LaPorte County, Indiana - Chapter 36: Religion, 1904 (part 14 of 23)

John Dysart, the father of Mrs. Leeds, was a native of Dublin, Ireland, born in 1808, and in the year 1833 he crossed the Atlantic to the land of the free, settling in New York city. He was engaged on the survey of the Erie Railroad dur¬ ing the first two years of his residence here, and in 1837 he came to Michigan City, Indiana, where he remained until called to the home beyond. He came here with a corps of engineers engaged in surveying the line of the Lake Shore Railroad, and became one of the best known and most in¬ fluential men of this community. He married Miss Esther Turner, of New York, who was born in 1814, and they became the parents of twelve children, seven of whom are yet living. His death occurred in 1899, when he was in his ninety-first year, and his wife passed away in 1882, at the age of sixty-eight years. Both were members of the Episcopal church. During the early years of his residence in LaPorte county, Mr. Dysart served as township supervisor ami trustee, and he always gave his political support to the Republican party from the time of its or¬ ganization. He was a well read man, keeping informed upon the questions and current topics of the day, political and otherwise, and, possess¬ ing a remarkably retentive memory, he stored up a great fund of knowledge largely touching the country's history and progress. Always goodnatured, he possessed a very genial disposition, and was very fond of humorous readings or of relating a joke. His sense of humor was highly developed, and his hearty laugh or merry tale often restored good nature to his comrades. His was one of those cheery natures which shed around them much of the sunshine of life. He was also ever honorable and conscientious, a warm friend and a faithful citizen.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Leeds: Caroline Charlotte, Offley Walter and Caroline Amelia, but the former named daughter passed away at the age of fourteen years. Upon his father's death the son assumed control of the business, which he has since managed, and he resides at home with his sister and his mother.

It was in 1896 that the family were called to mourn the loss of the husband and father, who passed away on the 13th of December of that year, at the age of sixty-four. He had been reared in the Quaker faith, but had become a Spiritualist, and was connected with that sect until his demise. At the time of the Civil war he had manifested his loyalty to the Union cause by enlisting in the Twenty-eighth Indiana In¬ fantry, and served as a private for one hundred days in the latter part of the war. After the close of hostilities he returned to his home in Michigan City and resumed his real estate operations, in which he continued up to the time of his death. His political support was given to no one party, and he voted according to the dictates of his judg- ment. For one term he served as city council¬ man, but while he never desired or held other office, he was always earnest and helpful in his support of public measures for the benefit of the city with which he was so closely connected from his early boyhood days, and in which his interest therefore centered. He held friendship invio¬ lable, and to his family was a most devoted hus¬ band and father.

JAMES T. HERROLD, a successful young farmer about four mile from Westville, LaPorte county, is one of the native born citizens of this county, and comes of a highly respected family, whose origin is traced back to German ancestry. His parents were Joseph and Elizabeth (Glass) Herrold, the former a native of the Buckeye state, where he was reared to the calling of a farmer, which he followed till he enlisted for service in the Civil war, during which he was killed, at the battle of Munfordville, Kentucky. He was a Republican, and was a member of the Methodist church. His wife was born in Fulton county, Pennsylvania, July 29, 1836, and was a young lady when she came to Indiana. She was a kind and affectionate mother, possessed of the social graces, and was a member of the Methodist church. She died in New Durham township, and # a beautiful monument marks her last resting place.

James T. Herrold was one of two children, and was born in New Durham township, La¬ Porte county, February 2, i860, being only two years of age at the time of his father's death. He received a common school education in this county, and agricultural pursuits have from the first been his principal occupation, although his special aptitude is along mechanical lines. Since the age of ten he has resided on the old home¬ stead of seventy acres in section 13, with another tract of one hundred and forty-five acres in the same township, seven miles from LaPorte and four and a half miles from Westville. The old home is a cosy place, and Mr. Herrold and his wife enjoy there the friendship and esteem of many friends. He has made a success of his work, and his progress has been steady from the start.

On March 2, 1893, Mr. Herrold married Rose Belle Maxwell, who was born in LaPorte county, September 12, 1868, and is the elder of the two children of William and Eliza (Tuley) Maxwell, her brother, George Maxwell, being a farmer of New Durham township, and a Democrat. She was reared in this county, and attended the public schools, completing her education in the St. Rose Academy at LaPotfe. At the age of seventeen she was granted a teacher's certificate, and for the following seven years was a popular and successful teacher in Porter and LaPorte coun¬ ties. She was one of those who put inspiration into their work, and she has always been suc¬ cessful in handling children. She took active part in the teachers' institutes and in all lines of educational work. She is now a member of the Queen Hive No. 17, L. O. T. M., at Westville, and held the office of finance keeper for two years ; is also a member of the Martin Relief Corps No. 130, at Westville, of which she was secretary ; and belongs to Silver Lodge No. 183, of the Rebekahs, at Westville. In 1894 she placed her letter in the Methodist church, and is now an earnest worker in the Sunday-school, where her previous experience in training children has made her a power for good.

William Maxwell, Mrs. Herrold's father, was born in LaPorte county in 1837, of Scotch-Irish lineage, and is still a robust and active man, liv¬ ing in New Durham township. He has spent most of his life in this county, and has seen the the county when it was just advancing out of its primitive wilderness. In politics he is a Jackson Democrat. His wife was bom in this county, January 20, 1842, and is still living.

Mr. Herrold, like his forefathers, is a good Democrat, and cast his first vote for Cleveland in 1884. He is a member of Lodge No. 136, I. O. O. F., at Westville, and in all the relations of life, in business, in politics, in fraternal and social circles, has shown himself to be possessed of more than mediocre ability and influence.

HENRY W. JOHNSON. There is, in the anxious and laborious struggle for an honorable competence and a solid career of the business or professional fighting of the every-day battle of life, but little to attract the idle reader in search of a sensational chapter; but for a mind thor¬ oughly awake to the reality and meaning of human existence, there are noble and immortal lessons in the life of the man, who, without other means than a clear head, a strong arm and a true heart, conquers adversity, and, toiling on through the work-a-day years of a long career finds that he has won not only wealth but also something far greater and higher - the deserved respect and esteem of those with whom his years of active life placed him in contact.

Henry W. Johnson

turers of Michigan City, Indiana, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 1, 1834, his parents being James E. and Emily B. (Burke) Johnson, the former a native of Virginia, while the latter was born in the Keystone state. Far¬ ther back than this, however, can the ancestry of the family be traced. The paternal grandfather was Hugh Johnson, a native of the Old Do¬ minion and a farmer by occupation. At the time of the war of 1812 he put aside all business and personal considerations and joined the army, but died from camp fever when but forty-four years of age. His wife bore the maiden name of Jane Erskine, who died when well advanced in years. This worthy couple reared a large family. It was to this branch of the Johnson family that Joseph E. Johnson and Colonel Dick Johnson belonged. The maternal grandfather of Henry \Y. Johnson was John Burke, who was born in Pennsylvania and was of English lineage. He wedded Rebecca Cruzen, and to them were born two sons and two daughters. Mr. Burke died in middle life, but his wife lived to an advanced age.

James E. Johnson was a carpenter and builder, following that pursuit in early life. Later, however, he became a farmer, devoting his atten¬ tion to the tilling of the soil in Middlefield, Geauga county, Ohio. There he died in the year 1870, when seventy years of age, while his wife long survived him and passed away in 1895 at the age of eighty-four years. Both were consist¬ ent and faithful members of the Methodist church. In their family were six sons and two daughters, and five of the number are now living : Henry W. ; Mary, the widow of Asher Furrow, of Burton, Geauga county, Ohio ; Emma, the wife of Rev. Bailey S. Dean, who is vice president of Hiram College ; Ernest C., of Los Angeles, Cali¬ fornia ; and Arthur C., of Albany, New York.

Henry W. Johnson was a little lad of only six summers when his parents removed from Pennsylvania to Geauga county, Ohio, where he was reared to manhood on the home farm. There he entered the district schools, wherein he mas¬ tered the common branches of English learning, and later he spent four years as a student under President Garfield in Hiram College. He con¬ tinued in that institution until 1861, when, aroused by the attempt of the south to overthrow the Union, he manifested his patriotism by en¬ listing in response to the first call of President Lincoln for troops. He was enrolled as a member of Company B, Forty-first Ohio Volunteer In¬ fantry, and continued in the army until 1866, when he was mustered out. He took part in every battle of the Army of the Cumberland, and was in active duty throughout the period of hostilities. Mr. Johnson enlisted as a private, but as soon as the company was organized he was elected second lieutenant, was later promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, and subsequently became captain of Company C. Later he was brevetted major in recognition of meritorious service and afterward was made full major in the staff corps. He took part in many of the most prominent engagements of the entire war, begin¬ ning at Shiloh. He was present at the capture of Atlanta, having participated in the campaign from Chattanooga to Atlanta. He never faltered in any task assigned him, but faithfully performed every duty and was a most valiant defender of the starry banner of the nation.

Following the close of hostilities Mr. Johnson went to Columbus, Ohio, where he entered upon his business career as a manufacturer of chairs, and it was during his residence in that city that he was married. In 1868 he came to Michigan City as a member of the firm of Ford & John¬ son, which firm was organized in Columbus, Ohio, January 1, 1867. They established the business which was the nucleus of the present large chair manufacturing enterprise of Michigan City. At first they employed prison labor, taking one hun¬ dred men from the state, but they found that such workmen could not make the high grade of goods which were in demand, and in 1881 they built a factory sixty feet long by forty feet in width and employed other operatives. Something of the growth of their business may be imagined from the fact that they have been compelled to enlarge their building until it is now nine hundred feet long by sixty feet in width and four stories in height. Employment is furnished to about seven hundred and fifty men, and the enterprise is one of the most important in northern Indiana. In addition to their factory in this place they have a large warehouse in Chicago in which they have one hundred and fifty employes. Their manu¬ factured product is shipped exten£ively to all parts of the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. The officers are John S. Ford, president, Henry W. Johnson, vice president, Charles C. Ruggles, second vice president, Reuben A. Hitchcock, treasurer, Henry V. Hitch¬ cock, assistant treasurer, and William Ford John¬ son, general secretary. Of these John S. Ford, Reuben A. Hitchcock, Charles C. Ruggles and William Ford Johnson are all residents of Chi¬ cago, while the others reside in Michigan City.

Western Cane Seating Company of Michigan City, in which plant two hundred and fifty people are employed. Of this company John S. Ford is president and the treasurer is Henry V. Hitch¬ cock, while A. N. Gittings is secretary. The ex¬ pansion and development of the extensive manu¬ factories with which Mr. Johnson is connected is largely due to his enterprise, capability and recognition of business opportunities. He is also a director in the Citizens' Bank,

On the ist of January, 1867, at Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Annetta Ford, a daughter of Colonel Stephen Ford and Eunice (Briggs) Ford. They have become the parents of six children : Emma F., William F., Edward F., Helen F., Margaret F. and Alice F., all bearing for their middle name the mother's family name of Ford. The eldest daughter is the wife of Harold Van Meter Ogden, and they reside in Michigan City. William mar¬ ried Harriet Wheeler, and is living in Chicago. Edward is engaged in the (insurance business in Chicago. Alice F. is now Mrs. Samuel J. Watson, and the other children are at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson hold membership in the Presbyterian church, as do also their six children. They are very prominent and active in its work, contribute generously to its support, and Mr. Johnson, who has served as an elder in the church for a third of a century, was one of the organizers of the first Presbyterian church of Michigan City. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic lodge, having been raised to the de¬ gree of a master Mason prior to the Civil war. Mr. Johnson is a member of the George V. Rawson Post No. 46, G. A. R., at Michigan City, and a companion of the Military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Commandery of the State of Illinois, and of which bodies he was one of the early and leading members. Politi¬ cally, he has always been a stanch Republican since casting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont in 1856. For three terms he was a member of the Michigan City school board.

Mr. Johnson is a man to whom the most en¬ vious can scarcely grudge success, so well has he earned it, so admirably does he use it, so entirely does he lack pride of purse. He is kind, un¬ affected and approachable, and every comer has a claim upon his courteous attention. There has been nothing sensational in his career, every step has been thoughtfully and deliberately made, and every advance has been at the cost of hard and self-denying labor. Born to lead, his great ex¬ perience makes him a safe counselor and guide.

He stands to-day in his mature years a strong man, strong in the consciousness of well spent years, strong to plan and perform, strong in his credit and good name and a worthy example for young men to pattern after.

FABIAN MATOTT, an old resident and a Civil war veteran of LaPorte county, has had a most honorable and praiseworthy career in busi¬ ness, civil and social life. He is the son of Fran¬ cis and Mary (La Fortune) Matott. Tne father of the latter, Benjamin La Fortune, came from northern France, and served in the Revolutionary war under General Lafayette. He married and settled in Clinton county, New York, where his daughter Mary was born in 1804, and she passed away many years ago. Francis Matott was also born in Clinton county, New York, in 1798, and he lived to be a centenarian, dying in 1898. He was reared and received a common school edu¬ cation in Clinton county, and followed the occu¬ pations of farmer and sawyer, managing by his thrift and industry to accumulate about two hun¬ dred acres of land. He was a Whig in politics, and afterwards joined the Republicans.

Thirteen children were bom to Francis and Mary (La Fortune) Matott, and the following are yet living: Andrew, who was in the Civil war, is a farmer and widower of Chippewa county, Wisconsin ; Nelson, also a soldier in the Civil war, is a mechanic, residing in Manchester, New Hampshire; Peter, a mechanic, resides in Manchester, New Hampshire; Fabian is next in age; Adelaide resides in Clinton county. New York ; Mary is the wife of Mr. Forsett, a farmer of Coopersville, New York; Sophronia lives in Clinton county, as does also Julia.

Fabian Matott was born in Clinton county. New York, January 6, 1833. He remained at home with his parents till the age of fourteen, when he started out to make his fortune in the west. He earned nine dollars by working on the Erie canal at Fort Miller, and thence came to Buffalo, from there to Detroit, to Michigan City, Indiana, and arrived in Valparaiso a poor and un¬ known boy. He worked for Judge Anthony for a few days, worked for a time on the new railroad building through there, and then for the follow¬ ing fifteen years drove stage between Valparaiso and LaPorte. He was thus acquainted with the northern part of Indiana in its pioneer epoch, and has been identified with much of its subsequent development.

pany H, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, at LaPorte, Indiana. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland and was sent to Cheat Mountain, West Virginia, being under the command of Colonel (afterward Brigadier Gen¬ eral) Milroy and General Reynolds. He was in the battle of Greenbrier and Pittsburg Landing and in the latter engagement the second finger of his left hand was injured by the splintering of his musket stock and a spent canister shot struck him on the neck and knocked him down, so that he was reported among the killed, although he was soon able for duty again. He was in the battle at Corinth, then went to Perryville, Ken¬ tucky, in pursuit of Bragg, and was in the suc¬ ceeding battles of Stone River, Murfreesboro, and in both days at Chickamauga. He was never taken prisoner, and served his full three years, receiving an honorable discharge September 6, 1864, at Chattanooga, whence he came to his home in Westville, Indiana. He soon afterward took a trip back to his old home, but then returned to Indiana and settled down to making a liveli¬ hood for himself and performing the duties of citizenship. He at present resides on about thir¬ ty-three acres of good land at the limits of the town of Westville.

January 24, 1865, Mr. Matott was married at LaPorte to Miss Amanda Ray, and two of their three children are living. James Chester, born De¬ cember 25, 1866, was educated in the Westville high school, and at the age of sixteen entered the employ of E. S. Smith, banker and merchant of Westville, with whom he remained a number of years, but is now with E. T. Scott, druggist and merchant. He is a practical pharmacist and a man of more than ordinary business ability. He married Miss Cora Herrold, who was born in LaPorte county and was a teacher before her marriage, and who has become the mother of one child. Nita, now in the eighth grade at school and possessed of much musical ability. Chester Matott is a Republican, a member of the Inde¬ pendent Order of Odd Fellows, also of the fire company at Westville, and he and his wife belong to the Christian church. The second son of Mr. and Mrs. Matott is Theophilus Fravel, named after the well known Dr. Fravel of Westville. He resides with his parents and has learned teleg¬ raphy ; he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Mrs. Matott was born in LaPorte county, August 14, 1847, a daughter of James M. and Sarah (Rogers) Ray. She was educated in the public schools of Westville under the able edu¬ cator Professor Laird, and during her and her husband's residence in O'Brien county, Iowa, for four years, she was a successful teacher in that county. Her father was a native of Ohio and was one of the pioneers to LaPorte county. He was a Republican and an Odd Fellow. Her mother was born and reared in Kentucky, and was a Baptist. Both are now deceased. They were the parents of four children, of whom Mrs. Matott was the eldest, and all are now living: Jennie is the wife of William Reynolds, a car¬ penter of Westville; William is married and a farmer of Black Rock, Arkansas; and Bettie is the wife of Theodore Haus, a merchant of Rens¬ selaer, Indiana.

Mrs. Matott is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Matott has voted for every Repub¬ lican president since Lincoln, and his wife was one of the group that sang a dirge as the body of Lincoln passed through Westville. They are both worthy and esteemed people, and during their long years of residence in this part of the county have gained many friendships for common pleasure and benefit.

LUDWIG HUNDT, who is one of the pros¬ perous farmers and old settlers of LaPorte county, having a fine farmstead in section 24, Cass township, has in every respect thoroughly deserved his success, for when he came to this county over forty years ago he was a little bit worse than penniless, being in debt five dollars, and by his industry, saving and careful man¬ agement of all that has come to him he has reached a position of comparative wealth in the community.

Mr. Hundt was born in Prussia, Germany, February 4, 1836, and attended school during the customary period from the age of six to four¬ teen, and later served three years in the German army. He came to America in 1862, with La¬ Porte county as his destination, and for the first four years here earned a living by working by the day or month. He was then married, and he lo¬ cated on a farm three and one half miles west of his present home in Cass township. After three years he came to his present place, where he has made his home for over thirty years. There would be little ground for comparison between the present farm and as it was when he first took it. Raw land, no buildings, no fences or im¬ provements which would make the land attrac¬ tive to anyone but the true pioneer. He first built a log house thirty bv eighteen feet, and from this as a center of operations began to make a home for himself and family. He has since built a fine residence, placed numerous substan¬ tial improvements on the land, and his property is a beautiful monument to his years of labor. He owns five hundred and eighty-eight acres of land, some of which lies in Hanna township, and it is all well drained and capable of producing firstclass crops.

March 6, 1866, Mr. Hundt was married to Miss Matilda Kuehn, who was bom in Germany in 1850, and came to America at the age of nine, directly to LaPorte county, where she has lived all the rest of her life. Four sons and four daughters were bom of this union, as follows: William, Bertha, Albertine, Augusta, Ludwig, Hannah, Gustaf and Fred, all of whom were born in Cass township, and three are married and living in LaPorte county, and the rest are at home.

Mr. Hundt is a representative citizen of La¬ Porte county, having been identified with its pro¬ gress for so many years, and having been so suc¬ cessful in his own affairs. He has reason to be proud of his record, for he has built up an ex¬ cellent structure of material prosperity; has reared a family of bright young men and women who will take honorable places in the world, and has performed all the other duties devolving on the good citizen. He has taken part in public af¬ fairs, has been a life-long Republican, and was supervisor for some years. He is a member of the Lutheran church of Cass township, and held some office in that denomination for twelve years and contributed to its support.

MRS. MARTHA B. TALMAGE is the widow of Chesterfield M. Talmage and a daugh¬ ter of Nathan Bartlett, both now deceased, but who were prominent and influential citizens of La¬ Porte, held in warm regard by all who knew them. Her father, Nathan Bartlett, was born in Ocean county, New Jersey, and in 1837 emigrated to the west, locating in this county among its early resi¬ dents. Only a few homes were in the county at that time, and the business interests were but slightly developed. Mr. Bartlett took up a farm in Pleasant township, and began the development and cultivation of the fields, which in course of time became highly productive, yielding to him excellent crops. He was very successful, and un¬ der his labors his farm, which is now owned by Mrs. Talmage, became one of the most valuable in the county. At one time he served as township trustee, and was ever interested in matters of cit¬ izenship, and in the progress and growth of the county. In religious faith he was a strict Friend, and was a man of high and noble character, of strong principles, and was unwavering in his ad¬ herence to a cause which he believed to be right. In all that he did he was conscientious, and well might he have been called one of Nature's noble¬ men.

Mr. Bartlett came to LaPorte county about the same time as did the family of James Ridgway, the father of John W. Ridgway, and he and James Ridgway married the Willetts sisters. The mother of Mrs. Talmage bore the maiden name of Hannah Willetts and like her husband was a native of Ocean county, New Jersey. His death occurred in this county in 1873, and she survived him for only eleven months, passing away in 1874. John W. Bartlett, a brother of Mrs. Talmage, was one of the forty-niners, and made the trip across the plains to California with a drove of cat¬ tle soon after the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast. He became a very wealthy man in that state and at the time of his death, which occurred in the same week in which Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, in April, 1865, he had thirty-six hundren acres of valuable land.

Mrs. Talmage was born on the old family homestead and spent her girlhood days in her par¬ ents' home. After reaching womanhood, she gave her hand in marriage to Chesterfield M. Talmage, who was a native of Kentucky, and in 1873 came to LaPorte, where he began dealing in ice. His business grew to extensive proportions, as he ship¬ ped ice very largely as well as sold to the retail trade. He obtained his supply from the lakes north of LaPorte, and his business methods, promptness and reliability won for him a liberal trade, which brought to him a very handsome and gratifying financial return. It was in 1890 that Mr. Talmage departed this life. He is remem¬ bered as a typical southern gentleman, of fine presence and engaging personal qualities, and his death was greatly regretted in LaPorte, where he had gained many friends and where he had won for himself a creditable position in business circles.

To Mr. and Mrs. Talmage were bom three children : William, Arthur and Mrs. Daisy Low¬ er. The daugther is the wife of Will Lower, of LaPorte, and the sons are now engaged in the hardware business in Red Lodge, Montana, where they are highly successful merchants doing business amounting to one hundred thousand dollars annually.

Nathan Bartlett

JOHN W. ROSENBAUM, a well known and long-time resident of section 21, Cass town¬ ship, has assisted much in the material develop¬ ment of the county since coming to it over fifty years ago. He was a poor man then, working by the day for his living, but men of his stamp and character seldom fail to gain a fair amount of ma¬ terial prosperity as their lives move on, and now, when past the Psalmist's limit of life, he enjoys a contented and comfortable existence.

Mr. Rosenbaum was born in Prussia, Ger¬ many, June 20, 1826, and spent the first twentyfive years of his life in his native land, where he obtained the substantial German education and also trained for the battle of life. He came to America in 1851, and after spending one year in the state of New York came to LaPorte county. His first work was on a railroad, and then for three or four years he was engaged at ditching in several of the townships in the southern part of LaPorte county. This important work was in the main planned and executed by German farmers, and to-day much of the fine agricultural land of southern LaPorte county is the result of this draining and tiling. Mr. Rosenbaum was able to buy some of this land in 1855, and with a log house as his first dwelling he went to work to make a good farm, and he has succeeded. He later built a frame house, some good barns and outbuildings, cleaned up and drained his land, and now the two hundred and forty acres of his farm is the equal of any similar piece of land in the neighborhood.

In 1855 Mr. Rosenbaum was married to Miss Dorothea Wagner, and the following children of this marriage are living: Adelia, Austefta and Dora. After the death of his first wife Mr. Ros¬ enbaum married a sister of his first wife, Julianna Wagner, and their eight living children are Her¬ man, William, Eddie, Paulina, Louis, Adelina, John and Emma. By his two wives Mr. Rosen¬ baum has been the father of eighteen children. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church, to the local denomination of which he is a liberal contributor, and in questions of politics he votes for the best man, without much regard for party ties.

LEROY D. WEBBER, deceased, was one of the most prominent merchants of the city of La¬ Porte for nearly half a century, and at his death was head of the large retail and wholesale con¬ cern known as the Webber Hardware Company, which was among the largest of its kind in north¬ ern Indiana. In the year 1851 the Michigan

Southern Railroad had not yet been completed to LaPorte, the population had not yet reached the five thousand mark, the city charter was not granted until the following year, the great free school system which is now the city's pride was not established for five years, and all in all La¬ Porte was only in its infancy compared with its present development and greatness. It was in that year that Leroy D. Webber became one of the number of LaPorte business men. He estab¬ lished a hardware store on Main street which he continued in successful operation until i860, and then moved it to the location which it retained for thirty-five years. This was the establishment to which he devoted the best years and the best efforts of his life, and his sudden end came while he was still looking after his interests at the store, in December, 1895. He was a reliable and pro¬ gressive business man, and from a small begin¬ ning built his store up to one of the largest of the kind in the city, as it was the oldest in the city at the time of his death. The concern was car¬ ried on during the period of the greatest growth of LaPorte, and Mr. Webber was one of the fore¬ most men in promoting the commercial progress, as he was active in the work of public improve¬ ment, especially along educational lines.

Mr. Webber was bom in Chautauqua county. New York, November 4, 1829, a son of Stebbins F. and Emeline (Pope) Webber. The latter was born in Otsego county, New York, January 30, 1810, and died in LaPorte, Indiana, March 2, 1883. Stebbins F. Webber was born in Monson, Hempden county, Massachusetts, October 20, 1804, and in 1805 his parents removed to Chatauqua county, New York. In 1834 he settled in Lorain county, Ohio, where he lived over ten years, and in 1845 went to Niles, Michigan. In 1852 he came to LaPorte, where he resided till his death, in 1872. Soon after his settlement in Ohio he engaged in the tin and hardware busi¬ ness, in which he was very successful, and he also attained to some prominence in the public life of that county. He was an honest, practical, industrious man, and a widely known and es¬ teemed citizen.

Leroy D. Webber was married in 1851 to Miss Sarah Deniston, native of Niles, Michigan. They were the parents of three children, as follows: Emma, now Mrs. Charles Bosserman, and the only surviving child ; Ella, who married Fred Whittaker, and who died October 25, 1885 ; and Sadie, who died October 17, 1880.

honored with the title of mayor, which office he filled with credit to himself and party. He was later appointed a member of the public school board, and during his twelve years' service in this capacity did much for advancing the stand¬ ard of education and making the schools of La- Porte unrivaled in the county or state. The teaching force were his favorites, and their in¬ terests were always uppermost in his mind. He was an esteemed member of the Masonic order, was also a member of the banking company of Hall, Weaver and Company, and a trustee of the Ruth C. Sabin Home. Wherever he was called upon to touch the public life of the com¬ munity he was never found wanting in that high degree of public spirit and readiness to work for the general welfare which are the marks of the highest citizenship. Kindheartedness, generosity and manliness were the leading traits of his char¬ acter; he was faithful to his friends, and with¬ out an enemy in the world, and family, town and county were bereaved by the taking off of this true and high-minded man.

JOSEPH REED. Certainly a great debt of gratitude is due the pioneer settlers who made their way into the regions hitherto unclaimed for the uses of civlization and established homes which are the basis of a business development and of social, intellectual and moral progress. Among the number in La Porte county who from early pioneer times have been factors in the improve¬ ment and upbuilding of this section of the state is numbered Joseph Reed, who is now a resident of New Durham township, where he owns and operates a fine farm. He is a native of Franklin county, Indiana, born on the 20th of August, 1831, and is the eldest of three children, two sons and a daughter, whose parents were Joseph K. and Elenor (Warfield) Reed. Two of this number are yet living, the brother of Joseph being George W., who as a commercial traveler has visited all parts of the United States and he has also trav¬ eled in Mexico and the island of Cuba.

The father was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, on the 6th of March, 1808, and died on the 6th of May, 1875. He was a brick and stone ma¬ son by trade. Through much of his life, however, he followed the occupation of farming. He re¬ ceived a good practical education in his youth and was a gentleman of keen discernment, of unflagging energy and of upright character, so that in his later life he won success and also gained the respect and confidence which should ever be accorded to upright character. In politics he was a stanch adherent to Democratic principles ad¬ vocated by Jackson. It was about 1824 when he came to Indiana by way of Cincinnati, establish¬ ing his home in Franklin county. In 1832 his father arrived in LaPorte county and purchased a large amount of land from the Michigan Road Land Company. He secured altogether eleven tracts of eighty acres each, for which he paid either two and a half or three dollars per acre. It was all wild land and was thus cheaply secured because of an agreement entered into by the set¬ tlers. Each pioneer made choice of the tract which he desired, and they all agreed not to bid for the farm which another had selected at the time the land was put up for sale. The first home erected by the Reed family was a log cabin situ¬ ated about a half mile from the present home of Mr. Joseph Reed. In August, 1836, Joseph Reed first came to LaPorte county, his father removing here at that time, and pioneer experience and hardships were borne by the parents and chil¬ dren as they carried forward the work of improv¬ ing and developing a farm. The grandparents both died and were buried in this county, and a monument now marks their last resting place. The parents of Joseph Reed are interred in the Aheart cemetery which was named in honor of an old settler, William Aheart, who in connection with grandfather Joseph Reed donated the land for the cemetery purpose and for a school ground in New Durham township. Joseph R. Reed, the father, coincided with the Universalist religious faith, while his wife was a member of the Bap¬ tist church.

Mr. Reed's maternal grandfather Warfield was a soldier in the war of 1812, with the British and Indians, and had one brother, an uncle and cousins in the Rev¬ olutionary struggle. This old hero, Mr. Warfield, was one of the heroes of Lundy's Lane, and was with General Scott in all the battles of the Canadian border. He enlisted from the state of Kentucky in Colonel Dick Johnson's regiment, and was in close proximity when the great In¬ dian war chief Tecumseh was killed, and saw him after his death. In the Aheart cemetery, on Mr. Reed's land, Samuel Johnson, a soldier of the war of 1812, lies interred. He was a native of Kentucky, and was also a member of Colonel Dick Johnson's regiment. Samuel Johnson came to New Durham township in April, 1829, with William Aheart, and helped raise the widow Benedict's log house, the first in the county of La¬ Porte, Indiana.

when he became a citizen of LaPorte county, and here he was reared to manhood. He obtained his education in the primitive schools of the pion¬ eer period. The little temple of learning was built of round logs and was 16 by 16 feet. In one end of the room was a large fireplace six feet wide, and the chimney was built of sticks and mud, while the hearth was of clay. The seats were of slabs resting on wooden logs, and each bench was twelve to fourteen feet in length. The writing desk was made by put¬ ting a board on wooden pins driven into the wall, and goose quill pens were used. Among the text books was Webster's Elementary Spelling book, the New Testament, the English reader, Pike's Arithmetic and others of a similar nature. When a boy could figure to the "rule of three" he was considered quite an expert in mathematics. School was conducted on the subscription plan. Mr. Reed has lived to see a wonderful change in the educational system of the country, which has been developed until no country on the face of the globe has schools of such superior character as does Amercia. He has lived to see many changes in other directions also, for when he came to the county not one of the thirteen railroads which now provide for the traffic and transpor¬ tation of this section of the state had been built. There was not a church in New Durham town¬ ship at the time of his arrival and the ministers made a circuit on horseback. Mr. Reed has swung the old-fashioned cradle many a day in the harvest field, and also used a scythe, raking up the grain with a common rake.

When twenty-five years of age he determined to go to the Pacific slope, wishing to see the coun try and also to benefit his health by a change of climate. He proceeded by rail to New York city, and thence embarked on the steamer George Law for Aspinwall. He crossed the Isthmus of Pan¬ ama, and on the west side took passage on the vessel Golden Age, bound for California. While he was crossing the Isthmus the train on which he was a passenger, crashed through the bridge crossing the Chagres river and was precipitated in nine feet of water. Over one hundred passengers were killed. He saw one hundred and four persons buried in four large pits. There were twelve hundred passengers altogether. At length, how¬ ever, Mr. Reed reached San Francisco in safety, on the 22d of May, 1856, and on the day of his arrival there he saw two men executed by hang¬ ing, by the order of the vigilance committee. For about a year he remained in the far west, and re-

June 30, 1859, Mr. Reed was united in mar¬ riage to Miss Harriet Holmes, a representative of one of the old families in the county. She was born in Seneca county, Ohio, April 18, 1838, and belonged to a family of five children, two sons and three daughters, whose parents were Hiram and Mercy (Sherman) Holmes. Only two are now living, her sister Adeline being the widow of Abram A. Hart and a resident of Iowa. Her father was a native of New York, born in 1803, and he died November 16, 1891. By occupation he was a farmer and prospered in his undertak¬ ings. He also possessed considerable mechanical ingenuity, being very handy in the use of tools. In early pioneer times he went to Ohio, where he engaged in clearing away the forest trees and preparing the land for cultivation. He was thus employed until he earned money enough to pur¬ chased a tract of land for himself. When his daughter, Mrs. Reed, was four years of age he re¬ moved with his family to DeKalb county, Indiana, where he became the owner of a farm, residing thereon for five years. In June, 1847, be pur¬ chased about one hundred and eighty acres of land in New Durham township, and later he sold that property and bought a large tract of land in the northern part of the township just about the time the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Rail¬ road was being built. He donated seven acres of land to the railroad, and the little village of Holmesville was named in his honor. In i860 he went to Iowa, having traded his Indiana land for property in that state, and there he resided until 1880, which he went to Jefferson county Kansas, purchasing three hundred acres of land there. Upon his farm in that state his last days were spent. He was an old-line Whig until the organization of the new Republican party, when he joined its ranks. He lived at peace with all men, and never engaged in any lawsuit. He was well known for his integ¬ rity, and his worth was widely acknowledged by his warm friends. His wife was a native of Mass¬ achusetts, born in 1803, and her death occurred in 1846. Mrs. Reed's maternal grandmother had some relatives who were soldiers of the Revolu¬ tionary war, and some of the maternal ancestors of Mrs. Reed were heroes of the war of 1812 as well as the war for independence. Her aunt, Elizabeth Holmes, married into the Burlingame family of which Anson Burlingame was a repre¬ sentative. He was minister to China, and took

To Mr. and Mrs. Reed were bom six chil¬ dren, three sons and three daughters, of whom five are now living: Louisa May, who was edu¬ cated in the common schools and is at home with her parents; Frank H., a resident farmer of New Durham township and who married Miss Caro¬ line Stormer and has three children - Grover C., Joseph and Earl; Charles S., an agriculturist of New Durham township, who wedded Miss Effie Stormer and has two children - Harriet and Es¬ ther ; Charlotte and Myrtle, who are at home.

Where questions of national importance are involved Mr. Reed casts his ballot with the Demo¬ cratic party, his first presidential vote having been given for Franklin Pierce. He has oftentimes represented his county in the district conventions. He and his wife strongly favor universal educa¬ tion, and do all in their power to promote the cause of the schools in this locality. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Westville, and has filled all of the chairs. He and his wife are worthy pioneer peo¬ ple who in the long years of their residence here have gained the warm regard and confidence of all who know them. They are now in very com¬ fortable financial circumstances, their farm com¬ prising two hundred and forty acres of good land, the products from which bring to them an in¬ come that enables them to enjoy all of the neces¬ sities and many of the luxuries of life.

ALONZO S. NICHOLS, assistant postmas¬ ter of Michigan City, was born in Milo Center, New York, on the 12th of February, 1841. The founder of the Nichols family in America was Isaac Nichols, who was bom at Newport, Rhode Island, in 1748, and married Anna Boon, also of that state, and who was born in 1754. They were among the earliest emigrants to the New Jerusalem and settled at the Garter, at a point long known as Nichols* Comers, but now called Milo Center, where he conducted a tavern. Their grandson, Johnson A., was afterward the pro¬ prietor of the same tavern. They were most ex¬ emplary and steadfast devotees of the Friends* faith, and the meetings of the society were often held in their house. Isaac Nichols died in 1829, at the age of eighty-one years, and his wife passed away in 1838, in her eighty-fifth year. Their children were George, Alexander, Benjamin and Jacob.

moved to New York and settled in Yates county. He was a tanner by trade. He married Polly Chambers, and they became the parents of four children, - Josiah, Johnson, Alexander and Loring, all of whom are now deceased with the ex¬ ception of Loring, who still resides on the old homestead in Yates county. Alexander Nichols was called to the home beyond when eighty-four years of age, and his wife survived to the ex¬ treme old age of ninety-four years. They made their home at Milo Center, and both were mem¬ bers of the Friends Society.

Alexander Nichols, Jr., a son of this worthy old couple, was bom in New York, and in Yates county, that state, was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1865, when he moved to Michigan, there making his home with his son at Mason un¬ til his removal to West Bay City, that state, and in 1875 came to Michigan City, Indiana, where his life's labors were ended in death in 1881, when seventy-two years of age. He married Debora V. Gardner, whose death occurred in 1863, when fifty-five years of age, and both she and her husband were members of the Baptist church. Two children were bom to them, - Alonzo and a daughter who died in infancy. Mrs. Alexander Nichols was a daughter of Briah Gardner, a native of Rhode Island and a sea captain. He made his home at Wickfield, that state, and there his death occurred when well advanced in years. He was twice married, his wives being sisters, the oldest and youngest of their father's family.

Alonzo S. Nichols grew to years of maturity at Milo Center, New York, the place of his na¬ tivity, but when twenty-four years of age he left his childhood home and came west to Mason, Michigan, where he became station agent for the Michigan Central Railroad Company, there re¬ maining for seven years. For the following three years he was engaged in the same capacity and for the same company at West Bay City, Michi¬ gan, and in 1875, was transferred to the office in Michigan City, Indiana, serving in the capa¬ city of station agent here for six years, after which he entered the employ of the Louisville & New Albany Railroad Company as general agent, with headquarters in Michigan City, and after ten years with that company he resigned his position to give his entire attention to his own business, that of buying and shipping salt, which he still continues. Mr. Nichols has also been in¬ terested in real estate transactions in Indiana and North Carolina.

on the 28th of December, 1858, when Miss Fran¬ ces B. Hathaway, a daughter of Richard H. and Mary (Hetfield) Hathaway, became his wife. Two children have been born of this union, the elder of whom, Stella Adelle, married Frank C. Deming, and died at the age of twenty-seven years; they had three children: Ethel Frances and two who died in infancy. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Nichols, Elmer Arthur, is a railroad engineer and maintains his residence in Indian¬ apolis. He married Emma C. Heise, and their two children are Alonzo Clifford and Harriet Frances.

Mr. and Mrs. Nichols are members of the Presbyterian church, and in his fraternal rela¬ tions the former is a member of Acme Lodge No. 83, F. & A. M. ; Michigan City Chapter No. 25, R. A. M. ; Michigan City Commandery No. 30, K. T. ; Michigan City Council No. 56, R. & S. M. ; Indianapolis Valley Consistory ; Murat Tem¬ ple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and the Su¬ preme Council of the Northern Masonic Juris¬ diction of thirty-third degree Masons. He also belongs to the National Union and the Elks fra¬ ternities. In his political affiliations Mr. Nichols is a Republican, and in 1898 was made the as¬ sistant postmaster at Michigan City, which office he still retains, and during the years of 1897 and 1898 served as the deputy sheriff of LaPorte county.

HARRY W. HENRY is the proprietor of the LaPorte fruit farm and nursery, situated one mile north of here. He was born in Clin¬ ton county, Pennsylvania, in November, 1854, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Shaner) Henry. His father was also a native of Clinton county and spent his entire life upon the farm on which he was born. His death occurred in 1898. His widow, who was likewise bom in the Keystone state, is yet living on the old family homestead there.

Harry W. Henry has had a remarkably inter¬ esting and varied history. He was born and reared upon a farm and was edu¬ cated in the schools of his native coun¬ ty, and when seventeen years of age be¬ gan teaching. Later he pursued more advanced studies in the Pennsylvania State Normal School at Millersville. Pennsylvania, where he attained special proficiency in mathematics. He was then granted a state certificate by the Pennsylvania board of education, an honor accorded only in recognition of the highest merit. In the year 1876 he made his way westward, locating first in Paris, Michigan, where he taught school for a year. He then spent a year at White Cloud, and was thus engaged in educational work until 1879, when he obtained a position as traveling salesman, representing the firm of A. S. Barnes & Company. Later he was with Iveson, Blakeman, Taylor & Company, a firm dealing in school books, his connection with these two houses cov¬ ering a period of five years. When he went upon the road he received only a small salary, but this was rapidly increased, for his value as a sales¬ man was noted by the companies whom he rep¬ resented and he was advanced from one position of importance! to another until he was given charge of the work in two states, Michigan and Indiana, as assistant general manager. He won the reputation of having the highest percentage of sales of any man in the business at that time. '

In 1884 Mr. Henry joined a syndicate en¬ gaged in the cattle-raising business in the Chero¬ kee strip in Indian Territory. With six others he leased and fenced thirty thousand acres of grazing land, on which he placed large herds of cattle. After about a year's connection with that business, however, Mr. Henry withdrew and removed to . southwestern Kansas in order to go into business for himself. That country was then just opening up to settlement, but the land was being rapidly claimed by those who desired to establish homes upon the western frontier. Mr. Henry became one of the most active and im¬ portant factors in the organization of Clark coun¬ ty, and in a convention of the settlers his sugges¬ tions for organization were adopted, and the plan which he advanced was later highly complimented by the governor as a most practical and success¬ ful one. He located one hundred and sixty acres of land; also established a town site and opened a general mercantile business in the new city. After about a year's residence there, however, he removed to Seward county, also one of the frontier districts, and erected the first building in the town of Liberal. He then established a real estate office, and was given charge of the realty interests of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company. For only two years he remained in Liberal, and was a very prominent figure in the early development of southwestern Kansas.

In 1889, however, he returned to the east and located in LaPorte. For about four years he was engaged in selling nursery stock, and then estab¬ lished a nursery of his own one mile north of the city, where he at first purchased twelve acres of land entirely uncultivated at that time. He worked hard, directing his labors with a scientific skill which was the result of exhaustive and compre¬ hensive study. Year by year he improved his nursery, and it jnow covers forty acres of land under the highest state of cultivation, and is of great value. He makes a specialty of the culti¬ vation of small fruits, particularly strawberries, and annually sells about one million strawberry plants. He sells exclusively by catalogue to deal¬ ers and nurserymen throughout the United States, doing only a wholesale business. He has become very widely known through his familiar advertisement "Sixty Varieties of Strawberries," although at the present time he has nearly sev¬ enty varieties of strawberries, and is to-day one of the most noted producers of this delicious berry in the United States. He also carries a general line of nursery stock, including apple, pear, peach, plum and cherry trees, together with a large line of small fruits, raspberries, black¬ berries, gooseberries, currants and grapes. He owns a large fruit farm in Indiana and is one of the most prominent representatives of horticul¬ tural interests in the state. Mr. Henry also takes an important part in horticultural matters in an¬ other way, and that is in the dissemination of knowledge. He is often called upon to write essays or to deliver lectures upon his specialty, and he is the vice president of the Indiana State Horticultural Society and the chairman of the Farmers' Institute of LaPorte county.

In 1886 occurred the marriage of Mr. Henry and Miss Eva Davis, the wedding taking place in Dodge City, Kansas. They now have two chil¬ dren : Don J. and Marie. Mr. Henry is a Knight Templar Mason, belonging to LaPorte Commandery, and he is a very enterprising citizen, whose efforts have been of practical value to La¬ Porte. He was instrumental in securing the building of the macadam road from LaPorte to Pine Lake, and in other ways his efforts have con¬ tributed to the general welfare and public im¬ provement. His business record, too, is most commendable, for from a small beginning he has developed a very important enterprise and has shown the force of energy and the power of in¬ tegrity as important factors in commercial life.

HENRY B. MORRIS, a consulting engineer of Michigan City, whose high standing in his pro¬ fession has always secured for him important positions in connection with his chosen calling, was bom in Philadelphia, January 16, 1844. and is a representative of one of the oldest and most honored families of that city. He has back of him an ancestry eminent and distinguished. The family is of English lineage, and the line of de¬ scent can be traced back to Anthony Morris, who was born in England in 1619. He became a sea captain and died on the island of Barbadoes when his only son and namesake, Anthony Morris, was but two years old. The latter was bom in Step¬ ney, in London, August 23, 1654, and was bap¬ tized the following day in St. Dunston's church, in Stepney, where the record of the baptism may still be seen. On the same day in the month, in the year 1894, there was held in the church a special memorial service by members of the fam¬ ily who were then in England, to commemorate the two hundred and fortieth anniversary of his baptism, the service being read by one of his lin¬ eal descendants, the Rev. John Stockton Littell, of Lockport, New York.

Anthony Morris, 2d, was but two years old when his mother died, and was then committed to the care of friends. As a child he passed through the perils of the great plague in London in 1665, when disease so ravaged the city that the year has become a memorable one in its history. The next year came the great fire which devas¬ tated London. Anthony Morris, 2d, completed his education by graduation in Cambridge Uni¬ versity, and when a young man he emigrated to America, sailing in the same vessel with William Penn. He at first purchased property at Burling¬ ton, New Jersey, an older city than Philadelphia, but he found within a few years that the younger town down the river was destined to be a great seaport, and he therefore sold his Burlington holdings and invested his fortune in Philadelphia, thereby becoming one of its largest landholders. His residence still stands on Front street in Phila¬ delphia, and although it has been converted into a warehouse, it still bears his name, made in black bricks, as was the custom of that time. Mr. Morris died in Philadelphia, in October, 1721* an honored citizen who had been very prominent and influential in public affairs. He served as the first mayor of Philadelphia, while Thomas Lloyd, another ancestor of Henry B. Morris, was the first governor of the state.

The next in the line of direct descent was Anthony Morris, 3d, who was bom in England in 1680 and died in Philadelphia in 1763* His son, John Morris, who was born in Philadelphia in 1709, became a leading merchant of that city and was also the builder and owner of one of the first iron furnaces of Pennsylvania, being a pioneer in the promotion of this important industry. Hi* property was located at a place called Spring Mill, a few miles west of Philadelphia. By means of his iron foundry, he furnished many cannon for the use of the colonists during the French and Indian war. His death occurred in 1786.

William Morris, a son of John Morris, was a merchant of Philadelphia, and married Margaret Hill, a daughter of Dr. Richard Hill, of that city, who was a son of Captain Richard Hill, who served as a captain in the English navy, and set¬ tled on the eastern shore of Maryland about 1680. To William and Margaret (Hill) Morris was bom a son to whom they gave the name of Rich¬ ard Hill Morris, and who was the grandfather of Henry B. Morris. He was born in Philadelphia, and became a banker of that city. He was also a judge of the court of Chester county for a num¬ ber of years and was a very influential citizen, who aided largely in molding public thought and action. His death occurred in 1841, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Smith, bore him three sons and a daughter, but the daughter died in early childhood.

Edmund Morris, the father of Henry B. Mor¬ ris, was bom in New Jersey, and in early life learned the printer's trade. During the greater part of his life he was connected with journalistic work, and was also the author of a book which was quite widely read, called "Ten Acres Enough." He was a frequent contributor to the Atlantic Monthly and other leading and popular magazines of the day, and his name became well known in literary circles. He wedded Miss Mary Palmer Jenks, a native of Pennsylvania. Her ancestry can be traced back to Lord Thomas Jenks, of England, who emigrated to Pennsyl¬ vania about 1675, taking up lands granted to him by King Charles II. His son, Thomas Jenks, lived in Pennsylvania to a great age, and was ac¬ cidentally killed by the falling of a tree when ninety-eight years of age. He was the father of William Jenks, 1st, who was also a native of the Keystone state and was a farmer by occupation. He married Miss Margery Chapman, and they had a large family. One of the sons, William Jenks, 2d,, was the maternal grandfather of Hen¬ ry B. Morris, was likewise born in the Keystone state, and became a wealthy landowner of Bucks county. He was identified with the Society of Friends or Quakers. He wedded Miss Mary Hutchinson, and died of yellow fever when forty years of age, but his wife survived him for many years. They reared a large family, including the Hon. Michael Hutchinson Jenks, who was for many years the county judge of Bucks county and also served for two terms in Congress, in the '40s, taking an active part in .shaping the legislation of the country during those sessions. His daugh¬ ter Anna became the wife of the Hon. Alexander Ramsey, who was the first governor of Minnesota and was also for many years United States sena¬ tor from that state, but he resigned the latter position to become secretary of war under Presi¬ dent Arthur. He died in 1903, and his wife passed away many years previously.

It was William Jenks, 2d, who was the father of Mrs. Edmund Morris. By her marriage she became the mother of four children, two of whom are now living: Mary A., the wife of Alexander C. Fergusson, resides in Philadelphia. Their son is the Rev. Edmund Morris Ferguson, who was formerly the editor of the Sunday-school Times . For a number of years Edmund Morris resided in Burlington, New Jersey, and there died in 1874, when seventy years of age, while his wife sur¬ vived him for a year and was seventy-one years of age at the time of her demise. Both were iden¬ tified with the Society of Friends.

Henry B. Morris spent his early boyhood days in Burlington, New Jersey, and pursued his education in Burlington College. Subsequently he studied mechanical engineering in a private poly¬ technic school in Burlington, and afterward took up mechanical engineering as a profession and has since followed it. By continued research, study and investigation he has promoted his proficiency and has gained a foremost place in the ranks of his chosen calling.

On the 10th of July, 1867, Mr. Morris was married to Miss Annie B. Knapp, a daughter of Tracy S. and Annie (Brown) Knapp, of New Berlin, Chenango county, New York. The eldest son of this marriage is Edmund Morris, who is now general superintendant of the Western Cane^ Seating Company, of Michigan City, and married Miss Frances Martin Cook. Harold, another son, is engaged in business here. The mother died July 1, 1878, at the age of thirty-seven years. She was a devoted member of the Episcopal church, and her loss was deeply deplored by her many friends as well as her husband and sons. On the 15th of July, 1879, Mr. Morris was again married, his second union being with Florence Adele Dowe, of Ithaca. New York, a daughter of General H. A. and Adeline (Carr) Dowe. One child was bom of the second marriage, Hilda Bertha Morris, who is now a student in the high school of Michigan Citv. She already possesses

For many years Mr. Morris resided in Ithaca, New York, and also at Hornellsville and Geneva, that state. In 1892 he came to Michigan City, where he now holds the position of consulting engineer with the Western Cane-Seating Com¬ pany and the J. S. Ford-Johnson Company. He and his wife are members of the Trinity Cathedral Episcopal church, and he was warden of the church for several years, also registrar of the di¬ ocese and a member of the standing committee. During the greater part of his life he has been a Democrat, but supported President McKinley. He makes a close study of the questions of the day and gives his advocacy to the measures which he believes will best promote the nation's welfare. He is a man of marked individuality, of strong purpose and honorable principles - a man whom to know is to respect and honor.

HARVEY R. HARRIS, foreman in the bariron department of the Haskell & Barker Car Works at Michigan City, was bom in Norwich, New York, March 17, 1835, and is of Welsh and English ancestry. His paternal grandfather, John Harris, was bom in Wales, was a sea captain for twenty-five years, and then made his home on Nantucket Island, whence he emigrated to Con¬ necticut and thence to Norwich, New York. He was also a surveyor by profession, and laid out the town of Norwich. His death occurred there when well advanced in years. By his wife, Abbie Ransford, he had a family of ten children. Truman Enos, the maternal grandfather of Har¬ vey Harris, was a native of England, whence he emigrated to Canada, and from there to the state of New York, settling at Norwich, where he fol¬ lowed his trade of a tanner. He was twice mar¬ ried, his second union being with Parmelia Eels, and his death occurred when about ninety-five years of age.

Harvey R. Harris is a son of Harvey and Philinda (Enos) Harris, natives of Connecticut and New York, respectively. Six children were born of their union, four sons and two daugh¬ ters, and only two of the number are now living, Harvey R. and William, both residing in Michi¬ gan City. The father was a member of the medi¬ cal profession in Norwich, New York, for many years, and his death occurred there in 1883, when about eighty-six years of age. His wife survived him until 1889, being about eigbty-six years of age at the time of her death. Both were members of the Congregational church, and he was identi¬ fied with both the Whig and Republican parties, while for several terms he served as supervisor of his township.

Harvey R. Harris remained in Norwich, his native city, until sixteen years old, there attend¬ ing the district schools and an academy, and at the age of seventeen years he came to Michigan City, Indiana, which has ever since continued to be his home. For two or three years after his arrival here he served as a clerk in a store, after which he entered a commercial college, and for a number of years thereafter was employed as bookkeeper for Lyman Blair. Accompanying his brother-in-law to New York city, he served as his assistant in a livery business, later becoming his successor, but after conducting that business for a time he sold it and returned to Michigan City, where he served as clerk in the Jewell Hotel for Billy Murtagh. General Packard was then the auditor of LhPorte county, and on his elec¬ tion to Congress, Mr. Harris was appointed to fill his unexpired term, to which position he was elected in 1870 for four years. In the meantime he purchased Mr. Murtagh's interest in the Jew¬ ell House, which was rebuilt and remodeled and the name changed to the Vreeland Hotel. For a period of twenty-three years, from 1871 until 1894, Mr. Harris continued the popular propri¬ etor of this hotel, on the expiration of which he was appointed postmaster under President Cleve¬ land, continuing in that office from 1894 until 1898. For two terms, from 1880 until 1884, he served. as the mayor of Michigan City, and since retiring from the postmastership he has been in the employ of the Haskell & Barker Car Com¬ pany as foreman of the bar-iron department.

For twenty years Mr. Harris held member¬ ship relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, for the same period has been a member of Washington Lodge No. 94, Knights of Pythias, and in his political affiliations was allied with the Republican party until Grant's second administration, in 1874, when he joined the Democratic forces, but is mow independent in his political views. During the session of 1878 he served as reading clerk in the state senate.

JONATHAN WILLIAM OSBORN. The subject of this sketch is a public-spirited and en¬ terprising citizen of Hanna township, where for many years he has carried on operations as an agriculturist and has materially aided in the up¬ building and development of his section of die county. He was born on the 10th of August,

1852, in Clinton township, LaPorte county, and is a son of William Osborn, an honored citizen of that locality, who was bom December 22, 1827, and died August 16, 1863. He was a native of South Carolina and a farmer by occupation. On the 17th of February, 1850, he was married in Clinton township, this county, to Miss Charlotte Long, who was born in West Virginia, January 10, 1829, and departed this life on the 22d of July, 1897. In their family were six children, namely: Emma Josephine, bom February 3, 1851, is the wife of Jesse Macy, of Des Moines, Iowa ; Jona¬ than W. is the next in order of birth : Benjamin, bom July 17, 1854, is a resident of Rippey, Iowa ; Tabitha, born December 3, 1856, died in child¬ hood ; Robert E., bom February 22, 1858, makes his home in Perry, Iowa; and Hattie May, born May 1, 1862, died May 11, 1883.

Jonathan W. Osborn was educated in the schools of Westville, Indiana, under Professor Laird, where the family lived until 1870, when the mother removed to Perry, Iowa, accompanied by all her children. Since starting out in life for himself he has followed farming with good suc¬ cess, and in 1877 he became the owner of his present fine farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Hanna townhsip. It is a well improved place, and from its abundant products he derives a good income.

Mr. Osborn was married at Hanna, Septem¬ ber 4, 1873, to Miss Eliza Trimmingham, who was bom in Union Mills, April 26, 1853. Her father was George Trimmingham, who was bom in Yorkshire, England, in November, 1814, and came to LaPorte county, Indiana, in 1852. He owned the farm on which Mr. Osborn and his wife now live, and there died in 1888, honored and respected by all who knew him. He was an earnest Christian gentleman, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was held in the highest regard.

Mr. and Mrs. Osborn have eight children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows : George Robert, February 17, 1875 ; Jonathan William, March 29, 1877; Edward Macy, Janu¬ ary 23, 1879; Arthur Earl, November 24, 1880; Noah Ralph, January 29, 1882; Hattie Mary, November 23, 1885 ; Van Dale, January 25, 1893 5 and Bonnie Eliza, July 4, 1894. George Robert wedded Miss Della Bunnell, sister of the county superintendant of the public schools of LaPorte county ; he is now a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Chicago, and was a successful teacher for a number of years. Jonathan W. resides in

El Paso, Texas, where he is an accountant for the Galveston, Harrisburg & San An¬ tonio Railroad Company ; he was also a teacher. Edward Macy resides in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is a fireman on the Pennsylvania Railroad; he married Miss Olive Vail, and they have one daughter, Olive Marjorie ; he has been in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad for three years. Arthur Earl, a resident of Hanna township, wedded Miss Lucretia Ire¬ land, and they have one son, Maurice. Noah Ralph, a resident of LaPorte county, wedded Miss Mattie Groett ; he is a farmer. The remainder of the family are at home. The daughter Hattie has finished the eleventh grade in Hanna school.

Politically Mr. Osborn is an ardent Republi¬ can, and socially is identified with the Hanna Lodge No. 708, Independent Order of Odd Fel¬ lows, and the Modem Woodmen of America, Hanna Camp No. 4612. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Hanna, and he has always been promi¬ nently identified with any enterprise which he be¬ lieved would prove of public benefit or would in any way advance the interests of his fellow men. Mrs. Osborn was educated in Westville high school under Professor Laird, also under Pro¬ fessor Phelon, and in the schools at Hanna and Union Mills.

PHILO Q. DORAN, a prominent and lead¬ ing lawyer of LaPorte, who is also filling the position of United States commissioner, was bom at Michigan City, in LaPorte county, in the year 1872. His paternal grandfather was a native of county Monaghan in the north of Ireland and was of Scotch descent. When a lad he came to America, landing at Montreal, and from there prceeded to the Uinted States, establishing his home in Ohio.- He afterward came, with the Bigelow family, a prominent pioneer family of Indiana, to LaPorte county, locating at what later became known as Bigelow Mills, near Wanatah. There he was married, and subsequently located at Michigan City, where he became associated with Chauncey Blair, of Chicago, and a capitalist in the grain business. They built an immense elevator on the lake front, from which their grain was taken to the vessels for shipment to Chicago. There were no docks or harbor at Michigan City at that time, for this was before the era of rail¬ roads, and the work of improvement had scarcely been begun in that portion of the country at that time. The firm, however, did an extensive busi¬ ness, the farmers hauling their wheat to Michi- gan City in wagons from a large surrounding district. The firm purchased the product, and transported it by boat to the city markets. In his later life Mr. Doran was the representative of the American Express Company, which corpora¬ tion eventually retired him upon a pension after many years spent in its service. He died in Michi¬ gan City in 1900, at the ripe old age of seventyseven years.

Francis H. Doran, the father of Philo Q. Doran, was born at Michigan City* in 1845, an^ is one of the old settlers of this portion of the state, having been a witness of its development and progress for fifty-eight years. He served as postmaster at Michigan City for four years under President Harrison's administration, and was elected county auditor on the Republican ticket iiu I.894, although the county is strongly Democratic, and that was particularly known as a Democratic year. The fact of his election in¬ dicates his personal popularity and the confi¬ dence and trust which are uniformly reposed in him. In 1898 he was re-elected for another term of four years, and on the close of eight years' ser¬ vice in that position retired from office as he had entered it, with the trust and good will of all. In the last Republican convention held in Indi¬ anapolis he was a leading candidate for the nomi¬ nation of auditor of the state. He is now asso¬ ciated with the Pere Marquette Railway Com¬ pany, and still makes his home in LaPorte. In his early manhood he married Miss Mary Ellen Quinn, who was born in Bainbridge, Indiana, and like her husband enjoys the friendship of many in LaPorte and this part of the state.

Philo Q. Doran acquired his education in the schools of Michigan City and in a business col¬ lege in Chicago, becoming thus well qualified for the practical and responsible duties of life. After putting aside his text books he accepted the posi¬ tion of secretary to the superintendent of the passenger car department of construction of the Pullman Company, with offices at Pullman, Illi¬ nois. While in that position he had some thril¬ ling experiences in connection with the Pullman strike of 1894, being in charge of a picket guard recruited from the office force. His education for the bar and in oratory was obtained in leisure hours. While with the Pullman Company he studied without the aid of a teacher, his idea be¬ ing to applyjiis knowledge to the business in which he was engaged. He also studied elocu¬ tion in the Lyman school, and became so talented in that direction that as a social entertainer he was in great demand. His oratorical training has been of great v^lue to him in his profession and as a public speaker, and enables him to pre¬ sent a case with great effect. Having read law assiduously and attentively for sometime, Mr. Doran was admitted to the bar of LaPorte in 1895. In 1894, however, he had accepted a posi¬ tion as deputy county auditor under his father, and served in that capacity for eight years. In 1902 he was nominated by the Republicans for the position of county auditor, and although he made a strong race was defeated with the other candidates of the Republican party, for LaPorte county is a Democratic stronghold of the state. On the 1st of January, 1903, Mr. Doran entered into partnership with E. E. Weir, and since that time has been successfully engaged in the prac¬ tice of law. Although a young man he has at¬ tained a reputation which many an older practi¬ tioner might well envy. On the 2d of July, 1903, he was appointed United States commissioner for the federal court of which Albert Anderson, of Indianapolis, is the judge, Mr. Doran's juris¬ diction being LaPorte county and vicinity.

In the early part of 1903 Mr. Doran was hap¬ pily married in LaPorte to Miss Laura Nye, a daughter of the late Hon. Mortimer Nye, a for¬ mer lieutenant governor of Indiana. The young couple have an attractive home, and to them is extended the hospitality of many of the best homes of LaPorte. Mr. Doran is a past exalted ruler of the local lodge of Elks, and belongs to the Masonic and Knights of Pythias fraternities and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Independent Order of Foresters and the Knights of Maccabees. He has made his home in LaPorte continuously since 1894, and is a popular young man of wide and varied experience. He pos¬ sesses a genial manner and pleasing disposition. Wherever he goes he wins friends and has the happy faculty of being able to retain them. His popularity has made him a great favorite in all circles.

CLARENCE H. GEIST, of Chicago, is a native son of LaPorte county who has achieved success and prominence in the business world, and is now a capitalist and promoter of business enterprises. He is a distinctively self-made man. He was a young man without capital when he started out, and his first venture was almost a failure, so that when he went to Chicago a few years ago he had little more than enough money to last a week. But since that time, while he has made certain his own material prosperity, he has been particularly identified with the development of many public utilities of great benefit to the people of Chicago and other communities, and is now to be mentioned among the men of push and enterprise of whom Chicago is so proud.

Mr. Geist was bom in New Durham town¬ ship, LaPorte county, Indiana, in 1866, the son of Ezra and Elouise (Bradley) Geist. Ezra Geist was bom in Northumberland county, Penn¬ sylvania, in 1831, and came to LaPorte county in 1835, with his parents, who were among the first settlers, and who took up land in New Durham township, where the family has lived ever since. Ezra Geist has followed farming all his life, and has been a man of prominence in his township. He still lives on the Geist homestead near Westville, but his wife, who was a native of New York state, died in July, 1901.

Mr. Geist attended the township and Westville public schools, and lived on the home farm until 1888, when he went to Clay county, Ne¬ braska, to engage in the stock-raising business. He remained there for four years, with poor suc¬ cess, as may be judged from the fact that he ar¬ rived in Chicago, in 1892, during the panic, with only twelve dollars in his pocket. As soon as pos¬ sible he secured a position in the employ of the Rock Island Railroad now the Rock Island System, as collector on the suburban trains, at a salary of fifty-five dollars a month. This position he held for one year, and then made the important change of his life by engaging in the real estate business. For the first six months he sold property on commission for different firms, and then for a year carried on a very suc¬ cessful business in that line in Blue Island, pfter which he opened an office in Chicago. He had a flourishing trade in city and suburban real es¬ tate for several years, but recently has engaged extensively in gas and electric illuminating entrprises, especially the former. He has promoted and capitalized several companies of this charac¬ ter, and is now president of the South Shore Gas and Electric Company, whose territory includes Hammond, East Chicago, Indiana Harbor and Whiting: and is also president of the Michigan City and Northern Indiana Gas Company, of Michigan City. He is now building gas works at Chicago Heights. He is also president of the Central Telephone Construction Company and he has just formed a company, of which he will be the president and general manager, for the pur¬ pose of the consolidation of the gas interests of five cities lving west of Chicago. He is a stock¬ holder in the Calumet Electric Company and a director of the Manufacturers' Bank of Chicago.

He owns much valuable real estate throughout the city and many acres in the Calumet district. At the present time he is interested in the pro¬ motion of an extensive telephone enterprise in Iowa.

Mr. Geist has the aggressive and pushing spirit which will never down, no matter how many defeats or difficulties come. These qualities and his persevering industry were the only re¬ sources he could call to his aid when he began his career, and he has certainly risen rapidly in the business world. Ten years is a very short time to lift himself from a poor Nebraska stock farmer to a place among the leading business men of the second city in the union of states.

Mr. Geist is a member of the Chicago Athletic Club, the Midlothian Golf Club, the Hamilton Club, the Englewood Men's Club, and the Chi¬ cago Riding and Driving Club. His office is at 171 LaSalle street, and he resides at the Chicago Beach Hotel. His wife is Isola (Web¬ ster) Geist, to whom he was married at Harvard, Nebraska. Mr. Geist is an earnest and active Re¬ publican, and is taking a leading part in state and national politics. *

CAPTAIN ALLEN A. KENT, head of the United States life-saving station at Michigan City, has been assigned to this station since 1 897, and has been in the revenue and life-saving ser¬ vice since he was twenty-two years of age. There is no one branch of government institutions which performs greater service for the protection of human life and property than the life-saving de¬ partment, and the hardy, robust and bravehearted men who man the stations hold a higher position of honor and esteem than those who be¬ long to the standing army or navy, for they are constantly in warfare with the elements, and peace is never declared to their strife with the storm and waves. Captain Kent has done important work in this capacity, and many owe their lives to him and his gallant crew.

Captain Kent is of English descent on both father's and mother's side, and his family dates back several centuries in the history of the coun¬ try. His father's people were early settlers of New York state, and lived for many years in Utica of that state. His grandfather, Henry Kent, was a native of that state, was a farmer by occupation, and died at a very old age. He had a large family of fourteen sons and two daughters. Of these sons, Arba B., the father of Captain Kent, was the only one who did not enlist for service in the LTnion cause during the

Civil war, and he was only prevented from carry¬ ing out his patriotic impulses in order to remain at home and care for his aged parents. He was bom in New York, and in youth was a lumber¬ man. He went to Muskegon, Michigan, in 1843, and was engaged in mercantile purusits during the later years of his life. He still lives in Mus¬ kegon, but for about eight years was in business in Waukegan, Illinois, without, however, sever¬ ing his. connection with the lumber interests of Michigan. He is now eighty years of age, his birth having occurred on January 27, 1824. He married Sarah J. Spaulding, who was born in Illinois, and is also still living. They are mem¬ bers of the Methodist church, and have been ac¬ tive workers in religious affairs and have helped build several churches. They had three children, a son and two daughters, and the daughters died in infancy. Mrs. Sarah Kent's father was Allen Spaulding, who was a pioneer to Illinois, and lived principally in Waukegan and Chicago. He owned considerable property in both these cities, and speculated. in real estate. There were eight or ten children in his family.

Captain Kent was bora during his father's residence in Waukegan, Illinois, on November 8, i860, and was reared in Muskegon, Michigan. He received his schooling at the latter place. When a boy he manifested a strong desire for a sailor's life, and as soon as he could he became a sailor on Lake Michigan. He has sailed all over the Great Lakes, and he continued this pur¬ suit until he was twenty-two years old, at which time he entered the revenue service. He was advanced to different grades, and in the spring of 1897 was stationed at Michigan City as cap¬ tain of the crew. He has been present at a num¬ ber of wrecks, and has saved many lives. He is popular with his men, and the discipline and training at this station are as high-class as can be found at any point around the lake.

Captain Kent was married on August 29, 1885, to Miss Martha Weaver, a daughter of John Weaver, of East Saugatuck, Michigan, and they have two children, Allen J. and Ray Kent. Captain Kent and his wife are Methodists in faith, but are not identified with the church. He affiliates with Washington Lodge No. 94, K. of P., and with the Modern Woodmen of America, also with Martha Washington Temple No. 275, Rathbone Sisters.

of the famous Emanuel Swedenborg, and whose influence through the press and pulpit and his daily contact with men was felt throughout many sections of the middle west, was born at Battle, Sussex county, England (the scene of the deci¬ sive battle of Hastings in 1066), in 1801.

He received a good literary education, and, being a strong-minded youth, with much fond¬ ness for investigation, especially along religious lines, he early became interested in a societyknown as "Free-thinking Christians," which claimed freedom from all sectarian bias. H*e cherished the ambition to become a minister, and at the age of fifteen delivered his first religious discourse at Hastings, England.

In 1837 Mr. Weller emigrated to the United States with his family, and, after residing in New York cjty for two years, located in Marshall, Michigan, in 1839. At that time southern Michi¬ gan was a wilderness, with population in num¬ bers in favor of the Indians, and in every way an uninviting place except for the sturdy pioneer. Mr. Weller, in addition to the arduous toil of making a home, also preached in the new coun¬ try, at different communities in Michigan and in northern Indiana.

In 1840 he became attracted to the spiritual philosophy of Swedenborg, with the result that he adopted those beliefs, and from that time till his death was an earnest and enthusiastic ex¬ pounder of the faith of the Church of New Jeru¬ salem. In 1850 he made his first visit' to LaPorte, where fie began the formation of a society of the New Church, having the honor of being its foun¬ der as well as its first minister. The beauty of the doctrines of the new denomination and the deep spiritual character of its head together at¬ tracted some, of the most prominent citizens to his support among whom were the Andrew fam¬ ily, Judge Niles, Dr. Teegarden and others, who remained his most intimate friends and admirers throughout his lifetime.

In 1853 Mr. Weller brought his family from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and located perma¬ nently in LaPorte. Grand Rapids was also the scene of his endeavors, and he had built up a society of the New Church there. On July 1. 1853, he founded in LaPorte a periodical called the Crisis, "devoted to the inner life of the New Church." This magazine was ably conducted and edited, and from the start enjoyed a wide and appreciative circle of readers, not only from La* Porte and environs, but from all parts of the United States and England. The name was later changed to the New Church Independent, which

The pld Weller homestead, about a mile north of LaPorte, on Stone Lake, was established by Mr. Weller in 1855, and has remained in the family ever since. It contains several acres of picturesque woodland bordering on the lake, and of recent years has been operated as a summer resort, under the name of "Weller's Grove," and the cottages located there are occupied by resi¬ dents of LaPorte and other cities.

Mr. Weller is especially remembered by the old soldiers, f6r during the years 1863-64 he was chaplain of the Eighty-seventh Indiana Infantry, and there was not a man in the regiment who would not speak a kind and appreciative word for their spiritual friend. And many of the oldtime residents of LaPorte trace the beginning of their religious enlightenment and knowledge to his beneficent influence and teachings, and thus as long as individual thought and effort domi¬ nate the world his power will be felt and ac¬ knowledged. He died June 7, 1868, from disease contracted in the army.

Mr. Weller was married September 20, 1826, in Hastings, England, to Miss Caroline Stevens, who died at Chicago in June, 1867, having been the mother of four sons: John S., William H., Alfred and Charles E., the first three of whom were bom in England, and the last in Michigan.

John S. Weller was bom at Hastings, Eng¬ land, August 20, 1829. He came to LaPorte in 1853 to take charge of the business department of the LaPorte Weekly Times , a local paper un¬ der very efficient management and backed by some prominent and wealthy, men, chief among whom was John Walker. He was the publisher of the Times until July 1, 1853, when he became the publisher of his father's magazine, the Crisis, and during the greater part of his years spent in LaPorte devoted himself capably to the interests of that periodical. A short time after the break¬ ing out of the Civil war he established the Weekly Review in Elkhart, Indiana, but upon his father's enlistment in the early part of 1863 he returned to LaPorte, and once more took charge of the Crisis . In 1872 he and his family removed to Chicago, where he was engaged in business till his deatn, June 8, 1894. He was married in 1854 to Miss Sarah Anne Bricher, who died in Chi¬ cago in 1898. Their three sons, Walter, Fernald and George, and one daughter, Carrie, are living in Chicago.