A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 133

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 133

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Mr. Grant was married in 1850 to Miss Martha Bayldon, a native of the city of York, England, and reared there. They were the pa- rents of four children : Elizabeth, wedded Horace Langham, and they have three children, one son and two daughters: James R., the eldest and a resident of Joliet, Illinois; Francis J., a resi- dent of Chillicothe, Missouri, has done high school work and is a muiscian on the piano; Mattie E., at home with mother, has also done high school work, and she is taking a commercial course in the Rochester Corresponding School. Martha, wedded John C. Langham, and has three children, two sons and one daughter : John C., a resident of Kankakee, Illinois ; George D., a resi- dent of Kankakee, Illinois, and employed in the Big Four offices ; Hazel C., at home and in high school. George W., the third child, is an en- gineer on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, and wedded Miss Ida F. Claiborne. Isabella is deceased.

Mr. Grant was a Democrat in political affilia- tions. Although seventy-eight years of age, he was well preserved, and a hearty and vigorous man to the end, life's burdens and responsibili- ties resting lightly on shoulders that never shirked or avoided their due weight throughout the years of an unusually long and active career. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. S. B. Town, of the First Methodist church of Michigan City, and his remains were interred in Greenwood cemetery.

ALBERT W. FREHSE, for the past eight years superintendent of the city water works at Michigan City. Indiana, has lived in LaPorte county all his life, and has been one of its capable and enterprising citizens. He has developed his aptitude for mechanical matters since he was a

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DAVID GRANT

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boy, and in this line has gained a reputation throughout the northern part of the county for skill and ingenuity. He has also taken part in public affairs, and has made a record of good service in every line to which he has given his at- tention.

Mr. Frehse comes of an old LaPorte county family. He is of German stock on both sides of the house, and his grandparents were Carl and Wilhelmina ( Dierman) Frehse; the former lived and died in Germany, being about sixty years old at the time of his death ; the latter emi- grated to Michigan City, where she died in her eighty-seventh year. Mr. Carl Frehse was a tailor and schoolmaster, and had four sons. Charles Frehse, one of these sons, and the father of Albert W. Frehse, was born in Germany, where he learned his father's trade of tailor, and in 1854 came to America and settled in Michigan City, where he carried on tailoring until a few years ago, but he and his wife are now living retired at 416 Wabash street. He served as a private in the Twenty-seventh Indiana In- fantry during the Civil war, and for fifty years has been one of the respected citizens of his town. He and his wife are both Lutherans. He mar- ried Wilhelmina Westphal, a native of Germany and a daughter of John Westphal and Sophia (Zahrndt) Westphal, both natives of Germany, whence they came to America in 1855 and set- tled in Michigan City, where the former died in March, 1887, in his eighty-fifth year. He and his wife were parents of four daughters and one son.

Charles and Wilhelmina Frehse had seven children, five sons and two daughters, as fol- lows: Albert W .; Carl, deceased ; Maximilian ; Agnes, wife of Cephas Ludwig; Emma, wife of A. J. Henry ; Otto; and Herman.

Albert W. Frehse, the eldest of the children, was born in Michigan City, July 29, 1857, and attended the public schools there. He has been engaged in various pursuits for several years, and for twelve years has been connected with the city water works, having held the responsible position of superintendent for eight years.

April 13, 1882, Mr. Frehse married Miss Caroline Wittenburg, a daughter of Jolin and Mary (Loescher) Wittenburg, both natives of Germany. John Wittenburg came to America in 1855, and his wife in 1856, and they settled at Buffalo, New York, where they lived until 1858, and then came west to New Buffalo, Michi- gan, where the former followed farming, and died there in 1875, at the age of thirty-nine. His

wife died in 1899, aged sixty-seven years, having been the mother of five children. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Frehse, four sons and two daughters: Clara, Lorena, Oscar, Wal- ter, Albert and Carl, of whom Oscar died in in- fancy. Mr. and Mrs. Frehse are members of the Lutheran church, and he belongs to Acme Lodge No. 83, F. & A. M., and to Michigan City Chap- ter No. 25, R. A. M., also to the Elks and several benevolent societies. He affiliates with the Demo- cratic party, and takes a commendable interest in politics and public affairs generally. Their pleasant and cheerful home is situated at 721 East Michigan street.

HARVEY S. PADDOCK, who follows gen- eral farming on section 12, Galena township, was born on section 13 of the same township, April 22, 1841, and is the seventh child and sixth son of James and Charlotte Paddock. His parents are mentioned on another page of this work in connection with the history of Morrison Paddock. On the old homestead he was reared, his boy- hood days being spent in a manner not unlike that of most farmer lads of the period. He worked in the fields from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn, and during the winter months he pur- sued his education in the district schools. He thus remained at home up to the time of his en- listment for service in the Civil war. When the south attempted to overthrow the Union he joined Company E of the Twentieth Indiana Infantry, in 1861, as a private to serve for three years. On the expiration of that period he re-enlisted, and was in the army altogether for four years. Although he joined his regiment as a private he was afterward promoted to the rank of corporal, then to sergeant major, later to second lieutenant and then to first lieutenant. His command was with the Army of the Potomac, and he was in every engagement from the battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines to the close of the war. Although he was often in the thickest of the fight, he did not receive a single wound, nor was he off duty or ill in all that time. He participated in the grand review in Washington, D. C., and received an honorable discharge at Indianapolis in July, 1865. He then returned to his native township with a most creditable military record and re- sumed farming.

In February, 1866. Mr. Paddock was united in marriage to Miss Clymena Rhoades, who was born in New York and came to Galena township when twelve years of age with her parents,

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Luther and Ann Rhoades. Not long after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Paddock established their home upon a farm, and to-day he owns one hundred and twenty acres of well improved land, which returns to him a golden tribute for the care and labor he bestows upon it. His place is di- vided into fields of convenient size by well kept fences, and everything about his farm is neat and thrifty in appearance, indicating his careful supervision and his practical methods of work. He belongs to Charles Woodruff Post, G. A. R., at Three Oaks, Michigan. In his political views he is a Republican, having always supported the party, and he served as assessor for four terms. Having spent his entire life in the county, he is well known, and the fact that many of his stanch- est friends are numbered among those who have known him from his boyhood days is an indica- tion that his career has at all times been worthy of respect and confidence.

GEORGE R. HOOTON. Farming has been the department of business which has claimed the time and attention of George R. Hooton, now a well known and successful agriculturist living On section 16, Wills township. He was born in that township at what is called Puddletown, August 13, 1857. The Hootons are of English descent. The great-grandfather came from Eng- land, located in South Carolina, and it is be- lieved took part in the Revolutionary war as a soldier in the Continental army. On the mater- nal side Mr. Hooton is of Scotch descent. His father, William Hooton, was born in Wayne county, Indiana, December 2, 1823, and was eleven years of age when he went to St. Joseph county, Indiana, with his parents, who estab- lished their home just across the boundary line dividing that county from LaPorte county. Upon the old homestead William Hooton was reared, and after his marriage he took his bride to the old home farm. Later he moved across the line into Wills township, La Porte county, about 1853. taking up his abode at Puddletown, where he purchased a farm, becoming the owner, in 1858, of the land upon which Mr. G. R. Hooton now resides. His place comprised eighty acres of school land, which was wild and unimproved when it came into his possession, but which he transformed into rich fields. He there continued to engage in agricultural pursuits until his death. which occurred on the 23d of August. 1902. He was a prominent and influential member of the Christian church. took an active part in its work and always lived up to what he professed. He

was a stanch Republican, and as a citizen was loyal to all measures for the public good and aided in many movements for the general wel- fare. Generous and benevolent, he gave freely to the poor and needy, and there were in his life many kindly deeds that endeared him to those with whom he came in contact. He married Sarah Clark, a native of Franklin county, Indi- ana, born May 10, 1825, and who died when fifty-seven years of age. They were the parents of the following children : Mary E., now the wife of J. C. Pickett, of Minnesota ; Francis M., who resides in Olive township, St. Joseph county, In- diana; Thomas and William S., who are living with their brother, George R .; Alice, who also makes her home with her brother George; and Caleb, who completes the family.

George R. Hooton, the fourth in order of birth, was reared upon the old homestead, and the occupation of farming became very familiar to him in his early youth. He has long lived upon his present farm-since the age of eighteen months-and it. was therefore his playground in boyhood as well as the scene of his manhood's activities. In 1878 he was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Cart, who was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, and this union was blessed with six children : Clara M., now the wife of Elmer Moffitt, the renowned baseball pitcher ; Schuyler, Lena Edith and Edgar, all at home. They also lost two children, Leora, who died at the age of thirteen years, and a son, who died in infancy.

Mr. Hooton owns eighty acres of land in Olive township, St. Joseph county, Indiana, and undivided interest with three hundred and sixty acres on the old home place in Wills township. He carries on general farming, and is one of the representative agriculturists of the community, following progressive and practical methods that produce excellent results. In politics he is a stanch Republican, believing firmly in the prin- ciples of the party and in their ultimate triumph. He has served as supervisor and as constable. and whether in office or out of it is always a loyal and devoted citizen. He belongs to the New Light or Christian church, and has taken an active part in promoting the cause of morality as well as advocating the intellectual and material develop- ment of the county.

GEORGE H. STOREY is superintendent of the waterworks of LaPorte, and is well qualified for this important position, which he has long filled.

When still quite young he began earning his

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own living, and whatever success he has since achieved has been due entirely to his own efforts. He entered the employ of the Holly Manufac- turing Company at Lockport, New York, where he learned the trade of machinist, receiving most of his training in the erecting shop. The Holly Company was at that time the principal manufac- turers of water-works systems in the United States, and in this excellent training school Mr. Storey was well equipped for the duties to which he now gives his attention. He made such pro- gress that in 1868, when twenty-two years of age, he was sent out by the Holly Company to superintend the installation of the water-works plant at Kalamazoo, Michigan, that being the first of the smaller cities in the west to put in water works. In fact, the only systems of the west at that time were those at Chicago, St. Louis, Milwaukee and Cincinnati. After constructing the Kalamazoo system Mr. Storey remained there as superintendent until 1871.

In that year he came to LaPorte and put in the Holly water-works system at that place. After its completion he was employed by the munici- pality, which was the owner of the plant, to re- main as superintendent. He has made his home in this city almost continuously since, being in charge of the water works at different times for a combined period of more than twenty years, and has erected and put in operation other. ex- tensive water-works plants throughout the coun- try. The system at LaPorte remained as estab- lished from 1871 to 1896, when new machinery, made by the Nordberg Manufacturing Company of Milwaukee, was installed, the old mains and water pipes, however, being retained as originally constructed.

In 1899 the lakes north of LaPorte from which the water supply was obtained showed signs of failing, and the city established five miles east of the city in the Kankakee valley, an aux- iliary plant for the purpose of pumping water from the copious springs in that vicinity. This enterprise was carried on under the name of the LaPorte Water Supply Company, consisting of the municipality as the principal owner and one or two private capitalists. . This auxiliary plant is operated by electric power from an engine and generator located in the original pumping station in the town, and is transmitted by a system of six copper wires to the Kankakee station, where the power for pumping is applied through elec- tric motors to two pumps, the capacity of which is one and three fourths million gallons each in twenty-four hours. The water from the Kanka-

kee pumps is conducted through an eighteen-inch water main to the basin of the local pumping station in the city, where it is taken up and dis- tributed by the local plant for general purposes throughout the city. In the meantime the lakes from which the water was formerly taken have begun to regain their former sufficiency, so that the city is assured, from these two sources, a full and permanent supply of water. For thirty- two years Mr. Storey has continued in charge of the water works, and his capability has made him a most trustworthy official and one who re- ceives the highest commendation of all concerned.

Mr. Storey was united in marriage to Miss Flora E. Allen, a member of the well known Allen family of this city, represented elsewhere in this work. She is a daughter of the late James Monroe Allen and a granddaughter of Colonel Place. Mr. and Mrs. Storey now reside at the old Colonel Place homestead on Main street. They have three children: Willard Mon- roe, Mabel Lane and Lola. During a long resi- dence in LaPorte Mr. Storey has always been known as a leading and public-spirited citizen, and as a representative man of the county well deserves mention in this volume.

MRS. HARRIET A. HAY is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres situated not far from Union Mills. She was born in Cones- ville, Schoharie county, New York, on the 12th of June, 1836, a daughter of Allen and Philinda (Chichester) Case, both natives of Broome, Schoharie county, the former born in 1807 and the latter on the 3d of February, 1813. Allen Case was a farmer who year by year engaged in the tilling of the soil and thus provided com- fortably for his family. He and his wife re- mained for many years in their native county and there he passed away in 1888, while her death occurred in 1881. Mrs. Hay's grandfather, Cal- vin Case, was a brave soldier in the Revolution- ary war.

To the public school system of her native town Mrs. Hay is indebted for the educational privileges she received. Her girlhood days were spent under the parental roof, and in her early womanhood her hand was sought in marriage by Daniel N. Hay. The wedding was celebrated in her native town on the Ist of September, 1853. Mr. Hay was born in Greene county, New York, on the 17th of March, 1827, and he was a farmer. Believing that they might have better business opportunities in the west, they removed to La- Porte county, where Mr. Hay secured a tract of

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land which he soon placed under a high state of cultivation. Throughout his remaining days he was identified with farming interests, and he died October 17, 1899. The old homestead place is still in possession of Mrs. Hay, and comprises two hundred acres of rich and arable land which annually yields good crops. There are substan- tial improvements upon the farm, and the place is neat and thrifty in appearance.

To Mr. and Mrs. Hay were born ten children : Alza, who was born in 1855, and is now living in Doniphan, Ripley county, Missouri; Linn D., who was born in 1857 and is now city attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he has made his home for six years ; James, who was born in 1860 and died in 1895; George L., who was born in 1863 and is now a practicing lawyer in Kingman, Kansas, where he has made his home for fifteen years; Clara, who was born in 1865 and died in 1899; Carl, who was born in 1867 and died in 1899; Cora, born in 1869; Dale, who was born in 1871, was a student in State University and was a teacher, and has for three years been en- gaged in merchandising in Union Mills; Arden, who was born in 1873 and is a grain-buyer of Union Mills; and Orth, who was born in 1875 and is living on the home farm, largely as- sisting his mother in its care and cultivation. Mr. Hay was an ardent Republican.

LUCIUS T. HARDING, one of the most prominent farmers and stockmen of Center township, and who, after an ac- tive and successful career of a half cen- tury, has resigned most of the arduous labor connected with his enterprises, is the son of one of the carliest settlers in LaPorte county. John Harding, his father, was born in Pennsylvania, moved to Richland county, Ohio, where he was married to Miss Elvira Dunham, and came to LaPorte county in June, 1834. He camped on Clear Lake, and then came on to Michigan City. There were three or four build- ings in LaPorte at that time. He put up a grist and saw mill, one of the first in the county. He also assisted in getting out lumber for the Union Mills, which were erected in 1837 and are still standing. He entered land in Noble township, and in 1848 bought section 14 in Center town- ship, where he lived for many years, and then sold and went to Springfield township. He died in Center township in his seventy-seventh year, and his wife, who was born near Niagara Falls, New York, lived to be eighty-eight years old.

They were the parents of seven sons and three daughters, of whom four sons and two daughters are living. Solomon, the fifth son, was killed at the battle of Chickamagua; Thomas D., the eldest, served in the Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged for dis- ability after three years of service; Hugh was in the same regiment and served four years.

Lucius T. Harding, the second son, was born at Mansfield, Richland county, Ohio, January 29, 1834, and was about a year old when he became a most youthful citizen of LaPorte county. He was reared near LaPorte, and his education was received in the archaic and rough log school- house of the time, although the training he ob- tained there was ample for the successful prose- cution of a business career. At the age of four- teen he began earning his own bread, and until his marriage, at the age of eighteen, he worked with his father. He was engaged in supplying timber for the construction work on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, and hauled all the timbers for the first turn-table and shops in LaPorte. He also witnessed the stringing of the first telegraph wires across the county, and was otherwise identified with some of the first steps in the progress and upbuilding of this great section of northern Indiana.

Shortly after the period mentioned he bought a farm, and was engaged in farming until the outbreak of the rebellion. In 1864 he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was a non-commissioned officer of a company of fifty men at the battle of Frank- lin and Nashville. He was also steward of the eleventh division at Camp Denison, Ohio, for three months, and was there at the time of his discharge. Mr. Harding returned to his farm after the war, and shortly afterward bought a half interest in a sawmill, which he carried on in connection with his farming. In the spring oi 1867 he sold his farm in Springfield township and bought two hundred acres of Henry White in sections 21 and 22, Center township, where he has made his residence for the past thirty-eight years. In 1886 he laid out what is known as Camp Harding, now a popular summer resort, and he owns sixty acres of the one hundred and twenty comprised in the grounds of the Pine Lake Assembly, and is also owner of the Pine Lake Assembly Hotel. Mr. Harding laid out this summer resort after a two years' visit to Europe, where he was engaged in the stock- importing business, in connection with the Door

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J Harding

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Prairie Live Stock Importing Association. He South Bend; Viola, who is the wife of A. J. imported some fine Shropshire sheep in 1882, for his own use.

In 1852 Mr. Harding was married to Miss Sarah A. Baker, a native of Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Henry and Catherine Baker. She was brought to LaPorte county at the age of ten years. She died in April, 1902. Mr. Harding has five sons and five daughters living.

Mr. Harding has twice been president of the LaPorte Agricultural Society, and has always been connected with it as a member. He cast his first vote for Fremont, and has been identified with the Republican party ever since. He is a member of Patton Post, G. A. R., has belonged to the Baptist church since boyhood, and in the various activities of life has played an honor- able and useful part. He is now inspector of roads in his township. He was engaged in the dairy business for about twenty-five years, and kept seventy-five cows. His operations have nearly all been of an extensive character, and he has the broad mind and influence which come from contact with the world and large enter- prises. His career is mainly the result of his own endeavors, and he owes its happy outcome to his fine sense of honor, his industry and busi- ness sagacity, and he may be depended upon to perform his part well to the end, whether in public or private life.

THEODORE M. HICKS, who devotes his time and attention to agricultural pursuits on section 30, Hudson township, was born in Che- mung county, New York, on the 5th of Decem- ber, 1841, and is a son of Alva and Harriet (Sweet) Hicks, in whose family were five chil- dren, Theodore being the eldest, and the only son. His father, who was also born in Chemung county, is still living at the advanced age of eighty-four years. He is of English descent, for his father, George Hicks, was born in England and came with two brothers to the new world, establishing his home in Canada, whence he afterward removed to Chemung county. It was in Otsego county, New York, that the mother of Mr. T. M. Hicks opened her eyes to the light of day, and her death occurred when she was about fifty-six years of age. She was of Scotch-Irish lineage, a daughter of the Rev. Caleb Sweet, who was a minister of the Baptist Church. The sisters of Mr. T. M. Hicks are Lucy, the wife of T. A. Grover, of Hudson township ; Ellen F., wife of Joseph M. Grover, of

Hicks, of Hudson township; and Mary E., the wife of James C. Bean, of the same township.

Under the parental roof Theodore M. Hicks spent his boyhood days in the county of his nativity, and his early education acquired in the common schools was supplemented by study in the high school at Waverly, New York. His business training was received under the direc- tion of his father, whom he assisted in the oper- ation of a sawmill until he attained his majority.

On the 18th of March, 1863, he was united in marriage to Miss Mahala West, whose birth occurred in Chemung county, New York, on the 18th of October, 1842, her parents being George P. and Eleanor (Jackson) West, who were like- wise natives of the Empire state. Her father, however, was of English descent, while her mother was a representative of an old New Eng- land family. They became the parents of eleven children, nine of whom are yet living, Mrs. Hicks being the second in order of birth and the eldest daughter. Her girlhood days were spent in the place of her nativity, and under her mother's direction she was instructed in the duties of the household, so that she was well qualified to take charge of a home of her own at the time of her marriage.

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 133

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