USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Past and present of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 72
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Mr. Lyman commenced the burning of lime in Lafayette in 1861 and in 1870 he added coal business, building up an extensive trade in each. He
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also became the owner of a fine farm in Shelby township on which he kept considerable livestock. He made a success of farming and stock raising and became fairly well-to-do during the latter part of his life.
In politics, Mr. Lyman was a Republican, and his religious affiliations were with the Presbyterian denomination, having been a deacon in the local congregation for many years and interested in all phases of church work. He was truly a good man and one in whom all who knew him reposed the utmost confidence, and he was influential in his vicinity, his advice being sought along many lines.
REV. JOHN W. T. MACMULLAN.
Few men in this part of Indiana achieved greater distinction as a minis- ter of the Gospel and also in military circles during the great war between the states than he whose life record is outlined in the following paragraphs, a man of remarkable force of character, a born leader of men, standing pre-eminently among his contemporaries and winning their hearty com- mendation and applause-one of nature's noblemen. Rev. John W. T. Mac- Mullan was a descendant of distinguished ancestors, having been born in Orange (now Madison), Virginia, January 31, 1826, the son of William MacMullan, a native of the same place as that of the subject. He was a minister of much power in his day, in the Methodist Episcopal church. Grandfather MacMullan was a slave owner, but William MacMullan and his brother left Virginia on account of this question, as they did not indorse such an institution. They came to Indiana and settled about nine miles west of Connersville. This was as early as 1836. They made the trip overland in covered wagons. In William's family there were six children. He died the following year and the mother had the rearing of the little ones. She was a woman of heroic mould and succeeded in this very admirably, making a living in the midst of the then wilderness. There was an equal number of boys and girls, of whom John W. T. was the oldest child, and he survived the other children. His education was obtained in the common schools, but not being satisfied with what learning he obtained there, he continued to study and mastered Latin, Greek and Hebrew, having been aided by a private teacher from Indianapolis. He followed in the footsteps of his father and hecame a minister, having been licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal church in the Northeast conference of Indiana, but in 1861 he was transferred to the Northwest conference of Indiana. He was presiding elder
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of four different districts in this state, and was known far and near as a very able pulpit orator, also speaking on many public occasions during the days of the Civil war. A man of commanding appearance, six feet tall, weighing one hundred and seventy pounds, keen, steady hazel eyes, dark beard and a military bearing, strong and powerful of frame. He was an excellent singer, had a full, persuasive voice, and his discourses were smooth in vocabulary, pathetic and elegant. While he was modest in his home life, always very quiet, he was often as a lion aroused on public occasions, at such times having magnetic influence over his audiences. Being a patriotic man, he enlisted his service in behalf of the Union in 1861 and so meri- torious were his services that he soon rose to the rank of colonel of the Fifty-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Rev. Frank Hardy, of the Rock River conference, was his lieutenant-colonel, and Henry Elliott, his adjutant, the latter living at New Castle, Indiana. The Reverend Mac- Mullan raised four regiments for the Federal army. He was always ready to do his duty, no matter how dangerous or arduous, and he was beloved by every man in his regiments.
Rev. John W. T. MacMullan was first married to Sarah Doddridge, a descendant of a famous old English family whose lineage is traceable for over one thousand years, many distinguished members of which were known in the earlier annals of the family. To this union six children, four sons and two daughters, were born, namely: James W. MacMullan, deceased; Wilbur H., and Carrie Belle, the last named also deceased. Wilbur H. has always cared for his step-mother, having never married. He farms very success- filly her home farm of three hundred and twenty acres, four miles north of Lafayette. He was educated in the local city schools.
The second marriage of Rev. John W. T. MacMullan was solemnized with Hannah Heath, June 16, 1863. She was born in Lafayette on Main street, June 16, 1840, the daughter of Robert and Mary (Emerson) Heath, the former a native of Ohio, whose parents came to Indiana June 30, 1826, at which time the hamlet of Lafayette consisted of only seventeen cabins. The elder Heath purchased two lots on the north side of the public square for the sum of four hundred dollars. To Reverend MacMullan and his second wife five children were born, three boys and two girls, the sons all being deceased at this writing. These children were named, Robert, born August 7, 1864, died April 15, 1906; Henry K., born June 7. 1867, died August 19, 1870; Alfred H., born February 12, 1870, died October II, 1894; Lucy Vinton is the wife of E. C. Wagoner, of Chicago, and the mother of one son, Robert, born September 9, 1907. Mr. Wagoner is in
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the water-distilling business, at which he is very successful. His wife is a very talented and cultured lady. Mary Heath MacMullan was born March 10, 1878. Her education was obtained in the private schools of Lafayette. She is a constant student of high-class literature and she has pronounced literary ability, and she is a member of the leading literary clubs of the city. She makes her home with her mother. The latter is a member of the Trinity Methodist Episcopal church. She is a woman of pleasing personality and is popular in all circles in Lafayette.
The death of the distinguished divine, Rev. John W. T. MacMullan, which occurred on October 18, 1906, caused general sorrow and regret, and his taking off was felt as a personal loss all over northwestern Indiana where he had labored to so goodly ends and reared a monument in the affections of the people that will outlast time.
ASA C. BALS.
A man possessing unusual force of intellect and a character against which there was no suspicion of evil was the late Asa C. Bals, who for many years was popular with a large circle of friends in Lafayette. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, July 9. 1864, the son of Charles and Mary (Levi) Bals, the former a well-known railroad man for several years. They were the parents of two children, Asa C. being three years old when his mother died, consequently he was reared by his uncle at Colfax, Clinton county, Indiana, with whom he remained, receiving the best of care and attention until he was fifteen years old. He was then taken to another uncle living in Tippecanoe county and he there made his home until he reached the age of twenty-one years. Being a studious lad, he made rapid progress in attaining an education ; after completing the work in the common schools, he attended the university at Valparaiso, Indiana, from 1883 to 1885, in which institution he made a brilliant record.
Mr. Bals was united in marriage with. Lottie Esper, the adopted daugh- ter of Jacob and Eleanor Esper, of Lafayette. Mrs. Bals was born in Lafayette. She received her primary education in the public schools of her native city, also received special normal training and kindergarten work, preparatory to a career as teacher which she has since followed with uniform success, her services being in great demand in Tippecanoe county. She is at this writing teaching in the city schools of Lafayette, being regarded as one
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of the most efficient in the city, possessing not only a profound knowledge of text-books but also the many innate qualities that go to make up the suc- cessful teacher, thereby being popular with both pupil and patron. She has now been engaged in teaching for a period of eighteen years. That she is a woman of remarkable individuality, strength of both body and mind and of no mean executive ability is shown by the fact that she has kept up her teaching and attended to the many household duties which has fallen to her lot during the past fifteen years, for after the death of her lamented husband in 1889 she was left to care for her mother, who was an invalid, also her aged father, but she performed this service very ably and faithfully. She owns a neat and comfortable home at No. 1407 Greenbush street, Lafayette. At the time of this publication she is teaching in the Linwood schools of this city. She is a lady of vivacious manners, showing excellent breeding and that she has been reared in a wholesome home atmosphere. As might be expected, she is an animated conversationalist, leaving the impression of a woman well fitted for a successful public reader. She attends the Methodist Episcopal church, and she is held in high esteem by a large circle of friends and acquaintances owing to her intellectual attainments, her affable disposition and her kindness of heart.
ENOCH FRANCIS HAYWOOD.
Earnest labor, unabating perseverance, good management and a laudable ambition to succeed and to assist others at the same time-these are the elements that brought Enoch F. Haywood prosperity and won for him the good will and respect of all with whom he has come into contact. A native of Jackson township, Tippecanoe county, where he first saw the light of day near Sugar Grove, September 9, 1847, he has spent the major part of his life in his native locality and is, therefore, well known here. He is the son of Henry and Martha Haywood, highly respected citizens here in the early days. He grew to maturity on a farm near his birthplace, to which farm his parents moved when he was six months old, and there he lived all his life until 1904. Being familiar with farming and stock raising from early life, he quite naturally took to those lines. On April 27, 1867, he married Margaret Peed, a native of Jackson township, this county, born and reared near Shawnee Mound, the daughter of William and Matilda (Hardsock) Peed, her father having come here from Kentucky in the early days.
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To Mr. and Mrs. Haywood eight children were born, two of whom are deceased, Henry and George both dying in early childhood; those living are Edward, Martha, Ella, Charles, Emma J. and Margaret Frances. Edward lives in Randolph township, this county, is married and has two children. Martha married George Shelby and lives near Raub, this county (see sketch of George Shelby in this volume). Ella married Allen O'Dell, a native of Jackson township, now a practicing physician in Indianapolis ; they have one son. Charles lives on the old home place where his father was reared; he is also engaged in the grain business at New Richmond; married and has four children ; his wife was formerly Henrietta Raub, daughter of Edward Raub, of Raub's Station. Emma J. is at home with her parents. Margaret Frances married John Brown, of Memphis, Tennessee, a graduate of Purdue Uni- versity ; they live in Memphis, Tennessee ; he is a civil engineer, and they are the parents of one little daughter.
Mr. Haywood began married life in an humble way, living in a log cabin on his father's farm, their first home being in marked contrast to the fine resi- dence they now occupy. Mr. Haywood first farmed on rented land and. being a good manager, he soon had a start, working early and late in order to get a foothold; he also traded in cattle and hogs. About five years after he was married he bought one hundred and twenty acres of good land, for- merly owned by Benjamin Ray. Although the land was very rich, it was some- what swampy and partly covered with willows. By hard work, grubbing, tiling and ditching, he transformed this into one of the best farms in the town- ship. He was active in securing the Haywood ditch through that locality which proved of incalculable good to every one living near it. He continued buying more land from time to time, until at present he is the owner of four- teen hundred acres, all but eighty acres being within the limits of Tippecanoe county. It is all well improved and of great value in the aggregate. All this he has made unaided, by his own thrift and industry and able management.
In April, 1904, Mr. Haywood moved to Lafayette where he remained two years ; in 1906 he purchased a beautiful, modern and attractively located home at No. 610 South Ninth street, where he now resides, which place is often the center of interest for the best society in the city.
When the American National Bank was organized, Mr. Haywood became its vice-president. In June, 1909, he disposed of his stock and became identi- fied with the City National Bank. He still continued farming and is prob- ably as extensive a buyer of cattle as any man in the county, no small part of his handsome income being derived from this source.
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Fraternally, Mr. Haywood belongs to the Masonic lodge at Romney, also the Elks, and one would judge from his daily life that he believes in exemplifying their sublime principles in his relations with his fellowmen. Politically he is a Democrat and has long taken consderable interest in local affairs. He very ably served as trustee of Jackson township for a period of seven and one-half years. A criterion of his excellent standing among his friends and acquaintances is shown by the fact that he was the first Democrat ever elected to that office, and so faithfully did he discharge the duties of the same that he was re-elected. He was nominated for the office of county commissioner by the Democrats, but the county was nominally over sixteen hundred Republican ; however, he was so popular and made such an excellent race that he came within sixty-two votes of being elected.
The career of Mr. Haywood has ever been such as to warrant the trust and confidence of the business world, for he has ever conducted all trans- actions on the strictest principles of honor and integrity. His devotion to the public good is unquestioned and arises from a sincere interest in his fellow men.
BENNETT FORESMAN.
To indulge in prolix encomium of a life which was one of distinctive modesty and unpretentiousness would be most incongruous, and yet in review- ing the career of the late Bennett Foresman, who was long one of the pro- gressive agriculturists of Tippecanoe county, and who held a position of un- equivocal confidence and esteem in the community where he labored to so goodly ends, feelings of admiration are prompted, for he always looked to the general good of his fellowmen while advancing the interests of his own household, ever discharging his duties, whether private or public, in a most conscientious manner, thereby winning the admiration and confidence of all who knew him.
Bennett Foresman was born June 16, 1840, in Tippecanoe county, In- diana, and he spent his days in his native community. He was the son of Philip and Elizabeth ( Bennett) Foresman, the latter a native of Ohio. Philip Foresman was a successful business man, having devoted most of his life to the milling industry, having purchased the Slaton farm where he erected a mill that was patronized throughout this part of the county. His death occurred there.
Bennett Foresman received a fairly good common school education in the district schools and assisted with the work his father had in hand until
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he reached maturity, when he took up farming, which vocation he made his life work, useless to say with pronounced success, for Bennett Foresman was a man of untiring energy as well as good business judgment and he always made a comfortable living. Having been an ardent worker in the Demo- cratic ranks, he was singled out by the party leaders for positions of public trust, and he was elected county treasurer on that ticket, which position he held with credit and in such a manner that everyone concerned afforded himn praise, whether of his politica' 'aith or that of the opposition.
In 1864 Mr. Foresman as united in marriage with Mary G. Groce, who was born in Ross county Ohio, July 26, 1842, the daughter of John and Ellen (Graham) Groce, in whose family there were four children, three daughters and one son, all living at this writing. Mr. and Mrs. John Groce were people of high standing in their community and were always known as hard workers.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bennett Foresman two sons were born, namely: John P., whose date of birth occurred October 3, 1866, was educated at Purdue University and the city schools of Lafayette, having made a splendid record for scholarship; he married Clara Kurtz, of Lafayette, and he is at this writing the efficient county auditor. He lives on the Wea Plains, is married and has three children. William Bennett Foresman, the second child, was born August 3, 1873, married Mary Heston and he is engaged very success- fully in the elevator and grain business in Lafayette.
Bennett Foresman showed his patriotism during the Civil war by en- listing in the sixty-day service during the Morgan raid, where he took active participation in thwarting the plans of a northern invasion by that daring leader. Mr. Foresman's death occurred in 1900.
Mrs. Mary G. Foresman lives in a very comfortable and nicely appointed home at No. 511 South Ninth street, Lafayette. She is now in her sixty- seventh year, but is hale ånd hearty and takes a delight in her beautiful home where she is often hostess to her many friends. She is a faithful member of the Second Presbyterian church.
ROBERT WILLIAMS.
A well known and progressive citizen of Lafayette is Robert Williams, of the real estate, loan and brokerage firm of Haywood & Williams, born in Marshall county, Indiana, September 26. 1843. the son of Robert and Nancy
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(Grear) Williams, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Vir- ginia, both families having been early settlers in Marshall county, Indiana, where the parents of the subject were reared and married. The father was a farmer and came to Tippecanoe county in 1844, settling in Washington township where he entered land. He worked on the state dam when the Wabash and Erie canal was building, contracting a severe cold while thus engaged which resulted in his death; his widow surviving a number of years, re-married, her last husband being a Mr. Dawson. She died in Marshall county at the age of eighty-four years. By her first marriage to a man named Lions, she became the mother of two children; her second marriage, to Robert Williams, resulted in the birth of several children, only two of whom are living at this writing, Robert, subject of this review, being the youngest. He was one year old when his parents brought him to Tippecanoe county. He was reared on a farm and received a common school education, spending one year in high school after the close of the Civil war, his edu- cation having been interrupted by that conflict. On July 6, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Seventy-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served three years, or until the close of the war. He was in Wilder's brigade, and was in many hard-fought engagements. After the battle of Chickamauga, where he was number two on the skirmish line, he was detailed as division scout and served as such until General Wirson took command of the corps, when he became scout of his corps, serving very creditably as such until the close of the war. He was hit twice by spent balls and he had a horse shot from under him at Pulaski, Tennessee, but otherwise came out unscathed. He has several valuable and interesting relics of the war. He returned home and bought a boat on the canal and for seven years operated boats on the Wabash and Erie canal. Among the boats he owned during that time were the "Portland," "Highland Chief" and "Clara Lewis." He was engaged in the local trade, with headquarters principally in Lafayette; he was one of the last men to operate boats on the canal in 1875, before it was abandoned, and he talks interestingly of those old days.
Mr. Williams then turned his attention to farming in Washington town- ship, Tippecanoe county, where he had previously purchased eighty acres, and he bought and sold land for many years, becoming prosperous, for he was a good trader and made few mistakes in his transactions; he is still the owner of one hundred and twelve acres of very valuable and highly improved land in Washington township. In 1903 he retired and moved to Lafayette where he owns a good house and other valuable property. He recently launched into the real estate and loan business under the firm name of Hay-
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wood & Williams, as already intimated, and they have built up a very satis- factory patronage.
On April 9, 1868, Mr. Williams was married to Mary Miller, who was born in Tippecanoe county, June 15, 1850, the daughter of Sammuel and Emeline ( Bennett) Miller, a family that ranked high in their community. Mrs. Williams received a fairly good education in the public schools of her native community. Her father was a merchant at Buck Creek, this county, where he enjoyed a very good trade.
To Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Miller eight children were born, six daughters and two sons, five of whom are still living. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Williams, as follows: James died when eight months old ; Edith died when six years old; Mabel was born August 24, 1878. and was educated in the common schools at Buck Creek, also at Lafayette. She mar- ried Marcus Blinn, February 21, 1898. He is manager of the telephone exchange at Fowler, Benton county, Indiana, but they make their home with Mr. and Mrs. Williams at No. 1903 North Thirteenth street, Lafayette, where they have a neat and comfortable home. Mr. and Mrs. Blinn are the parents of two children, Mary, born November 29, 1900, and Mildred, born October 25, 1904, both bright and interesting.
The members of this family belong to the Methodist church. Mrs. Wil- liams is distinctively a home woman, greatly interested in the rearing of her two grandchildren. She has always been a very frugal and neighborly woman.
In politics Mr. Williams is a Republican, and while a resident of Wash- ington township he was justice of the peace for a period of fifteen years, a criterion of his high standing in the community. He was at one time candi- date for the nomination for sheriff. He is a member of the Union Veteran Legion and the Grand Army of the Republic.
DUNCAN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
An important manufacturing concern of Lafayette, Indiana, whose in- fluence is far-reaching and which would be a credit to any community is the Duncan Electric Manufacturing Company, which was organized in 1901 for the purpose of manufacturing electric meters, transformers and many other electrical instruments and appliances. The company was organized by Marshall F. Holmes, of the American Smelting and Refining Company ;
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George L. Cragg, and Thomas Duncan, an electrical engineer, all of Chicago. The Lafayette Commercial Club acted with wise foresight when it succeeded in securing this company for Lafayette. They began in a modest way in a part of a building at Third and Mechanic streets. But in a short time the business had grown to such proportions as to warrant using the entire building. However this was only a beginning. More space was soon needed and another building was rented. and still the business of the firm grew. reaching out to remote sections. In 1909 preparations were started for erecting a new building one hundred and thirteen feet wide by one hundred and thirty feet long, five stories in height, all of modern construction. In eight years' time the business has increased ten times in volume compared to that of the first year. Meters made by this company here are now in use in every state in the Union, being used by electric lighting companies. street railway companies, and large apartments and office buildings that gen- erate their own electricity.
It has been said that an institution is a lengthened shadow of a man, and we are always ready to read with avidity of those who project and control large concerns. The man whose ingenuity and foresight promulgated the Duncan Electric Manufacturing Company is Thomas Duncan, who owned all the patents under which the products of this concern are made, and he has had the active management of the factory ever since the company was organized.
Thomas Duncan was born December 26, 1865. at Girvan, Ayreshire, Scotland, and in that beautiful land of heath and heather, of bluebell and moun- tain gorse, he grew to maturity, attending there the public schools and the high school, receiving a very serviceable education and remaining under his parental roof-tree until he was eighteen years of age. In 1883 he came to the United States, and, remaining in New England until 1886, he worked at the drug business. In the last mentioned year he made what proved to be a very important change and engaged in manufacturing incandescent lamps at Boston, Massachusetts. The following year he came West and managed the incandescent electric lamp works of the Ft. Wayne Electric Company, a very important position for so young a man. In 1889 he went to Lynn, Massa- chusetts, and began the manufacture of electric meters, but in 1890 he returned to the Ft. Wayne Electric Company and established a meter factory for that concern. Here he remained until 1899. when he resigned to go to Chicago, where he became connected with Seemens & Halske Electric Company of America, manufacturers of all kinds of electric apparatus. In this company, Mr. Duncan has charge of manufacturing electric meters of his own inven-
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