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 105

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 105
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 105

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PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

county, but one year later returned to Elkhart county and bought fifty-two acres of land, where he now resides. This land had no improvements and Mr. Schwin went actively to work to clear and develop his farm. Many years of hard work followed, and as he had nothing to start with it may naturally be supposed that his road was anything but an easy one to travel. Although he met with many reverses and much to discourage him he never gave up and is now the owner of 168 acres of excellent land-one of the best farms in the county. It is all cleared and improved and is ornamented by a fine residence, an excellent barn and sub- stantial outbuildings. Everything about the place indicates to the beholder that an experienced and progressive hand is at the helm. His marriage has been blessed by the birth of eight children: Leo F., Emma L., John E., May A., Clement R., Ida M., Payson E. (who married Kate Boyd) and Anna B. (died January 1, 1878, aged nine years, eleven months and eighteen days). Leo. F. married Miss Ella Brown. He is connected with Arbuckle, Ryan & Co., of Toledo, Ohio, and is their collector. Emma L. married Joseph F. Nusbaum, a druggist of Middlebury, and is the mother of two children. John E. is a carpenter at Ft. Scott, Kas .; he married Miss Frances Mead. May A. married Rev. F. P. Blakemore, a Methodist preacher of Butler, Mo., and they have three children. Clement R. married Miss Grace Hosteter, has one child and is tilling the soil on the home place, and Ida M. married De Alton Rheubottom, editor of the Middlebury Independent, and they

have two children. Mr. and Mrs. Schwin are active members of the Lutheran Church and he has been deacon for twenty-five years. A Republican in politics, Mr. Schwin has held the office of assessor for four years and is a man in whom the people repose the utmost confidence. He has settled many estates and is widely known. His mother was a woman of a superior order of intellect, her standards all high, her influence always elevating. Her highest ambition was a mother'e -to instill the principles of truth and justice into the mind of her children and to make each a worthy and useful member of society. To her Mr. Schwin believes he owes his integrity of character and much of his success. She had a wonderful constitution, and although she endured many hardships in rearing her large family she reached the unusual age of eighty-three years five months and two days, dying July 17, 1877. She was a devout member of the Albright Church, and her memory is still revered. Payson E. Schwin, one of the sons of John Schwin, is a graduate of a veterinary college at Toronto, Canada, and stood highest in a class of 300 students, receiving a gold medal for his proficiency-the first ever awarded to any other than a Canadian. He is now practicing his profession with success at Elkhart, Ind. Jacob Schwin, the father of our subject, was a soldier in Napoleon Bonaparte's army, was in the Russian campaign, and was at the burning of Moscow, and was captured by the Russians.

JACOB D. PIPPENGER is a son of Daniel E. and Elizabeth (Stander) Pippenger, and was born on the farm on which he is at present residing on May 9, 1860, being the eighth in a family of ten children. He received only the advantages of the common schools in the winter months after he had become old enough to assist on the farm, but possessing a naturally bright intellect, he made the most of his oppor- tunities and became a good scholar. When he was twenty years of age he decided that he was competent to make his own way in the world, and as farming was the occupation with which he was most familiar, he began following that in Jackson township but two years later went to Union township, where he remained four years. At the end of this time he purchased the old home of his parents (in July, 1885) and now has one of the best improved tracts of land in the county, which desirable state of affairs he assisted in bringing about in his youth. The place contains eighty acres and as every nook and cranny is carefully looked after, it yields a larger income than many larger farms. He is engaged in a general line of farming, and stockraising is a branch to which he gives considerable attention. He is oue of the most enterprising young farmers of the county and has been decidedly successful in

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this calling. His marriage, which occurred August 19, 1880, was to Miss Sallie T. Stump, daughter of Solomon Stump, a sketch of whom appears in this work, and on whose farm she was born on November 29, 1859, being his second child. Like her husband she received her education in the common country schools, and both are members of the German Baptist Church. Their union has resulted in the birth of a daughter, Susan M., who was born in Union township on May 16, 1883, and is at present attending the common schools nesr her home. Mr. Pippenger is a pro- nounced Democrat, and being quite a reader, keeps himself well posted on the cur- rent issues of the day. He is by no means backward in the use of his means, but gives liberally to schools, churches, etc., in fact, all things tending to improve the county receive his hearty support. His home is a most desirable one, being hand- some. convenient and commodious, and his handsome barns and well-kept out-build- ings present a fine appearance, and are an indication of the enterprise and practical intelligence of the man.

JOHN LUKE. Nowhere within the limits of Elkhart county, Ind., can there be found a man who takes greater interest in its agricultural affairs than John Luke, or who strives more continually to promote and advance these interests. Every life has a history of its own, and although in appearance it may possess little to distin- guish it from others, yet the connection of Mr. Luke with the agricultural interests of this region has contributed to give him a wide and popular acquaintance with nearly every citizen of the county, if not personally, then by name. He was born in Holmes county, Ohio, on the old homestead, April 18, 1826, and is of German descent, both of his grandfathers having been natives of that country. After emi- grating to this country they settled in Jefferson county, Penn., where they became well-known and prominent citizens. The paternal grandfather reared the following children: Margaret (a Mrs. Fisher), Jacob, George and John. The last named was the father of our subject. He was born in Jefferson county, Penn., and his educa- tional advantages were confined to the common schools. After growing up, he se- lected agricultural pursuits as his calliog in life and went to Holmes county, Ohio, where he was among the very first settlers. He cleared up a farm of 160 acres, made a good home, and to this brought his bride, Magdalena Shutt, also of German descent. Five children were born to this marriage: Peter, Jacob, John, Daniel (who was accidentally killed at the age of fifteen) and Susan. Mr. Luke resided on this farm the remainder of his days and lived to be eighty-five years of age. He was a substantial farmer and a man of irreproachable character. Besides his farm in Holmes county, Ohio, he owned another farm in Fulton county, that State, and was well and favorably known. His son, John Luke, subject of this sketch, ac- quired his knowledge of books in the common schools of his day and when but a boy began learning the blacksmith's trade. On April 5, 1850, when twenty-four years of age, he was married in Holmes county, Ohio, to Miss Sarah Schrock, who was born May, 13, 1831, and who was the daughter of John C. and Katie (Hoch- stetler) Schrock. Nine children were the fruits of this union: Susannah, born February 1. 1851; Josiah, born March 3, 1853; William M., born July 13, 1855; John, born October 29, 1856; Sevilla, born February 12, 1859; Mary, born Febru- ary 16, 1861; Jacob, born March 16, 1863; Peter, born August 13, 1866, and El- . mira, born Angust 4. 1868. For fourteen years after his marriage Mr. Luke fol- lowed blacksmithing in Holmes county, Ohio, but also owned a farm of 100 acres in Berlin township. Formerly an old line Whig in politics, upon the formation of the Republican party he espoused the principles of that party and has been one of its warmest adherents since. For one term he held the office of justice of the peace. In April, 1864, Mr. Luke moved to Elkhart county, Ind., and worked at the black- smith's trade for some time. He purchased his present farm of 110 acres, but in connection with tilling the soil worked at the blacksmith's trade for ten years. Ha partially cleared up his farm, made many fine improvements, consisting of an excel- lent residence and a commodious barn which stands on a solid stone foundation.

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He has ever taken a deep interest in educational matters, has been a member of the school board, and he is also interested in good roads, being road supervisor of his township and superintendent one year. Naturally quiet and retiring, Mr. Luke has objected to holding public offices, although often urged to do so. He and wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and he held the office of descon and elder for many years. Upright and honorable in all his deslings he has set his chil- dren an excellent example of Christian life, and is well known for his industrious and manly course through life. His son, Josiah, married Miss Agnes Coonley and is the father of two children. He is now farming in Middlebury township. John married Miss Ella Nusbaum and has one child. He is farming in Clinton township this county. Sevilla married Lucius Prough, a farmer of La Grange county, Ind., and has four children. Mary married Albert Prough, a farmer of La Grange county, and has one child. Peter married Miss Alda Smith, and is engaged in the lumber business in Middlebury. The daughter, Elmira, received a good education in the graded schools of Goshen. Mr. Schrock, the father of Mrs. Luke, was born in Somerset county, Penn., and was of German descent. He moved to Holmes county, Ohio, but subsequently moved to Fulton county, that State, where he had a farm of 150 acres. He was the father of five children, all of whom lived to mature years. His first wife, formerly Kste Hochstetler, was the mother of four children: Jacob, Mary, Sarsh and Levi. After her desth he married Miss Mary Legerson, who bore him one child, who grew to womanhood, viz., Delila. They had other children, sll of whom died in childhood.

DAVID B. MILLER, who was one of the earliest pioneers of Union township, Elk- hart Co., Ind., moved to the farm where he now lives when the country was covered with timber and the settlers were few and far between. He was born in this county, Jackson township, August 18, 1838, and was the second child born to the union of John D. and Mary (Baker) Miller, natives of Montgomery county, Ohio, and Massachusette, respectively. The grandfather, David Miller, was a native of the Keystone State, and was an early settler in Ohio. At an early day he emigrated to Indians and settled in the woods of Jackson township in 1830, or about that time, when the country was & wilderness, inhabited only by wild animals and wilder sav- ages. He came to the county overland, and settled on eighty acres, built & log house, and immediately began clearing and improving. He reared three sons and four daughters, of whom our subject's father is the only one now living, but all resched mature years, married, and became the heads of families. They were named as follows: David, Samuel, John, Elizabeth, Catherine, Lydis and Susan. The mother of these children died in Ohio, and the father afterward married again, and two children, Michsel and Steven, were born to this union. Both are living in Mil- ford. The father died in Jackson township, where he had spent many years of his life. John D. Miller was born in 1812, and amid the rude pioneer scenes of Montgomery county, the father of our subject grew to manhood. He married Miss Mary Baker, a daughter of Caleb Baker, and later moved with his father to Elkhart county, Ind., and assisted the latter to clear up the farm. Later he moved to the farm where he now lives, and has resided there ever since. He is eighty years of age, and is the oldest pioneer in the county; s man who passed through all the trying experiences of an early settler, but whose record has ever been upright and honorable. He is a member of the German Baptist Church, and in politics he has ever been with the Whig and Republican parties. He is well posted on all subjects of importance, and his mind is as vigorous as ever. A man much attached to his home, he accumulated a handsome property, and now, during the sunset of his life, enjoys the accumula- tions of many years of hard labor. He reared ten children to whom he gave $1, 500 apiece, and his generosity in other directions has become well known. For over sixty years this venerable gentleman has been a resident of Jackson township, and during that time he has contributed bis share toward its development. His wife died abont 1830. Their children were named as follows: Catherine (deceased),

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Samuel (deceased), John N. (deceased), Hester, David B., Mary A., Aaron, Matilda, George W. and Martha J. Hester, married Jonas Shively, and resides in Goshen; Mary, married Michael Treesh, and resides in Goshen; Matilda, married John Dubbs and is a resident of Koscinsko county; Martha J., married David Blough and re- sides east of Milford, in Kosciusko county; Agron, married Miss Sarah Myers and is s resident of Jackson township, and George married Lydia Miller, and now livee

west of Goshen. All are well-to-do and prominent citizens. David B. Miller, our subject, was resred on his father's farm in Jackson township, and attended the dis- trict school in his neighborhood, securing a good, practical education. When eight- een years of age young Miller started out to fight life's battles for himself, and hired out by the month to a farmer.

When twenty-one years of age he married Miss Susan Smith, a native of Canada, born July 17, 1837, and who was but three years of age when she came to this country with her parents, John and Catherine (Snyder) Smith. Mr. Smith settled in Union township, this county, on 160 acres of land entered from the Government, and resided on this until his desth, in August 1890. He was a Democrat in politics, 8 public-spirited citizen, and & man of property. His wife was born in Canada, and was a daughter of Samuel Snyder. She is still living, is seventy-seven years of age, and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Miller. She had eight children, as follows: Susan, Mrs. Miller; Sarah, now Mrs. John Whitehead, residee in Jackson township; Christian, wife of Valentine White- head, also of Jackson township; Caroline, a widow, resides in Jackson township; Simeon resides in Union township; Jacob, resides at Waterford; John, who died four or five years ago, and Samuel resides in this county. Mrs. Miller was reared on her father's farm, received a fair education, and is a lady of more than ordinary ability. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Miller resided with his father for about a year and then moved to Union township, settling on the farm where they now reside. Mr. Miller bought forty acres, and forty seres were given his wife by her father. He used an ox team for eight years, and as he had bought his forty acres on time, he was obliged to work very hard to make anything. Ever public-spirited and enterprising, he allows no worthy movement to fail if he can prevent it, and in church work be takes a leading part. He and Mrs. Miller are members of the German Baptist Church, and he is active in educational matters. In his political viewe he affiliates with the Democratic party. To Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been born eight children: Aaron, born September 28, 1859, married Miss Amanda Mason, are residing in Har- rison township and he is engaged in farming; John, born March 1, 1861, married Miss Kate Werner, they have two children, Lulu and Leroy, and he is in the dry- goods and grocery business; Samson, born March 26, 1864, married Miss Mary Werner and they have one child, Floyd; Mary A., born February 1, 1867, became the wife of William Sinning, and is the mother of three children, Lloyd, Clyde and Calvin; Milton, born August 24. 1868, married Miss Alice Yoder, and resides in Goshen; Matilda, born March 19, 1870, married Ulysses Grant, of New Paris, and has one child, Vinson; Lydia, born March 5, 1872, is well educated and & teacher of note; Amanda, born September 19, 1874, is at home. The Millers are classed among the representative people of the county, and have ever been progressive and enterprising.

JESSE HIRE. Mr. Hire ie one of the oldest pioneer citizens of Elkhart county, Ind., and comes of German stock, inheriting all the thrift, enterprise and persever- ance of his Teutonic ancestors. His grandfather came from Germany at an early Su ZERIAN date and settled in Rockingham county, Va., where he married and reared his GRAVY CC family. His son, Rudolph, the father of our subject, and another son, Michael, are / LUV the only children remembered. Rudolph first saw the light of day in Rockingham county and was there married to Miss Annie Iman, daughter of Jacob Iman, who moved from Rockingham county, Va., settling at Upper Sandusky, Ohio, at an early date. After his marriage Rudolph Hire moved to Ross county, Ohio, and was among the very first settlers. Indians were numerous and not any too friendly. He

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cleared up a good farm, assisted by his son, and after years of hard labor became the owner of a very desirable home. All his children were born in Ross county and named as follows: Jemimah, Betsy, Nancy, Absolom, Jesse, John, Rudolph, Mary, William and Jacob. All grew to mature years, married and became the heads of families. In the fall of 1832 Mr. Hire moved with his family to Elkhart county, Ind., and with three four-horse teams made the journey in one week. He settled on the State road in Benton township, on the farm now occupied by John Hire, and entered 160 acres of land. Assisted by his sons, he began improving and develop- ing this farm, and on this he and his wife passed the closing scenes of their lives. Both were members of the Dunkard Church, and when going west Dunkard families wonld stop at the Hire house, where they were received with great hospitality, as was the custom in those days, and were never charged a cent. In politics Mr. Hire was a Democrat. Although a Dunkard in his religious belief, he was a soldier in the War of 1812, but being taken sick, hired a substitute. He was one of the old-time pioneers, and spent the best part of his days in developing and clearing the farm for future generations. He had but little education, but could read and write, and being a man of observation and thought, he was better posted, perhaps, than many who had better advantages. When young, and when a resident of Ohio, he killed many deer and experienced all the pleasures as well as the privations of pioneer life. He lived to the good old age of eighty-four years and died honored and respected by all. He was a very hard worker, following his duties on the farm until the last, and by his industry and good management accumulated a comfortable fortune. His son, Jesse Hire, was born January 21, 1811, in Ross county, Ohio, and was reared amid the rude surroundings of pioneer life. At an early age he became familiar with the hardships of the early settlers, and as was almost invariably the case with lads on the frontier, he was strong and stalwart, well fitted to bear his part in subduing the rude forces of nature. His educational advantages, as a matter of course, were limited, but he learned to read and write, and when twenty-one years of age came with his parents to Elkhart county, Ind., where he assisted his father to clear up a farm and make a home. He became an expert hunter and killed a great many deer, turkeys and coons, thus assisting to provide meat for the family. . He says that the old pioneer families enjoyed life better than the people of to-day and he remembers the good old days with pleasure. In March, 1831, when nineteen years of age, he was married in Ross county, Ohio, to Miss Rebecca Christie, who was born in 1813 and who was the daughter of Llewellyn Christie, a farmer of Rose county, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Hire was born one child who lived to mature years, Abraham. After the death of this wife Mr. Hire was married on September 18, 1838, to Miss Mary Koonce, daughter of Michael Koonce, a farmer of Elkhart, Ind. To this onion were born eight children, as follows: Nettie, Martha, Catherine, Sophronia, Jacob, Michael, Daniel and Jesse. Daniel died when twenty-eight years of age. Following the death of his second wife, Mr. Hire was married on May 17, 1868, to Mrs. Susan Fahl, formerly Miss Orchard, daughter of Aaron and Mary (Harper) Orchard. Mr. Orchard was one of the old pioneer settlers of Benton township, this county, but came originally from Ross county, Ohio. After residing in Elkhart county for many years he moved to Iowa and was one of the early settlers of Green county. and a prominent farmer. He was an upright, straightforward man and was highly esteemed. His children, eight in number, were named as follows: Eliza- beth, Gideon, Snsan, Naomia, Philip, Norman, Louisa and Mary J. To Mr. and Mrs. Hire have been born four children, only two now living, Emma and Gideon. Emma married Eli Price, a farmer of this township, and has one child. Gideon is at home. In politics Mr. Hire is a Democrat. He is a member of the Dunkard Church and his wife is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Hire's long life has been one of energy and industry, and he has resided on his present farm since 1834. He first entered forty acres, which he cleared of the heavy brush and timber with which it was covered, and gradually added to this until he owned a fine tract. For fifty-eight

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years he has resided on this farm, and Elkhart county has reason to be proud of this early pioneer who has done so much to win her a favorable reputation as an agricultural center, and whose career has ever been above reproach. He is probably the only man in the county who is living on the farm be entered from the Govern- ment. By thrift and industry he accumulated 410 acres but has given his children all but about 240 acres, which he still retains. Although eighty-two years of age, Mr. Hire is still active and industrious and still continues to work, and is probably the only man of his age in the county who can and does do a good day's work at farm labor. His son Abraham married Miss Margaret McNutt and they have five chil- dren; he was a farmer, but was also engaged in merchandising in Ligonier, Ind., he is now deceased; Nettie, married Alfred Juday, a carpenter, she is now deceased and left three children; Martha J. married Isaac Whitman, a farmer, and they have five children; Catherine, married Francis Ott, a farmer of Noble county, Ind., and has six children; Sophronia, married Curtis Grose, a baker of Ligouier, Ind .; Jacob, married Miss Rachel Culver, and has one child; he is a farmer of Noble county; Jesse married Miss Louisa Lamb and has two children; he is a farmer of Benton township, this county; Michael, married Miss Della Lamb, and resides on the home farm. Thus it may be seen that Mr. Hire has twenty-three grandchildren, ten of whom are married, and bas nine great-grandchildren. This is the most remarkable record in the county. Nearly a decade more than balf a century has rolled away since Mr. Hire entered land in the heart of the wilderness and cleared it of the virgin forest. He has seen the country develope, rich and productive farms take the place of wild and wooded land, and has contributed his full share toward its de- velopment. When he first settled on bis farm there were no roads and it was two years before the assessor fonnd bim. He built his first cabin with his own hands and understands fully the privations and hardships of pioneer days. Although Father Time has laid his whitening band on our subject's head, be still enjoys comparatively good health, and until recently worked in the field at any kind of farm work. He has an excellent memory and his mental faculties are unimpaired.

DR. JOHN BOROUGH bas devoted the greater part of his life to the calling of a physician, and as a practitioner of the " healing art " has met with more than an aver- age degree of success, and by bis skill and talent has driven the grim destroyer from many a home. He was born in Wyandot county, Ohio, March 17, 1843, his parents being Henry and Sarah (Critz) Borough. His great-grandfather came from the border countries between Germany and France, inheriting both French and German blood, and was the founder of the family in America, settling at George- town, D. C., where Frederick, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1769. He was given a common-school education, and learned the trade of a tailor, which he followed in after life. When a lad he saw Gen. Washington, and voted for him for his second term as president. He was married to Regina Kozer, who was born in Lancaster county, Penn., her parents having come from Germany. To this worthy couple these children were born: John, Catherine. Peter, Abraham, James, Samnel, Jacob, Henry. Lydia, Elizabeth, and one that died at the age of fif- teen years. Frederick Borough settled in Martinsburg, Va., where he lived for some years. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and while a tailor made a uni- form for Gen. Jackson, which line of work he made a specialty. In 1829 he moved with his family to Wayne county, Ohio, where he was one of the pioneers, but after a few years he began making his home with his children in Wyandot county, Ohio. He possessed a remarkably fine constitution, and worked at his trade until over eighty-five years of age, and regaining his second sight, he used no glasses. He reached the advanced and remarkable age of one hundred and four years, and died near Toledo, Ohio, at the home of his son James. His wife lived to be eighty-eight years old, seventy-two years of which time she was the wife of Mr. Borough. At the time of her death she had over one hundred and forty-seven descendants. Both Mr. and Mrs. Borough were members of the Evangelical Church, and Mr. Borough

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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 105

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

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