USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > History of La Porte County, Indiana > Part 62
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Dr. A. Teegarden was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, Septem- ber 29, 1814. His parents' names were William and Susan (Rofelty) Teegarden, both of German descent and natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. They were among the pioneers of Ohio, having settled there in 1804. The Doctor's early years were passed on his father's farm, and his education during this time was obtained at the common schools, which he attended only during the winters. Subsequently he began the study of medicine in the office of his brother, Dr. Eli Teegarden, at Mansfield, O .; attended medical lectures at Washington College, O., and graduated at the Cincinnati Medical College in 1837.
Dr. Teegarden was married in 1840 to Miss Lura, daughter of Samuel Treat, of New York, of which State she is a native. They have 2 children, whose names are Mary T., now the wife of Albert B. Clark, and resides at Orange, Los Angeles Co., California; he is extensively engaged in orange culture; and Myra B., now the wife of John H. Bradley, Esq. Their residence is at La Porte.
A portrait of Dr. Teegarden will be found in this volume as the frontispiece.
John B. Travis, of the firm of Kerr & Travis, grocers, was born in Fredonia, Chautanqua county, N. Y., in 1832, and was brought by his parents, Curtis and Phœbe (Bingham) Travis, natives of New York, to this county in 1833. They settled in Pleasant tp., and were among the earliest pioneers of the county. She died on the homestead in 1840 and he was again married to Miss Mary
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
A. Miller, a native of Ohio, who bore him 8 children. £ He raised a family of 11 children, and died in this county in 1871. The sub- ject of this sketch was the 3d child of a family of 4. He was reared on a farm, and taught to labor with his hands. He applied himself assiduously, and in 1874 united in the present partnership in the grocery business. He was married, Jan. 5, 1854, to Miss Caroline Winchell, a native of White Pigeon Prairie, Michigan, where she was born in 1832. Of the 4 children born to this union, 3 are living. He is an honored member of the Masonic order, and Trustee and Treasurer of the Baptist Church. The firm of Kerr & Travis are well established, and known as men of spirit and enterprise. They are well worthy of the extensive trade that con- stantly crowds their counters and keeps them busy as bees.
Edward Vail & Son, jewelers. The senior partner of this firm was born in Middlesex county, N. J., in 1817. In 1837 he emi- grated to this State and settled in Kersetka, where he resided until he moved to La Porte city in 1845, and established himself in business. The same year he was married in Chicago to Miss Emily Allen, a native of Connersville, Ind., a daughter of John Allen, deceased, an early pilgrim to this county. To this union 8 children have been born, 5 of whom are living. Mr. V. erected the building on his present premises in the winter of 1876-'7. The second floor is occupied as a salesroom for the celebrated Chickering and Haines pianos, and three organ companies are represented in their large and valuable stock. Edward Vail is the oldest established business man now living in La Porte city. The success attending his busi- ness life has been characterized by striet integrity, and is a fair example of what industry and attention to fair and honorable dealing will accomplish. The junior partner of this house is the youngest of 4 brothers and was born in this county in 1853. He entered the naval school in 1869, and served three years, and in 1873 was admitted to the firm, where he has since been actively and successfully engaged. Possessed of active business qualifications, and taking an active interest in the political arena, he was appointed a delegate to the Congressional Republican Convention, June 2, 1880.
Jacob H. Vining, orthodox minister of the Society of Friends in La Porte; residence, Indiana avenue. He was born in the town of Litchfield, in the then District of Maine, November 20, 1815. At the age of ten years his parents, Josiah and Esther Vining, set- tled in St. Albans, Somerset county, Me. They were pioneers in the forests of that part of the State, where they reared in respecta- bility a family of 11 children, and at the same time founded a meeting of their choice, which was that of Friends. His parents, being earnest. Christians, devoted a large portion of their time and property to the building up of a society of their faith and to the educational interests of that new country. . An academy was early established under their agency, and endowed by the State, and named "St. Albans Academy," where our subject received an
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academic education. Embracing the faith of his parents, he be- came a minister of that society at the early age of 22 years. From the age of 19 to 26 years he followed teaching district schools. At this age he married Lucy W. Dillingham, and soon after settled in Fall River, Mass., where he was recorded a minister according to the order of the Friends, and labored successfully there in gathering and building up a divided and decaying Church of his faith. Dnr- ing ten years' residence in Massachusetts, he visited in the love of the gospel most of the Churches of his sect scattered over the United States. At the close of the late Rebellion he gave two years of his time to the interests of the freedmen on the peninsula of the James and York rivers in Virginia. Impaired health in- dnced him to make his home some ten years with his family in . New Jersey, on the Atlantic coast, during which time he visited most of the Friends' yearly meetings on this continent. He set- tled with his family in La Porte in the fall of 1869, when, with a few families of his sect who had recently erected their church in this city, and who had been residing here over 30 years without an established meeting, he established the present Friends' meeting, which consists of a meeting for worship, a preparative, and a monthly meeting, the latter alternating with a society in Michigan. In the autumn of 1871 he succeeded in obtaining the co-operation of a few of the most wealthy citizens, and established and put in successful operation, under State law, the La Porte Savings Bank, which, by his close application and able management, has become one of the most successful banks in the county, and operating. as its founder designed it should, as a frugal, industrial, and philan- throphic institution long needed and highly appreciated by its numerous patrons.
L. D. Webber, hardware merchant, established business in this city in 1851; moved to his present location in 1860. The house carry a stock of $30,000, and is one of the oldest in the city. The subject of this sketch was born in Chautanqua county, N. Y., in 1829. His parents, Stebbins and Emeline (Pope) Webber, were natives of Massachusetts and New York, and settled in Lorain county, O., in 1834. He was a merchant in that county, and at- tained prominence in public life. He subsequently removed to Erie county, and after a residence of three years moved to Niles, Mich., thence to this county, where he died in 1872. The widow survives, in the 71st year of her age. Mr. L. D. Webber is a mem- ber of the Masonic order and a trustee of the public schools. He was married in 1851 to Miss Sarah Deniston, a native of Niles, Mich. They are the parents of 3 children, all of whom are living. Politically, Mr. W. is a Democrat, and ranks among the most suc- cessful business men and esteemed citizens of La Porte.
Morgan H. Weir, attorney-at-law. The ancestry of this gentle- man on his father's side were of Scotch origin, and, as tradition goes, first settled on the coasts of Maine; this was the fifth gener- ation preceding the present, and a long time previous to the Revo- lutionary war, in which it is certain that they took part on the side
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of the colonies. The first that we learn of this ancestry by the full name was John Weir, a great-grandfather of Morgan H. The par- ents of the latter were John and Hannah (Beckwith) Weir, the mother being a daughter of Daniel Beckwith, of Chemung county, N. Y., who settled about 1790 in what was then called Newtown, and now Elmira, N. Y., and is supposed to have taken an impor- tant part in that section in the war of 1812. In 1836 the parents of Mr. Weir, the subject of this biography, moved to Bridgewater, Washtenaw county, Mich., with their family, which then consisted of 8 children, all of whom were born in Elmira, N. Y., Morgan being next the youngest. At this place Mr. W. followed farming until his death in 1854. His widow, now aged 82, resides with her son, Henry B. Weir, in La Porte city.
Morgan H. Weir was born March 1, 1830, at Elmira, N. Y .; his educational advantages were limited to the district school in Mich- igan until he was 17 years of age, when he attended for one year the " River Raisin " Academy in Lenawee county, Mich .; he then attended school at Elmira about a year and a half, most of the time at what was called Barber's Academy; then he followed school- teaching three or four winters and studied law during the summer, in the office of Diven Hathaway & Woods at Elmira; was admitted to the Bar in September, 1852, and the following November he located in Michigan City, Ind., practiced law two years, and finally moved to La Porte, there he has since resided. From the start he has had fair success. In 1854 he was elected by the Republican party prosecuting attorney for the La Porte circuit, then compris- ing ten counties, and he held the office two years. In 1856 he was elected to the State Senate, for four years; in 1867 he was candi- date for Mayor of La Porte, and was defeated by Daniel Norris; but in 1877 he was elected Mayor of that city by the Democracy, and in 1879 was re-elected to the office. In 1878 Mr. Weir was nominated by the Democracy of the 13th District as their candidate for Congress, but was defeated by Mr. W. H. Calkins, the present member. He is now the senior member of the law firm of Weir & Biddle.
Mr. Weir was married July 12, 1854, at La Porte, to Henrietta E. Teeple, a daughter of John and Hannah Teeple, who settled at La Porte in 1834, from Elmira, N. Y. Ellsworth E. and Fred H. are their two children.
Frederick West, druggist, was born in Oswego county, N. Y., in 1834; in 1851 he came to this county and engaged in school-teach- ing in Galena and Hudson townships. He entered the dry-goods house of Pulaski King as clerk, in 1852, where he was employed till 1857, at which time he became associated as junior partner in the firm of L. C. Rose & Co., in the drug business. Their house was located on the site of his present place of business, and was destroyed by fire in 1870, when the firm was dissolved. When the present block. was erected Mr. West opened at the old stand, where he has since been successfully engaged. He carries a stock of
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
$10,000 in drugs, stationery and wall paper. In 1858 he was mar- ried at Cherry Valley, N. Y., to Miss Henrietta Forrester, a native of the same place, who died in 1876. Two children, the issue of this marriage, are both living. Mr. West was a member on the School Board in 1871-'74, and served two terms in the City Conn- cil. He has for many years been a prominent and active member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Grand Lodge of the State, serving as vestryman and warden since 1867. His second marriage occur- red in 1879 to Miss Sarah Boxer, a native of England. Mr. W. is one of the oldest living merchants of this city and the oldest drng- gist in La Porte county. Politically he has from boyhood been a thorough Republican. In 1848, while but a youth, he was one of the number that rescued a slave ("Jerry") from the bondage of slav- ery. He is a strong supporter of this party, and was in favor of Grant's re-nomination in 1880.
A. J. Westervelt, retired farmer, was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., Dec. 18, 1808. His parents, Abraham and Catherine (Van Blascum) Westervelt, were natives of the same county, and came to La Porte county in 1838, where they resided until their death. The subject of this sketch was for 16 years a house-builder, but had been brought up on a farm. He was married in 1835 to Miss Mary Freeman, a native of New York city. Two children, the issue of this marriage, are both living. Mr. W. has always followed farming, and has dealt largely in real estate transactions. His success is wholly due to his own efforts, and he is to-day one of the largest real-estate owners in La Porte. He filled the office of County Appraiser five years, and is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been a member many years. He is an honored and esteemed citizen, and ranks among the pioneers.
S. C. Whiting, M. D., was born in Otsego county, N. Y., in 1834. He was educated for his profession at the Cleveland, O., Homeo- pathic College, from which institution he graduated in 1855, and after three years' study with C. D. Williams, of Cleveland, entered upon the practice of his profession in that city. In 1858 he moved to Vincennes, Ind., where he was married, in 1861, to Miss Emily C. Coddington, a native of Vincennes, and they have 2 children. In 1866 Dr. W. removed to La Porte, where he has since made it his home. He controls a large and well-established practice, and is one of La Porte's honored citizens.
Jacob Wile, banker, is a native of Bavaria, Germany, where he was born in 1828. He emigrated to America in 1847, and located in La Porte city in 1852. He was largely engaged in the mercan- tile business until 1857, in which year he established the Citizens' Bank, of which he is sole proprietor. In 1877 he began a general loan and negotiation branch to his business, and has been actively and successfully engaged. He is President of the Hebrew Congre- gational Society, and a member of the Synagogue, and also of the Masonic order. The Citizens' Bank, under his able management, has made it a safe and reliable financial institution, and he enjoys the confidence of all who transact business with him.
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Samuel E. Williams, lawyer, was born in Wayne county, N. Y., in 1817, a son of Azariah and Mary (Eddy) Williams, natives of Berkshire county, Mass., who made their journey West in 1819, moving down the Allegheny river on a raft in the opening of that year. After a short stay at Aurora, Ind., on the Ohio river, they proceeded to Ripley, and in 1829 made their first settlement two and one-half miles northeast of Shelbyville, where he purchased a farm and made improvements. He was among the early pioneers of the State. In the spring of 1837 he moved with his family to La Porte, where he resided until his death in July, 1870. He was the first Appraiser of real estate for the county for taxation, and was widely known and esteemed. The estimable widow survives, in the 83d year of her age. The subject of this sketch preceded his parents a short time to this county, and began the study of law in the office of Wm. C. Hannan. He was educated at the academy of Greensburgh, Decatur county, Ind. In 1845 he was admitted to the Bar and began the practice of his profession in this city, where he has since been constantly and successfully engaged. He is one: of the oldest practitioners of the Bar in this county. Politically he is a descendant of the old Henry Clay Whigs, and is now a strong adherent of Republican administration as promulgated by the platform of that party. Mr. W. was married in 1847 to Miss Evaline Bridge, a native of Woodstock, Vt., and they have had one child, which is now deceased.
I. N. Wilson, of the firm of Dunn & Wilson, dealer in agricult- ural implements, is a son of John and Sarah (Owen) Wilson, natives of New York, who came to this county in 1832 and settled in Pleasant tp. He was a farmer, and resided there until his death in 1856. She died in 1851. They were among the earliest pioneers of the county. The subject of this sketch was born in this county in 1835. He was engaged in farming until 1861, from which time he served as clerk, and in 1866 established himself with the above firm. The house during the summer months carry a stock of $15,000 to $20,000, and have a large and Incrative trade. Mr. W. was married in 1856 to Miss Mary Nickerson, a native of Canada. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Presby- terian Church, and is one of the oldest born residents of the county, as well as an enterprising, honored citizen. Politically, he is a Republican.
J. H. Wilson is a son of William L. and Margaret (Hopkins) Wilson, natives of Pennsylvania, who settled in Fayette county, O., in 1800, and were among the early settlers of that State. He was a prominent physician, and after practicing awhile in Illinois, he came to this county, in 1835. After a short stay he returned to Illinois, but made his final settlement in La Porte in 1851, where he is yet living, in the 83d year of his age. Wife is deceased. The subject of this sketch was born in Montgomery county, O., in 1824; in 1852 he entered the drug business, in which he was successfully engaged 12 years; in 1863 he entered the Government service in the A. Q. M. department and assigned to Vicksburg; was afterward
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transferred to Paducah, Ky., and was in the service one year after the close of the war; on his return home he became engaged in real estate transactions and various other pursuits. His life has been an active one, and his devotion to a business pursuit has never ceased. He was married in June, 1853, to Miss Margaret Andrew, a native of Butler county, O. Four children, the issue of this union, are all living. He served as County Surveyor at an early day, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Washington Wilson, of the firm of W. Wilson & Co., Inmber dealers, is a son of John and Sarah (Owen) Wilson, both natives of Ohio, who make their settlement on Stillwell Prairie, now in Union tp., in 1832. They were among the earliest arrivals of white settlers in this county. He opened a farm and made improvements on this section; and during his life was highly esteemed and beloved. His demise occurred in 1856. The wife and mother preceded him to the better land in 1844. The subject of this sketch was born in Champaign county, Ohio, in 1829. From the cradle, he has grown up amid the surroundings of La Porte, assisting in its growth and encouraging in its enterprises. In 1856 he established himself in the lumber business on Main street, and has since been continuously and successfully engaged. He was united in marriage to Miss Julia A. Ross, a native of Vermont, and their 2 children are both living. £ Mr. W. served six terms as Councilman of the city, and is an honored member both of the Masonic order and I. O. O. F. He is yet in the zenith and strength of manhood, but the hand of time has left its imprint in the silvered threads among the gold, as if to remind him of liis title as one of La Porte's oldest living and esteemed pilgrims. As a lumber merchant he is the oldest of the city, if not the oldest established in the county. The firm of Wilson & Morrison are well known as men of enterprise and worthy citizens.
Henry Zahrt is a native of Hanover, Germany, where he was born in 1830. He emigrated to America in 1851, and located in La Porte city. Here he engaged in teaming and various other pursuits, at which he could earn a dollar. In 1854 he was enabled to open a small saloon. His courteous manners and gentlemanly deportment soon won him hosts of friends, and the public gave him general patronage. With an increasing and lucrative business, he purchased the lots and erected the building of his present place in 1857. It is three stories high and has a frontage of 27 feet, and 93 feet deep. On the main floor is a first-class barand three billiard tables, adjoining which are three well-furnished club rooms for private parties and clubs.
Mr. Z. has at all times the choicest brands of liquors, wines, etc., and has the only first-class place of the kind in La Porte city. He served as Alderman two terms in 1856-'7, and as a citizen he is highly esteemed. He was married in 1854 to Miss Catharine Har- ing, a native of Würtemburg, Germany. Their children, 8 in number, are all living. Mr. Z. was for many years a member of the I O. O. F .. but resigned and associated himself with the Ger- man Literary Association.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP.
The early pioneer history of Clinton township, like that of all the other 1S townships of La Porte county, is somewhat difficult to obtain reliably. All along, from its earliest settlement until a period of about two decades ago, conflicting statements are found on every hand among the pioneer settlers regarding almost every subject relating to the early settlement of the township. Hence it becomes necessary to reconcile all conflicting dates and state- ments as well as possible. This has been done with as great a degree of impartiality as possible.
It is found, upon careful examination of statistical records, that from the first organization of the county until the year 1836, Clinton township formed a part of what was then and is now known as New Durham township. In that year, however, the fol- lowing order was made by the proper county officials: "Ordered, that New Durham township be divided by the line dividing Con- gressional townships 35 and 36, and that all that part of said township formerly comprising Congressional township 35 north, of range four west form a new township for judicial purposes, to be known by the name of Clinton township; and that there be an election held in this township on the first Monday of April next, for the purpose of electing two justices of the peace for said township until the next annual election for township officers; and that the election for said township be held in Charles Eaton's shop." From that time until the present day the boundaries of Clinton township have remained unchanged; and the best authority leads to the conclusion that in that election Charles Eaton, at whose shop the election was held, was elected the first Justice of the Peace of Clinton township.
The physical and agricultural features of the township in general are somewhat diversified. Taken as a whole, Clinton is much beyond the average of the townships of La Porte county. The greater part of the township is good farming land; however, the southern and eastern portions are inclined to be barren, sandy and marshy. Most of the land is prairie, but there is some tim- bered land along Hog creek, which runs across the township from north to south; there is also some timber in the northeast part of the township. The soil throughout is sandy, but is very rich and productive of corn and wheat, the latter being the chief article of agriculture; there is also some little barley raised throughout the township, and a great deal of clover hay.
Clinton township has railroad facilities second to none in the county; the Grand Trunk, formerly known as the Chicago &
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Lake Huron railroad, and the Baltimore & Ohio cross the township from east to west; and the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago rail- road crosses it from north to south, intersecting the B. & O. on section 5; this junction is known as Alida; it intersects the Grand Trunk line on section 17; this junction is known as Haskell. With her excellent railroads and agricultural features, with her intelli- gent class of citizens, most of whom are financially well situated, Clinton township stands out foremost as one of the best in the county.
EARLY SETTLERS.
Charles Campbell and his son Isham were the first settlers of this township; it is probable that they located there as early as 1832. The township became populated very rapidly for a year or two. Levi Reynolds settled on section 6, as early as 1832 or '33; also Richard Williams on the same section a little later. During the year 1833 several made Clinton township their home, some of whom are. William Niles, Nathaniel Steel, Thos. Robinson and Stephen Jones, a Methodist preacher. The year 1834 swelled the number of settlers a great deal; among the many who came into the township during this year, the following are a few: Jonathan Osborn, who settled on section 7; he is still living and is now on section 18; T. J. S. Hixon, on section 16; Phineas Small, on section 17; Gideon Long, John Eaton, Benjamin T. Bryant, now on sec- tion 13; John Reynolds, John Small, Simeon Tuley, James Haskill, David Robertson, Jacob Iseminger, John Clark and Orange Lemon. In 1835 a great many more came to this township: Thomas L. Eaton, now on section 26; Mrs. Martha Reynolds, now on section 5; William T. Harding, Joseph Wright, Thomas Patterson, Abijah Bigelow, and Dr. Whitcomb, and a great many others. William Pinney, now on section 31, came about 1837; E. S. Gardner in 1838 and William Snavely in 1839. William Bowes, now on sec- tion 25, who has been a resident of the township for 25 or 30 years, was probably the first German settler of La Porte county.
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