| Notes |
- The following is a sketch of Daniel Smeltzer written in A Standard History of Elkhart County, Indiana, Editor: Abraham E. Weaver, published by the American Historical Society, Chicago and New York, 1916:
"DANIEL SMELTZER is one of the honored citizens of Elkhart County, has given many years of his life to the work of the schoolroom, and is held in grateful remembrance by a host of his former pupils. For a number of years he has had his htu
He was born in Olive Township of Elkhart County November 28, 1857. His grandparents, Michael and Susan (Rhodes)Smeltzer were both natives of Pennsylvania and of German origin. John Smeltzer, father of Daniel, was born in Pennsylvania Mar,
w up in his native state, and had little schooling and was prepared for life's duties mainly by practical discipline. When quite young he removed to Richland County, Ohio, and from there in 1848 came to Indiana. After a brief residence on sect ion 31 of Allen township he bought the southwest quarter of section 35, land that is now included in the Town of Wakarusa. Thus he was among the pioneers of that community. His enterprise led to the establishment of a sawmill, and that mill sa wed up great quantifies of the heavy native timber which was found in that region until comparatively recent years. The mill is still owned and operated by Calvin Werner. John Smeltzer was married while living in Ohio to Leah Lechlitner, daught er of Anthony Lechlitner. To their union were born eleven children: Susan, Henry, Anthony, Michael, Catherine, Joseph, Libbie, Daniel, Simon, John and Mary.
Daniel Smeltzer has some idea by recollection and personal experience of what the western part of Elkhart County was like before the passing of pioneer conditions. He was trained to hard work on the farm, and his advantages in the way of so winter terms. As soon as opportunity afforded he began working for his board in order to attend school in Wakarusa. With the enlargement of his horizon of knowledge, he fitted himself for places of responsibility, and eventually wa s made cashier in the Exchange Bank of Wakarusa. In the meantime and afterwards he taught school both in the country and at Wakarusa, and kept up his own education by attending the Normals in Goshen.
For a number of years Mr. Smeltzer has served as a justice of the peace, and is an ardent republican in politics. On January 26, 1879, he married Ida M. Lammond who was born in Ohio May 25, 1862, a daughter of Courtland and Nancy (Grove) Lily came from Ohio and settled at Wakarusa, where they lived until 1887, and then moved to Michigan, settling at Lawton in Van Buren County. Mr. and Mrs. Smeltzer have six children: Olive A., Birch B., Hazel C., Forrest D., W. Don an d Dewey. The daughter Olive is the wife of Ira Eshelman. Hazel married Jacob B. Yarian and her two children are Carlisle and Evelyn. Forrest Dale married Ethel Moore and their two children are Ida Margery and Maxine L.."
|
Carl & Elaine (Grove) Rhodes' Genealogy Pages
1857 - 1939 (81 years)