History of LaPorte, (LaPorte County) Indiana United States of America

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Biographies:

William Myron Brooks, educator, was born at La Porte, Ind., March 5, 1835; son of Samuel and Sophia (Johnson) Brooks, and grandson of Capt. James Brooks, one of General Washington's guards during three years of the revolutionary war. He was graduated from Oberlin college in 1857, and until 1866 was principal of the Tabor (Iowa) literary institute. In 1866 he was ordained to the Congregational ministry, and in the same year was elected president of Tabor college. In 1876 he was a presidential elector on the Republican ticket, and from 1876 to 1878 he was a member of the Iowa house of representatives. In 1868 he was made president of the Iowa state teachers' association. He was twice chosen moderator of the state Congregational association, and for many successive years was made a member of the national council of Congregational churches. In 1896 he resigned the presidency of Tabor college, and was chosen president emeritus. In the same year he became one of the trustees of the national council of Congregational churches in the United States. Oberlin college conferred upon him the degree of A.M. in 1861 and that of D D. in 1893.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Charles W. Cathcart, senator, was born in the island of Madeira in 1809. He received an English education, and for some years was a sailor. He settled as a farmer in Laporte, Ind., in 1831, where he was land surveyor for the United States; he was also a member of the state assembly. In 1844 he was a presidential elector on the Democratic ticket. In 1844 he was elected as a representative to the 29th Congress; he was re-elected to the 30th Congress, and served until March 3, 1849. On Dec. 6, 1852 he took his seat in the United States senate, having been appointed by Governor Wright to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator James Whitcomb, the state legislature electing at its next session John Pettee to succeed him for the unexpired term ending March 3, 1855. He died in Michigan city, Ind., Aug. 22, 1888.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor