A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 24

Author: Rev. E. D. Daniels
Publication date: 1904
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1273

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ciations. Here he lived until 1865, when he pur- chased the farm about five miles northwest of LaPorte, which was once the home of General Joseph Orr. After living here several years Mr. Allen returned to the "old homestead" and lived there until 1878, when he retired from active business pursuits and moved to the city of La- Porte, where he passed away on the 14th day of September, 1893. His religious affiliations were with the Disciples church, and he was long honor- ably identified with the history of the county.

One of the earliest settlers of LaPorte was COLONEL WILLARD ALLEN PLACE. When about six years old he moved with his father into Genesee county, near West Bloom- field, Ontario county, New York. His father was a mechanic, and was also engaged in the boot and shoe business, and at one time carried on a store in Hornellsville, New York, where Willard was employed as clerk. His education was ac- quired in the common schools of New York and in the high school at Hornellsville, which he attended a year and a half. The Thatchers, and Judge Hornell, who gave his name to the town, were relatives of Mr. Place, and had induced him to settle in that section. Even that country was then in a very primitive condition, there was not a house between Hornellsville and Canisteo, a dis- tance of five miles, and wild beasts of various kinds were numerous. In 1818 Mr. Place re- moved to Burlington, ten miles from Cincinnati, Ohio, where he learned the cabinet-maker's trade and the wheelwright business, of one Thompson, and carried on the shop for several years, until. after his marriage. It was at Burlington that he was warned out to do military duty and was elected captain of a rifle company. Subsequently, when the regiment was organized, William Harrison, son of General Harrison, was elected lieutenant colonel, and Mr. Place major. He was after- ward promoted to the colonelcy of the same regiment.

On January 30, 1828, Mr. Place married Jane C. Lane, daughter of Aaron Lane, of Burling- ton, Ohio, of which union was born one child, Eliza, who married James M. Allen as stated in Mr. Allen's biographical notice. The Lanes were formerly from Holland and settled first in New Jersey. In 1831 Mr. Place made a tour of in- spection of LaPorte county and was so well

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pleased with the country that he determined to make it his home, and in the following year he moved his family to the place. His assisting to built George Thomas's house and his purchasing the first court house which was a frame building and moving it to his farm for a residence, have been related in the preceeding chapter. Mr. Place made agriculture his sole business for several years after his arrival in LaPorte, but he also served his fellow men in official capacities, being county commissioner for several years, associate judge, county treasurer, state representative, and county recorder. He was active as a railroad man, and when the Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana Railroad was being constructed he was employed to secure the right of way and was also appointed agent for the sale of railroad lands. He was one of the stockholders and land agent for the Indianapolis, Peru and Chicago Railroad, and traveled about two years for that company. When the state bank was organized he was appointed one of the directors and for several years was its president. He was exten- sively engaged in the stock business, at one time buying and shipping cattle to the New York market. He was president and one of the direc- tors of the gas works, a vestryman of the Episco- pal church, and, in short, was interested in nearly all the industrial, financial and religious enter- prises of the county and town, and was an active and useful citizen.

Prominent among the pioneer merchants of northern Indiana was EDWARD VAIL, who enjoyed the distinction at the time of his retire- ment from active business of having engaged con- tinuously in trade for a longer time than any of his cotemporaries in LaPorte county. During the later years of his life his establishment in LaPorte was regarded as a landmark in the city, a link connecting the primitive frontier town with the thrifty and prosperous little city into which it had developed. Mr. Vail was one of a family of eight brothers who became identified with north- ern Indiana at almost the beginning of its develop- ment. They were the sons of Isaac Vail, who was of New England ancestry and came to Indiana from Rahway, New Jersey, where Edward Vail was born May 13. 1817, and where he received his early education. At the age of fifteen years he went to New York city, where he served an

apprenticeship of . five years and learned the jeweler's trade. He then came west, following his father's family, who had settled on a farm in St. Joseph county. Here he divided his time be- tween the farm and his trade until 1845, when he established himself in business in LaPorte. For thirty-five years or more from that date he was engaged in merchandising at that point, and there was no more familiar figure than his among the merchants of that early period. He was brought up a Friend and carried with him through life much of the conservatism of that admirable people, coupled with a spirit of enterprise which made him conspicuious among those who aided in the material development and upbuilding of LaPorte. Generous in his impluses, genial and hospitable in his domestic and social life, he was one of the pioneers held in kindly remembrance by the few survivors among his contemporaries, and by the generation which grew up around him. He passed away in LaPorte February 2, 1884, followed in a few years by his widow, who was Miss Emily Allen before her marriage, a native of Connersville, Indiana. Eight children were born of the union, but few of whom survive. One of the sons, Walter Vail, conspicuously identified with the county, president of the First National Bank of Michigan City, is mentioned elsewhere.

SUTTON VAN PELT, now deceased, be- longed to that heroic band of pioneers who braved the hardships, trials and dangers of frontier life to found homes and rear families in the wilder- ness. They not only accomplished much for them- selves, but the effect of their labors continues and will endure through many succeeding decades. They laid the foundation for the present progress and prosperity of the county, and their names should therefore be enduringly inscribed on the pages of history. Mr. Van Pelt was actively connected with events which shaped the early annals of the county, and was a representative of the agricultural life of this part of the state, and in whatever relations found he was always true to duty and the right.

Mr. Van Pelt was a native of Ohio, his birth occurred in Lebanon, that state, April 7, 1806. His parents were Alexander and Elizabeth (Cor- win) Van Pelt, the latter a sister of the distin- guished Governor Tom Corwin, whom, it is said, Mr. Van Pelt greatly resembled both in

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physique and facial contour, and of whom Albert D. Richardson, in "Garnered Sheaves," says: "This age has given us Tom Corwin, the 'Ohio wagon-boy,' of wit so matchless, of voice so mellow and organ-like, of cheek swarthy as if smitten by the fiery orient; most American of men-at the fireside the greatest conversationalist of his day; on the stump a series of transitions between Demosthenes and old Burton."

When a boy Sutton Van Pelt accompanied his parents on their removal from Ohio to Indiana, the family home being established in Shelby coun- ty. where he remained until 1834. That year wit- nessed his arrival in LaPorte county, which was then a frontier district, its lands largely unculti- vated, much of the country being yet in possession of the government. The work of improvement and progress was just beginning, and in this Mr. Van Pelt took an active and helpful part. He was elected the third sheriff of the county, and was brave and fearless in the discharge of his duties. He performed the first and only execution in the county, and when asked why he did not employ a substitute he replied, "I would make him a murderer. It is my duty and I will do it."

When his term of official service had expired Mr. Van Pelt engaged in farming and for ten years continued to engage in the tilling of the soil with excellent results. He gathered rich har- vests, and in the markets they brought to him a rich financial return. After ten years he took up his abode in LaPorte and turned his attention to the grain trade, being an extensive and pros- perous speculator. As the years passed he added to his possessions, gaining a handsome compe- tence.

Mr. Van Pelt was three times married. In 1828 he was joined in wedlock to Miss Juliette Squier, a native of New Jersey, and three chil- dren were born to them, namely: Alexander, who died in LaPorte, Indiana, in 1885, at the age of fifty-five years ; David S., a resident of Cincinnati ; and Camilla, the widow of Aurora Case, who is represented elsewhere in this volume. For his second wife Mr. Van Pelt chose Hannah Bridge, who was born in Woodstock, Vermont, and they had three children: Tom Corwin and Halleck, who died in infancy ; and Corwin Beecher, who for a number of years was a manufacturer at South Bend, Indiana, but is now a resident of New York city. The mother of these children died in 1848,

and Mr. Van Pelt afterward married Miss Rachel C. Andrew, who was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, a member of the well known Andrew family of LaPorte county. Her death occurred in 1895.

Mr. Van Pelt passed away July 10, 1882, after a residence in LaPorte county of almost half a century. The community thus lost one of its honored pioneers and valued citizens. He was an active member of the New church and a con- sistent Christian gentleman. He possessd a strong will, firm determination and resolute spirit, and his actions were at all times guided by justice and truth. He left the impress of his individual- ity upon the public life of the county and upon the policy which shaped the county's history, and his memory is still cherished by those who knew him.

The name of AURORA CASE was long an honored one in connection with financial circles in LaPorte county, and the First National Bank, of which he was the first president, still stands as a monument to him and his business colleagues who founded it. LaPorte honored him because of an irreproachable life and by reason of his devotion to the public good. His friends enter- tained for him the warmest regard by reason of his many excellencies of character ; and his wife bestowed upon him the love which is ever given in return for the thoughtful care and consideration of a devoted husband.

Connecticut claimed him as a native son, his birth having occurred in that state August 22, 1813. He represented one of the old New Eng- land families. For over two hundred years the Case estate was transmitted from father to son. The parents of Aurora Case were Aurora and Elizabeth Case, and in their home the son spent the days of his boyhood and youth, amid re- finement and elevating influences. He acquired a good education in the public schools, and then resolved to establish his home in the great and growing west with its broader business oportuni- ties and advantages. Accordingly he arrived in LaPorte county, Indiana, the population of which was then, in 1836, very limited. Through many years he was connected with the business life and commercial expansion of this section of the state, and his efforts wrought for the general good as well as his individual prosperity.

In 1838 he purchased a large number of wooden clocks in Bristol, Connecticut, and by way

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of the great lakes shipped them to Michigan City. He came here in advance of the goods to make arrangements for their sale, and engaged men, teams and wagons which he sent to Michigan City, and by the day his cargo should have arrived he was ready to send out his men to sell the clocks throughout the surrounding country. Mr. Case and his men waited and one day succeeded an- other, and still his shipment was not received. The men and teams were lying idle at the hotel at Mr. Case's expense. He bought the goods on credit and naturally became very anxious for their arrival. His anxiety caused him to lose much sleep, but early one morning he fell into a doze and dreamed that some one appeared to him and informed him that the vessel bearing his clocks was at hand and that he must bestir him- self and rouse his men and prepare to unload the freight. On awaking he felt that the dream was true, and so strong was this impression upon him that he at once arose, dressed and made his way to the beach. Far out upon the water he saw a tiny white sail, and feeling sure that this was the long-looked-for boat he returned to the hotel and called his men. In a short time the vessel came into port filled with wooden clocks consigned to Aurora Case, and the dream was thus realized. The venture proved successful, for the clocks were sold throughout the country at a good profit. Thus he entered upon his active business life in LaPorte county, where he was destined to play such an important part.

In 1861 Mr. Case removed from Michigan City to LaPorte. He had formerly been presi- dent of the bank in Michigan City, and was also the president of the old plank road company. Two years after his removal to LaPorte he as- sisted in the organization of the First National Bank of this city, was chosen its first president, and continued to act in that capacity until his death, which occurred October 7, 1872. He placed the institution upon a safe basis, and the sound financial policy which he inaugurated has since been followed bringing success to the bank.

On the 17th of May, 1866, was celebrated tive marriage of Aurora Case and Miss Camilla Van Pelt, a daughter of Sutton Van Pelt, and theirs was a most happy married life. In matters of citizenship he was very public-spirited and pro- gressive, and was a co-operant factor in many movements for the general good. Social, in-

tellectual and moral advancement were causes dear to his heart, and he did everything in his power for promotion along those lines. In poli- tics he was an earnest Republican, doing much to secure the growth and the adoption of party prin- ciples, and in several city offices he capably served, although he never sought office as a re- ward of party fealty. He held membership in the Episcopal church and was active in its in- terests. He was also a member of the LaPorte Library and Natural History Association, and was much interested in its establishment upon a basis of greater permanency and usefulness. He regarded it as an important means of culture and education and contributed liberally to its support. He lived in advance of his times. HIS ideas were most progressive, his labors most practical and therefore his efforts were attended with splendid results, whether they were for his own benefit or the public good.

Mrs. Case, who still survives her husband, was born in LaPorte county and has spent al- most her entire life in the county seat. The well known Case homestead is at 1007 Jefferson avenue, where she went with her husband as a bride soon after their marriage. She is a woman of spirit and intelligence and is greatly esteemed in LaPorte. Her religious views are those of the New church, in which she holds membership, and her efforts in behalf of the church have been most helpful and beneficial.

GEORGE S. SEYMOUR was another man who was early identified with the business of LaPorte. He was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, January 15, 1823, and passed away in LaPorte, Indiana, August 14, 1893. He learned the hat- ter's trade, working at that business until he at- tained his majority. Then he came west by the slow stages with which travelers were conveyed in those days. In the spring of 1845 he began the study of law in the office of Gilbert Hath- away, of LaPorte. The following year he re- moved to Chicago and assisted in taking the census of that place, then a city of about fourteen thousand inhabitants.

Being called to fill a position as clerk of the Commissioner's Court, he devoted himself to that duty and then spent a year studying law with Judge Skinner. In 1850 he was united in mar- riage with Miss Lydia Cummings Webster, a

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lineal descendant of Daniel Webster. They made their home in LaPorte, Mr. Seymour devoting himself to law; though later in life he took up insurance, loans and real estate to the exclusion: of all else. Seven children were the issue of the marriage, two dying in infancy, and Emma Florence, Arthur Webster, George Frederick, Walter Webster, and Paul Henry, all of whom attained to useful callings and respectable posi- tions in life. George F. now carries on the in- surance and agency business established by his father. The subject of this sketch served one term as city clerk of LaPorte, was for many years an active and prominent Mason, assisted in the first organization of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in LaPorte, was for many years and until his death a member of the New church society in LaPorte, and was a reliable business man of long standing, controlling large insurance interests. The widow still lives, making her home with the son Walter, who is engaged in business in Chicago, beloved by all who know her, a sheaf ripe but still standing uncut in life's autumn.

Among the early settlers of the county, we have mentioned GENERAL JOSEPH ORR, whose first interests were those of farming and whose residence was in the country. But he was so identified with the interests both of Michigan City and of LaPorte, and his personality is so effectually stamped upon the county itself, that we give an account of him here. He was born at Mount Rock, Cumberland county, Pennsyl- vania, July 28, 1794. His father, David Orr, was from Donegal county, Ireland; his mother, the wife of David, was a Pennsylvania woman of English descent. Joseph Orr was the eldest of eleven children. He emigrated with his father's family to the Northwest Territory, now the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and a part of Minnesota, landing in Cincinnati, April 1, 1799, when the town had barely six hun- dred inhabitants, and the whole Northwest Terri- tory less than the present population of LaPorte and Michigan City. Yet he lived to see the northwest contain nearly two million people. Joseph's first experience in squatter life was at the age of five, among the Indians, twelve miles north of Cincinnati, where for twelve years he assisted his father in grubbing, chopping, piling

brush and other work common to settling in the backwoods. Meantime he received three quarters of schooling-one under the tuition of an Irish- man. It is remarkable how many Irish. school masters, with a somewhat shady history, there were in the country in those days. Joseph's second quarter of schooling was under the tuition of a Dutchman, and the third under that of a Yankee of eccentric character. Joseph's library privileges during the same period consisted of the Bible, the Westminster Confession of Faith, the larger and shorter Catechism, Dilworth's Spell- ing Book, and Pike's Arithmetic. His studies commenced with, "What is the chief end of man?" and a few years afterward he added to his articles of faith the teachings of Poor Richard on Industry and Economy. In spelling he pro- gressed as far as "crucifix" and in arithmetic he could "cipher out" that he was getting along towards eighteen when the war of 1812 broke out. He at once volunteered and was marched to Cincinnati to be mustered into service, but being examined by an Irish surgeon he was pro- nounced too slim a person to wade the black swamps of Canada, and therefore he was re- jected. Immediately afterwards he was bound to a nephew of the noted Colonel Ethan Allen of Ticonderoga fame, to learn the carpenter's trade in Cincinnati. His "boss" was the son of a clergyman who inherited a fair library, to which Joseph Orr had free access, and which was the means of stimulating his taste for reading. He also embraced an offer of a very liberal teacher of night schools, and for three winters in suc- cession was one of his most punctual scholars.

He reached his majority in 1815, when he went to work as a journeyman for a man from New York city who was a complete master of his trade. He worked for him six months at $1.25 per day, paying $3.00 per week for his board. and washing; the next six months he received $1.50 per day, after which he remained thirteen months longer at $2.00 per day. During these two years and one month he lost but two days and a quarter-one of the lost days was spent on Saturday in walking forty-five miles out to Union county, Indiana, to visit his father's family, the other day was spent on the following Monday in walking back again. The quarter day was spent the next morning in nursing his blistered toes. The round trip of ninety miles cost him a dinner

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going and a dinner coming, or 50 cents all told. . several counties were united and a brigade was

At the age of twenty-one Joseph was an ex- ceedingly poor young man, but at the end of his two years and one month's work he was the possessor of nearly six hundred dollars, besides having spent the first ten dollars of his earnings for tools. with which to work, and the second ten dollars for a right to the Cincinnati library. In these days of free libraries young men do not appreciate their privileges as Joseph Orr did.

Feeling the need of more schooling, especially in mathematics, he accepted the offer of two terms of four months each free of charge, from a very clever Yankee by the name of Solomon Terrell. Under his tuition Joseph made good progress until the middle of the second term, when the master married a wife and gave up teaching.

Resuming the carpenter's trade Joseph ap- plied himself as usual until the completion of his twenty-fourth year, when he formed the ac- quaintance of a Yankee school-ma'am and se- cured her services to teach him for life. Her name was Harriet Foster, and she was of En- glish descent. The two were married September 17, 1818, and of the union were born eight chil- dren the two last in LaPorte county. After his marriage Joseph Orr continued at his trade in Cincinnati until June, 1823. He had made several trips to the new settlements of Indiana in search of a location to which he would move, and which promised health and an opportunny to grow up with the country, but none offered promising these advantages until the middle of 1823. Hap- pening in Putnam county, Indiana, some time previous, with the commissioners appointed to locate the county seat, through the personal kind- ness of one of those gentlemen young Orr was enabled to secure two good locations in land ad- joining the present town of Greencastle. He at once engaged in building a cabin sixteen feet square on one of them, and returned to Cincinnati for his family and goods to occupy it. He ar- rived at his new home in the latter part of June, 1823, with his family and all the goods he had been able to purchase, and busied himself for some time in selling goods and clearing up land. He also trained the boys of the locality in mili- tary tactics and duties, and on the organization of a regiment in the county he was unanimously elected to its command. When the regiments of

formed, he was chosen to command it and was honored with a brigadier general's commission 'by governor James B. Ray. In December, 1830, he was again promoted and elected major general of the Eight Division of Indiana Militia. Thus he was a real general; his title was genuine and not one of those titles so common in this country which are bestowed by flattery and appropriated by self-esteem.

Meantime General Orr had embarked in politics, and in 1828 he was not only placed in nomination and elected to a seat in the state legislature, but was also placed on the electoral ticket for John Quincy Adams, and was badly beaten in the state. But in November of the following year he was elected to fill a vacancy in the state senate, and in the following year, 1830, was elected for a full term of three years in the same body. Besides these offices he was for seven years the presiding officer of one of the branches of the old State Bank.

In the fall of 1831 he started on a flying trip to Door Prairie in company with some old friends from near Cincinnati who designed to visit Chi- cago, western Illinois, and return by way of Terre Haute and Greencastle. He joined the company at Crawfordsville with Major Elston, who had just purchased the site at Michigan City and who with his party was just starting to lay out his town. But on reaching the location the Major found that his prepared plat did not square with the shore of the lake and the banks of Trail creek. The General being something of a drafts- man quickly settled the question by drawing one that did, with his fingers, on the sand of the lake shore, for which he received a present of a corner lot.

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 24

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