A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 112

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 112

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WALTER OFFLEY LEEDS. Through the death of this honorable citizen Michigan City and LaPorte county sustained an irreparable loss and was deprived of the presence of one it had come to look upon as a guardian, benefactor and friend. Mr. Leeds' career, both business and social, served as a model to the young and an inspiration to the aged. He shed a brightness around everything with which he came in con- tact. By his usefulness and general helpfulness he created a memory whose perpetuation does not depend upon brick and stone but upon the spon- taneous and freewill offering of a grateful and enlightened people. His labors as a real estate dealer and business man largely promoted the substantial improvement of Michigan City, and he also endorsed many measures for the public good and co-operated frequently in the move- ments for the upbuilding of the city.

Mr. Leeds was born at Egg Harbor, New Jer- sey, February 21, 1833, a son of Offley and Char- lotte Lowe (Ridgeway) Leeds, also natives of New Jersey. The family was founded in America by Daniel Leeds, who came to this country from the city of Leeds, England, and settled in New Jersey. He spent much time among the Indians, and, being a most generous man, it is said that he became poor because of his frequent and liberal gifts to the red men. He was the paternal grand- father of W. O. Leeds. The latter's father was a miller and merchant of New Jersey, and at a very early day emigrated westward, settling in Chicago when it was a very small town upon the wet prairie, it being four years before the city was incorporated. There he traded with the Indians for a time, but thinking Chicago too much of a swamp he removed to Michigan City, established his home here and began dealing in real estate. He bought thousands of acres of

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land for a dollar and a quarter per acre, and spent the remainder of his life here, becoming a very prominent and influential citizen. He not only was one of the upbuilders of the place, but con- tributed materially to the development of this part of the state. He died when visiting in LaPorte, when sixty-two years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Charlotte Lowe Ridgeway, was also a native of New Jersey and was a daughter of Jeremiah Ridgeway, a native of England, who on crossing the Atlantic to America settled in New Jersey. There he spent his remaining days. He was a merchant, and through that avenue of business provided for his family, consisting of wife and four children. His religious belief was that of the Society of Friends. His daughter, Mrs. Leeds, passed away in 1857. By her marriage she became the mother of two sons and a daughter-Alfred, Carolina and Wal- ter, all now deceased.

Walter Offley Leeds was an infant when brought by his parents to the west, and the greater part of his life was passed in Michigan City. He pursued his education in its public schools, and as he grew to manhood he assisted his father in the care and management of his real estate interests, and eventually engaged in real estate operation on his own account. He nego- tiated many important real estate transfers, handled much valuable property and made judi- cious purchases and advantageous sales, so that he realized a handsome return from his invested capital and his labor.

On the 31st of January, 1870, Mr. Leeds was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Amelia Dy- sart, a daughter of John and Esther (Turner) Dysart. Her paternal grandfather, John Dysart, Sr., died in Ireland in middle life. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Jane Swan, long survived him, and coming to America spent her last days in Michigan City, where she died at an advanced age. They were the parents of six children. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Leeds was James Turner, who was born in the north of Ireland and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He became a lawyer and practiced his profession in the northern part of the Emerald Isle until his death. His wife also died there. They were the parents of four children.

John Dysart, the father of Mrs. Leeds, was a native of Dublin, Ireland, born in 1808, and in the year 1833 he crossed the Atlantic to the land of the free, settling in New York city. He was engaged on the survey of the Erie Railroad dur- ing the first two years of his residence here, and

in 1837 he came to Michigan City, Indiana, where he remained until called to the home beyond. He came here with a corps of engineers engaged in surveying the line of the Lake Shore Railroad, and became one of the best known and most in- fluential men of this community. He married Miss Esther Turner, of New York, who was born in 1814, and they became the parents of twelve children, seven of whom are yet living. His death occurred in 1899, when he was in his ninety-first year, and his wife passed away in 1882, at the age of sixty-eight years. Both were members of the Episcopal church. During the carly years of his residence in LaPorte county, Mr. Dysart served as township supervisor and trustee, and he always gave his political support to the Republican party from the time of its or- ganization. He was a well read man, keeping informed upon the questions and current topics of the day, political and otherwise, and, possess- ing a remarkably retentive memory, he stored up a great fund of knowledge largely touching the country's history and progress. Always good- natured, he possessed a very genial disposition, and was very fond of humorous readings or of relating a joke. His sense of humor was highly developed, and his hearty laugh or merry tale often restored good nature to his comrades. His was one of those cheery natures which shed around them much of the sunshine of life. He was also ever honorable and conscientious, a warm friend and a faithful citizen.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Leeds: Caroline Charlotte, Offley Walter and Caroline Amelia, but the former named daughter passed away at the age of fourteen years. Upon his father's death the son assumed control of the business. which he has since managed, and he resides at home with his sister and his mother.

It was in 1896 that the family were called to mourn the loss of the husband and father, who passed away on the 13th of December of that year, at the age of sixty-four. He had been reared in the Quaker faith, but had become a Spiritualist, and was connected with that sect until his demise. At the time of the Civil war he had manifested his loyalty to the Union cause by enlisting in the Twenty-eighth Indiana In- fantry, and served as a private for one hundred days in the latter part of the war. After the close of hostilities he returned to his home in Michigan City and resumed his real estate operations, in which he continued up to the time of his death. His political support was given to no one party, and he voted according to the dictates of his judg-

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ment. For one term he served as city council- man, but while he never desired or held other office, he was always earnest and helpful in his support of public measures for the benefit of the city with which he was so closely connected from his early boyhood days, and in which his interest therefore centered. He held friendship invio- lable, and to his family was a most devoted hus- band and father.

JAMES T. HERROLD, a successful young farmer about four mile from Westville, LaPorte county, is one of the native born citizens of this county, and comes of a highly respected family, whose origin is traced back to German ancestry. His parents were Joseph and Elizabeth (Glass) Herrold, the former a native of the Buckeye state, where he was reared to the calling of a farmer, which he followed till he enlisted for service in the Civil war, during which he was killed, at the battle of Munfordville, Kentucky. He was a Republican, and was a member of the Methodist church. His wife was born in Fulton county, Pennsylvania, July 29, 1836, and was a young lady when she came to Indiana. She was a kind and affectionate mother, possessed of the social graces, and was a member of the Methodist church. She died in New Durham township, and a beautiful monument marks her last resting place.

James T. Herrold was one of two children, and was born in New Durham township, La- Porte county, February 2, 1860, being only two years of age at the time of his father's death. He received a common school education in this county, and agricultural pursuits have from the first been his principal occupation, although his special aptitude is along mechanical lines. Since the age of ten he has resided on the old home- stead of seventy acres in section 13, with another tract of one hundred and forty-five acres in the same township, seven miles from LaPorte and four and a half miles from Westville. The old home is a cosy place, and Mr. Herrold and his wife enjoy there the friendship and esteem of many friends. He has made a success of his work, and his progress has been steady from the start.

On March 2, 1893, Mr. Herrold married Rose Belle Maxwell, who was born in LaPorte county, September 12, 1868, and is the elder of the two children of William and Eliza (Tuley) Maxwell, her brother, George Maxwell, being a farmer of New Durham township, and a Democrat. She was reared in this county, and attended the public

schools, completing her education in the St. Rose Academy at LaPorte. At the age of seventeen she was granted a teacher's certificate, and for the following seven years was a popular and successful teacher in Porter and LaPorte coun- ties. She was one of those who put inspiration into their work, and she has always been suc- cessful in handling children. She took active part in the teachers' institutes and in all lines of educational work. She is now a member of the Queen Hive No. 17, L. O. T. M., at Westville, and held the office of finance keeper for two years ; is also a member of the Martin Relief Corps No. 130, at Westville, of which she was secretary : and belongs to Silver Lodge No. 183, of the Rebekahs, at Westville. In 1894 she placed her letter in the Methodist church, and is now an earnest worker in the Sunday-school, where her previous experience in training children has made her a power for good.

William Maxwell, Mrs. Herrold's father, was born in LaPorte county in 1837, of Scotch-Irish lineage, and is still a robust and active man, liv- ing in New Durham township. He has spent most of his life in this county, and has seen the the county when it was just advancing out of its primitive wilderness. In politics he is a Jackson Democrat. His wife was born in this county, January 20, 1842, and is still living.

Mr. Herrold, like his forefathers, is a good Democrat, and cast his first vote for Cleveland in 1884. He is a member of Lodge No. 136, I. O. O. F., at Westville, and in all the relations of life, in business, in politics, in fraternal and social circles, has shown himself to be possessed of more than mediocre ability and influence.

HENRY W. JOHNSON. There is, in the anxious and laborious struggle for an honorable competence and a solid career of the business or professional fighting of the every-day battle of life, but little to attract the idle reader in search of a sensational chapter; but for a mind thor- oughly awake to the reality and meaning of human existence, there are noble and immortal lessons in the life of the man, who, without other means than a clear head, a strong arm and a true heart, conquers adversity, and, toiling on through the work-a-day years of a long career finds that he has won not only wealth but also something far greater and higher-the deserved respect and esteem of those with whom his years of active life placed him in contact.

Mr. Johnson, now the vice president of the J. S. Ford-Johnson Company, chair manufac-

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turers of Michigan City, Indiana, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 1, 1834, his parents being James E. and Emily B. (Burke) Johnson, the former a native of Virginia, while the latter was born in the Keystone state. Far- ther back than this, however, can the ancestry of the family be traced. The paternal grandfather was Hugh Johnson, a native of the Old Do- minion and a farmer by occupation. At the time of the war of 1812 he put aside all business and personal considerations and joined the army, but died from camp fever when but forty-four years of age. His wife bore the maiden name of Jane. Erskine, who died when well advanced in years. This worthy couple reared a large family. It was to this branch of the Johnson family that Joseph E. Johnson and Colonel Dick Johnson belonged. The maternal grandfather of Henry W. Johnson was John Burke, who was born in Pennsylvania and was of English lineage. He wedded Rebecca Cruzen, and to them were born two sons and two daughters. Mr. Burke died in middle life, but his wife lived to an advanced age.

James E. Johnson was a carpenter and builder, following that pursuit in early life. Later, however, he became a farmer, devoting his atten- tion to the tilling of the soil in Middlefield, Geauga county, Ohio. There he died in the year 1870, when seventy years of age, while his wife long survived him and passed away in 1895 at the age of eighty-four years. Both were consist- ent and faithful members of the Methodist church. In their family were six sons and two daughters, and five of the number are now living : Henry W .; Mary, the widow of Asher Furrow, of Burton, Geauga county, Ohio; Emma, the wife of Rev. Bailey S. Dean, who is vice president of Hiram College; Ernest C., of Los Angeles, Cali- fornia ; and Arthur C., of Albany, New York.

Henry W. Johnson was a little lad of only six summers when his parents removed from Pennsylvania to Geauga county, Ohio, where he was reared to manhood on the home farm. There he entered the district schools, wherein he mas- tered the common branches of English learning, and later he spent four years as a student under President Garfield in Hiram College. He con- tinued in that institution until 1861, when, aroused by the attempt of the south to overthrow the Union, he manifested his patriotism by en- listing in response to the first call of President Lincoln for troops. He was enrolled as a member of Company B, Forty-first Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and continued in the army until 1866, when he was mustered out. He took part in

every battle of the Army of the Cumberland, and was in active duty throughout the period of hostilities. Mr. Johnson enlisted as a private, but as soon as the company was organized he was elected second lieutenant, was later promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, and subsequently became captain of Company C. Later he was brevetted major in recognition of meritorious service and afterward was made full major in the staff corps. He took part in many of the most prominent engagements of the entire war, begin- ning at Shiloh. He was present at the capture of Atlanta, having participated in the campaign from Chattanooga to Atlanta. He never faltered in any task assigned him, but faithfully performed every duty and was a most valiant defender of the starry banner of the nation.

Following the close of hostilities Mr. Johnson went to Columbus, Ohio, where he entered upon his business career as a manufacturer of chairs, and it was during his residence in that city that he was married. In 1868 he came to Michigan City as a member of the firm of Ford & John- son, which firm was organized in Columbus, Ohio, January 1, 1867. They established the business which was the nucleus of the present large chair manufacturing enterprise of Michigan City. At first they employed prison labor, taking one hun- dred men from the state, but they found that such workmen could not make the high grade of goods which were in demand, and in 1881 they built a factory sixty feet long by forty feet in width and employed other operatives. Something of the growth of their business may be imagined from the fact that they have been compelled to enlarge their building until it is now nine hundred feet long by sixty feet in width and four stories in height. Employment is furnished to about seven hundred and fifty men, and the enterprise is one of the most important in northern Indiana. In addition to their factory in this place they have a large warehouse in Chicago in which they have one hundred and fifty employes. Their manu- factured product is shipped extensively to all parts of the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. The officers are John S. Ford, president, Henry W. Johnson, vice president, Charles C. Ruggles, second vice president, Reuben A. Hitchcock, treasurer, Henry V. Hitch- cock, assistant treasurer, and William Ford John- son, general secretary. Of these John S. Ford, Reuben A. Hitchcock, Charles C. Ruggles and William Ford Johnson are all residents of Chi- cago, while the others reside in Michigan City.

Mr. Johnson is also the vice president of the

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Western Cane Seating Company of Michigan City, in which plant two hundred and fifty people are employed. Of this company John S. Ford is president and the treasurer is Henry V. Hitch- cock, while A. N. Gittings is secretary. The ex- pansion and development of the extensive manu- factories with which Mr. Johnson is connected is largely due to his enterprise, capability and recognition of business opportunities. He is also a director in the Citizens' Bank.

On the Ist of January, 1867, at Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Annetta Ford, a daughter of Colonel Stephen Ford and Eunice (Briggs) Ford. They have become the parents of six children : Emma F., William F., Edward F., Helen F., Margaret F. and Alice F., all bearing for their middle name the mother's family name of Ford. The eldest daughter is the wife of Harold Van Meter Ogden, and they reside in Michigan City. William mar- ried Harriet Wheeler, and is living in Chicago. Edward is engaged in the (insurance business in Chicago. Alice F. is now Mrs. Samuel J. Watson, and the other children are at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson hold membership in the Presbyterian church, as do also their six children. They are very prominent and active in its work, contribute generously to its support, and Mr. Johnson, who has served as an elder in the church for a third of a century, was one of the organizers of the first Presbyterian church of Michigan City. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic lodge, having been raised to the de- gree of a master Mason prior to the Civil war. Mr. Johnson is a member of the George V. Raw- son Post No. 46, G. A. R., at Michigan City, and a companion of the Military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Commandery of the State of Illinois, and of which bodies he was one of the early and leading members. Politi- cally, he has always been a stanch Republican since casting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont in 1856. For three terms he was a member of the Michigan City school board.

Mr. Johnson is a man to whom the most en- vious can scarcely grudge success, so well has he earned it, so admirably does he use it, so entirely does he lack pride of purse. He is kind, un- affected and approachable, and every comer has a claim upon his courteous attention. There has been nothing sensational in his career, every step has been thoughtfully and deliberately made, and every advance has been at the cost of hard and self-denying labor. Born to lead, his great ex- perience makes him a safe counselor and guide.

He stands to-day in his mature years a strong man, strong in the consciousness of well spent years, strong to plan and perform, strong in his credit and good name and a worthy example for young men to pattern after.

FABIAN MATOTT, an old resident and a Civil war veteran of LaPorte county, has had a most honorable and praiseworthy career in busi- ness, civil and social life. He is the son of Fran- cis and Mary (La Fortune) Matott. The father of the latter, Benjamin La Fortune, came from northern France, and served in the Revolutionary war under General Lafayette. He married and settled in Clinton county, New York, where his daughter Mary was born in 1804, and she passed away many years ago. Francis Matott was also born in Clinton county, New York, in 1798, and he lived to be a centenarian, dying in 1898. He was reared and received a common school edu- cation in Clinton county, and followed the occu- pations of farmer and sawyer, managing by his thrift and industry to accumulate about two hun- dred acres of land. He was a Whig in politics, and afterwards joined the Republicans.

Thirteen children were born to Francis and Mary (La Fortune) Matott, and the following are yet living: Andrew, who was in the Civil war, is a farmer and widower of Chippewa county, Wisconsin ; Nelson, also a soldier in the Civil war, is a mechanic, residing in Manchester, New Hampshire; Peter, a mechanic, resides in Manchester, New Hampshire; Fabian is next in age; Adelaide resides in Clinton county, New York; Mary is the wife of Mr. Forsett, a farmer of Coopersville, New York; Sophronia lives in Clinton county, as does also Julia.

Fabian Matott was born in Clinton county. New York, January 6, 1833. He remained at home with his parents till the age of fourteen, when he started out to make his fortune in the west. He earned nine dollars by working on the Erie canal at Fort Miller, and thence came to Buffalo, from there to Detroit, to Michigan City, Indiana, and arrived in Valparaiso a poor and un- known boy. He worked for Judge Anthony for a few days, worked for a time on the new railroad building through there, and then for the follow- ing fifteen years drove stage between Valparaiso and LaPorte. He was thus acquainted with the northern part of Indiana in its pioneer epoch. and has been identified with much of its subsequent development.

August 14, 1861, at President Lincoln's sec- ond call for troops, Mr. Matott enlisted in Com-

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pany H, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, at LaPorte, Indiana. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland and was sent to Cheat Mountain, West Virginia, being under the command of Colonel (afterward Brigadier Gen- eral) Milroy and General Reynolds. He was in the battle of Greenbrier and Pittsburg Landing and in the latter engagement the second finger of his left hand was injured by the splintering of his musket stock and a spent canister shot struck him on the neck and knocked him down, so that he was reported among the killed, although he was soon able for duty again. He was in the battle at Corinth, then went to Perryville, Ken- tucky, in pursuit of Bragg, and was in the suc- ceeding battles of Stone River, Murfreesboro, and in both days at Chickamauga. He was never taken prisoner, and served his full three years, receiving an honorable discharge September 6, 1864, at Chattanooga, whence he came to his home in Westville, Indiana. He soon afterward took a trip back to his old home, but then returned to Indiana and settled down to making a liveli- hood for himself and performing the duties of citizenship. He at present resides on about thir- ty-three acres of good land at the limits of the town of Westville.

January 24, 1865, Mr. Matott was married at LaPorte to Miss Amanda Ray, and two of their three children are living. James Chester, born De- cember 25, 1866, was educated in the Westville high school, and at the age of sixteen entered the employ of E. S. Smith, banker and merchant of Westville, with whom he remained a number of years, but is now with E. T. Scott, druggist and merchant. He is a practical pharmacist and a man of more than ordinary business ability. He married Miss Cora Herrold, who was born in LaPorte county and was a teacher before her marriage, and who has become the mother of one child. Nita, now in the eighth grade at school and possessed of much musical ability. Chester Matott is a Republican, a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, also of the fire company at Westville, and he and his wife belong to the Christian church. The second son of Mr. and Mrs. Matott is Theophilus Fravel, named after the well known Dr. Fravel of Westville. He resides with his parents and has learned teleg- raphy : he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Mrs. Matott was born in LaPorte county, August 14, 1847, a daughter of James M. and Sarah (Rogers) Ray. She was educated in the public schools of Westville under the able edu-

cator Professor Laird, and during her and her husband's residence in O'Brien county, Iowa, for four years, she was a successful teacher in that county. Her father was a native of Ohio and was one of the pioneers to LaPorte county. He was a Republican and an Odd Fellow. Her mother was born and reared in Kentucky, and was a Baptist. Both are now deceased. They were the parents of four children, of whom Mrs. Matott was the eldest, and all are now living : Jennie is the wife of William Reynolds, a car- penter of Westville; William is married and a farmer of Black Rock, Arkansas; and Bettie is the wife of Theodore Haus, a merchant of Rens- selaer, Indiana.

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 112

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