A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 130

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 130

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

of the party, and labors earnestly for the adoption of the principles which he believes will best ad- vance good government. He has served as a member of the city board of aldermen, and is a valuable, enterprising citizen, greatly esteemed throughout the community. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Nellie Parmbla, was called to the home beyond in 1896, her parents, who were among the first settlers of LaPorte, sur- viving her, their demise having occurred since that time. Her father, Peter Parmbla, lived in LaPorte for more than fifty years, and when he came here there were less than one hundred fam- ilies living in LaPorte.

Edward Julius Lonn, the eldest son of John and Nellie Lonn, and the junior member of the firm, is a native son of this city, his birth having occurred here in 1869, and to its public school sytem He is indebted for the educational advantages which he received in his youth. At an early age he became identified with his fa- ther's business, soon acquiring an interest there- in, and father and son have ever since been closely related in their business interests. In 1897 John Lonn & Sons established a bicycle factory in La- Porte, of which E. J. Lonn was made manager, and two years later, in 1899, he succeeded in or- ganizing here the Great Western Manufacturing Company, a large bicycle concern which absorbed the Lonn plant and the bicycle factories of the Adams & Westlake Company and the David Bradley Manufacturing Company-the two lat- ter being Chicago concerns. These were re- moved to LaPorte, and the plant as it now stands represents the consolidation of the three com- panies, large new buildings being erected here. The officers of the Great Western Manufactur- ing Company are as follows: F. B. Jones, of Chicago, president ; J. H. Bradley, also of Chi- cago, vice president ; and E. J. Lonn, of LaPorte, secretary and general manager. During the past ten months the output of these works has been thirty thousand machines, their pay roll amount- ing to fifty thousand dollars a year, and this is now the largest independent bicycle concern in the United States, their principal makes being the Adlake and Crown. In these two industries employment is given to two hundred men, which is an indication of their importance to the city of LaPorte.

The marriage of Edward J. Lonn was cele- brated in 1891, when Miss Jennie Miller became his wife, and they have two children,-Julius Miller and Earl Wendell. In his fraternal rela- tions Mr. Lonn is a member of the Benevolent

Digitized by Google

722

HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY.

and Protective Order of Elks, is identified with the Business Men's Association and is a valued member of the Presbyterian church.

Thus it will be seen that John and Edward J. Lonn are numbered among the leading repre- sentatives of the industrial interests of this sec- tion of the state, and belong to that class who, while promoting individual prosperity, also ad- vance the general welfare. The life of John Lonn has been characterized by industry, deter- mination and ambition, qualities which have en- abled him to overcome the difficulties and ob- stacles in his path and work his way steadily up- ward to the plane of affluence. To-day he ranks among the leading citizens of LaPorte county, and his creditable life work has won him the re- spect and commendation of all who are familiar with his history.

J. H. WILLIAM MEYER, M. D. Much of the civilization of the world has come from the Teutonic race. Continually moving westward, they have taken with them the enterprise and ad- vancement of their eastern homes, and have be- come valued and useful citizens of various lo- calities. In this country especially they have demonstrated their power to adapt themselves to new circumstances, retaining at the same time their progressiveness and energy, and have be- come loyal and devoted citizens, true to the in- stitutions of "the land of the free" and untiring in promotion of all that will prove of benefit to their adopted country. The German element in America forms an important part of American citizenship, and its representatives have given evidence of their power to become the factors in various communities to whom the locality owes its progress and prosperity.

A worthy representative of this class is Dr. J. H. William Meyer, now a successful physician and surgeon of LaPorte. He was born at Buer, near Bremen, Germany, in 1853, and is a son of Fritz W. and Marie (Landwehr) Meyer, both of whom were natives of Buer, which is the an- cestral home of the family. The father belonged to one of the prominent old feudal families there, and lived on the family estate up to the time of his marriage, when he took up his abode in the village, and there engaged in the dry-goods busi- ness, remaining a merchant there throughout the rest of his days. He died in 1900, but his widow is still living in Buer.

In private schools and in a gymnasium the Doctor acquired his education, and when seven- teen years of age .he came to the United States

with his brother, Otto Meyer. They located in LaPorte, July 5, 1871, and secured positions in mercantile houses. After continuing in business here for some years, Otto Meyer removed to Clinton, Iowa, where he is now a prominent dry- goods merchant. Dr. Meyer first worked as a salesman for Guggenheim, Wile & Fox, a prom- inent dry-goods firm of that day, owning the largest store in LaPorte. After three years he left their employ and entered upon the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. Thompkins Higday, then a successful practicing physician here, who was his preceptor until 1876. He en- tered the Rush Medical College of Chicago, in which he was graduated with the class of 1876. He then received an appointment as interne in the Cook County Hospital, in which capacity he served during the years 1876 and 1877, and while thus engaged he took up the study of the diseases of the eye and ear as a specialty and was awarded a diploma by the Illinois Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary. In 1877 he returned to LaPorte, where he has since engaged in the practice of medicine, and his broad reading, continued study and skill made him the equal of any member of the profession in this part of the state, and the superior of a large majority of practitioners.

In 1886 he returned to his native land and studied for a time at Heidelberg under Professor Czerny, and renowned surgeon, to whom Dr. Meyer became a special assistant. He also pur- sued a course under Professor Becker, noted as an eye and ear specialist. From Heidelberg he went to Vienna, where he continued his studies along the line of his specialty under Professor Koenigstein. Returning to LaPorte he resumed the practice of his profession after more than a year's absence in Europe, during which time he had gained a comprehensive knowledge of the best methods of many of the world's distin- guished physicians and surgeons.

He engages in the general practice, but has gained his greatest success as a specialist in the treatment of diseases of the eye and ear and de- serves to be ranked among the best in this line in all the central west. He now lectures on the anatomy and diseases of the eye in the Practical School of Watchmaking, in LaPorte, to the stu- dents who are preparing to become opticians. He is the local surgeon for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, and in addition has a very large private practice, which is indicative of the confidence reposed in him by the public. who recognize his marked capability. He is now the honored president of the LaPorte County

Digitized by Google

723

HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY.

Medical Society, and is a member of the Ameri- can Medical Association and of the International Association of Railway Surgeons.

In Chicago, in 1876, was celebrated the mar- riage of Dr. Meyer and Miss Eva M. Warren, a niece of his first preceptor, Dr. Higday. They have five children living : Frank Roy Otto, Marie, Warren, Walter and Rose. Their eldest chil- dren, Mathilde and Frederick William, are de- ceased. Socially the Doctor is connected with the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, and is a charter member of the local lodge of Elks. He is very popular as a man and citizen as well as a physician, and he has many friends.

PHILIP ZORN is the president of the Zorn Brewing Company of Michigan City. He was born in the city of Würzburg, Germany, Febru- ary 21, 1837, his parents being Philip and Mar- garet Zorn, who were also natives of that coun- try. His paternal grandfather was Adam Zorn, who died in the fatherland when well advanced in years. He was a farmer by occupation, and in his family were eleven children, three sons and eight daughters. The maternal grandfather also died in Germany, passing away at the age of seventy-two years. He had two children. Philip Zorn, Sr., the father, was a brewer by oc- cupation and followed that business in Germany until his death, which occurred in 1849, when he was forty-one years of age. His wife survived him until 1879, and passed away at the age of sixty-eight years. Both were Lutherans in reli- gious faith. Their children, ten in number, were three sons and seven daughters, and of these only four are now living: Philip: Maria, the wife of a Mr. Drazak, of Germany ; Barbetta, the wife of John Wuttig, of Idaho Springs, Col- orado; Margaretta, the wife of John Hubner, of Chicago.

Mr. Philip Zorn resided in Germany until seventeen years of age, and in accordance with the laws of his native land pursued his education in the public schools, and afterward attended the agricultural college at Nurnberg. In 1854, when a young man of seventeen, he sailed for the new world, and for a year resided in New York city. He then made his way westward, establishing his home in Blue Island. Cook county, Illinois, where he resided until 1871, and there he was master of a brewery. Coming then to Michigan City, he built a brewery here, which he is still operating, and in 1903 he erected a brew house. For a number of years he was alone in business, but afterward associated his two sons, Charles

and Robert, with him, and the Zorn Brewing Company was organized. They now employ about twenty people and manufacture a product which finds a good sale upon the market because of its excellence.

In October, 1856, occurred the marriage of Mr. Zorn and Miss Sophia Miller, a daughter of Christian Miller. They became the parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters: Charles, who is associated with his father in business; Amelia; Sophia; Leonhart, who died at the age of two years; Robert, who is with his father in business; Herman, who died at the age of sixteen years; and Louisa. Mrs. Zorn died in March, 1897, at the age of fifty-eight years. She was a member of the Lutheran church, to which Mr. Zorn also adheres, having been reared in that faith. He belongs to Germania Lodge No. 182, F. & A. M., and formerly was connected wtih the German Singing Society, the Turner Society, and the Sharpshooter's Society.

His political adherence is given to the Democ- racy, and he served as a member of the city council of Michigan City for one term and was also school trustee and commissioner of highways in Blue Island, Illinois. His attention has not been confined entirely to the brewing business, for he has become financially interested in other enterprises, and is now the first vice president of the Citizens' Bank. He came here a poor young man, and was dependent entirely upon his own labors and business capacity for a living. Gradu- ally he has worked his way upward, and he stands to-day as one of the successful men whose life records are an indication of what can be accom- plished in this country through persistent and untiring energy when guided by sound judgment.

CHARLES E. RUSSELL. The name of Russell has been associated with the development of the great oil industry almost since the first discovery of petroleum in this country, and Charles E. Russell is now operating along these lines as one of the leading representatives of the business in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and Kansas as an oil territory. A man of splendid business ability, resourceful and energetic, he has directed his energies along lines where discriminating judgment has led the way, and to-day he ranks among the successful representatives of an industry which has largely revolutionized trade interests in this country.

A native of Ohio, he was born in Columbiana county, in 1857. His father, Anson H. Russell, was born in the state of New York. and belongs

Digitized by Google

724

HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY.

to an old New England family founded in Amer- ican at an early period in the colonization of the country. He was one of the original oil opera- tors in Pennsylvania, and was connected with the first great oil discovery and excitement at Pit Hole in that state. For a long number of years he has been more or less closely connected with the oil business and for a considerable period he was also actively interested in railroad con- struction in the north central states. He now makes his home in Cleveland, Ohio. He mar- ried Elizabeth Lockard, whose people were among the first settlers of Columbiana county, Ohio, her father a native of Ireland, locating there in pioneer days.

Mr. Russell obtained the greater part of his mental training in the public schools of East Saginaw, Michigan, where his parents were lo- cated for several years. When still a boy he be- came deeply interested in railroading, and his taste in this direction determined his first step in a business career. He became a locomotive fireman on the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad in Michigan, and later he was for a number of years in the locomotive department of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company, being thus engaged until 1882, when he engaged in the oil business, in which he has since con- tinued. He is the owner and developer of oil wells and oil lands in Indiana, Ohio, West Vir- ginia and Pennsylvania, and is associated in these operations with his brother, William L. Russell, of Lima, Ohio. The Russells have al- ways been highly successful in this business, and are among the prominent operators of this coun- try. They have studied the question of oil pro- duction and the indications showing oil lands until their knowledge is comprehensive and exact, and their judgment is rarely, if ever, at fault upon questions relative to oil and the devel- opment of wells.

Mr. Russell was married in Painesville, Ohio, in 1882, the lady of his choice being Miss Fannie B. Avery, of that city. They now have four children : Carl L., Robert A., Helen E. and Rich- ard. Since 1890 Mr. Russell has been a resident of LaPorte, and has recently purchased the Pu- laski King residence on Michigan avenue, which he has remodeled along classic architectural lines, making it one of the most beautiful and attractive homes of the city. In Masonic circles Mr. Russell is very prominent. He belongs to the blue lodge, chapter, council and commandery at LaPorte, and has also attained to the thirty- second degree of the Scottish Rite in the con-

sistory at Indianapolis. With the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine he has also crossed the sands of the desert. A man of great natural ability, his success in business from the beginning of his con- nection with the oil industry has been uniform and rapid. He occupies a notable position among the oil operators of the country, and has achieved a brilliant reward for his labors.

WILLIAM N. OSBORN, who, though a comparatively young man, has attained a suc- cess that many an older man might envy and is prominent in the business circles of LaPorte county, is proprietor of the Corwill dairy and stock farm near Wanatah, and is a well known breeder of thoroughbred registered stock.

John Osborn, his father, also a prominent farmer and stockraiser, was born in Wayne county, Indiana, November 29, 1825, and came to LaPorte county when a young man. In this county he was married to Miss Jane McIntyre. who was born in Colerain, Ireland, February 22, 1838. Five children were born to them, of whom William N. is the oldest, and the others are: Eliza H., born September 30, 1868, is now the wife of William A. Bohland, county treasurer of LaPorte county and residing in LaPorte: James A., born July 19, 1870; John M., born July 23, 1873; and Jonathan Walter, born June 10, 1875.

William N. Osborn was born at Wanatah. LaPorte county, March 16, 1867, and passed his boyhood and youth under the parental roof. He graduated from the high school at Wanatah. and also in the business and scientific courses at the Northern Indiana Normal School at Val- paraiso in 1888. He then began farming on his own account, his first purchase of land consist- ing of forty acres, to which he has added from time to time until he now has three hundred and twenty-six acres, constituting one of the most desirable farms of its size in the county. He is a breeder of fine blooded stock, and makes a specialty of Holstein-Friesian cattle and Poland- China hogs. He has on hand a fine herd of about sixty Holstein cattle, and has a half interest in one hog valued at five hundred dollars. He has seven fine blooded pigs, which at this writing (1903) are about eight months old, for which he refused an offer of five hundred dollars. They are of the Poland-China strain, and their sire, "T. R. Perfection," sold at Kankakee, Illinois, July 8, 1903, for forty-one hundred dollars. A half interest in their grandsire, "Chief Perfection 2d," was sold at Macey, Indiana, in July, 1903.

Digitized by Google

Digitized by

Google

Ilm. M. Oxbow

Digitized by Google

Cora a

Digitized by Google

Google

Digitized by

- -

725

HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY.

for $17,210, the highest price ever paid for a hog. These pigs' sire and grandsire rank as two of the best if not the best Poland-China hogs ever sold. Mr. Osborn has one of the finest herds of Holstein-Freisian cattle in northern Indiana. A very flattering notice is given him in the Farmer's Guide of December 6, 1902, highly commendable of Mr. Osborn as a breeder of fine stock. Mr. Osborn does his own grind- ing of feed for his stock, owning a gas engine and separator, and his barns have cemented floors and all the facilities which make stock farming scientific and profitable. His broad acres are about the best in the township, and he is a thoroughly up-to-date stockman and agricul- turist.

At the home of the bride in Clinton town- ship, this county, Mr. Osborn was married, March 20, 1889, to Miss Cora A. Goodwin, who was born near Michigan City, in Pine township, April 12, 1869. The children born to them are Cleon Clayton, on January 26, 1890, and died September 18, the same year; William Ross, on October 7, 1891, and is now in the fifth grade at school; Ethel Estella, December 14, 1896, in the second grade; and John Leland, August 10, 1899.

Mr. Osborn affiliates with the Democratic party, and gives his earnest support to all meas- ures which he believes calculated to prove of · public benefit. He belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, Tent No. 41, and he and his wife are members of the Christian church at Wanatah. Wherever known he is held in high regard, and his life has been such as to gain the good will and respect of those with whom he has been brought in contact.

J. VENE DORLAND. Practical industry wisely and vigorously applied never fails of suc- cess : it carries a man onward and upward : brings out his individual character and acts as a power- ful stimulus to the efforts of others. The great- est results in life are usually attained by simple means and the exercise of the ordinary qualities of common sense and perseverance. The every- day life with its cares, incidents and duties af- fords ample opportunity for acquiring experience of the best kind, and its most trodden paths pro- vide a true worker with abundant scope for ef- fort and self-improvement. It is along such lines that Mr. Dorland has won a place of prominence in business circles. He is now well known as a real estate, insurance and abstract agent and also as a manufacturer of LaPorte.

Mr. Dorland is one of the native sons of this city, his birth having occurred on the 15th of August, 1868. His paternal great-grandfather, George Dorland, was born in Scotland, May 25, 1770, and on crossing the Atlantic to the new world, established his home upon a farm in Penn- sylvania. John S. Dorland, the grandfather, was born in the Keystone state, September 30, 1817, and died in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, August 20, 1852.

George C. Dorland, the father of J. Vene . Dorland, was born in Lycoming county, March 23, 1844. Owing to his father's early death he was left penniless at the age of eight years, at which time he came to LaPorte county to live with his uncle, Nathan S. Dorland, a farmer lo- cated at Door Village. At the outbreak of the Civil war he became a stanch defender of the Union cause, and on the 9th of September, 1861, enlisted in Company C, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, his services being with the Army of the Potomac. He was one of the youngest mem- bers of his regiment, being a youth of seventeen at the time he joined the army. He was with 'Generals Grant, McClellan and Thomas, and participated in the battles of Shiloh, Liberty Gap, Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and the siege of Corinth. At the battle of Stone River a cannon exploded and destroyed one of his ears. He was always faithful to his duty. and was honorably discharged on the 2d of Sep- tember, 1865, returning then to his home with a most creditable military record. Not long after reaching LaPorte county he secured a position as deputy recorder, and acted in that capacity for four years. On the expiration of that period he turned his attention to the grocery business and later became interested in the insurance, real estate and abstract business. In his political views he was an ardent Republican, and in 1875 was nominated and elected city clerk in a Demo- cratic city, a fact which is indicative of the trust reposed in him by his fellow townsmen and of their faith in his capability. He also served as clerk of the board of water works and he was instrumental in establishing the Northern Indi- ana Orphan's Home, of which he became secre- tary, acting in that position until his death. A prominent member of the Baptist church, it was at his suggestion that the Baptist Assembly grounds were established at Pine Lake. Pro- gressive and enterprising, he co-operated in many movements for the general good, and his efforts were of marked benefit to the community along lines of substantial improvement and of educa-

Digitized by Google

726

HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY.

tional and moral development. He passed away January 20, 1893, his death being occasioned by a railroad accident while he was returning to his home from Indianapolis.

In early manhood George C. Dorland was united in marriage to Miss Emily Rosetta Clos- ser. The Clossers are one of the old and prom- inent families of LaPorte county, and Mrs. Dor- land was born in this county and is still living here. She is a daughter of Nicholas Closser, who was wounded in an Indian fight in this county. He was born at Harper's Ferry, Vir- ginia, whence he removed with his parents to southern Ohio, and later came to Indiana, living first in Indianapolis. He arrived in LaPorte county, however, in the thirties, and was thus one of its honored pioneer settlers, casting in his lot with the early residents of the county who laid broad and deep the foundation for the pres- ent development and progress of this portion of the state. By trade he was a carpenter, but dur- ing the greater part of his life followed farming. The Closser family is of German descent. The mother of Nicholas Closser was Hulda McFar- land, a granddaughter of Colonel Daniel McFar- land, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, who served in the Revolutionary war. Colonel Mc- Farland was a grandson of Daniel McFarland, who was of Scotch lineage and who crossed the Atlantic from Ulster, Ireland, in 1718, establish- ing his home in Worcester, Massachusetts.

In taking up the personal history of J. Vene Dorland, we present to our readers the life rec- ord of one who is widely known in LaPorte county, and who has found favor and friendship among its citizens. His early education acquired in the public schools was supplemented by a course of study in Holmes Shorthand & Busi- ness College. On the Ist of January, 1890, hav- ing been well equipped for the duties of a busi- ness career, he became a partner of his father in the real estate, abstract and insurance business under the firm name of George C. Dorland & Son, and upon his father's death he succeeded to the business as its sole proprietor, and has since conducted it with growing and gratifying success. In connection with his abstract busi- ness he has become one of the best posted men on land in this county. He has also made a specialty of the insurance department, and may well feel a pride in what he has accomplished in this direction. having written a vast amount of business for the companies which he represents, thus gaining for himself also an excellent finan- cial return. He is a member of the executive

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 130

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