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 58

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 58
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 58

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JACOB HOSE is a substantial citizen of St. Joseph county, Ind., and from early boyhood has devoted his attention to farming interests, being now the owner of an excellent tract of land comprising 100 acres, which is the result of earnest and per- sistent toil, as well as progressive and enlightened views. His father, Peter Hose, came from Germany, but prior to that time had married Elizabeth Freese, by whom he became the father of seven children: Peter, Jacob, John, Henry, Christian, Philip and Elizabeth. After spending some time in the State of New York, Mr. Hose removed to Ohio and from there to St. Joseph county, Ind., about 1852, settling on a small farm on which he made his home until after the great Civil war, when he removed to Shelby county, Mo., where he was called from life at the age of seventy years. His first wife died in St. Joseph county and he afterward married again. He was a member of the German Presbyterian Church, and an indus-

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MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

trious and upright citizen. Jacob Hose first saw the light of day in the State of New York and when about nine years of age came to St. Joseph county, Ind., with his parents and in the district schools of this section he acquired a practical educa- tion, sufficient to fit him for the successful conduct of his business. Having been brought up to a knowledge of farm work he began working out for the different farmers of the neighborhood at the age of thirteen years, continuing thus employed until the firing on Fort Sumter. However, his youth prevented him from entering the service until December 14, 1863, when he became a member of Company D., One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, enlisting at Mish- awaka and serving until honorably discharged May 27, 1865, at Jefferson Hospital, where he had been for some time on account of a gunshot wound which he had re- ceived and which eventually resulted in a stiff knee. He was in the engagements of Lost Mountain, Tenn., Atlanta, Peach Tree Creek, Buzzard Roost and Franklin, Tenn., where he received his wound. He was carried off the field about dark and taken to Nashville, by ambulance, eighteen miles away and from there to Louisville, Ky., thence to Jeffersonville Hospital, Indianapolis, where he remained until dis- charged. The ball was removed from his knee after his return home, after he had car- ried it one year and nine months. He was one of the faithful soldiers of the war, and about one month before his discharge had been promoted to the position of ser- geant. While in the service he was sick with small-pox for about one month. He was disabled for about three years after the war, but at the end of that time rented a small farm, and April 23, 1868, led to the altar Miss Sarah J., daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Byrkett) Akins, who presented him with a family of six children: Charles, Cora, Flora, William W., Gracie B., James M., and two children that died in infancy. After residing on rented land for a short time Mr. Hose purchased 40 acres in Penn township, on which his home continued to be for five years, at the end of which time he settled in Mishawaka and followed the calling of a teamster. Upon dis- posing of his real estate he bought his present property, or rather a portion of it, but increased it by subsequent purchase and is now the owner of a fertile and well- improved farm of 100 acres, on which he has a comfortable residence and where he makes a good living. As a citizen he stands deservedly high in the estimation of his fellows, and he is also a kind husband and father and an excellent neighbor. His children are intelligent and well educated, a credit to himself and wife, and give every promise of becoming substantial and law-abiding citizens. Mr. Hose's judgment has led him to support Republican principles on all occasions, and he and his amiable wife have long been members of the Methodist Church.

CLANDEN K. CURTIS, a substantial farmer of Union township, Elkhart Co., Ind., resides in the northeastern part of the township, eight and one-half miles from Goshen, where he receives his mail. He was born in Canada West, or Ontario, July 27, 1850, and was the eldest son born to B. S. and Elizabeth (Knpland) Curtis. B. S. Curtis was a native of Orange county, N. Y., born May 20. 1815, and the son of Gad and Mary (Hitchcock) Curtis. Gad Curtis was a New Yorker by birth, born March. 1791, and was reared and married in his native State. Soon after his mar- riage he went to Canada, and reared a family of children, five of whom were boys, viz. : Burtin S .; Clanden; Julia, who married a Mr. Jacob Wismer; Gad; Milin; Margaret aud Moses. Of these children our subject's father was the eldest. The Curtis family is of English origin. Gad Curtis served in the War of 1812, and lived to a good old age, passing away in 1869. He was a strong and powerful man, even in his old age. His wife was a New York lady, and she, too, lived to an advanced age. The family emigrated to Canada at an early day, and there the children grew up, married, and scattered. The second son, Clanden, became a minister of the Evangelical Association. He has reared a family, and still lives in New York State. Julia is a member of the Church of England. B. S. Curtis, father of subject, was married in Canada, and there made his home until 1857. He was a potter by trade. While a resident of Canada he was quite prominent in politics, was justice of the

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pesce for about twelve years, and held other local positions. In 1857 he emigrated to Olive township, Elkhart Co., Ind., and settled on a farm of 100 acres which was partly improved. Previous to this, in 1845, while residing in Canada, he became a minister of the Gospel, and was active in this noble work for twenty years. In the yesr 1864 he enlisted as chaplain of the One Hundred and Forty-second Indiana, and remained with that regiment until the close of the war. He was in a number of prominent engagements, and served his country faithfully. Returning from the war, he turned his attention to the improvement of his farm. He also carried on his ministerial duties for a number of years. After residing in Elkhart county, Ind., for twenty-two years, he passed to his final reward on October 20, 1886. In politics he was s "black Abolitionist," bitter against slavery, and a firm believer in the rights of the negro to have freedom. After coming to this country he held no public offices, but was ever a public-spirited man, interested in educational as well as re- ligions affairs. Socially he was s Master Mason. In 1880 he left Elkhart county, went to La Grange county, this State, and later to Reed City, Mich., where he died. He was s man of some property and was generous and free hearted, giving freely of his means to support all good enterprises. His wife was a native of Canada, and the eldest of four children born to Mr. Kupland, the other children being Elizabeth, Susan and Levi. Her death occurred in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis were the parents of seven children, two dying when small; Clara, now Mrs. Frank; Freedman; Susan died when small; Lesh, married Joseph Musser, and they make their home in Harrison township, this county; Elizabeth, married and resides in Van Buren county, Mich., on a farm (she has s family); Berton, died when a small boy; Clanden (subject), and Julia. The latter resides in Branch county, Mich., and mar- ried Adam Heltzel, s farmer. They have a family. Clanden K. Curtis remained in Canada until seven years of age, and then came with his parents to Indiana. His early days were passed on the farm and in the school-room, and when nineteen years of age he started out to make his own way in life. As he had been reared to farm- ing, it was but natural perhaps that he should choose that as his occupation in life, and he engaged in tilling the soil on his father's place. Later he moved to another county, resided there for eight years, and then returned to this county, where he settled in Union township or a farm of 208 acres. He has now resided on this place for ahont thirteen years, and it is one of the best improved places in the county, and the largest tract owned in the township. Farming and stockraising have been his chief occupation, and he has met with good success. For sixteen years Mr. Cur- tis has been a member of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ, and for the past eight or nine years he has been preaching, part of the time in Michigan, where he now has a charge. He devoted s large part of his time to the church, and hopes in the future to devote his entire time to the good work. In politics Mr. Curtis is a Republican, and is deeply interested in the affairs of his State and country, particularly in edu- cational matters. He was married in June, 1869, to Miss Leah Blosser, a native of Mahoning county, Ohio, born November 27, 1850, and one of eight children born to Reuben and Barbara (Metsler) Blosser. Her brothers and sisters were named as follows: John, Tobias, Abraham, Peter, Elizabeth, Samuel, Scott and Noah. All but John, Tobias and Samuel, are still living. When fifteen years of age Mrs. Curtis went to Canada with her mother, her father having died many years before, and settled on a farm. In 1869 she was married to Mr. Curtis. She was a member of the Mennonite Church, and died on January 25, 1879, leaving four children: Lucinda, who wae born in 1870, and who is now the wife of Samuel Hoover, of Harrison township, and the mother of one child, Armilla, who was born December 3, 1891: Ella, who was born August 22, 1871, and is now in Chicago; Joseph, born June 3, 1873, is at home; and Barbara, born May 22, 1877, is at home. Mr. Curtis was married September 22, 18-, to Miss Rebecca Blosser, a cousin of his first wife, and a daughter of Peter and Mary A. (Reed) Blosser. Mrs. Curtis was born October 27, 1850, in Mahoning county, Ohio, and was one of three children, the others being Amos and Sussn.

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MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

She came to this county with her parents about forty years ago, and her father died in 1855 or 1860. To Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have been born six children, as follows: Viola, born October 8, 1882; Eva C., born February 14, 1884; Otho, born February 12, 1886; Rnel M., born September 20, 1889; and a boy baby, born June 4, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis are among the representative citizens of the county and are highly esteemed by all.

JACOB EBY. The farming class of America and especially of the northern tier of States, is noted for the degree of intelligence that is possessed among its repre- sentstives. Mr. Eby belongs to one of the most progressive of families and as a tiller of the soil, as well as in other respects, he has endeavored to keep out of old grooves and has always favored the adoption of new and improved methods in con- ducting his operations. The family originated in Switzerland and were Catholics. A well-defined tradition in the family relates that at one time there were five brothers of the name living in Switzerland and all were Catholics, but one who was a Mennonite, which sect was greatly persecuted in Switzerland, and many of its followers found homes in the wilderness of Pennsylvania, and among them was the founder of the Eby family in America. The family resided in Pennsylvania for generations and there John Eby, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, fol- lowed the calling of a blacksmith and was married to a Miss Lehmy, their children, Peter and David, being the only ones of their family that are remembered. David Eby, son of John, was born in Pennsylvania and was but twelve years of age when he started out to make his own way in the world, and in 1807 went to Canada with a party of eleven other men, five of which company are remembered: Benjamin and Samuel Eby, distant relatives of David; Joseph Snyder; Peter and Daniel Erb, three of whom were married men and the rest single. They were all Mennonites and settled in Waterloo township, Waterloo Co., Ontario, and the city of Berlin now stands on the ground which was taken by Benjamin Eby. David Eby was married there to Elizabeth Bechtel, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Allabaugh) Bechtel, and after his marriage settled on and cleared up & good farm from the dense timber with which it was covered. It consisted of 330 acres, snd besides this he owned 200 acres in the township of Woolwich. Mr. and Mrs. Eby became the parents of eleven children: Joseph, Mary, Mattie, Jacob, Annie, Elizabeth, Fronica, Susan, David, Elias and Enoch. Joseph Bectel, the maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a Mennonite prescher; Benjamin Eby was a bishop in the church and Samuel Eby was an elder, and together they established a church in their settlement which flourished, and st the death of Benjamin Eby, sbout 1850, there were 1, 100 members, nearly all of whom were converted through the instru- mentality of these humble followers of Christ. David Eby died at the age of sev- enty-five years in March, 1855, leaving a goodly property and sn unsullied name as a heritage to his children, before whom he always set a good example, and to whom he was a kind and faithful father. His farm is now very valuable, as it is close to the city of Berlin, and is owned by David Eby and his sons and is valued at about $100,000. Jacob Eby was born on the old homestead in Canada, October 18, 1815, and, owing to the primitive condition of the country during his youth, he received a very limited education, his studies being mainly pursued of evenings by the old- fashioned fireplace. Like many of the early pioneers he was handy with tools and worked at carpentering, blacksmithing and the mason's trade. When he was a young man wild game was very plentiful, and as he was skillful in the use of the rifle, and very fond of the sport, much of his leisure was spent in the chase. He kept an account of the game killed and brought down 46 deer, 7 wolves, 2 bear and shot and trapped 100 foxes. Coon, mink, martin, fish, otter and wildcat also fell victims to his skill. Two of the wildcats that he killed were as large as a common dog. When s young man he and his dog were one day in & field near some heavy timber in Canada, where several men were chopping wood, when a half-grown black bear came through the trees, but becoming frightened by the shouts of the men,

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turned and came through the field. Mr. Eby waited for it and at the right moment attacked it with knife and club and with the help of the dog, which was large and strong, killed it. On another occasion, when he was going into the woods to split posts he saw a full-grown wolf asleep in a fallen tree top, whereupon he threw hia ax, struck it fairly and killed it. April 7, 1840, he was married to Polly Bingaman, a danghter of John and Hannah (Berkey) Bingaman, her father being of Pennsyl- vania Dutch stock. He cleared a good farm of 100 acres and was accidentally killed by the falling of a large limb from a burning tree when about seventy years of age. He and his wife were Mennonites and the parents of the following family: Judith, Esther, Snsanna, Hannah, Eunice, Catherine, Mary, Magdaline, John, Sal- lie and Isaac. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Eby: Enoch; Simon, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Seth; Cyrus; Jacob; John; Joseph and Noah. After his marriage Mr. Eby settled seven miles north of his father's home- stead on a 200-acre tract of wild land for which he paid $750, and here he lived and worked hard until 1860, when he came to St. Joseph county, Ind., and bought 280 acres of land, 80 of which were cleared. He has improved the remainder by thrift and perseverance and added to his original purchase until he at one time owned 700 acres, all of which he has given to his children, except 280 acres. He and his wife have been life-long members of the Mennonite church, but have liber- ally assisted other churches with their means. He contributed money toward build- ing two Mennonite Churches in his vicinity, as well as for the Catholic and Baptist Churches of Mishawaka. He is generons and highminded, broad in his views and well posted on all topics. His sons are all settled near him and are in good circum- stances: Enoch, who is farming near Tippecanoe Lake, Ind., married Keziah Wendy and has three children: Seth farms near Bangor, Mich., married Hannah Herrington and has two children; Cyrus is a farmer near the old home, is married to Annie Wenger and has seven children; Jacob also farms near home, is married to Elizabeth Wenger and has eight children; John is a farmer, is married to Harriet Weaver and has two children; Noah farms, is married to Laura Moon, by whom he has two children; Joseph is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Eby have two great-grand- children. Their granddaughter, Hannah Eby, daughter of Enoch, married Emmet Gordey and has one son, Alva Allen. John Eby, a grandson, married Mary Eby and has a son, Walter. Mr. Eby is a stanch Republican.

JACOB B. EBY, Osceola, Ind. Our subject is one of the solid and prosperous farmers of Penn township a good citizen and a descendant of good old Pennsylvania Dutch stock (see sketch of Jacob Eby). He was born on his father's farm, near Waterloo, Canada, October 12, 1851, was brought up on the farm and came with his father to St. Joseph county in 1861, on the 4th of March, being then ten years of age. He attended the common schools of the district and married, September 16, 1872. Elizabeth Wenger, born July 5, 1857, daughter of Henry and Margaret (Wan- ner) Wenger. Henry Wenger was born in Lancaster county, Penn., was a Mennonite in religion and the father of twelve children, as follows: Samuel, Maria (who died young), Ann, Elizabeth, Susannah, Daniel, Henry, Abraham, David, Mattie, Mary and Margaret. Mr. Wenger settled in Ohio at an early day, in Stark county, none of his children, except Samuel, having been born in Pennsylvania. Later he removed to Franklin county and then to Seneca county, but about 1866 he removed to Elk- hart county, Ind., and settled in Olive township on a good farm of eighty acres. He was an upright, industrious man, respected by all. He was a devoted Christian and an honored citizen. In his political faith he was a Republican. His son Samnel married Lydia Topper, is a thresher, lives in Penn township and has six children; Ann married Cyrus Eby, a farmer of Penn township, and has seven children; Elizabeth married Jacob B. Eby, a farmer of Penn township, and has eight children (Cyrus and Jacob B. Eby being brothers); Susan married Joseph Haun, a farmer of Madison township, and has five children; Daniel married Annie Holderman, is a farmer of Olive township in Elkhart county, and has three children; Henry married

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Elizabeth Schrock, ia s farmer of Olive township and has one child: Abraham mar- ried Alice Holderman, sister to Daniel's wife, and he is a farmer of Elkhart county and has two children; David married Eva S. Loucks, is & farmer of Olive township and has one child; Mattie, yet single; Mary married Jacob H. Loucks, brother to David's wife, who is a farmer of Olive township and has two children; and Mar- garet married Martin Bloncker, a farmer of Olive township, and has one child. After marriage Jacob B. Eby settled on the old Eby homestead, where his father settled after he removed from Canada. Eight children of Mr. and Mrs. Eby sre as follows: Mary, born December 2, 1873; Margaret, born March 29, 1876; Annas, born November 22, 1877; Walter, born June 26, 1880; Jacob W., born December 28, 1882; Mervin, born March 9, 1886; Ralph, born August 29, 1889, and Ira Eby, born October 13, 1892. Mr. Ehy is a practical farmer, who, by industry and perseverance has acquired 120 acres of land, with excellent improvements. In 1890 he built s substantial and tasteful two-story brick residence finished in hardwood, everything handy and in good style. Mr. Eby is a self-made man and has made his own way, and his accumulations are the result of honest endeavor and hard labor. Politically he is s Republican, is a man of intelligence, takes the newspapers and keeps np to the times, being well informed on the leading subjects of the day. His daughter Mary married, December 6, 1890, John W. Eby, a farmer of Madison town- ahip, and they have one son, Walter J. Eby, who was born April 28, 1891. All of the children of our subject received good educations in the district schools and Margaret attended the normal achool at Valparaiso, Ind. Mr. Eby had an experi- ence while hunting with his brothers, Seth and Cyrus, and Ensign Hummel. They came across a doe, five miles south and one mile west of his present home. Jacob and his brother Seth raised their rifles simultaneously and both balls struck him and the doe fell desd. This was the last deer killed in this vicinity.

JOHN H. MARTIN, Osceola. Ind. Among the old soldiers whose life records are to be found in the annals of St. Joseph county, and whose bravery and endurance . upon the battlefield and on the march is well known, is John H. Martin, one of the prominent citizens of the county. His grandfather was one of the pioneers of this section and settled five miles north of Mishawaks, where he reared his family. William, his son and father of John H., was born in Pennsylvania, but became a resident of St. Joseph county when a boy and upon reaching manhood became a farmer and a boatman on the St. Joseph River. He married Permilla Harris, daughter of Jacob and Snsanna (Hartman) Harris, the former of whom was the first white settler of Harris township. He cleared a good farm of 200 acres on which he died in 1859. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Martin resulted in the birth of seven children: George W., Jennie, John H., Mary E., Alvira, Jacob T., and Francis M. (who died at the age of six weeks, at the same time its mother died). Mr. Martin was a gold digger of 1849, crossing the plains during the great excitement and died while in the West, his wife having died s few years earlier. John H. Martin was born one mile north of South Bend, March 11, 1844, and at the early age of seven years was left an orphan with his own way to make in the world. He therefore gained bnt a limited education, but succeeded in acquiring a fair knowledge of farming, which occupation he followed until he enlisted in the service of his country, Angust 2, 1862, becoming a member of Company K, Eighty-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served in a very faithful and praiseworthy manner for ten months, when he was honorably discharged in May, 1863, being injnred by a fall in a skirmish at Nolandsville, Tenn., which resulted in the necessary amputa- tion of his left leg, near the body, after his return home. This operation wsa performed in the spring of 1864, and until that time he suffered in an untold manner. In 1869 he married Lizzie Pierson, daughter of Joseph Pierson, and their union has resulted in the birth of a son, William R., who is married and living at Ogden, Utsh. Mrs. Martin was called from life May 4, 1884, and Mr. Martin took for his second wife Jennie D. Norwood, who was born November 23, 1860, a daughter of Francis

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A. and Nancy (Mikel) Norwood. Mr. Norwood was born in Ohio of English par- ents and when a young man became a citizen of St. Joseph county, his marriage resulting in the birth of two children: Jennie D. and Minerva A. He was a soldier in Company K, Fifty-seventh Regiment Indians Volunteer Infantry, in which he enlisted October 16, 1862, receiving his discharge on the 25th of February, 1863. He is now living in Osceola. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have one child, Ids M., born March 26, 1888. In 1870 Mr. Martin bought his present home, consisting of twelve acres of nicely improved land, on which he erected a substantial and tasteful residence. He devotes his land to the culture of fruit. He has always been a Republican politically, and being an honorable, upright man, a leader in all good causes he has a great many friends and is deservedly popular. He has held the offices of constable and census taker, the latter in 1890, and discharged his duties with aptitude and faithfulness. He ie of the stuff of which model citizens are made, being patriotic and loyal to the core and public spirited to a degree.

D. E. CUMMINS, dentist. Perhaps no public servant deserves more grateful recognition at our hands than the dentist, and among its most successful adherents may be mentioned Dr. Cummins who is a thorough master of his art, both in its me- chanical and scientific features, and possesses an exceedingly light and gentle touch, consequently the best possible results are obtained. His office is equipped with every kind of modern apparatns which is known to the science of dentistry, and which will in any way tend to alleviate the sufferings of patients. Teeth are ex- tracted, filled and adjusted with the best skill and judgment, at prices which are al- ways very moderate. He was born in Armstrong county, Penn., September 5, 1847, to W. S. and Isabelle M. (George) Cummins, who were also Pennaylvanians. Hia initiatory training was received in the common schools and academy, but at the age of nineteen years he left the shelter of the parental roof and entered upon the pro- fession of dentistry, and for the first year worked for his board with his brother, S. M. After remaining with him four years he, in November, 1870, came to South Bend with about $450, and hung out hie shingle to let people know what his calling was and that he desired their patronage. Although but a youth he soon built up a fine practice and he has now the finest and best equipped office in northern Indiana. He moved from the old Colfax Building to his present commodious quarters in 1887, where his patrons immediately followed him. He is located on the corner of Col- fax avenue and Main streets, being the owner of the block in which he conducts his business, which is one of the handsomest structures in the city. He is also the owner of some valuable residence property, all of which he has acquired by his own efforts. He is not only one of the finest dentiste in the State but is a shrewd busi- ness man as well, his knowledge of the business affairs of life being keen, far-seeing and practical. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the Royal Arcanum and the National Union. In 1871 he was married to Misa Etta Lowry, of Elkhart, by whom he has two children: Mand and Grace. The Doctor has been a trustee in the Pres- byterian Church for twelve years. Politically he has always been a strong Repub- lican.

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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 58

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

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