Person:John Laser (1)

He was a shoemaker in 1850 and farmer in 1870.

Obituary

AN OLD SETTLER PASSES AWAY. --

 The deceased, John Laser, was born Feburary 2nd, 1826 in Pennsylvania.  He was married November 27th, 1849 to Susana Rulrecht(sic), and to this union were born one daughter and two sons.  His second marriage was to Susan Pickerns on March 15th, 1878.  He died very suddenly at his home three miles east of Bremen, with apoplexy of the heart on Friday evening, September 20th, 1904, leaving his widow, one daughter, two sons and eleven grand children to mourn his departure.  The deceased was 75 years, 7 months and 18 days old.  The funeral took place from the Salem Evangelical church, in this city, at two o'clock Sunday afternoon, and was conducted by Rev. Wm G. Brasckly.  The remains were interred in the Bremen Cemetery.
 Source: Bremen Inquirer, Friday, September 27, 1901, page 3.
 

WAS NOT A MOON SHINER, --JOHN LASER'S ILLICIT DISTILLERY, -- The Report Greatly Exaggerated About a Distillery Operated by John Laser East of Bremen. -- Revenue Collector Pierce of Lake County, Makes an Investigation --

 During the past several days various rumors have been afloat regarding John Laser, a well known farmer three miles east of Bremen, operating an illegal distillery on his place.  The Indianapolis Daily Sentinel came out a few days ago with a lengthy account of Mr. Laser's distillery and how six barrels of whiskey and the distilling apparatus was seized by Revenue officer Pierce, since which time the neighboring papers around the country have also appeared with glowing accounts of "a moon shine" distillery near Bremen.
 An Enquirer representative took the particular pains to investigate the matter and learned the following particulars of Mr. Laser:  Some months ago Mr. Laser visited a friend of his who had been in the distill business at one time, and obtained some information regarding the distilling of whiskey.  Mr. Laser who has a reputation for making excellent wine, concluded he would try his hand at making "Apple Jack" and "whiskey," merely for his own use.  He had a worm made by the tin-smith and also a copper kettle properly arranged in a small building near his farm residence.  Mr. Laser says he made a small quantity of the liquor but for some reason it was not fit to drink, and he gave it up for a bad job, thinking that there was some defect in the apparatus.  He thought no more about it until the other day when Revenue officer Pierce, accompanied by Adam Vinnedge, of Plymouth, drove up to his place, and after entering the house, inquired if he was operating a whiskey still, as they had evidence against him.  Mr. Laser informed the officer he was no "moon shiner," and it had been some months since he had attempted to distill any liquor.  The officer then asked Mr. Laser to show him the distilling apparatus he had used.  Laser had taken a part of the apparatus down, but that which remained was shown to the officer.  After questioning Mr. Laser, Revenue officer Pierce secured the "worm" and placing it in his buggy left for Plymouth, where he took the train for Indianapolis.  As to what step the Federal officers will take in the matter, is not yet known.  Mr. Laser says he was not aware that he was doing anything illegal when he attempted to distill the liquor as he only intended to make it for his ow use.
 Source: The Bremen Enquirer, Friday, February 9, 1894.

Bremen Inquirer, Friday, September 27, 1901, page 3.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Obituary, in The Bremen Inquirer.

   Friday, September 27, 1901, page 3.

2. ↑ Find A Grave.