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 96
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The first pioneers who came to this township were Enoch Wood- bridge and family, who settled here in 1832, and after a brief period these were followed by settlers both south and north of the now flourishing town of Middlebury. Also on the State road east of Middlebury a Mr. Whittlesy had settled adjoining the premises of the Trusdell family. Mr. Solomon L. Hixon, from whom many of these facts are obtained, and whose eventful life is sketched on another page, is undoubtedly the oldest pioneer settler of the town- ship now living. He came March 4, 1834.
At this early day the pioneer families were to a great extent cnt off from nearly all social, religions, educational and commercial ad- vantages. They were people who greatly valued such privileges; and though they were for some time without school-houses and churches, easily found the facilities for enjoying themselves both socially and religionsly. Middlebury has always been prond of her
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schools, and according to her population stands second to none in the county, and perhaps in the State. The inhabitants of Middle- bury were eminently religions. Preaching and prayer-meetings were had at private honses until better accommodations could be obtained. At Sugar Grove.some three and one-half miles sontheast of Middlebury of Charm postoffice, is located the German Baptist church, which was built in 1842 by the New-School Presbyterians. and afterward purchased from them by the former denomination. On section 27, some two miles south of Middlebury. is located a Lutheran church, which has quite a large membership, and is in a prosperons condition.
The other churches of the township are situated in the town of Middlebury, and the histories of the two are so closely identified that we pass from the history of the township to that of the town.
Perhaps one of the most prosperous inland towns of Elkhart county is the little town of Middlebury, teeming with all the life, vigor, energy and enterprise of cities boasting of more inhabitants and more metropolitan in character. In this, onr history of the town and its worthy inhabitants, we shall turn the leaves of time gently backward until we shall have arrived at the year 1832, when the township of Middlebury was settled by Enoch Woodbridge and family, who emigrated from Vermont. Three years later the town of Middlebury was platted by Winslow, Warren and Brown, who were then and subsequently ranked among the more intelli- gent and progressive citizens of the county of Elkhart.
As the county became settled the town grew in a corresponding ratio to the wealth of its citizens. The first building was used as an inn or frame hotel, and was erected by Wm. T. Hunter, who moved from Ohio, and catered to the wants of the public as a hotel proprietor for a number of years. Geo. S. Sayer and John C. Case about the same time completed two substantial frame build- ings, and in connection with Swan & Earl, Geo. Sayer was among the first merchants of the pioneer village.
S. L. Hixon, from whom this sketch is obtained, remembers other merchants. Chas. A. Dole and Jas. S. Dole, who are described as wide-awake, active business men, who at one time embarked in the distilling business, located near the site of the present grist and saw-mill. This was built by Cornelins Northup, and at first used as a saw-mill and ultimately also as a flouring mill. The distillery we have referred to seems not to have been a success financially; neither its rival, located on the wagon-road to Goshen. Benj. G.
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Evans was the first postmaster, and attended quietly to the duties of this vocation in the family residence. Dr. Cornell was the first justice of the peace, his jurisdiction extending over fonr townships. including Middlebury. The first saw-mill alluded to at the open- ing of this narrative was built by the Woodbridges in the spring of 1834. The erection of the flouring mill followed two years later. A man named Hawkins kept the first blacksmith shop. The first wagon-maker was Daniel C. Bishop.
Church services by those of the Methodist denomination were first held at a school-house, erected for worship and secular instruc- tion in 1836. Rev. Ira Woodworth was the first resident local preacher. Nancy A. Hixon, first wife of S. L. Hixon, was the first Sabbath-school teacher.
The first children born were those of S. L. Hixon and Wm. T. Bentley. in 1833. The first death was that of John Moore, tran- sient, a land explorer, who died quite suddenly at the residence of John C. Holmes in Angust, 1834. The first couple married were Horace Woodbridge and Miss Blanchard. The first physician was Cephas Dunning, who came in 1834. The first residences in the village were log cabins built by S. L. Hixon, the Woodbridges and 14 neighbors, inelnding their sons, kindly assisting Mr. Hixon at the " raising " of his cabin, as it was termed.
It would, perhaps, be deemed superfluous to note in detail the many prosperons merchant and business men of Middlebury at this writing, as many of them honor our pages in biographical sketches that will cause them to live in the memory of a new race, whose footsteps tend toward the mature years of manhood and woman- hood. Foster & White are among the leading merchants of the place, and carry a first-class line of dry-goods and groceries. A. S. Gross is also among the shrewd and more progressive merchants. In this line there can also be mentioned with commendable pride C. Stoots and William Miller. The trade in groceries is well and hon- orably represented by C. S. Mather and Jas. Walters. The druggists are two in number,-Dr. S. E. Martin and Ira J. Woodworth. The physicians of the place are Drs. Martin, Jos. Heatwole, Putt. J. G. Smith, Merkin and Ham. Mr. Cope, whose biography appears else- where, has gained a good practice, having no competition in the dentistry line.
The hotels of the place are two in number. the City Hotel, pre- sided over by the genial Tom Slater, and the York House, under the management of Michael Heffinger. Messrs. Elliott & Foster and
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Pence & Koffman transact an extensive business in the hardware line. There are three carriage and wagon manufacturers, who do a thriv- ing business. The names of the gentlemen are Jos. Hutchins, Jacob Kindig and Tony Hoover. There is one livery, owned by A. Griner. A year ago, it is thought, through the efforts of an incen- diary, the extensive planing and saw-mill owned by Wm. Stanffer was destroyed by fire. The present saw-mill is also owned by Stauffer.
There is one public graded school, which is tanght by M. O. Fisher, principal, Miss Mellington in the primary department and Miss Hill in the intermediate department. The membership is quite full, and the school in a very thriving condition.
There are two churches, Methodist and Lutheran; the pastors are Rev. J. T. Blakemore, of the Methodist, and Mr. Erick, of the Lutheran.
Last, but by no means least, in the newspaper line, is the Middle- bury Record, a weekly, practical newspaper, devoted to the interests of Middlebury tp. and Elkhart county ; an out-spoken, eight-column Republican newspaper. Its circulation is widespread, and its spicy. breezy columns teem with life. Its stirring editorials are a pleas- urable surprise to its many readers. whatever their political pro- clivities may be. The proprietor, Mr. Joel P. Heatwole, began its publication in June. 1875, and his surprising success is due to his literary ability and rare energy. Mr. H. is a son of Dr. H. Heat- wole, a prominent physician of Goshen.
The principal excitement since the foundation of the town was the projected railway in 1835, known as the " Buffalo & Mississippi railroad." A corps of surveyors were sent out, and a line near by or in the town staked out for a road, creating no little flutter of ex- citement among the residents. The proposed railroad, however, was finally abandoned-so far, at least, as concerned Elkhart county; and the nearest railway accommodation now is at Vistula, on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad.
PERSONAL SKETCHES.
Personal history is even more important and interesting than any other, and, accordingly, we complete our account of Middle- bury township with a series of sketches of those individuals who have been most prominently identified with the career of this pros- perous community.
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William Abel, a well-known farmer and stock-raiser of Middle- bury tp., was born in New Jersey Dec. 15, 1815, a son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Van Denventer) Abel, who were of English ancestry. They removed to Tompkins county, N. Y., abont 1815, where they resided the rest of their lives. Young William, when about 5 years of age, went to live with his grandfather in Yates county, N. Y., where he remained some nine years, and where he received the benefits of a common-school education. When about 14 years of age he returned to his home in Tompkins county, and remained there until the death of his father, which occurred about 1835. Mr. Abel about this time learned the carpenter's trade, which business he followed with considerable success in Buffalo, Rochester, Batavia, and other places in New York State for several years. He was married Jan. 8, 1839, to Sarah Owens, They had 2 children, of whom 1 is living: Helen, now the wife of E. H. Billington, a farmer of Shiawassee county, Mich. She is the mother of 2 children-, C. M. Wentworth, born Nov. 12, 1866, and Edna M. Billington, born in January, 1871. Mrs. Abel departed this life Ang. 3, 1846- Mr. A. removed to this county in 1839, and settled 3} miles south- east of Middlebury, where he remained some three or four years, when he removed to Milford, Kosciusko county. There he pur- chased a hotel and conducted it two years, when he rented it and removed to Middlebury, where he lived until his purchase of his present home in 1853. Feb. 22, 1849, Mr. Abel was united in marriage to H. Jane Carr, a native of Tompkins county, N. Y., born Oct. 6, 1828. Of this marriage was born 1 child: Lewis W., Sept. 15, 1853, who died Nov. 15, 1863. Mr. Abel, during some six years of his life, was engaged in the business of grafting, in which he was most successful, and it was conducted by him in the most honorable manner. He has never held any public office, and is a warm supporter of all Christian and charitable objects; is a self- made man; owns 100 acres of as fine land as there is in the tp .; is a genial gentleman of the old school, and highly esteemed by all who know him.
John D. Beers is a native of Orange county, N. Y., born April 28, 1828, the son of Joseph C. and Mehetabel (Winters) Beers, of New England ancestry. Young John received such education as the district schools of his neighborhood afforded until the age of 15, when he served an apprenticeship to the plastering and bricklaying trade in New York city, and immediately engaged in the business in New York, Brooklyn and in Orange county, N. Y. Was united in marriage in 1852, with Minerva Sherwood, and they have had + children, as follows: Henry II., about 26 years of age; Josie C., 24; Frank F., who died at the age of 19, and Jennie, who died at 4 years of age. Mr. B. came to Middlebury in 1852, since which time he has conducted the plastering and bricklaying trade quite extensively in Middlebury and surrounding country, employing at times a good many men, and doing a superior class of work. Is a self-made man and financially successful.
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Jonas W. Beers, brother of the preceding, was born in Orange county, N. Y., July 29, 1833. Mr. B. received an ordinary com- mon-school education and assisted on the farm until 16 years of age, when he learned the mason and bricklaying trade, which he was actively engaged in prior to coming to Indiana in 1854. He first located near Bristol, in this county, and followed his calling jointly with farming in that locality for abont 20 years, with the exception of about four years, which he spent with his family in Muskegon county, Michigan. He removed to Middlebury in the fall of 1875. Mr. Beers was married in 1856, to Rosetta Lamphear, a native of Orange county, N. Y. They are the parents of 4 children, viz .: George M., born Sept. 5, 1857; Charlotte L., Sept. 26, 1862; Bertie S., Jan. 27, 1869; Cora S .. Oct. 25, 1873. Mrs. Beers departed this life March 3, 1876, an exemplary member of the M. E. Church. Mr. B. actively engaged last spring in the grafting business, and sends out several teams and numerous hands in this enterprise. He has been moderately successful in life.
Rev. John T. Blakemore, of Middlebury, is among that class of cultured and Christian gentlemen who have gained considerably more than mere local fame, both as clergymen of fine ability in the pulpit, and orators of considerable power during the late Presidential campaign. He was born in Alabama March 11, 1849. Joseph Blakemore, the head of the family, was a native of Georgia and the mother of South Carolina. John attended the common schools in Alabama and followed farming until the close of the Rebellion; managed his father's cotton plantation until 1868, after which he entered the famous Lookout Mountain Institute, under the management of Cecil F. Bancroft, a relative of the famons historian; September, 1873, he entered the Wesleyan University at Athens. Tenn., at which he graduated with honor March 27, 1874. He was married May 28, 1874 to Maggie Ziegler, a native of Tennessee, and they have 2 children living: Blanche and Nancy. Mr. B. was once President of Andrews College, of Alabama, and was also prominently identified with the M. E. Conference, held in that State in 1873. He was ordained Deacon by Bishop Haven, and to the office of Elder by Bishop Scott. September, 1879, he resigned the Presidency of Andrews College, where he had snc- cessfully tanght 300 students, and was transferred to the Northern Indiana Conference by Bishop Scott and appointed to fill the pastorate at Middlebury Oct. 23, 1879. He is very deservedly popular at Middlebury, and the publishers of this volume predict for him a brilliant and successful future.
Henry C. Bockus, the eldest son of John and Catharine (Green) Bockns, natives of New York, and of German ancestry, who moved to York tp., this county, in 1855. The subject of this sketch was born March 27. 1842; received a fair education in the district schools in New York State, and with his parents came to Indiana in 1855, where his occupation was that of farmer until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in the 12th Mich. Inf., his
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regiment being engaged doing guard duty at Little Rock, Ark., and White river until his term of enlistment had expired, and he was mustered out of the service at Camden, Ark., Feb. 15, 1866. Mr. Bockns returned to Lagrange connty, and was a successful farmer there for six or seven years, and removed to Middlebury abont 1875, and soon after became proprietor of the City Hotel, which he conducted in the most popular manner until July 8, 1880. Mr. B. married in 1867, Sarah E. Baker. They have 1 child, William Henry, now about 12 years of age, and a pupil of the Middlebury graded school. Mr. Bockus has been quite successful in life; is a self-made man, and a Democrat in politics.
John Bockus, brother of the preceding, was born in Saratoga, N. Y., March 25, 1847; received a common-school education and was employed in farming prior to his enlistment, September, 1864, in the Ist Mich. Vol. Sharpshooters Regt., and participated in the various engagements which took place after his enlistment in front of Petersburg, and was mustered out with his regiment at Detroit, Mich., June 14, 1865. Immediately after the close of the war Mr. Bockns returned to York tp. and resumed his former occupation, that of farming, and in June, 1874, removed to Middlebury, since which time he has been engaged in carrying the U. S. mail between Middlebury and Vistula, making two round trips daily. Mr. Bockus was united in marriage July 5, 1868, to Mary Lee. They are the parents of 1 child: Vernon, born June 17, 1876. Mrs. Bockas is a worshiper in the M. E. Church. Mr. B. has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Middlebury corporation for four terms; has also been President of the Board. He is a worthy and popular citizen.
Allen Cope, M. D., dentist, is a native of Pennsylvania, where he was born Nov. 30, 1852. His parents are Jesse and Elizabeth (McGrew) Cope, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English ancestry. His early education was acquired in the common schools, and when about 21 years of age he commenced the study of dentistry. Upon perfecting his course in the profession, he established himself in his native town, Connellsville, Pa., where he remained about one and a-half years; also practiced in other places in the same State. He came West in 1874, and after considerable practice in Michigan he located in Bristol, this county, where he remained somc three years; removed to Middlebury in 1879, where he is acquiring a large and constantly increasing practice. Dr. C. was married in 1879, to Alice Kantz; they have 1 child, Albert L., born March 16, 1580. The Doctor is a Republican in politics, and for a young man has been moderately successful, financially.
Moses A. Cordrey. bookseller and stationer, was born in Tuscara- was county, Ohio, Feb. 9, 1836. He is the son of Thomas D. and Sarah (Schuster) Cordrey, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respect- ively, and of Scotch-German ancestry. Mr. Cordrey's parents died during his infancy, and with his brother-in-law he removed to Lagrange county. Ind .. in 1845, where he remained some eight
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years, and spent his youth in attendance upon the common schools and working upon the farm. He came to Middlebury in 1:33, and followed clerking and painting until his enlistment in the Ssth Ind. Vol., which regiment was detached for special duty during his term of service, at Louisville, Kv. He was mustered out with his regiment at Indianapolis, June 23. 1565. Mr. C. returned to Mid- dlebury and resnmed his former occupation of clerking. which he continued until his purchase of his present business in 1872, and has built up quite an extensive trade in school. miscellaneous and blank books, stationery, fancy goods, etc. Mr. C. was married Dec. 25, 1865. to Elizabeth J. Sherwood, of Tompkins county, N. Y. They have 2 children living: Eddie W., born Oct. 15. 1566, and Forney F., born Feb. 17. 1571. Mr. C. has filled the office of Clerk to the councilmen constantly since the organization of the town.
Dr. Jacob Cornell. a gentleman of rare culture and unquestioned ability, both as a physician and agriculturist, was born in Franklin county. O., in 1509. the 5th son of Benjamin and Rosanna (Foley) Cornell; father settled in that county in 1502. and in Clarke county in 1812. Dr. C. calls vividly to mind the war with England, the battle of Tippecanoe, the generalship of W. H. Harrison and the perforation of his teut by British bullets. He received what might be called a "round log-cabin" education: was brought up on a farm; for a period before he was 21, was engaged in driving hogs, in which business he inet with an accident during a stampede of the animals, which finally resulted in the amputation of a leg four and a half years afterward; during this time he applied himself diligently to the study of medicine: in the spring of 1533. one year after the Black Hawk war. he located in this tp .; for two years he lived in Jefferson tp., before its organization ; was elected Justice of the Peace. his jurisdiction extending at that early date over the tps. of Middlebury, Jefferson, Washington and York. In 1836 he married Miss Mary A., daughter of Joseph and Lucretia (Merritt, Hubbell, and of their 9 children the following 6 are liv- ing: John W .. who married Miss Leonora Ultch; William L., who died in the army: Abijah, who married Miss Sarah UItch, and after her death married Miss Ella Mead; Milton A., who married Lucy Copeland; Jacob, who married Emma Trout; and Frank M. The two deceased are Lucretia, who married C. C. Ellsworth, and Ella, who married Daniel Smith.
For a period of 40 years Doctor C. has been a successful physi- cian, and has held many local offices of public trust and respon- sibility; he is a Republican. He owns 240 acres of land, and is very comfortably situated in life.
Dr. P. W. Crum was born in Columnbiana county. Ohio. March 18, 1516. the third son in a family of 6 children: when he was 16 years old his father died. and he remained on the farm with his mother nutil of age, when she died; he obtained a fair English education, mostly before his father died: at the age of 22 he mar- ried Miss Cynthia Patterson, a member of the M. E. Church, and
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
they have had 4 children. but only 2 of whom are living, a son and a daughter. From 1835 to 1540 he was in the mercantile business, in partnership with his brother; he then read medicine in the office of Dr. J. Hindman three years, when he went into partnership with him and continued in this relation to 1547: he then took a course of medical lectures, and located for practice in New Berlin, Stark county. Ohio, near his native place; in 1564 he settled in Ligonier, Ind., where he followed his profession until the fall of 18:9, when he exchanged his town property for a beautiful fruit farmu one mile east of Middlebury, where he now resides, practicing medicine. Mrs. C. died in the spring of Iss0, and the Doctor is now left with only a little granddaughter to comfort him in his old age. For the last 25 years the Doctor has been identified with the " Church of God." being a firm believer in the teachings of the Scriptures. His parents were members of the Lutheran Church.
Walter W. Eldridge, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in this State March 15. 1545. a son of Walter and Elizabeth (Porser Eldridge, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Peun- sylvania, both of English ancestry. Mr. Eldridge. Sr .. entered and settled ou sec. 36. this tp .. in 1537. and at the time of his death. Jnue 10. 1571, owned 240 acres of land. He was a high'y esteemed citizen. His surviving widow, a vigorous and genial old lady, was born in September. 1804. She is a member of the Methodist Epis- cupal Church. The subject of this sketch received a liberal educa- tion in the common schools and in the Goshen high school. Dec. 2. 1870. he married Maria Shoup. a native of Ohio, and they are the parents of + children, 3 of whom are living: Henry O .. burn July 2. 1872. Annie S .. Aug. 25. 1876, and Ella R., June 25. 1550. Mr. E. is a Republican.
Perry B. Elliott is the son of William C. and Viola Hutchin- son Elliott, who are natives of Ohio, of English descent. The subject of this sketch was born in Lagrange connty. Ind., Ang. 30. 15.4. during which year his parents removed to Clinton tp., where they still reside. and where William received such education as was available in the common schools, and was brought up in the knowledge of such pursuits as well fitted him for the occupation of his choice. that of farming. Mr. Elliott was united in marriage Dec. 25. 157s. to Effie A. Lutz, a native of this county, born Oct. 20. 1561, after which event he immediately removed to this tp .. where he now resides. Has held a minor tp. office, and is a ronng man of much intelligence and promise.
Ree. E. W. Erick, a well-known clergyman of Middlebury, was born in 1835 at Springfield. Ohio. Peter Erick, his father, and Elizabeth, his mother, were natives of Washington county. Pa., whose ancestry is traced back to Germany; they located in this State in 1:42. where the subject of this notice acquired a prelimi- nary education in the common schools. making rapid progress in his studies, and shortly thereafter entered Roanoke Institute literary), where he took up the higher branches of a classical
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English education. Having determined to adopt the ministerial profession he became a student at the M. E. College of Fort Wayne, where he took a select course preparatory to his minis- terial duties first devolving upon him in 1858, when he took charge of the Ossian Church in Allen county, Ind., remaining one year, when he became Pastor of a prominent Church at Murray, Ind., where his ability converted many into the way of righteousness. When the war broke out he organized a company, was chosen its Captain, and ultimately became Chaplain of the 89th Ind. Vol. Iuf .; at the battle of Murfreesboro he was taken prisoner, but provi- dentially made his escape in the fall of 1863; he resigned his commission and returned to Indiana; again became the popular Pastor of various Churches of the M. E. denomination. In Febru- ary, 1879, he came to Middlebury, taking charge of the M. E. Church. Nov. 5 he was elected President of the Synod of Northern Indiana; was regularly installed Pastor of the Lutheran Church of this place Nov. 24, 1879. Feb. 7, 1854, he was married to Sarah C. Hoofmire, a native of Ohio, and 4 of their 7 children are living.
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