Submitted by Jessica McKnight Leonard
Pictoral and Biographical Memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties, Indiana; Chicago: Goodspeed Brothers, copyright 1893; Pages 391-393

Frederick Lang is a native of Germany, and was born May 9, 1834. His father was Frank Lang, also a native of Germany. His education was received in the village of Vaihingen, Germany. He came to America in 1850, stopping at Pittsburg, Pa., for about three years, when he came to this county with his father, and located on a farm. He married Miss Ernestina Frank in 1857. They have 4 children: Otto E., Emma C., Minnie and Ottilie L. In 1864 Mr. Lang erected a saw-mill, which he still owns and operates. He, in company with his brother-in-law, Charles Frank, established a lumber yard in Mishawaka, with a capital stock of $15,000, including the saw-mill, and are doing a good business.

Submitted by Jessica McKnight Leonard
History of St. Joseph County, Indiana; Chicago: Charles C. Chapman & Company, copyright 1880; Page 823

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 (Roupp) Frank. He received a common school education at first, which he finished in the Academv of Beaver countv, 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 Bull 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 honor able 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.

Submitted by Jessica McKnight Leonard
Pictoral and Biographical Memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties, Indiana; Chicago: Goodspeed Brothers, copyright 1893; Pages 599-600

CLAY TOWNSHIP

For three manifest reasons, the history of Clay township must necessarily be short. First, the township itself is small, and unless something remarkable be connected with it, it could not have a lengthy and elaborate history. Secondly, it was not organized as a township until 1840, and therefore everything concerning its early history, particularly concerning the names of early settlers of the township up to that year, will be included in the history of German township. And thirdly, the most important things in connection with Clay township, and indeed, in all probability, in connection with St. Joseph county, namely its educational interests, including Notre Dame University and St. Mary’s Academy, has been included in the State and county history of this work.

At the June session of the Board of County Commissioners in 1840, an order was passed constituting Clay a separate township, and it was named after Henry Clay, who was just in the prime of his political glory. The first election in the township was held in “Brooks’ barn,” now burned down, then on section 30. The first justices of the peace of Clay township were Jonathan Hardy and Samuel Brooks.

During the settlement of German township, that part of it lying east of the St. Joseph river, which is not Clay township, did not settle very rapidly until about 1837-‘8. The first settlement was along the eastern bank for the St. Joseph river, where John Eyler, Lambert McCombs and John Weaver, a German Baptist preacher, together with a few other families located. From the time to the present the population has gradually increased, and at the last census it was 1, 476? At present the citizens are mostly Germans.

Clay township is 38 north, range 3 east, is situated in the northern part of St. Joseph county, and is bounded on the north by the State of Michigan, on the east by Harris and Penn townships, on the south by Penn and Portage, and on the west by the St. Joseph river, beyond which lies German township. Nearly all of the land is broken, or marsh, or timbered land, and across the southwestern part flows a small stream branching off from the St. Joseph river on the west. Across the western part runs a branch of the Michigan Central railroad, connecting South Bend and Niles, Mich. The sections of the township are somewhat irregular, a part of the northern road being in Michigan; and one the west the line is very irregular, owing to the fact that when the township was organized, the St. Joseph river was made the western boundary. At present a large and substantial wooden bridge is in process of erection across the river, from section 23, connecting Clay and German townships.

There is a grist-mill on section 23, on the river, owned by John F. Curly, of South Bend. At present the mill is not running; it was built several years ago by Jonas Harris. Prior to the erections of the grist-mill by Mr. Harris, Mr. Weaver had built a saw-mill on the same location; Mr. Weaver also had a carding-machine and fulling-mill; and for a time did quite an extensive business; but there were afterward removed, and their place supplied by the present grist-mill. There was also at one time a fulling-mill near where St. Mary’s college now stands, run by a man named Graham. And at one time in the history of the township, S. Ulery ran a carding-machine. But these have all long since been dispensed with, and today there is very little or nothing to add to the business interests of the township by way of mills or villages, there being but one of the former, and none of the latter. But villages in Clay township are not necessary, as it is conveniently and closely situated to South Bend. Politically, the township is Democrat.

There are three public cemeteries in the township; one on section 25 near the German Baptist Church; one on section 30, known as the Township Cemetery, and another in connection with Notre Dame University, situated near it and on the land owned by that institution.

But here, in the progress of this subject, let the reader stop and reflect. Were he unacquainted with the educational interests of the township, he would doubtless think that what had already been said concerning them, was in part flattery, but not so. What would be his surprise upon learning that not one tithe has yet been mentioned; for here in the southwestern part of this township are located two mighty literary institutions, St. Mary’s and Notre Dame, two powerful dispensaries of charity and intelligence, whose names are household words throughout all the neighboring States.

But here we forbear from making further mention and giving a more elaborate history of those institutions, as it is given complete in the State and county history of this volume. And then, including these institutions under the head of schools, we can now safely say that the educational interests of Clay township are second to none in the State of Indiana.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
History of Saint Joseph County
Clay Township

Thomas Chalfant, a prominent farmer on sec. 31; P.O. South Bend; is a son of Evan and Anna (Bulla) Chalfant, and was born in Wayne county, Ind., Feb. 18, 1820, and is of English-Irish-Welsh-Dutch descent. He came to this county with his parents Nov. 1, 1832, and settled on the farm on which he still resides; here his father and mother both died, the former, who was a native of Pennsylvania, in 1870, the latter, a native of North Carolina, in 1849. In 1848 Mr. C. was united in marriage to Jane Melling, a native of Ohio, born in 1825 and died in 1861; she was the mother of 4 children, of whom 2 are now living: Nancy J. and Evan P. Mr. C. was married the second time in 1864, to Eleanor C. Alford, a native of Indiana, who was born in 1841; from this union they have been blessed with 2 children: Anna L. and Mary L. Mr. C. has held the office of Tp. Trustee; he is a member of the Grange, of which organization he is Treasurer. Politically he is a Republican. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. His education was limited, but he reads a great deal now, and takes nine or ten papers. He owns 236 acres of land, 175 of which are under cultivation; he values it a $75 per acre. Mr. C. is a successful farmer, and an industrious man.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
History of Saint Joseph County
Clay Township

J. H. Chirhart, a farmer on sec. 30; P.O., Notre Dame; son of Apollinaris and Mary (Meyer) Chirhart, was born in Ohio in 1836, and is of German descent. He came to this county in 1845, with his mother, and first located in Harris tp., where they lived till 865. During that year he was married to Mary M. Palley, a native of Connecticut, who was born in 1834; they have the 6 following name children: Mary M., Alfred M., Edward S., Cecelia J., Anna C. and Joseph. Mr. C. and wife are members of the Catholic Church. Politically, he is a Democrat. He owns 276 acres of land, worth about $80 per acre.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
History of Saint Joseph County
Clay Township

Peter Cripe, the subject of this sketch, is a very old settler and farmer in sec. 2 6; P.O., South Bend. He is the son of John and Eva (Roof) Cripe; both of whom are now deceased, and were natives of Pennsylvania; and was born in Ohio in 1824, of German descent. He was brought by his parents to this county in the fall of 830, and they first located in German tp., where they died and are buried. Peter, the subject of this sketch, came to this tp. in 1852, and was married in 1855 to Phillistia A. Skiles, a native of Indiana, who was born in 1836; she is now the mother of 9 children, all of whom are living: Jane, the wife of Aaron Ulery, a farmer of Clay tp.; Fannie, the wife of John Wrightsman, a minister and teacher of the same tp.; John, Edward, David, Jacob, Eveline, Elsie and Mary. Politically, Mr. C. is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the German Baptist Church. Mr. C.’s education in early life, was limited to subscription schools, in log houses. He owns 137 acres of land on sec. 26, which he values at about $80 per acre. He has been a hard-working, industrious man all his life, and is a highly respected citizen of his community.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
History of Saint Joseph County
Clay Township

Jacob Eaton, a farmer on sec. 13; P.O., South Bend; is a son of Isaac and Margaret (Metzger) Eaton, both of whom died in this tp., - the former Dec. 25, 1869, at the age of 94 years, and the latter, April 23, 1863, at the age of 81 years; his father was a native of Virginia, and his mother of Maryland. Mr. E. was born in Maryland, May 1, 1819. His parents came to this county in September, 1831, and first settled in this tp., afterward entering land on sec. 17, where they resided for a number of years. He was married in 1846 to Elizabeth Barnes, a native of Maryland, born Oct. 27, 1820; she is the mother of 7 children, of whom 6 are not living; Emma F., Clarissa M., the wife of Charles Jennings, a farmer of this tp.; Edwin D., Jonanna W., Norman E. and Mark B. Mr. E. is a Democrat; he held the office of Tp. Trustee for 17 years. His education, when young, was limited, attending subscription schools, in log houses. He owns 225 acres of land, worth $50 per acres, all of which he has earned by hard work and judicious management. He is the oldest permanent living settler in the tp. at present; he fished and swam in the lakes of this tp. with ex-Judge Stanfield, and helped to clear the ground on which St. Mary’s Academy now stands.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
History of Saint Joseph County
Clay Township

Theobold Guli, son of Theobold and Barbara Guli, was born in France in 821 and came to this country about 1831. He was married in 1847 to Mary Chokar, a native of Germany, who died in 1853, leaving 4 children. He was married the second time in 1855 to Terace (Theresa) Emily, a native of Germany, who is now the mother of 4 children, all of whom are living: Edmond, Michael, Lora and William. Mr. G. and wife are members of the Catholic Church. He owns on sec. 20, 250 acres of land, worth abot $70 per acres, and 100 acres of land in Penn tp. He is an industrious man and respectable citizen.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
History of Saint Joseph County
Clay Township

Samuel Jennings, a farmer on sec. 30; P.O. South Bend; is a son of Samuel and Matilda (Bargdoll) Jennings, and was born in this tp. in 1845; he is of English-German descent. His father, who died in1874, was a native of New York; his mother, a native of Virginia, died in 1864. Mr. J. was married in 1870 to Mary Milton, a native of Missouri, born in 1856; she is the mother of 3 children: Lillian M., Harry S. and Asher M. He owns on sec. 30, 80 acres of land, worth about $60 per acres. His wife is a member of the Catholic Church. Politically, he is a Democrat. His educational advantages were good, attended college at Notre Dame for several years. Mr. J. is now Assessor of the tp. In 1863 he enlisted in the army at South Bend, as a private, under the command of Capt. W. W. Andrews, in the 21st Indiana Battery; he was in the service until the close of the war, when he was discharged, June 27, 1865.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
History of Saint Joseph County
Clay Township

John G. Kotz, a farmer on sec. 29; P.O., South Bend; Mr. K. is a son of Jacob and Anna (App) Kotz, both now deceased, and was born in Germany in 1822. He came to this country Aug. 11, 1840, and first settled in Ohio, where he lived about five years, and in the spring of 1846 came to this country; he became a resident of Clay tp. in 1847. In 1844 he was married to Christina Blind, a native of Germany, who was born in 1823; from this marriage they have 10 children, all of whom are living. Jacob, a wagon-maker in South Bend; George, a blacksmith in the same place; William, a farmer in this tp.; Daniel, an artist in Chicago; the following are still at home: John, Charles, David, Mary, Elizabeth and Matilda. Mr. K. and his wife are devoted members of the Evangelical Church. Politically, he is a Republican. His educational advantages in Germany were good; he now reads fluently both the English and the German languages. He owns 10 acres of land, on sec. 29, worth about $75 per acre. Mr. K. is an enterprising, successful farmer. He built a large, two-story frame house in 1879, at a cost of $1,500.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
History of Saint Joseph County
Clay Township

Wm. McCombs, son of Lambert and Hannah (Hague) McCombs, was born in Wayne county, O., in 1818 and is of Irish-English descent. His father died in 1849, and his mother is now living in California, 92 years of age; they were natives of Pennsylvania and came to this county July 5, 1829. They first settled in German tp., where they lived for a short time and then came to this tp. In 1839 Mr. McCombs was married to Eva Cripe, a native of Ohio, born Nov. 2, 1816; she is the mother of 9 children, of whom all are living: Betsy, John, Lambert, Maria, Samuel, Ellen, Hannah, Amanda and William. His wife is a member of the Dunkard Church. Politically he is a Democrat. He owns 247 acres of land, which he values at $60 per acres. Mr. McCombs was a very early settler of this tp., and is an honest, industrious man.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
History of Saint Joseph County
Clay Township

Thomas J. Sossomen, son of David and Elizabeth (Savidge) Sossomen, was born in this county in 1846, and is of Dutch descent. His parents, now living in Mishawaka, are natives of Pennsylvania, and came to this county about 1840. In 1874 Mr. S. was married to Salinda Shearer, a native of Indiana, and is now the mother of 2 children, Harvey and Harlow. He and his wife are members of the Dunkard Church. Politically, he is a Republican.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
History of Saint Joseph County
Clay Township

George H. Stover, School Trustuee and farmer on sec. 28; P.O., South Bend; was bornin Virginia in 1839, and is of German descent. His father, Jacob, a native of Virginia, was born in 1807, and is now living with him; his mother, also a native of Virginia, whose maiden name was Sarah Nofsinger, died in 1871. Mr. S. came with his parents to this county in 1850 and settled in this tp., where he has lived ever since, and where his mother died. He was united in marriage in 1862 to Sophia Meyers, a nativeof Indiana, who was born in 1837, and they have 2 children, both living, William C. and Ella V. Mr. S. is a member of the Masonic lodge at South Bend, No. 45. Politically, he is a Democrat. His educational advantages were fair; he taught several terms of schools and attended college at Franklin, Ind. He owns 40 acres of land, which he considers worth about $75 per acre. Mr. S. is now School Trustee, and the high esteem in which he is held as a citizen of the tp. is manifested by the fact that he has held every other office in the tp. He is an industrious, enterprising man.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
History of Saint Joseph County
Clay Township

John B. Wrightsman, a minister and teacher, located on sec. 26; P.O., South Bend; he is a son of Samuel and Mary (Redpath) Wrightsman, natives of Virginia, and was born in Pulaski county, Virginia, in1853; he is of German descent. His father is living in Botetourt county, Virginia, and his mother died when he was only an infant. He came to this county in 875, and first stopped in South Bend, where he remained about two years, in the mean time, attending high school at that place; he also attended college at Huntingdon, Penn. He after moved to Clay tp., where he was united in marriage in 1879 to Miss Fannie Cripe, a native of this tp., born in 1850; she is the mother of one child, John Earl Cripe. Politically, Mr. W. is a Republican; his educational advantages were poor, being compelled to depend upon his own resources for his education. He has been a minister of the gospel ever since he was 15 years old, having united with the Church at the age of 14. He is now pastor of the German Baptist Church in Clay tp., and is a zealous Christian and an upright man.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
History of Saint Joseph County
Clay Township