A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 76

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 76

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HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY.

Buffalo, New York. The Hawkins family was of English descent, and the first representatives of the name in America located here at an early period in the colonization of the new world.

When sixteen years of age William H. Good- hue, Sr., became connected with merchandising in Buffalo, New York. After his marriage he removed to Warren, Ohio, where he remained for two or three years, and in 1840 he brought his family to Michigan City, Indiana, where he became agent for the Michigan City Land Com- pany, acting in that capacity until the company ceased to exist. He was for ten years superin- tendent of transportation in the war department at Washington, D. C., but made Michigan City his home throughout that period. Finally he resigned his position at the capital and returned to this place, where he died eight years later, in 1879, passing away when at the Psalmist's span of threescore years and ten. His wife had died in 1852, being then in early womanhood. They attended the Episcopal church, and their influ- ence was ever on the side of right and justice. Mr. Goodhue, Sr., was one of the early mayors of Michigan City, and for many years served as councilman, taking an active part in the progress, upbuilding and development of this place. To him and his wife were born two sons and two daughters, and of this number three are now liv- ing: Sarah S., William H. and Mary G., the last named the widow of Charles C. Griffith.

William H. Goodhue was brought to Michi- gan City when less than a year old, his parents traveling by stage all the way from Toledo, Ohio. Under the parental roof he was reared to manhood, and he began his education in the pub- lic schools of the town, but later enjoyed the advantages of a course in the Wesleyan Univer- sity at Albion, Michigan. From 1850 until 1862 he resided in Buffalo, New York, where he en- gaged in the hardware business, and then re- turned to Michigan City, where he has since made his home. For several years he was in the rail- road office of the New Albany & Salem Railroad Company, now the Monon Company, and after- ward traveled for eight years for the Ford-John- son Chair Manufacturing Company. During the past eighteen years he has engaged in the under- taking business with A. F. Earl. Politically Mr. Goodhue is a thorough-going Republican, having supported the party since casting his first presi- dential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church.

Mr. Goodhue's younger brother, George W.,

was a soldier of the Civil war, serving as a lieu- tenant in the Fourth Indiana Battery. He took part in a number of the early engagements of the war, including Shiloh and Stone River, and was captured at Chickamauga. He was held as a prisoner at Andersonville for eighteen months, and during his incarceration his health was so completely ruined that when he was released he returned to his home and died not long afterward, passing away when thirty years of age.

A. G. STANDIFORD, M. D. The medical fraternity of LaPorte county is one of the leading departments in the history of the county, and to this class belong those noble men who have given up the best part of their lives for suffering hu- manity. At the midnight hour or when winter's winds were sweeping across the bleak prairies these harbingers of good are called to the bed- side of woe and suffering and bring both scienti- fic aid to the physical body worn with pain and comfort and consolation to the spirit weakened and spent with mortal anguish. Among these worthy men is to be classed the name of Dr. Standiford, late of Westville, one of the best known physicians in the county from an early date. In fact he could be classed as the pioneer doctor.

He was born in Shelbyville, Kentucky, Janu- ary 27, 1816, and died February 10, 1894, the youngest in a family of three children, two sons and one daughter, born to Rev. Francis and Re- becca (Smith) Standiford, all deceased. Francis Standiford was born in Maryland, and his line- age is traced to the little country of Wales, and the early progenitors of the family landed in America early in the seventeenth century, settling in Maryland. They were related to the famous Patterson family, who were related to Jerome Bonaparte, of historic fame. Francis Standiford was a Methodist clergyman of the old southern school, and freed his own slaves. His wife, Re- becca Smith, was a lineal descendant of Revolu- tionary heroes, and her father, Captain Thomas Smith, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war under General Washington, and this fact entitles his descendants to become members of the great patriotic order of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution.

Dr. Standiford came with his parents to Greencastle, Indiana, when he was only ten years of age. His first training was in the public schools, and he then entered Wabash University, where he took a literary course for two years, and then engaged in the profession of teaching, which he

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Martha Standard

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Abram, Standiford

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HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY.

followed for four years. He was about eighteen years old when he determined to enter the medical profession, and he began his reading in the office of Dr. Knight, of Bowling Green, Kentucky. After reading there for some time he came to LaPorte, Indiana, where he graduated, and began his practice of medicine in Clinton county, In- diana, about 1836, where he remained till 1838, at which time he came to Door Village, Scipio township, LaPorte county, where his father was stationed. He began practice there, during what was known as the two sickly seasons, and after remaining there two years came to Westville.

Dr. Standiford married, December 7, 1844, Miss Martha Reynolds, and four children, one son and three daughters, were born, only one of whom is now living, Clara M., now the wife of Clarence D. Hess. Mrs. Hess was formerly the wife of Scott Walton, who was a native of Penn- sylvania and was a locomotive engineer. One child, Mrs. Mattie Walton Weed, was born, who is a lady of more than ordinary accomplishments and grace, is a pupil in the Chicago Musical Col- lege, and is well known as a vocalist. Her social qualities and beaming good nature make her a prime favorite. She is the wife of Daniel West Weed, one of the young business men of West- ville. Mrs. Hess was educated in the Westville high school, and is also an accomplished musician, having been a pupil under an eminent French teacher in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Standiford was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, March 13, 1825, a daughter of Abram and Mary (Billington ) Reynolds, who were parents of eight children, six sons and two daughters, but only three are living: Julia, wife of Daniel Shaw, of Kingsbury, Indiana; Mrs. Standiford : Elam, a retired resident of Chicago. Abram Reynolds was born in Worthington coun- ty, New York, in 1792, seven years before General Washington died, and he died March 13, 1872. He was a farmer and a soldier in the war of 1812. Politically he was a Jackson Democrat. He was a cousin of Governor John Reynolds, governor of Illinois during the Black Hawk war. He was a Mason, and he and his wife were members of the Baptist church. It was the 15th of June, 1836, when Mr. Reynolds and his family arrived in LaPorte, Indiana, at which time it was sur- rounded by the Pottawottomie Indians, and Mrs. Standiford says the whites lived in constant ter- ror of them. Mr. Reynolds rented land near where Kingsbury now stands. At that time there were no railroads through northwest Indiana to Chicago. The mother of Mrs. Standiford, Mary

Billington, was born in the old Bay State of Mas- sachusetts, and traces her ancestory to the May- flower, of which ship John Billington was a pas- senger when she brought the sturdy Pilgrims to the bleak New England shore. Mrs. Standiford was reared in LaPorte county and educated in Kingsbury.

Dr. Standiford and his wife located at West- ville in the spring of 1847, and here and at Dewey in New Durham township was his field of practice till his death. Dr. Standiford was known as a gentleman of high honor and manhood, and was an ornament to the medical profession. It made no difference to Dr. Standiford who called him to the sick chamber, he always willingly re- sponded, and many of the members of the homes of Westville and vicinity will stand up and call him blessed. He was a man of high ideals and character, and the poor and needy never found him backward in extending the hand of help. His practice extended into Porter and Lake coun- ties, and he traveled many a weary mile on horse- back, with his saddlebags, after the manner of the pioneer physician and surgeon. He was a very successful man in his business affairs as well as in his profession, and cared well for his family. At his death the county lost an estimable citizen as well as a worthy exponent of the medi- cal profession.

Mrs. Standiford lives a contented and peace- ful life in the pretty sylvan town of Westville, and is possessed of a sunny and genial nature. Her home is open to friends and strangers alike. We are pleased to present this review of such an estimable lady.

DAVID W. CONDON, who is one of the live and progressive farmers in a county noted for its progressiveness, and who, largely through his own efforts, has become the possessor of one of the best farming estates in Clinton township, LaPorte county, is a native son of the county, and the sixth in a family of two sons and four daugh- ters born to David and Catharine Condon. His father was born in Ireland, September 15, 1815, and died August 11, 1900. He was a small boy when he came to America, and made his home successively in Canada, New York State, and Elkhart county and Michigan City, Indiana. He came to this country as a poor boy, and solely through his own industry accumulated seven hun- dred acres in LaPorte county, all but thirty acres of which was in Clinton township. He was a devout Catholic, and in politics a Democrat. His wife was also a native of Ireland, and was born

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in County Cork, September 29, 1825. She is T., a resident of Union Mills. Mrs. Condon was still living, and makes her home with her son Wil- reared in Noble township and received her edu- cation in Union Mills. liam. Four children of these worthy parents are living : Ellen is the wife of George C. Burgan, a resident of Blue Island, Illinois, and an engi- neer on the Rock Island Railroad; Mrs. Margaret Conlon; Nora A., wife of John Dalton, a pros- perous farmer of Seward county, Nebraska; and David W.

David W. Condon was born in Clinton town- ship, LaPorte county, October 26, 1859, and was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools, remaining at home till his majority. After his marriage he settled down on one hun- dred and eighty acres of land which he inherited, and from that time to the present his record is one of steady progression, marked with industry, good management, and ability in every line in which he has engaged, so that he is to be classed among the foremost of the prosperous and up-to- date farmers of the county. He has gradually added to his original place until he now has four hundred and twenty acres, thirty acres of which lies in Noble township. In 1891 he ercted a com- modious barn, forty-four by sixty feet, and in 1902 remodeled his residence. The farm, which is called "Homewood," and certainly deserves the title, presents a delightful appearance to the passer-by, and shows at a glance how well it is managed. Mr. Condon is very fond of high grades of horses, and all his stock is first-class.

May 2, 1883, Mr. Condon was married to Miss Emma E. Logan, who was born in LaPorte county, December 12, 1865, and is a daughter of Vorhis and Frances (Weed) Logan. Mr. Logan was born in Ohio, July 13, 1833, and is living in Noble townshp at the age of seventy, his life having been devoted to farming and threshing, in which latter work he has been known in this county for fifty years. He is one of the old pio- neers, having received his education and been reared under primitive conditions, and he has given his support to two great political parties, the Whig and Republican. Mrs. Logan was born in New York state, August 30, 1832, and is still in a hale and hearty old age. There are six chil- dren besides Mrs. Condon, as follows: Sarah, wife of Benjamin O'Hara, a farmer of Spokane, Washington; Josephine, wife of W. S. Linard, a farmer at Butler, Missouri; Charles, in Noble township; Abram, who was educated in the nor- mal school at Valparaiso, has been a teacher in the grammar department of the Union Mills schools for six years; Serena, wife of Joseph Malloy, a merchant of Hanna; and Alexander

Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Condon. M. Ethel, the eldest, after completing the work of the common schools, was a student at St. Rose Academy in LaPorte, and has also taken instrumental music. Edward J. is now a student in Notre Dame, taking the literary course. Claire R. has finished the grades and is now in the high school at Union Mills. Thomas, who is very fond of mathematics, is in the eighth grade, while Maurice is in the sixth grade, and William in the fourth. Frances Bernice, Helen and Joseph com- plete the family.

Mr. Condon is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for General Hancock, and has been a dele- gate to county conventions. Mr. and Mrs. Con- don are members of the Catholic church at Wana- tah, belong to the sodality, and take active part in the various departments of church work.

EVEREL S. SMITH, banker and merchant of Westville, Indiana, has been identified as a private citizen and business man with the west- ern part of LaPorte county for a third of a cen- tury, where he is well known and highly re- spected. He is the eldest of the three children of Asa and Sophronia G. (Spencer) Smith, both natives of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and born in 1808 and 1810 respectively. Asa Smith was the son of Oliver Smith and was reared and educated in the old Bay state. His occupation was farming. He was married in Massachusetts, and about 1836 came to Huntsburg, Geauga county, in northeastern Ohio, where he purchased a farm. He died there when the subject of this biography was eight years old. He was a man of strict honor and integrity, was a strong advo- cate of anti-slavery, and he and his wife were members of the Congregational church. Only two of their children are living: Rosine E. is the widow of George Crosby, and resides at Jef- ferson, Ashtabula county, Ohio.

Everel S. Smith was born in Huntsburg, Geauga county, Ohio, August 4, 1838. When nine years old he moved to Trumbull county, Ohio, with his mother, and was a resident of that county for about sixteen years. At various times up to the age of twenty-one he was a student in the Western Reserve Seminary at West Farm- ington. He entered Oberlin College when twen- ty-one, taking the classical course, and was grad- uated in 1863. He taught school for a short time. Before he had finished his college course, how-

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ever, he went to the front in defense of the stars and stripes. On May 28, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Eighty-seventh Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, a three-months' regiment. The company rendezvoused at Camp Chase, and the regiment was ordered to Harpers Ferry, Virginia, where it was stationed till the surrender by Colonel Miles, September 15. He received his discharge after four months and four days, service, and re- turned to Oberlin to finish his course of study. On September 26, 1864, he enlisted at Warren, Ohio, in the Second Ohio Cavalry, and joined the regiment near Winchester, in the Shenandoah valley. He was in hearing distance during the battle of Winchester, and while on picket duty a few miles above Winchester was taken pris- oner, but managed to escape from his captors. After several days of wandering, during which he repeatedly met and talked with Confederate soldiers, he reached his regiment in such plight that at first his comrades did not recognize him. While in the hands of the Confederates they had repeatedly compelled him to trade clothing with them until, instead of a heavy new suit of blue, he wore a tattered suit of gray, which enabled him to pass himself off as a Confederate soldier going home for a horse to replace one lost in a recent engagement. On March 9, 1865, after a com- petitive examination, Mr. Smith was commis- sioned first lieutenant of Company C, of the Twen- ty-fourth United States Colored Infantry, which was being formed at Camp William Penn in Phil- adelphia. While there the glad tidings of Lee's surrender, and five days later the sad news of Lincoln's assassination, was received. Soon after this the regiment was ordered to Virginia and was on provost duty south of Richmond during the summer and early fall of 1865. He was mus- tered out at Richmond, Virginia, October 1, after which he took a trip through the south and leased a plantation near Hernando, Mississippi, some twenty-five miles south of Memphis, Tennessee.

He then returned north and was married on November 9th to Miss Amelia Snyder, of White- side county, Illinois. The year 1866 was spent on the plantation he had. leased in Mississippi, and his wife died there. He then returned north and in September, 1867, came to Westville, In- diana, which has been his home ever since. He first engaged in the drug business, and soon added a stock of groceries, and continued in this busi- ness twenty years. In 1887 he sold his mercan- tile business to E. T. Scott, the present leading druggist of the town. For some time previous to this Mr. Smith had done considerable business

of a banking nature, carrying an account with the First National Bank of Chicago, which institu- tion he still represents in Westville. In the sum- mer of 1887, he established the Bank of West- ville, which he has carried on until the present time. In 1892 Mr. Smith erected a handsome brick and stone building for the accommodation of his business, and besides his bank he now con- ducts a store, the stock consisting of clothing, footwear and furnishing goods.

Mr. Smith is one of the leading business men of Westville, and his individual success has con- tributed much to the public prosperity and wel- fare. Besides the enterprises already mentioned he has a number of buildings in Westville, and owns two hundred and sixty acres of country real estate in New Durham and Clinton town- ships. On one of his farms he has about one thousand bearing apple trees.

Mr. Smith was married on March 10, 1869, to Miss Julia Noble, who was born in Porter county, Indiana, November 10, 1846, a daughter of John P. and Mary A. (Smith) Noble, pioneers of northern Indiana. Mrs. Smith was educated in the graded and high schools of Valparaiso, Indiana, and was a successful teacher in the schools of Porter county before her marriage. Four daughters comprise the family of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Eva L., the eldest, is cashier in her father's bank; Nina L. is the wife of Luther A. Foster, a graduate of the State University of Minnesota and at present an attorney at law in Oklahoma territory; Mildred is a senior in the scientific course at Northwestern University at Evanston ; Elsie is also a student in the same uni- versity.

One of the mementoes of early days pos- sessed by Mr. and Mrs. Smith is a parchment deed to land in LaPorte county, executed during the administration of President Tyler, and bear- ing date of April 10, 1843 ; it is one of four deeds of its kind now to be found in western LaPorte county.

Mr. Smith is a Republican in politics. He cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln while a soldier in the ranks, and has voted for all the party's presidential candidates since that time. At the present time he is treasurer of the town of Westville, and is always willing to do his part in public affairs. He is a member of Westville Lodge No. 192, F. & A. M., and of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows at the same place, also a charter member and past commander of Mar- tin Post No. 216, G. A. R. Mr. Smith became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church when

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fourteen years of age, and has been a member of it since that time, and all his family are members of the same church.

ELMER E. REESE, who is engaged in bus- iness in Rolling Prairie as a hardware merchant, was born in Wills township, LaPorte county, on the 7th of July, 1863. There has been no esoteric chapter in his life history, his career always bear- ing the closest investigation and scrutiny, for his business methods have been straightforward and honorable, and his success has come as the result of careful management.

His father, Henry Reese, was a native of Ohio, and became a resident of LaPorte county, Indiana, in the year 1855, at which time he lo- cated in Wills township. He was a carpenter by trade and built many houses in this county, his excellent handiwork being still seen in many sub- stantial structures of this portion of the state. He is a resident of Rolling Prairie and is serving as township assessor. He married Miss Lucinda Ocker, also a native of Ohio, although reared in DeKalb county, Indiana. She, too, is still living, and of their family numbering six sons all yet survive, the youngest being twenty-three years of age.

Elmer E. Reese is the second son, and was reared on the old homestead farm in Wills town- ship, obtaining his education in the district schools, where he gained a good practical knowl- edge of the common branches of English learn- ing. In 1882 he came to Rolling Prairie to learn the tinner's trade and entered upon an apprentice- ship to C. G. Folsom. After he had mastered the business and become an expert workman he entered the employ of Taylor O'Brien in Rolling Prairie, being thus employed for six months. On the expiration of that period he began business for himself as a hardware merchant in partnership with Ed Marshall, this relationship being main- tained until 1888, when Mr. Reese and his brother William became the proprietors. This store has since been conducted under the name of Reese & Brother, and they carry a large and well se- lected line of shelf and heavy hardware. This store is well arranged, and their stock has been chosen with a view to the demands of a general trade in this line.

In 1890 Mr. Reese was united in marriage to Miss Effie Powell, a daughter of James and De- lilah Powell. She was born in Rolling Prairie, Indiana, and is an estimable lady, who has gained many friends during her residence in I.a Porte county. Mr. Reese holds membership in the

Christian church, in which he is now serving as one of the elders, and in the work of the C. he takes an active and helpful part, doing . 1 his power to promote its growth and extend its influence. His political faith is that of the .... publican party, and in matters of citizensh" is never remiss in discharging his every duty in advancing the public welfare.

GEORGE GRANT O'HARA. Throughout life George G. O'Hara has made his home near Union Mills, Indiana, upon the farm where he first saw the light of day, August 24, 1866. His father, William O'Hara, was born in Pennsyl- vania, February 8, 1822, and is a speculator. On reaching manhood he was married at Union Mills to Miss Martha Underwood, who was born on the 24th of July, 1831, in Richmond, Indiana, and died on the 24th of March, 1902. They be- came the parents of eight children, as follows: Lucetta A., born December 10, 1852, died aged twenty-seven ; Mary E., born January 18, 1856; Nancy O., August 6, 1858; William W., April 22, 1861; Harriet Viola, January 28, 1864; George G., August 24, 1866; and John Riley and James Warren, twins, born January 12, 1869. Of this family Harriet Viola died October 9, 1865; James Warren, August 7, 1869; and John Riley, August 18, 1869. Mary E. is now the wife of Amasia Hunt, a farmer of Noble township. this county ; and Nancy Olive is the wife of Alvin Bryant, a farmer of Clinton township.

George G. O'Hara has lived on the home farm continuously with the exception of one year spent in Nebraska, and in its operation he is now meet- ing with excellent success, for he is a thorough and painstaking agriculturist and a man of good business ability. On the 24th of February, 1890, he was married at Union Mills to Miss Clara Mills, who was born at that place May 27, 1865, and died May 4, 1894, leaving two children: William S., who was born August 7, 1892 : and Warren M., who was born September 5, 1893.

Mr. O'Hara was again married February 7, 1900, his second union being with Miss Mabel E. Irwin. She was born in Silver Lake, Kansas, September 3, 1874. By the second marriage there was one child, Edgar Grant, who was born in 1901, and died when only three months old.

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 76

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