Yoder of Union Twp., Elkhart County, IN Biographies

  • YB13453-Samuel J. Yoder-Eb4/16/1839 Columbiana Co.,OH-d10/24/1893 Elkhart Co., IN of Typhoid Fever. (Herald of Truth, Nov. 15, 1893, p358) -m10/6/1864-Elkhart Co.,IN (Index to Marriage Record Elkhart Co. 1850-1920 Inclusive Vol. V, Letters u-Z Inclusive 2:248) Mary C. Stull - 7/5/1842-2/4/1903 1880 Union,EL,IN; Settled in Union Twp.,Elkart Co.,IN bur: Yellow Creek Cem.,Harrison Twp.,Elkhart Co,IN (Intersection of CR38 &CR11, west side of CR11. 4th row, plots 16 & 17 from the N. Roads: Take Hwy 119 S out of Goshen,IN towards Nappanee,IN. Turn Right at the settlement of Southwest on CR11 to the North approx. 2 miles) Note: The original town of Foraker was named after Senator Joseph B. Foraker of Harding Co., Ohio and located on the land of Samuel Yoder, which was located 1 mile east and 1 mile south of the present Foraker. The Chicago and Canada Southern Railway bought land from Samuel Yoder & Jonas Kauffman (Burial: East Yellow Creek) in 1872. Work was started on the Wabash Railroad in 1891. In 1893, Samuel and Jonas died, never seeing a train come through. The railroad did not want to put the station in at Foraker, but a mile west and north, so it was decided to move the town. The new town of Foraker was also built on land of Samuel Yoder once inhabited with frogs the greater portion of the summer season. The old Foraker consisted of one store, which was built and operated by Noah Yoder, son of Samuel Yoder. In the spring of 1893, Noah moved his store on a pair of skids and with the use of horses from Old Foraker to the new Foraker and Noah Kauffman then took charge of the store and run it for quite awhile. (Source: The Foraker Truth, May 1,1925)

    Foraker Sign

    This is the sign to the present Foraker. On April 27, 1893, the first freight train ran over the Wabash. It was a west bound freight No. 97; it had only a few cars, old hand brakes, link and pin couplers, and a small engine.

    Nels Swanson for the inventor of the coupler that is still used today; my gguncle) On May 30, 1893 the first passenger train was run, eastbound, No. 54. The Foraker Station was opened for business this same year. The year 1893 was the boom year for Foraker. Buildings began to pop up every place, as is only natural for a new town. Noah Yoder erected a new store building on the corner now owned by H. Weaver. The store has changed hands many times during the history of Foraker. Noah operated a general merchandise store for a while, then Frank Archbolt put in a drug store, later Anthony Meyers had a grocery store, he sold it to P. B. Bolinger, who later sold out to H. S. Weaver. Next to the building; (You can see where they share the same wall in the picture below) Jacob Pletcher put up a store building in about 1895. He put in a stock of shoes, but did not stay in business long. Finally Noah Yoder took possession of this building, enlarging his store by cutting a large door through the walls between the buildings and throwing both rooms into one store. When Yoder sold out, the doorway was again closed up and Wm. Hollar put in a grocery store. (Source: The Foraker Truth, May 1,1925) E

    Mr. Miller and Mr. Yoder were the main stays at Foraker in its early history. Miller had a harness shop in the old building that sheltered the first store in Foraker. Miller and Yoder erected a building just south of the little old harness shop and after its completion, put in a stock of buggies and wagons. This building was later remodeled into a church as you can see below. (Source: The Foraker Truth, May 1,1925) E

    Going back to about 1894 or 1895, we find the first blacksmith shop just north of the railroad tracks on the west side of Main Street owned by John Detwiler. Detwiler also put up one of the first dwelling houses on the east and west street, third house from the depot east. Detwiler and John O. Blenis put a cider mill next to the blacksmith shop and both did enormous business. Leter Detwiler sold out to Noah Yoder, who run the cider mill two seasons and then sold out to George Werntz, who moved the mill up to where it now stands. (Source: The Foraker Truth, May 1,1925) E

    Cider Mill

    Picture taken in 1937 when it was the George Werntz Cider Mill. Norris's 1928 Model A Ford Roadster stands by the Mill. Sam & Norris Hunsberger at the cider barrels. In 1937, 28,390 gallons of cider was made. (Source: Photo and Info of Charlotte Hess)E

    Mr. Detwiler moved to Kempster, WI, also Noah Yoder, Emmanuel Kime, Lorento Kime, Earl Mishler, and Clarence Mishler.

  • YB134531-Alpheus Yoder - Eb5/19/1867-d1/18/1949 (Goshen Newspapers 1913-6:303)-m9/17/1893 Elkhart,IN (EL Co. IN Marriages 1862-1957 p301,143) Barbara Pletcher (Dau. of H.P. Pletcher) b3/7/1866 Wood Co.,OH -d7/23/1913 New Paris, IN - Barbara came with her aprents from OH in 1882. Resided by Foraker, IN bur: Yellow Creek Cem.,Harrison Twp.,Elkhart Co.,IN - Gospel Herald - Aug. 7, 1913 - p 303, Yoder. - Sister Barbara Yoder, wife of Bro. Alpheus Yoder, died at the home of her parents, Bro and Sister H. P. Pletcher, five miles west of New Paris, Ind., July 23, 1913. She was born in Wood Co., Ohio, March [sic] 7, 1866. She came with her parents to Elkhart Co., Ind., in 1882, where she united with the Mennonite Church in 1891 and lived true to her Christian faith to the close of her earthly life. In 1893 she was united in marriage with Bro. Alpheus Yoder. To this union were born 4 children-two of whom have preceded her in death. She leaves her husband, 2 children, Eva and Glen, father, mother, 4 sisters and 2 brothers to mourn their loss. Funeral was held on the afternoon of July 25, conducted by Bro. John Bare at the home and Bro. Paul E. Whitmer at the Yellow Creek Church.
  • YB1345311 - Gracie Yoder Ed1889? Aged 8months & 24 days (Burial by parents)
  • YB1345312 - Auther Yoder EdMay 189? Aged 1 yr & 21 days (Burial by parents) Note: Both Gracie's & Auther's stones were broken and leaning against the parents stone. Have photo.
  • YB1345313 - Eva Yoder E - mManford Blosser (Yoder Newsletter Online Site [Spousal Records])
  • YB1345314 -Glen Yoder E
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  • YB134532-Noah Yoder-Eb1/20/1868 Columbiana Co.,OH-d10/3/1953 Antigo,Langlade,WI-(Resided in Foraker, IN and was postmaster as well as building and operating the local Department Store) Following this: m10/12/1902 Marshall Co.,IN Susianna Vining (daughter of Minor S. Vining & Rebecca Catharine Stooksberry) bur: N WI Note: Owned & operated a farm, Loggers. Kempster,Langlade,WI-bur: Elmwood Cemetery,Antigo,WI (E on Forrest Ave. (S end of Town) off of Hwy 45 approx. 2 miles, S side of road. Note: Noah built and operated the only store, a General Store, in the old town of Foraker. After the railroad decided to build the train station a mile north and a mile west, it was decided that Foraker should be moved to the new site. Noah moved his store on a pair of skids and with the use of horses from Old Foraker to New Foraker. Noah Kauffman then took charge of the store. Work trains began showing up. On April 27, 1893, the first freight train ran over the Wabash--a west bound freight No. 97, had a few cars, old hand brakes, link and pin couplers, and a small engine. (My great-great uncle Nils Svenson invented the car coupler that is still used today, see Mansson Genealogy) On May 30, 1893, the first passenger train was run, going eastbound No. 54. Foraker Station was opened this same year. In 1893, buildings began to pop up every where. Noah Yoder erected a new store building on the southwest corner of the junction. Noah operated a general merchandise store for awhile as well as was postmaster in the same building. Another building was erected against his store, and later on Noah took possession of this building also, enlarged his store by cutting a large door through the walls between the buildings and throwing both rooms into one store. When Yoder sold out, the door was blocked up and became two stores again. There were living quarters above the store. We don't know if Noah ever lived there. Solomon Miller and Noah Yoder were the main stays at Foraker in its early history. Solomon and Noah erected a building just south of the little old harness shop and after its completion, put in a stock of buggies and wagons. Later, the building was made into a church. Another friend of Noah's, John Detwiler had a blacksmith shop just north of the railroad tracks on the west side of Main Street. Detwiler also put up the first dwelling house, ended up being the 3rd house east of the depot. Detwiler and John Blenis put up a cider mill next to the blacksmith shop and did an enormous business. Later, they sold the business to Noah Yoder who run the cider mill two seasons and then sold out to George Wernitz, who moved the mill. Noah Yoder, John Detwiler, Emmanuel Kime, Lorento Kime, Earl Mishler, and Clarence Mishler then moved to Kempster, Wisconsin. (Sources: The Foraker Truth, v1,nII, May 1, 1925, & April 3, 1925, both issues found under the linoleum of an old house in good condition, only papers left of The Foraker Truth)

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