USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph County, Indiana > Part 66
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The second district was organized in about 1840 or 1842, and the house was built on section 36, on the farm now owned by I. Rose- berry. It was of logs but soon gave way to a frame, and this to a beautiful brick structure which now occupies the old site.
The township now has five school-houses; and the education of the young receives a great deal of attention.
CHURCHES.
At present the township contains but one church organization,- the German Baptist. They built their church house in the sum- mer of 1859, on section 2. It is known as the Palmer Prairie church, in the South Bend district. The elders at the time the church was built were David Miller and Christian Winger. At that time they had about 70 members: now they have 120.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
The personal history of Centre tp. is both interesting and instruc- tive, and we will not fail to record it. It would give us pleasure to speak even at greater length than we do, but the large number and limited space forbid.
Francis Donaghue was born in Ireland, April 4, 1828; came to America some time in 1844; lived in Brooklyn about a year, then removed to Cincinnati, where he clerked in a grocery for another year. The next year he spent in Southern Michigan. He came to
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this tp. in 1847, and married Miss Rosann, daughter of John and Elizabeth Henson, of this tp., both natives of Virginia. They had 10 children, 5 of whom are living: John, Bridget, Mahala, Louisa and Rhoda. Mr. Donaghine was with the first company that went to the Golden State to seek their fortunes. He was also at Pike's Peak in 1860. When Mr. D. was a young man in his native country, he had made preparations to go to Van Diemen's Land, but on account of the wishes of his mother he changed his plans and came to America. He used to tell his family that he could not be too thankful that he did so. Mr. D. was a member of the Cath- olic Church in South Bend. He died in April, 1876. Mrs. Don- aghue still lives on the farm on which they first settled when they came to this tp. She is a lady respected by all.
Abraham B. Frick, son of Henry and Mary (Colder) Frick, of Westmoreland county, Pa., was born July 5, 1820, and was mar- ried Sept. 2, 1841, to Sarah Cring, daughter of Frederick and Eliza- beth Cring, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Frick came with his parents to Stark county, O., in 1826, where his father died in 1849, and his mother in 1860. He came to this tp. in 1854. They have 10 children: Samuel, Polly, Joseph, Manuel, Alfred, Mary E., Frederick, Willard, Emma E. and Harvey. Mr. Frick is a Demo- crat and served three years in the 21st Ind. Battery in our late war; has been Justice of the Peace several terms; owns a well improved farm of 236 acres.
Michael Himebaugh, son of George and Christina Himebaugh, of Pennsylvania, was born in the same State Sept. 16. 1818. His great-grandfather came from Germany and settled in the Keystone State. The subject of this sketch came with his parents to Stark county, O., when a boy nine years old, where he was married in 1842 to Margaret Fouse, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Fouse, of the same county. Mrs. H. was born in 1817. This marriage was blessed with 6 children, viz .: Mary, William. Jacob, Catharine, Simon and Benjamin. Of these all are now dead except Catharine. Mr. Himebangh was married a second time, to Mary Weaver, daughter of Michael and Catharine (Coleman) Weaver; she was born in Pennsylvania, April 21, 1823. Mr. Himebaugh's son, Jacob, was in the 73d Regiment in the late civil war. He went from South Bend and was under Colonel Wade, of La Porte. He died in the house of a rebel near Glasgow, Ky. Mr. H. has now been a resident of St. Joseph county for 24 years, and is a man respected by all that know him. In his religious belief he isa firm Presbyterian, and is now living a contented and happy life on his pleasant farm of 46 acres in sec. 35. P. O., South Bend.
William Inwood, son of Richard and Katy A. (Rush) Inwood, was born Oct. 1, 1847, on the farm on which he now resides, in Centre tp., and has ever since made this his home. Sept. 7, 1875, he was married to Maggie Byers, danghter of John and Anna Eliza Byers, of Greene tp., the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of New Jersey. They have 2 children: John R., born Oct. 28, 1876,
43
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
and Nellie, born May 27, 1880. Mr. Inwood's father came from England and was one of the first settlers in the tp. (See page 669.) Mr. Inwood received his education in the common school, and has, at different times, traveled over the greater part of our country, thus gaining a practical education which distinguishes him in his business. At the time of the war he was a member of the Union League, andalso of the Home Guard. In politics he is a Republi- can. Both Mr. and Mrs. Inwood are members, in high standing, of the M. E. Church at Maple Grove. Live on sec. 10.
Frederic Wm. Klinkner was born Aug. 26, 1827, in Kaiser- scseh, Prussia. His parents were John and Sophia (Stull) Klinkner. He was married Feb. 17, 1852; to Katherine Schmits, of the same place, who was born June 16, 1827. In the spring following their . marriage they came to New York, and subsequently to Detroit, and finally to Centre tp., in November, 1854. This couple have 3 chil- dren: Jacob, born in April, 1856, Pauline, born in June, 1861, and Willie, born April 9, 1864. His vocation is farming. He kept a grocery on his farm for several years, and had a very good busi- ness. Sept. S, 1874, his son Jacob, while ont in the woods hunting with some of his companions a mile or two from his home, accident- ally discharged his gun, the shot taking effect in his side, from which he did not recover for several years. Mr. Klinkner being the seventh son born in his family, he received $100 in gold from his king, according to the custom of the country. Mr. K. owns 119 acres in sec. 18.
Samuel Kreisher was born in Lebanon county, Pa., in April, 1859. His parents, William and Elizabeth Kreisher, removed to this county in 1862. They were married in 1840, and have 6 chil- dren, William, Samuel, Amelia, Susan, Elizabeth and Emma. All are living in the county except Emma, who lives in Napoleon, O. Mr. K. died in February, 1879. They own several hundred acres of fine farming land. Samuel, the subject of this sketch, is living on the old farm with his mother, and follows farming. P. O., South Bend.
William Kreisher, brother of the preceding, was born Jan. 2, 1851; was married Jan. 5, 1875, to Lydia Warner, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Hartman) Warner, of this county. She was born Jan. 10, 1855. They have 3 children, Frank, born July 15, 1877; Charley, born March 18, 1876; and Bertha, Aug. 9, 1879. Mr. K. is a Republican, and owns 204 acres in sec. 34, Union tp.
Catharine Miller was born in Hanover tp .. Lebanon county, Pa., Dec. 18, 1812, a daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Wanger. She was married Sept. 15, 1831, to John Miller, in Lancaster county, Pa., who was born April 18, 1807, a son of William C. and Mary M. Miller. They removed to Ohio in 1831, and in May, 1847, came to this county and settled on the farm, which she still owns, in sec. 30, consisting of 160 acres, valued at $100 an acre. Mrs. Miller still lives in the same house into which they moved
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
when they first came to the county 33 years ago, but they have added many improvements. They have 10 children, Sarah, Mary M., Martin, Elizabeth, William C., John HI., Susan A., Ellen and Sylvania C. Mrs. Miller is a member of the German Baptist Church, as was also her husband. P. O., South Bend.
Sarah Ann Robbins was born June 18, 1819, in Washington county, Ind .; came to Morgan county in 1829, and married Thomas Robbins in 1842, of the same county; he was born June 5, 1818. They came to this county in 1849 and settled near South Bend on the farm now owned by Henry Studebaker; came to the place on which she now lives in 1850. Mr. Robbins was a mem- ber of the 48th Regiment in the late war. He died in 1863. They have 4 children living, Harrison B., Martha J., Isabel and Francis M. Mrs. R. has a farm of 80 acres in sec. 3. For many years she has been a good and respected member of the Christian Church.
Mrs. Charlotte T. Rohrer, daughter of David and Martha (Cow- en) Picket, who came from near Rochester, N. Y., and settled in the township about 1843, and now reside in Minnesota, was mar- ried to John Rohrer, Dec. 29, 1840, who was born Jan. 27, 1816, the son of John and Mary Rolirer, early settlers of this county. They have one child, Laura (now Mrs. W. H. Stull), born Dec. 13, 1843. Mrs. Rohrer has a farm of 101 acres, worth $100 per acre, in sec. 25.
William Rose. Among the first settlers of this county were the parents of the subject of this notice, John M. and Evaline Rose, the former a native of Woodstown, N. J., and the latter of Butler county, Ohio. They were married in March 1831, and re- moved to this county in September, 1832. They had eight children, of which only two lived to attain the age of manhood, Richard and William. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rose died very suddenly, the former on May 4, 1866, aged 67 years, and the latter Sept. 9, 1862, aged 51 years. Richard is now living in Cass county, Mich. William, the subject of this sketch, was born Sept. 9, 1832, and was married Nov. 30, 1854, to Mary A. Barnes, daughter of John E. and Har- riet (Trit) Barnes, natives of Maryland. Their children are: Frank A., born July 15, 1855; Schuyler C., born Feb. 22, 1860; Lillian B., born Oct., 5, 1866. Frank A. was married to Mary Bond, May 23, 1878. They have one child. They are living on his father's farm. Mr. Rose obtained his education in the common schools of the county. Has traveled through the West a great deal, and visited numerous tribes of Indians. His politics are Republi- can; he was formerly a Whig. He has 73 acres of land on sec. 35, valued at $80 per acre; P. O., South Bend.
Isaiah Roseberry was born in Clermont county, Pa., Aug. 5, 1809. His parents, William and Sophia (Rease) Roseberry, came from New Jersey and settled in Pennsylvania about 1800. He was married in October, 1836, to Sarah Ann Cribling, daughter of Wil- liam Cribling, of Pennsylvania; she was born Dec. 11, 1813, and they
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
had nine children, five of whom are living: Sophia, Mary E., William H., Melvina and Sarah A. Lemnel, born Jan. 3, 1841, was a member of Co. B, 48th Ind. Vol. Inf., and was killed at Dallas, Georgia, while working on an entrenchment. Mr. R. came to Ohio in 1837, moved to this township in April, 1850; owns a well im- proved farm of 137g acres in sec. 36, valued at $100 per acre; P. O., South Bend.
Bazel Rupel, son of Peter and Christina Rupel, of this county, was born Jan. 29, 1833. He was married May 25, 1854, to Sarah J. Bronson, of this tp. Her parents are George W. and Mary (Cor- cons) Bronson. They have 3 children, James T., born Oct. 20, 1855; M. L., born Oct. 3, 1857; and N. I., born Oct. 15, 1864. Mrs. Rupel was born Dec. 6, 1838. They are worthy members of Pleasant Grove Grange, No. 1550. Mr. R. is a Democrat. He received his education in the common schools of the county. Was at Pike's Peak in 1860. Owns 50 acres of land. Mrs. Rupel's mother, nee Mary Calkins, was born in Jamestown, N. Y., June 21, 1818, and her father, Caleb Calkins, was born in Vermont, Aug. 27, 1790, and her mother, nee Susan Beardsley, was born in Rhode Island, Nov. 27, 1790; they were married in 1812. Geo. W. Bron- son was born in Wayne county, O., Aug. 25, 1814, and was married in 1835, in Cass county, Mich. Mr. Bronson's mother, nee Nancy Cathcart, was born in New Jersey March 6, 1786, and his father, Reuben Bronson, was born in Vermont Sept. 7, 1781; the two lat- ter were married in 1804. Mr. R's P. O. is South Bend.
Elisha H. Rupel, son of Peter and Christina Rupel, formerly ot Pennsylvania, but later of this county, was born Oct. 29, 1827, in Somerset county, Pa .; moved to this tp. in 1830; was married in 1853 to Jane Vanderhoof, daughter of Jules and Catherine Vander- hoof, of this tp. They have 2 children, Clarissa, born in 1855, and Harrietta, born in 1860. Mr. R. is a Democrat; his first vote was cast for Andrew Jackson. He owns 187 acres of fine land, worth about $100 an acre, in sec. 26.
Hiram Rupel, living on sec. 26, was born in Elkhart county, in September, 1830; his parents, Peter and Christina (Shumnal) Rupel, were natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Rupel was married in 1854 to Laura Creedvell, formerly of New York State. They have 3 chil- dren, Dicintha, Oscar William and Lonis Edyker. Mr. Rupel is a farmer and has a beautiful and well tilled farm of 263 acres, valued at $100 per acre; P. O., Sonth Bend.
Martin Slough, son of Martin and Barbara Slough, who emigrated to America from Wirtemburg, Germany, in 1832, and settled in Portage county, Ohio. Here, Sept. 28, 1832, the subject of this sketch was born. He came to Woodland, this county, in 1850. In 1853 he removed to Union tp., where he ran a saw-mill till 1868, when he removed to his farm in sec. 18, this tp., where he still resides. His father died at the age of 75 years, in the spring of 1877; his mother died in July, 1869, aged 63, both in this tp. Mr. Slough was married in October, 1868, to Jane Gibbens, daughter
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
of William and Ann Gibbens, of this county. They have 5 children: Alvira C., Melvina A., John W., Charles H. and Etta M. Mr. Slough is a Republican. His business is farming, and he owns 80 acres in this tp., on sec. 18, and 80 acres in Madison tp; P. O., South Bend.
John S. Stull, son of Henry and Rebecca Stull, late of this county, was born in Jennings county, this State, Nov. 21, 1821; was married in 1857 to Margaret Lock, daughter of George W. and Mary Lock, who came to the county in 1842, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of North Carolina. They have 2 children, Mary R. and Edward C. Mr. Stull came with his folks to this county in 1830, and has witnessed it change from a dreary wilderness to as beautiful a county as America can boast of. He owns a good farm, on sec. 26, and has it well improved. P. O., South Bend.
W. H. Stull was born in Jennings county, Ind., in 1826. He came with his parents, Henry and Rebecca Stull, to the county in 1830. His father entered the farm he now lives on in 1830, the land office at that time being at Fort Wayne. Mr. Stull was mar- ried in November, 1850, to Sophronia Day. She died, and left 2 children, Josephine and Mary. Mr. S. was married again, in 1865, to Louisa Rohrer, daugliter of John and Charlottie Rohrer, of this tp. They have 2 children, John and Agnes L. Mr. S. is a farmer, a Granger and a Democrat. Has several fine farms. Residence, sec. 26. P. O., South Bend.
David Whitman, son of Abraham and Elizabeth Whitman, the former of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Germany, but now of this county, was born in Ohio, Oct. 3, 1852; was married Oct. 3, 1876, to Christina Loring, of this tp. Her parents, Fred and Mary Loring, were among the early settlers of the county. They have one child, Edna, born Jan. 13, 1879. Mr. W. is a farmer, and received his education in the common schools of the county. P. O., South Bend.
CLAY TOWNSHIP.
For three manifest reasons, the history of Clay township must necessarily be short. First, the township itself is small, and unless something remarkable be connected with it, it could not have a lengthy and elaborate history. Secondly, it was not organized as a township until 1840, and therefore everything concerning its early history, particularly concerning the names of early settlers of the township up to that year, will be included in the history of German township. And thirdly, the most important thing in con- nection with Clay township, and indeed, in all probability, in con- nection with St. Joseph county, namely its educational interests, including Notre Dame University and St. Mary's Academy, has been included in the State and county history of this work.
At the June session of the Board of County Commissioners in 1840, an order was passed constituting Clay a separate township, and it was named after Henry Clay, who was just in the prime of his political glory. The first election in the township was held in "Brooks' barn," now burned down, then on section 30. The first justices of the peace of Clay township were Jonathan Hardy and Samuel Brooks.
During the early settlement of German township, that part of it lying east of the St. Joseph river, which is now Clay township, did not settle very rapidly until about 1837-'8. The first settlement was along the eastern bank of the St. Joseph river, where John Eyler, Lambert McCombs and John Weaver, a German Baptist preacher, together with a few other families, located. From that time to the present the population has gradually increased, and at the last census it was 1,476? At present the citizens are mostly Germans.
Clay township is 38 north, range 3 east, is situated in the north- ern part of St. Joseph county, and is bounded on the north by the State of Michigan, on the east by Harris and Penn townships, on the south by Penn and Portage, and on the west by the St. Joseph river, beyond which lies German township. Nearly all of the land is broken, or marsh, or timbered land, and across the south- western part flows a small stream branching off from the St. Joseph river on the west. Across the western part runs a branch of the Michigan Central railroad, connecting South Bend and Niles, Mich. The sections of the township are somewhat irregular,a part of the northern road being in Michigan; and on the west the line is very irregular, owing to the fact that when the township was organized, the St. Joseph river was made the western boundary. At present a large and substantial wooden bridge is in process of erection
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
across the river, from section 23, connecting Clay and German townships.
There is a grist-inill on section 23, on the river, owned by John F. Curly, of South Bend. At present the mill is not running; it was built several years ago by Jonas Harris. Prior to the erection of the grist-mill by Mr. Harris, Mr. Weaver had built a saw- mill on the same location; Mr. Weaver also had a carding- machine and fulling-mill, and for a time did quite an extensive business; but these were afterward removed, and their place sup- plied by the present grist-mill. There was also at one time a full- ing-mill near where St. Mary's college now stands, run by a man named Graham. And at one time in the history of the township, S. Ulery ran a carding-machine. But these have all long since been dispensed with, and to-day there is very little or nothing to add to the business interests of the township by way of mills or villages, there being but one of the former, and none of the latter. But villages in Clay township are not necessary, as it is conveniently and closely situated to South Bend. Politically, the township is Democratic.
CHURCHES AND CEMETERIES.
There is only one church in Clay township besides the Catholic, a history of which is given in connection with its college. It is a German Baptist organization, and the church building is located on section 24. It was erected in 1868 by means of individual donations. The first pastors of the church were Jacob Cripe and Christian Wenger. The present pastor is John B. Wrightsman. The con- gregation at first was quite small, but is now respectable in number, and is increasing, including many of the highly respected citizens of Clay township.
There are three public cemeteries in the township; one on sec- tion 25 near the German Baptist church; one on section 30, known as the Township Cemetery, and another in connection with Notre Dame University, situated near it and on the land owned by that institution.
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
The first school ever taught in the township was on section 23, in Mr. Eyler's house. Charles Murray, a married man from " Dutch Island," in Harris township, whom the patrons of the immediate neighborhood hired, was the first teacher. The first school-house in the township was built on section 28, and Daniel A. Veasey was probably the first teacher. However, the scarcity of school-houses and school funds did not long continue in Clay township; and to- day its citizens can say withont hesitation, and without any fear of contradiction, that they have better school-houses than any town- ship in the county, and indeed as good as any in the State. In the
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township there are six excellent school buildings, all brick, with stone foundations. They are conveniently located throughout the entire township, and are known by number and by name. In them are furnished to the children nine months of school annually. Although a great part of the farming land of the township is rather poor, yet this one distinctive characteristic of it will suffice to place Clay township among the foremost ones in the county, and the inhabitants may justly attribute this to the unceasing labors of their last two school trustees, namely, Thomas Eaton, who held that office for a number of years, and George Stover, the present incumbent.
But here, in the progress of this subject, let the reader stop and reflect. Were he unacquainted with the educational interests of the township, he would doubtless think that what had already been said concerning them, was in part flattery, but not so. What would be his surprise upon learning that not one tithe has yet been mentioned; for here in the southwestern part of this township are lo- cated two mighty literary institutions, St. Mary's and Notre Dame, two powerful dispensaries of charity and intelligence, whose names are household words throughont all the neighboring States.
But here we forbear from making further mention and giving a more elaborate history of those institutions, as it is given complete in the State and county history of this volume. And then, includ- ing these institutions under the head of schools, we ean now safely say that the educational interests of Clay township are second to none in the State of Indiana.
BIOGRAPHIES.
We find personal sketches of those who have made the history of the town and township, and are to-day thus engaged, to be quite interesting, and fully as good history as we can give. We will therefore speak briefly of some of the old settlers and promi- nent persons of the township:
Thomas B. Chalfant, a prominent farmer on sec. 31; P. O., South Bend; is the son of Evan and Anna (Bulla) Chalfant, and was born in Wayne county, Ind., Feb. 18, 1820, and is of English- Irish-Welsh Dutch descent. He came to this county with his parents Nov. 1, 1832, and settled on the farm on which he still resides; here his father and mother both died, the former, who was a native of Pennsylvania, in 1870, the latter, a native of North Carolina, in 1849. In 1848 Mr. C. was united in marriage to Jane Melling, a native of Ohio, born in 1825 and died in 1861; she was the mother of 4 children, of whom 2 are now living: Nancy J. and Evan P. Mr. C. was married the second time in 1864, to Eleanor C. Alford, a native of Indiana, who was born in 1841; from this union they have been blessed with 2 children: Anna L. and Mary L. Mr. C. has held the office of Tp. Trustee; he is a member of the Grange, of which organization he is Treasurer. Politically, he is a Republican. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
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His education was limited, but he reads a great deal now, and takes nine or ten papers. He owns 236 acres of land, 175 of which are under cultivation; he values it at $75 per acre. Mr. C. is a suc- cessful farmer, and an industrious man.
J. H. Chirhart, a farmer on sec. 30; P. O., Notre Dame ; son of Apollinaris and Mary (Meyer) Chirhart, was born in Ohio in 1836, and is of German descent. He came to this connty in 1845, with his mother, and first located in Harris tp., where they lived till 1865. During that year he was married to Mary M. Palley, a native of Connecticut, who was born in 1834; they have the 6 following named children: Mary M., Alfred M., Edward S., Cecelia J., Anna C. and Joseph. Mr. C. and wife are members of the Catholic Church. Politically, he is a Democrat. He owns 276 acres of land, worth about $80 per acre.
Peter Cripe, the subject of this sketch, is a very old settler and farmer in sec. 26; P. O., South Bend. He is the son of John and Eva (Roof) Cripe, both of whom are now deceased, and were natives of Pennsylvania; and was born in Ohio in 1824, of German descent. He was brought by his parents to this county in the fall of 1830, and they first located in German tp., where they died and are buried. Peter, the subject of this sketch, came to this tp. in 1852, and was married in 1855 to Philistia A. Skiles, a native of Indiana, who was born in 1836; she is now the mother of 9 chil- dren, all of whom are living: Jane, the wife of Aaron Ulery, a fariner of Clay tp .; Fannie, the wife of John Wrightsman, a minis- ter and teacher of the same tp .; John, Edward, David, Jacob, Eveline, Elsie and Mary. Politically, Mr. C. is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the German Baptist Church. Mr. C.'s education, in early life, was limited to subscription schools, in log houses. He owns 137 acres of land on sec. 26, which he values at abont $80 per acre. He has been a hard-working, industrious man all his life, and is a highly respected citizen of his community.
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