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 17

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 17
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 17

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WILLIAM McDOWELL. For many years this worthy gentleman was a resident of Harrison township, Elkhart Co., Ind., but is now a prominent citizen of Harvey county, Kan. He is a native of that grand old State, Virginia, born August 24, 1823, and his parents, James and Jane (Boyd) McDowell, were born on the green

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isle of Erin. James McDowell was brought to this country by his parents when only about a year old, and a settlement was made in Greenbrier county, Va., where the Mc- Dowell family made their home for many generations. Some of the early members of the family participated in the revolutionary war, and were patriotic and honora- ble citizens. James and Jane McDowell reared a family of children, and when William was but eight years of age they emigrated by wagon to Elkhart county and settled in Harrison township, where they took up land and began making a home for themselves in the midst of the heavy timber. Many hardships and privations were experienced by this enterprising young couple, but they struggled with ad- versity and came out conquerors. Mrs. McDowell died in 1866, and her husband followed her to the grave in 1872. He was an old-line Whig in politics, and a Presbyterian in his religious views. His wife also held membership in that church, and they were highly esteemed and respected in the community, not only as pio- neer settlers, but as worthy and honorable citizens. From the age of eight years, William McDowell was reared on his father's farm in Harrison township, and at- tended the district schools of his day. After reaching man's estate he followed farming on the old home place and there remained until a few years ago, when he sold out and moved to Kansas. When twenty-five years of age he was married to Miss Elizabeth Alfard, a Virginia lady and daughter of Robert Alfard, who came from the Old Dominion to Elkhart county, Ind., at an early day. To this union one child was born, but mother and child both died. A number of years later Mr. McDowell married Miss Elizabeth Cart, daughter of Conrad and Rebecca (Fen- ton) Cart, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Cart came to this country at an early day and settled in Green- brier county, Va., where Elizabeth was born February 24, 1830. She died in Elkhart county in 1868, leaving five children: Louisa, born November 14, 1851, and is now Mrs. Bechtel; M. A., born August 29, 1856, is the wife of Peter Bechtel, who now resides in Peabody, Marion Co., Kan .; Harriet A., born April 19, 1858, married George Moyer, of Peabody, Kan .; Harvey S., born March 10, 1862, died December 23, 1882, and Oliver E., born April 20, 1867, ia liv- ing in Kansas. Mr. McDowell's third marriage was with Elizabeth Friend, daugh- ter of an old soldier who was killed in the civil war. Five children were the fruits of this union: Charles, born December 3, 1870; Frank, born December 21, 1872; Mary J., born January 11, 1875; Lottie P., born in 1884, and George, born in 1886. Mr. McDowell is a prominent man in Kansas, and previous to moving to that State was one of the representative citizens of Elkhart county, Ind.

JOHN SMELTZER. Among the early pioneers of Elkhart county and Olive town- ship, Ind., and who has attained to a vigorous old age, is John Smeltzer, who, many years ago, came to this section with his wife, and settled on the farm on which a por- tion of the town of Wakarusa is now situated. John Smeltzer was born in the State of Pennsylvania on March 26, 1823, his parents being Michael and Susan (Rhodes) Smeltzer, who were also Pennsylvania people, and were of substantial German stock, possessing the thrift and energy for which that race of people have always been noted. In the State of his birth John Smeltzer was reared, and being one of a family of nine children had to work hard in his younger days, and consequently received but little education. At an early date he emigrated to Richland county, Ohio, and for twenty- five years there successfully tilled the soil. He was married in the Buckeye State to Miss Leah Lechlighter, daughter of Anthony Lechlighter, and in 1848 removed with her to Indiana, and located on a woodland farm in Elk- hart county, where they passed through all the vicissitudes and hardships of pioneer life. They still reside on the farm on which they first settled, and have a good and comfortable home about one-half mile east of Wakarusa. At an early day he started a saw-mill, and followed that business with good financial results for a long period. It was conducted under the firm name of John Smeltzer & Co., and later as John Smeltzer & Sons, but is at present known as the Wakarusa Lumber Company

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and is still doing & paying business. The stockholders are F. Trisinger (Mr. Smeltzer's son-in-law) and Anthony and Henry J. Smeltzer and John Smeltzer, also the substantial citizen, Jacob H. Dell. All are shrewd and practical business men, and are running their saw and planing-mill in & very creditable and satis- factory manner. Mr. Smeltzer may be said to be a pioneer in the lumber business, and as a citizen has always been public spirited, enterprising and industrious, and as a natural result has accumulated a fair share of this world's goods. He and his wife are highly regarded by all who know them, and for many years have been in close communion with the Reformed Lutheran Church. Of eleven children born to them ten are living: Susan, Henry, Anthony, Michael, Catherine, Joseph, Libbie, Daniel, Simon, John and Mary. These children are all in good circumstances and are an honor to the parents who reared them. For many years John Smeltzer has been retired from the active affairs of business life, his sons having taken the burden of the mill off his shoulders. Anthony Smeltzer, the third of their children, and now a member of the Wakarusa Lumber Company, was born in Harrison township, Elkhart county, Ind., June 7, 1850, and was reared on the old home farm near Wakarusa, where he was early taught to till the soil and to learn the duties neces- sary for the proper conduct of a farm. He obtained his rudimentary knowledge in the district schools and in the town of Wakarusa, but at the age of twenty years gave up farming to enter the saw-mill at Wakarusa, since which time his attention has been devoted to this work. For some time he also conducted a threshing- machine, and in a business way has been more than ordinarily successful, for he has a shrewd and practical mind, is quick to grasp at opportunities for bettering his financial condition, and has always been scrupulously honorable in his dealings with his patrons, never putting in practice sharp or doubtful methods, as so many do, in order to further his own interests. He has been familiar with saw-milling since 1869, and in 1875 was made a partner in the business, after which the firm was known as John Smeltzer & Sou. In 1880 Anthony was married to Miss Huma Helwig, who was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, November 4, 1854. Her parents, Caspar and Martha (Eckhart) Helwig, were of German descent, and the father is still a resident of Ohio, but the mother was called from this life in September, 1892. Mrs. Smeltzer was one of & family of eight children. She was married to Mr. Smeltzer in 1880, and immediately began keeping house in Wakaruss, where they have a very pleasant and comfortable home. They are members of the Christian Church, and Mr. Smeltzer now supports the People's party, although in the past he was a Republican. He leans to some extent toward the Prohibition party, for in every respect in his mode of living he is very temperate. He has held positions of trust and honor in Olive township, and at all times has shown himself to be very public spirited and interested in the improvements of the county. He and his wife have many friends, and are among the substantial and honored residents of Waka- rusa. Henry J. Smeltzer is the second child born to his parents, and passed his youth very much as his brother did. In Richland county, Ohio, he first saw the light of day, May 18, 1848, and was an infant when his parents made the trip in wagons to Elkhart county, Ind. Henry has resided in the vicinity of Wakarusa since the year of his birth, and during this time the citizens therest have had every opportunity to judge of his character and business qualifications, and naught has ever been said derogatory to his honor. Owing to the newness of the country and the scarcity of good schools, he only attended a few months each year, his youthful days being spent hard at work on the farm, the most of which he had to do, as he was the eldest son. This rough but practical school developed his intellect and resources at an early day, and his energies were expended on the farm until he was nineteen years of age, when he commenced making his own way in the world. For some time he worked by the day at the carpenter's trade, then followed saw-milling for some time, and later entered the saw-mill business with his father, and since that time has been an active and useful member of the firm of Smeltzer & Sons and

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the Wakarusa Lumber Company. He has made a success of his business life, and his natural business ability has been strengthened and broadened by experience. He has always been honest, straightforward and industrious, and as a result is suc- cessful. He has always supported the Republican party and is a public-spirited man. In September, 1867, when only nineteen years of age, he was married to Miss Barbara A. Ipe, a native of Ohio, a daughter of Washington Ipe, an early pioneer, who is still living in Union township, Elkhart county. Mrs. Smeltzer was born on April 8, 1849, and became a resident of this county when ten years of age. The fol- lowing children have been borne to her union with Mr. Smeltzer: Susan, is the wife of Jacob Walker, of Wakarusa, and is the mother of one child-Ralphns; William A .; Charles E., who is married to Carrie -; Hattie, who is the wife of Eli Weise, of Locke township; Cora; Carrie; Libbie; Agnes and Mary I. John His deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Smeltzer are members of the United Brethren Church, of which they are worthy communicants, and have a substantial and comfortable home in the town. Like the other members of the family Mr. Smeltzer is public spirited, and has always manifested much interest in the development of churches and schools. He is a self-made man in all that the word implies, and one of which his family may well be proud.

OLIVER P. WISLER is the eldest child of Isaac Wisler, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this volume. That he has inherited many of the most worthy qualities of his people is acknowledged and his numerous friends testify to his honesty, kindheartedness and energy. He was born on the farm owned by his father in Locke township, near the town of Locke, on the 13th of November, 1859, and while growing upattended the schools of Locke, where he laid the foundation of a practical education, later finishing his scholastic knowledge in the public schools of Syracuse, Ind. On his father's farm he learned lessons of industry and honesty and while attending school acquired a decided taste for books; which qualities admir- ably fitted him for the calling of a pedagogue, the duties of which he took upon his shoulders at the youthful age of seventeen. During the two terms that he fol- lowed this calling he was quite successful bnt gave it up to follow other pursuits. Many of his youthful days were spent in the wooden-ware factory belonging to his father, but in later life he became the owner and manager of a threshing machine, which he conducted for about seven seasons, and at the same time followed farming and bought and sold timber. In the management of these enterprises he showed that he possessed fine business qualifications, for his efforts met with abundant re- ward. Since he attained his twenty-second year he has farmed for himself, and since 1889 has resided on a farm of sixty acres in Locke township, of which he is the owner. He has dealt in lumber and timber for many years, hae a superior knowledge of the business, and as he has been strictly honorablein all his dealings he is deservedly successful. He is at present engaged as assistant superintendent for "The Perley Lumber Company, " of South Bend, Ind. In his youth he learned the art of boiler making of his father, and for some time followed this occupation in South Bend. He has made a success of his life and it may with truth be said of him that he is a self-made man. He has always supported the principles of the Republican party, and like all the members of his family, is a public-spirited citizen. Ou the 20th of September, 1884, he was united in marriage to Elzina Blily. an adopted daughter of Louis and Sarah Blily. She was born September 16, 1867 in Locke township, and from her marriage up to 1889 resided on the farm of Isaac Wisler, at which time her husband purchased their present farm. They have four children: Lester O., who was born August 13, 1885; Harry Otis, born December 6, 1886; Charles M., born June 7, 1888, and Glenn, born October 23, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Wisler have many friends with whom they are deservedly popular.

ALEXANDER WILHELM. The learned professions have many disciples who aspire to honor and dignity in their chosen fields and all with greater or less reason to ex- pect their efforts to be crowned with success. . He of whom we have the pleasure of

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attempting a short biographical sketch is one of the many to woo the fickle goddess of fortune before the bench and bar. Nor does he aspire without cause, for nature has gifted him generously with those qualities that make themselves felt in the legal profession. Mr. Wilhelm was born in La Porte, Ind., November 18, 1861, a son of John and Emily (De La Barre) Wilhelm, both of whom were born in Germany, the family being of French, as well as German descent and of old Revolutionary stock. The mother's grandfather fled from-France and settled near Berlin, Prussia, in which country the grandmother is still living at an advanced age. In 1848 John Wil- helm became an emigrant tothe United States and although he first settled and resided in La Porte for some time, he is now a successful business man of Bremen, Ind. He is a tailor by trade. Of the six children born to himself and wife, five are now living, three sons and two daughters, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest son. Until five years of age he resided in La Porte, from which time until he attained bis majority he was a resident of Stark county, Ind., and lived on a farm. When quite young he began making his own way in the world andat various times he attended the country schools and secured a fair education, which he further improved by con- siderable self-application. In 1879 he began school teaching, to which occupation he devoted his attention until 1885, by which means he secured sufficient money to enable him to take a mixed course in the Indiana University at Valparaiso. In the spring of 1886 he entered the law office of Mr. Hubbard under whom he read law for some time, being admitted to the bar in 1887, after which he went to Horton, Kan., and hung out his shingle, but soon discovered that this was not a desirable location and in 1890 returned to South Bend, of which place he has since been one of the leading practitioners, owing to his steady devotion to duty and the constant exercise of energy and jndgment. His reputation is not bounded by the arbitrary limits of the county, but he is already becoming known in surrounding counties, and bids fair to acquire an enviable reputation as a legal practitioner. Politically he is a Democrat and socially is a member of the K. of P. and the K. O. T. M. October 30, 1887, he led to Hymen's altar Miss Luella M. Goodrich, of South Bend, and to them two interesting children have been given: Helen B. and Halford V.

PETER FINK is one of the most prominent farmers of Elkhart county, Ind., and there is no one who more fully illustrates in his career the unbounded energy and activity of the agriculturists of his section than does he. He was born in Lan- caster county, Penn., September 29, 1832, the oldest but one of eight children born to Emanuel and Lydia (Madlern) Fink, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, a son of Philip Fink, who was of German descent. Emanuel Fink first removed to Ohio and in 1842 came to this country and settled on an eighty- acre tract of land in Olive township, and resided on two different farms there until his death which occurred in 1880. He was born in 1803; came by wagon to this sec- tion, at which time he was in straitened circumstances, but by following the plow and working at the carpenter's trade and in this manner succeeded in rearing his large family in comfort and accumulating a comfortable competency. In politics he was a Democrat, and held a number of offices in his township. His wife died in this county in 1892, at the age of eighty-four years, a member of the Lutheran Church. She became the mother of nine children, the following of whom reached mature years: Samuel, Peter, Leah, Lydia, Elizabeth, Fianna, William and Nancy, all living in Elkhart county, but Fianna, who died several years ago. Peter Fink has been a resident of Elkhart county since he attained his tenth year, and in the schools of Ohio and those of this county he obtained his education. Until he was twenty-one years of age he made his parents' house his home, at which time he was married to Mary Clause, daughter of John and Susanna (Snyder) Clause, both of whom were born in Berks county, Penn. Mr. Clause was one of the early inhabit- ants of Harrison township, but died in Locke township in 1878. He was the father of ten children: Sarah, Caroline, Elizabeth, Daniel, Benjamin, Diana, Thillman, Susanna, Mary, Levina, seven of whom are are living, When the parents of these

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children came to this region they were fortunate enough to possess some means by which they purchased eighty acres of woodland. They attended the Lutheran Church. Mr. Clause was s Democrat and was one of the substantial men of his section. Mrs. Fink was born in Medina county, Ohio, April, 1837, and was ten years of age when brought to Elkhart county. After Mr. Fink's marriage he settled on a woodland farm in Locke township, which be set to work to clear and on this farm he made his home until 1862, when he enlisted in Company I, Seventy-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry with which he served until the war terminated, participa- ting in the engagements at Chickamanga, Missionary Ridge, the Atlanta campaign, the battle of Jonesboro and in numerous skirmishes. He was in the hospital during the winter of 1862-3. The gun which he held in his hand was shot to pieces in the first day's battle of Chickamauga, and he also found some shot in the haversack which he carried at his side, but was himself uninjured. He was always found at the post of duty and he was recognized as a true, tried and faithful soldier. His army career terminated at Washington, D. C., in 1865, and he returned to his farm in Locke township and once more took upon himself the duties of civil life. Since 1866 he has been a resident of the farm he now occupies. He is a member of the G. A. R. of Wakarusa, and also belongs to the Masonic fraternity of the same place. He is a public-spirited man and has always helped to advance the interests of his section. He has one of the best improved farms of his section and gives con- siderable of his attention to tilling the soil. He and his estimable wife have reared a family of nine children: Henry A., born December 26, 1854, is living in South Bend; Sarah A., born December 18, 1856 is the wife of John Riddle, living in Seneca county, Ohio; Reuben, born February 4, 1859, married, is a druggist of South Bend; Alcetta, born July 30, 1861, is the wife of Elliott Crull; Emanuel, born April 2, 1866, is s teacher near Sonth Bend; John, born October 6, 1869, is a drug- gist of South Bend; Frankie was born July 17, 1875; Charles was born December 11, 1878, and Mabel was born August 27, 1882. The last three are at home. This is one of the finest families of the county, each and every member of which tries to live useful and correct lives, and judging by the numerous friends they have gath- ered about them they are without doubt succeeding.

WILLIAM MACK, cashier of Studebaker Bros. Manufacturing Company, of South Bend, Ind., is greatly esteemed throughout the city for his conspicuous ability, honorable business methods and geniality, and is considered a useful and trusted man by his employers. He was born in Hanover, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., October 9, 1828, a son of John and Clarissa W. (Hanford) Mack, natives of New Hampshire, and Connecticut respectively, of Scotch-Irish and English origin. The Macks were among the early settlers of the New England States, and early members of the fam- ily were distinguished participants in the war for independence. The father and grandfather were farmers and early settlers of Chautauqua county, N. Y., but the former was also a lumberman and did considerable business as interpreter for the Government among the Indians. He died in South Bend in 1877, having come to this place in the fall of 1844. He followed different callings, and for some years was secretary for Alexis Coquillard, and assisted him in the removal of the Potta- watomie Indians from this section. He was Mr. Coquillard's secretary when the latter laid out the town of Lowell, now part of South Bend. His wife bore him three sons and one daughter that grew to maturity: John, Walter, William and Helen, and his second wife bore him two children, one of whom is living, James L., of St. Louis. William Mack remained in the State of his birth until about sixteen years of age, then came to South Bend and at once began learning the mason's trade which he followed as his chief means of livelihood until 1865, at which time he became book-keeper and cashier for Studebaker Bros., and has filled the last named position with ability ever since. He has almost grown up with this immense manufacturing establishment and has held one of the most important positions sub- ject to the bestowal of the proprietors. His executive ability and intelligent views

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on all matters of importance have been recognized and he has served as a member of the city council and as water-works trustee and many years ago was trustee of the village of South Bend. He received his early schooling in the rural dis- tricts of New York and in the Fredonia (New York) Academy, but his practical knowledge was obtained in the hard but useful school of experience. He is s cour- teous and obliging gentleman, always takes pleasure in assisting others and in all his business relations he is punctual, reliable and merits the confidence reposed in him. He has attained to the commandery in the A. F. & A. M., and he and his wife, whom he married in 1852, and whose maiden name was Laurette Thurber, are members in good standing in the Baptist Church. Mrs. Mack was born on Penn- sylvania soil and came to LaPorte county, Ind., in her youth. She bore her hus- band two sons: Walter E., of Cleveland, Ohio, and William H., of the A. C. Staley Manufacturing Company, of which he is secretary and treasurer.

DAVID RODIBAUGH, who for sixty-one years has been a resident of Jackson town- ship, Elkhart Co., Ind., was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, on January 18, 1819, 8 son of David and Saloma (Rodibaugh) Rodibaugh, the former of whom was born in Westmoreland county, Penn., a son of John Rodibangh, who was of German extraction, and died in the Keystone State. David Rodibangh, father of the subject of this sketch, grew to manhood in his native State, and in 1812 moved to Ohio and became the owner of a tract of Government land. Owing to the fact that he lived on the frontier, he was not a soldier of the war of 1812, for his serv- ices were required to protect the homes of the early settlers. He cleared his farm from timber and sold it in 1831 and here, also, settled on a tract of Government land in Jackson township, Elkhart county. On this farm he resided until his death which occurred on December 4, 1844. He was a man devoted to his business, paid strict attention to clearing his farms, and being hard-working, honest and upright, he became possessed of considerable means. He experienced many hardships in his frontier career, but prospered through it all, was a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was devoted to Christian work. His many years of hard labor provided each of his seven children with homes after his death, and gave them comforts throughout his life. He held official positions of trust in his township, was interested in all enterprises tending to improve the section in which he lived, and his death, which occurred in his fifty-seventh year, was greatly deplored. His wife was born in the same county in Pennsylvania as he himself was, and died in Indiana in 1869. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a woman of true Christian spirit. She became the mother of thirteen children, but only reared seven: Adam, Leah, Samuel, Lavina, David, Susan, who is Mrs. Row- ell, of Goshen; John, Lyda, Isaac, Mary A., Catherine, Abner, Eliza, who is Mrs. Butler, of Jackson township. David, Mrs. Rowell and Mrs. Butler are the only members of the family that are now living. The subject of this sketch has been s resident of Elkhart county since he was twelve years of age, and accordingly became familiar with pioneer life in Ohio and Indiana. He attended the subscrip- tion schools which were in vogue in his day, in which he acquired a rudimentary knowledge of the three R's. He remained with his father until twenty-four years of age, then took up the battle of life for himself, and on November 17, 1842, was united in marriage to Martha J. Shaw, who was born in Virginia, July 26, 1823, and who was a daughter of one of the old pioneer settlers of Elkhart county. To them four children were born: the first an infant son, born and died September 6, 1843;

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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 17

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

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