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 103

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 103

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

he had killed 27 deer. He then took his hides and venison sad- dles to Goshen and sold them, receiving $86 in cash, twice the value of the horse.

Daniel Bainter was the first to settle in Union township. He came in April, 1834, and built the first cabin in the township. It was 16 feet square and of split logs; no lumber was used. The floor was made of puncheons. It had but one door and window. Mr. B. split the board out for the door and had sufficient nails with him to nail it together. It was then hung on wooden hinges. This cabin stood near where his home now stands, on his farm in section 15. Mr. Bainter is still living on the farm which he entered. He was one of the first men in Elkhart county, having passed through here as early as 1827, going with his father to where South Bend now stands.

A few years after Mr. Bainter settled here John Walburn moved into the township. He had come with a wagon from Ohio, driving his stock with him. He had to cut his road for some miles to get to his land. He reached his destination on the corner near where the school-house now stands, about sundown. He had hired his brother-in-law, William Albin, who lived at Waterford, to haul a load of lumber from that place for him. He cut a couple of forks and a pole, and setting them up by some trees, made a shed which served for a house until he got his cabin up.

The settlers now began to come in fast, and among the first we mention Daniel Landers, John Pippinger, Christ Louder, Mr. Sheline, Cotner Strycker and the Stumps.

The township was organized in the spring of 1837. The first election was held in Daniel Bainter's cabin. The men officiating were Josiah Elston, Daniel Bainter and Daniel Landers. Daniel Bainter and John and Samuel Brown were elected trustees. The following summer the first school-house that was put np by the township was built at Union center. It was a log building. Previous to this there had been several buildings put up in different parts of the township, the people clubbing together for the purpose. The schools at present are in a good condition, and the citizens have a bright hope for the intelligence of the future generations. The school-houses are now mostly of brick and furnished with the latest improvements.

The first death in the township was an infant child of Daniel Bainter. It was born July 8, 1839, and died when nine months old. The second case of death was an infant of Daniel Landers. The

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

first burying ground was on section 10, on the farm now owned by Mr. Ippert. It has since been removed. Only about 15 persons were interred there. The cemetery at Union Center was the next public burying ground. They began to use this place abont 1863. The ground is deeded to the G. B. Church.

The first marriage in the township was that of Daniel Stockman and Mary Elson, the ceremony being performed June 3, 1837.

CHURCHES.

The first ministers who preached through this section were the German Baptist, the Methodist, United Brethren. Mennonites and Regular Baptist. At present there are but three Church organiza- tions in the township ontside of the village of Nappanee. The first church was built by the Reformed a little east of Union Center, and was called "The Temple." The members have all left or died, and the building is long since gone. The Regular Baptists were the next to erect a building. They have a very good honse, on sec- tion 17. They have a good society here at present. The Mennon- ites have one church in the township, on section 19. Mr. Wisler is the pastor.

The first man that preached in the township was Daniel Cripe, of Elkhart Prairie. The sermon was delivered in Stouder's cabin on the farm now owned by J. M. Ippert. He was a German Baptist. That society continued to meet in private and school honses until in 1866. when they erected their church at Union Center. It is a brick building, 75 feet long and 45 feet wide. with a basement. Among some of the most prominent ministers who have officiated here are Henry Neff, John Burkholder, and John Amglemire. The society at present is in a very flourishing condition.

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

We proceed now to give personal sketches of a number of citizens of Union township, who have been more or less prominently identi- fied with its history.

David M. Best was born in Ohio March 4. 1856, and is of Eng- lish descent; he is the son of William W. and Nancy J. (Wagner) Best, both of whom are natives of Ohio, and are now living in Kosci- uskocounty. Mr. B. is the oldest in a family of 10 children; he came to this county in 1876, and since that time has been engaged in teaching throughout the county; he tanght the first school in the

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

new school building at Nappanee; in the spring of 1880 he was elected Justice of the Peace. He was married March 27, 1879, to Mary E. Hall, who was born in Elkhart county, Ind .. in 1857. Politically. Mr. B. is a believer in the principles of the Democratic party. His educational advantages were far from being good, as he lived most of the time during his boyhood days in a new conn- try; was a farmer the greater part of his life until he was 20 years of age. In addition to being Justice of the Peace he is also collec- tion agent. and is doing a fair business in that direction.

Charles Biehl, harness-maker at Nappanee, is the son of Joseph and Mary (Moner) Biehl, both of whom are living in Bremen, and are natives of Germany; he was born in Indiana in 1855; came to this county in 1879 and engaged in business at Nappanee. He was married in 1850 to Rosanna Menges, who was born in St. Jo- seph connty, Ind., in 1859. Mr. B.'s education when young was quite limited: lie is a Democrat: was brought up in the Presby- terian Church. He now owns a harness shop. doing a good busi- ness, especially custom work.

Amos P. Blosser was born in this county June 7. 1854. His fa- ther. Peter Blosser, was born in Rockingham county, Va .. Ang. 3, 1816. and removed with his parents, John and Barbara Blosser, to Mahoning county, O., when he was abont 10 years of age; he was married in that county Jan. 25, 1550, to Mary Ann. daughter of William Reed, of the same county. She was born Dec. 15, 1821. They removed to this county in Jnne, 1851, settling on the farm on which the family now resides. They have 3 children: Barbara, born Oct. 29, 1851: Susanna, Nov. 10, 1860, and Amos P. Mrs. Blosser died May 20. 1861. and is buried at the Yellow Creek cem- etery. in Harrison tp. Heand his family are worthy members of the Mennonite Church. Amos. the subject of this sketch, has been raised and educated in this county; since attaining the age of man- hood he has traveled considerably both in the East and West. He has a good farm of 160 acres in sec. 2. He takes great delight in raising tine stock, which he has been carrying on to a considerable extent. At present his time is occupied with his bees, of which he has a large number of stands, and under his skillful management they promise a source of great profit. P. O., Goshen.

Edward Brown, of the firm of Brown & McLaughlin, saloon- keepers at Nappanee, was born in Pennsylvania in 1854 and is of German descent ; he is the son of George N. and Mary ( Woodcock) Brown, both of whom are natives of Pennsylvania and are living in Nappanee. Mr. B., the subject of this sketch, was married in 1879 to Nellie Shelmadine, who was born in Indiana in 1861. Politically, he is a Republican. Ilis opportunities for securing an early education were only ordinary ; he is a marble-cntter by trade, engaged in business in Nappanee in 1878 with Mr. MeLaughlin; they keep Toledo beer and do a good business.

F. G. Bryson, blacksmith and wagon-maker at Nappanee, was born in this county in 1852 and is of Irish descent ; he is the son

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

of George W. and Elizabeth A. (Eberhart) Bryson, both of whom are living in this county ; the former is a native of New York and the latter of Indiana; they came to this county about 1841. In 1876 Mr. B. was married to Emma Hoverstick, a native of Ohio; she is the mother of 1 child, Nellic. Mr. B. is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Nappance, No. 575; he is a Republican. His early education was somewhat neglected but he reads a great deal now. He has been a blacksmith 16 years and engaged in the same business at Nappanee in 1875. He is now doing a good business, both in blacksmithing and wagon-making; he makes wagons, bng- gies and carriages, and does a great deal of custom work. His an- nnal work amounts to about $2.600.

John Burkholder .- Among the early pioneers that came to Union tp. none stands higher in the estimation of the people, or deserves a more prominent position in the history of Elkhart county than John Burkholder. Although he passed away some years ago, his name is fresh in the memory of every resident of the county, as a man generous, courteous and kind, one who was ever ready to lend a helping hand to those who stood in need of his aid. He and his wife, Catharine, commenced in the world poor, but by living a quiet, industrious life, they succeeded in amassing together enough of this world's goods to give them and their children a good home. For many years he had been a minister in the German Baptist Church, and in the discharge of his duties in this noble calling, he won the respect and love of all. He was born in Mahon tp., Upper Canada, Nov. 15, 1814, and was married Feb. 14. 1840 in this county, to Miss Catharine Stump, who was born in Mahon tp., Upper Canada, May 18. 1820. They have raised a large family, most of whom are now married and have families. William is farming the old farm. Mr. Burkholder entered his land in sec. 18 in 1836, and in 1837 began to improve it; he continued to live on it until his death, which occurred Nov. 26, 1877. Mrs. Burkholder still lives on the farm. on which she came a happy young bride.

Frank Coppes, of the firm of Mellinger & Co., was born in this county in 1858, and is of German extraction; he is a brother of John D. Coppes. next mentioned. He was married in 1878 to Katie Felty, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1858; she is the daughter of John and Maria Felty. Mr. C. is a wide-awake, active, energetic business man of Nappanee, in which town he resides. .Politically, he is a Republican. His education, when young, was somewhat limited, but he reads a great deal now. He owns one- fourth share in the business interests of Mellinger & Co.

John D. Coppes, of the firm of Mellinger & Co., was born in this county in 1856, of German descent; he is the son of Jacob and Sarah (Fravel) Coppes; his mother is living in this tp., and father died Ang. 4, 1874; both natives of Pennsylvania. They came to this county about 30 years ago and settled in Harrison tp., but afterward removed to Jackson tp. In 1878 Mr. C. was united in marriage with Miss Malinda Strohm, who was born in this county

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

in 1859. Politically, he is a Republican; his educational advan- tages were limited, but he keeps up with the times. He owns town property and has a fourth interest in all the property owned by Mellinger & Co., which includes their large saw- mill, manufact- uring mill, and also 180 acres of land in Locke tp. Mr. C. is one of the most enterprising young business men which the town of Nappanee affords.

David D. Croop, Sr., was born in Seneca county, N. Y., March 2, 1814; when he was quite young his parents removed near Buffalo, where he grew to manhood. He was married here in July, 1838, to Catharine Heiser, daughter of John F. and Eva (Sutter) Heiser, of the same place. She was born in New York March 22, 1815. After their marriage they lived in Clarence, near Buffalo, for a few years, when they joined the tide of emigration flowing to Indiana at that time. They stopped in Elkhart county, and in the spring of 1848 settled on their farm in this tp., where the family still con- tinnes to reside. They purchased their lot of 80 acres of a man who had entered it and ent some timber on it. They paid $500 for the land. Mrs. Croop says they built a small cabin in the wood, and as they had no lumber to make a door with, they hung a blanket up for one. The cabin stood on about the same ground where their house now stands. They had 6 children: Daniel, born March 11, 1839; Levi, Jan. 13, 1842; Andrew, Dec. 6, 1844; David E., Jan. 10, 1848; Samnel, Feb. 12, 1850; and Sarah, Nov. 16, 1853. Mr. Croop died Feb. 9, 1862. They had both long been worthy mem- bers of the Evangelical Church at New Paris. P. O., Goshen.

Henry Culp was born in Mahoning county, O., Oct. 8, 1846. His father, Henry Culp, was born in Columbiana county, O., June 23, 1820, and was married July 1, 1841, to Sarah Wanseller, who was born April 26, 1822, in Mahoning county. They had a family of 10 children, Liddie, Samuel (dec.), George, Henry, Jacob (dec. ), John, Eli, Elizabeth, Sarah and Malinda. They left Ohio in 1857, coming to this tp. He had bought his land in November, 1851, buying 240 acres, and paying $750 for the lot. Previous to his moving here he had made several visits to this county, and had made some improvements on his land. He died on that farm a few years ago. Had been a member of the Mennonite Church for a number of years. Henry, the subject of this sketch, is now living on the old homestead. Ile was married to Catharine Webber Aug. 7, 1873, who was born in Tuscarawas county, O., Nov. 29, 1853, the daughter of Jacob and Catharine Webber, of Locke tp., and natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Culp's children are: Irene Bell, born June 5, 1874; Charles W., Oct. 12, 1875; Henry A., July 19, 1878; Rufus E., May 27, 1880. July 13,1880, Henry A. had three fingers on his right hand ent off with a rope and pulley while unloading hay in the barn. Mr. Culp has a good education, and for a number of years has followed teaching. At present he is farming. P. O.,

Nappanee.

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

George W. Ernest, son of Conrad and Elizabeth (Ross) Ernest, Jatives of Perry county. Pa., was born in Cumberland county, Pa., April 10, 1822: he left there in the fall of 1847, going to Morrow county. O., and coming to this county in the fall of 1850. He came to his farm in Union tp. in February, 1852, and has been living here since. He was married Aug. 9. 1843, in Cumberland county. Pa .. to Rachel Noggle. of the same county. They have 3 children : Susan, married George Walter. of Union tp .: Mary E., married David Ewing, of Koseinsko county. Ind .: and Levi, married Cath- arine Culp, and lives in Harrison tp. Mrs. Ernest died in the spring of 1848, and is buried in Mount Gilead cemetery, in Morrow county. Ohio. Mr. Ernest was married a second time. to Maria Truex. daughter of Obadiah and Jennie Truex, of Morrow county, O. Her parents are natives of Bedford county, Pa .. but lived for a number of years in this county. Her father died here in the spring of 1575.and is buried in the Pippinger cemetery of Union tp .; her mother lives with Mrs. Ernest. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest have had 7 children. 3 of whom are living. viz .: Alfred, John and James L. Mr. Ernest and his family are members of the U. B. Church. He has been con- nected with the Church for 37 years. He says that when he first came to the county he had abont &7 in money and a horse; he sold his horse and bonght the land where he now lives: he owns 120 acres of well-improved laud in this tp .. sec. 19. P. O .. Locke.

Jacob Hartman, of the firm of Hartman & Bro., is the son of Adam and Elizabeth Ramer Hartman, and was born in Elkhart connty, Ind., Sept. 6. 1849. and is of German descent. He was married in this county in 1876. to Miss Alwelda J. Farrington, who was born in Indiana in 1550, and they have 2 children : Arthur F. and Melvin F. Politically. Mr. H. is a Democrat; his educational advantages were poor. He came to Nappanee in 1877. and assumed charge of his business here. A complete history of his business interests has been given in the history of the town of Nappanee.

Tobias Hartman was born Sept. 7, 1842. in Ohio, and is of Ger- man descent. He is the son of Adam and Elizabeth (Ramer) IIartman, both of whom are living in Union tp .. the former a native of Germany, and the latter of Lancaster county, Pa. They came to this county abont 1848 and settled in Harrison tp., where they resided four years and then removed to this tp. In 1864 Mr. H. was married in this connty, to Elizabeth Brundage, who was born in Canada in 1842; she is the mother of 4 children, all of whom are now living: Daniel. Mary A., Sarah J. and Henry. She is a member of the Mennonite Church. When young, Mr. H. did not have the advantages afforded him for securing an education that a great many children had. He is a Democrat; owns town property in Nappanee, where he resides, worth abont $2,800. He has been a farmer and lumber-dealer for a number of years; moved to Nap- panee in 1877, where he is now assisting. as salesman, the firm of Hartman & Bro., dry-goods merchants at that place.

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

Jacob Hemminger, boot and shoe maker in Nappanee, is the son of John and Mary (Shoe) Hemminger, and was born in Ohio in 1843; is of German descent. His mother and father were natives of Ohio, and both died in Marshall county, Ind. Mr. H. came to this county in 1868 and first settled in the village of Locke, where he remained as a boot and shoemaker nntil 1878, when he came to Nappanec. He was married in 1869 to Hattie Kleindinst, who was born in Germany in 1846. She is the mother of 3 children, 2 living: Emma E. and Harvey H. Mr. HI. was Postmaster at Locke about 17 months. He is now living in Nappanee and is doing a good business in his line of custom work.

John J. Huffman, son of Jacob and Rebecca (Sheets) Huffman, of Jackson tp., natives of Columbiana county, O., was born in Sen- eca county, Ohio, April 26, 1844. In the spring of 1865, he came with his parents to Kosciusko county, Ind., and lived there till 1870, when he removed to Union tp. of this county. During the late civil war Mr. H. was a member of the 49th Reg. Ohio Vol., Co. C. In the spring of 1869 he was married to Catharine Walburn, daugh- ter of John Walburn, who was among the first settlers in this tp., coming on his present farm in 1838; he endured all the hardships of a pioneer life with a resolnte will to come off victorious in the end; he now has a pleasant home on his fine farm of 160 acres. When he first came to his farm he had to cut his own road through the wood from Waterford. He was married in 1838 to Charity Albin, daughter of John and Catharine (Moreland) Albin, and they had 3 children, all of whom are married, viz .: Eliza Jane, Robert and Catharine. Mr. W. was born in Clarke county, Ohio, in Sep- tember 1812. and is the son of Robert and Catharine (Thomas) Wal- burn. His father was a native of Virginia. and his mother of North Carolina. He now lives on his farm in a retired manner. and Mr. Huffman attends to his farm on sec. 20. P. O., Locke.

Dr. J. K. Julian, practicing physician and surgeon at Nappanee, son of John and Judith (Winder) Julian, was born in this county in 1847, of French-Scotch descent. IIis parents both died in this county; his father in 1879, and his mother in 1855; the former was a native of South Carolina. and the latter of Pennsylvania. In 1878 Dr. Julian came to Nappanee and settled permanently, although this place had been his home for a number of years, and he is in reality one of the pioneers of the town. He was married in 1874 to Louisa Engle, who was born in Ohio in 1853; she is the mother of 3 children, of whom 1 is now living, namely, William. Politically the Doctor is a Republican. Ilis educational advantages were such as were afforded by common schools; his parents came to this county about 1835, but had been through the county a number of years before. The subject of this sketch went into the army when only 16 years of age, enlisting at Kendallville, Ind., in the 142d Regiment, Co. D, under the command of Capt. Thomas Chance; was in the service about one year, and during that time was in the battle at Nashville. IIe began the study of medicine in 1868; is a graduate

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

of the Indianapolis Medical College; he began to practice in 1872, at the village of Locke. He remained abont six years and then came to Nappanee, where he now resides; is now in partnership with Dr. J. M. Bowser; both are enterprising young doctors, well skilled in the medical art and are well liked by those who employ them. They enjoy an excellent practice, of abont $6,000 annually.

John J. McDonald, farmer, sec. 19; P. O., Locke; was born in Berkeley county, W. Va., in February, 1826. In the fall of 1837, in company with his parents, Charles and Rebecca McDonald, who were natives of Berkeley county, W. Va., he removed to Clarke county. Ohio; here he lived 20 years; in the spring of 1857 he came to this county and settled in Harrison tp., near Southwest P. O., and moved on his farm in this tp. in the spring of 1877. In the spring of 1850 he was married to Miss Sarah Maxwell, a very estimable young lady, and the daughter of Guion and Sarah Maxwell, of Clarke county, O., formerly of Berkeley county. West Va .; she was born in Clarke county. O., January, 1834. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald have 10 children, viz .: William, John E., Martin L., Mary E., Thomas. Charley, Amy, Eliza, Frankie and Belle. Emma E. mar- ried David Rohrer and lives in Nappanee; they have had 1 child. William H .; John E. married Harriet Mover, and they live in Kent county, Mich. Mr. McDonald has always been engaged in farming: his farm consists of $0 acres of well-improved land, on which he has good buildings.

John C. Mellinger was born in Ohio in 1849, and is of German extraction : he is the son of Melchor and Elizabeth Culp) Mellin- ger, natives of Ohio, now living in that State. Mr. M. came to this county in 1873. and located in this tp. In 1870 he was mar- ried to Miss Lucinda Coppes, who was born in this county, in 1852; they have had 4 children, of whom 3 are living, namely: Ella I., Emma A. and Genetta. Mrs. M. is a member of the Mennonite Church; Mr. M's educational advantages when young, were fair; reads and writes both German and English. He engaged in the saw-milling business in Nappanee, in which town he now resides. in 1873, in partnership with Frank Meyers: they continued the same business, as equal partners, until 1576, when Mr. M. bought ont his partner and continued alone until 1877. when John and Frank Coppes formed a partnership with him, both together buying a halfinterest: they still continne under the firm name of Mellin- ger & Co. To-day they are the proprietors of a large saw-mill in Nappanee, doing an extensive business. They ship Înmber in large quantities to Goshen, Chicago and other Western points. They also run a manufacturing establishment in which they make all kinds of building material, but make the manufacture of starch- boxes, for the Excelsior Starch Factory, of Elkhart, a specialty. They ship, on an average, about 8,000 boxes monthly, and their monthly sales for this one department of their business amount to abont $1,000. Their property is worth abont $10,000. and they employ Is hands, more or less. And in doing justice to the sub-

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

ject of this sketch, it is necessary to say that he is one of the most prominent, enterprising business men in the town of Nappanee, and to-day is probably doing more for the benefit of the town than any other individual in it. He is a firm believer in the doctrines of the Republican party, and is prominently connected with its interests in his community.

John B. Peddycord, Postmaster at Nappanee, was born in Ful- ton county, Ohio, in 1848, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Graham) Peddycord, both of whom are now deceased. Не came to this county in 1875, and located in Nappanee; he was appointed Postmaster during the same year. He was married in October, 1878, to Nanev F. Zimmerman, who was born in DeKalb county. Ind., in 1856. Mr. and Mrs. P. are members of the Methodist Church; his educational advantages were fair. Is Notary Public, and in the postoffice room he has a small stock of candies, cigars, stationery, etc .; sells a good deal.

Solomon Sheets, one of the prominent farmers of this tp., was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, May 24, 1824. His parents, John and Catharine Sheets, were natives of Ohio, and died in Van Wert county, Ohio, the former in 1863 and the latter in 1876. The family is of German descent, and were among the first to settle in Ohio. Mr. Sheets left Columbiana county when a young man, go- ing to Van Wert county ; here he was married in November, 1852, to Elizabeth Rummel, danghter of Guion and Susanna Rummel, of Van Wert county, Ohio, who was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, in 1830. They have had 9 children, of whom + are living: Amos, Emma J., George and John. Amos married Maria Grove, and lives in this tp .; Emma J. married A. W. Beed; they have 1 child, Ira C., also living in this tp. Mr. Sheets left Van Wert county, Ohio, in 1862, coming to this tp., where he has been living since. He was educated in the public schools of Ohio. Since coming to this tp.he held the office of Tp. Trustee eight years and discharged its duties to the satisfaction of all. He now owns 160 acres of good land in sec. 17 of this tp .; his farm is well improved with a fine residence, bespeaking for him a pleasant home. P. O. Loeke.

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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 103

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