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 95
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Robinson Loney, a farmer on sec. 27; P. O., Locke; is the son of Richard and Rebecca (Kirkpatrick) Loney, and was born in Knox county, Ohio, March 11, 1832. He came to this county in 1853 and settled where he now lives; owns 80 acres of good land, which he values at about $50 per acre. His educational advantages were poor. IIe is a Democrat. Mr. L. was married in 1852 to Rachel Hall, who was born in Ohio in 1832; she is the mother of 9 children, of whom 6 are living: Ann (wife of Christian Pippin- ger), Mary (wife of Adam Pletcher, both of Marshall county), Harriett (wife of E. W. Culp, of this tp.), George, John and Manda.
Charles Miller, proprietor of a saw-mill at the town of Locke. Mr. M. was born in Germany in 1834, and came to America in 1854, settling first in Canada, where he remained eight years, and then went to Colorado; after having remained there two years he came to this tp. He was married in Canada in 1858 to Rebecca Troyer, who was born in Canada and died in 1875, leaving 4 chil- dren and a husband to mourn her loss: Mary A. (wife of Albert Eddline, of New Paris), Martha J., Elizabeth L. and Cora. Mr. M. has been Assessor of the tp. for nine years, and was also appointed Census Enumerator for the year 1880. Politically, he is a Republican. He was educated in Germany, and now both reads and writes German and English, He owns 26 acres of land on sec. 24, worth about $1,500, and he is also a partner in a mill, doing general wood-work of all kinds, and of which mention has already been made.
Martin H. Morlan, miller at Locke, he is a son of Hosea and Ann (Ingledue) Morlan, both of whom were natives of Pennsylva- nia and died in Ohio. IIe was born in Ohio Dec. 30, 1835; his father was killed at a barn-raising when Martin, the subject of this sketch, was quite young ; his parents were the earliest settlers in the eastern part of Ohio and came to this tp. in 1858: Mr. M. was married in September, 1860, to Amy Winder, a native of Ohio; she is the mother of 8 children, 6 of whom are now living : Hilbert, Clara A., Mary S., Elihn and two others. Mr. M. is now the Jus- tice of the Peace of this tp. Politically, he is a Republican. His wife is a member of the United Brethren Church. He owns 35 acres of land on sec. 24, which he values at about $50 per acre. He has rented a half interest in the grist-mill at Locke, and is at pres- ent engaged in that business.
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
Jacob D. Myers, farmer, sec. 1 ; P. O., Wakarusa; was born in Ohio in 1835, and is of Pennsylvania Dutch descent ; he is the son of Jolin and Sarah (Longenecker) Myers ; the latter is living in Ohio and is a native of that State ; his father died in, Ohio in 1854, and was a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. M. came to this county in 1863 ; he was married in 1858, to Catharine Wisler, who was born in Ohio in 1830 ; they have 2 children, both of whom are liv- ing : Isaac W. and Leah M. Politically, Mr. M. is a Republican, his wife is a member of the Mennonite Church ; he owus 80 acres of excellent land ou sec. 1 and 40 acres on sec. 4.
John M. Paxson, practicing physician and surgeon in the town of Locke; he is the son of Jacob E. and Caroline M. (Mulberry) Paxson, was born in 1842, and is of Scotch-German descent. He came to this county in 1856 and to this tp. in May, 1879, and set- tled at Locke, where he has since resided. In 1866 he was married to Almira Rogers, who was born in New York in 1843 ; they have had 3 children : Coral B., Lulu M. and Grace. The Doctor is a mem- ber of the Masonic lodge and is, politically, a Republican ; his wife is a member of the Baptist Church. The Doctor's educational ad- vantages when young were quite limited. He commenced the study of medicine about seven years ago and has been practicing about four years. He enjoys a good practice, amounting to abont $2,000 annually.
Will F. Peddycord, Justice of the Peace of Locke tp., was born in Fulton county, Ohio, in 1846, and is of Irish descent mna- ternally, and Irish-English paternally ; he is the 6th in a family of 10 children, of whom S are now living, and whose parents were John and Elizabeth (Graham) Peddycord ; the latter died in May, 1879, and the former about two years previous; both were natives of Ohio. Mr. P. came to Elkhart county in November, 1874, and settled in the town of Locke, where he engaged in the drug business, with the intention of watching the thien probable growth of Nap- panee. He remained in Locke until the spring of 1875, when he removed to Nappanee, where he now resides. In this place he continned in the drug business until February, 1877 ; however, the previous November he was elected Justice of the Peace of Locke tp. He is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Nappanee, No. 575, and was one of the charter members of that organization. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church ; politically, he is a Republican. In 1870 Mr. P. was united in matrimony to Mary E. Vaughn, who was born in Holmes county, Ohio, in 1844; they have had 2 children : Lulu and Frankie. Ile is one of the enter- prising young men of Nappanee and represents the Hartford, Phoenix and Ætna Fire Insurance Companies ; is also collection agent.
Daniel Philips, a farmer on sec. 22 ; P. ()., Locke. Mr. P. is the son of Brice and IIonor (Durbin) Philips, both natives of Mary- land, and are living in Ohio. IIe was born in 1830, and came to this county about 1850. He was married in this county in 1853,
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to Mary Berry, who was born in Ohio in 1833, and is the mother of 1 child, namely, Reuben. Mr. P.'s educational advantages were poor. He and his wife are members of the United Breth- ren Church .. He owns 993 acres of land on sec. 22, worth about $50 per acre.
Fred D. Richmond, proprietor of the Nappanee House, Nap- panee, was born in New York Oct. 28, 1832, and is of American descent. He is a son of Daniel S. and Thankful (Patterson) Richmond, both of whom are now deccased, the former died in the army in 1864, and the latter in 1856; both were natives of New York. In 1856 Mr. R. was married to Catharine Berlin, who was born in Ohio in 1830; they have had 3 children, all of whom are now living : Charles (a farmer in Locke tp.,) Byron (a cooper at Bremen) and John (a machinist at Garret.) In 1858, the subject of this sketch came to this county and settled in Locke tp., where he followed blacksmithing until September, 1878. Polit- ically, he is an earnest advocate of the principles of the Republican party ; he is a member of the Masonic lodge at Wakarusa, No. 448. His educational advantages were only, such as were afforded by common schools.
David H. Rohrer, clerk in the dry-goods and grocery store of Dietrich & Co., was born in this county June 10, 1857. of German descent. He is the only child of Henry and Elizabeth(Huntsberger) Rohrer; his mother is now living in Harrison tp. and was born in Pennsylvania in 1831 ; his father died in October, 1857, at the age of 28 years; he was a native of the same State. They came to this county in 185- and settled in Harrison tp., where his father died. Mr. R., the subject of this sketch, came to this tp. in October, 1878; he was married in the same year to Mary E. McDonald, who was born in this county May 9, 1858; they have had 1 child, namely, William H. Politically, Mr. R. is a Republican. His opportunities for securing an education were only moderate, being confined to a few months' school in the winter; however, he is one of those self- made young men who never give up, and now he takes an active part in everything of a literary nature, and also speaks German. He owns a dwelling house in Nappanee worth about $1,000, and a business house occupied by Dietrich & Co., worth about $2,000. The subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm until he came to Nappanee, when he occupied the position of clerk with the above firm. He was formerly with Charpie & Fluegel in the same busi- ness at Nappanee until February, 1880. Mr. R. is an enterprising, energetic, business young man.
Samuel Ruckman, a carpenter in the town of Locke, was born in Ohio in 1833, and is of English-German descent; he is a son of James and Hannah (Hoffman) Ruckman, both of whom are living in Ohio; the former is a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. Mr. R. emigrated to this county in 1859 and located permanently in this tp. in 1860. His educational advantages were very limited. Politically, he is a Republican. He owns 20 acres of land on sec.
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
24, which he valnes at $1.000. He has worked industriously dur- ing his whole life. In 1860 he was united in matrimony to Miss Sarah Wisler, born in Ohio in 1836; they have had 3 children, all of whom are living; Martha J. (a school-teacher), John J. and Emma I. Mr. and Mrs. R. are zealous members of the United Brethren Church. They are also earnest laborers for the cause of temperance, and Mr. R. is Superintendent of the Sunday-school at the United Brethren Church.
Sarah A. Salsbury, farmer in sec. 13; P. O., Locke; is the daugh- ter of Joseph and Amy (Taylor) Winder, and was born in Portage county, O., in 1831, and is of German descent; her mother, who is a native of Pennsylvania, is now living in Nappanee; her father, a native of the same State, died in 1850. Mrs. S. was married in Ohio in 1849, to Joseph Miner, who was born in Ohio in 1826, and died in the army in 1863; he was the son of Thomas and Mary (Hoffman) Miner. Mr. and Mrs. S. had 4 children, all of whom are living; Josephine, the wife of Jacob S. Stutsman, a farmer of Harrison tp .; Mary, the wife of Samnel Helman, a farmer of Jef- ferson tp .; Perry L. and Ella L., both at home. In 1868 Mrs. S. was married to David Salsbury, who is now living in Wyoming Terri- tory. She came to this county with her first husband in 1852, and settled where she still resides; she owns 70 acres of land which she valnes at about $40 per acre.
Susanna Sunder, farmer, sec. 13; P. O., Nappanee; is the daugh- ter of Henry and Lydia (Mellinger) Stauffer; her father is now liv- ing with her and was born in Ohio in 1812; her mother, also a native of Ohio, died in 1877. Mrs. S. was born in Ohio in 1839, and is of German-English descent; her parents came to this county in May, 1850, and settled in Union tp .; in 1856 she was married to Daniel Sander, who was born in Ohio in 1825, and died in 1877; he was a Republican and a member of the Mennonite Church; Mrs. S. is also a member of the same Church; owns 81 acres of land, valned at about $50 per acre; is the mother of 4 children, of whom 2 are living: Henry and Mary.
Dr. C. H. Schwartz, practicing physician and surgeon at Nap- panee, was born in Switzerland in 1840, and came to this country in 1852, settling in Holmes county, Ohio; he is the son of Nich- olas and Elizabeth (Kuntz) Schwartz; his father is living in Ohio; mother died in Switzerland in 1847; both natives of that country. The Doctor came to this county in 1872, and located at Middle- bury; came to Nappanee in November, 1876. In 1868 he was married to Sivilla Rohrer, who was born in Holmes county, Ohio, in 1848; they have had 8 children, of whom 7 are living: Rosetta A., John A., Mary E., Ida E., William E., Charles W. and Atlee E. The Doctor has been Tp. Clerk, and Clerk of Board of Educa- tion in Holmes county, Ohio. He and his wife are members of the German Reformed Church ; politically, he is a Democrat. He began the study of medicine in 1869 at Cleveland, Ohio, and began
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the practice of it in 1872. At Nappanee, where he now resides, he enjoys a good practice of about $2.000 annually.
Moxes C. Stahly, farmer, sec. 36; P. O., Nappanee; son of Christian and Fannie (Hanssaner) Stahly, was born in Union tp., of this county, in 1549, and is of German extraction. His parents are living in Union tp., and came to this county about 1840. His father was a native of Germany, and his mother of Ohio. He set- tled in this tp. in 1874; he was married in 1872 to Mary Nicely. who was born in Ohio in 1851. and they have + children, of whom 3 are now living: Mattie. Emma and Fannie. Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the Amish Church. His education, when young, was limited; owns 80 acres of land, on which he lives, worth about $50 per acre. He is a hard-working. industrious man and farmer.
John Tintsman, a miller in the town of Locke, was born in Ohio in 1834, and is the son of Mark.and Susanna (Bowers) Tintsman, both of whom are natives of Pennsylvania and residents of this tp .; they came to this county in 1850, and settled where they now reside. The subject of this sketch came to Locke in 1878 and engaged in business at this place. (For mention of his business see history of the tp.) In 1856 he was married to Sinah J. Plat- ter, born in Indiana in 1835, and they have had 11 children, of whom 5. are now living: John A., Lillie S., Katie A., Charles H. and Mata J .; Mrs. T. is a member of the Evangelical Church. His educational advantages were such as were afforded by common schools; politically, he is a Republican. He is an upright man and a prominent citizen in his community.
W. L. Tucker, son of Loton and Saralı (Mallory) Tucker, was born in Vermont in 1827, and is of French-English descent; his mother is living in Michigan, and .is a native of Vermont; his father, a native of France, died in 1830. Mr. T. came to this connty in 1833, and after living in Concord tp. three years removed to Michigan; after traveling abont considerably in Michigan, Mis- sonri and St. Joseph county, he finally came to this tp. and entered into the saw-milling business here, mention of which has been already made. He was married in 1850 to Elizabeth Clinda- nell, a native of Delaware, and they have 3 children: Cora, Bion and Mabel. Mr. T. has held the office of Constable, and is a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows' lodge at Niles, Michigan, No. 6. Politi- cally. he is a Republican.
W. F. Urich, dealer in agricultural implements and insurance agent at Nappanee, was born in Pennsylvania in 1851, and is of German- Scotch descent; he is the son of G. P. and Harriet (Zeller) Urich, both of whom are natives of Pennsylvania and are now liv- ing near Philadelphia. Mr. U. came to this State in 1870, and settled in St. Joseph county, where he lived one year, and then went to Noble county; there he lived until 1878, when he came to Nappanee. He was married in 1875 to Frances C. Shull, who was born in Ohio in 1856, and they have 1 child, Amy E. Mr. U. is a member of the Lutheran Church, and politically is a Republican.
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
His educational advantages were good; he was educated at the col- lege in Sandusky, Ohio, from whichi institution he graduated in 1868. and after his graduation was principal of the same for a year and a half. Mr. U. at one time was a dry-goods merchant, and also a traveling salesman for a house in Philadelphia; he engaged in business at Nappanee in 1878, and has always on hand a complete stock of agricultural implements in their season; is also agent for the American sewing-machine; represents two life insurance com- panies, the York, of Pennsylvania, and is general agent for the State of Indiana of the Keystone Mutual, of Pennsylvania. He is doing a good business, and is one of the prominent business men of Nappanee.
Jacob S. Walters, druggist, was born in Union . tp., of this county, in 1855, and is of German extraction; he is a son of Eustace and Elizabeth (Hartman) Walters; his mother is now living in Union tp .; his father died there in 1868. Mr. W. came to this tp. in 1877, and engaged in business, as already mentioned in the history of the tp. He was married in 1879 to Henrietta Burkholder, who was born in Wisconsin In 1859; they have 1 child, Arthur. His wife is a member of the Evangelical Church. Politi- cally, Mr. W. is a Republican, and is a member of the Masonic lodge.
J. K. Weldy, a prominent farmer on sec. 10; P. O., Wakarusa; was born in Ohio in 1847, and is of Pennsylvania Duteh descent; he is the son of John and Anna (Kitch) Weldy; both are now de- ceased and were natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. W. came to this county in 1869, and located where he now lives; he was married in Ohio in 1868, to Susanna Mumaw, who was born in Ohio in 1847; their 6 children are all living : George, Jacob, Daniel, Amos, Silas and Martin. Politically, Mr. W. is a Republican; he and wife are members of the Mennonite Church. His educational ad- vantages were limited; he owns 130 acres of land on sec. 10, worth about $50 per aere.
Lewis B. Winder was born in Bloomfield tp., Crawford county, Pa., April 26, 1825, and is of English descent; he is the oldest in a family of 8 children, of whom 6 are now living; their parents were Caleb G. and Margaret (Bloomfield) Winder; the former was born in New Jersey, in 1800, and died July 1, 1844; the latter was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, in 1811, and died in 1846; the tp. in which she was born was named after his great-grand- father on his mother's side, who was one of the pioneer settlers in Crawford county, Pa., when the parents of Mr. W. were married and settled down in active life. They first located in Crawford county, Pa., where 4 sons were born, Lewis being the eldest. After having lived there a few years, they removed to Randolph tp., Portage Co., O., where they both died and lie buried on the same land which they formerly owned; here they peacefully rest, sleeping that sleep the loveliest since it dreams the least. In January, 1865, Mr. W. came to Indiana and bought land from John R. Davis, on sec. 24 of
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
this tp .; this land he still owns and occupies; but in the meantime he has purchased 40 acres more on the same scetion. He was first married, Sept. 14, 1848, to Sarah A. Walker, who was born in Ohio Dee. 10, 1829, and is the daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Batter- shell) Walker; she died in this tp. Aug. 22, 1874, being the mother of 2 children, Malissa and Emma; the former died when quite yonng, and the latter is the wife of Jacob Pippinger, a farmer of this tp., Oet. 4, 1875. Mr. W. was married to Mary A. Ber- lin, daughter of John D. and Susan (Hofman) Berlin, who was born in Ohio in 1838; when a boy, he had only the advantages for an education which were afforded by subscription schools in log houses, until he was 12 years of age; and even then, being the eld- est in his father's family, it was often inconvenient for him to attend school, frequently being compelled to remain at home and perform manual labor with his father, who was a farmer, and also a hatter by trade.
Mr. W. relates quite a remarkable little story concerning his father, which will not here be ont of place. He learned the trade of a hatter at Brownsville, Pa., and afterward went to Natchez while yet unmarried, and remained there until he was shipped to St. Louis, as an invalid from the yellow fever; hence he began a wan- dering journey on foot, through the Western States; after having journeyed for 14 years, during which time no one knew aught of his whereabouts, he returned to the home of his boyhood days, supposing himself to have traveled about 2,500 miles.
Mr. W. is now living in the village of Locke, which town he assisted in laying out in the year 186-, a part of it upon his own land. He now owns and controls the farm, but is engaged at present in carrying the mail from Nappanee to Goshen by way of Locke and Wakarusa; he has been in this business ever since 1869. Mr. W. is one of the enterprising men of Locke tp., who has been more or less intimately connected with its history ever since he has been a resident of it, and who has thus deserved more than a pass- ing notice in doing justice to the history of this tp. He is a man who reads a great deal; has worked industriously all his life, and is an upright, highly respected citizen of the community in which he resides.
Alpheus Wisler, farmer, sec. 15; P. O., Locke; is a brother of the following mentioned, and was born in Ohio in 1844. He was united in marriage in 1867 with Catharine Ulery, who was born in Union tp., this county, in 1848; she is the daughter of Daniel and Mary (Davenport) Ulery, and has 3 children, all of whom are living: Daniel U., Leander E. and Curtis E. Politically, Mr. W. is a Republican; his educational advantages were fair, and he reads a great deal. He owns 107 acres of good farming land on sec. 15, worth about $45 per acre; has on it a neat little frame house, which he built in 1874, at a cost of $1.200.
Anthony Wisler, farmer, sec. 1; P. O., Wakarusa; was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, Aug. 8, 1838, and is of Pennsylvania
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
Dutch descent. He is a brother to Isaac, Alphens and Jonas Wis- ler, mentioned on these pages. He was married in this county Oct. 9, 1863, to Mary M. Freed, who was born in Ohio in 1842; she is the mother of 8 children, of whom 7 are now living: Sophia A., Margaret A., Lydia A., Henrietta A., Cornelius O., Ella A. and Nellie A., the latter two being twins. Politically, Mr. W. is a Republican. He and wife are devoted members of the Mennonite Church. His educational advantages were few, but he reads a great deal; owns 100 acres of good land on sec. 1, which he values at about $50 per acre. Mr. W. is one of the many industrious and successful farmers of his community.
Isaac Wisler, a prominent farmer and influential citizen of this tp., was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1829, and is of Penn- sylvania Dutch descent; he is a son of John and Sophia (Stauffer) Wisler, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to this county in the fall of 1849; his mother died in Union tp. in July, 1877, and his father is still living in that tp. His brothers are mentioned on these pages. Mr. W. came to this State in 1849, and settled in this tp. in the spring of 1853; he came with his parents from Ohio. He was married in 1858 to Rebecca M. Winder, who was born in Ohio in 18-, and they have had 7 children, of whom 6 are now 'living: Oliver P., Jonas M., Albert L., Mary J., Elizabeth A. and Addie; all are at home. Mr. W. has held the office of Justice of the Peace for 12 years and School Trustee three and a half years, also Assessor one term. Politically, he is a Republican. His edu- cational advantages were rather limited, being compelled to attend school in log houses with slab seats; however, he is a great reader and speaks the German language. He owns 160 acres of land, 80 on sec. 24 and 80 on sec. 23; the former tract is worth about $60 per acre and the latter about $45 per acre. IIe has been a hard-working man all his life, having had no start when he began for himself. By trade he is a blacksmith, boiler-maker, machinist and jeweler; he is now an industrious and successful farmer on sec. 24; P. O., Locke.
Jonas Wisler, brother of the three preceding, is a farmer on sec. 14; P. O., Locke. In 1853 he was married in this county to Elizabeth J. Wilson, who was born in Virginia in 1834; she is the danghter of Samuel and Mary Wilson and is the mother of 7 chil- dren, of whom 4 are now living: John W., Ella J., Mary S. and Saralı A. Mr. W. is a Republican. His advantages for securing an education when young were quite limited; his father, being a distiller in Ohio, furnished an abundance of work for his children in their boyhood days. He owns 80 acres of well-improved land on sec. 14, worth about $5,000; also 100 acres on sec. 13, which he values at $50 per acre. Has been a farmer all his life, but in 1853 he with his two brothers, moved to where the village of Locke now stands and started a machine-shop, doing general wood-work, as
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
turning wooden bowls and the like; there he remained till the fall of 1864, when he returned to his farm.
George A. Yoder, son of Jacob and Barbara (Miller) Yoder, was born in Pennsylvania in 1854, and is of German descent. His par- ents, who were natives of Pennsylvania, are now both deceased. Mr. Y. came to this county in February, 1879; he was married in 1876 to Mary Miller, who was born in Ohio in 1855; she is the mother of 2 children, both living: Edward and Eleanora. He and wife are members of the Mennonite Church; politically, he is a Republican. His educational advantages were limited. He owns a honse and lot in town, worth about 8800. He is an equal partner in the firm of Nittrower & Yoder, whose business interests have already been mentioned.
MIDDLEBURY TOWNSHIP.
This is considered one of the finest townships in this favored county, and for agricultural purposes is not surpassed by any. Where less than 50 years ago the deer and wolf roamed at will, the native red man their only enemy, are now handsome school-honses, residences and well enItivated fields. The native forests have dis- appeared, and by the energy and skill of the sturdy pioneer, instead of dense tracts of hickory, oak, and maple, which covered the fertile soil, we now behold the sweet fields of corn, broad acres of waving wheat, numerons herds of thoroughbred stock grazing in green pastures; indeed, every evidence of wealth and prosperity. To those who opened up and developed the wonderful resources of Middle- bary, the present and coming generations will owe eternal gratitude. They suffered untold privations and inconveniences, labored with unflagging industry and will, receiving only a meager compensa- tion for their toil. They were far distant from their friends and their old homes, and with restricted means of communication with them. The pioneers were encouraged and sustained with the hope of soon establishing comfortable homes for themselves and their families, and with a noble ambition of conferring on posterity bless- ings which shall ever be a monument to their memories.
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