Residence of
Ananias Ipe,
Nappanee, In

Ananias Ipe's Steam Dredge
 

ANANIAS IPE.  Ananias Ipe, a dredging contractor of Nappanee and one of Elkhart county's native sons, was born Sept. 30, 1872.  The first representative of the name in the county was Washington Ipe, his paternal grandfather, who came in pioneer times and is now the oldest man living in Union township.  He brought with him his family, including Henry Ipe, father of our subject, and a native of Mahoning county, Ohio.  Henry Ipe was then but a youth and amid pioneer surroundings he was reared to manhood, assisting at an early age in the arduous task of developing a farm.  He has always followed the occupation to which he was reared and was numbered among the enterprising and progressive agriculturists of Union township.  He was a representative of an old Pennsylvania Dutch family, and it was in the Keystone state that his wife, Elizabeth Sternberg, was born.  She is still living and the family are people of the highest respectability, enjoying the war regard of many friends in Elkhart county.  On June 16, 1905, Henry Ipe met instant death on a railroad crossing, a sad accident that took away one of Elkhart county's substantial and honored citizens.
     Ananias Ipe, the fifth child and third son in order of birth in a family of eleven children, was reared upon his father's farm in Union township until his fifteenth year, when he started out to earn his own living, accepting any employment that would yield him an honest maintenance.  In 1892 he entered the employ of John Hughes, a contractor and dredger, with whom he worked for about nine years, his fidelity to duty and his capability winning him ready recognition until his frequent promotions had made him familiar with all of the departments of the business.  He then began contracting on his own account, his first contract being a ditch in Starke county.  He was afterward awarded a contract in Newton county, and his last contract was the Turkey creek ditch, for which he received about thirty-four thousand dollars on the completion of eighteen miles of this ditch.  There were two dredgers at work and employment was furnished to sixteen men.  He is now located in LaGrange county, working on a fourteen thousand dollar contract.  Mr. Ipe justly deserves the praise that is conveyed in the term of self-made man, for his industry has been the basis of his success.  No outside aid, influence or financial assistance has benefited him, and his life work proves the value of persistent labor in the acquirement of a creditable financial position.
     In 1892 Mr. Ipe was united in marriage to Miss Dollie Hughes, a daughter of John and Delila (Kizer) Hughes who are represented elsewhere in this work.  They now have one son, Murray.  Mr. Ipe gives his political allegiance to the Democracy, but has neither time nor inclination to seek office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests, which are constantly growing in extent and importance.
     On West Market street Mrs. and Mrs. Ipe have one of the beautiful and modern up-to-date residences of Nappanee, which is a credit to the little city.
Source: A Twentieth Century History & Biological Record of Elkhart County, Indiana by Anthony Deahl - Publ. by The Lewis Publishing Company - 1905 - Page 606

ISRAEL IMMEL.  Israel Immel, one of the enterprising, practical young men of New Paris, whose progressive spirit has been an element in the upbuilding and growth of this section of the county, was born in Elkhart county, Feb. 22, 1870, and is the ninth in a family of ten children - four sons and six daughters, whose parents were Israel and E. (Kaughman) Immel.  The father was born in Ohio, Apr. 30, 1819, and passed away Nov. 12, 1875.  He was reared in Ohio, spending the early part of his manhood in that state, after which he came to make his home in Elkhart county, Indiana.  He followed the occupation of farming and gave his political support to the Jacksonian Democracy.  Successful as the years passed, his labors enabled him to acquire a valuable property and at his death he was the owner of four hundred acres of rich land in Jackson township.  He was one of the honored pioneers of the locality, arriving here when the red men still roamed through the forests and when deer and other wild game was to be had in abundance.  Hardships and trials fell to the lot of those who established homes on the frontier, but the Immel family bore all cheerfully and bravely in the endeavor to secure a good farm and obtain through its cultivation a substantial financial reward: Mrs. Immel was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, Mar. 21, 1837, and passed away Dec. 25, 1901, when sixty-five years of age.  She was a member of the German Baptist church and was laid to rest by the side of her husband, beautiful stones marking their last resting place.  Of their family five are yet living.  Delilah, who is the wife of Lewis McClure, an agriculturist of Jackson township; Matilda, the wife of Joseph Kaughman, of Jackson township; David I., who is living in Elkhart City; and Minnie E., who is engaged in dressmaking in Goshen, Indiana.  Lewis who was married and an agriculturist of New Paris, died Aug. 8, 1905.
     Israel Immel was reared in his native township, early becoming familiar with the labor of the home farm and in the public schools he obtained his education.  He is well known in Elkhart county, and that his life has been honorable and straightforward is indicated by the large circle of friends which he has.  He remained with his mother until twenty-three years of age, carrying on agricultural pursuits afterward on his own account for ten years.  He inherited a tract of land of sixty acres in Jackson township after paying to the other heirs the sum of five hundred dollars.  In his farming operations he has always been practical and systematic, placing his land under a high state of cultivation and carrying on his work in a most careful and successful manner.
     Mr. Immel has been twice married.  He first wedded Miss Elva Sheline, who lived but a short time, and he married Miss Ota Clayton, on the 29th of April, 1896.  She was born in Kosciusko county, Dec. 27, 18713, and there largely spent her girlhood days.  Her parents were Samuel and Hannah Clayton, who are still residents of Milford, Kosciusko county.
     Mr. Immel votes with the Democracy and he cast his first presidential ballot for Grover Cleveland.  He is recognized as one of the local leaders in the ranks of the party, doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success.  In 1900 he was elected a trustee of Jackson township, and during his service he did much to advance material improvement of his locality.  He favored the employment of good teachers and the erection of good schools and during his incumbency five iron bridges were built and three stone bridges.  He watched carefully the interests of the general public and often through personal sacrifice promoted the welfare of the community.  In 1900 he erected on the north side of New Paris a pretty, modern cottage, surrounded by thirteen acres of land.  The lawn is well kept and everything about the place indicates the thrift and enterprise of the owner.  Mr. and Mrs. Immel are young people worthy the regard that is uniformly extended them and they certainly deserve mention in this volume
Source: A Twentieth Century History & Biological Record of Elkhart County, Indiana by Anthony Deahl - Publ. by The Lewis Publishing Company - 1905 - Page 477