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A. W. SHIDLER. The name of Shidler has been known in St. Joseph county, Ind., for nearly forty years, for in 1854 Mr. Shidler took up his residence in the south part of Union township, at what was for many years known as the Shidler Mill, which came into possession of the Coquillards and was eventual1y burned and never rebuilt. Mr. Shidler is one of the well-known and influential men of the county and, as his walk through life has been characterized by honor, kindness and generosity, he well merits the numerous friends he has gathered about him. He is a product of Stark county, Ohio, where he was born in 1832, the youngest of thirteen children born to George W. and Catherine (Wise) Shidler, the former of whom was born and reared in Washington county, Penn., a son of John and Sarah Shidler, who were among the early residents of the Keystone State, where they eventually passed from life. In the State of Pennsylvania George W. Shidler and wife were married, but about 1800 with his wife and eldest child he went on horseback to Stark county, Ohio, he walking and his wife riding on horseback and carrying the baby who was about one year old. They settled on a woodland farm and as their nearest neighbor was four miles away they would have spent many lonely hours had not their time been fully occupied in the laudable endeavor to clear and otherwise improve their land. He became well known throughout that section as a public spirited and honorable citizen and not only made a success of farming but also of saw-milling, and became a man of considerable property, and gave to each of his children 160 acres of land. He was a Whig in politics and at the time of his death in 1855, in Stark county, Ohio, when in his seventy-seventh year, he was a member of the German Baptist Church. Although he passed through many hardships in the early part of his career, his energy and determination knew no bounds; he not only cleared and improved his land but he made other ventures also, in which he was successful, and he taught his children to be honest and industrious men and women. His wife was a daughter of John and Nancy Wise, who were Pennsylvanians by birth and early settlers of Stark county, Ohio, locating in the vicinity of Canton about 1805. There John Wise entered two sections of land, on which the city of Canton now stands, and there both Mr. and Mrs. Wise were 'called from life'. "The great-great-grandfather Wise was a soldier in the war for independence, and at one time in endeavoring to escape from the British soldiers, hid in a hay mow, where one of the soldiers ran his bayonet through Mr. Wise's hat but did not touch him. Although he came of English stock he was in the active service of the continental army and did much to assist this country in throwing off the British yoke. John Wise, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, reared a family of nine children and Peter and Adam became prominent men, serving in the Legislature of Ohio, the latter being elected to the Senate three different times. Mr. Shidler's mother died in Union township, this county, at the home of her son A. W., in 1867, at the age of eighty-seven years. She had seen many hard times in the pioneer days of Ohio but was always cheerful, helpful and kind. She became the mother of thirteen children: David, the oldest of the family, was born in Pennsylvania, reared a family and died in 1860; Susan, who married Jacob Hoover and moved to Kosciusko county, Ind., where both passed from life; Mary became the wife of B. Clark and lived in Stark county; John is eighty-two years old and is a resident of Kansas; George and Anna died in infancy; Rebecca married John Nunemaker who is now deceased, and who lived in Stark county; Catherine married Philip Meece and died in Stark county in 1850; Peter, who resides in Missouri, was forced to leave his home during the war, and with three of his sons entered the Union army and his eldest son, who was wounded and captured, was starved to death in Libby Prison; after the war the other two sons were engaged to carry provisions to the western forts and were both killed by the Indians; the father, who is now quite aged, is a retired farmer of Missouri; he reared a family of thirteen children; Samuel, who is living in Stark county, Ohio, is a man of family and is a farmer by occupation; Eliza, married Jacob Motz and lives in Stark county; Jacob came to St. Joseph county, Ind., with the subject of this sketch and lived on a farm in Union township where he tilled the soil and operated a sawmill with his brother A. W., for three years. At the close of the war he started for the Black Hills and died at Clark's Forks on the Yellowstone River, leaving a wife and seven children who reside near Lakeville. Adam W., the subject of this sketch, was the youngest of the family and naturally was the last one to leave home. Although his early advantages were not at all good he possesses a valuable fund of information, for his natural abilities and contact with the business affairs of life have in a great measure remedied the lack of early opportunities. At the age of seventeen, owing to the fact that his father was well along in years and unable to follow the plow, he took the management of the home farm upon his own shoulders and continued to successfully conduct it until he was twenty years old. He then bought a farm in the vicinity on which he lived two years, then came to St. Joseph county, Ind., with his wife, whom he had married in Ohio shortly after attaining his majority. During the years that he operated a saw�mill and farmed with his brother, he was successful, but he eventually sold it and bought a portable mill, which he ran for some time. His attention for some time past has been directed to saw-milling, farming and stock raising, sheep and horses receiving particular attention at his hands. He has always been a Republican in politics, and is a public-spirited man who has been active in the affairs of his section. He is a member of Lakeville Lodge, No. 353, of the A. F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F. of South Bend, and is a member of and deacon in the Christian Church, in which he is an active worker. Mrs. Shidler is also a member of the Christian Church and highly respected wherever known; was born in Stark county, Ohio, October 7, 1832, being the youngest but one of a family of fifteen children born to Christian and Barbara (Miller) Klopfenstine, both of whom were born, reared and married in Germany. Eight of their children were born in the old country, three died there, and with the rest they emigrated to this country about 1826 and settled in Stark county, Ohio, where they cleared up a good farm from the wilderness, on which the mother died in 1853, at the age of sixty-two years, a member of the Amith Mennonite Church. The father died five years later when seventy-five years of age. Their children are: Anna, the deceased wife of Christian Yoder of Stark county, Ohio; Michael is a well-to-do farmer of Stark county; Christian, who died at the age of twenty years; Peter, who died in Fulton county, Ohio, where his widow is still living; Barbara is the wife of Peter Miller and lives in Louisville, Stark county; Catherine, wife of John Shilling, lives in Stark county; Joseph is a resident of California, whither he went in 1849, via Cape Horn; Lena became the wife of N. Smith and lived in St. Joseph county, but after the death of Mr. Smith married Samuel Carroll and now lives in Canton, Stark county, Ohio; Andrew lives in Bingham, Utah, was a forty-niner to California and did well as a miner; Mary is the wife of Mr. Shidler; Fannie married Christian Fogle and is living at La Pass, Marshall Co., Ind. Mrs. Shidler lived with her parents in Stark county until her marriage and her eldest child, Bell, was born there July 26, 1853. She is married to Andrew Moon and lives within two miles of Lakeville, Ind., the mother of the following children: Nora, Berton, Edith, Cecil, Don and Eva. The second child born to Mr. and Mrs. Shidler was Francis L., born June 30, 1856, is married to E. Hupp and lives one-half mile east of Lakeville. He is an undertaker and they are the parents of four children: Enid, Maud, Dwight and Mabel. Emma L. was born October 20, 1858, is the wife of John Neddo, lives one mile north of Lakeville and has two children, Homer and Inez. Arthur L. was born September 28, 1860, is living in Ellisville, Ill., and for six years has been a successful practicing physician. He graduated at Valparaiso, Ind., and the P. & S. College of Chicago. He married Laura Hugh and has a daughter, Merl; he is a Republican. Schuyler F. was born October 10, 1862, is a successful physician at Sheridan, Mo.; he graduated at Valparaiso, Ind., and is a graduate at the P. & S. College of Chicago and is married to Hattie Main of Iowa. Alice was born December 14, 1864, is the wife of Dr. A. L. Wagner and has two children, Albert and Marie. John W. was born July 3, 1867, is a hardware merchant of Ellisville, Ill. Adam N. was born September 18, 1869, is associated with his brother John in business and is also teaching in the public schools of Ellisville, and Clem E., who was born December 9, 1874, is an intelligent and energetic young man and was a school teacher in Union township, now started to take a three-year course at Valparaiso, Ind. All the sons at one time taught school and all of the daughters except two, and one of them was a music teacher. Mr. Shidler, has resided on his present fine farm for twenty-eight years and has become greatly attached to the place. He has made many trips throughout the West and South and is an exceptionally well-informed man. He and his wife are very highly regarded wherever known.

�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

HANSON G. MANGUN. Agricultural pursuits have formed the chief occupation of this gentleman, and the wide-awake manner in which he has taken advantage of every method and idea tending toward the enhanced value of his property has had considerable to do with his success in life. In addition to being a successful farmer, whose opinions upon matters pertaining to agriculture carries with them much weight in the community in which he lives, Mr. Mangun was a man of broad intelligence and has given much attention to questions of public import. Originally from Ohio, Mr. Mangun was born in Carroll county, March 24, 1828, and is a son of James and Mary (Germen) Mangun, both natives of Prince George county, Maryland, the father born February 16, 1782. The elder Mangun was reared in his native county, and started out empty handed to battle his own way in life. Much against his inclination or desire he became overseer on different plantations, but as he greatly disliked this he gave it up, and in 1815 came north to Carroll county Ohio. This was in the pioneer days of the Buckeye State, and the country was as yet almost a wilderness. He commenced to make a home in the heart of the forest, and his was the first ax to fell the mighty monarchs of the woods on his farm. To clear and cultivate his land required years of labor and economy, but his toil was rewarded, and he became one of the foremost and substantial men of his section. He made his home on this farm the remainder of his days, and passed away on April 10, 1861. His wife also received her final summons on this farm, her death occurring in September, 1854. She was born on September 2, 1786, and was married to Mr. Mangun December 24, 1807, their nuptials being celebrated in Maryland. The following children were born to them: Ann; Maria; Mary E.; Rachel; Sarah k.; Jane died at the age of nine years; Benedict W.; James; George S.; Hanson G., and Stephen died in infancy. All these children are now deceased with the exception of four sons. Hanson G. Mangun was reared in his native county, and his early life did not differ materially from that of other farmers' boys, who are expected to contribute to their own support as soon as they become physically able to perform any kind of manual labor, and the most important part of whose education is supposed to be industrial training. Mr. Mangun was married October 9, 1851, to Miss Louisa Watkins, a native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and daughter of John C. and Sarah (Kollar) Watkins, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Both were brought to Ohio by their parents at a very early age, Mr. Watkins being only about four years old at that time. In 1851 Mr. and Mrs. Watkins removed to St. Joseph county Ind., and there Mr. Watkins died on November 6, 1879. His wife Sarah is still living, and makes her home in St. Joseph county. To Mr. and Mrs. Mangun have been born nine children, seven of whom are living at the present time: Ezra R. (died in infancy), Sylvester A., Sarah A., Josiah L., Ida B., John W., Mary, Will E. and Charlie. Sarah A. Mangun was married to Lewis M. Gillis of St. Joseph county, Ind., February 13, 1879. To Mr. and Mrs. Gillis have been born three children, two boys and one girl. Ida B. Mangun was married to John D. Gillis of St. Joseph county, Ind., February 26, 1880, and to them have been born two children, one boy and one girl. Sylvester A. Mangun was married to Alice Thornton, daughter of Elias Thornton of St. Joseph county, Ind., February 24, 1881, and to them have been born three children, all boys. Josiah L. Mangun was married to Eliza Hartong, daughter of Levi Hartong of Will county, Ill., December 29, 1881, and to them have been born three children, two boys and one girl. Josiah L. Mangun died December 16, 1888, at the age of thirty years. John W. Mangun was married to Amanda Hartong, daughter of Levi Hartong of Will county, Ill., November 15, 1882, and to them have been born three children, two boys and one girl. The three other children are still unmarried, and at home with their parents. Mr. Mangun has about ninety acres of good, tillable soil, and has nine acres of timber. He came from his native county to this in October, 1867, and here he has resided since. In politics he is a Republican. He and his wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

GILBERT H. BUNCH, who came to this section many years ago, was born in Gates county, N. C., in 1826, August 4, being the eldest child born to Jacob and Sarah Bunch, also North Carolinians, who took up their residence in Wayne county, Ind., about 1832, and after a number of years removed to Union City, where the father died at the age of seventy-two years, a public-spirited citizen and a Democrat politically. The mother died, at the home of the subject of this sketch in St. Joseph county when about seventy-two years of age. Prior to her marriage with Mr. Bunch she married a Mr. Hurdle and by him became the mother of one child, Nancy, who died two years ago. She bore Mr. Bunch eleven children: Gilbert H.; Americus, who is a farmer of this county; Elijah, who is living in Richmond, Ind.; Thomas J., who is a resident of Ohio; Jacob, who died in this county some years ago; Joseph E., who is living in Indiana; Franklin, who is deceased; John, who a1so resides in Indiana; Jackson, who is a farmer of St. Joseph county; Melissa, who died at the age of twelve years, and another child who died in infancy. Gilbert, Joseph, John and Jackson were soldiers in the Union army during the Civil war. Gilbert H. Bunch was an attendant of the common schools of Ohio and assisted on the home farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he began working for himself as a farm laborer, and the first year saved $50 of his wages. In the three years that he continued at this work, although his wages were very low, he managed to save $150. He then began to learn the carpenter's trade, but after settling in St. Joseph county in 1853, he began the manufacture of barrels on his timber farm, at which business he made considerable money. In addition to this he gave much of his attention to clearing and cultivating his land, and now has a well-improved farm of 240 acres two miles northeast of Lakeville, having given 100 acres to his daughter. In 1853 he united his fortunes with those of Mary Reynolds, daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth Reynolds. Mr. Bunch lived on his farm until 1889, when he moved to Lakeville, and has for some time past lived a retired life. He has peen a Republican since the organization of that party, but prior to that was a Democrat. Although he has held a number of township offices he never aspired to do so, but when elected discharged his duties to the best of his ability. Although eight children were born to himself and wife only two are now living; Deming, who died when at the age of two years; Lafayette, who died when one year old; Sarah, who died at the age of thirty-two years, was the wife of S. Judd and the mother of two children, one of whom is living (Ethel P.); Letitia, who died at the age of fifteen years; Delmor, who died when three months old; Willie, who died in infancy; Clara, who is married to Clarence Good, has one living child, Mabel F., her son Milo dying past three years old; and Alva, who makes his home with his parents. On February 18, 1864, Gilbert H. Bunch enlisted in Company K, Fiftieth Regiment, New York Engineer Corps, and was in the service of his country for sixteen months building bridges, forts, etc. He was in many of the principal battles in which the Eastern wing of the army was waged and was present at Lee's surrender. April 9, 1865, he received his discharge at Fort Berry, Va., June 13, after which he returned home to once more take up the peaceful pursuit of farming. He has been a highly honored citizen of this section for many years, and is now enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life.

CAPT. WILLIAM R. ROSS. The philosophy of success in life is an interesting study, and affords a lesson from which others can profit. In choosing a pursuit in life, taste, mental gifts, opportunity and disposition to labor, should be considered, as any young man who has a disposition to become a respectable and useful citizen desires to succeed therein. On September 12, 1825, a boy was born in Rhode Island, who grew up to sturdy manhood, ambitious to excel and possessing much energy and determination attributes which are essential to success in any calling. This boy was William R. Ross, his parents being Arthur A. and Jerusha (Newell) Ross, who were also natives of Rhode Island, the birth of the latter occurring in 1801, and their respective deaths in 1864 and 1865. Arthur A. Ross was a minister of the Baptist Church, devoted thirty years of his life to the cause of his Master, in which his labors were prospered, and he was well known an highly respected over a large territory. His father, John Ross, was a native of Connecticut, and throughout his life followed the occupation of farming, the details of which he had learned of his worthy father, Lemuel Ross, who was a native of the land of "thistles and oatmeal," and also a tiller of the soil. He came to this country with his father, and in early colonial days settled in Thompson, Conn., and the latter was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. To Rev. Arthur A. and Jerusha N. Ross three sons and one daughter were born: Spaulding N., who is living in Cincinnati, Ohio, was the cashier of a bank in that city for twenty-five years, but is now retired at the age of seventy-seven years; Mary E. (Mrs. Coe) is a resident of New York City; William R., and Hiram Augustus, who took up a sea-faring life in 1849 and followed it for four years. The vessel in which he sailed on his last voyage was shipwrecked on the coast of the Cannibal Islands, in the Pacific ocean, and the ill-fated crew were murdered and eaten by the savages. William R. Ross is the third of this family and until he was twenty-one years of age he made his home under the shelter of the parental roof, his education being acquired in private schools. Upon attaining his majority he was united in marriage with Miss Juliett Warner, of Natick, R. I. She was born in Connecticut in 1826 to Christopher S. and Sallie (Greene) Warner, his father being a descendant of Roger Williams, of Providence, R. I., and her mother a direct descendant of Gen. Nathaniel Greene, of Rhode Island. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Ross took place in 1848, and fourteen months later Mr. Ross crossed the Isthmus of Panama on his way to the gold fields of California, he and the members of his party being the first white men to cross the narrow strip of land. In accomplishing this they went up Chagres River in a canoe, a distance of about forty miles, and there made their way on foot across the mountains, following an old Spanish trail to the city of Panama, of Panama Bay. After reaching the El Dorado of the west he followed gold digging for about three months, fourteen or fifteen hours a day being devoted to this work. He then began working at the carpenter's trade, which he had previously learned, and during his stay in San Francisco received from $l2 to $20 per day for his services, accumulating a snug little sum during the two years that he devoted to this work. While he was in the mining district at Hang Town, Cal., he paid for provisions as follows: Flour $1.50 per pound, pork $1.50 per pound, molasses $15 per gallon, saleratus $6 per pound, onions $50 per bushel, potatoes $50 per bushel, and whisky 500 per cent above par. He worked fourteen hours a day and did not make enough to pay for his board, while the next man to him made his $500 per day. Thus it was in the days of gold digging. He left the mines bare-footed and bare-headed and walked fifty miles in one day, swimming several streams and having nothing to eat but pine burrs and nothing to drink but good cold mountain water until he reached Sacramento, his destination. His return trip from San Francisco to Panama was made on an old iron screw steamer, and the last three weeks of the voyage were marked by many hardships. Rations were very short, and four dry and worm eaten crackers were given to each person once a day and the water that they had was only obtained when it rained, by catching what water they could in bed-blankets and wringing them dry in tubs. After this state of affairs had lasted for about three weeks they arrived at Coco Island, which was uninhabited, but there they found plenty of fresh water and numerous monkeys which served them for food. They remained there for about ten days waiting for the mail steamer from Panama to San Francisco and when it came by they obtained from it enough pork and crackers to last them until they reached Panama. Upon his return home Mr. Ross went to Norwich, Conn., where he engaged in the sash, door and blind business, which he followed for four years, then went to Winona, Minn., where he devoted his attention to the same line of work until the opening of the Civil war. He at once showed his patriotism by enlisting in Company D, Minnesota Cavalry, in 1862, as a private and in the spring of 1864 was made captain of the company and was mustered out in the spring of 1866 at Fort Snelling, Minn. He was at Fort Snelling, Minn., in the border service. After returning home he went to Arkansas, where he took contracts for building levees that had been destroyed during the war, a business he followed two years. He next went to New Orleans and took United States contracts for surveying the city and the parish of New Orleans. Two years later he went to Chicago and seven years were there devoted to the carpenter�s trade, but from there he went to Warren Center, St. Joseph Co., Ind., in 1877, and on a farm of 200 acres, located seven miles west of South Bend, he has since made his home. He is a Knight Templar in the Masonic fraternity, which order he joined in Winona, Minn., in 1867. He is also a member of Auten Post, South Bend, Ind., G. A. R. He is an honest and upright citizen, believes in the commandment to �Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you,� although not a member of any church. His wife is a member of the Baptist church. he cast his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce and ever since the Civil war has affiliated with the Republican party, but was previously a Democrat. He takes pride in assisting in all public enterprises and is public-spirited, liberal and high-minded. His entire career has been honorable and upright, and although living in the West when it was invested by lawless and desperate men, he ever conducted himself in an upright manner, and is in every way worthy the respect in which he is held. He is the father of three children who are living: Ella E., wife of C. F. Brenan, a printer of Chicago; Lillie, at home, and Cora, wife of George Witter, Jr., a farmer. They have one child deceased. Capt. Ross� grandmother, Jerusha Coe, was from Rhode Island.

BUNCH & RENSBERGER. The name of this firm is a passport to popular favor and has become prominent in the general mercantile trade, during the three years that it has been in existence. It was established in February, 1889, by H. W. Bunch and C. S. Rensberger, who bought out W. S. Clark, who had for about thirteen years prior to that time successfully conducted a general mercantile business. The young blood that has been infused into the enterprise has been the means of making it one of the most successful mercantile houses of the county, and the amount of business now being done annually reaches the $25,000 mark. The stock is exceptionally large and well selected, and will compare favorably with that of any similar establishment in the southern part of the county. Mr. Rensberger was born in Liberty township, this county, December 30, 1863, the eldest of six children born to Moses and Anna (Deetz) Rensberger, the former of whom was born in Holmes county, Ohio, in 1848, a son of Jacob Rensberger, who was a Pennsylvanian and an early pioneer of Ohio, who, about 1860, took up his residence on a farm in Liberty township, St. Joseph county, Ind., where he died about 1872. His wife also died in this county. All the members of their family, consisting of nine children, are still living. Moses Rensberger was a young man when he came to this section, was married here, and is still residing on his farm in Liberty township. He is a Republican in politics and has ever been very public-spirited. Their children are as follows: Clarence S., a member of the above-mentioned firm; Lester, who is clerking for his brother; Alice, who is the wife of Charles Fruitz; Eli; Lloyd and Ezra. The mother was born in Holmes county, Ohio, the daughter of Jacob Deetz, who were Pennsylvanians by birth, and early Ohio pioneers. Mrs. Rensberger became a resident of Indiana in 1855, and in this State is still living. Clarence S. Rensberger was educated in the district schools, and at the same time assisted his father on the farm until about twenty years of age, when he went West to see the country and while there clerked for some time in a store. In February, 1889, he engaged in his present business and the success which has attended his efforts thus far in his mercantile career speaks in an eloquent manner as to his excellent business qualifications. He has always been actively interested in politics and is a stanch Republican. H. W. Bunch is a product of St. Joseph county, Ind., his birth having occurred in Union township, May 28, 1860, a son of Americus Bunch, who was born in North Carolina in 1829. He is one of two surviving members of a family of eleven children, of which he was the eldest but one. His early life was spent on a woodland farm, and from his thrifty and industrious parents he learned habits of industry and honesty that have been his stepping-stones to success. He attended school in the district near his home, and when he became old enough took up various duties on the farm. At the age of nineteen he began working in the store in which he is now interested, but after a few years gave up this line of work to take a trip West, during which time he saw considerable of the country. In 1880 he entered college at Valparaiso, Ind., after leaving which he became a "Hoosier school master," and was a successful educator of Marshall county for six months. Following this he clerked in the store for W. S. Clark for some time, then he and Mr. Rensberger became the proprietors of their present establishment and have built up a paying trade. He is a public-spirited man and politically is a Democrat. December 1, 1888, he was married to Miss Emma Kern, daughter of Adam and Catherine (Winklesprek) Kern. She was born on the old Kern homestead, in Union town�ship, this county, December 1, 1865, and has borne her husband the following children: Glenn, born February 9, 1890, and Alice M., born February 11, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Bunch are among the highly honored residents of the section in which they reside.

MRS. SARAH WATKINS. The widow of John C. Watkins is a wide-awake lady of much intelligence, and she is now residing on the farm which she assisted her husband in locating and clearing upon their first arrival in the Hoosier State. John C. Watkins was born in Richmond, Va., February 22, 1811, and was a son of Reisler Watkins, who inherited good old Dutch blood of his ancestors. At the age of five years John C. Watkins was taken to Ohio and in that State resided with his parents until he attained his twenty-first year. He then determined to "try his wings" and in a blacksmith's shop of the neighborhood, he thoroughly learned the details of that calling. He was shortly after united in marriage with Miss Sarah Kolars, a German by descent, and for nineteen years thereafter he supported his family by means of the hammer and anvil. In 1851 he came with his family to the territory of Indiana and for some time resided on 156 acres of woodland in St. Joseph county, which he endeavored to improve, but also gave much of his attention to his trade. Later he abandoned his trade and up to the day of his death his attention was given solely to tilling the soil, which occupation was congenial to his tastes and proved a profitable source of revenue, after the first few years of hard work, in which he was gaining a start, were over. While a resident of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, he was superintendent of the County Poor Farm for some time. From the time he was fifteen years of age he kept the faith in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was a devout member when he paid the last debt of nature on November 13, 1879. His widow resides on the home farm, which she conducts in an admirable manner through renters. She is proving herself a good business woman, and as a friend and neighbor is considered generous, kind and accommodating. She bore her husband fourteen children: Hezekiah, who died while serving his country in the Union army; Louisa; Adam; Rosetta; George W.; Hiram L.; Hester; De___, who died in infancy; Ezra; Emeline, who died in infancy; Henson M.; Catherine L.; Sarah and Mary A. Mrs. Watkins and her husband took a baby boy to raise when he was only eight days old, and cared for him until he attained manhood. He subsequently died in the army. Her children are now living in Iowa, Kansas and Indiana and are an honor to the mother who bore them.

JONATHAN W. NICKELS is a prosperous general merchant of Lakeville, Ind., who keeps a well-stocked establishment and by energy and fair dealing has built up a prosperous business. He was born in Marion county, Ohio, January 19, 1851, being the youngest in a family of eight children born to Jonathan and Martha (Shuey) Nickels, the former of whom was born in Wheeling, W. Va., in 1803, and died at the age of fifty-two years in Marion county, Ohio. He was among the first pioneers of that State and made himself and family a comfortable home in the woods where he spent a useful, honorable and upright life. In addition to clearing his farm and tilling his land he followed the callings of a carpenter and architect, at which he was an adept, his ability receiving public recognition when it fell to him to draw up the plans for the new State House at Columbus, in 1849. He made his home at Marion, Ohio, for a number of years, during which time he devoted himself exclusively to contracting and drawing up plans and specifications for different buildings. In politics he was an old line Whig, was very public spirited, had a wide acquaintance in the section in which he lived and wherever known was highly respected. He was married in Ohio to Miss Shuey, who was born in Harrisburg, Penn., in 1810, a daughter of John and Margaret Shuey, who were old-time Pennsylvanians of German stock. The grandfather, John Shuey, lived to the patriarchal age of one hundred and four years and died near Logansport, Ind., in 1864. When he was one hundred years of age he walked four miles to the polls to vote for Abraham Lincoln for the presidency. He was a strong Republican and a man who possessed many noble qualities. The grandmother lived to be quite aged also and died in Indiana, on the farm which the grandfather entered on coming to this State in early times. Mrs. Nickels, the mother of the subject of this sketch, died in 1859 in Fulton county, at which time she was a member of the Baptist Church. She became the mother of eight children, all of whom lived to reach maturity, only one being now deceased. The eldest was Caroline who married Samuel Smith and died leaving four children; Edwin, the next, married Elizabeth Smith and is living in Fulton county, Ind.; Mariam (Mrs. Tucker) is living at Logansport, Ind., and has three children; William W. lives at Kewanna, is a prosperous farmer and has five children; George W. is also in Fulton county, was one of the first to enlist in the service of his country during the Civil war, becoming a member of Company B, Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was wounded in battle, losing his right arm at Chickamauga in the last volley fired (he was a participant in seventeen hard-fought battles, among which may be mentioned Stone River, Missionary Ridge, Bull Run, Shiloh, Corinth, Inks, and the Wilderness; he held the rank of sergeant; he is now a farmer of Fulton county, is married to Sarah Buntain and is the father of six children); Mariah is the wife of John Buntain, resides in Logansport, Ind., and is the mother of four children; Jonathan W.; Martha is the wife of Louis Mullins, has five children, of Fulton county. Jonathan W. Nickels was a boy of five years when the family came to Indiana, and at the age of eight years he was left an orphan, his father and mother both having died, and for some time thereafter he made his home with friends. However, at an early day he started to make his own way in the world, and by his own exertions not only supplied himself with the necessaries of life but also managed to attend the district schools a sufficient length of time each year to acquire a good practical business education, up to the time he was sixteen years of age. He then worked at ditching for several years, after which he took up the carpenter's trade, at which he worked six years. In 1870 he came to Lakeville, where he has since made his home. In 1886 he opened a general mercantile establishment and received the appointment of postmaster under President Cleveland, which he held four years. He has conducted his mercantile business with remarkable success, has a large patronage and is highly regarded in the mercantile circles of the county. In 1889 he was elected to the position of township trustee on the Democrat ticket and ran considerably ahead of his ticket. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Lakeville Lodge, No. 353, and is a well-posted man on the general topics of the day. In 1871 he was married to Miss Ellen Hardy, a daughter of John and Sarah Hardy, who came to this section in an early day from Pennsylvania, and settled in Lakeville. They reared a family of ten children: Mary, Amanda, Avilla, Matilda, Ellen, Amelia, Fernando, Albert, Edward and Nettie. Mrs. Nickels was born December 25, 1847, in Union township, this county, and her union with Mr. Nickels has resulted in the birth of eight children, five of whom are living: Warren, born in 1872 and died at the age of two and a half years; Carrie M., born in 1873, September 16; Willard, born in 1875 and died at the ago of two and a half years; Marshall was born August 20, 1877; Omar was born February 24, 1879; Ethel was born February 14, 1881, and died October 15, 1888; Clarence was born May 6, 1884, and Oren was born March 30, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Nickels are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which Mrs. Nickels has been connected since she was fourteen years of age. Mr. Nickels is decidedly public spirited, is interested in educational work and expects to give his children good advantages.

JOHN MOORE, M. D., has been a close student of his profession and in his mission of "healing the sick" his generous treatment of his patients, his liberality and kindness of heart, have won for him not the respect alone, but the earnest regard of the large clientele which he has gathered around him. The family physician, he becomes also in scores of cases the family adviser in matters of business and affairs other than of a professional nature. He was born in Holmes county, Ohio, August 3, 1836, the fifth of nine children born to John G. and Margery (Miner) Moore, the former of whom was born in the Isle of Erin, August 8, 1808, a son of Gabriel Moore, who came to this country in 1813 and settled in Holmes county, Ohio, where he died at an early day, being about sixty-five years of age. His widow attained the advanced age of ninety years. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John G. was one of their five children, the other members of the family being William, who died unmarried, Mary A., Eliza and Jane. Mary A. married William Kelley and reared a family at Fostoria, Ohio. Eliza married J. M. De Havan and Jane married Hiram Walgamot of Holmes county, Ohio. John G. Moore was about five years old at the time of his parents' settlement in Ohio and there he grew up on a farm, and obtained his education in the district schools of the rural districts. He afterward followed the occupation of teaching for some time, but upon starting out to make his own way in the world, he took up the occupation to which he had been reared - that of farming. In early manhood he was married in Holmes county, his wife having been born in Westmoreland county, Penn., in 1807, a daughter of Robert and Martha (Hewey) Miller, who were also Pennsylvanians. The Millers removed to Holmes county during its very early history, and on a farm in that section they resided until their respective deaths, the grandfather being called from life when quite young and the grandmother when quite advanced in years. Their children were Margaret. Nancy, Isaac, Matthew, Robert and Martha. Isaac is the only member of this family that is living at the present time, his home being still in Holmes county, Ohio. After his marriage John G. Moore continued to reside in Ohio until the death of his wife in 1851, she having borne him nine children, one child dying at the age of four years. The other members of the family are: Robert. who is a prominent physician of Lakeville, Ind.; Lucinda, who married Andrew Martin and died leaving three sons - John, James and Gilbert (John is a resident of Sterling, Ill.; James is a resident of St. Louis, Mo., and Gilbert resides in Dixon, Ill.); William, the next child of John G. Moore, died when four years old; Martha J. married Joseph Karnes, resides at Dixon. Ill., and is the mother of three sons - Louis, Emanuel and Francis, and lost one daughter, Emma, who died in June, 1892; John, the subject of this sketch, comes next in order of birth; Margaret married Erral Uhl, died in Kansas in 1870, leaving two sons- William and Emra, the former of whom is a physician of Gardner, Kan., and the latter a dentist; Allen is a practicing physician of Marshall county, Ind., where he has resided for seventeen years. He graduated from the Fort Wayne Medical College, is a member of the Indiana Medical Association and has practiced that profession for twenty years. He was married to Sarah Ratenson of St. Joseph county. Politically he is a Probibitionist and socially is a member of the A. F. & A. M. Eliza, the next child, died at the age of nineteen years and Emma, the youngest of the family, married George Kelley and lives in Dixon, Ill. She has one daughter, Mattie. In 1865 John G. Moore became a resident of Harris township, St. Joseph Co., Ind., and after residing on a farm there for three years he moved to South Bend, where he died in June, 1883. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a man who took great interest in church work, was public spirited to a degree, and politically was a Democrat. After the death of his first wife he married a Mrs. Lisle, who is also dead. The early life of Dr. John Moore was spent in Holmes county, Ohio, but after coming to this county he spent two terms in teaching school, after which he took up the study of medicine under the instruction of his brother Robert, becoming soon fitted to enter college, which he did at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1860, from which he graduated. In 1861 he established himself at Lakeville, Ind., and since that time has been one of the active practitioners of that section. He is a member of the State Medical Association of South Bend, the St. Joseph County Medical Association and socially is a Knight Templar in the A. F. & A. M. lodge of Lakeville, of which he is W. M. and is still holding the position, and politically the Doctor is a Democrat. He has taken much interest in all enterprises of a public character and is considered one of the most substantial and useful citizens of his section. The Doctor was first married on June 18, 1862, to Miss Harriet A. Johnson, a daughter of A. P. Johnson of South Bend. She was born July 19, 1842, and died in 1866, at the age of twenty-four years, at which time she was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Doctor's second union took place December 31, 1867, Ellen, daughter of Jonathan and Eliza Cunningham, becoming his wife. Mr. Cunningham was killed by falling on the ice at Walkerton, Ind., but the mother is still living on a farm in Union township. Dr. Moore is the owner of an excellent farm of ninety acres south of Lakeville and also owns some fine residence property on South Main street, South Bend, and some in Walkerton. He has always stood high in the estimation of his fellows and has numerous warm personal friends who not only prize his friendship, but also value his services as a physician. His wife is an active member of the W. C. T. D., is a woman of much intelligence and good judgment and is an enthusiastic worker in the Sunday school.

E. D. FAIR. Prominent in agricultural and social circles of Green township, St. Joseph Co., Ind. is E. D. Fair, whose birth occurred in Somerset county, Penn., December 9, 1827, his parents being Jacob and Eva (Deal) Fair, who became the parents of the following children: Clara, E. D., Elizabeth, Lavina, Margaret, Joel J., Leah and Susannah. The father of these children was born in Somerset county, Penn., his father, Christopher Fair, having been born in Germany and during his early life came to this country, but eventually became a resident of Harris county, Ohio, to which region he removed in a two-horse wagon and where he purchased forty acres of land, at which time no improvements had been made thereon. He was extremely fond of the chase, and was an expert rifleman, many deer, bear and other wild animals falling victims to his skill while he was clearing his land. After the death of his wife his children found homes among kind neighbors, and eventually Mr. Fair married again, Elizabeth Davis becoming his wife and bearing him one child, whom they named Angeline. E. D. Fair, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared in the then wilds of Ohio, and in the old-time log cabin, furnished with slab seats and other primitive furniture, he succeeded in obtaining a common school education. He attended school only during the winter, each term lasting about three months, but, notwithstanding these drawbacks, he made fair progress in his studies. On March 9, 1851, he was united in marriage to Miss Susanna Barnett, and on September 23, 1859, arrived in South Bend, Ind., and for three years thereafter resided on a rented farm on Turkey Creek Road. In 1863 he purchased 100 acres of the farm on which he now makes his home, at which time it was heavily covered with timber, and not a tree had been felled thereon. He erected a board house in which he lived contentedly until his circumstances were such as to permit him building a better habitation. He was always averse to holding office, and although at onetime elected to the office of justice of the peace, he emphatically refused to serve, much preferring to devote his time and attention to his farming interests, and as a consequence has been remarkably successful, being now the owner of 580 acres of fine farming land, well cultivated and improved. Although he was reared a Democrat he has always supported the men and measures of the Republican party since the Civil war. His wife is of German-English descent, and has borne him the following children: Harvey D. (deceased), Elizabeth A., Leander, Cyrus (deceased), Alvilda A., Thomas M., John B., Rosa A. and Cora A. Thomas M. is in a clothing store, Elizabeth married a gentleman engaged in the hardware business, and Rosa and Alvilda married farmers. Although Mr. Fair follows the teachings of the Golden Rule, supports worthy enterprises and believes in justice and right, he is not a member of any church. He is one of the substantial citizens of the county and has numerous friends.

C. W. MOON, general merchant and grain dealer of Lakeville, Ind., was born in Union township of this county January 9, 1845, at the home of his parents in the northwest part of the township, being one of their ten children. His parents were Eli and Louisa (Hathaway) Moon, the former of whom was born in Wayne county, Ind., in April, 1822, a son of Malachi Moon, who came thither from his native State of North Carolina in an early day and died in Wayne county when his son Eli was a small child. The grandmother Moon also died in Wayne county, having become the mother of eight children: John, James, Eli, Elizabeth, Sarah, Nancy, Mary and Jane, all of whom are dead except James, who is about eighty years of age. All the early members of the family were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, all followed farming and became well to do. Eli Moon spent his early life in Wayne county and when about fifteen years of age came to St. Joseph county and until eighteen years of age worked as a farm hand. He then started to farming on his own account on some land which he purchased in Union township, but in 1873 he retired from that business and took up his residence in Lakeville, where he lived until his death in 1874. He held office in the United Brethren Church, of which he was a member, and until 1856 was a Democrat in politics, after which he became a Republican. His farm of 155 acres was well improved, but it required many years of hard labor to bring it to its present admirable state of cultivation. He was a well-known and useful citizen, and his death was a source of much regret to all who knew and respected and admired him for his many sterling traits of character. His union with Miss Hathaway took place in 1840, she being a native of the State of New York and a daughter of Jesse and Hannah Hathaway who were born in the State of New York, but were of English descent. They early became residents of St. Joseph county and here passed from life, he before the war and she about 1873. They held to the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, were well to do and reared the following children: Henry, Gaylor, Abner, Peter, Ezra, Phoebe, Hannah, Louisa, Electa, Ovanda, of which family five members are living. Louisa Hathaway was born in 1823 and died in 1859, an earnest member of the United Brethren Church. She also became the mother of ten children: William H., Charles W., Andrew, Jesse F., George R., Mary, Ruth, Alice, Emeline and Lucina. William, Henry, Alice and Emeline are deceased. William was a soldier in Company H, Seventy-third Regiment Indiana Volunteers and was killed at the battle of Stone River December 3, 1862, at the age of twenty years. He had participated in a number of severe engagements, in which he acquitted himself creditably. He was buried on the battlefield. All the living members of the family reside in St. Joseph county except Lucina, who is a resident of Nebraska. C. W. Moon, the subject of this sketch attended the common schools and the Northern Indiana College of South Bend, and thus gained a good practical education. He remained with his father on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age and then started to do for himself and for four years thereafter was engaged in teaching school. He then began clerking in the store belonging to Mr. Shively of South Bend and still later in Lakeville, and in 1869 embarked in the mercantile business for himself, opening up a general store at Lakeville, which he operated for fifteen years, then gave up the business and once more became a pedagogue in Union township. Three years later he again opened a mercantile store in Lakeville and since that time has followed the business constantly and with good results. He keeps everything that can be required in a general store and for the past three years has also handled grain, making a specialty of wheat. Mr. Moon is a Republican in politics and has been active in the political affairs of his section. He has been justice of the peace for the past ten years and with impartial fairness has adjusted his neighbors' difficulties. Although a member of the A. F. & A. M., in which he attained quite a high rank, he has not attended lodge for some time past. November 16, 1870, he married Miss Mary E. Crosby, of Whitley county, Ind., her birth occurring November 4, 1847, a daughter of Charles and Mary (Shults) Crosby, who came from the State of New York to this section in 1852, and took up their residence in Huntington county and later in Whitley county, where the father died in 1876. The mother is still living. They were the parents of three children: Wellington, Seward and Mary E. Mr. and Mrs. Moon have three sons: Edmund B., born October 6, 1872; Arthur, born January 3,1876, and Marvin, born April 13, 1878. Edmund was a school teacher for some time and is now studying veterinary surgery in Toronto, Canada. When thirteen years of age he graduated from the public schools, being the youngest graduate in the county, and since that time he has not disappointed his friends in regard to his progress. He possesses superior mental gifts and the determination to make the most of his opportunities and talents. Arthur graduated at the age of fourteen years and is now a successful teacher of the county, and Marvin, who also graduated at the age of thirteen years, continues to attend school and assist his father in the store. Mr. Moon has always taken much interest in educational matters and has given his children good opportunities to become well informed men and useful citizens.

DAVID WHITMER, farmer and stockraiser. It is always a pleasure to deal with the history of one who is a member of one of those substantial old families who for many years have been distinguished for patriotism, the genuine spirit of Christianity and the strong characteristics which have made them well and favorably known in the sections in which they have resided. Such a man is David Whitmer, who was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, October 18, 1830, a son of Abram Whitmer, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. When about two years old David was brought to St. Joseph county, Ind., by his parents, and in the old-time schools of this section succeeded in obtaining a practical education, which has since been of much benefit and satisfaction to him. In his youthful days game was very plentiful hereabouts and continued to remain so for many years after their settlement. He was raised to a healthful and vigorous manhood on his father's farm and learned lessons of industry, honor and sobriety which have remained with him to the present day. On February 2, 1854, he took for his wife Miss Celia A. Fuson, and their union resulted in the birth of five children: Melisa A., Alma L., Wilbert L., William A. and Abram W. All are married and live in St. Joseph county. The mother of these children was called from life on November 14, 1872, and until February 18, 1874, his daughters kept house for him, when he was married to Miss Phoebe J. Miller, of Dutch descent, who was reared in St. Joseph county. Her father is still living in South Bend, of which place be is a respected and esteemed citizen. The principles of the Republican party have always recommended themselves to the judgment of Mr. Whitmer, but he has never held office of any kind nor aspired to do so, the proper conduct of his fine farm completely occupying his attention. During the long term of years that Mr. Whitmer has resided in St. Joseph county, the people have had every opportunity to judge of his character, and no whisper has ever been breathed against his fair name. He is an honor to the race from which he sprung. and is one of the most successful agriculturists of his section, being the owner of a fine farm of 260 acres, all the improvements on which were made by himself. His wife is a worthy member of the Dunkard Church, and in every sense of the word is a true Christian.

ISAAC WHITMER, farmer. This gentleman has been prominently connected with the welfare of Green township, St. Joseph Co., Ind. is one of its best known and most influential citizens, and is one of the most enterprising of farmers, using the best methods of fertilizing the soil and improving the land. He was born on the farm which he now occupies, December 14, 1835, a son of Abram and Catherine (Bowman) Whitmer, the former a native of the Keystone State and the latter of Ohio. The Whitmer family is of German origin. and this blood can be readily seen in the members of the family, for their chief characteristics are energy, perseverance, honesty and thrift. Abram Whitmer came from Ohio to St. Joseph county, Ind., in 1831, and first resided about four miles south of South Bend on Turkey Creek road, but remained there only a year or so, when he moved to where his son Isaac, the subject of this sketch, now resides, entering 160 acres of wild land. On this property he built a little log cabin, in which he and his family moved, and in order to at once begin the work of farming he "scratched" a small tract of land on which he sowed some grain, and around which he built a sort of pen in order to hold his claim. In those days the face of the red man was more frequently seen than that of the white, and wild game of various kinds roamed the forests and frequently gave the early settlers considerable trouble by killing and carrying off their stock and destroying their fields of grain. Mr. Whitmer set energetically about the work of improvement and although he for some time had hard work to keep the wolf from the door, his labors at last began to. be rewarded and funds became more plentiful. In time he added eighty acres to his homestead tract and also forty acres of heavy timber land. On this valuable farm he breathed his last on December 13, 1872. In early days he did his trading and milling at Bertrand and Michigan City and although these hardships and privations were annoying, there was no such word as "fail" in his vocabulary, and when the country began to be thickly settled his reward came. He was an elder in the Dunkard Church, and was a man who possessed many sterling attributes. His union resulted in the birth of eleven children, one of whom died in infancy, the living members being: Jacob; David; John; Susan; Isaac; Ann; Daniel, an elder in the Dunkard Church; Henry, Mary and Lydia. Christina is deceased. Isaac was born and reared on the farm he now owns, but his educational advantages were limited, owing to the poor facilities in his boyhood days. He attended the winter terms, which lasted about three months and were held in the log cabins of pioneer days. When not in school his time was spent in clearing the farm and with horses tramping out wheat on the barn floor. There were plenty of deer at that time and being a fair marksman the family did not lack for fresh meat. In 1859 he crossed the plains to California in search of gold, but in January of the following year returned home via the Isthmus of Panama, only to again cross the plains to California in the spring of 1860. This time he was absent two and a half years, during which time he not only tilled the soil but also hauled freight over the mountains, making his headquarters at Sacramento. In the fall 1862 he once more returned to the home of his birth, riding a pony across the plains. He was subsequently married and moved to near La Porte, Ind., but in March, 1869, settled on his present farm - his birthplace - where he owns 271 acres of land, nearly all of which is under cultivation. He deals in stock to some extent, but the most of his attention is given to tilling the soil. He was elected township trustee in 1884 and served a term of four years. He is one of the enterprising and representative men of Green township, is a Republican in politics and is a member of the Dunkard Church. He was married in 1863 to Miss Sarah M. Greene, daughter of Nathan and Rebecca Greene, and his union has resulted in the birth of three children: Eva, A. L. and Mary M. Eva, the oldest, has taught school nine years; A. L., the second child and only son, has taught three years; both are now attending College, while Mary M., the youngest, after graduating in the common schools, is now attending the high school of South Bend, Ind.

Deb Murray