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 110

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 110
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 110

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time. He died five years later when atill a comparatively yonng man. He was a member of the German Baptist Church and was an honorable, worthy citizen. In 1857 Mr. Berkey settled on eighty acres of land in Harrison township, cleared it of the heavy timber covering it, and as the years passed by added to the original tract until he became the owner of 160 acres. This was a fine farm and he remained on it until 1880, when he bought his present farm of - acres. Upon this he has

erected a tasty, rural residence and his outbuildings and other improvements are of first class order. Besides his farming industry, Mr. Berkey is engaged in the lumber businesa with his brother, Peter, and is doing an extensive business, buying all his lumber in this county. He is now in prosperous circumstances and is one of the substantial men of the county. Besides the Goshen property, Mr. Berkey owns town property in Medicine Lodge, Kan., also town property in Crisfield and Hazelton, Kan. He is a gratifying example of the self-made men of Elkhart county, and bis reputation as an honorable, upright citizen can not be surpassed. His marriage resulted in the birth of seven children, as follows: Monroe J., Austin D., Ida A.,

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Ira L., Ella M., Nettie A. and Floyd V. A Republican in his political views, Mr. Berkey held the office of trustee of Harrison township for eight years, discharging the duties incumbent on this office in a very satisfactory manner. He is publio spirited and takes an active interest in having good roads and schools. He was a member of the school board for eight years and road supervisor several terms. His children have all been well educated. Ella M., graduated at the graded school of Goshen, and Monroe J. attended commercial college at Pierce, Ohio, and is now bookkeeper in the hardware store of Ort, Berkey & Co., of Goshen; Ida A., married O. S. Compton, who is engaged in the implement business in Goshen, and they have two children; Austin D. married Miss Lorna Cripe, and is engaged in farming on the home place; they have two children; Monroe J. married Miss Matilda Baer, and is bookkeeper in Goshen. The remainder of the children are at home.

DANIEL W. BERKEY is a son of Andrew Berkey, who is one of the leading old- time farmers of Elkhart county; for the past forty years he has tilled the soil in Harrison township. He owes his nativity to Somerset county, Penn., where he was born May 19, 1831, the second child born to Daniel and Fannie (Huffman) Berkey, and on the old home farm which his parents owned in Somerset county, he received his rearing and a practical knowledge of the work, at which he afterward became so successful. He not only inherited sterling qualities from his worthy parents, but was reared to habits of industry and economy, which made his influence felt in the different localities in which his lot was cast in later years. He gained an education, of the old-fashioned kind, in the district school near his boyhood's home and remained with his parents until he was legally responsible for his own conduct, at which time he started to do for himself, and the first year worked for his father on the farm, and in the winter chopped wood and worked for various parties. In 1853 he was married to Miss Rachel Wertz, a daughter of John and Snsan (Berkey) Wertz. She was born in Somerset county, Penn., June 17, 1830, of which section her parents, who were of German descent, were also natives and where the mother is still living at the age of eighty-five years. Her husband died some time ago. Rachel was one of their eleven children: Caroline, Rachel, Susan, Elizabeth, Cath- erine, Lucinda, Mary A., William, David, Jacob and Peter. The most of these children are living in Pennsylvania, one in California and the other in Indiana. Soon after his marriage Mr. Berkey emigrated to Indiana and settled in Harrison township on the farm now owned by John Musser, located on Section 10, but prior to locating here had resided from April to November, 1855, in Fulton county, Ohio. He first purchased 120 acres of land and started to improve it, making earnest en- desvors to clear it from the heavy timber which covered it. After a great deal of hard labor he succeeded in accomplishing this, and in addition to his first purchase bought forty acres more of timber land. He is now residing in a fine brick farm house, has a large bank barn, other substantial farm buildings, good fences, in fact, everything about his place shows the thrifty and practical farmer. Mr. Berkey lived on this farm from the spring of 1856 to 1884, then purchased a small farm of thirty- six acres in Section 3 and is now living a retired life. He sold his old home in 1887 to John Musser. He has always been interested in political affairs and has ever cast his vote for the Republican party, the principles of which he espouses at all times. He is very public spirited and has proven a useful citizen of the county. In early days he was something of a hunter and shot numerous deer, turkeys and thou- sands of squirrels. He was considered a fine shot and on one of his hunting expe- ditions in Ohio he shot twenty-one squirrels in less than two hours. He still enjoys this sport, and in addition is a worthy disciple of Isaak Walton. He is a member of the German Baptist Church, in which he has kept the faith for about thirty-five years. He has been interested in county and township improvement, and for a number of years held the office of township supervisor. He lost his first wife July 12, 1883, at the old home, she having been a life-long member of the German Baptist Church, and was deeply interested in all Christian work. She became the mother

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of seven children, one of whom died in infancy. Their names are as follows: Eliza- beth, who was born October 5, 1853, is now the wife of Mason Barringer and resides on a farm in Wayne county, Ill. ; Daniel W., who is a farmer of Harrison township was born on August 5, 1856; Mary A. was born May 10, 1855, and died in Septem- ber of that year; Melinda was born June 7, 1858, and is living in Arkansas City,. Kan., the wife of David L. Means, by whom she has three living children: Wilna, Mary E. and Orval, and two deceased, Frankie and Ray; Albert was born May 7, 1861, and is engaged in the mannfacture of buggies aud wagons in Goshen, is a man. of family and is married to Nora Murray; Hiram who was born April 5, 1863, is. married to Miss Sadie Compton and lives in Goshen; and Allen who was born March. 30, 1865, is living at Grand Rapids, Mich., and is unmarried. Mr. Berkey married his present wife, Mrs. Nancy Shively, the widow of Henry Shively, on November 28,. 1883. She was born in Carroll county, Ind., August 9, 1839, a daughter of Lonis. and Catherine (Lesh) Hoff, the former of whom was born in Ohio, a son of John and Nancy (Barr) Huff, who were early pioneers of that State from Penn- sylvania. The Huffs are of German extraction. Louis Huff, with his parents, became a resident of Carroll county, Ind., at a very early day and was there called from life. His widow survives him and still resides in Carroll county, being now eighty-one years of age. Their union resulted in the birth of the following children: Abigail, Hannah, Nancy, Joseph, Gabriel, Catherine, Julia A. and Lonis. Mrs. Berkey was reared in Carroll county, and there made her bome until her removal to this county as Mrs. Berkey. She was left a widow May 10, 1880, having become the mother of seven children: Lonis D., boru March 1, 1859; Elias F., born August 4, 1860; Mary A., born June 6, 1862; Lydia C., born April 17, 1863; Aaron G., born March 13, 1865; Moses E., born March 18, 1867; and Lavinia M., born March 28, 1869. Mrs. Berkey is a member of the German Baptist Church and is an earnest Christian and has proven herself a kind and considerate wife and mother. She and her husband are ranked among the substantial people of the connty and have many warm and devoted friends. Mr. Berkey is a Republican in politics. Daniel W. Berkey was born on the farm belong- ing to his father, Andrew Berkey, in the northern part of Harrison township, being one of his seven children. He first saw the light of day on August 5, 1856, and at- tended the district schools in the vicinity of his home, where he obtained a practical knowledge of the common branches. At the age of twenty-one years he left the shelter of the paternal roof and began cutting down timber in the neighborhood. Being naturally energetic, wide-awake and thrifty, he made a success of all bis on- dertakings. On November 3, 1878, be decided to enter the married state, and on No- vember 3, 1878, his union with Miss Christina Sherman took place, she being a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Chipp) Sherman, the former of whom was a native German and after coming to this country settled first in Ohio, and in 1865 in Indi- ana and until his death in 1883 resided on a farm in Harrison township. Later his widow became the wife of Samnel Groff, of Harrison township. She bore Mr. Sherman eight children, one of whom died young. Those living are: Henry, Chris- tena, John, Mary, Martha, Lizzie and Catherine. Mrs. Berkey was born in Ohio November 19, 1857, and was about nine years of age when her parents moved to Elkhart county. After their marriage Daniel W. Berkey settled on a farm, and since that time has devoted his attention to tilling the soil. He first became the owner of land in 1880, but later sold it and in 1885 bought the farm on which he is now re- siding. He now has 103 acres of land, all in one tract, which, at the time of bis purchase, was partly improved. As a farmer he has been decidedly successful, and has become one of the most prominent men of Harrison township. In politics he is a Republican, takes a deep interest in the affairs of his section, and for some time past has held the office of justice of the peace of Harrison township. He is in every respect public spirited. He and his wife are the parents of six children : Sadie V .. born September 10, 1879; John C., born March 7, 1881; Bertha MI., born November 15,

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1883; Lizzie, born November 14, 1885, died when about two months old; Elva M., born April -, 1887, and Ora A. born August 18, 1890. Mr. Berkey and his wife hold an enviable position in the section in which they reside, have a comfortable and hospitable home and have numerous warm friends.

PETER D. BERKEY. Among the reliable and substantial farmers of Elkhart county, Ind., may be mentioned Peter D. Berkey, who has done & great deal to bring the county to its present admirable state of cultivation for he was reared to the calling of a farmer, and this occupation has received his attention to a greater or less extent up to the present time. He was born in Somerset county, Penn., July 22, 1844, his parents being Daniel P. and Fanny (Huffman) Berkey, both of whom were also natives of Somerset county, where they were reared, educated, mar- ried, and resided until 1866, when they took up their residence in Elkhart county, Ind., settling in Harrison township, where they resided many years, becoming well- known and highly respected for their honorable walk through life and their correct mode of living. The mother is deceased, but the father is now a resident of Con- cord township, having been for many years engaged in tilling the soil at which he made an excellent record for himself as a thorough. practical and energetic agricult- urist. For years he has be enretired from the active duties of life and is enjoying a serene old age and a competency amply sufficient for his wants and which has been obtained by honest and unceasing efforts in earlier years. The Republican party has always received his hearty support and he has long been a worthy mem- ber of the Dunkard Church. Peter D. Berkey spent his youth in the country where his time and strength were devoted to assisting his father on the farm, and he re- ceived such education in the common schools as was thought necessary to fit him for a successful career in the ordinary walks of life. When starting out to make his own way in the world it was perhaps but natural that he should choose farming 8s 8 means of earning a livelihood, and to this occupation much of his time has been devoted and has proven successful. In addition to this occupation he has given considerable attention to logging, selling where he could do the best for himself financially. He has pursued a enccessful agricultural implement business, and throughont his career he has been a model of business rectitnde, & man of practical ideas and of marked executive ability. He is the owner of a good farm of ninety acres which, though small, is carefully looked after and yields a larger annnal in- come than many more extensive and more pretentious places. This place is well stocked. He was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Berkey, iu 1867, she being a native of Somerset county, Penn., and to their union six children have been born: Idella, Warren, Julis, Morris, Foster and Allie. As a stanch member of the Re- publican party, Mr. Berkey has held the office of township trustee for nine years. He is one of those men who has the happy faculty of making warm friends of all those with whom he associates, and his kindliness of character is manifest at all times. He is eminently a man of peace, and the charity and kindliness of his nature are strongly evidenced in his conceding to others the value of their opinions, though they may conflict with those he entertains. He is a worthy and representative citi- zen, progressive in his ideas and tendenciss, and has done much to improve the schools and roads in Harrison township, where he resides. He is not only hospitable himself, but his wife also possesses that worthy attribute and his home is a favorite resort of the elite of his neighborhood.

LEWIS BERKEY. The social, political and business history of this section is filled with the deeds and doings of self-made men, and no man in Elkhart county, Ind., is more deserving the appellation than Mr. Berkey, for he marked out his own career in youth and has steadily followed it up to the present, his prosperity being attrib- utable to his earnest and persistent endeavor as well as to the fact that he always consistently tried to do as he would be done by. He is the owner of a well-improved farm of ninety acres, and the admirable manner in which every nook and cranny of it is kept and the fine state of cultivation in which it now is, has been brought about

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MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

by the individual efforts of Mr. Berkey, and the result has been as satisfactory as though his farm was a much larger one. He was born in Somerset county, Penn., May 25, 1839, a son of Daniel aud Elizabeth (Poorman) Berkey, the natal State of the former being Pennsylvania and that of the latter Ohio. The Berkeys originally came from Germany, and were early settlers of the Keystone State where, from the very first, they were connected with the agricultural interests. This occupation received the attention of Daniel Berkey throughout life and he was following it at the time of his death, which occurred in Pennsylvania. His widow survives him, is eighty-seven years of age, and is a resident of Elkhart county, Ind. When the strained relations between the North and South culminated in civil war in 1861, the services of all able-bodied men was very much desired, and Mr. Berkey stood nine drafts during that period. His early education was acquired in the State of his birth, and there he always learned the details of farming, which honorable, healthful and independent calling has always received his attention. Since 1864 he has been a resident of Elkhart county, Ind., and for over twenty years he has been a resident of his present place, and has made nearly all the improvements thereon. He was for three years engaged in the implement business in Goshen, but preferred to devote his attention to other pursuits, and has since found his early occupation of farming a very congenial and remunerative calling. He was married in 1861 to Miss Mary Berkey, by whom he has two children, Allie and Lizzie. Mr. Berkey is careful, prudent and economical, and no man in the county stands higher for honor and integrity. He was one of thirteen children born to his parents, nine of whom are living: Elijah, of Pennsylvania; Josiah, of Elkhart county, Ind. ; Eliza; Barbara; Hannah; Christian; Catherine; Lewis and Polly. Lewis tanght several terms of school in his youthful days while a resident of Pennsylvania.

JACOB S. SIMON. John Adam Simon, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was the second son of a German family of rank and wealth. He left home on account of a difficulty with his elder brother (and heir), came to America about the year 1735, landing at Baltimore; he remained in Maryland a few years, married Mary Elizabeth Diehl, moved to or near Shippensburg, Penn., where the grand- father of J. S. Simon first saw the light of day in 1751, and named John Andrew. At the age of twelve, or in 1763, the Indians captured him in the sugar camp where he was gathering sap. The rest of the family escaped to a fort near by. Michael, his older brother, made his escape from the camp on a horse. The horse died after reaching the fort from severe gunshot wonnds; Michael was not hurt. The house was burnt by the Indians, together with all papers and records of John Adam, who afterward, through the death of his older brother withont issue, became the heir to the lands and titles of the family, but the loss of his papers and attachment to his adopted country induced him to forego wealth and ease, and he never made any attempt to prove his identity. He died at the age of ninety-two. The lad, Andrew, with other captives, was taken through the wilderness, across the mountains and down the Ohio River to an Indian town at or near where Chillicothe (Ohio) now stands. He was adopted by an Indian mother, whose son was slain during the raid. She was very kind to him, and he being a bright, active lad, she soon became much attached to him. He had the care of a cow that she owned. This probably saved his life, as in time of scarcity of food he would steal out at night, milk the cow and drink the milk, and thus assnage the pangs of hunger. His foster mother would often take food from her own children and give it to him, saying that he could not stand hardships as they could. His captivity lasted seven months. He was released with 274 other whites under a treaty or threat to burn all their towns if they did not give up their white captives. His Indian mother shed bitter tears at parting. John Andrew Simon returned to his father's home, and was married to Elizabeth Goeck- ler abont 1775, living east of the mountains until 1784, when he moved to Wash- ington county, Penn., with two pack horsea. He took his wife and four children, together with their effects, across the mountains to his new home; the journey lasted

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nine days, raining almost every day. Andrew Simon was a sturdy old Pennsylvania pioneer and erected one of the first grist-milla in Washington county, that State. It was run by horse power. He was a man of honorable character and well re- spected. The children born to this marriage were ten in number those remembered being: Jacob, George, Andrew, Peter, Adam, Elizabeth, Barbara and Susan. John Andrew died at the age of ninety. The fourth son, Peter Simon, father of our aube ject, first saw the light of day on his father's farm in Washington county, Penn., in 1796, and received a common education in both the English and German languages. He became a school teacher, but was also engaged in tilling the soil. He selected his wife in the person of Miss Catherine, daughter of Andrew and Catherine Dager, and to them were born nine children who lived to mature years: Susan, Daniel, Rebecca, Catherine, Jacob, Lesh, Henry, Annie and Solomon (who died in the Civil War, Fifth Indiana Battery). After his marriage our subject moved to Columbiana county, Ohio, where his father owned land, and settled on ninety-nine acres. By industry he added to this forty acres and cleared his farm of the heavy timber with which it was covered. He was a pioneer of that county, and made his home there until 1852. Previous to that he had entered 480 acres of land in Noble county, Ind., and he moved on this farm in the last mentioned year. With the assistance of his sons he cleared up a fine farm and was known as one of the substantial, worthy citizens of the community. Both he and wife were members of the Lutheran Church and he held the office of deacon for many years. He was very religious and assisted in building churches, etc., and contributed liberally to the Lutheran church. In poli- tics he was originally an old line Whig, but later he affiliated with the Republican party. He died from the effects of a fall in Noble county, Ind., when sixty-seven years of age. Being a substantial farmer he gave each of his seven children who grew to mature years ninety-six acres of land. He was a man of whom any com- munity might be proud. He had two brothers, Jacob and George, in the War of 1812. His son, Jacob S. Simou, subject of this sketch, was born December 21, 1832, in Columbiana county, Ohio, near New Lisbon, on his father's farm. Owing to the amount of labor required to clear the home place, young Simon was obliged to work at an early age. He received a common-school education. On March 9, 1857, when twenty-four years of age, he married Miss Caroline Amos, daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Mottinger) Amoa. Mr. Amos was born in Alsace, Lorsine, and was twenty-one years of age when he came to America. This was in 1832 and he followed the trade of wagon-maker at New Lisbon, Ohio, for a few years. After marriage he moved to Franklin Square, the same county, and there resided until 1852, when he entered Noble county, Ind. He became the owner of a good farm of eighty acres, where his widow, now eighty-two, resides, and there his children, six in number, were reared principally. They were named as follows: Sarah, Car- oline, Wesley, Andrew, Melissa and Levina. Mr. and Mrs. Amos were members of the Lutheran Church, and he held the office of elder. Both were classed among the best citizens of the county, and were prominent in all good work. On the ninety- six acres of land in Noble county, Ind., which his father had given him, our subject settled soon after his marriage. After partly clearing this and residing on it for three years he then moved with his father (who died in about one year), then sold his own and bought part of the old homestead, where he continued to live until 1865, at which date he came to Elkhart county and settled on his present farm which then consisted of eighty acres of partly cleared land. By industry and perseverance he has added to the original tract until he owns 133 acres of good land, two miles from the court-house in Goshen, and has made excellent improvements in the way of residence, ont-buildings, etc. He and wife are members and regular attendants of the English Lutheran Church of Goshen. When twenty-one years of age Mr. Simon was elected clerk of Swan township, Noble Co., Ind., and held that position in a creditable and satisfactory manner for five years. In politics he advocates the principles of the Republican party. He and Mrs. Simon are the parents of seven

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children as follows: Annie E., Jennie B., Cors M., Samuel C., Lillian E., Charles F. and Frank E. Mr. Simon is a friend of education. His children are all well edu- cated, having attended the common schools of the township and the graded ones of Goshen. Mr. Simon is s stanch friend of temperance, and an honored citizen. The Simon family is one of the honored ones of Elkhart county, and all its members sre intelligent people and worthy descendants of old colonial stock. During the Simon reunion at Lsotto, Ind., a few years ago, there were present 400 of the Simon name and 200 blood relatives. Mr. Simon's daughter, Annie E., married John Clark, a farmer of Elkhart county, and they have five children. Jennie B. married Frank Smily, a farmer of Elkhart county, and they have three children. Cora M. mar- ried Samuel Smoker, a farmer of this township, and three children have blessed them. Samuel is in the West, and the remainder of the children are at home. Many of the Simon family have lived to a good age, the Michael of the first family died at ninety-eight, and many of the older ones at eighty and ninety.

WILLIAM B. WRIGHT, justice of the peace of South Bend, Ind., was born in Or- leans county, N. Y., December 29, 1852, a son of Berkley and Margaret (Kelley) Wright, also natives of the Empire State, the father being a shoemaker by trade, who pursued that calling in New York until his career was closed by desth. Four of his eight children survive him, of whom William B. is the eldest. He was reared in the county of his birth and while pursuing the paths of learning in the common country schools, which he attended only & short time each year, he learned the de- tails of agriculture on the home farm. Owing to the fact that his father was by no means wealthy, he wse compelled to make his own way in the world from early man- hood and followed that occupation until he attained his majority, at which time he began working in a shoe factory and for a few years thereafter turned his hand to any honorable employment that he could find to do. In 1883 he came to South Bend and worked for different firms for some time, but in April, 1888, he was elected to his present office, and honored with s re-election in 1890, his term of office ex- piring in 1896. He has discharged the duties of this position in an able and efficient manner and adjusted the difficulties of his neighbors in a way that won him universal approval. Although he has had to fight the battle of life for himself from an early day, he has fought the fight bravely and has now a competency. His correct man- ner of living has made him many friends, and in every respect he is a worthy, hon- ored and useful resident of South Bend. Socially he is a member of the K. O. T. M. He was married in 1877 to Miss Anna Metzger, by whom he has two children: Willie I. and Dollie May.

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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 110

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

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