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 87

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 87
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 87

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JOHN SMOKER. Although one of the young agriculturists of Elkhart county, Ind., Mr. Smoker has made his way to the front ranks among the energetic farmers of the county, and owing to the attention he has always paid to each minor detail, and his desire to keep out of the old ruts, as well as his ready adoption of new and im- proved methods, he has met with good success. He is a son of Jacob Smoker and was born on his father's farm in this county July 13, 1866. At an early age he became familiar with the arduous duties of the farm, and like the majority of country boys his education was received in the district schools. After reaching man's estate he still continued to follow the occupation to which he had been reared, and October 3, 1889, was married to Miss Etta Stutsman, who was born February 17, 1869, and who was the daughter of B. F. and Clarinda (McConaughy) Stutsman. After mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Smoker settled on a farm on Elkhart Prairie, and after residing there for some time sold out and bought the farm on which they are now living. This was in 1892. Mr. Smoker now owns eighty-three acres of land and a tasty, comfort- able residence which bears evidence of the culture and refinement of its inmates. By his own efforts he has become one of the foremost tillers of the soil in his section, yet

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he does not confine himself merely to agricultural pursuite, but branches ont in differ- ent occupations. . At present he is extensively engaged in the poultry business, and in this, as in every other venture he has undertaken, will no doubt reap rich returns. Mrs. Smoker was well educated in the graded schools of Goshen, and is a lady of more than ordinary ability. The family circle of Mr. and Mrs. Smoker has been made complete by the birth of one child, an interesting little daughter, Eva, who was born February 27, 1891. This worthy young couple are members of the Amish Church. Like the majority of the Smoker family, our subject is a strong Prohibi- tionist, and believing that intemperance is the real cause of much of the sorrow and unhappiness of the world, he does not hesitate to cast his vote against the open saloon. He is a prominent, energetic young man, and is bound to make his mark in life.

ELDER JAMES H. MILLER, a well-known resident of South Bend, Ind., is a Preble county Ohioan, born August 25, 1814, a son of Abraham and Nancy (Huston) Mil- ler. When a mere lad his parents settled in Franklin county, Ind., where he grew to manhood on a farm which his father entered in the forests of that county. His education was a limited one, confined to what could be obtained during the winter months in the subscription schools held in log cabins, and at the age of seventeen years he left home and began to work on a farm by the month, owing to his father's large family and the comparatively small farm embraced in the homestead. In 1832 he came to St. Joseph connty with his brother Jacob, returning to Franklin county with the team he had used in moving Jacob and his family. The following year he came to St. Joseph county, making his home with his brother several years thereafter. He was married in March, 1841, to Mary Huston, who was born in Ohio January, 1818, after which he settled on a farm of about 150 acres in German township. Later he purchased additional land near by, on which he made his home and reared his family. He was a successful farmer, a generous father, divided his lands among his children, and generally assisted them in various ways to establish homes of their own. When about twenty-six years of age Mr. Miller was elected minister of the German Baptist Church, and for over forty years was an active and energetic worker in that society. In his ministerial capacity he has done a great deal of traveling through Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan, during which time he has baptized over 2,000 persons, conducted innumerable funeral services, far and near, and united in marriage many couples. His religious labors, according to the customs of the church, have been without money and without price. His assistance in the construction of churches has been called upon times without number, and he helped to erect the finest meeting-house in the town of South Bend, which was a Bap- tist Church. He has been an arduous laborer in the cause of religion for many years, and is highly honored and respected by all who have come in contact with him and had the honor of his acquaintance, for he is a most exemplary man. In business matters he has been successful and has accumulated considerable property. He is one of the few of the early pioneers still residing in St. Joseph county. His union resulted in the birth of the following children: Phoebe J., Jacob, Sylvester, Madison and Fannie O .; of these Sylvester and Fannie O. are deceased. Mrs. Miller died December 23, 1888, and since that time Mr. Miller has remained unmarried. Madi- son Miller, son of Elder James H. Miller, was born in St. Joseph county March 18, 1847, and on the homestead in German township his early days were spent. After obtaining a good education in the common school's he entered the Northern In- diana College at South Bend, from which institution he graduated in 1863. He shortly afterward engaged in farming in German township, where he purchased 100 acres of land, and there he lived and carried on a successful business until 1881, when he moved to South Bend, where he devoted his time to looking after various business interests. In 1888 he engaged in the mercantile business in South Bend, uuder the firm name of Brodbeck & Miller, carrying a grocery stock. In Septem- ber, 1892, the business of the firm was closed out and Mr. Miller retired from active

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business pursuits for a short time. He has disposed of his farming interests and at the present time looks after the valuable city property of which he is the owner. He has just completed a handsome residence at a cost of about $2,500, and there he is enjoying life with his amiable wife and two promising children. His marriage occorred November 24, 1867, to Margaret A. Broadhurst, who was born July 24, 1851, a daughter of Levi and Emeline (Myler) Broadhurst. Mr. and Mrs. Miller's children are: Edith, born Jannary 24, 1864, and Blanche, born July 28, 1889. The elder daughter, as well as her parents, is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Miller is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and in politics is a Prohibitionist, although not a partisan. He is in every respect a worthy man, and is a useful and influential member of society.

ADAM B. MILLER. The time has arrived when it becomes the duty of the people of this county to perpetuate the names of their pioneers, to furnish a record of their early settlement and relate the story of their progress. In biographical history is found a power to instruct men by precedent, to enliven the mental faculties and to waft down the river of time a safe vessel in which the names and actions of the peo- ple who contributed to raise this country from its primitive state may be preserved. One of the old and prominent families of Elkhart county, Ind., is the Miller family, which has many representatives in this country. The subject of this sketch, Adam B. Miller, is a son of David Y. and Evs (Bainter) Miller, and the grandson of John and Esther (Miller) Miller, both of whom came originally from the Keystone State, and were early settlers of Ohio, locating in that State about 1800. To the grand- parents were born fourteen children, as follows: Daniel, David, Abraham, Jacob, John, Mary, Samuel, Elizabeth, Steven, Sarah, Esther, Solomon, Catherine and Noah. All but two of these children are living and are married and have reared large families, and all but Daniel, who died in Ohio, are residents of Elkhart county. The children same to this county about 1836, and the parents followed about two years later, all settling on Elkhart Prairie, where they made their home for many years. After the children married, the father moved to Harrison township, and there he and his worthy companion passed the remainder of their days, the father dying about 1850. Both were members of the German Baptist Church, and he was a minister in the same for some time. The children developed into first- class citizens, and the sons all became tillers of the soil, but some became ministers also. David Y. Miller, the father of our subject, who was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, April 14, 1809, was a young man of twenty-six years when the family moved to this county, and he was reared amid the rude surroundings of pioneer life. He was married in Ohio to Miss Bainter, and was the father of four children when he settled in Indiana in 1836. He took up 160 acres of Government land in Harrison township and made his home there nntil a few years ago, when he went to live with a son in Clinton county, this State. He was a resident of Elkhart county for forty-five years, s minister in the German Baptist Church, and a man who had a host of warm friends. His wife was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1814, and was the daughter of Fredrick and Margaret (Ruff) Bainter, both of whom were pioneers of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Mrs. Bainter was a daughter of Adam Ruff, who was of German descent. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bainter were thirteen in number and named as follows: Daniel, Margaret, Eva, David, Fred- rick, Andrew, Susan, Jacob, Elizabeth, Peter, Adam, Alexander and Aaron. Mrs. Miller died in Elkhart county in 1875, and was an exemplary member of the Ger- man Baptist Church. She was the mother of an old-fashioned family of fourteen children, all but one now living : Adam B. (subject); Margaret, married and resides in Olive township, this county; Daniel, a farmer of Union township; Esther, first married Benjamin Hoover, but her second marriage was to Adam Falmer, of Union township; Sarah, wife of Jacob Wise, of Harrison township; Elizabeth, wife of John Ganger, of Harrison township; Delila, wife of Moses Martin, of Harrison township; Alexander, a minister of the German Baptist Church, resides in Locke township,

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this county; Lydia, wife of Joseph Wise, died when twenty years of age; Snsan, wife of Joseph Roose, of Elkhart county; William, married and residing in Nap. panee; Eva, wife of E. Eversale, of St. Joseph county; Catharine, wife of Henry Roose, of Kosciusko county, and Christian, a man of a family, resides in Clinton county, Ind. Adam B. Miller, the subject of this sketch, was six years old when he came to this county, for he was born in Ohio in 1830, and he was early trained to farm labor. His education was received in the district school, and he remained at home until twenty-one years of age, or until 1852, when he married Miss Catharine Davenport, afterward settling on the farm where he now lives. This farm was small at that time, but by industry and good management he has increased the original tract from year to year until he now owns 142 acres of excellent land. It 'was covered with timber at the time of his settlement, but he has cleared and improved it in every way. For a number of years he and his worthy wife lived in a log house, but they later built a good, comfortable residence. In connection with farming Mr. Miller is engaged in raising stock, and is making a success of this industry. He is a public spirited man, a good citizen and a prosperous farmer. Mrs. Miller was a daughter of Noah and Catherine (Stutsman) Davenport, early pioneers of Ohio, who came to Indiana in 1836. The father died in the county shortly afterward and the mother is deceased now also. They had born to their union seven children: Mary, David, Martin, Jacob, Susan, Noah and Catherine. Mrs. Miller was the youngest. She was born March 16, 1835, and died in 1868 in full membership with the German Baptist Church. Her marriage. resulted in the birth of seven children who were named as follows: Benjamin, married Miss Mary Freed and has one child, Arthur (they reside in Nappanee); Louisa became the wife of C. Wisler, of Harper county, Kan., and they have one child, Bertha; Mar- garet married Jasper Price, and they have three children: Arthur, Harry and Ruth (they reside in Nappanee); Albert married Miss Emma Neusbaumb, who bore him five children: Clarence, Eva, Nina, Merty and Oscar, and they reside in Goshen; Eva married Amos Smeltzer, by whom she had three children: Jessie, Willard and Wilburn, and they reside in Locke township; Amanda, who died when six weeks of age, and another died when an infant. To our subject's second marriage with Miss Hannah Miller, daughter of David C. Miller (see sketch), nine children were born, viz .: Dora A., wife of Barton Garmin, resides on her father's farm and has two chil- dren, Luella and Chester; William F., married Nancy Newcomes, and resides in Kosciusko; Ira, a single man; Sarah, wife of George Newcomes, resides in Union township; Hattie E .; John J .; Warren; Adam died when ten months of age; and Julia A. The mother of these children was born in the Buckeye State June 21, 1845. Mr. Miller and family attend the German Baptist Church and are good and influential people.

DANIEL D. SHAOCK. The Shrock family is one of the most respected in Elkhart county, Ind., and is descended from sturdy German stock, the great-grandfather of our subject, Casper Shrock, having emigrated from Germany to America when a single man. He came with a brother and settled in Pennsylvania, where he married and reared a family. His son John, the grandfather of our subject, was born in that State and there married a Miss Miller, who bore him a large family of children, only five of whom are remembered: John, Henry, Andrew, Lizzie and Daniel. After residing in his native State for many years John Shrock moved to Holmes county, Ohio, and was one of the early settlers of the same. His son, Daniel, father of sub- ject, was also a native of the Keystone State, and was a young man when the family settled in Holmes county, Ohio. He was reared on a farm and learned the carding business, but was also engaged in the saw-mill business. He married Miss Margaret, danghter of John Bontrager, and six children blessed this union, viz .: Mary, John, Jacob, Eli, Daniel and Moses, all natives of Holmes county, Ohio. Mr. Shrock owned a good farm in Holmes county, also a saw-mill and carding-mill, and was a very prosperous man. Both he and wife were members of the Amish Mennonite

PerrySe Jumer

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Church, as were their forefathers. In 1841 Mr. Shrock moved to Elkhart county, Ind., with a four-horse team, was eleven days in making the journey, and reached Elkhart Prairie June 6. He rented an old log house in which the family lived for a few days, and then bought 300 acres in a body, part of which is now oc- cupied by his son, our subject. At that time there were but seven acres cleared and he moved on his farm the 12th of June. With the assistance of his sons, he began clearing his place aad as there was a saw-mill on his place when he bought it, he did a great deal of sawing, business coming from a considerable distance, it being the only saw-mill ia the county. After the death of his first wife Mr. Shrock married Miss Melissa De Francis. He was seventy-six years of age at the time of his death, which occurred three miles east of Goshen, and he was a man whose uprightness and honesty placed him among the representative citizens of the county. Ia politics he espoused the principles of the Democratic party and held the office of county com- missioner several terms. His son, Daniel D. Shrock, the original of this notice, owes his nativity to Holmes county, Ohio, born September 6, 1830, and while grow- ing up received very little education, learning to read and write after his marriage. He was eleven years of age when he came to Indiana with his father and well remembers the journey. His youthful days were passed in his father's mill and in March, 1850, he married Miss Snsaanah Schrock, daughter of Peter and Barbara (Miller) Schrock (see sketch of G. Schrock). To our subject and wife were born six children who lived to mature years, as follows: David, Jonathan, Nancy, Eliza- beth, Levina and Daniel. After his marriage Mr. Shrock settled on a farm in Clin- ton township, four miles east of Goshen, 120 acres of land, thirty acres of which had been cleared, and began immediately to improve and develop the remainder. He soon had a good farm, but only resided on this for six years; sold for $3,000; and in 1856, he went to St. Joseph county, Mich., and bought 160 acres of land to which he added 120 acres a year later, making 280 acres ia all. On this he resided for six years and then, in 1862, traded this for the farm now occupied by Samuel Troyn, which consisted of 214 acres, and here made his home for fifteen years. He moved to his present farm and mill ia 1876, reated his farm, which con- sisted of 428 acres to his sons, David and Jonathan, and he himself ran the mill. He carries on the business at the present time and his sons are carrying on the farm. He now owns, besides his mill, about 200 acres. He gave his children each $1, 700 to start in life and has been liberal to them in other ways. All his property has been accumulated by hard work and industry and he can now enjoy the fruits of a life well spent. He has about $3,600 at interest. He and wife are members of the Amish Menaonite Church and Mr. Shrock has been deacon for twelve years. He is aa honest, hard-working man, and he and family are highly esteemed in the community.

WILLIAM D. PLATTER. Probably there is not a man in Elkhart or the adjoining counties better known that this gentleman. He is a native of the Buckeye State, his birth occurring in Ross conaty, September 14, 1831. Five years later he was brought by his parents to Iadiana, and with them located in Elkhart county, about twelve miles from Goshen, near the present site of Nappanee, which was so far beyond the settlement that before teams could be driven to Goshen it became neces- sary to fell trees and make a roadway for fully five of the twelve miles. The hard- ships and privations they endured were such as the present generation knows nothing about and can not evea realize. For some time after making their location the family lived in a rude log structure without doors or windows, the fire used for cooking and warming purposes being built in the center of the house with a hole in the roof for the smoke to escape. There were but few neighbors and but few advantages for obtaining an education. Under these circumstances William D. Platter passed his boyhood and early manhood. Few were the opportunities that were presented even for the most energetic and thrifty to obtain more than a bare liviag, but young Platter, with a zeal and energy that have been char-

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acteristic of his life ever since, decided to dare and do, and, if such a thing were possible, to gain a competency, and with this end in view set energetically to work to accomplish bis purpose. His first decided efforts in this direction were when he began in a modest way to manufacture pumps. He would select the timber stand- ing in the woods and from this, with his own hand and unaided by the many mag- nificent devices of the present time, manufacture his own pompe. It was "making them from the stump" in the fullest sense of the term. From this small and slow beginning he steadily increased his business until it has culminated in both the Goshen and I. X. L. Pump Manufactories of Goshen-two enterprises that reflect great credit upon their originator and that are of great pecuniary benefit to the town in which they are located. Besides these industries he has been closely identified with many other concerns that have materially assisted in making Goshen the great manufacturing and commercial town that it is. In fact, he is of the stuff of which model citizens are made, for besides being industrious and enterprising he is public spirited to a degree. He has always been keenly alive to his own interests, but never to such a degree as to defrand or take advantage of his fellows, his record being especially spotless in this respect. Although he has always been a stanch Republican he has never aspired to office. He is a member of the Reformed Church and has lived the life of a consistent Christian. He takes an active interest in edu- cational and religious objects, and he is notably a generous man in his gifts and benefactions to the poor and needy. He was elected vice-president and director of the State Bank of Goshen, which was formerly the Farmers' & Citizens' Bank, and in this capacity showed himself to be the right man in the right place. He was a strong Union man during the war and contributed liberally of his means to carry it on. The output of his pump manufactories and other concerns, lumber included, amounts to about $150,000 annually. On June 5, 1852, Miss Mary Statsman, a most worthy lady, became his wife, but was called from life October 8, 1879. The parents of William D. were George and Ann (Andrews) Platter, the former. of whom was born in Ross county, Ohio, and the latter in Maryland. They were married in Ohio and became the parents of eight children, four of whom are yet living. Chris- ley Platter, the father of George, was a native of Germany, but left the Fatherland to seek a home in a new country and among a strange people. He eventually drifted to Ohio where he married and reared a family. He served as a soldier in the colo- nial army during the Revolution. Both George and Ann Platter are deceased. After the death of his first wife William D. Platter took for his second wife, in 1883. Lucy Mishler, a native of Johnstown, Penn. He is now one of the trustees in building a Reformed Church in Goshen and has agreed to pay one-half of the cost of building the new church, which will amount to about $8,000 when completed.

HON. JOHN B. WALK. The vocation of the pharmacist is unquestionably a highly important one in any and every community, for upon his care and skill, almost as much as that displayed by the medical profession, oftentimes depends the physical welfare of the sick and ailing. Mr. Walk has an attractive story in Goshen, which is deservedly accorded the recognition of the medical profession and the liberal patronage of the general public. His store is fitted with every convenience, espe- cially as regards its prescription department, and his stock of drugs includes every- thing needed in the trade, consisting of pharmaceutical supplies, patent medicines, physicians' supplies, fine perfumeries and such fancy articles as are usually found in a first class pharmacy. Mr. Walk was born in Stark county, Ohio, September 24, 1847, a son of Jacob M. and Catherine (Staub) Walk, the former of whom was born in Lancaster county, Penn., and the latter in Germany. She came to the United States with her parents when three years old and was reared in this country. She was called from life in Ohio after having borne a family of three sons and two danghters, all of whom are living but are widely separated. Throughout life Jacob M. Walk followed the occupation of farming, and on the old homestead in Ohio the subject of this sketch spent his early days, his initiatory education being obtained

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in the common country schools, but which was supplemented by a two years' attend- ance in Mount Union College. Upon leaving this institution he became a clerk in a drug store in Canton, but in 1872, in company with his brother, Henry M., he came to Goshen and embarked in the drug trade, their partnership successfully continu- ing for twelve years. At the end of this time John B. purchased his brother's inter- est and has since conducted the establishment alone. He is an expert, thorough, conscientious pharmacist, who thoroughly understands the business, and his charges are always reasonable. On the 27th of November, 1871, Miss Mary Lewis became his wife. She was born in Armstrong county, Penn., in Jannary, 1850, and has borne her husband one child, Wilma, who was born on the 27th of March, 1875. Mr. Walk has been a lifelong Republican and has taken an active part in his party's councils and aided in all ways in his power in its battles. He has held the office of city clerk, and is the present most efficient, trusty and faithful mayor of Goshen. In the last mentioned capacity he is alive to the interests of the town, has done a great deal to improve it in many ways, and is considered one of the most capable and faithful men that ever filled that chair. He is a member of the Masonic order and has taken the Conncil degrees. He has held the office of master, high priest and illustrious master, and is the present master of Goshen Lodge, No. 12, F. & A. M. Mr. Walk is progressive in his ideas and tendencies and favors all reforms and enter- prises that tend to build up the locality in which he resides, or that will benefit his fellow man.

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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 87

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

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