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

and the walls surrounding, there being many beautiful designs, among which was a large anchor, and many handsome wreaths, one very large and beautiful from the Door Village young people, composed of leaves of wine-colored foli¬ age, with a large bunch of sweet pinks at each side.

Earl was the only son of doting parents, making his death exceedingly sad and very much deplored. He was of a lively, genial disposition with all of his acquaintances, and was so young and hopeful for the future, making life seem so bright. The grief-stricken parents and sisters, with other dear friends and relatives, accom¬ panied the remains from Grand Rapids to La- Porte, where they were met by a procession of friends, who accompanied them to their home, where they were met upon the lawn by a con¬ gregation of sympathizing friends, awaiting the funeral cortege. There were many friends and relatives present from Valparaiso, LaPorte, Wanatah, Union Mills, Kingsbury, Chicago, Grand Rapids and Westville. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the whole community, as shown by the very large attendance and long proces¬ sion that followed to the last resting place in the beautiful Door Village cemetery.

AUGUST BACKUS. There is no element in our American citizenship that has been of more value in the development and substantial progress of the country than that furnished by the fatherland. The sons of Germany have brought to the new world the strong traits of character of their race, and, readily adapting them to the altered conditions and environments of the new world, have won prominence and suc¬ cess. An honored representative of this class in LaPorte was August Backus, who was for many years actively connected with the industrial interests of this city, and whose capable control of his business affairs brought him affluence.

Mr. Backus was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1829, and there learned the trade of a turner or wood-worker. He was a young man of about twenty-seven years when, in 1856, he bade adieu to the fatherland and sailed for America, hop¬ ing that in the broader opportunities of the new world he might find a field of labor that would prove both congenial and profitable. He located that year in LaPorte, where quite a large number of his countrymen had already settled. Here he was first employed in making bedsteads for the firm of Fargher & Company, and for two years followed that pursuit. He then established the sash and door manufacturing company of A. Backus & Company, which he conducted without interruption until 1900, when he sold out to a company and the plant is now operated under the name of the LaPorte Sash & Door Company, being one of the important and extensive in¬ dustries of the city. About 1880 Mr. Backus built a flour and feed mill on J street, in the fifth ward, organizing a company to conduct the same, which is known as the J Street Milling Company, and of which Mr. Backus was the president until his death, although for a number of years the active management of the enter¬ prise was left to others. This establishment manufactures flour and other mill products and its output is extensive. In the business interests with which he was connected Mr. Backus met with success. He had splendid powers as an organizer, readily comprehended intricate and complex business problems, formed his plans readily and carried them forward to a comple¬ tion that was attended with gratifying results. Having amassed wealth, he decided to retire from the active field of labor and thereafter enjoyed a richly merited rest.

The Backus family is an interesting one, and the interest of our subject largely centered in his own household, his greatest happiness being enjoyed at his own fireside in the companion¬ ship of his wife and children. In early manhood he wedded Miss Johanna Peass, a native of Prussia, the wedding being celebrated, how¬ ever, in LaPorte. Seven children were born of this union: Charles, William, Mrs. Jessie Miller, Mrs. Julia Droege, Louis, Harry and Annie. Mr. and Mrs. Backus also adopted their grand¬ daughter, Stella Backus, whose mother died in her infancy, since which time she has lived with her grandparents. While conducting large and important business interests, Mr. Backus always found time to devote to the holier duties of life and was ever a consistent Christian gentleman. He was one of the founders of St. John's Luth¬ eran church of LaPorte, the first house of wor¬ ship, which was dedicated in 1857. It now has a membership of nearly four thousand, and is one of the largest and most flourishing churches in this section of the state. He always took an active part in the temporal and spiritual affairs of the church and for many years was one of its officers, while for twenty-six years he was the president of the Aid Society of the church. In 1903 he was chosen a delegate to represent St. John's church at the Lutheran synod at Cleve¬ land. Of the founders of this church only two are living, - William Kellerman, Sr., and Fred Brust. Mr. Backus was most generous in his contributions to church and charitable work, yet was always most unostentatious in his giving, often times none knowing of his bounty save the recipients. He was one of the first trustees of his church, and acted in that capacity until his death, which ocurred on the 25th of October, 1903, when seventy-four years of age. In his death one of LaPorte's oldest, best known and most respected citizens passed to his last re¬ ward, and the community was called upon to mourn the loss of one who for nearly half a century had borne his full part in all good works for the betterment of the city. An honorable, useful life, his own good works are his most fitting eulogy.

THOMAS NOAKES, who is engaged in general farming on section 2, Union township, has for many years resided in LaPorte county, and its history is therefore largely familiar to him because he has been a witness of the events which have found record in the pages of its annals. He was born in Sussex, England, Octo¬ ber 8, 1844. His father, James Noakes, was a native of the same locality, and in the year 1852 crossed the Atlantic to America in com¬ pany with his family, establishing his home at North Manlius, New York. He followed the occupation of farming and also engaged in mer¬ chandising, and in the year 1867 he came to La¬ Porte county, Indiana, locating in Union town¬ ship, where he made his home until called to his final rest at the age of sixty-three years. He had prospered in his farming operations, and he became recognized as one of the leading and influential agriculturists of his community. He held memberhsip in the Baptist church, took an active part in its work, and frequently filled the pulpit in the absence of the regular minis¬ ter. He was also superintendent of the Sun¬ day-school at Kingsbury, and his Christian life was earnest and sincere and left its impress for good upon the community. Mr. James Noakes also belonged to the Grange. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Hannah Lade, was born in England and died in 1888 at the age of sixtyfive years. They were the parents of nine chil¬ dren, all of whom reached adult age, while seven are now living.

Thomas Noakes, who was the third of the family and was a lad of eight summers at the time of the emigration to America, has been a resident of LaPorte county since 1867. Up to this time he had remained under the parental roof, and in that year he made preparation for having a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Martha J. Brink, a native of Union town¬ ship, LaPorte county, and a daughter of Wil¬ liam G. and Mary A. (Winchell) Brink, who came to LaPorte county about 1834. This was during the pioneer epoch in the history of north¬ western Indiana, and LaPorte county was a frontier district in which the work of progess, improvement and civilization had scarcely be¬ gun. They took up their abode in Union town¬ ship, where Mrs. Noakes lived and died, pass¬ ing away in 1880.

At the time of his marriage Mr. Noakes set¬ tled upon the farm where he now lives, renting the property until 1880, when he purchased it. As time has passed he has added to it, extend¬ ing its boundaries by additional purchases until he now owns three hundred and eighty-three acres. Recently he has sold eighty acres, but still retains the amount designated and rents this property, which brings to him a good income. All that he has he has made through his capa¬ ble management, his unfaltering industry and his strict attention to business.

After the death of his first wife Mr. Noakes was again married, on the 25th of November, 1888, his second union being with Miss Edith Louderback, a daughter of B. A. and Man* (Allen) Louderback. Her parents were natives of Fulton county, Indiana, were of German descent, and located in LaPorte county, Indiana, in 1885. Mrs. Noakes was bom on the 23d of January, 1868, in Fulton county, and in 1885 came to LaPorte county. Three children graced this marriage : Zola, Floyd and Grant. All were born upon the farm where the parents are now living. Zola is in the seventh grade, Floyd in the fifth and Grant in the fourth grade of school.

Mr. Noakes has ever given his political allegiance to the Republican party, and he has served as judge of elections. He has taken an active part in advancing the success of the Re¬ publican organization and in promoting all meas¬ ures pertaining' to general progress and improve¬ ment, being a man of progressive spirit and of loyal advocacy to the general good. For some time he has been president of the Kingsbury cemetery association.

JAMES F. MURPHY, who has a record of over thirty years' service as locomotive engineer on the Michigan Central Railroad, has lived in Michigan City since he was two years old, and during this period of nearly half a century has come to a place of high esteem among his fellow citizens, and has won more than an ordinary degree of success both in his special line of busi¬ ness and in other departments of activity. He is one of the steadiest and most reliable men at the throttle on the Michigan Central road, which is proved by over twenty years' of continuous serv¬ ice in the passenger department. It requires men of nerve, great physical endurance, and poise and stability of character to fill these exacting posi¬ tions well, and Mr. Murphy has a record on the books of the company of which he may well be proud.

Mr. Murphy was bom in New Buffalo, Mich¬ igan, July 7, 1853, and is the only son of William and Sarah (Dempsey) Murphy, who were na¬ tives of Ireland and came of Irish families, the latter being one of three daughters and one son born in that country. William Murphy was a hotel-keeper, and after coming to America lived in Syracuse, New York, for several years. He came west to New Buffalo, Michigan, when the Michigan Central Railroad was being built at the point, and on the completion of the road he moved to Michigan City, where he was engaged in the hotel business until his death, in 1861. He died at the age of thirty-eight. He and his wife were both Roman Catholics, and he had served one term as constable in the early days. His wife survived him till July, 1902, and was seventy-nine years old at the time of her decease. She had married Alexander Gustafson, formerly a conductor on the Michigan Central, and he is still living and makes his home with his son James.

James F. Murphy was brought to Michigan City in 1855, and has lived here ever since. He was a student in the public and parochial schools, and graduated from the high school when he was fifteen years old. He soon afterward took a position with the Michigan Central Railroad as fireman, and in 1872, when he was nineteen years old, was advanced to the position of switch engineer. In July, 1876, he was moved along into the freight service, and in 1881 reached the goal of the railroaders' ambition by being placed in charge of an engine in the passenger service, and he has never been deposed from that posi¬ tion since.

On August 4, 1885, Mr. Murphy married Miss Grace Gilman, a daughter of John T. and Emily Mann (Johnson) Gilman. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Murphv, Arthur and Irene. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy are members of the Episcopal church' and she is corresponding secretary of the Trinity Cathedral diocese. Mr. Murphy is a Democrat, and affili¬ ates with the Brotherhood of Locomotive En¬ gineers, of which he was division chief in 1888. He built his pleasant home at 316 East Seventh street in 1881, and here he enjoys the home comforts which every railroad man so thoroughly appreciates, and it is also one of the delightful places where friends like to gather and pass a cheerful hour.

WILLIAM R. CORBIN. In the industrial circles of Michigan City William R. Corbin has become well known and has so directed his ener¬ gies that his labors have been attended with success. He is the secretary and treasurer of the Michigan City Sash & Door Company, an enter¬ prise which is of value in the business life of the place.

Mr. Corbin was born in Cattaraugus county. New York, on the 20th of July, 1845. He is a son of William D. and Jane M. (Northrop) Corbin, who were likewise natives of the Em¬ pire state and he represents one of the old fam¬ ilies of that commonwealth. His paternal grand¬ father was there born and reared, and through¬ out his business career followed the occupation of farming. He died in New York when well advanced in age, and his wife died after passing the eightieth mile-stone on life's journey. They reared a large family, including William D. Cor¬ bin, who acquired his education in the schools of New York and afterward prepared for the ministry^, becoming a minister of the Baptist faith. Throughout the greater part of his life he was engaged in working in his different churches in New York, and his influence was of superior order. He is now living retired in the eighty-ninth year of his age, but his wife passed away in 1897, when eighty-one years of age. She was a daughter of a Mr. Northrop, a native of New York, who resided for many years in Cazenovia. He followed the occupation of farm¬ ing, and died when well advanced in years. His family numbered thirteen children, of whom Mrs. Corbin was one. By her marriage she became the mother of three children, two sons and a daughter, but one of the sons is now deceased. The sister of our subject is Mary, the wife of Ernest L. Pease, a resident of Svracuse, New York.

passed in Monroe, Genesee and Wayne counties. - The public school system of the state afforded him his educational privileges, and at nineteen years of age he began teaching school, which profession he followed for a number of years, after which he entered upon a mercantile ex¬ perience as a clerk in a dry-goods store in Buffalo, New York. He then removed to

In 1882 Mr. Corbin arrived in Michigan City and entered the lumber office of the firm of Peck & Sons, with whom he remained while the com¬ pany was in active business here. He then entered the employ of Cobum, Jones & Company, with whom he continued for a year, on the expiration of which period he became accountant for James V. Jones. Upon the death of this gentleman the business was re-organized and the Michigan City Sash & Door Company was formed. Mr. Corbin became the secretary and treasurer of the new company and has since been thus actively associated with the industrial interests of the city. The firm employs from fifteen to twenty men and annually ships a large product, the excellence of workmanship and the honorable business methods of the house constituting the secret of the success which has attended this enterprise.

Mr. Corbin was united in marriage to Miss Hortense Peck, and they now have two chil¬ dren: Cora E. and Alice M. The former is now the wife of Thomas H. Winter, a resident of Rockford, Illinois; and Alice is successfully engaged in teaching in the kindergarten school of this city. The parents are members of the First Congregational church of Michigan City, taking an active interest in its work, and Mr. Corbin is now serving as one of the church trustees. He is a member of Acme Lodge. No. 83, F. & A. M., and also belongs to the Royal Arcanum and the National Union. His political views are in harmony with the principles of the Republican party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, thus being able to support his position by intelligent argu¬ ment, yet he has never sought or desired political preferment, giving his attention instead to the demands of an active business career. De¬ pendent upon his own resources from early man¬ hood the success which he has achieved is attri¬ butable entirely to his. own efforts, and thereby he has won the reward of honorable and per¬ sistent labor.

HARRY BENNETT, a wide-awake and en¬ terprising agriculturist living on section 8, Wills township, was bom in Decatur county, Indiana, December 9, 1842. His parents were Harry and Mary (McClure) Bennett, both of whom were natives of Chemung county, New York. There they spent the days of their childhood and were married, and subsequently they started westward, hoping to have better opportunities in the new but rapidly developing state of Indiana. They first took up their abode in Decatur county, and in the year 1852 they came to LaPorte county, settling in Wills township. There the father engaged in farming until his death, which oc¬ curred when he was about eighty years of age. His political support was given to the Democ¬ racy, and as a citizen he was active in support of good government and was deeply interested in local advancement and national progress. His wife lived to be about sixty-five years of age, and like her husband enjoyed the regard of a wide circle of friends. They were the parents of eleven children, five daughters and six sons, and Mr. Harry Bennett is the tenth child.

When a lad of' ten years Harry Bennett arrived in LaPorte county, Indiana, and made his home in Wills township, with his parents, attending the district schools through the win¬ ter months, while in the summer seasons he worked upon the home farm, early becoming familiar with the labors of field and meadow. After arriving at years of maturity he engaged in farming in partnership with his brother Sherman for twenty years. He did not marry until late in life, and made his home with his brother. On the 2d of April, 1889, however, he was joined in wedlock to Miss Augusta Cun¬ ningham, a native of Switzerland county, In¬ diana, bom December 18. i860, where she re¬ mained until sixteen years of age. She then accompanied her parents on their removal to LaPorte county. To Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have been born two daughters: Ruth and Rachel.

In his business life Mr. Bennett is active, energetic and resolute, and is classed among the successful and leading farmers of Wills township. He owns three hundred and five acres of land well improved with good buildings and all modem equipments found upon a model farm of the twentieth century. He has made all that he has by hard work. He inherited * only four acres of land, and everything that he possesses beside this has come to him as the direct result of his earnest purpose and inde- fatigable energy. He and his brother have cleared over three hundred and eighty acres of land in Wills township, and thus the county owes to them an acknowledgment of what they have done toward advancing civilization along agricultural lines.

Mr. Bennett comes from a family of war¬ riors, as both of his grandfathers were in the Revolutionary war the whole period and many times saw General Washington. Mr. Bennett was himself a soldier in the Civil war. He en¬ listed April 16, 1861, at the first call of Presi¬ dent Lincoln, in Company B, Seventh Indiana Infantry, at Greensburg, Indiana, and his regi¬ ment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. He was in a number of leading battles in Vir¬ ginia, was never taken prisoner and never wounded, and came home when he received his discharge.

Mr. Bennett voted with the Democracy until W. J. Bryan became a candidate of the party for the presidency, but in his views is independ¬ ent, casting his ballot as he thinks best without regard to party affiliations. He has been a mem¬ ber of the advisory board since its organization, being first appointed by the court to that posi¬ tion, and since that time elected by the people. He is zealous and earnest in his advocacy of all that tends to contribute to the general progress of the county in which he has so long lived. In his business affairs he has been strictly honora¬ ble and upright, and his record has been a cred¬ itable one, justly entitling him to the respect which is so uniformly given him.

PETER SCHOLL. Germany has furnished to America many of her best citizens, and among those of German birth residing in LaPorte coun¬ ty none stand higher in public esteen than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. Although born on the other side of the Atlantic, he is thoroughly American in thought and feel¬ ing, and that he is patriotic and sincere in his love for the stars and stripes was manifest by his service in the Civil war.

Mr. Scholl was bom in Prussia, Germany, October 28, 1844, and was seven years of age when brought bv his parents to America. On landing in New York they went direct to Chi¬ cago, and from there removed to Lake county, Indiana, where they located on a farm. There our subject grew to manhood. In 1862, when only eighteen years of age, he entered the Union army as a substitute for his father, who had been drafted, and was in the service for ten months as a member of the Eighty-third Indiana Vol¬ unteer Infantry. After leaving the army Mr. Scholl went to Chicago, where he learned the carriage-maker's trade, and after completing his apprenticeship he worked as a journeyman for about thirteen years, four years of that time being spent in Chicago and the remainder in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. In 1871 he removed from Lafayette, this state, to LaPorte, where he carried on business for himself for the last two years that he continued to follow his trade. In 1877 he removed to his present farm on section 28, Kankakee township and has since given his attention to general farming and the dairy busi¬ ness, which he has found quite profitable. In his home place he has one hundred and eightyfive acres of fine farming land under a high state of cultivation, and also owns forty-four acres of his father's estate. He now has twenty-six cows for dairy purposes, but usually keeps from thir¬ ty-five to forty head and enjoys a good trade. To some extent he is also interested in the breed¬ ing of horses and is the owner of Alfred, an im¬ ported Norman draft stallion, which took first premium at the fair in LaPorte and sweepstakes in 1903.

In 1871 Mr. Scholl was united in marriage to Miss Emma Webber, by whom he had one son, Joseph, now engaged in the dairy business in the city of LaPorte. After the death of his first wife he married Mrs. Clara Hanna, and to them were bom the following children, namely: Barbara, now the wife of John Kohn, a resident of Mishawaka, Indiana; Peter, who is learning the jeweler's trade with Mr. Hutchinson at La¬ Porte ; William, who is in the shoe business in Chicago; and Frank, who is now nineteen years of age and is manager of the hat department in Wolfe's clothing store in Chicago. For his third wife Mr. Scholl married Ella Luso, and five sons and one daughter bless this union, namely : John, Clara, Edward, George, Frederick and Herbert, all at home.

Mr. Scholl is independent in political matters, voting for the best man regardless of his politi¬ cal views. He and his family are members of the Catholic church and are people of promi¬ nence in the community where they reside. He is well known throughout the county as a good, reliable business man and the success that has come to him is but the just reward of earnest effort and untiring labor, for he has made his way in the world unaided since an early age.

NOAH ZARING is a retired farmer resid¬ ing in Hudson. Years of labor brought to him a comfortable competence, and, thus enabled to put aside further business cares, he retired to private life and is spending his days in the enjoy¬ ment of the fruits of his former toil. His busi¬ ness career was characterized by laudable ambi¬ tion, strong purpose, unfaltering energy and hon¬ orable dealing.

Mr. Zaring was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, August 30, 1837. His father, Jacob Zar¬ ing, was a native of Lancaster county, Pennslyvania, and was a son of Adam Zaring, who was also bom in the Keystone state and was a farmer by occupation. Removing westward, Adam Zar¬ ing became a pioneer settler of Montgomery county, Ohio, where he died at the age of about sixty-seven years. He cleared a farm in Allen county, Indiana, during his residence in that state, but afterward sold that property and re¬ turned to Montgomery county in the Buckeye state. He was of German lineage. His son, Ja¬ cob Zaring, accompanied the grandparents on their removal to Montgomery county, Ohio, when he was but ten years of age, and there he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Wellbaum, who was born near Lancaster, Pennsyl¬ vania, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Wellbaum, who in an early day removed to Mont¬ gomery county, Ohio, casting in their lot with the early settlers of that district. They were members of the Dunkard church and Mr. Zaring was a deacon in that church. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Zaring continued to reside in Montgomery county, Ohio, until 1859, when they removed to Darke county, that state, where they remained until 1868. In that year they became residents of St. Joseph county, Indiana, where Mr. Jacob Zaring died at the age of sixty-six years. For about forty years he was an active member of the Dunkard church, assisting largely in its work and up¬ building. His early political support was given to the Whig party, of which he continued an ad¬ herent until the Republicain party was formed, when he joined its ranks. His wife lived to be seventy-two years of age. They were the par¬ ents of nine children, four sons and five daugh¬ ters, but two of the sons died in early youth. The daughters are all still living.

Noah Zaring, the eldest of the family, remain¬ ed in his native county until about twenty-five years of age, and because of the fact that he was the first of the children much of the responsi¬ bility of cultivating and improving the home farm devolved upon him. His educational privi¬ leges were limited to about one or two months attendance at the district schools in the winter seasons. In 1858 he accompanied his parents on their removal to Darke county, Ohio, and there in the following year he was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Ludy, whose birth occurred in Darke county, on the 30th of July, 1841, her par¬ ents being Daniel and Mary Ann (Stanford) Ludy. She remained in her native county through the period of her girlhood, and is indebted to its public school system for the educational privi¬ leges she enjoyed. Her par.ents were among the pioneers of that locality, her father establishing his home there at a time when much of the land was still in possession of the government. He en¬ tered a claim of one hundred and sixty acres and with characteristic energy began its cultivation and improvement. There he and his wife re¬ mained until called to their final rest, Mr. Ludy passing away at the age of seventy-two years, while his wife reached the age of fifty-three years. Their family numbered eight children, of whom Mrs. Zaring was the second.

At the time of their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Zaring took up their abode in Darke county. Ohio, where he was engaged in agricultural pur¬ suits up to the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. As the months passed and it seemed that hostilities were no nearer termination than at the beginning of the strife, he joined the army in 1862, enlisting to protect the state of Ohio. He served for two years, and when Governor Bluff issued a call for forty thousand men to serve for one hundred days Mr. Zaring respond¬ ed and joined the boys in blue of Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in 1863. With that command he went to the front and remained until after his term of enlistment had expired, having charge of the wagons and teams. He then returned to his home, and on the expiration of his militarv ser¬ vice in behalf of the State he engaged in general farming, making his home in Butler township, Darke county, Ohio. In the year 1867 he ar¬ rived in Indiana, settling in St. Joseph county, where he rented land and engaged in lumbering for four years. He then rented two farms in Hudson township, LaPorte county, which he conducted for four years, and on the expiration of that period he purchased one hundred and six¬ ty acres of land in Galena township, Berrien county, Michigan. There he resided for some time, developing a splendid property, which was improved with a large residence and substantial barns and outbuildings. He added to his origi¬ nal tract at one time eighty acres of land and he also bought sixty acres near, on which was a good house. He also built a large barn upon that place, and for a long period was one of the most enterprising and progressive agriculturists of Berrien county. Eventually, however, he took up his abode in Hudson, where he purchased the property that he now occupies. He owns in the village fifty acres in town lots, and he still re¬ tains possession of his farms in Michigan. At the present time, however, he is living retired from active business, save the supervision which he gives to his invested interests. His property in Hudson is continually increasing in value, and its sale will add very materially to his income. His three farms in Galena township, Berrien county, constitute three hundred acres, and this land is valuable and very productive so that the rental brings an excellent annual financial return.

To Mr. and Mrs. Zaring have been born six children, of whom three are living: David L., who wedded Mary Bratney and resides upon the old family homestead in Galena township, Ber¬ rien county ; Laura, the wife of Lincoln Hinman, who resides upon one of her father's farms in Michigan ; and Charles, who married Nellie Smith and resides on another farm belonging to his father. Three of the children of the family died in infancy. Mr. Zaring has been a Republican from the organization of the party. His first presidential ballot was cast for the candidate of the Whig party, and in i860 and again in 1864 he voted for Abraham Lincoln. He belongs to Decon Post No. 115, G. A. R., at New Carlisle, of which he has served as sergeant. Coming to this portion of the country with the hope of ben¬ efiting his financial condition, he has never had occasion to regret the change in his place of residence, for here he has prospered and as the years have gone by he has gained many friends as well as a most comfortable competence.

JUDGE WILLIAM P. ANDREW was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, on the 23d of October, 1809, a son °f James and Catharine (Piatt) An¬ drew, the former of whom was a native of New Jersey but emigrated to Ohio at a very early day, while the latter was a member of the well known Piatt famil of Ohio. Their son William was reared on a farm, receiving his elementary education in the common schools of those days, which was later supplemented by private in¬ struction under the tutelage of an elder brother, who had enjoyed superior educational advant¬ ages. Having determined to enter upon a pro¬ fessional career Mr. Andrew left home at the age of twenty years and went to Cincinnati, Ohio, there entering the office of the renowned jurist, Bellamy Storer, under whose preceptorship he pursued a two years' course of study. From that city he made his way to Lexington, Ken¬ tucky, where he continued his studies in the law department of Transylvania University, there completing his law course and was present in Lexington during the terrible cholera epidemic in 1833.

Returning thence to his home in Ohio, Mr. Andrew practiced there but a short time. Being a student by nature and finding the greatest pleasure of life in the acquisition of knowledge, it was natural that his investigations should take a wide range, and theology as well as law re¬ ceived a share of his attention. Qualifying him¬ self for the ministry, he became a clergyman of the Christian denomination, his first charge be¬ ing a congregation in the vicinity of the city of New York, and later preached at Salem, Massachuetts, from whence he came to LaPorte, Indi¬ ana, in August, 1837, attracted to the little western village by the presence here of his broth¬ ers, James, Captain A. P., Dr. J. P. and L. C. Andrew, also their father, James Andrew, Sr., who were among the founders of the town. After locating here Mr. Andrew, of this review, entered upon a law practice, also continuing his ministerial work to some extent, and was among the early circuit riders as a lawyer, also serving for many years as prosecuting attorney for his judicial district. In 1846, under the old con¬ stitution, he was elected associate circuit justice without opposition, serving in that capacity for six years. His connection with the bar has been continuous, and he is now the oldest living mem¬ ber of the bar of LaPorte county, although now retired. As one of the founders of the LaPorte Medical College, an insitution which flourished during the early years of the city's history. Judge Andrew became interested in medicine, completing a regular course of study, and fol¬ lowed its practice to a limited extent for a few years. He is remarkable for being an exponent of three professions, but has had his keenest pleasure in religious study and ministration. For many years past his affiliations have been with the New Jerusalem church, whose "religion of light and love" has been fittingly exemplified in his stainless life.

on the 2d of March, 1857. On Thanksgiving day, November 28, 1861, he was again married, Miss Harriet Ross, of Cincinnati, Ohio, becom¬ ing his wife, her father, Ogden Ross, having located in that city in 1801. For sixty years Ogden Ross was a member of the New Jerusa¬ lem church, and his daughter, following in his footsteps, makes complete the harmony in Chris¬ tian sentiment in Judge Andrew's home. Our subject's nephew, Captain A. P. Andrew, a vet¬ eran of the Civil war, is a broker and one of the most prominent citizens of LaPorte. Others of the family have achieved wealth and distinction, and its history is closely interwoven with the founding, growth and development of this city and county to a larger extent perhaps than any other one family.

CHARLES H. DALSON. The prosperity of any community, town or city, depends upon its commercial activity, its industrial interests and its trade relations, and therefore the real upbuilders of a town are those who stand at the head of the leading enterprises. Of this class Charles H. Dalson is a representative, being now engaged in the city express and transfer business in Michigan City. He was born here December 6, 1861. His paternal grandfather was one of the pioneer settlers at Valparaiso, Indiana, and there lived for many years, passing away in 1896 at an advanced age. His wife bore the maiden name of Emily Livins and unto them were bom two children, of whom Hamilton Dalson, the father of our subject, was the elder. His birth occurred in Canada and when about nine years of age he was brought by his parents to Michi¬ gan City, arriving in the year 1843. Here he was reared to manhood and spent his remaining days. About 1858 he established a livery busi¬ ness, which he conducted until 1876, and in 1881 started a city express and transfer business, in which he continued up to the time of his death, on the 12th of July, 1887, when he was about sixtv-three years of age. In early manhood he had wedded Miss Elizabeth Clough, a native of New York as were her parents. Alonzo and El¬ mira E. (Miller) Clough. Her father was a farmer bv occupation and was a son of David Clough, who was also a native of New York and was a blacksmith by trade. The latter came to LaPorte county at a very early epoch in the de¬ velopment of this portion of the state, and he and his wife died in Michigan City in April, 1843, there being only two weeks difference in the date of their deaths. Alonzo Clough, the grandfather, died in Center township at the age of seventy-four years. Unto him and his wife were born twelve children, eleven of whom reached years of maturity. Among this number was Mrs. Dalson, who passed away a number of years prior to the death of her husband, being called to her final rest in 1876, when about for¬ ty-two years of age. She was a member of the Methodist church and was a most estimable lady. Mr. Dalson was identified with the Republican party and was honored with a number of local offices, in which he served most faithfully. For three terms he was a councilman of Michigan City, was marshal for one term, was justice of the peace for a year or two and was also deputy sheriff. Unto him and his wife were born five children, two sons and three daughters, but only two are now living: Charles H. and Aminta May, the wife of A. H. Van Riper.

Charles H. Dalson has always resided in Michigan City and to the public-school system he is indebted for the educational privileges he enjoyed in his youth. After putting aside his text books he followed various occupations until 1881, since which time he has been connected with the transfer business. For twelve years he was associated with his father and later ran teams of his own until his father's death, when he became his successor. He now owns several teams whoch are used in the express and trans¬ fer business, enjoying a liberal patronage.

On the 1 8th of August, 1888, occurred the marriage of Mr. Dalson and Miss Mollie Schwinkendorf, a daughter of Frederick and Lizzie (Willert) Schwinkendorf. Her parents were early settlers of Indiana and came from Kendallville to Michigan City about twenty-four years ago. Here they still reside, her father be¬ ing employed in the Haskell & Barker Car Works. Two children were bom unto Mr. and Mrs. Dalson, Fannie and Irene, but the former died when only seventeen months old. Mr. Dal¬ son belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, to the Maccabees Lodge and to the Tribe of Ben Hur, and his wife is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church. A believer in Republican principles, he votes for the men and measures of the party and is interested in its success, yet has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to give his attention to his business affairs.

represents an old family of the Empire state, although the family is of German origin. Abra¬ ham Van Riper, the grandfather, was born in New York and was connected with manufactur¬ ing interests there. Unto him and his wife, Cathareine Van Riper, were born eleven chil¬ dren. The grandfather died at the advanced age of eighty-four years, and his wife has also passed away. John A. Van Riper, the father of our subject, was born in New York, and, becoming a resident of the eastern metropolis, was there engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods for some time. About 1857 he removed to La¬ grange, Michigan, where he followed the same line of business, and his death occurred in Buchanan, Michigan, when he was about seventy years of age. His wife survived him until the spring of 1903, and died in Dowagiac, Michigan, at the ripe old age of eighty-four years. They held membership in the Methodist church and were most loyal to the teachings of the denomi¬ nation. She bore the maideni name of Leah Zebriska, and was also a native of New York. Their marriage was blessed with nine children, six sons and three daughters, of whom five are now living: George, a resident of Sedalia, Missouri ; Jacob, a resident of Niles, Michigan ; Lewis, of New York city; Alvin H., of Michi¬ gan City; and Catherine Matilda, the wife of J. R. Edwards, of Dowagiac, Michigan.

When a little lad of about six summers A. H. Van Riper accompanied his parents to La¬ grange county, Micnigan, where he was reared to manhood and attended the public schools. When about twenty-one years of age he began learning the miller's trade,' which he followed for several years or until obliged to give it up on account of ill health. In the spring of 1880 he came to Michigan City and accepted a position as fireman on the Michigan Central Railroad, acting in that capacity until the 4th of March, 1885, when he made his first trip as an engineer. Since that time he has served in that capacity and is now running on a passenger engine be¬ tween Michigan City and Chicago.

Mr. Van Riper has been twice married. He first wedded Miss Stella Merwin, a daughter of Jesse Merwdn, and they have one son, Claude. The wife and mother having passed away, Mr. Van Riper was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Loraine Brown, who died in 1897. On the 24th of November, 1898, he mar¬ ried Mrs. Arminta M. Phillips, the widow of William A. Phillips and a daughter of Hamilton and Elizabeth (Clough) Dalson. Her father was a native of Canada, her mother of New York, and in their family were five children, of whom two are now living - Charles H. Dalson and Mrs. Van Riper. The father came to Michigan City in 1849, and died here in 1898, at the age of fifty-four years, while his wife passed away in 1877, in the fortieth year of her age. She was a member of the Methodist church. In public affairs. Mr. Dalson was quite prominent and held a number of public offices of trust and responsi¬ bility. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Riper was Alonzo Clough, who was a native of New York and a farmer by occupation. He came to Indiana at a very early period in the settlement of the state and made his home about half way between LaPorte and Michigan City. His death occurred when he was seventy-five years of age. His wife bore the maiden name of Almina Miller, and they became the parents of ten chil¬ dren and also reared two adopted children. By her former marriage Mrs. Van Riper had two children, James Clough and Addison Eugene, who have recently been adopted by Mr. Van Riper.

Our subject and his wife are members of the Methodist church, and he holds membership re¬ lations with a number of civic organizations, in¬ cluding the Knights of the Maccabees, the Tribe of Ben Hur and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. In politics he is a Republican. He owns a good home at No. 232 East Fourth street and another good residence adjoining it on the west, and his property has been acquired entirely through his own efforts. Mr. Van Riper is a strictly temperate man, having always refrained from the use of intoxicants, nor has he ever played cards or billiards. His example in this respect is wrorthy of emulation by all men every¬ where. He began life a poor boy and by industry and economy has secured a very comfortable home and other property, and his interest centers in his family, writh whom he spends his leisure hours, in the enjoyments of the pleasures of home life.

GEORGE R. HARMISON. Among the representative citizens of LaPorte county we present a brief biography of Mr. George R. Harmison. He is a native of LaPorte county, born January 16, 1861, and is the youngest of a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters, born to Samuel and Elizabeth (Cor¬ nell) Harmison, as follows: J. W., born Novem¬ ber 22, 1843; Mary E., December 28, 1844; Samuel S., April 24, 1846; John A., September

Samuel Harmison was a native of Darke county, Ohio, born April 6, 1812. He was a gentleman of sterling character, and figured among the first settlers of northwest Indiana in LaPorte county. He received only the commonschool education peculiar to that early period, and tilling the soil was his chosen occupation. He married, November 27, 1842, Miss Elizabeth Cornell, and located as a settler in Pleasant town¬ ship on section 16, which part of Pleasant town¬ ship is now Johnson township. The land which he purchased was school land, and farming and stock-raising was his vocation throughout life. His wife was born in Fayette county, Ohio, No¬ vember 27, 1822.

Mr. George R. Harmison was born and reared in LaPorte county, as well as receiving an education of the common-school type. His whole life has been spent within the boundaries of this county, and agriculture has been his voca¬ tion. He married, February 14, 1882, Miss A. M. Henry, and one son Leslie G., was born March 20, 1884. He is a bright and promising boy, and finished the preparatory school course and pursued a four terms' course in the Walkerton public schools. Mrs. Harmison was born in Marshall county, Indiana, September 10, i860, 3. daughter of George and Cassiah Henry, who came to LaPorte county in 1864.

In 1891 Mr. Harmison was appointed trustee of Johnson township to fill out an unexpired term, and in 1900 was elected to the office and is the present incumbent. Mr. and Mrs. Harmison are pleasant and cordial citizens, and command the due respect of all who know them as worthy and upright citizens.

L. S. FITCH, who is the owner of a fertile and a well improved farm at Oakwood, Center township. LaPorte county, has been successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits on this, the homestead farm, for many years, and is recog¬ nized as one of the substantial and progressive spirits who took up the work where the first pion¬ eers laid it down, and carried on with intelli¬ gence and profitable effort the development of the lands of LaPorte county until they rank as the premier agricultural communities of the state. Mr. Fitch is a native son of the township, having been born on the farm on which he now resides, and throughout the long period of sixtv-five years which has since intervened many of the township's churches and schools have been built, towns and villages have sprung up, and the wild land of the pioneer epoch has been reclaimed and made to serve the uses of civilization. In this work of improvement Mr. Fitch has borne his full share, and has maintained a reputation for loyalty to the best interests of his county and for devotion to what he believes to be right and ben¬ eficial to his community.

Mr. Fitch claims the 24th of December, 1839, as the date of his nativity, his parents being Lemuel and Sally (Hatch) Fitch, both natives of the Empire state. The family name is ineffaceably traced on this history of the locality, for as early as 1835 the father of Mr. Fitch lo¬ cated in Center township, LaPorte county, tak¬ ing up his abode on the farm on which his son now makes his home, and there he lived to the age of fifty-six years. His name stood expon¬ ent for the most sterling personal characteristics, and he was honored by his fellow townsmen as their representative for the office of township trustee, which he held for several years. The mother survived her husband a number of years, passing awav at the good old age of ninety-two years.

L. S. Fritch, the only chidl bom to this worthy pioneer couple, spent the days of his boyhood and youth in assisting his father in the work of the home farm and in attending the district schools during the winter months. This prelim¬ inary education was later supplemented by study in the schools of South Bend, Indiana, and in Knox College, at Galesburg, Illinois, being thus well fortified to enter upon the active duties of life. Throughout his career he has been deeply interested in affairs pretaining to the world at large as well as to his own individual interests, and has been recognized as one of the intelligent and well informed men of the community. He takes five daily papers, and forty or more week¬ ly and monthly periodicals of various kinds, mainly agricultural, come to his home, and from all these he gleans much of benefit and instruc¬ tion. Mr. Fitch is an up-to-date farmer, and has placed the homestead farm under a high state of cultivation. He farms according to modern methods, makes use of the latest ma¬ chinery, and is one of the many progressive La¬ Porte farmers who make their occupation both interesting and profitable. The Fitch place is one of the models of the vicinity, and its fertility of soil, its proximity to transportation and gen¬ eral good management insure it a permanent high value.

Oakwood Stock Farm

Mr. Fitch was married December 11, 1865, to Miss Mary D. Edson, of Michigan. His fra¬ ternal affiliations, outside of his connection with the insurance order of the Royal Arcanum, are entirely with agricultural societies, with which important line of work he has been prominently identified for many years. He is a charter mem¬ ber of Pine Lake Grange, which was organized in 1873. He has been on the executive committee of the Indiana State Grange since 1882, and has been postmaster of Oakwood since the establish¬ ment of the office, January 1, 1876, centennial year.

HARRY EUGENE CROSBY, who is serv¬ ing as foreman of the car works at Michigan City, was born in Morris, Illinois, on the 24th of November, 1870, his parents being Clarence and Ellen (Goodrich) Crosby, natives respec¬ tively of Ohio and New York. The father, who was one of five children, three daughters and two sons, was a blacksmith and wagon-maker in his young manhood, but later followed agricultural pursuits, and is now employed as an engineer on the Michigan Central Railroad, having been connected with that road since 1880. In his boyhood days he moved to Illinois, thence to Indiana in 1871, settling at Goodland, and in 1880 came to Michigan City. After his arrival in this city he was employed for little more than a year as a night patrolman, was then engaged as a railroad fireman and since 1888 has had charge of an engine. Ellen (Goodrich) Crosby, the mother of our subject, is a daughter of Henry S. and Cynthia (Phelps) Goodrich. The former, a native of the state of New York, was a farmer by occupation and was a soldier in the Mexican war. His death occurred when about fifty-five years of age, after becoming the father of seven daughters and two sons. Seven children were bom to Mr. and Mrs. Crosby, three sons and four daughters, and four are now living, namely : Harry E., whose name introduces this review; Mabel, the wife of A. B. Teale ; Kate ; and Edna. Mrs. Crosby is a member of the Congregational church.

Harry Eugene Crosby made his home at Goodland, Indiana, until he was twelve years old, during which time he attended the district schools, and he then became a student in the public schools of Michigan City. Learning the chair-maker's trade in his young manhood, he followed that occupation until 1888, when he was tendered the position of brakeman on the Michigan Central Railroad, in which capacity he continued for six months, while from that time until 1892 he was employed in the car ac¬ countant's office in this city. In that year Mr. Crosby became connected with the Haskell & Barker Car Company, with which corporation he has ever since remained, entering as shipping clerk and receiving the various promotions as his ability was demonstrated until he is now serving as foreman of the enameling and finish¬ ing department in the foundry.

On the 16th of September, 1891, Mr. Crosby was united in marriage to Miss Helen S. Robin¬ son, a daughter of Wilford Robinson, and they have two children, - Howard Chauncey and Clarence Wilford. Mr. Crosby is a Congfegationalist in his religious faith, while his wife is a member of the Baptist church. He is identi¬ fied fraternally with the Maccabees, and his poli¬ tical support is given to the Republican party.

JOSEPH BLUHM is a representative citi¬ zen of LaPorte county, and as a farmer is meet¬ ing with success in his efforts at tilling the soil upon a tract of land on section 29, Union town¬ ship, of which he is the owner. Germany has furnished many worthy citizens to the new world, men who have rapidly adapted themselves to the changed conditions which they have found in America, and by improving their opportunities have become leading representatives of business life here. Such a one is Joseph Bluhm, who was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, on the 5th of September, 1843. He was reared in his active country until twenty-five years of age, and ac¬ cording to the laws of his native land remained in school between the ages of six and fourteen years. He then started out to earn his own living, and worked at any employment which he could secure until he came to America in 1868. Having heard favorable reports concerning LaPorte county, he did not tarry long on the Atlantic coast, but came at once to Indiana and settled in Union township. He made the journey with his pa¬ rents. His father, Fred Bluhm, who was born in Germany, lived to be seventy-seven years of age, while his mother, who bore the maiden name of Miss Greger, was eighty-two years of age at the time of her death. In their family were five children, three sons and two daugh¬ ters, of whom Mr. Bluhm was the third child and second son.

A young man of twenty-five years at the time of his arrival in America, he possessed ambition and determination to make the most of his op¬ portunities and as the years have passed he has gained that success which is the merited reward of persistent labor. He now owns one hundred and fifty acres of well improved land and his farm is the visible evidence of his life of enter¬ prise. About three days before sailing for Amer¬ ica Mr. Bluhm was united in marriage to Miss Lyetta Townuckle, a native of Germany. They are the parents of eight living children : Minnie, Rosie, Louisa, Effie, Fred, Emma, Lillie and George.

In his political views Mr. Bluhm is a Demo¬ crat where questions of national and state im¬ portance are involved, but at local elections he votes independently. Throughout his residence in the new world he has remained in LaPorte county and has become well known here. His consecutive effort, his unfaltering diligence and his honorable business methods have commended him to the confidence and to the respect of his fellow men, and he is now classed with the lead¬ ing and valued agriculturists of this section of the state.

GEORGE J. STAIGER, of the Staiger Hardware Company, dealers in general hard¬ ware, stoves, tinware, plumbing, gasfitting, etc., at Michigan City, has demonstrated himself to be a man of unusual ability and acumen, and peculiarly well fitted for the place which he occupies. To an observer of men and their ways it seems that in the majority of cases they have sought employment not in the line of their greatest fitness, but in those fields where caprice or circumstances have placed them, thus explain¬ ing the reason of failure of many who enter com¬ mercial or professional life. Mr. Staiger, who has lived in Michigan City practically all his life, became interested in the trade which leads up to his present business when he was a boy, and with one step of progress after another has con¬ tinued until his firm is now one of the fore¬ most in its line in northern Indiana, with a pros¬ perous and increasing business and with a repu¬ tation for absolute reliability and financial solidity.

Mr. Staiger was born in Detroit, Michigan, January 8, 1861, and comes of German lineage. His grandfather, Jacob Staiger, was bom in Germany, and on emigrating to America estab¬ lished his home in Detroit, where he died at the extreme old age of ninety-two years. His wrife, a Miss Lange, died in early womanhood, having become the mother of a large family. In this family was George Staiger, who was born in Beringen, Germany, and was but a boy when he came to America, being reared in Detroit. He learned the trade of coppersmith there and fol¬ lowed it until his removel to Michigan City, where he was engaged in the same business until 1867, when he opened a hardware store and con¬ ducted it until his death, which occurred in Mich¬ igan City in 1890, when he was fifty-four years old. He was an excellent business man, and was especially proficient in his trade, so much so that at the time of the Civil war, when he was in charge of the copper departments in the shops of the Louisville and New Albany Rairoad Com¬ pany, the company hired a substitute to go to the front in his place, as it felt that his services could not be dispensed with. He and his wife were both Lutherans in religious faith, and he was a most active and helpful member of St. John's Lutheran church, in which he served as an officer for many years, being president of the church board at the time of his death. George Staiger married Miss Mary Lutz, who was bom in Tuttlingen, Germany. Her father, Herman Lutz, brought his family to America and made his home in Detroit, Michigan, where he was a street-paver and contractor on other public works, and there he died when wfell advanced in years, after having been long and closely asso¬ ciated with business affairs. By his wife, Mary Magdelena Baisch, he had four children, all of whom are now deceased, with the exception of the son Jacob. Mr. and Mrs. George Staiger had six children, four sons and two daughters, of who four are now living, namely : George J. ; Herman J. ; Mary, the wife of Herman Zesse; and Emma, the wife of Otto Frehse. The mother of these children died in Michigan City in August, 1902, when she was sixty-two years old.

George J. Staiger was in his infancy when his mother brought him from Detroit to Michi¬ gan City, his father having preceded them and established a home in readiness for them. He therefore spent his youth in Michigan City, and was educated in its public schools. At the age of fifteen he began learning the tinner's trade, and was a journeyman for a few years and then took work in his father's store. The business was conducted under the name of Staiger & Klapsch until 1894, but in that year Mr. Staiger, with his brother, entered into a partnership and established a new store, under the firm name of the Staiger Hardware Company, which has been increasingly successful to the present time. The stock is large and carefully selected, and the an¬ nual sales have been large and spread over a considerable territory adjacent to the city.

September 8, 1886, Mr. Staiger was married to Miss Bertha Shure, a daughter of Fred and Hannah (Klang) Shure, and they have three children, Maude, Florence and George. Mr. and Mrs. Staiger are members of the St. John's Luth¬ eran church, and contribute generously to its support. He affiliates with Acme Lodge, No. 83, F. & A. M., with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Royal Arcanum and the Ger¬ man Union. Politically he is a Democrat, and for one term served as city clerk. He was also one of the water works commissioners one term and a member of the school board for one term. Everything pertaining to the public welfare and the improvement of the city elicits his attention and receives his encouragement. He built his present nice home at 612 Wabash avenue in 1886, and he has a happy household and many friends. He has achieved success in business through hon¬ orable effort, untiring industry and capable man¬ agement, and in private life has gained that warm personal regard that arises from true nobility of character, deference for the opinions of others, kindliness and geniality.

CHARLES C. TRYON, a. thrifty young farmer on sections 23 and 24, Michigan town¬ ship, has made a creditable record for himself in this line of activity. He is enterprising and pro¬ gressive, and even the casual observer could un¬ derstand the reasons for his success in the upto-date improvements which are everywhere in evidence. Mr. Tryon is one of the well known residents of the county, in which he has also partaken of the responsibilities which fall to the lot of a public-spirited citizen, and he is accorded additional respect because of the fact that his father was one of the first settlers in this part of LaPorte county.

Mr. Tryon's family comes from the east, and his grandfather, John Tryon, was a native of Vermont, was a blacksmith by trade and an es¬ teemed citizen. One of his ten children was Charles Tryon, who was also born in Vermont, and later came to Chicago with his father's fam¬ ily. He arrived in Michigan City in 1834, and ran the first passenger train, as conductor, over the Monon route when it was known as the New Albany and Salem road. He followed railroad¬ ing for sixteen years, and then removed to Colum¬ bus, Ohio, and later to Cuyahoga Falls, the same state, where he manufactured sewer tile. In 1870 he returned to Michigan City, and was employed in the freight office of the old I. P. & C. Railroad, and later for several years worked in the employ of the United States Express Company as agent. In 1877 he purchased a farm of eighty acres in Michigan township, to which he later added forty acres, and on this homestead passed the remain¬ der of his life, dying here February 7, 1891, aged seventy-two years. He married for his first wife Jane Lewis, a native of Connecticut, and one of twelve children born to Abel Lewis, also a native of that state and a butcher by trade. The two children born of this marriage were Charles C., of Michigan township, and Harvey H., of Penn¬ sylvania. Jane (Lewis) Tryon died in the fall of 1867. She and her husband were members of the Episcopal church. He married for his second wife Adelaide L. Eves, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and she still lives in Michigan City, the mother of one son, Parvin Porter Tryon.

Charles C. Tryon was bom during the short residence of his parents in Middletown, Middle¬ sex county, Connecticut, on February 17, 1865. He lived in Michigan City until he was twelve years old, and attended the public schools there and at LaPorte. He has resided on the old home¬ stead farm since he was twelve years old, and now owns its one hundred and twenty acres. He has a splendid brick house on the place, besides a frame house, two large barns, and other things in keeping, and he makes every department of farming pay steady and profitable dividends.

October 17, 1899, Mr. Tryon married Miss Margaret M. Couden, a daughter of Chauncey B. and Ida M. (Hubbard) Couden, whose his¬ tory will be found on other pages of this work. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tryon, Mary Persis, Lawrence Couden and Or¬ ville Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Tryon are members of the Episcopal church, and he affiliates with the Tribe of Ben Hur, the Royal Arcanum, and Mrs. Tryon is also a member of the Tribe of Ben Hur. Mr. Tryon votes the Republican ticket, and takes a creditable interest in all matters affecting the general welfare of township or county.

JEREMIAH B. COLLINS, is a well known attorney-at-law of Michigan City, LaPorte coun¬ ty. His father, John Collins, was bom in coun¬ ty Cork, Ireland, but in 1827, when only four years old, was brought to America by his father, the family taking up their abode in Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, where the young lad was reared to years of maturity. After following the profession of teaching for a time he engaged in railroad contracting, and in i860 removed to Renovo, Pennsylvania, and there became a gen- eral merchant, his attention being thus directed until 1895. Two years later, in 1897, when he had reached the age of seventy-three years, his life's labors were ended in death. For his wife Mr. John Collins chose Bridget Buckley, a na¬ tive of county Limerick, Ireland, and they be¬ came the parents of three children, - Cornelius R., Mary Collins Gleason and Jeremiah B. The mother pased away in death in 1895, when sixtyfive years of age, and both she and her husband were members of the Catholic church.

Jeremiah B. Collins was bom in Renovo, Clinton county, Pennsylvania, and there he was reared to mature years, receiving his education in the public and parochial schools. He after¬ ward became a student in the Central State Nor¬ mal School at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, in which institution he was graduated with the class of 1888. Immediately thereafter he began reading law in the office of Charles S. McCor¬ mick, of Lock Haven, and later went to Val¬ paraiso, Indiana, and entered the Northern In¬ diana Normal School, in which he graduated in the law department with the class of 1890. Be¬ ing thus welL prepared to enter upon the active duties of life he came to Michigan City in June of that year, and one year later became associ¬ ated with his brother, Cornelius R., in the prac¬ tice of law. Since entering the legal profession his practice has grown constantly with the pass¬ ing years, and the firm of Collins Brothers now occupies a leading place in the profession. His political support is given to the Democracy, and he represented the counties of LaPorte and Stark in the Indiana legislature during the session of 1893, and in 1902 he was elected to the position of prosecuting attorney.

CHAUNCEY BLAIR COUDEN, store¬ keeper for the Haskell & Barker Car Company, has been connected with that department for the past twelve years, and has been employed in some capacity by the company during the greater part of his business career. He is one of the most esteemed residents of Michigan City, and also a native son, having passed nearly all his life in this city. He has taken part in the public life of the community, and has borne with alacrity and fidelity his duties as an individual worker and as a unit of society.

Mr. Couden is a son of Renolds and Mar¬ garet (Marshall) Couden, and his paternal grandfather was born in Pennsylvania, whence he moved at an early day by wagon into the new state of Ohio. The grandfather on the maternal side, Alexander Marshall, was an early farmer of Mahoning county, Ohio, and was the father of three sons and three daughters. Reynolds Couden was a tinner by trade, and was one of the earliest settlers to Michigan City. He came in 1834, and for nearly forty years w'as in the hard¬ ware business. He lived retired from that time till his death in 1887, at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife survived him until March, 1888. Both were active members of the Metho¬ dist church, and he has taken part in public af¬ fairs, having served as county commissioner and as a member of the city council. Six sons and three daughters were born to them, and the three now living are Albert Reynolds Couden, a captain in the United States navy and at present acting rear admiral at Manila ; Chauncey B. ; and Rachel, wife of G. S. Van Deusen, of Michigan City.

Chauncey B. Couden was born in Michigan City, March 28, 1850. He attended the public schools, and had one year of college at Crawfordsville, Indiana, and one year in Bryant and Stratton's Business College in Chicago. He then entered his father's store and began learning the tinner's trade, continuing this for two or three years. For ten years he was in the Michigan Central freight office, and for the following ten years was in the employ of the Haskell & Barker Car Company as foreman in the yards. During two or three seasons he manufactured brick, but then returned to the car company. Since that time, with the exception of one year spent in the grocery business in Kansas City, Missouri, he has been continuously in the employ of the Has¬ kell & Barker Company, as one of their most trusted and efficient workers. Since 1891 he has been storekeeper, and is superintendent of that department.

October 17, 1877, Mr. Couden married Miss Ida Hubbard, and the following children have been born to them: Margaret, who married Charles C. Tryon, residing three miles east of Michigan City, and has three children, Persis, Lawrence and Orville; Miss Florence, who is a kindergarten teacher; and Albert, a fireman on the Michigan Central Railroad. Mrs. Couden is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He affiliates with the Royal Arcanum and the Tribe of Ben Hur, and politically is a Republican and served a term on the city council. He built his present comfortable home at 302 East Market street in 1880, and also owns other similar property in the city.

and Maria (Lawrence) Hubbard, both natives of. New York state. The former was a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Aldridge) Hubbard, who were New Yorkers, and lived to advanced ages, being the parents of three children. Maria (Lawrence) Hubbard was a granddaughter of Jeremiah and Elizabeth Lawrence, the former of whom died in Canaan, Connecticut, and the latter in 1812, and among their children was William Lawrence, father of Maria Hubbard, who was born in Connecticut, whence he removed to New York state and was a merchant there the remainder of his life. His wife was Persis Wood, and they had nine children. Henry and Maria Hubbard came to Michigan City in 1852, and he worked for Haskell, Barker & Aldridge when that company made threshing machines, and he was foreman of the machine shops and connected with the firm for many years. He moved to St. Louis in 1866, and died there the following year at the age of forty-six years. His wife survived him until 1891, and was sixtyfour years old at the time of her death. She was an Episcopalian.