A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 141

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 141

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December 3, 1871, Mr. Keil was married to Miss Albertina E. Conitz, who was born in Posen, Germany, August 21, 1848, and was reared and educated in her native land until she was eighteen years old, when she came to America with her grandmother. Since her marriage she has been a most able assistant to her husband, and her energy and kind and motherly nature and womanly resourcefulness

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& T Keil

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Mr. & T. Keil

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have contributed in no small measure to their success in business and other spheres of work. She and her husband are members of the Ger- man Lutheran church, and have reared their children in that faith.

Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Keil, and the three living are as follows: Otto, who was educated in the schools at Hanna and spent one year at the German school at Val- paraiso, is associated with his father in the meat market; he is a fine specimen of an all- round athlete. Hermanda, who was educated at Hanna and at Valparaiso, is the wife of Clark Bunnell, the telegrapher of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Hamlet, Indiana. Martha was edu- cated at Hanna and took instruction in instru- mental and vocal music at Valparaiso, and is now at home with her parents.

WILLIAM A. GIELOW is prominently identified with the business interests of Michigan City, and is a member of the grocery firm of Gielow Brothers, their large store being located on the corner of Michigan and Sixth streets. He is, however, a native of Chicago, Illinois, where he was born on the 8th of December, 1867, a son of Henry and Carolina (Greibahn) Gielow, na- tives of Germany. His paternal grandparents died in the fatherland, as did also his maternal grandfather. Henry Gielow left his German home about 1865, when a young man, and after his arrival in this country secured work in a wholesale grocery house in Chicago, Illinois,' whence he came to Michigan City in 1882. Here he spent the remainder of his life engaged in the grocery business, his death occurring in 1894, when he had reached the age of forty-nine years. His first wife was laid to rest in Chicago, dying about 1875, and both she and her husband were members of the Lutheran church. For his sec- ond wife Mr. Gielow chose Louisa Holstein, and they became the parents of three children, Annie, Lydia and Elsie.

William A. Gielow spent the days of his boy- hood and youth in Chicago, where he attended private schools, and after his school days were over he received a clerkship in his father's gro- cery store. After the latter's death he and his brother Henry became their father's successors in the business, and have established a large and constantly increasing patronage. Strictly up- right, prompt and thoroughly reliable in their methods, they fully merit the custom which they enjoy and the confidence which is freely reposed in them by those with whom they are acquainted.

On the 4th of July, 1889, Mr. Gielow was unit- ed in marriage to Miss Anna Dabbert, a daugh- ter of Charles A. and Freda (Haas) Dabbert, and two children have been born to them-Flor- ence and Willard. Mr. and Mrs. Gielow are members of the Lutheran church, and in his fra- ternal relations he is a member of Acme Lodge No. 83, F. & A. M., also of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the National Union. His political affiliations are with the Republican party. Personally he is popular with all who know him, for he readily wins friends by his genial courtesy.

. CLARENCE E. OSBORN, who is engaged in the real estate, insurance and collection busi- ness in Wanatah, but has also had a successful career in other forms of business activity, is the third son now living of the family of Jason and Eliza (Graham) Osborn, whose history will be found on another page of this work in connec- tion with sketch of their son, the LaPorte attor- ney, Frank E. Osborn.

Mr. Osborn was born November 29, 1866, just across the line in Porter county, Indiana, but most of his life has been passed in LaPorte county. He was educated in the schools at Wa- natah, took a business course in LaPorte, and at- tended the normal school at Valparaiso. He was in his brother's office in LaPorte studying law for some time, and, although he did not con- tinue his studies and obtain admission at the bar, his acquaintance with legal affairs has been of material assistance to him in his present occupa- tion. After his marriage in 1888 Mr. Osborn located on a farm in Porter county a few miles south of the old homestead on which he was born, and was engaged in farming until 1891. He then came to Wanatah and opened up a livery stable. He built one of the largest barns in the county, and had a flourishing trade for ten years. In 1901 he sold out the business to W. A. Harrington, and later sold the barn to E. P. Conboy, its present owner. Since that time he has had an office for the conduct of his dealings in real estate, insurance and collections. He has bought and sold much farming land in this part of the county, making this his specialty, but he is also pushing the development of the other branches of his business, and has the en- ergy, enterprise and popular ways which are cer- tain to bring him continued success.

November 7, 1888, Mr. Osborn married Miss Dee N. Higgins, a daughter of J. H. and Clara Higgins. She is a native of Indiana, and was

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educated in the Wanatah high school and in the Valparaiso normal. They have two children, Mabel F. and Victor E. Mr. Osborn is a stanch Republican, and in a township where the Demo- cratic candidates usually poll the majority of the votes he was elected assessor and served for six years. He is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees at Wanatah, and belongs to the Chris- tian church. He has always been a public-spir- ited citizen, ready to do his part in improving the town, and is secretary of the Wanatah Im- provement Association. He was deputy sheriff under P. O. Small for four years.

EUGENE R. ADAMS, a progressive and enterprising general merchant at Rolling Prairie, is numbered among the native sons of Indiana, and his life history shows that he early became imbued with the spirit of progress and energy

chose no other occupation as a means of liveli- hood when he attained his majority, but always continued to engage in the tilling of the soil. In 1838 he located in Switzerland county, Indiana, becoming the owner of a tract of land there which he transformed into rich and productive fields. He married Miss Rebecca J. Tibbetts, a native of Massachusetts, who was reared in Boston and in Augusta, Maine. She was a daughter of Roscoe Tibbetts and is still living at the age of eighty-three years, but Mr. Adams passed away in 1898 at the age of eighty-four years. They were the parents of fourteen children, and of this number twelve reached manhood and womanhood. Eva- line died in New York city in 1879; James was killed in the Union service in the Civil war, en- listing in the Third Indiana Cavalry, with which he remained for three years and three months,

EUGENE R. ADAMS' STORE

so characteristic of the middle west. He is a native of Switzerland county, born on the 4th of April, 1860. His paternal grandfather. John C. Adams, was of Scotch lineage, and belonged to the family of which John Quincy Adams was a representative.

His son, Albert C. Adams, the father of Eugene R. Adams, was born in Massachusetts and there spent his boyhood days. The work of the farm early became familiar to him, and he

when death terminated his career ; India died in 1898; Clarissa is the wife of John Murphy, a resi- dent of Chicago : Charles G. is a merchant of Go- shen, Indiana ; Dora is the wife of W. T. O'Brien, a resident of Wabash, Indiana ; Celesta is the wife of F. W. Eichelbaum, the agent for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad at Roll- ing Prairie ; Emma became the wife of T. B. Slawson and died in 1878; George A. is a stock dealer of Switzerland county, Indiana; William

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is in Alaska at the present writing; Eugene R. is the next of the family; Lola is the wife of W. A. Page, of Napa City, California; and Olive P. died at the age of eight years.

Eugene R. Adams spent the days of his boy- hood and youth in his native county and at the usual age entered the public schools, continuing his studies until he was graduated in the Hol- brook school at Lebanon, Ohio, with the class of 1880. He then entered upon his business career in the capacity of a clerk for O. R. Stev- ens at Rolling Prairie, where he remained for a year, and in 1882 he purchased the store of his employer and has continued in business on his own account since that time. For about two years or from 1883 until 1886, his brother, George A. Admas, was his partner in this enterprise, but in the latter year Eugene R. Adams became sole proprietor by purchasing his brother's interest, and remained alone until 1896, when he admitted C. G. Adams to a partnership, this relation be- ing maintained until 1898. In 1896 the firm built the present brick store building, a two-story structure thirty-two by seventy-six feet. After two years Mr. Adams again bought his borther's interest in the store, which is now conducted un- der his own name, he being the sole owner. He carries the largest stock of any business man in the town, and in addition to what is usually found in a general store he handles buggies, and in fact does an extensive general business in. a mercan- tile line, his large sales bringing to him a very profitable financial return.

On the 30th of May, 1890, Mr. Adams was . of the modern school. He next came to Michigan married to Miss Maude E. Wilson, the only daughter of Dr. W. B. and Helen (McHenry) Wilson, who are mentioned on another page of this volume. Mrs. Adams was born August 27, 1869, and was reared in Rolling Prairie. She is a graduate of the high school of that place with the class of 1884, and there continued her stud- ies under the direction of Mrs. Brown and of Professor Pellow, of LaPorte. A well educated and cultured lady, she occupies an enviable posi- tion in social circles, and has made her home an attractive one to her many friends. To Mr. and Mrs. Adams have been born two children : Maurice E., born in Rolling Prairie, November 2, 1893; and Albert Wilson, born February 7, 1903.

Mr. Adams is a prominent and influ- ential member of Rolling Prairie Lodge No. 679, I. O. O. F., and also be- longs to Tent No. 94, K. O. T. M. He holds membership in the Christian church, in which

he has long served as one of the deacons, and he takes an active part in the church work. In pol- itics he is a stanch Republican, has served as trustee of his township for six years and is a member of the committee of the Tenth Congres- sional District. He enjoys the confidence and trust of his fellow men because of his upright business methods, his fidelity to commercial eth- ics and also by reason of his strong purpose and laudable ambition.

CHARLES J. ROBB, editor and associate owner of the Michigan City Evening News, was born at Montezuma, Iowa, January 21, 1856, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth Jane (McAllister) Robb, the former a well known merchant of Iowa. The son Charles attended the schools of . his native town, and soon after the death of his mother, which occurred when he was nearly eight years of age, he removed to Indianapolis, Iowa, and later to Oskaloosa, where he attended the public schools and also the Oskaloosa College. A large part of his boyhood days was spent at Albia, Iowa, where he made his home until eighteen years of age, going thence to Misha- waka, Indiana, and completing the printer's trade. .

Mr. Robb's first reportorial experience was at Keokuk, Iowa, where he did market and spe- cial assignments on the Gate City, one of the well known Mississippi valley papers. Here the young editor developed that trait which Mark Twain so aptly describes as a "nose for news"-a fac- ulty inherent in the successful newspaper man

City as a reporter and office man on the Enter- prise, of which the Evening News is the success- or. When the Every-Day Enterprise was estab- lished Mr. Robb became city editor, which posi- tion he resigned to accept a like one on the San- dusky Local at Sandusky, Ohio, but several years later went to Flint, Michigan, as reporter and advertising manager of the Flint Journal. In September, 1887, he went to Chicago, where he directed the publication of theTrade Journal and Price Current for the wholesale grocery house of Reid, Murdoch & Fischer. In the following year he was solicited by a number of prominent citizens here to return to Michigan City and assume the ownership and editorial direction of the Evening News, then owned by the Republican Printing Company. In March, 1888, with Ira S. Carpenter, under the firm name of Robb & Carpenter, he returned and has since directed its successful policy.

Always a Republican, Mr. Robb has been

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active in matters political, and has worked un- tiringly for party interests and success. He has served as chairman of the Republican city or- ganization during the past four years, and was appointed collector of customs here under the Harrison administration, to which he was reap- pointed by President Mckinley, and is the pres- ent incumbent in the office of customs of this port. He is also prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Encampment, Knights of Pythias, the Benev- olent & Protective Order of Elks and the Na- tional Union. Mr. Robb was married in 1890 to Miss Josephine R. Webber, of Williamston, Michigan, and with his wife and only child, Ruth M. Robb, resides in his comfortable home at 631 Spring street.

WALTER S. TILDEN, one of the best known residents of Cass township, where he has a fine farm in section 2, is a descendant of Holland Dutch ancestors, and comes of an old Vermont family from which have come some men of prominence in public life and many men of worth and great usefulness in the private walks of life. Samuel J. Tilden, one of the most emi- nent of the standard-bearers of the Democratic party, was a second cousin of the father of Walter S. Tilden.

John F. Tilden, grandfather of Walter S. Tilden, was born and reared in the state of Vermont, and was an early settler in Ohio. He died in Beaverdam, Wisconsin, at the age of seventy-two years. His son, Dr. John F. Til- den, was also born, reared and educated in Ver- mont, and moved to Ohio when a young man, locating near Sandusky. He engaged in rais- ing sheep there for some years, and while there studied medicine. In 1846 he drove fifteen hun- dred sheep through to LaPorte county, Indiana, and after remaining in this county for two years went back to Ohio and brought his family, locating in Center township. He farmed and raised sheep after coming to this county, and then devoted himself exclusively to the prac- tice of medicine, which he continued for forty years, until his death, April 3, 1897. He was one of the best known physicians of LaPorte county, and was one of the successful business men of the county. He was a life-long Demo- crat, although he had six Republican brothers. He was a trustee of Cass township for seven years, and could be relied upon for assistance in all public movements.

Dr. Tilden was married while living in San-

dusky, Ohio, to Miss Elizabeth Lockwood, a native of Canada and a daughter of Eleazer Lockwood, who came to Ohio at an early day, and afterward moved to LaPorte county, where he died at the age of eighty-four years; he was one of the old-school Methodists, and a man who was esteemed by everyone. Mrs. Elizabeth Tilden was educated in Ohio, and she lived to be seventy-two years old, passing way in LaPorte county in 1874. She was the mother of three daughters and two sons, all of whom grew to maturity. Sarah Ann died in Nebraska in De- cember, 1892; Jerome B. resides in Schuyler, Nebraska; Sabra Ann is the wife of Aaron Pep- ple, of North Liberty, Indiana; Walter S. is the next in order of birth; and Charlotte is the wife of William Irwin, of Schuyler, Nebraska.

Walter S. Tilden was born in Erie county, Ohio, November 26, 1844, and came to LaPorte county when he was about two years old. His education was received in the log schoolhouses of that day. He remained on the home farm and assisted his father until the latter's death. He is now the owner of two hundred and fifty- five acres of some of the best land in the town- ship. He does general farming, raises some stock, and is a progressive and successful man.

September 11, 1866, Mr. Tilden was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Jane Lawrence, the daughter of John and Agnes (Lawrence) Law- rence, who were natives of England and came to LaPorte county in 1842. Mrs. Tilden is the third daughter, and was born in LaPorte county, April 15, 1844. She received her education in the county, and taught school here for three "years before she was married. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Tilden: John Franklin, who married Miss Mary Conboy and lives in Noble township, LaPorte county ; Emma, the wife of Robert Marks, who resides on one of Mr. Tilden's farms; Geneva, deceased : Clif- ton, deceased ; Lenora, deceased ; Byron Elmer, living at home, single; and Gorver C., who is a teacher in Cass township, having graduated in class of 1903 of the Wanatah high school.

Living, as he has, in LaPorte county since he was two years old, it is but natural that Mr. Tilden should be one of the citizens most interested in everything pertaining to its wel- fare, and he has always been willing to put his shoulder to the wheel in any movement requir- ing united effort. He has always been Demo- cratic in politics, and was at one time county ditch commissioner.

Mr. and Mrs. Tilden have in their posses-

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W. S. Tilden

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Aus Walles & Sillen

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sion one of the old parchment deeds, executed April 1, 1848, and bears the signature of Pres- ident James K. Polk and is the tenth deed of the kind found in LaPorte county. It is a valuable souvenir in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Tilden.

JESSE OGLESBY has made farming his life occupation and still follows that pursuit on sec- tion 12, Wills township, to the extent of super- vising his farm. He has now passed the sev- enty-fifth milestone on life's journey, and his ca- reer of usefulness, activity and integrity is one that furnishes an example worthy of emulation. He was born in Greene county, Ohio, October JI, 1828, a son of Jacob and Edith (Wollman) Oglesby. His paternal grandfather was a native of Virginia and a pioneer of Greene county, Ohio. Jacob Oglesby was born near Winchester, in West Virginia, and when a young man accompanied his parents on their removal to the Buckeye state. There he met and married Miss Wollman, whose birth oc- curred in New Jersey and who went to Ohio in early life. In the year 1849 Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Oglesby removed to LaPorte county, Indi- ana, taking up their abode in Kankakee township, where they remained until 1856, when they went to Plymouth, Marshall county, Indiana. There the father followed merchandising, although in early life he had carried on agricultural pursuits. He died in Plymouth when about sixty-seven years of age, and his wife lived to be seventy years of age. They were the parents of eight children, two of whom died in childhood.

Jesse Oglesby, the third child and third son, was reared in his native county until about twenty years of age, and his education was ob- tained in a log schoolhouse, in which he spent about three months each year. The school was conducted on the subscription plan, the expenses of keeping up the building and paying the teacher being met in this way. Throughout the remainder of the year he was busy with the duties of the farm, which more and more devolved upon him as his age and strength increased. He remained with his father until he had attained his major- ity, and in 1848 went to St. Joseph county, In- diana. He drove a team from Ohio to this state, and in the following year came to LaPorte coun- ty, where he has since made his home. Here he began farming his father's land on the shares, and was thus engaged for about two years. In 1851, hoping that he might benefit his financial condition and more rapidly acquire wealth than

he could in the Mississippi valley, he made his way to California by way of the water route and Greytown. At length he arrived at San Fran- cisco and spent about six months engaged in min- ing on the Pacific coast. On the expiration of that period he sailed for Australia, where he re- mained for six years, devoting his energies to mining. On the expiration of that period he boarded a vessel which sailed around Cape Horn and on to Liverpool, England. Mr. Oglesby re- mained for a short time in London and in Liver- pool, and thence took passage on a westward- bound vessel which eventually dropped anchor in the harbor of New York. Continuing on his way to LaPorte county, he established a general mercantile store in New Carlisle, where he con- ducted business for about four years and then sold out. On the expiration of that period he purchased the farm upon which he now resides, and has since been engaged in general agricul- tural pursuits. He owns ninety acres of land upon which he lives, in section 12, Wills town- ship, and he also has one hundred and sixteen acres of land in Kankakee township.

On the 30th of November, 1859, Mr. Oglesby was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Drum- mond, who was born in Wills township, August 19, 1836, being the second daughter of James and Amy J. . (Bownell) Drummond. Her pa- rents settled in LaPorte county in February, 1835, removing from Clark county, Indiana. They lo- cated in Rolling Prairie, where Mr. Drummond carried on general farming. In their family were three daughters : Mrs. Anna E. Foster, who was born in LaPorte county, May 9, 1835, and died September 2, 1903; Mrs. Oglesby; and Mrs. Marietta Roe, who was born July 25, 1839, and is now a resident of Chicago. In the early days here Mr. Drummond served in the Indian war, and took an active and helpful part in the pio- neer development of this portion of the state. He was a member of the Christian church at Rolling Prairie for many years, and his life was honorable and upright, serving as a source of inspiration and encouragement to those who knew him. His father, Thomas Drummond, was a na- tive of Scotland, and' when a child came to America. While crossing the Atlantic his par- ents died, leaving four children, but after reach- ing the new world he never saw any of his brothers or sisters.

To Mr. and Mrs. Oglesby were born two chil- dren: Lot V., who is engaged in the grocery business in LaPorte city ; and Orret D., at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Oglesby enjoy the friendship

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of many of the leading residents of their part of the county. He is an early settler and represen- tative citizen, and in many ways has been identi- fied with the substantial development of this por- tion of the state. He rode on the first train that ran over the Lake Shore Railroad to Rolling Prairie, and he has witnessed many changes here, taking an active interest in all that has been accomplished. In politics he has been a life-long Republican, and for two terms served as trus- tee of Wills township. He was also postmaster while living at Carlisle, Indiana, and has ever been most faithful and loyal to the trust reposed in him. In all life's relations he is strictly hon- orable, and has made for himself a creditable record, one which has gained for him the respect and unbounded confidence of those with whom he has been associated.

CARL PIETZ. From the study of the life history of Carl Pietz one may learn valuable lessons, as he is an example of the boys who have educated themselves and have secured their own start in life. Born in Prussia, Germany, on the 27th of April, 1850, he came to America with his parents when nine years of age, and on their arrival in this country the family took up their abode in Cass township, LaPorte county, Indiana. Throughout the entire period of his youth Carl was given but three days of school- ing, for he was always kept hard at work on the farm, but by his own noble exertions he has now become a well educated and well in- formed man. He has often sat up as late as two o'clock in the morning studying, being willing to work for the advantages which others have secured through inheritance, and his life has thus been a constant illustration of what it is posisble to accomplish when perseverance and determination are the keynote to a man's life.

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 141

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