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 93
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Edwin HI. Stevens is a native of Bradford county, Pa., born Feb. 12, 1822, and raised in Tioga county, N. Y. He is the son of Ebenezer and Dolly Stevens, father of English and mother of Ger- man descent. They came to this county in 1857. Edwin H. left Tioga county, N. Y., at the age of 25, and emigrated to Ashland county, Ohio in 1851, and engaged in the mercantile business, in partnership with Jackson Wolverton, where they remained one year, at which time they moved to Goshen, and carried on business un- til 1853 ; then he moved to his present farm. In Mr. Steven's early life he taught school some 10 years, also was Superintendent of Schools, and resigned on coming to this county. He was married March 10, 1863, to Miss Mary Violett, whose parents were among the earliest settlers of this county. She was born April 9, 1821, in this county. Their 5 children are Charles, Jessie and Emma (twins) and Mattie and Morton. Mr. Stevens has held the office of Assessor, and was elected in 1878 as State Representative, where he has discharged his duty honorably and to the satisfaction of his Republican friends that elected him. He owns 32 acres of fine land. Residence, sec. 36; P. O., Goshen.
Ozias Stotts, deceased, was born March 20, 1804; he is the son of Uriah and Elizabeth Stotts ; he was married in Ohio March 16, 1827, to Miss Mary Middleton, who was born Oct. 25, 1805, in Franklin county, Ohio ; 13 children were born to them, of whom 6 are living, to wit : Uriah, Ozias, Saralı, James, Jacob and Abram.
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Mr. Stotts settled in this county in 1832, first locating in Concord tp., where he resided until 1834, at which time he came to this tp. and lived until death overtook him, April 24, 1879 ; at the time of his death he was owner of 273 acres of good land, since which time it has been divided among the widow and children. Mr. S. died in true Christian faith, being a member of the United Brethren Church. Residence, sec. 18; P. O., Elkhart.
George Stutsman was born May 3, 1814, in Montgomery_Co., O .; His parents, Daniel and Susan Stutsman, were natives of Pennsyl- vania; the latter died when the subject of this sketch was three years old; and, at the age of 16 his father came to this county, when the Indians here were outnumbering the whites. He saw the noted chief " Raccoon;" also remembers well the time when there were but a few log huts and one frame building in Goshen. Mr. S. was reared on the farm, and received his education in the old log school- house, built of ronnd logs, daubed with mud, having a stiek ehim- ney and slab seats. He married Miss Ruth Cope June 11, 1840; she was the daughter of Caleb Cope. They have 5 children: Simon, Lewis G., Lucinda E., Arvilla, and Emma, deceased. Mr. S., in his younger days, followed carpentering; also, the mercantile trade 3} years on the Wabash and Erie canals. Mr. S. is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, and owns 222 acres where he resides, and 160 acres in Missouri. He has been a reader of the Goshen Democrat ever since it was started. Of course he is an old, staunch Democrat. Residence, sec. 4; P. O., Bristol.
Israel Wolf was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, July 23, 1829, the son of George and Hannah Wolf, natives of Northumber- land county, Penn., who were among the early pioneers of Ohio, and emigrated to this county in 1835, settling in this tp., where they resided until 1855, at which time they moved to La Porte county, where they resided till their death, the former occurring in 1857 and the latter in 1867. Mr. Wolf was a millwright, which trade he followed a greater portion of his time, besides carrying on farming. Israel was reared on the farm, and received a fair Eng- lish education in the common schools of this county. He began the carpenter's trade at the age of 15, and has worked at it some 30 years. A few of the last years he worked at this trade. At present he is giving his entire attention to farming and stock- raising, in which he is having good success, owning 120 acres of beautiful land. Mr. Wolf has held the office of Justice of the Peace, Constable, and Assessor of the tp. for six terms; also, is or has been real-estate Appraiser, and at present is a guardian and ad- ministrator. Mr. Wolf was married Dec. 26, 1849, to Miss Nancy Wilson, a native of Logan county, Ohio. They have had 11 chil- dren, of whom 7 are living, to wit: Frank U., Thos. J., who is agent at Bristol, Annett M., Israel D., McClellan, Mary A., and Cora. Israel is a school-teacher, and Frank a carpenter. Mr. W. has lived in this county ever since his first settling here, with the exception of one year, when he lived in La Salle county, Ill.
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He moved there in 1852 and returned in 1853. Mr. W. is located on sec. 15; P. O., Goshen.
Andrew Yant, a native of Stark county, Ohio, was born April 1, 1827, and is the son of Valentine and Susan Yant, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Ireland. Andrew migrated to this county in 1856, since which time his vocation has been that of a farmer. He has met with fair success, now owning 80 acres of land, worth $40 per acre. IIe was joined in marriage with Eveline Lower, a native of Pennsylvania. They are the parents of 5 chil- dren, 4 of whom are living, to wit: Susanna, Mary E., Eva and Ada. Residence, sec. 32; P. O., Goshen.
LOCKE TOWNSHIP.
Locke township is situated in the southwestern part of Elkhart county, and is bounded on the north by Olive township, on the east by Union township, on the south by Kosciusko county, and on the west by St. Joseph and Marshall counties. It is only half a Congressional township, the western half being set off in Marshall and St. Joseph counties.
It has proven to be a difficult undertaking to obtain a very elab- orate history of the early settlement of this township, and very few of the old settlers are now living; they have, one by one, slowly passed away to their final resting-places, and many a hymn of sor- rowful regret has long since been sung to their immortal memory, for " men die, but their deeds live after them." It is said that at a very early date in the history of the township, the citizens of it, so far at least as election purposes were concerned, had to go into Harrison township to vote; they next voted in Union township, then in Olive, and finally they were set off to themselves, probably about the spring of 1843.
The first settler of the township was Samuel Lockwood, and from him the township was named. Mr. L. came in the fall of 1836 from Vermont; he and his wife and a family of 6 children came directly from that State by water and landed at Milwaukee; thence they went to Chicago, and from that city, then, indeed, a mere village, they came straight by land to this township. Here they erected a little log hut and remained in the midst of the wil- derness and tall forest trees for 10 days before any other man came to the township with whom they could share their vast domain. Here they lived on until Dec. 18, 1846, when Mr. L. died; his wife survived him about 11 years, but on Jan. 11, 1858, she, too, passed away and followed her husband to the silent grave. They are buried on the farm on which they first located and both now sleep side by side. Since the burial of Mrs. L. a large and tall tree has grown above her grave, and beneath its massive roots sleep the earliest pioneers of Locke township. But after Mr. Lockwood and his family had been residents of the town- ship for about 10 days there came Abner Hibray and John Pitts
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
from New York and settled on section 2, Mr. Lockwood having located on section 3. In September, 1839, came James Berry, who settled on section 22; and after the death of John Pitts, he was the only Whig in the township for a number of years. In 1839 Morlan Albin made this township his home and settled on section 14. During the same year came Daniel McCoy and Philip Reed; the former was the first justice of the peace of Locke town- ship. About this time came David Salisbury; and prior to the year 1840 the following came: Samuel Wilson, John Burns, Jacob Burns, Joel Farlay and Franklin Stevenson.
The first election in the township was held about 1841 or '42, in an old log school-house on section 14, and at that time there were only nine voters in the township. John Pitts is buried on section 2. Abner Hibray moved to Michigan and died there; James Berry is buried on section 22, on the farm on which he first located, in the cemetery called South Union. Philip Reed went to Lake county ; from there he went into the army where he died. Mr. Salis- bury died six or seven years ago, and is buried in the South Union cemetery. Such has been the fate of the early pioneers of Locke township; they have long since passed away, but their memory still lives. The township settled very slowly until about 1846, when it began to be peopled by a class of citizens who were noted for their intelligence and industry. At the time the township began to be settled, it was nearly all timbered land and abounded in game of all sorts.
The first church was the " Union church," built for all denomi- nations on section 22; it is now called the "South Union church." The first school-house was built on Morelan Albin's land, on sec- tion 14. The first frame house was built by Philip Reed on section 12. The first saw-mill was probably erected by the Lockwoods. The first store in the township was kept by John Wolfe in what is now the village of Locke. The first marriage was that of Lucins Lockwood and Hannah Hibray, the joyful event being duly cele- brated by a great many of the young folks of the community. The first child born in the township was Permelia, daughter of John Pitts. The first death is supposed to have been that of old Mrs. Berry, which occurred about 1840. The first postoffice ever estab- lished in the township was at the house of Daniel McCoy, on sec- tion 14, at what is familiarly known throughout the township as " Five Points;" this was established about 1846 or '47, and Daniel McCoy was the first postmaster. After Daniel McCoy, the next
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
postmaster was Joseph Albin. The postoffice remained at "Five Points " until about 1852, when it was removed to section 12, about one mile east; here Levi S. Stoner was the next postmaster. He held it until the spring of 1861, when it was removed to section 13, where Solomon Berlin officiated as postmaster. Mr. Berlin con- tinued to act in that capacity until 1869; after the village of Locke was laid out the postoffice was removed to that place in 1869.
To-day, in Locke township, the work of progress and clearing up seems at times to have just begun; for everywhere throughout the township the observer will see during the summer time logs and stumps smoking, which reminds one a great deal of what must have been the condition of affairs, only to a greater extent, 40 years ago. There is yet a great deal of timber in the township, every farm hav- ing more or less timber on it; but it is being fast used up by num- erous saw-mills all over the community; there are four in the vil- lage of Locke,-one on section 36, owned and run by Miller & Schmucker; one on section 3, owned by Asher Lockwood; one on section 10, run by S. S. Mann, and an old mill, now very much dilapidated, on section 12. The soil of the land in this township is excellent for farming purposes. The low lands are now being drained by numerous ditches, which will undoubtedly prove an almost incomparable benefit to the township in general.
The population of the township in 1880 was 1,364, an increase of almost 500 over the census enumeration of 1870, a fact which bespeaks much good for the township.
In its political record it is about equally divided between the two great parties. William B. Cowan, Democrat, is the present school trustee.
There are two cemeteries in the township; one on section 22, called the "South Union" cemetery; and one on section 3, called the " North Union" cemetery. Both are situated near churches bearing corresponding names.
The township is sufficiently well watered by numerous little creeks, particularly by "Lost creek," which waters the central and western part, and a branch of the "Little Bango," which flows across the northeastern part.
In 1874 the Baltimore & Ohio railroad was laid across the southern portion of the township, crossing sections 34, 35 and 36.
In 1878 quite a remarkable little circumstance occurred which deserves to be mentioned in this history. During that year a claim was made by a Chicago lawyer, whose name was D. Palmer, against
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
the residents of section 13. The purport of this claim was to wrest section 13 from the hands of its rightful owners, pretending to be made in the interest of an Indian squaw, of Kansas, who was said to claim that she was a legitimate heir to the original owners of this section of land. The prosecution claimed $20,000 damages; but the real purpose of the claim was undoubtedly an almost unprecedented swindle. Thus regarding it, the owners of the land employed legal counsel and concluded to stand them a suit. This they did at Indianapolis, costing them about $1,800, and came out victorious. The probability is that the matter is now settled.
SCHOOLS.
The schools of Locke township are under the efficient supervision of William B. Cowan, School Trustee, who was elected in the spring of 1880. The township has six school buildings, one brick and five frame houses; they are located conveniently throughout the township, and in them are afforded about seven months' school annually to the children of this township; one, at the village of Locke, is a graded school and employs two teachers. The edu- cational interests of this township are well attended to by the trustee in particular, and by the patrons of the township in gen- eral. At the enumeration of the school children of this township in March, 1880, the number was 375.
CHURCHES.
There are four churches at present in Locke township.
The United Brethren church is situated at the town of Locke; the church building was erected in 1871, and was dedicated in November of the same year by Bishop Edwards, of Illinois. Among the charter members were George W. Ernst and wife, and F. M. Truex. The first minister after the church building was erected at Locke was Rev. Albert Reed, who presided over the Church two years; then came Rev. E. Seithman, who remained one year. After him came Rev. I. Good, who was their minister one year; he was followed by Rev. E. Bast one year; then Rev. I. Eby one year; he was succeeded by Rev. William Simons, who remained one year. The next was Rev. Joseph Beghtel, who offici- ated for two years; he was followed by Rev. E. F. Light, who is the present incumbent. The congregation now numbers about 40 members. There is a Sunday-school in the church, of which Samuel
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
Ruckman is superintendent. The present trustees of the Church are Samuel Ruckman, George W. Ernst and F. M. Truex.
The Amish church, situated on section 36, was built in 1878. Some of the first members of the Church were: Henry Stahly, John Ringenberger, Sam'l Yoder, David Yoder, John Yoder, Peter Stalily, John Emmert, Ulery Miller, Levi Harshberger, Mrs. Betsey Hochstetler, John Johnson, Joseph Schmucker, Jonas Lance, John Troup and Allen Goon,-all the above-named men and their wives. This Church is the new branch of the Amish Church, and the con- gregation now numbers about 50 members. The first preacher of this Church was John Ringenberger ; then John Yoder, and after him came Samuel Yoder. He was succeeded by Jonathan Schmucker, who is the present incumbent.
North Union Church .- This church building is situated on sec- tion 3, and was built in 1876 for the use of all denominations. The following worship in it: Christians, Dunkards or German Baptists, and two or three branches of the Mennonite Church. Rev. Custis Stricklin is the regular minister for the Christians of this organ- ization, and Rev. Lamber for the Evangelical Mennonites.
South Union Church .- This church building is located on section 22, and was built in 1871. The Mennonites, German Baptists and United Brethren all worship in this building. Rev. Mr. Engle- meyer is the regular minister for the German Baptists, and Rev. E. F. Light, for the United Brethren denomination.
THE TOWN OF LOCKE.
And now, having noticed almost everything in connection with the township except its towns and business interests, we will proceed to devote a few pages in that direction. The town of Locke was laid out in 1867 by George W. Eby, M. H. Morlan and L. B. Winder. It is situated on section 24 of Locke township, two and one-half miles north west of Nappanee. The first house built in the town was erected on the half-section line, in the center of what is now Main street. The first store in the town was opened by John Wolfe in 1867; the first saw-mill was built in 1865. The first mail was car- ried to the town of Locke by Mr. L. B. Winder on April 1, 1869; the first postmaster was J. D. Lake, he having succeeded Solomon Ber- lin, who was formerly postmaster, the postoffice then being located on section 13. Mr. Lake was succeeded by Jacob Hemminger; the next postmaster was Jesse Truex; and after him came S. Lightner,
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
who was succeeded by Jacob Walters, the present incumbent sering in that espacity.
At one time the village of Locke, although s rural town. seemed destined to become quite a business point: and so it was. Once in its history its business interests were substantially as follows: Three dry-goods stores, one drug store, one grocery store, one hard- ware store. one in shop. one furniture store, two boot and shoe shops, two saw-mills, one shingle-mill. one wagon shop. one steam gris: and donring mill. three blacksmith shops, sont forty dwell- ings. one hotel. one public school-house, one church and three phy- sicians.
But in 15:3-'6. after the town of Nappanee was laid out, the eyes of a great many of the citizens of Locke were turned toward this new town to watch its probable growth. The town of Nappanee soon began to increase iu population and business, and it being s railroad town. seemed likely to become a better business point than Locke: accordingly a great many of the citizens of Locke moved to Nappanee, some of them. indeed. moving their old houses with them. To-day. however, there is considerable business done in Locke. since it is surrounded on all sides by an excellent tract of country. peopled by an industrions class of citizens.
In the town there is one first-class drug store, of which Jacob S. Walters is the proprietor: he is a good business man, is well liked by the people, and is doing a good business for the size of the town. Mr. Walters carries a stock of drugs and groceries, amounting to about $2.500; his annual sales are about $4.000. He engaged in business in 1 :::.
Then there is a large dry-goods and grocery store. owned by J. & J. Hartman, and run by John Hartman, an equal partner in the firm. They are enterprising business men, keep on hand a com- plete and full stock of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, and, in fact. everything in their line. They are doing a good home busi- ness, and enjoy a first-class local trade: carry a stock of about $2,000; annual sales about $4.000.
There is also a furniture store in the town run by Henry F. Ebr. who carries a small stock. The town can boast of one first-class grist and flouring mill. which is owned by George W. Ebr and John Tintsman, and is run by John Tiutsman and Martin H. Morlan They are doing a good business and add a great deal to the business interests of the place. This mill was built in 1867 br the Wisler brothers: was purchased by Eby and Tinteman in 1575. Miller &
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTT.
Rickert are proprietors of a saw-mil , in which they make barrel- heads, stares, etc. They ship these to Goshen, Warsaw, Elkhart and Ligonier, and are doing a good business. There is also a large saw-mill in the town, owned and run by George W. Ebr. W. L. Tucker is proprietor of a saw-mill, which was changed from a dwell- ing-honse into a saw-mill in 1979; he makes shingles, stares, table Extures, bedstead slats, etc .; is doing a good business and ships some to Elkhart and Goshen. Then there is also a mill doing gen- eral wood work. owned by Smeltzer. Smith & Mellinger.
In May. 1579. Dr. John M. Paxson came to the township and settled in Locke; he enjoys a fair practice of about $2.00 annually. The present business interests of the place may be said to be the following: one dry-goods and grocery store, one furniture store, one boarding-house, two physicians and surgeons, one grist and flour- ing mill. four saw-mills, one I'nited Bretheren church, one excellent school-building, one carpenter. one jeweler. two blacksmith shops and 30 to 75 dwelling-houses.
The town of Nappanee, which deserves special mention. is sit- nated partly in this township and partiy in Union. However, since a majority of the business houses and of the population are in this township, we hesitate not to make mention of it in connection with the history of Locke township.
VILLAGE OF NAPPANEE.
The town of Nappanee was laid out in November. 1574. br John Culp. Jr., Henry Stahly and Daniel Metzler. It was surveyed by George T. Ager. the County Surveyor at that time. The town is situated in the southwestern part of Eikhart county. on section 36 of Locke township and on section 31 of Union township. on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. It is 15 miles from Goshen. the county- seat. 1; miles from Elkhart and 10 miles from Milford. The vil- lage is surrounded by a tract of land, excellent for farming pur- poses: however, when the town was first laid out, a great part of the land in the immediate vicinity was covered with timber. But within the last half decade, by the erection of large and numerous saw-mills, a great part of the timber has been sawed up into lumber. the work of improvement, progress and advancement has been going rapidly on. and the town site, which was formerly quite low. has been filled up considerabis, so that now the place makes a very presentable appearance, far better than many of the older and larger towns of the county.
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
The first building in the place was erected for the Eby Brothers, as a passenger depot, and Henry F. Eby, now of the village of Locke, was the first freight agent. In a short time a postoffice was established, with Dr. J. S. Smith as postmaster. Rickert & Co. started the first store in the broom shop of Daniel Metzler, where Binkley & Co.'s drug store now stands. In the spring of 1875 Samnel Hartman opened a hotel for the convenience and accommo- dation of the public. Will F. Peddycord & Co. opened the first drug store; J. C. Bailey, the first dry-goods and grocery store; Mr. Bridenstein, the first boot and shoe shop; C. D. Volkman, the first blacksmith shop. Joseph Stromh started the first starch- box factory and planing-mill; J. C. Mellinger and Frank Meyers, the first saw- mill. All the above-named improvements and business interests followed in rapid succession and in something near the order men- tioned.
The name of the town was taken from a town in Canada, and the latter is spelled with only one p; there is still a difference in the spelling of the name here, but the majority spell it with two p's.
The first death that occurred in the town was that of an infant son of James D. Lake; this was also the first birth. The first mar- riage was that of John Coppes and Malinda Stromh, which was solemnized by Will F. Peddycord, Justice of the Peace, in 1878.
But all the above-named improvements were only the beginning of a town which was destined to become something more than a mere railroad station. Numerous other business houses were soon under process of erection, and a great many laboring men flocked to the town to seek employment. In a short time the town began to improve rapidly.
In 1876 Good & Shrock built a saw-mill and commenced opera- tions immediately ; in 1875 F. G. Bryson started a blacksmith shop. In 1876 Dr. J. S. Smith resigned his position as postmaster in favor of John B. Peddycord, who is the present incumbent; during the same year David Gentzhorn opened a saloon. In the year 1877 the firm of Mellinger & Co. was established, being com- posed of J. C. Mellinger, John Coppes and Frank Coppes, the two latter owning a half interest. It is not necessary to say that all these gentlemen are enterprising business men, for their business indicates it. They are the proprietors of the Union Planing Mill and Starch-box Factory, in which they are doing an immense busi- ness for the size of the town, shipping monthly on an average 8,000 starch-boxes to the Excelsior Starch Factory of Elkhart. They
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY*
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