USA > Indiana > Porter County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 45
USA > Indiana > Lake County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 45
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JAMES MILLER was born in Alleghany County, Md., in 1831, the third child of Henry and Rachael (Dye) Miller, of German parent- age, and born respectively in 1801 and 1809. James Miller attended school at intervals, and worked on his father's farm until seventeen years old, and until twenty worked out for himself; then he went to Wayne County, Ohio, and in 1856, married Elizabeth Hague, who bore him two children, Elmer H. and Alice (now Mrs. Albert Skinkle). In 1862, he came to Porter, and a year later bought a farm of eighty-one and one- half acres, improved with a log house. Since his residence here, there have been five children born to him-Isaiah, Willie C., Estella, Ida and Jennie. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members in good standing of the Christian Church, and in politics he is a Democrat, as was his father be- fore him; his farm now comprises 302 acres, and is well cultivated and
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improved with good dwelling and outbuildings; he devotes the greater part of his attention to agriculture. although he raises, in addition, a great many horses and hogs for market.
ANDERSON POOR is the eldest of ten children of Edward and Sarah (Morris) Poor, of whom the former was born in North Carolina April 24, 1794, and the latter in Tennessee in about 1801. The father was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was married in Tennessee in 1816; he then engaged in farming in North Carolina, where our subject was born August 13, 1819. In 1824, the father brought his family to this State, locating in Fountain County, moving thence, in 1831, to Illinois. In 1832, when but twelve years of age, our subject enlisted in the Black Hawk war, and was stationed at old Fort Dearborn, in Chicago. After- ward, worked on the farm with his father until nineteen years old, and then began for himself. January 5, 1843, he married Charlotte Dwight, who has borne him seven children-Emily L., born May 18, 1844 ; Mor- ris, September 10, 1846, deceased ; Mary A., January 4, 1848; Fran- ces A., April 8, 1850, deceased ; Lafayette B., June 11, 1852; Maryette E., June 26, 1857, and Edward E., February 22, 1865. In 1865, he came to this county and located near Valparaiso, buying a farm of 150 acres; this he sold in 1877; came to this township and bought the farm of 240 acres on Section 23, on which he has ever since resided, sincerely respected by all his neighbors.
WILLIAM RIGG, the eldest of the six children of Robert and Mary (Newell) Rigg, was born near Wheeling, Va., in 1818; his father was a stone-mason, and in 1829 moved to Pittsburgh, Penn., and thence, in 1832, to Lawrence County, same State, where he bought a farm. On this farm William Rigg lived and worked until twenty-seven years of age, when he married Miss Mary, daughter of John and Rebecca Wallace. In 1859, he came to this township, bought a partially improved farm of 160 acres, began working it, and, in 1861, brought on his family, who had been left behind on account of illness; his six children were born in Pennsylvania, and are named as follows; Robert N., John W., Sidney J., William B. and Mary, deceased. Mr. Rigg was a member of the New Castle (Lawrence County, Penn.) Light Artillery for about thirteen years, and was under drill of Col. Scott, brother of Lieut. Gen. Scott. In this township he has served for six years as Trustee; his farm is well improved, with a fine frame dwelling and all the requisite outbuildings, and is under as good cultivation as any in the township; he pays consid- erable attention to stock-raising, and has some imported Herefordshire cattle, he being the first to introduce them into the county. In politics, he is a Republican, and was formerly an Abolitionist, and a large stock- holder in the Underground Railway.
SAMUEL C. ROSS is the tenth child of Samuel and Ruth (Craft) Ross, who, respectively, were born in Virginia in 1792, and in Pennsyl- Vania in 1802. After their marriage, they settled in Pennsylvania, moving thence to Knox County, Ohio, and thence to Licking County, where Samuel C. was born February 5, 1838. After attending school and working on his father's farm until 1857, our subject came to Fulton County, this State, where he married, October 10, 1861, Miss Sarah A., daughter of Shadrach and Mary (Fairchild) Hiland, and, in 1865, came
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to this township and bought forty acres of land on Section 13. To this marriage have been born five children-Oslow H., May 19, 1863; Car- rie V., November 20, 1864; Mary E., December 30, 1869; Alvah C., June 12, 1873, and Charles M., September 3, 1877. Mr. Ross attends church as circumstances permit, and in politics is a Republican.
JAMES S. SAWYER, son of Nathan and Sally (Flint) Sawyer, was born in 1806; he learned the carpenter's trade in Wayne County, Ohio, and for some time followed it for a livelihood. In 1832, he mar- ried Miss Alvina Ellsworth, who has borne him fourteen children-seven boys and seven girls-James C. (deceased), Cornelius D., Philip L., Orville J., Louisa, Sylvia R., William L., Fremont D., and the others died in infancy. In 1850, Mr. Sawyer came to Porter Township, and set- tled on land purchased for his wife by her father, put up a cabin and fences, and went to farming. Becoming discontented, he soon made a trip to California, returning in about eighteen months, a loser by the venture. A year later, he went to Idaho, where he remained three years, then returned home and recommenced farming; he has now a good farm of eighty acres, a good two-story frame house, and all things about him in comfortable shape; he is a member in good standing in the Christian Church, and in politics is a Republican.
CORNELIUS D. SAWYER, son of James S. and Mary (Ells- worth) Sawyer, was born in Ohio January 6, 1836. His father was a native of New York, his mother of Ohio. When Cornelius was about five years old, his father came to this county and purchased the farm on which he still resides. Cornelius remained at home, working on the farm, which he managed successfully during his father's absence in Cali- fornia. On November 29, 1856, he was married to Eunice Shreves. widow of C. Shreves, and daughter of David Wells, of Porter County. Five children blessed the union-Ella M., Craig (deceased), Mary May, James Perry and Florence. In 1872, Mr. Sawyer bought 74 acres on Section 30, having a good frame house thereon, where he lived with his family. On June 2, 1878, after four years' illness, Mrs. Sawyer died of consumption; she was a member of the Christian Church and a much esteemed lady. In 1882, Mr. Sawyer exchanged his place for the Wan- ders farm, where he now lives. Soon after Mrs. Sawyer's decease, his son Craig succumbed to the same malady. On April 29, 1882, Mr. Sawyer married Mary Rady. of Valparaiso, who also died on June 29, from typhoid fever. The cares of the family had fallen upon his eldest daughter, Ella, who married E. Green, of Chicago; Mary May succeeded her, and is a good housekeeper. Mr. Sawyer has some fine imported sheep-the Cotswold-from Canada ; also some Norman horses.
JAMES STEPHENS was born in the State of Michigan in the year 1833, and when about fourteen years of age, came to this county with his father. Here he assisted on the farm until twenty-five years old, when he entered into the dry goods business at Valparaiso, which he followed with great success about seven years. In 1858, he married Miss Martha Leonard, and as the fruit of this union there were five children born-three girls and two boys-as follows: Clara, Eva, Lewis. Lizzie and Willie. Mrs. Stephens departed this life in 1873. In 1860, Mr. Stephens purchased the farm of 185 acres in this township, on which
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he still resides and which he has improved in a manner creditable to him- self and township. Mrs. Stephens died in 1873. In 1876, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary E. Kopp, widow of Louis Kopp, and to this marriage there has been one babe born. Mr. Stephens is an ac- tive member of the Republican party, and by it has been twice elected to the office of Justice of the Peace.
WILLIAM STEWART was born in Ireland July 21, 1809, and is a son of Charles and Jane (Stewart) Stewart. His father was a farmer, with whom William lived, attending school until fourteen years old, and working on the farm until 1838. At this time, he was married to Nancy Wilson. In this union he was blessed with five children-Charles, Isa- bel, John, an infant (deceased), and Jane, all the living being married. In 1847, Mr. and Mrs. Stewart came to America, and from New York they went to Canada, thence to Philadelphia, and thence to Caldwell County, Ohio, where they farmed for three years. In 1851, they came to this township, entered 160 acres, which they sold; then entered eighty acres in Section 15 and built a log cabin, soon after purchasing forty acres adjoining ; this they devoted to stock, market produce and some hay and corn. After a lingering illness, Mr. Stewart died April 16, 1882, leaving his estate to his wife. His son John was a soldier of Com- pany I, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. . After the war, he settled to farming, and in 1868 married Martha M. Young, by whom he had six children-William J., George C., Alice J., Charles F., Robert R., and an infant girl. He purchased the homestead and gives a homestead to the family. William Stewart was a member of the U. P. Church, also a Republican.
CHARLES STEWART, son of William and Nancy (Wilson) Stewart, was born in Ireland in 1838. and came with his parents, when nine years old, to America. After living three years in Ohio, his father came to this township, where Charles worked in the summer and attend- ed school in the winter until eighteen years of age, when he quit school; worked on the farm for three years; he then had three terms of school at Valparaiso, after which he served as teacher in his township one year. At this time, from failing health, he went to California, where he farmed for three years; he then returned home, but went again to California, en . gaging in the lumber business. In 1870, he came back to this county and was married to Nancy J. Palmer, who died in 1872. On June 6, 1878, he was married to Elmina J. Williams, daughter of Miles Will- iams, of Lake County. This union was blessed with three children-in- fant girl (deceased), Nancy E. and Charles E. In 1874, Mr. Stewart purchased forty acres of unimproved land, and soon after another forty acres, with good log house and outbuildings, all of which land is under cultivation. Mr. Stewart is a Republican, and was once elected Justice of the Peace, but declined to serve for want of time.
JOHN N. SUMMER was born in New York State December 28, 1836, the eldest of seven children born to Christian and Magdalena (Noffsinger) Summer, natives of France, who came to America in 1833, and were married in 1834. When John N. was two years of age, his father moved to Canada. Here John went to school until fourteen years old ; his father then, in 1850, moved to this township, where John worked
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at farming until twenty-three years of age, when he married Miss Sabina Ritter, who has borne him four children-Salvina, born April 6, 1860 ; Hattie A., July 18, 1863 ; William E., February 23, 1865; and Anna A., January 16, 1868. During the earlier years of his married life, Mr. Summer made his home with his parents, but at times resided with his wife's people. He is now living on a half section of land belonging to R. P. Wells, and is prospering as a farmer and carpenter. He is a mem- ber of the Mennonite Church, and is well thought of by his neighbors.
ALEXANDER L. SWEET, son of Richard and Catherine (Beedle) Sweet, was born in New York July 8, 1800. While yet a child, his mother died, his father being at sea for his health. On the return of the latter, he became insane on hearing of the death of his wife. Alexander's education was limited, inasmuch as he was compelled to labor at a tender age; but, by hard study, at the age of twenty he became a teacher in a public school ; he also learned the carpentering trade, and could manage a farm. When he became twenty-one years old, he went to Canada, where he married Azubah Young, daughter of John Young, by whom he had seven children-John R. (deceased), Joseph W. (deceased), Myron J., Zilpha A., Olynthus (deceased), Young A. and Ann A. E. In 1837, he sold his effects and came to this State, locating at La Grange, Noble County, where he farmed two years before coming into this county, and bargaining for thirty acres, but died before he could pay for them. The payment was afterward made by his widow, who resides upon the land. Mr. Sweet was a Deacon in the Christian Church, a Republican and a respected gentleman. Four of his sons were soldiers in the late war, one of whom, Joseph W., died from disease contracted in the service; he be- longed to Company E, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry ; Myron J. and Young A. were in Company I, Fifth Indiana Cavalry ; and John R. in Company E, One Hundred and Fifty-first Indiana Infantry.
ALONZO TUCKER is a native of the town of Dundee, Kane Co., . Ill., and was born in 1855. His early pecuniary circumstances were somewhat circumscribed, but he possessed energy and determination, and he labored with a will at farming, while still quite young, to acquire money to provide for his education, neglecting no opportunity, in the meanwhile, of attending school. December 5, 1880, he married Miss Geneva Wirick, and to this union one child (now deceased) was born. Mr. Tucker is now living on a rented farm of one hundred and sixty acres in this township, belonging to Mr. Joseph Jones, and, with the as- sistance of Mrs. Tucker, is just getting a good start in the world. He is prudent and economical, and with these qualities, added to temperate habits, he has success apparently placed within his grasp.
JOHN L. WEILER, son of John George and Joanna (Kuemel) Weiler, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, June 24, 1829; his father was a wagon-maker, and John L. worked with him until his twenty- fourth year, when he came to America and followed his trade for four years. Having saved some money, in 1857 he came to this State and pur- chased forty acres in Section 24 of this township. On July 6, 1857, he was married to Christiana Riecker, by whom he has had thirteen chil- dren-George E., Mary C. (deceased), Maria B. (deceased), Franklin W .. Louisa J., Paulina J., John L. and Christiana (twins), D. (deceased).
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Adam and three infants, deceased. By his own diligence and his wife's assistance, he is now the owner of a fine farm of 220 acres, with a good frame residence. In addition to general farming, he gives attention to stock-raising. Mr. Weiler is an upright man and a highly esteemed citi- zen.
DAVID L. YOUNG, was born in New York in 1824, and was the youngest of four children born to Nathan and Laura (Lane) Young. The father had learned shoe-making, but gave up the trade and bought a farm and saw-mill, in which David was employed, when not at school until thirteen years of age, when his father sold all his effects and cam(. to La Porte County, where he died in 1838. David then turned hi- attention to anything he could get to do, and aided in supporting his mother until twenty-seven years of age, when he married Miss Lovina Guernsey, daughter of H. B. Guernsey. This lady died July 10, 1865. the mother of six children-George W., Jeremiah, Eliza (deceased). Charlotte (deceased), Francis (deceased) and Emma L. August 12. 1866, Mr. Young married Miss Phoebe A. Thornton, and to this union were born four children-Milton and James (deceased), Malita and David L. In 1864, Mr. Young bought 240 acres of as fine land as there is in this township from H. B. Guernsey, although he pays more atten- tion to stock-raising than to farming. Mr. Young formerly kept a coun- try store, and was for a long time Postmaster at Hobart, where he also kept the Hobart House for ten years. He has seen as many as 500 In- dians in camp at one time in Deep River botton. In politics, he is a Re- publican, and during the late war stood the draft three times, but was never drawn.
PINE TOWNSHIP.
CHARLES BATTYE was born in Yorkshire, England, January 3, 1821, and is the eldest of seven children born to William and Grace (Hobson) Battye ; his parents were born, reared and married in England : his father was a weaver, at which he worked many years (also as a book - keeper) before coming to this country, in the year 1854, and to Porter County in 1857, where he resided until his death, in 1872; he and his wife died within thirty hours of each other. Both are buried in Michi gan City. Charles Battye came to the United States in 1848, and worked in a carding establishment at Lowell, Mass., until 1857, when he came to Porter County and purchased eighty acres of woodland. After building a cabin and clearing for a year, he returned to Lowell and re- sumed carding, continuing until 1867, when he again came to Porter County and remained, engaged in farming and stock-raising. On Octo- ber 9, 1842, he was married to Eleanor Harrison, born March 7, 1820, in England, and died December 13, 1879, leaving one child-Uriah II., now in Massachusetts. In politics, Mr. Battye is a Democrat.
HENRY BRUMMITT, eldest son of Aaron and Ann (Wilbey) Brummitt, was born in Yorkshire, England, October 21, 1824, and he and his brother William are the only members of the family living in Indiana. Henry Brummitt, when but ten years old, commenced work at
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weaving, and continued until he was twenty-one; he then entered the worsted-yarn establishment, leaving for the United States with the best recommendations, in 1857, and reaching Michigan City April 20 of that year, engaging in lumbering until 1861, when he made his first purchase of land, consisting of thirty-three acres, and afterward twelve more; he now owns 112 acres, eighty of which are improved. On February 6. 1848, while in England, he was married to Mary A. Oxley, daughter of John and Mary A. (Hampshire) Oxley. She was born March 10, 1826. They have a family of six-George, Anna (now Mrs. A. Mills), Eliza- beth, Alfred W., Alice E. and John H. Mr. and Mrs. Brummitt are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Brummitt is a Republican, and served his adopted country in the army from 1864 until the late war closed.
WILLIAM BRUMMITT, one of the early settlers of Pine Town- ship, was born in Yorkshire, England, August 23, 1832, being one of twelve born to Aaron and Ann (Wilbey) Brummitt. Seven of this family are living, five in America, and two of these in this county ; his parents were natives of Yorkshire ; his father was born in 1800, his mother in 1802. The elder Brummitt was a spinner and weaver, at which he worked until advanced age, and died March 14, 1882, aged eighty-one years ; his widow is living in England. William Brummitt remained with his par- ents until manhood, learning the trade of weaving, at which he worked until 1856 ; his education is limited. In 1856, growing tired of his trade, he determined to come to America, procure land and become a farmer. In that year, he came to Porter County, and in 1858 made his first pur- chase of three acres. This he cleared, and in 1860 purchased forty more adjacent, and, by purchases since, now owns 325 acres, 275 of which are improved, with good buildings. In 1864, he entered the army, and served until the close of the war; he was married November 20, 1853. to Mary Lucas, a native of Yorkshire, England, born October 23, 1832. and daughter of Mark and Grace Lucas ; her parents lived and died in England. Mr. and Mrs. Brummitt have six children-Mark L. (born January 24, 1858), John W. (born September 12, 1859), Maria (born November 6, 1860), Jennie (January 15, 1863, now Mrs. W. P. Goody- koontz), Emily (born June 4, 1865) and Arthur (born August 7, 1870. All of these have literary tastes, four having been teachers. Mr. and Mrs. Brummitt, with four of the family, are members of the Christian Church, and he and his son Mark of Calumet Lodge, No. 379, A., F. & A. M. Mr. Brummitt is a Democrat, and now serving his fourth term as Justice of the Peace. His son is an Assessor of the township.
YOUNGER FRAME, son of John and Ufa (Peak) Frame, was born in Preble County, Ohio, January 1, 1832 ; his father was born in Ken- tucky in 1804, and came to Preble County when quite young; his mother was born in Ohio in 1810, and lived there till after her marriage. In 1835, they emigrated to Michigan City, La Porte County, where Mr. Frame followed the coopering business. In 1849, they came to Porter County, settling in Pine Township, when his mother died December 29, 1860, and his father February 29, 1872. Younger Frame lived with his parents until twenty-nine years old. After receiving an ordinary school education, he learned his father's trade, but has worked much more at
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farming, having now 212 acres in this and La Porte Counties. On Feb- ruary 28, 1861, he was married to Maria L. Weston, a daughter of Isaac and Louisa (Randall) Weston, and born March 7, 1839; her parents were early settlers of La Porte County. They have had three children- Hattie E., Cary J. and Chauncey B. During 1881-82, Mr. Frame has built a cheese factory, the only one in the township. When he first came hither, his farm was a wilderness, necessitating clearing and the building of a log cabin ; he has now good improvements and seventy-five acres under cultivation. Mr. Frame is a Democrat, but liberal in local gov- ernment.
DR. J. M. GOODWIN, one of the oldest practitioners of medicine in Porter County, and born in Tompkins County, N. Y., June 12, 1812. His parents were Richard and Prudence (Hollister) Goodwin. He has a noted ancestry, many having taken part in the struggle for indepen- dence, his grandfather having served as commissary in Gen. Washing- ton's army for seven years. His father was a Methodist minister for fif- ty years, and his mother one of the survivors of the Wyoming massacre in 1777, being saved almost providentially. They were among the pio- neers of Tompkins County, N. Y., and built the first grist-mill in the lake region. Dr. Goodwin lived with his parents until his manhood, be- ing the youngest of twelve children. His living brother was a minister, and for one term State Senator in New York. Dr. Goodwin began the study of medicine at his eighteenth year, and graduated from Geneva Medical College in 1836; he then managed his home affairs until 1842, when he moved to Aurora, Ill., where he practiced four years, when he returned to New York and engaged in practice until 1856; thence he came to Por- ter County, where he has since lived and practiced, giving his services to soldiers' families during the late war. He was married, August 25, 1841, to Sarah Biggs, a daughter of Michael and Tobisa (Semans) Biggs, who were among the earliest settlers of Seneca County, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin have had four children-Louisa (now Mrs. H. Killmer), Clay- ton S. (of La Porte County), William H. and Elizabeth (now Mrs. M. Frame, of Chicago. In politics, Dr. Goodwin isa Democrat, and has rep- resented the party as Justice of the Peace for thirteen years. His first vote was for Van Buren in 1836. His son Clayton was a soldier in the late war, and was severely wounded at the battle of Stone River.
S. C. HACKETT was born in Seneca County, Ohio, March 1. 1829, and is the eldest of a family of three children born to Henry and Sarah (Cotton) Hackett, the former having been born in Vermont, and the latter in New York February 28, 1809, where they resided until their maturity, when they removed to Seneca County, Ohio, in 1825, and were married the following year. Henry Hackett died when our subject was five years of age, from which time until he was seventeen he lived with his mother and uncle. At this age, he encountered the world, and went to Lake County, Ill., where he worked until twenty-one years old, when he was overtaken by the " gold fever," crossed the plains to California, and engaged in mining, with varied success, for two years, when, from failing health, he came to La Porte County, Ind., and after a year to Porter County, where he has since resided. Here he gave attention to lumbering and furnishing wood for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern
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Railroad and the Chicago markets, at which he continued until 1868, when he superintended a large tract of land for Loveland & Co., of Janes- ville, Wis., thus continuing until 1879, when he purchased the major part of the company's land, and began manufacturing charcoal, as well as clearing the said land. He believes he has produced more charcoal than any man in Indiana. In 1881, he began farming. He was married while in La Porte County, January 1, 1855, to Ann J. Weston, born in La Porte County September 12, 1836, a daughter of Isaac and Louisa (Randall) Weston. They have had four children, three of whom are liv- ing-Emily, Mina and William C. Mr. Hackett is a member of West- ville Lodge, No. 192, of Masons. Previous to 1872, he was a Repub- lican, but has since affiliated with the Democratic party, to which he still adheres. He has held all the township offices, and is prominent in politics, and a most respected citizen. By hard work and good manage- ment, he has obtained over 1,100 acres in La Porte and Porter Counties.
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