A biographical history of eminent and self-made men of the state of Indiana : with many portrait-illustrations on steel, engraved expressly for this work, Volume II, Part 118

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1006

USA > Indiana > A biographical history of eminent and self-made men of the state of Indiana : with many portrait-illustrations on steel, engraved expressly for this work, Volume II > Part 118

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REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

[ 13th Dist.

been chairman of the committee of the Thirteenth Con- gressional District and a member of the State Central Committee. He has been city clerk in Plymouth, and in 1874 was president of the board of education, taking an active interest in the construction of the central high school building. He is ardent in his advocacy of all enterprises designed to promote the prosperity of the city. In 1872 his friends nominated him for Represent- ative in the state Legislature of the district comprising the counties of Marshall and St. Joseph, but he was de- feated by about forty votes. In 1874 he was the choice of the delegates from his own county for the congres- sional nomination, and received a flattering vote in the convention. The Northern Indianian characterized him as an excellent representative of the people. It declared him competent, trustworthy, a thorough-going Republi- can, wide-awake and intelligent, possessed of broad, enter- prising views, a close observer of passing events, and a business man of far-reaching sagacity. At a county con- vention of his party, held in the city of Plymouth, in June, 1880, the following resolution was unanimously adopted :

" Resolved, That the delegates from this (Marshall) county to the Congressional Convention, to be held at South Bend on the 24th instant, are instructed to cast the vote of this county for the Hon. H. G. Thayer as a candidate for Congress, and to use all honorable means to secure his nomination."

The Plymouth Republican, referring to the action of the convention, says:

" Mr. Thayer, being called for, addressed the conven- tion in a brief but able speech, thanking the convention for the distinguished honor shown him by the resolution, but respectfully declined to allow the use of his name as a candidate before the Congressional Convention. Not- withstanding Mr. Thayer's positive declination, we be- lieve he is the man for the place. Our reasons are, aside from the fact that he is a resident of Marshall County, that his ability is unquestioned ; his well-known honesty and fair dealing command universal respect and make him an available candidate; that his success in his own varied business is a guarantee that the interests of his constituents would be looked after; that he could not be bought or sold by any man, party, or clique; that his name, ability, means, and practical fitness for the position, would add strength to the Republican ticket; that he would make a strong canvass; and there would be no disaffection in any part of the district."

At the state convention of his party, held soon after, he was unanimously nominated as presidential elector for the Thirteenth Congressional District, which position he accepted. Mr. Thayer has been a consistent Church member for twenty-two years. For eight of these he was connected with the Presbyterian society, and for the past fourteen with the Episcopal Church, being for ten years a Sabbath-school superintendent. He has been a liberal contributor to the Church, and by his example has aided much in its spiritual growth. During the Civil War, although not liable to military duty, he placed a substitute in the field, and also added to the

fund collected with a view to filling the county quota, besides assisting the Union cause in many other ways. He is a member of the Order of Odd-fellows, and has attained to the post of Past Grand. Mr. Thayer has been long and actively identified with the Masonic Fra- ternity of the city and state, having received the York Rite degrees in 1857, and served four years as Worshipful Master of Plymouth Lodge, No. 149. He was High- priest of Plymouth Chapter, No. 49, Royal Arch Masons, one year; he has also held the office of Illustrious Mas- ter of Plymouth Council, No. 49, Royal and Select Mas- ters, for one year. To him, more than to any other person, belongs the honor of establishing and organizing Plymouth Commandery, No. 26, Knights Templar, in 1875. He was a charter member and its first Eminent Commander, which position he held by election for two successive terms. He now holds the position of Grand Commander Knights Templar of Indiana. He is Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of Indiana of the Order of the Eastern Star, also Grand Marshal of the General Grand Chapter of the United States. At Boston, Mas- sachusetts, in 1877, he was created Sovereign Grand In- spector-general of the thirty-third degree, and honorary member of the Supreme Grand Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite for the northern Masonic jurisdic- tion of the United States. In 1878, at the city of Wash- ington, District of Columbia, he was elected, and in Mil- waukee, Wisconsin, was initiated, a member of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the United States of the Royal Order of Scotland-a very select order, of which the venerable and distinguished Albert Pike is the Pro- vincial Grand Master for this country. Mr. Thayer has been active in the work of temperance reform. He is of fine physique, dignified presence, and courteous man- ners, and is sympathetic and generous. He has attained his high social, moral, and business standing by his own efforts. He married, July 9, 1856, Miss Mary E. Van Valkenburgh, of Plymouth, second daughter of James F. and Angelica Van Valkenburgh. Mrs. Thayer is a lady of high Christian character, whose loving and sympa- thetic disposition has contributed largely to her husband's success in life. They have had six children : Harry Ed- gar, born July 8, 1857, died October 4, 1859; George Henry, born September 5, 1860, now a student at Cornell University, New York ; James Wesley, born April 1, 1864, now a student at Racine College, Wisconsin ; Alice Lavan- tia, born April 4, 1868, died January 8, 1869; Mary An- gelica, born January 27, 1872; and Horace, born March 25, 1870, died April 4, 1870. Mr. Thayer is entertaining in his conversation, hearty in his hospitality, and constant in his friendship. His position is secured in the business circles of the country, and he is a citizen above reproach. He is in the prime of life, and his excellent health and vigorous constitution give promise of many additional years of usefulness.

13th Dist.]

REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

(HOMPSON, CAPTAIN JOHN E., a wealthy and influential farmer of Jackson Township, Elkhart County, was born September 20, 1828, in Wayne County. He is the son of Mark B. and Jane (Thomas) Thompson. His father came originally from Orange County, New York, from which state he first re- moved to Ohio, then to Wayne County, and afterwards to Elkhart County, Indiana. His mother, a native of Wales, emigrated to this country in childhood. He is a descend- ant of John Thompson, of Irish parentage, who arrived in the United States before the War of 1812, in which he served under General Jackson at the battle of New Or- leans. The early education of the subject of this sketch was very limited. Assisting in the hard labor of his fa- ther's farm, he could give little time to study, and when about fifteen years of age he was obliged to abandon school entirely. He succeeded in acquiring sufficient practical knowledge for his guidance through an active and useful life. On attaining his majority he received from his father a deed for forty acres of land, on which he began life for himself. Prospering in the cultivation, he was soon enabled to purchase ninety-six additional acres. He erected a neat and substantial brick dwelling and out-buildings, and now possesses a model farm in every respect. Captain Thompson was a Whig until 1854, becoming a Republican on the organization of that party, of which he has since been an earnest and consist- ent supporter. In 1858 he was elected to the state Leg- islature for a term of two years by a flattering majority, serving during the sessions on the Committees on Temper- ance and Commerce. September 19, 1861, he enlisted, and on the 24th was mustered into the service of the United States as first sergeant of Company K, 30th Regi- ment Indiana Volunteers. In June, 1862, he was commis- sioned second lieutenant of the above-mentioned com- pany, and in the following January was promoted to the rank of captain, in which capacity he remained un- til the company's term of enlistment expired. Among the many battles in which he participated during the war may be mentioned Pittsburg Landing, Stone River, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, and Lookout Mountain, or "the battle above the clouds." Captain Thompson also took part in the siege and capture of Corinth and Atlanta. His regiment accompanied General Sherman to Lovejoy Station, twenty-five miles beyond Atlanta, at which point it was ordered back to Nashville, Tennessee, and thence to Indianapolis, Indiana. Here it was mus- tered out of the service, September 29, 1864, and Cap- tain Thompson proceeded to Goshen, where he arrived October 5, and at once resumed his work on the farm. In 1866 he was elected commissioner of Elkhart County, and served four years. He was again chosen to repre- sent his county in the Legislature in 1872, acting as chairman of the Committee on County and Township, and as a member of that on Corporations and Statistics. F-5

Being re-elected in 1876, he was appointed chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, and a member of the Committee on Fees and Salaries. In 1878 he was one of the candidates for Representative of Noble and Elk- hart Counties, jointly, and was defeated by only ten votes. In Elkhart County he received about one hun- dred votes more than his associates on the same ticket, but the Democratic and Greenback influence in Noble County caused his defeat. During his administration as commissioner many of the public improvements of the county were inaugurated and consummated, among which were the construction of long-needed bridges, and the erection of county buildings. In the discharge of the duties of his office he manifested such energy, ability, and fidelity, as to command the confidence and respect of his political friends and opponents. As a legislator he was indefatigable in his efforts to promote the best interests of his fellow-citizens, regardless of their party affiliations. Ile introduced the bill for reducing the time of holding the office of township trustee of schools to a period of two terms, the passage of which resulted in increased efficiency of the common school system. He also proposed the bill providing for refunding to corporations, towns, etc., money which they had ad- vanced in aid of proposed railroads which had not been constructed within three years after such advance. This bill was also of great importance in certain sections of the state. Captain Thompson is prominent in all enterprises undertaken for the benefit of the community and county in which he lives. He married, January 1, 1872, Annie C. Jackson, of Jackson Township, Elkhart County, In- diana. He is not a member of any Church, but is an attendant of and a liberal contributor to the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife is a devout and worthy communicant. During his active career in Elk- hart County, he has won the respect of all; and now, in the pride of manhood, has the promise of many years of usefulness.

LONG, LUCIUS G., LL. B., A. M., professor of law and bookkeeping in the University of Notre Dame, lawyer, and mayor of the city of South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana, was born at Carroll, Fairfield County, Ohio, August 1, 1842. His father, Oliver P. Tong, was a self-made man, and by profession a civil engineer. He was a gentleman of great integrity of character, remarkable for his purity of life, which endeared him to all who became ac- quainted with him. His mother, Eleanor Poorman, was of German descent; kind and amiable; of strong re- ligious convictions, being a thoroughly instructed Lu- theran of the old school. The parents brought up a large family, and gave their children the benefits of good edu- cational advantages. Three of the daughters-two of

REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

Ligth Dist.

them being twins-are Sisters of the Holy Cross, at the St. Mary's Academy, St. Joseph County, Indiana. The subject of this sketch was the eldest of the family, and always gave his father great assistance in business and in the care and education of the younger members of the family. At the age of twelve he was sent to St. Joseph's College, at Somerset, Ohio, having previously attended the common district school. At fifteen he attended Kenyon College, at Gambier, Ohio, and at seventeen he went to the University of Notre Dame, St. Joseph County, Indiana, where he pursued a classical course, and afterwards devoted himself to the study of law and commercial matters. After graduation he became a sales- man in a wholesale dry-goods house in Columbus, Ohio. Having been a devoted reader of religious works until twenty-one, he became convinced that the Catholic is the true Church and hastened to join it. Great op- position at first was made, but the consent of his parents was soon obtained, they knowing his sincerity. He ac- cordingly embraced the first opportunity of being re- ceived into the faith, which was the occasion of a series of sermons, preached by the late Rev. Father Samarins. He was, however, unfortunately placed in regard to at- tendance at divine service, as there was no church nearer than Lancaster, Ohio, a distance of eight miles, and he became anxious to change his residence to some more favored locality. Accordingly, in 1863 he secured a position at the University of Notre Dame as a teacher, which soon ripened into a regular professorship, which he has held from that time to the present. He spent ten years as a resident professor in the University, and only left Notre Dame in order to permanently locate himself in South Bend. In 1869 his parents re- moved from Ohio to South Bend, and in the mean time all of the rest of the children became Catholics, follow- ing the example of their brother. In 1870 his father, being on a visit to Columbus, Ohio, was taken sick, and, at the residence of his brother, Theodore Tong, Esq., died, and was buried in the family cemetery, at Carroll, Ohio. A few days previous to his decease he was baptized a Catholic by the Rev. Father Hem- steger. In 1873, after several years' acquaintance with Miss B. C. Ball, the eldest daughter of the ven- erable James Ball, Esq., of Lafayette, Indiana, he was united in marriage to that lady on September 8. This event will long be remembered by the citizens of Lafayette, as never before did St. Mary's Church wit- ness such a brilliant wedding. The ceremony was per- formed by Rev. M. M. Hallinan, D. D., a graduate of St. Sulpice, Paris, who was for many years professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame, and was an old acquaintance and intimate friend of Professor Tong. Immediately after marriage he permanently located in South Bend and commenced the practice of law; and by his prompt attention to business soon gained for himself

a reputation for trustworthiness and integrity that has made him an honored member of the legal profession of Northern Indiana. In 1871 his mother became a Catholic, and died, in 1876, a most edifying and Christian death. Her remains were temporarily deposited in a vault until such time as those of her husband could be brought from Ohio. Both are now buried in the same grave, on a beautiful spot in the Notre Dame Cemetery, and a lofty and expensive monument has been erected by their chil- dren, manifesting a devotedness which is deserving of great praise. Professor Tong since his removal to South Bend has been a hard-working, industrious, and pains- taking citizen. Besides his onerous duties in his profes- sion, he still retains his position in Notre Dame Univer- sity, and by order and system performs daily a vast amount of business, in the way of public improvements and every thing that has for its object the social and substantial improvement of South Bend and St. Joseph County. Professor Tong is a most public-spirited citizen. As a lawyer he is careful, painstaking, studious, and thoroughly honest. In his political views he is a Repub- lican. In May, 1878, he was elected mayor of South Bend by a large majority, and as the chief executive officer of the city he displays great ability. At the University of Notre Dame he is held in high esteem. His thoroughness and zeal in the class-room, and his obliging disposition, have made him a general favorite, and won for him the confidence and esteem of a wide circle of sincere friends. Professor Tong has given some attention to literary pursuits, and has gained reputation as an author. He has written numerous contributions for the public prints, both prose and poetry, among which might be mentioned the following : "Commercial Education," " Kind Words," "Good Mothers," " The Opening Rose Bud," and a poem entitled "Law and Our Lawyers," which was dedicated to the St. Joseph County bar, on the occasion of their banquet, February 22, 1875. At South Bend, Professor Long is looked upon as a model gentleman, enjoying as he does the con- fidence of the whole community, and possessing sterling qualities of head and heart. Although a representative of the younger class of men of South Bend, he has ele- ments of strength that would make him available for almost any official position that he might aspire to, yet he is not an office-seeker. Professor Tong is a thorough and practical temperance man. He is now the president of a large temperance organization of the Catholic Church of South Bend. He is also one of the trustees of the St. Joseph County Savings-bank. All of the different stations and positions in life he has filled have been discharged in an able and conscientious manner. He is firm, kind, sympathetic, and just. Being of a social demeanor and a fine converser, he is a genial companion, and every one is his friend. His career has been an honorable one from the very beginning.

REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

13th Dist.]

RUBY, PHILIP, a pioneer of Elkhart, was born April 4, 1797, in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He is the sixth child of Michael Truby, who was of French ancestry, a carpenter by trade, and one of the founders of Greens- burg, above mentioned. Michael Truby was in the service of England during the Revolution, and accom- panied the Hessians to this country. Having been cap- tured at the battle of Trenton, he espoused the cause of the colonists, and joined General Lafayette's army, serving as drum-major throughout the war. He died in 1832, aged eighty-three years. He was the father of eight sons and four daughters. The subject of this sketch, Philip Truby, did not attend school in his youth. At the age of twenty-one he left home, and devoted one year to learning the blacksmith's trade, at Kittanning, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. In 1819 he emigrated to Greentown, Stark County, Ohio, and worked as a journeyman until 1821, when he married Elizabeth Sell, and at once began blacksmithing on his own account. In 1848 he went to Indiana, where he purchased a tract of land two miles from Elkhart, and engaged in farming. He has since dealt largely in farming lands, and has prospered greatly. About the year 1867 he retired from active pursuits, and removed to Elkhart, where he still resides. He has never been prominent in politics, but has always acted with the Democratic party. Mr. Truby is a member of the Dutch Reformed Church. He has had nine children, of whom four sons and three daughters are still living.

RUBY, MICHAEL, jeweler, of Elkhart, the eldest son and third child of Philip Truby, whose biog- raphy appears elsewhere in this work, was born January 4, 1827, in Greentown, Stark County, Ohio. Throughout his boyhood he worked at farming and blacksmithing during the summer and attended school in winter. When twenty-one years of age he re- moved to South Bend, Indiana, and engaged as journey- man blacksmith for two years, part of the time attend- ing school. In 1850 he learned the watchmaking trade, and in 1851 began business for himself in that place, at the same time teaching a singing school. In 1852 he was elected chorister of the Baptist Church of South Bend, which position he filled three years. In 1859 he removed to Mexico, Missouri, where he carried on his business very successfully until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he was compelled to leave that locality on account of his sympathy with the Union cause. He had succeeded in accumulating some property, but was obliged to abandon all to save his life; consequently, when he returned to Elkhart, Indiana, in 1862, he was a poor man. However, he began at once to make his

own tools, and soon opened a small store for the pur- pose of repairing watches. He has since prospered, and now keeps a full assortment of jewelry, silverware, and books. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd-fellows, which he joined in 1854, and is a member of the German Workingmen's Society of Elkhart. He married, in South Bend, January 18, 1855, Mary V. Ketcham. They have had four sons, of whom the youngest two are still living : James M., born in Mexico, Missouri, in 1860; and Charles M., born in Elkhart in 1865. Mr. Truby has a German Bible, published in 1756, which came into the possession of his mother's family immediately after the Revolution.

IOLETT, JOHN H., a wealthy farmer and a promi- nent citizen of Elkhart Township, Elkhart County, Indiana, was born November 22, 1829, at a point about two miles south of what is now the city of Goshen, and was the first child of white parents in Elk- hart County. They were among the earliest settlers of the county. The father, John Wesley Violett, was a native of Virginia, but of French descent, his ancestry having emigrated to America in the early days of this country's settlement. He was born August 29, 1795, near Harper's Ferry, where he lived until he was about seven years of age. His father having died, his mother, with her family, emigrated to Ohio and settled on Buck Creek, about ten miles from Springfield, where he was engaged in assisting his mother on the farm, when not attending school, until he reached the age of eighteen. He enlisted in the army during the War with England in 1812, serving about two years. When Fort Meigs was besieged he was at Fort Finley. For his services in the army he was granted a government land warrant in after life. In politics he was a Whig of the Henry Clay school, and he was a great admirer and ardent supporter of " Harry of the West," for whom he cast his first ballot for President, a copy of which he care- fully preserved. In 1820 he went to Missouri, where he remained about three years, receiving an appointment as Justice of the Peace. In 1823 he returned to Ohio and purchased a farm in Clark County. In August 31. IS24, he was elected sergeant-major of the 2d Regiment, Fifth Brigade, Fifth Division, of the Ohio Militia. Mr. Violett was a man of close observation and good judg- ment, and methodical in all his business habits. He kept a memorandum of passing events, and but a few months prior to his death he collected from his diary an account of his journey from Ohio to Indiana. In the spring of 1828 he sold his farm in Clark County, Ohio, with a view of removing west of the Mississippi to pro- cure a larger tract of land. Having heard favorable re- ports of the country in Indiana, watered by the St. Jo-

REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

[13th Dist.

seph of Lake Michigan and its tributaries, he concluded to look at it. On October 4, 1828, he set out, accom- panied by his father-in-law, each being supplied with a good stock of provisions for the trip, knowing they would be obliged to camp out a part of the time during their explorations. They went to Fort Wayne, then but a hamlet, and the following day they proceeded as far as Wolf Lake, where they camped over night. Leav- ing this desolate place, they found a better country for the next eighty miles. They soon struck the Elkhart bottom, a rich expanse of timber land. After crossing the river they discovered Elkhart Prairie, which they thought the most beautiful tract of land they had ever seen. They came to a spring at the Elkhart River- where De Camp afterwards built a mill-and remained over night. The next morning they crossed the St. Joseph River near the mouth of Elkhart. Here they found the first settler since leaving the neighborhood of Fort Wayne. In about nine miles they reached Beardsley's Prairie, a beautiful rolling plain with a few squatters, and put up with Mr. Beardsley, where they found good accommodations. Here they found the first crop of growing corn, and investigation showed it to be good both in quality and quantity for sod corn. The blades were yet green, no frost appearing that fall until October 9. In this place they became ac- quainted with Hon. George Crawford, now of La- porte, and his partner, Mr. Meacham, who gave them satisfactory information in regard to the coun- try and its probable wealth and productiveness. The following day they visited Young's Prairie, a rich and beautiful tract of land, where they put up with a squatter for the night. He claimed a large amount of the prairie for himself and friends. In this place was another crop of good corn. Next day they went to White Pigeon Prairie and stayed over night with Judge Winckel. He also had a good crop of corn. In the morning they left for Elkhart Prairie. Major Violett had concluded to settle there, and wished to further ex- amine the prairie and its surroundings. Arrived there they camped for the night at Elkhart River, where Benton now stands. The following day was spent in looking over the prairie. They found the prospect for a settlement very flattering, a plentiful supply of good water, and an abundance of valuable timber. They were soon joined by Messrs. Crawford and Meacham, on their way south to purchase stock-hogs; about the same time Matthew Boyd arrived at their camp. He afterwards became a resident of Benton. October 14 they started for home. That evening they met Elias Riggs and his son-in-law, with their families, moving to the Elkhart Prairie. They first built a house on the land afterwards owned by Colonel John Jackson, and were the first settlers on the plain. During the winter Major Violett made preparations to move to Elkhart

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A biographical history of eminent and self-made men of the state of Indiana : with many portrait-illustrations on steel, engraved expressly for this work, Volume II, Part 118

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1006

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1006