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 90
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It is now 46 years since the Doctor first entered the confines of Elkhart county, which had just been organized, with the county- seat located at Goshen, where it still remains. A great deal of the county was in a state of nature fresh from the hand of him who fashioned the universe, and indeed it was lovely and grand in its pristine dress before the spoiler had laid the hand of civilized life upon its native beauty. The magnificent old forests, so majestic in their grandeur, have long since given way to the woodman's sturdy strokes and the fertile farm, the thriving village, or the busy city, attest the advancement of enterprise and industry, where now can
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be heard the whistle of the lumbering locomotive. Then the red man chased the fleet-footed deer; there was no better hunting ground on earth than Elkhart county, at the period of which we write. The Doctor has counted 19 deer in one herd; wild turkeys were abun- dant, and occasionally a black bear would put in an appearance; but like their foe, the dusky denizen of the forest, they have long since disappeared from among us.
The Doctor's career financially has been a partial success, to say the least, as he has amassed, with the co-operation of his good helpmate, a competency for his declining years, and something for those whom it is his duty to provide for when he takes his departure to the shadow land. Politically he is a Republican, but never held an office of trust or honor, as he never entertained any aspiration for political preferment.
David Dausman, a farmer and stock-raiser, was born March 27, 1816, at Elsass, France. (This part of France now belongs to Ger- many.) His parents were natives of the same place, and farmers. He is a namesake of his father. His mother's maiden name was Magdalena Baker. Her parents were farmers. His father was all his life a farmer. David, Jr., was raised on the farm till 14 years old, when he commenced to learn the pottery trade, and in this as in everything that he undertakes, he endeavors to excel by dili- gence. As a proof of this he worked there till 21 years old. He learned his trade in Upper Canada, near Ft. Erie. Mr. Dausman received most of his education in Germany, although he is a native of France. He went to school (German) seven years in Elsass.
His employer thought so much of him while he was learning his trade that he sent him to the English school six months, in Canada. He made Canada his home till he was 25 years old. He was mar- ried Aug. 3, 1841, to Magdelena Byers, who is a native of Canada, born in 1815, in Bertie tp. Her father was a farmer, and was liv- ing at the time of his daughter's marriage. The marriage ceremony was performed in Buffalo, New York. This happy union has been blessed with 6 children, all of whom are living; 4 of them are mar- ried and doing well, 2 living in Indiana, and 2 in Michigan. The children's names are Anna, Mary, David. Catherine, Samuel and Moses. The last 2 are at home with their parents. Mr. D. emi- grated to Elkhart county, Ind., 1841, the same year he was married, first settling in Goshen, where he was engaged in the manufacture of pottery, in company with Mr. Julian Defrees. They have a suc- cessfnl business. Mr. D. has been engaged in the pottery business 21 years. He has the honor of running the first pottery in Elk- hart county. He was engaged 10 years in the business in Union tp., this county, and several years in Jackson tp., where he lives at present. He has also always carried on a farm. He is the owner of 239 acres of land, most of which is under a high state of cultiva- tion. He has made what he has by his own exertions.
His political views are Republican, and he has held several offices in this tp. Mr. and Mrs. D. are members of the Evangelical
.
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Church. He has been Steward of that Church for the last 20 years.
Mr. D.'s portrait may be found in this volume.
Henry Dausman, farmer; secs. 26 and 7; P. O., New Paris; was born in Canada Dec. 1, 1843, and emigrated to this county in 1850. He is a son of Jacob and Mary (Hershey) Dausman, of English ancestry. Mr. Dausman has been twice married; his first wife, Sarah Brumbaugh, by whom were 5 children, Ida, Peachie, Norman, Bertie and Nora; second wife's name was Katie Riggle, by whom is 1 child, Orbie. Mr. Dansman is a Demo- crat, and cast his first vote for McClellan.
Andrew Edwie was born in Massachusetts in 1850, the son of George and Jane (May) Edwie, natives of Scotland; received his education in the common schools in Massachusetts and Andover College. His occupation is that of a carriage trimmer, in which business he has been successful. He employs from two to three men most of the time. He is as good a workman in his line of business as any man in the county, if not the best. In carriage trimming he " takes a back seat " for no living man. Ile was mar- ried in 1878 to Sadie A. Clark. His political views are Demo- cratic. He has lived in this county since 1877. He commenced to learn his trade when he was only 16 years old, in New Haven, Conn; served four years, then ran a shop in Calais, Me., three years. At present he is in New Paris, working at his trade, has plenty of business and is doing well, as every intelligent mechanic should do.
Dr. Samuel Eisenbeiss was born in Pennsylvania Sept. 19, 1838, son of Frederick Charles and Anna M. (Dorathy) Eisenbeiss, who came from the town of Welsviler, Prussia, located on the Rhine. In 1855 the Doctor commenced the study of medicine at the Rush Medical College in Chicago, and on the completion of his course of study settled in New Paris. He was married to Eliza- beth Heny, daughter of Joseph H. and Mary Bowman. Dr. Eisen- beiss' family consists of himself, wife and 3 children, whose ages are as follows: Erastus, 18; Albert, 16; and Charles, 10. The Doctor spent some eight years at South Bend and several years at Bremen, Marshall Co., this State, in early youth. He is the owner of a neat, comfortable house, in which he resides, and also other property, in the town of New Paris. During his residence in this township he has acquired a lucrative practice, is held in high esteem by all with whom he has been associated, and is looked upon as a gentleman in every walk of life.
William E. Gilbert, farmer, sec. 25; P. O., New Paris; was born in Ohio in 1837, son of Joseph and Mary (Juliem) Gilbert, natives of Ohio, of English ancestry; was reared on a farm; came to this county, and settled on sec. 25, this tp. Jan. 10, 1860, he married Martha Jane Rookstool, and of their 7 children 6 are liv- ing: Mary Ellen, Henrietta, Melvina, Charlie, Jolin and Tula. Mr. Gilbert united with the German Baptist Church in 1868, and is
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still a member of that denomination. He has been very successful in business, and is now the owner of 100 acres of land, all under cultivation and well stocked.
Albert Kauffman, farmer, was born in Blair county, Pa., Oct. 26, 1857, son of Joseph and Mary (Evans) Kauffman, of American ancestry. March 12, 1876, he was married, and he has now 1 child, Blanchie. He came to this county in 1849, and resided with his parents until he was married, when he took a farm and has since been farming for himself. He is one of the best farmers in the connty, and as he takes pride in his work he will succeed in all his farm undertakings. He is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Mr. Hayes.
Tobias Keim, farmer; P. O., Syracuse, Kosciusko Co., Ind., was born in Pennsylvania Oct. 26, 1822; son of Solomon and Elizabeth (Hostetter) Keim, of German ancestry; immigrated to this State with his parents Oct. 26, 1846. They located at first in Noble county, but not being satisfied with their location, came to Elkhart county in March of the following year, where he has since resided. They came with teams from Pennsylvania, having considerable difficulty in crossing swamps. He married Miss Anna Damer, of Ohio, and they have had 12 children, 10 of whom are living: Solo- mon, Frederick, Mary, Susanah, Samnel C., John C., Sarah, Ma- ria, Ellen, Adam and Anna; he has one boy, who has attended college and is now teaching school. Mr. Keim is an honored and respected member of the German Baptist Church. He is a Repub- lican, and cast his first vote for Zach. Taylor.
Dr. James Mathers was born in this county May 28, 1847, son of -and Mary (Miller) Mathews, the latter a native of Kentucky, whose parents were also Kentuckians. His father's parents were Pennsylvanians. The subject of this sketch commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. P. D. Harding, at Goshen, Ind., continuing with him three years, and taking a course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College at Cleveland; practiced two years at Detroit, a part of this time being at the hospital of St. Mary's, where he pursued clinical studies; also practiced some at Harper Hospital in that city; graduated at Detroit, then practiced three years at Wolf Lake, Noble Co., Ind. In 1872 he married Miss Mary Jane, daughter of William and Narcissa Cowan; and their only child, a daughter, died at the age of four years, one month and 16 days. The Doctor resided at the William Cowan farm a short time, and then removed to New Paris to make that place his perma- nent home. In a professional point of view he is well situated, enjoying the confidence of an intelligent community. Politically he is a Republican, and both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Church.
John L. Miller was born in Montgomery, Ohio, in 1836. He is the son of David S. and Saloma (Leslie) Miller, natives of Ohio and of German ancestry. IIe received his education in the com- mon school in Union tp., this county. He came to the county
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when only five years old. Ile was married in 1856 to Sarah Reck- ard. They have 3 children, 2 girls and 1 bov. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are both members of the German Baptist Church. Mr. M. has seen many changes in the county since he can remember; has seen Jackson tp. when it was almost a wilderness; has seen the wild deer and wild Indians and other wild animals in this tp. He can remember when night would come the timber appeared to be alive with wolves and other animals; and, as he said, a local work like this might be written just about what he has seen here.
Samuel R. Miller was born in Bedford county, Penn., June 4, 1820; his grandparents were from Germany, and came to America previous to the Revolution, settled in one of the Atlantic States, and at a very early day moved to Pennyslvania, and settled in Bedford county. They were among the first in this county, and endured the hardships and trials of pioneers. The Indians in that vicinity were exceedingly hostile, in consequence of the encroach- ments made by the whites upon their hunting grounds. They ยท killed nine persons at one time during the wheat harvest. Ifis grandmother was present at this massacre, and hid in the wheat- field, and thus eluded them, and effected her escape after they had gone. Mr. Miller thinks that both of his parents were born in Bedford county. His father was a carpenter, and was frequently away from home at his trade. He therefore did not know much about him, as he died while the subject of this sketch was quite young. Ifis father and mother had both been previously married, and each had children at the time of their union. He had but one own brother and one own sister. His brother died, and his sister married, and is living in Nebraska. His father died when he was but seven years of age. When he was twelve years of age, he moved with his mother to Montgomery county, Ohio, and engaged in farming for a very wealthy man at two dollars per month. Here he remained two years, and then moved to Elkhart county, Indiana, and settled on sec. 6. This was in October, 1835. Their hardships cannot be described. To tell the truth, the family were frequently in want of the necessaries of life-without money, and without the means of securing food and clothing. They endured all without mnrmuring, or even letting their neighbors know of their wants.
At the age of 17, Mr. Miller entered 80 acres in Union tp., and subsequently bought 80 acres in Elkhart tp., and finally took np 120 acres, where he now resides, on sec. 17. Up to his 27th year, he was engaged in clearing land-handling the ax, mattock and maul, and was persevering in his efforts to make the wilderness a garden, and to secure for himself a home.
In 1847 he married Mary A., danghter of Adam Whitehead, an old settler in the county. They have had 8 children, 7 of whom are still living, viz., David W., Susan E., Eva C., Mary J., Samuel D., Sarah A., and Adam F. David W. married Mary E. Hower, and has 3 children.
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Mr. Miller is a Democrat and has been identified with the politi- cal history of his tp. and county, having been Constable, Justice of the Peace, Supervisor, and Township Trustee, for nearly 20 years. He has frequently been a delegate to the County, District and State Conventions, and was elected Sheriff in 1874. He is deservedly popular in both parties, and has an eye to the welfare of his con- stitnents. As Township Trustee, the whole management of the town affairs-employment of teachers, assessing taxes for schools and other purposes, and the varions duties depending upon that office-have been conducted by him with such prudence and wisdom as to secure the general approval of all parties. In set- tling estates, as administrator and executor, and guardian, he has devoted a great deal of his time, and has invariably performed these duties to the entire satisfaction of his clients and wards.
Mrs. M. is a member of the German Baptist Church.
During the first years of his residence in this county, the family were supplied with fresh meat by his gun. Wild turkeys, deer, wolves, prairie chickens and wild geese, were very plenty when he first came to Indiana. He has himself killed with his rifle several hundred deer. They were so numerous that the snow would be trampled hard by them, near the cabin, where a tree had been felled. They came to browse. Many a time by moonlight has he shot them. Sometimes, when a nice, sleek buck presented himself in close range, the clear, cold air of a Sunday would be startled by the crack of the rifle. The plea in extenuation would be, meat for the family. During his youth and manhood his toil has been incessant. He has split 800 rails in a day from the oak that grew on his section. Labor has been rewarded. He now owns 120 acres of land.
IIis annnal crop of wheat is from 20 to 38 acres; corn, from 10 to 20 acres, and about 10 acres of oats. Mr. Miller has also been engaged in the carpentering business. He is a downright honest man, social, genial, and good company.
A portrait of Mr. Miller appears in this work.
Rev. Lewis Muntz; P. O., Milford, Kosciusko Co., Ind .; was born in Ohio in 1825; came to this county with his parents in 1833, and settled near Goshen, Ind. In 1865 he was married to Miss Christiana Snyder. He has been engaged in the ministry for quite a number of years, and took an active part in building one of the largest mills in Northern Indiana. Mr. Muntz is also a farmer, and is well-known in his locality for his excellent character.
James O' Neal was born in Indiana in 1857, and the son of Thomas O'Neal of Irish descent, who was a soldier in the late Rebellion. He enlisted in the Hoosier State. He was killed while in the service of his country. James' mother died when he was young, and he does not know much about her. James received his education in the common school in this county. By occupa- tion he is a farmer, but the last 18 months has been keeping a
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livery stable. He has from three to seven horses, and three to five buggies. Is reasonable in his charges.
John Pollock was born in Ohio in 1816. He is the son of Andrew and Betsy (Gilchrist) Pollock. His parents are natives of the Eastern States. They were Scotch-Irish. By occupation he is a farmer. He was married in 1843 to Judith Potter. They have had 9 children, 6 of whom are living-3 girls and 2 boys. Mr. Pollock received his education in the common schools in Ohio; came to Noble county in 1844. He acted as Supervisor, and also Tp. Treasurer six terms. He is a Republican.
He has one son living near where he does, George W. He is a married man, living on his own farm. He was born in 1849, in Noble county, Ind .; received his education in the common schools; has traveled some. He and his father counsel together in regard to business affairs. Mr. P. never has paid a lawyer any money in his life, and has never been sned. He started as a poor man, and at present is the owner of 150 acres of good land, worth $70 per acre.
Rev. D. J. Pontius was born in Marion county, Ohio, March 6, 1839, and is the son of John and Julia Ann (Worline) Pontius, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. March 22, 1864, he married Martha W., daughter of Jacob Myers, and 2 of their children are living, a son and a daughter. Mrs. P. died Nov. 13, 1879. Children: Ada Adaline, born Sept. 10, 1866; George Clarence, 1872, and Amos Nathaniel, born in 1879 and died the same year. Mr. Pontius has been a minister of the Evangelical Church about 20 years, three years in Elkhart; received his educa- tion in Ohio and at the Northwestern College of Illinois. Is a Republican in politics; owns a farm in Fulton county, this State, and is worth now about $3,500.
Michael Price was born in Ohio in 1829, the son of Michael and Catharine (Ott) Price, who settled on sec. 3, in 1832. The father died here in 1844; he had been in the war of 1812, and was a farmer by occupation, and the owner of 240 acres of good land. The sub- ject of this sketch received his education in the log-house schools of early day in Jackson tp., where he had the honor of attending the first school taught in the tp. This school-house was built at the cost of about $30; almost everybody in the neighborhood helped to build it. Simon Boomershire was the teacher. Mr. P. was 12 years old before he went to school, then started in the a b c's to climb the hill of knowledge. He was married in 1857 to Delilah, daughter of Joseph Harper, an early settler of Elkhart county. They have 3 chil- dren, all girls, one married. Their names are Melissa, Nancy Ann and Agnes. Noah Ott is the son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. P. Mrs. Price is a member of the Lutheran Church. He is a Republican in politics, is the owner of 172 acres of good land, and is an industri- ous, high-minded man.
Matthew Rippey, retired farmer, sec. 2; P.O., Benton ; was born in Warren county, O., Feb. 20, 1803. the son of Joseph and Eliza-
Mathieu Ripry
Mrs. Mathew Rippey.
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beth (Davis) Rippey, the former of Irish descent, born in Virginia, March 23, 1776, and died June 10, 1830, in Henry county, this State, and the latter of Welsh ancestry, born also in Virginia, Jan. 11, 1782. In 1808 this family moved to Franklin county, Indiana Territory, and in 1811 to Wayne county, where the subject of this sketch was principally brought up at farming, which occupation he has followed through life with success. He lived on the frontiers in the time of the war of 1812, where the Indians were committing depredations almost every day, in the way of stealing horses, killing cattle and hogs, robbing people's houses, and once in a while, killing a man. Mr. R.'s school education was limited to a few winter terms, he having to go three miles to school; being the third in a family of 10 children, and his father a blacksmith, he had to work hard to aid in supporting the family.
August 3, 1826, in Wayne county, Ind., Mr. Rippey married Miss Jane P., daughter of Robert and Sidna (Hellems) Mont- gomery, the former of Irish descent and the latter of German; by this marriage Mr. R. has had 5 children, 4 of whom are living, namely : Elizabeth, now the wife of Myrick Watts, of Jackson tp .; Robert M., who died in the army, being Captain of Co. I, 39th Iowa Inf .; Rebecca A., now the wife of Joel W. Long, of Kosci- usko county, Ind .; Joseph, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of this tp .; and William D., a very extensive farmer in Kansas, hav- ing 1,200 acres of corn this season. The children are all married.
Mr. Rippey moved from Wayne to Rush county, Ind., in 1827, and established his home in the wilderness; in 1831 he came to this county, where he still lives. Though 77 years of age he is remark- ably pert, and still retains all his mental faculties in a high state of vigor. When he was first married he had but little means, but by industry and economy he has accumulated considerable property, enabling himself to give each of his children 160 acres of good land, while he still owns 330 acres; he at one time owned abont 2,000 acres. He attributes much of his success in life to the aid and counsel of his wife. He commenced for himself by working for $7 a month; afterward, for a time, he followed the chase, killing deer and selling their hams and hides to buy his groceries; also made some shoes at night, two pairs a week, to hire work done in clearing. Notwithstanding all his privations and strict economy, he has been liberal in aiding the philanthropic enterprises of his community. He is one of the oldest citizens of the county, highly respected by all his acquaintances. He and his wife are prominent members of the M. E. Church, to which society they have belonged for over 40 years. They are now living with a grandson, who conducts the old farm.
Of Mr. Rippey, the Ligonier Banner said: "The other day we had the pleasure of greeting in our sanctum that venerable farmer and staunch Democrat, Hon. Matthew Rippey, of Benton. Mr. R., though well advanced in years, walks as erect as a man of 30, and his intellect is as vigorous as ever. He was once a member of the
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Legislature, and having resided in Elkhart county upward of 34 years, he is pretty well acquainted with the pioneers of Northern Indiana. It always does us good to take these veterans by the hand and spend an hour in pleasant and profitable conversation." The Goshen Democrat copied this and added: " We copy the above for the purpose of giving it our hearty endorsement, and to correct some errors of statement."
" Mr. Rippey has been in this county nearly 42 years. He was elected Representative to the State Legislature in 1839 and 1840. The election of 1840 was very highly contested, Mr. Rippey run- ning against Hon. J. H. Defrees, whom he defeated by 36 votes, while Gen. Harrison carried the county. In 1844 he waselected to the State Senate, in the district composed of the counties of Elk- hart, Koscinsko and Whitley, defeating Maj. Violett. Again, in 1848, he was elected to the Lower House. Mr. Rippey always had the confidence of the people to such an extent that whenever there was doubt about the result, he was called upon to lead the forlorn hope. And in 1862, when it was supposed that no Democrat conld be elected, he was again elected to the Legislature, making in all fonr times elected to the Lower House, and once to the Senate. For a number of years he was Justice of the Peace, and Township Trustee many years, and as a neighbor, always doing business as administrator, and in other ways having the fullest confidence of the people. He has now relinquished farming and intends taking the world a little easier. May he live for many years to enjoy the fruits of his labor, and the love and affection of his neighbors and friends."
Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Rippey are given in this volume.
David Rodibaugh was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, 1819, the son of David and Silni Rodibangh, natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. He received his education in the common schools in Ohio. He was married the first time in 1842, and the second time Jan. 1, 1856. Of the last marriage there have been 8 children, 4 boys and 4 girls. Also there were 2 children by his first wife. He and his wife are both members of the German Bap- tist Church. In politics Mr. R. is a Greenbacker. He came to the county in 1831, therefore is an early pioneer settler of Elkhart county, locating on sec. 4. in this tp .; was worth at that time about $1,000. He has been remarkably successful in business, and has accumulated a handsome fortune. He is the owner of over 900 acres of land and the mill in Jackson tp., besides other property. He is well liked, is a very honest and fair man in his dealings. His son is a part owner of the 100 acres of land where the mills stand. Mr. R. remembers when the deer and wolves were thick here, and when he could sometimes see a bear as it would sknlk into the forest. He has seen this tp. change from a wilderness to a fruitful field of plenty. While he can remember all this, he can also remember of seeing many old settlers pass away never to return.
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