Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 90

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 932

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After the event of his marriage Mr. Ros- tetter established himself in a small shop of his own, which he conducted with consider- able success for ten years, when he disposed of his business to accept the position of mas- ter mechanic of the wheel works of Mr. N. G. Olds. Here he remained until 1876, resigning his position. His next venture was with two associates in the establishment of the Lima Wheel Company, at Lima, Ohio, for the manufacture of hubs, spokes and buggy bows. The enterprise proved fairly successful, Mr. Rostetter retaining his in- terest for four and a half years, when he dis- posed of it to his partners.

Returning to Fort Wayne in the fall of 1881, he established his present factory, known as the Fort Wayne Buggy Bow Works. It is one of the important manu- facturing concerns of the city, giving em- ployment to a number of skilled workmen. Mr. Rostetter is a thoroughly practical man, and in the management of his affairs displays

the tact of one who knows his business. Socially he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

I RA F. SMITH, proprietor of a saw and planing mill at Roann, was born in Wabash county, a mile south of North Manchester, June 6, 1848. His father, John O. Smith, was a native of Ohio, and in early life learned and followed the carpenter's trade, but subsequently en- gaged in carrying on a sawmill. Emigrat- ing to Indiana in 1845, he resided at North Manchester until 1852, when he went to La Fontaine, where he conducted a sawmill until 1863. Finally he purchased a tract of timber land on the Eel river, which he cleared and still makes his home. He mar- ried Miss Christina Tillman, also a native of Ohio, and they became parents of six children, namely: Ira F., the subject of this notice; Sarah Alice, wife of I. J. Pal- mer, a resident of Ravenna, Ohio; Martha E., wife of Joseph Bowen, a resident of Rochester, Indiana; Hulda A., wife of Ja- cob Lautzenhiser, of Laketon, Indiana; John E., of Waco, Texas; and George W., resid- ing 'in Pleasant township, two miles from Laketon. The parents are members of the Methodist Church.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, John Smith, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was of German descent His occupa- tion was farming, but after the breaking out of the war of 1812 he abandoned the plow for the musket and served as Lieutenant in the second war with England. His death occurred at the age of eighty-six years, in Richland county, Ohio, where he had located in pioneer days, and reared his family. He was an exhorter in the Methodist Church

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and a man of noble principles. The mater- nal grandfather, Jacob Tillman, was a native of Maryland, and also made farming his vo- cation. He resided for a number of years in Pennsylvania, but having no sympathy for the institution of slavery, he left that State and lived for some years in Ohio. He became one of Indiana's pioneers, locating near North Manchester in the '30s, when that region was largely in its primitive con- dition. He has twelve children, all of whom reached adult age, married and had families. Mr. Tillman was a devout Methodist, and a gentleman of genial disposition. He died at the age of seventy years.

Mr. Smith, our subject, was reared on his father's farm in Pleasant township until fifteen years of age, when the school-boy became a soldier, leaving the playground for the battle-field. He enlisted in Com- pany L, Eleventh Indiana Cavalry and served in the defense of his country from 1863 until 1865, -two years and one month. He was in the battles of Franklin and Nash- ville, aided for three months in the routing of General Hood, and was at Chattanooga on scout duty when Atlanta fell into the Union hands. After the Nashville cam- paign he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he was remounted and sent West upon the plains against the Indians. In the autumn of 1865 he was mustered out at Fort Leav- enworth, Kansas, and was discharged at In- dianapolis.

Returning home, Mr. Smith engaged in the sawmill business, which he has since continued, his field of operations lying along the Eel river. For one year he also con- ducted a flouring-mill at Stockdale, and for two years was in the same business at Con- verse. He has been successful in his busi- ness undertakings and now owns in connec-

tion with his sawmill a farm near Roann and a good residence in the village, besides other property.

On the 26th of July, 1868, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Palmer, daughter of - and Elizabeth (Antrim) Palmer. They have five children, namely: John G., who married Miss Blanche Barnhart, and is engaged in busi- ness with his father; Blanchard, who died February 2, 1893, at the age of nineteen years; Howard F., also a partner with his father; Beulah M. and Mabel. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In his political views Mr. Smith is a Republi- can and socially is a Master Mason, an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias and a comrade of Roann Post, G. A. R.

ARRY IRVING MILLER. - The wise system of industrial economics which has been brought to bear in the development of what is known as the gas belt of Indiana has challenged the admiration of the entire Union, for while there has been an almost phenomenal ad- vancement in all material lines, there has been an entire absence of that inflation of values and that erratic "booming " which have in the past proved the eventual death knell to many of the localities in the West, where "mushroom " towns have one day smiled forth with "all the modern improve- ments" and practically on the next have been shorn of their glories and of their possi- bilities for stable prosperity until the exist- ing order of things has been diametrically changed. The gas belt of the Hoosier State has had a wonderful growth, but it has been normal, and while Gas City, Grant county, attained metropolitan pretentions within a

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very short time after its inception, yet its progress was made consecutively and along safe lines, so that industrial possibilities were in no way transcended. In the connection this work may well direct attention to those who have been conspicuously concerned in the development of the resources of this sec- tion of the State, in which sense there is marked propriety in calling attention to the career of Mr. Miller, who is president of the Gas City Land Company, though not a per- manent resident of this place, since his duties as superintendent of the Vandalia Railroad demand that he maintain his offi- cial headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri.

A native of the old Buckeye State, Mr. Miller was born about thirty-five years ago, in the city of Cleveland, being the son of John F. Miller, superintendent of the Penn- sylvania Railroad system, with headquarters in the Forest City. Our subject was reared in his native city, receiving his preliminary education in the excellent public schools of Cleveland, and later attending school in Cin- cinnati and in Richmond, Indiana. His lit- erary education was completed in Columbia College, New York, where he graduated. His education had been one of practical nature, and that he has put his acquirements to practical use is evident from the prestige and the high position he has attained in the business world while yet a young man. After leaving college Mr. Miller entered the engi- neering office of the Southwest Railway sys- tem, later becoming engineer of the Indian- apolis & Bloomington Railroad. Subse- quently he was promoted to the position as engineer of the Southern division of the same system and still later was installed in the re- sponsible office as superintendent of said division. His intimate knowledge of the

and his marked executive ability were such as to gain him still further recognition, since he advanced in turn from the position last noted to that of superintendent of the Rich- mond (Indiana) division of the same line, then became superintendent of the Jeffer- sonville, Indianapolis & Madison Railroad, and finally assumed his present incumbency as superintendent of the Vandalia lines. He is well-known in the railway world as a man of distinctive ability in the line of his pro- fession and as one particularly eligible for the responsible and exacting offices which have been granted him.

Mr. Miller was largely interested in the building of the town of Elwood, Indiana, and to him and his associates is due the credit of having conceived and carried most successfully forward the project of building Gas City, to whose history attention is directed in detail elsewhere in this volume. He was one of the organizers of the Gas City Land Company in 1892, and it is this corporation which has reared the thriving and attractive city, whose population already aggregates nearly 5,000 individuals. Mr. Miller's success is really extraordinary, for he is yet a young man, but has developed a mature judgment and a practical business sagacity which almost reached the maximum. As presideut of the land company he has proved the most capable executive, and this section of the State of Indiana owes him a debt of gratitude for his prescience in dis- cerning ultimate possibilities and for his courage in putting his convictions to the practical test.

An individual biography of the secretary and treasurer of the corporation, L. C. Boyd, is incorporated in this volume, and in the connection it is apropos that we give a manifold details of railroading enterprises , brief record touching the other members of

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the board of directors, for the position in the business world is such as insures to Gas City a continuous growth and a stable prosperity. Of the directorate J. F. Miller is general superintendent of the Pennsylvania lines west of Pittsburg, retaining his residence at Columbus, Ohio. B. Johnson is an exten- sive railroad contractor, of Richmond, Indi- ana; M. Seiberling has very extensive and important manufacturing interests at. Koko- mo, this State; F. M. Atterholt is a well- known capitalist of Akron, Ohio, as is also R. B. Conger, the remaining member of the board of directors.

ERMAN N. COFFINBERRY, the esteemed and honored financier of Garrett, Indiana, now president of the Garrett Banking Company, was born in St. Joseph county Michigan, April 23, 1847, and is a son of Salathiel Curtis and Arti- macia (Cook) Coffinberry. The father was born in Germany in 1806, and died in Con- stantine, Michigan, in September, 1890. He was brought to America by his parents, the family locating in Wheeling, West Vir- ginia,. whence in 1813 they went to Mans- field, Ohio. The father of our subject resided there until 1840, when he removed to St. Joseph county, Michigan, where he secured a claim of 160 acres. He afterward bought two claims and became a well-to-do man. In 1854 he removed to Constantine, where he spent his remaining years. He had acquired his early education in Mans- field, Ohio, and his superior mental ability gave him rank at the head of his class. He afterward studied law with his brother, Court C., and on his removal to Constan- tine again entered the ranks of the legal fra-

ternity, practicing throughout the State of Michigan. He made a specialty of criminal law and his thorough preparation of cases and his superior power as a speaker won him an enviable success in his chosen call- ing. In politics he was a Democrat, and in 1868 was nominated on that ticket for the office of Lieutenant Governor of the State, but could not overcome the 80,000 Repub- lican majority. He was always prominent in the councils of his party but never again ran for office, although he made many cam- paign speeches, being a fine orator.

S. C. Coffinberry was twice married. He was married first in Mansfield, Ohio, and had one son and two daughters, all of whom died in infancy. In 1840 he wedded Miss Cook, whose father was one of the first set- tlers of Mansfield. She was born in that city in 1818, and is now living with our subject. In the family were the following children: Hermia, wife of William Prentiss, La Grange county, Indiana; Herman N .; Manford, who died in infancy; John, who died in infancy; Mary E., wife of Dr. Richards, of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a minister in the Lutheran Church, now employed as a professor in the college there; and Este, who is living with Mrs. Richards.

S. C. Coffinberry was recognized as one of the most prominent representatives of Masonry in Michigan, having attained to the thirty-second degree. He served as Grand Master of the State, and for a time held the office of Grand High Priest of the chapter. The Coffinberry family was numbered among the pioneers of Ohio. The grandfather, John Coffinberry, crossed the Atlantic to this country, married and had a family of sixteen children, all of whom lived to a good old age. One of the number, Court, be- came a very prominent member of the Ohio

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MEMORIAL RECORD OF

bar. The grandfather was one of the ear- liest settlers of Mansfield, and became the owner of a large farm there.

Herman N. Coffinberry is a self-made man, who from the early age of fourteen years has been entirely dependent upon his own resources. His educational advan- tages were therefore very meager. He began working for John Putnam as a farm hand, receiving $10 per month in compensation for his services; and after a year had thus passed he spent a few months in his father's law office. In 1861 he went to Three Rivers, Michigan, where for four months he worked at the mason's trade, and then sought a home in Adamsville, Michigan, where he secured a position with Hon. George Red- field. When two years had gone by he re- turned to Constantine, and his next service was in the freight house and ticket office of the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana Railroad Company. In 1870 he again went to Three Rivers, and had charge of the sta- tion at that place until 1873, the year of his removal to Cleveland, Ohio, where he secured a position as revising clerk in Addi- son Hill's freight office. Three months later he started westward and was a resi- dent of Osage, Iowa, until 1875. A new venture claimed his attention there, he en- gaging in general mercantile business. In 1876 he went to Wabash, Indiana, where he was employed as master of transportation for a railroad company, until the fall of 1881, when he went to Butler, Indiana.

Mr. Coffinberry has been a resident of Garrett since February, 1886, at which time he took charge of the transportation depart- ment of the Chicago division of the Balti- more & Ohio Railroad, faithfully discharging the duties of that position until December, 1890. In November of the same year he ! regard of his fellow townsmen.

was elected Auditor of De Kalb county on the Democratic ticket, and during the four years of his incumbency made his home in Auburn. In 1892 he organized the Garrett Banking Company, of which he has since been president, with Jacob Bogert as vice- president and O. Mitchell as cashier. The orginal stockholders, in addition to the officers, were T. J. Kniseley, D. W. Knise- ley, S. S. Shutt, Elizabeth K. Coffinberry, Reuben Sawvell and Thomas Squires. The bank was capitalized with $25,000, is now doing a good business and is recognized as one of the reliable financial institutions of this locality.

In September, 1894, Mr. Coffinberry re- turned to Garrett, and erected a fine resi- dence which has since been his home. He was married in Wabash, Indiana, March 20, 1878, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of William and Susan Ditlor. They have two children: William Henry, born August 10, 1879; and John Brush, born March 20, 1882.

Mr. Coffinberry, like his father, takes a warm interest in the Masonic fraternity, hav- ing been initiated into the mysteries of the order in Constantine, Michigan, in June, 1868. He took the Knight Templar degree in June, 1870, the consistory degrees in Decem- ber, 1885, and became a Mystic Shriner the same year. He took an active part in estab- lishing the Lodge of Perfection in Fort Wayne. Through the legitimate channels of business he has achieved a merited success, and to- day is recognized as one of the most promi- nent business men of Garrett. His record in public and private life is one over which falls no shadow of wrong, and resolutely and stead- ily he has worked his way upward step by step to the present high position which he now occupies in financial circles and in the

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NORTHEASTERN INDIANA.

RED SCHAFER, of the firm of Schafer & Loch, dealers in hard- ware, Decatur, Indiana, is a son of Christian Schafer, who was born in Germany in 1809. In the Fatherland the elder Mr. Schafer learned the shoemaker's trade, and at the age of twenty-three years he emigrated to the United States and located in Ohio. He was then entirely without means, but in a manner characteristic of German people he worked and saved, and in the course of time his accumulations enabled him to purchase property. In 1854 he came to Indiana, locating on a farm of 200 acres, two miles southwest of Decatur. On this land he lived for twenty-six years. His life after settling here was prosperous and he became a well-to-do and highly respected citizen. In 1880 he disposed of his farm and moved to Decatur, where he resided five years. He then removed to South Bend, where he resided till his death, which oc- curred when he was about seventy-four years of age.

To his wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Ahr, and who was born in 1818, he was married in Ohio. They had six sons and three daughters, of whom two daughters are now deceased. The names of all are: John C., who is in the grocery business at Elkhart; Catherine, deceased wife of Bern- hart Ruh, of South Bend; Anna B., deceased wife of Eli Wensel, of South Bend; Jacob R., of Decatur; Elizabeth, wife of Henry Falk, of South Bend; Fred. ; David B., the present mayor of South Bend; Edward A., a cloth- ing merchant of South Bend; and Dr. Albert F., a graduate of American University Med- ical College. Both Mr. and Mrs. Schafer were exemplary and consistent Christian people, having been connected with the Ger- man Evangelical Church, in which Mr. Shafer

was an active worker and a liberal contrib- utor.

The subject of this sketch was born in Me- dina county, Ohio, February 7, 1851. He was three years of age when his parents set- tled in Indiana. In the public schools, which he attended till nineteen years of age, he received a practical education. After leav- ing school he entered the employ of Henry Kover, of Decatur, to learn the tinner's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. Subsequently he worked as a journeyman for three years, in many of the prominent West- ern cities. In this work he saved some money, so that after his return home he was enabled, by borrowing $600 of his father, to enter upon business for himself, in partner- ship with his brother, Jacob R. They en- gaged in the hardware business, under the firm name of Schafer & Brothers, which con- tinued until 1892, when our subject bought his brother's interest. Their stock at first was small, not much exceeding $1,000. Subsequently Mr. Schafer took Mr. Loch into partnership. The present stock now carried by the firm is about $20,000, of which Mr. Loch owns a third interest. Theirs is one of the largest stocks of the kind in the county and they do a large business. Mr. Schafer owns the large store building occu- pied. It is of brick, two stories, 38x132 feet, with a warehouse at the back 40x38 feet. The business occupies both structures from basement to garret.

Mr. Schaffer was married to Miss Sarah B. Wimmer, and they have one child, - Chalmer C. , born January 4, 1878, and now in the graduating class of the Decatur high school. Mrs. Schfaer is a daughter of John Wimmer, a pioneer of Adams county, who died when she was a child. Mr. and Mrs. Schafer are members of the Methodist Epis-

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copal Church, of which he is one of the Trustees, and both take an active interest in the affairs of the Church and all other good works in general. Politically Mr. Schafer is a stanch Republican and warmly espouses the principles of the party.

ILLIAM H. EICHHORN, junior member of the firm of Martin & Eichhorn, is a native of Wells county, Indiana, born near Mar- kle, October 6, 1866. His father, Fred- rick Eichhorn, was born in Crawford county, Ohio, and was the son of Philip A. Eich- horn, who was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany. He married Mary Behner, who was a native of Germany and who came with her parents to America when but a child and located in Clark county, Ohio. Three children were born to them: Cather- ine A., now the wife of Andrew J. Eleck, of Markle, Huntington county; William H., our subject; and John J., now engaged in farming in Wells county. The father died in 1873, at the age of thirty-three years. The mother is yet living.

The subject of this sketch spent his boy- hood and youth on a farm near Markle and attended the district schools of that place until the age of sixteen years. He then entered the high school at Bluffton and grad- uated after a course of two years. On leav- ing school he commenced teaching in the district schools of Wells county, and after teaching two terms entered the normal school in Terre Haute, Indiana.

He then taught school in Goblesville, Huntington county, Indiana, for two winters, and in Lancaster in the same county for one winter. In the spring of 1890, he com- menced work at the carpenter trade, but in

the fall of that year entered the law office of Martin & Vaughn, in Bluffton, and soon after entered the law class of the Michigan Uni- versity at Ann Arbor. In June, 1891, he was elected County Superintendent of Schools of Wells county, and in June, 1893, was re- elected, but in August of that year he re- signed to form a partnership with the Hon. A. N. Martin, in the practice of law, under the firm name of Martin & Eichhorn. The firm has the most extensive practice of all law firms in Bluffton. The senior member of the firm is one of the best known attorneys in northern Indiana, and has been for many years a member of the bar of Wells county. The junior member of the firm is coming rapidly to the front, and being a close student and a good judge of human nature, his success at the bar is assured.

Mr. Eichhorn was married August 31, 1894, to Miss E. May Folts, of Marion county; Indiana. Fraternally Mr. Eichhorn is a member of the Knights of Pythias, both of subordinate lodge and uniform rank. He is also a Mason and is a member of the blue lodge, council and commandery of that or- der. Politically he is a Democrat, and is an earnest and enthusiastic advocate of the principles of that party.

J AMES ELGIN SCOTT, deceased, was born November 29, 1821, in Fayette county, Ohio, and died in Troy town- ship, Whitley county, Indiana, Feb- ruary 21, 1884, respected by all who knew him. He was a son of Robert and Mary (Elgin) Scott, and upon the old home farm he remained until September, 1849, when he bade adieu to his friends and family and started westward, his destination being Whitley county, Indiana. He came hither

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to take charge of a tract of land which had previously been entered by his father. He built a log cabin on the place, moved his family into it and in true pioneer style began life in the Hoosier State. Here he made his home throughout his remaining days, and was one of the most highly esteemed resi- dents in the community.

Mr. Scott was married on the 29th of August, 1849, the lady of his choice being Lydia Jane Cockrell, a daughter of William and Phoebe (Moony) Cockrell. She was born September 1, 1830, and is at present making her home with her son, Dr. Scott, of Etna, Indiana. The children of our sub- ject and his wife are: Dr. J. William C., who was born April 6, 1853, and is now a physi- cian in active practice in Etna. In the fall of 1877 he took a course of lectures at the Keokuk Medical College, of Keokuk, Iowa, and in 1880 was graduated at the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, Pennsylva- nia. He immediately entered upon the pros- ecution of his chosen profession, and has met with excellent success in the work. He was married July 3, 1883, to Mrs. Mary Jane Scott, daughter of Dr. Steven S. Austin, and the widow of Edward Massillon Scott, a bro- ther of the Doctor. By her first marriage she had one child, -Edward, -born October 5, 1877. By the second union there are four children: Bertha Imogene, born September 16, 1883; Mabel Austin, born October 3, 1886; Frances Virginia, who was born Sep- tember 25, 1888, and died January 22, 1893; and Marvis Margaret, born June 11, 1890. Edward Massillon, the second of the family, was born January 29, 1856, and died De- cember 22, 1877. Robert Ray, born No- vember 10, 1857, is the youngest, and is now living on the old homestead in Troy town- ship, Whitley county. He was married April

IO, 1879, to Anna M. Templeton, a daugh- ter of John Templeton. Their children are: Ina Estelle, born March 7, 1880; Elgin Leigh, born April 7, 1883, and died March 21, 1884; and Theron Marvin, born Decem- ber 7, 1885.

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Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 90

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 932

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 932