USA > Indiana > Porter County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 39
USA > Indiana > Lake County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 39
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WILLIAM L. FREEMAN, farmer, was born in St. Thomas, Ontario, April 10, 1824; he is the youngest of eight children born to Leonard and Sarah (Guy) Freeman, both natives of Vermont ; his father was a farmer, but had served as a Lieutenant in the British Army during the war of 1812. William L. Freeman passed his youth in Canada, and at the age of eleven began the clothier trade with his brother, at which he continued until of age, when he learned carpentering. In 1847, he went to Michigan City where he worked three years. In 1850, he bought the farm in Union Township on which he has since lived; it is a desirable property of 105 acres, containing good buildings. On April 10, 1852, he married Mary J. Haskin, a native of the Empire State. The union was blessed with one child -- Charles R., of Lancaster County, Neb. Mrs. Freeman died August 7, 1853. On September 29, 1854, he was married to Electa L. Peck, of Erie County, Penn .; she also died, February 8, 1855. On November 16, 1859, he was united to Mahala Cheever, of New York. Three children were the fruit of this union-Mrs. Mary J. Beem, William and Oliver. Mr. and Mrs. Free- man are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Freeman is a member of Valparaiso Chapter and Commandery A. F. & A. M. and K. T. In politics he leans toward the Republicans, and is an influential and. worthy citizen.
SOLON FRENCH was born in Porter County, Ind., April 14, 1838, and is the fourth of nine children composing the family of Ora B.
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and Abigail (Dibble) French ; his parents were among the early settlers of Porter County, and here Solon was engaged in farming until the age of twenty-four years, when he afterward settled in Union Township. In December, 1863, he was married to Martha E. Atwell, of this county. This marriage was blessed with six children, of whom but two are living, Bertha and Emma. On October 13, 1864, he enlisted in Company D., Seventeenth Indiana Mounted Volunteer Infantry ; he served until the end of the war, receiving two wounds in his country's service. He owns a good and attractive farm numbering 140 acres, and is one of the lead- ing farmers of his section. In politics, he is a Republican ; he has been Township Trustee, and also Justice of the Peace for four years.
ISAAC HARDESTY was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, May 22, 1822, and is a son of William and Louisa (Knouf) Hardesty. His father was one of the pioneers of Eastern Ohio, a farmer, miller and mer- chant, and started the first mill in Carroll County, Ohio. He was of Hu- guenot extraction, his grandfather having been expelled from France for his religious opinions. After the death of his father, which occurred when he was twenty-four years of age, Isaac Hardesty worked seven years on the Sandy & Beaver Canal, and in 1853 came to Porter County, Ind., where he farmed until 1860, when he purchased a carding and saw mill in Union Township. Four years later, he resumed the plow, and is now owner of 307 acres of fine land, with commodious buildings and good improvements. Mr. Hardesty was married, December 24, 1846, to Cath- erine Sholl, of Fayette County, Penn. Four children have graced this union-Mrs. Margaret P. Hodson, Mrs. Elva A. McElree, Mrs. Ophelia M. Young and Louisa C. Mr. Hardesty is a man of original and inde- pendent thought, as well as extensive reading. He is a Republican, and has frequently addressed his community on important questions of govern- ment. He has been Township Trustee about fifteen years. He is also a Christian, though not connected with any church, and an earnest Sunday school worker.
JOSEPH L. HARRIS was born in Oxford County, Canada, No- vember 3, 1835. He is the youngest of five children born to Gilbert and Berenice (Cook) Harris. His father was a native of New York, and his mother of Vermont. His great-grandfather emigrated from Wales to Nova Scotia. In 1839, Gilbert Harris located in Porter County, on the farm on which our subject now lives. He was an ordained minister of the Baptist Church, and the first who preached in Union Township; he died in September, 1847. On December 23, 1872, Joseph L. Harris married Mary B. Barker, of Oxford County, Canada, by whom he has had seven children-Virgil V., Hattie V., Milo N., Bradford E., Ole J., Jesse A. and Georgie A. Mr. Harris received an encellent education, having spent three years at Franklin College, in this State, failing health compelling him to withdraw. He is a member of the Phi Delta Theta Society. He is an intelligent man and enterprising citizen, a stanch tem- perance champion, and an earnest Sunday school worker, both he and Mrs. Harris being members of the Baptist Church. In politics, he is a Republican. The first house erected on Twenty-Mile Prairie is still standing on his farm, and is carefully preserved as a relic.
CAPT. S. P. HODSDEN is a son of Stephen and Lenura T. (Pet- tibone) Hodsden, and was born at Mill Creek, Ohio, January 29, 1838.
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The Pettibones were a leading family of New England, and the grand- father of our subject served thirty years in the General Assembly of Connecticut, and was an Orderly on the staff of Gen. Ward during the Revolution. Stephen Hodsden received an academic education, but was a farmer most of his life, although he devoted several years to mercantile business. He served in the war of 1812, and at the battle of Plattsburg was complimented for his bravery. In 1841, he settled in Union Town- ship, after making extensive explorations in Indiana and Illinois. He purchased 240 acres to which he added 60, and on which he lived until his death, December 24, 1872. He was a Republican and an Abolition- ist. Capt. S. P. Hodsden came with his parents to Union Township in 1841. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Ninth Indiana Vol- unteers. During his three months' service, he was in several skirmishes. He re-enlisted in Company E, Ninth Indiana Volunteers, and served until the war was ended. He was appointed Second Lieutenant on enter- ing the three years' service ; was afterward Adjutant, and, on the death of his brother, July, 1864, became Captain of Company H. He was wounded five times, most severely at Marietta, while in charge of the skirmish lines and in charging the rifle-pits. After the war, he returned to husbandry, locating on the old homestead, and having a good farm of 400 acres. On November 1, 1868, he was married to Margaret P. Har- desty, of Porter County. They have had six children-DeWitt C., Catherine T., Lillie M. (deceased), Isaac H., Maggie M. and Stephen B. Capt. Hodsden is liberal in religion, and a Democrat in politics.
DEWITT C. HODSDEN, at the outbreak of the war, was a student at law in the University of Michigan, and during vacation was studying with Mr. De Motte, now Congressman. He had been quite successful before Justices' Courts, having lost but two out of one hundred cases. When the President's call for troops was announced, he immediately dropped his books, and was chosen Orderly Sergeant of a newly formed company, and when the company was re-enlisted for three years he was chosen First Lieutenant of Company H, Ninth Indiana Volunteers. He was present at Shiloh, and on the death of Adjt. Patton was made Acting. Major, and took command of the company during the battle. Being ordered by Lieut. Col. Blake to take a dangerous battery, he did so, with a loss of thirty out of fifty-six men, only twenty escaping unwounded. He afterward became Captain, which he remained until his death, July 24, 1864, near Marietta, Ga., from his wounds. After the battle of Stone River, he was presented with a sword and sash by his men, on which was mentioned the battles in which he had commanded them.
LEVI HUFFMAN was born in Hunterdon County, N. J., Febru- ary 1, 1830, and is one of the nine children of Nathaniel and Mary Huffman, both of whom were natives of New Jersey and of Dutch de- scent. In 1840, the family moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and later to Henry County, Ohio, where Nathaniel Huffman died. After this, Levi being eighteen years of age, he, with his mother, moved back to Wayne County, where, at the age of twenty, he began the milling business. In 1853, he went to California, by way of the Isthmus, remaining three years, the first in the mines, the last in a grist-mill at Sacramento. In 1856, he returned to Wayne County and the milling, and in 1859 worked
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in the Etna mills at Valparaiso. Soon after, he returned to Wayne County, and in 1868 again to this county. On December 4, 1868, he married E. F. Hammonds, of Valparaiso, by whom he had two children -- V. Estelle and Levi R. In 1875, he purchased the farm in Union Township on which he now resides, giving attention to farming for three years, when he took charge of the Cascade Mills, which he purchased in 1882, and is doing a prosperous business. Mrs. Huffman is a member of the Christian Church. In politics, Mr. Huffinan is a Democrat, and also an esteemed and worthy citizen.
W. C. JANES, farmer, was the eighth of nine children born to Eli- jah and Mary (Clark) Janes. His father was of English descent, but a native of Grand Isle, Vt., born in 1793. His mother was a native of" New York. W. C. Janes began life in Oxford County, Ontario, March 20, 1833. He came to this county and township with his parents in 1844, remaining until he was twenty years of age, when he went to Nor- folk County, Canada, where he farmed for ten years; then removed to Iowa, and two years later again settled on the old homestead in Union Township, where he now resides, and where his father died in 1878. On January 24, 1860, he was married to Helen Mckay, of Norfolk County, Ontario. To this marriage five children have succeeded, four of whom are living-Charles W., Robert E., Mary W. and Jeannette H. Mr. Janes is a Republican, a leading and respected citizen.
S. R. JOHNSON was born in Otsego County, N. Y., March 27. 1826. He is the third of the seven children of Stanton and Ada (Sweet) Johnson, both of Otsego County and of English descent. S. R. John- son, at the age of seventeen, came with his parents to Kalamazoo, Mich., and in 1846 he settled in Washington Township, Porter County, Ind., where he rented a farm and lived eight years. Here, on September 27, 1846, he was married to Julia A. Bundy, of Elkhart County, Ind. This union was blessed with four children-Mrs. Ada M. Stoner, of this county ; Mrs. Alice Wells, of Chicago; Miran R., deceased; and Mar- vin P., deceased. In 1854, he moved to Morgan Prairie, where, two years later, he purchased a farm, afterward increased to 200 acres. In 1863, his father came to this county, where he lived until his death, in 1867. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Johnson is an Odd Fellow and in politics a Republican. He held the office of Trustee in Morgan Township five years, and has also been Assessor.
ISAIAH McGINLEY was born in Knox County, Ohio, September 28, 1828. He is the eldest of the ten children of Robert and Eve (Lindsey) McGinley. His father was a native of Westmoreland County. Penn., and his mother of Tuscarawas County, Ohio. The McGinley family is of Irish descent; on his mother's side our subject is of Dutch descent. Isaiah remained at home until he was twenty-six years old, at which period he was married, on January 2, 1854, to Mary Leedy, of Richland County, Ohio. To this union there have been five children- Charles, Alice F. (decessed), Mrs. F. Adell Rigg, William O. and Robert L. After his marriage, he spent thirteen years farming in Knox County. Ohio, and in 1868 he moved to Porter County, Ind., locating in Union Township, on his farm of 200 acres, well improved with fine buildings. He has paid much attention to stock-raising, particularly of fine Merino.
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sheep, having a large stock of a good quality. Mr. McGinley is one of the foremost men of the township, and is serving his second term as Trustee. He is a member of Porter Lodge, No. 37, A., F. & A. M. He has accumulated a fortune, and wholly by industry and economy. JOHN C. PEARCE was born in Lancaster County, Penn., March 29, 1829. He is the second of the family of five children born to Will- lam and Barbara (Wagoner) Pearce, both of whom were natives of that State. His father worked in a cotton factory most of his life, and was of English descent. John C. Pearce, when nine years of age, lost his father, and when fourteen years old began the struggle of life for him- self, workiug by the month. On January 17, 1851, he was married to Catherine McElvee, of Lancaster County, Penn. To this union six chil- dren were born, four of whom are living-Mrs. Catherine M. Hardesty, Henry W., John J. and Rachel A. Wife is a member of the Mennonite Church. Soon after marriage, Mr. Pearce rented a farm for four years, and in 1854 moved to Jackson Township, Porter County ; four years later, he settled in Union Township, where he has remained. He is a good man and much-respected citizen.
GEORGE W. PEARCE, miller, was born in Baltimore County, Md., on the 31st of October, 1846. He is one of the family of Ephraim and Mary A. (Jones) Pearce, consisting of seven children. In 1864, Mr. Pearce, our subject, came to Porter County, and engaged in the busi- ness of milling at the Union Flouring-Mills. In 1874, he purchased an interest in the mill, and in 1879 became the sole proprietor. Besides his mill property he owns a farm of 125 acres. He was married, on January 25, 1869, to Miss Eliza J. Pearce, of Porter County. This union has been blessed by three children-Benjamin F., Mary A. and Luella A. In politics, Mr. Pearce is a Republican, and withal an acknowledged citi- zen of intelligence and worth. In matters of business, he has been exceedingly successful.
ORRIN PECK, farmer, was born in Fairfield County, Conn., July 11, 1813, and is the second of the six children of Edmond B. and Adria (Whitlock) Peck, both natives of Connecticut, and of English descent. When Orrin was a child, he removed with his parents to Cortland County, N. Y., and at the age of seventeen, he began working in Fairfield County, Conn., whither he had returned. Here he was married to Almira Bar- tram, in September, 1833. To this union there have followed seven chil- dren-Mrs. Electa L. Freeman, deceased ; Jonathan B., Jalmon E .. David B .. Ruthven O., Mrs. Caroline Peck, Braton E., deceased. Mrs. Peck died December 23, 1873. In 1838, he located in Erie County, Penn., where he farmed sixteen years. In 1854, he settled on Morgan Prairie, Porter Co., Ind., which he left three years later for his farm in Union Township. By his industry he has acquired a farm of 240 acres, 160 of which he has divided among his children. Mr. Peck is politically a Republican. He was for years connected with the Methodist and Baptist Churches, but now worships with the Believers. He is an upright man and a good citizen.
DAVID B. PECK, farmer, was born in Erie County, Penn., on the 26th of October, 1840, and is the fourth of the nine children comprising the family of Orrin and Almira (Bartram) Peck ; he came to Porter
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County, Ind., with his parents in the year 1854, where he has since lived. In the spring of 1864, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-first Indiana Volunteers, in which he served eight months. On November 26, 1866, he was married to Nancy Campbell, of this county. Three children have blessed the union-Almeron C., Orrin S. and Orlando V. In 1874, he located on the farm of eighty acres, on which he still resides. In politics, he votes with the Republicans ; he is now a Justice of the Peace, in which capacity he has served six years.
SAMUEL SIGLER, merchant, is a native of Fort Cumberland, Md., and was born February 13, 1816; he is the third of eight children of Samuel and Nancy (Taylor) Sigler ; his father was a merchant and later a reed-maker, of Dutch descent, and a son of Adam Sigler, who, for fifty years, filled a pulpit in the Methodist Episcopal Church ; his mother was a native of Alleghany County, Va. At the age of six years, Samuel came with his parents to Clarksville, W. Va., and, in 1834, the family settled in Elkhart County, near Goshen, and, in 1837, they located on 160 acres in Hobart Township, Lake County. On March 21, 1837, Samuel Sigler was married to Nancy Stockdale, a native of Washington County, Penn., by whom he had four children- Mrs. Margaret A. Arnold, George, Mrs. Eliza Willey and John N. In 1859, Mr. Sigler located at Wheeler, where he is engaged in mercantile business. In 1866, he was appointed Postmaster, being preceded by his son George. Mr. Sigler has been successful in business. He is a firm Republican and temperance advocate, and during the war was a member of the Union League. Besides his town property, he owns sixty-five acres near Wheeler. Both he and his wife are members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, with which he has been identified over forty years ; his industry has brought him independence, and his character respect and honor. Samuel Sigler, Sr., departed this life in 1869; he was one of the pioneers of Lake County, and, with others of the family, experi- enced the trials and privations of that period ; his life was quiet and uneventful, and he passed away greatly esteemed and lamented.
CHRISTIAN SUMMERS was born in Lewis County, State of New York, December 22, 1838 ; he is one of the nine children comprising the family of Christian and Magdalena (Naffziger) Summers, both of whom were natives of France. When an infant, his parents moved to Canada, and in 1852 they moved to Porter County, Ind. Here Christian re- sided on the farm until he was twenty-two years of age, when he began railroading on the Pan Handle route. He served ten years as an engineer. In 1874, he resumed the occupation of farming, which he has since fol- lowed. On September 12, 1861, he married Barbara Orther, a native of Bavaria. To this union there followed five children, four of whom sur- vive-Ida E., Mary M., Jeanette E. and Clara A. Mr. and Mrs. Sum- mers are members of the Reformed Mennonite Church. Mr. Summers has a good farm of 160 acres in this township, which he has occupied five years. He is much respected by all who know him.
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MORGAN TOWNSHIP.
ENNESS ARNOLD was born in Franklin County, Ind., June 10, 1816, and was the eldest of the eight children of John and Coney Ar- nold. In October, 1844, Mr. Arnold came to Porter County, Ind., and purchased the farm on which he is now located. On June 10, 1852, he was married, in this county, to Nancy Spencer, a native of Porter County, having been born there August 14, 1834. The marriage was blessed with six children-John, William, Robert, Irena, Abraham L. and Emma E. Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Arnold moved on his farm, which he has continued to improve from year to year. It is now a desirable prop- erty, and numbers 350 acres. Mr. Arnold is an estimable citizen and has held several offices of trust in his county. He is now in comfortable circumstances, though he began life poor and was unaided.
OLIVER B. BAILEY was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., Octo- ber 5, 1833, and is the second of five children born to Ziba and Sophro- nia (Peck) Bailey, natives of the same State, the former born in 1808 and the latter in 1810, and of Welsh descent. They were married in Tompkins County in 1830, and in 1835 came to La Porte County, Ind., where the father is still living. Oliver B. Bailey was married in La Porte, February 18, 1855, to Sarah Martin, who was born July 5, 1836, and shortly after went to farming. Three years later, he bought a saw- mill near Michigan City, ran it till 1860, sold out and moved to Pleasant Township, La Porte County, where he purchased a farm and worked it five years. He then bought and moved on his present farm, of 370 acres, in this township. He has four children-Ziba E., Stephen D., Frank L. and Arthur P. Mr. Bailey is a popular man in his community, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace for twelve years.
WILLIAM BARTHOLOMEW was born April 13, 1839, and is a son of Joseph and Mary A. (Spencer) Bartholomew; the former a native of Somerset County, Penn., born April 3, 1801. The grandfather of William came to Licking County, Ohio, in 1806, and in 1834 moved to Porter County, Ind., and died in 1856. Joseph Bartholomew came with his parents to Porter County in 1834, where he remained until his death, April 15, 1881. William Bartholomew was married on the 24th of December, 1879, to Sarah Biggart, who was born November 8, 1849, a daughter of George and Parmelia Biggart. To this union a family of four children were born-Jerome, Gerald, Calvin (deceased) and Mabel. After his marriage, Mr. Bartholomew moved on the farm on which he now lives, and which comprises 200 acres of good land on Section 32.
JESSE BAUM was born in Richland County, Ohio, and is one of the nine children of James and Rebecca Baum, the former a native of Pennsylvania, born February 4, 1799, and the latter also a native of Pennsylvania, born January 10, 1803. They both came to Ohio at an early day, where they were married August 8, 1822; they first settled in Richland County, but in 1834 removed to Porter County, where they
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still live. Jesse Baum remained with his parents until he reached man- hood. In 1850, he went to Calaveras County, Cal., where he engaged in mining, and remained five years. Returning to Porter County, Ind., he was married, August 23, 1857, to Catherine Bundy, born in Elkhart County, Ind., August 25, 1834, by whom he has nine children-Myron, Noella, Lora, James, Villera, Leroy, Clarence, Nettie and Walter. Mrs. Baum died December 13, 1880. Soon after his marriage, he moved on the farm on which he still lives, in Section 18; he is the owner of 300 acres of excellent land.
JOHN BAUM was born in Crawford County, Penn., January 20, 1810; he was brought by his parents to Stark County, Ohio, and thence to St. Joseph County, Mich., where, on the 15th of August, 1835, he was married to Myrum Gallgher, a native of Culpeper County, Va., where she was born January 1, 1814. This union was blessed with five children -Christopher C. (deceased), Americus (deceased), Napoleon, Tennessee M. and Niles L. Shortly after his marriage, he moved to Porter County, Ind., and settled in Morgan Township, Section 4, on the farm on which he now lives; he is one of the pioneers of this county, and has made many improvements since coming here, having built the first schoolhouse erected in the township ; he came here as a poor boy, but now ownes 426 acres of land, all through the exercise of industry and the practice of economy.
SILAS BAUM was born in Stark County, Ohio, April 18, 1814. In St. Joseph County, Mich., on July 11, 1839, he was married to Han- nah Williamson, who was born in Pennsylvania May 5, 1821. To this union a family of five children succeeded-Mary J., Lucretia E., Laura G. (deceased), Francis M. (deceased) and Genevia M. Shortly after his marriage he moved to Cass County, Mich., where, having purchased property, he remained until 1857. He then sold out and moved to Por- ter County, Ind., where he purchased and settled on a farm in Morgan Township, Section 33, where he remained two years ; this he sold, and purchased the farm on which he now lives, comprising 180 acres of good land.
C. C. COLE was born in Porter County, Ind., March 9, 1849, and is a son of E. P. and Sally Cole. His parents moved to this county in the year 1837. C. C. Cole was married, September 6, 1869, to Nancy J. Brown, a native of Delaware County, Ohio, born February 7, 1853, daughter of S. H. and Lucy A. Brown, of Porter County, Ind. To this union six children were born-Anna B. (deceased), Hattie L., Gertrude M., Edward F. (deceased), James P. and Zelda V. In the year 1872, Mr. Cole purchased and occupied the farm on which he now resides, in Section 12; this farm comprises 100 acres of superior land, and with con- siderable improvements of value. Mr. Cole is plessantly situated, and is a much-respected citizen.
J. B. DECROW was born in Licking County, Ohio, October 21, 1833, and was the eldest of three sons born to J. P. and Delilah Decrow, both natives of Waldo County, Me. His father, J. P. Decrow, followed sailing for seven years; then went to Cincinnati, where he learned the carpenter trade, and about 1832 went to Licking County, Ohio, and moved on a farm, where he now is. J. B. Decrow, after attending the
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common schools, and a select school, engaged in teaching, and in 1856 attended a commercial course, and in 1859 went to Pittsburgh, where he attended the Iron City Commercial College, and graduated June 16, 1859. On returning to Licking County, on November 10, 1859, he was married to Mary A. Ramey, born in Knox County, Ohio, June 8, 1835. To this union four children were bequeathed-Delma J., Arthur B. C., Eva B. and Vonie D. In 1866, he moved to Porter County, where he purchased and occupied the farm on which he now resides ; it embraces 200 acres. His wife died August 28, 1879. Mr. Decrow has been Jus- tice of the Peace for nine years, also Township Trustee.
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