USA > Indiana > Porter County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 14
USA > Indiana > Lake County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 14
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HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
were organized in 1871, with an enrollment of about 400. This included a number of German children, who were afterward taken out and sent to the Lutheran school. For the school year of 1878 and 1879, the total enrollment was 720, since which time there has been but little increase in the attendance. In 1881 and 1882, the enrollment reached 742, but owing to the prevalence of epidemics the attendance maintained was only 466. Number of teachers the first year, 10; present number, 15. A curious phenomenon occurred in connection with this graded school, namely, the accumulation of a surplus tuition fund, which, in the space of three years, amounted to about $15,000, and that without the levying of any special tuition tax. Inquiry into the cause of so strange an accu- mulation of funds led to the conclusion that the enumerator had probably, by some oversight, taken the names of the children from abroad, who were attending the normal school. It is now understood that such mis- takes will be carefully guarded against hereafter, the custody of so much money causing no little perplexity to the Board. Rev. M. O'Reilly has also greatly encouraged the education of the Roman Catholic children, and has been very successful in building up schools in connection with his church. St. Paul's Academy and the school under the care of the Sisters of Providence are each attracting an annually increasing number of students. The buildings are favorably located on the southeast corner of Outlot No. 20.
The German Lutherans have also given attention to the education of their children, as will elsewhere appear.
The Normal School deserves a more extended mention, not only be- cause of its extent, but on account of its influence upon the prosperity of Valparaiso and the surrounding country. It was established by Mr. H. B. Brown, who was born at Mount Vernon, Ohio, and attended the common schools, where his parents resided, until he was fifteen years of age, and then successively more advanced schools at Fremont and Delaware until he was twenty-one years of age, the winter months being spent in teaching. He afterward spent two years in attendance on the school at Lebanon, Ohio. After leaving Lebanon, he spent two years as a teacher in the North Western Normal School at Republic, Ohio. In June, 1873, having heard of the vacant buildings of the V. M. & F. C., at Valparaiso, he conceived the idea of starting a school of his own, and having made arrangements for the occupancy of the buildings, he opened his school on the 16th of September of that year with thirty-five students in attendance, thirteen of whom had come with him from Ohio. Mr. Brown alone had any idea of the vast results that were to follow his taking that step, and they have even exceeded his own great expectations, but in his mind he had conceived the plan upon which he has ever since
SUBURBAN STOCK FARM AND RESIDENCE OF ALBERT HANKINS, PORTER TP. PORTER CO. IND.
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carried forward his undertaking. When as yet the number in attendance was no more than 200, he informed the writer of his expectation that in a few years the number would reach 1,000, and would probably not go be- yond that. The first teachers were H. B. Brown, Miss Mantie E. Baldwin, M. E. Bogarte, B. F. Perrine and Ida Hutchison. Mr. Per- rine had charge of the boarding department. The plan of Mr. Brown seems to have comprehended these things : 1. By reducing expenses of all kinds-tuition, board, room rent, fuel, books, etc., to the lowest pos- sible figure, to make an education possible to thousands who otherwise would be practically debarred from it for want of means. 2. By hard work on his own part and that of his teachers to impart to the instruc- tion given that quality which would secure for the school a good reputa- tion, and at the same time reduce the number of salaries. There have been times when nearly all the teachers were engaged with their classes ten hours daily. It was more economical to pay one teacher $1,500 per annum for teaching ten hours, than it would have been to pay three teachers $800 each for teaching three hours. 3. By the free investment of money in advertising to let everybody who would be likely to attend school know that there was a school here and the advantages it offered. His plan was not to depend upon newspaper advertising alone, but especially upon sending circulars direct to such persons as were engaged in teaching in the common schools. This was done at very great ex- pense, but the result has shown that the money was wisely invested. 4. By requiring hard work on the part of the students to accomplish the greatest amount in the shortest time. 5. To afford facilities by which young men and women could receive a practical training for various de- partments of business. With this in view, special attention has been given to the classes for training teachers, to the commercial department, and to instruction in telegraphy, phonography and penmanship. 6. To govern the school by making it a working school. Students have no time for hazing who must put in six or eight hours a day in hard study, besides their recitations, or fall irretrievably behind. There has never been a rebellion in the school, though Mr. Brown is an autocrat. It should also be mentioned that arrangements are such that students can advantageously enter at any time and fall right to work like the hands in a factory, and it is also understood to be their privilege to leave at any time when their needs may require it to engage in teaching or other em- ployments. From these ideas, energetically carried out, there has grown up a school which has not only attracted students from the most distant parts of the country, but has set other educators to inquiring into the secret of its remarkable success. The number of students went up by hundreds every year, until it became a matter of the utmost difficulty to
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HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
find room for them in the town. Many of the most wealthy citizens for a time incommoded themselves and opened their homes for the reception of students that none might be turned away, and the best feeling has always prevailed between the students and the citizens. The facilities for rooming and boarding students is now such that it is safe to say that if 2,500 should present themselves at once, it would be much easier to provide for them than it was to provide for 800 a few years ago. The school is a private enterprise, and not under the patronage of the State, nor of any denomination. Until 1880, it was the sole property of Mr. Brown, since which time Prof. O. P. Kinsey has been jointly inter- ested with him in it. There was a time when Mr. Brown suffered severe financial embarrassment. The increasing attendance made necessary a very large outlay for the erection of buildings and the purchase of appa- ratus, in addition to the constant, heavy drain of the system of advertising adopted. At that time, according to the provisions of the State law, he received aid from the county to the amount of $10,000, and the city bought from him the college buildings for $12,000, giving him the privi- lege of redeeming the same in ten years without interest. Never was money more profitably invested by the county or city. It would be impossible to estimate the benefit which the college has been to the city and surrounding country in a pecuniary point of view. To it the present prosperity of Valparaiso is largely due. The erection of buildings on college hill has given constant employment to a large number of workmen, and their furnishing has afforded a large trade to dealers in furniture, hardware, carpets, etc. The patronage of the grocers, bakers and meat markets has been vastly increased by the boarding houses on the hill. The average number of students has been 800 per term since the beginning, and they spend in the place an average of $50 per term, or at the rate of $200,000 per annum, which, for the nine years, would foot up a grand total of $1,800,000. It is estimated that not less than 200 buildings have been erected in consequence of the location of the college here, the aggregate value of which is very large. Nor has the college been less a source of prosperity to the surrounding country. The demand for eggs, meats, butter, vegetables, wood, etc., has been such that much of the time the market has been bare, and the prices have always kept up to a rate highly advantageous to the producers. In addition to the teachers mentioned, there have been W. A. Yohn, Lillian Bogarte, Annie McAlilly, Lodema E. Ward, C. I. Ingerson, J. W. Holcombe, G. Bloch, C. K. Bitters, C. W. Boucher, Lizzie Boucher, H. N. Carver, C. L. Gregory, A. A. Southworth, Mrs. A. A. Southworth, R. A. Heritage, O. P. Kin- sey, Sarah Kinsey, H. A. Gillett, Mark L. De Motte, Will F. Strong, G. A. Dodge, G. L. Durand, M. G. Kimmel, U. J. Hoffman, W. J.
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Bell, E. K. Isaacs, Frank Nihart. The college buildings are now valued at $75,000. An annual sum is appropriated from the profits of the insti- tution for a library and reading room for the use of the students. Mr. Brown has no wife as yet except the college; but it is understood that several young ladies would be willing to accept the vacant situation if an offer were made them. The enrollment for the spring term in 1880 was 2,143 students.
In Centre Township there are, in addition to the schools in Valparaiso, nine districts. The amount paid teachers in these schools in the year 1860-61, was $546.84; for expenses including repairs, $163.96 ; for the year ending September, 1881, the tuition fund was $1,825 ; special school, $871.36. In each of these districts, school is kept nine months in the year ; wages to teachers, $25 per month for the spring and fall terms, and $35 for winter.
From the records in the Clerk's office, it appears that marriages were solemnized in the county by not less than four ministers of the Gospel during the year 1836. It has been generally said that the Rev. Alpheus French, a Baptist minister, preached the first sermon in Valparaiso. But the writer has been informed, by one who should know, that, as early as 1835 or 1836, a Baptist Church was organized in the township by the Rev. Asahel Neal, of which Benjamin Saylor and wife and a Mr. Bill- ings and wife were members; and further, that this organization, and perhaps another, lapsed before the present organization of the Baptist Church was effected. It is claimed for Mr. Neal that he also preached the first sermon in Valparaiso, the service being held in the house of William Eaton. Two Methodist ministers were in the county in 1836, Rev. Cyrus Spurlock, County Recorder and a resident of Portersville, and Rev. Stephen Jones. Rev. W. K. Talbott, a Presbyterian, was also a resident of Centre Township. The Rev. Alpheus French was well advanced in years when he came to this county. He was the father of Mrs. Hatch, and grandfather of Mrs. Orson Starr, of this place. He was born in 1769 or 1770, and lived to be more than ninety. The stone that marks his grave may be seen on the east side of the carriage- way in the old cemetery.
The First Baptist Church was organized June 10, 1837. Constituent members, John Bartholomew, Drusilla Bartholomew, Edmond Billings, James Witham, John Robinson, Rebecca Witham, Charity Billings, Warner Pierce, Adelia Pierce and three others. First Deacons-John Robinson and John Bartholomew. First Clerk-Jacob C. White. Trustees-Warren Pierce and James Witham. The name was changed to First Baptist Church of Valparaiso, February 8, 1840. First Pastor -Elder French. Served five years. Second Pastor-H. S. Orton.
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HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
Third Pastor-W. T. Bly, chosen in 1844, and served three years. Elder A. Nicheron succeeded Elder Bly, and served the church five years. Dur- ing his ministry the former church was built at a cost of $2,200. It was dedicated March 17, 1853. Elder Harry Smith became Pastor in 1854, and continued six years. Elder G. T. Brayton succeeded Elder Smith in the pastorate from March 11, 1860, to March 11, 1861. Elder J. D. Coe succeeded Elder Brayton from May 12, 1861, to May 12, 1862, one year ; Elder I. M. Maxwell, from November 8, 1862, to July 17, 1864, one year and eight months; Elder M. T. Lamb, from 1864 to 1865, about one year ; Elder R. H. Tozer, December 9, 1865, to February 18, 1866, three months ; M. T. Lamb, from 1866, to July 13, 1867, about one year ; Elder Otis Saxton, from October 12, 1867, to October 1, 1868; Elder Harper, from October 10, 1868, to about May, 1869; Elder W. A. Cap- linger, from 1870 to August 10, 1872, two years and six months ; Elder W. A. Clark, from April 1, 1872, to December 1, 1864, one year and nine months ; from December 1, 1874, to October 1, 1875, the church was without a pastor ; Elder E. S. Riley entered upon his pastorate Octo- ber 1, 1875, and is still the pastor; Elder Harry Smith's pastorate was very prosperous. Under the ministry of Elder Maxwell, the church was prosperous. During this time the church purchased a bell, was free from debt, and increased in membership. During Elder M. T. Lamb's minis- try, fifty were added to the membership. During W. A. Clark's pasto- rate the parsonage was built at an expense, with the chapel, of $2,000.
During the present pastorate, which commenced October 1, 1875, 193 have been added to the church, and the present membership is 202. Dur- ing this time, the present bell was purchased at a cost of $175, and the present house has been built at a cost of $7,000. The value of the present church property is about $12,000. At this time, the church's indebtedness is about $1,000, with a reliable subscription, which is now being collected, which equals this amount. By the 5th of October, at the annual meeting, it is expected to have the larger part of this collected. The church has enjoyed great harmony in its work during the entire time of the present pastorate, and closes the seventh year with brighter prospects than at any former period of its history.
From 1835 to 1844, the territory of Porter and Lake Counties was included in one pastoral charge, called first Deep River Mission, then Kankakee Mission, and afterward Valparaiso Circuit. It was served by Revs. Richard Hargrave, Aaron Wood, William H. Goode, Charles M. Holliday, John Daniel and John L. Smith, Presiding Elders ; and Ste- phen Jones, Jacob Colclazer, Hawley B. Beers, Samuel K. Young, Will- iam J. Forbes, Isaac M. Stagg, William F. Wheeler, Wade Posey and
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Warren Griffith as pastors. In the fall of 1844, Lake County was set off into a new charge, and Valparaiso Circuit was confined to Porter County, and remained so until the fall of 1852, when Valparaiso was set off as a separate pastoral charge. During this time it was served by C. M. Holliday, J. Daniel and J. L. Smith as Presiding Elders, and J. Cozad, T. C. Hackney, S. T. Cooper, William Palmer, W. G. Stonix, J. G. D. Pettijohn, L. B. Kent, Franklin Taylor, David Dunham, Abram Cary and Samuel Godfrey, as pastors.
The preaching places were Valparaiso, Salt Creek or Gosset's Chapel, Twenty-mile Grove, Indian Town (now Hebron), Melvin's, Lee's, White's and Pennock's. The appointments increased until, when the station was set off, they numbered fourteen, namely, Valparaiso, Morgan Prairie, Kankakee, Ohio, Hanna's Mill, City West, Jackson Centre, Griffith's Chapel, Horse Prairie, Hebron, Union Chapel, Twenty-Mile Grove, Salt Creek and Louis Pennocks'. In 1852, the station was organized, J. L. Smith, Presiding Elder, and David Crawford, pastor, who continued two years. Since the organization of the station, the following Presiding Elders have served the district, sometimes called La Porte, and at other times Valparaiso District : J. L. Smith, W. Graham, B. Winans, James Johnson, S. T. Cooper, W. R. Mikels, R. D. Utter and F. M. Pavey. The pastors have been D. Crawford, two years; A. Fellows, one; W. Hamilton, one ; G. W. Stafford, two; S. T. Cooper, two; A. Gurney, one; B. W. Smith, one; C. A. Brooke, one; T. S. Webb, three ; N. Green, two ; G. M. Boyd, three ; L C. Buckels, three; T. Meredith, two ; W. Graham, two ; N. L. Brakeman, three (he dying in the middle of his third year, and W. B. Stuts filled out the time) ; and G. M. Boyd, now in his second year. The first class in the city was organized in 1840, by W. J. Forbes, now a superannuate, and living here respected and loved as a Christian minister by all his neighbors. The only remaining mem- ber of that class is Mrs. Xenia Salyer, now advanced in years, but rich in faith and zealous in good works. The house of worship was commenced in 1848, under the pastorate of W. G. Stonix, and finished under the labors of J. G. D. Pettijohn, in 1849.
The same year a parsonage was purchased for $475, on the corner of Franklin and Monroe streets, but was after four years sold, and a new one erected in the rear of the lot on which the church now stands, at a cost of $900. Both church and parsonage have been enlarged and other- wise improved, and the charge is now one of the most desirable ones in the conference. From the commencement the members and congregation have done their full share in the benevolent work of the church, compared with other churches of equal strength financially, besides meeting their own expenses, which may be safely estimated for the last thirty years
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HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
as follows : Salaries, $21,000; incidentals, $4,000; benevolent claims, $4,000; church building, $4,500; parsonage and repairs, $2.500 ; Sunday school expenses, $2,500; add to this several thousand dollars donated to the college building now occupied by the Normal College. The number of the membership is now 245, and 20 probationers.
Previous to the winter of 1839-40, there had probably been several sermons by Presbyterian ministers in the county, and possibly in this township. But on the 4th day of December, 1839, Rev. James C. Brown, then a young man, and only a licentiate, began a ministry which lasted continuously for more than twenty years, by preaching a sermon in the second story of the court house, the text being Luke, x, 42. It was about Martha and Mary. Having in the meantime been ordained to the ministry, he in company with Rev. W. K. Marshall, of La Porte, organized the Presbyterian Church of Valparaiso, July 3, 1840, with ten members, viz .: James Blair, Isabel Blair and Elizabeth Martin,
their daughter, Nancy Buel, Elizabeth Marshall, Bathsheba E. Hamell, Abby Salisbury, Mary E. Brown, Henry Battan and M. B. Crosby. James Blair and M. B. Crosby were elected Elders. Judge Blair has been dead many years. Mr. Crosby has been an active Elder in the church since the day of its organization, now more than forty years. Jeremiah Hamell was elected Trustee. In the fall or winter following, the Sabbath school was organized by Mrs. Brown, and a brother of the pastor, Hugh A. Brown. It was a union school of eighteen pupils, and embraced every child of suitable age in the neighborhood. The services were held in the court house till the spring of 1841. Then a house was hired for the purpose on the southeast corner of Lot 3, Block 19, where the church worshiped two years. In 1842, they purchased Lot 7, Block 13, but the Methodists having purchased the adjoining lot six months later and declining to make any other choice, it was deemed best to re- linquish that, and a church was erected on the lot where Prof. Boucher's residence now is. The building was 35x45, and cost $750 in money, and a large amount of labor by pastor and people thrown in. It was not till 1849 that the pews and bell were furnished, though it was occupied from 1844. Numerous revivals attended the ministry of Dr. Brown, the most notable occurring in 1847 and 1854, Mr. Avery an evangelist assisting. Dr. Brown was a man of such piety, zeal, activity and self-denial as to make an impression never to be forgotten by those who knew him. His character may be judged from the fact that when the church was to be built, he shouldered his ax and went out to Barthol- omew's woods with the rest of the people to cut and hew the timbers, and during the whole of his ministry, he not only taught in the Sabbath school and preached in Valparaiso morning and evening, but preached in
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the afternoon at Tassinong, Salem, or Twenty-Mile Prairie. In 1857, the church building was moved to its present location on Lot 3, Block 18, the lot having been deeded to the church by Dr. Brown, and at the same time, twenty-five feet were added to its length, making it 35x70. Additions have since been made in the rear of a lecture-room, 24x31 feet, and of an infant-class room, 18x24 feet. At present, a subscrip- tion is in circulation for the building of a new church, and more than $8,000 has been pledged for the purpose. In 1867, the Lot 1, Block 4, with the dwelling on it was purchased for $2,500, to be used as a parson- age, and has since been improved. Dr. Brown closed his pastoral con- nection with the church September 4, 1860. In 1862, he was appointed Chaplain of the Forty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, and on the 14th of July of that year died in the hospital at Paducah, Ky. He had received during his twenty years ministry here and at Crown Point, Salem, Tassinong and Twenty-Mile Prairie, 475 members. He was succeeded as pastor by Rev. S. C. Logan, now of Scranton, Penn., Oc- tober 14, 1860. His pastorate lasted through the trying scenes of the war. In July, 1865, he resigned. He was an able minister of the Word. He was succeeded on the 17th of December of that year by Robert Beer, the present pastor, whose ministry has lasted continuously from that time. During the pastorate of Dr. Logan, there were 134 additions to the church. From the beginning, much attention was given to Sunday school work. This department of labor was carried on most effectively under the superintendency of Hon. H. A. Gillett, which lasted from 1864 to 1877. From its organization to April 1, 1882, there have been received into the church a total membership on examina- tion and by letter of 1,068. Of these, 459 have been received during the pastorate of Mr. Beer. Number of communicants at last annual report, 236. To April 1, 1882, the total amount raised for congregational pur- poses was $53,459. There are no reports of amounts paid for congrega- tional purposes for the first ten years. These would doubtless increase the total to more than $58,000. The benevolent contributions of the church have been as follows : Home Missions, $1,916; Foreign Missions, $4,292; Education, $6,311; Publication, $300; Church erection, $688; Ministerial relief, $413 ; Freedmen, $329; Miscellaneous, $4,311. Total benevolent, $18,560. Add Congregational, $58,000, and the grand total is $76,560. Missionary societies have been organized as follows : Women's Foreign Mission Aid Society, 1871; Children's Mission Band, 1874; Women's Home Missionary Society, 1878.
Any attempt to incorporate even a brief outline of the history of the Catholic Church in Porter, in a general history of the county, must be largely defective. The writer, therefore, confines himself to Valparaiso
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and those places at any time depending on it for Catholic services. St. Paul's Church, Valparaiso, received its name through Rev. Father Gillen, C. S. C., in honor of the great apostle of the Gentiles. The Holy Sac- rifice of mass was first offered in or about Valparaiso, according to the most probable statements, very close to the center of the northwest quar- ter of Section 15, Township 35, near where the residence of Mr. P. T. Clifford now stands. The name of the priest is not remembered. For several years after, a few Catholics were found to be in Valparaiso. They were occasionally attended by the priests of the society of the Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Ind. Amongst the names of clergymen still re- membered by older residents, are those of Father Curley, C. S. C., Father Cointet, C. S. C., Father Kilroy, C. S. C., and Father Paul Gillen, C. S. C. Through Father Paul, as the people called him, St. Paul's Church build- ing was begun and partially erected.
The " groves were God's first temples," and they, too, served for the first Catholic Church near Valparaiso. The first class of children pre- pared for Holy Communion was instructed by Father Paul, under the large oak trees then standing on what is now Emmettsburg. Some of the members of that class still reside in Valparaiso.
When the State of Indiana was divided by cutting off the diocese of Fort Wayne from that of Vincennes, Valparaiso naturally fell in the diocese of Fort Wayne.
Immediately the newly appointed Bishop of Fort Wayne, Right Rev. J. H. Luers, D. D., attempted to locate a resident pastor in Valparaiso. We are told that the first resident pastor was Rev. Father Clarke, who remained here but a few days. After him came Rev. George Hamilton, who was one of the ablest priests ever in this diocese. He remained but a short time ; Valparaiso was then unable to afford board and lodging to a resident pastor. A large number of Catholics in and about the place, about this time, were composed of that thoughtless, wild class of persons who follow public works. Others, more prudent and wise, remained, pur- chased lands, and thus became the founders of what will yet be one of the best Catholic congregations in the State.
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