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 104

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 104
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 104

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to serve to their best mutual advantage, and under his keen, careful supervision the house has attained s position in the foreground in its line. Mr. Hobbs was married in 1880 to Miss Eliza Smedley, of Aurora, Ill., by whom he has four children: W. R. Hobbs' career has not been one of a varying nature, it has been a safe, healthy, energetic, progressive career, in proof of which he builds this year a double, four- story, ornamental brick block on the corner of Michigan and Wayne streets, to which, when completed, he will move his present business.

E. R. VANDERHOOF. A well-stocked and thoroughly equipped drug store is a great convenience in any community, and Mr. Vanderhoof is fully alive to the re- quirements of the public io his line of business, and the able manner in which he conducts it proves at once that he is fully abreast of the times and is a thoroughly qualified druggist. His place of business is located at 216 West Washington street. He was born in Louisville, Stark county, Ohio, October 31, 1853, a son of Aaron and Mary F. (Moffitt) Vanderhoof, who were also born in the Buckeye State. The Vanderhoof family originally came from the land of windmills and they and the Moffitts were among the first settlers of Stark county, Ohio. The paternal grand- father, Patrick Vanderhoof, was & farmer and donated forty acres of land to the Catholic Church of Louisville, Ohio. The father of the subject of this sketch came to South Bend many years ago and became book-keeper for Studebaker Bros., and also for the Oliver Plow Works and at one time was engaged in the grocery business. He died in this city and here bis widow still lives with her six children: Edward R., Albert, Amy, Mary, John and Stella. Edward R., whose name heads this sketch, was partially resred in Louisville, Ohio, but when & lad came to South Bend with his father and obtained & good education in St. Patrick's Parochial School, after which, for eleven years, he was a clerk in a drug store. At the end of this time he became & dairyman and at the same time farmed until 1887, when he opened a drug store of his own in South Bend in partnership with G. R. Summers, with whom he has since been connected. They keep an excellent stock of pure, fresh drugs and all the various articles belonging to the business. The store is neatly and tastefully appointed and supplied with every modern convenience, and is made attractive by handsome show windows. Their business is large and constantly increasing and their establishment is recognized As one of the prominent business institutions of the city. Dr. Vanderhoof also owns s fine farm of 120 acres in Clay township and is quite an extensive dealer in fine stock, being particularly fond of fast trotters, 01 which he owns some creditable and exceptionally speedy animals. His cattle sre also finely bred. He rents his land, as he has no time or inclination to look after it him- self. In 1880 he was married to Miss Mary A. Summers, and their union has re- sulted in the birth of two sons and two daughters: Catherine, Mamie, Edward and John. He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church and are highly regarded in the social circles of South Bend.

EPHRAIM MUSSER, 8 well known citizen of Elkhart county, is a product of Wayne county, Ohio, where he was born on the 1st day of February, 1836, the elder of two children born to Isase and Fannie (Shirk) Musser, a short notice of whom is given in the sketch of Joseph Musser. Ephraim was reared in hie native county, and in the district schools of the neighborhood he obtained a good common-school educs. tion. When sixteen years of age he came to Indians with his parents, by wagon, and assisted in putting the home farm, which was a woodland tract, in a good state of cultivation and in improving it in various ways. He remained with his parents until 1864, having married, in 1857, Mary Martin, who was born in Canada, Novem- ber 4, 1836, a daughter of Joseph and Susanna (Wenger) Martin, who were Penn- sylvania people also, but who took up their residence in Canada in early days. The father died in the Dominion but the mother came west and died in Michigan when quite advanced in years. They were the parents of six children: Daniel, Mary, Anna, Simon, Zimmerman and Susanna, of whom Zimmerman and Daniel sre deceased. Mrs. Musser is the only one of the family residing in Indiana, the other

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members being residents of Michigan and Ohio. In 1865 Mr. Masser removed from the old home farm to the farm where he now lives, which had been partly improved, and here the knowledge which he had gained in clearing up the old home farm was of practical use to him and greatly assisted him in his efforts to improve and make habitable his place. Of the 160 acres which he owns over 100 acres are cleared, and as it is well located it is not only a desirable place of residence but is also valuable. The farm is substantially fenced and has excellent farm buildings, all in good repair. He has a fine orchard near his residence, surrounding which, for protection during the winter, is a fine natural grove. He has been at great pains to improve his place and his efforts in this direction have been well rewarded, for he has one of the neatest, prettiest and best kept farms in the county. He has devoted much of bis attention to stockraising, has been an exceptionally successful farmer and deserves his suc- cess, for he has been industrions, faithful to his interests and honorable in all his methods. He enjoys a wide circle of friends, is deservedly popular with all classes, and in politics has always been connected with the Republican party, the principles of which he upholds at all times. He is decidedly public spirited, is interested in schools and churches and has done his full share in improving his section of the country. He and his wife have reared three children: Sneanna, who was born May 31, 1865; Amanda, who was born December 29, 1868, is the wife of Noah Whisler, son of John H. Whisler, but in 1892 she was left a widow and is now at home with her parents; Enos, was born on the 22d of October, 1875, is at home and assists on the farm. Mr. Musser is one of the influential citizens of his section. Owing to his earnest efforts he is now in good circumstances. During the winter months be operates a feed-mill one day in each week, it being run by steam. Mrs. Musser came to this section with an uncle, Jonas Wenger, who resided for a time in Harrison township, this county, but eventually went back to Canada.

JOSEPH MUSSER, the youngest child of Isaac and Fannie (Shirk) Masser (see sketch in another part of this book), was born in Wayne county, Ohio, February 3, 1839, and until he attained his thirteenth year that county continued to be his home. He then came to Elkhart county, Ind., with his parents, and well remembers the long and tiresome journey thither. They "pitched their tent" on the identical farm on which Joseph is now living, and at once set to work to improve the farm which they had purchased; and not only succeeded in putting it in a good agricultural condi- tion, but greatly added to its value by the erection of substantial buildings suitable for a farm, and by the building of good fences. The knowledge of books acquired by Joseph Musser was such as was afforded by the country schools of Ohio and Indi- ana, but he was an intelligent youth, made fair use of his opportunities, and became a well-informed young man, capable of caring for others as well as himself, which he proceeded to do in 1861 by marrying Leah, the daughter of B. H. Curtis (see sketch of C. K. Curtis). Leah Curtis was born on May 27, 1844, in Canada, and was a child when her parents came to Elkhart county in 1857. She was chiefly reared in Olive township, and after her marriage she and Mr. Musser located on the old Musser homestead, which has been their home up to the present Joseph Mns- ser is the owner of 100 acres of well-improved land, the most of which is cleared and under cultivation, and is well improved with neat farm buildings. Mr. Musser is a thrifty tiller of the soil, and is one of the substantial citizens of his township and, as such, is considered by all who know him. In the past he has taken an act- ive interest in politice' affairs; is a stauch Republican. He assists with his means and influence all worthy enterprises, churches and schools especially receiving his patronage. He is a prominent member of the Mennonite Church, to which his wife also belongs, and in that faith they have reared their two children: Julia A .. born July 20, 1862, became the wife of Ishmael Weaver, by whom she had three children -two boys and one girl-both of whom died; she is now the wife of Dauiel Horst, and is living on a farm in Harrison township, the mother of one child, Clarence, who was born on April 5, 1891; and Fannie, who was born September 13, 1865. is the

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wife of Isaac S. Good, of Harrison township, by whom she has two children, Elsie, born July 25, 1886, and Milo, born June 6, 1890. Joseph Masser's grandparents were John and Mary (Martin) Musser. His father was born in Lancaster county, Penn., May 29, 1812; was married in Juniata county, and in 1835 removed to Wsyne. county, Ohio, where he tilled the soil until his removal to this county and State in. 1852. The farm on which they settled was cleared to some extent, and a log house. was built thereon; and although they were compelled to work very hard for some time they were comfortable. The mother was a daughter of Joseph and Margaret. (Shelby) Shirk, nativea of Pennsylvania, the former of Lancaster county and the lat- ter of Bucks county. Joseph Shirk's father was Michael Shirk, and his wife was a daughter of John and Margaret Shelby, the maiden name of the latter being Yelous. Mrs. Fannie Musser was born in Pennsylvania July 28, 1815, and at about the age. of twenty she was married and moved to Ohio by wagon, the journey thither occupy- ing seven or eight days. In that State the father died in May, 1864. His widow is. now seventy-seven years of age, enjoys comparatively good health, and is in posses- sion of all her mental faculties.

MILO A. SMITH. The State of Vermont is always suggestive of the honest, hard and rugged characters in human life. It presents to the mind pictures of the bold Green Mountain Boys and brave Ethan Allen before the gates of Ticonderoga. It was people like those who won their independence from the British king and erected the basis of this great American nation. It is their descendants who have come out in the West and formed the nucleus, of a great territory and a great. people. Milo A. Smith, of South Bend, Ind., came of this stock. He was born in Rutland county. Vt., in 1838. His father was also a native of the same county but his mother, whose maiden name was Sarah T. Hall, was born in Richmond, Va. Both, however, were of the good old English Puritan stock who had the courage in the cause of Christian liberty to break the heart strings which bound them to home and kindred and come to a "rock-bound coast" in search of a spot where they could exercise the true rights of man and womanhood. The father of Milo A. Smith took up the practice of law in his native State, a profession he followed for many years. His legal connections brought him to a certain extent into the political arena and he was elected for several successive terms to the State Legislature. When Milo was fourteen years old, hia family came west locating first in Plymouth, Maraball county, Ind. This was 1852 and transportation facilities were not then what they are to-day. It is true, part of the trip was made by rail but the greater portion of the route was by water. Mr. Smith's stay in Plymouth, however, was of but a few years' duration, but while there he resumed the practice of law and became & justice of the pesce. In 1858 he removed to Mishawaka in the same State, and here, too, he meted out justice to offenders from the judge's bench. Death, however, cut short his career in Misha- waka. He died there in 1862. His wife survived him twenty-one years, dying in 1883. Milo Smith was one of a family of six children. Like any lad of fourteen, Milo enjoyed the novelty of bis trip from the land of Green Mountains to the land of Hoosierdom. His education was received mainly in his old Vermont home. He did not come West to obtain an education but to grow up with the country and add his muscle and brain to the hosts striving to win fortune in new and untried fields. At the early age of eighteen, in 1856, he began his business career. Some induce- ments were offered him and he went south to Memphis, Tenn., where he engaged in the grocery and commission business. In that enterprise he showed his business ability, for he made a success of it and kept it in a healthy and prosperous condition until 1861. It was then the troublous times between the North and the South finally culminated in the Rebellion. There were many Northerners south of Mason and Dixon's line, and many were engaged in successful business enterprises. The war alarm reached their ears, but they could not believe the country was to be thrown into a fearful fratricidal war. But the boom of the cannon which fired upon Fort Sumter came, and its dreadful note could not be mistaken; it spoke in words too

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plain to be doubted that the crisis had come. Just at this time sickness and desth caused Mr. Smith to return to Mishawaka, where he remained until the spring of 1862. His ambition was too grest, however, to permit of his staying in that small Indiana village. He became restless to once more engage in the selling of merchan- dise where the field was larger and where he had greater scope for success. He moved to Chicago and was soon established in the commission business, a field he had found very profitable while in the South. For four years was he thus occupied until 1866, when circumstances made it desirable for him to once more go back to Indians. This time, however, he pitched his tent in South Bend, s town of some considerable prominence and only a short distance from his old home, Mishawaka. Here Mr. Smith opened s book and stationery store and there he has remained ever since. His business instinct led him to do this at a time when success was very promising. His establishment has grown steadily and prospered and is to-day one of the leading mercantile enterprises of an enterprising town. Personally Mr. Smith is looked upon as one of the representative business men of South Bend. He has dealt fairly and honestly with his trade, and traits such as those coupled with keen business ability, knowing first how to buy goods, that he might sell them at a profit and still underbid his competitors, and studying carefully the wants of his custom- ers, could have but one result-success and prosperity in a high degree. This Mr. Smith bas desired and this he has obtained. Milo A. Smith has been twice married, His first wife was Miss Helen Van Pelt, of Memphis to whom he was united in 1864. Four children were the result of this union, two boys and two girls. The former are named Milo H. and Clarence A. and the latter Annie and Helen M. In 1887 he escorted to the altar Miss Alice C. Patterson of Mason county, Ky., who st the time resided in South Bend and was a member of the Presbyterian Church. To s man of Mr. Smith's tastes clubs, orders, societies and politics can have but few charms. Being an American, he regards his franchise as a gift not to be cast away. He therefore votes conscientiously, but he has never been an office seeker nor a politician in any sense. As for societies, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and that covers the entire list. It is men like Milo A. Smith who are the strength and back- bone of this great country. Blood will surely tell, and men who come from the good old Puritan stock and are reared in an atmosphere of honesty, and good principles will assuredly make their mark in whatever field of life's labor fate may destine them to work.

DR. REUBEN L. LOCKWOOD. This eminent physician and worthy citizen springs from one of the earliest pioneer families of Elkhart county, for his father, Seylon Lockwood, came to this region in 1830 with his father, Samuel Lockwood, and made a settlement in Locke township prior to its organization. Seylon Lockwood was mar- ried to Frances Molebash, and by her became the father of six children, the eldest of whom was the subject of this sketch. The next was Elizabeth E., who became the wife of Samuel Stratton, of Elkhart; William F. is unmarried, and is attending the H. P. Medical College of Chicago; John W. is unmarried, and is a resident of Michigan; Lucy A., died in 1891, at the age of nineteen years; and A-, who lives with the parents in Madison township, St. Joseph Co., Ind. Dr. Reuben L. Lockwood was born in Locke township, Elkhart county, December 23, 1858, and on the old Lockwood homestead he was brought up, obtained a practical knowledge of agricultural pursuits, and learned lessons which have largely assisted in bringing about his present success. During the winter months he found time to attend the district schools in the vicinity of his rural home, but he was quick to grasp at new ideas, and made fair progress in his studies. He remained at home until he attained the age of twenty-one years, when he began working at the carpenter's trade, and followed this calling for four years. At the end of this time he began learning teleg- raphy in an office of the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad, after which he went to Kansas, and remained a resident of the Sunflower State for about one year. Returning to his old home in Indiana, he began the study of medicine in the office of

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Dr. H. A. Miman, now of Elkhart, but then of Nappanee, and after & year thus spent he entered the H. P. College of Cleveland, Ohio, which he attended from 1886 to 1888, graduating in the latter year. He at once opened an office at Wakaruss, and since that time has built up & paying practice, for the people soon came to recognize the fact that he is well posted in his profession, that he was skillful, and that he was a faithful and conscientious practitioner. His reputation has gone abroad, and among his medical brethren he is often consulted, and highly valued. From the onerous and laborions duties of his profession, he has found time to interest himself in public matters, and ranks among the foremost in supporting measures which are designed to benefit the county. He has always been a Democrat in politics, as were his father and grandfather before him, and his services to his party were recognized in 1892 by his election to the position of county commissioner. His practice extends all over Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, and is especially large in the township where he was born and reared. He has been more than ordinarily successful in the treatment of rheumatism, but is an excellent and reliable all around physician, of which fact the public is thoroughly aware. He is unmarried.

WILLIAM INWOOD, vice-president of the Sandage Steel Skein Company, of South Bend, was born in Center township, St. Joseph county, Ind., October 1, 1847, a son of Richard and Catherine (Rush) Inwood, the former a native of England, the latter of Ohio. The Rush family were pioneers of Pennsylvania and there settled on a Tomahawk claim. Benjamin Rush, an early member of this family, was a prominent man of his day and was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The family removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio and settled in the vicinity of Dayton, but some of the name are still residents of the Keystone State. The maternal grand- father, Leonard Rush, had two sons, Jacob and Isrsel, Jr., who came from Ohio to St. Joseph county, Ind., about 1830 and located in what is now Olive township, on Terre Coupee Prairie, of which they were among the very first settlers, and where they entered quite & large tract of land, theirs being among the first land entries on record. Jacob Rush plowed the first furrow on this prairie and was the first to cultivate the land in that section. Israel Rush built the first log cabin there, and soon afterward their father followed and took up his residence with them. The Black Hawk Indians were still numerous throughout that region, and at one time 8 fort was erected for protection against them, but their alarm was needless and the whites were never molested. Jacob Rush took a contract from the Government to open the Michigan Military Road, receiving in return therefor 160 acres of land for each mile of road opened. He opened this celebrated road from Plymouth to South Bend and the old homestead was & part of the grant. Leonard Rush was subse- quently elected to the position of State representative. The grandfather Rush became the father of twelve children and accumulated a comfortable fortune, being at one time the owner of 3,000 acres of land in northern Indiana, the most of which waa in St. Joseph county. He died on Terre Conpee Prairie. Richard Inwood, the father of the immediate subject of this sketch, was born in Holy Born, England, not far from the city of London, and when twenty-one years of age, in company with big brother William and two sisters, set sail for America in search of their fortunes. He went st once to Ohio, in which State he found himself in 1832, but the following year moved to St. Joseph county, Ind., leaving his two sisters in Ohio. A few months after settling in St. Joseph county, his brother William started for Ohio to bring the sisters to their new home, and on the way there was murdered near Fort Wayne, his corpse being found some three months after. Richard located in Mishawaka, where he secured employment in the iron works as a clerk. He subsequently became a partner in the mercantile establishment of Rush, Garst & Co., and coutinned thus associated for a number of years. Later he removed to & farm in Center township, to which occupation he devoted bis attention for a few years, then retired from the active duties of life and until his death, January 9, 1878, was a resident of South Bend. His first wife died in 1858, having borne

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him three children: George, of Vancouver, British Columbia; William, the subject of this sketch, and Mary, wife of George Matthews. His second union resulted in the birth of one child: Richard G., who is now a practicing lawyer in South Bend. William Inwood's early life was spent like that of the average farmer's boy; that is, he attended school during the winter months and assisted his father on the farm in the summer time. Upon starting out in life for himself it was perhaps but natural that he should choose that of farming, to which he had been reared, and to this occupation his attention was devoted with remarkable success until 1881, when he moved to South Bend and engaged in the coal, wood and lime business and at one time ran two of the principal yards in the city. In 1887 he purchased an interest in the Sandage Steel Skein Works and was shortly afterward made its vice-president, which position he has held ever since. This business has been very successful under its present management and Mr. Inwood has personally made s success of his career. He owns a fine farm in Greene township, which he looks after in connection with his other business. His success is attributable not only to innate business tact, but by his strict attention to his own affairs, by his never-failing conrtesy and by hia desire to do right by every one, be they poor or rich, man, woman or child. On September 7. 1875, he was mar- ried to Miss Maggie Byers, a native of St. Joseph county, by whom he has four children: John R., Nellie, Paul B. and Carrie M. Mr. Inwood is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the K. O. T. M., the A. O. U. W., the Grangers, and is a trustee of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. He has always been a Republican in his political views.

JOHN SCHWIN was born April 16, 1827, in Canton Berne, Switzerland, and although but five years of age when he came with his parents to America can well remember the appearance of the low house, with its steep, tiled roof, in which his father lived, the journey along the road to the Schaffhousen, and an immense oak tree, twenty-seven feet in circumference. The family took passage at Havre, France, in a sailing vessel, and landed in New York, the voyage occupying about thirty-six days. They took the route to the West via Albany & Erie Canal and Lake Erie from Buffalo to Cleveland. They first settled on land in Wayne county, Ohio, remained one year, and then moved to another farm in the same county, on which they resided for some time. After several removals Jacob Schwin bought a small farm in Wayne county and died on it January 13, 1854, when sixty-five years of age. His son, John Schwin (our subject), received but little education, and at sn early age was obliged to assist with the farm work. His father was a poor man and a stranger in a strange land, with no trade or profession. Although both him- self and wife were strong and healthy they had a severe struggle to bring up their large family of eleven children, and the boys were put out to work at the early age of ten years with a farmer in Wayne county, Ohio. John Schwin worked for different farmers until grown, and received his limited scholastic training in the country schools of his day. The people with whom he lived were Amish and kind- hearted, but did not believe in much book-learning and preferred to teach him to work. He was married in Wayne county, Ohio, to Miss Mary A. Speicher, daugh- ter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Yergin) Speicher. Mr. Speicher was born in Penn- sylvania and was of German descent. He was the father of ten children by two wives-five by each union. The children born to the first marriage were named as follows: Mary A., Frances, David, Catherine and Eliza. After the death of this wife Mr. Speicher married Miss Elizabeth Weiler, who bore him five children: Harriet, Rebecca, Rosannah, William and Emily. Mr. Speicher is still living, resides in Wayne county, Ohio, and is eighty-five years of age. He and wife are members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, of which he was descon for many years. In 1855, when twenty-eight years of age, Mr. Schwin came to Elk- hart county, Ind., and settled one and a half miles south of Goshen, where he resided three and a half years. In 1858 he went to Iowa, settled in Blackhawk

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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 104

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

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