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 91

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 91
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 91

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

supported the men and measures of the Republican party and in 1880 the citizens of the county showed their appreciation of his merits by electing him to the responsible position of county treasurer, which office he filled with marked ability until 1884. From 1876 to 1880 he held the office of township trustee, the duties of which he also discharged in a remarkably successful manner. He has been a member of the town council of Mishawaka for two years. Socially he is a member of the I. O. O. F., Mishawaka Lodge, No. 286. He is one of the substantial men of the county and is the owner of a good farm and some valuable real estate in Mishawaka, Ind. He stands deservedly high as a man of integrity of character and probity and in the bus- iness affairs of life has shown himself to be prudent, far-seeing and practical. His son, Otto E., is a hardware merchant in partnership with Henry Egleston.

DANIEL E. PIPPENGER is the eldest child of one of the earliest pioneers of Elkhart county, being a son of John and Mary (Cripe) Pippenger, the former of whom was a son of John Pippenger and his wife, Rebecca, who came from Holland in early times and settled in Pennsylvania. In that State, John Pippenger, the father of the subject of this sketch was born about March 10, 1798, being one of a good old- fashioned family of sixteen children, twelve sons and four daughters, all of whom lived to be grown, married and reared families of their own. One of this family is still living, Eli, who resides in Marshall county, Ind., on a farm and who is quite aged. Rebecca Pippenger died in Pennsylvania, but her husband passed from life

603.

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

in Ohio, being one of the early settlers of Montgomery county. Mary Cripe was born in Pennsylvania, January 8, 1797, was one of eight children, but died soon after locating in Elkhart county, though her husband lived to be quite an old man. She was a daughter of Daniel Cripe, one of the early pioneers of the county, who, with his wife, was probably from Pennsylvania. They came to this region from Ohio in. the spring of 1829 and settled on Elkhart Prairie. Notice of this family is given. elsewhere. John Pippenger and Mary Cripe were married some time be- fore coming to this county; their union is supposed to have taken place June 17, 1821. During their married life ten children were born to them: Daniel E., who was born July 17, 1822; A-, born September, 26, 1823, reared a family in this county bnt is now residing in Marshall county; Elizabeth, was born July 4, 1825, married William Keck, reared a family and died in Wisconsin; John, who was born July 23, 1827, is residing in Wisconsin; Magdalene, born January 24, 1829, mar- ried Joseph Keck, died in Wisconsin and left a family ; Susan, born March 5, 1831, died March 31, 1831; Christian, born June 5, 1832, died September 29, 1833; Mary, born May 30, 1834, is married to Peter Stull, of Kosciusko county, Ind .; Catherine, born June 11, 1836, married Manuel Landes and is living in Kosciusko county; Rebecca, born March 15, 1838, is now the widow of L. Cripe, has a grown-up family and is resid- ing in Union township, and Joseph who was born December 12, 1839, is a farmer of that township also. The parents of these children first settled on Elkhart Prairie and took up eighty acres of land, which was later traded for 160 acres where the sub- ject of this sketch is now residing, and on which he cut the first timber. At the time of making the settlement here there were only five families in the county and the township had only seven voters. The father was a member of the German Baptist Church, took an active part in politics and always supported the Democratic party. He died on his farm, where so many years of his life were spent, having come to this region with an ox team, the journey from Ohio occupying seven weeks. They settled on the unbroken prairie, made their own clothing, lived on corn bread, and like all the inhabitants of a new country, had to undergo numerons privations and hardships. They were industrious and in time became well to do, becoming the owners of a fine tract of land comprising 440 acres in Union township, which gave their children a good start in life. They reared their children to honorable manhood and womanhood and only two survive them at this writing: Daniel E., grew up and married Elizabeth Stouder and a family of seven children has been born to them, three of whom died when young-John, Susan and Emanuel; Mary died at the age of twenty-three years, and Levi when nineteen years of age; C-, is living in Jackson township and is tilling the soil; Samuel is a farmer and thresher of Union township; Jacob D .; and Catherine is Mrs. P. Swartz, the wife of the ex-superintendent of the schools of Elkhart county; Isaac, is a teacher of the county. Daniel E. Pippenger and his wife are among the first people of the county and have numerous friends.

JOHN HARPER. The growth and prosperity of Elkhart county, Ind., has been upon a scale commensurate with the immigration to this region in past years, and this prosperity is largely due to the members of the agricultural profession, promi- nent among which stands the name of Mr. John Harper. He is a descendant of sturdy German stock, and inherits all his thrift and perseverance from those ancestors. His grandfather, Philip Harper, was born in the grand old State of Vir- ginia, married a lady of Irish descent and settled in Ross county, Ohio, were he was one of the early settlers. He was killed by a runaway team when absent from home. His children, six in number, were named as follows : Solomon, Gideon, Susan, Phoebe, Eva and Mary. The third eldest child, Solomon, the father of our subject, was born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1809. He received no education on account of the scarcity of schools, but being possessed of a naturally bright, active mind was classed among the intelligent and well-posted men of the county. He was particularly good in mathematics, and could figure rapidly and accurately. His

604

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

marriage to Miss Mary Shobe, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Carr) Shobe, occurred in Ross county, Ohio, and eleven children were born to this union, as follows: Emily, John, Sarah, Silas, Philip, Huldab, Margaret, Zachariah, Harriet, Elizabeth and Gideon. After the birth of bis two eldest children, Mr. Harper moved with his family to Noble county, Ind., and settled on wild land. He first entered forty acres in the woods, cleared this of the brush and timber with which it was covered, and added from time to time to the original tract until he owned 480 acres, half of which he probably entered. The land, being rich and productive, yielded big returns for the work put upon it, and Mr. Harper became one of the foremost agriculturists of his section. He died at the age of sixty-three years, leaving s large estate to his children. A stanch Democrat in his political views, he was well and favorably known throughout the county, and was respected by all as a man of great resolution and energy. All his property was made by the honest sweat of his brow, and he reared his children to be honorable men and women, a credit to any community. John Harper, the original of this notice, was born on his father's farm in Ross county, Ohio, August 9, 1831, and was brought to Noble county, Ind., when an infant; in fact, the following November. The pioneer schools of those days furnished him a fair education, and subsequently he attended college at Fort Wayne two

terms, also the high school at Goshen three terms.

He was brought up to the life

of a farmer by his father, and, like the majority of boys, has followed in his ances- tor's footsteps, and is now classed among the most prominent and successful agri- culturists of his section. On June 13, 1861, he married Miss Elizabeth A. Milner, daughter of John and Rinah (Arminson) Milner, and the following children were born to them: Rosilla M., Edward M., Albert S., Luells, Mary and Maggie B. The June following his marriage Mr. Harper moved to his present farm, then con- sisting of eighty acres, and although there had been but little of this cleared, he went to work and by much industry and thrift became the owner of 240 acres. He has all this well improved, has erected a good brick house and a commodious barn. He and Mrs. Harper are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he has been steward in the same. Formerly an old line Whig in politics his first vote was cast for Gen. Scott, and at the same election his father voted for Franklin Pierce. After the formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks, but has strong prohibition proclivities. His children have all received good educational advantages and are intelligent and progressive. His daughter Rosilla graduated in the teachers' course in the normal at Valparaiso. and has taught several terms very successfully. Edward attended the same school, also at Fort Wayne. Mary was educated in music at Valparaiso, and has taught music in this county. Maggie graduated in the scientific course at Valparaiso, is well educated, and competent to teach in the public schools. Rosilla married Milton Lint, who was educated at Val- paraiso, Ind., and who is a civil engineer. One child has been born to them, Henry C., and they are at present living in Kansas. Mr. Harper is a man of great deter- mination, is self-made, and in his vocabulary there is no such word as fail. John Milner. the father of Mrs. Harper, was born in Yorkshire. England, and was the son of William Milner. He came from England with his family in 1830, and settled on wild land in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, the following year. In 1854 he moved to Elkhart county. Ind., settled in Benton township, and there passed the remainder of his days, dying in 1876, when seventy-two years of age. He and Mrs. Milner were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and were people of high moral character. Mr. Milner was a strong abolitionist and a strong temperance man. An old line Whig in politics at first, he later became connected with the Republican party. The children by his first wife were as follows: Edward M. (born in England), William, Elizabeth, Rinah, Hannah and Rosa, the last five born in this country. The first wife died in 1855, when fifty-six years of age, and Mr. Milner's second marriage was with Mrs. Mary Malone, who bore him four children, viz .: Alice, Lincoln, Melissa and Ella. Mr. Milner was a successful farmer, and

605

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

was the owner of 160 acres of land. He was an intelligent, well-informed man, although he gained his educatiou by his own efforts. Upright and honorable, he taught his children that to do right was the proper course to pursue, and they grew up loyal, honorable citizens. Mrs. Harper was born August 23, 1836, in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and supplemented a good common-school education by attending Shaw's Academy and the Western Reserve Seminary. When sixteen years of age she became a teacher and followed this for nine years, teaching ten terma. She belonged to a family of teachers, eight of her brothers and sisters having taught school. She is & lady of high character and is well informed, having clear and practical views on all subjects of importance.

DAVID D. RODIBAUGH is the eldest of a family of children resred by David and Rebecca (Barringer) Rodibangh. The subject of this sketch was born on the old home farm where his father is now residing April 11, 1856, and in the schools in the vicinity of his home he received a good education, which has been strengthened and broadened by contact with the world and the business affairs of life. He remained on the home farm assisting his father until he was twenty-two years of age, when he started out to fight life's battles for himself and began operating a grist-mill at Baintertown on his own responsibility, which he conducted with success until 1888. This was the first roller-mill started in the part of the county in which Mr. Rodibaugh lives, but in 1888 be sold it to Thomas Clayton, and since that time has devoted his attention to farming and is the owner of a fine farm, located on the edge of New Paris, containing 180 acres of well-improved land, which is now considered quite valuable; also has a fine farm of 160 acres near Milford, in Kosciusko county. He makes his home in the town of New Paris, where he has a handsome and com- fortable residence, where he and his wife dispense a refined and generous hospi- tality to their numerous friends. He is well posted on the current topics of the day, and has always cast his vote on the side of Democracy. October 11, 1881, he was married to Miss Mary Wean, who was born in New Paris, November, 19, 1862, a daughter of John and Margaret (Leonard) Wean, the latter being still a resident of New Paris. The Wesn family came from Ohio at a very early day and settled in New Paris, Elkhart county. The father was a carpenter by trade, and during the Civil war while serving his country in the army, he was wounded in the battle of Jonesboro, Ga., and died of his wounds the same night. He was a native of Stark county, Ohio, and his wife of Portage county of that State. After the celebration of their nuptials, they came to Indiana, and became the parents of two children: Howard L., who is living in Goshen, Ind., and Mary (Mrs. Rodibaugh). Mr. and Mrs. Rodibaugh are the parents of four children: Hugh H., who was born Septem- ber 19, 1883; Charles C., who was born January 25, 1885; Hazel, born July 9. 1889, and an infant that was born August 3, 1892. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rodibaugh spring from substantial pioneer stock.

WILLIAM WARREN JOHNSON, M. D. The history of this family of Johnsons in America began with Elkanah Johnson, who came with the Regicides to New England during its early colonization. A descendant of Elkanah named Edmund and the great-grandfather of our subject was a native of East Greenwich, R. I. He served as captain in Col. Varnum's Rhode Island troops through the Revo- lutionary war, and at its close moved to Saratoga county, N. Y, where he reared a large family and followed blacksmithing. He died in or about 1812, and was buried at Stillwater, Saratoga county. This family and its descendants resided in New York for many years. Potter, a son of Edmund, was a soldier of the War of 1812 and the father of a family of ten children, one of whom, Dr. William Johnson, was the father of William Warren Johnson, M. D., of Goshen. He was a native of Saratoga county, where he was reared and resided. He received his medical educa- tion at Fairfield Herkimer county, N. Y., and located at Valley Falls in his native State, where he followed his profession until his death, which occurred in 1876. In bia early manhood he was united in marriage with Miss Clarissa Slocum, by whom

606

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

he had one child, now deceased. His wife dying, he afterward married Miss Mary Jeanette Godfrey, a native of Vermont, and to them were born William Warren and his sister Katie L. Dr. William Johnson was a man well posted in his pro- fession and things in general, and was noted for his exemplary habits and conserv- atism in all things. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1881 the mother and family moved to Ann Arbor, Mich., where she now resides with her daughter, who has, since their coming there, graduated from that fs- mous western university. Our subject was born December 16, 1860, in the town of Valley Falls, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., his education up to the time of his father's death being such as could be obtained in the public schools of his native town. In 1877 he entered Troy Conference Academy at Poultney, Vt., where he took a two

years' commercial course. He then attended for three years the Wesley Academy at Wilbraham, Mass. He came with the family to Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1881, and soon after entered the medical department of the State university, and three years later graduated from that institution as M. D. Soon after graduating he came to Goshen, Ind., and followed his profession exclusively for about two years, but then in a measure, gave up his profession and embarked in the drug trade, which he has since continued with a steadily increasing patronage and success. He now has s well-appointed establishment and is doing a prosperous business. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Middleton, May 12, 1886. This lady is a native of Granville, N. Y., and to them one child has been born: Wilma A. Since coming to Goshen Dr. Johnson has become well and favorably known to its people. He has by appointment and election served the people of Elkhart county ss their coroner, was re-elected and is now serving the third term. He is an ardent Republican, a congenial companion and a public-spirited, useful and progressive citizen.

JOSEPH H. HEATWOLE, M. D. The ancestral history of the Heatwole (originally spelled Hutwohl) family in America dates from September 15, 1748, upon which date there landed in Philadelphia, Matthias Hutwohl, who, with ninety-six other German emigrants, sailed from Rotterdam, Holland, in the ship "Two Brothers," of which Thomas Arnot was master. Matthias Hutwohl, according' to scraps of evidence extant, was born in Rheinish Bavaria, and of his parentage nothing is known, but tradition says that he and his parents were Lutheran in religious be- lief. Like most of the German emigrants of his time, he settled in Pennsylvania, and in the course of time married Miss Hass, sister of Christian Haas, who subse- quently settled near Turleytown, Rockingham Co., Va., in which place he died when more than one hundred years of age. Matthias Hutwohl, by his marriage to Miss Haas, became the father of six children, whose names were respectively: David, Jacob, John, Christian, Mary and Anns. These children were left fatherless by the sudden death of their parent, which was caused by over physical exertion. The widowed mother, being without means, found it necessary to place her children among strangers. David, whose posterity has become so numerous in Virginis, was brought up by a family named Momaw. Jacob, after his marriage, settled near Charleston, now West Virginia, where he died, leaving few to bear his name; John married in Pennsylvania, and became the father of two children. Christian died single at Alexandria, Va., having been a shoemaker by trade; Anns married Samuel Weaver, from whom have descended the Weavers of Rockingham county, Va., and Mary married Peter Bowman, who settled near Dale Enterprise, Va., and to whom the following named children were born: John, Peter, Jacob, Martin, Samuel, Susan, Mary and Elizabeth. Mrs. Bowman, wife of Peter, was born in Lan- caster county, Penn., December 18, 1766, and died in 1833. David Hütwohl (who afterward spelled his name Heatwole, which spelling the family has since retained), son of Matthias, was born in 1767. As before stated, be was bound ont, and nn- fortunately fell into the hands of a cruel task master, by whom he was maltreated. and the scars from the beatings he received be carried to his grave. Subsequently he ran away and joined himself to a man named Momaw, and when eighteen

607

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

years old went to reside with his uncle, Christian Haas, by whom he was taught the trade of shoemaking. He married Magdalene Weland, whose parents had settled in the wilds of northern Pennsylvania, and were twice driven from their home by the Indians, and in a conflict that occurred, one of the sons was killed and another wounded. Several years subsequent to David Heatwole's marriage (in 1794) he moved to Rockingham county, Virginia, in which he bought eighty- five acres of land. He became the father of eleven children: Gabriel, born October 26, 1789; Frances, born December 19, 1790; Elizabeth, born September 7, 1792; Christian, born June 7, 1795; David, born September 15, 1797; Abraham, born September 23, 1799; Magdalene, born March 15, 1802, and died at the age of three years; Samuel, born March 3, 1804; John, born April 6, 1806; Anna, born June 4, 1808, and Henry, born March 9, 1813. The father of these children was a plain, unassuming man, and a firm believer in and a strong advocate of the non- resistant doctrine as taught by Simon Menno. He was on elder in the Mennonite Church, to which he was ardently devoted. He died April 8, 1842, and his wife departed this life November 23, 1840, in her seventy-fifth year. Gabriel, the eldest, married Margaret Swank, and settled near Mole Hill, Rockingham Co., Va., where he followed the trade of cooper. To him and his wife eight sons and four daughters were born, all of whom married and lived near the old homestead on which their father died June 18, 1875, his wife's death occurring six or seven years previous. Frances, the second child of David and Magdalene Heatwole, married Michael Hildebrand, and bore him eight sons and two danghters; Elizabeth, the third child, married Henry Shank, by whom she had five sons and seven daughters (she died January 3, 1836); Christian, the fourth child, married Barbara Emswiler, who bore him two sons and one danghter (his death occurred August 31, 1853); David, the fifth child, married Susanna Helbert (first wife), by whom he had five children, and his second wife, Eliza Garrison, bore him eight children (he died . June 5, 1867); Abraham, the sixth child, married Margaret Showalter, who bore him four children; Samuel, the eighth in order of birth, married Elizabeth Shank, by whom he became the father of six sons and four daughters (he died November 22, 1858); John S., the ninth, married Nancy Swank, sister of Gabriel's wife, and their union resulted in the birth of four sons and six daughters (he died October 30, 1857); Anna, the tenth child, married Daniel Suter, and became the mother of three sons and two daughters (she died March 12, 1835, at the age of twenty- seven years); Henry, the youngest of this family, and the father of Dr. Joseph H. Heatwole, remained with his parents until he became of age, soon after which he left the scenes of his childhood and went to Ohio. In Columbiana county, of that State, he married Barbara, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Culp, she being a native of Mahoning county, of that State. While there he took up the study of medicine, and subsequently entered upon the practice of his profession, first in his adopted State, and afterward, about 1851, in Lawrence county, Penn. Upon his removal to Indiana. he settled at Waterford, Elkhart Co. (in May, 1853), and in 1876 took up his residence in Goshen, in both of which places he successfully practiced his profession and acquired a high standing. His was a life of marked activity and indomitable perseverance. His disadvantages were many, yet they deterred not his progressive spirit. He rose above the obstacles encountered, and relinquished no purpose until fully gained. In whatever light his character is viewed, there appears a loftiness of spirit that approaches the ideal in man. In his youth his soul re- volted at the institution of slavery, and hating it, he fled to free soil to escape the pains its hideons practice inflicted on his sensitive and noble nature. While many of his kinsmen during the Civil war took up arms against the Government, he re- mained true in his allegiance to his country, and the courage of his convictions never failed him when trial came. He imbibed from his ancestors the belief in the Men- nonite doctrine of religious belief, to the tenets of which faith he adhered through life. Devoid of a literary education himself, he realized how essential it was to the

608

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

welfare of his children, upon whom he lavished every means within his power to fortify and equip them, that they might more easily surmount the obstructive ele- ments of life. His own way in life was over difficulties which he wished his chil- dren to pass with the ease and power born of knowledge. Those that bear his name inherit in a large degree the characteristics and natural forces of their revered sire, upon whom they reflect in no uncertain light. His union with Barbara Culp re- sulted in the birth of twelve children: Susanna, deceased; Elizabeth, who married Frank Wissinger; Matilda, deceased; Catherine, who married Uriah Anderson; Mary, deceased; Rebecca, who married Levi Croop; Joseph H .; Henry, deceased; Joel; Prescott; Emma, who married Dr. William H. Nussbaum, and Ellen, deceased. Dr. Henry Heatwole departed this life April 14, 1888, and his venerable widow survives him at this writing. Dr. Joseph H. Heatwole was born in Lawrence county, Penn., April 6, 1853, and was one month old when his parents settled in Elkhart county. His primary education was obtained in the village school in Waterford, and at the age of sixteen he entered the Goshen High School, in which he fitted himself for college. Entering Mount Union College, Ohio, for two years he diligently devoted himself to study, qualified himself to teach, and thus defrayed the expenses incurred in obtaining both a literary and medical education. He matriculated at the Ohio Medical College, of Cincinnati, in 1876, from which institution he graduated in 1878, after which he immediately began to practice his profession at Middlebury, Ind. In 1883 he located in Goshen, where he has acquired a large and lucrative practice, and which has the merit of steady increase. He has held official positions of honor and trust, among them that of health officer of Elkhart county for six years. He is also a member of the board of pension examiners. He is progressive in his profession, is a close student, keep- ing himself well up in the medical literature of the day. In manner he is agreeable, affable and courteous; is an interesting and instructive talker, and altogether nat- ure has effected in him a combination of qualities which make of him one of the most congenial and companionable of men. His marriage was consummated March 20, 1879, with Miss Ella R., daughter of Rev. O. V. Lemon, a well-known Methodist divine, and has borne him three children: Infant son, deceased, born February 15, 1880; Irmyn M., born July 26, 1884, and died October 6, 1891, and Louise, born October 19, 1889. In politics the Doctor is an active Republican, and takes much interest in municipal, State and national affairs.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Pictorial and biographical memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, Indiana, together with biographies of many prominent men of northern Indiana and of the whole state, both living and dead, Part 91

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

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