Centre Township

Centre Township

As we look over this beautiful part of St. Joseph county, we can hardly realize that so few years have elapsed since it was a howling wilderness, inhabited only by the wild beasts of the forests, and a race of people almost efjually wild.

Centre township is bonnded on the north by Portage, on the east by Penn and iladison, on the south by Union, and on the west by Greene. It is four miles from east to west, and five from north to south, and contains 20 square miles. It was laid out Sept. 7, 1S31, at which time there were only two or three settlers in what is now Centre township. Tl;e following spring a few more adventurers settled in different parts of the township, and of the six men then living here but one remains, Col. Smith. Nathan Eose was the first to contract for land. He first came here in the summer of 1829, and purchased his land of the Pottawatomie Indians. He then returned and worked in a saw-mill on the Tippecanoe river near Rochester, Ind., to pay for the land. It was located in section 36, and is now owned by I. Roseberry, J. K. Dice, and Jon. Forneman. Mr. Rose moved his family in the fall of 1830 on the place now owned by J. K. Dice. Here he lived, enduring all the privations of pioneer life, until 18.52, when he removed his family to St. Joseph, Missouri. He lived but a few years after this; he and his wife both died on the same day, and were buried in the same grave. Their children are now scattered over different parts of the West. James and Ashur Palmer came in the summer of 1830 and settled on Palmer's Prairie, thus giving it the name. They and their families have all left the township, removing to Lake county, where they died a few years ago. Andrew Milling came about the same time and located on section 35, where Mr. Hilderbrand now lives. He seems to have been a man of energy and intelligence, but has long since passed away. The family have all gone, and the name once so familiar in this community, will perhaps in another generation be almost forgotten.

In September, 1830, Henry Stull bought this land in the north part of the township. The land ofBce at this time was at Fort Wayne. He came here by the way of Elkhart and Goshen. It must be remembered that at this time the city of Elkhart had not made its appearance, and G.oshen contained but one house. There were no wagon roads north of Logansport. Mr. Stull was a native of Virginia, but becoming dissatisfied with his native State, and being of a daring, yet careful disposition he loaded a boat with what he called skillets and pots, and started down the Ohio river, landing in the southern part of this State. This was while Indiana was yet a Territory. For a number of years afterward Mr. Stull was engaged in buying stock in'Kentucky, and driving them to Eastern Pennsylvania for'market. After he came to this county he engaged in farming. He was a man of good business talent, very careful and accurate in all his transactions, and respected and lionored by all that knew him. It is said tliat he never had his name on any man's books, his motto being "Pay as you go." Being a man of temperate habits he lived to be a very old man, and died but a few years ago, in this township.

John Pose settled the same year, on section 3G. His son "William is still living in this township. It was about this time that the Enpels came to the county. They came from Pennsylvania, and stopped at Elkhart in 1S30. While there, Peter Rupel secured his patent for his land in section 26. His son, E. H. Rupel, still has the original deeds made at the land office in Fort Wayne, and signed by Andrew Jackson. He lives on the old home farm. They removed from Elkhart to this township in 1831. They had a family of 7 children, most of whom are still living near the old farm.

After the year 1831 settlers began to come to the township very fast. In the year lS32-'3 the Smiths came; Isaac Lamb, Abie! Hungerford, Tyra N. Bray in 1833; James and Richard Inwood came in 1835 and settled in the southwestern part of the township. William Phillips came about the same time; Wm. H. Roerston settled on section 2, in October, 1836. It was about this time that the Odells, Ulerys and Rushes came; and it was not long after this time till the giant forests began to disappear very fast from the hills and vales of Centre tp., and in theii- place came well cultivated fields, bringing forth their bounteous harvests to reward the hardy woodman for his long and patient toiling. The narrow, winding wood road gradually disappeared; and in its place came the beautiful broad highway which now traverses the township in every direction.

The first child that was born in the township was Elizabeth Rose, daughter of Nathan Rose, and was born where J. K. Dice now lives, on section 36.

The first election was held in Smith's school-house on section 2. The elections are still held at the same place. The first Justice of the Peace was Mathias Stover.

The people of this township are very quiet and social, - so ranch so that they have not needed a Justice of the Peace or Constable for the past 20 years, although they comply with the requirements of the law and elect them. They do not qualify them : so they do not serve.

Tlie people at an early day saw the need of education, for we see the little band of pioneers as early as 1835 joining together and erecting a school-honse on section 3(5, between the section line and the Michigan road, on Natlian Rose's farm. This building, although it may have been rude in appearance, showed the progressive character of the minds that these few liardy pioneers possessed. The building was built of round logs, with cabin roof; was small, and had a puncheon floor. The seats were rough benches made of slabs. For desks they had ])ins around the walls with boards on them. Blackboards, now considered so indispensable to a school-room, were not dreamed of Stove it had none, but in its stead at the end of the room was a large fire-place; and on the outside could be seen the chimney towering above the roof, built of sticks and mortar. No doubt that many of these pioneer children who have grown to manhood often think of the merry faces and the laughing jokes that passed around the merry i>arty as they stood about that fireplace on a frosty winter morning warming their fingers and toes. This building was used for six or seven years, when the country, becoming more densely settled, demanded something better and larger; and a frame was erected on J. Smith's land in section 2. This stood till the brick liouse was built some years ago. The first teacher in the log scliool-house was Mary Mellings. After her came Benjamin Gibbons and Daniel Robertson, now living in Greene township.

The second district was organized in about ISiO or 1842, and the house was built on section 36, on the farm now owned by I. Roseberry. It was of logs but soon gave way to a frame, and this to a beautiful brick structure which now occupies the old site.

At present the township contains but one church organization, - the Oervian Baptist. They built their church house in the summer of 1859, on section 2. It is known as the Palmer Prairie church, in the South Bend district. The elders at the time the church was built were David Miller and Christian Winger. At that time they had about 70 members: now they have 120.

Biographical

The personal history of Centre tp. is both interesting and instructive, and we will not fail to record it. It would give us pleasure to speak even at greater length than we do, but the large number and limited space forbid.

Francis Donaghue was born in Ireland, April 4, 1828; came to America some time in 1844; lived in Brooklyn about a year, then removed to Cincinnati, where he clerked in a grocery for another year. The next year he spent in Southern Michigan. He came to this tp. in 184:7, and married Miss Rosann, daughter of John and Elizabeth Henson. of this tp., botli natives of Virginia. They liad 10 children, 5 of whom are living: John, Bridget, Mahala, Louisa and Rhoda. Mr. Donaghue was with the first company that went to the Golden State to seek their fortunes. lie was also at Pike's Peak in 1860. When Mr. D. was a young man in his native country, he had made preparations to go tJ Van Diemen's Land, but on account of the wishes of his motker he changed his plans and came to America. He used to tell his familj' that he could not be too thankful that he did so. Mr. D. was a member of theCatholic Churdi in South Bend. He died in April, 1876. Mrs. Donaghue still lives on the farm on which they first settled when they came to this tp. She is a lady respected by all.

Abraham B. Frick, son of Henry and Mary (Colder) Frick, ot Westmoreland county, Pa., was born July 5. 1820, and was married Sept. 2, 1841, to Sarah Cring, daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Cring, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Frick came with his parents to Stark county, O., in 1826, where his. father died in 181:9, and his mother in 1860. He came to this tp. in 1854. They have 10 children: Samuel, Polly, Joseph, Manuel, Alfred, Mary E., Frederick, Willard, Emma E. and Harvey. Mr. Frick is a Democrat and served three years in the 21st Ind. Battery in onr late war; has been Justice of the Peace several terms; owns a well improved farm of 236 acres.

Michael Hhnehaugh, son of George and Christina Himebaugh, of Pennsylvania, was born in the same State Sept. 16. 1818. His great-grandfather came from German}' and settled in the Keystone State. The subject of this sketch came with his parents to Stark county, O., when a boy nine years old, where he was married in 1842 to Margaret Fouse, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Fouse, of the same county. Mrs. H. was born in 1817. This marriage was blessed with 6 children, viz.: Mary, William, Jacob, Catharine, Simon and Benjamin. Of these all are now dead except Catharine. Mr. Himebaugh was married a second time, to Mary Weaver, daughter of Michael and Catharine (Coleman) AVeaver; she was born in Pennsylvania, April 21, 1823. Mr. Himebaugh's son, Jacob, was in the 73d Regiment in the late civil war. He went from South Bend and was under Colonel Wade, of La Porte. He died in the house of a rebel near Glasgow, Ky. Mr. H. has now been a resident of St. Joseph county for 24 years, and is a man respected by all that know him. Li his religious belief he isa firm Presbyterian, and is now living a contented and happy life on his pleasant farm of 46 acres in sec. 35. P. C>., South Bend.

William Inioood, son of Richard and Katy A. (Rush) Inwood, was born Oct. 1, 1847, on the farm on which lie now resides, in Centre tp., and has ever since made this his home. Sept. 7, 1875, he was married to Maggie Byers, daughter of John and Anna Eliza Byers, of Greene tp., the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of New Jersey. They have 2 children: John R., born Oct. 28, 1876, and Nellie, born May 27, 1880. Mr. In wood's father came from England and was one of the first settlers in the tp. (Seepage 669.) Mr. Inwood received his education in the common school, and has, at different times, traveled over the greater part of our country, thus gaining a practical education which distinguishes him in his business. At tlie time of the war he was a member of the Union League, andalso of the Home Guard. In politics he is a Republican. Both Mr. and Mrs. Inwood are members, in high standing, of the M. E. Church at Maple Grove. Live on sec. 10.

Frederic ^Ym. Kl'mTcner was born Aug. 26, 1827, in Kaiserscseh, Prussia. His parents were John and Sophia (Stull) Klinkner. He was married Feb. 17, 1852, to Katherine Schmits, of the same place, who was born June 16, 1827. In the spring following their, marriage they came to New York, and subsequently to Detroit, and finally to Centre tp., in November, 1854. This couple have 3 children: Jacob, born in April, 1856, Pauline, born in June, 1861, and "Willie, born April D, 1864. His vocation is farming. He kept a grocery on his farm for several years, and had a very good business. Sept. 8, 1874, his sou Jacob, while out in the woods hunting with some of his companions a mile or two from his home, accidentally dischai'ged his gun, the shot taking effect in his side, from which he did not recover for several years. Mr. Klinkner being the seventh son born in his family, he received $100 in gold from his king, according to the custom of the country. Mr. K. owns 119 acres in sec. IS.

Siimuel Kreisher was born in Lebanon county. Pa., in April, 1859. His parents, William and Elizabeth Kreisher, removed to this county in 1862. They were married in 1840, and have 6 children, William, Samuel, Amelia, Susan, Elizabeth and Emma. All are living in the county except Emma, who lives in Napoleon, O. Mr. K. died in February, 1879. They own several hundred acres of fine farming land. Samuel, the subject of this sketch, is living on the old farm with his mother, and follows farming. P. O., South Bend.

William Kreiifher, brother of the preceding, was born Jan. 2, 1851; was married Jan. 5, 1875, to Lydia Warner, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Hartman) Warner, of this county. She was born Jan. 10, 1855. They have 3 children, Frank, born July 15, 1877; Charley, born Mairch 18, 1876; and Bertha, Aug. 9, 1879. Mr. K. is a Eepublican, and owns 204 acres in sec. 34, Union tp.

Catharine Miller was born in Hanover tp.. Lebanon county, Pa., Dec. 18, 1812, a daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Wanger. She was married Sept. 15, 1831, to John Miller, in Lancaster county, Pa., who was born April 18, 1807, a son of William C. and Mary M. Miller. They removed to Ohio in 1831, and in May, 1847, came to this county and settled on the farm, which she still owns, in sec. 30, consisting of 160 acres, valued at $100 an acre. Mrs. Miller still lives in the same house into which they moved

History Of St. Joseph County

they fii'St came to the county 33 years ago, but they have added many improvements. They have 10 children, Sarah, Mary M., Martin, Elizabeth, William C, John II., Susan A., Ellen and Sylvania G. Mrs. Miller is a member of the German Baptist Church, as was also her husband. P. O., South Bend.

Sarah Ann Hohhins was born .June IS, 1819, in Washington county, Ind. ; came to Morgan county in 1829, and married Thomas Bobbins in 1842, of the same countj; he was born June 5, 1818. They came to this county in 1849 and settled near South Bend on the farm now owned by Henry Studebaker; came to the place on which she now lives in 1850. Mr. Eobbins was a member of the 48th Regiment in the late war. He died in 1863. They have 4 children living, Harrison B., Martha J., Isabel and Francis M. Mrs. R. has a farm of 80 acres in sec. 3. For many years she has been a good and respected member of the Christian Church.

Mrs. Charlotte T. Rohrer, daughter of David and Martha (Cowen) Picket, who came from near Rochester, jST. Y., and settled in the township about 1843, and now reside in Minnesota, was married to John Rohrer, Dec. 29, 1840, who was born Jan. 27, 1816, the son of John and Mai-y Rohrer, early settlers of this county. They have one child, Laura (now Mrs. W. H. StuU), born Dec. 13, 1843. Mrs. Rohrer has a form of 101 acres, worth $100 per acre, in sec. 25.

William Hose. Among the first settlers of this county were the parents of the subject of this notice, John M. and Evaline Rose, the former a native of Woodstown, Ji. J., and the latter of Butler county, Ohio. They were married in March 1831, and removed to this county in September, 1832. They had eight children, of which only two lived to attain the age of manhood, Richard and William. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rose died very suddenly, the former on May 4, 1SC6, aged 67 years, and the latter Sept. 9, 1862, aged 51 years. Richard is jiow living in Cass county, Mich. William, the subject of this sketch, was born Sept. 9, 1832, and was married Nov. 30, 1854, to Mary A. Barnes, daughter of John E. and Harriet (Trit) Barnes, natives of Maryland. Their children are: Frank A., born July 15, 1855; Schuyler C, born Feb. 22, 1860; Lillian B., born Oct., 5, 1866. Frank A. was married to Mary Bond, May 23, 1878. They have one child. They are living on his father's farm. Mr. Rose obtained his education in the common schools of the county. Has traveled through the West a great deal, and visited numerous tribes of Indians. His politics are Republican; he was' formerly a Whig. He has 73 acres of land on sec. 35, valued at $80 per acre; P. O., South Bend.

Isaiah Roseherry was born in Clermont county, Pa., Aug. 5, 1809. His parents, William and Sophia (Rease) Roseberry, came from New Jersey and settled in Pennsylvania about 1800. He was married in October, 1836, to Sarah Ann Cribling, daughter of William Cribling, of Pennsylvania; she was born Dec. 11, 1813, and they had nine children, five ot whom are living: Sophia, Mary E., William H., Melvina and Sarah A. Lemuel, born Jan. 3, 1841, was a member of Co. B, -ISth Ind. Vol. Inf., and was killed at Dallas, Georgia, while working on an entrenchment. Mr. R. came to Ohio in 1837, moved to this township in April, 1850; owns a well improved farm of 137^ acres in sec. 36, valued at $100 per acre; P. O., South Bend.

Bazel Eupel. son of Peter and Christina Rupel, of this county, was born Jan. 29, 1833. He was married May 25, 1854, to Sarah J. Bronson, of this tp. Her parents are George W. and Mary (Corcons) Bronson. They have 3 children, James T., born Oct. 20, 1855; M. L., born Oct. 3, 1857; and N. I., born Oct. 15, 1864. Mrs. Hupel was born Dec. 6, 1838. They are worthy members of Pleasant Grove Grange, No. 1550. Mr. R. is a Democrat. He received his education in the common schools of the county. Was at Pike's Peak in 1860. Owns 50 acres of land. Mrs. Rupel's mother, nee Mary Calkins, was born in Jamestown, N. Y., June 21, 1818, and her father, Caleb Calkins, was born in Vermont, Aug. 27, 1790, and her mother, »!ee Susan Beardsley, was born in Rhode Island, Nov. 27, 1790; they were married in'lS12. Geo. W. Bronson was born in Wayne county, O., Aug. 25, 1814, and was married in 1835, in Cass county, Mich. Mr. Bronson's mother, nee Nancy Cathcart, was born in New Jersey March 6, 1786, and his father, Reuben Bronson, was born in Vermont Sept. 7, 1781; the two latter were married in 1804. Mr. R's P. O. is South Bend.

Eli><hi H. HupeJ, son of Peter and Christina Rupel, formerly ot Pennsylvania, but later of this county, was born Oct. 29, 1827, in Somerset county, Pa.; nioved to this tp. in 1830; was married in 1853 to Jane Vauderhoof, daughter of Jules and Catherine Vanderhooi', of this tp. They have 2 children, Clarissa, born in 1855, and Harrietta,born in 1860. Mr. R. is a Democrat; his first vote was cast for Andrew Jackson. He owns 187 acres of fine land, worth about $100 an acre, in sec. 26.

Hircfin Rupel, living on sec. 26, was born in Elkhart county, in September, 1830; his parents, Peter and Christina ( Shumal) Rupel, were natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. R\ipel was married in 1854 to Laura Creedvell, formerly of New York State. They have 3 children, Dicintha, Oscar William and Louis Edyker. Mr. Rupel is a farmer and has a beautiful and well tilled farm of 26f acres, valued at $100 per acre; P. O., South Bend.

Martin. Slough, son of Martin and Barbara Slough, who emigrated to America from Wirtemburg, Germany, in 1832, and settled in Portage county, Ohio. Here, Sept. 28, 1832, the subject of this sketch was born. He came to Woodland, this county, in 1850. In 1853 he removed to Union tp., where he ran a saw-mill till 1868, when he removed to his farm in sec. 18, this tp., where he still resides. His father died at the age of 75 years, in the spring of 1877; his mother died in July, 1869, aged 63, both in this tp. Mr. Slough was married in October, 1868, to Jane Gibbens, daughter of William and Ann Gibbens, of this conntj. They have 5 children: Alvira C, Melvina A., John W., Charles H. and Etta M. Mr. Slough is a Kepubliean. His business is farming, and he owns 80 acres in this tp., on sec. 18, and 80 acres in Madison tp; P. O., South Bend.

John S. StuJl, son of Henry and Rebecca Stnll, late of this county, was born in Jennings county, this State, Nov. 21, 1821; was married in 1857 to Margaret Lock, daughter of George W. and Mary Lock, who came to the county in 1842, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of North Carolina. They have 2 children, Mary R. and Edward C. Mr. StuU came with his folks to this county in 1830, and has witnessed it change from a dreary wilderness to as beautiful a county as America can boast of He owns a good farm, on sec. 26, and has it well improved. P. O., South Bend.

W. H. Stall was born in Jennings county, Ind., in 1826. He came with his parents, Henry and Rebecca Stull, to the county in 1830. His father entered the farm he now lives on in 1830, the land office at that time being at Fort Wayne. Mr. Stull was married in November, 1850, to Sophronia Day. She died, and left 2 children, Josephine and Mary. Mr. S. was married again, in 1865, to Louisa Rohrer, daughter of John and Charlotti^ Rohrer, of this tp. They have 2 children, John and Agnes L. Mr. S. is a farmer, a Granger and a Democrat. Has several fine farnas. Residence, sec. 26. P. O., South Bend.

David W/uiman, son of Abraham and Elizabeth Whitman, the former of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Germany, but now of this county, was born in Ohio, Oct. 3, 1852; was married Oct. 3, 1876, to Christina Loring, of this tp. Her parents, Fred and Mary Loring, were among the earlv settlers of the county. They have one child, Edna, born Jan. 13, 187y. Mr. W. is a farmer, and received his education in the common schools of the county. P. O., South Bend.