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 15

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 15
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 15

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eighty-one years of age. The mother of Paul H. Kurtz resided in Pennsylvania until her marriage, and being an earnest member of the German Baptist Church for fifty-eight years she was of great assistance to her husband in his church work. Out of seven children born to them only four are living: Harry, who died in Penn- sylvania in childhood; Henrietta, who was born in Pennsylvania, died in Ohio when nine years of age; George H. was born in Pittsburg, Penn., and is living on the old home farm in Mahoning county, Ohio; Paul H .; Christian H., who died young; Henry J., who is living at Covington, Ohio, a man of no family. These children

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

received excellent training, were taught to revere the Bible, and have lived to be a credit to the parents who reared them. Paul H. Kurtz spent his early life in Stark county, Ohio, but from the time he was fourteen years of age until he attained his twentieth year, his time was spent on a farm in Columbiana county, Ohio. After spending two years as an apprentice at the carpenter's trade, he began working at that calling and in 1850, with the idea of bettering his financial condition, he came to Elkhart county, Ind., and took up his residence near New Paris. From that time until 1853 he erected many houses and barns throughout the county and won an excellent reputation as a man who thoroughly understood his calling. In 1852 Mary P. Shively, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, April 4, 1829, became his wife, she being a daughter of Isaac and Susanna (Snyder) Shively, the father having come to this section from Stark county, Ohio, in 1847, his death occurring here in 1848, leaving a family of nine children: Jonas, Daniel, Mary P., Margaret, Susan and Barbara (twins), Joseph, Lydia, Esther, all of whom are living. The mother of these children, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, died in Jackson township this county, in 1857. The Shivelys were connected with the German Baptist Church, in which Isaac Shively was a deacon. Mrs. Kurtz was eighteen years of age upon her arrival in this county, and here she resumed an acquaintance with Mr. Kurtz which had been commenced when they were children in Ohio. After their marriage they kept house in New Paris for one year and from that time until 1855 they resided on an eighty-acre farm in Kosciusko county. They then located at Harrison Center in this county where Mr. Kurtz began giving his attention to the saw-mill business with his brother-in-law, Moses Teegarden. While in Kosci- usko county Mr. Kurtz built a number of saw-mills, and after going into that busi- ness for himself, he operated two mills at once. In 1864 he bonght his present farm of 160 acres and now has a well-improved place. As a business man he has been snccessful, and this has not been only owing to his intelligent method of con- ducting his affairs, but to the fact that he has been very energetic and enterprising. He has always been a Republican in politics and in this respect, as well as in various other ways, his sons have followed in his footsteps. He has interested him- self in public matters, thoroughly understands the issues of the day, and is a patri- otic, whole-souled and intelligent gentleman. He and his wife hold to the faith of the German Baptist Church, in which he has been a deacon for a number of years. He has been on the committee for the building of two churches, but other worthy enterprises also occupy his attention. Nine children have been born to this union: Amanda P., born August 2, 1853, died when fifteen months old; Lewis P. was born September 10, 1855, and is still with his parents, while his twin sister Cath- erine is the wife of Henry Sherman, of Harrison township, and is the mother of seven children: Charles, Minerva, Nettie, Oliver, Jerome, Luella and Vernon. Henry P. was born August 5, 1857, and is living at Milford, Ind .; Lovina was born February 21, 1859, is the wife of Charles Warstler, residing east of Elkhart and has one child, Ira; Sarah A., born December 18, 1860, and died in infancy; Daniel P., born November 25, 1863; Leander P., born April 10, 1865, and Ida, born July 29, 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz were married January 17, 1852. They have a commodious and substantial brick residence, which was erected in 1867, which is very conveniently arranged. Here they dispense a generous hospitality to the nu- merous friends they have gathered about them.

R. L. BRAUNSDORF, of South Bend, Ind., is destined to make his mark in this section as an architect of special attainments. He is prepared to make designs for and estimate on all classes of proposed new buildings for public and private use, preparing all sketches and plans for the same, and studiously embodying every wish and suggestion of his clients. His plans are both practical and economical; modern ideas are noticeable features, coupled alike with symmetry and architectural beauty. His estimates and computations are always accurate and not exceeded in actual con- struction, and under his supervision the specifications are most rigidly adhered to. 7

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

Mr. Braunsdorf is a native of Dantzig, Germany, where he was born July 25, 1843, a son of John G. and W. J. Braunsdorf, both of whom spent their lives in the land of their birth, the father having been a shoemaker by occupation. They became the parents of seven sons and six daughters, six of the sons being now residents of the United States but the daughters are still in Germany. R. L. Braunsdorf was ednested in Holzminden, one of the largest schools of Germany, from which he graduated in 1864. In the Fatherland he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for three years while traveling over that country. In 1865 he embarked at Hamburg for America and landed at the city of New York, where he remained five years, working at his trade. In 1871 he came to South Bend, of which place he has since been a resident, the first ten years of his stay here being spent in working out by the day. He then began contracting for himself and subsequently turned his attention exclusively to architectural work, for which he possesses decided talent. He has filled a number of large contracts in a very satisfactory manner, among which may be mentioned Studebaker Bros.' repository of Chicago, and Clem Studebaker's residence of South Bend, the residence of F. Fish, of South Bend; the Mnessel Block; the C. A. Carlisle residence, and many other homes and business blocks which are an ornament and credit to the city. Mr. Braunsdorf is a member of the Cath- olic Knights of America, is a Democrat politically and served one term as trustee of the city water-works. He was married in 1868 to Miss A. W. Mochring, who was born in Germany, their marriage being celebrated in the city of New York. Of seven children born to them the following are living: William H., Walter J., Jo- hanna W. and Augusta H.

PETER LOUCKS, who is one of the oldest pioneers of Elkhart county, Ind., has attained to the advanced age of four-score years and seven, for his birth occurred in Westmoreland county, Penn., September 21, 1805. He was married there Feb- ruary 1, 1827, to Miss Anna Berkey, who was also & Pennsylvanian, born Sep- tember 1, 1808. Soon after their marriage they removed to Ohio, and after resid- ing successively in Holmes, Medina and Wayne counties of that State, they, in 1851, came to this State and county and settled on the farm where their youngest son, Jonas, is living. They purchased 160 acres of woodland, on which s small log cabin had been erected, and on that farm Peter Loucks has resided ever since. He followed the calling of a shoemaker in Ohio, but since his residence in this county the most of his attention has been given to farming. He has been a life-long mem- ber of the Mennonite Church, is deeply interested in Christian work, and in the various affairs of the county he is very public spirited. He is now the oldest pio- neer of Harrison township and as he has always endeavored to do what is fair and right, he has made numerons friends and few, if any, enemies. He is a man of strong convictions, and has ever been a stanch Republican in politics. For the past quarter of a century he has been retired from the active duties of life, and well deserves this rest after so faithfully and ably bearing the burden and heat of the day. His wife was called from life April 1, 1890, at the age of eighty-two years. She had been a life-long member of the Mennonite Church, was an exemplary Christian, a noble, kind and faithful wife and mother. She bore her husband seven sons and five daughters, of which family nine are living: Susanna, born April 28, 1828, died when four years old; Anns, born August 23, 1829, married David Swope, after his death John Buzzard, and died in 1890; Jacob, born September 9, 1831, is living in Olive township; William, born August 20, 1833, is living in St. Joseph county, Ind .; John, born September 18, 1835, is living in Olive township; Sarah, born November 29, 1837, is the wife of Tobias Myers; Martin, born March 11, 1840; is a resident of Olive township; Isaac, born June 19, 1842, is living in southeast Nebraska; Catherine, born July 4, 1844, died after her marriage to Henry J. Culp, Peter, born January 22, 1847, is living in Kansas; Mary, born April 24, 1850, is the wife of William Holdeman and is living in Concord township, and Jonas, who was born January 3, 1853, lives on the old home place. This worthy old couple spent

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

many years of hard work on their pioneer farm, but their work gradually told and they at last subdued the forces of nature and were in possession of a magnificent and valuable farm. Jonas Loucks, their youngest son, has resided on the old home farm in Elkhart county all his life and in his youth not only obtained a thorough education in the common schools near his home, but also learned lessons of indns- try, thrift and economy that have made him the well-to-do man that he is. He took the management of the home farm on his shoulders when about twenty-four years of age, and in 1890 bought the place of his father, who still makes his home with him. The place contains 160 acres, and although it is one of the oldest farms in the county, it has been so carefully managed that it is one of the most fertile of farms. Jonas Loucks is a sturdy young farmer of good business ability and devotes his farm to the raising of stock and grain. In 1876 he was married to Miss Anna Ramer, a native of this county, born March 9, 1854, a daughter of Tobias and Esther (Hoover) Ramer, the former of whom came to this section from Pennsyl- vania, married here, and here reared a family of five children: Fannie, Annie, Samuel, Martin and Susan. Mr. and Mrs. Loucks have four children: Susanna, born November 27, 1878; Martin, born March 25, 1881; Emma, born December 21, 1884, and Esther, born August 23, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Loucks are members of the Mennonite Church, and he has been a preacher of that denomination for the past six years. He is a well-informed and intelligent man and the principles of the Republican party have always commended themselves to his judgment. The good of his section is of paramount interest with him, and he has done his full share in making it the desirable place of residence that it is.

JACOB LOUCKS, a well-known, practical and successful farmer of Elkhart county, Ind., was born in Holmes county, Ohio, September 9, 1831, and is a son of Peter Loucks, whose sketch precedes this. The maternal grandparents were John and Susanna (Buzzard) Berkey, who removed from Pennsylvania to Holmes county, Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their days and reared twelve children: Christian, George, Isaac, Peter, John, Anna, Elizabeth, Barbara, Margaret, Mary, Rachel and Catherine. Peter Loucks wae one of eight children as follows: Martha, John, Jacob, Henry, Peter, Sally, Mary and Catherine. Besides his own children Peter Loucks has sixty-four grandchildren and sixty-two great-grandchildren. The early life of Jacob Loucks was spent in Ohio, where he attended the district schools and assieted his father in tilling the soil, clearing land, grubbing, etc. After coming to this State he was married to Miss Catherine Freed, a daughter of Jacob and Mar- garet Holdeman Freed, the former of whom was born in Virginia, a son of Jacob and Mary (Bideler) Freed. The grandfather, Jacob, was a resident of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, was there married, but became a resident of Holmes county, Ohio; here he died at the age of eighty-four years. Jacob, the father, was a young man when the family moved to Ohio and there he married Anna Freed, who bore him two sons, John and Andrew, both of whom became residents of Elkhart county, Ind., the latter being deceased. The mother of these children died in Ohio in 1833, and three years later the father married Margaret Holdeman, who was a daughter of Christian Holdeman, who removed to Columbiana county, Ohio, from Bucks county, Penn., where he died. His wife passed from life in Elkhart county in 1865. From this couple sprang all the Holdemang of this section. Jacob and Margaret (Holde- man) Freed first settled in Holmes county, Ohio, but in 1852 came to Elkhart county and began farming in Locke township. The father died April 2, 1869, at the age of seventy-two years, having been a minister of the Mennonite Church for many years. His wife passed from life May 30, 1887, at the age of seventy-seven years. She was first married to Samuel Yoder, by whom she had five children: John, Elizabeth, Jacob, Nancy and Samuel, her second marriage resulting in the birth of four children: Catherine, Mary, Joseph and. Christian. Joseph was a soldier in the Civil war, participated in a number of engagements and during his service died at Jeffersonville, Ind. Mary is the wife of Anthony Whisler of Kansas,

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and Christina is the wife of Joseph Landis of this county. Mrs. Loucks has been a resident of this county since she was fifteen years of age, her birth occuring Sep- tember 14, 1837, and at the age of seventeen she was married. She and her hus- band lived in St. Joseph county, this State, until 1891, when they bought the farm on which they are now living, in Olive township. They have built a new house and barn thereon and have in other ways greatly improved, the fences and outbuilding being repaired, etc. Their children are as follows: William H., born April 26, 1851, is married to Elnora Topper, is a resident of St. Joseph county and has five children: Franklin, Anna, Jarius, Nora and Dora; Sarah S., born March 23, 1860, is married to John R. Mikel and has one child: William H .; Mary E. was born April 8, 1862, is the wife of Joseph Dills and has five children: Minnie C., Eva M., Emma A., Alva E., and Sarah E., who is deceased; Andrew M. was born June 6, 1865, and died when one year old; Jacob O. was born October 15, 1867, is married to Barbara E. Anthony, and is living in St. Joseph county and has one child: Bertha E .; Anna Margaret, born August 22, 1870, and Jonas E., born October 12, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Loucks are members of the Mennonite Church, and Mr. Loucks has been ordained a minister in the same. As a business man he has been prosperous and in the conduct of his affairs he has shown good judgment and much intelligence. He has a finely improved farm of 300 acres and still owns his old home in St. Joseph county. What he has in the way of worldly goods has been won by hard work, and he deserves much credit therefor. He is a Republican politically, and he has held official position in St. Joseph county.

LOUIS A. HULL, city clerk of South Bend, Ind. The official work of this gentle- man has extended over a number of years and has brought him before the gaze of the citizens of South Bend, and in him his constituents have found a man of ability and integrity, and one whose activities have ever been employed for the good of the community. He is a product of Troy, N. Y., where he first saw the light of day Sep- tember 3, 1842, his parents being Adolphus and Frances (Moss) Hull, who were born in Canada and the Green Mountain State respectively. Adolphus Hull settled in Troy, N. Y., about 1840, but in 1856 came westward and took up his residence in South Bend, where he is now living, retired from the active duties of life. He and his wife became the parents of five sons and one daughter: Louis A. ; George W., who is superintendent of the machine department of the Singer Sewing Machine Company; Joseph, who is the western agent for the Goodrich Rubber Hose Com- pany, of Chicago; Charles, who is engineer of the Singer Sewing Machine Com- pany, of South Bend; Fred, who is the proprietor of Hull's Boiler Compound, and Mary, wife of J. M. La Pierre, a traveling salesman for Reddell & Reddell, wholesale grocers. Louis A. Hull was only thirteen years of age when brought to South Bend, but had previously attended the high school of Troy, N. Y., and finished his education, so far as books were concerned, in the schools of South Bend. At an early day he became a clerk and book-keeper for A. Coquillard Lumber Com- pany, but upon the breaking out of the Civil war in 1861, he cast aside personal considerations and enlisted to fight his country's battles, believing the "sword to be mighter than the pen." However, he was later transferred to the quartermaster's department, as chief clerk of the transportation department, which position he held until the war closed. Notwithstanding his desire for actual service in the field, the position which he held was a very trying and responsible one for a young man of his years, but he showed a remarkable ability in dispatching work, and was always accurate, prompt and energetic. The most of the time he was stationed at Nashville, Tenn., and after the termination of hostilities he spent about two years in traveling in different localities, and up and down the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, and on Lake Michigan, as clerk on various steamers. In 1868 he returned to South Bend aud again took upon himself the duties of his old position with the Coquillard Lumber Company, of which he remained an honored and trusted employe, until 1870, when he was transferred to the Coquillard Wagon Works, where he served in the

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MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

responsible position of accountant and confidential clerk, until the death of Mr. Coquillard in February, 1890, continuing to remain an employe of the company thereafter until Septemer 1, 1892. Having been elected to the position of city clerk in May of that year on the Republican ticket by the largest majority that has been polled for the office in many years, which fact is a sufficient testimonial of his com- petency and popularity, he entered upon his duties and has proved himself a beau ideal public officer, being accurate, punctual, intelligent and obliging. Mr. Hull has many steadfast friends in all parts of the county, and with all classes, and is him- self honest and earnest in his profession of friendship. As an illustration of his faithfulness and desire to do his duty, it can be said of him, that during the twenty- four yeare that he was in the employ of the Coquillards, he never lost but one day, except on account of sickness. He is a member of the K. of P., having passed all the chairs in this order, the G. A. R., and the German Turners' Society. He became a "benedict" in 1869, Miss Lydia Duck becoming his wife, and to their union two children have been given: Harry and Grace. Mr. Hull served as mem- ber of the city council from the Fourth Ward from 1876 to 1878, and did excellent service while a member of that body.

FREDERICK TRISINGER is one of the stockholders and a prominent member of the Wakarusa Lumber Company, which is one of the most active firms in its line of work in the connty. Mr. Trisinger was born in Canada, September 11, 1853, to Adam and Julia A. (Ohlheiser) Trisinger, the former of whom was born in Germany in 1826, or about that time, and was & son of Frederick and Julia A. Trisinger, who came to America with their family and settled in Canada, where a number of years were spent. They then came to Elkhart county, Ind. (in 1860), but the grand-' father died during the trip and the grandmother passed from this life in St. Joseph county, Ind., about 1872. They reared a family of five children: Adam, Jacob, John, Philipbena and Lena, all of whom are living, but only one resides in this sec- tion of the county-Lena. The grandfather was a farmer throughout life and succeeded in accumulating a valuable property. Adam Trisinger was the second child born to his parents, and prior to their leaving Germany they acquired a good education in the schoole of that country. He grew up on a farm in Canada, but also learned the butcher's trade, which calling he followed the greater part of his life. He was married in Canada and three of his children were born there. In 1856 he located in Elkhart county, Ind., and took up his residence in the vicinity of Wakarusa, after a short residence on that place, and till after the Civil war tilled a farm in Harrison township. He then moved to Bremen, Marshall county, where he conducted a butcher shop two years; then once more returned to Wakarusa, where he resided until his removal to Michigan. From that place he went to St. Joseph county, Ind., and for the past four or five years he has lived in that county. His children are as follows: Jacob, who died at the age of four years; Frederick, the subject of this sketch; Lena, who died in childhood; Mary, who was born in Indi- ana, is the wife of Jacob Harrington. and is a resident of Olive township, Elkhart county; and Catherine, who was born in Indiana, died in childhood. The mother of these children died in 1864, having been born in Germany. Like her husband she removed to Canada where her early life was spent. She was a life-long member of the German Lutheran Church, was a noble mother and a faithful and affectionate wife. After her death the father took for his second wife Miss Julia A. Burling- court, who is still living and has borne him five children: Lucinda, who is married and lives in Sonth Bend, Ind .; Elizabeth, who also resides there; John, Solomon and William. Mr. Trisinger is a member of the German Baptist Church, in politics is a Republican, and is well known for his public spirit and intelligence. Frederick Trisinger was a child of three years when he was brought to Elkhart county, and in the public schools of this section he received a good practical, business education. He left home when only thirteen years of age, and since that time has made his own way in the world, and until he was twenty years of age his earnings were given to

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his father. He learned and worked at the carpenter's trade, succeeded well in his undertakings, and in 1877 engaged in saw-milling, and became a member of the Smeltzer Sons & Co., and since 1879 has helped to operate the business successfully. They manufacture all kinds of lumber for building purposes, and make a specialty of this kind of lumber. The members of this well-known firm are; Jacob H. Dell, John Smeltzer, H. J. Smeltzer, Fred Trisinger and Anthony Smeltzer. The mill has a capacity of 7,000 feet per day, for which a ready and profitable market is found. Mr. Trisinger was married on January 7, 1877, to Miss Elizabeth Smeltzer, a daughter of John Smeltzer. She was born June 29, 1860, and has presented her husband with two children, only one of whom is living, Maudie J., who was born on March 20, 1885. The other child died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Trisinger are members of the Christian Church at Wakarusa, and in politics Mr. Trisinger is a Republican, the interests of which he has always furthered to the best of his ability. As a man of affairs he has shown remarkable foresight and it is owing to his good judgment and business acumen that he has accumulated the handaome prop- erty of which he is now the owner. He and Mrs. Trisinger are considered among the first people of Wakarusa, and their hospitable home is a favorite resort for their numerous friends.

WILLIAM A. RUTHERFORD is the genial, courteous and capable city treasurer of South Bend, and was born in Madison township, St. Joseph county, October 16, 1850, a son of Jesse V. and Mary C. (Cotton) Rutherford, who were born in Cul- pepper county, Va., and Prince Edward's Island respectively, the birth of the former occurring in 1826. In 1845 he turned his face westward and after a short stay in Elkhart county, Ind, he came to St. Joseph county, where he has resided since 1853. Here he entered land and followed farming for a number of years, but for the past eighteen years has been one of the leading grocers of South Bend, and is highly regarded as an honorable business man by all classes. His family con- sisted of five children, two of whom are living: William A. and Mra. Lina E. Blake, of South Bend. William A. Rutherford resided on a farm until eighteen years of age, and during that time learned not to be afraid of hard work. He obtained his educa- tion in the country schools, and after coming to South Bend learned the art of photography, at which he worked for four years. In 1874 he embarked in the grocery business with his father, under the firm name of J. V. Rutherford & Son, which continued until the latter's election to the office of city treasurer in September, 1892, to which he had been elected in the previous May. He was elected on the Republican ticket, of which he had always been a supporter, by a majority of 278 votes, the previous election having been 870 Democratic majority. The people's confidence in his ability has not been misplaced, and under his capable manage- ment everything moves along with clock-work precision. He has always been the soul of honesty in all his business transactions, and by his correct mode of living made numerous warm and faithful friends. He is interested in the public weal; is generous in his support of worthy measures, and, in fact, is a model citizen, as all who are acquainted with him know. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, of which order he is regent, and he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife, whom he married May 19, 1875, and whose maiden name was Jennie Bucher, is not a member of the church.

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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 15

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

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