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BETHANA A. MYERS. It is a pleasure to give the life story of a man who has served his country upon the field of battle, and who has also done his duty as a private citizen in the ordinary walks of life. Such a one we find in Mr. Myers, who served faithfully in the Rebellion and who is a descendant of good Virginia stock. His father, Abraham Myers, was a native of the Old Dominion and of English descent. He came to Elkhart county, Ind., when a single man, was one of the pioneers of this county, and here followed the occupation of a farmer and miller. He bought eighty acres on the south line of Clinton township, cleared it, and soon had a good home. He first settled here in the thirties and was married to Miss Susan Garnet, which union resulted in the birth of seven children. In connection with his farming interest Mr. Myers carried on a grist-mill in Benton and Waterford for many years, and was an industrious, hard-working man. Late in life he moved to the State of Washington and died there when seventy-seven years of age. He and wife were worthy members of the Baptist Church, and he was a Democrat in politics. He built a saw-mill in Clinton township about 1855 and in 1860 built a grist-mill at the same place, being in partnership with Cephas Hawks, of Goshen, in the latter enterprise. He had three sons in the Rebellion: Frank M., in Company K, Thirtieth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, served three years and was in nearly all the battles of his regiment, escaping without a wound; John D., was in Company __, Seventy-Fourth Regiment Volunteer Infantry, served three years and was in all the battles of his regiment; Bethana, our subject, was the first to enlist. He was born on his father's farm in Clinton township, Elkhart county, Ind., August 12,1843, and the common schools furnished him a fair education. He began for himself as a fireman of stationary engines. When about nine years of age he left home and began working on the farm of his uncle. Since that time he has made his own way in life. When nearly eighteen years of age he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served three years. For nearly two years he was in continuous battle, participating in the engagements of Nashville and Stone River, the latter lasting three days and nights. After this he drove a team most of the time until the close of his service. He was never wounded or taken prisoner, or in the hospital, and was a faithful soldier. Returning to his home at Millersburg, after the war, he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He engaged as a fireman in saw-mills and later embarked in the butcher's business in Millersburg, meeting with fair success in this undertaking. On the 4th of March, 1865, he wedded Miss S. Prichard, daughter of Jesse and Sarah Prichard. One child, Ora, was born to this union. In 1890 Mr. Myers engaged in the saw mill business with John Langer, under the firm name of Myers & Langer, at Millersburg, and they are now doing a good business. They are live, energetic business men and have gained for themselves the confidence and patronage of the public at large. In his political views Mr. Myers supports the Republican party, and is a prominent member of the G. A. R., Randall Post, No. 320. He has held the offices of senior vice-commander and junior vice-commander for about eight years. By industry and good management Mr. Myers has made all his property and is now one of the substantial men of his section. He owns a half interest in the saw-mill which has a capacity of 50,000 feet per week, and he also owns a residence in town. Like many of the old soldier citizens Mr. Myers stands high in the estimation of all and is one of the county's best men. Mrs. Myers is a member of the Reformed Church and is active in all good work.

�Pictorial and Biographical Memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties, Indiana
Together with Biographies of Many Prominent Men of Northern Indiana and the Whole State, Both Living and Dead�
Goodspeed Brothers Publishers, Chicago
1893
John Morris Co. Printers and Binders

A. W. SWARTZ, a resident of Nappanee, Ind., was born on his father's farm in Stark county, Ohio, June 1, 1837, the sixth of seven children born to Martin and Hannah Swartz, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania January 10, 1799, his parents being Matthias and Ann Elizabeth Swartz. The Swartz, Schwartz or Schwarz family originally came from Germany. Martin was a pioneer farmer of Ohio, a calling he followed for fifty years, and was a local minister of the Methodist Church, living for many years on a farm near Marlboro, Ohio, but spending his last days in that village, where he died in 1878, at the age of nearly eighty years. He had accumulated considerable property in spite of the fact that he was twice burned out, the last conflagration occurring in his old age. Martin was married twice, and his first wife, Frances, left one daughter of the same name who was born in 1823 and died in 1857, the wife of Michael Hull. His second wife was the daughter of Caleb and Jane Southcard, and the widow of John Butterfield, by whom she has one son, William W. B. Butterfield, who was born June 12, 1819, and died in 1857, of typhoid fever, leaving four children. Mrs. Hannah Swartz was born in New Jersey March 28, 1797, but removed by wagon to Pennsylvania with her parents when a child. Nearly her whole life after her second marriage was spent in Stark county. Like her husband she was a member of the Methodist Church, and she was a good and amiable woman and a kind and gentle mother. She died March 2, 1880 near Marlboro, Ohio, on the farm where she had lived for so many years and where she spent part of the time with her daughter after the death of her husband, whom she survived about a year and a half. Martin and Hannah Swartz had a family of four sons and three daughters, all but one of whom grew to maturity: Lavina Ann, who was born in 1826, passed away at the age of about sixty years, the widow of David Carr, a saw-mill man whom she survived thirty-five or forty years; Etna Green, Ind., was named by Mrs. Carr, as her husband was a large land-owner in that neighborhood, at the time the place was founded (Mrs. Carr left two sons: Jerome S. and Philonzo D., of whom the elder was a minister of the Methodist Church, but died in 1892, leaving a widow and family, and the younger is general agent for Baldwin Bros, Piano Company; he is a man of family, and his home is in Nashville, Tenn.); Louisa K. was born in 1828, and lives in Logan county, Ohio, the wife of John Lukens, a thrifty farmer and the mother of one son, Charles, a young physician; Matthias B. O. Plympton was born in 1829, and died from an accidental scythe-cut when he was not quite ten years old; John Fletcher was born in 1833, and is a well-to-do farmer of Hillsdale county, Mich. (he was married to Mahala Hamlin, and has four living children and one son dead, all his living children being married); Harriet Jane was born November 29, 1834, is married to Jacob Allspaugh, an energetic and prosperous farmer, and they reside on the old Swartz farm which he owns; Charles W. is next in age; Martin Luther W. was born December 10, 1839. He was a high-spirited young man who became a soldier in the Civil war, going with Company F, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Near the close of the war he died of pneumonia, as a prisoner of war at Meridian, Miss., aged twenty-five years. Charles was reared on his father's farm, attended district school and taught a number of terms, then entered Mt. Union College of Mt. Union, Ohio, where he graduated from scientific and classical courses, taking in the latter the highest honors of his class. After this he went to the war as a member of the Christian commission; he was out twice and has ever since suffered on account of exposure undergone at that period. About this time he entered the ministry of the Methodist Church, his first regular charge being in West Virginia. In 1866 he was married to Louisa H. Winder, a daughter of Joseph and Amy (Taylor) Winder, who are mentioned in other sketches of this hook. Mrs. Swartz was born in Ohio in 1839, and although her father died when she was about twelve years of age, she not only attended the country schools, but finished her education in Mt. Union College. Before and after her college days she taught sixteen terms of school, mostly in Indiana and Ohio, the most of which were in the rural districts. She taught in the Stauffer and Ulery districts of Union township over thirty years ago, and the higher departments of the graded schools of Ottawa and Mt. Union, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Swartz were married after the former had preached about one year. They lived in West Virginia about three years, then Mr. Swartz joined the Central Illinois Conference, and they moved to that State, where they lived and moved from place to place for about nine years, when they were called to Ohio on account of the death of the grandfather, Martin Swartz. Here they lived until after Mr. Swartz's mother�s death, when they moved to eastern Kansas, and Mr. Swartz became a member of the South Kansas Conference. Five years were spent in that part of the State, then the family went to southwestern Kansas and took a claim in Clark county, where they lived five years, enduring many hardships unknown to the younger people of the State of Indiana. In the spring of 1890 Mrs. Swartz was called to Nappanee by the condition of her mother, Amy Winder. Here the family has since lived. Rev. Swartz has not taken regular work as a minister for the past seven years. For most of that time he has traveled as salesman of books. At present he is salesman and general agent for a well-known firm of Chicago. He is, and has been for years, a Prohibitionist and an active temperance worker. He and his wife have a family of six children: Mary L. was born December 30, 1868, in Wayne county, W. Va., attended district and village schools in Illinois, Ohio and Kansas; at the age of sixteen she began to teach school and followed this the most of the time until the spring of 1888, when she went to the eastern part of the State and attended school two years in Neodesha, graduating in the spring of 1890, when she came to Nappanee and has taught school one term in Union township since coming here. Luther E., the next child, was born in Illinois May 11, 1871. He, too, attended school in Illinois, Ohio and Kansas, but has acquired most of his education by careful reading at home. He has also attended the Nappanee Normal. In western Kansas he worked the farm. He, his next younger sister and his brother drove with loaded wagons from western Kansas to Nappanee in the fall of 1890, a trip of 1,129 miles by the route they traveled. Since then Luther was creamery man for a few months, and in the fall of 1891 began teaching school in Locke township, where he is engaged to teach the present year. He is a well-posted young man, and is one of Nappanee's "eligibles" to appointment as postal clerk, as he passed a creditable examination in Chicago in the spring of 1892. Kittie A. was born at Sunbeam, Ill., August 19, 1873, attended district school, has gone parts of two years to the graded schools of Ashland, Kan., and the last two years to the Nappanee schools; Hattie S. was born in Illinois July 1, 1875, and died September 27, 1882; Alice G. was born at Summit, Ill., July 31, 1848, and Charles Ellsworth was born at Edna, Kan., January 11, 1881. The younger children had not much schooling while on the frontier, but have attended school regularly since coming to Nappanee.

NATHAN POOLEY. Among the honored and substantial business men of Goshen who have retired from the active duties of life, is Nathan Pooley. He comes of good old English stock, his father, Edward Pooley, having emigrated from Suffolk, England, in 1824, bringing his family with him. His wife's maiden name was Mariah Smith, and she was also from Suffolk, England. Six children were born to them, as follows: Edward, George, Mariah, Ann, Nathan and Mary. Mr. Pooley settled at Marion, N. Y., and died a few years after coming to this country, when Nathan our subject, was but eight years of age. The latter was also a native of Suffolk, England, born February 10, 1822, and was about two years of age when his parents brought him to this country. The mother died the year following her arrival in this country. Thus at an early age young Pooley was left an orphan. He was taken and reared by Oliver Durfee, a Quaker farmer of Palmyra, N. Y., and here young Pooley found a good home and secured a good education, not only attending the district school, but the high school at Marion. When he reached the age of twenty-one years his kind benefactor gave him his note for $400, which he afterward paid. This worthy man gave him still more, as he had instilled into the mind of his young protege the principles of morality and temperance, and a strong love of honesty and truth. He was a kind and affectionate father to the orphan boy, whose brothers and sisters were also reared by the same good old Quaker. On September 25, 1844, Mr. Pooley married Miss Mary J. Bilby, daughter of William and Mary (Strape) Bilby, the former being of an old colonial New Jersey family and a native of that State. Mrs. Bilby was of German ancestry. Mr. Bilby moved to New York State in 1826, and settled at Marion, where he worked at the blacksmith's trade the remainder of his days. He was the father of six children, all of whom are now living: Jeremiah, John, Joseph, Christopher, Mary J. and Thankful. Mr. Bilby lived to the age of seventy-one years, and was a very substantial and wealthy man. He and wife were members of the Baptist Church and they were honored and esteemed by all. Soon after marriage, in 1844, Mr. and Mrs. Pooley moved to Michigan, and settled on eighty acres of land that her father had entered in 1831, and resided on this for a time. This land Nathan Pooley redeemed by paying the taxes, and also bought out the heirs. This Michigan farm was almost in the wilderness, and with the assistance of his most estimable wife, and by much hard labor, Mr. Pooley soon had a good home. He planted orchards, erected substantial buildings and made other improvements. After remaining on this farm about ten years, or until April, 1855, Mr. Pooley came to Goshen, Ind. He brought his family the next fall, and engaged in the boot and shoe business. By thrift and attention to business he accumulated considerable property, and continued in this business for twenty years. He was successful, built several houses and a commodious brick store on Main street which he owns, as well as his residence and other real estate; seventeen acres of land adjoining West Goshen. Mr. and Mrs. Pooley hold membership in the Baptist Church, and Mr. Pooley has been church trustee for many years. He and wife were among the founders of the Baptist Church in this city, and assisted liberally with their means in building the first church of that denomination in Goshen, and also the present structure. In politics be is a strong Republican and is one of the original Abolitionists, his Quaker benefactor early infusing into his mind a hatred of slavery. Fred Douglass delivered his first lecture at Palmyra, N. Y., and young Nathan Pooley was among his interested hearers. Before the war Mr. Pooley and others assisted slaves from the South through this county by means of the underground railroad. Mr. Pooley is one of the honored citizens of Goshen and has held a number of local positions, the most prominent being alderman, township trustee and supervisor. He has taken an active interest in the cause of education, and was a member of the school board. He has assisted in establishing good schools in Goshen, is public-spirited and thoroughgoing. He gave all of his children good educational advantages. William E., supplemented his schooling received in the common schools by attending college at Kalamazoo, and the Commercial College at Buffalo, N. Y. The other children were educated in the public schools of Goshen. William E. who is a farmer of Missouri, married Miss Kate Richmond, of Goshen, and they have five children; Emma M. married William M. Davis, a machinist, and resident of Topeka, Kan., and they have three children; Charles A. married Miss Lydia Irvin, a book-keeper in Goshen, and they have one child. Mr. Pooley is a strong temperance man and has ever been an honorable, upright citizen. During his long career as a business man his integrity has remained without a stain.

DAVID C. MILLER. A worthy history of Elkhart county, Ind., could not be given without mentioning the name of Mr. Miller, who, for over forty years, has been a prominent resident of this county. During his long term of years here his good name has remained untarnished, and he has well and faithfully performed every duty, both public and private, that has fallen to his lot. He is a native of the Buckeye State, born in Montgomery county, near Dayton, June 8, 1817, and was a son of Jacob and Polly (Michel) Miller. Jacob Miller was born in Kentucky about 1795, and was the son of David and Abigail (Morgan) Miller, and the grandson of Phillip Miller, a native of Maryland, whose parents came from Germany and were pioneer settlers of Kentucky. The grandfather of our subject was one of three brothers, Daniel, David and Abraham, all of whom lived to be aged men. They left the Blue Grass State on account of the slavery question and settled in Mont�gomery county, Ohio, where they reared their families. All were members of the Dunkard Church. The grandfather of our subject, David Miller, was married in Maryland to Miss Morgan, and these children were born to them: Michael, Jacob (father of subject), Lydia, Esther, Katie, Betsy, Susan and Nancy. Only one died when young, and he was accidentally shot. The above mentioned children settled in Ohio, married, reared families, and there most of them passed the remainder of their days. The father died in Montgomery county at an early day. The father of our subject, Jacob Miller, was a boy of about ten years when his parents moved to Ohio, and he there grew to manhood. He married Miss Polly Michel and reared the children who are named as follows: David C., Michel, John, Mary, Sallie, Emanuel, Henry, Hettie, Susan and Martin. All are now living but Michel and Susan, and all married and reared families. Our subject, Susan and Martin moved to Indiana and settled in this part of the State. Michel died in Ohio a very wealthy man, and John also became quite wealthy and is now living in Kansas. The father of these children died in 1861. He was one of the early pioneers in Ohio, and was a very popular man. He accumulated a handsome property, all the result of his own exertions, and liberal in his contributions to all worthy enterprises. Mrs. Miller, his wife, was born in Pennsylvania, and was but seven years of age when she came with her parents to Ohio. She was the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Mayer) Michel, natives of Pennsylvania, who moved to Ohio at a very early day. She was born in 1800 and died in 1851. Our subject was reared on a farm and secured a fair education in the district schools. In 1838 he married Miss Rachel Bigler, a native of Washington county, Penn., born May 1, 1817, and the daughter of David and Nancy (Graybill) Bigler. Mr. and Mrs. Bigler came from Washington county, Penn., to Stark county, Ohio, and died there when aged people. They reared a large family of children as follows: Andrew, Rachel, Moses, Daniel, Amos, Julia, Nancy, Phoebe, Delila, Lydia, Barbara. Two died young, but most of the others are living. To Mr. and Mrs. Miller were born ten children, nine daughters and one son, and all but four now living. Nancy married and is now residing with her son David, in Kosciusko county; Jacob resides on a farm in this county (see sketch), Mary married Daniel Wysong (see sketch), Hannah married Adam Miller, of this township (see sketch), Susan died when seven years of age; Sarah (deceased) was the wife of Charles Stuart; Julia married Joshua Wysong (see sketch), Rachel married Joseph Geyer, of Union township; Lavina married Henry Wysong (see sketch), and Malinda (deceased) was the first wife of Solomon Pepple. Mr. Miller has a number of grandchildren. He has resided in this county for many years, and his farm was covered with woods when he first settled on it. He has witnessed the growth and development of the country and has contributed his share toward its improvement. He has held a number of local offices and has ever proved himself a man of good judgment and sound sense. He and his estimable wife are not enjoying the best of health just at present, but surrounded by their children, they are thus rendered happy. Both are members of the Dunkard Church, and Mr. Miller votes with the Democratic party.

CHARLES FRANK is an intelligent man of affairs, who keeps abreast of the times, and is an honored ex-soldier of the Civil War. He is descended from good old Pennsylvania stock, and was born in Beaver county, of that State, March 18, 1842, a son of Reinhold and Catherine (Raupp) Frank. He received a common-school education at first, which he finished in the Academy of Beaver county, Penn. At the age of nineteen years, on September 14, 1861, he enlisted from his native State in Company B, Seventy-fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, with which he served on many a hard-fought battlefield for three years. He took an active part in the engagements at Cross Keys, Va., Cedar Mountain, Pope's campaign in Virginia, Freeman's Ford, White Sulphur Springs, Waterloo Bridge, second battle of Ball Run, the two days' battle at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was then sent to the Department of the South, and for one year was before Charleston and in several severe skirmishes. From that place his regiment was sent back to Washington, and he was mustered out of the United States service September 14, 1864, receiving honorable discharge. He was an active and efficient soldier, and in the best years of his life he did not hesitate to risk his life and face rebel bullets on many a hard-fought battlefield. To such men as Mr. Frank the nation owes its preservation. During the last year and a half that he gave to his country he served on the non-commissioned staff as regimental commissary. After the war he came to Mishawaka, Ind., and engaged in the lumber business with Frederick Lang, buying out the interests of two of Mr. Lang's partners. Since that time he has been engaged in the business, and has conducted his affairs in such a manner that his patronage has grown to large proportions and his name come to be as highly regarded as his bond. He is thoroughly posted in matters pertaining to his business, and also has exceptionally intelligent views on the general questions of the day. He chose for his companion through life Miss May Buchheit, and to their union four children have been given: George F., J. Norman, Estella M. and Grace L. In 1889 Mr. Frank took up his residence in Mishawaka, where he has since continued to reside, he and his family being highly regarded in the social circles of the place. He is a member of Houghton Post, No. 128, G. A. R., of Mishawaka; has held all the offices in the same and at the present time is adjutant. He is a member of Monitor Lodge, No. 286, I. O. O. F., of Mishawaka, in which honorable order he has filled all the chairs. Politically he has ever been a stanch Republican. He is a man who is thoroughly respected for his honorable traits of character and sound judgment, and although a Republican held the office of justice of the peace for four years in Madison township, which always goes strongly Democratic. Like many of the old soldiers, after fighting his country's battles he settled down to business, and became a practical, successful man and a highly respected citizen. John George Frank, his paternal grandfather, was a citizen of Wurtemburg, Germany, in which kingdom his son Reinhold was born. When seven years of age, or in 1806, the latter was brought to America by his father, who was a member of the famous Rappist Colony under George Rapp, and for a time resided in Pennsylvania and afterward in Posey county, Ind., on the Wabash River. The elder Mr. Frank died soon after coming to America, but his son Reinhold lived with the Rappites until he was thirty-five years of age, after which he resided for some time in Beaver county, Penn. He died in 1872, at the age of seventy three years. He was the father of Ernestine M., George F., William A., Charles, Julia D., Augustus and Edward R. Mr. and Mrs. Frank were members of the Lutheran Church, and she is yet living at the age of seventy-seven years. The maternal grandfather of Charles Frank was John George Roupp, who was born in the grand duchy of Baden, Germany, and served as a soldier in the Baden contingent under the great Napoleon. He married and became the father of two children: Catherine and Madelina, the former becoming the wife of Reinhold Frank. Mr. Roupp came with his family to America in 1832, and settled in Beaver county, Penn., where he died at the patriarchal age of eighty-nine years. He became a substantial man of affairs, and was for many years identified with the Dunkard Church.

O. N. LUMBERT, who has justly earned the reputation of being one of the most enterprising and progressive men of Elkhart during his ten years' residence in the city, is deserving of no inconsiderable credit for the success he has thus far made of life, particularly so when this result has been attained unaided and entirely through his own efforts. He is a native of Ingham county, Mich., his birth occurring in March, 1849. His father, Orrin Lumbert, was a farmer in very limited circumstances and his death, when our subject was only about one year old, left the widow, formerly Betsy Reynolds, and only child in destitute circumstances. Mrs. Lumbert remarried, but in 1854 died, leaving her child, at five years of age, to the merciless task of fighting his own way in the world. Young Lumbert's early career was not altogether an experience of happiness and contentment. Poverty was one of the chief drawbacks, for being too young to earn his own livelihood, he necessarily had to put up with such necessities as his relatives could afford to contribute, which were very meager indeed. At the age of fifteen a change for the better came to him not in the way of a cessation from hard labor and privations, but in helping formulate habits for the better which previously had no restraint or guiding hand. It was at this age, when lads are usually accustomed to the tender care of a mother and the ennobling influences of home, that his youthful ardor led him to enlist under the stars and stripes for the preservation of the Union. The discipline of army life benefited him, not only in his soldier life, but in after years when manhood had fully come to him. For nearly two years he was under the command of that great military leader, General Sherman, participating in his campaign to the sea, through the Carolinas, and in the Grand Review at Washington. Returning to civil life, he followed farming summers and attended schools winters for a number of years, and later engaged in the painter's trade. Acquiring in this way a good, practical education, he married Miss Athelia R. Earl, in 1878, and the succeeding year began "keeping house" in Eaton county, Mich. In 1880 he entered the employ of an insurance company located at Detroit, and from the very beginning displayed marked ability for this line of business. He later accepted the position of superintendent of agencies for another Michigan company, and was thus employed until 1883. In February, 1883, he organized the People's Mutual Benefit Society, of Elkhart, Ind., and from that time to the present has been an officer, director and an active worker for this company, of which he is now secretary. Unquestionably the People's Mutual Benefit Society owes much of its prosperity to the marked business sagacity of Mr. Lumbert. Aside from his success in business, Mr. Lumbert has been active in the promotion of his adopted city's best interests; is connected with various public enterprises and socially is a Knight Templar and Thirty-second degree Mason. He is a Republican in politics, a "hail fellow, well met," and the father of one child - Ollie E.

SAMUEL RENSBERGER. Among the sons of Pennsylvania who have brought with them to this western land the sturdy habits of independence, integrity and industry which have ever marked the natives of the Keystone State, it is a gratification to be able to name Mr. Rensberger, whose beautiful and well-tilled farm of 141 acres in Elkhart township, and eighty-eight acres in Clinton township, show him to be a man of thrift and enterprise. His father, Jacob Rensberger, was born in Somerset county. Penn., and was a son of George Rensberger. The family originally came from Germany to this country at an early date, and first settled in Maryland, but afterward changed their location to Pennsylvania, where George Rensberger attained manhood and married and became the father of the following children: John, Jacob, Adam, Jonas, Catherine, Eva, Susan and Lydia. The father of these children lived until the snows of eight winters had passed over his head, paying the last debt of nature in Fayette county, Penn., at the residence of his son John. During the latter part of his life he became a member of the Dunkard Church, having throughout life been a successful farmer and a respected citizen. His son, Jacob S., was born April 1, 1807; received a limited common education; was brought up as a farmer and was married in Somerset county, Penn., to Fannie, daughter of Daniel and -- (Mast) Hochstetter, and to them a family of eleven children was born: Caroline, Eliza, Josiah, Samuel, John, Jacob, Jonas, Edward, William, Susannah, and Lewis. After his marriage, Mr. Jacob Rensberger settled in Somerset county, but in a short time moved to Fayette county, and after a time returned to Somerset county. In 1832 he became a resident of Holmes county, Ohio, where he entered and settled on a tract of wild land, a portion of which farm he cleared, and in the spring of 1847 he came to Indiana and settled two miles east of Goshen, where he bought 120 acres, and became well known as an industrious and honorable citizen. Samuel Rensberger, his son, came to Elkhart county, Ind., at the age of sixteen years, and about May 10, 1847, settled on the farm now owned by Samuel Rensberger, his son. He was born in Elk Creek township, Somerset Co., Penn., June 15, 1831, his advantages being such as the common schools afforded. He remained with and assisted his father on the home farm in Indiana for about three years, then worked for various farmers in Jefferson, Elkhart and Clinton townships for some four years, and on March 30, 1854, won for his wife Martha, daughter of Beltser Hess (see sketch of Israel Hess), and on November 2, following the celebration of their nuptials, he moved onto 102 acres of the old homestead which he had purchased, and here his career as a married man began. He greatly increased his acreage and has given seven of his children $1,000 each. His children are as follows: Josephine S., Alpheus D., Albert A., William W., Hiram, Melvin M., Cephas, Chloe F., Mary A. (who died at the age of sixteen years), and Grace P. Mr. and Mrs. Rensberger are members of the German Baptist Church, and he is actively interested in the progress of his section, in which he has held a number of local offices. All his children have been well educated, and his son, Melvin, has been a successful school teacher of his county for three years. Mr. Rensberger has always been industrious, pushing and thrifty, and it is not to be wondered at that he has made a success of his affairs. He is liberal in the use of his means in the support of enterprises that recommend themselves to his excellent judgment, and in every sense of the word is an acquisition to the community in which he has so long made his home.

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 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 before 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 but 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 Reck, 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 residing in Union township, and Joseph who was born December 12, 1839, is a farmer of that township also. The parents or these children first settled on Elkhart Prairie and took up eighty acres of land, which was later traded for 160 acres where the subject 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 numerous 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, prominent 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 Virginia, 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 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, Huldah, Margaret, Zachariah, Harriet, Elizabeth and Gideon. After the birth of his 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 a 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, 1ike the majority of boys, has followed in his ancestor's footsteps, and is now classed among the most prominent and successful agriculturists 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., Luella, Mary and Maggie B. The June following his marriage Mr. Harper moved to his present farm, then consisting 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 Bosilla 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 Valparaiso, 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 determination, 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 fol1ows: 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 was the owner of 160 acres of land. He was an intelligent, well-informed man, although he gained his education 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 terms. She belonged to a family of teachers, eight of her brothers and sisters having taught school. She is a 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 reared by David and Rebecca (Barringer) Rodibaugh. 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 he 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 comfortable residence, where he and his wife dispense a refined and generous hospitality 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 Wean 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. Varaum's Rhode Island troops through the Revolutionary 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 education 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 his early manhood he was united in marriage with Miss Clarissa Slocum, by whom 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 profession 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 famous 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 be 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 a 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 as 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.

Deb Murray