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 59

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 59
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 59

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

MRS. DOROTHY SANDILANDS, Mishawaka, Ind. This estimable lady is one of the pioneer residents of Mishawaka and has passed nearly all her long and honored life in this town. She was born in Liddesdale, Rocksburyshire, Scotland, May 10, 1815, her ancestors having lived in that shire for many generations and were Scotch Presbyterians. Her father, George Oliver, was born in Liddesdale and by occupa- tion was a shepherd. He married Bessie Irwin and to them eight children were given: George, John, Andrew, Jesse, Dorothy, Robert, William, James, all of whom were reared on the braes of bonnie Scotland. George Oliver came to America in 1835 and brought his family with him, except three children who had preceded him, and had settled near the town of Lyons, N. Y., and there Mr. Oliver remained for one year, then came to what is now Mishawaka, south of the river. He was very lame from the effects of a fall in Scotland many years before and could do no work after he

391

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA

· came to the town, dying September 6, 1837 at the age of sixty-seven years. Throughout his life his career was marked by honesty and industry and he was accordingly highly respected. His widow survived him many years and died June 27, 18- at the age of eighty-six years. She was a devout member of the Presby- terian Church. The daughter, Dorothy Oliver, was married to Alexander Sandilands whose birthplace was Edinboro, Scotland, where he first saw the light of day in 1806, his father besring the same name and being a Scotch Presbyterian in religious belief. Alexander Sandilands, Jr., received a good common-school education and in his early manhood learned the wagon maker's trade in his native land, & calling he followed after coming to this country, in the city of Buffalo, N. Y. He was there married to Annie Dickey, and to them were born two children: Jane, who died st the age of seven years and Ann, who died in Kansas, a married woman, leaving three children. After the death of his wife Mr. Sandilande lived in Detroit for some time, but in 1834 became a citizen of Mishawaka, Ind., obtaining employment in an iron furnace of this place, working as s pattern and flask maker. He was very skillful, and for many years was with the St. Joseph Iron Company, after which he spent some time at making wagons and threshing machines. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sandilands were among the founders of the Presbyterian Church of this place and he was an elder and trustee in the same for many years. To them were born eight children, four of whom died in infancy. Those living are: James, who was born Oc- tober 4, 1843, married Sarah Willard, by whom he has three children and is a farmer of Boone county, Nes .; John, born September 20, 1845; George B., born July 10, 1852, is a K. T. in the Masonic fraternity; and William A., born January 31, 1856, married Mary L. McAffee and is the father of two children. At first Mr. Sandilands was a Democrat politically, bnt afterward became a Republican and voted for Abraham Lincoln. He had the confidence of the people among whom he lived and for some years faithfully filled the office of town trustee. He was a conscientious Christian, a true and tried friend, s kind and considerate husband and father, and honest and upright in every thought, word and deed. He paid the last debt of nature on the 10th of January, 1871, leaving some valuable property to his widow and children. He was a strong Union man in the grest struggle between the North and South, and at the last call for troops, enlisted in the same company and regiment with John Quigg, of Mishawaka-Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, but was taken sick at Lookout Mountain and died of typhoid fever st Tallahassee, Tenn., October 2, 1862. He was considered an exceptionally healthy and robnat young man, of a kind and generous disposition and his death was deeply mourned. Mr. Sandilands, the father, was a charter member of Mishawaka Lodge of the A. F. & A. M., in which he had attained to the Royal Arch degree. Mrs. Sandilands came to this place when there were but very few houses in the town, and can well remember many interesting scenes of pioneer days. She is a lady of great nobility of character, has gracefully grown old, and is happy in the friendship of all who know her and in the affection of her children and grandchildren.

MILTON MCKNIGHT, Mishawaka, Iod. The gentleman whose honored name opens this sketch is one of the oldest settlers of Penn township. The Mcknight family was one of the original pioneer families of the township and all its members have been substantial and prominent citizens, having descended from sterling Scotch ancestry. John McKnight, the great-grandfather of our subject, came to America at the same time as did others of the family, settled in Virginia, married there, and became the father of James, Andrew, David, Samuel, William and Robert. They all became farmers, except Andrew, who settled in Louisville, Ky., and whose descendants grew to be wealthy people. James McKnight, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Virginia and became a farmer of Rockbridge county in that State. He married Hannah Montgomery at Raleigh, N. C., in 1792, and they were the parents of John, Betsy and David. Betsy married Anthony Defrees, of South

392

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

Bend, who was a prominent man in his day. In 1814 James McKnight moved to what is now Franklin county, Ind., and settled on wild land; this place be improved and here passed the remainder of his days. John McKnight was born in Rockbridge county, Va., in 1794, was reared & farmer, and received a common-school education. When a boy of sixteen years be came with his father to Franklin county, Ind., there married Sarsh, the daughter of John Tolfer, and to Mr. and Mrs. McKnight were born nine children, as follows : Betsy, James, Nancy, Hannah (deceased), Samuel, Andrew (deceased), Milton, William (deceased) and Mary. Mr. McKnight first set- tled in Franklin county, Ind., where he remained until 1834, and made there a fine farm, but in the latter year he came to St. Joseph county and settled one and one- half miles esst of Mishawska, on the north side of the St. Joseph River. Here he entered a tract of 500 acres of land, cleared up a good farm and left the same to his children. Both he and wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. He died at the age of forty-six years, having been a hard-working, industrious, pioneer citizen, much respected by all. When Mr. McKnight settled in Penn town- ship it was a primitive wilderness, with here and there the few improvements of the earlier settlers. The country presented a very beantiful and park-like appearance. Large oak trees, at a considerable distance spart, unencumbered with undergrowth, gave an open appearance to the country. The grass grew with great luxuriance; the annual fires, kindled by the Indians, cleared the country of the underbrush and enabled the grass to grow unchecked. Beautiful wild flowers bloomed from early in the spring until late in the fall and gave the plains a charming appearance. The St. Joseph River, then a much larger stream, flowed through a large stretch of country, giving excellent pasture lande along its borders. The country then was the hunter's paradise, and here the early pioneer found food for his family in addition to the pleasures of the chase. Deer and wild turkey abounded and the river was full of fish. Milton McKnight, son of the above pioneer and the subject of this sketch, was born May 3, 1833, in Franklin county, Ind., on his father's farm, received a common-school education and was resred a farmer. He was but one year of age when brought to St. Joseph county, Ind., by his parents, with whom he remained until he married. His wife was Lucinda Finch, born January 15, 1841, daughter of Sidney and Jane (Graves) Finch. Sidney Finch was an old settler of the county, coming in 1841 to Mishawaka and settling three miles northeast of the town, in Penn township. He was a prosperous farmer and became the father of Lucinda, George, Edward, Charles, Clark and Fred, s fine family of children, one of whom (George) became second lieutenant of Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regi- ment, Indians Volunteer Infantry, and died from the effects of army life. After marriage, Miltou Mcknight settled on the old homestead, of which he received ninety acres, which was partly his share and was partly purchased from one of the other heirs, and here he lived until he came to Mishawaka in 1889. Both Mr. and Mrs. McKnight are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is now a trustee in the same and has always assisted his church liberally with his means. He and his wife are the parents of two children: Robert S., born October 11, 1861, and Anthony D., born July 5, 1869. Robert married Ella Boyd and has two children, Harold A. and Lynn B., and resides on the old home farm. Anthony D. was born on the old home farm, received a common-school education, afterward attending the high school at Mishawaka, later learning telegraphy and locating at the Grand Trunk station. He remained as night operator at Mishawaka from 1887 to 1889. In 1889 he was appointed relieving agent and served about two years in this capacity and is now operator and bill clerk at Mishawaka. He is an Odd Fellow and is sec- retary of Monitor Lodge, No. 286, and has also passed the chairs of the encamp- ment. Politically he is a Republican. Both of the sons of Mr. McKnight were well educated. Our subject has passed almost the whole of his life in Penn township and is well and favorably known as a man of honorable character and a good citizen. He has always been a hard working and industrious man and has won the respect of

393

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

all with whom he has come in contact. His descendants may well take an honest pride in the sterling Scotch ancestry from which they spring. The Mcknight fam- ily descends from good old colonial American stock; they are a sturdy, substantial race of well-to-do people and number among them many prominent American citi- zens. The children of John McKnight married as follows: Betsy married William Defrees; she is now a widow, living in South Bend, in comfortable circumstances and the owner of real estate. James married Eliza McCresry and has three children; ia a farmer, residing two miles east of Mishawaka, and owns 300 acres of land which is part of the old homestesd. Nancy married S. F. Wood and has two children; she is a widow, living in Mishawaka. Samuel is & farmer, living one-half mile east of Mishawaka; has a farm of 109 acres, is in good circumstances, and has three children; and Mary married Daniel McCreary, has two children and lives in Cal- ifornia. With known goodness of heart, Mr. and Mrs. McKnight have taken a little lad of two years, Frederick Finch, a nephew of Mrs. McKnight, and are rearing it as their own.

JOSEPH TURNOCK, ex-sheriff of St. Joseph county, Ind., and manufacturer of vin- egar, at South Bend, was born in Stoke, Staffordshire, England, September 30, 1836, a son of Benjamin and Mary (Whittaker) Turnock, who sailed for the shores of America in 1840, landing at New York, but taking up their residence shortly after in Jersey City. The father was a builder and contractor, and in 1849 came west and settled in St. Joseph county, Ind., near Mishawaka, where he purchased a farm, to the tilling of which he devoted his attention to the exclusion of contracting and building. He subsequently removed to Elkhart, where he died in 1877. To him- self and wife a family of thirteen children was given, three sons and two daugh- ters, living at the present time, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest. He was but four years of age when bronght to this country and received the principal part of his education in Jersey City, but also attended school for some time nesr Elk- hart. He learned the plasterer's trade in South Bend, which he followed in con- nection with contracting until the war broke out. In 1863 his name could be found on the rolls of Company H, Twelfth Indiana Cavalry, in which he served until the war terminsted. He held the rank of first lieutenant on entering the service and was mustered out as captain st Vicksburg, Miss., in 1865. He was in a number of hotly contested engagements and on one occasion, at Vienna, Ala., had his horse shot from under him. At the close of hostilities he returned to South Bend and again engaged in plastering and contracting, which occupation he continued to follow until 1872, when he was elected sheriff of St. Joseph county, and honored with a re-election in 1874, filling the position with distinguished ability. After vacsting this office he resumed contracting, but later served four years as deputy sheriff under Z. M. Johnson. In 1885 he engaged in the manufacture of vinegar, in which business he is still successfully engaged. About 1885 he was chosen lieutenant- colonel of the Firat Veteran Regiment of the State Militia, having also held the position of captain in the same regiment. He is now a member of the G. A. R., and has been chief of the fire department of South Bend .; also city marshal, when he succeeded in uniforming the police of the city for the first time. He is s mem- ber of the A. F. & A. M., and the K. O. T. M. He is one of the leading spirits of the city and is one of the prime movers in all public enterprises. He was married in 1859 to Miss Frances Cothrell, a daughter of Capt. Samuel L. Cothrell, by whom he has three children. Politically the Colonel is a Republican and s stanch supporter of his party.

W. H. JUDKINS, of Mishawaka, Ind., comes of an excellent family and is, him- self, one of the substantial men of his section. He is the son of Stephen H. Jnd- kins, who was born in Lebanon, N. H., in 1808, and came to this section with the Brockport colony from s town of that name in New York State in 1837. He brought his family with him and made a home for them in Mishawaka, where he established himself as a wagon maker, erecting the first wagon shop in the town, which bneiness

394

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

he conducted successfully for twenty years. His wife was Phoebe Ann Simon, and to them four children were given: Mary, who was burned to death in 1839; William H., Melvins and Charles A., who was drowned in the St. Joseph River in 1850. Both Mr. and Mrs. Judkins were leading members of the Presbyterian Church, and among the founders of that church in Mishawaka. The men and measures of the Republican party always received the support of Mr. Judkins, but prior to its formation he was a Whig. From 1859 to 1885, when his death occurred, he was a groceryman of Mishawaka, in the conduct of which business he showed himself to be s man of keen, commercial instincts, as he has always been one of the enterprising and public-spirited men of the town. He built one of the sections of Phoenix Block, in 1873. Being a man of ability and intelligence, he was elected to the position of county assessor in 1847, and in early days was marshal of Mish- awaka and one of the town trustees for several years. During the lamentable Civil war he was a strong Union man. He came from a prominent family of New England, who originally came from old England, and were among the early settlers of Lebanon, N. H. Stephen Judkins, the father of Stephen H., died in Mishawaka in 1848. William H. Judkins, whose name heads this biography, was born in Mishawaka, October 5, 1841, and in the schools of the town he obtained a practical education. On October 7, 1861, he responded to the need of his country and joined Company F, Forty eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served faithfully three years and ten months, being honorably discharged July 15, 1865, at Louisville, Ky. In the spring of 1862 he was promoted to the position of com- missary sergeant, and in March, 1864, he was appointed quartermaster of his regiment by Gov. Morton, in which official capacity he served until Lee's surrender. He at once returned to his birthplace and was here married on October 5, 1865, to Miss Belle M. Martling, daughter of J. W. and Lucy (Peek) Martling, the former of whom is one of the old pioneer citizens of the place. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Judkins: Bertha, Edith, Warren and Alice. After the war Mr. Judkins was in the grocery business with his father until 1886, but he after- ward turned his attention to the insurance and coal business, to which he still gives bis attention. Like his worthy father before him, he possesses good business qual- ifications, has made the most of his opportunities, and has been successful in the accumulation of means. In June, 1889, he was one of the principal organizers of the Mishawaka Building & Loan Association, of which he is treasurer and one of the directors. He has always been a Republican, and as he has had the confidence of the people to a marked degree, he has held the offices of clerk and treasurer of the town, and has discharged his duties in a manner that has won him universal approval. In 1870 he was assistant United States marshal, and also census enumer- ator of Madison, Penn and Harris townships, and filled the same position in 1880 for the town of Mishawaka, and Penn township north of the river, and for the United States census of 1890 he took the products of industry of the manufacturing establishments of Mishawaka and South Bend. Socially he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Mishawaka Lodge No. 130, and was secretary for many years. He is also a member of South Bend Commandery No. 13, K. T., and Mishawaka Chapter No. 83, and Mishawaka Council No. 19. He belongs to the G. A. R., in which he was quartermaster two years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Judkins are members of the Presbyterian church, and for the past eighteen years he has been one of its elders. He was a delegate to the General Assembly from Indiana in 1876, st Philadelphia, Penn. He is quite active in political matters, and is deservedly popular. He has a nice residence in the town, besides owning two other houses, a part of the Phoenix Block and some valuable real estate. His daughter, Bertha E., was married in June, 1888, to Frederick G. Eberhart, Jr., son of Adolphus Eberhart (see sketch), and his daughter, Edith, was married October 12, 1892, to D. O. Fonda.

ALBERT MCDONALD. Among the photographers of northern Indiana who well deserve the appellation of "leading," it is safe to say that none are better qualified

395

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

to execute work in this line than Mr. Albert McDonald, who has become celebrated for securing to sitters before the camera a graceful, natural pose and life-like and pleasing expression. He was born in Rochester, N. Y., January 12, 1841, a son of Daniel Sprague and Mary E. (Billings) McDonald, who were highly honored resi- dents of their section of the Empire State. The father died in Michigan at the age of sixty-eight years, and the mother in South Bend when in her seventy-sixth year. The paternal grandfather was a native of the land of "thistles and oatmeal," and upon coming to " the land of the free and the home of the brave," settled in New York State. Albert McDonald attended the common and select schools of his native city, but when fourteen years of age removed with his parents to Grand Rapids, Mich., from which place he came to South Bend at the age of nineteen years. In 1861 he purchased & photograph studio, at once began to perfect himself in the details of the work, and was so successful that he has followed the business ever since. He gives his personal attention to all departments of his studio and never fails to please his many patrons. He has one of the handsomest studios in Indiana, which was erected in 1886, having a frontage of twenty-two feet and a depth of eighty- five feet, and is known as the "Ground Floor Studio." The rooms are spacious, handsomely and attractively fitted up, and are adorned with many beautiful speci- mens of his artistic work. He is of a decidedly practical turn of mind, enjoys a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, and is very popular. In 1860 Miss Susan Miller, of South Bend, a native of German township, became his wife, but died July 29, 1892, at Diamond Lake, leaving, besides her husband, two sons to mourn their loss: Edwin C. and Harry S. Mr. McDonald is a Republican in politics, but has never been an aspirant for political preferment.

DR. JOHN H. GRIMES is one of the prosperous young physicians of St. Joseph county, Ind., and as he is very conscientious in the discharge of his professional duties, is well up with the times in medical lore, and has the ability to apply his knowledge at the proper time and in the proper place, it is not to be wondered at that he has a large patronage. He is a son of the well-known Dr. James F. Grimes, of Mishawaka, and has inherited from his worthy father many of the qualities which have been the stepping-stones to his successful professional career. (A sketch of the Grimes family appears in the biography of Dr. James F. Grimes.) Dr. John H. Grimes was born in Mishawaka June 19, 1853, and in the schools of that town and in South Bend he obtained a good education, for he possessed a bright mind, a retentive memory and was desirons of becoming well educated. At the early age of seventeen years he began the study of medicine, under the preceptorship of his father, and it can with truth be said that he could have had no better instructor or one who could have taken more interest in his progress. In a short time he began riding with his father throughout the country when the latter made his professional calls, and in this manner, although he merely looked on for a number of years, he gained a great deal of practical and medical experience. He entered the Bennett School of Medicine (Eclectic), of Chicago, and graduated from this inetitntion in 1878, after which he entered at once upon his practice in Mishawaka. After two years of actual experience as a practitioner of the "healing art," he returned to Chicago and took a one-year's course in his alma mater, and as he most diligently applied himself to his books he thus obtained a very thorough medical education. He continued to be associated in the practice of medicine with his father for eleven years, as an equal partner, but since Jannary, 1889, he has pursued his calling on his own account. He has built up a practice that is exceptionally large, and in the treatment of his cases he has been uniformly successful. He is a very active and zealous worker in the cause of afflicted humanity, and is kept busy almost day and night. He is a patron of the leading medical publications and has a medical library of considerable value, where his leisure time is spent in studying, for he believes it the duty of every physician to keep abreast of the times in his profession. January 27, 1884, he was married to Miss Rose F. Fisher, a daughter of John and Evs

396

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

(Bert) Fisher, and to their union two children have been given: Fred A. and Carrie M. Socially Dr. Grimes ie a member of the Knights of Maccabees and is examining physician of the order. Politically he is a Republican. He is one of the popular professional men of the county, and with reason is considered one of her leading citizens.

JOHN J. McDONALD. The career of Mr. McDonald presents an example of industry, perseverance and good management, rewarded by substantial results well worthy the imitation of all who start out in life as he did, with no capital except a good constitution and liberal supply of pluck and energy. He came originally from that grand old State, Virginia, born in Berkeley county, February 18, 1826, and was the eldest of four children born to Charles and Rebecca (White) McDonald. Charles McDonald was a native Virginian, born about 1800, and was married in that State. In the year 1837 he moved to Ohio, settled in Clark county, and there his death occurred ten years later. In politics he was a Whig, and left his native State because he was opposed to slavery. He made a good home, was a kind and industri- ous man, and one who was very popular. His wife was also born in the Old Domin- ion, and was the daughter of an early pioneer of that State. She died in Clark county, Ohio, three years after her husband, and was a member of the Society of Friends. They were the parents of five children, three of whom are living: Jane, who married Aaron Craig, died in Kosciusko county; Mary A., died in Clark county, Ohio, and was the wife of John Evans; Sarah E., married Alexander Walters (de- ceased), and resides in Marion county, Iowa; John J., subject of this sketch; and William, who lives in Piatt county, Ill. The parents of these children passed through all the privations of pioneer life, both in Virginia and Ohio, and were ex- cellent people, well known in their neighborhood, and well respected by all favored with their acquaintance. The McDonalds were of Scotch, and the Whites of English extraction. Our subject was ten years of age when the family moved to Ohio, but well remembers the trip over the mountains, as they made the journey by wagons. He went to school both in Virginia and Ohio, and secured a good practical education in the subscription schools of that day. He assisted his father in the duties on the farm, grew to manhood on the same, and in 1850 married Mies Sarah Maxwell, daughter of Givin and Mary (Fisher) Maxwell, both natives of Virginia, and early settlers in Ohio, where they settled in Clark county. There the father worked at the shoemaker's trade, and died in 1853. In politics he was a Whig, and in religion a Methodist. He was a well-posted man for his time and day, and was progressive and enterprising. His life dated back to the beginning of the century. The mother passed away in Clark county about twelve years after the death of her husband, and was a member of the Protestant Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell were the parents of twelve children: Thomas, in Ohio; Frances (widow) resides in the same State; Nellie (deceased); Peter; William; Absalom; Mary; Sarab; John; Amy, and two others who died young. Of these children five are living: Sarah, born in Ohio, February 2, 1830, and grew to mature years in Clark county, where she obtained her education in the subscription schools; William, who was born October 15, 1850, married Miss Anna May, and now resides in Locke township, this county, having had three children, Ira (deceased), Iva B. and Edith May. John E., born in Ohio, December 1, 1852, married Miss Harriet Myers, and they have four children: John (deceased), Orvil, Clara and Freddie; they now live in Michigan. Martin L., born in Ohio in 1854, married Miss Sarah Betnel, and resides in Harrison township, this county. Elizabeth J., born February 18, 1856, died October 17, 1863. Mary A., born May 9, 1858, married David Rohrer, of Elkhart, Ind., and has five children: William, Clarence. Edgar, Guy and James. Thomas H., born January 27, 1860, is now residing in Union township; he mar- ried Miss Jennie Yarian, and they have four children: Minnie, Orval, Nellie and Harvey, besides one that died. Charles I., born August 29, 1862, resides in Goshen, and is the husband of Miss Rose Pebble. Amy F., born November 30, 1864, mar-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 59

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

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