USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph County, Indiana > Part 79
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Pleasant Valley Baptist Church was organized about 1852. They have a neat little frame house of worship in the northeastern part of Penn township; Elder H. J. Finch is the pastor. Number of communicants, 20.
Christian Church .- The Christian Church at Mishawaka was organized about 1843. The first elders were H. E. Hurlbut, A. Alden and Morris Hartwick. The first deacons were S. B. Hutchin- son, A. L. Wright and C. Hartman. The pioneer ministers of this denomination, who occasionally held services in Mishawaka, were R. Wilson, C. Martin, J. Martindale, P. T. Russell, H. E. Hurlbut and William T. Horner. The latter began in 1854, and preached nearly regularly for two years. During the next twelve years Elders Lane, New, Beggs, Green, Shepard and Hurlbut, respect- ively, preached to the Church. In 1867 I. J. Chase became pastor, remaining for two years, when Elder William B. Hendrin took his place and remained for the same length of time. Elders R. Fanret, Sutten and S. K. Sweetman also officiated as pastors. This Church owes much to Dr. O'Connor and S. I. H. Ireland for its prosperity. The house is valned at $5,000. The society sustains weekly prayer- meetings and Sabbath-school, besides services cach Sabbath by the pastor, Elder C. P. Hendershot. Communicants, 120.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church, at Mishawaka. The first organ- ization of this society dates back to 1848, although services had been previously held here by that denomination. A house had been erected on the north side of the river, and was that year dedicated to the Most High. Revs. W. Zevers, J. F. Gouesset, W. Masters
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and the Father Superior of Notre Dame, Very Rev. R. E. Sorin, and others were instrumental in establishing this Church. The society had no pastor until 1857, when Rev. John Mayer was ap- pointed to this charge; but in 1859 he accepted the pastorate of St. Peter's Church in Chicago. In December, 1859, Bishop Right Rev. John H. Luers, of Fort Wayne, appointed Rev. H. Koening to the pastorate of this Church. In March, 1860, the house was destroyed by fire, which was a severe blow upon the young Church. By the united efforts of priest, the Church, and some of the wealthy citizens of Mishawaka, another house was erected on the south side, which is the present commodions structure. Special mention should be made of George Milburn, who gave liberally to this en- terprise. The house is 92 by 41 feet, and 25 feet high. Many im- provements were made during the administration of Rev. Koening, including a parsonage, and a building for a parochial school. In May, 1867, Rev. A. B. Oechtering entered upon the duties of pastor of this Church. In 1871 two fine bells were purchased, and'in 1872 another was added, which make the town resound with their melody as they call the good people together. In 1872 the walls were fres- coed, and still further improvements made. The pulpit and altar in this Church are unsurpassed for beauty and grandeur in the United States. On this are represented the 14 principal scenes of the passion and death of our blessed Lord.
Catholics do not worship these pictures and images, as many sup- pose; but as they look upon them they meditate upon the suffer- ing Master and his love for poor mankind.
The Church now supports two schools, and owns a library of 600 volumes. It still continues to prosper under the fatherly care of Rev. A. B. Oechtering, who has been tendered a more remunerative situation, but preferred to remain here. The communicants now number over 200 families.
Evangelical Association, at Mishawaka, was organized in 1846 by Rev. G. G. Platz, with 15 charter members. The first presiding elder was Rev. G. G. Platz, and the first pastor was Rev. William Kolb. They ereeted a house of worship in 1857. The Church grew and prospered for a time, but by death and emigration it became very much weakened. There are now but 34 members. They sustain weekly prayer- meetings and Sabbath-school; services each Sabbath by the pastor, Rev. Henry Arlen. This society erected a new church edifice in 1872.
Coal Bush Evangelical Association, three and a half miles south of Mishawaka. This society, of which there is one in Mishawaka, is not known in their records by the name of " Church," any more than the term Odd Fellows, or Good Templars is known by that name; but nevertheless it is a Church as much as any other Chris- tian organization. It was organized in 1847, by Rev. G. G. Platz. The house was erected in 1856. At one time this society was one of the strongest in the North Indiana Conference; but by death and emigration it has been weakened until the membership numbers
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
but nine. Services each alternate Sunday, by Rev. Henry Arlen, pastor. The rules and regulations of this Church are much the same as that of the Methodists. In fact, many persons call them German Methodists, thinking them to be indentical with that denom- ination.
St. Andrew's Evangelical Church, of Mishawaka .- This organ- ization differs materially from the " Evangelical Association." It was organized in 1864 with 25 members, by Rev. Philip Wagoner. They erected a house the same year. Services each alternate Sun- day, by the pastor, Rev. Philip Wagoner. Communicants about 25.
Lutheran Church, at Mishawaka, was organized prior to 1848 by Rev. Philip Bernreuther, with about 12 members. This society sustains services each Sabbath in summer, and each alternate Sab- bath in the winter seasons. In the winter they also have a Sunday or catechism school, for children, and sustain also a denominational day-school four days each week during winter. Communicants about 20. Rev. Gustavus Rosenwinkel, pastor.
Mishawaka Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1835. The charter members were Richmond Tuttle and wife, Joseph Skerritt and wife, Susan Hurd, and a brother whose name is lost. They at first worshiped in an empty store build- ing, which was also used by the Presbyterians. The first house of worship was erected in 1836, another in 1844, which is now occu- pied by the Mishawaka furniture store. The last and present structure was erccted in 1872, which is a credit, not only to the Methodist Church, but also to the town of Mishawaka. Sabbath- school each Sabbath, and services each Sunday morning and evening, by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Cone. They also sustain a weekly prayer- meeting and class-meeting.
Tamarack Methodist Church, seven miles southeast of Misha- waka .- This class was organized in a log school-house, Dec. 19, 1855, by Rev. E. P. Church, with 11 charter members, viz .: A. B. Lamport, A. M. Lamport, Roxy Lamport, Willard Rockwell, Deborah Rockwell, Elam Crouch, Benjamin Pickard, Isaac Ghrist, Esther S. Ghrist, Edwin Sawyer and Phoebe Sawyer. They wor- shiped in the Tamarack school-house until the fall of 1880, when they erected a substantial house 34 x 50 feet. There are now 56 communicants. Sabbath-school each Sabbath, and services each alternate Sunday by the pastor, Rev. J. H. Jackson.
Free Methodists, of Mishawaka. This peculiar sect was organ- ized in Mishawaka in 1877. They are a branch of the M. E. Church, or rather have separated themselves from that Church. There are about 16 or 18 members, and they worship in an old dwelling-house, fitted up for their purpose.
Presbyterian Church, at Mishawaka. This Church was organized July 25, 1834, by Rev. N. M. Wells, who died in Detroit in 1879. The organization took place in the house of Philo Hurd. The following is a list of the charter members: Rev. N. M. Wells, Elias
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
Smith, Alna Smith, Levi Dean, Polly Dean, Philo Hurd, Martha Hnrd, Alanson M. Hurd, Sarah L. Hurd, Willis S. Garrison. Philo Hurd and Elias Smith were the first elders, and Philo Hurd the first deacon. Jan. 29, 1835, John J. Deming was received into the Church as an elder, and elected clerk. There is now in the church a chandelier presented to the society by Judge Deming's daughter, Mrs. Charles Crocker, of California. The first house of worship was erected in 1837, and another one in 1845, which was destroyed by the fire of 1872. The present structure was erected in the fall of 1872. Services each Sabbath morning and alternate Sabbath evenings by the pastor, Rev. S. V. McKee. Sabbath-school each Sabbath. Communicants, 90.
PERSONAL SKETCHES.
As a country grows older the more interesting and valuable is its biographical history, and not only so, but the best writers of the country are advocating the more general reading of this class of literature by the young, believing it to exert a better influence upon them than any other class of the literature of the day. With these thoughts in view, and in justice to the veterans who have made this township and city what it is, we append brief personal sketches of many of them. Nor do we forget those who to-day are actively engaged in life's labors.
Zelotes Bancroft was born in the town of Castile, N. Y., Oct. 23, 1831. At a very early age he was placed at work in a flouring- mill, which vocation he has followed for the most part during life. He came with his parents to this county in 1837. He was married June 1, 1865, to Miss Sarah Masten, by whom he has had 4 chil- dren, one living, viz .: Zelia. He is proprietor of Bancroft's flour- ing-mill at Osceola, of which we have given a history. William Bancroft, deceased, the father of Zelotes, was born in Granville, Mass., was a carriage and wagon-maker by trade; he removed to New York in 1826, where he engaged in lumbering as well as the prosecution of his trade. He was married Dec. 24, 1828, to Miss Emeline Belden, by whom he had 6 children; 5 of these are living: Zelotes, Alma, Ruth, Emeline and Louisa.
Stephen J. Batchelder, M. D., was born in Clinton county, N. Y., Nov. 21, 1833, and is a son of Stephen and Polly Batchelder, natives of New Hampshire. The former was a shoemaker. The subject of this notice was reared on a farin and received a common- school education. He came with his parents to Noble county, Ind., in 1850, and removed to Jasper county, Iowa, in 1853. He labored as an assistant in a saw-mill in Iowa, where he had one hand erip- pled by the saw. He afterward read medieine under Dr. Hiram Parker, of Greencastle, Iowa. He graduated at the Keokuk College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1856. He began to practice in Greencastle, Iowa, in 1869, and in March of the same year he came to Oceola, Ind., where he remained ten years, except one year, which
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
he spent in California. In April. 1879, he came to Mishawaka, where he has a good practice. He and wife own 1423 acres of land in Penn tp. He was married in 1856 to Rothilda Cole, by whom he has 3 children: Squire J., John H. and Rosey E. He again married in 1876 Mrs. Eliza Griffitts. Mrs. B. had 2 children by her first husband, namely, Frank and Carrie.
Harrison G. Beemer was born in Sussex county, N. J., June 11, 1838, and is a son of Moses and Susan (Ayers) Beemer, natives also of New Jersey. He was brought np on a farm and educated at Holmesdale and University of Bethany, Pa .; taught school three years in Pennsylvania; clerked for Lloyd & Taylor, New York city, for four years. He then went to Marion, Ohio, and was employed as clerk for Johnson, Uhler & Co. for three years. He served in the late war in Co. G, 136th O. Vol. Inf., in 1864-'5. He afterward went to Lima and engaged in the dry-goods business in company with Mr. Holmes. In 1868 he bought IIohnes' interest. He was married Sept. 22, 1865, to Miss Malinda Garvin, and they have had 3 children, 2 of whom are living: Nellie Estella and Georgi- anna May. Mr. Beemer came to Mishawaka in 1869, and engaged in the dry-goods business with his brother-in-law, Mr. Garvin, until 1875, when he bought Garvin's interest and took Mr. J. Quigg as a partner in October, 1879. At the fall election in 1879 he was elected to the office of County Recorder.
E. V. Bingham, Justice of the Peace, Mishawaka, was born in this tp. Aug. 1, 1844, and is a son of Alfred and Ann (Miller) Bing- ham, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Pennsyl- vania. Mr. B. was brought up and educated in this place. He was admitted to the Bar in November, 1876, and began the practice of law soon after. He was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in 1872, and is now re-elected for the third term. He was married Dec. 7, 1872, to Miss Harriet E., second daughter of Dr. Grimes, of Mishawaka. They have one child, Katie. He entered the late war in Co. G., 48th Ind. Vol. Inf., and was afterward promoted to Sergeant Major; was with Sherman on his noted march to the sea; was in the battle of Bentonville, and at Raleigh at the time of the Sher- man and Johnston agreement.
John Boles, P. O., Oceola; was born in Wayne county, Ohio, Nov. 22, 1826, and is a son of James and Jane (Lawrence) Boles, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Pennsylvania. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He came to this county in 1844, and worked at the carpenter trade for 18 years. He was married in 1867 to Miss Mary Smith, by whom he has 3 children: Elmer, Lizzie and Johnnie. In 1859 he drove an ox team to California, and returned in 1860, and engaged in farm- ing. He resides on sec. 17, Penn tp., and owns 140 acres of valua- ble land. He cast his first vote for Polk, and has ever since voted the Democratic ticket.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
Lewis T. Booth was born in Seneca county, N. Y., Sept. 16, 1821; his parents were David and Ann (Darrow) Booth, natives of Con- necticut. Mr. Booth was reared on a farin and educated at Water- loo, N. Y. He worked at the coopering business in New York, but has since been a carpenter and manufacturer of furniture. He was married in 1853 to Miss Sarah Boys, by whom he has 5 children, viz .: John, George, Mary, Mattie and Hattie. He came to Mish- awaka in 1841, and returned to New York in 1846. He again came to Mishawaka in 1852, where he subsequently engaged in making coffin sets for the Eastern markets until 1859, when he became a member of the Mishawaka Furniture Company. He now deals in furniture and Inmber, and has a good business. He also owns a saw-mill here, by which he is doing well.
John Borough, M. D., was born in Wyandot, Ohio, March 17, 1843, and is a son of Henry and Sarah (Critz) Borough, the former a native near Martinsburg, Virginia, and the latter of Stark county, Ohio. He was reared on a farin and educated in thecommon school and in Findlay, Ohio. He served one and one-half years in the U. S. A. Signal Service during the late war. He taught school seven years, during the last two of which he read medicine. He then clerked 18 months in a drug store. He graduated at the Cleveland Homeopathic College in February, 1874. He came to Mishawaka in July, 1874, and has built up a good practice. He was married Feb. 3, 1876, to Miss Helen E. Close.
Joseph Bostwick, proprietor of the Bostwick Refrigerator Man- nfactory, which we mention in the history of this tp.
Henry Burket, farmer on sec. 32; P. O., Mishawaka; was born in Elkhart county, March 19, 1833, and is a son of John and Snsan- nah Burket, natives of Ohio. Mr. B. was brought up on a farm and received a common-school education. He was married Jan. 8, 1858, to Miss Phœbe A. Heckman, by whom he has 6 children, viz .: Milton A., Levi, Sarah A., William H., John W. and Benjamin T. Mr. Burket owns 90 acres of valuable land and is engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Burket are members of the German Baptist (or Dunkard) Church.
James A. Burt is a native of England, and was born May 12, 1832. His parents, John and Harriet (Parsons) Burt, emigrated to Lake county, Ohio, in 1836. He was a hard-working boy and had no educational advantages. His education he has obtained by his own exertions. He began to work at the butcher's trade when 16 years old, at which he still is engaged. He came to Mishawaka in 1857, and in 1858 married Miss Edith Crofoot, by whom he has had 2 children; one of these, Milroy, is living. He owns a large first-class meat market and is doing a good business.
William W. Butterworth, M. D., located in Mishawaka in June, 1847, for the purpose of practicing his profession. He came an entire stranger in the beginning of his manhood. "The town
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
then was in the height of its prosperity," with a larger manufactur- ing interest than any other place in all Northern Indiana. The medical field was then occupied by a strong corps of educated and popular physicians, as well as by a number of "root-and-herb," and "steam " doctors. Fresh from his pupilage and medical lec- tures, Dr. Butterworth "flung ont his sign," and with great self- reliance, ambition and industry sought the confidence and patronage of the people. He had come to stay, and was a success, almost from the beginning, in getting a fair share of business and good patronage. The prominent physicians of Mishawaka then were Drs. Styles, Vaughn. Badger and Eddy, all now deceased. They were well advanced in medical science. The latter named gentleman afterward became distinguished in State and national politics. Until 1861 and during the war, Dr. Butterworth always maintained a first-class rank in his profession in Northern Indiana. In 1862 he, with a few other medical men from different parts of the State, was commissioned by Gov. Morton, by authority of the War Department, to visit Indiana troops in the field and hospital, then suffering so terribly from typhoid disease, and in that capacity rendered efficient aid at the battle-field and camp of Pittsburg Landing. In the summer of 1862 he accepted a commission as Surgeon of the 99th Reg. Ind. Vol., and served as such to the close of the war. The last year of his service he was detailed for hos- pital work, principally at Marietta, Ga., and Alexandria, Va. Dr. Butterworth is now President of the St. Joseph Medical Society, and President of the St. Joseph Valley District Medical Society, composed of doctors from the counties of Elkhart, St. Joseph and La Porte, Ind., and Cass and Berrien counties, Mich. The Doctor's papers read before medical societies were always among the best, some of which were published in the Peninsular (Mich.) Medical Journal, and the Lancet, of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a terse, expressive writer and public speaker, thongh never with much ambition or self-confidence in the latter capacity. In his writing and speaking, he is very sure to leave a "web " for hos- tile or friendly criticismn.
In 1872 Dr. Butterworth's name was favorably mentioned in several papers as a candidate for Congress; but he felt unable to afford the expense necessary for the uncertain race, and he there- fore declined the proposed honor. He is a Republican, and repre- sented his county in the Legislature of Indiana from 1870 to 1874 with distinction. At the present time he is measurably indifferent to professional work, and devotes much time to the management of his farming interests.
He was born in Warren county, Ohio, in 1824, and comes of a sturdy family of Virginia. When a boy the family emigrated to La Porte county, Ind., where he learned much business, common sense and economy by farm work. He received a good common- school education, and was fitted for college and entered the Asbury
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPHI COUNTY.
University, where one year was spent, after which he studied medi- cine and graduated at the Indiana Medical College. He snbse- quently took a partial course of lectures at the University Medical College, of New York.
The Doctor has been twice married, and his present wife, for- merly Mrs. S. E. Kennedy, late of Mississippi, is a daughter of the Hon. Milo Smith. He has two sons and a daughter, a nice home, and a fair share of earth's treasures, and now, in excellent health, is taking, so far as possible, his comforts "as he goes along."
Geo. V. Byrkit was born in Penn tp. Feb. 20, 1837, and is a son of Edmund and Catharine (Bumgardner) Byrkit, natives of North Carolina. The former emigrated to Ohio with his parents when quite small, and the latter came first to Kentucky, then to Ohio. Mr. Byrkit was reared on a farm, and received his educa- tion in a cabin made of round logs, covered with clapboards, with slab benches for seats, a puncheon floor, and the light was admitted through a window, one light in height and extending the entire length of the room. His first teachers were of the " ox-gad persua- sion," and wielded a large hickory withe. He was married in May, 1860, to Miss Jane Boles, by whom he had one child, Jane, now a graduate of the Mishawaka high school. Mrs. Byrkit died June 30, 1862. Mr. B. again married in 1863, this time Mrs. Snsan Curtis, and they have one child, Edmund B. Mr. B. owns 216 acres of valuable land, and resides on sec. 14, where he is engaged in farming and stock-raising. Mr. Byrkit's father came to this connty in 1830, when there were numnerons Indians in the county. He then selected his location, planted some apple seeds, and returned and bronght his family the following year. The first trip he made on horseback. He was born in the year 1800, and died in 1873.
Albert Cass was born in Providence, Quebec, Jan. 22, 1815. Ifis parents were Thomas and Anna (Sherborn) Cass, natives of New Hampshire, who settled in Quebec about 1809. He was reared on a farm, and received a limited education in the common schools, attending school three months in the winter and working the rest of the year. In 1836 he came to Steuben county, Ind., and in 1837 to this county. He was the first one to start a wagon mannfactory in Mishawaka. He continued in this business with William Wood for 11 years. He was married in 1841 to Miss Jane Pellinger, of Ontario county, N. Y. They had 3 children, Nancy M., Sarah A. and Carrie M. He engaged in farming for the most part since he quit wagon-making. He is interested in a drug-store in Mishawaka. In politics he is a thorough Republican.
William M. Clark was born in Colbourn county, Canada, Feb. 11, 1835, and is a son of Seth and Caroline (Merriman) Clark, natives of Connectient, who moved to Canada in 1838. Seth Clark was a chair-maker and painter. He made the first chair in Misha- waka. He located on a farm near Elkhart, and died March 21, 1878. William M. was educated in Mishawaka; was employed at
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the age of 15 as clerk for Mr. Judson, a merchant, for several years; engaged in business for himself in Mishawaka in 1863, formning a partnership with A. M. Wing. Mr. Whitson bought Wing's interest in 1864, and in 1869 the firm of Clark & Whitson sold out their store, and are now engaged in banking.
Henry Crofoot was born in Lake county, Ohio, July S, 1830, and is a son of Vernon and Diantha (Fuller) Crofoot, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Pennsylvania. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He came to this county with his parents about 1840; engaged in burning charcoal for some time; in 1853 he went by ship to California, and returned the same year. He then went to Sonthern Indiana to burn charcoal on a salary of $40 a month, when ordinary wages for that kind of labor was from $12 to $15 per month. He returned in the fall, bought 160 acres of timber and proceeded at once to clear 125 acres of it, ntilizing the timber for saw-logs, wood, etc. He was married Sept. 18, 1856, to Miss Nancy Pruner, by whom he had 11 children; 10 are living, namely, Schuyler, Hester, Clara, Viola, Willard, Linnie, Olive, Lona, Vernon and A. C. Mr. Cro- foot is now engaged in farming and stock-raising on sec. 4, owning 240 acres of valuable land. In politics he is a Greenbacker.
Robert H. Crooks, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 28; was born in Hohnes county, Ohio, Nov. 15, 1834, and is a son of James and Mary Crooks, natives of Pennsylvania. He came with his parents to Noble county, Ind., in 1841, where he remained seven years. They then removed to La Porte county and remained until 1855, when they came to this county. Robert H. went to Illinois in 1857 and worked on a farm. He was married in April, 1860, to Miss Emily Vesey, danghter of George Vesey, of this tp. They have 4 children: Olive A., Lucius M., Mary E. and Gracie M. Mr. Crooks has been very successful in business, and now owns 200 acres of valuable land, which is well improved. His barn, 422x64 feet, cost him $1,200, and his house was erected at an expense of $2,000.
Alex. Curtis was born in this county Nov. 25, 1834, and is a son of James and Nancy Curtis. He was reared on a farm and received an education in the common schools of this county. In 1857 he married Miss Catharine Eggins, and they have had 5 children: Flora E., Martha J. (deceased), James D., William W. and Alex. B. Mr. Curtis removed to Fulton county, Ind., where he resided one and a half years. He is engaged in farming and stock-raising on sec. 29, and owns 90 acres of valuable land. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis and their daughter Flora are worthy members of the Baptist Church. In politics he votes as his father did, who was a Jackso- nian Democrat.
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