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JOHN W. ELLIS, president of the Elkhart Paper Company. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is endowed by nature with such gifts as characterize true manhood and progressive citizenship in all that the words imply, and is descended from ancestry that won honorable distinction in the American Revolution as well as in the War of 1812, manifesting their love for truth, justice and right and for their country by deeds of valor on many a bloody battlefield. His paternal grandfather, Jacob Ellis, who was born in New Hampshire, was a lineal descendant of the Ellis family that landed at Plymouth Rock. He was reared to manhood on a farm and was following that occupation when Great Britain was endeavoring to enforce her unjust laws, and when the call for troops came he gallantly responded and served throughout the entire struggle with the mother country, rising to the rank of lieutenant. After the war terminated he removed to Oneida county, N. Y., with his family, and was one of the first to settle in the vicinity of Utica. Here he resided until he paid the last debt of nature at the advanced age of ninety-four years. He was the father of two sons and two daughters: Jacob, Joel, Cynthia and Sarah. The eldest of these children, Jacob, was born in New Hampshire April 20, 1787, but was left without the loving care of a mother when he was very young, and when his father took up his abode in the Empire State, he also located there and there attained man's estate. He became interested in freight transportation on the lakes, by schooners, and found this quite a profitable source of revenue. On June 16, 1811, he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Burch, who was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., December 28, 1792, being one of fifteen children born to Thomas and Nancy Burch. About one year after the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis they settled in Oswego county, N. Y., of which they were among the first settlers, and secured 112 acres of land of the Holland Purchase, and although the land was totally unimproved and heavily covered with timber, they settled thereon, erected a log cabin and began battling for an existence in the wilderness, their capital consisting of much energy and pluck and a hand-made "chest," which they used as a table, and the contents of which consisted of their sole personal effects. Not long after making this settlement Mr. Ellis entered the service of his country to participate in the War of 1812 and was at Sackett's Harbor at the time the British endeavored to make a landing. Years after, or about 1850, Mr. Ellis received as compensation for his services a warrant for 160 acres of land. He was a man of indomitable energy, was resourceful and progressive and developed a fine farm from the forest and erected substantial buildings thereon. In Pulaski, the county seat, he built a large hotel, which he conducted for two years, but his early days of pioneer life had left its impressions upon him, and in the early part of 1831 he concluded that the far west had more attractions for him and offered better advantages and opportunities than the hemlock stumps and pine knots of Oswego county, and he boarded a schooner for Detroit, his objective point being Chicago, for he realized a portion of the possibilities of a country located at the head of navigation. Leaving Detroit, he started across the country on foot with his knapsack strapped to his back and walked the entire distance to Elkhart - over 170 miles - and upon arriving at that place was persuaded to locate, which he did after due consideration, purchasing about a half section and entering a section of Government land adjoining what is now the city limits on the east of the town, which at that time was called Two Mile Plain. He then returned to New York and in October, 1831, brought his family thither and settled on the land he had previously purchased and entered and which was destined to be his future home. He was very successful in all his undertakings and brought under cultivation over 500 acres of excellent and valuable farming land, and erected the first frame barn that was ever put up in Elkhart county, in the spring of 1832. During those early days an enormous business was done by boating on the river for the shipment and importation of merchandise and Mr. Ellis, being a live business man, erected a large warehouse at the confluence of the Elkhart and St. Joseph Rivers, and he also owned boats for the transportation of goods. He did much for the development and upbuilding of Elkhart, and while putting forth his efforts to bring about this desirable result he also increased his own wealth and at one time owned over 1,000 acres of land, besides other valuable business interests which were eventually divided among his children. In an early day, after stages began to thrive, Mr. Ellis built a tavern on his farm and for about eighteen years conducted this on his farm, it being the headquarters and stopping place for stages and the traveling public for some fifteen years. His wife bore him eight children as follows: Maria, Fannie, David (who died in infancy), Joel, David, John W., Sarah and Louisa. John W. and Fannie are the only surviving members of this family, the latter being the wife of Edward Loomis, a resident of California. Jacob Ellis, the father of these children, was a member of the Masonic fraternity from the time he was a young man until the day on which his death occurred, December 26, 1860, and he was also a life long member of the Congregational Church, as was his wife. In the early part of his manhood he affiliated with the Whig party but he afterward became a Republican, although he voted for Andrew Jackson on one occasion. His last years, which ended a useful and successful career, were spent retired from active life and in comfort in the homes of his children. To illustrate the generous character of Mr. Ellis, the following is given: During the first years of his residence in Elkhart county educational facilities were very meager and Mr. Ellis contributed the use of a building for a school room for the use of the rising generation. He was also first and foremost in contributing and assisting to establish religious advantages in the way of churches, although the denomination was not always of his own choice. His son, John W. Ellis, whose name heads this sketch, was born in Oswego county, N. Y., August 12, 1825, and therefore, was less than six years of age when his parents settled in Elkhart county, at which time the country was extremely wild and the population mainly consisted of Indians. During his boyhood days his playmates in many instances were the dark-skinned children of the forest, and as far as occupation went his father found a ready use for him on the home farm, and with that line of work he became thoroughly familiar. His education was necessarily limited, for his advantages were very few, but by close application he succeeded in mastering a great deal of useful information which he could not otherwise have obtained. When about twenty years of age his father placed him in charge of the large warehouse on the banks of the St. Joseph River, and he found his time fully occupied for at that time the entire business of the section came through river navigation and his father practically had control of all the storage and forwarding transacted here and did an enormous business. Although the position was a very responsible one, Mr. Ellis was gifted with natural executive ability and successfully managed affairs for about four years, when an older brother took his place and Mr. Ellis turned his attention to merchandising, which calling occupied his attention until the spring of 1850, when he went to the gold regions of California in search of a fortune. He made the trip across the plains from where Omaha is now situated to Sacramento in fifty-six days, the quickest trip recorded of the season. Two years later he returned east as far as Illinois and for four years was a merchant in that State, after which he returned to his former home in Elkhart and from that time until 1870 the peaceful calling of a farmer occupied the attention of Mr. Ellis, but he also continued to carryon merchandising. Like his father before him he has devoted his influence and his means to assist in improving and building up the city, and no enterprise of any importance has been inaugurated to which he has not lent valuable aid, either in the way of money or by influence and labor. He is one of the promoters and builders of the Excelsior Starch Company, and for twenty years was closely identified with the same, being secretary of the company a considerable portion of this time. It was an enterprise that employed from ten to twelve hands at first, but now gives employment to seventy-five or eighty, with a corresponding increase in business. He also assisted in establishing the Eagle Knitting Works, which was started in a modest way but now furnishes work for 400 people. He was president of this institution for many years, and was one of the projectors of the Electric Street Railway, being one of its board of managers and secretary of the company. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has taken all the degrees up to that of Knight Templar, and he is an active member of the Congregational Church. Politically he has always been a Republican and from 1860 to 1872 he was assessor of the town and township and during the Civil war was enrolling commissioner and deputy collector of internal revenue. He was also one of the first aldermen after the organization of the city. On July 26, 1849, he was married in Lake county, Ill., to Clarissa W. Green, who was born in Bristol, Vermont, September 22, 1831, a daughter of Isaiah and Mary (Gage) Green, who were born in the Granite State. Mr. Green died in 1864, but Mrs. Green survives him and resides with her son, Cullen W., in Elkhart. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis are the parents of five children: Mary C., Jay B., John F., James S. (who died at the age of twenty-two years) and Lulu B. Mr. Ellis owns a farm adjoining the city of Elkhart, which originally consisted of 185 acres of land, and, besides, a large amount of real estate in different parts of Elkhart, as well as manufacturing interests. He has been eminently successful and through his success and generosity the city has gained much. Although he is now retired from active business life, he still takes pleasure in assisting, almost daily, some of the many business enterprises he is connected with. His son, Jay B. Ellis, graduated from the Hahnemann Homoeopathic School of Physicians and Surgeons, of Chicago, and is engaged in the practice of his profession at Ligonier, Ind. John F. Ellis graduated from the Homoeopathic Medical College, of New York City, and is now practicing medicine at Eureka Springs, Ark.

�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

JOHN THORNTON. The older members of a community are doubly entitled to the respect and esteem of their neighbors when their lives have been replete with acts of kindness, and their whole career marked by integrity and uprightness. Among those who have fought the battle of life successfully, is now retired from active life and in the enjoyment of the fruits of his early labors may be mentioned John Thornton, who is an intelligent and progressive citizen of Elkhart. He is a product of Summit county, Ohio, where he first saw the light of day May 19, 1831, his parents, Henry and Sarah (Kreitzer) Thornton, having been born in Snyder county, Penn., where they were reared and married. In the spring of 1830 Mr. and Mrs. Thornton emigrated to Ohio, and after a residence of twenty-seven years on a farm in Summit county they came to Elkhart county, Ind., and in Section 32, Cleveland township, Mr. Thornton purchased 160 acres of land on which he made his home until he paid the last debt of nature on March 31, 1880. He was an active member of the Evangelical Church, in which he was steward for several years, and being active and enterprising and a worthy citizen, his death was deeply regretted by the community at large. He was a successful tiller of the soil and at the time of his death left an estate valued at about $15,000. His widow survived him until April, 1886, her death occurring at the home of her daughter, Luvina Kuntz. She was a daughter of John Kreitzer, a native of Germany, who came to America with his parents when a child, and at the time of his death, which occurred when his daughter Sarah was about fifteen years of age, he was a well-to-do farmer of Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Thornton a family of thirteen children were born: Elias; Hannah; Leah, who died at the age of five years; John; Noah, who died in infancy; William; Mariah; Peter, who died March 9,1892; Solomon; Samuel; George; Lavina, and Louisa, who died at the age of eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton were persevering and industrious and everything that they accumulated was by dint of hard work and energy, for their married career was commenced in poor circumstances. They were very ardent supporters of the cause of temperance, were earnest workers in the church and their children and grandchildren have inherited the same excellent qualities and are living examples of their respected ancestors. The paternal grandfather, Henry Thornton, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. John Thornton, whose name heads this sketch, attended the common schools in the vicinity of his home in his youth, and discharged the numerous duties that can always be found for a boy on a farm, during which time he acquired a practical insight into the details of agriculture. On February 3, 1852; he was married in his native county to Miss Susannah Weyrick, who was born in Summit county, Ohio, March 13, 1828, a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Walter) Weyrick, who were born, reared and married in Snyder county, Penn., and removed to Summit county, Ohio, about the year 1825, where they lived until their respective deaths. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Thornton they made Ohio their home for one year, then settled in Osolo township, Elkhart Co., Ind., where Mr. Thornton first purchased a farm of eighty acres, but sold this place three years later and purchased 120 acres in Cleveland township, which he still owns. Not only has he been successful as a tiller of the soil, but he has devoted considerable attention to the various enterprises inaugurated in the county, and so far as it lay in his power has assisted in their promotion and establishment. He has been a director of the Home Fire Insurance Company of Elkhart county for eleven years, but resigned his position about four years since, and in the fall of 1889 retired from active business pursuits and took up his residence in Elkhart, where he purchased a comfortable home in which he and his wife are living in comfort and quiet. After Mr. Thornton settled in Cleveland township, he purchased sixty acres of land which increased his farm to 180 acres, the income from which is amply sufficient to supply all his needs. His farm is occupied by tenants, but is kept in good farming condition, and the building and fences in excellent repair by Mr. Thornton, who is an intelligent man of affairs and decidedly progressive in his views. He and his wife are active members of the Evangelical Church and have reared their children in that faith, the names of the latter being as follows: George W., William H., Levi B., Leah C., Sarah E., Emanuel W. and Amelia, all of whom are living and have homes of their own. Mr. Thornton has always voted the Republican ticket, although in local affairs he is not a partisan, and being an enterprising citizen, has done much to further the best interests of the city of Elkhart, as well as the county. As an illustration he was one of the promoters and original stockholders of the electric street railway, his original stock amounting to $2,000, but he has since taken $1,500 more, although it has never been a paying investment, only five of the first stockholders retaining an interest in the same at the present time. In addition to his farm he also owns other property in Cleveland township and enough land in St. Joseph county to amount to 242 acres, which he disposed of at different times. He owns six lots in Elkhart, besides his residence lot, and has erected two houses on some of his property. He was one of the first stockholders in the Fair Association, an enterprise of considerable magnitude lately established.

CAPT. ORVILLE T. CHAMBERLAIN, attorney at law, resident at Elkhart, Ind., is one of that multitude which has achieved no great distinction or renown, but which, nevertheless, constitutes the bone, sinew and brain of the commonwealth. He was born at Leesburg, Kosciusko Co., Ind., September 1, 1841, and when two years old was brought to Elkhart by his parents, Dr. Joseph W. and Caroline (Tryon) Chamberlain. He was here reared to man's estate and has always made Elkhart his home. In his youth he attended the local schools, and besides standing high in his classes, acquired considerable skill and reputation in amateur theatrical entertainments conducted by the Omega Society. He clerked in his father's drug store, worked at the printer's trade and then taught three successive winter terms of school at the Bunker Hill school house two miles south of Elkhart. In 1860 he became a student at Notre Dame University, and was graduated from the commercial department as Master of Accounts. He did not complete the higher courses of study, which he had begun, because of his enlistment in the army, but in 1868, as a recognition of his high standing and diligence as a scholar, the faculty of the uni�versity bestowed upon him the honorary degree of Master of Arts. August 6, 1862, he became a private in Company G, Seventy-fourth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry; was shortly afterward made orderly sergeant, and afterward successively promoted second lieutenant, first lieutenant and captain of his company. On the field at Chickamauga he was appointed acting adjutant of the regiment, which position, together with those of company commander and judge advocate of court martial of the division, he held most of the time during the remainder of the war, personally, laboriously and ably discharging the duties incident to all those positions. He participated in the Crab Orchard, Nashville, Tullahoma, Chattanooga, and Atlanta campaigns, in Sherman's march to the sea, the march through the Carolinas and in the Grand Review in Washington at the close of the war. In the battle of Jonesboro, which Gen. George H. Thomas said "struck the finishing blow in the Atlanta campaign," he assisted in the command of his regiment and led the charge and bayonet fighting - which resulted in the capture of the enemy's battery, and earth-works. For his part in this contest Col. Morgan, the regimental commander, and Col. Este, brigade commander, recommended him for appointment in the regular army. Gen. Sherman made an order allowing Capt. Chamberlain to retain the side arms of a guerrilla officer whom he had personally captured, and also recommended him for such appointment. He was repeatedly tendered appointments such as brigade inspector, provost marshal, etc., but believing he could be more useful where he was, he sacrificed the benefits personal to himself which he would have gained by acceptance, and remained with his comrades until he was mustered out with his command at the close of the war. Shortly after his return to civil life, the President tendered him a commission as first lieutenant in the regular army. On the day the commission was received his father died, and because of this event he declined the commission in order that he might care for the stricken family. Engaging in the study of law he was, in time, admitted to the bar and has since actively prosecuted his profession. As an attorney he is noted for his care and industry. His fidelity to the interests of his clients and the integrity and sagacity shown in the management of his clients' interests, have enabled him to occupy a useful position in his profession. In 1874 he made an effort to be nominated as candidate for clerk of the circuit court, but was defeated. With that exception he has never in any manner sought any office or vote for himself. He has served as town clerk, as district attorney and as city attorney for several terms, which offices he filled with ability and honor. He has manifested a lively interest in public affairs and improvements, having been a projector in several business enterprises, and is a director in the Opera House Company and president of the Jones & Hill Manufacturing Company. Miss Helen M. Mead became his wife September 1, 1869, and one daughter, Edith, has blessed their union. Captain Chamberlain is a man of fair ability, without any pretense to anything further. He has improved his fair but limited opportunities reasonably well, and while he has reached no particular distinction, he has attained reasonable success in most of his undertakings, and is a prominent and useful man in the community in which he resides. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and Loyal Legion.

WILLIAM A. BUTLER is an Indianian by birth and bringing up, and has inculcated in him the sterling principles of the better class of citizens of the Hoosier State. He was born in July, 1831, on the old homestead, and as soon as old enough began pursuing the paths of learning in the pioneer log schoolhouse of olden days. His grandfather was a blacksmith and a citizen of Culpepper county. Va., of English descent, and was accidentally killed while a resident of Virginia. He was the father of the following children: Zaccheus, Alsea, Nancy, Joshua, David, Elizabeth, George, Fannie and Eliza. Zaccheus, the eldest of this family, was born in Culpepper county August 19, 1795, received a common-school education and learned the blacksmith's trade of his father. When he was twenty-one years of age his father was killed, and as he was the eldest of the family the burden of its support fell upon his shoulders, but by energetically wielding the hammer in his blacksmith shop, he managed to keep the wolf from the door. On February 28, 1820, he was married in Virginia to Sarah, daughter of Thomas Scalock, and eight children eventually came to bless their home: Burwell J.; Owen T., who died at the age of twenty years; Tillman P.; Ira A.; William A.; Francis B.; Julia E. and Annie C. In 1822 Mr. Butler removed to Ross county, Ohio, and after working at his trade in Chillicothe for eight years he took up his residence in Fort Wayne, Ind., but one year later located in Benton township, of Elkhart county. He settled on a woodland farm on the banks of the Elkhart River, and here the rest of his days were spent in tilling the soil and working at his trade, his shop being the first one in his section of the country. People came to him with work from Elkhart Prairie and other parts of the county, and by this means he earned the money with which to purchase eighty acres of land, and in order to enter it he walked to Fort Wayne, a distance of forty-five miles, in one day and returned home the next. Through good management he, in time, became the owner of 560 acres, most of which he entered by eighty acres and each time made the trip to and from Fort Wayne on foot. He was a man of great industry and assisted by his faithful wife, who was a woman of great sagacity and prudence and an excellent manager, although she was of small stature and possessed a not over strong constitution. Mr. Butler was a member of the Baptist Church, and was a Democrat politically until the formation of the Republican party, after which he gave his support to that party. He gave eighty acres of land, or its equivalent, to each of his children, and was in every respect a kind and considerate father and husband. He was a useful pioneer settler and helped lay the foundation of the magnificent commonwealth of Indiana, by many years of unremitting toil, perseverance and push. He lived to be eighty-five years old, dying in 1880. When the country was new he was a great hunter, and many deer and wolves fell victims to his skill as a marksman. In 1835 he assisted in killing a bear that was caught stealing a hog from Mr. Elsea, and was tracked and killed in a neighboring swamp by Mr. Butler, his eldest son and Mr. Elsea. His son, William A., was reared a farmer, and grew up in the rough school of pioneer life. On October 19, 1869, he was married to Mary B. Cowan, a daughter of William and Narcissa (Jones) Cowan. [See sketch of the Cowan family for a more extended notice.] After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Butler settled on land belonging to the old Butler estate, consisting of eighty acres. By industry and thrift and estimating the land which his wife inherited, consisting of 167 acres, he has now in his possession 616 acres upon which he has made excellent improvements, erecting a handsome brick residence in 1882 which is tastefully furnished, and bears evidences of culture and refinement. Mr. and Mrs. Butler are the parents of three children: Wina S., William Burton and Eddie L. These children are receiving good educations and interesting reading matter and wholesome books are an important feature of the family life. Mr. Butler is a Republican, and although he is eminently capable of filling any office within the gift of the county, he much prefers the quiet, unostentatious life he is leading. His wife was formerly a member of the United Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM COWAN, SR. The ancient Scotch Highland clan of Colquhon (Cahoon) were stanch Catholics until the Reformation, when one branch embraced the Protestant faith and to emphasize the event changed their name to Cowan. In 1732 two brothers and a nephew came to America. The brothers settled in New York City. The nephew, William Cowan, removed to Pennsylvania, fought in the siege of Louisburg in 1745 and subsequently united with his neighbors in their defense against the Indians. Among his papers is a duplicate of the article transferring his allegiance from George III to the Continental Congress dated in 1776.

He married Annie Wilson and in 1788 removed to Bourbon county, Ky., his family consisting of three sons and three daughters. In 1794 his second son, William, was married to Mary Steele, and in 1806, in consequence of his hatred of slavery he removed to Clark county, Ohio. There his wife died. In 1832 Joseph Steele Cowan, eldest son of William and Mary S. Cowan, removed with his family to a farm adjoining New Paris, Elkhart Co., Ind. In 1834 William Cowan, Sr., with the remainder of his family, excepting one daughter, settled in Plain township, Kosciusko county, he giving each of his children eighty acres of land. The country was still occupied by the Pottawatomie and Miami Indians. The settlers boiled potatoes for their hogs and the whites of 1835 can remember seeing a circle of Indians grouped around the great fireplace in (W. C's.) kitchen waiting for the potatoes to be done, when each would plunge a sharp stick into the kettle, capture a potato and proceed with great gravity to peel and eat it. "The only time I ever remember hearing them laugh aloud was when looking at a doll of mine, prettily dressed and that had joints in its limbs, they would pass it from one to another, make it assume different positions and then laugh. It was the only "schamoke" man's invention I ever saw them notice," says one of the family.

William Cowan, Sr. (third in direct line of the name), died in 1838. His eldest son, Joseph, who fought when a boy of seventeen, in the War of 1812, was a justice of the peace in this State and Ohio for more than forty years, a member of the State Legislature, and all his life an active and public-spirited citizen. Four of his nine children remain in this State: John W., an invalid, and blind for years; Mrs. P. C. Merrick and Mrs. Margaret Murray reside in Goshen, and his eldest daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Hively, in Elkhart. Two sons are in the far west; the rest are dead. Mr. Cowan., Jr., engaged in farming and merchandising in Kosciusko county until in.1849, when with a company of twenty men of which he was captain, he went to California and died there in December of that year. He left one child, a daughter, a resident of Goshen.

Thomas Cowan, youngest son of the second William Cowan, was married in Ohio to Jean Gamble, who was of Scotch-Irish descent and came to this country from Ireland with her father and a half-brother in the ship that brought the tea to Boston Harbor in old Revolutionary times, and was on board the vessel when the tea was thrown into the harbor at the memorable Boston tea party. He moved to Indiana in 1832, bought a farm near New Paris and died in 1846, leaving his aged wife (who died in 1851), one son and two daughters. The daughters married and settled in Kosciusko, Ind. The son, William, a well-known and highly respected citizen, was in 1840, married to Narcissa Jones, daughter of Samuel Jones, a pioneer of Noble county, Ind., by whom he had two daughters: Mary B. and Jane G. He cleared a farm in the vicinity of New Paris, made a good home for himself and family and became possessed of 300 acres of land. Both Mr. Cowan and his wife were members of the United Presbyterian Church, in which he was for many years an elder. Mr. Cowan died in 1871 and his wife in 1884.

C. J. GILLETTE, ex-sheriff of Elkhart county, Ind., owes his nativity to the Empire State, his birth having occurred in Genesee county, September 26, 1825, his parents, Henry and Betsey (Jenks) Gillette, who were of Scotch-Irish descent, having also been born in the East. Both families were early settlers of the region, and from this State the paternal grandfather, Timothy Gillette, enlisted in the War of 1812, in which struggle with the mother country he rose to the rank of captain. He was a farmer and mill owner by calling, and accumulated considerable means. Adam Jenks, the maternal grandfather, died soon after settling on a farm, in Ashta�bula county, Ohio. Henry Gillette, the father, also became an early emigrant to Ashtabula county, Ohio, and there he reared his family and resided until his death, which occurred after many years of invalidism. He and his wife became the parents of seven children, four of whom are living at the present time: George W., of New York City; C. J., the subject of this sketch; Julia and Helen, the last mentioned being residents of Ashtabula county, Ohio, and the mothers of families. C. J. Gill�ette removed to Ohio when thirteen years of age and received the principal part of his education in Geneva, but as the schools of his boyhood days were not like those of the present, he was not so thoroughly drilled in his books as he could have desired. Owing to the ill health of his father, the support of the family rested upon his and his brothers' shoulders and as they naturally possessed good business judgment, their efforts were prospered and they were successful in keeping the wolf from the door. C. J. Gillette remained with his mother until he was twenty years of age, when he married and removed to an establishment of his own. He continued to reside in Ashtabula county until 1857, when he moved to Camanche, Clinton Co., Iowa, at which place he engaged in the hardware business for two years. In 1859 he moved to Mishawaka, Ind., but after spending one season there came to Elkhart, in which place he took up his residence in the fall of 1859, soon after embarking in the grocery business. From the time of his arrival in the city until 1873 he was an active business man. In the fall of that year he was appointed marshal, William Proctor resigning, which office he held until elected sheriff of the county in 1878, to which office he was re-elected in 1880, serving his two terms in a very efficient and satisfactory manner. Since that time he has been practically retired from the active duties of life. He owns considerable property in Elkhart, also Chicago, and being very progressive in his views, he has done much toward building up the town of Elkhart. He is a demitted member of the Masonic fraternity, was a member of the corporation board for two terms before Elkhart became a city, and has otherwise interested himself in the progress and development of the place. He was married in 1845 to Miss Mary Palmer, of Ashtabula county, Ohio, who was a native of Vermont, by whom he has two sons, both of whom are residents of Chicago: Lamar, an employe in the Goodyear Rubber Company, and Henry, who is in the mail service. They are bright young business men and creditably fill first-class positions. The mother of these two boys died January 15, 1876, and the father took for his second wife Miss Frances C. Bates, also of Ashtabula county, Ohio. She removed with her parents from the East when but a child and was a warm personal friend of his first wife. Mr. Gillette is a stanch Republican politically. In 1859 when he took up his residence in Elkhart it was a town of 1,000; at this date, December 1, 1892, a city of over 13,000.

JAMES E. WEDDEL is of Welsh descent, a member of one of the old pioneer families of Elkhart county, and seems by nature to have been especially designed for a planter, for he has met with more than the average degree of success in pursuing that calling, and is now the owner of a fine farm of 300 acres, which he has shown himself quite capable of conducting in a satisfactory manner. After coming to this country his grandfather settled in Westmoreland county, Penn. twenty miles from Pittsburg, where he followed the calling of a farmer and died when full of years, a highly respected citizen. He reared three sons: Joseph, Jesse and Peter. Jesse Weddel was born in Westmoreland county, and in addition to receiving a practical education in the common schools, he obtained a thorough knowledge of farming, which he found to be of great use to him when he started to tilling the soil on his own account. He became a very prosperous farmer, and was also the owner of a large distillery. He was a faithful soldier of the War of 1812, in which he did effective service, was loyal to the core, and throughout life was deeply interested in the welfare of his native land. He was married to Nancy, daughter of Ephraim and Agnes Davis, and by her became the father of the following named children: Joseph, Amanda, William, Rebecca, Peter, James, Agnes, John and Elizabeth. Mr. Davis came to Indiana and visited Elkhart Prairie in 1828, then went through Michigan to Detroit and thence home. The following year he returned to Elkhart Prairie, then went on to Chicago and St. Louis, but found no place he liked as well as Elkhart Prairie, and here he entered land as soon as it was open for settlement. He was a substantial farmer, owning at one time a considerable body of land, and at the time of his death was the owner of 200 acres, having prior to that time made a number of real estate sales. He was called from life in 1838, at the age of sixty years, having been a famous hunter throughout life, and during the days when game was abundant throughout this section, he kept his family well supplied with meat. His son, James E., whose name is at the head of this sketch, was born in Westmoreland county, Penn., June 11, 1831, and was an infant in his mother's arms when he was brought to Indiana. His father died when he was but seven years of age, and he consequently received but little schooling, and is principally self-educated. In his early childhood his father went to mill to Big Prairie Round, fifty miles distant in Michigan, and used often to go to Ft. Wayne for supplies also. James E. was reared in the country, but after he attained his majority he went West for the purpose of seeing the country, and traveled through Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. For some time he was in the livery business in Georgetown, Colo., and drove a stage from Aurora to Rock Island. Later he worked on a steamboat on the Mississippi River, and for three summers held the rank of second mate. He returned to Indiana finally, and on March 14, 1867, he was married to Annie C., daughter of Zacheus and Sarah Butler, the former of whom came to Benton township in 1831, and settled on land now owned by Mr. Weddel. He was from an Ohio family, originally from Virginia, but became well known throughout Elkhart county, where he became a prosperous farmer and reared a family of eight children: Burwell J., Owen (who died at the age of twenty years), Filmon T., Ira A., William A., Francis B., Julia E. and Anna C. Mr. Butler lived to the age of eighty-five years, dying on the farm where so many years of his life had been spent. His wife's death occurred four days previous to his own, and they were buried in the same grave on the same day. After his marriage Mr. Weddel settled on the Butler homestead, but two years later changed his place of residence to the Weddel homestead in Elkhart Prairie, where he resided until 1879, at which time he again removed to the old Butler homestead, which he purchased. He is now a substantial farmer and owns about 300 acres of land, which makes him an admirable home, for it is well cultivated and improved, and very advantageously located, both as to farming and stockraising purposes. He was quite an extensive traveler in his early days, and spent considerable time with the Indians, but through it all his record as an honorable man was clean and untarnished, and he bore himself with that uprightness which has ever been one of his leading characteristics. His wife is an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has borne him three children: Carrie D., Zack and Jesse. Mr. Weddel's mother lived to be over ninety-two years of age, for she was born in Westmoreland county, Penn., January 28, 1800, and died in De Kalb county, Ill., March 9; 1892, at which time she was the oldest pioneer living who came to Elkhart Prairie with her family. She was a member of the Old Settlers' Society of Goshen, and for many years of her life had been connected with the Baptist Church. She was a very bright, capable and energetic woman, and after the death of her husband she succeeded in keeping the family together, reared them in comfort and taught them to be honorable men and women. She took for her second husband Hiram Morehouse, by whom she became the mother of three children: Jesse, Emeline and George. Jesse and George were soldiers in an Indiana regiment during the Civil war, and Jesse died in Nebraska of wounds received while in the service, and George was killed while marching with his company. Politically, Mr. Weddel has always been a stanch Republican, supports the men and measures of his party on all occasions, but is not an aspirant for office. His daughter Carrie graduated from the graded school of Goshen, and has successfully taught two terms of school in Benton, and is a young lady of much natural ability. The sons are also well educated.

PETER PHILLIPS, farmer of Clinton township, Elkhart Co. Ind., is of sturdy English stock, and the family tree first took root on American soil about the time of the Revolution. Peter Phillips, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a farmer of Loudoun county, Va.; was there married and reared a family of children, of whom John, Wilson and Nancy are the only ones remembered. He moved to Athens county, Ohio, and lived on a farm there until he was quite advanced in years, when he came to Indiana and made his home with his son John until his death, which occurred at the age of eighty-one years. John Phillips, his son, was born in Loudoun county, Va. and in early manhood removed to Athens county, Ohio, and was married there to Miss Esther Batchelor, whose father had been a soldier of the War of 1812, and her grandfather an old Revolutionary soldier. The Batchelors were of English descent and old settlers of the State of Maine, and pioneers of Athens county, Ohio. Mrs. Phillips' brothers and sisters that are remembered were: Daniel, William, Ollie, Polly, Nancy and Abigail. In 1836 Mr. Phillips came to the new county of Elkhart, Ind., and entered land which his son Peter now owns. To him and his wife seven children were given, all of whom attained mature years: Benjamin, William, Sallie, Eliza, Adaline, Levina, and Peter. Mr. Phillips entered eighty acres of land covered with timber; built a log cabin thereon and gradually began to clear up his land, but besides this, had sixty acres in Clinton township. He was always industrious, thrifty and honest, and politically was a Jeffersonian Democrat. His death, which occurred at the age of sixty-nine years, August 15, 1872, was universally regretted, for he was one of the county's most progressive citizens and was highly esteemed for his upright character and his sterling integrity. His wife was a member of the Christian Church. Their son Peter, the subject of this sketch, was born on his father's farm in this township, January 25, 1840, and was early innured to the vicissitudes of pioneer life. What education he secured in his youth was obtained in the old log school house of those days, and this knowledge he has since greatly increased by reading and contact with the business affairs of life. In addition to becoming familiar with the duties of farming, he also learned the carpenter's trade of his father, who followed that calling from an early day and exchanged work with his neighbors. He took for his companion through life, Elizabeth, daughter of Lewis Williams, who was of Irish descent and was one of the first settlers of Kosciusko county, Ind., to which region he removed from Ohio. He reared four children: Elizabeth, John D., William W. and Jane. Mr. Williams is now residing in Miami county, Kan., and has attained to the age of seventy-four years. He has married twice, his second wife being Miss Mary Miller, by whom he became the father of four children. He has followed the calling of agriculture throughout life and is now in good circumstances. He and his wife are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After his mar�riage Peter Phillips remained on the old homestead; bought out the other heirs of the property and by industry and thrift added to the original tract until he now owns 240 acres. In 1881 he erected a substantial brick residence - one of the finest in the township, and his farm buildings are all substantial and kept in good repair. He is what may be termed a thrifty and prudent farmer, and everything about his place indicates that a man of intelligence and sound judgment has control of affairs. His farm is one of the most valuable in the township, for besides being exceedingly fertile it is well supplied with a number of fine springs of pure cold water, which makes it well adapted to the raising of stock. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Phillips: Alice M., Lewis F., Esther E., Carrie M., Warren W., Orrin E., Nora B., William B., Clarence O. and Grover O. Mr. Phillips has held the office of township trustee two terms, and politically is a stanch Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and he is a very public-spirited gentleman; has been a member of the school board a number of terms and has also held the position of road supervisor. He is giving his children good advantages for an education, and Carrie M. has graduated from the graded schools of Goshen and has taught school three terms in Clinton township and has met with good success.

JACOB YODER, who resides near Goshen, Ind., has been remarkably successful as a husbandman and at one time was the owner of 600 acres of as fine land as could be found in Elkhart county. For generations the family have been members of the Amish Mennonite Church and were originally from Switzerland, from which country they fled on account of religious persecution, to America and sought a home in the wilds of Pennsylvania, where an asylum had been offered them by the great law giver and benefactor, William Penn. The Yoders settled in Lancaster county and were a peaceable and law-abiding people and thrifty and industrious farmers and, like the patriarchs of old, whose ways they closely followed, they multiplied and flourished in the land. Christian Yoder, the great-grandfather of Jacob, was born in Switzerland in February, 1728, but in 1744 he took up his abode in America and until 1775 was a resident of the eastern part of Pennsylvania, at which time he moved to Somerset county of the same State, where he was called from life in the month of November, 1816. His sons were: Christian, Solomon, John, Jonathan, Henry, David and Jacob. He was married twice. His son, Jacob, was born in the Keystone State and became a substantial farmer and land owner of Somerset county. He was also married twice and his first wife bore him a number of children, only David, Christian, Joseph and Elizabeth of whom are remembered. His second wife bore him children named: Mary, Catherine, Philip and Jacob. He lived to be an old man, was much respected in the community in which he resided, was honorable in every particular, was industrious, and in other ways set a good example to his children. His son, Christian, was born in the old homestead in Somerset county, was brought up to a thorough knowledge of farm life in his native county. He was married there to Miss Juda Gindlesperger, who was born July 24, 1787, and died November 8, 1832, after having borne him a family of ten children, all of whom grew to maturity with the exception of two, Peter and Barbara, both of whom died in childhood. Those who attained manhood were: Stephen, Jacob, Tobias, Joseph, John, Valentine, Daniel and Herman. The father of these children took for his second wife Miss Koffman, who bore him two children: Moses and Elizabeth. Mr. Yoder lived to be nearly eighty years of age and died on November 17, 1866, on his farm in Somerset county. He was a devout Christian, a follower of the doctrines of his church and lived an upright and useful life. He was at one time township collector, and in various other ways proved himself a useful citizen. Jacob Yoder, his son and the immediate subject of this biography, first saw the light of day on his father's farm in Somerset county, Penn., September 2, 1814, and there he obtained a slight knowledge of German, but no knowledge of the English branches. He early learned to labor in a thorough and painstaking way and at the age of twenty-three went to Wayne county, Ohio, and worked at clearing land, and was there married on January 4, 1837, to Miss Rachel Yoder, who was born June 23, 1810, in Somerset county, Penn., her parents being Solomon and Barbara (Miller) Yoder. Their marriage resulted in the birth of five children: Herman; Elizabeth, who died in early womanhood; Edward; Amos; and Jonas, whose death occurred in childhood. Mr. Yoder cleared a woodland farm of 150 acres in Wayne county, Ohio, but sold it and in 1847 came to Indiana and settled on his present farm consisting of 180 acres. As he has been prospered financially he has made additional purchases of land and is now the owner of some magnificent real estate which is very valuable. This property was mostly acquired by hard work, in the good old-fashioned way of tilling the soil, in which his faithful wife gave him efficient aid. Like their ancestors before them they are members of the Amish Mennonite Church; have brought up their children to the same belief, and thus have been handed down from father to son the religious principles of the early founders of the church. Mr. Yoder followed the example of his father and gave each of his children a good start in life, but reserved 177 acres in Kosciusko county. This family is an example of prudent living and of simple, Christian life.

DR. G. W. SPOHN, of Elkhart, Ind., is a prominent specialist in diseases of the nose, throat and ear, and is in the enjoyment of a large practice with the better class of citizens in and around the city. He has always been a close student in his chosen profession and the result is every day seen in the large number of patrons constantly flocking to his office, and he is regarded by his friends, and justly so, as doing a very large business. Although the humanizing influences of Christianity are shown in thousands of directions, it is shown in none to a more marked degree than that of medicinal and surgical science. Notwithstanding the fact that Elkhart has many fine physicians, Dr. Spohn is ranked among the leaders. He was born in Concord township, Elkhart county, April 19, 1857, a son of Daniel and Mary Spohn, the former of whom settled in the vicinity of Elkhart in 1844. The Doctor inherits German, English and Welsh blood of his parents. He was brought up on a farm and like the majority of farmer's boys, obtained his education in the district schools near his rural home. At the age of eighteen, being of an ambitious and independent disposition, he secured a school in the neighborhood of his home, and was engaged in teaching for several terms, his leisure hours being devoted to the perusal of medical books. Subsequently he entered the Normal College, of Valparaiso, Ind., where he took a scientific and classical course, after which he was employed as professor of sciences in the college at Portland, Ind., occupying the chair for a term of two years, at which time he resigned the position in order to still further prosecute his medical studies. He entered the office of Dr. Arthur, of Portland, a well-known physician, and completed his course in the Medical College of Ohio, at Cincinnati, graduating in 1887. He located in Elkhart in the spring of the same year and began life's battle against many competitors, and in the practice or his profession he has gained a reputation that money could not buy. Not satisfied with what he already knew of his profession, he took a post-graduate course in the Polyclinic of Chicago, and a like course in the city of New York, and obtained much valuable experience while doing hospital work in that city. He has a nicely appointed office at the corner of Main and Division streets, well equipped with all the latest and modern appliances in instruments and electrical apparatus which he obtained at a heavy expense. In fact, the Doctor is not excelled either in New York City or Chicago in appliances for his specialty. He is a member of a number of medical fraternities, is president of the Elkhart City School Board, and president of the Home Electric Light & Power Company. In 1885 he was married to Miss Elma Clemons, a most accomplished lady of Davenport, Iowa. They have three children: Vera M., Lillian C. and Iris H. The Doctor and his wife are members in good standing in the Presbyterian Church.

Deb Murray