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 68

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 68
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 68

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).

MARVIN H. SHIVELY. Mr. Shively, junior member of the firm of Shively & Shively, dealers in hardware, atoves, and all goods pertaining to that line, ia one of the representative business men of the town of Nappanee, and he and his associates are to be congratulated upon the large measure of success achieved in their undertak- ing. Mr. Shively was born December 14, 1863, and was the youngest of four children born to George and Albertine (Slabaugh) Shively, of Kosciusko county, Ind. George Shively's birth occurred October 12, 1823, and he was reared and married in Stark county, Ohio. With his wife and children he came to Kosciusko county, Ind., pur- chased 110 acres of unimproved land, and to this added to from time to time, until he now owns a fine farm of 235 acres. He is one of the prosperous and substantial agriculturists of his neighborhood. In religion he is a member of the German Baptist Church, and in politics he ia a stanch Republican. He is well respected by all, and is a most worthy citizen. Mrs. Shively was born in Stark county, Ohio. March 7, 1836, and the daughter of John Slabaugh. Of the four children born to thia worthy couple, three are living at the present time, viz .: Ezra, born June 29, 1854, married Flora Love and has one child, Roscos C. (he now resides in Marshall county);

450

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

Adaline, born March 5, 1856, married Henry Rusher, and now resides in Koscinasko county (they have two children: Edward and Nora); Elizabeth, born in 1858, died at the age of three years, and Marvin H. The parents of these children are still liv- ing snd reside on the home place. Our subject was reared on the farm, and in addi- tion to s district-school education he attended the State Normal at Valparaiso, Ind. After this he taught school for some time, and then accepted a position in a hard- ware store at Bourbon, Ind., where he remained for fourteen months. In 1891 he returned to his father's farm, and subsequently, in company with his cousin, George B. Shively, engaged in the hardware business in Nappanee. He is a young man of . excellent business acumen, of influential conections and high social standing, with whom it is a pleasure to desl. He was married October 12, 1891, to Miss Ruah Towns, s native of Marshall county, Ind., born March 24, 1870, and one of s family of seven children born to Willism and Emily (Boyd) Towns. Willism Towns was born in Ohio, and was a son of Robert and Sarah (Hoopengardner) Towns. He came with his parents to Koscinsko county, Ind., in 1855, and his wife came with her parents to this county about the same time. To their marriage were born these children: Ruah, Ella, Lucy, Clarence, Robert, Harley and Ethel. Mrs. Shively is s member of the Christian Church, and is active in all good work. She was formerly s teacher. Mr. Shively hss met with fair success as s business man of Nappanee, and is public-spirited, enterprising and thoroughgoing. In politics he supports the principles of the Prohibition party.

LOUIS DE COUDRES is a successful farmer and a dealer in thoroughbred horses in the vicinity of North Liberty, Ind. He is a native of Newark, N. J., where he was born Msy 21, 1833, to Thomas and Mary (Fox) De Coudres, the former s native of New Jersey and the latter of Rhinebeck, on the Hudson River in New York. The paternal grandfather came from France, bringing with him a large family, and after residing in New Jersey for some time returned to his native land, where a large fortune was swaiting him, and this was the last the family in America ever heard of him. When a boy Thomas De Condres was bound out to learn the tinner's trade, at which he worked for seven years, then began working at his trade on his own sc- count and also engaged in the manufacture of stoves in Newsrk, N. J. About 1834 he removed to Tompkins county, N. Y., where he carried on his business in connec- tion with farming uutil his death in 1856, his widow surviving him until 1878. Mr. De Condres wss twice married and by his first wife became the father of three chil- dren, all of whom are deceased, and to his second union seven children were born, of whom two survive: Louis, and William F., of McLean, N. Y., where he resides on the old homestead. Thomas De Condres and his wife, Mary, were persons of grest energy and force of character. They regarded the proper rearing of their children s most sacred duty. Especially did they impress on their minds the neces- sity of being honest in every thing. "Be careful what you promise, but keep your promises at all hazards" wss a favorite maxim oft repeated. They were prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and were held in great esteem by Bishop Jsmes, who never failed to visit them when presiding over a conference held nesr their home. In the State of New York, Louis De Coudres was reared, and in the schools of that common wealth he obtained a fair education, being first an attendant of the public schools and later one term at Cazenovis Seminary. Although brought up on the farm he engaged in clerking for a few years after starting out to make his own way in the world, then decided to seek his fortune farther westward snd in the summer of 1855 went to within seven miles of Chicago (which is now almost in the heart of the city) but not liking the looks of the strsggling little town st that time, he and his brother, instead, purchased a large tract of land on Kankakee Marsh, three miles north of North Liberty. In the winter of 1856 Mr. De Coudres located in Greene township, St. Joseph county. In February he returned to New York and was there married to Miss Martha A. Smith, daughter of George F. and Mary Smith. Her mother's maiden name was Laning. She was a sister to Dr. Richard, Revs. Gideon and

451

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

Ralph, Benjamin, Esq., and Elias Laning; also of Mrs. David Colgrove, all of Tompkins county, N. Y. Martha had two children, one of which died in infancy, the other, Flora E., is now the wife of Samuel N. Finch. He returned with his young wife to Indiana, but was left a widower in 1863, with a little daughter to care for, Flora E., who is now the wife of Samuel N. Finch. On April 21, 1864, Mr. De Coudres took for his second wife Sarah C. Reece, a native of Indiana, whose parenta were early settlers of Liberty township and whose mother is still living. This union has resulted in the birth of four children: William S., who married Miss Susie Clem; Albert (deceased); Addie and Fred. Since 1866 Mr. De Coudres has resided on his present farm, which is one of the best improved places, in the way of build- ings of all descriptions, in the county. He has 263 acres in the home place and considerable land elsewhere in the county, all of which is managed in an intelligent and profitable manner. He was assessor of Greene and Liberty townships; he is an in- fluential citizen and his name is known far and near as a successful atockman. He is a great lover of fine horses, and has some magnificent animals on his place, among which are eminently worthy of mention, a handsome Cleveland Bay horse from England; two Clydesdales from Scotland; two fine Canadian horses; a Hambletonian from Elector by Electioneer; all of which are registered animals, and many others. Mr. De Coudres has been remarkably successful as a stockraiser and is considered a judge of good horse flesh. He is a Republican politically, and he and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. De Condres has been connected with many public enterprises which related to the interests of the farmer. He assisted in organizing the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company and has been one of the directors ever since the company was organized. Through his efforts the Northern Indiana Detective Agency was instituted. For years he has earnestly agitated the subject of good public highways. Being a man of superior judgment, his advice is often solicited by his friends and neighbors. His maternal grandfather (Fox) was a sea captain and at one time his vessel was captured by the French. This vessel was valued at $60,000, and with other American vessels that were taken, were paid for by the French Government to the United States. It required a special act of Con- gress to enable the Government to repay those vessel owners for the losses sustained. For some reason it was many years before such an act was passed. The owners of the vessels died and their heirs experienced great difficulty in establishing the valid- ity of their claims. Some of the claimants, among them the Fox heirs, became dis- couraged and ceased to prosecute their claims and finally lost them through lack of evidence to establish their identity as heirs. David W. Reece, father of Mrs. De- Coudres, was a pioneer of liberty township and upon his arrival here in 1840, made a clearing four miles from Lakeville, and on this land moved his family two years later. He was born in Tennessee and first moved his family to Fayette county, Ind., thence to St. Joseph county. Of seven children born to himself and wife, six are atill living: Mary R., wife of Mr. Heaton, of Rossville, Vermilion Co., Ill .; Sarah C., wife of Louis DeCondres; William W., of Vermilion county, Ill. ; Thomas J., a hardware merchant of Walkerton, Ind .; Dr. James N., a successful physician of North Liberty; Martha, wife of John Whitinger of this county; and Eliza (deceased). David W. Reece was born in Grainger county, Tenn., December 22, 1811, and died at his residence one mile sonth of North Liberty April 18, 1889, in his seventy-eighth year. His grandfather, Thomas Reece, was of English descent, but was born and reared in North Carolina, a member of the Quaker Church. He was born about 1779. When quite young the family emigrated to East Tennessee and there he eventually joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1819, as there was no Quaker Church in the vicinity. His death occurred in Alabama in 1849. His mother, Mary Glasgow, was of Welsh descent, born in Virginia in 1783, her father's family being likewise early residenta of East Tennessee, where she became acquainted with and married Thomas Reece in 1804. To their uuion five sone and three daughters were given, David W. being the third born. The mother was

452

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

called from life in Alabama in 1853. David W. Reece became a resident of Fayette county, Ind., at the age of twenty-one years, and although he followed teaching dur- ing the winter months he worked at various occupations during the summers until he succeeded in accumulating a little money. While in Fayette county he met and married Nancy M., daughter of Gen. Jeremiah A. Wilson, one of the old settlers of that county, their marriage vows being taken April 26, 1838. In October, 1842, they moved to St. Joseph county, Ind., where Mr. Reece entered a quarter section of land four miles west of Lakeville and began the arduous task of clearing his land. After many years of incessant toil and hardships peculiar to the early settler, he dis- posed of his property and purchased 160 acres one mile south of North Liberty, where he resided until his death, leaving a widow and six children. He was a man of unusual firmness and decision of character, and, guided by a keen sense of right, he was slow to form a conclusion, but when formed it was as immovable as the rock- ribbed bills that surrounded his birthplace. He labored to elevate public opinion to a high plane of thought and rejoiced to see the advancement of education, morality and religion. Unselfish in his motives, to him the church and school- house were more desirable than a bank account, and his loftiest ambition was to be on the right side of every great social, moral, political and religious question. He often remarked that he wished to so order his life that the world might be the better for his having lived in it. He was a warm personal friend and admirer of Schuyler Colfax and regarded him as one of God's noblemen.

DRS. MITCHELL AND LENT. Few, perhaps none, save those who have trod the ar- duous paths of the profession, can picture to themselves the array of attributes, physical, mental and moral, and the host of minor qualities essential to the making up of a great physician and surgeon. His constitution needs must be the hardiest to withstand the constant shock of wind and weather, the wearing loss of sleep and rest, the ever gathering load of care, the insidious approach of every form of fell disease to which his daily round of duties momentarily expose him. The above is but a few necessary remarks introducing Dre. Mitchell & Lent, who for years past have made their home in Lakeville, Ind., and who have established a large practice. Dr. Harry F. Mitchell was born in Kingston, Province of Ontario, Canada, July 10, 1866, being the eldest but one of a family of four children born to Peter and Vic- toria (Wycott) Mitchell, who are still living at Kingston, the former having for about thirty-five years of his life devoted his attention to contracting and ship-build- ing, but is now retired from the active duties of life. He was a native of Bonnie Scotland, but when a lad was brought by his parents to America, and with them set- tled in Canada. He and his wife reared the four children born to them, the two sons being given medical educations, the elder brother, C. F. Mitchell, being a successful medical practitioner of South Bend; one daughter, Florence, is deceased; Beatrice still living at home. Dr. Harry F. Mitchell was put under a private teacher until he was thirteen years of age, after which he entered the public schools and took a teacher's course, but never followed the calling of a pedagogue, as his tastes and in- clinations were not at all in that direction. Later he entered Queen's College, in which he took the classical course, and also a business course, graduating at a later period, after which he took up the study of medicine in Queen's Medical College at Kingston, from which he graduated after four years of earnest and faithful study. He took also the degrees of master of surgery and licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. During that time he spent eighteen months in hospital work, and for two years was associated in the practice of his pro- fession with Prof. K. N. Fenwick, of Queen's University. Following this he prac- ticed with Dr. J. B. Ruttan, of Wellington, Ontario, for some time, but on February 3, 1889, came to Lakeville, Ind., where he has built up a reputation and knowl- edge of his calling that is an honor to himself and to the noble profession to which he belongs. He is exceptionally skillful as a surgeon, and has always made a specialty of diseases of the throat and nose, in the treatment of which he has been

DE Cummins

455

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

remarkably successful. He was married in 1892 to Miss Lillie, daughter of T. M. Woodburn, of Ottawa, Ontario, a prominent railroad contractor. The Doctor and his estimable and intelligent wife are very popular in the social circles of their sec- tion, and by their natural kindness of heart, their intelligence and hospitality, have won numerous warm friends. The Doctor is in sympathy with the Republican party, and is in every respect a wide-awake and public-spirited young man. His practice grew to such proportions that in 1892 he took a partner in the person of a brother student, Dr. E. J. Lent, with whom he has since remained associated. Dr. Mitchell is a member of the A. F. & A. M., of Lakeville, and also a member of the K. O. T. M., of South Bend.

Dr. E. J. Lent, during the short time that he has been a medical practitioner of St. Joseph county, Ind., has made many friends, his ability has become well known, and as a conseqence he has gained a large practice. He was born in Picton, Canada, August 17, 1868, his parents being James E. and Ellen (Welbanks) Lent, the former of whom was of good old New England stock, born in the State of Vermont. He was born in Canada, there grew to manhood and was married, and became a suc- cessful wholesale and retail marble dealer of Picton, where he is at present and has been in business for the past thirty-five yeara. Dr. Lent was the youngest of his four children (three sons and one daughter). At an early age he entered the public schools, but finished his literary education in the Picton Collegiate Institute, and in 1887 entered the medical department of Queen's University at Kingston, graduating with honors four years later, taking the degrees of M. D. C. M. and L. R. C. P. &S. Among those under whom he pursued his studies was the famous Hon. Dr. Sullivan, the greatest surgeon of Ontario, and also under Dr. Edward Kidd, of Picton. In May, 1892, he located for the practice of his profession in the Sheridan Block, South Bend, Ind., and at the end of a few months formed a partnership with Dr. Mitchell. He is one of the enterprising and wide-awake men of the county, and gives every promise of becoming eminent in his profession, for be is exceptionally well versed in medical lore, keeps up with the times in his profession, and is energetic and pushing. He makea a specialty of chronic diseases, and treats them with great success. He is in sympathy with the Democratic party, and is still unmarried.

REV. DANIEL BRENNEMAN. For many years this worthy gentleman has ministered to the spiritual wants of his fellow-man, and his career has ever been honorable and upright. He first saw the light of day in Fairfield county, Ohio, June 8, 1834, and ia a son of Henry and Barbara (Beery) Brenneman. Henry Brenneman was born in Virginia, November 1, 1791, and his parents, Abraham and Magdalene (Shenk) Brenneman, were natives of Pennsylvania and of German extraction. Abraham Brenneman was born abont the year 1743, and was a son of Melchior Brenneman, who was a native of Switzerland and who came to America about the year 1709. He was among the first settlers of Lancaster county, Penn., and was there married to Miss Anna Good. He entered land from the Government, followed farming all his life, and was a member of the Mennonite Church. Abraham Brenneman was married to Miss Reif, and was an early settler of Rockingham county, Va. He settled on a farm and there reared a family of fourteen children, two others having died in infancy, having had eight by each wife, being married the second time to Miss Magdalene Shenk, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1769. Abraham died in Vir- ginia in 1815, of camp fever. His wife survived him until May, 1851, her death occurring in Fairfield county, Ohio. They were also members of the Mennonite Church, and in pioneer days services were frequently held in their honse. The youngest son of Abraham, named David, died in 1892 in Allen county, Ohio, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. Henry Brenneman, the father of the subject of this sketch, was the eldest son of Abraham Brenneman by the second wife, and his early life was spent on a farm in his native State, Virginia. There he was married, August 8, 1815, to Miss Barbara Beery, who was born August 3, 1797, in Rocking- ham county, Va., and the daughter of George and Susanna (Funk) Beery, who after- 27

456

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

ward settled in Fairfield county, Ohio, where they passed the closing scenes of their lives. In 1816 Henry Brenneman removed to the Buckeye State, settled in Fair- field county, and was one of the earliest settlers of the county. He entered 160 acres of land and on this the family lived for many years. His death occurred on this farm. He followed milling on an extensive scale for a number of years, oper- ating a grist and saw mill, and was quite successful in this occupation. In March, 1838, the smallpox entered his home and his wife and two of his children fell victims to this dreadful disease. To his marriage were born these children: John, Susanna, George (died at the age of sixty-eight years), Anna, Catherine (deceased), Abraham (deceased), Henry (deceased), and Daniel, the subject of this sketch. After the death of Mrs. Brenneman Mr. Brenneman was married to Miss Esther Good, a native of Virginia, and one child was the result of this union: Magdalene. About one year after marriage Mrs. Brenneman died, and Mr. Brenneman married Miss Anna Rodehefer, a native of Virginia. Her death occurred August 17, 1859. Three sons of Henry Brenneman, John, George and Daniel, were ministers of the Mennonite Church, the two former being bishops. Daniel Brenneman was resred on a farm in his native county, and received a limited education in the common schools, attending school taught in the primitive log school-house of pioneer days. Mr. Brenneman was married in Augusta county, Va., March 22, 1857, to Miss Susanna Kagey, who was born May 18, 1839, in Augusta county, Va., and the daughter of John and Barbara (Miller) Kagey, the parents natives of Virginia, where they passed their entire lives. After marriage Mr. Brenneman settled in his native county and there made his home until 1864, when he moved with his family to Elk- hart county, Ind. In this county he has since resided, a portion of the time in Bango township, and the remainder of the time mostly in Jefferson township. He settled on the farm where he now resides in February, 1883, and is the owner of 148 acres. He and Mrs. Brenneman are members of the Mennonite Church, and Mr. Brenneman has been s minister of that denomination since 1857. He was married, converted, baptized and ordained to the ministry in less than a year. At the pres- ent time he is on the Goshen circuit. He was the originator of the church organ, the Gospel Banner, established in July, 1878, and it was published at Goshen until 1885, when it was removed to Berlin, Ont. At present there is an English and German edition of the paper. In 1874 Mr. Brenneman was expelled from the Old Mennonite Church for holding class meetings and protracted meetings, this not con- forming with the old church customs. He was constrained to follow his convictions on these points, and, as a result, a new organization was formed in conjunction with B few other ministers who had been expelled for the same cause. This new organi-

zation is known as the Mennonite Brethren in Christ, and is becoming quite numer- ons, not only in this country, but in Canada. To Mr. and Mrs. Brenneman have been born ten children, as follows: Mary M., music and school teacher; Timothy H., printer by trade; Jobn S., printer by trade, now working in Red Wing, Minn. ; Josiah M., painter at Elkhart; Rhoda K., a school teacher since 1883; Martha A .; Naoma S., music teacher; Daniel J .; Phoebe P. and Mahlon M. In politics Mr. Brenneman is & Prohibitionist.

Timothy H. Brenneman, eldest son of Daniel, was born September 20, 1860, and remained on the farm assisting his father until eighteen years of age, when he entered the office of the Goshen Times, and there learned the printer's trade, at which he worked about nine years. He edited the Gospel Banner at Goshen from 1882 to 1885, being elected to that position by the General Conference of the newly organized church above referred to. At the expiration of that time the paper was removed to Berlin, Ont., and he resigned the position. He has since spent two years in the office at Berlin. Mr. Brenneman was married September 23, 1883, to Miss Laurs Dalrymple, a native of Elkhart county, born January 15, 1860, and the daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Albin) Dalrymple, who were among the pioneers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Brenneman are members of the Mennouite Church. In

457

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

politics he is & Prohibitionist and cast his first presidential vote for John P. St. John, he being among the ninety-six Prohibitionists who voted at that election in Elkhart county. Mr. Brenneman has a comfortable home in Jefferson township and fourteen acres of land. He raises fruit and vegetables for market. To his marriage have been born three children: Jesse L., Ruth V. and Naomi.

HON. JOHN MAYNARD BUTLER, of Indianapolis, is one of the ableet lawyers in the State, as well as one of its most famous orators. He was born September 17, 1834, at Evansville, Ind., and is a son of Rev. Calvin and Malvina (French) Butler. Hav- ing but limited educational advantages in youth, and being desirous of receiving a collegiate schooling, he secured the means, through his own efforts, to take a four years' course at Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Ind., from which institution be graduated in 1856. Upon the day of his graduation he was tendered the presidency of the Female Seminary at Crawfordsville, in which capacity he served three years, then became principal of the city high school. During the meantime he read law, and in 1861 embarked in the practice of this calling at Crawfordsville, and from the beginning has had all the practice he could attend to. In 1871 he moved to Indianapolis, where he has since resided and where he is justly regarded as second to no lawyer in the State in point of ability. An ardent Republican in politics, his voice and eloquence have been much in demand by his party's managers, and although repeatedly solicited to become a candidate for office, he has steadily refused all political preferment. In his reputation as a first-class lawyer, an honest, upright man, and in the pleasures of his home, Mr. Butler finds the chief source of his happiness.

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 68

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

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