A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 70

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

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Mr. King is independent in politics, voting for the men whom he thinks best qualified for office, regardless of party ties, and he gives his support to all measures which he believes calcu- lated to advance the interests of his community along social, moral and material lines.

THEODORE HUPP. Among the early set- tlers and representative farmers of LaPorte county is numbered Theodore Hupp, who is now living on section 35, Union township. He was born in Pleasant township, this county, October 25, 1838, and is of German lineage. His father,

Isaac Hupp, was a native of Virginia and was reared and married there, the lady of his choice being Eliza Snyder, who was also born in the Old Dominion. On leaving that state they came di- rect to LaPorte county, Indiana, arriving some- time in the thirties. Their first home was near Westville, and afterward Mr. Isaac Hupp owned land near Valparaiso. Subsequently he located in Pleasant township and then in Union town- ship, where he died at the age of about sixty- three years. Mrs. Eliza Hupp passed away in Arkansas City, Kansas, while living with her daughter, being then eighty-six years of age. .They were both consistent members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and Mr. Isaac Hupp was a Democrat in his political affiliations. He was ever honest and upright, was fair and just in his relations with his fellow men and left to his fam- ily an example well worthy of emulation. To him and his wife were born five sons and three daughters, and with the exception of the eldest, who died when but three years old, all are still living.

Theodore Hupp is the third child and second son of this family. He was reared in LaPorte county in the usual manner of farmer lads, work- ing in the fields during the summer months and attending the district schools in the winter season. He assisted in the labors of the home farm until the time of his marriage, which occurred in 1873, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Belle Galbreth, a daughter of John and Lydia (Love) Galbreth, who were early settlers of LaPorte. Mrs. Hupp was born in Galena township, LaPorte county, and is the second daughter in a family of two brothers and three sisters. Her education was acquired in the district schools in her home town and the city schools of LaPorte, and for several years she was a successful teacher of this county. A cultured lady of natural refinement, she has many friends in the community and ex- erts a strong influence in social life. At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hupp lo- cated on their present home, and as the years passed four sons were added to the household: Fred, who married Minnie Melson, by whom he has one daughter, Morene; Earl, who is a clerk in the A. P. Andrews Bank of LaPorte; Burr, who is the shipping clerk at Swift's Soap Fac- tory, Chicago; Ora, who died at the age of two months. Fred was a graduate of the LaPorte high school in the class of 1893, and was a teacher for three years in the county. Earl is a student of the LaPorte high school. Burr graduated in the class of 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Hupp and chil-

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dren are all members of the Orthodox Friends So- ciety, their church being in Union township.

Mr. Hupp gives his time and energies to gen- eral farming and stock-raising, and is one of the substantial citizens of the county. He owns six hundred acres of well improved land which he is now operating with the aid of his son Fred. In his farming methods he is progressive and enter- prising, quick to adopt all new methods which he believes will prove of practical benefit in the farm work. He votes with the Democracy, and is one of the active members of the party. An early citizen of the county, he is well known, and there has been in his life record many elements to commend him to the confidence, good will and respect of all with whom he has been associated.

JON NELSON KELLY is one of the younger representatives of the medical fraternity in LaPorte county and has qualified himself so carefully for his chosen life work that he occupies to-day a very enviable position among his profes- sional brethren in the northwestern part of In- diana. He is a close, earnest and discriminating student, and his labors have been attended with a degree of success that might well be envied by an older practitioner.

A native son of Indiana, he was born on the 19th of April, 1876, and is the third in a family of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, whose parents were John H. and Lucy J. (Clark) Kelly. Six of the children are yet living. The father was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, born on the 4th of March, 1848, and was but an infant when brought by his parents to America. The family home was established in Pennsylvania, but after a year they removed to North Judson, Indiana, where the grandfather was employed by the Great Western Railroad Company. John Kelly was apprenticed when but thirteen years of age to learn the trade of a tinner. He afterward purchased his employer's interest and has been in the hardware and implement business since that time, a prosperous and enterprising merchant of Winamac, Indiana. Politically he is an ardent Democrat, and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, called him to public office in 1884 by electing him county clerk of Pulaski county, in which capacity he served until 1892. He has also served as president of the town board on various occasions, has represented his party as a delegate to county and state conventions, and has taken a very active and helpful part in advancing its interests. Fraternally he is con- connected with the Royal Arcanum. His wife

is a native of Connecticut, born June 14, 1852, and is a daughter of Nelson and Mary Ann Clark. She was educated in the common schools and was reared in the Presbyterian faith, of which she has always been an adherent. Mr. and Mrs. John H. Kelly make their home in the city of Wina- mac, Indiana, and are leading and influential residents of that place. Of their children six are yet living. The eldest son, William H., is a graduate of the Indiana University of the class of 1895 and at one time was principal of the Bluffton high school, while at the present time he is superintendent of the city schools at Winamac. All of their children are residents of Indiana, and C. A. Kelly is now a senior in the mechanical engineering department of Purdue University.

Dr. Kelly was reared in Winamac, his native town, and his primary education was obtained in the public schools, in which he continued as a student until he had completed the high school course. When but eight years of age he began to learn the typesetter's trade, and at the age of ten years was earning a salary in connection with one of the county newspapers, the Winamac Re- publican. He was thus connected with the news- paper business at Winamac and at Logansport, Indiana, for about ten years. However, during that time he attended school to some extent, and when eighteen years of age determined to make the practice of medicine his life work. To this end he entered the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati in the fall of 1895, spending one year in that institution, after which he became a stu- dent in the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons at Indianapolis. There he was grad- uated in the class of 1898. About this time the country became engaged in war with Spain, and Dr. Kelly enlisted as a private in the hospital corps in July, 1898. He reported for duty at Camp Alger, was thence sent to Fort Meyer, where he remained for six months as acting hos- pital steward, and about three weeks prior to the expiration of his term of enlistment was sent on board the transport Grant and was there for about a month, when he was honorably discharged, on the 6th of January, 1899.

Dr. Kelly at once returned to his home and entered upon his professional career as a physi- cian and surgeon at Westville, Indiana, opening his office on the 13th of February, 1899. Here he has since been located, and his large practice is indicative of his skill and thorough under- standing of the principles of the medical science.

Dr. Kelly was united in marriage on the 4th of June, 1901, to Miss Edna M. Hixon, a daugh-

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ter of Edward and Anna M. (Hosmer) Hixon. She was educated in the high school of Westville, Indiana. The Doctor and his wife now occupy a comfortable home at the corner of Short and Ridge streets. Fraternally he is connected with Westville Tent No. 31, K. O. T. M., of which he is examining physician, and he belongs to West- ville Lodge No. 286, K. P. He is also a member of Westville Lodge No. 192, F.& A. M .; LaPorte Chapter No. 40, R. A. M .; LaPorte Council No. 36, R. & S. M., and he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star No. 133, at Westville. He is likewise connected with Rathbone Sisters, No. 274. While he is prominent in social circles, he gives his attention largely to his practice, letting nothing interfere with his duties as a member of the medical fraternity. He belongs to the Porter County Medical Society and to the State Medical Society of Indiana. In the sick-room his cheery manner makes him very welcome, and his profes- sional aid has been of marked value in restoring health to his many patients.

ROMAN GRUSE is the present proprietor and owner of the Hotel Wanatah, the indispen- sable and high-class hostelry of the town of Wan- atah, and which under his management has be- come popular and returned good profits, at the same time furnishing to the critical public com- forts and accommodations which cause strangers to entertain the most cordial feelings for the town. As the hotels are the standards by which a city is judged it is the happy fortune of Wanatah that it possesses such an up-to-date and genial landlord for its public house as Mr. Gruse.

Mr. Gruse was born in Germany, June 14, 1854, and remained in the old country for the first eighteen years of his life. He attended the Ger- man school until he was sixteen years old, and for about three years was in the grocery business in Czarnikan, Province of Posen. He came to America and Michigan City, Indiana, in 1873, and for the first five months worked in a lumber yard in the latter place. He came to Wanatah in the fall of the same year, and worked on the farm of William Coulter for a time and then for Mrs. Richmond. For a few years he clerked in the gen- eral store of Peter Fudenski in Wanatah, and dur- ing the year 1879 worked for the Monon Rail- road Company as gateman. From 1882 until 1891 he was engaged in the grocery business in Wanatah on his own account. In the latter year he bought the Hotel Wanatah, and fitted it up with modern conveniences and gave it excellent service, and for the past twelve years has con-

ducted it to the satisfaction of patrons and with gratifying success for himself.

February 1, 1880, Mr. Gruse was married to Miss Josephine Price, a native of LaPorte county and the daughter of George and Mary Price, early settlers of LaPorte county, where Josephine was reared and educated in the public schools of Cass township. Mr. and Mrs. Gruse were the parents of four daughters, Anna, Rosa, Frances and Lucy. His first wife died in 1898, and Mr. Gruse married for his present wife Mrs. Pauline Gross, the widow of Gottlieb Gross. She is a native of Germany, and was married before coming to this country. She has two sons and a daughter by her first marriage : Frank, Bertha and L. J. Gross, the last named a grocer in Wanatah. Mr. Gruse, as a resident of Wanatah and vicinity for thirty years, has taken his place among the leading men of the town, and takes an active part in public affairs. He affiliates with the Democratic party, and is a member of the Catholic church, being highly esteemed in all the relations of a busy and useful life.

ANDREW C. JOHNSON has been an hon- ored and worthy citizen of LaPorte county for thirty-four years. He was born in Jonkoping, Sweden, and is the eldest of eight children, four sons and four daughters, whose parents were Johannas and Johanna (Nelson) Johnson. All the children are yet living, and five are residents of America. One is in Oakland, California, and four reside in New Durham township, LaPorte county.

Mr. Johnson was educated in his native land, and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, but also followed the occupation of farming. In the spring of 1869 he took passage on a westward- bound steamer that weighed anchor at Gothen- burg for New York. Severe weather was en- countered on the voyage between Sweden and England, but at the end of sixteen days Mr. Johnson reached the American port, and on the 3d of June arrived in LaPorte county. When he landed in the United States he did not possess a ten-dollar bill. He started for Chicago, but by accident stopped in LaPorte county, where he found himself among a strange people, whose language and customs were unfamiliar to him. He at once began work in New Durham town- ship, and thus earned his first money in America. It was necessary for him to master the English tongue, which he readily did, and as the years have advanced he has improved his business op-

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portunities until he now stands among the pros- perous residents of his adopted county.

Mr. Johnson became acquainted with Miss Jane B. Cathcart, a representative of a prominent and influential family of LaPorte county, and they were married January 4, 1883. She was born April 23, 1838, on the old homestead where she now resides. Her father, Charles William Cath- cart, secured part of this land from the govern- ment, and the parchment deed to the same bears the signature of Martin Van Buren, then presi- dent of the United States. He went all the way to Washington for the purpose of interviewing the president, Andrew Jackson, in regard to the sale of lands. Speculators were attempting to take the improved lands by locating Indian floats upon them. Although Mr. Cathcart was in- formed that the president was in bed he demanded of the servant that he be admitted because of the pressing nature of the business. When the word was brought to the president he replied that the caller should be admitted, and when the matter was stated President Jackson, with characteristic brevity, said, "Cathcart, put this matter in tangible form, and I will settle it in twenty minutes." Thus the errand was successfully accomplished.

Mr. Cathcart was born at Funchal, on the island of Madeira, on the 24th of July, 1809, and. died on the 22d of August, 1888. He spent the years of his early life on his native island, his father, James Leander Cathcart, being United States consul there at the time. He was of Scotch lineage, and his people were of the Pres- byterian faith. He was six years of age when he first saw the stars and stripes floating over Amer- ica. The father was taken as a prisoner to the Barbary states, and was incarcerated in Algiers for eleven years, but because of useful service which he rendered the dey of Algiers he was finally released, and, it is said, was the only prisoner of that country who ever earned his freedom. His indomitable spirit of patriotism enabled him to rise from abject slavery to become Christian clerk of the dey, being the medium to approach the dey when the ambassadors could not gain an audience. He was sent by the dey to the United States with dispatches, but had to pay his own expenses.

Mr. Cathcart, the father of Mrs. Johnson, was near Old Point Comfort, Virginia, on board a steamer, when he first saw the American flag, and it was in this vicinity that Francis S. Key wrote the national anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner." Because of his father's serving as United States consul at different places Mr. Cath-

cart received his education in various schools and under varying circumstances. He was a man of remarkable penetration of thought, however, of keen discrimination, and, although he never at- tended school one day after he was twelve years old, gained a broad knowledge through experi- ence, reading and observation. He sailed on the high seas before the mast between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, and was also a ship carpenter, for which double duty he received four- teen dollars a month. In 1831 he started westward, and was engaged in filing bonds for the commis- sioners of the government land office. John Moore of this office persuaded him to come to northwest- ern Indiana, and inthe spring of 1831 he arrived in LaPorte county, largely covering the distance between here and Washington on foot. He also carried a pack weighing forty pounds, consist- ing mostly of books. He settled upon land nine miles southwest of the city of LaPorte, then be- longing to the government, and did surveying for the government for some time. In 1835, when speculators were about to rob settlers of their claims by locating floats upon their improvements, he went to Washington and had the matter set- tled, as above, through his interview with Andrew Jackson. He took a very active part in befriend- ing the early settlers here and in securing the establishment of homes. From the Indians he pur- chased a tract of land, and had also bought property from the government, and Mrs. John- son now has in her possession some of the parch- ment deeds bearing the president's signature. One is dated September 2, 1839, and was signed by Martin Van Buren, while another, of the date of April 20, 1849, was signed by Zachary Taylor.

Mr. Cathcart was elected to almost every office within the gift of the people of his county and district, and refused the nomination for governor. He served as representative in the state legisla- ture and also in Congress, and was senator from Indiana at one time, following the death of Sena- tor James Whitcomb. He was for two terms a representative at Washington, and he exerted strong influence in our national as well as in state legislation. He foresaw the trouble from slavery, and used to tell Davis (and others), when they boasted of their superiority, that the northern men were not cowards, but slow to anger, but when roused would fight, and "fight like hell, too." In ante-bellum days he was a free-trade Demo- crat, very ardent in his support of its principles, but when Fort Sumter was fired upon he upheld the country's honor, regardless of partisan lines,

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and used his influence to support the Union cause. He canvassed the district thoroughly in the interest of his country, and four soldiers went from the Cathcart home to the scene of battle, while Mrs. Johnson herself labored in connection with the sanitary commission, and did much good service for the boys in blue.

Mr. Cathcart also served as one of the presi- dential electors from the state of Indiana. In the pioneer epoch of the county he had much to do with the Indians, to whom he was always friendly. During the Black Hawk war he went to old Fort Dearborn with supplies, such as arms, ammuni- tion and food, and as he proceeded on his way he found signs that indicated that the children had been brained to death on the door-posts of the houses. This was in 1832, when there was little of Chicago save the old Fort Dearborn. Mr. Cathcart's ideas concerning religious belief were in accord with those of Thomas Payne and Robert Ingersoll. In 1856 he began the investi- gation of spiritualism, and though at first he called it a humbug he ultimately became one of its strong advocates, and died in that faith.

His wife, who bore the maiden name of Jose- phine Lemon, and was born in Charleston, Indi- ana, August 2, 1819, and died in Wheeling, Missouri, November 5, 1879, was a lady of strong personality, amiable disposition and kindly na- ture. Her father, Major John M. Lemon, was receiver in the United States land office at La- Porte in an early day. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk war of 1832, and also saw the famous Indian chief Tecumseh shot at if not killed by R. M. Johnson. He and his wife were. reared in Kentucky, of Scotch lineage, whence they came to Indiana ere the admission of the state into the Union. Among the ancestors were those who fought for independence in the Revolu- tionary war, so that Mrs. Johnson is entitled to membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution. The parents of Mrs. Cathcart were interred in Pine Lake cemetery in LaPorte, in that portion known as Poet's Hill. Mrs. Cath- cart was also a believer in spiritualism.

Mrs. Johnson has been an extensive reader and deep thinker, and in her home has one of the best private libraries of the county, containing many choice and standard works of literature as well as scientific volumes. Her father was also a student, and left many of his books to his heirs. She is a member of the Emerson Class at La- Porte, also a life member of the Ladies Home Library Association of Westville. She is an ad- vocate of spiritualism and a student of evolution,

and a strong believer in the Darwinian theory. In her father's family were six children, of whom she is the only daughter, and the eldest child. She has one brother now living, Henry M., who is living retired in LaPorte.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have traveled quite ex- tensively, and thus have gained valuable knowl- edge concerning America and her people. In 1898-9 they took a long trip through old Mexico, and on the Pacific slope visited California and Oregon. They covered ten thousand miles, and brought back many interesting souvenirs of the journey. They have also visited the Bahama Islands and Florida, and have a very large col- lection of shells, specimens of the fauna of the different countries visited, together with a valu- able collection of axes, arrow points and other Indians relics. Many beautiful paintings and en- gravings adorn the walls of their home and add to its attractiveness. Among the souvenirs is an old timepiece which was carried by General Washington's aide de camp, a Mr. Woodside, who was an ancestor of Mrs. Johnson in the paternal line.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson reside in the old Cath- cart homestead, the house having been erected by Mr. Cathcart before he thought of marriage. It is situated about two miles east of Westville, and is known as Cathcart's Grove. They have two hundred and seventy-six acres of highly im -. proved land, and other property makes their possessions aggregate four hundred and sixty-six acres. Mr. Johnson is a farmer who is very methodical and tasty, as the beautiful farm testi- fies. He is a landscape gardener, as it were, and the large spacious lawns, and neatly kept premises are objects of admiration to the passer-by. In the county they are very widely known, being held in the highest esteem by all, and the circle of their is almost co-extensive with the circle of their ac- quaintances, while the hospitality of the house- hold renders it one of the most attractive homes of LaPorte county.

BROOK TRAVIS, a prominent horse dealer and one of the old settlers of Pleasant township, was born in Union township, LaPorte county, on the 9th day of April, 1843. His father, Allen Travis, was a native of Schoharie county, New York, and was reared, educated and married there. He was a son of John Travis, who fol- lowed Allen Travis to LaPorte county and here spent his remaining days, dying in Union town- ship. It was in 1842 that Allen Travis left the Empire state and came to Indiana, establishing

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his home in Union township, LaPorte county, where he improved a farm, upon which he re- mained throughout the rest of his days. He was a pioneer settler and aided in reclaiming the re- gion for the purposes of civilization. In his farm work he prospered, becoming the owner of richly cultivated fields as the result of his own labors. He wedded Miss Keziah Waxham, a native of England, who came with her parents to America in her girlhood days. She was reared in New York, and to her husband she proved a faithful companion and helpmate on life's journey, al- though she died at a comparatively early age, passing away in Union township, LaPorte county, in her thirty-seventh year, while Mr. John Travis died on the old homestead in 1863. They were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In the family were three sons that grew to manhood, all born in Union township, namely: E. M., who now resides in this township; Jerome, a resident of Kansas; and Brook, who is the second in order of birth.

Upon the old family homestead Brook Travis was reared and early became familiar with farm work, while in the public schools he obtained his education. He gave his father the benefit of his assistance up to the time he attained his majority. In March, 1863, he sought a companion and help- mate for life's journey, and was married to Miss Frances Vandewalker, a native of Indiana, born in Madison, and a daughter of John Vande- walker, who came to LaPorte county with his family during her infancy. Mrs. Travis was therefore reared on the old family homestead in Pleasant township.

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 70

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