LaPorte County, Indiana - Chapter 36: Religion, 1904 (part 11 of 23)

F. H. Eickhoff, the fifth child in order of birth, received his elementary education in the paroch¬ ial and public schools of his native city, after which he entered Concordia College at Fort Wayne, where he remained for six years. For the following three years he was a student in the Concordia Seminary at St. Louis, Missouri, after which he entered the ministry, being first called to the Territory of Dakota, to travel as a mission¬ ary, his headquarters to be at Scotland, Bonhomme county, South Dakota. After spending five years in missionary work, Rev. Eickhoff was called to Woodbum, Allen county, Indiana, where he remained as pastor of the Lutheran denomina¬ tion for three years, coming thence to his present charge in Cass township, LaPorte county, where for eleven years he has worked faithfully and earnestly in the work of the gospel. His congre¬ gation now numbers about five hundred souis, and in addition to his ministerial work he also looks after the schools in his parish, in which he teaches German and other branches of study. He is thoroughly earnest and sincere in all his thoughts, words and deeds, and his noble, manly life has proved an inspiration to many of his friends and associates.

At Fort Wayne, Indiana, on the 28th of June, 1885, Rev. Eickhoff was united in marriage to Elizabeth Kern, the daughter of Casper and Elizabeth (Spindler) Kern, the former of whom was born in Bavaria, Germany, and the latter in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, her people hav¬ ing come to this country during the time of Washington. Mrs. Eickhoff is the seventh of their nine children, and was born in Fort Wayne,

Allen county, Indiana, on the 17th of March, 1864, where she was also reared, and received her education in its parochial and public schools. Eight children were born to Rev. and Mrs. Eickhoff, but only six are now living, namely : Olga F., at home ; Waldo, attending Concordia College at Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Herbert, Arnold, Gertrude and Esther. The two who have passed away are Frances and Elfriede, the twin of Arnold. For nineteen years Rev. Eickhoff has labored as a minister of the gospel, and at all times is found true in all his relations with his fellows, loyal to his duties as a citizen of this commonwealth and has ever used his franchise in favor of all noble principles.

JOSEPH HOSTETLER. Success depends upon individual effort, capable management and strong determination. All these qualities have entered into the career of Joseph Hostetler, who is now one of the most prosperous and prominent farmers of LaPorte county, his real estate pos¬ sessions being very extensive. His home is on section 22, Wills township, and as he is widely and favorably known his history can not fail to prove of interest to many of our readers. He was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, January 4, 1829, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Miller) Hostetler. His paternal grandfather also bore the name of Joseph Hostetler and was born in Germany. Hoping to benefit by the bet¬ ter business opportunities of the new world he left his native country and crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Pennsylvania at an early day. He afterward resided in Michigan and later in Canada, his death occurring in Wilmot county, Ontario. Joseph Hostetler, the second, the father of our subject, was born in the Key¬ stone state and was there reared and married. He wedded Miss Mary Miller, likewise born in Pennsylvania. It is supposed that her father was also born there and it is known that the family is of German lineage. The Millers were connected with the Ornish church. After his marriage Joseph Hostetler, the second, removed to Ohio, afterward took up his abode in Michi¬ gan and later went to Canada. In 1843, however, he came to LaPorte county, Indiana, and located upon the farm on which his son Joseph now re¬ sides. There he remained until his death, which occurred in the sixty-first year of his age. He held membership in the German Baptist church, took a very active part in its work and in his business career was always guided by unfaltering integrity and justice. His wife also passed away in LaPorte county, being in her seventy-first year at the time of her death. Unto them were bom eleven children, of whom three died in Canada, one in Ohio and one in Pennsylvania. Only three sons and two daughters are now living.

Joseph Hostetler, whose name forms the cap¬ tion of this review, was the fifth child and third son of the family, and was a lad of about fourteen years when he came with his parents to LaPorte county. He was reared in Wills township and during about two months in the year had the privilege of attending school, which was held in a little log building, and during the remainder of the year he was engaged in farm work. He as¬ sisted in clearing the wild lands, in plowing the fields and in planting and harvesting the crops. His father had the benefit of his aid until he reached majority, after which he started out to earn his own livelihood, working as a farm hand for six months at eleven dollars per month. He afterward worked for another season by the month and with the money he earned he arranged to buy a team and began farming on his own account on rented land. He purchased his pres¬ ent home farm in 1853, comprising one hundred and eighty acres. Splendid success has attended his efforts and he deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for he started out in life empty handed.

On the 10th of September, 1854, Mr. Hos¬ tetler was united in marriage to Miss Polly Drollinger, who was born in LaPorte county, In¬ diana, June 24, 1838, a daughter of Gabriel and Mary E. (Chapman) Drollinger. The father was born in North Carolina, the mother in Con¬ necticut, and they were early settlers of LaPorte county. Mrs. Hostetler is the third of their fam¬ ily of thirteen children and was reared and edu¬ cated in Wills township, where her entire life has been passed. Her own marriage has been blessed with eleven children, of whom three have passed away. Mary Ann is now the widow of Thomas Clark and has four children. Joseph A. is a prominent and influential farmer residing in Wills township. Sarah M. is at home. John \V. is also a resident farmer of Wills township. Gabriel A. and David M. follow farming in the same township. Eva A. is the wife of Gerald Dawson, of Wills township. Mabel A. is the wife of Melvin Miller of Wills township. Those who have passed away are Philip H., Martha J. and Jared F. All of the living were bom in La¬ Porte county and still reside in Wills township.

sides, the first home being a little log cabin eigh¬ teen by eighteen feet, in which they lived four years. On the expiration of that period they erected the fine home in which they have ever since resided. That the years have brought to him prosperity as the reward of his earnest, per¬ sistent effort is shown by the fact that at the time of this writing in 1903 he is the owner of twen¬ ty-seven hundred acres of land, a part of which lies in St. Joseph county, Indiana. He has cer¬ tainly been very successful, and yet his prosperity has come to him as the just reward of his own perseverance, economy and well directed indus¬ try. Most of his land is cultivated, and he has long been accorded a place among the prominent farmers of the county and is to-day one of the leading landowners. His political faith is that of the Democracy, and yet he is liberal in his politi¬ cal support, voting for the men and measures rather than for party. He has never had time nor inclination to seek office for himself, as his attention has been fully occupied by his exten¬ sive business affairs, in which he has met with signal success. Starting out in life a poor boy, working for eleven dollars per month, he is to¬ day one of the men of affluence in northwestern Indiana and his life record should serve as a source of encouragement to others, showing what can be accomplished by willing hands, strong heart and unfaltering courage.

JAMES WILSON, a respected and promi¬ nent farmer of section II, Cass township, LaPorte county, is a member of one of the oldest families in the county. His grandfather, Jeremiah Wil¬ son, was bom in the highlands of Scotland, and came to America in the early days, locating in the famous old town of Vincennes, Indiana, in 1813, when this state was on the borders of civi¬ lization. He died in Vigo county, Indiana. His wife was Johanna (Moore) Wilson.

Jeremiah Wilson, the father of James Wilson, was bom in Pennsylvania, May 18, 1811, and came to LaPorte county, Indiana, in 1831, being one of the founders of the county. He was a captain in the militia and a soldier under General Harrison. He had a tanyard on Hudson lake, and some time in the thirties took up his residence at Union Mills, whence he moved to a farm in Clinton township. He died in Cass township in his seventy-sixth year. He served as deputy sheriff of his county and trustee of Cass township for many years. He was a Democrat, and an active members of the Christian church. He married Abigail Wills, who was bom near Day¬ ton, Ohio, and came to LaPorte county with her father in 1830. Her father, John E. Wills, after whom Wills township was named, was the owner of much land in LaPorte county, and was one of the most prominent of its early residents. Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Wilson were the parents of fourteen children, of whom three sons and one daughter are living.

James Wilson was bom in what is now Clin¬ ton township, LaPorte county, April 25, 1842, and was reared in Clinton and Cass townships, attending the log schoolhouses which were the temples of learning in that rather primitive day. When he became of age his first independent work was on the railroad, and he boarded at home. He followed this occupation two years. During the progress of the Civil war he enlisted for the three month's service, but his father would not allow him to go to the front. The next im¬ portant event in his life was his marriage, which occurred in 1869, and following that he lived on a rented farm for one year. He located on his present farm in Cass township in 1870, and that has been the home of himself and family for near¬ ly thirty-five years. He has one hundred and sixty-four acres of well improved and fertile land, on which he raises the general crops and makes a specialty of raising stock, having some good grades on his place, and being somewhat of an enthusiast in stock-breeding. He has been more than ordinarily successful, and is regarded by his neighbors as one of the representative farmers of the township. He has been identified with the county so long that he has a wide ac¬ quaintance not only with many of its citizens but with all the conditions affecting the agricultural industry in this part of the country, so that he performs his part intelligently and well.

July 4, 1869, Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Emma E. Lawrence, who was bom in Hanna township, LaPorte county, August 16, 1847, the daughter of John and Agnes (Law¬ rence) Lawrence, who were both natives of Eng¬ land and were married in 1832. They came to LaPorte county in 1842 and were farmers of Hanna township. There were nine children in the Lawrence family, as follows: Three died in England ; Dorcas, the wife of A. Lybarger ; Mary Ann, deceased ; Sarah Jane, the wife of Walter Tilden, a prominent farmer of Cass township; Mrs. Wilson ; Harriet, the deceased wife of J. Berridge ; Caroline, the wife of Charles Hunslev. Mrs. Wilson was educated at Westville under Professor J. G. Laird, and taught school for four years before her marriage. She has become the mother of five children, the eldest of whom died in infancy. Edith was educated in the schools of Cass township and the Hanna high school, and taught in the primary department of the Stillwell public schools for two years and also in Cass township; she married William Cannon, a resi¬ dent of Cass township, and they have one son, Lawrence. Agnes was educated in the Wanatah high school, class of 1896, and taught in Cass and Dewey townships; she is the wife of Louis Facklam, of Whiting, Indiana, and they have two children, Delmer and Clarence. Arthur Glenn, who is at home and unmarried, graduated from the Wanatah high school in 1899, was a student at the Valparaiso normal, and taught two or three terms in Dewey and Cass townships. Florence, at home, graduated from the Wanatah high school in 1902, and has her teacher's certificate.

When Mr. Wilson was a young man he drove oxen to the plow which broke some of the virgin prairie sod of the county, and he has ever since borne his full part in developing the agricultural interests of his native county. He has been a Democrat since his majority, but has taken little interest in practical politics.

WILLIAM B. WEBSTER, who has been a resident of LaPorte county since the year 1844, is one of the prosperous agriculturists of the county, and a man in whom all feel the utmost confidence. He comes of an old and respected family, not only in the county but in the nation, for the Websters of this particular branch trace the original seat of the family back of famous old Warwickshire, England, where their ancestors were people of more than ordinary standing in wealth and social position. From the same branch comes the noted lexicographer, Noah Webster.

Calvin F. Webster, the father of William B. Webster, was born in New York, June 25, 1805, and died November 28, 1879. He received a very limited education in the schools, and was for the most part self-educated, being throughout life a wide reader and logical thinker. He followed farming with much success, and few of his bus¬ iness ventures were unsuccessful. His was a noble character, and he never had an open or secret enemy so far as is known ; the heritage of his good name was not the least among the leg¬ acies he left his children. He came to LaPorte county in 1844, the year of Polk's election, arid three years later he bought land in Clinton town¬ ship and also in New Durham township. At the time of his death he owned three hundred acres of excellent land in this county, and was ac¬ counted a well-to-do man. He was a Whig and a Republican in politics. He and his wife were God-loving people, and were members of the Baptist church. Their church was called the Webster church and their school the Webster school, and the locality in Clinton, Noble and Scipio townships in which they lived was called the Webster settlement. There was a large mem¬ bership to the Webster family, and at a reunion held October 12, 1890, nineteen states were rep¬ resented by twenty-nine members of the family.

Calvin F. Webster married Miss Betsey Bur¬ rows, who was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, March 12, 1813. She is still living at the age of ninety years, and resides in Perry, Iowa. She is bright and active, and is still a worthy worker in her Master's vineyard. Of their seven children, four are still living: Eliza is the wife of Harvey Willis, of Perry, Iowa ; the second is William B. ; Lydia S. is the wife of Lindsey Willis, a fanner of Perry, Iowa ; A. J. is a farmer of Columbia City, Indiana, and is married.

William B. Webster, the second in number of the children, was born in Chautauqua county, New York, February 21, 1836. He was eight years old when his father came to LaPorte county, and most of his early training was re¬ ceived in this county. He learned thoroughly the art of agriculture, and has followed it all his life, with abundant success. He has a farm of ex¬ cellent land, and is engaged to a considerable extent in the raising of stock. He was in the vigor of young manhood when the Civil war broke out, and in August, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, at the city of LaPorte, and the regiment rendez¬ voused at Camp Colfax and was assigned to Gen¬ eral Rosecrans' army in West Virginia. In 1862 he was transferred to the western army under General Buell, and was at the battle of Shiloh, and in the second day of the battle at Stone River was struck twice in the right arm by a piece of shell. This wound caused him to be in the hos¬ pital for five months. He was also in the battle at Greenbrier, West Virginia. He received his honorable discharge at Louisville, Kentucky, May 23, 1863.

On June 12, 1878, Mr. Webster married Miss Linda E. Steele, who was bom in the city of La¬ Porte, February 29, 1856, a daughter of Benja¬ min and Anna (Schultz) Steele. She traces her ancestry to French sources, the LaVans of France being the most prominent. There are three other children of the Steele family living:

Lafayette, who attended a select school in La- Porte county, but was in the main self-educated, is a prosperous farmer of Cedar Rapids, Boone county, Nebraska; he married Miss Lillie Curtis, and they have two children. Mary, who was born and educated in LaPorte county, being a stu¬ dent in the St. Rose academy in LaPorte, is the wife of James Prather, a successful farmer and stockman of Portland, Kansas, they have six children. Flora is the wife of Kirton Heath, of LaPorte county. Mrs. Webster was the fifth in the family of eight children. She received her education in the high school and the St. Rose Academy at LaPorte, and is a lady of more than ordinary education and culture, having a discrim¬ inating taste for literature. She derives from her French forefathers the great versatility of that race, especially as a fluent speaker, and her wide acquaintance with books and general history en¬ ables her to say something entertaining and to the point whether in private conversation or before an audience. She is a member of Rebekah Lodge No. 359, at Union Mills, and of the W. R. C. No. 36, at Westville, and was president of the latter organization for almost three years. One thing that Mrs. Webster can say with pride is that her father, aged eighty-five, her brother, at fiftytwo, her husband, sixty-seven, and son, twenty, not one is addicted to the use of tobacco or in¬ toxicants in any form, which is rather an unusual record.

Four children were bom to Mr. and Mrs. Webster, and three are living : Elsie, who finished the eleventh grade of the public school, is the wife of Andrew Hutton, a farmer of LaPorte county. Calvin E. graduated from the LaPorte high school, June 10, 1903, and is at home. Laura A., who graduated from the high school in the same class as her brother Calvin, was the next to the youngest graduate in the class. The two younger children are members of the Presbyterian church at Union Mills.

Mr. Webster is a stanch Republican, and cast his first vote for Lincoln. He is a member of Noble Lodge No. 573, I. O. O. F., and of Martin Post No. 316, G. A. R., at Westville. He and his wife have made an honorable record for them¬ selves in the sixty years that they have spent in the county. They have performed the duties of domestic life with cheerfulness and thoroughness, and may take great credit to themselves for the bright children who are now ready to take their place in the world's work. In their social and more public affairs they have also set an example of worthy and upright citizens, willing to take

CHARLES A. DABBERT. For a number of years Charles A. Dabbert has been engaged in the dry-goods business in Michigan City, and is accounted one of the leading and substantial merchants of the place. He represents that class of worthy German citizens who, allying their in¬ terests with those of the new world, have adapted themselves to its different methods and customs, and by constant effort and honorable dealings have gained a place among the successful and prominent men in the communities in which their lots have been cast. Mr. Dabbert was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, and both his paternal and maternal grandparents lived and died in the fatherland, the latter passing away when nearly ninety years of age and having been the father of two children. The parents of Charles A. Dabbert were Christopher and Mary (Stahl) Dabbert, also natives of Germany, and three chil¬ dren were bom to them, two of whom are now living, John C. and Charles A. The father, who was a laboring man, came to America in 1856, locating in Michigan City, and here he spent the remainder of his life, passing away at the age of eighty-six years. His wife survived him about four years, passing away at the age of eighty-four years, and both she and her husband were members of the Lutheran church.

Charles A. Dabbert accompanied his parents on their removal to America in 1856, being then sixteen years old, but ere leaving his native land he had received his education in its public schools. When eighteen years of age he secured the posi¬ tion of fireman on the Monon Railroad, while later for twenty-one years he had charge of an engine. In 1885, however, he abandoned rail¬ road work and embarked in the dry-goods busi¬ ness in Michigan City. Mr. Dabbert is prompt and farsighted in his business transactions, meet¬ ing his obligations faithfully and inspiring con¬ fidence in all with whom he has dealings. He gives his political support to the Republican party and for two years was a member of the council of Michigan City, representing the Third ward.

For his wife Mr. Dabbert chose Miss Freda Haas, and nine children have been born to them, namely : Marv, who married John Holtz and has five children living, Flora, Anna, Elsie, Hildah and Benjamin ; Emma, who married August Oppermann, and was two children, Harry and Lillian; Fred, who died at the age of three years ;

Anna, who married William Gielow, and their children were Florence and Willard; Frank, a painter in this city; William, cashier in the Mich¬ igan Central freight office, and who married Dora Meese ; Otto, a chair-maker in Tell City, Indiana, and who married Kate Schreiner, by whom he has one child; Louis, a machinist in the employ of the Michigan Central Railroad Company at Jackson, Michigan ; and one who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Dabbert are members of the Ger¬ man Lutheran church, and he is a member of St. John's Aid Society. The family residence is located on the corner of Seventh and Buffalo streets, and was erected in 1867.

DAVID S. MYERS, a prominent financier of central Illinois, is a native of Ohio, with the pio¬ neer history of which state his family name is honorably connected. He is a son of William and Margaret (Moore) Myers, the latter of whom was among the earliest settlers in the southern part of the Buckeye state. William Myers, was born at Russellville, Ohio, in 1814. On the old Myers homestead at Russellville David S. was born February 10, 1858. His father being a teacher saw to it that his son obtained a good education. In 1883 he located in Livingston county, Illinois, and engaged in school teaching, which he abandoned after two years' work to ac¬ quire experience in a real estate office in Chicago. Having thus acquired some insight into the real estate business he returned to Livingston county, rented desk room and with no capital other than his own energy, engaged actively in the real es¬ tate business also began investing his earnings in real estate in Pontiac and farm lands in Livings¬ ton county and became the owner of much pros¬ pectively valuable land in the environs of Pontiac and in other good localities in Livingston county. His investments in land were in the low and then seemingly undesirable tracts, but when drained, became the most valuable lands and were sought after by good tenants. Enormous crops and rents soon paid first cost of the land, and he is now the owner of large tracts of this land, worth many times its first cost. At this time he began platting additions to the city of Pontiac. In this enter¬ prise it was the policy of Mr. Myers to encourage those classes of investors likely to become per¬ manent residents, and he thereby gave a powerful impulse to the growth and financial prosperity of the city of Pontiac. Much of the finest residence portion of Pontiac of to-day was brought into requisition as sites for homes largely by the fore¬ sight and business sagacity of Mr. Myers. In

1889 he realized thirty thousand dollars from the sale of vacant lots in his various additions, and has up to the present date subdivided and platted twelve additions to the city of Pontiac.

Mr. Myers entered the banking business in 1899, being the leading spirit in organizing and incorporating the Pontiac State Bank, of which he was elected, and still continues, the president. From its beginning this institution has been successsful and to-day is accounted one of the lead¬ ing and safest banking houses in this part of Illi¬ nois. Through the influence of Mr. Myers, the Pontiac State Bank became, and is now, one of the depositories of the Modem Woodmen of America, the largest fraternal life insurance com¬ pany in the world. Mr. Myers is connected with various enterprises, one of which is the Pontiac Shoe Manufacturing Company, which he helped to found and championed as first stockholder, and which represents one of the most important of the city's industries and is one of the largest and most prosperous shoe manufacturing plants in the entire west. The Allen Candy Company is another corporation with which he has efficiently served as a director. Mr. Myers is director of the Bloomington, Pontiac & Joliet Electric Rail¬ way Company, treasurer of the La Crosse Indi¬ ana Land Company, president of the McWilliams Indiana Land Company and treasurer of the Kankakee Reclamation Company. The McWill¬ iams Land Company own in Indiana six thousand two hundred acres, the La Crosse Company seven thousand two hundred acres, and in both of these companies Mr. Myers owns a one-sixth interest, besides owning individually four thousand acres in that vicinity. These properties began to be developed in 1901 and 1902, and form a part of the important improvements of landed interests in LaPorte county, Indiana. The principal office of the La Crosse and McWilliams Land Compan¬ ies are located at La Crosse, this county.

In politics Mr. Myers has been a Republican of most unswerving convictions, having cast his first presidential vote for James A. Garfield in 1880, and has ever since taken an active and prac¬ tical part in national and state issues. The county and city affairs he has also given thoughtful at¬ tention and has been useful to the Republican party in many of its campaigns. For two years, beginning in June, 1898, he was chairman of the Livingston County Central Committee, and is well and favorably known to the leaders of his party in all sections of Illinois. In 1897 Mr. Myers was elected mayor of Pontiac, and during his administration he did much for the improve-

T> ^o, and has ever since taken an acn . tuM part in national and state msaes, fl'd city affairs he has ado ^'iccti d' icmiofi and has hr. eti reefnl to thr party in manv of its ca?npa.*v,is. I < t he^Miinii p m June. 1808, he was cl a - Lioatfsiot C'oinuv ( cntral Cam; a well ana favorably known to th« '- party in all sections of Illinois. i- Mvers was eM'ted tua\ or of La t - .

merit and beautifying of his adopted city. Mr. Myers is treasurer of the Illinois State Reforma¬ tory, having been appointed to that position by Governor Yates in July, 1901. This is the largest State Institution in Illinois and one of the largest public institutions in the United States, the ap¬ propriation being over three quarters of a million dollars annually.

Mr. Myers was married February 9, 1887, to Louise Catherine Slyder, of Livingston county, the daughter of Simon F. Slyder, who was an old and honored citizen of this county. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Myers have been born four children, two of whom, a son and daughter, Diller Slyder and Anna Louise, survive. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Pontiac, and enjoy the popular esteem in this community. It is not too much to say that Mr. Myers is one if the most prominent and pro¬ gressive men of affairs in the entire Great West and the reason we have for inserting some per¬ sonal history of Mr. Myers in the volume en¬ titled "A Twentieth Century History and Bio¬ graphical Record of LaPorte County, Indiana" is because of his large landed interests here.

CAPTAIN A. B. AUSTIN. As long as memory remains to the American people so long will they hold in grateful remembrance the sol¬ diers of the Civil war, whose valor preserved the Union and kept intact the greatest Republic upon the face of the globe. Among the loyal boys in blue, Captain A. B. Austin was numbered, and in days of peace he is as faithful in citizenship as he was when he followed the old flag upon southern battlefields. He now resides on section 21, Galena township, and is one of the native sons of that township, his birth having occurred there on the 17th of April, 1839.

His father, Sands H. Austin, was a native of St Albans, Vermont, and there spent the days of his boyhood and youth. He was a son of Charles Austin, also a native of the Green Mountain state and a farmer by occupation. The grandfather came to LaPorte county and for a time remained here, but afterward returned to Vermont, where his last days were passed. When a young man Sands H. Austin removed to New York. He was married in Franklin county, that state, to Miss Sarah Teeter, a native of Franklin county and a daughter of Zachariah Teeter, who died in New York. The father was a man of great height, being six feet and seven inches tall. He was of Scotch lineage, and possessed many of

In the year 1834 the parents of Captain Austin left the Empire state and emigrated westward, establishing their home in Galena township, La¬ Porte county, where the father secured land from the government. He at once began the develop¬ ment of his claim and vigorously prosecuted the work, but after a few years his life's labors were ended. He passed away in 1840 in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he had long been a consistent, earnest and active member. He was one of the well known and honored pio¬ neers of the county, and all who knew him re¬ spected him because of his upright life. His wife passed away in 1890. In their family were four children: Harriet E., Pauline, William S. and Alexander B.

Captain Austin is the youngest of the family and was reared in his native township, his early education being acquired in the district schools near his home. He afterward entered Hillsdale College at Hillsdale, Michigan, and it was while pursuing his studies there that he responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting in Company D, Forty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as a private. Later he was promoted to the rank of sergeant, subsequently was made first lieuten¬ ant and then attained the rank of captain of Com¬ pany C. He received his first commission in the regiment after the battle of Missionary Ridge, and was sent home on recruiting service for his country. His first enlistment was for a term of three months and on its expiration he again en¬ rolled his name among the boys in blue, this time for three years' service. The third time he re¬ enlisted and as a veteran continued in the army for more than four years. In many important battles he participated, rendering valiant aid to his country, and throughout the long period of his service he never faltered in his loyal attach¬ ment to the old flag and the cause it represented. He was under fire at the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Iuka, Corinth, Port Gibson, Ray¬ mond, Jackson, Champion Hill, Vicksburg, Mis¬ sionary Ridge, the Atlantic campaign, at Savan¬ nah, Georgia, and Bentonville, North Carolina. Altogether he took part in sixty-three engag¬ ements, and was in every state in the south ex¬ cept Texas and Florida. Three different times he was wounded, but never seriously, and he parti¬ cipated in the grand review in Washington, D. C., where the victorious army of the loyal men marched down Pennsylvania avenue and passed the reviewing stand erected upon the grounds of the White House. This was the most cele¬ brated military pageant ever seen in the history of the Western continent, and Captain Austin may well be proud of the fact that he was one of the participants in that event. He received an hon¬ orable discharge July 15, 1865.

Returning to his home in Galena township. Captain Austin afterward attended the common schools and also Bryant & Stratton's Business College of Chicago. Since that time he has been engaged in farming in his native township, and has always maintained an enviable place in the public regard, enjoying the unqualified respect of his fellow men. On the 21st of December, 1869, he was married to Miss Amanda M. Hud¬ son, a daughter of Richard Hudson. She was born in Galena township, obtained her education in the public schools and on attaining womanhood gave her hand in marriage to Captain Austin. This union has been blessed with seven children, of whom one died in infancy. The others are Archibald C, a fanner of Galena township; Hatie, the widow of Charles Long; Norman E., who died at the age of two years ; Eva M., who is engaged in teaching; and Franklin C. and Adda B., who follow the same profession.

Captain Austin is well known in his native county because of his sincere and earnest interest in the public welfare and his co-operation in meas¬ ures for the general good. He takes an active part in the work of the Grand Army post and en¬ joys its social relations. His membership is with the Hathaway Post No. no at Rolling Prairie, and he served as its commander two terms, being the first to hold that position. He is also a promi¬ nent Mason, and in politics is a stanch Republi¬ can. His religious faith is indicated by his mem¬ bership in the Christian church. Throughout the sixty-four years of his earthly pilgrimage he has lived in LaPorte county, and is known as one of its representative citizens, true to every trust re¬ posed in him, living a life in harmony with honorable principles and upright conduct.

MARTIN A. HOWE, a contractor and builder residing at the northeast comer of Pine and Michigan streets, was born in Utica, New York, June 14, 1836. He represents an old New England family. His paternal grandfather was a native of Maine and removed to the Empire state, where he died when well advanced in years. To him and his wife (Patty Howe) were born four sons and four daughters. This number in¬ cluded Rodolphus Howe, the father of M. A.

Howe, who was a native of New York. He was employed on the Erie and Chenango canals until he came to the west in 1839, locating in Van Buren county, Michigan, where he engaged in farming. He also did teaming there and con¬ ducted a grocery store. - As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Luana Bierce, who was also born in New York and was a daughter of Norman and Susan (Chubbuck) Bierce, the latter of Scotch-Irish parentage. Nor¬ man Bierce was a mechanic, and at an early day removed to Van Buren county, Michigan. He spent his last days with his youngest daughter in Cadillac, Michigan, and died when nearly one hundred years of age. His wife had passed away about thirty years previously. He was a car¬ penter and joiner by trade, and when ninety-seven years of age he stood at the lathe and turned out newel posts and banister spindles. To him and his wife were bom five daughters and one son, but all are now deceased, the son having pased away when serving as a soldier of the Civil war. Their daughter, Mrs. Howe, became the mother of five sons, but only one is now living, Martin A. Rodolphus Howe died in 1891, when more than seventy years of age, and his wife passed away in Michigan City in 1895 at the age of sev¬ enty-seven years. They were members of the Christian church, and were leading and influ¬ ential residents of their community at an early day. They lived in Michigan at a time of pio¬ neer development, when Pottawottomie Indians were their near neighbors.

Martin A. Howe attended the old-fashioned assessment schools in his youth and managed to meet the expenses of the course through his own labor. In early life he worked at lumbering, and continued in that pursuit for many years. At the time of the Civil war, however, he became a val¬ iant defender of the Union and enlisted in Com¬ pany C, Third Michigan Cavalry, with which he served for four and a half years. He took part in the battles of Island No. 10, Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, Iuka, Vicksburg and numerous skirmishes, and after the close of the war was sent to Texas, where he remained on guard duty until mustered out in March, 1866. His military record is a most commendable one, and of this he has every reason to be proud. After the war he began contracting and building on his own ac¬ count and has since followed that pursuit. In 1880 he became a resident of Michigan City, In¬ diana, where he has since resided.

William and Emeline (Steams) DeLong. Her parents were natives of New York,- and her father became a pioneer settler of Van Buren county, Michigan, locating in Arlington town¬ ship, when he was about eight years old. There he was reared to manhood and married, his first wife being Emeline Steams. They had nine children : Mary L., the wife of Martin A. Howe ; George E. ; Lavina E., the wife of H. M. Wheeler, of Chicago; Addison Jerome; Zala Franklin ; Francis ; William ; Arthur ; and Anna, the wife of Bert Breed of Almena township, Van Buren county, Michigan. For his second wife Mr. DeLong chose Mrs. Mary Carter, and they became the parents of twins, Myrtie and Bertie, but the daughter is now deceased. Will¬ iam DeLong died in 1888, at the age of sixty-six years, and his first wife passed away in 1876, when forty-nine years of age. Both were mem¬ bers of the Freewill Baptist church. The pater¬ nal grandfather of Mrs. Howe was Henry De¬ Long, who removed from New York to Michigan at an early date and established his home near Ann Arbor. He was of French descent, had a large family and died at the age of sixty-six years. Two of his sons were soldiers of the Mex¬ ican war, and three served in the Civil war. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Howe was Sidney Steams, who removed from New York to Michi¬ gan and there engaged in farming. He married Miss Jerome and they had a number of children. His death occurred near Decatur at a ripe old age.

To Mr. and Mrs. Howe have been born three children : James N., William M. and Mary Eme¬ line. The first is a partner of his father in busi¬ ness, and married Ollie Hixon, by whom he has a daughter Charlotte and an infant unnamed. Mr. Howe is a member of George V. Rawson Post No. 46, G. A. R., and his wife is a member of the Christian church and the Woman's Relief Corps, while formerly she belonged to the Baptist church. He gave his political support to the Republican party in early manhood, but at the time of Grant's second election he became a Democrat and has since supported that party in national questions, but at local elections votes in¬ dependently. He owns his present home at 202 East Michigan street, together with five other buildings in the same block and five near Fourth and Michigan streets.

For a number of years he has now been num¬ bered among the prominent and progressive res¬ idents of Michigan City. He may well be termed one of its leading business men, for he has been the promoter of leading business enterprises. His connection with any undertaking insures a pros¬ perous outcome of the same, for it is in his nature to carry forward to succesful completion what¬ ever he undertakes. He has earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of busi¬ ness, and in his dealings is known for his prompt and honorable methods, which have won the de¬ served and unbounded confidence of his fellow men.

AVERY I. BARNS has passed the Psalmist's span of threescore years and ten, but is still an active factor in business circles in LaPorte coun¬ ty, giving his attention to the supervision of his farm, which is situated on section 18, Galena township. He was born in Onondaga county. New York, August 25, 1828, and is the eldest son of Cyrus and Eliza (Elliott) Bams, mention of whom is made on another page of this volume in connection with the sketch of E. W. Davis.

Mr. Barns was eleven years of age when he came to LaPorte county, and in his boyhood the responsibility of caring for the home farm largely devolved upon him because of the ill health of his father. He early assumed the burden and- faith¬ fully performed his duty. He cleared the land, planted the fields, and in due time reaped abund¬ ant harvests. His extensive labors, however, left him little opportunity to attend school. He re¬ mained at home and assisted his father until 1858, thus repaying his parents by filial devotion for much of the care which they bestowed upon him in his early youth.

On the 28th of November, 1858, Mr. Barns was united in marriage to Miss Celestine Wilcox, who was born in Ohio on the 24th of May, 1834. In the same year she was brought by her widowed mother to LaPorte county, Indiana, where her girlhood days were passed. Her early education was acquired in the district schools of this county, while subsequently she attended the high school in the city of LaPorte. Acquiring a good educa¬ tion, she engaged in teaching school in LaPorte county for about two terms. She was an estima¬ ble lady and her death, which occurred on the 20th of April, 1899, was deeply deplored by her many friends.

At the time of his marriage Mr. Barns located upon the place where he now resides and which he had purchased in 1850. He had only fifty dollars with which to make payment upon the farm, but he arranged to meet other payments at a future date, and with characteristic energy began clearing his land, all of which was covered with timber. As he cut down the trees and devel¬ oped the fields he found that the soil was rich and productive and yielded to him good harvests. He has remained continuously upon his farm since his marriage, and is well known as a sub¬ stantial agriculturist.

Mr. Barns has worked his road tax from the time he was twenty-one years of age until he reached the age of fifty years in the same district. He is now seventy-five years of age, and has lived for all but nine years of this time in Galena townschip so that he is familiar with its history and with the progress and improvement of LaPorte county. His study of political issues and ques¬ tions of the day has caused him to give his sup¬ port to the Democracy. He has served as road master and assessor. He is also a member of the Christian church, with which he became identified twenty-five years ago. He still takes an active and influential part in church and Sunday-school work, has contributed freely of his means to the support of the cause and has done much for the moral advancement of his community. That his life has been active and useful is indicated by the fact that he is to-day the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, of which eighty acres is in the home place where he lived, while the remaining eighty acres is situated on section 17, Galena township, and this he rents. He is well known as a man whose life has been actuated by honorable principles and whose word has ever been as good as his bond and whose integrity is above question.

JESSE BELMONT ROGERS, M. D., who is engaged in the practice of medicine in Michi¬ gan City, is one of the native sons of Massachu¬ setts, his birth having occurred in Byfield on the 30th of December, 1865. His paternal grand¬ father was Nathaniel Rogers, who was also a na¬ tive of Massachusetts and was of English line¬ age. By occupation he was a farmer and fol¬ lowed that pursuit throughout his entire life, but when the second war with England was inaug¬ urated he joined the American army and fought for the rights of this republic. His death oc¬ curred when he was about seventy-four years of age.

His son, Abial Rogers, the father of Dr. Rogers, was likewise born in the old Bay state, and was reared to the occupation of farming, which he followed for a number of years in Massachusetts. Later he engaged in shoemaking in a factory in Byfield, and in that town both he and his wife are still living. At the time of the Civil war he offered his services to the govern¬ ment as a defender of the Union cause and was mustered in, but the regiment was never called forth to active service. He wedded Miss Susan A. Rogers, who like her husband, was a native of Massachusetts. Mrs. Rogers is a daughter of James Rogers, who was a native of New Hamp¬ shire and was a miller and millwright by trade, and whose death occurred when he had attained the very advanced age of eighty-seven years. To Abial and Susan Rogers were bom five children, three sons and two daughters, but only the oldest and the youngest are now living, the former being Forester, a resident of Byfield, Massachusetts.

Dr. Rogers, who is the youngest of the fam¬ ily, was reared in his native town, and at the usual age entered the public schools, there con¬ tinuing his studies until he had completed the high school course in Newburyport. He was then graduated with the class of 1883, after which he entered Dartmouth College and was graduated from that institution with the class of 1887. He had pursued a scientific course, and after leaving college engaged in civil engineering, but did not find this profession entirely congenial and in 1891 he took up the study of medicine under the di¬ rection of Dr. C. G. Higbee, of St. Paul, Minne¬ sota. In 1892 he entered the Hahnemann Medi¬ cal College of Chicago, Illinois, from which in¬ stitution he was graduated with the class of 1895. He then began practice in Lincoln, Illi¬ nois, and thence removed to Michigan City, here becoming the successor of Dr. E. Z. Cole. He has practiced here continually since, and the lib¬ eral patronage accorded him is evidence of his ability and of the confidence reposed in him by the public. He has strong regard for the ethics of the profession, is careful in the diagnosis of a case, and his judgment is seldom at fault in pre¬ dicting the outcome of a disease. The Doctor also has business relations of another character, being connected with the Michigan City Ice and Cold Storage Company.

On the 14th of November, 1893, Dr. Rogers was married to Miss Marian S. Woods, a daugh¬ ter of Oliver S. and Laveine (McIntyre) Woods. Her father was a prominent lumberman of the state of Wisconsin and was also a leading mem¬ ber of the Masonic fraternity. By his marriage he has two sons and two daughters : Walter, who is now city civil engineer in LaCrosse, Wiscon¬ sin; Marian, the esteemed wife of Dr. Rogers; Helen, a school teacher in LaCrosse : and Ralph, who is superintendent of a ranch in Mexico, which is largely owned by capitalists of La¬ Crosse. The home of Dr. and Mrs. Rogers has been blessed with two children : Seabury Belmont and Helen Crofton, but the latter died when only nineteen months old. The parents are both con¬ sistent Christian people, the Doctor holding mem¬ bership in the Congregational church, while his wife is a member of the Baptist church. He be¬ longs to Acme Lodge No. 83, F. & A. M. ; Mich¬ igan City Chapter No. 25, R. A. M. ; and Mich¬ igan City Commandery No. 30, K. T. He is also identified with Michigan City Lodge No. 265, I. O. O. F. ; and Washington Lodge of the Knights of Pythias. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party. In connection with his profession he belongs to the American Institute of Homeopathy, and is continually studying to broaden his knowledge and render his labors more effective in coping with disease and restor¬ ing to man his most priceless possession, health. He is widely known as a conscientious and cap¬ able member of the calling, and well deserves the success which is accorded him.

JOHN H. CANNON, a pioneer settler and progressive farmer of LaPorte county, has been prominently identified with the growth and settle¬ ment of this locality. He was bom in Porter county, Indiana, southwest of the city of Val¬ paraiso, on the 16th of March, 1838, and is the fourth son of James and Mary (Jackson) Can¬ non, who were numbered among the early pioneers of LaPorte county, having come to this locality from Ohio. The father was bom near Dayton, Ohio, while the mother, nee Mary Jackson, was a native of Kentucky, born near Boonsboro, where she spent a part of her girlhood days, but her death occurred in LaPorte county, Indi¬ ana. James Cannon, who was born in 1808, passed away in death on the 19th of October, 1889. To this worthy pioneer couple were bom ten children, seven sons and three daughters.

John H. Cannon accompanied his parents on their removal to Cass township, La¬ Porte county, when ten years of age, and from that time on received his education in its district schools, which he attended two or three months during the year, the house wherein he received his early training hav¬ ing been of the primitive log structures. Remain¬ ing with his parents until after reaching mature years and assisting his father with the wonc of the farm, he was then married and located on the farm on which he yet resides, this having been his home for the long period of forty-two years. His homestead consists of one hundred and ninety-three acres, all of which is well im¬ proved, and there he is devoting his energies to general farming and stock-raising. When a young man Mr. Cannon made a trip through the west, leaving home in the spring of i860, and in his joumeyings visited Kansas City, Omaha, Nebraska City and many other places, after which he returned home, and with this exception he has been in LaPorte county since his tenth year, thus being conneoted with much of its upbuilding and progress.

The marriage of Mr. Cannon was celebrated in 1865, when Maria B. Redinbaugh became his wife. She, too, is a native of the Buckeye state. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Cannon has been blessed with six children, namely: Emma, the wife of Aaron Snyder, of Nebraska; Alonzo, also a resident of Nebraska and a farmer by oc¬ cupation; Elizabeth, at home; Carra, also at home; William, who is married and engaged in agricultural pursuits in Cass township, LaPorte county ; and Edith, who is unmarried and resides in Herscher, Illinois. The family attend worship at the Christian church, of which Mr. Can¬ non is a valued member. His political support is given to the Democracy, and at all time he is loyal and true to his duties of citizenship. During the Civil war he was obliged to hire a substitute as he was not in a condition to undergo the hard¬ ships of army life. He was formerly a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Westville.

REV. HENRY V. HITCHCOCK. Many years ago the Hitchcock family was founded in the United States by three brothers who came from England and settled in Connecticut and Massachusetts. In the former state Peter Hitch¬ cock, the grandfather of Rev. Hitchcock, was born. He became a prominent member of the legal profession and while residing in Ohio served as a chief justice for many years, while during the war of 1812 he was a brave and loyal soldier. His wife bore the maiden name of Nabby Cook, and they reared a number of chil¬ dren. On the maternal side Henry V. Hitch¬ cock is a grandson of Stephen Ford, who also claimed Connecticut as the state of his nativity, and who was a farmer by occupation. For his wife he chose Eunice Brooks, and he lived to the good old age of eighty years.

The parents of Rev. Hitchcock were Henry L. and Clarissa M. (Ford) Hitchcock, natives of the Buckeye state. Eleven children were born to them, six sons and five daughters, and three of the sons are now living: Henry V.; Charles Edward, a resident of Claridon, Ohio; and Herbert A., of Michigan City. The father was a minister in the Presbyterian church, having preached for fifteen years in Columbus, Ohio, and was afterward president of the Western Reserve College at Hudson. He was thoroughly earnest and sincere in all his thoughts, words and deeds, and his noMe^ manly life proved an inspiration to many of his old friends and associates. He passed away in death in 1873, when he had reached the sixtieth milestone on the journey of life, and his wife survived him until 1878, pass¬ ing away in Michigan City, Indiana, when also in her sixtieth year. .

Henry V. Hitchcock was bom in Ashtabula county, Ohio, on the 29th of September, 1838, but his boyhood days were spent at Columbus, that state, where he attended the common schools and later the college at Hudson, graduating in that institution in 1859. For a short time there¬ after he followed the teacher's profession, while later he was employed at farm labor, and then en¬ tered the Lane Theological Seminary, where he completed the course in 1864. This was at the time when the great conflict between the north and south was at its heighth, and the young student immediately entered the service of his country, as chaplain of the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteers, his military services covering a period of twelve months. After the close of the conflict he took up his min¬ isterial duties at Streetsboro, Ohio, and later be¬ came principal of the preparatory department of the Western Reserve College, being thus engaged for three years, while for a similar period follow¬ ing he turned his attention to the tilling of the soil. The year 1872 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Hitchcock in Michigan City, Indiana, where he secured the position of shipping clerk in the fac¬ tory of Ford, Johnson & Company, which he held for several years, and was then made treasurer of both the Ford-Johnson Company and the Hitchcock Chair Company, which were consoli¬ dated in 1901. He is now a director and the assistant treasurer of this well known chair man¬ ufacturing company.

The marriage of Mr. Hitchcock was cele¬ brated on the nth of April, 1867, when Miss Susan E. Delano became his wife. Three chil¬ dren have been bom of this union, the eldest of whom, Henry L., is serving as assistant manager of the Ford-Johnson Company. He married Grace M. Hutchinson, and their three children are William H., John H., and Eunice. The eldest daughter Clara D., is employed as a kindergarten teacher, and the third child died in infancy. Mrs. Hitchcock is also deceased, having passed away in 1875, when but thirty-two years of age. Rev. Hitchcock gives his political allegiance to the Republican party, and as would be expected of such a man, true in all his relations to his fellows, he is loyal to his duties as a citizen of this com¬ monwealth and uses his franchise in favor of all noble principles and upright candidates for public office.

LEONIDAS AMES. After a useful and well spent life, in which he has prospered, Leon¬ idas Ames is now living in retirement from active labor on his fine farm on section 30, Center town¬ ship. He was bom in Boston, Massachusetts, on the 9th of November, 1831, and is a son of Charles and Matilda (Wicks) Ames, whose his¬ tory will be found in the sketch of their son, Augustus Ames, in this volume, the latter being the only brother of Mr. Ames.

When five years of age the son Leonidas was brought by his parents to LaPorte county, Indi¬ ana, receiving his education in the public schools of Center township. At the age of nineteen years, however, he returned to his native county in Massachusetts, there remaining for seven years, during which time he was employed in the Ames Shovel Works at West Bridgewater. On the ex¬ piration of that period, in 1856, Mr. Ames again came to LaPorte county, taking up his abode in Center township, where he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He is numbered among the honored pioneer settlers of. the county, having located here during the era of its early develop¬ ment, and has watched with interest the wonder¬ ful advancement which has since taken place, having at the same time borne his part in the work of development and progress. He has met with success in his work of tilling the soil, hav¬ ing placed his land under a valuable state of cul¬ tivation, and his work in former years now en¬ ables him to live in honored retirement.

Mr. Ames was first married in 1854, when Miss Susan Caldwell became his wife. She was born in West Bridgewater, Plymouth county, Massachusetts, and is a daughter of William Caldwell, also of that state. On the 2d of Feb¬ ruary, 1893, Mrs. Ames passed into eternal rest, at her death leaving one son, Andrew Ames, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Center township, LaPorte county. The latter married Sarah Welker, and they have become the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters, namely: Alice W., Addie E., Charles and Nelson. For his second wife Mr. Ames chose Mrs. Martha J. Jones, a native daughter of the Key¬ stone state, her birth occurring in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, but at eighteen years of age she removed with her parents* family to Pulaski county, Indiana. The father of Mrs. Ames is Leslie Hazlett, born in Pennsylvania in 1821, and he now resides with his youngest daughter in North Chicago, Illinois. The mother of Mrs. Ames was Martha (Weasner) Hazlett, bom in Pennsylvania in 1821 and died in Pulaski county, Indiana, about 1886. Mrs. Ames by a former marriage has a daughter, Bessie Ann Jones. In his political affiliations Mr. Ames is a life-long Republican. He holds membership relations with the Methodist Episcopal church, being an active worker in religious circles, and is a valued citi¬ zen of LaPorte county.

REV. JOHN BLECKMANN, pastor of St. Mary*s Roman Catholic church at Michigan City, and dean of South Bend district of the diocese of Fort Wayne, has been one of the spiritual forces of this community for nearly nineteen years. He is the familiar and beneficent figure in many homes, the healer of broken hearts and wounded spirits, and in addition to his powers of comforting the soul he has been one of the most energetic workers for the improvement of the material and intellectual conditions of his parishioners. His church has more than doubled in numbers, educational facilities have been im¬ proved and increased, harmony and the working spirit have been preserved, and all departments of church work and the extension of its influence have progressed toward the high ideal which is always in Father Bleckmann*s mind. He has been in the active work of the church for over thirty years, and each year increases his ability to do good and gives him the broader spiritual insight and sympathy through which the greatest works of God are accomplished.

Father Bleckmann comes of a good Han¬ overian German family, and his paternal grand¬ parents were residents of Osnabruck, where Charles Bleckmann was also born and reared, learning the trade of blacksmith. He came to America in 1832, and after spending a short time in Pennsylvania came down the Ohio river in a flatboat as far as Cincinnati, where he settled and followed his trade for the rest of his life. His death occurred at the age of sixty-six years, in 1877, at Delphi, Indiana, in the home of his son. Father Bleckmann, who was pastor there at the time. His wife was Elizabeth Nienaber, also a native of Hanover, Germany, and a daughter of John Henry Nienaber, a native of the same province and who married a Miss Rechtin, who died in Germany. After her death he came to America and located at Cincinnati, where he died in 1867. Father Bleckmann knows of only two of his sons. Elizabeth (Nienaber) Bleckmann died in Attica, Indiana, in 1874, aged fifty-six years, at the home of Father Bleckmann, who was pastor there. Both these parents were buried in the family lot in Cincinnati in St. Joseph's ceme¬ tery. The father was a soldier in the regular German army. They had nine children, five sons and four daughters: Philomina, widow of Fred Heulsmann, died November 4, 1903; and the three now living are: Rev. John Bleckmann; Joseph Bleckmann, of Cincinnati ; and Miss Catharine Bleckmann, who is keeping house for Father Bleckmann.

Father Bleckmann was bom in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 5, 1846, and was reared there. He took the classical course in St. Xavier's College, of that city, and then graduated in philosophy from Notre Dame University at South Bend, Indiana. He took his theological course at Mount St. Mary's Seminary from 1867 to 1870, and was ordained to the priesthood, April 27, 1870, by the first bishop of the diocese of Fort Wayne, the Rt. Rev. John Henry Luers, in his own parish church of St. Joseph's, in Cincinnati. He was im¬ mediately appointed assistant pastor of St. Mary's church and missions at Union City, Indi¬ ana, being assistant to Rev. Lawrence Lamour. Eight months later he was transferred and made pastor of St. Francis Xavier's church and missions at Attica, Indiana, where he remained until May 1, 1875, at which time he was made pastor of St. Joseph's church at Delphi, Indiana, and remained there ten years. Father Bleckmann came to Michigan City and took the pastorate of St. Mary's church on February 15, 1885, and has continued his work here till the present time.

There are between four and five hundred families in the parish and when he came there were about two hundred. At that time the school known as St. Ambrose Academy was lo¬ cated at the comer of Washington and Fourth streets, and the parochial school was conducted in the old church building at the same location by the Sisters of the Holy Cross. The Irish and German Catholics had separate churches in the early history of Michigan City, but during the ministry of the Rev. Father Becks they had united and built the present church edifice. In

1886, the year after his arrival, Father Bleckmann built the new school building and the Sisters' Convent in the rear, at a cost of twenty-three thousand dollars. One hundred and forty chil¬ dren were in attendance then, and there are now three hundred and seventy-six, including those in the high school, which is now attached. The church has been thoroughly renovated, frescoed and furnished with electric lights, and in 1902 three thousand dollars were expended for im¬ provements of this nature, and for a new pulpit. In 1903 new pews were put in at a cost of about fifteen hundred dollars, also new vestment cases in the vestry, and in the near future other im¬ provements are contemplated, such as a new tower, extension of the church building, etc. The Sisters of the Holy Cross had charge of the schools until 1895, and since that time the Sisters of Notre Dame, at Milwaukee, have been the teachers.

AUGUSTUS AMES, an old settler and re¬ tired farmer of section 30, Center township, where he has lived on the pretty "Woodside" farm nearly all his life, is the son of one of the oldest pioneers of LaPorte county, and belongs to one of the oldest families in America. The Ames ancestry goes back to John and William Ames, who were bom in Somersetshire, Eng¬ land, December 10, 1610, and October 6, 1605, respectively. They came to America as early as 1640, and settled in Plymouth county, Massa¬ chusetts, whence their numerous descendants have disseminated themselves in many states of the Union.

Abiel Ames, the grandfather of Augustus Ames, was bom in West Bridgewater, Massa¬ chusetts, in the house which stood for one hun¬ dred and thirty years and was the home of sev¬ eral generations. There, also, was born his son, Captain Charles Ames, who remained in the town of his birth for thirty years, and then moved to Boston, where he lived for a few years. In 1836 he brought his family to LaPorte county. He made the trip entirely by water, consuming fiftytwo days. He went from Boston to Albany, thence by canal boat to Buffalo, and by schooner from that point to Michigan City. He located on the farm where his son Augustus now lives, and remained there the rest of his life, dying in his eighty-sixth year. His name is listed among the pioneers of LaPorte county, and he was one of its honored and respected citizens. He was a blacksmith by trade, and followed that pursuit in Boston, but after coming to LaPorte county car¬ ried it on only as an adjunct to his farming. He was originally a Democrat, but in 1856 joined the ranks of the Republicans and remained one the rest of his life. His wife's name was Matilda Weeks, and she was bom in the town of Green¬ land, New Hampshire, but there is little record of her family. She died in LaPorte county August 3, 1836, having been the mother of two sons, Augustus and Leonidas, the latter a farmer in section 30, Center township.

Augustus Ames was born in Boston, Massa¬ chusetts, May 11, 1829. Two important events of his life occurred in 1836, his removal to La¬ Porte county and his mother's death. He was reared on his present farm and attended school in one of the primitive log schoolhouses of early Indiana. He also helped much in clearing off the farm, and before he was of age had become a practical agriculturist. He has been on this farm for sixty-seven years, for a longer period on the same place than any other farmer in the town¬ ship. He has been a successful man, and his estate of one hundred and ninety acres is con¬ sidered one of the most valuable for its size of any in the neighborhood. He now rents his land, and has in a great measure retired from the ardu¬ ous duties of life.

October 21, 1856, Mr. Ames was married to Miss Amanda Mayhew, who was born in Shelby county, Indiana, but was reared in LaPorte county. Her parents were Elisha and Hannah (Huntington) Mayhew, the former being a pio¬ neer of LaPorte county, coming in 1835. The first wife died February 13, 1890. Mr. Ames' present wife was Lydia Ellen (Mayhew) Fuller, the widow of George Fuller. Mr. and Mrs. Ames have an adopted daughter, Charlotte Be¬ linda Ames, who was adopted in December, 1871. She was born December 17, 1871. Mr. Ames has been a Republican since the formation of that party, but cast his first presidential ballot for Franklin Pierce. He is a member and steward in the Methodist Episcopal church, and in all the relations of a long and busy life has performed well the duties that come to the public-spirited and good citizen.

HENRY D. CALLARD is a representative of the operative service of the Michigan Central Railroad, being now with that company as an engineer. He makes his home in Michigan City, residing at 222 East Sixth street. His birth oc¬ curred in Buffalo, New York, July 12, 1847, and he is of English descent. His paternal grand¬ father was bom in England and became the

George Callard, the father of Henry D. Callard, was born on the Isle of Wight, England, and throughout the greater part of his life was a sailor. Coming to the new world he lived in Canada for some time and sailed on the lakes, owning a line of steamers. He followed the water up to the time of his death, and lost his life on one of his own boats on Lake Erie off Long Point in 1852. He had wedded Miss Mary Jane Vance, a native of Canada and a daughter of Alexander Vance, who was born in Nova Scotia, whence he removed to Canada, and for many years served as a justice of the peace in Port Burwell. There he died at an advanced age. He had two sons and four daughters, including Mrs. George Callard, who survived her husband for a number of years and died in 1861. She was a member of the Baptist church, while he was reared as an Episcopalian. In 1847 he served as a United States soldier in the Mexican war, and in 1849 he crossed the plains to California, but his chief interest lay in his vessels. To him and his wife were born two children, George and Henry D. 1

The latter spent his youth in Buffalo, New York, and attended the public schools there. He was but a lad of sixteen years when, in 1863, he jonied the American navy for service in the Civil war. He was thus engaged for a year, and when President Lincoln issued his last call for troops to serve for thirty days Mr. Callard en¬ listed in the Seventy-fourth New York State Militia, with which he was connected during the time designated. After the close of hostilities he returned to Buffalo, and in 1866 came to the west, being then a young man of about nineteen years of age. Making his way to Chicago, he secured a position as fireman on the Illinois Cen¬ tral Railroad, and later was -promoted to engineer. For the past thirty years, however, he has been an engineer on the Michigan Central Railroad, en¬ tering the services of that company in November, 1873. He continued to make his home in Chi¬ cago until 1897, when he was transferred to the Michigan City division of the road, and has since lived in this place. No' higher testimonial of capability, of efficiency and of promptness could be given than the fact that he has been so long retained in one employ.

and Alice M., the former now manager for Swift & Company in Washington, D. C. He married Elizabeth Hadden, of Englewood, Illinois, by whom he has one son, Henry G. Alice M., is the wife of George Goring, of West Pullman, Illinois, and they have two children, George and Millard Francis. Mr. and Mrs. Callard attend the Episcopal church, and he belongs to the Brother¬ hood of Locomotive Engineers. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, and he served as a member of the school board while living in Kensington, a suburb of Chicago, where he still owns a good home.

HENRY J. SCHREIBER, a molder in the Haskell & Barker Car Works at Michigan City, is a native son of this city and has lived here all his life, enjoying the respect and esteem of all his business associates and social acquaintances. He began learning his trade when a boy, and for almost a quarter of a century has been connected with the Haskell & Barker Company. He is a conscientious and diligent workman, taking pride in the daily work of his hands, which is the prime requisite of the good citizen in every activity of life. He has also performed his share of the du¬ ties which devolve upon him as a unit of the municipal organism, and for two terms was en¬ rolled with the city fathers and assisted in the furthering of improvements and civic progress.

Mr. Schreiber was born in Michigan City, January 13, 1861, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Nieman) Schreiber, and is the only one of their three children now living. His father was bom in Germany, and the history of the family can not be traced beyond the grandfather, who died in Germany and was the father of a small family. Henry Schreiber followed various pursuits in his native land and in 1859, s00n after his marriage, came to America and located in Michigan City, where he was killed as the result of an accident in i860, eleven weeks before his son Henry J. was born, and when he was but twenty-three years old. His wife, who was also a native of Germany, married again, her second husband being Fred Schwark, and the following children were bom to this union: Emma and Fred who lost their lives by drowning, at the re¬ spective ages of eleven and nine years ; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Charles McCrory ; John, who married Minnie Ackerman ; Lewis, who married Emma Kruesel ; Ida, the wife of Albert LUley ; and Minnie, the wife of Avery Wood. The mother of these children died in the fall of 1900, when about sixty-five years old, and Mr. Schwark

Henry J. Schreiber was reared in Michigan City and attended the public schools. For four years he was foreman of the lumber yard of Cut¬ ler & Savage, and then began learning the molder's trade in the shops of the Haskell & Barker Car Company. He soon proved himself an efficient workman, and he has been one of their most faithful and most reliable employes for twenty-four years.

On November 18, 1882, Mr. Schreiber mar¬ ried Miss Minnie Laborn, a daughter of Fred and Minnie Laborn. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schreiber, four sons and three daughters. Elizabeth died in infancy ; Lil¬ lian is a graduate of the Michigan City high school and is a teacher in the Tryon public school; Arthur is attending high school, and Henry, William, Wilhelmina and John are also in school. Mr. Schreiber affiliates with the Royal Arcanum and the Benevolent and Protective Or¬ der of Elks. He has always been a Democrat in politics. He has served two terms in the city council, being a representative from the fourth ward, which is the municipal division in which he was born. He built his present comfortable home at 208 West Baltimore street in 1893. He formerly lived in the fifth ward, on Hendricks avenue, where he built two homes, but he has since sold these.

FRANK E. OSBORN. Indiana has al¬ ways been distinguished for the high rank of her bench and bar. While the growth and develop¬ ment of the state in the last half century has been most marvelous viewed from any standpoint, yet of no one class of her citizenship has she greater reason for just pride than Her judges and at¬ torneys. In Frank E. Osborn we find united many of the rare qualities which go to make up a successful lawyer. He has those solid and more substantial qualities which shine with a constant lustre, shedding light in the dark places with steadiness and continuity rather than those bril¬ liant, dazzling and meteoric qualities which are sometimes seen on the legal horizon. He has that rare ability of saying in a convincing way the right thing at the right time. His mind is analytical, logical and inductive, and with a thor¬ ough and comprehensive knowledge of the funda¬ mental principles of the law he combines a famil¬ iarity with statutory law and a sober, clear judg¬ ment which makes him a formidable adversary in legal combat.

Mr. Osborn was bom in Essex, now Morgan township, in Porter county, Indiana, September 1 7, 1857. His paternal grandfather, Jonathan Osborn, was a native of North Carolina, whence he removed to Ohio with his parents, and on at¬ taining his majority he removed to Wayne county, Indiana, becoming one of its earliest set¬ tlers. In 1840 he came to LaPorte county, where he spent his remaining days, and here as in other localities in which he lived he always followed the occupation of farming.

Jason Osborn, the father of Frank E. Os¬ born, was born in Wayne county, Indiana, and came with his parents to LaPorte county in 1840, the family home being established in Clin¬ ton township. After his marriage he purchased a farm just across the line in Porter county, a part of it also lying in LaPorte county. He was a successful man and lived continuously upon his farm until 1901, when he retired from active bus¬ iness life and took up his residence in the town of Wanatah, LaPorte county, where he died on the 1st of February, 1903. In his early man¬ hood he had wedded Eliza C. Graham, who was bom in the southern part of Indiana and is now living at Wanatah. Her people were from Vir¬ ginia, and her father was at one time a slave¬ owner there.

Frank E. Osborn attended the country schools and also the academy at Wanatah. He pursued a general course of study in the North¬ ern Indiana Normal College at Valparaiso in 1875-6, and previous to entering that institution and for two years subsequent to his course there he engaged in teaching school. Mr. Osborn took up the study of law under the direction of W. E. Pinney at Valparaiso, who directed his reading for six months, after which he went to Ann Ar¬ bor, Michigan, and was for one year a student in the law department of the Michigan State Uni¬ versity there. On the expiration of that period he came to LaPorte and entered the law office of the firm of Weir & Biddle in April, 1879. He applied himself assiduouly to the mastery of the principles of jurisprudence, and in November. 1880, was admitted to the bar, although he con¬ tinued with the firm of Weir & Biddle until the 1st of Jahuary, 1882. He then entered into part¬ nership with David J. Wile, which relation was maintained until the 1st of January, 1887. Mr. Osborn then practiced alone until 1891, when he entered into partnership with John C. Richter, now circuit judge, being thus associated in his business for two years. He then practiced alone again \mtil May, 1896, when he formed a part- nership with H. W. Salwasser, which continued until 1901, and he is now alone in the general practice of law, having the largest clientage of any member of the bar at LaPorte. His work is conducted systematically and carefully, enabling him to accomplish a very large amount of busi¬ ness. He has an experienced assistant aiding him in preparing pleadings and to make researches into law cases and other details, thus allowing Mr. Osborn to devote his time to the more im¬ portant features of his practice. He is a very energetic, hard-working man, resourceful and successful, and as a lawyer he ranks among the best in the state. Above pettifogging or chican¬ ery, he conducts his cases earnestly, honestly and skilfully. He is an impressive and logical reasoner, well grounded in the principles of law, quick to grasp the points in the case and adroit in presenting them.

On the 1 8th of January, 1882, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Osborn and Miss Elizabeth Clark, a representative of one of the old families of LaPorte county. Her grandfather, Marcena Clark, located here at a very early day. To Mr. and Mrs. Osborn have been born four sons : Lee L., who is a graduate of the high school and now at the age of twenty years is preparing for the bar at Ann Arbor; Gordon C., aged seventeen years ; Kenneth D., a youth of thirteen years ; and F. Leslie, who at the age of eleven completes the family.

Mr. Osborn owns one of the finest residences in LaPorte and also some valuable farm prop¬ erty in the county. In his political views he has always been a Republican, but never an aspirant for office. He was at one time appointed deputy prosecuting attorney, but otherwise has held no public office. Prominent in the Odd Fellows society, he has been a trustee of his lodge for nearly twenty years, and was acting in that ca¬ pacity when ' the Odd Fellows building was erected in LaPorte. He also held membership with the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. He has proved himself, in all the relations of life, an earnest, honest, upright man and a citizen of whom any community might justly feel proud.

JAMES H. BUCK, president of the LaPorte Savings Bank, has lived in LaPorte county prac¬ tically all his life of sixty years, and is a son of an old settler. While farming has been his prin¬ cipal occupation, in which pursuit he has taken rank among the premier farmers of the county, he has also been a business man of ability. He has been at the head of the above mentioned bank for a number of years, and it is one of the flourishing financial institutions of northern Indiana, with ample capital and resources, with substantial and conservative men as backing and managers, and of much influence in business and industrial circles.

Mr. Buck is the fourth of six children bom to Alvin and Alvira (Wadsworth) Buck, the former of whom was born in Worthington, Massachusetts, in 1797, and died in LaPorte county in 1881, and the latter was bom in North Becket, Massachusetts, in 1810, and died in La¬ Porte county in 1896. Alvin Buck came to La¬ Porte county in 1838, so that he is listed among the old settlers. He was a farmer, and a man of high character and respected throughout the county where he lived so many years. Three of the children are still living: Joseph W. ; Mrs. Florence Witwer, of Dallas, Texas; and James H.

James H. Buck was born in LaPorte county, August 24, 1842, hardly a decade after the first settlers broke ground for the city of LaPorte, and when the greater part of the county was still prairie or woodland. Mr. Buck was a lad of eight years before the first successful railroad traversed LaPorte county. He was reared on a farm, attending the early schools of the locality and also the Valparaiso schools. He was just twenty years old, in August, 1862, when he en¬ listed in Company C, Seventy-second Illinois Volunteers, and he was in three years' service, receiving his discharge in August, 1865, at Vicks¬ burg. He was advanced in rank, and at the time of his discharge was second lieutenant of his com¬ pany. He participated in {he siege of Vicksburg, and the battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee, besides minor engagements. In the fall of 1866 he received an appointment as United States assessor for the Fifth Missouri district, and discharged the duties of the office for three years. He then returned to LaPorte county in 1869, and since that time has been mainly engaged in farming. He owns one of the fine farms of the county, consisting of four hundred acres, and its well improved acres are valuable and produc¬ tive. In 1885 Mr. Buck moved into the city of LaPorte, from which point he has superintended his business and farming affairs. He was elected president of the LaPorte Savings Bank in 1890, and has remained such to the present.

Mr. Buck was married in 1869 to Mrs. Celia Hamilton, the widow of Dr. Thomas Hamilton, who died in the service at Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Buck have three children: Mrs.

H. W. Wilson, of Michigan City; Mrs. L. C. Bartholomew, of Michigan City ; and Patti O., living at home. Mr. Buck is a Republican, and affiliates with Excelsior Lodge No. 41, F. & A. M., and Patton Post No. 141, G. A. R. He is a successful man, and in all the relations of life his worth and ability have gained him esteem and recognition as a loyal citizen, kind friend and worker for the attainment of the best ideals.

MILTON W. LEWIS is one of the native sons of LaPorte county and a self-made man whose efforts have been the potent factors in winning him success. His ambition has been to provide a good home for his family and to supply them with all that promotes true happiness, and to this end he has so directed his labors that they have been crowned with prosperity.

Mr. Lewis was bom in New Durham town¬ ship, May 4, 1857. His father, Joseph S. Lewis, was a native of New York, and in that state mar¬ ried Miss Lucinda A. Havens. In their early mar¬ ried life they came to the west, and for a number of years he was a sailor on the lakes. He lived in this county when pioneer conditions made it a frontier region. There were still many Indians in the neighborhood, and wild game of various kinds could be had in abundance, including deer, which were frequently shot by the early settlers. His political support was given the Whig party until the organization of the new Republican party, when he joined its ranks and continued to follow its banners until his death. His wife was born, reared and educated in Ohio, and by her marriage she became the mother of nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom five are yet living : Leonard W., who is a landlord residing in Frankford, Kansas; Francis D., who is married and is engaged in the city express business in Chicago ; Milton W. ; Olive G., the wife of James G. Thomas, the proprietor of Hotel Thomas of Westville ; and Joseph S., Jr., who is married and makes his home in Chicago. When called to their final rest, the remains of the parents were interred in the Westville cemetery. The father was a soldier of the Seminole war and also of the Civil war, and was ever a most loyal de¬ fender of his country and her best interests.

Milton W. Lewis was reared in LaPorte county in the usual manner of farmer lads, and his early education, acquired in the common schools, was supplemented by a brief course of study under Professor Lairci, of the Westville high school. He started out upon his business career empty-handed, but to-day is one of the prosperous farmers of the county, and all that he now possesses has been acquired through his own enterprising efforts. Realizing that there is no royal road to wealth and that "there is no ex¬ cellence without labor," he has labored untir¬ ingly and his strenuous life has resulted in the acquirement of a competence which enables him to supply his children with all the necessities and many of the comforts of life.

Mr. Lewis was married to Miss Florence M. Loomis, one of the most estimable ladies of New Durham township, the wedding taking place on the nth of November, 1883. Their marriage was blessed with three sons. Claude E., the eldest, is a member of the LaPorte high school of the class of 1904, and will probably enter Purdue Univer¬ sity on the completion of his public school course, for he has manifested a desire to become an elec¬ trical engineer. The other sons, Leroy G. and Wesley D., are pupils of Clinton township schools. Mrs. Lewis was born near Westville, Indiana, January 18, 1861, a daughter of Ralph and Kate S. (Knight) Loomis, who were prom¬ inent and well known citizens of this county. Mrs. Lewis was a lady of innate refinement and of more than ordinary ability, a woman whom to know was to respect and admire. Her interest centered in her home and church, she being a devoted member of the Methodist church, and she did everything in her power to promote the welfare of her husband and children. On the 16th of April, 1903, she was called to her final rest. In speaking of her demise the Westville Indicator said: "The last sad rites over the in¬ animate clay of the late Mrs. Milton Lewis were held in the Methodist Episcopal church of West¬ ville, the Rev. D. A. Rodgers officiating. An immense congregation was present to testify their respect to the dead. A beautiful floral pillow and a profusion of flowers literally covered the casket."

Florence M. Lewis was born near Westville, Indiana, January 18, 1861, and was married to Milton W. Lewis, November 11, 1883, at Con¬ stantine, Michigan. She united with the church at Clinton early in life and was always a devoted Christian. She was a kind and loving wife and mother, a faithful and sincere friend. Her memory remains, however, as a blessed benedic¬ tion to all who knew her, and her good deeds and kindly spirit will be cherished for years to come in the hearts of those who enjoyed her friend¬ ship. Her loss came an as an almost unbearable blow to her family, but Mr. Lewis bravely took up the burden of life and is putting forth earnest

Mrs M. W. Lewis

His farm comprises one hundred and sixtyfive acres lying in Clinton and New Durham townships and is rich and productive, returning to him golden harvests for the care and labor he bestows upon them. He is a Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for James A. Gar¬ field. Fraternally, he is connected with Westville Lodge No. 309, K. P., in which he has been chancellor commander and prelate, and is now past chancellor and master of finance. He was also a delegate to the grand lodge at Indianapolis, and he holds membership relations with the Rathbone Sisters, No. 273, of Westville. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at Westville, and is serving as a steward and on the official board. His life has been honorable, his actions manly and sincere, and in his business relations he is active and energetic, and in his dealings straightforward and trustworthy.

WILLARD W. PLACE.. Upon the should¬ ers of the younger element of a community falls the robe of responsibility, and much depends on their lives as good and worthy citizens. Mr. Wil¬ lard W. Place is a scion of one of the well known families of LaPorte and St. Joseph counties. He was born in Johnson township, LaPorte county, December 21, 1869, being the eldest of the four children, two sons and two daughters, born to Benjamin F. and Lizzie W. (Wisenbaug) Place. The succinct history of the Place family is pre¬ sented in the sketch of V. E. Wilkinson, of New Durham township, whose wife was a Place.

Mr. Place was reared in the locality of his birth, and was educated in the common schools. He has been reared as a tiller of the soil. It was at the age of seventeen that he took charge of the estate, so that much responsibility has rested on his shoulders. He inherited a quarter interest in three hundred acres of land, with incum¬ brances, and he has been more than ordinarily successful and industrious. The children, at the death of their parents, met together in coun¬ cil and agreed to settle each one's share without the intervention of legal talent, and this they ac¬ complished.

Mr. Place married Miss Clara A. Ellsworth, June 23, 1 897, and four children, two sons and two daughters, have been born to them: Ellsworth B., Wilbur J., Claire E. and Mary. Mrs. Place was bom in Summit county. New Jersey, June 3. 1874, and first came to LaPorte county when a little girl. She afterward returned to New Jersey and made her home with her grandmother and her aunt until 1890. She was educated in the east, and her last four years of schooling, her high school course, was received at LaPorte, In¬ diana. She was a teacher for two years in La¬ Porte county, one year in Johnson and one year in Pleasant township. In manner Mrs. Place is most genial and cordial, and makes her home her paradise.