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 65

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 65
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 65

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).

SAMUEL F. ULERY is a descendant of one of the pioneer families of Elkhart county, Ind., and inherits many of the worthy and sterling traits of his German ancestors. His great-grandfather came to this country about 1790, and spelled his name Ulrich, but this has been Anglicized to Ulery. He was married in this country to Misa Elizabeth Leer, located in the vicinity of Johnstown, Penn., where he owned a valley farm, over which the great flood of May, 1888, swept. In 1818 he sold this farm with the intention of moving to Ohio, and for that purpose he and his family went down the Ohio River on a boat and settled on a farm two miles west of Dayton, Ohio, upon which they lived until 1831, when they sold out and took up their reai- dence in Elkhart county, purchasing land one mile west of Goshen, where Mr. Ulery's death occurred in 1846. After his location in Indiana he made eleven trips over the road on horseback from Goshen to Dayton, Ohio. His children were: Samuel, Daniel, John, Levi, Jacob and Lydia. Samuel, the eldest of this family, waa born December 25, 1812, and was brought up on his father's farm in Cambria county, Penn., and at the age of six years was taken by them to Dayton, Ohio, and in 1831 came with them to Goshen, and here he assisted his father in clearing the home farm, which consisted of 240 acres. At the time of their settlement there were but two houses in Goshen and two small stores. Elder Jacob Studebaker was the first Dunkard preacher to move near Goshen, and he gave the Bible name to the town. Samuel Ulery had limited education, but he was a typical pioneer, being a great hunter and very fond of fishing. His brother, Daniel, was also very fond of the chase, and during the days of plentiful game, killed over five hundred deer, of which he kept an account. The early pioneers made considerable money in hunting deer and other wild animals, besides supplying their families with meat, and Samuel Ulery and his brother were not behind the early settlers in so doing. Samuel was married to Miss Mary Fease, and their union resulted in the birth of ten children: Elizabeth, Jacob, John, David, Lydia, Hannah, Benjamin, Samuel, Mary and Sarah A., all of whom lived to reach mature years. Samuel Ulery entered and settled on 160 acres of wild land in Clinton township, which he, in time, cleared and converted into a good farm, and on which his children were born aud reared, and his widow now resides. Like hia worthy father, he was a devout member of the Dunkard Church, was the sonl of honor in every transaction, and waa trusted as guardian for a number of orphan children, and was administrator of several estatea. He was interested in the cause of education, assisted in establishing good schools, and as hia views on all subjects were sound and practical, his advice on various matters was often sought by his neighbors, and was given in a cheerful and deferential, yet decided manner. He was followed to the grave by a large concourse of people, for he had won the hearty liking and respect of all with whom he came in contact, and in this manner they testified their regard and respect to his memory. Samuel F. Ulery, his son, and the immediate subject of this notice, first saw the light of day June 17, 1849, on his father's farm, and bere his first labor as a tiller of the soil waa

431

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

done, for when he was not pursuing his studies in the district school near his rural home, he was wielding the hoe or following the plow. Upon attaining manhood he married Sarah Schrock, daughter of Jacob D. and Lydia (Kenagy) Schrock, and to their union two sons were given: Charles C. and Melvin C. For some time after his marriage Mr. Ulery resided on the old homestead, but in 1877 he moved on to a portion of his present farm, which then consisted of forty acres, but by determined effort and unceasing industry he increased his farm to 142 acres, upon which he has made many valuable improvements, and now has a neat and well-tilled farm, of which he may well feel proud, as it is the result of his own and his worthy wife's hard and persistent toil. In 1889 he built a pretty and tasteful residence, which is fitted up with many modern improvements and conveniences, and is furnished in an attractive and beautiful manner, showing many evidences of refined and cultivated taste. Much time and labor has heen expended upon the lawn, and it is dotted with beautiful trees and ornamental shrubs. Taking it all in all, it presents the most beautiful and tasteful appearance of any place in the county, and is a credit to both Mr. and Mrs. Ulery. Mr. Ulery is a practical tiller of the soil, a stockraiser, and deals quite extensively in blooded horses. He is a Democrat politically, has been school director for years, and has given his sons good educations. He and his wife and their son Melvin C. belong to the Progressive Dunkard Church, but Charles is a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Ulery has set a good example in regard to beautifying and adorning his home, and being very progressive he keeps thor- oughly space with the times, not only in regard to the conduct and management of his farm, but on the current topics of the day. He stands high as an intelligent and public-spirited citizen, and throughout his nseful career his honor has never been questioned. His son Charles was married to Miss Eva Gonker, by whom he has one child. He is a farmer of Clinton township. Mr. and Mrs. Ulery have an adopted daughter named Cora, whom they are giving a good education, the comforts of s beautiful home, and the affection of a danghter.

JOHN ULERY is a worthy member of the old pioneer Ulery family of Elkhart county, His grandfather was a Pennsylvanian by birth, and from there first removed to Montgomery connty, Ohio, and then to Elkhart county, Ind., and in 1833 settled on the Elkhart road, one mile from Goshen. He married Elizabeth Leer and was the father of seven children: Samuel, Daniel, John, Jacob, Levi, Susan and Lydis. The father of these children was an industrious, enterprising pioneer, and owing to his own efforts became the owner of a large amount of real estate, and assisted each of his children to a good start in life. He was a Dunkard in his religions views and like all who profess that faith, he was earnest, sincere aud strictly honorable. His son Samuel was also born on Pennsylvania soil and when his parents made their various changes of residence he remained with them and received such education as could be obtained in the schools of his day. After his arrival in Elkhart county he put in a small crop for his father and otherwise assisted him to get settled. He was later married to Mary Fease who bore him the following children: Elizabeth, Jacob, John, David, Lydia, Hannah, Benjamin, Samnel, Mary and Sarah A. After his

marriage he lived two years on Elkhart Prairie, then came to Clinton township and entered 160 acres of land, which he succeeded in clearing after many a month of hard labor. For a further history of the family see sketch of Samuel F. Ulery. His son Jobn, whose name heads this sketch, was born in Clinton township, February 17, 1840, received a common-school education and in his youth was initiated into the mysteries of farming, a calling he has followed throughout life with good results. At the age of twenty-five years on the 25th of December, 1864, he was married to Mary, daugther of Jonathan and Saloma (Wyland) Myers the former of whom was one of the respected pioneer farmers of the county. His father, Jacob Myers, was of Pennsylvania Dutch stock from Lancaster county, but afterward became a resi- dent of Montgomery county, Ohio. He was the father of children as follows: David, Jonathan, Barbara, Katie, Elizabeth, George, John and Daniel. Jacob Myers resided

432

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

on a farm in Ohio until quite an old man, when he came to Indiana and lived with his eon Jonathan until his death at the age of eighty-six years, at which time he was in full communion with the Dunkard Church. Jonathan Myers was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, August 17, 1816, and although he received but few advantages, he learned to read and write. He came to Elkhart county, Ind., in 1827, at which time he was about twenty-one years of age, and entered eighty acres of land in Clinton township, but returned to Montgomery county later and was there married in 1838, after which he returned to his claim in Indiana with his young bride. He cleared and improved his land and increased it to 330 acres, in fact, became wealthy, for besides being intelligent and far-seeing, he was energetic. He was a deacon for many years in the Dunkard Church, was a devout Christian and wielded much influence in his church. His children were: Elizabeth, Jacob, John, Mary, Sarah and Esther. He lived to be seventy-five years of age, dying on the 26th of March, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. John Ulery are the parents of two sons: William H., born August 11, 1866, and Ira A., born April, 28, 1869. In 1865 Mr. Ulery bought a farm of ninety acres in Clinton township, and as he received seventy acres with his wife, he now has control of 160 acres. He is a practical agricultorist, bis efforts have been prospered, and he stands deservedly high owing to his honest and straightforward course through life. Like all the members of his family he is a Dunksrd in his religious views, and politically is a stanch Democrat. Hie son William H. was married to Phobe E., daughter of Jacob and Mary A. Stutzman, and by her he is the father of two children. He is a farmer and is well educated, as ie also his brother. The latter, Ira A., attended the Normal College at Millersburg two terms, and both are energetic and exemplary young men.

JACOB L. ULERY is a member of a pioneer family of this county, the members of which are numerous, prosperous and honorable. The founder of the family came from Germany and located in Penneylvania, where the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, Daniel Ulery, became a successful tiller of the soil, and was married in Cambria county to Susannah Miller, which union eventually resulted in the birth of eight children: Jacob, John, Elizabeth, Susan, Mary, Esther, Hannah and Sarah. Mr. Ulery was a progressive agriculturist, was for many years a Dunkard preacher, and taught his children the religious principles which had so long been followed by the members of the family. His son, Jacob, was born in Cambria county, Penn., and in the State of his birth was married to Susan, daughter of Jacob and Lydia (Ulery) Leer, and in due course of time six children gathered about their fireside: Daniel, Jacob, John, Mary, Susan and Lydia. In 1817, with his wife and three children, he removed to Ohio and settled near the city of Dayton, where he was called from life in 1821, at the untimely age of thirty-three years. His son. Jacob L., owes his nativity to Cambria county, Penn., for there he first saw the light of day on January 9, 1812. He was taken to Ohio when five years of age, and, owing to the early taking off of the head of the family, he obtained but little education, but through his own efforts managed to learn to read and write. He resided in the vicinity of Dayton, Ohio, until eighteen years of age, snd learned the carpenter's trade, but in 1830 came to Elkhart county. Ind., with his mother and step-father, Jacob Studebaker, his brothers, John and Daniel, coming at the same time. Mr. Studebaker settled one mile west of Goshen, where he followed the trade of a car- penter, and also preached the doctrines of the Dunkard Church, being ordained s minister of that denomination by Daniel Cripe, who was the first Dunkard preacher in northern Indiana. Jacob L. Ulery worked at the carpenter's trade with Mr. Studebaker, and with him erected the first building in Goshen in 1831. This was a store, and was built for three men by the name of McCord, Hanes snd Norris. A log cabin stood a short distance away, but was never considered in the town. It was a liquor store kept by a man by the name of Bissel. After following his trade for four years, during which time he erected many of the early buildings of the town, among which was the first court-house, he went to Montgomery county,

433

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

Ohio, in 1833, and was there united in marriage to Miss Susannah, daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Broombangh) Warner, after which he returned to Goshen and settled on some new and unbroken land three miles northwest of the town on the Elkhart road. After residing there from 1834 to 1836 he moved to his present farm, which then consisted of 160 acres, and was heavily covered with timber. He swung his ax to such a purpose that he soon had his land cleared and under culti- vation, and by industry and perseverance put it in good farming condition. He has always been public spirited, and has done his full share of work in developing the county and bringing it up to its full standard of agricultural excellence. He has always adhered to the faith of his fathers and is a Dunkard in religious belief, and has reared his children in the same faith. Their names are as follows: Levi, Lydia, Mary, Solomon, Elizabeth, Susan, Jacob, Aaron, Sarah and Amanda. John Ulery, a brother of Jacob and uncle of the subject of this sketch, came to this section from Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1833, and brought his family with him, settling on the Elkhart road, one mile from Goshen. He married Elizabeth Leer, an aunt of the subject of this sketch, and the names of their children, and a brief account of them- selves, is given in the sketch of John Ulery. Jacob L. Ulery is now in his eighty- first year, and, although his hair is covered with the frost of years, his intellect shows but little the ravages of time, and his memory carries him backward to pio- neer days.

LEVI ULERY is a descendant of Samuel Ulery, who came from Germany to this country and settled in the vicinity of the now famous Johnstown, Penn., where he brought up his family consisting of the following children: Jacob, John, Hannah, Madalina, Mary, Sallie and Esther. He was a farmer aud minister of the Dunkard Church and died on the farm in Pennsylvania, where he had labored so many years. John, his son, was born on this farm, in Cambria county, and was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Stutzman, who had formerly been a Miss Leer, and, their union resulted in the birth of seven children: Samuel, Daniel, Susan, John, Jacob, Lydia and Levi. After the birth of three of his children Mr. Ulery moved to Washington county, Ohio, and settled on a tract of timber land, where, like the majority of pioneers, he labored faithfully early and late and in time cleared his land from the woods and carved him a fine home out of the forests. In 1833 he took up his abode in Elkhart county, Ind., the journey thither being made in a four- horse Pennsylvania wagon, two other like vehicles and four teams being employed to convey the remainder of his goods thither. He took up his residence on 240 acres of land oue mile northwest of Goshen, nearly all of which was covered with timber, and with the help of his stalwart sons he cleared this land and made one of the best farms in the county. He added to his original purchase until he at one time owned 740 acres of land, and when his sons left the shelter of the parental roof to make homes for themselves, he gave each of them a farm, the dower of each of his daughters being a considerable sum of money. Mr. Ulery was one of the founders of the Dunkard Church in Elkhart county, assisted largely in increasing its membership, but died at the age of fifty-nine years, before his plans had been perfected. The natal day and year of his son Levi, the subject of this sketch, was October 7, 1822, his birth occurring in Montgomery county, Ohio, where he re- ceived the common-school education usually given the youth of his time, until he was eleven years of age, at which time he located with his parents in Elkhart county. He was brought up to the hard work of clearing and grubbing land, split- ting rails, etc., but while so doing strengthened his muscles and acquired a fine physique, and upon establishing a home of his own at the age of twenty-nine years he was presented with a good farm of eighty acres by his father. His marriage to Miss Susannah Bushard, who was born on July 12, 1834, took place in the month of October, 1852, she being a daughter of Ellis and Rebecca (Bosil) Bussard. She bore Mr. Ulery the following children: Solomon, born April 13, 1853; Amos, born October 12, 1858; Sarah A., born October 26, 1860; Amanda, born August 24, 1862;

434

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

William, born July 24, 1864; Enoch, born April8, 1866, and Jesse, born December 25, 1867. Mr. Ulery is now the owner of 100 acres of land, which his thrift and energy has made into a very valuable farm. He has been a descon in the Dunkard Church for more than twenty years in the doctrines of which church his wife is also s be- liever. Mr. Ulery is a very quiet and unpretentious man and like many of the members of his church he takes no interest in politics. All his children have re- ceived fair educational avantages, and he has taken much interest in having good schools and good rosds in his township. He stande deservedly high for integrity of character, industry and straightforward adherence to good moral principles, in which he has set a good example to his children, both by precept and example. His son Solomon is a clerk in a grocery store in Goshen, and is married to Ella Burns. Sarah married Samuel Johnson, of Goshen, and is the mother of three children; Mary E. married Nicholas Woods, of Goshen, and has one child; Amanda married Aaron Cripe, a farmer of Harrison township, by whom she has one child; William married Lillie Plank by whom he has one child, and is s baker of Goshen; Enoch married Fannie - by whom he has one child, and is in the grocery business in Goshen, in which business he is doing well.

THE WISLER FAMILY. Among the distinguished old families of Elkhart county, Ind., none are more worthy of mention than the Wislers, the founder of the family in this section being John Wisler, a native of Bucks county, Penn., where he first saw the light of day in 1800, his parents being Christian and Susan (Halderman) Wisler, the former of whom was born during the Revolutionary period in the State of Pennsylvania, of German parents. He made his home in the State of his nativ- ity until he paid the last debt of nature, and there resred to honorable maturity a family of ten children, leaving them, upon his death, not only a good property to be divided among them, but what was rather to be desired than great riches-the heritage of an honorable name. The names of the members of this family were as follows: Jonas (who died when young), John, Elizabeth, Anthony, Hannah, Jacob (who settled in Harrison township at an early day and became the father of John W. Wisler, an extensive importer of horses), Samuel, Mary, Sarah and Susan. The most of these children married, moved west, and a number settled in Elkhart county, Ind. Their father died in 1830 and the mother in 1835, in Ohio, at which time both were quite aged. Of their children John was the one to establish the family in Elkhart county, Ind., as above stated. When a young man of twenty summers he went to Columbians county, Ohio, where he entered some Government land, opened up s farm and made his home for a number of years. Iu 1824 he gave his heart and hand to Miss Sophia Stsuffer, a daughter of Henry and Mary Stauffer, who were esrly pioneers of Ohio from Westmoreland county, Penn., the former's birth occurring February 8, 1776, and the latter's July 15, 1779, their respective deaths taking place February 20, 1854, and August. 5, 1824. They reared eight children, as follows: John, born December 7, 1796; Elizabeth, July 14, 1799; Joseph, September 30, 1801; Jacob, May 18, 1804; Sophia, August 12, 1806; Mary, April 1, 1809; Henry, August 8, 1812; and Abraham, September 12, 1814. The most of these children reached mature years and several of them settled in Indiana. In the spring of 1849 John Wisler and his family emigrated to Elkhart county, Ind., and settled on the farm now owned by Jacob H. Wisler, on the line of Union and Locke townships. He entered land to the extent of 160 acres, on which he started to build a home at once, and also soon began clearing his property, which was heavily covered with timber. He was a strong Republican throughout life, and at all times manifested much interest in the popular questions of the day. He voted for William Henry Harrison, also for his grandson, Benjamin Harrison, and at the time of casting hie last vote he had sons, grandsons and great-grandsons, forty in all, who also cast their votes for Gen. Benjamin Harrison. During his early residence in the State, for twenty years be carried the mail summer and winter from Elkhart to his neighbors. He was well known in Elkhart county and enjoyed the

GOODSPEED - DROS CA.

FRANKLIN MILES, M. D.

437

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

friendship of many. He was a pleasant companion even up to his last days, and although he passed through many hardships during the pioneer days of this section, he never lost his geniality of character, his kindness of heart and his warm sym- pathy with the cause of the oppressed. He died in 1890 at the patriarchal age of ninety years, having for many years been a member of the Mennonite Church. He was well known for the public spirit he always manifested, and in the home circle he was kind, considerate and generons, as well as employing these qualities in his relations with others. His wife, Sophia, was born in 1806 and died in Elkhart county in 1876, she being also a member of the Mennonite Church, and in every sense of the word a helpmate to her husband. She bore her husband eleven chil- dren, as follows: Mary A. became the wife of Samuel Hoover, of Union township; Henry, who is a farmer of La Grange county, Ind., became the father of nine chil- dren, three of whom are dead; Isaac, a resident of Lock township; Jacob; Jonas; Sarah, wife of Samuel Rockman, of Nappanee; Anthony, who is a prominent farmer of Harper county, Kan .; John S., a resident of Marshall county, Ind .; Alphens, a farmer of Harper county, Kan .; and Cornelius, also of that State and county. Two children died young. The sons who are living are well-to-do farmers, and the most of them are practical mechanics. John Wisler tilled his large farm until 1870, when he sold it to his son Jacob, who at present resides on it with his family. The life of John Wisler is a good illustration of the old saying that " there is no royal road to fortune," for throughout his long and well-spent life he found that in his case wealth could be accumulated only by the exercise of brain and muscle, and for this reason he labored early and late in order to acquire a competence for his family, and in the confidence, respect and affection with which his wife and children regarded him, he realized that the end justified the means.

JONAS WISLER was the fourth child born to John and Sophia Wisler, his birth occurring in Green township, Columbiana county, Ohio, April 3, 1831, and there on the home farm he grew to manhood, his youthful days being spent at farm work and in attending the public schools of his day, which were conducted in the vicinity of his rural home. His father owned quite an extensive distillery and many of his early days were spent in that establishment. At the age of twenty-one years he de- cided to commence the battle of life for himself, and about one year later was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth J. Wilson, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Daugherty) Wilson, the former of whom first saw the light of day in the old dominion in 1790, and was a son of Richard and Ann ( Anderson) Wilson, who crossed the ocean to this country from England when young. Samnel Wilson was married in Virginia and with his wife moved to Indians in 1837 and located near Waterford, in Elkhart county, but at the end of a few years moved to Harrison township, and at a still later period to Locke township, and on a farm in that section he and his worthy wife passed from life. Samuel Wilson was one of the early pioneers of this section, was a great hunter in early times, and died in Elkhart county in 1847, at the age of fifty-seven years, at which time he was an earnest member of the United Brethren Church, an honorable and public-spirited citizen, and politically a Democrat. His wife, Mary Daugherty, was born in Maryland and her union with Mr. Wilson resulted in the birth of seven children: Andrew J., who died at the age of twenty-one years, in 1841; Mary (Mrs. Stewart), of Union town- ship; Reuben, and an unnamed infant that died in early childhood; Isaiah, a resident of Nebraska; Washington, who was a farmer of Marshall county, died in 1891; Elizabeth is the wife of Mr. Jonas Wisler; and Alexander, who died in 1860, at the age of twenty-one. The mother of these children died in 1865, on December 14, and like her husband, was in full communion with the Lutheran Church at the time of her death. Mrs. Wisler was born on March 16, 1835, and was an infant at the time of her parents' removal to Elkhart county, and on the farm on which she and her husband are now happily residing, she grew up. Like her parents before her, she is a member of the United Brethren Church and has endeavored to rear her

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 65

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

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