County Home about 1886
La Porte County Asylum for the
Poor
|
County Home about 1886
| In the 1830's, a few years after the organization of La
Porte county, the commissioners made provision for an asylum for the
poor. They purchased land and built a county poor house and from time
to time improved the possessions circumstances required. The poor farm
originally consisted of the southeast quarter of section twenty-two in
Center township, the left hand lower corner of which extends in Pine
Lake. One of the men who served longest as superintendent of the county
infirmary was Joseph M. Hoffman, who served sixteen years, having been
selected by the county commissioners for that position in 1873. It is
said that during his administration holidays were observed, and Sunday
services held regularly at the poor farm. The southern half of the poor
farm was purchased by the Pine Lake Cemetery Association as stated in
the preceding chapter. After this it was found that the farm was not
adequate to the county's growing needs, and hence on February 7, 1886,
the present county farm was purchased which contains large tracts in
sections three and ten of Scipio township. After a new and commodious
home had been erected for an infirmary, and other buildings had been
provided, the poor and those who cared for them were removed to the new
establishment, which has ever since been conducted successfully. Among the most satisfactory
administrations was that of Mr. Concannon. The total cost of
maintaining the poor farm for 1891 was
$3,500. Besides this there is the township poor relief in which
Michigan township in 1891 stood at the head, relieving 223 persons;
Center came next relieving 197, then Kankakee with 20, New Durham with
13, Noble and Cass with 11 each, while those of the other townships
were not as many as ten, each. The total was 528. LaPorte County Asylum and other notes from County files. Web master notes: County poor farms were set up through out the US as a humanitarian effort to aid the homeless for many reasons. Some residents , also known as inmates in the census, found themselves there because of failing heath and mind. With health and life insurance policies almost non-existent in those days, many had not set aside funds for old age and could not care for their needs. And many were forgotten by those who they brought into this world and who did not care to make accommodations for them. In some cases the needs of the disabled were beyond the physical capabilities of the family. Others had come from lives of luxury and through poor investments or being swindled, found themselves in this unenviable position. One of the saddest noted were the children with perhaps one parent surviving or none and being helpless; making it necessary to seek shelter in various institutions through out the county. As with many of the cemeteries in the county, the impression from doing a brief study on the County Home, actual written records were not kept in the early days. And even in the early part of the 20th century, there must have been a head count given to the county to receive monies for patient care. Due to the very fragile condition of a very few surviving documents, no public access is allowed for viewing. A suggestion might be to check the census we have provided, cemetery records, family bibles and death certificates and obituaries through local newspapers. Also available was the "Old Soldier's Home". Applications were made and some of the old time vets were transferred there. 2013 and on - Federal Census reports for the County Asylum - 1850 to 1880 |
Harper, Thomas - Thomas Harper, for four years an inmate of the county asylum, died shortly after noon today of old age. His exact age is not known but he had passed his 90th birthday. He was a native of Ireland and had been a resident of this county for at least 40 years. The funeral services are to be held from the Kingsbury Baptist church Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The cortage will leave the asylum about 1:30 o'clock. The remains will be laid at rest in the Kingsbury cemetery where the deceased wife was laid some years ago. The Herald, Friday, July 19, 1895.
Hunter - - - James S. Hunter - DIED OF NOSE BLEED - Michigan City Man Passes Away at County House. James S. Hunter of this city died at the county asylum Wednesday night of hemorrhages of the nose. The deceased was taken to the county house about a month ago. He was 29 years old and is survived by a brother and a sister. If the body is not claimed by relatives, it will be turned over to the state anatomical board. Michigan City Evening News, Thursday 23 July 1903, p. 2, c. 3
INGRAM, William - The funeral of William Ingram, who died at the county poor asylum, took place yesterday afternoon, the interment being in Pine Lake Cemetery. The deceased was 76 years of age and had been at the asylum for the past 12 years. He died from old age and a complication of diseases. A niece, Mrs. Moore, lives in Hanna, and he is said to have left two sisters, the exact whereabouts of whom could not be learned. L.A. Decker & Bro. were in charge. (La Porte Daily Herald, October 24, 1917)
Johnson - - - Andrew Johnson - Michigan City Evening News, 2 March 1920 Andrew Johnson, 72, an inmate of the county farm for the past 40 years died there Friday, a victim of heart failure. He was born in Sweden, February 25, 1848, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Jons Johnson. He is survived by a brother, Swan of Crystal Lake, Ill., who came to attend the funeral services which were held Sunday afternoon from Weir and Ebberts parlors. Rev. Axel Nelson officiating. He was buried at Pine Lake cemetery. Inmates of the county asylum acted as pallbearers.
Kimball - Charles Kimball, whom
Trustee Hipp sent to the county house about a month ago, died there
this morning from consumption. He was about 38 years old, and when sent
over he was very ll.
Thos. Concannon, the superintendent of the
poor farm, telegraphed to Trustee Hipp this morning concerning the
man's death and the remains will probably be brought to this city for
burial.
The man has a sister and distant relatives in this city. The
funeral will be held in LaPorte tomorrow. His sister, who is employed
at the life-saving station, and his aunt, Mrs. Ohmes, also of
this city, went to LaPorte today. Evening Dispatch, Michigan City, Thursday, 3 Mar 1892.
Nichols - - Hattie Nichols - Michigan City News, 4 March 1908 THOUGHT DEAD; SHE REVIVES Poor Farm Superintendent Fooled by Hattie Nichols Monday, March 2. Superintendent Alschlager at the county infirmary was about to telephone for the undertaker last night when Hattie Nichols, an inmate, who he thought had died came to life again. The case is a most unusual one. After supper last evening Mrs. Alschlager called her husband with the startling information that the Nichols woman had dropped over dead. Mr. Alschlager hurried to the women’s ward and found the inmate on the floor. She was perfectly quit. He made a hasty examination. She appeared pulse less and there appeared to be no heart action. With the assistance on one of the men Mr. Alschlager carried her into another room and she was laid down, in order that efforts might be made to resuscitate her if possible. There was nothing to indicate that there remained a spark of life in her body, but just then all were startled to see the woman open her eyes and look up. In a few minutes she was all right. Hattie Nichols comes from Galena Township and has been in the insane hospital in Logansport several times.
RASSEAU - Daily Herald - Monday, November 27, 1893 - Frederick RASSEAU, an inmate of the county asylum, who died Friday night from the effects of cancer of the stomach, was buried this afternoon in Patton's Cemetery.
REECE - Ernest Reece, aged 95 years, dying with consumption, and his wife, Sophia Reece, bearing the weight of 107 years, were received at the county asylum Tuesday evening to spend the remainder of their days of life. They were taken over the hills to the refuge of the poor and unfortunate of life by the trustee of Wills township, where the aged couple lived for many years, where the father hewed a home out of the wilderness and where his wife, her figure bent with age, her hair as white as the driven snow, witnessed a century pass into forgotten oblivion. The condition of Mr. Reece made it necessary to remove him to the asylum that he might receive the proper care, while the mental condition of Mrs. Reece, her mind tottering under the infirmities of age, required that she be ministered unto as a public charge for the days she is fated to live. This venerable couple has had a long and interesting history. They have lived to behold American achievement and development, to witness the triumph of genius in mechanical invention. Mrs. Reece was a young girl during the progress of the war of 1812, and when her mind was strong and vigorous she could recount much of the stirring history which was written in the early years of the nineteenth century. The lives of both have been filled with content, and life, despite the fact that the sun is now deep on the other side of the hill, has had its sweet mingled with the bitter. (Michigan City Evening News, 2 Oct. 1902)
Schaefer, Ferdinand - Ferdinand Schafer, an inmate of the county asylum, 65 years of age, died yesterday afternoon after a lingering illness of about two years. He came to the asylum six or seven years ago from Michigan City and formerly was a carpenter. He is said to have a son but up to this afternoon the superintendent of the asylum had been unable to locate him. The son is said to have lived in Michigan City, and Superintendent Ahlschlager heard later that he was not in Benton Harbor. I.A. Decker & Bro. are in charge of the body. (The Daily Herald, June 30, 1917)
SCHWENK, Fred - Fred Schwenk, an inmate of the county house, died yesterday morning and was buried today at Pine Lake Cemetery. (La Porte Daily Herald, January 5, 1892)
Smith, Toby - Daily Herald, Monday, February 11, 1895 - Toby Smith, an inmate of the county asylum, died Saturday night at 9:30 o'clock of dropsy. The remains were laid to rest yesterday. Deceased was a resident of Michigan Township.
Snyder - - Jule Snyder, Michigan City News, 22 January 1908 SNYDER A COUNTY CHARGE In County House Friday, January 17 Jule Snyder, a well known man about town who some weeks ago used a liberal application of carbolic acid and glycerin with about ten times too much of the Acid, in hopes of relieving an itching of the skin is now a county charge. The unfortunate man has been in the county house for some days past and although recovering from the effects of the overdose is none too well and his friends fear that his days are numbered.
Taylor, Mary Mrs. - Taken to The County House. Trustee Hipp today sent Mrs. Mary Taylor, a blind woman, to the county house near LaPorte. She has been living with her daughter and niece, near the prison, until yesterday when the daughter left her mother. The niece could not care for the old lady, and accordingly the trustee sent her to LaPorte. Evening News, Michigan City, IN , Fri. 11 Apr. 1890.
Wollmarath - - - - Adam
Wollmarath - Daily Herald, Friday, December 21, 1894 - Adam
Wollmarath, aged 94 years who resided in the fifth ward, has been taken
to the county asylum. He was removed on his bed. The old gentleman was
the father of Maggie Wollmarath, who died Wednesday, from the affects
of drinking sapolio dissolved in a cup of water. Mr. Wollmarath is very
feeble and is unable to keep himself. The death of his daughter left
him destitute. Adam Wollmarath also spelled as Wallmerath and Wollmerath
on various census reports. (Webmaster added notes - Feronica Wollmerath
was his wife she died
8 Dec 1884 LaPorte 80 yr Female - Maggie Wollmarath d. Dec 19, 1894 at
age 50 I believe that Adam died the next year after entering the
nursing home.
WHALEN, Gus - Gus Whalen, 53 years of age, died at 6 o'clock this morning at the county asylum. He had been there for about 6 weeks and had come from Michigan City. He told the Superintendent, William Ahlschlager, that he had a wife, but would not tell where she was. Mr. Ahlschlager does not know the names of any of the relatives or where they are living and unless they are heard from the body will be interred in potter's field. Whalen's death was due to dropsy with which he was suffering when taken to the asylum. The body was taken in charge by L.A. Decker & Bro. (La Porte Daily Herald, November 13, 1917)
Witte - - - Wm. Witte - Taken to the County House - Township Trustee Chas. Walters yesterday took Wm. Witte to the county house. Witte is old and feeble and has lately been residing with his children, but for some reason he was not suited and applied to Trustee Walters to be taken to the poor farm. Trustee Walters had some business to transact and took Witte over with him. The trustee has lately settled accounts with the numerous grocery men for provisions supplied to the poor during the past year. Michigan City Evening Dispatch, Fri. 19 June 1896, p. 1, c. 4
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