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 99
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 99
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one of a family of fourteen children, ten danghters and two sons living to mature years. To Dr. and Mrs. Barbour have been born three children: Harry A., Mabel E. and William H. He and wife and children are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. He is a Republican in politics and has held the office of county coroner, township trustee, etc. Socially he is a member of the G. A. R., the I. O. O. F., the A. F. & A. M., K. P. and the order of Chosen Friends. From the beginning of his medical career Dr. Barbour has had an extensive practice which steadily increased, reaching all over the surrounding country. Being a thorough student of chemistry, as well as a physician, he compounded a number of remedies which attained a wide sale and reputation. In fact his practice as a physician and his manufacturing interests as a chemist, became so extensive and commanded so much of his attention that his health failed under the strain, and at one time his life was despaired of. Upon recovery it was necessary that he abandon such hard work, which he accordingly did. His attention now is almost wholly engaged by his practice as a physician.
JOHN S. JUDAY. Among the old, intelligent and representative families of this part of Indiana is the one of which onr subject is a descendant, and in tracing back the genealogy of the family we find that the ancestors came originally from Eng- land. John Juday and his wife Catherine were born on British soil about the mid- dle of the eighteenth century, and about the year 1771 came to America and settled in New England. Their son Henry was born in Washington county, Md., May 15, 1772, and about 1800 the latter married Elizabeth Delkert, who was born in Rock- ingham county, Va., May 28, 1782. After marriage they resided in Greenbrier county, W. Va., and there three children were born: a daughter, Catherine, and two sons, John and David. In 1810 they left the Old Dominion and settled in Preble county, Ohio, where five more children were born: Solomon, Jacob, Sarab, Balser and Adam. The father and mother with their children, John, David, Balser and Adam, moved from Ohio to Elkhart county, Ind., in October, 1836, and the father died in this county May 11, 1849, when seventy-six years, eleven months and twenty- six days old. The mother died in the same county on September 15, 1846, aged sixty-four years, three months and seventeen days. The following is the record of the eight children residing in this county: Catherine was born in Greenbrier conuty, W. Va., April 21, 1802; married Michael Ott in Preble county, Ohio, about the year 1823, and the following year moved to Elkhart county, Ind., where her death occurred on June 23, 1863, at the age of sixty-one years two months and two days. To her marriage were born eight children: Elizabeth, Abraham, William, Susanna, Sarah, Daniel. Mahala and an infant. John Juday was born in Greenbrier county, W. Va., November 18, 1805, and married Susanna Rookstool in Preble county, Ohio, December 23, 1832. He and his wife moved to Elkhart county, Ind., in October, 1836, and his death occurred in Syracuse, Kosciusko county, May 19, 1887. when eighty-one years six months and one day old. Ten children were born to them as follows: Henry, Alfred, Elizabeth, John, Adam, George, Amanda, Thonias, Benja- min and Samuel. The father of these children setiled in the woods of Benton township and cleared up a farm of 200 acres. He was a member of the United Brethren Church, and a most worthy citizen. Solomon was born in Preble county, Ohio, Angust 9, 1810, and was married in the same county to Miss Elizabeth Gris- son Jannary 1, 1829. They moved to Elkhart county, Ind., and he died in that county Angust 9, 1880, when seventy years of age. To his marriage were born these children: Sarah, John, Mary A., Milton, Adam, Rebecca, Catherine, Susanna, Louis, Emma and James. Jacob Jnday was born in Preble county, Ohio, May 14, 1812, and was married in the same county about 1835 to Miss Mary A. Rex. He moved to Elkhart county, Ind .. in June, 1838, and died in that county June 28. 1863, when aged fifty-one years one month and fourteen days. Nine children were born to them, viz. : Elizabeth. Nancy, Catherine, John, Franklin, Delilah. Nathaniel. an in- fant sou, and Isabella. Sarah Jnday was born in Preble county May 15, 1815, and
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was married in the same county to John Wentz in 1835. In 1866 she and her hus- band moved to Elkhart county, and there her death occurred on February 27, 1882, aged sixty-six years nine months and twelve days. To them were born seven children: Henry, Catherine, Sarah, Jacob, Elizabeth, Mary and Martha. Balser Juday was born iu Preble county, June 23, 1818, and moved to Elkhart county, Ind., with his parents in October, 1836. He married Miss Anna Price, April, 1843, and his second marriage was to Miss Elizabeth Helsel in 1848. His death occurred in Elkhart county, Ind., March 14, 1883, aged sixty-four years eight months and twenty-one days. He was the father of twelve children: Matilda, Henry, Nelson, Jane, Ellen, James, Thomas, Ira, John, Amanda, Chauncy and Ida. Adam Juday was born in Preble county October 3, 1823, and moved with his parents to Elkhart county, Ind., in October, 1836. He was married to Miss Magdalina Ebert June 28, 1848, and to them were born ten children: Vandaline, Marion, Noah, Sabina, Ellen, Alice, Emma, Wesley, Alonzo and Milton. Solomon Juday, son of Henry Juday, and father of our subject, was born in Virginia and moved to Ohio at an early day, settling with his father in Preble county. He married Miss Elizabeth Grisson, and the children born to this union are mentioned above. For six or seven years after marriage Solomon Juday resided in Ohio, but he came to Elkhart county, Ind., in the fall of 1835 and settled in Benton township. He cleared up a good farm of nearly 182 acres, and at one time owned 260 acres. However, he sold eighty acres of this, but still had a fine farm left. He was one of the most esteemed citizens of the county, and no man stood better in the estimation of all. His son, John S. Juday, subject of this sketch, was born on a farm in Preble county, Ohio, Jannary 20, 1831, and was brought to Indiana when a child of five years. As a consequence nearly all his recollections are of Elkhart county, and he has known no other home. He attended the old log school-house in the district, and while young killed many deer on the land now farmed by himself and neighbors. When twenty-five years of age he married Miss Levina Finley, daughter of Orrin Finley, who was a native Vermonter and who settled in La Salle county, Ill. Two children were born to this union: Dora M., who died at the age of two years, and James O. John S. Juday worked in La Salle county, Ill., two years and then made a settlement in Elkhart county, Ind. His wife died three years after marriage, and Mr. Juday'e second marriage was to Miss Sarah A. Peoples, danghter of Francis and Mary Peoples. Two children blessed this union: Salena A. and Minnie A. Our subject bought his present farm in 1868 and settled on it in 1870. It then consisted of forty acres, and to this he has since added eighty acres and now has 120 acres of good farming land. He has a good brick residence, substantial barn, and everything about the place in- dicates a progressive and prosperous owner. He is a public-spirited man, has taken an active interest in having good schools in his community, and is a member of the school board. His children are all well educated. His son, James O., is a farmer in La Salle county, Ill. He is married and has two children. William Peoples, grandfather of Mrs. Jnday, was born in Pennsylvania, where he followed farming and where he married a Bohan. Six children were given them. Eliza, Hannah, Francis, John and William are remembered. Mr. Peoples passed away in his native State. His son Francis, father of Mrs. Jnday, was born in Lancaster county, Penn., December 9, 1813, and like most of his ancestors before him was a farmer. He went to Ohio when a young man, or in 1835, and married Miss Mary Kindig, who was also a native of Lancaster county, Penn., born March 11, 1816, and the daughter of Henry and Madaline (Leslie) Kindig, both of whom were originally from Lancas- ter connty, Penn., but early settlers of Montgomery county, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Peoples were born seven children: Henry, Sarah A., Selina (died in infancy), William E., John F., Ann M. and Aldis A., all natives of Montgomery county, Ohio. In 1859 Mr. Peoples came to Indiana and settled on the farm where his widow now re- sides. There his death occurred April 17, 1891. He was a worthy and honored citizen. Both Mr. and Mrs. Peoples were baptized in the German Baptist Church August 17, 1862. Mrs. Peoples is still living and is quite advanced in years.
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SAMUEL B. ROMAINE (deceased) was one of the pioneers of Elkhart county, Ind., and a man whose name was familiarly known at Bristol as well as in the whole county. He stood deservedly high as a citizen and neighbor and was an honorable, upright gentleman whose memory is revered and respected. He was born in the city of New York Jnne 3, 1808, and his father, Jacob Romaine, was a teacher in the schools of that city for over forty years. Until the age of thirteen years young Romaine was under the direct tutelage of his father, but at that time he entered the employ of a boot and shoe house in his native city, and a year later was indentured as an apprentice to serve six years at the tailor's trade. After five years he bought his sixth year and when twenty years of age went to South Carolina to occupy the posi- tion of foreman in a large clothing store. Returning to New York at the end of six months he clerked for a brief period and shortly after attaining his majority located on Nantucket Island. Here he embarked in merchant tailoring on his own responsi- bility. In 1836 he emigrated westward for the purpose of bettering his condition in that rapidly growing country, and in the fall and winter of that year he was at Bristol and Mishawaka, Ind. Subsequently returning east he bought a stock of goods and moved to Bristol, where he embarked in merchandising. He was ever afterward identified with the prosperity and welfare of Bristol and Elkhart counties and was deeply interested in public affairs. He was enterprising and pro- gressive, and because of his high sense of honor and accommodating disposition was universally respected. He became one of the organizers and heaviest stockholders in the First National Bank, at Elkhart; conducted insurance in connection with his other varied business interests; was the United States express agent; took a very active part in the project to develop the water power of the St. Joseph River at Bristol, which eventually will be utilized; was a principal stockholder and treasurer of the Nonpareil Mills and Bristol Manufacturing Company, and in time became a man of considerable wealth. He was twice married, first in September 1832, to Miss Eliza M. Coffin, of Nantucket Island, who bore him one son, Alfred. This son was clerk on a steamboat in Matagorda Bay, Tex., and was there drowned during one of the terrible simoons that swept that port. Mrs. Romaine died in the Lone Star State, whither she had gone for her health. In 1860 Mrs. Cornelia Lee became his second wife and to this union one son was born, Samuel B., who married Miss Sadie Cook, of Mottville, Mich., and now resides in Sheboygan, that State. Mr. Romaine passed away on April 19, 1878, and in his death the county lost one of its most useful and time-honored citizens. Mrs. Romaine's previous marriage bad been to Joseph W. Lee, who was a cabinet-maker in Bristol for a number of years. He was a native of England and came with his parents to Canada early in the pres- ent century; from there he came to Bristol, Ind., about the year 1842 and began working at his trade. In 1844 he wedded Miss Cornelia F. Alverson, one in a family of four sons and three daughters, born to William W. and Helen (Brace) Alverson. Both parents were natives of Oneida county, N. Y., and came to Elkhart county, Ind., about the year 1838. Five children were born to Mr. Lee's marriage, only two of whom are living: Nora M., resides at Elkhart and is the widow of Byron E. Merritt; and Alice M. makes her home in Elkbart and is the wife of E. R. Ker- stetter. Mr. Lee moved to Chicago, where he was for a number of years engaged in the commission business, but returning to Bristol for the purpose of settling up his affairs, he was attacked by a malignant form of typhoid fever and died iu 1867.
JACOB F. OTT. It is always a pleasure to deal with the history of one who is a member of one of those grand old families who have for generations been dis- tinguished for patriotism, the genuine spirit of Christianity, and the strong cbar- acteristics which have made them prominent wherever they have settled. Jacob F. Ott is one of the original pioneers of Benton township, Elkhart Co., Ind .. and is descended from an old and prominent Virginia family. His grandfather, Francis Ott, was a native of that grand old State, Virginia, but at an early date settled in Pennsylvania where he passed the closing scenes of his life. His son, Frederick Ott,
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MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.
father of our aubject, was born in Virginia and married there. Soon afterward he and his wife moved to Preble county, Ohio, and made the journey on foot, their limited household effects being carried by a pack-horse. They settled in the thick woods and were among the very first settlers of that county. A hard struggle was be- fore them, but both had excellent health and they were determined to succeed. They were obliged to go sixty miles, to Cincinnati, to mill and market, and had to cut their own way through the dense timber. They made their own clothing and lived in a simple and primitive way. Mr. Ott was a great hunter and every fall and win- ter he killed from forty to fifty deer. Thus their table was abundantly supplied with meat, and the skins served as clothing and shoes. Mr. Ott had no education but was an American pioneer backwoodsman. He reared a large family with the ex- penditure of very little money, relying on what he could raise, and the gun for aup- port. His settlement was about twenty milea west of Dayton, near Lewisburg, Preble Co., Ohio, and he was one of the first men to settle in that county. The ancestors of the Hepners and the Judays were also pioneers in the aame county. Jacob F. Ott, our subject, was born on his father's farm in Preble county, Ohio, in November, 1822, and as the old log achool-honsea of pioneer days were few and far between at that time, he received no education. His father died in Angust, 1840, and after a sale of the effects, our subject with his brother Samuel, and his brother- in-law, Peter Dan, went to Elkhart county, Ind., where his uncle Jacob and his eldest brother John had settled. James F. Ott waa then between seventeen and eighteen years of age. They made the journey with a two-horse team, two of them walking all the way as they had a large load. The journey occupied seven daya, and after their arrival our subject began working by the day clearing land and made his home with his brother Samnel. He received but 45 cents a day for severe labor although he was strong and accustomed to hard work and very skillful with the ax. But money was very scarce and every thing high priced. Muslin 'was 25 cents per yard, home-made jeana $1.25 per yard, and a good suit of clothing cost $35. Frequently Mr. Ott would work all day for a bushel of wheat, and then shock wheat in the evening. On February 2, 1845, Mr. Ott waa married to Miss Margaret Gordy, daughter of William and Jane (Stuard) Gordy. Mr. Gordy was born in Delaware and was of English descent, his ancestors coming to this country at an early date. He was married in his native State, but subsequently moved to Pickaway county, Ohio, where he cleared and made a good farm. He was the father of seven children. all born in Pickaway county, Ohio, and named as follows: John, Margaret, Elizabeth, William, Nancy, Christopher and David. William Gordy came to Benton township, Elkhart Co., Ind., about 1852, cleared a good farm of 160 acres and made a good home. He was a hard-working, industrious man and lived to be fifty-five years of age. After marriage Jacob F. Ott settled on land in Benton township and still carries on the farm. He first purchased 120 acres in the woods, and by hard labor and great industry cleared up a good farm. Since then he has added to this until he is now the owner of 200 acres of fine farming land. He has made excellent improvements and built a substantial house and barn. His success in life is due to his indomitable energy and perseverance, and to his honorable and upright methods of conducting his affairs. He is held in high estimation in the county and his word is as good as his bond. In politics he is a strong Republican, and during the war he was a strict Union man. His marriage resulted in the birth of seven children: John W., Paulina J., Jasper, Tiglman, Julia, James and Elmer, all born ou the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Ott hold membership in the Evan- gelical Church, and Mr. Ott was trustee and class-leader. His son John W. mar- ried Misa Amanda Fry and they have two children (he is now a farmer of Benton township); Pauline, married William Tully, a farmer of Benton township, and they have four children; Jasper married Sarah Ott. who bore him three children, and he is now engaged in Noble county, Ind .; Tiglman, married Susannah Allwine, and they have four children (they now reside in Oregon); James, married Sarah Landis
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and they reside on the home place (they have one child); Elmer married Miss Etta Landers and is also on the home farm; Julia S. is at home.
JACOB H. DELL, a native of Elkhart county, Ind, was born in the township of Elkhart ia 1844, a son of Jacob and Mary (Cripe) Dell. the former of whom was born on Pennsylvania soil ia 1819, his father being John Dell, who was among the early pioneers of Elkhart county, Ind., settling in this region about 1835. He settled on a heavily timbered farm in Elkhart township, four miles southwest of Goshen, where he lived for many years and died at an advanced age. Prior to com- ing to this section he resided for a short time in Ohio, but was married in Peansyl- vania to Mary Shaup, and together they reared a family of eight children: Catherine, Levi, Jacob, Elizabeth, John, Mary, Barbara and Samuel, all of whom attained manhood and womanhood, three being alive at the present time: Jacob, Mary (wife
of William Kinzie), and Barbara (widow of Mr. Harvard, is living in Nappanee). Those who are dead reared families of their own, and the Dells in this part of the country sprang from John Dell, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. The paternal great-great-grandfather came from Ireland. John Dell died in 1858 or 1859, having been a prominent man in political affairs aud a well-to-do tiller of the soil, although his pioneer days were marked with hardships and privations. He supported Democratic principles, and was a member of the German Baptist Church. His wife, who died in 1884, was a life-long member of the German Baptist Church. Jacob, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Pennsylvania, and wae a boy when the trip was made from his native State to Ohio. He learned the car- penter's trade in the Buckeye State, and after coming to Indiana this business occu- pied his attention for many years. At the age of twenty-four he was married to Miss Mary Cripe, daughter of Jacob Cripe and his wife Catherine. Mary was born in Ohio, and was but nine years of age when her parents brought her to this section, the principal part of her education being obtained in the district schools here. Jacob Dell and his wife lived on a farm west of Goshen till 1854, at the same time following his trade of carpenter, then purchased a farm in the woods of Olive township, where he cleared a small tract of land and built thereon a log house. Six of the nine children born to himself and wife are still living. their names being as follows: Jacob H .; Nancy, who is the wife of Daliem Culp, of Nappanee; Will- iam, who resides with his father and mother in Olive township; Mary, who is the wife of J. Roose, of Harrison township; Solomon; Catherine, who is the wife of David H. Mayer, of Olive township. Joha died when young; Samnel died at the age of eight years, and a little daughter died in infancy. The father of these chil- drea is now seventy-six years of age and the mother seventy-three, and are now enjoying a vigorous old age in the vicinity of Wakarusa. They have a good prop- erty, which has been earned by their own toil, and in the love and respect of their children and many friends they are happy and content. The father was first & Whig, but is now a Republican in politics, and he has always considered it a duty as well as a great pleasure to keep well posted on the current topics of the day. He bas always been a public spirited citizen and a credit to the county. Since 1854 he has followed farming until he retired in 1880. His children are also well to do, and are highly esteemed residents of the county. His wife was nine years old when her parents came to this conaty, and her people were almost the first white people to locate in the county, the date of their location being 1829. They had come thither from Ohio, but were natives of Pennsylvania. Jacob Cripe, the father, was a son of Jacob Cripe, who died in 1865 at the age of ninety-eight years, having been a soldier in the War of 1812. Mary, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was one of a family of five children: Henry, Samuel, Mary, Catherine, and Lizzie, who died when yonng. Catherine Cripe, the maternal grandmother of Mr. Dell, died when her daughter Mary was five years of age. and her husband subsequently married her sister Mary, by whom he had two children, John and Nancy. The grandfather, Jacob Cripe, died in 1856. At the time Jacob H. Dell became a resi-
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dent of this county, he was nine years of age, and well remembers many events that happened in those days. Jacob H. Dell. the subject of this sketch, was born in Elkhart township, about one mile from Goshen, and attended the early schools of the county, and, like the majority of farmers' boys, assisted his father on the farm. He never attended school after he was thirteen years of age, but the practical and busy life he has led has made him a well-informed man. At the age of twenty-two years he began doing for himself, and being the owner of a small farm began tilling it, but when about twenty-five years of age he began saw-milling near Wakarusa, and remained in that business for about fourteen years. He then sold the mill and returned to farming, carrying on this business one mile east of Wakarusa until 1892, when he again moved to the town and resumed saw-milling, becoming a member of the Wakarosa Lumber Company. They have a finely equipped saw and planing- mill, and make a specialty of fine building lumber. The company is composed of five good business men: Fred Trisinger, Anthony, Henry J. and John Smeltzer, and the subject of this sketch. The capacity of the mill is from 10,000 to 14,000 feet per day. This business has proved a paying one to all the stockholders, and has been the means of greatly increasing the business enterprise of the town. In poli- tics Mr. Dell is a Republican, and is interested in both local and national politics. At the present time he is trustee of Olive township, a position he has held since 1890, and he has always been a man of great public spirit and enterprise, and has shown a determination to push to a successful issue everything that he undertakes. The cause of education has received considerable patronage at his hands, and he is a firm believer in the public-school system. He is one of the prominent men of his section, in every respect is self made, and has succeeded in accumulating a consider- able amount of worldly goods. In 1865 he was united in marriage to Barbara Pletcher, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Reed) Pletcher, the former of whom was a Pennsylvanian, and a son of Jacob and Barbara (Nestlerode) Pletcher. Sam- uel was one year old when taken to Ohio, and in 1852 became a resident of Elkhart county, Ind., and until seventy three years of age resided in the vicinity of Waka- rusa. At that time his death occurred (1892). He became well to do, and on his farm of 160 acres he reared six children and lost one. His wife, Elizabeth Reed, was a daughter of David Reed and Elizabeth (Pletcher) Reed. They were early pioneers of Ohio, and there they passed from life. Samuel Pletcher was a miller of Ohio for some time, but farmed after coming to Indiana. His wife died in Olive township in 1865, at the age of fifty years. She was the mother of seven children: Mariah, who is dead; Julia, the deceased wife of M. B. Culp; Barbara; Elizabeth, who died when young; Andrew, who lives on his farm in Olive township; Lewis, also a resident of Olive township; Nancy, wife of Rufus Perry, of South Bend, Iod. This family on the Pletcher side are of German descent, and on the Reed side English and Irish. Mrs. Dell was born in Ohio, November 20, 1846, and has borne her husband eight children, three of whom are living: William, born October 29, 1874; Rasie, born December 21, 1878, and Hattie, born July 19, 1884. The other children died in infancy.
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