LaPorte County, Indiana - Chapter 21: Business and Commerce, 1904

Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be; "Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails. Pilots of the purple twilight, dropping down with costly bales."

To find the beginning of trade in which white men participated in northwestern Indiana, it is necessary to go back to LaSalle's magnificent dream of colonizing the Mississippi valley; for it was in pursuit of that golden scheme that he sent French traders to the region about the southern end of Lake Michigan for the purpose of exchanging blankets and trinkets with the Indians for furs and skins. The region of the Calumet, Kankakee, Galien, and St. Joseph rivers was a hunter's paradise, and the fur trade was very active until after the land was well settled by farmers, and the towns began to grow up. LaSalle's woodmen and canoemen wandered everywhere through the valley, following the streams, establishing posts, and gathering furs to be sold at Green Bay, Detroit, and lake ports further east. The names of these men cannot now be recovered except in a few instances. Pierre Moreau, alias La Tauprine, with several French companions traded with the Indians in the vicinity of La Porte county and around the shores of Lake Michigan in 1673, but he neglected to obtain the necessary royal license for .his business, and was arrested and sent back to France, Rene le Gardeur, Sieur de Beauvais, and thirteen others traded for furs in the valley of the Kankakee as far up as the headwaters of that stream, and gathered seven bateaux of merchandise with which, in March, 1684, they started for Green Bay. Before arriving at their destination they were captured and plundered by Indians. There was no English trader west of the Alleghanies earlier than 1749; but long before that, as Father Charlevoix writing at Niles relates in 1711, the Indians had begun to take their furs to the eastern English posts to trade for whiskey, and it is recorded that in 1793 Indians from LaPorte county carried on the same traffic at Vincennes. Baptiste Point de Sable, a San Domingan negro, built the first cabin at Chicago, July 4, 1779, an(* traded with the Indians about Lake Michigan for a hundred miles on either side, until he sold out to Le Mai in 1796. When Fort Dearborn was established, in 1803, there were four French traders living at Chicago with Indian wives, and they had a large number of runners bringing in furs from all directions to their log warehouses. John Kinzie bought out Le Mai in 1804, and, except when interrupted by the massacre of 1812, continued the business until 1827. Baillytown, in Porter county, was one of the outposts belonging to this trade. The English introduced whiskey into the traffic with the Indians, and the French soon followed the evil example, notwithstanding the enactment of severe laws prohibiting it. The earliest criminal prosecutions in the courts of La¬ Porte county were for selling liquor to Indians. The effect of the traffic may be judged from a speech made in 1803 by Little Turtle, a noted Miami chief of northern Indiana, who said to a commission of the Friends, "I am glad you have

^een this business as we do, and desire to assist us to remove this great evil out of our country, an evil that has had so much ruin in it, that has destroyed so many lives that it causes our young jnen to say, 'We had better be at war with the whites. This liquor they introduce into our country is more to be dreaded than the gun or the tomahawk. There are more of us dead since the Greenville treaty than we lost by the years of war before, and it is all owing to the introduction -of this liquor among us/ "

When the first permanent white settlers ar¬ rived in this county they found a market in exis¬ tence for furs and skins, with trading posts at South Bend, Baillytown, Chicago and elsewhere, established by the American Fur Company or¬ ganized by John Jacob Astor; and many of the farmers were able to make substantial payments on their lands by means of this trade. There was a trading post at Hudson lake as early as in 1829, and another at Bone island in Hanna township possibly as early. In 1830 a man named Welsh opened a store at what is now Door Village to trade with the Indians, his principal stock being whiskey. These and like ventures were of short duration, and soon gave place to the stores estab¬ lished for the patronage of the white people who came in very rapidly after the first settlements were made.

The writer has data at hand which would enable him to mention perhaps hundreds of little stores which sprang up in different parts of the county and passed through changes of ownership, management and patronage, but to do this might be what Ruskin would call being lost in endless detail. It does not awaken much interest to say that Smith started a store at a certain crossroads, and that he was bought out by Jones, etc., etc., especially when Smith and Jones and all the rest are forgotten. The writer chooses rather to give a general view of business and commerce in the larger centers.

It has already been intimated that scattered over the county there are, or have been, many little centers which have had their stores to which the people* in the surrounding country have re¬ sorted to do their smaller trading. These centers, especially those of them which have been on the lines of railroads, have been shipping points, and there much business has been done. These places have been mentiond already, and therefore the mention of them is not repeated in this chapter, which considers only those places where business has been extensive enough to require banks of deposit.

The first store in Westville was kept by John and William Cattron at a part of the town known as the four comers ; it was opened in 1848. In 1849 D. M. Closser opened a dry-goods and grocery store. In 1851 Bell Jennings opened a general store. In 1880 we find E. M. Ansley keeping a general store, and more recently Homer, one of his sons, engaged in the real estate and insurance business. In the eighties also we find Charles Cole engaged in buying grain ; though he had been engaged in the mercantile business with Charles McClure, who was one of Westville's most enterprising merchants, the son of Christopher and Sarah McClure. He was reared on a farm, educated in the common school, clerked in a drug store one year in Iola, Kansas, and then returned and engaged in business in company with Mr. Deshler, of Westville. In 1870 he engaged in business with his father under the firm name of McClure & Cole, but after his father's death he conducted the business in his own name. In an early day James W. Payne was engaged in the mercantile business in Westville for about eleven years, though afterwards he be¬ came a farmer. Mr. E. S. Smith came to the county in 1867 and became one of Westville's most enterprising merchants. He is proprietor of the Westville Bank, which will be remembered as the scene of the tragedy in which the young boy, Wesley Reynolds, who was watchman in the bank, lost his life in defending his employer's property from burglars. In the early fifties we find William J. Smith engaged in shoemaking for about ten years, then in the manufacture and sale of chairs, and later in the furniture and un¬ dertaker's business, the latter of which is now carried on by Amenzo Mann. From 1879 on¬ ward Henry Wing was engaged in the mercantile business in Westville, coming from Otis, where he had followed the same occupation. He was also postmaster for eighteen years, and notary public for twelve years. He afterwards retired to a farm in Porter county. More recently we find H. F. Draves and Emerson E. Nichols sell¬ ing agricultural implements ; A. J. Forbes, a hard.- ware merchant ; Charles Garwood, Edward Link and John McClure keeping saloons; Charles E. Herrold and D. W. Weed keeping general stores ; Jacob Herrold and Herman Warnke engaged in the butchering and meat business ; John Herrold selling stock; J. M. Hill, George Miller and Will¬ iam M. R. Williams keeping livery stables, and Ezra T. Scott proprietor of a drug store.

The foregoing will give some idea of the business of Westville. There have been times in its history when its energies were intensified, when shipping was heavy and there was great business activity ; but railroad stations established at other points, and other causes have depleted its trade. With its beautiful shade trees and situation, it is a pleasant place in which to live, especially in summer; and with its productive surrounding country, its excellent railroad con¬ nections, and the electric line which is certain sooner or later to connect it with other places, it evidently has not seen its best days.

As to Wanatah, it has already been related that the first store there was kept by Joseph Unruh, who moved it from Rozelle. The build¬ ing was used as both store and dwelling house, and afterwards as a hotel. Unruh sold out to Mitzner & Conitz about the year 1871, and went to Chicago. Conitz has been a name of im¬ portance in Wanatah and vicinity. Julius Conitz, another branch of the family, was bom in Ger¬ many in 1843, and came to this country in 1865, and settled in Wanatah. In 1866 he went to Chicago as clerk in a grocery store. In 1868 he went to California, where he remained until the summer of 1869, when he returned to Chicago and opened a grocery. He continued in this busi¬ ness until 1871, when he came to Wanatah and opened a hardware store. The house was after¬ wards known as Conitz & Richman. Latterly Conitz & Dolman were proprietors of the Wanatah roller mill, one of the best in the state. Julius Conitz was also proprietor of the bank in Wana¬ tah and was doing exceedingly well, but he went into railroad building, which requires an enor¬ mous capital, and reverses came, through whose fault the writer will not undertake to say, and about two years ago the bank went down, though at the present writing W. E. Pinney, Esq. of Valparaiso, has a branch bank in Wanatah. Julius Conitz died in the fall of 1903, and about the middle of May, 1904, his wife - nee Mary Richman - followed him in a very tragic manner. It is said that her will was found written on the margin of a newspaper, bequeathing a $3,000 life insurance received since the death of her hus¬ band to her only child, a daughter in the bloom of youth. Life contains many tragedies which are inexpressibly sad, and the hearts of every com¬ munity should go out in sympathy and deeds of kindness to all, especially the innocent who suffer from them. A man by the name of Protsman built the first hotel some time before the town was surveyed and platted, a building which after¬ wards become Gallerts saloon. A hotel was also kept for a time by a man named Louderback. Frank McCurdy built the McCurdy House in 1865, and sold it in 1874 to Robert Whitlock, and January 9th of the following year it was de¬ stroyed by fire. It was immediately rebuilt by Whitlock and opened July 22, 1875, as the Wana¬ tah House.

John N. McCurdy was for a long time a heavy grain dealer in Wanatah. He was bom in this county April 7, 1843. His parents, John and Rhoda McCurdy, were natives of Ohio. Most of his childhood was spent in Porter county. On February 20, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Sixty-third Regiment, Indiana Infantry, and was discharged October 27th of the same year, on account of disability. He re-enlisted in Decem¬ ber, 1863, in the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry, Com¬ pany M, One Hunderd and Twenty-seventh Regi¬ ment. He served till about the close of the war. When he returned home he engaged in the whole¬ sale and retail business. He was married Febru¬ ary 1 7, 1865, to Hannah J. Lamoreaux, who passed away January 22, 1873. Over five years later, July 2, 1878, he was married to Blanche C. Farmington. He has a large family, a host of friends, and is now county recorder under a Democratic administration.

In recent years we find Bailey, Bunnell & Company and Oliver B. Bailey commission mer¬ chants; Gust H. Bailey, dry-goods and notions; Julius Boehlke, furniture and undertaking;: Charles Bramer, agent for Guenther's beer; E. P. Conboy, livery stable ; L. A. Eaton and Mitzner & Terry, agricultural implements; Jacob AEaton and Amelia Gallert, groceries and pro¬ visions ; Charles F. Eckert and Robert L. Schmidt,.

hardware; Peter Fudenski, and Charles Roths¬ child, dry-goods stores ; Albert Gohr, boots and shoes; Fred Grieger, Charles W. Mann, Henry Mann, John G. Matthews, and Edward Mitzner, saloons; Isabella Groth, general store; W. F. Groth, Julius Henning and August Pankin, meats ; Roman Gruse, proprietor Hotel Wanatah ; C. E. Osborn, real estate and insurance; Wiesjohn & Wojohn, drugs, groceries, etc. ; J. B. Zangler, restaurant and bakery; also the firm of Gross & Goodwin.

William and Stephen Clement arrived in Center township in the autumn of 1831 and opened a small store on the old Sac trail, on the east side of the present site of LaPorte. Benajah Stanton hauled their stock of goods from Niles. There was much travel along the Sac trail, as this was the overland route from Detroit to Chicago, and the business must have prospered. At the September term of the commissioner's court in 1833, a license was granted to William Clement to vend merchandise in the town of LaPorte ; at the March term, 1834, he was licensed to vend foreign and domestic liquors and groceries, and at the September term following he received a license to keep a tavern in LaPorte. When the town was incorporated, in 1835, he was elected one of the town trustees. In 1832 James and A. P. Andrew had a store at their sawmill near what is now known as Camp Colfax, on the west side of the town plat, and that winter the town con¬ sisted of only four families. Early in 1833 the village began to grow. John F. and William Allison opened a store and tavern in the spring, and a little later Dr. Seneca Ball started a store, both of which establishments were duly licensed by the commissioners at their September term, the fee being $15, William Allison soon died and John F. became a bankrupt, the first in the county. He moved to Noble township in 1836 and taught school, afterward becoming a justice of the peace and a county commissioner. Dr. Ball was a very active business man during the first few years of LaPorte's history. Hiram Wheeler opened a store in LaPorte and another in New Durham in the spring of 1834, T. Wheeler being a partner in the LaPorte store, and Leonard Woods a clerk. Woods built a log store for himself in LaPorte in the fall of 1834, and later was a part¬ ner with Wheeler in the New Durham business.

He moved to Michigan City and became one of the largest grain dealers in the county. Amzi Clark, who the next year opened a store in Byron,, was licensed to vend goods in LaPorte in Septem¬ ber, 1834, as was also Absalom Walters. Clark was one of the first town trustees, and a member of the first board of school trustees ; he helped organize the Presbyterian church and was promi¬ nent as a patriot at the outbreak of the Civil war. He passed away in 1868. Noah Newhall was licensed to keep a store in LaPorte in September, 1834, and at the November term A. and A. W. Harrison were granted the privilege of selling goods. In 1835 licenses were granted to R. B. Hews, McCarty & Howell, John Brown, and Thomas H. Phillips to vend merchandise, and to Daniel D. Rath bun, Oliver Shirleff, John A. Fletcher, Mordecai Cross, and Grover & Will¬ iams, to keep tavern, licenses previously granted being renewed. In the same year Sherwood & Hixon were licensed to vend wooden clocks. In 1836 James Gibson, Arthur McClure, Samuel Darlington, and Conrad Everhart were licensed to keep tavern, and Eli Hays to sell goods, these being the new licenses issued that year for La¬ Porte.

The increasing number of business establish¬ ments in the town testifies to its rapid growth, and precludes the separate mention of each.. With the opening of railroad communication ini 1852, LaPorte received a fresh impetus in com¬ merce and manufactures ; the rich farming coun¬ try surrounding the place was the cause of its. early growth, and has always been the chief ele¬ ment of its steady prosperity, but of late years the increase of manufacturing enterprises has con¬ tributed enormously to the city's advancements

LaPorte entered upon its career as an incor¬ porated town with the business establishments mentioned above, some of which were quite strong financially. The Clement store had a prosperous existence under the management of the two brothers until about 1850; and Hiram Wheeler, who was succeeded by his son George H., accumulated considerable wealth. Edmund S. Organ came to the town in 1836 to clerk in a store then just opened by Jacob Early, whose daughter he subsequently married, and he contin¬ ued in the store and milling business many years, during which time he was county treasurer one term, and held other public offices. Samuel and Henry A. Organ came in 1837 and engaged in merchandise and dealing in stock; the mortal re¬ mains of both are buried in Patton cemetery. Several peddlers plied their trade along the main roads, among whom was one named Pendleton, trading north from Logansport on the Michigan road and the Sac trail from 1840 to 1848, when he went to North Carolina. This man is especially mentioned by old-timers. In 1847 Andrew Roberts advertised tea, pine sash and fresh drugs ; A. H. Matthews dealt in boots and shoes ; Dr. L. Frye had a fresh shipment of hats; Lee, Judson, & Lee offered prints and calicoes; H. P. Hol¬ brook, P. King and A. D. Porter announced the "one price cash store" opposite the court house; J. W. Hobson & Company advertised a general store; Edward Vail invited attention to his jewelry and watches. The merchants were re¬ ceiving large stocks of winter goods, even though the wheat crop the previous year was a failure, all were doing a good business, including the mechanic shops, and the streets were daily thronged. In that year there was a saloon in town, as may be seen by referring to 8 Black¬ ford's Indiana Reports, page 319.

In the following spring F. Roberts & Son advertised that their soda water fountain was in full blast for the hot weather. Harvey Truesdell and James M. Allen were business men of that period also. Edward Vail's jewelry store was established in 1845 and continued until August 1, 1884, when it was removed to Wichita, Kan¬ sas, by the proprietors, who then were Edward V ail and son. A short time prior to the removal this store was successfully burglarized and a large quantity of stock was taken which was never re¬ covered.

In 1845 Michigan City firm of Holbrook & King established a branch store in LaPorte under the management of A. D. Porter. In 1849 Polaski King took charge of the business and a year later became the sole proprietor, handling a general line of goods. The time came when every other store established in LaPorte prior to 1845 general merchandising was discontinued, and then Mr. King called his place "Tbe Pioneer Store," by which name it was known until he closed it out and retired from business at the end of 1883. Besides the branch store of Holbrook

& King at New Buffalo, Mr. King opened a branch at Kingsbury, with Frederick West in charge. With the close of the King store in 1883 the "Bee Hive," now owned by Julius Barnes, became the pioneer store of LaPorte and so re¬ mains. It was opened in 1855 by James Lewis and acquired by Mr. Barnes, the present pro¬ prietor, ten years later. A. D. Porter was bom in Vermont in 1816, coming to Michigan City in 1834, and to LaPorte in 1845. When Polaski King bought the LaPorte store Mr. Porter re¬ turned to Michigan City, but in 1856, and again in 1858, he was elected county treasurer, requir¬ ing him to reside at the county seat again. He served in the commissary department of the Union army through the war, and passed the remainder of his life in LaPorte as bookkeeper at the King & Fildes woolen mill. Frederick West, manager of the King store at Kingsbury four years, came to LaPorte in 1857 and joined L. C. Rose in the drug business. This firm was dissolved in 1870, when the store was burned, and Mr. West continued the business alone until about 1883. In 1849 LaPorte had sixty stores and groceries.

William M. Scott opened a photographic studio in 1853 and operated it more than a third of a generation. At the present writing George D. Thomas is the proprietor. In 1868 John W. Bryant bought and enlarged the studio of Charles B. Teeple, then a few years in operation, and con¬ ducted the business many years, after which he engaged in the manufacture of photographic ac¬ cessories.

Colonel Willard A. Place was perhaps the first in LaPorte to deal in live stock in a large way for the eastern market, a business that was made possible by the opening of the railroads in 1852.

In April, 1856, William Crawford commenced the crockery and glassware business, which was conduced many years, and Miss Jane Crawford now has charge of the crockery department in the large store of Oberreich & Arnold. The firm of J. F. Decker and son also handled crockery, glass¬ ware and dry-goods. This firm began business in LaPorte in the fall of 1861, and was prosperous in 1875 ; though the senior member had with¬ drawn and the business had succeeded to the son, DeWitt C. Decker.

the Teegarden, built by Dr. A. Teegarden, com¬ pleted and opened in 1852. Captain Levi Ely was the first host, who kept the house for two years. Among the landlords may be mentioned James Longee, Lawson & Phelps, V. W. Axtell, J. C. Gilbert, and more recently John Wolf. This hotel was rebuilt in 1885, when Gilbert was proprietor.

It would be impossible in the space allotted, to mention every person who has engaged in busi¬ ness in LaPorte, or even the principal ones. Suf¬ ficient has been said to awaken many memories of long ago. In dry-goods and clothing, in the drug business, in millinery, fancy goods and sew¬ ing machines, in lumber and coal, in musical in¬ struments, in printing and book-binding, in the grocery trade, in boots and shoes, in real estate and insurance, in short, in all businesses which are necessary in a small inland city of high char¬ acter, the writer has data which would fill many pages like this, showing something of the busi¬ ness activities of LaPorte during her history.

It may not be generally known that LaPorte was ever a center of wholesale trade, but such is the fact. After the hard wdnter of 1857, business began to revive. Teams with corn and oats thronged the streets, the farmers were buying goods for summer use, and the country merchants were recruiting their stock at the wholesale stores. At that time the wholesale trade was an import¬ ant factor in LaPorte. The following are some of the houses which were engaged in the whole¬ sale trade :

Hardware and cutlery, iron, steel, nails, hollow ware, etc. - L. D. Webber & Son, S. YanXest, and James Lower. These men bought in large quantities and could conduct a wholesale trade to advantage.

Dry goods. - James Lewis & Company, at the "Bee Hive," R. H. Rose, P. King, at the "Pioneer," E. G. Hamilton, at the "People's Store," and E. Allen & Company.

There were a few others who did wholesaling but the foregoing list is large enough to give some idea of the wholesale business of LaPorte at that time. During the first two weeks of July, 1857, L. D. Webber sold fifteen McCormick reapers.

As to the financial institutions of LaPorte, in April, 1839, a loan company was formed. On March 30, of that year, a meeting of citizens was held, to take the matter into consideration, and Doctor T. P. Cobbs, was appointed a committee to draft a plan for organizing a loan office. On Friday, April 5, at another meeting of the citizens he reported the following plan :

"The undersigned agree to associate themselves together for the purpose of forming a Loan Com¬ pany to be kept in the town of LaPorte, upon the following principles and subject to such other regulations as the members of the company may from time to time adopt and establish." The captal stock was to be $200,000, in shares of $100 each, to be secured by subscribers by bond or mortgage on good unincumbered land worth at least twice the value of subscription, the land to be appraised by the sheriff of the county. The bonds and mortgages were to be assigned to some eastern capitalist from whom the whole amount of capital was to be obtained and employed in loaning, discounting bills of exchange, etc. The institution wras to be governed by a board of directors elected by the stockholders, the direc¬ tors to elect their president, cashier, etc. No stockholder was to be liable for more than the amount of his subscription. Each loan wras to be made for not less than five nor more than twenty years. To meet current expenses, a small per cent of each subscription must be paid at the time of subscribing.

On motion of John H. Bradley the report wras unanimously adopted. On motion of E. A. Hannigan it was resolved that a committee of five be appointed to prepare a constitution and rules and to open books in different parts of the county for subscriptions to the capital stock from April io to May io, 1839. Dr. John P. Cobbs, John H. Bradley, Esq., Dr. Sylvanus Everts, Andrew Burnside, and John Brown were appointed on that committee.

The writer has no data at hand to show what success this enterprise met with, nor whether it did any business ; but at all events it shows that there was a want among our early settlers for a banking institution, and it shows that a worthy effort was put forth to supply that want.

The LaPorte Savings Bank was organized in 1871 under state authority. It is regularly in¬ spected by the proper officer of the state as re¬ quired by law. Every depositor becomes a stock¬ holder to the extent of his deposit, and all net earnings are divided among the depositors. The bank started out with the following well known citizens as officers: Trustees, John Sutherland, Dr. T. Higday, Benajah Stanton, T. W. Butterworth, F. Baumgartner, Samuel Downing and Shepherd Crumpacker; president, John Suther¬ land; vice presidents, Dr. T. Higday and Ben¬ ajah Stanton ; cashier, J. H. Vining. In 1884 this bank was put into the hands of a receiver, and Seth Eason was appointed to that office in Decem¬ ber. The assets were $200,000. The officers then were, president, John Sutherland ; vice presidents, Benajah Stanton and T. W. Butter worth ; cashier, J. H. Vining; trustees, Sutherland, Stanton, Butterworth, F. Baumgartner, E. W. Davis, S. Crumpacker, and James H. Buck. The trouble was about the management, there being no loss. On February 12, 1885, the report of the receiver showed assets $188,209.76, liabilities $178,669.48, giving a surplus in round numbers of $9,540.00. Benajah Stanton was made president and J. W. Crumpacker, cashier. The bank was reorganized and has continued business successfully till this day. Mr. Crumpacker was deputy treasurer of Porter county four times, treasurer twice, and cashier of the Farmers National Bank at Val¬ paraiso.

Jacob H. Vining, the first cashier of this bank, was an orthodox minister of the Society of Friends, bom in Litchfield, Maine, November 20, 1815. When he was ten years of age his parents, Josiah and Esther Vining, settled in St. Albans, Maine, where they devoted much time to the building up of their church. They estab¬ lished the St. Alban's Academy, where Jacob H_ received his education. From the age of nine¬ teen to twenty-six years he followed teaching in district schools. Then he married Miss Lucy W. Dillingham and moved to Fall River, Massachu¬ setts, where he lived for several years. At the close of the Civil war, he gave two years to the bettering of the condition of the freedmen. Im¬ paired in health, he lived some years in New Jersey and then settled with his family in La¬ Porte in 1869. Here, with a few families of the Friends, who had erected a church, he established regular meetings. In the autumn of 1871 he suc¬ ceeded in obtaining the co-operation of a few wealthy citizens of LaPorte, and established and put in successful operation the LaPorte Savings Bank. He was always zealous for the faith of his religious society.

The banking house of A. P. Andrew, Jr., and Son, was organized in December, 1869, by A. P. Andrew, Jr., who has repeatedly been referred to in these pages as one of the founders and ear¬ liest settlers of LaPorte. In November, 1875, the banking office was established on Main street opposite the court house, where it still remains. The house transacts all branches of a general banking business and has the confidence of the business world as a sound and safe financial in¬ stitution.

The old Odd Fellows building, now occupied by the Knights of Pythias and the Elks, bears on its Michigan avenue side, in stone letters, "Citi¬ zens Bank." This building was put up in 1871, and until long into the eighties Jacob Wile did' a banking business here. In was at one time a bank of deposit, but latterly Mr. Wile contracted his business to the mere negotiating of loans, un¬ til finally his health failed and he passed away in the nineties. *

The First National Bank was organized in 1864 in the early history of the National Bank¬ ing system, by Ezekiel Morrison and his son, Robert S. Morrison. The latter was the first cash¬ ier. It has always been considered a strong, safe and well managed institution, and has the confi¬ dence of the business world.

Mr. R. S. Morrison, the cashier of the La¬ Porte First National Bank from its organization until his death, was born in LaPorte, December 20, 1837, his father, Ezekiel Morrison, being one of the pioneers of the county, having arrived in 1834. Robert S. was a graduate of Racine (Wis¬ consin), College, and was engaged in the banking business from his youth. In 1858 he was a clerk m the State Bank of Indiana, afterwards accept¬ ing a position in a banking house in Plymouth. In 1861 he organized a banking house in Three Rivers, Michigan, under the firm name of Roberts & Morrison. There he met Miss Jennette S. Frev, whom he married, October 6, 1863. Five children were the result of the union, three of whom have passed away. The surviving sons are Robert E. and Charles Henry, both engaged in the banking business in Indianapolis. Robert S. Morrison was a member of the LaPorte city council two terms, and filled the office of city treasurer one term. He was an enterprising citi¬ zen and was greatly missed at his death, which occurred at his home, Friday, March 7, 1884, of pneumonia, in the forty-seventh year of his age. Rev. Dr. Kendall, the well known pastor of the Presbyterian church officiated at the funeral.

He was reared in this city and obtained his education in the public schools. Later on he at¬ tended Wabash College at Crawfordsville, this state, and following the completion of a course at that institution he entered the First National Bank of this city, receiving here his first experi¬ ence in banking. This was preparatory to ac¬ cepting a position at Indianapolis, where he went in 1891 to become associated with the Indianap¬ olis National Bank. When that bank failed Mr. Morrison went to the Merchants Na¬ tional Bank. Later on he entered Fletcher's Bank, with which he had been connected ever since. He became a director of the institution and in time rose from a clerkship to the position of assistant cashier, one of the most important in the bank, and was the right hand man of Presi¬ dent Fletcher, which places he held until his death, though he had not been actively identified with the bank for more than a year because of failing health. He also became a director in the Marion Trust Company and director and treas¬ urer of the Marion County Title Company of In¬ dianapolis. When the Fletcher Bank secured a charter and became .a national bank the matter of working out the reorganization was placed in the hands of Mr. Morrison, who had full charge thereof. The Fletcher Bank is the largest finan¬ cial institution in Indiana and the only bank in Indianapolis which has had a continuous exist¬ ence since before the war. Its deposits have doubled since its organization as a na¬ tional bank. At the meetings of the bankers' associations Mr. Morrison was the personal representative of Mr. Fletcher, and his marked ability soon brought him into no¬ tice and he became secretary and a mem¬ ber of the executive committee of the In¬ diana Bankers' Association, and a few years be¬ fore his death was elected vice-president and one of the members of the executive committee of the American Bankers' Association. He was always prominent in the councils of the association, was frequently consulted on national matters of finance by the most prominent financiers of the country, and was one of the chief speakers at the national convention of bankers each year. His absence at these gatherings is deeply felt.

Mr. Morrison was first married to Miss Faley of Indianapolis, who died many years ago. About four years ago he was united in marriage to Miss Callie Gladys Kaufmann, of Marquette, Mich. He had never been a man of robust health and about four years ago he found it necessary to leave the active work at the bank and seek an¬ other climate, where rest and proper care might restore to him that which he sought. Some time was spent in Texas and then he went to Califor¬ nia, finally stopping at Pasadena. His wife and mother were with him, and soon afterward he was joined by his brother Charles. His health showed temporary improvement at times, and the fall before he died he seemed so much better that when his brother had an opportunity to take a trip to Japan it was not felt that there was any danger and that he would return before the end came. Shortly after Charles's departure Mr. Morrison began to sink and passed away January 15, 1902. Death was due to tuberculosis and a. complication of diseases.

He was a bright, quickwitted man of slight build. He was of nervous temperament, an in¬ herited trait. He was extremely fond of society and was very popular with his friends, who found him good company, an excellent entertainer and always full of life. Banking came natural to him, his aptitude in that direction being marvelous, and by bankers he was considered to have a most promising career. The remains were brought to LaPorte, where the funeral was held, Rev. R. H. Hartley, D. D., officiating, assisted by the writer, who also officiated at Mr. Morrison's wedding in Marquette.

It may not be out of place to remark, what is probably the opinion of all, that the Morrisons have a genius for business, especially for banking, and are very useful men in the business world. The same is true not only of Robert S. Morrison but of Henry D., his brother, long the vice-presi¬ dent of the First National Bank of LaPorte ; and also of Frank H., son of Henry D., and for sev¬ eral years teller in the same institution.

Henry D. Morrison was born in LaPorte, November 19, 1844. He attended the public schools of LaPorte, and then completed his edu¬ cation at the Racine (Wisconsin), College. He re¬ turned to LaPorte and engaged in farming east of town, but in 1880 he removed to LaPorte, hav¬ ing retired from active work himself, though he supervised the work on his farms. Upon the -death of his brother, Robert S. Morrison, Henry D. was elected a director of the First National Bank ; later he became vice-president thereof, both of which positions he filled at the time of his death. It was his custom to spend the winters in the south, and in the latter part of November he left with his wife for Florida. For some years his health had been poor, but he was able to be about and was not confined to his bed until about -two weeks before his death, which occurred at Datona, his Florida home, on Thursday, Decem¬ ber 28, 1900. He was very popular, having many warm friends. He possessed many good quali¬ fies, one of which was a thorough devotion to his family. He was a member of the Presbyte¬ rian church, and his business sagacity was of great use to that body. He served one term in the common council, and was once chairman of the Republican city committee, but he never sought office.

His wife was Mary N. Ridgway, daughter of James Ridgway, and sister of John W. Ridgway, and of the late Marion Ridgway. She was a most estimable woman, most prized by those who .knew her best. When her husband passed away

The banking house of Hall, Weaver & Com¬ pany was organized in January, 1857, as a branch of the Indiana State Bank. This bank with branches in different places was chartered by the state legislature in 1834, the charter to run twenty-five years. This would make it expire in 1859. But the Bank of the State of Indiana, with its branches, existed until the time of na¬ tional banks in the early sixties, and those of them which did not become national banks ex¬ isted until 1865. The explanation of this is as follows: The old State Bank passed through many panics, but was successful', and so large and regular were the dividends which it declared that a feeling of hostility was developed against it. This feeling was engendered and promoted by the politicians for their own selfish purposes. As the time approached for the expiration of the charter, the feeling of hostility became so strong that evidently the days of the old State Bank were numbered. Then the full purpose of the politicians was seen, which was to secure a char¬ ter for a new state bank under their own control. In 1853 the legislature passed a free bank law, and in 1855 gave a charter to the Bank of the State of Indiana. Governor Wright vetoed both of these bills, but they were passed over his veto. He made a very bitter speech against the bill to charter the State Bank, charging that it was passed by corruption and fraud. He brought suit against those to whom the charter had been granted, to prevent the organization of the bank, but the court decided against him. He appealed to the Supreme Court which affirmed the decis¬ ion. At the meeting of the next session of the legislature, in 1857, he renewed the fight in his message which caused the appointment of a com¬ mittee to investigate the matter. The committee sustained the governor and recommended that the charter be revoked. This, however, was not done. The stock books of the bank were opened and in a few hours all the stock was taken. But the stockholders had neither the experience nor the capital to do a successful banking business, and hence they attempted to purchase the branches of the old bank. This they succeeded in doing on condition that Hon. Hugh McCul¬ loch, of Fort Wayne, be made the president of the new bank. The new bank of the state began business in 1857, and weathered financial storms which wrecked other banks and led a successful career until the introduction of national banks, when most of the branches became national banks. In 1865 the legislature authorized the State Bank to wind up its business, and all those branches which had not become national banks either went out of existence or became private banks. The LaPorte branch became a private bank. Under the conservative, careful management of Hart L. Weaver, who has been connected with it from the first, it has been a success and has been a great convenience and help to the farmers in the development of this county, and its business has extended to other counties as well. It began its existence in a building which stood about where Walton's tobacco store now does, and which was afterwards burned ; but it soon moved to its pres¬ ent quarters, where it has been ever since. Mr. Weaver says, "People wonder why I hang around this corner so, but the fact is, next to my own house I feel most at home sitting right here in this bank, seeing the people as they come in or go by ; and after spending forty-five years of my life here, how can I help it?"

But Michigan City has been the great point of commerce and trade. Colonel William Teall, who is said to have been the first merchant there, sold during the first thirteen months of his busi¬ ness $30,000 worth of merchandise. Messrs. Brown & Haas and Samuel Miller, Esq., who began business there soon after Colonel Teall, were equally successful. It was estimated on good grounds that during the month of June, 1835, $400,000 worth of merchandise was landed at Michigan City. During that month Messrs. Brown & Haas loaded for the interior of the state one hundred and seventy-five wagons, and had in their warehouses for the same destination goods enough to load twenty-five more. All this was exclusive of the article of salt. This report was given by a reliable gentleman who had counted the wagoners' receipts. During that month Messrs. Brown & Haas paid freight bills to the amount of $5,000. Colonel Teall sent into the country, during that same month of June, about one hundred and forty wagon loads of goods. The extent of forwarding by the other houses was not reported. There were twenty stores in the place, also clock and watchmakers,, carpenters, smiths, brickmakers and wheelwrights; a furnace was just going into operation, and several companies were prospecting for glass works.

As early as 1831 the Hon. James Forrester peddled goods through LaPorte county. In 1833. he went to Buffalo, chartered a vessel and took the first cargo of salt to Michigan City, also* coffee, sugar, glass, iron, etc. There he bought land and in 1834 commenced trade. In 1836 he sold his interest there, and in 1837 settled on section six in Scipio township. He had voted, the Democratic ticket up to the time of the Civil war, but all through that struggle was intensely loyal, and was afterward elected to the state legis¬ lature. In 1835 we find Abel Duncan Porter, who with other young men had migrated to the west from New York, coming from Chicago on the vessel Ed. Sacket to Michigan City, where he stopped with William Teall, the merchant, till fall, and then clerked a year for James Forrester. He returned to Chicago to become county treas¬ urer there for four years, then returned to Michi¬ gan City and engaged in business for Messrs. Hitchcock, and then in LaPorte for King & Hol¬ brook as before stated. In 1835 also Daniel Low was engaged in merchandising and the land busi¬ ness. In 1842 he purchased land and built a house in Coolspring township. In 1835, *n Mich¬ igan City, J. M. Scott & Company were buying wheat and lumber; William Phillips was dealing in dry goods, clothing, hardware and groceries; William Teall and Robert Stewart had formed a partnership in the forwarding and general com¬ mission business; H. Lawson was making and selling harness; Knight & Oliver were manufac¬ turing and advertising cabinet ware ; Fisher Ames & Company were dealing in groceries, bar iron, crockery, glass, stone, wooden and hardware, also paints, oils, drugs, dyestuffs, etc. ; H. C. Skinner was dealing in drugs, paints, oils, dyestuffs, gro¬ ceries, salt, glassware, sash, etc. ; W. P. Ward was manufacturing and selling chairs ; John Dixon was keeping a general store ; D. and N. W. Low, in addition to real estate and other branches of business, were dealing in boots and shoes, hats arid caps; Orreii Gould, formerly O. & I. Gould, had a general store; Hiram Inman was in the tin, sheet-iron and copper business. And from May 17 to July - 17 inclusive, twentyseven vessels arrived at Michigan City, loaded with merchandise, produce, lumber and passen¬ gers for that port. And when we consider the immense carrying capacity of the ordinary lake schooners of that time, it gives us some idea of the volume of business done in Michigan City.

Ten years later Goodhue & MacAdoo, Hitch¬ cock & Company, Sleight & Gould, and other firms were doing the forwarding commission and produce business. Ames & Holiday were dealing in books, drugs, paints, oils, etc. Barker & Best, Shedd & Company, Carter & Carter, C. B. & L. Blair, Hitchcock & Company, J. Griggs, Jr., & Company, and others had general stores. Boynton & Gibson were in the brewing business, as was also John Frame, who had built a new brewery, and business of all kinds was carried on, though not with the boom of the earlier years. Prior to 1842, when he became partner of Goodhue, James McAdoo was agent in northern In¬ diana for Williams & Hitchcock of Rochester, New York, for buying grain. All the large for¬ warding houses were heavy shippers, and up to 1849 the exports of LaPorte county, such as wheat, flour, corn, oats, pork, beef, etc., were -enormous. Five hundred thousand dollars worth of these articles was shipped from Michigan City yearly. As this was before the time of railroads, most of the shipping was done at that point. Horses and cattle were driven to the markets in Chicago and Detroit and sold there. According to the Indiana Gazetteer, Michigan City had in 1849 nine dry-goods stores, one drug store, seven grocery and provision stores, one? branch of State Bank, and a number of yvarehouses.

Michigan City early had a branch of the State Bank. The State Bank, as before stated, was chartered by the legislature of Indiana in 1834 and it did much to promote industry and enter¬ prise, and to give a stable currency. It com¬ menced business in November, 1834, and was chartered for twenty-five years. Its main office was at Indianapolis, with branches at Richmond, Lawrenceburg, Madison, New Albany, Evans¬ ville, Vincennes, Bedford, Terre Haute, Lafay¬ ette, South Bend, Fort Wayne, and Michigan City. The branch at Michigan City was organ¬ ized in 1837 by Ezekiel Morrison, father of R. S. Morrison. It was the first bank in the county. The city gave it a warm welcome, passing an or¬ dinance which granted the bank the use of certain grounds and later, in 1843, another ordinance granting the bank permission to move its build¬ ings. In 1841-2 the bank had a stormy time. It seems from the published accounts that certain of the depositors wished to overdraw their ac¬ counts, which the management would not allow, whereupon much was said against the bank, and confidence in it was impaired. The disaffected ones induced the representative in the state legis¬ lature to take the matter up with a view to in¬ ducing that body to discontinue the branch at Michigan City. The matter caused considerable local excitement for a time, and the papers con¬ tained many articles pro and contra, but the legis¬ lature finally did nothing about it, and the branch went on doing business. General Joseph Orr was president, and Captain A. P. Andrew, Jr., cashier.

The financial institutions of Michigan City now are two banks. The first to be mentioned is the Citizens Bank, which combines conserva¬ tism and progress in a successful manner. It was organized under the state banking laws in 1888 with a paid-up capital of $50,000. By a system of legitimate financiering it has built up a surplus which exceeds its capital. In 1903 this bank ap¬ peared on the roll of honor of the state banks of the United States, which is a list of the banks whose surplus and undivided profits are in excess of capital. The Citizens Bank showed surplus and profits in the sum of $72,000, which placed it one hundred and thirtieth in the list of the state banks of the entire United States, and first on the list of all the banks of Indiana.

The First National Bank was established in 1873, and in 1883 it was reorganized with a capi¬ tal of $250,000. During the year 1903 it com¬ pleted and occupied its new building, where it now has a commodious office, at a cost of $20,000. The November reports of both banks for 1902 ?nd 1903, consolidated and summarized, are as follows :

This shows something of the prosperity of Michigan City. The room formerly occupied by the First National Bank was taken by the newly organized Michigan City Trust and Savings Company. Its capital is $50,000, with an addi¬ tional liability of the stockholders of $50,000, ac¬ cording to the laws of the state, thus affording a total security to its stockholders, of $100,000. The stock is held by about fifty well known citi¬ zens. Its officers and directors are careful, con¬ servative, successful business men of established reputations. They are Walter Vail, president ; Robert P. Zorn, first vice president; Albert J. H*»nry, second vice president, G. T. Vail, secre¬ tary and treasurer; Walter Vail, John G. Mott, Robert P. Zorn. A. S. Nichols, Albert J. Henry, Charles Wolff, Herman Pries, John F. Becks, and A. C. Heitschmidt, directors. This company is not a trust, but a trustee. It accepts and executes trusts of various kinds fairly and impartially. Under this head it is authorized by law to execute all that large class of personal trusts usually re¬ posed in individuals, such as executor, adminis¬ trator, guardian, curator, trustee, under will or appointment by court. This company also acts as manager of estates of every kind, including real estate; will collect rents, interest, dividends, coupons, bonds, mortgages, etc., and keep the property insured, the funds invested and pay taxes and other obligations. This company makes loans for long time on improved real estate, and also makes time or demand loans on stocks, bonds mortgages and other approved collateral securi¬ ties. Interest is paid on deposits at the rate of three per cent, every four months, and is com¬ puted the first of January, May and September. This company especially solicits savings accounts from all classes of people. An account can be opened with a deposit of one dollar.

.Another prosperous financial institution of Michigan City is The Michigan City Loan and Building Association, which was organized in 1885, and is one of the model savings institutions of the state, its management being especially strong and effective. The association provides for its members a safe and profitable investment of small semi-monthly installments to assist them in acquiring homesteads and to secure them all the advantages usually expected from savings banks and similar institutions, and to loan money on easy terms. Its capital is $300,000, divided into shares of $100 each. The increase in the number of share owners in 1903 was remarkable and beyond the most sanguine expectations. The association paid out during the year over $40,000 in matured shares, being the largest amount so far paid in any year of its business. This fact, in connection with the growth of deposits in the banks, the great amount of investment in lowpriced building lots, and the increased amount of life insurance taken out in small policies, shows that salaried men and wage earners are saving money at an unprecedented rate.

In the retail circles of Michigan City, there were, in 1903, no less than thirty-five changes for the better, such as new stores opened, re¬ movals to larger quarters, new firms established, etc. - too many to give the list here.

Reliance Manufacturing Company installed a new engine and boiler and had plans prepared for enlargement of plant as soon as the weather permits.

Michigan City and Northern Indiana Gas Company laid several miles of new mains, erected a monster gas reservoir and otherwise materially improved its plant.

In insurance circles business was very active during 1903, and the activity continues. In life insurance no large policies were written,' but much business was done in a smaller way. Fire insurance grew with the growth of the city, not¬ withstanding an increase of 10 to 30 per cent, in the rates on mercantile risks and special hazards, due to inadequate fire protection. The subject of a thorough paid fire department is being agi¬ tated, and the leading men in the city are coming to feel that there is a demand for such a depart¬ ment, which must be met very soon. Accident insurance nearly doubled in 1903.

In real estate circles there were many import¬ ant transfers and other changes during the year, many of them with a view to building. Con¬ tractors and builders had a busy season notwith¬ standing the unusually high price of labor and material. The number of new buildings erected in 1903 exceeds that of 1902 by about twenty pel cent, while the excess in cost is nearly fifty per cent. During the year the city clerk issued 221 building permits, of which 122 were for new structures and 101 for additions and repairs. These operations are reflected in the increased sales of hardware, lumber, and all building mate¬ rial. The new work has been in brick and frame and for business and residence purposes. The more noticeable structures of the year were the Presbyterian church, $120,000; St. Anthony's hospital, $60,000; the Michigan City Cold Stor¬ age building, $100,000 ; the Hitchcock Chair Com¬ pany's addition, $10,000; the Ph. Zorn Brewing Company's addition, $53,000; the buildings of the Pere Marquette Railroad, including the hand¬ some station. The total amount spent in build¬ ing during the year was $250,165, which is an increase of $100,000 over 1902.

The growing importance of Michigan City as a brick-making center is emphasized by the es¬ tablishment of the American Pressed Brick Com¬ pany during the year 1903, and the completion of the Ohlemacher Brick Company's plant. Both enterprises were put under way with the most encouraging prospects and they have had more orders than they could fill. Other manufactur¬ ing institutions that are prospering are : The A. R. Colborn Company; Maxwell Lumber Com¬ pany Michigan City City Sash and Door Com¬ pany, Henry Lumber Company, Reliance manufacturing Company, Greer Wilkinson Lumber Company, Root Manufacturing Com¬ pany, Ph. Zorn Brewing Company, Tecumseh Facing Mills, Western Cane Seating Company, Fuller Glove Company, Charles Liest factory, Schroeder & Pike, Michigan City Lumber and Coal Company, Vail Broth¬ ers, reed chair factory, Michigan City and Northern Indiana Gas Company, and J. S. Ford, Johnson & Company, which concern has had such an excellent business that much of the time it is necessary to operate twelve hours a day. The Reliance Manufacturing Company is rushed with orders. We must not forget that all this business requires immense shipments, both im¬ ports of stock and exports of manufactured goods. Coal, pig iron, lumber and other articles are required, amounting to tens of thousands of car loads in a year.

Many businesses of this flourishing city have not been mentioned, but perhaps enough has been said to give a general idea of its activities. It would be interesting to trace its hotel life, its early inns, its Lake House kept by Amsworth & Jewell, its Jewell House, erected in 1853, bv the elder Mr. Leeds and kept by Patter¬ son, Childs, Layton, Crary, Harris, and others. David Grant, who died near Waterford, Novem¬ ber 2, 1903, kept the old New Albany eating house on Franklin street, near Second, between 1866 and 1876. Many other things would be interest¬ ing, but this chapter must be brought to a close. As we review the business and commerce of La- Porte county, with all its varieties made necessary by a complicated civilization, we see how depend¬ ent we are upon each other, that we are but parts of a social organism which throbs and pulsates with activity, and whose every part is pervaded with a common life.