Pictorial and biographical memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, Indiana, together with biographies of many prominent men of northern Indiana and of the whole state, both living and dead, Part 10

Author:
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Brothers
Number of Pages: 786

USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > Pictorial and biographical memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, Indiana, together with biographies of many prominent men of northern Indiana and of the whole state, both living and dead > Part 10
USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > Pictorial and biographical memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, Indiana, together with biographies of many prominent men of northern Indiana and of the whole state, both living and dead > Part 10

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ELMER CROCKETT is the very efficient official whom Uncle Sam has placed in charge of his interests at South Bend, Ind., and to say that he has performed his duties in a capable, faithful and honorable manner would be but bestowing credit where credit is due. In Penn township of the county in which he now resides he first saw the light September 1, 1844, his parents being Shellim and Louisa (Ire- land) Crockett, the former of whom was born in Kentucky and the latter in Ohio. This family is distantly related to the well-known Davy Crockett, and was among

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

the first families to settle on blue grass soil. The father emigrated from Lexing- ton, Ky., to Ohio in his boyhood, and stopped for a sbort time near New Paris, where he was eventually married, and in 1831 came to St. Joseph county Ind., by wagon and on horseback. He entered a tract of land which was in its wild state, in Penn township, on which he erected a primitive log cabin, and there hie early married life was spent. Wild game was very plentiful at that time, and the red man's face was a familiar object. Mr. Crockett often ran races with them in the trading point at what is now South Bend. He greatly improved his farm and made it his home until the death of his wife in 1848, when he removed to South Bend, where his home has since been. He was in business in this city for a number of years, has identified himself with its every interest, and is considered one of its most substantial and worthy residents. He has now reached the age of four-score years, and although the snows of many winters have whitened his hair, his mind shows bnt little the ravages of time. He crossed the plains twice to California, where he was engaged in mining for some time. He is now the only surviving member of a family of thirteen children born to his parents. He became the father of seven children, three of whom are living: Garrett, a resident of Oregon; Elmer, and Mrs. N. D. Walter of this city. In the schools of South Bend and Mishawaka the subject of this sketch received his early education, which he finished in the Northern Indiana College. He was a strong supporter of the Union cause during the war, and in 1864 his name could be found on the rolls of the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the cessation of hostilities, holding the rank of corporal. He was mustered out of the service at Indianapolis and returned to his home at Mishawaka, where he began learning the trade of a printer in the office of the Mishawaka Enterprise. After serving his al- lotted time he came to South Bend and for two years was foreman of the Register of- fice, and for two years was one of its proprietors under the firm name of Beal, Miller & Co. In March, 1872, he and Mr. A. B. Miller retired from the Register and formed the Tribune Printing Company, and since that date Mr. Crockett has been vice- president of the establishment and one of its stockholders. His attention was de- voted to the successful conduct of this business until he received his appointment of postmaster in 1890. He is identified with several building and loan associa- tions, has been vice-president of the South Bend Building and Loan Association since its organization, and in numerous other ways has manifested much interest in the progress and development of the town. He is past commander of Anten Post No. 8 of the G. A. R., is a member of the A. F. & A. M., in which he has been grand high priest of the Royal Arch Masons of the State of Indiana during the years of 1889-90. In December, 1868. he was married to Miss Anna M. Miller, a daughter of the late ex-Sheriff B. F. Miller, and of the five children born to them three are now living: Charles E., Ethel M. and Donald B. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is superintendent of the Sabbath- school. He has numerous friends.

SAMUEL W. STUDEBAKER. A livery stable is a most essential institution, both for pleasure and convenience. To be able to command at any moment a horse and rig for a drive in the country or for business or other purposes, is a privilege the value of which can not be too highly estimated. Foremost among the liveries of South Bend, or those of the State, is the well known resort of Samuel W. Studebaker. This stable, from the large business it does, not only exemplifies the importance of the town, but reflects credit upon its management. Mr. Studebaker was born in South Bend, Ind., April 2, 1854. and is a son of Henry Studebaker, one of the founders of the Studebaker wagon works, and Susan (Studebaker) Studebaker. The original of this notice grew to manhood on the farm, and was his father's active as- sistant from the time he was old enough to make himself useful until his father en- gaged in other enterprises. He was educated in the common schools, and subse- quently entered Notre Dame University, where he remained about one year. In the

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

spring of 1878 he began farming on his own account, on his uncle P. E. Studebak- er's farm of 640 acres, now this city, and bere he remained for twelve years. He was engaged in stock-raising and trading also. In 1890 he engaged in the livery business in South Bend, and has carried on this business ever since. He has one of the largest and best equipped livery barns-66x150 feet-in the State, and thoroughly understands everything connected with his business. Al- though he has been in this business only about two years, he has met with flatter- ing success, and is thoroughgoing and enterprising. He has abont $7,000 in- vested. The city has its full quota of vigorous, enterprising, thoroughgoing business men, whose popularity is based upon both their social qualities and their well-known integrity and business activity, but none among them is more popular or better liked by those who have dealings with him than Mr. Studebaker. In his political views he affiliates with the Republican party, and socially he is a member of the order of Maccabees. On March 20, 1878, Mr. Studebaker was married to Miss Mary E. Martin, of St. Joseph county, and they have one aon, Warren H.

JOHN ELDER, one of the pioneer settlers of the city of South Bend, Ind., was born in Linlithgowshire, Scotland, on the 11th of November, 1808, to Robert and Jeanette (Ormistun) Elder, who were also born on Scottish soil. Robert Elder was born January 1, 1782, was a farmer by occupation, and had the distinction of living to the advanced age of ninety years, his death occurring on the 15th of April, 1871. His wife died July 23, 1860, having borne her busband the following children: James, John, Robert, Thomas, William, Alexander, David, Jeanette, Christian, Margaret and Marion. In the land of his birth John Elder learned the trade of a tailor, at which calling he worked until the 15th of April, 1833, when he started for America, taking passage on the vessel " Albion," bound from Glasgow to Montreal, at which port he arrived after a lapse of six weeks. He went at once to Little York, and was a resident of that place until it was incorporated as a city and its name changed to Toronto, in the winter of 1833-4. He remained there, working industriously at his trade until the 18th of August, 1834, when he became a resident of Buffalo, N. Y., whither he came via Niagara Falls. He then went by water to Cleveland, at which point he took the stage to Pittsburg, where he remained about six months. He then went to Cincinnati, and two months later to Louisville. During his travels he was looking for a brother who had preceeded him to America. Leaving Louisville, he went down the Ohio River and up the Wabash to Lafayette, Ind., and from there by stage to Logansport. There being no stage line from there to South Bend, Mr. Elder set out on foot, a distance of sixty-six miles. He passed through what has since become Plymouth, but which then consisted of one house, which was used as a tavern, and as a man there had broken his plow and was compelled to come to South Bend to the nearest blacksmith to get the repairing done, Mr. Elder rode the rest of the distance-twenty. three miles-with him, arriving in the place May 12, 1835. At that time there were but about thirty houses in the town, the most of which were log cabins. He continued to work at his trade until 1847, when he purchased twenty acres of land just south of the town for $27.50 per acre, which at the present time is inside the city limits, lots from the same fronting on South Michigan street being worth $2,000. After settling on the land Mr. Elder engaged in farming on a small scale, and later opened the first dairy in the town. He has lived forty-two years in the house in which he is now residing, a record probably not equalled by any family in South Bend or possibly in St. Joseph county. For a residence which has been constructed for so long a time, it is in excellent repair, and is a model of convenience and comfort. Mr. Elder was married on the 2d of April, 1838. in South Bend, to Misa Emily A. Sweet, born near Hartford, Conn., March 20, 1816, and daughter of Ira and Orra (Sweet) Sweet, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Connecticut. The father of Ira Sweet was one of the first settlers in the vicinity of Ashtabula, Ohio, and cut the first tree on the land where

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

that city now stands. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Sweet, who were consins, they lived a short time in Connecticut, then settled in New York, and in 1826 removed to Loraine county, Ohio, and still later to Illinois, where Mrs. Sweet died, Mr. Sweet's desth occurring in Iowa at the age of seventy-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Elder. are the parents of the following children: Robert J., and Alexander, deceased; John W., Mary A., William A., Martha E., Amanda M., Sydney S. and Harriet E. Mr. Elder is a member of the Presbyterian Church, having joined that religious denomination in Scotland when a young man, but his wife and children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Elder has always affiliated with the Republican party, having voted for William Henry Harrison and his grand- son, Benjamin Harrison, for President. He assisted in raising the first church in South Bend in the fall of 1835, which was a plain, frame structure from heavy timber, for the Methodist denomination. The people were in straitened circumstances in those days, and rails from a fence were placed on blocks and served as the first seats. A strange feature of the church raising, which was of no nncommon occurrence in those pioneer days, was a jug of whisky, which also assisted in the landable work. Mr. Elder's life has been one of honor and usefulness, and during his long residence in this section he has gathered about him numerous friende, whose respect he at all times commands. His life has been marked by the most upright conduct, and in his long and varied career, naught has ever been said derogatory to his honor.

HENRY FISCHER. Among the prominent business men of Nappanee, Ind., is Henry Fischer, who conducts a well-appointed drug store at that place. He was born in the State of New York, October 5, 1857, to Henry J. and Fredericka (King) Fischer, the former of whom was born in Germany, December 25, 1824, and was there reared and educated and served for some time in the German army. Upon coming to this country when a young man, he landed at New York City but soon after settled at Syracuse, where he worked at the cooper's trade which he had learned in the old country. He remained in New York for abont ten years after his marriage, then moved to Edgerton, Ohio, where he followed his trade for some three years, or until 1870, at which time he took up his residence in Goshen, Ind., where his trade occupied his time and attention until his death, February 18, 1881. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and at one time was an Odd Fellow. He became well to do while in Syracuse, N. Y., bnt lost a large sum of money at the patent-right business, but in a great measure retrieved his losses in later years. He became well known in Goshen and was much respected. His wife was born in Ger- many in 1836, came with her parents to this country, and was principally reared in Syracuse, N. Y. Her father was John King. To Henry J. Fischer and wife the following children were born: Minnie, who died young; Henry, the subject of this sketch; Herman, who lives at Topeka, Kan .; Emma, who died young; Albert, who is a resident of Elkhart, Ind., and Charles, who resides in Detroit, Mich. After the death of her husband Mrs. Fischer married a Mr. Beiling and is now making her home in Detroit. She is a member of the Lutheran Church. Henry Fischer was only thirteen years old when the family came to Elkhart county. He assisted his father in the cooper shop and attended school until sixteen years of age when he began clerking in a drug store, a calling he followed up to 1889, when he started in business for himself in Nappanee, where he has become a popular, successful and highly esteemed man of business. He is very energetic and pushing and carries a choice line of drugs of all kinds, and an excellent stock of hooks. stationery, wall paper, etc. He has always been a strong Republican. takes an interest in all public matters and is generous in contributing to enterprises of a worthy nature. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is the efficient financial secretary of the same. In 1887 he took for his companion through life Miss Emma R. Wyland, of Goshen. where her birth occurred October 8, 1857. a daughter of Israel Wyland, who for eight years was county recorder of Elkhart county. Israel Wyland was married twice, his first union resulting in the following

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

children: Cyrus, James B., Lurinda J., John A., all of whom are living. His sec- ond union was to Mrs. Lydia De Lotter, and in due course of time resulted in the birth of two children: Emms R. (Mrs. Fischer), and a little girl who died in infancy. Mrs. Fischer's mother was married three times, her maiden name being Wysong. Her first union did not bear fruit, but to her second union were given the following children: Mary A. E., Anna, James M., whose sketch appears in this volume; Syl- vanus, and the following who are deceased: Louis C., Manda J. and Sarah A. Her third marriage was to Mr. Wyland with the above resulte. In addition to filling the responsible duties of county recorder he was elected assessor of Elkhart town- ship s number of times, and also on various occasions filled the office of assessor of Goshen with credit to himself. Mrs. Fischer is finely educated, being a graduate of the classical course of the Goshen High School in 1878, and completed the Chan- tauqua course in 1889, obtaining at the same time the Garnet and White Seals. For ten years she was a teacher in the public schools of Goshen, and won a high reputation as an educator and disciplinarian. Mr. and Mrs. Fischer have a pretty and comfortable home in Nappanee and move in the highest social circles of the place. They have two promising children: Ralston, born September 11, 1889, and Fredericks L., born June 23, 1890. Mr. Fischer is in every sense of the term a self-made man, and deserves much credit for the way in which he has con- quered Dame Fortune.

JACOB S. WALTERS. The vocation of the pharmacist is unquestionably a highly important one in any and every community, for upon his care and skill almost as much as upon that displayed by the medical profession, oftentimes depends the phys- ical welfare-nay, the life or death of the sick or ailing. Among the favorably known druggists of Elkhart county, Ind., may be mentioned the name of Jacob S. Walters, who has an attractive and well-appointed store in Nappanee, which was established in 1880. He was born in Union township, this county, February 19, 1854, and was the youngest son of Justin Walters and his wife Elizabeth (Hartman) Walters. The father was born in Germany, May 5, 1815; was a member of a promi- neut German family, and in the land of his birth was educated. After marrying, he came to this country in 1845, and abont 1846 settled in Columbiana county, Ohio, and in Elkhart county, Ind., in 1848, taking np his residence in Union township where he followed farming from that time until his death in February, 1868. He was a member of the Mennonite Church and politically wae a Republican. When he came to the United States he had no means, but with the perseverence and energy which has ever characterized the German people, he kept earnestly at work and was soon in fair circumstances. He followed his trade of weaving in the old, as well as in the new country, and in this way made considerable money. He identi- fied himself with the interests of his adopted country, and came to be known as a man of much public spirit. He knew what it was to be a pioneer and suffered the hardships of such a life, but he always conducted himself in an upright manner. He was very domestic in his tastes and found his greatest happiness in his home surrounded by his wife and children. He is still kindly remembered by some of the old residents of the county. His widow now resides on the old homestead one and one half miles northeast of Nappanee. She was born six miles from Hesse Cassel, Germany, in 1816; was there educated, but the greater part of her life has been spent on American soil, where ber family has been reared. For the past twenty- five years her health has not been of the best, but through all her sufferings she has preserved her pleasant and cheerful disposition. She bore ber husband nine children, seven of whom are living: Elizabeth, born September 21, 1836, married Henry Christofel; was left a widow, and Ister married Jacob Yoder, and is now residing five miles south of Elkhart. Six of the children she bore her first husband are deceased-Isaac, Sarah, Maggie, John, Lizzie, Amanda. Katie, the only sur- viving member, is now Mrs. Bowers; John A. was the next in order of birth and was born January 7, 1838; is a merchant of Wakarusa; married Esther Bachert of

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

Canada, December 15, 1853, and is the father of these children: Jacob B., Mary, Henry, Samuel, Alice, Esther, Elizabeth, Susan, Charles S., Agnes and Belle. Mary was born August 5, 1840; married a Mr. Truex and died in 1868, leaving one child -William. George S. was born July 24, 1843, is & farmer living near Nappanee; married Susan Ernest of Elkhart county, and has these children: Frank, Alice, Ida, Jesse, Milo, Ira, Oscar, Bert and Verney. Henry J. was born July 7, 1850; married Christina Weaver; is clerking in his brother's store, and is the father of three children: Melvin, Nora and Daniel. Jacob S., the subject of this sketch; and Lydia, who was born August 20, 1860, and resides on the old homestead with her mother. Two children died when young; the death of one occurring on the ocean while the family were en route to this country, and was buried at sea. Jacob S. Walters was born in Union township this county; was reared to a farm life and attended the district schools, the summer seasons being spent in assisting his father on the home farm. After the death of the head of the family, he worked by the month on a farm, but still attended school during the winter in 1876. After a time he embarked in the drug business in Locke by buying out his brother John A., be- ing thus associated with Dr. J. K. Julien, the firm name being Julien & Walters. This partnership lasted for one year, when Mr. Walters purchased the interest of Dr. Julien and continued the business until 1880, when he put up a business house in Nappanee and stocked it with drugs, still retaining his stock at Locke for two years, which was under the care of Dr. Paxton. In 1882 he discontinued his business there, sold his building and put all his money in his establishment in Nappanee, and is at present conducting a profitable business where he first held forth. He is handling a full line of drugs, medicines, paints, oils, wall-paper, books and notions, his stock being valued st about $6,000; his annual sales amounting to $12,000. Socially he has been a member of the A. F. & A. M. since 1877-Nappanee Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 656, Goshen Chapter No. 45, R. A. M., and Bashoe Council, No. 15, Goshen, Indiana & South Bend Commandery No. 13, K. T. He has held or filled all of the offices in the Nappanee Lodge. Ou August 31, 1879, Mr. Walters was married at Locke, Ind., to Miss Henrietta Burkholder, a resident of Miami county, Ind., and a native of Green county, Wis., where she was born June 19, 1859. To her union with Mr. Walters the following children have been given: Arthur M., born May 16, 1880; Maudie E., November 16, 1882; William, March 3, 1884; Louisa M., November 28, 1886; Chester A., December 2, 1889; Charles R., January 16, 1891, and Clara Belle, November 1, 1892. Mrs. Walters is a daughter of Jacob and Susanna (Shaffer) Burkholder, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania, the father's birth occurring in Bedford county to Jacob Burkholder who came of German parents. The Shaffers were also Pennsylvanians and were well known and highly respected people in the section in which they resided. Jacob Burkholder, the father, was born in 1822 and died in Miami county, Ind., in 1876, having been a minister of the Reformed Church for many years, and preached in different por- tions of Indians. He left his native State after reaching manhood, and first located in Illinois, where he lived for two years, then moved to Green county, Wis., and after a few years became a resident of Huntington county. While pursuing his calling he resided in many different places and expounded the gospel from many pulpit -. Twenty years of his life were devoted to the cause of Christianity, and in the meantime, being & skilled mechanic, he worked at the carpenter's trade. He was public spirited and energetic and politically was a Democrat. His wife's birth occurred two years later than his own. She survives him and is a resident of Mexico, Miami Co., Ind. Their union resulted in the birth of ten children, eight of whom are living: William T. is a resident of Missouri and is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Sarah C. is the wife of Stephen De Haven of Wisconsin; Mary E. became the wife of Joseph Bennett, who was killed on the Wabash Rail- road, after which she married Emery Poole; Lucinda A. is the wife of Rev. Joseph Bechtel of the United Brethren Church of Fulton, Ind .; Jeremiah is a school teacher

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

of Denver, Ind., and justice of the peace of his township; Jacob C. died at the age of thirteen years; Rebecca is the wife of John See; Henrietta (Mrs. Walters); Margaret J. died at the age of two months; and John, who resides in Denver, Ind., is successfully engaged in teaching school. After the death of Mr. Burkholder, his widow married again, becoming the wife of Michael Nicewinder, being now a resident of Mexico, Ind. She is a member of the Reformed Church and a true Christian in every respect. Mrs. Walters was the youngest but one of her family, and while at- tending school formed the acquaintance of Mr. Walters, which eventually resulted in the marriage. Outside of the drug business Mr. Walters, in connection with Wilson Slabaugh, manufactures hard and soft wood lumber, and conducts a lumber yard at Nappanee, and they are doing a general building supply business; they handle lime and cement. They do an annual business of from $25,000 to $30,000. Mr. Walters is a self-made man, and what he has in the way of worldly goods has been obtained by his own hard work. He is among the prominent business men of Nappanee, and has also a small amount of stock in the Nappanee Furniture Company. He is the owner of a nice residence and also his store building. As a business man and a citizen generally he commands the respect of all and has many warm friends. He is a member in good standing of the Indiana Pharmaceutical Association, and for seventeen years past has been connected with the drug business. While a resident of Locke he held the position of postmaster for three years.

WILLIAM W. BEST. Mr. Best, a prominent resident of Nappanee, Ind., where he has made his home since the fall of 1891; came from Kosciusko county, of which he was a resident from 1865. He owes his nativity to the Buckeye State, born in Carroll county, April 8, 1836, and was the youngest of eight children, seven sons and one daughter, born to the union of John and Mary (Cooper) Best. John Best was born in the southern part of Pennsylvania and was the son of an old Revolu- tionary soldier. The latter was born in England and fought in King George's army. He was brought to this conntry but left the English army and became a soldier in the American army. He reared a family of six children, four sons and two daughters, as follows: John, George, David, Jacob, Catherine and Mary. These children settled in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. The father of our subject emigrated to Ohio at an early day, about 1812, and died in Putnam county in 1860. He held membership in the Lutheran Church and was prominent in all good work. He was an extensive farmer, owned a sawmill and was a carpen- ter by trade. He accumulated a good property. His wife, Mary Cooper, was a native of Pennsylvania and a descendant of a prominent family of that State. She had a brother in the war of 1812. She followed her husband to the grave in 1863, and was in full communion with the Lutheran Church at the time of her death. Both parents of our subject were pioneers in Carroll county, Ohio, and the father was an extensive farmer, owning 200 acres of land. The children born to the family are named as follows: George, Jacob, John, Abram (killed in the Civil war), Isaac, Sarah A., Joseph and William W. Of these children only our subject and his brother John came to Indiana, and both settled in Kosciusko county. Only six of these children are now living. William W. Best was educated in the district schools of his native county, attending during the winter months, and assisting his father on the farm and in the sawmill during the summer season. When abont seventeen years of age he began learning the carpenter trade, continued this about two years, and then returned home, where he took charge of the farm until his father's death. His maternal grandfather was a noted hunter and trapper, and Mrs. Best was with her father on several occasions when he shot bear. In the year 1856 our subject was united in marriage to Miss Nancy J. Wagner, daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Rainer) Wagner, and remained in Ohio until after the war, when he moved his family to Indiana. He settled in Kosciusko county, on a farm of 160 acres, but sub- sequently put up a sawmill, and carried on both farming and milling. During the Rebellion our subject enlisted, but on account of a crippled ankle and foot which he

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Pictorial and biographical memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, Indiana, together with biographies of many prominent men of northern Indiana and of the whole state, both living and dead, Part 10

Author: Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Brothers Number of Pages: 786

Author:
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Brothers
Number of Pages: 786