A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 102

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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In politics Mr. Myer, has been a of most unswerving convien ms. hs. . erst presidential vote for james .. . 15, and has ever since taken an act. bieni part in national and state issues. and city affairs he has also given the tention and has been useful to the party in many of its campani. 20 beginning in June. 1808, he was char. Livingston County Central Corps well and favorably known to the party in all sections of Illinois. 1. Myers was elected mavor of Part his administration be did much for

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

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

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

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

the sterling characteristics of the people who come from the land of the heather.

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

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

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the reviewing stand erected upon the grounds of the White House. This was the most cele- brated military pageant ever seen in the history of the Western continent, and Captain Austin may well be proud of the fact that he was one of the participants in that event. He received an hon- orable discharge July 15, 1865.

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

Captain Austin is well known in his native county because of his sincere and earnest interest in the public welfare and his co-operation in meas- ures for the general good. He takes an active part in the work of the Grand Army post and en- joys its social relations. His membership is with the Hathaway Post No. 110 at Rolling Prairie, and he served as its commander two terms, being the first to hold that position. He is also a promi- nent Mason, and in politics is a stanch Republi- can. His religious faith is indicated by his mem- bership in the Christian church. Throughout the sixty-four years of his earthly pilgrimage he has lived in LaPorte county, and is known as one of its representative citizens, true to every trust re- posed in him, living a life in harmony with honorable principles and upright conduct.

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

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

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

In February, 1869, Mr. Howe was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary L. DeLong, a daughter of

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

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

For a number of years he has now been num- bered among the prominent and progressive res- idents of Michigan City. He may well be termed one of its leading business men, for he has been

the promoter of leading business enterprises. His connection with any undertaking insures a pros- perous outcome of the same, for it is in his nature to carry forward to succesful completion what- ever he undertakes. He has earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of busi- ness, and in his dealings is known for his prompt and honorable methods, which have won the de- served and unbounded confidence of his fellow men.

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

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

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

At the time of his marriage Mr. Barns located upon the place where he now resides and which he had purchased in 1850. He had only fifty dollars with which to make payment upon the farm, but he arranged to meet other payments at a future date, and with characteristic energy began clearing his land, all of which was covered

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with timber. As he cut down the trees and devel- oped the fields he found that the soil was rich and productive and yielded to him good harvests. He has remained continuously upon his farm since his marriage, and is well known as a sub- stantial agriculturist.

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

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

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 102

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