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 76

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 76
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 76

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MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

Mr. and Mrs. Shidler was Francis L., born June 30, 1856, is married to E. Hupp and lives one-half mile east of Lakeville. He is an undertaker and they are the parents of four children: Enid, Mand, Dwight and Mabel. Emma L. was born October 20, 1858, is the wife of John Neddo, lives one mile north of Lakeville and has two children, Homer and Inez. Arthur L. was born September 28, 1860, is liv- ing in Ellisville, Ill., and for six years has been a successful practicing physician. He graduated at Valparaiso, Ind., and the P. & S. College of Chicago. He married Laura Hugh and has a daughter, Merl; he is a Republican. Schuyler F. was born October 10, 1862, is a successful physician at Sheridan, Mo .; he grad- uated at Valparaiso, Ind., and is a graduate at the P. & S. College of Chicago and is married to Hattie Main of Iowa. Alice was born December 14, 1864, is the wife of Dr. A. L. Wagner and has two children, Albert and Marie. John W. was born July 3, 1867, is a hardware merchant of Ellisville, Ill. Adam N. was born September 18, 1869, is associated with his brother John in business and is also teach- ing in the public schools of Ellisville, and Clem E., who was born December 9, 1874, is an intelligent and energetic young man and was a school teacher in Union township, now started to take a three-year course at Valparaiso, Ind. All the sons at one time taught school and all of the danghters except two, and one of them was a music teacher. Mr. Shidler has resided on his present fine farm for twenty- eight years and has become greatly attached to the place. He has made many trips throughout the West and South and is an exceptionally well-informed man. He and his wife are very highly regarded wherever known.

HON. W. J. DAVIS, attorney and counselor at law, and member of the oldest legal firm of Goshen, Messrs. Wilson, Davis & Wilson, is a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, his birth occurring September 24, 1847. He is a son of David Y. Davis, also a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, and grandson of John Davis, a Pennsylvanian, and family tradition says, of Welsh descent. When it required all the hardihood usually possessed by the pioneer, the elder Davis, in the year 1800, braved the perils of frontier life and immigrated to the wilds of Ohio with his fam- ily. David Y. Davis was a farmer, as was his father before him, following that occupation through life. He married Eunice E. Stirratt, who bore him one daugh- ter, and after her death wedded Sarah B. Packer. Eight children were born to his second marriage, six of whom grew to maturity and four are now living. The father was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, honest to the very penny, unobtru- sive in his intercourse with his fellow man, a Presbyterian in religion and a Whig, Know-Nothing and lastly a Republican in politics. He died April 17, 1891, pre- ceded by his wife in November, 1871. W. J. Davis was reared upon his father's farm in Ohio, attended the district school in his boyhood days and later the high schools at Rushville and Bremen. In May, 1866, he entered Washington and Jef- ferson College, at which he graduated August 6, 1868, with the degree of Bachelor of Science, and during his collegiate career determined to make the practice of law his vocation through life. After graduating he taught school two years in the States of Ohio and Pennsylvania, and during this time read law under the tuition of G. W. K. Minor and John S. Brasee, of Uniontown, Penn., and Lancaster, Ohio, respectively. He was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court at Columbus, Ohio, on February 28, 1871, and the day following this event went to Wells county, Ind., for the purpose of checking the theft of timber from a valuable piece of land entered by his father in 1835 from the Government. The object of his visit was satisfactorily performed, and while there he associated himself in the practice of his profession with T. W. Wilson, at Bluffton. He remained there until 1878, when he removed to Goshen, where he has ever since resided, actively engaged in legal pur- suits. Mr. Davis is a Republican in politics. He volunteered for the cause of the Union during the Civil war, but was rejected because of not being old enough. Naturally of a studions nature, his youthful surroundings were such as to develop this disposition rather than retard its growth. His father being a great reader of

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the news and good literature, kept his home supplied with the magazines and news- papers current at that time, and with good books. Young Davis found much of his youthful pleasures in reading his favorite anthors at home instead of on the play- ground with boys of his age. This habit, cultivated in youth, hss clung to him in his more mature years, and he is as much a student at forty-three as he was at fif- teen. As a lawyer he ranks among the first in the district. As a citizen he belongs to the Odd Fellows fraternity, the Presbyterian Church, is enterprising and com- mands general respect. In 1884 he was elected senator from Elkhart county, serv- ing four years and making a creditable record. . He became a church member in 1867, and at the spring session of 1876, was selected to represent the Fort Wayne Presbytery in the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, which met at the church presided over by the Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage, of Brooklyn, N. Y. This was one of the most enjoyable events of Mr. Davis' life. He not only had the pleasure of participating in the duties to which he had been elected, but was enabled to visit the larger cities of the East and the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia. Mr. Davis was married October 9, 1873, to Miss Maria Mckean, a native of Wash- ington, Penn., and the daughter of Thomas and Fanny (Snodgrass) Mckean. Five children have been born to this union: Thomas A., born July 31, 1874; Fanny M., born July 2, 1876, died October 25, 1886; Clara, born July 14, 1878, Bessie, born June 15, 1885; died October 27, 1886, and Marie McK., born October 27, 1887. Mrs. Davis, as well as the older children, belongs to the Presbyterian Church.

HANSON G. MANGUN. Agricultural pursuits have formed the chief occupation of this gentleman, and the wide-awake manner in which he has taken advantage of every method and idea tending toward the enhanced value of his property has had considerable to do with his success in life. In addition to being a successful farmer, whose opinions upon matters pertaining to agriculture carries with them much . weight in the community in which he lives, Mr. Mangun was a man of broad in- telligence and has given much attention to questions of public import. Originally from Ohio, Mr. Mangun was born in Carroll county, March 24, 1828, and is a son of James and Mary (Germen) Mangun, both natives of Prince George county, Mary- land, the father born February 16, 1782. The elder Mangun was reared in his native county, and started out empty handed to battle his own way in life. Mnch against his inclination or desire he became overseer on different plantations, but as he greatly disliked this he gave it up, and in 1815 came north to Carroll county Obio. This was in the pioneer days of the Buckeye State, and the country was as yet almost a wilderness. He commenced to make a home in the heart of the forest, and his was the first ax to fell the mighty monarchs of the woods on his farm. To clear and cultivate his land required years of labor and economy, but his toil was rewarded, and he became one of the foremost and substantial men of his section. He made his home on this farm the remainder of his days, and passed away on April 10, 1861. His wife also received her final summons on this farm, her death occur- ring in September, 1854. She was born on September 2, 1786, and was married to Mr. Mangun December 24, 1807, their nuptials being celebrated in Maryland. The following children were born to them: Ann; Maria; Mary E .; Rachel; Sarah A .; Jane died at the age of nine years; Benedict W. ; James; George S .; Hanson G., and Stephen died in infancy. All these children are now deceased with the exception of four sons. Hanson G. Mangun was reared in his native county, and hie early life did not differ materially from that of other farmers' boys, who are expected to con- tribute to their own support as soon as they become physically able to perform any kind of manual labor, and the most important part of whose education is supposed to be industrial training. Mr. Mangun was married October 9, 1851. to Miss Louisa Watkins, a native of Tuscsrawas county, Ohio, and daughter of John C. and Sarah (Kollar) Watkins, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Both were brought to Ohio by their parents at a very early age, Mr. Watkins being only about four years old at that time. In 1851 Mr. and Mrs. Watkins removed

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to St. Joseph county Ind., and there Mr. Watkins died on November 6, 1879. His wife Sarah is still living, and makes her home in St. Joseph county. To Mr. and Mrs. Mangun have been born nine children, seven of whom are living at the present time: Ezra R. (died in infancy), Sylvester A., Sarah A., Josiah L., Ida B., John W., Mary, Will E. and Charlie. Sarah A. Mangun was married to Lewis M. Gillis of St. Joseph county, Ind., February 13, 1879. To Mr. and Mrs. Gillis have been born three children, two boys and one girl. Ida B. Mangun was married to John D. Gillis of St. Joseph county, Ind., February 26, 1880, and to them have been born two children, one boy and one girl. Sylvester A. Mangun was married to Alice Thornton, daughter of Elias Thornton of St. Joseph county, Ind., February 24, 1881, and to them have been born three children, all boys. Josiah L. Mangun was married to Eliza Hartong, daughter of Levi Hartong of Will county, Ill., December 29, 1881, and to them have been born three children, two boys and one girl. Josiah L. Mangun died December 16, 1888, at the age of thirty years. John W. Mangun was married to Amanda Hartong, daughter of Levi Hartong of Will county Ill., November 15, 1882, and to them have been born three children, two boys and one girl. The three other children are still unmarried, and at home with their parents. Mr. Mangun has about ninety acres of good, tillable soil, and has nine acres of tim- ber. He came from his native county to this in October, 1867, and here he has resided since. In politics he is & Republican. He and his wife are worthy mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOHN MANNING. Among the sons of pioneers whose memory is so highly hou- ored in Elkhart county, is Mr. Manning, whose excellent farm and pleasant home is one of the ornaments of Cleveland townehip. His father, Elias Manning, was a native of the Buckeye State, and his grandfather, John Manning, in company with a brother, came across the Alleghany Mountaine in about 1780 or 1790, when that section was a vast wilderness, and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, and there remained for some time. From there they moved to Piqna, Ohio, and were among the pioneers of that place, in fact laid out the first addition of the place and erected 8 custom mill, portions of the old race and foundation being still visible. Here John Manning died abont the year 1810. Elias Manning was married to Miss Sarah W. Frost in 1824, her parents being among the pioneers of Miami county, Ohio, and in 1834 he removed to Elkhart county, Ind., locating one mile west of Goshen, on Elkhart River, on the lot of May of that year. During that year he erected a eaw-mill, which was considered a very good one for that time, receiving custom from many distant points, this being one of the first mills in the county. In 1838 he also erected a grist-mill, which he sold in 1842, moving on 8 farm in Jefferson township, and in 1844 he removed to Elkhart, where he resided until the time of his death in the fall of 1846. He was a millwright and his death occurred while on a business trip to Ohio. His marriage resulted in the birth of nine children, eight of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, as follows: William F., Oliver H. (deceased), Elizabeth F., Mary C. (deceased), Snsan, Ebeneezer F., Nancy, Margaret (deceased), and our subject. Mrs. Manning survived her bus- band until the fall of 1871. The original of this notice was but eight years of age when he came with his parents to Elkhart county, Ind., and there finished hie growth. He learned the millwright trade of his father and followed this for many years. At the time of his father's death he took entire charge of business. and continned the same until about 1872, at which time he located upon the farm where he now resides in Cleveland township. Mr. Manning was married January 6, 1864, to Miss Hortense Compton, who was born April 1, 1839, and who was a daughter of Ezekiel and Frances (Ward) Compton, both natives of Ohio, born near Cleveland, the former February 24, 1811, and the latter February 16, 1813. Mr. Compton died in June, 1854, but his wife still survives him and is a resident of Elkhart. Seven children were born to them, as follows: Jacob D., Eliza A., Hortense, Charles (died in infancy). Hugh G., and Mary E. and George E. (twins, the former deceased). By

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strict attention to business, and by an upright, honorable career, Mr. Manning became the owner of 407 acres of land, and has abont 100 acres in timber. He has a commodious residence, and everything about the place indicates that an experi- enced hand is at the helm. His out-buildings are an ornament to the farm, and are not allowed to assume a dilapidated appearance. In politics he is a Republican, and has represented his township as trustee, besides holding other local positions. His marriage resulted in the birth of the following children: Lewis E., born Octo- ber 13, 1864, and died October. 17, 1887; George J., born September 6, 1872, and Mary A., born May 15, 1878.

GILBERT H. BUNCH, who came to this section many years ago, was born in Gates county, N. C., in 1826, August 4, being the eldest child born to Jacob and Sarah Bunch, also North Carolinians, who took up their residence in Wayne county, Ind., about 1832, and after a number of years removed to Union City, where the father died at the age of seventy-two years, a public-spirited citizen and a Democrat politically. The mother died at the home of the subject of this sketch in St. Joseph connty when about seventy-two years of age. Prior to her marriage with Mr. Bunch she married a Mr. Hurdle and by him became the mother of one child, Nancy, who died two years ago. She bore Mr. Bunch eleven children: Gilbert H .; Americus, who is a farmer of this county; Elijah, who is living in Richmond, Ind .; Thomas J., who is a resident of Ohio; Jacob, who died in this county some years ago; Joseph E., who is living in Indiana; Franklin, who is deceased; John, who also re- sides in Indiana; Jackson, who is a farmer of St. Joseph county; Melissa, who died at the age of twelve years, and another child who died in infancy. Gilbert, Joseph, John and Jackson were soldiers in the Union army during the Civil war. Gilbert H. Bunch was an attendant of the common schools of Ohio and assisted on the home farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he began working for himself as a farm laborer, and the first year saved $50 of his wages. In the three years that he continued at this work, although his wages were very low, he managed to save $150. He then began to learn the carpenter's trade, but after settling in St. Joseph county in 1853, he began the manufacture of barrels on his timber farm, at which business he made considerable money. In addition to this he gave much of his attention to clearing and cultivating his land, and now has a well-improved farm of 240 acres two miles northeast of Lakeville, having given 100 acres to his daughter. In 1853 he united his fortunes with those of Mary Reynolds, daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth Reynolds. Mr. Bunch lived on his farm until 1889, when he moved to Lakevile, and has for some time past lived a retired life. He has been a Republican since the organization of that party, but prior to that was a Democrat. Although he has held a number of township offices he never aspired to do so, but when elected discharged his duties to the best of his ability. Although eight children were born to himself and wife only two are now living; Deming, who died when at the age of two years; Lafayette, who died when one year old; Sarah, who died at the age of thirty-two years, was the wife of S. Judd and the mother of two children one of whom is living (Ethel P.); Letitia, who died at the age of fifteen years; Delmor, who died when three months old; Willie, who died in infancy; Clara, who is married to Clarence Good, has one living child, Mabel F., her son Milo dying past three years old; and Alva, who makes his home with his parents. On February 18, 1864, Gilbert H. Bunch enlisted in Company K, Fiftieth Regiment, New York Engineer Corps, and was in the service of his country for sixteen months building bridges, forts, etc. He was in many of the principal battles in which the Eastern wing of the army was engaged and was present at Lee's surrender. April 9, 1865, he received his discharge at Fort Berry, Va., June 13, after which he returned home to once more take up the peaceful pursuit of farming. He has been a highly honored citizen of this section for many years, and is now enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life.

HON. JOSEPH EWING MCDONALD to Indiana was what Allen G. Thurman was to Ohio. Unlike many statesmen of prominence he never descended to "ward politics," petty

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intrigues, or appealed to party prejudice; but on the contrary was dignified, a thoroughly honest, conscientious gentleman, appealing to intellect and reason rather than passion, and preferring to meet squarely all issues instead of avoiding them. Democracy lost its ablest and most candid representative in Indiana upon the death of Hon. J. E. McDonald. Born Angust 29, 1819, in Butler county, Ohio, he was a son of John McDonald, a native of Pennsylvania, a farmer, and, as the name indi- cates, of Scotch ancestry. His mother was Eleanor (Piatt) McDonald, also a native of the Keystone State and a descendent of the French Huguenots. Joseph E. was left fatherless when yet a babe, and his mother marrying John Kerr, the family moved to Indiana in 1826, and settled in the almost unbroken forests of Montgomery county. It was amid scenes of hard labor and self denial that the character of this youth was formulated. Naturally of a studious nature, he seized every opportunity for mental improvement, borrowed books and papers that he was unable to purchase and often the midnight hour found him by the aide of a tallow dip absorbing intellectual food from the best authors and from standard works. He was appren- ticed to the saddler's trade at an early day, and at eighteen entered Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, defraying his expenses by working at odd hours at his trade. He also attended Ashbury University six months, and in 1842 began the study of law at La Fayette, Ind. He was admitted to the bar, undergoing an examination before the supreme court judges, was nominated for prosecuting attorney of his district prior to receiving his license to practice, and was elected to this position the Angust following. He was re-elected to this office in August, 1845, serving in all four years. The fall of 1847 he moved to Crawfordsville and was elected to Congresa from the old Eighth District two years later. In 1856 he was elected attorney general of the State, being the first chosen to this office by the people, and was re-elected, serving

two full terms. In 1859 he removed to Indianapolis, where he continued an active

career until his death. His knowledge of the law was remarkable, and his readiness in debate made him the foremost lawyer of the State. As an all-round attorney and counselor, his superior has never practiced in Indiana. He made the principal argument for the objectors in the count of the electoral vote of Louisiana before the commission appointed to determine the result of the presidential election of 1876, having, in March, 1875, been elected as a member of the United States Senate. Always a firm, consistent Democrat of the Jeffersonian school, he took rank among the first men of the nation and was once a prominent candidate for his party's nomi- nation for the presidency. Mr. McDonald was a Presbyterian in religious belief. He married Nancy R. Buell on Christmas day, 1844, and the issue to this union was three sous and one daughter. For his second wife he married Josephine Farnsworth Barnard, Jannary 12, 1881, while in the United States Senate. She still survives him. To this union there was no issue. Mr. McDonald died June 21, 1892, honored and respected.

CAPT. WILLIAM R. Ross. The philosophy of success in life is an interesting study, and affords a lesson from which others can profit. In choosing a pursuit in life, taste, mental gifts, opportunity and disposition to labor, should be considered, as any young man who has a disposition to become a respectable and useful citizen desires to succeed therein. On September 12, 1825, a boy was born in Rhode Island, who grew up to sturdy manhood, ambitious to excel and possessing much energy and determination. attributes which are essential to success in any calling. This boy was William R. Ross, his parents being Arthur A. and Jerusha (Newell) Ross, who were also natives of Rhode Island, the birth of the latter occurring in 1801, and their respective deaths in 1864 and 1865. Arthur A. Ross was a minister of the Baptist Church, devoted thirty years of his life to the cause of his Master, in which his labors were prospered, and he was well known and highly respected over a large territory. His father, John Ross, was a native of Connecticut, and throughout his life followed the occupation of farming, the details of which he had learned of his worthy father, Lemuel Rosa, who was a native of the land of "thistles and oatmeal,"

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and also a tiller of the soil. He came to this country with his father, and in early colonial days settled in Thompson, Conn., and the latter was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. To Rev. Arthur A. and Jerusha N. Ross three sons and one daughter were born: Spanlding N., who is living in Cincinnati, Ohio, was the cashier of a bank in that city for twenty-five years, but is now retired at the age of seventy-seven years; Mary E. (Mrs. Coe) is a resident of New York City; William R., and Hiram Augustus, who took up a sea-faring life in 1849 and followed it for four years. The vessel in which he sailed on his last voyage was shipwrecked on the coast of the Cannibal Islands, in the Pacific ocean, and the ill-fated crew were murdered and eaten by the savages. William R. Ross is the third of this family and until he was twenty-one years of age he made his home under the shelter of the parental roof, his education being acquired in private schools. Upon attaining his majority he was united in marriage with Miss Juliett Warner, of Natick, R. I. She was born in Connecticut in 1826 to Christopher S. and Sallie (Greene) Warner, his father being a descendant of Roger Williams, of Providence, R. I., and her mother a direct descendant of Gen. Nathaniel Greene, of Rhode Island. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Ross took place in 1848, and fourteen months later Mr. Ross crossed the Isthmus of Panama on his way to the gold fields of California, he and the members of his party being the first white men to cross the narrow strip of land. In accomplishing this they went up Chagres River in a canoe, a distance of about forty miles, and there made their way on foot across the mountaina, following an old Spanish trail to the city of Panama, of Panama Bay. After reaching the El Dorado of the west he followed gold digging for about three months, fourteen or fifteen hours a day being devoted to this work. He then began working at the carpenter's trade, which he had previously learned, and during his stay in San Francisco received from $12 to $20 per day for his services, accumulating a snug little sum during the two years that he devoted to this work. While he was in the mining district at Hang Town, Cal., he paid for provisions as follows: Flour $1.50 per pound, pork $1.50 per pound, molasses $15 per gallon, saleratus $6 per pound, onions $50 per bushel, potatoes $50 per bushel, and whisky 500 per cent. above par. He worked fourteen hours a day and did not make enough to pay for his board,

while the next man to him made his $500 per day. Thus it was in the daya of gold- digging. He left the mines bare-footed and bare-headed and walked fifty miles in one day, swimming several streams and having nothing to eat but pine burrs and nothing to drink but good cold mountain water until he reached Sacramento, his desti- nation. His return trip from Sau Francisco to Panama was made on an old iron- screw steamer, and the last three weeks of the voyage were marked by many hard- ships. Rations were very short, and four dry and worm eaten crackers were given to each person once a day and the water that they had was only obtained when it rained, by catching what water they could in bed-blankets and wringing them dry in tubs. After this state of affairs had lasted for about three weeks they arrived at Coco Island, which was uninhabited, but there they found plenty of fresh water and numerous monkeys which served them for food. They remained there for about ten days waiting for the mail steamer from Panama to San Francisco and when it came by they obtained from it enough pork and crackers to last them until they reached Panama. Upon his return home Mr. Ross went to Norwich, Conn., where he engaged in the sash, door and blind business, which he followed for four years, then went to Winona, Minn., where he devoted his attention to the same line of work until the opening of the Civil war. He at once showed his patriotism by en- listing in Company D, Minnesota Cavalry, in 1862, as a private and in the spring of 1864 was made captain of the company and was mustered out in the spring of 1866 at Fort Snelling, Minn. He was at Fort Snelling, Minn., in the border service. After returning home he went to Arkansas, where he took contracts for building levees that had been destroyed during the war, a business he followed two years. He next went to New Orleans and took United States contracts for surveying the city

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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 76

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

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