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THE CULP FAMILY are among the most prominent of the early families of Elkhart county, Ind., and have for many years ranked among its leading agriculturists, in following which calling the male members of the family have been pronouncedly successful. Henry J. Culp, who is a successful tiller of the soil of Harrison township, is a native of Ohio, a son of John and Sarah (Wisler) Culp, and a grandson of Henry and Elizabeth (Clipper) Culp, who came to this country from Germany, Henry, the grandfather, being an earnest member of the Mennonite Church throughout life. For many years he made his home in the asylum that had been provided by the forethought of William Penn, but in an early day removed to Ohio, where he was called from life on August 13, 1868, at which time he was in good circumstances financially, his valuable property having been acquired through his own efforts. He was active in politics and first supported the Whig party, and later the Republican party. In addition to following the occupation of farming, he also worked at shoemaking, and in early days the pegs which he used in their construction were made by hand. His wife, Elizabeth, died in Ohio in 1867, at the age of eighty years, having become the mother of thirteen children: George, who is a resident of Nappanee; Michael and Jacob, who reside in Ohio; Anthony; John; Joseph; Henry; Samuel; Magdaline; Elizabeth; Barbara; Daniel and Fannie. Barbara (Mrs. Heatwole) is a resident of Goshen. All these children reared families but Samuel, who died when young, and nearly all became residents of Elkhart county, but all are now deceased with the exception of George and Barbara, in Indiana, and Michael and Jacob, in Ohio. John was born in Pennsylvania, but when only two weeks old was taken to Columbiana county, Ohio, in which State he was reared on a woodland farm. He attended the early subscription schools of Ohio, which were in vogue at that period, in which he succeeded in obtaining a fair knowledge of books. He attained a vigorous manhood, owing to the healthy, out-door life that he led, and was very much given to athletic sports and was probably one of the greatest wrestlers that Ohio ever had. He was married in Ohio, in 1837, to Miss Sarah Wisler, daughter of Christian and Susan (Holdeman) Wisler, mention of whom is made in the sketch of the Wisler family, that appears in this work. Mrs. Culp was born in Bucks county, Penn., in 1818, and was one of the youngest members of her parents' family. She removed to Ohio with her parents, was married there, and there resided until about 1850, when she came with her husband to Elkhart county, Ind., and settled in Harrison township, and located on the farm which is now owned by John H. Whisler. At that time it was heavily wooded, but with industry it was soon converted into a good farm. The father had come to this section in 1848, and located the farm, after which his family came and for some time thereafter lived in a little log cabin which Mr. Culp erected. As the country improved, this structure gave way to a better habitation, and at the time of his death, in 1867, he had a very comfortable home and was in good circumstances financially. Besides farming he followed the occupation of painting, and while in Ohio he conducted a fulling and carding machine and also a saw mill. He was a life-long member of the Men�nonite Church, and the principles of the Republican party always commended themselves to his judgment. He was public spirited, held a number of local offices, and was interested in all movements which tended to improve the section in which he resided. His widow survives him at the age of seventy -five years, and makes her home with Henry J., her son. She has been a life-long member of the Mennonite Church and has been a very active and effective worker for the cause of Christianity. She became the mother of thirteen children, the following of whom are living: Henry J.; Elizabeth, who married David S. Fox., of Olive township; Melchor, who is a resident of Elkhart; Hannah, who is Mrs. Anthony Myers, of Olive township; Alpha, who resides in Harrison township; Magdaline, who first married J. Rule and is now the wife of John Michael; Naoma, who married Samuel Bear, and is a resident of Greencastle, Ind.; Susan, who married Josiah Culp, died after rearing a family; Sarah became the wife of Mr. Scott, and the rest of the children died in infancy. The mother of these children is still in the enjoyment of good health and in the good will of numerous friends whom she has gathered about her by her kindly and generous disposition and Christian spirit. She and her husband endured many hardships during their first years of their residence in this country, but their persistence overcame the many obstacles that strewed their pathway, and they were soon in command of a comfortable competency, and beyond the reach of pinching poverty. They reared a large family to industrious and honorable man�hood and womanhood, and had every reason to be proud of the result of their efforts. Their son, Henry J. Culp, was born in Ohio, February 18, 1840, and was a lad when the trip to Indiana was made. He attended the district schools of his section, in which he acquired a good education, and his naturally good constitution was still further improved by the wholesome life he led, for he was compelled to assist his father on the farm as soon as he was old enough. When only a lad he was considered very ingenius and could turn his hand to almost any kind of mechanical work, for the bent of his mind ran in that direction. At an early age he turned his attention to carpentering and built a large number of houses in Elkhart county, doing a general line of contracting and building, in which work he showed himself to be competent and skillful. He is a wide-awake and successful business man, very popular throughout the county, and for nearly thirty years has followed the undertaking business, for which work he seems to be especially adapted, as he is upright in every particular, is prompt in fulfilling his contracts and is kind and sympathetic in his disposition. He was one of the first to establish that business in a first-class manner in the county, and has erected for his own use three hearses and funeral cars, the first about twenty years ago, which, at that time, was the handsomest in the county. He made the car which is used by Culp & Son, of Goshen, which is superbly fitted up and very handsome of its kind. In 1892 he made and put in use the finest funeral car ever used in the State, and which is entirely on a new plan, has many improvements and is justly considered a work of art. It is of his own invention and workmanship and is a credit to his skill, taste and knowledge of the requirements of the business. He is a first-class mechanic and is an artist in the way of designs. He has made a study of his calling, uses the greatest care in his work and his duties to the dead are performed in a most skillful and delicate manner. In company with his son Ephraim, he established himself in the undertaking business in Goshen, in 1890, but the conduct of this establishment is left in the hands of his son, who is well qualified for the work. The establishment is known as Culp & Son, and these gentlemen expect to open a like establishment in Wakarusa, in place of that which is on the farm of Mr. Culp, in Harrison township. Mr. Culp is a public spirited citizen and is held in high respect by all who know him. He has a well-improved farm of seventy-nine acres in Harrison township, on which he has lived for many years, and as a farmer and stock raiser, has been successful, no less than as a manufacturer of burial goods, of which he makes a very superior grade. His success is due to his honor, industry and good business management, and politically he is a strong Republican and interested in all matters tending to improve the county. He was married in his twenty-second year to Miss Catherine Loucks, daughter of the oldest living pioneers of Harrison township - Peter and Anna Loucks (see sketch). Mrs. Culp was born in this township, July 4, 1844, and bore her husband four children: Ephraim, a resident of Goshen; Saloma, who is the wife of Reuben Weaver, of St. Joseph county; Anna, wire of William Canon, of Harrison township; and Ida, wife of Milton Able, of that township. Mr. Culp has five grandchildren. After the death of the mother of his children, Mr. Culp took for his second wife Malinda Bair, daughter of Andrew and Lydia Bair. She was born February 10, 1853, and has borne Mr. Culp the following children: John (graduated in the common school at the age of thirteen), Huldah, Leah, Jennie, Norah, Stanford and Milo. Mrs. Culp is connected with the Mennonite Church, and has kept the faith for many years.

Ephraim Culp, the manager of the undertaking establishment of Culp & Son, of Goshen, was born on his father's farm in Harrison township, July 26, 1864, and was there brought up to a knowledge of agricultural life, his education being acquired in the district schools near, his rural home. He assisted his father in tilling the soil and in the management of his prosperous undertaking establishment until he attained his majority, after which he followed the trade of carpenter for two years, and erected a few houses and barns throughout the county. He became an excellent worker in wood and manifested much natural ability and taste in the work, qualities which he, no doubt, inherited from his father. As a business man he has shown much judgment and shrewdness, and as a farmer he showed himself to be practical and enterprising, and consequently successful. Since May, 1891, he has been following his present business in Goshen, his establishment being located on Main Street, and as he keeps a fine stock of goods pertaining to his business, is conscientious and upright in the discharge of his duties, he is winning favorable opinions from those with whom he has business relations, and his patronage is constantly on the increase. He is a young man of more than ordinary business ability, and has shown himself to be worthy of all honor. Politically he is a strong Republican, is in every sense of the word public-spirited, and is one who would be considered an acquisition to any locality in which he might locate. He was married to Amanda, the daughter of William Gorsuch, one of the early pioneers of the county, and of whom a sketch appears in this work. Mrs. Culp was born October 30, 1864, and on December 28, 1890, bore her husband a son, whom they named Elmer. He and his wife are living on Sixth Street, in Goshen, and their home is a hospitable and comfortable one.

�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

ANDREW H. OUDERKIRK. Mr. Ouderkirk is a prominent citizen of Osolo township, and one whose constancy to the business in hand, and whose thrift, has added so greatly to the value of our agricultural regions. He is a native of Onondaga county, N. Y., born March 13, 1836, and is a son of John and Mariah (Pettigrove) Ouderkirk, natives of the Empire State also, and both of German origin. John Onderkirk followed the occupation of a farmer in his native State until 1840, when he came West to look at the country, and perceiving the advantages to be derived from locating in Elkhart county, Ind., he decided to settle here. Returning to the East he gathered his household effects together, and with his little family, consisting of his wife and three children, took the boat for Detroit, Mich. Arriving at that place he bought a yoke of oxen and a wagon, loaded up his household effects, and started for Elkhart. He was several days making the trip, and was obliged to camp out. After reaching this county he settled in an old house on what is now known as the Tucker place, until he could build a house. He built a hewn log house, the logs being hewn on both sides, this being a decided improvement on the majority of log-houses of that day. Being two stories in height, with three or four rooms, it was considered quite a mansion for the time. The neighbors all came in to assist in the raising, and, as was usual in those days, a good time followed. Mr. Ouderkirk bought 160 acres second-handed, for which he gave 20 shillings per acre, and started out as all pioneers did, to improve and develop his place, which was covered with brush and timber. He was the one to cut the first stick on his place, and from small beginnings he became one of the foremost farmers of the section. Before his death, which occurred in November, 1880, he built the handsome brick residence in which our subject now resides. His widow is still living, and enjoys comparatively good health. They were the parents of five children, as follows: Mrs. Elmer J. Burns, Andrew H., Elizabeth, Charles and Amelia. Andrew H. Ouderkirk was but five years of age when he came to Elkhart county with his parents, and his early scholastic training was received in the pioneer log school-house with slab seats. He never attended more than two months each year, most of his time being given to developing and clearing the farm, and has always made his home with his parents. He is now the owner of 160 acres-the old homestead, which is well improved and under a good state of cultivation. Everything about his place indicates that he is an agriculturist of advanced ideas and progressive principles, and his farm is one of the most productive and best kept in the community. In the fall of 1887 he was married to Miss Levina Bickerhoff. Socially Mr. Ouderkirk is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He raises considerable stock, and is thrifty and enterprising.

CHRISTIAN LANDIS was a native of Bucks county, Penn., where he was born on May 20, 1799, and many years prior to his death, which occurred in Elkhart county, Ind., on February 16, 1892, was a well-known and well-to-do resident of this section. He was a son of Benjamin and Hester (Gayman) Landis, and the former was born on the old Landis homestead in Bucks county, Penn., on which he spent a long and useful life and died at the age of eighty-three years. He was of German parentage who established a home and died in Bucks county, Penn. Benjamin and his wife reared three children: Moses, Christian and Abraham, in the faith of the Mennonite Church, of which they were members. Christian was born and reared on the home farm and was married in his native county to Anna Hunchberger, who was also born in Bucks county, Penn., a daughter of Henry and D. Hunchberger. To this marriage one child was born, Benjamin, who died in Pennsylvania when about thirty years old. His mother also died in that State, after which her husband took for his second wife Elizabeth Licey, who first saw the light of day in Bucks county, Penn., in 1806, a daughter of Christian Licey. To their marriage four children were born: Cornelius, who died in Elkhart county, Ind., at the age of thirty-six years; Anna; Christian, and Moses, the latter dying in 1868 at the age of twenty-five years. Their mother who was a member of the Mennonite Church, died in 1874. The family settled in Harrison township, Elkhart county, Ind., in 1857 and the father first purchased a tract of eighty acres, but later traded it for 160 acres. He became wealthy and left a large estate to be divided among his children. He was a decided acquisition to the county and his death was felt to be a great loss to the community in which he resided and in the welfare of which he has always shown much interest. He was a Republican in politics. His eldest child, Benjamin, was married to Nancy Moyer and two children were born of this union, Sarah and Henry, who reside in Pennsylvania. Anna and Christian are the only surviving members of this family and reside in Harrison township on a well-improved farm of 279 acres all of which is well located, finely improved and an exceptionally valuable farm. Christian, like his father before him, is a Republican in politics, is a man of good judgment and is considered one of the substantial and upright men of the county.

LEONARD DINEHART is a wealthy old farmer of Concord township, Elkhart Co., Ind., and what he now has in the way of worldly possessions, has been obtained through his own good business qualities, his ability to turn everything to a good account and his push and energy. He was born in Copac, Columbia Co., N. Y., May 6, 1818, son of Peter and Margaret (Bechtel) Dinehart, the former of whom was a native of Germany, and the latter a Hollander. The paternal grandfather came from Germany and settled in New York State, and when the Revolutionary war came up, participated in that struggle, being in the colonial army. Peter and Margaret Dinehart spent their lives in the State of New York, and were there called from life. Upon starting out to fight the battles of life for himself, he succeeded in securing a substantial property, but he unfortunately met with financial reverses, and all his accumulations were swept away. This very much discouraged him and he never fully recovered from the losses he sustained, either financially or mentally. He was strictly honorable, and well thought. of by those who had the honor of his acquaintance. His union resulted in the birth of six sons and two daughters, only two of whom are living: William, a resident of Yates county, N. Y., and Leonard Dinehart, the younger of the two, and the subject of this biography. He made the State of New York his home until he removed West, and his education was obtained in the common schools of his native State, which were by no means of the best in those days. Owing to the straitened circumstances in which the family were placed during his youthful days, he was compelled to labor early and late in order to assist his parents by every means in his power, but in this manner he learned lessons of industry and economy, which have been of great value to him in his walk through life, and have assisted him over many a hard path, and have been the means of placing him in an independent financial position. He was married in 1842 to Miss Cholra E. Cale, a native of York State, and in the latter part of 1844 he, with his wife and two children, Orrilla and Bessie, turned their footsteps toward the setting sun, leaving Canandaigua., N. Y., on the canal for Buffalo, then by lake to Toledo, Ohio. On this trip they were wrecked between Huron and Sandusky. A terrible storm arose and disabled their vessel to such a degree that they were unable to make any headway for three days. All the partitions in the vessel were demolished, all the fires were put out, and they were at the mercy of the winds and waves. Mr. Dinehart says that that was the most sincere prayer meeting he ever attended, but fortunately no lives were lost, and they eventually reached Toledo. At that place he took the canal for Fort Wayne, Ind., but left his family at Columbia City, which then consisted of two or three houses in the woods. He proceeded on foot from that place to Elkhart, where his father-in-law had settled several years before, and there he secured a team and drove back to Columbia City for his family. He had just $100 when he reached Elkhart, and came very near losing that. He went to work by the day, month or job, in fact, took any work he could get, and in this man�ner labored for about fourteen years. The fall succeeding his arrival here he bought forty-nine acres of land for which he was to give the sum of $400, paying $100 down and $50 per year until the debt was liquidated. On this land he built a little log house about fourteen feet square, into which he moved on New Year's Day, 1845, and by hard work, close economy and push, he began to accumulate money and property. After a time he purchased twenty acres of timber land, but this he traded for forty acres of cleared land. He next became very desirous of becoming the owner of forty acres of land where he now lives, which at that time was school land, but he had not a cent to pay for it. He borrowed $66 from a man by the name of Frink, giving him a paper acknowledging the loan, made a payment on the land with this money, and was given twenty-five years in which to pay the rest. At the end of the stipulated time he had it all paid for, with a number of acres, added, making in all 250 acres in one body. Much of this land he has generously given to his children, but is still the owner of a fine farm of 130 acres, exceptionally well improved and tilled, and on which is one of the handsomest farm residences in the county. He is highly respected throughout his section, as he richly deserves to be, for he has not only been strictly honorable, but has also been generous, neighborly and accommodating. In addition to conducting his farm he also has a dairy and milks about eighteen or twenty head of fine cows, disposing of this milk at his home. He has given considerable attention to the raising of fine stock, and has found this occupation not only profitable but pleasing. He has an interesting family of eight children living, and two sons deceased.

ABNER BLUE, a pioneer of Elkhart county, Ind., landed in Goshen in March, 1836, the town at that time having about 200 inhabitants. He had but one ambition, and that was to become a successful farmer, but being without the necessary means to secure a farm, he learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, as a means to an end, and the following year managed to secure the possession of some land in Jefferson township, and by engaging a tenant, and by the savings derived from working at his trade, he was enabled to move on the same in pretty fair circumstances eight years later. He was born near Troy, in Miami County, Ohio, April 3, 1819, and until seventeen years of age had not been ten miles from home. His parents, James G., and Mehetabel (Garard) Blue, were born in Pennsylvania and Miami county, Ohio, respectively, the Blue family originally coming from Wales, tradition saying that four brothers immigrated from that country to America many years ago. James G. Blue was born May 20, 1774, to Uriah and Ruth Blue, who were also probably natives of Pennsylvania but removed to Miami county, Ohio, at a very early day. Uriah Blue was a Revolutionary soldier and afterward became a Government pensioner. His death occurred on his farm, in Ohio, on which his son James G. was reared. The latter was a soldier in the War of 1812, and held the rank of captain. His marriage occurred June 18, 1799, his wife having been born August 12, 1777, her parents being Nathaniel and Mary (Lloyd) Garard, who were early settlers of Miami county, Ohio, from Pennsylvania. Mr. Garard was a tanner by trade and for those days was considered a very wealthy man, owning a large farm of improved land, and operating an extensive tannery. He became security for a friend and all his property and the savings of many years of hard labor were swept away. Those who came into possession of the property, were sympathetic and generous and gave him a comfortable home during his declining years. The following are the children of James Blue and wife: David, Judith, Mary, Ruth, Mehetabel, James G., Blackford, John L. and Abner. Mr. Blue was justice of the peace in Miami county for many years, and at one time represented that county in the Legislature and was also associate judge. His death occurred May 20, 1819. His widow survived him until January 30, 1850, her death occurring at the home of her son Abner, in Jefferson township, this county. Abner came to this county with his mother at the age of seventeen, and as he had been deprived of a father's care when very young, his advantages were limited. He was obliged to work early and late in assisting his mother during his younger years. August 17, 1843, he was married in Goshen to Harriet N. Clay. At that time there were but two buggies in the town, one single and one double vehicle, which Mr. Blue engaged for his near friends, and the wedding trip consisted of an overland journey to White Pigeon, Mich. While they did not enjoy the advantages of palace railway coaches and plush-lined drawing-room cars with their numerous mirrors, it is safe to say that there was no more contented or happier party ever set out upon a wedding journey than the one that made that trip to Michigan in the early forties. After the marriage festivities, Mr. Blue and wife settled on the farm in Jefferson township and began life's labor in trying to establish a home. The following children were born to them: Louisa, born September 19, 1844; James L. Blue, born July 26,1846; Clarinda, born November 16, 1848; Hutoka, born February 21, 1853. Mrs. Blue's death occurred July 26, 1859, and on October, 28, 1862, Mr. Blue took for his second wife, Eliza N. Doolittle, who was born February 28, 1833, daughter of Hiram and Lucy (Hudson) Doolittle, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of Maine. They were early settlers of New York, were married there and came to Indiana in 1834, settling at Bristol, Elkhart county. Two years later they removed to St. Joseph county, and on a farm near Mishawaka they resided until the mother died in 1856, and the father in 1872. They were the parents of the following children: Charles, Uri, George, James, Hull, Hiram, Mary, Julia, Lucy, Eliza and Samuel. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Blue: May, born July 31, 1864; and Freddie, born January 14, 1874, and died February 5, 1879. During the residence of Mr. Blue in Jefferson township, he was elected justice of the peace but declined to serve. He has been real estate appraiser of the township and has been administrator of many estates, enjoying the respect and confidence of all who are so fortunate as to know him. In politics he is an ardent Republican but is not a strong partisan in local affairs. He cast his first vote when only seventeen years of age, and has voted at every election since, with one exception. Mr. Blue has in his possession an old family Bible, which came into the possession of his father in early life. It cost $10 and took a load of hemp to purchase it, the hemp being hauled a distance of twenty-one miles. Mr. Blue prizes this Bible very highly, and it is most certainly a valuable heirloom. He is now retired Iron active business pursuits, having passed the age allotted to man, and for several years has been a resident of Goshen, although he still owns the homestead in Jefferson township, and to visit which is a source of great pleasure and gratification to him, indicating, as it does, many years of hard labor.

HON. J. S. KAUFFMAN is one of the successful educators of Elkhart county, Ind., and is especially fitted for the occupation in which he is engaged both by experience and education. He was born in Union county, Penn., July 5, 1849, to John D. and Catherine (Shellenbarger) Kauffman, who were also products of the Keystone State, their ancestors having been early settlers of that State, and of German origin. Like so many substantial and honorable men John D. Kauffman was a tiller of the soil, and continued to devote his attention to this occupation after his removal to Elkhart county, in April, 1866. After residing four miles east of Elkhart until 1869, he removed to Rolla, Mo., where both died, the mother a very short time after settling at Rolla. Of a family of twelve children born to them, ten lived to maturity, and J. S. Kauffman, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest of the family. He was partially reared and educated in Pennsylvania, but after his parents' removal to Elkhart county, he attended the public schools of Elkhart and Goshen, graduating from the normal institute at the latter place. Later he took a correspondence course in Chautauqua, N. Y., receiving a diploma from the school at that place. He was familiar with the duties of farm life up to the age of twenty years, and also served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade in Elkhart, becoming thoroughly familiar with the details of this calling, and a practical workman. The first summer that he worked at his trade he received only $14 per month for his services, after which he began working as a journeyman, but for the past twenty-six years he has taught school every winter and sometimes during the whole year, his vacations being devoted to his trade. He taught in the public schools of Elkhart one year, and for seven years acted as secretary, of the Farmers' Insurance Company. In the month of October, 1871, he was married to Miss Lucy, daughter of William McDowell, by whom he has three children: Vida, Mabel and William. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically he is a stanch Republican. On this ticket he was elected in November, 1892, to the State Legislature, in which body he served with much ability and with credit to himself. His genial manners kind heart, generosity and intel1igence, have won him numerous friends, and when he once makes friends they are never lost. He is a director in the Elkhart County Fair Association, and under the election law he was inspector of his voting precinct in 1890. He has been very successful as an educator, and during the last fourteen years has taught in three districts only, with the exception of one spent in the public schools of Elkhart. He has a very comfortable little home with fifteen acres of land, and a house and lot in Elkhart, and for a number of years has taken great interest in Jersey cattle, and at the state fair of 1891 was made expert judge of Jersey cattle. He has a fine herd of registered Jerseys, all exceptionally fine animals.

FREDERICK ARNOLD HERRING, M. D. At the age of eighty-one years Dr. Herring is one of the best preserved, physically and mentally of the men, few in number, who have attained to his age in the county. He is a typical representative of the German race, honest and upright in word and deed, energetic and pushing and of a decidedly practical turn of mind. Cordial in manner, apt in expression and full of the knowledge of men and events gathered in many years of intelligent observation, one seldom meets a more interesting octogenarian. He owes his nativity to Lennep, an old town in the Rhine province of Prussia, where he was born October 31, 1812, his parents being Frederick Conrad and Magdalena (Heinricks) Herring, the former of whom was born in Lemgo, province of Lippe, Prussia, a town that was founded by the Romans in the year 10 A. D. Frederick Conrad Herring was a merchant who dealt in a fine line of wool zephyr almost exclusively and which became widely known for its fineness and superior make. He became the father of eight children and he and all his children, with the exception of the subject of this sketch and a brother, always made their home in the Fatherland. Frederick Arnold Herring was given the advantages of an excellent education and received a thorough drill in Latin, Greek and Hebrew, also chemistry and botany, and afterward attended a special school that was purely botanical in its instructions, and became thoroughly familiar with all the flora of his native and other countries and with their pharmaceutical uses and effects. In 1842 he married Amalia J. W olff, the daughter of Christoph Wolff; she is a native of Elberfeld, Germany, where she was born June 24, 1815, and educated. To their union the following family of children was given: Frederick A., Mary A., Johanna A., John H., Paul, Christine J., Nathaniel A. and Elizabeth. All, except the two last mentioned, were born in Germany, and all are now living, with the exception of Elizabeth. In 1855 Dr. Herring and his family crossed the water to America, and after residing a short time at Milwaukee they moved to Goshen, which place has since been their home. Since settling here he has followed the practice of medicine with eminent success and belongs to what could properly be called the German Botanic Eclectic School. He has made a specialty of treating diseases or many organs and his success in this respect has been phenomenal. As many of the requisite medicinal plants which grow in Europe and other countries can not be had in this country, or that can not be found in regular commerce or kept by the trade, Dr. Herring raises them in his garden, where he propagates such plants as he desires and which are not indigenous to this country. By this means he is insured of strictly pure herbs, which, under his watchful care and skillful compounding, produce instant and desirable results. The Doctor has been a life-long student, not only as relates to his profession but in things in general, and being patriarchal in appearance he reminds one of the alchemists of old seen in some of those rare paintings by the old masters. He believes in the doctrine of the old Apostolic Baptist Church, which is of Greek origin, one of the beliefs of this sect being that baptism is a saving ordinance and that it consists in immersion three times backward. In his political views he is broad and liberal, voting for men and measures and not confining himself to the support of any party, although he has for the most part voted and acted with the Republican party, being a strong advocate of the abolition of slavery of the mind as well as the body. Of his children Frederick A. is a well-known attorney of Chicago, being a member of the law firm of Johnson, Herring & Brooke.

After doing the "country school act" in Harrison township, on the Pine Creek, and at Beckner's School-house, in Elkhart county, he was successively principal of the union schools of Middlebury, Ind., Cassopolis and Mount Clemens, Mich., closing his teaching days in 1871; having taught four years after graduating in the classical course in Hillsdale College, Mich., in 1887, his present partner, Herbert B. Johnson, Hon. John M. Vanfleet (circuit judge of Elkhart county), and Will M. Carlton, the justly celebrated Michigan poet, were among his classmates. After studying law with Baker & Mitchell, of Goshen, he was admitted to the bar in Indiana, and also upon examination before the Supreme Court of Illinois, at Ottawa, Ill., in 1872. He has had charge 6f and successfully conducted some of the leading board of trade, commercial law, as well as chancery cases, involving questions of title, important real estate suits, etc. In 1872 and 1876 he was sent by the Republican State Central Committee of Illinois to stump the States of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, where he did effective work as German orator, for the election of General Grant and Mr. Hayes, of the former of whom he was, and still is, an ardent admirer. He was married to Miss Kate Lonergan, the daughter of Simon Lonergan, one of the early settlers of Chicago, who was largely interested in the canal and railroad constructions of Illinois, and who died on the old homestead farm, near Lockport, Will county, Ill. They have one child living, Eleanor F. Herring, nine years old. Mary A. is the widow of George W, Schaeffer, who was one of the principal hardware merchants of Goshen, where he died a number of years ago. Mrs. Schaeffer, by her excellent management and rare executive ability, has added to her own fortune as well as to the beauty of old Main street, in Goshen, by erecting two of the finest store buildings on Main street. She and her two children - Mary, now a young lady, and Benjamin Schaeffer, a bicyclist and athlete of considerable repute, reside in Goshen. Johanna A., the second oldest daughter, is the wife of Rev. Harry L. Bickett, of Lynnfield, a suburb of Boston, Mass., where her husband has, very acceptably to his large congregation, "kept his charge" faithfully for many years; they have one child, Helen Irene, now about two years old. Dr. John H. Herring, the second oldest son, resides in Eau Claire, Berrien county, Mich., where he has built up a wide reputation and paying practice. He has been mayor of the village; being himself six feet, two inches tall, "in his stocking feet," his presence commands respect for the "cloth," as well as law and order. He was married to Miss Mary Henkel, daughter of Philip M. Henkel, an old resident of Goshen, where he held the office of county auditor and was the projector of the canal and hydraulic works; they have no children. Paul, the third oldest son, has studied medicine at home and at the Bennett Medical College, of Chicago, and assists his father in his laboratory, preparing extracts of fine quality, rare and of great value; he also cultivates a large botanical garden, where he and his father raise many of the rarest and most valuable plants known in the materia medica. Christine J. Herring. the youngest daughter, a graduate of Hillsdale College, Michigan, where nearly all the other children graduated, after having taught for several years the higher branches in some of the best union schools in Indiana, Michigan and Iowa, is staying at home now, devoting herself to her mother and Christian work. Nathaniel, the youngest son, after graduating from the Bennett Medical College in Chicago, two years after his brother John had received his diploma from the same college, went to Bremen, Marshall county, Ind., where he married Miss Lizzie Wright, the only daughter of Mr. Wright, the leading manufacturer and merchant of Bremen, and enjoys a large and lucrative practice; they have one child, Frederick, now about six years old. This, in substance, constitutes a brief resume of the family history of Dr. Herring; having spent nearly one-half century in our midst, leading a quiet, unostentatious life, scarcely ever seen outside of his office or garden, during many years he has been recognized as one whose patriarchal appearance, the example of whose moral and religious life and the success of whose practice of his profession have made him justly celebrated in neighboring States, and even in the far West, as well as at home, where he is known by young and old as a kind, benignant, charitable Christian gentleman, a model and honored citizen and a most intelligent and highly learned doctor. In the lore of the ancients, in antique and modern history, in philology, philosophy and botany, but especially in his familiarity with the history of the Christian church and works of the fathers of the church from the earliest times down to the present, and in his broad Christian work, both in this country and abroad he has few equals anywhere, and we doubt whether a superior. Of him and his worthy wife it can truly be said: "their presence is like a sweet odor in the land; their memory shall be a precious treasure; their children shall rise up to honor and to bless them."

A. F. CATHCART. Mr. Cathcart, one of the most extensive fruit growers of Elkhart county, Ind., and a man thoroughly posted on all subjects relating to his business, owes his nativity to this State, born in Wayne county on January 6, 1818, and inherits the sturdy characteristics of his Scottish ancestors. His parents, James and Penina (Leonard) Cathcart, were natives of Genesee county, N. Y., and Pennsylvania respectively, although the mother was reared in New York City. Our subject's paternal grandfather, Robert Cathcart, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and served fifteen months. He and his wife emigrated to Wayne county, Ind., at an early day, and later to Elkhart county, where he received his final summons. His wife died in Wayne county, Ind. B. F. Cathcart tells the following story:

"Once a circumstance happened at our home when we lived in three log cabins, grandfather occupying one. There was a large drove of cattle going by on their way from Illinois to New York and I went out to see them as they passed. The drivers were yelling at them when I heard a scream in grandfather's cabin, the door being on the opposite side from the road. I ran around and upon looking in saw grandfather lying with his head and shoulders in the fire. It was late in the fall and there was a hot bed of coals and his hair was all ablaze. He was holding his hands up and I pulled him out of the fire. The hair was all burnt off his head and the skin came off the back leaving the skull bare. This caused him to gradually fail. He was a great smoker and I suppose that when he raised up to layaway his pipe he got dizzy and fell back into the fire. Had I not heard him scream just as I did he would undoubtedly have burned to death. He was eighty-six years old when he died." The Cathcarts were early settlers of Indiana and contributed their share toward the advancement and development of that State. The father of our subject followed the profession of a school teacher, although previously he had studied medicine, but not caring to become a physician he gave it up and began his career as an educator, teaching for twelve years in one district in Wayne county. He was a very prominent man and well liked by all who knew him. He had a brother, David, who was postmaster in Cincinnati for twelve years, at an early day. Later this brother was postmaster at Dayton, Ohio, where he died. The Cathcart family, consisting of the parents, grandfather and six children with three other families, left Wayne county, Ind., October 4, 1830, and made the journey to Elkhart county, Ind., the trip occupying ten days. They went in wagons and hired a neighbor with a four-horse team. James Cathcart lived first in a rude shanty belonging to Mr. Brennon. As soon as his own log cabin was finished he moved into it. There were no boards of any kind, not even slabs. The floors were split logs and the ceiling split poles. The following winter B. F. Cathcart husked corn on Baldwin's Prairie when the snow was a foot deep. This Mr. Baldwin was the first settler on the prairie. The Cathcarts located on the banks of the St. Joseph River and Mr. Cathcart purchased 320 acres of Government land for which he paid $1.25 per acre. Sixty acres had been pre-empted and a log cabin put up. Mr. Cathcart built a slab shanty in which he lived until he could build a better one. He went to work to put up a log house and on December 4, 1830, just after getting the roof on, the snow fell a foot deep. Christmas day a big dinner was given and the neighbors came for miles around to take part in the good time. At that day Indians were more numerous than whites and Mr. Cathcart has counted as many as forty in a gang. Plenty of game abounded, such as deer, turkeys, coons, etc., and a few bears still roamed the forest. Both parents died on this farm, and although years have passed since then, the memory of this worthy couple still remains fresh in the minds of the old settlers of this county. They were the parents of a large family, but only three are now living: Benjamin F.; Marvin, an artist of Buchanan, Mich., and Flora, widow of Dr. Soverign, now of South Chicago. B. F. Cathcart was about thirteen years of age when he came to Elkhart county and he immediately was put to work to assist in improving and developing the farm. He never entered a school-house for the purpose of learning after this thirteenth birthday, and what he has acquired in the way of an education has been by his own exer�tions. He is indeed one of the pioneer settlers, has experienced all the hardships and privations incident to those days, and has cleared six different farms during his time. He was hardy and stood the hardships, and saw many good times in his younger days. In 1869 he moved to the hills and turned his attention to fruit growing and. the nursery business at which he has been unusually successful. He has now forty-four acres of fruit orchard and at one time had 5,000 bearing peach trees. He is known all over the world as a fruit grower and is a man whose long life has been a success. He is in comfortable circumstances and can pass the sunset of his life surrounded by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He organized a brass band in Bristol a half century ago and was leader of the same for many years. He has decided taste and talent for music, as indeed have every member of the Cathcart family, and is now the owner of a violin which has been in his possession for over sixty years. It was bought at a sale in Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Cathcart has made two violins in his time. Here is what he says about the violins: "I must tell you how the first one was made. I cut out and split a slab from a maple, long enough for the bottom part, handle and all, and dug it out leaving the sides on the same piece and made both ends the same size and fitted a top on them and then strung it with linen thread and made a bow by bending a limb and using horse hair for the bow-string. Having no rosin I used beeswax for the bow. The second one I made was all right as I had seen one. I wish I had saved the first one I made; it would be a curiosity to exhibit at the fair." He has five children, three sons and two daughters, all of whom are fine musicians. Mr. Cathcart has been three times married, his first union being to Miss Johanna Calkins of Cass county, Mich., by whom he had three children, one of whom is now living: James M., of Judsonia, Ark.; Harrison was killed at the bloody battle of Shiloh, he was file leader of his company and a brave soldier. Mr. Cathcart married for his second wife Miss Mary Ireland, by whom he had one son, Frank. His third marriage was to Mrs. Sarah J. Calkins by whom he had a pair of twins and one other child, as follows: Royal and Rosa (twins), and Anna, now Mrs. Wolf, of Elkhart. Mr. Cathcart is a Free Thinker and non-sectarian and in politics is Independent. He was a delegate to the State convention on the Greenback ticket at Indianapolis years ago, and has been elected justice of the peace but would not serve. He is held high in the estimation of all who know him and is a very pleasant, social gentleman to meet. He is a pleasant conversationalist and relates many amusing incidents of pioneer days. When a boy he wore homespun clothes and felt very grand when he could get a pair of tow pants. His son, James M., was in the Rebellion and was captured on Cheat Mountain. He was eating his hardtack in' an old spring house when captured and was kept a prisoner about six months, witnessing, during that time, many heart-rending scenes.

STEPHEN EVANS. In giving a history of the prominent citizens of Elkhart county, Ind., the biographical department of this work would be incomplete without mentioning the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, for he is deservedly ranked among its prominent planters and stock dealers. His earnest and sincere efforts to make life a success are well worthy the imitation of all, and as a tiller of the soil he stands second to none in the county. This family is one of the prominent ones of Benton township and our subject is a descendant of sturdy Welsh stock. James Evans, the grandfather of our subject, was born in the Keystone State and emigrated to Fayette county, Ohio, where he was one of the early settlers. His son, Dan Evans, father of our subject, was born in Fayette county, Ohio, received his education in the district school, and was reared to farm life. He was married in his native county to Miss Mary A. Shaffer and seven children were given them: Casset, Stephen, Elizabeth, Salena, Albert, Johnnie and William. In 1851 Mr. Evans came to the Hoosier State, settled in Benton township on the same section where his son Stephen now resides, and cleared up a farm of about forty acres. This he sold and bought a farm of eighty acres adjoining. He is a member of the Methodist Church and has been class-leader and superintendent of the Sunday school for many years. In his political opinions he is with the Republicans, and daring the Civil war was a strong Union man. Two of his sons fought for the Union, Casset and Stephen. When the war cloud hung darkly over the nation Mr. Evans wished to enlist, but the demands of a large family prevented him. He was offered the captaincy of a company. He was one of the popular men of his section and held the office of justice of the peace for four years. His reputation as an honest, straightforward man is second to none in the county and he is universally respected. He is now retired from active life and resides with his son Stephen. He lost his excellent wife on September 12, 1890. She was seventy-two years of age. Mr. Evans has ever been public spirited and has spent a great deal of money in as�sisting to build and maintain his church. His son, Stephen Evans, first saw the light of day in Fayette county, Ohio, April 10, 1844, and was but seven years of age when he came with his father to this county. His early life was spent in assisting his father to clear the land of the heavy timber and at an early age he became skillful with the ax. He received but little schooling, attending during the winter months for a few years, and on February 13, 1865, when but twenty years of age, he enlisted in Company A. One Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He served nearly eight months and for the most part in the Shenandoah Valley. His brother Casset was in Company I, Seventy-fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and enlisted in August, 1862. His death occurred on January 7, 1863, in the hospital at Gallatin, Tenn., of typhoid fever. After returning from serving his country, Stephen Evans engaged in farming and in connection ran a threshing machine for seven years. In 1868 he married Miss Elizabeth Silburn, daughter of James and Hannah (Milner) Silburn, and subsequently settled in Kosciusko county, Ind., where he followed agricultural pursuits for three years. After this he came to his present farm, then consisting of eighty acres, and by energy and good management has increased his land to 240 acres. He has made many excellent improvements on this farm, a tasty modern brick residence has been erected and bears evidence of the refinement and culture of its inmates, and the out-buildings are all in first class order. Mr. Evans is a member of the G. A. R., Stanbury Post, No. 125, Ligonier, Ind., and in politics is a Republican. He is very popular in the community, is public spirited and enterprising, and has held the office of township trustee for four years. He is in favor of all improvements, schools, roads, etc., and has been a member of the board of education of his township. Mr. Evans is a man of more than the average ability, is progressive in his ideas, and keeps thoroughly apace with the times. He began dealing in stock when a young man, became one of the largest in Elkhart county, and is still engaged in the business. He has also been a large dealer in timber.

Deb Murray