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 56

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 56
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 56

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MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

FREDRICK GEORGE EBERHART, JR., Mishawaka, Ind. The original pioneer of Penn township was Fredrick G. Eberhart (see sketch of Adolphus Eberhart). He was the father of our subject, who was born in Yates county, N. Y., March 15, 1835, and was one year old when his parents brought him to this county. He received the common-school education of his township, attending school during the winters and working on the farm during the summers, remaining on the farm at home until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1857 he went to Rock Island, Ill., and remained there one summer engaged in breaking prairie, but returned to Penn township in 1858, and in company with his brothers John and Jacob, went into the lumber busi- ness, in which he successfully continued for five years. Following this he engaged in farming one and one-half miles northeast of Mishawaka, and bonght eighty acres of land. to which, by thrift and industry, he added until he now owns 110 acres, upon which he has put good improvements, consisting of a substantial residence, commodious barn, and other farm buildings. In 1864 Mr. Eberhart married Roxy Vesey, daughter of George and Olive (Graham) Vesey. George Vesey descended from the old family of the name, in Vermont, and came to Penn township in 1847, buying 160 acres of land which he cleared from the dense woods and made into a good home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Vesey were members of the Baptist Church, he being s descon for many years. Politically he was a stanch Republican. He was the father of six children by his first wife: Emily, Anna, William, Lucius, Horsce and Roxie. Mr. Vesey lived to the age of sixty-seven, and died on his farm in May, 1887. He was a man of excellent reputation, and was well known throughout St. Joseph county for his integrity of character. He was an industrious pioneer citi- zen. His wife, Olive Graham, was born in York State, of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Eberhart have had four children: Sabra, born February 1, 1865; George F., born November 8, 1868; Adelbert H, born November 26, 1873, and died at three years of age, and Lucius H., born April 23, 1876, dying while still an infant. All of the children were born in Penn township on the farm. All of the children received a good education, and George and Sabra O. attended the high school of Mishawaka, from which the former graduated. Our subject has always been a prac- tical farmer and business man, but has held no office. He is a stanch Republican- in politics, a substantial citizen, owning his farm and also an interest in the Eber- hart homestead. Both Mr. and Mrs. Eberhart are members of the Methodist Church, in which he is now trustee, and has been class-leader and steward. They are now residing in Mishawaka. Sabra O. married George Cook, freight agent at Chesterton, Ind., and has one child: Jay W .; and George F. married Abbie Plum, and is a merchant in Osceola. Mr. Eberhart has descended from one of the most honorable families in Penn township, and has always been a man above reproach in every relation of life.

DR. W. A. PIERCE, Osceola, Ind. In a comprehensive work of this kind, deal- ing with industrial pursuits, sciences, arts and professions, it is only fit and right that that profession on which, in some period or other of our lives-the medical profession-we are all more or less dependent, should be noticed. It is the preroga- tive of the physician to relieve or alleviste the ailments to which suffering humanity is heir, and as such he deserves the most grateful consideration of all. A promi- nent physician who, by his own ability, has attained distinction in his profession is Dr. W. A. Pierce, who was born in Bennington, Vt., in 1852, and comes of an old New England family of English descent. Michael Pierce, son of Ephraim, came to this country from England in 1727 and settled in Massachusetts. Capt. John Pierce, of Bedford, Mass., and grandson of Ephraim, served in the Revolutionary war, while Isaac, the great-grandson of Ephraim, served in the War of 1812. Amos Pierce, the grandfather of Dr. Pierce, became a general merchant of Burlington, Va., in 1813, there resred his family and passed from life at the age of eighty years. He was the father of Myron A., Charlotte, Sarah and Augusta Pierce. Amos Pierce was a successful man of affairs and for some time held the office of justice of the

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peace. Myron A., his son and the father of Dr. W. A. Pierce, was born in Burling- ton. Vt., and graduated at the Boston University, paying his own way while in this institution by teaching school. After sufficient preparation he began practicing medicine at White Hall, Vt., and later at Bennington, where he remained six years. In 1854 he moved with his family to Morris, Ill., having married in the State of his birth Harriet Frost, who bore him six children: William A., Frank F., Frederick (who died when in infant), George (who also died young), Harriet G. and Jesse M. Dr. Pierce practiced medicine at Morris, Ill., for thirty years, and became widely and favorably known. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church, in which they were very active workers, and socially he was a member of the A. F. & A. M. He died January 30, 1885, at the age of sixty-six years. Dr. W. A. Pierce may be said to have been brought up in his father's office, for there much of his time was spent in studying his father's medical books and receiving valuable instructions from him, not only by precept, but by example. His literary education was obtained in the Morris Classical Institute, and his medical education in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he gradnated as an M. D. in 1879. Soon after this he opened an office at Middlebury, Ind., but at the end of three months came to Osceola, since which time he has, by his assiduous attention to his patients, acquired a large and steadily increasing practice, while he has gained the confidence of all as a steady, clever and scientific practitioner. He is a practitioner of the regular alopathic school, and during the prevalence of la grippe in 1891 he kept two drivers and seven horses busy almost day and night in looking after his patients. He has full control of the medical practice of his territory, his drives extending in all directions from Osceola, a distance of ten miles. He is well known as a man of benevolent disposition and for his kindness to the poor, his charges to them being most reasonable. He stands deservedly high, not only in his profession, but as a gentleman and an honored citizen. He is a member of the St. Joseph County Medical Society, and politically is a Republican. March 15, 1881, he mar- ried Louisa White, daughter of William and Elmira (Belden) Bancroft, the former of whom was one of the founders of Osceola. Dr. and Mrs. Pierce have two chil- dren: Harriet E. and Chauncey M.

HARRY BOYD SNEE, M. D. The medical profession in South Bend is represented by a number of skillful practitioners, who have an extended knowledge of therapeutics, skill in their use and enviable reputations as physicians of ability. Prominent among them is Dr. Snee, who is a graduate of the noted Rush Medical College, of Chicago, being a member of the class of 1888-9. He was born in the city of New York, March 22, 1869, a son of Philip Boyd Snee, who was a native of Yorkshire, England, where his birth occurred in 1847. In 1864 he crossed the " pond " to the United States to seek his fortune and settled in the city of New York, where he fol- lowed his occupation, that of importer of woolen goods, having been identified with their manufacture in his native land. He was called from life in 1871, having lived a useful and upright life. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Magian, was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1849, and is now a resident of the city of Chicago. From 1876 until 1882 Dr. Harry Boyd Snee was an attendant of the well-known Notre Dame University, but from 1882 until 1886 he attended high school in Chi- cago, and also received instruction from private tutors. From February, 1889, until June of the same year and immediately after graduating from Rush Medical College, he was surgeon for the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad, with headquarters at Hurley and Rhinelander, Wis. In June, 1889, he went to Europe for the purpose of perfecting himself in his profession, and for a period of two years he pursued his medical researches in Heidelberg, Freidburg, Munich, Vienna and Berlin Universities, making a special study of the throat, nose and ear. He returned to the United States in the summer of 1891 and opened an office in South Bend, Ind., where he has remained ever since and built up a paying patronage, through sheer force of native ability. He has been very successful in his treatment of hia

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patients, who repose in him the most unlimited confidence, and even those who employ older physicians in cases of sickness in their families, can not fail to remark his wonderful cures and scknowledge his ability. Although young in years he has already attained a prominence which many older physicians would gladly have, and the future promises for him s success of conquests. He is a member of the Turner's Society and socially belongs to the B. P. O. E. Lodge, No. 235.

ZELOTES BANCROFT is one of the founders of the town of Osceola and is now its oldest resident. His grandfather, Isaac Bancroft, was born in Massachusetts and was a direct descendant of one of the Pilgrim fathers. Three brothers of the name came from England and settled in the Bay State and were among the founders of the Plymouth colony. Isaac Bancroft was & farmer of Granville, Mass., was an industrious and likely citizen and became possessed of a competence. He lived to be an old man and died a member of the Baptist Church, in which faith he resred his children, their names being as follows: Lemuel, Zelotes, William, Charles, Alma and Ruth by a first wife, and Jacob, Harry and Hannah by a second wife. His son William was born at his father's farm at Granville, received a common-school education and when old enough began learning the ship-carpenter's and millwright's trades in the shipyards of Boston. His brother Lemuel having settled in Wyoming county, N. Y., he joined him in 1826 and was married there December 24, 1828, to Emeline, daughter of William and Hannah (Westcot) Belden, soon after which he began working at the wagon and carriage maker's trade and was also engaged in the lumber business. His union resulted in the birth of the follow- ing children: Laura, who died in infancy in New York; Zelotes; Alma, born in New York State; Ruth, born in St. Joseph county, Ind .; Emeline and Louisa. In 1837 Mr. Bancroft came to St. Joseph county, Ind., his brother Zelotes having been the first of the family to settle here, and the latter assisted in organizing the county and in building the first mill-dam across the St. Joseph River at Mishawaka. He was a prominent man and at one time wealthy. Among his business enterprises was the purchase of the original saw-mill on the creek at Osceola and a tract of 160 acres of land, after which he sent for his brother William to come and take charge of the mill, which he did and successfully operated it for some years. After the death of his brother, which occurred at Mishawaka, William bonght the mill property, greatly improved it and with the assistance of his son Zelotes, he built a grist and flouring- mill in 1856, and had nearly 300 acres of land, on a part of which Osceola is now built. In this business he became wealthy and left a handsome property. He was a Baptist in religious belief, was first a Democrat, but assisted in organizing the Republican party in his section, after which he was one of its stanch supporters, and being very much opposed to secret organizations, he was not a member of any society. He was a good business man, a practical worker, and being quite ingenious he invented a water-wheel of much merit. He was very upright and honorable, was decidedly progressive and was one of the founders of the free-school system in his township, and together with a Methodist preacher of the name of Getchell, he built the first school-house in his part of the township, he furnishing the lumber and Mr. Getchell building the honse. Mr. Bancroft hired the teacher and paid her without the assistance of others, the school being free for all. He also assisted in building the Methodist Church, and his many deeds of unselfishness and interest in the welfare of his section won him the regard of all who knew him. He was a very strong Union man during the war. Zelotes Bancroft was born at Castile, Wyoming county, N. Y., October 23, 1830, but has been a resident of Penn township, this county, ever since he was six years of age. He received his education in a log school-house one and one-half miles south of Osceola, which was a very primitive structure, heated by an immense fireplace holding logs eight feet long, which were hauled to the school- house by horses. Mr. Bancroft sttended this school three months, which was taught by an old Kentuckian who allowed the children to run out and in the school- house at their will. He would go to the school-house door and shout " All you that

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haint sayed, come in and say," and the boy who reached the door first read first. After this Mr. Bancroft attended school in the house built by his father, the teacher being a Miss Broodwick, who afterward married John Davenport of Elkhart. He continued to attend this school during the winter seasons until he was twenty years old, and being quick and intelligent, usually stood at the head of hia classes. He worked in his father's saw-mill and afterward on the Lake Shore Railroad for two

years. In 1856 he assisted his father to build the mill above mentioned, which building is still standing although it has been remodeled. He has since been the very efficient manager of this mill. For some years he ran a store in Osceola, assisted by his wife, whom he married June 1, 1863, her maiden name being Sarah E. Masters, born December 11, 1844, a daughter of Austin M. and Jane A. (Elmondorf) Masters, who were of Dutch stock and natives of Kingston, N. Y. Peter Masters, the grandfather of Mrs. Bancroft, was in the War of 1812, and lived to be nearly ninety years of age, at which time he was the oldest Odd Fellow in the United States, being a charter member of Kingston Lodge, New York. He was 8 very successful blacksmith and owned a shop with five forges. He was also in the stone quarry business. His son James learned the miller's trade of Mr. Bancroft. To the latter and his wife seven children have been born: William, who died at the age of five years; Archie, who died when one and a half years old; Gracie, who died in infancy; Zelis; Jennie; George and another child who died in infancy. Mr. Bancroft lived with his father and mother until their respective deaths. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church and he has taken an active interest in Sunday- school work, and is now teacher of the Bible class. He is a Republican and as an honorable, upright man stands high in the community in which he resides.

CHARLES W. JAQUITH. Prominent among the successful business men of Nap- panee, Ind., is Mr. Charles W. Jaquith, dealer in farming implements and field seeds. He owes his nativity to St. Joseph county, Ind., born on a farm in Madison township, May 6, 1839. He is a son of Henry and Lucy (Tallman) Jaquith and the grandson of Reuben and Mary Jaquith, both of English descent. Henry W. Jaquith was a native Vermonter, born March 10, 1806, and there made his home until ten years of age, when he came with his parents to sonthern Indiana. This was in 1816, and in 1827 be married Miss Lucy Tallman. Nine years Ister, or in 1836, he moved to St. Joseph connty. Ind., settled on a farm in Madison township, and there resided for sixteen yeara. From there he moved to Sumption's Prairie, resided there for twelve years, and then for ten years was a resident of South Bend, where his death occurred in October, 1876, when sixty-nine years and seven months old. He was a cooper by trade and that was his principal occupation in life. In his religiona views Mr. Jaquith was connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, joining the same in 1840, and has always lived an upright, honorable life. Until the last year of hia life he held office in his church, and was ever one of its leading members. Honora- ble and upright in all his relations he was loved and esteemed by all who knew him, and his death caused universal sorrow, for all felt the loss to be suatained by the departure of such a man. He was a good man in every sense of the word, and hia memory will live in the hearts of the people long after his body has moldered to dust. He died in the faith of a glorious hereafter, and was at peace with God and man. His wife died at her home in South Bend, from general debility, when sev- enty-nine years of age. She was born in Canada, June 21, 1809, and the last years of her life were spent in South Bend. She was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a woman widely and favorably known for her many excellent qualities. Eleven children were born to this worthy couple, four of whom are still living: Andrew J .; Albert D .; Julia A., who died in 1887; Permelis D., died in 1873; Nathaniel T. E .; Charles W .; Lucy Emaline, died in 1873; Dr. Franklin, died in 1878; an infant, died unnamed; Lucinda, died in 1869, and George, died young. The father of these children was a Democrat in early life but later became a Repnb- lican, and continued a member of that party until his death. Charles W. Jaquith

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was reared on his father's farm. After reaching mature years he married Misa Julia F. Crocker, who was born in 1840, and who was the daughter of Ezra and Julia (Curtis) Crocker. Mr. Crocker was born in Vermont, March 9, 1806, and his wife in Connecticut, November 25, 1803. They were married in the State of Ohio, April 8, 1828, and the following children were born to them: Samuel, Sarah, Andrew J., Ezra T., Mary A., Julia F. and Orria J. Simpson, a son by a later marriage. Mra. Jaquith's maternal great-grandfather, Ethan Curtis, married Mias Elizabeth Warner in Connecticut, in January, 1778, and thirteen children were born to them: Lydia, Samuel, Sarah, Ethan, Chancey, Betsy, Ennice, Ada, John, Joel, Catherine, Willis and William. The son Samuel, grandfather of Mrs. Jaquith, married Mary A. Churchill in the State of Massachusetts, Jannary 8, 1802, and twelve children were born to them: Julia, Caroline, Andrew, Eliza, Ennice, Churchill, Lncy, Crosby, Rebecca, Chancey, Moses and Mary. Mary A. Churchill's parenta, Moses and Mol- lie (Crosby) Churchill, were married in Massachusetts in March, 1785, and eight children were born to them: Mary A., Betay, Moses, Lucy, Polly, Samuel, Rebecca and Major. Mrs. Jaquith's paternal grandfather, Josiah Crocker, married Miss Sarah Toby in Massachusetts, in 1788, and later moved to Vermont, where nine chil- dren were born: Benjamin, James, Thomas, Sarah, John, Timothy, Ezra, Betsy and Eliza. Mr. and Mrs. Jaquith's nuptiala were celebrated May 26, 1864, and two children have blessed this union: Minnie B. and M. Leroy. The former was born June 28, 1869, and was married to C. M. Curtia September 17, 1888. On Decem- ber, 17, 1889, a son was born to them, whom they called Jaquith G. Cortis. M. Leroy is at home and in business with his father. Previous to locating in Nappanee Mr. Jaqnith was engaged in farming in St. Joseph county, this State, and he also worked at the carpenter's trade. He was at one time the owner of a saw-mill. He now owns a good farm in St. Joseph county, and is a man of good business habits. In poli- tics he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, the ninth President of the United States and first governor of the Territory of Indiana, was a native of the Old Dominion, his birth occurring at Berkeley, in 1773. His father was Gov. Benjamin Harrison, one of the signera of the Declaration of Independence. Receiving the final part of his schooling at Hampden, Sidney College, he began for himself at eighteen years of age, at which time occurred the death of his father. In opposition to the proteste of his friends, he songht a position in the army of the United States, was commis- sioned ensign by General Washington and ordered to report to the commanding general (St. Clair) of the Northwestern Army. At this period the frontier was greatly harrassed by depredationa of marauding bands of savages, anpplemented by covert support and aid of the British Government, and the duties of the frontier troops were to hold in check and keep within due bounds these attacks. The eleva- tion of Gen. Anthony Wayne over General St. Clair, in the command of the North- west, resulted in a more vigorons and active policy and numerous battles were fonght with varying success. Having obtained promotion to a lieutenancy, young Harrison was the hero in a bloody engagement August 20, 1792, and for this he was publicly thanked by his superior officer. In 1795 he was made commander of Fort Wash- ington, with the rank of captain; the same year he wedded the youngest daughter of John Cleves Symmes, the original owner of the present aite of Cincinnati, and three years later resigned hia commission to engage in farming. Very shortly after tender- ing his resignation he was appointed secretary of the Northwest Territory by Prea- ident Adama, and as such was ex-officio lieutenant-governor, and in the absence of General St. Clair was governor. In 1799 he was elected a delegate to Congresa, and during this session the Northweat Territory was divided into two Territories, named Ohio and Indiana. The latter comprised the present States of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan, and of this Mr. Harrison received the appointment of governor. He immediately located at Vincennes, which was then the capital, and served as governor sixteen years, having been twice re appointed by Jefferson and

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once by Madison. His influence with the Indians was greater than any other white man. He always kept strict faith with these children of Nature, was prompt to reward their good deeds and as decisive in punishing their treachery. During his administration he commanded at the battle of Tippecanoe, and the good results achieved by the success of the whites was made an event by the Legislatures of both Indiana and Kentucky extending the hero of the day a vote of thanks. Governor Harrison is given a prominent place by historians for his services during the War of 1812. He was a participant in the defense of Fort Meigs and the battle of the Thames, as well as being the commander of the Army of the Northwest, with the rank of major-general. In 1816 he was elected to Congress and in 1824 to the United States Senate, from Ohio, and in 1828 was appointed minister to the Republic of Colombia by President Adams, but was almost immediately recalled by General Jackson. In 1836 he was nominated for the presidency of the United States, but suffered defeat. In 1840 he was re-nominated by the Whigs and during one of the most remarkable campaigns this country ever experienced, was elected, and March 4, 1841, was inaugurated. Having spent the most of his life on the frontier, Mr. Harrison lacked the polish of his opponent, and the story was circulated by the Dem- ocrats, with the expectation that it would prove detrimental to him, that he lived in a log cabin and drank nothing but cider. The Whigs accepted the insinnation. The simpleness of the human life, divested of glamors and gildings, always appeals to the direct sensibilities of the people. So it did in this case. Log cabins were erected everywhere: kegs, supposed to contain cider, were indispensable. Log cabin and hard cider songs were sung and are yet remembered by the old residenters, and the famous hero of Tippecanoe became the ninth President of the United States. His untimely death occurred one month after his triumphal inauguration.

REV. THOMAS C. WALSH, C. S. C., Notre Dame College, is a native of Montreal, Canada, his birth occurring May 15, 1853, his father being Thomas E. Walsh, a well-known and successful business man of Detroit, who died in that city in 1891. The subject of this sketch was one of eight children, and when fourteen years of age he entered the College of St. Lawrence, Montreal, in which well-known institu- tion he completed his education in 1872. From there he went to Paris, France, where he entered Ste. Croix College, in which he remained until 1875. From that place he came to Notre Dame the same year and entered upon his duties as professor of classics, which position he occupied with ability for two years. In 1877 he was ordained and made vice-president of the institution, and in 1881 became president, which position he is still acceptably filling. He has proved himself to be the "right man in the right place," and no more sufficient testimony is needed to prove his worth and ability than the present high position which he occupies.

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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 56

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

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