A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 37

Author: Howard, Timothy Edward, 1837-1916
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 887

USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 37

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DAVID B. MILLER, whose death occurred on the 18th of June, 1907, was numbered among the veterans of the Civil war, and was a worthy representative of one of the pio- neer families of this region. He was born in German township, St. Joseph county, In- diana, March 26, 1843, a son of David and Louisa (O'Connor) Miller. The father, who was born in Northumberland county, Penn- sylvania, on the 5th of July, 1806, was a Dunkard minister, and in the early year of 1839 he cast in his lot with the pioneer set- tlers of German township, St. Joseph county, Indiana, where he followed farming and also labored as a minister in the Dunkard church until his life's labors were ended in death on the 29th of November, 1876. Mrs. Miller, who was born on the 31st of August, 1807, died in March. 1843. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Tobias, born in 1830; Maria, in 1832; Eliza-

beth, in 1834; Laura A., in 1837; Sarah, in 1839; Solomon C., in 1841; and David B., in 1843. For his second wife Mr. Miller chose Catherine Keltner, who was born on the 29th of November, 1824, and died at the age of sixty-eight years. They became the parents of nine children: Lucinda, born in 1845; Narcissus, in 1847; Margaret, in 1849; Daniel C., in 1851; Hiram, in 1854; Jessie, in 1856; Louisa J., in 1860; Mary, in 1864; and Grant, in 1866. With the exception of two, Tobias and Maria, all of the sixteen chil- dren were born in St. Joseph county, in Green and German townships.

David B. Miller, whose name introduces this review, was reared in the home of his grandmother until he was five years old, for his mother died within three weeks of his birth, and he was thereafter cared for by his stepmother, who proved a loving and faith- ful counselor, giving to him the same filial devotion as to her own children. In 1861, when eighteen years of age, Mr. Miller of- fered his services in the defense of his coun- try, becoming a member of Company I, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and after three months of service therein he re-enlisted in Company F, Twenty-ninth Indiana Vol- unteers, under Colonel John F. Miller, who afterward became a general. After twelve months of service he received an honorable discharge and veteranized in the Twenty-first Light Artillery, Indiana Battery, with which he continued for fourteen months, when he became ill and was sent to the Nashville hospital, from where he was transferred to the Invalid Corps and was honorably dis- charged on the 19th of June, 1865, after a military career of four years. Mr. Miller was ever true to his duties as a · brave and loyal soldier, and he was promoted to the positions of sergeant and corporal. After participating in the grand review at Wash- ington he returned to his home in South Bend, and in August, 1865, began learning the trade of a wagon maker with the Stude- baker Brothers, his connection with them con- tinuing for about thirty-two years, but not continuously. For two years from 1876 he was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Lib- erty township, going thence to Union town- ship, and in 1883 returned to the Studebaker Brothers and was made foreman of their lum- ber department. During the long period of seventeen years he continued in that impor- tant office, and after his resignation lived in

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quiet retirement at his pleasant home in South Bend until his death. Strictly up- right and above reproach in all his dealings with others, he merited the high esteem in which he was held by all who had the pleas- ure of his acquaintance.

On the 25th of December, 1867, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Anna M. Morgan, the daughter of Charles and Sarah Morgan, and her death occurred on the 15th of August, 1902, leaving one son, Henry N., who was born September 1, 1868, and is now associated as a machinist with the Singer Manufacturing Company. In political mat- ters Mr. Miller upheld the principles of the Republican party, and he was a member of the Knights and Ladies of Columbus, the Maccabees, and Auten Post, No. 8, G. A. R., in which he has served as a chaplain for seven years. His path was marked by good deeds, by honest purpose, by commendable industry and worthy motives, and when the final summons came he left a record that is well worthy of emulation.

WILLIAM WASHINGTON GIDDINGS, who was long a prominent Democrat and a leading railroad man and progressive citzen of South Bend, died in the city of his adoption on the 21st of March, 1883, and his widow, nee Mary Elizabeth Flinn, who for many years was a leader in the local work of the W. C. T. U., still survives him as a useful and honored resident. Mr. Giddings was a na- tive of Barkhamsted, Litchfield county, Con- necticut, born March 29, 1826. Lorain Gid- dings, his father, was of southern blood, but a farmer of Connecticut, in which state he married a native daughter, Desdemona Cow- drey. They became the parents of five sons and four daughters, all of whom were born and reared in Connecticut.

William W. Giddings was the fourth child and the second son in the farmily born to Mr. and Mrs. Lorain Giddings. He was of a studious and reflective disposition, and his original intention was to enter the ministry, but he was obliged to abandon his purpose on account of a weakness of the eyes and un- certain health. He then retired to his fa- ther's farm, where he remained until his health was fully restored, when he removed to Springfield, Massachusetts, to become con- nected with the grocery business. Later he went to New Hampshire, and commenced his long identification with railroading with the Boston, Lowell & Nashua Railroad.

On the 17th of January, 1854, while liv- ing in Connecticut, Mr. Giddings was united in marriage to Mary E. Flinn, daughter of Samuel and Clarissa Flinn, a Massachusetts lady, born March 2, 1835. Her father, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, was an expert in the installing of heavy machinery, and his services were in ready demand by many of the manufacturers of the east. He came to America when only fourteen years of age, and his wife, Clarissa Durgin Langley, was a native of Nottingham, New Hampshire. They became the parents of five sons and four daughters, of whom Mrs. Giddings was the fourth child and the second daughter.

Mr. and Mrs. William W. Giddings lo- cated in South Bend in 1872, and shortly afterward the latter became corresponding secretary of the W. C. T. U., remaining in that position for about fourteen years, and always maintaining her deep and practical interest in it as a steadfast and active worker. The three children in their family were: William Washington, Jr., Samuel Ballou and Mary Greenleaf. Mr. Giddings was a Demo- cratic leader of much local influence, and at one time represented the Third ward in the city council. He was a Mason, an Odd Fel- low, a leading member of the Episcopal church, and a citizen of wide usefulness and unimpeachable honor. His widow has cause to feel a deep' pride in his record, and her own life of high thoughts and good deeds gives an added luster to the family name.

EDSON FOSTER, retired merchant and prom- inent .citizen of South Bend, Indiana, now residing at 741 West Washington street, is a native of Orange county, Vermont, born August 29, 1821, the son of William E. and Lucinda (Walker) Foster. His grandfather, Hezekiah F. Foster, was a native of New Hampshire and a patriot of the Revolutionary war.

Edson attended the district schools of his native locality until he was fifteen years of age, when the parents brought their family to Indiana, making the journey by teams and lake vessels. They located near Middle- bury, Elkhart county, where the father died in February, 1837, and where the son taught school for more than ten years. In this occu- pation Edson Foster obtained a high reputa- tion, but finding his mind more and more turning to mercantile pursuits abandoned it, and, after clerking for about four years, en- tered that field as a principal. In 1851 he

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formed a connection with his brother-in-law, under the firm name of Foster & White, and conducted a growing and finally an extensive business until 1892. Since 1875, however, it has been practically managed by Mr. White, and upon his death in 1892 it was closed up.

In the meantime Mr. Foster had been mak- ing frequent additions to his landed inter- ests, and is now the owner of several hundred acres in Elkhart county, besides valuable real estate in South Bend. He has been a resident of the city since 1875, being con- sidered not only a substantial but a broad- minded and public-spirited member of the community.

Mr. Foster's wife, to whom he was mar- ried in 1845, was formerly Mary H. White, daughter of James J. White. Their only child, Mrs. Mary J. Hickox, is the widow of Albert J. Hickox, formerly a leading citizen of San Francisco. With D. O. Mills, he was also one of the founders of the Petroleum and Mining Exchange of New York city. Mr. Hickox died in July, 1883, and since his decease his widow has resided with her father in South Bend. Despite his venerable age, Edson Foster attends to his real estate and other business interests, the brightness of his mind and his sturdy bearing being a source of wonder and gratitude to his many friends and associates.

SAMUEL B. WESTLAKE, M. D. During the brief period of Dr. Westlake's professional ca- reer he has met with gratifying success, and though his residence in South Bend dates back but a short time he has won the good will and patronage of many of its leading citizens. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on the 9th of February, 1879, a son of Charles E. and Nettie C. (Powell) Westlake, both natives of New York. The father, who was a manu- facturer, was long engaged in the book-bind- ing business, and his death occurred in 1887.

The elementary educational training of Samuel B. Westlake was received in his native city of Brooklyn, while later he attended Nor- wich Free Academy, of Connecticut and the Mt. Hermon Preparatory School, Baltimore Medical College, entering the latter in- stitution in 1902 and graduating in 1906. In the same year he became a resident of South Bend and engaged in the practice of medicine, his office being located in the Dean building.

JAMES NELSON. From an early period in

the development of St. Joseph county the Nelsons, father and son, have been important factors in its improvement and advancement as contractors and builders. James Nelson was born in Trenton, New Jersey, August 8, 1861, but in 1866 was brought by his parents to South Bend, being then but a little lad of five years. His father, Bernard Nelson, became one of the leading contractors and builders in the city, many of its most beau- tiful and substantial structures now standing as monuments to his ability. His life's labors were ended in death at the age of fifty-seven years, and both he and his wife (nee Ann Green) were natives of Ireland.

When about twenty years of age James Nelson began the business in which his father had been so successful, that of contracting and building, and much of his time since has been devoted to street and sewer contracting, while he has also been interested quite exten- sively in real estate operations, being now the principal owner of the entire 600 block. Dur- ing his business career he has built about ten miles of street pavement, and has also per- formed much other work which has contrib- uted to the substantial improvement of this city. Mr. Nelson gives his political support to the Republican party, while fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks.

GEORGE V. GLOVER, the former efficient and popular sheriff of St. Joseph county, holds and merits a place among its repre- sentative citizens, and the story of his life, while not particularly dramatic, is such as to offer a typical example of that alert Amer- ican spirit which has enabled many an indi- vidual to rise from obscurity to a position of influence and renown solely through na- tive talent, indomitable perseverance and sin- gleness of purpose. Mr. Glover was born in Windsor county, Vermont, March 10, 1828. His father, Peter S. Glover, was born and reared in Massachusetts, and was a manu- facturer of pearlash on a large scale. He subsequently removed to Vermont and was there married to Mary Robinson, a native of that state, and they continued to reside at Barnard, Windsor county, the remainder of their lives, the father dying when about forty years of age and the mother when about sixty. In their family were ten children, but two of them died when young.

George V. Glover, the fifth child and third

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son in order of birth, remained in his native commonwealth of Vermont until his thir- teenth year, but previous to this time, when only nine years of age, had begun to fight the earnest battle of life for himself. For three years he lived with a man for whom he worked for his board and clothes, and when thirteen years of age, as above stated, left the old Green Mountain state for Lowell, Massachusetts, to became an employe in his brother-in-law's store. Three years later Mr. Glover began work in the cotton mill, and four years later went to Boston, Massachu- setts, and drove an omnibus from Charles- ton to that city, making seven trips each day and continuing in that occupation for six years. In 1853 he went to St. Paul, Minne- sota, and engaged in farming, and in that early day he could have purchased the land on which Minneapolis now stands for a dol- lar and a quarter per acre. He had the money and could have bought a section of land, but, oblivious to these great possibili- ties, he purchased a half section on the east side in Wisconsin, thirty miles from Minne- apolis and continued its cultivation and im- provement until his removal to South Bend, Indiana, in 1856. Here he resumed his agri- cultural operations, but later turned his at- tention to threshing clover, in which he was very successful, clearing during the first year thirteen hundred dollars, and he was en- gaged in that occupation for four years. He was then deputy sheriff four years under Sheriff Solomon W. Palmer, after which he was elected to the office for two terms. On the expiration of that period Mr. Glover be- came cashier of the Birdsell Company during their financial troubles, for three years suc- cessfully conducting their affairs and in that time assisting them to once more forge to the front. During the past eighteen years, how- ever, he has lived retired from the active cares of a business life, relieved of the bur- dens and responsibilities which he so long and faithfully bore. He is held in high re- gard by all who know him, his public service has been most exemplary, and his private life has been marked by the utmost fidelity to duty.

Mr. Glover is the father of two daughters, Addea and Georgia. Since the organization of the Republican party he has faithfully supported and upheld its principles, having voted for each Republican presidential can- didate since casting his ballot for Fremont,

but in local affairs he supports the men whom he regards as best qualified for their re- spective offices. During many years he has been a Knight Templar Mason, exemplifying in his life the noble and beneficent spirit of the order.

JOHN M. SINGLER. To John M. Singler has been vouchsafed an honored retirement from labor as the reward of a long. active and useful business career. Through an ex- tended period he was prominently connected . with the hardware trade of South Bend, and throughout the entire period of his residence in this city he has occupied a distinctive posi- tion in the commercial circles of his com- munity, and has ever been faithful to his conceptions of the duties of citizenship. He was born in Tyrol, Austria, November 7, 1830, attending the common schools of his native city until the age of twelve years, when he began learning the tailor's trade and continued in the occupation until his twenty- sixth year. In 1856 he became an American citizen, establishing his home in Goshen, In- diana, but in 1857 he removed to Franklin Grove, near Dixon, Illinois, where he con- tinued his tailoring busines until 1858. Dur- ing the following year he was engaged in agricultural pursuits near Franklin Grove. and on the expiration of that period returned to Goshen, Indiana, to resume his tailoring business, but in the same year transferred his residence and operations to Lima, that state, and after his marriage, which occurred in 1860, Mr. Singler again returned to Goshen and purchased a grocery and bakery stock, his proprietorship therein continuing for one year, when he removed to Millers- burg, Indiana. During his residence in that city he conducted a hotel and grocery store, and also erected seven houses, a hotel and a three-story brick business building, while from 1862 to 1867 he served as the post- master of the city. his residence therein cov- ering a period of fourteen years. While there he purchased a hardware store in Goshen, taking one-half of the stock to Avilla, Indiana, and the remainder to Millersburg, and erected store rooms for this purpose. In 1873 Mr. Singler removed to Plymouth, Indiana, where he purchased a large hard- ware store of Mr. John Hohain, the purchase price being fourteen thousand eight hundred dollars, he having traded his Millersburg property toward the store, and on the second of February, 1873, he came to South Bend

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and purchased the hardware store in the Baker building, on Michigan street. It was not long, however, before his interests grew to such extensive proportions that he was obliged to seek larger quarters and he ac- cordingly moved to the John Kirby building, where she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. increasing business until he sold it in 1894, and has since that time lived in quiet re- tirement, save for the supervision of his large real estate interests.

In 1860, during his residence in Lima, Indiana, Mr. Singler was united in marriage to Susan Bordon, a native of Baden, Ger- many, but she was only six years of age when she came to America, locating with her parents in Erie, Pennsylvania. At the age of sixteen she became a resident of Lima, where she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Singler, and they have become the parents of thirteen children, but two died in in- fancy, the eleven remaining being: Frank Joseph, engaged in the wholesale meat busi- ness in South Bend; Mary Ann C., wife of Mr. J. Rick, of Grant's Pass, Oregon; Cyn- thia N., the wife of Henry Probst, of South Bend, Indiana; Joseph F., the manager of a summer resort in Sandusky, Ohio; William H .. of Everett, Washington ; John M., Jr., a dental surgeon of Dunkirk, Indiana; Charles E., a business man of South Bend; August D., engaged in the piano and organ business at Medford, Oregon; Rudolph, who died at the age of twenty-one; Jacob M., a plumber in New Castle, Indiana; and Peter, who died at the age of nine years, he having been drowned. All received an excellent educa- tional training in Notre Dame and were well prepared to enter the active duties of life. Mr. and Mrs. Singler witnessed the terrible earthquake of San Francisco on the 18th of April, 1906, it having occurred just pre- vious to their entering the city and while their train was stationed at Oakland Pier. They had engaged rooms at the Brooklyn Hotel, and would have been there at the time of the terrible explosion had not their train been two hours late, this having doubt- less saved their lives, as many lost their lives in this hotel. Their train was so badly shaken that the passengers were thrown from their beds. Mr. Singler is a self-made man, and from the study of his life history one may learn valuable lessons. He is a type of the progressive spirit of the age, and the un- daunted enterprise and resolute purpose

which have characterized him have brought him to his present high position.

W. E. CADY, who is now serving as state manger of the fraternal order of Woodmen of the World, was born in Batavia, New York, on the 13th of June, 1861, a son of John W. and Cyrene (Rackley) Cady, also natives of the Empire state. The father was a successful tiller of the soil until 1890, when he removed to Omaha and embarked in the livery business, being thus actively en- gaged with the industrial interests of that city until his death in 1906, when he had reached the age of seventy-one years. He was a man of splendid physique, being six feet and five inches in height and weighing three hundred pounds, but was finely proportioned. He earned for himself an enviable reputa- tion as a business man, and enjoyed the de- served and unbounded confidence of his fel- low men.

In 1865 W. E. Cady accompanied his parents on their removal to Bureau county, Illinois, being then only a little lad of four years, and in its country schools he received his early educational training, which he sup- plemented by attendance at the high school of Princeton. In 1881 he removed to Rock Falls, Illinois, and was there employed as a clerk in a grocery store until 1887, when he went to Omaha, Nebraska, and engaged as a grocery merchant for himself. In 1890, however, Mr. Cady came to South Bend, which has ever since been his home and where he has been accorded a place among the suc- cessful and progressive citizens. Throughout the period of his residence here he has served as state manager for the fraternal order of Woodmen of the World.

On the 27th of March, 1887, Mr. Cady was married to Hattie Kelsey, of Sterling. Illinois. Their home is a happy and attrac- tive one, where warm-hearted hospitality is always to be found by their numerous friends.

ALONZO J. HAMMOND. Among those who have stood as distinguished types of the world's workers and who have introduced new eras of thought and works of great utility no one is more worthy of honorable mention than Alonzo J. Hammond, city engi- eer of South Bend. He was born in Thorn- town, Indiana, on the 23d of April, 1869, a son of John W. and Mary A. (Padgette) Hammond, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Indiana. When twenty years

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of age the father removed to Richmond, In- diana, where he was long numbered among the architects and builders. He afterwards re- moved to Thorntown, that state, and thence to Frankfort, Indiana, where he continued to engage in his profession with skill and ability until his life's labors were ended in death, having been called to the home be- yond in 1891, when fifty-one years of age.

During his youth Alonzo J. Hammond at- tended the high school of Frankfort, and in 1885 became a student in the Rose Poly- technic Institute of Terre Haute, in which he graduated in 1889. For some time there- after he remained in his father's office, there laying the foundation of his future life work. Going thence to Boston he took a special course in engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, after which he went to Frankfort and acted as city engineer, also engaging in the general practice of engineer- ing until 1898. In that year Mr. Hammond became an employe of the Vandalia Railroad Company in the chief engineer's office at Terre Haute. Since 1901 he has been a resi- dent of South Bend, coming to this city as city engineer and is the present incumbent of that office. He also conducts a general engineering practice, but the boundaries of the town are too limited for his capabilities and he has gained a wide reputation through- out Indiana and Michigan. Among other large enterprises with which he has been en- gaged may be mentioned the construction of the Southern Michigan Road, of which he was chief engineer, and he also has charge of the construction of the new road to Laporte, Indiana. He designed and constructed the Cedar street bridge at Mishawaka, also the Colfax avenue bridge and Jefferson street bridge at South Bend, as well as the new La Salle street bridge. He was associate engineer in charge of the construction of the Oliver power house, associate engineer in charge of the construction of the Elkhart power house, and has been consulting en- gineer on much important work. He is a strong and self-masterful man, and has acted his part so well in both public and private life that South Bend has been enriched by his example, his character and his labor.

In 1893 Mr. Hammond was married to Flora Troll, of Sullivan, Indiana, and they have two children: Mary, born September 23. 1895, and John, born October 31, 1905. The family affiliate with the First Presby-

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A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 2, Part 37

Author: Howard, Timothy Edward, 1837-1916 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 887

Author: Howard, Timothy Edward, 1837-1916
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 887