A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 72

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 72

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Bowell was married February 3, 1892, to Miss Sarah Viola Melson, a daughter of Joseph and Margaret (McCabe) Melson. She was born near Moores Hill in Dearborn county, Indiana, January 10, 1861, but was principally reared in Jennings county, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Bowell have two sons : Roy Melson, who was born on the farm in Kankakee township, July 28, 1893; and Clarence De Alton, born in Rolling Prairie, March 17, 1896.

Since attaining his majority Mr. Bowell has affiliated with the Democracy and has taken quite an active interest in political affairs. In 1890 he was the candidate of his party for county re- corder, but was defeated in the convention, George F. Swan receiving the nomination. So- cially he is a member of Rolling Prairie Lodge, No. 679, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all the chairs, and is a member of the grand lodge of the same order. In 1883 he joined the Christian church, and has since taken an active part in its work, serving as clerk for several years. His life has ever been in harmony with his pro- fessions, and he merits and receives the confi- dence and esteem of his fellow citizens. Those

Digitized by

Google

434

HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY.

who have known him from boyhood are numbered among his warmest friends, and no man in his community is held in higher regard than De Alton H. Bowell.

MINER NESBITT. Although a number of years have passed since Miner Nesbitt was called to his final rest, he is yet remembered by many who enjoyed his friendship and who still cherish pleasant recollections of his personality and worth. He was born at Plymouth, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, on the 28th of December, 1810. His father, Abram Nesbitt, was of Scotch- Irish descent and it is supposed that his birth oc- curred in Connecticut. His mother bore the maiden name of Bethiah Wheeler, and Miner Nesbitt was the youngest of their ten children.

His youth was spent in his parents' home, and his early education was supplemented by a course of study in the academy at Plymouth, Pennsyl -. vania. When he had put aside his text books he turned his attention to farming, and after he came to man's estate, desiring to establish a home of his own, he sought a companion and helpmate for life's journey, and on the 31st of October, 1844, was united in marriage to Miss Mary Shupp, who was born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, on the 16th of November, 1820. Her father, Philip Shupp, was also a native of that place and was there reared and married, being joined in wedlock to Miss Susan Croup, whose birth oc- curred in Plymouth, Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Shupp were born four sons and two daugh- ters, Mrs. Nesbitt being the second child and eldest daughter. Her father was a farmer, and followed that occupation in order to provide for the needs of his wife and children. Mrs. Nes- bitt pursued her education in the Plymouth Academy.

At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Nesbitt established their home in Plymouth, where they remained until 1852. That year wit- nessed their arrival in LaPorte county, Indiana, and they settled at Rolling Prairie, where Mr. Nesbitt purchased a tract of land and carried on farming and stock-raising. He was an active and energetic man, and his labors resulted in the ac- quirement of a very comfortable and desirable competence.

To Mr. and Mrs. Nesbitt were born eight chil- dren : Elizabeth, who became the wife of Egbert Burhams, but both are now deceased; James, who married Alvina Whitehead and resides in Grand Junction, Colorado: George, who has de- parted this life; Mary F., the wife of John A.

Noble, a merchant of Rolling Prairie; Emma J., the wife of A. B. Ament, of San Bernardino, California; Charles, deceased; Kate A., at home with her mother ; and Stella J., the wife of Edgar Austin, a resident farmer of Galena township, LaPorte county.

In his political views Mr. Nesbitt was a Re- publican, having firm faith in the principles of the party, and he was a prominent member of the Christian church at Plymouth, Pennsylvania, and after his removal to the west became a char- ter member of the church at Rolling Prairie. He served as one of its leaders, took an active part in its organization, contributed generously of his means to its support, and in other ways assisted materially in its work and upbuilding. His life was honorable, his actions manly and sincere, and because of his sterling worth he endeared himself to all with whom he came in contact.

He died August 12, 1884, leaving to his fam- ily not only a comfortable competence, but also the priceless heritage of a good name. His re- mains were interred in the Rolling Prairie ceme- tery. Mrs. Nesbitt, his widow, is now past eighty years of age, and for fifty-one years she has been a resident of Rolling Prairie. She owns a farm of three hundred and twenty acres of rich land and another of one hundred acres, and the rental from these places supplies her with all the com- forts of life. When a young girl she became a member of the Christian church at Plymouth, Pennsylvania, and has been a consistent advocate of the cause of religion since that time. She is a well preserved woman, of good education and natural intelligence, of kindly manner and social disposition, and she has won the love and esteem of young and old, rich and poor.

FRANK J. PITNER. Throughout his en- tire business career Frank J. Pitner has been en- gaged in the banking business, and as cashier of the First National Bank of LaPorte has contrib- uted in a large degree to the success and growth of the institution, for he is a popular officer and one whose knowledge of banking is comprehensive, while his energy, close application and progres- sive methods have also been salient features in the prosperous history of the First National.

Born in LaPorte, June 26, 1865, Frank J. Pitner is a son of William C. and Belinda (Forbes) Pitner. The family is an old, honorable and influential one in the county. His father re- moved from Ohio to Indiana in the fifties, and be- came a wagon and carriage manufacturer of some prominence, carrying on a successful business,

Digitized by Google

Miner Nesbitt

Digitized by Google

435

HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY ..

which after his death, in the year 1889, was con- tinued by his sons. His widow is still living. She was born in the state of New York and came to LaPorte county in 1839, being then only three years old. She has since been a resident of this city, and few have longer been witnesses of the growth and development of LaPorte. Fred M. Pitner, a brother of Frank, was trained in his father's business, and is now a prominent manu- facturer of Elkhart, Indiana, and a stockholder in the First National Bank of LaPorte.

At the usual age Frank J. Pitner entered the public schools of his native city, and therein con- tinued his studies until the time came to face the difficulties and solve the problems of a business career. After his graduation he became con- nected with the First National Bank and served as book-keeper, teller and assistant cashier; he was elected to his present position in 1898, and since then has had the management of the bank, having been continuously connected with that in- stitution since the beginning of his business ca- reer with the exception of the year 1887, which he spent in Chicago, with the Commercial Na- tional Bank of that city.

The First National Bank of LaPorte is among the oldest national banks of the country, having been established in 1864, its charter being num- bered three hundred and seventy-seven, and there are now over five thousand national banks in the United States. The first president was Aurora Case and its first cashier was Hiram P. Holbrook. The original directors were Sidney S. Sabin, John B. Niles, James Ridgway, Aurora Case, Ezekiel Morrison, H. P. Holbrook and Henry Lusk. Shortly after the organization Robert S. Morri- son succeeded Mr. Holbrook as cashier. Mr. Case died in 1872, and Mr. Ezekiel Morrison be- came the president. He was followed by Sidney Sabin, in 1884, who in turn was succeeded in 1887 by William Niles, the present president. The cashier, Robert S. Morrison, died in 1884, and the assistant, L. G. Erb, was then elected to fill the vacancy. He died in 1889, and the posi- tion was then filled by Robert E. Morrison, a son of the former cashier and a grandson of the former president, Ezekiel Morrison. In 1898 R. E. Morrison resigned, and Mr. Pitner was elected to take his place. The present officers are as fol- lows : William Niles, president; F. H. Morrison, vice president ; Frank J. Pitner, cashier ; and A. H. Peglow, teller.

The First National is a very strong financial institution, thoroughly reliable, with a business policy that at once commends it to the confidence

and support of the public. It is capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars, has a surplus of. forty thousand and deposits amounting to five hundred thousand dollars, and the business of the bank is constantly growing. It has enjoyed a period of continuous prosperity from the be- ginning of its existence, and its name has become a synonym for business integrity and reliability. The bank building, having been remodeled in 1901, is convenient for the public and thoroughly equipped with modern accessories. The First National has wide and influential connections, and its officers occupy prominent positions in banking circles. Mr. Pitner is a thoroughly ex- perienced bank manager, and has brought the business up to a high state of efficiency.

On May 4, 1897, Mr. Pitner was married at Los Angeles, California, to Miss Lyle Hynes, whose people originally lived in LaPorte county and have recently returned here. The young couple are widely known in LaPorte, where the circle of their friends is almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintances. They have one son, William Hynes Pitner, who was born May 5, 1901.

DANIEL A. WHITE, an influential citizen of LaPorte county, residing on his fine farm in section 24, Cool Spring township, is himself to be classed among the pioneers and is the son of one of LaPorte county's earliest residents. His father, Jacob H. White, was born in New York state, and came to LaPorte county in 1836, lo- cating in Michigan City, only a few years after northern Indiana had been opened up by the onmarch of civilization. On March 1, 1840, he married Miss Abigail Closser, a daughter of Daniel and Hulda (McFarland) Closser. She was born in Ohio in 1820, and came to LaPorte county in 1832, in the very vanguard of pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. White removed to Will county, Illinois, in 1854, but in 1863 returned to LaPorte county and located in the city of La- Porte. Three years later he took up his resi- dence in Waterford, where he was a practicing physician for many years. He also owned a large sawmill in Cool Spring township, and when he first came to LaPorte county he followed the oc- cupation of carpentering. He died at the age of sixty-two years, and his wife at the age of eighty- two. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living.

Daniel A. White, the eldest of these children, was born in Scipio township, La Porte county. De- cember 27, 1840, and obtained the major portion

Digitized by Google

436

HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY.

of his education in this county. He removed with his parents to Will county, Illinois, in 1854 and was there until 1863, during which time he was married. In his earlier years he taught school in LaPorte county and one term in Illinois. On re- turning to LaPorte county he operated his father's mill for some time, and in 1875 bought his pa- rents' farm, where he has since made his home. He has a nice place, and has been successful in his business operations.

In 1860 Mr. White married Miss Harriet E. Blaisdell, who was born in Ohio, but lost her mother when she was three days old and was reared in Illinois. Three sons have been born of this union. Marion B. is shipping clerk for Fair- banks Morris Company of Chicago; Charles M. is also a resident of Chicago and is a conductor on the Illinois Central Railroad; and Lewis E. is a carpenter of Cool Spring township.

Mr. White has been a life-long Republican, and has taken considerable part in public affairs. He held the office of county commissioner for three years, and was also trustee of his trustee of his township, and in these offices was careful and business-like in managing the interests in- trusted to him. He has been a member of the Methodist church ever since 1853, and is now of the Cool Spring township church, and is one of the earnest supporters of the church and its benev- olences.

ADOLPH CULLANDER has for ten years resided in the United States. He was born in Sweden, November 17, 1869, and was the sixth in a family of thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters, born to Andrew and Mary (Swan- son) Johnson. The father's name was changed to Cullander by the minister. There are nine mem- bers of the family yet living, but only two are residents of America, George Cullander being a resident of Westville. The other members of the family are in Europe. The father was a mechanic and farmer, following the latter pursuit in the later years of his life, but he is now living retired at the age of seventy-four years. He and his wife belonged to the Lutheran church.

Adolph Cullander was reared as a farmer lad, and when about eighteen years of age began serving an apprenticeship to the trade of a black- smith and wagon-maker. His education was ac- quired in the common schools and through six months' attendance at a higher school, in which he pursued a business course. He remained with his parents and worked at his trade until he de- termined to come to America, in 1893. He then

sailed from Gottenburg, Sweden, for Philadel- phia, where he arrived in the month of June. Smallpox broke out on board the vessel so that the steamer was quarantined for sixteen days be- fore the passengers were allowed to land. When Mr. Cullander arrived at his destination he had only about thirty-two dollars in money, and thus he began life in a strange country and among strange people with little capital. However, he was industrious and ambitious, and upon these qualities as a foundation he has builded his suc- cess. He first went to Mckean county, Pennsyl- vania, where he accepted a position in connection with the railroad, working for a dollar and a quarter per day. After two weeks he secured a situation on a farm, and in the early years of his residence in America he followed any pursuit that would yield him an honest living and gain him a start. He remained in the lumber regions and in a blacksmith shop in Pennsylvania for about two years. In 1895 he went to Jamestown, New York, `where he accepted a position in a blacksmith shop, but after a month he left that place for Chicago. He was employed in the steel mills of South Chi- cago for nine months, and later he worked on Twenty-fourth street in that city at cutting iron girders used in the construction of brick buildings.

After a month spent in hard labor in that way he took up his abode in Chesterton, Porter county, where he entered into partnership with a German by the name of Charles Gable in a wagon-making and blacksmith enterprise. For a year this rela- tion was maintained, and then the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Cullander established a shop of his own in the same town. Later he formed a partnership which was continued for a year, and in the spring of 1898 he came to Westville, where he purchased a little shop from Andrew Young, paying one hundred and ten dollars for the shop and the tools. He has since enlarged his place. until it is thirty-six by twenty feet, and he has added a machine shop which is twenty by thirty feet. He has also put in a twelve horse-power engine, and his business has so constantly in- creased that he now commands the most of the trade in his line in and around Westville. He has a large and gratifying patronage and derives therefrom a good annual income. He is a thor- ough and practical mechanic, and as his labors have been supplemented by the economy and cap- able management of his wife in the control of the household affairs they have managed to gain a comfortable competence and have purchased a neat cottage home, which they have improved

Digitized by Google

437

HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY.

until it is now one of the attractive residences of township, where he followed farming, his atten- the town.

Mr. Cullander was united in marriage to Miss Lottie Pearson on the 30th of June, 1896, and to them have been born four children, a son and three daughters, but two are now deceased. The others are Mabel C. and Florence. Mr. and Mrs. Cullander have recently lost their little baby girl, Hazel Viola. The death angel knocked at the door of the cottage home, and the little sunbeam of the home circle bade an adieu to her parents, and now the golden chain is devoid of one little golden link, which will ever be remembered by the parents. Mrs. Cullander was born in the Province of Quanum, Sweden, and is a daughter of John and Mary (Johnson) Pearson. In the family were ten children, three sons and seven daughters, of whom six are yet living, two being residents of Indiana, while the others reside in Chicago. The parents, however, are now de- ceased, and the children came alone to America. Mrs. Cullander was seventeen years old when she crossed the Atlantic. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cul- lander were confirmed in the Lutheran church at the age of fifteen years. She was educated in the Swedish tongue, but she speaks and writes the English language. In her home she has been a kind, affectionate and devoted wife and mother.

Mr. Cullander gives his support to the Repub- lican party, and has served as a member of the town council. He belongs to the Maccabees tent at Westville, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen Camp No. 5244, at Chesterton, Indi- ana. Although he started out in life with lim- ited capital, he is in the possession of a comfort- able competence, and his life record proves the force of industry and enterprise in the active af- fairs of this world.

In June, 1901, Mr. Cullander made a trip to his old home in Sweden and revisited the scenes of childhood days, which were renewed to him, and returned to Westville, Indiana, September 10, 1903.

WILLIAM H. COLLOM, a member of the firm of Collom Brothers, general merchants at Mill Creek, was born in Wills township, LaPorte county, September 27, 1840. His paternal grand- father, Benjamin Collom, was a native of Penn- sylvania and there spent his entire life. It is be- lieved that he was of Welsh and Irish lineage. The son, Jesse Collom, was a native of Erie county, Pennsylvania, and remained in the Keystone state until his removal to LaPorte county, Indiana. Seeking a home in the west, he located in Wills

tion being devoted to the care and improvement of his land up to the time of his death, which oc- curred about forty-five years ago. He became a stanch Republican in his political affiliations. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Louisa Potts, was a native of Erie county, Pennsylvania, and was there reared. She died in 1843, when her son William was but three years of age. In the fam- ily were four children, but two died in infancy, and William H. is the only surviving child of the first marriage. After the death of his first wife the father married again, his second union being with Phoebe Potts, a sister of the first Mrs. Col- lom. Three children were born of this union, but the eldest died when about two years of age. The others are James W., proprietor of a meat market at Mill Creek ; and George W., who is a partner of our subject.

Upon the home farm in Wills township, La- Porte county, William H. Collom was reared, and he and his brother George W. established a mer- cantile business in March, 1875, locating their store in Lincoln township near Mill Creek. This was before the Grank Trunk Railroad was built through this section of the state. Their store was about twelve by sixteen feet, and they carried on business there for about four years, but after the railroad was constructed they removed to Mill Creek and are now the leading general merchants of their part of the county. They have been in business altogether for twenty-nine years and the firm of Collom Brothers sustains an enviable reputation in business circles.

On the 31st of December, 1861, William H. Collom was united in marriage to Catherine E. Little, a daughter of Levi Little, of LaPorte county. They have since resided on the banks of Fish lake. Mrs. Collom was born in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, and came with her parents to LaPorte county when a young girl. Three liv- ing children have been born of this union, and they have also lost one child. Olive M., the eldest, is now the wife of Daniel E. Miller, of Lincoln township; Jesse M. married Jessie Robbins, and is a farmer of St. Joseph county, Indiana ; Clara E. is the wife of Joseph A. Wiltfong, a farmer of Lincoln township; Marcena L. died at the age of fifteen years. Mr. Collom is now serving as post- master at Mill Creek, having been appointed to the position in 1875, since which time he has served continually in this capacity with the excep- tion of four years under the administration of Grover Cleveland. He was also township trustee of Lincoln township for seven years, and although

Digitized by Google

438

HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY.

he is a stanch Republican in politics he was elected for four successive terms in a township which usually has a Democratic majority of thirty. He has never failed to cast his ballot for the Republican party at each election. He is a member of Rolling Prairie Lodge, F. & A. M., and is a leading and influential citizen of his community, widely known and highly esteemed in business and social circles. He and his brother do an extensive business as general mer- chants, and they have prospered in their under- takings.

NOAH S. ROWLEY. The name of this gentleman is inseparably connected with the farming and stock-raising interests of Hanna township, where he has made his home throughout life, covering a period of fifty years. He was born in this county on the 3d of December, 1853, and is a worthy representa- tive of one of its old and honored families. His paternal grandfather, Noah S. Rowley, in com- pany with his two sons, came to LaPorte county at an early day in its development, and at the first election held here he was the choice of the people for trustee of Hanna township. He became an important factor in public affairs, and bore a prominent part in the development and upbuild- ing of his locality.

Charles H. Rowley, the father of Mr. Row- ley, was born in New York, March 24, 1829, and in early life came to this county with his father. His life was devoted to farming, and in 1861 he was elected to succeed his father in the office of trustee of Hanna township. In early manhood he married Miss Helen M. Woodin, who was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, June 24, 1835, and was a daughter of Peter Woodin, who spent his last days in Hanna township, this county. Two chil- dren blessed this union, but Noah is the only sur- vivor, the younger having died in infancy. After a useful and well spent life the father passed away at his home in Hanna township, in Septem- ber, 1869.

Noah S.' Rowley passed his boyhood and youth in the county of his nativity, and for the past quarter of a century has resided upon his present farm, which is a valuable tract of one hundred and thirty acres under excellent culti- vation and improved with good buildings. He raises the crops best adapted to the soil and cli- mate of this region, and devotes considerable at- tention to stock, which he ships to the Chicago markets. In business affairs he is prompt, ener-

getic and reliable, and to these qualities may be attributed his success in life.

On the 28th of February, 1873, Mr. Rowley married Miss Alice Wills, who was born in Cass township, this county, in 1854, and died on the 6th of April, 1888, in Hanna township. To them were born six children, as follows: Helen M., born September 13, 1874, died in September, 1877; Charles D., born April 14, 1876, died in October, 1877; Margaret L., born March 24, 1878, is now the wife of Forest Sheely, a plas- terer living in Hanna; Chloe H., born December 10, 1880, is at home ; Alice A., born December 18, 1883, is the wife of John R. Hunsley, a farmer, of Hanna township; and Noah E., born Novem- ber 15, 1885, is at home.

Mr. Rowley uses his right of franchise in sup- port of the Republican party and its principles. He is a member of the blue lodge, No. 532, F. and A. M., of Union Mills ; and La Porte Chapter No. 15, R. A. M. He is widely and favorably known throughout his native county, and has a host of warm friends who esteem him highly for his ster- ling worth.

J. F. KREIDLER is the cashier of the First National Bank and also the treasurer of the Mich- igan City board of education. He has always re- sided here, his birth having occurred in this place on the 9th of January, 1869. The family, how- ever, is of German lineage, and his paternal grandfather, Frederick F. Kreidler, was born in Darmstadt in 1782, and died in Dusseldorf, Ger- many, November 10, 1837, while his wife passed away soon afterward. Jacob Kreidler, the father of J. F. Kreidler, was born in Germany, Novem- ber 5, 1836, and in early life learned the me- chanic's trade, which he carried on for many years. On bidding adieu to friends and native land he crossed the Atlantic, and without tarrying on the eastern coast made his way at once to Michigan City, in 1856, where he has since re- sided. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Siebert, was also a native of Germany. Her father died in Michigan City in 1860, and her death occurred here in 1880. In their family were three children : Mary, now the wife of J. P. Snyder, a resident of Galesburg, Illinois ; Helen; and J. Frederick.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 72

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