H. H. Loring, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of H. H. Loring
H. H. LORING - Intimately associated with the life of Porter County for many years, the subject of this sketch, editor of the Porter County section of "The History of the Lake and Calumet Region of Indiana," has found expression and service in many fields of usefulness. The Lorings were of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and in this country are descended from three brothers who settled in Massachusetts in the middle of the seventeeth century. Samuel Loring, grandfather of our subject, moved from Kentucky to Darke County, Ohio, between 1808 and 1812. About 1828 he removed to St. Joseph County, Indiana, and there passed away near North Liberty. His son, John Loring, father of our subject, was born in the Blue Grass region of Kentucky about 1804, and when about four years of age removed with his parents to Ohio. Although the pioneer schools of that time afforded poor advantages, he secured a good schooling and later followed farming. His wife before marriage was Elizabeth Wiley, a sister of the famous Christian minister, Thomas Wiley. To that marriage were born: William, Hudson J., Thomas, Martha, and Cynthia. The family removed to Indiana and after the death of his first wife the father married Nancy Kane. To this marriage were born seven children: David J., Jennie, Mary, Charles J., Huldah, Samuel C., and Hannibal H. The father passed away at Monterey, Indiana, when sixty-eight years of age, and at the time of his death he was in very comfortable circumstances. Mrs. Loring was a woman of splendid character and insisted that her children should secure all the possible education. The sons all became professional men - three of them physicians - and most of the children served as teachers. Mrs. Loring passed away in Marshall County, Indiana, in April, 1896. H. H. Loring was born in Grant County, Indiana, on December 23, 1862. He attended the district school and worked on the farm until he was eighteen years of age, and he then became a teacher in Marshall County, Indiana, serving three terms. In 1882 he became a resident of Porter County and at that time entered the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, graduating from a teacher's course one years later. He then taught school in this county, and for two years was principal of the graded school at Porter. After this he served as principal of the graded school at Hebron, of this county, having three assistants, and was responsible for the establishment of the high school there. Mr. Loring maintained his connection with this school until 1889, and during that time studied at the Normal in Valparaiso with the exception of the last two years. In June, 1889, he was elected superintendant of the schools of Porter County for two years, and was twice reelected. Realizing the uncertainty of public work, Mr. Loring decided to equip himself for the practice of law. He graduated from the law department of Valparaiso University in June, 1894, and at the same time was admitted to practice in the courts of Indiana and in the U. S. courts as well. He resigned as superintendant of Porter County schools in September, 1895, and immediately opened an office for the general practice of law in Valparaiso, Indiana. He was appointed city attorney for that city in September, 1902, and immediately gave his attention to bringing to a close the long contest between the City of Valparaiso and the Valparaiso City Water Company, involving the right of the city to purchase the city waterworks, a right the city had reserved in the franchise granted in 1886, by appraisement. The city had the right to purchase but had no money with which to complete the purchase, and had no bonding power by which the money could be borrowed. The court fixed the amount the city should pay at $86,000. Mr. Loring contended the city could sell and assign its option to purchase to a friendly corporation of its own formation, and the corporation thus formed could perform the judgment and operate the plant economically and the purchase price out of the income in addition to paying maintenance, replacements, extensions, and betterments. This right was forcibly contested by the water company. The position taken by City Attorney Loring was new and novel to the legal fraternity of Indiana. Suits were instituted to obtain a decision of the higher courts in Indiana on this legal question. The Supreme Court on June 25, 1893, decided the controverted question in favor of the contention of the City of Valparaiso, thus adopting an entirely new rule of law involving such cases which has been generally adopted by other states when brought in controversy. The ruling enabled the city after twenty-three years to possess itself of waterworks that was then valued at $250,000 without paying in domestic rates or hydrant rental a higher rate than other cities of the same size. Mr. Loring resigned as city attorney, after being twice reelected, in September, 1908, and vigorously applied himself to the practice of law until November 14, 1914, when he was elected judge of the Porter Circuit Court, which office he filled until January 1, 1927, when he voluntarily retired after refusing a renomination without opposition. Immeduiately on retiring he associated himself with his son, Bruce B. Loring, under the firm name Loring & Loring, in the State Bank Building in Valparaiso, and the new firm is now enjoying extensive and lucrative practice. H. H. Loring is one of the few men that have successfully engaged in dual activities. His training as a lawyer and his extensive acquaintance with individuals and property in the practice of law, and his six years of service as superintedent of schools of Porter County, attrated the attention of the Board of Directors of the State Bank of Valparaiso and the Thrift Trust Company in January, 1912, when William E. Pinney - founder of, and acting president, of both institutions - asked to be relieved from the responsible positions. Mr. Loring was invited to head each of the financial institutions named, and has served as president of each since to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. The growth of each institution has proved the wisdom of the selection. Mr. Loring married Emily Brummitt on August 23, 1892. To this union three children were born: Mildred, who married Walter C. Fitch; Bruce B. Loring, an attorney of Valparaiso; and Dr. Mark L. Loring of Chicago. Mrs. Loring prior to her marriage was a public school teacher. Her entire life, except six years, have been spent in Porter County, Indiana. She is a daughter of William and Mary Brummitt, who were born and married in Yorkshire, England.
Source: Cannon, Thomas H., H. H. Loring, and Charles J. Robb. 1927. History of the Lake and Calumet Region of Indiana Embracing the Counties of Lake, Porter and Laporte. Volume II. Indianapolis, Indiana: Historians' Association. 827 p.
Page(s) in Source: 65-67
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook