Lake County IN Archives Biographies.....Castle, George L. 1839 - 1902 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 24, 2006, 10:46 pm Author: T. H. Ball (1904) GEORGE L. CASTLE. George L. Castle, now deceased, who was well known in Lake county, was born in Florence, Huron county, Ohio, February 18, 1839. His father, Squire Castle, was a native of Vermont, whence he removed to Berrien county, Michigan, from Ohio, in 1850. Two years later he came to West Creek township, Lake county, Indiana, arriving here in 1852. George L. Castle was then but thirteen years of age, and he continued his education in the district schools of West Creek township, while with farm work he became very familiar, gaining a broad practical experience as he assisted in the labors of field and meadow and in all departments of farm work. When the country became involved in Civil war, however, he put aside all business and personal considerations, for his patriotic spirit was aroused and he determined to aid his country in the preservation of the Union. Accordingly he enlisted in 1861, becoming a member of Company B, Twentieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until 1864. He was orderly sergeant and took part in many hotly contested battles, displaying marked valor and loyalty upon the field. After being honorably discharged he returned to Lowell and took up the work of contracting, which he followed continuously in this county until June, 1882, when he removed to Chicago. There he engaged in dealing in sand, gravel, brick and lumber, and for twenty years was an active and enterprising business man of that city, his death occurring on the 12th of October, 1902, in Lowell, Indiana. In his political views he was a Democrat, but the honors and emoluments of office had little attraction for him. On the 18th of December, 1866, Mr. Castle was united in marriage to Miss Laura P. Hull, who was born in Franklin county, Vermont, on the nth of February, 1847. Her father, Samuel P. Hull, was also a native of Franklin county and on emigrating westward established his home in Illinois, where he remained for two years. In 1867 he came to Lake county, Indiana, locating at Lowell, where he followed the occupation of farming. His death occurred February 3, 1898. Mrs. Castle's mother, Emeline Castle, was likewise a native of Franklin county, Vermont, and it was in the Green Mountain state that she was married. Mr. Hull was at one time the owner of the land on which occurred the birth of the late President Arthur. To Mr. and Mrs. Hull were born seven children, two sons and five daughters, namely: Jasper, Mrs. Mary Edmonds, Mrs. Joseph A. Clark, Mrs. Laura Castle, Albert, Mrs. William Sigler, and Mrs. Stanley Babcock, who is now deceased. Mrs. Castle is the fourth child in the family, and was the mother of one daughter, Mrs. Jessie B. C. Riggs, who died February 13, 1893, leaving a daughter, Laura M. Riggs, whose birth occurred August 28, 1889. (See obituary.) Mrs. Castle still carries on the business at Chicago which was established by her husband, and in this enterprise has the assistance of the secretary of the firm. She also owns a farm in West Creek township, Lake county, to which she gives her personal supervision. She is a woman of business ability, keen foresight and marked enterprise and is capably conducting her varied business interests. The following obituaries, while covering the main points sketched above, also further indicate the character and life of Mr. Castle and his only daughter and child: George L. Castle was born in the town of Florence, Huron county, Ohio, February 18, 1839, and died at his home in Lowell, Indiana, October 12, 1902, at the age of 63 years, 7 months and 24 days. His sickness dates back nearly two years, in which time he has been attended by the best medical skill, but all to no purpose. In hopes of regaining his health he went to Florida last winter, but was forced to return without obtaining the desired benefit. Since his return from the south his disease has been of a dropsical nature and that was probably the immediate cause of his death. When a lad of ten or twelve he moved with his parents to Michigan, remaining there about two years, when they again moved, coming to Lake county, Indiana, arriving here February 18, 1852, since which time Mr. Castle has resided in or near Lowell, with the exception of a few years in Chicago. He was among our best citizens; a man possessed of many noble traits of character, chief among which was his open-heartedness; no one ever applying to him for assistance was turned away empty handed, if within his power to prevent. He was a man very highly respected by all who knew him for his honorable, upright ways. When his country was in distress and needed his services he offered himself as a soldier, enlisting in Company B, 20th I. V. V. I., July 22, 1861, and from which he was discharged as corporal, July 29, 1864, after a faithful service of a little over three years. December 18, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Laura P. Hull. To this union was born one daughter, Jessie, who became the wife of Howard E. Riggs. She died February 13, 1893, leaving a little daughter, Laura M. The funeral, which was largely attended, occurred from his late home at 2 p. m., October 15. Elder John Bruce assisted by Rev. D. D. Hoagland, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church, officiated. Funeral Director Clifford Stowell had charge of the burial service. Interment was made in the Lowell cemetery. He leaves his wife, three brothers: John M. and Mortimer, of Lowell, and Charles E. of DeBorgia, Montana, one grand-daughter, Laura M. Riggs, together with a large number of relatives to mourn his death, to whom the Tribune extends sincere sympathy in their darkest hour of sorrow. Died, at her home in Englewood, February 13, 1893, Jessie Bell (Castle) Riggs, aged 24 years, 4 months and 24 days. Jessie Bell was born in Kansas City, Missouri, September 20, 1868. She was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. George L. Castle, of South Chicago, and wife of Howard Riggs. She came with her parents to Lowell, Indiana, when about three months old, where she resided till she was fourteen years of age, from whence she moved with her parents to South Chicago, Illinois. She was married to Howard Riggs, of Cambridge, Ohio, September 20, 1888. To this union two children were born, a daughter and a son. The son preceded its mother to the Spirit Land about two years ago. Her funeral took place from the Methodist Episcopal church, Thursday, Rev. Bird, of South Chicago, officiating, assisted by Rev. Bruce, of Lowell, where a large concourse of relatives and friends gathered to pay the last sad tribute of respect to one who was loved and held in high esteem by all who knew' her. Her remains were laid in the Lowell cemetery, there to rest until the morn of resurrection, from whence she will come forth and her garments shall be white. She leaves a husband and daughter, and father and mother, and other relatives and friends to mourn her loss. Additional Comments: Extracted from: ENCYCLOPEDIA OF Genealogy and Biography OF LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA, WITH A COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY 1834—1904 A Record of the Achievements of Its People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation. REV. T. H. BALL OF CROWN POINT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ILLUSTRATED CHICAGO NEW YORK THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1904 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/lake/bios/castle542gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/ File size: 7.9 Kb