A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 124

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

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Mr. Spiro is a native of Germany, and was born in Kurnik in the Province of Posen. May 30, 1863. He comes of an old and prominent. family of that country, his paternal great-grand-

father having been Joseph Spiro, the supreme rabbi of the Province of Posen. The grand- father, Moses Spiro, was also a native of Germany and a drygoods merchant, carrying on business there for many years. He wedded Bertha Hillel, and they had a large family. The grandfather died when about sixty-two years of age. One of his sons came to the United States when a boy and later served in the Union Army during the Civil war, during which time his meritorious con- duct on the field of battle won him promotion from the ranks to the position of major. He afterward returned to Germany and now lives in Berlin.

Julius Spiro, the father of I. I. Spiro, was born in Germany, and after entering upon his business career was connected with the grain trade. He came to America in 1870, locating in Michigan City, where he engaged in the junk business. The economy and industry which he practiced in his earlier years at length brought to him a very desirable competence, and for the past ten years he has lived a retired life, resting in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil.

In early manhood he wedded Rosalie Kantro- witz, also a native of Germany and a daughter of Raphael Kantrowitz, who was a general mer -. chant in the town of Xions, where as a public officer he was prominent in the management of the affairs of that locality. He served as coun- cilman, as city treasurer and in other positions of public trust. His wife bore the maiden name of Golde Haas, and they reared a large family. Mr. Kantrowitz died in the fatherland at the ad- vanced age of seventy-eight years. To Mr. and Mrs. Julius Spiro were born five children, three of whom are yet living : Fred, a resident of Mich- igan City ; Lizzie, the wife of Sol M Henoch, of LaPorte ; and Isidore I. The father is still living in Michigan City, but the mother departed this life May 7, 1896, at the age of sixty-two years. Both were members of the Hebrew church .. While residing in Germany Julius Spiro had military experience, serving in the German army.

Isidore I. Spiro spent the first eighteen years of his life in the land of his nativity, and began his education in the common schools, while later he continued his studies in the town of Shrimm and the city of Breslau. He then entered the office of a wholesale cotton-goods establishment, and thus received his preliminary business train- ing. In 1882 he came to America. Bidding adieu to friends and native land, he sailed for New York, but did not tarry long upon the At- lantic coast, coming almost directly to Michigan

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City, where he has since made his home. Here he was first employed in a real estate and insur- ance law office, and thus became familiar with a business which now claims much of his attention. Later he accepted a position as passenger agent with the Michigan Central Railroad Company, and was thus employed until 1890, when he turned his attention to the real estate, loan and insurance business, opening an office which he has since conducted. In 1893 he was admitted to the bar, but his time and attention are largely given to the other departments of his work. He . annually writes a large amount of insurance, and has negotiated some very important real estate transfers. He is also connected with the Indi- ana Transportation Company, operating a steam- boat line between Michigan City and Chicago, and is now its president. He is also the vice president of the Michigan City Navigation Com- pany, operating a freight line.

In his political views and affiliations Mr. Spiro is an independent Democrat. He belongs to Acme Lodge No. 83, F. & A. M .; Michigan City Chapter, No. 25, R. A. M. and is also con- nected with the Royal Arcanum. His life has been a busy one, in which he has utilized his time and opportunities to the best advantage and has found that success is ambition's answer.

HENRY WARWICK. Emerson has said the true and authentic history of a nation is nar- rated in the lives of the people-so in the history of LaPorte county the name Warwick holds a conspicuous place. Henry Warwick, the present trustee of Springfield township, LaPorte county, and one of the popular and prosperous farmers there, was born on the farm on which he still re- sides, and which his father settled in the early days. Isaac Warwick, his father, was born and reared in New Jersey, and was one of the pio- neers to Galena township, LaPorte county. He improved a farm there, but afterward sold it and bought the farm where his son now lives. He died at the age of seventy-two years. He was married before coming west to Elizabeth Stover, who was the mother of three sons and three daughters. His second wife was Minnie Bread- hood, who was born and reared in the old uni- versity town of Wittenberg. Germany. There were also six children of this union, and Henry is the third in order of birth.

Henry Warwick was born December 26. 1860, and was reared on his father's farm and attended the district schools. He assisted his father on the home place until he was married,

and then began operations for himself .. His pres- ent farm consists of two hundred and ten acres, and fifty-three acres in Berrien county, Michigan, on which he carries on a general farming busi- ness, and it will compare favorably with any other place of its size in the county. He en- deavors to keep abreast of the time in agricul- ture, where as great advancement has been,made during the last century as in any other branch of industry, and he is to be classed among the thrifty farmers who make their work pay good dividends, which he does with the aid of his es- timable wife.

October 22, 1880, Mr. Warwick married Miss Agnes Schwenk, who was born in Berrien county, Michigan, April 10, 1861, the daughter of Jacob and Emily (Reichen) Schwenk, natives of Germany and early settlers in Michigan, where they took up government land. Mrs. Warwick was the only child of her father's second mar- riage, and she was reared in Berrien county. Six children have been born of this happy union, as follows: Jacob, Isaac, Edna, Joseph, Grace and Gertrude. Jacob, Isaac and Edua have completed the eighth grade of the public schools. All the children are at home. Mr. Warwick is a Demo- crat, and on the ticket of that party was elected township trustee in 1900, being still an incumbent of that position, in which he has been able to ac- complish much for the improvement and welfare of his community. He is a member of Lodge No. 36 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at LaPorte. At every point of contact with his fellowmen he and his wife have shown their ster- ling worth and high integrity, and are citizens whose live are not passed without good influence and the performance of helpful deeds in a com- munity.

HENRY WILLIAM ALPORT has a broad general knowledge of the North American con- tinent, for he has visited many places in the in- terests of business. Recently he has become a resident of Michigan City, where he is now the general superintendent and one of the stockhold- ers of the American Brick Company. He was born in Belleville, Canada, July 15, 1864, and is a representative of one of the old families of Nova Scotia. His father, Frederick William .Alport, was a native of England and became a sea captain on one of the large liners plying be- tween Liverpool and Nova Scotia. He was thus engaged until after his marriage. He wedded Miss Mary Ann Glass, who was born in Quebec. Canada, while her father was a native of Scot-

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HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY.

land and was a soldier in the Black Watch, a Highland regiment. The Glass family was an old and distinguished one of the land of the heather. The grandfather of Mr. Alport wedded a Miss McPherson, who lived to the very remarkable age of ninety years. To them were born four sons and three daughters.

After his marriage Frederick W. Alport left the sea and settled in Belleville, Canada West, where he owned an elevator and engaged in the grain business, following that pursuit until his death, which occurred in 1880, when he was six- ty-four years of age. His wife died two weeks previouly, at the age of fifty-four. They were members of the Presbyterian church. In their family were six children, four sons and two daughters, three of them being: Alice W., of Quebec; Edith, the wife of George Wilson, of Wilson & Company, manufacturers, of Mon- treal, Canada and Henry W.

In his native city of Belleville, Canada, on the bay of Quinte, Henry W. Alport remained until fourteen years of age and there attended the grammar schools, while later he became a student in the Upper Canada College, in Toronto. He then began clerking in a bank in Belleville, where he remained for two years, after which he left Canada and came to United States. After spend- ing a short time in Chicago he accepted a posi- tion as manager of a branch store in St. Paul, Minnesota, for J. B. Gore & Company, whole- sale jobbers of boots and shoes, with their main store in Chicago. For a year Mr. Alport re- mained as manager of the store in St. Paul, and then went to Valley Springs, South Dakota, where he acted as bookkeeper in a store which belonged to Scenia, the well known New York merchant. After two years spent in that way he returned to Muskoka, Canada, and was manager of a general store owned by E. W. Jordan at Rosseau. He next became head clerk in the lumber woods for the Woodstock Lumber Com- pany, and after acting in that capacity for three years he went to Toronto and from there to Chi- cago, but soon made his way south to Jackson- ville, Florida, where he engaged in the fruit commission business for two years. He followed the same pursuit in Nassau, in the West Indies, and from there sailed to New York, where he was engaged in the jewelry business. Subse- quently he spent several years in Detroit, and engaged in the real estate business, and then re- moved to Windsor, Canada, where he was living when he invented a process for the manufacture of brick from sand by the use of chemicals. In he taught for one term in Peoria county, Illinois,

the spring of 1903 he came to Michigan City, and his formula has been adopted by the American Pressed Brick Company for the manufacture of brick. A plant has recently been erected for this purpose, equipped with the latest improved ma- chinery, and Mr. Alport is now the general su- perintendent of the new enterprise, as well as a part owner in the business, which is destined to become one of the leading industries of this place.

In 1889 Mr. Alport was married to Miss Clara Verner, a daughter of Arthur Cole and Harriet (Ayres) Verner. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, his wife of the Episco- pal church, and they are highly esteemed people, occupying a warm place in the regard of the friends, whom they have already made during their brief residence in this city. Mr. Alport is a Republican in his political views.

WILLIAM H. DONLY was born in Ly- coming county, Pennsylvania, December 20, 1840, a member of a family of nine children, whose parents were Hugh and Elizabeth (Beach) Donly. His father was a captain on the Erie canal, and at one time served as sheriff of Ly- coming county, Pennsylvania. Attracted by the opportunities of the growing west, he came to Indiana in 1846 and located three miles south of LaPorte, where he engaged in farming until 1867. He then removed to the city, where he passed away ten years later, dying in 1877 at the age of sixty-seven years. Elizabeth Donly had died in 1849, and for his second wife he chose Rebecca Lenhart, who died in 1888. There were no children by the second marriage. Mr. Hugh Donly served as president of the school board in LaPorte, and was deeply interested in the cause of education and in the progress and welfare of the city along many lines. In politics he was a Democrat, and he and his two wives were mem- bers of the Baptist church. The children of the first marriage were eight sons and a daughter, of whom five are now living: Charles, of Nor- ton, Kansas ; Joseph, of Hiawatha, Kansas ; Wil- liam H .; Hugh, of San Antonio, Texas; and Elizabeth, the wife of Dr. T. J. Shaw, of Chicago.

William H. Donly was a little lad of six sum- mers when he came with his parents to LaPorte county, and in retrospect one can see him as a farm boy, working in the fields through the months of summer or attending the district schools in the winter seasons. After acquiring his preliminary education he became a student in Franklin College at Franklin, Indiana, and

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and for one term in Doniphan county, Kansas. He remained on the farm until nineteen years of age, and then entered upon his experience as an instructor in the school room. At the time .of the Civil war, however, his patriotic spirit was aroused and he put aside all business and personal considerations that he might aid in the defense of the Union, enlisting in the Fifth In- diana Battery, as did also his brothers Joseph and David. The latter was killed in the battle of Perryville: William became a corporal and served three years and four months, participating in numerous important engagements, including the battles of Perryville, Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, Franklin, and in the Atlanta cam- paign.

After the war Mr. Donly went to Peoria coun- ty, Illinois, where he remained for four or five years, engaged in farming and in merchandising. He then removed to Doniphan county, Kansas, where he engaged in teaching for one term, and then purchased and sold grain and live stock. In 1870 he came to Michigan City, and for sev- eral years was a conductor on the Michigan Cen- tral Railroad. He next went to Colorado, where he spent two years in prospecting, after which he made his way to Mexico and to Texas, returning to Michigan City about 1884. For several years thereafter he was a guard in the state prison, and then entered the mail service for four years. His next venture was in the livery business, in which he continued until 1893, when he was appointed deputy sheriff of LaPorte county and capably filled that position for two years. He was next appointed chief of police of Michigan City and served for four years, at the end of which time he established his restaurant, which he still conducts.

On the 8th of October, 1883, Mr. Donly was married to Miss Fannie J. McCoy, a daughter of Russell and Esther (Weaver) McCoy, and they have one daughter, Goldie Belle. Mrs. Donly and her daughter are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Donly exercises his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of the Democratic party, but has never been an aspirant for office. However, he is as true and loyal to his duties of citizenship as he was when he fol- lowed the old flag on southern battlefields.

EDMUND ETHERINGTON, one of the most prominent farmers and business men of LaPorte county, of which he is a native and where he has spent nearly all the years of his life, now resides in section 20, Galena township.

During forty years of activity he has been en- gaged in various forms of commercial and agri- cultural enterprises, and besides his individual success he has borne his share of the public bur- den, both in the large amount of taxes which he has contributed to the public till, as also in hold- ing and carefully discharging the duties of va- rious local offices.

Mr. Etherington is the son of one of the very oldest of LaPorte county pioneers, and one whose name will always be associated with the early history of the county. Richard Ethering- ton was born in Alton, England, about 1806, and came to the new world when twenty-one years old. He lived a few years in Lockport, New York, and in 1831 continued his westward course and reached the present site of the city of La- Porte, but which was then only a beautiful spot adorned by the hand of nature and hardly dis- turbed by the march of civilization. He went to Illinois and afterward to Canada, but in the end returned to LaPorte county, and purchased twenty acres of land at twenty dollars an acre, but which, being now within the corporate limits of LaPorte, is worth a fortune. In 1835 he re- moved from that land to Galena township, where he entered a government claim which was en- tirely covered by timber. This was the basis of extensive operations in farming and other en- terprises in this township, and during the many years of his residence in the township he became very well-to-do. Besides farming he loaned money, and seemed fortunate in nearly everything to which he put his hand. At one time he was engaged in the lumber business, operating several sawmills. He possessed natural aptitude for bus- iness, and was always trading, buying and sell- ing, but usually to his own financial advantage. In his dealings he was strictly honest and straightforward, and never took advantage of the necessities of his fellows. He belonged to the Christian church, living in harmony with its teachings, and was a deacon of the church at Rolling Prairie, being a liberal contributor to church and benevolent purposes. In politics he was a Democrat up to the time of the Civil war, when he became identified with the Republican party, which remained his life-long political tie. He was a prominent man in the upbuilding and progress of LaPorte county, and will always be remembered as such. He lived to be seventy- five years of age. His wife was Elizabeth Thorne, who was also a native of England, and they were married at Lockport, New York. Three of their ten children are now living. Eliza,

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the widow of Anthony Leliter, lives in Kan- kakee township, and Mrs. Jane Martin is a resi- dent of Story county, Iowa.

Mr. Etherington, the only son now living, was the eighth in order of birth, and was born in Galena township, LaPorte county, October 6, 1846. He was reared in this township, having a common school education, and at the age of eighteen started out on his own account. He drove across the plains to California with a six- horse team, and after remaining there one sum- mer came back by stage and railroad as far as Muscatine, Iowa, where he worked on the Miss- sissippi river for part of two years, spending his winters in high school. In 1866 he returned to Galena township and devoted himself to farming, which has been his principal occupation. After his marriage in 1867 he conducted a farm in Galena township until 1886, when he removed to the city of LaPorte, where he was engaged in the coal and wood business for four years. He disposed of his business in 1890, and after spending four months in Europe visiting his relatives and the old scenes with which his parents had been fa- miliar, he returned to LaPorte county and located on his present farm. He owns land to the amount of nine hundred and seventy-three and a half acres, most of which he has acquired by judicious investments as prosperity has rewarded his ef- forts.

March 22, 1867, Mr. Etherington was mar- ried to Miss Mary Ellen Sperry, who was born in Galena township, March 9, 1847, a daughter of Aurea and Mary (Caldwell) Sperry, who were early settlers of LaPorte county, coming to In- diana from New York in 1829, and at that early period they had to endure many of the hardships and privations of pioneer life in what has since become the beautiful region of northern Indiana. Mrs. Etherington is the youngest of three chil- dren, and was reared in Galena township. She has become the mother of one child, Earl Richard, who was born April 15, 1886, and is at home.

Mr. Etherington has served as trustee of his township for six years, and was supervisor for three years. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, and is yet one of its directors. He belongs to the Chris- tian church, and is a Republican in political al- legiance. His career has been marked by intense activity and usefulness, and its successful out- come is the material prosperity and the promi- nence in social and business life which he en- joys. LaPorte county's greatness as an agricul- tural, industrial and commercial community is the

result of the public spirit and individual enter- prise of such men as Mr. Etherington and his father, and no names can be more esteemed in any history of the first seventy years' progress of the county.

JOHN MILLER, who follows farming on section 29, Hudson township, was born on this section on the 24th of January, 1866. His father, Charles Miller, was a native of Germany, but became one of the early residents of LaPorte county when this was largely a frontier district. He was not married at the time of his emigration to the new world, but in New York was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Beck, who was like- wise born in the fatherland. Soon afterward they came to Indiana and established their home in Hudson township, LaPorte county, where Mr. Miller carried on general agriculture pursuits up to the time of his death. He was recognized as one of the leading men of his township, in- fluential in public affairs and an active co-operant in measures for the public good.

Mr. John Miller, who was the seventh in a family of eight chldren, was reared and educated in Hudson township, attending the district schools and through the summer months being engaged in assisting in the work of the home farm, so that he gained practical experience in the occupation to which he now devotes his time and energies. In 1892 he was united in marriage to Miss Grace E. Walker, a daughter of Obediah and Jane Walker, who were early settlers of Hud- son township. Mrs. Miller was born, reared and educated here. Mr. Miller took his bride to the old homestead, on which he has spent his entire life, and as the years have gone by three children have been added to the household; Frankie, Kit- tie and Phillis, all of whom were born on the farm which was their father's birthplace.

Mr. Miller is one of the native sons of Hud- son township, and has won a place among the representative and enterprising agriculturists. He now owns one hundred and forty acres of well improved land, of which one hundred acres is comprised within the boundaries of the home farm while forty acres lies to the north of him in the same township. He is a Democrat, and is a member of the Patricians, an insurance so- ciety. His entire life having been passed in this locality, his history is well known to his fellow citizens, and it is because he has ever been ener- getic and industrious as well as honorable that he has won success and also gained the good will and confidence of all his fellow men.

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HILARY EARLY. The Early family was established in America in the seventeenth cen- tury by Jeremiah Early, the great-great-grand- father of Hilary Early. He was born in Ulster, Ireland, and on his emigration to America set- tled in Maryland, the family later removing to Virginia. From this emigrant descended some noted men, one of whom was General Jubal Early, the bold and dashing Confederate cav- alryman, who was a cousin of Hilary Early's father, and Peter Early, who was governor of Georgia.

Jacob Early, the father of Hilary Early, was born in 1793, in Campbell county, Virginia. He was reared and lived for a number of years in his native state, but his opposition to slavery fin- ally led him to go to one of the states of the Northwest Territory, where slavery was for- bidden by fundamental law. He was one of the enthusiastic members of the American Coloniza- tion Society, the purpose of which was to trans- plant the American negroes to the republic of Liberia. Henry Clay was for many years the president of this society.

Jacob Early arrived at LaPorte, Indiana, in the spring of 1835, so that he was among the pioneers of county and town. He was possessed of considerable means, and he at once began to invest in lands and the business enterprises for which there were such excellent openings in the new country. During the nearly forty years which he spent in LaPorte county he had busi- ness relations at various places in the county. He was first located in town ; later established a saw- mill north of the town, and also a store; later started a store at Kingsbury, in Union township, and purchased a large farm there, and south of that town built another mill; in the same neigh- borhood, at Belmont, he set up a distillery, and for ten years manufactured spirituous liquors and high wines, and at the same place fed large numbers of cattle and hogs. This latter under- taking was the most important of all his enter- prises, and his distillery was noted throughout that section. He also invested in much La Porte property, and at one time owned nearly one half the block south of the public square, and also large tracts in the north part of the county. He was known as one of the shrewdest and most successful men of LaPorte county, and was a prominent figure in the early development of the town and county of LaPorte. During his last years he lived in retirement at La Porte. where he died in 1873. His wife, who was Elizabeth

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 124

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