A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 82

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

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THOMAS MARR, a veteran of the Civil war who rendered service to the nation, a busi- ness man of energy, activity and prominence, and now practically living retired from business cares-such in brief is the life record of Thomas Marr, of LaPorte. He is very well known in this city, and in his wide circle of acquaintances he numbers many warn friends, who entertain for him the highest regard.

He was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, October 22, 1840, and his parents were William F. and Mary ( Reader) Marr. The Marr family is of Scotch-Irish lineage. His fa- ther was a native of Northumberland county, and in the spring of 1845 came to LaPorte coun-

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ty, Indiana, settling upon a farm which he con- tinued to cultivate and improve until his death, which occurred in 1865. His wife, who was also born in Northumberland county, died in LaPorte in 1889. A sister of Thomas Marr is the wife of Professor Isaac P. Roberts, who for thirty years has been a leading instructor in Cornell College, in Ithaca, New York.

The boyhood days of Thomas Marr were spent after the manner of most farmer lads of the period, and he assisted in the cultivation of the fields until his twenty-first year, when, in 1861, he enlisted at LaPorte in response to his country's call for aid to crush out the rebellion that threatened the destruction of the Union. He became a private of Company C, Twenty-ninth Indiana Vounteer Infantry, and from that time until mustered out in December, 1865, he was never away from his regiment. He served on the staffs of commanding officers almost from the. beginning until after the battle of Chickamauga, being first orderly and later aide. He did staff duty with General Kirk, Colonel Dodge, and General Steadman and General A. D. McCook. The regiment went first to Indianapolis and thence to Camp Nevin, Kentucky, where they joined the Army of the Cumberland, participat- ing in all of its battles in Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, including the engagements at Shi- loh, Stone River, Chickamauga and Nashville. The regiment was with Steadman's corps during the Atlanta campaign, and after the fall of the city of Atlanta was sent back to assist General Thomas at Nashville. Mr. Marr was wounded three times, and at both Shiloh and Chickamauga he had his horse shot from under him. After the battle there he was promoted to the rank of lien- tenant, and from that time until the close of he war had command of Company E. After the close of hostilities he was retained on garison duty in northern Georgia until mustered out at Marietta, Georgia, December 2, 1865. He then returned home with a record that stands the test.

After the war Mr. Marr engaged in farming, and later turned his attention to the livery busi- ness in LaPorte. Subsequently he went to Chi- cago, where he lived for about eighteen years, being engaged in business in that city. He then returned to LaPorte. Of recent years he has been largely engaged in the real estate and loan busi- ness, dealing in Chicago property as well as city and country realty in Indiana. He spends most of his time in Chicago, although he regards La- Porte as his home and always spends his Sundays in this city. He is now practically retired from

active life, spending his time merely in looking after his own property interests and superintend- ing his own investments. His activity in former years, his careful expenditure of his money for property that rose in value and his profitable sales brought to him a good income, and now he is one of the well-to-do men of LaPorte.

He belongs to the Odd Fellows society and is also a prominent member of Patton Post No. 147 Grand Army of the Republic, of LaPorte. From his boyhood days he has been known to the resi- dents of this city and county, and that his staunch- est friends are numbered among those with whom he has been associated from early youth is an in- dication that his life record has been well written. In politics he has always earnestly supported the principles and policies of the Republican party.

DUDLEY K. BRICKETT, who represents a stanch and well remembered family of LaPorte county, Indiana, is at present a prosperous hard- ware merchant of Chicago, the firm of Brickett & Glass having a fine store of general hard- ware at 10026 Ewing avenue, now a thickly popu- lated community south of the Calumet river.

Mr. Brickett is of New England ancestry. His father, Squire Dudley K. Brickett, was a native of Londonderry, New Hampshire, but emi- grated to the west and settled in LaPorte county, Indiana, in the early thirties, only a short time after its wildness had been penetrated by the civilizing pioneer. He was a shoemaker while in the east, but after coming to LaPorte county branched off into several lines of usefulness, especially as a general trader and storekeeper. His first location was in the village of Spring- ville, in Springfield township, but he afterward moved nearer to Michigan City and kept a hotel on the old Union plank road east of that town. He was a prominent man in his township, and held the offices of justice of the peace, township trustee and was also postmaster. He kept in his store, to- use his own words, "everything from a jewsharp to a threshing machine." At one time he moved to Elkhorn Grove, Carroll county, Illinois, and lived there for awhile. He was a quick, alert man, retaining his fine physical constitution until his death, in 1871, at the age of sixty-four. His sister, Katharine Brickett, married Asa Stearns, and she died in Springfield township about 1888.

Squire Brickett's wife was Sophronia Gould, who was a native of New Hampshire and of an old New England family. Her father, Amos: Gould, was born December 12, 1761, and was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Her brother,

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Moyen

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Mhrs. John Mayer

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John Gould, was born May 2, 1798, and died in 1877, at the home of the subject of this sketch, · then in New Carlisle, Indiana, where he had made his home for several years previously. Mrs. Brickett spent her last years with her son Dudley K. in Chicago, where she died in 1896, at the age of eighty-six. Of her other children, James and Alonzo Batchelor Brickett and Helen Brickett are dead, while Alonzo Morse Brickett lives in LaPorte county, north of LaPorte.

Dudley K. Brickett, whose middle name, Kim- ball, was given to him in honor of his paternal grandmother, was born in Springfield township, LaPorte county, September 23, 1848, and re- ceived his education in the township schools. He worked on the farm during part of his spare time, but at the age of seventeen began to learn the trade of miller, which he followed, with the ex- ception of thirteen months as a locomotive fire- man, for nearly fifteen years. He afterward be- gan the hardware business as a clerk, but in 1877 became a partner in the firm of Smith & Brickett at New Carlisle. In 1884 he sold out his share in this business and came to Chicago, and in part- nership with another LaPorte man, David Ander- son, established a hardware store south of the Calumet river, that part of Cook county not yet being included within the limits of the great Illinois metropolis, and most of its rapid growth having taken place since Mr. Brickett took up his residence there. In 1885 Mr. Anderson retired, and John W. Glass, Mr. Brickett's brother-in- law, came into the firm, these two still constitut- ing the firm. They have a prosperous and grow- ing business and have won a splendid reputation for square and honorable dealing among the resi- dents of that part of the city.

Mr. Brickett was married at New Buffalo, Michigan, November 15, 1874, to Miss Jennie E. Glass, a native of Fulton county, Pennsylvania, whence her parents removed to LaPorte county and settled in New Durham township in 1852. The only child of this marriage, Nora Brickett, died at New Carlisle at the age of three. Mr. Brickett is a member of Harbor Lodge No. 731, F. & A. M., and is popular both among his fra- ternity brethren and among all with whom he comes in contact in business or social life. In politics, Mr. Brickett has always supported the principles and policies of the Republican party.

JOHN MOYER, one of the respected and worthy citizens of Union township, living in Union Center, is a native son of Richland county, Ohio, his birth having occurred in Mansfield,

Ohio, on the 9th of June, 1826. His father, John Moyer, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was reared and married there. He was of German lineage and possessed many of the sterling traits of his ancestors, who came from the fatherland. About 1819 he left Pennsyl- vania and removed to Richland county, Ohio, where he engaged in business as a miller, distiller and farmer. He was one of the leading and repre- sentative men of his county, and died in Ohio when about fifty years of age. He wedded Eliza- beth Smithley, also a native of Pennsylvania, and she, too, was of German lineage. Her death oc- curred in LaPorte county, Indiana, when she was about sixty years of age. In the family were nine children, all of whom grew to man and woman- hood with once exception. These are Jasper, Elizabeth, Jacob, Michael, Mary, John, Sophia, Silas and Delilah.

John Moyer is the fourth son and sixth child of this family, and like the other members of the household he assisted in the labors of the farm as age and strength permitted and pursued his education in the public schools. When nineteen years of age he came to LaPorte county, Indiana, arriving in 1845, in company with his mother. They established their home in Union township near the place where he is now living, and he re- mained with his mother for four years, largely relieving her of the care and supervision of the farm. In 1849 he started out in life for himself, purchasing a tract of land which he began to cultivate, while his sister acted as his housekeeper for about three years. He was then married, in 1853, the lady of his choice being Miss Martha Jane Chamberlin, a native of Randolph county, Indiana, born May 31, 1836. She was reared there until fourteen years of age, when, about 1850, she came to LaPorte county with her mother. Her parents were Thomas and Hannah (Cox) Chamberlin, but her father had died in Randolph county ere the removal to this county. Mrs. Chamberlin spent her remaining days in LaPorte county, and here reared her family, of whom Mrs. Moyer is the sixth and youngest.

Mr. Moyer then took his bride to his farm in Union township, and with renewed energy con- tinued to work at breaking the land, clearing the fields and developing a good home. He at first owned forty acres of land in connection with his brother, but subsequently he sold his interest to his partner and became the owner of forty acres of land himself. To this he has added from time to time as his financial resources have increased until he now has two hundred and sixty acres of

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well improved and valuable land in addition to his property in Union Center. The secret of his success lies in his industry, his strong determina- tion and his honorable business methods, and his example is one well worthy of emulation.

Mr. and Mrs. Moyer have no children of their Own, but they reared an adopted son, Edward P., who is now a general merchant of Union Center. Mr. Moyer is one of the old settlers of the county, and can remember when the greater part of the land was still in its primitive condition, while but a few of the now thriving towns and villages had been founded. He has cleared and developed two farms, thus taking a very active and helpful part in the advancement of the county along agricultural lines. Recently he has sold one of his farms, comprising three hundred and twenty acres, but he still retains possession of the old homestead of two hundred and sixty acres. His career has been crowned with success, for he started out in life with nothing but his willing hands and gradually he has worked his way up- ward, his close attention to business and persist- ent energy winning him a handsome competence. His political support was given to the Democracy until Abraham Lincoln was made the nominee of the Republican party, since which time he has voted for all its presidential candidates, never missing a single election. In the early days he served as supervisor of his township. He and wife belong to the Seventh Day Adventist church, and have lived honorable lives in consistent har- mony with Christian principles. In 1878 Mr. and Mrs. Moyer took a trip to the Pacific slope and visited San Francisco, Suisun City, Fairfield and Sacramento, California, and were there two months enjoying the beauties of the western scenery.

The following clipping from a LaPorte paper concerning Mr. and Mrs. Moyer's golden wed- ding celebration will complete this brief history : "1853-Mr. and Mrs. John Moyer-1903. Surrounded by relatives and friends Mr. and Mrs. John Moyer, respected residents of LaPorte county to-day (November 17, 1903), celebrated the golden anniversary of their marriage at their home at Union Center. The celebration took the form of a reception which was largely attended, for the couple are well known throughout the county, especially among the older inhabitants. John Moyer was born in Richland county, Ohio, June 9, 1826, and came to LaPorte county in July, 1845. On November 17, 1853, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha J. Chamberlin, who was born in Spartanburg, Randolph county,

Indiana, May 31, 1836. At the time Mr. Moyer came here much of LaPorte county was unculti- vated and so from 1846 to 1857 he had charge of a breaking team. The couple have twice resided in LaPorte, but now live at Union Center, where their only son, Edward P. Moyer, is associated with Samuel A. Lambert, formerly of this city, in conducting a general merchandise store."

SEBASTIAN FABIAN LAY, who passed away on the 28th of July, 1901, was born in Boetzingen, kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, Jan- uary 20, 1829, and when seventeen years of age came to the United States, landing in New York penniless and with no knowledge of the English language. While in that city, by a somewhat re- markable coincidence, he met an aunt from San- dusky, Ohio, who advised him to go there, which he did, and after his arrival in that city he se- cured employment in a bottling concern. He was thus engaged until 1849, the year of the great gold excitement in California, when he joined the tide of emigration to the Golden state, going thither by the Panama route. After his arrival there he worked but a short time in the diggings and then embarked in a small way in the mercan- tile business, selling the little necessities of life to the miners. This means of livelihood proved much more to his taste than mining, as he had a preference for trade and was of such a disposition that he would rather make a little money slowly but surely rather than engage in the speculating of gold prospecting. Being an industrious young man, his business grew and prospered, and he ac- cumulated some money during his stay in the Golden state, which covered a period of three years.

During his residence there he became ac- quainted with Judge William P. Andrew, of La- Porte, Indiana, who was at that time, as he now is, a devoted adherent of the New Jerusalem church, and through his earnest exposition of its doctrine Mr. Lay became greatly impressed with its principles. Like so many Germans, he had an idealistic temperament, and the philosophy and spiritual possibilities of the New Church system of theology appealed strongly to his nature. In fact he became so thoroughly impressed that he determined to return to LaPorte with Judge An- drew and learn more of the religion, and in 1851 he arrived in this city. After listening to a ser- mon preached by Rev. Mr. Weller, the pastor of that denomination at that time, Mr. Lay decided to remain in LaPorte, and he accordingly secured employment in a hotel on Main and Clay streets,

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the present site of Lay's Opera House, and later established a bottling works on a small scale in the basement of what is now Davidson & Porter's store. This business prospered to such an extent that he soon had two wagons employed in driving through the country delivering bottled goods. As the years passed by Mr. Lay accumulated suf- ficient capital to purchase a farm two and a half miles west of the city, now occupied by a Mr. Peters, and about this time he was united in mar- riage to Miss Laura P. Huston, of Elkhart, In- diana. They began housekeeping on this farm, where they remained until 1860, in which year Mrs. Lay died, and he then decided to return to the city. While residing on the farm he made a specialty of raising maple trees, and many of the most beautiful trees seen along the streets of LaPorte to-day were brought from his farm.

After his return to city life Mr. Lay secured work with William Irving, who was engaged in the restaurant business on Main street, but while. thus engaged the Civil war was inaugurated, and putting aside all personal considerations, he offer- ed his services to the Union cause, enlisting in Company B, Seventy-third Indiana Volunteers, in April, 1861, under Colonel Hathaway, of La- Porte, who was killed at the battle of Stone River. In that engagement Mr. Lay was taken prisoner, and for several weeks endured the hor- rors of Libby prison. His military services cov- ered a period of three years, during most of which time he served as assistant quartermaster, and in all the engagements in which his command took part he was always found at his post of duty, loyally upholding the starry banner and the cause it represented.

Returning to LaPorte after hostilities had ceased, he continued business relations with Mr. Irving until 1866, when he purchased his em- ployer's interests, and so successful was he in this undertaking that in 1871 he was able to erect a fifteen thousand dollar building on Main street, while two years later, in 1873, he erected another brick structure, and in 1876, after the burning of Huntsman's Opera House, he erected what is now known as Lay's Opera House, on the corner of Main street and Clay avenue, a two-story brick structure with the opera house on the second floor. Mr. Lay continued in the restaurant busi- ness with success until 1882, when, having be- come so thoroughly interested in the literature of the Swedenborgian or New Church, he decided to discontinue business relations and devote his entire time to its study. But he soon found, however, that he could not be thoroughly con-

tented without some active employment, and ac- cordingly returned to the restaurant business, which he continued until August of 1896, when he retired from active life to enjoy the competence which he so truly earned and richly deserved. With all the activity, earnestness and seriousness of his nature, he was, notwithstanding, a genial spirit, and had a reputation over the county as a practical joker.

In 1867 Mr. Lay was again married, his sec- ond union being with Bertha Harvey, who still survives him, and with her youngest son, Arthur C. Lay, she resides in a commodious brick resi- dence at 808 Michigan avenue. She was born in the state of New York, in 1835, subsequently accompanying her parents on their removal to Marshall county, Indiana, and after their death she was adopted by Chamberlain Andrew, of the noted Andrew family.

Arthur C. Lay, was born in LaPorte, in 1869, and to the excellent public school system of this city he is indebted for the educational advantages he received in his youth. After putting aside his text books he became interested in his father's business, in which he continued until 1895, when he went to Chicago and entered a school of art. In 1898 he joined his brother, Harry M. Lay, in a manufacturing business in that city, in which he is still interested, but he still maintains his home in LaPorte.

HARRY M. LAY, who is president and owner of the Miller Ladder Company in Chicago, and the son of Sebastian F. and Laura (Huston) Lay, whose biographies are given above, was born in 1859, on his father's farm, now occupied by Mr. Peters, two and one half miles west of La- Porte, Indiana. He received his education in the LaPorte public schools, and was with his father in the restaurant business until he was twenty- three years old, when the restaurant was sold.

Mr. Lay then decided to venture on a new tack, and, learning shorthand, came to Chicago in 1882 and secured employment in a railroad office as a stenographer, at which employment he continued for two years. In 1884 he became a retail salesman of pianos for the firm of Estey & Camp, Chicago, with whom he remained till the spring of 1885, when he returned to LaPorte to assist his father, who had once more embarked in restaurant business in that city. Three years were spent at that work, and he came back to Chicago and was again employed by his old firm Estey & Camp, with whom he remained as sales- man until 1893. Following that he was with the

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Pease Piano Company in the same capacity until 1896, was with George P. Bent, in the same line, until 1898, and then started the business on which he is at present so successfully engaged. He bought out a ladder factory, and his establishment is now manufacturing ladders and also a general line of kindred articles and does various kinds of wood work. Although he is himself the owner of the concern he has had it incorporated as the Miller Ladder Company, of which he is the presi- dent. The extensive plant occupies all the large three-story brick building at 68-72 Ogden place, and it has a large and modern equipment in every thing necesary for turning out first-class work. The business is growing, and Mr. Lay has proved himself an energetic, enterprising manufacturer, with a large future before him in that line.

Mr. Lay was married in the fall of 1888 to Miss Della A. Lehr, who was a school teacher of LaPorte and is a native of New York state. They have three children, Landon, Catharine and Jeanette. Mr. Lay still feels at home in La- Porte, and he is remembered in an especially pleasant way for the part he took in the cam- paign of 1880, when Major Calkins ran for Con- gress. He was a member of the Republican male quartette, of which the other members were Henry Petrie, Hiram Harrison and Arthur Paul, and their singing created much enthusiasm and was no doubt an important factor in the election results.

WILLIAM H. BECHER, a real estate, ab- stract and insurance agent of LaPorte, who is classed among the energetic, enterprising young business men of the city, was born here in 1867, a son of Conrad and Minnie (Peach) Becher. His father was born in Bavaria, Germany, and, thinking to enjoy better opportunities in the new world, he sailed for the United States in 1863 and took up his abode in LaPorte, where he con- tinued to make his home until his death, which occurred in 1896. He was engaged in various business enterprises until 1872, when he founded the real estate and insurance business now carried on by his son William. In this he succeeded and gained a comfortable competence. Of the Odd Fellows society he was a prominent, active and valued member, and was also a progressive and public-spirited citizen of LaPorte, whose efforts in its behalf were effective and beneficial. His wife, who was also born in the fatherland, died in LaPorte in 1887.

To the public school system of his native city William H. Becher is indebted for the early educa-

tional privileges he enjoyed, and later he attended the Holmes Business College. About 1889 he went to Chicago, and for seven years was actively engaged in different lines of business there as bookkeeper, office man and in other relations. He was employed by well known firms, including Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett Company, the Western Rubber & Belting Company and the Empire Rubber Company, and for a time he owned and conducted a steam laundry. Upon his father's death he returned to LaPorte and took charge of the business in which he has since been actively and successfully engaged. He handles much real estate and has negotiated many important realty transfers. He is a general insurance and loan agent and does a large abstract business as well. He is the president of the local board of fire under- writers. A pushing, enterprising young business man, he is wide-awake and enterprising, and is a representative of the progressive element in LaPorte's citizenship.

Mr. Becher was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Martinsen, of this city, and they have one son, Walter W. Both are well known young people of LaPorte and have a wide circle of friends here.

BISHOP JOHN HAZEN WHITE, D. D. The founder of the White family in America was William White, who was born in 1610, and in 1635 landed at Ipswich, Massachusetts, tradi- tion says from county Norfolk, England, but this has not been ascertained with certainty. In 1640 he removed to Haverhill, Massachusetts, of which he was one of the first settlers, and was one of the grantees of the Indian deed of Haverhill, dated November 15, 1642, which instrument was both written and witnessed by him. From him the line of descent is traced to Major Moses White, the great-grandfather of the Bishop, who served as a major during the war of the Revolu- tion. The latter's son, John Hazen White, was a native of New Hampshire, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits near Lancaster. His wife, Roxanna Robinson, was born on the 19th of November, 1792. His death occurred from apoplexy when he had reached the age of sixty- four years, and his wife survived him a number of years. A family of five sons and four daugh- ters was born to this worthy couple. The ma- ternal grandparents of Bishop White were James and Candace ( Billings) Williams, who became the parents of three children-James, Auburn and Mary.

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 82

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