A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 139

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 139

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A.N.Martin M.B

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HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY.

ness. They now make their home with their son William A. Martin, of LaPorte. The family is of Irish lineage.

Rev. William Martin, the grandfather of Dr. Martin, was born in New Jersey and was a Meth- odist minister. He came to LaPorte county in 1839, and was one of the old circuit riders, car- rying the gospel into the pioneer homes and aid- ing largely in shaping the early moral develop- ment of the county. He died in this county, in 1850. Isaac F. Martin, the father of Dr. Mar- tin, was born in Galena township, in February, 1843. and is still living there, a prominent and successful farmer. He wedded Hester Ann Easton, who was born in Oswego county, New York, and is also living.

Dr. Martin was born in Galena township in 1871, and gained his early education through instruction received in the public schools of the township, after which he continued his studies in the high school at Rolling Prairie. In 1891 he matriculated in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he spent two years, the latter in the medical department, for he had de- termined to make the practice of medicine his iife work. In the fall of 1892 he entered the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1895. Immediately afterward he entered upon the prac- tice of medicine at Three Oaks, Michigan, where he remained until 1897, when he located at La- Porte. Here he is known as a successful young physician. He is especially mindful of the ethics of the profession and in his work has proved his knowledge and skill. January 1, 1903, he was appointed secretary of the LaPorte county board of health.

Aside from the practice of his profession Dr. Martin takes an active and leading part in all affairs which tend toward the greater growth and prosperity of the city of LaPorte, and la- bored untiringly in securing for the city the manufacturing plant of the Howard M. Cable Piano Company.

The Doctor was married at Three Oaks, in 1896, to Miss Edith Blanch Valentine. Their only child, Robert B., is deceased. The Doctor has membership relations with the Masons, the Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Macca- bees, while in the line of his profession he is connected with the National Institute of Hom- eopathy, the Indiana Institute of Homeopathy and the Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan Homeopathic medical societies. In this way he keeps informed concerning the advanced ideas

that the profession is continualy bringing forth, and he is quick to adopt any new principle or method of practice which he believes will prove of benefit in the prosecution of his profession.

ADDISON JOSEPH PHILLIPS was born in Monroe county, New York, May 18, 1822, his birthplace being the town of Perrington. His parents were Cyril and Virena (Bateman) Phil- lips, the former a native of New Hampshire, while the latter was born in Monroe county, New York. In tracing the ancestral history of Mr. Phillips we find that he is of Irish and Scotch lineage, and that the family record in America dates back to the earliest epoch in the coloniza- tion of the new world, for representatives of the family came to the United States in the begin- ning of the seventeenth century. David Phillips, the grandfather of Addison J. Phillips, was born in New Hampshire and became a boot and shoe maker, an occupation which has been followed by the family through five generations. In pio- neer times in western New York he went to Genesee county as a surveyor, and there resided throughout his remaining days, making his home about ten miles east of Rochester. He took an active part in the pioneer improvement and sub- stantial upbuilding of that part of the country, and was well known because of the effective labor which he performed in behalf of public progress. An honored patriot of the Revolutionary war, he joined the army at the beginning of hostili- ties and served with the continental troops until victory had crowned the American arms. He married a member of the Williams family to which Roger Williams belonged, and they had a number of children.

Cyril Phillips, the father of Addison J. Phil- lips, learned the trade of boot and shoe making and was interested in that business throughout his entire life. Attracted by the opportunities of the growing west, he came to Indiana in 1842, settling in LaPorte, where he carried on business for two years. He then came to Michigan City and did business on the ground now occupied by the Vreeland Hotel, continuing at that site for four years. He next took up his abode on a farm in Pleasant township, and in the midst of the heavy timber cleared his place and devel- oped a good property, his land becoming pro- ductive and fertile as the years passed. In early manhood he wedded Miss Virena Bateman, a daughter of Eleazer Bateman, who was a native of England and on crossing the Atlantic to America settled in one of the New England

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states. Eleazer Bateman served as a magistrate under the English crown prior to the Revolution- ary war, and during the period of hostilities re- mained neutral. He afterward became a magis- trate under the United States government and removed to New York, where again he was active in public life, serving at one time as sheriff of Genesee county. He died at the ad- vanced age of eighty-four years, leaving a large family, most of whom were daughters.

To Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Phillips were born a number of children, four of whom grew to years of maturity, although Addison J. is the only one now living. The four who came to LaPorte county with their parents in 1842 were Addison Joseph, Lodner Darvontis, William Shillingforth and Virena. The mother of these children died many years ago, passing away when only thirty- four years of age. The father long survived and died upon the old homestead farm in LaPorte county in his seventieth year. He was a relative by marriage of the Roger Williams family, and was reared in the faith of the Society of Friends, but afterward united with the Baptist church. His wife's people, however, were connected with the Episcopal church. Cyril Phillips was a Jacksonian Democrat and was always deeply in- terested in the success of his party. After los- ing his first wife he was again married, his sec- ond union being with Philena Joy, of Monroe county, New York, who died in LaPorte county, Indiana, at the age of seventy-five years.

Addison J. Phillips was reared in the county of his nativity, where he remained until twenty years of age. His educational privileges were limited because of the primitive condition of the schools, and also because his father needed his services. He was a young man of about twenty years when, in 1842, the family came to Indiana, settling in LaPorte. There he engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. He says that many women wore boots in those days. In 1844 he removed to Michigan City, where he was mar- ried and has since resided. Here he continued in business as a boot and shoe maker for about eighteen years, and later he was in the employ of C. T. Dibble for a time. He then began buy- ing and selling real estate, and continued to op- erate in land for many years, negotiating many important real estate transfers. He also built a large amount of docks, and in various ways contributed to the improvement and progress of the city.

In 1861 Mr. Phillips was appointed assessor, and served for one term, after which he filled

the position of city marshal for two years. Later he was again elected assessor, and con- tinued in that office for eighteen years, during which time he also served for eight years as street commissioner. His public service was most commendable, being characterized by promptness and fidelity in the discharge of his duties. In 1882 he met with a serious accident. In attempting to stop a runaway horse and save another man's life he was run over by the horse and his side so badly crushed that his own life was despaired of. In fact, he has never fully re- covered, and the accident caused him to be totally blind for five years, while for eleven years his eyesight was so badly impaired that he could neither read nor write. In 1897, however, he had a cataract removed from his left eye, and since that time he has been able to see and read. his many friends rejoicing in the restoration of his sight.

On the 19th of June, 1845, Mr. Phillips was united in marriage to Miss Eliza R. Haver, and to them were born sixteen children, but most of them died in infancy or early childhood. Only two sons are now living. The elder, Addison Gustave, was a locomotive engineer for eleven years, and since that time has followed the ma- chinist trade. He wedded Miss Ella Dalson, and they had three children : Charles, Lee and Fred. After the death of his first wife he married a Miss Hoffman, and there were two children by this union, Ethel Ruth, now deceased, and an infant as yet unnamed. Karl B., the second son of Mr. Phillips, is a foreman in the car shops here. He wedded Miss Catherine Burdick and they have four children : Ella May. Hattie Lu- cinda, Bessie and Florence.

Mrs. Phillips died on the 3d of April, 1887, at the age of sixty years, and her loss was deeply mourned by many friends. She was reared in the Episcopal church, attending church in Buf- falo, New York, over which Dr. Lord presided. Mr. Phillips, however, is an advocate of the So- ciety of Friends, and politically is a Democrat. He owns a good home on Michigan street and considerable other property in Michigan City. There are four generations of the Phillips family all living in the same block in Michigan City at the present time, Addison J. Phillips being the senior representative. That he is a man of kindly nature and broad humanitarian principles is shown by the fact that he has given homes to nine orphan boys, several of whom lived with him for long periods and most of whom are now living and are well-to-do.

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Na. Banks

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HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY.

WILLIAM ALLEN BANKS, who is now capably serving as postmaster at LaPorte and is one of the worthy citizens here, was born in Schoharie county, New York, October 28, 1836, his parents being Orrin and Olive (Brown) Banks. His father was born in New York state and came to Ohio in 1838, locating in Mad- ison township, Lake county. In 1845 he removed to LaPorte county, and in 1854 took up his resi- dence in Hobart, Lake county, Indiana, where he died in 1856. Throughout his entire life he car- ried on farming. He was related to the family of which Dr. Nathaniel P. Banks was a member. His wife, who was of Scotch descent, was born in New York and died in 1895 in Hobart, Lake county, Indiana. In the family were four sons who were soldiers in the Civil war : Elisha, Mor- gan, Nathaniel and George L. The last named was color-bearer for the Fifteenth Indiana In- fantry and was wounded at the battle of Mission- ary Ridge. For his bravery and valor in times of danger he was voted a medal of honor by the United States Congress. The other two broth- ers and three sisters of Mr. Banks are Charles W., Parley A., Betsey, Mary C. and Sarah.

William Allen Banks has resided almost con- tinuously in LaPorte county since 1845, and is therefore one of its oldest settlers, familiar with its history from the period of its early develop- ment down to the present. He worked on the railroad for a few years, but during the greater part of his life has carried on farming and stock dealing, following those pursuits in Scipio town- ship. He still owns his farm there, it having been in his possession since 1859. It is located on sec- tions 29 and 30 and comprises four hundred and twenty-six acres of fine land. He also owns a home in LaPorte at 912 Maple avenue. His attention is still given to some extent to agricul- tural pursuits, although in 1887, he left the farm and took up his abode in the city. For a num- ber of years he was a well known importer of horses, and made four trips to Europe in order to purchase fine horses there. He brought back large numbers of full-blooded stock from Eng- land, Scotland and France, and he is still en- gaged to some extent in breeding fine horses, cat- tle and Shropshire sheep. Mr. Banks has been very active, influential and helpful in advancing the interests of the farming community of Indi- ana. He was a member of the state board of agriculture for fourteen years, and for two years was its president. He has also been connected with the LaPorte County Agricultural Society

since 1862, and for a number of years was its chief executive officer.

Mr. Banks has been three times married. He first wedded Miss Marion Chandler, who died in 1870. By this union there was one daughter, who is now Mrs. Lura E. Cosser, a resident of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. In 1875 Mr. Banks was joined in marriage to Miss Jennie Crane, who died in 1895, leaving four children: Mrs. Eda Weaver, Mrs. Cora E. Barnum, William Ray and Catherine. In 1897 Mr. Banks was mar- ried to his present wife, who was formerly Mrs. Marian Bundy. By her first husband she had two children : Mrs. Susan Bowers and Beatrice Bundy.

In 1880 Mr. Banks was elected a trustee of Purdue University, which position he still holds, and the cause of education has ever found in him a warm friend deeply and actively interested in its progress. At the age of twenty-one years he was elected justice of the peace in Scipio town- ship, filling the position for six years, and he has also served as township trustee. In October, 1897, he was appointed postmaster at LaPorte, by President McKinley, was re-appointed in Janu- ary, 1898, and on the expiration of the regular term of four years was again appointed in Janu- ary, 1902, by President Roosevelt, so that his incumbency will continue until January, 1906. He is proving a splendid officer, and has made the LaPorte postoffice a pride to the city. Its affairs are conducted under strict business prin- ciples, and he has worked hard to increase the . business of the office, which amounted to about fourteen thousand dollars when he assumed the duties of the office and which in 1902 reached twenty thousand dollars. At the end of the present fiscal year it will probably reach the sum of twenty-four thousand dollars. Mr. Banks has remodeled and improved the office, which is splendidly equipped for the transaction of a large business and supplied with many metro- politan features. He is now working for the es- tablishment of a government building here. Mr. Banks is president of the LaPorte county Mu- tual Insurance Company, of which he was one of the organizers.

He is an old and prominent Mason, having been raised at Crown Point, Indiana, in 1857. He afterward became a charter member of Union Mills Lodge in LaPorte county and is now a member of LaPorte Lodge No. 41, F. & A. M. He has likewise attaind the Knight Templar de- gree and is eminent commander in LaPorte. He

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holds membership in the Baptist church, of which he is one of the trustees, and he has been a co- operant factor in many measures pertaining to the public good and to the material, social, in- tellectual and moral development of the commu- nity. Mr. Banks is a self-made man and is de- serving of much credit, for he started out in life not only empty-handed but with an indebtedness of one hundred and twenty-five dollars.

His success has been the result of honest, persistent effort in the line of honorable and man- ly dealing. His aims have always been to at- tain to the best and he has carried forward to successful completion whatever he has under- taken. His life has marked a steady growth, and now he is in possession of an ample compe- tence, and, more than all, has that contentment that comes from a consciousness of having lived to a good purpose.

JOHN GARWOOD, a retired farmer resid- ing at 713 Michigan street in Michigan City, was born in Warren county, Ohio, March 10, 1822, and is one of a family of eight children, whose parents were John and Jane (Garwood) Gar- wood, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Pennsylvania. The father was a car- penter and for many years followed the builder's trade. He removed from Warren county, Ohio, to Michigan in the year 1830, and in 1831 came to LaPorte county, Indiana, establishing his home in Scipio township, where he entered gov- ernment land. The remainder of his life was devoted to agricultural pursuits, and his work as a tiller of the soil brought golden harvests. He was especially interested in fishing, and be- came very skillful with the rod and line. He voted with the Democratic party, but had neither time nor inclination to seek public office. His death occurred when he was in his seventy-third year, and his wife, surviving him for a number of years, passed away at the age of ninety-one years. Of their family of five sons and three daughters, four are now living : John, of Michi- gan City; Mary Jane and Elizabeth, twins; and Thomas Garwood, who is an extensive farmer living southeast of Westville, Indiana. Mary is now the widow of Robert Craft and resides in the outskirts of LaPorte, while Elizabeth is the wife of Henry Craft, of LaPorte. There is little known concerning the ancestral history of the family save that the paternal grandfather was a native of New Jersey. The maternal grandfather, William Garwood, was born in Pennsylvania, became one of the early setters of

Ohio and afterward cast in his lot with the pioneer residents of LaPorte county, Indiana. Here he engaged in farming until his death. His wife bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Moon, and they reared a large family.

John Garwood was a lad of nine summers when he accompanied his parents on their re- moval to LaPorte county, and here he has lived continuously since 1831, covering a period of seventy-two years. He began his education in one of the old-time log schoolhouses conducted on the subscription plan, and conned his lessons while seated on a slab bench. A log was removed from one side of the building and the aperture filled with glass in order to admit light into the room. Mr. Garwood was reared as a farm boy, and throughout his business career followed the occupation of farming. He has owned land in five different townships, and he gave to each of his children a good start, none of them receiving less than one hundred acres. Prospering in his business affairs, he continually added to his property, and he and his sons together owned at one time about sixteen hundred acres of valuable farming prop- erty. He finally deeded all of his property to his children, reserving the right to a competence for his support during the remainder of his life. His homestead farm was located in Scipio town- ship and afterward in Center township, where he was living at the time of his wife's death. Since then he has made his home with his children.

Mr. Garwood was united in marriage to Miss Cynthia Vener, a daughter of Edward Vener. Eight children were born to them as follows: Thomas E., now a farmer, wedded Mary Maloy and they have four children, Charles, Ella. Carrie and Effie Wilfred; William Jefferson, now de- ceased, left a wife whose maiden name was Emma Nelson and one child, Jefferson ; John M. is an extensive farmer of Center township near La- Porte, and married Annie Orr, by whom he has three children : Oscar A., also an agriculturist, first wedded Miss Braden, by whom he had two children, Jesse and Lena, and after the death of his first wife married Selma Talmonson. by whom he had three children, Lester, Hazel and Howard; Robert H. is proprietor of a store in Homeville and married Miss Rootvine, by whom he has a daughter, Cynthia : George E., an enter- prising agriculturist, wedded Minnie Erickson, and they have three living children: Elizabeth Jane is the wife of August Dick, of Michigan City, by whom she has five children, Clemens, Elnora, Gertrude, Frank and Harry ; Elnora, the

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youngest member of the Garwood family, is now the wife of E. G. Small, of Center township, and they have one son. Mr. Garwood has one great-grandchild. Mrs. Cynthia A. Garwood passed away in 1893 in the faith of the Methodist church, of which she was long a consistent mem- ber.

Politically Mr. Garwood has always been a Democrat. He is now living with his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. August Dick in Michigan City. There are few men who from personal recollection can relate so much concern- ing the history of this county as can Mr. Gar- wood. The Indians were here in great numbers when he came to LaPorte county, and there was not a fence built between LaPorte and Niles, Michigan, nor was there a grist mill in the entire county. Much of the land was still in possession of the government, and the fields had not been cultivated. All was wild and unimproved, and in the important work of reclaiming the land for the purposes of civilization Mr. Garwood has taken a very active and helpful part. He has seen great changes and has witnessed the transforma- tion of the county as it has merged from pio- neer conditions to take its place with the leading counties of the state. As a worthy pioneer he certainly deserves representation in this volume, and he also receives the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded those who ad- vanced as far on life's journey as he has done, for he is now eighty-one years of age.

DR. JACOB S. MARTIN has won success and prominence as a member of the medical fra- ternity in LaPorte county and is now practicing his profession at Rolling Prairie, where a liberal patronage gives evidence of the public confidence reposed in him. He was born near Dover, New Jersey, February 20, 1833. His father, Jacob C. Martin, was a native of New Jersey, who be- came a shoemaker by trade. After his marriage, which was celebrated in New Jersey, he removed to Butler county, Ohio, afterward to Franklin county, Indiana, and in the year 1850 came to LaPorte county, settling in Galena township, where he was engaged in farming and shoe- making. He developed a good farm, transform- ing the dense forest into richly cultivated fields. There he lived for thirty years, being called to his final rest at about the age of sixty-seven. He was a son of Isaac W. Martin, also a native of New Jersey and of Irish lineage. The mother of Dr. Martin bore the maiden name of Mary A. Stewart, and was likewise born in New Jer-

sey. She lived to be about sixty-three years of age. In their family were fourteen children, ten ot whom reached years of maturity, the Doctor being the second in order of birth.

When about four years old Dr. Martin was brought by his parents to Indiana, and his boy- hood days were spent in Franklin county, where he began his education in the common schools. When a youth of fourteen years he began life for himself and commenced learning the paint- ter's trade. He has since been dependent entirely upon his own resources for a living, and as he has advanced on life's journey he has made the most of his opportunities, utilizing his time to the best advantage.

On the 16th of December, 1852, occurred the marriage of Dr. Martin and Miss Susan J. Mar- tin, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, Aug- ust 27, 1834, a daughter of Josiah and Eleanor (Parker) Martin, who were residents of Butler county. Her father was a blacksmith by occupa- tion, and in 1840 came to LaPorte county, Indi- ana, locating at Rolling Prairie, where he con- ducted a smithy in connection with the cultiva- tion of a farm. Mrs. Martin was the fifth in a family of twelve children born to her parents, and was about four years of age when she was brought to LaPorte county.

After their marriage Dr. Martin established his home in Galena township, where he was en- gaged in business as a painting contractor, super- vising a gang of men. He worked throughout this part of the state and continued his connec- tion with that pursuit until 1860. For three years he was engaged in the general blacksmith- ing business, employing men at the work in the shop. In 1860 he took up the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. Drumond, of Rolling Prairie, who was his preceptor for about four years. In 1864 he began practice, and his at- tention has since been devoted to his professional duties. He belongs to the LaPorte. County Medical Society and the Indiana State Medical Society, and for four years has served on the pension board, filling that position during Presi- dent Cleveland's administration. In his profes- sion he is well read, keeping informed concern- ing the progress made by the members of the medical fraternity through broad reading and study.

His efforts in behalf of the county along many lines have been helpful and beneficial. His political support is given to the Democracy, and for four years he served as trustee of his town- ship. He was instrumental in building the first

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 139

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