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 61

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 61
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 61

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BENJAMIN F. PRICE, undertaker of South Bend, Ind. There is probably no business in which the march of progress has made such wonderful advancement during the past fifty years as that of undertaking, for from a mere trade it has become a dignified profession, and it exacts from its followers not only a thorough business training, but a scientific knowledge of a high character. One of the leading establishments of South Bend, Ind., is that owned and conducted by Benjamin F. Price, who has a comfortably and decorously furnished house, in which he carries & full line of caskets and coffins of elegant design, though not necessarily expensive, and general funeral furnishings. All work is executed in the most expeditious manner, and everything is done that human hands can do to lessen the distress and alleviate the anxiety of relatives, while Mr. Price is at all times moderate in his charges. The business was established in 1832 by Benjamin F. Price, Sr., under- taker and cabinet maker, who was born in Union county, Penn., in October, 1807, where his boyhood days were spent in laboring on his father's farm. He W88 apprenticed to the cabinet maker's trade under a man named Roberts, and while a resident of his native State he followed that occupation, in which he acquired re-

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marksble skill. He was married in his own county to Lucinda Welch and in 1832 came with her and his eldest child, Charles W., to St. Joseph county, Ind., the entire distance to South Bend being made in a one-horse wagon. Mr. Price commenced at once to work at his trade, and in connection with furniture also conducted an undertaking business, being the first one to open such an establishment in the county. He continued this business until the town was large enough to support an exclusive undertaking establishment, when he began devoting his attention to this business alone and continued it until his death in October, 1887, since which time the business has been sbly conducted by his son and namesake Benjamin F. Price, Jr., who for more than twenty years had been associated in business with his father. Mr. Price was one of the pioneer business men of South Bend and naturally contribut- ed much toward its advancement and development. He was one of the first trustees of the town, was s member of the board of health, and st the time of his death st the advanced age of eighty-one years, he was a director of the South Bend Nationsl Bank. He was an active member of the I. O. O. F., and at the time the building for that society was erected, he was appointed superintendent of construction. It was erected by a stock company of members of the order and Mr. Price was among them. The lodge has since come into possession of the building. Mrs. Price was called from this life in 1859, after having become the mother of seven children: Charles W., John B., Mary E. and Edward deceased, and Clara E., Sarah H. snd Benja- min F. living. During the Civil war Charles W. enlisted as captain of Company C, Seventy-third Indians Volunteer Infantry, in 1861, and served two years. He was wounded in one of the engagements in which his company participated and returned home on furlough. After recovering he rejoined his company st Indianapolis where he was killed in 1863 by a large timber falling upon him, the company at that time doing guard duty. Benjamin F. Price, Jr., was born in South Bend December 12, 1850, and in that town was reared and educated and has continued to reside. He entered the employ of his father when young, and may be said to have grown up in the business. He thoroughly understands every detail, and at the demise of his father was eminently capable of taking upon his own shoulders the duties of the business. His is the leading, oldest and most popular concern of the city, and the reputation of the house for honesty and upright dealing has remained untarnished during the long term of years that the business has been established. Mr. Price is one of the popular business men of the town and has hosts of friends. He was twice married, his first wife was Miss Georgia Walterhouse, a native of South Bend, and s daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth (Holland) Walterhoose, natives of the State . of New York. Two interesting and promising children, Jessie E. and Mary E. were born to them. Mr. Price was again married on January 9, 1884, to Miss Maggie Fagan, of St. Joseph, Mich. Mr. Price, like his estimable father before him, is s member of the I. O. O. F., also belongs to the Maccabees and is a Republican politic - ally, the measures of which he at all times supports. as did also his father.

HENRY WEIS, Mishawaka, Ind. The subject of this notice is one of the prominent farmers of Penn township. He is the son of Christian Weis, s prominent pioneer and honored citizen of Penn township, who was born in Switzerland in 1803, received a common-school education and was resred to agricultural life. He came to Americs when a young man, first settled in Stark county, Ohio, and married there, his wife being Annie Heim, daughter of Christian Heim. To Mr. and Mrs. Christian Weis were born ten children, all of whom lived to be grown. Mr. Weis remained in Stark county some years, subsequently removing to Marshall county, Ind., where he clesred up a farm and was one of the pioneers. In 1846 he came to St. Joseph county and settled one mile west of Mishawaka, where our subject now lives. Here he bought eighty seres of land, cleared it up, sold it and moved to the farm now occupied by William Weis, where he became the owner of 200 acres of fine farming land. A small portion of this was already cleared when he came to it; the remainder he clesred. The names of his children were: Christian, Annie, Ullery, Elizabeth,

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Peter, John, Henry, Mary, Joseph and William. Mr. Weis was a prominent mem- ber of the Evangelical Church and held the offices of trustee, steward and clasa- leader. He was one of the founders of this church in Penn township and assisted to build the church in his neighborhood. Politically he was a atanch Democrat. He was a hard working, industrions man, much respected by all, and brought up a fine family of children, all of them doing well. He was well known as one who had materially assisted in the development of St. Joseph county and belonged to those who are a credit to their native country and to their adopted one. Henry Weis, our subject, was born February 27, 1846, in Marshall county, near Bremen, on a farm, and was brought up among the pioneera, receiving only the education which was to be obtained in the log school-house of the neighborhood. He waa but an infant when he was brought by his parents to Penn township, learned early to work and did his duty at his home on the farm until he was twenty-seven years of age. On Novem- ber 10, 1875, he married Eliza Beyler, born February 13, 1849, a daughter of George and Rebecca (Lehr) Beyler. Mr. Beyler came from Alsace when a young man and married in Stark county, Ohio. By trade he was a shoemaker. He moved to Mar- shall county, Ind., becoming one of the first settlers at Bremen, locating there in 1839. His children were: Samuel, who died in infancy; Eliza, who died at the age of three years; Catherine, who passed away at the age of four years; Jacob; Mary A., who died when forty-five years old; Eliza; John; and Sarah, who died at the age of thirty-three. Mr. and Mrs. Beyler were members of the Evangelical Church, he being one of the founders of the Church at Bremen, and filling all of the officea of prominence in that body. He was a hard-working, industrions man, and at hia death he left a handsome property, among which was some valuable timber land. He died at Bremen, at the age of seventy years, a man of honorable character and a pioneer citizen. Henry Weis and wife, after marriage, settled on a part of the old homestead, where they have lived ever since. In 1882 Mr. Weis bnilt a substantial brick house and has good improvements. He has, by industry and thrift, accumn- lated property until he owns two hundred acres of land and thirty-eight acres of timber land in Madison township. To Mr. and Mrs. Weis have been born eight children, as follows: Mary A., born October 15, 1876; George J., born September 26, 1878; Alva M., born July 13, 1881; Clement, born October 14, 1882; John O., born November 16, 1884; Henry E., born November 15, 1886; Bertha R., born Jan- uary 30, 1890, and Elmer E., born October, 1891. Mr. and Mra. Weis are members of the Evangelical Church and Mr. Weis has assiated materially in the support of the church, takes an active interest in having good schools in his community and haa served as school director. In politica he is a Republican. The Weis children have descended on both sides from the best of pioneer stock and have a right to take an honest pride in the sterling qualities of their ancestors.

SOLOMON J. STRYCKER, one of the foremost farmers of Union townahip, Elkhart county, Ind., was born May 25, 1847, and is the only son of Christian and Mattie (Stump) Strycker, both natives of Canada, the former born in 1817 and the latter in 1818. When a young man the father came to Indiana, aettled in Union town- ship, and bought 160 acrea of land. Being a single man he boarded with John Burkholder, his nearest neighbor, and cleared five acres of land on which he erected a log cabin. After marriage he cleared up his farm and passed through all the hardships of pioneer days, but was very successful as an agriculturist. Later he bought more land, and sold eighty acres of the farm he had bought to his son-in- law. He and his brother, Jacob, bought the first threshing machine in the township. On the farm where he had passed the best years of his life his death occurred May 11, 1887, and no man was better respected or more highly esteemed. In religion he was a German Baptist, and in politics a Democrat. Mrs. Strycker was a young lady when her parents, Solomon and Anna (Burkholder) Stump, moved to Elkhart county and settled in Union township. There both passed the remainder of their daya. Mrs. Strycker has one brother living in the township. She was married to

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Mr. Strycker on March 3, 1842, and became the mother of five children: Anna, born November 18, 1844, and died at the age of eighteen months; Mariah, born January 16, 1845, married Isaiah Rummel, and now resides in Union township; Solomon J .; Elizabeth, born January 28, 1850, married, but is now deceased; and Sarsh, born March 3, 1854, is at home. Mrs. Strycker is still living, is seventy years of age, and is a member of the German Baptist Church. Solomon J. was born on the farm where he now lives, and received his scholastic training in the old log school-house. When twenty-three years of age he was married to Miss Isabel Skinner, who was born November 17, 1854, and who was the daughter of Ephraim and Mary (Black) Skinner, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. Mr. Skinner was a pioneer settler of Noble county, Ind., and died in 1882, when seventy years of age. Mrs. Skinner's father, John Black, was a pioneer settler of Elkhart county and a prom- inent citizen of the same. She is still living and was the mother of twelve children. Mr. and Mrs. Strycker were married in 1870, and four children have blessed this uniou: Ephraim, born April 15, 1871, married September 15, 1892, to Miss Ida M. Walters, of Union township, where he now lives; Mary A., born April 20, 1873, married Daniel B. Stouder, and resides on a farm in Union township; Elizabeth, born March 11, 1877, died March 25, of the same year; and William H., born July 3, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Strycker are members of the German Baptist Church, and he is a deacon in the same. He has one of the best improved farms in this part of the county, and has been very successful as a stockraiser. In his political affilia- tions he is a Democrat. He is one among the best citizens of the county, and is active in his support of all worthy enterprises. Mr. and Mrs. Strycker have taken a little girl to raise, Emma M. Stonder, who was born September 5, 1885.

GEN. BENJAMIN HARRISON, ex-President of the United States, is a grandson of the famous hero of Tippecanoe, Gen. William Henry Harrison, the ninth President of the United States. His birth occurred at North Bend, Ohio, August 20, 1833, and his early education was acquired under the tutelage of a private instructor. At fourteen years of age he was sent to Cary's Academy, near Cincinnati, where he remained two years, then entered Miami University, at Oxford, which graduated him in 1852. Having a predilection for legal pursuits he became a disciple of Black- stone at Cincinnati, and early in 1854 located for the practice of his profession at Indianapolis. Early in his professional career Mr. Harrison exhibited to a marked degree those characteristics which afterward made him famous as a great lawyer, and it was not long until he found himself the possessor of a large and fairly lucra- tive practice. In the fall of 1860 he was elected reporter of the supreme court of the State, and during his incumbency of this office published volumes XV and XVI of State Reports. The war coming on, Mr. Harrison deemed that his country's wel- fare should become his first consideration, and accordingly resigning from his lucrative position he recruited Company A, of the Seventieth Regiment of Indiana Infantry and immediately went into active service. He remained in the service of the Government until the close of the war, when he was mustered out as brevet brigadier general. Returning home he resumed legal pursuits. Iu 1876 he was the unanimous choice of the Republicans for governor of Indiana, but was defeated at the polls. After this (from 1881 to 1887) he was a United States senator and became one of the most conspicuous figures in the Nation. In 1888 he was nomi- nated by the National Republican Convention, at Chicago, for the Presidency of the United States. During the campaign he made numerous addresses, and although he had a vigilant enemy to combat, ready to distort or misconstrue his utterances, he did so remarkably well that not a single point was raised against him. His four years of administration marked an era of prosperity for the country, and at the National Convention of 1892 held at Minneapolis, he was re-nominated on the first ballot. At the succeeding election he was defeated for a second term by Mr. Cleve- land. Mr. Harrison and family are devout members of the Presbyterian Church. In 1853 he married Miss Carrie L. Scott, by whom he is the father of two children.

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BROWN BROS. The industriea of Nappanee are principally of an important char- acter, ably and successfully carried on, the products being such as to have secured for this western town a reputation of which any might well be proud. Prominent among the successful business men of this town are the Brown Bros., dealers in agricultural implements, wagons, buggies, wind-mills, buckeye binders and mowers. They have been in business here since March 1, 1889, and from the first their trade in the above lines has been good, and on the increase right along from the time they opened up in Nappanee. The individual members of this firm, John W. and Charles H. Brown, are part and parcel of Elkhart county, both being born and reared therein

within five or six miles of Nappanee, and educated in all the workings of the farm and the use of all kinds of modern farming implements. In the sale of wagons their greatest trade is with the old-time and justly celebrated Studebaker wagon, which has kept its place in the front rank. Their sales of the Oliver Chilled plow has met with the same success as their efforts with the Studebaker wagon, and their salea last year were $10,000 greater than those of the year before. The indications now are that this year's efforts will show a corresponding increase over last year's very big sales. The Buckeye harvesting machines and the Reeves straw stacker are being handled by this firm, all of which are growing in popularity every season. The New Birdsell Clover Huller, manufactured at South Bend, is meeting with deserved favor by the farmers of this section, and the success of the Brown Bros. in handling this useful farming implement has been very gratifying from their first introduction here. These brothers are the sons of Jacob Brown, Jr., and Sarah J. (Richcreek) Brown, and the grandsona of Jacob Brown, Sr., and Lydia (Smith) Brown. The grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Summerset county in 1801, and the son of James Brown, who was a native of this country but of German parentage. In the year 1803 James Brown moved with his family to Canada, settled in the neighborhood of Toronto and there followed farming. There Jacob Brown grew to manhood and married, and there most of his children were born, only three having been born after he came to this country. About 1839 Jacob Brown and family emigrated to Indiana and settled in Union township, Elkbart county, on the farm now owned by his sons, James and Jacob. He was one of the pioneers of the conaty and bought 160 acres, which was all in the woods. He cut the first timber on this place and spent many years in improving and developing the same. He made the trip from Canada with wagon and team, but had his goods shipped by water. When he came to this county he had considerable means, having owned a good farm in Canada, and he soon became one of the successful and pros- perous farmers of Elkhart county. He was a member of the Mennonite Church, and in politics was a Democrat. An honorable, upright citizen, he held many township offices and was supervisor for some time. He lived to be quite an aged man, dying in 1885, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1800, and was probably a child when taken by her parents, John and ..... (Stump) Smith, to Canada. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born eight children, five of whom are still living and all in Elkhart county, two in Union, two in Jackson and one in Harrison township. Mrs. Brown was a member of the German Baptist Church, was much interested in church work, and died on the old home place in Union township in 1885. The children were named as follows: John, a native of Canada, born in 1827, was a boy of fourteen years when the family came to this conaty and is now a farmer of Harrison township and a man of a family: James, resides in Union township; Susan, born in Canada, died in Elkhart county when eighteen years of age; Jacob, Jr. (father of subjects); Lydia, now the wife of Daniel Neff, a farmer of Jackson township; Elizabeth, now the wife of Henry Neff, a farmer of Jackson township; Sarah, married Moses Whitehead and after his death married B. R. Graves; she is now deceased; Matilda, died at the age of seven years. Jacob Brown, Jr., father of Brown Bros., was born in Canada, December 13, 1834, and when about four years of age was brought by his parents to Elkhart county, Ind.

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His youthful days were passed ou the old home place in Union township and his education was received in the district school. Like most of the country boys he attended school during the winter months, but when summer approached he assisted his father on the farm. When twenty-one years of age he started out for himself and soon after married Miss Sarah J. Richcreek, a native of Elkhart county, Union township, born September 7, 1837. She was a daughter of Charles H. and A. (Elsea) Richcreek and the granddaughter of Charles Richcreek. The Richcreek family emigrated to this county in 1844 and settled in Jackson township, where the father carried on farming. He was an industrious, hard-working man and one highly esteemed for his many estimable qualities of mind and heart. He was born in Virginia, in 1808, and died at the age of sixty-nine, in 1877. His wife was also a native of Virginia and was born in 1810. Both held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics Mr. Richcreek was a Republican. His children were named as follows: John S., who died in 1865, was married and lived in Kosciusko county; Angeline, who died in 1891, was the wife of Jacob Broumbaugh and was the mother of three children: William, married and resides at Webster, Kosciusko county; Sarah J. (Mrs. Brown); Harriet, wife of William Foose, resides in Nebraska; and Charles, who died at the age of eighteen years. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brown settled on a farm of eighty acres and on this they have since resided. In politics he has ever been a warm supporter of the Democratic party and takes a deep interest in political affairs. He was trustee of the township in 1861 and 1862, and he has also held the office of justice of the peace and supervisor. All his interests are centered in and around Elkhart county and he is a man whose excellent judg- ment and sound good sense would find him friends in any community. To hie marriage have been born six children as follows: Alice C., born February 1, 1856, married Jacob Kirkdaffer, of Washington township, this county, and they have twelve chil- dren: Charles, Jacob, Michael, Melvin, Picher, Lydia, Alice, Sarah, Vernon, Frank, Eddie and Anna. The next child born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown was Lydia A., whoee birth occurred April 27, 1858. She married Joseph Stump and they have three children: Della, Luella and Arvilla. John W. Brown was born December 29, 1860, and is a member of the firm of Brown Bros .; Charles H., born September 1, 1863, is also a member of the firm; Sarah C., born December 4, 1867, is still at home; Jacob F., born December 8. 1873, is at home assisting on the farm. The son, John W. Brown, was reared on his father's farm in Union township and secured a good practical education in the common schools. When twenty-three years of age he started a small store at Gravelton, Kosciusko county, where he remained a few years and where he was appointed postmaster, holding that position for four years. He increased his stock from year to year nntil 1889, when he sold out and moved to Nap- panee and embarked in the implement business in company with his brother, Charles H. The first year they did a business of $15,000, the next year $28,000, and in 1891 $34,000, making a good business. They are the leaders in their line in this part of the county. John W. Brown was married in 1882 to Miss Lizzie Bronmbaugh, daughter of David M. Bronmbangh (see sketch). Mrs. Brown was born in 1861 and was reared on her father's farm in Jefferson township, Kosciusko county. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown: Hettie, born May 18, 1883, and died when sixteen months old, and Eva, born November 26, 1886. Mr. Brown and family reside in their own home in Nappanee and are well respected in the town. Both are members of the German Baptist Church. Aa a business man Mr. Brown has few equale and as a citizen and neighbor he is well liked. In politics he is a Democrat. Charles H. Brown, the junior member of the firm of Brown Bros., was born September 11, 1863, and, like his brother, his early days were passed in assist- ing on the farm. In the district schools he obtained a fair education and he con- tinned under the parental roof until 1890, when he became a member of the firm of Brown Bros. Since that time he has been actively engaged in the implement busi- ness in Nappanee and has met with unusual success, being a man possessed of more

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than ordinary business acumen. Like his father and brother, he espouses the prin- ciples of the Democratic party, and is a warm supporter of its platform. He was married on the 15th of November, 1889, to Miss Etta J. Broumbaugh, daughter of David M. Broumbaugh, and a sister of his brother John's wife. She was born March 8, 1865, and passed her girlhood days on the old farm. One child, & son, has been born to this union but is yet unnamed. This young couple have a nice, cozy home in Nappanee and take a deep interest in all the worthy enterprises of the town.

PHILIP B. BOONE is & retired farmer now residing in the city of South Bend, in the enjoyment of a comfortable competency acquired in earlier years by industry and good management, and the society of numerous friends, whom his correct mode of living has gathered about him. He is a product of Wayne county, Ind., for there he first saw the light of day on the 27th of May, 1822, his parents being Ovid and Ruth (Baltimore) Boone, the former a native of the Blue Grass State and the latter of Ohio. Ovid Boone was born in the vicinity of Lexington, his parents being honest tillers of the soil. He removed to Wayne county, Ind., with his par- ents, and there he was married and became a successful agriculturist. After many years he settled in Madison county, Ind., where his death occurred about the year 1835. He had a brother who was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was killed at the battle of Lexington. Ky. To Ovid Boone and his wife the following children were born: Perry, Philip B., Charlotte, Mary M., James W. and Susan. After

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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 61

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

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