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 12

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 12
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 12

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MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

Company. Mr. Boyd thoroughly understands every detail of the lumber boei- ness and is an excellent judge of all kinds of lumber. The firm of which he is a member is doing a thriving business and one which is constantly on the increase. Mr. Boyd was married December 26, 1865, at Burlington, N. J., to Emelia A. Hil- lier, a daughter of Richard and Frances (Stull) Hillier. Their union has resulted in the birth of two children: Nellie W., born October 27, 1866, and Robert E., born September 12, 1870. Mr. Boyd is a member of the Royal Arcanum, the Masonic fraternity and the G. A. R. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church and politically he is a Prohibitionist. The welfare of St. Joseph county has always been dear to him, and he is among the foremost in advocating measures for the benefit of his section.

IRA S. SCHROPP. This gentleman, who is the most efficient superintendent of the city water-works of South Bend, Ind., was born near Akron, Ohio, March 14, 1862. He was one of four children and when but an infant, was left motherless. He was adopted by Edwin G. Schropp, and was reared by that gentleman. His youthful days were passed on the farm and he had very limited educational advan- tages, only attending the common schools during the winter season. When old enough, he was given a trade (potter) and beginning this when eight years of age, fol- lowed it for twelve years. When twenty years of age young Schropp came to South Bend, Ind., as a representative of Donham & Ryland. wholesale tea merchante, but sub- sequently engaged with the Studebaker Wagon Works, where he was employed for two and a half years. On account of failing health he was obliged to go west, and he was employed in Des Moines, Iowa, by Gilchrist Lumber Company, remaining with the same for about eight months. Returning to South Bend he was employed as clerk in the city water-works, which position he held for two years and a half, when he was appointed superintendent of the same, succeeding E. L. Abbott. He has held this position for four years to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. He is a prac- tical and competent engineer, and has exhibited in his incumbency of this office the most prudent, careful and efficient management. A self-made man, Mr. Schropp owes all his success in life to his own indomitable push and enterprise, and as a citizen and neighbor no one is more highly esteemed. His marriage with Miss Mary Krill, daughter of Joseph Krill, a prominent farmer of Portage township, occurred on the 9th of Angust, 1888. Mr. Scropp is a member of the K. of P. and the A. O. U. W., and takes much interest in these organizations. His adopted father, who is now a resident of South Bend, was a soldier in the Civil war, and belonged to what was known as the "Squirrel Hunters." On November 30, 1892, he resigned his position as superintendent of the city water-works to engage in the patent-medicine business, located at South Bend, and was succeeded in his position by John A. Graham, who was formerly superintendent of Strayer Machine shops.

DR. H. R. STAUFFER is a young physician of Elkhart county, Ind., but he pos- Besses a genius for his calling, and for that reason has attained an enviable reputa- tion among the citizens of the county as well as his professional brethren. He is a product of Elkhart county, for here he was born on the 8th of March, 1858, to John Stauffer and wife, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. His early days were spent on the farm belonging to his father in Union township, and there he became a pupil in the common schools as soon as he was old enough, his literary education being afterward completed in a normal school. At the early age of fifteen years he became a school teacher, his first attempt in this line of work being in the country schools, but so successful was he that he followed it until he was twenty-one years of age, at which time, having previously formed the resolution, he began the study of medi- cine in the office of Dr. Julian, of Nappanee, and at the end of one year he entered Rush Medical College, of Chicago, and graduated from same in 1883. Immediately following this he returned to his home in Nappanee, at once hung out his shingle, thus announcing himself as a practitioner of the " healing art." His skill and knowledge of his calling was soon recognized, his practice continued to increase, and now

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

extends over many counties, where his name is well known and highly regarded. He is a member of the County Medical Association, the National Medical Association and for some time past he has been the railroad surgeon for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He is medical examiner of pensions at Gosheu, and at all times shows that he is up with the times in the advances made in his profession. He is decid- edly public spirited, is a stanch Republican politically, and, socially, is a member of the K. of P. lodge of Nappanee, also the I. O. O. F. of the same place. Aside from his practice he is interested in a box factory of Nappanee, which is proving a pay- ing line of work. The factory is desirably located, is a well-equipped plant for its line of work, a specialty being made of bee-hive work and all kinds of bee sup- plies. The Doctor is interested in this enterprise in connection with his father and

his brother Wallace. They ship their boxes to all large cities as well as to numer- ous States and find their business to be a paying one. The Doctor is a great lover of fine horse-flesh, has some especially speedy animals, and takes great pride in them. His horses are Kentucky bred and are very fast travelers. He is a thoroughly practical business man: is wide awake, active and zealous in his profession, as well as in other matters; is respected where ever knowu aud comes of one of the finest families in the county. The Doctor was married in 1879 to Miss Belzora Jones, who was a native of Cass county, Mich., born on the 7th of September, 1859, being one of four children reared by Howell and Mary (Pemberton) Jones, the former of whom was born in South Carolina, but when young came to Michigan, where for many years he was a resident of Cass county. He was a son of Drury and Jennie (Howell) Jones, and was one of their eight children. He grew to manhood on a farm, married, and reared the following children: Esther, Albert, Lou E., Bel- zora (Mrs. Stauffer). The father and mother resided on a farm in Cass county until their respective deaths in 1866 and 1870. The latter was a daughter of Joseph and Eleanor (Ashby) Pemberton, both of whom were of English descent, the Pem- bertons being among the nobility of England, and descendents of Lord Pemberton. Mr. Jones and his wife were members of the United Brethren Church and were well respected in Cass county. Mrs. Stauffer attended the district schools there and finished her education in the school at Valparaiso, where she also studied music and painting. Dr. and Mrs. Stauffer have a daughter, Iva, who was born June 30, 1882. Mrs. Stauffer is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and being of a very social disposition has many friends in Nappanee, whom she welcomes to her hospitable home in the eastern part of the town.

DR. WILLIAM W. BUTTERWORTH (deceased). Very few, save those who have trod the arduous paths of the profession can picture to themselves the array of attrib- utes, physical, mental and moral, the host of minor graces of manner and person, essential to the making of a truly successful physician. His constitution needs must be of the hardiest to withstand the constant shock of wind and weather, the wearing loss of sleep and rest, the ever gathering load of care, the insidious ap- proach of every form of fell disease to which his daily round of duties momentarily. exposed him. Far more than all, how greatly clothed with moral strength must be the man who would involve himself in all the woeful secrets of humanity, drawing from nature her most treasured secrets, and unlocking the gates where ignorance and doubt have stood sentinel for ages. Such a physician was the one whose name stands at the head of this sketch and who in his own person so closely approached the ideal we have attempted to sketch above. Dr. William W. Butterworth was born in Warren county, Ohio, in 1824, and comes of a sturdy Virginia family. When but a boy his parents emigrated to La Porte county, Ind., and in farm work young Butterworth laid the foundation for his excellent constitution, and for the unusual amount of good common sense that ever characterized his actions. After attending the common schools he was fitted for college and entered Asbury University, where he remained one year. After this he began the study of med- icine and graduated at the Indiana Medical College. He subsequently took a

MEMOIRS OF INDILVA.

partial course of lectures at University Medical College, New York, and in 1847 located at Mishawaka, Ind., where he began practicing bis profeseion. He went to that city an entire stranger, with very little to assist him in the battle of life, save a thorough knowledge of medicine. The city was then in the height of pros- perity and the medical field was then occupied by a stroog corps of educated and popular physicians, as well as by a number of "root and herb" and "steam" doctors. Fresh from his college and medical studies, Dr. Butterworth hung out hie shingle and with much self-reliance, energy and industry, sought the confi- dence of the people. He soon had a liberal patronage and a fair share of the business but had strong competition with some noted and scientific physicians. Until 1861 and during the war, Dr. Butterworth always maintained first-class rank in his profession in northern Indiana. In 1862 he. with a few other medical men from different parts of the State, was commissioned by Gov. Morton by au- thority of the war department, to visit Indiana troops in the field and hospital, then suffering so terribly from typhoid disease, and in that capacity rendered ef- ficient aid on the battlefield and in the camp of Pittsburg Landing. In the sum- mer of 1862 he accepted a commission as surgeon of the Ninety-ninth Indiana Volunteer Regiment and served as such until the close of the war. The last year of his service he was detailed for hospital work principally at Marietta, Georgia and Alexandria, Va. He served as president of St. Joseph Valley District Medical Society, composed of the counties of Elkhart, St. Joseph and La Porte of Indi- ana, and Cass and Berrien counties, Mich. His papers were always among the best read before the medical society, and many of them were published in the leading medical journals of the county. He was a talented writer and a very forcible and expressive speaker. In 1872 his name was very favorably mentioned as a candidate for congress, but he felt unable to afford the expense necessary for the uncertain race and therefore declined the proposed honor. He was a leading Republican and represented hie county in the legislature from 1870 to 1874, with distinction, his services being publicly indorsed by a re-election. Following this he devoted his time to his profession and to the farming interest, continuing thie until his death in December, 1888. He was twice married, his last wife being Mrs. S. E. Kennedy, a daughter of the Hon. Milo Smith, of Mississippi. Two sons and a daughter survive.

Charles M. Butterworth, M. D., the youngest son, like his illustrious father, has selected the medical profession as his calling in life, and is one of the younger elements of our prominent, energetic and influential citizens, and one of the popu- lar physicians of South Bend. He was born at Mishawaka, Ind., July 8, 1866, and his first scholastic training was received in the public schools of that place. Later he was a pupil of his aunt, Miss Carrie V. Sherwood, of his native town, and then studied for a year in the office of his father and Dr. J. B. Green. After this he entered the Medical College of Ohio, remained in the same three years, and in Sep- tember, 1889, he located in South Bend for the practice of his profession, and has remained here ever since. In politics he supports the platform of the Republican party. He is a member of the St. Joseph Medical Society and in 1891 was vice- president of the same. He is also a member of the National Association, and for three years has been county physician for the poor of Portage, German and Clay townships, also physician to St. Joseph Hospital and the County Asylum.

GEORGE W. LOUGHMAN. The name of Loughman is one of the most influential in South Bend, Ind., and is one of the most respected by the community. Mr. Loughman deserves special notice for his public spirit and energy, and is at present the most efficient secretary and treasurer of the Sandage Steel Skein Company, of that city. He was mayor of South Bend for some time, and very ably and efficiently did he conduct the affairs of the city during his incumbency. He was born at Browns- ville, Ohio, December 25, 1846, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Martin) Lough- man, natives of the Keystone State. The father died in 1846, about three months 6

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

prior to the birth of our subject, and the mother died at Brownsville, Ohio, in 1877. George W. Loughman, the youngest of five children, passed his boyhood and youth on a farm, received a common-school education, and when seventeen years of age donned his suit of blne, shouldered his musket and enlisted in Company G, Thirty- second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving nearly two years. He was in all the engage- ments of the Atlanta campaign in which his regiment participated, was with Sherman to the sea, and through the Carolinas and Virginia. He was discharged at the close of the war and mustersd out at Louisville, Ky. Returning home he remained there for about three months, and then came to St. Joseph county, Ind., locating at Mishawaka. He clerked for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad com- pany, and later was appointed to an agency for the company, holding that position for about three years. He then came to South Bend as the company's cashier, and held that position for about six years. In 1880 he represented that railroad com- pany in the stock yards at Chicago for six months, after which he returned to South Band as the company's agent, and continued as such for nine years. Altogether, he was in the employ of this company for twenty-three years, and then resigned to engage in manufacturing and his present pursuits. He has been treasurer of the Sandage Steel Skein Company ever since his connection with the same. In politics he is a Republican, and was elected two terms to the city council. In 1882 he was elected mayor, and his services were publicly endorsed by re-election in 1884. In his re-election, while the city was from two to three hundred Democratic, he received a majority of more than 600 votes, thus attesting his popularity as a citizen and an "official. Socially, he is a Knight Templar in the Masonic fraternity, South Bend Commandery, No. 13, Crusade Lodge, No. 14, also & K. of P., Auten Post, No. 14, & G. A. R. A charter member of the South Bend Building & Loan Association, he has been its president since its organization. This is one of the oldest in north Indiana, and one of the most successful in the State. In his religious views Mr. Loughman is a member of the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. In the year 1868 he was married to Miss Martha Chandler, of Mishawaka, Ind., and one daugh- ter has been born to this union: Edith B., now Mrs. Osborn Miller, who resides at Three Rivers, Mich.

JACOB H. REAMER. Mr. Reamer, president of the Sandage Steel Skein company, of South Bend, Ind., was born in North Liberty, St. Joseph Co., Ind., October 16, 1852, and possesses that independent spirit, that enterprise, push and industry necessary for a successful business career. His parents, Henry and Abigail (Liggett) Reamer, were natives of the Keystone State and Ohio, respectively, and made their home there for many years. The father was born near Newport, Penn., in 1818, and the mother was born in Ohio in 1823. The former learned the saddler's trade in his native State, and worked at the same nntil his marriage, when he began farming. Later he moved to St. Joseph county, Ind., and there his death occurred in 1891. His wife is still living, resides on the old homestead in this county, where they settled in 1843, and enjoys comparatively good health. The youthful days of our subject were passed on his father's farm and in the common schools, where he received a good practical education. Feeling the need of a better education he entered Northern Indiana College, where he remained for some time, and then branched out as an educator, teaching the young idea for about three years. He began his career as an instructor when eighteen years of age, taught during the winter months and worked on the farm during the summer. When twenty-one years of age he began his career as a business man, first as clerk in a grocery store owned by G. W. Buffum, South Bend, Ind. Two years later he and J. E. Williams (a brother-in-law), bought the stock of Mr. Buffum and continued the business until 1890, when he sold out to his partner. He is one of the originators of the Sandage Steel Skein Company, which was established in 1885, and is now the most efficient president of the same. This company employs seventy skilled work- men and is doing a prosperous business. Mr. Reamer is just in the prime of life,

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

and the high reputation he has always borne, together with his wide acquaintance in business and social circles, serves to stamp him as a gentleman with whom business relations must be pleasant and profitable to all concerned. He was married in 1874, to Miss Mabel Williams, a native of St. Joseph county, this State, and two children have been given them: Sumner, now sixteen years of age, and Florence Ann, four years of age. In politics Mr. Reamer is an uncompromising Republican, as was his father before him, and socially he is s member of the Maccabees. . He is one of the honorable, upright citizens of the city, and possesses excellent business qualifica- tions and good habits. His parents were early and prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His paternal grandfather was a native of Germany, and was one of three brothers who emigrated to the United States at a very early date and settled in Pennsylvania. There his death occurred.

WILSON SLABAUCH. Prominent among the early pioneers of Elkhart county, Ind., were the Slabaughs, who were descendants of a prominent German family and inher- ited all the thrift and enterprise characteristic of the Tentonic element. The great great-grandfather of our subject, William H. Slabaugh, was born in Alsace, Ger- many, was married there to Miss Elizabeth - , and five children were born to them: John, Christian, George, Philip and Maria, all of whom grew to mature years in the old country, but finally emigrated to the "land of the free." The father lived to be ninety-nine and the mother one hundred years of age. The five children, thinking to better their condition, emigrated to America and settled in Lancaster county, Penn., at a very early date. There they married and reared families and received their final summons. The great-grandfather of our subject was George, who married in Pennsylvania a Miss Rosina Eshleman, who was also born in the Fatherland, but who came to this country with her parents when butseven years of age. The following children were born to this union: John, Jacob, Lewis and Christian. The youngest of these children, Christian, the grandfather of our subject, was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Nancy Rhodes, a daughter of Henry Rhodes, who was of German birth and an early pioneer of Pennsylvania. Thirteen children were the fruits of this union, and the most of them were reared in Colum- biana county, Ohio, whither the family had moved at an early date. In the Back- eye State the father died at the age of fifty-three and the mother at the age of sixty- five. They were well-to-do people and highly respected. Up to the last generation the Slabaugha were all farmers and prominent in their calling. The children of the last mentioned couple were named as follows: Christian (father of subject), Elias, John, Amos, George, a farmer in Union township; Henry, Isaac, Fianna, the wife of Solomon Berlin of the county (see sketch); Julia, wife of Josiah Berlin; Mary, wife of Patrick Richmond, who died in the late war, and later the wife of P. S. Hare, of Nappanee; Elizabeth, married Henry Eby, of Locke township, this county; Lucy, wife of L. Miller (decessed), subsequently married William Rosenberger, of Nappanee; and Samnel, died in Ohio, when young. Christian, the second child and the father of our subject, was born in Lancaster county, Penn., and when seven years of age was brought by his parents to Ohio, growing to manhood on his father's farm in that State. When twenty-nine years of age he married Miss Sophia Wal- ters, a native of Wayne county, Ohio, born in 1833, and the daughter of Henry and Rebecca (Witmyer) Walters. Thirteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wal- ters and named as follows: Enoch, Jacob, David, Sophia, Abraham, Samuel, Eli, Rebecca, Fannie, John, Joseph, Henry and Catherine. All these children are liv- ing with the exception of Rebecca and Fannie, and all married and reared families except the latter, who died young. After marriage Christian SIabaugh and wife emigrated to Elkhart county, Ind. This was in 1854 and they settled on the farm where they now live. Mr. Slabsugh had only enough money to buy eighty acres and for many years he and wife were obliged to economize in every way. They experienced all the hardships and trials of the early settlers but brighter days were before them. Their children, three in number, were born in Ohio. The eldest,

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

Lydia, was born August 5, 1849, became the wife of J. W. Albin, of Union town- ship (see sketch). Wilson (subject), the second in order of birth, was born in Sep- tember, 2, 1851, in Portage county, and Franklin, born February 22, 1853, died when fifteen years of age. The house in which all the children were born is still standing in Portage county, Ohio, and is an old landmark, now over one hun- dred years old and built on the Western Reserve. Christian Slabaugh and wife are still living on the old home place and are much respected by all favored with their acquaintance. Although well advanced in years they have not given up the active duties of life and the father still carries on the old farm. He has ever been inter- ested in the progress and improvement of the county and is a good citizen and pub- lic-spirited man. For the past four years Wilson Slabaugh, the subject of thia sketch, has made his home in Nappanee, and is the only one of the family. who has branched out from the beaten track of agricultural pursuits. He is at present a member of the firm of Walters & Slabsngh, which is doing a thriving business in lumber and the ssw and planing mill business in this town. Mr. Slabsugh Was only two years old when they moved to Elkhart county, and he was reared in the woods of Union township and attended the achools of the neighborhood. He ob- tained a good business education, which he has applied to s good purpose, and assisted his father on the farm until 1880, when he started out to till the soil for himself. After following this occupation until 1887 he came to Nappanee and embarked in the lumber business, which has since grown to large proportions. He first began by burning charcoal and after following this successfully for some time, engaged in the lumber business with Mr. Jacob Walters. They are now doing a good business and are wide-awake, enterprising business men. Mr. Slabaugh takes s deep interest in church matters, and in politics is & Prohibitionist, although formerly a Democrat. Public spirited and warm hearted, he has a vast number of friends. On December 15, 1882, he married Miss Amanda A. Bechtel, a native of Elkhart county, Ind., born November 16, 1860, and one of nine children born to Daniel and Sarah (Neiter) Bechtel. To Mr. and Mrs. Slabaugh have been born five children, all sons, as follows: Floyd B., Franklin E., Daniel W., Chris E. and John W. Mr. and Mrs. Slabaugh attend the Methodist Episcopal Church and sre classed among the leading people of Nappanee.

FREDRICK W. MUELLER. It is universally conceded that the distribution of food products constitutes the most important factor in the long list of a city'a industries, and, such being the case, the grocer must be accorded the palm as the most important contributor to the development of this fact, his wares covering almost every article of daily consumption known to man. This branch of mercantile activity is ably represented in South Bend, Ind., by the popular and well appointed establishment of Mr. Fredrick W. Mueller, located at 139, Sonth Michigan street. Mr. Mueller was born in Jefferson county, Wis., October 2, 1853, and is a son of John M. and Elizabeth B. (Meyer) Mueller, natives of Bavaria, Germany. The father was born June 22, 1822, and first set foot upon American soil in 1847. For about six months he made his home in South Bend, but in 1848 he went to Jefferson county, Wis., where he passed the remainder of his days, dying in 1881. He was a farmer for many years, but was also engaged in many business enter- prises, and at the time of his death was in the hotel business at the county seat of Jefferson county. His wife was born in 1822 and now resides at Jefferson, Wis. Fredrick W. Mueller, the eldest of five living children, supplemented & common- school education by two terms in the North Western University st Watertown, Wis., and subsequently began learning the harness makers' trade in the shop of Charles Weiss, at Jefferson, Wis. Later he was in the harness makers' business at De Pere, Wis., and in 1872 came to South Bend, Ind., where he followed his trade for one year. In the spring of 1874 he entered the employ of Louis Nickel, and continued with him until 1880, when he engaged in the grocery business for himself at his present place of business. He has made hosts of friends in con-

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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 12

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

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