lacey, who was born in Sandusky county, Ohio; their family consists of 2 children, Myrta M. and Lydia P. He owns land in St. Joseph connty, Ind., consisting of $0 acres.

Eliza Nutting Compton, widow of James Compton. deceased. IIe was born in New Jersey Sept. 12, 1805. son of Jacob and Mary Compton, who were natives of New Jersey, and both deceased. Mr. Compton was raised and educated on a farm, and Sept. 17, 1829, he was married to Eliza Nutting, who was born Dec. 1, 1810; they have had 7 children: Thomas J., Phineas K., Harriet, Mary, Sarah, Amanda and Albert Engene: all are married, one living in Kan- sas and one in California: the rest remain in Elkhart connty. Mr. and Mrs. Compton came to this county in 1853; Mr. C. died Sept. 20. 1875. in the 69th year of his age; Mrs. C. lives on the home farm, which consists of 120 acres, worth $75 per acre.

A portrait of Mr. Compton may be found in this volume.

Kenyon Compton, farmer, sec. 30; P. O .. Elkhart; was born in this tp .. Sept. 15. 1840, second son of the preceding: was educated in the common schools, and raised on a farm. Hc enlisted in the 2d Indiana Cavalry in 1561, serving one year and one month, when he was discharged on account of disability and ill health. He re turned to his home in 1562.and was married to Amelia Kelsey, who was born in Ohio. Their family consists of 5 children; Clayton, Bessie V., James L., Alton and Okey. Mr. C. now owns 50 acres of land, on which he resides, which is well improved and valued at $65 per acre. Politically, Mr. Compton is a Republican.

Henry J. Delo. farmer, sec. 34; P. O., Elkhart; was born in Carbon county. Penn., March 2, 1824. son of George W. and Eva Delo. the former a native of Pennsylvania, where Henry received his education by hard study and diligence, in the common schools of those days. He worked on a farm until he was 18 years of age,

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

when he began boating on the Allegheny and Ohio rivers, con- tinning in that occupation 11 years. He was first married in Penn- sylvania in 1846, to Miss Hannah Barr, who was born in that State March 13, 1827. They have had 7 children, 4 of whom are now liv- ing: Harriet A., Michael L., Amanda J., now Mrs. Geo. H. Withe, and Levi E. Deceased are Jacob A., Alfred A. and Margaret U. In 1864 he came with his family to Indiana and lived in the city of Elkhart. Four years later he bought 80 acres of land, which constitutes a part of his present farm. His wife died in 1879, and in August, 1879, he married Mrs. Elizabeth McColough, who was born in Ohio Sept. 27, 1832. She had by her former marriage 2 children, Charles H. and Jennie McColough. Her first marriage took place Oct. 7, 1838, with Moses McColongh, who died in May, 1874. Mr. Delo now owns 150 acres of land in this tp. and Cass county, Mich. He is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran and his wife of the M. E. Church. Ile was once elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, but declined the honor and refused to be qualified with the oath of office. Politically, he is a staunch Re- publican.

Charles Dills, farmer, sec. 25; P. O., Elkhart: was born in Osolo tp. July 22, 1854; he is the son of Harvey and Isabelle Dills, now Mrs. Smith. His father died when he was five years of age; he received his education in the common schools and began life on a farm with his step-father, Mr. Richard Smith. He was married in 1875 to Alice Armina Lane, who was born in St. Joseph county, Ind., June 11, 1856; she is the daughter of Frederic and Mary Ann Lane, natives of Pennsylvania; her father died Jan. 13, 1861, and her mother Sept. 30, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Dills have 2 chil- dren, Loyd E., born March 17, 1878, and Mervin, born Oct. 1, 1880. He now owns a farm of 200 acres under a fine state of cultivation, worth about $65 per acre. Mr. Dills is a Republican in his politi- cal ideas.

William B. Gorman, farmer, sec. 18; P. O., Elkhart; was born in Snyder county, Pa., Nov. 29, 1825, fifth son of John and Sa- bille (Rigle) Gorman, natives of Pennsylvania; his education in early life was very limited; at the age of 18 he learned the carpen- ter and joiner's trade, which he followed for a number of years, then began the occupation of bridge building, working for the Pennsyl- vania Central R. R. Co., continning in that business for 12 years; he then moved to this county in April, 1856, locating on the "two and a half mile plain" east of Elkhart, and engaged in agricultural pursuits on the farm known as the Henry G. Davis farm, where he remained for 11 years; he then moved to Osolo tp. and located on the Holland farm, residing there for 10 years; in 1876 he moved to the present farm which he now owns, consisting of 278 acres, which he has well improved with good and substantial build- ings. He values his land at $75 per acre. He was married in 1848 to Leah Mangus, daughter of Geo. Mangus, of Pennsylvania, where she was born. Mr. Gorman has held the office of County Com-

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missioner for six years, receiving a goodly number of votes of those differing from him politically, and were at that time in the major- ity in the county; has also been Trustee in his township for fonr years. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. Eagle lodge at Elkhart. Politically, he is a Democrat.

Mr. Gorman's portrait is to be found in this work.

Phineas Heaton, farmer, sec. 36; P. O., Elkhart; was born in Preble county, Ohio, May 20, 1809, the son of Abraham and Catharine Heaton (nee McRay); his father was a native of Penn- sylvania, and mother of Kentucky. He was educated in the old style of subscription schools, and received but a limited amount of even such as was thus afforded. At the age of 14 he began work- ing in a flour and saw-mill, where he worked until he was 24 years old. He was then married to Clarinda Proctor, who was born Jan. 15, 1814, in Virginia. For several years he engaged in farming. In the fall of 1835 he emigrated to this county and entered the land which he now owns, and for which he yet holds the original " cer- tificate of entry." He there began farming, and followed still his occupation as miller. He now owns 156 acres of land, which is well improved and worth $75 per acre. Their family consisted of 12 children, 7 of whom are now living; Catharine, now Mrs. Wm. Newel; Hannah, now Mrs. Henderson; Abraham, Sarah, now Mrs. Smith, Henry, Malinda, now Mrs. Thompson; and Clara, now Mrs. Clinger. Five children died in infancy. Mr. Heaton has held the office of Justice of the Peace and Tp. Trustee. IIis father moved to Indiana in 1811 and located in Fayette connty. In the fall of 1835 they moved to Elkhart county, being among the first settlers of the tp. Mr. H. and his amiable wife are members of the Baptist Church, and he is a fervent Republican.

Robert S. Henderson, farmer, sec. 25; P. O., Elkhart; was born in Summit county, O., Aug. 12, 1828. He is the fourth child of James and Jane Henderson (nee Smith). £ His father died in Ohio in 1874. His mother is yet living in Ohio.

Robert received his education sitting upon slab seats in the "old log school-house". IIe remained and worked with his father until he was 24 years of age, when he married, in 1853, Miss Amanda Wirt, who also was born in Sum- mit county, O., July 16, 1829. After their marriage they began farming in Ohio, on rented land, but in 1859 he came to this county and purchased a farm of 80 acres, costing $1,800, going in debt for that amount, which he has paid in full; he made another purchase of an additional 40 acres, upon which he now resides. This farm, the result of an nnrelenting purpose to succeed, the achievement of many weary days of toil, is now improved with good buildings, is under fine cultivation and worth $85 per acre. Their family consists of 6 children. Those now living are Charles S., Orilla Jane, now Mrs. Wilbur Green, James II., and Samuel T. The deceased are Carrie Bell and Martha Luella. Mr. Henderson worthily enjoys the reputation of being one of Osolo's most intel- ligent and respected citizens. He is a Republican.

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Samuel Holtz, farmer, sec. 24; P. O., Elkhart; was born in Stark county, O., Feb. 3, 1833, 3d son of Jacob and Susanna, nee Lien- gar, natives of Pennsylvania; his mother died when the subject of this sketch was six years of age, and father, when he was eight years old; he then lived with his uncle, John Holtz, until his 15th year, and up to that time had received little or no education. He began working at the blacksmith's trade, in which occupation he continued for three years, when, on account of failing health, he turned his attention to farming, which he followed two years, when he began working in the coal interests, continning therein for two years, gathering what education he conld during his spare mo- ments, which up to this time had been much neglected. June 9, 1852, he was married to Mrs. Sarah Kreghbaum, nee Lonco, who was born in Summit county, O. After marriage he engaged in agricultural pursuits two years, when he moved with his family to this tp., where he has followed farming to the present time. He now owns 136 acres of land, on which he resides, which is valued at $75 per acre, besides five acres timber land in the State of Michigan.

Their family consisted of 5 children. Those living are Myra, now Mrs. A. L. Hathaway; Sarah A. and Cora Ida; the 2 deceased were Emma Jane and Geo. K. The entire family are members of the Lutheran Church. In politics, Mr. Holtz is, and has always been, a Democrat.

Guy C. Johnson, farmer; sec. 29; P. O., Elkhart; was born in Chittenden county, Vt., May 1. 1822. and the son of Solomon A. and Minerva Johnson. nee Powell, natives of Vermont, who came to this tp. in 1836, locating on sec. 20. where they began farming. His father died November, 1845, and his mother April 19, 1864. in her 64th year. They had 6 children, 3 of whom are now living Gny C., Olive M., now Mrs. Kingsley. and Renel M. The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of Vermont and Indiana. He remained with his father until he was 24 years old, when he began farming for himself on a rented farm. He was married Jan. 2. 1851, to Frances Hatch, who was born in Medina county, Ohio, May 17, 1831, and was the daughter of Noah and Sarah Hatch. They have had + children: Homer A., Lora May, Laura Adelaide and Teddy M., who died July 26, 1864. Mr. Johnson began farming on rented land, with no capital or assist- ance, but by hard labor and strict economy has obtained possession of 500 acres of land, which is well improved and worth $80 per acre. It is all in Osolo tp., and near the city of Elkhart. Mr. J. and his wife were among the first who organized the Grange in Osolo tp., No. 935. He has been a candidate on the Republican ticket for Sheriff in this county, and in the fall of 1880 was a candidate on the Greenback Labor-Reform ticket for State Senator. Politically. he is an earnest advocate of that doctrine. In practical character Mr. Johnson is charitable, kind and much respected in his neighbor- hood.

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

William F. Manning, farmer, sec. 30; P. O., Elkhart; was born in Miami county, Ohio, March 20, 1828; son of Elias and Sarah (Frost) Manning, natives of Pennsylvania; he was educated in the common schools. In 1834 his parents moved to this county and located near Goshen; his father was a millwright; in 1843 moved to the town of Elkhart and continued working in that occu- pation; in 1847, while he was engaged in building a mill, he was taken sick with pneumonia, which caused his death, and he was brought back to Elkhart for burial. William continued in the occupation of his father until 1850, when he crossed the plains and reached the far-off gold fields of California. In the winter of 1853 he returned to this county to visit his mother, returning to Cali- fornia the following spring; he succeeded in obtaining much of the precious metal in that " land of gold," and returned to Elkhart in 1856; purchased a farm, and began his agricultural life; his mother and sister reside with him. In 1869 he was married to Martha Cleavland, who was born in this county; their children are Ebe- nezer Harding and Elizabeth. In November, 1871, Mr. M.'s mother died at his home, where she had resided for a number of years. He now owns a farm of 82 acres under a fine state of cultivation, which is worth $75 per acre. Politically, he is an ardent Repub- lican.

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History of Elkhart County, Indiana; together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history: portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 101

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, C. C. Chapman & co. Number of Pages: 1192

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, C. C. Chapman & co.
Number of Pages: 1192