A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 71

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

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Immediately after his marriage Mr. Travis took his bride to a farm in Pleasant township, where he now resides and engages in general agricultural pursuits and also in raising horses and other stock. He has made a specialty of the breeding of horses, and his place is now called the Stillwell Stock Farm. It is one of the best in the county, and Mr. Travis has won an en- viable reputation as the owner of fine horses, having been extensively engaged in the business since 1885. He not only breeds, but also trains and breaks horses, and has placed upon the mar- ket many fine animals. He has upon his farm a half-mile track used for training purposes, while he breaks his horses to trotting or pacing, as the desire may be. He has now about twenty-five head of well bred trotters sired by Count Louis No. 8781. The farm comprises, two hundred and forty acres of rich land, but this he largely rents. In his business dealings he has prospered,

and is now the possesser of a very handsome competence.

To Mr. and Mrs. Travis have been born four sons and a daughter: C. A., who is a resident of Pleasant township; William, who follows farming in Union township; James E., a railroad employe; Gerald, who is engaged in the raising of fine horses ; and Anna Grace, who is at home.

Mr. Travis is a staunch Republican and has been honored with several local positions, having served as trustee, assessor and supervi- sor. He is well known throughout the county where he has always made his home, and now en- joys the high esteem of all who know him.

CARL ZIPPEL. Among the sturdy, per- severing and honorable sons of Germany who have become identified with the interests of the United States is to be mentioned Carl Zippel, who is numbered among the pioneer settlers and successful agriculturists of LaPorte county, his homestead being located in section 24, Cass township He was born in Germany on the 2d of March, 1841, and to its public schools he is in- debted for his educational training, attending school there until his fourteenth year. Prior to his removal to this country he learned the brick- maker's trade, continuing in that occupation until he bade adieu to his home in the fatherland to seek broader opportunities in the United States, this eventful period in his life occurring in the year 1872.

After arriving in New York he made his way to Boston, and finally took up his abode in LaPorte county, Indiana, in the town of Wanatah, and during a period of seven years was also a res- ident of Michigan City. In 1875 he purchased the farm where he now lives, on which was located an old log house. His first purchase consisted of but forty acres, but as the years have passed by and as time has rewarded his efforts he has been enabled to add thereto, and is now the owner of two hundred and sixteen acres, all of which he has placed under an excellent state of cultivation, and is there engaged in general farming and stock-raising.

In the year 1868, prior to his crossing the Atlantic to the new world, Mr. Zippel was united in marriage to Wilhelmina Kreger, a native daughter of Germany, and their union has been blessed with nine children, five of whom are now living: Augusta, the wife of Henry Bresecke, John, Herman, Charles and Otto. Of the four who are deceased, two passed away ere the re- moval of the family from Germany, and two died

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in Cass township, LaPorte county. Throughout the period of his residence in this locality Mr. Zip- pel has taken an active interest in public affairs, and politically he votes with the Republicans, be- ing an active worker in the ranks of the party. The family are members of the Evangelical church, and in this community they have won many warm friends.

WILLIAM B. BIDDLE, A. M. The pro- fession of the law, when clothed with its true dignity, purity and strength, must rank first among the callings of men, for law rules the universe. The work of the legal profession is to formulate, to harmonize, to regulate, to adjust, to administer those rules and principles that underlie and per- meate all government and society and control the varied relations of men. As thus viewed there attaches to the legal profession a nobleness that cannot but be reflected in the life of the true law- yer, who, rising to the responsibilities of the pro- fession, and honest in the pursuit of his purpose, embraces the richness of learning, the firmness of integrity and the purity of morals, together with the graces and general amenities of life. Of such a type Judge William B. Biddle is a representa- tive. For forty-six years he has practiced con- tinuously in LaPorte, where he is also known as one of the prominent and representative citizens.

William B. Biddle was born on a farm in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 1830, the son of Richard and Catherine Elizabeth (Jones) Bid- dle, who were both natives of the same county, and representatives of old families there. In 1831 these parents moved to Putnam county, Indiana, where Richard Bid- dle bought government land. To subdue the forest and drain the wet land involved the labor of many years, but the work was accomplished, and the reward of his patience, fortitude and toil was a good farm, which became profitable when a market was found for its products. There for fifty years he and his wife made their home. She died in 1881, and he died at the age of eighty-five, in 1888. They reared a family of thirteen chil- dren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second. Six of their sons were volunteers in the Civil war, and another in the war with Spain.

Judge Biddle obtained his preparatory educa- tion at home, under the instruction of his parents, with the aid of an occasional term in the district school until at the age of eighteen he entered the preparatory department of Asbury, now De Pauw, University, at Greencastle, Indiana, where he was graduated with the class of 1855 with the degree

of Bachelor of Arts, and in 1858 received the de -. gree of Master of Arts in the same institution. At the completion of his college course he came to LaPorte, which has been his home for the sub- sequent forty-eight years. His first connection with professional circles here was as superin- tendent of public schools, and a little later he was for two or three years deputy county treasurer. All this time, however, he was industriously studying law, and in 1857 was admitted to the bar of LaPorte county. He was not long in winning public confidence and patronage, and for a long time he has maintained a prominent posi- tion in the ranks of the legal fraternity here. His preparation of cases is thorough and exhaustive, he grasps the strong points of law and fact, and his presentation of authorities and his deductions are cogent, forceful and convincing. In 1858 he was elected prosecuting attorney for the ninth judicial circuit, then comprising eight counties, upon the Republican ticket, serving for a term of two years. In 1888 he was a candidate of the same party for judge of the circuit composed of St. Joseph and LaPorte counties. He received more than the full strength of his party, but was defeated. In 1897 Governor Mount appointed him judge of the circuit court of this county, and he remained on the bench for about two years, during which time he made an excellent record and won the commendation of the bar and the general public. He has also served as city at- torney, and is now one of the oldest practicing lawyers and most honored representatives of the legal profession in northern Indiana.

In 1862 Judge Biddle enlisted at LaPorte for service in the Civil war. He recruited Com- pany I, Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteers, and was made first lieutenant. As the captain never served with the company, Judge Biddle was its commander from its organization until May, 1864. His regiment became attached to the Fourteenth Army Corps and took part in the campaign that followed the retreat of General Bragg through Kentucky, Tennessee and on to Chickamauga, where it participated in that hotly contested battle, and where Captain Biddle was severely wounded. He was incapacitated for field service for ninety days, but as soon as possible he rejoined his command, was promoted to the captaincy and de- tailed for duty on the staff of Major General Absalom Baird, then commanding the Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps. In this capacity he took part in the Atlanta campaign, Sherman's march to the sea, and the expedition through the Carolinas. He was present when

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LAPORTE COUNTY.

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1 these parents moved to Hallova. where Richard Bid- www nt ired. To sebine the the wet land involved the labor . t the work was accomplished, I hi patience, fortitude and toil plano became predialde when

made their home. She the age of eighty-tive.

i this sketch was the The velvetvers in the war wita Spain. Reparatiey olaca- son of his parents. term in the district weet he entered the hans. now De L'air. at where he was ; with the degree

. twee years deputy comes to tue however, he was injas ng me, and in INS was ab mitte .Pst condy. He was ie: y puits Patience and partner long tone he has mistamed a prenaient ! of it the ranks of the legal fraternity here. : : petratip of cases is the rough and. to grams the strong points of few at. s presentati it of authorities and his . a. ..

is agent, foreciel and convincing. In was elected prosecuting attorney f - ti .. . j" ihad areun. the comprising eight . . then the Republican ticket, serving for a : of two years. In 1888 he was a candidate . i same party for judge of the circuit compris St. Joseph and Lacarte counties. He reci more than the full strength of his party, but detrated. In 180- Governor Mount & 6 :1 har judge of the circuit court of this courts. he remained on the beach for about to. during which time le made an excelki .: and won the commendation of the bar .. general public. He has also served as torpey, and is now one of the oldest pr las sers an i most honored representatit . legal profession in northern Indiana.

In 1862 Judge Biddle enlisted at J .. : service in the Civil war. He recrui pany I, Eighty-seventh Indiana Vohurg was made tiret lieutenant. As the car served with the company. Judge Big1. commander from its organization unti! ; His reg ment became attached to the ! Army Corps and took part in the car 1. I Huwel the retreat of General Bra . Kentucky. Tennessee and on to 01. where it participated in that hotly cont. and where Captain Biddle was sever. . He was incapacitated for field service dava, but as soon as possible he . Command, was promoted to the capte til - for daty on the staff of M. Ausale Baird, then commanding Division, Fourteenth Army C ... capacity he took part in the Ad .. Sherman's march to the set. and through the Caoanas. He was

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HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY.

Johnston's army surrendered to General Sherman near Raleigh, and after the conclusion of peace he went with his command to Washington, where he took part in the grand review of the army. In June, 1865, he was mustered out with his regi- ment, having been brevetted major of United States Volunteers for meritorious services. Judge Biddle became a charter member of Patton Post, G. A. R., upon its organization in LaPorte, and is also a member of the Loyal Legion.

In 1860 Judge Biddle was married in La- Porte to Miss Caroline V. Fravel, a daughter of Abraham Fravel, one of the prominent early set- tlers, having come to LaPorte county in 1835. This happy union lasted for thirty years, but in 1890 was broken by the death of Mrs. Biddle. Judge Biddle is prominent in the Masonic fratern- ity. He is regarded as one of the most distin- guished and honored citizens of LaPorte, and his upright character and sterling worth entitle him to this high position in the public esteem, and make him worthy of the warm friendship so uniformly accorded him throughout the county of his adop- tion.

T. B. WILSON, the well known and popular auctioneer, residing in Wanatah, and who has been connected with the business and farming in- terests of LaPorte county for many years, is a member of one of the oldest families which the county can claim. His grandfather, Jeremiah Wilson, was born in the highlands of Scotland, and came to Pennsylvania in the early days. He located at the famous town of Old Vincennes, Indiana, in 1813, when it was still the center of pioneer history in the great Northwest country. During this period of the war of 1812 Indiana was the battle ground between the British and In- dians and the Americans, and this old pioneer was one of those who shared the dangers of life on the very outskirts of civilization. He died in Vigo county, Indiana. His wife, Johanna (Moore) Wilson, came from England when seventeen years old.

Jeremiah Wilson, the son of this Indiana set- tler, was born in Pennsylvania in 1811. In 1829 he was one of the first men to make LaPorte county their permanent home and open it up for civilization. He was one of the founders of the county, was a captain in the militia, and a sol- dier under the great General Harrison of Tippe- canoe fame. He established a tanyard on the shores of Hudson lake, and was thus prominent in the industrial as well as civil and public life of

the county. Some time in the early thirties he moved to Union Mills, and later took up his res- idence on the farm in Clinton township where T. B. Wilson was born. His last move was to Cass township, where he died in the seventy-sixth year of his life. His political belief was that of the Democratic party, and he was at one time deputy sheriff of the county and served as trustee of his township for many years. He was an active mem- ber of the Christian church, and was on the side of honor and right whether in religious matters or affairs of a secular nature.

Jeremiah Wilson married Abigail Wills, who was likewise an early settler of LaPorte county and a daughter of one of the best known of the county's early residents. She was born near Day- ton, Ohio, and in 1829 came to this county with her father, John E. Wills, who settled in what is known as Boot Jack, in Wills township, which was named in his honor. Mr. Wills was a native of New York state. He was the owner of a large amount of LaPorte county land, and was con- cerned in the making of much of the county's early history. Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Wilson were the parents of fourteen children, of whom two sons are living.

Mr. T. B. Wilson was the eleventh child, and was born in what is now Clinton township, LaPorte county, July 12, 1844. His birthplace was a log cabin, which had no floor except the hard ground, contained a large fireplace, two win- dows and two doors, and was a typical pioneer residence of that time. All the school houses which he attended with the exception of one were also of logs. He remained at home until he was married, in 1864, and in that year located on a farm in Cass township, and was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits for many years. In 1890 he moved to Wanatah, and for three years rented his farm, after which he sold it. He has been in the auctioneer business for more than twenty years, and within late years has also engaged in insurance and real estate. Both in his private farming enterprises and in his semi-public career he has shown himself to be a man of much ability, thoroughly business-like and energetic in all his actions, and has prospered and won the esteem of his fellow citizens.

On December 4, 1864, Mr. Wilson married Miss Priscilla Brick, who was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, July 14, 1842, and reared near South Bend. Her father, W. W. Brick, was one of the pioneers of St. Joseph county, one of the most prominent citizens in his day, and was the

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first justice of the peace in that county. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, as follows : Abigail J. is the wife of William Marks, a farmer of Cass township; William J., unmarried and at home, graduated in the class of 1894, of the Wanatah high school, is a painter and decora- tor ; Agnes P., wife of L. J. Gross, a grocer of Wanatah, graduated from the Wanatah high school, being only seventeen years of age at the time, was student and graduated at South Bend high school and she taught five years in LaPorte county ; and Frank E., who married Ethel E. Dolman, the daughter of Edward Dolman, the miller of Wanatah, graduated in the common school at the age of thirteen and graduated from the Wanatah high school at the age of sixteen, being one of the bright students in higher mathe- matics.

Mr. Wilson has cast his votes for Democratic candidates since coming of age, and has taken an active part in politics. He was at one time chair- man of the Democratic township committee, and has been elected to local offices. He is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, and for many years was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his wife are members of the Christian church, and are highly esteemed in the township and home community.

KILLIAN A. BRANT. For almost forty years Mr. Brant has been a resident of LaPorte county, and is now one of the well known agri- culturists of New Durham township, where he owns and operates one hundred and twenty-five acres of land. He was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, October 28, 1837, and is the fifth in a family of eight children, three sons and five daughters, both to Henry and Margaret (Shannon) Brant, but only three are now living. He has twin sisters, Susannah C. and Martha Jane. The former is the widow of J. S. Buell, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and the latter is the wife of James Thompson, of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. The father was married twice, his first union being with Mrs. Katie Criley, and to that marriage eight children were born, of whom two still survive and are residents of Penn- sylvania. Henry Brant, a native of the Keystone state, was born about 1796 and was of German parentage. His entire life was spent in Pennsyl- vania, and in his business career he was fairly successful. He and his wife were members of the New School Presbyterian church.

Killian A. Brant received a common school ed- ucation. His privileges in that direction, however,

were limited to three months' attendance in the winter season, and the school-house was built of logs. The seats were benches, and consisted of nothing save a bench, there being nothing to rest the back against. The writing desk was made by laying a board upon some wooden pins driven into the wall, and goosequill pens were then in use. The master was rather severe in his measures of discipline, seeming to believe in the old axiom "spare the rod and spoil the child."

Mr. Brant started out to earn his own living when but thirteen years of age. In the summer months he had assisted his father in the work of caring for the fields and the stock, and his youth was thus largely a period of toil. For fifteen years after leaving home he worked as a laborer in the woods, receiving only eight dollars per month for his services. As a companion and and help- mate for life's journey he chose Miss Malinda Logan, and they were married August 23, 1860. She was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, June 1, 1835, a daughter of William and Cath- erine (Putnam) Logan, in whose family were eight children, six yet living. Of these, two are residents of Pennsylvania, and one sister is in Lincoln, Nebraska, while the others are in In- diana. Their father was reared in Philadelphia and became a mechanic. He lived to the advanced age of one hundred and two years, and died in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he and his wife were long members.

Mrs. Brant was educated in the common schools, and has been an able assistant to her hus- band since they started out on life's journey to- gether, more than forty-three years ago. They first rented land in LaPorte county, and seven years had passed before they were able to pur- chase a farm. At length, however, with the money they had acquired through their industry and economy, Mr. Brant purchased the one hun- dred acres of land on which he now resides, and has since made excellent improvements on the property. About one hundred acres is under cul- tivation, while the remaining twenty-five acres is devoted to pasturage purposes, for he is engaged in the raising of stock as well as of grain.

To Mr. and Mrs. Brant have been born four children, two sons and two daughters, but two have passed away. The living are Frank A. and Stella. The former attended the common schools and was graduated from the high school of West- ville, completing the course at the age of fifteen- the youngest pupil to be graduated in Westville. He is now a resident of California. Stella is the wife of William C. Anderson, who is a motorman

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on the interurban railroad between LaPorte and Michigan City. They have two children, Geneva and Florence.

Mr. Brant is a strong advocate of the prin- ciples of Jacksonian Democracy, and has been a delegate to the county conventions at various times, but has never consented to become a can- didate for office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business affairs, in which he has met with creditable success. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Westville, and his wife is a member of the Methodist church.

Mr. and Mrs. Brant have an old parchment deed signed by President Van Buren and exe- cuted March 20, 1837, and is a valuable souvenir in their home.

DE ALTON H. BOWELL, a well known and popular druggist of Rolling Prairie, Indiana, has been a life-long resident of LaPorte county, his birth having occurred in Kankakee township, August 13, 1856. His father, Absalom Carr Bowell, was born in Clark county, this state, De- cember I, 1821, and in the spring of 1834 came to LaPorte county with his parents, John and Eliza- beth (Carr) Bowell, who located in Wills town- ship, where the Bowell family cemetery is now situated. John Bowell and Elisha Carr took up land from the government, a part of which was in Fulton county, the remainder being in Wills and Galena townships, this county. John Bowell lo- cated in Wills township, and to the improvement and cultivation of his farm devoted his attention until called to his final rest.

Absalom C. Bowell grew to manhood upon the old home place in Wills township and later removed to Kankakee township, locating a mile and a half southwest of Rolling Prairie, where he bought a farm and improved it. He also pur- chased property in Galena township, and had one hundred and thirty acres of land in Kankakee on the north line of the township and one hundred acres where he first settled. On the 2d of March, 1851, he married Miss Sarah Ann Ireland, a na- tive of Preble county, Ohio, born November 30, 1825. About 1831 she removed with her parents to Michigan, settling on the banks of Diamond lake, but about a year later removed to Pleasant Valley in the northern part of St. Joseph county, Indiana. She died August 27, 1893, leaving three sons, namely: James Edwin, who was born in Kankakee township, December 15, 1851, and is now a retired farmer living in the city of La- Porte; Francis Marion, who was born August 4,

1853, and is a prominent farmer occupying the old homestead in Kankakee township; and De Alton. After his marriage the father located on his farm in Kankakee township, where he made his home until 1893, when he removed to Galena township, dying there on the 29th of August, 1895. He was a faithful and consistent member of the Christian church, in which he served as deacon for a number of years, and al- ways took an active part in its work. Politically he was a life-long Democrat. As one of the pio- neers and honored citizens of the county his death was deeply mourned, and he is deserving of prom- inent mention in the history of this section of the state.

During his boyhood De Alton H. Bowell at- tended the district schools of Kankakee township, and remained with his parents until reaching man's estate. On leaving home in 1877, he began clerking in a drug store in Rolling Prairie, and has since devoted his attention principally to that business, though for three years he carried on a farm of eighty acres which he owns in Kankakee township. On the 27th of January, 1896, he pur- chased the drug store of P. D. Sharpless in Roll- ing Prairie, and still carries on the business with marked success, having built up an excellent trade. He has a number of patent medicines of his own manufacture besides those usually found in the drug stores of this country.

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 71

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