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 68

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 68

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A portrait of Dr. Allen is given in this volume.

Taylor Z. Arisman, of the firm of Arisman & Son, grocers at 200 Main street, Elkhart, was born in Juniata county, Pa., Dec. 21, 1847. His father's name was Jacob Arisman, and his mother's maiden name Savina Stumbaugh. His family resided on a farm, and remained at Taylor's birth-place till he was seven years of age, when they removed to Elkhart county, Ind., and located on a farm three miles from the city. His father was for years in the employ of the Michigan Southern & Lake Shore railroad, and March 13, 1864, he and his son Taylor opened a grocery store on Main street. This business they have prosecuted ever since, and are now among the leading grocers in Elkhart. The elder Arisman had the honor of a membership in the first Common Council of the city of Elkhart, being elected from the 5th ward, and his son Taylor at the same time, took a seat in the Council from the 6th ward, a noteworthy coincidence in a city no larger than Elkhart. Mr. Taylor Arisman is a member of the Odd Fellows order, and is a Past Grand and a Past High Priest. He has represented the Eneampment in the Grand Lodge of the State, and is District Deputy Grand Master of Encampment No. 104.

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

Joseph D. Arnold, attorney at law, was born in York tp., this county, in 1836. He was the first white child born in York tp. He is now 44 years of age, and his life is contemporary with the growth of the county. He was the son of A. B. and Althina D. (Davis) Arnold, who were among the first settlers in the county. They came from Western New York in 1835, and settled on a farm in York tp., where they resided till 1865, when they removed to Wisconsin. They now live in Walworth county, near Geneva lake. There were 5 sons in the family, of whom Joseph is the oldest. He remained on the farm till he was of age, and during his minority attended a collegiate institute at Ontario, Lagrange county, Ind., and was three months at school in Cleveland, O. He settled in Goshen in 1860, and acted as Deputy Clerk of Circuit Court of this county until January, 1862, when he began to read law in the office of John H. Baker, since member of Congress. He was admitted to the Bar in 1863, and thereafter located in Elkhart, where he remained a year and a half. He then returned to Goshen, where he resided till 1871. During this period he was a partner of Hon. John H. Baker, and a portion of the time he was with Judge W. A. Woods. He was also District Attorney in 1868-'9, and in that capacity was public Prosecutor for Elkhart, St. Joseph, La Porte and Marshall counties. In 1871 he removed to Wisconsin, and remained there till 1879, when he returned to Elkhart and resumed his residence here. He was married in 1865 to Miss Louisa J. Broderick, daugh- ter of N. F. Broderick. They have 2 children, both sons. Mr. Broderick is a member of the order of Odd Fellows. He is at present engaged in the practice of law, having an office on Main street, opposite the Clifton House, and is known as one of the better class of attorneys in Elkhart county.

Hazen W. Avery was born in the town of Topsham, Orange county, Vt., Feb. 22, 1831. His parents were Christopher and Emley Walker, also natives of Vermont. He was reared on a farm, and educated in the common schools. He engaged as a clerk in a grocery for two years; about 1855 he began railroading as fireman on an engine, and now he has been engineer for several years. Mr. Avery now runs engine No. 112 on the eastern division of the L. S. & M. S. R. R. He came to Elkhart in 1866; was married, Dec. 31. 1863, to Miss Julia Armstrong, a native of Bradford, Vermont, and a daughter of William Armstrong.

Silas Baldwin, one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of Elkhart, was born in Bloomfield, N. J., in 1811. He was the son of Daniel S. and Elizabeth (Kent) Baldwin. There were 9 children in the family. They removed from New Jersey to a place near Pittsburg, Pa., and remained there two years. From there they went to Warren county. Ohio, and resided there till 1828 or 1829. From thence they removed to Cass county, Mich., and set- tled on the open prairie before the land had been placed in market. Silas was then 18 years of age. In 1821-'22 he was a laborer on farms. In 1832 he volunteered in the Black Hawk war. He was in a com-

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pany commanded by Capt. Isaac Butler, Gen. John R. Williams being the officer in superior command. They marched for the hos- tile territory in May. and after reaching Chicago, took charge of that post till Maj. Whittler, of the regular army, and his troup, came round the lakes and relieved them, which was in the month of June. In 1836 Mr. Baldwin began to speculate in Government lands, finally entering a dry-goods store in Edwardsburg, Mich., a business that he followed till 1843, when he removed to Elkhart, then a small place. At that time there were here a saw-mill, grist- mill, a distillery, two hotels, stores, and abont 300 people in the village. When he arrived in Elkhart Mr. Baldwin opened a stock of goods for P. P. Milliard, and in the winter of 1844 he bought the stock, and, with only confidence as an investment, continned the business till 1856. During that time he was burned out twice, but, by strict attention to business, integrity and good management, arose each time, like Phoenix. from the ashes of his burned property. and continued business. During all the disasters and mutations of his fortune he was never sned for anything, but. with rare tact, satisfied his creditors in every crisis.

In 1850 Mr. Baldwin took an active part in the struggle concern- ing the passage of the Michigan Southern railroad through this county, and acted as agent for the railroad in securing the right of way from Baugo to Bristol, collecting the local subscription him- self, and on completion of the road he was continued as station agent at Elkhart. In 1856 he discontinued the dry-goods business, which he had carried on so many years. He assisted Mr. More- house in the organization of the First National Bank of Elkhart, and was the cashier of that institution till 1867, owning a large proportion of its capital stock, but resigned the cashiership in the last-named year, on account of ill health. He is at present vice- president of the First National Bank, one of its directors, and still retains his stock in it. Mr. Baldwin has occupied important polit- ical relations during his career. He was nominated for the Legis- lature twice by the Democratic party, the last time in 1849. He changed his political views when Fort Sumter was fired on, and since has been a consistent Republican. In 1844 he was appointed Postmaster of Elkhart, under Postmaster-General Chas. A. Wieliffe's administration, but resigned on account of ill health, in favor of B. L. Davenport, who succeeded him. His domestic relations and his worldly fortunes have been shared by Jane (Gephart) Baldwin, whom he married in 1837. One of their daughters, Elizabeth, is now Mrs. A. R. Beardsley. of Elkhart. A son, Frank, was killed at the battle of Stone River; he was a Lieutenant in the 44th Ind. Inf. Helen was the wife of Col. John W. Shafer, who was muster- ing-ont officer at Lonisville, Ky. Mr. Baldwin is a man of indepen- dent character, belongs to no society or order, acts according to his individual views, and has had a career that places him among the very first representative men of Elkhart county.

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

Mr. B. may truthfully be said to be one of our self-made men, starting with very limited education, such as was acquired by a few months' attendance at the old log school-house; with no means to commence the battle of life-except what nature had supplied-his career has been remarkable in many respects.

Lambert Barnes was born in Lancashire, Eng. He came to America in July, 1848, when he was 25 years of age. He had mar- ried Alice Wilde, and learned the paper-makers' trade before he came to this country. At first he went to Wisconsin, and after- ward located at St. Charles, Ill., and was in the employ of Butler & Hunt, wrapping and print paper manufacturers, and was foreman in that establishment, remaining there 14 years. From St. Charles, in 1861, he went to Middletown, Ohio, and remained there till his removal to Elkhart. Here he was in the employ of Erwin, Lane & Co., and continued with them till his death, which occurred in September, 1874. He left 7 children to the care of his wid- owed wife: William, who is employed in the paper mill; Lizzie, Alice, Minnie, James, Clara and Oscar. James also is a paper- maker, and Oscar is employed in a box factory. Minnie married Willard A. Cone, son of Crocker Conc. Mrs. Barnes occupies a comfortable home in northeast Elkhart, and is blessed by the asso- ciation and aid of her children, who are still at home or live near her.

Rev. Elward Barr was born in the town of Wooster, Ohio, Dec. 15, 1827, and is a son of Thomas and Ann Barr, natives of Pennyslvania. The former was a Presbyterian minister, and began his labors in 1810. He was a foreign missionary for several years, and solicited for home missions for some time In 1835 he removed with his family to Rushville, Ind., where he died in August of the same year. From the age of 10 years our subject was brought up in Indianapolis, in the family of James Blake. He was educated in the Hanover (Ind.) College, and read theology privately. He entered the ministry in September, 1857, in the Churches his father had organized years before. He went to Bed- ford, Ind., in 1859. From 1861 to 1866 he had charge of the Frankfort Church. He then went to Muncie, Ind., and remained 18 months. £ Then took charge of the First Presbyterian Church of Lafayette, where he remained five years; next he was called by the First Presbyterian Church of Madison, Ind., where he remained bnt one year. He came to the charge of the Elkhart Church in 1873, remaining but six months, when he resigned and went to Bedford. Ind., remaining six months, when he was recalled to Frankfort, where he remained five years. While there he erected a new church edifice. Ile was again called to the Elkhart Church in 1879, where he is now laboring. Ile was married in May, 1851, to Miss Millia Webb, of Orleans, Ind., who has borne him 7 chil- dren: Geerge W., Olly A., Thomas E., Susan J., Mattie G., Mary C. and Ruth. Geo. W. is principal of the high schools of Elkhart.

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

Thomas is in Lake Forest College, Ill .; Olly is a graduate of Glen- dale Female College, Ohio.

Norman Beckley, the well-known Assistant Superintendent of the C., W. & M. railroad, was born in Barre, Washington county, Vt. His father was Samnel Beckley, and his mother's name before marriage, Roxana Colby. Mr. Beckley spent his boyhood with his father till he was 16, when he began an educational conrse, passing some time at Montpelier and Newberry seminaries. While he was at school, during the winter season. he tanght school for the purpose of replenishing his funds. This course of educational life was continned till he was 20 years of age, when he journeyed westward in quest of his fortune. This was in 1844. Mr. Beekley remembers Chieago at that period as a place scarcely a respectable embryo of the present city of wonderful growth. The Tremont House, where he stopped. was then a three-story wood structure. For a few months after his arrival in Chicago he was employed by Luther Rossiter, then a lumber dealer and leading man in Chicago. The vard was on Water street, west of Wells. Mr. Beckley con- tracted the ague in Michigan, before reaching Chieago, and at length was obliged to return to Vermont in quest of health. He took a position under C. F. Belknap, the famons contractor on New England railroads. and was by him appointed foreman of construe- tion gangs. and continued that service till the grading on the Ver- mont Central railroad was done. Afterward he was employed a year on the Fitchburg railroad as parmaster. Subsequently he was section foreman on the track of the Vermont Central, and roadmaster till 1860. During that year be assumed a position as roadmaster on the Michigan Southern road, Chicago division, with headquarters at La Porte. This relation he held for two years. He then removed to De Kalb county. Ill., and took the manage- ment of the Sycamore & Cortland road, a short line in that locality. He managed the enterprise so perfectly as to be able to declare a dividend of 14 per cent, on the capital stock. Owing to the jeal- ousy and hostility of the Ellwoods, prominent stockholders in the company, Mr. Beekley retired. In 1874 he was appointed Assist- ant Superintendent of the Michigan division of the Michigan Southern road, with headquarters at Elkhart, and removed his family from Sycamore in 1878. During that year he became General Manager of the Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan railroad, and has held that office ever since.

. While Mr. Beekley was in Illinois he superintended the laying of the traek on the Chicago & Iowa railroad. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and is zealous in Sunday-school and Church work. He has always identified himself with the temperance cause, and has chosen only temperance men, when that was possible, as employes on the various roads where he has been manager. He is a Republican, and labors arduously for the success of its prin- ciples and measures.

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

Mr. Beckley was married Oct. 2, 1847, to Rosetta Wills, of Hart- ford, Vt. He has 1 daughter and 2 sons: Emina Elizabeth, who married M. H. Wesley, a farmer in De Kalb county, Ill .; Edward Henry, who is in the office with his father, and Edward Everett, still in school.

Calvin Beebe, an octogenarian citizen, who resides in the north- eastern part of Elkhart, can look backward upon a life and career one of the most interesting among the many in Northern Indiana. His 80 years have been crowded with change, labor and suc- cess; and now, though so aged, he is gifted with a measurable degree of strength and vigor, while his remarkably elastic and spirited temperament renders him cheerful even under the burden of years. He is one of the comparatively few who can glance backward over his remotely reaching pathway and view with satis- faction the successes that gem it all along, with scarcely a disaster or a dark passage to mar the retrospect. His companion, alnost as aged as himself, has been the sharer of his labor and success for more than 60 years, and hand in hand with her husband, she gazes toward the sundown of life with him, her countenance irradi- ated with the thought that nothing but connubial harmony has dwelt in her household; that her life, with that of her husband, has been a success, with no morbid modern feeling of unrest and dissatisfaction at the so-called tyranny of matrimony to mar the recollection. Mr. Beebe was born in Lyme, Conn., Feb. 22, 1801. He was the son of Noah and Sybil (Rathbone) Beebe. His father was a Revolutionary soldier, and was present at the burning of New London, Conn., by Benedict Arnold, and saw the mingled blood and oil from soldier and pork warehouse flowing through the streets ankle deep. When Calvin was seven years of age his father's family moved to Burlington, Otsego county, N. Y. At that time even interior New York was a frontier country, and the Beebes settled in the woods and cleared off the primeval forest to make a farm. When Mr. Beebe was 16 years of age he went to Oneida county, and hired out as a farm hand. When he was 19 he married Miss Sybil Linsley, a lady but one month younger than himself. They began life on 100 acres, 10' acres of which land he had cleared before marriage. They resided there five years, and in Angust, 1835, removed to Parkman, Ohio. This town was named for Mrs. Beebe's uncle, one of the famous Boston Parkmans. Geo. Parkman, the man who was killed by Dr. Web- ster, of Boston, a tragedy that at the time shocked the community by its horrifying accompaniments, was a consin to Mrs. Beebe. Samuel Parkman, the second richest man in Boston of his day, was Mrs. Beebe's great uncle. Her mother's family were Puritans of well-defined descent, and her father's ancestry were Scotch loyalists. The family record dates back 400 years, and an old family Bible extant among the descendants gives a record that antedates Queen Mary's reign 12 years. Her great uncle. Samuel, was one of the proprietors of New Connectient, Ohio, and granted

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

a mile square of this estate to Robt. P. Parkman, her uncle. Mr. Beebe and wife lived at Parkman 13 years. He there cleared 55 acres with his own hands. He afterward moved to Bertrand, five miles west of Niles, Mich., and there took up 160 acres of the Pottawatomie reservation. This he cleared and converted into a beautiful farm. He resided here nine years, and then removed to Cass county, and purchased 80 acres, of which he cleared 55. In 1849 he sold this farm and went overland to California, stimulated by that spirit of enterprise which always belonged to his character. At first he stopped in the mines, but soon located in Sacramento. When he arrived in that embryo city there were but five houses there, and much of the land on which the now large and flourish- ing city stands was covered with forest. This last condition was a source of profit to Mr. Beebe. A man owned 10 acres of the town plat. which he desired to clear so that he could sell the land for building lots. Mr. Beebe bought the timber thereon for $1 an acre, cut it off himself, and sold the wood, for which he realized $1,400, which was accomplished in three and one-half months, While he was employed at this he made $23 per day. He then went into the dairy business, and altogether during the nine months of his stay in California, he made $4,000. The trip took 18 months, with which snug som he returned home by sea. He immediately bought a farm in Mason tp., Cass county, and eight days after his arrival home he had the farmstead in order for business. In 1865 he sold this property for three times the amount he paid for it. He has been so unfortunate as to have his shoulder dislocated, and after selling his farm he bought 14 acres where he now resides, in north- east Elkhart, and fitted it up for a quiet home in his declining years. During his life-time he has cleared nearly 300 acres of heavily timbered land, and converted it into fruitful fields. If a man is a benefactor of his race who makes two blades of grass grow where erst there was but one, what praise belongs to such a man as Mr. Beebe, who has restored so many waste acres to opulent productiveness? Mr. Beebe is a member of the Methodist Church, and Mrs. Beebe belongs to the Presbyterian denomination; neither is this a source of contention in the household, liberal-mindedness and good fellowship being the spirit that actuates both these worthy examples of sterling manhood and womanhood.

During Mr. Beebe's long life he has been a strictly temperate man, never in sickness or health having used tobacco or spirituous liquors in any form, and has been a generous supporter of religion and education by example and donation, as well as to the poor.

Mr. Beebe's portrait appears in this volume.

Emmanuel C. Bickel, of the law firm of VanFleet & Bickel, was born in Elkhart county, three miles east of the city, April 24, 1850. His father was a farmer, who came to this county from Ohio in 1843, settled on 80 acres of land, and reared a large family of chil- dren, of which Emmanuel was the third son. He had the advan- tages of common-school tuition when he was young, and afterward

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attended the Butler Institute, Goshen. During his school years he taught during vacation season, and was employed part of the time on the hydraulic works in Elkhart, which were then being con- structed. In 1870 his father's family removed to Davis county, Missouri, and settled on a farm there. Emmannel went to Col- orado in 1873, and remained there six months, returning to Elk- hart in 1874. He soon entered the law office of John M. VanFleet, Esq., and after four years became that gentleman's partner. He was married in 1876 to Miss Marietta Sinith, of Hillsdale, Mich. They have 2 children, both daughters. He was appointed Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, and ocenpied that position for six years, but recently resigned, on account of the pressing legal business of his

firm. He was the prime organizer of the Elkhart Building and Loan Association, drafting its constitution and by-laws, and doing more than any other to promote the success of that important enter- prise, which is backed by a capital of $400,000. He has for four years occupied the position of Secretary of the Elkhart Lecture Association, and has deeply interested himself in that means of social improvement and pleasure. Mr. Bickel has always been a hard-working, painstaking man, and has made a success of what- ever he has undertaken, and has the promise of a bright future before him.

Richard Blackburn was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, Nov. 9, 1827, and is a son of Richard and Jane (Wood) Blackburn, also natives of England. He learned the tailoring business in his native country, and came to Kalamazoo, Mich., in 1852, where he remained 18 months, then to Galesburg, Mich., and carried on merchant tail- oring for 19 years. He came here in 1872, and established the same trade, to which he has added a full line ofclothing. His cap- ital stock amounts to $15,000; and his sales amount to $30,000 an- nually. He married Miss Mary Pounder in 1853. They had 10 children, 7 of whom are living: Alice, Lillie, Abbie, Emma, Jennie, Mariam and Richard.

Edward K. Boyer was born in Snyder county, Pa., Jan. 10, 1845. His father's name was Phillip S. Boyer, and his mother, previous to marriage, was Miss Amelia Kessler. His father was a farmer, and Edward remained with his parents until their death, which occurred when he was 11 years of age. Afterward he lived with his uncle till he was 17, when he enlisted in the war of the Rebellion. In 1864 he re-enlisted, and went out with the 74th Regiment. He was at the battles of Antietam, Chancellorsville, Bermuda Hundred, Fort Fisher and several other engagements. After the war he worked in a woolen mill a year. He was married on Feb. 2, 1866, to Miss Louisa G. Kantz. He removed to Elkhart Aug. 17, 1866, and was for some time employed in Palmer & Davenport's woolen mill; he worked four years in the railroad foundry here under F. L. Collins; was a clerk one year in the grocery store of F. L. Kremer, and afterward went into business with Kinzy & Boyer, which relation was continued three years;

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then he formed a partnership with M. L. Stevenson, at 210 Sonth Main street, and the firm has done business till the present time. He has 2 children, James F. and Clyde E. He is a member of the English Evangelical Chnrel:, of which he is a Trustee. In 1879 he was appointed Street Commissioner, but owing to business engage- ments declined to serve. Mr. Boyer is recognized as one of the representative business men of Elkhart.

Robert D. Braden was born April 6, 1810. in Ross county. Ohio. He was the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Dean) Braden. Robert passed his time on his father's farm till he was 21. Mr. Braden's father was a native of Ireland, and emigrated to America just after the Revolution. landing at Philadelphia the day before . Washington gave his farewell address to the army. When Robert was of age he engaged to work in a blacksmith shop, managed by his brother. He remained in this employment three years, and was married to Jane Wallace in 1834. They removed to Hardin county, Ohio, where he carried on a blacksmithing business. In 1844 he removed his family to Elkhart. He found here a small village, but a congenial spirit among the inhabitants. Among the more prominent people here then was Silas Baldwin, the Brod- ericks, Dr. Beardsley. Geo. Crawford and the Davenports. Mr. Broderick was in the dry- goods business, and John Davenport was engaged in the same line. There was a little mill on Christian creek, in the northern part of the town. and the saw-mill that had formerly rasped the air and ripped the logs on the Elkhart had been burned. Mr. Braden established a blacksmith shop. which was the third in the town. He received most of his pay for work in "truck:" all trade was by exchange of labor and commodities. His first shop was on the ground now occupied by the postoffice. He built the shop where his sons now work in 1856. The first Mrs. Braden died in March, 1863. leaving 4 children, James, Robert. Scott and Belle. The boys are now blacksmiths, managing the shop and business founded by their father. The daughter, Belle, married Ellis Ludlow. he dying nine years ago, leaving her 5 chil- dren to care for. She resides in Elkhart. In 1864 Mr. Braden married again, this time Mrs. Margaret Broderick, widow of Mark A. Broderick. This lady is still living. Mr. Braden's recollection of the early history of Elkhart is interesting. There are now but three houses standing that were here when Mr. Braden arrived in 1844. Mrs. Braden has been in Elkhart 46 years. When she arrived the site of the city was covered with forest. and the river was crossed by ferry. Mr. Braden has served for two years as Town Marshal; was elected a member of the Board of Trustees in 1872; and was elected to a seat in the Common Council from the second ward in 1876, and served in this capacity two years. He is a member of the Masonic order. Latterly Mr. Braden has been an invalid, from chronic disease.

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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 68

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