A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 126

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

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In taking up the personal history of John Jacob Haller we present to our readers the record

of one who is widely known in Michigan City, for his entire life has been passed here. He at- tended the public schools, and after completing the studies of the grammar course in the high school was thus well prepared by a good literary education for the practical and responsible duties of life. He followed in the business footsteps of his father, and when a young man learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked in Indian- apolis and in Cincinnati. He then returned to Michigan City and entered into partnership with his father. Thus they followed contracting and building until 1899, when on account of illness Mr. Haller was obliged to abandon work of that character. He ranked among the leading con- tractors of the city, and there received a liberal patronage because of his faithfulness to the terms of a contract and the excellence of the workman- ship which was executed under his direction. On the 6th of November, 1899, he was elected town- ship trustee and is still holding that position.

On the 17th of June, 1889, Mr. Haller was married to Miss Martha Brinckmann, a daughter of William and Louisa (Warkentin) Brinck- mann. Four children graced this marriage: Clara, Florence, Harry and one that died in in- fancy. Mr. and Mrs. Haller are members of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, and Mr. Haller belongs to Washington Lodge No. 94, K. of P., and to Halcyon Council No. 105, R. A. He gives his political support to the Democracy, and is interested in everything pertaining to the city and its welfare. He built his present home in 1890, and he also owns other property here, having prospered in his business career. Public- spirited and progressive, whatever tends to bene- fit Michigan City and promote its advancement along material, social, educational and moral lines receives his support and endorsement. His friends are many, his genial nature and social disposition having gained him favor with a large majority of the people with whom he has come in contact.

C. ELIJAH MEYER. A resident of Michi- gan City since four years of age, C. Elijah Meyer has been connected with its mercantile interests throughout his business career, and is now deal- ing in clothing, men's furnishing goods and cig- ars, and the success which has attended his efforts indicates the enterprising methods which he has ever followed in his trade transactions. He was born in Prussia, Germany, on the 25th of Novem- ber, 1854, a son of Jacob and Hannah (Simon) Meyer, who were also born in the fatherland.

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Leopole Meyer, his grandfather, was likewise a native of Germany, but at one time became a resi- dent of the new world. After two years, however, he returned, and died in his native country when more than ninety years of age. His business was that of a trader. The maternal grandfather was Israel Simon, a butcher by trade, who died in Germany when well advanced in years. There were several sons and daughters in his family.

Jacob Meyer, the father of Mr. C. E. Meyer, was a peddler in Germany, and about 1858 he sailed for the new world, locating in Michigan City, Indiana. Soon after, he turned his at- tention to general merchandising, which he fol- lowed continuously until a few years ago, when he retired from business, and is now enjoying a well earned rest, having acquired a very hand- some competence through his business activity and well directed energy. He and his wife now reside at 512 Washington street. In their family were nine children, four sons and five daughters : Maurice, C. Elijah, Theressa, the wife of Joseph Marks, Joseph, Fannie, Huldah, Sarah, Max and Ada.

Mr. Meyer was so young when brought by his parents to the United States that he soon be- came thoroughly imbued with the progressive spirit which dominates this country, and his lines of life have been cast in harmony therewith. He attended the public schools, and in his youth worked in his father's store, being thus employed until about twenty-one years of age, when he secured a position in Peru, Indiana, spending two years in that place, and it was during that time that he was married. He then returned to Michi- gan City and opened his present store with a small stock of men's clothing and furnishing goods, cigars and newspapers. It was soon evi- dent that he was putting forth earnest effort to secure a fair share of the public patronage, and because of the good stock which he carried and his straightforward treatment of his customers, he gained a steadily growing trade that soon made it necessary for him to carry a larger line of goods. He has prospered in his undertakings, and as his financial resources have increased he has made judicious investment in other enter- prises. He is now a stockholder in the Citizens' Bank of Michigan City and also the Lakeside Knitting Company.

On the 25th of September, 1878, in Peru, In- diana, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Falk, a daughter of Moses Falk, and to them have been born two children, Mosette and Edna, the former now the wife of Herbert P.

Levin. Mr. Meyer has provided a pleasant home for his family, located at the corner of Wash- ington and Market streets. It was built by him in 1894, and he takes great delight in providing for his family in ways that promote their happi- ness and enhance their welfare. He belongs to Washington Lodge No. 94, K. of P., and he votes with the Democratic party, on whose ticket he was elected city treasurer, which position he is now acceptably filling. His election is an indi- cation of the regard which his fellow citizens have for him, for his entire life having been passed here, his record is well known to all.

CHARLES F. STRUSS, a brick and cement contractor, active in business circles and also in public affairs of the city, now serving as a mem- ber of the city council of LaPorte, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1859, and in that country learned the trade of a brick and stone mason. gaining a thorough and practical knowledge of the business. He came to the United States in 1878. Ernest Struss, his father, is still liv- ing in LaPorte, and came here in 1882, from Germany. It was on the Ist of May, 1878, that Charles Struss landed in the new world, and from the Atlantic seaboard he made his way direct to Indiana. The first year he spent with a cousin who had a farm in LaPorte county, and he then took up his abode in the city of LaPorte, where he began working at his trade, being em- ployed by different contractors. He finally form- ed a partnership with Henry Daniel under the firm name of Daniel & Struss, and they continued in the contracting business together for four or five years, when Mr. Daniel's death occurred. Mr. Struss then continued contracting alone, and has since been thus engaged, doing a large busi- ness, which has increased as the years have gone by and the public has recognized his efficiency and trustworthiness. He contracts for all kinds of brick and cement construction work, and for several years has made a specialty of the build- ing of cement or concrete sidewalks and curbing. having done an extensive business in this depart- ment in. LaPorte under a progressive city ad- ministration, which has provided for many miles of these excellent sidewalks. He has also done other public work for the city, including the erec- tion of the new brick high school building. also the Elston school building at Michigan City. and the three-story brick block for M. Rumely Com- pany. He has also built many business blocks and private houses, including his own fine brick dwelling, which is located at 502 C street. He

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Charles F. Struss

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employes twenty-seven men the year round, and has always been free from labor trouble or strikes.

In 1882, in LaPorte, was celebrated the mar- riage of Mr. Struss and Miss Lizzie Jacobs, and to them have been born four children : Ly- dia, deceased, Carl, Mollie and Walter. In his political affiliations Mr. Struss is a Democrat, and in 1900 was elected a member of the city council to represent the fifth ward. His con- stituents were so pleased with his services that they re-elected him in 1902 for another term of two years. He belongs to the progressive element of the city, and as an official he also works for economy and prudence in all public expenditures and carefully guards the interests of the tax- payers. He has made his own way in life, and has been successful. Fraternally, he is an Elk, and his religious faith is indicated by his mem- bership in the Lutheran church. Conscientious and reliable in all that he does whether as a pri- vate individual or public officer, he has won the trust and good will of the public and enjoys in high measure the regard of many friends.

RICHARD HENRY MISENER, a retired locomotive engineer living at 320 Pine street, has been a resident of Michigan City for over thirty years, and is well known there in industrial, fra- ternal and political circles. For over a quarter of a century he was one of the reliable engineers of the Michigan Central Railroad, and no steadier hand ever pulled a throttle than that of Mr. Misener. He was recently retired with honor by the company, and now receives a pension for his record of past service.

Mr. Misener belongs to a family remarkable for longevity, and in the natural course of things he himself still has many years of activity and pleasures before him. His grandparents, Nicho- las and Mrs. (McLean) Misener, were Pennsyl- vania farmers, the former of Pennsylvania Dutch descent and the latter of Irish stock, and he was about ninety-five years old at the time of his death, while his wife also lived to a great age. They were parents of twelve children.

John McLean Misener, the father of Richard H. Misener, was born in Ontario, Canada, was a life-long farmer there, and died at the old home- stead in Welland county, Ontario, in 1900, at the age of ninety years. He was not identified with any church, and held various township offices and was prominent in the public life of his com- munity. His wife was Jane Davis, also a native of Ontario, and a granddaughter of Thaddeus

Davis, born in Vermont, and a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Sharron) Davis. David Davis was a native of Vermont, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, but afterwards removed to Ontario, where he was a farmer and ran a brickyard. He lived to be over ninety years of age, and had a large family. Mrs. Jane (Davis) Misener was a Wesleyan Methodist, and her death occurred in 1898 when she was eighty years old. She was the mother of eleven chil- dren, eight sons and three daughters, and six are now living, as follows: Nicholas, James, Frances, widow of Lawrence Montague, Richard H., Charles and John Kirby Misener.

Richard H. Misener was born in Welland county, Ontario, March 26, 1849, and lived on his father's farm till he was eighteen years old, receiving his education in the district schools. He came to the United States in 1867, and for two years worked on a farm near Joliet, Illinois. He then got a position as fireman on the Michi- gan Central, and on the Ist of January, 1875, was given an engine to run. He continued to run the employ of the company as engineer from that time until April 4, 1902, when the company placed him on the pensioned retired list. He per- formed his twenty-seven years' service in this hazardous capacity with singular promptness and fidelity, and his record is among the best on the books of the company. He has had his residence in Michigan City since 1872.

On September 24, 1876, Mr. Misener married Miss Sarah Ann Eastwood, and they have one son, Herbert Roy, who is one of the publishers and proporietors of the Michigan City News. Mrs. Misener is a daughter of Cyrus and Sarah L. (Huntley) Eastwood, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York. Cyrus Eastwood was a son of Cornelius East- wood and Polly Eastwood, the former of whom was a native of Holland and came to America with his parents, settling in Pennsylvania. Corne- lius Eastwood and his wife had a large family of children. Cyrus Eastwood in boyhood came out west with his parents and settled in Lake county, Indiana, where he grew to manhood and followed the occupation of merchant. He died in 1869, aged fifty years, and his wife passed away in 1881, also at the age of fifty years. They were both mem- bers of the Methodist church. Sarah L. (Hunt- ley) Eastwood was a daughter of Moses and Clara (Beckwith) Huntley, who reared a large family .. The former was a native of New York state and a farmer, and after the death of ins wife he came to Indiana and lived for some time

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with the Eastwoods, afterwards removing to Cor- rectionville, near Sioux City, Iowa, where he died when nearly seventy years old. Cyrus and Sarah Eastwood were the parents of six chil- dren, four sons and two daughters, and the three now living are William Austin, Mrs. Sarah A. Misener and Harry W. Eastwood.

Mrs. Misener is a member of the Congre- gational church, and her husband also attends there. Mr. Misener affiliates with Acme Lodge No. 83, F. and A. M., Michigan City Chapter No. 25, R. A. M., Michigan City Council No. 56, and Michigan City Commandery No. 30, K. T., and is also a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He has always voted the Republican ticket and at present represents the first ward in the city council. He owns the nice home in which he has lived for the past twenty years, and he and his family enjoy the respect and friendship of the best citizens of Michigan City.

LOUIS J. BRINKMAN, frieght and ticket agent for the Michigan Central Railroad Com- pany, with residence in Michigan City, is the youngest agent on the road, being now only twen- ty-three years of age, and has charge of one of the principal stations along the line of this com- pany's road. He is a native son of Michigan City, Indiana, where his birth occurred on the 4th of June, 1880, and is a son of Fred and Caro- line (Peo) Brinkman, natives of Mecklenburg, Germany. In that land his paternal and maternal grandparents lived and died. His maternal grandfather. Christopher Peo, was a tanner by trade, and was a soldier in the German army.

Fred Brinkman, the father of L. J. Brinkman, became a stonemason and contractor in the father- land, and in 1855 he left his German home and came to the United States, taking up his abode in Cleveland Ohio, which continued to be his place of residence only for a short time, when he came to Michigan City, Indiana, where he followed his trade of a stonemason and con- tractor for a number of years, but is now en- gaged in the hotel business. He is one of the old- est mason contractors in the city, and many of its largest buildings stand as monuments to his 'excellent skill and ability, among them being the towers of the Indiana state prison. No better illustration of the characteristic en- ergy and enterprise of the typical German-Amer- ican citizen can be found than that afforded by the career of this well known contractor and hotel man, for making the most of his own oppor-

tunities, he has steadily worked his was upward to success and to all that is desirable and en- nobling in life. Before leaving his native land Mr. Fred Brinkman served as a soldier in the German army, and both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran church. Nine children were born of their union, seven sons and two . daughters, and six are now living, namely : Fred, John, Frank, Carrie (the wife of Edward Isby), Alexander and Louis J.

Louis J. Brinkman has spent his entire life in Michigan City, and to its excellent public school system he is indebted for the educational privi- leges which he received. After putting aside his text books he served as an employe of the Ameri- can Express Company for about fourteen months, after which he entered the services of the Monon Railroad Company as transfer clerk. Later he was made assistant weighmaster for the Haskell & Barker Car Company, subsequently became local agent for the Indiana Transportation Com- pany, thence ticket agent for the Michigan Cen- tral Railroad Company, and on the Ist of May, 1903, was made freight and ticket agent for that corporation. Mr. Brinkman is one of the rising young men of LaPorte county, and, being prompt. conscientious and thoroughly reliable, has won the praise and regard of all with whom he has been associated. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and in his fraternal relations is affiliated with Washington Lodge No. 94, Knights of Pythias, and the Benevolent and Protective Or- der of Elks. He is also a member of the Ames Second Regiment Band.

JOHN C. BECKER, a farmer of Hudson township, living on section 29, was born in Meck- lenburg, Germany, on the 7th of February, 1844, his parents being John and Sophia (Braugh- man) Becker, who were also natives of Mecklen- burg. When their son was seventeen years of age they crossed the Atlantic to America with their family, and located first in New York city, whence they afterward completed their westward journey until they reached LaPorte county. In- diana. This was about the year 1866, and they located in Hudson township. The father died there at the advanced age of eighty-two years and ten months, and his wife lived to the vener- able age of eighty-five years, she, too, passing away in Hudson township. Mr. John Becker was twice married, and by the first union had two children, who came to the United States at the same time that our subject crossed the At- lantic, and John C. Becker is the only son of

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his father's second marriage, but he had one sis- ter, Sophia, who is now deceased.

With his parents John C. Becker came to LaPorte county. He had pursued his education in the schools of the fatherland, and crossed the briny deep when the family became residents of America. He continued to live with his parents until their death, after which he purchased a farm of ninety-six acres and began the improvement of his property, fencing the land, clearing the fields and placing the tract under a high state of cultivation.

In 1873 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Becker and Miss Minnie Swimadorf, who was born in Germany and was brought to America by her parents when nine years of age, the family home being established in Lake county, Indiana. Her father was John Swimadorf, also a native of Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Becker have been born five children who are yet living, and they lost their second child, Louis, who died at the age of twenty-four years. The others are Emma, now the wife of Albert Graves, a farmer of LaPorte county ; Frank; John, who married Miss Hulda Kemp December 16, 1903; Linda and Eddie, at home.

Since 1866 Mr. Becker has resided continu- ously upon the farm which is now his home. Here he has two hundred and twenty acres of well im- proved land, and he is engaged in general agri- cultural pursuits and stock-raising. Annually he harvests good crops of grain, and he also has upon his place high grades of horses, cattle and hogs, from the sale of which he realizes a good return upon his investments. His home is a beautiful one, his barns and other outbuildings are substantial and commodious, and there are upon his place all of the improvements and equip- ments which go to make up a model farm. In his work he is progressive and enterprising, and to-day he is numbered among the leading agri- culturists of his adopted county. In politics he is independent, voting for the candidates whom he thinks best qualified for office. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran church.

WILBUR L. RAWLINGS. The prosperity and business development of a community always depend upon the aggregate endeavor of many citizens, and Mr. Rawlings is among the number who by enterprising business methods and well conducted commercial interests add to the ac- tivity and consequent prosperity of Michigan City. He is now dealing in hard and soft coal, and because of his well known reliability has

secured a gratifying patronage. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, January 12, 1858, and is a son of Elisha P. and Annie (Settlers) Raw- lings. For many years the family has been rep- resented in Indiana, for in pioneer times Rev. Rawlings, his grandfather, came to this state and as a Methodist minister labored for the moral development of the pioneer community. It was in Indiana that Elisha P. Rawlings was born, as was his wife. They became the parents of two children, the daughter being Lou Belle, the wife of John Todd, a resident of Lafayette, Indiana. While residing in Louisville, Kentucky, Elisha P. Rawlings engaged in the manufacture of saddle-trees for a number of years, and in 1869 he came to Michigan City, Indiana, where he continued to make his home until 1885. He is now a resident of Monticello, Indiana. His first wife passed away in 1862, when thirty-two years of age, dying in the faith of the Methodist church, of which she was a consistent member. For his second wife Mr. E. P. Rawlings chose Mrs. Sarah Jane Wilson, the widow of J. O. Wil- son. Four children were born of this second mar- riage : Lillie, Elmer, Minnie and Otis. Mr. and Mrs.Elisha P. Rawlings held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of Monticello, In- diana, in which he is serving as one of its officers.

Wilbur L. Rawlings spent the first eleven years of his life in the city of his nativity and acquired his preliminary education there. In 1869 he came to Michigan City, where he has made his home continually since, and, entering the public schools here, he continued his studies. In his youth he lived upon his father's farm and assisted in the cultivation of field and meadow until twenty-one years of age, when he aban- doned the plow, and in the factory of J. H. Win- terbotham & Sons, in Michigan City, he was employed for a considerable period. In 1880 he began dealing in wood and coal, and has since continued in business as a vender of these com- modities. His business methods will bear close investigation, and because of his straightforward business methods he has secured a good trade.

On the IIth of June, 1884, Mr. Rawlings was united in marriage to Miss Libbie James, a daughter of Horatio and Jennie (Trobridge) James. They became the parents of three sons and four daughters, but Gertrude Belle, the first born, died at the age of four days. The others are Mildred, Wilbur, Lyle, Bernice, Herbert and Esther. The parents and children attend the services of the Congregational church, and they have a pleasant home at the corner of Spring and

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Fourth streets. Mr. Rawlings votes with the Republican party. While there have been no. exciting chapters in his life's history, his career. illustrates 'the force of unflagging industry and honorable dealing in the active affairs of life, for it has been as the result of these qualities in his character that Mr. Rawlings has won his prosperity.

JOHN BLUE is one of LaPorte county's native sons and is now an enterprising and pro- gressive business man of Michigan City, where he is dealing in men's furnishing goods and also conducting a merchant tailoring establishment. He was born in Springfield township on the 10th of October, 1839, and is a son of John and Nancy (Griffin) Blue, who were natives of the Empire state. Little is known concerning the ancestral history of the Blue family, but there is some rec- ord concerning the Griffin family. Sylvester Grif- fin, the maternal grandfather of Mr. Blue, was a native of New York, and about 1833 emigrated westward, establishing his home in Center town- ship, LaPorte county, where he engaged in farm- ing. He wedded Miss Mary Griffin, who was born in Connecticut and who, though of the same name, was not a relative. They became the par- ents of six children : Sylvester, Nancy, Arastar- cus, Mary, Caroline and Martin. Grandfather Griffin died about 1877, when in the ninetieth year of his age. The son Arastarcus is the only one of the children now living, and he makes his home in Center township at the age of eighty-five years. It was about 1833 that John Blue, Sr., came to LaPorte county, and here he followed carpentering. He died in 1841, at the age of thirty-one years, and his wife passed away in 1844 when about the same age. They held mem- bership in the Methodist church and were ear- nest Christian people.

John Blue was reared by his maternal grand- parents upon the old Griffin homestead, there remaining until about twenty-two years of age. In his youth he attended the district schools, and for two winter seasons he engaged in teaching. When in his tenth year he had the misfortune to alight upon a brick while jumping at play, and this so injured his left leg that he has been unable to use it since. In 1861 he came to Michigan City and began working for Frederick Knubbe, with whom he learned the tailor's trade. For fifteen years he was in the employ of that gen- tleman, and then spent seven years in the servi- ces of Charles Deming. On the expiration of that period he bought out his employer and has con-

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 126

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