USA > Indiana > Porter County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 37
USA > Indiana > Lake County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 37
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
J. C. SMITH was born in Pennsylvania, May 4, 1846, and is one of the ten children of William and Philista Smith ; the father a native of New York, the mother of Maine. J. C. Smith was brought by his par- ents to Porter County, Ind., when seven years of age, locating in Val- paraiso, where he attended the common schools. He afterward learned the coopering trade, which he followed for ten years in the village of Hebron. He then engaged in the restaurant business for one year, and in his present business (grocery) in 1879-at that time with a stock of but $100, but now with one of $2,000 ; he has the leading trade in his line in the town, sales for the year reaching $15,000. On February 22, 1871, he was married to Miss Calista Allen, daughter of Benjamin and Clarissa Allen. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Allen is a Republican, and a strong political worker.
THOMAS C. SWENEY, farmer and surveyor, was born August 7, 1807, at Gettysburgh, Penn. His parents died in Ohio. His early education was begun in a log schoolhouse in Adams County, Penn. At the age of eighteen, he began teaching, and at the age of twenty-one was appointed Surveyor of Crawford County, Ohio, which position he filled for ten years. In 1835, he was united in marriage to Margaret Dinwid- die. To this union there were born three children-William E., John M. and H. D. Mrs. Sweney died in 1874. In 1837, he emigrated to Porter County, Ind., locating near Hebron, on Horse Prairie. Mr. Sweney left the prairie in 1875, and divided his property with his chil- dren. In the beginning, one had to drive forty miles to a mill, and to Michigan City and Chicago for marketing and produce. The nearest post office was at La Porte, forty miles distant. Mr. Sweney was ap- pointed Surveyor in 1839, and held the office twelve years, during which period he selected the swamp lands of the county. Previous to dividing among his children, he owned 400 acres; he now owns a fine brick business room, with hall above and basement. Mr. Sweney is a member of the Presbyterian Church, as was also his wife.
D. L. SWENEY is a native of Crawford County, Ohio, and the youngest of the three sons of Isaac and Emily (Farling) Sweney. His father was a native of Pennsylvania; his mother died when he was one year and a half old, and he was brought up by a step-mother. His father and family moved to Porter County, Ind., about the year 1839, when our subject was four years old, where he attended a district school ; he also received instruction for two winters at the Valparaiso Seminary. When he was twenty-one years of age, he took charge of and managed
327
BOONE TOWNSHIP.
his father's farm. On April 10, 1860, he was married to Miss Hannah J. Fry, daughter of John and Hannah Fry. Mrs. Sweney died January 23, 1879, leaving five children-Emily, John, Ida, Bertha and Ora. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is also her husband. After his marriage, Mr. Sweney lived on his father's farm twelve years, when he moved to Hebron, where he has since remained; he now has about one hundred acres, also a good town property.
C. L. TANNEHILL was born in Richland County (now Green Township, Ashland County), Ohio, September 26, 1825, and is the sixth of the twelve children of Charles and Mary (Oliver) Tannehill, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Maryland. The educa- tion of our subject comprises the curriculum of the common schools ; he learned farming and the trade of a currier before manhood. In 1850, he went to California and engaged in mining, at which he saved enough to come back and purchase 160 acres of his present farm. On September 8, 1853, he was married to Miss Nancy A. Burwell, a native of Ohio. To this union followed eight children-Mary R., Eugene (deceased), Eliza E., Candas L., Sarah A., Ora A., Charles B. and Annie J. Mr. Tannehill moved to his present home in 1853, comprising, by recent ad- ditions, 428 acres ; he has been a very successful farmer, and feeds fifty head of hogs and thirty of cattle ; he also has ten horses, and pro- duces yearly about one hundred tons of hay. Mrs. Tannehill is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church.
N. B. WARD is a native of the State of Ohio, and the fifth of the six children born to Alfred and Fannie Ward, both of whom died in Ohio. when our subject was in tender years. N. B. Ward remained at home until he was seventeen years of age, when he commenced to hire out by the month. In Lake County, Ind., at Hickory Point, he was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Nichols, daughter of William and Parmelia Nichols, whose father was a farmer, and whose mother died at Hickory Point. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have two children-Schuyler and Harris. Mr. Ward now began farming on 120 acres, which he owned in Eagle Creek Township, Lake County, on which he lived five years. This he sold and removed to Hickory Point, and farmed land of his father-in-law ; he afterward purchased 108 acres of his present farm, which now com- prises 160, within half a mile of town, and very productive in hay ; he also has considerable stock. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
E. WARD was born in the State of Ohio March 10, 1835, and is the youngest of the seven children of Alfred and Fannie (Loomis) Ward ; both died in Ohio when our subject was very young. E. Ward, not hav- ing a strong love for school, did not receive a very high education in his youth, having to labor on the farm. When sixteen years old, he came to Lake County, Ind., and when twenty years old began business for him- self. He owned 159 acres in Horse Prairie, of which he has since sold ten acres. He has three lots in Hebron, on one of which he has a resi- dence, business room, barn and outbuildings. On December 16, 1860, he was married, at Hickory Point, to Miss Sarah A. Nichols, daughter of William A. and Parmelia Nichols. To this union followed two children -Alfred G. and Addie B. Mr. Ward carries a fine general stock, and
328
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
has a large trade. He owns ten acres adjoining Hebron. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
OLIVER S. WOOD, M. D., was born in Lake County, Ind., and is the youngest of the eight children of John and Hannah E. (Pettee) Wood, both of English descent and American birth ; his mother died in Lake County, where his father is yet living. Dr. Wood's earliest lessons were had at the district school; he afterward, at the age of twelve, entered an academy at Valparaiso, where he continued three years, thence going to Chicago and graduating in book-keeping ; he afterward returned to Val- paraiso, and engaged in the grocery business for four years ; he enlisted, in 1861, in the Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he was band leader, but quit the service after nine months, on account of defective hearing ; removed to Kansas, where he conducted a stock-farm for four years. In 1876, at Deep River, Lake County, he commenced the prac- tice of medicine, but came to Hebron in 1879, where he has since been in active practice. In 1864, he was married to Miss Charity R. Farnham, daughter of Charles and S. A. Farnham. Their union was blessed with four children-Lottie B., Clayton, Carlton and Leta. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are members of the Unitarian Church.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
WILLIAM J. BARNES was born in Somerset County, Penn., September 10, 1829. He is the third child of a family of thirteen born to Asahel and Amy (Watts) Barnes ; twelve of this family are yet living, our subject and a sister residing in this county. The parents of our sub- ject moved from Pennsylvania to Canada when he was very young, and. there resided till 1860, when the family scattered. His mother died in 1863, his father being alive in Michigan, and in his eighty-second year. Our subject began at fourteen years of age to work by the month, and so continued until eighteen years old, when he learned the carpenter trade. In 1851 and 1852, he traveled through the West, trading with the Indians, and working one season on the Mississippi River. He came to Porter County on December 29, 1854, settling in Prattville, where he worked as a carpenter five years, and then settled on his present farm of 133 acres. He was married November 25, 1855, to Margaret J. Babcock, who was born in Porter County November 7, 1836; she is a daughter of Clark Babcock, an early settler. To this union five children were born-Amy A., wife of William Stoner, of Washington Township ; Carrie J., wife of Lucian Crumpacker, of Butler County, Neb .; Martha S., Ira C. and Dale E. Mr. Barnes is a member of the Grand Temperance Council of Indiana, and one of the Porter County committee of workers for temper- ance reform. Politically, he is a Republican.
JAMES BAUM, one of the pioneers of Porter County, was born in Crawford County, Penn., February 4, 1799, and is a son of John and Catherine (Randolph) Baum. His mother died when he was an infant. and he was reared by his grandmother. His father remarried, and he resided with him until his majority ; his father had been an Indian spy
329
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
during the war of 1812. Our subject also served as a wagoner in that war. He moved with his parents to Stark County, Ohio in 1814, and he heard the roar of Perry's battle in that year on Lake Erie. His father subsequently removed from Stark County, Ohio, to St. Joseph County, Mich., where he died. Our subject removed from Stark County to Rich- land County in 1823, residing there until 1835, when he came to Porter County. His land was purchased at the land sales of 1835, he now hav- ing 310 acres of excellent soil. He was married, in Stark County, to Rebecca Miller, of Huntingdon County, Penn., a daughter of Peter Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Baum have had nine children-John, Jesse, Peter M., Enoch ; Lavina, deceased ; Lucinda, wife of J. Bushore, of Iowa ; James W .: Rebecca J., wife of William Wickell, of Kansas; and Sarah J., deceased. His children are all married, his eldest son having been in California and Oregon for thirty-five years. In politics, Mr. Baum is a stanch Democrat, his first vote having been cast for Gen. Jackson in 1824. Mrs. Baum is a member of the Christian Church.
JAMES W. BAUM is a son of James and Rebecca (Miller) Baum, and was born in Porter County, Ind., September 21, 1837. Mr. Baum lived with his parents until after his majority, receiving the usual school education of the time. His business has been farming, and that alone, since boyhood, he not having learned any trade. On September 21, 1864, he was married to Marian Axe, a daughter of Jacob and Agnes C. (Cornell) Axe. She was born November 16, 1842; her parents were early settlers, taking up a home near the city of Valparaiso, in 1836, where they resided until her father's death ; her mother is now living in Delaware County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Baum have had a family of seven children, four of whom are living-Fannie, Allen, Ross and Lol- lie. Mr. Baum has an attractive and valuable farm comprising forty acres of land. He is a Democrat, but liberal in his political views, and generally esteemed.
HARMON BEACH, one of the early settlers of Porter County, was born in Litchfield County, Conn., May 8, 1812. He is one of six chil- dren born to Ezra and Polly (Stoddard) Beach, all of whom are living in this county. His parents were born, reared and married in Connecticut. They moved to Canada about 1818, where they resided until 1840, when they came to Porter County, remaining until their death. Our subject came to Porter County in 1837; he received a fair education, and learned the occupation of carpenter and joiner, at which he worked about twelve years. On coming here. he purchased the farm he still occupies. He now owns 1,038 acres of land in this county, besides 120 acres in Mon- tana. He was married, September 15, 1855, to Olive Crane, of New York, but at the time a resident of Porter County ; she is a daughter of Jesse and Joanna Crane, and was born in 1830. They have had a family of five children-Mary, Eugene and Clara living, and Lester and Ella dead. At the time Mr. Beach came to this county, there were many Indians in the neighborhood, his farm being one of their hunting grounds. The prosperity of our subject, and his possessions, are to be attributed, mainly, with a good share of fortune, to his industry and economy. He is a Democrat in politics, but a very liberal one.
WILLARD BEACH is the son of Lyman and Leva (Judd) Beach. and was born in Canada December 5, 1836. His parents were natives
330
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
of Connecticut, moving from that State to Canada at an early day, thence moving hither and settling on Morgan Prairie in 1838, where they re- sided until 1867, at that period moving to Jackson Township, their pres- ent residence. Mr. Willard Beach has obtained a reasonably fair educa- cation, and has followed the primitive life of a farmer since his boyhood. He came to the place on which he lives, and which he owns, in 1867; it comprises ninety acres, and is well improved. On January 1, 1861, he was married to Hannah Peoples, who died June 8, 1814, leaving a family of six children-Leva, Lyman, Ella, Wilden, Walter and Ralph. On December 23, 1874, he was married to Rosanna Adams, a native of this county, and born in 1835; she is a member of the Christian Church. By this second marriage he has had two children born to him-Mattie and Stella ; both of whom, however, are dead. Mr. Beach is a Democrat, but one of the most liberal of that shade of political opinion.
JARED BLAKE, one of the early settlers of Porter County, was born in La Porte County, Ind., December 16, 1835; he is one of a family of seven children born to Jacob and Eleanor (Walton) Blake, four of whom are living-three in this county and one in Kansas. His par- ents were born, reared and married in what is now West Virginia, whence they emigrated to Jackson County, Ohio, stopping there a short time before going to La Porte County, Ind., and thence coming to Porter County in 1836, where his father died in 1844; his mother died in this township in 1870. Jared Blake lived at home until he was of age, having always followed the occupation of a farmer, and being now owner of 130 acres in this township, 100 of which are improved. He was married January 15, 1868, to Amelia Beach, of this county, born May 29, 1848; she is a daughter of Sheldon Beach. To this union five children have been given-Frank W., Alice A., Otto V., Harry S. and Laura P. Mr. Blake was a soldier in the war against the rebellion, having enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in 1864, under Capt. Sparks, remaining until the close of the war. He was one of the guards at the obsequies of the lamented President Lincoln, in 1865.
ISAAC V. BOND, born in Wayne County, Ind., is one of seven born to Jesse and Mary (Vore) Bond, three of whom live in this State and one in California. His father was a native of North Carolina, his mother of Pennsylvania ; they came to Indiana before its admission as a State, remaining until 1831, when they removed to Kalamazoo County, Mich .; thence to La Porte County, Ind., where they resided until their decease, his mother dying in 1878, and his father in 1882. Our subject received a fair education, and has taught several terms. When about twenty-five years old, he visited the Southern States, and in 1850, the " land of gold "-California. In this adventure, he was three times ship- wrecked and three times paid passage ; he engaged in mining, and after in saw-milling, remaining two years, and returning by way of Central America, and reaching La Porte in 1853. Here he was married, on Sep- tember 10, of the same year, to Mary E. Rogers, of La Porte County, when he settled to farming, but after eleven years made an overland trip to Idaho in 1864. He has visited nineteen States, nine Territories and Central and South America, having traveled over 33,000 miles, gaining
331
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
much information and many curiosities. He came to Porter County, Ind., in December, 1864, settling on the land he now has-ninety-one acres. His wife died October 16, 1875, leaving two children-William A. and Frank A., both farmers. His second marriage was to Martha H. Underwood (O'Hara), and took place February 15, 1882; she is a daugh- ter of John and Mary Underwood, old settlers of La Porte County. Mr. Bond is a stanch Republican, and has been Assessor of Washing- ton Township ; he is a Quaker in religion, and a Freemason. Mrs. Bond belongs to the M. E. Church.
A. L. BROWN, son of Joseph and Susan (Carter) Brown, was born in Spencer County, Ind., February 4, 1830; the youngest of thirteen children, five of whom are living. Our subject and a brother in Valpa- raiso represent the family in this county ; his father was a native of Vir- ginia, his mother of North Carolina ; his grandparents came from Ken- tucky to Spencer County, Ind., in company with Abraham Lincoln's parents, in 1816, living as neighbors many years. Mr. Brown's father came to this county about 1835, where he lived until his death, August 3, 1850 ; he was a farmer, a Democrat and an admirer of fine horses. Our subject, at the age of thirteen, left Spencer County with an older brother and went to Missouri, where he remained seven years, returning to Por- ter County in 1849, and here he has since resided. In his youth, he learned the tobacco and cigar making trade, but has, by preference, fol- lowed farming ; he has now two farms, comprising 360 acres, about 250 of which are cultivated ; he has also good buildings and various improve- ments. On October 4, 1853, he was married to Catharine Malone, daughter of Wilson Malone ; they have a family of six children-Ella (wife of Benjamin Flood, of La Porte County), Cassius (married and liv- ing in this township), Frederick, William, Walter and Aaron. In poli- tics, Mr. Brown is a Democrat, but an extremely liberal one.
WILLIAM T. BROWN was born in Mississippi County, Mo., Sep- tember 11, 1848, and is the son of Prester and Mahala (Beckwith) Brown, who were natives of this State, and settled in this county in 1849, on Morgan Prairie. His occupation since boyhood has been mainly farming, although he has worked at the carpenter's trade. He has at the present time a very excellent farm of 190 acres, the greater part of which has been cleared and improved by himself. Not having the best opportuni- ties for acquiring knowledge in his youth, his education is somewhat limited. For several years he has done considerable threshing, being the owner of a good steam threshing machine. On July 2, 1873, he was married to Indiana Shinabarger, a native of this county. To this union a family of two children have resulted-Nattie and Myron. Mr. Brown is a Democrat, but one of the liberal stamp. He is a fair business man, and in the affairs of life has been reasonably successful.
JAMES BUNDY was born in Fayette County, Ind., May 5, 1826. and is a son of James and Maria (Koffman) Bundy ; his parents were born and married in Northumberland County, Penn., and came to Fay- ette County, Ind., about the year 1820, among the first settlers. In 1832, they took up eighty acres in Elkhart County, hewing a place in the wood for a cabin of logs, using greased paper for widow panes. They came to Porter County in 1841, settling on what is now the " Wilson farm ;" his
T
332
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
father died in 1858, his mother in 1855. James Bundy lived at home until of age, receiving a common school education ; he is a farmer, and has worked at carpentering, but never learned the trade. On December 7, 1851, he was married to Adaline Philips, daughter of John and Esther (Bachelor) Philips, born June 27, 1831. Mr. and Mrs. Bundy have had seven children, five of whom are living-John K., William, George W. (the last two are carpenters, and have built some fine buildings in this county), Frank and Mary. Mr. Bundy has a snug farm of forty acres, on which he now resides. In politics, he, together with his sons, is a Re- publican.
S. A. CAMPBELL, one of the pioneers of Porter County, was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., February 8, 1821, and is the eldest of three sons born to Adam S. and Polly (Adams) Campbell, and the only one now living. His parents were born, brought up and married in the State of New York. They came Westward when our subject was twelve years of age, and settled on Morgan Prairie, in Porter County. Mr. Campbell was Justice of the Peace, School Commissioner, and served one term in the State Legislature as a Democrat; he died in August, 1850, but Mrs. Campbell is still living with her son, and eighty- four years old. Our subject came to this county with his parents in 1833, and remained with them until of age; he attended the first school taught in this county, on Section 8 of this township, in 1834 and 1835. On March 13, 1847, he was married to Harriet Cornell of Wayne County, Ohio, but then residing here ; she died in June, 1864, leaving a family of four children-Myron and Marvin (twins), Otto and Helen, wife of D. Eastburn, of Benton County, Ohio; his second mar- riage, to Elizabeth (Bartholomew) Finney, took place September 21, 1875 ; she is a daughter of Jeremiah Bartholomew, and was born March 11, 1822, her parents coming to the county in 1834. In politics, Mr. Campbell is a Democrat, and has been Township Trustee for many years ; he is a member of the Blue and Chapter Lodges, also of the Com- mandery of Masons. Mrs. C. is a member of the Presbyterian Church. The Campbells are perhaps the second oldest family in Porter County, the oldest being the Morgans, of Westchester Township.
RUSSEL COHOON is a native of Yates County, N. Y .; he was born August 2, 1808, and is a son of Stuart and Charity (Culver) Cohoon ; he is the eldest of his family ; his father was a native of Con- necticut, his mother of New Jersey ; his father was a Captain in the war of 1812 ; he lived in the State of New York until 1820, when he moved to Erie County, Penn., and there died in 1836; his grandfather served in the Revolution. Our subject lived at home until of age, and received a fair education for the time, having taught two terms of school; he learned the trade of a joiner, at which he worked in connection with wagon-making for many years, and nine years at saw-milling; he came to Porter County in February, 1851, settling on the farm which he now owns-a splendid one of eighty-five acres, besides good buildings. He was married October 1, 1829, to Anna Colver, of Yates County, N. Y .; by this union he had five children-Llewellyn J., Avery R., Elliott, Ceylon and Melross ; his wife died August 18, 1855; his second mar- riage was to Mrs. Nancy C. Hayner, who was born April 6, 1822 ;
333
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
by this union Mr. Cohoon had born to him four children-Charles, Car- rie C. (now wife of N. Dawson, of this county), Ellsworth and Grant ; the boys are farmers ; by a former marriage Mrs. Cohoon had two chil- dren. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Cohoon is a Republican and a member of the Unitarian Church ; he has been Justice of the Peace twenty-one years.
NATHAN COOPER, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Joseph) Cooper, was born in Putnam County, Ohio, January 10, 1841. Regarding his parents, Mr. Cooper knows but very little, inasmuch as they died when he was extremely young; he lived with his grandparents until he was about nine years of age, afterward with a man named William Beard until his fifteenth year, when he began the battle of existence for him- self; he came here in the autumn of 1855, in company with his uncle, M. Joseph. Mr. Cooper, despite his lack of opportunity for education, has informed himself sufficiently for the requirements of business ; he moved upon the place he now holds on the day of President Lincoln's inauguration, March 4, 1861. He was married, January 11, 1866, to Lydia A. Stoner, of Porter County, born July 7, 1844, and a daughter of Abraham Stoner, one of the earliest settlers, coming hither in 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have had two children-Frankie, born July 13, 1870, and Lulu B., November 6, 1880. Mr. Cooper has followed farm- ing from boyhood, and has 425 acres of land, as fine a stock farm as the county contains. In politics, he is independent or neutral, supporting, as he believes, the best man among all.
THEOPHILUS CRUMPACKER, son of Owen and Hannah (Woodford) Crumpacker, was born in Montgomery County, Va., Janu- ary 18, 1822; he is one of a family of nine children, six of whom are living ; his parents were also Virginians ; his ancestry on his father's side were from Germany, and on his mother's from England. The subject of our sketch came with his parents from Virginia to Union County, Ind., in 1828, and in 1834 came to Porter County ; his father settled upon land purchased from the Government, afterward moving to La Porte County, where he died July 23, 1848. Mr. Crumbacker lived with his parents until he became of age, receiving a fair school educa- tion, and remained until 1863, when he removed to Kankakee County, Ill., but returned to Porter County in 1865, and settled upon the farm he now owns, a fine one of 245 acres. Mr. Crumpacker has been a stanch Republican since the party was formed, having represented his county in the State Legislature three terms, from 1872 to 1878, and being the only man of his county who has served that number of terms. While in La Porte County, he was four years Township Trustee; he has now retired. On February 27, 1847, he was married to Harriet Em- mons, a daughter of William and Elsie (Kirk) Emmons, and born November 17, 1823. Eight children, seven of whom are living, were born to them-John W., Edgar, Daniel, Eliza A. (deceased), Peter, Nettie, Charlie and Grant. The eldest, John W., was born in La Porte County March 19, 1849, where he received a good education and taught public school four terms. He was married, January 3, 1877, to Anna J. Smith, daughter of Martin Smith ; she was born March 31, 1849, in Huron County, Ohio. In 1872, John W. Crumpacker entered the
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.