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 102

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 102
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 102

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while fishing, at the age of twenty-six years. He was a young man of fine char- acter. Mr. Eberhart is, like the rest of his family, a trustworthy and honorable citizen and a practical farmer, residing in Penn township. Christian and Albert were also sons of Frederick George. Elizabeth married George Bryerson, a farm-

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er now retired and living in Elkhart. They are the parents of Frank, William, Adelia and Arthur. Frederick, Frank and James were the other children of Fred- erick George and a sketch of the former appears in this volume. Adolphus Eberhart, the son of Frederick George, and our subject, is oue of the prominent pio- neer manufacturers of Mishawaka, a substantial citizen and an honored and re- spected man. Adolphus was born February 11, 1824, at Clyde, Wayne Co., N. Y., and was twelve years of age when he came to St. Joseph county with his parents and can well remember the journey. He received the common education of those pioneer days and was reared a farmer. He narrowly escaped becoming a physician, as he had decided to adopt that profession, but his plans were changed by the re- moval of Dr. Crawford from Mishawaka, with whom he was to have studied. This was a great disappointment to young Eberhart, as he felt a desire to become a disciple of Esculapius, believing that he had a natural aptitude for that profession. How- ever, he learned the trade of wagon and carriage-maker, and at the early age of twenty-one years engaged in this business in company with Albert Cass, of Mishawaka, one of the old settlers. They continued in the business four years, having associated with them John Miles, and in 1864 they built a large flouring-mill, which was then one of the largest and best in the West. Mr. Eberhart managed this mill until 1887, and still retains a one-third interest in it. In 1886 he organized the Mishawaka Woolen Manufacturing Company with a capital stock of $200,000, with M. V. Beiger as president, F. G. Eberhart, Jr., as vice-president, J. C. Eberhart, Jr., as secretary, and Marvin Campbell as treasurer. The directors are C. Studebaker, J. M. Studebaker, M. V. Beiger, A. Eberhart and Marvin Campbell. Mr. Eberhart had invented an all knit-wool boot and a one-half interest in the patent was sold to the company for $100,000. The boot is a joint invention of Mr. Eberhart and Mr. Beiger, and as the business progressed, as many as one dozen patents have been taken out and large and convenient shops have been erected, two of them very large and three stories high; another, 32x50, and three stories high; and still another 90x32, three stories high, besides other buildings such as boiler-house, dry kilns, etc. The company does an annual business of $200,000; employs from 140 to 150 persons and is a very important industry. This is the only all knit-wool boot made in the world. Besides these interests, Mr. Eberhart owns and rents four farms, aggregating 480 acres of fine farming land. From 1860 to 1862 Mr. Eberhart erected a commodious brick residence on East Second street, in which he still resides. On April 25, 1847, he married Sarah A. Boyd, born January 28, 1829, at Lynchburg, Va., daughter of James and Ann (Rohr) Boyd. James Boyd was born in 1807, in West Virginia, of an old colonial family, of Irish descent. He was a carpenter by trade and came to Mishawaka, in 1837, and was well known among the old pioneers. He passed the remainder of his days in this town, living to the age of sixty-three years. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Church, he being one of its foundera in this town. He was the father of eight children, as follows: Sarah A., Elizabeth, Lucinda, Margaret, John W., James C., Robert F. and Charles. In politics he was first an old line Whig, but at the organization of the Republican party, united with that. He had three sons in the great Civil war: John, who was in the Eighty- seventh Regiment I. V. I .; James C., who was in the one-hundred-day service, and Robert F., who was in Company I, Ninth Regiment I. V. I., who was one of the first to enlist in the first company that went from Mishawaka. He died in 1861, at Cheat Mountain, W. Va. (For more complete history of . the Boyd family see sketch of John W. Boyd.) To Mr. and Mrs. Adolphus Eberhart have been born six children: Ida L., who died at the age of twenty nine, having married, and left two children; Flora G .; James C .; Frederick G .; William, who died at the age of seven years, and Everett G. Mr. and Mrs. Eberhart are members of the Methodist Church, in which he hae held the offices of steward and class-leader. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and was one of the founders of the party in the county. He has always been a public-spirited man, in favor of all things conducive to the

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improvement of his county, but so many of the private enterprises in which he is engaged engross his attention to such a degree that he has always declined public office. Possessing the confidence of the people he might have aspired to any office, but has only accepted the presidency of the Board of Township Trustees. Perhaps there is no man now living in Mishawaka, who has been more fully identified with its business interests, or who has, for more years, been so active and efficient a business man. He began when a mere boy, and has always pursued an enterprising, ener- getic and honorable business course which, in his old age, he still continues with unabated vigor, having but recently originated an enterprise, unique in its character, of practical and substantial benefit, not only to himself, but to his fellow-townsmen. Through his long career his integrity has been unimpeached and his manly course in life should be emulated by his descendants.

GEORGE W. SHOCK, manufacturer of paint mixers and special machinery, has a well-appointed establishment at the foot of Washington, on West Race street, and can claim more than his proportionate share of popularity among the business men of South Bend, for he has been a resident of the town ever since his birth, Septem- ber 30, 1859, during which time nanght has ever been said derogatory to his honor. His parents, Jeremiah and Caroline (Rulon) Shock, are of German-French descent, the birth of the former occurring in Pennsylvania in 1828. In 1843, or when fifteen years of age, he came to South Bend and engaged in blacksmithing and horse-shoeing in partnership with his brother Daniel-with whom he learned his trade. He later opened a little establishment of his own and manufactured the first steel plow ever made in the town. Their shop was located on the corner where the new elegant Presbyterian Church stands, but in 1849, having been taken with severe cases of the "gold fever " they sold out and crossed the plains to California, making the journey by wagons. During the three or four years that Jeremiah remained in the West he was engaged in mining, but upon returning to South Bend he resumed blacksmithing, which businesa he successfully carried on for several years. He then went to work for Oliver, Bissell & Little and later for the Oliver Plow Works, and did all the work for the water-works stand pipe. He was considered one of the most skillful blacksmiths in the county, and his services were at all times in requisi- tion. He died in July, 1890, but his widow and six children survive him, the names of the latter being Frank, George W., Flora, Lewis, John and Charles. George W. Shock was educated in the schools of South Bend, and in his youth learned the carriage-finishing business, and later the machinist's trade. In April, 1889, he started in business for himself and has since continued with success, for he is a fine mechanic himself and employs none but skilled and experienced workmen. He has a reputation of a high order for making a very superior grade of paint mixers and special machinery, and none bnt the very best articles are sent out from his estab- lishment. Mr. Shock is the owner of some valuable real estate in the city and is in good circumstances financially. He is a Democrat politically, and socially is a mem- ber of the Royal Arcanum. In 1880 he was married to Miss Lura Jaquith, by whom he has two children: Olive, aged ten years, and George A., Jr., aged one year.

ABRAHAM SHANK, who for many years was a resident of Harrison township, and who died in the month of January, 1889, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, in February, 1831, a son of Samuel and Catherine (Barrick) Shank, who were early residents of Montgomery county, Ohio, and there reared a family of four children: Noah, Abraham, Daniel and Mary. All these children reached mature years but the daughter died when a young lady. After the death of the father in Ohio the mother came to Elkhart county, Ind., and was here married to Jacob Dillman, but both are now deceased. Her eldest child, Noah, settled in Harrison township of this county, reared a family and all his children are living in that township, some on the old home place; Daniel lives in Michigan, a man of family; Abraham came to this county with his mother in 1860 and settled on the farm where his son John and his family are living. He married after coming here, Miss Catherine F. Whey-

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mer, who was born in Philadelphia, Penn., and died in May, 1885, her parents being Frederick and Catherine (Henning) Wheymer. Mrs. Shank came to this county with her parents in an early day and settled in Harrison township and the father died in this county, the mother being still a resident of Goshen. Mrs. Shank was one of a large family of children: Catherine L., Emma, Maggie, Lina, Sophia, Sadie, William, Frederick and George, two of whom are living in Goshen. Mrs. Shank is the only one out of this family that is deceased. Abraham Shank was married in Elkhart county and settled on the farm in Harrison township, where he followed farming for some time. In politics he was with the Democratic party and in religion has been connected with the Lutheran Church. He was a reliable and substantial citizen and held a number of offices in the township, all of which he has filled in a very satisfactory manner. He was always active in assisting every good enterprise, but his means were not decreased thereby for he became the owner of a good farm of 200 acres, which farm is as well improved as any place in the county. He was an energetic, pushing man of business, and his prosperity was well merited. His children are as follows: Clara, who was born April 13, 1862; John C., was born March 26, 1864, is married to Alice Bechter, a daughter of Henry Bechter and they have one boy, Ernest, who was born Febru- ary 7, 1891 (Joho attended the district schools and grew up on the old home farm, assisting his father in the work of the farm and after his marriage lived for two years on the farm of Henry Bechtel. He is a Democrat politically, is a public- spirited young man, and is now engaged in general farming and stockraising); Emma is the next in order of birth, was married in 1866, and is the wife of David Bechtel; Lonis, whose birth came next, is living in Goshen, working in the hard- ware store of that place (he is married to Miss Norah Swartz, a daughter of a prominent citizen of the county, and in politics is a Democrat); Harley was born No- vember 28, 1871, has assnmed part of the management of the home farm, is a well informed young man, and politically is a Democrat; Josephine, was born in 1873; Ada; Catherine; Sadie, who died in 1880, and Lula. The father and mother were lifelong members of the Lutheran Church, were worthy, honest and upright people who endeavored to live correct lives and, judging by the high respect in which they were held and by the numerous friends they gathered about them, evidently did so.

H. B. APP. Among the most noted and representative business men of the flour- ishing city of Bristol, Ind., stands the name of H. B. App, whose high reputation and material prosperity came as the reward of unusual natural abilities, industriously ap- plied. He is now a prominent merchant of that city, has a good share of patronage and support, and as he is a gentleman of keen business ability, and keeps none but the best of goods, his trade has increased in a very flattering manner. He is a na- tive of the Keystone State, born in Snyder county April 26, 1852, and is a son of John H. and Sarah A. (Bassler) App, both natives of Snyder county, Penn. This family is of German descent and its members were early pioneers of Snyder county. The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation, and continued to till the soil in his native State until 1861, when he came to Indiana. locatiog one and a half miles west of Bristol, where he purchased a farm ou which he lived for a number of years. The mother passed away in 1874 and the father followed her to the grave in 1888. They were the parents of two sons, H. B. and D. W., the latter station agent at Quincy, Mich. H. B. App was but nine years of age when he came with his parents to this county, and his educational advantages were received in the public schools. He grew to manhood on the home place and continued to assist his father in tilling the soil until 1883. when he began clerking for W. R. Merritt. with whom he con- tinned until 1890. At that time he embarked in merchandising for himself and now has one of the best stocked general stores in Bristol. He carries a general line of all kinds of merchandise and is a man of excellent business qualifications and good habits. He was president of the board of health for one term, and for one term was town trustee. He selected his life companion in the person of Miss Sarah Rongh, and

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their marriage was celebrated in 1875. This union resulted in the birth of two sons and a daughter: Fred H., Earl B. and Jessie M. In his political affiliations Mr. App is a Democrat and takes a great interest in his party, being one of the leaders of the same in his community. He is the present chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Bristol, and is as generous a friend and genial companion as one conld wish to meet.

D. B. I. SCHAFER. In the whole range of commercial enterprise no interest is of more importance than that respecting the sale of groceries. This fact is recog- nized and appreciated by all thoughtful people, and therefore the matter of the selection of a dealer from whom to purchase onr supplies calls for careful consid- eration and discriminating judgment. In this connection it is with genuine pleas- ure that attention is called to the well-known and reliable house of D. B. I. Schafer, whose place of business is located at 201 North Michigan street and 107-109 Colfax avenne, South Bend, Ind. Being conducted on sound mercantile principles and its management characterized by energy and ability, Mr. Schafer has from the start enjoyed a large and prosperous trade, the unequivocal excellence of the goods handled, coupled with upright and honorable dealing, being among the special features contributing to the positive and permanent success that has attended the enterprise from its inception. Mr. Schafer was born in Cleveland, Ohio, February 21, 1858, a son of Christian and Catherine (Ahr) Schafer, natives of Germany, the former of whom sailed for America when nineteen years of age and located in the vicinity of Cleveland, where he worked out by the day on a farm. About 1862 he removed to Adams county, Ind., where he purchased a farm, on which he remained until 1881, when the city of South Bend became his home and remained such until his death, in 1889. His widow, who has been a resident of this country since she was three years of age, and eight children, survive him, the names of the latter being as follows: John, of Elkhart, Ind .; Mrs. Rev. B. Roh; Jacob and Fred, of Adams county, Ind. ; Mrs. H. Folke, of South Bend; David B. I .; Edward and Dr. A. F. One child, named Anna, is deceased. D. B. I. Schafer was brought up on a farm in Adams county, Ind., in the district schools of which he received his education. After moving to Decatur, Ind., he was employed in the Grand Rap- ids & Indiana Railroad office for about four years, but after coming to Sonth Bend he secnred employment in the wagon works of Studebaker Bros., where he remained a short time. He was next employed in the grocery house of Tobias Sterns, with whom he remained one year, after which he embarked in the grocery business in partnership with E. T. Ivins, the name of which firm remained Schafer & Ivins for four years, when Mr. Schafer bought his partner's interest and has since continued the business alone. In 1889 he moved to his present stand, where he keeps a large stock of choice and fresh groceries, for which his prices are very reasonable. Mr. Schafer started out in life withont means, but energy has prevailed and he has now at his command a comfortable competency and numerous friends. He landed in South Bend with only $1.50 in money and a total stranger to every one, but he possessed those genial qualities which soon win friends. and the sturdy per- severance and industry which can not fail to sooner or later bring the possessor wealth. He is still a young man, and will, without doubt, be a wealthy man before the winter of old age has laid its whitening touch on his hair. He is highly esteemed in the social circles of South Bend, and is a member of the fol- lowing fraternities: The I. O. O. F., in which he has passed all the chairs and was trustee of Sonth Bend Lodge, No. 29; South Bend Encampment, No. 9, for four years, and was captain of the South Bend Canton, No. 9 for four years; Cru- sade Lodge, No. 14, and South Bend Division, No. 21, U. R. of the K. of P .; Shipshewana Tribe, No. 12, I. O. R. M .; South Bend Conncil, No. 347, Royal Arca- uum; South Bend Lodge, No. 294, F. & A. M .; South Bend Chapter, No. 29, R. A. M .: South Bend Commandery, No. 13, K. T. and the Order of Elks. He has been captain of the Uniform Rank of the K. of P. for six years and is prominent

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in all the societies to which he belongs. In May, 1892, he made the race for mayor and cut down the Democratic majority from 876 to 36, thus showing that he had numerous admirers and friends.

HARVEY W. KANTZ, township trustee, attorney at law and insurance agent of Bristol, Ind., was horn in Snyder county, Penn., October 31, 1863, and is a son of Simon B. and Sarah (Wetzel) Kantz, natives of the same county in Pennsylvania and of German ancestry. Our subject's maternal grandfather, Henry Wetzel, was a rel- ative of Daniel Boone's companion, Lewis Wetzel, who was a noted Indian fighter during pioneer days. The grandfathers on both sides were farmers, but were also mechanics and gunsmiths. Simon B. Kantz followed agricultural pursnits as his chosen calling and died May 1, 1872, having passed his entire life in his native county. His widow is still living and resides at Freeburg, Snyder Co., Penn. Two sons and six daughters were born to this worthy couple, six of whom are uow living. The fourth in order of birth of this family, Harvey W. Kantz, was reared in his native county and there received the principal part of his education, graduating from Freeburg Academy in the fall of 1882 with first honors. He had made up his mind to come west after graduating, and this he accordingly did, arriving in Danville, Ind., in the fall of that year. After attending the Indiana Normal School for a short time he came to Bristol and the following spring went to Valparaiso, Ind., where he attended school, taking one course. Returning to Bristol he taught three terms of school in that vicinity, but during intervals attended the Indiana State University, located at Bloomington. In 1886 he went to Florida and located at Bartow, where he was engaged in teaching school. After spending nearly two years in the sunny South he returned to Bristol, thence to Goshen, where he studied law with Wilson & David and was admitted to the bar. He subsequently located at Bristol and bas practiced hia profession here since. He tanght two terms of school on returning to Bristol, but the principal part of his time and attention is given to his profession. He has been successful in his practice and has achieved prominence and distinction as a member of the bar. He was elected township trustee in April, 1890, and has been city treasurer for one term. On the 5th of March, 1884, he married Miss Laurs B. Mitchell, by whom he has one daughter, Ruth V. Socially he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P. Mr. Kantz is a rising young man, who bids fair to make his way in the world and is classed among the best citizens of Elkhart county.

REV. A. B. CHAFFEE is probably one of the most prominent clergymen in the city of South Bend, having charge of the First Baptist Church in this place. As a pastor he gets very near to his people, and has ever sought to develop the highest type of social life of the church. He has made himself the personal friend of each member of the church, sympathizing with them in trouble and rejoicing with them in their glad- ness. He was born in Philadelphia, Penn., June 19, 1852, a son of James and Har- riet (Billings) Chaffee, natives of Springfield, Mass., and Somerville, Conn., respect- ively, the latter's birth occurring at what was known as Billings' Mills. The Chaf- fees are of English origin, and their genealogy is traced back to the latter part of the seventeenth century. The paternal grandfather, Elam Chaffee, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and the majority of the members of the family were farmers and mechanics. For several years the grandfather and father of the subject of this sketch worked in the armory at Springfield, Mass., but the former was called from this life in the State of Connecticut. James Chaffee was a merchant in Philadelphia for over thirty years, having gone there when a young man, but in 1866 he removed to Saratoga Springs, N. Y., where he resided for about nine years. a portion of which time he was engaged in keeping hotel. He then removed to Union, N. J., twelve miles from the city of New York, and there lived retired from the active duties of life, dying in the fall of 1880, his widow surviving him until 1889, her death occurring at Franklin, Ind. They were the parents of three sons: Edward J., a wholesale dry goods merchant of New York City; Theodore S., of Avondale, N. J., and Rev. A. B., of South Bend. The latter was a resident of the city of "Brotherly Love" until

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twelve years of age, and was an attendant of the public schools of that city. Upon the removal of his parents to Saratoga Springs, he entered the Williston Seminary, at East Hampton, Mass., from which institution he graduated in 1869 in the scien- tific course. He was then in business with his brother in New York City for one year, at the end of which time he began fitting himself for college in Saratoga in 1870-2, entering the University of Rochester in the last mentioned yesr, in which he remained until the spring of 1874. He then met with an accident and was com- pelled to return home. In the fall of that year he entered the University of New Jersey, at Princeton, and graduated from that noted institution of learning in 1876. The three succeeding years were spent in the Rochester Theological Seminary, where he completed his studies in 1879, after which he immediately came West, and wss professor of Latin, language and literature of Franklin (Indiana) College, and pro- fessor of chemistry and physics from 1887 to 1889 in the same institution. From June to September, 1887, he took a term in chemistry at Harvard university, and from 1889 to 1890 he was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Seymour, Ind. In September of the latter year he was called to South Bend, and has since ably filled the pulpit of the First Baptist Church. Mr. Chaffee is a well-educated gentleman, possesses a fine and original mind, and is a fluent, forcible and eloquent speaker. He has a large and select congregation, the membership of which has greatly increased since he took charge, and many valuable improvements in the church have been made. Mr. Chaffee is a member of the Greek Delta Psi, and has been a member of the Cli- osophie, of Princeton, N. J., Indiana Academy of Science, the American Association of Science, K. O. T. M., the Humane Society and the Y. M. C. A. He takes s deep interest in the moral, spiritual, intellectual and social life of the city, and is doing all in his power to improve the tone of society. He is recording secretary of the Indiana Baptist State Convention. In May, 1879, he was married to Miss Laura Putnam, of Saratoga Springs, N. Y., and of seven children born to them six sre liv- ing: Harold P., Eleanor B., James F., Arthur B., Jr., Margaret C., Mary E. (deceased) and Laurence E.

ISAAC N. ALVERSON. No better class of citizens came to the United States than those who emigrated from bonny Scotland, and who brought, as their inheritance from Highland ancestors, the traits of character and life which have ever distingnished that race. The Alversons came originally from Scotland and were early settlers of York State. The paternal grandfather, William Alverson, was & soldier in the Revolutionary war and during his younger days was a merchant in Utica, N. Y. He built the second log cabin in that city and there made his home until his death. He was s very prominent man. His son, William, was born in the Empire State and cultivated the soil there until 1836, when he came to Indiana and located in what is now Bristol. He came by way of the Erie Canal and lakes to Detroit, and from there to Bristol by wagon. Purchasing a farm near the town he began clear- ing it of the heavy timber with which it was covered and erected a cheap board house, in which he aud his family lived until they could make better improvements. He crossed the plains to California in 1849, and was interested in mining for four yesrs. Then returning to Indiana he made his home in Elkhart county until his death, in 1878. He was married in his native State to Miss Ellen Brace, who sur- vived him until 1880. To them were given seven children, six living, as follows: Chloe, wife of Homer Adams; Isaac M .; Cornelia, widow of S. B. Romaine; Benja- min; Lewis and Theodore. Mrs. Alverson was of German descent and the daughter of Benjamin Brace, who followed the occupation of an agriculturist and owned a farm four miles from Utica, N. Y., on which one of his daughters resides at the pres- ent time. Our subject was born in Utica, N. Y., January 2, 1825, and when about eleven years of age came with his parents to Elkhart county, and received such edu- cation as the schools of that day afforded. He was obliged to work hard to clear op the new farm, and schooling was not considered an absolute necessity in those days. He remained under the paternal roof until 1850 and then, with a company, he crossed

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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 102

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

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