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 26

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 26
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 26

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MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

death, which occurred at the age of sixty-five years, was regretted by all who had the honor of his acquaintance. He was & member of the Lutheran Church, and his wife of the German Reformed Church. Joseph Stiver, their son, whose name heads this sketch, was born in Clinton township, March 4, 1842, his youth being spent in attending the common schools and assisting his father on the home farm. After attaining a suitable age he began teaching school, which occupation he followed for some time, or until his marriage to Catherine, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Booinershine) Culp. About five years after his marriage Mr. Stiver settled on his present farm of 118 acres in Benton township, which at that time was partially cleared, and has since made many improvements in the way of clearing his land and erecting buildings. He has a fine residence, barns, etc., and his home, one of the pleasantest in the township, bears evidence of culture and refinement. Mr. and Mrs. Stiver have three children: Saloma P., who was a graduate of the University of Heidelburg, Tiffin, Ohio, is now s successful teacher in the graded schools of Goshen; Alice E. who attended school at Goshen, and is teaching in the public school at Benton, and Hershy A. Mr. Stiver is a public-spirited citizen, is a stanch supporter of the public-school system, and is warmly in favor of public improvement. He is a Democrat politically, and he and his wife are members of the Reformed Church of the United States. Members of the Stiver family are scattered all over the west- ern country, and are numbered among the foremost citizens of the localities in which they reside. They were soldiers in the Civil war, and for years a newspaper has been conducted at Harrisburg, Penn., of which a Stiver has been the editor. William Culp, the father of Mrs. Stiver, is one of the old settlers of Benton town- ship, but was born in Pennsylvania. His father, Conrad Culp, was born and married in Berks coonty, Penn., and was the father of two children, Mariah and Henry. He was a farmer, and finally settled in Northumberland county, Penn., where he owned a good farm of 200 acres. He and his wife were members of the German Reformed Church. He lived to be eighty years of age, having been a substantial farmer and an upright citizen. His son, Henry, father of William, was born in Berks county, Penn., and married Saloma, daughter of Henry Koler, their union resulting in the birth of eight children: Peter, Samuel, William, Benjamin, Henry, Hettie, Charles and Sarah. The father of these children settled on the old home- stead in Northumberland county, Penn., where he died at the age of forty-three years. He was very industrious and helped to clear a good farm there, was very pious and was a member of the German Reformed Church. His wife was a Lutheran. Their son, William, was born on the old home farm in Northumberland county, January 17, 1819, was reared to the life of a farmer, and received a com- mon-school education. He was married in Montgomery county, Ohio, at the age of twenty-five years, to Elizabeth, daughter of Abraham and Catherine (Cook) Boomer- ehine, who became the parents of nine children: Henry, Abraham, Michael, Lewis, Daniel, William F., Elizabeth, Catherine and Sarah. Abraham Boomershine became the owner of a fine farm, on which he died at the age of eighty-seven years. After his marriage William Culp resided one year in Montgomery county, Ohio, but in the fall of 1845 settled on his present farm in Indiana, which then consisted of eighty acres of timber land, on which he built a log cabin and by hard labor eventually cleared. By diligence and thrift he has become the owner of 180 acres. To Mr. and Mrs. Culp five children were born: Abraham, William H., Catherine, Sarah A. and Elizabeth S. Mr. Culp has been an elder in the German Reformed Church for many years, and in his political views is a Democrat. He is & public-spirited and upright citizen, and has the good will and respect of all who know him.

W. F. WICKWIRE deserves special mention in this work from the fact that he is one of the oldest business men of Elkhart, Ind., and an industrious and shrewd man of affairs. He was born in Connecticut, near Long Island Sound, in New London county, March 25, 1828, and is the only one living of three sons and six daughters and is the youngest born of Willard and Theoda (Chapel) Wickwire, the

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former of whom was a farmer by occupation, and so far as ia known those of that name have followed agricultural pursuits. Connecticut, the land of his nativity, was also the place of his rearing. His educational advantages were limited to the common school and was more on the practical order than otherwise. Until about eighteen years of age he assisted in the work on the home farm, then, disregarding his father's advice to go to an academy to school, he went to New London and embarked in the butchering business, where he remained five years, and later con- tinued the same business at Norwich six years. In 1857 he started west to Mich- igan on a visit to relatives, with the expectation of remaining only a short time, but remained eleven months, during which time he imbibed such a favorable opinion of the country that upon returning to the East he remained there only a short time, when he again shouldered hia grip-sack and started West, his mind being taken up with the possibilities of western life, and here he determined to make his future home. In May, 1858, he accordingly returned to Lawton, Mich., at which place he opened a hotel which he conducted three years, then took up his residence in Elkhart, and ever since June, 1861, he has resided on the southeast corner of Jack- son and Second streets, where he has kept the well-known hostelry known as the Elkhart House. It is altogether likely that there ia not another case on record in the history of Elkhart when any of her business men have continued in the same place, at the same business and the same length of time as Mr. Wickwire, and but very few business men are now engaged in active pursuits that were here when he came. While Mr. Wickwire has never made any boasta that his house is equal to the Palmer House, of Chicago, yet hia thirty-one years of successful business has pronounced him and his house in the category of A No. 1 country hotels. While taking no active part in politics he has always read and kept poated as to the news of the day, has served in local positions of trnat, and is a Democrat. Besides his town property he owns land in Cleveland and Osolo townships amounting to 1122 acres. He was married in 1850 to Misa Myra A. Church, and by her he is the father of one son, Frank W. Besides this son Mr. and. Mrs. Wickwire have two adopted daughters.

JESSE D. VAIL is a prominent pioneer of Benton township, Elkhart Co., Ind., and is a direct descendant of a family that dates back to the early settlement of the Middle States, some of its members being well-known and sterling men of affairs, who have made recorda for themselves in business life. His remote ancestors came from Wales and settled in Long Island, and two of the founders of the family in this country reared familiea. They were Quakers, and took advantage of the liberal and noble offer made to all religious sects by William Penn, and decided to seek a home in American wilds. One of the brothers eventually settled in New York State, while the other one removed to New Jersey, and there founded the family of which the subject of this sketch is a descendant. Samuel Vail, the great-grandfather of Jesse D., was born in New Jersey, on Bound Brook near Plainfield, where he owned a farm, reared a family and died. His son, Abraham, was born on this farm near Plainfield, about 1743, was reared to the life of a farmer, and in the State of New Jersey was married to Margaret Randolph, a cousin of the noted John Randolph, of Roanoke, the American statesman. To Mr. and Mrs. Vail seven children were born: Benjamin, Robert, Stephen, Samuel, Taylor, Mercy and Catherine. Event- ually Mr. Vail became the owner of 300 acres of land in Fayette county, Penn., which was what was called a "tomahawk right," and was purchased by him second- handed, he receiving a patent from the Government. He cleared this land and lived on the same for many years, until his house was burned down in March, 1833. His wife died at the age of eighty years, and the last six years of his life were speut with his son Samuel, his demise occurring in 1839, at the advanced age of ninety- six years. His farm is still in the possession of his grandsons, James and Oliver, children of Taylor Vail. Mr. Vail was a Quaker, a substantial farmer, a respected man of great integrity of character, and until he was eighty years of age was suc-

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cessfully engaged in the tilling of the soil. When in his prime he possessed a fine physique and was very strong and vigorous. A physician was never called in to attend him until he was over eighty, at which time he was badly hurt by falling from s horse. His son Samuel was born on the old farm near Plainfield, N. J., and as his youth was devoted to the tilling of the soil he had but few advantages for scquiring an education. At the age of nineteen years he went with his father to Fayette county, Penn., and was married in Washington county to Agnes, daughter of Joseph and Agnes Griswold, the former of whom was a farmer of that county, and died a comparatively young man. After marriage Samuel Vail and wife settled on a farm adjoining that of the former's father who gave him $1,500, his wife, Agnes, having an equal amount. With their $3,000, 260 acres of land was bought, and on this they resided the rest of their natural lives and reared a family of nine children: Charles, Priscilla, Mercy, Hannah, Joel, Jesse, Abraham (who died at the age of five years), Margaret (who died a married woman) and Martha (who died at the age of four years). Samuel Vail was a substantial farmer, respected by the people, and held many township offices. He and his wife were devout adherents of the Quaker Church, and Mrs. Vail was a preacher of that faith, regularly appointed. She was s woman who wielded much influence in church affairs, but her career was cut short at the age of thirty-eight years, when just in the zenith of her usefulness. After her death Mr. Vail married her cousin Elizabeth, danghter of Edward Griswold, and to this union four children were given: Edward, Agnes, Abraham and Lydia. Mr. Vail lived to the patriarchal age of ninety-four years, which was no doubt owing to the strictly temperate and healthful life that he led, as he did not inherit a very rugged constitution. He was noted for his great honesty, his simplicity of char- acter, his faithfulness to his convictions, his loyalty to his friends, and for his affec- tions and consideration in the family circle. He was an old line Whig in politics. Jesse D. Vail, his son, was born in Fayette county, Penn., March 31, 1814, in the common schools of which county he received a fair education, which was afterward greatly improved by contact with the world and the business affairs of life. He was reared a farmer, and worked for his father until he was twenty-three years of age, but in the spring of 1837 came to Indiana, passing through Buffalo during the great financial panic of that year, and witnessed the suspension of the banks, May 7. He had purchased a stock of general merchandise in Philadelphia, in company with his brother Charles, and upon reaching Elkhart county they located at Benton on May 15, 1837, where they conducted a general store for two years under the firm name of C. D. & J. D. Vail. C. D. Vail sold his share of the goods to James Banta, and the firm was then Vail & Banta. These gentlemen purchased a stock of goods owned by Albert Banta, but at the end of two years, owing to the financial panic of 1837-41, they were obliged to discontinue business, as there was so little money in circulation. Mr. Vail then borrowed money and bought 171 acres of land, which is now a part of his present farm. This was school land, and he lived on it two years and cleared a part of it. When in Fayette county, Penn., he had married, August 24, 1838, Miss Elma Cope, who was born in 1816, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Willits) Cope, and to them five children were given: Melissa and Margaret (who died in infancy), Samuel, Sarah and Lewis. In 1843 Mr. Vail returned to Pennsyl- vania with his family, and for about six years resided on a farm. In 1849 he returned to Benton township, Elkhart county, Ind., to his land, which he at once set about clearing and improving, and through industry and perseverance has made it & model farm. He has added to it at different times until he now owns 215 acres, all of which is very finely improved. Mr. Vail was county commissioner from

December, 1860, until the fall of 1865, and has ever been a strong Republican in politics. His father was a strong Abolitionist and his house was a station on the Underground Railroad, where he used to assist slaves to reach their goal-Canada. Jesse D. Vail was a strong Union man during the war, and was a member of the military board and assisted to raise men and money to carry on the war. He was

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enrolling officer in his township, and at one time helped to raise $11,500. He was a member of the Republican Central Committee of Elkhart county for twenty-four years, and for many years has been a delegate to every Republican State convention, and was one of the founders of the party in this county. After the death of his wife he was married to Miss Emily, daughter of Jesse and Nancy (Stevens) Coldren, the mother a direct descendant of Thaddeus Stevens. This wife died thirteen months after their marriage, and for his third wife Mr. Vail took Mrs. Sarah Prickett, daughter of Peter and Isabel (Jackson) Diddy, the former of whom was an old pio- neer of this county, and settled at Two Mile Plain, on the St. Joe River, in 1829. He was a very prosperous farmer, and was one of the first associate judges in the county. Mr. Vail's third wife bore him two children: Elma, who died at the age of three years, and Emily. He has given all his children good educational advantagea, and his youngest daughter has just graduated at the graded school of Goshen; Samuel C. attended college at South Bend; Lewis W. attended Erlham College at Richmond, Ind. Mr. Vail is now approaching eighty years, with mental faculties unimpaired, is erect in stature, and his eyes are yet clear and undimmed. The man himself is richer and nobler and grander for the experiences that each successive decade has brought him, and personally is one of the most popular of men, his amiable disposition and courteous manner endearing him to all who are so fortunate as to enter the wide circle of his friendship.

SILAS BALDWIN, deceased, was a native of East Bloomfield, N. J., his birth occur- ring September 23, 1811, and was one in a family of three sons and six daughters born to the marriage of David S. Baldwin and Elizabeth Kent. In 1821 the family moved from New Jersey to a place near Pittsburg, Penn., from where they removed two years later, to Warren county, Ohio. The following interesting account of their moving farther westward is taken from the history of Cass county, Mich: David S. Baldwin and his two sons, Silas and Josephus, left Warren county, Ohio, in March, 1828, for what was then known as the St. Joseph country, and arrived in April, camping on the south-west corner of Beardsley Prairie. They found food for both man and beast very scarce and had to resort to felling trees for brouse for the cattle, and to the woods and streams for food for themselves. They brought with them one horse, three yoke of cattle, one cart loaded with provisions, camp equipage, breaking plow, log chains, axes, iron wedges, etc. The weather, while on the journey, was so wet and cold, the roads so bad, and traveling so very disagreeable that their progress was greatly retarded. Through St. Mary's Swamps they made but three miles per day. There was only one house between Fort Wayne and Ben- ton at which place they found the Elkhart River so badly swollen from long con- tinued rains that a canoe had to be dug out of a white wood tree before they could cross. The two sons, Silas and Josephus, then fifteen and sixteen years old respect- ively, after remaining until June, returned to Ohio, their outfit consisting of one horse which they rode alternately, a supply of provisions and a five dollar bill. In the fall of 1830 the boys came back with the rest of the family. Silas removed to Elkhart in April, 1843. He was a lieutenant in the Black Hawk war and his rem- iniscences of that struggle are well worth publication. Prior to coming to Elkhart Mr. Baldwin followed merchandising at Edwardsburg, Mich., and then, on the 15th of February, 1837, he wedded Miss Jane Gephart. For a number of years he followed mercantile pursuits in Elkhart and was twice burned out. He was post- master from 1844 to 1848 and was then succeeded by the late Hon. B. L. Daven- port. In 1850 he took an active part in the struggle for the passage of the Michigan Southern (now the Lake Shore) Railroad through the county, acted as agent for the company in securing the right of way from Baugo to Bristol, collected the subscrip- tions himself, and upon the completion of the road was made the first station agent at Elkhart. In 1856 he became interested in the Elkhart Bank, but later, with his associates, organized the First National Bank of which he was elected cashier. Ill health compelled his resignation a number of years later and from that time on was

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practically retired from active business pursuits, confining his attention in looking after his varied interests. Beginning life's battle a poor boy, he selected honesty, industry and frugality as his guide, and by strict adherence to these principles acquired an honored name, a spotless reputation and a fair competency of this world's goods. In his early career he was what is termed an old " Jacksonian Dem- ocrat," but his political views changed with the assault upon Fort Sumter, and he ever afterward was identified with the Republican party and its principles. His life's labors were supplemented by the aid of an intelligent and devoted wife, who yet survives him. To Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin four children were born as follows: Helen Jane, who died July 24, 1865, the wife of Col. John W. Shaffer; Frank J., killed at the battle of Stone River when only eighteen years of age, being at that time a lieutenant in the Union army, a rank he had attained by distinguished gal- lantry; Edwin A., who died in infancy; and Elizabeth F., now Mrs. A. R. Beards- ley, of Elkhart. Mr. Baldwin died May 22, 1889. The following appropriate lines were taken from a local paper containing a notice of his death:

" He has done the work of a true man; Crown him, honor him, love him; Weep over him tears of woman; Stoop manliest brows above him."

HENRY GEISINGER. The history of Elkhart county, Ind., is filled with the deeds and doings of self-made men, and no man residing therein is more deserving the appellation than Mr. Geisinger, for he marked out his own career in youth, and has steadily followed it up to the present time; has grasped at all opportunities for bettering his financial and social condition, and as a natural result soon found him- self on s smooth ses and floating with a prosperous tide. He is well known in the section in which he resides, and the respect that is accorded him is but & natural tribute to his merit. He is descended from a substantial German family that set- tled in Bucks county, Penn., in which section Jacob Geisinger, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, became a well-to-do farmer. He was married there and became the father of six children: Henry, Philip, Betsey, Polly and Barbara, and one whose name can not be recalled. He removed with his family to Markham township, Upper Canada, now Ontario, where he cleared a farm, on which he resided until he met an untimely death by the falling of a tree. He was a member of the Mennonite Church, follower of Simon Mennon, and while in Germany had been per- secuted on account of his religion and fled to the asylum that had been provided by William Penn in the wilds of America. He was a non-combatant during the Rev- olutionary war, and owing to his religious belief, would not take up arms, but nevertheless was loyal to the King of England, and after the termination of that war, like many other Loyalists or Tories, he removed to Canada, and was granted a tract of land by the King for his loyalty. His son, Henry, father of the subject of this sketch. was born in Bucks county, Penn., and in his early boyhood removed to Canada with his father, where he grew to manhood, and was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Curts, a native of Bucks county, Penn., and of German descent, whose family left Pennsylvania at the same time as did the Geisingers. They became the parents of fifteen children, all of whom lived to grow up except one, and the following are the members of this large family: Jacob, John, Henry, Samuel, Daniel, David, Joseph, Susan, Barbara, Polly, Naocy, Elizabeth, Cath- erine, Fannie and Sarah. In 1827 the father of these children returned to the States and settled in Medina county, Ohio, where he bought 160 acres of land, which, by hard work and good management, he eventually cleared from timber and brush. He died at the advanced age of eighty-six years, having reared his family in the belief of the Mennonite Church. He acquired a comfortable competency, and being public-spirited, enterprising and honest, he had a very extended circle of friends and acquaintances. Henry Geisinger, whose name heads thia sketch, was born in Markham township, Upper Canada, January 25, 1815, and was twelve yeara

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of age when he came to Ohio with his parents. Like the majority of farmers' boys in those early times, he received but few advantages for acquiring an education, but during the two months that he attended the common schools of the Buckeye State he learned to read and write, and acquired a slight knowledge of arithmetic. Like a dutiful son he cheerfully assisted his father on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age, and after starting out for himself learned the trade of car- penter. He was married in Wayne county, Ohio, on August 31, 1839, to Miss Mary Garber, who was born in Lancaster county, Penn., September 1, 1814, daughter of Jacob Garber, farmer of Wayne county, Ohio, who lived to an advanced age. Mr. and Mrs. Geisinger's union resulted in the birth of the following children: Fannie, born in Wayne connty, July 22, 1840; Mariah, born in Wayne county, November 20, 1842; Anna, also born there April 3, 1845; Lucinda, a native of that county, born June 11, 1847; Sarah, born in Medina county, Ohio, March 30, 1850; Henry, born in Medina connty May 28, 1852; Catherine, born in Elkhart county, Ind .. May 27, 1855, and David, born in Elkhart county, May 10, 1858. After his marriage Mr. Geisinger resided in Wayne county and worked at bis trade for six years, after which he moved to Medina county and bought 120 acres of land, heav- ily covered with timber, which he partly cleared before selling it in 1852. In the fall of that year he came to Elkhart county, Ind., and settled on the land on which he is now residing, at which time there were only fifteen acres cleared. He cleared the remainder himself, and through industry was at one time the owner of 240 acres of fine land. He is in good circumstances, has been identified with the progress and development of Elkhart county, and has met with substantial results in the conduct of his affairs. His good name is above reproach, and he possesses those traits of character which mark the honorable business man, the progressive and public-spirited citizen, and the kind, considerate and faithful family man. He is a member of the Mennonite Church of which his wife, who died on March 14, 1867, was also a member.

DAVID BERKEY. The remote ancestor of this family came from Switzerland to America at a very early date and settled in Berks county, Penn., where they were engaged in tilling the soil. The paternal grandfather of our subject left Berks county and settled in Somerset county, Penn., where he reared his family of seven children: John, Peter, Tobias, David, Fannie, Anna and Jacob. Berkey was one of the early settlers there and owned a good farm on which his death occurred. In religion he was a Mennonite. His son, John Berkey, was born on the old homestead in Somerset county, and like the average country boy, received hie educa- tion in the common schools. When starting out for himself, young Berkey selected . agricultural pursuits as his calling in life and married Miss Annie Berkeypile, daughter of Andy Berkeypile, a farmer of Somerset county, who reared a large family of children, most of whom lived to be very old people. John Berkey settled on a farm four miles south of Johnstown, Cambria Co., Penn., shortly after his marriage, and on this he and his worthy companion passed the remainder of their days. Six children were born to his first union, as follows: Jacob, Mary, Eva, Peter, David and Fannie. After the death of his wife, Mr. Berkey did not wish to remain on the large farm, consisting of 700 acres, and the children were brought up principally by relatives, except Peter, who remained with his father. Mr. Berkey went to reside at Johnstown and there invested in a bridge crossing Stony River into Johnstown, where he kept the toll house for many years. Soon after settling in Johnstown he married Miss Elizabeth Ebbert, and two children were born to them: Chauncy and Clara. Mr. Berkey lived to be fifty-three years of age and died in Johnstown. He was a devout member of the Christian Church. His first wife was a member of the Lutheran Church and his last wife a Baptist in religion views. Mr. Berkey was a man of great integrity and for many years was judge of the elections. Thus he was called Judge Berkey. In politics he was an old line Whig. His children became honorable and respected men and women, and worthy

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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 26

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

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