USA > Indiana > Porter County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 28
USA > Indiana > Lake County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 28
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Whig, afterward a Republican, and his wife was a member of the Chris- tian Church. Thomas G. Lytle lived with his parents until twenty-three years old, and was married, in 1847, to Miss Idilla Allen ; farmed until the winter of 1853, when he moved to Valparaiso, entered into the drug trade, and has remained in active business here ever since. He is a Re- publican, and in 1854, when that party was first organized, was elected County Sheriff, and re-elected in 1856. He was elected Mayor of Val- paraiso in 1868, and re-elected in 1870, serving four years. In 1882, he was again elected to that office, in which he is yet serving. He was also one of the first proprietors of the paper mill of Valparaiso. His wife died in June, 1861, leaving one daughter, now Mrs. R. A. Dunlap. He afterward married Mrs. Mary E. (Marginson) Ketchum, and to this union have been born six children-Effie M., Elma M., Thomas G. (de- ceased), Elvan A., one that died in infancy without name and Arthur W. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lytle are of the Unitarian faith. Mr. Lytle, in the spring of 1864, organized Company C, of the One Hundred and Thirty- eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and by that company was chosen Captain. They were in active service, but principally in detailed work. In 1864, they operated in Tennessee and Alabama, and in November of that year Mr. Lytle was duly discharged.
JAMES R. MALONE, grain-dealer and farmer, is the eldest son of of Wilson Malone, deceased, one of the pioneers of Porter County. His birth, February 7, 1843, occurred in this county, and he was here reared to manhood. When twenty years old, he went to Montana Territory, where for five years he was engaged in mining. In 1867, he returned, and January 1, 1868, married Miss Mary E. Smith, and settled down to farming, at which he continued until 1876. In that year he was the choice of the Democratic party for County Sheriff, and, although Porter County usually gives a Republican majority of 500, he was elected, and re-elected with increased majority, serving in all four years. Since that time he has been dealing in grain and looking after his farm, which con- sists of 700 acres in Boone Township. To his union with Miss Smith there have been born eight children-Charley (dead), Kittie, Bessie, Wil- son, Henry, Richard, James D. and Frank. One of the interesting epochs in his life occured while a miner. On one expedition, while the country was yet excited over the " Gallatin massacre " by the Indians, he and seven others were followed by a score or more of red-skins for over two days, but by the vigilance of the whites they were not able to make an attack with any degree of safety to themselves. The Indians then gave up the pursuit, but a number of others followed, out of sight, and one night succeeded in capturing four horses belonging to the whites. They were pursued, and, after a long chase, captured, and on vote, it was de- cided to hang the thieves. While Mr. Malone was pinioning the legs of one, the Indian managed to draw a concealed knife, which he plunged in- to the side of Mr. Malone, inflicting a dangerous wound from which he was not able to leave his cot for four weeks. The red-skin was promptly shot, and the others were soon dangling at the ends of ropes from con- venient trees.
L. H. MANDEVILLE, photographer, is a native of Trumansburg, N. Y .; was born January 15, 1825, and is one of four children of Thomas
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C. and Mercy (Gilbert) Mandeville, natives of that State, and of Norman descent. Francis Mandeville, our subject's grandfather, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and Thomas Mandeville, our subject's father, was a soldier of the war of 1812 and the Seminole war. Generations back, the family were among the nobility of Holland and England. Un- til thirteen years of age, L. H. Mandeville was reared in his native town. In 1838, he came to Erie, Penn., and there engaged as clerk in a dry goods store of that place. afterward going west of the city of Erie about six miles, where he took charge of the extension of the Erie Canal. While there, in 1850, he was united in marriage with Sarah Jane Brown, and moved to Adrian, Mich., where he engaged in farming. Then went to Tecumseh, Mich., where he kept hotel for about one year ; then, May 5, 1855, came to Valparaiso, where he has ever since resided. He here embarked in his present business. He is naturally of a mechanical turn of mind, and for a number of years has paid considerable attention to mechanical work. He has invented several different engines, which have proved to be of great value as labor-saving instruments. The best and most noted of his inventions is an automatic telephone, which for a dis- tance under three miles far exceeds any ever invented. Mr. Mandeville began life's battle a poor boy, but by industry and economy has placed himself and family in good comfortable circumstances. He is a Democrat ; is the present Master of the F. & A. M., and has ascended to the R. A. degree. He and wife are members of the Universalist Church, and the parents of one son-Cassius E., who married Elma Wells, and is a dry goods merchant of Valparaiso.
JAMES McFETRICH was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, March 4, 1840. He is the third in a family of ten children, seven of whom are yet living, born to John and Martha (Anderson) McFetrich, both of whom were natives of the County Derry, Ireland, where they were reared and married. In 1831, soon after their marriage, they emigrated to America, locating first in New York, afterward moving to Ohio, in both States engaging in farming. These parents are yet living, and reside in Trumbull County, Ohio. James McFetrich was reared in Ohio, on a farm, to manhood, in youth attending the district school, afterward attending and in 1861, graduating from the Western Reserve College at West Farmington. He then began the study of law at Warren, Ohio, with Birchard & Moses, and for one year attended the Law Department of the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor. He then accepted a situation as teacher, at Valparaiso, in the Collegiate Institute, intending to return to law school and graduate, with his earnings. Instead of going back, however, he continued teaching steadily for five years. He then engaged in the drug trade for a time, and in 1871 was elected teacher of the High School, continuing as such eight years. During this time, he was elected County School Superintendent (1875), and served two years. In 1880, he became interested in the hardware trade, from which, in 1882, he changed to the lumber trade, at which he is yet engaged, under the firm name of White, McFetrich & Co. Mr. McFetrich was married, Sep- tember 7, 1871, to Miss Martha J. White, daughter of Daniel S. White, the biography of whom accompanies this work. Mrs. McFetrich was born in Wayne County, Penn., December 17, 1846, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Valparaiso.
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JAMES M. McGILL was born in Erie, Penn .. June 28, 1843, one of seven children, all yet living, born to Robert and Susan P. (Alexander) McGill, natives of Pennsylvania. The grandfather of James M., was a native of Ireland, and came to America shortly after the Revolutionary war. From Erie, Penn., the parents and family moved to La Porte, Ind., and after living about a year there, moved to South East Grove, Eagle Creek Township, Lake County. Shortly after the war, the par- ents moved to Hebron, Ind., where they lived the remainder of their days. Mrs. McGill died there in 1873, and Mr. McGill in 1878, and both are now sleeping in the village cemetery. James McGill lived with his parents until nineteen years old, during which time he attended the public schools of his neighborhood, afterward entering and for three years was a student of the old Male and Female College of Valparaiso. August 19, 1862, he enlisted as private in Company I, Fifth Indiana Cavalry. He was promoted Sergeant, and retained that position until the battle of Nashville, when he was advanced to the First Lieutenancy of Company G, of the Tenth Tennessee Cavalry. Shortly after this, he was promoted Captain of his company, retaining that position until the close of the war. Capt. McGill and his company were in active service during his entire army career, and he participated in a number of engagements, notably among which were those of Knoxville, Mission Ridge, Chatta- nooga, Franklin, Nashville and others. After the last-named battle, they chased Hood across the river, then went to New Orleans, and from there to Natchez, where they did garrison duty for a number of months. Capt. McGill and company were discharged at Nashville, Tenn., in August, 1865. Succeeding the war, he came back home, and has since resided in Porter County, engaged in various pursuits, chiefly farming. He was married, May 18, 1869, to Kittie L. Starr, daughter of the old pioneer, Ruel Starr (deceased), and to their union have been born four children- Pearl, Phebe E., Ruel S. and Mary Edna (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. McGill are members of the Presbyterian Church. Capt. McGill is a Re- publican, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a Sir Knight of Valparaiso Commandery, No 28.
JOHN W. MCLELLAN, photographer, is a native of La Porte County, Ind., his birth occurring August 2, 1848. He is the youngest son of a family of seven children, six yet living, born to Joseph and Fidelia (Reed) McLellan, who were natives of Vermont and Michigan, and of Scotch and Pennsylvania Dutch descent respectively. Joseph McLellan was a farmer, and came to La Porte County, Ind., in 1833, settling in Cool Spring Township, but afterward moving to Scipio Township, where he died in July, 1881, preceded by his wife, both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John W. Mclellan was reared in La Porte County, Ind., where he acquired a good common school education, afterward attending for two and one-half years the High School of Westville, Ind., and then attending and graduating from the State Normal School at Oswego, N. Y. He learned the photographic art in La Porte, Ind., of John Bryant, and for a short time afterward was engaged in the business at Rockford, Ill. In December, 1873, he came to Valparaiso and purchased the studio of W. H. Hayward. He is a member of the National Photographic Association of the United States,
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and has an established and enviable reputation as a photographer. He was married August 20, 1873, to Miss Huldah A. Forbes, daughter of J. T. Forbes, appropriate mention of whom is made in the biographical department of Washington Township. To this union have been born two children-Mattie P., and Frank C., deceased. Mrs. McLellan was born July 13, 1849, in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. McLellan are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. McLelland is a Repub- lican, and a member of the I. O. O. F.
MARQUIS L. MCCLELLAND, insurance agent, was born in La Fayette, Ind., February 26, 1830. He is a son of John T. and Sarah (McCarl) McClelland, who were natives of Washington County, Penn. John T. McClelland was born in the year 1800, and his wife in 1804. They were married in their native State, and from there moved to La Fayette, Ind., in 1828. In 1831, Mr. McC. started West through South Bend, Niles and to Chicago. The spring of 1832, he removed to South Bend, where he embarked in mercantile pursuits. He was one of the pioneers and was identified with some of the leading manufactories of that place, and at the time of his death, in June, 1840, was engaged in erect- ing extensive works for the manufacture of glass ; he was also engaged in the manufacture of pig-iron at Mishawaka. He was a very active Democrat, and was the first County Treasurer of St. Joseph County. He was a man very popular with all classes, especially so with the poor, and commanded the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He and wife had born to them three children, two of whom are yet living-Mrs. Mills, of Rochester, N. Y., and the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Mc- Clelland continued to reside in South Bend, and there married William S. Vail. This couple moved to Valparaiso in 1863, where they are both yet living at advanced ages. To their union were born two children, of whom only one, William H., a jeweler of Valparaiso, yet lives. Marquis L. McClelland was but ten years old when his father died. He learned the tanner's and currier's trade, but has never made that his business. He came to Valparaiso in 1854, was employed as salesman in different mercantile establishments, and the fall of 1861 was appointed Clerk of the Congressional Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, of which Hon. Schuyler Colfax was Chairman, and at that gentleman's solicita- tion acted as his Private Secretary in the Forty-second Congress. He returned to Valparaiso in 1862 and engaged in the dry goods trade, in partnership with A. V. Bartholomew. He continued at this four years, and in the meantime was active in organizing the First National Bank. He was elected its first cashier, and continued as such about eighteen years. Since that time he has been engaged in a general life and fire insurance business. He was married, October 3, 1853, to Miss Sarah A. Wilmington, of South Bend, and to them have been born two children- Theodore and Flora. Mr. McClelland has been a member of the Masonic order for twenty-five years, and has passed through the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council, Commandery and Scottish Rites, and is a Past Emi- nent Commander of the Commandery. The Blue Lodge at Hobart, Ind., is named in his honor. He is a Republican, and has filled the positions of Township Treasurer and Clerk of Centre Township. He is the county's present nominee for the State Legislature, and has served two
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terms in the City Council. He and two others were active in building the C. & G. T. R. R. from Valparaiso to South Bend, and he has always taken active part in all the public affairs of the county. He and Schuyler Colfax were raised as boys together, and have always been on the most intimate and confidential terms.
THOMAS J. MERRIFIELD, attorney at law, is a native of Yates County, N. Y. Was born January 11, 1833, and until fifteen years of age, was reared on his father's farm. He then entered an academy at Starkey, N. Y., and studied law for four years, and also engaged in teaching. In 1853, he came to Mishawaka, Ind., and studied under Mr. Cowles ; at the end of six months, he started for Minnesota on horse- back, with a view of locating, but returned and entered the law office of Judge Robert Lowrey, and afterward that of the Hon. Thomas Harris, then State Senator. In May, 1855, he was admitted to the bar at Goshen, and two months later came to Valparaiso. Here he was associated with Hon. S. I. Anthony. State Senator, as partner until 1863. In 1858, he was elected by the Democrats, member of the General Assembly, and served in the regular and special sessions of that term, and was the author of several bills, among others that which makes persons holding moneys in a fiduciary capacity liable for embezzlement if such moneys be used for personal ends. From October, 1866, until June, 1869, he was partner with Maj. W. H. Calkins, now a Member of Congress, who had studied law under Mr. Merrifield for a year or more. Subsequently, he was associated with Col. Pierce until that gentleman was called to Chicago to assume editorial control of the Inter-Ocean. Since then, Mr. M. has been in partnership with the following gentlemen : A. D. Bar- tholomew, William Johnston, E. D. Crumpacker and John E. Cass. In December, 1865, he was elected the first Mayor of Valparaiso, and served two consecutive terms, declining a third election. In October, 1856, he married Miss Paulina Skinner, who has borne him six children, viz., Kate, now Mrs. M. Johnson ; Harriet, now Mrs. S. Bernard; Georgia Ann, now Mrs. William Dye; John A., Dora Bell and George William. Mr. Merrifield is a son of John and Catharine (Schumacher) Merrifield, natives of New York, and of English and German descent. His paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution, and his great-grandfather an English naval officer. Mr. M. is one of the leading attorneys of the county, and is a member of the Blue Lodge, A., F. & A. M.
PETER MORAN, son of Thomas and Bridget (Kelly) Moran, was born in County Meath, Ireland, December 21, 1828, and came to the United States in his seventeenth year. After working awhile on Long Island, he came to Mishawaka, this State; he went thence to Notre Dame, where he learned the boot and shoe manufacturing business ; worked in various towns at the trade, and at La Porte, Ind., September 5, 1858, he married Miss Catharine Kaler. In March, 1859, he came to Valparaiso, and is now the oldest shoe manufacturer in the city. Be- side manufacturing, he retails, and has secured a first-class trade. His children, seven in number, were born and named in the following order : Dennis, Mary, Julia, Thomas F., John, Catharine and one that died in infancy. The family are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Moran is a Democrat, and is one of the present City Commissioners. Mr. M.
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began his business career in Valparaiso in somewhat straitened circum- stances, but has succeeded in securing a comfortable home, and a lucra- tive and permanent trade.
JAMES H. NEWLAND, M. D., was born in Lawrence County, Ind., December 9, 1820. His father, John Newland, was a Virginian, and of Scotch-Irish descent. When a young man, he went to Burke County, N. C., where he married Miss Agnes Allen, a native of North Carolina, and of English descent. They resided in North Carolina until 1818, when, to leave slavery behind, they came to Indiana, locating in Jackson County for a short time, removing to Lawrence County, where they ever afterward made their home. Mr. Newland was a farmer, and a very active politician in the southern part of the State, where he was quite widely known, and held several local positions of honor and trust. He and wife were members of long standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their deaths occurred respectively in 1838 and 1868. Dr. Newland made his home with his parents until his seventeenth year, then engaged in school teaching, which he continued for five years. He began the study of medicine in 1842, in Salem, Ind., having access to the li- brary of his uncle, Dr. Elijah Newland. In 1852-53, he attended Rush Medical College at Chicago, of which he is a graduate. He began prac- ticing in Thorntown, Boone County, where he also was engaged in the drug trade. He was there burned out, and left completely in debt. He started anew, and for a time practiced medicine in Pleasant Hill, Mont- gomery Co., Ind., moving to Valparaiso in 1859. Here he has a wide and selected practice. He was married in 1844, to Eliza Davis, who bore him nine children, of whom only one, William H., is yet living. This lady died in 1871, and in 1872 Dr. Newland married his present wife, Mary Ellen Reves. Dr. N. is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ALLEN R. NICKELL was born in Monroe County, Va., March 8, 1830, and is a son of Andrew Nickell, a native of Virginia, a farmer. and of Irish descent, who married Janette Cornwall in Virginia in about 1826, and in 1835 came with teams overland to Elkhart County, Ind. After living there one year, he came to Porter County, and entered 240 acres of land in Washington Township, near Morgan Prairie. Mr.
Nickell erected a cabin and lived there one season ; then moved to Scipio Township, La Porte County. His wife died about 1846, leaving a family of four children, all of whom are yet living. Mr. Nickell afterward married Mary Ann Parker, and to this union were born six children. The mother is yet living, but the father died in 1869. Allen R. Nickell was reared in La Porte County, receiving a common school education. He lived at home until December, 1849, when he went to California, and for one month after his arrival worked on a farm for $150, after which he engaged in mining. In 1851, he returned and engaged in farming in Washington Township. In 1870, he moved to Valparaiso, where he is yet living. He was married, in 1851, to Sarah Shinabarger, who died in 1871. They were the parents of three children-Paulina J. (deceased). Malinda E. and Sarah E. April 23, 1876, he was married to Mrs. Lillie (Carpenter) Best, and by her has one son-Allen Roy. Mrs. Nickell is a member of the M. E. Church, and Mr. Nickell is a member of the
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Masonic fraternity, being a Knight Templar of Valparaiso Commandery, No. 28. He is a Democrat, and has served one term as Trustee of Cen- tre Township.
M. J. O'BRIEN, general dealer, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, May 20, 1833, and is the third child of a family of seven children born to James and Mary (Fitz-Gerald) O'Brien, natives of the same county. James O'Brien was a cooper, and came to America in 1844, and for two years worked at Albany, N. Y. In 1846, he sent for his family, and they resided in Albany for some time, afterward moving to Onondaga County, same State, where our subject was reared in the village of Jordan. His parents moved to Erie County, Penn., in about 1874, and are yet living there. M. J. O'Brien received only a limited education from the common schools, learned the cooper's trade of his father, and at the age of twenty embarked on life's voyage on his own resources. Up to 1857, he worked in the State of New York, and also during the interval. May 5, 1855, was married to Miss Ann Maria Sulli- van, a native of Albany. In 1857, during the panic, Mr. O'Brien and family emigrated West, and for about eight months worked in Peoria, Ill., and in 1858, moved to Valparaiso, Ind., where his family has ever since resided, except two years, while a resident of Cass County, this State. He began here by working at his trade in partnership with William Quinn, at which they were engaged some five years. They then em- barked in the grocery trade, which was continued a number of years. Mr. O'Brien afterward purchased Mr. Quinn's interest and continued the business for a time alone. In 1879, he received a Government ap- pointment as issue clerk to the Sioux Indians, at Standing Rock, D. T., under the supervision of Father Stephens, a Catholic Missionary from Indiana. In 1880, he came back to his family in Valparaiso, and the same year formed a partnership with Charles Miller, of Chicago, in a general store at Valparaiso, and Mr. O'Brien has since been here at the head of the establishment. They carry everything found in a first-class general store, including dry goods, clothing, crockery, tin and glass ware. Mr. O'Brien by his first wife had ten children, seven of whom are yet living. Their names are Katie C., James E., William Smith, Mary M., Michael P., John J. and Ann, living, and James, Mary and Sophia, deceased. The mother died May 3, 1873. Mr. O'Brien married his present wife, Miss Sophia Sullivan, in the fall of 1874, in Chicago, and by her has three children-Frank, Bertha and Joseph. Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien are members of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. O'Brien is a Republican. He was elected Councilman of the Third Ward of Val- paraiso, and served for two years. In 1872, he was elected Trustee of Centre Township, and served six consecutive years. He is one of the well-known and substantial merchants of Valparaiso.
MICHAEL O'REILLY, pastor of St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church of Valparaiso, is a native of Clonmellon, Westmeath Co., Ireland, and was born January 29, 1834. His father, John O'Reilly, a steward on Ross Mead for Capt. Robinson, of the Royal Navy, was married, in 1833, to Ann Bennett, and to this union were born one son and three daughters, of whom our subject and two sisters only are living. John O'Reilly died when Michael was but seven years of age. His mother
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again marrying, Michael began life's battle on his own responsibility, and up to the age of thirteen made his home with an uncle, aiding him in his duties as salesman of timber. In 1846, he joined one of the secret rebel clubs denounced by the Government, and was, in consequence, advised to seek a refuge in America. In 1848, he came over alone, and made his way to the home of an uncle in Utica, N. Y., and for a number of years was engaged in various pursuits in Oneida and Genesee Counties. He saved his earnings, sent over for two of his sisters, and at sixteen began going to school. When unable to attend, his strong inclination for study led him to read all books of value that came in his way, and he thus ac- quired a good preparatory education. At seventeen, he began teaching in the winters, and with the money thus earned entered Oberlin College, (Ohio), where he remained until his Junior year. He then entered Notre Dame University at South Bend, studied mental philosophy and other branches pertaining to a classical course, and then entered St. Mary's Seminary at Cincinnati, went through a thorough theological course and was admitted to the priesthood. He was assigned to Fort Wayne Diocese, and a short time after came to Valparaiso and took charge of its Catholic congregation, then numbering fifty or sixty families, with a debt of about $4,000, and with neither house nor school. With commendable energy, Father O'Reilly went to work to remedy this unfortunate condition of affairs, and as a result of his zeal and persistency he can now boast of one of the finest congregations in the city, numbering about 2,000 souls, freed of all mortgages. He has also established churches at Hobart, Chesterton and Westville, and is now engaged in erecting a new church edifice at Valparaiso. He is untiring in his labors, is one of Valparaiso's best citizens, and is respected and esteemed by all her people, irrespective of sectarian differences.
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