USA > Indiana > Porter County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 35
USA > Indiana > Lake County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 35
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
311
WESTCHESTER TOWNSHIP.
EDWARD F. SCHAPER was born January 25, 1851, in Hanover. Germany. He is the eldest of four children living born to Gottlieb and Johannah (Martens) Schaper, both natives of Germany. The maternal grandfather was an officer and served in the Franco-Prussian war, and his wife was of French birth. Edward lived in Germany until his sev- enteenth year, when he emigrated to the United States and settled in Fond du Lac, Wis. Here he began learning his trade of jeweler, and finished in Milwaukee. He then went to New Orleans, and worked for about eighteen months, when he came to Crown Point, Ind., where he was in ill-health for nearly a year. Hobart was his next home for three years. In February, 1876, he came to Chesterton, and established his present firm. He keeps a fine stock of clocks, watches, jewelry, plated ware, musical instruments, etc .; also, a line of tobaccos and cigars. He has built up the finest trade in the country around outside of Valparaiso or Michigan City. He began an apiary, and expects to enlarge it in the future. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and is a member of the Bee-Keeper's Association of Chicago. He has always been an Independent in politics, having voted with all the different par- ties, and is an intelligent man of quiet habits. He was married, May 6, 1877, to Amalie Koehne, a native of Fond du Lac, Wis. They have two children-Clara and Matilda.
CHARLES O. SEAMANS, Justice of the Peace, was born Novem- ber 15, 1841, in Wheaton, Ill. He is the eldest of eight children born to Alvin and Almira (Munyan) Seamans, the former a native of Con- necticut, and the latter of Massachusetts. The paternal ancestors of our subject have been traced back to the Pilgrim Fathers. His grandfather, Munyan, was in the war of 1812, and great-grandfather Munyan was a soldier of the Revolution. The gun he carried in that war is in pos - session of our subject. Esquire Seamans lived with his father in Wheaton until about twenty years of age; he attended the college at Wheaton, and when twenty years old he began teaching. After a year, he entered the Chicago School of Trade, to prepare himself for a book-keeper ; after his course was finished, he entered a retail grocery establishment in Chicago as clerk, and in six months had worked up to the position of book-keeper, continuing in their employ for about five years. He then came to Ches- terton and purchased the " Railroad House " (now Johnson's Hotel), and officiated as "mine host" for five years. He then engaged in blacksmith- ing for three years nearly, when he received an injury in horseshoeing, and was an invalid until March, 1881; he again took charge of the hotel for about three months. He then traded the hotel for his present farm, and has since been engaged in superintending it. He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity and the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in the spring of 1880, and has served with ability ; he was a Republican, but has adopted the Green- back faith ; he was married in October, 1864, to Jennett Odell, a native of New York, and born within a mile of Niagara Falls.
CALVIN T. D. SHANKS was born June 29, 1837, in Ontario, Ohio. He is the eldest of eight children born to Simon P. and Elizabeth (Border) Shanks, both natives of Pennsylvania. The elder Shanks was both carpenter and mason. When Calvin was fourteen years old, his
312
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
parents moved to Noble County, Ind .; then to Wolcottville, La Grange County, where our subject received the most of his education at the Greggs Seminary. They soon went to the well-known watering place, Rome City, about three miles south of the former place, remaining there about eight years ; he, now of age, went into the northern part of Michigan, where he lumbered for about two years ; he then returned to La Grange County, farming for about two years. He married, September 20, 1861, Rachel Lownsbury, a native of La Grange County. They began keeping hotel at Newburg, La Grange County, remaining about eighteen months, when he moved to Tecumseh, Mich., where he farmed and lumbered for a few years. In 1866, he came to Chesterton, farming for about a year, when he engaged in cabinet work in Mishawaka for three years ; he re- turned to Chesterton and engaged in different occupations until 1875, when he founded the Central House, and, through his energy and effi- ciency as " mine host," has made one of the finest hotels of its size in the county. In the summer of 1882, he made some fine improvements, and the public may always expect a cordial reception and an excellent culi- nary department under the management of Mrs. S. He has been a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. Mrs. S. is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Shanks was a Democrat up to the Garfield campaign, but is now a Republican.
JOSEPH SWANSON, merchant, was born in 1826 in Sweden. He is one of twelve children born to Eric and Mary Swanson, both natives of Sweden. When twenty-three years of age, Joseph left home, where he had been clerking in his father's store, and came to the United States and settled in Boston, where he remained a year and a half, engaged in coopering ; he then went to New Bedford, Mass., and after a year he joined a whaling vessel, and was on the ocean for twelve years, mostly in the Pacific, leaving the Arctic Ocean in August and going South to the Sandwich Island, New Zealand, Australia, African coast, etc. He was in the Atlantic the first two years; he made two Arctic Ocean trips, and then returned to New Bedford, and went to Sweden, on a three weeks' visit there and in other countries bordering on the Northern waters ; he then came back to New Bedford and started for California, remaining in San Francisco for about fifteen months, when he came to Porter P. O. and started his store with a stock of $400 or $500. In 1879, he built his present store and dwelling, a large, fine frame, in which he has a stock of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hardware, etc., worth about $1,000, with a good trade. He has always been a Republican ; he is a man of extensive experience and travel, and one of our leading business men. He was married, in 1865, to Johannah Pillman, a native of Sweden. They have five children-Gust, Charley, John, Ida and Emily.
JOHN T. TAYLOR, merchant, was born December 28, 1844, in Philadelphia, Penn. He is one of eight children born to William and Ann (Jenkins) Taylor, both natives of Wales. The elder Taylor was a machinist by occupation. When our subject was about seven years old, they moved from Philadelphia to Cincinnati, where they remained three years. In 1855, they removed to La Porte, Ind., and the following year to Michigan City, where they remained until they came to Chesterton in 1860. John T. had the advantages of the city schools in the above-
313
WESTCHESTER TOWNSHIP.
named places. At Chesterton, they engaged in farming until February of 1861, when he entered his present store as clerk. It was then owned by L. B. Osborn, afterward by other parties. After a clerkship of nearly three years, he went to Chicago, and soon enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Illinois; was soon promoted to the office of Second Lieutenant, and was mustered out February, 1866. On return- ing to Chesterton, he entered into partnership under the firm name of Taylor & Osborn, which existed one year; then Taylor & Quick, which lasted ten years. It then changed, and took the name it bears at present -Taylor Brothers-consisting of our subject and his brother, Richard O. Taylor, who was born August 18, 1856, in Michigan City. He clerked in South Chicago for a time before this firm was formed. They are the only grain dealers in the place, carrying a stock of from $10,000 to $20,000. Mr. Taylor is a member of both Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities. In 1866, he was Postmaster. Mr. Taylor has been a Dem- ocrat, but of late years is independent, rather favoring the National prin- ciples. He was married December 28, 1866, to Mary E. Segar, a native of New York. They have two children living-William A. and Mabel C. JOHN THOMAS, ex-merchant, and retired, was born in 1822 in Ohio. He was one of eight children born to William and Ann (Arm- strong) Thomas, both natives of Ohio. They came from Ohio to La Porte (city) when John was quite young ; here they bought land, but after about two years they came to Westchester, and, with the Morgans, were the first families to settle in the township. The Thomases owned considerable land, including the present plat of Chesterton, of which they gave to the roailroad company its present grounds, and then laid out the surrounding land in lots, which have grown into the present Chester- ton. The town has grown around the old homestead, in which Mr. Thomas' sister is now living. John lived at home till nearly thirty-five years of age. The three brothers-John, William and Vincent-were partners in a saw mill, and as merchants in the building at present occu- pied by Taylor Bros., and had the leading business for years. The three dissolved ; then John and William were partners until the death of the latter. They also carried on a coopering business for a number of years. John carried on the milling and farming until about 1877, when, on account of ill health, he retired from business. He has been a member of both Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities, and was among the found- ers of the lodges in Chesterton. In religious belief, he has been a Uni- versalist. In politics, he has been a firm Democrat. He was married, November 18, 1836, to Jane Scott, a native of La Grange County, Ind. She lived for a time with a Mr. Arnold's family in Constantine, Mich., a member of the noted Constantine Band; S. D. Crane, ex-County Superintendent of La Grange County, a lawyer, is a half-brother. She is in religious belief a Presbyterian. They have two children-Louis and Rose A.
MARTIN YOUNG was born May 13, 1841, in Erie County, Ohio. He is one of ten children born to Ira and Sophia (Crippin) Young, both natives of New York. The elder Young was a fisherman on Lake Erie for thirty years. Maternally, Mr. Young is of English descent, and paternally from Holland. When Martin was about five years of age,
314
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
they came to Porter County, settling on " Twenty-Mile " Prairie. A sister of our subject was about the first school teacher of that settlement, and Judge Field was among her pupils. When about twenty-one years of age, Mr. Young enlisted in the Seventy-third Indiana, serving nearly three years, and participating in the famous battles of Stone River, Nash- ville, and on Col. Straight's raid through Georgia. After he was discharged, returning to Chesterton, he engaged in the meat market business ; he has built up the leading trade in this part of the county. He is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. Mr. Young is a Republican, but favors the financial theories of the National party. Mr. Young has one of the finest brick residences in the county, richly furnished, and with the luxuries of piano, organ, etc. He was married in 1862 to Mary J. Lansing, a native of Porter County. She is well educated, having been a teacher. They have one adopted child -- Arthur.
BOONE TOWNSHIP.
PORTER AYLSWORTH is a native of Ohio, and a son of Giles and Mary Aylsworth, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Pennsylvania. His parents came to this township in 1842, where his father taught school in the winters of 1842 and 1843. They had 440 acres in a home farm and 102 acres in various tracts. His father died in June, 1880, and his mother in October, 1879. Porter Aylsworth received but a spare education. He was married in 1856 to Miss Catharine Shina- barger, a native of Ohio. To this union there were six children-Elva, Giles C., Thomas M., Mary, Corbin and John. Mr. and Mrs. Aylsworth commenced housekeeping on his present place, in a house burned three weeks afterward. He now has a fine farm of 106 acres, with good build- ings and improvements. He was Justice of the Peace seven years in Iowa, where he lived eleven years, and held the same office about two years in this township. Mr. and Mrs. Aylsworth are members of the Christian Church.
JOHN L. BAKER was born in Kosciusko County, Ind., and is a son of Philip and Maria Baker, both of whom died in Kosciusko County. He received a common school education of the day, and at the age of seventeen learned the trade of a shoemaker, which he abandoned soon, but again returned to, and has since followed as a life-business. In 1869. he came to Hebron, Porter County, Ind., where he now has a leading shop. most centrally located, and which does as large a business as any other shop in the town. On the 1st of October, 1874, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Florence Thomas, a daughter of Eugene Thomas, a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have a family of two children, both living-Irvin E. and Maud F. Mr. Baker is a member of the order of Free and Ac- cepted Masons. He is a good and worthy citizen.
HENRY BERDINE was born in the State of New York June 20. 1831, and was a son of Nicholas Berdine, who was also a farmer. Henry Berdine came to Lake County, Ind., where he obtained a fair education at the common schools, and grew to manhood. On the 2d of October,
315
BOONE TOWNSHIP.
1856, he was united in marriage to Rachel Sherwood, a daughter of Will- iam and Jane (Mccullough) Sherwood ; her parents came to Porter County about the year 1847. This union was blessed with eight children -William N., Willis, Amos, Harry, Carrie A., Ralph, Clark and Leroy. After marriage, Mr. Berdine commenced farming on 100 acres, to which he added 140 acres; this land he improved by the necessary buildings and appurtenances, and was prepared to enjoy life when removed by death, October 14, 1880, since which event Mrs. Berdine, aided by her children, has managed the business successfully. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN K. BLACKSTONE, physician and surgeon, is a native of Ohio, and the second of the eight children born to William and Julia M. (Doddridge) Blackstone; the former was a physician, and a native of Virginia ; he died March 17, 1877, aged eighty-three years ; the latter a Pennsylvania, who is still living, aged seventy-six years. John K. Black- stone commenced his education in a common school at Waverly, Ohio, and afterward attended the Ohio University for five years. In 1846, he en- listed for the war with Mexico, in Company E, Second Ohio Regiment, and became Second Lieutenant. On his return, he read medicine with his father, also attending a course of lectures at Louisville, Ky., and after- ward at Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated in 1848. He commenced practice in Athens County, Ohio, but came to Hebron, Ind., in 1856, where he is now the oldest living practitioner, and has limited the practice among his former friends. On February 11, 1858, he married Miss Margaret J. Bryan, a native of Boone Township, and the first white child born therein, a daughter of Simeon and Elizabeth Bryan. Mr. and Mrs. Blackstone have four children-William B., John K., Lilian E. and Benjamin E. Mrs. Blackstone is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
GEORGE BROUGH was born in Derbyshire, England, June 19, 1817, and is the third of the twelve children of George and Ann M. Brough. The school privileges of our subject were much straitened, he being needed to labor at home. On coming to America, he hired by the month, and in sixteen years was enabled to purchase eighty acres in Boone Township, in the year 1850-a portion of his present farm. In October, 1849, he was married to Miss Mary J. Oliver, a native of Ohio, daughter of John and Elizabeth Oliver. To this union succeeded ten children-Peter, William, Charles, Mary, Abigail, David, Margery, Sarah (deceased), Eliza (deceased) and George. For a time, Mr. Brough farmed on rented land, until he could improve his own, to which he has added, and now he numbers 207 acres, well developed and improved. He raises hogs, cattle and horses, as well as the staple products, likewise making annually about one hundred tons of hay. Mrs. Brough is a member of the Christian Church.
JOHN B. BROUGH is a native of England, and a son of George and Ann M. Brough, both natives of the same country ; his parents came to America in 1831, and located in Susquehanna County, Penn .; his father came to Indiana in 1844, and established his claim to the present homestead, and broke thirteen acres, but did not live to occupy it. John B. Brough came to his present place in 1845, where he has since lived ; he began the business of milling before he became of age, in Lake County,
S
316
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
which was the first effort there begun. On September 19, 1847, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Castleman, a native of Ohio, by whom he had thirteen children-Ellis (deceased), Maria, George P., Elizabeth, Ann C., Emma, Alice, Rebecca, James, William, U. A., John (deceased) and Elizabeth (deceased). Mr. Brough owns 120 acres in his present farm and fifty-two in Lake County ; he has a good frame residence, and good water privileges. Mr. Brough's parents endured the hardships and priva- tions of the pioneers, who broke the sod and cleared the land in the early days.
DAVIS BRYANT is a native of Ohio, and was born September 26, 1824 ; he attended a subscription school some little time in Ohio, being eleven years of age when his father came to and located in Lake County, Ind., where he went to school for a part of two winters, and remained on the paternal farm until manhood. On October 21, 1858, he was married to Miss Mary E. McGill, daughter of Robert and Susan McGill. Mr. Bryant then began farming on his own land, and, together with his brother, Robert, purchased 480 acres adjoining, and again 100 acres. At present he gives much attention to raising sheep, of which he has 280 head, and handles fifty head of hogs annually, with from twenty to twenty- five head of cattle. Mr. Bryant has one of the finest farms in the county, with a fine brick house, commodious buildings, and many needful improve- ments, all of which he greatly enjoys. He has one child by adoption, Nettie M. Bryant. Mrs. Bryant is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.
ROBERT BRYANT is a native of Richland County, Ohio, born De- cember 17, 1826, and is a son of Elias and Ann (Vance) Bryant. His parents moved to Lake County, Ind., about 1835, locating on the farm on which they died, being pioneers in the county. The advantages of schooling enjoyed by Robert were sparse. The nearest mill was 150 miles distant, and many things were to be obtained only at Michigan City. Robert Bryant remained at home until twenty-one years old, after which he labored for two years by the month, at $12 and $13. On September 20, 1853, he was married to Miss Mary G. Herriss, by whom he has two children-Daniel R. and Charles. Our subject and his brother had pur- chased eighty acres, which was sold, with half-interest in father's farm, when he moved to Porter County, Ind., in 1854, where, with his brother, he purchased 480, and later 100 acres more. This remained undivided until about 1861 ; since then he has bought forty acres and forty more of timber. He has now, where he lives, 310 acres of the finest land in the county, one and a half miles from Hebron. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOSEPH BRYANT, farmer, is a native of Ohio, and the eldest of six children born to Simeon and Elizabeth Bryant. His parents were pioneers of Boone Township, moving hither when Joseph was a year old. His education consisted of what the time and locality afforded, the sim- plest of its kind. He remained with his parents until his marriage, De- cember 8, 1859. in Boone Township, to Miss Mary Same, daughter of John and Cynthia (Denny) Same. By this union they had five children -Harriet, Simeon, Adaline, Schuyler and Maryette. Mr. Bryant made farming his life business, and continued the same until his death, which
317
BOONE TOWNSHIP.
took place on July 7, 1875, at which time he owned 145 acres. With the aid of hired help, Mrs. Bryant has maintained the business. She has a good residence and a wind-mill on the place, also from twenty-five to thirty head of cattle, about 100 sheep and four horses. Mr. Bryant was and his wife is a member of the Christian Church.
ELIAS BRYANT is a native of Boone Township, Porter Co., Ind., and is a son of Simeon Bryant, who came to Porter County in 1835, and located on the land now owned by his son. At that period, the nearest white neighbor was four miles distant, and his sister, Margaret, was the first white girl born in the county. Simeon Bryant died on the farm ; his widow is yet living and active. The education of our subject was but that of the day, and poor. On November 20, 1867, he was married to Miss Fannie Adams, daughter of George W. Adams, a carpenter and farmer. Mr. Bryant continued to farm on the old homestead ; afterward he received thirty acres from his father; he then purchased fifteen acres, and later forty acres, making eighty-five acres, and he has fifty acres of pasture and timber land one-half mile distant. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant have four children-Julia, Emma, Lorentine and E. Edmond. Mrs. Bryant belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JAMES E. BRYANT, stock, hay and grain dealer, is a native of Boone Township, Porter Co., Ind., and is one of the seven children of Simeon and Elizabeth (McCauley) Bryant, the former a native of Penn- sylvania, the latter of Ohio. The first instruction of James E. Bryant was in a log house in this township ; later, he attended college in Valpa- raiso for two years, and finally Bloomington University for one year. In 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Fifth Indiana Cavalry, in which he served nearly three years, during which he was a prisoner seven months, having been captured at Sunshine Church, Ga. He was discharged June 7, 1865, at Indianapolis. On April 27, 1871, he was married to Miss S. S. Pratt, daughter of C. N. and Sophia Pratt. They have one child, Nellie M. In 1869, he engaged in the hardware line with his brother, D. L. Bryant, of whom he purchased the stock and continued the busi- ness until 1878, when he adopted his present one. Mr. Bryant now owns the warehouse and half-interest in a hay barn with M. J. Stinch- field, under firm name of J. E. Bryant & Co. Mr. Bryant owns 320 acres, having disposed of 240 in 1881. He has been Township Trustee two years, and Postmaster at Hebron for twelve years. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JAMES N. BUCHANAN, United Presbyterian minister, was born December 10. 1824, in the State of Ohio, and is the fourth child of Thomas and Nancy (Reed) Buchanan, both of Scotch-Irish descent. The boyhood of James N. Buchanan was passed partly in Licking County, and partly in Muskingum County, Ohio, where he entered Muskingum College at New Concord at fourteen years of age, where he remained nearly ten years. In the interim he taught a school, and graduated in 1848. He then entered the Theological Seminary at Oxford (now Xenia), Ohio, remaining until graduation in 1851, when he was licensed to preach. He removed to Hebron, Porter Co .. Ind. In 1845, while in college, he was married to Rosanna S. Alexander, daughter of William and Eliz - abeth (Lorimer) Alexander, of New Concord; she died in 1869, leaving
318
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
eight children-William T., Nancy, Oscar R., Mary O., Emma A., Sam- uel A., Carrie M. and James H. His second marriage, to Mrs. Mary A. McCracken, took place in 1870. By the second marriage, he has four living children-Martha A., Rosanna M., Anna G. and Jay T. Mr. Bu- chanan is a pioneer of Porter County. He now resides on a farm one mile from town, in which he is assisted by his sons.
A. A. BURWELL is a native of Richland (now Ashland) County, Ohio. His parents were natives of Connecticut. Our subject attended the usual schools, and afterward three terms at the Loudonville Academy in Ohio. He remained at home until after manhood, working on the farm in summer and teaching school during the winter. On April 10, 1851, he was married to Miss Rebecca J. Oliver, a native of Ashland County, Ohio. In May, 1851, they came to their present location, and lived in a log house during the summer, but afterward built on land be- longing to his father. Subsequently he purchased 160 acres of farming land, and also sixty of timber. The home farm now comprises 240 acres, with a good house and other needed improvements. He handles hogs, cattle and has several head of horses. Mr. Burwell has been Trustee of Boone Township three terms. He and his wife are members of the Pres- byterian Church, having joined said church before its organization at Hebron, since which event he has been an Elder.
A. G. CARMAN is a native of Tompkins County, N. Y., and a son of Harris and Annie Carman. The amount of learning acquired from the schools by our subject was very meager, in consequence of the cir- cumstances of his father. His parents emigrated to Lake County in 1837, where neighbors were scarce, but deer, prairie chickens and wolves were plentiful. He was married, at Hebron, to Miss Hannah Young, who died October 2, 1848. His second marriage was also at Hebron, to Miss Cornelia A. Hoffman. To this union there succeeded four children -Jay, Charles H., Morris and Jason. He came to his present home in May, 1848, where he has since mostly lived. His farm is productive, and he feeds fifteen to twenty hogs each year, besides horses and cattle. He is well established in all pertaining to the demands of a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Carman are members of the M. E. Church.
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.