A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 105

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 105

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Henry Herrold was a youth of sixteen years when he came to LaPorte county. His early edu- cational privileges were very limited, but he made the most of his opportunities, and through read- ing. experience and observation has become a well informed man, displaying marked practical learning in his business career. He is keen in his judgments, correct in his views and methodical in his actions. He had to begin his business career empty-handed, having no special family or pecuniary advantages to aid him, and he worked by the month as a farm hand at fifteen dollars per month. At the end of three months he had forty-five dollars, having saved all that he had earned. Economy, industry and capable management have formed the secret of his suc- cess. As he found opportunity he has made ju- dicious investments in real estate, and is now the owner of eight hundred acres of very valuable and productive land, which returns to him a splendid income.

Mr. Herrold was married, March 3, 1863, to Miss Lucy C. Herrold, who was born in Athens county, Ohio, January 29, 1839, and is the second of eleven children, five sons and six daughters, born to David and Mary (Dorr) Herrold. On the maternal side she is of English lineage. The Dorrs were prominent in colonial days and dur- ing the Revolutionary war, and the family was represented in the patriot army in the war for in- dependence, so that Mrs. Herrold and her chil- dren are eligible to membership in the organiza- tion of Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. Her grandfather Dorr was the pos- sessor of some of the continental scrip. Mrs. Herrold remained in her native county until fif- teen years of age, and attended the common schools. To her husband she has been a most faithful companion and helpmate on life's jour- ney. It was in 1853 that she came with her par- ents to New Durham township, LaPorte county,

where her father purchased two hundred and five acres of land, but later he sold that property and invested his money in land in Sac county, Iowa. Her father was in early life a Whig, but after the dissolution of that party voted with the new Republican party. Both he and his wife held membership in the Methodist church. The latter was born in Ohio in 1818, and died on the 20th of March, 1871.

To Mr. and Mrs. Herrold have been born four children, a son and three daughters, and three are yet living. The first two were twins, but the sister died. The brother is Charles E. Herrold, one of the progressive young business men of Westville. He was educated in the high school of Westville, and the Normal School at Valparaiso. He married Miss Emma Reynolds. Effie Alice is the wife of George L. Thompson, an insurance agent residing at Westville, and they have five children: Mary and Margery, Henry H., DeVere and Nettie. Mrs. Thompson was a teacher in Porter and LaPorte counties for five years prior to her marriage. Nettie Bell is the wife of Dr. F. V. Martin, of Michigan City. He is a graduate of the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor and is now a successful physician. They have four daughters: Ramona, Frances, Dorothy and Hester. Mrs. Martin was gradu- ated from the Westville high school when only sixteen years of age, and afterward entered the high school of Elkhart, Indiana, where she won a gold medal for being the best student in liter- ature. She afterward became principal of the Westville public schools and was also a teacher in the city schools of Elkhart. Dr. Martin and his wife hold membership relations with the Knights of the Maccabees, and she is now serving as lady commander of the organization in Mich- igan City.

Mr. Herrold is independent in politics, sup- porting the candidates whom he thinks best quali- fied for office. His wife belongs to the Method- ist church, which she joined when fifteen years of age. His attention has been largely given to his business affairs, and in addition to the culti- vation of his large farm he is engaged in the raising of stock, which he ships to the Chicago market. He is to-day one of the most prosperous farmers in his county, and his business methods have ever been straightforward and honorable. He raises stock of only high grades, and he keeps everything about his place in good condition, neatness and thrift characterizing every depart- ment of his large farm. He has certainly gained well deserved success.

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Chas D. Hews M. S.

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CHARLES DEAN HEWS, M. D., who for thirty-four years has been the leading physician and surgeon of Roseland, Chicago, and who took up his location in that village long before it was incorporated in the limits of Chicago, is a native of LaPorte and a son of one of the oldest settlers of the county, his long and successful professional career being a credit to himself and an honor to the county from whose bounds he went forth to gain position and influence among his fellow men.

He was born at LaPorte, April 5, 1846, being a son of Dr. Richard Burson and Jane Elizabeth (Spalding) Hews. His father was a native of eastern Pennsylvania. In the early thirties, when northern Indiana was for the most part a wilder- ness, with no highways of commerce and few other conveniences of civilization, he brought his wife through the forest on a sled, and made set- tlement in LaPorte county. He was by profes- sion a physician, but on his arrival in LaPorte he kept a country store for a few years, although he was one of the familiar and popular medical practitioners of the county for many years of his life. He died in LaPorte, and his wife, who was a native of Pennsylvania, also died there. The old Hews homestead at 101 Main street, La- Porte, where reside two of the children, Mrs. Mary Service and Miss Kittie Hews, is one of the most comfortable and attractive of LaPorte's many fine homes.

Dr. Hews has had an interesting career. He was reared in LaPorte, and attended for some time Hillsdale (Michigan) College. About the time he was eighteen years old there came Lin- coln's call for volunteers for a hundred days' service, and he enlisted in Company B, One Hun- dred and Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry, at La- Porte, under Captain Patton and Colonel Shan- non, both LaPorte men. He was in the army for only the length of his enlistment, but was sent south through Kentucky and Tennessee, almost to Chattanooga, and was engaged in several skirmishes, once being hit on the leg by a spent minie ball. His most exciting war experience was the time his company was surprised and at- tacked by Forrest's raiders and had all their arms and equipments taken from them. He also participated in the engagement at Elk River Bridge, Tennessee. As a memorial of his time spent in defense of the union he has the certifi- cate of thanks from President Lincoln for his services.

Dr. Hews returned from the war and at once took up his literary studies in the old Chicago

University. He practiced medicine a while at Marengo, Illinois, and then entered the medical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated in the class of 1870. In the same year he located at Roseland, Cook county, but now a part of Chicago, and this has been the scene of his activities ever since. His practice is in both general medicine and surgery, and he has always been prosperous and popular in his profession. His offices are at 11100 Michi- gan avenue, and his beautiful residence is lo- cated at One Hundred and Ninth street and Michigan avenue.

Dr. Hews is and always has been an ardent Democrat. In 1876 he was elected trustee for the town of Hyde Park and served two terms. He has been instrumental in getting appropria- tions for improvement of streets in his part of the city and in other ways promoting its growth. He is a member of the Chicago Medical Society and the Illinois Medical Society, and is president of the Scientific Research Society; and affiliates with the Free and Accepted Masons. He has one daughter, Mrs. Carrie Wilkinson, of St. Paul, Minnesota.

J. J. PFAU, a highly esteemed citizen of Scipio township, claims Ohio as his native state, his birth having occurred in Cleveland, April 14, 1855. His parents, Jacob and Mary (Meyers) Pfau, were both natives of Hamburg, Germany, the former born in 1834, the latter in 1832. In early life they came to the United States and made their home in Illinois for many years. The father died on the 3d of August, 1890, and the mother passed away in 1896. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom Mr. Pfau is the eldest, the others being Anna, born in 1857; Fred, born in 1859; Carrie, born in 1861 ; Albert, born in 1863; Adeline, who was born in 1865 and died on the 20th of June, 1891; Emma Louise, born in October, 1867; George Henry, born December 1, 1869; Lizzie Bell, born in October, 1871 ; Hattie, who was born in 1873 and died in December, 1899; Emma, born September 22, 1876; and Susan Helen, born July 4, 1878. .

J. J. Pfau spent his boyhood in his native state, and in 1870 accompanied his parents on their removal to Plano, Illinois, and later to Odell, that state, where he continued to make his home until coming to LaPorte county, Indiana, in the spring of 1903. In Scipio township he purchased a farm of one hundred and nineteen acres, and now devotes his time and attention to its cultivation and improvement. In early life

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he learned the carpenter's trade and has since followed that occupation to some extent, though he also engaged in farming while a resident of Illinois.

On the 30th of January, 1876, at Cayuga, Illinois, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Pfau and Miss Lauretta Skinner, who was born at Troy, Ohio, November 25, 1850, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Schafer) Skinner, who are now living retired in Pontiac, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Pfau have no children of their own, but have adopted two: Earl Spalding, now twenty- two years of age; and Lizzie Davidson, aged eighteen.

Politically Mr. Pfau is identified with the Republican party, and religiously both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church of Pontiac, Illinois. They are earnest Christian people, and wherever known are held in high re- gard on account of their sterling worth and many excellencies of character.

AMBROSE PORTER WHITE, a coal and hay merchant and doing a general teaming busi- ness at the corner of Sixty-third street and Ash- land boulevard, Chicago, but who is a native of and was for many years a farmer of LaPorte county, Indiana, comes from one of the old La- Porte county families. His father, Dr. Jacob H. White, was born near Utica, New York, July 2, 1817, but came to the west and located in La- Porte county in the early thirties, when the popu- lation was sparse and scattered. He was then a young man and unmarried. He took up a farm in Scipio township, and in addition to its duties continued his medical studies, whch he had be- gun in New York. He soon qualified for the medical profession, and for many years was one of the popular practicing physicians of the coun- ty, although he always retained his residence on a farm, which he regarded as the proper place to rear his boys. He was also a justice of the peace and otherwise prominent in the locality. He died in October, 1880. Dr. White married Miss Abbie Closser, who was born in 1820, and died in Cool Spring township, LaPorte county, in March, 1902. She was a daughter of Daniel Closser, one of the first settlers of LaPorte county, and a sister of Nicholas Closser, a leading farmer of the coun- ty. The Clossers are among the best known of the old-timers of LaPorte county, and Nicholas Closser's sons, Sylvanus and Jerome, are retired and respected citizens of LaPorte, while Daniel resides at Kingsbury, this county.

Ambrose P. White was born in Scipio town- ship, LaPorte county, December 2, 1847, and was reared with farm surroundings and gained his education in the country. When a young man he began farming for himself in Cool Spring township, where his brother, Daniel A. White, and other members of the family still live. He was a farmer there until 1886, when he removed to Will county, Illinois, near Joliet, and for the next thirteen years farmed and ran a dairy. In 1899 he went to Chicago and engaged in the busi- ness mentioned above, and has met with en- couraging success to the present time. He is a thorough business man, and has the push and persevering qualities which insure his further prosperity.

On the 18th of October, 1866, Mr. White was married to Miss Mary Pierce, who was born in Hamilton, Ontario, June 21, 1849, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Ann (Richards) Pierce. They came from Ontario to LaPorte county in 1854, and here the mother died on the 9th of October, 1871. The father died in Chautauqua county, Kansas, in September, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. White are the parents of seven children: Mrs. Ada Feil, Mrs. Mabel Patrick, Garland, Claud, Maud, Edna and Arletta White. Mr. White has always been an earnest supporter of the principles and policies of the Republican party. He has a large circle of friends in LaPorte county, which will always retain its place in his affections for that reason and because it is the scene of his early joys and associations.

CHARLES HENRY PURDY has from the age of thirteen years been connected with the industry of chair-making by machinery, for at that time he became a workman in his grand- father's factory, and as the years have passed his usefulness and efficiency have increased until he now holds the important and responsible po- sition of superintendent with the J. S. Ford- Johnson Company, chair manufacturers, at Mich- igan City.

He was born at Hunter, Greene county, New York, September 21, 1852, his parents being Henry E. and Mary (Goodsell) Purdy. His grandfather, Milton A. Purdy, a native of the Empire state, was a millwright, machinist and inventor. While residing in Hunter, New York, he engaged in the manufacture of chairs, and later removed with his family to Bedford, Ohio, where he continued in the same line of business, together with building chair machinery for other

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OHt Pardy

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manufactories. Both he and his wife died in Bedford, the former at the age of sixty-seven years, while the latter survived him for a few years. They reared a large family. The mater- nal grandfather of Mr. Purdy was a native of Connecticut.

Henry E. Purdy, the father of Mr. Purdy, was born in Hunter, New York, while his wife was a native of New Haven, Connecticut. He, like his father, engaged in the chair business, building machinery, and organizing other factories. In 1853, he removed to the west, locating in Bed- ford, Ohio, where he lived for twelve years, until 1865, when he moved to Columbus, Ohio, and became superintendent of the Ford and Johnson Manufacturing Company. In 1868 he came to Michigan City for that company, as an organizer, and in 1870 went to Joliet, Illinois, where he re- mained six months in the same capacity. On the expiration of that period the family moved to Constantine, Michigan, while he went to Fort Madison, Iowa, as superintendent of a chair fac- tory there. Afterward he went to Constantine and embarked in the business on his own account, his son becoming associated with him under the from style of Cook, Purdy and Son. This rela- tion was maintained for three years, at the end of which time the firm was dissolved, and Mr. Purdy and his son removed to South Bend, In- diana, where they engaged in the manufacture of chairs. While there they took contracts for manufacturing for the J. S. Ford-Johnson Com- pany, from whom they finally received a proposi- tion to bring their machinery to Michigan City and establish a plant. The terms of the proposi- tion were advantageous and were therefore ac- cepted, and in 1881 they brought their machinery and stock to this city. A number of families also came, for the husbands and fathers had been in the employ of Mr. Purdy and wished to con- tinue their business relations with him. Thus was established the Hitchcock Chair Company. The company being well organized Henry E. Purdy retired from the superintendency, and was succeeded by his son, who has since occupied the position. Mrs. Henry E. Purdy was called to her final rest in 1893, when sixty-six years of . age. She died in the faith of the Presbyterian church. Her husband still survives her, and is now manufacturing a patented chair-seat routing machine.

Charles H. Purdy lived in Belford, Ohio, until about sixteen years of age, and obtained his edu- cation there and in Columbus. He began work- ing in his grandfather's chair factory when but

thirteen years of age, and has followed the busi- ness continually since. He applied himself dili- gently to the mastery of the work, both in princi- ple and detail, and his increasing proficiency gained him added responsibility and promotion until in 1881 he was made assistant superintend- ent of the J. S. Ford-Johnson Company, in which capacity he served until 1888, when, upon his father's retirement, he succeeded him as super- intendent and has since acted in that position. During this period the business has developed from an enterprise employing twenty men until about six hundred names are on the payroll. Not a little of the success can be attributed to the practical efforts of Mr. Purdy, whose thorough understanding of the business in every depart- ment enables him so to direct the labors of the men that the best results are secured.

On the 5th of September, 1882, Mr. Purdy was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Farg- her, a daughter of William and Angeline (Chan- dler) Fargher, the former a native of the Isle of Man. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Purdy: Eloise Fargher, who died Feb- ruary 6, 1902, when eighteen years of age; Les- lie Fargher, who was graduated from the high school of Michigan City in June, 1903, and is now a student at Rockford College, at Rockford, Illi- nois ; and Donald Fargher, who is a student. Mr. and Mrs. Purdy hold membership in the Presby- terian church, in which he is serving as an elder. He also belongs to Acme Lodge No. 83, F. & A. M., and to the North American Union, and politi- cally is a Republican. Their home is at 320 East Eighth street, where in 1886 he erected a com- fortable residence, and where hospitality is freely dispensed to their many friends.

THOMAS DEMPSEY. For many years Thomas Dempsey has been a resident of La- Porte county, and has been interested in its pro- gress to the extent of assisting in its improve- ment and upbuilding. He lives on section 29, Lincoln township, and for many years has suc- cessfully carried on farming. He was born in the city of Sligo, Ireland, on the 6th of January, 1847, and came to America when about thirteen years of age. He made the voyage alone in 1860, his parents having previously crossed the Atlantic and taken up their abode in the city of LaPorte, Indiana, about 1850. His father conducted a boarding house in LaPorte for some time, but afterward removed to Lincoln township, where he engaged in general farming. His death oc- curred there when he was eighty-four years of

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age. In his religious faith he was a Catholic, and in political belief was a Democrat. For nine years he served as a trustee of Lincoln township, discharging his duties with marked promptness and fidelity. For thirty-four years he lived in Lincoln townhip, and was well known through the county, being esteemed for his genuine worth and his fidelity to principle. To him and his wife were born three children, two sons and a daugh- ter.

Thomas Dempsey, the second child, and the only one of the family now living, started out up- on an independent business career when about fourteen years of age. He has always followed farming as a means of livelihood, but during the Civil war he put aside all business and personal consideration and on the 14th of February, 1863, enlisted in Company H, Eighth Michigan In- fantry, as a private. With this command he served until the close of the war, and the first battle in which he participated was at Vicksburg. .He was actively engaged in the siege of that city and also of Knoxville, Tennessee, where the com- mand was stationed for eight weeks. On the 6th of May, 1864, he participated in the battle of the Wilderness in Virginia, and later took part in the engagements at Spottsylvania courthouse, Sulphur Springs and Petersburg. He was wounded at Poplar Grove on the 30th of Sep- tember, 1864, and was then taken to the hospital at Fairfax, Virginia. Five times during his ser- vice he was injured by rebel bullets, but never seriously, with the exception of the wound sus- tained at Petersburg. In Washington, D. C., on the 15th of June, 1865, he received an honorable discharge and returned to his home with a credit- able military record.

Mr. Dempsey then spent about six months in LaPorte county, at the end of which time he went to Memphis, Tennessee, where he was in the em- ploy of Governor Levy for about four years. On the expiration of that period he returned to La- Porte county and located upon the land which he had previously purchased. He took up his abode here in 1870, began the improvement of the farm and has since devoted his time and energies to agricultural pursuits. His farm comprises two hundred acres of rich and arable soil, which is now highlyy cultivated, and upon the place are all modern equipments and accessories that con- stitute a model farm.

On the 6th of April, 1873, Mr. Dempsey was united in marriage to Miss Mary Laffey, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, and reared in South Bend, Indiana, a daughter of Michael Laffey.

Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey have eight living chil- dren : John, Mary, Thomas, Agnes, William, Loretta, Joseph and Morris. John is a resident of South Bend, where he is engaged in the livery business. Thomas is a stock buyer in Jasper county, Indiana, and the other members of the family are at home. They are all members of the Catholic church, having been reared in that faith. Mr. Dempsey is independent in his political views, and votes for the men whom he regards as best qualified for office. For four years he served as constable and for nine years as supervisor. He is widely known in his community, and having long been a resident of LaPorte county has a large and favorable acquaintance because he has never done anything to forfeit public regard.

HIRAM BEMENT, who is engaged in gen- eral farming on section 15, Galena township, was born in Wayne county, New York, on the 20th of July, 1833. His father, Hiram Bement, was a native of Bradford, New Hampshire, and there remained until after his marriage. His father, Samuel Bement, was of French descent. The mother of our subject was in her maindenhood Miss Sarah Collins. She was likewise born in the old Granite state and was of German lineage. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Bement, Sr., removed to the Empire state, and subsequently came to Indiana, settling in 1834 in LaPorte county, upon the farm where their son Hiram now resides. There he secured a tract of land from the government which was entirely unimproved, and after building a log cabin in order to provide shelter for his family began clearing and cultivating his land, which he trans- formed into rich fields with the assistance of his sons. There he continued to reside throughout his remaining days, and was widely known as a most enterprising and prosperous agriculturist. His political support was given to the Democracy, and he served as justice of the peace. To him and his wife were born five sons and three daugh- ters, and all reached adult age.

Hiram Bement, who is the youngest of the family and the only one living in La Porte county, was but a year old at the time of the arrival of the family here. He was reared on the old home- stead farm, and his educational privileges were such as were afforded in the primitive log school- houses of that early day. His training at farm labor, however, was not meager, for in his youth he largely assisted in the working of the farm, in clearing the land and in improving the field, which in due course of time rewarded his efforts

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Hiram Bement

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by abundant harvests. He remained at home up to the time of his marriage to his present wife. This occurred in 1878, the lady of his choice be- ing Miss Harriet Warner, who was born in Ga- lena township, LaPorte county on the 25th of January, 1841, and is a daughter of David and Almira (Weed) Warner, who were early set- tlers of LaPorte county, coming from New York about 1836. Mrs. Bement is the eldest of their six children, of whom three died in infancy. She spent her girlhood days under the parental roof, and has lived the greater part of her life in Ga- lena township.

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 105

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