USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph County, Indiana > Part 92
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Richard Inwood was born in England in 1812, and came to this country in 1833. He spent his early life at work in manufactories and in farming; was in the employ of the Mishawaka Iron Works for a number of years. He was married in 1843 to Miss Catherine A. Rush, who was born in Ohio in 1821 and died in 1858; they had 3 children. He was again married, in this county in 1861, to Miss Martha Green, who was born in Ohio in 1821; they have one child. Mr. Inwood has a farm of 400 acres in Centre tp., under high cultivation and worth at least $60 per acre. He also owns a fine residence on Washington street in this city, where he now resides. He is a member of the First M. E. Church in this city.
George J. Kenney, the oldest son of Thomas and Mary Kenney, natives of Ireland, who came to this country in 1828, and to Indiana in 1853, locating in South Bend, where they have since resided. The subject of this sketch was born in Buffalo in 1846, where he spent his early life. He came to this State with his parents in 1853, and has been most of the time in the grocery trade, in which business he is now engaged. His store is now located on the cor- ner of East Water and Emerick streets, and he is doing a large business. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and politically he is a Democrat.
Samuel L. Kilmer, M. D .- This gentleman is one of the rising physicians, and although he has been in practice here but for a short time, he has a good business. He was born in Ashland, Ohio, in 1849, and is the son of Isaac and Anna (Gilmore Kilmer, who were natives of Pennsylvania and are of German descent. He received a liberal education and commenced the study of medicine in 1876 at the Rush Medical College of Chicago, gradnated in 1879 and commenced the practice of medicine the same year in Sonth Bend, where he now resides. His office is on the corner of Michi- gan and Washington streets.
John Klingel has been identified in a marked degrec with the business and educational interests of South Bend for the past 28 years. He was born at Wallhalben, Rhein Pfalz, Ang. 31, 1835, and is the youngest son of Philip Klingel, who was a French sol- dier under the first Napoleon during the last battles of that great conqueror. The subject of this sketch received the advantages of a good education in the schools of his native town until he was about 15 years of age, when, in the spring of 1850, he emigrated with his parents and one sister to the United States, whither three broth- ers and one sister had preceded them several years. The family located, on their arrival, in the town of Rome, Oneida county, N. Y., where they remained one year, at the end of which time, in company with his parents, one sister and two brothers, he came to
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Indiana, arriving at South Bend May 1, 1852. Soon afterward P. Klingel & Sons commenced in the boot and shoe trade at No. 80, Michigan street. All of the firm being practical shoemakers, quite a large business in manufacturing boots and shoes was soon estab- lished. In the early spring of 1856 our subject made a tour of the West, but returned to South Bend in the fall of that year, when he became the sole proprietor of the flourishing business established by P. Klingel & Sons. He added to the former business- that of dealing in hides and leather, which was continued under the firm name of John Klingel & Bro., until 1872, when, partly on account of failing health, the business was sold out to other parties. In 1873 Mr. K. made a trip to Europe for his health, attended the great World's Exhibition at Vienna and many places of note on the con- tinent. Returning home much improved in health, he engaged in traveling for the sale of furniture, and later and up to the present time for the "Coquillard Wagon Factory."
When South Bend was organized as a city in 1864 he was elected as Councilman from the first ward, and at the expiration of his term was re-elected, but resigned his seat soon after commencing his second term. He received no opposition at either of the above elec- tions. In the same year he was appointed a member of the City Board of Education, to which position he has been steadily re-elected and served the city faithfully, with the exception of one year, while in Europe, up to the present time. To illustrate the well-earned esteem in which he is held, it is said that no matter what political party was in power, whenever his name came up for election to the above office there was never a single vote cast against him. All the school-honses in the city except two have been built since Mr. K. was a member of the Board, and no one is better known or more popular among the school children of South Bend than their friend John Klingel. He is now Treasurer of the School Board, and when in the city devotes nearly his entire time to the educational inter- ests of the place. Under Mr. Klingel's direction graded schools were first established in South Bend, and the first superintendent appointed.
In 1875 the City Council transferred the City Library, consist- ing of over 2,000 volumes, to the City School Board. The library was at once removed to the high-school building, and Mr. Klingel volunteered his services as librarian, and for over two years devoted two days of each week to this work free of charge. Under his direc- tion it became one of the most popular institutions in the city and increased to 2,500 volumes.
Mr. K. was one of the first members of Germania Lodge No. 301, A. F. & A. M., and has been Master of said lodge off and on for 10 years; also is a member of Sonth Bend Chapter No. 29, R. A. M., and a Sir Knight of Warsaw Commandery No. 10.
Mr. Klingel was married Dec. 6, 1857, at South Bend, to Miss Fyette Dice, a daughter of John K. Dice, of this county, and an early settler. Mr. and Mrs. K. are very pleasantly situated in South
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Bend, and have a family of 3 children, all at home. Their names are Albert, Clara and Cora.
John C. Knoblock is the son of Frederic and Saloma Knoblock, who were natives of Strasburg, Germany, and came to this country in 1829, and settled in Canton, Ohio. In 1833, they migrated to Indiana and entered Government land in Marshall county, where they cleared and improved a farm. The subject of this sketch was born in the city of Canton, Ohio, Nov. 3, 1830. While yet a small boy he learned the shoemaker's trade, so as to be able to make the boots and shoes for the family, and at the age of 13 came to Indiana with his parents, and worked on the farm for five years. He then started out from home on foot and walked to South Bend, where he hired out at $10 a month as a teamster for A. R. & J. H. Harper, who, as soon as they became acquainted with the young man and his good qualities, gave him a position in their flouring mill, the mill being now known as the " Phoenix." While at the mill he became acquainted with a millwright who was about to embark in the grocery trade, and he was induced to take a position in his store as clerk, where he remained for several years, until he had acquired a full knowledge of the business. March 3, 1853, he began business for himself in copartnership with Kasper Rockstroh, and continued in business with varying success until 1871, when his estate was worth over $75,000. He then was induced to engage in the manu- facture of furniture. Some time after the establishment was remod- eled and converted into a factory for the manufacture of reapers. In 1876 the building was again changed and he began in company with others the manufacture of the celebrated South Bend chilled plow, which he still continues. In 1865 he engaged in a general milling business, which he has continued ever since. In 1870 he was one of the organizers and charter members of the St. Joseph County Savings Bank, which has proved a success to its managers, and a great benefit to the people. He was treasurer of this institution for four years, and has been one of its trustees since its organization.
From 1866 to 1870 he was a member of the Board of County Com- missioners, but owing to the pressure of private business he declined to be renominated for that office. He was also a member of the Town Conncil for a number of terms before the city was organized. Politically, he has been a staunch Republican since 1860, and is a zealous supporter of that party and its nominees. He is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to the lodge, chap- ter and commandery, and has held at various times prominent offices in each of these divisions of the order. He is quite liberal in his religious views, believing that if the people are properly educated they will be of necessity right in matters pertaining to their salva- tion.
He was married in this city in 1853, to Miss Lissetta Myer, daughter of John M. and Wenina Myer. She was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1836. They have had 3 children, 2 of whom are now living. The eldest, Clara L., was born Dec. 12, 1854, and
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died when nine years of age. Their second child, Hattie Lee, was born Dec 21, 1856, and is the wife of George W. Reynolds, of this city. The youngest, Otto M. was born June 19, 1859; he still lives with his parents.
Mr. Knoblock is a self-made man; he started in life for himself in this city without a dollar of capital, and by honest industry has acquired a competence. As an evidence of his public spirit and enterprise, he intends to donate a building to the city for the establishment of a school of philosophy and physiology and kindred subjects, the institution to be so arranged as to be self-sustaining. A good portrait of Mr. Knoblock will be found in this volume.
William Knoblock was born in Ohio in 1832, and is the son of Frederick and Mary (Watson) Knoblock, who came to this State and located in Marshall. He engaged in the grocery business in 1864, which he continued three years; then engaged in the manu- facture of furniture and tables, which he continned until 1872; then sold out and, in connection with his brother, engaged in the retail furniture trade, which they still continne and are doing a very large business. Mr. Knoblock is a member of the Odd Fellows order, and also of Turn-Verein. He was married in 1853 to Josephine Knob -. lock, of South Bend, who was born in Ohio in 1833; they had 3 chil- dren by this marriage; Mrs. K. died in 1865, and in 1866 he was married to Christina D. Scheyer, of this city; they have 3 chil- dren. Politically, Mr. Knoblock is a Republican.
John N. Lederer was born in the town of Arsburg, Bavaria, in 1833. He was educated in the college and gymnasium of Hof; came to this country in June, 1853, and to Indiana, locating in South Bend, where he was employed as a bookkeeper for Harper & Deyoe, at which business he continued for about three months; he then worked in a flouring and grist mill for a short time, and afterward worked on the railroad for several months. He then, in connection with J. C. Knoblock, engaged in the grocery and bakery business, which he continued until 1859, at which time he built a meat mar- ket on Washington street and engaged in the sale of meats and pack- ing of pork. He was married June 27, 1860, to Miss Antoinette Bauer, daughter of Francis and Maria (Elman) Bauer, of this city; they have one child living, Annie, born Jan. 1, 1872. In 1872 Mr. Lederer returned to Germany, and spent several months at his old home, and made an extended tour of the continent. In 1873 he formed a co-partnership with J. C. Knoblock again in the whole- sale and retail grocery business, which he continued until 1877. In 1868 he also formed a partnership with A. T. Coquillard and W. H. Longley. They purchased large tracts of land in Boone county, Nebraska, and platted and laid out the village of St. Edwards. In August, 1876, they formed a stock company, known as "The St. Edward's Land and Emigration Company," of which Mr. Led- erer was elected at their first meeting vice president for the term of five years. In 1879, in connection with others, he entered into
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
a contract with the Northwestern Railway Company for the pur- chase of 25,000 acres of land in Wisconsin. He built a large business block on East Washington street, known as the " Blue Front," and a fine residence on Lafayette street, and now has in course of construction on Washington street one of the finest business blocks in the city, to be known as " Union Block." Mr. Lederer started in South Bend with $11 in gold, and has by persevering industry acquired a competence. He has been a a life-long Democrat. The Board of County Commissioners in 1870 appointed him Commissioner of South Bend for the appraise- ment of property for benefits and damages. He has his office at 86 Michigan street. A portrait of Mr. Lederer faces page 882.
William H. Longley was born in Elkhart county, Ind., October 3, 1846, and is the son of Andrew and Mary Longley, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Indiana. His father came to this State in 1834, and located in Elkhart county, where he re- sided until 1853; he then came to this county and located on Por- tage Prairie, and soon afterward moved to Sumption's Prairie, where he now resides. Mr. Longley remained at home on the farm until he was 16 years old, then entered the University of Notre Dame, where he took a full commercial course, and graduated in 1867; he then entered the dry goods house of John Brownfield, Esq., where he has since been engaged as salesman and book- keeper. He was married in this city, to Miss Helen L. Searle of the same place, December 14, 1871, a daughter of Richard Searle Esq., of this place, and was born in Pennsylvania in 1848; they have one son, born January 28, 1878. Mr. Longley is treasurer of the St. Edwards Land and Emigration Company, and also of the Wisconsin Land and Emigration Company of this city. Politically, he is a Democrat. His portrait faces page $10.
Charles W. Martin was born in New Jersey in 1815, and is the son of Charles and Mary Martin, who were natives of New Jersey, and of French descent; he learned the harness and saddlery trade when a boy; his education was limited to a few months' attendance at the district school. He left New Jersey when 19 years old, and went to Ohio, where he worked at his trade about one year, and then came to Indiana and located in South Bend, reaching this city in 1837. He at once engaged in the saddlery and harness business, which he has continued up to the present time. He located at No. 88 Michigan street. There was but one engaged in the business when he came here, and he is now the oldest pioneer in the harness trade in South Bend. He was married in this city in 1842 to Jane Buck, who was born in Ohio in 1821; they have 3 children living: Horace, Silas and Mary. Mr. M. is a member of the Odd Fellows' order, and himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. His son is now engaged with him and they carry on their business at the old stand, No. 88 Washington street.
John A. McGill, M. D., was born in New York in 1842, the son of Robert S. and McGill, natives of Massachusetts. He
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
began the study of medicine when 25 years of age, and began the practice of the art while under the preceptorship of Dr. James Emmett, of Niagara Falls, N. Y., which he continued for five years. He then attended the Homeopathic Medical College of Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated at that institution in 1873, when he commenced the practice of medicine in Attica, N. Y. He came to Indiana in 1877 and settled in Sonth Bend, where he has since resided and continued the practice of medicine and sur- gery. Dr. McGill was married in New York June 7, 1876, to Carrie M. Conley, daughter of Benjamin and Emily Conley, of New York; she was born in the same State in 1848. He is a member of the order of Odd Fellows, and of the First Presbyte- rian Church, this city.
A. B. Merritt, M. D., was born in Rutland county, Vermont, in 1809. He is the son of Peter and Nancy Merritt, who were natives of the same State. His early life was spent at home and in attendance at school. He began the study of medicine at the Geneva (N. Y.) Medical College, and graduated at that institution in 1834, when he moved to Detroit, Mich., and began the practice of medicine. He came to South Bend in 1838, where he has since resided, in the practice of medicine, with the exception of four years spent in California. He was a member of the first medical society formed in the city and was for some time treasurer of that body. The Doctor has been a member of the Masonic order for many years, and politically, he is a Republicau.
John C. Miller, M. D., was born in Ohio in 1851; he received a liberal education, and at the age of 19 began the study of medi- cine, and graduated at the medical college of Cleveland in 1874, where he practiced for a short time; came to this county in 1876 and began the practice of medicine, where he has since resided. He has a large practice and is one of the rising young men in the healing art in South Bend. He was married in Wayne connty, Ohio, in 1876, to Miss Kate Pontrus. The Doctor is the present Coroner of St. Joseph county.
Joshua D. Miller was born in 1818 near Dayton, Montgomery county, Ohio, son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Hardman) Miller, father a native of Virginia, and mother, of Pennsylvania, pioneers of that county; they moved to Wayne county, Ind., in 1818, and to this county in 1831, settling about five miles north of South Bend. The subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm. Sept. 27, 1849, he married Lydia Ann, daughter of Samuel Good and a native of Ohio, whose parents were from Virginia, and they had 7 children, only one of whom is now living: Mary, residing at home. Followed carpentering about 20 years; his farm consisted of 200 acres, on secs. 32 and 33, German tp., which he sold in 1877; in 1872 he moved into the city of South Bend, and now resides on La Porte avenue. Has held a number of local offices,-was School Director, Assessor, etc .; was a Whig in former years, but is now a Republican, and has been a member of the County Republican Central Committee about ten
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
years. He is a member ofthe Universalist Church, built the house of worship for that denomination in Greene tp., and is now enjoy- ing a retired life in comfort.
William Miller, deceased, was the son of Tobias and Sarah ( Hen- derson) Miller, father a native of Pennsylvania, and mother of Virginia. His father came to this State from Virginia in 1833, and located in this county; afterward moved to La Porte, where he resided until the date of his death. IIe had 12 children, of which the subject of this notice was the 6th, and was born in Franklin county, Va.,in 1809; came to Union county, Ind., with his parents when a small child; his education was such as the log school-houses. of that early day afforded; he learned the tanner's trade when quite a young boy, and for a time followed that business, but afterward was engaged in business of various kinds during life. He was mar- ried in Union county, Ind., to Miss Mary Miller, daughter of John and Nancy (Kepper) Miller, who came to this State from Virginia in 1810 and settled in Union county, where they resided during life. Mrs. M. was born in Union county, Ind., in 1811; they had 6 chil- dren: John F., born in 1831; Isaac N., born 1835; William H., born in 1838; Martha E., born in 1839; Henry Clay, born in 1844; and Horace G., born in 1849. Mr. Miller came to St. Joseph county in 1833 and engaged in farming, which he continued until 1846, when he moved to the city of South Bend and engaged in inercan- tile and other business; was also a member of the Hydranlic Power Company. He filled many positions of trust and importance, and was one of South Bend's most honored citizens.
A portrait of Mr. Miller will be found on page 829.
William Miller, one of the pioneers of this county, was born March 16, 1821, in Pennsylvania. His ancestors were Germans and came to this country about the middle of the last century, dur- ing the prevalence of the religions wars that were at that time devastating that portion of Europe. At the time of his birth his native State had not yet inaugurated her liberal school system, and the only advantages of education he obtained were during the win- ter months at the very inferior district schools of the county. He left home at the age of 14 and entered a store as clerk in the city of Harrisburg, Penn., where he remained until 1837, when he emi- grated with his father's family to this county, where he has made his home ever since. In 1849 he was one of the pioneers that crossed the plains to the gold fields of California. He returned to this city in 1852, and in 1853-'4 bnilt railroads in Illinois under contract. In 1855 he engaged in the milling business in this county, and in 1869 he sold out his interest in that and commenced banking, which he still continues. He is at present cashier of the South Bend National Bank. In 1872 he was elected. Mayor of Sonth Bend, and re-elected to the office in 1874. He has also an interest in a mill at Mishawaka.
Charles Morgan was born in the northeastern part of North Carolina Nov. 1, 1810. He remained at home on the farm until he was 21, and then served an apprenticeship at the carpenter and
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
joiner's trade, which has been his business ever since. He emi- grated to this State in 1826, locating in Wayne county, where he resided until 1835, when he moved to South Bend, this county, where he has since resided. He was married in Wayne county, this State, in 1828, to Susan Moon, who was born in the western part of North Carolina. She died in 1833, and he was subse- quently married in this city to Sarah Shonnard, who was born in New Jersey in 1814. They have 3 children by this marriage, and he lias one by his first marriage. He belongs to the Odd Fellows order in this city.
. J. F. Morrill, M. D., was born at Cleveland, O., in January, 1852. His parents were Wooster and S. E. Morrill. He attended school until 17, when he left that and entered the drug business as an apprentice; after remaining two years in this he took up the study of medicine and graduated at the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio. In March, 1879, he married Mary M. Plumb, of Austinburg, O .; one child has been born to them. In November, 1879, he moved to this city (South Bend) from Three Rivers, Mich., and erected the mineral bath house. . The water was one of the attractions of the place, and he has proved that the water is bene- ficial in the treatment of various diseases. The water comes from an aretsian well 68 feet deep. It is strongly chalybeate, contains iron, magnesia and sodium, a little lime and sulphur. It is about 40° Fahr. the year round. By bathing in the water at a tempera- ture of 100° to 110° it opens the pores of the skin and the iron contained in the water will stimulate. Rheumatism and varions diseases of the blood are curable by this method, and in connection with electricity has a beneficial result on all diseases.
Mrs. S. E. Morrill, M. D., was born in Twinsburg, Ohio, in September, 1828; her father, Perley Abbey, was an architect, and shortly after her birth moved to Cleveland, O., where she remained until 1855; at 18 she was married to Wooster Morrill, of New Hampshire; five years afterward their only child was born. She was left a widow at 36, and since then has educated herself in the medical profession. She graduated at the Homeopathic College at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1868; since that time has been practicing in Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Washington; has made a specialty of electricity as a remedial agent. Used it at first as an auxiliary to medicine only, but has discovered that it can be used to cure all acute and chronic diseases without medicine. She has invented a battery that will detect any disease, no matter where located, without asking the patient a question. The possibilities of elec- tricity as a remedial agent, she claims, are not dreamed of by the medical profession. She came to South Bend to avail herself of the mineral water. "God rules the universe with water and electricity, and with these same elements can doctors control disease."
Hon. Charles Lefferts Murray, editor of the South Bend Herald, was born in 1815, in Murraysville, Bradford county, Pa., his father of Scotch ancestry and his mother of English ; while very young
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
his parents moved with him to Athens, Pa .; in 1828 he commenced to learn the printing business in Towanda, and continned in Columbus, O .; worked a year in Jacksonville, Ill., where lived a relative of considerable note, Gen. Murray McConnell ; suffering from ague he returned to Columbus, where he remained until 1834, in the newspaper business; editorially condneted the Piqna (O.) Courier for a time, being the first in the State in 1835 to " run up" the name of Gen. IIarrison; in 1837 he established the Goshen Express, the first newspaper in the county; was Postmaster at Goshen, under President Harrison; followed farming for awhile; reported for seven sessions the proceedings of the State Legis- lature for the State Journal, then owned by John D. Defrees; in 1859 he was elected a Representative to the State Legislature on the Republican ticket, for Elkhart and Lagrange counties, by 900 majority; in 1860 he was elected Senator by 1,200 majority.
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