USA > Indiana > Grant County > Biographical memoirs of Grant County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography with portraits of many national characters and well-known residents of Grant County, Indiana. > Part 48
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Having received three hundred and fifty dollars from his father, Lewis Foster in- vested it in land in the rear of the present site of the Spencer House, but there being a small mortgage upon it he was not able to retain it, there being no way by which a man could possibly accumulate any means.
After he had been making furniture for about twenty years, with some progress dur- ing part of the time, he engaged in the sell- ing of goods, but three years later, in 1853, sold to his partner, but the latter not meet- ing. certain debts of the firm, as was agreed, Foster found it necessary to realize on all his property, paying off no less than thirty- ·one hundred dollars, which absorbed all his little accumulations, leaving him as badly off as he had been twenty years before. He then by being allowed ten years, with six per cent. interest, went in debt some twelve hundred dollars for what has since remained his home. He resumed his tools, becoming, however, a contractor and builder, at which occupation he has continued to the present, becoming one of the best known and relia- ble builders of the growing city. Few men
have done more to bring Marion up to its prosperous and highly improved condition, having a hand in all that has tended to make a city where but forests stood in their natural pride and beauty when he first began to carve out a home for himself within their depths.
A Methodist since 1838, he has ever had an active part in the making and the sustain- ing of the church. The first class-meeting was held in his shop, when steps were taken to erect a house of worship. It was com- pleted and used but once when it was de- stroyed by fire, compelling the disheartened, but not subdued, little congregation to once more do that which they had but just done. A Jacksonian Democrat in the days of the strength and vigor of that party, with the enthusiasm of youth he worked for its suc- cess. In company with the first journeyman he ever had, he walked to the polls and cast his vote for Martin Van Buren. In 1856 he cast his first Republican vote for John C. Fremont. Now that the opportunity to ex- press his views by the right of franchise has passed for the last time in the nineteenth century, he still adheres to this party, even though the principles it advocates may differ materially from what aroused the fervor of earlier years, believing that the people of a great nation will ever possess the virility and determination to properly solve any question affecting their permanency and nationality. For the twelfth time he has cast a franchise to assist in the making of a Republican pres- ident, and is entitled to some latitude if the act affords the means of personal gratifica- tion.
Mr. Foster was made a Mason in Grant Lodge, No. 105. in 1852, having had honor- able affiliations with that body ever since,
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and now being the oldest Mason of Marion. His worth and adaptability to the needs of the position have been constantly recognized by the fraternity in his having been placed on the committees of charity for years, and the interest he has ever taken in the securing of homes for the orphans of deceased mem- bers. With a mind evenly balanced and the love of humanity ever prominent, he has never shrunk from the demands made upon him for the alleviation of the distressed, but has rather sought the afflicted to lay balm upon their stricken bodies or to minister the consolation of fraternal love and affection to their wounded spirits.
As the one hundred and eleventh anni- versary of the nation's independence was being celebrated, he was called upon to sur- render the companionship of her with whom he had trod life's pathway for more than half a century, the bonds of lasting affection being loosed by the passing of her immortal spirit to the land of the hereafter. Of six children born to them three survive, two being resi- dents of Marion. Jane is the wife of John Personette and Caroline is the widow of Daniel Mowner, whose death, while in the service of his country, occurred at New Iberia, Louisiana. Her home is now a part of the original Foster homestead, in the south part of the city, and here in the companion- ship of this beloved daughter and in the fre- quent association with the many friends of an honored career, Lewis Foster passes in the peaceful contemplation of a well spent life, the declining years, awaiting with tol- erance and resignation that summons, the answer to which will reunite him to her with whom so many of the happiest years of life were passed.
While the spirit of the resistance to armed rebellion was strong in his own breast, the age limit compelled his assent to the tak- ing of arms by two of his sons, Samuel H. and John Lewis. The former served the country faithfully, having answered to the first call and was in the first battle, that at Rich Mountain. He veteranized, serving through the greater part of the war, and being, after more than three years' service, brought home by his father only to finally respond to the last bugle call-another young life going out in sacrifice to the needs of his country. John Lewis served during the latter year of the war, his health being so shattered that, though he married and had a son, the insidious disease claimed him at the age of twenty-eight years.
In reviewing the events of the century, in so much of which the impress of his own hand is seen, Mr. Foster feels that life has been cast in the most interesting period of the world's history, and that his own efforts, while he has not what the world calls great- ness, have not been devoid of something to commend and which will be appreciated by some who follow. As the contem- plation of life and its possibilities, viewed from the evening of years, takes hold upon his consciousness, the relation to the Master of All is depicted in more glowing coloring, and the summons that will place him in touch with the Infinite will be but a welcome call to reunite him to those who have gone before.
It can well be said of him, that life has been a day that has lasted till sunset. He is a man with no falsetto in a single fiber of his being-no shadow of affectation. He has kept like this through a complicated ex-
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istence in this artificial world, absolutely un- conscious of the hollowness, pretension and sham that surround him.
CHRISTIAN HAUPTHOF.
A proper representative of the valued German-American citizens of Grant county is Christian Haupthof, of Van Buren town- ship, who is well entitled to careful consid- eration at the hands of the reviewer for the part he has taken in bringing the section of the country where he lives, from its orig- inal unattractive and miasmatic condition to the present state of fertility, rivaling the Fatherland in its appearance and product- iveness. His own farm, now one of the best, was, when he began upon it, mere swamp and pond, water lying all over it, being sev- eral feet in depth in places, and the fallen timber thick enough to afford passage clear across the tract by walking on the trunks.
Mr. Haupthof was born in Lippe-Det- mold, Germany, December 27, 1840, being reared principally in the city where he worked in the brick-yards in the summer seasons, from the age of fourteen, attending the schools in the winter. His father's death occurred when he was eighteen, and much vi the care of his mother devolved upon him from that time. For the succeeding thir- teen years, he worked along the same lines, in various countries, visiting Zeeland, Co- penhagen, Sweden, Gutland, and North- Schleswick. He happened to be in the lat- ter country at the outbreak of the war of 1864, and it was with some difficulty that he escaped service in the army. During the famous six weeks' war, in 1866, between Prussia and Austria, he was working in
Saxony, being at Leipsic during the greater part of the time that the excitement lasted. He worked at Stettin and Bremen; and, in fact, saw something of every section of the German empire, becoming familiar with the different branches of the great Teuton fan- ily and with the different dialects in use throughout the country. Sections of the Fatherland, separated but by a small range 1 of mountains may have so different lan- guages that it becomes difficult to converse with each other. His travels gave him a decided advantage in studying the different peoples and languages, noting especially the diversity between the high and low Dutch speech.
This sort of life had its benefits to a young man, the advantage derived being equal to several years' school training. He experienced many interesting incidents, memory being specially impressed with the incidents of one trip in crossing the sea from Sweden in 1863. The regular time for the trip was seven hours, but this time it took more than forty hours, the ship being driven back to the starting place after be- ing out at sea several hours. The ship was so strained in buffeting the storm that it was abandoned as soon as land was reached, the remainder of the trip being finished in another vessel, which finally landed the party at Kiel, Germany.
Having resolved to come to America, he started in the spring of 1869, leaving the family behind .. The old mother for whom he had labored ceaselessly, died the follow- ing year. Twenty-eight days was spent on the Atlantic, the old ship sailing from Bre- men with eight hundred and eighty-nine passengers on board, among them being a young lady-Anna Hartman-who was
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coming to join her brother at Cincinnati. Ample opportunity was given for the form- ing of acquaintances, and, before the land- ing was effected, the young couple had con- cluded that the new world would seem brighter and their own lives more cheerful if the years were passed together; accord- ingly, they were married on the 6th of April, 1870. He secured work at farm labor at I.cbanon, Ohio, receiving twenty dollars per month, his employer being Henry Sande- man, now a resident of Grant county; and in whose company he came to Grant county, in 1875.
Securing a tract of sixty acres, with but a small clearing and log house, he and his vigorous wife set themselves to make for themselves a home. The conditions for securing satisfactory results could scarcely be worse, the worst feature being not the fact of the water, but that no outlet seemed probable so as to have a means of ridding the land of the water, which must be carried off before it were possible to attempt other improvement. He was derided, the older residents getting much sport out of the little "Dutchman" in thinking he could make a farm out of such a piece of swamp. His visiting Denmark and other low countries, however, had given him that assurance that enabled him to go on with hopes of attain- ing the end sought. Securing petitioners for a drain, as the law provided, he soon had the satisfaction of having the surveyors at work. The survey was made in March, when there was a skim of ice, the party wading for miles in the ice-cold water in order to ar- range for the beginning of the opening of the (litches. Nearly a year was required to get the ditches opened so as to afford the neces- sary outlets; but, when this had been ac-
complished, some show was made toward the clearing and cultivation of the land. Tile has been laid each year until the entire tract is now in fine shape, where formerly the water stood the year round; there now be- ing found the greatest crops of cereals of all kinds. It is by such efforts as these that much of this section of the county has been brought into a valuable condition, and it is to the actions of such men that credit must be accorded, in demonstrating to the older citizens, many of whom had been content to cultivate the higher places, allowing the low lands to remain waste. If he who makes two blades of grass to grow where but one grew before be a benefactor, how much more should the praise be to him who produces immense crops of grain on what was not only absolute waste, but what was detrimental in its being the breeding place of all the malarial diseases known to materia medica ?
The old log house remained the home for more than twenty years, being replaced, finally, by a more commodious and preten- tious one, which was certainly needed for the accommodation of the growing fam- ily, which is represented by eight children- Willie, Emma, John, Fred, August, AAnna, Dora, and Nellie. Of these, John, is the late census enumerator. He is a graduate of the Marion normal school, and, being partially crippled, has devoted himself to other lines of labor than the farm, being, at the present, connected with a photograph gallery at Van Buren. The eldest daughter is the wife of Clem Downing, of .. Peru, In- diana. Affliction and sadness have come into the Haupthof home, as well as satisfaction and gladness. The eldest son-Willie-was accidentally killed by the discharge of a
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gun on the day succeeding Thanksgiving. 1893. His death occurred but a few hours after the accident, his demise taking from the family circle a beloved son and brother, and from the community a respected and congenial companion. Just entering upon the responsibilities of young manhood, he had begun to examplify, in his own life the careful training and moral teaching that had ever been inculcated by his indulgent and loving parents.
The operations of Mr. Haupthof have not been confined to his own farm, the work- ing force enabling him to handle the well known Creviston farm in the same neigh- borhood, his products aggregating gener- ally over a thousand bushels of wheat and other cereals in proportion, and placing on the market hog products in excess of five hundred dollars annually.
Politically Mr. Haupthof is a Demo- crat, having identified himself with that party upon coming to the country, believing that its principles most nearly represented his earlier conceptions of what the institu- tions of a republic should be. He and fam- ily are consistent members of St. Joseph's Reformed church, which stands near the home, and they were among the original 1.embers, this church succeeding the Luth- eran church at Warren, Indiana. Services are held regularly by the Rev. Mr. Grimmel, of Marion, and the benefit to the community is difficult to estimate, there being decided improvement in the moral tone of local so- ciety since the services of the church have been held.
Mr. Haupthof is a member of the broth- erhood of Odd Fellows, the fraternity feel- ing a distinct and decisive cordiality for him.
Thoroughly impregnated with the spirit
of American institutions, it is not fair to speak of this gentleman as a German, but as an American, his affliation with all that makes for the advancement of the nation being second to none, even though the acci- (lent of birth places him among the class designated as German-Americans.
ALDINE JOSEPH DOOLEY, M. D.
Marion has her full share of skillful and honorable physicians, and amongst them no one perhaps holds a more secure place than the gentleman whose name opens this bio- graphical mention.
Aldine J. Dooley, M. D., who will be found in a finely equipped suite of offices in the Iroquois building, is a native of Grant county, Indiana, born in Franklin township, October 29. 1872. He is the son of David Rush and Elizabeth ( Rhea) Dooley, who were natives of Preble county, Ohio, where they were reared, and in which county they were married in 1853. They at once left their native state and came to Indiana, lo- cating in Grant county on a farm near Sweetser, but only remained there one year, after which they removed to the old home- stead known as the Sweetser farm, where they resided for twenty-seven years. In 1889 they removed to a farm which they had purchased some years before and here they remained until called away by death. the mother passing away in October, 1891, and the father in February, 1894.
As to the genealogy of the Dooley fam- ily. little is known though it can be traced back to Scotch and Irish ancestry.
To Mr. and Mrs. D. R. Dooley were born six children, of whom our subject is the youngest. The eldest of this interesting
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family was Mary Ann, who married Daniel WV. Kem. She died in Grant county, Indi- ana : James A., is a farmer and mechanic in Sweetser; Juliet married John P. Doty, a farmer in Pleasant township, this county; Rachel J., now Mrs. David M. Miller, who is a farmer in Pleasant township; and Al- dine J., as mentioned above, being the last born.
Aldine J. Dooley resided on the home farm assisting his father in the general farm work. He received his early educational training at the common schools, but being endowed with the desire of obtaining a higher education he entered Roanoak Class- ical Seminary, and also attended the Marion College where he graduated in the class of 1890. He then engaged in teaching school being employed in his native county. While he was thus engaged he began the study of his chosen profession and later studying in the office of Drs. Francis & Borden in Marion.
In the spring of 1893 he entered Rush Medical College of Chicago where, after thre years of close application to his studies and having the honor of being one of the leaders in his class, he was graduated in June, 1896. Ås a reward for his labors he was honored by a membership in the Cook county "Quiz Class," a position granted only upon superior intellectual attainments. He also received an appointment to a position in the Illinois State Insane Asylum, but declined and came direct to Marion where he succeeded to the practice of his former tutor, Dr. Borden, who retired from general practice owing to failing health, since which time he has estab- lished a very satisfactory and lucrative prac- tice.
In the medical world he is well known.
being a member of Grant County Medical Society, Indiana State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association, in all of which he is a valuable worker and a good counselor. He is also surgeon for the Union Traction Company at Marion, and is medical examiner for several life insurance companies, viz. : K. O. T. M., L. O. T. M., Endowment Rank Knights of Pythias, and for several foreign life associations.
Mr. Dooley was married in this city June 23 1897. the lady of his choice being Miss Eva J. Heichert, daughter of Major H. O. and Kate ( Smith) Heichert, both of whom are natives of Indiana. Her father was a soldier and distinguished officer in the Civi! war and is now the treasurer of the Marion branch of the National Military Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.
Mrs. Dooley was educated in the Frank- lin high school, of which she is a graduate. and the Marion Normal college. After leav - ing school she was employed for several years as stenographer in a wholesale and re- tail mercantile house in Chicago.
Fraternally Dr. Dooley is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, and Knights of Pythias and Knights of Khorassan, in the latter holding the principal office. "Imperial Nawab," while in the Knights of Pythias he is the present chancellor commander.
Dr. and Mrs. Dooley are both active members of the First Presbyterian church, he being one of the elders. Mrs. Dooley is a member of the Lyric Club.
The Doctor is a genial gentleman and has met with abundant success in his profes- sional career, and few persons are more highly esteemed by the general public, or in the professional or social circles than in Dr. Dooley.
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BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
AARON THOMAS LOBDELL.
Among the widely known and successful farmers of Grant county is the gentleman whose name introduces this article, Aaron Thomas Lobdell, of Washington township. He was born in Perry county, Ohio, on the 7th of May. 1836. His parents were John and Plezzy .Ann ( Watson) Lobdell, he being a native of the same county and of Dutch ancestory.
In 1842 this worthy couple and family. then consisting of three children, migrated from their old home in Ohio, hoping to bet. ter their condition farther west. The father secured the northwest quarter section of land in Washington township, Indiana. Here the remainder of their lives was passed. At that time the tract was new with but'a small clearing. With the help of his sons he made a most desirable farm, adding some two hundred acres nearly all of which he gave to his sons during his life time. After a most honored and useful life, this respected couple passed to their reward, he being eighty-one and she seventy-nine, having sur- vived him about seven years.
Soon after their coming to the county they rendered material assistance in the buliding of the well-known Range Line Christian church, which stood on a corner of his farm, the land being donated by him. During the course of a long and useful life, he was recognized as the most ardent and in- fluential member of the above society, never flagging in his observance of Christian duty and upright living, never lacking in the necessary financial support, in a thousand ways contributing to the life and vigor of the church.
Republican party : though, being of a quiet and unobtrusive character, he was not noted for active political work. Of the family of twelve children born to them, eight only reached maturity, all of whom were married and living at the time of their father's death. They were Aaron. Robert, Martha, Eliza, Harriet, Ella. Frank and Alfred.
Aaron T. Lobdell was married on Octo- ber 23. 1856, while yet in his twenty-first year, to Miss Catherine Ann MeDanel. daughter of John and Catherine (Coon) McDanel. She was born in Rush county, Indiana, October 22, 1832, and was but four years of age upon coming to this vicin- ity. Her father enteredl land in Wabash coun- ty within a mile of where the Lobdell family settled, so that she and husband had grown up in close proximity. Some years after her marriage, her parents removed to Hun- tington county, where both died, each having just passed the seventy-first birthday. But one other member of the family resides in Grant county, she being Barbara Ellen, widow of William Busick, who died of star- vation while a prisoner in Libby.
After marriage, Aaron and his bride set- tled on their present farm, which was then owned by his father. Some four years later. he was given one thousand dollars by his father, still, however, assuming an indebted- ness of four hundred dollars on the land. This gift was in lieu of further claims on his father's estate, preferring to have this when most needed, rather than a greater amount several years later. The tract was wild and covered with heavy timber, of which but twenty acres had been cleared. He placed upwards of fifty acres under cultivation. and added until the farm now contains one hun-
Politically, his views were those of the 'dred and sixty-four acres. Extensive im-
Aaron. J. Lobdell
Catharin A Labdell
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improvements in fencing, building and tiling have brought this farm into a highly im- proved condition, making it one of the most desirable country homes in the county. A commodious barn was erected several years ago, and the present handsome and conven- ient residence, built in 1874, and standing upon a commanding rise of ground, makes this, not only one of the most attractive, but one of the most valuable farms in this section of the state. Mr. Lobdell takes com- mendable pride in this farm to which so much of his thought, energy and attention had been given. Believing that no nobler occupation is known than that of the farmer. he has exerted every effort of which he was capable in making his own operations a success. He has made a systematic study of the details of agriculture, the result being a scientific and successfully conducted bus iness.
Following the most approved ideas in the rotation of crops and enriching the soil with clover and other fertilizers the result is shown in the production of immense crops of all the cereals usually grown in this state. Ever a lover of choice stock, he has kept high-grade animals of all lines. As a breeder of Cotswold sheep, he attained an estab lished reputation, his flock for many years being one of the principal sources of his in- come.
Until quite recent years, Mr. Lobdell, acted and voted with the Republican party , becoming, however, independent and not holding strict allegiance to either party, feel- ing free to cast his franchise where he thought the effect would be for a better and broader civilization.
Both he and wife have been identified with the Range Line Christian church dur-
ing all of their mature years. His own ac- tivity, serving as deacon and trustee for many years, has been little less pronounced than was that of his father. In the latter part of 1863, he responded to the draft for troops ; but, after about three months' service a substitute, hired by his father, took his place. He was named, by his father, before he died, to conduct the farm during his mother's life and to finally settle the estate. This was done to the satisfaction of all con- cerned. He was also selected to administer upon the estate of his wife's father at his demise.
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