A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 110

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

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Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In the Anderson family were four sons and two daughters, of whom August Z. was the third.

With one exception all are yet living, namely : John, who is married and is a prosperous agri- culturist residing near Carlisle, Indiana; August ; Robert, a successful farmer, who is married and resides near Wausau, Wisconsin; Oscar, who is married and is a carpenter and joiner of Minto, North Dakota; and Sophia, the wife of S. E. Nel- son, a merchant residing on California avenue, in Chicago, Illinois.

August Z. Anderson has been a resident of LaPorte county since 1869, and his education was acquired in both the Swedish and English tongues. When only thirteen years of age he began to make his own way in the world, and was employed for three years as a farm hand, remaining in the service of one man, who gave him ten dollars per month for the first year, eleven for the second and twelve for the third year. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Anna Anderson, the wedding being celebrated on the 27th of April, 1881. She was born in LaPorte county, October 27, 1859, pur- sued her studies in Swedish and in English, and by home training was well fitted to take up the task of managing her own household. She is the younger of two children born to P. J. and Charlotte (Johnson) Anderson, her brother be- ing William Anderson, a farmer residing near Portland, Oregon, and who was formerly a coal and wood merchant, but now devotes his energies to agricultural pursuits and to the dairy business. Her father was born in Knonoberg, Sweden, about 1833, and died October 10, 1890. He was a farmer by occupation, and was but nineteen years of age when, in 1852, he came to America, a poor but industrious young man. As the years passed, however, he became a successful farmer of New Durham township. His nature was kindly and charitable, and he was very generous in his gifts to the poor and needy. His wife was born near Gottenburg, Sweden, about 1836, and died in 1863, at the age of twenty-seven years.

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson began their domestic life at Burdick, Indiana, upon a tract of rented land, and although they were very industrious and energetic ten years had passed before they had accumulated enough money to allow of the purchase of a farm of their own. On the expira- tion of that period, however, Mr. Anderson bought one hundred and ten acres of land in New Durham township, to which he afterward added twenty-seven acres and later eighty acres. He is therefore to-day the owner of a valuable es- tate, and his farm is well improved with modern equipments, being supplied with the latest im-

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proved machinery and all things necessary to facilitate the farm work.

To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been born eight children, four sons and four daughters, and seven are yet living. Lurella B., who was edu- cated in the common schools and in the Valpa- raiso normal school, is now a stenographer in the employ of the firm of Powers, Higley & Com- pany, dealers in educational supplies ; she has also studied instrumental music. Arvid V., having completed the common school course, has been a student in the Valparaiso normal and is now studying telegraphy. Lottie R., who has also given some attention to the study of instrumental music, has completed the work of the tenth grade in the public schools. Willie J., who has finished the eighth grade; Elmer T., Edith C. and Lefler R. are at home, and are pursuing their studies in the public schools.

Mr. Anderson is a stanch Republican who has given unfaltering support to the party since casting his first presidential vote for James A. Garfield. He and his wife are members of the Swedish Lutheran church of LaPorte, he having been confirmed at the age of thirteen years, his wife when fourteen years of age. They are lead- ing Swedish-American citizens of New Durham township, and there is much in their life records that commends them to the friendship and favor of their fellow citizens. Mr. Anderson deserves all the credit that is implied in the term "a self- made man," for he has depended entirely upon his own resources and has not only won success but also made for himself an honored name.

ALBERT S. HALL was fifty-two years of age at the time of his death, but, though his life record was much briefer than that allotted to many men, he yet accomplished an amount of work such as is performed by only a limited number of the representatives of business inter- ests. Throughout all he maintained an unassail- able reputation, for he never incurred an obliga- tion that he did not meet or made an engagement that he did not fill. His word was considered as good as any bond that was solemnized by signa- ture or seal, and his efforts were always of a practical, progressive nature that benefited the city and county while at the same time advancing his individual success. Death often removes from our midst those whom we can ill afford to lose, and it was with a feeling of sincerest regret and. deepest sorrow that the majority of LaPorte county's citizens heard of the demise of Mr. Hall. Much of the work which he did, however, still

remains as an active factor in the business life of the city, while his memory is still enshrined in the hearts of those who knew him.

Albert S. Hall was born in Scipio township, September 19, 1840, a son of Jacob R. and Catha- rine (Martin) Hall, the father a native of Vir- ginia. His grandfather, Thomas Hall, was also a native of the Old Dominion, and in the early years of his manhood worked as a shipbuilder, but later turned his attention to agricultural in- terests. His death occurred in 1821, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-years. He was a son of Samuel Hall, who was born in the north of England and was of Scotch lineage. Samuel Hall became the progenitor of the fam- ily in the new world. Thinking that he might benefit his financial conditions on this side of the Atlantic, he bade adieu to his native country and sailed for the new world, establishing his home in Bridgewater, Virginia. He was a shipbuilder by trade. His son, Joseph Hall, a brother of Thomas Hall, gained distinction as a soldier un- der General Washington in the Revolutionary war, while Lyman Hall, another member of the family, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The coat of arms of this branch of the Hall family bears the inscription Turpiter Desperatur (despair is base). Samuel Hall was also a cousin of Dr. John Hall, of England. who wedded Susan . Shakespeare, a cousin of the world's greatest poet, William Shakespeare, and the signet ring which solemnized their marriage is still among the Shakespeare relics at Stratford- on-Avon. Both Dr. Hall and his wife lie buried beside the great dramatist. Of the twenty-five barons who were chosen to draw up the Magna Charta, nine were direct ancestors of the Hall family, and one of them was a signer of that document. It will thus be seen that Mr. Hall is descended from honorable and distinguished ancestry dating back several generations.

The home farm was Albert S. Hall's play- ground and his training school for life's practical duties. He pursued his literary education in the public schools, but through the summer months assisted in the labors of the fields and gained a practical knowledge of the best methods of culti- vating crops. After attaining his maturity he resolved to make farming his life work. and through admirable business methods, unfaltering diligence and strong purpose he won for himself a valuable property in Scipio township, compris- ing at his death seven hundred acres of rich and arable land. All this is indicative of a life of ac- tivity. He was constantly alert to note business

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openings and opportunities, and while he was never known to take advantage of the necessities of his fellow men in any trade transaction, he yet improved his advantages and won for himself most gratifying prosperity as well as an honored name. In 1880 he removed his residence to La- Porte, where he continued to make his home until his death, which occurred on the 13th of De- cember, 1892. The city profited by his labors, for he became a co-operant factor in the material improvement and upbuilding of the town. He was a member of the firm of Hall, Weaver & Company, proprietors of the Bank of Indiana, and succeeded in placing this on a most safe basis, the business policy which was inaugurated win- ning for the institution a liberal patronage. In 1881 Mr. Hall erected what became known as Hall's Opera House, this furnishing a desirable place of entertainment. His aid was often sought for the furtherance of movements for the gen- eral good, and he gave his endorsement quickly to any measure which he deemed would prove of permanent benefit to the city. He was a man of broad sympathies and expansive ideas, and his influence in the district in which he was born and reared and in which his entire life was passed was a progressive and enlightened one.

Mr. Hall was twice married. In the year 1864 he wedded Miss Sarah Rogers, and for twelve years they traveled life's journey happily to- gether, but in June, 1876, Mrs .. Hall was called to her final rest. In October, 1878, he was again married, his second union being with Miss Mat- tie J. Gish, a daughter of C. P. Gish, one of the early residents of St. Joseph county, Indiana, their marriage occurring in South . Bend. Mrs. Hall still survives him, and after the death of her first husband she wedded Stephen E. Hall, who is also now deceased. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Albert S. Hall. The daughter, Miss Linda Hall, graduated from the LaPorte high school, and has gained an excellent reputa- tion as an artist in water colors and china paint- ing. Mary Edith is now Mrs. Earle T. Jenney, and resides in Cleveland, Ohio. The son of the family, Wilbur J. Hall, is now the manager of Hall's Opera House, which of late years has be- come one of the most prominent theaters in northern Indiana, booking the best metropolitan attractions during each season.

JOHN G. SCHWEITZER. The business interests of Union Mills are well represented by John G. Schweitzer, who is engaged in the fur- niture and undertaking business and is also filling

the position of postmaster. He is a wide-awake, progressive business man, and his diligence and labor have brought to him a fair measure of pros- perity. He was born in LaPorte on the 12th of July, 1867, and is a son of Frederick and Chris- tina (Hoch) Schweitzer, both of whom were na- tives of German, the former born in 1834, the lat- ter in 1833. His father was a gardener by occu- pation, and he and his wife are still living, making their home in LaPorte. They had but two chil- dren, John G. being the elder. The second son is Gustave A. Schweitzer, who was born in La- Porte, July 5, 1872, and is now a traveling sales- man, representing a wholesale grocery house.

John G. Schweitzer acquired his early educa- tion in the schools of LaPorte and also attended the high school there and a German school. He put aside his text books, however, when thirteen years of age and began working in a cigar fac- tory, while later he was employed in a carriage painting establishment, and afterward in a bak- ery, his entire services in these three positions, however, covering only about a year. On the ex- piration of that period he entered the employ of W. C. Weir, of LaPorte, and found here another occupation which was congenial to him. He thus became well informed concerning the furniture trade, learned the business in its various depart- ments and in 1888 came from LaPorte to Union Mills, and his efforts have been attended with success. He is thoroughly conversant with the details of the embalming art. He graduated in the United States Embalming School of Chicago about 1898, and he had the practical experience of this business years previous. He also holds a state license in both Indiana and Illinois. Once he suffered a heavy loss, his store being destroyed by fire in 1901, at which time he carried an in- surance covering about one half of the amount, his loss being about one thousand dollars. He has persevered and is now enjoying a large pat- ronage, because his business methods are honor- able and the stock of goods which he carries is such as is in demand by a general trade.

In December, 1894, Mr. Schweitzer was united in marriage at Wellsboro, LaPorte county, to Miss Fredericka Miller, and their union has been blessed with two children: Theodore, born on the 5th of July, 1896; and Mary, born January 15, 1903. Mr. Schweitzer gives his political alle- giance to the Republican party, and is a member of the Odd Fellows society, the Masonic fraternity and the Emanuel Aid Society, a German organi- zation of LaPorte. As a public-spirited and pro- gressive citizen he is deeply interested in every-

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thing pertaining to the welfare and progress of the town and county, and gives his support to every measure that he believes will contribute to the general good. His life has been a busy and active one, and as the years have passed he has made progress along the line of financial success.

AUGUST SIEGELE was closely identified with the business interests of Michigan City for many years, and was numbered among its hon- ored pioneer citizens. He was born in Mertz- sich, Germany, December 28, 1822, and in the land of his nativity was reared and received his education, later becoming the proprietor of a soap factory and store. In 1846 he was united in mar- riage to Miss Katharina Goerg, a daughter of Peter and Margaretta (Burgechuar) Goerg, the former of whom was a miller and saloon-keeper in Germany, and in the fatherland both he and his wife were born and died. They became the parents of five sons and three daughters, only two of whom are now living,-Johana, who lives in Germany, and Mrs. Siegele.

Eighteen years after the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Siegele, a daughter, Cornelia, was born to them, but she died when only three months and eleven days old. Two years after their marriage they left their little German home and crossed the Atlantic to America, and their first two years in this country were spent in Chicago, after which they took up their abode in Michigan City. After locating here Mr. Siegele embarked in various undertakings, having conducted a brick yard, was for a time proprietor of a meat market and gen- eral store, and in many ways identified himself with the business life of the city of his adoption. He came here before the advent of the railroad, making his way from New Buffalo by wagon, the journey being performed with great difficulty on account of the deep sand and bad roads. For several years he owned property in Chicago, and in all his undertakings prosperity attended his efforts, and at the time of his death he occupied a foremost place among the prominent residents of Michigan City. He was a kind-hearted and benevolent man, and won the love and respect of a large circle of friends. His life's labors were ended in death on the 3d of October, 1896, when nearly seventy-four years of age, passing away in the faith of the Roman Catholic church. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and for one term served as a member of the council of this city. On the expiration of his term of service there he and his wife visited their old home in

Germany, viewing again the scenes of their youth, and remaining for one year.

Mrs. Siegele was born in Germany on the 13th of December, 1827, and she still survives her husband, having now reached the age of seventy-six years. She is numbered among the honored and esteemed pioneers of Michigan City, which has been her home for fifty-three years, and the Siegele homestead is located at 112 West Fourth street. She is also a member of the Roman Catholic church. Like her husband, she shares in the warm regard of many friends, and is loved and honored for her many noble characteristics.

CHRISTIAN KUSS, who was a successful farmer for forty-five years on section 28, Cass township, but is now retired and makes his home in Wanatah, was born in the province of Posen, Germany, January 20, 1830. He was reared and educated in his native place, attending the com- mon school from six to fourteen and for the fol- lowing two years the parochial school. At the age of sixteen he entered an office as clerk, but remained only one year, and was then at home for two years. In 1854 he came to America alone, with the intention of making a home and fortune in the new world of which he had heard so much. From New York city he came directly to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was there from spring till fall, when he came to LaPorte county.

On arriving in LaPorte county Mr. Kuss at first did public work in ditching the Kankakce swamps, as the land in the southern part of the county was then known, but it has since become some of the most valuable and productive farming land. in the county. After being em- ployed in this way for four years he bought one hundred and sixty acres in section 28, Cass town- ship, and this was the scene of his successful en- deavors until very recently. When he first bought the land it was perfectly raw and unimproved, but two years later he had built a comfortable house, had placed substantial fences where needed and had already laid the foundation of a fine farm. In time he added more land, and now has a farm of two hundred and twenty-eight acres of as good land as there is in the vicinity. His operations were confined to general farming and the raising of some stock, and his industry and frugal methods and careful management were re- sponsible for steady progress and a prosperous outcome of his long career.

Mr. Kuss was married March 4, 1859, to Miss Matilda Fralich, who was born and reared in

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Posen, Germany. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kuss, and nine are living : Paulina, who resides in Wanatah, Indiana; Emma, wife of William Weise; Louis, who married Sadie English; Emile, who married Clara Fenske; Otto, who married Lillie Fenske; Albert, who married Oria Bunda; Lena, wife of Charles Fenske; Charles, who married Freda Helnach; Clarence, unmarried, in the First National bank at Hammond, Indiana; and Albert, who died young, and Rudolph, who died at the age of eighteen. All these children were born in Cass township.

Mr. Kuss is to be reckoned among the old settlers of LaPorte county, for nearly fifty years have passed since he first came to this section of northern Indiana, and during that time the greater part of its substantial progress has been made. He has borne his share of the duties of American citizenship, and he has been a willing worker wherever his help could be used to ad- vance the interests of his community outside of the performance of his individual .work. He has been a stanch Republican since the organiza- tion of that great political body. He has a nice home in Wanatah, and he and his wife are active in the work of the Wanatah Evangelical church, in which he is a trustee.

CHARLES E. HALL, a well known farmer living near LaPorte, Indiana, was born on the 3Ist of October, 1873, in LaPorte county, Indiana, his parents being Albert Stevenson and Sarah (Rogers) Hall, both natives of Scipio township, this county. His father, who was a farmer by occupation, was born in September, 1840, and died on the 13th of December, 1892. His mother's birth also occurred in 1840, and she passed away in 1876. They were the parents of four children, as follows: George, who was born in 1865 and died in 1876; Kate, who was born in 1866; Frank, who was born in 1861, and died in 1876; and Charles E. Mr. Hall's paternal grandparents were Jacob R. and Sarah (Martin) Hall, the former of whom was born in 1807 and died in 1872, and the latter was born in 1812 and died in 1878. Among their children were Caroline, Albert, Lon and William.

Charles E. Hall was given good educational advantages during his boyhood and youth, and was graduated at Homer College of LaPorte, on the completion of a business course. On enter- ing upon his business career, he was employed in the office of Niles, Scott & Company, of La- Porte, Indiana, for one year, and for a year and a

half held a position at Pullman, Illinois. He was next with the LaPorte Carriage Company until 1893, when he turned his attention to farming, and has since engaged in that pursuit with marked success. He is a wide-awake, energetic young man and is thoroughly conversant with every de- partment of farm work.

On the 5th of August, 1896, at LaPorte, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hall and Miss May Bell Story, who was born at Schuyler Lake, New York, May 9, 1878, but has lived in this county for twenty years. Her parents are Ed- ward and Fannie (Blair) Story, now residents of LaPorte. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have three interest- ing children : Albert, born November 19, 1897; Harry, born July 17, 1899; and Helen Lucile, born January 17, 1903. In his political affilia- tions Mr. Hall is a Republican, and he takes a deep interest in public affairs, as every true American citizen should do.

VIRGIL W. BARTHOLOMEW, who is en- gaged in the hardware business at 619 Franklin street, in Michigan City, is a worthy and highly respected representative of commercial interests in the northern part of the county. He was born in Greensburg, Indiana, January 13, 1847. The family is of English origin and was founded in America at an early epoch in the development of this country. Levi Bartholomew, the pater- nal grandfather, was born in Connecticut in 1769, and died in the east in the year 1837. Dr. Samuel C. Bartholomew, the father of Virgil W. Bartholomew, was born in the Green Moun- tain state, June 21, 1801, and became a physician and surgeon whose skill secured him a liberal patronage. He married Miss Sarah Ann Thomas, a native of New York, as was her father, who followed farming in Chenango county, and died in the Empire state when in advanced life. About the year 1840 Dr. Bartholomew left the east and emigrated to Indiana, locating in the southern part of the state, where he remained until 1849, when he removed to Berrien Springs, Michigan. For several years he continued an active factor for good in the world, carrying cheer and en- couragement into many a sickroom, where he ministered to the suffering, and then was called to his final rest in 1852. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Ann Thomas, was born in the state of New York in 1813, and survived her husband until 1874, dying at the age of sixty-one years. Both were active members of the Metho- dist church and were earnest Christian people, winning the respect of their fellow men because

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of their upright lives. Six children were born to them, three sons and three daughters, of whom four are now living : Elizabeth, the wife of N. J. Davis, of New Orleans, Louisiana ; Martha B., the wife of L. C. Leeds, of Dallas, Texas; Virgil W .; and Marie, the wife of John Johnson, of Berrien Springs, Michigan.

When but two years old Virgil W. Bartholo- mew was taken by his parents to Berrien Springs, Michigan, where he remained until he attained the age of fifteen years, and during that time at- tended the public schools, while later he became a student in the Northern Indiana College, at South Bend, this state. He afterward prepared for a business career by learning the tinner's trade, at St. Joseph, Michigan, and with the ex- ception of ten years spent upon a farm near LaPorte, Indiana, prior to 1879, he has been con- tinuously engaged in the hardware business since completing his apprenticeship. He conducted a store in Hendricks county for two years, and dur- ing the past twenty-four years has been proprie- tor of a store in Michigan City, where he is now enjoying a large trade. He has one of the neat- est and best equipped hardware stores to be found outside of the large cities and carries a large line of shelf and heavy hardware. He is now enjoy- ing a good trade, his two sons, Louis and Fred, being associated with him as partners in the store.

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 110

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