A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 145

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 145

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among all his associates. He was a Democrat in politics, and affiliated with the San Pierre Lodge of the Knights of Pythias.

Mr. Mclaughlin married, May 10, 1881, Miss Ella Fitzgerald, of Chicago. She was born in the province of Munster, Ireland, and came to Chicago from her native country in 1872. Both her parents lived and died in Ireland. Mrs. McLaughlin has two living children : Nona M., born May 4, 1883, and George G., born February 5, 1885.

H. H. MARTIN, the owner of over three hundred acres of land in New Durham township, LaPorte county, and one of the enterprising far- mers and substantial citizens, has been a resident of the county for over fifty years. He is the son of Joel and Elizabeth (Anglin) Martin, both natives of Virginia and now deceased. The for- mer followed farming in the main, although he was an ordained minister of the Methodist church. He came to LaPorte county in 1847 and purchased one hundred and eighty-four acres in New Durham township, on which he resided until his death, which was caused by lightning. He was a Democrat in politics. These parents had five sons and six daughters, of whom five are living, four in Indiana. The son Adrian A. is a farmer of Iroquois county.

H. H. Martin was born April 25, 1843. in Kosciusko county, Indiana, and was therefore but four years old when he came to LaPorte county. He received a common school educa- tion, and, beginning life with very little capital, has earned by his own efforts a place among the most enterprising farmers and stockmen of LaPorte county. His progress toward prosperity has more than once been checked, his most seri- ous setbacks being in the nature of fires, but on the whole he has little fault to find with fortune's treatment of him, and his place in the business and social circles of New Durham township is just reason for entire contentment with the world's lot. His farm is first class, has most of the improvements needed for the best returns for labor, and its products are up to the LaPorte county standard.

December 23, 1865, Mr. Martin married Miss Lydia C. Dowd, who was born near Athens, Ohio, May 15, 1847, and is one of the three liv- ing children of Charles and Lydia A. (Martin) Dowd, old residents of LaPorte county. Mrs. Martin was educated in the Westville high school, and was one of Professor Laird's pupils. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin,

and two are living : Lydia May, the wife of Wil- liam E. Lamb, who is in the mail service and a resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan ; and Mer- tie Bell, the wife of Charles Garwood, of West- ville, Indiana.

Mr. Martin has always been a Democrat, and cast his first vote for General McClellan for the presidency. He has often been selected as a dele- gate to the county and district conventions of the party. He is a member of the Masons at West- ville and also of the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 112, and Mrs. Martin has passed all the chairs in the Eastern Star and is a member of the Rathbone Sisters.

It will be appropriate to close this sketch with some extracts from the press concerning the sad bereavement which recently befell Mr. and Mrs. Martin in the death of their son Earl :-

The sad news which swept over our little village last Thursday morning softened many a heart. Once more has the death angel entered our community and taken one whose young life was ful of hope and promise, one who was the joy and pride of his parents and sisters and one who was ever kind and gentle among his asso- ciates.

Hiram Earl Martin, Jr., only son of Mr. and Mrs. H., H. Martin, was born October 1, 1881, and departed this life April 15, 1903, thus making him twenty-one years, six months and fourteen days old at the time of his death.

The funeral took place at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Martin, and was largely attended, the house and lawn being crowd- ed with tearful, sympathizing friends. Rev. W. Davis, of Door Village, officiated. Mrs. Dr. Kellie presided at the organ, while Mrs. Mattie Weed sang several beautiful solos accompanied by Dr. Campbell. E. T. Scott and Mrs. Hatton in the chorus. The minister spoke briefly with a few well chosen words, reading a few excellent passages of Scripture and a beautiful poem, say- ing that he could not add anything to the tribute of respect which was shown the deceased by the largest congregation of young men being in attendance he had ever met upon such an occa- sion, and the numerous and beautiful floral offer- ings spoke for themselves. Two long boquets of roses, one pink and one white, with twenty-one roses and one bud in each, representing the years and a half he had enjoyed life, the pink from a friend in Grand Rapids and the white from Miss Phillips, of Door Village, were draped over the life-sized portrait of the deceased. . Floral offer- ings covered the casket, the carpet underneath,

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and the walls surrounding, there being many beautiful designs, among which was a large anchor, and many handsome wreaths, one very large and beautiful from the Door Village young people, composed of leaves of wine-colored foli- age, with a large bunch of sweet pinks at each side.

Earl was the only son of doting parents, making his death exceedingly sad and very much deplored. He was of a lively, genial disposition with all of his acquaintances, and was so young and hopeful for the future, making life seem so bright. The grief-stricken parents and sisters, with other dear friends and relatives, accom- panied the remains from Grand Rapids to La- Porte, where they were met by a procession of friends, who accompanied them to their home, where they were met upon the lawn by a con- gregation of sympathizing friends, awaiting the funeral cortege. There were many friends and relatives present from Valparaiso, LaPorte, Wa- natah, Union Mills, Kingsbury, Chicago, Grand Rapids and Westville. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the whole community, as shown by the very large attendance and long proces- sion that followed to the last resting place in the beautiful Door Village cemetery.

AUGUST BACKUS. There is no element in our American citizenship that has been of more value in the development and substantial progress of the country than that furnished by the fatherland. The sons of Germany have brought to the new world the strong traits of character of their race, and, readily adapting them to the altered conditions and environments of the new world, have won prominence and suc- cess. An honored representative of this class in LaPorte was August Backus, who was for many years actively connected with the industrial interests of this city, and whose capable control of his business affairs brought him affluence.

Mr. Backus was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1829, and there learned the trade of a turner or wood-worker. He was a young man of about twenty-seven years when, in 1856, he bade adieu to the fatherland and sailed for America, hop- ing that in the broader opportunities of the new world he might find a field of labor that would prove both congenial and profitable. He located that year in LaPorte, where quite a large number of his countrymen had already settled. Here he was first employed in making bedsteads for the firm of Fargher & Company, and for two years followed that pursuit. He then established the

sash and door manufacturing company of A. Backus & Company, which he conducted without interruption until 1900, when he sold out to a company and the plant is now operated under the name of the LaPorte Sash & Door Company, being one of the important and extensive in- dustries of the city. About 1880 Mr. Backus built a flour and feed mill on J street, in the fifth ward, organizing a company to conduct the same, which is known as the J Street Milling Company, and of which Mr. Backus was the president until his death, although for a number of years the active management of the enter- prise was left to others. This establishment manufactures flour and other mill products and its output is extensive. In the business interests with which he was connected Mr. Backus met with success. He had splendid powers as an organizer, readily comprehended intricate and complex business problems, formed his plans readily and carried them forward to a comple- tion that was attended with gratifying results. Having amassed wealth, he decided to retire from the active field of labor and thereafter enjoyed a richly merited rest.

The Backus family is an interesting one, and the interest of our subject largely centered in his own household, his greatest happiness being enjoyed at his own fireside in the companion- ship of his wife and children. In early manhood he wedded Miss Johanna Peass, a native of Prussia, the wedding being celebrated, how- ever, in LaPorte. Seven children were born of this union : Charles, William, Mrs. Jessie Miller, Mrs. Julia Droege, Louis, Harry and Annie. Mr. and Mrs. Backus also adopted their grand- daughter, Stella Backus, whose mother died in her infancy, since which time she has lived with her grandparents. While conducting large and important business interests, Mr. Backus always . found time to devote to the holier duties of life and was ever a consistent Christian gentleman. He was one of the founders of St. John's Luth- eran church of LaPorte, the first house of wor- ship, which was dedicated in 1857. It now has a membership of nearly four thousand, and is one of the largest and most flourishing churches in this section of the state. He always took an active part in the temporal and spiritual affairs of the church and for many years was one of its officers, while for twenty-six years he was the president of the Aid Society of the church. In 1903 he was chosen a delegate to represent St. John's church at the Lutheran synod at Cleve- land. Of the founders of this church only two

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are living,-William Kellerman, Sr., and Fred Brust. Mr. Backus was most generous in his contributions to church and charitable work, yet was always most unostentatious in his giving, often times none knowing of his bounty save the recipients. He was one of the first trustees of his church, and acted in that capacity until his death, which ocurred on the 25th of October, 1903, when seventy-four years of age. In his death one of LaPorte's oldest, best known and most respected citizens passed to his last re- ward, and the community was called upon to mourn the loss of one who for nearly half a century had borne his full part in all good works for the betterment of the city. An honorable, useful life, his own good works are his most fitting eulogy.

THOMAS NOAKES, who is engaged in general farming on section 2, Union township, has for many years resided in LaPorte county, and its history is therefore largely familiar to him because he has been a witness of the events which have found record in the pages of its annals. He was born in Sussex, England, Octo- ber 8, 1844. His father, James Noakes, was a native of the same locality, and in the year 1852 crossed the Atlantic to America in com- pany with his family, establishing his home at North Manlius, New York. He followed the occupation of farming and also engaged in mer- chandising, and in the year 1867 he came to La- Porte county, Indiana, locating in Union town- ship, where he made his home until called to his final rest at the age of sixty-three years. He had prospered in his farming operations, and he became recognized as one of the leading and influential agriculturists of his community. He held memberhsip in the Baptist church, took an active part in its work, and frequently filled the pulpit in the absence of the regular minis- ter. He was also superintendent of the Sun- day-school at Kingsbury, and his Christian life was earnest and sincere and left its impress for good upon the community. Mr. James Noakes also belonged to the Grange. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Hannah Lade, was born in England and died in 1888 at the age of sixty- five years. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, all of whom reached adult age, while seven are now living.

Thomas Noakes, who was the third of the family and was a lad of eight summers at the time of the emigration to America, has been a resident of LaPorte county since 1867. Up to

this time he had remained under the parental roof, and in that year he made preparation for having a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Martha J. Brink, a native of Union town- ship, LaPorte county, and a daughter of Wil- liam G. and Mary A. (Winchell) Brink, who came to LaPorte county about 1834. This was during the pioneer epoch in the history of north- western Indiana, and LaPorte county was a frontier district in which the work of progess, improvement and civilization had scarcely be- gun. They took up their abode in Union town- ship, where Mrs. Noakes lived and died, pass- ing away in 1880.

At the time of his marriage Mr. Noakes set- tled upon the farm where he now lives, renting the property until 1880, when he purchased it. As time has passed he has added to it, extend- ing its boundaries by additional purchases until he now owns three hundred and eighty-three acres. Recently he has sold eighty acres, but still retains the amount designated and rents this property, which brings to him a good income. All that he has he has made through his capa- ble management, his unfaltering industry and his strict attention to business.

After the death of his first wife Mr. Noakes was again married, on the 25th of November, 1888, his second union being with Miss Edith Louderback, a daughter of B. A. and Mary (Allen) Louderback. Her parents were natives of Fulton county, Indiana, were of German descent, and located in LaPorte county, Indiana, in 1885. Mrs. Noakes was born on the 23d of January, 1868, in Fulton county, and in 1885 came to LaPorte county. Three children graced this marriage : Zola, Floyd and Grant. All were born upon the farm where the parents are now living. Zola is in the seventh grade, Floyd in the fifth and Grant in the fourth grade of school.

Mr. Noakes has ever given his political allegiance to the Republican party, and he has served as judge of elections. He has taken an active part in advancing the success of the Re- publican organization and in promoting all meas- ures pertaining to general progress and improve- ment, being a man of progressive spirit and of loyal advocacy to the general good. For some time he has been president of the Kingsbury cemetery association.

JAMES F. MURPHY, who has a record of over thirty years' service as locomotive engineer on the Michigan Central Railroad, has lived in Michigan City since he was two years old, and

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Edith Noakes

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during this period of nearly half a century has come to a place of high esteem among his fellow citizens, and has won more than an ordinary degree of success both in his special line of busi- ness and in other departments of activity. He is one of the steadiest and most reliable men at the throttle on the Michigan Central road, which is proved by over twenty years' of continuous serv- ice in the passenger department. It requires men of nerve, great physical endurance, and poise and stability of character to fill these exacting posi- tions well, and Mr. Murphy has a record on the books of the company of which he may well be proud.

Mr. Murphy was born in New Buffalo, Mich- igan, July 7, 1853, and is the only son of William and Sarah (Dempsey) Murphy, who were na- tives of Ireland and came of Irish families, the latter being one of three daughters and one son born in that country. William Murphy was a hotel-keeper, and after coming to America lived in Syracuse, New York, for several years. He came west to New Buffalo, Michigan, when the Michigan Central Railroad was being built at the point, and on the completion of the road he . moved to Michigan City, where he was engaged in the hotel business until his death, in 1861. He died at the age of thirty-eight. He and his wife were both Roman Catholics, and he had served one term as constable in the early days. His wife survived him till July, 1902, and was seventy-nine years old at the time of her decease. She had married Alexander Gustafson, formerly a conductor on the Michigan Central, and he is still living and makes his home with his son James.

James F. Murphy was brought to Michigan City in 1855, and has lived here ever since. He was a student in the public and parochial schools, and graduated from the high school when he was fifteen years old. He soon afterward took a position with the Michigan Central Railroad as fireman, and in 1872, when he was nineteen years old, was advanced to the position of switch engineer. In July, 1876, he was moved along into the freight service, and in 1881 reached the goal of the railroaders' ambition by being placed in charge of an engine in the passenger service, and he has never been deposed from that posi- tion since.

On August 4, 1885. Mr. Murphy married Miss Grace Gilman, a daughter of John T. and Emily Mann (Johnson) Gilman. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, Arthur and Irene. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy are

members of the Episcopal church, and she is corresponding secretary of the Trinity Cathedral diocese. Mr. Murphy is a Democrat, and affili- ates with the Brotherhood of Locomotive En- gineers, of which he was division chief in 1888. He built his pleasant home at 316 East Seventh street in 1881, and here he enjoys the home comforts which every railroad man so thoroughly appreciates, and it is also one of the delightful places where friends like to gather and pass a cheerful hour.

WILLIAM R. CORBIN. In the industrial circles of Michigan City William R. Corbin has become well known and has so directed his ener- gies that his labors have been attended with success. He is the secretary and treasurer of the Michigan City Sash & Door Company, an enter- prise which is of value in the business life of the place.

Mr. Corbin was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, on the 20th of July, 1845. He is a son of William D. and Jane M. (Northrop) Corbin, who were likewise natives of the Em- pire state and he represents one of the old fam- ilies of that commonwealth. His paternal grand- father was there born and reared, and through- out his business career followed the occupation of farming. He died in New York when well advanced in age, and his wife died after passing the eightieth mile-stone on life's journey. They reared a large family, including William D. Cor- bin, who acquired his education in the schools of New York and afterward prepared for the ministry, becoming a minister of the Baptist faith. Throughout the greater part of his life he was engaged in working in his different churches in New York, and his influence was of superior order. He is now living retired in the eighty-ninth year of his age, but his wife passed away in 1897, when eighty-one years of age. She was a daughter of a Mr. Northrop, a native of New York, who resided for many years in Cazenovia. He followed the occupation of farm- ing, and died when well advanced in years. His family numbered thirteen children, of whom Mrs. Corbin was one. By her marriage she became the mother of three children, two sons and a daughter, but one of the sons is now deceased. The sister of our subject is Mary, the wife of Ernest L. Pease, a resident of Syracuse, New York.

William R. Corbin when two years of age was taken by his parents from Cattaraugus to Monroe county, New York, and his youth was

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passed in Monroe, Genesee and Wayne counties. - The public school system of the state afforded him his educational privileges, and at nineteen years of age he began teaching school, which profession he followed for a number of years, after which he entered upon a mercantile ex- perience as a clerk in a dry-goods store in Buffalo, New York. He then removed to Oswego, where he resided for ten years, being engaged in the dry-goods business there.

In 1882 Mr. Corbin arrived in Michigan City and entered the lumber office of the firm of Peck & Sons, with whom he remained while the com- pany was in active business here. He then entered the employ of Coburn, Jones & Company, with whom he continued for a year, on the expiration of which period he became accountant for James V. Jones. Upon the death of this gentleman the business was re-organized and the Michigan City Sash & Door Company was formed. Mr. Corbin became the secretary and treasurer of the new company and has since been thus actively associated with the industrial interests of the city. The firm employs from fifteen to twenty men and annually ships a large product, the excellence of workmanship and the honorable business methods of the house constituting the secret of the success which has attended this enterprise.

Mr. Corbin was united in marriage to Miss Hortense Peck, and they now have two chil- dren : Cora E. and Alice M. The former is now the wife of Thomas H. Winter, a resident of Rockford, Illinois; and Alice is successfully engaged in teaching in the kindergarten school of this city. The parents are members of the First Congregational church of Michigan City, taking an active interest in its work, and Mr. Corbin is now serving as one of the church trustees. He is a member of Acme Lodge, No. 83, F. & A. M., and also belongs to the Royal Arcanum and the National Union. His political views are in harmony with the principles of the Republican party and he keeps well informed on. the questions and issues of the day, thus being able to support his position by intelligent argu- ment, yet he has never sought or desired political preferment, giving his attention instead to the demands of an active business career. De- pendent upon his own resources from early man- hood the success which he has achieved is attri- butable entirely to his own efforts, and thereby he has won the reward of honorable and per- sistent labor.

HARRY BENNETT, a wide-awake and en- terprising agriculturist living on section 8, Wills township, was born in Decatur county, Indiana, December 9, 1842. His parents were Harry and Mary (McClure) Bennett, both of whom were natives of Chemung county, New York. There they spent the days of their childhood and were married, and subsequently they started westward, hoping to have better opportunities in the new but rapidly developing state of Indiana. They first took up their abode in Decatur county, and in the year 1852 they came to LaPorte county, settling in Wills township. There the father engaged in farming until his death, which oc- curred when he was about eighty years of age. His political support was given to the Democ- racy, and as a citizen he was active in support of good government and was deeply interested in local advancement and national progress. His wife lived to be about sixty-five years of age, and like her husband enjoyed the regard of a wide circle of friends. They' were the parents of eleven children, five daughters and six sons, and Mr. Harry Bennett is the tenth child.

When a lad of. ten years Harry Bennett arrived in LaPorte county, Indiana, and made his home in Wills township, with his parents, attending the district schools through the win- ter months, while in the summer seasons he worked upon the home farm, early becoming familiar with the labors of field and meadow. After arriving at years of maturity he engaged in farming in partnership with his brother Sherman for twenty years. He did not marry until late in life, and made his home with his brother. On the ad of April, 1889. however, he was joined in wedlock to Miss Augusta Cun- ningham, a native of Switzerland county, In- diana, born December 18. 1860, where she re- mained until sixteen years of age. She then accompanied her parents on their removal to LaPorte county. To Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have been born two daughters: Ruth and Rachel.

In his business life Mr. Bennett is active. energetic and resolute, and is classed among the successful and leading farmers of Wills township. He owns three hundred and five acres of land well improved with good buildings and all modern equipments found upon a model farm of the twentieth century. He has made all that he has by hard work. He inherited only four acres of land, and everything that he possesses beside this has come to him as the direct result of his earnest purpose and inde-

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Mr and Mrs Harry Bennet family Group

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fatigable energy. He and his brother have cleared over three hundred and eighty acres of land in Wills township, and thus the county owes to them an acknowledgment of what they have done toward advancing civilization along agricultural lines.

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 145

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