USA > Indiana > Porter County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 26
USA > Indiana > Lake County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 26
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86
OBADIAH DUNHAM was born in Otsego County, N. Y., Septem- ber 26, 1809, and is one of the seven living children of eight born to Abner and Candace (Irons) Dunham. Mrs. Candace Dunham died in October, 1814, and Abner Dunham died in 1822. Obadiah was reared chiefly in Cooperstown, N. Y., and there learned the tailor's trade. In 1832, he removed to Ohio, and at Cardington was married, May 7, 1840, to Miss Sarah W. Winshop. He changed his residence several times ; came to Valparaiso in the latter part of 1844, and has since made it his home. Here, in 1848, he was appointed School Commissioner. He worked at his trade until 1850, when hs was elected County Recorder by the Dem- ocrats. In 1855, he was elected Clerk of Courts, and served four years ; he then engaged largely as administrator of estates and as deputy in county officials' offices, and for the past seventeen years has held the posi- tion of Deputy County Recorder. Mr. Dunham is an Odd Fellow and a member of the Encampment, and his wife is a member of the Presby- terian Church. They are the parents of four children-Ann E. (de- ceased), Charles N., George (deceased), and Mary E., the wife of E. F. White, of Junction City, Kan. Charles N. married Sarah Church, in October, 1870 ; is a resident of Valparaiso, and is a machinest by trade. Mr. Dunham came to Porter County a poor man, but has realized a com- fortable fortune, and is now living in retirement.
DR. J. H. EDMONDS, dentist, was born in Upper Canada De- cember 26, 1848, and is one of the four children born to R. D. and Mar- garet (Ferguson) Edmonds. When the Doctor was about fifteen years of age, the family came to the United States, first settling at Detroit and then moving to Illinois, where the mother died in about 1870; the father now resides in Dacotah. The Doctor received an academical education in Canada, but the literary portion was finished at a college in Detroit. In 1866, he began the study of medicine and dentistry at Rock Island, under Dr. Buzette, and graduated from the Philadelphia Dental College the term of 1873-74: he also received a special diploma as surgeon, from Jefferson Medical College, qualifying him fully for the practice of dentis- try. He was married July 28, 1870, to Miss Marietta Pierce, who was born in Lake County, Ind., November 22, 1853, the daughter of Levi W.
244
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
Pierce, an early settler. She had studied dentistry with the Doctor and is fully qualified in all its branches, making " filling " a speciality. They came to Valparaiso in 1872, and together do by far the greater part of the dental business of the town. They possess all the latest improve- ments, and their plate-work and filling cannot be surpassed. Dr. Ed- monds is the only dental graduate in Valparaiso or Porter County, and he ranks among the leading men of the profession in Northern Indiana. The Doctor is a Republican, a Mason and a Sir Knight of Valparaiso Commandery No. 28. His grandfather, Samuel Edmonds, was a native of England, and was for nine years in the British naval service, serving for a time as Commodore. The Doctor and Mrs. Edmonds are the parents of two children-Bruce Eugene (deceased) and Glenn.
JOHN M. FELTON, County Clerk, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, January 6, 1834. His father, William Felton, was a native of Pennsylvania, a railroad engineer by occupation, and married, about 1825, Margery McCallister, who bore him two sons, both yet alive. The mother died there in 1829, and in 1831 Mr. Felton married, Miss Margaret Mourer, and to this marriage were born eight children, six of whom are yet living. Mr. Felton continued the life of a railroad man until his death in May, 1862. His widow survived him until 1871, when she, too, died. Two of their sons served their country in the late war-one, Robert K., being killed before Petersburg. John M. Felton was reared in the "Keystone State," receiving a common school education. He learned his father's business of Civil Engineer, and the spring of 1857 was employed by the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, on a new survey through northern Indiana. Previous to this time, he had been employed in Pennsylvania, and in Tennessee and Mississippi, as a railroad engineer. In 1860, he located permanently in Valparaiso-although he first came in 1857-and since that time has always made Porter County his home. He engaged as a salesman in a hardware store here until August, 1875, when he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of County Treasurer, and, two years later, was re-elected, serving in all four years. In 1878, he was elected Clerk of Circuit Court of the county, and took his office November, 1879. Although Porter County gives a Republican majority of about 500, Mr. Felton has, by personal popularity, been elected every time he has re- ceived a nomination. He was married, November 18, 1863, to Miss Mary Jane Marshall. This lady died April 24, 1873, leaving two chil- dren-Robert L. and Lizzie M. The mother was born April 15, 1841, in Wells County, Ind., and died a member of the Presbyterian Church.
CHARLES FERNEKES was born in Germany February 10, 1834, the son of Antoine and Catharine (Schranck) Fernekes, who came to this country in 1856, and died in Milwaukee in 1872. Charles Fer- nekes learned to be a baker and candy-maker in the old country, and at the age of eighteen came to America, locating at Milwaukee, where for two years he worked at his trade; he then moved to Chicago, where he mar- ried Eve Griebel, September 19, 1855. In 1859, he came to Valparaiso, opened a confectionery and restaurant, and has secured a comfortable fort- une. Besides his business place, he owns five dwellings and the business room occupied by Munger & Le Claire. His wife died April 13, 1880,
245
CITY OF VALPARAISO.
leaving five children-Bertha, now Mrs. H. C. Schranck; George, Peter, Rosa and Charley. He married his present wife, Mrs. Kate (Dauber) Schwitzer, November 23, 1881, and by her has one son, not yet named. Mr. F. and family are members of the Catholic Church, and in politics, he is a Democrat. At present Mr. F. is engaged in the grocery and con- fectionery trade, but expects shortly to return to the confectionery and restaurant business, for which his large experience well qualifies him.
JOHN FITZ WILLIAMS was born in Charing Cross, St. Peters Port, on the Island of Guernsey, off the coast of France, February 29, 1828. His parents, John and Mary Fitz Williams, were also natives of the Island. The parents came to New York in 1818, and were there natural- ized, that the father might do business for the Hudson Bay Company in the Northwestern Territory, and was located in and near the State of Wis- consin. Mr. Fitz Williams never returned to his native country, but after quitting the employ of the H. B. Company, engaged in farming in Wis- consin, and died there in about 1839. In 1827, Mrs. Fitz Williams went back on a visit to her native land, and there, in 1828, the subject of this
sketch was born. In 1829, the mother and son came to America, and the mother died during the time her son-the only one-was fighting for the preservation of his adopted country. John Fitz Williams, subject of this memoir, in the fall of 1840, was bound out as an apprentice on board the bark "Enterprise," of St. Peters Port, Guernsey. After serving four and a half years he ran away, and found employment as cook on the lakes. In 1854, he came first to Valparaiso, but remained here only a short time, afterward going back to the lakes, where he remained till 1856, when he again came to Valparaiso and entered the employ of A. R. Gould, of the hotel " American Eagle." In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served with this company until 1862, when he became an orderly for Gen. Milroy, in West Virginia. In June, 1863, he re-enlisted in Company E, One Hun- dred and Twenty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and promoted Or- derly Sergeant, afterward being promoted to the Second Lieutenancy of his company. Owing to an accident which happened to him while on Hood's campaign, he was unable to act in the capacity of Second Lieu- tenant, and accordingly was discharged. Mr. Fitz Williams was in a number of skirmishes, and engagements, among them being Second Bull Run, and was also through the Atlanta campaign with Gen. Sherman. After the war, he started a restaurant in Valparaiso, and has ever since been in business in the place. As a business man, he has been very suc- cessful, and to-day is worth a comfortable fortune, which he has acquired by his own efforts. He was married. in December, 1863, just previous to going out in the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth, to Margaret Mc- Carthy, and to their marriage were born five children-Annie, Fanny, Eliza, Fred and John. The parents are members of the Catholic Church.
AZARIAH FREEMAN, one of the old settlers of Porter County, is a native of Tolland County, Conn., and was born May 23, 1809; eldest of six children, four yet living, born to Enoch and Lury (Huntington) Freeman, and has made farming his chief occupation through life. At the age of twenty years, he went to Onondaga County, N. Y., to look after a farm his father owned, and remained there until 1838, but in the
246
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIES:
mean time (1831) returned to his native State, and married Miss Amanda Crane, a daughter of Isaac and Sarah L. (Abbe) Crane, born April 6, 1809. He removed West in 1838, and purchased land in Michigan and Indiana, locating in Elkhart County, this State, where he farmed for a few years. He traded his property there for 160 acres on Morgan Prai- rie, Washington Township, Porter County, to which he removed in 1842. In 1850, he, and a company of others, emigrated overland to California. Upon his return to Porter County the next year, he located in Valparaiso. He has been especially identified in the educational advancement of the county. He was the founder of the old Male and Female College, and gave much toward its prosperity. After its discontinuance, he induced Mr. Brown to come here and start what is now known as the Northern Indiana Normal School, of which he is now Vice President. He has been connected with many other enterprises of the town and county. For eighteen successive years, he was Swamp Land Commissioner of Porter County, also County Commissioner for a time. He has held other posi- tions of local honor and trust, among which was that of President of Town Council for a number of years before Valparaiso became a city. Although an old man, he is yet one of the county's best and most active citizens. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the parents of four children, viz., Edwin E., Cordelia, George and Lura O.
JOSEPH GARDNER, banker, was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., June 10, 1821, and is the seventh son of a family of nine children, two yet living, born to Robert and Martha (Maine) Gardner. He is a grandson of Robert Gardner, who was a native of Scotland, afterwards a resident of Ireland, where he died. The father of Joseph Gardner was born in Ireland, about 1784, married Martha Maine, at Belfast, and, in 1818, emigrated to the United States, locating in Chautauqua County, N. Y., where he engaged in farming until his death, June 5, 1855. The widow moved to Porter County in 1861, and died on the farm of her son Joseph in July, 1864. Both the parents were of the Presbyterian faith. Joseph Gardner remained with his parents in Chautauqua County, N. Y., until his sixteenth year. In 1836, he began life's battle on his own responsi- bility, and for three summers engaged as a sailor on Lakes Huron, Erie and Michigan. He then entered as laborer in a warehouse at Michigan City, Ind., remaining there principally until the spring of 1844, when he went to Mackinac, where he engaged in fishing and coopering for five years. In company with five others, February 6, 1849, he left the straits, bound for California. There they mined on Bear Creek, near what is now known as Little York, their individual profits per day being about $16. At the end of about two months they went to Sacramento, where their com- pany was dissolved, and in January, 1850, Mr. Gardner went to Nevada City, where he remained about two years, mining. He then went back to Little York, and engaged in mining and " ditching." Mr. Gardner, in the last named business, invested $100,000, which he had made out of the mines. The ditch he operated is yet in fine condition, and is owned by what is known as the York Mining Company. In 1868, he returned to Indiana, and for three years farmed in Essex Township, Porter County. He then came to Valparaiso, and in 1874 established the Val- paraiso Savings Bank, which, in February, 1879, was merged into the
247
CITY OF VALPARAISO.
Farmers' National Bank, with a cash capital of $50,000. Mr. G. is a Republican, a member of the Blue Lodge in Masonry, and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He was married, in 1858, to Saral M. Hill, and to this union was born one son-William H., who is assist- ant cashier of the bank.
JEREMIAH HAMELL, deceased, one of the first merchants to lo- cate in Valparaiso, came to the place about the year 1836, and by his honor, enterprise and pleasing manners, rapidly won the confidence, friendship and patronage of the villagers and the surrounding neighbor- hood. Rev. Dr. Beatty, his former pastor, at Steubenville, Ohio, men- tioned him as a young man of marked ability, capable of high career in any vocation he might prefer. He chose the activity of mercantile pur- suits, although of fine literary tastes and scholastic habits, delighting always to spend leisure hours with books and pen. A fine orator, he was often called to assist in the temperance work, political campaigns, and on all other occasions requiring intelligence and fine address. In the year 1838, he represented the counties of Porter and Lake in the State Legislature, and had he lived, would have been selected for the occupancy of still higher offices of trust and importance. A few years after his arrival, he married Miss B. E. Cowan, an estimable and attractive young lady, who, some time previous, had removed from Romney, Hamp- shire Co., Va., to Southern Indiana, and one of the original members of the Presbyterian Church, of Valparaiso. With her he enjoyed happy years of home life, and the generous and pleasant hospitalities they con- ferred upon friends, will be remembered by many who were guests at their table and fireside. When death called the noble husband and father, a universal sympathy and grief were felt ; the loss being one to a community as well as to the shadowed household. And now, although time has planted the mosses of many a summer upon his grave, the name of Mr. Hamell is one often recalled; his gifts and virtues frequently recounted and absent, he is still unforgotten. Rev. J. C. Brown, D. D., the be- loved and lamented first pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Valparaiso, was his warm friend and admirer, referring to him ever as a gentleman of culture, usefulness, piety and public spirit, of unnusually fine personal appearance, and remarkable social qualities. It is said that as a brilliant conversationalist he was unsurpassed, being able to discuss topics of the day at his storeroom while busily engaged in posting his ledgers. In sermons preached specially to young men of the town, Mr. Hamell was suggested for their imitation as a type of what one could accomplish by his own unaided effort in obtaining position in society, education, success in business, and what is above all, a name so noble as to become a cher- ished legacy. Such to his family and friends is that of Jeremiah Hamell, and this little tribute is placed to his memory with the tenderness witlı which loving hands garland a tomb.
JOHN W. HAYDEN was born in Madison County, N. Y., May 29, 1815, and is one of nine children (only two of whom, our subject and a brother, Caleb Hayden, of Morgan Prairie, yet survive), born to Caleb and Sarah (Wolcott) Hayden, who were natives of Williamsburg, Mass. The year after their marriage, they moved to New York State and lived there farming until 1817, then removed to Franklin County,
248
BIOGRAPHICAL, SKETCHES:
Mass., and in 1835 emigrated overland to Indiana, locating in La Porte County, where Mr. Hayden died in about 1838. Mrs. Hayden lived on the old place until 1855, when she moved to Morgan Township, Porter County, where she died the following year. John W. Hayden was reared in York State and Massachusetts until nineteen years old. The spring of 1834, he went to Chicago and was there a short time, afterward going to Ottawa, Ill., where he bought a claim of land in La Salle County. He then returned to Massachusetts, and through his persuasions the parents sold what little property they possessed and emigrated westward. They were unable to reach La Salle County before the land sales there, con- sequently his land was sold and he was out of a farm. On account of the sickness of his sister they were obliged to stop in La Porte County, Ind., on their way out, where they remained until her death. On the return of our subject from looking after his claim in Illinois, they con- cluded to remain in La Porte County and make it their home, which they did, till their removal to Porter County in 1855. John W. Hayden returned to Vermont in 1845, and April 17, of that year, married Abi- gail L. Barber. Returning with his wife to Indiana, he engaged in clear- ing and farming and taking such part in pioneer pursuits as are described in the township history. This lady bore him one daughter, Mary A., now the wife of Henry Stoner, of Morgan Prairie, and died February 27, 1847, and lies buried in La Porte County. Mr. Hayden married his present wife, Almira Worster, February 7, 1849, in La Porte County, and to his last marriage there were born five children, viz .: One that died in infancy without name, Abigail L. (wife of Allen W. Reynolds), Anna L. (deceased), Hittie (deceased), and Louisa (the wife of Herbert Fish). Mr. Hayden is one of the old pioneers of Northwestern Indiana, and one of its self-made men. His life has been passed in hard work at farming and pioneer work until within the past three years, since when he has been living in Valparaiso retired. Mr. Hayden is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Democrat; has held positions of trust in the county and is one of the present Jury Commissioners.
PROF. RICHARD A. HERITAGE, Musical Director of Northern Indiana Normal School, was born October 28, 1853, in Williams County, Ohio. He is the eldest of seven children born to James and Susannah (De Long) Heritage, the former of England and the latter of Ohio. At. the age of sixteen, he left home to attend the Normal School at Bryan, Ohio. Three years later, he was installed as tutor in music and mathe- matics in the same institution. In about two and one-half years, he entered the Musical Convention work with W. F. Werschkul, D. Wertz and S. W. Straub. In 1877, he accepted the principalship of the Edon (Ohio) Graded School, working about one year, when, in the midst of a term of school, he received a telegram from H. B. Brown asking him to take the position of Musical Director of the Northern Indiana Normal School, suddenly vacated by W. F. Speer. He accepted, and has held the position ever since. When Prof. H. took the position in the spring of 1878, there was no musical department except the vocal classes and three pianos for private instruction. In the fall of 1878, the musical de- partment was fully organized, with a course of study embracing two years' work, including notation, sight reading, thorough-bass, harmony, fugue,
249
CITY OF VALPARAISO.
counter-point, orchestration, musical literature, voice culture, piano, organ, violin and band and orchestral instruments. This is divided into four courses. The three pianos, previously mentioned, were placed in the students' rooms ; now, the department has a room 40x42 feet, with twenty pianos, seven organs, and one set of band and orchestral instruments. The building is arranged with twenty-two private practicing rooms and director's family rooms, musical store and reading room, and an excellent musical and miscellaneous library of over 1,000 volumes, with twenty musical journals on file. It is also connected with the telephonic ex- change. Prof. H. is editor and publisher of a musical journal-The (Valparaiso) Musical Ideal. This has all been done through the untir- ing and persistent efforts of Prof. Heritage, who is a genial, affable gentleman of fine musical talent. The number of certificates of mem- bership was about 150 in 1878; last year the number reached 409. Prof. H. was married, March 22, 1877, to Mary C. Miller, a native of Ohio. They have one child, Harvey H. Of the F. & A. M. fraternity, Prof. H. is a member, having taken twelve degrees, and also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has always been a Republican.
J. D. HOLLETT, of the firm of Haste & Hollett, hardware dealers, is a native of Orange County, N. Y., his birth occurring May 11, 1848. He is next the youngest of a family of six sons and four daughters, one daughter of whom is dead, born to Thomas A. and Deborah A. (Benja- min) Hollett, also natives of the State of New York. Thomas A. Hollett was a farmer ; moved to Porter Township, Porter Co., Ind., from Orange County, N. Y., in 1851, and moved to Valparaiso in about 1864, and he and wife are yet living here, not actively engaged in any pursuit. J. D. Hollett was reared principally in Porter County, where he received the common school education. At the age of sixteen, he began for himself, and up until nineteen years of age was going to school and clerking in Wood Brothers' grocery store in Valparaiso. In 1867, he was employed as fireman of an engine on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Rail- road, and after firing two and a half years, entered the engine and ma- chine shops in Chicago, remaining there about a year, when, by reason of his habits and previous satisfactory work, he was given an engine. For four years he was employed as freight and passenger engineer on the Fort Wayne road. The fall of 1874, he became the " Co." of the hardware firm of Hawkins, Haste & Co., but at the end of two years Mr. Hawkins retired from the partnership and the firm of Haste & Hollett has con- tinued to the present with success. They carry everything found in a first-class hardware and farming implement store, and do as large a trade as any firm of the kind in the town. Mr. Hollett is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a Sir Knight of Valparaiso Commandery, No. 28. He was married, February 21, 1872, to Miss Lura Freeman, daugh- ter of Azariah Freeman, one of the old settlers of Valparaiso, and by her has two children-Freeman and Ida May. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
CONRAD HORN. butcher, was born near Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, December 30, 1830, and is a son of Conrad and Anna M. (Seifert) Horn, who were also natives of Germany. They had born to them five children, only two of whom are yet living, a daughter, Mrs.
250
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Anna Stenger, of Pennsylvania, and the subject of this sketch. In 1851, Conrad Horn, Jr., emigrated to the United States. After arriving in New York City, he engaged in various pursuits, afterward going to Penn- sylvania and working in the coal mines. In 1855, he emigrated to La Porte, Ind., and for three years he was engaged in farming near that city ; thence, in 1858, came to Valparaiso and began butchering, at which he has ever since continued. Mr. Horn was married here, the spring of 1859, to Miss Lena Knepel, also a native of Germany, and to their mar- riage have been born seven children-Peter, Lewis, Louisa, Charles, Jacob, Annie and Joseph, all living. Mr. H. is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and Mrs. H. is a Protestant. Mr. Horn began busi- ness here in but limited circumstances. To-day he has one of the princi- pal butcher shops of the place; does a first-rate business, and by hard work and economy, has made some money and a comfortable home.
JOHN HOWE, son of John and Ann (Gallavan) Howe, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, October 12, 1822. and came across the At- lantic in 1846, landing at Quebec. In 1849, he moved to New Buffalo, Mich., where he married, November 17, 1850, Miss Ann Gallaghar, a native of County Leitrim, Ireland. Shortly after this he moved to Michigan City, Ind., where for a time he was employed as foreman on the M. C. R. R. In August, 1853, he came to Valparaiso, and his was the first Irish family to settle here. He engaged in mercantile pursuits, met with substantial success, and with the exception of two years on a farm in Portage, he has continued his residence here. Mrs. Howe, his faithful and loving wife, died May 7, 1882, having borne her husband six chil- dren-Mary Ann (deceased), three that died in infancy, Thomas F. (who was accidentally killed in 1877. aged twenty-three), and John J. Mr. Howe is a member of the Catholic Church, and in politics is a Democrat. He is a public-spirited citizen, and a successful railroad contractor and stock-dealer.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.