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 112

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 112
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 112

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

744

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

was a source of universal sorrow, and South Bend lost a true and devoted friend. He leaves a wife, formerly Esther A. Tarbell, and one son, Frederick A. Miller, who is wedded to Miss Flora Dunn, resides on the old home, and who was his father's assistant in the management of the paper during the last two years of the latter's life. He left two sisters: Mrs. Elmer Crockett and Mrs. J. M. Deffenbaugh. A brother, Robert B. Miller, died in San Francisco in 1880. Mr. Miller belonged to several secret orders of the city, the Odd Fellows, Royal Arcanum, Knights of Pythias, National Union, Knights of Maccabees, and Auten Post, G. A. R. In accordance with his oft-expressed wish the post had charge of his funeral. He died December 10, 1892. His busy brain has ceased its workings, his pen has been laid aside forever, but he left his impress upon the affairs of the county, and his noble work will live for many years.

GEORGE ROSS NICHOLSON. Among the very earliest settlers of Elkhart county are the Nicholsons, the pioneer of this family being James Nicholson, & farmer, who emigrated from Champaign county, Obio, to Indiana in 1828, and brought with him his wife and six children, as follows: David T., William, Mary A., Sophronia, Sarah J. and Elizabeth. He left behind two sons, Vance and George, who followed them in 1829. Mr. Nicholson settled on the farm now owned by William Palm, and a part of this is now within the corporate limits of Bristol. The country at that time was an almost unbroken forest, Indians were more plentiful than whites, and wild animale were far more plentiful than those of a domestic order. Mr. Nicholson erected a log cabin, in which he moved his few household goods, and thus equipped began clearing, grubbing, planting, hoeing and pursuing the usual occupations of the pioneer settlers. Here the children were reared, the boys to clear and grob and help the father, the girls to spin and weave and assist the mother in her household duties. At first schools and churches were unknown, but with the advent of other pioneere, little communities or settlements would be established and then the log school-honse, puncheon floors and benches, greased paper for window lights and the master with his never-to-be-forgotten rod, made their appearance. The three "R's" were sufficient then for graduation. The primitive log church, with the circuit rider, came ahont thie time. Before this both school and church meetings were held in the houses of these pioneers, who deemed education was enlightenment and church-going a necessary means for salvation. All these scenes have long since faded from view, and rarely is seen the actor who took a part in the drama of those times. James Nicholson lived but s few years after coming to this county, but those of the old settlers yet living recall him. His descendants are numerous, how- ever, and the name is not only common in Elkhart connty, but in many other localities of the Union. One of his sons, George Nicholson, married for his first wife Mary . Bassett, who bore him two children: Mary J. and Sarah A. After her death he married Eliza J. Chess, who bore him eight children: Lydia E., Sophronia I., Finley C., Rose A., Olive A., Ross G., Emma A. and Eva E. The occupation of the family, generally speaking, has been farming. George Nicholson was no excep- tion to this rule. During the Sauk Indian war he raised a company and got as far as Chicago when the trouble cessed and the company returned and disbanded. There was nothing eventful in his life, but that he was & hard-working, industrions, honest and law-abiding citizen was known to all. Both he and wife held member- ship in the Baptist Church. He died on June 5, 1862, followed by his widow April 15, 1876. Of the two children born to his first marriage both are living and mar- ried. Of the eight born to the second union two, Lydia and Olive, are deceased. Finley C. Nicholson was born on the home place near Bristol. September 6, 1844, and was reared there to manhood, receiving only a common-school education. He continued on the home place until twenty-seven years of age, when he began clerk- ing in Bristol. From the means he had acquired on the farm, and after he had schooled himself in merchandising, he became the Co. of Cass & Co., general merchants at Bristol. After about seven years Mr. Nicholson sold his interest to his

745

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

partner, and formed a partnership with his cousin, Robert Chess, in a similar enter- prise. This partnership continued five years and since that time Mr. Nicholson has been engaged in merchandising at Bristol alone. He has been reasonably success- ful in life and is considered one of the well-to-do men of the place. Perhaps there is no man better known at Bristol than he, because of the active interest he takes in furthering the town's interest. In this respect he is untiring. He has contributed from his means, so far as able, in the support of churches, schools, the upbuilding of the place and all landable public enterprises. The chief event of his life occurred June 6, 1877, at which time Miss Emma Richards. of Akron, Ohio, became his wife. Five children have been born to this union: Charles R., Earl V., Tutu O., George William and Rose. Mr. Nicholson and wife are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Mr. Nicholson has been a Democrat in politics, but is strongly settled in his viewe as regards the temperance question, being practically a Prohibitionist. He was, perhaps, the first Democrat ever elected to the office of trustee of Washing- ton township, and under President Cleveland's administration was the postmaster at Bristol. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. George Ross Nicholson, sub- ject of his sketch, was born on the homestead Jannary 4, 1852, and was nine years of age when his father died. His brother, Finley C. Nicholson, being the eldest child, took charge of the farm, and our subject remained on the same until April, 1880, when he purchased the meat market in Bristol owned by V. J. Virgil. Since that time he has carried on the business successfully, and although during a portion of the time he has had partners, for the most part he has been alone. He was mar- ried in Jefferson township, this county, April 30, 1885, to Miss Anna Hanan, who was born May 28, 1864, and who was the daughter of John B. and Mary A. (Rychen) Hanan. John B. Hanan was born in Prussia, Germany, August 2, 1817, and his parents, John and Lucy Hanan, were natives of the Fatherland, where they passed their entire lives. They were well-to-do and very respectable people. John B. Hanan sailed for America Angust 2, 1846, and settled in Blecker, Fulton Co. N. Y. His wife was born October 23, 1831, and came to America with her parente when an infant. They settled at Blecker, Fulton Co., N. Y., and there Mrs. Nich- olson's girlhood days were passed. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hanan: John H., born March 24, 1850, married Miss May E. Brown, of Attica, N. Y., and has been traveling salesman for more than twenty years; Kate, born July 17, 1852, in New York, married Lewis Immell; Josephine, born December 13, 1854, married Henry G. Juilliard, of New Paris, Ind. ; and Libbie, born October 30, 1860, married Ross B. Free, and resides in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In March, 1863, Mr. and Mrs. Hanan emigrated to Indiana and settled in Jefferson township, Elkhart connty, where they resided until the death of Mr. Hanan, August -, 1891. He was a great sufferer during the two years prior to his death. While a resident of Jeffer- son township Mr. Hanan's principal attention was given to the culture of fruit. After his death his widow found a comfortable home with her daughter, Mrs. G. Ross Nicholson, until her death, which occurred on December 23, 1891. She was a noble woman, a most affectionate wife and mother and a very devont Christian. She and her husband were members of the German Baptist Church. To. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson were given three interesting children: Berta C., born Septem- ber 15, 1886; Finley B., born Angust 15, 1888; and Herbert B., born October 30, 1890. Mr. Nicholson is a successful business man, and in addition to his meat market is engaged in varions other enterprises, purchasing wool and buying and shipping stock, besides carrying on a wholesale trade in meat at Elkhart. Aside from his residence and business property in Bristol, he has a farm of eighty acres in Jefferson township, forty acres of which are devoted to fruit culture and the balance in timber land. In his political views MIr. Nicholson is a strong Prohibitionist. Mrs. Nicholson is a member of the Methodist Church, and both are highly esteemed citizens.

DR. W. A. WICKHAM is an exceptionally popular and successful physician and

746

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

surgeon, whose office is located at No. 101 South Michigan Street, his residence being at the Oliver House. He is scholarly and well informed in every branch of his profession, is intelligent and well posted on all matters of public interest, and stands well in the community, both as a citizen and a professional man. He was born in Goshen, Ind., February 28, 1860, a son of Dr. William W. and Mary (Riley) Wickham, who were born in the State of New York and Canada respectively, the former of whom received an honorary degree from St. Lome Medical School. He settled in Goshen, Ind., about 1845, where be practiced for a number of years and was exceptionally successful as a follower of the ' healing art." He is now a resi- dent of Indianapolis, and is retired from active life. To himself and wife five children were born: Josie B., Nettie, Minnie E., Dr. William A. and Madge B. K. Dr. William A. Wickham is the only son of his father's house, and in the public schools of his native town was educated, and upon leaving the high school in 1878, entered the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, and there pursued his medical studies and researches with remarkable success until 1880, when he was graduated as a full-fledged M. D. In May of the following year he hung out his shingle in South Bend, but did not have long to wait for patients, and soon had gathered about him a paying patronage, which has so increased in size that his time is occu- pied almost day and night. He is highly respected and esteemed by his medical brethren, and is a worthy member of the St. Joseph County Medical Society, the State Medical Society and the American Medical Society. He was the efficient sec- retary of the County Society in 1889, and was president of the. same in 1890. Although the Doctor is still young in years, he has built up a reputation for skill and efficiency for which many an older physician might envy him. Not only is he popular in the professional circles of the city, but is also highly regarded in the social circles. He is unmarried.

ISAAC S. GOOD is a son of Christian and Sarah (Shrock) Good, who were early pio- neers of Elkhart county, Ind., but who are now both dead. The first members of this family to locate in America were Jacob and Christian Good, who came from Ger- many in 1737, and settled on Muddy Creek, Brecknock township, in Lancaster county, Penn., where Jacob became the owner of 600 acres of land, which his two sons, Peter and Jacob, assisted him in tilling, to each of whom he gave 300 scres. Peter became the father of six children and moved to Cumberland county, and Jacob became the father of eleven children, six by his first wife and five by a second. With his last wife he moved to Virginia, and one of his sons, Abram, was an elder, and Daniel became a preacher of the Mennonite Church. The other pioneer settler son. Christian, purchased a tract of land one half mile east of his brother Jacob, and built a grist-mill on Muddy Creek, which was the first of the kind erected in that part of the country. He became the father of seventeen children, six sons and eleven daughters, and one of his sons, Christian, became the father of one son and six daughters. This son's name was Christian, and he was married twice, his first wife bearing him two sons and one daughter: David, Daniel and Elizabeth, and his sec- ond wife three: Joseph, Esther and Susanna. David, the eldest of his children, married and resred four sons: Isaac, Christian, Martin and John. Daniel and Elizabeth died unmarried; Joseph died, leaving one child, who also died later; Esther married Rev. Samuel Good, and had five children: John, Christian, Maria, Barbars and Catherine; and Susanna, who married Gideon Weaver and became the mother of six children: Aaron, Christian, David, Daniel, Martin and Nancy. David Good was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and his eldest son, Isaac, became the father of eleven children: M-, Rudolph, David, John, Isaac, Susan, Veronics, Elizabeth. Hannah, Anna and Mary. Christian, the second child of David, had four sons and two daughters by his first wife, and one son by his second wife: Gideon, Isanc S., David, Eli, Martin. Anna and Susan. Gideon, Anna, David and Martin died in infancy. Martin, the third child of David Good, bad four sons and five daughters by his first wife, and a danghter by his second wife: Daniel, Joseph, Aaron, Eliab,

747

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

Mary, Lucy, Leah, Fannie, Elizabeth and Ida. John, the youngest son of David, also has ten children: Ezra, Amoa, Isaiah, Solomon, Daniel, David, John (who died young), Lydia, Leah and Mary. Christian Good, the second child of David, was born in Canada, October 5, 1834, and died February 15, 1887, aged fifty-two years four months and ten days. His mother was Susanna Bowman, and with her and hia father he came to Elkhart county, Ind., in 1855, and resided on a farm in Harrison township until the death of the father, David, in 1865, aged fifty-four. He was a member of the Mennonite Church, and was a good, upright and law-abiding citizen. His wife died at the home of ber son, Christian (where Isaac S. Good is now living), in 1884, aged eighty-fonr, having been an earnest Christian throughout life. Chris- tian was married in Canada to Mias Sarah Shrock, February 8, 1857, a daughter of Eli and Magdalena Shrock, the former of whom died in Canada and the latter at the home of her daughter, Mary Berkey, in St. Joseph county. Mrs. Good was born in Canada, April 3, 1837, and was called from life September 25, 1866, at the untimely age of twenty-nine years, five months and twenty-two days. She came to thia county with her husband, married in Canada, and became the mother of six children, three of whom are living: Susanna, wife of Jacob Searer, of Olive township, was born January 4, 1860; Isaac S .; and Eli, who is living in Kent county, Mich., engaged in teaching school, was born September 22, 1866. Christian and Sarah Good made their home on the farm where David Good first settled, and there they succeeded in accumulating a considerable amount of worldly goods. Mr. Good was a minister of the River Brethren Church, and in every respect was an estimable citizen. He took for his second wife Mary (Stanffer) Senaenich, widow, born February 17, 1828, msr- ried August 11, 1867, and who is the mother of Dr. Sensenich, of Waksrusa, with whom she is now living. Isaac S. Good was born February 19, 1862, obtained hia education in the district schools, was reared to a farm life, and in 1888 took charge of the home farm. December 23, 1883, he was married to Fannie Musser, daughter of Joseph Musser. She was born September 13, 1866. Mr. Good has successfully followed farming and carpentering, and is the owner of a good farm, which he tills with judgment and in a successful manner. Mr. Good is public spirited, haa been a Republican in politics, and he and his wife are members of the Mennonite Church. They have two children: Elsie Ursula, born July 25, 1886, and Christian Millo, born June 6, 1890.

JOHN N. JUDAY is not'only s veteran of the Civil war, but is also a member of one of the pioneer families of Elkhart county, Ind. (See history of the Juday family in the sketch of John S. Juday.) John Juday, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Greenbrier, Va., was a Republican in politics and during the long-continued and bloody strife between the North and South hia sympathies were strongly with the Union, in which struggle two of his sons participated: John N. and Adam, who participated in many battles, the latter being twice wounded and was at one time taken prisoner in Virginia. He was killed at the battle of the Wilderness. John N. Juday was born on his father's farm in Benton township, this county, March 31, 1840, received a limited common-school education, but when quite young was well posted in the details of farming. His patriotism caused him, on the 2d of January, 1862, to enlist at Goshen, Ind., in Company G, Forty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served abont three years and seven montha. He was in the engagements at Inka, Corinth, Vicksburg, Jackson, Champion's Hill, Mission Ridge, also a sharp skirmish between Vicksburg and Jackson. Columbia, S. C., Bentonville, and various skirmishes through- out the South. He was neither wounded nor taken prisoner, but was sick in the hospital at Vicksburg for three months, and at Farmington one month. He was a useful soldier, served his country faithfully, faced rebel bullets on many a hard-fought battlefield, and was honorably discharged at Huntsville, Ala., by reason of re-enlisting as a veteran volunteer, which he did on the same day and in the same company and regiment, and was again honorably discharged July 15, 1865,

748

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

at Louisville, Ky., after the war had closed. He at once returned home and took upon his shoulders the duties of farming, which he has discharged in a very satisfactory manner. He was married on the 1st of March, 1866, to Miss Amy Darr, at the residence of the bride's parents in Benton township. The father, Peter Darr, was of Dutch descent, a native of Maryland, from which State he removed to Preble county, Ohio, when a young man, and was there united in marriage to Miss Sarah Ott, by whom he became the father of twelve children: John, Eliza, Jesse, Elizabeth, Milton, Mary, George, Amy, Thomaa, Daniel, William and Sarah. Mr. Darr was one of the first settlers of Benton township, cleared a good farm from the woods and became a respected and law-abiding citizen. He lived to the age of seventy-one years, and he and his wife were members of the United Brethren Church. He was a strong supporter of the Union canse during the Civil war and always cast his vote for Republican nominees. One of his sons served in an Indiana regiment during the war, but during his service died in a hospital at Nashville, Tenn. After his marriage John N. Juday tilled a farm in Benton township for three years, after which he spent the same length of time in Noble county, Ind., at the end of which time he moved to Marshall county, Ind., and purchased eighty acres of heavily wooded timber land, which by dint of hard work he cleared and which he sold in 1882. He then sold his farm and bought land in Section 29, Benton township, on which he made his home nntil the winter of 1892, when he became the owner of hia present farm, consisting of eighty acres. To himself and wife four children have been born: Mary (who died at the age of twenty-one years), Amanda, Logan E. and Sarah J. Mr. and Mrs. Juday have been united with the United Brethren Church for many years, and in politics he is a stanch Republican. The public-school system finds in him a warm supporter and has always given his children as good advantages as it was in his power to do. He has reared his children to honorable maturity and his record as a citizen and a soldier has ever been of the best. His daughter, Mary A., married Robert Reppey and died at the age of twenty-one years, leaving a child; Amanda S. married Willis Bine, a farmer of Benton township, and haa two children; Logan E., was married to Miss Edith Rookstool, October 29, 1892; Sarah J. is at home. Mr. Juday is a member of the G. A. R. Lake View Post, 246, of Syracuse, Ind.

JOSEPH UMMEL, who was called from life April 18, 1883, was one of the early pioneers of this section, having come here in 1854 and settling on the farm on which his widow is now residing in Harrison township. He was born in Lebanon county, Penn., November 1, 1812, a son of John and Magdalene (Nafzer) Ummel, who were also native Pennsylvanians of Swiss descent. Joseph first removed from his native State to Ohio with his parents, and in that State the father was called from life, the mother's death occurring after her removal to Elkhart county, Ind., at the age of seventy-eight years. She bore her husband seven children, of whom Joseph was the only son, the sisters being Lydia, wife of William -; Eliza- beth, wife of Emanuel Nicewinter; Mary, wife of Henry Delcamp, a resident of Elk- hart county, Ind .; Anna, the wife of Martin Mnsser, and two infant daughters. Joseph Ummel was unmarried upon his arrival in Elkhart county. He at once por- chased 350 acres of land, a portion of which was improved, and he at once set him- self to work to clear it and get it in good condition for farming. His efforts were rewarded, and at the time of his death he left an estate valued at $25,000, the reault of honest toil and persistent endeavor. He was for many years an active member and supporter of the Mennonite Church, was a Republican politically, and to all intents and purposes he was public-spirited and law-abiding, in fact was a model citizen. He was united in marriage to Miss Susanna Conghman, who was born in Dayton, Ohio, March 13, 1829, danghter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Brumbaugh) Coughman with whom she came to Elkhart county, Ind., in 1836, and settled in Har- rieon township, where she afterward met and married Mr. Ummel. Her father an mother both died in that township, of which they had been valuable pioneer set-

749

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

tlers. Their family consisted of seven children: Willism, Susanna, Christina, Mary, Eve, Sarah and Katie; Mary deceased in youth; Christina is the wife of Joseph Culp; Eve is Mrs. Israel Immel; Sarah, wife of Elias G- deceased; and Katie, wife of Abraham Ault also deceased. Mrs. Ummel has been a resident of Harrison township since a child, and she is now residing on the farm which she assisted her husband in improving. She is sixty-three years of age, has long been connected with the Mennonite Church, and is a woman whose worth is acknowledged by all who know her. She is the mother of three children: John, born November 24, 1862, is unmarried, is the owner of eighty acres, is a public-spirited citizen and is a Republican politically. He is engaged in raising fruit and vegetables, which is a new enterprise in this section of the country, and has proven a success. This de- parture has proven him to be a young man of enterprising and original views, and he deserves the prosperity which has attended his efforts. The next child born to Mr. and Mrs. Ummel is Mary E., who was born October 26, 1864, and is the wife of Nosh F. Simmons, and the youngest member of the family is Delilah, who was born April 21, 1869, who had fitted herself for a teacher, but on her father's death she remained at home with her mother. John Ummel, the son of Joseph Ummel, wss bronght up to the life of a farmer, and his education was acquired in the district schools nesr his home, which he afterward completed in a business college. For some time he was in the planing-mill business in Elkhart with E. B. Culp, in which business he proved proficient, and in every enterprise to which he has devoted his attention he has met with snccess. He takes an honest pride in the good old ances- try from which he sprung, which he traces back to the revolutionary times of this country.

UNCLE NATHANIEL NEWELL. Over eighty years have passed over the head of the venerable man who is the subject of this sketch, lesving their impress in the whiten- ing hair and lined festures, but while the outward garments of the sonl show the wear and tear of years the man himself is richer and nobler and grander for the experience that each successive decsde has brought him. He is one of the old set- tlers of Elkhart county, and has s comfortable and attractive home within its bor- ders. Honorable and upright in every walk of life, his long career has been with- out a blemish or blot to mar its whiteness. Mr. Newell was born in Chittenden county, near the town of Charlotte, Vt., January 2, 1809, and is of English origin. The resourcefulness of the native New Englander is proverbial. Set him down where you will and if he does not begin bettering his condition without any unnec- essary delay he will be doing violence to the history and traditions of his people and will be no more worthy to be called s son of New England. Certain it is that no portion of the United States has ever sent into the vast agricultural regions and the great commercial centers of the West men whose industrial training seemed to be so thorough and complete ss that of the men who had the good fortune to be born in New England or to be descended from New England stock. Certain it is, also, that however humble their station in life they had a knowledge and compre- hension of the science of economics peculiar to themselves. They knew the value of money and were masters of the art of multiplying their dollars. They knew how to be frugal without being miserly and could he hospitable and generous with- out being wasteful and extravagant. To this class of pioneers Mr. Newell belongs. His parents, Abel and Polly (Hollerbert) Newell. were natives of Connecticut and . their ancestors esrly settlers of the New England States. The father of our sub- ject was a farmer by occupation and a soldier in the War of 1812. He died in Vermont. He met with success in his calling and was a man universally respected. To his marriage were born fonr sons and tive daughters, Nathaniel Newell being third in order of birth. From an early age he was trained to the arduous duties of the farm in Vermont, and as a consequence his scholastic training received very little attention. During the winter season he was obliged to draw logs and while still quite young had to drive four yoke of oxen hitched to a sled. He would start

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 112

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

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