A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 80

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 80

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Their son, John Wanbaugh, the father of Mr. Wanbaugh, was born in Ohio, and was reared there, becoming a conductor on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, after attaining years of maturity. In this connection he had charge of the run between Chicago and Crestline, Ohio. At the time of the Civil war he had charge of horse corrals at Nashville, Tennessee. His death occurred when he was forty-eight years of age. In early manhood he had wedded Miss E. S. Mentzer, a representative of an old family of Pennsylvania. Her father became one of the pioneer settlers of Wooster, Ohio, and there en- gaged in the manufacture of brick, making the brick which was used in the building of the first brick house in that city. As his commodity was in great demand by the people of the district, his business steadily increased, and he became well- to-do, so that he was enabled to retire from further business when a comparatively young man of forty years. A long life was vouchsafed him, he passing the ninety-eighth milestone of life's journey. To John Wanbaugh and wife were

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born five children, of whom two are living, Jesse F. Wanbaugh, being a resident of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

John A. Wanbaugh, the elder son, remained with his parents during the period of his boyhood and youth, and when a lad of eight summers ac- companied his father and mother to Indiana. He had begun his education in the public schools of Crawford county, Ohio, as a student in Galion and he later spent two years as a pupil in Notre Dame. At the age of fifteen years he started out upon an independent business career and went to Standing Rock, North Dakota, acting as a clerk . in the Indian Agency. For four years he occu- pied that position and then returned to Indiana, where he became a contractor for the building of railroad beds. He was thus engaged in connec- tion with the Chicago & Atlantic Railroad, now the Chicago & Erie Railroad. In 1884 Mr. Wan- baugh arrived in Rolling Prairie, and for a year thereafter was engaged in agricultural pursuits. In the fall of 1884 he began dealing in grain, buy- ing and shipping the farm products raised in this locality, and for nineteen years he has continued in the business, making large purchases and profit- able sales. He also follows farming, owning some rich and arable land in this section of the state. About 1899 the elevator owned by the railroad company was burned, but with characteristic en- ergy he rebuilt the elevator at his own expense. He is now associated as a partner of J. B. Ruple & Company in his business enterprises, and is well known in his part of the county as a repre- sentative and progressive business man.

In 1883 Mr. Wanbaugh was united in mar- riage to Miss Ida M. Camp. She was born in Wayne county, Indiana, and by her marriage has become the mother of one son, Ed M., who is in California. They reside in Rolling Prairie amid pleasant surroundings and agreeable social con- ditions and the circle of their friends is large. Mr. Wanbaugh gives his political support to the Republican party.

WILLIAM C. BUSH, a prominent farmer residing on section 18, Kankakee township, has from an early period in the development of La- Porte county resided within its borders. In fact, he is one of its native sons, his birth having oc- curred in Scipio township on the 12th of August, 1851. His grandfather, John Bush, was born in New York and came to LaPorte county about 1838. He had married Lydia Clearwater, also a native of the Empire state, and they were of Mohawk Dutch and of German descent. They

became the parents of three sons : Isaac, who died in 1864; Abram, who died in February, 1893; and David, who died May 16, 1888. All became pio- neer settlers of Kankakee township, Laporte county, and were prominent farmers, actively identified with the upbuilding of the county. All became well-to-do and were recognized as valued citizens. They gave their political support to the Republican party and were consistent members of the Christian church. The name of Bush was originally Ter Bush, but the first syllable was dropped after the emigration of the family to the western country.

David Bush, the father of William C. Bush, was a native of New York, and there spent his early youth. When a young man he came to LaPorte county as one of its pioneer settlers, mak- ing the journey in company with his father, mother and his two brothers, Abram and Isaac Bush. They settled in Kankakee township, tak- ing up their abode there in 1838. With the early development of the county they were closely con- nected, David Bush bearing his full share in the work of progress and improvement. He assisted in reclaiming the wild land for purposes of civili- zation, and was ever a loyal and progressive resi- dent of his community. His entire life was de- voted to agricultural pursuits, and in this way he provided a comfortable living for his family. In politics he was a Whig and afterward a Republi- can, and he held membership in the Christian church. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Elizabeth Miller, was born in Virginia, and in her girlhood days came to Indiana in company with her parents, who were among the early set- tlers of LaPorte county. She was a daughter of Jacob Miller, who settled in Kankakee township and bore a helpful part in the pioneer develop- ment of this section of the state. He not only carried on general farming, but was proprietor of the Kankakee flour mills, located four miles east of LaPorte. At that time all of the farm products were hauled to Michigan City for shipment, and there were no railroads in this part of the state. He died in 1851, and his family afterward re- moved to California. David Bush passed away when about sixty-seven years of age, and his wife died in Center township, LaPorte county, at the age of seventy-one years. They were the parents of four sons, the eldest being J. Miller, who died in July, 1892; while the others are John A., a resident of Great Falls, Montana; William C .; and James I., who is living in Kankakee township.

William C. Bush was reared in Kankakee township and at the usual age entered the public

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schools. He began his studies in the district schools and continued his education in the city schools of LaPorte. As a boy he worked upon the home farm and remained with his father until he had attained his majority.

When about twenty-one years of age Mr. Bush was married, on the Ist of October, 1873, to Miss Hattie J. Callison, a daughter of Joseph M. and Maria E. (Booth) Callison, who were natives of Ohio and became early settlers of Noble town- ship, LaPorte county. Mrs. Bush is of Welsh, Irish and English descent, her father being of Irish and Welsh lineage, while her mother was of English extraction. Their respective ancestors came to America at a very early day, and later representatives of the family lived in Ohio, and afterward came to LaPorte county, Indiana, among its pioneer settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Callison located here about 1837, establishing their home in Noble township, where they were engaged in farming. In 1850 Mr. Callison went to Cali- fornia, remaining there until 1854. He died near LaPorte in 1895, and his wife is still living, her home being at 809 Rose street, LaPorte. Mrs. Bush, their only child, was born in Noble town- ship, February 18, 1848, and there spent her girlhood days, obtaining her education in the dis- trict schools and in the seminary at LaPorte. She gained broad general knowledge, and for seven years successfully engaged in teaching in the dis- trict and city schools.

At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bush took up their abode upon a farm in Kan- kakee township, and in February, 1880, they re- moved to Allen county, Kansas, there remaining for about ten years. Mr. Bush was engaged in the dairy and livestock business there. In 1889 he returned to Kankakee township, locating on the old homestead, buying out the other heirs of the property. Here he still lives, carrying on gen- eral farming. He has one hundred and thirteen acres of good land, rich and well improved, the fields yielding to him golden harvests as a re- ward for the care and labor he bestows upon them.

To Mr. and Mrs. Bush was born one son, Lynn C., but they had the misfortune to lose him in infancy. Mr. Bush and his yife are well known people of this community and enjoy the respect and high esteem of many friends. In politics he has always been a stanch adherent of Republican principles, and has taken an active part in the work of the organization. While in Kansas he held the office of trustee in his township for two terms and is now serving for the second term as

road supervisor in Kankakee township. He be- longs to LaPorte Tent No. 25, K. O. T. M. and his wife is a member of LaPorte Hive No. I, the first lodge of the ladies auxiliary. She has been honored with office and is now a past com- mander. Both are well known people of the community and their circle of friends is exten- sive.

J. Miller Bush, the eldest brother of William C. Bush, was born in Scipio township, February 27, 1845, and was united in marriage, on the 28th of May, 1865, to Catherine Harris, by whom he had one daughter and two sons: Alice, William J. and D. Walter. J. Miller Bush died on the 17th of July, 1892. He was well known in the county, took an active and helpful part in pub- lic affairs, and his loss was deeply regretted by many who knew him. His eldest son now resides in Center township, where he follows gardening. John A. Bush, the second brother of William C. Bush, was born December 9, 1848. He married Ellen Wagner on the 30th of September, 1874, and now lives at Great Falls, Montana.

BENAJAH S. FAIL has the distinction of being the first white male child born in LaPorte county, Indiana, his natal day being October 30, 1830, and he has always lived in his native county, becoming a factor in its business and public life as the years advanced. He has now long been numbered among the practical, enterprising and successful farmers of his community, his home being in Kankakee township.

His father, Philip Fail, was a native of Mary- land, born in Hagerstown, in 1797. When he was quite young he was left an orphan and re- moved to Virginia when about fourteen years of age. There he remained for a number of years, and in Palatine, that state, he was married to Miss Sarah Nuzzum, who was born in the Old Dominion and there spent her girlhood. After his marriage Mr. Philip. Fail made a raft which he poled down the river, and in this primitive man- ner journeyed westward, and established his home in Union county, Indiana. In the spring of 1830 he came to LaPorte county and settled in Kanka- kee township, where he bought eighty acres of land. As the years passed he prospered in his undertakings, although surrounded by pioneer conditions during his early residence here. He bravely met the hardships and difficulties inci- dent to frontier life, and overcame all the obsta- cles in his path to success. Gradually he worked his way upward and as his financial resources in- creased he invested in property, becoming the

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owner of six hundred and forty acres. Of this. cultivation. To Mr. and Mrs. Fail have been he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of the born four children: James P., who is an engin- eer and farmer; William O., who carries on agricultural pursuits; Theodore, also a farmer; and George C., who died in 1862. Indians. He figured prominently in early events which constituted the formative period in the county's history, and he was known by everybody living in this section of the state, being a promi- Politically Mr. Fail is a Democrat, earnest in his advocacy of the party, and he served as county commissioner for three years. He was also ap- praiser of school lands for four years. He has been connected with his county agricultural asso- ciation, and is a faithful member of the Christian church. No native citizen of LaPorte county can claim a more extended knowledge of events form- ing the history of this portion of the state, for he has the honor of being the first male child born in the county. His youth was passed here when there were many Indians still in the neighborhood and when the work of improvement and progress seemed scarcely begun. He has witnessed many wonderful changes since that time, and has taken a deep interest and a just pride in what has been accomplished in the county. nent and well known pioneer. He lived to the advanced age of eighty years, two months and twelve days, and when he was called away the community mourned the loss of one whom to know was to respect and honor. He belonged to the Disciples church, and in his political affilia- tions was a Democrat. Among the substantial acts of his life was the assistance which he gave in laying out the roads of the county, and he also performed an important part in reclaiming the wild land and utilizing it for purposes of civili- zation. His wife passed away long prior to his death, dying in 1856, when about fifty-eight years of age. They were the parents of fourteen chil- dren, three sons and eleven daughters. All of the daughters have now passed away with the ex- ception of Mrs. Elenaor, who is now eighty-two years of age. The sons are Benajah S .; John N., who is a resident farmer of Kankakee town- ship; and D. Philip, who still resides on the old family homestead.

Mr. B. S. Fail is the eldest, and was reared as a farmer lad upon the old homestead, where he assisted in the work of field and meadow or in- dulged in the pleasure of the playground as op- portunity offered. His early education was limited because of the unsettled condition of the country, which caused the schools to be of a very primitive character. He pursued his studies sit- ting on a slab bench in a log schoolhouse and had the opportunity of attending for only a brief per- iod during the winter seasons. Through his youth he assisted his father in the cultivation of the home farm, and remained on the old place during the greater part of the time until his marriage.

On the 14th of October, 1854, Mr. Fail was married to Isabel Galbreath, who was born in Ohio and came to LaPorte county with her par- ents, who were pioneer settlers of northwestern Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Fail established their home upon the place that he still owns, northeast of the city of LaPorte, being distant from the county seat about four miles. Forty-eight years have come and gone since he located thereon, and as the years have passed he has continuously followed farming. He owns two hundred and forty-seven and a half acres of land, most of which, however, he rents, and is thus relieved of the care and responsibility connected with its

JOHN W. SMITH, who carries on general farming on section 13, Galena township, and is serving as township trustee, was born in Cass county, Michigan, August 8, 1845, his parents being Asa M. and Henrietta (Dennis) Smith, both of whom were natives of Delaware. There they were reared, and in 1833 they removed to Cass county, Michigan, becoming early pioneer settlers of that locality. Asa M. Smith bore his part in the work of improvement and develop- ment, and as a farmer aided in reclaiming the wild land for the uses of civilization. In 1865 he came to LaPorte county, settling in Kankakee township, where he died at the age of seventy- six years. He voted with the Republican party from the time of its organization, and was always deeply interested in everything pertaining to gen- eral progress and improvement. His wife died in Cass county, Michigan, in 1852. In their fam- ily were five children, two daughters and three sons, of whom John W. Smith was the fourth child and second son.

When a lad of but nine years John W. Smith became a resident of Berrien county, Michigan, his home being near Niles. His education was obtained in the common schools, and he continued under the parental roof with his father until the time of his enlistment for service in the Civil war. In January, 1864, when about nineteen years of age, he joined Company E of the Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry as a private, and remained with the army for two

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years and one month, receiving an honorable dis- ter of D. L. and A. C. Jackson, old settlers of Cool charge in 1866. He then returned to his home, but soon afterward came to LaPorte county and located in Galena township.

On the 26th of March, 1872, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Lucetta Paddock, a daughter of James Paddock, who was born in Galena township and has spent almost her entire life here. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith : Dennis W., of Chicago, a mechani- cal engineer ; and Kelly P., who is now a student in the Michigan University at Ann Arbor.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have continued to reside upon the home farm on section 13, Galena town- ship, since their marriage, and he has always carried on general agricultural pursuits and stock- raising. That he is thoroughly conversant with the best methods of conducting his work is indi- cated by the fine appearance of his farm and by the excellent crops which he annually harvests. He has always given his political allegiance to the Republican party, and is a member of Charles Woodruff Post, G. A. R., of the department of Michigan. In 1900 he was elected township trus- tee, and is still filling that position, but whether in office or as a private citizen he is always found loyal to the best interests of his community, and is to-day as true to his country and her welfare as he was when he wore the blue uniform of the na- tion and followed the old flag through the south.

JULIUS M. WHITE, one of the native sons and old residents of LaPorte county, is a re- spected and progressive farmer of section II, Cool Spring township. He is the second son of J. H. and A. C. White, who were pioneers of LaPorte county and were married in Door Vil- lage. From 1854 to 1863 they resided in Will county, Illinois, but then returned to LaPorte county, where they passed the remainder of their useful and honored lives.

Julius M. White was born in LaPorte county, December 14, 1844, and lived with his parents in Will county, Illinois, and came back to LaPorte county with them in 1863, and has made this county his home ever since. After his marriage he located on a farm in Cool Spring township, and has been engaged in its cultivation up to the present time. He does general farming, raises good crops, has the better grades of stock, and is in every way one of the representative farmers of this section.

Mr. White was married March 4, 1869, to Miss Martha E. Jackson, who was born in Cool Spring township, December 18, 1850, the daugh-

Spring township, and the former a cooper and farmer. One son has been born of this marriage, S. M., who is a traveling man, residing in An- derson, Indiana. Mr. White has been a life-long Republican, and has taken an active interest in affairs of public moment. He has been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church for twenty- five years and has been steward, class-leader and trustee. He is a public-spirited and energetic citi- zen, and has retained the esteem and confidence of those with whom he has grown up and whom he has known since childhood.

VICTOR V. BACON, M. D., a representa- tive of the medical profession in Michigan City. was born in Towanda, Bradford county, Penn- sylvania, on the 26th of December, 1862. His paternal grandfather was Septimus Bacon, also a native of Pennsylvania and of English lineage. He became a minister of the gospel, devoting many years of his life to that holy calling. He died at the age of fifty-four years, but the influ- ence of his upright life was long a potent factor for good among those who knew him.

Among his children was Roland S. Bacon, the father of the Doctor. His birth also occurred in the Keystone state, and after arriving at years of maturity he became a weighmaster on the Erie canal. Later, however, he turned his atten- tion to farming, which he followed at French- town, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where he still resides. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Huff, whose father was of German lineage, and was a contractor and builder, fol- lowing that pursuit throughout his entire life, and his death occurred when he was more than eighty years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Roland S. Bacon have been born eight children, five sons and three daughters, of whom five are now living, namely: Festus, Lenora and DeWitt C., all of Pennsyl- vania ; Victor V .; and Flora, the wife of Seward McNitt, a resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan. The parents hold membership in the Presbyterian church and are people of the highest respecta- bility. Mr. R. S. Bacon gives his political alle- giance to the Democracy.

Dr. V. V. Bacon spent his boyhood days in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and was reared upon the home farm, aiding in the labors of field and meadow through the summer months and thus acquiring a practical knowledge of agricul- tural work. He began his education in the dis- trict schools near his home, and later continued his studies in the Susquehanna Collegiate Insti-

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tute. He remained under the parental roof until his majority, when he took up the study of med- icine, and was graduated from the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College with the class of 1887. After receiving his diploma he began practice in Dorr, Michigan, where he remained for seven years, and a general practice greatly broadened his knowledge and experience. On the expiration of that period he returned to Chi- cago, where he pursued a regular course in the medical department of the University of Illinois, and was graduated in the class of 1898. He then came to Michigan City, where he opened an office and has since remained in practice. He has gained here gratifying success, and now has a very lib- eral patronage, which is indicative of the con- fidence reposed in him by the general public.

In 1888 Dr. Bacon was united in marriage to Miss Alice Dewey, a daughter of Charles and Prudence Dewey, and they now have three chil- dren : Lucile, Harold and Helen. In social circles they are well known and occupy an enviable posi- tion. The Doctor is a Democrat in his political affiliations, and is now serving as a member of the board of health of Michigan City and is at present the health officer. He was a pension ex- aminer under President Cleveland, but he has sought no office outside of the path of his profes- sion. He belongs to the city, county and state medical societies, and through the interchange of thought and experience therein he is continually adding to his knowledge and promoting his effi- ciency as a practitioner.

GEORGE H. WOLFE, who was born and has lived almost all his life on the fine old home- stead farm in section 12, Cool Spring township, is the son of a former well known farmer and stock-raiser of LaPorte county, Allen B. Wolfe, who was born in 1817 in Ohio, the son of George and Hannah Wolfe, natives of Pennsylvania, but who came to Ohio in 1805, thence to Elkhart county, Indiana, in 1835. Allen B. Wolfe lived in the latter county until 1855, when he came to LaPorte county, living at Beatty's Corners until 1862, when he located on the farm in section 12, Cool Spring township, where he remained till his death, at the age of sixty-eight years. In 1847 he married Miss Lucy G. Rowley, who was born in Yates county, New York, in 1826, and became the mother of eight children, five of whom are liv- ing: Martha A., Walter, George, Frederick and Florence.

George H. Wolfe, who was the fifth of the children of his parents, was born August 5, 1863,

and was reared on the home farm. All his life has been spent on the old place with the excep- tion of two years. For one year he conducted a lunch counter and restaurant in Chicago, and for one year was employed by the Pullman Car Com- pany. He and his sister Martha live on the farm and keep things going in all departments. He has done general farming and stock-raising, and under his careful management the one hundred and ten acres are made to produce as bountiful crops as any similar piece of farming land in the township. He is a well known citizen of the county, and counts many friends among those whom he has known since childhood and those who have located here since. He affiliates with the Democratic party, and fraternally is a member of Lodge No. 265, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Michigan City, and of the Knights of Pythias, Castle No. 94, at the same · place.

Mr. Wolfe's brothers are all filling honorable places in the business world. James Walter is a resident of Portland, Oregon. Frederick is con- nected with the National Sewing Machine Com- pany at Belvidere, Illinois, and the other sister, Florence, is the wife of R. W. Nordyke, also a resident of Belvidere, Illinois.

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 80

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