USA > Indiana > Lake County > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of Lake County, Indiana, with a compendium of history 1834-1904 > Part 53
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JOHN A. GAVIT.
Jolin A. Gavit, attorney at law in the Majestic building at Hammond, has carried on a successful practice in this city since 1896, and has been practicing at the bar for the past sixteen years. Before coming to Hammond he took considerable part in public affairs, and he still gives pub- lic-spirited interest to all matters affecting the general welfare of his com- munity. He is an able lawyer, well read and a fluent talker, and is a genial and talented gentleman who wields a good influence in the city and county.
Mr. Gavit was born in Walsingham, Canada. August 19, 1861, a son of Albert N. and Bridget ( Highland) Gavit, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Ireland. His paternal grandfather, Albert Gavit, was a native Connecticut farmer, but who died in Canada in old age, having reared a large family. His maternal grandfather. Patrick Highland, was born in Ireland and followed farming during his earlier years. He emigrated to Canada, and after some years moved to Pontiac, Michigan, where he died in old age. By his wife Hannah he had a number of children. Albert N. Gavit has always followed farming, and is still living on his farmstead near Saginaw. Michigan. He has been honored with various township offices. He and his wife had seven children: John A .; Frank M., of Whiting. In- diana: Louis N., of Saginaw, Michigan: Mary, wife of Frank Cole, of Saginaw : William, of Saginaw : the other two children are deceased.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
Mr. John A. Gavit spent his boyhood days near Pontiac, Michigan. He attended the public schools there, and in 1886 graduated from the Normal College at Flint, Michigan. He then read law. and was admitted to the bar in 1888. He was engaged in practice at Saginaw from then until 1896, at which date he came to Hammond, where he has created a good reputation in his profession and built up a very fine clientage. Mr. Gavit is a Democrat in politics, and at Saginaw was justice of the peace for three years. He re- signed that office to accept the nomination for prosecuting attorney, and was elected and served in that office for two years.
Mr. Gavit affiliates with the Knight of Pythias, the Maccabees and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He resides at 755 Sibley street. where he bought ground and erected a good home. In January, 1890, he married Miss Emma Campbell, the daughter of John and Adelia (Johnson) Campbell. They have six children: Elwin J., Russell, Bernard, Donald. Hubert and Inez.
MELVIN A. HALSTED.
Melvin A. Halsted, who is living a retired life in Lowell, was born in Rensselaer county, New York. March 29. 1821. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to William the Conqueror, and three brothers of the name came to America in early colonial days, settling in New York. The great- grandfather of Melvin A. Halsted was a minister of the Baptist church and was one of a party of six that owned an entire township in Rensselaer county, New York. One representative of the family, Thomas Halsted, remained loyal to the British crown, but Joseph Halsted, the grandfather of our sub- ject. espoused the cause of the colonists and valiantly did battle for their rights. He was born in the Empire state on the bank of the Hudson river, became a farmer and followed that occupation throughout his entire life. William Halsted, the father of Melvin A., was also a native of Rensselaer county, New York, and after arriving at years of maturity he was united in marriage to Miss Patty Haskin, who was born in Pittstown, New York, and was a descendant of Enoch Haskin, who was of Scotch birth, coming from the land of the heather to America in the year 1700. Mr. and Mrs. William Halsted were the parents of two sons, but the younger, Edson, is now de- ceased.
The only surviving member of the family is Melvin A. Halsted, who
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MRS. M. A. HALSTED
Respectfully M.A. Halsted
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was reared in the place of his nativity until fourteen years of age and attended the public schools there. He was also a student in the high school at Benning- ton, Vermont, and in 1837 he removed to Montgomery county, Ohio, locating in Dayton. He was there married in May, 1842, to Miss Martha C. Foster, and for three years they continued their residence in Dayton, at the end of which time they came to Lake county, Indiana, locating in West Creek township, where Mr. Halsted carried on farming until 1848. He then came to what is now the town of Lowell and built and operated a sawmill. The following year he burned four hundred thousand brick, and erected the house in which he still lives. It is yet a substantial structure and is a monument to his life of thrift and energy. AAttraeted by the discovery of gold in California, Mr. Halsted crossed the plains in 1850, accomplishing a part of the journey with ox teams and the remainder of the trip with mule teams. He was one hundred days upon the way, and after spending about a year on the Pacific coast he returned to the Mississippi valley by way of Salt Lake city, being eiglity days upon the return trip. In 1852 he built the flour mill at Lowell, hauling all of the machinery from Chicago in wagons. In 1853 he began the operation of this mill, and it became one of the important industries of this part of the state, receiving a patronage from a large district. About 1857, however, he sold the property and removed to southern Illinois, but in the meantime he had entered the land upon which the town of Lowell now stands. In southern Illinois he built and operated a grist and saw mill at Kinmundy, twenty miles north of Centralia, on the Chicago branch of the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad. There he remained until 1859, when he sold his property and again went to California, where he built another flouring mill thirty miles south of San Francisco. In 1861 he sold this for twelve thousand dollars, and then returned to Kinmundy, Illinois, where he owned real estate. After four months, however, he again went to California, by way of New York and the isthmus route, arriving eventually at San Francisco. He then made his way to Virginia City and was engaged in mining at Gold Hill for about three years, when he returned by way of Panama and New York to Lowell, Indiana. His family had joined him at Gold Hill in 1862, and in 1863 he made a trip among the giant trees of the state. At Gold Hill he built four houses, which he rented, and thus he contributed to the improvement and development of the town. On the 4th of January, 1864, he started for Indiana by the
36
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water route. leaving his family. however, in California. On reaching Lake county he found that his original property at Lowell was for sale, and pur- chased it, together with other property, including a flour mill three miles from Lowell. in addition to the one at Lowell. On his return to Lowell he put the mills in excellent condition and carried on the business of manufactur- ing flour for some time. He then sent word for his wife to sell his property in California and Nevada and join him in Lowell. He met his family at New York city and went to Washington, where they visited Mount Vernon and many places of interest in and about the city. While there Mr. Halsted obtained the assistance of Mr. Colfax in getting the first daily mail for Lowell.
Mr. Halsted continued in the milling business at Lowell until 1869, when he sold out and spent the succeeding winter in San Francisco, again making the trip to the Pacific coast by water. He erected fourteen houses for renting purposes at Valejo, California, twenty-two miles from San Francisco, and continued to own that property until 1872, when he sold out to one of the owners of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. In that year his family returned to Indiana, while Mr. Halsted made a hunting tour off the Island of St. Barbara. He captured four sea lions on the expedition, which he sold to John Robinson, the showman, for twelve hundred dollars. Later Mr. Halsted visited Kinmundy. Illinois, before returning to Lowell. He has also visited New England, viewing many points of historic interest in that country, including Plymouth Rock, on which the early settlers first stepped as they landed from the Mayflower on American soil. Going to Utah territory, he sent for his family to join him there, and became superintendent of a mine, which he conducted until the demonetization of silver in 1873. After his return from Utah he was instrumental in securing the building of the Monon Railroad through Lake county. He did grading to the value of eighty-five thousand dollars, but only received sixty-five thousand dollars, thus suffering a loss of twenty thousand dollars. He is now engaged in the real estate busi- nes in Lowell.
Mr. and Mrs. Halsted have two sons, William M., who is a resident of Topeka. Kansas, and Theron H., who is residing in Lowell. Mr. Halsted gave his early political support to the Whig party, and heard William Henry Harrison deliver a political speech on the roth of September, 1840. On the dissolution of that party he joined the ranks of the new Republican party, of
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which he has since been a stalwart advocate. He is now the oldest Mason of Lowell and a charter member of the lodge in this place. He has passed the eighty-third milestone on life's journey, and his has been a very eventful career, in which he has largely witnessed the growth and upbuilding of the country and has taken an active and helpful part in the work of progress in many sections of the United States. From actual experience he has intimate knowledge concerning the history of pioneer days in California as well as in Indiana and Illinois, and his life record. if written in detail. would present many chapters of intense and thrilling interest. He is very widely known in northwestern Indiana. and his worth as a man and citizen is widely acknowl- edged.
BENJAMIN F. IBACH.
Benjamin F. Ibach, lawyer of Hammond, with offices in the Hammond building, has been prominent in practice at the bar of Indiana for the past forty years. He has gained an enviable reputation as pleader and counsel. but has also gone afield into politics and public life, and one of the most im- portant state charitable institutions owes its organization and high efficiency to his sincere and intelligent efforts. Before entering the law he had made a great success in the teaching profession, and he performed noteworthy service in this line in both Pennsylvania and Indiana. Mr. Ibach is a man of broad practical and scholastic attainments, devoted to his main work in life and also interested in world and community affairs, and has the humanly sympa- thetic instincts which are the marks of the well rounded and large character.
Mr. Ibach was born in Cherrington, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania. January 31, 1834, so that he has now passed the limit of life set by the Psalmist, but is still able to perform a useful part in life for some years to come. He is a son of Charles and Elizabeth ( Hine) Ibach, and is the only one living of the three sons and two daughters born to those parents. His father was born at Reimscheid. near Düsseldorf, Germany, and was a manu- facturer of iron kitchen utensils, as was also his father. He was brought to America in 1799, when six years old, the family locating in Chiester county. Pennsylvania, and there he was reared and in that state lived the rest of his life. He died in Cherrington, Pennsylvania. in August. 1833. before his son Benjamin was born. He and his wife were both Lutherans in faith. His wife was born in Berks county. Pennsylvania. and survived
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him until 1881, being then eighty-two years old. Her father, John Hine, was a life-long resident of Pennsylvania, dying at Philadelphia when nearly sev- enty years old. He was a farmer until he retired late in life to Philadelphia.
Mr. Benjamin F. Ibach was reared on a farm in Pennsylvania. He at- tended one of the first public schools established in the state. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to Emanuel Schaeffer. of Lancaster. Pennsyl- vania, and learned the saddle, harness, collar and trunk-making business. After completing his apprenticeship he worked at his trade long enough to earn money with which to attend the Strasburg Academy. After a term
or so in that institution he taught in the public schools of Lancaster county, and then became principal of the Strasburg Academy, which position he lield for several years. While principal he and James P. Wickersham and another gentleman were appointed a committee at a teachers' county conven- tici: to organize a normal school. They organized and set going such a school at Millersville, with Mr. Wickersham as president, and out of this institution grew the State Normal School at Millersburg. After leaving the Strasburg Academy Mr. Ibach for several years was superintendent of the public schools of Columbia, Pennsylvania, and in 1862 became superinten. dent of the public schools of Huntington. Indiana.
While engaged in school work both in Pennsylvania and in Huntington Mr. Ibach was reading law, one of his preceptors being W. T. Phail, of Lan- caster. Pennsylvania, and in November, 1864, he was admitted to the bar at Huntington. He began practice in that city at once. He was elected prosecuting attorney for several terms, and was also judge of the common pleas court for a time. He held the office of city attorney of Huntington for seventeen years. As a matter of recreation principally he had devoted some study to feeble-minded children, and when the legislature passed an act for the organization of a school to care for such children. Governor Will- iams appointed Mr. Ibach as one of the trustees. After the completion of a suitable building for the purposes, the governor induced him to resign his place as trustee on condition that the board of trustees should elect him super- intendent of the institution, which was done. He organized the school, placed it on a good business basis, and during his two years' management the asylum attracted national attention to its efficiency and was visited by superintendents from various states for the purpose of noting its methods of improving this class of children.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
After resigning this important work he resumed legal practice at Hunt- ington, where he remained until 1895. in which year he came to Hammond, and has continued his successful legal career in this city to the present writ- ing. In 1886 he was elected to the legislature for the counties of Hunting- ton and Allen, being a member of the memorable assembly of 1887, during which he voted for David Turpie for United States senator. His political allegiance was given to the Democratic party until after Cleveland's first election. and from that time until 1896 he was in alignment with the Re- publicans. His views as to money caused him to swing with the silver Re- publicans, and since then most of his influence has been on the side of Democ- racy. He is a member of the Methodist church, and fraternally is affiliated with Garfield Lodge No. 569. F. & A. M., at Hammond.
January 29, 1856, Mr. Ibach married Miss Kate E. Warfel, whose parents died when she was an infant, and she was taken and reared as the daughter of B. B. Gonder. Three children were born of this marriage, Charles L., Preston G. and Joseph G. Charles L. was a clerk in Indianapolis at the time of his death: his wife was Lizzie Chambers, of Camden, New Jersey, who is also now deceased. Preston G. is a successful physician in Hammond; he married Miss Nellie Huntoon. Joseph G. is an attorney in Hammond: he married Miss Minnie Friedley, and they have three children. Mary, Anna and Joseph. Mrs. Kate Ibach died in February, 1864, when twenty-nine years old. She was a member of the Methodist church.
In May, 1876, Mr. Ibach married Miss Martha Wilson, a daughter of Samuel Wilson. She died in October. 1891, at the age of sixty-three, having been a faithful member of the Methodist church. There are no children liv- ing of that union. On July 22. 1903. Mr. Ibach married for his present wife Mrs. Amanda L. Rounds. a widow.
PATRICK REILLEY.
Patrick Reilley. at present of the Reilley Plumbing Company of Ham- mond, is a man of broad and varied business and industrial experience, cov- ering several important fields of human activity and in different parts of the country. He has known a life of busy and useful effort since he was a young boy, when he joined the naval service of the United States while the Civil war was still in progress. While with the navy he saw much of the inhabited
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
part of the globe. He came west to Hammond, about twenty years ago, to identify himself with the butterine department of the packing company. and since then has embarked in the plumbing business, in which he has been most successfully employed for a number of years. He is now able to rely and place much responsibility on the shoulders of his stalwart sons, and he has good reason to be proud of his fine family, which he has reared to careers of usefulness in addition to performing well his own part in life. He has entered much into public affairs since taking up his residence in Hammond, has been honored with the office of mayor of the city, and in many ways is identified prominently with the life and welfare of his community.
Mr. Reilley was born in Verplanck's Point, New York, January 1. 1848, a son of James and Bridget (O'Donnell) Reilley, both natives of Ireland, where their parents lived and died. His father followed various pursuits in young manhood. He was a brick-maker by trade, and on coming to America settled in New York state. He was for some time superintendent of the Second Avenue car stables, and in 1855 was killed there by the kick of a horse. He and his wife were both Roman Catholics. His wife survived him three years, and by her second husband, John Allen, had one son, John Allen, Jr. There were six children, two sons and four daughters, born to James and Bridget Reilley, but only two are now living: Patrick and Bridget, the latter the wife of John Hessick, of Lebanon, Indiana.
Mr. Patrick Reilley lived in New York state until after the breaking out of the Civil war, and received his early education in that state. On October 23, 1863, when fifteen years old, he enlisted at Philadelphia in the United States Marine Corps, and served as drummer for five years, three months and eight days. He re-enlisted at the close of his service, and went to Europe in the United States frigate Guerriere. He served four years in all, and was also assigned to other ships, the Don, the De Soto and the Brooklyn. After leaving that department of naval work he was employed in the Brooklyn navy yard for some time, and later began the manufacture of butterine at Charlestown, Massachusetts. He was in the employ of the Standard Butter Manufacturing Company for some time, and later with John Reardon and Son of Cambridgeport, Massachusetts. In 1884 he came to Hammond to accept the position of superintendent of the Hammond but- terine department, remaining with the company for twelve years. He re-
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signed and went into the plumbing and later into the grocery business with his sons James and Edward. confining his attention to that line of mer- chandising for three years. For the past six years he has given his principal energies to the conduct of the Reilley Plumbing Company, which has a large and profitable patronage in this city.
Mr. Reilley gives his political allegiance to the Democratic party. He served as councilman of the third ward for eight years, and for the last eighteen months of that time acted as mayor. Two years later he was re- elected to the council, and was afterward elected to the office of mayor, which he held four years. He and his wife and family are members of the Catho- lic church, and he affiliates with the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Independent Order of Foresters of the State of In- diana, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. He has lived at his pleasant home at 283 South Hohman street for the past eighteen years.
Mr. Reilley married Miss Mary A. McSweeney, a daughter of Edward and Mary (Murphy) McSweeney. They are the parents of thirteen chil- dren, eight of whom are living, as follows: Mary Ann. James C., Edward, Catherine, Bessie, Nora, Julia and Joseph. James C. married Josie Enright.
FRED S. CHARTIER.
Fred S. Chartier, the popular liveryman at Hammond, has been identi- fied with the business affairs of this city for the past five years and has gained the esteem and high regard of all his fellow citizens through his fair and progressive business methods and his own personal integrity of character.
He was born in Valparaiso, Indiana. May 24, 1871, being a son of Jacob and Emma Chartier, natives of Napierville, Quebec, and born. respec- tively, November 2, 1835, and October 19, 1845. The father of Mrs. Emma Chartier was a native of Canada, whence he came to the United States and was one of the early settlers of St. Ann, Illinois, where he died at the age of eighty-four years, having been the father of a large family. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Chartier was of French parentage but a native of Canada. and was a farmer by occupation. He died at Valparaiso. Indiana, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. There were eight children in his family.
Jacob Chartier was eighteen years old when he came to the United
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States in 1853 and located at Valparaiso, Indiana, where he engaged in farm- ing for a few years. He then became a brick manufacturer, and continued that business up to 1897, since which time he has lived retired. He served as city councilman of Valparaiso for several terms, and has otherwise been prominent in business and public affairs. He and his wife are Catholics in faith. They had eleven children, six sons and five daughters, and eight are now living : George, of Stony Island, Illinois; Fred S., of Hammond ; Leonie, of Valparaiso; Eliza, wife of H. B. Blair, of Fort Wayne, Indiana ; Alfred C., of Hammond; Margaret, wife of Clarence Dillingham, of Val- paraiso: Stella, wife of David Lameroux, of Chicago; and Peter, of Val- paraiso.
Mr. Fred S. Chartier was reared at Valparaiso, in which city he at- tended both the parochial and the public schools. He undertook life's re- sponsibilities at an early age, and has since made his own way and gained by self-achievement the prominent position in business affairs that now be- longs to him. At the age of fifteen he went to Michigan, where he remained for a year, and then went to South Chicago, where he lived for eleven years. He followed railroading until 1894, and was then in the oil and gasoline and bottle-beer business. In September, 1899. he came to Hammond, and for the past two years has been engaged in conducting a first-class livery establishment, to which he has recently added an undertaking business. He is a live, wide-awake business man, and understands the art of gaining trade and retaining it by fair and honorable dealings.
Mr. Chartier was married April 10, 1893, to Miss Catherine Young, a daughter of Michael J. and Mary (Conway) Young. They have three children, Fred Walter, Marie Agnes and Irene Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Char- tier are members of the Catholic church, and he affiliates with the North American Union, and with the Independent Order of Foresters of Toronto. In politics he is a Democrat.
OSCAR DINWIDDIE.
Oscar Dinwiddie, of whom a likeness is here given, is the oldest son of the pioneer J. W. Dinwiddie. He is a farmer and large land owner of Plum Grove, in Eagle Creek township, is master of Center Grange, has been an officer in the State Grange and National Grange of the Patrons of Hus-
OSCAR DINWIDDIE
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
bandry, and is president of the Old Settler and Historical Association of Lake county. He takes an active part in the Farmers' Institutes and is a member of the Lake County Tax Payers' League. He is corresponding secretary of the Dinwiddie Clan.
J. FLOYD IRISH.
J. Floyd Irish, engaged in the real estate and insurance business at Hammond, with office over the First National Bank, has been connected with various departments of business activity in Lake county for the past twenty years, and has made a commendable record for reliability, integrity and ability in all his dealings. He takes much interest in the progress and welfare of his city and county, and is a citizen who can be depended upon to carry out his obligations in every department of life.
Mr. Irish was born in Brunswick, Lake county. Indiana. June 19. 1867, a son of Josephus Hull and Mary Ellen ( Vinnedge) Irish. His paternal grandfather. Joab Irish, was a native of Vermont, a farmer by occupation. and died well advanced in years, having been the father of twelve children, six sons and six daughters. Josephus H. Irish was born in Chittenden county. Vermont, and trained himself for the profession of veterinary sur- geon. He came west to Brunswick, Indiana, in 1850, and lived there until 1888, when he moved to Hammond, where he died January 20. 1902, at the age of seventy-five years. He held the office of justice of the peace for thirty- four years. His wife still survives him, and now resides in Zion City. Illinois. He was married three times. His first wife died about a year after their marriage, and her child died in infancy. His second wife was Clarissa Bidwell. by whom he had four children, three now living, as follows : Cornelius E., of Hammond : Martha M., wife of Elliott J. Jarrard. of Ham- mond; and Arvilla, wife of Walter Bowes, of Crown Point, Indiana. His third wife was Mary Ellen Vinnedge, who was born near Plymouth, Indiana. and they were the parents of six children : Ida May; deceased, who was the wife of Adolphus E. Crowell ; Clara A., the deceased wife of Ernest W. Sohl: Iva E., deceased, who also was the wife of Ernest W. Sohl: George Edward. deceased : J. Floyd Irish, of Hammond; and Charles Hull Irish, of Zion City. Illinois, assistant cashier in a bank.
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