USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Past and present of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 55
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One child was born to Charles H. Grimes and wife, the Rev. James Edward Grimes, a minister in the United Brethren church of Warsaw, Indiana.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Louis Clawson, namely : Cora B. married Omar Enyart, of Rochester, Indiana, and they have one daughter, Lois; Pearl is the wife of John Wise, a farmer in Fairfield town- ship, this county, and they have one child, Gladys Doris; Roy has always lived at home, and runs the farm; Robert is at home; the fifth child, Man- son, died in infancy; Edith and Raymond are both living at home. Cora and Pearl were both educated in the common schools and graduated in the high school in May, 1897; then they took a course in the Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana; each has taught six terms, Cora having taught the Ford school in Tippecanoe township, also at Deer creek; Pearl taught one term in Perry township and five terms in Wea township; they are regarded as excellent instructors and both are favorites with a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
After his marriage, Mr. Clawson lived in Perry township for a short time, then moved to Fairfield township where he purchased forty-seven acres of land in section 12. He also operated very successfully a threshing ma- chine which he owned for a period of twenty-six years. He was a man of thrift and great energy. When he purchased the farm in Fairfield town-
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ship there was on it a log dwelling and a log stable. These in time gave way to a very substantial and comfortable home and an excellent barn, erect- ing the former in 1903 and the latter in 1892. He also made many other extensive improvements until this place ranks well in the forefront with other up-to-date farms of this township. He carried on general farming and was successful. He never aspired for public office, but was a strong Democrat. He was a faithful member of the Lutheran church. His death was deeply lamented by the entire community where he was well and favor- ably known. . Mrs. Clawson is a highly educated woman, affable and neigh- borly, and she has a fine family, all being popular in this township and wher- ever they are known.
JOHN R. CUNNINGHAM.
The family of this name originated in Ireland. John R. Cunningham, who was a native of that country, remained there until early manhood and then emigrated with his wife Rebecca to the United States. He located on a farm in Clermont county, Ohio, when that section was wild and sparsely settled and made his living by farming in a small way until the war of 1812. He enlisted in one of the military companies recruited for that conflict and eventually found himself a part of the army of the ill-fated General Hull. After the surrender of that unfortunate officer at Detroit he escaped and fled to the forest, where he was nearly starved during his subsequent wanderings. Finally he and his companions reached a friendly neighbor- hood where they were fed and cared for until they had recuperated. After the cessation of hostilities, Mr. Cunningham returned to his home and re- sumed farming, but in 1824 decided to make his future residence in Indiana. Settling first in Dearborn county, he remained there until 1831, when he pushed farther west and became one of the first settlers of Washington town- ship, in the county of Tippecanoe. He remained here until the close of his mortal career, leaving a number of descendants who have worthily borne his name. John Cunningham, his eldest son, was born in Darke county, Ohio. April 1, 1820, and hence was about eleven years old when his parents settled in Indiana. He grew up on his father's farm in Tippecanoe county and later became a prosperous farmer on his own account, and by the time of his death had accumulated two hundred and three acres of land in Tippe- canoe township. He lived for a while at Battle Ground, was a member of the Christian church and a Democrat in politics. He married Salome Bemen- derfer. by whom he had six children, Mary E., wife of J. O. Conley, of Tippe-
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canoe township; John R .; Douglas A., a farmer of Iowa; Emma, and Ida, deceased.
John R. Cunningham, second of this family, was born in Tippecanoe township, Tippecanoe county, Indiana, February 8, 1854. He remained at home, assisting with the farm work and occasionally attending school until he had completed his twenty-first year. He then went to Kansas and worked there for nine months as a farm laborer. December 5, 1883. he married Catherine, daughter of Isaac and Mary J. (Lawman) Yost, who was born November 16, 1858. Her father was a native of Darke county, Ohio, and her mother was born in Virginia, April 2, 1834. They came to Tippecanoe county in the fall of 1851, located in Perry township, but later removed to Dayton, where he died in March, 1888. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Cun- ningham, with the dates of their respective births, are as follows: Lulu, September, 1883; Belva, January, 1885; Blanche, November, 1886; Mabel, July, 1888; Earl, March, 1890; Rudolph, June 18, 1893; Marie, November 13, 1895; Erma, May 30, 1899; Alfred J., August 17, 1903. Lulu, Belva, Blanche and Rudolph are graduates of the high school. When married, Mr. Cunningham had little with which to start life. However, he and his wife worked hard, as farmers and their wives can work, and at last their toil was measurably rewarded. At present they own two hundred and seven- ty-five acres of excellent and productive land, besides fifty-eight acres in- herited from his father. He paid especial attention to livestock, raising good hogs and cattle, and it was to this feature of the farm that he was indebted for the best part of his income. Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Cunning- ham made a venture in Kansas that proved rather disastrous. He was glad to get to what was then a much less promising agricultural state than now, and when he returned in 1888 he had to borrow money to pay the freight on his stock. This set-back compelled him to start life over again at the bottom, but pluck and labor conquered and he is now independent. Though he rents most of his farm, he still manages a part of the place in person. as he prefers to be busy as long as his health holds out. He is not only a good farmer and excellent business man, but he is valued as a neighbor and es- teemed as a citizen.
JOHN C. BROMMER.
The family of this name descended from a line of German mechanics. Conrad Brommer, who was a shoemaker by trade, left the Fatherland in 1855 and reached New York city after a tedious voyage in the steerage.
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Pushing west, he tarried a while in Philadelphia, from which city he came direct to Indiana and located in Lafayette about the year 1857. After work- ing a while in a shoe factory, the German instinct for independence asserted itself and he started a shop of his own. It proved to be a wise move, as he prospered and in time found himself in good financial circumstances. He died May 28, 1897. but his wife, who was Christena Straub and a native of Germany, where he married her, makes her home with Jacob Wibers at Lafayette. Of their ten children, Mary, Ella, John C., Catherine, Amelia and Lorena are the only survivors, the two first named being residents of Indian- apolis.
John C. Brommer, third of this family, was born in Tippecanoe county. Indiana, November 27, 1862. When thirteen years old he began to learn the candymaking trade with a concern in Lafayette, and remained until he mastered its intricacies. When fifteen years old he was fortunate in secur- ing a position with Barney Spitznagle, present city treasurer of Lafayette, in the wholesale leather and saddlery business, which was destined to prove of great advantage in his subsequent career. In five years he had so mas- tered the details and become so proficient that he was offered the important trust of traveling salesman. and, though the firm changed names several times, he was continued in his place under all managements. He remained with them until January, 1909, a period of some twenty-five years, during which time he established a high reputation as a competent and reliable busi- ness man, of the highest integrity of character. After quitting the road he retired to his farm of one hundred and seven acres in Washington town- ship :. where he is taking life easy in the freedom and independence known only to the farmer.
May 26, 1887, Mr. Brommer married Blanche, daughter of John F. and Ellen C. (Rothrock) Isley, the former of English and the latter of German descent. Everton C., the only child by this union, born November 4. 1888, was graduated in the class of 1908 from Purdue University, having pre- viously graduated from the Lafayette high school; he is now instructor in mechanics at Purdue. Mr. Brommer is a member of the German Reformed church, while his wife is a Methodist. In politics, while voting the Demo- cratic ticket in state and national affairs, he carries his sovereignty under his hat when it comes to local politics, and casts an independent ballot. He is a member of Transitville Lodge, No. 425. Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Brommer is a well informed business man and enjoys general esteem as a citizen.
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HENRY MACAK.
Under this name we deal with a worthy family which came to us or- iginally from one of the celebrated provinces of Austria. Frank Macak was born near Prague, July 4, 1825, and is now nearly eighty-five years old. He has had an adventurous and eccentric career. According to the laws of Austria every citizen must give up so many years to military duty. but after getting in Mr. Macak served ten years. Eventually wearying of uniforms, brass buttons and discipline, he decided to try his fortunes in the great republic beyond the seas. Accordingly, he took ship and landed at New York city in 1861. He remained in the great metropolis for many years, but had the "wanderlust" and could not resist the temptation to travel from place to place. Though a shoemaker by trade, he could not stick to the "last," but dabbled more or less in other lines of business, including farm- ing on a small scale. He was very industrious and energetic and made much money, but he was of a generous disposition and found it hard to save up much. Still he has a small farm in Williams county, Ohio, though he re- sides in Toledo. His wife, Tracy Macak, was born in 1830, and during all these years shared the joys and sorrows of the man to whom she united her fortunes more than half a century ago, her death occurring September 10, 1909. Of the nine children of this venerable couple, three died in in- fancy, the survivors being Tena, John, Julia, Henry, Frank and Tracy.
Henry Macak, second to the youngest, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, July 14, 1867. He was reared on a farm and obtained a fair elemen- tary education as he grew up in the common schools, supplemented by a short experience in the high school. March 15, 1888. when twenty-one years old. Mr. Macak came to Tippecanoe county with fifty cents in his pocket. He set to work without delay, holding down a job as section hand on the Wabash railroad for five years. From that work he saved about three hundred dollars, with which he embarked in farming. At present he owns sixty-eight acres of good land in Washington township, and altogether has been successful and prosperous in all his undertakings. Though a Demo- crat in politics, he was elected assessor by a majority of eighty in a town- ship usually giving somewhere around thirty-five Republican. He served four years in this office and was elected trustee of Washington township for four years by a majority of sixty-one votes. These elections were an unusual tribute to his popularity entirely aside from party considerations.
March 17, 1888, Mr. Macak married Margaret J. Amstutz, a native of Pennsylvania, who died in 1900. The children were Tracy May and Clara
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Belle, deceased; Isaac F., born January 17, 1890; Nellie Belle, born March 1, 1892, and Guy Edward, born March 27, 1894. The last two named are high school students. Mr. Macak is a member of Transitville Lodge, No. 425, Free and Accepted Masons, and was secretary for two years.
ALVIN CORNELIUS BAKER.
It is not an easy task to describe adequately a man who has led an eminently active and useful life and who has attained a position of relative distinction in the community with which his interests are allied. But biog- raphy finds its most perfect justification, nevertheless, in the tracing and recording of such a life history. The subject of this sketch has for many years occupied a conspicuous place in local public affairs and has been un- usually successful in business affairs. He enjoys as wide an acquaintance as probably any man in the county and the circle of his friends is as large as that of his acquaintances. His long official relations with the community have been eminently satisfactory and today few men enjoy to so large a degree the universal esteem of the people.
Alvin C. Baker, who has continuously since young manhood been iden- tified with the undertaking business at Dayton, is a native of this place, his birth having occurred on the 17th of March, 1856. He is the son of Robert and Mary Jane (Slaven) Baker, the former of whom was born in Butler county, Ohio, the son of William Baker. The latter brought his family to Tippecanoe county in 1827 and in the same year he entered the first land east of Wild Cat creek in Sheffield township. . He cleared the land, built a com- fortable home for those days, and remained there until his death, twenty years later. Robert Baker, the subject's father, went into the undertaking business at Dayton, being the pioneer in this line of business here, and for over a half century he was the principal funeral director in this section of the county. He was public-spirited and took a keen interest in educational matters, serving efficiently as manager of the school board. In politics he was first a Whig, and later an ardent Republican. His religious connection was with the United Brethren church, of which body he was an ordained preacher. His ministerial circuit was a' large one and his pastoral duties frequently kept him away from home for days at a time. He was a man of strong convictions and honest purpose and he enjoyed the respect of all who knew him.
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Alvin Baker received a good education in the common schools and early took a deep interest in his father's business, becoming a valued assistant to him. On the completion of his schooling, he took an active part in the business, of which he eventually became the sole proprietor. To better qualify himself for his work, he attended and graduated from the Egyptian Embalming School and the Indiana Embalming School. He early realized that it was essential that he should keep closely in touch with the latest advances in methods in his business and he has ever been a close student of literature bearing on the preservation and handling of the dead. It has been said that he now enjoys the widest practice in his line in the county, his services being in demand all over this part of the state.
Mr. Baker has shown splendid business qualifications and has acquired the ownership of two hundred and twenty-three acres of splendid farming land in Sheffield and Wea townships, which has proven a wise investment. He has shown good judgment in the handling of this property and keeps everything on the place in first-class condition. He was also one of the or- ganizers and is now a stockholder of the Mulberry National Bank, at Mul- berry. Indiana, one of the thriving financial institutions of Clinton county. He is also an organizer and stockholder of the Tippecanoe Loan and Trust Company and a stockholder and director of the Farmers and Traders' Bank, both of Lafayette. As a further evidence of his standing as a man of sound business qualifications and sterling honesty, it may be noted that almost con- tinuously since attaining his majority Mr. Baker has served as adminis- trator or guardian for from one to three estates, in every instance discharg- ing his duties to the entire satisfaction of both court and beneficiaries.
In 1899 Judge Taylor appointed Mr. Baker a member of the county council to represent the district composed of Washington, Perry. Sheffield and part of Lauramie townships. At the end of this term he was reappointed and was subsequently twice elected to the position, each time without op- position, thus serving eight years altogether, during four years of which time he served as president of the board. In 1906 he was elected a member of the board of county commissioners, taking his office on the first of Jan- uary of the following year, and in the fall of 1908 he was re-elected to the position for a term of three years. He takes a deep interest in the affairs of the county and has given much attention especially to the improvement of the public highways, particularly as to culverts and bridges. Many of the small bridges and sluiceways, which characterized a number of the public roads and which were continually requiring repairs and attention, have been replaced by permanent concrete culverts, improving the highways in both appearance
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and efficiency. The commissioners have also made some valuable and much- needed improvements in the county jail. Mr. Baker has given considerable time to public affairs, but his temperament is such that he will not be satis- fied to be simply a public office-holder in name, but he has given to the county the same careful attention to its business affairs as he does to his own per- sonal interests.
Fraternally, Mr. Baker is a member of Dayton Lodge, No. 103, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he has served as treasurer. He was also a valued member of the building committee during the construction of the new Masonic building. He is a charter member of Sheffield Lodge, No. 414, Knights of Pythias, and has been honored with election to every office in the lodge, including that of chancellor commander. Mrs. Baker is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star at Dayton and the Daughters of Pocahontas at Lafayette.
On the 17th of March, 1887, Alvin C. Baker was united in marriage with Allie Parks, daughter of Charles and Margaret (Burntridger) Parks, and to this union have been born four children, Dwight R., Russell P., Otto and Margaret. The family attend and support the Presbyterian church at Dayton and are numbered among the most popular families of the com- munity. In politics Mr. Baker is a stanch Republican.
A man of strong social instincts, Mr. Baker has won a host of warm personal friends and his record during his life in this community has given him an enviable standing. He gives a warm support to every movement looking to the improvement of the community or county and is counted among the county's leading citizens.
ANDREW BAUSMAN.
Year has been added to year and decade to decade until the aggregate of much more than half a century has been reached since the time when the subject of this sketch came as a lad to Tippecanoe county, of which his father was a pioneer. When the family took up their residence in Sheffield town- ship this section was still in many respects a frontier region, awaiting the awakening touch of the sturdy pioneers who would still further transform its lands into rich and productive farms and beautiful homes, establish vil- lages, churches and schools and various commercial and industrial enter- prises and thus continue the inceptive work of reclaiming the country for
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1 the uses of mankind. The natural advantages of this section attracted at an early day a superior class of settlers-a thrifty, industrious, progressive and law-abiding people, whose influence has given permanent direction to the work of development and material advancement. Of this type was the father of the subject of this sketch, who performed well his part in the de- velopment of this section of the state of Indiana.
George Bausman was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on the 20th of October, 1812, and was the son of John Bausman, a native of Ger- many. He was reared on a farm and early became inured to the toil inci- dent to farming in the early days. Upon attaining mature years he learned the trade of carpentering, which he followed for twenty-one years. At the age of twenty-one years he removed to Ohio, locating in Greene county, where he followed his trade and also farmed for a number of years. In the fall of 1850 he came to Sheffield township, Tippecanoe county, and pur- chased a farm, after which he returned to Ohio and brought his family to their new home, arriving here April 1, 1851. The farm, which was located in section 22, contained one hundred and fifty-one acres, and the only im- provement contained thereon was a small log cabin. In this rude home the little family was installed and it was "home" in the fullest sense of the word. In 1858 the family moved into the fine brick house which had been built. the brick for which were all made and burned by the father and sons. Mr. Baus- man added to his original holdings as he was able until eventually he owned four hundred and twenty-two acres.
While living in Ohio, George Bausman married Catherine Mitman, a daughter of Jacob Mitman. Her paternal grandfather Mitman was born in Germany and came to America in an early day, settling in Pennsylvania. During the Revolutionary war he was captured by Hessian soldiers and terribly tortured, both of his eyes being put out. Catherine Mitman was born in York county, Pennsylvania, in 1815, and in her youth accompanied her parents on their removal to Ohio, where she met and married George Bausman. The latter died January 15, 1871, his widow surviving him until June II, 1877, and their remains lie in the Wyandott cemetery in this township. They were members of the Lutheran church and took an active part in its work, he being a member of the official board. In politics he was a Republican and stood high in the esteem of his neighbors. To George and Catherine Bausman were born the following children: Fiana, born Decem- ber 23, 1841, died in May. 1851 ; Henry, born April 5, 1843. lives at Frank- fort. Indiana; Charles, born November 16, 1844. died April 1. 1877; Andrew, subject of this sketch: Mary, born July 12. 1849, became the wife of William Cullom, and died in 1873: Catherine, born July 8. 1850, was
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the wife of Casper Roush, but is now deceased; Sarah Elizabeth, born April 4, 1853, died September 11, 1853; Lily, born September 13, 1855, died Jan- uary 23, 1856.
Andrew Bausman, whose name appears at the head of this sketch, was born in Greene county, Ohio, on the 10th of August, 1846, and in early boyhood accompanied his parents on their removal to Sheffield township. this county. He assisted his father on the farm during his youth and received such an education as could be secured in the common schools of that day. In 1882 he located on his present farm of one hundred and eighteen acres, on which he has made many substantial improvements and which he has developed into one of the most productive farms in this section of the county. Mr. Bausman now owns a total of four hundred and four acres in Sheffield township and also has one hundred and sixty acres in the state of Colorado. He gives his attention to general farming, with which he combines stock raising, which he has found a very profitable department of farm work. He is one of the best known farmers in this section of the county, not only be- cause of the fact that he has accumulated a fair amount of this world's goods, but also because of the advanced and progressive methods adopted in his operations. He keeps in close touch with advances in the science of agriculture and is quick to adopt those ideas which appeal to him as being the best.
In 1876 Mr. Bausman was married to Martha J. Crowden, who was born in Sheffield township, and to them have been born the following chil- dren : Charles, who married Minnie Edwards and resides in this township, has three children, Emerson, Otis and Elsie: William lives at Marion, In- diana : Inda, who is the widow of Earl Peter, lives at home with her par- ents, and has one child. Earlma: George Elliott, Robert and Paul are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Bausman are members of the Presbyterian church at Dayton and take an active part in the church work. Mr. Bausman served as treasurer of the church for fifteen years and has served many years as trustee and is also an elder. In politics he is Republican and takes a live interest in current public events. He and his wife have a host of warm personal friends and are held in high esteem by all.
ALFRED NEVIN SNODDY.
Back to stanch old German and Scotch stock does Alfred N. Snoddy trace his lineage, and that in his character abide those sterling qualities which have ever marked the true types of these nations is manifest when
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