A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 114

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

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Alexander Nichols, Jr., a son of this worthy old couple, was born in New York, and in Yates county, that state, was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1865, when he moved to Michigan, there making his home with his son at Mason un- til his removal to West Bay City, that state, and in 1875 came to Michigan City, Indiana, where his life's labors were ended in death in 1881, when seventy-two years of age. He married Debora V. Gardner, whose death occurred in 1863, when fifty-five years of age, and both she and her husband were members of the Baptist church. Two children were born to them,- Alonzo and a daughter who died in infancy. Mrs. Alexander Nichols was a daughter of Briah Gardner, a native of Rhode Island and a sea captain. He made his home at Wickfield, that state, and there his death occurred when well advanced in years. He was twice married, his wives being sisters, the oldest and youngest of their father's family.

Alonzo S. Nichols grew to years of maturity at Milo Center, New York, the place of his na- tivity, but when twenty-four years of age he left his childhood home and came west to Mason, Michigan, where he became station agent for the Michigan Central Railroad Company, there re- maining for seven years. For the following three years he was engaged in the same capacity and for the same company at West Bay City, Michi- gan, and in 1875, was transferred to the office in Michigan City, Indiana, serving in the capa- city of station agent here for six years, after which he entered the employ of the Louisville & New Albany Railroad Company as general agent, with headquarters in Michigan City. and after ten years with that company he resigned his position to give his entire attention to his own business, that of buying and shipping salt, which he still continues. Mr. Nichols has also been in- terested in real estate transactions in Indiana and North Carolina.

The marriage of Mr. Nichols was celebrated

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on the 28th of December, 1858, when Miss Fran- ces B. Hathaway, a daughter of Richard H. and Mary (Hetfield) Hathaway, became his wife. Two children have been born of this union, the elder of whom, Stella Adelle, married Frank C. Deming, and died at the age of twenty-seven years; they had three children: Ethel Frances and two who died in infancy. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Nichols, Elmer Arthur, is a railroad engineer and maintains his residence in Indian- apolis. He married Emma C. Heise, and their two children are Alonzo Clifford and Harriet Frances.

Mr. and Mrs. Nichols are members of the Presbyterian church, and in his fraternal rela- tions the former is a member of Acme Lodge No. 83, F. & A. M .; Michigan City Chapter No. 25, R. A. M .; Michigan City Commandery No. 30, K. T .; Michigan City Council No. 56, R. & S. M .; Indianapolis Valley Consistory ; Murat Tem- ple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and the Su- preme Council of the Northern Masonic Juris- diction of thirty-third degree Masons. He also belongs to the National Union and the Elks fra- ternities. In his political affiliations Mr. Nichols is a Republican, and in 1898 was made the as- sistant postmaster at Michigan City, which office he still retains, and during the years of 1897 and 1898 served as the deputy sheriff of LaPorte county.

HARRY W. HENRY is the proprietor of the LaPorte fruit farm and nursery, situated one mile north of here. He was born in Clin- ton county, Pennsylvania, in November, 1854, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Shaner) Henry. His father was also a native of Clinton county and spent his entire life upon the farm on which he was born. His death occurred in 1898. His widow, who was likewise born in the Keystone state, is yet living on the old family homestead there.

Harry W. Henry has had a remarkably inter- esting and varied history. He was born and reared upon a farm and was edu- cated in the schools of his native coun- ty, and when seventeen years of age be- gan teaching. Later he pursued more advanced studies in the Pennsylvania State Normal School at Millersville, Pennsylvania, where he attained special proficiency in mathematics. He was then granted a state certificate by the Pennsylvania board of education, an honor accorded only in recognition of the highest merit. In the year 1876 he made his way westward, locating first

in Paris, Michigan, where he taught school for a year. He then spent a year at White Cloud, and was thus engaged in educational work until 1879, when he obtained a position as traveling salesman, representing the firm of A. S. Barnes & Company. Later he was with Iveson, Blake- man, Taylor & Company, a firm dealing in school books, his connection with these two houses cov- ering a period of five years. When he went upon the road he received only a small salary, but this was rapidly increased, for his value as a sales- man was noted by the companies whom he rep- resented and he was advanced from one position of importance to another until he was given charge of the work in two states, Michigan and Indiana, as assistant general manager. He won the reputation of having the highest percentage of sales of any man in the business at that time. .

In 1884 Mr. Henry joined a syndicate en- gaged in the cattle-raising business in the Chero- kee strip in Indian Territory. With six others he leased and fenced thirty thousand acres of grazing land, on which he placed large herds of cattle. After about a year's connection with that business, however, Mr. Henry withdrew and removed to southwestern Kansas in order to go into business for himself. That country was then just opening up to settlement, but the land was being rapidly claimed by those who desired to establish homes upon the western frontier. Mr. Henry became one of the most active and im- portant factors in the organization of Clark coun- ty, and in a convention of the settlers his sugges- tions for organization were adopted, and the plan which he advanced was later highly complimented by the governor as a most practical and success- ful one. He located one hundred and sixty acres of land, also established a town site and opened a general mercantile business in the new city. After about a year's residence there, however, he removed to Seward county, also one of the frontier districts, and erected the first building in the town of Liberal. He then established a real estate office, and was given charge of the realty interests of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company. For only two years he remained in Liberal, and was a very prominent figure in the early development of southwestern Kansas.

In 1889, however, he returned to the east and located in LaPorte. For about four years he was engaged in selling nursery stock, and then estab- lished a nursery of his own one mile north of the city, where he at first purchased twelve acres of land entirely uncultivated at that time. He worked

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hard, directing his labors with a scientific skill which was the result of exhaustive and compre- hensive study. Year by year he improved his nursery, and it now covers forty acres of land under the highest state of cultivation, and is of great value. He makes a specialty of the culti- vation of small fruits, particularly strawberries, and annually sells about one million strawberry plants. He sells exclusively by catalogue to deal- ers and nurserymen throughout the United States, doing only a wholesale business. He has become very widely known through his familiar advertisement "Sixty Varieties of Strawberries," although at the present time he has nearly sev- enty varieties of strawberries, and is to-day one of the most noted producers of this delicious berry in the United States. He also carries a general line of nursery stock, including apple, pear, peach, plum and cherry trees, together with a large line of small fruits, raspberries, black- berries, gooseberries, currants and grapes. He owns a large fruit farm in Indiana and is one of the most prominent representatives of horticul- tural interests in the state. Mr. Henry also takes an important part in horticultural matters in an- other way, and that is in the dissemination of knowledge. He is often called upon to write essays or to deliver lectures upon his specialty, and he is the vice president of the Indiana State Horticultural Society and the chairman of the Farmers' Institute of LaPorte county.

In 1886 occurred the marriage of Mr. Henry and Miss Eva Davis, the wedding taking place in Dodge City, Kansas. They now have two chil- dren : Don J. and Marie. Mr. Henry is a Knight Templar Mason, belonging to LaPorte Com- mandery, and he is a very enterprising citizen, whose efforts have been of practical value to La- Porte. He was instrumental in securing the building of the macadam road from LaPorte to Pine Lake, and in other ways his efforts have con- tributed to the general welfare and public im- provement. His business record, too, is most commendable, for from a small beginning he has developed a very important enterprise and has shown the force of energy and the power of in- tegrity as important factors in commercial life.

HENRY B. MORRIS, a consulting engineer of Michigan City, whose high standing in his pro- fession has always secured for him important positions in connection with his chosen calling, was born in Philadelphia, January 16, 1844. and is a representative of one of the oldest and most honored families of that city. He has back of

him an ancestry eminent and distinguished. The family is of English lineage, and the line of de- scent can be traced back to Anthony Morris, who was born in England in 1619. He became a sea captain and died on the island of Barbadoes when his only son and namesake, Anthony Morris, was but two years old. The latter was born in Step- ney, in London, August 23, 1654, and was bap- tized the following day in St. Dunston's church, in Stepney, where the record of the baptism may still be seen. On the same day in the month, in the year 1894, there was held in the church a special memorial service by members of the fam- ily who were then in England, to commemorate the two hundred and fortieth anniversary of his baptism, the service being read by one of his lin- eal descendants, the Rev. John Stockton Littell, of Lockport, New York.

Anthony Morris, 2d, was but two years old when his mother died, and was then committed to the care of friends. As a child he passed through the perils of the great plague in London in 1665, when disease so ravaged the city that the year has become a memorable one in its history. The next year came the great fire which devas- tated London. Anthony Morris, 2d, completed his education by graduation in Cambridge Uni- versity, and when a young man he emigrated to America, sailing in the same vessel with William Penn. He at first purchased property at Burling- ton, New Jersey, an older city than Philadelphia, but he found within a few years that the younger town down the river was destined to be a great seaport, and he therefore sold his Burlington holdings and invested his fortune in Philadelphia, thereby becoming one of its largest landholders. His residence still stands on Front street in Phila- delphia, and although it has been converted into a warehouse, it still bears his name, made in black bricks, as was the custom of that time. Mr. Morris died in Philadelphia, in October, 1721, an honored citizen who had been very prominent and influential in public affairs. He served as the first mayor of Philadelphia, while Thomas Lloyd, another ancestor of Henry B. Morris, was the first governor of the state.

The next in the line of direct descent was Anthony Morris, 3d, who was born in England in 1680 and died in Philadelphia in 1763. His son, John Morris, who was born in Philadelphia in 1709, became a leading merchant of that city and was also the builder and owner of one of the first iron furnaces of Pennsylvania, being a pioneer in the promotion of this important industry. His property was located at a place called Spring Mill,

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a few miles west of Philadelphia. By means of his iron foundry, he furnished many cannon for the use of the colonists during the French and Indian war. His death occurred in 1786.

William Morris, a son of John Morris, was a merchant of Philadelphia, and married Margaret Hill, a daughter of Dr. Richard Hill, of that city, who was a son of Captain Richard Hill, who served as a captain in the English navy, and set- tled on the eastern shore of Maryland about 1680. To William and Margaret (Hill) Morris was born a son to whom they gave the name of Rich- ard Hill Morris, and who was the grandfather of Henry B. Morris. He was born in Philadelphia, and became a banker of that city. He was also a judge of the court of Chester county for a num- ber of years and was a very influential citizen, who aided largely in molding public thought and action. His death occurred in 1841, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Smith, bore him three sons and a daughter, but the daughter died in early childhood.

Edmund Morris, the father of Henry B. Mor- ris, was born in New Jersey, and in early life learned the printer's trade. During the greater part of his life he was connected with journalistic work, and was also the author of a book which was quite widely read, called "Ten Acres Enough." He was a frequent contributor to the Atlantic Monthly and other leading and popular magazines of the day, and his name became well known in literary circles. He wedded Miss Mary Palmer Jenks, a native of Pennsylvania. Her ancestry can be traced back to Lord Thomas Jenks, of England, who emigrated to Pennsyl- vania about 1675, taking up lands granted to him by King Charles II. His son, Thomas Jenks, lived in Pennsylvania to a great age, and was ac- cidentally killed by the falling of a tree when ninety-eight years of age. He was the father of William Jenks, Ist, who was also a native of the Keystone state and was a farmer by occupation. He married Miss Margery Chapman, and they had a large family. One of the sons, William Jenks, 2d, was the maternal grandfather of Hen- ry B. Morris, was likewise born in the Keystone state, and became a wealthy landowner of Bucks county. He was identified with the Society of Friends or Quakers. He wedded Miss Mary Hutchinson, and died of yellow fever when forty years of age, but his wife survived him for many years. They reared a large family, including the Hon. Michael Hutchinson Jenks, who was for

many years the county judge of Bucks county and also served for two terms in Congress, in the '40S, taking an active part in shaping the legislation of the country during those sessions. His daugh- ter Anna became the wife of the Hon. Alexander Ramsey, who was the first governor of Minnesota and was also for many years United States sena- tor from that state, but he resigned the latter position to become secretary of war under Presi- dent Arthur. He died in 1903, and his wife passed away many years previously.

It was William Jenks, 2d, who was the father of Mrs. Edmund Morris. By her marriage she became the mother of four children, two of whom are now living: Mary A., the wife of Alexander C. Fergusson, resides in Philadelphia. Their son is the Rev. Edmund Morris Ferguson, who was formerly the editor of the Sunday-school Times. For a number of years Edmund Morris resided in Burlington, New Jersey, and there died in 1874, when seventy years of age, while his wife sur- vived him for a year and was seventy-one years of age at the time of her demise. Both were iden- tified with the Society of Friends.

Henry B. Morris spent his early boyhood days in Burlington, New Jersey, and pursued his education in Burlington College. Subsequently he studied mechanical engineering in a private poly- technic school in Burlington, and afterward took up mechanical engineering as a profession and has since followed it. By continued research, study and investigation he has promoted his proficiency and has gained a foremost place in the ranks of his chosen calling.

On the 10th of July, 1867, Mr. Morris was married to Miss Annie B. Knapp, a daughter of Tracy S. and Annie (Brown) Knapp, of New Berlin, Chenango county, New York. The eldest son of this marriage is Edmund Morris, who is now general superintendant of the Western Cane- Seating Company, of Michigan City, and married Miss Frances Martin Cook. Harold, another son, is engaged in business here. The mother died July 1, 1878, at the age of thirty-seven years. She was a devoted member of the Episcopal church, and her loss was deeply deplored by her many friends as well as her husband and sons. On the 15th of July, 1879, Mr. Morris was again married, his second union being with Florence Adele Dowe, of Ithaca, New York, a daughter of General H. A. and Adeline (Carr) Dowe. One child was born of the second marriage, Hilda Bertha Morris, who is now a student in the high school of Michigan City. She already possesses :

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considerable literary skill, and has contributed meritorious articles to a number of the leading magazines of the country.

For many years Mr. Morris resided in Ithaca, New York, and also at Hornellsville and Geneva, that state. In 1892 he came to Michigan City, where he now holds the position of consulting engineer with the Western Cane-Seating Com- pany and the J. S. Ford-Johnson Company. He and his wife are members of the Trinity Cathedral Episcopal church, and he was warden of the church for several years, also registrar of the di- ocese and a member of the standing committee. During the greater part of his life he has been a Democrat, but supported President Mckinley. He makes a close study of the questions of the day and gives his advocacy to the measures which he believes will best promote the nation's welfare. He is a man of marked individuality, of strong purpose and honorable principles-a man whom to know is to respect and honor.

HARVEY R. HARRIS, foreman in the bar- iron department of the Haskell & Barker Car Works at Michigan City, was born in Norwich, New York, March 17, 1835, and is of Welsh and English ancestry. His paternal grandfather. John Harris, was born in Wales, was a sea captain for twenty-five years, and then made his home on Nantucket Island, whence he emigrated to Con- necticut and thence to Norwich, New York. He was also a surveyor by profession, and laid out the town of Norwich. His death occurred there when well advanced in years. By his wife, Ab- bie Ransford, he had a family of ten children. Truman Enos, the maternal grandfather of Har- vey Harris, was a native of England, whence he emigrated to Canada, and from there to the state of New York, settling at Norwich, where he fol- lowed his trade of a tanner. He was twice mar- ried, his second union being with Parmelia Eels, and his death occurred when about ninety-five years of age.

Harvey R. Harris is a son of Harvey and Philinda (Enos) Harris, natives of Connecticut and New York, respectively. Six children were born of their union, four sons and two daugh- ters, and only two of the number are now living, Harvey R. and William, both residing in Michi- gan City. The father was a member of the medi- cal profession in Norwich, New York, for many years, and his death occurred there in 1883, when about eighty-six years of age. His wife survived him until 1889, being about eighty-six years of age at the time of her death. Both were members

of the Congregational church, and he was identi- fied with both the Whig and Republican parties, while for several terms he served as supervisor of his township.

Harvey R. Harris remained in Norwich, his native city, until sixteen years old, there attend- ing the district schools and an academy, and at the age of seventeen years he came to Michigan City, Indiana, which has ever since continued to be his home. For two or three years after his arrival here he served as a clerk in a store, after which he entered a commercial college, and for a number of years thereafter was employed as bookkeeper for Lyman Blair. Accompanying his brother-in-law to New York city, he served as his assistant in a livery business, later becoming his successor, but after conducting that business for a time he sold it and returned to Michigan City, where he served as clerk in the Jewell Hotel for Billy Murtagh. General Packard was then the auditor of LaPorte county, and on his elec- tion to Congress, Mr. Harris was appointed to fill his unexpired term, to which position he was elected in 1870 for four years. In the meantime he purchased Mr. Murtagh's interest in the Jew- ell House, which was rebuilt and remodeled and the name changed to the Vreeland Hotel. For a period of twenty-three years, from 1871 until 1894, Mr. Harris continued the popular propri- etor of this hotel, on the expiration of which he was appointed postmaster under President Cleve- land, continuing in that office from 1894 until 1898. For two terms, from 1880 until 1884, he served as the mayor of Michigan City, and since retiring from the postmastership he has been in the employ of the Haskell & Barker Car Com- pany as foreman of the bar-iron department.

For twenty years Mr. Harris held member- ship relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, for the same period has been a member of Washington Lodge No. 94, Knights of .Pythias, and in his political affiliations was allied with the Republican party until Grant's second administration, in 1874, when he joined the Democratic forces, but is .now independent in his political views. During the session of 1878 he served as reading clerk in the state senate.

JONATHAN WILLIAM OSBORN. The subject of this sketch is a public-spirited and en- terprising citizen of Hanna township, where for many years he has carried on operations as an agriculturist and has materially aided in the up- building and development of his section of the county. He was born on the 10th of August,

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Mars. S. W. Osborn.

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1852, in Clinton township, LaPorte county, and is a son of William Osborn, an honored citizen of that locality, who was born December 22, 1827, and died August 16, 1863. He was a native of South Carolina and a farmer by occupation. On the 17th of February, 1850, he was married in Clinton township, this county, to Miss Charlotte Long, who was born in West Virginia, January 10, 1829, and departed this life on the 22d of July, 1897. In their family were six children, namely : Emma Josephine, born February 3, 1851, is the wife of Jesse Macy, of Des Moines, Iowa ; Jona- than W. is the next in order of birth ; Benjamin, born July 17, 1854, is a resident of Rippey, Iowa ; Tabitha, born December 3, 1856, died in child- hood; Robert E., born February 22, 1858, makes his home in Perry, Iowa; and Hattie May, born May 1, 1862, died May 11, 1883.

Jonathan W. Osborn was educated in the schools of Westville, Indiana, under Professor Laird, where the family lived until 1870, when the mother removed to Perry, Iowa, accompanied by all her children. Since starting out in life for himself he has followed farming with good suc- cess, and in 1877 he became the owner of his present fine farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Hanna townhsip. It is a well improved place, and from its abundant products he derives a good income.

Mr. Osborn was married at Hanna, Septem- ber 4, 1873, to Miss Eliza Trimmingham, who was born in Union Mills, April 26, 1853. Her father was George Trimmingham, who was born in Yorkshire, England, in November, 1814, and came to LaPorte county, Indiana, in 1852. He owned the farm on which Mr. Osborn and his wife now live, and there died in 1888, honored and respected by all who knew him. He was an earnest Christian gentleman, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was held in the highest regard.

Mr. and Mrs. Osborn have eight children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows : George Robert, February 17, 1875; Jonathan William, March 29, 1877; Edward Macy, Janu- ary 23, 1879; Arthur Earl, November 24, 1880; Noah Ralph, January 29, 1882; Hattie Mary, November 23, 1885 ; Van Dale, January 25, 1893 ; and Bonnie Eliza, July 4, 1894. George Robert wedded Miss Della Bunnell, sister of the county superintendant of the public schools of LaPorte county; he is now a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Chicago, and was a successful teacher for a number of years. Jonathan W. resides in

El Paso, Texas, where he is an accountant for the Galveston, Harrisburg & San An- tonio Railroad Company; he was also a teacher. Edward Macy resides in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is a fireman on the Pennsylvania Railroad; he married Miss Olive Vail, and they have one daughter, Olive Marjorie; he has been in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad for three years. Arthur Earl, a resident of Hanna township, wedded Miss Lucretia Ire- land, and they have one son, Maurice. Noah Ralph, a resident of LaPorte county, wedded Miss Mattie Groett ; he is a farmer. The remainder of the family are at home. The daughter Hattie has finished the eleventh grade in Hanna school.

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 114

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