USA > Indiana > Lake County > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of Lake County, Indiana, with a compendium of history 1834-1904 > Part 58
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1900, is now in the wholesale house of Carson, Pirie. Scott & Company, at Chicago. Ernest, also a student at Valparaiso, is at home.
Mrs. Meyer was born in Hanover, Germany. November 8. 1841. a daughter of Herman and Johanna ( Steffens) Doescher, who were the par- ents of eight children. two sons and six daughters, five of whom are living. Herman, the eldest. is married and is a farmer in Endor. Illinois. Johanna, of Endor, Illinois, is the widow of Christopher Batterman. Fredericka is the widow of Charles Horn, a resident of Crete, Illinois. Mrs. Meyer is next. Charles, who was a soldier in the Civil war, is married and a resident of Crete, Illinois.
When Mr. and Mrs. Meyer began life it was as renters on section 19 in Hanover township. and for six years they farmed on rented land. The first land he purchased was two hundred and twenty acres in section 31, and he went in debt for a large part of it, but in the end his diligence and good man- agement paid off all the indebtedness, and he is now owner of three hun- dred and two acres in Hanover township and fourteen aeres in Center town- ship, well improved with barns, granaries, and other buildings, and they have an excellent farm residence, without a dollar of mortgage standing against the property. He is also owner of three hundred and sixty-five acres in Audrain county, Missouri, situated only four miles from the thriving city of Mexico.
Mr. Meyer is a Republican, having east his first presidential vote for Fremont, since which time each party candidate has received his support. He and his wife had seen all the remarkable development of Lake county during the last half century, and they are therefore among the real old- timers, and held in the highest esteem for their many excellent qualities of mind and heart.
REV. MATHIAS ZUMBUELTE.
The clergy of the Roman Catholic church, as a rule, are gentlemen of ripe scholarship, and are important factors in the civilization of remote dis- tricts as well as founders of great and beneficent works. They are noted for their persisteney, energy and ambition. Rev. Zumbuelte comes of that class of priests. He is a native of Westphalia. Germany, and was born February 19. 1839. being a son of Anthony and Elizabeth (Oellinghoff ) Zumbuelte.
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He was from the first of a literary turn of mind, and the priesthood seemed to him to be his chosen work. His primary training was begun in the common schools of Germany, and later he received training under a tutor. At the age of seventeen he entered the gymnasium, which course regularly required nine years, but in five years he received his diploma, and then entered the seminary of the old city of Munster, where he put in three years at his work. The first year's work was in philosophy, and the last two in theology.
When he had completed this course of study he received a cordial letter from Bishop Leners, of the Northern Bishopric of Indiana, who was on a visit to Europe and at that particular time in the city of Munster. Bishop Leuers advised him to enter the American College of Theology of the famous University of Munster, which he did in 1864, and accordingly spent two years in that noted seat of learning. May 26. 1866. he received his ordination as priest from the hands of Cardinal E. Sterx. He was then fitted to enter the priesthood in America, and he set sail from Bremen and arrived at Fort Wayne. Indiana, in October. 1866, and was appointed as- sistant priest to Rev. Joseph B. Ferce at St. Vincent's parish at Logansport. He remained there until January 6, 1868. While there his duties were arduous, as he had a great deal of mission work to perform, and also visit- ing the poor, the sick, the distressed and dying, at all times of the day and night, and during any kind of weather. In this Father Zumbuelte showed himself to be a man of more than ordinary courage and industry as his work extended over a large area of country. The next work he took charge of was as assistant to Rev. D. Duelmig. at Avilla, Noble county, Indiana, and he was there six months. In July, 1868. he was sent to Leo, Allen county, In- diana, a small parish of nineteen families. The name of the parish was St. Mary. There was a small frame building used as church-no home for the priest, and Father Zumbuelte was forced to live with a farmer for two years. He remained there two years in all, and while there he erected a nome for the priest. In 1870 he erected St. Michael's church at a cost of thir- teen hundred dollars, and liquidated every dollar's indebtedness and paid an additional debt of seven hundred dollars. In 1871 Father Zumbuelte was sent to St. Vincent de Paul at Columbia City, Indiana, and while there kept up the property in excellent repair, the parochial school in session and other important parish work. In that locality he had two missions to attend to.
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at Pierceton and Warsaw in Kosciusko county. There were about seventy- five families in the Columbia City parish. In September. 1875. he was called to St. Mary's parish at Crown Point, but remained there only seven months, or until April, 1876, when he concluded to visit his native land to see his parents and relatives. His father was an old soldier under the great Napoleon, and was present at the famous battles of Leipsic. Moscow and other memorable battles of that epoch. He was one of the cannoniers.
After spending three months in the land of his birth Father Zumbuelte returned to his field of labor in Indiana, and was then sent as chaplain of the college at Rennselaer, where he remained until 1888, and while there he erected a beautiful brick church costing six thousand dollars. In 1888 he again paid a visit to his home in Germany, and upon his return he was sent to Reynolds, Indiana, and besides this charge he had the missions of Medary- ville and Francesville. He was there one year, and then, in October, 1889, he came to St. Martin's parish in Hanover township, where he has been in active charge to the present writing in 1904. There are about sixty-five families, a parochial school, a nice church building, and an elegant and mod- ern residence erected for the priest in 1902. The value of the entire parish property is placed at eight thousand dollars, and not a dollar is standing against it.
On July 9. 1902. Father Zumbuelte met with a severe loss when fire (destroyed his home and all its contents, including his fine library and all of his wearing apparel. But with indomitable will he set to work at once and erected a model residence of modern style of architecture, two stories, and finished in hard-wood, and containing twelve rooms. It is a beautiful home and a credit to the township. The parochial school of St. Martin's parish comprises forty-three pupils.
HENRY ASCHE.
The German citizen in America has been specially important as a factor in the development of farming interests, and to this worthy class of people belongs Mr. Henry Asche, one of the oldest German farmers in Hanover township as well as one of the most prosperous.
Mr. Asche was born in Hanover, Germany. April 21. 1830, a son of Frederick Asche. There were only three sons, and Henry is the only sur-
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vivor. Father Asche was a man of industrious habits, of German educa- tion, and was a soldier in the European war of 1812 against the French, and saw the great Napoleon. He underwent many of the hardships of the war.
Mr. Asche was reared in his native land to the age of twenty-four, and learned the weaver's trade. May 1, 1854, he bade adieu to his native land and sailed from Bremen in a sailing vessel. and the voyage lasted forty-nine days before the arrival at New York. He landed in a strange land and among a strange people, and could not speak the English tongue, and all the money he had was thirty-five dollars. He remained in New York about ten months, and then came to Chicago, where he resided for ten years. He began as a wage-earner, at twenty-six dollars a month, the next year got thirty-four dollars a month, and the next year forty. In the fall of 1864 the crisis came when there was no work. During the years 1862-63-64 he received sixty-five dollars a month, and in 1865 he came to Hanover township and purchased seventy-five acres of partially improved land, going in debt for part of the purchase price. His first home was a little frame structure. and it still stands as a monument of the early days of his entry into this township. As the years have passed he and his good wife worked and toiled and added to their possessions until now they have two hundred and ten acres in Hanover and West Creek townships. Since that early day he has erected the most comfortable and desirable residence, barns and other build- ings to be found in the township, and the premises around the home indicate the careful, industrious man which Mr. Asche is. He lias prospered greatly in his affairs, and now in the evening of life he and his good wife live in peace and plenty. Mr. Asche is one of the stockholders in the Brunswick Creamery Company at Brunswick.
October 2, 1859, he was married in Will county, Illinois, to Miss Sophia M. Becker, and of the six children, four sons and two daughters, born to them, only one is now living. Hermann H. This son was born in Hanover township, March 13, 1874, was educated in the English language, and is a practical farmer, residing with his father and mother. He is a Republican in politics. Thus only one child is left to Mr. and Mrs. Asche in their declining years, and they too have had grief and sorrow in their journey through life.
Mrs. Asche was born in the province of Hesse, Germany, May 24.
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1836, a daughter of H. H. and Elenora Becker. There were ten children in the family, and six are living, of whom Mrs. Asche is the eldest. John Becker is a resident of Chicago and is married. Ella is the wife of Henry Moeller, a resident of Minnesota. Henry is married and lives in Hanover township. H. Henry Becker is married and a farmer of Iowa. Conrad is married and resides in Iowa. Mrs. Asche was reared in Germany until she was eighteen years old, and she came to America with her brother John, sailing from Bremen and being forty-two days in crossing the ocean. She came to Chicago to her friends and resided there for four years.
For thirty-nine years have Mr. and Mrs. Asche resided in Hanover township, and they are among the best and most prosperous people of the township. Mr. Asche is a Republican and has always supported the ticket and candidates since his first vote. He has held no office, preferring to devote his time to his business interests. Mr. and Mrs. Asche's beautiful country seat is one of the most desirable locations in the township, and could well be called the "Pleasant View Farm." They are typical German- American citizens of sterling worth. Having come to this country poor people, by their industry and economy they have gained a competency which places them in easy circumstances.
FRANK N. GAVIT.
It is a well attested maxim that the greatness of a state lies not in its machinery of government nor even in its institutions, but in the sterling qualities of its individual citizens, in their capacity for high and unselfish effort and their devotion to the public good. Regarded as a citizen, Frank N. Gavit belongs to that public spirited, useful and helpful type of man whose ambitions and desires are centered and directed in those channels through which flow the greatest and most permanent good to the greatest number, and it is, therefore, consistent with the purpose and plan of this work that his record be given among those of the representative men of the state. He is now an attorney of Whiting, and his ability classes him with the prominent representatives of the bar in northwestern Indiana. He has been connected with much important litigation as the representative of private interests, and he was also a defender of Whiting's interests in its contests with Hammond. In this way he has become widely known, and his
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
efforts in behalf of the city of his residence were untiring, effective and beneficial.
Mr. Gavit was born in Walsingham, Ontario, Canada, on the 21st of October, 1864, and comes of a family of. Irish lineage. Several genera- tions ago representatives of the name left Ireland for the new world, becom- ing residents of the United States. The paternal grandfather, Albert M. Gavit, was born in New London, Connecticut, and was a farmer by occupa- tion, following that pursuit throughout his entire life in order to provide for his family. His son, Albert A. Gavit, father of Mr. Gavit, was also a native of New London, Connecticut, and there spent his boyhood days. When a young man, however, he accompanied his parents on their removal to Canada. He had been reared to the occupation of farming and also made it liis life work. Leaving the Dominion he went to Oakland county, Michigan, where he resided for five years, and then took up his abode in Saginaw county, Michigan, where he still makes his home. He was united in marriage to Miss Bridget Highland, who is a native of Ireland and was brought to America in early girlhood. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Gavit occupy a pleasant home in Michigan, and the father is now sixty-eight years of age, while the mother has reached the age of sixty-one years. They were the parents of ten children, eight sons and two daughters, and five of the number are now living.
Frank N. Gavit, the second child and second son of the family, was seven years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal from Canada to Michigan. He was educated in the common schools of that state and in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, where he was graduated. His literary course being completed, he then determined to make the practice of law his life work and entered the law department of the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, being but twenty-four years of age when he was graduated there. He located for practice in Sagi- naw, Michigan, where he remained for about two and a half years, and then came to Whiting in 1892. Here he has resided continuously since and has won some notable successes at the bar. He has enjoyed a large private practice and has also served as city attorney and as deputy prosecut- ing attorney. He is attorney for the two banks of Whiting and stands to-day as one of the strongest representatives of the Lake county bar, being a strong
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advocate before the jury and concise in his appeals before the court. He is notable among lawyers for the wide research and provident care with which he prepares his cases. In no instance has his reading been confined to the limitations of the question at issue, and his logical grasp of facts and principles and of the law applicable to them has been another potent ele- ment in his success, while his remarkable clearness of expression and ade- quate and precise diction enables him to make others understand not only the salient points of his argument but his every fine gradation in meaning.
In politics Mr. Gavit is a stanch and unfaltering Republican, and was nominated on that ticket for supreme judge in 1896, but lost by a fraction of a delegate vote and in 1900 by two delegate votes. At a meeting of the bar of Lake county he was endorsed by the bar for the position of circuit judge to succeed Judge Fulett. He was at one time candidate for mayor of Whiting and was defeated by only two votes. Mr. Gavit drew up the incorporation papers for the town of Whiting and afterward incorporated it as a city, and he has represented Whiting in all of the litigations between this place and Hammond.
In 1893 Mr. Gavit was married to Miss Minnie Tweedy, a daughter of David and Susan (Baxter) Tweedy. Mrs. Gavit was born, reared and educated in Saginaw, Michigan, and this marriage has been blessed with two children who are yet living, Albert and Ruth. Fraternally Mr. Gavit is a Mason and has attained the Knight Templar degree. As a lawyer and progressive citizen he is well known, and Whiting has profited by his ef- forts in her behalf.
MATHIAS M. LAUERMAN.
Mathias M. Lauerman is so well known as a merchant and business man of Hanover township that he needs no introduction to the people of Lake county. He is a native of Hanover township, where he was born February 8, 1854, and is the fourth in a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters, born to Mathias and Marie (Heiser) Lauerman. There are seven children living. Mary is the wife of Bartel Hepp, a farmer at Flor- ence, Montana. Angeline is the widow of Conrad Wagner, and is a landlady at Morris, Illinois. Mathias M., is the next. John is married and is a farmer at Hanover Center. Mike is married and is a United States mail
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carrier at Hammond. Katharine is the wife of Jacob Gard, a farmer of Hanover township. Elizabeth is the wife of John Stummel, who is a teacher and a resident of Turkey Creek, this county.
Mathias Laterman, the father, was a native of Prussia, Germany, born February 8, 1824, and he was reared in the fatherland until he was nine- teen years old, being educated in the German tongue. In 1843 he came with his parents to America, and the voyage across the ocean consumed sixty days, although it can now be accomplished in six days. Landing in a strange land and among a strange people and with but little money, he came to Lake county with his parents, who purchased one hundred and sixty acres of partially im- proved land. going in debt for it, but by diligence and thrift eventually free- ing the incumbrance. Mathias Lauerman was a successful man, having ac- cumulated one hundred and sixty acres of good land and a nice residence near Hanover Center, and he spent most of his life in Hanover township, where his death occurred. He was a Democrat in politics. He and his wife were devout Catholics, and he was one of the leading members in the erec- tion of St. Martin's Catholic church, and he always aided those benevolences worthy of his consideration. His remains are interred at Hanover Center, where a beautiful stone marks his last resting place. Mother Lauterman was born in the same province, April 15, 1828, and she is still living at the age of seventy-six, with mental faculties well preserved in spite of the more than three-quarters of a century of her earthly pilgrimage.
Mr. Lauerman was reared to the age of twenty-three in his home town- ship and was brought up as a farmer. He was educated in the common schools and by dint of personal application. February 12, 1879, he married Miss Mary Scholl, and seven children, six sons and one daughter, have blessed the union. Joseph, the eldest, was educated in the Metropolitan Business College of Chicago and is now in the wholesale rubber business in Portland, Oregon. Edward is associated with his father in the large and lucrative mercantile business at Armour and Cedar Lake, and he will per- sonally conduct the new store at Cedar Lake. He was educated in the com- mon schools, and through the School of Correspondence passed the examina- tion for mail clerk, but he is devoting his life to the mercantile business. He has the affability and geniality which is the best stock in trade for a young man The son Arthur, after a common school education, learned the barber
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
trade at a Chicago barber college, and is now at home. Emil is a salesman in his father's large store at Armour. He too took his business course at the Metropolitan Business College of Chicago. Jerome received his diploma from the common schools in the class of 1903, and is now at home with his parents. Martha is in the sixth grade and has also taken piano instruction. Victor, the youngest, is in school. All the children but Martha and Victor have been confirmed in the faith of the Catholic church, the confirmation ceremony for all having been administered by Bishop Rademacher. now deceased.
Mrs. Lauerman was born in Schererville, Lake county. March 15, 1856. and she was reared. educated and confirmed in this county. After their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Lauerman located in Sheridan county, Missouri, where he purchased forty acres of partially improved land, later added to this land until he owned one hundred and twenty acres, and continued to reside there for six years. Then on account of sickness he returned to Lake county and began work on the Monon Railroad as a wage earner, continuing at that for two years. He then began merchandising at Armour in partnership with Mat. Thiel, with a capital of about eight hundred dollars, and after this part- nership had continued about four weeks Mr. Thiel took sick and died, after which Mr. Lauerman continued his business career on his own account. From these small beginnings the business has increased to the extensive establish- ment which we find in 1904. comprising a large double store. which is known as a department store. and carrying a heavy line of fancy and staple dry goods, boots, shoes, family and staple groceries, queensware, clothing, and in fact all commodities which go to make up a first-class mercantile house. The annual trade runs up to a very high figure. In the fall of 1904 he erected at Cedar Lake a new store in which he placed a full stock of fresh goods, and this is the store which is to be managed by his son Edward. This is an ex- cellent business record which Mr. Lauerman has made, and in twenty years' time he has progressed from a position of very modest circumstances to a foremost place among the substantial business men of Lake county -- which is a career that any man might be proud of. He and his sons are cordial and genial gentlemen, and by fair and courteous treatment they have found ample patronage in whatever direction they have extended their trade.
Mr. Lauerman is a Republican, but he has never cared for any office, and gives all his time to his business. But in 1886 he was appointed post-
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master at Armour. He and his family are members of St. Martin's Catho- lic church at Hanover Center, and throughout the entire community this fam- ily meet the respect and esteem which are always given to people of true personal worth and whose lives have accomplished something praiseworthy in the world.
HERMAN A. BATTERMAN.
The country of Germany has aided most materially in the founding of the great nation of the United States, and its citizens have been especially prominent factors in the agricultural development which has been the basis of all other prosperity. The German-American is noted for his phuck, energy, economy and frugality, and exhibits the best and most productive estates to be found anywhere. Mr. Herman A. Batterman comes of one of the old German families of west Lake county, and is a true and typical specimen of the prosperous agriculturist.
His early life was spent in Will county. Illinois. Born July 26, 1833. he was the oldest of eight children, six sons and two daughters, born to Christopher and Johanna (Doescher) Batterman. The son Henry is repre- sented elsewhere in this volume. Edward is also one of the honorable men whose lives are sketched in this work. Charles is married and engaged in cultivating the old home place in Will county, Illinois. Henrietta is the wife of Charles Borger, of Hobart, also sketched in this volume. Matilda is the wife of Joseph Echterling. of Will county.
The father of the family was born in Hanover province, Germany, was reared to young manhood in his native land, and in 1842 he came by himself to America, landing in New York with only eighteen cents in his pocket, so that he began life at the bottom of the ladder and among strange people and in a foreign land. He came to Chicago in 1842, when that now great city was small and insignificant, and out in the neighborhood of the Des Plaines river he got work at twelve dollars a month, continuing this work for three years and three months. He then took his earnings and entered two hundred and twenty acres of land in Will county, Illinois, an unimproved tract. Then for a while he did teaming in Chicago, but finally returned to his land and erected a little shack of a shelter. and, aided by his brother Fred from Ger- many, he developed a farm. For a time he was also interested in a sawmill
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enterprise, but then returned to the farm. He was a successful man, and ac- cumulated almost five hundred acres of land in Illinois and Indiana. He was a stanch Republican and before the formation of that party he was a Whig. He had good reason to remember the famous wildcat money before the Civil war, as on one occasion he had one hundred and thirty dollars of this cur- rency, but thirty dollars was all he could realize on the entire amount. Both he and his wife were Lutherans. His wife was also born in Hanover, and she is still living, at the age of sixty-nine years.
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