A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 143

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 143

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The marriage of Mr. . Bosserman was cele- brated in 1873, when Miss Elizabeth Smith be- came his wife. She, too, claims this county as the place of her nativity, and by her marriage she has become the mother of two daughters and one son : Mrs. Lillian Bass, Minnie and George W. Although his father was a Republican, Mr. Bosserman has given his political support to the Democracy, and in 1888 he was elected to the of- fice of county treasurer, to which position he was re-elected in 1890, on both occasions running far ahead of his ticket. In every position which he has been called upon to fill he has been highly successful, and few men have more devoted friends, while none excel him in unselfish de- votion and unswerving fidelity to the worthy re- cipients of his confidence and friendship.

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JAMES EDWIN BOWELL, a farm owner, capitalist and secretary of the LaPorte County Agricultural Association, residing in the city of LaPorte, was born in Kankakee township, this county, December 15, 1851. He is a rep- resentative of two of the county's most promi- nent, active and honored pioneer families, and his own history has been in harmony with the family record, being characterized by excellent business ability and by devotion to the welfare and pro- gress of this section of the state. His parents were Absolam C. and Sarah A. (Ireland) Bow- ell. His father was born in Clark county, In- diana, in 1821, a son of the Rev. John and Eliza- beth (Carr) Bowell, who were natives of Penn- sylvania and came to Indiana in the early part of the nineteenth century, settling in Clark coun- ty. The Bowell family is of English-French-Hu- guenot ancestry, and the Carrs are of Welsh de- scent. The paternal grandmother of Mr. Bowell was a member of the Carr family which took such an important part in the organization and early development of the territory of Indiana and in the formation of the state, having settled in Clark county before the constitution was adopted. Some of the representatives of this family were soldiers in the Mexican war.

Rev. John Bowell left Clark county in 1834 and brought his family to LaPorte county. He pitched his tent within thirty feet of where the Bowell burying ground is now located, and there he began the development and improvement of a farm. He was a minister of the Christian church, but followed farming during the great part of his life. He left his impress upon the moral progress as well as the material upbuild- ing of the county. The Bowells were 'among the most prominent pioneer families of this lo- cality, and aided largely in laying the founda- tion for the present progress and prosperity of this portion of the state.

Absolam C. Bowell was about thirteen years of age when the family removed to LaPorte county, and here he aided in the arduous task of developing a new farm. Later he became an extensive landowner and prosperous farmer, and he also devoted much of his time and at- tention to the operation of a sawmill in Galena township, this enterprise proving to him a profit- able source of income. He gave his political sup- port to the Democracy. His death occurred in 1895, and his wife, who was born in New Paris, Ohio, died in this county, in August, 1893. Thus passed away two of the worthy pioneer people

of the county. His business activity and honor- able career made him a very valuable citizen, and his friends throughout the community were many.

Upon the home farm James E. Bowell was reared, and easily became familiar with all the duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. His preliminary educational privileges were sup- plemented by study in the Rolling Prairie high school, long noted as one of the best in the county, and later he attended Eureka College. at Eureka, Illinois. After completing his college course he successfully engaged in teaching for a number of years, and in the meantime became interested in the sawmill business and in agri- cultural pursuits. He was known as a most able teacher, maintaining discipline and imparting knowledge with clearness, brevity and thorough- ness. As a partner in his father's sawmill busi- ness he also met with gratifying success. As his financial resources increased he made judi- cious investments in real estate, and he owns several hundred acres of valuable farming land in Kankakee and Galena townships, the cultiva- tion of which he personally superintends, al- though maintaining his residence in the city of LaPorte. He has now discontinued the manu- facture of lumber, and in 1900 he removed to LaPorte, where he owns a fine residence property on Michigan avenue.

Mr. Bowell has been three times married. He first wedded Alice Anderson, a native of Virginia, and to them were born three children: Mrs. Benjamin, of Battle Creek, Michigan : Carr and Edna, at home. April 4, 1895, he married Mary Etherington, who died March 22, 1898. In 1901 he married Anna Savage Rogers, a popu- lar member of society in LaPorte county, who graciously presides over their hospitable home.

In public affairs Mr. Bowell has been quite prominent. He was elected and for five years served as a trustee of Galena township. He has been a director of the LaPorte County Agri- cultural Association for five years, and for the past two years has been its secretary. In addition to his farms Mr. Bowell owns valuable real estate interests in LaPorte and at Pine Lake Chautau- qua, and a part of his time is spent in supervising these investments. He is prominent in Free- masonry and has always taken an active and help- ful part in the work of the order. has filled different offices in the chapter and council, and at the present time is junior warden of Excelsior Lodge, F. & A. M., of LaPorte. In all life's

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relations he is found true to the trust reposed in him, and as a business man, a citizen and a friend he is loyal and faithful. In politics Mr. Bowell has been a life-long Republican.

JAMES A. BARNES. In a record of the leading farmers and old settlers of Galena town- ship mention should be made of James A. Barnes, who is now living on section 25, where for many years he has devoted his attention to the tilling of the soil. He was born in this township Aug- ust 10, 1847. His paternal grandfather, Elijah Barnes, was born in Onondaga county, New York, and in pioneer times established his home in LaPorte county, settling first near Westville. He afterward went to Kosciusko county, Indiana, where he improved a tract of land, but subse- quently returned to this county and spent his last days in Wills township.

His son, Ezra H. Barnes, the father of James A. Barnes, was a native of Onondaga county, New York, and about 1836 came to LaPorte county, locating in Galena township, where he improved a farm, first clearing the land of the timber with which it was covered. This tract of land was on section 25, and he soon built a log cabin, in which the family lived in true pioneer style, while he further continued the work of developing his property. He was engaged in the sawmill business in partnership with Samuel P. Southerland for many years. In 1849 he went to California, attracted by the discovery of gold in that state, and for a year remained on the Pacific slope. Returning then to Indiana, he spent his remaining days in LaPorte county, where he died at the age of sixty-six years. He was a life-long Democrat and in matters of citi- zenship was progressive, earnestly desiring the welfare of the county and aiding in its progress along many lines. His wife bore the maiden name of Catherine Blaney, and was born near Dayton, Ohio. She died when very young, pass- ing away on the 8th of September, 1847, at the age of twenty-two years.

.t. James A. Barnes is the youngest of four chil- dren, and was only four weeks old when his mother died. He then lived in various families until his father married again, after which he remained at home until thirteen years of age, when he started out to make his own way in the world. He worked by the month as a farm hand for nine years in Indiana, after which he went to Nevada, where he remained for two years, being employed upon a dairy farm. On

the expiration of that period he returned to Ga- lena township, where he was again employed by the month through one summer. He made arrangements to have a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Ada R. Southerland, the wed- ding being celebrated on Chirstmas Day of 1872. The lady was born in Onondaga county, New York, a daughter of S. P. and Elizabeth South- erland, who were early settlers of LaPorte coun- ty, Indiana, where they arrived in 1836. They returned to New York on business, and it was during their temporary residence in Onondaga county that Mrs. Barnes was born, her natal year being 1851. Mrs. Barnes' father was one of the old settlers, and he and Ezra H. Barnes were engaged in the sawmill business for many years in Galena. Theirs was one of the first mills of the township. They ran the mill together about thirty years. Mr. Southerland was first in the mill, and Mr. Barnes bought in afterwards. In their thirty years of partnership there was never a word of contention.

At the time of his marriage Mr. Barnes lo- cated upon a farm in Galena township, where he has resided continuously since, in fact, he has spent his entire life in this township with the exception of two years passed in Austin, Nevada. To him and his wife have been born four chil- dren, who are yet living: Claude, who married Alta Couchman and resides upon his father's farm on section 16, Galena township; Samuel, at home; Elizabeth C., who is attending school in LaPorte; and Harley, who completes the fam- ily.

The home farm comprised one hundred and fifty-eight acres, and thereon Mr. Barnes is en- gaged in raising the crops bést adapted to soil and climate. He also raised considerable stock, and is one of the representative agriculturists of the community, his work being carried forward along progressive lines. He has always given his political allegiance to the Democratic party, and at one time served as assessor of his town- ship. He belongs to Rolling Prairie Lodge No. 679, I. O. O. F., and has filled all the chairs in the order and has been sent by his brethren of the fraternity as a delegate to the grand lodge, a fact which indicates his high standing in the order. He is also actively interested in the tem- perance cause, and his belief has been embodied in his life, never using either intoxicants or to- bacco in his career. At the age of thirteen he started out in life for himself, and well has he earned the proud American title of a self-made

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man. Working continually, persistently and hon- orably, he has gradually advanced on the road to prosperity, and is now in the possession of an excellent farm.

JAMES F. QUINN is one of the sons of Erin who have made many portions of America prosperous and wealthy. The sons of the Emer- ald Isle who have exchanged the shamrock for the goldenrod, the national emblems of the two nations, have as a rule never regretted the change. Among the thrifty and well-to-do citi- zens who are of Irish birth is the subject of this sketch, Mr. Quinn.

Mr. Quinn is a native of Westmeath, Ire- land, born October 17, 1851, and is the third in a family of five children, four sons and one daughter, born to Thomas and Mary (Shields) Quinn. There are three yet living. John J. is a resident of LaPorte and section foreman on the Lake Erie and Western Railroad; he is mar- ried and has four children. James F. is the next. Thomas, a resident of Stillwell, Indi- ana, is section foreman on the Lake Erie and Western, and is married and has nine children. Mr. Quinn's father was a native of the same locality in Ireland, and was reared in his native land, receiving his education in the national schools. He was a farmer by occupation. It was in the year 1853 that he concluded to bid adieu to his loved Erin and came to free America, where he found a home for himself and family. They sailed in one of the old sailing vessels bound for New York, and the voyage was of eleven weeks' duration, and in the course of it they were shipwrecked and the poor passengers thought many times that they would go to the bottom of the sea, but God in his infinite good- ness carried the ship safely into harbor. He remained in New York about one year, and then moved to LaPorte county, where was his residence until his death. He came to this county a poor but honest man, and reared his children to the principles of honesty and in- dustry, which was a noble heritage to present his children. He was a Jackson Democrat in politics. He was one of the founders of the St. Peter's Catholic church at LaPorte. He died when about sixty-five years of age. His wife, Mary (Shields) Quinn, was a native of the same locality as her husband. She was a kind and affectionate mother, and she died when her son James F. was six years old. She was like- wise a devout member of the Catholic church.

Mr. Quinn was only one year of age when he

saw the shores of Amreica, so he is a genuine American citizen. In 1875-76 he was a section foreman on the Grand Trunk Railroad, and since that time he has been a farmer and stock- man. He was educated in the public schools and by personal application. He is a gentleman who has been industrious and frugal in his life labors, and has always practiced economy. When he was nineteen years old he began life with not a ten-dollar bill to his name, so it will be seen that he has made a success of his life. The first wages he ever earned was seventy-five cents a day.

Mr. Quinn married, February 5, 1880, Miss Rose A. Curran, and three children, two sons and one daughter were born to them, but only the two sons are living. Francis D., the elder, finished the common school course and is now a student in the commercial course at the Val- paraiso normal. Leo Edward has finished the eighth grade of the schools, and is at home with his parents.

Mrs. Quinn was born near Cool Spring, Long Island, March 29, 1856, a daughter of Bernard and Ellen (McBrien) Curran, natives of Ire- land. She was a little girl of six months when she came with her parents to LaPorte county, and was educated in the St. Rose Academy, La- Porte. Mr. and Mrs. Quinn were confirmed by Bishop Leuers in the Catholic faith, and their patron saint's church is St. Peter's at LaPorte. Mrs. Quinn was the fifth child in a family of six children, two sons and four daughters, and three are now living: Mary, the widow of Thomas Daly and a resident of New Durham township, has six children; Mrs. Quinn is the next ; Ellen, the wife of Maurice Heatherson. of Mill Creek, Indiana, has one child. Father Curran was born in county Leitrim. Ireland. and died when Mrs. Quinn was but four years old, in 1860. He was a molder by trade. He was a Democrat and a Catholic. His wife was a native of the same locality, and she died in 1877, aged fifty-four. Mrs. Quinn is a cordial, genial lady, and graces her cozy, comfortable home with true ladylike hospitality. She has been an able assistant to her husband in the es- tablishment of their home.

The first land that Mr. Quinn purchased was thirty acres, and it is a part of the home- stead. He went in debt for part of it, but he has been adding constantly to it until he and his wife are now owners of a good farm in Lincoln township. Their first home was a log cabin. and now, in 1904,, a pretty. comfortable resi-

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dence graces the farm, besides good outbuild- ings and other improvements, which are a credit to his and his estimable wife's industry.

.Mr. Quinn has always been a stanch Demo- crat, and he cast his first presidential vote for the Hon. Samuel J. Tilden, the sage of Gra- mercy Park. He has always been true to his party ond the fundamental principles of Democ- racy. He has been chairman of his party's town- ship conventions and often a delegate, which shows his popularity as a true partisan. Offi- cially, he has been a valuable citizen. It was in 1888 when the people of his township elected him as trustee of Lincoln township, and he filled the office most acceptably to all, and was again elected in 1893 for four years, and in 1900 was elected to the same office, which shows that he has been a painstaking official. His first elec- tion was by forty majority, the second by forty- one, and the third by forty-two, a majority unique and probably unexampled in the history of LaPotre county politics. During his incum- bency he erected the nicest schoolhouse in the township, and at the present time he has charge of five good schools, with good buildings and well kept up. He has a good corps of instruct- ors. He is a member of the Benevolent Society of St. Peter's. The family are all members of the St. Peter's Catholic church, and Mrs. Quinn is a member of the ladies' sodality. Mr. and Mrs. Quinn are people of high social standing and are held in high repute by all who know them. We are pleased to present this brief re- view of the lives of Mr. and Mrs. James Quinn to be preserved in this beautiful and valuable volume, entitled the Twentieth Century His- tory of LaPorte County.

RICHARD H. HOLLAND. Among the prominent agriculturists of LaPorte county, In- diana, is Richard H. Holland, who well repre- sents an old and honored pioneer family of this section. He was born on the homestead farm where he now resides, on the 23d of August, 1852, and is a son of John B. Holland, who though a native of Ireland is now a typical American citizen, thoroughly in harmony with the spirit of the republic. He came to this land of the free prior to his marriage, about 1840, and nine years later, in 1849, crossed the plains to California. His residence in the Golden state covered a period of two years, on the expiration of which he came to LaPorte county, Indiana, locating on the farm on which Mr. Holland now makes his home. This land was purchased in

1851 and there this honored old pioneer con- tinued to reside, devoting his attention to its cultivation and improvement, until 1884, when. he removed to the city of LaPorte, where he has since lived in retirement, his earnest efforts in the years gone by enabling him to put aside the active duties of life and enjoy the comforts he had so nobly earned. He has now reached the ripe old age of eighty-five years. After coming to this country Mr. Holland married Ellen Pen- ney, who was also born in Ireland, and she was called to her final rest in 1894. To this worthy couple were born two children, one daughter and one son, and the daughter, Anna, became the wife of Sylvester Griffin, and resides in Cool Spring township, LaPorte county.

Richard H. Holland, the elder child and only son in his parents' family, was reared and has spent his entire life on the old homestead farm on which he now resides, receiving his education in the common schools of Center township. This farm, which consists of two hundred and eighty acres of well improved and fertile land, is lo- cated on section 31, Center township, LaPorte county, and to its cultivation and development Mr. Holland is now giving his entire time and attention, his efforts being attended with grati- fying success. In his methods he is very prac- tical and progressive, and his correct business habits and enterprise have enabled him to gain prosperity. Politically he is a Republican, and although not a practical politician or an office- seeker, is a stanch and active supporter of its principles.

LEWIS M. SHURTE, the owner of a fine farm of three hundred and fifteen acres in sec- tion 2, Cass township, has been a resident of La- Porte county for nearly sixty years, long enough to entitle him to a place among the representa- tive citizens. Many changes have taken place in northern Indiana since he was a boy, and it is an honor to him that he has been in the forward movement, and as a public-spirited citizen has done his part in development and progress.

Samuel Shurte, his father, was a native of New Jersey, and after arriving at majority moved with his parents to Ohio, in 1825. In 1826 he married Miss Jennette Melville, who was born in St. Andrews, Scotland, May 9, 1809, and came to America in 1819, locating in Ohio, where she remained until her marriage. They then located on a farm, and in 1830 moved to Cass county, Michigan, and to LaPorte county, Indiana, in 1832, making their home for a time

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in Scipio township. They returned to Ohio in 1836, where Samuel Shurte died ten years later, in 1846, and his wife then took up her perma- nent residence in Cass township, LaPorte county, where she lived until her death, April 4, 1889. She was the mother of eleven children, nine of whom reached maturity, and the four now living are: Mary A., the wife of James Meeker, of Oregon ; Andrew J .; Lewis M .; and Olivia, the wife of Benjamin Skinner, of Fort Wayne, In- diana.

Lewis M. Shurte, the ninth in order of birth, was born in Butler county, Ohio, Febru- ary 14, 1842, and was about five years old when he came to LaPorte county. His schooling was obtained in a log schoolhouse in Cass township, where he devoted a few months each year to the mastery of things intellectual, while the remain- der of the time was spent on the farm of his mother. Since taking up farming on his own account he has made a record of steady progress toward material prosperity, and, starting with no great amount of capital, has increased his property until he stands well to the front among the successful men of the township.

May 8, 1875, Mr. Shurte was united in mar- riage to Miss Sarah Smith, who was born in England, July 21, 1855, the daughter of Wil- liam and Sarah (Talbert) Smith, also natives of England, but came to LaPorte county in 1858. Mrs. Shurte's father died in 1866, and her mother is still living at the age of eighty- four, bright intellectually. Mrs. Shurte was reared in Cass township. She has become the mother of nine children, and the parents may well be proud of these young men and young women, several of whom have already made a successful start on the independent way of life. Ada, the eldest, graduated in the Wanatah com- mon school in April, 1887. She taught school six years in Cass township, and in 1893 was married to H. G. Wojahn, a druggist of Wana- tah; to their union were born two sons, Eddie and Elmer. Alta graduated from the Wanatah common schools in April, 1889, taught school four years, and, May 30, 1893, was married to James Osborn, a farmer of Clinton township, La Porte county. They have one daughter, Eva Marie. Cora Belle, who was a student in the Wanatah high school, also a student in the Val- paraiso normal and taught four years in Cass township, is now the wife of James Anderson, a prosperous agriculturist of Clinton township, and they have one little daughter. Mabel Eva, was a member of the class of 1897 in the Wan-

atah high school, was also a student at the Val- paraiso normal, and has taught five years, now teaching the home school. Grace was a member of the graduating class of 1898 of the Wanatah high school and was a student at the Valparaiso normal, and is now in charge of the primary department at LaCrosse. Andrew, who is a teacher, is now a student in Purdue University at LaFayette, taking the pharmacy course. Samuel is a graduate of the Wanatah high school in the class of 1902. Lewis was in the class of 1904 in the public school. The youngest of the family is Benjamin Harrison, in the eighth grade in school.

Mr. Shurte gives his political support to the Republican party, and cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln. He is always willing to lend his aid to movements for the general welfare of his township and county.

JOHN H. TAYLOR, who follows farming on section 32, Lincoln township, was born in Pleasant township, LaPorte county, on the 29th of May, 1839, being the oldest son of John W. and Deborah Taylor, who came from Devonshire, England, to the United States in the year 1832, while in the year 1839 they settled in LaPorte county, Indiana. They were among its pioneer resi- dents, this portion of the state being wild and unimproved to a large extent. Three years after their arrival John H. Taylor was added to the family circle, and upon the home farm in Pleas- ant township he was reared. As he advanced in years he assisted more largely in the work of field and meadow, while through the winter sea- son he attended the public schools and thus acquired a good practical education.

He remained at home until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when, his patriotic spirit being aroused by the attempt of the south to overthrow the Union, he offered his services to the gov- ernment, enlisting in Company I, Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry as a private. He served for about seven months, and was hon- orably discharged on account of disability, after which he returned to his home. He then en- gaged in farming, and for a few years he was in business with his brother, James Taylor, in the ownership and conduct of a general mer- cantile store in Stillwell. At the same time, however, he carried on his farm, and throughout his entire life has been identified with agricul- tural interests.

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 143

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