A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 93

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 93

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Julius & Linard

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HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY.

years. In 1867 he removed to LaPorte, where he followed the same pursuit for several years, but now is living retired, having put aside busi- ness cares in order to spend the evening of life in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He still makes his home in this city.

Fred Fenker was but a boy when brought by his parents to LaPorte, and in its public schools he acquired his education. At a very early age, however, he began to earn his own living, and since that time has been dependent upon his own efforts for all that he has possessed and enjoyed. He was first employed as a gardener by Johnny Brown, the old-time and well known gardener on Stone Lake, with whom he remained for seven years. He then began farming on the Michael Brand farm, in Kankakee township, a short dis- tance east of LaPorte, remaining there for two years. On returning to the city he entered the employ of Mrs. Niles, having charge of her place for two years, after which he worked on the rail- road for two years. He next entered the retail furniture business in the employ of George J. Hoelocker, who is now deceased. For fifteen years, however, he remained in the employ of that. gentleman, and during the last two and a half years was manager of the establishment. He gained a thorough knowledge of the furniture business and enjoyed the unqualified confidence and trust of the man whom he served. On the Ist of April, 1903, he purchased the furniture store of W. O. Nanscawen, at 709-711 Main street, and continued the business under the firm name of Fenker & Company. There has been a first-class furniture store at this location for many years, and the citizens of LaPorte still have under the new management and ownership a splendid furniture emporium in which to purchase high- grade and artistic furniture. LaPorte is noted for its beautiful and finely furnished homes, and Mr. Fenker caters to the best trade and receives a large patronage from the leading people. He has already filled contracts for furnishing homes and hotels outside of LaPorte, and is rapidly building up an extensive business.

Mr. Fenker was married in LaPorte to Miss Anna Smith, and to them have been born nine children : Louisa, Frederick, Katharine, Louis, Julia, Martin, Emma, George and Charlotte. The parents and children belong to the Lutheran church and are widely and favorable known in this city where they have long resided. That many of Mr. Fenker's stanchest friends are those who have known him from boyhood is an indica- tion that his has been an honorable career, well

worthy the regard in which he is uniformly held. He well deserves the success which he is now en- joying, for his business record has ever been char- acterized by fidelity to duty, by enterprise and by a progressive spirit.

JULIUS P. LINARD, who, though a resi- cient and business man of Chicago, is closely con- nected by many ties with LaPorte county, and, as president of the LaPorte County Colony in Chi- cago, does much to keep alive the home senti- ments of the county transplanted sons and daughters, was born at New Market, Virginia, January 24, 1836, the son of Joseph and Mary (Tidler) Linard.

Joseph Linard was born in the state of Penn- sylvania in 1800, but married in Virginia, whence he migrated to LaPorte county, Indiana, in September, 1841. He settled in Noble township, on a farm a mile and a half from Union Mills. Although he owned and operated this farm, he was by trade a brick and stone mason and con- tractor, and in that early period of the county's upbuilding his services were in great demand, there being scarcely any other skilled workmen for carrying on building operations. He was a fellow worker with Addison Ballard in the con- struction of the court house in LaPorte in 1848, and also built the First Methodist church in the early fifties. He was a well known and promi- nent man in his community, and served as town- ship school trustee. He died in 1873. His wife, who was a native of Virginia and of good south- ern stock, died in 1845.

Julius P. Linard was reared on a farm until he was twenty years old, at which age he went to Racine, Wisconsin, and attended commercial col- lege. He then returned to LaPorte and with his brother-in-law, Harry Robinson, took a printing outfit to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and established a weekly newspaper there, which was continued for about a year, Dan Linard, his brother, also being associated with the enterprise. Mr. Linard then returned to LaPorte, and in the fall of 1858 engaged in the grocery business on Main street, which he continued with success for nine years. He was constable for the following eight years, during which time, through his association with the officers of the court, he was led to study law, and was admitted to practice in LaPorte county. His terms as constable were under Sheriffs Cap- tain Phelps and Dan Brown. Mr. Linard then became engaged quite extensively in the collec- tion business and kindred occupations, and his excellent qualifications in this line led him to fol-

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low it ever since. He remained in LaPorte until 1890, when he came to Chicago, and for nine years was in the law office with Dan W. Munn. In 1899 he became connected with the law office of Alderman William M. Butterworth, where he is now located.

Mr. Linard knows nearly everyone in LaPorte county, and is very energetic in arranging the annual picnic of the Chicago Colony and in other ways promoting an interest in old times in La- Porte county. He is remarkably well posted on all early history, and is the proper man for presi- dent of the LaPorte County Society. He was a fireman twenty-four years, of the Rough and Ready hook and ladder No. I, and was its trainer seven years. For his good work as such the men gave him a beautiful and expensive silver water pitcher.

Mr. Linard was married in 1860 to Miss Frances H. Egner, a daughter of John Egner, an old settler of LaPorte county. They have six children : Nellie, John P., Flora, Landon C., Morton C. and Frances.

EDWIN TRAVIS. Among the practical and energetic farmers of Pleasant township is Edwin Travis, who resides on section 20. He was born in Bureau county, Illinois, on the 20th of June, 1864, and is a son of Albert Travis, whose birth occurred in LaPorte county, Indiana, where he remained until after his marriage. He then disposed of his business interests in this state and removed to Illinois, where he spent about eight years. On the expiration of that period, however, he returned to LaPorte county, settling in Scipio township, where he purchased a farm. At a later date he sold that property and bought the farm upon which his son Edwin is now living. He was married in early manhood to Miss Minerva Blake, a native of Ohio, and reared there. Albert Travis passed away in Stillwell January 16, 1892, and his wife died in Pleasant township, LaPorte county, December 27, 1892. They were the parents of three children : Charlie, who is living in Lincoln township and is repre- sented elsewhere in this volume; Frank, who is a resident of Kingsbury, Union township; and Ed- win Travis, who is the youngest of the family. After the death of his first wife Albert Travis was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Snyder, and had one daughter, Alta, who now resides with her brother, Frank.

Minerva Blake, a daughter of John and Helena Blake, was born in Jackson county, Ohio, Octo- ber 22, 1824, being sixty-eight years, two months

and five days old, when she died. She was one of eleven children, seven of whom are living. She was long a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, joining the same in her younger days. In the year 1848 her parents moved to LaPorte county, Indiana, where she was married to Nel- son Albert Travis September 18, 1853. She was a wise and loving mother, a true and tender friend, and well may it be said of her, "everybody loved her."

Edwin Travis was but two years of age at the time of his parents' return to LaPorte county, and he has been a resident of Pleasant township almost continuously from the age of four years. He acquired his education in the common schools of LaPorte county and city schools and started out upon an independent business career when he attained his majority. He first earned his liv- ing by working as a farm hand by the month, and after his mother's death he purchased the old homestead upon which he now resides and upon which he has remained continuously since. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He has a good grade of cattle, horses and hogs, and has the latest improved machinery and many modern equipments upon his farm.

Mr. Travis belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 36, at LaPorte, and is a stanch Republican, taking an active part in political affairs and in measures of public interest. He earnestly desires the welfare and upbuilding of his county, and his efforts have been effective and far-reaching in promoting the general prog- ress along substantial lines of improvement.

H. F. DRAVES is a dealer in agricultural implements in Westville and is a man of excellent business ability, of keen discrimination and of en- terprising spirit. His business career has been attended by success, and he stands today as one of the strong men of his community, strong in his honor and his good name and in the respect of those with whom he has been associated.

Mr. Draves comes of a family that is of Ger- man lineage, and the name was originally spelled Drews, but later generations have changed it to its present form. He was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, September 24, 1861, his parents being Christian and Mary (Zarn) Draves. His father was a native of Meck- lenburg, born in the year 1833, and his death occurred in 1890. By trade he was a weaver, fol- lowing that pursuit in his native country. He

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Michael Aigner

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Mrs michael aigner

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HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY.

was educated in the German tongue and served in the German army under Emperor William I. It was in 1865 that he determined to try his for- tune in America, and with his family sailed from Hamburg, landing at New York in the month of July. He was then a poor man, having no capital and in fact he incurred some indebtedness in order to make the trip, but with indomitable spirit and firm resolution he undertook to gain a living in this country. Making his way to Peo- tone, Illinois, he there worked as a laborer. He lived a life of industry until called to his final rest. In 1865 he came to LaPorte county, In- diana, and established his residence in Holmes- ville. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, and he and his wife were members of the German Lu- theran church, in which all of their children were confirmed. Mrs. Mary Draves was also born in Mecklenburg, Germany, in the year 1829, and her death occurred in 1871. She was a devoted wife and mother, putting forth every effort in her power to advance the welfare of her children. In the family were three sons and two daughters, of whom three are yet living: Minnie is the wife of F. H. Englehardt, who is a painter by trade and resides in Michigan City ; H. F. is the next younger ; and Tillie, the youngest, is the wife of Frank Bedenkop, who is a fireman on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad and re- rides in Burdick, Indiana.

H. F. Draves was but a small boy when brought by his parents to the new world, and his boyhood days were largely passed in LaPorte county, where he obtained his education in the public schools. He also learned to read and write the German language. At the age of nineteen he started out to make his own way in the world. He had no capital but he possessed energy and perseverance, and with these as a basis for suc- cess he entered upon his business career. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Minnie Powell, and they were married in 1885. Mrs. Draves was born in Porter county, Indiana, September 26, 1866, a daughter of Charles and Mary (Ahlgrim) Powell. Her girl- hood days were largely passed in her native coun- ty, and she obtained her education in its public schools. She was a lady of refinement and cul- ture, respected by all who knew her. By her marriage she became the mother of one son and a daughter: Clara M., who has completed the work of the ninth grade in the Westville schools and has been a student of instrumental music; and Otto C., who is now a student in the West- field high school. The wife and mother was

called to her final rest February 8, 1888, and on the Ioth of December, 1902, Mr. Draves was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Hilda (Pearson) Nelson. She was born in the province of Wauva, Sweden, and is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church. She first married a Mr. Nelson, and by that union had one son, Clarence, who is now attending school.

Mr. Draves began life as a day laborer, work- ing for a dollar and a quarter per day, but he possessed ambition, determination and diligence and gradually accumulated some capital until his financial possessions were sufficient to enable him to embark in business as a merchant. He became a .dealer in agricultural implements at Westville, Indiana, and in 1891 he began shipping dynamite, representing the Aetna Powder Company for eight years. His business as a dealer in agri- cultural implements has gradually increased from 1899 to the present time. He handles the cele- brated Deering harvester and mower, the Oliver chilled plows, the Birdsell wagon, the Kiblinger buggies and carriages and the Black Hawk corn planter. He carries all kinds of repair work in this line, and likewise deals in hard and soft coal. His patronage has become extensive and his busi- ness has now reached a large annual figure.

Mr. Draves is a Democrat in his political affili- ations, and cast his first presidential vote for Cleveland. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, connected with Tent No. 33. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church and he contributes liberally to its support. A self-made man, his success is the direct result of his own labors.

He has worked his way steadily upward, and the obstacles and difficulties in his path have served but as an impetus for renewed effort on his part. He has placed his dependence upon the sure foundation of energy and determination, and to-day he is a leading representative of the busi- ness interests of Westville.

MICHAEL AIGNER, who has been a resi- dent of LaPorte county since boyhood, for a period over fifty years, is one of the best known representative of farming interests in Cass town- ship, where he cultivates a productive piece of land on section 32. He is one of the numerous self-made men of this part of the county, and very little has come to him except through his own efforts. Fifty years is a long enough period of residence in one community to class one among the old-timers, and as such Mr. Aigner is con- sidered. He has borne his share of the public

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burdens in the township and county and public spirit and individual enterprise are the leading facts of his useful life.

Mr. Aigner was born in the empire of Aus- tria, September 24, 1837, and lived there until he was thirteen years of age, up to the age of twelve enjoying a few years of schooling. In 1850 he came to America with his mother, and they at once took up their residence in LaPorte county. In 1852 they took up their home in Cass township, where Mr. Aigner has lived ever since. In his younger days he worked on a farm and on the grading of the Panhandle Railroad, by the day and by the month. The farm on which he located on first coming to Cass township has been in his possession ever since, and much of its present improvements and productiveness is due to the hard labor he placed upon it from youth up. There are at present two hundred and twenty-eight acres in the farmstead, and to have seen its condition fifty years ago and to see it now would present as great a contrast as one could imagine. The industry and intelligence of the leading Indiana agriculturists are capable of producing a garden out of a desert and making it blossom as the rose.

Mr. Aigner was married in 1867 to Miss Catherine Marks, who was born in Germany and came to America when a child, being reared in LaPorte county. Due credit must be given to Mrs. Aigner for the part she has taken in increas- ing the family fortune, and she has proved a worthy helpmate to her husbandas well as a tender and good mother to her children. Eight children were born to them, all in LaPorte county: Mich- ael, William, John, Emeline, Albert, Henry, George and Lottie. Mr. Aigner is an adherent of the Democratic party, and was at one time supervisor of roads. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran church at Wanatah, and oc- cupy a place of esteem among their fellow citizens and many friends.

The son Albert died October 9, 1897, aged about twenty-two years. He was a practical ag- riculturist and a young man who was held in high esteem. Michael wedded Miss Anna The- den and they have four children: Phoebe, Mil- ton, Lillie and Edna Belle. He is a mason by trade in Wanatah, Indiana. Emeline wedded Ferdinand Mitzner, a resident of Porter county and an agriculturist and they have two children, Mabel and Gracie. William wedded Miss Lena Steinberg and he is an agriculturist. Three chil- dren are at home, Henry, George and Lottie, and the latter is in the fifth grade.

The son John C. met his death by accident on December 24,' 1903. He was a young, active man and one who loved machinery and mechanics. He was a mason and plasterer by trade. His loss is a sad one to the parents, as well as the community.

The Wanatah Mirror gives the particulars of John Aigner's fall to death as follows :

"Thursday afternoon the sad news was re- ceived here that John Aigner had fallen from. the Bailey, Bunnell & Company grain elevator at LaCrosse and was instantly killed. As Aigner Brothers are doing the mason work on the ele- vator, which is just under construction, it was at first supposed that John Aigner had met with the accident while at work, but later advices proved that the masons were not at work that day, but that Aigner had gone up into the upper part of the building on the inside with one of the carpen- ters to see how the work was progressing. After chatting with the man he had started down the stairs unaware of the carpenter. Soon after the man was startled by hearing something falling down stairs and upon going down to investigate the cause of the noise, he found Aigner lying on the bottom floor. Calling others they examined the body and found that life was extinct, as the fall had broken both arms and one leg besides bruising up the body in a horrible manner other- wise. It is not known exactly how far he fell, but the carpenter said that to his judgment the man had only had time to go down one flight of stairs from the time that he had missed him until he heard the fall and if so, he had fallen the dist- ance of about thirty-five feet."

AMENZO MANN. Through almost three quarters of a century Amenzo Mann has been a resident of LaPorte county, and has, therefore, been a witness of the greater part of its progress and development. In all things pertaining to its welfare he is deeply interested, and his efforts in business life have been attended with a fair meas- ure of success.

Mr. Mann was born in Broome county, New York, near Owego, October 25, 1830, a son of Jacob J. and Clarissa (Rowe) Mann, in whose family were three sons and three daughters, Amenzo being the fourth in order of birth. Only four are now living. The father was a native of New York, and was a mechanic and inventor. In early life he learned the wagon-maker's trade, and he afterward traded a wagon of his own mak- ing for a Seth Thomas brass clock which was valued at twenty-five dollars. It was in 1836 that he came to what was then the far west, making

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the journey by wagon in order to lay the founda- tion of his fortune in a new country. When he arrived in LaPorte county, Indiana, he had but seventy-five cents in money. His first home was a log cabin in Scipio township, and there he established his family and began working at his trade. He first purchased twenty-five acres of land in Clinton township, and afterward added to this an additional twenty-five acres. In poli- tics he was a Jackson Democrat, but he never cared for office, although at one time he served as justice of the peace. His membership was with the Methodist church. His wife died when their son Amenzo was but eight years of age.

It was two years before this time that Amenzo Mann became a resident of LaPorte county, and here he was reared and educated. He had the privilege of attending school, however, for only three months in the year, for he had to chop wood and perform other work of the farm, and it has been through practical experience and observa- tion that he has largely acquired his education. For many years he has carried on business as a grain merchant. At an early day he went to a school teacher, stating to her that he had a cer- tain number of bushels of grain, also told her the freight to Chicago, what commission had to be paid and told the price he received per bushel, asking her then what would be his profit on the amount of which he had. The teacher, however, was unable to answer him, but Mr. Mann figured out the problem for himself, showing that he had a practical knowledge of business affairs.

He can well remember when the Pottawotto- mie Indians were numerous in this region, and he has ridden behind the red men on their ponies. They were then encamped near the present site of Westville, this settlement including three hundred Indians. They did not molest the white settlers but were great beggars, incessantly asking for donations of various kinds. Mr. Mann has also seen herds of deer in this portion of the state, and not a one of the thirteen railroads of the county was built at the time of his arrival here. After the construction of the Michigan Central Rail- road he and several companions took a ride upon it to New Buffalo. Michigan City was the market in that early period, and oftentimes Mr. Mann has tramped out the grain with horses on the barn floor, and then hauled his product to Michigan City with a four-horse team, being able to carry only twenty bushels to the load and because of the sloughs and ponds he had to drive around a long distance to reach his destination. He once hauled a load of fruit trees to Chicago to ship to

Wisconsin, and he can remember the great west- ern metropolis when there was not a good street in the place and when only one street was lighted by lamps.

He was reared as a farm lad, and has lived a life of activity and industry, winning all that he possesses through his own labor and persever- ance. About 1845 his father invented a reaper, making a belt to carry the grain, while the Mc- Cormick people of Chicago manufactured a reap- er that cut the grain, but had to have a man to rope it. Mr. Mann's idea was a practical one, and is to-day in use in the manufacture of reapers. Perfecting his idea on his farm, he purchased a lot and erected a shop in the village of Westville in order to engage in the manufacture of reapers, and in the enterprise was associated with his sons at that place for five years. Mr. Amenzo Mann went upon the road to sell the reapers, and was traveling through Kentucky and Tennessee in that business in 1856 when Buchanan was making his race for president. The Manns continued in the business of manufacturing reapers until 1860, and were reasonably successful, shipping their machines to California and distant parts of the United States, as well as selling to the local trade.

In buying, selling and trading property Amenzo Mann has also been very successful. For about seven years he was engaged as a grain dealer in Westville, and he has engaged in buying and shipping live-stock for ten or fifteen years. At one time he drove seventy-five head of cattle to the Chicago market. He and his family re- sided in LaPorte city for five years in order to educate his son Frank, and while there he con- ducted a livery business, in which he met with a fair measure of prosperity. It was in 1890 that he began the undertaking business in Westville, in which he has since continued, and he is widely recognized as one of the substantial business men of this place. He also has about two hundred acres of good land in Clinton township, and to- day there is not a dollar of indebtedness upon it.

Mr. Mann was married in July, 1861, to Mrs. Mary C. (Graham) Long, who was born in Wythe county, Virginia, November 11, 1827, and was reared and educated there. She is a member of the Christian church, is a lady of a kind and affectionate nature and has done everything to make hers a happy home. They now have one son, Frank C., who is one of the leading and in- fluential business men in LaPorte, Indiana. He was educated in the common schools of Clinton township and the high schools of LaPorte, after

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 93

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