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 73

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 73
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 73

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MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

The fall and winter of that year he lived near a brother between Mishawaka and South Bend. During this time he found a piece of land suitable to his means, con- sisting of forty acres and located in Osolo township, Elkhart county. A log cabin stood on the place, but the owner in abandoning the property had carried away with him the doors, floors, windows and all portable articles, leaving only the log skeleton. For this property he gave one of his horses, the harness and the wagon. The remaining horse was traded for a yoke of oxen. Not having any means with which to buy seed or provisions, Mr. Rich would work around at first, receiving forty cents a day, while Mrs. Rich would spin and weave. Both were frugal and saving and no work was too hard to do if there was a recompense in the end. The accumu- lation of property was necessarily slow, but sure. Mr. Rich passed his whole life in hard work. Being honest himself, he likewise believed in the honesty of others and because of this sometimes suffered by trickery. This couple was among the better class of Elkhart county's settlers. Mrs. Rich died February 8, 1884, aged sixty-six years, and on April 16, 1892, Mr. Rich died at the age of seventy-eight years. The three chil- dren born to their marriage are all living. George W. Rich was born in Erie county, Penn., August 28, 1842, was reared to hard work at farming in Indiana, and his total schooling consisted of three terms' attendance of three months each. August 10, 1862, he enlisted at Elkhart, Ind., in Company G, Seventy-Fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving until January 25, 1865, when he was honorably discharged on account of close of war. A history of Mr. Rich's military career ie briefly this: Rendezvoused at Fort Wayne; in camp of instruction at Indianapolis; went to Louisville and became a part of Buell'a army that confronted Bragg; fought at Perryville; was at Crab Orchard and Bowling Green; joined Rosecranz' com- mand and went to Nashville, but was on detached service in pursuit of Morgan dur- ing the Stone River campaign; returned to Nashville after the battle of Stone River in time to participate in all the movements of his regiment, which culminated in the battle of Chickamauga. Later he was one of the garrison at Chattanooga that suf- fered from hunger before being relieved; participated in the battle of Missionary Ridge; was in all the movements of the Atlanta campaign, the march to the sea and up through the Carolinas and ending with the Grand Review at Washington. Returning home, Mr. Rich and brother turned all their energies to farming and by yeare of hard work succeeded in accumulating considerable lands and means. During this time he taught school winters, was elected and served two terms as township trustee, was chosen township assessor, but in 1880 he was elected county treasurer. He was re-elected to this position, serving two complete terms. Since then Mr. Rich has resided in Goshen and is the present secretary of the Ex-Soldiers' Life Insurance Company and treasurer of a building and loan association. He is a member of the K. of P., is the present commander of the G. A. R. post at Goshen, is a Republican and he and wife are Methodists. For his life helpmate Mr. Rich selected Emma, daughter of Morria Dills, by whom he is the father of one daughter, Elma.

HON. ISAAC P. GRAY, prominent in State and national politics, was born October 18, 1828, in Chester county, Penn., and ie a son of John and Hannah (Worthington) Gray. His ancestors were members of the Society of Friends, or more commonly known as Quakers, his great-grandfather coming with William Penn from England. Receiving but a common-school education in youth, he embarked in mercantile pur- suits at New Madison, Ohio, removed to Union City, Ind., in 1855, where he con- tinned merchandising, but later began the practice of law, having previously quali- fied himself for that profession. During the war of secession, he commanded the Fourth Indiana Cavalry for a time, but ill health necessitated his withdrawal from an active military career, and returning home he helped recruit the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Indiana Infantry. Until the organization of the Republican party, Col. Gray was a Whig. As a Republican he was defeated for Congress in 1866, but two years later was elected to the State Senate, where he served four years.

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In 1870 he was appointed minister to the Island of St. Thomas, West Indies, but declined the honor. In 1871 his political views underwent a change, and since that time he has been an active Democrat. He was nominated by acclamation and elected lieutenant governor in 1876, and upon the death of James D. Williams, became gov- ernor of the State. As the candidate of the Democratic party in 1884, he was nomi- nated for governor of the State by acclamation on the first ballot, and upon election gave it an excellent administration. For the past two presidential terms he has been prominently mentioned as a candidate for either the first or second place on the Democratic presidential ticket, but the uncertain game of politics has decided in each instance in favor of others. Gov. Gray is & man of unquestioned ability and of unbounded ambition. He married Miss Eliza Jaqua in 1850, and to this union there are two living children. Mr. Gray is now minister plenipotentiary and envoy extraordinary to Mexico, having been appointed to that high office by President Cleveland.

EDWARD P. ROCKWELL. A lifetime of hard, earnest endeavor in pursuing the occupation to which he now gives his attention, coupled with strict integrity, honesty of purpose and liberality in all directions, has resulted in placing Mr. Rockwell among the truly respected and honored agricultorists of the county. His small farm of sixty-nine acres, seven of which are timber, is one of the most productive in the county, and is conducted in a thorough and scientific manner. Mr. Rockwell was born in St. Joseph county, Ind., April 12, 1844, and is the son of Willard and Ann (Van Winkle) Rockwell, both natives of the Empire State. When & young man Willard Rockwell came westward to Ohio, was married in that State to Miss Van Winkle, and in the latter part of 1843 settled in St. Joseph county, Ind., where he made a permanent settlement. In 1862 he was filled with a patriotic desire to fight for the old flag, and enlisted in Company G, Forty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was detailed as nurse, and died from overwork in the hospital at Paducah, Ky., in 1862. His wife died several years afterward in St. Joseph county, Ind. They were the parents of the following children: Eri, enlisted in Company F, Fifteenth Indi- ana Volunteer Infantry, and served three years, dying with typhoid fever during service; he was in many battles, but never received & wound; Marcia; Aurelia; Louisa; Etta; all living but the eldest. Edward P. Rockwell was reared on the homestead in St. Joseph county, Ind., received his education there, and was there married on March 25, 1873, to Miss Malissa Shearer, daughter of George and Mary (Glass) Shearer, natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Shearer, settled in St. Joseph county, Ind., at an early date, and there passed the closing scenes of their lives. Mr. Rockwell has all but about seven acres of his farm under a high state of cultivation, and is one of the most successful small farmers of the community. All his operations are con- ducted in a manner showing great thoroughness and good judgment, and substantial results have been reaped. He and wife are members of the Methodist Church, and he is a member of the Patrons of Industry. In politics he supports the principles of the Republican party.

ELLIOTT CRULL. When the books are balanced, when all accounts are finally adjusted, figuratively speaking, there will be a larger credit balance opposite the name of the gentleman who is the subject of this sketch than is usually placed to the credit of the average of mankind. While a man of no great wealth, he is the possessor of that which is far more valuable-an honorable name and the confi- dence and friendship of those who know him best. Beginning life's battle st the lowest round of the ladder, he has, by sheer force of character, fought to the front and is justly recognized as one of the foremost citizens of Elkhart county. Just across the line of this county, near Mishawaka, his birth occurred on May 22, 1858. When yet a mere boy his parents removed to Bango township, Elkhart county, where he grew to manhood. From his earliest recollection Mr. Crull's life has been one of hard work and self-denial. His advantages for an education were of so meager s character that he was only enabled to master the common branches. At abont

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thirteen years of age he started out in life for himself, and for a number of years worked out by the day and month, and at auch occupation as would afford him the most remuneration. About 1878 he went to Elkhart, where he first found employ- ment on the coal dock, but later became local baggage agent of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway. Still later he became agent at Elkhart for the United States Express Company, which he resigned in order to become city marahal. By thia time he had attracted many friends because of his manliness and honesty, and these friends were among the best class of people. He served four years as city marshal, and in 1890, as the candidate of the Republican party, was nomi- nated for and elected sheriff of the county. No one occupying this office aver gave better satisfaction than did Sheriff Crull in his first term. His services have been duly recognized by his party, and in 1892 he was nominated for a second term and was re-elected to succeed himself. Socially Mr. Crull is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellowa' and Red Men's fraternities. June 1, 1882, occurred his marriage with Miss Alcetta Fink, by whom he is the father of one aon, Norris E.

GEORGE FOLK has been a resident of St. Joseph county, Ind., for the past twenty- eight years, during which time he has identified himself with the interests of hia section, has won numerous friends and has built up a reputation for honesty and fair dealing that is in every way merited. His birth occurred in Stark county, Ohio, September 7, 1832, but his parents, Abraham and Barbara (Nunnemaker) Folk, were Pennaylvaniana. The father was one of the pioneers of Ohio, became the owner of Woodland farm, which he greatly improved and on which he died in 1866, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Prior to the war ha waa a Democrat, but afterward identified himself with the Republican party, and was always noted for his public spirit. Ha acquired a good property and was liberal in the use of his means toward deserving enterprises, being especially liberal in the support of the Lutheran Church, of which he was a member. His father, George Folk, lived and died in Pennsylvania. Some of the early members of the family were in the War of 1812. The paternal grandfather, Caleb Nunnemaker, was- a native of Pennsylvania, but his father came from Germany. The parents of the subject of this sketch were married in Pennsylvania, but the mother died in Ohio in 1868, having reared a family of five children: Mary, Elizabeth, Susan, Louisa and George; Elizabeth, Mary and George being the only survivors, Louisa dying in Ohio when aingle. Susan married Andrew Sell. He and one child aurvive her. The paternal and maternal grandparents experienced the hardships of pioneer life in early Ohio, but in time became well-to-do people. George Folk attended the common schools when a youth, but owing to the poor facilities at that time his education was not of the best. He was compelled to make his own way in the world, and when still in his teens set about doing so. In 1852 he was married to Miss Lydia Clark, who was born in Ohio October 17, 1832, a daughter of B. and Mary (Shidler) Clark, the former of whom was born in Pennaylvania, and died in Ohio in 1891, at the age of eighty-three years. He was a well-to-do man, a repub- lican politically, and an earnest member of the Lutheran Church. His widow sur- vives him, is a native of Ohio, and a resident of Louisville. She is now eighty- two years old. Her children are as follows: Lydia, Malinda, Rebecca, George, Lovina, Ozias, Adam, Mary A., Celist, Tillman and Angalina. Mrs. Folk was twenty-one at the time of her marriage and has borne the following children: Lu- cinda, wife of George Brown, of South Bend, has four children: Lovina is un- married and is a resident of California: Fiana married Daniel Stroup, and she and one child survive him; Lydia married Elmer Wylls, is residing in South Bend and has four children; Rabecca is single and is living in California; Matilda married Michael Trump, resides in Union township, thia county, and has four children; Mary E. married William Mangus and lives in Kansas; George N resides at home and is married to Laura Barrett; and Clara who is attending school in South Bend. Two children died in infancy, Edwin and Barney. The only son is a wide-awake

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and enterprising young man. In 1864 Mr. Folk purchased a partly improved farm and is now the owner of 220 acres of land, all of which is in one body and is as fine farming land as can be found in St. Joseph county. He has held some of the most important offices of the township, and as he has always manifested the greatest in- terest in the welfare of his section he has many friends. What he has accumn. lated in the way of worldly goods has been the result of his own earnest efforts, and he has a very nicely improved farm. He has been a successful raiser of stock, and in his methods of conducting his farm is progressive and enterprising. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and politically he has always supported the men and measures of the Republican party, but as for himself he has never been an aspirant for office.

FRANKLIN G. ROMAINE, who has so efficiently and ably officiated as treasurer of Elkhart county during the past four years, is a native of the city of New York. Ralph Romaine was the name of his great- grandfather, as it was also that of his grand- father. The former was a native of Holland, where the name wae spelled Romyne, and was the progenitor of the family in America. On coming to this country he resided neat Paterson, N. J., many years, and became plantation and slave owner. His son, named Ralph in his honor, was a man of superior education, obtained a favor- able reputation in literary circles, and for many years plied his vocation of school- teaching in the city of New York. There Theodoro Romaine, the father of Frank- lin G., was born, reared, educated, tanght school and married Cornelia Kane. Declining bealth caused his removal West in 1861. but instead of receiving the hoped-for benefit, he grew steadily worse, and died the following year at Bristol, Ind., where his widow continues to reside. They were the parents of six children, all of whom grew to mature years and are yet living. Franklin G. Romaine was born August 20, 1848, receiving bis youthful training and schooling in bis native city. Upon the removal of the family to this country, when he was thirteen years old, he completed his education at Bristol, and when eighteen years old started out in life for himself as clerk in a hardware store. This he continued three years at Bristol and the succeeding three years was engaged in a like occupation at Constan- tine, Mich. The next three years were passed in clerking at Elkhart, but in 1876 he returned to Bristol, where, for thirteen years, he carried on & safe and reasonably lucrative business in merchandising. Mr. Romaine has always been a believer in the policies advocated by the Republican party, and has ever been ready to advance its cause in any reasonable and legitimate manner. He began his political career as clerk of the corporation of Bristol, serving three successive terms, and has served Washington township four elective terms as trustee. In 1888, as the candidate of bis party for the office of treasurer of the county, he was elected by a larger majority than is nsually given a candidate. His occupancy of this office was both capable and satisfactory; so much so, in fact, that he was given the customary re-nomination in 1890, which resulted in his re-election. Mr. Romaine is singularly quiet and unobtrusive for a man who has so long been before the public. This does not seem to affect his popularity in the least, however, for but few men in the county command more or warmer friends than does Franklin G. Romaine. Socially he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having attained to the encampment of that order, and he and family are of the Episcopal faith in religious belief. To bis marriage with Miss Mary A. Salisbury, solemnized May 25, 1871, six children have been born, as follows: Florence M .. Theodore K., Benjamin F. (died when nine years old). Anna, Mary A. and Bertha.

HON. ALBERT G. PORTER was unquestionably one of the ablest and most popular of Indiana's governors; and aside from this is a fine lawyer, a polished gentleman and a worthy neighbor. His youthful years were passed in and adjacent to Law- renceburg, Ind., where, for a number of years, he attended the ferry across the Ohio River, which was on the direct route of travel between Indiana and Kentucky. Manual labor of the hardest kind thus fell to his lot when a boy, as did also the

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full management and charge of the ferry; and thus, in youth, he had thrust upon him by practical illustration the lessons of industry and self-reliance. At the earliest opportunity he took his small savings and entered the preparatory department of Hanover College, remaining until his means were exhausted. He then expected to return to the ferry, as his father was unable to assist him; but an uncle who had heard of his determination to secure an education, provided the necessary means and sent him to Asbury College, at Greencastle. Graduating in 1843, he studied law until 1846, then moved to Indianapolis, where he embarked upon the practice of his chosen profession and where he has long beld a front rank at the Indiana bar. In 1853, by the Governor's appointment, he became reporter of the State Supreme Court to fill a vacancy, and the succeeding year was elected to this position. Up to this time he was a Democrat, although much opposed to the repeal of the Missonri Compromise. The action of the slave States in forcing their doctrines in the new States and Territories, together with their evident purpose of carrying the election in those localities by force and frand, and the endorsement given to this by the Democratic party forced Mr. Porter ont of their ranks and into those of the Republicans. In 1856 he voted with this new party, and two years later, although not a candidate, was nominated and elected to Congress, and re-elected two years later. Voluntarily quitting Congress for the more remunerative (to him) practice of law, he confined his attention to legal pursuits, until upon the solicitation of Secre- tary of the Treasury (now United States senator) Sherman he became comptroller of treasury. In 1880 he was nominated by his party for governor, and upon being elected served as such four years. After that time he confined his attention, largely, to legal and literary pursuits until, under President Harrison's administration, he becsme minister to Italy. He resigned that office after the election of President Cleveland.

JESSE E. HIGH. The gentleman of whom we write owns a fine farm in Cleve- land township, Elkhart Co., Ind., and his estate shows every indication of order and thrift. He is an Ohioan by birth and education, born in Miama county, Septem- ber 15, 1820, and his parents, Jacob and Sarah (Nicholas) High, were natives respectively of Virginia and Pennsylvania. The elder High settled in Miami county, Ohio, about the year 1814, after his return from the War of 1812, in which he served as a private, and he was one of the pioneers of that region, making his home-there until 1840 when he and his family came to Elkhart county, Ind. He purchased a farm on first coming here, but for two years lived on s rented farm in Cleveland township. The land he had purchased consisted of 200 acres all covered with tim- ber, and it took many years of hard labor and great industry to clear and develop it. To his marriage were born the following children: James, Jesse E., Andrew, Eli, Samnel, Catherine, Sarah and Julia, all now living with the exception of James and Sarah. On this farm Jesse High erected a frame honse, 18x26 feet, in 1840, and resides on this at the present time. Mr. and Mrs. J. High passed the remain- der of their days on this tract, the mother dying Angust 10, 1862, and the father February 28, 1872. They were honest, upright citizens. Jesse E. High, the second in order of birth of the above-mentioned children. was about nineteen years of age when he came with his parents to Cleveland township. He had received a rather limited education in his native county, attending district school about three months each year, and when old enough he learned the carpenter's trade, his first work in that line being to construct the barns of many of the early settlers of Elkhart county. He was married on March 28, 1844, in St. Joseph. Ind., to Miss Esther Jenkins, a native of Miami county, Ohio, born May 28, 1825, and the daughter of Isaachar and Esther (Pearson) Jenkins, the former a native of Alabama and the latter of South Carolina. Her parents settled in Miami county, Ohio, in 1806, and there they resided until 1833, when they removed to St. Joseph county, Ind., and there remained for about thirteen years. They afterward disposed of their property and removed to Iowa, but only remained a few years. While on a visit to Miami county,

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Ohio, Mr. Jenkins died in 1851, but his wife lived to be quite aged, dying February 5, 1872, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. High. At the time of the marriage of our subject and wife they settled on the High homestead in Cleveland township, about two miles northwest of Elkhart, and there they reside at the present time. As the years passed along one child was born to them, Americas V., born June 27, 1846, who married Miss Mary Oakes. He now resides on the old homestead and super- intends everything connected with it. Our subject has seventy-eight acres of land, most of which is improved, and has about four acres of timber. He has a two-story brick residence, erected in 1876. and his out-buildings are all substantial and orna- mental. In politics he is a Republican. He has one grandchild, Otis O., whose birth occurred on September 25, 1879.

JOHN DAVENPORT. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is one of the most conspicuous of the old-time merchants of Elkhart, and is one of the few remaining pioneers of the county. So intimately interwoven is his history with that of Elkhart, that, like the history of the Beardsley's, one can hardly be given without giving both. While the history of the old pioneers is commonplace enough, yet it is always interesting to the student of nature, because it tells of the struggles with adversities, the hardships of pioneer life in the great West, and the pathos naturally attending the success or failure to keep the wolf from the door. John Davenport is a native of that old historic town of Chillicothe, Ohio, his birth occur- ring December 6, 1811. His father was Abraham Davenport, and his mother waa Penelope Davenport, nee Griffith, both branches of the family being among the pioneers of Ross county, Ohio. The characteristic log cabin school-house, furnished with slab seats, puncheon floors and greased paper for window lights, together with the old-time school master and long birch gad, served John Davenport such youth- ful education as he received; and his earlier years were passed in clearing, grubbing, making rails, planting, hoeing and reaping with the old-fashioned sickle when not otherwise employed. His parents having moved from Ross to Miami county, he went to Piqua, when seventeen years old, to learn the potter's trsde, but two years later was compelled to abandon it because of declining health caused by the chem- icals then used. In April, 1832, he married Clarinda Broderick, and four years later, with his wife and two children, braved the perils of frontier life and emigrated to Indiana. Locating at Elkhart, then a village of about three hundred population, he embarked in merchandising within a month after his arrival, selling a mixed stock of goods snitable to the times and conditions. Here Mrs. Davenport died in March, 1840, leaving four children, as follows: Anthony S. (a physician by occupa- tion, an active participant in all the movements and engagements of the Forty- fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war, up to and includ- ing the battle of Shiloh, where he was exposed to the inclemency of the weather and from the effects of which he died the following Angust); Clementine (now residing in Elkhart, the widow of J. M. Hackathorn); Laura E. (died in September, 1861, the wife of John McNorton); and John B., the present recorder of Elkhart county. In 1841 Mr. Davenport re married, his second wife being Clementine Broderick, a sister of his first wife. This lady died in September, 1891, without issue. From 1836, for a period of nearly forty years, Mr. Davenport was continuously engaged in mercantile pursuits in Elkhart, and during this time both made and lost consid- erable money. For thirty years he has speculated in wool and other products, and is considered the best judge of wool in the entire country. In politics he was for- merly a Whig, but since 1856 has always affiliated with the Republicans. He was A charter member of Pulaski Lodge Independent Order of Odd Fellows, where he has ever since retained an active membership. In his declining years Mr. Daven- port's chief pleasure is in his family circle, and reviewing a life of over four-score years, in which no one can point to a single discreditable action.

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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 73

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

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