LaPorte County, Indiana - Chapter 26: The Professions, 1904

Formerly the learned professions were con¬ sidered to be the law, medicine and divinity; latterly they have been considered as including also mechanical engineering, teaching, music and the fine arts, etc. LaPorte county has always been well represented in these professions ; though in an early day and in some cases even now, the incumbents would hardly be called learned.

To begin with the ministry, one of the earliest preachers in the county was the Rev. James Armstrong, of New Durham township. He was probably the second minister who preached regu¬ larly in the western part of the county. They were his children who were lost while the father was out on the big circuit, as described in another chapter. The labors of Mr. Armstrong in this county were of very great value. He was a strong personality, a man of power, and his presence was felt. This fact gave the prospective settlers con¬ fidence in their new home. Those who were thinking of locating in the county would inquire about church influences; and when told of the presence and labors of Mr. Armstrong, they were satisfied on that point. This preacher was a Methodist, and was the first man who preached in the Methodist church in Door Village, which was built in 1833. Among his first converts was Christopher McClure, who died in 1875, an(l who in 1833 was converted in the old-fashioned, Meth¬ odist way, with powerful demonstration. He helped erect Union church, which is said to be the second in the county, and to the day of his death was a devoted Methodist. There were many other such fruits of the labors of Mr. Armstrong. He was a man of strong common sense, native shrewdness and wit, as well as piety. On one occasion General Joseph Orr had engaged a Mr. Munsell to break forty acres of prairie soil, and had paid him in advance. "Brother Munsell" was a member of one of Mr. Arm¬ strong's appointments. When the breaking sea¬ son came on, there was a great demand for breaking teams; so much so that a kind-hearted man could hardly refuse a neighbor, especially if he was liberal with his dimes ; and so the General's breaking was very much neglected, even to the extent of making him quite angry; and while in that mood he complained to his friend. Rev. Mr. Armstrong, declaring that it was "a disgrace ta any church to harbor such a man." "True," re¬ plied the parson, "Brother Munsell has done wrong, but he might be a worse man out of the church than in it ; and so I think we will bear with him a little longer." This was a very wise view to take of it, and it would be well if all ministers had the same idea of the use of the church in this respect. Rev. James Armstrong was appointed superintendent or presiding elder of the northern district of Indiana, then called a missionary district, in the fall of 1832, at the first session of the Indiana Conference ; and when he came into this part of his large district he

It is probable that even before Mr. Armstrong or Mr. Sherwood labored in this county, the Rev. Isaac McCoy preached here, though not regularly. He was a native of Indiana, and a Baptist. In 1817 he commenced a mission work among the Miamis and Kickapoos, though with little suc¬ cess. In 1822 he commenced the Carey Mission, near the present city of Niles, Michigan. He named the mission "Carey," after one of the noted Baptist missionaries who went from Eng¬ land to India. One of his first converts was Johnston Lykins, whom he baptized, and who was appointed a missionary. As we saw in a former chapter, a branch of the Carey mission was es¬ tablished at Du Chemin or Hudson Lake at a # very early time, which was probably the first white settlement in the county. Johnston Lykins had more or less to do with this school, and so did the Rev. Robert Simmerwell, another faithful missionary. These were the men who gave their lives for the good of their fellow beings in this new country, foregoing the comforts of civiliza¬ tion and seeking to emulate the example of the Master whom they followed. The Rev. Isaac McCoy and the Rev. Robert Simmerwell were strong, able, well informed men, capable of man¬ aging large affairs, as indeed they were called to do in connection with the deportation of the Indians.

Often in this new country a thoroughly edu¬ cated university man might be found. Such an instance was the Rev. Alexander Hastings, who was a graduate of Dublin University. He was bom in Belfast, Ireland, emigrated from there to Scotland, where he married, and from thence to the United States and settled in New Jersey. He left New Jersey and came to Ohio and en¬ gaged in farming. He was a preacher of the Baptist faith, had often used his preaching gifts in the old country, and he continued to do so in his new home. In January, 1837, he moved to LaPorte county and settled on Rolling Prairie, in what is now Wills township. He became pastor of the Baptist church and still carried on farming. This was necessary in those days when a preacher with a family of any size could not be sustained by giving his time wholly to the ministry. Mr.

Hastings was a pioneer minister of the county, as he has well been called. He was a man of more than ordinary talent, of strong, rugged na¬ ture and logical mind. His preaching was characterized by logical argumentation ; grant his premises and the conclusion must follow. He was a close Bible reader and made the book his life study. He drew his illustrations mostly from this inexhaustible fountain, and it was this which made him an attractive, and forcible speaker. This was the case with all the successful preach¬ ers of those days ; they could not dig and delve in libraries as now, for the libraries were not at hand. The Methodist circuit rider's library con¬ sisted of his Bible, his Hymn Book, and his Discipline, these were all; but great familiarity with these made those preachers men of power, and though they lacked the culture and polish of the present day ministry, they had a masculine intellectual grasp, a rugged strength of character, and an unfaltering faith that were bound to pro¬ duce a powerful impression. And, moreover, the spirit of scepticism was not so rife among the people as now, and hence those were times of great revivals. One of these great awakenings took place in 1838, in which the Rev. Alexander Hastings labored. He was one of the most active men in the field. For many years he was the pastor of the Rolling Prairie church, which at one time was one of the largest and most in¬ fluential churches in the county. Subsequently he moved to Cool Spring township, near Water¬ ford, and endeavored to establish an interest there. He also preached at the Door Village Baptist church. He reared a family of seven children, one of whom became a physician, and another gave his life to his country in the Civil war. Mr. Hastings passed away in 1865.

Another gospel minister of early days was the Rev. James M. Whitehead, who came to LaPorte county in 1836 with his parents and their family when he was a boy of twelve, and, as he says, when he "was as green as the grass which has not been touched by the autumn frosts." As a boy he remembers the first political campaign after he came to the county, when such a thing as a daily paper was unknown, and free postal delivery was not even dreamed of. He re¬ members the squatty court house and that strange building called the county jail which stood a few streets west from the court house, a building which, with its outside walls, iron lattice win* dows and gloomy cells, never had much attrac¬ tion for him. He remembers also the first murder -in the county, the excitement caused by the trial, and the execution. With these and many other lessons in his mind, young Whitehead grew up and finally became a^ Baptist minister. In that capacity he labored successfully in different places until he stood high in his denomination. He en¬ listed as chaplain of the Fifteenth Indiana Regi-# ment, and served faithfully in the war. His pre¬ decessor in the regiment had taken a gun and gone into battle, but somehow for all that he had not won the confidence of the soldiers. When Mr. Whitehead came the officers asked him before a battle if he wanted a gun. "Oh, no," said he, "I -didn't come to fight." The soldiers therefore set him down for a coward. But when in the battle they saw him going everywhere in the midst of danger, caring for the poor fellows who had been wounded, staunching blood, ministering to their wants, and even shouldering them and carrying them to a place of ^safety, the soldiers changed their minds and gave him their confidence and esteem; and to this day the survivors love him, and nothing pleases them more than to hear from their old chaplain, who still lives in Kansas and labors on in his chosen field of the ministry. He writes to-day of the wonderful revivals through which he passed in , LaPorte county in an early day, and says that he finds people where he is who professed Christian¬ ity in those revivals, and that they are most useful members of the church. Mr. Whitehead was a tower of strength among the Indiana and Illinois pastors for many years, and is a man known and honored by many thousands.

The following extract from a letter written - September 9, 1898, by John M. Hunt, of Oakland, 'Oregon, to his cousin, Mrs. M. L. Barber, of Burlington, Kansas, refers to the Rolling Prairie Baptist church of which Mr. Whitehead was once one of the pastors: -

"There is one plain picture now before me that often presents itself, and that is where we were often at church, your uncle Milton [Rev. J. M. Whitehead] and brother Thomas [Rev. Thomas L. Hunt] in the pulpit of the old church, your uncle Jasper and Deacon Bette vs just in front, and just behind, on the next seat, uncle John Hefner, brother William, and uncle David Stoner, and a few others. Then your uncle New¬ ton and Alfred Salisbury and several more male singers, and a half dozen female singers rise and join in singing old Coronation; and as they sing I see your grandmother and Mrs. Betteys and your aunt Polly and many others all drinking in the music, while the seats on each side are full; but some of the faces are almost faded out, while many others are very distinct yet. Shall we meet again? Yes, in the great beyond we shall meet again. Those who have loved the Lord and tried to do His will, as they understood the Word, will surely join in singing that new song that the revelator speaks of, whether they were members of our church or not ; or, may be, not members of any church. Surely, a blissful hope! and quite surely with no Baptist church building in North¬ ern Indiana are more rich and pleasant associa¬ tions connected, than with that old frame building and its large, box-like pulpit of Rolling Prairie. Such men as have preached from that pulpit are not readily found now. The revival there in mid¬ summer of 1839, Elder A. Hastings, in the prime of his manhood, pastor, was one to be through life remembered. And the ordination there, Febru¬ ary 27, 1846, of T. L. Hunt, Stephen G. Hunt and J. Milton Whitehead, was one of the memorable occasions. 'For nearly five years these three young brethren supplied the pulpit of the Rolling Prairie church, preached in the neighborhoods around, and kept up for a time six Sabbath Schools/ "

As we write we see clearly a perfect "picture" of Rev. J. M. Whitehead, printed in the Central Baptist , the organ of the Baptist de¬ nomination in the great west. In commenting on this veteran pastor, known to so many old LaPorte county people, that paper says:

"Very appropriately may be given a few items from the record of the veteran J. M. Whitehead, of Topeka. He has been in the ministry over sixtythree years, forty years as pastor, twenty-one as evangelist, and two as chaplain of the Fifteenth Indiana Volunteers, and by congress was voted a medal for gallantry in the battle of Stone River. He held many meetings of great power, ten of them of special note. In each of the ten over one hundred united with the Baptist church, in two over two hundred so united. In one of these two he baptized one hundred and sixty-three. Of these, eighty-eight were husbands with their wives, forty-seven were young men and forty-six were young women. In that number were nine entire households, each numbering from two to seven persons. He has assisted in dedicating one hundred and forty-six meeting houses. While pastor in Kankakee, Illinois, a house costing $30,000 was built and he raised $16,600 on the day of dedication. He assisted in dedicating the house at Battle Creek, Michigan, and raised on that day $19,500. Altogether his is a most remarkable record and is worthy of more notice than can be given in these columns/1

Another minister of those early days, still living in his ninety-sixth year, was William P. Andrew. He was pastor of the Christian church - not the Disciples church but the Christian, the Christian Connection, or, as they were called in New York state and elsewhere, the New-Lights, a sect whose churches sprang up simultaneously, in the early part of the last century, in different parts of the country as a revolt against the alleged tyranny of the prevailing ecclesiasticism, and, strange to say, though they had no concerted action with nor knowledge of each other, they discovered, on finding each other out, that they had adopted the same identical beliefs and church usages. This sect had a society in LaPorte in an early day, and its pastor was the Rev. William P. Andrew. He too was a man of power, and much of the old fire and eloquence are seen even now when, as he is sometimes called to do, he pronounces the eulogy over some old-time friend who was passed away. He preached extempo¬ raneously. and with great eloquence and power.

The Rev. William Lane succeeded Mr. An¬ drew as pastor of the Christian church in La¬ Porte. He was a man of power. He was re¬ commended to the pastorate by his predecessor. Mr. Andrew went away for a time, and on his return attended his old church. Mr. Lane was preaching, and, on sight of Mr. Andrew, got on his high horse and began to score the backsliders. Said he, "I knew an able man. I heard him preach in New Jersey, even he who is here now. I have heard him preach with power, but where is he now? Gone! (with mournful tones) gone - gone - where ? - who knows where next ?"

The Rev. George C. Noyes, a Presbyterian pastor of LaPorte, was of a little later day. He was settled in LaPorte during the Civil war,, and was in many respects a strong man and highly esteemed. He could take off his coat and dance with William P. Andrew in the class in calis¬ thenics in the school taught by his sister, though it was quite another thing when it came to dancing with one of the other sex. Calis¬ thenics was a new thing in LaPorte then. Taking; off his coat for the exercise was not exactly relished by some, but it showed some independ¬ ence of character.

The Rev. J. P. Ash, of the Baptist church ini LaPorte, may be mentioned as a strong man, the strongest with one exception, and perhaps the very strongest, among its pastors. The Rev. C. T. Chaffee, D. D., was another, and the Rev. Addison Parker was another. Rev. M. N. Lord, of the Disciples church in LaPorte was in many respects a strong man. Among these men may be mentioned also Rev. Edward Anderson, pastor of the Congregationalist church in Michigan City, who became colonel of the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry; Rev. Richard Copp, of the Methodist church in LaPorte, a most radi¬ cal Republican during the war, not scruplingx to enforce his speeches with cocked revolvers; and Rev. Henry Weller, of the Swedenborgian church, who became chaplain of the Eightyseventh Indiana Regiment in the war, of univerally beloved memory to this day, notwith¬ standing he was involved in theological contro¬ versy, in the early sixties, both with the Presby¬ terian and with the Disciples pastor of LaPorte. Judge Chamberlain, of Goshen, well known as judge of the circuit court in LaPorte in an early day, brought Mr. Weller to LaPorte from a distance in his buggy. When they arrived they were covered with dust, and Weller was bent over from long riding, and looked far from pre¬ possessing. Some fastidious ones were ashamed of him. But when they saw him in the pulpit their shame was changed to pride of him, for he was a talented and eloquent Englishman.

This by no means exhausts the list of strong, faithful and devoted ministers in the county. Just as strong men can be named from Michigan City, and from smaller centers ; and from the Catholic as from the Protestant churches. Some of the ministers from these places attained to eminence after leaving the county. The personnel of the ministry in LaPorte county will be found to be as high as in most counties, and in later years also the county has been blessed by able, cultured and devoted men.

One of the intended biographies of this work was that of the Rev. George Link, Jr., until re¬ cently pastor of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church in LaPorte, the son of a preacher of the same faith. He was educated in a parochial school in Wisconsin, and in St. Louis, Missouri, in Concordia Academy in the same city, in Con¬ cordia College, Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he graduated in 1881, and in Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. His first pastorate was in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, from which, after four years and a half, he was called to LaPorte in 1890. He labored unremittingly for the upbuilding of his society. Some facts connected with the pas¬ torate of Rev. George Link, Jr., may be sum¬ marized as follows: Baptisms, 778; confirmed, 631; married, 237 couples; partook of commun¬ ion, 42,030; buried, 369; new members received, 180; died, moved away and left membership, 160. Mr. Link became master of the English language so as to speak fluently with no trace of his native German ; he is a fine speaker, but in 1903 his voice began to fail from a difficulty of the throat, and in spite of every effort to recover, he was compelled to leave his pulpit, which he did in 1904 and entered secular and political life.

In January, 1904, there died in Stratford, Ontario, the Rev. Edmond Kilroy, D. D., a former priest of St. Peter's church in LaPorte. The career of this zealous priest, though replete with hardship and toil, is interesting and evi¬ dences the kindness of heart, bravery of spirit and tireless perseverance that were the distin¬ guishing qualities of his character. Born No¬ vember 24, 1830, in Clonmacnois, King's county, Ireland, he came to this country six years later with his parents, who settled a short distance from Windsor, Essex county, Canada. In 1839 the family crossed the New York line and went as far as Lockport, where the young Edmond be¬ gan his studies, received his first communion and was confirmed by the late Archbishop Hughes, then the only Catholic bishop in the State of New York. He was a bright and industrious student, and in 1845, when fifteen years of age, entered Notre Dame (only three years after its found¬ ing) in order to pursue his theological studies.

His earliest ambition was to be a priest, and on November 26, 1854, he saw the culmination of his hopes when he was ordained, after having first been graduated with high honors and re¬ ceived the degree of A. M. For the next two years the young priest labored zealously and with wonderful results among the pioneer Catholics of northern Indiana and southern Alichigan, un¬ til this appointment in 1856 to the -presidency of the college of St. Mary's of the Lake in Chicago. But though his influence for good in this ca¬ pacity was large, Father Kilroy's heart turned toward missionary work, and the next few years were spent preaching the word of God to the scattered Catholics around LaPorte, Indiana.

His pastorate covered an area now contain¬ ing twenty priests, but distance or hardship of travel never prevented him from soothing a dy¬ ing soul.

When the Civil war broke out Father Kilroy was appointed by Governor Morton to attend to the spiritual wants of the Catholic soldiers of the army of the Potomac, and through his earn¬ est endeavors hundreds of dying heroes were comforted who otherwise would have died with¬ out the rites of their religion. During the last forty-five years of his life the venerable priest devoted his best energies to the spiritual welfare of the people of the London diocese in Ontario.

The first physician in Alichigan City was Dr. Lee H. T. Alaxon, who had his office one door east from the corner of Alichigan and Franklin streets in 1835. Others came early - Doctors DeWitt, Strong, Charles Palmer, and S. Pulford. Dr. N. W. Chamberlain also had an office in the Alansion House, comer of Franklin and Alichigan streets in 1835, where he advertised himself as "thoroughly educated in all branches of his profession" and therefore tendered his services to the public.

Among the later doctors are the following: David T. Brown, Al. D., the son of Henry and Susan Ticnor Brown, of New Hampshire, and of English descent. The doctor located in Alich¬ igan City in 1869, was classically educated, a graduate of Berkshire Aledical College in 1862, assistant surgeon in the U. S. army in the Civil war, surgeon for the Michigan Railroad Com¬ pany, county coroner for four years, and in¬ cumbent of other offices of importance and trust in the city and county. His death was sad.

Charles H. Hamerick, M. D., born in Putnam county in 1845, beginning the study of medicine in 1863, graduated in 1874, and appointed physi¬ cian for the northern prison in 1878. He has passed away.

Dr. S. B. Innes, proprietor of the Michigan City Medical and Bathing Institute, born in Mon¬ treal. Canada, in 1833, spending many years in the south, educated in Montreal, a graduate of Magill Medical College in that city, for twenty years a physician and surgeon in New Orleans, in Mexico during the Maximilian war, returning to the states and going to the Hot Springs to study their medical properties, and in 1879 locat¬ ing an institute in Michigan City for the purpose of imitating the effects of the Hot Springs and giving the patients the benefit of it, treating the patients without the use of water, and having many cases. But it is all in the past.

Alexander J. Mullen, Jr., physician and sur¬ geon, of Irish and German descent, beginning the study of medicine in 1873, graduated in 1875 from the Missouri Medical College, practicing twro years in St. Louis, and then locating in Mich¬ igan City, where he was a physician for the state prison, a man of ability until his death.

Henry Schultz, M. D., born in Germany in 1818, beginning the study of medicine in 1841, graduated in 1844, coming to America in 1849, one of the pioneer physicians of Michigan City with a large and lucrative practice, but he has passed on.

Another of Michigan City's physicians who have passed away was Mason G. Sherman, M. D., an old and honored citizen, with a remark¬ able and interesting life. He was born in Barre, Washington county, Vermont, January 15, 1805. In 1826 he moved to Lawrence county, New York; in 1829 he went to South America, and during the year 1830 he resided on the Faulkland Islands; in 1831 he visited the islands of St. Catharines, Brazil, wdiere he tarried several months, and then he went to Rio Janeiro, and thence to Pernambuco; in 1831 he returned to

Massachusetts, and after some months he visited Vermont; in 1832 he returned to New York, studied medicine, was graduated in 1836, prac¬ ticed in New York until 1844, then removed to Johnstown district, Canada West; the next year he returned to St. Lawrence county, New York, again practiced his profession till 1850, then went to California in 1852; he returned to New York, and in 1853 came to Indiana and contracted to supply the New Albany and Salem Railroad Company with cars, and established his works at Michigan City. In 1854 he sold out and recommenced the practice of medicine. In 1858 he was elected to the legislature by the Repub¬ licans, over Judge Bradley, by a majorty of 446 votes. In i860 he was re-elected by a majority of 978 votes. In 1861 he entered the army as assistant surgeon, and in three months was ap¬ pointed surgeon of the Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving four years. The four years be¬ ing up, when the doctor was sixty years old, in 1865, he was mustered in as veteran surgeon during the war. At the close of the war he re¬ turned to Michigan City and continued the prac¬ tice of medicine, having an extensive clientage until his life's work was done. In 1843 he mar¬ ried Charlotte R. Hartwell, daughter of Colonel Hartwell of the Provincial forces of Upper Can¬ ada - now Ontario - who was born in that country in July, 1825. Their daughter, Nannie C., became the wife of Edward A. Jernegan, now the veteran editor of the Mishawaka Enter - prise. Another daughter, Hattie L., became the wife of John E. Simpson, general manager of the Vandalia Railroad. Mrs. Sherman met a peculiar death, being killed by a skyrocket in July, 1858. Dr. Sherman also has gone to his reward.

Lewis H. Soverign, M. D., was bom in Can¬ ada, March 24, 1813, the son of Frederick and Patience (Brown) Soverign, the former of whom came to America over a hundred and forty years ago, settling in New Jersey. Lewis moved to Illinois in 1836 and to LaPorte county in 1842, having commenced the study of medicine in 1834 and been graduated in 1836. He located in Mich¬ igan City, where he practiced his profession with eminent success. In 1844 he married Flora Cathcart, born in 1820, and of the union were born four children, of whom Frederick became a prac- ticing physician, and Allen J. a civil engineer. Dr. Soverign was justice of the peace thirteen years, well known and respected until his death.

A. G. Tillotson, M. D., was born in Lake county, Indiana, April 15, 1847, and is the son of James and Melissa Tillotson, natives of the state of New York. He received a fair educa¬ tion, and when nineteen years of age began the study of medicine, and was graduated at the Bennett Medical College in Chicago when but twenty-two years of age, and at once began the practice of his profession. In 1872 he located in Michigan City, where he has since been en¬ gaged in the practice of medicine and surgery. He was married in his native county to Miss Frances A. Combs, daughter of David and Eliza Combs. The doctor and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.

H. N. Cathcart, brother of Hon. C. H. Cathcart, said that in 1833 he worked with his brother putting up a shop for Dr. Vaughn in LaPorte; that it was about the fifth frame house put up in the city; that while they were doing this work they boarded with Richard Harris, where also boarded Dr. Ball, wife and two children, Dr. Walks, Dr. Hemonway, Dr. Vaughn, and others. It would be difficult now to learn much about these doctors. Mrs. George L. Andrew says that she remembers Dr. Vaughn; that her im¬ pression is that he was from Richmond, and that he did not remain in LaPorte very long. She says that there was another young doctor here from Philadelphia, who attended Chamberlain Andrew in a sickness, and that he remained but a short time. Hon. C. H. Cathcart tells us, as will be related further on, of a young doctor who was handled roughly at a land sale in 1835 for daring to bid on squatters' claims and there¬ fore left LaPorte. It may be that he was one of the two just mentioned. Packard says that the earliest physicians in LaPorte were Doctors Dinwiddie, Timothy Everts, Daniel Meeker, and G. A. Rose, who arrived prior to 1835, and that they were followed by Abraham Teegarden, who came in 1837, J. P. Andrew, George L. Andrew, T. Higday, L. Brusie, Thomas D. Lemon, L. C. Rose and others. Here we have something more tangible, for these men were well known and have left their mark on the county. The writer has sufficient data concerning the doctors of La¬

Dr. G. A. Rose was a noted physician in Vir¬ ginia, left the state because of slavery which was odious to him, came to LaPorte county, established a high reputation as a physician, and latterly gave much of his time to the management of his large estate until his death in 1861. He wasa fine representative of the old school Virginia gentleman. His sons became worthy men and among them Landon Cabell Rose became a phy¬ sician of high character, thoroughly trained in his profession, and led a long and honorable career in LaPorte. His ideal of the responsibilities of his profession was very high, and he sought in every way to attain to it. He was a surgeon of the Twenty-ninth Indiana Regiment in the Civil war, and both in the army and at home performed some operations which were then con¬ sidered very difficult.

Dr. Daniel Meeker was another very remark¬ able man among the LaPorte physicians. He was born in Schoharie county, New York, De¬ cember 1 7, 1804. He was brought up on the Western Reserve in Ohio. He attended the pub¬ lic schools and the academy at Jefferson in Ash¬ tabula county, for the purpose of studying for some profession, finally selecting that of medi¬ cine. He studied medicine first under a pre¬ ceptor and then in two medical colleges, overcoming great obstacles to do so. In 1835 he decided1 to emigrate to Joliet, Illinois, and did so; pass¬ ing through LaPorte on the old Sac trail. He remained there for some days, returning by way of Chicago and passing around the beach of the lake to the county, and so to LaPorte. While waiting here for some medicine and books which he had shipped around the lakes to Michigan City, sickness commenced in LaPorte in the form of typhoid fever which was very severe, and he suddenly found himself master of a good prac¬ tice, and here he remained. His specialty was anatomy and surgery, and he conceived the idea of giving a private course of lectures to a class of students, and out of this grew the Indiana Medical College which flourished in LaPorte for a number of years. Dr. Meeker was pro¬ fessor of anatomy and physiology here, and after¬ wards in the Indiana Central Medical College at Indianapolis. Then he returned, to LaPorte and: entered into practice. But his reputation as a teacher had spread abroad, and he was solicited to take the chair of anatomy in the medical de¬ partment of the University of Iowa, located at Keokuk, which he accepted. He remained con¬ nected with this college for five years, and at the close of the term, February 18, 1861, he re¬ signed and returned to LaPorte.

To show something of the esteem in which he was held, the class of 1856-57 presented him a cane at the close of the term, and the presenta¬ tion address contained the following :

It is no slight matter for one no longer in the youthful and athletic years of life, and in the ample enjoyment of the reward of long and la¬ borious professional service, to absent himself from those having social and professional claims upon him at home and come in the midst of winter with the prospect of considerable expo¬ sure awaiting him, and day after day discharge double duties in the lecture room, and, when the working hours of the week are ended, still re¬ main ready to give his time and valuable instruc¬ tion to those who seek it, and that too with ad¬ vice so lucid and profound, and with manners so social and cordial, that those who came at first only as students, came ever afterward in the double relation of student and friend.

It is no small matter also that the vigorous and flourishing young school of medicine to which we are hereafter to refer as the guarantee of our claim to public confidence, should have enrolled among her faculty one whose experi¬ ence as a teacher, and whose name as a surgeon and anatomist, not only has no superior in the west, but is familiarly known in all sections of our country. It is an evidence to those who may be contemplating medical studies, of the grow¬ ing influence and dignity of the University of Iowa, and it will enable those of us who com¬ pose the present class, when asked for an en¬ dorsement of our competency, to point with pride and confidence to our alma mater.

Dr. Meeker went into the army as surgeon of the Ninth Indiana Regiment, commonly called the "Bloody Ninth." It was not long before he was made brigade surgeon. He served with different armies, and in different departments of the country, always faithfully and efficiently, and on July 24, 1865, President Johnson, by special order, appointed him lieutenant colonel by brevet, to rank as such from June 1, 1865, for faithful and meritorious services performed by him while a surgeon in the United States army. While in the army he wrote letters to his home paper which had a wide in¬ fluence in favor of the Union cause, and which are interesting reading even to-day. While in the Indiana Medical College at LaPorte, he and his co-adjutors performed surgical operations which were considered difficult, and advanced in those day. On December 25, 1826, he mar¬ ried Lucy H. Sprague, a daughter of Nathan Sprague, a member of the well known and wealthy Rhode Island family by that name. Nine children were the result of the union: Louisa R., who married Richard Sarle; Lucius R., who was drowned in California; Lysander, who married Cornelia Vansicklen and made her home at LaPorte; a son not named; Henry H., who married C. C. Coquillard and made his home in South Bend; Etta D., who married Norman Hays and made her home in Elkhart ; Sarah E., who married Charles D. Wetherby and passed away in 1872; Mary C., who married Arthur A. Sheldon and made her home in LaPorte, and Jennie F., who married Mortimer Nye, who be¬ came lieutenant governor of Indiana.

Next comes Abraham Teegarden, M. D. He was a genius, a character. If Scott or Dickens could have known him, he would have been in¬ corporated in some of their works. He came to the county in an early day, thoroughly furnished for his work, and advertised himself as a botanic physician. He bought a pony and saddle bags and made his professional rounds. He was a tall gaunt man, of a build something like Presi¬ dent Lincoln's, and when he was riding his pony his long legs almost touched the ground. Some of the other physicians laughed at him; but he who laughed at Dr. Teegarden laughed at one who sooner or later was bound to turn the tables. He let them laugh and attended to his business. And in a few years instead of a pony he had eight fine horses and two drivers, and his prac¬ tice covered the county. He rode night and day, taking his rest while on the wing. He would jump into his buggy and give the driver direc¬ tions and say, "Go!" but he himself would lie back and take a rest. After making his profes¬ sional visit he would say, "Well, now to the next place I" and so he worked incessantly. In 1840 he took one, Dr. Hubbell, as partner. At that time he had a botanic drug store and did a large business. He advertised for certain roots and herbs, and used to pay the farmers and others well for bringing them. In one of his advertise¬ ments he specifies thirty-eight different medi¬ cines which he needs, and gives both their botanic and their popular names. He assures those who have brought him medicines that they have given him satisfaction, and urges them to bring more as his stock is diminishing. He did not always tell a person when that one had made a mis¬ take and brought him the wrong root or herb ; he was too shrewd for that. Oh, no, it was all right. Yet he never curried favor, not he; he had the courage of his convictions, and did not hesitate to publish his political opinions at a time when political feeling ran high. We find him do¬ ing this in 1849. He not only had the courage of his convictions but could defend them by the "manly art." On one occasion, after suffering a most exasperating provocation, he did not hesitate to give a certain professional man of some consequence a thorough pommelling on the street. Hard fists at the end of those long arms were not to be despised. In 1857, in com: pany with J. P. Teeple, he went to Kansas in the midst of the political troubles there, and was not slow to express his opinion about them. He was a Whig, and then a Republican. When the war broke out he took his stand for the Union without a moment's hesitation, and his words gave no uncertain sound. By this time a large practice and fortunate investments had made him a wealthy man, and he used his money and his time for the Union cause. Again and again did he go south and visit and minister to LaPorte county's soldiers in the field, and his letters which he wrote home on such occasions were of great interest and benefit to the Union cause. When the army surgeons in the hospitals had more than they could do, he volunteered his services and worked hard over the wounded. He offered rewards for recruits, made them presents, ad¬ vanced them money,, took care of the widows and orphans of the war, and of the families of soldiers in the field, and at times dined whole companies of soldiers. He was appointed on important commissions by Governor Morton, and, in a word, he was a power for the right all through and after the war. As an instance indicating the character of the man, when he retired from practice he retired. He would take no patients. An old patron applied to him one day, and the doctor would have nothing to do with his case. "There," said he, "is Dr. Dakin, fully competent; you go to him." The man disappointed and somewhat offended, did so; and a short time after Dr. Teegarden quietly entered Dr. Dakin's office and said, "Has so and so been here?" "Yes." "Well, did he tell you how mean I was? I won't practice! I have retired! I won't have anything to do with it, and I want it understood." At the same time, if the doctor knew that any of his old patrons were seriously ill and needed him, he would find it convenient to take his gun and go hunting, and "happen in." Many were the hunting trips which he took when the real hunt¬ ing was to help some old patient, without money and without price, and not appear to be resum¬ ing or continuing his practice.

Dr. George M. Dakin still lives. He is up in the seventies, but is still engaged in a most useful practice, honest, upright, respected and loved by all who know him. All his life he has been handicapped by a physical injury received in earlier days, but he has the brave victory. He is a splendid type of the well furnished, true confidential, fatherly family physician.

Dr. George L. Andrew, now living in Chi¬ cago, is another physician whose life has been interwoven in the affairs of LaPorte. He began practice in LaPorte in May, 1847, and soon took high rank among physicians in the county. When the cholera scare came in 1849, ft was his pen in the local papers that in a scientific way helped to allay unnecessary fears. He was con¬ temporary with Doctors Keen, Higdav, Cran¬ dall and others. In 1861 he was appointed med¬ ical inspector of the United States army on the Potomac, and, leaving his practice in the hands of Dr. Darling, he accepted and went to his duty in the army. A letter written by Hon. Schuyler Colfax from the seat of war in December, 1861, thus refers to him:

"I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. G. L. Andrew, of LaPorte, a few days ago. He is connected with the Sanitary Commission here, and, I learn from all quarters, has done great

In January, 1862, Dr. Andrew went to Port Royal, South Carolina, on business connected with his office. Later in the same month he re¬ turned to LaPorte on a flying visit from Port Royal and Fortress Monroe, but in February he returned to Washington. In 1862-63, and often during his term of service until he came home and resumed practice, he wrote letters which were published in his home paper, and these let¬ ters from men who were in the army had a pow¬ erful influence in holding the county to the Union cause during the rebellion. Dr. Andrew was one of the originators of the Pine Lake cemetery, and, in connection with Drs. T. Higday, Henry Halloway, and H. B. Wilcox, he was one of the moving spirits in instituting the Library and Natural History Association. And had the plan of Dr. Andrew and several others been carried out, LaPorte would have had a beautiful park just north of the Lake Shore tracks, on the banks of Gear and Lilly lakes.

It is difficult to refrain from mentioning oth¬ ers in the medical fraternity, among whom are Higday, Keen, J. P. Andrew, O. Everts, T. D. Lemon, Brusie and many others. And among dentists, there might be mentioned Halloway, Fosdick, Kahan, Jessup, Hart, Parmelee, Stedman and many others. From data at hand, a volume might be written concerning these men, but with one other mention we must pass on.

Dr. James Anthony Wilkinson came from Virginia in 1834, and located in LaPorte. He had an extensive medical practice in this and ad¬ joining counties. He practiced especially in New Durham township, where he had bought land. He would go to see patients in the winter when he was compelled to ride over fences on the snow crust. He was a man of firm opinions, a Democrat in politics, a good physician, and a forcible character. He sold his LaPorte prop¬ erty and some fine farming and timbered land in New Durham township near Westville, that he might invest in real estate at New Buffalo, which town then promised to become a lake port of importance. He practiced his profession for a time in Chicago. His son, James H. Wil¬

Among the first lawyers admitted to practice in LaPorte were William O. Ross, June 10, 1833 ; John B. Niles, December 16, 1833; John S. Lacey, December 16, 1833; William Hawkins, December 16, 1833; Robert Merrifield, October 13, 1834; B. B. Taylor, October 17, 1834; Wil¬ liam C. Hannah, October 18, 1834. In 1835 there were Charles McQeese and John H. Bradley. In 1836 Myron H. Orton, Jabez R. Wills, G. A. Everts, Thomas Tyrrell, N. W. Saxton, and A. W. Enos; and in 1837 Andrew L. Osborn, Gil¬ bert Hathaway, J. W. Chapman, and E. A. Hannigan. Some of these lived in Michigan City.

At that time there were some thirteen to fif¬ teen counties in the circuit court, and the court met twice a year in each county, with sessions of some weeks if the business required it. The bar at LaPorte numbered many good lawyers, advocates and orators among its members. The English common law and equity practice, modi¬ fied by statutes, was in force. Judge William P. Andrew, Charles H. Reeve, now of Plymouth, and Samuel E. Williams are about the only mem¬ bers of the early LaPorte county bar who re¬ main, and even Mr. Williams came at a little later day. Reeve came in 1842. Among the lawyers of his day were John H. Bradley, E. A. Hannigan, William C. Hannah, John B. Niles, William P. Andrew, M. F. Farrand, and Myron H. Orton. Hannigan, Orton and Bradley were fine orators. Jabez R. Wills, A. L. Osborn, Gil¬ bert Hathaway, A. W. Enos, and J. W. Chap¬ man lived in LaPorte but practiced in Michigan City. It was not until afterwards that some of them opened offices in LaPorte. James Bradley came in the early forties. Another distinguished man was Barclay, who afterwards became chief clerk of the United States senate and held the office until his death. Gustavus A. Everts was another prominent lawyer, and preceded Judge Sample on the bench. The LaPorte county bar of to-day is strong and able, and no disparaging word is intended when we say, in view of an earlier time. 'There were giants .on the earth in those days." Those were the men who left their impress on the jurisprudence of the state, and

Those were the days when the lawyers used to ride on horseback from one county to another on the circuit, put up at the hotel, and attend the session of court. They used to tell stories and have jolly times. Under such circumstances the character of each man was very apt to crop out, and every lawyer came to be understood very well.

Hon. John B. Niles was a scholar. It was no uncommon thing to go into his home and find him stretched on a lounge reading a book in Greek or Latin. He was odd, eccentric, digni¬ fied, not a juror advocate but a lawyer. His was the judicial rather than the oratorical and per¬ suasive mind. His diction was classical and his expression literary. He was a man of great mental power and had a reputation as a lawyer which was state and in some respects national. He might lose a case before a jury, but when it was brought before the judges on appeal he would gain it. He was unquestionably one of the ablest lawyers in the state, and it was this that made him sought after by the great railroad corporations as their attorney.

General Gilbert Hathaway was a man of strict integrity, pure-minded, discountenancing anything and everything that bordered on the obscene, in anecdotes and everything else. His supreme object was the practice of virtue, and with most determined and persevering self-discipline he sought to bring himself to conform to the high standard he had chosen. It was this that made him some times turn aside from his legal brethren in their jour¬ neys, pleasantries and convivialities. He had no countenance whatever for wrong-doing, and perhaps in some cases not quite forgiveness enough for the wrong doer. He was sternly true to his principles. He required no more of others than he did of himself, and it was this, combined with much ability, which made him a brave and efficient officer in the war for the Union, though he was a Democrat in politics, and he lost his valuable and useful life while gallantly leading his regiment in battle.

the county to a remarkable degree. He was bonr March 1, 1830, at Elmira, New York. He waseducated in the public schools of that state, but was mostly a self educated man. He taught school several years, studied law in Elmira, was admitted to the bar in 1852, and the following November located in Michigan City where he practiced law for two years, and then located in LaPorte which was his home until his death. In 1854 he was elected by the Republican party prosecuting attorney for the LaPorte circuit, then comprising ten counties, and held the office two years. In 1856 he was elected to the state senate for four years. In 1877 he was elected mayor of LaPorte by the Democracy, and re-elected in 1879. He was married July 12, 1854, at La¬ Porte, to Henrietta E. Teeple, daughter of John and Hannah Teeple, who settled in LaPorte in 1834. Two talented sons, Ellsworth E. and Fred H., were the fruit of the union. Mr. Weir was a man of great personal force, an easy and fluent speaker, kind to the poor, and possessed many estimable traits. He is well remembered and greatly missed in the county.

And so we might go on giving sketch after sketch of those remarkable men, as their char¬ acters have been photographed on the affairs of the county, but this chapter must close.

One article which properly belongs with the biographical sketches of this work shall be in¬ cluded here - that of one who was the seventh to die of twelve brothers and sisters, though he had attained to an age beyond any who had died before him - one who even in an early day was obedient to his parents - one who taught a school while in his teens and whose qualifications drew sixty scholars to attend his school, where the studies ranged from the alphabet to higher math¬ ematics, French and Latin - one who, when so young that he had to be held up to see the com¬ pass, would nevertheless be the first to solve a problem in surveying.

John H. Bradley was bom at LaPorte, Indi¬ ana, on the 24th day of December, 1851, and died at LaPorte, February 16, 1900, of typho-pnei*- monia, after a brief illness of four days. He was stricken with the disease of which he died while in the discharge of his professional duties in the LaPorte superior court, and thus fulfilled one of his dearest wishes - that he might be active to the end of his life. The deceased was the son of Judge James Bradley, who was one of the pioneer lawyers and jurists of this state, and whose memory is cherished and honored by all who knew him.

John H. Bradley was known in LaPorte. He lived his whole life in our city, and died at his residence on the same plot of ground upon which he was born. He was educated in the LaPorte public schools and at Earlham College, Rich¬ mond, Indiana, and afterwards attended law school at Bloomington, Indiana, and was a law student in his father's office up to the time of his admission to the bar. He then formed a partnership with his father, and for years and until the death of his father, they conducted a large and lucrative law business in this part of the state.

From the date of his father's death John H. Bradley continued to practice law without form¬ ing any copartnership with anyone. In his early practice he held some minor offices - city clerk, deputy prosecuting attorney, and was both city and county attorney - all of which positions he filled with credit and distinction to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the public. He was never an office-seeker. His sole aim in life was to be come a respected lawyer and a good citi¬ zen.

In October, 1878, he was united in marriage with Miss Myra B. Teegarden, who was a daughter of Dr. A. Teegarden, who was also one of our most honored and worthy pioneer citizens. The deceased leaves surviving his widow and two children, a son and a daughter, to whom he has left the most precious of all legacies - the remembrance of a well-spent life and an honored name.

John H. Bradley built his own monument, and builded it well. His position was conspicu¬ ously prominent at that place where Webster once said "there was plenty of room." He had the highest regard for tlje ethics of the profes¬ sion, and never on any account departed the least therefrom. By his quick perception and studious life he was always able to come into a case well equipped for any emergency, and by his clear and wise expressions he was always able to be understood, and in practice met with such suc¬ cess as always attaches to an honest and earnest advocate. In the trial of a case he was always fair and honorable, and never resorted to any low cunning or trickery to gain any undue ad¬ vantage over his adversary. He always sought to present law and the facts in such a manner as his judgment told him was right, and would abandon a case in which he had been employed rather than consent to fraud or trickery by others on his side of the case.

He was never elected judge, and yet for years he served in that capacity in special cases, both in this and surrounding counties, and that ser¬ vice was so pure and so eminent that he was uniformly thought of and spoken of as "Judge." His mind was judicial. His bearing commanded admiration and respect; his rulings were clear and impartial, and, best of all inspirations for a judge, he inspired the lawyers who practiced be¬ fore him with the firm belief that his every rul¬ ing was honest and made with the sole purpose of arriving at the truth within the limits of the law as he understood it to exist.

His life was pure and genial; always digni¬ fied and courteous, honest, truthful and intelli¬ gent - a faithful and constant friend, a highminded and dignified citizen.

In the death of John H. Bradley, the state loses one of her most excellent and exemplary citizens, his family a devoted husband and lov¬ ing father, the bar one of its brightest and most honored members.

There are many other names, in teaching, mechanical engineering, music, and art, which might be given here, and interesting things be said in connection with them, all going to show that in the professions LaPorte county has been strong and able, indeed, such is the abundance of material that has grown on our hands, so many are the facts and experiences, so interest¬ ing the events which accumulate as we near the closing chapters of this work, that we are con¬ strained to say, Oh for years, and Oh for the snace of many volumes in which to "write them !