A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 101

Author: Rev. E. D. Daniels
Publication date: 1904
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1273

USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana > Part 101

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CHARLES S. GOODHUE, one of the oldest and most esteemed residents of Michigan City, has lived here almost continuously for sixty-five years, or during nearly the entire existence of the city. He has seen the uninviting prospects about Michigan City change to a valuable and rich farming country, and has witnessed the city itself grow from a small community to one of the chief manufacturing centers and shipping points of northern Indiana. He has been identified with the business activity of the city, and for a num- ber of years was a successful merchant. He is now past eighty years of age, but still retains much of his former vigor and ability, and is not yet content to lay aside a life of activity.

Mr. Goodhue is a son of Nathaniel and Sally (Sargeant) Goodhue, natives of Vermont, and the former's father was Josiah Goodhue, a grad- uate of Cambridge University in 1755, for many years a Congregational minister in Massachusetts and Vermont, and who died at the age of sixty-

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eight years, having been the father of six chil- dren. Sally (Sargeant) Goodhue was a daughter of Colonel William Sargeant, of Dunham, Lower Canada. Nathaniel Goodhue was a lawyer, and one of the early settlers of Warren, Ohio, whence he removed to Michigan City with his family in 1837. He died here at the age of seventy-six years, and his wife was sixty-six at the time of her death. They had two sons and two daughters but Charles S. is the only one now living.

Charles S. Goodhue was born in Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, October 16, 1823, and received his first schooling there. He was four- teen years old when his parents came west to Michigan City, and with the exception of three and a half years he has spent all the rest of his life here since 1837. After attending school here about a year he began clerking in stores, and after some years spent at that occupation went into business for himself. He conducted a groc- ery and provision market during the Civil war and for some years afterward, but since that time has been engaged in bookkeeping and office work almost continually.

January 13, 1859, Mr. Goodhue married Miss Harriet Newell Partridge, a daughter of Samuel and Sophia (Chase) Partridge. Two children were born of this union, Lincoln Partridge and Henry Edward Goodhue, the latter deceased. Lincoln Goodhue has been a principal or con- nected in some way with the public schools of Chicago for over twenty years, and is one of the well known educators of that city. He married Miss Elizabeth Gray, and they have three chil- dren, Gertrude Gray, Alice Lee and Edward Lin- coln. Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Goodhue are members of the First Persbyterian church, and he is a Republican in politics, having voted with that party ever since its organization.

Mrs. Goodhue's grandfather was William Partridge, who was a farmer at Pittsfield, Mas- sachusetts, all his life, and died well advanced in years. His wife was Jemima Bidwell, and they had twelve children. Samuel Partridge, the fa- ther of Mrs. Goodhue, was a farmer by occupa- tion, and came from Massachusetts to Michigan in 1841, and spent the rest of his life near Battle Creek, where he died in 1879 at the age of seventy-nine. His wife, who was a native of New York, survived him ten years, and was seventy- eight years old at the time of her death. She and her husband were members of the Congrega- tional church. Her father, Jonathan Chase, was also a natve of New York and died in middle life. His wife was Miss Katharine Curry, and they had four children.

REV. F. H. EICKHOFF. One of the best known and most honored citizens of LaPorte county is Rev. F. H. Eickhoff, who has spent the past eleven years of his life in this locality. He was born near Indianapolis, Indiana, on the 14th of March, 1860. His father, Henry Eickhoff, was a native of the fatherland, his birth having occurred in Prussia, Germany, but in August, 1848, he came to America and took up his abode in Cincinnati, later removing to Indianapolis, and finally settling in Marion county, Indiana, where he passed away in death at the age of sixty- three years. He was a baker by trade. His wife bore the maiden name of Charlotte Elbrecht, and she, too, was a native of Germany, coming in her girlhood to America, where she subsequently gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Henry Eick- hoff. This union was blessed with eight children, four sons and four daughters, seven of whom grew to years of maturity, and with one exception all are yet living.

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

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

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

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

in LaPorte county, being in her seventy-first year at the time of her death. Unto them were born eleven children, of whom three died in Canada, one in Ohio and one in Pennsylvania. Only three sons and two daughters are now living.

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

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

At the time of his marriage in 1854 Mr. Hos- tetler located upon the farm where he now re-

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alles Polly 'lloostetter

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Joseph Hostetler

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

JAMES WILSON, a respected and promi- nent farmer of section 11, Cass township, LaPorte county, is a member of one of the oldest families in the county. His grandfather, Jeremiah Wil- son, was born in the highlands of Scotland, and came to America in the early days, locating in the famous old town of Vincennes, Indiana, in 1813, when this state was on the borders of civi- lization. He died in Vigo county, Indiana. His wife was Johanna (Moore) Wilson.

Jeremiah Wilson, the father of James Wilson, was born in Pennsylvania, May 18, 1811, and came to LaPorte county, Indiana, in 1831, being one of the founders of the county. He was a captain in the militia and a soldier under General Harrison. He had a tanyard on Hudson lake, and some time in the thirties took up his residence at Union Mills, whence he moved to a farm in Clinton township. He died in Cass township in his seventy-sixth year. He served as deputy sheriff of his county and trustee of Cass township for many years. He was a Democrat, and an active members of the Christian church. He married Abigail Wills, who was born near Day-

ton, Ohio, and came to LaPorte county with her father in 1830. Her father, John E. Wills, after whom Wills township was named, was the owner of much land in LaPorte county, and was one of the most prominent of its early residents. Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Wilson were the parents of fourteen children, of whom three sons and one daughter are living.

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

July 4, 1869, Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Emma E. Lawrence, who was born in Hanna township, LaPorte county, August 16, 1847, the daughter of John and Agnes (Law- rence) Lawrence, who were both natives of Eng- land and were married in 1832. They came to LaPorte county in 1842 and were farmers of Hanna township. There were nine children in the Lawrence family, as follows: Three died in England ; Dorcas, the wife of A. Lybarger ; Mary Ann, deceased ; Sarah Jane, the wife of Walter Tilden, a prominent farmer of Cass township; Mrs. Wilson ; Harriet, the deceased wife of J. Berridge ; Caroline, the wife of Charles Hunsley. Mrs. Wilson was educated at Westville under Professor J. G. Laird, and taught school for four years before her marriage. She has become the

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mother of five children, the eldest of whom died in infancy. Edith was educated in the schools of Cass township and the Hanna high school, and taught in the primary department of the Stillwell public schools for two years and also in Cass township; she married William Cannon, a resi- dent of Cass township, and they have one son, Lawrence. Agnes was educated in the Wanatah high school, class of 1896, and taught in Cass and Dewey townships; she is the wife of Louis Facklam, of Whiting, Indiana, and they have two children, Delmer and Clarence. Arthur Glenn, who is at home and unmarried, graduated from the Wanatah high school in 1899, was a student at the Valparaiso normal, and taught two or three terms in Dewey and Cass townships. Florence, at home, graduated from the Wanatah high school in 1902, and has her teacher's certificate.

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

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

Calvin F. Webster, the father of William B. Webster, was born in New York, June 25, 1805, and died November 28, 1879. He received a very limited education in the schools, and was for the most part self-educated, being throughout life a wide reader and logical thinker. He followed farming with much success, and few of his bus- iness ventures were unsuccessful. His was a noble character, and he never had an open or secret enemy so far as is known ; the heritage of his good name was not the least among the leg- acies he left his children. He came to LaPorte county in 1844, the year of Polk's election, and three years later he bought land in Clinton town- ship and also in New Durham township. At the time of his death he owned three hundred acres

of excellent land in this county, and was ac- counted a well-to-do man. He was a Whig and a Republican in politics. He and his wife were God-loving people, and were members of the Baptist church. Their church was called the Webster church and their school the Webster school, and the locality in Clinton, Noble and Scipio townships in which they lived was called the Webster settlement. There was a large mem- bership to the Webster family, and at a reunion held October 12, 1890, nineteen states were rep- resented by twenty-nine members of the family.

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

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

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

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Millions & Website

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Mrs. Linda. E. Meister

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CALVIN E. WEBSTER.

MRS. ANDREW HUTTON.

LAURA A. WEBSTER.

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

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

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

upon themselves the many small sacrifices and in- conveniences which are the share of public-spir- ited men and women.

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

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 101

Author: Rev. E. D. Daniels Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1273

Author: Rev. E. D. Daniels
Publication date: 1904
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1273