USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > History of La Porte County, Indiana > Part 78
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Dawmin Prairie, situated in the western part of the township, was so called from the name of an old Indian chief, whose name
51
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
was " Dawinin." The word is also the original Indian word for corn, and some give this as an explanation of the term. It includes about 600 acres of fine prairie land, dotted here and there with occasional lakes.
The township in general is well watered by numerous small lakes and by Mill creek, formerly known as Markham's creek, named from the first settlers, which runs diagonally across it from north- west to southeast. The mill at Union Mills is the only one located on the creek in the township, but there are several other splendid locations.
Politically, Noble township is Republican by a considerable majority, but the people in it are quite liberal in home political affairs. The census enumerator appointed for 1880 was William Fredrickson. The present Justices of the Peace are E. V. Arnold and R. N. Bennett. Pope C. Weed was elected Assessor. The remaining officers are, six supervisors or road overseers, one for each road district.
Like all the other townships, nearly all her old settlers have passed away; the remaining few are quite aged, and to them we are indebted largely for a correct history of the community. The citi- zens of to-day are enterprising. With the advantages that are afforded to Noble township by way of railroads and water, with her excellent fields of farming land and rich soil, nothing at present prevents it from becoming in the future one of the finest and wealthiest townships in La Porte county.
PERSONAL HISTORY.
The personal history of any community is the most important and valuable portion. We realize this, and in detailing the history of Noble township, speak very generally of those brave and sturdy pioneers who have converted the forests into fruitful fields, and who are to-day producing from the earth vast wealth.
Joseph Bailey, son of John and Ann (Wood) Bailey, was born in New Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire, England, in 1845; coming across the ocean to America in 1866, he first settled at La Porte, where he remained until the spring of 1870, and then came to Union Mills May 5, 1870, and engaged in the business which he still follows. In 1870 he was married the first time; his wife afterward died, and he was married the second time, in 1874, to Miss Mary C. Patric, who is now 30 years old and the mother of 2 children, both of whom are now living: John and Ida. He owns town property worth about $2,000; is a member of the Masonic lodge at this place. His educational advantages were ordinary, although he reads consider- able now. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Politically, Mr. B. is a Democrat. He now conducts a general busi- ness in boots and shoes, and does repairing.
Roswell N. Bennett, son of Roswell N. and Mary C. (Titus) Ben- nett, was born in Union Mills, Ind., in 1851. His father, a native
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of New York, was of Scotch descent; his mother, a native of Ohio, was of Irish descent; both are now deceased. Mr. B. has been a resident of this county all his life. In 1870 he was united in mar- riage to Miss Eliza Craft, who died in 1878; she was a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. B. is now and has been nearly all his life & blacksmith; he is now at Union Mills, doing a good business. He owns property in that place to the amount of about $900. His educational advantages were very good, but on account of his father's death, did not get the full benefit of them. He taught school two winters, and is now a man who reads a good deal. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Freedom, Ill .; he is also an Odd Fellow. Politically, he is a Democrat, but is quite liberal in home political affairs.
Enos L. Booth, son of Sheldon and Sarah (Cooley) B., was born in Ohio in 1823, and is of English descent. His parents, both of whom are now deceased, were natives of Connecticut. He came to Indiana in 1837, and first located in Noble tp. He has been living where he now is, on sec. 11, for about 30 years. He was married in 1850 to Julia McNett, who died in 1858; she was the mother of one child, Camilla, who is still living. He was united in marriage the second time in 1860, to Miss Margaret Coar, who is now 48 years old and the mother of one child, William; he is still living. Mr. Booth owns, where he lives, 170 acres of land, 100 of which are marsh; the farming land is good, and is worth about $50 per acre. His education when young was somewhat limited, having no other advantages than those offered by a common school; he reads a great deal now. He and his wife are members of the Advent Church. Politically, Mr. B. is a Republican. He has worked hard all his life, earning all he has by hard work. He now has a nice place, and a convenient, comfortable home.
Charles J. Brown, son of Amos and Melissa (Hyde)B., was born this tp. in 1845. His father is dead, but his mother is living with him. He is of English and French descent. Mr. B. has been a resident of this county all his life, except three years, during which time he was a resident of Nebraska. He was married in 1868 to Miss Mattie Earl, who is now 35 years of age and the mother of 3 children, 2 living: Kate M. and Amos E. He owns here 40 acres of good land, worth about $70 per acre. He and his wife are both ardent members of the Presbyterian Church. His educational ad- vantages were such as were afforded by common schools; he reads a great deal, and has been a school-teacher for the past 12 years. Politically, he is a Republican, but is quite liberal in home political affairs.
Obadiah Chambers, son of Andrew and Sarah (Noland) Cham- bers, both of whom are now dead, was born in Monroe county, Ind., in 1825, and is of Irish-German-Scotch descent. He first came to La Porte county in 1833, when his father and family settled in New Durham tp., where he resided until 1838; then he went to Hanna tp .; he came to Noble in 1853 and located where he has
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been ever since, on sec. 28. He owns here 200 acres of good land, except about 40 acres of marsh, which he values at about $40 per acre. He has also 50 acres of farming land on sec. 33 of the same tp. In 1855 he was married to Lydia Lloyd, who is now 42 or 43 years old and the mother of 9 children; of these, 7 are now living: Anderson, Adaline, Irene, Amilda, George, Oscar and Eldora. His educational advantages were rather poor. Politically, Mr. C. is a Greenbacker.
Edward Cox, a farmer on sec. 5, was born in New York in 1824. His father, John E., and his mother, whose maiden name was Phebe Earl, are now both deceased. He is of English descent on his father's side, and of French descent on his mother's side. Coming to Indiana in 1861, he first settled at La Porte, where he remained three years, having charge of the mechanical department of a printing office. From La Porte he went to Centre tp., where he resided two years and then came to this tp., and located where he now is. He owns, where he lives, 102 acres of land, which he estimates at about $55 per acre. He now holds the office of School Director. When young he received an ordinary education, and he reads a good deal now. His wife is a member of the Methodist Church. Politically, Mr. C. is a Republican. He was married the first time in 1851 to Hercelia N. Halsey, who died in 1858; she was the mother of 4 children, 3 of whom are now living: Ida C., George H. and William W. In 1862 Mr. C. was again married, this time to Miss Martha A. Keith, now 49 years of age, and their two children are Charles S. and Agnes M.
Croup & McLane, general dry-goods and grocery dealers, also dealers in agricultural implements, engaged in business at Union Mills, Dec. 19, 1879. They have a stock of about $2,000, and sell annually about $10,000 to $12,000. Both members of the firm are young, unmarried men, doing a good local business and deserve a liberal patronage of the people.
Henry F. Croup was born in Noble tp., Feb. 12, 1845. His parents, Peter and Emily (Young) Croup; came to Noble tp. dur- ing the year 1835. Mr. Croup was reared on a farm, and like most of our farmer boys, received his education in the common schools. He is local correspondent for several newspapers. Was married in September, 1869, to Miss Adelaide Berrick, who was born in Boston. They have 5 children: Emily, Charley, Daisie, an infant, and Tessie, deceased. Mr. Croup has a farm of 35 acres on sec. 4.
Daniel S. Crumpacker, son of Benjamin and Mary (Stoner) Crumpacker, was born in Botetourt county, Va., in 1824, and is of German-English descent. His parents, who are now dead, were also natives of Virginia. His father coming to this State in the fall of 1835, first settled near La Porte, where they resided as farmers about 13 years; but afterward Daniel, the subject of this sketch, having studied medicine, went to Dallas, Tex., where he practiced medicine four years; thence through Mexico to California. He
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remained ten years there, practicing some, and mining part of the time. As Mr. C., in company with two or three other gentlemen, were on their way to California, they came to where the Indians had killed some white people and they were making a defense. While stopping there, news reached California, and the Governor of that State appointed Mr. C. to remain on the Colorado river, near where Colorado City now stands, and fight the Indians. This he did, stopping there three or four months. He afterward returned to La Porte and came to Noble tp. in 1858, where he now is, a prac- ticing physician ; however, he is now partially retired from business; has had a good practice here. He owns town property in Union Mills, where he has been living for some time, worth about $2,500. About 12 or 13 years ago he was married to Louisa Wells, who is now 52 years old and of English-French descent; she is a native of Ohio. His educational advantages were ordinary; he attended med- ical college at La Porte, but never graduated on account of a little difficulty with a professor. He was afterward graduated by the U. S. service, in which he was 1st Sergeant, in the army; he was also Captain and ranked as Major. Mr. C. has traveled considerably, but is now retired, and a highly respected citizen in the community. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Politi- cally, he is a Republican.
Allen Cummings, a farmer of this tp. and residing in the suburbs of Union Mills, was born in New York in 1819. His father was a native of New York, and mother of Canada. He came to Indi- ana in 1838, and first settled at Union Mills, where he still resides. He is also a carpenter by trade. In 1843 he was married to Miss Eliza Stevenson, who is now 52 years old and the mother of 2 children, Henry and Charles; the latter is dead. He owns here 240 acres of good land, worth about $60 per acre. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity; his educational advantages were pretty poor; however, he reads a great deal now. Politically, he is a Republican. Mr. C. is the fourth in a family of 5 children, of whom only 3 are now living, and is a man who commands the respect of all his acquaintances.
Joseph Deets, son of Peter and Phebe (Blanchard) Deets, was born in Pennsylvania in 1820, and is of Dutch descent. He came from Pennsylvania to Indiana in 1865, and first settled where he now is, a farmer, at Union Mills. In 1848 he married Miss Lydia Lyons, who is now 62 years old, and they have 8 children, of whom 7 are living: Lewis, Jennie, Linda, Henry, Manda, John and Arda. He owns here 175 acres of excellent farming land, worth about $80 per acre; he owns also 80 acres in this tp. on sec. 10, and 100 acres on sec. 21. His educational advantages were not very good; was compelled to attend subscription schools in log houses. Politi- cally he is a Republican. Mr. D. is one of the successful farmers of this tp., and is a man of respectability and intelligence.
William Fredrickson, son of William and Patience (Zeigler) Fredrickson, who were natives of Pennsylvania, was born in that
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State in 1838, of Prussian descent. Coming to Indiana June 15, 1852, he first settled in Noble tp .; he has resided here ever since. He went into business at Union Mills in 1871, and came to Wells- boro five years ago, with Isaac Way, Thomas Hamilton, and Joseph Deets, all of whom laid out the town. He is now in that place doing a general variety business, keeping also on hand a good sup- ply of lime, coal, lumber, etc. He has a stock of $5,000 or $6,000. He was married Jan. 3, 1861, to Miss Mary M. Remiek, who is now living, and the mother of 4 children, all of whom are living: Harry, Anna, Mary and Emma. Mr. F. was this year appointed census enumerator for this tp. He held the office of School Trustee for about eight years. His facilities for securing an education were fair. . He owns 217 acres of land, part of which is worth about $35 and the rest $60 per acre. He is a member of the Masonie frater- nity. He and his wife are earnest members of the Baptist Church. Politically, he is a Republican.
Allen Goff, son of Brainard Goff, was born in Vermillion county, Ind., in 1828, and is of Dutch descent; his mother died when he was only an infant; parents were both natives of New York. He was married in 1850 to Mary Ann Robbins, who is now 50 years old, and the mother of 7 children; of the latter only 3 are now living: Ida, Orlando and Emma. He owns where he lives, on sec. 34, 90 acres of good land, worth about $40 per acre. When young, his advantages for seeuring an education were rather poor, being compelled to attend subscription schools in log houses; however, he now reads a great deal. Politically, he is a Republican. Mr. Goff has been and is now a hard-working man, who is highly respected in the community. He is the third in a family of 9 children, and has earned all he has by hard work.
Dr. Orlando Harran, son of Nathaniel and Susan (Willey) Harran, was born in Vermont in 1823; his mother is dead. but his father is still living, in Wisconsin, and is 79 years old. Coming to Indiana in 1836, he first settled on Rolling Prairie, this county, where he lived about 12 years; he then went to Green Lake county, Wis., and remaining there about 15 years, he next removed to Humboldt county, Iowa, residing there about six years; thence he came to Union Mills, Noble tp., where he now resides as a prac- ticing physician. Jan. 1, 1852, he was united in marriage to Arzelia C. Burdick, who is now 46 years old, and the mother of 2 children, both living: Edward I., who is now running a drug store at Union Mills and is doing a good business; he commenced business there in 1873, and has a stock of about $1,000; his annual sales are about $2,500; Effie L. is still at home. The Doctor owns town property worthi about $1,000. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Union Mills. His wife is a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church. He was Town Trustee, while a resident of Iowa, and held the honorable office of School Superintendent one term in Wisconsin. His educational advan- tages were very good. He attended the Medical College at La Porte. Politically Dr. H. is a Republican.
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
James Harsen, a successful farmer and one of the oldest living settlers of Noble tp., was born in Michigan in 1812. His father was William Harsen, who was of Dutch descent; his mother, Isa- bel, nee McCollom, was of Scotch descent; both are now deceased. Coming to Indiana in 1842, he first settled at Door Village, Scipio tp., where he purchased a town lot and remained three years; he went from there to Hanna tp., and settled on the Kankakee river, at what was known as Chambers' Landing; he was the first man who started a ferry and lived at that place, where he resided about five years, and then, on account of the disadvantages in education to which his children were subjected, he came to Noble tp., and settled where he still lives, on sec. 35. He and his wife own here 115 acres of ordinary land, worth about $30 per acre. In 1834 he was united in marriage to Miss Elsie Austin, who is now 66 years of age and the mother of 11 children, of whom 7 are now living: Mary J., Oliver, Lucinda, Marion, Sarah A., Geo. and Louisa. Mr. H. is next to the oldest in a family of 9 children, of whom 5 are now living. His education was rather limited, being only such as was afforded by a subscription school. Politically, he was a Whig until the organization of the Republican party, since which time he has been connected with that party.
Thomas Hockney, son of John and Rebecca (Burkett) Hockney, now both deceased, was born in England in 1820. His parents were also natives of England. Coming to America in 1851, he first located in Noble tp., where he has been ever since. He is now on sec. 27 and owns here 200 acres of land, worth about $40 per acre. It is well improved, and has on it a good, substantial house which he built seven years ago at a cost of about $1,300. In 1849 he was united in marriage to Harriet Hunsley, who is now 52 years old and the mother of 3 children, only one of the latter now living: Emma. His educational advantages were good. He and wife are both ardent members of the Methodist Protestant Church. Politi- cally, Mr. H. was formerly a Republican, but is now quite inde- pendent. He has earned all he has by hard work, and is a man of respectability in his community.
William Hockney, son of John and Rebecca (Burkett) Hockney, was born in England in 1805. Coming to America in 1853, he first settled in this tp., and has been a resident of it ever since ; he is now on sec. 34, and owns here 160 acres of land, some of which is marshy; he owns also 130 acres in Hanna tp., all of which is marsh land. He was married to Martha Prestley, who is now about 73 years old and the mother of 2 children, both of whom are living: Harriet and William. Mr. H. has been and is still a hard-working man. Politically, he is a Republican.
William Lawson, son of Thomas and Ann (Sylvester) Lawson, was born in England in 1836, coming to America 14 years ago. He first settled in this tp., where he now is, on sec. 32. He owns here 112 acres of ordinary land, worth about $30 per acre. He was mar- ried in 1870 to Miss Susanna Toyne, who is now 36 years old and
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the mother of 4 children, of whom 3 are now living: Rosilla, Dora M. and Mary M. His educational advantages in England when young were pretty good and he now reads a great deal. Politically, he is a Republican. Mr. L. is a hard-working man who has earned nearly all he has by hard work, and is a man who attends to his own business, and thus he is well liked by all who know him.
Thomas Layman, son of Joshua and Eliza (Travers) Layman, was born in New York in 1828, and is of Dutch descent on his father's side, and Yankee on his mother's side. His parents were also natives of New York and are now both dead. He came to Indi- ana with his father in the fall of 1833, and first settled where he still resides on sec. 2. In 1851 he was married to Sophia Youngs, who died in four years after their marriage; she was the mother of 3 children, of whom only one is now living: Anna. He was married the second time in 1856 to Agnes Peterson, who is now 45 years old and the mother of 7 children; of these 6 are now living: Cass C., Norvel, Henrietta, Delbert, Addie and Jennie. Mr. L. owns here 68 acres, and 20 acres of timber land in the same tp .; the farm- ing land he values at about $40 per acre. He once held the office of Constable. His educational advantages were rather poor. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church. Politically, he is a Democrat.
John A. Lloyd, son of John and Rebecca (Barlow) Lloyd, both of whom are now living, was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, in 1839, and is of Welsh-English descent. In 1838 his father came to Indiana and first settled in Jefferson county, where he remained 12 years, and where John, the subject of this sketch, was born; from there his father removed to La Porte county, and settled where he still resides, on sec. 28, this tp. His father and mother, who are yet quite smart for old people, are both natives of Pennsylvania; his father is 81 years old and his mother is 74. He was married April 14, 1865, the memorable day on which Lincoln was killed, to Miss Altha McNett, who is now 31 years of age, and the mother of 3 children; of the latter, 2 are now living, Owen L. and John B. Mr. L. is the sixth in a family of 9 children, of whom 5 are now living, and his education was such as he was able to receive at a common school; he reads a good deal now; his father, when young was a school-teacher. Both father and son are living on the same sec .; father owns 160 acres of good land, which he estimates at about $45 per acre; the son, John, owns 52 acres on same sec. Politically, he is a Greenbacker.
Henry L. Loomis, son of Lester and Elizabeth (Orton) Loomis, both of whom are now living at Union Mills, was born in this county in 1838; his parents are natives of New York. Henry, the subject of this sketch, was a resident of Scipio tp. all his life until he came to Noble in 1873. In 1860 he was united in marriage to Miss Minerva Teeter, who is now 38 years of age; she is the mother of 2 children, both of whom are now living: Henry E. and Eliza- beth S. Mr. L. owns 75 acres of good land in Scipio tp., worth about
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$85 per acre. He has held the office of Township Trustee in Scipio tp. His educational advantages were tolerably fair; attended col- lege some in Wisconsin. He and wife are both devoted members of the M. E. Church, of which he is Clerk; he is also Master of the Masonic Lodge at Union Mills. Politically, Mr. L. is a Republi- can. He was formerly a farmer, but coming to Union Mills in 1873, he engaged in the grain business, and is at present a grain merchant, handling all kinds of grain. In 1873 he built the eleva- tor at that place, at a cost of about $2,800, and in 1879 sold it to the Grand Trunk R. R. Co. He handles about 100 cars of grain annually; ships mostly to Baltimore and New York.
Nathan D. McCormick, of the firm of McCormick & Craft, hard- ware dealers at Wellsboro, was born in Scipio tp., this county, in 1849. His parents, both of whom are now deceased, were natives of Pennsylvania. In 1870 he was married to Linda Deets, who is now 26 years of age, a native of Pennsylvania and of Irish descent; she is the mother of 2 children: Jennie and Harry. Mr. McCor- mick is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and his wife is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. Politically, he is a Democrat. He was engaged in the hardware business at Union Mills a little less than two years; has been in Wellsboro over 3 years in the same business. McCormick & Craft have a stock of about $1,500; annual sales about $3,000; they are doing a good business here in a general hardware line.
Bird McLane, son of Jesse and Amelia (Newman) McLane, who are now both deceased, was born in Wayne county Ind., in 1817. His father, who was a native of Pennsylvania, was of Irish-Scotch descent; his mother, a native of Virginia, was of Welsh descent. Mr. McLane has always been a resident of this State; coming to La Porte county in 1832, in company with his father, he first settled in Kankakee tp .; remaining there a short time he came to this tp. in 1834, and settled on sec. 4; he has been a resident of this tp. ever since. In 1844 he was united by matrimonial ties to Abigail Wells, who is now 55 years old and the mother of 2 chil- dren ; only one is now living, George L .; the other, Albert S., died about 7 years ago. His wife is a native of Ohio, and is of English descent. Although Mr. McLane in his younger days had only the educational advantages offered by a common subscription school in a log house, he is an intelligent man who reads considerably, and is upright in business. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Union Mills. Both he and wife are earnest members of the Presbyterian Church, and live consistently with their profession. Politically, he is a Republican. At present Mr. McLane owns 472 acres of excellent farming land, which he values at about $70 per acre. He is now engaged at Union Mills, with his only son George L., in a general merchandise business; he has a full stock of dry goods, groceries, hardware and agricultural implements, amount- ing to about $6,000; his annual sales are about $15,000 to $20,000, and he is doing a good business, trying to please all by being hon - est in everything.
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Timothy McLane, son of John and Clarkey (World) McLane, both of whom are now living in this tp., was born in this tp., in 1843, and is of Scotch descent. His father is a native of Ohio, and his mother of North Carolina. Mr. McLane has two brothers living, William H. and Jesse; one brother, Alonzo, died in the army at Nashville, Tenn .; another brother, Richard, was killed in the army at Murfrees- boro. Timothy, the subject of this sketch, was married in 1868 to Miss Rebecca Croup, who is now 31 years of age and the mother of 3 children, of whom only one is now living, Frank B., who is four years old. He was formerly a farmer until 15 years of age, taught school two winters during that time; went into the mercantile business at Union Mills in the fall of 1867, remaining in that about five years; he then sold ont, and two years afterward engaged in the same business with his uncle; four years after this, on account of ill health, he became a grain merchant in company with T. H. Wells, at Wellsboro. He owns 160 acres of excellent farming land, worth about $75 per acre; he also owns town property worth about $1,400. His educational advantages, when young, were good. He is a Mason, and he and his wife are both members of the Advent Church. Politically, he is a Republican. Last year the firm of McLane & Wells shipped 200,000 bushels of grain. They ship mostly to Baltimore.
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