USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph County, Indiana > Part 68
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688
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
Baptist congregation in this township is quite small, and is only a part of the general congregation at South Bend. J. G. Keltner is now trustee of the Church. There is a Sunday-school in the church, of which Mrs. Caldwell and Mr. Sweet are Superintendents. Rev. Mr. Egbert, of Sonth Bend, is the regular pastor and holds services there every two weeks. Elder Campbell was probably the first Baptist minister who ever held regular meetings in the church.
Universalist Church .- An elaborate and complete history of the Universalist Church it is impossible to give, on account of the want of records; suffice it to say that it is located on section 32. The first pastor of the Church was Rev. Jacob Maryfield, from Mishawaka. The Church proper was organized abont 1858. At present they have no regular pastor and no regular services.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
Politically, German township is Republican. J. G. Keltner was appointed census ennmerator for the year 1880, and the population of the township was 579. The present justice of the peace is Mr. Wallace, but he has never qualified, as the business to be transacted does not justify it. The present assessor of the township is William Dietrich, and the office of school trustee, the highest in the town- ship, is held by W. H. H. Ritter.
CEMETERIES.
Although the farming land of German township, most of which is included under the name of Portage Prairie, in the shape of a horse shoe, is most salubrious, yet the cold and icy hand of death, the common leveler of time, the reprover of all humanity, has left its trace, and three graveyards, with tombstones and slabs of marble pointing upward to heaven, which mark the final resting place of many of the pioneer settlers, are found in the township. One, known as Portage Cemetery, is on section 18; in it lie buried the following of the early settlers of the township: Jacob Miller and J. D. Miller and wife. The Witter Cemetery, on section 22, was named after W. Witter, already mentioned as an old settler, who donated the ground. The last remains of four old settlers, Samuel Witter and Aaron Miller, Daniel Wagner and wife, lie buried in it. Mount Pleasant Cemetery is located on section 32, near the Universalist church and near where the town bearing the same name was once laid out. Within its limits lie the last remains of the following pioneers of German township: David Miller and wife, John Smith and wife, John Witter and wife. The above named are only a few, many more sleep here too, but the final resting place of many is unmarked by man; yet somewhere they sleep, and let them sleep on; for disturb them, we cannot; but cherish their memory forever we will.
689
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
As a very important portion of the history of the township we give personal sketches of the following representative citizens:
Godfrey Bestle, a farmer on sec. 16; P. O., South Bend; is the son of David and Elizabeth (Slagel)Bestle, and was born in Ger- many in 1826; coming to this country in 1852, he first settled in Michigan, near the Indiana State line, where he lived until 1864, when he came to this tp. He was married in 1855 to Dora Beyrer, a native of Germany, born in 1835; they have 9 children, all living: Mary, John, William, David, Henry, Charles, Emma, Adolphus and Frederick. Mr. B. and wife are members of the German Lutheran Church. His school advantages in Germany where he received his education, were good; he now reads both German and English. He owns in this tp. 140 acres of land and 115 acres in Michigan. Mr. B. has been a hard-working, indns- trious man all his life.
Thomas Calvert, farmer, sec. 27; P. O., South Bend; is the son of Isaac and Isabella (Bird) Calvert, and was born in England in 1815; was brought by his parents to America when only four years old; his father first settled in Pennsylvania, where they remained till 1834, when they came to this county. He was mar- ried in this county to Sarah Curry, a native of Ohio. They have 4 children living: Isaac, Daniel, Mary J. and Sarah E. Mr. C.'s educational advantages were limited. Politically, he is a Democrat. He owns here 183 acres of good land worth about $100 per acre. He had no start in life, and has succeeded remarkably well.
Eli Chamberlain, a farmer on sec. 19, was born in Ohio in 1832; his parents were William and Julia A. (Rnsh) Chamberlain; came to this county Aug. 6, 1848. His educational advantages in yonth were quite limited. He is a Democrat, owns 183 acres of land on sec. 19, which he valnes at $85 per acre, and is a man who is faithful to the demands of industry and frugality.
Robert G. Cissne, a very old settler and prominent man, is a farmer on sec. 32; P. O., South Bend; is the son of John and Jane (Glass) Cissne, both of whom died in La Porte county; the former was a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of New Jersey; he was born Oct. 23, 1811, and is of French descent on his father's side and Welsh-Irish on his mother's side. He came to this county with his parents in 1831, and located in this tp. Here they stopped two years and then moved to La Porte connty, where they remained until 1839, when they returned to this tp. In 1836 Mr. C. was married to Anna Miller, a native of Ohio, born in 1817; they have had 11 children, of whom 8 are now living: Sarah J., Mary, Adelia, John, Joseph, Oliver, Orrilla and George. Mr. C. has held the office of Justice of the Peace and Constable in this tp .; he is a Republican. He and his estimable wife are devoted members of the German Baptist Church. His educational advantages were somewhat inferior to those of to-day, being compelled to attend
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
subscription schools in log houses with paper for windows. He owns 160 acres of land, which he values at $85 per acre. He is an industrious man, trying now to take life easy; and the greatest of all, he has enjoyed Nature's best blessing, good health, not having been sick over half a day at a time since he was 16 years old.
Wm. B. Dietrich, a farmer, on sec. 28; P. O., South Bend; was born in Pennsylvania in 1838, and is of Dutch descent. His parents, Gideon and Boutch (Royel) Dietrich, were natives of Pennsylvania. He came to this State in 1867 and settled in this county. He was married in 1859 to Amelia Meyers, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1837, and is now the mother of 6 children, 3 of whom are living: Edward C., Katie and Charles W. He owns 170 acres of well-improved land, worth $80 per acre. He has held the office of Assessor in this tp. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Church. Politically, he is a Republican. Mr. D. has been a laboring, industrious man all his life. .
Chas. B. Farnam is a successful farmer on sec. 31; P. O., South Bend; is the son of Lyman and Ruth (Dean) Farnam, and was born in New York in 1836, of Welsh descent. His father died in 1840, and his mother is living with her son, the subject of this sketch. Mr. F. came to this county in 1854, with an older brother. In 1865 he was married to Miss Sarah Cissne, who is now 42 years old, a native of this tp. and the mother of 6 children; of these + are living: Anna, Mary, Fred and Lyman. Mr. B. has been a resident of this township about 10 years, and has held the office of Assessor. Politically, he is a Republican. Having been left upon his own resources at an early age, his education was nec- essarily somewhat neglected. He owns, or sec. 31, 74 acres of land, worth about $100 per acre. He has worked hard all his life and has been a careful manager, a liberal and successful farmer.
John Gillis, a farmer on sec. 22, was born in Ohio in 1822, and is of Dutch-Irish descent; his parents were Arthur and Elizabeth Gillis, now both deceased, who were natives of Virginia. Coming to this county in 1865, he settled in this tp. He was married in 1843 to Margaret Pool, a native of O., who was born in 1820, and is the mother of 8 children; 7 of these are living: George A., Martha, Robert, Lewis, John, Manda and Ella. Mr. G. and wife are members of the Baptist Church. Politically, he is a Democrat. He owns 150 acres of land in this tp., worth about $60 per acre. He had no start in life, and has earned all he has by honest dili- gence.
John Huston, a farmer on sec. 15; P. O., South Bend. Mr. H. is the son of Jacob and Catharine (Kingery) Huston, and was born in Indiana, Feb. 7, 1814, of Dutch-English descent; came to this county with his parents in 1833; was married in 1835 to Rhoda Jolinson, a native of Ohio, who died at the age of 27 years; she was the mother of 10 children, of whom 6 are now living: Harriet, Harrison, Susanna, Caroline, Sarah and Abram. He was married the second time in 1863, to Harriet Johnson, a sister to his former
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
wife; she is the mother of 7 children, of whom only one is now liv- ing, Luke. Mr. H. is a member of the Dunkard Church, and his wife is a Methodist. He is a Republican. His education at an early age was neglected. He owns 88 acres of land, all of which is under cultivation, except 18 acres of timber. The only start in life which Mr. H. had when he began for himself was $50 in money and a yoke of cattle which his father gave him.
Amos N. Irvin, a farmer on sec. 16; P. O., South Bend; was born in Ohio in 1831, the son of Amos and Minerva (Munger) Irvin, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. I. came to this county in 1855. In 1858 he was united in marriage to Nancy Whitsle, a native of Indiana, born in 1841. Politically, Mr. I. is a Republi- can. His educational advantages were ordinary; reads a good deal now. He owns 843 acres of land, on sec. 15, nearly all of which is under cultivation, worth about $80 per acre.
George Keller, farmer, sec. 20; P. O., Sontlı Bend; was born in Ohio, in 1841; is the son of Jacob and Rosina (Beyrer) Keller. He came to this county about 22 years ago; he was married in 1868 to Rica E. Currly, who is the mother of + children: Clara, Fred, Het- tie and Dora. He owns here 330 acres of good land, worthi about $75 per acre. Politically, he is a Democrat; wife is a member of the Methodist Church.
Jacob Keller, brother of the preceding, is a farmer on sec. 20; was born in Ohio in 1835, and came to this county in 1856. He was married in 1872 to Mary Snyder, a native of Pennsylvania, who is now the mother of 3 children: Daniel, Frank and Fiola. His wife is a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. K. is a Dem- ocrat. He owns 180 acres of land, which he valnes at $75 per acre, and all of which is under cultivation except 20 acres of timber.
J. G. Kollar, a farmer; P. O., South Bend; was born in Ohio in 1824; is the son of Adam and Hester (Sniliart) Kollar, both now deceased. He came to this county in 1852. In 1851 he was mar- ried to Elizabeth R. Leach, who is now the mother of 7 children, all living: Melissa, Adam, Charles, William, Harvey, Clara and Lanra. Mr. K. and wife are members of the Dunkard Church. He owns 220 acres of land, which he values at $100 per acre, all of which is under cultivation except 10 acres of timber.
James R. Miller, a farmer on sec. 27; P. O., South Bend; is the son of Jacob and Sarah (Backns) Miller, and was born in this tp. in 1834, of German descent. His father, a native of Ohio, died in 1871; his mother, who is a native of Massachusetts, is now living in this tp. They came to this tp. in May, 1833. In 1854 James, the subject of this sketch, was married to Amanda E. Ritter, also a native of this tp., who was born in 1837. She is the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Miller) Ritter, and is the mother of 5 chil- dren, of whom 4 are living: Flora E., the wife of Jno. Beyrer, a resident of this tp .; Dora B., Homer J. and Byron B. Mr. Miller and wife are members of the Universalist Church. Politically, he is a Republican. His educational advantages were somewhat inferior
692
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
to those of modern times, being limited to a few months during the winter. He owns here 157 acres of excellent farming land, as good a farm as there is in the county, which he valnes at $125 per acre. His land is well improved, having a beautiful residence which he built in 1870 at a cost of $4,000, situated but a short distance from St. Joseph river. The latter is a most beautiful little stream, car- rying onward its bright, pure, sparkling water.
Madison Miller is the son of James H. and Mary (Huston) Miller, both of whom are now living in this tp., and was born in this tp. in 1847; he has been a resident here all his life. In 1868 he was married to Miss Addie Broadhurst, a native of Michigan, who is now 29 years old and the mother of one child, Edith. Mr. M. owns on sec. 18, 100 acres of land, all under an excellent state of cultivation, worth about $100 per acre. He and wife are mem- bers of the Christian Church. Politically, he is a Republican. His educational advantages were fair; he has been a hard-working, suc- cessful farmer all his life.
Elwood Peak, a gardener on sec. 34; P. O., South Bend; is the son of Samuel and Margaret (Cox) Peak, both of whom are now living in New Jersey, and was born in New York in 1820; he is of Scotch-English descent. IIe came to this county in 1852. Married the first time Adaline King, a native of New Jersey, who died in 1865; during the same year he was married the second time to Sarah J. Crane, a native of Ohio, who is now 44 years old. Politi- cally, Mr. P. is a Republican. He owns, on sec. 34, 20 acres of land, worth about $100 per acre. He has been industrious all his life; was formerly a carpenter. He is now a gardener, raising all kinds of fruit and vegetables.
George Rinehart, a farmer on sec. 10; P. O., South Bend; is the son of George and Julia A. Rinehart, and was born in Ohio in 1818. He came to this county about 21 years ago. He was married to Sarah A. Ruth, who died in 1877. He owns 135 acres of good land, some being timber, which is worth about $60 per acre. Mr. R. is a member of the Baptist Church; his wife was also a member of the same. Politically, he is a Democrat. His early education was limited, but he reads considerable now.
John P. Ritter, farmer, sec. 31; P. O., South Bend; was born in this tp. in 1833, and is of German descent. He is the son of Michael and Rachel (Parsons) Ritter, both of whom are now living in Greene county, Mo .; his father is a native of Ohio, and mother of New Jersey. They came to this tp. in 1831. In 1861 Mr. R. was married to Roxana (Depew) Sweet, a native of New York, born in 1834 and died April 3, 1875; she was the mother of one child, Clara J. Sweet. He was married the second time in 1877, to Mabel Brown, a native of Ohio, born in 1855; she is a Methodist. Politi- cally, Mr. R. is a Republican. His education was limited to abont three months' winter school annually. He owns 593 acres of land in this tp., and 70 acres in Portage, worth about $100 per acre.
693
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
W. H. H. Ritter, School Trustee, and farmer on sec. 29; P. O., South Bend. Mr. Ritter was born in this tp. in 1840, and is of German descent; he is the seventh in a family of 14 children, of whom 10 are now living. Their parents are Jacob and Elizabeth (Miller) Ritter. They came to this tp. at a very early day. Here they made their home until 14 years ago, when they retired from farming and removed to South Bend, where his mother died shortly after their location there. In 1865 Mr. R. was united in marriage to Helen M. Snenplion, a native of Indiana, born in 1844; she is now the mother of 2 children: Gertrude and Bessie. Mr. R. is now living on his father's place, but owns 100 acres in Portage tp., which he values at about $60 per acre. He is a Republican, a member of the Odd Fellows lodge, and he and wife are members of the Uni- versalist Church. In 1862 he enlisted in the army at South Bend, under the command of W. W. Andrews, of La Porte. He enlisted as a volunteer in the 21st Battery of Indiana, and was in the service until 1865, when he was discharged. IIe engaged in the battles of Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Nashville and several others.
W. S. Robertson, son of James W. and Mary A. Cord, was born in this county in 1850, and is of Scotch descent. His father, who is now living in South Bend, is a native of Ohio; his mother, who died in 1858, was a native of Indiana. In 1876 Mr. R. was united in marriage to Josephine Sweet, a native of New York, and is now 25 years old. He owns 100 acres of good land, worth about $100 per acre.
Henry Smith, a farmer on sec. 16; P. O., South Bend; was born in this tp. Sept. 15, 1829, and is said to be the first white child born in the county. He is a son of John and Nancy (Miller) Smith, both of whom are now deceased; they were natives of Penn- sylvania and were of Dutch descent. Mr. S. was married in 1855 to Mary J. Roof, a native of Pennsylvania, who died in 1877 leaving 5 living children to mourn her loss; Alice and Awilda (twins), Clara, James W. and Anna. His wife was a devoted member of the Bap- tist Church, and all her children are also members of the same. Politically, Mr. S. is a Republican. His early educational advan- tages were quite limited. He owns 120 acres of good land on sec. 16, which he values at about $80 per acre. He had no start in life, but has earned all he now possesses by hard work and careful and industrious management. Since he was 20 years of age, he has crossed the Western plains five times.
Jonathan Smith was born in Ohio in 1817, and is of Dutch descent; he is the 6th in a family of 14 children, whose parents were John and Nancy (Miller) Smith. Mr. S. came with his father's family to this county in 1833; his father had come the year previous and put in a crop. He was married in 1838 to Susan J. Runion, a native of Virginia, who is now 61 years old and the mother of 9 children; 6 of these are living: David, Mary, Henry, William, Harriet and Jane. He and his wife are members of the Dunkard Church, and Mr. S. is a Democrat. He owns 410 acres
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
of land, worth about $90 per acre; he also owns 46 acres in Portage tp., worth about $100 per acre.
Oliver H. Smith, son of Abram and Mary A. (Hoover) Smith, now living in this tp., was born here in 1853. and is of Dutch descent. In 1871 he was married to Mary M. Williams, a native of Michigan, who is now 27 years old and the mother of 2 children : Frank and Bird. Mr. S. is a Republican. His education when young was limited. He is a hard-working, industrious man.
John F. Ulery, an old settler, a prominent and successful farmer on sec. 30; P. O., South Bend; was born in Germany in 1820. His parents, Adam and Mary M. (Wittig) Ulery, now both dead, were natives of Prussia. Mr. U. came to this country when quite young; his parents first settled in Pennsylvania, and after a few years moved into Ohio, where they died. He came to this county in 1851, and settled in this tp. In 1840 he was married to Mary D. Stinchcomb, a native of Ohio, who is now 58 years old and the mother of 12 children, and 10 of these are living: Jolin C., George A., David T., William H., Joseph F., Schuyler C., Horace G., Mary, wife of Abram Miller, of Michigan; Martha, wife of J. A. Cissne, a farmer of this tp .; Laura, wife of John Dunn, Superin- tendent of County Poor Farm. Mr. U. has been Tp. Trustee. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church. His education when young was limited, but he has acquired a great deal since by reading and general observation. He has been an industrious man all his life, and a careful manager; he now owns 505 acres of excel- lent land, worth 'about $75 per acre. He had no start in life; at the time of his marriage, after paying his expenses he had only $1.50. Politically, he is a prominent Greenbacker, and was one of the first in the county. He takes an active part in politics and manifests an interest in the Government.
John Wertz was born in Ohio in 1831; his parents are George and Catharine (Raff') Wertz. He came to this county in 1853 and settled in Centre tp .; he came to this tp. in 1872. In 1855 he was married to Belinda Kollar, a native of Ohio; she is the mother of 6 children, 5 boys and one girl. Politically, Mr. W. is a Republi- can; his wife is a member of the Baptist Church. His educational advantages were limited. He owns 80 acres of good land. worth about $65 per acre. He is an industrious inan, upright and honest.
Jacob M. Whitmer, a farmer on sec. 1; P. O., South Bend; is the son of Abram and Catharine (Bowman) Whitiner; was born Oct. 20, 1828, and is of German descent. His father, who was a native of Pennsylvania, died in 1873; his mother, who is a native of Ohio, is now living in this county. Mr. W. was brought to this county by his parents when only three years old; they first settled near South Bend, and came to this tp. about 22 years ago. He was married in 1857 to Miss Nancy Miller, a native of Indiana. They have had 4 children, of whom 2 are now living: Elmer J. and Martha E. Mr. W. and wife are earnest members of the German Baptist Church. His early education was somewhat limited, on
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
account of being compelled to attend subscription schools in log honses. Mr. W. owns 1933 acres of well improved, excellent farm- ing land, nearly all of which is under cultivation; he values it at $125 per acre; he has worked hard all his life, having had very lit- tle start when he began life for himself. He and his excellent wife are highly respected citizens of their community, who live a life consistent with their Christian profession.
GREENE TOWNSHIP.
This township consists of various kinds of soil, the marsh, prairie, barrens, and the thick woodland soil. The eastern part is some- what broken and hilly. The soil here is a sand and clay mixed, and is very productive for any of the cereals. In the southern part the surface is about the same as in the eastern. As the Kankakee river forms the western and northern boundaries of the tp., that part of it for about two miles of the margin is known as marsh land. It consists of a black loam or peat, which has been formed by the decaying of the rich and luxuriant vegetation of the marsh for ages in the past. The land, it is said, is becoming more dry and solid every year, and there is no doubt that in the future this almost worthless tract of land will become one of therichest in the county. At present it is worth nothing, but for the pasture, hay and huckle- berries which it produces. South of this and in the central part of the township is Sumption's Prairie. This is a beautiful rolling prai- rie, several miles in extent, and around it is the land which is known as the barrens. The soil here appears to be a black sand, mixed with gravel. In this part of the township is located some of the best farms in the county, or, we might say without boasting, in the State.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settler in this township was George Sumption, after whom the prairie took its name. He lived here for many years. The family have all left now, but some are still living in the county. Mr. Sumption came here in April, 1830, and settled on section 32. The second to come into the township was John Rupel, who came from Pennsylvania to Elkhart county in 1830, and while living there he bought his present farm in sections 30 and 31 of this town- ship, at the land office, then located in Fort Wayne, paying $1.25 per acre. In March, 1831, Mr. Rupel brought his family and all his property to this point. There was no house on the place, but he soon procured some clapboards and constructed what he called a little shanty. Rude as it may have been, it served as a shelter from the spring storms, and made a home for him and his family. His property consisted of two yoke of oxen, four cows, some young cattle, one horse, a few hogs, a few chickens, two dogs and about $2 in money. This, together with a large and strong body, plenty of muscle, a firm and resolute will to conquer and put aside all obsta- cles, which he had acquired in the mountain air of Pennsylvania, was the capital he had. A week or two after he came, it began to snow, and continued for a week. The snow lay a week and was
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
about sixteen inches deep. The only food he had for his stock at this time was the timber that he cut for them to browse upon. At night the numerous wolves would venture up to the door. His two dogs would chase them off a little way, when they in turn would turn and chase the dogs. Thus many a night would be spent and nothing to be heard but the howlings of the wolves and the barking of the dogs.
The same year that Mr. Rupel came (1831), John Birt settled on section 31, William Antrim on section 14, Abraham Whitmer on section 36, George Holway on section 1, and Stacy Garwood on section 7.
In 1832 came Jacob Rupe, the father of Henry, Samuel, Martin, Daniel and Jacob, and settled on section 7, Jonathan Wharton and Mr. Barton on section 8, and George Baker on section 5. In 1833, Mr. E. Hammond settled on section 6, John McCullough on section 6, George Fender on section 6, Samuel Pearson on section 8, and David Barrett on section 31. From this time on settlers came in fast. The country soon began to change for the better as the farms were improved.
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