USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana > Part 1
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INDIANA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
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Eng By Handy Taylar Putcage
yours Sincerely, ED. Daniels.
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DIE E46 La- 1
A
WENTIETH CENTURY HISTORY
BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
LAPORTE COUNTY
INDIANA
REV E. D. DANIELS ยท BA AND LISTOR
ILLUSTRATED
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THIS IS THE BORDERTY OF Citizens Historical Associating
INDIANAPOLIS, IND.
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DIE E46 La- 1
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A 83
TWENTIETH CENTURY HISTORY AND
BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD .
.. OF
LAPORTE COUNTY
INDIANA
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REV. E. D. DANIELS AUTHOR AND EDITOR
ILLUSTRATED
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THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO NEW YORK 1904 (
THIS IS THE PROPERTY OF Citizens Historical Association CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BLDG. INDIANAPOLIS, IND.
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PREFACE.
A preface to the reader is a postscript to the author. What then about the book? First, if the reader expects to find here a compilation of statistics and a catalogue of the names of early settlers, volunteers of the wars, etc., he will be disappointed; for such a work he is referred to Packard's History of 1876, or to Chapman's History of 1880, each of which is a valuable book of reference. Statistics are neither history nor interesting reading.
If the reader thinks to find here a history that is accurate in all respects, he will be disap- pointed ; such a history does not exist. Accuracy is only a relative achievement. Ten years of research, collecting, comparing, sifting and classifying facts would have produced a work much nearer the ideal of perfection, but that ideal is not attainable. Some have said, "You may write a readable book but you cannot make a correct one, for it is too late; the old settlers are all gone." They seem to think that if the pioneers were here it would be possible to produce a cor- rect history, but they are mistaken. Memory is most unreliable. Witnesses in court each testify differently of the same thing. Nothing but the written or printed documents of the time can insure correctness. Reminiscences are only auxiliary.
This is not a standard history, which is possible only in a book written exclusively for that purpose without biographical bias. This is a work for the parlor table or drawing-room book case; in some sense a treasure containing the biography of family ancestors. This thought and certain suggestions of the publishers have largely served to give the book its form.
Nor is this a history of each particular township, etc., in its turn. The publishers requested the author to write a history of the county and he has viewed it as a whole. Describing an arm and then another arm, and each part of the body in turn, is not giving an account of a man ; and so writing of one township after another is not the history of a county, it is civil anatomy. .
What then does the book claim to be? Simply a readable book containing as much accu- rate history of La Porte county as the author has found possible to give in a limited time and under the circumstances.
He has been at work on the book less than a year. He is the active pastor of a church and has responded to numerous professional calls at home and from a distance. Most of the book has been written and sent to the publishers without time to reconstruct the sentences. In preparing the work the author has used many books, newspapers and documents, and where his thought has been broken by constant reference to them, he has often adopted verbatim the very language of another as his own ; he has done it intentionally, with everything but "malice aforethought," which general admission must suffice without making acknowledgment in particular instances.
Chapters XVIII, XIX and XX were written by R. B. Oglesbee, Esq., of the La Porte county bar, who possesses a rare gift for historical research and is an exceedingly able writer. The author was disappointed that Mr. Oglesbee could not take more of the chapters, but his offi- cial duties prevented. The author is indebted to him also for many valuable data scattered through the work. He acknowledges his obligations also to Captain A. P. Andrew, Hart L.
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PREFACE
Weaver, Hon. W. B. Biddle, George M. Dakin, M. D., William Niles, E. H. Scott, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Armitage and B. W. Hollenbeck, M. D., of Westville, Hon. George W. Rogers, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Johnson, H. C. Shannon, Miss Cecilia E. Wilkinson, E. C .; How, Ferdinand Leavitt, C. J. Brown of Union Mills, E. G. Bunnell, Kent M. Andrew, Dr. and Mrs. George L. Andrew of Chicago, George F. Seymour, Robert Samson, E. J. Church, D. D. S., Mrs. Jennie B. Jessup, C. Elmer Tuesburg, Mayor Lemuel Darrow, Simson Wile, Mr. and Mrs. Elisha S. Bennett, now of Milwaukee, J. N. McCurdy, S. E. Taylor, Mrs. Camilla V. Case, S. E. Williams, Esq., William P. Andrew, Julius C. Travis, John A. Wood, Hon. M. R. Sutherland, Samuel J. Taylor, C. T. Dibble and several others in Michigan City, several of the Michigan City and La Porte pastors, both Catholic and Protestant; the authorities of the schools, both public and pri- vate; and of the hospitals in both Michigan City and La Porte; the county officers for their kind assistance in consulting records, E. J. Heise, city clerk of Michigan City, and C. E. Wolf, city clerk of La Porte, for the same; the proprietors and editorial staffs of the local papers for kindly placing their files at the author's disposal, and many others who have given valuable assistance, and without whose aid this book would not have been possible. Mr. E. W. Test also at on time assisted the author in gathering data.
The author regrets that he could not have had time and space to trace in their ramifications many things which the following pages contain only in outline, and to have included many persons and subjects which have been omitted; but he has viewed nothing from a partisan standpoint, and has been conscious of nothing but the kindliest feelings for all.
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I .- NATURE.
Primitive Condition .- False Impression Corrected .- Kankakee is low prairie-its reclamation-its corn-its contour .- The Upland Prairies .- The Inland Lakes .-- The summit .-- Magnificent View to the North .- Native Grasses .- Native Fruits, Berries and Nuts .- Kinds of Timber .- Native Birds .- Native Fish .- Bison. -Rattlesnakes .- Fur-bearing Animals .- Variety of Conditions .- Elevation .- Elevation of Different Rail- road Stations .- Obstacle to Canal .- Elevations above Lake Erie-above Lake Michigan .- Elevations of Lake Shore Ridges .- Slope of the County Southward .- Brof. Blatchley on Its Glacial Origin .- Advantage of Situation .- The Sand Ridges North of the Summit .- Hoosier Slide .- Mail Route on the Beach .- How the Shore Sand Ridge is Now being Formed .- Prof. Shaler concerning the Sand Dunes .- Ancient Pro- cess the >ame .- Valleys between the ridges mark recessions of Lake Michigan .- Lake and Atmosphere the Heart and Lungs of Nature .- Many Advantages of the County .- Different Kinds of Soil .- Glacial Origin .- Glaciers Described-their formation, motion southward and melting .- Moraines-Origin of the Inland Lakes .- What Borings Have Revealed .- Well at the Northern Prison .- Probabilities as to Gas and Oil .- Origin of Natural Gas and How Contained .- What the Drill Has Shown .- Beauty of the Inland Lakes .- How the Inland Lakes Were Formed and Sustained .- Lakes Born to Die .- Dr. Dryer on Perpe- tuity of the Lakes .-- Many Lakes already Extinct .- Formation of Muck trom Aquatic Plants Main Cause of Lakes Drying up .- Present and former Condition of Lakes .- Gen. Packard concerning Hudson Lake .- Each Lake an Independent Basin .- F.ffect of Dredging .- Lakes Subject to regular Fluctuation of Surface Levels .- Rise and Fall Not Subject to Rainfall.
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CHAPTER II .- ORIGINAL INHABITANTS.
Incomplete Knowledge .- The American Indians .- The Sacs .- Pottawottomies the Original Owners of North- ern Indiana .- Civilized, etc., in a Degree .- Manner of Keeping Genealogy .- Agriculture and the Industries of the Indians .- Chief Sagganee Who Loved Maple Sugar .- James McCoy Invited to a Feast on an Undressed Turtle and a Coon .- A Case of Indian Justice; two ponies given for one destroyed .- Stealing Three Horses from Arba Heald .- Redtape of the Indian Agency and Second Theft by the Indians .- Killing of Henly Clyburn's Ox .- Whites Welcomed except in Great Numbers .- Indians of La Porte County Influenced by Christianity .- Early French Catholic Missionaries; their Self-Denial, etc .- Religious Devo- tion of the Indians .- Pottawottomies Affected by Civilization .- Influence of Catholicism Stronger than That of Protestantism and Why .- Henly Clyburn Entertaining the Indians at their Last Exodus .- Indian Migra- tion under Gen. Tipton and His Treatment of Them .- Rev. Mr. Petit .- Pathos of Indian History .- The Mound Builders .- Works of the Mound Builders .- Mounds in New Durham Township .- Dr. T. Higday's Excavations .- State Geologist Cox's Excavations and His Report .- W. C. Ransburg, Esq., and His Exca- vations .- Three Classes of Mound Builders-I. Most Ancient and their Relics-LI. Those Intermediate between Them and the Indians-III. The Indians .- Legends of the Indians .- Principle of Creation ....... 10
CHAPTER III -EARLY SETTLEMENT: HUDSON, NEW DURHAM AND SCIPIO TOWNSHIPS. First White Settlement .- Baptist Mission Led the Van .- Description of Mission School .- Asa M. Warren .- F.obert Simmerwell .- Joseph Bay .- Joseph W. Lykins .- Jack Jones .- Johnston Lykins .- Mr. and Mrs. Sim- merwell and the Pottawottomies .- School not Catholic .- The Blacksmith by the Lake .- Warren in both Hudson and Wills .- Nathan Haines .- W. W. Cleghorn .- Mission School Discontinued .- Communities Interdependent .- The Mckenzie Family .- Capture of Margaret and Elizabeth -John Kinzie .- Marriage Relation with Margaret Mckenzie .- Elizabeth Joins Margaret .- Treaty of Greenville .- Mckenzie Takes Margaret and Elizabeth back to Virginia .- John Kinzie goes to Chicago .- Margaret Mckenzie Marries Jonas Clybourne .-- Archibald and Henly Clybourne. - Migration to Chicago .- Identification with that City. -Sarah Clark, Daughter of Elizabeth Mckenzie by a former Husband, Marries William Eahart and Lives Near Niles, Michigan .- Passing of the Clybourne Boys through La Porte County to and from Niles to Visit their Half Sister -The Benedict Family .- Migration to Chicago-To Ottawa .- Marriage of Henly Clybourne and Sarah Benedict .- Death of Mr. Benedict .- Migration to Chicago and La Porte County, and Hardships on the Way .- First Settlement in New Durham Township .-- Mrs. Benedict's Confidence in God .- Going to Mill at Niles .- Removal of Wm. Eahart to New Durham .- Other Arrivals .- Birth of First White Child .- Indians Friendly with Whites and Why .- Sod-Breaking .-- New Arrivals .-- Clybournes and Others of Good Stock .-- First Settlement in Scipio .- First Death .- First Liquor Saloon .- First Wedding. - A Refugee of
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CONTENTS.
Acadia .- Black Hawk War .- Occasion of Black Hawk War .- Insolence of the Indians .- Gathering of the Settlers Near Door Village .- Stampede of Settlers .- Building of Block House .- Bravery of Mrs. Arba Heald .- Coolness of Henly Clyburn .- Clyburn Takes Place of Mail Carrier .- Danger in Crossing the Calu- met .- Fort Dearborn .- Cathcart's Wolves .- Remarkable Consensus of Migration .- The Past and the Present.
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CHAPTER IV .- EARLY SETTLEMENT: CENTER, KANKAKEE, WILLS AND OTHER TOWNSHIPS
The Michigan Road .- A Prospecting Party .-- Settlers already on the Ground .- First Settlements about La Porte. -La Porte Lands Bid In .- Arrival of A. P. Andrew, Jr. and Family .- Daniel Andrew .- Indian Scare .- First Steam Engine and Saw-mill .- First Railroad Project .- Practicability of Monon Route Early Seen .- Truck- ing Engine from Lafayette .- A Long Line of Oxen .- Crossing the Kankakee .- Demand for Sawed Lum- ber .- Journey of James Andrew and Party .-- First Stores. - Military Wagon Train .- Boys Lost .- Many Early Settlers .- Hard Workers .-- Prospecting Party Brought New State of Affairs .- First Settlers of Kan- kakee Township .- The Indian Scare in Kankakee .- Flight to Terre Coupee Prairie .- True Freedom .- First Settlers of Wills Township .- Woman Frozen to Death .- Settlers in Other Townships .- Hon. C. W. Cathcart's Testimony .- Rich Promise to the Settlers .- Reason Why Settlers Permanent .- Law of Perma- nence of Influence of First Settlers ..
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CHAPTER V .- ORGANIZATION.
Law-abiding Settlers .- Necessity of a Map .- Present Boundaries and Area Compared with Those of the Begin- ning .- Act of Incorporation and its Provisions .- Objection to the Name of LaPorte .- First Meeting of County Commissioners and Division into Three Townships .- Names of the First Townships; New Durham, Scipio and Kankakee .- First Elections Ordered .- The Carving of the New Townships; Michigan, Center, Pleasant, Wills, Springfield, Galena, Clinton, Noble, Coolspring, Madison, Hudson, Union, Van Buren, Cass, Dewey, Hanna, Anderson, Lincoln, Johnson, Prairie, Washington .- Movement to Rejoin Starke County .- Selection of County Seat .- Rivalry of LaPorte and Michigan City .- Inducements Offered by the Rival Towns .- Judge' Andrew's Reminisences .- Journeys of the Commissioners between the Rival Towns .- What Brought the Seat of Justice to La Porte .- Continued Rivalry .- Strife in 1845, in 1847 .- Rivalry Controls Pol- itics. - Movement for Superior Court .- Opposition of LaPorte to Superior Court Bill .- Arguments pro and con on Superior Court Bill .- Passage Veto and Passage over Veto of Superior Court Bill .- Subsequent Amendment of Superior Court Bill .- Was the Seat of Justice Ever Legally Fixed at LaPorte ?- Concerning the Locating Commissioners. 38
CHAPTER VI .- THE THREE NORTHERN BOUNDARY LINES.
Past and Present Confusion .- Northern Boundary of Ohio and Indiana not in Agreement .- Clark's Capture of Kaskaskia and Vincennes .- Northwest Territory Claimed by Virginia .- Cession of Northwest Territory to the United States .- Lack of Authoritative Government .- The Ordinance of 1787 .- Provision of the Ordinance as to Northern Boundary .- Where the Ordinance Line Runs .- Creation of Indiana Territory .- Disputed .Strip between Ohio and Indiana .- Map Showing Ordinance Line and Indiana Territory. The First Wayne County .- Provision of the Ordinance for Statehood .- Enabling Act of Ohio .- Ordinance Line Prescribed as Northern Boundary of Ohio .- Old Hunter's Statement in Ohio Convention .- Ohio's Constitutional Proviso .- Proviso Ignored by Congress in Act of Admission .- Indignation of Wayne County at not being Included in New State .- Wayne County Excluded because of Political Reasons .- Wayne Becomes a County of Indiana Territory .- The Second Wayne County .- Ordinance Line Reap- pears .- Formation of Michigan Territory .- Michigan Loses Chicago .- Map of the First Wayne County .- Dispute Transferred to Ohio .- Dispute Considered in Congress to no Purpose .- Disputed Jurisdiction .- Passage of Bill for Surveying Boundary .- War of 1812 .- Harris Line Surveyed .- Map Illustrating Harris Line .- Indiana's Northern Boundary .- How Indiana's Northern Boundary was Justified .- Contention between Michigan and Ohio .- Illinois Territory .- Illinois State .- Judges of Michigan Protest against Ohio and Indiana .- Michigan's Memorial to Congress .- Running of the Fulton Line .- Ten Mile Strip Ceded by the Indians .- Territories of Chippewa and Huron .- Much Excitement in Congress .- Michigan Organizes Township in Disputed Strip .- Congressional Act for Marking Northern Boundary of Indiana .- Survey of Hendrick's Line .- Serious Aspect of the Question .- Beginning of the End .- Memorials and Counter Memorials .- Michigan's Petition for Statehood Refused .- Michigan Decides to Form State Government without Permission .- Bill against Michigan's Claim Killed by John Quincy Adams .- Legislature of Indiana Handles the Subject .- Both States More Aggressive .- Hostile Troops .- Peace Commissioners .- The Toledo War .- Moderation .-- Expedient of President Jackson .- Settled by Politics .- Michigan's Subsequent Claims to the Disputed Strip .- Her Great Recompense .- Indiana Acted through Her Congressmen .- La Porte County
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CHAPTER VII .- DEVELOPMENT: THE COUNTRY.
Beauty of Nature and Art .- The Log Cabin .-- Pioneer Customs Useful in War .- Shelters for Stock .- Not Wholly Primitive .- Articles of Necessity .- A Worn Grind-Stone .- Change Wrought by Saw Mill .- Early Frame Buildings Remain .- Marked Improvement .- Fine Homes in Unexpected Localities .- Discontent .- Rapid Settlement .-- Condition in 1838 .- The "Sickly Season."-Abundance of Wheat and Produce .- Pre- cursor of the Grange and Later Cooperation .- Roads .- Canals .- Plank Roads .- Permanence of Plank Roads.
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CONTENTS.
-Gradual Yielding of Nature's Empire .- Game .- Early Settlers not Pioneers .- Canals .- Railroads .- Project to Unite the Great Lakes with Southern Rivers .- Harbor at Michigan City Superior to that of Chicago .- Buffalo and Mississippi Railroad .-- Daniel Webster Makes Great Speech and Casts First Shovelful of Dirt at Michigan City .- Three Causes of Failure .- Enterprise of Chicago .- B. and M. Railroad a La Porte Affair. -Persistent Effort to Build It .- Counties Take Stock .- A. P. Andrew, Agent; Joseph Orr, President .- Business Efforts .- Lobbying .- Defection of La Porte and Opposition of Eastern Counties .- Michigan Central Railroad. Meeting at Mishawaka .- Election of New Directors .- Move to Complete Western End of Line .- Commis- sioners to take Charge of Western End of Road .- Michigan Southern Railroad .- Michigan Central Secures Link of B. and M .- Michigan Southern Blocked and Northern Indiana Railroad Company Formed .- Status of Railroad Matters in 1851 .- Partiality of Michigan City to Central Road .- Opposition to being Left out by B. and M .- Enthusiastic Prediction of a Settler.
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CHAPTER VIII .- DEVELOPMENT: THE KANKAKEE REGION.
Rapid Development .- Wet Condition. - Roads almost Impassible -A Journey of C. G. Powell .- Transformation. -Valley Only Relatively Low .- Grant of Swamp Lands by Congress .- Judge Hanna's State Ditching Law .-- Bitter Opposition,-Project for Railroad and Ditch Combined .- Renewed Interest in 1896, 1897 .- Meeting of Citizens at Dare's Schoolhouse .- Meeting at Hanna .- Kankakee River Improvement Company .- Kankakee River Improvement Association .- Legal Provisions .- Opportunity to Object .- Advent of Capitalists from Illinois .- LaCrosse Land Company .- Acquisition of Land .- Tuesburg Land Company .- McWilliams Land Company .- Amount of Holdings .- Personnel of the Land Companies .- Water from Higher Lands .- Former Opposition Renewed .- Stubborn Improvers .- The Place Ditch .- The Machler Ditch .- The Cook Ditch .- Section Ditches and Tile Drains .- Great Length of Lateral Ditching .- Straightening of the River .- Kanka- kee Reclamation Company and its Personnel .- Purpose of this Company .- Description of Reclamation Ditch. -The Contractors .- Results .- Trouble Not at Momence .- Work Accomplished in Three Years .- Acreage .- Location .- Division into Half-Sections .- Description of Buildings .- Requisitions from Tenants .- Land Inex- haustible .- The First Real Test .- Immense Crops .- The Company Public Spirited .- Increase in Value of Land .- The Syndicate Still Buying .- Charles H. Tuesburg .- Impetus of Reclamation .- Work of Kankakee River Improvement Company .- Its Personnel .- Description of Improvement Ditch .- The Stielow Ditch .- Other Ditches in Other Counties .- New Ditching Law .- Opportunity for Opposition Cut Out .- Hunting Grounds, etc., Things of the Past.
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CHAPTER IX .- DEVELOPMENT: THE SMALLER CENTERS.
Process of Formation .- Other Early Settlers of New Durham Township .- New Dunham Village .-- Holmes- ville .- Otis. - Westville .-- Those Who Have Helped Make New Durham Township and its Centers .- Con- donville .- Other Early Settlers of Scipio .- Door Village .-- Those Who Have Figured in the History of Scipio .- Kankakee Township and Others of Its Settlers .- Byron .- Nauvoo, Portland and Rolling Prairie .-- Portland in 1862 .- Public Men of Kankakee Township .- Some of the Settlers in Pleasant Township after 1832 .-- Stillwell .- Some of Those Who Have Given Their Energies to the Development of Pleasant Town- ship .- Additional Early Settlers of Wills Township .- Boot-Jack .- Sac Town .- Puddletown .- A Few of the Useful Men of Wills Township .- Springfield Township and Its Early Settlers .-- Springville .- Corymbo .- Counterfeiters' Den .-- Some of Those Who Have Contributed to the Development of Springfield .- Galena Township .- No Railroads nor Villages .- Intelligence of Galena .- Early Settlers .-- Later Citizens .- Patriotic Ancestral Blood.
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CHAPTER X .- PROMINENT CITIZENS.
No History but Only Biography .- Levi J. Benedict .-- Henry N. Cathcart; Eminent Father; Hardships; An Uncomfortable Loft; Early Life in LaPorte; Work on Farm; Sickly Season; Marriage; Children; Work and Travels .- Mrs. Alicia M. Cathcart .-- Hon. Charles W. Cathcart; Prominent in the County; Father's Official Positions; Publication of Father's Life; Education of Charles; Becomes Navigator and Carpenter; Migrates to Indiana; Journey to Laporte County; Working at Trade; Clerk in Land Office; Marriage and Children; Death of Wife; Political Life; As a Stump Orator; Attainments and Character; Death and Funeral. 96
CHAPTER XI .- DEVELOPMENT: THE SMALLER CENTERS CONCLUDED.
Clinton Township .- Without Church or Saloon .- Early Settlers .- Haskell Station .- Alida Station .-- Bigelow's Mills; the " Old Castle "; Old Time Celebrations; Clinton Library Association; Meetings, Bigelow's Mills in 1861, Changes Even Then; Vacation and Decay .- Prominent Citizens of the Township .- Noble Town- Township .- Early Settlers .- Fine Soil .- Belmont .- Union Mills .- Wellsboro .- Citizens of Noble Township. -Coolspring Township .- Simultaneous Settlements .- Good Markets .- Beatty's Corners .- Waterford .- Older Citizens .- Later Citizens .- Hudson Township .- Village of Hudson .-- Developers of Hudson .- Union Township .- Early Settlers-Union Center .- Kingsbury .- Tracy Station .- Helpers of Development .- Cass Township .-- A Few Early Settlers .- Callao .- Morgan Station .- Rozelle or Joprice .- Wanatah .- Moving Spirits of Development .- Dewey Township .-- A Few Early Settlers .- LaCrosse. - Noted Characters .- Wilder Station .- Hanna Township .- Earliest Settlers .- Hanna .- Thomaston Station .- Helpers in the Development of Hanna .- Prairie 'Township .-- Willvale .- Lincoln Township .- First Settlers .- Village of Mill Creek .- Developers .- Indian Dancing-floor .- Johnson Township .- Settlers. 104
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XII .- BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Benjamin T. Bryant; Marries Pioneer Girl; Children; Education; Possessions .- Bird McLane; Name; Birth and Home; Slaves; Settlers in LaPorte County; Trip to Cincinnati; Early Times; Occupations; Church and Masonic Relations; Decline and Death; Funeral .- Daniel Low; Sunstroke; Early Occupation; Migrates to Michigan City; Marriage; Moves to Coolspring; Land Dealer; Offices .- Mr. and Mrs. William W. Travis; Her Ancestry; Marriage; Emigrant Journey; Guardians of Money; the Dog Tige; Mr. Travis' Power over Animals; Patriotism .- George W. Reynolds; Extensive Builder in Several Townships .- Jere- miah Willson; Revolutionary Ancestry; Removals; Adventure with the Indian at the Kankakee .- William Snavley .- John Clark .- Phineas Small .- James Venamon Hopkins .- Casper Kuhn .- Ziba Palmer .- Nature of Marriage .- John P. Teeple .- John Ludwig .- Mrs. Louisa Wells. 114
CHAPTER XIII .- DEVELOPMENT: LAPORTE.
Destined for a City .- Convenient for Travelers .-- The Old Indian Trail .- A Natural Objective Point .- Cession of the Ten Mile Strip and of the Michigan Road Lands .- Surveying and Marking of the Road .- Selection of Lands for County Seat .- Original Purchasers of LaPorte Lands .- Dr. Hiram Todd .- Strife for the County Seat .- First Election .- House of George Thomas,-First Jail .- First Carpenter .-- Richard Harris .- Merchants, Lawyers, etc .- Increase of Houses and Population .- Incorporation as a Town .- Rapid Prog- ress .-- Permanence of First Buildings .- Daily Mails .- Human Nature the Same .- Occupations .- Kind of Buildings .- New Buildings .- Boundaries Enlarged .- Improvement .- California Gold Fever .- Departure from Primitive Ways .- Strife between the Two Sister Cities concerning Railroads .- Incorporation as a City. -- Cold Weather .- Martial Music and Bands .- New State Bank .- Names of Streets .- Era of Building .- Amendment of Law Governing Cities .- Progress by 1857 .- Fire Department .-- Water Works .- Gas Light- . ing .- Lighting by Electricity .- Postmasters .- Fraternity of the Sister Cities .- Few Sources of Data .- Opinion of an Editor .- Setbacks .-- Improvement under New Administration .- Effect of Removing the Car Shops .- La Porte always Busy .- Center Township. 122
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