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 67

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 67
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 67

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PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

25, 1864, is the wife of Emanuel Clause, of St. Joseph county, and has one child, William; Jacob was born April 24, 1867, is a farmer of St. Joseph county, is mar- ried to Ellen Parcell; Amos was born Jannary 31, 1869, and died October 5, 1873, and David and Christian (twins), who were born January 12, 1874, are at home with their parents. All these sons are Republicana and are substantial business men. They are noted for their strict honesty and for their desire to do what is right and to live worthy lives. Jacob Wisler, the son of David, married the daughter of Richard Parcell. She was born March 16, 1872, and with her husband is residing on their small but well-tilled farm in St. Joseph county.

JAMES M. WISLER is one of the practical, younger business men of Goshen, Ind., who has established a valuable industry, is a man of ability and fine business capac- ity, and is the acion of an honored and honorable family. His great-grandfather, Christian Wisler, was a German, of Pennsylvania, was a soldier in the Continental army during the Revolutionary period, and a man of considerable prominence in his day. From this stock have sprung the numerous Wisler and Whisler families who are now widely scattered throughout the United States. James M. ie a son of Isaac and Rebecca M. (Winder) Wisler, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. He was born on his father's farm in Locke township, July 24, 1861, and in his youth received . the advantages of the common district schools, but possessing a naturally fine mind, he made the most of his opportunities and for five terms was a school teacher. Fol- lowing this he learned the trade of a machinist and boiler-maker of his father, who Was a skillful mechanic, and further improved his knowledge of this business by working in the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad shops at Garrett, Ind. In 1888 he en- gaged in business in Goshen with E. D. Hostetter, as a general repairer of machin- ery, and in 1889 the firm bought ground and soon after built their present shops which were completed in January, 1890. Their business was soon greatly-increased, and has continued so to do up to the present time. On February 1, 1892, a stock company was organized under the laws of the State of Indiana, with a capital stock of $12,500, with A. E. Brownell, president, W. L. Stonex, secretary, and James M. Wisler, treasurer and general manager. This company bought the plant and business of the Goshen Machine & Boiler Works, and have since met with flattering suc- cess, which desirablestate of affairs has been brought about largely through the unceas- ing and painstaking efforts of James M. Wisler, who is a pushing and far-seeing young man of affairs. On March 19, 1885, he was united in marriage to Della F. Dormus, daughter of - Dormus, and her union with Mr. Wisler has resulted in the birth of one child, Ethel. Mrs. Wisler is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically Mr. Wisler is a stanch Republican. He is a young man of energy and ability, is entirely self made, having by his own exertions and efforts made his way in the world, and overcome the most difficult obstacle to the establishment of a suc- cessful business-that of making the right start. He is in good circumstances, and besides his interest in the boiler works, he owns his residence and lot, and a house and lot on the North Side. His past record as a man of business is unsullied, and he is rightly looked upon as one of the rising men of the county, whose future snc- cess in life is assured if he contiunes to follow his present admirable line of conduct. He possesses the integrity of character and honesty of purpose for which the stock from which he springs has been noted, and may well take honest pride in his sterling ancestors.

HENRY WYSONO. Many of the most active and enterprising residents of Union town- ship, Elkhart Co., Ind., are natives of this county and have here spent the greater part of their lives. In them we find men of true loyality to the interests of this part of the State who undestand as it were by intuition the needs, social and industrial, of this vicinity and who have a thorough knowledge of its resources. They are therefore better adapted to succeed here than a stranger could be and are, probably without exception, warmly devoted to the prosperity of their native place. Henry Wysong, the youngest son of Robert and Anna (Miller) Wysong (see sketch), was born on the

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old home place in Union township, thie county, in 1853, and the school of his district afforded him a good practical education. Later he entered the school at Goshen, and finished at the State University at Terre Haute, Ind. For four years after this he was engaged in teaching school in Elkhart county and was very successful as an educator. Like his father and brothers he is public-spirited and enterprising, and is prominently identified with every enterprise for the advancement and progress of the community. He is a member of the Democratic party and is at present trustee of Union township. He has held other positions in the township and discharged the duties of the same in a very creditable manner. He has met with excellent suc- cese as an agriculturist, is the owner of 157 acres of land, it being the old home place. The farm is one of the best improved in the county and one of the oldest in the township. In carrying on his large and productive farm Mr. Wysong does not lose sight of the stockraising industry and has some fine animals on his place. He is one of the county's most wide-swake, thoroughgoing farmers and thoroughly un- derstands every phase of agricultural life. His pleasant home is presided over by his estimable wife, who was formerly Miss Lovina Miller, daughter of David C. Mil- ler (see sketch). Mrs. Wysong was born in Union township, this county, in 1857, and passed her girlhood days on her father's farm in this township. Mr. and Mrs. Wysong's nuptials were celebrated in 1875 and three bright children have been the result: Charles E., born in 1878; Irvin, born in 1883 and Bessie, born in 1892. Both parents are members of the German Baptist Church, are highly esteemed by all who know them, and have many warm friends.

JOSIAH WYSONG. This gentleman, well known in Nappanee and in Elkhart county, Ind., as one of the most substantial and progressive farmers of the same, is the second son born to Robertand Anna (Miller) Wysong, early pioneers of Elkhart county (see sketch). Heis a native of Elkhart county, born February 6, 1848, and is a fair specimen of the best men that that county produces. His early life was spent on his father's farm in Union township and in attending the Ullery School, in which he received a good business education which fitted him for almost any posi- tion. Lster he learned the stone mason trade, and when twenty-two years of age went West with a party of three others, and for some time was actively engaged in hunting, killing forty-one buffaloes. Of late years he has been making bunting ex- peditions to northern Michigan and as he is a splendid shot with the rifle, generally brings back considerablegame. He has been very successful as a hunter. When eight- een years of age he was deputy constable of Union township, filled that position in a satisfactory manner for eight years and later served eight years as justice of the peace. Mr. Wysong has & decided taste for music and has tanght singing school for years. He is well known in the social circles of this part of the county, and has many warm friends. In the year 1871 he was united in mariage to Miss Julia A. Miller, a daughter of David C. Miller (see sketch), and a native of Elkhart county, born in 1853. She was reared on her father's farm in this county and is a lady whose many excellent qualities have made her a general favorite. After his marriage Mr. Wysong settled in Union township, on a part of his father's farm, but after- ward becoming the owner of it, sold it and bought the place where he now lives, 156 acres of as good land as is to be found in the State. On this farm is one of the largest barns in Union township, and as Mr. Wysong is one of the most thrifty, enterprising farmers in this part of his county, his place is one of the model ones. He has a very attractive home and is surrounded by all that makes life enjoyable, domestic happines and prosperity, a clear conscience and abundant means. To bis credit it may be said, that his accumulations were made withont loss or injustice to others. He is a man interested in the public welfare, and while he pays strict atten- tion to his private affairs, he shirks no duties as a loyal citizen. The Democratic party has ever received his vote, and he is well known in the political career of Elkhart county. Mr. and Mrs. Wysongare the parents of three interesting children: Charles M., born May 4, 1874, attending school; Burton, born October 2, 1878, is also in school

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and Drusilla, born September 24, 1880. Mr. Wysong has ever been interested in improved breeding of stock and for the last two years has given bis attention to the breeding of good horses. He is the present nominee for sheriff of Elkhart county. on the Democratic ticket and would make an excellent officer.

WYSONG FAMILY. Valentine Wysong, the founder of the family in this country, was originally from France and came to America at a period antedating the Revolu- tionary war. He settled in Lancaster county, Penn., followed farming for many years and was one of the pioneers of that county. He married and seven sons and two daughters were born: Valentine, Jacob, Joseph, Henry, John, Louis, David, Elizabeth and Catherine. After residing for a number of years in the Key- stone State, Valentine Wysong moved to Virginia and subsequently to Randolph county, Ohio, where he made a settlement in 1822. His children all grew to man- hood and womanhood, married, and nearly all reared large families. In Ohio Valen- tine and wife passed the closing scenes of their lives. Their second child, Jacob Wysong, the progenitor of the Wysong family in Elkhart county, Ind., was born in 1776, near the place where the battle of Lexington was fought. He emigrated to the Old Dominion with his parents in about 1815, but subsequently emigrated to Montgomery county, Ohio, where he remained until his death in 1843. He was married in Virginia to Miss Jamima Cuttrell, and a family of thirteen children was born to them: Steven, Charles, John, Jacob, Henry, Jonas, Valentine, Joseph, Mathews, Lydia, Robert, William and Elizabeth. Robert is the only one now living, but most of them grew to mature years, married, and became the heads of large families. Jacob made a permanent home in Ohio and reared his family there. He was a member of the German Baptist Church, as was also his wife, who was a native of Virginia and the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Cosh) Cottrell. Jacob Wysong and wife have been dead for many years. The youngest son, Robert, has for many years been a prominent citizen of Union township, Elkhart connty, Ind. He was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1819, and spent his early life on a farm in that State, receiving bis education in the subscription schools of that day. He was married in his native State to Miss Anna Miller, also of Ohio birth, and a daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Harris) Miller, early pioneers of the Buckeye State. Mr. Miller was born in Pennsylvania, in 1797, and was a son of Steven and Anna (Baldman) Miller, both of whom were early pioneers of Pennsylvania. In 1845 Mr. Wysong came to Elkhart county, Ind., located on the farm where he now resides, in Union township, cut away the woods and built a cabin. In the fall of the same year he returned to Ohio for his wife and child, only one child having been born in the Buckeye State. They settled in the woods and began improving a farm of 160 acres to which from time to time he added urtil he became the owner of consider- able property. Himself and sons are now living on 240 acres of well-improved land, all in one tract but in three different farms. Mrs. Wysong was born in the year 1822 and was one of three children, Anna, Sarah and Mary, born to her parents. After the death of her mother, Mrs. Miller, the father married Hannah Ernest, who bore him two children: Samuel and Catherine (both now deceased). To Mr. and Mrs. Wysong were born four children as follows: Daniel, a minister of the German Baptist Church at Nappanee; Josiah, a prominent farmer of Union township; Henry, also a farmer of Union township; and Sarah, who died in 1867, when six years of age. This venerable and much esteemed couple are still living on the old homestead in Union township and are among the prominent people of the county. In pioneer times Mr. Wysong was something of a hunter and spent many pleasant hours engaged in that sport. In connection with farming he was engaged in brick laying and stone masonry for a number of years and was fairly prosperous in all his under- takings. He has ever been public-spirited and has ever taken an interest in all public improvementa. . No better citizen finds his home in Elkhart county and no one is more highly esteemed. Uprightness and honesty have marked his career in life and he has the respect and confidence of all.

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REV. DANIEL WYSONG. The locality in which Nappanee is situated is indeed fort- unate in having among its citizens such a man as Mr. Wysong is conceded to be for his connection with the interests of the county, both as a minister of the gospel and as an agriculturist, has proven of much benefit and influence. He is the eldest child born to Robert and Anna (Miller) Wysong (see sketch preceding this), and owes his nativity to Montgomery county, Ohio, his birth occurring on September 22, 1842. When three years old he came with his parents to Elkhart county, Ind., and was reared on the farm of his father, becoming familiar with the arduous duties of the same at an early age. Like the average country boy, he received the advan- tages that the district school afforded, but by application and perseverance received a better education than the average. He assisted on the home place until about twenty-two years of age, at which time he started out as an educator, teaching dur- ing the winter and farming during the summer season. Previous to this, when twenty years of age, he married Miss Mary Miller, daughter of David C. Miller (see sketch), and a native of Ohio, born September 13, 1843. She was but a mere child when her parents came to this county. Mr. Wysong and wife are now residing on a splendid farm in Union township, Elkhart county, and in the neighborhood of the old home. They have 174 acres of well-improved land and everything that ap- peals to a cultivated taste and to domestic comfort is found in this charming home. Mr. Wysong is known far and wide for integrity and uprightnese and enjoys to the utmost the confidence and esteem of all who know him. He is an active worker for the public good and is particularly active in religious and educational matters. The . children who have blessed his union are named as follows: Melvin, born May 22, 1864, married Miss Catherine Smith, and they reside at Nappanee; Angeline, born December 9, 1866, died in 1869; Calvin, born December 19, 1870, married Miss Malinda Stahly and has a daughter, E. N .; Clara E., born April 13, 1875, is at home; Alvin, born in 1877 and died in 1879; Cora, born May 13, 1882, is attending school, and Mina, born February 14, 1884, died from an accident August 24, 1889. Mr. Wysong is a well-to-do farmer and a worthy minister of the city.

JACOB SMOKER. The intelligence and ability shown by Mr. Smoker, as & progres- sive tiller of the soil, and the interest he has taken in the advancement of measures for the good of Elkhart county, Ind., caused him long since to be classed as one of the leading citizens of his section. All that he has achieved or gained has come as the result of his own efforts. and deserves much credit for the determined way in which he faced and overcame many difficulties. His grandfather came from Germany to this country and settled in Pennsylvania, where he was classed among the "Pennsylvania Dutch," and where he became a thrifty agriculturist. Christian Smoker was married to a Miss Stutzman and by her became the father of eight children: John, Christian, David, Isaac, Nancy, Barbara, Fannie and Betsy. After the death of the mother of these children, Mr. Smoker married Fannie Livengood, to whom were born a family of six children: Joel, Jonathan, Jacob, Joseph, Catherine and Lydia. Mr. Smoker owned a farm in Lancaster county, Penn., and was a devout member of the Amish Church. He later became one of the pioneer settlers of Wayne county, Ohio, and there died at the age of seventy-five years. Jacob Smoker, his son. the subject of this sketch, was born in Lancaster county, Penn., February 16, 1825, and was taken by his parents to Ohio at the age of three years. Owing to the fact that his assistance was needed on the farm, his educational advantages were limited, and owing to the straitened circumstances of his father, he was compelled to solve the problem of life for himself when quite young and began to do farm work for his neighbors. From the time he was thirteen years of age, and until he was twenty-one, he gave all his earnings to his father, and this filial duty he has never regretted. During the winter seasons he remained about the old home attend- ing to the numerous duties of the farm, but in 1844 he decided to commence the bat- tle of life for himself, and to a young man of his push, energy and ambition the better chances of the West became a temptation that could not be resisted, and he soon

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found himself in Elkhart county, Ind., where he set energetically to work as & farm laborer. At the end of one year he returned to his old home, but in 1848 came back to the Hoosier State and here was married, in 1850, to Miss Mary Smiley, daughter of Nathan and Margaret Smiley. After his marriage he settled on 160 acres of land, a portion of which had been inherited by his wife, and on this place he resided until 1881, when he removed to his present farm, which consists of 183 acres. By thrift and industry he accumulated land until at one time he was the owner of 600 acres, but disposed of it by giving each of his children & start in life. He is the father of nine children, all of whom are married except one: Daniel, Samnel, David, John, Allen, Rebecca, Lydia, Catherine and Amanda. Mr. Smoker has always been independent in his political views but leans rather toward the Prohibition party, aud all his children, who are settled within three miles of him, are respected and hon- ored citizens and firm believers in the temperance cause and all the sons vote the Prohibition ticket, with the exception of one, and none of them use tobacco in any form. Mr. Smoker has always advocated temperance and morality and himself prac- tices what he preaches. When he was & young man whiskey was a common drink, but he has never indulged in the use of intoxicants in any form. He has always been & patron of education and gave all his children opportunities for acquiring good practical common-school educations. He has been a member of the board of edu- cation of his district at various times and at one time presented a $70 organ to his district. In this school district as many as fifty-four scholars have been enrolled at one time, and none of them use tobacco. This will illustrate the value of good influences. All his life Mr. Smoker has been strictly moral and has ever set & good example to his children, which they seem to have profited by. He has followed in the faith of his fathers and is & devout member of the Amish Church. His son Daniel married Rebecca Schwin, by whom he has two children, and is a farmer of his township; Samuel married Cors Simon and is the father of three children; David is married to Lydia Schwin; John is married to Etta Stutzman; Rebecca is married to C. P. Yoder, & farmer of the township, by whom she has four children; Lydia married Manasse Yoder and is the mother of six children; Catherine married Adam Yoder and has three children; Amanda married W. W. Stem, manager of the creamery, of Goshen, and has two children. All the members of this family are people of sterling worth and are respected citizens.

GEORGE B. SHIVELY. There are few branches of trade in which the march of progress has wrought such a veritable revolution as in the stove and kindred lines of business. What with invention, improvement and the development of skill some- thing closely approaching perfection has been reached in this department of indus- trial activity. A popular and prosperous establishment in this line in Nappanee is the firm of Shively & Shively, dealers in hardware, stoves and all goods pertaining to this line. They are business men of push and enterprise, thoroughly conversant with the wants of the trade, and popular alike with their patrons and trade com- petitors. The business was established in 1891, and since that time they have been doing well in their line of trade. The individual members of the firm are George B. and Marvin H. Shively, descendants of old pioneer stock. George B. Shively, the senior member of the firm, is a native of Stark county, Ohio, born February 10, 1849, and the elder of two children living, born to the marriage of David and Lydis (Houser) Shively. The father was born in Stark county, Ohio, February 9, 1822, and was the second in order of birth of twelve children born to George and Elizabeth (Snyder) Shively. Six of these children are now living: Jacob, David, George E., Joel, John and Daniel, the last two twins. The name of the children deceased are not known, but several of them died in one week in 1832. George Shively, grandfather of subject, was a son of Jacob Shively, and took part in the Whisky Rebellion in Pennsylvania. His father was a native of Germany, and was the first of the family to settle in America, coming here about 1760. From him have descended the Shivelya of this country, and the members of this family were

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among the pioneer settlers of the Keyatone State. The first one of this family to leave that State was George Shively, the grandfather of our subject, who went to Stark county, Ohio, when a boy, finished his growth there, married and there reared a family. In 1845 he moved with his family to St. Joseph county, Ind., where he settled on a farm near Mishawaka. Later he moved to Kosciusko, and there died in 1879 at the age of eighty years. His wife passed away seven years prior to this. Mr. Shively was a minister of the German Baptist Church, and three of his aons, Jacob, David and Joel, became miniaters in the same. David Shively, the second son of the above worthy couple and father of our subject, was born in Stark county, Ohio, and there grew to manhood. In the year 1848 he married Miss Lydia Houser, a native of Stark county. born November 16, 1829, and the daughter of Daniel Houser, also a native of Stark county, where he and wife died a number of years ago. To Mr. and Mrs. Shively were born three children, as follows : George B. (subject), Eli, a resident of Nappanee, Ind., and Uriah, who died at the age of three years. Rev. David Shively and wife are still living, and although seventy years of age, he is atill quite actire and vigoroua. He emigrated to Indi- ana in 1852, settled on a farm in the woods, 160 acres, and to this he added to from time to time until he became an extensive land owner. He and wife are well known throughout the county, and are among the best citizens of the same. Their aon, George B., was but a small boy when he settled with his father on the farm in Koscinsko county, and in addition to a common-school education he attended the Bourbon Collage. Later he taught school for some time, and after moving to Montgomery county, Kan., tanght the Liberty School, but the next year returned to the farm where he remained until 1891. From there he moved to Nappanee and established the firm of Shively & Shively. He has been a minister of the Ger- man Baptist Church since 1880. He is interested in the advancement of the Pro- hibition party and all reform movements. As a farmer he waa unusually success- ful. and as a minister of the gospel he has accomplished much good. In the year 1873 he married Miss Maria C. Smith, a native of Elkhart county, born near Goshen, Jannary 26, 1848, and the daughter of James C. and Susannah Smith, both natives of Pennsylvania and early pioneers of Stark county, Ohio. Since 1853 Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been residents of Indiana and now reside in Koscinako county. They reared a family of thirteen children, six of whom are living. Thay are all well-to-do and prominent people. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Shively haa been blessed by the birth of three children: Martin, born October 3, 1873, is at- tending the Mt. Morris College in Illinois, and has been a teacher; Rose A., born March 9, 1875, and Hattie E., born November 12, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Shively are well respected in the community where they live, and are foremost in all good work, especially in all church work.

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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 67

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

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