A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 75

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 75

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In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Richman are Lutherans, and contribute liberally of their means to the support of the church and to all enterprises which they believe will prove of public benefit. Politically Mr. Richman is identified with the Democratic party, but takes no active part in

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politics aside from voting, preferring to devote his undivided attention to his business interests. Honest, industrious and energetic, he has steadily overcome all obstacles in the path to success, and is to-day one of the wealthiest men of his com- munity, as well as one of its most highly respected and honored citizens.

CEPHAS THOMPSON DIBBLE. One of the esteemed and honored citizens of Michigan City is Cephas Thompson Dibble, who has almost reached the eightieth milestone on life's journey. His history is in many respects an eventful and interesting one, and now in the evening of life he is acceptably filling the office of justice of the peace, having for twenty years served in this capacity in Michigan City. He was born in the town of Granville, Washington county, New York, April 15, 1824, his parents being Eli and Chloe (Thompson) Dibble. His paternal grand- father was reared in New Haven, Connecticut.

The Dibble family is of English lineage, and the first of the name in America was Thomas Dib- ble, who in the year 1630 braved the dangers in- cident to an ocean voyage at that time and crossed the Atlantic, establishing his home in Connecti- cut. He is said to have been a leading tory in the early days of colonial development, and in his business affairs he prospered, becoming quite wealthy.

The father of Mr. Dibble was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and became a manufacturer of woolen goods in Granville, New York. At an early period in the development of the Empire state he removed from Peru, Massachusetts, to Granville, and there spent his remaining days, actively and prominently connected with its man- ufacturing interests. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and in recognition of his services was given a land warrant, which he located at Little Rock, Arkansas. He then returned to his home in New York, but soon afterward was stricken with fever and died. He had married Miss Chloe Thompson, whose birth occurred in Peru, Berk- shire county, Massachusetts, in which state her father was also reared, but afterward became a resident of New York and died in Granville at an advanced age. He was remarkable for having a double set of teeth at the time of his demise. Mrs. Chloe Dibble survived her husband for many years. He passed away in August, 1824, when a comparatively young man, and she reached the advanced age of almost ninety years, departing this life at her old home in Granville. This worthy couple were the parents of twelve chil- 29

dren, seven sons and five daughters, of whom Cephas T. was the youngest. Only two are now living, 'Moses Dibble being a resident of Syra- cuse, New York.

So widely and favorably known is Cephas T. Dibble in Michigan City and LaPorte county that no history of this section of the state would be complete without the record of his career. He was reared to manhood in the place of his nativ- ity, and acquired a common school education, re- ceiving such instruction as was afforded in the old-fashioned subscription schools of that period. He conned his lessons while sitting on a slab bench, and his text books were as primitive as were the furnishings of that little temple of learn- ing. After his removal to the west he engaged in teaching school for one winter in Michigan. It was in the year 1844 that he left the Empire state and journeyed toward the setting sun, locat- ing first at Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he re- mained until the following February. He then proceeded to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and went to a place eighteeen miles above that city, in the town of Lowell, Michigan, where he taught school. However, he considered Grand Rapids his place of residence, and continued to make his home there until 1848, when he went to Battle Creek, where he was employed in a woolen mill for four years. In 1852, attracted by the dis- covery of gold in California, he crossed the Isth- mus of Panama, and for two years was engaged in mining on the Pacific coast. He met with only fair succcess, however, during his sojourn in the far west, and in 1854 he returned to Battle Creek, arriving at his destination in the month of Feb- ruary.

Mr. Dibble then began the manufacture of boots and shoes in that city, but after a year he sold out there and came to Michigan City, arriv- ing on the first day of March, 1855. Almost a half century has since come and gone, and through this long period he has been an in- terested witness of the growth and substantial progress of this place and has contributed to its material upbuilding. For many years he was identified with its business affairs as a manu- facturer of boots and shoes. He also conducted a store in which he carried a line of ready-made clothing and furnishing goods, his stock being in a building which stood on part of the present site of the Vreeland Hotel. There he carried on business continually and with gratifying degree of success until 1878, when he retired from active trade connections and has since lived in the Vreeland Hotel.

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On the 14th of October, 1848, occurred the marriage of Mr. Dibble and Miss Rhoda A. Whitcomb, a native of Vermont and a daughter of Albert and Sarah (Bishop) Whitcomb. This wedding was celebrated in Battle Creek, Mich- gan, and for about twenty-seven years they trav- eled life's journey together, after which Mrs. Dibble was called to her final rest, passing away on the 6th of January, 1875, when forty-three years of age. Her parents were natives of Ver- mont, and she was reared in the Green Mountain state. She usually attended the Congregational church, and her husband likewise was an· attend- ant on the services of that denomination.

Politically Mr. Dibble is a Jefferson Demo- crat, staunchly adhering to the principles of the party as advocated by this leading apostle of former years, Thomas Jefferson. For twenty years he has been a justice of the peace and has recently been re-elected to that office. His decis- ions are strictly fair and impartial, and in the con- duct of his court he adheres closely to principles of law and of equity. He has resided in Michi- gan City for about forty-nine years and has seen it develop from a small village with sandy streets to its present splendid proportions with good schools and churches and miles of paved thor- oughfares, and he has erected several good build- ings here, and at one time he contributed a thous- and dollars toward the opening of the harbor. He has always taken an active and helpful interest in the city's development, and has paid a liberal proportion toward the carrying out of every measure for the general good.

He is one of the most highly esteemed resi- dents in the northern part of the state, and has a most wide acquaintance among the people who represent the first, second and third generations of the city's growth. Although now in his eight- ieth year, he walks erect, with a quick step, and has the appearance of a man not over sixty or sixty- five years of age. His is a genial, jovial nature and one that sheds around it much of the sun- shine of life. His integrity and his many good qualities of heart and mind have ever gained for him the confidence and friendship of those with whom he comes in contact, and his kindly deeds and general characteristics will leave their im- press on the community long years after he shall have passed away.

EDWARD S. CADWELL. Among the old settlers of LaPorte county known and honored because of their genuine worth is Edward S. Cadwell, who resides on section 21, Galena town-

ship. He was born in the village of Cazenovia, Madison county, New York, on the 7th of October, 1827. His father, Simon Cadwell, was a native of Connecticut, and the mother, who bore the maiden name of Maria Ormsbee, was like- wise born in the Charter Oak state. The father died when his son Edward S. was but four years of age, and the mother passed away on the 6th of April, 1840, so that Edward S. Cadwell was left an orphan at the early age of twelve and a half years. He then went to live with an uncle, who, however, gave him in charge of a farmer, Fred Hitchcock, with whom he remained until twenty-one years of age. He had the opportunity of attending school through the winter months, while throughout the remainder of the year he assisted in farm work. On attaining his majority he was given one hundred dollars in money and two suits of clothing. He then began working for a surveyor who owned a farm, and in this service Mr. Cadwell remained as a farm hand for two months.

On the 23rd of November, 1848, occurred the marriage of Edward S. Cadwell and Miss Leva Gridley, who was born in 1828 in Manlius, New York, a daughter of Samuel U. and Amanda (Barnes) Gridley. Mrs. Cadwell was reared in her native place and pursued her education in the common district schools. After their mar- riage the young couple located in Manlius, Mr. Cadwell renting a farm from Abigail E. Gridley for four years. He then removed to Van Buren county, New York, where he remained for one year, and in 1854 he came to the west, establish- ing his home in Galena township on the farm where he now resides. Almost fifty years have been passed upon this place, and throughout the entire period he has devoted his attention to the tilling of the soil and the raising of stock. With- in the boundaries of his place are comprised one hundred acres richly cultivated and well im- proved with modern equipments.

To Mr. and Mrs. Cadwell were born four chil- dren, of whom one died in infancy. The others are Elva M., now the wife of William Brown of Galena township, who follows farming there; Mervin M., who married Mary E. Leliter, who died February 10, 1901, and he resides in La- Porte; and Edward F., who married Clara S. Welling, and is a contracting freight agent for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, making his home in Chicago.

In his political views Mr. Cadwell has been an earnest Republican since the organization of the party, and served as a trustee of Galena township

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for nine years. He was also assessor for five years and justice of the peace for six years, dis- charging his duties with fairness and impartiality so that he "won golden opinions from all sorts of people." He has taken an active interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the county and its permanent improvement, and whether in office or out of it he has been a progressive and faith- ful citizen. For forty-five years he had charge of the Foster cemetery. As a member of Galena lodge, No. 335, F. & A. M., he is well known to his Masonic brethren in this part of the coun- ty, and in his life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft. A self-made man, he was left an orphan at the early age of twelve and a half years and has always earned his own living. His career has been one of unflag- ging industry, and he certainly has made a creditable and honorable record, one well worthy of emulation by all who would develop manly principles and at the same time win success through honorable efforts.

S. C. V. CUNNINGHAM. The venerable pioneer of a state and county merits the worthy consideration of the people, for it was he who blazed the way for civilization and made the wil- derness to bloom and blossom like the rose of the valley. Mr. Cunningham is a native of Switzer- land county, Indiana, and was born December 29, 1821. He was reared in his native county and educated in the primitive schools. He attended the log cabin school, and he describes the building as follows : A hewn log school, about twenty by thirty feet, and it was used for both a school and meeting house; the benches were hewn slabs, and the desk was a long slab resting on wooden pins driven into the walls for support. He and his wife atteneded such a school. They wrote with a goose-quill pen, and the text books were the English reader and Webster's blue-backed spell- ing book and Ray's arithmetic. Mr. Cunning- ham says he "ciphered" as far as the rule of three. What a change the years have brought in educa- tion! He was reared as an agriculturist.

He has been twice married, first to Miss Rachel Morrison, and nine children, four sons and five daughters, were born, seven of whom are yet living, and all residents of Indiana. The second marriage was with Mrs. Phœbe A. (Jessup) O'Brien, on October 7, 1853, and eight children, six sons and two daughters, were born of this marriage. Five are living, as follows : Carson, a successful teacher in Roanoke, Ala- bama, was educated in Indiana, and married Miss

Elizabeth Brown, and they have one son; Au- gusta is the wife of Harry Bennett, who is rep- resented elsewhere in this volume; Wyburn L., judge of the district court of El Paso county, Colorado, with a beautiful and costly residence at Colorado City, is an eminent jurist, held in the highest esteem by his constituents, and he married Miss Emma Ingerham, and has one son, Wy- burn ; Charles L. is a prosperous real estate agent and collector at Colorado City, married Miss Julia Newell and has two daughters, Ruth and Gean; Scott, a resident of Lake Charles, Louis- iana, and a commercial salesman, married Miss Clara Pommett and has two sons, Russell and La Mar.

Mrs. Cunningham was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, August 28, 1827, a daughter of Isaac and Mary (Smith) Jessup, her father of New Jersey and her mother of Kentucky. She was reared and educated in Switzerland county. The name Jessup is of English origin, and the Cunninghams are of Scottish extraction. It was about 1876 when they settled in St. Joseph county, just across the line from Wills township, and they spent five years as residents of Michi- gan and the remainder of the time in LaPorte county. Mrs. Cunningham's first marriage was with Miles O'Brien, and one child by that union is living, William Taylor O'Brien. He is a resi- dent of Wabash, Indiana, and was reared as an agriculturist, and took up the harness business and is now in insurance. He married Miss Dora Adams, and they have two children living, Emma and Clare.

Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham are most worthy people and their children are a credit and an honor to their old days. Mr. Cunningham is now eighty-two years of age, and his wife is seventy- seven, and both yet enjoy good health and are people who are honored by those who know them. He was formerly a Democrat in politics, but is now an ardent Prohibitionist, and his sons follow strictly in the footsteps of their venerable father. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham are members of the Christian church, of Olive Chapel, in Olive town- ship, St. Joseph county, and try to live such lives as are commendable to their Master. Mr. Cun- ningham as well as his father was a minister of the gospel in the Christian church, and he has preached to the congregation of Olive Chapel.

CHARLES S. McCLUNG is one of the lead- ing and influential citizens of Noble township, where for over twenty years he has successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was born

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in Seneca county, New York, on the 28th of Oc- tober, 1831, and is a son of Robert and Catherine (Conklin) McClung, also natives of that county, and of Scottish origin. His father was born February 17, 1783, and died February 24, 1832, while his mother's birth occurred February 26, 1790, and she passed away on the 21st of Novem- ber, 1864. They were the parents of thirteen children, as follows : Samuel, born July 24, 1808, died March 19, 1885; James, born May 15, 1810, died August 24, 1815; Mary Forest, born Feb- ruary 17, 1812, died December 9, 1812; Robert Strain, born July 14, 1813, died August 15, 1815; twin boys were born and died on the 15th of August, 1815; Elizabeth, born July 21, 1817, died . October 1I, 1851; Ann, born March 12, 1819, died November 28, 1825; John, born April 21, 1821, died March 8, 1900; Russell, born April 17, 1824, died September 29, 1900; Eastman, born December 20, 1825, died December 23, 1895; Catharine, born November 30, 1827, is now Mrs. H. G. Coe and is living at Clarence, Iowa; Charles S. is the youngest of the family.

Charles S. McClung was educated at Repub- lic, Ohio, taking a good academic course, and after leaving school in 1848, he entered a general store, where he remained for three years. At the end of that time he came to Michigan City, La- Porte county, Indiana, and was a salesman, and afterwards at Kingsbury, Indiana, for three years and at Union Mills two and one-half years as general merchant. In 1880 he was elected county clerk and entered upon the duties of that office in May, 1881. His services proved entirely satis- factory to his constituents, and he was re-elected, filling that position in a most, creditable manner for eight years. He then bought his present farm near Union Mills, in Noble township, where he has ninety-three and a third acres of land under a high state of cultivation and well improved with good and substantial buildings. He is a progressive and enterprising farmer, and has met with success in his undertakings.

At Wellsboro, in Noble township, May 24, 1859, was celebrated the marriage of Mr .. Mc- Clung and Miss Henrietta Wells, who was born on the 3d of June, 1837, and died September 20, 1895. She left one son, Charles Frederick, who was born March 20, 1860, and received a good high school education at Union Mills. After leaving school he worked on the books in the county clerk's office, serving as deputy for eight years, and was then elected clerk, in which capac- ity he served for eight years. He was deputized

as deputy clerk by his father's successor -- Herman W. Sallwasser.

Mr. McClung is a member of the Masonic fraternity and served as master of the lodge at Kingsbury, Indiana, in 1858 and in 1859. Be- sides the blue Lodge No. 41, he is a member of LaPorte Chapter No. 15, LaPorte Council No. 32, LaPorte Commandery No. 12, and also the Eastern Star. He is a thirty-two degree Mason, and it was in 1887 when he took his last degree in Masonry. There are very few thirty-two de- gree Masons in LaPorte county. His political support is given the Democracy, and he has al- ways taken an active interest in public affairs. He is pre-eminently public-spirited and progres- sive, and is widely and favorably known through- out the county where he has now made his home for over half a century.

ISRAEL G. LEWIS. From an early period in the development of LaPorte county Israel G. Lewis has resided within its borders, his home being now on section 13, Galena township. He has traveled life's journey for more than eighty- three years, and receives the veneration and re- spect which should ever be accorded those who have so long been active factors in the world. He was born in Belmont county, Ohio, January 3, 1820. His father, Michael Lewis, was a native of Berkeley county, Virginia, and there remained until he had attained his majority. The paternal grandfather, John F. Lewis, was among the sign- ers of the Declaration of Independence. A native of Wales, he crossed the Atlantic from that little rock-ribbed country to America, a short time prior to the Revolutionary war, and took up his abode in Berkeley county, Virginia. His sympa- thies were with the colonists in their struggle for liberty, and he ever exerted his influence in behalf of their cause. His son, Michael Lewis, remained in Berkeley county, Virginia, until of age, and then removed to Belmont county, Ohio, casting his lot among its pioneer settlers. In 1835 he be- came a resident of Henry county, Indiana, where he remained until his death, which occurred when he was about fifty years of age. He had married Elizabeth Howell, who was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, and whose life's pilgrimage cov- ered about eighty years, her death occurring in Missouri. Her father, Benjamin Howell, was born in England and came to America in early life, establishing his home in Virginia, whence he afterward went to Belmont county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Lewis were married in Vir-

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ginia and became the parents of eleven children, part in the early development of the county, being eight of whom reached manhood and woman- hood.

Of this large family Israel G. Lewis is the third in order of birth and is the only one known to be living. He was but sixteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Henry county, Indiana, where he continued, in a dis- trict school, the education which had been begun in the schools of Belmont county, Ohio. He also assisted in building some of the schoolhouses in this state in pioneer times. His father having died he remained at home with his mother, taking charge of the farm until his marriage.

In 1843 he went to Michigan, where he was married to Miss Angeline Connor, the wedding ceremony being performed by John P. Johnson, justice of the peace. Her parents were William and Mary (Lewellyn) Connor, and she was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, whence she went to Henry county, Indiana, with her father and. mother when but thirteen years of age. When a maiden of sixteen she took up her abode in LaPorte county. Her death occurred in 1874 in Galena township, and her loss was deeply mourned by many friends as well as her imme- diate family. She had become the mother of nine children: Mary E., the wife of B. F. Moyer, of Michigan; Martha J., who died in infancy; John M., who resides in Michigan; Martin E., a resi- dent of Toledo, Ohio; William C., who died at the age of six months; Eliza E., who resides with her father ; James M., a twin brother of Eliza, who died in 1891 at the age of forty-three years; Catherine A., the widow of Charles Hansley, who died in 1903; F. Helen, the wife of A. P. Laraway, of San Francisco, California.

After his marriage Mr. Lewis located in Galena township. He lived in. Michigan for about two years at one time, and was there en- gaged in the operation of a sawmill in connection with John P. Hale, but with this exception he has continuously resided in Galena township, covering a period of sixty years. He has fol- lowed farming and has also practiced veterinary surgery. The land upon which he resides has been in his posesssion since 1852, and constitutes one of the valuable farms of this part of the county. He is one of the oldest men in his town- ship, and has lived a life that is honorable, up- right and useful. In politics he was an old-line Whig until the dissolution of the party, then he joined the ranks of the new Republican party, voting for Lincoln in 1860. He has filled the position of school trustee, and has taken an active

numbered among the pioneers who have laid broad and deep the foundation for the present prosperity and progress of this section of the state. Great changes have occurred during his residence , here. He has seen the pioneer log cabins replaced by commodious and substantial homes, has seen the wild lands transformed into rich farms, and has witnessed the building of towns and cities and the introduction of all the comforts and conveniences known to the older east.

WILLIAM H. GOODHUE, of Michigan City, was born in Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, September 11, 1840. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to the Rev. Josiah Goodhue, who married Elizabeth Fletcher, a relative of Daniel Webster. The family was founded in America at the time of the landing of the Pilgrims from the Mayflower in 1620. Nathaniel Goodhue, his grandfather, was a native of Windham county, Vermont, and was a lawyer by profession. He also operated a farm, and about 1820 he arrived in what was then called the far west, locating at Warren in Trumbull county, Ohio, a part of the Western Reserve. There he lived until 1840, when with his wife he removed to Michigan City, and here his last days were passed. He died about 1850, when seventy- eight years of age, and his wife departed this life in 1847, at the age of sixty-six years. She bore the maiden name of Sallay Sergeant, and was a native of Dummerston, Vermont. Her father was a colonel in the Revolutionary army, and he had two brothers who were soldiers in the war for independence. To Nathaniel Goodhue and his wife were born two sons and two daughters.

William H. Goodhue, the father of the sub- ject of this sketch, belonged to this family. He was born in Windham county, Vermont, and after arriving at years of maturity was married to De- siah Hawkins, whose birth occurred in Little Falls, Herkimer county, New York. Her father, Harry Hawkins, was a native of Providence, Rhode Island, and married Lydia Clarke, and to them were born a number of children. Mr. Haw- kins served the colonists in the Revolutionary war, taking an active and helpful part in the struggle for American liberty. By occupation he was a farmer, and soon after his marriage he removed to Little Falls, New York, where he reared his family of twelve children. He died when well advanced in years, and his wife sur- vived him for some time and passed away in

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 75

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