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 71

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 71
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 71

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MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

making a home. Indians were numerous and game of many kinds was in abun- dance. All the privations and trials of pioneer life were experiened by Mr. Gardner. During his early days in Elkhart county he was engaged in teaming, hauling mer- chandise for business men at Goshen from distant points. In this way he made a start, and by careful management and good judgment in all that he undertook, has acquired a competency. He now owns 280 acres of land and on this has good, aobstantial buildings, an ornament to any farm. He has also been very generous to his children, giving them, in addition to a good education, $1,100 each. He has been progressive and enterprising, and is one of the oldest residents now residing in Jefferson township. He is liberal in his political views, generally voting for the best man. His children, seven in number, are named as follows: Henry (deceased), John L., William, Joseph, Charles F. and George W. (twins), and Benjamin. Mr. Gardner is highly esteemed in Elkhart county and is one of that county's most pro- gressive and successful citizens. His son, George W. Gardner, was born in Jeffer- son township, Elkhart county, April 13, 1849, and was educated in the schools of that county. When a young man he began learning the blacksmith's trade, but the duties at home required his services and he gave it up. He remained under the parental roof until of age, and on August 18, 1871, he was married to Miss Hen- rietta Overley, who was born October 17, 1851, and who was the daughter of Na- thaniel and Margaret (Caton) Overley, the latter a native of Maryland. The Catons were among the pioneer families of Jefferson township. To Mr. and Mrs. Gardner were born four children, as follows: Cora, married George Hamlet, and resides in Jefferson township; William, born March 21, 1872; Engene, born October 12, 1873, and Harley E., born April 13, 1877, and died January 21, 1879. After his marriage Mr. Gardner remained on the home place until 1874, when he removed, with his family, to Goshen, and there made his home for nearly two years, Mr. Gardner op- erating a threshing machine during that time. He subsequently returned to the old homestead and there resided until the spring of 1891, when he purchased the farm where he now resides, consisting of eighty acres in Section 13, all under cultivation. Mr. Gardner pays considerable attention to the raising of horses. He has been 80- pervisor in the township for about twelve years and is a reliable, upright citizen. He is a successful farmer and business man and takes great pride in supplying his children with every want. He and family are members of the Progressive Brethren Church, and in politics he is a Democrat. He is strong in his temperance views, although he does not favor partisan Prohibition.

JOHN BURDICK SLAUGHTER was born near Ravenna, Ohio, March 3, 1831, and is the son of Solomon and Rath (Burdick) Slaughter, natives respectively of Delaware and Massachusetts, the former born in 1805 and the latter in 1810. Solomon Slaughter was reared in the State of his nativity, and when about twenty-three years of age emigrated to Ohio, and settled on a farm near Ravenna. About the year 1829 he was married to Ruth Burdick, the daughter of John and Maria (Thayer) Burdick who were pioneers of Summit county, Ohio. John B. Slaughter received the advan- tages of a district school education, attending during the winter season and passing the remainder of the time at work upon the farm. When quite a lad he started ont to make his own way in life. His first efforts were upon the canal, where he passed some time driving a canal team. Afterward he went to Cleveland and began to learn the trade of marble cutting. Having mastered his trade, he returned to his native town and worked at the same for some time, but his health failing him, on account of too close attention to his work, in 1854 he went west to the wilds and prairies of Wisconsin and passed the winter in a logging camp among the pineries, In the spring he resumed work at his trade, purchasing an interest in a marble shop at Chicago. He afterward worked at different points throughout the West, includ- ing nearly three years at Ligonier, Ind., where he owned a shop and from which place he came to Goshen in 1859, where he has since resided. In March, 1864, he was married to Miss Lydia Dean, who was born in Meadville, Penn., April

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13, 1839, to the marriage of Abram and Isabella (Adams) Dean. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Slaughter have been born three children: Halsey D., born May 27, 1866, and died January 14, 1890; Leon B., born March 5, 1869, and Isabella, born September 10, 1874, and died December 25, 1881. Mr. Slaughter has never sought political honors, but has been twice elected to the common council of his city. He was for many years a member of the Masonic fraternity. During the period of nearly forty years that Mr. Slaughter has been in the marble business in this local- ity, he has placed his work in nearly every cemetery in northern Indiana and south- ern Michigan and has marked the last resting place of thousands of his fellow- being8.

ELI S. HUFF. It is with true interest that the biographer takes up his pen to write of the Huff family, one of the prominent ones of the county, and of one of its members, Eli S. Huff, who is actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. This repre- sentative citizen was born in Elkhart county, Middlebury township, Ind., November 7, 1846, and is a son of Michael and Lucy A. (Blucher) Huff, natives of Wayne county, Ohio. Michael Huff was born in 1816, and his father, Philip Huff, was a native of the Keystone State, but at an early date came to Wayne county, Ohio, with his family. There his death occurred. Michael was resred on a farm in Ohio and learned the broom trade, at which he worked during the winter months for thirty years. He was married to Miss Lucy A. Blucher, and the following children were born to them: Sarah A., Lavina (deceased), John H., Eli S., Channcy (deceased) and Malinda (deceased). In 1836 Mr. Huff and family came to Elkhart county, Ind., settled in Middlebury township and were among the pioneers of the same. Six years later he disposed of his property in Middlebury and removed to Jefferson township, where he purchased eighty acres of animproved land in Section 12, which he cleared and improved. He afterward purchased additional land, and at one time owned 200 acres, being a very successful agriculturist. His death occurred April 28, 1889, and his widow survived him until October 8, 1889. Six years had passed over the head of our subject when his parents settled in Jefferson township, and in this township he was reared. He assisted his father on the farm, and in his youthful days learnad the broom-maker's trade of his father, working at the same during the winter months. His education was received in the schools of Jefferson township, and on February 11, 1879, he was married to Eliza J. Cornell, who was born March 12, 18-, a native of Ohio, and the latter of Elkhart county, Ind. Mrs. Cornell died in 1852, and Mr. Cornell now resides in Goshen. Mr. and Mrs. Huff are the parents of two children -Corella (married Edward Musbaum), and Frank. They have also an adopted child, Grace. Mr. Huff has 100 acres of land in Jefferson township, and on this he resides at the present time. He also owns about seventeen acres in Elkhart township. near Goshen. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and has been supervisor of his town- ship. He is a member of the K. P. Lodge at Middlebury, and he and wife hold mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

BYRON K. ELLIOTT, well known as a jurist and author throughont the United States, was born in Butler county. Ohio, September, 4, 1835. His ancestry is Pennsylvanian, from which State James Elliott, his grandfather, went to Ohio in 1799. Judge Elliott lived at Hamilton until 1849, and after a year or 80 spent in Cincinnati, came to Indianapolis in December, 1850. His education was received at Hamilton Academy, Furman's Seminary, and the " Old Sem- inary " in Indianapolis, Mr. Lang being at the time in charge. He was ad- mitted to the bar in February, 1858, on motion of Judge N. B. Taylor, and in May, 1859, was elected city attorney-a most convincing proof of ability and char- acter to command such a position at the age of twenty-four, and in the first year of professional life. Judge Elliott was in the hundred-day service as a captain in the One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment. and was subsequently on General Mil- roy's staff as assistant adjutant general. On his return he resumed practice, and was elected city attorney again in 1865, and re- elected in 1867 and 1869. In Octo-

Hon. B. K. ELLIOTT.

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ber, 1870, he was elected judge of the criminal court, and resigned the office of city attorney. In November, 1872, he resigned the judgeship to take the office of city solicitor unanimously tendered him by the city council. He was elected city attorney once more in 1873, and one of the judges of the superior court in 1876. In 1880 he was nominated by the Republicans for judge of the supreme court of Indiana and elected. He has been a member of that court ever since, serving for sev- eral terms as chief justice of the same. In 1892 he was re-nominated by acclamation for the same office. Judge Elliott is lecturer on equity and jurisprudence at De Pauw University at Greencastle, and at the Northwestern University, at Chicago, of which Henry Wade Rogers is president. He was married to Miss Harriet A. Talbott, of this city, September, 5, 1855. Judge Elliott is regarded, in and out of the profession, as one of the porest, fairest, and most clear-sighted of Indiana judges of this generation. His rulings and opinions are widely known and quoted, and there are few in which greater or more general confidence is felt than in his. He has also attained a national reputation as a writer of legal literature, and at the annual meeting of the National Bar Association, held in this city in August, 1890, was chosen to deliver the annual address. His subject on that occasion was "Local Self-Government." It was a masterpiece of thought and diction. One of the most beautiful and touching orations of its kind ever delivered in the State was that of Judge Elliott at the memorial services in Goshen after the death of Judge J. A. S. Mitchell, early in 1890. It is a perfect classic. The Judge has been called on fre- quently, during his career, as a speaker on public, law, or literary topics, and has demonstrated the possession of ability in that direction, and a happy manner of treatment not usually possessed by those who, like him, closely bend themselves to hard and persistent work on the bench and in the field of legal instruction. The lack of space precludes that extended notice and review of Judge Elliott as a law writer which his merits deserve. Three volumes: "Work of the Advocate," "The Law of Roads and Streets," and "Appellate Procedure," were the joint production of himself and his son William F. Elliott. These books are isssed by the Bowen- Merrill Company of this city. The first is a large octavo volume of 770 pages, first issued in 1888. The second covers over 800 pages, and has the largest and most general circulation of any law book published in recent years. The "Work of the Advocate" called forth from the Albany Law Journal, one of the most critical and im- partial of legal periodicals, a review of two pages in its editorial columns. in which the book is highly praised, not only from a lawyer's standpoint, but for its literary excellence. "It is a pleasure," says the editor of the Law Journal, " to read. such an excellent style, never diffuse and never barren, supplied with striking antitheses, and enlivened by apt anecdotes. The Judge is always scute and ingenious." All the leading law journals of the country have found much to commend in the book, and speak of it in equally just and flattering terms. The latest work has also been much praised by eminent lawyers and judges. In the same way judges of the supreme courts of many of the States and the leading lawyers of the entire country have given evidence of their appreciation of the volume. Mention is made of the remarkable demand for "The Law of Roads and Streets" in the chapter on book- making and publishing in this volume. It would be gratifying if it were possible to condense the opinions expressed on this work by the daily press of the country, as well as the legal journals and hundreds of eminent lawyers and judges. It would be easy to cover many of the broad pages of this work with extracts like the following, which is a sample of many, and in this instance taken from the Central Law Journal, of St. Louis: "The high reputation and wide experience of Judge Elliott as a member of the supreme court of Indiana is such that our readers need not be told that he is capable of preparing a thoroughly good law book. He is the oldest, and by common consent, the leading member of that court, and, indeed, in point of learning and ability occupies a place in the front rank of the eminent jurists of this country. His opinions on the bench always exhibit grest care, thought and laborious research, and contain terse, vigorous statements of the law."

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HON. ALBERT OSBORN. The Osborn family is one of the prominent ones of Elk- hart county and the first member to take root on American soil was the great- grandfather of our subject, who was born in England and who braved Neptune's tender mercies and settled in Massachusetts at an early date. He brought his wife with him and in that State both passed the remainder of their days. Their son, Enos Osborn, grandfather of subject, grew to manhood in that State, and was there married to Miss Naoma - He tilled the soil there for many years and then moved with his family to Otsego county, N. Y., and about 1840 from there to St. Joseph county, Mich. There he made a permanent settlement, and there his death occurred about the year 1870, at the advanced age of ninety-seven years. His wife had passed away several years prior to that. Both were natives of the Old Bay State. Their son, Daniel Osborn, was born in Massachusetts and was but a mere child when his parents settled in New York State. In that State he grew to manhood and received a common-school education. He learned the clothier trade when youug, but did not follow it to any great extent, being engaged in other enterprises from which he realized big returns. He was also & minister of local fame, although he did not follow it at any time as a business, being an agriculturist for the most part. He was married in Otsego county, N. Y., to Miss Margaret Miller, a daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Miller. both of whom were natives of New York and of German descent. Mr. Miller resided in New York until after the death of his wife after which he went to Missouri and made his home with his children, all of whom had emigrated to different parts of the West. He lived to be nearly one hundred years old and during his latter days was remarkably sprightly, retaining his faculties in a wonderful manner until his death, which occurred in Missouri. In 1835 Daniel Osborn and family removed to St. Joseph county, Mich., settled on wild land purchased from the Government and covered with timber. and on this erected & hewn-log cabin, which was considered a very good house for those days. Having spent all hie money in the purchase of the farm and getting settled he had very little left at the beginning of winter. He was not easily discouraged and purchasing an ax handle for a pattern, began making these out of the limited amount of hickory timber on his place, for the market. During his first winter in Michigan he made and sold about $80 worth of these handles and afterward often wondered how he would have supported his family in any other way during that first season. On this farm Mr. Osborn lived until his death in 1860, being nearly sixty years of age. During his residence in St. Joseph county he was officially con- nected with the same at different times in various capacities and discharged his duties in a satisfactory and creditable manner. His wife survives him and residea with a daughter in Goshen, being now over ninety-four years of age. Their son, Albert Osborn, subject of this sketch, was born in the Empire State, Otsego county, April 2, 1824, and is not only one of the foremost agriculturists of Elkhart county, Ind., but one of its most influential citizens. He was but eleven years of age when his parents emigrated from his native Stateto St. Joseph county, Mich., and in the latter State he finished his growth and learned habits of economy and industry. He attended the common schools of the county and walked two and a half miles morn- ing and evening to obtain a limited education, always improving his time when in the school-room. He was married in St. Joseph county, February 2, 1845, to Miss Catherine Kirkwood, a native of Greene County Ohio, born in 1824, and the dangh- ter of William and Elizabeth (Schover) Kirkwood. the former a native of the Buck- eye State and the latter of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Kirkwood died when Catherine was quite small and Mr. Kirkwood's death occurred in Ohio a number of years later. After marriage Mr. Osborn settled in St. Joseph county. Mich., aud a few years afterward in Ohio. In 1852 Mr. Osborn made a trip to California, going across the plains, and returned in December, 1855, the trip proving a profitable one. In the spring of 1863 he came to Elkhart county, settled in Jackson township, and two years later removed to Jefferson township. There he settled on the farm where he

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now resides and has since been classed among the representative men of the connty. In 1872 he was elected to the Legislature and served two years. In 1890 he was nominated on the Democratic ticket for the Legialature and although the county haa a Republican majority of 300 or more, he was elected, thus showing his popularity. He was renominated last year (1892) by hia party. Mr. Osborn is a very con- scientious man in all that pertains to his official life and work and votes for the best interests of the people, regardless of party affiliations. He is an upright, honora- ble man and is popular in his county regardless of party. He has never sought office, never solicited a vote, hia nominations and elections coming nnsolicited. Mr. Oaborn has a farm of 200 acres of well-improved land, is progressive and enterpris- ing, and one of the prosperous men of his section. He recently deeded an undivided one-half of the property to his only child, Ira A., who resides on and superintends the homestead. He was born in St. Joseph county, Mich., February 2, 1846, and passed his boyhood days on the farm. He came to Jefferson township, Elkhart county, Ind., with his parents in 1865 and there has made his home since. He was educated in the public schools and when he decided to take unto himself a wife he selected Misa Josephine Chamberlain, a native of Goshen, Ind., born Angust 8, 1853, and the daughter of Smith and Elizabeth (Lathrop) Chamberlain, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Osborn are the parents of two children: Frank A. and Albert S. Mr. Osborn ia trustee of the township, has held that position for four years, and is an energetic young man, a anccessful farmer, and a leader in the Democratic party in Jefferson township. He is a mem ber of the Farmer's Alliance. His mother died January 8, 1891. She was an ex- cellent woman and had many warm friends.

ROBERT E. CHATTEN has, perhaps, as many friends as any man in Elkhart county. He ia a native of Adrian, Mich., his birth occurring April 2, 1857. His youth was passed amid more hardships than usually fall to the lot of boys, as his advantages were of a very limited nature, and when barely old enough he had to work, not only for himself, but his mother and five younger children. Iu 1867 the family moved to Elkhart county and settled in the village of Benton. He then worked on the bench at shoemaking. While yet a youth he became librarian for his township, and having access to the valuable reading matter it contained and the school text-books, he made the most of his opportunities, and his leisure hours were devoted to reading and study, whereby he obtained a practical education. While working hard from early morning until late at night, he would then burn the "midnight oil" in por- suing his researches after knowledge. He worked at the bench and pursued hia studies until he attained his majority, and during this time he was fortunate enough to attend Oberlin College, Ohio, for three months. Upon attaining his twenty- second year he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, and was probably the youngest man ever elected to that position in the State of Indiana. In discharging his duties he showed great wisdom and judgment, and his services were known and appreciated by those who had elected him to the office. About 1880 he concluded that his chances for success in life would be greater in the West, and upon announcing his intention, was strongly urged by his friends to forego such desires, and he did

so. Abont this time his particular friend and counsellor, Captain Thompson, became a candidate for the office of aheriff, and young Chatten did all in his power for his friend'a election, and the result was the Captain's election to the office. The latter then appointed Mr. Chatten his depnty, not only in recognition of the services that had been rendered him, but from the fact that he was an intelligent young man and well qualified for the position. Mr. Chatten soon after went to the county seat, and, not- withstanding the fact that he was a green country boy, he filled the position admirably. In 1886 he sought the nomination of sheriff at the handa of the Repub- lican county convention, and on the first ballot was nominated, a fact that showed that while filling the position of deputy, he builded better than he knew. He made the canvass of the county, and much to his surprise was elected by the unprecedented

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majority of 1,486 votes, the nominal majority being understood to be about three hundred. The inference gained is, that Mr. Chatten was a popular candidate, to say the least. That he filled the position satisfactorily is evidenced by his re-elec- tion two years later by a majority of 1,586-just 100 more votes than at his first election. Mr. Chatten was married November 15, 1885, to Miss Annie Darr, and by her is the father of one daughter: Madge M. Mr. Chatten is a K. of P. and the order of Chosen Friends.

JOHN B. HABEY. Among the old soldiers whose life records are to be found in the annals of Elkhart county, Ind., and whose bravery and endurance upon the bat- tlefield and in the march are a story well worth telling, we can give the name which appears at the head of this sketch. His parents, George and Rebecca (Brewer) Habey, were natives of Pennsylvania, and there the former received his final sum- mons. The latter died in Elkhart county, York township, Ind., in 1873. Our sub- ject first saw the light of day in Pennsylvania May 30, 1836, and he made his home there until eighteen years of age, when he came to St. Joseph county, Mich. Six years later, or in the fall of 1860, he purchased a farm where he now lives, and settled upon it in May, 1861. At that time he had fifty acres of land covered with timber, and he erected a house 16x20 feet, double boards, and resided in this for several years before it was plastered. He was married January 29, 1856, to Miss Mary E. Hass, daughter of William Hass, by a former marriage (see sketch). She was born October 9, 1837, and by her marriage became the mother of four children, viz .: Clara A., born February 17, 1857, married B. T. Vandecarr, and is now re- siding at South Bend, Ind .; William M., born May 26, 1859, is studying for the ministry, and has nearly completed a thorough course at Wittinburg College at Springfield, Ohio; Susannah, born June 1, 1861, married H. L. Brown May 2, 1883, and now resides in Chicago, and Jennie I. V., born December 27, 1874, and is now residing at home. Mr. Habey has the original farm be purchased in this township, and has added to this eleven acres of timber land in St. Joseph county, Mich. On August 11, 1862, Mr. Habey enlisted in Company I. Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, and dedicated himself to his country's cause for three years, unless sooner killed or disabled. Abont six weeks after leaving home he participated in the battle of Perryville, Ky., which occurred October 8, 1862, and about a year after enlistment he was transferred to the veteran reserve corps, for what reason he does not know. He has a good record, as the fine recommendations of acting assistant Adjt. Gen. E. R. P. Shurley shows, while he was sergeant of Company D, Eighth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps at Camp Douglas, Chicago. Among other things Capt. Shurley said: "Habey is a man of more than ordinary executive ability, and has been deserving of increased rank. The camp is wholly indebted to him for its architectural beauties. It has increased and grown into its splendid proportions under his skill and mechanical ingenuity. The records from his old company state that he has been energetic. brave and patriotic. He is of the class of men who have served the Government. He has saved the Government at this point by his judg- ment and skill vast sums of money." This complimentary letter was dated Camp Douglas, July 6, 1865. Another letter dated July 2, 1865, and signed by Eugene V. Roddin, quartermaster, was equally complimentary. From the effects of rheu- matism and other disabilities contracted in field service Mr. Habey is at present incapacitated for work and receives a pension of $10 per month. He is a member of the G. A. R., and in politics is a firm advocate of Republican principles. He and Mrs. Habey are worthy members of the Lutheran Church and are highly respected in the community.

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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 71

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

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