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 99

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, C. C. Chapman & co.
Number of Pages: 1192

USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > History of Elkhart County, Indiana; together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history: portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 99

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

which institution he graduated in 1869. After completing his studies he taught school about three years. and also read law for some time. He afterward entered the employ of the P., F. W. & C. Rv. Co., first as freight conductor, then as passenger conductor, which latter position he continued to fill until June, 1550. to the satisfaction of the traveling public, being genial in his disposition and accommodating in his manners. Mr. Slater was united in marriage July 14, isso, with Mrs. S. J. Boggs, a native of Ohio. They removed to Middlebury Aug. 25 of the same year, and im- mediately assumed the proprietorship of the City Hotel. which they are conducting in the most successful manner. and as a land- lord he is a host in himself. Mr. Slater is a staunch Republican, and Mrs. Slater is a devout member of the Congregational Church.

C. B. Smith. an influential farmer and stock-raiser of this tp., was born in Maine in 1810: his parents. John and Sarah, nee Carleton. were natives of the same State, and of English ancestry; they removed to Ontario county, N. Y., in 1911, where Mr. S. received quite a liberal education, and was occupied in farming. In 1835 he was married to Eunice S. Newton. and they were the parents of one son. J. N. Smith. now assistant physician in the insane asylum at Indianapolis. Mrs. S. died in 1540. In 1837 he removed to this tp., and settled on the site of his present attractive home, which during his lifetime has been converted from a wilder- ness into a fruitful garden of plenty. In 1542 Mr. Smith was married to Nancy Davis. a native of Ohio; of their 9 children S are living. 5 daughters and 3 sons. Mr. Smith has been Justice of the Peace for two terms, and has also served as School Trustee; has always been a staunch supporter of popular education and is decidedly literary in his tastes. Himself and wife belong to the Presbyterian Church : politically. he is a Republican. He inherited no fortune, and his success in life is due wholly to his own industry and foresight.

John H. Styder was born Feb. 15. 1536. in Pennsylvania: his parents. George and Anme Hill) Snyder, are also natives of Penn- sylvania, and of German descent; they are now residing in Illinois, where they recently celebrated their golden wedding. which was attended by all of their children and numerous grand-children; a novel feature of the occasion was the presence of the couple who were bridesmaids at the wedding 30 years before. The subject of this sketch was educated in Ohio, where the family had removed in 1840; was brought up to the occupation of a farmer; moved with his parents to White Pigeon, Mich., in 1854, where he was married Jan. 13. 1555, to Lorinda Mell. a native of Trumbull county, O .; they have + children, as follows: James B., born Nov. 13. 1:58; George E .. Feb. 28. 1$60; Adela. Feb. 20, 1>62: and Georgiana, Feb. 13, 1570. After marriage Mr. Snyder removed to Lagrange county. Ind., where he continued to reside until locating about one mile north of Middlebury in 1980; he owns a moderate-sized farm, with fine improvements; it was the former home of Solomon

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Knapp. Mr. Snyder's son, James B., is a school-teacher, having taught constantly since he was 18 years of age; he is fitting him- self for the vocation of dentistry. Mrs. Snyder is a devont member of the M. E. Church.

Samuel J. Stutzman, farmer and stock-raiser. sec. 33; P. O .. Middlebury; was born in Somerset county, Pa. Jannary, 1838, son of' Jacob S. and Sophronia Stntzman; passing his boyhood and youth in his native State, he received a liberal education. He was mar- ried in 1860 to Miss Elizabeth Hostetler. In 1865 he settled in this tp., where he bought 100 acres of valuable land. He now has a substantial farm residence, and ranks among the reliable citizens of this tp. He is a member of the Amish Church.

Mrs. Angeline Sutton is a native of the State of New York. and was born Ang. 4, 1513. Her father, Nathan Frink, was born in Vermont, and her mother, Clarissa Tupper, in Connecticut, both of English ancestry. Mrs. S. received the usual education afforded by the common schools of that period, and passed an nneventful life prior to her marriage to William Evans, which took place in 1831. They had + children, 2 of whom died in infancy. Charles M. was born in 1832, and came with his mother to Indiana in 1842, and died in the service of his country at Andersonville, Ga., in 1863. George M. was born in 1836, and died in Oneida connty. N. Y., in 1858. Mr. Erans died in 1840, and in 1843 Mrs. E. was married to Dr. R. D. Sutton, an old and well-known physician of Noble county. Ind. Some four years after their marriage they removed to Middlebury, where the Doctor, in connection with an extensive practice, carried on the drug business to the time of his death, which took place Aug. 16, 1863, in the 56th year of his age. and is still remembered by many for his great benevolence of character. Mrs. Sutton, in her declining years, is in possession of a comfortable home and sur- ronndings, and is a member of the Free- Will Baptist Church. She has two grandsons, George and Horace Evans, now living in Iowa.

Mrs. Martha Thayer is a native of Vermont, and was born Oct. 15, 1824. She is the danghter of Peter Thomas, who at the time of his death was 593 years of age: her mother was Polly, nee Reid. who died in Pittsford, Vt .. in 1873, at the age of 96. Mrs. Thayer received a common-school education, and was married in 1831 to Geo. W. Thayer, who at that time was a boot and shoe dealer in Boston. Mass., where they resided some four years after marriage. They had 2 children: Fremont D., born Oct. 2, 1856, who is now residing in Mishawaka. Ind .. and Cora M .. born Oct. 1. 1$59. Mrs. Thayer removed to Middlebury in 1854, and at one time kept the City Hotel, and for the past 14 years has conducted that popular board- ing house. which is still under her management.

Harrison Truesdell, an old and well-known resident of this tp., was born Jan. 3. 1814, in Genesee county, N. Y., son of Jeremiah and Ennice (Williams) Trnesdell, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Vermont ; brought up on a farm and received a limited education ; was moved with his father's family to this tp.

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

in 1836. settling on sec. 11, where the father died in 1837; the mother died in 1849. About 1850 Harrison married Julia Ann Osborn, who died seven years afterward. Sept. 28, 1866, Mr. T. married Lucena Brown, a native of Jefferson county, N. Y., and a daughter of Loring and Delinda (Bnrbee) Brown, the former also a native of the Empire State, who died April 23, 1867, and the latter, a native of Vermont. died July 26. 1867. Mr. and Mrs. T. have 1 son. Zinah L., born May 29, 1868, now attending the Middlebury graded school. After the death of his father Mr. T., being placed at the head of the family, reared and educated the younger mem- bers for his mother during her declining years, and at her death he became heir of the old homestead, which is pleasantly located a short distance east of Middlebury, with many fine improvements upon it. Conspienons among these is the spaeions family mansion which was erected abont two years ago,-a monument to the inde- fatigable energy of Mrs. Il. Truesdell. Mr. T. is a Republican.

Erastus Virgil was born in New York State July 10, 1793, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Southworth) Virgil, of English ancestry ; received the common education of the time ; came to Indiana Ter- ritory in 1813, settling in Wayne county, which was then a dense wilderness, inhabited by Indians, wolves and deer; eight years af- terward he came to Bristol, this connty, where he followed the breaking of wild land for himself and others. In 1816 he married Miss Sophia, daughter of Joseph Hancock, a native of Massaeliu- setts, who served in the Revolutionary war under General Wash- ington ; was a ranger at one time, and a scout, and was wounded by an Indian. Mrs. V.'s mother was Katie, nee Baltimore, who was born in Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. V. were the parents ot 9 children, 7 of whom are living: Oliver Hazzard Perry. John S., Elizabeth, Carrie, Addie, Mary C. and Mark. Mrs. V. died in 1871, at the age of 74. This year Mr. V. moved to Middlebury, where he still resides, a hale and hearty old gentleman. Himself and and family are members of the Diseiple Church, and in politics he is a Repub- lican.

Charles E. Walter, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 15; P. O., Middlebury; was born in Huron eounty, Ohno, in 1838, and is the eldest son of Gideon Walter, who emigrated from Ohio when the subject of this sketeh had attained his fitth year, locating in the tp. of Middlebury. Gideon Walter is now a resident of Michigan. Mrs. Walter, who merited the respect and confidenee of all who knew her, has long since crossed the dark river that ceaselessly flows to the shores of eternity. Charles grew to manhood in this county, where he received a liberal education. He enlisted in the war tor the Union in 1862; through physical disability he was honorably discharged the same year. In 1863 he was united in marriage with Miss E. J. Mead, a danghter of Albert and Eliza J. Mead, of this county, old settlers in Northern Indiana, and natives of the State of New York. Their 3 children are Josie, Joshua H. and Julia.

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

Joseph Walter, a well-known business man of Middlebury, was born in Baden, Germany, Feb. 26, 1819, and is the son of Matthias and Francisca (Loesch) Walter. Having acquired a fair education, he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. and continued to follow that occupation prior to cinigrating to America in 1849. His first location in this country was New York city, where he was married in 1850 to Catherine Burk, a native of Bavaria, and they have had 6 children, of whom + are living, viz .: Mary, born June, 1851; Joseph A., in 1855; Catherina, in 1857, and Stafen in 1858. Mr. Walter became a resident of Indiana in 1855, first locating in La- grange county, where he purchased a farm, which he successfully conducted for some 20 years. This property he disposed of in 1874, and resumed his former calling of carpenter and joiner for about two years. In 1876 he purchased the grocery, provision and liquor business in Middlebury, which he still continues in a very successful manner.

John Wert, a popular, well-known farmer and stock-raiser of Middlebury tp .. was born March 2. 1815, in Stark county, O., and is the son of George and Catherine (May) Wert, natives of Penn- sylvania and Ohio respectively, and of German descent. Mr. W. received a fair education in the district schools, and at the age of 17 learned the trade of blacksmith, which occupation he followed with considerable success during the time he lived in Ohio; he was married in 1837 to Catherine Jacoby, a native of Ohio; their 14 children are all living, several of them well-known residents of Middlebury tp. Mr. and Mrs. W. are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mr. Wert has always interested himself in aiding popular education, is a self-made man, and is financially successful, owning where he lives a fine farm of 220 acres, from which the yield of wheat alone in 1879 was 2,120 bushels.

T. C. Whitcomb, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Ohio July 8, 1838, and is the son of Martin and Mary (Shumaker) Whit- comb, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent; he received a fair education, and, until almost 18 years of age, was engaged in farming; he then served an apprenticeship to the carpenter and builder's trade, which he followed quite successfully in Ligonier and elsewhere, as contractor and builder. Mr. Whitcomb was married May 3, 1860, to J. E. Carr, who was born in 1840, in Stark county, Ohio; their 2 children are A. E. Whitcomb, born in Illinois, Jan. 7, 1861, and Myron E., born in Indiana, Oct. 4, 1863. After his marriage Mr. and Mrs. W. removed to Illinois, where they resided some two years, then returned to Lagrange county, and remained for a number of years; lived two and one-half miles west of Mid- dlebury until the fall of 1880; then to his present home, formerly the residence of A. P. Wright, where he has a productive farm of 160 acres, which is pleasantly situated about three-fourths of a mile north of Middlebury. Mr. W. is a Republican, and Mrs. Whit- comb is a consistent member of the M. E. Church.

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

Hon. David H. White, Senator elect for this Senatorial district on the Republican ticket, is a representative citizen of this county, of rare modesty and unassuming manners, who by nature and edu- cation will be peculiarly fitted for the duties incumbent upon him in this capacity. He was born in Ohio in 1834, of English-Scotch ancestry; his father, James J. White, was a native of New Jersey, and also his mother, whose maiden name was Hoffman. The family emigrated to Indiana in 1835 and settled in this connty, at Middle- bury, in 1836. David White received his preliminary education at the common schools, graduating at the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, in 1860. He engaged in mercantile business in 1865 in Middlebury, continning a successful business withont change, the firm name being then as now, " Foster & White," widely known throughout Elkhart county. In 1861 Mr. White enlisted in the 14th Ind. Vol .. Co. E, as a private soldier, participating in numer- ous battles, as Perryville, Stone River, and all the engagements of the Cumberland, and for meritorious service he was promoted to a Captaincy. He is active in business and liberal in all things worthy, and receives the almost unanimous support of the people in his Senatorial canvass.

Ira B&Woodworth, in connection with Solomon L. Hixon and many others whose names will be found elsewhere in this volume, takes a front rank among the pioneers of this county. He was born on May 10, 1810, in Cayuga county, N. Y .; receiving a com- mon-school education in his youth, he followed agricultural pur- snits, and in 1834 settled with his parents in Jackson county, Mich., shortly thereafter locating in this tp., one-half mile north of the present town of Middlebury, where he continued to reside until some 15 years since, when, disposing of his farm property, he located in the flourishing town above mentioned. He was married in 1832 to Eliza Murdock, a native of New York., who died in Indiana in 1837. Two years later he was married to Nancy Ann Trnesdell, of Geneseo county, N. Y., who died in 1865, leaving 3 children: Donis A., Ira J. and Caroline A. Mr. W.'s fourth wife was Lavina Hurlbut, of Massachusetts.

Abel. E. Work, an old and well-known resident of this tp., was born June 29, 1815, in Ohio, the eldest son of Aaron and Millicent (Eavart) Work, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-Irish descent. Abel E. received as good an education as could be afforded by the rude common schools of his younger days; at the age of 19 he commenced to learn blacksmithing, which business he followed near his father's home for about six years. Sept. 15, 1836, he mar- ried Cynthia Larimer, and they have had & sons, namely: Aaron, born May 26, 1837; Isaac L., Dec. 16, 1838; John W .. Jan. 11, 1841; Samuel A., Feb. 26, 1843; James A., Feb. 15, 1845, a well- known physician of Elkhart; William C., June 19. 1847; Robert W., June 20, 1849; and Abel M., Sept. 13, 1851, now Pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Rochester, Ind. Isaac L. and John W. died of lung disease in Gallatin, the former Dec. 29, 1862, and the

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

latter Jan. 15. 1863: they were members of Co. I. 74th Ind. Vol. Inf., having enlisted under Capt. Howell Aug. 11. 1862. Mr. Work became a resident of Indiana in 1542, and for 35 years car- ried on blacksmithing in connection with farming, and has accumu- lated a respectable amount of property, wholly by his own industry and perseverance. In politics he is an old Jacksonian Democrat and he and his wife are both members of the Presbyterian Church.

Henry I. Yoder was born in Holmes county, Ohio. Nov. 2, 1836, and is the son of Jacob M. and Magdelena (Miller) Yoder, who were of Pennsylvania and Ohio nativity respectively. Henry acquired a liberal common-school education: was brought up on a farm ; was married in 1857 to Mrs. Mary Kauffman Miller, who was the mother of 1 son. Samuel Miller, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Yoder are the parents of' 3 sons and 3 daughters, as fol- lows: Jonas, born in 1858: Saloma, in 1959. now the wife of Wm. Nusbaum: Anna Mary, born 1860: Frederick. Angust. 1862: Fan- nie. in 1864: Jacob H .. Feb. 6, 1871. After marriage Mr. Y. re- turned to Ohio. and followed agricultural pursuits on his father's farm, where he remained until 1862. in which year he settled in this tp .. about two miles west of his present home: resided there some four years: sold ont and moved to Missouri, where he re- mained seven years; disposed of his property in Missouri and re- turned to Indiana. purchasing the property at Sugar Grove, where he now resides, and ou which he has made improvements. includ- ing the building in which the " Charm " P. O. is located, and of which he is Postmaster. having been appointed to that position Oc- tober, 1550. Mr. Yoder is a popular citizen in his neighborhood. and has been quite successful in life: himself and Mrs. Y. are prominent members of the Amish Church.

OLIVE TOWNSHIP.

When we realize that only half a century has elapsed since this country was but a vast forest inhabited by the fearless Indian, the graceful deer. the howling wolf and the savage wild-cat, we are struck with astonishment at the remarkable progress made in set- tling up and improving the land of this county, and more particn- larly of Olive township, to its present prosperous condition. Its beautiful farins, fine residences, commodions churches and schools are indeed attractive and inviting to the passing stranger.

This township is located in the western part of the county, south of Baugo, west of Harrison and north of Locke townships, and ad- joins St. Joseph county It formerly comprised 36 sections, but abont 1840 the western half was detached and given to St. Joseph county. This township was organized in the spring of 1836 by Cornelius Terwilliger. Jacob Sailor. Frederick Morris, Samuel and Levi Martin and David Allen. After organizing, Mr. Terwilli- ger proposed that they christen it " Olive." which was unanimously agreed to, and " Olive" became the name of the township. The above-named persons settled in this township in 1834-'5. Of these Jacob Sailor was the first, having settled here in the early part of 1834. Soon after these settlers came Daniel Mikel, who had been in the county since 1829.

The first election in the township was held in April, 1837, at the house of Isaac Morris. The ballot-box was an old-fashioned sngar- bowl. At this election 12 votes were cast. of these only one Whig. This voter was Daniel Mikel. who for six successive years returned to the polls and deposited his solitary Whig ballot, truly exhibiting his cordial sentiments in the original meaning of the word W-h-i-g (i. e., we hope in God). Althongh alone, help came up from other parts, for the very mountains were swarming with Whig advo- cates, and he soon saw the ascendency and prosperity of his party; for at the next presidential election Wmn. II. Harrison, the Whig candidate, was elected President of the U. S. By and by others came and joined this King David and settled in his immediate neighborhood, and subsequently, as did Mr. Mikel, proved loyal to Republicanism, for which the majority of the citizens of this town-

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

ship are so noted. At the first election. as already stated. 12 votes were east. The voters were, as near as can be ascertained. Daniel Mikel, Jacob Sailor, Sr .. Samuel Moore, Samuel Martin. Jacob Sailor. Jr., Moses Sailor. Wm. Sailor. Cornelius Terwilliger. Isaac Morris, Aaron Meddars, Frederick Morris and James O. Dodge. Mr. Mikel was one of the trustees chosen at this election.

Mr. Terwilliger was the first justice of the peace, and filled that office for three consecutive terms, with general acceptability : he was succeeded by John Inks, who at the close of his term was succeeded by his predecessor.

In 1840 settlers eame in more rapidly, and they were all " busy as bees " in clearing and farming.

In order to meet the requirements of educating the younger generation, which now were moving out on the threshold of life, the old pioneers en masse took from the primeval forest rongh. nnhewn logs and erected a eabin on see. 11. This structure was furnished with slab seats. split-log floor, greased-paper window- lights, and a huge fire-place that would easily receive a log ten feet in length. On a bitter cold winter morning the shivering. half- frozen children would be seated compactis around the " great fur- nace." thus forming a semi-cirele aud utterly crowding the " Hoosier schoolmaster " back in the relentless cold. It was only on such occasions that the pupils had the " upper hand " of their teacher. Log school-houses were "all the go " and " style " till about 1848, when they were replaced by frame and brick structures.

Religious meetings were held in school and private houses till the year 1866, when the Lutherans erected a church edifice at Wa- karusa. Messrs. Jesse Flickinger and William Lutz were the prin- cipal contributors in this enterprise. The next church house was erected by the Baptist society the following year. The founders of this Church were Mr. Stevens, deceased, and Joseph and Benj. Hughes. In 1874 a church of the M. E. denomination was built by Josiah N. Kronk, Joseph Seaman. Christian S. Farber, David Iker, Geo. Berkey and Geo. H. Gore. The Christians built a house of worship in Wakarusa in 1870, and the principals of this organi- zation were Drs. Shaffer and Knepple and I. C. Bennett, since deceased. In 1861 a Mennonite church was established on sec. 2 by Jacob Wisler, John Weaver, Martin Hoover and Christian Bair. The cemetery near this church was laid ont in 1855. It is hand- somely divided in wards, and is situated on sneh a beautiful eminence the passer-by is impressed that that spot was intended by

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

Providence for the resting-place for many of the finite creatures of earth, and many of the county's old pioneers and estimable men are buried in this place. In 1878 a minor branch of the old Men- nonite society erected a house of worship on the site of the old church, which was erected in 1851, this being the first frame church in the township.

In 1849 a postoffice, designated as " Mt. Olive." was established three and a half miles north of Wakarusa. Harvey Bly was post- master. In 1852, shortly after the location and the laying out of Wakarnsa, then "Salem," the postoffice was removed and estab- lished at that point. This town is situated in the sonthern part of Olive township, and was laid off by Messrs. Holdeman, Smeltzer and Pletcher. In 1859 the name was changed from Salem to Wakarnsa, there being another Salem in Indiana.

The first merchants were Thomas Inks and Jackson Woolverton, the latter having bought the first stock of dry goods and notions. Mr. Moon, now deceased, was about the first settler in the town. Thomas Inks built the first house. The village now contains four churches, the Methodist Episcopal, Lutheran, Christian and Bap- tist : one two-story brick school-house, built in 1878; one stave and heading factory, built in 186 -; one saw and planing mill, built in 1866 by Loucks, Werutz & Co .. and now owned by Werntz, Dell & Co .; two wagon and carriage factories, two harness shops, two drug stores, three shoe shops, two dry-goods stores, one hardware and implement store, one furniture store, one grist-mill, two blacksmith shops, one meat market, one hotel, one millinery store, one barber shop, one saloon, two physicians, one veterinary surgeon, and a popu- lation of nearly 400. There are a number of artesian wells in the place, and the water is of the best quality.

Among the rare personages that are found in the human family, Wakarusa furnishes one which is very remarkable. The person is Stephen E. Lammond. He was born March 18, 1864, in Ohio. His parents are Cortland and Nancy Lammond. He is now in his 16th year, is three feet and nine inches in height, and weighs 60 lbs. IIe is a very brilliant little man, and reads in the fourth reader, besides other advanced studies which he pursues.

When the late war was waging to its utmost and the call "to arms" was wafted on almost every passing breeze, almost every able man of this township realized the imminent danger of his conn- try. Some left their plow in the furrow, like old Gen. Putnam, and others dropped their hoes in the field, and proceeded to the

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

ranks and fought nobly; and some even bled and died in the con- fliet. This township furnished more soldiers for the army than any other of its population in the county.

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History of Elkhart County, Indiana; together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history: portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 99

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, C. C. Chapman & co. Number of Pages: 1192

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, C. C. Chapman & co.
Number of Pages: 1192